Willie Revillame to be charged for violation of RA 7610: Exploiting Jan-Jan

For Willie Revillame, host of the primetime evening show, Willing Willie, exploiting the weaknesses of people is ENTERTAINMENT. 


For Revillame, host of the primetime evening show, Willing Willie, being financed by PLDT's Manny Pangilinan and Viva Entertainment, exploiting old people, children and women is ENTERTAINMENT.


I am not surprised that another 6 year old child was exploited by the same man whom his former partner accused of wife beating. see link


I am not at all surprised that this same man caused the deaths of some people in that classic stampede at the ULTRA.


I am not at all surprised to see every single night, poor people flocking to his show for goodies in exchange for humiliating them in public. Our poor folks, sorry to say, are accustomed to being humiliated by the rich. They don't have any option. Rather than be hungry, they will do everything possible,just to win 1,000 or 10,000. 


What I am surprised about is that this man is being supported by big businessmen, like Manny Pangilinan and Manny Villar. These people are supposed to be the shakers and movers of this Nation. These men are supposed to be of high integrity.


Do these businessmen realize that their names are also being dragged as protectors of Mr. Revillame, every single time this man gets caught with a misdemeanor or a crime?


Both Villar and Pangilinan are known for their "rags-to-riches" stories. Why are they allowing Willie to exploit the very class which they claimed to have belonged in the past?


Villar is a member of the committee in the Senate on women and children. Will he file a case against Revillame, for child exploitation? This is clearly a case not of entertainment, but of a violation of the law,  Article V, Section 9 of Republic Act No. 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act:

“Obscene Publications and Indecent Shows. – Any person who shall hire, employ, use, persuade, induce or coerce a child to perform in obscene exhibitions and indecent shows, whether live or in video, or model in obscene publications or pornographic materials or to sell or distribute the said materials shall suffer the penalty of prison mayor in its medium period.  If the child used as a performer, subject or seller/distributor is below twelve (12) years of age, the penalty shall be imposed in its maximum period. Any ascendant, guardian, or person entrusted in any capacity with the care of a child who shall cause and/or allow such child to be employed or to participate in an obscene play, scene, act, movie or show or in any other acts covered by this section shall suffer the penalty of prison mayor in its medium period.”

Imagine, how crass and how inhumane Willie Revillame was, when he coerced this boy, all of six years old, to dance before a crowd lusty for cheap tricks and cheap thrills.


Probably, Willie experienced the same humiliation when he was a kid. Probably a group of school thugs forced Willie to dance before them, while they throw rotten tomatoes at him. That explains why Willie's face is all cratered. 


I will not be surprised if Willie will, again, escape the fangs of the law. The law here in this country recognizes only one thing, and that is money. Fact is, the laws here do not have fangs.


This person who was once charged with wife molestation, who was repeatedly sanctioned by MTRCB for his dirty jokes and toilet-humour, who nearly escaped imprisonment for causing the injury and deaths of several people and now, like a sad joker, exploiting a weak child. 


Don't tell me that Jan-Jan is a professional artist willing to do what Willie did to him. 


Will Senator Pia Cayetano file a resolution to investigate this matter, or will she just let this incident go unnoticed? 


I found this complaint to be filed against Willie and I support this 100%

Hon. Loretta Ann P. Rosales, Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights

Sen. Pia S. Cayetano, Committee Chair, Youth, Women and Family Affairs

Hon. Corazon "Dinky" Juliano-Soliman, Secretary, Department of Social Welfare and Development

Hon. Grace Poe Llamanzares, Chairman, Movies and Television Ratings and Classification Board

Mr. Manny Pangilinan, Chairman, TV5

Justice Santiago M. Kapunan, Officer in Charge, Integrated Bar of The Philippines

Mr. John Rojo, President, Philippine Association of National Advertisers

Ms. Charmaine Canillas, Chairman, Ad Standards Council

Ateneo Human Rights Center

Council for the Welfare of Children

SUBJECT:             CHILD ABUSE ON WILLING WILLIE SHOW OF TV5

We wish to bring to your attention a deplorable incident that occurred during the March 12, 2011 episode of Willing Willie, hosted by Mr. Willie Revillame which was aired during TV5's primetime block. In the said episode, also posted on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YRCxh9q64w, a six-year-old boy named Jan-jan was shown dancing “ala-macho dancer," much to the delight of the host and the studio audience. As seen in the video, however, the boy was clearly distressed and humiliated by the said experience as evidenced by his crying while supposedly “entertaining” Mr. Revillame and his audience.

Children should be at school studying or playing at home. They should not be used as cheap sources of entertainment. The act of making children work is already unfortunate; however, the said act is even more deplorablewhen they lose their dignity and self respect in the process.

If TV shows that employ child actors are required to secure the necessary permits from the DSWD, are reality shows like Willing Willie required to do the same? Are representatives from the DSWD present to monitor these activities, especially for shows that air live?

