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I do not think we have right to question Philippines Basketball Association spending 70M for RP Team. PBA is a private association, income came from Basketball and do you think they will spend their money through other sports? Common Sense!!

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Why do our politicians kill and spend millions to get elected?

There are 1,001 reasons.

We have tried a million ways to improve our system. Nothing seems to work.

Let’s try something. Do not give any pblicity to the politicians. People should tru their backs on them.

why would the comelec stop the tallies done by twoarge networks? they may not be authorized but then credibility of these networks is tested by time. i think its better that people sees those unofficial results, better than waiting for the official but not so credible results

im sick and tired of this politicians losing at the polls recently, they are crying that they were cheated? what kind of mentality is that? why on earth did you run for public office if you know that you will be cheated? a politician spends millions on campaign period, if they really want to serve the people why dont they just send poor scholars to school? doing good deeds is not only thru grandstanding because it is in the eyes of the lord that counts the most in doing good to other people. mas maganda kung tumutulong ka sa kapwa ng boluntaryo walang sweldo walang kickback malinis ang konsensya its about time na ibangon ng mga politiko ang kanilang dignidad hindi puro personal na hangarin ang dapat umiral. Wish ko lang po….

about this ruffa brouhaha, anabel is the only one to blame in ruffa’s messy life. poor girl. nahihiga ka nga sa pera binubugbog ka naman ano ba yan? pinalaki kasi ng ina nya na maging mukhang pera kaya they deserve whats happening to them right now. i really pity ruffa here, she is the victim of her mothers greed. im very sure that ruffa was pressured to find a rich man who could suit to her mothers materialistic character, imagine me pamilya na si ruffa and in her right frame of mind pinakikialaman pa rin ng ina nya? kaya nasisira ang buhay ng anak nya is because of her too. kasi kundi nya sinusulsulan ang anak nya ruffa could have a better life. pag nag asawa na ang anak nasa likod na lang ang magulang at nagmamasid kung kailangan ng gabay ng mga anak. parang gusto ko ng maniwalang takot na takot si anabel na mawalan ng magagatasan, ginawa nyang parang paalbigasan ung mga anak nya ano ba yan? anyway, buhay nila yan… kaawaan kau ng diyos…

I’ve been living here in United States for almost 20 years now, and my family goes back there in the Phils. every two years for a vacation. I’m updated with whatever news about my motherland trough T.F.C., internet, and local Filipino newspaperd here in Calif. To sum it up I know everything what’s happening there in P.I. I am just saddened with the results of the Senatorial Race. GO won about 7 out 12 slots. What will happen now will be a Senate house who’s primary function will be to find faults on Arroyo administration, instead of working hand in hand to uplift the life of the Filipino people. What we can see again are the grandstading acts of Lacson, Legarda, Villar, and especially Escudero who’s only contribution in the congress is to spearhead the ouster of Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Poor Filipino people they will be stuck again with Senators who’s primary function will be to block any proposal the President will try to pass in the Senate. They will be stuck again with lawmakers whose primary reason to run was to make the life of the President as miserable as can be, because of their hatred for her. Here we go again in the front page of all the newspaper Lacson, Legarda, Escudero,
Villar lambasting Gloria for whatever she said or do. There’s nobody to be blamed to except you Filipinos who vote for those opposition who will only oppose whatever economic gains you acquired under the present administration.

RUDY D. ALISCAD
Los Angeles, Calif. U.S.A.

I am contemplating on the current trend of the senatorial race. Antonio Trillanes and Gringo Honasan will most likely make it as senators. If this is an indication of the peoples sentiments, then their (Trillanes and Honasan) actions are justified and they have been vindicated by the public’s approval. It seems that there is a strong support to oust the current head of state by whatever means. Mike Velarde is right, the current occupant of the seat of power should listen to the people’s call, “vox populi, vox dei”. We can only pray that the transition will be peaceful and lawful.

Corrected Comments!

It’s not funny when Mr. Neri said, “they (OFW’s) are not being taxed anyway, so that thier consolation.” That’s Bullshit!

If you only know how hard to be a nanny or a slave just to feed the family back home and to help the Philippine economy, one must be considerate enough to all ofw’s. I am sad that GMA, Mr. Neri and this government have no compassion to millions who work abroad.

For the information of Mr. Neri, all ofw’s are not afraid to be taxed as long as you can provide jobs for all ofw’s, but you are doing nothing. Instead of giving our taxes to you and to our corrupt government, we give it to the county who provided jobs for us. We owe you nothing, Mr. Neri! Don’t be Bullshit!

This tree planting drama of Angelo Reyes last year 800K trees was a joke. I was home for holidays when that ‘drama” took place and people in the provinces jsut even cut branches of shrubs and plant on the road side as it was and order made. The poor elementary students were made to line up the streets (rain and shine) jsut to be photograph showing that thye are planting trees. Please stop all these nonsense. If the government wants to really plant tress, people on high places need not to publicize, jsut plant trees without exploiting the student for their own personal glory. This is what happened last year. I came back last April and trace the highways that I saw a year ago, and where are the trees? The government officials are only good for “palabas” but there is no result.

kung nasususpinde ang mga shows dahil sa di karapatdapat na nangyayari dapat suspindihin ding umapir sa TV ang matandang Rama na yan. Sobra ang bunganga ng matndang yan. Tinwag nia pang bobo si dolly ann e ano na kaya siya?

napanood ko sa TV Patrol yong proclamation ng top 10 senators at nairita tenga ko sa pronunciation ni chairman abalos sa word na senator. ano na lang sasabihin ng mga mag-aaral?

Can’t understand what has gotten to Boy Abunda and ABS CBN in choosing Ruffa Gutierrez vice Kris Aqunio. A host should be credible, which Ruffa is not. Remember the Metro Manila filmfest. In addition, she is “maarte” in articulating her thoughts/opinion…. definitely a fake. It is so appalling to see and hear Ruffa enumerate her clothes, jewelry, trips abroad. Very materialistic and distored views on life… She thinks she is a royalty or bueno de familia. Pity her….

How can ABS-CBN impose on us the a dysfunctional family like the Gutierrezs? Probably that is why our country is going to the dogs. Our people tends to emulate the wrong role models.

Definitely the Buzz has lost a viewer!!!!

For Mr. RUDY D. ALISCAD

20 years of living in the US does not make anyone a prophet. Just because Go won majority of the Senate seats does not mean this will be a Senate who’s primary function will be to find faults on Arroyo administration. It simply does not follow. Let us give them the benefit of the doubt, please….

For Rudy Alinscad:

Am sorry you have been away far too long. Reading and watching news on the Philippines do not make you an expert on Philippine politics. The country’s political landscape cannot be appreciated from where you are neither does visiting for a vacation makes you become an expert.

Please be careful with your opinion as a lot of people would put it … “little information is dangerous.”

For Rudy Alinscad:

By the way, you might just be reading the wrong newspapers or tuning to the wrong channels. Or perhaps, you are suffering from a “memory lapse” or “selective retention.” Next time you come to the Philippines, visit Mang Teban the barber. He can help diagnose your illness.

“WOWOWEE ” is supposed to be family entertainment show, right?? If so, how come THAT DANCERS DRSSES IN SKIMPY CLOTHES?? ANOTHER THING: “ADUDUDU….”- HOW COME THAT AT THE END OF THE SONG, PARTICIPANT–WORST ON A LADY!!–HAVE TO ” hump ‘ MALICIOUSLY ?? And for WILLIE, THE HOST: WTCH FOR ALL YOUR VERBAL JOKES, SOME ARE INSULTING AND WITH MALICE, HUWAG MONG SABIHING WALA , HINDI KAMI BOBO DITO SA ‘MERIKA!!! paging abs-cbn management!!!

In response to Mango’s comments:

Yes, I very well agree to what you have said regarding that issue with Ruffa and her Mother against Ylmas, whom I think is the real victim here. I don’t think I will ever believe whatever she and her mother says on TV, for the simple fact that these people already got involved with issues surrounding them fabricating stories or bending of the truth…very much like how I don’t believe whatever Lolit Solis is saying. I hope people didn’t forget about what they did at the 1994 FilmFest scam. That alone should be a strong display of character, a basis of how they were badly brought up to develop such attitude.

About our local programming:

I can see improvements in technology applied on local TV programs but still lacks the intelligent aspects of providing shows that will really entertain and at the same time educate viewers. I very well know that its always a compromise between providing better shows or providing shows that sells for advertisers to invest more, to maintain operations. But from what I always see on TV, the percentage of those in my opinion are senseless shows compared to those which are with substance is far greater in numbers, which leaves us to having more senseless than something that offers value in terms of information, improvement of thinking or anything that offers betterment for viewers. Sometimes, I even saw programs tried offering information but lacked the necessary research that whoever is handling that should have done before getting it on TV. Its just so disappointing and embarrassing to see how stupid some programs turn out, I appreciate the effort,but I still feel it needs more.

About music:

Cant we come up with better music than “TAK TAk TAK”, Boom Tarat-Tarat or “Hotdog Hotdog”? I know this entertains but, cant we at least come up with something that is catchy, entertains and something that at least offers a good influence among listeners…especially kids? Come on!! I know we can do better than that or better than something that will just earn you guys the bucks… shouldn’t we be concerned? I honestly don’t know what will happen to my kids growing up with TAK TAK, Boom Tarat or Sexbomb on the radio. Please!!!

Here’s one…

sa paglipas, ng panahon, iniisip kita. sa bawat pintig ng puso ko, naroroon ay ikaw……

Awit ng mga taga Pilipinas.

Ituro sa mga kabataan ang mga awit ng ating mga ninuno…nagsasaad kung sino ang nag Pilipino at mga Pilipina.

Eto ang isa:

Ang dalagang (dala na?)
Pilipina, parang tala sa umaga.
Kung tanawin ay nakaliligaya,
May ningning na tangi at dakilang ganda.

siguro ay mahahango ninyo ang kabuuan ng awit na ito sa internet. Kung hindi ninyo makita, hilingin ninyo at ipapastel ko dito.

Oh, well, those were the days. Nowadays, the bottom line is profit for the newspaper syndicates. They are willing to destroy Filipinas’ identity by imitating the foreign newspapers… Ibinabandera ang mga kabataan mga hubo at hubad sa mga pahina ng kanilang mga newspapers…at ginagagad na pilit ang mga basura sa Amerika. Sus ko po, ano naba ang nangyayari ke Dalisay at kay Bayani, kay Luningning at Tagumpay? Ilang kabataang babae ang mga napapaluong sa lipunan ng mga Amerkano sa dahilang ginagawang pagkakakitaan ang mga tsismis sa buhay ng mga kabataang artista nila…na iginugumon sa mga drug, paghuhubo at paghuhubad sa harap ng mga paparaze at kamera. Sirang-sira ang buhay ng mga artista sa Amerika at yan ang ginagaya ng mga supergagong mga artista sa Pilipinas.

“i think i am mature enough to take sexy roles (or in exact term MAGHUBAD SA PELIKULA).”

this is for the sexy actresses who espouse this illogical statement. siguro kung P20.00 lang ang bayad sa mga pose nila wala siguro ngayong mga bold star. mga mukhang pera. i do not believe that what they are doing is “art for art sake”. they don’t mind the intensity of their influence especially to the young ones.

To all my fellow Filipino brothers and sisters serving our nation, I want to thank you for your services for protecting our country. I’m so proud of all of you! I can’t begin to thank you enough for the incredible sacrifice and devotion you are making on behalf of the Filipino nation.

Know that we stand behind you, know that you are appreciated, and know that we pray for your safe return home. I salute you!

May God richly bless and protect you, and may He deliver our enemies into your hands. May our Heavenly Father keep you in His loving arms.

Praying for rain

After urging people to pray for rain, Cardinal Rosales now told the people to stop praying because of the floods.

It is hard to understand whether Rosales really think rain came from prayers or he just want people think so.

Whatever the well educated Cardinal thinks: If God sent therain because of praying Filipinos, the it would also mean that God let a typhoon pass the Philippines for to bring rain and then move away for to devastate, kill people in other countries. And it would make the paying Filipinos liable for the damages caused by typhoons. Di ba?

God knows exactly what man needs. Many times He supplies our needs long before we ask for it.

When man prays He only has two answers. First is yes and the second is wait. When the good Cardinal asked his flock to pray for rain, it was a sincere petition for God’s intercession for avoiding the impending draught that could hurt the country. Little did he knew that God was going to give the people more rain than they asked for.

When he is said to have told the people to stop asking for rain, this can be taken lightly as a joke from the good Cardinal. Those who are familiar with the late Jaime Cardinal Sin had a lot of similar jokes. The only difference is that Cardinal Rosales is so unassuming that people always take his words seriously whether he is serious or he just wants to crack a small joke.
The problem that the floods are bringing to the people is not because it is God’s fault for sending rain. It is the fault of government officials who time and again do not learn the lessons of the past. Floods will come and go, it is planning for the future on how to control these floods and their negative effects that government officials have miserably failed.

I would like to share this email message i received today.

APPRECIATE OUR TROOPS

wrote:

Do we really know who and what the Philippine Marine Corps is? How about the Philippine Army, the Philippine Navy, and the Philippine Air Force? Do we know the reason why are they in existence?

Instead of criticizing them we should uplift their souls and encourage them as they go to battle and protect their Motherland-” ourselves” from the pangs of the evil one. Why wait for another batch of soldiers to be killed before we make our moves and support them even in our prayers? Do we still have to wait until there will be no more soldiers to protect us from the lawless elements?

Let us not waste the deaths of soldiers who underwent through the sadistic, barbaric and inhuman cruelty of the lawless elements. Let us give meaning to their deaths. Now, is the time for us FILIPINOS to be awakened from the reality that we need to support our men and women in uniform. We need our soldiers and our soldiers need us also; uplift their morale and give them encouragement.

How do we go about this? We can start by simply passing this email to everyone we know. Include the soldiers in our prayers everyday for protection from harm, danger & temptation and wisdom & guidance as they live their lives. Remember, there is always power in prayer!!! Even if we cannot support them financially we have at least uplifted their souls and morale, our soldiers will be really happy as they go to battle more dedicated and motivated to perform their mandate.

BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL SECTORS - put up a billboard expressing your support and concern to our soldiers.

SHOWBIZ SECTOR - mention in your TV programs that you are concerned with what the soldiers in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao are really fighting for.

RELIGIOUS SECTOR - include them daily in your prayers. Let us make a chain of prayers.

POLITICIANS - please stop politicizing our soldiers but instead give concern and show support. Set aside your personal interests and differences to a particular personality.

YOUTH - the future of our nation, simply express your support to the soldiers.

MEDIA PEOPLE - inform the general public about the importance and core values of our military and the reason of their existence. Let us not be one-sided and focused on the brutalities and abuses of the few but instead, let’s help them prove themselves worthy of our support.

Tom Clancy stated in one of his books, “People sleep peaceably at night in their beds because rough men stand ready to do the violence in their behalf”.

Let us SUPPORT OUR TROOPS and prove to other nations, that we, the Filipinos are united as one. We may have different views, different principles, different ideas, different beliefs and religions but still, we are FILIPINOS. And, we are one.

To our FILIPINO SOLDIERS; thank you for all your sacrifices. Oftentimes, you are assigned to a very remote place-away from your loved ones but still you have to go on because it is your duty and responsibility to protect and defend us.

A CONCERNED CITIZEN
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS MOVEMENT

The Philippine Senate is better off working on legislation rather than spending people’s money on investigation.The EPIRA for example is not working favorably to the consumers as electricity prices coming out of the WESM is much,much more expensive than contracted sales as reported by MERALCO recently.If the Honorable Gentlemen from the Senate and Congress does not see the urgency of amending the the substance of the EPIRA law, how about revising EPIRA to EPERA? I may find my tax money well spent in the process.

What Pinoys think?

Well since last week the Internet has been abuzz with Filipinos indignant over a very conspicuous event in a noontime game show.

If you type the segments title in the search bar here at the Inquirer website, it shows nothing yet specifically from Inquirer.net. What gives?

Bravery is a noble virtue, which most OFW’s, venturing into the unknown, must share. But for this Malu Fernandez, let this lowly OFW paraphrase a quote: modesty seldom resides in the breast of one that is not filled with noble virtues..

I think the Senate is in the right track so far in terms of seeking out anomalies in the top positions of government particularly those related to electoral fraud. Election is supposed to be an important pillar of our democracy — “The right of every citizen to a clean and honest suffrage”

kindly check highest number of examinees per school. You mentioned in ur article that UST had d “highest # of examinees” w/ 580 sumthg.. but if ul luk again, feu-morayta had a total of 2,400+1st takers.. but they only had 63% passing compared to the 500 something of ust -98%..

Its about time we get this communist pigs in cages. They pretend to be revolutionaries and pro people when in fact they’re just as corrupt as the friars who manipulated the Philippines a long time ago. The only difference now is that they’re hiding behind Mao and Marx, there so called heroes and maybe Gods?

According to RA 4200, the administration senators are correct to say that the Hello Garci tape is illegal. However, with the left and right anomalies like ZTE deal and now the NBN scandal, (ohh, only GOD knows when will these end) the whole senate should move on amending RA 4200. Part of the amendment shall be, to exempt the government officials from the anti-wiretapping law. Meaning, that these government officials are not private individuals and all their actions must be transparent. They owe it to the tax paying public to act accordingly. Currently, transparency is not a cup of tea of most, if not all, of government officials. We all know that proving secret deals are very hard. Usually, only thru wiretappping can we get to know what really transpire in any secret deal. Seldom you will hear any party disclosing the transactions unless they get the wrong end of the deal. These are the source of manipulation and corruption because they very well know that the evidence against them will not stand in any court. So, it is high time that we think about this issue of amending RA 4200.
Of course, the state should be protected and therefore, all matters pertaining to the sensitive valid state transactions must get court approval but not those tainted with corruption.

Communism
Anakbayan, Anakpawis, KMU, Gabriela etchetera, lechetera.
These groups are all fronts of the Communist. We should not give them a space in a civilized world, we should exteminate them once and for all. Ang ingay ng mga pasista na ito pag nasasagi mo di ba?, Magawa kaya natin yon kung sakaling sila ang nasa poder? HINDEEE dahil mga hayop at demonyo ang mga komunista. Remember “Killing Fields”.
We should not negotiate with these animals, they’re out to destroy our very form of government. Keep Beltran, Casino, Satan Ocampo rot in jail. They don’t deserve to wear decent dresses to attend Congress.

Jose Ma. Sison the Coward
I am laughing with delight upon learning that Sison the communist stuff toy is in Dutch jail. He is the father of all coward, sarap ng sayaw nyat pakiki party sa Netherlands while ang mga alipores nyang mga walang utak eh kagat ng nik-nik at lamok sa bundok. Be a man Joma, come home and face the system you’re trying to destroy. How I wish to see you languish in jail. Cory being naive made a very big mistake of releasing you twat, If I have my way I would run after you and all your cohorts and send you back to where you belong….The Mountain. You communists are like rats, termites. You will bring misery to our motherland.
Now that you’re in jail, be man enough and fight like one in court.

Faith as a Vice and Mother Teresa as a Paragon of Vice

This is a reaction to Conrad de Quiros’ article “Saint” published in the September 30 issue of the Daily Inquirer. Though I concur with Conrad’s critical comments on escapist religiousity, I take exception to his approving treatment of “deep” faith and his laudatory view of Mother Teresa as a “saint”.
FAITH is not a virtue, because there is nothing noble or praiseworthy in the acceptance of unproved claims as a guide to life out of hope for a desired predicament and out of fear of unpleasant uncertainties However, if faith were equated with confidence or trust, it could have some ethical import, since no community can sustain itself without widespread trust in persons and institutions. Nonetheless, there is nothing mystical or supernatural about trust as a relationship nurtured through continuing fairness, fidelity to common values and compliance with obligations; the common need for fellowship, material security, justice and good governance serves as a common ground and guidepost for defining the terms of mutual respect, conflict-negotiation and active collaboration for earthly goals. As such, the veracity and merits of specific beliefs could be debated and evaluated by citizens in an intelligent and civilized fashion. If ethics were exclusively premised on broad inter-faith consensus, faith becomes a vacuous notion which allows different sects to interpret moral precepts in the way that suits their respective interests while ignoring real conflicts over principles on grounds of expediency; if on the other hand, ethics were rigorously articulated in religious terms, believers could easily become pawns or influence-peddlers in the competition among rival sects that seek secular hegemony or at least a privileged niche for their specific creed.
The protestant Martin Luther had strong faith, but it only made him a smug apologist for the German feudal lords who massacred serfs for the crime of demanding land, food and justice. Likewise, slave-owners of the confederate south brandished biblical verses in the service of the institution of slavery because their religious faith and their mundane interests conveniently converged on this issue. It would be unfair not to cite the anti-fascist Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the civil rights activist Martin Luther King, the black radical Malcolm X and the human rights defender Bishop Oscar Romero as examples of faith-motivated persons who distinguished themselves as fighters for the cause of freedom and social justice. Far from proving the unique value of religious faith, these contrasting examples demonstrate that the wellspring of ethical values lies not in deities and sects that claim a franchise on salvation, but in the human species’ biological make-up and their common struggle for earthly survival and well-being.

The problem with presenting Mother Teresa as a model for ethical conduct and spiritual growth is that she hardly fits the image of the gentle, caring and unassuming social worker that ruling elites have made her out to be through their award-giving institutions and mass media outfits. In truth, Mother Teresa embodies the worst vices of the religious sect she represents, namely: (a) the propensity for romanticizing pain; (b) the smug denial of common human needs in the pursuit of a supposed heavenly afterlife; and (c) the infantile readiness to relinquish one’s powers of reason to the leaders of a faith-based institution that enjoys immunity from taxation and scientific scrutiny of their testable sectarian claims.

These vices manifest themselves in Mother Teresa’s conduct in the following issues:

a) Her scrimping on the rudimentary elements of medical care in her mission’s clinic on the pretext of making patients partake of the continuing sacrifice of Jesus Christ (she resorted to prayer and recycling needles in place of professional medical diagnoses, pain-killers, antibiotics and disposable syringes) that resulted in the untimely demise of patients – facts well documented in Dr. Robin Fox’s 1994 article in the British medical journal The Lancet and attested to by former collaborators such as Dr. Aroup Chatterjee in his book, Mother Teresa: The Final Verdict, Chapter 7 (Kolkata: Meteor Books 2003; ISBN 81-8824824-002; excerpts of which could be downloaded from http://www.meteorbooks.com/index.html).

b) Her skewed use of donor funds for her order’s maintenance and proselytizing purposes, coupled with lack of transparency in the accounting of donor funds that amount to millions of hard currency. (Walter Wuellenweber, “Mother Teresa: Where are Her Millions” Stern Magazine, September 10, 1998; Chatterjee, Mother Teresa: The Final Verdict, Chapter 9).
c) Her strident support for the rights of human fetuses over and against women’s reproductive rights which was outrageous in its contrast with her conspicuous silence on the plight of victims of oppression and her readiness to fraternize with and accept ill-gotten money from their oppressors such as the Haitian dictator Baby Doc Duvalier and the unscrupulous businessman Charles Keating who was convicted and sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment by a federal court for defrauding some 17,000 small American investors of $250 million.
What taints Mother Teresa’s character and work lies not in her narrow focus on charity but the reactionary purpose to which it has been put by ruling elites and Mother Teresa’s own readiness to oblige these elites whenever their agenda suits her own religious mission. Mother Teresa’s notion of poverty as a sanctifying experience is disempowering, since it seeks less to alleviate individual and collective misery, rather than to perpetuate it as a means of drawing the poor and the desperate into the fold of her church. Mother Teresa’s notion of a sacrificial life therefore poisons the humanist values inherent in the more progressive strands of Christianity represented by the likes of Bonhoeffer, King, Bishop Tutu, and Oscar Romero.
The main object of my treatment of Mother Teresa is not to disparage religious people or faith-motivated persons in general, but to demonstrate the folly of anchoring politics and public morality on religious precepts. The critique of religion as a world-view and as a guide to public policy becomes all the more urgent with the likes of imperial warmonger George Bush Jr. and colonial lackey Gloria Arroyo brandishing faith to legitimize anti-people policies and with theocrats exploiting folk religiousity to wrest control over grassroot protest movements with legitimate grievances.

Rudy Aliscad’s drivel that imputes stupidity to Filipino voters is typical of colonial-minded Filipinos who acquire along with their green cards and affected American accents a false sense of superiority over Filipinos who remain in their country. Mr. Aliscad’s awkward use of the terms P.I. and “motherland” to describe the country of his birth in one and the same paragraph (“Philippine Islands” was the term preferred by U.S. colonizers to describe the country after they had slaughtered more than half a million of our forebears in the Filipino-American War in the turn of 20th century) is symptomatic of the malaise that afflicts not a few immigrants who have realized their American dream of affluence (or at least relative economic security) and yet have discovered to their chagrin that – in spite of all their best efforts to dress, speak, sound and even look like upper class suburban Americans – they are still regarded as inferiors by their Anglo-Saxon bosses and colleagues.

Why do you jeer at Filipinos on how bad things are in their country, when there is so much that is despicable and in dire need of rectification in your own adoptive country? Do you have any opinions about your war-mongering President Bush, corporate America’s vicious plunder of Iraqi oil, and your continuing war against Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia and other nations that are resisting US domination? Are you not just a bit disturbed by the torture of Iraqi POWs by American soldiers in Abu Ghraib, the fascist Patriot Act that permits domestic spying and warrantless arrest and detention of persons suspected of terrorism well as the racist Homeland Security that harasses illegal aliens compelled to work as menials in the USA by the economic ruin of their countries wreaked by US-sponsored wars and US corporate plunder? .

If you are so scared shit of Homeland Security or are so blissfully ignorant to write any sensible commentary on either the virtues or vices of your adoptive country, do not vent your rage on us Filipinos. Economic and political conditions in the Philippines have indeed grown from bad to worse, no small thanks to your idol Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who as a senator voted for the foisting of GATT-WTO on our weak economy in spite of broad farmer and worker resistance, spirited unexplained millions to the USA to acquire condos on prime real estate in your state California, and as President negotiated the soon to be deliberated economic partnership treaty with Japan which provides for potential job openings for Japanese-speaking Filipino health professionals and caregivers in Japan at the price of swinging our gates open to Japanese industrial waste.

With such treasonous laws and treaties being pushed by Arroyo, it would be neither unpatriotic nor counter-developmental for the opposition to be obstructionist, even to the extent of fomenting “destabilization” – a blanket term coined by Arroyo’s judicial and military minions for criminalizing any protest action against the government and lumping together dissenters, administration opponents, rebels as well as coup d’etat plotters as convenient targets for punitive action both legal and extra-legal. Sadly speaking, we have no such parliamentary opposition and the more conscientious and patriotic among us are compelled to organize in their respective communities/sectors and engage in direct action for economic and political reform often at a great risk to their lives, family members, livelihood and profession.

Jenni Epperson’s article (”Think Rich, Wear Rich”) about the innovation and excellent timing of Tim Yap presents an interesting example of what is missing in “The Secret.” The missing ingredients in Rhonda Byrne & Co’s simplified formula for success include creativity, savvy timing, and last, but not least, hard work.

Consider a different perspective on “The Secret” with the new web site: http://www.thesecretantidote.com.

Your article entitled, “500,000 Filipino mail-order brides worry Villar” is filled with lies and distortions by a government official.

Villar says that Filipina women are “ordered” when in fact only their addresses are ordered.

He says that criminal syndicates operate international dating companies and that the women end up as prostitutes. But at least here in the US no Filipina has ever married her love only to be forced by him to be a prostitute. This is a fiction made up by kneejerk feminist groups which, li,e Villar, have NO evidence to support this lie.

Villar is reading a script given to him by one of these feminist organizations.

If Villar or these feminists really cared, they would attack the way Filipina women are treated by their overseas employers who see them only as a labor commodity, not the way their husbands who love them treat them.

For more info about this, go wo http://www.onlinedatingrights.com

To Mr. Conrado De Quiros:
On the surface, your column “A man named Muslim”(PDI, 9/4/07) appears logical and puts the man named Muslim as the victim of injustice. It is the natural tendency for academicians, MSUans included, to react vehemently to a general being appointed as President of an academic instituion like MSU. But looking deeper into the MSU ‘crisis’, the general is just the right prescription. The MSU problem requires a “military” solution. I am no GMA fan, but her appointment of De Leon as Acting MSU President is the best thing that ever happened to MSU since the Isidro presidency and the best decision that she has ever made for MSU. This I said, even before knowing what de leon is “like” as an administrator of an academic institution because I saw a ray of light at the very far end of the tunnel. I strongly suggest you dig deeper into the MSU problem rather than believing and accepting, hook, line and sinker, what this man named Muslim feeds you. You should go to MSU- Marawi and MSU General Santos to verify whether this man named Muslim is really “…the one beloved by the MSU community”. As far as MSU-GSC is concerned, it’s good riddance that he’s out from here. His more than decade-long term as Chancellor here was marked by fear and demoralization among the constituents. You are well-advised to come over and know all the issues ( too long and many for this space) against this man. For one, and with all due respect to Maranaws, a Maranaw MSU president, no matter how brilliant, will never succeed in solving the MSU problem because he can never parry the pressures from his relatives and members of his clan. Solving the MSU problem should start from there - a non-Maranaw president. Mr. De Quiros, please reach out to the many MSU alumni, muslims and non-muslims alike, before lending your “voice to a Macapado Muslim”, and you will know that - It is not the guy’s name!

Former President Joseph Estradas verdict lies on the one question that i can think on my conscious mind has Jueteng Activities been eradicated. Who is the most powerful Jueteng lord in the Philippines that supports the current sitting President?

In reply to Felipe Galia’s rejoinder to Conrad de Quiros’ “A Man named Muslim”

Felipe Galia neglected to disclose that he is MSU-Gensan’s newly-appointed Vice Chancellor for Administration & Finance. How he had the gall to claim that he speaks for the ENTIRE MSU-Gensan community (”As far as MSU-GSC is concerned, it’s good riddance that he’s out from here.”)is beyond my understanding as an ordinary student here. All I know is that he was one of the leaders of a small anarchist group here who launched protest rallies against Chancellors Sarangani, Bajunaid and Muslim. With his comments on de Quiros’ column, isn’t he derailing/sabotaging present Chancellor Abdurrahman Canacan’s efforts to establish a “healing adminsitration”?

CALL FOR UNITED STAND AGAINST ZTE DEAL AND CORRUPT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

Last 07 September 2007, the Philippine Daily Inquirer, in its editorial titled “SPIT IT OUT”, talked about Mr. Neri’s current stand on the ZTE Deal. Here are some of the excerpts from the said editorial:

“As the days drag on, and more details emerge, the controversy over the ZTE contract deepens. One of those details involves the alleged offer, to Neri, of a P200-million bribe. Asked on radio about it, Neri did not issue an outright denial — of the bribe offer, that is. Tellingly, he only said he was not the kind of person who accepted bribes. “I can’t do that. It will be [on] my conscience and I believe in bad karma.”

But did such an offer actually take place? “It’s really difficult for me to say yes or no,” he said. “It’s difficult to prove either way.”

Now this is interesting. Neri is no technocratic babe in this country’s overgrown political woods; he has served as budget secretary and, in Congress, as chief budget planning officer. He is no stranger to the stratagems of wily politicians. Surely he knows — in the depths of his conscience, where his belief in karma rests — when and whether a bribe is being offered or not.

We can understand his hesitation about proving a claim of bribery. The issue may well go down to his word against that of another official (whether of the Philippine government or the Chinese firm, we do not yet know for certain). That will be difficult to prove. But we cannot sympathize with his alleged difficulty in judging whether a bribe had in fact been offered or not.

Even if he was unsure then, surely the details that have emerged since now tell him that something was definitely amiss.

There is a good reason Neri is being sought for his comments. The board of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), of which he was director general, approved the controversial plan to create yet another multibillion-peso information technology infrastructure for the government.

The NBN initiative, as approved, called for a build-operate-transfer (BOT) scheme, which would not cost the government a single centavo. At one meeting with Chinese officials, he recalled the other day, he “clarified that this is the position of government at the time — no guarantee, no loan. It was shown in the NEDA board minutes.”

One of the inglorious mysteries of the NBN scandal, however, involves the sudden metamorphosis of the initiative from a BOT project to a government program funded by a government-sourced loan. How did this happen? “It’s the DOTC [Department of Transportation and Communication] that should answer,” Neri said.

This suggests that his answer to the question of whether a bribe was in fact offered to him — “It’s really difficult for me to say yes or no. It’s difficult to prove either way” — is a calibrated response. It is meant to negotiate that difficult passage between two impossible masters, to please both the requirements of official loyalty and the demands of personal conscience.

In this light, his repeated references during the interviews to Executive Order 464, which he says requires the President to sign off on his appearance before a legislative inquiry into the ZTE contract, seem to us to be a plea for help. He wants to be given permission to say what he knows.”

In this connection, may all Filipinos who will read this blog, pray that Mr. Neri be able to muster enough courage to speak the truth about what he knows regarding the ZTE Deal. May all of us provide the necessary support that Mr. Neri needs to be able to tell the truth despite of the odds.

May all OFWs, who were united against Malu Fernandez and her acerbic wit, unite once again and be part of a more meaningful cause of fighting a chronic disease called “corruption”. Show Mr. Neri, and the likes, the support and encouragement he needs from a United Heroes of the Philippines - The OFWs. May the fight against the ZTE Deal be the start of more vigilant and concern effort to reduce corruption in the Philippines.

May GOD BLESS US ALL!

–On “A man named Muslim”–

I would like to start this with a request to the one who wrote this article, highly esteemed as he is…

Please, do not add more to the already existing gap between Muslims and Christians, by insinuating that what is happening in MSU is all about “the name” because it isn’t. Surely there is a more honourable and less destructive way of gaining sympathy…

You are a good writer, to that I would not oppose, but you will never “truly” understand, because there is one thing really important that you are not and never will be, YOU ARE NOT ONE OF US, true MSUans; whose hearts have bled for what MSU has become in the years that passed, until PGMA chose someone “who was not a contender at all” (but was willing to sacrifice for MSU all the same); whose hope was almost lost along with the loss of so many unsung heroes whose acts of sacrifice were not just unrecognized and uncompensated but were also abused and wasted, until President Ricardo de Leon came, “out of the blue”; whose questions, were thought, will forever go unanswered as to what will happen to the many who cannot afford quality education anywhere else, if MSU’s educational standard will degrade, until President de Leon (who by the way has finished two MSc degrees (Masters in Management and Masters in Business Administration) and a Doctoral Degree in Peace and Security Studies – with all due respect, you failed to mention that…) decided to take up the challenge albeit reluctantly, and ended up more than neck-deep into a problem that we MSUans so wanted to expose for years and yet ended up frustrated after all the efforts exerted that were thwarted.

