The Peso dives down

As was expected, the peso today plunged from PhP55.69 to PhP56.05 to a US dollar. That's 36 centavos in a single day!

I always wanted avoid politics here. It's the dirtiest game there is. But then, I can't help it. Whatever our politicians and would be politicians have in mind or would do, it affects us all.

As noted, the opposition has started to drum up their calls for the president to step down. On the other hand, those in the administration are imploring that the president be forgiven for her "lapse in judgement."

My countrymen, please remember that we are a third world country and that, everything we do would eventually affect our very volatile economy. For every centavo that the peso slides down, another family becomes hungry because of rising prices.

I once remember a grandfather telling me that if you have too many gripes over something, you might as well do it yourself. This is so true.

So is this the reason why the opposition wants the president to step down? Or does it have to do with the need to be in power?

Why can't the opposition support, inform, and help the president do her job in order for this country to improve instead of throwing mud at her and calling her names? Maybe they can do this now while there is someone sitting up there?

Perhaps, it is true that humans are easily corrupted by power, such that no one wants the opposing camp to sit down and work with them.

Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

The people have the power to change a leader every time there is an election. But does it give them the power to change a leader at a whim? If so, then there is no use for the elections anymore. Maybe, the people who actually have the power have become corrupted themselves.

Hopefully, one day, all these turmoil will fade away. However, I don't see it in the near future. All I can hope now is for everything to get better for all of us, a little at a time, if possible.

For the meantime, whatever this country is facing now reminds me of a phrase in a song: "Politics: the art of the possible."

She spoke!

Eventually, the president has decided to speak about the tape early Monday evening.

She eventually admitted on national TV and radio that she was the one on tape but did not categorically admit that it was Mr Garcillano she was talking with.

After the telecast, some may have started to assume that she indeed cheated during the last elections. But then, the president said in the same telecast that she merely was trying to protect her votes.

On the other hand, some said that the impeachment proceedings are immenent for it is not legal for a candidate to talk to any election officer during the time of the voting and even during the time of the counting. CNN, however reports that there is no law to stop candidates from talking to election officials. (CNN report)

While the president has already admitted that she was the person on tape, no evidence still has been presented as to substantiate the accusation that she cheated during the last elections. The tape still, to my belief, cannot be used in order to force the president to leave her office.

My only concern now is the possibility that the prices of basic goods will start to climb up when those who oppose the president will start to take the streets.

Many of the president's opposers claim to be working for the good of the people, yet, I still cannot connect that to ousting her. One major question: who is the best bet to take over her office?

Political instability is a major factor in order to lose investors' confidence. And when that happens, the peso would again slide down leading to higher prices of commodities. That is something very scary because, as I have mentioned on the previous post, it would mean that we would again tighten an already tightened belt.

Some also have argued that the president should have just denied that she was the one on tape because in a few month's time, everything would have been forgotten.

But then I believe that honesty made the president accept her faults. There are still people out there who would rather take the longer route for truth, rather than take the shorter route for a lie.

My hope for now, is that there will be no street protests as to this matter. Let the rule of law and justice take its course. If the president is found guilty of any crime, then by any means, let her pay the consequences. But if the reason for removing the president would be based on pure hearsay, then this country is already damned!

To speak or not to speak, and more

It has been a while since the Gloriagate scandal has started.

Most, if not all, have already made up their minds as to who really was on the tape. Was it really the president, or was she not?

Now, many a lawmaker are asking the president to speak up. The president on the other hand has indicated that she would make a comment as regards the tape in due time.

But guess what? I don't think that it matters if the president should comment or not. After all, it's a damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don't situation for her.

Now that she is not saying anything, many are speculating that the reason why she is doing so is because she is guilty of the accusation that she was indeed the person on the tape. But on the other hand, some are also saying that there is no need to say anything because it wasn't her in the first place.

Now, let's say that she did comment on the tape, and she denies that she is the person on the tape. One side would say, that it was expected of her because she needs to deny it even if it was really her. The other side would also say, that it is was just obvious for her to deny because she is stating a fact.

It was just this friday when I mentioned on my radio show, Radio Talk with Corene, (Fridays starting at 4:30pm UTC+0800 on Radyo Natin) that oil prices have now surpassed the US$60 level. Its effect is global. All countries are going to be affected. The increase in local oil prices will be inevitable.

However, the Peso-Dollar rate is something we can control, even if just a bit.

With the latest scandal that the president is facing, it is expected that more street protests will be at hand. These protests, however, give the nation a negative image with many foreign investors. And as such, it is also going to be expected that the peso once more will become lower as compared to the US dollar.

We can always change a president every time that there is an election. However, once one has been named, we are needed to support whoever is sitting there. We don't need to love the president. We just need to accept whoever is there. Support the person there, if we must. But please, let's not wage any form of war against him or her.

