THE Acts of Hope for the Nation (AHON) Foundation, the corporate social responsibility program of Filway Marketing Inc., just inaugurated its 48th adopted public elementary school library at Sagad Elementary School in Pasig City. By the end of September, AHON would have helped in the development and improvement of more than 50 public elementary school libraries as it was set to open three more in Southern Leyte. This is one of the apostolate works of the president and chief executive officer of Filway Marketing, Hector O. Tagaysay, who was educated in the public school system before receiving a scholarship to study at the Ateneo de Manila University. Unlike other businessmen who love to broadcast their achievements, he has quietly provided books for over 100,000 schoolchildren all over the country. I hope that there will be more men like Tagaysay, sharing the blessings that he has received with those who need it the most.

Businessman for good governance
Another admirable businessman who has been at the forefront of Kaya Natin (KN)’s Karapatan at Kalusugan Kaya Natin Pangalagaan program is Fred Siy. He has been generously providing medicines and other medical supplies to indigent senior citizens living in the areas of our KN champions like Among Ed Panlilio of Pampanga, Rep. Bolet Banal of Quezon City, Mayor Jun Verzosa of Tagudin in Ilocos Sur, former Mayor Sonia Lorenzo of San Isidro in Nueva Ecija, and Mayor Baby Congco of Cabiao in Nueva Ecija. Like Tagaysay, Siy is the type of businessman who would rather take on a low profile and keep quiet about the help and support that he has given. What makes the Karapatan at Kalusugan program unique is that, unlike other medical missions, it also requires beneficiaries to attend a lecture on good governance and responsible citizenship. With more socially-responsible businessmen like Tagaysay and Siy, coupled with more effective, ethical and empowering leaders like our KN champions, I am sure that it won’t be long before our country moves forward.

More on SM Blue
If we have socially responsible businessmen, then we also have business leaders who will do everything just to earn more revenue. This seems to be the case of SM Development Corp. (SMDC), which seems to believe that it is above the law. Last week, I wrote about the zoning exemption that the company was able to get from the city council, which permitted it to construct a 42-storey building named SM Blue Residences near the Marikina fault line. I forgot to mention in that piece that what was even more suspicious was how SMDC was able to get a building permit when the chairman of Barangay Loyola Heights did not even issue a barangay clearance to the corporation. Did some hanky-panky happen in city hall, like what happened with the city council? I am sure that this kind of thing is not only happening in Quezon City, but also in other parts of the country. Companies employing this practice try their best to maximize profits without regard for the community that will be affected by their massive construction efforts. It seems that the present occupant of Quezon City Hall is not inclined to do anything to redress this wrongdoing, thus it would be best if the Department of the Interior and Local Government, led by the good Sec. Jesse Robredo, conduct an immediate investigation of what really transpired these past two years. Ateneo and other stakeholders are also studying the possibility of filing charges before the Office of the Ombudsman against the councilors that gave SMDC the exemption. If the corporation is really the good guy that it claims to be in all its ads, it should immediately stop construction and sit down with community leaders to find an amicable and mutually beneficial solution to this problem. Then again, that may be asking too much from a company that doesn’t seem to understand what the real meaning of corporate social responsibility is.

What happened to Joker?
Speaking of investigations and unearthing the truth, I am really wondering what happened to Sen. Joker Arroyo, who used to be at the forefront of fighting for truth, justice and righteous governance. Ever since I first saw him during the impeachment trial of former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada, I have always admired Arroyo and his principles. But in the last three years, I have seen that he has become a mere puppet of the previous administration, defending its leaders against allegations of graft and corruption. Just this week, he released a statement calling for the stoppage of the ongoing Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on anomalies involving police helicopter purchases made by the previous administration. What gives, Sen. Arroyo? Why are you now siding with those who want to suppress the truth? Do you still remember your campaign slogan, “Kung bad ka, lagot ka!”? He said that it would be best if the complainants would just go and file their charges in court so as not to waste the Senate’s time. While that may be a good suggestion, we all know that once a case is filed in court, it will take many years before it is resolved. People are longing for truth, accountability and justice, and as a result many continue to support the efforts of the blue ribbon committee, led by Sen. Teofisto Guingona 3rd. If Arroyo wants to protect the former president and her husband, then perhaps it would be better for him to attend the hearings and debate with his fellow senators there, rather than calling for the scrapping of these important investigations which are now giving the public a bigger picture of all the shenanigans that happened in the previous administration.

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