Something is rotten in the state of the Mindanao State University (MSU) yes, but IT IS NOT something that cropped out just recently, contrary to what you know. That “rotten” thing has been in MSU long enough to spread like gangrene, silently festering; a growing disease that we thought would destroy MSU and everything that it stands for, until PGMA “rendered the search process a superfluous and costly exercise paid for by the taxpayer(s?)” by choosing someone who is not an MSUan and yet is so much an MSUan by heart. Someone who does not have roots, like we do, in MSU and yet chose to face unfair accusations and unfair judgements such as yours and of those who cannot find the capacity to look beyond the person and focus on the bigger picture, which is the future of those whose lives are dependent on the institution–the highest position of which (by the way) the President de Leon NEVER competed for. Why then would he be “going around MSU and even outside of it to solicit signatures demanding that he be kept in the warm”? What could he get out of it that would make him risk so much, even his life? I’m telling you nothing…Fame? Money? He already has all that…the only thing that he can gain that only the selfless can find so much satisfaction of, is the joy of seeing others, who are not as privileged as he is, find hope; the humbling feeling of knowing that one is making so much difference in what was thought was an otherwise hopeless and losing fight.

For the record, it was the MSUans who went around collecting all those signatures (he can only be seen “going around MSU and even outside” when he inspects on-going projects, plans for further projects and attends to his duties), who initiated the rally (he was not even around that day it was done), and who flooded PGMA, Ermita and God knows who else with text messages asking for his extension and for his appointment as President, not just Acting President.

It would take more than the information that you have of what is happening in MSU for you to understand…this is not about defending PGMA, God alone knows all her flaws and all the motives behind her every act, nor is this about the age-old-still-unresolved gap between Muslims and Christians (it would take more than one university president, Muslim or Christian, to obliterate all that and I know you know that)…THIS IS ABOUT THE ACT THAT BROUGHT ABOUT THE BADLY NEEDED CHANGE IN MSU THAT WE ALL SO CLAMORED AND WILL CONTINUE TO CRY OUT FOR; and an attempt to tip the unjustly angled scale for a man who is not without weakness or flaw but whose acts deserves to be fairly weighed and judged, whose sacrifices deserves so much credence that it would be but out of sheer narrow mindedness and selfishness to claim that he has not been a good servant to an alma mater that is not his, and a good leader to MSUans inside and outside its portals, whose desire is nothing but to see MSU at its best…what “true MSUan” would not want and defend this?

I’m happy the Supreme Court approved the TRO on the stinking NBN deal. The fact, however, that they voted 8-7, really scares me. And considering it’s only a TRO.

Now somebody tell me, the 7 are all GMA appointees, I suppose?

Kung guilty si Erap, how about the other gov’t officials?

The new comers in the senate had been so vocal about transparency in the gov’t. Why can’t now they walk the talk by telling the public on how much money they will get for themselves and how much of the money will they give back to the public in terms of services. Yes the salary of a senator is not fair as well as the other gov’t officials. But this is not an excuse for them to steal the money of the people ! Kahit anong klaseng tax ang ipapatupad, pagka corrupt ang nasa gobyerno, wala ding patutunguhan. Sana matauhan ang mga CORRUPT na gov’t officials na ang pinapakain nila sa kanilang pamilya ay galing sa dugo at pawis ng mga tax-payers specifically sa mga empleyado.

So my challenge to the senators and to all new gov’t officials who have been so vocal about transparency, its your time to practice what you preach, ika nga !

ZTE Deal ?? I believe this is not the first time it happened !

This is not the fault of ZTE but by those phil gov’t officials who entered into contract with ZTE ! In the first place why phil.the gov’t officials entered into a very costly deal when in fact there’s a less costly one !

Tsaka bakit pa kailangan ng goberyno ang broadband, di ba ang dami ng telecom players sa ‘pinas? Take a look into DOTC-Telof, after it was put up, pinabayaan na lang ng gobyerno ! Why dahil tapos na silang kumita ?

It would be costly for the gov’t to maintain the so called broadband network and to reiterate, the gov’t don’t need that. kakalawangin lang pagkatapos ! If they need telecommunications, nandiyan ang PLDT, GLOBE, BAYANTEL etc.

Si Mr. Abalos, bakit hindi niya muna asikasohin yung mga kaso sa comelec, may mga partylist na nanalo like, BATAS na hanggang ngayon hindi parin nakakaupo ang mga representative !

Look closely at Larry Mendoza.
The piercing silent kingmaker.

DO WE REALLY WANT THE RULE OF LAW?

We keep saying as a people that we want the rule of law in our land. We proclaim our desire that no one be above the law. Yet time and again we have shown that we think the rule of law should only apply to those who belong to someone else’s tribe, be it in the form of a political party, a fraternity, or some other affiliation.

So I am not surprised to read that Erap’s conviction is politically motivated according to him and his party mates, a case of justice denied, a losing gamble against the Arroyo administration. The verdict is always unjust when it goes against the accused, at least as far as the accused and his lawyers and friends are concerned.

This is even true among those in our midst who call themselves progressives and thus should know better. They have declared their intention to go after the sitting president, saying that she is guilty of far worse crimes. That may be so, but when Joma Sison was arrested in a foreign land where he has lived in sanctuary for years, they all cried foul and declared it an injustice, an abuse of government authority, a conspiracy among the US, Philippine and Dutch powers that be. When things go their way, it’s ok. But when they don’t, it’s a different story eh?

This makes me think that while we all scream for the rule of law, we are in truth only concerned with taking care of our team and protecting our turf. We forget that the sword that Lady Justice wields is double-edged and cuts both ways. Until our political leaders admit that criminals can be those of their own tribe and not only those of someone else’s tribe, this clamor for the rule of law is just a disguise for our selfish ambitions.

The rule of law requires that we all behave in a manner consistent with that rule, however the wind may blow. For in the rule of law, justice is dispensed by the courts based on the evidence presented, and it does not help our people to believe in that rule when our responsible leaders make unsubstantiated assertions that a court is untrustworthy. In other words, in the rule of law, you either put up or you shut up.

What do soldiers do when there are no more wars to fight? Where do they go when all they know is war? Peace must be a terrifying thing for them. Something so unimaginable they do everything in their power keep the war going. Hell, they’re given 1 Billion Pesos a day to keep the war going.

Support our troops? Please, they’re just doing their job. A job they’re paid to do. I don’t see you cheering me on when I’m on my way to work. We all make choices, they chose soldiering. There is nothing noble about what they are doing. The weapons they wield are indiscriminate. Bullets don’t back off when they’re pointed at children. Bombs don’t care if they’re for churches or mosques. You aren’t a good soldier if you don’t follow orders. Soldiers aren’t paid to think, they’re paid to kill. To keep the status quo. To hold the nightmare of peace at bay for the old soldiers they get their orders from.

ALMA ALFARO is in Taiwan, harbored by PERLITA TIU, sister of ATONG ANG.

LOTS OF MONEY AND NTIME HAD BEEN WASTED FOR ERAP WHO HAVE NO INTEGRITY EVER SINCE…. AND THERE ARE OTHER EJERCITOS IN THE GOVERNMENT…. CAN WE TRUST THEM S___T.

Our country is a country of hypocrites. Number one is Mayor Alfredo Lim who says “The law applies to all or none at all” Now that his good friend Erap is convicted, he says he should not be punished. Another is Teofisto Guingona of the “I Accuse” fame. Next is Manny Villar, who was instrumental is bringing the impeachment to the Senate. Another is Loren Legarda, who even shed tears in the impeachment trial. Hypocrites, all of them!

According to Estelito Mendoza, plunder is common in the country. Proving them and procecuting them in court is time consuming and costly. His argued that jueting is not public funds. Not according to Sandiganbayan. What about the scam with Belle Holdings? P189 million in commission for Erap is one thing. More than 2 billion pesos was invested by GSIS and SSS that after a year/a year and a half, was only worth 400 million pesos. Who benefitted from this ? I would think it is Erap and his friends but for the losses, I would think it is the public. Perhaps Atty. Mendoza and others can be part of the solution than part of the problem.

A fair trial has trial has transpired with Erap represented by the best legal minds, with overwhelming evidence presented, he was found guilty beyond reasonable doubt. Therefore let the law applies the punishment accordingly. When he was savoring his best drinks with his so called Midnight Cabinet, Erap was warned by his one time aide named Mr. Apo Lacquian about the consequences of his many actions, he reminded Mr. Lacquian that he, Erap, is the president not him, thinking ang behaving that he was above the law. Let us then send Erap to Munti, give all the drinks he wants till he drops dead. This is a good lesson and reminder to our future leaders thatabuse of power will no longer be tolerated. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas.

Mr. Rudy Aliscad has hit the bullseye. The majority of the Philippine electorate lacks the necessary skills to select the best qualified leaders for our beloved nation. Examine the results of the recent senatorial elections, dissect the leadership qualities of the whiners or winners pala. consist of unconvicted verified killers, rebels without causes, grandstanders without any substance, beauties without brains, etc. How then do you expect these people to grasp and tackle the intricacies of legislation, if they are lacking the intellectual capacity needed for the job? Youth Education should be prioritized for the coming ten years if we are to improve and hasten the maturation of our electorate. I, therefore enjoin our kababayan who are well-off to adopt scholars. This could enhance the bright future of our beloved country. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

I hope Sec. Leandro Mendoza will be man enough to tell the real truth about the ZTE fiasco. I further hope that he will invoke unto himself the PMA Code of Honesty & Truth. If he can do that, he will be a great Filipino worthy of praise.

To: Pete Barr and Rudy Aliscad

I agree with one half of your opinions, even if it show some hint of elitist discriminations against the general voting public. We have equal rights as you have, to vote for any candidate we deemed good, according to our own perceptions of what that candidate would do after being elected, perceptions which totally contradict that of yours. There are presidents, and senators, and congressmen with degrees, some with mba and doctorates even. And there are some senators and congressmen undergrad, one made it to the presidency but the elite removed him, without even letting him warm his seat, because it hurts their ego to see someone so low would be doing the governing instead of one who is an expert on economy, a graduate of Economics in the USofA. As if a degree holder, more so if with masteral or doctorate, will steal less, would lie less, would cheat less. The ordinary voters, like this ordinary blogger, we have seen the lessons of history, and learned that it is not so. We know that a legislator, notwithstanding his degree, or none of it, is good only as the requirements of his pocket, and the fartherance of his other interests. So, we ordinary voters would like to try to vote for someone who might, just might, mind you, to make a difference. Like we did in the last senatorial election. We hope you two get the drift of why we are like this. And be more tolerable to the likes of us.

daming kumita sa ZTE deal na yan..alam ng malacanang yan nabigyan na sila ng advance kaya di na sila makakapagbackout kawawa naman tayung mga pilipino tau na naman magbabayad ng utang para dito..mga walang puso ang mga tao sa gobyerno at walang konsensya sobra na tama na dapat mag ala argentina na taung mga pilipino..hwag tau matakot..dahil kinakawawa nila ang ating bayan..napakayaman ng pilipinas bakit tau nalulubog sa utang..napupunta lang naman sa bulsa ng mga tao sa gobyerno..this is enough..this should stop now..i hope the cardinal, church leaders and the patriotic leaders of this nation should join hands to change this government..kailangan talaga siguro ng revolution na..bakit ang argentina nagawa nila magbago..there is still hope..intelligence is not enough to run this government dapat ang lider na susunod or ipapalit ay may puso at may konsensya tiyak aasenso tau bilang isang bansa..alam natin wala naman mararating itong ZTE tulad ng macapagal boulevard na pinakamahal na kalye dito sa pilipinas sino ba nagbabayad nitong mga utang hindi naman un mga tao sa gobyerno kasi pag alis nila super yaman na sila they will pay less taxes bec they own corporations sino kawawa? sino? di ba taung mga maliliit..un mga nag tatrabaho ng 9 to 5 at un mga nagsisimula sa negosyo dahil sa sobrang daming taxes na binabayaran dahil pambayad sa inutang ng mga gagong nasa gobyerno..this shud stop now..i hope the church leaders and the leaders who still have love in this country shud ask the people to go to the streets ..

i read about the cardinal from cebu saying he wants erap, convicted of plunder, to be pardoned.

the good cardinal can pardon erap in the confessional, assuming erap goes off denial and and admits, but to ask pardon this convict who has not repented at all sucks. there must some jean valjeans in our prisons who needed to steal bread to feed his starving family who are far more worthy of pardon. the good cardinal should seek pardon for these people first, and for erap, whose plundering acts far exceed the small crimes those poor people have committed.

comments on lulli’s attack on devenecia
I had always bragged before that you were the only descent member of your family, but now I take that back. you are now like your mother (not flattering) people admire persons making mistakes and having the guts to correct them later on , than those who continuously commit deliberate mistakes and refuse to correct them. by the way, don’t attack the physical appearance of other persons,look at your mom and yourself first,you both look like ducks strutting by.

Filipinos are discovering, without realizing its impact, that one of their biggest flaws is their being too compassionate and accopmmodating to behavior that is criminal. Pasensya na, kalimutan na lang natin yan, mabait naman yan. Being people with short memories, soon such tolerance is forgotten and everything reverts to business as usual no matter how evil these deeds are.

Because they are not serious in prosecuring, jailing, even executing criminals like the Marcoses who committed heinous crimes such as massive graft and corruption, they keep getting assaults after assults from the likes of Abalos, Mendoza, etc etc. Such horrific examples of audacity and chutzpah are hard to see anywhere else except in this poor country. Here in the US, congressmen and governors get life sentences for stealing government funds or behaving like they were above the law.

What is so bad about putting former presidents and spouses before the firing squad so that their underlings think ten times, 100 times before commiting plunder? After all, what they are doing condemns hundreds of thousands of already starving Filipinos to fates worse than dogs?

Unless Filipinos accept that they have to be harsh and cruel if they want their laws to be observed, they will continue to suffer these episodes of numbing crime. And it is a pity that this should condemn this beautiful country into one of the poorest in the world.

The 100 year old con http://www.InteliOrg.com/archive/FireandIce.pdf on climate change.

In order to be an intelligent reader you must have a basic knowledge. Please do your own homework, a starting point http://www.InteliOrg.com/

Why Politics Prevails over “Rule of Law”

The Sandiganbayan’s verdict on Joseph Estrada has elicited mixed reactions from different sectors. Supporters of Mrs. Gloria Arroyo hailed Erap’s conviction as a triumph of the rule of law and as a vindication of EDSA 2 and of Arroyo’s continuing presidency. Critics of the administration like Dean Pangalangan read the verdict as an exercise in selective prosecution that sends out the message that the biggest fish on top of food chain gets to choose whom to spare and whom to devour. Other critics like Prof. Randy David affirmed Mrs. Gloria Arroyo’s spotty record of official conduct, but advised caution in using public opinion to “impugn the validity of legal decisions” lest it undermines the “rule of law” and the country’s march into modernity.

The real message of Estrada’s conviction is this: Those who fight to advance democracy cannot be hamstrung by the false assumption that rule of law is inherently democratic. Politicians often claim that the rule of law is identical with democratic governance per se, implying that that law is an immutable set of principles that enables government to arbitrate societal conflicts fairly and impartially. Corporate business concurs with this fiction in so far as the effective laws converge with their own stakes in a business-friendly tax policy, a compliant workforce, functional risk-averting devices (e.g. sovereign guarantees for loan-financed projects) and public infrastructures, as well as consistent enforcement of pecuniary obligations that jointly facilitate optimal returns on their investment.

Law is not impartial; it reflects the political, economic and social biases of the legislators who enact it and the judges who interpret it; law cannot rise above the specific politico-economic system for which it was crafted to serve and perpetuate. As a brilliant lawyer, Marcos issued some 1,941 PDs, 1,221 LOIs and 896 EOs over the 14 year-span of his autocratic rule. Some of these despotic laws are still in effect including PD 1177 that mandates automatic appropriation of public funds for debt-servicing projects, some of which (like the Bataan nuclear power plant) were odious and had been contracted by the dictator with the collusion of the lenders themselves. Mrs. Arroyo’s prostitution of the law to foist on the nation odious agreements such the ZTE broadband deal and JPEPA, to cover up the growing scams under her dispensation, to restrict freedom of inquiry and to criminalize dissent through the Human Security Act demonstrate the political nature of law and the need for political action to rectify not only defects in law but defects in the politico-economic structure as well.

The real tragedy of EDSA 1 and EDSA 2 lies in neither the extra-legal means by which the various opposition forces evicted the incumbent executive nor the various ways successive post-martial law regimes manipulated the law for the benefit of the ruling elite, but in the failure of progressive movements to seize these moments of crises as opportunities for building the critical mass to effect radical change in power relationships and the content of the law to the advantage of the popular classes. Reformers who are blinded by fetish for the law would profit well from a reading of the Black abolitionist Frederick Douglass, whose words ring true now as they did over a century ago: “The whole history of the progress of human liberty shows that all concessions yet made to her august claims have been born of struggle… If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom and yet deprecate agitation are men who want crops without plowing up the ground; they want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its waters. This struggle may be a moral one or it may be a physical one or it may be both moral and physical but it must be a struggle. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and never will.”

HOW COULD YOU?

I wish to add my voice to the many Filipinos who are calling for justice to prevail in our country. Specifically on the way the government is dealing with the Estradas.

As though the pampering he received from the government while awaiting trial was not enough, now comes the government again, planning to grant him presidential pardon.

How could our government leaders even consider granting him pardon when there is not even an iota of repentance from him? In the first place, did Estrada sinned ONLY against these government leaders? DID HE NOT SIN AGAINST THE FILIPINOS MOST OF ALL?

Why is the government considering pardoning him without even considering to consult the very people he disadvantaged because of his GREED for money and LUST for flesh and power?

How could you?

i do not agree of th courts decision1 of course erap is innocent of the case..gma use her power to influenced the decision of the justices..for me it is like a stage play..

i watched the live broadcast of the ZTE hearing w/ Mendoza, etal vs MarRoxas etal. It was funny & frustrating to see how the young politicos of the senate were struggling to present a credible investigation that would have been acceptabol 2 ol “mababang paaralan ng del baryos” estodyantes and possibly some “mataas na paaralan del bayans” punkistas if their far flung paaralans were now reached by this proposed TELCO pinas-wide web pestilence.
Funny, frustrating & downright disgusting to clearly see haw da old guards of d administration (wisely chosen & depended upon by d powers in mal-akanyakanyang- kurakot) hav mastered d art of “palusot2dmax” & “pakapalan-ng-mukha” oratory likewise acceptabol 2 d first abov-mentioned group even with their hands (& even feet) caught in d proverbial bukayo jar, their mouths drooling & lungs hyperventilating at prospect of spending d millions they will pocket out of this krystal clear, vividly obyos fraudulent, corrupt deal w/ ZTE.
naman, naman, Madam Pres., wag naman nyong lokohin ng ganito nalang si Juan dela Cruz.
where has honor, intergrity, decency etc gone? it has totally evaporated from the hallowed halls of malacanyang.

It was stated in “Estrada nixes Arroyo pardon for now–Puno”, written by Thea Alberto, that “On September 12, Estrada was convicted for plunder and was sentenced to life imprisonment. He is detained at his home in Tanay, Rizal.”
I know former president Estrada was convicted- but convicted for plunder and sentenced with reclusion perpetua.According to wikipedia,

Reclusión perpetua (Spanish, from Latin: reclusio perpetua, meaning “permanent imprisonment”) is a particular kind of sentence of imprisonment in the Philippines, Argentina, and several other countries.

In the Philippines, it is one of two sentences, the other being life imprisonment, designed to replace the death penalty and is, in legal parlance, almost synonymous with life imprisonment. However, there are several important distinctions between the two terms:

Reclusión perpetua is prescribed on crimes punishable by the Revised Penal Code, while life imprisonment is imposed on offences punishable by Special Laws.
Reclusión perpetua carries the “accessory penalty” where, as defined by Philippine Law, guilty parties suffer lifetime barring from holding political office. Life imprisonment does not carry this penalty.
Reclusión perpetua does not allow pardon or release until after the first 30 years of the sentence have been served; after 40 years without pardon, the sentence ends. Life imprisonment does not have any definite extent or duration of imprisonment, and prisoners serving life imprisonment can have parole at any time.
Unlike life imprisonment, the length of a sentence for reclusión perpetua is an indivisible penalty of 40 years and cannot be altered during sentencing.

Please correct me if I am wrong.
Thanks.

GMA sets up panel to review China deals

I beg to differ! Why exclude other donor countries? Is it possible they knew us well and unwilling to participate?

In moving forward….

For a smooth transition, it must be equity-driven. The incumbents must be officially designated and authorized by the duly and/or unduly elected highest official of the land to enter into all future transactions, monetary or otherwise.

a/k/a EQUITY of the INCUMBENT

Through a Presidential Decree to wit:
Effective immediately, this very exclusive and prestigious panel must be chaired by Miguel Arroyo and co-chaired by Benjamin Abalos for their exemplary services to the Philippines.

In looking back….

Our electoral system would have been embroiled in one mess after another WITHOUT the stewardship of the even-handed & fair-minded Benjamin Abalos.

The executive branch would have been linked to all kinds of scandal WITHOUT the steadfast & transparency-driven leadership of GMA.

We must be thankful to the Arroyo’s family for their personal sacrifices for it was the sole efforts of GMA and not the OFWs & the business sector’s contributions for the great economic numbers.

WITHOUT this dream team, we would have been in a financial crisis! For the continuance of ENTITLEMENTS, let us pay them tributes.

And now that I’ve awakened from my brief coma, while not much, at least the food, the comfort and the little luxury I showered my family all came by way of my DECENT earnings after taxes paid. I sleep well at night.

PS: Of course the Chinese people love the Philippines as shared by my Chinese friends. In the final reckoning, it comes down to Personal Profit versus Principle. Literal translation….
Pagproblema presyo, pwede pagusapan hinda na problema.
Pagproblema prinsipio, wala pakiusap malaki problema hindi ganda sa negosyo.
Need I say more?

I’m not Abalos’ mistress says woman

I would advise her to submit her daughter to a DNA test and the same for this fine Comelec Chairman. Thereafter, jointly, they should file a mega million suit against Senator Pimentel the same way he plans to sue JDV3.

Abalos’ notoriety is well known. Just ask the Filipino-Chinese business community in Mandaluyong off the record. As a respected municipal judge back then, his out-reach “program” went beyond Mandaluyong.

From a hustling recipient to a shameless conveyor of the highest order. He is now the glorified messenger of the GMA FAMILY ENTERPRISE. I’m not surprised!

One final thought…. I hope the son, BenHur is the opposite of his father to safeguard the City of Mandaluyong! We will see!

“Arroyo shares spotlight with global leaders” blares the headline

The Philippines shared center stage with world leaders in NewYork.
She did what? Why were the leaders?

*Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai,
* Former US Vice President and environment advocate Al Gore,
*World Bank president Robert Zoellick, *Wal-Mart supermarket group president H. Lee Scott, and
*South Africa spiritual leader Desmond Tutu.

World leaders? I don’t think so.

Former US President Bill Clinton praised Arroyo for taking “tough decisions” and putting the Philippine economy “back in very good shape.”

What rubbish!

Is Inquirer.ner reporter Lira Dalangin-Fernandez on Arroyo’s propaganda public payroll?

The country couldn’t survive without its hundreds of thousands OFWs. It needs the cash sent home to balance its books.

She is helping to precide of the disgraceful creation of a nation of servants and maids and every Filipino should be thoroughly ashamed of the worldwide image this has created.

An Open Letter to GMA

After the last election cycle, you should have accepted your stranglehold on the Legislative branch of government had diminished. You should have recalibrated your political calculations in dealing with realities on the ground. You are not being served well by your advisers!

From the time you assumed the Presidency, literally & figuratively, you forgot to bring along a (MC) Moral Compass on your way to the Palace. Out of haste probably? Or convenience?

With your MC in tow 24/7, the MC would have guided you that there are issues you could compromise and there are those issues you shouldn’t barter even for the sake of political expediency.

You know your hold is tenuous! In order to overcome, you appointed and reappointed some of the same personalities who turned their backs on your predecessor for their own political survivals. Sounds like Quid Pro Quo?

Furthermore, this act is no different than a person in the business of lying. One is forced to keep lying to cover up one lie after another…. Once the novelty wears out, what’s next?

Live by the sword and you die by the sword.

You are now caught in a fog of Abalosism but grateful for the small wiggle room courtesy of Nerism. But for how long? How many more Abalosism wannabes are out there waiting to seize the moments? How will you handle them?

Logistically, you do not & never will have a TENT big enough to accommodate/satisfy each & every member of your inner circle. Don’t you wish RP is an oil-producing country?

For if you did, this ZTE mess wouldn’t had happened and then, it would have been business as usual. If no money had changed hands, why don’t you ask ZTE to back off?

With the advent of Info Technology, you can’t even hide or suppress the flow of information anymore. As a lawyer, your husband’s action or lack of it confounded me. His MO ought to protect you from all dangers! Isn’t it ironic the wife and the children were tasked to defend him? Whatever is the state of my health, I will never expose my family to indignities even at the risk of my death. Oh well….

My intent is not to highlight any more diatribe ably reported by the various media outlets in all conceivable shapes and forms.

My unsolicited advice is for you to retrieve your Moral Compass wherever it may be and show it to your inner circle. Take the high road. Change your ways!

It is NEVER too late to show the Filipinos you are ready to make meaningful amends. Weed out the undesirables! Filipinos are a forgiving lot but they are not stupid. Make the first move and the Filipinos will embrace you.

And if not, another unsolicited advice is for you to instruct the Department of Foreign Affairs to arrange a visit for you with President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela quietly. He might be able to help you out with your political woes.

As the President of the Philippines, it’s your call, GMA! Good Luck!

Reason, Purpose and then …. What?

The ZTE/NBN scandal was the penultimate REASON for the dissolution of the collegial partnership between the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Philippines.

The demise of the sham PARLIAMENTARY controversy was the ultimate PURPOSE for this irregularity — the 3 Arroyos in Congress for now!

The Almighty Lord had paved the way….

Romulo Neri could only do so much….

Let’s shield Neri from dangers….

Let’s try to enlighten Abalos….

And all the rest will follow suit….

Maliwanag na hindi nag iisip ang mga politicians at govt officials sa pag approved ng NBN projects. Meron mang kick back or wala ay nakasalalay ang national security ng Pinas kung hahayaan natin taga LABAS ang mag provide ng technology para sa mga sensitibong INFORMATION data ng ating gobyerno. Scrap the deal and don’t let CHINA be able to spy on us.

SENATE INVESTIGATION SUGGESTION FOR SPEEDY RESULT ZTE DEAL SCANDAL.

Why not pass a bill to use a lie detector test in every investigation of the senate on graft & corruption involving high government officials and find out the truth. I’m sure this will save millions of pesos of taxpayer’s money in bringing out the truth.

Juan

Investigators should immediately seize ZTE records, emails, and hard drives for evidence of the bribery before the Chinese destroy them. ZTE broke Philippine law when it tried to buy Philippine officials. The company should be held accountable.

Suits and Counter-Suits……

Sounds Good! Wise up Filipinos! A gift thats keeps on giving of this size & volume might not come again anytime soon!

Let us ENJOIN, PRAY and then HOPE as ONE that……

The executive branch of the government will voluntarily adopt a Hands-Off as opposed to a Back-Off policy!

To allow……

The legislative branch of our government to denounce their conflicted political affiliations and collectively, renew their fidelities with the law of the land.

The judicial branch of our government to rise above personal or impersonal loyalty in dispensing justice honorably.

So that……

All suits and counter-suits will help pinpoint accountabilities, will assign guilts, will spare innocents and will lead to long-delayed convictions beyond reproach!

What will emerge……

MABUHAY ANG BAGONG PILIPINAS!

GMA: NBN Deal Is Dead

Wouldn’t be it nice that all personalities who benefitted and who stands to benefit from this deal suffer the same fate so that Filipinos do not have to suffer anymore than they already had?

Kuba na ang mga kababayan natin! Maawa naman kayo!

J. Cruz

Joey de Venecia is again saying something about another person. His impression of ICTSI Chairman Razon as the most powerful businessman in the Philippines, gives the idea that he is a troubled man, i.e., emotionally or perhaps mentally. True businessmen do not make public statements such as this.

So much so, as to be involved in investigation using his words against that of another person.

He is becoming unbelievable.

I think that LA should turn off the lights for October 20, this is a great way to show that we love our planet and I think they shopuld do this often and convince people to use LESS energy. I hope my voice is heard. Help keep our planet ALIVE!!!

Joey De V III says ICTSI Chair Ricky Razon the most powerful businessman in the Philippines? Why, what does he think of his father, Speaker Joe De V. Isn’t he one of the most powerful political leaders whose influence he, Joey the son, has used to get some government contracts including the franchise his own company was able to get some years back?

I believed Joey De Venecia III statement than the First Gentleman and the Ex-Commissioer of Comelec on ZTE scandal. Why should Joey lied and create a story? For what gain he will get in exposing the truth? but Joey has conscience. In behalf of myself and the Filipino people, I salute you Mr. Joey De Venecia III. With the present administration, all of them are above the law.

Don Juan

Why should the Senate invstigation comittee spare the First Gentleman and Mr. Romulo Neri for further investigation. Is Malacanang hiding something from te FILIPINO PEOPLE?. They didn’t spare Ex-President Estrada on charges of plunder until he was convicted. Is the present administration have one-sided policy whom to be charged and investigated?

The ZTE/NBN fiasco is not about Malacanang or Abalos. It is not about bribery nor corruption. It is about big businesses crushing a looming threat to their interests. The son of JDV was maybe just a pawn used by big businesses to exterminate the deal, the real culprits do not want to show their hands. The senate and the media were misled and also being used. Some members maybe corrupted to the same degree as alleged in the case of Ben Abalos.
Moral of the fiasco:Don’t fight big businesses.

A Message To The Speaker JDV:

Wherever this ZTE trail leads…. You and your son had done our nation a great service. Father-and-son tandem have enlightened Juan de la Cruz on — The Art of the Deal as doctored but poorly implemented by the executive branch of the Government. Thank you!

Following the President’s lead, Mr. Speaker, shouldn’t all Filipinos automatically be mandated by law and co-equally be entitled to the same courtesy? Or the same margin of error? Or plain & simple greed?

What is the point in reporting graft and corruption of any significant level when the offender could easily retort by saying…. Tanungin ang Presidente!

Do we really need the Ombudsman?

The perception is:
Pinoy officials use the system to favor them!

The reality is:
Chinoy knows how to work the system!

Some pundits have volunteered that your desire to share the truth, to expouse transparency and your son’s fortitude might cause you your lofty position. Fear not! Beg not! Ask not!

Did you succumb that:

For the sake of expediency, under the guise of a long-planned vacation, you asked JDV III to take off abruptly? You didn’t!

Did you forbid when:

Your wife came out and only asked to give truth a chance? Bad mouthing others? She didn’t!

It’s the breeding.. the upbringing.. the heart.. the character.. STUPID!

Thankful that you are not prevailed upon to be one of the mouthpieces of this administration’s newly-created (DMI)Department of Misleading Information.

Please ask ES Ermita to kindly spare us from his pontification. Stop preaching to the choir! Enough already! Nobody wants to listen or believe!

Please tell PS Bunye the latest survey is all about dissatisfaction and nothing to do with popularity.

It’s useful also for him to know that inspite of the good economic numbers under Bill Clinton’s watch, he was better remembered for the Monica Lewisky’s sex scandal! ZTE anyone?

Please tell GMA, through over-extended compromises, she is playing catch up by prolonging the inevitable… A disorder that keeps on multiplying with no end in sight! The only dignified way out of this malaise is to take the moral high road beginning with her official family and the rest will follow. Legacy? It’s no longer hers to peddle or influence and to just leave it to the historians!

Public opinions say the De Venecias are unequivocally much more credible than the Arroyos. Kudos!

Not only are the Filipinos watching…. The World is observing…. Each and every agenda will be looked upon with?? and then more???? Smell test? Public scrutiny?

Just out of curiosity….

What should our American and Chinese so-called friends do in the next three years? Look the other way, make offers and partake?

For the Filipinos living below or bordering on the poverty line, please pray that the “difficulty” in China will not go away! Let it be! Let it be!

ONE FINAL THOUGHT….

Please be guided that your friendship with the Arroyos ends when your Loyalty to the Filipinos begins!

Do your duty honorably, Mr. Speaker and you will come out smelling like roses and far away from the foul smelling………..!

J. Cruz

The senate investigation on ZTE is nothing but a fishing expedition. If there is any hard evidence and with Joey de Venecia’s affidavit they should immediately file plunder and corruption charges against Malacanang, Ben Abalos, and the First Gentleman. Charges should likewise be filed against Romulo Neri for abetting and covering up corruption activities.

We do not how truthful Joey de V. is but we know for sure that he was not very truthful about his intentions. Was he just a pawn in another kind of game called - monopoly?

I notice vice governor of Iloilo Rex Sulpico in the forefront of the investigation of this ZTE scandal.

Being an elected public official of his province, what authority he has to be leading the crusader against allegation of kickback in the ZTE deal.

He is not a congressman, he is not a senator and he is not in private practice to charge a public official like Abalos on allegation of corruption.

We know that being elected locally, Mr.Sulpico’s duties is confined to his province and not on national level.

For sure, his travel back and forth from his province and his stay in Manila consumes expenses and we don’t know whether that comes from his office fund.

He too should be investigated.

Candy made in China downs 23 Cebu kids

Are you thinking, what I’m thinking? Why the poor kids?

