Monday, January 08, 2007 Mongaya: All systems go By Anol Mongaya Panahom
DESPITE all the crabby talk about the 12th Asean summit actually transpiring, the Philippines is now bent on pushing through with the historic event this week. Not even the travel advisories of Australia and the United Kingdom could stop 16 heads of states from coming to Cebu.
Maybe we should all listen to the challenge hurled by international awardee Dr. Josette Biyo: “Be proud of our country.”
I think that with all that is wrong in our country, many don’t feel like standing proudly with our neighbors. On the other hand, there are a lot more that we can be proud of. And pride in what is good in us should push us to correct what is wrong.
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From where I sit, it seems all the effort and excitement invested in the summit are only after short-term gains like the dollars the visitors will be spending here, the deals and investments that will be forged, the potential boost in tourism.
Discussions and debates in media revolved around preparation issues and the Cebu International Convention Center leak. Are we not concerned about the issues the leaders of 16 nations will be discussing for several days in Cebu and how it is relevant to us?
I’m sure though that the leaders of cause-oriented groups are concerned about regional cooperation against terrorism and human rights issues in Burma. Efforts against terrorism might result in suppression of legitimate dissent. Meanwhile, the Philippines that is pushing for respect for human rights in Burma should also live up to international standards of respect for human rights of Filipinos.
Local businessmen and economic policy planners should also be interested in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) plan to speed up regional integration and create a common market by 2015, instead of 2020, as originally planned. This would allow the free flow of goods, services and investment across the region so it can better compete in the global economy.
Asean leaders are also expected to sign the organization’s charter that will be soon remembered as the Cebu Accord or something of the like? Have the media informed us about its relevance?
Are we also ready for free trade within Asean? Can a stronger Asean help us cope with the Chinese economic juggernaut, which is wrecking havoc on several Philippine industries? What will be Cebu’s strategy so we can profit from globalization rather than be pushed aside by it?
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Is the reported unity between estranged brothers Lito and Sonny Osmeña for real? Well, some friends think so primarily because, with Sen. Serge Osmeña on his last term, it is of their family interest to have an Osmeña still exerting his presence in the next Senate.
Lito O is the key in convincing Mayor Tomas Osmeña not to be hard on his estranged cousin. I don’t know if Lito could persuade the Garcias to also be easy on Sonny O. But I think their task would be easy if Sonny O runs again with the administration.
However, the Lito-Sonny unity could also be a reassertion of political dominance in the province that the Osmeñas gained in 1988. If this is the objective, they will be going against the Garcias, who intend to further strengthen their present political leadership.
(superbalita@sunstar.com.ph or anol.blogs.friendster.com/anols_blog)
