ON August 19,
2000, I wrote this piece, "Romblon at Risk", in my column
in the Manila Times which encapsulated in 800 words my observations
on a study on the causes of poverty. The study entitled "Causes
of Poverty: Myths, Facts and Policies" was published by the University
of the Philippines in 1999 and edited by noted economists Arsenio
M. Balisacan and Shigeaki Fujisaki.
That study gives an in-depth look into poverty and its links to such
factors as economic growth and development, income distribution, employment,
health and nutrition, education and local governance.
It was aimed at "contributing to an improved understanding of
the causes of poverty and hence, to an informed formulation of economic
policies and governance structure crucial to achieving sustained growth
and poverty reduction."
Romblon was not the focus of that study. In a chapter where comparative
rankings by province on the different measurements of poverty were
shown, Romblon consistently occupied negative position in poverty
incidence, per capita income, human development index, school dropout
rate, malnutrition rate, access to safe water, access to sanitary
toilet and infant mortality rate.
Call on Romblon
leaders
I wrote that the sea of statistics on the extent of the Romblomanons'
human deprivation was abysmal and so morally degrading and called
on our political leaders to account for Romblon's economic debacle.
And why should not I? Their wealth and affluence, which are scandalously
known and no doubt acquired through their monopoly of political power,
stand in stark contrast to the abominable life of poverty suffered
by the majority of the people of Romblon.
I was not surprised then that my column would cause a furor in the
provincial capitol. I was told days after it was published, a top
provincial official issued instructions to an official of the Philippine
Information Agency to demolish my premises and disprove the facts
I wrote. Nothing of course can be more hurting than the truth because
no one, not even the officials I named responsible, stood up to challenge
the points I have raised.
When I ran for congressman in the May 14, 2001 elections, I used that
column piece as one of the inputs to my reform platform. I lost in
that elections but I was consoled first, that the shameless conduct
of the current power holders during the campaign proved true my analysis
and observations of the province's socioeconomic and political conditions,
and second, by the undeniable fact that I have planted the first seed
of reform.
That seed will never get crushed. It is alive and growing by the day.
Of course, in a democracy elections are only one of the many-and for
Romblomanons the most expedient-paths to change. That is perhaps why
we remain obsessed, to the point of being manic, about electoral contests.
We keep faith in their efficacy as a tool to gain political power
that more often we tend to forget that elections can only be as good
and effective if the voters and candidates are agreed on the more
serious objective of the process. This means that first they must
have a common understanding on what they really want out of the political
exercise.
Three Romblomanons
I will try to connect this premise to the context of my main topic
by relating to you my encounters with three Romblomanons in my recent
travels to the Middle East. The travels are part of my job as member
of the Presidential Middle East Preparedness Committee headed by former
AFP chief of staff, now Ambassador Roy A. Cimatu.
Last January in the United Arab Emirates, I met a woman from Romblon,
Romblon who was recently working as a volunteer for the camp of Governor
Eleandro Jesus Madrona. She is now in the employ of a cargo forwarding
company in Abu Dhabi. When I asked her why she left Romblon, she said
she saw no future in Romblon politics.
Another Romblomanon I met was Novie Manoy Roque from Carmen, San Agustin.
She also works for a cargo forwarding and door-to-door service delivery
company in Kuwait. Her husband is the landscape architect in the Bayan
Palace of the Sheikh, the ruler of Kuwait. He is the highest Filipino
official in the employ of the Kuwaiti ruling family. Novie dreams
of coming back to the Philippines after sometime, to engage in business,
but sadly not in San Agustin but in Nueva Ecija where her husband
comes from. Like the lady I met in Abu Dhabi, she seemed to have given
up on the economic and political prospects of Romblon.
But there's this other guy named Danny Tumbagahon from Sta. Fe who
dreams the opposite. He works for a food catering contractor with
the Kuwait Ministry of Defense and he plans to return to Sta. Fe soon
to join local politics which he said can still be "changed."
He feels the global outlook and perspective that he gained from working
overseas will serve him well as a politician.
What do these Romblomanons have in common? The answer is obvious.
They have left Romblon for lack of economic opportunities and have
succeeded in life elsewhere. They also remain skeptical about the
province's socioeconomic and political direction although they hold
differing political views. I am sure there are hundreds of other Romblomanons
like them and if these three represent a microcosm of Romblon society
today.
You may be interested to know that it was Gen. Orville Gabuna, a staunch
ally and partner for reform, who had broached the idea of expanding
my paper. He hounded and reminded me of the Romblon
forum. While I was in Kuwait, Dr. Lolong Firmalo called me up in the
wee hours of the morning, thinking I might not be able to make it
to the Romblon forum because of the looming war in Iraq. You may not
believe it but on my way to Manila last week, he called me again at
a most awkward time.
My phone was running through the luggage screener machine in Dubai
when it rung and the airport security personnel were dumbfounded.
They suspected me of being a suicide bomber. They let me aside, tinkered
with my phone, frisked me vigorously and ran my backpack twice through
the screener just to make sure I would not blow up the plane to smithereens.
I assured Dr. Firmalo I am coming to the forum.
Honestly, I am not aware of the motives of the organizers of the convocation.
From the outset, I wish to dissociate myself from any particular agenda
that will come up, if any, until I satisfy myself that such agenda
is consistent with my reformist views and advocacy. But I have no
doubt, whatsoever, on the ability of Atty. Beling Tomas, himself a
principled reform advocate, to steer the convocation to a fruitful
conclusion.
As a concerned Romblomanon, I appreciate your confidence that I will
be able to present the issues and concerns that I believe are relevant
to Romblon's continuing quest for development. Nevertheless, I hope
that my discussion of the prospects, challenges and the dilemma that
Romblon faces today will bring to the fore the necessity of dialog
and productive exchange of ideas.
