Super-currency or Super-strategy?

So many questions, very few answers....
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by Philipina A. Marcelo

Just a few days ago, I was trying to make sense out of Mr. Zhou Xiaochuan’s call for the world to adopt a “super-currency” rather than continuing to use the US dollar as the reserve currency. My extremely limited grasp of Economics was failing me miserably, that I ended up asking more questions after trying to understand the issue. I was hoping to hear some enlightenment from Tim Geithner, but as usual, the Economics guru, Prof. Paul Krugman, who was probably feeling the pain of folks of my kind came to our rescue, breaking down the issue nicely in: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/03/opinion/03krugman.html?_r=1&em.

It seems that Prof. Krugman’s explanation exposes China’s efforts toward self protectionism, first and foremost, with little regard for the global economy’s desperate need to be rescued through a sustainable solution. Or, could it be that the solution that Beijing offers is the sustainable solution - as Tim Geithner seems inclined to acknowledge? But then again, as Prof. Krugman pointed out, we are currently in an economic situation that is completely new to all of us… there might not be an absolute solution to this crisis as of yet. As for the suggestion that China made investment mistake (which obviously it did), and is now trying to correct that by making someone rescue them, to me, it appears that they’re doing this under the guise of protecting the world economy through a “super-currency”. Didn’t I say enigma? But to be fair to Beijing, there was no way for them to know that they were making a mistake a decade ago... in fact, there was no way for them to know even when stock markets in all parts of the world were crashing left and right, right? And even if they realized that they made a mistake, the speed at which events unfolded was way too fast for the Beijing problem to be remedied fast enough. No one could’ve predicted the economic downturn that we are facing today, not even the Wall Street hotshots… well, especially not the Wall Street hotshots, actually, for they were just too busy amassing money for themselves! Thanks to "greed and stupidity" underneath those expensive suits and in those fancy offices, we’re in a financial quagmire right now! (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/03/opinion/03brooks.html?em)

OK, now, calm down... no point in getting an unremorseful lot to take resposibility for their horrible actions... They have already shown us how they're in it for the money - and that's it, so that even when the world economy is already down on its knees, their primary concern remains to be money, bonuses, and all other things synonymous to money! Take AIG for example.... (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/15/business/15AIG.html?scp=11&sq=AIG%20Bonuses&st=cse)

As Prof. Krugman and George Soros (via BBC) suggested, the financial world that we knew a few months ago no longer exists, and we’re faced with an entirely different world that, to me, may require a unique strategy for it to thrive. That “super-strategy”, to my mind, should result from a multi-lateral decision among the stalwarts of world financial architecture, which should be based on common interests. Therefore, shouldn’t China and its BRIC (Brazil, Russia and India) allies just cooperate with other world financial stalwarts for now rather than using devisive economic politics to push for drastic measures that may prove even more catastrophic – even to them - in the future? Although I sympathatize with Brazil because its economy grew to what it is today mostly through home-grown business ventures and local market-centered strategies, unlike China and India whose economic growth was based largely on international trade and political alliances, mostly with the US, and therefore, Brazil's irk is justified... still, is self -protectionism the way to go to respond to this crisis?

Yes, I’m still asking questions here! And, as George Soros pointed out, perhaps, the recently concluded G20 Summit in London is a good start to forge strong economic alliance among nations and design a "super-strategy" to "lay a new foundation" for a more sustainable global economic landscape. And, as we think about our "super-strategy", let me ask... how about values and ethics, accountability and responsibility? If at all, how would their inclusion into the "new foundation" bring about a robust and more sustainable world economy? If they're incorporated into the matrix of the "new foundation", would that drive the last nail to the coffin of the old Wall Street and the fundametals of Anglo-American capitalism as we knew it a few months back?

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Dollarrefic-not

A reluctant blogger is back from a job-imposed hiatus.
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by Philipina A. Marcelo

More than two months??? Has it been that long since I last visited my own blog? Wow! Busy, busy me! But this doesn't mean that I stopped reading the New York Times, Economist and, uh, TMS Comicspage… nor did I stop watching Jon Stewart (who has been reaching a new height of awesomeness these days) and Stephen Colbert, or Stephen Sackur, ‘cause I’ve not! I was just too preoccupied with a number of urgent things. Besides, I crashed my laptop… uh, again – my second within 15 months, and my third within 24 months! If the rate of computer crash is indicative of a person's stress level, then mine must be in the MPa range!

Yes, I was one of those stress-ravaged teachers struggling to reach the Academic Year's finish line, it was even impossible to squeeze out 30 minutes from my sked to visit the salon for a manicure/pedicure for more than a month! But now that we have just sent off 52 new chemical engineers to the real world, and helped more than a hundred more aspirants move one step closer to getting sent off soon, I say, I’m “mission accomplished” this Academic Year! Now, I deserve some blogging time before planning a “real vacation”… which, hopefully, would take me to the Great Wall of China, or the ruins of Greece, or the Pyramids of Egypt… and, uh, good old Disneyland (haha…)? Yah!

