Opinion: Doing away with election

Today's crop of lawmakers is a far cry from what we used to have decades ago. - FACEBOOKPIC

By ALFREDO P HERNANDEZ

LET'S abolish elections!

They have not delivered to the people and nation the promised ultimate good.

We have been suffering the cancer from bad elections since the 50s. They had just spawned corrupt politicians and corrupt individuals and drained out people's money one after another.

But before doing so, let the nation's trustworthy top brains come up with an alternative to this election exercise.

Because abolishing elections would mean a status quo of what would be left of the govt after local and national polls have been done away with.

No worries. The people will deal with those running the govt. They have the power to do so.

And the power of the people is one from God.

It's about time we got the better deal.

Elections have allowed corrupt individuals-turned-government servants-turned- politicians to creep into sensitive and vital govt positions -- in the Senate and House of Representatives, departments and agencies-- and then into the coffers of the people.

It's towards the people's money that these supposed public servants did their best performances --- stealing from it.

And because they got the money, they now have all the powers to buy elections -- by buying stupid voters across the country.

There are no so-called intelligent voters, only paid voters.

And these are the fodders that supply oxygen to the greed of these politicians.

Let's not close our eyes to this reality that the right of suffrage of every Pinoy should not be denied.

The good news is that it is this right that has screwed up the Filipino nation.

This right has become our own undoing.

It has been abused by millions of stupid voters and converted to cash by good for nothing greedy politicians.

Elections are just a money mill for our government officials, churning out tons and tons of cash for their wallets, pockets and bank accounts -- not to mention their "queridas".

The P10-billion caper pulled off by Janet Napoles is the ultimate product of these elections. How?

Who are these people who got their hands stuck in the cookie jar?

You forgot? I tell you who: they are our senators, congressmen and local politicians who emerged the best in the past several national elections, having topped their respective races.

All the while that we trusted them in giving us the better deal in good governance, they were actually scheming and skimming off the people's money.

Skimming is a mild term because this act touches only the very thin surface of the moolah.

What these people have done is to haul off this cash by the truck loads to their bank accounts via the Napoles Highway.

So how can we ever respect elections? How can we ever trust these politicians?

There's no way to right the wrong they just did and those shenanigans they would try to do if elections are given another chance to pop its ugly head.

So what can we expect without elections?

Nothing  only chaos and anarchy.

But at least the people could deal with it. They have the power.

And what about elections if allowed to persist?

Nothing, because it has become a dope flowing in our veins and highfiving our souls.

We are its slave, and we are the Filipino people.

We could burn in this hell for as long as we want.

And we won’t do anything about it like what’s happening now.

Clearly, I can hear: Long live elections!

For feedback, email: ahernandez@thenational.coml.pg and alfredophernandez@y7mail.com

Dr Edgar “Egay” Aler: Crusade to feed Mambulao’s malnourished kids

 Some of the children having their nutritious meal.

Fresh milk for the kids.

By PERCY A OSTONAL

Michigan, USA

WHEN Ricarte “Dong” Padilla assumed the mayor’s office in July 2010, the first thing he thought of doing during his term was to deal with the growing malnutrition problem among the children of poor families.

Something that he had to balance with other major urgent concerns, such as the need for more infrastructure, the governance of the local government, health and sanitation, education, skills training, environment and ecological issues.

And when he delivered his second inaugural speech as the re-elected mayor last July, he assured the community that “such specific undertaking will be done with priority”.

Zeroing in on the children, he said: “There would be no malnourished children in Mambulao under my watch."

Leday sharing happy moments with a beneficiary kid. 

Somehow, it was a pledge that he needed to flesh out as soon as possible if things should get better for the malnourished kids.

A year earlier, when he flew to the United States and met fellow Mambulaoan Dr Edgar "Egay” Aler, Mayor Padilla brought up the topic.

And with less word, Aler stressed his willingness to extend his helping hand for the good of the next generation children of his beloved community.

Dr Aler went home during the mayor’s inauguration last June 30, for his second term of office, and sealed his commitment with Padilla for the malnourished children of our town.

With a budget of P15/day per child for 81 beneficiaries, or a total of P24,300 a month, the feeding  program took off.

The malnourished schoolchildren at the Jose Panganiban Elementary School  (JPES) pupils were confirmed by the representatives of the Department of Social Services as well as the office of the school principal along with the home economics teachers.

