More attention on economy

REPORTS about the falling growth rate and rising hunger incidence reinforce calls for the government to pay greater attention to the economy. President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino 3rd campaigned with the slogan saying that fewer people would be poor if there were less corruption.

Nearly two years after being elected, President Aquino and his team have boasted of major accomplishments in their anticorruption campaign. Among these are the jailing of former President Gloria Arroyo, the removal of Merceditas Gutierrez as Ombudsman, and the impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona. However, we have yet to see the fruits of the good governance campaign as reflected on economic bellwethers.

To be fair to President Aquino and his economic managers, they do cite economic accomplishments. But to be fair to the public, he and his team need to do much more, as the recent economic reports indicate.

The Philippines faces a host of problems, and we need more capable leaders who can address more than one issue at a time. In other words, we need greater focus on the economy and other issues without sacrificing good governance. Besides, we believe that President Aquino has a better chance of realizing his anticorruption aims only if fewer Filipinos are mired in poverty.

IWILL be turning 44 this month and my mom has been with our Creator since 1998. Her gentle reminders are, however, still very much alive in my head and in my heart: “Wait until you become a parent and you will understand;” “Don’t be in a rush to grow up because the easiest part of life is when you’re in school;” “Don’t do anything you will later regret.”

Now that I am a parent myself, I appreciate how our parents raised me and my brothers. Based on Manny’s recollection of his childhood, I am also grateful how his parents raised him. To a certain extent, we are compelled to be firmer and sterner on our children than our parents have been on us; believing “more” ensures that they become “better”. After all, it is said that our legacy are our children. The best proof of how we are as parents is what becomes of them.

In a lot of ways, leaders are like parents. Leaders set the direction. They make sure that the roadmap leading to the goals agreed upon is followed, and they consistently inspire and motivate to make sure that objectives are achieved. Leaders are looked upon as role models and exemplars in both their public and private lives, in work and in play, on weekdays and on weekends. If we think leaders, like parents, exert a lot of power and influence, then the responsibility that goes with it should be the same, if not greater.

In this regard, the impeachment trial is a test for the leaders of our country in the three branches of government (executive, legislative and judiciary) and a test for all the actors playing a role in it, whether or not they are lawyers, whether or not they are with the prosecution or with the defense, as to where our country is headed.

Are we going to have a government free from corruption? Are our country, democracy and leaders mature enough to handle the consequences, whatever the verdict may be? Is Chief Justice Renato Corona’s experience discouraging enough for others not to follow his example? What happens next?

The impeachment trial is also my test, not on remedial law that both former Justice Serafin Cuevas and Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago seem to impress they invented and hence give them the right to lecture at