Lee founded a strong party called PAP (People’s Action Party) and became prime minister at 35, the youngest national leader in the ASEAN region of 10 nations.

Henry A. Kissinger wrote in its foreword: "… But history shows that normally prudent, ordinary calculations can be overturned by extraordinary personalities. In the case of Lee Kuan Yew … the ancient argument whether circumstance or personality shapes events is settled in favor of the latter … Superior intelligence, discipline and ingenuity would substitute for resources."

Counting the Commonwealth period RP is older than Singapore by 30 years — 1935 against 1965. Has RP produced a national leader described by Kissinger as one with "superior intelligence, discipline and ingenuity?"

Maybe hundreds of them, but without the second trait — discipline.

From old magazines and books Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew could be seen in shirt-sleeves barking orders to complete, ahead of target, the building of infrastructures like roads, bridges, docks, etc.

Lee and his old-guard colleagues made honesty and efficiency a form of religion and as first and last guide to shape a new nation.

Singapore’s Department of Public Works built the domestic and international airport runways and terminals for the whole world to view and appreciate. The tourists’ first stop can tell the story of a tiny "sandbar without natural resource," according to Kissinger.

Speaking of airport terminals two of the newest and magnificent design now stand in Cabanatuan, Iloilo and Silay, Negros Occ., built by Japanese construction firms.

But in Metro Manila the domestic terminal started out as a shanty in the 1950s and has remained in this "top" condition up to March 26, 2008. The nation’s capital is getting less and less than Third World in physical and environmental qualities.

Worse, it was reported thrice this week that the domestic terminal in Pasay was hit by a three-hour power outage leaving thousands of passengers at the mercy of summer heat of 35∞ Celsius. Luggage were "ransacked" piece by small piece for lack of X-ray machines. Thousands groped in darkness. More than 50 flights were delayed. All that management needed was a professional electrical engineer with experience, not a casual electrician.

Incidents like an airport terminal without light, airconditioning, security machines, etc. can be heard and seen around the world in a matter of minutes via world TV like CNN and BBC.

A new generating set with extra capacity can easily be funded from a collection of R200 fully paid by countless thousands of passengers to Visayas, Mindanao, Southern and Northern Luzon. So far there is no report if this fund is properly used. Only CoA and heaven would know.

Problems like dark and hot airport terminals, high price of rice, corn and fuel can be predicted by our economic managers in government. But waiting for their first or next move is as unpredictable as the monsoon weather in July or August.

Let’s stop giving answers that the people cannot appreciate, much less understand.

The Kuomintang nationalist government fled to Taiwan in 1949. Land reform, government planning, US aid, and free universal education brought huge advances in industry, agriculture and living standards.

In less than 10 years from 1949 RP started copying land reform methods used in Taiwan. But RP implemented it wrongly and selectively, allowing owners of large estates and farms, to apply for exemptions that were easily obtained.

At least two of our neighbors and former colonies can be cited for outstanding achievements — Singapore and Taiwan.

Let’s add South Korea, a veritable wasteland destroyed by war in 1950 and 1951. This country started to rise in the 1960s.

It is building giant fuel tankers and railways for other progressive countries.

Manila is now flooded by Korean cars made by Hyundai and Kia. (Comments are welcome at roming@pefianco.com)