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Exposing Heartless LeadersArticles, Mga Bagyo ng Buhay |
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By Jesmael M. Montaña Ondoy has brought out the true essence of the plethora of promises of our politicians’ harangue that reverberate at the dawn of our elections next year. The bitter truth about all these so called concern and heart for the masses has starkly emerged. Painful as it may be, but that’s something that we have awakened to lately — the Philippines has not produced leaders that genuinely care for the Filipino. Much has been said about the catastrophic event as an “act of God or force majeure” but not much has been said about the negligence of our leadership. Something could have been done to prevent or minimize this senseless loss. This fact has stared many of our past and present leaders in their faces. Their “looking somewhere else” won’t take away the obvious heartlessness. Ondoy Typhoon Aftermath Paulo Alcazaren, in one of his insightful articles (The Philippine Star, October 03, 2009,) mentioned that Singapore’s highest recorded rainfall was 467 mm, which obviously eclipses the highest recorded rainfall of Ondoy at approximately 350mm to 400mm. It was something the Singaporeans have studied and prepared for, which is, sad to say, the exact opposite in the case of the Philippines. By the ‘70s, Singapore’s rivers were cleared and vital city wide drainage infrastructure were set in place. The pathetic truth is that during the ‘70s, the Philippines was way ahead of Singapore economically. Singapore then was rejected by Malaysia when they applied to be one of its ‘states’ and on top of this was the withdrawal of the British military base. Yet their leaders made sure that their vital infrastructure was built to address this perennial flood-problem. Wide drainage open canals and culverts were put in place making sure that they could handle the highest recorded rainfall brought by the yearly torrential monsoon rains. Mr. Alcazaren mentions that even building entrances were designed “with thresholds that had floor finish elevations centimetres higher than that 1969 historical record (their highest recorded rainfall in a hundred years.)” Mr. Alcazaren even described the “the world-famous 12-meter-wide pedestrian paradise of Orchard Walk parallel to the road is actually a humongous drainage canal underneath. It is regularly cleaned and accessible by small service vehicles.” The Singaporean leadership didn’t just fix the infrastructure of their canal system, they also understood that they needed to factor-in the vital landscape that was needed in storm water management. They put in place, as Alcazaren said, “… large green open spaces, parks and plating verges along major thoroughfares filled with vegetation — all, I found later — functioned also to absorb rainwater aside from keeping the city cool and green.” If there is something noticeable about developed countries, it’s the proliferation of gardens, parks and well managed forest reserves which is ruefully lacking in the Philippines. We have literally built an ‘asphalt jungle.’ During weekends, traffic in developed countries would be concentrated on routes leading out of the city towards the outskirts where fishing grounds, lakes, jogging trails and national forest parks abound. The exact opposite is seen in our metropolis. Traffic is stupendously making a bee-line towards our malls because we love to indulge in our ‘malling culture.’
Singapore’s Orchard Road Malaysia had to face the onslaught of the same perennial torrential monsoon rains head on. Although a bit later than the Singaporeans, they set the development of retention reservoirs, so that water can be held and used for other alternative purposes. Additional drainage canals were built and what has been featured in engineering documentary shows, the Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel or SMART Tunnel. A dual purpose storm drainage and road tunnel, 9.7 kilometres long. When floodwaters are minimal, the lowest section allows water through, when floodwaters are heavy, the entire road portion is closed and the whole tunnel lets storm water through.
