However, I am a bit disappointed with the collective performance of those who represent the Cebuanos in Congress because up to the present time, they have not secured the endorsement of Malacañang and the Congressional Leadership i.e., Speaker De Venecia and Senate President Villar that said HB 1319 would be given the highest priority that will result in its approval in the coming 2008 Congressional session. Time is of the essence, because many mega projects are being proposed by foreign investors in many parts of the country. Cebuanos, especially their leaders, cannot afford to be "laid back" because of the mistaken belief that our geographic, economic, social, and political importance in the scheme of Philippine events will make the foreign businessmen automatically invest in Cebu. The investors have to be invited to see Cebu for themselves, and they have to be wooed by the local as well as the national officials. They have to be offered every reasonable incentive from tax holidays, shortcut approval of projects without the usual red tape, etc. For example, in the Hanjin Shipyard in Subic whose first phase is almost complete; the Korean companies’ investment is not less than billion. In this project alone, about 3,000 direct and indirect jobs will be produced. The other Hanjin Shipyard project is in Northern Mindanao, east of Cagayan de Oro City where projected costs are estimated to be in the -billion range. Then of course, we have the proposed Cosco – a People’s Republic of China project, to establish a port and supply area at Sangley, Cavite. The estimated cost will be about billion.

For centuries, Cebuanos had very good relations with out Chinese neighbors. In fact, one can honestly say, that the Chinese immigrants have traditionally had the best treatment and incentives, which the Cebuanos accorded them. Now, I must ask the pointed question… What has the collective officialdom of Cebu done to offer Cebu as the alternative location of some of the mega projects that are being constructed and or proposed in other parts of the country? If they did, at the very least, I did not hear anything about it. And neither did the print and the electronic media. In short, the effort, if it exists at all, has at best been sporadic and not consistent. Again, let me sound like a "broken record." How many billions have been or are being invested (borrowed) by the National Government to develop Subic and Clark? How many more billions are being spent for the super highway, i.e., Subic, Clark, Tarlac? What about the future new Diosdado Macapagal International Airport at Clark? I am not saying that the people in Central Luzon are not entitled to the said projects. Insofar as I am concerned, they must enjoy the benefits of a good and progressive economy. However, how about Cebu, Central Visayas, and the rest of the Visayan islands… Mindanao?

Let me, however, first concentrate on our present topic. If indeed Cebu made it possible for the present administration to win in the last presidential elections with an overwhelming vote… without which the losing presidential candidate would have won… why are we Cebuanos (to my mind) not getting what we are entitled to, not as a mere reward for political performance, – but because of our geographic and economic advantages. I regret that in a period of rejoicing, peace and goodwill I have to tell the truth even if in the process I inconvenience others. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!