FRMO THE CAPITOL: Better Healthcare for California

BY SENATOR LELAND YEE

Last week in Sacramento, the Assembly Business and Professions Committee approved two public health bills that I authored, Senate Bills 1106 and 1029.

On a 6-4 vote, the committee approved SB 1106 to require sample prescription drugs received at a doctor’s offices to be accompanied with written information regarding the drugs similar to what is normally received at a pharmacy.

It is vital that consumers receive written information regarding dosage and potential side effects on sample drugs. This bill will reduce lawsuits, illnesses, and deaths. Because these sample drugs are often dispensed to low-income families who may not have insurance to cover the costs of prescriptions at pharmacies, the poor are disproportionately affected by this inequity in law. All families, especially children, deserve and need this vital information, whether they are getting medicines from a pharmacy or their doctor’s office.

A study conducted by the Journal of Family Practice found that instructions accompanied the dispensing of sample drugs only 47.8 percent of the time and were predominantly verbal in nature.

The study states, “Dosing appeared to be the main focus, and little to no attention was given to more detailed information, such as whether the medication should be taken with meals. Drug interactions were not routinely discussed.”

Manufacturers regard samples as a promotional tool. Pfizer alone dispensed 101 million samples worth $2.7 billion in 2007, according to the company. Merck dispensed 39 million samples worth about $356 million; Eli Lilly, 33 million worth $67 million; Wyeth, 52 million worth $64 million; Baxter International, 33,000 worth $7 million and Abbott Laboratories 16 million worth $32 million.

In 2006, the National Academies’ Institute of Medicine reported that medication errors injure 1.5 million people annually. The report addressed labeling of prescription drugs and found that there has been a growing unease among health care providers and others about the way free samples are distributed, the lack of documentation of medication use, as well as the bypassing of drug interaction checks and counseling that are integral parts of the standard prescription process when received through a pharmacy.

On a 6-2 vote, the committee also approved SB 1029 to allow pharmacies throughout California to sell up to 30 sterile syringes to an adult without a prescription. SB 1029 is supported by doctors, pharmacists, and AIDS prevention advocates.

California is one of only three states that still prohibits pharmacists from selling a syringe without a prescription. Most states amended their laws in light of overwhelming evidence that criminalizing access to sterile syringes led drug users to share used ones, and that sharing syringes spread HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and other blood-borne diseases that can live in a used syringe.

This is an effective public health measure which is proven to reduce health care costs to taxpayers. It is a moral and fiscal imperative that this bill becomes law. Access to sterile syringes is a vital component of a comprehensive strategy to combat HIV and hepatitis. This approach has been evaluated extensively throughout the world and has been found to significantly reduce rates of HIV and hepatitis without contributing to any increase in drug use, drug injection, crime or unsafe discard of syringes.

In 2004, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation to create a five-year pilot program to evaluate the safety and efficacy of allowing adults to purchase and possess a limited number of syringes for personal use. Under the pilot program pharmacies in Los Angeles County, the Bay Area and some other parts of the state have been allowed to sell syringes. This bill would extend the sunset and allow all pharmacists throughout the state with the discretion to sell sterile syringes without a prescription. SB 1106 and SB 1029 are key bills that will better the healthcare system for many Californians. Both bills will next be considered by the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

NO LIMITATIONS: Notes on President Noynoy’s Inaugural

BY TED LAGUATAN

Manila, Philippines. The US Pinoy delegates were understandably as excited as young children on a field trip. They got a special group invitation to the inaugural for having supported President Noynoy in the US. I chose not to go. I figured I could see more on TV. I also wanted to avoid the fierce mid-day Philippine heat. I caught up with the US Pinoys that evening in the inaugural celebration at Sofitel (formerly Philippine Plaza) Hotel.

“We were soaked with sweat. We did not expect it to be so incredibly hot!” they complained.
“Well, at least you’re now a part of history.” I half seriously answered.

It is unusually hot in the Philippines these days. Maybe former Vice President Al Gore, apostle of global warming who was recently here, brought the overpowering heat with him as a prop and accidentally left it.

Even President Noynoy and Vice President Jejomar Binay, were continuously wiping the sweat of their brows when I was watching them on TV during the ceremonies.

