Why Fighters Fail

Many great fighters fail not because they lack the skill to win, but because they lack the stamina to finish the fight. This is true not only in the boxing world but also in the arena of mixed martial arts (MMA).

One of my favorite fighters in the UFC is Mark "the Hammer" Coleman. He has dominated a period in the history of martial arts when fighters in UFC has not yet universalized their skills. Coleman created the technique "ground and pound" where, because of his well-sculpted, muscular, he-man, body, he would "take-down" his opponent at will and pound them to submission, or until they are knocked out. I especially remember his fight with Don Frye which is a classic.

During my exciting days as a youth introduced in the world of the octagon, I have not yet seen Don Frye lose. He always won with style and his skill inside the octagon was impeccable. Then came "The Hammer". I saw Coleman fight and I said to myself there is no way this guy is going to lose to anyone. He was very hard to take down because of his bulky built and muscular physique. So you can just imagine the thrill of watching these two excellent warriors fight. It was a no-holds-barred edge-of-your-seat gladiator clash.

Marc Coleman grounded and pounded Don Frye like there was no tomorrow and the result was a devastating victory for the Hammer. I have never seen Frye's face punished to submission.

However, the UFC was evolving fast with the entry of various fighting styles from different schools. Pete Williams fought Marc Coleman in the UFC and it was a fight I did not want to remember.

Coleman lost steam, he lost stamina during the final rounds and I could remember him breathing hard holding into his knees looking at Pete before Pete delivered that powerful punishing kick to the face. Yes, a kick to the face as clean as a whistle. This brought to the sunshine Coleman's weakness. He could not fight effectively in the late rounds because of lack of stamina.

Boxers face an equal roadblock. I have seen it in the fights of Oscar de la Hoya with Shane Mosley and Tito Trinidad. Oscar could have won if he gave it his all in the last remaining three rounds.

This is one reason why boxers need to jog long and hard during their training. They need at least six to eight weeks of cardio exercise, meaning exercise involving the conditioning of the heart. Boxers need to be prepared to fight thirty rounds.

Have you seen the fights during the early 1900s where boxers had to fight for forty 3-minute rounds? If the fight went the distance, they would have fought for 120 minutes, or 2 hours. Imagine 2 grueling hours of hand to hand combat with the same man exchanging blows until the other guy fell to the canvass.

But, boxers need to be prepared for long fights not because they need to satisfy the crowd or anything but because they need to be strong and physically and mentally fit after to fight for the sake of their health. One of my favorite fights which I will not mention here, ended up with the other boxer becoming brain dead. This is because the other surviving fighter trained hard to fight well after 15 rounds.

As of now, I like the training regiment of Oscar Larios, the Mexican champion who fought Manny Pacquiao a few years back. I heard he was a long distance runner which allowed him to go the distance with the Pacman during their bout.

In conclusion, stamina plays a very important role in the destiny and success of a fighter. Though ensuring a strong stamina will not guarantee victory, it will improve the chances of a fighter, coupled with dedicated training and improvement in skill.

Boxing Tips to be World Champion

It feels very good that Manny Pacquiao was able to execute his plan of attack during his fight with De la Hoya. He also managed to follow some of my tips to win. I wonder why most Filipino fighters don't just emulate or copy Pacquiao's training regiment. I feel that if you want to be a winner, you must do what winners do. If I was a new boxer and I want to make it big and fight in world boxing championships, here is what I will do to win:

TIPS TO BE A GOOD BOXER

1. Have a list of Pacquiao's training technique and schedules. This means knowing what exercise is best for the body, knowing what time to wake up, train, and sleep, knowing what to eat, and knowing how to condition your mind to fight like a tiger, to fight like the Pacman.

2. Exercise. Wake up at 4:30 AM and jog until 6:00 AM preferably with no breakfast, just bring water. Afterwards, work those abs, work them real hard, really hard. Get good shoes, heavy gloves (for training only, and good running shoes. I prefer using the same shoes I use for training in the actual fight.

Important secret: During jogging and training while punishing the punching bag, I suggest you put weights, about two pounds each, which you can strap in your ankles and wrists. I recommend you do this all the time during training. Once the fight begins, take it off, and you will feel as light as a feather. You will be jabbing, throwing power punches, and dancing inside the ring with superior speed. You will knock out your opponent in no time at all.

