A Mandate of Change (Philippine President Benigno Aquino III Inauguration Speech)

Manila Bulletin ^ | 06/30/2010 | Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III

[SeekAndFind]

A MANDATE OF CHANGE

By BENIGNO SIMEON C. AQUINO III President of the Philippines

His Excellency Jose Ramos Horta, Former President Gloria Arroyo, Former President Fidel V. Ramos, Former President Joseph Estrada, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and members of the Senate, House Speaker Prospero Nograles and members of the House, justices of the Supreme Court, members of the foreign delegations,Your Excellencies of the diplomatic corps, fellow colleagues in government, aking mga kababayan.

My presence here today is proof that you are my true strength. I never expected that I will be here taking my oath of office before you, as your president. I never imagined that I would be tasked with continuing the mission of my parents. I never entertained the ambition to be the symbol of hope, and to inherit the problems of our nation.

I had a simple goal in life: to be true to my parents and our country as an honorable son, a caring brother, and a good citizen.

My father offered his life so our democracy could live. My mother devoted her life to nurturing that democracy. I will dedicate my life to making our democracy reach its fullest potential: that of ensuring equality for all. My family has sacrificed much and I am willing to do this again if necessary.

Although I was born to famous parents, I know and feel the problems of ordinary citizens. We all know what it is like to have a government that plays deaf and dumb. We know what it is like to be denied justice, to be ignored by those in whom we placed our trust and tasked to become our advocates.

Have you ever been ignored by the very government you helped put in power? I have. Have you had to endure being rudely shoved aside by the siren-blaring escorts of those who love to display their position and power over you? I have, too. Have you experienced exasperation and anger at a government that instead of serving you, needs to be endured by you? So have I.

I am like you. Many of our countrymen have already voted with their feet - migrating to other countries in search of change or tranquility. They have endured hardship, risked their lives because they believe that compared to their current state here, there is more hope for them in another country, no matter how bleak it may be. In moments when I thought of only my own welfare, I also wondered - is it possible that I can find the peace and quiet that I crave in another country? Is our government beyond redemption? Has it been written that the Filipino’s lot is merely to suffer?

Today marks the end of a regime indifferent to the appeals of the people. It is not Noynoy who found a way. You are the reason why the silent suffering of the nation is about to end. This is the beginning of my burden, but if many of us will bear the cross we will lift it, no matter how heavy it is.

Through good governance in the coming years, we will lessen our problems. The destiny of the Filipino will return to its rightful place, and as each year passes, the Filipino’s problems will continue to lessen with the assurance of progress in their lives.

We are here to serve and not to lord over you. The mandate given to me was one of change. I accept your marching orders to transform our government from one that is self-serving to one that works for the welfare of the nation.

This mandate is the social contract that we agreed upon. It is the promise I made during the campaign, which you accepted on election day.

During the campaign we said, “If no one is corrupt, no one will be poor.” That is no mere slogan for posters -- it is the defining principle that will serve as the foundation of our administration.

Our foremost duty is to lift the nation from poverty through honest and effective governance.

The first step is to have leaders who are ethical, honest, and true public servants. I will set the example. I will strive to be a good model. I will not break the trust you have placed in me. I will ensure that this, too, will be the advocacy of my Cabinet and those who will join our government.

I do not believe that all of those who serve in our government are corrupt. In truth, the majority of them are honest. They joined government to serve and do good. Starting today, they will have the opportunity to show that they have what it takes. I am counting on them to help fight corruption within the bureaucracy.

To those who have been put in positions by unlawful means, this is my warning: we will begin earning back the trust of our people by reviewing midnight appointments. Let this serve as a warning to those who intend to continue the crooked ways that have become the norm for too long.

To our impoverished countrymen, starting today, your government will be your champion.

We will not disregard the needs of our students. We will begin by addressing the glaring shortage in classrooms and educational facilities.

Gradually, we will lessen the lack of infrastructures for transportation, tourism and trade. From now on, mediocre work will not be good enough when it comes to roads, bridges, and buildings because we will hold contractors responsible for maintaining their projects in good condition.

We will revive the emergency employment program established by former President Corazon Aquino. This will provide jobs for local communities and will help in the development of their and our economy.

We will not be the cause of your suffering or hardship. We will strengthen collections by the Bureau of Internal Revenue and we will fight corruption in the Bureau of Customs in order to fund our objectives for the public welfare, such as:

· Quality education, including vocational education, so that those who choose not to attend college or those who cannot afford it can find dignified livelihood;

· Improved public health services such as PhilHealth for all within three years;

· A home for every family, within safe communities.

We will strengthen the armed forces and the police, not to serve the interests of those who want to wield power with impunity, but to give added protection for ordinary folk. The armed forces and the police risk their lives daily so that the nation can live in peace and security. The population has doubled and yet their numbers remain unchanged. It is not right that those who make sacrifices are treated pitifully.

If there was a fertilizer scam in the past, today there will be security for farmers. We will help them with irrigation, extension services, and marketing their products at the best possible prices.

We are directing Secretary Alcala to set up trading centers that will directly link farmers and consumers thereby eliminating middlemen and opportunities for corruption. In this way, funds can be shared by farmers and consumers. We will make our country attractive to investors. We will cut red tape dramatically and implement stable economic policies. We will level the playing field for investors and make government an enabler, not a hindrance to business. This is the only means by which we can provide jobs for our people.

Our goal is to create jobs at home so that there will be no need to look for employment abroad. However, as we work towards that end, I am ordering the DFA, POEA, OWWA, and other relevant agencies to be even more responsive to the needs and welfare of our overseas Filipino workers.

We will strengthen the process of consultation and feedback. We will strive to uphold the constitutional right of citizens to information on matters of public concern.

We relived the spirit of people power during the campaign. Let it take us to good and effective governance. Those who believe in people power put the welfare of others before their own.

I can forgive those who did me wrong but I have no right to forgive those who abused our people.

To those who talk about reconciliation, if they mean that they would like us to simply forget about the wrongs that they have committed in the past, we have this to say: there can be no reconciliation without justice. When we allow crimes to go unpunished, we give consent to their occurring over and over again. Secretary de Lima, you have your marching orders. Begin the process of providing true and complete justice for all.

We are also happy to inform you the acceptance of Chief Justice Hilario Davide of the challenge of strengthening and heading a Truth Commission that will shed light on many unanswered issues that continue to haunt our country.

My government will be sincere in dealing with all the peoples of Mindanao. We are committed to a peaceful and just settlement of conflict, inclusive of the interests of all -- may they be Lumads, Bangsamoro or Christian.

We shalI defeat the enemy by wielding the tools of justice, social reform, and equitable governance leading to a better life. With proper governance life will improve for all. When we are all living well, who will want to go back to living under oppression?

If I have all of you by my side, we will be able to build a nation in which there will be equality of opportunity, because each of us fulfilled our duties and responsibilities equally.

After the elections, you proved that it is the people who wield power in this country.

This is what democracy means. It is the foundation of our unity. We campaigned for change. Because of this, the Filipino stands tall once more. We are all part of a nation that can begin to dream again.

To our friends and neighbors around the world, we are ready to take our place as a reliable member of the community of nations, a nation serious about its commitments and which harmonizes its national interests with its international responsibilities.

We will be a predictable and consistent place for investment, a nation where everyone will say, “it all works.”

Today, I am inviting you to pledge to yourselves and to our people. No one shall be left behind.

