Way back in the late 60's an intrepid group of Sunvalley ladies, headed by the late Jojo Javier, a Pro-Patria Awardee, trooped to Cardinal Sin to plead for the establishment of a parish in Sunvalley. The were inspired by Fr. Quaranta who said (at the time he brought over the image of the Lady of the Most Holy Rosary to Sunvalley) : THIS LADY WILL UNVEIL A MIRACLE FOR SUNVALLEY.
True enough, OLMHR parish soon became a reality and a Church built from generous contributions of the people. A MIRACLE indeed! The prime mover: the ladies of Sunvalley then known as THE LADIES AUXILIARY of the Sunvalley Homeowners' Association.
Through the years, the Sunvalley Ladies spear headed the development and beautification of Sunvalley under the auspices of the Association.
The Ladies' Auxiliary meta morphed to what is now known as THE GARDEN CLUB. Largely thru their efforts, these ladies have left our subdivision clean and green thru the years.
Their latest accomplishment: THE 14 STATION OF THE CROSS.
Their ultimate mission/vision: to develop Sunvalley so that it will be known as the FLOWER AND GREEN VILLAGE of Metro Manila!
by A SUNVALLEY HISTORIAN
Showing posts with label apolo essays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label apolo essays. Show all posts
Friday, March 21, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
GUANXI AND ACCEPTING GIFTS
Under the Graft and Corrupt Practices Law, government officers and employees are prohibited from accepting any gifts, regardless of the value. In other words, the prohibition is ABSOLUTE.
This prohibition runs counter, however, to the Asian culture known as GUANXI. As explained by an internationally credible strategic forecasting outfit, one's relationship obligations require that "gifts" be provided in return for certain favors. In China, for example, this practice is quite acceptable under "guanxi". Not only is this considered ethical but the Chinese legal system would have trouble seeing this action as violating the law of China.It is culturally understood that the written law - like Anglo-American common laws- makes room for guanxi.
"GUANXI CULTURE" seems to be acceptable in our jurisdiction too, despite the clear prohibition in our law, particularly the prohibition involving government officers and employees.
Granting that "guanxi" culture is now part of our culture, what are the limits of gift giving? Will P50,000 or even P500,000 be an acceptable limit under guanxi?
Our lawmakers need to re-examine this particular afore cited provision of the law, to clearly define the limits of this "guanxi" culture.
This prohibition runs counter, however, to the Asian culture known as GUANXI. As explained by an internationally credible strategic forecasting outfit, one's relationship obligations require that "gifts" be provided in return for certain favors. In China, for example, this practice is quite acceptable under "guanxi". Not only is this considered ethical but the Chinese legal system would have trouble seeing this action as violating the law of China.It is culturally understood that the written law - like Anglo-American common laws- makes room for guanxi.
"GUANXI CULTURE" seems to be acceptable in our jurisdiction too, despite the clear prohibition in our law, particularly the prohibition involving government officers and employees.
Granting that "guanxi" culture is now part of our culture, what are the limits of gift giving? Will P50,000 or even P500,000 be an acceptable limit under guanxi?
Our lawmakers need to re-examine this particular afore cited provision of the law, to clearly define the limits of this "guanxi" culture.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Quo Vadis: Philippines? Solutions, not Lampoons!
Preface of the upcoming book - Quo Vadis: Philippines? (Towards peace, justice and progress) Solutions, Not Lampoons.
Martin Luther King, Jr., a peace advocate, said:
“OUR LIVES BEGIN TO END THE DAY
WE BECOME SILENT ABOUT THINGS
THAT MATTER”
What matters now are PEACE, JUSTICE and PROGRESS in this our benighted land.
Thus, inspite of having written already three (3) books and expressing our views on various forums , (written or verbal) I dare again to write this book on things that matters now. I do not want my life to begin to end inspite of the fact that in my advancing years I may be in the so-called pre-departure area already.
The emphasis of this book is to find solutions (not lampoons) to the many social, political and economic problems facing our beloved
Maybe some of the solutions proposed are just ‘little things’ but as Father James B. Reuter used to tell the author:
“Little things make up to perfection
but perfection is not a little thing.”
A Call to Action!
As early as 1987, right after EDSA I, a core group of concerned citizens, namely:
Dr. Cynthia Bautista,
Dr. Ma.
Dr. Doreen Fernandez, Communication Dep’t Ateneo
Dr.
Dr. Lourdes Ignacio,
Dr. Patricia Jieuanan, Political Science Dep’t , UP
Prof. Felipe Miranda, Political Science Dep’t Ateneo
Prof. Carmela Otigas, Psychology Dep’t, Ateneo
Dr. Antonio Perlas, Dep’t of Health/Pfizer, Inc.
Dr. Carol Sobritebea,
Initiated and launched a movement called “MOVEMENT” TOWARDS MORAL RECOVERY” (MMR).
Among others, MMR outlined the issues facing us as a nation, thus:
1. Poverty Issues – that people do not have enough of the basics food: clothing, shelter, adequate education and health care.
2. Ecological Issue – that our trees are dying, forest is bare, fertility of the soil has been reduced to 50%, that our rivers and seas are polluted.
3. Graft and Corruption Issue – that our national coffers have been robbed; that smuggling, dollar salting, tax evasion from the 1,000 corporations, mishandling of public funds, graft and corruption are still rampant practices constituting economic sabotage.
4. Justice Issue - that our courts grind slowly for those who are without power in our society, that people in general do not obey the laws nor the rules especially in our streets.
5. That ‘more concern’ is in fact being promoted which makes law evasion almost a virtue. Sex Exploration of Women and Children – that our children and women are sexually exploited; that our men become exploiters particularly of women and do not collectively fight for the dignity of their women and children.
6. Social Justice Issue – that a significant number of our farmers, fishermen and tribal minorities are severely suffering from lack of access to life.
7. Discrimination – that our women, youth and children are discriminated against in work benefits.
8. Oppression – that syndicates among the poor exist to oppress their own kind.
9. Materialism and Consumerism – in a country with so much poverty, persons are becoming materialistic and consumeristic.
10. Violence – that life has become very cheap; violence is projected in media; pornography takes away all sense of nobility.
11. Outmigration – that the
12. Colonial Mentality – still a colonial mentality exist in the
13. Inefficiency and Poor Public Service – that our government bureaucracies still lack discipline and a sense of service to people.
14. Threat of a Coup de’ Etat – that some persons wish to violate the constitution by an unlawful seizure of power.
Well Defined. But the question is: Considering contemporary scenery and happenings, which of these issues have been adequately or even just superficially solved?
Hardly! Because all things considered our country is still in the same, if not worse situation 20 years ago!
We hope that this book, even in little things, will offer some solutions to some of these issues/problems.
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