Ricky Carandang's reported resignation and entry of new team

Today, news about Press sec Ricky Carandang's resignation spread like wildfire. Speculations abound as to the cause of Carandang's purported move, but according to Secretary Sonny Coloma, the rumours are untrue. Meaning, kuryente.

News about Carandang's resignation has been on and off for the past three years, and it has been like that eversince his group, the Black and White Movement, entered the Aquino administration. Carandang, according to sources, is both a member of the BWM and the Hyatt 10 group of Mar Roxas. Carandang helped during Pnoy's presidential run in 2010.

Sources have it that Carandang will just finish December and he is thinking of going back to private sector, maybe, a stint at Solar TV?

It seems like several groups within the palace are losing power. Their proximity with Pnoy is getting thinner by the day due to several accusations of graft and some, impropriety. Several groups who supported Pnoy have certain disagreements with the president's policies.

Pnoy seemed committed to really implement measures that will solve the country's problems permanently. He wants to finish the Private-Public Partnership projects, as a concrete legacy. And he wants several agencies cleansed of corruption.

The only stumbling block is the existence of several businessmen turned GOCC heads whose selfish interest counters Pnoy's nation-building vision. Some of these people are still out to recover their political investments. These people are now contributing to the continuing graft and corruption. They have to be booted out from their offices and charged and thrown in jail.

Those who will not tread the Tuwid na Daan, and use their posts to generate monies from public funds, should be exposed, charged with crimes and thrown in jail.

A new, young and more idealistic group of well-meaning individuals are now entering the bureaucracy. This group is fearless. This group knows how to distinguish between good and evil. This group does not involve themselves in graft practices. They are not interested on power nor money.

This group will ensure that the legacy that this President wants to impart to our suffering masses will surely be realized before 2016. Expect new and exciting things. Expect heads to roll, ther guilty punished for their crimes and those who deserve nothing but the people's honor, be propped up.

Twelve Martyrs of Sulu and the Philippine Government loss of credibility

Fourteen dead after a firefight broke out between the Royal Army of the Sultanate of Sulu and Malaysian security forces. The question now that many people are asking--what is the government doing about it? Twelve Filipinos died in that firefight and based on the principle of parens patria, government is supposed to attend to this quite seriously.

But, how do you expect this government to act the right way when it does not even have the capability of gathering accurate ground information? Yesterday, the very spokesperson of the President committed a grave error when he started blurting out disinformation. Secretary Ricky Carandang, who was earlier reported to have resigned his post only to deny it, said that the "firefight" never occurred and that the Malaysian forces only fired a "warning shot". Local Government secretary Mar Roxas further complicated this when he publicly blamed the Kirams for the incident, accusing the Sultan of Sulu of being "hard headed".

Worse, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the very same agency tasked to investigate or conduct an investigation, literally parroted what their Malaysian counterparts declared, without even appending the term " alleged" or "reported" to the information being given to them. The DFA further helped the Malaysians in spreading disinformation through a formal presscon which Assistant Secretary Hernandez called. The DFA is supposed to give information on what it itself gathered, and not depend on the note verbale or the report of the Malaysian envoy.

It goes without saying that the Philippine government acted like the Malaysian official newspaper and if you look at this very closely, even served as the disinformation agency of the Malaysians.

The Philippine government lost all shred of credibility yesterday, in the eyes of the Kirams, the Tausugs and the Islamic Community. The very act of the State yesterday clearly shows how it treats the Sabah issue---this government has literally abandoned this claim.

How then, will the Kirams trust this government when it acts contrary to what is expected of it? The Malaysian envoy is correct---the standoff ended yesterday because the very act of the Philippine government has clearly isolated the Sultanate of Sulu from the rest of the archipelago.

Since the Philippine Government has clearly shown its partiality with the Malaysians, it has now negated whatever moral influence it exerts to the Peoples of the Sultanate of Sulu. The Sultan may well not involve the Philippine government anymore in its claim, and pursue its claim to the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC), of which Malaysia is a member.

For that to happen, the Sultanate of Sulu must wrest itself free from the clutches of Imperial Manila and declare its independence. The Sultan's next move therefore, is not to annex Sabah at this point--it must complete its political struggle against the Philippine Government first and foremost. I will not be surprised if the peoples of Jolo, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi will again declare a war of independence.

