Solidarity and united action in this time of disaster, but systems change is the enduring response

Again, another perspective, this time totally from a social systems viewpoint.

How sure is the author that if he had his favorite social system in place, that the nirvana he dreams of will actually take place? How can he be so naive as to forget that anything that will require implenetation by men will always incorporate room for tragedy, assuming that Nature was ever so benevolent.

This is the stuff of unadulterated socialist dreams. I urge Dean Nemenzo to read his Hume - "no amount of human analysis and action can lead one to a sublime conclusion". Haven't the disasters of the Bolshevik Revolution provided enough lessons to draw from?

Life is tough, and some countries are just so unlucky. And that is not talking of how stupid people can be.

The Arroyo government is an expression of the collective choices of the Filipino people - the source of Arroyo's authority.

The buck does not stop with Arroyo - but to those who chose to give her the authority - the Filipino people.

If there is one catastrophe, it is the Filipino people's inability to proactively sustain bayanihan as a way of life (and not just during disasters) - it is this inability which provudes the foundation for all bigger catastrophes.

To Victor: I totally agree, we do not need another dictatorship like socialism/communism. Our present goverment is too centralized as it is. We have not dismantled the Marcos Martial Law mechanisms yet. The government needs to grant autonomy at the local level. What we have is a kindergarten/ nanny government. We need a government that respects the people's intelligence. There is a reason that the tribal and barrio systems worked for a long time, they are effective - just put these to work in the 21st century context.

I would add that what we need here is not another superbody, with dictatorial powers, that would encroach on the local government autonomy. Rather, we need specialized bodies that would be atuned to a specific geographic natural resource, like specific rivers, lakes, mountains, etc. As it is, our natural resources are hostage to politics, but nature can only step back so much, no amount of engineering can change what millenias took to design.

I agree. Giving charity is a band aid solution. We have seen generosity, yes, but it might send again a wrong message to these crooks, that it is ok to be complacent because they coulid count on the citizens for their generous hearts.

Arroyo and her cohorts should have drowned with Ondoy.

There was one fictitious story I read somewhere and it goes like this
There was once a man trap in the roof of his house due to flooding.
A big truck came along and ask him to hop in but he replied, God will rescue me.
Another boat came by and ask him to jumped in but he replied, God will rescue me.
For another time, a helicopter dangled a rope for him to catch, but he replied, God will resue me. And so finally he perished from the flood and came face to face with God and demanded God why have you forsaken me, so God replied, I have sent you a truck, a boat and a helicopter, what more do you want.

In the same way, when one at a time that every filipino comes his time to meet God and ask why have you forsaken my beloved country, God may reply something like this,

I have sent you martial law to be disciplined, but you remained undisciplined after martial law

I have sent you a dictator to topple and unite as in people power but u returned to your old ways.

I have sent u Gloria to correct your ways but u maintain the same way

I have sent you calamity to improve but you move on instead of changing your ways, What more do u ask?

Nasa Diyos ang awa nasa Tao ang gawa.

Actually, the better way in my opinion, is to go the way of public accountability. The concept that no one is above the law infers that the government is not immune to legal cases. I would like to see a class action suite by the flood victims against the national and local governments. I would like to see somebody file a case and actually win.

To Tob:

Actually you are not just accurate, but exceptional, to identify the real reason why third world countries are what they are - they keep on pinning their hopes on a central planner who can do things for them because they are too timid to take risks or lazy to do things on their own. In fact the opposite is more true, for only they possess the superior knowledge at the local level to help solve their own problems. And the results are obvious, the state (and bureaucracy) itself becomes the problem.

All these seem so contrary to common sense, somethjing very difficult to understand. Look, no less than a respected UP scholar can still not figure this anomaly out, and settles to the least difficult solution - more government. Of course with government comes politicians and lazy bureaucrats whose personal goals come in first. This is how this country gets f'upped!

Why don’t we just focus on concrete solutions? The man made part of the disaster is not any fault of the political or social system. You don’t have to change the system to clear rivers and creeks. People in charge just have to do their jobs. Sometimes I think that squatters read every life safety code, fire safety code and Sanitary code and built their communities to purposely disobey them.
Nobody is going to disagree on creating social justice but there is nothing wrong with getting foreign investments either. Let us not forget that for this disaster the problem is about planning and engineering – two things we always overlook. As sure as the sun will rise tomorrow, typhoons like Ondoy will come again. We may want to build a new floodway. We may want to control the level of Laguna lake. We may want to build a new and planed megacity to lessen the burden on Manila. We should have solidarity in the solution and its execution