About half a million people attended. Despite the heat, there were smiles all around – reflecting the nation’s mood and thoughts: the end of a corrupt administration and hopes for a better government and a better life for Filipinos. The TV cameras showed one flashed image that stood out in my mind – a very pretty young woman in yellow hugging with perfect ease a small child also wearing yellow close to her breast and holding a yellow umbrella with her right hand which protected both from the sun - gracefully and slowly swaying in rhythm with the music being played on stage. Beautifully surreal - like a Madonna and Child painting. She looked so beatifically cool not showing any signs of being affected by the intense heat - happiness reflected on her face.

------o------

Protocol required the appearance of outgoing president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Her role was to ride in the same car as President Noynoy to the grandstand, do a final review of the representatives of the different military branches, salute and walk to a waiting car that would take her away. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her as people booed, some shouting “Go away.” or “Sulong.” (“scram”)___as soon as they saw her and until she boarded the takeaway car.

I wondered how she felt when she heard those words. Does she still feel anything? Guilt? Shame? Or has she armored herself against these feelings? “They’re just envious of me because I had the guts to do what they could not.”; “I’ve got more money than they, who cares what they think?”; “Wait until I become Prime Minister.” Did she have these thoughts as people booed her?

I also felt sorry for the country because Arroyo had so much opportunity to do good but is now perceived instead as having enriched herself and her husband through corruption. She even sought to stay in power for the sake of being in power – even showing scorn and bad faith by making numerous midnight appointments and leaving government coffers empty. She says “Let history judge me.” It is not history which will judge her. Even history can be manipulated. It is God who will judge her. But I never lose hope in human beings. Hopefully, she finds a way to redeem herself by doing some really good things for her fellow human beings.

------o------

One other reason I decided to watch on TV aside from avoiding the hellish heat - was to observe the eyes, facial expressions and gestures of President Noynoy as he delivered his inaugural speech and listen carefully to ascertain whether or not his tone and manner of speaking and voice inflections indicated a sincere belief in what he was saying. I know I could observe better watching on TV as the cameras usually zooms on a speaker’s face. They did.

Having been a trial lawyer for many years, I have developed a very good sense of how sincerely a person believes in what he is saying. Politicians or their speech writers can easily compose lines that they know their audience wants to hear. But whether or not they really believe in what they are saying is another matter.

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

“My parents expect nothing less, died for nothing less than democracy and peace. I am blessed by this legacy. I will carry this torch forward.”

I watched the expressions on the president’s face as he said these words, watched his eyes become teary and noted his gestures, tone of voice and inflections. There was no doubt in my mind that he sincerely meant what he was saying.

----o----

Shortly after his speech, the child of destiny headed for Malacanang riding alone at the back of a black Mercedes? What thoughts may have crossed his mind on the way to the palace?

Lining the streets along the way were huge yellow banners one after the other bearing either the portrait of his mother or father with the words “Salamat po.” (“Thank you.”). Surely, thoughts of his martyred father and his late president mother entered his mind and he must have shed a tear or two as he passed and saw these banners: “I have just been sworn as President and without the two of you, this would not have happened.”

As he rode farther away from the inaugural site, he must have viewed the usual scenes of everyday life along Manila’s streets: homeless raggedly dressed families here and there living under shady trees, ordinary people walking along the sidewalks, beggars, cigarette vendors, sidewalk peddlers, tricycles, “karitons” (wooden push carts), small shops, students in uniforms, policemen directing traffic.

A deeply religious man like his mother, he must have prayed: “Lord, can I really bear the heavy burden of serving all of my people. I will surely need your help.”

------o------

The next day, during the conference at Sofitel titled “Overseas Filipinos for Good Governance” we received a call from Malacanang that the President would see us at 3 P.M. Tour buses took our 170 or so delegates and family members or guests to the palace - some seeing it for the first time. We were brought to the main receiving room and served juices, small sandwiches and some picka pickas. As soon as the President appeared, the delegates were like Elvis fans trying to get close to their idol. I watched from the back quite amused at the shoving, pushing and positioning. I’ve watched similar phenomena many times including watching supporters and admirers shoving and pushing to get close to Noynoy’s mother Cory when she was newly installed in Malacanang.

