Pork Barrel, Politicians, and Public Service

August 26, 2013. Holiday dahil National Heroes Day. Bagamat wala kaming pasok sa school, kinailangan ko pa rin pumunta dahil mayroon kaming meeting ng mga instructors. Habang nasa byahe ako ay naipit naman ako sa matinding traffic mula Roxas Blvd. hanggang T.M. Kalaw. Mayroon nga palang Million People March na ginaganap sa Luneta. Halos daang libong taong mga nakasuot ng puti ang nakikita kong may dalang mga placards. Lahat sila kontra sa Pork Barrel. Lahat sila gustong iabolish na ang Pork Barrel.

Ano ang Pork Barrel?

Ang paggamit ng salitang PORK BARREL ay nagmula umano sa mga kasaysayan ng mga Amerikano. Noong panahon daw kasi bago ang Civil War, binibigyan ang mga alipin sa Amerika mula sa bandang katimugan ng mga baboy na nasa bariles bilang regalo sa holiday. Ang mga alipin naman ay nakikipagkumpitensya sa ibang mga alipin para makuha ang parte nila sa nasabing regalo.

Ngunit pagdating sa politika, ang Pork Barrel ayon sa http://tl.wikipedia.org ay ang nilaang malaking halaga ng pambansang taunang badyet ng pamahalaan sa mga mambabatas ng bansa. Ang bawa't senador ay pinaglalaanan ng 200 milyong piso at ang bawa't kinatawan ay pinaglalaanan ng 70 milyong piso sa programang tinatawag na Priority Development Assistance Fund o PDAF.

Bakit gusto (o mahalaga) ng mga politiko ang Pork Barrel? 

Para sa mga politiko, mahalaga ang mabigyan sila ng Pork Barrel o ng bahagi sa taunang badyet ng pamahalaan dahil ito ang nagagamit nila para matustusan ang kanilang mga proyekto para sa mga mamamayan.

Ayon kay Senador Panfilo Lacson, ang isang kurakot na mambabatas ay maaaring makakuha ng hindi bababa sa 20 porsiyentong komisyon sa paggamit ng kaniyang taunang itinalagang pork barrel para sa inprastraktura at iba pang mga proyekto. Ayon din kay Lacson, ito'y nangangahulugang ang isang kurakot na senador ay maaaring makapagbulsa ng 40 milyong piso kada taon, 240 milyong piso sa anim na taon at 480 milyon sa 12 taon.

Ito ang ipinaglalaban ng mga raliyista -- ang alisin na ang Pork Barrel dahil ito ang nagiging dahilan ng corruption. Imbes na mapunta sa taumbayan ang buwis na kanilang ibinigay sa pamamagitan ng mga proyekto, ay napupunta lang sa mga bulsa ng mga kurakot na politiko.

Makakagawa ba ng proyekto ang mga politiko kahit walang Pork Barrel?

Oo, makakagawa pa rin ng proyekto ang mga politiko kahit walang Pork Barrel. Kung bibigyan man sila ng Pork Barrel, dapat lang ay tama ang paggamit nito. Pero kung tutuusin, hindi na talaga nila kailangan ng Pork Barrel. Hindi ba't kaya sila tumakbo noong eleksyon dahil gusto nila maging PUBLIC SERVANT? Ibig sabihin, maglilingkod sila sa bayan sa kanilang sariling paraan, hindi sa paraang kukuha sila ng pera sa mga mamamayan na siya nilang gagamitin para pang tulong din sa mga mamamayan. Para na nilang ginisa sa sariling mantika ang mga tax payers.

Kaya nga noong may nabasa akong article na sinabi umano ng isang Congresswoman sa isang probinsya na "Ok lang na alisin ang pork barrel. Basta huwag lang manghihingi sa amin ang mga mamamayan. E ano'ng ibibigay namin? Hindi naman pwede yung pinaghirapan namin dahil sa personal naman namin 'yun, sa mga anak, sa mga pang-araw-araw na panggastos namin." Sa loob-loob ko, hindi ata nalalaman ng Congresswoman na ito ang salitang "PUBLIC SERVICE". Kaya ka lang ba tutulong sa mamamayan kapag binigyan ka ng pera na galing rin sa kanila? At kung wala nang ibigay sa iyo, hindi ka na gagawa ng mabuti sa kapwa mo dahil yung pera mo ay para lang sa inyo ng pamilya mo? Hindi ko alam bakit siya nanalo kung ganun ang pananaw niya.