J. Cruz

GMA’s trip to India

was to take a crash course on — The Fine Art of the 5/6!

Reprioritizing her 3-Year Economic Agenda!

Bravo to The Indian Community!

J. Cruz

US rights group finds not one case solved!

Great! Not only do we have rapists of the treasury, we now have murderers of the citizenry to contend with!

Can’t wait for the next update….

RP is really screwed!

J. Cruz

SELF? Wife? Family? Or Country?

Mike Arroyo to check with doctor if he can attend hearing

Sure he can! If he could handled the physical grind of a long-planned European vacation, the long-overdue 10-25-07 Senate hearing will be a walk in the park!

I will reserve passing judgment and would like to give Mike Arroyo the benefit of the doubt on his whereabouts and personal knowledge on the birth and the nurturing period of the failed NBN/ZTE deal.

One thing is undeniable. Mike Arroyo has nothing, absolutely nothing to do with the demise of the NBN/ZTE deal! I will vouch for him on this one issue!

In keeping with protocol and decorum, as a Filipino, I found it very demeaning and diplomatically inappropriate why the Chief Executive from RP so publicly instigated and prominently singled out one NBN/ZTE project as opposed to the more traditional non specific government-to-government discussions?

Was her act the result of back channel diplomatic discussions? An International atonement? A Public Humiliation?

Pride? Mutual Respect? Honor? A By-gone Era!

RP-China relationship has been compromised? Not one bit! China is laughing all the way to the bank. Basically, RP strengthens China’s foothold indefinitely! China owns RP permanently!

Between Chinoy and mainland China, taken together…. How about RP, a subsidiary of the Republic of China?

JDV III and Romulo Neri saw something said something. Benjamin Abalos saw nothing said something.

To Mike Arroyo, If you see something say something. It’s your turn, big guy!

First and foremost, if you love your wife more than YOURSELF, you must help in every way morally possible by restoring her dignity and adhering to the high ethical standard so requires of the Office of the President she holds now in turmoil!

It is adding insult to injury to rely on the same mouthpieces cum apologists whose messages have shamed and embarrassed the revered Office of the President to no end. They were pathetic and lethargic in their Power Point presentations!

Your daughter volunteered and she came up very short as well! I hope your two sons in Congress will succeed where others had failed!

Now is not a good time to remind the Filipino people of your brother, the honorable Congressman Ignacio Arroyo a.k.a. Jose Pidal!

Last I heard, FYI, by and large, the Filipino people found the De Venecias & Neri much, much more credible than the Arroyos & Abalos! What say you?

Now that you are back, well-rested, it is time to step up to the plate! There are two options you might want to consider….

1) Since you denied any involvement, with “qualified” inside access, why not become a state witness and share what you know?

If you love your family more than YOURSELF, why not preemptively tell the truth and nothing but the truth so that it will set you & your family free?

Eventually the truth will come out you know!

2) Come clean! Take the high road! Turn it in! Take heed!

Use your brush with the not quite after-life experience as a spiritual reawakening! For the next time around, you know, it might not be as kind and gentle!

If you love your country more than YOURSELF, free up your wife so that she can go after the swines, scoundrels, the thugs and the thieves….

I will pray that you fully recovered from what ails you so that all the unanswered questions that benefitted by invoking executive privilege, hopefully, they will be answered to the full extent of the law when the statue expires!

In LIFE, it is between your love of YOURSELF or your love for your wife, your family and your country! The choice is easy! Be a man!

In DEATH, it is between YOURSELF and the Almighty Lord, that is, if you believe in one! The choice is even easier! Be a real man!

SELF? Wife? Family? Or Country?

J. Cruz

Speaking as an immigrants daughter, I would just like to say…television offends everyone of every race, weight, shape and size.Thats just the way it is. I’m sorry it may of hurt the feelings of some individuals, but if we all ran around upset by the things that have been said about our backgrounds and the people we are then the world would be worse off than it already is. Can I complain about the things the media and tv say about indviduals of my background and type and then make money off it! Come on now, just let it go!!!! IT’S TV!!!!

10-25-07 Senate Accountability and Fact-Finding Hearing On NBN/ZTE

All things considered, the Senators should zero in on:

To err on the side of caution or truth?

Caution favors a selected few!
Truth saves millions of Filipinos!

It’s a no-brainer! Truth will set the moral tone of the future!

Besides, when time’s up, time’s up! It’s time to go….

J. Cruz

Dear Felipe Galia:

Few Comments:
1. Unfair to say “I am no GMA fan, but her appointment of De Leon as Acting MSU President is the best thing that ever happened to MSU since the Isidro presidency and the best decision that she has ever made for MSU.” Bias Sweeping statments. Let us recognize few good men who contribute for MSU like me, you ,and others.
2. Again Bias. “For one, and with all due respect to Maranaws, a Maranaw MSU president, no matter how brilliant, will never succeed in solving the MSU problem because he can never parry the pressures from his relatives and members of his clan. Solving the MSU problem should start from there - a non-Maranaw president. Are you aware of problems in Universities like UP and other MSU Campuses they are not Maranaws. Your are Vice-Chancellor of MSU Gensan why cant you solve the problem in your campus? Baka Maranao ka na rin? he he he. Ethnic paradigm is outdated. Please solve and respond to issues of the college faculty association against Chancellor Macapado since you are in the position now.

3. Our Problem is not MSU Presidency, or Maranaws but Our Government System needs total overhaul. Our politician in malacanang should be replaced. Bulok na ang systema ng Pilipinas dapat ng ibasura.

Prof. Calimba, di ba ikaw ang president ng faculty association ng msu-gsc, bkit ang vcaf ang dapat na somolve ng problem nyo with former chancellor macapado?

TY

By Fr. Jerry Orbos
Inquirer
Last updated 10:05pm (Mla time) 10/13/2007

It is about time that we as a nation start thinking seriously on how we have abuse and misuse “utang na loob” corrupted by the system of politics.

Our nation have taken for granted much of God’s blessings and yet, we are thankful at politicians to the degree unmindful of their corrupt actions in our social values and the bad examples they can bring to the community…

We have been divided as a nation by partisanship and admiration to personalities, thankful to their good deeds but unmindful of our spiritual responsibilities for the good of the greater majority.

Maybe, if as a Nation we will be reminded to where the proper recognition be given. The people we begin to value their vote as a right given to them by God and have a better values in judging the future leaders.

Having a national Day of Thanksgiving will be a fitting start of a strong Philippines.

Here we go again….an early vote buying and influence peddling, aka… early gifts from Malacanang. Goodness gracious!!! All present at that breakfast meeting who recieved ‘brownbags’ are akin to Judas or worst than prostitutes…. The palace must have their own money printing press to have readilly available cash on hand for giveaways. So blatant..so arrogant and no outcry from the public. It is so amazing and sickening!!! Only in the Philippines as they say….everything is for sale , even their soul. What a mess! MLQ comment about the country being run by a Pilipino fool is so prophetic. Any proud Pinoy left???please turn the lights off….

gov.ed panlillo or rev.father ed panlillo. it is so sad that the supposed to be a clean man who wants to change the ugly side of politics in this country do not know what is a clean money. it is clear that he receives the money without any documentations and without asking any question. to some especially the opposition, he is an honest man exposing the bribery done. they are glorifying what the governor has done. he is their new found hero for another round of impeachment case against the president. but they forget that bribery is a crime that involves the giver and the receiver. why is it that they are condemning only the giver and absolve the receiver? they forget that the crime has been done and those involved in the crime must be punished under the law.

Last week October 12, 2007 Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger was in overtime to sign and veto the bills on his desk.
He made into law 750 bills and vetoed 214.

What does it mean, the lawmakers of state of California are doing their jobs to legislate and put into law what is best for Californians, the state and the government.

The Philippine legislators are busy conducting investigation in aid of legislation the jueteng scandal, calling witnesses in Hello Garci wire tapping, ZTE kickback deal, the 500,000cash gifts and so on and so forth.

To our senators and congressmen, Gloria, our President is waiting the bills the you passed in her desk for signing and no more veto.

In response to what I came across with someone wondering if we are a dying nation…. because of so many anomalies of corruptions and now this recent bombing in Makati, I like the response, by Sakabukiran, of the GMA-CBS interactive, and I quote:

dying nation? kelan pa tayo naging ‘nation’ in the first place?

i feel so alienated being a ‘Filipino’ living in the ‘Philippines’, the name coined by a foreign colonizer in honor of their king.

we used to an honorable race capable of building a strong, respectable, identifiable nation but we lost it long ago.

kasi yang mga di kanais-nais nga gawi at pag-uugali tulad ng graft and corruption sa pulitika, ekonomiya…isama na natin ang sandamukal na relihiyon… contribution lahat yan ng mga ganid at abusado na banyagang lahi na sumakop sa ating bansa.

how about retracing our true racial identity?…probably before Spain ever discovered our country…then perhaps we can start anew? by Benj23_ph

Hello Benj23_ph:

Yes, a nation we are not. A country, yes. We are a people of different races, of different blood of our ancestors who came from the different parts of Asia. The Philippines long time ago was known to the Chinese merchants as Cathay, and to the early immigrants along the Manila Bay as “perlas ng silangan.” The monopoly of Asians to settle the beautiful new world they stumbled upon at the south far end of the China sea did not last long. Soon Marco Polo stumbled upon the silk trade route which the pathways our ancestors from as far as the Ottoman Empire, the Madjapahit Empire and the Chinese had long been traveling and up to beyond the shores along the China Sea from mainland Asia. None of them came in order to lord over those who they would find already settled in the region. Many of them came because they were attracted by the beauty and the abundance of food in the islands. The archipelago as it is later on described did not have a national identity, nor a name that the people can call themselves….like the way the Japanese, the Vietnamese, and the Indonesian as well as Thailand have. Their names are indigenous to themselves. Their names were not handed down, given to them or forced to them by outsiders. They evolved to become as one people of similar and related ancestors by blood.

The Philippines is a different story. Yes, we, a country named after a foreign king were subjugated and our ancestors were to become their slaves. It was easy for any foreign power to subjugate the whole archipelago since the people were not a homogenous group but people of different tribes with their own practices, languages, and beliefs. They united the whole archipelago into believing that they were, as a people who they called as“natives” were inferior beings. The religion they imposed upon them thought them to believe that there was one god who considered them as sinners from birth since they were taught that they inherited their sins from their parents. They were to obey and not to question in order to be saved. The outcome of these subjugations as we see to date…tells us that the religion, which was the Catholic Church, has become more potent than the ammunition and guns in enslaving us…a people who is now so confused we cannot think straight even in the face of impending doom.”

I cannot state this same sentiment any better. It’s worth sharing to my compatriots on this forum…..msott

why we always thrive on scandal. the news is always bribery, corruption, senate investigation and so on and so fort.

we always talk of corruption but nobody is charged. now, the Malacanang assistance to local government unit is labeled as bribery. Bribery for what? I think we should not be conclusive on our assessment. We always perceive that GMA is always doing wrong.

Can we spare for a moment on what GMA is doing. The president’s term of office is being wasted with nothing to do except explain, defend on these allegations.

do you think if GMA resigned or impeached
the country would be better and filipinos would be better also.

remember that when we changed our presidents by force, nothing changed.

If I attended a meeting and received a brown envelop or paper bag, it’ll be so easy for me to claim later on that there was money inside.

So, what is there to be investigated? And who should be investigated?

Somebody please give us the answer so that effective laws can be passed controlling the procedures for giving presents.

On “Mangrove conservation paying off–DENR”, it would have been a lot more informational if the article mentioned where these mangroves being discussed were located… Bitin naman.

Since Trillanes is in jail without an office of his own and is unable to participate in legislation… I suggest that he should not be recieving his salary and budget for a regular senator.. that’s fair enough

I congratulate the Inquirer for creating Vox Populi…

Karamihan sa mga Pinoy, parang makahiya o kaya may balat sibuyas-ano mang komentaryo lingid sa Pilipino e nagagalit na kaagad, gaya nang komentaryo ni Teri Hatcher (sinunod lang po niya ang nakasulat sa script) tungkol sa mga Pilipinong doctors. Hindi alam ng mga Kano na meron tayong magagaling na doctors at prestihiyosong kolehiyo ng medisina sa Pilipinas. Excuse me, pero sila ang nagmukhang tanga ano. Dahil sa reaksiyon ng Pilipino community, para tuloy totoo yung sinabi ni Teri Hatcher.
Dapat tinawanan lang siya kasi pinakikita ng scriptwriter na wala siyang alam tungkol sa edukasyon sa Pilipinas.

Priestly Fascists, Fascist Martyrs

This is a reaction to Lito Zulueta’s article on the beatification of martyred Spanish priests which accepts at face value claims of religious persecution by the enemies of democratic reform and revolutionary change (Inquirer, 10-20-07, pp.1, 4). I take exception to four fallacious claims that underpin Zulueta’s article, namely: (1) that the priests were martyred for their religious beliefs; (2) that the Spanish republic was overwhelmingly communist and anti-religious; (3) that the republican cause failed to win international support outside the Soviet Union and Mexico due to the Western countries’ disapproval of republican atrocities; and (4) that the beatification of priests slain by secularist republicans redresses the imbalance in popular historical accounts that unduly eulogize heroes of the republican side.

First, the church’s claims of persecution should be regarded with skepticism given its historical partnership with the ruling classes and its record of hostility to reforms such as the use of science as a cognitive tool independent of theology, universal suffrage, secularization and recognition of women’s rights. Vatican’s cordial relationship with the fascist regimes during their rise to power, the Spanish Civil War and the subsequent world war also leaves no doubt on the question regarding the side on which it had staked its earthly destiny. Fearful of both liberal democracy and socialism, the institutional church gave its implicit support to the fascists in Italy, Spain, Germany and Croatia, wherein right-wing Catholic clergymen engaged in pogroms that killed over half a million Orthodox Christian Serbs, Jews, Gypsies and leftists, facts meticulously documented in Avro Manhattan’s “The Vatican’s Holocaust” (http://www.reformation.org/holocaus.html) and John Cornwell’s “Hitler’s Pope” (Penguin Books, 1999).

Second, the government that ruled Spain from 1936 to 1939 was a coalition of liberals, communists and socialists; it was installed not just by popular elections but also by workers’ and farmers’ movements of varying leftist tendencies that contributed much to the loosening of autocracy and formation of grassroots democracy in Spain through their organizing efforts. Far from being communist-oriented, the coalition government favored gradualist class-conciliatory reforms over and against the inclination of the more militant workers towards taking over and collectively operating agricultural and industrial enterprises owned by despotic landlords and capitalists. Substantive accounts of the Spanish Civil War that verify this fact could be found in Anthony Beevor’s “The Spanish Civil War” (London: Cassell, 2001), Ronald Fraser’s “Blood of Spain: An Oral History of the Spanish Civil War” (Pantheon, 1979) and Noam Chomsky’s “Objectivity and Liberal Scholarship”. Despite their divergent political perspectives, these studies confirm the varied range of class interests in the republic’s constituency and the enormity of the opposition that the republic confronted in the more cohesive alliance between the Spanish ruling elite and its foreign patrons Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy.

Third, the major western powers were as culpable as the FALANGE, the Spanish counterpart of the fascist parties of Germany and Italy, for the crushing of democracy in Spain and the global ascent of fascism during the second quarter of the 20th century. For the western capitalist countries as well as for the fascist states, corporate welfare supersedes human rights if and when challenged by nascent social movements and regimes that heed popular demands for asset redistribution, public control of enterprises, socialized services and workplace democracy. The U.S.A. and Britain aided the Falangists by blocking international aid and sale of arms to the besieged republic and allowing Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy to win the war for the Falangists through the delivery of warplanes, tanks, guns and ammo on credit. France not only closed its borders to pro-republic volunteers but also withheld from republican hands Spanish gold deposited in French banks, thereby forcing the republic to pay exorbitant prices for military hardware and to increase its reliance on the Soviet Union. While the U.S. government maintained a policy of neutrality vis-à-vis the civil war, U.S. firms such as Ford, GM and the Dupont-owned Atlas Company sold vehicles and aerial bombs to the Falangists, using Nazi Germany as a transshipment point to Spain. Thus, much of the aid garnered by the Republican Government consisted of arms purchased on cash from the Soviet Union, volunteers sent by leftist parties from Western countries, anti-war efforts on the part of solidarity organizations as well as protest strikes in armaments factories launched by left-wing workers’ organizations aimed at obstructing supply deliveries to Franco.

As for the atrocities attributed to the republicans, all these were dwarfed by the scale of slaughter perpetrated by the Falange. The Falangist General Queipo de Llano boasted of a ratio of 10 republicans killed for every Falange supporter killed. If the summary executions of republicans that continued after the war were included in the balance sheet, the figure of 200,000 victims would probably be a sound estimate that approximates the truth. Furthermore, the pattern of executions in Republican and Falange areas exhibited significant differences: While the republicans debated the ethics and expediency of killing captured enemies without a trial, the Falange and its allies systematically conducted a slaughter of surrendered soldiers and civilian supporters of the republic including parliament members, trade union leaders, intellectuals, teachers, doctors, and even government clerks. (Beevor, “The Spanish Civil War”, Chapter 7)

Fourth, the plea for a rectification of skewed accounts that portray the church’s role in the civil war in a bad light is fallaciously framed in terms of a conflict between freedom of religion and a godless social vision. The challenge that confronted the church in the Spanish civil war was primarily a secular one that involved either casting their stakes in a counter-revolutionary movement that promised earthly privileges to the clergy or defending a besieged democratic regime with a popular constituency that provided no such guarantees. Thus, the church’s invoking of religious faith as a justification for its political choices is a convenient ruse for exempting clerics and their political choices from public scrutiny and moral evaluation in worldly terms.

Moreover, absolving religious fanatics of their war crimes and bestowing sainthood upon them is a disservice to people who had devoted their lives to nobler causes such as the struggle for social justice, collective welfare and human development. The struggle for the aforementioned secular humanist values and goals constitutes a nobler cause, because their very nature renders them open to critical inquiry, public deliberation and renewal as opposed to religious sectarian causes that are ultimately self-referential and impervious to external criticism. Instead of magnifying the wrongs supposedly inflicted on the church by revolutionaries through beatification of martyrs beholden to elite interests, church leaders should engage in self-critical reflection on why they have often yielded to democratic reform only after having been shaken by revolutionary upheavals and internal dissent. Instead of demanding a privileged role in the public domain, the church should reflect on its penchant for silencing progressives within its fold and consider giving recognition to persons like the Salvadoran human rights defender Bishop Oscar Romero and the Colombian priest-guerrillero Camilo Torres who had cast their lot with the under classes and paid dearly with their own lives.

regarding mr de quiros snap election. if you have the money to spend for the snap election mr de quiros then let us do it. it is just a waste of money if the government will again spend for an election that has no loser but only cheated. why not wait for 2010 mr de quiros.

This comment is regarding the article “‘Cash gifts came from us’–league of governors” by Joel Guinto. How stupid does the LPP think people are? Do they really expect us to believe that their belated ‘fessing up and feigned indignation are enough to cover up this mess? (”If they don’t need the funds, they should return it,” Reyes told reporters at a Mandaluyong City hotel, on the side of an LPP meeting). I could almost hear Reyes sniffing, “Kung ayaw mo, ‘di huwag.”

Giving out millions of pesos in brown paper bags reeks of only one thing. So let’s call a spade a spade.

A word of advice to the LPP: Next time you try to pull something like this off, a little finesse. Feudalism is out, it’s the 21st century.

THE REAL LAME DUCK

…………. is Gen Hermogenes Esperon & those who follow him to the dot. It was obvious that the AFP tried to campaign for ” TEam Unity” to such extent if NOT ALL ALMOST EVERY GROUND COMMANDER even made a sample ballot to vote straight TEma Unity distributed to the EPs & soldiers. But the results showed HE-Gen Esperon cannot dictate upon his soldiers as easily as PGMA dictates on him. They decided even to make a Senator out of his current nemesis Sen Trillanes.
Without the support of the AFP, PGMA is
nothing.
When Speaker JDV used the Hello Garci issue ( thanks to
General Tirso Danga when he was ISAF Commander…. ) to coerce PGMA to agree initally to Charter Change but did not get the the General Public’s agreement, JDV drop it off because PGMA still has the backing of the entire Army…. oops …. the Lame Duck Team of General Esperon behind her.
That is why, Gen Esperon carefully chooses the ground commanders ensuring that they are in tune with his own thingking. Look at the qualifications of the ground Commanders, they rarely have battle experience and are mostly, the yes Maam yes Sir type.
Speaking of Gen Esperon, wasn’t it Jonas Burgos who threw tomatoes at Him in UP ??? Hmmm??? He may not be behind his sudden disappearance… it could be those other Lame Ducks, the Unqualified who got their 2-3 starts position or those aiming to have even just 1 star, to show their gratitude to him. Why else there are so many 1 star - 2-3 star GEnerals? Why else the like of Tirso Danga who couldn’t make it in his own field the Navy made it to 3 star in the Army??? If Wowowee were to field these kind of questions to contestants from the AFP, he will run short of questions as they will all be easily answered.

to former president joseph estrada, i dedicate the song of barbra streisand, “i finally found san juan”. welcome back. makajaya muna z jteng.

PARDON ME

Pardon me but to whom do we turn to when that the highest authority in the land had turned to state witness the only government official who have admitted corruption in the person of Chavit Singson to be used in prosecuting a former president for yet another case of corruption only to pardon him after conviction. Mrs Arroyo is obviously making a mockery of the peoples aspiration for a clean government. Her administration would dangerously leave a disgustful legacy of governance where the powerful could corrupts even the moral senses of its leaders who now turn a blind eye to what is happening and leave its helpless people choke on her lies.
We are indeed in a very unfortunate times, but worst is our failure to do something about it.

I like joey de venecia 111. he is smart, couragious, and very straight forward in speaking his mind. walang paligoy-ligoy unlike the gloria arroyo defenders who speak all lies nagka buhol-buhol na ang mga alibies sa kasinungalingan. he was not intimidated by the BACK OFF of jose pidal (mike arroyo) nor the death threats of Mendoza, Dapat, and Berroya. But instead the more JDV 111 will fight back. hindi katulad ng maraming senatongs, tongresmen and governatongs na nababahag ang buntot sa kapangyarihan ni gloria arroyo at silaw na silaw sa pera ng malacanang.
ituloy mo lang joey, your battle is also for the people and the country.

I used doubt people who writes negative things about GMA as I thought that she is doing her best to run a country where everybody has his opinion (democracy!). But her recent act of pardoning Estrada finally convinced that her administration is TOTALLY morally banckrupt and her acts are selfish and are solely driven by her desire to survive. Shame on her.

A brewing OFW revolt about the peso value?
It would be high time the OFWs become a bit more brave in fighting for the welfare of their families. And too, not swallowing the story of “not to control market forces” that pushes the peso. But most of all, not to believe the nonsense of a “strong peso”.
A strong peso would have a stronger purchase power, while the “strong peso” now loses purchase power every day. And most there, where imported goods are involved which should become cheaper in pesos when the peso becomes stronger. Most imports are done via dollars and therefore, imported goods should become cheaper in pesos. In reality, the complete contrary happens. Whether imported milk, iron, cement, foods, fruits or tools, etc., anything became much more expensive in pesos since the peso became “strong”.
What really happens? The dollar is weak, not the peso is strong. But it gives to the administration the opportunity to prematurely repay foreign loans with the cheap dollars of OFWs. And this should impress lenders for to grant more loans, re-payable by future administrations.
Now, the CB claims that there is an oversupply of dollars while demand is lower, therefore the rate goes down. And since OFWs will send more dollars during Christmas, there will be more oversupply and a lower rate. Means, the more dollars OFWs send, the less their families get for it.
There is the solution of not to remit for a while, but this hits their families first of all. The real solution is, to make accounts for their families and send other currencies, like those of where they work, Hongkong, Singapore, Saudia, Germany, Canada, etc. The families will receive their needed remittances, but there is no more dollar inflow. If possible, remitting direct in pesos would be the most effective remedy. This should remain until the rate is at least 50 to the dollar, even comparing the recent peso purchae power to the time of the 55 rate, the real value would be at least 60 or more.
With a more realistic rate, all would profit. OFWs, tourists, exporters, investors, even the government from more jobs and more taxes. No country ever boosted its economy with making exports, tourism, investing more expensive. And also not with more and more non-working days.
Even the USA consider now a furtser weakening of the dollar as a tool to solve the credit problems with lower rates and the exports with the cheaper dollar. It is very sure that the dollar will rebound and for sure, the Central Bank knows that, otherwise they would not buy billions of dollare while being sure that it will only create giganic losses. There has been a similar dollar crisis in the seventies and not long time later, banks made an exorbitant profit on the high dollars that they earier had bought cheap.
Let them do that again, but not in such devastating way than now. Malaysia pegged its Ringgit for a long time at the dollar, going up and down with the dollar, and this created a stability in calculating investments, tourism, made it a booming country where those Pinoys found and find jobe who did not find one in the “strong republic”. What is now the better way? Rising the peso and at the same time prices? It should not be very complicated to make a decision.

on erap’s pardon. the pardon granted to erap is a political move by president gma to appease the estrada camp and to divert the issues hounding her. it is a bad precedent and a mockery of our justice system. poor philippines always run by foolish leaders.

In my opinion, president Arroyo is right in granting executive clemency to former president Joseph Estrada. She said
categorically that she had to weigh
everything and had to study the cases
of the rulers of the world before she
arrived at her decision with the acquiescence of her counsels.

We need to read articles about South
Korea in granting executive clemency
to their former presidents-also found
guilty of corruption, bribery, plunder, etc.
and to the former executives of Daewoo
and that of Hyundai accused of economic
sabotage and a loss of taxpayers’ money
involving billions of dollars. Also we need
to understand the clemency granted to
former president Nixon by Gerard Ford as well as to Mr. Libby by president Bush.

The word “reconciliation” and not “discord”
must be embedded on the minds of the young Filipinos. This is the same word
being espoused by the churches in the
Philippines, a dominant christian country
in Asia.

i would like to support senator trillanes’ petition to call for a snap elections. where can i go to sign the petition?

I have been following with interest the investigation into the Glorietta Blast. The differing reports as to what caused the blast has disturbed me, since no one has claimed responsibility for the blast, and it appears that the conclusions are being steered towards the more improbable “industrial accident” angle.

I do not believe that the PNP is covering up the investigation, but rather the PNP has told the truth while being constrained to not be truthful. The truth told is that there is evidence of RDX in the crime scene; this has come from the police crime lab itself. However, the efforts to minimise what this evidence means are disingenious at the most, and laughable at the least.

RDX, as any research will show is a synthetic chemical and it’s only use over the last 100 years is as an explosive. In its pure state it is crystalline, It is also mixed with other chemicals to make high explosives, and by studying the mixture of chemicals in the explosives can the origin and even manufacturer be known. Since it is synthetic, I seriously doubt it can be found in naturally occuring substances like methane (which is a gas) or diesel fuel (an unlikely fuel additive, God forbid, unless this is some crank’s idea of boosting the power of an engine). I even seriously doubt whether there is enough intelligent life in the “pozzo negro” to synthesise RDX, let alone find a way of detonating it.

By the way, RDX and the associated explosive mixtures in which it can be found, are very stable substances and will not explode unless acted upon with violent shock as from a detonator. It will not explode if exposed to heat or flame - it will merely burn. So, the known properties of RDX points to the improbablity of the methane-diesel theory, and leads us to something darker than that of the pozzo nego itself.

It would be essential to find traces of not just RDX but other chemicals at the blast site. It will also be important to know if methane and diesel oil has been found in significant quantities in the blast site. And while the lab people work their wonders, others could also work out how much force/overpressure was necessary to do the damage to the structure itself. And based on this, it would be a simple matter of comparing this overpressure with the known pressure wave qualities associated with RDX based explosives.

Also, I believe that there is confusion (whether this was done deliberately, or by error) in the claim that RDX is also found in common products like cosmetics or rubber products. RDX belongs to a class of organic chemicals called nitroamines which are explsove compunds. This is very different from another class of organic chemicals called nitrosamines which can be found in foodstuff, cosmetics and rubber products. Either the police got their research incorrect, or the subsequent statements made to the public are crafty attempts to confuse and mislead the public

I think the police had said the truth - it requires intelligent people, like the Filipino people to understand what it means. In this day and age where information is more readily available to the public (much of the information regarding RDX I read from Wikipedia!), it is foolhardy to try to lie outright to an informed public, unless the police had been given no other alternative.

Your article, “Air pollution kills nearly 5,000 Metro residents yearly By TJ Burgonio” was certainly eye opening. After having spent 2 months in Metro Manila, specifically in Pasig City and Ortigas I can say unequivocally that the air pollution I experienced along Ortigas Ave. is some of the worst I’ve ever seen. Although our commute was a mere 1-2 miles it sometimes would take 1+ to 1.5 hours, buried in bumper to bumper traffic. Jeepney’s, fx taxi’s, private vehicles, buses and motor cycles were all contributors to excessive ground level air pollution. When exiting a mall or building one could notice right away the distinct odor of diesel and other air borne particulates.
An obvious solution, esp. on Ortigas Ave. and other heavy polluted arteries would be to build more trains such as the MRT and LRT and limiting vehicle traffic altogether.
If the govt. is spending 1.5 billion on treating health issues related to continued pollution, maybe it could afford to spend more on creating a healthy and sustainable infrastructure for the people of Manila?

On estrada magic. poor souls worshipping the devil. fools. many people continues to be fooled by the devil and many more including the many in the opposition and even in the church. woe to you who worship the devil.

The Defacing of The Press Freedom Mural in NPC

“The Law Concerning Art Preservation and Artists’ Rights” in America states that no person, with the exception of the artist, has a right to deface or alter a work of fine art.

”Droit morale,” a legal concept meaning ”moral rights” is the cornerstone of the law. In this case, ‘droit morale’ is the concept that art work is more than a commercial product.

An artist’s reputation and career is dependent upon the works of art he or she creates. Each work of art has the artist’s signature on it, literally and figuratively.

The droit morale essentially says the owner of a work of art does not have the right to alter, deface or destroy the work of art.

The work of art is something that belongs to society as a whole.

The Nobel Peace Prize 2008

We respectfully propose to The Norwegian Nobel Committee to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2008, in alphabetical order, to Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Joseph “Erap” Ejercito Estrada and Ronaldo Puno for their efforts to create peace and national reconciliation in the Republic of the Philippines.The three nominees have worked hard to establish a political democratic atmosphere and firm respect for majesty of the Law (following the dictum of “justice delayed is justice denied”)

For the past decade, the conflict the “Pro Erap” forces, the “masa” and the “Pro Gloria” (the ruling elite), has been among the most irreconcilable and menacing in Philippine politics. The parties have caused each other great suffering.

By negotiating the The Presidential Pardon For Erap , and subsequently following it up with the quick pardon after six (6) weeks from the conviction of Erap by the Sandigan Bayan, Arroyo,Estrada and Puno have made substantial contributions to a historic process through which peace and cooperation can replace a bitter political feud and possibly a dangerous civil war and hate among Filipinos.

In his 1895 will, Alfred Nobel wrote that the Peace Prize could be awarded to the person who, in the preceding year, “shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations”.

The proposed award of the Nobel Peace Prize for 2008 to Arroyo, Puno and Estrada is intended to honor a political act which called for great courage on both sides, and which has opened up opportunities for a new development towards fraternity in the Philippines.

It is our hope that the Committee will give the award to these great Filipinos to serve as an encouragement to all the Filipinos of different political persuasions who are working to establish lasting peace in this important country in the strategic ASEAN region.

The Profiles of the Proposed Nobel Peace Prize Awards for 2008

1) President Gloria Arroyo: She has declared the Philippines as the most democratic country in our region. “We have no tolerance for human rights violations at home or abroad.” GMA Speech in the UN General Assembly;Sept.28,2007

2)Ex- President Joseph Estrada:He served more than six years in detention — six years and six months to be exact. First in an air-conditioned suite at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City, and then at his own well-appointed rest house in Tanay town, outside Manila .

3)Secretary Ronaldo Puno :The Peacemaker between President Gloria Arroyo and President Joseph Estrada. He is arguably one of the most successful campaign managers in Philippine politics. He supported the presidential bids of eventual winners Ferdinand Marcos,Fidel Ramos,Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Re: Call center agents seek recognition

On those rare occurrences when I needed tech support my blood pressure and level of frustration go up a notch or two. An exception occurred today when I contacted Verizon DSL tech support and my call was routed to a call center in Makati. I was just floored by the technical skill, English fluency, and politeness of the responder. Not only was she was an excellent service provider but she is also a “kabayan.” As we applaud in the US Navy - Bravo Zulu!

Ernie Nucup
Hampton, VA

GMA pardons Erap
By Karib J. Muhalli

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Oct. 16 exonerated former President Josep “Erap” Ejercito Estrada, who is convicted of plunder for receiving of and aggrandizing himself in Jueting (illegal gambling) payola.

By giving executive clemency to Estrada— from whom she had taken over the three-year-remaining presidency in 2001 through People Power II, a peaceful revolution— by now GMA is trying to prove that she is determined in pursuing her reconciliation program amid scourging scams of the multi-million ZTE broadband deal allegedly implicating her and her husband in the kickback taking motive, and the Malacañang cash bonanza bribe for solons to rally supports for the Palace’s bid for Charter Change roadmap in 2012, a proposed trans-government from presidential to parliamentary form.

But the presidential pardon due to ex-president Estrada after serving his sentence more than 6 years cutting his life imprisonment for plunder raised eyebrows among his detractors and opponents one of them is Luis “Chavit” Singson. Chavit— a principal witness to the plunder case which paved way to expulsion of Erap as the country’s President and put him in jail— had been his best gambling mate some quite years ago.

In his hometown, San Juan City, Erap, in his euphoric message before the beaming countrymen, thanked GMA for the clemency. He said he could now devote most of his times to care for his ailing mother Doña Mary Ejercito, 102, who is still confined due to old age in the Medical Center of that City.

Promising not to indulge himself again in “dirty politics”, Erap even cleared his conscience and reputation that he never squandered public fund. That’s why he need not apologize to the public, for he is just the victim of unfair justice.

