WHETHER or not the construction of the P55-million 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games cauldron is anomalous or not, “it personifies the new character of the Philippines as a strong economy”, according to Albay Second District Representative Joey Salceda.
Much to my desire to disagree Salceda, I am hesitant, since his record shows he was the 1995 Asiamoney’s awardee as “Best Analyst”; and “Best Economist” for four straight years from 1993 to 1996. Those years of course, he was not among the allies of today’s ruling party. Recently, however, when he defended the 30th SEA Games organizers for the “Imeldific” cauldron as reasonable, I began to question how he got those previous awards.
It is a common knowledge that Filipinos are hospitable. That we often heard someone has to borrow money from relatives and neighbors if only to complete looks and luxury at home, to please the visitors coming for a barrio fiesta. After the merriment, just when the visitors left, the couple starts to review the expenses, ensued by fiery arguments, then the plates begun to fly outside the windows.
We can forgive the couples who may be financially illiterate. But it is a different story when a country full of equitable managers and economists fall into shortage of halal foods, poor accommodation, ramshackle mobility and render a financial catastrophe if only to erect the supposedly “symbol of strong economy”. Which is why, even the visitors are still coming, there are already finger-pointing of the prudent citizens from both political flanks.
Had this country’s economy been strong enough, why the good President Rodrigo Duterte has to engage in sundry foreign trips to solicit investors and gratified to bag home with a very minimal portfolio? Is it not because though tiny is the investment, we valued it, as we badly need it, for the ailing economy?
Salceda must understand that the true economically stabled country is not determined in a showoff of a once in a blue moon event, but it is indexed by the satisfaction of the citizens.
The P6-billion expenditures for hosting a 12-day sports event is way below other host-countries have spent during their time, but our economy cannot warrant such expenditures. The more we show to the world that we have something to display, when in fact beyond our capacity, the more we become a laughingstock.
The P55-million worth Stadium Cauldron stands 50 meters tall and 3 meter-diameter, built outside the New Clark City in Pampangga which will be lighted by gymnast Carlos Yulo during the opening of the 30th SEA Games on November 30. But the opening ceremonies as scheduled will be held approximately 93 kilometers away from the Cauldron. That is in the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan, about an hour travel distance.
President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Bong Go vow to investigate the snafu. We hope the findings will settle that the cauldron truly symbolize the Philippines’ strong economy; not a fresh reminder to every by-passer that the 30th SEAG cauldron is one of the most controversial projects during his administration which could perhaps one among the nightmarish issues on 2022 elections.