We quote Article V, Section 9 of Republic Act No. 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act:

“Obscene Publications and Indecent Shows. – Any person who shall hire, employ, use, persuade, induce or coerce a child to perform in obscene exhibitions and indecent shows, whether live or in video, or model in obscene publications or pornographic materials or to sell or distribute the said materials shall suffer the penalty of prison mayor in its medium period. 

If the child used as a performer, subject or seller/distributor is below twelve (12) years of age, the penalty shall be imposed in its maximum period.

Any ascendant, guardian, or person entrusted in any capacity with the care of a child who shall cause and/or allow such child to be employed or to participate in an obscene play, scene, act, movie or show or in any other acts covered by this section shall suffer the penalty of prison mayor in its medium period.”

Clearly, what transpired during this episode of Willing Willie was a violation of this provision of the law.

We condemn the blatant act of subjecting poor Filipinos -- especially minors, a group that history has shown to be one of the most vulnerable sectors of our society -- to humiliation in shows like these in exchange for some quick cash. Given the financial hardships that they have to endure, they often feel forced to do acts that violate their dignity as human beings in exchange for keeping body and soul together.

We condemn the host, not only for failing to stop the boy, who was clearly uncomfortable with what he had to do, but more importantly for milking similar situations for the sake of selling the show and increasing its ratings.

We condemn the producers of the show and the management of TV5 not only for failing to act appropriately on this incident, but also for tolerating these kinds of shows, as well as the host's tasteless and humiliating antics.

We express disappointment towards the parents of the boy for subjecting their child to this horrible experience.

We express concern for the studio audience and others at home who found this incident amusing and entertaining.

We express disappointment towards all the advertisers of the show for failing to consider the content and the values of the shows in which they advertise.

We challenge our government agencies, particularly the DSWD and the MTRCB, to act promptly on this and other similar incidents, and to institute measures to protect young children when they appear on Willing Willie and similar shows.

In this regard, we would like to request the following actions from your office:

1. For Mr. Manny Pangilinan and the management of TV5 to immediately implement a temporary moratorium on the guesting of children on Willing Willie and similar shows;

1. For Mr. Willie Revillame and the producers of the show to issue a public apology to Jan-jan and all their other guests whom they have humiliated in the past, and to promise never to commit the same acts in their future episodes;

1. For the MTRCB to conduct an investigation and  review of the said episode to determine the violations made by the host and the producers of the show of the standards and regulations set by law and the Board, and impose corresponding penalties on those found guilty;

1. For the DSWD and the CHR to conduct an investigation into the said incident to determine the violations of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act and Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004,  committed by the host, the producers and the management of TV5,  and initiate legal action against those who will be found responsible;

1. For the DSWD and the MTRCB, in partnership with the TV networks in the country, to formulate regulations that will cover the appearance of children on game shows and other reality-TV themed shows, especially those that are aired live;

1. For the Committee on Youth, Women and Family Affairs of the Senate to conduct an investigation, in aid of legislation, to institute amendments to Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act and Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 to protect children from similar violations;

1. For the DSWD to provide counselling to Janjan and to all other children who participated on the show in the past for possible trauma and other physiological distress, as well as to their parents who consider subjecting their children to such experience as acceptable;

1. For the Integrated Bar of the Philippines to provide legal support to the victims of these abuses who may want to pursue legal action against those who will be found responsible by the relevant government agencies; and

1. For the Philippine Association of National Advertisers and AdBoard to forward this complaint to all their members, especially those who advertise on Willing Willie, and to request their members to temporarily cease placing ads on the show until the host, the producer and the management have complied with this request and instituted reforms to avoid a repeat of this incident in the future. Otherwise, we will be constrained to start a call to boycott the products of those who will refuse to heed this request.

We are expecting a prompt reply and action on your part. We will be continuously monitoring this issue and will continue to gather support from the general public through a Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Para-kay-Jan-jan-Shame-on-you-Willie-Revillame/102087546543288) we have started, as well as the mainstream media.

Signed:

Vice President Noli de Castro's Coup

Tony Gatmaitan's prognostinations on the 2010 elections is fraught with errors. He says that in a multi-party scenario, the probable winner would be an administration bet. Yes, if the administration party successfully coalesce with LAKAS-CMD and field one candidate. But, what if someone spoils the broth and runs a parallel campaign outside the ambit of LAKAS-KAMPI CMD influence? What will be the effects of such a scenario?

There's a lot of buzz on the possible run for the presidency of Vice President Noli de Castro. De Castro has been topping the surveys despite the absence of infomercials or PR campaigns.

Recently, he topped the SWS and Pulse Asia surveys. There’s a palpable and stable mass base support for De Castro. With rumours of PLDT honcho Manny Pangilinan’s support behind him, De Castro is gaining more traction and more businessmen are re-thinking their options as to who to support in 2010.

If De Castro indeed decides to run and launches a separate, yet parallel, campaign organization outside LAKAS-KAMPI CMD, this will be a repeat of the administration debacle in 1998, and will eventually lead to a win coming from the counter-elite ranks.

