The Philippine Social Volcano Simmers

Written on Friday, June 6th, 2008 at 2:46 pm | by Ding G. Gagelonia

This being my first post here at Filipino Voices and with the week winding down instead of opening, yours truly would have wanted to keep it short and sweet, as the tired phrase goes.

So allow this writer first to say thank you to Nick for responding with dispatch to my query just three days ago whether I could contribute to Filipino Voices in the hope of helping in whatever small way to enriching the on line discourse among Filipinos, and thus give more resonance to our collective perspective, with the ensuing debate which may, at intense moments, become discordant or even acrimonious but at the end resulting in an informed understanding of our times.

I began writing this essay at dawn today as I was updating midfield.wordpress.com after doing my usual early scan of the news, a habit ingrained by decades of toil in broadcast newsrooms long before the birth of 24/7 news and the greying of the distinction between bloggers and journalists.

On our social volcano, as the banner headlines announce, inflation is up 9.6 percer cent with the ‘poverty-defining’ inflation index on food soaring by a higher 14-plus percent. This is well beyond the 10 percent level which, if it is reached, according to an Asian Development Bank economist cited in press reports, translates to 2.3-million Filipinos falling through the poverty cracks.

Just an hour back, on-line breaking news reports quoted Executive Secretary Eddie Ermita as candidly conceding that the grim economic situation “could lead to trouble.”

More than tightening our belts, we should then hold on to our seats.

The people really have no choice but to look to the government of the day to provide more comprehensive and ‘vision-backed’ solutions paired with credible and transparent governance once the budget deficit-sensitive funds for the current dole out “lifeline subsidies” start running out.

So not unlike Taal the political science counterparts of PHIVOLCS will be closely listening to the ground murmurs and watching their social seismographs for any impending eruption of our volcano.

As economic experts like Cayetano Paderangga and Benjamin Diokno are prognosticating, the situation will likely get worse before it gets better.

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About The Author: Ding G. Gagelonia is a journalist of some 30 years, having worked in both radio and TV news and public affairs since his teens. Ding Gagelonia now writes independently and does corporate communications consulting. He has two kids, Felice and Luis. His journalist blog is at midfield.wordpress.com

Filed Under Local News, National News, Politics, Society

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Comments

2 Responses to “The Philippine Social Volcano Simmers”

  1. Patricio Mangubat on June 6th, 2008 5:36 pm

    Sir, glad to hear from you again. You might not remember me but we once worked together, me as a young newswriter for you. Happy to hear from you again.

  2. Ding G. Gagelonia on June 6th, 2008 7:34 pm

    Am honored po that you remember me and am doubly glad that our voices are in the firmament in the shared goal of helping make our compatriots better informed. I am excited that we are on the same path. Mabuhay po kayo! :)

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