Snippets

Congressman of God or Congressman of the Philippine Government?

2011-05-25T15:19:00.000+08:00

It was shocking to listen to the league of Congressmen like Manny Pacquiao and Pablo Garcia do the interpellation against the RH Bill. They have been quoting and quoting God and the Bible and religion and the Catholic faith to prove the RH Bill proponents wrong. And, with a stroke of devilish art, cut the crap out of the RH Bill proponents saying: "You are allergic to God" or, "you need to face excommunication".

Well, the actions of these anti-RH Bill legislators reflects well those of their constituencies to the point of "punching pro-RH bill supporters" and calling the latter stupid. But who's stupid, anyway?

Worse, these God- and Bible-quoting blabbers seem to have a different God and a Bible or are ignorant on what they are talking about. Kung sabagay, little knowledge is dangerous, di ba Manang Brenda? Otherwise, they would have learned that the real God listens to reasons, gives due process, and does not judge easily. If they read the Bible that they are quoting, they could have found out in Genesis Chapter 3 that after Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, God asked: "Where are you?" Adam replied that he is naked so he hid but God said: “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” -- meaning, the real Biblical God, albeit all-knowing, still listens to reasons. Hence, if the Biblical God listens to reasons and the anti-RH supporters say they consider God as their model and that they follow their God, then they must have a different God.

But of course, whoever or whatever one's God is is nobody's concern and is not the issue. The issue here is the RH Bill particularly on whether it should be passed or not. And since passing it involves a legal process, then let that process go. And since those who will approve it are legislators elected by the people of the Philippines, then let these legislators act as legislators of the Philippines. If they wanted to act as legislators of the Catholic Church or their God whoever it is, then they have no business in the Congress because the Congress is for the passage of laws of men and not of God. As Jesus the Christ clearly puts it: Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's.

Ano Tikboy, malinaw ba?

Merci: Thou shalt not steal but big!

2011-05-11T08:06:00.001+08:00

Former Ombudsman Merciditas Gutierrez felt vindicated with the latest Sandiganbayan ruling approving the plea bargaining agreement with Gen. Carlos Garcia. According to her, the ruling is “an acknowledgment that we have not been remiss in our duty to protect the interest of the government and the Filipino people.”

Gutierrez further said that the ruling “is consistent with the position taken by our special prosecutors that the plea bargain agreement is legal, regular and aboveboard, otherwise it will not be approved by the graft court.”

Kakatuwa naman si Merci. It appears that she is so happy with the way things are going and at the same time treating the Filipinos as stupid. Kung ang treatment mo talaga sa trabaho ng Ombudsman ay makipagtawaran, what's the use of having an Ombudsman? Daming nagtatawaran sa mga tiyangge. Ikalawa, Kung ninakawan ka ng P400, happy na ba dapat tayo kung ang maibabalik lang ay P200? If that is the case, ini-encourage natin ang mga magnanakaw na kumuha ng marami at makipag-plea bargaining agreement na lang sa kalahati. If that is the case, then tama pala ang sinasabing amendment ng 10 Commandments: Thou shalt not steal BUT BIG!

Or it is she that's stupid?Kung ano siyempre ang target mo, yun din ang mararating mo. Simpleng input-output logic. Kung ano ang dineposito mo sa banko, yun din ang makukuha mo. So dahil ang hiningi nila sa Sandigan ay approval ng plea bargain, at ang lahat ng ebidensiya na inihanda ay nakatuon lang dun, then siyempre yun din ang ibibigay ng Sandigan. Again, simpleng input-output logic. But if that is the case, why do we still need an Ombudsman na masyadong limited mag-isip?

Lito Lapid is Geronimo

2011-05-05T16:17:00.000+08:00

It appears that the US Navy SEALS has been mistaken. The real Geronimo is not in Pakistan but in the Philippines. Here's the proof:

This gives the US Indians no reason to cry foul. Di ba?

Merci resigns.... HUWAATTT?

2011-04-29T21:05:00.000+08:00

Ombudsman Merciditas Gutierrez finally resigned.

This is surprising. Asan na yung palaban niyang stance? O nagbasa na siya ng libro ni Dale Carnegie na "How to Win Friends and Influence People"? She seems to be fanning something. A smoke to cover something? Maybe. Pero ano nga ba ang implications ng resignation ni Merci? Let us count the ways:

Kinain niya ang salita niya. Pareho pala sila ni GMA -- saying one thing and doing the other.
Bluff lang ang tapang ng pinakita niya. Pareho pala sila ni GMA kunyari malaki, maliit lang naman. Kunyari matapang, bahag din ang buntot.
Hindi niya nirespeto ang karapatan ang mga tao na malaman talaga ang katotohanan.
Chikadora. More than this, lumalabas na isa siyang sinungaling. Ang sabi niya: the interest of my family, my office and more importantly the nation must come before any personal consideration. On the other hand, sinabi niya rin na: [I]f I persist in fighting the charges levelled against me and I lose, I lose not only my retirement benefits, the opportunity to again serve government in equally dignified but less taxing capacities, but will also reap the shame of being the first Ombudsman to have been forcibly removed from office (Emphasis supplied).
Posibleng tama ang mga akusasyon sa kanya. Tinimbang siya ngunit kulang.
Sinayang niya ang preparasyon sa Lower House at sa Senado.
Sayang din ang mga papel at laway sa committee hearings sa Lower House.
Sayang din ang mga pinatahing damit ng mga Senador para sa Impeachment Trial.
Sayang din ang oras na kanyang pinahaba. Sana kung napaaga siyang nag-resign, me accomplishment na sana ang Ombudsman na pumalit sa kanya.

But it's a stroke of art. Kung kailan me royalty wedding fever ang mga tao at kung kailan nasa Europe si Gloria Arroyo, saka pa siya nag-resign. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Bantayan natin ang ratings bukas kung kelan huhupa na ang epekto ng kasalang William at Kate.

Ombudsman's clearance on Lasam: Puwede Naman

2011-04-21T18:53:00.000+08:00

Just recently, the Ombudsman created a lot of blunders. Two of these is when the Office of Merceditas Gutierrez filed a case against Jose Barredo along with the alleged key players in the P728-million fertilizer fund scam and against a dead man, Gumersindo Lasam, a dead man who was earlier cleared by the very same Ombudsman "on May 4, 2009, certifying that Lasam had no pending criminal or administrative cases as of April 27 that year."

Well, tama naman. There were no cases filed. Malinaw, di ba? But this clarity and vividness (to use the verbosity of Brenda) simply shows one thing: Nagsisinungaling ang Ombudsman na pinag-aaralan talaga nila ang mga kaso. Di ba ang depensa ni Merci, they just don't file a case because they carefully study everything para di masayang ang efforts nila? How come na kahit isang guhit o patak ng printer ink tungkol kay Lasam ay walang nakita ang Ombudsman? Bakit pa nito hinayaang maging recipient ng Lingkod Bayan Award kung saan ay requirement ang Ombudsman clearance?

Nakoowwwww!!!! Lalo lang pinapakita ng Ombudsman ang kapalpakan nito. Naghahabol ba para sa depensa sa Impeachment Trial? Hmmnnn....

Sermon on the Mount

2011-04-20T09:51:00.001+08:00

A shocking report from abs-cbnNEWS.com:

Priest tells RH bill supporters to leave Mass
BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – A priest at the Baguio Cathedral drew flak from some Catholics after he ordered people supporting the reproductive health bill to leave the church and stop hearing Mass.

His remarks drew outrage from some parishioners, who walked out in consternation.

The priest, whose identity was withheld, used his sermon to mock supporters of the bill such as former Akbayan party-list Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel.
"Kung meron nakikimisa dito pero pro-RH bill… Please, go out. It's useless," the priest said.

"What is this mass for if you are pro-RH bill? What is going to Church for if you're pro-RH bill?" he asked. (continue reading here)

Shocking, indeed. Alam ba nang paring ito ang sinasabi niya? Kung si Kristo nga gustong kasama ang mga makasalanan para ma-convert ang mga ito at mapalapit sa Diyos, bakit si father na isang alagad ni Kristo namimili nang pagmimisahan? Choosy naman si father. O baka tinatamad lang si father na gawin ang misyon niya -- ang ipahayag ang salita ng Diyos at maging isang pastol sa mga tupa ni Kristo? Aminin...

On the other hand, natatakot siguro si father na baka maimpluwensyihan siya ng mga pro-RH bill kaya ang sabi niya: O tukso, layuan mo ako?

O puwede ring sabihin na nakukunsensiya si father sa stand ng Simbahan kaya dahil sa guilt feeling pinaalis niya ang mga pro-RH bill.

Lastly, baka tunay na makasalanan si father at tingin niya sa mga pro-RH bill ay mga banal at nakakaintindi kaya pinaalis niya ang mga ito dahil insecure at guilty siya. Kaya nga sabi niya "Kung meron nakikimisa dito pero pro-RH bill… Please, go out. It's useless."

Useless nga, father, dahil ikaw ata ay isa sa mga tinutukoy ni Kristo sa isa sa kanyang seven last words which Tikboy quotes: Ama, patawarin mo sila dahil hindi nila alam ang kanilang ginagawa.

How late is late for the Ombudsman

2011-04-19T18:18:00.000+08:00

Just how late is "late" in the dictionary of the Ombudsman? Consider this from the Philippine Star:

Fertilizer rap sheet: Dead man included
By Jess Diaz

MANILA, Philippines - A dead man will be charged with plunder and other offenses before the Sandiganbayan for allegedly taking part in the P728-million fertilizer fund scam in 2004.
Last week, Overall Deputy Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro signed on behalf of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez a resolution finding probable cause to charge in court Gumersindo Lasam, who died two years ago after two men on a motorcycle ambushed him while he was on his way to his farm in Barangay Basi West, Solana, Cagayan province.

At the time of his death, Lasam was Department of Agriculture (DA) regional director for Cagayan Valley.

He was 63. The motive behind the killing was not known. <>

Better late than never?

2011-04-17T19:41:00.000+08:00

Ombudsman Merci Gutierrez claims the filing of cases against Jocjoc Bolante & Co., for their participation in the Fertilizer Scam is 'not a ploy to "counter her impeachment case.' In a report, Gutierrez's spokesman, Atty. Tomas Syquia, said that “It is not meant to counter. It is just that the Ombudsman’s work does not stop with the filing of the impeachment case.”

Tama naman. In the very first place, ganyan naman talaga kagabal si Merci so Mar Roxas should not berate the Ombudsman for her late filing of the case. Besides, it is better late than never, di ba? So kung patay na ang kabayo at saka pa lang dumating ang damo, okay lang yun. At least me damo...

On the other hand, bakit nga ba sa kinabagal-bagalan ng mga bagay na mabagal, bakit na-timing sa Impeachment Trial? Anak ng kabayong damo naman to. Di ba, sabi nga ni Leuccipus: Nothing exists at random but out of reason and out of necessity?

Bakit ngayon ka lang?

2011-04-15T22:30:00.000+08:00

From Inquirer.net:

Plunder raps ordered filed vs Lorenzo, Bolante over fertilizer scam
By Tetch Torres

Filed Under: Joc-joc Bolante, Government, Graft & Corruption, Impeachment
MANILA, Philippines—The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the filing of plunder cases against former agriculture secretary Luis Ramon “Chito” Lorenzo and former undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante implicated in the P728-million fertilizer fund scandal.
Based on the 134-page joint resolution, the Office of the Ombudsman, through its panel of investigators said “there exists probable cause” to pursue the criminal cases against the officials who are “probably guilty of the crimes charged.”

Me themesong ito: "Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang" ni Ogie Alcasid.

Kung sabagay, marami namang dahilan bakit ngayon lang:

Naghahanap pa ng ebidensiya ang Ombudsman. Naubos na kasi ang pera sa Fertilizer Scam kaya di makita kung nasaan. Walang pera, walang ebidensiya, di ba?
Allegedly, liquid fertilizer ang pinagkagastusan ng P728 M. Nagkataong nabasag yung lalagyan kaya hayun, di na nakita pa yung liquid. Yung nabuhusan, wala ring tumubo kaya di rin nakita ang fertilizer.
Wala ring maidudulot yung Senado at ang nakalap nilang ebidensiya ay mahina lang. Tsaka me virus sa Senado -- Ribonitis. Kaya mahirap pagkatiwalaan ang ebidensiya na maipo-produce ng mataas na kapulungan baka na-contaminate ng virus.
Mas magaling pa ring maghanap ng ebidensiya ang Ombudsman. Lalo na kung under pressure -- that is, Impeachment pressure. Yun nga lang, LATE. Pero di ba may kasabihan: Huli man daw at magaling, huli pa rin... este, naihahabol din?

MIAA or MIS?

2011-04-01T08:21:00.000+08:00

Is Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) really an authority? On what? On sleeping on the job? If so, then it should not be called airport authority and its acronym should not be MIAA but MIS -- that is, May I Sleep?

First there was this un-Congressman Ronald Singson who was sentenced for possession of illegal drugs in Hong Kong. Now there's this three Filipinos who were executed -- Sally Villanueva, Ramon Credo and Elizabeth Batain. What is the MIAA doing?

Kung sabagay, baka galit na rin ang mga nasa MIAA sa pagiging over-populated ng Pilipinas kaya pinapabayaan lang nila na makalabas ng bansa ang mga may dalang droga para di na makabalik forever.

Too Fast and Too Prompt

2011-03-22T19:50:00.000+08:00

Philippine politics is full of surprises. This is the reason why researchers argue case study method as the best method to understand Filipino political behavior.

In the debates last night for the Impeachment of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, the members of the minority have been assailing the articles of impeachment. One of their arguments revolve around the definition of the term "prompt". The law is silent on the exact or measurable definition of "prompt" and as such, the allegations against Gutierrez of failing to act promptly on cases brought before the Ombudsman is improper and is wanting. In the first place, Gutierrez was just a few years in her office.

Tama nga naman. There is no exact definition of prompt in the impeachment parlance so Gutierrez can go scot-free. Di ba? Since there is no definition, we can say na kahit 100 years na umupo si Gutierrez o sinuman sa Ombudsman at wala itong gagawin kundi tumanggap lang ng sahod, ok lang yun. Galing di ba?

In relation to impeachment pa rin, Senator Gregorio Honasan asked on the Impeachment of Gutierrez: Why so fast?

Oo nga, why so fast? Bakit di na lang inantay ang retirement ni Gutierrez bago sinimulan ang impeachment? Di ba alam ng mga kongresista na kulang pa ang ilang buwan na status quo ante order ng Supreme Court? Why so fast? Kung coup d' etat, puwede pa na madalian. Pag-upo ng presidente, stage ka agad ng coup, ok lang yun. Eh ang impeachment, di naman coup yun di ba?

Inday and her right against self-incrimination

2011-03-21T20:50:00.000+08:00

Inday has a new hero: Gen. Erlinda Ligot. You heard it correct: GENERAL ERLINDA LIGOT. Kung hindi kasi siya general, bakit siya involved sa isyu ng katiwalian sa AFP?

Anyways, going back to Inday, the super-maid was so surprised to hear that by just saying "I invoke my right against self incrimination", even the honorable Senators can do nothing. So she tried to practice what she learned. One day, her boss asked her to go to the market. While walking, the police, together with a bystander, called her.

Police: Miss, miss!
Inday: Excuse me officer, are you talking to me?
Police: Yes, Ma'am. Are you Erlinda "Inday" Magaspac?
Inday: Excuse me, officer, but I invoke my right against self incrimination.

Nagkatinginan ang police at ang tambay.

Tambay: Meron ba kayong wallet?
Inday: I'm sorry but I invoke my right against self-incrimination.

Nagkatinginan ulit ang police at ang tambay.

Police: Puwede ho ba sagutin niyo naman kami?
Inday: I'm sorry, officer, but I invoke my right against self incrimination.
Police: Ang tinatanong namin wala naman ho sa kaso ninyo. Kayo ho ba si Erlinda "Inday" Magaspac?
Inday: I still invoke my right against self incrimination.

Police sa Tambay: Hindi mo ata makausap ng matino ang taong ito. Sige sa iyo na lang ang wallet. Magkano ba ang laman niyan?
Tambay: Talaga bossing? P15,000 ho laman may kasamang papel ng mga bibilhin sa palengke.

Inday: Waaaaalllleeeeet ko yaaaannnnn!!!!!

Fair Treatment

2011-03-09T15:22:00.000+08:00

In a reaction to the likelihood of impeaching Ombudsman Merciditas Gutierrez, Ang Galing Pinoy Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo, said in a text message to reporters:

What GMA (former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo), needs as does any Filipino citizen, is a fair court wherein the rules of evidence are used in determining innocence or guilt.

Interesting. Now they know what the Filipino citizens want: A fair court wherein the rules of evidence are used in determining innocence or guilt. Mga late bloomers ba sila? Kakagising pa lang? Tanga? O nagmamarunong?

When the Filipino were asking for a fair court where rules of evidence are used, the Arroyo Family denied this opportunity several times. They killed the impeachment proceedings, they issued EO 464, and even PP 1017. Kaya di ngayon maintindihan kung ano talaga ang pagkakaintindi nila sa dapat nilang iniintindi. Ano nga ba talaga, kuya? O ang fair court para sa mga Arroyo ay yung pabor lang sa kanila?

Kung sabagay, ilang beses na nga pala binago ni GMA ang mga definitions sa dictionary. Oh, Orwell, my Orwell! If God had never given birth to you, things would have been different.

From NDCC to NDRRMC: What's in a name?

2011-03-07T18:47:00.000+08:00

In Marichu Villanueva's column in the Philippine Star, it was reported that former Senator Loren Legarda had a banter with John Hendra, a United Nations resident coordinator in Vietnam.

Hendra told Legarda that Vietnamese weather authorities consider Manila as their “early warning system” as typhoons that hit the Philippines wreak the same devastation on Vietnam. Taking off from this banter, Legarda remarked that she might as well “export” to Vietnam two landmark laws on climate change that she authored and shepherded approval in the previous 14th Congress to help the Vietnamese people on disaster risk reduction and preparedness.

Legarda particularly refers to the Climate Change Act of 2009 under Republic Act 9729 and RA 10121, the law that reorganized the defunct National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) into the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC).

While it was just a light exchange, and a banter at that, at least di ito tulad ng Twitter exchange in Sec. Ricky Carandang at ex-palace aid Mai Mislang. But it appears that Legarda, who was so proud with the laws she authored, does not understand the real thing. Will a change in a name from NDCC to NDRRMC reduce risks from disasters? If I change my name from Tikboy to Charles, will I become the prince of England?

Siguro medyo gumuwapo ako sa pangalan but my status and my face remains the same.

