AUGUST 29 - SEPTEMBER 4, 2010 10 PEOPLE’S....FROM P. 8


simply the right moment. Trivial as this may read to


workaholics or family men and women, but this is among the principles that make up the Silliman Spirit. (I hope the alumni can remember that


This has reference to your headline Improve NOPH before renaming it -- Saycon (Aug. 22), In response to Board


aside from it being a white and red hibiscus  ower). All’s for a good cause. The rain clouds would


swell one afternoon this month. I know they would. I have seen it happen for four years almost becoming a habit. And by the


Memb e r Me l imo o r e Saycon’ s comment s regarding complaints of NOPH services, Dr. Felix Sy, NOPH chief stated… ”At present, there are only 40 doctors—short by 50 doctors to the attain the ideal workforce. The NOPH also lacks other personnel, such as nurses and other hospital staff.” I h a v e p e r s o n a l


MAKATI CITY -- The tragic ending to the hostage drama showed a failure in leadership. And both President


knowledge of a nursing student we sponsored who, after graduating, reviewing, passing board exams and working gratis at NOPH for two years, is now seeking overseas employment because NOPH offers no probability of paid employment. After completing an


expensive course and passing through all the hurdles, there seems to be a lack of appreciation f rom the government and administrators to the sacrifices of the students


officer…even though he disapprove of his means for stating his case. Why didn’t the authorities


Aquino, Mayor Lim, the ground commander, the broadcast media, and Gregorio Mendoza should share the blame. Given the kind of record


the infamous Ombudsman has for protect ing the powerful w h i l e b e i n g quick to step on small government workers, I would have expected the President to make a statement assuring Captain Mendoza that he would personally look into his case if he would only release the hostages. Or Mayor “Dirty Harry”


Lim to be personally involved to show that he has not forgotten the services rendered by one of his loyal and longest-serving police


whenever a system fails in our Philippine governance, people with bright minds come up with their proposal for a change. Is it a nationalistic gesture


It is a sad observation that


or a self-serving formula? I am referring this to the


Metro Post issue (Aug. 15) wherein environment lawyer and Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Antonio Oposa Jr. said that the DENR is suffering from institutional schizophrenia and called for its abolition. We admire Atty. Oposa


for his concern about our environmental laws and policies. However, his demand for abolition of one of the biggest departments in Philippine bureaucracy is a disturbing and complicating


thought of it alone, now that I will be back after a year of absence, I will need a new umbrella.


F. Jordan Carnice AB English/Creative Writing (2008)


and their families, many of whom are from lower middle class families attempting to secure a better future for their children. I do n ’ t s e e h ow


Doing the three- mile walk with Cathy Carballo


Photos by Hersley Ven Casero


administrators can complain of personnel shortages, when not even a meager honorarium is offered for professional services. It’s time for administrators to wake up to the futility of functioning in this manner.


J a c k a n d P e n n y Washington Batinguel, Dumaguete


allow Mendoza to talk to a media personality as he requested? Mendoza only wanted to be heard! He did not have any history of violence or abuse of power except for the incident where he was not even a direct participant! And they did


not even have to air the interview! And the way local TV


networks handled the coverage, which alternately bordered on the hysterical, a game show and a baskeball game or a reality show, with their blow-by-blow and often-breathless account did not help at all (contrast this with the way CNN and BBC covered the same story). The order of the ground commander to arrest the


proposal. The Department is


so big that abolishing its main structure would mean reorganizat ion of personnel, anxiety of gove rnmentworke r s , changes of government s t r u c t u r e , b u d g e t realignments, layoffs, debate in upper and lower congress and many other concerns. Calling the office an


institutional schizophrenia is a hypocrite statement. Imploring this statement is tantamount to setting aside the good works of Sec. Heherson Alvarez, Sec. Angel C. Alcala, and Secretary Gozon in the Department during their good times. Why not propose for improvement of the existing


favors; one Business and two impossible. Say nine Hail Mary’s for nine days with a lighted candle. Pray whether you believe or not. Publish on the ninth day


PRAYER TO ST. CLAIRE Ask St. Claire for three


hostage-taker’s brother – and the aggressive response of Gregorio Mendoza to that action which was covered live by media – notably GMA7 and apparently seen by Capt. Mendoza on the bus tv provided the final spark that led him to open  re to his hostages. The pathetic assault


A failure in leadership


staged by the Manila SWAT team made us look like a backwood c o u n t r y somewhere in Cent ral


America! When a decorated


police of cer had to resort to hostage-taking to air his grievance, the government should have listened and acted wisely and swiftly; otherwise, this sad episode in our history is bound to be repeated. And likely, with a worse ending.


Ed Dames SU Masscom alumnus


structure and send it to the President, senators and congressmen for the amendment of existing unworkable policies, laws and executive orders rather than change the name of the Department? We should not be


influenced by the word change. We should focus on the problem of climate change. Unless we change our climate (attitude), we could not solve climate change issues. If the operation is wrong because of the sick system, then we treat and introduce improvements to prohibit grafters in the government.


Anthony M. Duran Dumaguete City


“May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised, adored and glori ed today and everyday throughout the world forever and ever, Amen.” Your request will be granted no matter how impossible it may seem.


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