Speaking of China, on my first day of freedom from the bondage of grading test papers, I found this article on the Economist.com:
http://www.economist.com/daily/news/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13382566&fsrc=nwl

Oh, boy, here we go again... Tim Geithner better have a compelling argument against this one! No more sleeping at the switch for you now, pretty boy! And no more strutting at the ball court for you, too, Mr. President (Obama, that is)! In case you haven’t noticed, sir, uh, the presidential campaign period is already over. Majority of us in the free world have already decided that you’re cute enough for an un-photoshopped photograph… and that yeah, you could make a great leader, too... well, a great leader, first and foremost, actually. Now, maybe it’s time to actually lead? Well, OK… let me be fair and say, great job on the Gitmo plan, American troops withdrawal from Iraq plan and the handling of the Afghanistan/Pakistan issue so far. But, I digress….

Back to the Economist article… just when the Obama economic team is finally seeing a flicker of light at the end of the tunnel, after that two-week of numbers in green and upward arrows in the stock market, China issued a challenge with arguments that make sense, especially for them – right now. And, like a flash of lightning, the red numbers are back!

As per the Economist article, the governor of the People’s Bank of China, Mr. Zhou Xiaochuan, suggested that rather than continuing to use the US dollar as the foreign reserve currency, perhaps, it would be more beneficial for the financial systems around the world if governments used a synthetic currency, such as that of the IMF's special drawing rights (SDR), which is based on the weighted average of the dollar, euro, yen and pound. To my mind, a plan like this would help shield other countries from Wall Street risky financial somersaults in the future (not that the Knights of Greed would still dare when the dollar power diminishes more than it already has), and to recover from today’s financial crisis in a way that would be somewhat independent from the US’ own recovery strategy. It might just be a good idea, especially for China... or, mostly for China? (dammit, this is one of those days when I wish I minored in Economics!).

But what would such scenario do to market globalization? Wouldn’t this lessen the motivation among countries to sustain activities in the global market and focus instead on local market? For instance, isn’t it that the reason why China’s economy reached its present status – big enough to challenge and influence the Washington D.C. financial architects’ thinking – is because of the US opening up of its market to Chinese manufactured goods over the past two decades, which strengthened China’s manufacturing industry, even when local consumption is low? In the process, the US was also able to penetrate the Chinese soil to take advantage of cheap labor through partnerships with state-owned businesses? Back in those days, the dollar being the dominant currency as well as the reserve currency was beneficial to both countries – it brought stability to China’s economy and boosted that of the US. Although Washington D.C. could not claim a direct influence on Chinese political landscape (but hey, is there any government that can?), which remains to be an enigma to the whole world until now, it did enjoy considerable regard on financial-driven decisions in Beijing over the past two decades because of such bilateral business arrangements that contributed to an active global market. Many political analysts viewed this as maybe the “softening” of Beijing on an American handshake. Now, I wonder what those political analysts are thinking now! Are we seeing a shift of tide here? Is that good or bad? (No, I’m not asking for a Wall Street opinion here, thank you very much!!!) And just how does the Chinese’ “sovereign fund”, which I presume is in dollars, figure in all this? Just how large is it really that Beijing feels compelled to push for the end of dollar dominance in response to the US’ financial recovery strategy of “printing loads of money” that might hurt the dollar’s value? Just what, or how much, is at stake for China here? Sorry for asking, I’m just being my curious, academic self, that’s all.

So, are we really seeing the last days of dollar dominance? Just imagine how those Sarah Palinish Americans who still think that Asians lived on treetops would react to this! Haha… OK, I’m being silly, sorry. Going back… although Mr. Zhou Xiaochuan raised valid points (in favor of China, of course), to me, the more compelling argument is still this: “Mr. Zhou’s plan could win support from other emerging economies with large reserves. However, it is unlikely to get off the ground in the near future. It would take years for the SDR to be widely accepted as a means of exchange and a store of value. The total amount of SDRs outstanding is equivalent to only $32 billion, or less than 2% of China’s foreign-exchange reserves, compared with $11 trillion of American Treasury bonds.” On second thought… we mustn’t forget, we’re talking about an enigma here.

Wait, did I forget to include Taj Mahal in my must-see list this summer? Whatever, I’ll go to Palawan! Yah!

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The One dream fulfilled... in the name of love

Celebrating with the whole world the historic dawning of a new day through an unnecessarily elaborate analysis of a favorite karaoke song - priceless! :-) ======================================================

by Philipina A. Marcelo

I read one person’s blog just now. She is wondering about how she’s not in the “Obama train” like the multitude of ecstatic people all around the world jumping in to join Barack Obama in the journey of his life. She likened her I-don’t-get-it Obama experience with how she also didn’t get all the hype about Eagles’ “Hotel California” in the 70’s. I can’t help but smile about the blog… just because I love Hotel California (and no, I’m not that old either) – aside from “Build me up buttercup” (OK, I'll say it again I'm not that old, haha...), it’s my all-time song of choice in those frenzied karaoke parties, and I’m an Obama convert, too, since that moving Pennsylvania speech! No, I’m not an American, but I did find that speech moving anyhow. I guess that's just how the Obama appeal works.

Anyway, I was going to post the response below on the blog page I just saw, but I decided to post it here instead. Here goes…

Hotel California? Aawww...