Leday, Dr Aler’s eldest daughter, tending to the kids during mealtime. -

– Pictures courtesy of the Aler Family

Under the feeding program, they will enjoy nutritious meals from Monday to Friday.

On July 21, 2013, Dr Aler’s initiative was finally launched, with his daughter Leday Aler, who is based in Mambulao, spearheading the project.

The feeding gig these days is popularly known as the Project Sagip Dagdag sa Kalusugan (Feeding to rescue malnourished kids).

Since launching, the program has identified more malnourished children across the municipality.

In fact, at baranggay South Poblacion, 60 kids from the village’s ten purok (unit) were identified and included as beneficiaries.

Sagip Dagdag sa Kalusugan also monitorsits success by making sure that at the end of the month, each of these children mounts the weigh scale to see if they actually gained weight.

As incentive for staying healthy, thanks to the nutritious meals, they are awarded some cash for their daily needs such as tricycle fare and all.

To boost the feeding program, Mayor Padilla distributes nutritional products and vitamins.

As you may recall, Dr Edgar Aler and his family as well as  his siblings from overseas come home every year, either for medical mission at RPS Stadium or to distribute pasalubong to the poorest members of the 27 baranggays.

Dr Egay said it was his family’s token of appreciation to the great blessings he received from The Almighty and his adopted home in California.

"Kung saan ako makakatulong sa kapwa at kababayan sa abot ng aking makakaya, doon ako at hindi ako nag-hihintay ng kapalit na pagkilala, o ano pa man. (At any time I could help within my means, I will be there without waiting for recognition from anyone).

Aler said during my phone interview with him: “Sana naman, iyong mga kababayan nating nakaluluwag sa buhay dito sa America at Canada or any other places ay maka-alalang tumulong sa ating kapwa Mambolenos, lalo na iyong mga malnourished children sa ating bayan (I’m just hoping our well-off  kababayan  in America, Canada and elsewhere to remember extending help to malnourished children in our hometown).

Food for thought:

The problem:

a) 38 % of children from the least developed  countries have had their growth stunted by malnutrition.

b)  Malnourished children score 7 % lower in Math  tests and 19 % less likely to be able to read aged 8.

c)  The poorest 40% are 2,8 times more likely to suffer the long-term effects of malnutrition than the richest 10 %.

d) Poor health and education limit job prospects. Children malnutrition cuts future earnings by at least 20 %.

e)  In total current children malnutrition could cost the global economy US$125 billion when today's children grow up.

The opportunity :

a) Better childhood nutrition could cut stunting by 1/3 and reduce health issues, from diarrhea and pneumonia to deaf-mutism.

b)  well nourished children are 13 % more likely to be in the correct grade at school -- boosting lifelong skills.

c)  Good health and jobs break the cycle of poverty and ensure that every child gets a chance to thrive.

d)  By improving health and education, good nutrition leads to a more skillful and dynamic workforce.

e)  Fixing malnutrition now could bring economic benefits over 100 times as large as the costs of intervention.

(Source: UNICEF- 2013 improving child nutrition: The achievable imperative for global progress; Save the Children. (2013 Food for Thought)

 

Run for one million trees

By ALFREDO P HERNANDEZ

AN early morning run is usually good for health.

It’s close to having a breakfast of Vitamin D concoction straight from the early risen sun.

And if you are running for something noble – say, a cause – well, that’s something else.

And if the sprint is aimed at growing more trees to green the environs, you’re a hero.

Which you would be if you run on Sunday, October 6, to push the Mambulao government’s bid to grow some one million trees in the next three years.

This gig is unusually fun, as it is to be done on the eve of the town fiesta in honor of the Nuestra Senora del Rosario, the town’s patron saint.

This mass, fun-run aims to raise funds for the local government’s tree planting program.

And to create awareness on the need to be healthy and to have a vibrant, green environment.

Initially, the start off will be in front of the town hall, then racing around the town proper and drumbeating the need for more trees around us while passing by roadside onlookers.

That is, by actually joining the tree-planting activities and if possible, by chipping in some cash to buy seeds, fertilizer, pesticides and other stuff that would support the growing of hundred thousands of young trees at the municipal nursery.

So, for this coming early Sunday gig, put on your favorite sun-shades, signature running shoes and shorts and Ts. And be sure you got a coffee-fueled tummy.

Oh, yes, you also try to find a generous individual who would sponsor your sprint, in which every meter you’ve covered would be matched with a certain amount, good enough to grow at least 1,000 young trees.