3. Eat the right food. Protein and vegetables are preferred. No sugar, no junk foods. Drink lots of water.

4. Focus. Focus on what you want singularly. Meaning, think of nothing else but being the best boxer in the world and do nothing to divert from that goal.

5. Spar with a boxer as big and as fast as your next opponent. It is important that you have a spar mate who can mimic your next opponent. Some boxers who have made it in the big time have the resources to pay for a spar mate. For those who do not have this advantage, I suggest you get at least a regular spar mate, maybe another boxer-friend, who can copy your opponent's style.

6. Know your enemy. Master how your opponent drops his right hand everytime he jabs with the left. See if your opponent attacks with hands down and see how he reacts when you jab. Does he move away, does he stay in place and just bobs and weaves, or does he block it with his hands.

Watch the videos from the previous fights of your opponent but do not depend on it one hundred percent. These videos may be inaccurate because the fighter may have improved over the years. Look at what happened to De La Hoya who thought that he is fighting the same Pacquiao who was defeated by Erik Morales in the first Pacquiao- Morales fight.

7. Pray. Most important of all is to pray. Pray as hard as you train. Train like it is your last fight, and pray like there is no tomorrow.

Good luck to all boxers. Let us bring the sport to a new level this year!

What Pacquiao Should Do To Win Fight With Oscar (Confidential, Pacquiao fans Only)

I really did not want to publish this for fear that it might be read by Oscar de la Hoya and his fans, but I cannot contact Manny and I think this is the best way I could help him as a Filipino fan.

As Manny prepares for the fight of his life, here are some pointers he should remember before he steps into the ring with Oscar.

1. Manny should remember to always bob and weave and move his head left to right. This will make him hard to hit and this will frustrate Oscar Dela Hoya, in effect making Oscar work harder and making him more tired in the later rounds.

2. Manny should dance. Remember how he danced during the first Barrera fight? I think that is the best Pacquiao I have seen. Manny should do that again in his fight with Oscar. He should use the four corners of the ring to his advantage. Manny has the advantage of speed in this fight and he should make Oscar chase him.

3. I think Oscar will be flat footed in this fight. Manny need to use his foot speed and go around Oscar like what Manny did in his fight with Jorge Solis. Manny was running circles around Jorge who was much taller and had the reach advantage.

4. Oscar's left hook will be his only asset, the hook that dropped Mayorga and Vargas. Manny should move his head to his left to reduce the effect of any left hook thrown by Oscar and counter with a right straight.

5. Manny should watch out for Oscar's upper cuts to the body and head. Oscar will be using it every time Manny comes in for an attack. Manny can block this with his right and counter with a left hook to the head of Oscar. This left hand counter punch will put Oscar to the canvas.

6. Stamina. This will decide the fight. Oscar lost his fights with Tito Trinidad and Shane Mosley because he lost stamina during the last 3 rounds. Manny's should perfectly condition his body to last 30 rounds. He should not eat too much before the fight because this will make him sluggish.

7. Pray. This is the most important of all the tips I can give. Prayer will give Manny the needed focus and guidance to overcome this difficult task.

Let us rally behind Manny Pacquiao. This is a small step for Manny, and a giant leap for Filipinos. We are behind you all the way Manny! God bless!

Thanks for the Comments

Thanks for those who regularly follow this blog. I agree with Zyra that probably an asteroid hit the earth 65 million years ago. Probably that asteroid brought with it Anderson Silva from another planet, and that is why he is unbeatable. No one has put up a real challenge to Silva except I guess, Yushin Okami, who almost beat him except for the disqualification.

I apologize for not being able to update this blog. I will do my best to answer all your questions in my email or through articles in this website. Anyway, I also have other blogs which I know will interest you. They are http://2008ipseminarqingdao.blogspot.com and http://memoriesinqingdao.blogspot.com.

These blogs are about the Seminar on Intellectual Property System and Protection held in Qingdao, China from September 21 to October 21, 2008. It is also about the lasting friendship between the really interesting men and women who made the experience in the wonderful city of Qingdao definitely memorable.

See you in cyberspace! Cheers to a wonderful and fulfilling life!

MMA Notes- Silva vs. Cote

The fight between Anderson Silva and Patrick Cote last Sunday did not enter the record books, not even the fairy tale book. The first round told it all. Silva did not have the fire to fight, Cote was trying hard to land a knockout punch. Silva played with Cote like he was his pet dog or something and Silva could have knocked him out in the first few minutes of round but he did not. silva could have ended it with a knee to the head, which he tried but did not do.