Oh, boy… how could anybody miss that quietly blazing guitar that sings so much better than either Glenn Frey or Don Henley - the two awesome front men of Eagles, especially towards the end of the song??? The tempo is just great, too… it goes from creeping slow to jogging slow to fast notes – it’s like riding a roller coaster of emotions. The adrenalin spikes here and there as the tempo builds up was amazing since it doesn’t come with the deafening sound of drums and cymbals being punished with a pair of wooden sticks by some possessed drummer. In spite the fancy guitar chords plucking, the tone of the song is just so “doable” that anybody (including myself!) can actually sing it without too much effort! (Uh, a-hem, a-hem, do, re, mi...) And, by the time you finished navigating the last lyric stanza (OK, don't even get me started with the symbolisms in the lyrics), you are rewarded with that guitar jam to bang your head to just to celebrate your supposed vocal prowess… and that’s just heaven! Hotel California is not just a song – it’s an experience, and a totally awesome one at that!

Come to think of it, that is just exactly what the “Obama mania” is like to me. You look at his flimsy no-noisy-drum-beats but nevertheless impressive academic and public service record, and you see a promise whose fulfillment is “doable”. He speaks, and he just captivates you, inspires you, and makes you want to be better than the good person that you already are – and it feels “doable”, just because you see him as the very embodiment of success from hard work and a big dream fulfilled. His person makes you want to look beyond “just colors” and humble beginnings, and focus on possibilities and fulfilling them instead. There is a refreshing quality in his youth and cool confidence, intellect, optimism, and tenacity to do well… especially after eight years of GWB. After seeing how he was able to mobilize so many people of various backgrounds, ages and religious beliefs to bring his campaign from anonymity to victory, proving to everyone that, yes, great things can be achieved when people set aside differences and work together towards the attainment of a common goal, you know that this is the guy you want to bet your bottom dollar on in these troubled times.

So, yeah… Obama?? Awwww! :)

I do love “Hotel California”, but right now, I’m listening to U2’s “In the Name of Love” as I await the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States of America – yeah, That One!



(photo: Philipina, second from left, pushing her lungs in a Christmas videoke party with UST Chem. E. karaokees singing... yeah, "Hotel California"! credit: G. Chao)


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Bubbly Reality

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by Philipina A. Marcelo

Now that an economic bubble burst in the West, it’s not hard to imagine how the vulnerable economies of the developing countries in the East can be blown away to pieces as a consequence.  Right now, we don’t see that happening as yet, following the violent burst of the housing bubble in the US that sent unprecedented volume of worms all over Wall Street crawling out to expose themselves in daylight, at the disgust of everyone except those greedy financial crooks with shredded moral fiber that coughed them out in the first place.  It seems that the reduced strength of their gut juices, fermented from excessive supply of greed-raked wealth, is no longer a viable environment for the worms to thrive.  But all these talks about what I consider as the US adopting a ‘self-preservation’ strategy to address the financial crisis that brought down the world financial fortress is scaring the hell out of me.  Take this article for example:

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/22/opinion/22krugman.html?em

 

I have always been an admirer of Prof. Krugman, and so, it becomes more distressful for me to read an article by the Nobel Laureate bearing a sunny prospective for the US, but of gloomy note for the developing countries, including mine.  Although I agree to most points made by Prof. Krugman, including that about the necessity of US closing the gap in their trade deficit by becoming more self-reliant, thereby, creating much needed job opportunities and stimulating local productivity, I fear about what that would do to countries of weaker economies that are, in one way or another, tied to the US through globalized economy.   Add to that the utter inability of allegedly corrupt governments, such as that of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s in the Philippines, to respond to the pressing need of creating local jobs, and it becomes even gloomier.  

Right now, there are many Filipino college graduates who work in Call Centers, through services outsourced by American companies, whose college preparations are much advanced than what a Call Center usual job requires, but they take the job anyway out of necessity - to survive.  Still, a sizeable Filipino work force is employed in companies that export commodities to the US and to Europe.  When services outsourcing are stopped and importation lessened by the US, I wonder how the multitude of Call Centers and export company workers would take the blow.  In the case of the Philippines, I wonder how much effort is being exerted in cushioning the blow for the common Filipino, especially those living below poverty line.  I wonder if it is just wishful thinking to imagine Gloria Arroyo’s government working out a long-term and sustainable solution to the awful ripples of this category 5 financial crisis that is about to hit the Philippines, rather than figuring out how much more public fund is left for them to fish into their pockets and how are they going to do it with the remaining time they have in the government!

 

