Like and unlike

Ben Contreras

YOU might wonder what it’s like to have lunch in bed with your wife. It did happen.

My wife was so engrossed watching the inauguration of the new President that she forgot to prepare for lunch. It was 30 minutes to noon time. Of course, I wanted to have lunch. Since she has not prepared anything, I told her to make the fastest lunch ever.

Indeed, after about 15 minutes, she entered the room with a bowl of five “Chicken Joys,” a plate of rice and a bit of catsup. Yes, we had lunch in bed and finished the program.

What I liked about the inauguration was the speech that was so bereft of flowery words, and it was down to earth! The use of the Bisaya to show his origins brought clarity to his message to the Bisaya-speaking Filipinos. It was in itself unique.

His marching order to all secretaries and heads of government agencies to reduce the waiting time for the release of whatever documents applied for by any Filipino is also well taken. It’s been a source of corruption and dirty money for decades.

“I abhor secrecy and advocate transparency” in clear reference to government projects. It’s time for citizens to demand transparency and ask questions regarding bidding processes especially if it looks like there has been none.

I may have missed a lot more, but for those that I like, there’s one thing I didn’t like: the singing of the national anthem.

A national anthem is unlike an ordinary song. Please, do not change the tune or add something that changes the original version. Show respect to it by singing it using its original tune and notes. If Americans want to do this to their national anthem, we don’t really need to follow.

China’s national anthem is very short. But it is always sang and played with fervor and pride. Let us love and respect our national anthem.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, congratulations! May your journey be guided by your promises to the people, and may the Filipino people understand that change does not come from the mouth but should be shown through  their actions.

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Let us all look forward to the fulfilment of our dream for a Mindanao Railway System. It is not enough that the leadership has the resolve to do it. The people of the affected areas should do their share by cooperating with the government on the aspect of right of way.

There would be lots that would be affected, and properties could be destroyed in the process. But if we can learn to see the bigger picture, then it’s not going to be too much to ask that we sacrifice a little of what we own and possess.

The fulfillment of this great project can be done by China in the shortest time. If it can build a 57-story skyscraper in 19 days, a 30-story building in 15 days, I believe it can make wonders in this railway project.

For Mindanao, a railway system would be akin to the development of the American territories starting with a single railtrack.