Malaysia’s S.M.A.R.T. Tunnel Now we are faced with a complicated situation because the banks of our rivers and creeks are inhabited by informal settlers, thus impeding the quick flow of floodwaters. Add to that our heavily silted major riverbeds including our main catch basin, Laguna de Bay. During the early 1900s, Laguna de Bay was around 9 meters deep. By the ‘70s, due to the normal siltation process of nature, it was approximately 6 meters deep. Now it’s a mere 3 meters or probably even less. Laguna de Bay is a major source of millions of kilos of fish and other freshwater produce every year. But after Ondoy, it has become a wasteland – unable to handle the rainwater. Consequently, some residential areas around it are still flooded up to now. Dredging will cost around five billion pesos. Add to this the denudation of our forest, lack of proper waste management and wanton, careless disposal of garbage resulting in what we now have —an environmental nightmare that will haunt us for a long, long time. Laguna de Bay, Philippines As early as the late ‘40s, according to Alcazaren, “the master plan for Quezon City and environs was set up by a group of Filipino and American, architects, planners, and landscape architects. The basin from Laguna to Marikina all the way up to Montalban was already identified as a greenbelt that was to be consolidated and conserved for functional as well as aesthetic purposes. The importance of maintaining these areas as agricultural and open land was further reinforced by the knowledge, as early as 1949 that a fault runs through the area all the way to Muntinlupa.” Our leaders during the ‘50s did not act on it.
Proposed Parañaque Spillway By the ‘70s, Felino Palafox Jr. cited that a study was funded by the World Bank on a land-use plan that was finalized by Hong Kong-based consulting firm Freeman Fox and Associates. Areas that were severely flooded recently were already cited as areas wherein development should be controlled and managed. A key solution in the study submitted in the ‘70s was the Parañaque Spillway in order to relieve the Laguna de Bay of excess water. Alcazaren noted that “The government could not or would not get the right of way, or the money and plan disappeared.” Now we still wonder if our leaders would act on it. It’s brain-dead enough that we need to convene a senate investigation to talk about the gradual and early release of excess water in our dams. Hello! It’s mental suicide that our leaders need to discuss the importance of Doplar radars. Oops, I almost forgot that I have to pretend to think that they’re broken for the people and all of this is not simply making the most out of their misery for media mileage. Elections are fast approaching and once again we will hear a barrage of promises from our politicians. Goodies and moneys will be tossed to the masses and once again, many will be stupid enough to vote for them because they have been raised with the scraps of decrepit education, since our best academic institutions have, at its best, produced the pitiless entrepreneurial and political leaders we have now. Of course, relief goods will be distributed so that the culprits can sleep at night nightmare-free. People will be allowed to build settlements beside the creeks, rivers and landslide-prone areas. The masses will think that the politician really cares for their well-being, when we all know what they really care about. Most are only concerned for where they can buy their scandalously-priced signature accoutrements with names we could hardly pronounce, how they can satisfy their stupendously high-gourmet taste buds and how they can provide their children’s allowances amounting to three to four times Juan de la Cruz’s minimum wage. Their children will also develop a calloused stomach to swallow fodder from this nefarious source, quickly learning the tricks of the trade and this heart-wrenching saga can go on and on and on, ad infinitum. A desperate crowd Despite these things, the recent events brought out the heroism of many of our countrymen. The names of Muelmar Magallanes, Ancheta and others have warmed our hearts as they lost their lives for the sake of others. People with speedboats, jet skis or even pool boats went out of their comfort zones and into harms way to save some people. We realize that despite the darkness, there are beacons shining and giving us hope. We need to raise up more of this kind of people from the next generation. We need to remind our next generation that life is found in having a raison d’être, a mission, a purpose. We need to tap into something deeper, something greater within. We need to recoup the Filipino soul, rather than calling these catastrophes “acts of God,” because that’s what many of our leaders want us to believe.
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October 28th, 2009 at 02:42 AM
Exactly… the dredging of laguna de bay stopped when cory was the president…during those times it was kinda cheap, it only cost millions now its about Billions
kaya why we still have to vote for noynoy…
October 28th, 2009 at 06:07 PM
Salamat po sir sa pagpapakita ng totoong nangyayari dyan sa pinas, minsan ayoko na tumingin sa mga balita sa pinas kasi nakakapaso at minsan di ko maalis ang pagdududa-pesensya na- pero ang mahalaga may nakikita tayong mga puso na buhay pa para sa bayan, sa tao. Salamat po sa pagbabalita sa amin-sa mga taong malayo sa pinas- sa kabila ng lungkot nandoon po ang mga “tuhod na hindi pa lumuluhod kay baal” sana po magtagpo-tagpo ang mga ito balangaraw. Salamat po sa BRM, pagpalain po kayo ng Lord.
