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Success is a matter of attitude, for the entrepreneur, the difference between success and failure. It has allowed the average man to evolve through the levels of success through time. From the dawn of humanity to 1827, everyone was relatively poor, except for the nobility, the military, and the priests (aka “Shamans”). The ruling elite’s power emanated from their supposed divine origins. The religious’ power came from attributing mysteries like tuberculosis and famine to God’s Wrath, and “saving” the masses from it. Attempts at lessening that power only led to more strident voices from the pulpit. Today, some clergymen still try to maintain that “power” by rallying the faithful to bring down Government. That is so yesterday. Back then, the clergy built men and structures. Today, they provide mere entertainment. Could our 7400 priests instead generate five jobs each, creating 37,000 livelihoods? Corruption Indices: A Statistical Illusion A lie oft repeated becomes truth. Recently, the Left and their liberation theologians, supposed voices of Truth, amplified our being Asia’s most corrupt nation, and the world’s second, rather than establish fact. The truth: per Transparency International’s (TI) 2008 Perception Index (from survey data and institutions like the World Economic Forum) surveying 179 countries, we rank 141 (not number 2), within the 3rd quartile, with countries like Argentina and Vietnam. The Philippines’ index is 2.3. Vietnam’s rating is 2.7, and Indonesia’s, 2.6.Ironically Russia ranks 147, at par with Syria and Bangladesh. But if she is so corrupt, how is she re-emerging as a superpower, with $485 billion in Currency Reserves and posting 7% average GDP growth since 1998? Is Berlin-based Transparency International NATO propaganda, eroding Russia’s credibility after her Georgia adventure? Is it about cornering emerging Eastern European markets? Was the Administration’s Iraqi withdrawal the reason why Transparency International dropped our ratings, from 2.5 in 2005? How transparent was Transparency International USA, accepting money from Boeing Corp., rocked by a $260-billion scandal? In 2008, TI gave a Venezuelan oil company the lowest rating for hiding corporate information, despite being publicly available. Was this reacting to Chavez’s socialized democracy? Incidentally, TI consults with the World Bank, said to promote US interests, despite only 16% ownership. Nothing Personal American author Robert Fulghum states, “I have little use for those…[withdrawing] from the world and [issuing] instructions for how to live in it; priesthoods [denying] the realities of the flesh but [wishing] to control the appetites and activities of those who live as whole human beings… If you don’t play the game, you can’t know enough to make the rules.” A certain Archbishop’s repeated criticisms of the Administration supposedly represent the views of CBCP’s (Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines) 99 active and 32 honorary members, and his Iloilo constituents. Yet 73% of Iloilo voted for PGMA in 2004. Do his actions truly represent his Ilonggo constituents? Is he feeling so President-iable as to speak in behalf of CBCP’s conservative majority, who support PGMA? Or defy the Holy See’s order: render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s? Is the good Archbishop positioning himself as the next Cebu or Manila Cardinal, playing to the solid 14-member Progressives (Left) bloc of CBCP? I should know: I learned of the Vatican’s Byzantine internals from my uncle, a Roman Catholic Monsignor, who spent 2 decades at the Apostolic Nunciature (the Vatican Embassy), and as Bishop of Cabanatuan. As his frustrated “seminarista”, I drafted many of his homilies; and quite a few of Christmas messages from his younger schoolmate and protégé (fellow Akeañon), Jaime Cardinal Sin. It’s nothing personal; it’s simply the alluring power of the Vatican. The Right Attitude Again, Fulghum: “the smirking cynicism of the sideline critic is a form of plague - to be one of those is to be a carrier of death instead of a preserver of life” - referring to the cynical bystanders complaining that the country has not improved socio-economically in eight years, yet do nothing themselves, like some disenfranchised, formerly powerful Senior Government Officials. Once integrated by bridges, ports, airports, and infrastructure, perhaps we will stop disparaging each other, and start uplifting the country together. It’s all about attitude. In response to those criticisms, an ADB report indicates a tenfold increase over the past three years of P100,000-monthly Filipino earners! Of our estimated 4 billion MT in gold underground (ranking us fifth, worldwide) we produced 38.8 tons in 2007. This year to date, we have exported about $3.5 billion. Our immense potential gold production can serve the world’s growing demand for gold, as its faith in paper currency is shaken. Rather than complain about the bad, do something for the good. I maintain: the national interest is the nation-al interest. We’re in this boat together. Let’s descend from our pulpits and get rowing.
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