The protocol officer announced that the president welcomed having pictures taken with the group. The group was too big so that it had to be split into several groups. More intense pushing and shoving as so many wanted to be pictured close to the president. A short woman, about 4’10 was shrieking: “I won’t be seen! I won’t be seen!” as taller people covered her from the photographers. President Noynoy heard her as she was close enough and pulled her saying: “Halika, ditto ka sa harap ko.” (“Come, stay in front of me.”) She was jumping with joy after___ smiling as if she hit the jackpot. Not inclined to push and shove, I opted out from the photo ops and instead talked to the palace waiters and servers. Some had been there for as long as the nine years plus term of ex-President Arroyo and hoped that they would not be fired. I do not think that they will be except maybe for a few for understandable security reasons.

The happy group went back to the buses – each with his own story to tell. One woman tripped in her rush to get near the president and was sad that she did not get to speak to him. Another triumphantly declared that the president recognized him. Still another was proudly showing the signature of Noynoy that she got him to sign. The happiest of all was the 4’10 woman.

Atty. Laguatan is one of a few lawyers whose expertise in immigration law is officially certified by the California State Bar. He also does accident injuries and wrongful death cases. For communications: 455 Hickey Blvd., Ste. 516, Daly City, California 94015 or 101 California St. Suite 2450, San Francisco, California 94111. Tel 650 991-1154. Fax 650 991 1186. Email laguatanlaw@gmail.com

STREET TALK: Walking the Talk

BY GREG MACABENTA

A large delegation of overseas Filipinos, mostly from America, attended the inauguration of President Noynoy Aquino (I still have to get used to referring to him as P-Noy, but then, I never referred to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as GMA). These were the same people who organized a volunteer group called US Pinoys for Noynoy-Mar or USP4NM, and actively campaigned for the LP team, raising funds, holding town hall meetings, calling up relatives in the Philippines, getting out the overseas votes and watching the canvassing at their respective Philippine consulates to ensure an honest count.

Having helped Noynoy win, these Pinoys, spurred mainly by love for the Motherland, want to help him succeed. For this reason, they decided to transform their informal group into an instrument for good governance. In Manila, they converted USP4NM into an organization called Overseas Filipinos for Good Governance.

The sparkplugs of this idealistic undertaking are former chair of TLC Beatrice International, Loida Nicolas-Lewis; San Francisco community leaders Rodel Rodis, Ted Laguatan and Charito Benipayo; Northern California businessmen Rolland Baldo and Mike Macapagal; and Southern California USP4NM convenors, Wally Reyes and Rocio Nuyda. There are many other formidable personalities in the delegation: Dr. Philip Chua of Chicago, Gus and Ethel Mercado of Texas, Ninoy Aquino Movement originals Gloria Navarrete and Fred Aquitania; Professor Gil Ramos of New Jersey; and delegates from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and Saipan.

For two days, on July 1 and 2, they will hold a conference at the Sofitel Hotel to get formally organized, meet with government officials, businessmnen, leaders of civil society and Manila media, and discuss the ways by which they hope to contribute meaningfully to the success of the incoming administration. Being a loyal camp follower, I have fflew in with the group and spoke at the conference, as well as acted as moderator in a panel of key media practitioners.

Expectedly, everyone is gung ho, afire with fervor, ready to charge into the fray, and willing to devote time, talent and treasure to the cause of good governance. Of course, there are the usual cynics and kibitzers who are betting that all of that rah-rah-rah and sish-boom-bah will soon fade into a whimper after the novelty of the electoral triumph has worn off and the harsh realities begin to set in. That, according to the cynics, will be just about the time that the new president will wake up to the fact that delivering on his campaign promises is a verrrrrrry tall order. Indeed, after decades of mismanagement, official abuse and incompetence, turning our hapless country around is easier said than done.

But, just as the Filipino people have placed a lot of hope on P-Noy, I have a lot of faith in the people behind this good governance group. They certainly are not lacking in sincerity and determination. Most of them also belong to the same Quixotic bunch that decided, some 13 years ago, to set up a national organization that would work to achieve socio-economic and political empowerment for Filipinos in America, something considered an "impossible dream." But, against daunting odds, the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) was born, it has survived and it has won some modest triumphs on the road to that difficult goal of empowerment.