Public Service Without The Pork Barrel.

Hindi kinakailangan ng Pork Barrel para makatulong sa mamamayan. Sa katunayan, nagagawa nina Bro. Eli Soriano at Kuya Daniel Razon na tumulong sa kapwa kahit hindi sila politiko at wala naman silang pork barrel na natatanggap. Nagagawa nila ang iba’t ibang paglilingkod sa kapwa ng LIBRE at walang hinihintay na kapalit gaya ng mga sumusunod:

• Libreng Sakay (Bus, Jeep, Lantsa, Eroplano)
• Free Clinic (everyday)
• Free Transient
• Free Legal Consultation
• Free Education (Preschool to College)
• Feeding Programs
• 24/7 Rescue (Tulong Muna Bago Balita / Tulong Muna Bago Pasada)
• Orphanage 

photos courtesy of  http://www.danielrazon.org

Bukod pa dito ay on-going ang UNTV Cup, isang basketball league na panukala ni Kuya Daniel Razon kung saan mayroong 7 teams na naglalaro para sa premyong 1 milyong piso. Ngunit ang halagang ito ay hindi mapupunta sa mga manlalaro kundi sa charitable institution na napili nilang tulungan.

 photo courtesy of  http://www.untvweb.com 

Ang Konklusyon
Mahalaga ang Pork Barrel kung tama ang paggamit dahil maari itong gamitin para sa mga proyektong ang pangunahing makikinabang ay ang mga mamamayan. Pero hindi dapat nakadepende lang sa Pork Barrel ang pagtulong sa kapwa. May Pork Barrel man o wala, magagawa mo pa ring makatulong sa kapwa tao kung talagang gugustuhin mo. Dun mas makikita ang intensyon ng tao lalo na ng mga politiko kung sinsero sila sa pagtulong. Maari namang makagawa ng mga public services ang mga politiko kahit walang pork barrel. Katunayan, nagagawa ito nina Bro. Eli Soriano at Kuya Daniel Razon. Bagama’t hindi sila mga politiko, bagama’t wala silang Pork Barrel, at bagama’t pinasasama sila ng mga kaaway nila, patuloy pa rin ang kanilang paglilingkod sa kapwa, at patuloy na ginagawa ang tunay na kahulugan ng PUBLIC SERVICE. 

UNTV Cup: New Concept in Public Service

When people ask me where I teach, I proudly say “at La Verdad Christian College”. In a not surprising mode, I know that most of them are not familiar with the name so I have to describe in all gesture and non verbal diads like where it is located, when it was established, etc.  But when I already mention “It offers full scholarship to the students. Free tuition, Free uniforms, even free meals! In other words ABSOLUTELY FREE!”, it amazes them. Then the next question that needs to be entertained: “How were you able to survive? Where do you get your fund?” I would just say, “Like what Bro. Eli and Kuya Daniel are always saying, from God’s help and mercy.”  

So there we go.

La Verdad Christian College is just one of so many public services of Bro. Eli and Kuya Daniel, such as Free Ride, Free Clinic, Free Legal Consultation, Free Transient Home, etc.  But who finances these public services? It is Bro. Eli Soriano and Kuya Daniel Razon who are the primary sponsors of these projects, with the continuous support of the Members of Church of God International. Aside from that, Kuya Daniel Razon spearheads different fund raising projects such as fun run, concerts, basketball games, etc. And these projects are being supported by the LGUs, public servants, extending to the people from the private sector. Proceeds of these projects go to the public services launched by Bro. Eli Soriano and Kuya Daniel Razon.

But this time, Bro. Eli and Kuya Daniel extend their hands to reach out and support other institutions that also need assistance.  The very reason UNTV Cup is born, guided of bright concepts and ideas of Kuya Daniel Razon. The team who will win in the championship game will donate their cash prize to the charitable institution of their choice. Nota Bene: None of the cash prize will go to their pocket but to the institution that they want to support. In this manner, we are being taught to strive hard not for ourselves but for the others. Like what Bro. Eli has mentioned in his welcoming speech, “We will play hard, get tired and perspire, not for our own benefit, but for the benefit of those who need our help. Because this is what the Lord Jesus did. He even gave His life just to save us”.