As a free man now he is poised to help the country’s sagging economy keep upright and his countrymen’s worsening situation due to abject poverty set forward, as GMA is tapping him to lead the anti-poverty program. Throughout his career stint as movie actor-turned politician-now civilian, he has been known as pro-poor.

Their showing of optimistic gist is worthwhile that the Filipinos can emulate that despite differences in political or sectoral leanings we have to move and work for the altruistic and heroic causes under “one flag, one country”, if we are to cope with the neighboring countries’ booming development for decades. But this does not simply mean the looming political controversies are over. The Laws are there to bring the convicts to justice.

To be frank, Erap has been mocked as under-qualified and cowboy President of the Republic of the Philippines, perhaps, being a mere dropped-out engineering student from the Ateneo de Manila University, comparing him with the other RP’s Presidents like late Pres. Ferdinand “Macoy” E. Marcos, a number one BAR top-notch; Pres. Corazon “Cory” C. Aquino, a homemaker but a Mathematics graduate at Mount St. Vincent College in New York; Pres. Fidel V. Ramos, a military Guru from the West Point in USA; and the present Pres. Gloria “Ate Glo” Macapagal-Arroyo, an economic scientist graduate at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

Few boastful are even ashamed to claim Erap as their President, thereby undermining his very instinctive attribute as champion of the Filipino hoi polloi.

Yet, neither they nor Erap is smart, so to speak exclusively of their regime’s economic performance and political stability since more than thirty years today.

In fact, the brightest of them all is Macoy, who implemented the 1972 Martial Law, a curb to the writ of habeas corpus; but like Erap, he is also publicly charged with millions worth of ill-gotten wealth and laundered money, ousted from presidency and exiled to Honolulu, Hawaii, thanks to the People Power I or Edsa I.

Cognizant of the recurrent crises, we believe that the intense backing of Ramos elite group, along with military columns and Churchmen movement to empower the protesting people is the main factor that will ultimately add pressure for callous GMA to vacate her most-coveted Post.

This time is for the real Edsa III with Ramos, once Marcos’ Martial Law think-tank, will again lead— that’s if he wishes too.

The mislabeled Edsa III of Estrada’s mass supporters failed due to reluctant support of the said key group to drive out GMA in 2002.

The same is true with the Oakwood mutiny staged by a handful number of military junior officers called Magdalo renegades exposing the military mal-practices of Arroyo Administration in 2003, and the people uprising to unseat GMA in 2005 at the height of the alleged “Hello Garci” voice-taped scandal framing GMA of vote switching over close rival Fernando Poe Jr. in the presidential elections were also a futile attempts.

Will the demolition-revolution man— Apo Ramos— forsake GMA as a “sacrificial lamb” just to save the whole entity of Lakas (People Power Party), a mainstream political party in the country he has started and established?

Ate Glo is either to be castigated with, or she is to escape from the same fate, a political impasse her predecessor Estrada and late strongman Marcos sadly and penitently experienced.

May I know where I could contact Mr. Antonio Labios? My mother is a Labios and originated from Penaranda Nueva Ecija.. Only a few Labios nowadays, probably our relatives… just finding out po.

The ABS-CBN caption of seeking donations to the Filipino victims of the recent Southern California conflagration is again a corruption from within the ranks and file of the entire ABS-CBN network. Can you imagine that it was printed in the US media that there were no Filipinos that were part of this fire, maybe ABS-CBN, through Noli de Castro again, who conceived the Bantay Bata revenue gathering was somewhat suspicious tolerated by Malacanang. Why does the Lopez clan not investigate before barking on the wrong tree. Maybe they are collecting back the monies they gave away from Wowowee!

on u.p. handling of fraternity hazing. not only on the violence in fraternities but also this state university is the product of corrupt officials of our country and rebels. if they are in the government they enriched themselves and if they are not in the government they are rebels. both are destroyers of our country. please wake up mga intelligent kuno. fools.

I think this little girls death is a real tragedy. If the governmement wasn’t so corrupt and the politicians so greedy maybe there would be enough money to help the poor.
Why should her family have to pay for transportation to school or for school projects.
So you can fill your pockets.

PicturesinMail
I used doubt people who writes negative things about GMA as I thought that she is doing her best to run a country where everybody has his opinion (democracy!). But her recent act of pardoning Estrada finally convinced that her administration is TOTALLY morally banckrupt and her acts are selfish and are solely driven by her desire to survive. Shame on her.

______________________
Yeah, Shame on her! The only reason Gloria Arroyo, Pardon Erap. Because she know that Erap is not guilty of any wrong doing. Its been proven in court that Erap is not Jose Verlarde, Its been proven in court that Erap didn’t steal the tabaco taxes, Nor sell the stock on bell share!

They convict Erap on jueting money. Shame on them. Iyon juenting money ba ay government money? NOOOOOOOOO! The only reason these corrupt judges of Gloria Arroyo, Convict him because this is the only way they can protect Gloria Arroyo, From her stolen power. Is not only that she stole her title from the duly elected President Joseph Estrada, But she stole it again in May 10, 2004. Presidential election from Fernando Poe, Jr. And we all know it too.

Gloria Arroyo, Chavit Singson, And the rest of her croonies the one should be in jail because there is solid evidence against them. But, That well never happen because Gloria Arroyo, Control the entire corrupt justice system.

She have plenty of money to buy off all her cronies to keep protecting her ass. And thats the taxepayer’s money, And the money she’s getting from the U.S. GOVERNMENT. SHE BEEN GIVEN AWAY TO KEEP HER IN POWER.

On Gwen Walking Out…

It’s nice to see that a public official shows how she stands on moral issues affecting the general populace, especially the children in particular. I applaud Gov Gwen on her walking out of the lewd show in a beauty contest if only to uphold what common sense dictates us to do. It is this kind of direct, immediate, unambiguous show of moral leadership that we must see in our elected officials. Is President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo listening?

Domingo Litong
Katy, Texas

I just read that ALI posted a 41% 9-month growth. Good for ALI, but, I wonder how is the number going to come out after the G2 blast.
It was very unfortunate ALI was one among the victims in the tragic event which killed 11 and wounded more than a hundred people on that fateful day.
Regardless of the cause of the blast, it is better for ALI to offer reasonable compensation to the victim’s families. Concern and care to clients are what makes ALI make sense based on the 41% 9-month growth. People will find it hard to forget the tragedy but neither will they ever forget how ALI conducted itself in dealing with the victims.

A prelude to martial law? Walang kukurap
by Bobbit Mariano

A day after Congress dumped the impeachment complaint filed against President Arroyo for the second time last Monday (11/12/07) the South Wing of Batasan Pambansa complex located in Batasan Hills Quezon City was bombed killing Basilan Representative Wahab Akbar and two more people.
The Inquirer frontage reported two other lawmakers and five more persons were also hurt in the explosion, just minutes after the House adjourned its plenary session a little past 8 pm.
The blast was pictured as a reminder to a recent explosion in Glorietta 2 in Makati City, also killing a number of shoppers. Still police investigators were puzzled on who are the culprits behind the Batasan blast? Rep. Roilo Golez, a former security adviser immediately said that it is difficult to speculate who was responsible for the bombings.
Of course, the blogs will also refrain in making any wild guess on who is the master mind either, but we can only learn of a similar incident of a random bombings happened in Metro Manila in l971. It will be recalled that during the Marcos regime, a series of explosions had occurred in Manila set by government agents provocateurs.
As the Batasan bombings was liken to Glorietta malls that destroyed properties, it also refresh our memories in a event, where a grenade was exploded in Plaza Miranda in Manila during an opposition Liberal Party rally on August 21, 1971, killing nine people and wounding 100 people (eight of the wounded were Liberal Party candidates for the Senate including Jovito Salonga).
Marcos blamed leftists in that incidents and suspended habeas corpus, which became a prelude to martial law. Bombing evidence subsequently pointed to government involvement.
A close analysis of a series of those incidents also reminded this blogger of a ‘Watergate Scandal’ started in l972 when The Washington Post thru their Reporter Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein reported the illegal activities authorized and carried out by former US President Richard Nixon (Republican).
The Post also revealed the immense scope of crimes and abuses by Nixon’s Oval office, which included campaign fraud, political espionage and sabotage, illegal break-ins, wiretapping on a massive scale, including the wiretapping of the press and American citizens, and a secret slush fund laundered in Mexico to pay those who conducted these operations. This secret fund was also used as hush money to buy silence of the seven men who were indicted for the June 17 break-in.
President Nixon and his staff conspired to cover up the break-in or burglary at the Watergate complex in Washington D.C.
Similarly, the Arroyo administration has tried to cover-up the ZTE Broadband scam and other anomalies during the past weeks, and that she refuses to resign to her post like what Nixon did. Who holds the destabilization and cover-up script anyway? Malacanang Office, the opposition, coup plotters or other elements?
Right before our eyes is a national dramatic event similar to the plot of Watergate scandal movie. We already know some of the main characters, but we don’t know who are the script directors and the real mastermind as depicted in suspense thriller. Hold on to your seat especially in the following days, as some concerned citizens even called on for snap election within 60 days. Walang kukurap.

Gov Ed Panliliio being charge of accepting bribe by some group of lawyers. The same group who ask the SC to stop the hello garci case. Group led by Mariano Santiago,everyone knows what kind of as..ho.. is this lawyer. Sobra na yata yan,ginawgawa ninyong walang alam ang bayan. GMA may umeebak na sa frontyard mo hindi mo daw alam. GISING BAYAN.

regarding the filing of charges of the trial lawyers association of the philippines to the whistle blowers. it is just right for the tlap to file raps against the whistle blowers in order to avoid briberies in the future. the givers as well as the takers should be punished not just to find where the money came from but to once and for all stop this practice in the future. i just hope that this case will not just punished the giver but also the takers. i will be monitoring this case so that i can say that you really is serious in punishing them or just politicking to glorify the whistle blowers and punishing the giver.

Regarding the use of blinkers and sirene which is normally for emergency purpose, whether legally or illegally installed. Last Sunday,November 11, 2007, at 6:00PM along EDSA approaching Taft Ave. coming from Roxas Blvd; a huge Ford Expedition with Pate No.ATP-678, with Red-White-Blue blinkers flashing in front and Wang-Wang wailing, tailing behind me trying to push their way through the thick traffic at that time. The normal instinct told me to pull to the side to allow the emergency vehicle to pass. As I pulled to the side, the “IN Distress” Expedition passed; and I noted that the Expedition had a trailler attched to its rear with 2 Jetski on it; and an escort, a Ford Everest, with plate no. XNK-534, also fully equiped with blinkers and Wang-Wang, trailling the Expedition. I told myself that I should not have allowed the abusive Expedition to pass ans rush the 2 SICK Jetski to the garage. I hope some Enforcer can help locate the Abusive VIP, and confiscate the illegally installed Flashers and Wang-Wang.

It was suspiciously easy for PNP to “trace” bombers of the Congress 2 days after it happened while they have no clear indications on what really happened at Glorietta. What is happening?

1324 Mass in Pangasinan

Odoric Mattiusi (or Mattiuzzi) a.k.a. Odoric of Pordenone, in Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, northeastern Italy, was a Franciscan priest who traveled to the east about 1316-18 and returned to Italy sometime around 1329-30. (There is a lengthy Wikipedia article on him at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odoric_of_Pordenone).

Upon his return to Italy he went to Padua where he narrated the story of his travels to Friar William of Solagna who wrote it down in Latin. This was first published in 1513. There are 73 extant manuscripts in Latin, French and Italian. The oldest surviving manuscript is conserved at Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris. The first English translation was by Richard Hakluyt in Principal Navigations (1599), ii. 39-67.

I can’t find an honest-to-goodness explanation of the Pangasinan claim outside of fragmentary references to unspecified assertions similar to this one from FilipinoForum.Net at http://www.filipinoforum.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=21530&sid=94889333f14f3176dbe12b599d99d39f which asserts:

The first time Christmas celebrated on the Philippine Islands was - according to historical records - between 1280 and 1320. That was about 200 years before Magellan discovered this group of islands. On a 25th of December in this time Brother Odoric - a monk of the Franciscan Order from the Italian town Perdenone - held the first Christmas mass, a “Misa de Gallo”. This mass took place on a stretch of coast at Pangasinan which belongs to the Filipino island Luzon.

The notion Odoric came to Pangasinan was based on the name Thalamasim which is mentioned in some of the longer versions of Odoric’s story usually together with “Sumatra, Java, Thalamasin and Champa.” Why should Thalamasin be Pangasinan? It seems Odoric states “salt” (asin) was a product of the island therefore Thalamasin must be Pangasinan which is famous for its “asin.” (The English translation of Odoric’s account by Henry Yule, Cathay and the Way Thither, 1915, is published at http://dsr.nii.ac.jp/toyobunko/III-2-F-b-2/V-1/page/0299.html.ja).

Let me quote William H. Scott:

“Between the section describing Java and the one on Champa, he [Odoric] gives an account of a strange land called Thalamasin, which is ‘near’ these latter places–but then, tantalizingly, he next describes the Andaman and Nicobar Islands ‘to the south’ and Ceylon as if they were en route to the next point, which is China. He tells us little about the customs of the place save that the natives use blow-guns and carry little stones as a kind of anting-anting in battle and even implant them under the skin of youths as a lifetime protection, but he is understandably excited about such exotic tropical plants as sago and bamboo–trees that produce bread, honey or poison, and canes ‘a mile long’ that can be made into houses, sails and a variety of useful products.

“It is possible that these observations were made in the Philippines–but not likely. The west coast of Borneo is on the direct route between Java and Champa, and it would seem strange, moreover, that such long voyages as the direct Java-Philippines or Philippines-Champa passages should by-pass the intermediate trading ports mentioned in Chinese accounts of the period. Moreover, none of these details are mentioned in the longer Philippine description by Friar Odoric’s younger contemporary, Wang Tayuan. But if there is a possibility that Friar Odoric actually set foot on Philippine soil, there is no reason to think that he baptized anybody or celebrated mass two centuries before Magellan’s arrival–there is no reason even to think that he was a priest.” (Pp. 81-82, Prehispanic Source Materials for the Study of Philippine History, Revised Edition, 1984)

Odoric’s account doesn’t mention a mass at Thalamasim or baptizing anyone there. These events are in the realm of fantasy.

An open letter to GMA 7:

I know this letter may stand up like a sore thumb, as letters here are more about politics but I have been trying to “catch” the attention of anyone connected to channel 7 to air my observations but I was unsuccessful; so here I am.

I am an avid fan of the various TV series shown daily on channel 7; I rarely miss an episode even amidst my busy schedule, but I have noticed that the shows are getting more and more violent.
Characters in the stories, shout at one another, slap each another, shove each other, pull hairs, just to stress a point; family members plot to kill each other, or even commit the act; etc.

Amidst this scenario, what do you think would be the message that we are trying to “teach” our youth?…that we can resort to slapping a person to correct her? that we are allowed to shout at each other ? be physically abusive instead of settling our differences in a civilized manner?

The media is a powerful tool of “teaching.”
Teens pick up quickly what they constantly see and observe around them, especially if not closely guided (which is mostly the case nowadays as both parents are working) by elders. There was one time I saw a kid, pull the hair of one of her playmates, laugh and then say : ” I am ______” . She mentioned one of the villains in one of the TV series, and that was the spark that prompted me to write this letter. A kid imitating the violence she saw on TV and being proud of it.

I agree that an intriguing plot would make the series a hit, but I know a creative and good writer and director can create a storyline which is intriguing and exciting but at the same time - not violent.

I appeal to GMA7, the scriptwriters, directors, people who are concerned - to kindly take note of this suggestion. What is a hit TV series if in the process , we lost the “essential core” of our youth? We cannot deny the fact that media has a very significant role in nation building. I hope we take this responsibility seriously and conscientiously.

I thank The Inquirer for opening this section, and for allowing comments such as this ( observations about their very own GMA 7) to be read. I am thankful the freedom of speech is still in place. Kudos to you!

Sincerely yours,
Gie Gaces
Angeles City,Pampanga

To Whom It May Concern:

I wrote an open letter earlier today about observations of shows on Channel 7, but it is no longer there. May I know why it has been deleted? It takes a noble man to be able to read and accept constructive criticisms about himself. which was the purpose of my letter. I know Channel 7 and The Inquirer are one, that is precisely why I came here to express my sentiments. May I know why my letter was deleted?

Thank you and God bless.

Gie Gaces
Angeles City, Pampanga

Oh, the article is there now. Okay, I apologize. More power to The Inquirer for coming up with this section.

Just read “What’s Inside Those Balikbayan Boxes” by Jocelyn Uy (11/15/2007). Maybe a story needs to be written about the security of the Freight Forwarding Companies. I’ll will try them…as I’ve tried other companies and boxes arrived very cleverly “looted” before their delivery. The end result is “finger pointing” here and on the Philippine end. It’s sad. Would use one company and several shipments make it through ok…then the shipments get looted. Change company’s and the same happens. We’ve stopped sending B. Boxes because of this….what’s the point when your boxes get looted…we just send money now. But…PNB as started a new forwarding service, so maybe will try them once and see what happens.
Thanks, Jim

PESO POWER.

Hi.
Read recent articles about how there are record breaking remittances coming into the Philippines.
I agree with that article, but it’s no surprise….as relativesof OFW’s have mortgages, college tutitions, foods, car payments…etc….still to make. So…since the Peso is so “strong”….it takes MORE DOLLARS to make up the DEFICEIT amount from when the Peso was P50/$1. So that mortgate of P5000 and month is still P5000, but takes more than $100 to cover it. Haven’t heard about food prices going down…..and Jeepney fares are still rising. As my recollection…..”everyone” was happy with the Peso was 50 to 1. Doing the math…….How can someone with a coupla children there survive on minimum daily wage?
Thanks,
Jim

Regarding the planned sale of TRANSCO I would like to praise Senators Jamby Madrigal and Senator Aquilino Pimentel for calling the attention to a possible conflict of interest with the people involved. We have to ensure that we execute this transaction in the most equitable manner and guarantee the transparency of all the details before we create another private monopoly. Greed has to stop.

-= No troop movements in Northern, Central Luzon–officials =-

“Pan said checkpoints were put up at 11:50 a.m. to watch out for sympathetic soldiers, policemen, and civilians on their way to Makati City to join the group of Trillanes and Brigadier General Danilo Lim.”

The corrupt are taking away the FREEDOM of the people to FIGHT FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN just because they do not want to “hurt” their “best friend” while “she” still has the power.

Let’s see them taking her side when she is thrown into the losing side.

I am not partisan re: Makati siege but, it is imperative that Sen. Trillanes should be allowed to exercise his rights duty-bound for the people. We knew all along that his group is for the uphold of truth and justice. The Filipinos knew that morals in this Arroyo government is downright degrading thus as a citizen of this country I am supporting the good soldiers’ advocacy and I respect their ideals. I know in my heart, they are true Filipino soldiers who have stand their might for all of us. Let us not be numb on their pleas for the Arroyo government to step down. We all deserve to be free and live peacefully.

The media especially ABS CBN technical crew along with Trillanes, Guingona, Lim and Tobias deserve to be arrested. They are just sowing chaos, intrigues and disturbance. If they want to replace Pres. Arroyo, then just prepare and do it in 2010.

CURFEW IMPOSITION

This is an over reaction of the government. Whatever happened at the Peninsula does not merit curfew imposition because there wasn’t even any popular backing that happened. It just goes to show how scared a president we have and how desperate she wants to hold on to power.

To Jake, Rudy and Ispayder

Unlike Rudy, I live just seven kilometers away from the Senate. However, I agree with him in almost all his assessment (exept on Villar’s).

If you watched the senate investigation on ZTE and hear Escudero’s intriguing question he is like Cristry Fermin sowing intrigues without any basis or knowledge of time value of money and project management. I know time value of money when I was in high school.

If you hear Cayetano’s question “what are the government corporations that are losing money?” - he is a congressman for several terms and he does not know that?

Another example is Lacson, first he accused the businessman R.Romero as conduit of bribery, then the following day change it to a “victim”?

All of those stupid grandstanding are in the name of 2010 election. Rudy, you are lucky because you enjoy the taxes you paid. Me, I pay more taxes than Jake and Ispayder and those senators, but what I get? Traffic, rallies and today another chaos from Trillanes.

Months ago, I was able to listen in on Mr.Trillanes’ comments on what he would do when elected. I was amazed at his anwers. There was paucity of purpose, ideas and vision required of a leader. I just couldn’t understand how he got elected as a senator and now, how he dares to lead another destabilization. I am no great fan of President Arroyo, but at this point in time, who can be a better president? Let’s give her the benefit of the doubt. Don’t destabilize the government. Think of the people,esp. the poor and the ordinary citizens you are destabilizing.

I hope that the Church instead of meddling in politics, would be more prayerful. Prayers can move mountains. Remember the fall of the Berlin Wall?

on erap’s denial of involvement in the manila pen takeover. with the apprehension of 4 jeepney loads of erap symphatizers in manila that were paid 200 pesos accordingly, there is a possibility that erap was involved in the manila pen takeover. the authorities should look at this because erap has still billions of pesos that was withdrawn from his velarde account to finance these rallies. the authorities should also look at the campaign trail like visits of erap on many places in the metropolis and nueva ecija to consolidate their mass base prior to the takeover of manila pen. “kailan ba mawawala itong mga demonyo sa ating lipunan. mga pulitikong corrupt pati na ang mga govenment officials na mga magnanakaw”

the church should really stay away from the activities of the government. Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales should stick to the church’s business and so with Bishops Antonio Tobias of Novaliches and Bishop Emeritus Julio Labayen.. focus on the ever declining members of the catholic church and the many problems faced by the catholic faith. LEAVE THE POLITICS TO THE POLITICIANS..

No need for a lengthy lecture on CyberED. Everyone knows that any kind of CyberEd is better than NoEd.

The State of the Philippine Politics is indeed in bad shape.

Take the case of the recent adventure of Trillanes and company. It is pathetic, tragic and almost comical.

Trillanes reminds me of the cartoon character, Wiley E. Coyote, who never cease to chase the Road Runner. Coyote will go to any extend to outrun the Road Runner to no avail.

And there are the dim-witted people behind him, who are like the proverbial Lemings followed their leader to their demise.

Now that they were all arrested, former Vice-President Teofilo Guingona asked the court to excuse him because of medical condition, Likewise former UP president Francisco Nemenzo requested that he be excused because of his age and health. What kind of a Baloney are these smart, educated people showing us. So how come they were able to join the “coup” and now could not attend to their date in court to answer for their stupid adventure.

The rest of the gang were left hanging in the wind. And yet the rest of the smart people in Congress will not even condemn this cowardly, stupid actions of a few disgruntled army officers and politicians.

It is just boggled my mind to think that all the smart oppositions, politicians, and army renegades and their rhetoric could not bring down a Lady Prsident.

The Pilipino people are just too tired to deal with all the shananigans of politicians and the rest of ablitious people who wouild like to be in power so they can savor the unbelievable benefits of the incumbency.

chito

On Punishing Trillanes

Senator Pimentel is against any form of punishment on coup plotter Trillanes for the Manila Pen Hotel incident. He, as well as Chiz Escudero, thinks the action taken by Trillanes is appropriate because he is denied of his rights to serve the 11 million people who voted him to the Senate.

It is this kind of cock-eyed sentiment that alienates the opposiiton from even the hardened anti administration. Just because Trillanes shares their advocacy to kick out GMA a moronic sense of reasoning is acceptable to them.

Any fair minded person who believes in the rule of law knows Trillanes has to clear himself first of the serious criminal charges before he can serve in the Senate. Having been elected to the Senate does not automatically declare him a free man. And if Trillanes has any doubt about his situation, he has the Supreme Court as his final recourse to let him serve in the Senate.

But whatever Trillanes’ politics may be, what he did at the Manila Pen must not be tolerated, let alone by a supposedly elected and responsible senate official. What he did only proves the point that this man is dangerous and with his messianic complex he will not stop at anything no matter what it costs so long as he can achieve his objective. As an elected senator, he has absolutely no regard for the rule of law.

Pimentel was quick to react that Trillanes cannot be expelled from the Senate for the Manila Pen incident because under the law he is innocent until proven guilty. Rightly so, but at the same breath Pimentel finds GMA guilty of the many allegations against her and wants her to resign because in his eyes she is guilty? No wonder Pimentel has lost the credibility that once made him publicly popular.

Just read article “Senator Wants Trillanes Expelled From Senate”, 12/01/2007 update. When politics rears its ugly head, it gives one a clearer view how ugly it really is in this country. i will limit my perspective on the politics of the present crop of senators, i can say that the rule of law and decency do not mean anything to them. While am not exactly a big fan of senator miriam, i have to favor her proposition to expel senator trillanes from the “august” halls of the senate.

to put it simply, senators are elected to office by “star-struck” voters empowering giving them with the mandate to propose, study and pass laws promoting and protecting the interests of the people in general ultimately. this mandate likewise comes with the supposition that these elected senators are intellectually and morally competent to accomplish the noble tasks of lawmaking. but sad to say we have senators who never grew up from their action star postures, senators who earn their paychecks by counting lizards in the ceiling maybe to allow their neck diamonds a glitter, and senators who rely on charisma alone feeling the electorate owes them a living.

sen trillanes, going by his credentials could have been “qualified” to the task of manufacturing laws, but, again, academic achievements do not spell everything of the person who has them. as history has revealed, the politicians who has had higher learning are the one’s who often think and act similar to the diabolical Maleficent in the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty. senator trillanes fell short of the moral and ethical requirement of propriety a public official is supposed to conduct himself.

it is interesting that senator pia cayetano would say that hearing on the misdemeanor of sen trillanes at this point is premature on account of the pendency of his cases being heard before the courts. aggravated by the statement of sen pimentel that trillanes should not be prejudged and shall be presumed innocent until proven guilty. and to cap it with sen villar saying that the senate must not be too hasty in disciplining an erring colleague.. God have mercy on the Philippines!!!!!

RES IPSA LOQUITOR!!!!!! the acts of sen trillanes spoke for itself!!! the peninsula hotel caper is not in any way related to the pending cases agaisnt him. it was totally a different act, a rebellion openly and willingly perpetrated.. again!!!!… walking out of the courtroom, openly waving bystanders to join his cause and holing up in a posh hotel to send message of political instability to resident foreigners therein. senator pia, pimentel, and villar, what more glaring fact do you need?!?!?!?!

it is always dangerous to treat a criminal with kid gloves. it gives his blackened mind that it pays to be an outlaw.

please be reminded of the fable The Frog and The Scorpion. the frog helped the scorpion cross the stream, the latter riding in his back. upon reaching the other side, the scorpion stung the frog. with the poison slowly killing the frog, it asked scorpion, “why did you bite me? i helped you.” the scorpion matter of factly said, “i can’t help it, its in my nature.”

Sen cayetano, pimentel and villar if you cannot get my drift then you should not be senators at all.

An Advice To Future Coup Plotters:

Before starting another coup, learn first how to shoot your way out.

Is Maria Ressa oblivious to the fact that certain reporters really served as shields for the rebels in the Makati stand-off? Whether their action was intentional or not, or whether those reporters are simply hostile to the government Ms, Ressa should have used her good judgment before making any statements against the police action.

Respect for the Rule of Law

The recent hoopla at the Manila Peninsula should teach us a lesson. Never trust anyone who uses the gun as a first resort to solve his problems. In a civil society, the use of guns in any situation is utterly unacceptable (not that I believe this, but this is how it is in civil society). I am someone who is known to have a really bad temper, many times I wish I could just cock a gun and shoot at the object of my rage. But then again, we are governed not only by the laws of man, but the laws of God as well. Thou shalt not kill says one of the Ten Commandments. But the outrage caused by Sen. Trillanes had me wishing that snipers just shoot at his head the moment it crops out of the hotel, amid arresting officers. I am really torn by my religious beliefs as well as my respect for civil societies laws on this one.

I am one of the stupid people who voted for Trillanes because I thought that it was better to take his fight to the proper channels than to the streets. He wanted the military to have a voice, we, the 11 million voters decided to give it to him. We are so tired of this country’s woes. We are tired of this country not being able to take off in the last 21 years as every time we begin to show signs of recovery, some cocky rightist group would launch an attack at the government, thus bringing us from one economic limbo to another. When will it ever end?! Sen. Trillanes has betrayed us, thank you very much!

I think the way the police and the military handled the situation was laudable. Some may say that bringing an APV into the hotel was an overkill, I say not. By showing to the world that they can and will do everything in their power to crush any group who are going to use the improper channel for their grievances like the streets. They have brought back the people’s confidence that any such activities to destabilize the government and the economy will be dealt with swiftly and decisively and that it will be business as usual.

I also applaud Sen. Villar for saying that the Senate is not interested in launching a senate inquiry on this one. He said: “Ang dami na niyang kaso, dadagdag lang kami … at dadagdag lang ito sa aming trabaho [He has a lot of cases. We will just be adding to what he is already facing and this will be an additional load for us],” Villar said. “I would rather we wait for the Supreme Court decision.” - From Inquirer 12/03/2007, article of Lira Dalangin-Fernandez.

He’s right, you know? We have institutions that are ready to work for us, if we are ready to build a strong case for it. Having the senate get involved in every issue that should be better left to the courts is a waste of taxpayer’s money.

As for the spoiled media crying foul for taking them into custody and being subjected to a clearance check, I think this is absolutely necessary. They have shown on tv how the mutineers were changing into civilian clothing and huddling with the crowd of media personnel to escape arrest when the going got tough. How can the police determine who’s who? Having media I.D.s are not assurances that they’re indeed not part of the rebel group as I.D.s can easily be manufactured. The news outfits should be the ones to send their personnel officer to clear their people.

True enough, the media were instrumental in the destruction of the facilities of the hotel. By reporting each and every tactical move of the camps they are reporting on, how could either camp act properly? They were reporting everything, from where the police are positioned, who was crawling where, etc. Thus there is no element of surprise anymore. The only way the military can gain the upper hand against the rebel group in the “fortress” was to barge in quickly with an APV and throw tear gas once inside.

Let the media do their job? Don’t get in their way? How about the media getting into the way of the police and military operations? And when the going got rough, they would ask the police/military to help them get out of tight spot that they got themselves into? I saw on TV how they shouted “sunduin niyo kami” (come pick us up). What gall! If you don’t want to get burned, don’t go into the burning house!

I have a friend who once told me, “you have to be part of the system to change the system.” Change does not come overnight. This is a long arduous road filled with traps and poisonous snakes. But if we are brave enough to bring the torch of truth and the sword of justice with us, we shall eventually overcome. Everyone has to fight the battle against corruption and decay in society. But then again, even Superman is bound by the laws of man. He couldn’t kill Lex Luthor even when if had so many opportunities to do so.

If we respect the rule of law, the law shall respect us. There is a place and a time for everything. Clearly, a posh hotel at the center of a busy business district is not the right venue. Let us all respect one another.

ABS CBN reporters and crew deserve to be punished along with Trillanes and others. They always find an excuse in serving the public, but I know pesonally that their real reason is their rating. My suggestion to them is rather than obstructing justice why not just change their format. Their news reporting is like a showbiz talk: full of intrigues but, nothing in substance. Very similar to Trillanes, they want stardom and viewers attention rather than real public service.

Advice to w.a. noche, before commenting on supposed “coup plotters” and reporters, make sure that the present administration is not filthy from corruption, cover-ups and abusive actions themselves.

Correction Lawrence See,

Your article should be “Respect for the Rule of the Corrupt”

Suddenly the media practitioners are in wild uproar. In total unison, they are hysterical because they did not think they deserved to be detained even for a minute, let alone cuffed with plastic cords. It did not matter if the cuffs were loosely fastened and in fact, for most of them, they can wriggle their hands out free. Seeing their hands cuffed is atrociously unacceptable enough, so they think. Some wildly raised their cuffed hands on TV for the world to see and observe how courageous they are. Police brutality they scream to high heavens. They are joined by the so-called human rights activists who are more leftist than anything else. Not to be outdone, the presidential wannabes in the Senate who are out to make pogi points for themselves are falling on top of each other calling for still another senate investigation for the alleged maltreatment of media. What better way is there to make media feel beholden and grateful to them and not to forget to make good write up about them in pursuit of their presidential ambition.

But in going around the many blogs of private citizens who wrote about the issue, how come there seems to be less sympathy for media and the defiant attitude that media has shown towards the police was not favorably received by them? Funny that most of the sympathies media got came from their own kind, but of course, who else will scratch their own backs.

Why is the public indifferent towards media? In this instance, against ABS-CBN, particularly its ANC people? That’s not a hard question to answer. ABS CBN is after all is not a big fan of GMA. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but any viewers of ANC will easily notice the spin its TV and radio hosts try to implant with the way it conducts its talk shows and interviews like the perennial familiar anti-GMA faces that grace its shows and the continually negative anti-admin statements from the show hosts that one unmistakably notice.

There are of course many pro-GMA as there are much more anti-GMA around the country. But more than this, there are many fair minded citizens who know what is fair commentary from what is not. Media is alive and well in this free wheeling democracy. But to be fair, a responsbile media must always be truthful and unbiased to its objectives and not give a different spin or slant to what the facts state. Not all those who listen or watch their shows are stupid.

Maria Ressa, for one, may shout press persecution as much as she wants but her voice will be like a voice in the wilderness that will not be heard by most of the citizens other than by the media brotherhood, the leftists as well as the opportunistic politicians who always know the advocacies to pursue if they will benefit them.

To Kabayan:

Arroyo government is not perfect. But, its not an excuse for Trillanes and others to launch a “coup”. If your accusation of corruption and cover ups are reasonable definitely I will join you.

Unfortunately, as I read them verbatim those charges will not hold in court. They are merely good for media and publicity and in preparation for 2010.

Trillanes? Not again! If he really wants to make a difference in solving the political problems in the Phil. he should go on hunger strike. Then, perhaps, he can gain sympathy from even the whole world. For now, he and the others are just plain nuisance.

Once proven guilty they should all be lined up against the wall; and, shoot them!

regarding ’senators to investigate the curfew’. these are the senators we elected in office. they will investigate the imposition of the curfew but not the terrorist senator who committed these foolishness. fools.

THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAD THE ‘BALLS’ to condemn TRILLANES’ action is a ‘WOMAN’ by the name of SEN MIRIAM SANTIAGO - and I admire her for this. I SUPPORT HER MOVE TO OUST TRILLANES from the senate. He’s a useless, trouble making SOB. The rest of the senators have no ‘balls’ let alone integrity to condemn the real perpetrator of this despicable act. They just turn around and blame it on GMA, and the police. Everything that happens in this country is all her fault. I’m not a fan of her after she pardoned the MONEY-HUNGRY ex president, but C”MON GUYS, GIVE HER A BREAK! PUT TRILLANES, GUINGONA and LIM Iin the penitentiary where they belong. They should rot in jail! I wonder how the family of these people feel. Do they really believe that they’re doing this for a good cause, or self-serving interest? I wonder if they go to church - what do they pray for? Examine your conscience, mga kababayan! How a convict was allowed to run for the senate and won - I DON”T UNDERSTAND. Did he really got all those votes. It’s hard to believe!

sabi ni guingona ‘hindi daw siya kasama nila trillanes sa manila pen’………

may kakambal ba siya……….

he..he….he……

I agree with you sayoni. Except for Miriam, all those senators (plus madrigal and cayetano) has no balls and ovaries, respectively. However, on those who will be arrested, please include the Makati Mayor Binay.

Jorgen423,

True, Arroyo government is not perfect, but the main problem is that it is blatantly corrupt too. Only someone who ignores the happenings in our society would be unable to see the corruption all around. One of the many incidents is, attempted bribery of Fr. Ed Panililio’s which resulted to him divulging the shadowy release of P 500,000 hard cash without a receipt is one. Other officials received money too, all happening within Malacanang “Palace”. Now the administration and her allies try to weave explanations. They are so confused on what to answer that they made 3 contradicting stories.

The Lanao and Maguindanao incident and the unresolved case of Musa Dimasidsing is one, dead because he was HONEST. I do not even want to go to the ZTE deal where cover-ups are being done in the halls of Congress through their Committee on Injustice. They had immunized Gloria and are raring to go with the next set of questionable loan/deals with China. Open your eyes.

In any case, soon it would not matter, our morally bereft society led by a morally bereft administration, minions and sycophants sooner or later will be held accountable whether they like it or not. Watch out for more man-made and natural calamities to come.

If the media people are claiming that the policemen did not do the right thing in handling the Manila Pen takeover, they should also tell the public how the policemen should have dealt with the situation.

Media practitioners are people who have to earn a living. They follow orders from their superiors just like military personnel would follow the same from their commanders.

When a clash of ideas and judgment calls come about, this can be traced back to the orders that people receive from their superiors who give the orders.

Let us stop blamming the media people and the police and instead point our fingers to those who are responsible for putting these poor souls in harms way.

Kabayan,

If I may add my two cents, I don’t think anyone is disputing the issue that this administration is deeply mired in corruption and scandals. But that does not give any self righteous messiah to take arms and bring down a constitutional government Trillanes, who joined the mainstream politics to become a responsible member of the Senate has in fact irresponsibly ignored the very law that put him there. Had he been successful, would he have succeeded in bringing back morality and good governance in government? There is no guarantee of that as we have seen in the failed Edsa 1 and 2.

As you have said this administration will be held accountable. Of course, it will. Perhaps not soon enough because impeachment will never work against a President that controls either the House or Senate, but the day of reckoning will come when the President steps down and loses the presidential immunity from suit. It happened to Erap it can happen to GMA too. Extra constitutional short cuts never worked for this country. Let the rule of law prevail.

Correction, pls read the line

But that does not give any self righteous messiah the right to take arms and bring down …

Delrey,

Monkey see monkey do, Gloria herself is emasculating, destroying, manipulating the Constitution of the Philippines not to mention being embroiled in corruption. The result, an unstable Philippines and constant internal problems not to mention natural calamities.

She wants these problems to stop? Change her ways and eradicate corruption starting from those nearest her, her allies and government officials. If she is unable to do this then she should expect more troubles in our society and expect that she would gain no sympathy from the great majority of the Filipino people. If unable to prioritize removal of corruption in the Philippines then she can save the worsening fate of the nation by a simple move - Resign and hold a snap presidential election.

KABAYAN,

why it is so easy for you to charge gloria of corruption, corruption and corruption.
what and where is your proof? you only read the news, hear the news and nothing else.
have you made an investigation, a year long investigation to substantiate your allegation. none. your mind is polluted. maybe you’re the one who is dishonest to charge somebody else like gloria without proof. as they say magnanakaw galit sa kapwa magnanakaw, maybe you are the one, who is.

don’t be biased, gloria is not accusing you of anything else and you’re accusing her.
are you a good family man? then if not, attend to your family first and not on gloria.

miron ba bang hindi corrupt sa ating goberno? mapa-administration or opposition they were all wearing the same color. tulad ng comments ng isa natin kababayan, good governance start from your owned home, kung ano ang ipikikita natin sa mga anak natin iyon ang mamanahin nila!! think about it kung yong tambay sa kanto nangingilkil, yong polis sa kalye nangungotong, yong employee sa goberno ayaw sumulat yong pen niya kasi walang padulas, yong media nanghihingi ng bribe sa(client) para ipalabas na siya itong totoo o itong totoong nangyari, yong mga Custom & BIR mababagsik yan, sa airport pa lang sasalubungin ka na ng katakot takot na pasalubong, lalo na kung marami kang baggages pagakakaguluhan ka ng mga tungaw, ano pa kaya ang maaasahan natin sa mga matataas na tao sa ating goberno? they were the big sharks taking the big shank in our coffers let’s go back with Erap noon inagurasyon niya ano bang sabi niya “walang kaibigan, kamag-anak, huwag ninyo akong subukan” ito ang deklarasyon ng isang mahusay na politician at aktor . akala ko siya na ang matagal nating hinihintay magpapasimula ng maayos pagpapalakad na goberno natin. pero anong ginagawa niya naglalasing at nagsusugal sa gabi mismo sa malakanyang, kaya sa umaga na dapat kinakausap iyong staff, yon tolog sa lasing at puyat. si jinggoy noong ilang eskandalo siya nainvolved, mayroon yong nanuntok ng walang kalalaban na MBA referee, nanigaw ng hotel staff kasi wala daw silang reserve rooms, ngayo tignan mo siya sa senado akala mo kung sinong itong matino o malinis. si among Ed ng Pampanga akala ng mga kapamapangan nakahukay sila ng ginto yon pala tanso din. ngayon meron ba tayong choice, tayo ang buboto sa mga taong ito!!! kawawa na naman si juan dela cruz siya pumapasan sa kross sa mga kasalanan natin…………….these are all my comments, give me yours I may be wrong. thanks…

I totally agree with you homeboy these people were the same people we elect, they were not after to the best interest of the country but for their own self interest, they knows media was very good place for exposure, kaya kanya kanya sila tawag ng sarili nilang press com.. tignan mo ang dami nilang dapat haraping importanting batas pero ito nag aabang ng magandang media exposure. ano ba ito? tama na, lets forget politics for a while until next election. remember yong mga pangako ninyo sa noong panahon ng eleksyon paglingkuran ang taong bayan sa abot ng inyong magandang hangarin patunayan ninyo yan, hindi yong makikitsismis sa kongreso at paguapo sa media. kung ito ang hanap mo punta ka sa barbershop ko maghapon tayong magbullshitan, I am open from 8am to 9pm. at kung pagaartista naman ang hanap mo, si Boy Abunda ay laging handa sa bagong talents. So guys before the last person who voted you lost interest, except the real suckers nakakasipsip sa ibabaw ng batok mo, prove it that you deserve their trust & they didn’t made the wrong choice.

Manuel Alvaro’s writeup about “Blaming the people for gov’t failure” which he wrote in contradiction to Justice Isagani Cruz’s column entitled, “A forgetful and forgiving people” just shows how immature some of us are. He alone is proof enough why corruption is endemic in our country. If we continue to think that our officials has a sense of “moral accountability” to the people to the point of us not mainly doing anything for these officials to realize that the people are watching their every move, then we are to expect that corruption will abound.
Filipinos, at least the majority of us, I think really deserve the country and officials that we have right now. The people should make sure that these so-called “elected officials” do their duties well, if some witness or hear graft and corruption everyone should mobilize and demand transparency, instead what do we do? we make funny text messages, we laugh it off, laughing off a problem is not bad at all, but if it’s for the nation, “Hello Garci”, the “NBN deal”, the Malacanang bribery, these are no laughing matter. We should at least make use of the media to demand transparency from the government. Yes, yes, yes. Some people go on strike and march to Malacanang. If you look at these people, these are old faces, ex- trapos who have an axe to grind against the gov’t, military-tagged leftist organizations that are always there in every rally against every gov’t. Where are the common-tao? where are the student body? Where are the professionals? These are the common-tao that needed to wake-up and be involved in vigilance against graft and corruption, against police and military abuses on the ordinary citizenry! If the people allow themselves to be involved in promoting good governance, then the gov’t will be more discreet in their “operations”, more refine in their “gift-giving”, more finesse in their actions. Unfortunately, the people’s inaction and unconcern against the everyday inaction and corruption of there officials breeds more corruption and inaction. Today, these official are too brazen in their “operations” that it becomes their normal way of life.
Today, Filipinos are so exposed to gov’t corruption that we actually don’t care anymore. Take for example the Malacanang bribery, governors and mayors “believe” that the money given away is not a bribe “considering that in every meeting in the past, Malacanang would shell out monies to these officials and so it has become a common practice” some officials said, a common practice is never considered a crime, and they leave with their conscience so clear they can even go to church the same day afterwards. The media talk about it, we hear about it in the news, but the topic dies a natural death. Do we hear the common people, a housewife, a neighbor, your employer, demand naything from the gov’t? None at all!! We go along our merry daily ways and enjoy the little comfort we have at home, and the last you thing you know, nothing happened! Because nobody cared!
Do you know what kind of people will be driven out of their houses if that happens in the US? Teachers, doctors, corporate employees would sound together the same alarm and they would let the gov’t know that they are watching, media will be brought in, and a few weeks later, heads start to roll! That’s what Filipinos need, but of course, their politicians are more refined and has what we call honor, ours don’t have that kind of breeding anymore, so sad!
That my friends, are some examples of the result of people’s inaction. We are victims of our own doing, and this will continue unless we all realize that as citizens of this wonderful country, we must act together and be vigilant in making sure that the officials we elect should have a sense of moral accountability.
There are still so many things to be written for Filipinos to really understand each and everyone’s role in the community we live in, in the country we serve, our history is a rich resource of this topic. The question is when are we going to learn? When are we going to act?

GMA: No mercy to Trillanes

Rarely do I agree with GMA’s politics but this is one instance that I am in full agreement.

i don’t understand why filipinos are so engrossed in politics.
politics of negativity and politics of blame.

wala na ngang itinutulong sa gobyerno, nag aakusa pa ng kung ano-ano, naninisi pa at ibinabandera pa na corrupt ang gobyerno. ni wala namang pruweba kundi haka haka lang.

remember what john f kennedy said ” do what you can do for your country and not what the country do for you”

ibig sabihin tumulong kayo at wag umasa sa gobyerno.

The country’s 20 years of debastation cannot heal overnight! Don’t expect a miracle..

SR Maureen insulted us

Why would this lady-of-the-cloth insist on extra-constitutional method of changing the president?
You cannot blame all the moral decadence and bankruptcy on GMA, because it is now the national culture, and who has more influence on culture than the catholic church who claims 95% of the population under their guidance?
I think it is the catholic church that should face the mirror and at last teach people basic truths; they have failed consistently on this.
Hey sister, foisting treason? Where are the virtues you are supposed to hold and uphold?
What are you doing to ease the grinding poverty? Of course inside the convent you have good food, etc. How about the poor who will bear the brunt of irresponsible actions of those who pretend to know better? You will only add misery to their miseries; you are not a servant of God; but of the devil!

Sen. Nene Pimentel defends Trillanes who claims there was no need to lob more tear gas canisters into the hotel because his group had decided to come out peacefully, adding that the rebels were worried about the safety of the civilians.

Pimentel must probably think people are either naive or stupid like him to believe that. No one in his right mind would barge into a hotel full of innocent people, accompanied by armed body guards, then call people to bring down the government while being shielded by a hysterical media.

If Trillanes truly represents the courageous messiah that he wants to project himself he should have gone to the the People Power monument instead so no one will be hurt. Or better yet he should have marched directly to the Senate to formally claim his seat. Oh, what a big dramatic event that would have been for the opposition seeing Pimentel, Lacson, Jinggoy, Villar, Peter, Chiz, Jamby, Loren manning the gates of the Senate, standing up with arms locked with each other. What a great picture op, a sight to behold indeed, seeing the presidential wannabes wheezing, coughing and crying in defiance of the PNP’s barrage of tear gas. And finally, the intrepid opposition senators being rounded up, handcuffed and brought to a far flung military camp never to be seen or heard again, and the human rightists marching to Mendiola later demanding the writ of amparo for the PNP-AFP to produce them.

But above all this, what great joy and relief for every one that would have been to have a senate free of boring self-centered, investigation crazy members who all want to be president in 2010.

Wouldn’t that be nice?

I am no GMA supporter but Fr. Reyes Peninsula caper is too much and he should be charged. Atty. Frank Chavez defense of his client is too elementary, it lacks finis and is an insult to all Filipinos who witness on their tv screens what happened in the Peninsula standoff.

hindi na ako nagtaka na napakagaling magsinungaling ng mga politiko dahil natutunan nila sa isang animo’y diktador ang ganitong uri ng gawi, dahil nga sa hangga’t di napapatunayan sa husgado, siya’y di nagkasala… at puwede rin namang mag sori.

hindi na rin ako nagtataka na kahit napatunayan ng mga nag-akusa, sa ngalan ng katarungan, ay di pa rin maamin dahil may kanya-kanya tayong pagkilala sa kung ano ang makatarungan. dahil di naman daw kabangyaman.

subalit ating pagmasdan ang gawi ng kanilang mga anak. dahil nga sa sobrang laki ng nakawyaman, nakaya pa nilang ngumiti sa ating harapan. para bagang ang kasalanan, kung mayroon man, ay nagtatapos sa mga kadahilanan.

KAPALMUKHA pala ang naituro sa kanila ng kanilang mga magulang. iyan ang di ko maintindihan sapagkat hindi ba ang dapat natin ituro sa ating mga anak ay ang pag-arok sa kanilang kalooban? na may masama, mabuti at konsensiya?

kaya sa susunod na ang mga anak mila’y ating masilayan… ating padmasdan, suriin, at ipangaral sa ating kabataan, mga anak at kaibigan na wag silang tularan. dahil kung ito’y di mapigilan, ang kulturang pilipino ay magiging kultura ng kasinungalingan.

kaya lagi nating sabihin na sa tuwing sila’y ating makita, “Ang Galing niya/nila! mga bulaang tumitingin sa mata!”

For nation’s sake resign?

Arroyo must step down, Fr. Sabado? It is between God and Arroyo. And it is in the same manner that God wants to talk to each one of us on a more personal basis. God is the only One Who allows the proud to be humbled and He is the only one Who can proclaim Himself as the Saviour. Other self-proclaimed saviours unfortunately are bogus ones. Advent i guess means “Everything will come to pass.” If she decides to resign, its not because you or other people made a call for her to step down. It is between God and Arroyo in His time. Let the Lord’s will be done, Fr. Jerry. Arroyo will come to pass. Irregardless of how it will end, for sure, PGMA’s time will come.

Why these civilians should be spared from rebellion charges when, just in case Trillanes dreams succeded, these same people will be the first to be on stage ?

mabuhay si gloria macapagal arroyo. keep up the good work! i admire the things you have done to the county and the economy. don’t take the inquirer seriously. i’ve been a loyal reader of this newspaper since the time of cory’s gov’t and people know (and i’m sure the editors know too) that the inquirer has profitted quite handsomely from negativity. way to go inquirer in helping our country! you’re reputation has sank so low in my opinion, i am ready to move to the philippine star.

seriously, if GMA is an illegitimate president, prove it. if she is corrupt, prove it. if she’s not hardworking, then why is the philippine economy on its longest uninterrupted growth ever? if her husband is corrupt, bring him to court (don’t you guys trust the supreme court more than God?).

this is the one thing i have long realized about filipinos in general —- everyone wants to be THE leader. and the more they open their mouths, the more they think they are smart. hehe funny. the truth is, patriots and nationalists are a minority in our country. everyone wants to be rich, yet so damn lazy. everyone professes their love for the motherland, yet he/she will grab at the first chance of leaving the country. everyone dislikes the president but doesnt have the balls to march in protest.

enough!!! leave the president alone and let her do her job. or better yet, support the duly elected president of the republic of the philippines.

miloy

I AM NOT

i dont have to wake up as a Filipino!
even if GLORIA isnt doing right for our country’s glory but hers and her cohorts!

i can wait until ALL of us are in the brink of death bcuz of graft and corruptions, disapperances and other subtle-evils against our democracy and constitution!

i can stand her divisive role, corrupt-riden governance and shammed leadership!

i can be a prisoner of my own comfort and apathy!

afterall, i am just like the rest of us!
i am a Filipino!
i am like you!
i am you!

-original by radarman08

it is really funny how some priests are talking about moral bankruptcy and asking gloria arroyo to resign.
no need to talk about separation of church and states as the priests in the philippines are in politics too.

moral bankruptcy? as being peddled as the greatest crime of gloria. though hard to imagine and dicipher being intangible and in the mind, the moral is eroded as i may percieve.

cardinal mahony of los angeles diocese formalize the legal settlement of 600million dollars to victims of priests sexual abuses.the catholic diocese will sell some of its property for the payout.

it is the real moral bankruptcy and financial bankruptcy.

chiva
Why these civilians should be spared from rebellion charges when, just in case Trillanes dreams succeded, these same people will be the first to be on stage ?

************
Why not! Gloria Arroyo, Did the same thing, In fact she did even worse. So whats the different. Is it not she did a coup d’tat. Against President Joseph Estrada, In 2001. Is it not she cheated in May 10, 2004. Presidential election in order to win. In my book she’s nothing but a crooks. She should be in jail for what she has done. But yet she’s the one running the country because she control the entire corrupt justice system. How can you justify that. I mad as hell.

so GMA-wants to punish the grafters-in re ASEAN mtg-(aka trapos,wannabe civil servants,blood-suckers poly-tick-cians) for the 200 million pesos diverted(w/o her personal approval-maybe) from the budget allocated to get cebu city looks good during last jan.ASEAN mtg.
just for the sake of a little discourse here,and pls correct me if i am wrong. i think the 200 millions pesos are well spent citizens taxes, (juan dela cruz’ money) if every single centavos was really spent to refurbish the roads and other infrastructures around the island of cebu.or maybe that the 200 million pesos was only the tip of the iceberg. what i mean is that the roads and other infrastructures built around cebu city other than the original ASEAN venue planned facelifts job did not really cost 200 million pesos all along, and some large amount of it somehow ends up on some joe blows bank account. the big possibility is there. this is phil. my apology to everybody if i am out of line this time. but from what i have been reading from all the bloggers chatters and media coverage, grafts and corruptions or words to that effect is the common themes or issues that shows up across the board.
lets face it. absolute power corrupts and power corrupts absolutely. corruption and corrupt practice is an endemic plague that scource the patria adorada. be it the common juan dela cruz from da probinz or the well heeled and foreign school educated man of town who is doing it is the reality check in re to our filipino heritage. as long as we the filipinos are buying into the marriage of convinience between the political dynasties and oligarchs who are controlling the political arena and the banks, it will always be the same sad story of juan dela cruz plight to perpetual miseries.
the haves and have nots will only grow exponetially and the socio-economic and political nightmare of 86 million plus juan dela cruzez will go on and on with out end.
enough said.any takers out there.

salamat po,,,,
chrisgalon
fromsinzcitlyasvegasnv…

p.s
what if some big fish from the executive branch of govt are involve in the ASEAN fiasco? will this so called wanted punishment by GMA will fizzled into the black holes? lets all watch..

THERE’S THE RUB
Babel
By Conrado de Quiros
Inquirer

REACTION
Orion II,
Iloilo National High School
Special Science Class

People cannot trust anymore official statements coming from local and national government officials whether they are true or not including police and military. Supposedly and ideally, any government should inform constantly the citizens on matters affecting them with all its truthfulness and clarity.
Transparency is very essential to good and sincere governance so that public accountability can be exacted to all actions and inactions of officials. Government officials are expected to be responsible for whatever decisions they are making.
However, what the people are experiencing nowadays is that they are being bombarded with lies and half truths mainly about the use of government resources. From substandard infrastructures, executive contracts, underemployment statistics, armed encounters with rebels, prices of goods and services, foreign and domestic debt or loans, power demand and supply to citizens’ health status.
Even weather forecasting such as the “el nino” cannot anymore be trusted since the hidden intention of the false forecasting is to redirect government funds to an expense that can hardly be accounted.
Experts believed that constant breakdown of communication between the citizens and the government started from candidate’s campaign to become a government official and how he or she is elected. Promises that were not fulfilled, ballots that were not counted, votes in exchange of petty penny, presence of corruptible election officials including police and military officers.
And goes the overused phrase “and so on and so forth”.
Hardly, there’s a trace of functional and reliable government after.

SUMMARY
Orion II,
Iloilo National High School
Special Science Class

With the lies and half truths in the air, it is very clear that it is not more on expertise of using the language, it is just secondary, and it is more on motive and intention.
Across the seas, yes we are ahead of them, but not on our ways and our means. One would think after a long sojourn from other world where people are facilitating since time immemorial what is right and good, which back here in the Philippines, people it seems are not thinking right.
It is right to cite only what’s dark with us, since we need to be reminded sometimes or the least, to learn, however, it is better still if could suggest a solution.
Apparently, knowing more about candidates during election and trashing candidates who buy votes, junking candidates who form dynasty, scrapping candidates who coerce and force voters are good starters no matter how hard it would be, since spiritless government officials cover their devious traces very smartly and costly. They will conceal their unjust deeds at all cost.
The author is right; we need to read more about social and political issues. We need to get involved. We should be motivated by what others are doing, risking their lives for other’s sake.
Let’s act, not just watch and worry, knowing that our kids will excel given our desired and ideal world.
Sometimes action speaks louder than words.

JUNAR wrote:

“why it is so easy for you to charge gloria of corruption, corruption and corruption …
are you a good family man? then if not, attend to your family first and not on gloria.”

****

JUNAR,

If you are a good family man yourself then you should not allow the culture of corruption to be accepted in Philippine society or any society for that matter. Would you like your children to imbibe these corrupt values being espoused by this administration?

You want proof? Proof that can be blocked by E.O. 464? Blocked by the MAGKAKAMPI in Congress? A military man like Esperon who is involved in Lanao electoral fraud is being given top AFP position but the ones who tried to tell the truth like Gen. Gudani and Col. Balutan were arrested courtesy of the midnight implementation of E.O. 464? Neri blocked from testifying through the abuse of this Executive Order?

If you wish to be blind to these anomalies and injustice, don’t try to convince those who can see clearly these evils to become as blind as you are. You will just end up looking silly.

…Tandaan mo ang magnanakaw talagang takot mabisto, kung nabibisto nagpapagwardiya sa mga hired goons, bakit masyado na bang nabibisto?

chrisgalon
so GMA-wants to punish the grafters-in re ASEAN mtg-(aka trapos,wannabe civil servants,blood-suckers poly-tick-cians) for the 200 million pesos diverted(w/o her personal approval-maybe) from the budget allocated to get cebu city looks good during last jan.ASEAN mtg.
just for the sake of a little discourse here,and pls correct me if i am wrong. i think the 200 millions pesos are well spent citizens taxes, (juan dela cruz’ money) if every single centavos was really spent to refurbish the roads and other infrastructures around the island of cebu.or maybe that the 200 million pesos was only the tip of the iceberg. what i mean is that the roads and other infrastructures built around cebu city other than the original ASEAN venue planned facelifts job did not really cost 200 million pesos all along, and some large amount of it somehow ends up on some joe blows bank account. the big possibility is there. this is phil. my apology to everybody if i am out of line this time. but from what i have been reading from all the bloggers chatters and media coverage, grafts and corruptions or words to that effect is the common themes or issues that shows up across the board.
lets face it. absolute power corrupts and power corrupts absolutely. corruption and corrupt practice is an endemic plague that scource the patria adorada. be it the common juan dela cruz from da probinz or the well heeled and foreign school educated man of town who is doing it is the reality check in re to our filipino heritage. as long as we the filipinos are buying into the marriage of convinience between the political dynasties and oligarchs who are controlling the political arena and the banks, it will always be the same sad story of juan dela cruz plight to perpetual miseries.
the haves and have nots will only grow exponetially and the socio-economic and political nightmare of 86 million plus juan dela cruzez will go on and on with out end.
enough said.any takers out there.

salamat po,,,,
chrisgalon
fromsinzcitlyasvegasnv…

p.s

*************
You can’t believe what Gloria Arroyo, Said because she already proven herself to be the number one liar. How can she funish anybody when she’s the one doing the blunder. she should be in jail where she belong. Not squatting in malacanyang palace.

kabayan wrote:
If you are a good family man yourself then you should not allow the culture of corruption to be accepted in Philippine society or any society for that matter. Would you like your children to imbibe these corrupt values being espoused by this administration?

You want proof? Proof that can be blocked by E.O. 464? Blocked by the MAGKAKAMPI in Congress?
*******************************
i don’t thinkthat my children will imbibe these corrupt values as you alleged being espoused by gloria.

first of all, i am a family man. family being first unit of society, starts the moral upbringing of a child to be a good citizen. secondly, school where our teachers are teaching good manners and right conduct. and my kids have been crafted with these good manners and moral values.

do you know why? my eldest is in California State University after graduating with honor, and my other son is in honor class straight A.

i don’t want to go on national level without securing my family first.

as regards your proof of EO 464 blocked by magkakampi in congress, i can say that is a very healthy democracy…. where we observe the rule of majority.

JUNAR wrote:

“why it is so easy for you to charge gloria of corruption, corruption and corruption …
are you a good family man? then if not, attend to your family first and not on gloria.”
***********
That is because she’s a crooks! unlike Gloria Pidal, This site has two FACE’S…..

JUNJAR,

You seemed confused, E.O. 464 is an Executive Order forced through by Gloria to COVER-UP investigations not by Congress , make that clear.

The other actions of the MagKAKAMPI Congress on the other hand is the tyranny of the elite something akin to a new aristocracy of Trapos. The time for reckoning has about run out.

Second, of course your children would have a hard time imbibing corruption as being proliferated by Gloria and her administration allies; they are in the US, safely insulated all far away from the corrupt practices of Gloria and her administration. Of course you can sleep well since YOUR children are insulated while the REST of the Filipino children ARE NOT.

Be careful, you do not really know what your children are doing nor would you know what will happen in the future. Besides who knows how insidious the effects of this morally bankrupt administration can be, it may eventually even seep through your supposedly insulated family. Things may not be what they seem.

Correction, Sorry JUNJAR the latest post I made was for fred edoria not for you.

Rep. Satur Ocampo claims the political collusion between SMC owner Danding Cojuangco and GMA will abort the reversion of the Somilao land to the farmers. This is purely hogwash coming from a leftist who always injects politics in every controversy.

The decision to take arbitrarily away the Somilao land from SMC, an agri-industrial property it acquired from the previous owner Quisumbing, has become even more contentious when GMA unilaterally reverted the land back to agricultural land for distribution to the farmers because it has denied SMC its legal right to judicial processes. GMA’s action runs counter to the Supreme Court ruling that excluded that land from land reform. Surely, Cojuangco or any businessman who has already invested hundreds of millions in developing that land will not take all this lying down. GMA has done a political act to appease the Somilao farmers, but it is not a political act if SMC goes to court to protect its business interests. In fact, it is bad business practice to change the rules of the game in the interest of politics. This government should not allow business contracts to be rescinded so easily and rather than doing this it should have left the issue to be resolved by the courts as we always maintain the rule of law must prevail. Rescinding or canceling legitimate contracts because of political considerations are bad for business. It drives away foreign investors.

Rip-Off in Thailand?

RP Boxing boss Manny Lopez claims he pulled out his boxers from the men’s finals in protest of poor officiating in the SEA Games. He ignored claims that the Thai boxers who won most of the gold were better than our boys, and the fact that most of our boxers reached the finals is enough proof that they were good. That’s where Lopez is wrong. Good is not the same as better.

Reaching the finals does not mean winning the gold. Withdrawing his boxers from the finals in anticipation of being cheated shows poor sportsmanship. Quitters don’t win championships. Fights are televised that can serve as proofs of cheating in making official protests. That would have been the proper thing to do. This would have proven his point and those who saw the fight on TV would be the judge, thus giving the Thais nothing more than a Pyrrhic victory.

There will be a qualifying match for boxers next month for the Beijing Olympics. This should give Lopez an opportunity to put his money where his mouth is. Let him show the Pinoy boxers are indeed better than the Thais. Let’s see who wins the Olympic berths. The Thais or the Pinoys.

the following excerpts in its entirety was an op-ed printed on our city daily -the las vegas review-journal.
i just wondering if this event(i saw it as trivial-funny) could possibly and somehow happened in juan dela cruz’ dealing with their elected officials.

Dec. 18, 2007
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

EDITORIAL: The Virginia City water caper

State ethics panel takes up $4 freebie
On Aug. 18, Virginia City High School inaugurated its new $250,000 football field. On that day, a crowd of about 200 cheered the Muckers as the school fielded a football team for the first time in 64 years, scrimmaging against the Coleville (Calif.) Wolves.

Guests of honor were Bill Nagel and John Byrne, who both played on the last Muckers squad, in 1942 and 1943.

Storey County School Board President Pamela Smith was escorting the two old-timers. She told the state Ethics Commission on Wednesday that it was a hot day, and she asked Laurie Barrington at the stadium concession stand for free bottles of water for the two guests, as well as herself and her husband.

At that point, according to the School Board president, Ms. Barrington “got very mad and very rude.”

“She said ‘Even God doesn’t get free water. You’re not going to get free water,’ ” Ms. Smith told the commission.

Concession profits benefit the team, Ms. Barrington testified Wednesday. If Ms. Smith tried to get free water, then it would be “over my dead body,” Ms. Barrington testified that she said.

At that point, Ms. Smith signed an IOU promising to return with her purse and pay the $4 tab, which she later did.

But things didn’t stop there. One Cathylee James of Virginia City filed a complaint with the Ethics Commission, accusing Ms. Smith of trying to improperly use her office to get free water. Why, Ms. Smith had even tried it before, seeking free stuff at basketball games, said the finger-pointers, who described Mr. Smith’s conduct as “reprehensible” and “self-serving.”

Good heavens.

School Superintendent Robert Slaby testified Wednesday that the former players were treated as VIPs, given shirts and other trinkets. He said he could not be certain, but he might have indicated there was nothing wrong in giving them free water on an 80-degree day.

After a 90-minute hearing, the commission voted 5-0 to absolve Ms. Smith of ethics violations in the matter of the four bottles of water, valued at $1 each, ruling that because her IOU was accepted by Ms. Barrington and she eventually paid for the water, no ethics law was violated.

A close call, though!

When asked afterward why the commission would spend its time on such a minor matter — Ms. Smith even felt it wise to hire a private lawyer to accompany her — Commissioner Jim Kosinski said there is no minimum threshold in state ethics laws.

“Do you want to enact one?” he asked. “What would it be? Five dollars? $100?”

Hard to say. While the public conscience is hardly outraged when the owner of an all-night diner refuses payment for a coffee and donut when a police officer is nice enough to stop in for a look-see on a cold night, it certainly might be appropriate for the commission to make inquiries if it turned out an entire department were expecting free meals, all the time, as a matter of course.

It’s a question of scale and perspective — precisely what the commission seems to have lacked in this case. In spades.

Ms. Smith should have been advised to carry a couple of bucks in her pocket. And while Ms. Barrington’s attention to her fiduciary duties is admirable — and what she would charge God, of course, remains entirely up to her — someone might express to her the hope that she would have made an exception if one of the octogenarians had actually appeared ready to collapse.

The question is whether — with state revenues failing to grow at expected rates and Gov. Jim Gibbons expected to announce cutbacks next month — the commission should have assigned staff to spend months dealing with a case that would have been better handled by calling in all the parties and telling them to grow up.

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my points—ethics, ethics, is what the constituents expected at all times from their elected officials to uphold. this case is only for $4. it seems that this case is so close to call for a comedy of error. just imagine if there is large amount money involved. we will never the end of it.but hey this usa.

virginia city is a national historic mining town founded during comstock lode heyday on the mountain hills over looking carson city the state capital of nevada. this city was authentically preserve the way it was built over 100yrs ago. it was also the same city many times mentioned on tv series “bonanza”.
thanx,,,,,,
chrisgalon
sizcitylasvegasnv

This concerns about Sorsogon’s problem of diminishing water source, I suggest for the construction of desalianation plant one that convert salt water to fresh and drinking water. As far as I know the state of Israel has an affordable technology on this regards.

Erap’s tell all book should serve as his legacy to the Filipino people to show that he is not afraid to name those in high places who continue to smile and wander around as if they are devoid of sin and incorruptible who committed graft. Shame on this people! We know who they are but if a former President who has been convicted and pardoned and tells all and confirm the bad deeds of this so called respectable people then we can say he has done his job!

Senate Prez Manuel Villar is flattered for having the highest satisfaction ratings among the top government officials. Of course, he is because he always tries to stay away from controversial issues. never took a firm stand or get involved in any contentious issues, debates or squabbles. As the saying goes no comment, no mistake. His leadership has not been truly tried and tested to reveal his true conviction. There is much to know what stuff he is really made of.

The DOJ sent out its advisory to make lawful arrest of media members who will not heed warnings to stay out and not obstruct police operations as what happened at the Manila Pen seige by some rebel soldiers. As expected, media said no way will they be threatened and would do what they want to do. Fair enough. Both sides having said their piece, let’s just hope no one from media gets hurt when the shooting starts. And no cry baby from media will be blaming the cops for getting shot. I often wonder if media have gotten swell heads that many think they are untouchables.

Delrey
GMA: No mercy to Trillanes

Rarely do I agree with GMA’s politics but this is one instance that I am in full agreement.
+++++++++++++++++
It should be no mercy to Gloria Arroyo, She did even worse. She should be the one rot in jail where she belong!