No more junkets, no more senseless spending. No more turning back on pledges made during the campaign, whether today or in the coming challenges that will confront us over the next six years. No more influence-peddling, no more patronage politics, no more stealing. No more sirens, no more short cuts, no more bribes. It is time for us to work together once more.

We are here today because we stood together and believed in hope. We had no resources to campaign other than our common faith in the inherent goodness of the Filipino.

The people who are behind us dared to dream. Today, the dream starts to become a reality. To those among you who are still undecided about sharing the common burden I have only one question: Are you going to quit now that we have won?

You are the boss so I cannot ignore your orders. We will design and implement an interaction and feedback mechanism that can effectively respond to your needs and aspirations.

You are the ones who brought me here - our volunteers - old, young, celebrity, ordinary folks who went around the country to campaign for change; my household help who provided for all my personal needs; my family, friends, colleagues at work, who shared, cared, and gave their support; my lawyers who stayed all hours to guard my votes and make sure they were counted; and the millions of Filipinos who prevailed, kept faith, and never lost hope - I offer my heartfelt gratitude.

I will not be able to face my parents and you who have brought me here if do not fulfill the promises I made.

My parents sought nothing less, died for nothing less, than democracy and peace. I am blessed by this legacy. I shall carry the torch forward.

My hope is that when I leave office, everyone can say that we have traveled far on the right path, and that we are able to bequeath a better future to the next generation. Join me in continuing this fight for change.

Thank you and long live the Filipino people!

[SeekAndFind]

I believe Aquino will be friendly to the USA. He has lived here before and his father was supported by Democrats and Republicans alike when he struggled against Marcos.

It was under Ronald Reagan that the dictatorship of Marcos was broken and his mother was elected.

This country also has an incipient Muslim insurgency in the south and should be a reliable ally in the war against terror.

Hopefully, this country can improve its lot. So many talented and wonderful people, all leaving the country to work overseas...

[dila813]

Their country is corrupt beyond belief.

The government is fully socialist in some areas of the economy and non-existent in others.

In the areas where the government is in full control, it is kick back city.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Their country is corrupt beyond belief.

True. That is the reason Aquino got elected. His platform was fighting corruption.

As in most 3rd world countries, most of the foreign aid they get disappears in the hands of politicians.

Whether Aquino can succeed in fighting endemic corruption or not remains to be seen. Most people from that country I talk to tell me he is personally clean.

One interesting tidbit -— roughly 17% of Hawaii’s population is Filipino.

Here’s another one — 20% of skilled workers and technicians in the Middle East are Filipinos.

Filipinos do well only when they LEAVE the country.

[Cheetahcat]

Lets not forget Filipinas.

[wardaddy]

I admire your posts but your logic here escapes me.

Ferdinand Marcos ..hardly the worst of autocrats and a great friend to our interests in the region at the height of the Cold War and the Southeast Asian conflicts and who did not tolerate radical Islam whatsoever.

Like most revolutions of good intentions what has followed is hardly inspiring.

We were kicked out of the Philippines after Marcos’s foes took power so I'm not sure I'd hold my breath that out interests in the region will improve.

How well the Philippines do themselves is secondary for me compared to how they react to my own country the US of A. Looks to me like corruption and political and religious violence are a cultural issue in that archiapelago not confined to Marcos's rule and both preceded him and has survived him.

Reagan did not "break" Marcos's grip. Marcos's henchmen killed Benigno Aquino and that miscalculation cost him his grip on power and the US dropped support for him once he appeared unsustainable. Magnus was no fool about toppling every Caudillo in the world, he had his eyes on the real prize....the USSR.

[SeekAndFind]

Worldwide Corruption Perceptions ranking of countries
published by Transparency International

