Politicians’ blabbermouth won’t solve Panay blackouts

By Alex P. Vidal

“Ninety percent of the politicians give the other ten percent a bad reputation.”—Henry Kissinger

WE’RE not anymore impressed. And we refuse to be tantalized.

When national politicians act and behave like Nicodemuses pretending they care for the Ilonggos tormented by the massive post-New Year power blackout, it’s when we think the problems with entities responsible for management of electricity are far from over.

It’s when we fear there’s no solution in sight for the now-we-experience-it-now-we-don’t power brownouts and blackouts or whatever “outs” we may also call them now and in the future.

Local politicians like representatives, governors and mayors in the districts, provinces, cities and municipalities affected by the widespread power interruptions since January 2 were the only ones “allowed” or can be “tolerated” to blow their tops and demand for the guillotine for all negligent and incompetent officials in charge of electric distribution, generation, and maintenance in Panay, Guimaras, and some portions of Negros.

These local politicians, the elected public officials who also use electricity in their homes and offices, are morally obligated to pick up the cudgels for their constituents and ensure they are protected from harm’s way—and ineptitude of national government.

Power consumers rely on their local public officials; they draw strength and solace from these leaders, and they always think whatever problem that may arise locally, the local officials are prepared 24/7 and empowered to find a quick solution for their woes.

-o0o-

When these local officials get mad and demand for an abrupt solution to the power outage, for instance, and “vow” to give justice to the miseries of power consumers, the power consumers somehow heave of sigh of relief and their frazzled emotions are ameliorated in one way or the other.

But not from grandstanding national politicians like Grace Poe, Ronald Dela Rosa, Miguel Zubiri, Win Gatachalian, and Chiz Escudero, among other charlatans.

We know from John 3 that Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a member of the Jewish ruling council, who came to Jesus at night with a question. He received an answer that generations of Christians would hide in their hearts.

These politicians think they are the modern Necodemuses; they believe if they “show concern” for the Ilonggos and threaten to “sponsor a resolution or bill” in the august halls of congress or “investigate” the Department of Energy, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, MORE, among other power players and authorities, they will instantly look good and earn instant pogi points.

But if we look back and check the pages of history, they were almost the same characters who “denounced” and “condemned” the power blackouts and the aforementioned state agencies and “threatened” to call for “senate and congressional investigations” in the past when power interruptions lashed at the Filipinos not only in Panay, Guimaras, and Negros, but also in other parts of the country.

So far, so bad, nothing has happened. Ilonggos continued to be inconvenienced and walloped by the heart-thumping power blackouts.

-o0o-

TISSUE PAPER VIRUSES. Let’s throw away tissue papers that have been staying on the table or bed for a long time. They are potential carriers of swine flu viruses.

THE BEST IN US. Olives are crushed to make the best oil; grapes are squeezed to make the finest wines; roses are pressed to make the most fragrant perfumes. Have we been crushed, squeezed and pressed by life’s trials and difficulties? Let’s be glad God is bringing out the best in us. (James 1:2-4)

SITTING AT A DESK ALL DAY can cause sleep apnea. When we sit for long periods, blood and water pool in our legs, when we lie down to go to sleep, gravity causes this fluid to flow our neck.

WHO’S NUMBER TWO? Most folks know the cheetah’s top speed of 70 mph makes it the fastest land animal. But what’s the runner-up? Turns out its the pronghorn. The deer-like mammal cruises at 35 mph and can hit 50.

‘MICRO-BIOPSIES’ might be more effective for diagnosing and tracking cancer. An experimental device allows doctors to evaluate tumor changes, and the effects of treatment, from blood or tissue samples as small as one-trillionth of a gram–no larger than the period at the end of this sentence, says the health discoveries.

EARLY BIRDS VS NIGHT OWLS. People who call themselves morning people perform jst as well as night owls early in the day. Ten hours after waking, however, they show less activity in brain areas linked to attention, says the health discoveries.

URINE TEST FOR HEART DISEASE. Urine contains many different proteins, including some that are found only in people with atherosclerosis (fatty buildup in the arteries). An experimental urine test identified coronary artery disease with 84% accuracy, according to health discoveries.

EYE MOVEMENTS AND BRAIN HEALTH. Patients with mild cognitive impairment spend less time looking at new images than control subjects. So-called eye-tracking may allow doctors to detect and treat dementias at an early stage, according to health discoveries.

SAVING OUR PLANET. Let’s do a water inventory in our house and fix any leaking faucets–over time even a small drip can add up to a lot of waste.

SAVING OUR PLANET. Let’s draft proof our bathroom door, either by using a removable fabric draft stopper or a brush version that attaches to the bottom of the door. In the absence of drafts the room will stay warm and we won’t need to turn up the heating.

SAVING OUR PLANET. Let’s save our seas. We might think oceans are not affected by water use in our home, but let’s think again. The ocean is, in fact, one of the hardest-hit habitats because water waste and run-off eventually find their way back there, causing pollution. So saving water saves the seas.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)