CAPT. TELESFORO SOLDA
Of sharks and dolphins
An honest and incorruptible leader has a-better-than-average
chance to transform his team into a united and productive organization.
IF ONE is to believe what is read in the papers, hear
from the radio and see from the TV today, one’s mind will flash back to
the days of the late 60’s and the troubled 70’s. The same elements of the
news are common in both crass. There is cro-nyism, scandals, lies, corruption,
smuggling, rebellion, oil crisis, demonstrations and, of course, the ever
present contemptuous crimes.
We also have the grandiose parties of yesteryears. While
the parties before were graced by the socialites, the rich and the famous,
that of today are spiced with more beautiful bodies and faces from the
showbiz industry. Why not? One notable difference is that our president
of the 70’s looks presidential and acts like one while the one we now have,
is they say, confused of the role he plays.
Whether the news about the sad state of our nation are
connected by the oppositions, invented by the media or chosen strategies
by elements out to grab power, the simple truth remains, people continuously
believes what they hear and see.
People who respond to a daily opinion poll of one leading
radio station prove that. There could be some truth, or perhaps it is just
a perception, but the fact remains, it is not good for the country. It
shoos away potential investors and it dampens the spirit of our people.
If there is no truth at all of what were in the news,
how come most of the people believe it? If it’s a matter of people’s perception,
can we blame the believers?
The word perception is derived from the Latin word percepere,
to perceive. The dictionary says it is a process where-by information about
one’s environment received by the senses is organized and interpreted so
that it becomes meaningful — one’s view or interpretation of something.
If all the bad news are just perception or one’s view
of something, isn’t it a strategic move to eliminate the elements in governance
that might give a wrong view of what people hear and see? If the president’s
circle of friends is made up of gamblers, tax evaders, stock manipulators,
liars and turkey heads, can we blame the people if their impression and
perception of the president’s character is not good?
If the head of the government bureau or department resorts
to nepotism, manipulates the process of purchases and acquisitions to his
or his friend’s advantage, and corners all the businesses where his department
is involved into his favor, isn’t he himself only to blame if his people
develop a wrong perception of him? An honest, transparent and incorruptible
leader has a-better-than-average chance to transform his team into a united
and productive organization.
* * * * *
Senator Drilon, in a speech at a recent oathtaking of
new professionals, laments the low passing rate in government licensure
examinations. In a strong word, he called for sanctions, downgrading and
closure of non-performing colleges and universities. These are music to
our ears, but the question is, could it happen? Your guess is as good as
mine.
According to PRC and CHED statistics of selected licensure
examinations, customs brokerage has the lowest passing at 10 percent and
surprise, physician has the highest at 75 percent, deck officer at 29 percent
(thanks to our dedicated instructors at the review centers, we still manage
this much), secondary school teacher at 30 percent, architecture and mechanical
engineering at 35 percent and nursing at 57 percent.
Our own profession is representative of this dismal performance.
It seems that the people who should be responsible have turned their heads
away from the basic educational requirement of decent infrastructure, reliable
training equipment and most of all qualified and competent instructors. |
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OPINION
EDITORIAL:
Beware
the Ides of March
Of
sharks and dolphins
Capt. Telesforo Solda
CHRIST AT SEA:
Jubilee
on the high seas
Fr.Savino Bernardi, C.S.
THE LAW AND SEAFARERS:
Overseas
legal protection, still a pipedream?
Atty. Basilio Alo
"The Protector"
SOUNDING LEAD:
Preparation
for full compliance
Capt. Reynaldo M. Sabay
MEAN INDICATED PRESSURE:
The
time bomb
Engr. Nelson P. Ramirez
Want to play
basketball while in Rotterdam?
Filipino Seafarers who want
to play basketball on Sundays in Rotterdam, please contact Doming Malaloan
at Tel. No.: 010-463635 or International Seamen's Centre, Heijplaat, Rotterdam,
Tel. No.: 4290702 |
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