Sana instead of name-change, face-lift na lang ang ginawa ni Legarda para sa disaster management system dito sa Pilipinas. These could be as follows:

Medyo mataas na calamity fund hindi lang 5% lalo na sa mga LGUs
Insurance na hindi gagastahin ang calamity fund para sa mga Christmas bonuses
Insurance na kung hindi magastos ang calamity fund, magiging seed fund ito for projects that can mitigate risks in the next year
Mandatory updating of land use plans to contain disaster risk reduction plans
Regular check-ups or public and private infrastructures to ensure that these will help mitigate disaster-related risks rather than become a liability during disasters.
Atbp. Marami pang puwedeng gawin.

Di ba, Miss Loren?

Merci and Math

2011-03-03T22:34:00.000+08:00

Tikboy's lawyer finally admitted why he (the lawyer) took up Law: He hates Math and there is lesser numbers crunching activity in Law. Could this also be the reason why Ombudsman Merciditas Gutierrez had some problems in counting?

In an interview, Gutierrez proudly presented figures comparing the conviction rates between her administration, Simeon Marcelo's, and Aniano Desierto's. Based on her claim, she was able to achieve 53.75% conviction rate while Marcelo has 25.26%, and Desierto has 26.49%.

Well, kung dalawa lang ang nai-file na kaso at ang isa ay may judgement na conviction, ibig sabihin, ang conviction rate ay 50%. Pero kung 10 ang kaso na nai-file at 1 lang ang may conviction, that's a clear 10% conviction rate. Ibig sabihin, hindi dapat porsyento o rates ang pagbasehan kundi absolute count. Ilan nga ba talaga ang nai-file at naipanalo niyang kaso?

Eto ang sagot sagot ng Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism:

Gutierrez’s number is an illusory picture of good results, however. A closer review of the 223 cases she steered to conviction shows that almost all – 221 cases to be exact – were filed against just one official, the mayor of Nakar, Quezon province. The two other cases involved a municipal mayor of Iloilo, and a city mayor of Nueva Ecija.
This is where her score turns most sour: by number of actual persons convicted of corruption, the Sandiganbayan database shows that Gutierrez, in four years, has managed to secure the conviction of less than one senior official per year.
In contrast, her three predecessors scored much better in terms of the number of cases they filed during their terms, and the actual number of persons meted out convictions under their watch – 16, 36, and 62 officials per year on average, respectively, for Marcelo, Desierto, and Vasquez.

Lea Salonga: You Don't Have Any Business Having Sex

2011-03-01T19:12:00.000+08:00

An interesting post by Singer/Actress, Lea Salonga:

What right, constitutional or otherwise, does another human being, plus an entire barangay, have to what I practice in the privacy of my bedroom? No one has a say in how my husband and I express ourselves sexually, or what contraceptive measures we decide to employ, or not employ. I detest being told what to do, in general… even more so when it comes to something as personal and as private as this.

Oo nga naman. Ano ba'ng paki ng iba sa ginagawa ng mag-asawa sa kanilang kuwarto? Maliban na lang siguro kung hindi iyon ang kwarto nila at lalo na kung hindi naman pala talaga sila mag-asawa.

To read Lea Salonga's whole post, click here>>>

Ronald Singson resigns because of Chavit

2011-03-01T19:07:00.000+08:00

Self-confessed drug addict, Ronald Singson, already sent his resignation letter to the House of Representatives. Kaso, sabi sa sulat, he is resigning because of his promise to his father, Chavit.

Naalala ko expression ni Doy: HUWAAAATTTT?

Well, we can't blame Ronald. He is his father's son. And his father is the one who voted for him to be Ilocos Sur's representative at hindi mga taong bayan. Si Chavit din ang gumastos sa kanyang kampanya and, definitely, makikinabang sa kanyang pagiging Kongresman.

Kaya Pareng Doy, huwag ka nang mabigla. Si Ronald Singson, hindi siya nagki-claim ng liability sa mga taga-Ilocos Sur kundi sa kanyang ama lang. Si Chavit lang naman kasi ang bumubuo sa Ilocos Sur at ang nag-iisang botante sa kawawang probinsiya.

Cong. Ronald Singson is resigning

2011-02-28T20:16:00.000+08:00

Finally, Ilocos Cong. Ronald Singson had the guts to say he is resigning. Inquirer.net reported that 'Ilocos Sur Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson has formally notified Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. about the resignation of his son, Ilocos Sur Representative Ronald Singson, who is serving an 18-month prison term in Hong Kong for drug trafficking.'

Pero teka, paano na pala ang mga kababayan niya? Kawawa naman. Naloko na sa eleksiyon, nawalan pa ng representante sa Kongreso. Willing kaya na i-compensate yan ni Ronald Singson?

Ang alam ni Tikboy me polisiya na dapat magpa-drug test muna ang mga kandidato during their filing of certificates of candidacy. Ano ang nangyari dito? Will the election officer who accepted his candidacy be charged for failure to ensure that the election laws and regulations are strictly followed? Similarly, will the hospital or clinic who did the drug test be also made liable?

Hmmnnn....

Dead in the City

2011-02-28T14:33:00.001+08:00

No, we are not talking of a horror version of the Razzie awarded "Sex in the City 2". We are talking of the continuing "salvaging" of alleged, and relatively, "petty" criminals like cellphone snatchers, hold-uppers, etc. We say "petty" because the bigger ones like those plundering hundreds of millions of pesos remain outside the prisons and in most cases even protected by government-appointed bodyguards at the expense of the taxpayers' money.

In the past few weeks kasi, halos sunod-sunod ang itinatapon na salvage victims with corresponding messages like "Huwag akong tularan, Holdaper ako", o "Snatcher ako", o "Magnanakaw ako". Pero ano ba talaga ang implications nito?

Nagsisimula na namang maghari ang mga vigilante at mga ala-vigilante. Ja-peyks ba para lang makakuha ng atensiyon.
Kulang na ang tiwala ng mga tao sa criminal justice system.
Puwede ring ang tingin ng ibang tao, wala nang justice system. Puro na lang kriminal.
Usad-pagong ang ating mga pulis. Baka wala nang mga gasolina ang mga police cars na inisyu sa kanila.
Usad-pagong pa rin ang mga pulis. Baka masyado na silang gutom at di na kaya ang mabilisang pagresponde sa mga krimen.
Usad-pagong pa rin ang mga pulis. Kung hindi sila gutom, baka masyado naman silang busog kaya nahihirapang tumakbo. Sa AFP, milyones ang pabaon. Sa PNP kaya?
May problema sa conviction rate. Tingin ng iba, makakalaya rin ang mga kriminal lalo pa at maliliit lamang ang krimen na nagawa nila. Yung malalaki nga na milyones ang involved at krimen pa laban sa bayan ang na-commit nakakapaglakwatsa pa at malayang nagmo-malling, di ba? At puwede pang kumandidato.
May problema pa rin sa conviction rate. Ilang beses na nga bang na-deny ang efforts para malaman ang katotohanan simula pa nung impeachment processes kay Gloria Arroyo?
Marami na talagang isnatser at holdaper kaya kailangang magbawas.
Marami na rin ang mga taong walang magawa kaya yung iba, nang-iisnats na lang at yung iba naman nanghoholdap.
Lalong marami ang mga taong walang magawa kaya yung iba, pumapatay na lang ng mga kriminal tulad ng isnatser at holdaper.
Baka wala nang ibang puwedeng gawin dahil sa kahirapan.
May over-production ng masking tape, panaksak, at mga sasakyan kung saan puwedeng ilulan ang mga salvage victims.
Masyadong natutuon ang atensiyon natin sa malakihang krimen tulad ng plunder kaya kailangan ng diversionary tactic.
Hindi kaya ng mga vigilante ang mga malalaking kriminal kaya doon na lang sila nakatutok sa maliliit.

Pero interesting na i-test statistically ang number of instances na may salvaging simula nang tawaging "pro-GMA" ang Korte Suprema. Interesting din na alamin ang epekto sa crime rate simula nang mapawalang-sala sina Hubert Webb sa Vizconde Massacre. Kaya lang, sino kaya ang maaaring gumawa? Volunteers, anyone?

An interesting post on Angie Reyes

2011-02-27T16:59:00.000+08:00

A hero or an accomplice?

A hero always dies. Hence, when former Gen. Angelo Reyes committed a suicide in front of his mother’s grave, many called him a hero. Has the world gone insane?


Gen. Angelo Reyes (Phot Credit: pinoyambisyoso.com)

A hero is born with a cause. When Reyes turned his back at the then-President Joseph Estrada, he’s got a marking of a hero. But when he kept his mouth shut, sat on his hands, and watched the corruption in the military during the Arroyo administration, his mark vanished. He was not consistent. Clearly, he was just pressured. He did live with his cause, if ever he has, or he has no cause at all.

A hero dies fighting for a cause. When he died at his mother’s grave, he was not fighting for a cause. He was a coward as he chose to commit suicide in front of a dead person rather than in front of those claiming to search for truth. Suicide bombers are braver than him. Though their logic is crooked, at least they have the guts to die in front of a crowd and proclaim what they are advocating for. If he was a hero and he really wanted to prove his cause, he could have committed suicide in front of those investigating him either literally or figuratively. But he did not. Clearly, Reyes cannot be a hero as he has no cause at all.

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The similarities or Ronald Singson and Merci

2011-02-26T19:26:00.000+08:00

What are the similarities between Ilocos Sur Cong. Ronald Singson and Ombudsman Merciditas Gutierrez?

Pareho silang public official.
Public office is a public trust pero sila, parehong hindi na pinagkakatiwalaan ng mga tao. May public mistrust ba.
Kahit may mistrust sa kanila, Pareho silang ayaw umalis sa puwesto. At this point in time, ayaw nila parehong mag-resign.
Pareho silang gusto ng "due process" bago patalsikin.
Hindi sila tulad ni Gen. Angelo Reyes. Si Angie, manipis ang mukha kaya nagpakamatay agad. Sila, they value life kaya ok lang na tawaging makapal ang mukha.
Pareho silang haharap sa Kongreso bago patalsikin.
Si Ronald, addict sa bawal na gamot; si Merci, addict din sa pag-aaral ng kaso kaya tumatagal ang mga ito sa upisina niya
Pareho rin silang may admission of guilt. Si Ronald, admitted na drug user; si Merci, admitted din na konti lang ang naresolbang kaso.
Pero pareho silang binabayaran ng taong bayan.
Pareho silang may "friend". Si Ronald, girl friend si Lovi Poe; si Merci, boy friend si former FG Mike Arroyo (boy friend as in lalaking friend, ano ka ba?)

The Estradas strike again

2011-02-25T20:20:00.001+08:00

In the Senate hearing yesterday on the Garcia plea bargaining agreement, Senator Jinggoy Estrada and former Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo had a partly heated argument. Jinggoy was arguing: Walang kasalanan si President Erap. Di ba napardon nga siya?

Nosebleed!

Pero nakabawi naman ang mga Estrada. Just today, the pardoned Joseph Estrada, made a noteworthy comment. Sabi ni Erap: In our history, there are only two women presidents in the Philippines -- one is an icon of democracy and the other is an icon of corruption.

Teka, sino nga ba ang nagsalita?

Nosebleed ulit.

Aquino may follow Obama path, warns think-tank

2010-11-04T08:53:00.000+08:00

US President Barack Obama lost big in the midterm elections by taking control of the House of Representatives and almost had the Senate, too. The reason: The babble of change that catapulted Obama to office is but a pure bubble which is sure to burst. According to Pacific Strategies and Assessments, a risk consulting firm, the Philippines' P-Noy may also follow Obama. Tikboy shares this view. Here is the report of the Inquirer.

Aquino may follow Obama path, warns think-tank

By Tony Bergonia

MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III’s promise of change is likely to follow the same path as that of US President Barack Obama, according to a US-led multinational risk consultancy firm doing intelligence work for the world’s top corporations and embassies in Manila.
In a paper titled “Chasing a Legacy: Assessing Aquino’s Ability to Impact Change,” Pacific Strategies and Assessments (PSA) warned that like that of his US counterpart, Mr. Aquino’s change agenda appeared likely to fail to institute reforms for the great majority.

“Approximately 100 days into office, it appears that the bubble of expectations around Noynoy (Mr. Aquino’s nickname) is beginning to burst,” PSA said in the October 2010 paper that it had prepared for its clients, one of which furnished the Philippine Daily Inquirer a copy.

“The dynamics are not too dissimilar to the shared doubt being cast on US President Barack Obama because he simply has not lived up to the hype and soaring-oratory expectations of those who voted for him,” PSA said in reference to the losses suffered by the US President’s Democratic party in the midterm elections.

“Mr. Obama’s grace period has expired and eventually so will Noynoy’s,” it said, adding that while Mr. Aquino had “done a fair job acknowledging and framing the country’s major issues,” he had “not articulated any semblance of a strategy to address them.”

Mislang and Misfit

2010-11-03T21:58:00.001+08:00

What's the difference between P-Noy's ASec and speechwriter "Mai Mislang" and "behavioral misfit"? None. Nada.

Mislang's unbridled fingers especially on the social networking sites are doing the scratches on P-Noy's administration. Worse, this might even cost the Philippines the cordial relations with Vietnam... all because the latter's wine sucks and that there are no cute chaps in the speechwriter's taste.

Pero teka, are we paying Mislang to ridicule President Noynoy Aquino's hosts? Are we paying her to berate people just because it offered no sweet wine and no cute chap? Or are we paying her to be the wine taster and guy-hunter?

While we agree that the personal and the professional sides should not mix, one should also be aware where he or she is standing and what is the cap he or she is carrying. Human as she is, puwede naman siyang magreklamo but within the confines of her private life naman sana. Tikboy thought she's a tourism graduate and from UP at that? Bakit di niya alam ang simple common sense?

Well, this just show the weakness of appointment or hiring not based on merit but based on the relationship with the appointing officer. We thought things will change under PNoy but it seems that the same old style of recruiting the members of public office remains.

From Karitoon Classroom to Learning Center

2010-10-21T10:58:00.000+08:00

After a year of having been declared as CNN hero of the year, awardee Efren Penaflorida is now into showbiz. He is hosting Ako Mismo program in TV5 and yesterday, was into pictorial for a CD album "For a Better World", PEP reports.

But he did not totally left his advocacies on education. From Karitoon Classrom in Cavite, Efren and his buddies are now building a learning center for the kids.

Buti naman at may improvement na. Sana tuloy-tuloy na ito. Pero teka, di kaya naiinsulto dito si Gloria Macapagal Arrovo... err, Arroyo? Sabi niya before she left, kumpleto naman ang classroom for the education sector. Covering nga lang 120 students per classroom ... o class hall? Kasi ang alam kong classroom mga 30 max lang ang estudyante. Kung hall, puwedeng 120. Pasok din yun sa gymnasium o kaya coliseum.

Pero sabi primary concern daw ng P-Noy Administration ang education. Kaya nga dadagdagan ng 2 years ang basic education ng mga Pilipino. Sana dagdagan din ng classroom. Di ba Bro. Armin Luistro? Kasi kahit 10 years pa ang idagdag sa basic education kung lahat naman ay matututo sa ilalim ng punong mangga o kaya sa may kariton, dagdag-pahirap lang yun sa ating mga kababayan. Not unless.... gusto pa nating magkaroon ng marami pang Efren Penaflorida. Pero di ba insulto yun sa mga Pinoy at sa kasalukuyang administrasyon?

Half kudos for P-Noy Admin over Typhoon Juan

2010-10-20T09:18:00.002+08:00

President Noynoy Aquino aired satisfaction over the handling of information and corresponding risk mitigation efforts over super typhoon Juan. As Yahoo's FTP reported:

“I am very pleased. Pagasa [Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration], with its accurate and timely predictions, enabled all other agencies to be ready,” Aquino said in a text message to reporters.

Photo courtesy of www.fox40.com

Well, we see really some difference and we are glad about it. Hence, Tikboy offers his "half" congratulations to the P-Noy Administration for that. The other half is reserved until after the administration has taught the local government officials on how to mitigate disaster-related risks. As Inquirer.net reported, 12 are dead and at least P1.5 billion of crops are lost along with hundreds of houses destroyed.

Amnesty is good but....

2010-10-19T15:50:00.000+08:00

Palance is in a defensive mode after announcing that it is granting amnesty to the Magdalo members especially those who were involved in the Oakwood mutiny and the Manila Pen seige.

But while nobody is questioning the power of the President to issue amnesty, many are asking: Is this really the path to "matuwid na daan"?

P-Noy has been saying that one way to the "matuwid na daan" is to know the truth. But the truth will not come out if there are no efforts to seek it. And one way to seek it is by allowing the wheels of fortune... err, justice to proceed. So bakit di na lang hayaang litisin muna ang mga sundalo para lumabas ang katotohanan? Pag nilitis sila, lalabas ang mga ebidensiya at pag lumabas ang mga ebidensiya, makikita nang sambayanan saan nga ba talaga nagkamali at ano nga ba talaga ang mali?

Si Tikboy matagal nang naghahanap ng linaw sa akusasyon ni Sen. Trillanes tungkol sa korapsiyon sa militar. Lumabas na ang tip of the iceberg nang ma-kasuhan si Gen. Garcia. Hanggang sa tip na lang ba tayo magiging kuntento?

At any rate, sigurado naman na palalayain ang mga sundalo. Kung hindi man amnestiya, andiyan naman ang pardon sakaling mapatunayan silang may kasalanan. Kung sila nga ay may kasalanan. Di ba katotohanan ang hinahanap natin at ito rin ang isinisigaw ni P-Noy sa inauguration niya sa Quirino Grandstand?

Amnesty is good.... But we need TRUTH!

Rico Puno, puno ba nang bunga?

2010-10-09T11:05:00.001+08:00

A Pilipino saying goes: Binabato ang puno na hitik sa bunga.

So it appears. Literally and figuratively as Undersecretary Rico Puno claims that "five groups including one led by Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo are working to have me ousted." The others are: the Balay group (those pushing for Noy-Mar tandem in the 2010 elections), the Samar group (those pushing for the Noynoy-Binay tandem in the May 2010), one composed of people interested in his post, and another affiliated with former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Pero teka, mukhang hindi nga lang talaga binabato si Puno. People are out to get his head axed or at least his ass kicked out from the DILG. Paano ba naman, palpak na nga sa hostage-taking, ayaw pang manindigan laban sa jueteng. He even boasted na marami ang lumalapit sa kanya na jueteng lords para kausapin si P-Noy. Pero nang tinatanong sinu-sino ang mga ito, bigla ba namang kambiyo. Todo defense na sa mga kausap niya.

Kung sabagay, okay naman yung pag-defend niya kasi ibig sabihin, tunay nga siyang kaibigan. Ang kaibigan niya, pino-protektahan niya kahit pa siya ang madiin. Hindi tulad ni GMA na iiwanan na lang basta ang kaibigan huwag lang maipit. Kaya lang di ba dapat, the loyalty to one's self (or friends) should end when the loyalty to the country begins?

Pero since the loyalty of Puno to his friends never end despite the fact na kailangan na ang loyalty niya sa kanyang bansa, hanggang kaibigan material lang talaga siya. Hindi government material, di ba? At dahil hindi siya government material, di siya bagay sa kanyang puwesto at tama nga ang mga grupo na gusto siyang palayasin sa kanyang puwesto.