The Local water Utilities Administration, a government-controlled corporation , held a lavish feast for its 36th anniversary wednesday night 9/30/09, a virtual slap on the face of a half a million Filipinos victimized by storm Ondoy who are scrounging for relief goods. Sen. Allan Cayetano said that while most celebration have been cancelled to donate to victims of Ondoy. A source said LWUA ordered 400 reservations for a seven -course dinner buffet from Henry Catering Service, a set of menu cost about P 200,000.00. The celebration, complete with a alive band was held at the LWUA main office on Katipunan Avenue, Balara Quezon City which was one of the worst hit by Ondoy floods. President Arroyo arrived at 9:00p.m.Talaga namang wala kayong pagod sa paglustay ng pera ng bayan sa gitna ng mga pagdurusa at sakit na nararamdaman ng mga kababayang nasalanta ng kalamidad sa Marikina, Antipolo City Rizal, Metro Manila at mga karatig probinsya dahilan sa bagyong Ondoy, Wow ! hindi kayang maisantabi muna ang pagiging maluho., nakukuha pa ninyong kumain at magpasarap magpakasasa sa isang walang kakuwenta kuwentang extravagant celebration in time of calamity para gumastos sa pagkain ng halagang P 200,000.00.Justifiable ba na gumasta ng ganitong halaga, madami ang gutom, walang damit, walang tahanan, namatayan, naulilang pamilya nawalan ng buhay at ari-arian malaking delubyo ang lahat ng ito at nahaharap sa kawalang pag-asa ang bayan na dulot na mapaghiganting panahon. Nasaan ang sinasabing naaawa kuno ng gobyernong Arroyo at mga kaalyado nito? Lumang drama na yan, hindi na oobra. Kung naaawa ay ipadama sa pamamagitan ng gawa at hindi mula sa laway na galing sa buga ng bibig na puro kasinungalingan at panglilinlang sa taong bayan. Ni Singkong Duling walang ipinalalabas na contingency fund para sa mga nasalanta ng kalamidad ang gobyerno natin. Ang mga private sectors, mga volunteers ay patuloy at walang kapaguran sa panghahagilap ng tulong mula sa kapwa kababayan, karatig probinsiya, karatig bansa at mga OFW upang iabot ang awa at maibsan ang gutom ng kumakalam na sikmura ng kapwa Pilipino.At hanggang sa mga oras na ito maraming eskuwelahan ang ginawang evacuation center para sa mga biktima ng kalamidad hirap na hirap ang kanilang kalalagayan, nagsisiksikan nagkakasakit ang mga bata …. ano na ang plano ng gobyerno ? O nasaan ang sinasabing Contingency fund? Nalustay na sa malimit at walang kabunasang abroad ni Arroyo at mga gabinete nito kasama na ang pagkain sa mga mamahaling restaurant na binayadan ng maraming Milyones. May konsensiya pa ba kayo?
Senator Miriam Defensor - Santiago urged private individuals and organizations to file a petition in court for damages against Locan Water Utilities Chief Prospero Pichay and other officials for the extravagant celebration of the agency.the celebration should be considered extravagance during a time of calamity. Senator Santiago Said the Civil Code frowns upon excessive or conspicuous consumption in times of national emergency or calamity. If it falls within the category, anyone can go to court and obtain an injunction to stop it.
Sen. Allan Cayetano the move of LWUA to proceed with its anniversary was the height of insensitivity.

Let's applaud Arroyo in this time of crisis.
Because it is only she and the executive department are helping victims of ondoy by action and not by words.
You can say all the good and bad things you want but that is useless in this time of crisis.
Action and words are what we need.

Congress, Senate and oppositions are again in the background but waiting to criticize the government. That's their role. Critics blah,blah, blah.

It is not the government of Arroyo to blame. It is the catholic churh on their stand against population control.
During the time of Marcos, he created population control com where there were only 45 million filipinos but what did the church do, they opposed.
Where are these added million filipinos, they live in river banks, creeks, steros, floodways, etc,etc, result... ondoy and more ondoys.

Bring back the programs of Marcos like population control commission, urban planning, ministry of human settlements, pasig rivers and estuaries clean up and rehabilitation.
That is what we need and not climate change.

these calamity was really a mother nature gift nor only for the philippines but for the whole world.what we needs is decipline,respect.love and care.

Easier said than done.
We need action not words. Most parts of metro manila is still flooded, millions are homeless and people are hungry.

What we need is action on recovery and clean up before embarking on the thought of solidarity and government, it can wait.
Just go get a shovel and help shove the mud, the garbage.
One act if millions is strong.
Though thy toil be slow, the clean up will push thru.
That is what we need today.
Political thoughts should be on the sideline and take on reality.
Enough of this political punditry.