In 1998, Vice President Joseph Estrada won 40% majority votes over the administration bet Joe de Venecia. Two things that Erap has under his disposal then---enormous government resources using his office and businessman support. Of course, there was this perceived “Erap magic”, a PR creation, which was useful only to the extent of justifying the win.

Analysts were quick to point out that it was not magic that caused Erap to snatch the presidency from the incumbent—it was a fractured administration party. Remember that De Venecia ran an election paralleled with that of former Defense secretary Renato de Villa’s. Ramos reportedly supported both campaigns, thinking that the more bets to field against Estrada, the more likely an administration bet to win. Their analysis faltered because despite fielding dummy bets (Manoling Morato, etc.), Estrada still won because of his powerful grassroots organization.

Aside from De Venecia and De Villa eating up the administration support bases, Estrada also ate up in their bases as well, because he was the Vice President at that time. Estrada used the V-P office to smash the grassroots support of the administration. If Estrada ran for the presidency without government resources at his disposal, he could have lost the presidency and allowed either De Venecia or De Villa to get it.

Now, Vice President Noli de Castro enjoys being in the same situation as that of Erap’s. He has many supporters occupying sensitive government posts. He has his own army of local executives who support him. And now, he even has support from the biggest telecommunications firm in the country.

If talks fail between De Castro’s group and those of LAKAS-KAMPI CMD, and De Castro decides to do it on his own, his campaign will surely affect the chances of the administration. De Castro will surely eat up the constituencies of LAKAS-KAMPI CMD. He’ll be the strongest bet but will eventually lose to an opposition bet. Why?

De Castro has the same constituency as that of Teodoro’s and Richard Gordon’s. His support base is bigger than Teodoro’s and Gordon’s constituencies combined. Gordon registers a dismal 1% trust rating while Teodoro’s is still being determined; but most likely, he’ll get at least 5% of the votes. Compare that with De Castro’s who consistently registers between 19 to 22% trust and confidence ratings.

Hence, it is critical for the administration to field De Castro rather than risk losing the elections behind a Teodoro or Gordon campaign. If De Castro becomes the administration bet, then, it’s a lost game for the opposition. A De Castro-Teodoro tandem is a strong contender against any tandem of the opposition and pseudo opposition. It stands to get at least 30-35% of the votes.

Should LAKAS-KAMPI CMD fail to get De Castro, and De Castro aligns with the Nacionalista, with Villar sliding to the vice-presidency, the only option for the administration is support De Castro through the backdoor and convince Teodoro and Gordon to just run for senate posts. For if they decide to field a Teodoro-Gordon tandem, they’ll repeat the grievous mistake they did in 1998. A Teodoro campaign will fold up under the strength of a De Castro-Villar campaign. While a De Castro-Villar tandem would surely crumble since it most likely get a measly 25 to 30% of the votes.

Of course, Villar’s expected slide to the vice presidency will not benefit De Castro. Villar does not have a loyal mass following compared with Erap. His endorsement of De Castro will not improve De Castro’s 22% chance of getting top billing. De Castro will have to contend with a Mar Roxas with a possible 25-30% chances of winning, should Villar slides to the second highest post and Ping Lacson runs as his tandem.

Now, it is also highly likely that an Escudero-Legarda or vice versa tandem would benefit more from this scenario than Mar's, if Mar's group would be able to prevent it.

AKO MISMO advocacy & Monetizing Nationalism Part 2

I don't question the core of AKO MISMO's ADvocacy---people need to be roused from their apathy and make them realize that every small thing or act they do right could lead to change, however small it is. That's admirable.

Yet, there is nothing revolutionary nor new about AKO MISMO's advocacy. Simply put, it is as traditional as any other Corporate Social Responsibility campaigns, albeit, deceptive at its best. It puts the onus of change in the individual, which, by itself, has been a tried and already much tested strategy in change movements.

Put it in the present context and you have people who'll really question the very purity of its motives. First, why is DDB Media so protective of SMART Communications as a backer or sponsor? Are they ashamed of the telecommunications giant? No SMART or PLDT logo in their website when everyone knows that its SMART or any of its affiliates is behind them?

Second, they tried to pull a fast one by employing the age-old marketing tactic of tribalism, which is a good strategy. If they did the launching in a more non-fanciful way, it could have been better and more effective.

For example, it would have been better if they allowed their message of change to sink in first in the consciousness of the people before they aired that TVC in primetime television, yes? Naging masyadong atat ang DDBMEDIA in airing those TVCs because it's plain and simple money for them. In legitimate change movements, they don't air TVCs or ads immediately simply because they don't really have money and it puts to waste those precious hours spent in making the advocacy as pure as possible.

The very fact that they immediately launched their "online movement" in the traditional medium shows you the innate desire to commercialize a pure change advocacy. Simply put, they are after ad money---not what they wrote in their website.

That's the thing---DDB MEDIA should have been forthright with us, the People, about their motives.

