IT is nice to know when the national government has finally recognized that the Bicol region deserves more money to improve the local economy.

        After that much-touted economic improvement of 7.3%, Bicolanos should stop crying for being relevant and should now start counting the good fortune coming its way. No doubt these economic engines coming to Bicol are driven by the emotions generated by Mr. Lozada, so that our esteemed Bicolano politicians and mandarins were compelled to announce the good times coming soon. I hope these economic engines are faster than the Bicol Express.

        It is interesting though to read the homily of Archbishop Legaspi being reported in the same March 20, 2008 issue of Bicol Mail. Archbishop Legaspi’s homily challenged the Filipinos and to meditate on the mystery. I guess, since GMA’s administration is so much challenged to maintain its integrity and relevance; they rush to publish such mysterious and wonderful economic numerical progress of 7.3%.

        Archbishop Legaspi cautioned everyone and asked all to contemplate in this testing time as he quoted: “Sa halip na magbigay lakas, ang mga ito’y nagpapalabo sa ating pananaw sa isang maunlad na bayan. Ay kay lungkot para sa ating lahat! Datapuwat alam po ba ninyo ang lalo pang nakalulungkot? Habang tumitindi ang ingay sa mga political rallies, mayroon isang tunog na hindi gaanong naririnig sa mga kalye subalit araw-araw ay palakas ng palakas. Anong tunog iyan? Iyan ay ang ipit na tunog ng libo-libong mga bata na tahimik na humuhikbi sa kawalan ng mga magulang sapagkat kinailangan mag ibang bayan upang kumita ng buhay na hindi makamtan sa sarili nilang bayan”.

        This is the time to stop, think and ask: How much of this 7.3% improvement was brought about by OFWs? Is the government now officially in the business of treating its citizen as a commodity (along with bananas and mangoes) to balance the trade? How much of this improvement was watered by the tears of children crying and looking for their mothers and fathers? Are we now seeing the social cost of absentee parents by having high incidence of child molestations as reported?

        Maybe when the mystery is gone from these numbers, the real number is 3.7%.

        Iyan ang tunay na hamon sa mga Pilipino.



MANNY ILAO
Vancouver, Canada