Dahil sa kalamidad na nangyari sa Pilipinas binabaha rin tayo ng tulong mula sa iba't ibang ahensya, pribadong grupo, ibang bansa at sa mga simpleng tao. Napakalaking tulong ang nalikom kaliwa't kanan in kind at in cash...ang tanong ay ganito... kung ang gobyerno ay may malaking pondo na nagmumula sa mga iba't ibang ahensya at ibang bansa paano at ano ang gagawin ng gobyerno natin na ang buong bansa ay nailagay pa sa State of Calamity? Maaasahan ba natin na ito ay gagamitin ng tama at para sa Pilipinas nga ba at hindi sa iilan at piling tao lamang. Sana bago gamitin ito isipin ng lahat na namumuno ito ay ipinagkaloob sa Pilipinas upang makabangon, hindi lang ngayon kung hindi sa mga susunod pang henerasyon na ang makikinabang ay ang kaapo-apohan ng sinuman. Wag sana panandalian na solusyon ang gawin para lang masabi na may nagawa. Sana HUWAG SAYANGIN AT KAMKAMIN ng mga namamahala ang pondo na ito dahil bago ibinigay ito may mga kabuhayan na nawala, pamilyang nawalan at mga buhay na nabuwis. Sa bawat sentimo na gagastusin ng mga opisyal, namumuno o kung sinuman ang hahawak ng pondo na ito sana maisip nila, "paano kung ako ang bahain, tangayin ng agos, lubugan ng putik at mawalay sa pamilya ko sino ang tutulong sa akin, ang sasagip sa akin at paano ko makakaahon?" Laging nasa huli ang pagsisi at laging may turuan kung sino ang dapat sisihin...sana bago tayo gumawa ituro mo muna ang sarili mo bago ka ituro ng iba at masisi pa. Di ba ganito naman ang mga politoko may sakit sa turo. Ako ay isang ordinaryong mamamayang Pilipino lamang pero bukas ang isip at kamalayan sa mga nagaganap. Sana hindi masayang at maaksaya ng iilan ang pagkakataon na ang Pilipinas ay makabangon at makahaon muli. Hangad ng nakakarami ang tunay na pagbabago at ngayon na ito.
Pagpalain Nawa ang Pilipinas.
Gabayan Nawa ang bawa't Pilipino.

Toi Mang Godo (or Mang Goding if you are the same person):

Stop apologizing for the incumbent administration. Stop blaming the Church for its failed stance on population. Such partial analyses serve no purpose except to indulge the need to find the easiest culprit. Nemenzo's thesis about a so called systems change may be aerie faerie but it is an honest attempt to address this lack of perspective problem.

That posting was clearly meant to elicit responses about "ultimate causes" of a disaster, so this blog is not about greater efficiency or even efficacy of short term palliatives like the need for action that you recommend. You should realize by now that the reason this disaster had such monstrous effect was not because Filipinos were lacking in effort, vision or initiative, but that they were being hard pressed by problems of survival to see beyond the immediate consequences of their failings. If despite that the best you can recommend is "to get a shovel and shove the mud" you will end up exactly where Filipinos are now - too tired to think properly, too preoccupied by day to day matters to make any headway. Like them you will get very busy but ending up no better than where they were at the beginning. Working too hard never substitutes for working smartly; it is only a tad better than trusting shher luck and imploring divine intercession which is what so far they have been doing.

Disasters like Ondoy are wake up calls to a people of a country that has long indulged in fantasy and gone too far along on the road towards a failed state status. Not too far down that road lies what Jared Diamond calls the point of no return, with climate and natural disasters acting as the final triggers to collapse.
Not in your lifetime? Don't bet on that, the Rwandans, Biafrans and now Somalians are reliving the hell that centuries ago the vanished peoples of Near Middle East, Central America and even Southwestern United States went through. Nature never makes exceptions.

Filipinos ought to not only get real, but get tough but above all get smart.

Mang Godo and mang Goding,

from you writing it seems you both paid public media practitioner of malacanang. it is too bad since records show that leadership in the government is failing in most aspects of governance. it has been proven that government hasnt been infusing enough funds so that the country will be ready for any calamities and devastations.

Im sorry for both of you but i hope next time you will still be spared from calamities just like the many poor people who havent have enough to save for the rainy day. Unlike the paid media hacks who has been propping up this sagging and unpopular regime.

hope to see you in the next typhoon and flood!

My heart goes to the victims of typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng. Unfortunately this is not the last, there will be more coming in the form of super typhoons, heat wave, draught, fire and wind storms. All because of on-going climate change, which has been going on for million of years. It started at the end of ice age.

Human species are the to a large extend caused this rapid climate change. The desaster effect is the product of human's greed and continued destruction of our environment.

Humans must adapt to the changed planet in order to survive, otherwise, millions even billions will perish. This will cost money and complete change on the way we live. This will also require electing leaders who can lead us to adapt and change the way we live.

There are two options: do nothing, continue the way we live and we die, or spend money (billions even trillions) in order for the human species to survice.