Pero USec, pag pinalayas ka, friends tayo ah? Kasi mas bagay ka na friend kesa government official. Tapos, hingi ako ng balato sa jueteng ah? Di ba, dapat nagsi-share and that's what are friends for?

Labh yeowhpoewh...
PEACE!

Quantity is not equal to quality

2010-10-07T21:48:00.000+08:00

Minus the reproductive health bill, the bigger issue that is dividing the Philippines is the issue of adding two years in the basic education system of the Philippines. Multiply that with rallies and demonstrations and the result: Restlessness.

It appears that one problem with the present administration is its ability to package its messages. The honeymoon period might be an excuse but it should have been clear especially for those who accepted the post that corresponding with their seats are responsibilities and that includes communicating properly what needs to be communicated. The clarity is obvious as the present administration even hired a number of communication specialists and even had a number of departments to cater to that. But then, quantity does not automatically equal to quality.

Because of a problematic communication system, sectors and groups have been opposing the increase in the number of years of basic schooling from 10 to 12. They also argue that quantity is not equivalent to quality as the additional years in the basic education does not automatically mean better students or well-prepared graduates for tertiary schools. Even if the years are short compared with international standards, as long as there are sufficient books, teachers, school rooms conducive to learning and other facilities, the country can still produce quality graduates and globally competitive citizens. Pero kahit dagdagan mo ng 10 pang taon kung kulang pa rin ang mga aklat, guro, paaralan at iba pang facilities, ganun at ganun pa rin ang mangyayari. Palpak pa rin ang magiging resulta.

Sana, nag-iisip ang ating gobyerno. Sana, nag-iisip din ang mga kumokontra at sumasang-ayon sa mga issue. Quantity does not automatically translate to quality.

"Very Good" satisfaction ratings for a good start

2010-10-07T09:27:00.000+08:00

There is no doubt, President Noynoy Aquino passed his first 100 days with a "Very Good" satisfaction ratings according to the Social Weather Stations. "The survey showed 71 percent of respondents were satisfied with Mr. Aquino’s performance, and 11 percent dissatisfied" or a net satisfaction ratings of 60 percent.

The palace is elated, of course, but this should not be a reason for them to rest on their laurels. As Joker Arroyo said, P-Noy's first 100 days was “not designed as a dry-run or on-the-job training period for the President.” Besides, P-Noy got the rating with "the shortcomings, the underperformance of his (advisers),”who, it seems, he doesn't want to replace especially the U-Sec in hotwater, Rico Puno.

But hopefully, things will change. P-Noy is a fast learner so it is impossible that he won't learn from ousted president, Joseph Estrada. Estrada also got 100 percent satisfaction ratings on his first 100 days but eventually was kicked out of the Palace for misgovernance and involvement in jueteng -- the illegal numbers game that is unfortunately dragging Puno down.

P-Noy and Estrada, however, did not top the satisfaction ratings for the first 100 days in office as Chief Executive. The title holder is Fidel "Tabako" Ramos with 66 percent. In the fourth place is Corazon Aquino, P-Noy's mother with 53 percent, and at the bottom is the infamous president, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo with 24 percent.

Civil Disobedience and Religious Obedience

2010-10-04T22:04:00.000+08:00

It is said: Corollary with the freedom to believe is the freedom NOT to believe.

With the apparent collision between the Church and the State on the issue of reproductive health bill, the former threatened to call for a civil disobedience against the latter claiming it has the moral authority to do so. This simply means, the Church is framing its arguments on moral grounds.

But while the Church cannot cloak itself with moral framing based on what Snippets earlier raised, it can use the cloak of religious freedom to advance its arguments. That, we should respect as the Constitution clearly guarantees religious freedom for everyone.

Pero sana huwag namang bias ang Simbahan. If their freedom of religion is guaranteed and respected, they should also respect the freedom guaranteed to others. At any rate, religious freedom is not only given exclusively to the members of the Catholic faith.

Second, sana straight din sila mangatwiran. P-Noy clearly stated na he is supporting the freedom of the couples to choose which birth control method to use and he is NOT advocating preference over the other. The palpak na logic, for instance, makes the Church out of its wits. Isang miyembro, halimbawa, ng Catholic Women's League ang nagsabi na if there was a preference for condom ang Simbahan, sana wala si Sto. Nino. This kind of logic exposes the Church more to questions like:

Teka, di ba immaculate conception si Sto. Nino? May di ba sinasabi ang Simbahan sa kanyang mga miyembro?
Ang Holy Spirit ba nakikipagtalik the way ordinary humans do?
Alam ba ng Simbahan kelan naimbento ang condom? In tune nga ba sila sa mga pagbabago ng panahon?
etc., etc.

Population Issue and the Wrong Premise

2010-09-29T09:19:00.000+08:00

Even before warming his seat, President Noynoy Aquino already stirred the ire of the Catholic Church for expressing his support over the artificial birth control issue. Hence, what PNOY did is to blink and seek talk with the Church.

But while there is nothing wrong with consulting with the different sectors and talking with the latter on issues affecting the country, it is unsound to always sit down and talk and never come to a resolution. Kelan pa ba yan nagsimula na usapang yan? Bakit hindi natatapos?

The reason why nothing comes to a closure is because of the wrong assumptions both on the part of the government and the Catholic Church.

First, the government thinks that the Church is all-powerful kaya maraming opisyal ang tiklop ang tuhod pag nagsalita na ito. Dahil ba sa sinasabing 80% ng mga Pilipino ay Katoliko? Even if sabihin na 100% ng mga Pilipino ay Katoliko, it is non-sequitor to say na powerful pa rin ang Simbahan. Numbers doesn't mean power dahil marami pa rin kasing Pilipino ang ayaw matawag na atheist kaya everytime na tinatanong sila kung ano ang relihiyon nila, sinasabi na Katoliko sila. Well, ang gobyerno naman kasi ang may kasalanan nito. Mantakin mo ba namang lagyan ng mga larawan ng Diyos (kuno) ang mga classrooms at i-emphasize ang panalangin sa pagbubukas ng klase sa mga public schools, and at the crucial stage kung saan nagsisimulang makipag-socialize ang mga bata? Siyempre, mapipilitang maki-ayon na lang ang mga bata para di sila ma-outcast sa kanilang mga klase.
Second, the government believes that numbers mean power but doesn't conduct scientific studies to show which numbers are true. Dahil ba sinabi ng Simbahan na 80% ng mga Pilipino ay Katoliko, yung equivalent number na yun ay ayaw na sa contraceptives? If this is true then sana yung sinasabing "huwag makikiapid" na nasa 10 Commandments ay sinusunod din lalo na nang mga kaparian. Si Fr. Anton, napapabalitang anak daw yung bunso ni Aling Jenny na asawa ni Mang Mark na seaman. Ganun din si Fr. Marlon na maliban sa girlfriend na si Anggie, kinakalantare din ang asawa ni Charles. Okay lang siguro si Anggie kasi dalaga naman siya at binata naman ang pari. Pero yung asawa ng may asawa? Meron pang isa, si Fr. Dindo. Nagkaanak din sa isang dalaga pero sa halip na panagutan, nagpa-assign bilang misyonero sa Africa. Pero bago siya napunta sa Africa, may mga nagalaw din na kababaihan sa parokya nila pero di nagbuntis. Gumamit na daw ng condom dahil natuto na sa pagkakamali nila ni Lora, yung dalagang nabuntis. Isa lang ang naging anak ni Fr. Dindo, na ngayon ay happy na daw sa Africa. Si Fr. Anton naman, dinala na sa Roma. Yung mga kawawang mga anak nila, nasa pangangalaga ng kanilang mga ina na ni isang kusing na sentimo, walang natatanggap na suporta. Ibig sabihin, walang solid control ang Simbahan hindi lang sa mga miyembro nito kundi maging sa mga kaparian. Kaya ba't nagpapadala sa numero at moralidad ang mga taong-gobyerno eh bluff lang ang mga ito?
Third, balik sa numero. Takot ang karamihan, lalo na ang mga pulitiko, na hindi sila mananalo kung lalabanan nila ang Simbahan. Me political clout nga ba ito eh brown bags lang nung panahon ni GMA at jueteng payola, bow na ang ilang pari? At si Bishop Cruz mismo ang nagsabi, di ba? Assuming na me political clout nga ang Simbahan, bakit natalo si Fr. Ed Panlilio sa Pampanga o kaya si Grace Padaca ng Isabela? At bakit nanalo si GMA bilang kongresista? Gayun din si Edcel Lagman na tahasang sumuporta at nagsulong sa Reproductive Health Bill noong nakaraang Kongreso? Kung ang Iglesiya ni Kristo siguro o kaya mga Muslim ang magsabi, baka puwede pang paniwalaan. Pag dating ng eleksiyon, nasa 64% ng mga miyembro ng Iglesia ang solid na bumoboto sa ini-endorso ng kanilang mga lider samantalang 48%-52% naman ng mga Muslim ang sumusunod sa ini-endorso ng kanilang mga Imam.
Fourth, mukhang parehong nag-aasume lang ang Simbahan at Gobyerno. Di natin alam kung bopols silang pareho pero ni hindi nga nila kabisadong husto ang kanilang mga isyu. Mantakin ba naman na sabihin ng Simbahan na kasama sa artificial birth control ang abortion? Papaano mangyayari yun eh wala namang batas ang isinusulong para amyendahan ang Revised Penal Code na nagbabawal sa abortion?

Malaki ang intelligence funds ng gobyerno. Malaki rin tong, este, ano nga yun, abuloy(?) na nakukuha ng Simbahan. Bakit di sila mag-invest sa research para me matino naman silang desisyon?

The reason why this is happening is because of the wrong assumptions. Masyadong takot ang gobyerno at masyado namang nananakot ang Simbahan. Pero ano ba ang ginagawa ng gobyerno para ayusin ito once and for all?

Lapid and his School Bags Law

2010-09-28T10:57:00.001+08:00

Mona Lisa senator, Lito Lapid, passed a bill prohibiting the overloading of the school children's bags. Numbered as Senate Bill 2179, the bill proposes to

limit the maximum load of schoolbags to 15 percent of a student’s body weight. Schools should provide weighing scales to implement this regulation. He also proposed that schools provide more lockers and buy thinner and lighter textbooks.

The reason: Lapid doesn't want other kids to experience what he did when he carried heavy woods and sugarcane in his younger years that instead of growing 5 feet 11 inches, he only grew 5' 9".

Lapid's bill was countered by DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro saying there is no need for a law on that. Nasa discretion na yan ng mga magulang at siyempre, ng school officials. Which is correct. Dahil sa kakulangan ng school buildings at teachers, kailangang wala nang uwian at tapusin na nang mga bata from 6AM to 12NN ang kanilang mga subjects na dapat ay from 8AM to 11AM, at 1PM to 5PM. Ibig sabihin, kailangang dalhin nila ang kanilang mga gamit at wala nang uwian para ma-maximize ang oras.

Sa halip sana na schoolbags overloading ang tinumbok ng kawawang senador, nagpasa na sana siya ng batas na mage-ensure ng quality education sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng: tamang oras at hindi long shifts, dagdag na school rooms at hindi lang lockers, matino at kumpletong mga textbooks hindi panipisan ngunit walang kalidad na laman, at de-kalidad na mga guro. Siyempre, dapat gumawa rin siya ng batas na nagtatakda ng dagdag na pondo para sa edukasyon.

At sana rin, sa halip na schoolbags ang tinumbok ng kawawang senador, sana yung batas na lang na nagtatakda ng matinong employee performance evaluation system at automatic kick out policy sa mga nagtatrabaho sa gobyerno na may poor performance. Lalong lalo na sa mga teacher sa rural areas na ang ginagawa sa mga estudyante nila ay pinapag-linis ng bakuran ng paaralan at pinapag-bunot ng damo. At ang pinakasimple, sana nagpasa rin siya sa ethics committee ng Senado ng resolution na ang mga Senador na kakaunti o kaya walang quality na naipasang bills ay bigyan ng parusa sa pamamagitan ng pagkaltas sa kanilang suweldo at pag-a-allocate ng pera para sa mga paaralan.

Kaso, kawawa talaga itong si Senador. Kung feeling niya kulang pa rin siya sa height, mas matindi ang kakulangan niya sa buhay: talino o kahit common sense para makagawa naman siya ng isang makabuluhang batas.

What are we jueteng for?

2010-09-27T19:17:00.000+08:00

The frogs are croaking. Sec. Rico Puno is now in hot water while Senator Miriam Santiago had her well-thought jueteng equation. Of course, Mona Lisa senator, Lito Lapid, is to the rescue saying his kabalens Bong and Lilia Pineda are not jueteng operators. We heard this during the time of Gloria Arroyo and we are hearing it again. Anyway, the latest winning number combination according to whispering spirits is 11-23.

Chavit Singson is also on the limelight as Santiago said the governor is a jueteng operator. The problem is: Santiago is not offering evidences to pin Singson and the other names she dropped. Kaya nga tanong ni Sen. Cayetano (sino na nga yun? yung lalaki? Marami na kasi sila - 2 sa senado and earlier meron sa Kongreso): What are we jueteng for?

Ano na nga ba ang ginagawa natin? We have names, we conducted investigations, the police has a list .. and we are pissed. Sino na nga ba ang nakulong? Kahit si Erap na nasipa sa puwesto dahil sa jueteng kuno ay ayun, kumandidato pa at nag-ikot pa sa bansang Pilipinas. What are we jueteng for nga ba talaga?

Merci gets Mercy from SC

2010-09-15T11:13:00.000+08:00

The Supreme Court, on Tuesday, speedily gave an immediate relief to Ombudsman Merciditas Gutierrez by directing the committee headed by Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. to observe a status quo ante following Gutierrez’s petition for certiorari and prohibition. Gutierrez had been a subject of impeachment cases which she claims as “capricious and whimsical.” (See full report here.)

Sa wakas, bumilis din ang takbo ng Korte Suprema. Pero teka, preno, alto, halt, stop! Bakit sa kaso lang ni Gutierrez? Bakit sa ibang kaso, hindi? Dahil ba sa karamihang Supreme Court Justices ay appointee ni Gloria Arroyo at si Gutierrez ay ganun din? Ibig bang sabihin, ganito rin ang mangyayari sa mga kaso na ilalatag laban kay Arroyo? O revenge ito ng Korte dahil sa budget cuts nito for 2011?

If this is the case, then the high court should not be a hypocrite claiming that it is apolitical. And if this is the case then it should not expect to get the trust of the Filipinos. Pero sana naman hindi. Dangan kasi ay last resort dapat ng mga tao ang korte sa mga wrongs committed against them. Not unless isa itong recreational and leisure resort kung saan libre ang mga mayayamang may koneksiyon lalo na sa mga Arroyo?

Jueteng

2010-09-14T22:31:00.000+08:00

Both the House of Representatives and the Senate are rushing to conduct an investigation on the alleged recipients of jueteng payola. Are they serious on curbing the illegal numbers game or are they just curious on who gets how much?

Sabi ni Aling Munding, mukhang may ilang opisyal ang interesado sa congressional inquiry para malaman kung tama lang ang kanilang nakukuhang payola. Matapos daw kasi nung eleksiyon ay nasaid na ang kanilang mga bulsa. Ang iba nga, nagtatago na sa kanilang mga pinagkakautangan eh palapit na nang palapit ang pasko. Wala na ring choice kasi inubos na nang administrasyong Arroyo ang pera ng gobyerno. Totoo kaya ito?

Pero ang nakapagtataka, ayaw pang pangalanan ni Archbishop Oscar Cruz ang mga opisyal na tumatanggap ng payola. Ang sabi ni Archbishop, "Bakit ko sasabihin? Hindi ba nila alam? Eh, sila itong may malaking intelligence funds na ni hindi nga ina-audit?"

Sabagay, tama naman ang Arsobispo. Pero tanong lang: Saan pong intelligence funds: Yung galing sa gobyerno o galing sa jueteng payola?

Pero naniniwala si Chipipot. Kaya daw ayaw sabihin ni Archbishop yung mga pangalan ng mga opisyal ng gobyerno ay baka mapilitan din siyang sabihin yung pangalan ng mga taga-Simbahan na tumatanggap ng jueteng.

Nakowww!!!

P-Noy to let go of Robredo?

2010-09-12T17:04:00.000+08:00

If the slogan before is "Goodbye, Gloria!", this time it appears to be "Goodbye, Robredo!" An interesting analysis is shared by Thoughts on the Loose a portion of which are as follows:

One of the loyal Liberals in the Bicol Region is former Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo. He was the one who kept the LP’s torch burning when the alleged last bastion of Liberal Party, the Alfelor Clan, jumped ship to Lakas-NUCD. But will he still hang on now that many wants his head axed and that the President he serves will not even recommend the confirmation of his appointment in the Interior and Local Government?

While we cannot read what’s in Robredo’s mind, it cannot be denied that he is on the brink of becoming a victim of power play. First, when Gloria Arroyo’s adviser, Joey Salceda, jumped ship from Lakas-NUCD to Liberal Party during the campaign period, something immediately started to boil in Noynoy Aquino’s camp. Chiz Escudero was already campaigning for NoyBi (Noynoy Aquino for President and Jojo Binay for Vice President) and it is often said that “two is a company and three is a crowd”. Worse, rumors spread in the grapevine that political stalwart Luis Villafuerte released on the last hour NoyBi ballots. Now, that means not just getting crowded but overcrowded and an overcrowded ship needs to reduce cargoes and even passengers. Since Robredo is the least of these Bicolano figures who can deliver votes is Robredo, definitely he will be the first to be left out.

The complete post is found here.

Euro Generals suspended

2010-09-10T10:37:00.001+08:00

Finally, after two long years and the death of 8 persons in a well-televised hostage-taking incident, the Ombudsman suspended six Euro-generals. The Inquirer reports:

MANILA, Philippines—The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered six Philippine National Police officials involved in a controversial trip to Russia in 2008 to be placed on preventive suspension for six months without pay pending its investigation of the case tagged in media as the “euro generals” scandal.

Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez, head of the anti-graft body, identified the PNP officials as Director Silverio Alarcio Jr. of the Directorate for Operations; Director German Doria of the Directorate for Human Resources and Doctrine Development; Chief Supt. Orlando Pestaño, finance service director; Chief Supt. Tomas Rentoy III, budget division director; Supt. Samuel Rodriguez, special disbursing officer and Supt. Elmer Pelobello.

But three of them—Alarcio, Pestaño and Doria—have reportedly retired from the service. (More here)

Interesting. So kailangan lang palang me mga mangyari muna bago ang aksiyon. Di ba may kasabihan: Aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo?

Kung sabagay, it is better late than never. Ang Ombudsman kaya, kelan din mapapalitan? Mukhang ito rin ang dahilan bakit namatay ang mga Intsik sa Manila Hostage Crisis noong Agosto 23, di ba? Tanungin natin si Capt. Mendoza.