October 28th, 2009 at 06:35 PM
Ay hrabe talaga ang Singapore sila lamang ay napaka liit na bansa pero sila ay nakagawa ng paraan para harangan ang bagyong paparating na mas malakas pa sa Pepeng at Ondoy.
Grabe din talaga ang mga politikano natin sinasamantala nila ang paghihirap na dumating sa ating bansa. Mga wala talaga tayong puso sa ating mga kababayan. Sana magkaroon na tayo ng isang mamumuno na kayang panghawakan ang sariling bayan at sariling mamamayang Pilipino at magkaroon narin sana tayo ng mga Pilipinong magmamahal ng tunay sa sarili nating bayan.
“Kapag ayaw may dahilan kapag gusto maraming pwedeng paraan” -Rico Blangco
October 28th, 2009 at 07:04 PM
Kailangan talaga natin ng urban planning. Mas makakawawa ang iba pang mga tao ng bagyo kung patuloy tayong magiging matigas ang ulo at hindi nakikinig sa mga may nakakaalam ng solusyon. Babahain tayo ng babahain kung tayo ay walang urban planning
October 28th, 2009 at 07:12 PM
Dapat nating gayahin ang iba pang mga bansa na mayroong urbnan planning sakanila. hindi sapat na tayong mga mamamayan ay basta lamang umaasa sa gobyerno. Dapat umaksyon din tayo. Tumulong tayo sa paggawa ng mga bagay na makakatulong sa bansa. Iangat natin lahing kayumanggi!
October 29th, 2009 at 08:17 AM
Maraming salamat po sa napagandang artikulo na ito.It’s again one of those articles that truly inspire us to dream great dreams for God, and our country.Maraming salamat and God gifted us The Brown Raise,reading the articles here really helped me and my children to understand and have concern not just for oneself, but for the nation that God has given us.
October 29th, 2009 at 02:03 PM
sa wakas may blog na na ganito kaya akoo nakagawa ng homework!
October 29th, 2009 at 03:39 PM
I would like to read it many times for us to be reminded to the next generation…
tama talaga ito…i also agree with Raymond Cultura
♥KAYUMANGGI-mj♥
October 29th, 2009 at 05:27 PM
Acttually it is “LAKE OF BAI” not LAGUNA DE BAY
October 29th, 2009 at 07:09 PM
talagang tuloy-tuloy nalang ang pagbulsa ng mga politiko and pera na dapat gagamiting pang gawa nang mga sulosyon sa mga ganitong panahon?
October 29th, 2009 at 09:29 PM
in the midst of a lost world
i walk pass every man
eyes that stare straight to me
pleading for compassion and a touch of love
they stretch their hand
for a few coins
and yet what really lies down beneath
are souls drenched and tormented
by the world’s tormenting heat
the children run along the street
barefooted and happy
and yet a few years will pass
would those smiles stay?
every teardrop was shed on dry ground
every heart ached; burned within
sacrifices have to be offered
for a new ray of hope to sprout again
someday, yes, someday our time will come
the dawn of our redemption will come.
October 29th, 2009 at 10:17 PM
wala talagang patawad mga politiko dito sa bansa natin…….hindi nila talaga kayang tumulong ng hindi nakaharap sa mga kamera. hindi rin talaga ako magtataka kung bakit hindi nila maituloy yung mga plano noong panahon ng mga magulang natin.
ang Singapore nakagawa sila ng paraan upang maiwasan ang baha tapos sa atin wala talagang hakbang para muling maisakatuparan ang plano hinggil sa paglihis ng direksyon ng baha upang maiwasan din ang paglutang ng mga basura sa kalye.
tayo naman bilang kabataan ay nagpapagamit upang hindi makialam tungkol sa kalinisan ng ating bansa. hindi talaga natin maalis ito sa atin.
darating talaga ang araw na magigising din ang mga humihimbing na kabataang pinoy at nang malaman nilang hindi dapat ang sariling kapakanan ang iniisip nila kundi ang kapakanan ng lahat.