The fun-run is spearheaded by the Mambulao government. .

For feedback, email: ahernandez@thenational.com.pg and alfredophernandez@y7mail.com

Security: Mambulao’s major concern these days

By ALFREDO P HERNANDEZ

 

A GRAVE concern over security has been the staple of Facebook postings since last week among Mambulaoans, both overseas and those in town.

The deluge of outraged comments was sparked by three incidents of armed robberies last Thursday night at sitio Tumbaga, San Rafael just outside of Mambulao town proper.

They were more incensed over reports that the local police did not bother to send a team to investigate, despite a request for such after it was reported at the police headquarters in town.

Rodel Bang Occiano, who is based in Taytay, Rizal, said his sibling’s family in Tumbaga, San Rafael, just outside of Mambulao town proper, was among the three families held up by armed, bonnet-wearing, hooded men.

Occiano posted a brief report on the incident on the Facebook account of Jose Panganiban, CamNorte.

He said the suspects broke into the house of his sibling and took everything of value.

Occiano described the men as “wielding firearms and wearing bonnet-hoods”.

“Mata lang po nila ang nakikita,” he said, quoting a member of his family whom he talked to over the cellphone.

“Ngayon lang po nangyari ito sa aming lugar … sana po maaksyunan ng kapulisan ang insidente…(this was the first time it happened in our area … I appeal to the local police to do something about the incident.”

Occiano said in follow up postings: “Hindi ko po alam kung bakit walang police na pumunta (I did not know why police did not come to investigate).

“Ang sabi po ng mga pulis (in Mambulao) matapos na ireport kagabi sa headquarters ay: “bahala na raw po ang mga tanod na magronda”.

Occiano said he learned from his family that the local police beefed up its check points along the baranggay road from Sta Rosa, Norte.

“But my point is that the police should have sent a team to investigate the incident … that’s the first job they have to do…”

He said he did not believe that the local unit of the New People’s Army in CamNorte had something to do with the robbery.

Earlier reports had it that a similar modus operandi – armed men wearing bonnets --- was carried out by culprits in Gumaus, a baranggay at the neighboring town of Paracale, which shares borders with Barangay Tedi.

Most victims of break-and-enter were families of overseas workers, according to some postings.

Facebookers suspected that the incident was linked to the nearing baranggay (village) election.

“Maaring malalaking tao ang involved dito para may pang-finance sila sa kanilang mga kandidato para sa baranggay chairman… kung totoong linked ito sa eleksyon,” says one Facebooker, who is using the name “Kasandra Et Robin”.

Rhea Gallardo Bagapuro posted in mocking tone: Kulang sa dunong po anu ang mga pulis… patabaing baboy … ala mga silbi… very funny sila.. sweldo lang ang inaatupag…”

Saul Bermas posted an appeal: “Parang awa na ng mga pulis kahit ngayon lang umakyat sila ng San Rafael para maimbestigahan nila ang kaso… hindi na biro ang mga nangyayari ngayon … nakakabahala na…”

Richard R Grutas posted: “Sana nga makarating ang ating kapulisan diyan sa San Rafael… hindi na sila maglalakad pa tulad ng dati …ngayon pwede nang gumamit ng sasakyan .. hindi na mahirap puntahan ang lugar na ito… bigyan naman ng pansin yan kahit malayo sa bayan … sana ang mungkahi ng taong-bayan ay tugunan…”

Baguio City-based Nvr Rodelas observed in his posting that “we don’t have that much police force to cover the whole of JP (Jose Panganiban) … yung iba ginagamit pang security ng mga (gold mining) financiers.”

He also suggested the creation of baranggay ronda (village roaming security team).

Facebooker Chelsie Ramiel expressed his surprise: Madami na palang nangyayari diyan sa ating bayan…”

He advised residents to take extra precaution always…”

Some Facebookers suspected that the culprits could be those who settled in Mambulao with no regular source of income and were allegedly engaged in criminal activities.

Facebookers have suggested that there should be more police visibility in crime-prone areas across the municipality to be complemented by baranggay ronda teams, especially at night, who will check every unidentified individuals seen in the area.

Mambulao is estimated to have more than 50,000 residents spread across the municipality’s 27 baranggays.

On the other hand, the local unit of the Philippine National Police (PNP) has about 20 men who work in shifts.

For feedback, email: ahernandez@thenational.com.pg  and alfredophernandez@y7mail.com