In the manufacturing front, I wonder what will become of the present manufacture output of China.  If the US cuts on its importation of Chinese goods, where would China peddle the low-cost commodities it produces in order to sustain its own economic growth?  I fear that Chinese goods find their way to China’s neighboring developing countries with weaker and less competitive manufacturing arm.  In fact, they are already starting to dominate the Philippine market these days!  The last time I shopped for a pair of flip-flops in the second biggest mall in the Philippines, it was impossible to find Philippine-made ones!  Instead, I saw more than a dozen variants of flip-flops, all bearing the "Made in China" tag.  The store manager advised me that if I really wanted a pair of Philippine-made flip-flops, I could probably find them in the sidewalks by the marketplace!  Now, that's not even ironic - that's outrageous!  He explained that it’s not a question of quality or lack of creativity in Filipino products that's making it doubly hard for them to find their way into these big malls, it's all about cheap.  It's cheaper for big stores to import in bulk from China than to buy in smaller volumes from Philippine manufacturers.  And if these stores are to keep their thousands of employees in the payroll, the choice is clear - cheap!  He summed the problem as the inability of Filipino manufacturers to respond to growing demands for manufactured goods.  And because the Chinese manufacturing arm is built to provide the then voluminous demands of the West, it would be hard for countries of weaker manufacturing arms, like the Philippines, to compete when China decides to 'invade' their local stores with its cheap produce.  Again, add to that the willingness of corrupt governments to sell their countries’ future to the highest bidder rather than improving the capabilities and competitiveness of local manufacturers, just to feed their maniacal need to feel the pleasure of excessive wealth in their pockets, and we have a potentially grim situation.

 

If only governments of developing countries, take the present global financial crisis as an opportunity to work out a long-term economic strategy that will build a more sustainable and resilient financial architecture, it would be a welcome ray of hope in the midst of this economic gloom that we are experiencing today.  About a couple of months ago, when all the stock markets  in the four corners of the planet were crashing left and right in an unprecedented speed and breadth, evoking panic everywhere, I remember seeing Prof. Jeffrey Sachs – another prominent and respected economist, graced an interview in a cable network news.  He advised that Asian developing economies should figure out a way to strengthen themselves where they will not be fully dependent on the more developed Western economies so they can effectively shield themselves from a financial crisis in the West.  After watching the Indonesian stock market freefalling all morning and closing on midday after a horrendous crash, I dismissed Prof. Sachs’ remarks that day as arrogant and insensitive, in spite of my admiration for him. But now that the dust has settled, and the world is looking at the financial catastrophe with shorter wave of panic, what he said made sense.  I guess, it’s a part of a corrupt government’s ploy and irresponsible acts to bring some sense of false security to its people by tying its economy to a robust Western economy albeit engulfed in a menacing bubble, bailing itself out from the responsibility of building a strong local financial architecture.  And when the bubble bursts and financial crisis errupts, it's very convenient to point to the West and just leave the citizens on their own to wallow in misery.  And then, when nobody is looking, feed itself to the people’s coffer.  The only difference with the Arroyo government is that it feeds its corrupt self with tax payers' money to gross obesity even when people are protesting, and dying of hunger and hard labor!  Talk about worm-infested all-bubbly fermented gut!  

 

Happy Christmas!

That Street called GREED...

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by Philipina A. Marcelo



I dare everyone who can distinguish between wrong and very, very wrong to read the article below without either shedding a tear of deep frustration or bringing his/her fist to a crash on the nearest solid surface out of, yes, deep frustration!

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/18/business/18pay.html?em

So, what would these people do with all that money? Sorry, I am just a teacher - my job description does not include the practice of greed. We actually do real work with real outcomes for whatever little money we earn in the Academe! Many of us reach the end of their professional journey without seeing or knowing what a million dollars look or feel like in their pockets. And yet, it's the likes of us, and those who have even less than what we have that bail out crooks, with fast mouths and even faster hands, who are suffocating from their own ballooned greediness soaring high in that forsaken Street called GREED where money is everybody's daily bread!

While the world endure the painful consequences of greed on Wall Street, in my mind, a question presses for an answer: now that the toxicity of Wall Street's bread proved catastrophic to the whole world, would it finally deflate that menace of greed balloon? I hope for a sane answer!

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The One: BarackO

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by Philipina A. Marcelo

 

In four days, the lone Superpower on the planet will vote for its new leader… and the world watches eagerly, awaits results anxiously while it desperately tries to defend its financial fortress from the global economic meltdown that’s closing in around it.  I, myself, have been burning the worldwide web, looking for some comfort from news articles and political expert opinions on the 2008 US Election, keeping an eye for possible redemption from the financial crisis from heaps and heaps of reading materials about the two contenders, Senators Barack Obama and John McCain!  Without a doubt, the financial crisis had been making a hole at the bottom of everybody’s purse at the moment, and presumably throughout a considerable period in the near and distant grim future.  And so, the world holds its breath, as it once again, looks to the West and hopes for the best.

 

The considerable endorsement articles I’ve read rang some sort of bias on different levels, while some were coupled with indiscreet ideological partisanship; still others are peppered with insults emanating from frustration and dismay from the present economic state and international image of the United States of America.  From among a sea of candidate endorsements, I found one that’s refreshingly unbiased, or at least, the least biased among so many:

http://www.economist.com/printedition/displayStory.cfm?Story_ID=12511171

 

The article above is very well-thought of and very well-written.  It points out both the weaknesses and strengths of the two candidates, side by side.  It does not endorse Sen. Obama in a frenzied, politically charged fanatism nor does it lambast Sen. McCain unfairly and maliciously.  Instead, it points out how Sen. Obama rose from an unknown, inexperienced presidential hopeful into the very embodiment of hope and change that America needs amidst this tumultuous time - organized leadership that overcame huge challenges from the start of his campaign, rigorous and disciplined pursuit of his goals and that of his followers, willingness to listen and learn from the most brilliant minds to the smallest member of the society to come up with a political platform that could work for everyone, calm and cool confidence in the face of aggressive adversaries, and the willingness to extend a hand of reconciliation to turn foes into allies (It was joy to watch him embrace the Clintons during his many rallies, which undoubtedly added to the pride of reconciled Democrats, electrifying them to charge for victory come Election Day.) - all of which are necessary quality of a leader as America, and the world, faces a challenge that it has never faced before.  