Let me then dedicate this space to the twelve brave Islamic Martyrs who sacrificed their lives for their country. These pious ones must be named, and proclaimed throughout the country. Their extraordinary courage and bravery are shining examples of how pure and proud this race truly is. How glorious their deaths are! It is very rare for someone to die due to his principles.

Responsible Parenthood is still pro-choice, pro-life

We are overpopulated, that's why we need to manage our population, says Senator Ping Lacson in support of the efforts being made right now by the administration to modify the RH bill and turn it into a Responsible Parenthood bill. This bill, being crafted right now, is a full modification of the RH bill, to make it more acceptable to every sector in Philippine society.


Communications secretary Ricky Carandang says Filipinos live in a democracy, hence, should be given the right to choose which method to use in countering unwanted pregnancy. I agree with Carandang. People should be given the right to choose, as it is now. 


What is so contemptible about the current version of the RH bill is the principle of state intervention  or state interference in that choice. Why is the government so willing to buy billions of pesos worth of condoms to be given for free to people? One would reason that that's the essence of democracy--for people to avail of other options, government or the state should help them gain free access to these other methods.


But, that's just it. If you truly understand the concept of rights and democracy, you'll accept the fact that for every right exercised, there is a corresponding responsibility to it.


You want other methods of contraception available for you, do something to avail them without government buying it for you. Poverty is no reason for the un-exercise of responsibilities. Poverty is also no excuse for you to enlarge your family. In feudal societies, parents want a big family because it's additional hands in tending the land. In a capitalist society, big families are being frowned upon because of the high costs of maintaining such. 


What the Catholic church opposes is the principle of state intervention in family planning. If, say the Palace says that it is amenable to the democratic way of solving the balooning population problem, it has to recognize that it must give people the free hand to choose which method and emphasize that the exercise of such rights entail responsibilities. One of that responsibility is financial.


If condoms and other methods are expensive, the solution is not for government to buy them and distribute them for free. The solution is lower their prices so that a higher number of people would be able to avail of them.

Aquino Administration--an uncaring government, according to Ricky Carandang

Now I know why we are in deep shit.


This government has a new motto and Secretary Ricky Carandang communicated it quite well:  “I cannot speculate on her mental state. I have not seen it and I don’t care.”


Carandang is supposed to speak for the President. The President is supposed to be caring and the president is supposed to be concerned with the mental health of his citizens.


For Carandang, the President does not speculate about the mental state of his citizens and he does not care. 


How the hell will you maintain a good state of mental health, with all these crimes happening around you, and government, especially the Police telling you that they are helpless about it?


How the hell will you be able to sleep soundly at night, knowing that the next day, oil firms will again raise their pump prices? How the hell will someone be able to get his wits about, what with higher prices of basic goods, a jack in the prices of the MRT and the LRT, the tolls and so forth and so on. If you're just receiving a basic salary, how the fuckin hell will you finance even your transportation fare to work?


This government does not care. This government only cares about those who supported Aquino during the elections. This government's concern is simply how those big-time businessmen would be able to recover their election expenses.


Wow. Talk about change, this administration seemed afflicted by the same disease as that of its predecessor.


People cared about this country. People love this country. That's why many decided to support Noynoy. Now, those supporters, those who really love this country and were dead serious in effecting change in this beautiful country of ours, are now relegated in the sidelines. They, like Juana Change, are suffering and hurting from all these.


While nincoompoops like Carandang act as if he's one of those who own this country and we owe him a debt of gratitude.


Mr. Carandang know this---if you don't change, you and your dear ones will suffer the brunt of the people's anger very soon. 


I call upon the people to rally behind the call for change. This administration is not an exception---it is just there to perpetuate the rule of the elites, those who continually earn millions from our own sweat.


By the way, let us support Gina Lopez and the campaign for a million signatures against mining in Palawan. 


Let us also support the cry of Juana Change for this government to put its acts together and remember those rhetorical vows it made before the people---that it would spearhead the cause of change, whatever happens.