While there was a moderate dose of unsolicited advice for P-Noy coming out of the conference, some of them bordering on the presumptuous, there are, in fact, many things that can be done by both overseas Filipinos and the average Filipino citizen. Alex Lacson's best-seller, "12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do To Help Our Country," is a good starting point (too bad, Alex would have made a considerably better senator than some of the dolts and goldbrickers who won).

Of course, Alex's suggestions are the basics. There are problems that require more aggressive measures, beyond simply being a good citizen. The times call for more activism, for more direct action, for being Good Governance Vigilantes.

No amount of sermonizing will solve the cancer of corruption and convert people who have grown filthy rich from breaking the law. In Tagalog, they call that santong dasalan (persuasion). What is needed is santong paspasan (punitive action).

The new government has vowed to go after the crooks and criminals of the Arroyo era, including Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself. That is well and good. Throwing some big names in jail should put the fear of God in the political, business and criminal syndicates that hold this country hostage. But that's dealing with the past. What needs to be done is to create an environment in which prospective bribe-takers, extortionists, swindlers and crooks, including those in judicial robes, are confronted by the imminent threat of public exposure.

In addition to a media community that has become increasingly vigilant (but still needs to do much more), ordinary citizens can play a key role in holding public officials accountable. In this high-tech age, with everyone owning a smart phone-cum-video-audio-recorder-camera, catching an extortionist and a bribe-taker redhanded and exposing proof of ill-gotten wealth, like the unexplained US residence of presidential son, Mikey Arroyo, is the easiest thing to do. The incriminating materials can be loaded on YouTube or FaceBook anonymously and exhibited to the entire country and the world. This is the closest approximation of The Sting, an effective device in the American justice system that has succeeded in catching thieving politicians and government officials en flagrante.

Of course, it follows that those in the office of the Ombudsman who cannot recognize a criminal act if it bites them on the nose, should first be impeached.

That's the punitive part. There are many positive things that all of us can do. We only need to be inspired by Tony Meloto and the miracle of Gawad Kalinga. Or the decades of dedicated work by the American couple, Dan and Nancy Harrington of Books for the Barrios, that has seen tons of books delivered to the poorest schools in the most remote corners of the archipelago. Or the ambitious project called GILAS, supported by Globe Telecom and Smart, which would provide Internet access to all the public schools in the country. Or the annual medical missions from America, mounted by Filipino doctors who have not forgotten that they owe much to the Motherland.

In America, a great deal can be done by FilAms who care for the country. Promoting the Philippines as a tourist destination is the easiest thing to do - provided that we also take responsibility for making our tourist spots clean, presentable and safe.
FilAms can also do much to promote Philippine interests in Washington DC. A few days ago, Loida Nicolas-Lewis led a delegation to meet with Senators Charles Schumer and Kristen Gillibrand on Capitol Hill to appeal a plan of Schumer to file a bill that would tax call centers established overseas by US companies. If this passes, call center operations in the Philippines will be badly hit.

For years, a coalition of FilAm organizations lobbied the White House and Capitol Hill for the passage of the veterans equity bill. A $98 million benefits package was finally signed by President Barack Obama on his first year in office due to these efforts. Recently, the Philippine embassy called on the FilAm community to write to their congressmen and senators to ask for support of the SAVE Bill that will benefit the Philippine garment industry.

In the final analysis, however, the most meaningful way that we can help create a New Philippines is by committing to create a New Filipino. This brings us back to what Alex Lacson has suggested. To achieve meaningful change, we must begin with ourselves. We cannot ask others to change unless we, ourselves, are willing to do it.

This is something that I have written about in the past. Whenever I am asked how stealing can be reduced, my response is simple: "Don't steal. I don't. That's two less thieves." Someone paraphrased it for me: "Don't break the law. I don't. That's two less lawbreakers."
Of course, like the promise to end corruption, following the law to the letter is easier said than done.