There are 7 teams from the different government agencies who will compete to get the prize of 1 Million Pesos. It means that they will be able to extend help to the charitable institution of their choice without getting a centavo from the government funds. These teams are: PNP, AFP, LGUs, DOJ, Judiciary, PhilHealth, MMDA. Each team also has at least one celebrity player to play with them. Some of them are Michael Flores, Jao Mapa, Eric Fructuoso, Onyok Velasco, Brando Legaspi, Kier Legaspi and Zoren Legaspi. Former PBA Star and now Mapua coach Fortunato “Atoy” Co will be the commissioner while Mr. Ed Cordero will act as the assistant commissioner.

The ball was officially tossed to open the ceremony of UNTV Cup on July 29, 2013 at the Smart Araneta. Each teams and players were introduced to the cheering crowd. There was also a game between DOJ and AFP.  During this event, I was not just a spectator as I was given the opportunity to be a part of the event. I was assigned to assist the guests as they arrive, wave a smile and say "hello!". And of course, lead them to their designated seats. My task seems to be easy, but I have to walk to and fro, up and down from 2^nd floor to 1^st floor and vice versa. Quite tiring but I can’t help saying myself that I just love it. Not because it would help burn my fats (Well, it was just a joke. If jokes are half meant, so I really mean it). At the end of the day, it is fulfilling to say that I was able to be a part of this noble cause in my own little way to the minute little one.

UNTV Cup is so new to its very broad project. I am hoping that people who understand this noble cause will continuously hold up UNTV Cup not only during its opening ceremonies, but as well all the games for the entire season. By the way, just for a graceful exit from a source which I hope does not actually exist, I heard that there is some other network that will also launch a same concept? Hmmm…

Anyway, I want to end this by giving my heartfelt congratulations to Bro. Eli and Kuya Daniel for being the pioneers of this new concept in public service. We are thankful to God for having them who always do public services to all people, regardless of their race and religion. To God be the Glory forever!

Mr. Public Service Kuya Daniel Razon with AFP and DOJ Basketball Teams during the ceremonial toss. (Photo courtesy of https://www.facebook.com/KuyaDanielRazon)

The powerful All Access Pass that allows me to go anywhere in Smart Araneta. Yes, even to the players' dug out. *big grin* 

 With my student Meryl, who stayed with us (Ate Ehlite) in welcoming the guests.

Twitter Party with Bro. Eli

I came home last night very late from my duties. I was that really exhausted. Not because of the things I went over the whole day, but because I traveled from Valenzuela from my schedule post and gone to Parañaque where I reside. I even skipped dinner (yeah, that was on purpose) because I preferred to lie down and sleep rather than to eat.

But before I went up to my room, my eyes were patched on my PC then decided to turn it on, check in some queries and documents that my students might sent me. I also checked my twitter account for some messages. It was just plain surfing.

And to my surprise! Bro. Eli Soriano just posted his tweets few seconds ago! Twitter users were also sending their messages and asking questions to Bro. Eli. I tried to send him a message, expecting to get a reply from him. My intuitions were never wrong and he never failed me. He replied not only to one of my messages, but to all the messages I sent him. Even a simple "ssD" really made me feel overjoyed. It relieved my stress. Yes, it does at an instant. I already forgot that I was about to sleep. I stayed up until 2am.

He even greeted Johnas on his 1st birthday. Well, actually, I requested him to do so. :)

If being not absurd, I know that the "feel" was just overwhelming, not knowing that I was already getting so much of his time. But this is a very rare opportunity for me to catch Bro. Eli interacting to his followers on twitter. More often than not, I always miss the chance that he is online. So then why not at the perfect time, I grabbed the opportunity to send him message about La Verdad instructors. Funny may sound to hear but the joy was measured exactly what I am expecting. 

No beautiful words to describe the happiness that was. He did not just mention his twitter followers, but he gave words of encouragement and answered their questions too. It's like there were no distance between the lines and the spaces were filled with bliss and content. It's like we were having a twitter party until the wee hours of the morning. Inspite that Bro. Eli has so many obligations to deal with, he still finds time to reach us and gives us words of wisdom by and even through social media. We are very thankful to God for sending us a loving and reachable preacher like him. :)