Rank	Country	Index
2009		2009[1]	2008[2]	2007[3]	2006[4]	2005[5]	2004[6]	2003	2002
1	New Zealand	9.4	9.3	9.4	9.6	9.6	9.5	9.5	9.4
2	Denmark	9.3	9.3	9.4	9.5	9.5	9.5	9.5	9.5
3	Singapore	9.2	9.2	9.3	9.2	9.3	9.4	9.4	9.4
3	Sweden	9.2	9.3	9.3	9.2	9.2	9.3	9.3	9.0
5	Switzerland	9.0	9.0	9.0	9.1	9.1	8.8	8.5	8.4
6	Finland	8.9	9.0	9.4	9.6	9.6	9.7	9.7	9.9
6	Netherlands	8.9	8.9	9.0	8.7	8.6	8.9	9.0	8.8
8	Australia	8.7	8.7	8.6	8.7	8.8	8.8	8.6	8.5
8	Canada	8.7	8.7	8.7	8.5	8.4	8.7	9.0	8.9
8	Iceland	8.7	8.9	9.2	9.6	9.7	9.6	9.4	9.2
11	Norway	8.6	7.9	8.7	8.8	8.9	8.8	8.5	8.6
12	Hong Kong	8.2	8.1	8.3	8.3	8.3	8.0	8.2	7.9
12	Luxembourg	8.2	8.3	8.4	8.6	8.5	8.7	9.0	8.7
14	Germany	8.0	7.9	7.8	8.0	8.2	7.7	7.3	7.4
14	Ireland	8.0	7.7	7.5	7.4	7.4	7.5	6.9	7.5
16	Austria	7.9	8.1	8.1	8.6	8.7	8.0	7.8	7.8
17	Japan	7.7	7.3	7.5	7.6	7.3	7.0	7.1	7.1
17	United Kingdom	7.7	7.7	8.4	8.6	8.6	8.6	8.7	8.3
19	United States	7.5	7.3	7.2	7.3	7.6	7.5	7.7	7.6
20	Barbados	7.4	7.0	6.9	6.7	6.9
21	Belgium	7.1	7.3	7.1	7.3	7.4	7.6	7.1	6.6
22	Qatar	7.0	6.5	6.0	6.0	5.9	5.6
22	Saint Lucia	7.0	7.1	6.8
24	France	6.9	6.9	7.3	7.4	7.5	6.9	6.3	6.7
25	Chile	6.7	6.9	7.0	7.3	7.3	7.4	7.5	7.5
25	Uruguay	6.7	6.9	6.7	6.4	5.9	5.5	5.1	5.1
27	Cyprus	6.6	6.4	5.3	5.6	5.7	5.4	6.1
27	Estonia	6.6	6.6	6.5	6.7	6.4	5.5	5.6	5.6
27	Slovenia	6.6	6.7	6.6	6.4	6.1	5.9	6.0	5.2
30	United Arab Emirates	6.5	5.9	5.7	6.2	6.2	6.1	5.2
31	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	6.4	6.5	6.1
32	Israel	6.1	6.0	6.1	5.9	6.3	6.4	7.0	7.3
32	Spain	6.1	6.5	6.7	6.8	7.0	6.9	7.1	7.0
34	Dominica	5.9	6.0	5.6	4.5	3.0	2.9	3.3	3.2
35	Portugal	5.8	6.1	6.5	6.6	6.5	6.6	6.3	6.3
35	Puerto Rico	5.8	5.8
37	Botswana	5.6	5.8	5.4	5.6	5.9	6.0	5.7	6.4
37	Taiwan	5.6	5.7	5.7	5.9	5.9	5.6	5.7	5.6
39	Brunei	5.5
39	Oman	5.5	5.5	4.7	5.4	6.3	6.1	6.3
39	South Korea	5.5	5.6	5.1	5.1	5.0	4.5	4.3	4.5
42	Mauritius	5.4	5.5	4.7	5.1	4.2	4.1	4.4	4.5
43	Costa Rica	5.3	5.1	5.0	4.1	4.2	4.9	4.3	4.5
43	Macau	5.3	5.4	5.7	6.6
45	Malta	5.2	5.8	5.8	6.4	6.4
46	Bahrain	5.1	5.4	5.0	5.7	5.8	5.8	6.1
46	Cape Verde	5.1	5.1	4.9
46	Hungary	5.1	5.1	5.3	5.2	5.0	4.8	4.8	4.9
49	Bhutan	5.0	5.4	5.0
49	Jordan	5.0	5.1	4.7	5.3	5.7	5.3	4.6	4.5
49	Poland	5.0	4.6	4.2	3.7	3.4	3.5	3.6	4.0
52	Czech Republic	4.9	5.2	5.2	4.8	4.3	4.2	3.9	3.7
52	Lithuania	4.9	4.6	4.8	4.8	4.8	4.6	4.7	4.8
54	Seychelles	4.8	4.8	4.5	3.6	4.0	4.4
55	South Africa	4.7	4.9	5.1	4.6	4.5	4.6	4.4	4.8
56	Latvia	4.5	5.0	4.8	4.7	4.2	4.0	3.8	3.7
56	Malaysia	4.5	5.1	5.1	5.0	5.1	5.0	5.2	4.9
56	Namibia	4.5	4.5	4.5	4.1	4.3	4.1	4.7	5.7
56	Samoa	4.5	4.4	4.5
56	Slovakia	4.5	5.0	4.9	4.7	4.3	4.0	3.7	3.7
61	Cuba	4.4	4.3	4.2	3.5	3.8	3.7	4.6
61	Turkey	4.4	4.6	4.1	3.8	3.5	3.2	3.1	3.2
63	Italy	4.3	4.8	5.2	6.2	6.2	5.2
63	Saudi Arabia	4.3	3.5	3.4	3.3	3.4	3.4	4.5
65	Tunisia	4.2	4.4	4.2	4.6	4.9	5.0	4.9	4.8
66	Croatia	4.1	4.4	4.1	3.4	3.4	3.5	3.7	3.8
66	Georgia	4.1	3.9	3.4	2.8	2.3	2.0	1.8	2.4
66	Kuwait	4.1	4.3	4.3	4.8	4.7	4.6	5.3
69	Ghana	3.9	3.9	3.7	3.3	3.5	3.6	3.3	3.9
69	Montenegro	3.9	3.4	3.3
71	Bulgaria	3.8	3.6	4.1	4.0	4.0	4.1	3.9	4.0
71	Macedonia	3.8	3.6	3.3	2.7	2.7	2.7	2.3
71	Greece	3.8	4.7	4.6	4.4	4.3	4.3	4.3	4.2
71	Romania	3.8	3.8	3.7	3.1	3.0	2.9	2.8	2.6
75	Brazil	3.7	3.5	3.5	3.3	3.7	3.9	3.9	4.0
75	Colombia	3.7	3.8	3.8	3.9	4.0	3.8	3.7	3.6
75	Peru	3.7	3.6	3.5	3.3	3.5	3.5	3.7	3.4
75	Suriname	3.7	3.6	3.5	3.0	3.2	4.3
79	Burkina Faso	3.6	3.5	2.9	3.2	3.4
79	China	3.6	3.6	3.5	3.3	3.2	3.4	3.4	3.5
79	Swaziland	3.6	3.6	3.3	2.5	2.7
79	Trinidad and Tobago	3.6	3.6	3.4	3.2	3.8	4.2	4.6	4.9
83	Serbia[7]	3.5	3.4	3.4	3.0	2.8	2.7	2.3
84	El Salvador	3.4	3.9	4.0	4.0	4.2	3.7	3.4	3.2
84	Guatemala	3.4	3.1	2.8	2.6	2.5	2.2	2.4	2.5
84	India	3.4	3.4	3.5	3.3	2.9	2.8	2.8	2.7
84	Panama	3.4	3.4	3.2	3.1	3.5	3.7	3.4	3.0
84	Thailand	3.4	3.5	3.3	3.6	3.8	3.6	3.3	3.2
89	Lesotho	3.3	3.2	3.3	3.2	3.4
89	Malawi	3.3	2.8	2.7	2.7	2.8	2.8	2.8	2.9
89	Mexico	3.3	3.6	3.5	3.3	3.5	3.6	3.6	3.6