October 30th, 2009 at 03:13 PM
Years from now the Philippines will have what they call “THE HALL OF SHAME”. On it can be seen the names of today’s heartless leaders who once ruled the country and caused its downfall. – Tell me…what would the Philippines be like…a hundred years from now?
October 31st, 2009 at 01:37 AM
to shileemay:
Ma’am salamat napakaganda ng sinabi mo pagpalain ka nawa ng Lord.
November 1st, 2009 at 12:11 AM
grabeh naka2lungkot lang talaga na ang mga pinuno natin ay walang pakialam.. pero sa kabila man ng kadiliman sa ating bansa may bagong sigaw ang ating lahi, lalong-lalo na sa susunod na henerasyon… sulong Lahing Kayumanggi!!!
November 1st, 2009 at 01:03 PM
What you said is true. All of our leaders are only in their comfort zones while we are all experiencing their stupid acts. There was already a proposal long ago to address the problem on flood but our leaders fooled us and wasted our money. Now after the storm, they will spend lots and lots of money from foreign aid which will make us more dependent.
I am really saddened because of our leaders who do not love our country.
November 1st, 2009 at 08:46 PM
So painful to know that in the 1970s, there was already this plan to resolve the flood problem by expert urban planner, Mr. Palafox ( he had a foresight, massive flooding could have been prevented ) which was ignored by our unloving leaders ( but on every election campaign, they claimed about their undying love and service for the country ). Many thanks to Ondoy & Pepeng! Now, we know the kind of leaders we had. Hopefully, we will be careful to vote the next leaders our country badly needs – the likes of Lee Kuan Yew ( Singapore ) or Mahathir ( Malaysia ). The big question : Where can we find such leaders ??? May God help us!
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:53 AM
Nakakaasar ang mga lider natin kasi wala silang pakialam sa atin mga Pilipino.
November 2nd, 2009 at 01:53 PM
…Does your Excellency know the spirit of (my) country? If you did, you would not say that I am “a spirit twisted by a German education,” for the spirit that animates me I already had since childhood, before I learned a word of German. My spirit is “twisted” because I have been reared among injustices and abuses which I saw everywhere, because since a child I have seen many suffer stupidly and because I also have suffered. My “twisted spirit” is the product of that constant vision of the moral ideal that succumbs before the powerful reality of abuses, arbitrariness, hypocrisies, farces, violence, perfidies and other base passions. And “twisted” like my spirit is that of hundreds of thousands of Filipinos who have not yet left their miserable homes, who speak no other language except their own, and who, if they could write or express their thoughts, would make my Noli me tangere very tiny indeed, and with their volumes there would be enough to build pyramids for the corpses of all the tyrants…
*Open letter to Barrantes on the Noli, published in
La Solidaridad (15 February 1890)
November 3rd, 2009 at 10:03 AM
Ondoy is a great teacher to us all… our leaders ae living a very comfortable lives while people are suferring from pain…Just like in the case of Pepeng. The officials in Baguio really know that Pepeng will hit their land. But what did they do? They went to Boracay and enjoy the fun of speaking about the flood that will happen. They did not even tell the people in Baguio that there will be a heavy flood.Then where was the officials when the huge flood
Came? It is really a very sad thing but we have to always remember that it starts with people. We all have a part in the destruction of the places and our agriculture that had already costs more than 10 billion………………………………. I still believe that there are some leaders of us whose suffering from pain to protect their fellow Filipinos
November 4th, 2009 at 01:21 AM
ooppss! some truth has just been slowly exposed…its a sad reality that we Filipinos are fond of being passive..while others just literally die for their country..we’re busy thinking what to buy for christmas..Mentally awake, is just too hard to acquire…but we refused to be called, Idiots! Get up! Stand up! was it too hard, then?