As can be expected, based on the headlines today, the government's solution is another superbody with dictatorial powers. My question is, if the government placed too much confidence on Barangays to hunt down dissidents, why cannot they trust these to do a simple alarm and pre-emptive evacuation which will not entail any money (maybe a bull horn)- merely pre-emptive procedures? The answer is money, because a superbody will have its own budget, and this solution will not antagonize barangay captains for the coming vote buying -- oops! election.

The calamity had forced us to look ourselves in the mirror and re-evaluate ourselves. Tama naman na gumawa ng action immediately to pick up a shovel and clean up but at the same time, we also need to clean up our act and think in the long term to prevent and minimise the damage of what happened. Kaya lang pinoys have short term memories. Solid nga tayo ngayon to change gov't and what have you, I think in a few years, this would had been forgotten. I think nature will soon have its revenge and cleanse us all like the dinosaurs.
http://myfxadvice.com metatrader

Crisis is not just danger to the victims, it's also opportunity to hecklers and scammers.

Lessons should be learned and applied. There will always be typhoons every year. Nature's reminders are oftentimes painful

overpopulation or population explosion, church rabid opposition of birth control, rule of the elite, trapos, meek and submissive judiciary,stinking educational system, the only christian nation in Asia and the most pious in the whole world, and the most corrupt, exporter of prostitutes in the guise of OFW, name it we have it, we are a God forsaken country, we deserve the calamity we are suffering, there's something wrong with our cAtholic religion, i'm sure of that.

It is really funny how are broadcasters kept on emphasizing climate change... the cause of this flooding

First of all, we are not an expert on the subject, climate change, only the scientists can do the explanations.
Typhoons is a natural occurrence in the country, 20 more or so in a year.
That is not climate change. That is weather cycle.

The only problem with ondoys and flooding is over population and garbage...these people are living in river banks, esteros, creeks, swamp converted and on outlets of the river.
So, when it rains, the river overflows, the river was looking for its passageways but there was none, so he overflowed.
That is not climate change... that is clogged passageways.

Solution...let river claim its creeks, banks by relocating the people that live on its area.
In as much as these people cannot go back to their abode.
Why not initiate Balik Probinsiya migration.
We know that most affected were migrants from the province.
This would help also in easing out the river of people as well as metro manila.
We don't need Climate Change or Super Body... Solution is right there in your eyes.We don't need to be an expert on any subject. It is right there.
Typhoon will come again, and there will be more ondoys and more water...
If over population in metro manila will not be solved... then manila will be the real
Water World.

How...Balik probinsiya. This program will over population in metro manila.

Ayos nga po at dapat e yun ang tamang gawin marahil o talaga,...ngunit nasa gitna pa tayo o nasa akto ng mga kalamidad at tila nga hindi na biro at halos buong bansa na,kaya't tiyak na medyo matatagalan na naman at napakarami at napakalaking gawain ang hinaharap.At sana, 'kung kelan yun at kung meron pa,para sa atin ' e yun ang tamang panahon sana,' kaya lang me-mga nagsimula na at nag-lahad na ng mga para sa kanila e yun ang maganda sistema,...ngunit alam ko mahaba pa rin nga ang panahon upang mag-isip at magdesisyon.'ngunit siguro dapat sabay-sabay' na.Sa tagal na nga naman at sa dami at laki na ng karanasan nating lahat,E DAPAT E NATUTUTO na at dalang-dala na dapat tayo, 'kaya lang e,...at ALAM KO,HINDI NA NATIN KAYA,sabi nga sa Gospel ngayon,'yung kamelyo mas-pwede o kaya pang maka-pasok sa butas ng karayom,' hmmm, at alam ng maraming mas-matatag at mas-malakas na ang pananampalataya,na tutuo 'sa DIYOS,posible lahat at para sa kanila,ngunit sa mga hindi...ngunit alam ko me-PAG-ASA.'YOU ARE LACKING IN ONE THING.GO,SELL WHAT YOU HAVE,AND GIVE TO [the] POOR AND YOU WILL HAVE TREASURE IN HEAVEN; THEN COME,FOLLOW ME. mark 10:21
o ipamigay na lahat ,lalo na yung mga...subra na at galing sa kwan...

At ngayon nga e panahon na nga siguro na isipin natin at tingnan ano nga baga ang mga hadlang pa sa ating lahat,sa ating bansa,upang maka-sunod sa kanya tungo sa hindi na sa pan-sarili,yun ng para sa bayan at para kaayusan ng nakararamin,lalo na ang mga mahihirap at nasalanta,'Lord,I trust in your power to help us to follow you as you will.'

ang isang pwedeng baguhin agad e ,yung tutuo ng maki-alam o makisangkot sa mga gawain na kailangan ngayon,sa ating mga purok at barangay,matapos mai-ayos ang sarili at pamilya.