Intimidation?
Thomas Jefferson, a staunch defender of absolute freedom of the press, expressed that “a few prosecution of the most prominent offenders would have a wholesome effect in restoring the integrity of the presses.”
Let us all hope that journalists here will take note of this and act more responsibly so that that freedom
will remain forever unhampered and respected by law.

Glad the media is fighting back against the calculated repression of government. The media is probably the only main institution who effectively stand in the way of the plans of the Gloria administration to extend her term and the term of her allies (Esperon being the test bed), continue their abuses, twisting the law to their own ends, protect and abet corruption, and establish a de facto Martial Rule.

Subject: To Regulate Sale of Cop Uniform, Paraphernalia:

Coments;

This has been the long problem of the PNP, which anybody can seal the Cop uniform and paraphernalia espicially if you have padrino’s fron the higher ups…

I am a dignified Police Officer with plenty of accomplishment during my time from Luzon, visayas, mindanao campaigned. as a rose from the conservative and diciplinarian family, I was mold with the true values of being a christian. and for that reason I always get into trouble to my upper classmen and even to the higher ups for bestowing their shananigans to the whole unit.I was or we’re about to devulge to the public about the organized corruption in the PNP organization. this includes the recruitment of the PNP class 97 up to the present, the training of the newly recruit and caddets and the deployment , promotion of the PNP personel.

These are the main root of curruption in the PNP.

> PNP Class ? - present= these class graduated from the training with out receiving the ICA…. A recruit or Caddets upon taking their oath was entitled to receive the amount of 14,000+ as part of their ICA or Initial clothing allowance.tehse are the uniforms and paraphernalia supposedly to received by the recruits and caddets which the latter pay for it through salary deduction during the whole period of training.during our time upon taking our oath as caddets, we receive a dapple bag full of supplies that we can used for the whole duration of training. these class who told to me about their gravancies in the PNP graduated in the training without any cents receive from their salary because of the so called “Issue matic”. meaning they receive the issue from the PNP but aumatically deducted from their salary. example if you have 300 recruits or caddets the commandant or upon the collaboration with the logistic and finaceat the camp crame they will get a kick back of 300x 14000=PHP 4,200,000…that is for that class only….now every year the congress have a alloted budget for the PNP training for the whole region.that comprise to 13 region plus NCR, CAR , CARAGA. Autonomous Muslim Mindanao Region and the other supporting unit of the PNP. for the 13 region the organize sindicate in the PNP accumulate 300×13=3,900 recruits x 14000=PHP54,600,000…that is the rap estimate of public funds who only goes to the hands of this corrupt officer in the PNP organization…

now if your’re amazed about the recruitment I guess you will more be amazed to my second exposse….that this class also divulge that the training they received from the PNP is just like a CAT training in the high school…. one of the leader of the group told to me that he’s advance training in the ROTC is better than the PNP training….so no wonder that our cops was easily slain by the bystanders because these class has no exact training in the PNP… if you can recall those cadets in the PNP class 98 who call them selves as FUTURE GENERALS after made a hamoc in the bar…my great concerns why these caddets was in the cabaret bar when in fact they are still on training that time? it shows how relax the training The PNP have even in academy how much more in the recruit training…. another big issue in the training is the “MISSCUT”…how the officer incharge get the money out of misscut…. Ex. 300 recruits x number of monts for the whole duration of training.in every month we have 4 weeks right? every week a recruit or caddets has given a privilidge called the Weekend pass. (WEP) starting from the night of friday up to sunday night…. we will just compute the 2 days…2×4=8 x 4 = 32 days…. a recruit or cadetts has an subsisstence allowance of 90 pesos a day. if you’ve a 300 recruits multiply it by 90 (300x 90) you have a sum of 27,000 per day budget for the 300 recruits…. you multiply it by six (6) months or 180 days with a sum total of PHP4,860,000…. that is the subsistence allowance for the recruit for the whole period of training. now how can I get the misscut? as I said the recruits were given WEP every friday night to sunday night.ok will just get the 2 days budget of recruit where they’re out on pass….in 1 month you’ve 4 weeks….4x 8 (number of days in 4 month that a recruit was not around the camp) =32 days x 90 =PHP 2,880.00 x 300 number of recruits= PHP 864,000.00 in 1 month….these amount is a clear kick back in misscut for 4 months… besides of that budget we have the so called ASA or additional subsistence allowance of 90 pesos per day.during the whole duration of training all the issue was automatically deducted from the salary of the recruits inluding the missing (FOODs).

Another issue are the deployment and promotion of the pNP personel… one of those class admitted to me that he pay 50,000 pesos just to enlist his name in the recruitment…anothe one also told to me that he pay 10,000 pesos for transfer of assignment to other unit…. the worse is in the lateral entry which applicants pay 100.000 pesos or give something to the incharge in the lateral entry..

Now tell me Gen. Rason sir,what kind of Police officer you have now?are these police force are ready to defend the tax payers in these country?let me remind all my countrymen that civilian is always have a supreme power over military and police.

For you Gen. Rason sir! show to us that you are not the puppet of the installed aroyo government, for I will tell you that one of these days troops will out to divulge about what we know in 2004 election or even before the election….we have the evidence that we kept for so long and may be it’s now the high time to let the people of the philippines know about what really happen before and during the D-day of 2004 election…

With regards to your ideas of regulating the PNP uniform, how can you do that if one of the supplier or own the big stores is one of our upper classmen?the worst he’s one of the cabinet member of Installed aroyo administration….

Rizal

I don’t have anything but pity for Neri. I feel sorry that he fell victim of the Arroyo government. His intelligence and good reputation are now under question because of the corrupt practices of the Arroyo’s. Another one bites the dust.

tingin ko tigilan na natin ang ZTE investigation dyan dahil hindi sya in aid of legislation kung hindi ay in aid of destabilization.

Discussing too much about ZTE deal is just a waste of time..

there are other important things to be discussed and focused on..

isa lang itong isyu ng malinaw na pamumulitika..

marami ng naging biktima ng labis na pamumulitika kaya itigil na yang ZTE investigation na yan dahil ginagamit lang ng mga tumutuligsa sa mga tapat na nanunungkulan sa ating pamahalaan.

nhalogs Says:
February 1st, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Discussing too much about ZTE deal is just a waste of time..

there are other important things to be discussed and focused on..

isa lang itong isyu ng malinaw na pamumulitika..
++++++++++++++++
You mean to say, Its okay for them to keep robbing the government coffer?

I’ll bet you kong si Erap, Yon hindi mo palampasin.
They should continue all the investigastion so that the truth will come out. Hindi yon they’re covering it up. If they don’t have anything to hide why suppress the truth.

Lorenzo Says:
January 7th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Erap’s tell all book should serve as his legacy to the Filipino people to show that he is not afraid to name those in high places who continue to smile and wander around as if they are devoid of sin and incorruptible who committed graft. Shame on this people! We know who they are but if a former President who has been convicted and pardoned and tells all and confirm the bad deeds of this so called respectable people then we can say he has done his job!
++++++++++++++++
I agree with you, Yes! we all know who is the most corrupt but they’re not in jail because they control the entire corrupt justice system. As we all can see it the only reason they kick Erap, So that they’re the one can rob the government coffer. I’m glad Erap, Didn’t run away. He stay and face the music just to prove the point that he is not guilty of any wrong doing.

Yes, Its true the kangaroo court of Gloria Arroyo, Convict him with plunder on juenting money but juenting money is not government money but gambling money.

The reason they convict him because that is the only way she can stay into her stolen power.

219
trisha Says:
February 1st, 2008 at 3:52 pm
marami ng naging biktima ng labis na pamumulitika kaya itigil na yang ZTE investigation na yan dahil ginagamit lang ng mga tumutuligsa sa mga tapat na nanunungkulan sa ating pamahalaan.
+++++++++++++++
Oh, Really! You mean to say, Its okay for them to keep robbing the government coffer. Thats the taxepayers money they’re stealing. Not atleast you don’t know that. I guess you don’t pay income taxes.

189
EdB Says:
December 11th, 2007 at 10:40 am
I am no GMA supporter but Fr. Reyes Peninsula caper is too much and he should be charged. Atty. Frank Chavez defense of his client is too elementary, it lacks finis and is an insult to all Filipinos who witness on their tv screens what happened in the Peninsula standoff.
+++++++++++++++
Gloria Arroyo, Did even worse. She/cronies the one should be in jail where she belong. But that well never happen because she control the entire corrupt justice system.

197
chrisgalon Says:
December 16th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
so GMA-wants to punish the grafters-in re ASEAN mtg-(aka trapos,wannabe civil servants,blood-suckers poly-tick-cians) for the 200 million pesos diverted(w/o her personal approval-maybe) from the budget allocated to get cebu city looks good during last jan.ASEAN mtg.
just for the sake of a little discourse here,and pls correct me if i am wrong. i think the 200 millions pesos are well spent citizens taxes, (juan dela cruz’ money) if every single centavos was really spent to refurbish the roads and other infrastructures around the island of cebu.or maybe that the 200 million pesos was only the tip of the iceberg. what i mean is that the roads and other infrastructures built around cebu city other than the original ASEAN venue planned facelifts job did not really cost 200 million pesos all along, and some large amount of it somehow ends up on some joe blows bank account. the big possibility is there. this is phil. my apology to everybody if i am out of line this time. but from what i have been reading from all the bloggers chatters and media coverage, grafts and corruptions or words to that effect is the common themes or issues that shows up across the board.
lets face it. absolute power corrupts and power corrupts absolutely. corruption and corrupt practice is an endemic plague that scource the patria adorada. be it the common juan dela cruz from da probinz or the well heeled and foreign school educated man of town who is doing it is the reality check in re to our filipino heritage. as long as we the filipinos are buying into the marriage of convinience between the political dynasties and oligarchs who are controlling the political arena and the banks, it will always be the same sad story of juan dela cruz plight to perpetual miseries.
the haves and have nots will only grow exponetially and the socio-economic and political nightmare of 86 million plus juan dela cruzez will go on and on with out end.
enough said.any takers out there.

salamat po,,,,
chrisgalon
fromsinzcitlyasvegasnv…

p.s
what if some big fish from the executive branch of govt are involve in the ASEAN fiasco? will this so called wanted punishment by GMA will fizzled into the black holes? lets all watch..
+++++++++++++++++
How can she funish them when they’re partner in crimes.

Hopefully what is going on right now-perhaps in a couple of days wont reflect a “political-lapses”, moreover-solidarity crisis in the lower house. Political turmoil is often associated this days as delured govermental management.

that’s right senator legarda. you should aspire for the top post but secure first the automation of the elections so that you will not be anymore protesting after the election that you were cheated. you should work first on making the elections clean and honest instead of spend your time in investigating the zte scam which will just consume your time in a case that will go nowhere. if you want a clean election please act now. you together with the other presidentiables in the senate should act immediately on making our elections clean now and not in 2009.

Those who do not wish to discuss ZTE anymore clearly do not wish the shenanigans of those involved exposed. It is not an issue of politics, it is primarily an issue of corruption and cover-ups. Attitudes such as this serve to promote corruption and non-accountability in our nation even more.

The issue now hounding the Senate on the ZTE-NBN deal is not about personalities. We are talking here about the rule of law and how it should be properly applied. Those senators investigating the ZTE-NBN deal, pretending to know more about the law, acting like judges and jurors and trying to do police work can learn a lot from Senator Miriam. I have said this before and saying it again, the senators have gathered sufficient evidence and testimonies from witnesses to endorse to the DOJ and Ombudsman. The job has long been done and it’s about time to let the Justice people take over and finish the job by filing criminal complaints against the persons involved.

The Senate has every right to investigate scams in government contracts. The purpose is to help them craft appropriate laws and not to do police work and pass judgment, but it should stop right there once the materials that will serve their purpose are obtained. What is wrong is when these senators try to do things beyond the bounds of their authority when clearly the job now belongs to the third branch of government - the Justice department. Whatever good the senate should be credited for is lost because what appears now is pure political harassment in aid of the opposition senators’ agenda for 2010. These senators don’t seem to realize the public’s negative reaction to this zarzuela. They have overdone their job and went for the overkill and in the process made Neri a martyr. The problem with the opposition is they don’t know when to stop.

The truth is in the word of God. The healing ministry of Fr. Suarez is not because he said that he will build a shrine of Mother Mary in Batangas it is abomination to God. In Exodus 20 God said,”do not make any graven image” I am jealous God” alam niyo ba kung buhay lang si Mary baka sisipain pa kayo noon sa pag-gawa niyo ng rebulto niya. Kitang-kita na hindi sa Diyos ang healing ministry ni Fr. kung tunay kang anak ng Diyos in Rom8:16. and another thing is he is not preaching the Gospel of Christ ang tunay na Christian ang priority is to preach the Gospel, secondary lang healing. Actually every true beleiver is commanded to pray for the sick and afflicted in James5:13-15 Love & prayer in Christ!

ano na ba ang nagawa ninyo senators legarda and escudero para magsalita kayo na hindi nararamdaman ng taong bayan ang pag angat ng ekonomiya. bakit? ano na ba ang nai ambag ninyo para maayos ang ating bayan? parang napakagagaling ninyo kung magsalita. para kay sen. escudero, hindi ba ang tatay mo ay parte ng diktadura na siyang ugat ng lahat ng mga katarantaduhang nangyayari sa bayan natin ngayon? ano ba ang nagawa ng tAtay mo sa ating bayan? gumawa muna kayo bago kayo ngumawa ng ngumawa. wala kayong naitutulong sa bayan kundi ang maghasik ng kaguluhan.

To Devenecia threatening to divulge election tampering. Bakit ngayon lang? Tarantado ka rin, mandarambog ka rin. Ngayon pa straight effect ka pa. Sana nga parusahan ka ng mabigat, gaya ng bigat na dulot mo sa paghihirap ng mga Pilipino.

Some lessons can be learned from JDV’s fall from grace. From a staunch ally of GMA, her protector, defender, and intrepid miracle worker in the House, to a deposed House speaker who is now out in the cold. What happened? Simply said, JDV overplayed his hand.

JDV must have felt hurt when his son Joey’s offer to do the government’s broadband network was ignored by Malacanang. The contract was given to ZTE. It’s not difficult to understand the hurt a father must have felt that pushed him to tell his son to divulge the corruption they both knew about the ZTE deal. Or, perhaps the opportunity of a profitable venture that father and son were denied was just too much that they decided if they cannot get it nobody else can?

Recall Joey’s Senate hearing expose was carefully crafted when he accused Abalos of bribery but referred to GMA compassionately as “my President”, seemingly to imply GMA had nothing to do with the deal and to isolate her from the people he suspected had cooked up the deal starting with Mike Arroyo. This was the mistake. Blood is thicker than water just as thicker as the JDV and son’s blood put together. JDV must have thought things would stop there, but did not and instead worsen because his son kept dragging the issue. JDV must have felt so confident that he was indispensable to GMA as Speaker of the House to stop any attempt to impeach her. To the very end, he refused to step down even when told he longer had the numbers. He clutched on GMA’s comforting words of support that never came. Now that he lost and out in the cold, JDV claims he is battling for reforms and moral revolution. Too late the hero.

This is no battle for reforms and moral revolution. JDV’s battle was for political supremacy, influence peddling, and the wheeling and dealing in government contracts. For JDV, it all began during his close association with Marcos and never stopped till the falling out with GMA and his acrimonious end as speaker of the House. He now raises the issue of corruption against Malacanang which he, his wife and son claim they know enough. But why only now? If that is so, why did he not speak up when the people were demanding explanations from Malacanang on the same issues that they now claim to know? Is this a confession of a partner in crime now that the partnership is dissolved? If JDV thinks his accusations of corruption against the people in Malacanang carry some degree of credibility he is wrong. The people have had enough of unfounded accusations. To be credible, he needs to substantiate his charges with facts and evidence so the truth may come out. Until then, what he is peddling around is meaningless. Those self-appealing rhetoric are just to make himself look good. I hope he finds the courage to be honest and tell the truth. This is the only way he can restore his credibility. I want to think this is a battle of thieves and the best is yet to come when JDV rises from defeat and seeks revenge. It will be like the shit hitting the fan. As for Malacanang, well, they won this round. The next may be bloody yet.

to jdv who will tell all …

remember the sour grape and the maxim
“Clean Hands Doctrine” that says

“He Who Seeks Equity Must Do Equity.”,

“He Who Comes to Equity Must Come With Clean Hands”

association by guilt is not credible….

If all Lozada’s revelations are true and I think they are, this will be the last nail that will seal the end for Abalos and blow the lid wide open of the ZTE-NBN deal. Watch the s h i t hits the fan as the persons Lozada has incriminated duck for cover. Lozada was lucky he did not get a one gun salute when he was escorted out of the plane on his arrival just like Ninoy Aquino did. It was sufficient for his handlers to draw from him an affidavit to deny everything he said in his first affidavit in which he revealed what he knew about the ZTE contract so as to confuse the issue in an obvious attempt to destroy Lozada’s credibility. Very amateurish and primitive these guys are in the way they cover their tracks.

I’m not sure if Lozada’s revelations are enough to kick out the tenants in Malacanang but it sure makes a lot of media hype to put these personalities on center stage of corruption once again.

JDV admitted that he hid the truth from the Pilipino people. He is the greater Evil if not the Devil himself.

234
Amfedup Says:
February 7th, 2008 at 7:41 am
If all Lozada’s revelations are true and I think they are, this will be the last nail that will seal the end for Abalos and blow the lid wide open of the ZTE-NBN deal. Watch the s h i t hits the fan as the persons Lozada has incriminated duck for cover. Lozada was lucky he did not get a one gun salute when he was escorted out of the plane on his arrival just like Ninoy Aquino did. It was sufficient for his handlers to draw from him an affidavit to deny everything he said in his first affidavit in which he revealed what he knew about the ZTE contract so as to confuse the issue in an obvious attempt to destroy Lozada’s credibility. Very amateurish and primitive these guys are in the way they cover their tracks.

I’m not sure if Lozada’s revelations are enough to kick out the tenants in Malacanang but it sure makes a lot of media hype to put these personalities on center stage of corruption once again.
+++++++++++++++++++
Even though there is solid evidence against the FAKE PRESIDENT OF CEBU. For being corrupted nothing good will happen. Because Gloria Arroyo, Has been protected by these corrupt PNP/AFP/JUDIARY. As we already can see it. Especially now that Nogales, Is the new speaker you can be sure they’re all going to dance with CHA, CHA, CHA. So that the squatter in Malacanyang Palace can stay into her stolen power forever.

231
Pablo Says:
February 5th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
To Devenecia threatening to divulge election tampering. Bakit ngayon lang? Tarantado ka rin, mandarambog ka rin. Ngayon pa straight effect ka pa. Sana nga parusahan ka ng mabigat, gaya ng bigat na dulot mo sa paghihirap ng mga Pilipino.
+++++++++++++++++++
Taka ka, Bakit ngayon lang kong hindi pa napatalsik hindi pa magsalita against the FAKE PRESIDENT OF CEBU. If JDV really the servant of the filipino people sana noon pa siya nagsalita. Nooooo, He was protecting the evil Gloria Arroyo, Even though he knows she cheated in May 10, 2004. Presidential election and there is solid evidence that she cheated. JDV knows that too. But he decide to keep his big mount shut. And protect her. Now that they kick him out he start singing!

BUT ITS NEVER TOO LATE! SIGE START SINGING!

Much has been said about all the nefarious issues associated with the present administration and certain members of the first family, and somehow, nothing seems to affect anyone of them. On the assumption that all of these are true (and apparently a lot of good reasons for being so), it seems that the people concerned continue to build up on these.
These people indeed have no sense of shame. It’s obviously a family trait that is being passed from one generation to the next. In tagalog, they would say, “ang kakapal ng mga mukha niyo!”.

on “amfedup” comment number 228

the “justice department” is still under the office of the President and therefore within the Executive branch of the government. You were probably refering to the “Judiciary” which is the third branch of the government and co-equal with the executive and legislative branch.

For me the revelations of Lozada is nothing but a rehash of of Joey de Venecia III testimony in the Senate. If he is really a truthful person why is it that it takes him so long to divulge all the anomalous transaction in the ZTE-NBN deal? On the other hand, if indeed there are enough evidence against the people mentioned, then it would be better to charged them in the proper court to determine if they are really guilty or not.

THIS ROTTEN ZTE DEAL

If you think about it, there’s nothing new in what Lozada has said that we don’t already know. He only confirmed what Joey had disclosed. There is much to be done in connecting the dots and crossing the Ts that can bring the important personalities to court. So far, the revelations have not gone beyond Abalos that will indict higher personalities other than a case of name dropping which they can safely say is hearsay and cannot stand in court. At this stage, FG’s name has been mentioned by both Lozada and Joey, while GMA by Neri. FG’s connection to the ZTE is limited to his remarks of “back off” quoted by Joey. In court, this means nothing. Lozada also cannot prove it was FG that Abalos was talking to on the phone. Unless Lozada has more incriminating info to disclose the Senate hearing today will just put the issue back to square one. The ones that can make solid indictments are Neri and Abalos. If you ask me, the Senate should focus their investigations on these two because they are the ones who talked to the gods and therefore hold the key. Lozada and Joey only talked to the lieutenants. I only hope the senators do not fall on each other grandstanding as they often do. Their antics defeat the purpose of their objectives that draw people away.

There is such a syndrome as being in a scandal-fatigue state. Havent the anti-Gloria politicians realized this yet? The hardworking man on the street wouldnt care less if Lozada spills whatever he claims he knows until he turns blue on the face. Someone with a thriving business would rather think of how to expand his or her enterprise than to engage in nonsense rhetoric. Now that Lozada admits being involved in anomalous transactions himself (with his wife) at the Phil Forest, it doesn’t make sense. Why would we believe what’s coming out of his mouth? Let’s just do a huge service to the nation by taking care of our families, being honest at work and by improving the quality of our lives instead.

ang dapat pala imbestigahan ay etong si lozada kasi inamin marami pala siyang iregularidad sa phil. forest corporation.

mula sa insurance nya na ang ginamit ay ang pera ng phil forest corp, hanggang sa 35 imported na kambing na nagkakahalaga ng mahigit 700,000 pesos.

marami din palang pinasok na kontrata anh phil forest corp sa pamumuno ni lozada ang walang bidding.

dapat manguna si sen. allan peter cayetano at sen. ping lacson sa paghahabla kay lozada

We owe them (2)
By Michael Tan
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:46:00 02/07/2008
http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20080207-117449/We-owe-them-2

This article is nothing butt factual errors and in violation of journalism ethics.

The claims by anti-smokers about Second Hand Smoke is Junk Science.

Littlewood & Fennell
Independent public and health policy research group
Austin, Texas
1999

NUMBER OF CIGARETTES NEEDED TO
REACH DANGEROUS LEVELS OF POLLUTION
IN AN ENCLOSED ENVIRONMENT
Estimated number of cigarettes required to reach TLV levels from side stream
smoke emission of selected chemicals in a sealed and unventilated 100 m3
enclosure (Gori and Mantel, 1991)
(Please note: 100 m3 are equivalent to a room 22′ x 21′ x 8′ ceiling, or 3,696 cubic feet)

Methyl chloride 1,170
Hydroquinone 1,250
Cadmium 1,430
Acetaldehyde 1,430
Acetic Acid 1,660
Nitrogen oxides 1,780
Phormic Acid 1,790
Pyridine 4,100
Phenol 7,600
Methylamine 13,000
Benzene 13,300
Catecol 16,500
Nickel 40,000
Diethylamide 50,000
Hydrazine 145,000
Acetone 178,000
Benzo(a)pyrene 222,000
2-Toluidine 300,000
Polonium 750,000
Toluene 1,000,000

TLV = Threshold Limit Value. It is the threshold used in the USA, a
country with most restrictive standards for toxic exposure.
[*] Side Stream Smoke is the smoke from the cigarette released right downstream of the hot
tip. That type of smoke is the worst, since the chemical catalysis processes that occur a
few instants after the smoke leaves the burning tip still have to blend with the surrounding
air (in short, before becoming real passive smoke). But it is very unlikely that non-smokers
stand motionless 4 inches directly above the tip of a cigarette, as the sensor was positioned
for these measurements. Thus even the number of cigarettes estimated above to reach the
safety limits is understated.
[**] EPA data1990a, Table C-2, pages C-19, 20
[***] Based on the lower exposure limit for tar volatile compounds
[****] EPA 1990b

If the scenario described in the table above were undertaken in real
life, the smokers in the room would run out of oxygen long before
reaching the limit for methyl chloride.

The only real issue is one of visibility of smoke, and odor, both of which can easily be handled by affordable ventilation/filtration technology operating within standard air flow rates.

The global news industry is refusing to report that many researchers, scientists, even doctors and politicians, do NOT believe the anti-smoking claims about Second Hand Tobacco Smoke, which is a Violation of Journalism Ethics and Fiduciary Duty to the public.

There has never been a study proving that exposure to smoke kills or harms anyone, and that includes minors in cars with smokers.

Average smoker exhales less than 500 milligrams of Second Hand Smoke per day. Average car exhales more than 2.2 MILLION milligrams of Second Hand Smoke per day. It is Cars that need banning, not tobacco smokers.

Car smoking bans dramatically increase the dehumanization of smokers, increase the hatred of smokers, falsely convicts smokers as mass murderers without due process of law, violating constitutional rights, and unjustifiably undermines and destroys the parent-child relationship.

It is Junk Science for a Buck like that article that needs banning, not second hand tobacco smoke.

Steve Hartwell, Toronto, Canada. http://www.ventilatedsmokingrooms.ca

walang kredibilidad si lozada dahil sa maraming siyang anomalyang lumitaw. may mga transaksyon pala siya bilang head ng phil. forest corp. dapat siguro kumilos ang ombudsman at tingnan mabuti ang mga hinihinalang anomalyang ito. at dapat siguro tigilan na rin ng senado ang imbestigasyon at ihain na lang sa korte ang isyu kung me kasong dapat isampa

lozada’s credibility collapsed. when documents presented by sen. miriam defensor-santiago showed potential anomalies he had committed while he was the head of the phil. forest corporation.

if the senators really want the truth, then they submit lozada to the proper court for proper investigation.

Ah, so there. Whistleblower Lozado, after all the unabashed shedding of tears and theatrics, has admitted to being a “fixer.” Grilled in a Senate hearing, Lozada virtually confessed that he has no business being officially involved, or that he was not formally appointed to represent government, with the NBN transaction apart from having IT as his supposed expertise. This means he was involved as a big-time fixer. And fixers dont come in cheap these days. Short of saying he was waiting for mannah to fall on his lap but didnt. Then he wept over spilt milk and—as con men deviously do—surrounded himself with images of the deity and tried to made a saint of himself.

After the Senators have their fun. What next after the Loazada confessions?

Mr. Lozada’s expose on the arroyo’s govt’s numerous dealings is nothing new in the common pinoy’s psyche. Bringing them to the fore is merely a confirmation of the infuriating fact taht any regime past or present is corrupt and immoral.
PGMA herself shown on TV initiating an prayer/invocation before a cabinet meeting is the biggest immoral hypocrite of all. May God strike her down !
Sergio Apostol’s remark is irresponsible and uncalled for. He should put a muzzle on his big mouth before he offends many more, with his racial slur.

GMA legal adviser Apostol is sexist and racist. When a man who is able to show his emotions, that is not weakness. It is in fact an act of courage. In a democracy, Jun Lozada and his family and all Chinese Filipinos have the same right to be here in this country as Apostol. If he is indeed a man of integrity, I dare him to apologize as any real man should do.

Sen Mirriam was testing Lozada’s credibility while Sen Enrile was probing Lozada’s morality? Look who’s talking! We deserve a better senate (senators).

It seems that the title of article written by Ms. Veronica Uy is misleading…where i quote…”No DoJ witness protection program for Lozada” diba dapat Lozada does not want Government witness protection program…gusto ko ang pagbubunyag sa mga katiwalian pero kapag ang press ay ganyan parang masyadong hindi rin makatarungan para sa gobyerno natin, isa pa nakakawala ng kredibilidad kung nililinlang mo ang mga magbabasa..dapat as a journalist u should be fair enough and responsible…go Lozada, support kami syo pero sana naman yung mga nagsusulat wag gustuhin na parang gumulo ang sitwasyon at ang bansa natin..

Chinese Filipina Says:
February 9th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
GMA legal adviser Apostol is sexist and racist. When a man who is able to show his emotions, that is not weakness. It is in fact an act of courage. In a democracy, Jun Lozada and his family and all Chinese Filipinos have the same right to be here in this country as Apostol. If he is indeed a man of integrity, I dare him to apologize as any real man should do.
*************************
Gloria Arroyo, Lap dog’s were saying that because they don’t know what else to say. They got catch on all their lies! They were saying the same thing about Fernando Poe, Jr. Also. Nothing new to this corrupt FAKE PRESIDENT OF CEBU.

Yes, Indeed. Mr. Lozada, Have every right to stay in this country because he was born in this country. Thats means HE IS FILIPINO CITIZEN.

249
pepe Says:
February 9th, 2008 at 3:45 am
Mr. Lozada’s expose on the arroyo’s govt’s numerous dealings is nothing new in the common pinoy’s psyche. Bringing them to the fore is merely a confirmation of the infuriating fact taht any regime past or present is corrupt and immoral.
PGMA herself shown on TV initiating an prayer/invocation before a cabinet meeting is the biggest immoral hypocrite of all. May God strike her down !
Sergio Apostol’s remark is irresponsible and uncalled for. He should put a muzzle on his big mouth before he offends many more, with his racial slur.
***********************
I’m with you 100%

240
natros Says:
February 8th, 2008 at 9:02 am
For me the revelations of Lozada is nothing but a rehash of of Joey de Venecia III testimony in the Senate. If he is really a truthful person why is it that it takes him so long to divulge all the anomalous transaction in the ZTE-NBN deal? On the other hand, if indeed there are enough evidence against the people mentioned, then it would be better to charged them in the proper court to determine if they are really guilty or not.
************************
What proper place are you talking about. You mean take it to court? what court? Gloria Arroyo, control the entire corrupt justice system. Nothing good happen even if you take your case to court they’re just going to sit on the case. If not they’re going to throw it in the trash can.

Bakit ganyan yan si Apostol? Parang batang walang pinag-aralana kung mag komento? Ubod ng babaw? And he’s supposed to be an “advicer” to the highest authority in the country? Impressive talaga si ma’m, puro top notch ang mga askal niya.

Evil does not always appear as something sinister. It can take on the face of someone like Sen Apostol smiling yet hardened to the core. Come to think of it, that is the face of most Fiulipino politicians.

Sen Apostol is a real cause for concern because his heart must be so hardened that he cannot comprehend tears. He is exposed to and actively participates practices of graft and corruption every single day but is incapable of showing remorse nor able to shed a tear of guilt.

From another angle, it is alright to grieve. The shortest verse in the Bible is “Jesus wept.” It is concise yet powerful.

It is also alright to be afraid. Jesus perspired blood in Gethsemane because he knew what was going to happen to Him. He was even asking the Father - if there is a way to take the cup away from Him but nevertheless He submitted to the Father’s will.

Lozada knew he was going to becrucified and he was and is by Arroyo’s army of leeches and pack of hyenas.

I’ve searched high and low for an appropriate adjective or a phrase for Apostol and the most best I can come up with is “IDIOT”, actually he acts and talks like the “VILLAGE IDIOT”…nuff said..

It’s a pity that ordinary policemen, soldiers, mmda traffic enforcers can be easily put in a trap and jailed for corruption(as in kotong).. maybe they do it because of poverty( kapos sa pangangailangan).. But those people in the higher echelons of our society…they do it because of GREED!! Pork Barrels..everybody knows na may automatic commissions ang mga congressman (not all).. Sasabihin nila, may ebidensiya ka ba? Libel comes next.. Commissions sa lahat ng projects ng gobyerno.. SINO-SINO kaya ang napapabilang pa sa ” A FEW GOOD MEN IN OUR SOCIETY”? Kakasuka na!!!

LOZANO is indeed firing his salvo. I admire his “renewal” and courage…but wait…remember who crucifed Jesus.

The Arroyo government is corrupt, correct. Millions and millions of pesos or in dollars are involved. Shocking indeed.

But wait, does “renewal” free us from our sins? Lozano got his multi-million graft ridden management in PhilForest as admitted in the Senate Bureau of Investigation (SBI) when he “awarded” the agency’s programs to himself, his wife, brother and maybe even entire his family.

And the Bureau Investigators, not senators please, during the investigation process never centered on ZTE-NBN agenda, instead, a firepower of personalized and irrelevant inquiries, all out of bound, destroying their own credibilities. As Senator JPE stressed, the investigation must be a SENATE BLUE RIBBON COMMITTE hearing not others but crying lady Loren, marine Biazon, marketman Roxas and other presidentiables and aspiring vice presidentiables prove to be more of “Zarzuelistas” than Investigators. All, me, me, mine.

No, I will not give my time to discredit Jun Lozada because he’s his own person. My only point is what he is spilling now will be given credence and bring to court those guilty if ever. But I want him realize that his “renewal” is not enough to his own crime committed in PhilForest. He must not ask for any forgiveness, hide in the witness protection program for it will become a precedent… you can take all “meager” but questionable commissions then after near collusion become a witness to still become a crime of corruption like ZTE-NBN, and be free from any wrongdoing. A crime is a crime!

U

The MC4 was just a result of a resolution of the POEA governing board headed by Art Brion and composed of Baldoz, Leo de Ocampo of Omanfil recruitment agency, Capt Oca of Amosup, former congressman Aligada, and former DOT secretary Mina Gabor.

The main objective of the direct hire policy of Brion and company was not to protect OFWs but to ensure that recruitment agencies continue their business in the face of the emerging trend of getting overseas jobs directly from employers through the internet and other modes.

In 2007, direct hires or name hires accounted for about 4 percent of the total OFW contracts (1 million annual average) processed by the POEA. De Ocampo must have seen the steady increase from 2005 at only 0.3% and 1.3% in 2006, that he prodded the board to issue such resolution.