Rank	Country	Index
2009		2009	2008	2007	2006	2005	2004	2003	2002
89	Moldova	3.3	2.9	2.8	3.2	2.9	2.3	2.4	2.1
89	Morocco	3.3	3.5	3.5	3.2	3.2	3.2	3.3	3.7
89	Rwanda	3.3	3.0	2.8	2.5	3.1
95	Albania	3.2	3.4	2.9	2.6	2.4	2.5	2.5	2.5
95	Vanuatu	3.2	2.9	3.1
97	Liberia	3.1	2.4	2.1		2.2
97	Sri Lanka	3.1	3.2	3.2	3.1	3.2	3.5	3.4	3.7
99	Bosnia and Herzegovina	3.0	3.2	3.3	2.9	2.9	3.1	3.3
99	Dominican Republic	3.0	3.0	3.0	2.8	3.0	2.9	3.3	3.5
99	Jamaica	3.0	3.1	3.3	3.7	3.6	3.3	3.8	4.0
99	Madagascar	3.0	3.4	3.2	3.1	2.8	3.1	2.6	1.7
99	Senegal	3.0	3.4	3.6	3.3	3.2	3.0	3.2	3.1
99	Tonga	3.0	2.4	1.7
99	Zambia	3.0	2.8	2.6	2.6	2.6	2.6	2.5	2.6
106	Argentina	2.9	2.9	2.9	2.9	2.8	2.5	2.5	2.8
106	Benin	2.9	3.1	2.7	2.5	2.9	3.2
106	Gabon	2.9	3.1	3.3	3.0	2.9	3.3
106	Gambia	2.9	1.9	2.3	2.5	2.7	2.8	2.5
106	Niger	2.9	2.8	2.6	2.3	2.4	2.2
111	Algeria	2.8	3.2	3.0	3.1	2.8	2.7	2.6
111	Djibouti	2.8	3.0	2.9
111	Egypt	2.8	2.8	2.9	3.3	3.4	3.2	3.3	3.4
111	Indonesia	2.8	2.6	2.3	2.4	2.2	2.0	1.9	1.9
111	Kiribati	2.8	3.1	3.3	3.7
111	Mali	2.8	3.1	2.7	2.8	2.9	3.2	3.0
111	São Tomé and Príncipe	2.8	2.7	2.7
111	Solomon Islands	2.8	2.9	2.8
111	Togo	2.8	2.7	2.3	2.4
120	Armenia	2.7	2.9	3.0	2.9	2.9	3.1	3.0
120	Bolivia	2.7	3.0	2.9	2.7	2.5	2.2	2.3	2.2
120	Ethiopia	2.7	2.6	2.4	2.4	2.2	2.3	2.5	3.5
120	Kazakhstan	2.7	2.2	2.1	2.6	2.6	2.2	2.4	2.3
120	Mongolia	2.7	3.0	3.0	2.8	3.0	3.0
120	Vietnam	2.7	2.7	2.6	2.6	2.6	2.6	2.4	2.4
126	Eritrea	2.6	2.6	2.8	2.9	2.6	2.6
126	Guyana	2.6	2.6	2.6	2.5	2.5
126	Syria	2.6	2.1	2.4	2.9	3.4	3.4	3.4
126	Tanzania	2.6	3.0	3.2	2.9	2.9	2.8	2.5	2.7
130	Honduras	2.5	2.6	2.5	2.5	2.6	2.3	2.3	2.7
130	Lebanon	2.5	3.0	3.0	3.6	3.1	2.7	3.0
130	Libya	2.5	2.6	2.5	2.7	2.5	2.5	2.1
130	Maldives	2.5	2.8	3.3
130	Mauritania	2.5	2.8	2.6	3.1
130	Mozambique	2.5	2.6	2.8	2.8	2.8	2.8	2.7
130	Nicaragua	2.5	2.5	2.6	2.6	2.6	2.7	2.6	2.5
130	Nigeria	2.5	2.7	2.2	2.2	1.9	1.6	1.4	1.6
130	Uganda	2.5	2.6	2.8	2.7	2.5	2.6	2.2	2.1
139	Bangladesh	2.4	2.1	2.0	2.0	1.7	1.5	1.3	1.2
139	Belarus	2.4	2.0	2.1	2.1	2.6	3.3	4.2	4.8
139	Pakistan	2.4	2.5	2.4	2.2	2.1	2.1	2.5	2.6
139	Philippines	2.4	2.3	2.5	2.5	2.5	2.6	2.5	2.6
143	Azerbaijan	2.3	1.9	2.1	2.4	2.2	1.9	1.8	2.0
143	Comoros	2.3	2.5	2.6
143	Nepal	2.3	2.7	2.5	2.5	2.5	2.8
146	Cameroon	2.2	2.3	2.4	2.3	2.2	2.1	1.8	2.2
146	Ecuador	2.2	2.0	2.1	2.3	2.5	2.4	2.2	2.2
146	Kenya	2.2	2.1	2.1	2.2	2.1	2.1	1.9	1.9
146	Russia	2.2	2.1	2.3	2.5	2.4	2.8	2.7	2.7
146	Sierra Leone	2.2	1.9	2.1	2.2	2.4	2.3	2.2
146	Timor-Leste	2.2	2.2	2.6	2.6
146	Ukraine	2.2	2.5	2.7	2.8	2.6	2.2	2.3	2.4
146	Zimbabwe	2.2	1.8	2.1	2.4	2.6	2.3	2.3	2.7
154	Côte d'Ivoire	2.1	2.0	2.1		1.9	2.0	2.1	2.7
154	Papua New Guinea	2.1	2.0	2.0	2.4	2.3	2.6	2.1
154	Paraguay	2.1	2.4	2.4	2.6	2.1	1.9	1.6	1.7
154	Yemen	2.1	2.3	2.5	2.6	2.7	2.4	2.6	2.4
158	Cambodia	2.0	1.8	2.0	2.1	2.3	1.5	1.3	1.2
158	Central African Republic	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.4
158	Laos	2.0	2.0	1.9	2.6	3.3
158	Tajikistan	2.0	2.0	2.1	2.2	2.1	2.0	1.8
162	Angola	1.9	2.2	1.9	2.2	2.0	2.0	1.8	1.7
162	Republic of the Congo	1.9	1.9	2.1	2.2	2.3	2.3	2.2
162	Democratic Republic of the Congo	1.9	1.8	1.9	2.0	2.1	2.0
162	Guinea-Bissau	1.9	1.9	2.2
162	Kyrgyzstan	1.9	1.8	2.1	2.2	2.3	2.2	2.1
162	Venezuela	1.9	1.9	2.0	2.3	2.3	2.3	2.4	2.5
168	Burundi	1.8	1.9	2.5	2.4	2.3
168	Equatorial Guinea	1.8	1.7	1.9	2.1	1.9
168	Guinea	1.8	1.6	1.9	1.9
168	Haiti	1.8	1.4	1.6	1.8	1.8	1.5	1.5	2.2
168	Iran	1.8	2.3	2.5	2.7	2.9	2.9	3.0
168	Turkmenistan	1.8	1.8	2.0	2.2	1.8	2.0
174	Uzbekistan	1.7	1.8	1.7	2.7	2.2	2.3	2.4	2.9
175	Chad	1.6	1.6	1.8	2.0	1.7	1.7
176	Iraq	1.5	1.3	1.5	1.9	2.2	2.1	2.2
176	Sudan	1.5	1.6	1.8	2.0	2.1	2.2	2.3
178	Myanmar	1.4	1.3	1.4	1.9	1.8	1.7	1.6
179	Afghanistan	1.3	1.5	1.8		2.5
180	Somalia	1.1	1.0	1.4		2.1
–	Belize		2.9	3.0	3.5	3.7	3.8	4.5
–	Grenada			3.4	3.5

