The whole country is abuzz with the upcoming boxing match between Manny Pacquiao and Oscar De La Hoya. Pacquiao has gained a worldwide following, as can be seen in the following news coverage:

San Francisco Chronicle: A great fight – if fans can afford to see it

Los Angeles Times: Oscar De La Hoya Vs Manny Pacquiao Bout to Start Dominoes
San Jose Mercury-News: Fight pick: Pacquiao over De La Hoya by unanimous decision

The fight is another one of those escape hatches from the noxious air of corruption permeating the country.

_____Exhibit A: A former Speaker of the Philippine House of Representatives, and several other members of Congress, governors, and mayors have publicly admitted taking 500,000 pesos in bribes from the President to deter an impeachment vote against her.
_____Exhibit B: The impeachment action was a result of the President’s admission that she asked the chairman of the Commission on Elections to “protect her vote” in the 2004 elections. The former Speaker even boasts of still having the bag of money intact in his office!
_____Exhibit C: A former Department of Agriculture official is being accused of stealing over 700 million pesos in a fertilizer scam, but he himself is accusing other government officials of taking part in the scam.
_____Exhibit D: The president is also implicated in a $300 million dollar deal-fixing and bribery scandal in a broadband project.

The list of scandals goes on and on and on… in a country rated 141st most corrupt out of 180. Has anyone been indicted? As usual, no, not even one!

Compare this with the recent conviction of senior U. S. Senator Ted Stevens over gifts he received from a friend in exchange for favorable decisions on construction contracts. In comparing the long arm of the law in America with the corruption in the Philippines, I am reminded of a project meeting I had with an engineering manager working for the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. We met at a McDonald’s one early morning, so my colleague and I offered to buy him a cup of coffee. He declined our generous offer, saying that he was not allowed to accept gifts!

How is this related to our work here? Mainly, in obtaining government permits and other legal documents, a lot of time and effort, not counting fees, are expended. And because of government paralysis due to political bickering, the feeling when I venture out into the streets is one of anarchic disorder, insecurity and snail’s pace. So I get home totally exhausted after a whole day pursuing a single transaction.