Where’s the beef? (Of hamburgers and promises)

By Jose B. Maroma Jr.

I recall this iconic commercial of Wendy’s fast-food chain as I entertain guarded reservations about the manner government and some elected officials in their private capacities will deliver on their promises.

Onyok Velasco says he never received all the promised rewards, including P2.5 million from Congress. A businessman promised him a lifetime monthly pension of P10,000 but stopped paying after only one year.

Anthony Villanueva, the first Filipino boxing silver medalist, died penniless and unsung. He reportedly tried to sell his Olympic silver medal several times.

In the case of Hidilyn, I expect a more expeditious delivery of commitments. It’s an election year and failure to redeem pledges to a national sports hero could smear political images.

To be sure, the private sector is expected to act faster. Manny Pangilinan has made good on his promise and deposited P10 million to Hidilyn’s personal bank account a day after her arrival from Tokyo.

In addition, MVP offered to transport Hidilyn”s family to Manila, with free accommoldations, in the face of pandemic travel restrictions which prevent immediate family reunion.

I expect Ramon Ang of San Miguel Corporation to deposit without fanfare another P10 million to Hidilyn’s account, if he hasn’t done so yet. It would be nice if MVP and Ramon Ang paid the donor’s taxes as well.

Property developers led by giant Megaworld who have promised condo units could spare Hidilyn the burdens of paperwork by giving her titles or, if not immediately available, alternative and definitive proofs of ownership.

Airline companies who have offered free passage should document their grants with certificates or lifetime travel vouchers which guarantee hassle-free redemptions.

What about cash rewards mandated by law? That’s another ballgame. I hope it does not labor through bureaucracy. If one is in the good graces of power, it requires only a small handwritten footnote at the corner of a document to bring forth pronto a check for P10 million.

If political strings are attached, the release of reward money may be hit with the paralysis and cruelty of procedures such as those that have prevented health workers from getting fully paid hazard pay allowances, even if the Department of Health is awash with budgetary funds.

Hidilyn is a potential political asset in any campaign and some crafty manipulators may wring out concessions or tradeoffs from her.

Worse, they may take advantage of her naivete and put words into her mouth, then convert these words into endorsements. If this happens, the inevitable question is asked, “what else is new?”

Jose B. Maroma Jr. is a retired civil engineer from Cabatuan, Iloilo. He likes to spend his time reading and writing on the burning issues of the day.