Country or Region	2001 Survey		2002 Survey		2003 Survey		2005 Survey		2006 Survey[8]		2007 Survey[9]
	Index	Rank	Index	Rank	Index	Rank	Index	Rank	Index	Rank	Index	Rank
Afghanistan	–	–	–	–	–	–	2.5	117/159	–	–	1.8	172/180
Albania	–	–	2.5	81/102	2.5	92/133	2.4	126/159	2.6	111/163	2.9	105/180
Algeria	–	–	–	–	2.6	88/133	2.8	97/159	3.1	84/163	3.0	99/180
Angola	–	–	1.7	98/102	1.8	124/133	2.0	151/159	2.2	142/163	2.2	147/180
Argentina	3.5	57/91	2.8	70/102	2.5	92/133	2.8	97/159	2.9	93/163	2.9	105/180
Armenia	–	–	–	–	3.0	78/133	2.9	88/159	2.9	93/163	3.0	99/180
Australia	8.5	11/91	8.6	11/102	8.8	8/133	8.8	9/159	8.7	9/163	8.6	11/180
Austria	7.8	15/91	7.8	15/102	8.0	14/133	8.7	10/159	8.6	11/163	8.1	15/180
Azerbaijan	2.0	84/91	2.0	95/102	1.8	124/133	2.2	137/159	2.4	130/163	2.1	150/180
Bahrain	–	–	–	–	6.1	27/133	5.8	36/159	5.7	36/163	5.0	46/180
Bangladesh	0.4	91/91	1.2	102/102	1.3	133/133	1.7	158/159	2.0	156/163	2.0	162/180
Barbados	–	–	–	–	–	–	6.9	24/159	6.7	24/163	6.9	23/180
Belarus	–	–	4.8	36/102	4.2	53/133	2.6	107/159	2.1	151/163	2.1	150/180
Belgium	6.6	24/91	7.1	20/102	7.6	17/133	7.4	19/159	7.3	20/163	7.1	21/180
Belize	–	–	–	–	4.5	46/133	3.7	62/159	3.5	66/163	3.0	99/180
Benin	–	–	–	–	–	–	2.9	88/159	2.5	121/163	2.7	118/180
Bhutan	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	6.0	32/163	5.0	46/180
Bolivia	2.0	84/91	2.2	89/102	2.3	106/133	2.5	117/159	2.7	105/163	2.9	105/180
Bosnia-Herzegovina	–	–	–	–	3.3	70/133	2.9	88/159	2.9	93/163	3.3	84/180
Botswana	6.0	26/91	6.4	24/102	5.7	30/133	5.9	32/159	5.6	37/163	5.4	38/180
Brazil	4.0	46/91	4.0	45/102	3.9	54/133	3.7	62/159	3.3	70/163	3.5	72/180
Bulgaria	3.9	47/91	4.0	45/102	3.9	54/133	4.0	55/159	4.0	57/163	4.1	64/180
Burkina Faso	–	–	–	–	–	–	3.4	70/159	3.2	79/163	2.9	105/180
Burma	–	–	–	–	1.6	129/133	1.8	155/159	1.9	160/163	1.4	179/180
Burundi	–	–	–	–	–	–	2.3	130/159	2.4	130/163	2.5	131/180
Cambodia	–	–	–	–	–	–	2.3	130/159	2.1	151/163	2.0	162/180
Cameroon	2.0	84/91	2.2	89/102	1.8	124/133	2.2	137/159	2.3	138/163	2.4	138/180
Canada	8.9	7/91	9.0	7/102	8.7	11/133	8.4	14/159	8.5	14/163	8.7	9/180
Cape Verde	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	4.9	49/180
Central African Rep.	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	2.4	130/163	2.0	162/180
Chad	–	–	–	–	–	–	1.7	158/159	2.0	156/163	1.8	172/180
Chile	7.5	18/91	7.5	17/102	7.4	20/133	7.3	21/159	7.3	20/163	7.0	22/180
China	3.5	57/91	3.5	59/102	3.4	66/133	3.2	78/159	3.3	70/163	3.5	72/180
Colombia	3.8	50/91	3.6	57/102	3.7	59/133	4.0	55/159	3.9	59/163	3.8	68/180
Comoros	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	2.6	123/180
Costa Rica	4.5	40/91	4.5	40/102	4.3	50/133	4.2	51/159	4.1	55/163	5.0	46/180
Côte d'Ivoire	–	–	–	–	2.1	118/133	1.9	152/159	2.1	151/163	2.1	150/180
Croatia	3.9	47/91	3.8	51/102	3.7	59/133	3.4	70/159	3.4	69/163	4.1	64/180
Cuba	–	–	–	–	4.6	43/133	3.8	59/159	3.5	66/163	4.2	61/180
Cyprus	–	–	–	–	6.1	27/133	5.7	37/159	5.6	37/163	5.3	39/180
Czech Republic	3.9	47/91	3.7	52/102	3.9	54/133	4.3	47/159	4.8	46/163	5.2	41/180
Dem. Rep. of the Congo	–	–	–	–	–	–	2.1	144/159	2.0	156/163	1.9	168/180
Denmark	9.5	2/91	9.5	2/102	9.5	3/133	9.5	4/159	9.5	4/163	9.4	1/180
Djibouti	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	2.9	105/180
Dominica	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	4.5	53/163	5.6	37/180
Dominican Republic	–	–	–	–	3.3	70/133	3.0	85/159	2.8	99/163	3.0	99/180
Ecuador	2.3	79/91	2.2	89/102	2.2	113/133	2.3	138/159	2.3	138/163	2.1	150/180
Egypt	3.6	54/91	3.4	62/102	3.3	70/133	3.4	70/159	3.3	70/163	2.9	105/180
El Salvador	3.6	54/91	3.4	62/102	3.7	59/133	4.2	51/159	4.0	57/163	4.0	67/180
Equatorial Guinea	–	–	–	–	–	–	1.9	152/159	2.1	151/163	1.9	168/180
Eritrea	–	–	–	–	–	–	2.6	107/159	2.9	93/163	2.8	111/180
Estonia	5.6	28/91	5.6	29/102	5.5	33/133	6.4	27/159	6.7	24/163	6.5	28/180
Ethiopia	–	–	3.5	59/102	2.5	92/133	2.2	137/159	2.4	130/163	2.4	138/180
Fiji	–	–	–	–	–	–	4.0	55/159	–	–	–	–
Finland	9.9	1/91	9.7	1/102	9.7	1/133	9.6	2/159	9.6	1/163	9.4	1/180
France	6.7	23/91	6.3	25/102	6.9	23/133	7.5	18/159	7.4	18/163	7.3	19/180
Gabon	–	–	–	–	–	–	2.9	88/159	3.0	90/163	3.3	84/180
Gambia	–	–	–	–	2.5	92/133	2.7	103/159	2.5	121/163	2.3	143/180
Georgia	–	–	2.4	85/102	1.8	124/133	2.3	130/159	2.8	99/163	3.4	79/180
Germany	7.4	20/91	7.3	18/102	7.7	16/133	8.2	16/159	8.0	16/163	7.8	16/180
Ghana	3.4	59/91	3.9	50/102	3.3	70/133	3.5	65/159	3.3	70/163	3.7	69/180
Greece	4.2	42/91	4.2	44/102	4.3	50/133	4.3	47/159	4.4	54/163	4.6	56/180
Grenada	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	3.5	66/163	3.4	79/180
Guatemala	2.9	65/91	2.5	81/102	2.4	100/133	2.5	117/159	2.6	111/163	2.8	111/180
Guinea	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	1.9	160/163	1.9	168/180
Guinea-Bissau	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	2.2	147/180
Guyana	–	–	–	–	–	–	2.5	117/159	2.5	121/163	2.6	123/180
Haiti	–	–	2.2	89/102	1.5	131/133	1.8	155/159	1.8	163/163	1.6	177/180
Honduras	2.7	71/91	2.7	71/102	2.3	106/133	2.6	107/159	2.5	121/163	2.5	131/180
Hong Kong	7.9	14/91	8.2	14/102	8.0	14/133	8.3	15/159	8.3	15/163	8.3	14/180
Hungary	5.3	31/91	4.9	33/102	4.8	40/133	5.0	40/159	5.2	41/163	5.3	39/180
Iceland	9.2	4/91	9.4	4/102	9.6	2/133	9.7	1/159	9.6	1/163	9.2	6/180
India	2.7	71/91	2.7	71/102	2.8	83/133	2.9	88/159	3.3	70/163	3.5	72/180
Indonesia	1.9	88/91	1.9	96/102	1.9	122/133	2.2	137/159	2.4	130/163	2.3	143/180
Iran	–	–	–	–	3.0	78/133	2.9	88/159	2.7	105/163	2.5	131/180
Iraq	–	–	–	–	2.2	113/133	2.2	137/159	1.9	160/163	1.5	178/180
Republic of Ireland	7.5	18/91	6.9	23/102	7.5	18/133	7.4	19/159	7.4	18/163	7.5	17/180
Israel	7.6	16/91	7.3	18/102	7.0	21/133	6.3	28/159	5.9	34/163	6.1	30/180
Italy	5.5	29/91	5.2	31/102	5.3	35/133	5.0	40/159	4.9	45/163	5.2	41/180
Jamaica	–	–	4.0	45/102	3.8	57/133	3.6	64/159	3.7	61/163	3.3	84/180
Japan	7.1	21/91	7.1	20/102	7.0	21/133	7.3	21/159	7.6	17/163	7.5	17/180
Jordan	4.9	37/91	4.5	40/102	4.6	43/133	5.7	37/159	5.3	40/163	4.7	53/180
Kazakstan	2.7	71/91	2.3	88/102	2.4	100/133	2.6	107/159	2.6	111/163	2.1	150/180
Kenya	2.0	84/91	1.9	96/102	1.9	122/133	2.1	144/159	2.2	142/163	2.1	150/180
Kiribati	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	3.3	84/180
Kuwait	–	–	–	–	5.3	35/133	4.7	45/159	4.8	46/163	4.3	60/180
Kyrgyzstan	–	–	–	–	2.1	118/133	2.3	130/159	–	–	2.1	150/180
Laos	–	–	–	–	–	–	3.3	77/159	2.6	111/163	1.9	168/180
Latvia	3.4	59/91	3.7	52/102	3.8	57/133	4.2	51/159	4.7	49/163	4.8	51/180
Lebanon	–	–	–	–	3.0	78/133	3.1	83/159	3.6	63/163	3.0	99/180
Lesotho	–	–	–	–	–	–	3.4	70/159	3.2	79/163	3.3	84/180