Admittedly, I was an ardent supporter of Sen. Hillary Clinton during the Democratic primaries, and I proudly remain to be a Hillaryite, even after the Democrats decided that she was too consumed by her desire to be the next American President that she went on a spontaneous combustion towards the end of the primaries.  I maintain that she has what it takes to be a great leader, too, just like Bill Clinton... only maybe better.  But after the primaries, watching Sen. Obama's steady evolution into a leader that the world by and large can appreciate, I was won over.  This is not to say, however, that Sen. McCain is a totally worthless candidate, because he is worthy, too... or was, as shown by his sterling records as a soldier and a maverick senator, that is, until partisan politics sucked the better of him in the course of the presidential campaign.  The biggest and probably the worst self-destructing compromise he could ever do in his lifetime is choosing a nincompoop that is Sarah Palin for a running mate at a time when the American VP Office could mean flourish or perish for the global community!  Some of these issues were detailed in the Economist endorsement, which I believe, is a worthwhile read for those who haven’t made up their minds and for those who have but could do a bit of reassessment of their decision before finally casting their votes.  

Although, like the Economist, most of the global community, myself included, do not have a vote in the US Election, the far-reaching effects of the present global financial crisis that originated from Wall Street, and therefore, must be abated from Wall Street, show more than ever before that whether Americans like it or not, the rest of the global community has a stake in their Presidential Election!  And, their decision is a key as to how the free world will proceed forward after getting a good beating from the financial crisis.  It will be tough, but through wars and adversaries, America has shown its resilience many times before.  And through the help of its allies, it has risen to become the lone Superpower in the free world.  Unlike many, I do not have a big problem about that... because which developed country in this planet has as much tolerance and offers as vast an access to opportunities to as many peoples in the world as the United States does?  It is still one of the few developed nations where citizens from less fortunate nations can labor without being looked down to inhumanely, or spitted on like a piece of crap on a daily basis, or persecuted unjustly for their faith or sexual orientation, or even beaten to death like an unworthy animal.  There are subtle (and sometimes, not-so-subtle) shows of intolerance, that's for sure, especially during the Bush era, but foreigners may still take refuge from American policies of co-existence.  Sure, they usually put their own interests in the forefront, but who doesn't?  Indeed, America does have good things that could be worthwhile for the world to learn.  Therefore, Americans should be able to figure this one out, too.  There is only one difference between their past and their present circumstances – now, they stand as a part of a whole, which is the global community.  It is the inability to grasp this new reality for the United States of America that makes ultra-conservative, inward-looking, global know-how-deprived, and intellectually-challenged like Sarah Palin absolutely inadequate to become the nation's Number Two!  But, alas, Sarah Palin, thankfully, does not represent Americans of today, not even the majority of Republicans. (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/31/us/politics/31poll.html?_r=1&oref=slogin) 

The shocking occurrence of 9/11 and how the Americans of this generation came together to stand for their country against the barbaric act of terrorism, I believe, is a defining moment for the United States of America – as a Nation.  The 2008 Presidential Election is proving to be yet another defining moment for the United States of America – this time, not just as a nation, but also and more importantly, as a vital part (or leader, if the Americans still want it) of a free global community, whose very existence today is the result of democracy that the United States of America itself had ardently spoused for the last so many decades.  While it is true that the free market that it created proved to be an imperfect one, the repercussions of its excesses and unwarranted deregulation, everyone in the world is enduring today, it did introduce a new way by which members of the global community may interact and grow as one.  Leaders of nations that are key players in the global economic architecture of today coming together to confront the challenges of the present financial crisis is an indication that the world is ready to grow as one community.  Sadly, it takes a financial catastrophe to make this happen.  But, no matter, at least now, we see ourselves as one community.  And now, this community looks to America in this crucial moment, when its sustainable existence is in peril.

 

As an individual who looks up to America as a generous provider of a lasting gift that is an excellent Academic training, and as a frequent visitor who revere America for its embrace as it reveals eagerly how absolutely exciting it can be to be in that melting pot where everyone is accepted as an important ingredient of a blend, I am forever grateful.  I would like to believe that the Bush doctrine with all its short-sightedness and lack of intellectual ingredients in its policies, both local and foreign, is just a temporary glitch in the American psyche.  As I enjoy America's gift of topnotch education and spreading America's message of hope in my own country, I continue to pray that this tradition of hope remains alive in the American soil for others to enjoy in many generations to come.  And this, I reckon, depends on how America votes in four days’ time.  

Therefore, I say, “vote wisely, America!”