November 5th, 2009 at 08:20 PM
ang ondoy ay isa lamamang sa pagising, pagtapos ng pangyayring ondoy ano naman ang nagyari sa atin ano?
pareho parin nagpapaputi nagpapalipin sa nagaalipin tayo ay lahi na may sariling wika, may sariling paa na kaya magranas ng iba’t ibang bagay gumising ka na lahing kayumanggi, lahing pilipino
November 10th, 2009 at 11:25 PM
We will know if a country will progress forward by simly looking at its leaders. I pray that the Filipinos back home will be enlightened by its recent crisis. These crisis are God’s opportunities and revelation. Opportunities for us to reach out to Him and revelation of the hearts of the many, including the leaders. We need to put into mind and heart how the leaders reacted during the ordeal. That should set as a good basis for this coming election.
November 11th, 2009 at 11:51 AM
Sana nman po matauhan na tayo sa mga nangyaring ngdaang kalamidad..Kung positibo po nting tingnan ang dulot ng mga nangyaring pagsubok it would be:A LESSON. Minsan po kasi,kung sino pa ang dehado,sila pa tong kay hirap makalearn ng lesson.Salamat sa BRM!sana lahat ng Pilipino mabuksan ang site na to para magising naman sila.
November 14th, 2009 at 05:21 AM
Sa aking pananaw, ang naganap na hindi karaniwang pagbaha sa metro manila ay sadyang maasahan na. Ang takdang oras lamang ang
hinihintay. At siya ngang nangyari sa bagyong Ondoy. Mahirap man isipin pero huli na ang lahat para maiwasan pa iyon. Sa
kadahilanan na ilang dekadang taon na ang nagdaan na hindi inalintana ng mga namumuno sa ahensya ng gobiyerno ang patuloy na paglabag sa ‘urban planning’. Ang mga taong mas piniling wasakin ang mga kabundukan upang tayuan ng mga subdivision at hindi inisip ang epekto sa kalikasan ang puno’t dulo ng lahat.
Sa ganang akin, lahat ng mga nangyayari sa Pilipinas ngayon ay resulta na ng mga pangyayaring naganap na noon pa.
November 16th, 2009 at 05:25 AM
Mahal kong bansa asan na ang totoong mga anak mo
Asaan ang kanilang tapang na ipinakita sa mga banyagang mananakop?
Asaan ang karunungang ipinamalas mo na ang buong mundo’y humahanga sa isang katulad mo?
Asaan ang mga tuntuning isinasapuso at hindi lang isinasalita
Isinusumbat mo ba sa akin ang karukhaan o ang kadilimang bumabalot sa aming isipan
Nang dahil ba sa kami’y nagbubulagbulgan
Nabibingi sa mga laman ng telebisyon, radyo at balita
Kailangan na naman bang may mga Rizal at Bonifacio magbuwis ng buhay
Ilang henerasyon pa ba, ilang taon ka pa bang nagpapaikot-ikot sa parang
Ang aming mga puso’y durog na, naghahanap ng totoong sagot
Isang pusong buo ang saloobin, napupukaw ang isip sa mga suliranin
Hindi ba natin batid na ang kahirapan ay dulot ng ating kaisipan
Walang kaginhawaan na tumatagal na hindi ka nagpapagal
Isantabi ang mga pansariling gawain, ano nga ba ang dapat unahin?
