Not a movie, not a play

All the talk about the so-called Cabinet reshuffle is about to become a thing of the past because the so-called courtesy resignations look and sound more like “a game of musical chairs,” as columnist Boo Chanco wrote.

But what we should be asking PBBM is: what’s the plan? What is or are the specific problems the President wants to address and who are his specific targets, audience or beneficiaries?

Purely from what has been shared by Malacañang, the reason the economic team was retained was all about economic “window dressing.”

“The marching order of the President is to enhance the economic situation in the eyes of the outside world and here in the Philippines.” Given the track record of the administration, I interpret “eyes of the world and here in the Philippines” as referring to lending institutions.

Is that the plan? Is that a plan that will restore PBBM back in the grace or favor of the Filipino people? I think not. Between his unparalleled borrowing and failure to deliver on basic services, making the economy look good is not a plan.

Based on the history of his economic team, we Filipinos are going to be up for a fight as Team Tax To Death begins to impose more taxes, just like the recent idea to increase estate and inheritance taxes as well as tax “digital nomads.”

That is where the fault lies: the government collects and collects but barely gives out directly to Filipinos, except 4Ps and ayuda as a legal form of vote buying. PBBM gets no PR benefit because congressmen take all the credit, get the votes and entrench themselves in power.

So, what is the plan? To show Filipinos “natauhan siya” or acknowledge the voters’ rebuke? Let me point out that the voters’ rebuke is just a small segment of the angry, dissatisfied population. The fact that Filipinos are cutting costs, spending less and living lives on “second choices” or ukay-ukay shows we are “living in the winter of our discontent.”

Denzel Washington reminds us that “dreams without goals are just dreams, and ultimately they fuel disappointment,” and in the play Jesus Christ Superstar, Judas goes: “Every time I look at you, I don’t understand why you let the things you did get so out of hand? You would have managed better if you had a plan.”

May I humbly suggest for PBBM to find his Bible and go through one chapter (40) of the Book of Genesis, where Joseph, “an ordinary person,” gives better counsel to the Pharoah than all the wise men and magicians of Egypt and ends up saving Egypt as well as surrounding nations from famine.

Relying on experts and technocrats is like relying on “all the king’s men and all the king’s horses who could not put Humpty Dumpty together again.” If PBBM wants to make amends with Filipinos at large, he should “walk the floor,” find out their actual daily problems and challenges as well as their aspirations.

PBBM used to have a better feel for these as a governor and senator. He should also ask selfless CEOs and successful change makers instead of relying on his usual advisers and friends who failed to save him from his reaching his pinnacle of unpopularity.

Do what Buddha, St. Francis of Assisi did, get away from the lap of luxury and mingle with real people, real Filipinos. MRT/LRT commuters always challenge senators and congressmen to lose the cars and take the trains, especially during rush hour.

We who are blessed and better off think nothing of having water, hot showers and maybe even a pool. But last Sunday I was visited by a struggling couple who literally represent the “isang kahig – isang tuka” or daily wage earners who eat if they have part-time work.

They come from the outskirts of Bgy Lumbang in Lipa City, Batangas. They told of how they go to a dilapidated water impounding tank fed by a mountain spring every 3 a.m., fill recycled bottles and containers up to 5 a.m. then walk a couple of kilometers, everyday, just to drink unfiltered water and wash their clothes.

At the moment, the spring water is reduced to a trickle because of summer, not to mention that the mountainous area and forest land have been penetrated and slowly deforested by speculators and people staking out property.

They came to ask me for five “containers,” a bicycle with a side rack or kulong as well as solar lights because they can’t afford electricity. These simple things will raise the quality of life for five kids and three adults.

Ironically, Lipa, Batangas has become the next destination and development site for real estate developers building exclusive commercial-residential communities, while people in the outskirts of Lipa don’t have running water.

Senator Bong Go did not win as number one just because of his allegiance to FPRRD. He won because he consistently focused and supported public health. His Malasakit Centers and support for hospitals are well known and hugely admired by the poor, doctors and even hospital administrators and the middle class.

Filipinos can afford and have to buy rice, so the government’s P20 per kilo rice, given its sketchy and limited distribution, does not hit the mark, but public health and medical costs are often economically devastating.

Senator-elect Marcoleta has been quoted as suggesting scrapping the VAT on electric bills and this has solicited very positive response across the economic strata because it is a cost that hits the pockets hard and forces Filipinos to sacrifice on their quality of life or pay higher electric bills.

“If you can’t beat them, then join them” in doing what works.

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