The late Manila Standard columnist and senior pundit Louis Beltran, may he rest in peace, would have had a field day over the events of last Thursday.

Mr. Beltran never tired of calling the Philippines a “banana republic” based on some of the foolishness that occurred during the Aquino administration. Mr. Beltran always couched his “banana republic” comments in a sly humor that was not disrespectful to the nation but with an understanding of how absurd things sometimes were here. And it will take a lot to beat the absurdity of Thursday’s debacle.

From the conversations I had during that fateful afternoon, I think many businesspeople would have gladly bought raffle tickets to be the first to tell the occupiers of the Manila Pen hotel how angry they were at what happened.

The reason I mention the attitude of the businessmen and women is that they seem to be the only group that looked at the bigger picture and may be the only ones who fully comprehend how everything is interconnected. Allow me to share an example.

In a editorial over the weekend, one newspaper wrote the completely false and ridiculous idea that the stock market was not really affected since it closed higher for the day. Excuse me! The market was up 100 points when the situation started, and 30 minutes later was only up 15 points, closing the day up less than 30 points.

Even as of yesterday’s close, prices have not recovered to pre-Manila Pen levels. Obviously, the editorial author wanted to make a point and used only the closing prices to justify his or her point, ignoring or ignorant of what really happened.

The government wanted to look and act decisive and in control. The military wanted to leave the impression that they were strong and could adequately handle the situation. The occupiers of the hotel had their own agenda. The press wanted to look competent and objective. Although all participants would certainly shout loud and long that they were doing their job to protect the best interests of the country, it is more probable that they all were only protecting their own best interests. Something about the road to hell being paved with good intentions comes to mind.

The complaint of rampant corruption in the Philippines and how something should be done about it is an argument that sounds so sweet and sincere on the surface that it is hard to respond to. I mean, who wants corruption in any level or sector of society? And the argument is always made that corruption in the highest levels of society is responsible for others in the society also being corrupt. Again, it sounds like it makes sense, but does it?

For example, in most wealthier countries, police corruption is very small. Is it because the highest government officials lead by example? The South Koreans would disagree on that point. In the US, police corruption most often occurs in the antinarcotics units. Surrounded by all the money from illegal-drugs operations, these cops are tempted and often succumb to that temptation.

But try to bribe a police officer from a traffic ticket, and you will probably go to jail. It is just not worth it to him or her to jeopardize a career for a few hundred dollars. And it is not worth the traffic offender paying more to get out of the ticket.

Here in the Philippines, a P500 bribe to avoid a P1,500 illegal-parking fine is worth it to the offender, and the extra P500 may be worth it to the policeman. Is it a matter of corruption or simply a matter of “good” business sense by both parties?

While the major players in Thursday’s affair might plead their case by claiming they are in the battle against corruption, by not looking at the bigger picture they may have contributed to Filipino corruption.

Many businesses in the local area were closed owing to what happened. There were probably dozens of hotel-service employees and restaurant workers who were cheated out of some of their wages that day.

This may seem a silly example, but go with me on it. I am sure that there was at least one bellhop or waiter at the hotel Thursday that did not make that extra P200 or P300 in tips he expected. Maybe because of that income shortfall, they had to use the “5/6” man, or worse, resorted to more serious forms of illegality or “corruption.”

Boo Chanco of Philippine Star maybe said it best: “Hopefully, everyone learned a good lesson with last Thursday’s event.” Unity is not about getting along; it is about working together toward a common goal, and I do not see anyone on Thursday meeting that objective. 

E-mail comments to mangun@email.com.

AS the world marks this week the annual global rituals of remembering HIV and AIDS issues and the people living them, it is well to focus on a few demographics right here at home.

The Philippines is finally on the track to economic recovery. The Philippine economy exhibited this year its strongest growth in 30 years. The BusinessMirror reported recently that the country’s economy is expected to grow by 7.1 percent for 2007 and expand further by 6.8 percent in 2008 in view of increased inflow of investments, huge domestic demand and high private consumption.

The late Manila Standard columnist and senior pundit Louis Beltran, may he rest in peace, would have had a field day over the events of last Thursday.

Mirror on the wall: Business hurt by siege at Pen as Rep. Susano appeals for calm

Rep. Annie Susano of Quezon City gained instant celebrity status on two occasions recently, when at first she questioned the logic of electing a woman deputy speaker for the sake of creating a “gender balance” at the House of Representatives, and when she offered a P2-million award for the arrest of the masterminds of the Batasan blast that killed at least three victims that included one congressman.

Global prosperity has indeed spread. Capitalism, along with democracy, has diffused it around the world, and is now the reigning global ideology.

LAST week, the revered and honorable gentleman from Cebu rose, “with the most reluctant willingness,” to damn the Cheaper Medicine Bill, principally on the ground that ignorance of the law excuses no one.