Why did he do that? I don't know. Some say Silva was mocking UFC President Dana White for giving him Patrick Cote, given Silva's superior skills and experience. Your guess is as good as mine. But every good fighter should always fight to the finish whoever the opponent. That would have been a better statement, rather than wasting the people's time and electricity by dragging the fight to three useless rounds.

I respect Silva, but last Sunday's fight made me think otherwise. Maybe Silva should fight Randy Couture instead. Now, that would be the fight of the century. Until then, I will not comment on any MMA fight anymore. This is my first and last. Good day!

Thrilla in Manila

Another Tribute to Boxing Champ Sugar Ray Robinson

One of Boxing's Best Fighters: Sugar Ray Robinson

TAX Seminar 2008

You are cordially invited to the

PCCI Tax Seminar 2008

on

August 22, 2008, Dusit Hotel Thani, Ayala Centre Makati

1:00pm- 5:00pm

Keynote Speaker

Deputy Commissioner Nelson Aspe

Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)

on

Republic Act 9504

(Exempting Minimum Wage Earners from Payment of Income Tax, and Increasing Personal Exemption of all earners, and additional exemptions for individuals with Dependents/ Children)

Resource Speaker

Ms. Janette Cruz

Chief, Large Taxpayers Assistance Division I

BIR

on

"Updates on the Withholding Tax System"

Atty. Dennis Dimagiba

PCCI Tax Committee Member

on

"Bill on Local Taxation sponsored by Cong. George Arnaiz"

We enjoin you to take advantage of this rare privilege to have a dialogue with our distinguished speakers on taxation issues.

Seminar fee is only P1,300 plus 12% VAT for PCCI members and P1,500 plus 12% VAT for non-members. This includes the cost of materials and buffet snacks.

Please confirm your attendance with Noel Domingo or Nelda Sta.Maria of the PCCI Secretariat at telefax no. 896 4549 loc 128 or at email address noel.domingo@philippinechamber.com.

We look forward to your participation. Thank you very much for your continuing support to PCCI.

Stock Market TidBits: The Elliott Wave Principle

The Elliott wave principle is a form of technical analysis that attempts to forecast trends in the financial markets and other collective activities. It is named after Ralph Nelson Elliott (1871–1948), an accountant who developed the concept in the 1930s: he proposed that market prices unfold in specific patterns, which practitioners today call Elliott waves. Elliott published his views of market behavior in the book The Wave Principle (1938), in a series of articles in Financial World magazine in 1939, and most fully in his final major work, Nature’s Laws – The Secret of the Universe (1946).[1] Elliott argued that because humans are themselves rhythmical, their activities and decisions could be predicted in rhythms, too. Critics argue the theory is pseudoscience, it is unprovable and is at odds with the efficient market hypothesis.

The wave principle posits that collective investor psychology (or crowd psychology) moves from optimism to pessimism and back again. These swings create patterns, as evidenced in the price movements of a market at every degree of trend.

From R.N. Elliott's essay, "The Basis of the Wave Principle," October 1940.Elliott's model says that market prices alternate between five waves and three waves at all degrees of trend, as the illustration shows. As these waves develop, the larger price patterns unfold in a self-similar fractal geometry. Within the dominant trend, waves 1, 3, and 5 are "motive" waves, and each motive wave itself subdivides in five waves. Waves 2 and 4 are "corrective" waves, and subdivide in three waves. In a bear market the dominant trend is downward, so the pattern is reversed—five waves down and three up. Motive waves always move with the trend, while corrective waves move opposite it.

Source: Wikipedia

Business Outlook for 2008

The first half of 2008 has definitely brought a malady of concerns blowing away most equity markets into down trends as they digested the financial problems in the US economy, higher fuel prices and inflation. I think that a recovery from this ordeal would take a little time as it looks to be completing only the 3rd wave of a bearish drive in Elliot’s 5-wave bear principle.

Saying this, I would also build in a possible medium sized recovery played out by an expected wave 4 rally in an effort to ease up current oversold conditions.

World indices bear down and may take time to recoup
US stock trends have officially reached bearish territories after losing more than 20% of its value. This draws out heavier supply problems for the world’s largest market- this triggering a global sympathy that has yet to see its potential flows. This bearish flow will likely precipitate until a gradual U-type reversal is shown or until a fear-based selling capitulation materializes (usually seen in wave 5) to rub out overhanging supply. In between this a major rally is still seen on the backdrop of oversold levels.