Senate hearings are the convenient refuge of whistleblowers who, after being involved in anomalous transactions in government, spin tall tales and implicate persons in authority because of personal vendetta. We have had Mahusay, Ong, Zuce, Cam, etcetera before, and now, Lozada. His brother was killed in a botched police operation and I understand his rage to settle the score. Yet he enriched himself and his kin by using his position in government by distributing thousands of hectares of public lands to relatives and influential families. He maintains a fleet of luxury cars; multi-million peso transactions brokered by his wife and he admits to being a practitioner of government’s “dysfunctional procurement system.” He sought the help of Senator Lacson, who in turn conveniently used Lozada for his political ends, before turning into a supposed whistleblower. If Lozada’s case is “pot calling the kettle black,” I say let the courts decide.

I was reading the article titled Arroyo men, Lozada clash. In this article, I quote Atienza as saying “I told him they would take him wherever he wanted”, but when Lozada had asked to be brought to his home in Pasig CIty, they drove him farther away from where he live. Is this what Atienza saying that Lozada was never deprived of his rights. I think he needs to think before he open his mouth. I just hope that somebody from the Senate are examining all the statements that the Gov’t officials are saying. None of them really are telling the truth. They are all covering up for themselves. These Gov’t officials are not placed in this position to really do the job that is required of them. They are placed in their position to cover up. I bet that if this investigation gets worse, they will declare Martial Law to hold on to their jobs. This is the reason that these people are pushing for Parliamentray type of Governemnt. All decision making will be done by the member of the Parliament, and there will be no opposition. Talagang pakapalan na lang ng mukha. Di bali na lang na maghirap ang mga mamayan basta mabuhay kang sila ng maginhawa. These are knowledgeable educated people, but their are not using their knowledge for the good of the country. Just for the good of their pockets.

The good thing with NBN issue is (eventhough i don’t believe everything I hear, read and watch)… it will deter those who have plans of doing the same thing. But some will just get smarter not to be caught or get into this kind of situation.

Who else benefit from this issue? 1. The MEDIA of course. The news about scandal sells very well. People will track this news. 2. The OPPOSITION. They pretend that their purpose is to free the government of corruption. You cannot fool all of us. We know your own agenda. 3. The WHISTLE BLOWERS (pffftt.. sounds not good. SUPOT eh! ). Their names become popular, and expect this… they (or their relatives) will run for post soon. We don’t know if they really act on their own or they let themselves used by others.

We know that these started as accusations and will just end as accusations as no proofs are being presented. Eh ano? as long as it serves its purpose…… to create chaos.

Now, who is the sufferer? The nation. We show to the world that this kind of non-sense are entertained by the Senate (but they have purpose right?) for the sake of our country kuno. But the opposite is happening. They (politicians) are just destroying the image of the Philippines and the Filipinos. And still they say they care.

Mr. Lozada played with fire and got burned.
A small-time crook acting as consigliere for the big Dons.

Magdahan dahan po tayo… Sometimes the truth can’t be seen on the elementary and the seemingly portrayed obvious. Marcos and Estrada were judged by the people because of the high level of atrocities seen and fought for by credible people who cried out loud and some were killed for it. Clearly obvious were the former presidents’ misdeeds and accumulations of wealth, luxurious properties were proven. Now the only proof given against Arroyo were voices of not so credible people and none of them are qualified to die as martyrs. Gusto lang ng mga iyan kumandidato or mag migrate sa Canada with pabaon from opposition who orchestrates this whole scenario. Sanay sa baligtaran ang opposition, they feed us and the poor administration with traps to create false movements for a people power.

There should be smooth transfer of power.
The transfer of power should be from the ruling elite–embodied not only by the Executive but also by Congress, the House and the Senate.
Power should be transferred to the People–not to the Traditional Politicians represented by the Opposition nor to the
Communists or the Military.
The Catholic Church and other Christian Churches should represent the People.
In behalf of the Real Interests of the People, the Catholic Church and other Christian Churches (CCOCC) should negotiate with the Ruling Elite (RE)–
Executive and Congress.
This should be similar to negotiations with the CCP and the MILF.
Negotiations should give concessions and a gracious exit, even amnesty or immunity from suit to RE and their alter egos.
Negotiations should bear fruit in a NEw
Constitution with transitory provisions barring incumbents from positions of power in a new government. New Constituion should be submitted to the people in a referendum/plebiscite .

The above steps are necessary because another change of Presidents without real transfer of power to the People from the traditional Ruling Elite would simply be
restarting the vicious cycle of transfer of power from one sector of the RE to another sector which belongs to the same RE.
Such a transfer would require negotiations for an orderly , effective and long-lasting transfer of power.
Negotiations would require representation by credible representatives of the Real Interests of the People.

The exhaustive study on smooth transition of power by Mr. Enrique E Angeles is indeed noteworthy but, my basic opinion is that in a democracy, the best exercise for transfer of power is a free and honest election where the separation of State and Church is well-defined.

Translation Guide :From GloriaSpeak To English

1)Let’s Move On: Forget the issue! Catch us if you can!

2)We Deny :You really didn’t expect us to tell the truth.

3)The Truth: There are many variants of Truth(our side, their side).There’s no such thing as The Truth.

4)Con-Con: Well,it’s THE CON GAME;to divert the public from the issue at hand.

5)Noli De Castro: The Antidote

6)Impeach Me: One-year immunization.

7)Where’s the Evidence?: Do you think we are that stupid to leave something incriminating behind?

Junket: Bonding sessions with 32 congressmen.

9)”Big Boy”: Sorry!That’s not a Direct link to Gloria.

10)The Pidals:Que Barbaridad!Not the Arroyos .Bueno,The Pidals are the ones who destroyed the much esteemed Macapagal name in history.Understood?

11) D Defensors: Mike and Tita Miriam ,the defenders of the Faith,legally and extra-legally.

12)Ronnie Puno:Is there a Doctor in the house?

13)Mr.Esperon:the uniformed Bodyguard.

14)Apostol: Madame WETNESS

15)Raul Gonzales: Kidney and Brain Transplants

16)Bunye Na,Saludo PA!: SPIN doctors

17)Abalos: The Ultimate Fall Guy

18)JDV:There’s a sucker born every minute!

19)The Masa: Ay Que Horror! After a photo op,”where’s my hand sanitizer?”.

20)The Filipino People:people with short memory (64kb memories:forgive and forget)

21)2010: Ano yun?

22)Presidential Pardon: “Let’s make a deal!”

23)Destabilizer: You do not agree with Gloria.

24)No one is above the law:Except Gloria

25)Jun Lozada: “I pray that’s not our tipping point!”

In his testimony before the Senate, Rodolfo Noel “Jun” Lozada claimed he was assigned to “moderate the greed” in connection with the aborted ZTE contract, and also lambasted what he called “dysfunctional government procurement” system. But his testimony itself revealed he knows a lot about greed and that he is himself a practitioner of the dysfunctional procurement system that he talked about.

Other than his dramatic and theatrical early morning press conference where he surrounded himself with nuns and priests and his tearful allegations of being abducted at the airport upon his arrival from Hong Kong, there was nothing that Lozada said that could add to what have already been said during the yearlong investigations over the case.

If anything, Lozada only bared that he has been, in plain lingo, a big-time fixer and a corrupt government official who has no qualms about being contributor to the dysfunction of the government procurement system. Consider the following:

1. He termed as “bubukol” the $130 million that Abalos allegedly tried to “protect” in connection with the deal. He said $65 million would be more acceptable, indicating that he would have recommended for the approval of the deal if the commissions were lowered to half. But what kind of morals would allow, in his own words, a “permissible zone” of corruption provided the amounts for bribes be reduced by half? Would the morality and faith of the priests and nuns of La Salle, who shielded Lozada, be so permissive?

2. He admitted he was never an official consultant of Secretary Romulo Neri, and said he has never received compensation other than occasional lunches and dinners, yet he handled huge multi-billion peso projects, such as the NBN. In the process, he actually negotiated with top officials, high level business executives and high-powered project proponents, such as Abalos and De Venecia. For what? For his friendship with Neri? For love of country? Of course, he said he was there to “moderate the greed.” Which means, he can actually accept greed and that he can deal with the greedy. In other words, a fixer. Fixers share in the commissions, even if these are “moderated” and “permissible.”

3. He kept mouthing about the “dysfunctional procurement system,” but when confronted by Senator Santiago about his irregular dealings as chief executive officer of the Philippine Forest Corporation (PFC), he sheepishly acknowledged that he indeed committed those irregularities – including the grant of contracts by PFC to himself, his wife and his brother.

4. Lozada lectured on the supposed ills of the bureaucracy during his testimony, including patronage and political influence over appointments, even if the officials appointed do not have any knowledge about the particular fields they are assigned in. Lozada is a communications engineer, yet he was assigned as CEO of the PFC, whose line is forestry, only because of his relationship with General Victor Corpuz and Neri.

5. Lozada mentioned about the Cyber Education project, an equally controversial project that was priced higher than the NBN project. What was his role in the project? Was he also able the “manage the greed” in the Cyber Education project?

6. In his so-called enlightening experience with the farmer and the guava during a trip in Negros, Lozada did not say if his “enlightenment” caused him to regret awarding 10,000 hectares of land to a single influential family in Negros, instead of the poor farmers whose plight he claims to be so concerned of. Perhaps the good senators can look into this?

7. Aided by Senator Chiz Escudero, Lozada said his questionable dealings as PFC head is only like “intramurals lang sa school” compared the alleged ZTE anomalies, which is like an NBA basketball game. By such twisted logic, it may be alright and within the “permissible zone” to take the life of a lowly vagrant, but it would be “forbidden zone” if the victim is a rich and powerful man, say, a senator.

IS LOZADA a hero? He likened himself as a Jedi knight who has chosen the bright side. “May the force be with you,” Senator Mar Roxas even saluted him. Using the Star Wars saga as a metaphorical take off, Darth Vader, the darkest of the dark knights, was once a Jedi knight who was consumed and corrupted, in the end, by greed, power and vengeance.

Lozada, by his own admission, was never at the bright side. He was a practitioner of dysfunction and an advocate of greed, albeit “permissible” by his own standards. He may also have been consumed by vengeance, because of the killing of his brother in 2001 during a botched police operation.

We call for a closure of the ZTE scandal by bringing the issue to court so that the guilty can be punished. Lozada should not also go unpunished for the irregularities he brazenly committed as government official. Those who mishandled him at the airport should also face the consequences of their booboo.

Finally, we appeal to our people not to be swayed by this case so as to put our country again in jeopardy, as what the authors of this farce would want to.

Jun Lozada must realize by now that after he told the “truth” and is elevated to a “hero” status, some elements may do him harm or just want him dead. Those elements that would want to put the blame of his death on the Administration and make that as a rallying point to topple the government.

I agree with the comments of the 8thBushido.
If the IBP, Kilos Bayan, Bantay Katarungan, etc. let Lozada get away with his corrupt practices and just run after the President and the persons that they hated, what kind of Justice system do we have?
Our government has thousands of dishonest individuals like Lozada(some people called them crooks, fixers, etc.) that is eroding the entire government system every minute of each day. They worked like termites, feeding the Queen, and surely, some day they are the very ones that are going to bring this country down.
Cutting one single head is easy. Cutting a thousand heads is another thing.
Punish and reform all the Lozadas in the government and the Queen dies.

Whatever Lozada’s initial motivations to testify are, he has become a hero to many. The behaviour of the president’s men and women in persecuting and victimizing him served as a powerful catalyst in rallying people behind him. No one wants to see anyone bullied.

Their behaviour failed to discredit Lozada because they debased themselves by employing vicious attacks and dirty tricks. They have shown themselves to be tacky, indecent human beings confirming what people suspected all along. They are greedy spoilt grown men and women used to plundering - caught red handed.

Having said that, I applaud Jun Lozada. It is easier to keep quiet. He did not take the easy road.

I’m afraid for Jun Lozada coz the ARROYO Government is capable not only of ’stealing’ but also of ‘Murder’ just to save themselves and live like queen and king. Maybe US needs to intervene. Maybe someone should ‘Publicized’ this to the U.S government and other investors. Coz in actual fact, even if the phil govt pays it off (actually it’s the filipino people - not Arroyo admin who is paying the debt, the investors are also losing some money because they are investing their money in the Philippines but it’s economy is just getting worse (major cause: Corruption). The longer Arroyo stays - next thing you’ll here is ‘Arroyo’ selling Phils to another country and therefore Philippines will just disappear from the face of the earth (maybe i’m exaggerating but I hope it drives the point)..

Abalos at Korina today show on 10 Feb - had been ‘waving’ a piece of document which HE CLAIMS will prove that Jun Lozada is a liar.

My reply to him: I could show him document/s that can show that I was a scholar at ‘Harvard University’ with Doctorate Master Degree’. I just paid $15 dolalrd to get that diploma from ‘Quiapo’ Phils.(Get the drill - Abalos just had that document made up. It’s a ‘fake’.

If the ‘Arroyo Administration stays longer up to end of her term - ‘Just say goodbye to Philippines’ because she or her colleagues will sell ‘Philippines’ to investors. Next thing we know ‘Philippines’ will just disapper from the face of the earth.

much ado about nothing - this is my opinion about this sickening lozada drama. i cannot understand why people are so interested with this zte scandal when it has already been scrapped???? no one benefitted from it because its not a done deal? so whats the big fuss??? now this make me think that the senators im sure are benefitting from the media mielage of this drama no doubt about that because of too much gransdtanding on this issue, hurting the economy and embarassing the government where the oppositions are happy is second, last thing is the money spent on investigating this issue are peoples money. the main thing is this is just a waste of time and money because the plan was void, so it really makes me sick to know that people are riding on this issue. oppositions are using this opportunity to gain support when they dont have any concrete plan on who they want to run the government in case the present government fails…

On Harry King’s comment about elections:
Elections, under present conditions, yield negative results due to the people’s poverty and ignorance which make the electorate vulnerable to the charm of celebrities, monetary inducements and
intimidation by the barrel of a gun. Thus, Erap Estrada won thru honest elections, just as Jinggoy Estrada, Loi Estrada,Bong Revilla , Lito Lapid , Gringo Honasan, Ping Lacson and Trillanes won thru honest elections. Did Gloria Arroyo cheat Fernando Poe in the 2004 elections? Did Gloria cheat just to pad her margin, or did she lose if she did not cheat? Elections in
the Philippines being the flawed human exercises that they are–absolute moral considerations aside–I would say that
Salus Populi Suprema Bona Est, the welfare of the people is the highest good. Fernando Poe would have been another Erap Estrada–another tragic transformation of a dream into a nightmare.
Negotiations should precede elections
to establish the conditions for elections which will result in public good. Absent such conditions, elections will only result in the transfer of power from one faction of the ruling elite to another.
Such conditions should include guarantee of immunity from suit for Gloria and her alter egos. Without such a guarantee, Gloria cannot provide other subsequent conditions such as a truly impartial Comelec and a truly independent and impartial military, police and Department of justice.
Take a specific example: Ilocos Sur where the Singsons are the ruling elite.
For non-traditional and progressive
non-Communist political forces to win in Ilocos Sur, all private armies by the Singsons should be disarmed and dismantled and all license to bear arms should be revoked–and then, illegal positon of deadly weapons should be enough to throw anyone in jail for the duration of the election period, especially if one is a Singson.
Gloria Arroyo wil agree to allow non-traditional and progressive political forces to win if she is guaranteed immunity from suit. Otherwise, she will use every means in her power to help somebody win, like Noli de Castro or whoever, who will give her some kind of immunity.
I believe Gloria is trying to do her best and trying to outmaneuver a corrupt and flawed political system of patronage politics controlled by the ruling elite in Congess, the Senate and the local government units. I would give her immunity.
Why The Catholic Church and other Christian Churches? What happened to the separation of Church and State?
Becaue only the Christian Churches are credible and courageous enough. This is the Philippines, not America. We have to act according to local conditions, not follow blindly American models. By Christian Churches I do not include Eddie Villanueva and Mike Velarde. I think they are opportunists who use religion for their own ends.
To go back to Ilocos Sur as an example. Who else would be brave enough to spearhead political reform in Ilocos Sur, if not the priests and nuns?
Pampanga is an example of a revolutuion that can be emulated and duplicated in other parts of the Philippines, especially in warlord areas like Ilocos Sur, Masbate, Romblon, Abra and others. A Catholic priest had enough credibility and charisma to inspire the people to renounce a jueteng lord and an artista quarry king of corruption.
Negotiation before elections to assure Gloria of immunity from suit so she will agree to provide the conditions for a fair and free lelection where the people can mount popular movements against family dynasties and the ruling elite by insuring an impartial Comelec, military, police and justice deparment who will wield the strong arm of the law to protect the citizens who will move for the peaceful transfer of power to the people.

Many of our senators have proven themselves to be very good detectives/investigators.
Why not enlist them into our NBI and give their seats instead to those who ONLY know how to make laws?

Tapos na ang rally sa Makati … as expected, bigo na naman ang mga organizers na umaasa ng isa na namang people power, na makakuha ng malaking “crowd”. Iyong sinasabi nilang “massive rally” ay 9,000 lang pala halos ang pupunta. Sa press release nila na 80 organisasyon daw ang magmomobilisa, kahit paano pala naman ay meron silang mga 100 kada organisasyon. Buking na talagang ang tao ay sawang sawa na sa mga rally na iyan at gusto na lang mag-concentrate sa kanilang ikabubuhay. Tanong ko nga lang, ilan kayang mga “namumundok na komunista” ang sumama sa kanila kanina para mas mapadami pa ang bilang ng hanay nila? Aba e puro naman mga taga kaliwa ang andun di ba, maliban sa mga “celebrity rallyists” na kagaya nina Robert Reyes (na pari daw pero hindi ko sigurado dahil, nakakapagmisa pa ba iyon sa ka-ra-rally niya?), Armida Siguion Reyna, etc.

Minsan pa, napatunayan na naman ng sambayanang Pilipino (na ayon kay Lozada ay ipinaglalaban niya), na hindi na tayo basta basta nagpapadala sa mga ganyang “moro-moro” sa senado na lahat naman ay “in aid of election” sa 2010. Siguro nga totoo ang mga sinabi niya (otherwise, sobrang galing niyang artista sa mga pag-iyak iyak niya kung hindi). Kaya lang, anong kabutihan nga ba ang nagawa ng paglalahad niya sa Sendo gayong halatang-halata naman na nagagamit siya ng mga “presidentiables” para makakuha ng media mileage. Napansin niyo ba? Suddenly, in hyperdrive na si Mar Roxas sa pagbatikos sa administrasyon dahil siguro napansin niya na medyo napag-iiwanan na siya nina Lacson, Villar, Legarda, at Cayetano sa limelight.

Samantala, heto na naman tayo at bumabagsak na naman ang stock market at ang piso. Meron nga bang bago sa sinabi ni Lozada kumpara sa mga ibinulgar ni Joey de Venecia? Wala naman di ba? Heto pa, nagpasabog na naman si Joey de Venecia na P10 bilyon daw para sa mga Arroyo ang mapupunta dapat mula sa ZTE…hmmm…kung siya kaya ang nakakuha ng kontrata, magkano kaya ang hatian nila ng kanyang ama? Hindi kaya naman kaya lang sila nagpapasabog ng ganyan ng Tatay niya ay dahil natanggal na sila sa puwesto sa Kongreso? Moral revolution daw ayon kay JDV…he he he..talking about the kettle calling the pot black.

Kaibigan, tama na ang pagpapagamit. Ayaw ko na rin sana ng Gobyernong ito kung tutuusin pero kung ang mga nagnanais din lang magpabagsak sa gobyernong ito ang pagpipilian, okay na akong maghintay ng 2010. Doon na lang tayo bumawi. In our own little way, let us work to educate our electorate to choose the right leaders. I know it is easier said than done but let us be “constructive” rather than “destructive”. And most of all, let us not allow ourselves to be used by any politicians, be it from the administration or the opposition, nor should we let ourselves be dictated upon by the “bishops turned politicians” around us. I was in EDSA I, I was for EDSA II, but the country cannot afford an EDSA III. That model no longer works…people have gone tired of it…we need another revolution and that is one that should start within ourselves, our families, our community. Tama na ang pulitika … stop this political nonsense and let us buckle down to work.

Anything good from the ZTE NBN scandal?

The on-going socio-political situation in the Philippines is fast-calling the attention not only of Filipinos scattered in different parts of the globe, but of the international press as well. But, honestly speaking, it is heartbreaking and quite confusing, and at the same time dismaying, to listen to the various testimonies given at the Senate blue ribbon body investigating into the cancelled ZTE NBN deal. Who is really telling the truth? I get the impression that we are rather face to face with only half-truths and that there is no way of finding out the whole truth about this recent scandal. But has there ever been any episode in the local political scene where the entire truth has been known or made accessible to the public? Have Filipinos really found out the whole truth, for example, about the Marcos dictatorship and corruption? What about the “Smokey Mountain” controversy during the time of Fidel Ramos? And the recent Joseph Estrada issues? Is there any socio-political event in recent Philippine History where every aspect of truth has been revealed? Nah, that’s just wishful thinking. The truth is that Filipinos are used to half-truths and, down inside, are not really that interested in knowing (as the late Inday Badiday would put it) “the truth and nothing but the truth”. Filipino pragmatism leads them to think that any truth would do, provided it suits their needs. So what’s the truth about the ZTE NBN deal? Probably for some ambitious people, that truth would correspond with anything that would eventually help them realize their plan of toppling down GMA from office on the pretext of bringing about a better political regime and administration.

There is some truth to how some ZTE representatives described the on-going investigation at the Senate on the deal: it’s just a “political circus”. And, again, we Filipinos love circuses, just as much as we love controversies, scandals, telenovelas and the likes. We don’t really mind spending precious time and even money following hot issues fed to us by the mass media (newspapers, tv, radio, etc.). The mass media, on the other hand, will never get tired of hunting news to bring us the latest in what’s going on around us. That’s how mass media in the Philippines survive. No news, no work and no work, no money. We just have to keep the ball rolling. Oftentimes what you get from what you read on newspapers or hear on radio stations or see on TV is not so much a question of truth, but of sheer opinion and images. And these things tend to be put on the same level. Listen very well to what is said at the ZTE hearing sessions and see how marginal the difference is between facts and professional opinions and hearsays! And we expect the Filipino masses to openly take a stand in the face of all this by marching out on the streets and staging another EDSA revolution? Nah, that would be too far from entertaining.

What we witness nowadays seems more like one of those time-wasting and money-consuming scenarios Filipinos have gotten used to after all these years. Will something concrete and really life-changing come out of it - something capable of transforming the socio-economic, political and, more importantly, moral situation in our country? I doubt. Do we, Filipinos, really expect radical changes to take place in our society simply by changing administration and political leaders? How many public protest movements, how many coup d’états, how many wars and revolutions, how many changes in political leadership, and so forth have we seen in these past decades and how much has really changed for the better in the Philippine society? I would tend to agree with Abunye in saying that the waning participation of the masses in the recent demonstrations against the Arroyo administration somewhat reveals that the Filipinos are getting tired of such public displays and are implicitly doubting their successful outcome in the long run. What could be the cause of such a lukewarm response on the part of the majority? Is it simply because the oppositions fail to put their act together? Or is it because the high-ranking ecclesiastical authorities are not calling out for a mass participation the way the late Jaime card. Sin did against the Marcos administration? Or is it simply because most Filipinos cannot make up their minds due to lack of sufficient knowledge and conviction? Or perhaps they are just too wrapped up in their own individual interests that, unless something concerns them more directly and seriously, they’d just tend to shrug their shoulders and slip into that old stance of indifference? There could be a bit of all these motivations, but perhaps what really accounts for their apparent lack of interest in staging another EDSA revolution is that, deep down inside, the Filipinos are not really convinced about the good that would result from all this melodramatic political show, that stars the likes of Lozada Jr., De Venecia III, Neri and Abalos in the foreground and, perhaps, even of Mike Arroyo, Atienza, the GMA administration and many others in the background. These personages are certainly getting the best attention they could ever get in their entire lives! What about us? I’d say let us just enjoy ourselves, get on with our personal lives, watch the whole farce and stop blaming others. Real changes must start with ourselves and our mentality. Both politics and the Church, at the present time, should act more as catalysts in bringing about changes in us, rather than allowing themselves to be instrumentalized by a few people with some hidden agenda.

I agree with the idea of Celebee. The Filipino people are at a loss with getting into this messed trouble of NBN deal! It was a no deal controversy so why do the senators make a big blow about it. I don’t believe in the pakulo of Trillanes or Escudero. Look at what they did in the past - we look so stupid at believing on their make believe truths and their ideas are always making ‘contra’ to the government. Ano kaya ang motibo nila at hindi nila makayang makiisa sa gobyerno.

We must admit that elections under any conditions yields negative results as long as the electorate is uneducated and poor. Generation upon generation, this electorate will always be subject to exploitation by the unscrupulous ruling classes.
A strong basic education is the best deterrent against corruption. We need sound and basic education programs not to produce more IT experts like Loazada but to produce more honest, moral, hard-working and independent-minded citizens. Citizens that can distinguish right from wrong and will never allow themselves to be coerced or manipulated. Programs that starts within the family and extend to the primary schools.
Religion can no longer serve as an absolute moral standard today, and by the term religion we are not referring only to the Catholic and Christian churches but all other religious beliefs as well. The poor today watches in admiration and disbelief the rich criminals living in posh subdivisions going to church to pray every Sunday. The innocent children of those criminals living in luxury derived from their parents’ loot, goes to elite religious schools and someday may assume and perpetuate this rule of corruption.
The poor thinks that God must have forgiven those crooks for all the crimes they committed.

Poverty reduction: What we know and don’t know

GDP is not an accurate indicator of poverty. While one can make convenient comparisons and analyses with GDP across countries and their population, it cannot accurately measure how many live below the poverty line.

Comparative pricing of basic commodities, electricity, and rental rates show more details to the poverty picture.

If food makes up more the 60% of the household budget, then you live below the poverty line. How many families live below povery line? GDP cannot be this accurate.

Philippines has one of the most expensive electricity in Asia even if it has one of the worlds largest Geothermal Capacity. The poor do not benefit much from Geothermal power.

Philippines ranks close behind China, India, Mexico in remittances. But its economy heavily dependent on the remittances, because it has very much lower export income compared to these countries.

Even if Philippines is a top exporter of Nurses and Physicians-turn-nurses but affordability and availability of basic health care in rural areas is lags behind as compared to other asians countries.

Now that politicians have better indicators. It’s either they can more indicators or present solutions during the election campaign.

The sad thing about Philippine media is that is is a COWED media, which sounds very close to COWARD. Which is understandable, considering that journalists–some good, some for sale–are killed with impunity or bombarded with libel suits. So for all of media’s protestations of BRAVERY, they can only attack those who are safe to attack, namely those who cannot use extrajudicial means to kill or maim, such as Gloria Arroyo, Romy Neri, Lito Atienza or Sonny Razon. These are “good boys”, they won’t bite. But media can’t attack the NPA because the liquidation squads may go after them, or the really dangerous guys like Chavit Singson or
Ping Lacson, and the sacred cows like
Mike Velarde or the Iglesia ni Kristo–that’s why Philippine media is a cowed media. Which is understandable and maybe forgivable, but please do not say that Philippine media, expecially in metropilitan Manila, is brave. Of course, there are geunine heroes like Marilyn Esperat and others like her. But most of the establishment media since they are also controlled by vested interests and the Ruling Elite–like the Inquirer and ABS-CBN–is a COWED media.

After Bubby Dacer was snatched in broad daylight in the heart of Meto Manila and tortured and killed–with impunity to this day–media in Manila ceased to be brave.
After Bubby Dacer’s killing, no other media man has been killed in Metro Manila because most media men knew who they could attack and who they couldn’t.
But then all the media killings in the provinces started and snowballed.
So, the Mother of All Media Killings was Bubby Dacer’s killing. Unless that is solved Manila media won’t regain its
b—ravery. Before media in Manila start going after all sorts of culprits, they should first try to nail down Dacer’s killers and mastermind. That is my challenge to Inquirer, Philippine Star, ABS-CBN, GMA7 and the rest. Don’t pick the easy fights; pick the fights that need to be fought.

Senators need to be good investigators… in fact they need to be more than that… they need to be good researchers. I don’t see anything wrong with that. They need to perform those functions in order to promulgate laws. Kaya nga “in aid of legislation”. To sleuth is their major function. Read and understand:

Rules of Procedure Governing Inquiries in Aid of Legislation

http://senate.gov.ph/about/procedure.asp#Sec._1

SECTION 1. Power to Conduct Formal Inquiries or Investigations

The Senate or any of its Committees may conduct formal inquiries or investigations in aid of legislation in accordance with these Rules.”

Now Mr. Harry King… If I were you I’d take a cue from Alexander Pope… “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” or in the evolved context “little knowledge is dangerous”. it makes your options in life weak…

The efforts of the Makati police to fine taxi drivers for being ‘choosy and snubish’ should be commended. Its about time, city governments help the public discipline abusive public transport drivers. Having an effective public transport system will help ease traffic in the metro and just might encourage people to leave home their private cars and take the bus or a cab.

MMDA has failed miserably on this front. Its about time Chairman Bayani is replaced by someone with political will, Mayor Binay perhaps?

We must understand that when an individual asked for “Protective Custody”, he is never in “control” . It is the security agents that decides his fate.
The same is true for the President of the Philippines when under the protection of security escorts, the security agents decide the best way to protect the President and not vice versa.
No security forces want to end up with a “dead” President like what happened to Benazir Bhutto in full view of thousands of Pakistanis including the MEDIA.

Our country should be run by law and not by hearsay. I say we finish these Senate hearings and get the entire statement of Jun Lozada. Then we charge him in court. The court will eventually prove all or most of his testimonies are all lies. Then if every person he unjustly implicated, every name he smeared, slandered and maligned will sue him, he will ultimately break down and admit that he is just being used by anti-government forces, specifically the camps of Jojo Binay, Panfilo Lacson and Joma Sison.

I appreciate the comments of Jet Hernandez.
I have never underestimate the ability of our senators to investigate. What is disappointing is their ability to legislate.
I think I should take one more cue from Alexander Pope:
“Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.”

“The Department of Justice’s (DoJ) fact-finding probe into the corroborative revelations of Senate star witness Rodolfo Noel “Jun” Lozada Jr. starts today.”

“Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, however, yesterday said the department will look into the finances of Lozada as he received reports that Lozada did not receive any salary while working as president and chief executive officer of Philippine Forest Corp. (PFC).”

This another DoJ Production from the Man himself, Acting Strange Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales Sr. This man is a source of inspiration for all people who have lost their minds. This man thinks ever so inventively and resourcefully without benefit of reason yet the implementation of the justice system in the republic remains in his hands courtesy of your local tyrant herself Gloria Arroyo.

If those who supports Jun Lozada are truly against corruption and seek the truth then by all means they should denounced Lozada for openly admitting that he was involved in anomalous transactions. if all of you will just keep silent on Lozada’s crime then you are nothing but hypocrites and highly biased. God hates hypocrites!

in as much as i comment the courage of Jun Lozada in this NBN deal, there is something wrong. either he isn’t used to pressure which is somewhat off because he has been a president of a company or he’s not saying the whole truth … There is just something that isn’t right in the whole relevation. i’m sure that Arroyo government are in the hot seat but i commend the de venecia machine on diverting the attention from his son to the arroyo government. it’s funny when it’s just a whole case of sourgraping and opened a whole other can of worms ….

Regarding about the article “Coffee Book Table - Ilocos Norte,

“Ili a Nasudi” ( Land of Grace and Gentility) or the book “La Naval”

im not sure which one of this book that Famous painter Charitso Bitanga did the cover using the famous Iloco cloth abel. Benito “Negz” Negranze is the book’s graphics designer. im also an Artist and a Graphic Designer, i would like to see more of there work (Charitso Bitanga & Benito “Negz” Negranze ) i’ve search in the net and google them but did not find any works or reference to them, kindly email me where i can see more of there works. i do hope you can help me, thanks and more power!

-Arlo

when a thief admits that he indeed steals, the act of admitting his sin may be commendable, but does not diminish the fact that he is a thief. his admission is not a guarantee that he will never steal again.

and when he admits this fact to a bunch of thieves dressed in expensive suits, in national television … well, it becomes one big drama.

let us hope that our senators stick what they are supposed to do– legislate. we deserve to see our taxes used wisely and properly, and it includes our senators and congressmen actually go to work and do their jobs.

and leave cross-examination of thieves to the proper government agencies.

The Senate has become the principal venue for free public entertainment. Another big blow to the local TV entertainment industry.

Priests nowadays are sounding like politicians. To much media exposure lambasting the government. They condemn & judge government officials w/o solid proof or evidence. Did God & Jesus thought us to judge & condemn a certain person? It seems like they were being used by the politicians. They should spread the words of GOD not the words of the POLITICIANS!

Jun Lozada is a hoax! how much was he paid to say all those accusations? Purely heresays, no solid evidence. He seeks protection from Mayor Atienza & co., then accused them of kidnaping him? clearly they fell into his trap. Mr. Lozada is a very intelligent person. So Mr. Lozada, HOW MUCH? answer under oath..

Puro na lng nakaw-nakaw, lahat naman pag may pagkakataon, eh, magnanakaw. Please naman, wag na tayo lahat magmalinis! Tapusin nyo na ang drama ng ZTE coz talaga namang may nakawan, NAHULI LANG AT NABUNYAG! NAG-KAINGGITAN BAGA!

TAMA NA SOBRA NA ANG PLASTIKAN!
By : Rey Santillan

I am an OFW reeling from the negative effects of a strong Peso but what worries me most is, being sick and tired of hearing and watching the grapple of different organizations and individuals who wants to either take control of the government or try to establish popularity for future use. I wish the current administration, PGMA specifically, will remain strong and will be able to once again withstand the pressure for her to continue the momentum we have achieved in the unprecedented economic gains of our beloved country.

