Land reform in RP has copied the Taiwan program as model. From my old files last week, a booklet titled "Alumni Directory" gave me an idea. I was in Taoyuan, Taiwan, in June 1988 (June 11-15).
Land reform observer
I attended a short course in land reform, sponsored jointly by Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, USA, Inc., and the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan.
In this group of 12, instructor Ronald David Holmes, De La Salle U, Taft Ave., was the youngest. I represented the Integrated Bar (IBP) as vice-chairman, 8th House of Delegates. Ronnie Holmes is now the "owner" of Pulse Asia that predicted President Noynoy's triumph by a landslide.
Martial law lifted
In 1987, President Chiang Ching-kuo abolished martial law and instituted a policy of liberalization. He allowed non-KMT (Kuomintang) political parties to function legally. Chiang died in January, 1988, and was succeeded by his vice president, Lee Teng-hui. In March, 1990, Lee was reelected by the National Assembly in the first election for the office. The first opposition, Democratic Progressive party, scored a stunning success in 1992, tripling its number of legislative seats.
Real highway
All 12 of us toured Taiwan, from Taipei to the southern port city of Kaoshiung. Taiwan's expressway was incredibly wide, six to 12 lanes, and in low-lying areas, the highway was elevated two to four meters above the flood level.
Taiwan was fast emerging, from Third World to First, in less than 30 years (from 1949). By the early 1970s, the island had developed an export-oriented economy, producing textiles, cement, plastics, assembled electronic appliances, and other manufactured goods.
World's 2nd tallest building
I visited Taipei four times since 1988 and on each visit I would miss a landmark, replaced by huge commercial structures. Taipei 101 (2004) is the second tallest building in the world (101 stories, 1,670 ft.).
New cabs/buses
There are no old-model taxi cabs and PU buses in Taipei and in all cities, towns, and villages on the island. On my last visit in August, 2007, all cabs were uniformly yellow, shiny, and brand-new.
No brake failure
There are a few highway/road accidents in Taiwan, but are not due to brake failure all the time, the standard claim in RP where rolling coffins belching black cloud of smoke get registered first after "passing," with flying colors, all the emission tests.
PU and cab drivers in Taipei don't wear sando, made gray or light brown by sweat and dust. We can assume taking a bath is mandatory to them before reporting for work.
Sweet smelling but ...
In June, 1988, two or three wide avenues near our dorm were closed to traffic at 6 p.m. Street vendors/hawkers by the hundreds sold all kinds of sweet-swelling pulutan, but buying them was a problem. The sign language was dangerous if my fingers got twisted into a "bad high-five."
Two or three times I asked Ronnie Holmes to help me buy a golden chicken barbeque, which I ate in the dorm before and after dinner.
Orchid export
And last week (mentioned in my article), I watched a TV feature on orchid culture in Taiwan. The island fills some 50 percent of orchid export need in Europe, the US, etc., earning millions of dollars.
No more profit in farming
One cab driver in Taipei told me he sold his last piece of riceland to start a small business. I asked about land reform. He paused with a half-smile, saying land reform has become irrelevant since the 1980s when industries started building factories near the farms. He said there's no profit in farming or whatever is left of it.
RP sticks to riceland/plow
In 1957, RP virtually copied the island's land reform program. While Taiwan left agriculture decades ago, political forces in RP continue to ask if Hacienda Luisita or Noynoy's fraction of it is still subject to land reform.
This is one rare case of not leaving small income from farming for a higher wage in the factories, etc. (Comments are welcome at roming@pefianco.com).