Oil prices still riding high but showing overbought warnings.
One of the world’s pestilent problems is the striking price of Oil which has accelerated its trending advance this year and has not yet let up. In fact it has been climbing at about $13/ barrel per month since March and unless major correction comes to disrupt this course, Oil can find itself at $150 in July and closer to $200 before the end of the year. However, heavy overbought levels will likely call upon a major correction that may come to test its trendline lows current at $135- a break of this would signal a medium term corrective phase.

Inflation triggers upward adjustments in I-rates seen in the medium term
The rise in the prices of Oil and consequently materials and commodities has driven global inflation upwards, particularly with more pressure in developing economies. US Bond yields, which serve as a good leading indicator to interest rates, have turned up in April breaking a 9-month down trend and offering a medium scale rally. This I feel could be limited in threat and scope focused only into the medium term since the long term trend angle of yields (since the 90s) continue to point down. I would say however that a flattening in the large trend angle may be possible as it has reached its 5-year low cycle.

Cotto - Margarito: One for the Books

In probably one of the most stunning upsets this year, Antonio Margarito brought Miguel Cotto to his knees on a gruelling tenth round knockout. Every boxer has been trying to avoid Margarito and they have a good reason to do so, after his relentless attack against Cotto. Cotto won most of the rounds after giving Margarito his punishing left and right hooks to the body. But Margarito gave no signs of backing down. Instead, he pursued Miguel around the ring without giving signs of wearing down and while punishing Cotto with his own devasting hooks to the body.

Everyone got the shock of their lives when Cotto, bloodied from the punishment he received from Antonio, kneeled on the tenth round with Margarito still continuing the attack. The referee gave Cotto the eight count. But that was enough for Cotto, who kneeled once again after the barage of punches from Margarito.

Will we be seeing a rematch or a possible Margarito - Hopkins fight in the near future? I will bet on the latter, but a possible rematch may be better for Cotto, who needs to redeem himself as boxing's best pound for pound fighter.

This is a good year for boxing indeed.

Pacquiao versus Dela Hoya

Both camps have already expressed their intention to fight it out in one of boxing history's biggest fights ever since Ali fought Foreman. The only question now is when and at what weight.

De la Hoya (5'10") is naturally bigger and taller than Pacquiao (5'6") and this may just decide the turning point of Pacman's carreer. He has shown that he can take the punch of the 135ers but can a bloated Pacquiao fight at 147? Can he evade the longer arms of Oscar and can he muster the necessary speed and power to bring down the Golden Boy?

My view is, if the fight takes place this year, there will probably be no knockdowns as each boxer has shown their capacity to take a punch. The fight will most likely go the distance, which is better for the younger Pacquiao. Manny will win if Manny outpunches and outboxes Oscar. Dela Hoya's killer left hook and left straight will still pose a problem if Pacman does not use his agility and foot speed to get away from dangerous situations and angles. Both may slow down in the middle of the fight starting round 7 up to round 12, for Dela Hoya, because of his age, and for Pacquiao, because his body may not be used to fighting in higher weight classes. Pacquiao will have to bring the fight to Oscar and go inside while punishing Oscar with short upper cuts to the body and head. Pacquiao cannot afford to fight from a distance knowing Oscar's dangerous left jabs.

All in all, in terms of speed and power, I vote for Pacman's victory by unanimous decision. But, definitely, this is going to be one hell of a fight.

The Latent Patent: Why Intellectual Property (IP) Development in the Philippines is Lagging Behind

Situationer

Trudge along the corridors of Quiapo, Manila and you will notice that among the most visited stalls are those selling pirated CDs. It is quite sad that infringement of intellectual property seems to have been the rule in this country rather than the exception. It is sadder still that our country, renowned worldwide for the exceptional ingenuity, creativity and innovation of Filipinos, is becoming a dumping ground for pirated articles of all kinds. Everyday we see counterfeit DVDs, VCDs and CDs of movies, movies, computer software, etc. being sold like hot cakes. Not only are they exceptionally cheap, the video and sound quality of some of the copies are impressively often far better than the original.

Some say that piracy, as we know it today, is the inevitable product of advanced developments in information and communication technology within the past two decades. In one study, the practice of piracy has also been described as having the most efficient distribution system.