Liberia	–	–	–	–	–	–	2.2	137/159	–	–	2.1	150/180
Libya	–	–	–	–	2.1	118/133	2.5	117/159	2.7	105/163	2.5	131/180
Lithuania	4.8	38/91	4.8	36/102	4.7	41/133	4.8	44/159	4.8	46/163	4.8	51/180
Luxembourg	8.7	9/91	9.0	7/102	8.7	11/133	8.5	13/159	8.6	11/163	8.4	12/180
Macau	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	6.6	26/163	5.7	34/180
Republic of Macedonia	–	–	–	–	2.3	106/133	2.7	103/159	2.7	105/163	3.3	84/180
Madagascar	–	–	1.7	98/102	2.6	88/133	2.8	97/159	3.1	84/163	3.2	94/180
Malawi	3.2	61/91	2.9	68/102	2.8	83/133	2.8	97/159	2.7	105/163	2.7	118/180
Malaysia	5.0	36/91	4.9	33/102	5.2	37/133	5.1	39/159	5.0	44/163	5.1	43/180
Maldives	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	3.3	84/180
Mali	–	–	–	–	3.0	78/133	2.9	88/159	2.8	99/163	2.7	118/180
Malta	–	–	–	–	–	–	6.6	25/159	6.4	28/163	5.8	33/180
Mauritania	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	3.1	84/163	2.6	123/180
Mauritius	4.5	40/91	4.5	40/102	4.4	48/133	4.2	51/159	5.1	42/163	4.7	53/180
Mexico	3.7	51/91	3.6	57/102	3.6	64/133	3.5	65/159	3.3	70/163	3.5	72/180
Moldova	3.1	63/91	2.1	93/102	2.4	100/133	2.9	88/159	3.2	79/163	2.8	111/180
Mongolia	–	–	–	–	–	–	3.0	85/159	2.8	99/163	3.0	99/180
Montenegro	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	3.3	84/180
Morocco	–	–	3.7	52/102	3.3	70/133	3.2	78/159	3.2	79/163	3.5	72/180
Mozambique	–	–	–	–	2.7	86/133	2.8	97/159	2.8	99/163	2.8	111/180
Namibia	5.4	30/91	5.7	28/102	4.7	41/133	4.3	47/159	4.1	55/163	4.5	57/180
Nepal	–	–	–	–	–	–	2.5	117/159	2.5	121/163	2.5	131/180
Netherlands	8.8	8/91	9.0	7/102	8.9	7/133	8.6	11/159	8.7	9/163	9.0	7/180
New Zealand	9.4	3/91	9.5	2/102	9.5	3/133	9.6	2/159	9.6	1/163	9.4	1/180
Nicaragua	2.4	77/91	2.5	81/102	2.6	88/133	2.6	107/159	2.6	111/163	2.6	123/180
Niger	–	–	–	–	–	–	2.4	126/159	2.3	138/163	2.6	123/180
Nigeria	1.0	90/91	1.6	101/102	1.4	132/133	1.9	152/159	2.2	142/163	2.2	147/180
Norway	8.6	10/91	8.5	12/102	8.8	8/133	8.9	8/159	8.8	8/163	8.7	9/180
Oman	–	–	–	–	6.3	26/133	6.3	28/159	5.4	39/163	4.7	53/180
Pakistan	2.3	79/91	2.6	77/102	2.5	92/133	2.1	144/159	2.2	142/163	2.4	138/180
Palestinian Authority	–	–	–	–	3.0	78/133	2.6	107/159	–	–	–	–
Panama	3.7	51/91	3.0	67/102	3.4	66/133	3.5	65/159	3.1	84/163	3.2	94/180
Papua New Guinea	–	–	–	–	2.1	118/133	2.3	130/159	2.4	130/163	2.0	162/180
Paraguay	–	–	1.7	98/102	1.6	129/133	2.1	144/159	2.6	111/163	2.4	138/180
Peru	4.1	44/91	4.0	45/102	3.7	59/133	3.5	65/159	3.3	70/163	3.5	72/180
Philippines	2.9	65/91	2.6	77/102	2.5	92/133	2.5	117/159	2.5	121/163	2.5	131/180
Poland	4.1	44/91	4.0	45/102	3.6	64/133	3.4	70/159	3.7	61/163	4.2	61/180
Portugal	6.3	25/91	6.3	25/102	6.6	25/133	6.5	26/159	6.6	26/163	6.5	28/180
Qatar	–	–	–	–	5.6	32/133	5.9	32/159	6.0	32/163	6.0	32/180
Rep. of the Congo	–	–	–	–	2.2	113/133	2.3	130/159	2.2	142/163	2.1	150/180
Romania	2.8	69/91	2.6	77/102	2.8	83/133	3.0	85/159	3.1	84/163	3.7	69/180
Russia	2.3	79/91	2.7	71/102	2.7	86/133	2.4	126/159	2.5	121/163	2.3	143/180
Rwanda	–	–	–	–	–	–	3.1	83/159	2.5	121/163	2.8	111/180
Saint Lucia	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	6.8	24/180
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	6.1	30/180
Samoa	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	4.5	57/180
São Tomé and Príncipe	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	2.7	118/180
Saudi Arabia	–	–	–	–	4.5	46/133	3.4	70/159	3.3	70/163	3.4	79/180
Senegal	2.9	65/91	3.1	66/102	3.2	76/133	3.2	78/159	3.3	70/163	3.6	71/180
Serbia	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	3.0	90/163	3.4	79/180
Serbia and Montenegro	–	–	–	–	2.3	106/133	2.8	97/159	–	–	–	–
Seychelles	–	–	–	–	–	–	4.0	55/159	3.6	63/163	4.5	57/180
Sierra Leone	–	–	–	–	2.2	113/133	2.4	126/159	2.2	142/163	2.1	150/180
Singapore	9.2	4/91	9.3	5/102	9.4	5/133	9.4	5/159	9.4	5/163	9.3	4/180
Slovakia	–	–	–	–	3.7	59/133	4.3	47/159	4.7	49/163	4.9	49/180
Slovenia	5.2	34/91	6.0	27/102	5.9	29/133	6.1	31/159	6.4	28/163	6.6	27/180
Solomon Islands	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	2.8	111/180
Somalia	–	–	–	–	–	–	2.1	144/159	–	–	1.4	179/180
South Africa	4.8	38/91	4.8	36/102	4.4	48/133	4.5	46/159	4.6	51/163	5.1	43/180
South Korea	4.2	42/91	4.5	40/102	4.3	50/133	5.0	40/159	5.1	42/163	5.1	43/180
Spain	7.0	22/91	7.1	20/102	6.9	23/133	7.0	23/159	6.8	23/163	6.7	25/180
Sri Lanka	–	–	3.7	52/102	3.4	66/133	3.2	78/159	3.1	84/163	3.2	94/180
Sudan	–	–	–	–	2.3	106/133	2.1	144/159	2.0	156/163	1.8	172/180
Suriname	–	–	–	–	–	–	3.2	78/159	3.0	90/163	3.5	72/180
Swaziland	–	–	–	–	–	–	2.7	103/159	2.5	121/163	3.3	84/180
Sweden	9.0	6/91	9.3	5/102	9.3	6/133	9.2	6/159	9.2	6/163	9.3	4/180
Switzerland	8.4	12/91	8.5	12/102	8.8	8/133	9.1	7/159	9.1	7/163	9.0	7/180
Syria	–	–	–	–	3.4	66/133	3.4	70/159	2.9	93/163	2.4	138/180
Taiwan	5.9	27/91	5.6	29/102	5.7	30/133	5.9	32/159	5.9	34/163	5.7	34/180
Tajikistan	–	–	–	–	1.8	124/133	2.1	144/159	2.2	142/163	2.1	150/180
Tanzania	2.2	82/91	2.7	71/102	2.5	92/133	2.9	88/159	2.9	93/163	3.2	94/180
Thailand	3.2	61/91	3.2	64/102	3.3	70/133	3.8	59/159	3.6	63/163	3.3	84/180
Timor-Leste	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	2.6	111/163	2.6	123/180
Togo	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	2.4	130/163	2.3	143/180
Tonga	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	1.7	175/180
Trinidad and Tobago	–	–	–	–	4.6	43/133	3.8	59/159	3.2	79/163	3.4	79/180
Tunisia	5.3	31/91	4.8	36/102	4.9	39/133	4.9	43/159	4.6	51/163	4.2	61/180
Turkey	3.6	54/91	3.2	64/102	3.1	77/133	3.5	65/159	3.8	60/163	4.1	64/180
Turkmenistan	–	–	–	–	–	–	1.8	155/159	2.2	142/163	2.0	162/180
Uganda	1.9	88/91	2.1	93/102	2.2	113/133	2.5	117/159	2.7	105/163	2.8	111/180
Ukraine	2.1	83/91	2.4	85/102	2.3	106/133	2.6	107/159	2.8	99/163	2.7	118/180
United Arab Emirates	–	–	–	–	5.2	37/133	6.2	30/159	6.2	31/163	5.7	34/180
United Kingdom	8.3	13/91	8.7	10/102	8.7	11/133	8.6	11/159	8.6	11/163	8.4	12/180
United States	7.6	16/91	7.7	16/102	7.5	18/133	7.6	17/159	7.3	20/163	7.2	20/180
Uruguay	5.1	35/91	5.1	32/102	5.5	33/133	5.9	32/159	6.4	28/163	6.7	25/180
Uzbekistan	2.7	71/91	2.9	68/102	2.4	100/133	2.2	137/159	2.1	151/163	1.7	175/180
Vanuatu	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	3.1	98/180
Venezuela	2.8	69/91	2.5	81/102	2.4	100/133	2.3	130/159	2.3	138/163	2.0	162/180
Vietnam	2.6	75/91	2.4	85/102	2.4	100/133	2.6	107/159	2.6	111/163	2.6	123/180
Yemen	2.9	65/91	2.7	71/102	2.6	88/133	2.7	103/159	2.6	111/163	2.5	131/180
Zambia	2.6	75/91	2.6	77/102	2.5	92/133	2.6	107/159	2.6	111/163	2.6	123/180
Zimbabwe	2.9	65/91	2.7	71/102	2.3	106/133	2.6	107/159	2.4	130/163	2.1	150/180