Maguindanao Massacre: Perfect Crime But...

2010-09-09T22:01:00.000+08:00

The plan was perfect: Kill everyone and bury them including their cars and properties underground and announce to the world that a UFO (unidentified flying object) came and abducted them. The problem: Something went amiss as the media, indeed being a media, was able to report that the UFO is nothing but the private army linked to the Ampatuans.

Because of the mistake, and the information leak, a planning was done in front of the dinner table according to Lakmudin Saliao, a former household help of the Ampatuans who acted as a close-in aide of Andal Sr. The plan: Release Andal Jr., but only under the care of then President Gloria Arroyo.

Though outside the story of Saliao but the plan was slowly bared with the unfolding of the events. The suspects in the Maguindanao Massacre will be charged with rebellion and not 57 counts of murder plus illegal possession of firearms. Mahirap kasing palabasin kung murder unlike rebellion kung saan puwede agad bigyan ng amnesty ang mga akusado at pronto! Laya na. Kaya nga wala nang masyadong objections ang kampo ni Andal Jr., sa mga pinag-sasabi ng Department of Justice.

But while the plan was overtaken by events. When election was held, wala na silang nagawa. It was clear: Arroyo would step down then. So yung promise to take care of Andal Jr., was not realized. The Ampatuans naman kasi never read history. Whatever GMA says, she does otherwise. In simple terms, sorry na lang sila.

To salvage the situation, Andal Jr., started wearing yellow. He thought he can still court Noynoy Aquino, then the emerging winner of the presidential race. Pero he was disowned and it was a double blow. So ngayon, palpak ulit.

It was a perfect crime sana kaya lang ... palpak!

Inch by inch

2010-09-07T21:00:00.000+08:00

Finally, the impeachment complaint against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez is moving. Just today, the complaints filed by former Akbayan Representative Riza Hontiveros et. al., and the other one from the Bayan Muna camp have been declared sufficient in form and in substance.

Merci is unfazed, though. We should not be surprised. It's taking her long to internalize things or feel everything through her bones. Kaya nga usad-pagong ang mga kaso dahil sa sobrang bagal niya mag-internalize, di ba? At kaya nga nagwal rin si Capt. Rolando Mendoza.

But we should not blame Merci for her usad-pagong na galaw. Malay natin, nature na talaga yun. Pinag-iisipan niya lang na maigi. So kung mamatay na ang mga may kasalanan na hindi pa nasi-sintensiyahan, ayos lang. Whether or not sintensiyahan sila, mamatay din lang naman sila. Ganun din ang logic sa government service. Whether or not gawin nila ang trabaho nila sa Sandigan, sasahod din naman sila. O di ba?

PNP has no "Nego Team" but has "Euro Generals"

2010-09-07T20:50:00.000+08:00

It's interesting to note that the Philippine National Police has no "Negotiating Team" organized or trained to handle situations like the Manila Hostage Crisis. This was disclosed by Supt. Orlando Yebra, the one who acted as a negotiator during last month's mismanaged hostage crisis. And worse, the PNP also has no TV or radio that could have assisted in monitoring the situation.

But on the contrary, the PNP has millions of pesos that can finance euro generals and their families to make "lamierda" in Europe. Interesting, isn't it? That's only here in the Philippines.

Magtibay: Just Once

2010-09-02T09:21:00.001+08:00

Gen. Rodolfo Magtibay has a new theme song when he faced the National Bureau of Investigation probe on the Manila Hostage Crisis handling last August 23. The song: "Just Once" by James Ingram. It goes:

I did my best
But I guess my best wasn't good enough
'Cause here we are back where we were before
Seems nothing ever changes
We're back to being strangers
Wondering if we oughta stay
Or head on out the door

We can't blame him naman. He really did his best as he claims and we can do nothing naman talaga kung yun lang ang kaya. Kung sabagay, nagpa-impluwensiya nga siya kay Mayor Alfredo Lim sa pag-handle ng sitwasyon kaya let's not blame him for the total wreck. Wala nga talaga siyang alam kahit ano'ng piga natin. Kahit nga yung kotong cops diyan sa may Lagusnilad di niya alam kung di pa na-"hindi ko kayo tatantanan" ni Mike Enriquez sa Imbestigador. Ano ka, P300 din yung nakuha kay Igme, ah! Buti si Tikboy nagtanong ano violation niya at lahat ng sabihin ng kotong cop, nabara. Si Igme kasi nagmamadali. Mantakin ba namang P500 ang pera niya binigyan pa nang sukli? (Teka, me share kaya dito si Gen. Magtibay? Papaano niya natustusan ang kanyang pagiging general kung ganun? Maliban na lang kung nakinabang siya sa Euro-general money.)

Pero dahil wala siyang alam, papaano ba siya naging heneral? Nagbayad din ba siya tulad nung mga driver na dumaan at nakotongan sa Lagusnilad? Posible. Kaya heto ang ebidensiya: Walo ang patay di pa kasama ang hostage-taker sa bilang kasama nang ilan pang sugatan. At mukhang naghihingalo na rin ang relasyong-pulitikal at pang-ekonomiya ng Tsina at Pilipinas. Lima ring OFW ang nakatakdang pugutan ng ulo dahil sa sentensiyang death penalty na posibleng revenge ng China sa 5 rin nilang national na napatay. Dahil dito, puwede pa ba tayong kumanta niyan ng "Just Once"?

Ewan.

The mysterious caller and the deterioration of the hostage-taking negotiations

2010-08-30T09:27:00.001+08:00

After pointing at the media as a cause of the agitation of Capt. Rolando Mendoza to shoot his hostages, fingers are now being pointed at the mysterious caller or callers of the hostage-taker. According to government officials, Mendoza's cellphone was busy that the negotiatiors could not anymore contact him after he fired his gun.

While it may be true that the mysterious caller is a cause, we can trace the original problem to the intelligence of the ground commander. Nung na-lowbat ang cellphone ni Mendoza, bakit di na lang siya binigyan ng cellphone na ang mga negosyador lang ang nakakaalam ng number? Tingin ni Tikboy, nagbibigay ng opening si Mendoza para sa resolution ng problema kasi kung gusto nga talaga niya mag-charge, puwede naman sa bus. Sabi nga ng mga nabuhay na biktima, wala namang plano si Mendoza na patayin sila (mga hostages). Kaso, masyado nga lang talagang matalino at matibay si Gen. Magtibay. Siyempre, dahil nagpatong-patong na ang problema tapos gutom pa, siyempre kukulo ang tiyan at iinit ang ulo.

Sabi nga ni Aling Toyang na labandera ni Mam Alice na asawa ng pulis, kumukulo ang tiyan niya pag gutom siya kasama na ang ulo at dugo. Kaya dapat daw, pinadalhan na lang ng pinadalhan ng masasarap na pagkain si Mendoza at ang mga hostages. Imposible naman daw gumastos ng P300 thousand sa pagkain lang kesa naman gumastos ng halos P3 million para sa mga kabaong. Kung hindi nagutom si Mendoza at ang mga hostages, baka nagkaroon pa ng maayos na ending at ang drama baka maging komedi pa. Sa sabihin ng mga taga-Hongkong, "Punta ako ng Pinas para magpa-hostage kasi masarap ang buhay-hostage dun. Busog." O di ba, dadami pa ang turista?

Hostage-taker Mendoza and the HK racists: Is there a difference?

2010-08-28T09:53:00.001+08:00

There are two touching and heart-warming incidents arising from the Manila hostage crisis: The tweets of Jackie Chan on Twitter, and the note of Hong Kong tourist Yik Siu Ling, a victim of the said hostage crisis.

But while Chan's and Yik's messages are products of intelligent thinking and open-mindedness, the case is otherwise with Hong Kong racists who detest Filipinos for the act of one man in the hostage-taking disaster last Monday, or mocks the Filipinos for being domestic helpers because of some 200 thousand workers in the former British colony. Or it could be that these racists are not aware that there is almost no difference between them and hostage takers? So it appears. Let us count the similarities:

Racists and hostage-takers are both morons. To drive a point, they usually commit the fallacy of hasty generalization. They would easily think that the act of one is the act of all. Manila hostage taker Rolando Mendoza, for instance, thought that if he kills his hostages, he can get even with those he thinks have wronged him. Similarly, Hong Kong racists think that since Mendoza is a Filipino, and that he is a hostage taker, then Filipinos are all hostage takers. If that is the case, can we say that Lucio Tan, the Gokongweis and other Chinese-blooded Filipino citizens are also hostage takers? Or shall we say that since copyright piracy is frequent in China and that Hongkong is in China, we shall charge all Hong Kong nationals for violations of copyright laws?
Racists and hostage-takers are short-sighted. They only look at the present and do not consider the implications of their actions. Hostage-taker Mendoza died. If there will be no domestic helpers in Hongkong, will the life of its citizens be convenient also? Well, we can excuse this short-sightedness. Racists and hostage-takers are both morons anyway.
Aside from intellectual (and/or logic) deficiency, they both suffer from psychological problems. If their fellows -- that is, the radical perfectionists and the puritan cults -- are to be consulted, these flukes of the civilized world (hostage-takers and racists) will be recommended for extermination. But of course, doing so is another act of barbaric act.
Racists and hostage-takers use other people to advance their cause. Hostage-taker Mendoza, for instance, used a bus-load of people to air his grievance while Hong Kong racists tried to trample on the dignity and even rights of the Filipinos just to show that they are a more superior race.
Racists and hostage-takers are both barbaric and uncivillized. They both think that they still live in the primitive era. They forgot that the world has changed and that there are rules to deal with everything.
To some extent, they both use violence. Hostage-taker Mendoza's actions describes this best. On the part of the racists, these include the reports of house-help beating to the point of killing as what happened to the Jews during Hitler's era.

So, what is the difference between hostage-takers and racists? It's only the name, my friend.

Jinggoy on HK wrath: No big deal

2010-08-28T08:28:00.000+08:00

At around 5 PM Thursday, Senator Jinggoy Estrada suffered China's wrath when his regular passport was thrown at him after it had been marked by a Hong Kong immigration officer. Jinggoy said the passport-throwing incident could have been triggered by the Manila hostage taking crisis last August 23 that killed eight Hong Kong nationals.

In a phone interview, however, the senator claimed that, “It was no big deal. I understand them.” The Inquirer added that Jinggoy also "opted not to make an issue out of the incident, acknowledging that the Chinese were still angered over the 11-hour hostage drama that had apparently exposed police inefficiency."

Tama naman si Jinggoy sa puntong huwag nang manggatong at huwag nang palakihin ang issue... pero teka. Di ba ang pagbabalita sa nangyari, lalo na sa media, ay pagpapalaki ng isyu? Ano ba talaga, Senator: Papalakihin ang isyu o hindi? Bakit niyo ibinalita? O baka na major major mistake din kayo sa di niyo alam na sinasabi ninyo?

Nakooowwww!!!!

Dirty Harry called the shots

2010-08-27T08:02:00.000+08:00

According to Inquirer:

It was “Dirty Harry” who called the shots in Monday’s bungled hostage drama that left eight Chinese tourists dead, their captor riddled with bullets and the Philippine image overseas severely tarnished.

Chief Supt. Rodolfo Magtibay, who has been relieved as head of the Manila Police District, said Thursday during a nationally televised Senate hearing that Mayor Alfredo Lim led the crisis committee that handled Monday’s standoff.

Kaya pala mukhang wild, wild west ang resulta. If this is true, will he take responsibility? Kasama rin kaya siya sa sinasabi ni Pnoy na: May mananagot?

Aminiiiinnn!!!!

The twist of fate, Noynoy Aquino and Gloria Arroyo

2010-08-26T21:28:00.001+08:00

The twist of fate is such an interesting subject matter.

A few years ago, it is the administration of Gloria Arroyo that is being battered by a hostage crisis in a bus. That was the 2007 Manila hostage drama perpetrated by Jun Ducat. Now, it is the administration of Noynoy Aquino with the hostage crisis perpetrated by Capt. Rolando Mendoza. But because the handling of the crisis failed, some supporters of Arroyo are taunting Noynoy Aquino and his supporters.

A few months ago and earlier, it is Noynoy Aquino and his group that throw stones at Gloria Arroyo. Now, and with the disaster in the Manila hostage crisis, it is Arroyo and her group that is throwing stones at Aquino. This time, it is the supporters of Aquino taunting Arroyo and her supporters. Ang sagot ng mga kasalukuyang nakaupo sa palasyo through Secretary Herminio Coloma, "We just inherited the state of the Philippine National Police ...The previous administration should also answer for what they did [for the police]. Did they provide enough funds for the modernization of the PNP or did it waste funds for cases like the euro-generals and other corruption cases?''

Earlier, it is Gloria Arroyo who is giving the blessing for the release of pork barrels. She excludes, however, the release of the pork barrel for her critics including Noynoy Aquino. Now, it's the latter's turn. Whether he will bless the release of pork for his critics, only time can tell. But one clear fact is that Arroyo will also be expecting for her share.

Earlier, Gloria Arroyo is being hurled with accusations of benefiting from kickbacks from government projects. These are still unsubstantiated though one can see an increase of her assets from the time she occupied the presidential seat in 2001 to the last time she filed her statement of assets and liabilities. Now, she will be forced to wait on her congressional pork barrel -- barya lang kumpara sa kanyag pork barrel noong siya'y presidente pa.

But the most interesting is whether or not Gloria Arroyo will take her congressional pork. Sabi ni Speaker Sonny Belmonte, bibigyan din daw si Gloria. But wouldn't it be demeaning kung kukunin niya ang pork barrel na hindi niya ibinigay sa mga kritiko niya while she was Gloria in the Palace.

Tikboy's bet: Kukunin niya. Well, she got the guts and the face and took all the humility to run for a lower post despite the fact that she is the highest official of the country. Besides, sabi nga sa Bibliya, "even the dogs under the table feed on the children's crumbs".

Lagman to PNoy: Ask Robredo ,others to resign or get axed

2010-08-26T08:48:00.005+08:00

This morning at the GMA-7's Unang Hirit program, Albay Congressman Edcel Lagman calls on President Noynoy Aquino to axe DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo and other top ranking officials if they will not resign for the fiasco committed during the Manila Hostage Crisis staged by Capt. Rolando Mendoza.

Sabi ni Lagman, si Frisco Nilo nga sinibak sa kapalpakan sa PAG-ASA, bakit hindi rin sibakin sa puwesto si Robredo at iba pang mataas na opisyal sa PNP? Dagdag ni Lagman, andun naman si Robredo sa lugar kung saan nangyayari ang hostage-taking, bakit di niya pinigilan ang live video feed nang pag-aresto sa kapatid ni Mendoza. Kaya dapat sa kanya, mag-resign din.

Pero dapat nga bang mag-resign si Robredo? Si J.A. Carizo ng Biklish ay may sinulat na sagot at ito ay mga sumusunod:

But while Lagman is right that heads should fall, maybe we should also look into the extent of control of those he wished to resign or get axed. If we do not establish standards, then maybe we can include the members of the Congress especially the senior members like him for failure to pass the necessary budget for the gears and training of the members of the police force.

We should also impeach the Ombudsman for its pace on acting resolutions is one of the complaints of the hostage-taker. The impeachment is not anymore in the realm of the executive but on the legislative department and that means the Congress where he, Lagman, is a member.

We should also remove the members of the Congress, including him, as they failed to strictly ensure that laws with appropriate remedies are available to those who feel wronged like Mendoza. Add to this the lack of appropriate laws on social services like education as had been the subject of the 2007 Manila Hostage Drama perpetrated by Jun Ducat.

Common Sense, not Live Video, is mistake No. 1

2010-08-25T20:13:00.005+08:00

Assistant Professor John Harrison, a homeland security analyst at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, said that the Manila hostage crisis resulted into a tragedy because of the live video feed from media networks which was monitored by hostage-taker, Capt. Rolando Mendoza. “The fact that there was essentially live video was mistake No. 1,” Harrison said.

Frederic Gallois, former head of France's elite hostage rescue unit, the Groupe d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale, also noted that the tragedy resulted from the lack of “adequate equipment and tactical competence".

Tikboy begs to disagree. While these variables (or the lack of it) are present during the hostage drama, the No. 1 factor that triggered the tragedy is the lack of common sense of the ground commander, Gen. Rodolfo Magtibay, and the members of the SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics now reduced to Sorry Wala Akong Training) who headed the assault. If they did, or at least exercised their mental faculties, they would have first requested for the blueprint or the diagram containing the specs of the bus while the negotiation was on-going, determined the possible entry points, the ways to access these entry points, and the possible equipments needed. If they also exercised their logic, they would have cut the video feed to isolate the hostage-taker from having an access to information, implemented strict crowd control thereby eradicating the chances of stray bullets hitting a kibitzer, or simply computed the cost-benefit-analysis of the situation. The hostage-taker couldn't have also seen the arrest of his brother, he wouldn't have been agitated, and deaths could have been minimized.

But of course, everything is not negative for the Philippine National Police. If they have one trait that Filipinos should be proud of, it is their bravery. Despite the lack of training, and despite the fact that they do not live up to the name of their unit, they still dare to follow the lack of common sense orders of their commanding officers.

Jackie Chan and the Manila Hostage Crisis

2010-08-25T16:04:00.004+08:00

The Philippines is now back in the limelight. This is courtesy of the Manila hostage drama and the "major major mistake" of Maria Venus Raj which are the top searches in the Internet.

To further increase the intensity of the Philippines popularity and/or infamy, action superstar Jackie Chan issued on twitter a statement on the disaster created by Capt. Rolando Mendoza in the Quirino Grandstand hostage-taking. According to the superstar, "I come back to hk & I hear terrible news about what happened in filippines (sic)."

Magsaya na lang tayo at kahit si Jackie Chan ay nakakaintindi. He added, "this kind of things always happen around the world. It happened to hk's people, the whole hk is talking about it. Its really sad. HK is a nation built by a lot of different people..don't worry! We do not hate!"

Pero sana para di na magkaroon pa ng hatred at wala ng sumunod pang hostage taking, gumalaw naman sana nang maayos at mabilis ang hustisya. If a police could complain on the turtle-paced justice system, lalo na siguro ang mga ordinaryong tao.

The media, the major-major mistake, and the minor-minor detail

2010-08-25T09:22:00.007+08:00

After the "Major Major" answer of Miss Philippines Maria Venus Raj in the Miss Universe beauty pageant held yesterday, the Philippine National Police also had their reply to the disaster on the Manila Hostage crisis last Monday. Their response: They may have committed mistakes but the media overdid their live reporting of the situation.

Seeing his brother arrested live in television, hostage-taker Rolando Mendoza was outraged leading him to kill some of his hostages. As the survivor, Mrs. Leung, said: [The gunman] did not want to kill us. He only shot us after the negotiation failed.

