Symbols can get us so far

Symbols can get a people far. It got us our new President. He got elected because he symbolized change we so desperately wanted. We saw in his lack of ambition for the job, the very simplicity of his lifestyle that he is the candidate most qualified to deliver that change. We voted with our hearts.

In his inaugural address, he caught the public’s imagination not with some grand plan for the nation’s deliverance but with a line that talked about car sirens, wang wangs, and the people empathized with this everyday symbol of official abuse in our streets. It is a small thing, but if he can stop it… the common man’s hopes for him to do greater things wouldn’t have been misplaced.

What made his rather simple speech resonate so well with the common man is how he identified himself as a victim, like the rest of us, to official abuse and neglect. “I know and feel the problems of ordinary citizens,” he said, and he quickly enumerated their hurts and their resentments with an uncaring government, all of which he shares.

“Although I was born to famous parents, I know and feel the problems of ordinary citizens. We all know what it is like to have a government that plays deaf and dumb. We know what it is like to be denied justice, to be ignored by those in whom we placed our trust and tasked to become our advocates.

“Have you ever been ignored by the very government you helped put in power? I have. Have you had to endure being rudely shoved aside by the siren-blaring escorts of those who love to display their position and power over you? I have, too. Have you experienced exasperation and anger at a government that instead of serving you, needs to be endured by you? So have I.”

Now the fun part begins. People will be holding him to his declaration that “the silent suffering of the nation is about to end… Through good governance in the coming years, we will lessen our problems. The destiny of the Filipino will return to its rightful place, and as each year passes, the Filipino’s problems will continue to lessen with the assurance of progress in their lives.”

So far, so good! For the next few weeks, people will grant him some space to set things right. They will compare his words to actual experiences at the frontlines of government: “We are here to serve and not to lord over you. The mandate given to me was one of change. I accept your marching orders to transform our government from one that is self-serving to one that works for the welfare of the nation.”

At this point, people are happy to look at symbols of change, the wang wang ban, for instance, and give P-Noy credit for it. For the next 6 months or so, people will probably be happy to to see P-Noy harvest similar low hanging fruits ignored by the past administration. But people will progressively expect more than baby steps towards reform.

For now, it helps P-Noy that he isn’t seen as the typical politician but more as the son of heroic parents. That means he starts from a high point. But it would be easy to slide down. He is expected to deliver a lot in the next six years. Even the legacy of his parents is at risk. I am sure he would rather be at a shooting range or shooting billiards.

After dealing with the wang wang, P-Noy will be able to score points if he manages to make people’s encounters with government less painful or even joyful. In the next few weeks, those at the frontlines of government will have a lot to contribute to this feeling of change taking root under a new dispensation.

Agencies like the POEA, the Consular Section of DFA, Census and Statistics office for birth certificates, customs and immigration at the airports and other such offices that interact with the public daily will serve as the public’s gauge of P-Noy’s determination and sincerity. If the experience shows a dramatic change for the better, the public will know P-Noy means business and ought to be given a lot more support to do the bigger things.

P-Noy needs someone we call a bastonero, who will help him manage the large bureaucracy by roaming around. Maybe citizens like the Boto Patrolers of ABS-CBN can also help. The bureaucracy must clearly show it is with P-Noy in his vision of service. I guess the bureaucracy is the first constituency he must convince. And given the years of bad habits, P-Noy needs not just luck but the prayers of the entire nation.

In the end, symbolic gestures can only get him so far… he still has to make sure the radars at NAIA work so that we don’t have to divert 30 or more planes everyday because they can’t land in our premier airport. He probably should fire the bastards who are now blaming air pollution, only partly true, for the poor visibility at NAIA that’s forcing those diversions. Palusot will have to be a thing of the past. He must have zero tolerance for excuses.

OFWs

A reader, Renato Go, sent this interesting e-mail in reaction to a column.

In your column today, (25 June 2010), you mentioned the importance of harnessing our resources to spur more investments in our economy so as to finally bring about progress and development to the greater majority of ouor people. In particular, you shared the observation that “even in the case of our OFW remittances” a way has to be found “to harness all that for investments rather than just plain consumption”.

I am in total agreement to what you have stated.  

The latest estimate puts the figure of Filipino overseas workers at eight million. Assuming a very conservative average income of $6,000 per OFW per annum, that is an astounding $48 billion income per annum at the disposal of our OFWs. I would hazard to say, that at least half of this — $24B finds its way to the shores of the Philippines; albeit only $17B passes thru the official channels. But, for our purposes, the former is the more relevant figure.

If $1B (Forty Five Billion Pesos!!!) or only a little less than five percent of the money at the disposal of the OFWs per annum is channeled into productive investments, you can just imagine the magnitude of its positive impact on the Philippine economy.  New jobs will be generated. GDP and GNP without doubt, will go up; and poverty level will drop.

The challenge that lies before us is how to create the necessary environment and structure to turn around our OFWs from being a mainly consumption-obsessed monster into a risk-taking investor.   This is the challenge we pose to the incoming administration and the private sector.

A means has to be found to enable the millions of OFWs to pool their resources and put these into productive endeavors. A means has to be found to turn around the mindset of OFWs, from merely being fixated in seeking employment, getting satisfaction in receiving guaranteed monthly pays and spending their money on consumer goods to becoming risk-taking investors and enterprising entrepreneurs.

In our own simple way, our small group of OFWs coming from different professions in Doha, Qatar has banded (and bonded) together with the hope of becoming an example of what OFWs can do if they pool their resources and work hard to achieve a common vision, mission and objectives.

If our modest initiative can be replicated a hundred thousand times over around the world among our fellow OFWs, one just can imagine the multiplier effect this will have on our economy and the millions of jobs that can be created in our country. But, as premised above, we need the proper environment and structure to bring this about.

We firmly believe that if we can find a way to channel the resources of our OFWs into productive investments, then we can help bring a brighter tomorrow for the generations to come of Filipinos. 

Gifts

Dr. RBJ sent me this one.

Two old guys talking.

One said to the other: “My 72nd birthday yesterday. Wife gave me an SUV”.

Other guy: “Wow, that’s amazing! Imagine, an SUV! What a great gift!”

First guy: “Yup. Socks, Underwear and Viagra!”

Boo Chanco’s e-mail address is [email protected]