UPDATE on the Senior Citizen Law: The reconciled versions of the Senate and the House were ratified last week by both houses and the bill is now in Malacañang for action by the President.

President Macapagal-Arroyo has three options: (1) She can immediately sign the bill into law; (2) She can veto the bill and send it back to Congress; (3) She can ignore the bill but after 30 days it would then lapse into law.

Earlier, Deputy Presidential Spokesman Gary Olivar indicated that President Arroyo may choose to let the proposed measure lapse into law instead of signing the bill. He also said that vetoing the bill ?is always an option,? citing the further reduction of revenues that the measure would bring about.

Last Friday, he clarified his statements, saying that President Arroyo would sign into law the bill granting some 4.6 million senior citizens exemption from the 12 percent expanded value-added tax (EVAT). The signing would be followed by publication in the Official Gazette and promulgation of Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) to firmly put the new law into effect.

We?re almost there, folks!

* * *

We join the Air Force family led by Lt. Gen. Oscar Rabena, commanding general, PAF, in mourning the deaths of eight airmen led by Maj. Gen. Mario Lacson, PMA Class 1977. The tragic event serves to keep in mind the constant dangers faced by the men and women in uniform in the performance of duty. It is a grim reminder of how the third dimension of warfare?the air?unlike the land and the sea, can be so unforgiving of the slightest errors or miscalculations.

We continue to have full confidence in our Air Force and shall travel with them anytime, anywhere.

* * *

Almost five years ago, I wrote about a booklet that was making the rounds of Metro Manila. I said that every Filipino who loves his country should get hold of it and put into practice the 12 points raised by the young author. The book, ?Twelve Little Things Every Filipino Can Do To Help Our Country,? has since become a national bestseller and is now on its 11th printing.

The young man who drew up these 12 simple, practical and doable actions for ordinary Filipinos is now running for senator under the Liberal Party slate of Senators Noynoy Aquino and Mar Roxas. If you have been aware of the weird behavior of some of our senators during the past few days, you will realize how important it is that we elect people like Alex Lacson to the Senate.

Alex Lacson, a senior partner at Malcolm Law Firm, is the son-in-law of my cousin Teddy Peña and Edda. He is married to Pia Peña, also a lawyer with Citibank. They met at the UP College of Law where both finished. Alex also belongs to Philippine Military Academy Class of 1987.

Let me refresh our memories by listing down briefly the ?twelve little things we can do for our country.?

1. Follow traffic rules?Why is this the most important? The answer is simple. Traffic rules are the simplest of our laws. If we learn to follow them it would be the lowest form of national discipline that we can develop. Since it is totally without monetary cost, it should be easy for us to comply with and therefore should provide a good start.

2. Whenever you buy or pay for anything, always ask for an official receipt.?If a seller does not issue an official receipt the seller may or may not remit the tax to the government. Without an OR, there is no record of the transaction and the tax that you paid may not be remitted to the BIR.

3. Do not buy smuggled goods. Buy local, buy Filipino.?It may not be good economics to buy 100-percent local products. What I suggest is for us to take a ?50-50? buying attitude?50 percent for local goods, and 50 percent for imported choices.

4. When you talk to others, especially foreigners speak positively of our race and our country.?This is best addressed to the rich and the middle class in our country who have contact with the outside world. It is they who talk to, dine or deal with foreigners either here or abroad. It is what they say and do which creates impressions about us among foreigners.

5. Respect your traffic officer, policeman, soldier and other public servants.?There is nothing like the power of respect. It makes a person proud. It makes one feel honorable. Courtesy is good manners. It is class and elegance and kindness. It is the mark of a profound education.

6. Do not litter. Dispose of your garbage properly. Segregate. Recycle. Conserve.?As Louis Armstrong says in his song, ?I see trees of green, red roses, too. I see them bloom for me and you, and I think to myself, What a wonderful world!?

7. Support your church.

8. During elections, do your solemn duty?Honesty more than a masteral or doctorate degree is what gives credibility. And credibility is essential because it is a leader?s link to the people. It is what makes the people look to one direction, follow a common vision and perform a uniform act. In short, credibility is what makes people follow the leader.

9. Pay your employees well.?No exercise is better for the human heart than to reach down and lift someone else up. This truly defines a successful life. For success is the sum, not of our earthly possessions, but of how many times we have shown love and kindness to others.

10. Pay your taxes.?On the average, of the amount collected from individual income taxes each year, 91 percent comes from salaried workers in both government and the private sector, people who have no choice since their income taxes are withheld mandatorily. The remainder or less than 10 percent comes from businessmen and professionals like doctors, lawyers, accountants and architects, among other people. (What an embarrassing discrepancy!)

11. Adopt a scholar or adopt a poor child.?You can make a difference in the future of our country by making a difference in the world of children.

12. Be a good parent. Teach your kids to follow the law and to love our country.?Today?s children will someday rule and lead this world. But whether they will be bad leaders or good leaders will depend on how we raise them today. Our future is in the hearts and minds of our children.

Addressing the Corps of Cadets of the Philippine Military Academy recently, National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jose talked about a new generation of Filipinos, ?a new generation that would undo the havoc my generation wrought on this unhappy land. It is such an awful cliché but it is also true?my hope is in you who are so bright and so young.?

Alex Lacson is part of that new generation that will help undo the harm done by all of us to our beloved country. As the saying goes, ?For evil to succeed, it is enough that good people do nothing.?

When you enter the polling booth in May, remember Alex Lacson.