What are the explanations for tendency to have "short term" memories?

a). Wrong incentives biased towards quick and immediate payoffs. Some of this can be quickly remedied, others may take time.

b). Poor dysfunctional leadership and governance. We tend to follow those who we look up to, and that is exactly why we are stuck

c). We tend to look inwards and reinvent the wheel, rather than learn from the examples of successful countries; and

d). Because we are too poor, we tend to cut corners because longer term solutions do not promote our immediate survival

I have a radical suggestion that may not sit in well with many who still think we can bootstrap ourselves from this mess:

Why don't we just ask China (or even Taiwan) to just enter with us into a well defined joint venture whose goal is to turn around this mess we have created for ourselves? After all, failing or failed companies declare bankruptcy and enter into receiverships and in some cases, give up temporary control over their affairs. If devised properly and overseen by the proper international bodies, such a radical approach may work.

Admitted, there aren't have too many precendents to guide us, but it is worth exploring. Isn't this the way out of a failed entity that we have turned ourselves into? Enough of this bull shit about nationalism and pride, we have been fooling ourselves for decades that our elites can help us. The problems and the needs only get bigger and worse all the time. Those kinds of solutions can not permit the inward flow of assistance and common sense we need to get out of this rut. We just have to eat our pride and take our lumps just like with every kind of catharsis.

The alternative is continued deterioration until taken over by a dictator or autocrat which based on our dalliance with Marcos' authoritarianism, tends to erode into tyranny without development. Not the ideal solution, but worth exploring.

At least we can stop debating and scattering resources and start to focus on a problem that never goes away simply because these jerks always tend to make a mess of things.

From the headlines today, many perished because the dam was opened without sufficient warning for evacuation.

I'm beginning to suspect that the government's solution to overpopulation is to drown people. Or, there could be dissidents in the affected areas.

Ondoy and pepeng unmasked the ineptness and callousness of this administration and underlined how grave a mistake we made in backing this administration.

With all due respect to the author, maganda po ang inyong hangarin, pero sa panahon po ngayon, and kauna-unahang gawin ay ang ipatupad muli ang mga ugaling naituro sa atin ng ating mga magulang- yan ay ang desiplina sa sarili. Ito ang bagay na matagal ng nawala sa ating lahat kaya marapat lamang na ating itong ibalik. Bago tayo maghangad ng pagbabago sa iba, sistema o ugali pa man, marapat lamang na itoy magsimula sa ating mga sarili. Systems Change ika nga po ninyo, pero sa ating pong mga sarili dapt mag-umpisa yan. Let's not put the blame on anyone else first, let's start by asking ourselves what have we done? Self-discipline in terms of garbage disposal and waste management at home should be the initial step especially for us living in the city. I believe this is the true first concrete and realistic step we could ever do. Magsimula po tayong muling mamuhay ng may disiplina sa sarili.

i think what was striking about the news lately was we have nothing to blame about our own idiosyncracies. why are the metropolis and even the provinces flooding? it is our greediness that brought us to such disastrous chaos. honestly when we do things right for example, moderately taking things for our own good and sincerely taking good care of everything that was only God's gifts for us, none of these adversaries would have happened. these have to be lessoned learned for all of us. when are we going to stop, look and listen? tommorrow? what if it never come? we are again on the grieving end. lets althogether change our bad habits for the benefit of all particuarly, for God to make us proud of what we ware doing here on Earth. Pax!

Kahit ano pang sasabihin natin, the Philippines and the Filipino deserves the calamities. Look around around us, are we a nation, a people worth saving? We are so divided, we are corrupt, we are all everything negative to call a worthy nation, people. We know our problems, we know the causes, yet we don't do anything about our problems because we always point fingers to others. We don't deserve these beautiful islands called the Philippines.

Population control is what the country needs.

To Mr. Baltazar: The people have discipline, why do you think there are a lot of graduates? But if the people have discipline and the politicians do not, what do you do? It's always the same, "nice guys finish last."

Mr. Editor...I have a comment about your editorial section..The entire Luzon is sufferring from what I hope the worst rainstorm, that will or ever hit the Philippines again. Blaming game should be set aside for now instead write something about how we can actually prevent this from happening again. We can't control the WEATHER but the technology to predict IT the and to avoid disasters are definetely out there, that would be a good topic.
I read the newspaper almost everyday and it is just sad that to find out that "WE REALLY DON'T CARE" and all We
care about is WHAT WE DO EACH DAY FOR OURSELVES . Even at time like this, we still look at each others fault. It was every Filipinos fault and please don't blame the Arroyo Administration.The Filipinos are the King Makers and we put her where she sitting right now.
Everybody knows we have corrupt government but nothing has been done about it. What all the filipinos should do right now is weather this one out by concetrating on the the problem by helping the typoon victims and giving ideas on how to do it efficiently rather than finger pointing because it doesn't really make any sense anymore. Arroyo's term is almost over.
What did we learn from this disaster? It brought out the worst in us! We canot esacape the wrath of nature but we can limit what what it can do to us.
We can all begin by loving one another by helping the victim, take care of our environment(FYI: Earth Is a Living Planet therefore it cleans itself) and PICK THE RIGHT PERSON TO RUN THE NATION. MAKE SURE THAT HE HAS A GREEN MIND.