AKO MISMO, Smart?

Aside from allegations of phishing activities, AKO MISMO faces a more severe problem--it plays on the hopelessness of the Filipino and tries to make a fast buck out from an already tired and overpromised citizenry.

Who is behind AKO MISMO? Let their website reveal who they really are:

Who is Behind Ako Mismo?
DDB CARESDDB's newest advocacy campaign has been getting a lot of attention to the agency's amazement. This has in fact given them more conviction to stand behind their cause and continue their crusade for positive change.It's no surprise though that AKO MISMO is arousing a lot of people's interest. The commercial undeniably stirred very deep patriotic sentiments among the viewing public that immediately
thousands went online to check the site and signed up to make commitments."We knew we had something great when we came up with the advocacy.", said Teeny Gonzales, Executive Creative Director of DDB, who heads up the creative team that conceptualized AKO MISMO.
"That's because even among us, the message really resonated. It made us all look
deep inside and say, 'No, we're not giving up hope.' " She said that they then went in
search of possible partners for the cause and found the perfect one in PLDT/Smart Foundation. Members of the team then went on another search. This time for the people who would breathe life into the campaign --- people who embodied the message or simply had the conviction to make a commitment to fight apathy. Thus the rich mix of showbiz celebrities, real life heroes as well as regular folk who spoke simply but sincerely in the TV commercial, bringing the point poignantly home.Susan Dimacali, Vice-Chairman of DDB Group of Companies said, "We were overwhelmed with the positive response and people saying that the campaign made them realize that they should stop complaining and start doing their part. There were a lot who chose to put their cynicism aside and truly support the advocacy. It was amazing and
touching reading the wall of commitments on the site. We're grateful for the support of our partners that has allowed us to reach more people and create a real impact."DDB has, in the past, also supported and made campaigns for women's rights, the preservation of the environment, Caritas as well as responsible voting in the last local elections.Many are asking what they can look forward to from AKO MISMO. John Lucas, Managing Director of Tribal DDB said, "There is a lot of clamor for the dog tag so, we hear you! We will be announcing soon how you can get those. There are activities lined-up which you also learn more about from the site."Clearly,
the DDB Team is upbeat and excited about their newest advocacy."That's because,"
Dimacali says, this is something really close to our hearts and something that, yes, we truly care about.

Okey.

DDB cares---or so they say. So, this is DDB Media's advocacy. But, who funds it? Why did they not reveal who forked those millions of pesos for the TVC and the website and all the other advertising stuff. Surely, these people did not use their own personal money, yes? How would you trust an organization with a highly sensitive political advocacy when they already lied about who's behind the campaign?

And why is AKO MISMO very similar with Smart's "ME na ME" campaign?

Is DDB Media ashamed to say that SMART and PLDT are behind them? Why? Because that would tell people that this thing is actually part of the marketing strategy of SMART to pull in more subscribers?

Or, they're ashamed to say that this is the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of the telecommunications giant and it wants to save money by being just a "coordinator" of other CSR campaigns?

DDBMEDIA also owes the public an explanation---where will they spend the money collected from the public? DDB Media is NOT a foundation nor a non-governmental organization. Is DDB media allowed by law to solicit money from the public?

If DDBMEDIA is indeed, allowed by law, then, it should open its books to government and public scrutiny.

DDBMEDIA has a lot of explaining to do.

Yes, I agree with Susan Dimacali---their site is really getting a lot of responses, flak actually.

Ako Mismo--Monetizing Nationalism?

SMART Communications is playing a very dangerous game. Ako Mismo, a known affiliate of SMART through DDB Media led by former PLDT Senior official Antonio Samson is being charged with alleged phishing activities online. And AKO MISMO even revealed what goes on inside the SMART corporate boardrooms by revealing that the company has the tendency of using personal subscriber information to influence voter preferences.

Former Constitutional convention member Chito Garchitorena criticized the site and organizers of Ako Mismo for alleged phishing activities. Ako Mismo, an online movement which aims to raise political awareness among the youth, is engaged in personal info mining activities, charged Garchitorena. He says that the site will use the personal info of its members and sell these info to potential political entities come 2010.

I have'nt visited the site but I remember that I was invited by one of my friends to join Ako Mismo through Facebook. Now, I don't recall allowing them to do so, but I could be wrong though.

A certain Antonio Samson, a former PLDT official and chair of DDB Media, the outfit behind the Ako Mismo site defended its actions by saying that Ako Mismo does not need to gather personal info because Smart Communications already has 37 million subscribers. Ako Mismo, says Samson, just want to understand the issues and problems considered important by Filipinos.

If this is true, then, Samson just confirmed fears that SMART Communication and its affiliates intends to use its vast network to influence our political future in 2010. Bragging that a text blast is easier than maintaining a site, Samson just revealed an insidious mindset inside the SMART and PLDT corporate boardrooms---that this company is toying with the idea of injecting perception changing data right straight into our brains by using our personal information.

