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TODAY’S BUSINESS management topic is about science and technology,
in particular—biotechnology. It has fascinated mankind for many,
many years dating back to the early episode of “Soylent Green,”
a 1973 science fiction movie depicting a bleak future for mankind
due to overpopulation, pollution, and extreme poverty.
Imagine Taft Avenue, Pasay; Baclaran, Parañaque;
and Divisoria, Manila, among others and you’ll immediately know
what I mean.
To understand where political will should apply,
you must personally visit these places and know the situation first
hand. The best time to do this is during rush hours, when you need a
lot of patience observing how the universe of pedestrians and
motorists compete with each other for that important public space.
As you gaze the view from your car or whatever,
many old-age questions will probably run through your mind, the main
one being: Do we have a government?
I’m not trying to fault MMDA here, nor the
concerned local government unit. I know they’re trying their best
to correct the situation, but it seems that they’re up against
something or somebody that was accidentally imported into the
country from somewhere else, probably hell.
I’ve seen, heard, and benefited from the
efforts of MMDA, like what they did with the construction of what
appeared to be the longest and user-friendly pedestrian overpass at
the Bicutan interchange. I must tell you that it is a successful
project, indeed, except that it is now being spoiled by Maynilad.
But we’re getting off the track with Chairman
Bayani Fernando. When we gaze upward at the boundless clear blue sky
of our residential window, we should be thinking more than the
efforts of MMDA but the entire government as well.
I used to think that our government is bad when
I had an overdose of ABS-CBN tirades, until I was distracted by a
document from Bob Reyes, who is an active member of the Manila
Elbotological Society.
Disclosure: “Elbotologist” is Greek for
“loyal alert reader” of yours truly.
The said document was a sales brochure from a
Taiwanese outfit. It’s about the application of biotechnology
which as you can barely understand from the United Nations
Convention on Biological Diversity defining it as “any
technological application that uses biological systems, living
organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or
processes for specific use” like what baby-boomers would need
during their bedtime.
The brochure is promoting a product called
“Snake Sisters.” Do not be misled by the brand. This liquid dark
red, but no therapeutic claim substance is actually for old, big
brothers like you.
To quote the brochure: “This concentrate is
made of blood, liver, and gall bladder of six species of cobra
processed through modern scientific way.”
This product sold only by texting to a certain
number possesses the efficacy to strengthen the virility and
increase the ability of old males to become physically healthy.
Sold! I’ll give this as a birthday gift to my
friend Tony. Except that my only question would be: “What?” I
mean, why are they selling this through SMS? If I have a complaint,
say for “false advertising claims” then where should I go?
Who should I charge for damages in court if
something happened to Tony who is a known diabetic in our
neighborhood?
The big mystery, of course, is: Why was Bob
Reyes so naïve to endorse a product like this to an intelligent
columnist who doesn’t need it in the first place?
Although this question could baffle you in some
mysterious ways, I know deep in my heart and mind that Bob was
trying to destroy me. Is he a Trojan horse or something?
Biotechnology is now widely accepted in the
scientific community; although it is still has a few technical bugs
in it, such as that anybody who took the Snake Sisters substance
would have the IQ of a squiggly earthworm.
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Rey Elbo is a business consultant
specializing in human resources and total quality management as a
fused specialty. Reader’s feedback may be sent to kairoshq@info.com.ph
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