WhatchaMcCa(ll)in' Palin

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by Philipina A. Marcelo

Trying to veer away from the dizzying roller coaster ride of global stock market watch, I shifted focus on the next news headline-hogging event of these days – the US Presidential election, and came across this article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/26/opinion/26dowd.html?em

It amuses me that Imelda Marcos had to be mentioned in Maureen Dowd's caricature of the Republican VP Barbie, Sarah WhatchaMcCa(ll)in’ Palin!  Imelda Marcos, as far as I’m concerned, is the modern symbol of cringe-enducing shallowness and loathsome feminine excesses - all symptoms of drunkenness from an abuse of new-found power after spending considerable time suppressing a hunger for the bourgeois status.  Watching Sarah Palin transformed in just a few weeks from this interesting political rock star - quite endearing to feminine fanhood, almost amazing  - to this totally disappointing seat of abysmal shallowness when put under substance check, it’s nauseating and almost physically painful to catch a glimpse of her on TV, in all her shrill gory!  It’s amazing how some women (and men, too) find it acceptable, with not a single ounce of guilt, to use charm as a valid excuse for lack of real capability.  And, it’s frustrating that some people do actually fall for such deceitful and manipulative use of charisma.  

When an Independent, Republican-leaning friend of mine (whose wife is a Democrat) from Houston, TX opined that maybe McCain, being a "comeback kid" might just pull off a last-minute new trick from his maverick hat to win the elections, I replied: "Nah... he was definitely the 'last man standing' (from an array of inadequate ones) at the end of the Republican primaries - that's not necessarily being a 'comeback kid', is it?  And when he chose for a running mate some shrill lipsticked loose cannon who uses the 's word', 'terrorism' and 'patriotism' without thinking when she's not shooting moose from within waving distance from Putin's neighborhood (which she considers a legit exposure to foreign diplomacy, mind you), he didn't do his campaign any favor either!"  Alright, granting that I had this exchange with my friend right after Gen. Colin Powell endorsed the Barackster, where he used very well-chosen words that I don't think Sarah Palin will ever deserve in this lifetime, I was already completely dismayed by the Republican VP Barbie's exposed shallowness during her interviews with Charles Gibson and Katie Couric.  I remember listening to her with my eyes and mouth wide open - in shock, and later in disgust! How can she run for the second highest seat of authority in the United States of America when she's clueless about the goings on outside of the State of Alaska?!  It sure looked like a case of who needs-substance-when-I've-got-this-rockin'-load-a-charm!  One thing is for sure, while she's not exactly a Paris Hilton, she's definitely no Hillary Clinton, in terms of substance either!  

So, what can I say about WhatchaMcCa(ll)in’?  The hot mama is a babe, but definitely not a sister!  

YouTube-ing it

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In the middle of my struggles to finish an agonizingly long research project, revisions to a research grant, and a couple of overdue research papers, I came across this article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/26/business/26proto.html

Needless to say, I got derailed more than I already was!   As I hauled myself out of the bunker, I was debating with myself whether all this never ending research and publications drama should be coursed through the “conventional” path to reach a sizeable target audience, or rolled faster through the heavily media-assisted path, a.k.a. YouTube!  Just for the sake of argument, I imagined myself YouTubing my work on the mathematical modeling of the ultrafiltration of virgin whey.   I cringed at the thought!  So much for “wow factor”!  I decided I wasn’t telegenic  (or videogenic) enough to do a Johnny Chung Lee!  Then again, maybe it’s not about telegenicity, maybe it’s more about the ingenuity of the invention.  And, more importantly, it’s probably about the appeal of the invention to an audience that makes YouTube thrive.  In any case, I don’t expect so many YouTube enthusiasts would spend precious minutes trying to decipher why a two-parameter flux model is advantageous in designing batch ultrafiltration system for the processing of virgin whey.  Are you yawning already?  I thought so... my point exactly!

Nobel-ish

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Relaxing on a Friday evening, I stumbled upon the on-line article below:

http://www.slate.com/id/2201447/#return

Ah, the beautiful land of 9 million people that is Sweden, and the amazing melting pot that is the United States of America!  Having lived in both countries for considerable period of time – as a student, and therefore an outsider who voraciously took advantage of every opportunity to learn the two countries' respective cultures that their home-grown artists muse about, I cannot help but burst out laughing while reading the article.  I feel I know a little secret that Adam Kirsch doesn’t that I find his rants totally amusing.  This doesn't mean I don't respect his opinion, because I do.  For all I know, he's actually humoring his readers!  For sure, Kirsch merely strengthened my resolve to spend the next two weeks of semestral break to reach some sort of intimacy with Philip Roth’s Nobel-ish literary genius.  I can't wait….

Wednesday triple treat

An anticipated hectic day turned out to be one fine day....
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by Philipina A. Marcelo


I had a great Wednesday this week!

Wednesday is usually drab for me. It’s the middle of the week, and not much is usually happening. So, when I got Wednesday as my free day in the University this semester, I was happy! Although it meant I would have to show up for a half-day work on Saturday, the thought of sleeping in, spending three hours at the foot spa where I get foot scrub and massage and then getting my feet wrapped in warm paraffin before getting a pedicure while I devour the latest works of my fave novelists, and then getting a facial while I doze off afterwards, and waking my senses up with the wonderful smell of freshly brewed coffee and the sweet flavor of cinnamon in freshly baked bread roll, both consumed leisurely in my fave cozy coffee shop, and then end my day watching the amazing Manila sunset – all in the middle of the week really sounded like the very best deal for an academic con scientist like myself! And so, when the going gets tough on Mondays and Tuesdays, I always remind myself, “hey, Wednesday is just around the corner, baby!” And, it always cheered me up.