The distribution system of the people behind this industry is really something to marvel at. You can find movies, shown yesterday in Europe and the US of A, magically find their way immediately in our shores the next day. Our country’s logistics and supply chain industry can learn from whatever technique is being applied by the masterminds of this very organized (syndicate) industry.

What is most appalling, and funny, in all these is that while the selling of pirated products are happening right under their noses, many members of the police do not seem to mind. Selling of pirated items is happening at point blank and no one seems to notice or care even. We can see these stalls everywhere around Metro Manila, in malls, street corners, tiangges, sidewalks, etc.

This is one humongous stumbling block in any action plan to solve the problem of piracy. Catching and imprisoning those selling the prohibited articles would be just like nibbling at the tip of the iceberg. This problem, as most of us now know, is tightly knit with the problem of smuggling, other curse of the continuously increasing borderless world.

According to the Business Software Alliance (BSA), software piracy in the Asia-Pacific region cost manufacturers about $8 billion in 2004. Worldwide, losses due to software piracy were estimated at more than $32 million in that year.

Not only is the multi-media industry being severely affected, the overall competitiveness of the country is also taking a severe beating.

According to Intellectual Property Philippines (IP Phil), there is a need to increase local patent applications in order to drastically improve our image abroad as a country competent in technological innovation. We also need to increase patent registrants to increase the chance of our country being removed from the US watch list of IPR violators.

Piracy has worsened for the past years, which should have alerted us to take action to curb its slithering tail. In fact, according to International Intellectual Property Alliance, the growing piracy business has made the Philippines one of thirty-one countries that supposedly have a larger market for illegal software than for commercial software.

Solving this problem once and for all entails that we have enough valuable information on the concept of IP and why its development and use in our business can have a positive, long-term impact on our daily lives.

What is Intellectual Property?

It is amusing to know that those who are most knowledgeable on IP and those who mostly benefit from IP are the violators of IP rights.

The important thing to focus on, therefore, is empowering ourselves with the necessary tools to make all available knowledge, laws, and policies on IP work for us, the intended beneficiary.

It has always been government policy to promote and protect intellectual property. This policy was embedded both in the 1973 Constitution, which provides that “the exclusive right to inventions, writings and artistic creations shall be secured to inventors, authors, and artists for a limited period” and in the 1987 Constitution, which mandates that, the State shall protect intellectual property.

Moreover, the Philippines became a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization [WIPO] in 1980. The WIPO is a specialized agency of the United Nations, which is dedicated to developing a balanced and accessible international IP system, which recognizes and rewards creativity, stimulates innovation and contributes to economic development while safeguarding the public interest.

Our country also acceded to a number of significant multilateral international agreements and treaties for the protection and promotion of intellectual property rights, which include the following:

Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization [since 1980]
Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property [since 1965]
Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for Purposes of Patent Procedure [since 1981]

Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works [since 1951]
International Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonographs and Broadcasting Organizations [since 1984] Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights [TRIPS Agreement (from Chan Robles Law Office Website)

Moreover, government, through IP Phils,. is now closely studying the effects of acceding to the Madrid Protocol. According to Mr. Alan Datri, Senior Counsellor of the Office of the Assistant Director General of WIPO, the Madrid Protocol will provide a centralized acquisition and maintenance of trademark rights around the world through the filing of a single international application for a single international registration with effect in one or more designated Contracting Parties. This would mean that Filipino exporters would no longer need to register their trademarks separately in each country where they export their products. One international registration would have the effect of registration filed in all countries that acceded to the Madrid Protocol.

The presence of these laws should have discouraged all who intended to violate our IP rights. But why has it persisted?


WHY PIRACY PERSISTS

We all know that violation of IP is happening right under our noses, and we all know how to solve it, or at least everyone has a thing or two to discuss on how to end piracy, but why has this problem continued to hound us and our country’s drive to competitiveness?

Answering this question is like trying to solve smuggling or drug addiction. We all know the answers and solutions, but still some people come up with their own reasons why piracy persists.

One answer is that government lacks resources, and even the political will - to effectively eradicate or reduce piracy. Indeed, IP Phils., the primary body tasked with protecting IP, needs all the help in sustaining its drive to develop IP in the country.