Neophyte Congressman Gabriel Luis Quisumbing of Cebu shared the sentiments of the PNP to the point that he filed House Bill No. 2737 stating that “media coverage should be contained as not to hinder or obstruct efforts to resolve the situation.” Situations, according to him, may include hostage taking, bomb threats, coup d’ etat, and kidnapping.

Pero teka. Wala namang ico-cover ang media kung wala namang news. Kung hindi naman ganun ang klase ng pag-aresto sa kapatid ng hostage-taker, di naman siguro yung maco-cover.

Ikalawa, tama naman si Mrs. Leung. The police should not have waited so long before taking action. So the police themselves are the ones making news.

Ikatlo, palpak naman talaga ang hostage-taking handling. Ni hindi nga inalam ng mga pulis ano ang features ng tourist bus, kung may TV ba, saan ang mga exit at entry points, at ang pinaka-"major major" sa lahat, ni hindi nga humingi ang pulis sa may-ari ng bus o kaya sa manufacturer ano ang specs nito. So kung ang mga pulis na "expert" hindi nga alam ang mga ganitong simpleng detalye, why would they expect the media to be knowledgeable sa ganitong aspeto?

The PNP, including Quisumbing, expect the media to be responsible. Tama naman yun. Pero paano naman magiging responsible kung wala ngang sinabi ang mga pulis na "Hoy! Bawal yan. Nakikita tayo sa loob ni Mendoza dahil sa live broadcast niyo at nako-compromise ang mga ginagawa natin."? At paano naman sila makakapagsabi ng ganun kung hindi nga nila kino-konsidera ang mga simpleng detalye like pag-alam kung me TV nga sa loob ng bus? And, lastly, paano naman sila makakapagsabi eh hindi nga nila alam paano ang tamang proseso sa "pag-imbita" sa kapatid ng hostage-taker?

Ang sabi ni Mohammad na kaibigan ni Banoy, ang mabuti pa ay panoorin na lang ng mga pulis at media ang pelikulang "Newsmakers". Ito ang kuwento ng live broadcast ng hostage-taking sa Russia. Baka sakaling may matutunan na sila, kumita pa. Ayusin lang nila ng konti ang sistema hindi tulad ng original na inisip ni Katya (Mariya Mashcova), ang female lead sa pelikula. Marami daw na kopya niyan sa Quipo.

*****

Ang lessons dito:

Wala po sanang ping-pongan sa mga kasalanan. Kung mali, mali. Kung" big mistake", big mistake dapat at hindi "major, major problem". Period.
Sometimes, ang "major, major mistake" ay resulta ng hindi pag-pansin sa "minor, minor problem". Sabi nga ni Rolando Mendoza na nakapaskil sa bus: Big Mistake to Correct Big Wrong Decision.

From Captain to "Major Major"

2010-08-24T19:10:00.004+08:00

The Manila hostage crisis that Captain Rolando Mendoza created is the first disaster that the P-Noy Aquino Administration encountered. But there is also a consolation. From the "captain-created disaster" comes the "major major glory and pride" to the Philippines -- the winning of Ms. Philippines Maria Venus Raj in the 2010 Miss Universe Pageant.

An interesting major major article is published by MyKiru Isyusero reproduced as follows:

Venus Raj "Major Major" answer in the Ms Universe 2010 Q&A Portion is trending on Twitter
Miss Universe 2010 4th Runner Up Maria Venus Raj has been trending for hours already on Twitter along with Miss Mexico Jimena Navarrete, the new Ms Universe titleholder.

But also trending is Venus Raj's "Major Major" answer during the Top 5 Q&A portion of the Miss Universe 2010 pageant.

"Major Major" has been trending there as some people making fun of Venus Raj's answer in the said pageant.

According to some, Venus made a major major mistake in answering the question: "What is one big mistake you've made and what did you do to make it right?" She could have been the Philippines' 3rd Miss Universe if she answered it right, they say.

Others suggest that Venus should have answered her mistake in not fixing the details on her birth certificate which brought major major problems to her.

Oh well, whatever they say, Venus Raj has definitely brought major major glory and pride to the Philippines 12 hours after the Manila hostage crisis that put the country into big shame.

It was just unfortunate that the 4 other ladies in Top 5 answered better but how do we know? 2 of them used translators and their answers sounded so good when translated.

And remember we were only hoping for a semifinal placement for Venus to end the 10-year drought of the Philippines in Miss Universe. Thus a 4th Runner Up honor is already a major major bonus. Let's just all be proud of her.

Link to the article, which copyrights are acknowledged to MyKiru, is found here.

So, let us be major major proud of Venus Raj. Her winning is a major major ad lib in this troubled times.

Mabuhay!

Manila Police: There are shortcomings in Manila hostage crisis handling

2010-08-24T09:35:00.003+08:00

As expected, the Manila police defended the handling of yesterday's Manila hostage crisis. Inquirer reported that "Manila police commander Leocadio Santiago said his personnel had made the correct decision in allowing the stand-off to drag on for more than 10 hours before storming the bus on Monday."

Along with this, Santiago admitted "some obvious shortcomings in terms of capability and tactics used, or the procedure employed and we are now going to investigate this".

Pero nalimutan ni Santiago at ng ground commander na sa shortcomings, nakapusta ang buhay ng mga tao lalo na nang mga hostages. With their shortcomings, na-shorten din ang buhay ng mga nasa loob ng bus maliban sa ilang hostages na nakaligtas. The words of Santiago in an interview is very clear: "But when the driver escaped and reported that he (Rodolfo Mendoza, the hostage-taker) has started killing the hostages, that was the time that the ground commander decided to assault the bus." (Emphasis supplied.)

Malinaw. HE HAS STARTED KILLING THE HOSTAGES. Ibig sabihin, di pa patay lahat. Ibig ding sabihin, may mga buhay pa and storming the bus with bullets and flash bombs and teargas would certainly complicate the situation.

Ikalawa, magtatapon ng teargas eh wala nga silang gas mask? Siyempre di rin agad papasok ang assaulting team dahil aantayin nila na mawala muna ang bisa ng tear gas. Kung magkagayon, siyempre, makakarecover na rin si Mendoza.

Ikatlo, hindi ba nila tinanong muna o tinawagan ang may-ari ng tourist bus o kaya ang manufacturer nito para alamin ano ang mga features nito, saan mahina, saan ang mga bukasan, gaano kalakas ang salamin, at iba pa? Imagine, 10 hours tapos walang ganitong impormasyon? Well, di kataka-taka na palpak ang mga rumesponde lalo na ang ground commander na walang kontrol sa pangyayari. Kaya hayun, ang mga crude na gamit tulad ng maso at kable ay useless.

The PNP says na isa sa shortcomings ay ang kakulangan sa gamit. This may be hard to accept. Me pang-travel-travel nga ang mga Euro Generals sa Moscow at sa ibang bansa, at kasama pa ang kanilang mga pamilya courtesy of the PNP money, tapos walang pambili ng mga gamit kahit gas mask lang?

Sabi ni Von: Nakowww!

The Mendoza hostage handling: Problems, lessons and things to watch

2010-08-23T21:39:00.004+08:00

So, the Philippines is again making world news. Former Manila Police Rolando Mendoza held hostage a total of 25 individuals in a tourist bus today, August 23, 2010. But something went wrong courtesy of the Philippine National Police (PNP) that handled the operations. As of this time, it is expected that at least 10 are killed and a number of others are wounded.

Pero saan nga ba nagkamali?

The arrest of Mendoza's brother, SPO2 Gregorio Mendoza, which was aired live on TV. The hostage-taker was shouting asking the release of his brother. Five minutes after the arrest, and with the continuous video footage, the hostage-taker panicked and sprayed bullets. Dati, everything was cool. May pa-cute pa ngang pagkaway-kaway ang mga negotiators at ang hostage taker at may goodwil "gifts" pa tulad ng pagre-release ng walo o siyam na hostages. At katunayan, pinapasok pa nga ang isang negotiator sa may paanan ng bus.
The snipers' shooting of the tire of the bus. This also created panic. Siyempre, di na "cool".
The lack of patience of the ground commanders. Nagmamadali eh. Haste makes waste, di ba? Ang problema, not just simple waste ang resulta kundi waste of life.
Failure of the ground commander to take control of the situation by giving into the demands of Rolando Mendoza yet maximizing the gains. Mapagbigay naman si Mendoza. If he asked for the media, puwede naman sigurong ibigay na lang ang camera at microphones sa loob dahil ito naman talaga ang kailangan niya samantalang nasa ibaba ang mga media persons.
Failure to maximize SPO2 Gregorio Mendoza. Puwede namang gamitin siyang negotiator and definitely, baka maging cool pa ang sitwasyon. They could have remove first Gregorio's gun, kung iyon ang ikinakatakot nila. There was a video footage with Gregorio saying to the hostage-taker over the phone "Wag mo munang gawin ang pinaplano mo. Ako na ang magsasabi sa media." But the police shut him off.
Of course, the lack of sufficient training and gears of the responding policemen.
We can add: The lack of efficient crowd control. What the heck was that? Filming of a movie?

Pero may mga dapat tayong abangan. Ito ang mga sumusunod:

The letter carried by the driver that fled the bus. Mukhang natabunan na ito ng istorya. As soon as makalabas ang driver, itinago agad ito ng PNP. Nang lumabas ang driver at nagkaroon ng presscon, ang balita ay patay na ang mga hostages. Kung patay, bakit may mga humihinga pa? In simple terms, gumagalaw ang PNP na hindi sigurado ang sitwasyon. I-subject ba naman sa trial and error ang buhay ng mga hostages?
Who killed the hostages? Consider: Gumalaw ang PNP na hindi sigurado, hindi ba? They are not sure if the hostages are really dead yet they made salakay sa bus, throw flash bombs and fired bullets. Baka ang ibang hostages, PNP rin ang nakapatay.
What is the content of the Ombudsman's letter?
What will happen to the brother? Sigaw ng mga pulis aakusahan si SPO2 Gregorio Mendoza as accessory to the crime.

Lessons:

Baka aside from the additional training and gears, turuan din ang mga kapulisan paano magkaroon ng patience. Hindi lang dito sa hostage-taking na ito kundi kasama na rin sa ibang bagay. Just a few days ago, me tino-torture ang pulis na na-video. Nagmamadali ba ang nag-torture na makakuha ng impormasyon? O baka maliban sa pasensiya, turuan din ang mga kapulisan paano kontrolin ang kanilang mga sarili?
Bigyan din ng training on crowd control ang mga pulis. Paano kung may granada pa dun na sumabog?
Ituro din ang cost-benefit analysis sa mga sitwasyon. If they gave in to Rodolfo's demands na i-reinstate siya (pending review siyempre ng kanyang mga kaso), definitely walang patay. Di rin apektado ang tourism at economy ng bansa. Pero siyempre, di naman talaga totally makakaligtas si Rolando dahil kahit i-reinstate siya sa kanyang mga naunang ginawa, puwede pa rin siyang kasuhan ng kidnapping at serious illegal detention, grave threats, illegal possession of firearms (dahil di na siya pulis so bakit pa siya may armalite?), damage to property, and possibly a case on trying to influence the outcome of decisions. O di ba, napagbigyan mo si Rodolfo, napagulong pa rin ang batas?
Leksiyon din sana sa Ombudsman at iba pang sangay ng gobyerno na bilisan nila ang pagresolba sa kaso. And this should be highlighted dahil hindi lang pala pulis ang natutulog sa pansitan. Very clear na ang Ombudsman, ganun din.
Pero teka, ang pulis nga nagrereklamo sa mabagal na gulong ng hustisya, papaano pa kaya ang mga ordinaryong Pilipino?

Where's the big catch?

2010-08-06T10:03:00.003+08:00

From the news:

The Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday ordered the preventive suspension of a Bureau of Customs (BOC) official who is being investigated for allegedly acquiring wealth beyond her lawful income.

Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez suspended Emelia Amansec Cervantes, Customs operations officer V assigned at the BOC's Manila International Container Port (MICP).

The alleged wealth of Cervantes? "Irrigated rice lands; a residential lot in Pangasinan; and a Mitsubishi Galant worth P377,580."

Earlier, a tax examiner, Andres Jusayan Gabagat Jr., was also ordered to be investigated for his P1 million house in Quezon City, jewelries worth P150 thousand; cash and bank deposits worth P645,304; a race horse worth P150 thousand, and a car worth P200 thousand.

Medyo nagsisipag ngayon si Aling Merced. Pero bakit mga dilis lang ang hinuhuli nila? Bakit di pinapaimbestigahan ang pinaka-mayamang sikyu at ang nanay nito super humble? Nahihiya ba siya?
Hm

The richest "sikyu"

2010-07-22T08:16:00.004+08:00

A few years ago, a security guard appeared on Philippine television. He is said to be the richest security guard for rising from rags to riches. He was, he said, a security guard but grew wealthy for engaging in multi-level-marketing or the MLM.

But he is not anymore a sikyu when he grew rich.
If there is a real rich sikyu, that would be Mikey Arroyo. Arroyo is a millionaire owning real properties in the United States, a presidential son, a congressman, and an amnesiac for forgetting to declare the real worth of his assets and campaign contributions. The Commission on Elections declared him a representative of Ang Galing Pinoy -- the party-list of security guards.

But many are alarmed including leftist organizations. Papaano daw ba naging sikyu si Mikey eh ang yaman-yaman niya nga at congressman pa siya? Hmmnnn.... Oo nga no?
Pero teka, me kailangan pa bang ipagtaka? Ang nanay niya nga Presidente ng Pilipinas tapos ngayon Congressman lang ng Pampanga? At least si Vladimir Putin Prime Minister ng Russia pagkatapos na maging Presidente. At close-in adviser pa ng kanyang kapalit na si President Medvedev, di ba? So, ladies and gentlemen, wag na tayong magtaka. Like mother, like son.

(Image courtesy of Akbayan)

Afraid of the media?

2010-07-08T08:44:00.004+08:00

In the country where the media practitioners are butchered, why be afraid of the media?

During the first day of the P-Noy Administration, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda had a negative encounter with the media. This was followed cabinet secretaries like DOH's Ona, etcetera, etcetera. The latest is Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo who got irked in his encounter with the press especially with veteran journalist, Ellen Tordesillas, on the issue of extending the term of the envoys.

Such press encounters are not rare -- the very reason why GMA was always evasive of the media. Though, allegedly, she also showed concern for the members of the press during her last few days in office. That was when the GMA was showcasing her PNR project south of Manila. But in general, GMA "hated" the media for the negative reports she herself did. As such, during the height of the "Hello Garci!" controversy, a number of media outfits were even raided, and only seven cases of media killings were solved out of 104. According to NUJP, a total of 137 media practitioners were killed since 1986 and 104 of these are committed during the nine years of Arroyo Administration.

Grabeehhh!!!!

Pero teka, kung puwedeng katayin ang mga miyembro ng media na parang manok, bakit kailangang matakot sa kanila? O may itinatago dahil takot? May nais itago? Numbers na kailangang taasan? 200 million ba? Hello?... Garci?

Siguro nga ganun. Sabi ng tatay ni Tikboy, "Kung wala kang ginagawang masama, makikipag eyes-to-eyes ka. Maliban na lang kung isa kang aswang".

Kung sabagay, puwede nga. Si P-Noy nga kahapon nakipag-biruan pa sa press. Casual lang. Hindi takot at walang "ismid". Minsan siya pa nga ang nagtatanong sa media imbes na ito ang magtanong ng magtanong sa kanya.

Kaya lang, hindi pa rin maubos maisip: Bakit nga ba talaga ang iba takot sa media? Aminin.....

A new concept of freedom?

2010-06-16T08:46:00.003+08:00

This year's theme for the Philippines 112th Indepence Day celebration is "Kalayaan: Tagumpay ng Bayan." Among the activities include a wreath-laying in the monument of Rizal by, and the parade of accomplishments of, out-going president Gloria in the Palace.

Reports have it that the cost is a whooping P8 million just for the floats, and other activity expenses.

HUWAATT!????

Hindi pa diyan kabilang ang mga expenses sa TV lalo na ang mga advertisements showing Arroyo's accomplishments.

Kala ni Tikboy, malaya na tayo. Pero mukhang yung P8 million kasama pa ata sa utang na kailangang bayaran ng mga successors ni Gloria. Bakit floats at accomplishments ni Aling Gloria ang bida? Ito na rin ba ang bagong definition ng kalayaan?

Nakow, kahit definition, na-corrupt na rin!

Arroyo's Achievements

2010-06-09T09:58:00.003+08:00

An interesting news from Inquirer.Net: Achievements of Arroyo to be paraded June 12

Unang tanong ni Tikboy: Meron ba?

Siyempre naman meron. Marami. Let us count them:

The Hello, Garci! scandal
The NBN-ZTE Scandal
The scandalous brown bags
The rise of distrust and dissatisfaction to the government
The ability of a president to produce negative dissatisfaction ratings
The increase in the number of poor and hungry Filipinos
The scandalous deals including the midnight deals
The midnight appointments
The enriching of the Arroyos
The consolidation to power of the Arroyos
The redefinition of several terms including "economy", "development", etc., including the meaning of "Sorry"
The idea of playing with law and the circumvention of the laws...

Ano pa ba? mukhang marami ata. Let's wait sa June 12.

Lagman's GAA Provision, why only now?

2010-05-21T11:45:00.003+08:00

Cong. Edcel Lagman (Albay, 1st Dist.) is very proud to say that the incoming President will have lesser power over the pork barrel. Lagman, the vice chairman of the Appropriations Committee and the one who introduced the provision proudly said that “The political party of the president-apparent cannot use the non-release of the PDAF as a threat to representatives coming from other parties who refuse to join the Liberal Party.”

While this is a welcome development to ensure that the power over budget remains with the Congress, the late action appears stained with political interest. Way ba ito to ensure na ang susunod na presidente ay hindi hahawakan sa leeg ang mga kaalyado ni GMA? And, way din ba ito to ensure na lame duck ang susunod na presidente considering the fact that he who holds the purse wields the sword?

So it seems considering that GMA is eyeing to be the House Speaker though she's pakipot sa ngayon. Otherwise, why did the people like Lagman act only now? Or, is he just sticking to his name: lag-man or the man who "fail to maintain a desired pace or to keep up" or "the man who fall or stay behind"?

Bossing Edcel, bilib na sana ako but your timing is spilling your intents.

Midnight Deals

2010-05-20T10:20:00.002+08:00

The midnight deals are one of the reasons why Erap Estrada was ousted. The midnight deals are also one of the reasons why Gloria Arroyo was able to become the Philippine President starting 2001.

It appears, however, that Mrs. Arroyo forgot the reason why she became the sitting-President. She also had her midnight glass ... err, class ..., err, deals this time by appointing officials like Chief Justice Renato Corona near the end of her term.