This is a violation of the secrecy and security agreement subscribers signed with SMART. When you sign up as a SMART subscriber, the company assures that all personal information of yours be kept strictly confidential and should never be used or sold to third parties.

If SMART Communications is using AKO MISMO as a bogey, a ploy, or a front for alleged money-making activities in the future, stop right now. I have high regard with the people behind SMART. I met Mon Isberto and his team and they are honest people. Yet, those who conceived AKO MISMO is doing a great disservice to our people.

Stop. Desist right now. Fire those people who thought of this concept. This is a very, very dangerous game you're doing right now, if this is true. Phishing is an illegal and immoral online activity. It not only taints the good brand equity of SMART---it also opens the company to numerous lawsuits. AKO MISMO invites subscribers like me to sue them should they use my personal info and sell it to the highest political bidder.

I ask Filipino citizens, especially subscribers of SMART Communications to file a restraining order before the courts, asking the telecommunications giant to cease and desist from using the personal info of its subscribers for any future fiduciary gain, other than keeping a personal subscriber file.

Predatory governments a threat to democracy

Our government tried dipping its hands in the corporate pot during the dictatorship. When effective controls were lifted in the post-Martial law regimes, government owned and controlled corporations lost profitability and closed down. This affected growth which forced government to institute privatization to generate revenues.

When governments such as ours assume a predatory nature, foreign investments tend to get affected. If you look at the figures, the more predatory a government becomes, the less FDI flows in.

However, in the case of Meralco, this regime thinks it can do a better job managing electricity rates than what the Lopezes are doing. In the interest of the public, says Ermita and Gloria poster boy Winston Garcia, it's time to seize the utility firm from private hands. This policy is a reversal from the previous government privatization stance.

If this happens, what now with oil companies? Surely, this sends a chilling message to all those companies directly transacting with the public. Next to Meralco, will Gloria run after oil companies such as Shell, Petron, Caltex, etal? All the more she should do that. These oil companies rake in billions of pesos of profits.

How about telecommunications companies? With high call rates, all the more should Gloria and her misfits seize them to effectively lower rates. They should be seized as well.

Its a laudable effort on the part of Gloria to call for a lowering of electricity rates since compared with our Asian neighbours, our power rates are higher than them. A lowered electricity rate brings in more investments since the investment climate is perceived to be better.

Gloria's efforts at enhancing our competitive advantages as an investment site are sterling accomplishments. Nonetheless, Gloria should not be targetting just Meralco. She should also target PLDT, Bayantel and Globe Telecommunications. She also should take over Shell, Petron and Caltex, the three big players in the oil industry. Next to them, she should also seize food companies, especially those rice importers since they directly affect Pinoy lives. And even those wheat traders. All should be fair game.

As expected, we tend to like reverse growth instead of progressive growth. Predation is an anti-thesis of democracy. This is an extreme form of nationalism, an aberration in an increasingly globalized world.

When Taipans Speak

Guys,

When rational and non-political people such as PLDT head honcho Manny V. Pangilinan talks, everybody listens. Manny exudes an authoritative air, but not of the despicable kind. A natural-born leader, Manny's one of just a few Pinoys worth emulating.

In Ricky Carandang's interview of MVP, like other Filipinos, he wants to know the truth. He had his time to ponder and what he thinks should be considered, especially by Gloria.

This interview should be read before reading Randy David's article today published in the Inquirer. David said that there should be a resolution of this issue of seeking the truth. Whatever that is, it depends on the people.

For me, the search for truth has ended. This government has categorically said that they are not interested in giving the Filipino even an inch of space to know what the real truth is. The question that we now face is--what should we do about it? Will we just let this government rule us with impunity and without giving us any dignity? Or will we unite to show the world that we condemn such acts of corruption, indecency, impunity and inhumane-ness? God, as what David hopes, should bless us.

MVP: 'Let's find out what the truth is'

(Manuel V. Pangilinan, chairman of the board of PLDT, spoke recently with Ricky Carandang on the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) show, The Big Picture. Excerpts from the interview in Hong Kong, where Pangilinan, also known as “MVP”, is the managing director of the Hong Kong-based investment firm, First Pacific Co. Ltd.)

Ricky Carandang: Millions of Filipinos have left the country to work and live abroad. Their reasons may vary, but most of them dream of earning a decent living and providing a security for their future. Manny Pangilinan left the country in the 1970s to find a job in Hong Kong. Little did he expect that he would succeed beyond the wildest dreams of many overseas Filipinos. Pangilinan’s success may be uncommon, but it is a sign of what Filipinos can achieve abroad.

ON MVP SPENDING MORE TIME WITH FIRST PACIFIC

Q. Is Manny Pangilinan looking for a new challenge?

A. Well, I guess so. It's time we looked at new things. There are two main anchors to our business, mainly Indofood and PLDT. And now emerging is Metro Pacific, which is investments in medical care, in the water system. So we’d like to create a third or fourth leg, if you may, to First Pacific.