Noynoy Aquino administration is still in "acting capacity mode"

Okey, so this government is officially in an "acting capacity", if DILG secretary Jesse Robredo is to be asked. Robredo's name has been bruited about as the former Naga mayor who now serves in an acting capacity because President Noy is still unconvinced of his capability in handling the police. Why? Because Robredo is formerly the darling of the Left?

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda however clarified that Baldoz, a career official of the Labor department and Paje of the Environment department are also acting secretaries. Paje is there to represent a senatorial candidate while it is still unexplainable why Baldoz holds an acting capacity status. Lacierda is there to clarify things for us. Even now, Lacierda remains unclear of his pronouncements.

Meanwhile, RICKY Carandang and Herminio Coloma who are reportedly fighting for the same candy, are neither holdovers nor acting secretaries, their documents were just not submitted on time by the Executive secretary, explains Lacierda.

The people don't care if they are on hold overs or acting as secretaries. Frankly, they seem only to be acting like secretaries. Their conduct over the past few weeks is disappointing. The people really believe that they are just acting like secretaries and not secretaries at all.

And Lacierda's tone is quite re-assuring to the point of saying that Coloma's and Carandang's papers were not submitted because of a technical glitch. What is so new about that? With an alcoholic for an Executive secretary, expect something as simple as submission of documents of executive line agency officials to always be delayed.

And Lacierda is confident of Coloma and Carandang's appointments? I really doubt it. Even Liberal party members would think twice of formerly agreeing to these two as regular press secretaries, at the point of incuring the ire of most people.

The Aquino administration needs a cabinet revamp soon. Cut the crap. Cut this bullshit of picturing this government still in acting capacity mode. What are you, actors? This government is just acting like a new one when in all certainty, it is practically like the former dispensation.

But, don't give me that joke of calling for Gloria to once head the government. Better to have actors in government than a certified expert thief.

Why people think the hostage taking incident was a crisis in leadership

The Manila hostage-taking incident, says Catholic Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, was a trial which new President Benigno Aquino failed, and failed miserably. Bagaforo said, Aquino's failure lies in his mishandling of the situation, leading to what others now call, a crisis in leadership. There seems to be, says Rep. Carlos Padilla, an absence of leadership in government.

I beg to disagree.

The assault on the bus was an action only a strong Leader can implement. That assault came only after the confirmation that the hostage taker has taken the lives of some of the captives. That assault was necessary to save more lives.

Despite the lack of equipment, the SWAT team did their jobs. They assaulted the bus with nary protective cover to their bodies. They implemented their mission to the letter. They trapped the hostage taker at the front of the bus, as their planned to do, and hit him eight times with sniper fire. His death save the lives of seven other hostages. Under such extreme and unusual circumstances, the action of the SWAT was justified.

The only thing that really marred the entire hostage-taking drama was the order to arrest the brother of the hostage taker. That incident, according to the ongoing investigation being conducted by the Philippine Senate, changed the entire scenario, from an optimistic one to a gruesome tragedy.

And it turned out that Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, a half-Chinese, half-Filipino, was the one responsible for the fiasco. Lim, says former Manila Police District Chief Director Rodolfo Magtibay, ordered the untimely arrest of SPO2 Gregorio Mendoza, brother of the hostage taker. Shortly after the controversial order came bursts of fire from the bus, which instantaneously killed two to three hostages. The realization that the hostage taker had already taken the lives of his hostages necessitated the assault.

Was the order invalid? No. Lim, upon getting the info from the ground, did what he had to do--arrest the accomplice of the hostage taker.

The core of the issue is the proper time for the arrest. And this lay on the lap of the ground commander, which happened to be Magtibay. Magtibay should have exercised his discretion as a commander. That despite an active order which came from the Manila Mayor, Magtibay should have exercised his discretion, stayed his hand and arrested the accomplice after the incident. Sadly, Magtibay was more of a field trooper than a general.

Magtibay and Lim are some of the people responsible for this incident. And you guess it right, only Magtibay will surely get the gautlet this time. Lim is a strong political ally of the President, and despite what Noynoy said that those held responsible will surely pay, I doubt it if Noynoy has the gall to even order the suspension of Lim.