Understandable naman bakit kailangan ni Mrs. Arroyo na mag-engage sa midnight appointments. May mga nilalang talaga na, sabi nga sa kanta, "don't wanna miss a thing". Kasama na diyan ang mga buwitre na kailangan talagang mag-take advantage ng situation otherwise baka sila magutom. Ganun din ang mga bampira na dahil pahirapan maghanap ng biktima, would not want to miss a droplet of blood from their victims. Malay natin, takot lang talaga si madam na maubusan din ng makakain pag dating ng panahon na sunod-sunod na ang kaso laban sa kanya. O kaya baka rice and noodles na lang ang makuha niya dahil nailit na ang kanilang mga ari-arian.

Buti kung nanalo si Erap. At least puwedeng sabihing reciprocal ang obligations. Binigyan niya si Erap ng pardon kaya ipa-pardon din siya. Sabi nga ni Aling Rosing: Kung ang sabi ni Erap ay weather-weather lang yan, iniisip ni GMA na pardon-pardon lang yan!

Teka, ano ba to, biru-biruan?

Clear doubletalk or a work of an opposition?

2009-12-19T10:46:00.002+08:00

The first and last paragraphs of an article from Yahoo/GMA TV:

Arroyo introduces RP climate change delegation to Pinoys in Denmark

Speaking before about 300 members of the Filipino community in Denmark at the Hilton Hotel in Copenhagen on Wednesday, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo introduced the Philippine delegation which included top government officials who, according to her, each have his or her own roles in the government’s climate change mitigation efforts.

xxx

After declaring in her speech to the United Nations Conference on Climate Change that, "We cannot leave Copenhagen without a deal," the President flew back to Manila Friday morning before any deal had been reached at the climate summit.

Unquote: Baka mapagkamalan na naman ito na work of the opposition?

Martial Law in Maguindanao: Moot and Academic

2009-12-15T08:07:00.004+08:00

Mang Gustin kidnaps the son of Ploning, detains him, and asks for ransom. Later, Mang Gustin changes his mind and returns the kidnap victim. Does the later act (returning Ploning's son) renders the kidnapping moot and academic and therefore Mang Gustin is not liable of the crime?

The case of Mang Gustin's kidnapping is just a micro of the Martial Law issue. According to the bopols-men... err, tongressmen... err, congressmen, because the Martial Law in Maguindanao was already lifted, therefore it is already moot and academic and there is no use discussing the issue.

Sabi ni Doy: HUWAAATTT!!!???

Tikboy thinks there is no reason to be surprised. All actions should be in pursuit of the greater good. The warrantless arrests and detentions, the warrantless searches and seizures, the businesses that gone bankrupt, the displacements of people, the fear sown among the people and the resulting trauma suffered by the children are all nothing compared to the greater good. Note: NOTHING COMPARED TO THE GREATER GOOD.

So, oke lang yun pareng Doy. Even if these Maguindanaons die of trauma, or nervous breakdown or heart attack, oke lang yun. They do not represent the greater good anyway. They are just like dogs and pigs na anytime, they can be dispensed away with. Their lives and well-being are nothing compared with the interests of those in Malacanang, of those who want nothing but to stay in power no matter what. And because this is the framing of the members of the Congress, we should understand their logic: The lifting of the Martial Law renders the issue moot and academic.

Next time, when Gloria in the Palace puts the whole country under Martial Law, arrests everyone and jails them for no reason but airing grievances against the government, then later lifts it, don't be shocked. If you belong to those arrested and even killed, don't be surprised when you wake up in heaven or in hell -- your life is useless. At any rate, after the Martial Law, you are nothing but a history -- moot and academic.

Why are the members of the AFP not charged of rebellion?

2009-12-11T20:00:00.002+08:00

Why are the members of the AFP not charged of rebellion if, for Executive Secretary Ed Ermita and sitting president Gloria in the Palace defines it as simply an ownership of guns and maintaining an armory?

The Revised Penal Code, as amended by R.A. 6968 provides that:

Art. 134. Rebellion or insurrection; How committed. — The crime of rebellion or insurrection is committed by rising publicly and taking arms against the Government for the purpose of removing from the allegiance to said Government or its laws, the territory of the Philippine Islands or any part thereof, of any body of land, naval or other armed forces, depriving the Chief Executive or the Legislature, wholly or partially, of any of their powers or prerogatives.

It is clear. The elements include (1) rising publicly, (2) taking arms against the government, and (3) with a purpose of removing allegiance to said government or its laws, etc., etc.

In the case of the Ampatuans in the Maguindanao Massacre, nothing of the aforestated elements is present. Patago nga ginawa ang massacre. Inililibing pa nga ang mga biktima. Yun nga lang, nahuli. And those who are killed? Civilians... not government officers. And the arms -- those were not taken against the government. With the markings on the arsenals, puwede pa ngang ibinigay ng government ang mga yun. And third, the willingness to participate in elections is a clear indication of allegiance. Actually love na love pa nga nila ang magsilbi sa gobyerno kaya nga allegedly pinatay pa nila ang mga kalaban nila para sila lang ang magkaroon ng opportunity na magsilbi.

But of course, the government has its own way of redefining things. Basta me armas na dala-dala, rebellion yun. Simply put, isama na rin mga miyembro ng AFP at PNP. Me dala-dala rin silang armas.

Hmmmnn....

Sa Pampanga kaya may mga matatalino rin?

2009-12-04T10:52:00.003+08:00

When Gloria Arroyo filed her certificate of candidacy for district representative in Pampanga, nahulog sa upuan si Aling Tanya. Siya kasi dating presidente ng Santa Krusan sa Sampaloc. Nang gusto niyang kumandidato ulit kasi mas napapalapit daw siya sa Diyos, pinagbawalan siya ng kanyang mga kapitbahay. Dapat daw, pagbigyan naman niya ang iba para pantay-pantay at hindi lang siya ang maaaring makalapit sa Diyos.

Pero dahil nag-file si Gloria, at puwede naman daw, nangangalaiti ngayon si Aling Tanya. Dapat siya, pinagbigyan ding umulit. Dapat tanggalin si Aling Jenna na pumalit sa kanya. Tulad ng pagtanggal kay Jonjon Mendoza na papalitan ni Obet Pagdanganan bilang gobernador ng Bulacan. Kasi matalino si Aling Tanya. Dahil sa kanya humaba ang sagala... humaba dahil sa traffic. Dahil sa kanya, natuwa ang mga pari at obispo ng parokya. Nagkaroon kasi ng maraming pa-raffle, parang PAGCOR. Me palabunutan din ng numero. Parang jueteng. At malaking porsyento ng kita sa mga pasugalan, este, income generating projects ni Aling Tanya, napunta sa Simbahan. Dagdag pa diyan, yung mga kapitbahay niyang mahihirap, napilit niyang mag-donate o magpintura para sa sagala. Sino ba naman ang di matatakot na sabihan na kung hindi tutulong ay di makakapunta sa langit.

Ang problema, si Aling Jenna, matalino rin. Kaya nga siya nanalong presidente. At ito rin ang dahilan bakit nangangalaiti si Aling Tanya. Sa Pampanga kaya may mga matatalino rin? Kasi tatakbo ulit si Gloria dun na para bang siya na lang ang magaling. Kung si Gloria na lang ang magaling, ibig sabihin, kawawa ang mga Kapampangan. Paano na sila pag wala na si Gloria?

Who bred those monsters?

2009-11-26T18:23:00.002+08:00

If the Ampatuans are really the brains (and brawns) behind the Maguindanao Massacre, and that the massacre is an act of a monster, then who bred those monsters?

Sino pa nga ba? Di ba tayo?

We voted for them.
When nobody questions the votes the Ampatuans received, we raised not our voices.
When questions are raised over the votes the Ampatuans received, we give no support.
When the questions reach the Comelec and the Courts of Justice, we let our Comelec and judges do nothing. And we are paying the people in the Comelec.

We give the Ampatuans a room to grow.
We allowed the environment and culture become favorable to them.
We also drew precedents that later became favorable to the Ampatuans. We let the national chief executive go un-punished. At least for calling Garci in the height of the elections, and later letting Garci go unscathed. Hence, if we didn't even allowed the leader be questioned, why should we question the Ampatuans?
We also allowed the national chief executive escape impeachment trials. When the Congress was deliberating on the matter, we sat on our hands and let our district representatives decide for us. We didn't even knock their doors to let them know how and what to represent us. And we are paying these district representatives.
When the impeachment failed, we kept our mouths shut. We do not want another EDSA, we say. We are tired of EDSAs as these do not change the society. In doing so, we do not show off our power, where sovereignty and all authority resides. And by doing so we affirm that vox populi is a waste, a garbage, a thrash. And by doing so we give the monsters more power as our silence is an admission of affirmation and not of defeat.

Now, these things happen. So who do we blame? The Ampatuans? Unless we are fooling ourselves. Nobody is to be blamed but us.

The Maguindanao Massacre: Another Record

2009-11-26T18:16:00.004+08:00

Today, the Philippines gained another world record -- for claiming to be democratic yet allowing to flourish the violence that suppresses freedoms and liberties;

Today, the Philippines gained another world record -- for claiming to have freest press in Asia and at the same time, the freest country for those that suppresses the freedom of the press;

Today, the Philippines gained another world record -- landing on the top spot for being the most dangerous country in the world for journalists;

Today, we gained another record... and records are the only things that we desire...

Are we happy now?

Redefining a "survivor"

2009-11-11T22:03:00.002+08:00

GMA-7's primetime program, "Survivor Philippines - Palau" is revolutionizing the dictionary with its new meaning of survivor. In order to survive the ordeals in the island of Palau and win the P3 M, the participants resort to scheming and betrayals. And surely, the winner that will be declared is the one who is the most scheming and most traitorous person.

Wala tayong magagawa. Yan ang laro. Yan din ang katotohanan sa Pilipinas. You cannot survive if you won't betray others. Just like what Gloria in the Palace did. She betrayed the trust of the people in order for her to remain in power. Tsk, tsk, tsk.

Poll Tax is Good But ....

2009-11-06T07:17:00.003+08:00

Malacañang is wondering why there is so much fuss over the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s proposed 5-percent tax on campaign contributions.
“The 5-percent campaign tax is within the purview of the expanded withholding tax system of the BIR which is allowed under the BIR Code and it has been in existence for about 30 years now,” Anthony Golez, deputy presidential spokesperson, said in a briefing. (Source here)

The government has the right to tax so why really is there a fuss over campaign taxes? Let us count the ways...

First and foremost: Where did our taxes go?

To fancy hotels and restaurants? I love those dinners. Highly paid chefs are indeed better than tikboy's mom.
As payments for houses and mansions in and out the Philippines of high ranking officials? Oh, by the way, I love that house near the beach.
As payments for luxury cars of select officials? Or as payments for the gas of said cars? Too bad, Tikboy's kariton could not even roll dahil mahal ang grasa.
As payments to the wines and liquor everytime the day is stressful? Hmmn... si Mang Tonyo nga gin-bulag lang. Si Mang Gustin, yung hindi nagpapabayad na superhero, tuba nga lang kaya tuwing umaga parang may nag-i-spray paint sa kubeta. Sabagay, wala ngang pera kaya papaano maka-afford kahit pekeng brandy?
As pocket money ng mga nagja-junket? Teka, ano na nga pala ang nangyari sa mga nagpunta sa Russia? Nasiyahan kaya si Misis sa shopping?
As easy cash sa bulsa ng iilan? Pang-shopping kaya? Pambayad sa bodyguards?
Ano pa kaya? I'm sure me alam kayo na hindi alam ni Tikboy.

Second, nagde-declare kaya ang mga pulitiko ng tamang expenses? Bulong-bulungan, si Gloria in the Palace nga gumasta ng P8 billion as campaign expenses. Pero ang declaration, barya lang daw! Iilang milyon lang. Worse, kahit ang barya, ni hindi na-subject sa tax. Pero sabi ng BIR at ng Malacanang, matagal ng batas ang witholding tax. HELLLLOOOEEEERRRR!!!!!! Naglolokohan ba tayo?

Tito Sotto: Nakakatakot ang mga sundalo

2009-11-01T11:49:00.002+08:00

In yesterday's Eat Bulaga, the theme was halloween. Halos lahat ay nagsuot ng mga nakakatakot. Me sa aswang, sa bruha, me sa tikbalang.

But former Senator Tito Sotto wasn't funny. He wore a soldier's uniform. A former senator doing that is something of a statement. Was he using his head? That we do not know. But the point is: Former Senator Tito Sotto says that "nakakatakot ang mga sundalo".

Who moved ... Chiz?

2009-10-30T13:53:00.003+08:00

The recent declaration of Chiz Escudero is not just a political gambit but a political suicide. Pero ok lang yun. You won't create a name if you will not think outside the box. Political suicides are a way of thinking outside the box. Just like doing good governance. Local chief executives who are noted for exercising good governance usually end up losing the elections. Why? Because the voters still prefer the traditional way -- expecting the politician to shell out money in times of KBL (kasal, binyag, libing) and hand the amount to the solicitor.

This behavior is the reason why the word "change" ranks least in the survey of words that has an impact on the Filipino psyche. Just this year, the top word is "decency". Kasi nga, a politician is expected to be decent enough to give an amount to a solicitor. Otherwise, the politician is branded as "buwaya" dahil sinosolo niya lang ang nakukurakot niya sa gobyerno.

But who or what really moved Chiz Escudero to declare his resignation from the NPC? To note, he is also one of the more decent politicians who stayed with a political party for more than a decade. Others are party-hoppers na everytime di mapagbigyan, lilipat sa ibang partido. Gaya ni Loren. Kaya nga siya pinagbigyan na na maging kandidato ng NPC for VP. Watch out also for Gloria in the Palace if di siya mapagbigyan ng KAMPI to run for Congressperson sa Pampanga. Who knows, baka lumipat din siya sa UNO o kaya sa PMP ni Erap...

Pero who really moved Chiz? Ewan. Baka si Danding?

Mickey Mouse... err, Mikey's House

2009-08-31T08:30:00.009+08:00

It's in the family.

Whatever Gloria in the Palace says, expect the opposite. At any rate, she is famous for Orwellian double-talk. And it could be in the genes. Inquirer reports that her son, Mikey Arroyo, who had been claiming to be very transparent had not been transparent after all. According to the report:

Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo has not declared in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth (SALN) for the last two years a $1.32-million (P63.7-million) beachfront property in the San Francisco Bay area in California that he bought and then transferred to his wife Angela in 2006.
Mikey is the eldest of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s three children.

The house at 1655 Beach Park Blvd. in Foster City, San Mateo County, is now up for sale, but the property does not appear in Mikey’s 2007 and 2008 SALN... (which is a requirement in the guidelines and by the law.)

Or Mikey has the dictionary that her mother has and transparency is defined as "being open to share information that's only the tip of the iceberg"? Whatever. Anyway, if Inquirer is correct in the description of the place, below are the pics of the alleged Mikey's house na dapat nating e-enjoy panoorin. Dapat nga ba?

The front view: Ano kayang sasakyan ang ipinapasok sa garahe? Undeclared din kaya yun?

The backyard... Sa Mr. & Mrs. Smith me underground basement pa para sa mga tools at iba pang gamit ni Bradd Pitt. Meron din kaya dito?

The Family Room and the Living Room. Mukhang masarap tumambay dito. Pang-ilang reincarnation kaya ang kailangang maranasan ng mga pulubi sa Pampanga para makatambay sa ganito?

At ang kitchen at ang dining room. Gara, di ba? Ano kaya ang iniluluto sa kitchen at inilalatag sa mesa? Kahit ba amoy man lang puwede kayang pagbigyan ang mga humihingi ng limos sa mga kalsada ng Pampanga? O kaya mga barker ng jeep na mali-mali ang itinuturong direksiyon dahil siguro sa gutom, puwede rin kayang paamuyin ng mga iniluluto at inihahapag sa mesang kainan?

Kung sabagay, di naman kasalanan ni Mikey kung bakit siya mapera. Tiyak, nagsipag din siya o kaya ang mga magulang niya para lang ma-acquire ang mga properties na yun. Kasalanan ng mga pulubi, batang kalye at barkers ng jeep sa Pampanga kasi hindi sila marunong pumili ng mayamang magulang bago sila ipinanganak. At kasalanan din nila dahil hindi sila naging pulitiko, di ba, Mikey?

All pics are courtesy of www.ewalk.com. Kung interesado kayong bilhin ito, $1,380,000 lang or P 67,440,600 base sa palitan ng dolyar at piso noong Biyernes.

Neri comes, Neri goes... and the Carlo Caparas Blunder

2009-08-29T20:19:00.002+08:00

It's been a while (again) since my last post. Even then, visitors continually access this site looking for something new. And tadaaannn!!!! Here's the list.

Romulo Neri will be suspended for his participation in the ZTE Scandal especially for being shy to talk about his President's participation and for being so shy to tell Ben Abalos to "back off".
Abalos is also indicted "just for being nice to the ZTE people." Talaga? Is that also the reason why he is so nice to Neri for offering the 200...? Kaso mukhang kulang ang 200. Dapat siguro 300 para wala ng mag-squeal.
Joey de Venecia, the squealer, is planning to run for Senator. Ayos yan para walang sikreto sa Senado... if the price is not right. (?)
Pero ang kakapal naman. Kay Bayani Fernando nga okay na ang P1.6 million. Diba BF? Musta ang mga kakalsadahan natin? Mukhang maraming nagkalat na picture mo at praise releases. Kasama ba yan sa P1.6 M?
Pero if Joey De Venecia is running for Senator and BF for President, Komiks writer-turned director is running for Senator para patunayan na karapat-dapat siya to receive the National Artist Award. Quoting Caparas: They are forcing me to run for a political post, mapipilitan siguro ako because of what they are doing, na parang walang karapatan ang isang galing sa masa na katulad ko na maging National Artist.

Akhhhh!!!

Nabulunan ako dun ah. Since when na ba ang eleksiyon naging venue for the selection of the National Artists?

Di na ba puwedeng magbiro sa Pinoy?

2009-05-23T22:20:00.002+08:00

For his joke, actor Alec Baldwin was banned from entering the Philippines. This is after Hongkong columnist Chip Tsao was also banned for making a joke on Filipinos last March 27.

Baldwin joked in a May 12 interview on the “Late Show with David Letterman” that he thinks "about getting a Filipino mail-order bride at this point or a Russian one, I don’t care, I’m 51. Tsip Chao, meanwhile, said that Filipinos should not think higher than the Chinese who employs them as domestic helpers.

Teka, teka, teka. While the joke has a racist color (daw), there is also truth in it. Wag na tayong magpaka-ipokrito. A few clicks in the Net, makikita natin na halos Filipina ang nasa mail-order bride websites. And the government admits, it sends Filipinos abroad as domestic helps to compete with Indonesians, Malaysians and even Indians. All of these because of poverty.