Q. Why is that? What’s driving you to look for something new? Indofood and PLDT are both doing well. You could, very well, just coast along.

A. Well, as they say, work expands to fill the time required. So, I’m not as much needed in PLDT as much as I was when I was CEO. [He remains PLDT chairman of the board.--Ed] So, in a way, it discharges my responsibility as well as the CEO of First Pacific. The mandate has been to grow the businesses on a regional basis so I still have to fulfill that mandate.

Q. And this is where you’re going now.

A. That’s correct.

ON HIS BEING THE ‘ULTIMATE OFW’

Q. You started here in Hong Kong, some people could say, and I’ve referred to you once or twice as the ultimate OFW. You came here seeking a job and I don’t know if you even imagined being here and doing what you’re doing.

A. No. I mean, I think for me to pretend that I knew what I was going to do when I left the shores of Manila way back in 1976, Feb. 28 to be precise, with four suits and two pairs of shoes. At that time, I had no idea really where I would be headed. I knew I was going to be an executive director of Bancom International at that time, and thereafter, just progressed towards the founding of First Pacific in 1981. And we started as a banking and trading group, and now, we’re quite different from where we were 26, 27 years ago.

Q. Did you come out here thinking, you know, 'I wanna make a little bit more money, I wanna have a nice stable job. I wanna have decent growth prospects.' Or were you a little more ambitious than that at the beginning?

A. No, no. Well, I came over, well, partly to make money, as most OCWs must be motivated as well. And I had a time horizon equally. Like, I guess, most, if not all OCWs, after spending 5 years or so, I would go back to Manila and you know, that’s really your home. I had certain specific goals in mind both from a wealth perspective and a time perspective. But I spent 22 complete years in Hong Kong, so it just got into you.

Q. When did it change? When did you say, ‘Hey, maybe I don’t mind spending a significant portion of my time here’?

A. Well, age had a factor to it. Certainly, as you grow old, your desire to go back to Manila increases. And at the same time, we made our investment in PLDT in 1998, and that was a significant investment. So I felt duty-bound to manage what I decided upon to invest into. And that was the beginning of a return back to Manila .

Q. But at that point, when you were thinking of acquiring PLDT, I suppose your ambitions got a little larger as well. It’s no longer having a nice comfortable life, it was more of buying this company and making it grow, and buying this company and making it the dominant force. The ambitions, I guess, get grander as you move higher up.

A. I guess so. Although when I went into PLDT in 1998, it was really an extreme focus on the job at hand. And to a degree, my time and attention with First Pacific suffered. There were give-ups in that sense. Now that I’ve relinquished my post there and now spend more time here, I could look at precisely what you’re saying: Look at grander things for First Pacific, and even for PLDT.

ON THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN RP

A. It’s in many, many respects, especially if you sit back and look at the situation in the Philippines from an offshore perspective, like here in Hong Kong, it is sad. A number of people here have commented that these are self-inflicted wounds by you guys out there. In many respects, that’s true.

A number of analyses have been proffered with respect to what the situation is. And they’ve been very, very interesting. Like the analysis of Mrs. [Winnie] Monsod and Chief Justice [Art] Panganiban, their columns and a few other columnists have tried to render a very objective and sober analysis of the situation and what are the options for the country.

And yet, when we watched, was it two Fridays ago [February 29], the rally in Makati? And from our building, from the 10th floor, you’re watching the people stream to Ayala Avenue. And most of the…at least from that stream, on our part of Makati, most of the rallyists were students. And you might intellectualize about the options available to the President or the country, but when you see these young kids out there in the streets, you can’t help feel but emotionally involved with the young people. And you ask yourself: Why do they have to march to the streets? They should be out there in the schools being, sort of being more productive as students. So in a way, the older generation is burdening the younger generation with something they shouldn’t be burdened with. I’d rather we solved the problems as the older folks. Because the kids will have their own problems in their generation.

Q. You mentioned students on the streets. That’s not something we’ve seen in recent years. What does students on the streets tell you?

A. Again, I can’t speak for them. Clearly, there is unhappiness there of what the situation is gonna be. But it looks to me that my reading is, their main concern would be: What is the truth? And obviously, they deserve to know what the truth is.

Q. What do you make of that? People used to complain all the time that students don’t care, they don’t give a damn, they’re not going to go on the streets. The religious largely sought to stay away from affairs like this. The business community, I think you have friends who have been in rallies. I’ve heard you’ve been to some yourself. People who normally don’t get involved are now going on the streets. Do you think that’s a sign that something is a little different this time around? Or do you think is just no big deal?

A. Well, I think it is a sign that the people would want something explained. As I said, it’s good to know what the truth is. My impression, that’s the major, major issue. And it has taken a grip of what…well, I think of a number of important sectors of our society. I think business wants to know the truth. I think the church does, and certainly, the studentry want to know the truth as well.

