[b][I]Two Weeks Later[/i][/b]

Carlos Cortez had won the elections, but he knew full well that that was when the hard work shall begin; transforming a centrally planned economy into a semi-free market one would not be easy. But, he already developed an idea for the countryside: a system of [i]contract responsibility[/i] during which farmers would be allowed to work their piece of land for profit in exchange for deliviering a fixed, small percentage of their goods to the collective. Not merely that, but free farmer's markets would be set up in the cities, allowing the farming families to sell their produce. Not merely that, but several families will now be allowed to devote their efforts to producing a scarce commodity or service on a profit-making basis.

Not merely that, but special microfinance programs will be set up in order to allow and encourage farmers to set up additional enterprises, while in the cities, cheap books of vouchers, each representing a portion of shares in the state-owned enterprises of Tabaclera and San Miguel, would be sold or freely given to the civilian populace. Of course, it'll take months to set up that policy's implementation, but that can wait. At the same time, however, Government control of the Mining Industry must be strengthened, and, while Shipping would also be partly privatized, Government must maintain at least a 50% share. Even then, the State-owned units would only give part of their profits to the administration, while reserving most of the money for themselves...and the workers.

Independent cobblers, tailors, tinkers, and vendors used to be a sight in the cities, and, quite frankly, they would be a sight again here, if Carlos can help it. Of course, he mused, he would also have to give the new enterprises the right to hire and fire, while at the same time making sure that corruption in the unemployment benefits system was clamped down upon; some people would say that such corruption proved that unemployment benefits were bad as a whole, but Carlos knew better: all large organizations, including social services, were prone to corruption, and social services should not be singled out for attacks because of things that happen to all large departments. Anyway, enough editorializing, time for more work.

In the cultural sphere, would be plans for the creation of a Cultural Centre of the Philippines, built on a Western Model influenced by Native designs, as well as two new Churches, the Cathedral Filipinas for the Catholic Majority, and a smaller structure for the small, but growing Iglesia Filipina Independente minority, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Balintawak. Carlos himself was a lapsed Catholic with IFI sympathies, and while he disagreed with many, many, of the tenets of 'mainstream' Christianity, he saw the religious past of the country, the Hispanic Church that was [i]Filipinized[/i] by the people it was supposed to convert, as a strength. The Philippines was both East and West, and was beautiful because of it; the past regime had failed to implement Houist policies of cultural protection well; he was going to break the trend.

And, finally, the cause most dear to him: the decoupling of the state from issues of Mental Health. This was the most controversial, but when asked why he took such a position, all Carlos would say, to anyone, was:

"I had a sister. She was autistic. She died in a facility." Three curt sentences that were enough to silence anyone who challenged him on that. Of course, when asked the opposite, why he supported state healthcare despite the tragedy that had befallen his family, he would say.

"I had penumonia. The state hospitals saved my life." More curt sentences, a far cry away from his impassioned oratory, but still effective in swaying people. It was clear that, as regards matters involving his family and himself, Carlos Cortes was a recitent, even snappish, man.