[dila813]

“Perception”

Not worth the 20k used to bribe the custom’s official.

[dila813]

Don’t get me wrong, I love PI, but something is wrong when the government is the only valid foreign purchasing agent for corn, rice, and other commodities.

[montanajoe]

I like the Philippines. The government is corrupt but that hardly matters to the average Filipino as the government plays no role in their daily lives..an occasional distraction but the people just fend for themselves.
In many respects they have more personal freedom than the average American.

[A_Former_Democrat]

Who could?

Once you’ve gone Pinay, you never go back.

[cerberus]

The government is corrupt but that hardly matters to the average Filipino as the government plays no role in their daily lives..an occasional distraction but the people just fend for themselves.

I have to disagree. I own property there and spend time there. It appears to me that "crony capitalism" rules and the level of corruption is stifling foreign investment. The poverty level is extremely high. People do "get by", but many just barely. The Filipinos are also very politically unsophisticated and tend to elect corrupt and unqualified people (sound familiar?) such as former President Estrada.

I believe the country would benefit greatly from a more business friendly environment which would attract more foreign capital.

[Broker]

I like the filipino people. The women run the country allow their men to enjoy life. Politics there is a monolithic “king-of-the-mountain struggle. Mabuhay and mabutay pakikisama.

[John Leland 1789]

I’m with you on the subject of Ferdinand Marcos, and so are millions of Filipinos, who, if citizens of the USA, would be solid anti-communist conservatives.

The infrastructure of the Philippines improved more under Marcos than at any other time. What was constructed under Marcos’ “regime” has been left to delapidation by subsequent administrations, and much of the cause has been the expense and time it has taken having to deal with Marxist and Muslim rebels.

Marcos was death to the communists, but since his departure, they have a place at the table. The communists have forced the government into Marxist agrarian reform, and have been successful in turning the country into a socialist state. This could not have happened under a Morcos.

That Benigno Aquino was liked by ignorant American politicians is nothing to have printed on a T-shirt.

[montanajoe]

I also live there much of the time and I agree with what you say looking at it from an Americans perspective.
But to the average Filipino, in my experience, the government does not matter to them. To them foreign investment only benefits the rich they see no advantage to the average Filipino.

[Broker]

Filipino culture won’t change. We tried coca-colanizaing them wiht some success. The have a practice called something like; “untang laoob” which is a practice obliged patronage or pay-off/kickbacks. Their Government is an unfortunate nuisance in all cases. The people there are far to creative and intelligent to be long surpressed by Governmental interference.

What provence do you roam pare ko?

[cerberus]

To them foreign investment only benefits the rich they see no advantage to the average Filipino.

Not seeing it does not mean there is not potential benefit. Of course, if the people do not aspire to moving beyond the nipa hut, then so be it, but I think many would like a better standard of living.

Of course, if corruption reigns, they may be right about it only benefiting the rich.

Any one who spends time there can appreciate the fact that there are many very bright and creative people. All you have to do the realize that is to go to any shopping center and get your cell phone unlocked while you wait.

[Broker]

Using your logic, the same is true for the USA. Ronald Reagan America falling into the grips of the Socialist Obama.

I personally witnessed F. E Marcos and his cronies terrorize, kill and exploit the Filipino people. Imelda's confessor priest was a friend. General Ver and his henchmen were killers. Marcos projects were built on blood. The Marcos regime was a one-handed clap. Hell has many rooms for Cojangco and all his Ilocano thugs and Chinese enablers. I knew them all.

[cerberus]

What provence do you roam pare ko?

My wife is from Dumaguete. We have also visited General Santos, Davao, Cebu and Bohol, Manila and Tagaytay.

Our property over there is in Batangas (north of Nasugbu).