Q. Do you?

A. Of course, yes.

ON HIS PRESENCE AT AN ANTI-ARROYO RALLY

Q. Enough to go on the streets? The reason I asked that is because I do remember that when Pres. Aquino recently spoke before the business community, you were there. And it was there where she called on Pres. Arroyo to step down again. You were there, and I understand you were seen at a rally.

A. Well, I’m not trying to be an apologist or apologetic about my appearance there. The occasion where Pres. Aquino spoke was…what they call… it was the second anniversary of the Pinoy ME (Micro Enterprise) Foundation which is really a….it’s an institution set up at the behest of Pres. Aquino to help raise funds principally for microfinance institutions or MFIs. And this had been organized a number of months ago, so I was supposed to be one of the two main speakers. Sonny Vistan was there. I’ve been asked to render a report on the activities of the foundation and I consented to it. Secondly, the PLDT SMART Foundation is the biggest donor to Pinoy ME, and it’s frankly uncolored by political considerations. And Pinoy ME Foundation needed an initial anchor lender-creditor to get the process started. And we arranged, together with certain trustees of Philippine Business for Social Progress, to have a credit facility extended by PBSP to Pinoy ME Foundation. And that was P250 million. We donated, as PLDT SMART Foundation, P5 million.

Q. So you were there for that?

A. I was there principally for that. Although I know, I’m not naïve enough to know that in that gathering, there is the likelihood of political statements being made. So but….so be it. If that were to happen, that would happen. If that were not to happen, it wouldn’t happen.

Q. So you were really at the rally or was that just talk?

A. Well, yes and no. I was at the NGO building which is the building right behind the Cojuangco Bldg. which is right on Makati Avenue. And I had to drop by the e-PLDT, in an office in Locsin [St.], which is on the corner of Ayala and Makati. So from there, also, I was curious. I wanted to….magmimiron, susulyap ka doon muna. So when I got out of Locsin, well, I went to the corner of Ayala and Makati and your cameras caught me. Ooops. Ooops, but so be it. I wasn’t part of the rally but I was there, watching what’s going on.

Q. You said at some point, people have to take a stand, and you can’t sit on the fence forever. I don’t know if we’re misconstruing your happening to be at the rally and your happening to be at Pres. Aquino’s speech as taking a stand, but let me just ask you: have you taken a stand?

A. Not publicly.

Q. What does that mean?

A. Well, you know, you have a personal position. And to the extent that you have a public life like I do, not quite the showbiz public life, but as an officer of a public company, you have, as well, a responsibility to your company and to your shareholder and to your employees where, you know, whatever statements you make could impact their welfare. So you have to be very careful what you say publicly as well. So it’s a balance I’m trying to strike as an individual, as a private person, as a Filipino and as an officer of a public company, which is listed not only in the Philippines but as well as in the States.

Q. Albert del Rosario has been to a number of rallies, even read a speech calling on Cabinet members to resign. What was your reaction to that? He’s your friend.

A. Bless him.

ON THE NEED FOR MORE FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES

Q. How serious do you think this is? I was talking to some fund managers the other day and the general thinking is that, you know, we get a lot of noise coming out of the Philippines and it never really amounts to much. So there seems to be a sense among some people outside the Philippines, fund managers, finance people that well, here we go, the usual noise in the Philippines but nothing will change, the economy will keep moving at the rate it is, in the way that it is, and sooner or later, people will get tired and we’ll all go back to normal. In other words, we’ve seen this for the last several years, it’s nothing different, it’s not more serious.

A. Well, you know, that’s the sentiment, not only reflected by non-Filipinos outside the Philippines but I think perhaps a number of Filipinos as well. For example, if the President were to step down or were to go, retire, what’s next? Will things change as a result of her say, sudden resignation? And that’s the dilemma. What happens next? Will things change or it’s just changing characters on the same stage. And people, as you rightly pointed out, even here in Hong Kong, are saying, ‘Well, okay, there’s another change, what changes have you really brought about?’ And that’s the basic issue. So the issues confronting the nation are really quite more fundamental than just simple change of presidents.

Q. It seems as if people want something more than just a change in faces, it seems, and maybe I’m misreading the public, but people want a change in the way government works, or the way it responds to the needs of the public.

A. Yes. We speak about damaged institutions, correct? And government and so forth and so on. But institutions are made of people. They’re not in anime things, we’re not invented by somebody. And they’re divorced, the running of institutions is divorced from what people are. So in a way, blaming government solely for our ills is rather unfair, right? Because…. I’ve been involved in a number of what you call NSAs, National Sports Associations, and the problems I’ve been in basketball are repeated similarly in other NSAs. So you sort of wonder what’s wrong? So in some respects, the institutions you’re dealing with, be it NSA, government or be it in schools, is merely the form. But the substance of our problem is really ourselves, isn’t it?

