30/10/2025
The answers I wish to hear to the questions posed by my friend, Dr. Clarita Carlos...
Memo for those threatening to overthrow the present leadership: �
1. What does the “day after” look like? A brighter, more hopeful day for Filipinos. The plunderers are in jail awaiting their day in court.�
2. Do you have a Roadmap on how to eradicate poverty which has overwhelmed our Republic? Yes. The leaders must be the exemplars, not the exempted. New constitution. No more political dynasties.
3. Will you be able increase the “velocity” of filing of cases versus all the rogues in our society while following due process and all the requirements of our justice system? Yes. Cases must be decided on a timeline. Dilatory tactics will not be tolerated.
4. Will you be able to cajole the foreign investors to put their money in the Philippines? No need to cajole. Just show them that we have a reliable government where the playing field is level.
5. Will be able to collect all kinds of taxes much more efficiently than what is being done presently? Yes. But we need to revisit our tax laws and remove discretion of tax collectors. Jail both the taxpayer and tax collector in case of shenanigans. Give hefty rewards to whistleblowers.
6. Will you be able stave off the worsening educational capabilities of our young? Yes. If there's no corruption, there's enough to improve the educational system. Leapfrog by leveraging technology in giving marketable skills to the young people. Copy best practices. Reverse brain drain. Entice brilliant Filipinos abroad to help with worthwhile incentives.
7. Will you have a recipe to make us food secure and not have to import rice, onions, salt, etc? Yes, of course. We are a country blessed with natural resources. Have a national food security program sans corruption and get real technocrats to run it.
8. Will you be able to make us energy secure by moving towards 100% renewables? Yes. There must be a long term plan to do that. There's an amount charged in every electric bill for "renewables". Find out where the billions went. Use it.
9. Will you have the boldness to undertake a genuine bureaucratic reform? Yes. Political will is imperative or everything is for naught. Change the constitution. Learn from the best practices of "clean" countries like Singapore, Sweden, etc.
10. Do you have the courage to radically shift our foreign policy towards multialignment in a multipolar world, instead of being the tail of the American kite or China’s “vassal” state? Yes. That's the only rational foreign policy. A friend to all, an enemy to none. Dialogue with China.
11. Do you have the solution for the continuing insurgency in our country? That's the easiest part. What fuels the insurgency is poverty and injustice. Fix the two and insurgency will automatically evaporate. Meantime, ask armed groups to lay their arms or else...
If your answers to all the foregoing is YES, then, go ahead with your adventure…
But, if your answers to all the foregoing is NO or MAYBE, then, go back to sleep and continue dreaming amidst your beautiful and elegant PowerPoints!
So, there...
(John Raña)
