Numbers

30% Proportion of Filipino couples unaware that babies result from having sex, according to a study by the Philippine government.

2.36% Net population growth in the Philippines, among the highest in the world, with 4,000 babies born every day. [Source: Time Magazine, 03/14/05]

Leaders of the Catholic Church, the religion of 81 percent of the Philippine population, condemn birth control.[Source: Pulse Asia]

Ayan!

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Thousands of Americans were marching on the 4^th year anniversary of the Iraq war, calling the killing of 3,500 American soldiers since the start of the war as “immoral!”

By comparison, since the start of the Iraq war, more than 5,000,000 (five million!) American babies have died by abortion.

It seems to me that the protesters are marching for the wrong reason.

Wake-up Call

A friend telephoned to disagree to my characterization of BF Homes Parañaque Subdivision. The commercialization of the subdivision is progress, and instead of tossing the blame to the local government for the destruction of the residential character of the subdivision, residents should be grateful.

And why not, considering that even within BF Homes, residents cannot seem to put their acts together on the subject of keeping the subdivision safe for their families whose welfare has been shoved aside by a persistent minority. This is eloquently expressed in Mayor Jun Bernabe’s February 15, 2006, letter to Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnide:

This is just a follow-up to our conversation last Sunday via our cellphones in which we discussed… the increasing number of complaints that my office has been receiving regarding the use of Tirona gate as a two-way access route for residents living in both Parañaque and Alabang, Muntinlupa sides of BF Homes.

To raise revenues for the municipality to qualify for cityhood being pushed by (re-electionist) Congressman Roilo Golez, public opinion was ignored, public preferences were disregarded, and public meetings were rigged!

In water-starved BF Homes, the 1997 re-zoning of subdivision’s main streets converted properties one lot deep along Aquirre and a portion of El Grande Avenues to commercial zones, allowing the construction of multi-storey structures, restaurants, beer houses, super clubs, liquor stores, gasoline service stations, supermarkets, banks, colleges and universities, including funeral parlors, mortuaries and crematory services and memorial chapels. Homeowners are outraged by the prospect of having such establishments as their next door neighbors.

The letter continues: Sometime in August last year, we implemented City Ordinance No. 00-15, Series of 2000 and opened the major roads of BF Homes-Parañaque to the public. In doing so, we effectively took over from UBFHAI the function and responsibility of manning the gates of the subdivision’s major roads in the interest of order and public service…

The local government cannot simply take over private property [the road lots are privately titled] without due process, but [re-electionist] Mayor Jun Bernabe, using SWAT power, forcibly opened the gates of the subdivision. In doing so, as his letter aptly articulated, he effectively let loose a huge influx of outsider traffic that includes commuters, short-cutting motorists, commercial vehicles of all types, and legions of squatters, carjackers, carnappers and even prowlers, thieves, rapists, and all sorts of criminals.

Over the objections of homeowners, and despite the constitutional proscription against the use of public funds for private purposes, the mayor appropriated yet another portion of Aguirre Park for a two-story Barangay Hall. For good measure, the park fronting the Resurrection Parish Church is also designated garbage segregation facility. [Follow your nose, you can’t miss it!]

The commercial area in Phase I has been converted into one big parking area with the “pito” boys, displaying the charms of modern Mafioso’s, licensed to collect “parking fees.” These “volunteers” are sporting “PNP-CVO” uniforms, cap and ID’s costing, I am told, something like PhP1,000. Not far behind are the security guards of the commercial establishments collecting “tips” for illegal parking.

Aguirre and President’s Avenues and Elizalde Street in the commercial district in Phase I are no on-street parking areas. Yet, despite repeated written appeals for enforcement from some 200 residents located at the end of President’s Avenue, the local authorities remain deaf. The commercial establishments continue with impunity to appropriate the roads and sidewalks at President’s corner Aguirre Avenues for parking, double parking and sometimes triple parking, making going and coming home difficult and hazardous for residents.

Obviously, our barangay captain, who is busy campaigning for a seat in the city council, is the problem, not the solution.

We are not against progress, but traffic, efficient garbage disposal and distribution of basic necessities are also primary considerations. Progress should be rational and for the good of the majority, otherwise, it is a brutalization of the quality of our lives.

The present dispensation has destroyed the residential character of our neighborhood, forcibly opened our gates to horrendous outsider traffic and exposed residents to criminal elements, illegally constructed government facilities on the park, including garbage segregation facility. Yet, many of those responsible are shamelessly seeking re-election, while some even have the gall and temerity to aspire for higher public offices.

We are saddled with officials who cannot grasp even the basic fundamentals of urban planning, who lack the creativity to increase the city’s coffers except to increase real estate taxes, and who exhibit total disregard for a healthy environment.

Clearly, our re-electionist congressman, mayor, councilors, and barangay officials are insensitive and unresponsive to the feelings of residents over the demands of outside speculators. THEY DO NOT DESERVE OUR VOTES!