This corner cannot understand VP Leni.
At one time, she badmouthed the Philippines before a foreign group through an amateurishly recorded message, criticizing the Duterte administration’s campaign against criminality and illegal drugs.
In the next moment, she would espouse that drugs be legalized and follow the Portugal example as if mimicking a foreign pattern and concept would magically shoo away the disease like a pesky insect.
Wow, don’t we have a sense of originality? Why do we always have to look at foreign examples when we have more than 100 million geniuses in our midst?
This is exactly what makes the President blow his top.
Every time the government needed to implement something, somehow, somewhere, some smart aleck would suggest or introduce a foreign idea to make it somewhat palatable. This mindset makes us nothing but mere copycats.
Our “stateside” mentality has drawn us away from patronizing our locally-made products in favor of imported goods from the US, Europe and elsewhere but the Philippines.
Haven’t you notice why there is a dearth of Filipino businessmen investing in the areas of manufacturing, assembly and other trendy products?
Look, we copied the CCT (Cash Conditional Transfer) from Brazil and Mexico where reports say they were a success in bringing about a social turnaround among the poor folks. (Latest reports say this “pampering” has had a negative impact on the country and their government because the beneficiaries became all the more mendicant in their approach to life.)
The just-concluded PNoy administration extended and expanded the CCT into a full-blown welfare program, transforming it into a the sweet-sounding 4Ps (Pamilyang Pilipino Pantawid Program) that cost taxpayers money to balloon from a measly P5B during the GMA regime to a gargantuan P70B in the PNoy government.
Now, going back to VP Leni’s espousal that the Duterte administration copy the Portugal way of combatting illegal drugs: is that a surefire cure to the ills we are facing today?
The answer is a big NO.
Why? Because we are an entirely different people. We have an innate ethical and cultural heritage that are starkly in contrast to the Portuguese and other peoples of this planet. What is food for the gander may be poison for the goose.
Forgive me if I have to say that “matigas ang ulo ng mga Pinoy.”
This is exactly what we are. We do not obey simple rules like using the pedestrian lanes when crossing streets and thus avoid jaywalking violations. We squeeze ourselves ahead of the long queue because we want to get ahead. We bribe the traffic enforcer even if our inner self is protesting because we do not want the ugly situation to hinder our way to a business meeting or appointment. Don’t we need a slap on the nape (batok) to waken us up from this stupor?
So, why did VP Leni even remotely suggest we copy the Portugal experience? Would that spell success because Portugal achieved a measure of success?
Because it is a subtle way of “condemning” in negative terms the intensified Duterte anti-drugs campaign without a bit being suspected of criticizing the same in a somewhat political manner.
VP Leni wants to be heard, that’s all.
But by doing so, she has exposed her inexperience in public service and governance. She wants to put in her two cents worth but they seem not to be worth Digong’s time.
How can Pres. Digong even lend an ear when His Excellency has long been in government service even before she gave birth to her eldest daughter?
How can a tyro – a neophyte – like the Honorable Vice President muster the nerve to suggest copying the Portugal concept?
I’m really at my wit’s end.
Believe me, Pres. Digong is not a copycat. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