ON TOO MUCH DIVISION IN SOCIETY

Q. So how do you change that? What makes a society successful and another not successful?

A. Well, I was in a dinner a few nights ago, and this was Al Gore who was in Manila I think the past year or so. And somebody asked him, remember, he lost by the skin of his teeth, in Florida where, in fact, the governor was the President’s brother, right? Jed Bush. And Al Gore was asked why he didn’t bring his case all the way to the Supreme Court and make a big fuss. Cause I think if that were to happen to the Philippines, with whatever, we won’t have a President for two or three years or whatever. And his response was very simple: to paraphrase him, I don’t know, I wasn’t there when he said it: ‘Why didn’t I do it? It’s because there’s something greater than me, and that’s my country.’

Q. He felt that elevating that issue could have caused too much upheaval.

A. That’s right. And too much divisiveness to his country. So he said...Well, perhaps, he probably also felt that maybe it’s a touch-and-go, really, so rather than being part of the problem, he said, I want to be part of the solution.

Q. Are you conceding that people stop marching on the streets and just get on?

A. No, no. If they think strongly about their opinion, their conviction, they should be allowed, why not?

Q. What do you think?

A. As long as they’re quite orderly and so forth.

Q. So far they have been.

A. So what’s wrong with that?

ON THE NEED TO FIND THE TRUTH

Q. What do you think should happen next?

A. Well, I think the call of the bishops, I agree with. Let’s find out what the truth is.

Q. And finding out the truth, how is that done? Will you hazard a guess?

A. Well, everybody’s got to be honest, I suppose.

Q. What happens if we find out the truth? Then, what follows after that?

A. I guess it depends what the truth is? You have to be ready for the consequences, di ba? what the truth is. Because you know, that’s something, again, those calling for the truth must be aware of.

ON WHETHER HE PLANS TO JOIN POLITICS

Q. We’re talking about national affairs, we’re talking about politics here. When I talk to you about politics, part of me thinks you’re very uncomfortable. Part of me thinks that you actually would relish a nice long conversation about politics. What is your view of politics in general? Do you have an interest in these things?

A. Well, I’m interested in the Filipino way of life, right? So be it politics or show business or whatever it is, it’s something that…. I just feel you have to be in the stream of things effectively. You have to be part of the Filipino way of life to understand how the Filipino thinks and operates.

Q. Do you ever see yourself getting involved in politics in a more overt way?

A. I don’t think so.

ON HIS INTEREST IN SPORTS AND HIS THREE BASKETBALL TEAMS

Q. I get a sense your interest in media for PLDT is more than just strategy, more than just business sense. You know business people, you like sports. There seems to be a genuine interest in your part in content.

A. Entertainment in general. Sports can be entertainment.

Q. People tell me you’re not a guy with a lot of leisure time. So maybe that’s sort of how you wind down?

A. Yes, it’s a spigot to release your tension and everything from work. But you know, certainly, watching a basketball game, say Ateneo-La Salle, you really have to focus on the game, you have to forget about everything else. And equally, when you play badminton, I play badminton, you know you’re gonna do well in the game if your mind is not on the game. So you have to discipline yourself and force yourself to concentrate on the game. Otherwise, you won’t play well.

Q. So it’s nice that what you’re interested in to sort of unwind could also potentially make you a few billion pesos. That’s synergy.

A. It has to pay for the cost.

Q. You’re talking about Ateneo-La Salle, you’re talking about basketball. Ateneo versus San Beda, where would you be?

A. I would wear a red and blue shirt.

Q. Sort of a middle ground kind of an answer there.

A. Well, I was asked that, and this is how I rationalized it. We actually have three teams: the Talk-n-Text team, the Ateneo team, and San Beda team, lately only. If you may, you have three loves. Well, the Talk-n-Txt team is professional team so it’s a professional kind of love. The Ateneo team, Ateneo being sort of intellectual, is more of an intellectual love. But really, when you get down to the emotional love, it’s really San Beda.

Q. So everybody’s got a piece of it.

A. A piece of it. Why? Because if I may say this, probably the San Beda players are a bit more akin to the typical Filipino. They’re just that. Maybe from an income-class standpoint, I guess from a sociological make-up, they seem to be more typical Filipino.

Q. And that’s what endears them to you?

A. That’s what I like about them. They’re probably more human, if you may, than….I’m not saying that as a criticism. My relation with them resonates better purely from a human perspective. #

Global company with a sloppy service

PLDT (Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company) positions itself as a global company. Yet, its services are really glamourized local services. In fact, I really, really doubt if PLDT could really compete with the world's best.

Consider this: Since last July, I've been nagging PLDT for my telephone bill. Being a dutiful citizen, I want to pay my bills immediately. Yet, "customer services" of PLDT have been promising, promising to send me the bill. After a few months, in fact, only this month, did I received the bill. And, its not only a bill, mind you. It's a notice of disconnection. What's so surprising--they already pulled out my outgoing calls services and my broadband, when in fact, it's not my fault!!!

If they would only review their tapes, it's full of my voice, nagging them, pleading for that bill. And now that it came, it came with a shocker.

I am now thinking of shifting to another telecom and telling my friends about this stupid PLDT SERVICES, if you can call it thus.