Wild imagination

Just recently, a non-government organization issued statements which motorcycle owners and riders say has no basis and therefore, can be considered as products of its imagination.

In an article written by ImagineLaw’s executive director Sophia Monica San Luis and communications officer Rochel Bartolay, they concluded that motorcycles are dangerous per se, given its design and environmental risks (such as road conditions), and that no amount of driver training and strict background checks can ensure rider safety.

In the article published by Rappler, they mentioned about a study by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration which ranked motorcycle licensing and rider training low in terms of effect, but the US agency was quick to point out that there is limited data to conclude that these interventions are effective.

With the admission that there is limited data to conclude the effectiveness of interventions such as rider training, it must also be considered that such limited data is also not enough to conclude that these interventions are not effective. It should work both ways.

The assessment was done in the US and not here in the Philippines. There are intrinsic cultural differences between the two countries and behavior, and thus, what may work for one may or may not work for the other. For one, the Americans use motorcycles more for recreation while Filipinos use them to transport other people for a fee.

ImagineLaw should know better than to invoke a study that covered an entirely different cultural environment, an entirely different set of traffic rules, and an entirely different character in terms of transport and mobility conditions.

If they are so concerned with the dangers that motorcycles bring to the riding public, then why not ask for a total ban on all motorcycles altogether? Why is ImagineLaw picking on motorcycle taxis?

How many of the motorcycle fatalities in the Philippines involve motorcycle taxis? And how many of these motorcycle taxis involve drivers who were properly trained in motorcycle safety? Shouldn’t we hold off any conclusions until our authorities have conducted their own study of the matter?

Excelsior

The legendary Stan Lee was renowned for his relentless imagination, pioneering spirit, and heroic work ethic. He was fond of using the catchphrase “Excelsior?” whether in his columns for Marvel, in movie scenes, or pretty much everywhere. At the end of his cameo in Avengers: Age of Ultron, he signed off using this word.

“Excelsior” is also the motto of the State of New York, which is a Latin term meaning “every upward.”

The word “excelsior” is now being used to describe Security Bank, which inspite of being a medium-sized bank, continues to inspire others and to strive for excellence.

Fresh from its award from the New York-based Global Finance magazine, Security Bank received another: its fourth Bank of the Year Award from The Banker, known as the “Oscars of the banking industry,” an impressive achievement for a medium-sized universal and commercial bank.

The Banker’s Bank of the Year awards recognize banks that deliver strong financial performance and demonstrate product innovation, services, and employed new technology.

Security Bank’s strategic partner, MUFG Bank, was also recognized by the same institution as Japan’s Bank of the Year for the fourth consecutive time in 2018..

These awards strengthen the credentials of Security Bank and MUFG’s strategic partnership as a conduit to better Philippine-Japanese business relations. Last year, both banks were able to arrange 229 business collaboration meetings providing their clients a venue to expand their networks and customer base in their 2nd Business Matching Fair. 

Security Bank has launched the SME Business Express Loan for businesses looking to finance short-term needs such as equipment, office spaces, and cash for day-to-day operations. This doesn’t even require collateral for loans amounting to P5 million, which is beneficial for starting SMEs in the country.

Meanwhile, applications to open an account doubled in the final months of 2017 as it extended free insurance to its All Access Account customers.

These innovations hallmark Security Bank’s leadership in retail banking, consumer finance, banking business, and e-commerce.

With “Better Banking” as its motto, we can say that Security Bank is delivering on its promise.

Silent worker

Just recently, former special assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, who is running for a Senate seat in the 2019 elections, refused to receive a National Youth Commission (NYC) commendation recognizing his contribution to youth development. 

Go said one important thing he learned from President Duterte is delicadeza, saying that when Duterte was mayor of Davao City, Duterte would never agree to put his name in any government project.

For the last two decades, Go has served Duterte and his constituents in Davao City away from the limelight. He became SAP until he resigned to run for the Senate.

Duterte has described his top aide as extremely honest and working tirelessly to accomplish the tasks given to him.

Admittedly he has no political experience but he has seen everything. But I like hard-working people in the Senate.

But unknown to many, it was Go’s idea to create the Malasakit Center in Davao which is a one-stop shop bringing together in one room agencies such as the DoH, DSWD, PAGCOR, PCSO and PhilHealth, making it easier and faster for indigent patients to secure medical or financial assistance from government.

Go was also instrumental in the passage of the measure increasing the salaries of policemen, soldiers and other men in uniform. 

The NYC resolution that Go had refused also cited Go’s calls for the proper implementation of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act that greatly benefited millions of in-school youth across the country.

Last November, Bureau of Immigration Commissioner has also credited Go for helping improve the agency’s practices to minimize offloading incidents, especially those involving overseas Filipino workers.

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