And I also doubt it if Noynoy would even suspend or cause the resignation of two of his communication managers, who, unfortunately, have not exhibited executive crisis management at all in their 50 plus days in office.

The current brouhaha has not only caused unrest and distress here in our country, but also caused an international scandal. Hongkong officials have warned the RP consulate in Hongkong to brace for more rallies as more and more Hongkongers feel angry and rage over the incident.

These things, should have been handled deftly by a professional communications man, someone with managerial expertise.

Carandang, unfortunately, is all style and no substance. Coloma, meanwhile, is just an eloquent speaker of the vernacular, but shows no other capability than the ability to deflect, and deflect in a wrong manner.

If Aquino continues this way, I would not be surprised that his administration would just last for a few more months or years. The actions of Aquino and his Cabinet members are weakening government insitutions, instead of strengthening the bureaucracy. This weakness, would surely be exploited by the enemies of the state.

This perception of Aquino as a weak leader, incapable of doing his job as the country's chief executive, would affect the entire government bureaucracy. This is the job of the communications team. Their lack of managerial experience, and their continued mishandling of the bureaucracy's enormous communications infrastructure would surely and definitely cause more harm than goodwill for government.

It is time for Aquino to make the ultimate sacrifice and fire his cabinet members who are inept and continues to mishandle his communications.

Federico Pascual's Postscript to Ricky Carandang

Good friend, Federico Pascual Jr's "Postscript" today in Philippine Star tells you the state of the communications group President Noynoy Aquino has today. Ricky Carandang, a former anchor of ANC is not exactly a darling of the media, one of several key assets a palace communications expert should have. This probably explains why several or most columnists are now critical of the Aquino administration because of the apparent failure of the group to handle media.

Some, however, hope that this bad relationship would end quickly since the palace is slowly encountering major problems caused by bad governance for the past nine years. Even a water shortage such as what 100 barangays under the Maynilad water concession is encountering, is now being transformed into a "calamity" all because the Palace is simply mishandling the messaging aspect of this issue. The lack of an effective media relations man is causing tremendous damage to the new government.

Pascual is just one of many very influential columnists who are being "marginalized" by several members of the Communications group, a wrong move I should say. You don't alienate an enemy or a perceived critic---you warm up to him and explain him things are not what he perceived it to be.

Meralco takeover a play of words?

Executive secretary Eduardo Ermita just denied a purported palace plan to takeover Meralco. Ermita told journalists in a media forum that, though the Palace has the numbers to force a takeover, he denies that they intend to dislodge the Lopez Group from the power distribution firm. Ermita said they're just forcing Meralco to reveal and "open its books for scrutiny" so that Meralco will be forced to lower its electricity distribution rates.

This is a stark departure from the "war-like" stance of Gloria when the little dictator faced a group of businessmen a few days back. Could this be the result of what GSIS President Winston Garcia revealed during Ricky Carandang's show "News on 8" over ANC this morning?

Garcia told Ricky that he has been in contact with the Lopezes and he assured Ricky and the public that "there'll be no fireworks" come May 27.

However, if you analyze what Garcia told Ricky and what Ermita told the palace media, there seems to be a stark difference.

Garcia wants a change in the management of Meralco. While Ermita says all of these noise is just "pressure" from the palace to lower electricity rates.

Ermita knows that you can't just "shout" at the Lopezes to get their attention. No. They've been entrenched already and so callous and so haughty enough that they'll not bulge in their seats even if your voice turns hoarse. Garcia knows this. That's why he's targetting a management change, not a company takeover.

I think Garcia is telling the truth that government does not intend a corporate raid. What is certain though is government is eyeing a management change which is an under-handed tactic to effectively control the firm.

What's certain is this---government has achieved what it wants when it played the takeover card. I mean, it exposed how vulnerable the hold of the Lopezes is in Meralco. It remains to be seen though if this thing will lead to what Ermita says as a lowered electricity rate.

Probably, Meralco chairman Lopez is correct. Garcia is just shaking Meralco down to probably prop it for a ripe picking in the future, not now when the issue is still hot. Garcia is creating this fuzz to force a diminution of Meralco stock. That way, investors can still buy in and eventually dilute Lopez stocks more.

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. #