Born and raised in
the rural town of Rosales, Pangasinan, Philippines, I grew up learning the
valuable significance of the word “PIG”.
First, it denoted SAVINGS. My parents
inculcated in my mind the value of saving for the future. They encouraged
me to have a “Piggy Bank” as a start, and then deposited the savings to a
Postal Savings Account. The passbook was the most valuable document that
I possessed for a long, long, time.
Second, it meant
INVESTMENTS. Piggery is a household business that we were encouraged to
invest in because of the high returns.
Third, it meant EDUCATION. I remember my
parents “earmarking” one pig for my College Education Fund. I made sure
that the pig marked in the ear as “Ben” became “Big Ben” to generate a higher
selling price for my fund.
Fourth, it also
meant SHARING. The pig also symbolized family and community participation
and sharing of the bounties, grace, and luck bestowed upon us by the Lord.
Every so often, a pig had to be sacrificed for the family and the
community to serve as “lechon, adobo, bacon, ham, nilaga at pinakbet.”
Fifth, it also meant a TEAMING ARRANGEMENT.
In our neighborhood, the owner of a male pig (hog) offers the latter to
mate with the neighbor’s female pig. A pre-arranged deal is contracted
depending on the number of piglets that are eventually delivered.
When I went to
school, the pig had positive significance for me as I learned the nursery rhyme
about the “ little pigs that went to market, stayed at home, had roast beef,
had none, or cried ‘wee wee wee’ all the way home.”
As I moved up the
ladder of both education and age, I began to learn words and expressions that
are identified with “pig”. Suddenly, it connoted a different meaning and
value. Sadly, negative in many instances.
In fact, pigs are
associated with greed and dirtiness. Hogging as in hogging the ball or
the road means monopolizing the ball or the road. Eating like a hog
means poor table manners and going hog wild is behaving wildly.
Your room is a
pig’s sty. (Dirty).
Don’t be a pig!
(don’t overeat!)
That’s hogwash!
(Nonsense).
It ain’t fitting to
roll with a pig. (Filthy or uncouth).
 |
| Evolution of the Filipino Politician (forwarded by Vic Floresca |
When a Congressman
says he will give up his PDAF, it is in a pig’s eye – meaning no chance of that
happening. Radicals called the police a pig while the Women’s
Liberation Movement called the male chauvinist also a pig.
Now because of the
expose on the Pork Barrel Scam, the Filipino politicians are being called many
names – from greedy pigs, representa-thieves, to Senatong and Tongressmen.
CONgress has become the opposite of PROgress! As described by
Manila Times columnist Tony Lopez, “Congress is the Philippines’ biggest
criminal syndicate.”
The clamor from
practically all sectors of society of all ages be they online or offline, is
undeniably loud and clear - ABOLISH the Pork Barrel!
Like the million
people march on August 28, 1964 led by Martin Luther King, Jr. who delivered
his now famous “I have a dream” speech, Filipinos are also encouraged to gather
at the Rizal park in Luneta on August 26, 2013, National Heroes Day. Attendees
will protest this brazen display of shameless greed and “systemic diversion of
public funds for private aggrandizement”. They will demand its abolition!
PNoy has to respond
to the cry of his “Bosses”. His anti-corruption legacy is at stake.
What are his options?
Immediately, he
should suspend the release of all pork barrel funds to all beneficiaries
designated by all lawmakers. It should stay suspended until 1) all criminal,
civil, and administrative investigations are concluded; 2) corrective and/or
remedial measures either legislative or administrative, are put forward and in
place to safeguard and protect public funds; and 3) cases against
co-conspirators (including lawmakers) are filed as soon as evidence is found to
merit the filing to show sincerity and seriousness.
Can PNoy
abolish the pork barrel system of funding? Unfortunately, in at least
three occasions, the Supreme Court had ruled the constitutionality of such a
system. It had affirmed the power of Congress not just to make, amend and
repeal laws but also to spend and appropriate money for projects.
PNoy, of course,
may veto whatever Congress proposes. Congress in turn may override the
veto. A greedy Congress may just do it.
PNoy may
submit a budget that Congress may reduce but not increase. So, if PNoy
does not propose PDAF funding, Congress cannot include it. But it can
also reduce the proposed budget for all the Executive Departments and for all
the projects of the President.
This is why Real
Politik and effective governance sometimes demand some compromises
without sacrificing public welfare, morals, and legal mandates.
In
compliance, PNoy proposes a budget that includes PDAF funding. Congress
will approve it including most if not all his proposals. The
appropriation becomes law, and PNoy has the power and obligation to execute and
enforce it. Included in the power is the power to realign.
PNoy may not be
able to legally abolish pork barrel funding, but he can prevent its pernicious
effects. First, he can suspend releases of pork barrel funding
indefinitely subject to the conditions described above. This he already
did. In effect, today there is no pork barrel funding! Second, he
must show his interest in an accelerated conclusion of all investigations and
probes that must include both private and official culprits. The filing
of cases and the issuance of arrest warrants would serve as a warning as well
as a preventive measure for any attempt to abuse and misuse public funds.
PNoy has been
enjoying an upward momentum for the last three years because of his
anti-corruption campaign. With the expose on the Pork Barrel Scam, this
momentum could reverse to downhill if PNoy makes the wrong moves.
PNoy might want
to take a clue from the Washington Redskins football strategy in winning 3
Super Bowl Championships in a decade. Redskins Coach Joe Gibbs
strengthened the offensive line that ironically called themselves the Redskins
Hogs (male pigs) to have a very effective running game. He had starting
tackles Joe Jacoby and George Starke, guards Russ Grimm and Mark May, center
Jeff Bostic, and tight ends Don Warren and Rick Walker.
The best defense is a good offense. PNoy currently has a very good offensive line. Composed of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, COA Chairperson Grace Pulido Tan, BIR Commissioner Kim Henares, and SEC Chair Teresita J. Herbosa, they must be provided with all the resources (human, material, logistical, and financial) to effectively function in a speedy manner. They are an all female winning team but as Ninoy Aquino would say, “each has the heart of a lion.” In the case of de Lima, RED LION!
I have no doubt that, if the evidence warrants, Ombudsman Morales and DOJ Secretary de Lima would not hesitate and, without fear, to include even Senators, Congressmen and other high officials in any charge.
Who knows, PNoy through these women of courage might be able to do what several presidents have failed to do – criminally charge and imprison the son of Marcos and Enrile who illegally imprisoned Ninoy Aquino during Martial Law and whose assassination we commemorate on August 21st.
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