Europe-PH News

The song had so much energy, the guitar licks were so fresh, the beat was so catchy, and it mocked health insurance, bankers, computers, cloning, fashion and the fake people in the world.

Yet, at the end of the song, the band was telling us to hold tight if we feel our dream was dying. It asks listeners to not let go, as the music was in us. It wanted us to not give up, as the world would be just fine. Then it told that God is flying in for your trial.

I was hooked on this band. It was the same feeling I had when I first heard Sting's debut album, when Crowded House and Counting Crows broke into the scene with their unique lyrical and musical approach, or when Oasis blasted the door with anthems that will keep you company for life.

It took about a month before I found the album -- er, make that the cassette -- at a record bar. It was that long. But to cut a long story short, the band was the New Radicals.

For the kiddies out there who know nothing outside of music streaming and downloading, a record bar was where good music was supposed to be found. Nowadays, a record bar carries more movie DVDs than music. Very sad.

The name of the song I mentioned was "You Get What You Give." It may not be that familiar to you guys, but I bet you know the song "Someday Well Know." Yup, the Mandy Moore -- I still have a huge crush on you -- song from A Walk To Remember. It was a cover version. The original was done by the New Radicals.

The New Radicals would just come out with one album, as its frontman Gregg Alexander said he was tired of touring and waking up in different hotels. There was so much wasted potential there. The band was different. It offered a fresh take on music.

A NEW BREED

Now, why I am mentioning this? Because right now, I agree with Asian Tigers Lane Moving & Storage Vice President Brian Lane, when he assessed that there is now a new breed of politicians who are emerging. Maybe I can continue that statement by stating that there is also a new breed of business executives who are taking over the corporate world.

Case study No. 1: Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara and European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) Vice President Henry Schumacher. I guess we all could say that they represent the new radicals here in the country.

I last met Senator Angara during an ECCP luncheon, and he really came out as someone who genuinely cares about our country.

You can probably mention him in the same breath with politicians like Sen. Grace Poe, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino and, maybe, even Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.

TAXES FORCING FILIPINOS TO WORK ABROAD

In his speech before business executives at the ECCP luncheon, Senator Angara talked about government revenues, smuggling, taxation and incentives.

There were a lot of numbers thrown in that speech and, trust me, most of them made me shake my head in disbelief.

But what I want to focus on is Senator Angara's efforts to make every Juan de la Cruz's paycheck improve the life of his family.

Senator Angara wants to change how a workingman is being taxed in the country, which, he explains, is forcing many Filipinos to find work abroad.

He said, for someone earning P250,000, that individual will be meted with a 25-percent tax here in the country. Compared to our neighbors, that same individual will only be taxed 2 percent in Malaysia, 10 percent in Thailand, 15 percent in Indonesia; his income would be tax-free in Singapore.

Here is his exact statement during the ECCP luncheon: "Instead of taking home more from their earnings to jump-start their careers or to benefit their families, many see an inordinate portion of their hard day's work taken away by government -- most of the time, automatically withheld."

A politician like Senator Angara, who has the pulse of the common man, should be applauded and given support. And from what I heard from business executives in the tourism and education sector, Senator Angara is an all-around good guy.

INTEGRITY INITIATIVE PROJECT

Now, as for Schumacher, well, he is already a household name. He is a leading voice of reason, not just in the foreign chambers, but in the business community as a whole. Trust me. He has gone out of his way a lot of times, and has done so much for the Philippines. Schumacher loves this country so much that I am sometimes embarrassed.

One of the things he and the ECCP started a few years back is the Integrity Initiative project, which was aimed at curbing and maybe eliminating corruption completely in the government and in businesses.

Currently, 43 government agencies, 1,896 companies, 202 organizations and 86 schools have signed the Integrity Pledge, which is the formal and concrete expression of commitment to abide by ethical practices and give support to a nationwide campaign against corrupt practices.

The Integrity Initiative project, wherein the Makati Business Club is also involved, sees that with corruption gone, more foreign investments will be poured into the country, employment opportunities will increase and poverty eventually alleviated.

The ECCP would not have been a trailblazing organization that has set the standards for other chambers without Schumacher and his foresight.

I do not know if Senator Angara and Schumacher can play any musical instrument or let alone carry a tune, but I do hope that they get what they give and that they last much longer than the length of one album.

Source: Business Mirror