Mukhang masyado nang sensitive ang gobyerno ngayon. Pero just like its head, Orwellian sensitivity lang ang pinaiiral. Pinipili lang ang gustong patulan. Otherwise, dapat nahiya na ang Gloria in the Palace mula ng sumingaw ang "Hello, Garci!" Scandal. O kaya umalis na sa puwesto matapos ang sunod-sunod na dagok ng mga iskandalo. O kaya, napansin na ng gobyerno ang talamak na kahirapan at pagkagutom.

Kung sabagay, ang kabayo na may tapa-ojo, diretso lang ang tingin. Ganun din ang Administrasyon Ni Gloria. Kaya wag kang magbiro, baka ma-Jun Lozada ka. Di ba Mike?

RP blacklisted for its bank secrecy law

2009-04-04T11:34:00.005+08:00

The Philippines is among the four countries "blacklisted "as uncooperative tax havens yesterday after Group of 20 leaders declared the age of banking secrecy was over and said they would no longer tolerate shady havens draining away badly needed tax revenue", reports Philippine Star.

The other countries are Uruguay, Costa Rica and the Malaysian territory of Labuan.

The blacklisting was done because of "mounting concern that banking secrecy in tax havens has helped to worsen the economic crisis by disguising the true value of some global assets. Anti-poverty activists say such places provide corrupt officials places to stash illicit funds, often depriving poor nations of needed resources."

Can we expect the palace to say that the work of the G-20 is instigated by the opposition? Puwede!!!

Pero teka, why is it that the Palace is mum for comments? Dahil ba wala silang plano na alisin ang Pilipinas sa blacklisted areas for being a tax haven? At least si Pareng Erap, nag-approve ng Anti-Plunder Law which eventually caught him on the hook. Even then, the law partially opened the windows enabling some to peek into the bank accounts of suspected offenders. Takot din kaya si GMA na magsalita (through her nose) na "I will look into the matter and see to it that the laws will be relaxed on bank accounts"? Kala ko ba, iron-willed siya gaya ng ipino-project ng mga PR persons niya? O iron-willed siya na okay lang na blacklisted ang Pilipinas otherwise mauungkat ang mga bank accounts ng First Family at mahirapan silang idepensa kung saan galing ang mga perang laman ng mga accounts na iyon?

Aminin!

Anyway, let us look at the brighter side. World Record holder na naman tayo... and that seems to be the reason why Filipinos and the Philippines exist -- ang gumawa ng record.

Congratulations!

Chip Tsao apologizes... who's next?

2009-04-02T14:48:00.002+08:00

Earlier, HK Magazine issued an apology for Chip Tsao's article, "The War At Home". The Philippine Star also reported that yesterday, Tsao also issued an apology.

Well, that's nice of Tsao. But can we expect also the government headed by Gloria Arroyo to apologize to the Filipino people for breaking their homes and families and forcing them to go abroad and be the domestic servants cum heroes?

Chip Tsao and 'The War at Home'

2009-03-30T15:18:00.003+08:00

When Chip Tsao's article went out last March 27, a war of words blasted as if a bomb was thrown in the Philippine archipelago. Senator Pia Cayetano, probably not because she is seeking reelection, joined calls to demand a public apology from a top Hong Kong publication and one of its columnists while the Palace is now thinking of possible options on how to deal with the issue.

Well, this is just expected. For intelligent people like them, Tsao's article is like rubbing a salt to a wound. But who's fault is it anyway? Tsao's? Or the people in the government headed by Gloria Arroyo who would rather encourage the Filipinos to go abroad and work as servants than generate employment and high-earning jobs in the country?

Dapat nga pasalamat pa sila at mahiya kay Tsao. What Tsao says is true and the truth will set us free... yun nga lang, me kasabihan: There is no such thing as free lunch. And the cost here is the bitterness of truth.

Below is Tsao's article for your brains to "chow".

The War At Home
March 27th, 2009

The Russians sank a Hong Kong freighter last month, killing the seven Chinese seamen on board. We can live with that—Lenin and Stalin were once the ideological mentors of all Chinese people. The Japanese planted a flag on Diàoyú Island. That’s no big problem—we Hong Kong Chinese love Japanese cartoons, Hello Kitty, and shopping in Shinjuku, let alone our round-the-clock obsession with karaoke.

But hold on—even the Filipinos? Manila has just claimed sovereignty over the scattered rocks in the South China Sea called the Spratly Islands, complete with a blatant threat from its congress to send gunboats to the South China Sea to defend the islands from China if necessary. This is beyond reproach. The reason: there are more than 130,000 Filipina maids working as $3,580-a-month cheap labor in Hong Kong. As a nation of servants, you don’t flex your muscles at your master, from whom you earn most of your bread and butter.

As a patriotic Chinese man, the news has made my blood boil. I summoned Louisa, my domestic assistant who holds a degree in international politics from the University of Manila, hung a map on the wall, and gave her a harsh lecture. I sternly warned her that if she wants her wages increased next year, she had better tell every one of her compatriots in Statue Square on Sunday that the entirety of the Spratly Islands belongs to China.

Grimly, I told her that if war breaks out between the Philippines and China, I would have to end her employment and send her straight home, because I would not risk the crime of treason for sponsoring an enemy of the state by paying her to wash my toilet and clean my windows 16 hours a day. With that money, she would pay taxes to her government, and they would fund a navy to invade our motherland and deeply hurt my feelings.

Oh yes. The government of the Philippines would certainly be wrong if they think we Chinese are prepared to swallow their insult and sit back and lose a Falkland Islands War in the Far East. They may have Barack Obama and the hawkish American military behind them, but we have a hostage in each of our homes in the Mid-Levels or higher. Some of my friends told me they have already declared a state of emergency at home. Their maids have been made to shout “China, Madam/Sir” loudly whenever they hear the word “Spratly.” They say the indoctrination is working as wonderfully as when we used to shout, “Long live Chairman Mao!” at the sight of a portrait of our Great Leader during the Cultural Revolution. I’m not sure if that’s going a bit too far, at least for the time being.

A sitting President can be arrested

2009-03-06T08:59:00.003+08:00

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has a new reason to be nervous -- sitting presidents are not immune from arrests for committing criminal offenses. This is the legal milestone set by the International Criminal Court (ICC) when it ordered the arrest of Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir for war crimes and crimes against humanity in a concerted government campaign against civilians.

International Herald Tribune reports:

The criminal court judges took more than seven months to examine the evidence on Bashir before charging him with five counts of crimes against humanity, including murder, extermination, forcible transfer, torture and rape. The two counts of war crimes were for attacks against a civilian population and for pillaging.
In their statement, the judges said the court did not recognize immunity for a head of state and called for the cooperation of all countries - not just the 108 nations that are members of the court - to bring Bashir to justice.
Under the rules of the UN charter and Security Council, Sudan is legally obliged to arrest Bashir, the judges said - but that appears unlikely. The court has no police force or military of its own, and the 24,000 or so UN peacekeepers operating in Sudan have no mandate to detain war crimes suspects.

If this is the case, and human rights groups are able to substantiate the claims against Gloria Arroyo for human rights violations and for suppression of press freedom, then she might find her feet treading the path to jail.

Yun nga lang, medyo malabo na. First, elections are near, barely one year. Kung hindi siya ma-impeach, hindi na rin siya presidente in case ICC issues a warrant of arrest against her. Second, Lorelei Fajardo will surely fire verbal ammunitions against ICC calling the act the work of opposition and the issuance of the warrant of arrest politically motivated. (Un)Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales will also let loose his unbridled tongue to delay the proceedings while FG Mike Arroyo will gather another crowd in EDSA to be airlifted to The Hague to show protests.

Pero sabi, ang protests na gagawin ni FG ay pagtutol sa proceedings ng ICC regarding the criminal cases of his wife. Ang gusto niya daw kasi na talakayin ng ICC ay annulment case dahil wala na rin siyang pakinabang sa asawa niya kung mawawala na ito sa pagiging presidente. Isa pa, wala nga daw na nagawa si Gloria sa ZTE-broadband issue eh pumayag na nga siya na pumunta si Gloria sa Boao kahit pa nasa emergency room siya at may sakit.

Philippines, Piracy and Property Rights

2009-03-05T09:21:00.006+08:00

My trip to Quiapo (no, not patterned after Ricky Lee's scriptwriting manual) remains vivid in my head as the songs of the tinderos and tinderas kept going: Dibidi... dibidi... dibidi.

Naalala ko tuloy ang balita kahapon. Gusto ng mga pharmaceutical lobbyists sa America na bigyan ng economic sanctions ang Pilipinas dahil sa Cheaper Medicines Act ng huli. Violation daw yun ng intellectual property rights (IPR) ng mga malalalaking pharmaceutical companies. Pumirma kasi ang Pilipinas sa isang kasunduan under the General Agreement on Tariff and Trades with regard IPR.

Pero kung may punto nga ang mga American lobbyists, ibig sabihin, kailangang mahal ang mga gamot. Ibig ding sabihin, kung ang isang mahirap ay magkakaroon ng karapatan na maka-afford ng gamot para sa isang malusog na pangangatawan ito ay isang violation din ng IPR. Ibig ding sabihin, ang tanga-tanga talaga ng mga Pilipino dahil ibinoboto ng mga ito ay mga opisyal na basta na lang pumipirma ng mga hindi naiintindihan na dokumento. Buti na lang merong Gloria Arroyo na matapos sumabog ang balita na negatibo sa bansa ang implikasyon ng ZTE Broadband Deal, minadyik na lang para mawala ang mga dokumento. Galing di ba?

Pero isang malinaw na implikasyon din ang kahalagahan ng amendments sa Konstitusyon - amendments na hindi lang basta "able to read and write" ang kandidato kundi "able to understand" din ng kanyang binabasa at sinusulat.

But while we agree sa karapatan ng mga nag-isip, nag-imbento, gumawa, nag-develop, etc., ng mga bagay-bagay (gamot, pelikula, damit, musika atbp.), dapat gumawa rin ng paraan ang gobyerno para hindi naman lahat pabor sa mga may-ari ng IPR. Ang trabaho ng gobyerno ay balansehin ang mga interes at gumalaw patungo sa ikauunlad ng bawat isa. Puwedeng isa ang Cheaper Medicines Act pero huwag naman sanang maging bahag ang buntot ang gobyerno pag umalma na ang ibang bansa. Ikalawa, huwag lang tumutok sa gamot. Tutukan din ang iba pang bagay tulad ng Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) Bill na hanggang ngayon, nasa drawer pa rin ng mga kongresista. Matagal na ata yun na nai-file pero mukhang hanggang filing cabinet na lang.

Ikatlo, tutukan din ang mga smuggler na kasabwat ng ilang tao diyan sa gobyerno. Mukha kasing ang nangyari, everybody happy lagi at naging "customary" na ang snuggling. Kung may hinuhuli man, ito yung maliliit at mahihina mag-coordinate. Ganun nga ba talaga yun?

Siyempre, lagyan ng pangil ang mga batas. Huwag ng gawin yung slogan ni Erap na "walang kai-kaibigan at walang kama-kamag-anak" kasi may lusot dun. Wala na ngang kaibigan (kaya nga umalma si Jun Lozada dahil kumonti ang kita), at wala na ring kamag-anak kasi panay na lang "kapamilya". Otherwise, bakit sinasabing "all roads of corruption lead to Rome... este, Home... I mean, Malacanang"?

Merceditas and the ethics of lawyers

2009-03-04T07:38:00.003+08:00

Q: Do you know the reason why lawyers cannot enter directly either the heaven or the hell?
A: Because they keep on questioning the guidelines of St. Peter.

But kidding aside, lawyers have this Canon of Professional Ethics which they need to follow "that the public shall have absolute confidence in the integrity and impartiality of administration of justice." And Merceditas Gutierrez is a lawyer before becoming an Ombudsman. But it seems that her breeding is not of a lawyer as she personally lashed back at her critics who followed the rules and filed an impeachment complaint against her ... o lawyers lang ang dapat sumunod sa Canon of Professional Ethics?

Kung sabagay, why should we expect kay Merceditas to be following the Canon eh simpleng argumentum ad hominem hindi niya nga alam na fallacy pala. But even then, her speech makes a very good comic show. Here's the take from Inquirer.Net:

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Phil Star: Profligate leadership by example

2009-02-13T19:07:00.003+08:00

The Philippine Star's editorial today is worth reading... and sharing. Below is a copy. For the source, click here.

Profligate leadership by example
While other countries have slipped into recession, President Arroyo appears determined to show to the world how healthy the Philippine economy is: by traipsing around the globe. Her latest eight-day jaunt across Europe, the Middle East and North America cost taxpayers a whopping P123 million — and that’s the amount that Malacañang was willing to acknowledge.

What did Filipino taxpayers get in return? Few people remember exactly why the President went to Davos, Switzerland, or to Italy. If she went to the World Economic Forum to brag about the Philippine example, the international community seemed unimpressed.

Malacañang cited benefits from the entire trip amounting to an even more whopping $2 billion. Where did that fantastic figure come from? Palace officials said the President received pledges of aid from Saudi Arabia totaling $500 million and, from Bahrain, an investment commitment of $350 million for a hotel project in Makati City. In the United States, where her quest for a coveted photograph with new President Barack Obama ended in humiliation, there is a possibility that the Philippines can export $1.2 billion worth of textiles.

Decisions regarding foreign aid or major investments are not made as quickly as the President decides to fly to Washington for a photo op. The groundwork for decision-making is laid over several months, and the final commitment does not need the presence of the head of the recipient country. The original reason cited for the President’s Middle Eastern trip was to act as job-hunter for overseas Filipino workers. But the region has been hit by the precipitous plunge in world demand for crude oil. Projects and major investments in the Middle East are on hold, foreign workers are being sent home, and it’s doubtful that recovery will be quick.

Textile exports to the US? The Philippine textile industry has been devastated by competition from China and India. And if there is textile to speak of for exports, are Americans buying at this time? As for that unfortunate pilgrimage to Washington, where the President did not merit even a nod or word of acknowledgment from her US counterpart, the embarrassment should be enough to keep her home at least for the duration of the global slump. But then that would be too much to expect of this President. If members of Congress and even police officers are inveterate junketeers at taxpayers’ expense, it is because they are simply following their leader’s example.

No Cha-Cha -- Lakas Agrees

2009-02-02T08:31:00.002+08:00

Finally, Lakas-NUCD conceded. It's impossible to have charter change at the moment.

Pero bakit nga ba kailangang magmadali na baguhin ang saligang batas? Let us count the ways:

Mabilis bumaba ang presyo ng gasolina. Baka makasabay si Gloria.
Dumadami ang populasyon dahil marami pa rin ang sumasalungat sa Reproductive Health. Baka dahil sa pagdami ng populasyon mahigitan ang mga botante ng administrasyon. Talo na sila sa susunod na eleksiyon.
Malapit ng maayos ang economic crisis ng mundo. Mawawala na ang "chaos". At dahil mawawala na ang chaos, mawawala na rin ang mga opportunities ng mga nasa gobyerno at malapit sa gobyerno ni Arroyo. Di ba may kasabihan, "In chaos there is opportunity"? Remember the rice crisis -- sino-sino nga ba ang nanginabang? Tanungin natin si Sec. Yap at ang biyenan nito.
Malapit na ang eleksiyon. Nawawala pa rin si Garci. Wala pa nga atang kaso.
Wala na rin ang ZTE at mahina na rin ang kita dahil sa ibinunyag ng World Bank na kapalpakan sa DPWH. Wala ng perang pumapasok.... waaaaahhhhhh!!!!!

Two New Years

2009-01-29T14:32:00.005+08:00

It's been a while since my last post. Lumipas na ang Christmas, dumating na ang New Year at eto, new year na naman... Chinese New Year!

It's funny to note having two new years in one year. Parang yung standards ng graft and corrupt practices act ng gobyerno. Sabi ng World Bank, me tatlong Philippine-based construction companies na involved sa rigging ng bidding and these were all blacklisted. Sabi naman ng DPWH, at ng mga Tongressman na tiyak sumasahod sa mga blacklisted construction companies na ito, wala at hindi totoo ang sinasabi ng World Bank. Katunayan, dagdag ng DPWH, mas mahigpit nga ang bidding laws dito sa Pilipinas and based on the DPWH standards, malinis ang mga construction firms na blacklisted ng international financial institution.

Sino ngayon ang baliw... este mali: Ang World Bank o ang DPWH?

Going back sa new year, puwede namang sabihing pareho tama both ang international new year (based sa Gregorian Calendar) at ang Chinese New Year (based on a Lunar Calendar). Analogously, puwede ring sabihing tama ang World Bank at ganun din ang DPWH. Ang kaibahan nga lang, mas mahigpit ang DPWH kasi, sabi ng isang ispiritu santong prayle sa loob ng departamento, money down muna. No money, no honey... este, no contract. Tama ba?

A violent man as an ambassador of peace?

2008-12-09T16:40:00.003+08:00

Let's admit it: Boxer Manny Pacquiao brings glory to the Filipinos. Unintentionally. Pacquio wants to be a US citizen and nobody can deny it. But bringing unintentional glory to the place where he was born does not automatically qualify him to be an ambassador of peace.

Yes, ambassador of peace. Inquirer.Net, quoting Lorelei Fajardo, noted:

Pacquiao will be officially named "ambassador of peace" when he pays a courtesy call to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Malacañang on Wednesday.

Wala na bang maisip ang palasyo para maki-ride on lang sa kasikatan ni Pacquiao? On what logic did they base the idea of calling a man who punches another an ambassador of peace? A person who was so willing to be named a military sergeant an ambassador of peace?

Kung sabagay, it's like the "I am sorry" story. No, not GMA's "I am sorry". It's the story of two sons the youngest of whom was boxed by his kuya. The youngest then made sumbong sa nanay nila na sinuntok siya ng kuya niya. The nanay asked the kuya to make sorry kay bunso. And the kuya did. Noting that it's just normal to punch a person as long as there is an apology, the youngest boxed his brother with all his might and after doing so, said "I am sorry". Then he boxed his elder brother again and again saying "sorry" after every punch. Ayos di ba? But try hitting GMA and say sorry after doing so and see where you'll be next.

JDV is cheap!

2008-11-24T08:39:00.002+08:00

Cong. Jose de Venecia admitted accepting a P500,000 bribe just to stall the October 2007 Impeachment complaint against Gloria Arroyo. Here's the report of the Inquirer:

Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that he, along with some other congressmen and local officials, was given the alleged bribe on Oct. 11, 2007, to support a "sham" impeachment complaint to protect President Macapagal-Arroyo from a stronger suit.

On the same day he received the payoff, the then Speaker De Venecia said Ms Arroyo pressured him three times during a meeting in her Malacañang office to endorse the "weak" impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Roel Pulido.

De Venecia said the P500,000 was brought to his office in the House of Representatives by a staff member of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office on the afternoon of Oct. 11 when the House was set to vote on the Pulido complaint.

How cheap naman!