We need VISIONARIES..FERNANDO AND ROXAS WOULD BE A PERFECT COMBINATION..IF FILIPINOS REALLY CARE THEN THEY SHOULD VOTE FOR THEM. An Engineer and a Public Servant> Perfect!

Wake up call...or in tagalog, Hoy Gsing.
Kasi tayong mga pinoy tutulog tulog. Kailangan muna ng isang matinding batok bago gumising at kumilos.

Typhoons are not unusual. That is our everyday life. We are in the typhoon belt so live and sleep on typhoons.
But we don't learn our lesson and we are not boy scout to be prepared.
Bahala na, that is our attitude.
We live day to day, no plan, no vision.

Rivers are the same. They follow the route to discharge over water. But people clogged their passageways, their outlets, creeks, swamps and anything owned by the river.
So what happened, river took all the routes...floods.

Solution...Save the river to save life. River and people should live by harmony.
If we can make artificial law on easement and Right of Way, why not follow the natural law of rivers Right of Passage.

Let's clear all river banks, esteros, creeks and balik probinsinya sa mga nakatira sa river banks
or else there will be 40days and 40nights of water or another Sodom and Gomorrah...not the wrath of nature but wrath of God.

As Marcos once said "sa ikauunlad ng bayan, disiplina ang kailangan"...or else Quezon is right when he said, "I prefer a government run like hell by Filipinos to a government run like heaven by Americans....
Alleluia...

Good point Mang Goding and Juan, sana dumami pa lahi nyo.

Dodong tama na reklamo kilos ka nalang, next time, maghain ka ng solusyon ha, Para makatulong ka, Eto suggestion ko lang, Isulong nyo (Laban ng Masa) ang RH(Reproductive Health) Bill magmartsa kayo at kalampagin ang simbahan na pumayag na at wag na makialam dun. Mag-Family planning kayo, tama na 2 di isang dosena. Dun sa mga Squaters at shanty sa ilog kailangan natin dun ng mas mabagsik na batas kesya sa Resettlement, marami sa mga yun propesyonal na squater, (paalisin mo, ipag-gagawa mo ng bahay, ililipat tpos ibebenta at eh babalik din) At kalimitan pa ginagamit ng mga pulitiko sa election. Kailangan natin ng batas na ikulong at ipatapon dun sa probinsya.
Dun naman sa pagpili ng iboboto nyo, ganito bigyan ko kayo ng guideline kung paano makikilala na trapo ang pulitiko, Kapag ang familya eh halos ankinin na probinsya nyo, governor si papa, congresman si anak, mayor si mama at counsilor si junior, yan malamang trapo yan. AT makinig lagi sa sinasabi ng pulitiko kapag puro reklamo at walang inihain na solusyon, nakikisimpatya lang yun walang rin magagawa yun sa bayan, laging tingnan kung ano bang nagawa nito sa bayan?

yes, Marcos said, for progress discipline is essential, but he also made sure that the citizenry will never ever think for themselves. He turned us into mindless drones.

A good government is essential in ensuring against devastations from calamities. Estrada is running again for president. I wish he won't run again. The Estrada family should take pity on the Filipino people and stop their reign of incompetence.