Every time the US dollar value increases, the opposite happens to the Philippine peso and the common Filipino man becomes the victim of this. Prices of basic commodities go up, and we all once more have to tighten an already tightened belt.

There is no point to use the streets anymore. I totally disagree with this. If there is enough evidence, then let the impeachment proceedings begin. This is the proper forum. By attacking the president, we in the end are just digging holes for our own graves.

"The truth will always set you free." Let the truth come out. Let the evidence speak for itself.

Did it appear on the tape that the president, assuming it was her, ordered someone to cheat for her during the last elections? Assuming that there was fraud, how far was the extent of the cheating?

I know of a company who was betting for the other candidate. However, during and after the elections, information came about (from their own people) that it was the president who was leading and who eventually won.

This is not to defend the president, but to rather present a more intelligent approach into the situation. After all, whatever happens to this country, we all get affected by its trials and tribulations.

The streets are still scary

I have been in staying in Manila, because of work, since the last quarter of 1998. But up to now, crossing the streets of Mega Manila is still scary.

Either, because I am a true blue promdi (promdi: colloquial for "from the province") (where crossing the streets are as easy as the ABCs because of the lack of traffic) or because the streets of Mega Manila are not really pedestrian-friendly.

Let's see. Here and there we see a pedestrian lane across a street. Has anyone noticed a car stopping before the lane when a person is trying to cross the street? In many places, especially the first world countries, motorists are required to stop before pedestrian lanes when a person is about to cross the street or even when that same person is still standing at the side walk and about to cross.

Pedestrian lanes take precedence over any traffic sign. This means that once a person is ready to cross the street using a pedestrian lane, all motorists are required to stop.

It is a big possibility that there are no laws in the Philippines that require motorists to stop.

There are also no laws also as to how accountants are supposed to account. There is, however, the generally accepted accounting principles.

Same goes for the use of pedestrian lanes. There has to be a generally accepted use of pedestrian lanes principle.

But let us not stop here. Pedestrian lanes are not supposed to be placed when a traffic light is available simply because the pedestrian lane takes precedence over all traffic signs. By placing a pedestrian in conjunction with a traffic light, the pedestrian lane, then, loses its purpose. What needs to be placed in places where traffic lights are available are solid lines, left and right, to where the pedestrians are supposed to cross. However, it is still common, even when there is a pedestrian lane, though wrongly placed, that motorists occupy this area as waiting points. Come to think of it, even the MMDA and traffic enforcers would ask motorists to occupy the said areas! Government vehicles, police cars, and even MMDA cars cross pedestrian lanes as if they own the whole highway.

While as mentioned that pedestrian lanes take precedence over all traffic signs, there are areas where pedestrian lanes are not to be placed. They are not to be placed in national roads. Precisely because national roads are so busy and traffic should be moving fast. In Mega Manila, the doon-po-ang-tawiran (the-crossing-area-is-over-there) sign is also common. However, when one goes to the crossing area, one would see a dangerous situation for one to cross the street: there are no traffic officers to control the traffic flow which would accomodate pedestrians to cross the street or there is a pedestrian lane but no motorist realizes its purpose.

The implementation of the pedestrian lane is actually simple. Apprehending motorists could be difficult. Most motorists, if not all, are ignorant of the use of the pedestrian lane. Traffic enforcers and the MMDA are ignorant of its use, too. Most probably, the Land Transportation Office is ignorant of this as well.

But come to think of it, those who are at the higher chain of command have at least been to a first world country once. They should have noticed the use of the pedestrian lanes there. But, with how things are in this country, I don't think they have noticed that either. Or are they ignorant too?

This country is beset by a lot of traffic problems. There are big problems and small problems. Why not start with the small ones? It has always been said that big things start small.

Education still holds our weakest link. And by proper and quality education only can we start to improve. Education that is worth our blood and sweat. Education that has a high value.

Thank you, Hotmail

Finally, Microsoft has implemented what it announced last November, that free Hotmail accounts will no longer be supporting Outlook and Outlook Express.

And much to my dismay, I have decided to say "thank you, Hotmail."

Hotmail has always been good with me except for very rare instances when I am not able to access it. But other than that I was happy with Hotmail even when I only had 2 megs of storage.

Two megs was just enough for me. I actually used Outlook Express to access my Hotmail then.

But then Microsoft finally decided on the relationship between Hotmail and Outlook and Outlook Express.

So I had to say goodbye, and thank you. Inasmuch as I don't agree with Microsoft's decision, I guess I can't do anything about it. The Microsoft Philippines guys can only defend Microsoft when I had to discuss with them in their forums that there are alternative ways in order to curb spam and do away with the "divorce." But that was expected of them.

So again, thank you, Hotmail. You've been good with me then. I wish you well.