So far, so good! And then came the invitations from Fulbright/Philippine-American Educational Foundation (PAEF) and my Alumni Association for meetings, and the confirmation of my eye check-up – all on a Wednesday, in three different parts of Mega-Manila! I winced at the thought of missing my free day especially that I was anticipating insane Monday and Tuesday, which I was right! So, I went to bed on Tuesday night wincing. Little did I know that I was in for a triple treat… and I’m not just talking about the spa kind of treat either!

First, after a few morning crunches I did a quick check at my e-mailbox. I couldn’t help but squeal excitedly at what I found! A friend of mine sent me a weblink to a book entitled, “Handbook of Membrane Separations: Chemical, Pharmaceutical, Food, and Biotechnological Applications”, where I co-wrote one chapter with my PhD advisor during the last year of my graduate stint at Cornell. It’s finally out! I hurriedly checked out the link, and there it was – my name in the by-line of one of the chapters! All of a sudden, the memories of the painful but exhilarating experience of going through volumes and volumes of technical papers to put that chapter together day in and day out for almost 12 long months, while I labored on my dissertation, came rushing back to me! Just thinking about those days brought pain that was almost physical. And then, I stared again at the webpage, and what I felt was pure joy! There it was… almost one year of my life that I thought went to waste. I scrolled up and down the page… reading the bylines was like reading the Who’s Who in membrane technology… and my name got inserted in it – sweet!

The good news that greeted my day made me almost forgot about my unfolding busy day until my phone rang, just before 10:00 in the morning. It was my College classmate, reminding me of our meeting in the evening. An incoming call interrupted our conversation. I said goodbye to her and picked up the other line. It was the eye clinic clerk, reminding me that my appointment is in one hour, which means that I would need to fly to get there on time! I looked at the pair of polka dot pajamas I was still wearing and winced!

By some stroke of miracle, I got to the clinic only three minutes late, still managing to fix myself to look decent… and I didn’t fly either! After paying for my new pair of contact lenses, I exhaled and let myself dream of Thai food for lunch, after all, I have a reason to celebrate! There was a good one close by. And then my phone made a tooting sound – a text message. It was from my student. They needed my signature immediately on a document for our activity on Monday. It can’t wait another day. He was sorry he forgot to give it to me yesterday. The University is 45 minutes away from the clinic – when the Manila traffic is being kind! I sighed, looked at my watch and winced! Goodbye Thai lunch, hello take-out cold sandwich!

I got to the University with only an hour and a half before my Fulbright appointment… and the meeting venue is about an hour away! I looked for my student, he was looking for me, too… we missed each other three times… 15 minutes gone. I winced! I decided to sit in one spot. He found me. I signed the documents and ran! Again, by some stroke of miracle, I was early by 5 minutes for the Fulbright meeting. I didn’t bother to analyze how that happened. I just raised my face to heaven and said a little prayer of thanks. It turned out, I was bound to receive a bonus, too!

The Fulbright event was a welcome reception for the new Public Affairs Officer (PAO) of the

Fulbright... and experience like no other.

US Embassy in Manila, Mr. Richard W. Nelson. Being the new PAO, Mr. Nelson will also serve as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of PAEF for the next three years. Thus, the PAEF welcome reception. As usual, it was great to see the wonderful people of PAEF, and as always, it was a delight to socialize with the Fulbrighters. It felt like being put in the same room as some of the very best minds that you can find in the Philippine archipelago – always a humbling experience, but awesome nonetheless! The conversations are always interesting, engaging and absolutely absorbing... not to mention hilarious – even without the help of crisp champagne, mind you! But that wasn’t the second treat I was talking about.

After all the welcome remarks for Mr. Nelson and his wife were said by representatives of the different PAEF groups of scholars, Mr. Nelson walked behind the podium to cordially acknowledge the warm welcome. Apparently, this is his third time to be in the Philippines with his family on an official mission, having finished one recently in Cameroon. Having travelled all over the globe, he talked fondly about how he thinks of his family as the micro-United Nations. He was born in Alaska – back in the days when Alaska was just a US territory rather than a State, which makes him wonder often enough if he was really born an American. His wife is a Filipina. His eldest son was born in South Africa, and his youngest in Japan. He said he is happy to be back in Manila, where he feels at home – he and his kids (and his wife, of course) even speak the language! He congratulated all the Fulbright and PAEF alumni. And then, without a hint, he made special mention of those who chose to take a career in the Academia. He said he commends those scholars who chose Academia for their career path in spite of the many opportunities in front of them and even when they knew that it is not as financially rewarding compared with other career paths. He made mention of the on-going Presidential campaign in the US, and how different issues are being debated upon in the US today. He said that the candidates and the electorates may continue to argue about which issue is most important, and some would say economic policies are paramount concern, while others would say that strengthening international relations and diplomacy should be addressed first. Others would insist that research on renewable energy and environmental issues must be put on a fast track. Still, others would insist that immigration policies must be at the top of the agenda, while others would argue that national security must be addressed first and foremost. And yet, when you listen closely, addressing any, or all, of the issues all boil down to education. He said that a base knowledge should be established through sound educational system in order for people to actually come up with policies that will work in the sustainable future. And, in developing countries like the Philippines, education plays a critical role in digging themselves out of poverty, and start moving forward. Therefore, bringing education to all the citizens of any country must be a priority. Now, this is a man who has served many places in the world as a public official, bringing in his firsthand knowledge to us. I know he was not just being cute. Needless to say, I agree with Mr. Nelson 100%. This is why, regardless of all the disadvantages, I chose a career in the Academia.