Isakatuparan ang nag-aalab na puso, gumawa ng mga bagay na maipapamana sa susunod na salin lahi
Ipaalam sa lahat ang katotoohan, tayo ay isang lahi, isang lipi
Maging leksyon sa buhay ang mga ipinagdaraanan mo at ituro
Maging ihemplo at makatwiran sa marubdob mong puso
Na kung gaano mo kamahal sa ating lahi, bansa at wika
Ay siya ring pagdakila sa Diyos na manlilikha
November 21st, 2009 at 08:29 AM
Sobrang sakit marinig ang katotohan na ganito ang sitwasyon natin sa pilipinas, maraming kailangan i-repair simula sa maliit na unit ng gobyerno pati narin sa mga mamamayan bumubuo nito. corruption simula plang sa malilit na kontrata sa mga Baranggay palang at ibang mga pribadong transaksyon. simula palang sa pagiging disiplinado simula palang sa simpleng kalat sa bahay pagtapon ng basura, pagdidisiplina sa mga anak at marami pang bagay nahihirapan na tau. Mahirap magreklamo, mahirap maghinaing sa salita or sa blog o ano mang paraan,mahirap sisihin nalang ang gobyerno kasi alam natin kasama tau sa responsibilidad nito, totoong mahirap ang pasanin ang burden ng bansa. kung wala naman ginagawa kahit sa maliit na paraan lng. masakit harapin ang totoo ang tanungin sarili ko pano ako makakatulong ngaun?! pano ko itataguyud ang next generation? kung nagsisimula palang ang burden ko sa bansa at pinapangarap ko plng maayus ang puso ng mga pamangkin ko oh magiging anak ko in the future, na ilaban nila ang bansang ito. Mahabang lakbayin man maaring 80-100 year para makasabay tau sa mga progresibong bansa kagaya ng Singapore. Darating din ang panahong yun. ika nga wag lng mawalan ng pagasa. ipatuloy lng ang burden sa bansa at ipasa sa iba na mahipo ang puso ng karamihan na mahalin ang bansa at ilaban ang pagtataguyod sa next generation na magbabangon sa Pilipinas. Salamat sa pamamagitan ng blog nato for sure marami ring namulat kagaya ko.
November 23rd, 2009 at 01:15 AM
Pag may laban si pacquiao eh proud na proud tayo sa pagiging pinoy. Pero binabaha pa rin tayo every year. Koting ulan lang baha na. Cycle na ito palagi.
Daming tao may pinag-araln pero tatapon ng basura sa kalsada. Nasa loob ng kotse bubuksan bintana tapos hahayaan yung anak itapon balat ng candy, cup ng softdrinks, chitchirya.
Kahit maging heavyweight champion pa si pacquiao, kahit ipagsigawan pa natin na pinoy tayo, eh madumi pa rin bansa natin.
November 29th, 2009 at 09:00 PM
Naluluha po ako habang binabasa ang artikulong ito… di ko po maubos maisip na sobrang napag-iwanan na tayo ng mga karatig nating bansa… at karamihan ng mga Pinoy ay tila nasanay na sa ganitong situasyon… dalanging ko na mabuksan ang kaisipan ng karamihan upang bumangon at pagsumikapang baguhin at itama ang mga maling nakasanayan na… Mabasa nawa ng mga politiko ang artikulong ito at maantig ang puso para makagawa sila ng paraang ayusin ang dapat ayusin… Patuloy ko pong ipapanalangin ang bansang Pilipinas.
December 12th, 2009 at 10:36 PM
Kahit ganyan ang ating mga liderato, ang Diyos mismo ang magpipili ng nararapat na liderato.
NA SYA ANG MAMUMUNO SA PAGBANGON NG BANSA NG LAHING KAYUMANGGI!!
December 24th, 2009 at 10:02 PM
no integrity in most of our leaders. education has failed them. come to think of it, most of our leaders were educated from the best universities of our land; ironically, they have not been transformed in their minds and their hearts. greed is one of the culprits.
December 29th, 2009 at 01:22 PM
Quoting George S. Patton: Don’t tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results. It is time to see results from our leaders.
January 2nd, 2010 at 10:43 PM
Sa ganang akin po, kung titingin po tayo sa kakulangan ng ating liderato talagang ang pagbabago po sa ating bansa ay para bang imposible. Siguro po ay mas maganda simulan po natin sa ating sarili ang pagbabago, halimbawa po yung mga basura itapon natin sa tamang basurahan..etc,kung gagawa ikaw, ako, tayo ng munting kabutihan kapag pinagsama sama mas makakaengaganyo para sa iba na gumawa rin ng mabuti. Mas kelangan ng ating bayan ang ilaw at asin. salamat po.
February 27th, 2010 at 08:38 AM
Hi Po. just really really concerned and burdened on whats going on with our country. it becomes a playground for those who have power. THEY ARE SO TRIGGER-HAPPY. please visit this site po. GOD bless. please dont vote for Him. please CHANGE the Philippines by first changing our minds who to vote. http://www.motwister.com/blog/2010/2/25/the-new-big-political-video-going-around.html?currentPage=7#comments