Speaking about Citi, its CEO resigned earlier this month. Truly, the pinch (or punch) of the subprime mortgage crisis in the US is now becoming more and more felt as financial giants have started to become more and more honest about how much they are losing because of it. And Citi is one of the hardest hit. Thank God this world’s largest bank is too colossal a creature to knock out with one blow, otherwise I would be jobless by now.
While I was working this week, two typhoons squeezed Luzon, wrecking havoc in provinces surrounding Metro Manila. It was reminiscent of last year’s Milenyo which came when I was outdoors along Taft Avenue (of all the places). Seeing branches and galvanized iron flying around was terrifying. One lesson learned: never use your the umbrella (ella, ella, ey, ey… okay, enough of this) during typhoons if you don’t want to end up in Manila Bay floating along with branches, roofs, and all sorts of debris.
While I was working yesterday, the earth shook for almost a minute. At 12 noon, I felt a bit weird and shaky and thought it was just my tummy. But I saw my stuff on the table moved, heard my officemate cried “Earthquake!”, and then realized it was indeed the ground shaking, which was later reported of magnitude 4. Earthquakes are nothing new for me - I grew up with them. Back in the days of eruptive Mt. Pinatubo in early 90’s, earthquakes were common in Mindanao. I remembered two of these that woke my family up in the middle of the night. I was crying for I thought it would bring our old house down to the ground. The next day, I was in the library after class studying about earthquakes, tectonic plates, the Ring of Fire, Charles Richter, blah bah blah.
While I was working today, Senator Trillanes and his band of brothers walked out of the courtroom and staged another infamous drama in Makati. While I don’t totally discount his claims as pure lies, I definitely don’t agree with his inconsiderate means of achieving his end. Almost four years ago, he caught the nation’s - and the world's- attention at Oakwood. He was charged (and up to now being tried), became practically a celebrity, elected senator, and just today did another baloney in – wherelse? – the Manila Peninsula Hotel. Five-star hotels, beware!
The Philippine economy this year has been performing its best after twenty years in the doldrums. Surely, issues may linger in the government, but these perennial problems can never be solved by getting a new president each time we feel discontent. Even India and China, with sky-rocketing economic growth rates, have this dishonesty plague. Conditions in Russia are even much worse. And don’t tell me the US is corruption-free.
Yet these countries are able to assure the world of their political stability which serves as framework for economic programs that bring benefits down to the masses, and hence poverty reduction and better quality of life among the people. And, take note, these changes don't happen overnight. They take years - and even decades - of stability and national cooperation. And what about this small noisy group calling for yet another 'change'? My feet! Spare the nation of yet another economic and political turmoil.
I’m not trying to condone any misdoings here. I believe what should people remember is that there is due process for everything, and that personal interests should be set aside to attain what’s good for everyone. As I have always told my friends in UP, enough of going out to the streets, and start reading your books and doing your homeworks and experiments. And to our statesmen, enough of throwing mud amongst yourselves and start fulfilling what you are ought to be doing in the halls of congress, senate, or Malacañan.
While I was working in Citi’s GK village one Saturday of this month, I remembered the little boy I have been teaching catechism in another slum area in Manila. When I arrived one afternoon for a session on prayer and loving one’s family, this four-year-old asked me if I still have a house. That morning, his family’s shanty was demolished. Now he is living in a makeshift abode together with others in what used to be a basketball court. Living conditions have become much worse for him, his family, and his entire neighborhood.
I felt very sorry for him. He thought that my world was like his. This, however, gave me the impression - and the realization - that I am living in two worlds.