But JDV seems to have forgotten: Coming out this late (it's one year and one month!) does not relieve him of his guilt of being a party to bribery! Is he coming out only because he wanted to get even? If he really wanted to follow the law to the letter, he should have came out earlier and accused Gloria in the Palace of bribery and not after one year. In bribery, the issue is not whether or not the money is intact. It's the act of accepting the money and the intent behind such act.

How sad naman...

GMA and the Cha-cha Train

2008-11-22T09:15:00.003+08:00

Action speaks louder than words.

Presidentiable Mar Roxas is correct: If Gloria in the Palace wants, all she can do is to tell her allies in the lower house to stop the Cha-cha train.

But Arroyo is still hopeful to extend her term. Thus, she wants to amend the charter. Clearly, "Press Sec. Jesus Dureza said that the Palace will not intervene in efforts to push Charter change at the Lower House.A report aired over dzBB radio quoted Dureza as saying that the President will leave Charter Change in the hands of the Congress. Dureza said President Arroyo remains supportive of efforts to amend the Constitution." (source here)

Buking!

2008-11-21T14:04:00.003+08:00

First, it was Press Secretary Jesus Dureza's prayer, now it's the son's turn to show what is obvious: Gloria Arroyo will sit beyond 2010.

In a televized prayer with Arroyo listening, Dureza said: Bless the president so we will have forebearance, good health, the tolerance to lead the nation up to 2010, and perhaps who knows, even beyond.

GMA was embarassed. Indeed. But GMA did not scold Dureza in public just like what she used to do everytime her underlings commit an error. Remember the LTO incident? And the reporting of OIC of DepEd Ms. Fe Hidalgo? This just shows the obvious and Dinky Soliman is right: Embarassed sa media si Arroyo but she liked the prayer. And very much.

And to sustain her liking, her son, Cong. Mikey Arroyo even endorsed the moves to amend the constitution. And proud pa si Mikey. And to note, Arroyo can only extend her term if the charter will be amended.

These being so, what can we say? Shall we say na ang isda ay nabibingwit sa bibig? Or shall we say: Ang taong may bad breath nalalaman pag ibinubuka niya ang kanyang bibig either dahil magsasalita siya o maghihikab lang.

Another Euro-General to Set to Retire

2008-11-04T20:08:00.002+08:00

From GMANews.TV:

MANILA, Philippines – One of the “euro generals" implicated in the P6.9-million Moscow scandal is set to retire Wednesday.

Philippine National Police regional director Director Jaime Caringal, who has reached the mandatory retirement age of 56, will be replaced by Chief Superintendent Angelo Sunglao.

The turn-over ceremony will take place at Camp Colonel Romeo Abendan in Zamboanga City in western Mindanao at 10 a.m. Wednesday, PO3 Ella Mae Llanes oi the Region 9 police told GMANews.TV in a phone interview.

Caringal was among several officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) delegation who came under fire for incurring “cash advances" of 105,000 euros (P6.9 million) when they attended the 77th Interpol Assembly in St. Petersburg on October 7-10.

The irregular practice was exposed when customs officials at the Moscow airport detained former PNP comptroller Eliseo dela Paz, who had already retired from the service, for not declaring the huge amount of money in his possession.

Dela Paz was subsequently released after the PNP certified the purpose of the money. But Dela Paz is under investigation by the Senate.

Dela Paz, Caringal and PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa are all members of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1976. (Source here)

Dapat pala si Tikboy ay nag-police na lang at magpa-promote maging general para kung sakali, pag malapit ng mag-retire, me travel na sa Russia, kasama pa ang asawa. Kung sabagay, si Ping Lacson nga napabalita minsan na may bank accounts sa ibang bansa. Ibig sabihin, nagtravel din siya tulad ng mga Euro Generals. After which, naging senador pa.

Teka, puwede pa bang mag-shift ng propesyon?

Sino ang Baliw.... este, Tama?

2008-11-01T08:42:00.004+08:00

A Church divided. This is the best description of the Catholic church in three words, a description that is inimical to the respect it tried to earn for centuries.

Pero while the group of Bishop Lagdameo is asking the administration of Gloria in the Palace to institute system change and reform, a number of others are like paid dogs barking for the sitting president. Ngayon nakisawsaw na rin ang mga "neutral" na obispo gaya ni Nueva Caceres Bishop Legaspi and asked na lahat ng prelates ay mag-reform din ng kani-kanilang mga sarili.

Which leads us to a royal rumble... err, credibility problem. Kung sa bahay ng Diyos ay hindi magkasundo-sundo ang mga tagapag-lingkod (which is happening now dahil hindi solid ang mga obispo kung sino ang susuportahan), it could be that there is a problem with the God they are preaching. Or could it be that the prelates themselves are a problem so they should not be considered as the "servants/instruments of God"?

Pero teka, since naniniwala naman ang mga Obipso sa Bibliya, bakit kaya di nila i-ponder ang sinasabi sa 1 Kings Chapter 22. Sabi sa verse 17 and onwards, me isang lying spirit na bumaba sa mga propeta para i-persuade si King Ahab na makipag-giyera at matalo. Sa mga obispo, sino kaya ang lying spirit? At sino ang nagsasabi ng tama? Hmmmnnn...

Nagtatanong tuloy si Tikboy paano maging atheist. Sa atheism kasi walang Church at dahil walang Church, walang nadi-divide.

Joke-joke Bolate

2008-10-31T12:26:00.004+08:00

Jacky Chan's "Who Am I?" now has a Pinoy version in the story of Joke-joke... I mean, Joc-joc Bolante.

Tribune has also its own version in the story and it is entitled: Where Am I?

A copy of Tribune's cartoon appears below. All copyrights are Tribune's.

Double standards

2008-10-30T18:25:00.004+08:00

When Arroyo's camp accused President Joseph Estrada of being corrupt and that he step down in that fateful January 2001, nobody called Arroyo nor the members of his camp as "seditious". But when Catholic Bishop Angel Lagdameo accused the Arroyo administration as corrupt and that sitting president should resign, loose tongue Secretary of (in)Justice Raul Gonzales fired at Lagdameo and accused the bishop of uttering seditious statements.

Ba't ganun?

Kung sabagay, kailangan pa bang i-memorize yan? The Arroyo camp is a fan of George Orwell at mahilig sila sa Orwellian double-talk defined as "saying one thing and meaning the other". So Mr. Bishop Lagdameo, when Gonzales says "seditious ang statements mo", you must praise the Lord dahil inaamin nila na talagang kurakot ang administrasyong Arroyo. Kung sinasabi rin nila na wala sa expertise ng mga pari ang pulitika, you should also praise the Lord dahil inaamin nila na magagaling kayo kaya nga hanggang ngayon, uphill battle pa rin ang kaso nila laban kay Pampanga Governor Father Ed. Panlilio.

Praise the Lord, Bishop?

Missing guns and Moscow scandal

2008-10-30T07:41:00.003+08:00

Inquirer.Net notes:

Twenty firearms in the custody of the Quezon City General Services Office (GSO) have yet to be recovered nearly a month after these were reported missing.

Dito ata gagamitin ang spygears from Moscow na worth P6.9 million. Hindi kaya?

*****

But one thing funny, ba't kaya hindi titillating ang Moscow Scandal as opposed to the Makati Scandal, Olongapo Scandal, etc. na binebenta sa Quiapo?

Mafia and de la Paz

2008-10-29T07:38:00.002+08:00

When I was still struggling in my profession, and the world during the time of Tabako Ramos was still chaotic and uncertain, my mentor taught me the difference between a legitimate business man and a person involved in illegal business transactions. Sabi niya, ang legitimate businessman ay mahahalata mo dahil kung makipag-usap yan it's either in cash or in cheque. Pero kung nakikipag-deal siya using cash at laging makapal ang bulsa, it's either that he is a mafiosi or a yakuza.

Does this confirm na may mafia nga diyan sa loob ng gobyerno? And De la Paz is a mafiosi?

If RETIRED PNP comptroller Eliseo De la Paz is in an official mission (which is amazing kasi nga retired na siya), he should be carrying cheques and other bank notes. Besides, the Philippine Government uses cheques in paying its transactions. Si Mang Impong nga na sanlibo lang ang sinisingil sa gobyerno kailangan pang sumuot sa butas ng karayom makasingil lang at makuha ang tseke niya. And we are talking here of millions? Ano to, tulad ng expose ni Panlilio with regards the cash gift? O baka cash gift din yun na dala ni De la Paz?

Peace, men! Peace!

Paz for peace or Paz for trouble?

2008-10-23T07:40:00.002+08:00

"Paz" or "pax" means "peace". But with the Russian imbroglio, it appears that pass will be re-translated in the Philippines as "trouble" as Eliseo dela Paz, former PNP official, will be facing probes in the Senate and the Ombudsman.

Pero teka, why naman? Eh nagdala lang naman siya ng pera sa Russia worth P6.9 million as contingency fund cum cash advance? Ang mga banko nga billions pa ang mga pinag-uusapan at inililipat sa iba-ibang bansa, di ba? Eh may banko naman ata na pag-aari si dela Paz... meron ba?

Pero kung may banko si De la Paz, siguradong Land Bank yun o kaya PNB. Yun kasi ang banko ng gobyerno. Kay dela Paz na ba yun?

Pero wait, may banko o wala, bakit P6.9 million? Magtatayo ba ng mga day care centers sa Moscow? Kung P6.9 million at ang bawat day care center ay P300,000, marami-rami yun. Sa bayan nga ni Onyo, P24,000 me day care center na. Gawa sa pawid nga lang. Kung sabagay, ok lang yun. Teka, saang rehiyon ba sa Pilipinas ang Moscow? At bakit andun si De la Paz? Siya ba ang bago nating Cabinet Secretary? Kung hindi man, siya ba ang governor o mayor ng isa sa mga bayan dun?

Crazy!

Kung sabagay, De la Paz claims he has nothing to hide. Tama naman kaya nga na-expose ang P6.9 million di ba? So let us wait for the Ombudsman and the Senate muna. Sana di ma-PAZwash, i mean ma-hog-wash ang mga imbestigasyon. At sana ang mga taong bayan tulad din ng motto ni Mike Enriquez ang iniisip: Hindi namin kayo tatantanan!

Pacquiao or "pakyaw"?

2008-10-03T16:51:00.002+08:00

In a way, Cong. Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan De Oro is implying that Manny Pacquiao is going into commercialization. If the Pacman-Golden Boy fight pushes through, Rodriguez said: The way I see it, this is only money for Manny Pacquiao.

If pera-pera lang yan kay Manny, so what? It's his fight anyway. Ba't di niyo na lang tutukan pag-gawa ng batas. The people are not paying you to make pakialam sa buhay ng may buhay...

Pero teka... ano ba itong report na "GAB chairman Eric Buhain said the board made a resolution stating its position against the fight, when it learned of the fight scheduled in December."? Why, is Pacquiao under the supervision of GAB? Hmmmnnnn :-?

Worse, me dagdag pang statement na ganito si Buhain: Alam po naman natin Pacquiao is a national treasure and we want to ensure his safety.

Helleourrrrrr???????

National treasure si Pacquiao? Yamasita treasure? And , concern sa safety? Bakit yung mga athlete natin na under ng GAB kulang sa safety? At yung mga workers na covered dapat ng GAB kulang din sa safety?

It seems that these people receiving the taxpayers' money as salaries are misled. Can you please go back to your manual of operations and look into your functions? Baka nasusulat man lang diyan...

Trust!

2008-09-12T18:52:00.004+08:00

From the ZTE scandal, we have the Meralco Scandal, then the Court of Appeals Scandal. Wala na bang katapusan?

I thought sa Quiapo lang mabibili ang mga "scandals" -- tatlo-isandaan, DVD, DVD. Di pala. Eto ang mas malala pa sa sex scandals sa UST, sa KyuSi, sa Cotabato, sa Makati, etc., etc. At least ang mga sex scandals, manonood ka na lang. Eto, apektado ka, sila, kami, tayo. Ang desisyon ng Korte Suprema sa kaso ni CA Justice Roxas indikasyon na mahirap na magtiwala. Kung nangyari yung ginawa kuno ni Roxas, maaaring nangyayari rin sa iba mula sa mababang hukuman pataas. Wala nga lang may nagrereklamo.

Kung sabagay, kailangan pa ba nating ma-shock? Si Gloria in the Palace nga ni hindi man lang dumampi ang kanyang tumbong sa Impeachment Court so bakit pa tayo mabibigla? And the alleged president, who should show the highest integrity and be the model all over the land eh tainted ang pagkatao so why be shocked? Roxas is just a small pawn... o kahit pa sabihin nating bishop.

Kung sabagay, sabi sa Constitution, "Public Office is a Public Trust". Di naman sinabi na hindi condom di ba? Sabi lang "Trust". So kung hindi man nabuntis, lomobo lang -- lomobo lang ang katiwalian.

Heck!

GMA - the Girl Who Cried Wolf

2008-08-13T08:53:00.004+08:00

Sabi ng Inquirer:

Malacanang: All systems go for Charter Change

This time, Malacanang is reaching out their hands to Senator Nene Pimentel by supporting his Resolution No. 10 favoring the change in the charter. Pero sabi ni Pimentel, "ayaw ko!".

Sabagay, malay nga naman ni Pimentel kung may dura ang kamay ng Malacanang? At iniisip ng mga ito kung paano palawigin ang pag-upo ni Gloria in the Palace sa kanyang upuan?

Press Secretary Jesus Maria... este, Jesus Dureza said: Wag naman kayong ganyan. Let's be fair to the president. Wala siyang plano na umupo sa puwesto beyond 2010.

Oo nga naman. Let's be fair to GMA. Let's pretend as if there is no double standards when it comes to her -- how she called Garci, how she stalled the election protests filed by FPJ et. al., how her camp manipulated the Impeachment trials, and how she changed her mind in 2003 by announcing that she will not run for president. If it is possible kasi na ang bayabas ay mamunga ng "guaple", it is also possible na ang bayabas ay puwede ring mamunga ng "pure apple". So if GMA says di na siya uupo sa puwesto beyond 2010, malay natin, though she has a lying lips she might indeed stick to her promise.

Yan kasi. Mahirap ang maglaro ng "the boy who cried wolf". Kahit babae ang naglalaro, the effect is the same. Next time na magsalita ka, di ka na paniniwalaan.

The people have rendered their judgment

2008-07-20T19:03:00.003+08:00

Inquirer's headline:

Palace: Let people be judge of Arroyo

Well, the people have rendered their judgment already. The problem, Garci bastardized it. Well, Garci would have not done it had it not for his lady caller who said "So I will still lead by more than one M., overall?". As to who the lady caller is, Malacanang is not aware but for those who have heard the recordings both the tampered and not believes it is not Loren Legarda.

Second, the people also rendered their judgment through surveys by making her the most infamous and most unpopular president. The problem, Malacanang is always questioning the survey every time the results are not favorable to the sitting-president. Pero pag paborable, gusto pang sambahin ang pollster.

According to the report:

(Ermita) wondered about the accuracy of the SWS survey that showed the President’s public approval rating plunging to a record low of negative 38 percent in June when, he said, she has done so much for Filipinos, including crisscrossing the country to oversee antipoverty projects and typhoon relief and rehabilitation.

Kelangan pa bang i-memorize yan? She had done much. But the question is: How much? Isa pa, ano ba ang ginawa? Namigay ng noodles? What about long term projects with impact like employment?

Second, what about the solution to the issues like corruption, ZTE scandal, jueteng, betrayal of public trust?

Next, sabi ni Ed Ermita:

Of course people have to wonder why after the many things that she is doing for the well-being of our citizens that that should still be the perception.

Sorry po Mang Ed. Ikaw lang po ang nagwa-wonder why and wonder how. Just open your eyes and see for yourself. Don't leave in dreams...

Globelines and Inconvenience

2008-07-13T11:59:00.001+08:00

One reason why we applied for a telephone and internet connection is convenience. It’s a hassle when the mobile phone has no battery or there is no signal. And it’s also more of a hassle when we have to hop in from one internet cafe to the other just to send a short e-mail or download an important document.

But contrary to expectations, CONVENIENCE was added with a prefix IN when we applied with Globelines. According to its marketing agents, service connections will be made within three days upon the satisfaction of the requirements. Well, it was three days indeed past a couple of months before the installation was completed. The explanation: There are no facilities yet — and that includes cable lines and cabinets — to our area. Which leads me to ask: Why market then?

Well, after the installation, things worked fine for a week, then a few days, then a few hours. Suddenly, our connection was cut. The alibi of Globelines? Our cables and lines are still new so it can be expected. But as the cables and lines grew old, the same things happen.

One time, it took us more than a week before having our lines repaired. Well, there was this rebate. But heck! We are paying for services and not rebates. Otherwise, we would have not parted with our money and just deposited the same in the bank and if we feel we need some “rebate-like” amount, all we need to do is just to withdraw. That’s very easy… and fast.

Later, internet connections became slow. Pong Pagong was even faster. And so are the heaviest traffics in EDSA whenever there are rallies. So I reported again. And Again. And again. And again. And before there was a resolution to our complaint, another worse thing happened: No dial tone for the telephone.

It’s been five days now but the only things we hear from the customer service centers are: “Sorry for the inconvenience”, “A technical team has been dispatched already”.

Heck!

We are not paying Globelines to hear their apologies. We are paying them to give us service, to make us convenient, to make communication fast and efficient. And we are locked in to their hell-of-a-service for 12 months!!!!

I don’t know. I hate my post to sound like this. And I never even imagine to have a post like this in this site. But what can I say?

Well, if any of you guys is planning to contract the service of Globelines, think first. But if you like to join me in the future in filing a case against the company, then go on. Let’s do it together.

Assessing the Competency of a Public Official: From Coffee to Golf

2008-07-13T11:17:00.004+08:00

Earlier, capabilities of applicants for public posts are done over a few cups of coffee and tete-a-tete. This was "revolutionized" during the time of Erap when, instead of coffee, they used beer. But after the ZTE scandal, government officials find it convenient to assess the competencies of prospective officials for higher posts: PLAYING GOLF!

In a statement, press secretary Jesus Dureza was quoted as saying:

We went out for a round of golf at Wack-Wack (yesterday) morning ... to celebrate ES (Executive Secretary) Ermita's birthday. We were in foursomes, so (two) groups of players..
After holing out in the last hole, I am all the more convinced that I can entrust to Romy (Neri) all my funds or the resources of SSS for that matter.

WTF! If this is the way competencies are assessed in choosing SSS Chairmen, I think we need to withdraw all our contributions from the said agency. It's our god damned money earned through sweat and blood tapos ima-manage lang na parang sugal? And Dureza, a press secretary issuing statements like that? Where the heck is the constitutional provision: Public Office is a Public Trust?

Hmmmnnn....

Pero teka, aside from the idea of SSS members withdrawing all their hard-earned money from the social security, me isa pang maganda ring idea na itinuro si Dureza. All those aspiring for government posts should study and master golf. If you are poor and you cannot afford to do so, sorry ka na lang... bebe. This just affirms the claims that the government is for the rich, by the rich and of the rich.