[Broker]

Batangas was great for scuba diving.. Around 1982, he roads were very poor and the resorts were new. Hope the reefs out there remain healthy.. Bohol chocolat mountains is a destination I always wanted to see. Used to bike up the Lake Taal to Tagaytay. Luzon was my park, Legaspi to Baguio. Really liked a place called Bolinao up north of 1,000 islands of Pangasinan. Everywhere I went, the filipino hospitality and friendship warmed my heart.

[Cheetahcat]

“Who could?

Once you’ve gone Pinay, you never go back.”

They know how to treat a man.

[montanajoe]

As was said elsewhere the Philippine culture won't change and it won't ever become to Americanized as even if the people are dirt poor for the most part they are quite happy for the most part also.

I was there during the floods in Manila last September we had to hire a “boat” which was actually a table on a shopping cart pushed by 3 young guys to get about 10km inland from the bay to pick my daughter who was stranded with relatives then we got a real boat to float from the front of the house down the Basig to near the embassy. They are quite creative...

[John Leland 1789]

"I personally witnessed F. E Marcos and his cronies terrorize, kill and exploit the Filipino people. Imelda's confessor priest was a friend. General Ver and his henchmen were killers. Marcos projects were built on blood. The Marcos regime was a one-handed clap. Hell has many rooms for Cojangco and all his Ilocano thugs and Chinese enablers. I knew them all."

I got it.

1. Catholic confessor priests don't keep their mouths shut when they come out of the confessional.

2. Catholics at a stature of the Marcos' are allowed by the priests to think that just confessing to them clears everything up--the murder and everything.

The bloodshed is not a Marcos thing particularly in the Philippines. How long has he been gone? And just last year almost 200 registered political candidates were murdered.

I also know people there, some who were actually targets of Marcos. But I believe that he was taking out mostly armed Marxists/Communists.

Chiang Kai Shek (Jiang Jie Shi, in Mandarin) was also accused of all kinds of levels of murder and mayhem. These people were at war. It's still war in the Philippines.

[Broker]

My Jesuit friend never repeated a word Imelda said. EVER. He prayed for them.

[John Leland 1789]

"Imelda's confessor priest was a friend."

What was your purpose in mentioning this in the context of your having inside knowlege of things?

[Broker]

In the PI there was always some currency being connected to folks in the know or in some position of power. In this case, he never directly revealed Imelda's sins or petitions. Rather he and I had a personal relationship wherein we shared our world-views based on the multitude of current realities of life. Our friendships overlapped into numerous social circles and strata.

It was wrong of me to present this priest as anyone's confessor and for that I sincerely apologize.

[John Leland 1789]

"In the PI there was always some currency being connected to folks in the know or in some position of power. In this case, he never directly revealed Imelda's sins or petitions. Rather he and I had a personal relationship wherein we shared our world-views based on the multitude of current realities of life. Our friendships overlapped into numerous social circles and strata." -------------------------------------------

I understand you.

I also don't like where absolute power takes men, yes, like Marcos, like Chiang Kai Shek, like others, who were friends to our country, could understand our country and the ideals of liberty, and yet were in a struggle against Marxist Communists, not only in the college lecterns and activist organizations, but bearing down on them with real steel gun barrels.

They purged, and purged, and often went overboard...way overboard...and it hurt them in many ways, and hurt their countries.

They were desperate men; in leadership, wanting to have a country, not only wanting development and growth, but they wanted a people free from the rabid designs of Marxist Communism.

They had studied Communism. Chiang, for example, studied in Moscow along side many who would later hate him and hate liberty. Chiang came to understand the folly of Moscow's textbook, much by the mentoring of his father-in-law, Sun Yet-Sen (Sun Zhong-Shan), a Christian, who led China against the emperors into a Republican era.

Chiang became an enemy of communism, and tried to lead the Chinese Republic in a context of never really knowing who one's friends are. He, too, called for bloody purges, which often far exceeded the intended armed communist targets, and took the lives of many innocents in the process. It hurt him; hurt him bad.

But Mao and his ilk openly made it clear that they would take over at the point of gun barrels; they had no qualms about it. America slacked up on their assistance to Chiang, largely due to General Marshall painting him before the U.S. Congress as a bad apple who could be sacrificed.

I believe that Marcos had much of the same vision as Chiang, although I know that he took much more personal advantage of his power. He was a bloody man indeed.

The people who walked with Benigno Aquino were bloody people, too, but Benigno himself was always painted as a nice guy in the western press, much like some of our vicious, town-burning, rabble-rousing civil rights leaders are in America, who wouldn't personally light the match, but knew how to instigate those who they knew would.

My acquaintances in the Philippines are among some families who personally battled the Marxists fighting for Marxist-style agrarian reform in the Visayas. The Marxists did that with guns, too. The cane growers lost many family members, and their only protection was from Marcos' people. They were supporters of Marcos who provided armed protection so that their children could go and come from school alive. The Marxists murdered thousands of non-political sugar cane workers in the fields to deprive the industry of its labor force.

The same families are still there, who own large tracts of sugar cane land, and also operate much of Manila's radio and TV media. I have traveled with some of them, held Bible classes for them in the Visayas. I have watched how they try to take care of their people; their workers, not just their families.

One friend, a chemical engineer and a dedicated Christian who even shepherds a village church, who has had a lot of influence (as his father had had) in one of the largest sugar cane operations in the country, and was an adviser for the corporation's media outlets has filled me in on a lot of history about Negros, Negros Occidental, and the Visayan Region in general in the days of Marcos. This man had run for his life in the mountains from the Japanese, and later, with his father, battled Marxist insurgents.

He made the statement: "The Philippines needs a benevolent dictator."

That was kind of tongue-in-cheek, but he was speaking out of dread of a false "democracy" where the Marxists are sitting at the table, with the liberal governments since Marcos, all feigning to practice Hegel's Dialectic, while wanting to cut each other's throats. It is where everyone says that the Philippines has a Constitution modeled after that of the USA, but it is hundreds of pages long to allow for the demands of the Communists and the Muslim armed political fronts in Mindanao.

Let's just watch and see how much blood flows (hard to watch in the west where it is ignored in the press) under this Aquino.

Let's pray the blood river dries up.

[Broker]

Most interesting provincial perspective. The problem is finding a leader who is both more benevolent and less dictator. PI culture is matriarchal long on patronage. They traditionally love and hate their leaders.

My perspective was more urban. As Marcos's kidneys were failing, he lost grip of his cronies and flunkies. Up til then, he and Imelda ran a tight ship. It was a time of gossip and jealousy. We had our full businessman's prayer breakfasts on Ayala Avenue and calamansi juice at the ANC behind the US Embassy on Roxas Blvd. Visited Zamobanga when the Constabulary OINC presented me a bloody bolo war trophy. My Jesuit pal and I flew to some spectacular Visayan resorts. Assisted a Yamaha MC mfg in Cebu City. Roamed the country in peace for years ever on guard for Marxists and Moslems. Confrontations were like cock fights. Never back down. When they shot Ninoy it removed our thin veneer of protection. All bets were off.

As for subsequent Pinoy "Kings of the Mountain", may God act on their hearts and souls. My long journey there ended in 1984. Their never-ending struggle against Islam and Marxism is a unifying force.

The Filipino people are my friends. They are an assimilated freedom-loving people. Like their beverage Halo Halo. Open minded and friendly to the extreme. Stubborn and vicious to the other extreme. This weekend (7/4) I hope our US Embassy once again celebrates PHIL-AM Friendship Day. Friends we are.