Beyond Brushstrokes
By Maria Victoria Rufino
Bankers and businessmen refer to “dirty money” as funds that come from dubious sources and crime. These funds are transferred electronically to be laundered in countries wherein they can pass through almost unnoticed and be withdrawn or camouflaged through casinos and other businesses.
Due to recent major lapses in the system, the regulators have further tightened the rules and closed the loopholes to prevent and stop laundering. They have imposed big fines and hefty penalties for the violators. The legislators, however, have to amend the Bank Secrecy Law and allow the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) to scrutinize certain accounts.
To the general public, “dirty money” refers literally to the filthy, smelly, microbe-infested bills in circulation. Cashiers in the neighborhood supermarket, salon, drug store, and restaurants often complain that the branch bank tellers sometimes give old bills. The wet markets and fruit vendors use dilapidated bills that should be destroyed.
Most people want to have clean, crisp bills (in all denominations).
Despite the requests for new, clean bills, the bank branches continue to recirculate old bills.
The only time that there seems to be a supply of fresh, crisp bills is Christmas season. And that means having to call your friendly branch manager to reserve the bills a month in advance.
You would practically have to beg the cashier for decent-looking bills. If she’s in a good mood, you could get a limited supply.
Your other alternative would be the ATMs. The machine will not dispense old deteriorating bills. However, it is only good for a limited amount.
A regional study revealed that our local bills are very dirty. They have practically the highest number of bacteria and microbes per bill. Imagine how these germs pass from hand to hand every day.
Imagine the bacteria contaminating everything else you touch.
Imagine the germs invading your system through your eyes, nose and mouth.
It is frightening but true.
Try to withdraw some cash and count the bills — 20s, 50s and 100s. Even if you were not prone to allergies, you would sneeze from the awful suffocating smell of decay. Your hands would get red and itchy almost instantly. How often can you rub alcohol or use antiseptic hand gel after holding the old bills? Your hands would get raw from trying to sterilize them so frequently every day.
A few years ago, the public was informed that the banks have a covenant with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to circulate only clean money. It seems that banks have surrendered the old type of bills according to the deadline. But the bills deposited in the banks seem to age quickly. Or these bills may have come from the rural areas. For our own health and as a public service, may we ask the banks to please live up to their commitment? We need clean money.
BILLBOARDS
The skyline of the city has altered radically over the past decade. The new buildings and stark skyscrapers overwhelm the historic churches and old, graceful landmarks.
We now drive through a billboard jungle. The giant ads clutter the main avenues. Skeletal steel structures sprout like wild mushrooms almost every week. In sheer size and number, they compete for visual attention and air space.
The close spacing of the ads is disorienting and distracting. The effect is claustrophobic.
Along EDSA, so many billboards on top of building rooftops assault the eye — from the bay area to the north. Some ads are lumped together to look like a confusing jigsaw puzzle.
The bridge area’s humongous billboards cover the entire slope of the hill overlooking the Pasig River.
Years ago, the route through the countryside used to be a sight for tired eyes. Driving through the expressway and skyway was a breeze. Looking at the verdant rice fields, rolling hills, a cloud-dappled sky, and the placid bay produced a calming effect.
The SCTEx, TPLEx, and CAVITEx are scenic drives that should not be invaded by billboards.
The city dweller used to have the luxury of viewing a priceless panorama. Now the landscape is being threatened by the unstoppable menace — billboard overload.
One gets dizzy and cross-eyed trying to avoid looking at the ads. It is better to take a nap. (Who really wants to look at all those chauvinistic ads?) Before the year is over, many more ads shall have been set up.
The giant ads vary in content and style to attract the passerby. The common denominator for all commercial ads is the same — “Buy this product, this lifestyle. Vote for this candidate.” Promises, promises.
The messages and images range from the decorative commercial to the political, suggestive, provocative, or controversial. (But that is another story. Taste is subjective.)
On the part of big advertisers, they should be aware that too many billboards so closely placed do not allow “breathing space” for the viewer. Therefore, they are paying for ad space that no one really sees at all.
On the part of the local governments, should there not be a limit to the number of commercial billboards erected in zones of heavy traffic and along the expressways? (There is Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Memorandum Circular No. 10, Series of 2011 which states in its Guidelines for the Evaluation of Applications for Locational Clearance, Section 4.4. Non obstruction of Landscape. No Regulated Sign shall be constructed as to unduly obstruct the natural view of the landscape, distract or obstruct the view of the public as to constitute a traffic hazard, or otherwise defile, debase or offend aesthetic and cultural values and traditions. But the MMDA does not have jurisdiction over the expressways. — Ed.)
It would be wonderful to see an avenue or a street that is free from the sight and shadow of those monstrosities.
Would it not be a relief to be able to gaze at the sky and see beyond the horizon without the spectral outline of a billboard?
Wishful thinking.
Maria Victoria Rufino is an artist, writer and businesswoman. She is president and executive producer of Maverick Productions.