Back in the early 70's, as a senior vice-president of Advertising & Marketing Associates in Manila, I was told to enforce a policy that penalized three instances of tardiness with suspension without pay. Told that this applied even to managers, I protested. I pointed out that managers did not charge overtime and worked even on weekends. But HRD insisted that rules were rules and had to be enforced without exception. Three vice-presidents were short-listed for suspension. But before I threw the book at them, I decided to check my own attendance record. As it turned out, I was as guilty as they.

Faced with this fact, I decided to write a memo to myself, suspending me for three days without pay. When my boss asked me what I was doing, I replied that I was simply enforcing policy.
When I suspended the VPs, along with myself, they accepted it without a complaint. The unreasonable policy was subsequently stricken off.

Do we, as a people, deserve the change that we are asking President Noynoy Aquino to institute? Only if we have the will to demand it of ourselves.

There's a saying in America that sums up what we need to do, if we really want to help this new government to succeed. We shouldn't simply talk the talk. We must be willing to walk the walk.
Even if it hurts.

(gregmacabenta@hotmail.com)

NO LIMITATIONS: Beautiful San Francisco – Pinoy Heaven

By Atty Ted Laguatan

San Francisco, California. When former USSR Head of State Mikhail Gorbachev visited the San Francisco Bay Area – half seriously, he said “Residents here should pay higher taxes because this place is so beautiful and pleasant.” I absolutely agree as to the “beautiful and pleasant” part. The “higher taxes” part let’s just skip.

Allow me to do some bragging. I have travelled the world: Rome, Paris, Geneva, London, Brussels, Bonn, Rio, Buenos Aires, Tokyo, Seoul, Prague, Madrid New York, etc., etc. – but as crooned by Tony Bennett - my heart is in San Francisco. It’s also in Manila where I was born and in Quezon City where I spent my earlier years and went to college and in Makati where I also now have a residence.

Hills, mountains, ocean, quiet lonely beaches, redwood forests with the oldest living trees in the planet, clean air, clear blue skies and starry nights – these I love so much. Add cool Baguio-like weather during summers and mild no snow winters. Even the occasional fog which is not pea-soup thick like London’s brings a romantic aura to this incredible “city by the bay”. One cannot find a greater racial and cultural diversity than in this area where great Universities like Stanford, University of San Francisco and Santa Clara, University of California – have student populations that are half non-Caucasians and predominantly Asian. Here also are great museums, fabulous swimming pool -sized public aquariums featuring sharks and giant fishes, an excellent zoo stacked with the world’s exotic animals , sports arenas, modern computerized libraries and America’s computer technology center called Silicon Valley.

A couple of hours away East is Napa Valley, wine country where the wines produced compare with Europe’s best. Another two hours farther is Reno, a world-renowned gaming and entertainment center and the nearby scenic resort town of Lake Tahoe surrounded by majestic snow capped mountains. A couple of hours away South is Monterey’s famous “17 Mile Drive” which snakes along the Pacific Coastline with beautiful views and featuring the legendary Pebble Beach golf course and fabulous homes of the rich and famous including that of “Dirty Harry” Clint Eastwood.

I moved to San Francisco from Chicago in January 1975 – not knowing what to do with my life. Three years earlier, 1972 - martial law was declared in the Philippines and I could not return home after some studies in Chicago. I was stuck. Three years later, the dictatorship was even more formidably in place. I had already gotten married and now had a one year old boy and a one month old girl. I did not want to get stuck in Chicago’s concrete jungles, its extreme cold and extreme heat weather and pervasive mafia culture . This is not to say that Chicago does not have good qualities because it does. I met many good people there.

The move to California was truly a “bahala na Diyos” (“take a chance”) decision as I and my young wife hardly knew anybody here and had little money in our pockets. Fortunately my wife is a registered nurse and immediately got a job at Stanford University Medical Center. We were bone poor living on a tightly budgeted income – oh but how happy we were arriving in such a beautiful setting with our two little babies. I’ve never equated happiness with money – even if it sometimes helps. I couldn’t get much of a job with a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from UP .