panahon nga ng pag-mumuni-muni,...sa mga nagaganap at ano ang mga pangunahing dapat gawin muna ngayon at isunod ang mga DAPAT AT TAMANG MGA KAILANGAN bilang paghahanda at proteksyon.AT YUNG KUNG PAANO TAYO PAKIKINGGAN O KUNG PAANO TAYONG MAGIGING TUNAY NA BAHAGI NG MGA PANGANGAILANGANG ITO??? Sa mga purok-sa mga Barangay e magsimula tayo,
at doon mas-alam natin halos pati na ang mga tao at pamunuan at medyo mas maliit at maaaring mas-me magawa kaagad tayo...At sana e matuto tayong makipag-usap at makilahok sa mga pagpaplano at pag-galang sa lahat,upang tutuong me puntahan ang mga usapan,madalas sa miting pa lang e tapos na,pikunan at iwanan at hindi na makiki-alam.Maging matatag at handa,Lalo na pag-paulit-ulit na sinasagot tayo ng,'nagawa na po yun, o wala pong pondo,...lalong pag-aralan kung paano sasagutin ang mga ganong sinasabi.' hala subukan nating lahat po,at kung wala pa ring mangyari e 'KUMANDIDATO NA RIN AT IKAW O YUNG PARAAN MO ANG SUBUKAN MO,at syempre,pilitin o sikapin mong manalo muna,AT SYEMPRE RIN DAPAT SA ISANG MAAYOS AT MATAPAT NA MGA PARAAN,kung talo e UMULIT MULI HANGGANG MANALO,hanggang makita ng mga ka-barangay ang katapatan ng hangarin.Magpakatatag at magsimula ng makiramdam at pakiramdaman ang mga botante,kung hindi pa kayang lumahok,volunteer muna sa PPCRV at manood kung ano ang tunay na nagaganap.Kung hindi pa rin kaya e,magbigay na lang ng suporta sa kandidatong pwede para sa atin o sa mga nagbabantay ng boto.KUNG HINDI PA RIN E -'tiis ka na lang at intay MULI ng mga susunod na MALALAKING BAHA,ngunit kahit pag-langoy sana e marunong na at ilang goma para sa pamilya at konti para sa kapit-bahay e dapat meron at ayan handa ka na rin kahit paano!!!-SA AKING TINGIN E,mas-ok na ang mga sariling maliliit na lugar na kung saan tayo kabilang ang atin ng simulang ASIKASUHIN,AT YUNG MALALAKI O pang-malawakan na e siyang ASIKASUHIN NG MGA NASA GANOONG GAWAIN,ngunit sana e tingnan at bigyan ng sapat na tulong ang mga maliliit na lugar o mga purok at barangay at mga bayang walang kakayahan.

Fresh Start...this is what the country needs after Ondoy's tirade.
Recovery and Rehabilitations are not an options.
There is no need to recover except garbage, no need to rehabilitate those shanties in the river banks, esteros and creeks for it will again problems.

Ondoy taught us a lesson on what to do. Clear all the river paths.
First to do ... implement Balik probinsiya program.
Those affected are migrants from the provinces, encourage them to go back home. Treat them like balikbayan heroes with incentives.
Or build affordable housing building units just like China, Singapore, Hongkong had done to their citizens.

Easier said than done...
But donations are now worth billions, president's emergency fund are billions, and pork barrels are billions.
There is money to spend what is needed is implement and enforcement.
If we can spend billions on elections for democratic governance, then spend billions for democratic cause.

GMA would the greatest filipino president of all time if she can accomplish what was enumerated... people and nature will live in harmony....there will be more ondoys but we can still live happily ever after.

When I was growing up, I always dream of Manila.
I envied my manila cousins sweet talk and word "kasi".
It is really distinguishable from our barrio intonations.
Manila then meant class.
However in passage of time, Manila deteriorated and contaminated adjacent cities to metro manila.
The manila accent was gone with visaya, ilocano intonations.
Gone are the glamour but eclipsed by shanties, squatters.
Manila became a magnet for the poor and the poorest from provinces.
Manila became the filthiest garbage city with shanties the normal view.
Manila became not the Land of Promise but Land of Rubbish.

With Ondoy's awakening we became biggest losers but with purpose.
Manila i mean metro manila and suburbs need makeover.
Manila needs a liposuction to clear of its unwanted dirts, manila needs a botox, an extreme makeover to be the no. city it used to be and its inhabitants, the classy people of the country.

Manila needs extreme makeover.

i bet, it all goes back to disciplines of the people, (squat dito, squat doon, saan ka ba naman makakakita ng hindi naman sayong lupa, lakas loob magtayo ng bahay, bato pa, swerte naman, lubos na pinagpala, paalisin mo naman, human rights violation, o hindi makatao o makalangit, tamang walang puso o di kaya, talo sa eleksion, talagang panalong squater, libre ng squat, boto lang bayad)eto ang good governance. pakia-alam ba naman ng mayor, pangit lang sa paningin, pero hindi naman sia ang nakatira sa bulok at tadtad ng ipis at dagang kapaligiran, mabaho, maburak, alam ba nia yon, eh sa airconditioned house sa malinis at magandang subdivision wla non, well in the end..talong lahat. pag binagyo ang squater, pati politiko binabagyo rin,kawawang squatter ngayon sila ang sinisisi ng lahat...sistema po ang kelangan..iyong pang matagalan,,,,kung naisip nio na iyon...at kung kaya nilang maisip ang magandang sistema...hay..gudluck sa lahat...pero sa ngayon...dont be too hard naman sa squatter...pobre na nga...kakawawain pa...there should be a good way...

