Kobe Paras plays in the NBA before he turns 23.
Fat chanc e , since it’s a rather long list, as against limited time on this planet. So this might sound like more of a fantasy roster of desiderata. Well, some are doable, especially those of local application. 1. But I’d have to start this listicle by headlining a personal bucket list, collectively as Item No. 1 — of places and travel experiences to add to the beenthere-done-that notches on a peripatetic belt. I’ll mention only the primary ones: witnessing the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis, traipsing around Easter Island, Bora Bora and Machu Picchu, lingering on a lavender field abloom in southern France, dining on the prized kanburi
sashimi in winter in the Japanese coastal city of Kanazawa, setting foot on the Isle of Islay to check out my clod of earth as a Laphroaig single malt whisky fan club claimant, then stepping into pubs and distilleries for wee drams of various Island malts… Ah, enough. 2. Items No. 2 to No. 20 or 22 feature a local wishlist, some of these eminently attainable in my lifetime, with maybe a couple or so as shots in the dark that would require acceleration of process.
For the nonce, simply: An end to the summary killings in our streets, or at least a significant reduction in number and frequency. This has nothing to do with political or ideological leanings. Even in support of the present Administration, I’m still one of those who can’t agree that the end justifies the means, that any human life can be regarded so cheaply, or that human rights is merely democratic fluff. In place of those: due process, due process, due process. 3.
That the Marcos issue be laid to rest, but not with burial at Libingan ng Mga Bayani. No need to heighten divisiveness. 4. An end to the Abu Sayyaf, kidnappings for ransom, terrorism and armed conflict in Mindanao. Heck, make that all over our archipelago, inclusive of an end to the NPA or any armed revolution. In brief: Peace, rational discourse, unity and cooperation all over our islands. I join the hope that our new President accomplishes this patriotic objective, which is certainly more essential than winning any war against the drug menace. 5.
A modern international airport that does us proud, finally. Whether it’s Clark or Sangley hand-in-hand with easy access to the metropolis, this has got to be put in place, or much of it, before Prez Duterte’s term ends. 6. Transfer of the international seaport from Manila to Batangas, or much of it — to result in a severe reduction of container trucks on metropolitan roads. Maybe a rail system can augment or replace this form of cargo conveyance. While we’re at it, redevelopment of the long-languishing C-6, on which trucks going south-to-north and vice versa can pass without affecting much of the metropolitan core. 7. Much-improved mass transit systems, and eventually, a subway in Metro Manila. 8. In the long run, decongestion of Metro Manila with the development of other cities and income opportunities thereat. 9.
In the very long run, without getting futuristic, the establishment of our first city facing the Pacific. Despite being in the typhoon tracks, such a city can signal a new dawn, directly facing sunrise from the ocean that marks us as the gateway to Asia. Maybe this can rise in Quezon or Aurora. It could also mean a revisit of former senator Ed Angara’s vision of a canal that would serve as a short cut from right above the Bicol peninsula to southern Luzon, for cargo passage, regional development and tourism. 10. The passage of the Freedom of Information bill and its signing into law, to augment the FOI executive order that only applies to the executive department. 11.
An effective and practical Anti-Dynasty Law. 12. A rethink and modification of the party list system in Congress — obviously long been abused by personalities pretending to represent sectors that aren’t exactly marginalized.
13.
An end to petty legislation on the renaming of extant streets. Congressmen who want to honor anyone can simply wait for new streets to name. 14.
Stronger legislation on heritage preservation to preempt the further destruction of heritage buildings and sites. 15. Effective reforestation and protection of biodiversity sites. 16. A stop to sand mining that particularly benefits China. 17. Strict implementation of the ban on tricycles on national roads. 18. The effective development of PTV-4 as an alternative TV station with intelligent programming, even if this would require a hefty subsidy. 19.
In the far future, economic development of the rich potential that is Benham Rise off northeast Luzon. 20.
Maybe this can eventually be applied worldwide, but the Philippines could serve as a pilot area for Facebook’s introduction of a combined IQ/EQ test as a requisite for participation. Hopefully, this will limit the number of trolls and retards, not just on the basis of their mutilation of spelling, grammar and logic niceties. Polemics can be deferred on the acceptability of frequent posts of images and video of babies, cats and food porn. Selfies will continue to be held sacrosanct, as long as they’re not accompanied by textual mutilation of spelling, grammar and logic niceties. 21.
A Filipino world chess champion. Either Wesley So steps up his pursuit of the crown or he marries early, preferably an Ukrainian lady grandmaster, and quickly raises a whiz kid of a pawnpusher. 22. Kobe Paras plays in the NBA before he turns 23. 23. (This number is significant.) An end to instant super teams in the NBA. Trading of ring-hungry superstars to existing crown contenders will be disallowed. 24. Tan-ta-ra-ran! China’s comeuppance with regards its ridiculous claim to almost an entire sea just because early forbears sailed its waters. As descendants of the Vikings, Scandinavians never claimed the Baltic Sea or the North Sea. India doesn’t claim to own the Indian Ocean. Nor do Polynesians claim parts of the Pacific. Enough of the silly arrogance, greed, and bullyboy tactics, China! 25.
From here on, we step into the realm of fantasy, except for our last item. Far, far, far into the future, a superman or a league of superheroes actually takes over the leadership of the United Nations, and their word becomes world law. Their superpowers make this easy. First off, we see the extinction of ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Taliban, and all other terrorist groups. Even lone-wolf acts of terrorism are nipped in the bud. 26.
This Super or Uber United Nations (UNN) also acts on what have long been held as traditional commercial and cultural practices in various parts of the world, but which in the interest of political correctness and the demands of the new world order of harmony, peace, and defense of animal rights puts an end to seal-clubbing in Canada, Norway and elsewhere, dog-eating in China, and whale hunting by the Japanese, Norwegians and Icelanders. The haka practice of New Zealand sports teams and the penis festival in Japan may gain exemptions. 27. Also by virtue of the powers of the Uber UN, the women in the Middle East will be given the privilege of choice in showing their hair in public, driving cars, and wearing regular uniforms when joining sports teams, as well as practicing in multi-gender gyms and swimming pools. The new Iranian legislation allowing men to marry 13-year-old adopted stepdaughters will be laughed at, and rescinded. Female genital mutilation anywhere in the world will also stop. 28. Despite still being based in New York, the UNN will dissolve the Republican Party and institute a multi-party system in the good ol’ USA, thus leading to the rewrite of the Second Amendment that will incorporate a commonsensical policy on gun sales and ownership, and also write finis to the throwback-era influence of the NRA. 29. The UNN will also retire Kanye West, and maybe exile him to North Korea, whose pathetic existence as a planetary court jester will be allowed to continue, minus any WMDs or weird leadership hairstyles. 30.
Finally, on a personal note, I hope to see my daughter establish her own veterinary clinic, as long as it does not perform poodle hairstyling in the manner of North Korean leadership.