I really did not know what I would do when I arrived in the San Francisco area. My only guide was to be true to my Center. I discovered a quiet place across the Golden Gate bridge and directly below it where I could fish and do some crabbing and be in solitude and refer the question of what to do with my life to a Higher Power – my Center. In this special quiet place where I had a great view of the bridge and heard the lonely foghorns of ships coming and going – I spent long hours sometimes until 4 o’clock in the morning by myself – well not really, I felt my Center was always with me. I caught dozens of Dungeness and red crabs – no legal catch limits yet at that time. I also caught flounder, snapper, shark and other kinds of fish. I caught so much there was no more room in our freezer – so I often just gave my catch to neighbors. It was here that I made the final decision to go to law school – but where would I get the money involving thousands of dollars? Again, “bahala na ang Diyos” and by a miracle, I got to law school – but that’s another story.

Hundreds of thousands of Filipinos live in the San Francisco – enjoying all the bounties of the land and the culture. Not only are practically all Filipino foods available here including vegetables and fruits like Mexican grown Philippine Carabao mango - but also the delicious foods of the rest of the world. The finest authentic Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, Italian, French and of course Filipino and American steak restaurants are found here.

San Francisco was the center of activism against the Marcos dictatorship. It continues to be the center of political activities relating to Philippine affairs.

Yes – San Francisco is now home – just like the Philippines. A pinoy heaven on earth. I love it.
Note: Atty. Laguatan is officially certified by the California State Bar as an expert/specialist lawyer. He is rated by a lawyer’s magazine as among the best five percent of lawyers in America. For communications: 455 Hickey Blvd. Ste. 516, Daly City, Ca 94015 or 101 California St., San Francisco, Ca 94111. Tel 650 991-1154 Fax 650 991-1186 Email laguatanlaw@gmail.com

FROM THE CAPITOL: International Violence Against Women Act

By Senator Leland Yee

The International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA), currently pending in US Congress, would task the US Agency for International Development and the Department of State to develop strategies and direct resources to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls throughout the world. The Act would include collecting data and conducting research about violence prevention efforts, enhance training of military and police forces on violence against women, and authorize $5,000,000 to support the United Nations’ efforts to eliminate violence against women.
This is why I have authored Senate Joint Resolution 24 urging Congress to pass IVAWA. Violence against women is rooted in many causes and takes many forms throughout all parts of the world. It is imperative that while we attempt to end violence against women in our own communities, we support global efforts to combat this injustice everywhere. SJR 24 will send a very clear message to Washington: ending and preventing violence against women should be a priority of our foreign policy.

According to the World Health Organization, approximately one in three women in the world will experience violence in her lifetime, and one in five of the women in the world will be the victim of rape or attempted rape. A United Nations study on the global AIDS epidemic found that in sub-Saharan Africa, women who are 15 to 24 years of age can be infected at rates that are up to six times higher than men of the same age.

Violence against women is an impediment to the health, opportunity, and development of not only women, but has an enormous, negative impact on the well-being of their children and the greater society. Violence against women impoverishes women, their families, their communities and nations. It lowers economic production, drains resources from public services and employers, and reduces human capital formation.

Greater gender equality has been proved to lead to improved nutrition, lower child mortality, less government corruption, higher productivity, and reduced HIV infection rates. Increased access to economic opportunities is crucial to the prevention of and response to domestic and sexual violence. Campaigns to change social norms, including community organizing, media campaigns, and efforts to engage and educate men and boys, have been shown to change attitudes that condone and tolerate violence against women and girls and reduce violence and abuse.

According to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID): 70 percent of people worldwide living in poverty are women and children, two-thirds of the illiterate adults in the world are women, two-thirds of school-aged children who are not in school are girls, more than three-quarters of the refugees in the world are women and children, and 1,600 women die unnecessarily every day during pregnancy and childbirth.

In addition to SJR 24, I have introduced two additional bills to assist victims of domestic violence. SB 662 would increase marriage license fees by $10 to provide an additional $2.5 million to $5 million annually for domestic violence shelters. SB 782 would prevent landlords from unfairly evicting victims of domestic violence or sexual assault.

I am also leading a statewide effort, called the “White Ribbon Campaign,” for men to speak out against violence against women. Individuals interested in joining the White Ribbon Campaign are encouraged to visit my website at www.senate.ca.gov/yee.

STREET TALK: The work hasn’t even begun

By Greg Macabenta

If we are to believe the pundits, the manipulators and the masters of intrigue, President-elect Noynoy Aquino is already mired in a quicksand of conflict within his camp – the result of victorious allies now turning on each other instead of on the enemy.