Another is that we should learn to adapt a culture of distaste against everything pirated. Despite the fact that pirated CDs are cheaper, the bigger picture should discourage us in abhorring piracy altogether. It is a fact that this worldwide phenomenon is contributing to terrible loss of jobs for those working for legitimate music, movie, and software companies, and this causes industries related to them to slowly die.

We should also support government in adapting the international standards and best practices in customs procedures. Smuggling has been uncurbed, half-willed implementation of laws and policies on intellectual property, has allowed the proliferation of pirated articles and paraphernalia.

Moreover, a reason why there seem to be less support from the people themselves is that many are getting a good living buying and selling pirated media. What is appalling is that the distributors of pirated materials not only avoid the ambit of the BIR for the income they generate, they do not pay royalties to the creators of the said materials.


What PCCI is Doing

The PCCI has spearheaded the private sector drive to help in government’s information dissemination drive in promoting intellectual property development.

The Committee on Intellectual Property, headed by its Chairperson, Mr. Jesus Varela, was created to help instill awareness on the important role of IP in business development, trade and the flow of investment in the country. Mr. Varela said that the Committee seeks to promote more cooperation in the field of IP between government institutions and members of the private sector. The Committee, he said, also recognizes that IP advocacy and protection is a key factor for economic growth and advancement, especially of SMEs.

The main objective of the IP Committee is, first and foremost, to help members of the business sector appreciate and understand better the concept of intellectual property and the ways by which IP can be used as a valuable asset in business development. Moreover, the Committee aims to promote the protection of intellectual property in the country through cooperation with government, academe, and other important sectors of society.

The Committee hopes that, through the promotion of an IP culture, the business community will produce more inventors and innovators who will be encouraged to obtain, use and license IP rights and assets.

The IP Committee is now closely cooperating with IP Phils.’ information-dissemination drive to increase awareness of the importance of IP among stakeholders in the country.

It is worthy to note that the IP Philippines has created the Intellectual Property Research and Training Institute (IPRTI). The Institute will serve as the vehicle by which IP Philippines would respond to the country’s need for a higher level of IP awareness and expertise across sectors. With IPRTI in place, it is hoped that the IP system can be further strengthened through capability building in IP expertise and in advanced IP education and research.

Indeed, we should be relentless in enhancing our people’s innate talent for ingenuity, which is what Filipinos are very much known for. But each of us must do our part to advance IP awareness, which is the first step towards a very long journey of making IP protection a significant part of the Filipino culture.

PCCI is aware that this partnership with IP Phils. will go a long way in helping promote IP, not only among SMEs but, with the Filipino people, who are the real beneficiaries of the success of the adoption of a successful IP campaign.

SCRAP THE LATERAL ATTRITION LAW (LAL)

It was gut-wrenching to hear that the emperor in the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and his henchmen received a hefty sum of more than 400 million pesos just for simply doing their work. Not only is this practice full of loopholes, it is also very prone and open to abuse. Simply connive with the Department Secretary to lower the bureau’s revenue targets for a certain year and you will be seeing more millionaires in one of the country’s top agencies most perceived to be corrupt (together with BIR and the Public Works and Highways Department)

Moreover, the purpose of the Lateral Attrition Law is to encourage BIR and BOC employees to work hard so that the respective bureaus can exceed their revenue targets for the year, thereby contributing to the country’s growth and development. It was not the intention of the law to make government employees rich enough to build their own mansions in Mount Olympus. When asked during a Senate inquiry why he supposedly received more than 5 million reward, BOC Chief Napoleon Morales blurted, “It is legal.” But then, what is legal may not be necessarily moral.

The law should be scrapped for a variety of reasons. One, the agencies benefiting from the LAL are two of the most notoriously corrupt agencies in the country. The law would be better applied to those who really do something exemplary like the teachers, social and health workers, dedicated policemen and soldiers in the battlefield.

Also, public funds should be allocated for public purposes. Giving more than 400 million pesos to undeserving government officials is far from being a public purpose. It has served only to fatten the already bloated pockets of the BOC officials.

Furthermore, nationalism and love of country should be the primary motivation of members of the government work force, just like the motto “Mamamayan Muna, Hindi Mamaya Na” (Our First Priority Is Service to the Nation, Not Procrastination), and not monetary rewards.

Given these, the law should be repealed and the money given to the BOC officials should be returned to the public treasury.


You may email your comments to advocacydeparment@gmail.com or directly here in this blog.