isingit ko lang sa topic..
ano itong narinig ko na pinakamabilis na paraan para yumaman..kung may power ka sa gobyerno..ibenta mo ang mga business ng gobyerno...halimbawa,...kung pag-aari ng gobyerno ang duty free..gumawa ka ng policy na kelangan ng ibenta ang mga government business..dahit mainam daw ito...(kanino?).. at ibenta sa pribado...(pwes ang hindi nila alam...ang miyembro ng pamilya ng may power na politiko eh siyang sinasabing pribadong businessman..na bibili ng government asset.)..well kung wala siang pera..hiram muna sa gobyerno..babayaran din naman..pag kumita na ang business...panalo...in the end..pag wala na sa pwesto..milyonaryo...daming pera...nanggaling daw sa business at di sa pangungurakot..tama naman...wlang sabit....hahaha...pero.galing pala sa corruption..nakaw din..ano pa nga bang business ng gobyerno?...tubig.. .kuryente...aba..simulan nio ng bilangin ang mga government asset na ibinebenta ng gobyerno....hala,,panic selling na sila....at panic buying din...malapit na kasi mawala sa puwesto..eleksion na...

Yes, my name is Cynical. I know what will happen next. Nothing. Next month Pacquio is going to win again and all the hoopla of this all will bury the pain that these 2 typoons has brought upon our people. So you think these government official will be able to get all the squatters out of these places. I DON'T THINK SO. Do you think we can stop people from throwing their basura in the rivers. I DON'T THINK SO. Do you think the government can make what Los Angeles did with its river. LA put fences and hear this they MADE PORTIONS OF IT IN CONCRETE. Yes the river banks and the river bed in concrete. What a feat of engineering.

To Cine Kal: I agree with you. The problem will not be solved. We have squatters in Manila because haciendero landgrabbers in the provinces left them no place to stay. Politicians joined politics precisely to make sure they can keep the lands they grabbed. We should implement an inter-province passport system, so in case a warlord creates a problem in his province, he will have to deal with the problem and not dump victims in Manila.

In addition, if there is an uprising against a warlord in a particular province, the Philippine Armed Forces should not interfere because it is a valid civilian uprising and the armed forces loyalty should be to the constitution and the civilians.

sige nga po,..."Fresh Start o Bagong Bansang Pilipinas,...Maayos,Maunlad at Mayamang Bayan at Mamamayan."

Considering all of these arguments, sentiments and laments, I ask myself, why in the Philippines it is very difficult for rational and righteous people to do the right thing? And this applies not only when dealing with natural calamities but also with everything from the national decisions down to the personal choices. Why? Do we lack choices? Is there somebody hindering us to do so? If there is why we dont have the courage stop that somebody? until now i dont understand. So I choose to leave Philippines. Filipinos are rational, intellectual and productive beings outside their country but once in the Philippines these values seems not to exist.

I think it is time to change our system, i mean the congress and senate.
There should be equal and right representation.
People should not only be represented.
All sectors must be represented in congress particularly the environment sector, in this case the pasig river and laguna lake.
These part of our environment were so much neglected, trashed, and inhabited. So when it rains, isunuka ang basura.

The care of environment should not only be under DENR but there should be voice in congress and senate for them to know what is happening and to have its own pork barrel.
It is now time to elect people with a cause and not for a display.
Movies and cinemas are represented too much by people in this industry.
There is inequality in distribution.

Election is coming , for sure there will be more trash and dirt not from Ondoy but from the mouth of these politicians.
Be wise enough... to choose the right person for the right job.

to SilentRiver: every filipino is a product of phil. culture. our psych is full of paralizing trash. respect for parents to the extent of prostituting oneself to send home money. sultan style of leadership, the word of the king can never be broken. the family is above the law. do not talk back to your elders even if you think they're mistaken. Sense of gratitude beyond law, common sense, and morality. independent decision making is discouraged by parents with the result that it is difficult to find anyone in the country with decision making skills - that's why Marcos was successful. Wealth taken by guile is better than that earned by hard work or skill. Juan Tamad - mental and physical effort is for slaves (privates have college, colonels have have grade school). There are lots more. Everything in our culture is meant to curtail self reliance and independence. Worse, even those who were able to get out of the country carry these trash with them wherever they go.

to SilentRiver: (continued)

it is also true that there is are also people hindering us, the few who owns most of the country's resources, the hacienderos/monopolies - you can verify this by researching the ownership of companies and large tracts of land. our government and military are subservient to this group, since our government is composed of these dynasties.

While we are arguing on the errors and mistakes of the past, we believe that we must act together now to Rebuild the normal life of our affected "Kababayans".

Our Movement (AnEB) created a Team of Volunteers (Engineers, Techinians, Engineering Students) and provide a "Free Assistance on Electrical Wiring Check-up & Restoration" for flooded victims so that they will not hire any more Electricians or Engineers to check the safety & worthiness of their House Wiring after the flood.

We believe this is a small way of contributing our skills to our affected communities.

Visit our website at http://aneb4ondoyvictims.multiply.com

Engr. Roland P. vasquez
Lead Convenor
An Engineering Brigade (AnEB) Movemenet