We are reading column items written by folks who used to concentrate their firepower on the Manny Villars and the Erap Estradas, now heaping unflattering adjectives on erstwhile allies. Of course, this is not surprising. Allies are often glued together by the fact that they have a common enemy. But when that enemy is vanquished, their latent animosity emerges and they turn on each other.

One reason is the cliff-hanger vice-presidential contest. This is understandable. The stakes are high and the contenders have invested considerable resources to win the prize. You can't stop people from taking sides. Nasty language is to be expected, no matter how civil those involved may want to portray themselves.

But there are other stakes involved, most of all, the welfare of the country. The contenders and their supporters should not forget that. Their work has not even begun. Infighting will impair their ability to do a good job. And their enemies would like nothing better than to see them fail.
The other reason is the reported fight over turf and the spoils. This is normal. In the aftermath of any conflict, there will be spoils. Not wanting to partake of them takes a great deal of self-control and a capacity for abstinence.

After World War II, with Hitler vanquished, the allies immediately engaged in a struggle over turf and spoils. Among other things, this resulted in the partitioning of Germany.
But, given this reality, there is every reason to believe that the various factions in the Aquino-Roxas camp have the capacity to set aside their differences and focus on the task at hand. After all, while the battle for the presidency has been won, the war against poverty and corruption stilll has to be fought, and the struggle to arrest the erosion of the values, resources and the future of the country still has to be undertaken.
Wasn’t this what brought these diverse factions together, in the first place? Aren’t they duty-bound to pursue their avowed mission?

I’m reminded of our efforts to ensure the proper observance in the US of the first centennial of the declaration of Philippine independence on June 12, 1996. In many cities, we had to deal with the problem of rival community organizations competing with each other for the most meaningful and most impressive commemoration of the historic event.

Because I was a pro bono deputy executive director for the US of the commission, I was caught in the middle of some of these conflicts. In one instance, I was asked to join Consul General Josue Villa in mediating one such dispute between two FilAm federations in Las Vegas over the conflicting schedule of activities that the two groups were lining up.

Addressing the rivals, I said that theirs was not an unusual case. I pointed out that during the Philippine revolution, the Katipunan had two factions, the Magdalo of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, and the Magdiwang, which supported Supremo Andres Bonifacio.

But both factions acknowledged that they were fighting for the same cause, liberty, and against a common enemy, Spain. And they realized that the only way to defeat the enemy and achieve their goal was to fight alongside each other, despite their rivalry.

“That’s all I ask of you,” I concluded. “You don’t have to like each other. You just need to be willing to work with each other to ensure a successful centennial celebration.”
I reminded them that success would enhance the image and prestige of the FilAm community in Las Vegas and failure would embarrass them all.
After my remarks, the leader of one federation stood up and declared, “I don’t like them, but I’m willing to work with them.”
Not to be outdone, the head of the other federation also spoke up. “We don’t like you either, but we’re willing to work with you.”

Having said that, the two groups sat down to reconstitute the centennial festival committees, making sure that each group had a significant role in the event. The result was a very successful commemoration of the centennial in Las Vegas, with both groups sharing in the credit.

I guess, the same could be said to the groups in the Aquino-Roxas camp who are rumored to be competing and intriguing against each other. I say, “rumored,” because, having spent my younger years in showbusiness, as a reporter and as a movie insider, I know that molehills tend to grow into mountains as word is passed on from ear to ear. Often, the intrigue is fanned by the “alalays” or the underlings, eager to score brownie points with their bosses.

Some people relish the intrigue, and don’t allow facts to get in the way of their fiction. But it would be a mistake to ignore the normal conflicts that are part of the aftermath of an election campaign, where there are winners and there are losers and where there are those who still are uncertain if they have won or lost.

For sure, people are jockeying for media mileage, whether belonging to the Jojo Binay camp or to that of Mar Roxas. Some folks are firm believers that perception is reality and the stronger they can create the perception, the greater the possibility that reality will follow.

And yet the reality is what will result from the canvass that the Congress will hold. Whatever perceptions are being developed by publicists and media allies, the harsh reality of a winner and a loser will eventuality dawn on everyone.

