Friday, May 02, 2008 Arinday: Sugarlandia dreaming By GH Arinday Jr. Sunfare
THE DREAMSCAPE: First, there was Hope [Paglaum]. Then came the Pledge or Promise [Panaad]. They are the pathways to the New Century. The lines and contours of the dreamscape are well-defined and indicative of the right direction, the various challenges not withstanding.
Pana-ad [Promise] is not only the Festival of all festivals but definitely a firm and solid temple of a dream to be fulfilled. It is time to move on despite the crisis.
The current economic imbroglio is an opportune time to study the various factors and premises, which trigger the worldwide financial bubble, let alone the apocalyptic nuances of terror with pseudo-religious underpinnings.
But let us do away with bad metaphors and confine ourselves to our own way of looking at our problems at home. Take note that even the well-known political economy theorists and ideologues are lost in the mist of erratic forces of the economy as well as the moral breakdown in the political spheres.
Let us have Sugarlandia dreaming: with our vast resource in terms of land, minerals and manpower, we don't have to look beyond our horizons to explore the possibility of realizing our goals.
After Pana-ad [the Promise] we have to work for the fulfillment [Pagtuman] of such beautiful dream. It is time to do the spadework towards 'Pagtuman'- Fulfillment.
As it was written, it shall be fulfilled. The late Gov. Alfredo Montelibano Jr. started the 'paglaum' (hope); then followed by former Gov. Lito Coscolluela with 'pana-ad', and to work on that promise, we have to charter the tracks towards 'pagtuman'- fulfillment.
With the crisis inflamed by the seemingly endless price-rising of fossil fuel, Negros Occidental can effectively thwart the crippling fuel costs by making the whole province the bio-fuel center of the country as correctly pointed out by Sen. Miguel Zubiri, contrary to the opinions expressed by another senator who is intellectually-challenged about the economics of sugar.
In the midst of controversies, it is a matter of sheer intellectual conviction in a dispassionate fashion to look into the economic zones of the province. In places where rice is most ideal, improve the irrigation facilities; where sugar is most profitable, select the appropriate variety in relation to the soil nutrients; where diversification has proved to be more productive, enhance the same by putting more capital inputs.
You don't have to import masteral or doctoral-degree holders from Wharton or London schools of economics to understand your own home problems.
The main guide post is Jeremy Bentham's principle of the "greatest good to the greatest number" without sacrificing the individual freedom.
In bailing out our provincial economy from the disastrous effects of the current worldwide economic meltdown, we can harness our local economists who are ready to junk their political prejudices and summon all their available intellectual prowess to handle the problem with the patience of a bonesetter.
There is one good observation made by Paul Krugman, opinion editor and columnist of The New York Times when he wrote sometime in 2002.
"More important, if you look beyond the question of short-term financial stabilization, you have to wonder where all this is supposed to be leading. Asian economies were doing very well before the crisis, and you could think of bailouts in a way to get them back on track." The well-known journalist added that we must not make promises to give roses when what we can afford are "thorns".
In the exercise of the authority under that local autonomous power, we must help that in the land distribution, no interlopers shall be permitted to spoil the program with blood as it has been in the recent past.
The pursuit of fulfilling a dream must be done in taming the radical right, who more often than not reject the legitimacy of our democratic perspectives equally vicious with the unlearned Left in understanding the socialist component of our welfare program.
Dream on and move joyously along the unchartered paths to fulfillment (Pagtuman).
What are the chances of getting the ultimate goal? You are the answer.