I skipped dinner at the PAEF reception to try and catch my Alumni meeting on the other side of town, which also included dinner. I left the PAEF Office feeling I didn’t need any food, I got the sustenance I needed – the affirmation that all the sleepless nights creating and re-creating teaching materials is all worth it. What a treat!

The traffic en route to my University where my Alumni meeting was going to be held was quite burdensome. It was on standstill several times along the way. The slow moving traffic brought my attention to the malnourished street children in their raggedy clothes walking aimlessly in the light shower, zigzagging the vehicles caught up in the slow-moving traffic. By the emptiness in their faces and the seeming desperation of their situation at so young an age, it’s quite painful to imagine how the next years of their lives, if any, would be like. Mr. Nelson’s voice kept resonating in my ears. Education is needed to dig us out of poverty. Those kids should be at home, studying for the next day of school. In the years to come, they should be rushing to their alumni meeting from a Fulbright scholars’ meeting, too! All of a sudden, my hectic day became so much more of a blessing rather than a burden. Once again, I raised my face to heaven and murmured a prayer of thanks.

Education is needed to dig us out of poverty. It kept humming inside my head, building my resolve to stay focused on my goals as an Academician. All of a sudden, the traffic eased out, and the road to my University went by in a sweeping speed. And then, in the midst of the Manila frenzied noise and twinkling lights amidst the gathering darkness, the serene blue cross atop the administration building of my University - the 397 years old Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, the Catholic University of the Philippines, emerged, as if to guide me where to head to. It was such a beautiful sight to behold, it made me want to rush to it.

I arrived in the University only 15 minutes late for the two-hour consultative meeting with the Chemical Engineering Department alumni. The Department will hold its 75th founding anniversary in AY 2009-2010. “Brilliance Across Generations” was going to be the theme. It will be the Department’s Diamond Anniversary, and therefore, we thought it was fitting to pay tribute to its alumni whose accomplishments is making the Department shine like a brilliant piece of exquisitely cut diamond. The Department has lined up several activities, and that evening was the first gathering to let everyone know of the plans and encourage their participation. Indeed, the alumni represented several generations of brilliant Thomasian Engineers from different fields imaginable, each wearing a beautifully designed button that said, “Proud to be a Thomasian Engineer”!

Being late, I didn’t want to attract attention, so I tiptoed into the dining room where everybody is socializing over sumptuous dinner in preparation for the meeting, which will be held in the Conference Hall, adjacent to the room. One person saw me, yelled my name…

and before I could even respond, there was a mob of former students greeting me like I was

University of Santo Tomas... Pontifical, Catholic.

Mother Teresa or something! Many of the younger ones, of course, looked familiar… I remember all the childlike faces in the Unit Operations Laboratory and in the lecture rooms where we were all “battered” by Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Chemical Kinetics and Reactor Design, and Numerical Methods! But, of course, judging from how all of them looked important in their respective organizations now, looked like we won the battle somehow! In an instant, I have a handful of business cards in my hand… positions like “Scientist”, “Research Specialist”, “Project Engineer” and even “President and General Manager” swam in my eyes! And, I wondered how old have I become? How the heck did I contribute in making a “President and General Manager” of a company? I was just blown away!

After the meeting, we said our endless goodbyes. It was a very happy and nostalgic social event, with our alumni telling us of their pursuits and what have you. It was hard not to be emotional, watching those “kids” transformed into accomplished individuals in so short a time. What was marvelous was how they still spoke to us with almost reverence – little Academic people that we are. At the back of my head, I saw Mr. Nelson’s kind face, smiling and seemed to be nodding his head. And, I indulged voraciously, savoring that wonderful moment - that awesome treat, lest it doesn’t happen again.

I stepped out of the building with the blue cross atop my university seeming eager to partake at my awe as I closed my day. With the relentless Manila traffic, the way home was still slow even after rush hours. As the traffic crawled, I stared out of the window… the street children are lined up at the sidewalk, curled up on filthy cardboards that were their beds in the open air, no blankets despite the light drizzle. I was going to worry about my hectic schedule on the morrow, but my worries were snatched from me by those kids whose tomorrow was so uncertain… and yet, I know that they, too, can see the blue cross atop my university’s administration building where they lay. And, as it flickered in the darkness, I was certain that it was bringing forth some warmth of hope to those children. All of a sudden, I imagined those kids as diamonds… perhaps, rough and dull at the moment, but with some polishing and patient cutting, they, too will shine like those “kids” we nurtured in the university.

I murmured a prayer of thanks as I allowed myself to fall asleep. Education is needed to dig us out of poverty. That is hardly a roadmap, and yet, I know now that there is hope somehow.