But none of that should detract from another harsh reality, which is that the real war has not yet been won, the struggle isn’t over, the promises haven’t been fulfilled, in fact, the work has not yet begun, and everyone involved in making those promises and raising the expectations of the Filipino people have a moral responsibility to deliver on their promises, whatever their loyalties, agendas or personal feelings.

In other words, whether they like each other or not, they all agreed at the outset to address a common challenge, they vowed to carry a common burden, they made loud and solemn promises to millions in this country, and they are duty-bound to make good on those promises. Otherwise, their credibility will be suffer.
But the only way they can succeed is to agree to work with each other, whether they like each other or not.

The only way they can help Noynoy Aquino to succeed is by agreeing to carry their part of the load, even if they dislike some of those who are sharing the burden. It will take some degree of heroism and nobility on their part. Setting aside selfish interests for the greater good is easy to say but not easy to do. Yet it can be done.
Wasn’t it Ninoy Aquino who declared that the Filipino is worth dying for? For that, he gave up his life.
Surely, it’s so much easier giving up personal agendas and personal loyalties than giving up one’s life.
(gregmacabenta@hotmail.com)

FROM THE CAPITOL: Protect public higher education

By Senator Leland Yee

After over a month of denying that they had even a single document pertaining to the upcoming controversial visit by Sarah Palin, California State University Stanislaus officials are now offering to disclose “800 or 900” documents about the event, according to a report published in California Watch - a project of the Center for Investigative Reporting.

As chair of the Select Committee on Open Meetings and Public Record Laws, the latest revelation has prompted me to demand CSU Chancellor Charles Reed hold the campus administration at Stanislaus accountable.

The CSU administration has completely violated the public trust and California law. Chancellor Reed should immediately take action to hold these administrators accountable. It should not take an Attorney General investigation and a lawsuit from a nonprofit for the CSU to do the right thing. How many more scandals do we need at CSU before Chancellor Reed takes some responsibility?

On March 31, together with Californians Aware, made public record requests asking the university to disclose Palin’s speaking contract as well as any other documents pertaining to her visit.

On April 6, the Campus Compliance Officer responded with, “The University has no documents that are responsive to your request.”
My office, however, acquired an email correspondence dated March 29 from the Vice President for University Advancement who was attempting to justify the Palin event to other campus administrators and faculty members.

On April 9, CSU student Ashli Briggs was informed that suspicious activity (specifically, document purging) was taking place within the administration building. After seeing several administrators’ cars in the parking lot on the university’s scheduled furlough day, Alicia Lewis and other students found several public documents in a campus dumpster.
Many of the public documents were shredded, presumably by university personnel. Among the intact documents were financial statements, university spreadsheets, and staff assignments, as well as pages 4 through 9 of the Palin contract, which showed her visit requirements include a hotel suite, first class airfare or a private Lear jet, pre-screened questions, and “bendable straws.”

The series of events spurred Attorney General Jerry Brown to launch a formal investigation and Californians Aware to file a lawsuit in Superior Court.

While publicly denying that the university had documents pertaining to the Palin visit, CSU Stanislaus President Hamid Shirvani falsely asserted that foundation documents were not subject to the California Public Records Act, even if the administration had possession of such documents. A 2001 court case involving a foundation at Fresno State University completely contradicts such a claim. The Superior Court ruling specifically requires foundation documents to be made public when they are in possession of the university itself.

Shirvani also falsely claims that the foundation’s work is completely funded by private donations when in fact the CSU Stanislaus Foundation is entirely located within the public university using taxpayer-funded administrators, employees, and resources.

There is not a fine line or even a blurry line between the foundation and the public university; there is absolutely no line. While students are suffering, it is unfair that top executives at CSU Stanislaus are wasting precious dollars on legal costs and cover-ups.

For many students, the cost to attend college does not come easy. There are those who work two jobs to pay for college expenses, and support their families at the same time. Student fee increases alongside cuts to department and classes force students to enroll in the CSU system longer than the typical four-year completion time. The CSU system is also laying off workers to balance their budgets. In a system of higher learning where Asian-Americans account for more than a third of the student and worker population, we must stop the misuse of these public dollars and stop this game of charades. Protect our public education now.