Here goes again the political maniacs, parasites and power-hungry of our country feasting on the ZTE/NBN deal pulling tooth and nails to bring down the presidency of PGMA. They pretend to be seeking for TRUTH and using MORALITY as the basis for PGMA and all those supposedly involved in the failed ZTE/NBN deal to quit their posts. Oh c’mon we’ve been into this same process twice in our country’s history and look what we’ve achieved? Were we able to successfully rid corruption in our government? For 28 years since 1986, were we able to improve and safeguard our electoral process? I think the answer to all these questions is a big NO for a simple reason. These same type of people (with some same faces since 1986) who are vying for government positions and those that currently have the positions do not want to loose the opportunities to cheat during elections to be able to occupy a good position in government and finally to make a lot of money. Thus, they do not have the motivation to really fix the root causes of the problem of corruption in government. They are willing to spend unproductive hours just to advance their selfish intentions. With this, ironically, I agree with ZTE’s comment that the current investigation at the senate is a political circus. Supposedly, the ZTE/NBN investigations are being conducted in the premise of “in aid of legislation”, to find out the truth and hopefully, to prosecute the offenders. Personally, I do not believe that our elected senators and congressmen will have to wait for the conclusion of the ZTE/NBN investigation before they can formulate effective laws, policies or check and balances in our government system to eradicate or perhaps just even minimize corruption. They can if they really want to. I am sure most if not all of them knows how to handle anomalous transactions in government. After all, these are the source of additional income to compensate or as “return of investments” for all their huge spendings during elections. Are we stupid enough to expect and believe that these elected officials do not make more money than what is officially stipulated in our Constitution? As reference, our 1987 Constitution states that the annual salary of our President is at P300k or P25k per month. The VP, Senate President, Chief Justice and Speaker at P240k or P20k per month and other senators, justices and congressmen at P200k or roughly P17k per month. These figures were probably adjusted now but even if we assume these will be increased 400%, are we convinced that these people will be satisfied at these levels of income? I am sure there are other perks aside from these official annual incomes and commissions are part of it. If commissions or kickbacks from projects or lobbyists do not form part as income to these elected officials, why will they invest or spend millions or even billions (according Erap’s latest estimates) during election time? Are we to believe that all of them are super rich, super heroes, super philanthropists of our country willing to give away their money, time, effort and sometimes even life just to serve and please our people? Let’s wake up and be realistic for a while as it’s the only way we can figure out things and start thinking on real solutions to our problems. Let us realize that those elected officials who are dragging their feet and won’t budge in for reforms in government systems and/or processes and are trying very hard to occupy higher posts in government by overthrowing current occupants have the same corrupt objectives. They simply cannot wait for their time due to greed. For these type of people, now is the right time to make a move as our economy is doing good thus, a lot of money are pouring in or circulating in our country which means more commissions for them. As to the TRUTH they are seeking, they simply want the people involved to confirm what they believe. For them, they already know the truth since the Hello Garci scandal. Didn’t we see the banners and slogans used during the rallies, read and heard the writings and speeches of people inviting the personalities implicated in the controversies to step down? Yet, they continue to pretend they are all still searching for TRUTH. Since we are mostly Christians who are God fearing, the TRUTH and MORALITY issues are good covers to invite more followers for their real cause, i.e., to grab power. That is why this futile exercise has been tagged as a political circus. My dear senators, please and by all means, do not start a war with China by provoking them. A bloody war maybe far fetch but political and economic ramifications will be ascertained once we drag China into this controversy. In addition, what if ZTE or a Chinese government representative will heed to your invitation and will issue an official statement in one of your hearings that there was no bribery or corruption involved in the NBN deal? Is this what you have been waiting for to save face and stop the investigations?

What’s the difference between the past two People Power Revolutions and the current fiasco attempting to have a third one? During the 20 years of Marcos regime, there were more negative factors than positive ones. The economy was so bad as the money siphoned from our country’s corruption were mostly invested outside the Philippines. Then there was martial law which left so many hungry politicians waiting for the right opportunity. Majority of our people were simply waiting for a flash point to react thus, when it came through the death of Ninoy, EDSA 1 happened. What happened to the 3 popular personalities and backers of EDSA 1 namely : Cory, Ramos and Enrile? Ex-Pres. Cory Aquino was officially installed as president right after the revolution and ex-Pres. Ramos became president as well in 1992. Sen. Enrile is still popular and is currently one of our senators. In Erap’s time, to begin with, a lot of us know that our country have installed an incompetent manager to lead and manage our country. As expected, after almost 3 years in office, the economy was again bad since the fundamentals established during ex-Pres. Ramos time were not sustained. The ouster of Erap movements were primarily spearheaded from our middle class and professionals as these were the classes who realized that we didn’t have a good manager. The thwarted opening of an envelope at the senate impeachment hearing triggered EDSA 2. Again, the popular backers of EDSA 2 are currently occupying high posts in government such as senators Villar and Legarda, congressman de Venecia and even PGMA who did not want to show her sympathy for the cause at that time. Earlier, I have concluded that out of these 2 revolutions which were primarily aimed to change the handlers of government to effect changes, we did not succeed nor achieve our ultimate objective of eradicating or even minimizing corruption. Some people however, managed to succeed in getting popularity that placed them in the helm of government offices. Are these the same results we want to achieve from a possible EDSA 3 or People Power Revolution? The way I see it, the common denominator for the past 2 people power revolutions is the poor performance of our manager as reflected on our country’s economy. I am not surprised that despite the never ending accusations directed to our president and her family, the people behind the moves are having a hard time getting what they want. They could have challenged or disputed first our country’s 7.3 GDP performance of 2007 (first in 30 years), the reasons behind the strengthening of our currency and the historic low inflation rates before they have accelerated their moves to oust the president. I hope the majority of us who wants peace and progress will continue to be on the sidelines and help to genuinely effect changes in our government.

I am not advocating corruption and being a Catholic, I long for most of us if not all of us to strengthen our values. And, I hate being naïve, arrogant and having double standards. Look at those people exposing corruption and are pretending to fight it. Didn’t Jun Lozada admitted in one of the senate hearings that he was also corrupt? That he signed deals involving public funds for his, his wife and brother’s benefits. He even approved the purchase of imported goats just to eat our local grass at over P23k each? Didn’t Joey de Venecia set his foot on the senate witness stand after he lost hope that his company will not get the NBN deal? I wonder what happened to the P20 million patriotic fund offered to Sec.Neri. Was it split between the loyal whistleblowers? Are the politicians backing all these investigations clean, the super heroes and the super philanthropists of our country? Were they not involved in anomalies such as kidnappings, killings, election fraud and commissions or kickbacks from projects and lobbyists? Are they just receiving the basic annual pay as stipulated in our Constitution? I honestly don’t think so. To our priests and leaders of our churches, please focus on enhancing the moral and spiritual values of your flock. This way, you can help minimize or perhaps prevent anomalies and corruptions to happen over and over again. Please stay away from politics. Remember that Jesus Christ was sentenced to death wrongly. He was misjudged by the majority due to wrong and distorted evidences that were presented during His trial. Just imagine your flock joining and forming as majority in possibly misjudging our current administration. Maybe, despite their strong management performance, we will successfully bring it down, start all over again and then what?

If we are dead serious in fighting corruption and wants to make our nation great, we need to make radical changes in our electoral process and government systems. We need to be proactive rather than reactive by putting in place all the necessary checks and balances without jeopardizing efficiencies. We have to be more realistic and we need to admit that we cannot simply put any Tom, Dick, Harry or Jane as our president and expect him/her to deliver. We must screen our leaders not just through popularity and power. We need to fast track reforms in our election/voting process such as its computerization. We need to put an end that those only who have the money can manage the affairs of our government. There was one article published by the Management Association of the Philippines in one newspaper in reaction to the current fiasco. One of their question is, are we to tolerate lesser standard for those who manage the affairs of our government? Of course not! But how can we ensure they adhere to higher standards than private institutions when they can only officially receive a basic pay lower than mid managerial levels of private institutions? Are the rewards and penalties properly and clearly defined somewhere? At one time, those found guilty of plunder in our country is supposedly punishable by death. We attempted to define the penalty but, what about the rewards? Once we have clearly define the rewards for all government positions, we need to reinstate the maximum penalty of death for plunder. Talking about rewards, definitely, our 1987 Constitution needs to be updated. We cannot continue to hide from the people the real figures our government officials are compensated. We cannot expect a congressman to be satisfied with the official basic monthly pay of P17k only without putting his hands into the Pork Barrel funds as additional compensation. Aside from these supposedly development and emergency funds which they use as milking cow, apparently for some, these are not enough as “returns of their investment” during the elections and reason why they need to have commissions from other projects and lobbyists for certain legislations. Commissions, profit sharing or stock options for private institutions are legal for as long as they are clearly defined as part of an employee’s compensation package. Why don’t we consider this as part of the official compensation for our government managers? These are just some examples of really attacking and solving the root causes of corruption in government.

If we don’t unite to urge our law makers to fast track the necessary reforms we badly need in our system of government, our people power revolutions and any forms of mass actions will be worthless for the populace. It will only be of value to a few power hungry and parasitic politicians. Why don’t we start evaluating each performance of our government officials? Didn’t we realize that some popular figures in some uprisings managed to sneak into higher government offices without looking back at their causes? For example, we put into the senate a previous rebel soldier presumably to help the government solve the plights of our soldiers. Was he able to deliver what was expected of him so discontented and disgruntled soldiers like him in the past will be avoided or minimized? If he did, why is there another soldier who followed his suit? Yet they continue to preach similar ideologies so more people will join their cause which will probably just prolong their stay in the senate or perhaps even put them at the presidency. We also placed leftists in our congress in the hopes of alleviating poverty and end the fight between government forces and NPA’s to achieve peace. What have they done along these lines? How many years have they been members of congress and yet they still go to the streets once in a while to air their same grievances against the government? Are they not directly connected with government who have the hands to initiate changes and reforms they have been marching and shouting for?

Charter Change and implementation of National ID System are just some of the important issues that our beloved congressmen and senators should have been dealing with if we want to rid of corruption. For Charter Change, aside from redefining the compensation package of our elected officials, the electoral reforms, etc., there are some changes needed so the system is designed around our culture and not just simply patterned from western style of government. All these are needed so our country will achieve sustainable growth. Majority of the politicians not aligned with the current administration are up against Charter Change. These same people who are asking for “CHANGE” and search for TRUTH now do not want to pursue above changes. They hide their real intentions behind the reason of not allowing the current president to extend her/his term. The Charter Change issue has been discussed since Pres. Ramos time. The shield of the opposition at that time sounded reasonable as the timing was late. However, for PGMA’s time, the same issue was brought up earlier in her presidency and it would have been more reasonable to go for it then than it is now since 2010 elections is only around 2 years from now. Again, if we are serious to consider breaking the systemic way of corruption in government, we need to amend our existing Constitution. Some politicians want to scrap the idea of having a National ID System for baloney excuses. Having a National ID System will not only help deter terrorists or criminals from their malicious activities but will also help minimize corruption both in government and private institutions. To cite some examples why it can help prevent corruption in government. Since the National ID System database will compliment the electorate database, it can help prevent fraud during elections brought about by flying voters. Its database can be used for the electronic Electoral System thus, can fast track the latter’s implementation. It can help contribute to a more efficient system in government transactions, e.g., SSS, PAG-IBIG, Immigration, DFA, etc., etc. processing. Imagine for a Filipino traveler from abroad just using his National ID to enter back the Philippines. Its faster and more efficient. Thus, its implementation can significantly reduce head counts in government offices. It can prevent fictitious people like Jose Velarde and Jose Pidal from maintaining mysterious bank accounts. If these examples have a lot of advantages and will help safeguard corruption, then why are these being rejected by some politicians and policy makers? Isn’t it because they are afraid they will have a hard time doing some anomalous transactions when their opportunity comes?

TAMA NA SOBRA NA ANG MGA PLASTIKAN! Let’s focus on real reforms. Let’s amend our Constitution, finalize the Cheap Medicine’s Bill, implement the National ID System, formulate laws/guidelines to ensure we have good and competent candidates running for government posts, we will have fair and clean elections, elected government officials are compensated properly in legal manner and most importantly, we will have world-class government services and infrastructures and make our nation GREAT!

Not only are the priests sounding like politicians nowaday, the shady politicians are now sounding holier than the priests. And the Media, of course, is biased as bias can be.
The politicians, priests and press are creating all the noise and instigations but there is no way that they can topple this government because all of them like Trillanes and Lozada are not ready to DIE.

Madrigal confirms accusations against her when she opens her mouth. She is a classic example of money buying power but not beauty, intelligence nor class. Oh, and I’m talking about internal beauty which is the better kind.

Her questioning of Lozada was full of innuendos about his friendship with Neri and now threatens Neri with disclusures about his personal life. Then she justifies it by adding at the end of her threats that it prevent him from fulfilling his duties.

How low and superficial!

Woman, go to the Persoanl Development Store and buy some substance.

It seems that among many politicians, there is no real love for the country. It is all about personal gain even if the cost is the lives of those that stand in their way.

The Philippines is ruled by politicians who have no empathy. Without empathy, a person is just a sociopath.

It’s campaigning time. 2 yrs nalang at presidential elections na.. panahon na naman ng siraan at papogian. most politicains are ambitious, thats why they lie & use people. i think they only want power & money. do they really love our country? do they really care about the filipino people? i dont think so.. we need a good performing leader not a politician who lie & use people just to be popular. popularity alone will not improve our economy. businessmen ang nagpapaikot ng politics, cla ang financial source. gusto nila protektahan ang negosyo nila kaya gagamitin nila pera nila para paikutin ang mga mangmang na tao. sad to say pero kahit mga religous people kaya nila paikutin because of their money… charity or donation lang kuno. ganito din yung style ng communist party of the philippines. kawawa naman tayo at ang pilipinas pag sila ang nangibabaw s kapangyarihan ng ating bansa.

there is nothing to revolt for.. we have freedom, democracy & good economy. what we dont have is peace. i think we cannot achieve peace as long as there are dirty politicians.

Mr. Lozada was not borned yesterday.
His “hi-tech” mind knows that the threats he and his family are receiving can come from all directions. From those that want to “silence” him and also from those that want to “force” him to squeal more.
As in Aesop’s fable, Lozada is now the bat that is neither fowl nor beast.

the Wiretapped conversation shown in the YOUTUBE is a clear manifestation of the urgency of the moment for the administration. so, desperate to discredit Mr. Lozada infront of the filipino people. Since they cannot manipulate the Philippine Media, they resorted to YOUTUBE and then FLOOD it with comments that are critical to the witnessess. Painting a picture that the filipino people are against the witnesses.HOWEVER THE CONTRARY IS TRUE AND THEY CANNOT FOOL THE FILIPINO PEOPLE. my comments there, showing my analysis where all removed.

it just proved that they don’t wan’t a deep and uncanny observation to their actions posted in an arena they themselves have chosen.

we are a nation, far sophisticated than before..people are now informed more than ever…cheap access to information is everywhere…and 80-90 million filipinos cannot be simply fooled by a tyrant individual.

Pampanga Gov. Panlilio vs local mob (mayor)

Isang halimhawa kung papano mag-maniobra itong mga ugok na mga mayors & prov’l board members at gumawa ng batas para kontrolin ang taxes mula sa quarries. Isang malinaw na halimbawa kung papano ang mga buwayang mayors at board members sa Pampanga na gutom na gutom sa kwarta na dapat mapunta sa bayan.

Papano nila maipaliwanag ang higit na malaking collection ngayon sa loon ng maikling panahaon vs. sa koleksyon ng datihang pamahalaan.

Mga mayor at board members, bistado na kayo sa inyong raket. Bakit wala na ba kayong ibang pagkakitaan?

Tumigil kayo sa inyong kontra-mamayang pakana at ang mga tao ay walang ng tiwala sa inyo.

The mentality of columnist Neal Cruz is both funny and hard to understand.
Mr. Cruz believes in democracy but does not trust the courts and its judges.
We might as well abolish the judiciary branch of the government so that every time there is an issue the people will simply take to streets and topple the government.
Our justice system may be flawed but do we have to resort to mob justice?

I would just like to comment on the article From mouths of babes: Lozada ‘honest,’ Mike Arroyo ‘a cheat’. I think we should leave kids alone from this political mess. In the first place, kids are not totally aware of what is happening and may be basing their reactions on their parents beliefs. I agree that the truth should be told however, bringing in kids opinions regarding the matter is unfair as they are not yet old enough to absorb everything that is happening and make an independent opinion regarding the matter.

at the end ang kawawa dito si lozada. anybody from both sides pwede sya gawan ng hindi maganda para lang sa kanilang interest.. poor lozada. the senate is not the supreme court. majority of the senators are oppositions, so what decision do we expect from lozada’s testament? siguro kahit mentaly retarded ang magtestify dyan against the government malamang guilty pa rin ang gobyerno. thats politics.

dapat gumawa ng batas ang senado na firing squad ang sentensya sa mga corrupt na government officilas, kahit tsismis lang death sentence kagad! para matakot silang lahat…. malamang wala na mag iinteres na makapwesto s gobyerno. imagine lahat ng government positions bakante?

even if GMA steps down hindi pa rin doon hihinto ang mga kaguluhang ito. i’m sure magkakagulo at mag kakawatak watak ang mga oppositons bcoz may kanya kanyang mga manok yan na gusto nila iluklok. sila sila naman ang magtitirahan. do you think the lefties will also be silent kahit wala na si GMA? no, coz they are anti-government, they want this country to be under communist rule. yun ang talagang dictatorship, no freedom, no democracy and most of all no corruption! sigurado firing squad..

Is one of the job descriptions of Pampanga’s vice governor to make a convincing imitation of the rear end of a carabao? Then Guia is doing a very excellent job. When listening to him, no one can tell them apart.

He is like a reeking dung and fart bag and it looks like there is unending supply.

On second thought, there is a difference. There are uses for carabao dung.

I hope people do not get lost amidst this already complicted political scene.

It takes a principled stance and courage to see simply what’s good and what’s not, and to make a stand for your choice.

All the issues on NBN deal, ‘Hello Garci” scandal, Railway projects, etc. pose an apparent doubt on the Filipino people. By reason and common sense, without need of a system that might only further supress truth, I believe the government is greatly accountable. It is not transparent. It is hiding a shameful system of corruption I must say… beacause I believe in Lozada.

I know that we need to go out, stand for whats right, write about it, show any act that clearly says WE DO NOT TOLERATE CORRUPTION & BAD GOVERNANCE.

But some say let us not risk our reasonably well-off economy by allowing rallies and civic action calls for truth. They say nothing’s gonna happen anyway.

BUT I say, isn’t it more worse to allow corruption, culture of greed, and power-playing to plague our nation. I say that this is by far worst because it rots not just us today but our children’s children, too.

Truth is simple. The question is clear. Would you allow the system of greed? No matter what the state of our economy is, no matter who’s who in the opposiiton, the question still is WOULD YOU ALLOW IT.
IF your answer is YES (for some practical reasons you believe so), then no wonder we would still find our country on the same predicament 50 or even 100 years from now.

But I won’t allow it. Count me in the “Call for truth and accountability” no matter what the cost.
Beacuse the truth has NEVER been the wrong choice.

I agree… LOZADA IS A HOAX!!!! Kapal ng mukha niya isama si Mayor Atienza.. credibility wise… ang kapal tlaga ng mukha niya! Mga pinoy masyado engot. They believe the things that are being showed by the media.. eh media naman has their own agendas… mga bata sa schools ginagamit.. mga teachers dapat tinatanggal… noone has proven anything yet.. pag sila pwedeng walang proof.. pag naman sa admin. naman ayaw nilang ilagay sa due process lahat.. hay!! Wala na talagang pagasa ang bayan… Mayor atienza.. wag kayong mabahala… ang Diyos ay nasa sa inyo… he will make ur innocence shine in his time… Mediamen… lets just concentrate on the samar and leyte tragedies… kawawa naman sila!

I pray that the nuns and priests stick to what they meant to do… that is, to PRAY PRAY and PRAY.. seeing them behind Jun Lozada makes me wanna puke and turn my back from my own religion… lets face it.. the Filipinos are blind followers.. sana they can be more responsible in telling people what they think… baka mamaya, theyl just regret all these….Hay… Boyet, I agree with you.. the admin people were very consistent… i dont know why people dont wana see their side.. o well… people could be very stubborn to not consider other options or possibilities..

Lozada has partially confessed to his criminal involvement in the ZTE/NBN but he has not talk about the other irregularities that he committed in NEDA and elsewhere.
Many of us do not want Lozada to go to jail but only a full confession can set him free.

I wonder how Lozada can sleep at night knowing that he has ruined so many people’s names given that these people are helpless in today’s society. I pity Sec. Atienza for being set up to make it seem as if he was trying to stop Lozada from testifying.. I believe that he is innocent because I have worked with him in PRO-LIFE. How can a man who defends life be put to a scandal such as this… I believe that Lozada is just using him to flicker a revolution that would oust GMA… is is unfair for Sec. Atienza and company!!!!

“The truth is, Secretary Ermita is making us all stupid…..” said Senator Escudero.
Maybe the mental ability of some senators are really below par that is why Ermita is treating all of them as fools.

on mr formaleza’s resignation:
i admired mr formaleza in resigning his position but it is happening only in the U.S. Here in the Philippines, no way that an official of the government will ever resign even if he/she has committed the most evil act. nandito na kasi ang lahat ng kademonyohan sa ating lipunan. ito ay sinasabi ko sa lahat ng mga public servants (kuno). kahit si father among ed panlilio na isa ng pari na tumanggap ng suhol sa malacanang ay nabahiran na rin ng katiwalian pero ano ang nangyari. nagresign ba siya? ang bribery ay mas mabigat na kasalanan kaysa isang pabor na hiningi lamang ni mr formaleza para sa kanyang anak. ito po ang uri ng mga pulitiko at public servants ng ating bansa kaya po heto ang kalagayan natin. we deserve to be punished by God.

“strike when the iron is still hot” this is the technique that the oppositions are applying right now.. Mr. Jun lozada for senator? for vice president? for president? oh come on. artista pwde pa. showbiz kasi ang dating ni lozada. imagine.. may school & mall tour na sya? pwede sya s drama kasi magaling sya umiyak & pwede din sya sa comedy kasi magaling din sya magpatawa, artistahin talaga ang dating. malakas din sya humakot ng fans.

there is not even 1 sufficient evidence that could direcly involve GMA in corruption. i dare the oppositions to show just even 1 valid document. all they can present are witnesses with lots of hearsay to tell. no credibility. i pitty those people who were being used by the griddy politicians, they are just victims. only GOD knows who the real evil is.

Filipinos should realised that GMA is not the only problem here, since the People Power revolution in 1986, we Filipinos never learned our lesson nor we analyzed the real caused of our country’s redundant problems. The problems are stucked in our culture and political system and values, those who are calling for GMA’s resignation because of alleged corruption, let me asked this, how about the corrupt mayors, governors, congressmen and senators who are enjoying the perks of pork barrels? how about the corrupt military and police? how about the corrupt head of gov’t agencies? how about the church who continue dictating on how the government should run? how about our people who thinks that the government should provide them everything they want? DONT WE REALISED THAT OUR PROBLEMS RESTS ON US AS A PEOPLE?
Since we removed marcos from power because of corruption, three presidents had reigned and the last was also removed by force because of corruption, and now we want to do it again? but from here, where do we go? why as a nation we are still the same? why we never realised the roots of this ills of our society?
Is it the reform or change that we are clamoring again and again should start from us individualy? It should start from our culture where corruption had colonised us for long time, from within the embodiment of the Filipino people, then a complete political, moral, social and cultural revolution and reform should begin, only then the Filipinos will be cleansed out and the real change will come. Otherwise, this rallies and even hundreds of Lozadas will just go to the dustbin of history.

on bong revilla running for VP. I am amazed he even won HIS SENATE seat, but then again he is a movie star. Bong Revilla cannot even write a simple paragraph.

The protest against Macapagal Arroyo must go on.
Filipinos should not stop to repeat People power if its the only way to changed our country. Sobra na ang pangloloko nya sa kapwa nya pilipino.

the recent events that is happening is another blow to moral of the pilipino people. specially the OFW with the rising prices and lower dollar. I tried to rally the many OFW to stand up and participate in the change of this govt. and i felt sick that many of them lost hope in the change that many are fighting. Its like being rape everday against your will and lost hope and accept your fate as it is and hoping that someone will come and rescue. many had lost thier voice, strength and spirit to escape. its really a sad day for the pilipino as we just hoping that somebody will make that change for us. and lost hope that we need to be united to make that change happen.

for me politicians backed up by some businessmen are the ones fooling us.. let us open our mind and be curious, the big question is WHO ARE THE PEOPLE BEHIND THESE DISTABILIZATIONS? WHAT ARE THEIR MOTIVES? dapat wag tyo bsta bsta pddla s mga sweet talk nila.. lahat ng politiko ay sinungaling at manggagamit. once n nsa poder n cla cgurado cla nmn amg mgppkasasa kya ganyan kagrabe ang pagnanasa nila. pareparehas lang ang mga yan.. gagamitin lang tayo.

ang pagbaba ng dollar vs peso is a sign n umuunlad ang pilipinas. dumdmi dollar reserves natin. kasi pag ala tyo alam s economics d natin alam kung bkit bumababa dollar vs peso. pagmasmdmi nag ppdala ng dollar s pinas mas lalong liliit un peso value. pag alang OFW n mgppdla ng dollar cgurado tataas un dollar, so dapat b sisihin un OFW s pgbaba ng dollar?

i think its time for us filipinos to be more openminded. ang tendency kasi natin ay masyado tayo emotional.. kaya nga cguro gnwa ng DIYOS n mas mataas un utak natin kesa s puso. our heart can only feel emotions but its our brain that thinks & command us to do things. kya gmitin natin puso natin s pgmmhal s kapwa at gmitin nmn ntin utak natin s pag unlad ng ating sarili.

happy EDSA day! mabuhay ang mga pilipino! let us be one in making this country great. let us unite & move forward into progress for our children’s future..

alam ba ni pgma ang kanyang pinagsasabi na her administration is fighting againts corruption?edi ipakulong nya sarili nya at asawa.we from pampanga do not support a corrupt president.nakakahiyang sabihing kapampangan sya.

Hindi ka Nag-iisa

Cory Aquino leading ‘Edsa 1′ celebrations with the opposition party line-ups is a political itenerary worth looking for. With former Pres. Ramos confirming that ‘Pre- Edsa 1 sins are back’_ it is more likely that the people would ultimately rally behind her.
Back when I was 18…that was 22 years of Edsa experience to me. The pains, sweat, shouts & tears are all worth it. Then there came this change of political atmosphere & we had our life moving on towards another direction. This sense of hope & inner dignity of being pinoy proud of democracy. It was all but for a short period of time. Now we are disgusted again for the same reason we have fought for 22 years ago. The feeling were much intense today because the culprit were those who benefit fron another Edsa revolt.
I still believe in NON-VIOLENT UPRISING…I will have my cards bet on Cory Aquino for legal or constitutional means of reforms. This snowball effect for social change, sobriety of governance & againts this political culture of corruption will never stop. Not until it landed on Malacanang.
DIGNIDAD, RESPETO SA KAPWA AT KATAPATAN SA LOOB NG PAMILYA AT SA LIPUNAN NA GINAGALAWAN.

A Master Plan Of Doom –Thoughts On EDSA I Anniversary

Since last year up to now the country has seen the Senate doing almost nothing but focusing on the ZTE/NBN contract which was already cancelled by the President. The common observation is that the opposition is bent on bringing down the Arroyo administration.

In 1986, we have EDSA I and a dictator was deposed. Part of the reasons why the people kicked out Marcos was that his regime has became so corrupt and there was no way of questioning the dictator without risking one’s life.

During the Aquino administration, certain elements that took part in the EDSA revolution were deeply disgruntled when they discovered that they were left outside the political “kulambo”and hence the start of a series of coup d’etats. Those coups were said to be privately financed by Aquino’s political opposition.

In Ramos administration, corruption started to rear its ugly head and the PEA-Amari scandal is one prominent example. Ramos was not named as “The Tabako” for nothing. He was connected to the
the Carlyle Group that had close relationship with the Bin Ladens. Information on how the Carlyle Group operates is available in the Internet.

Corruption, if uncurbed grows geometrically if not exponentially. By the time Erap sat as the President, irregular business transactions, drugs and illegal gambling were virtually uncontrolled and spread like wildfire. The President was again deposed, this time by the military that withdrew their support after Erap’s lawyers and his supporters in the Senate refused to open the so-called “Second Envelop” during the impeachment hearings.

Gloria as the Vice-President was sworned in to administer the government for the unfinished term of Erap. Corruption continues unabated.

When Gloria ran and was re-elected. Many people were again dismayed, people who had their eyes on the Presidency for a long time. They do not want Gloria to be entrenched for 10 years, they have to get her out - by hook or by crook. Those people, mostly opposition Senators, started by accusing the President’s husband of irregularities since they still have nothing to go against he President herself. They want to prove to the public that if the husband is a “crook” the wife must also be a crook.

However, this strategy did not seem to work.

Yes, by hook or crook, they have to get Gloria out. Fortunately, a “crook” by the name of Samuel Ong allegedly wiretapped a telephone conversation between a Comelec official and the President. The Senate, without verifying its authenticity or questioning the legality of its source jumped on it as a golden opportunity to accuse the President of election fraud and the lower House without hesitations initiated impeachment proceedings to oust the President. The impeachment proceedings ended in failure. But then, they realized that if Gloria is impeached that would put Noli de Castro in power and that is something not to their liking. Unless, they can prove to the public that both Gloria and Noli cheated.

By hook or by crook. This time they cornered another “crook” by the name of Lozada who connived with Neri, Abalos and JDV III on a broadband deal tagged as ZTE/NBN. The connivance between Lozada and JDV III is revealed in an audio clip from a wiretap which, in contrast with the Garci Tapes, the Senate immediately branded as “illegal” wiretapping.

This time they do not want an impeachment, they want an “EDSA III” that would create a political vacuum and eventually end in a snap election, so as to short-circuit the constitutional process and bypass Noli de Castro.

Their master plan calls for a “People Power” movement followed by a military junta and an election under a military regime. This kind of agenda is going to set a very dangerous precedent in our political history. The opposition Senators are now playing with fire!

Some members of the present Senate were, at one stage or another, involved in the many happenings of this country in the past four decades. Some of them were alleged to have even made their fortunes under the martial law regime.

Once the mad scramble for power started amongst the opposition and chaos ensue, the military junta may decide not to relinquish its hold on the government and this country may ended up as a Military State.

Right now the whole nation is divided and embroiled in a controversy over a contract that is null and void. If graft and corruption can be proven, the Senate should simply direct the government to prosecute the individuals involved and turn attention back to its mandated duties.

The ZTE must be holding their bellies laughing at us. In their country, they take care of corruption with a few bullets. They do not waste their People’s Congress time on criminals.

Others’ and De Venecia’s call on GMA to resign:

What if the NBN deal went to his son Joey? Will this controvery come out? Will JDV ask PGMA to resign? We have lots of political leaders who make a “kiko” out of themselves. Let’s face it. Majority of the Filipinos are no longer dumb to simply swallow hook line and sinker what our politicians say. Even many our church and religious leaders, sad to say, lost their credibility. For as long as money talks within Philippine politics as in pork barrels and big bonuses, for as long as political dynasties stay and grandstand, for as long government agencies move because of bribes and are heavily dependent on political lords, and for as long as love for God and country is second to last in the hearts and minds of the Filipino people, no amount of EDSA people power show offs will make this country evolved into the likes of South Korea and Japan. Enough with grandstanding, enough with rhetorics, we want good deeds, good results in governance. Even street activists which media give much attention to, are not the majority. they too are suspect in the eyes of the majority, especially when the majority knows that rallyists are herded and paid. Nakakasuka na.

attention oppositon’s media people! you said opposition rallies is for “truth” & gov’t rallies are “hakot” & “bayaran”? tsk tsk tsk.. hey, be real! do you think any big rallies will push through w/o financial support from the organizers? even the leftists & activists finance their rallies. dont you all know that?.. how bout you? aren’t you also being paid by your employers just to be present at any anti governtment rallies & press conferences or attend any anti gov’t. political activities or even write something in the newspaper that is anti gov’t? that’s a fact. is it ok if i should call you “hakot” or “bayaran” also? not to mention the bonuses or gifts that you may receive from the griddy politicians you’re backing up. sad to say but media people now are not that credible, your news & reports are not totally accurate anymore, its not balanced. your accusing the military of OVERKILL? how bout MEDIA OVER ACTING? you hate the military coz they re-captured trillanes.. you hate the military bcoz you cannot convince them to jump on your side or should i say your BIG BOSS’s camp?.. like lozada, you are all victims. you are being used. wake up guys!

Look Who’s Talking?

Try to examine closely the “few good men” sorrounding NBN-ZTE whistleblower Jun Lozada. You have Former Pres. Cory Aquino whose “Kamag-anak, Inc.” were accused of enriching themselves during their heydays in power. We did not hear from her instructions to investigate the allegations. More than anything else was the deception of marginal farmers in Hacienda Luisita for embracing the stock option scheme which falsely promised better income to farmers. There is former Pres. Erap who was removed from power because of corruption and was later convicted. Worse, JDV and Manay Gina who were addicted to power and refused to accept their fate. JDV sings different tune after being extricated from his position as speaker of the House. If he is dead serious about his conviction for moral renewal, he could have advocated for it since Day 1 but he did not. He thought of it only when he smelled foul about his imminent ouster. To put it differently, he is not sincere but he is blackmailing the President…sourgraping. Do you think, if he was not removed, he would openly campaign for PGMA’s resignation? I doubt. What was he doing in Malacanang for several occasions during the rumor of his ouster was brewing? Negotiating? His son’s recantation in exchange for the status quo in the Speakership? I had that inkling. But the point is JDV is not sincere and never was. Lacson, Madrigal, Villar, Roxas…etc. 2010 is fast approaching. Everyone who has ambitions for 2010 either for reelection or for higher offices need all the attention. Grandstanding? Definitely yes. It’s FREE promotion. Their exchange of rhetorics reverberates in all corners of the country up to the remotest barangays. Do you think Rep. Allan Cayetano would become Sen. Cayetano without his antics against FG? He pointed to FG as the one who helped him win. It was the other way around, it was his strategy - the fastest and least cost way of getting into the electorates’ memory.. at the cost of other person. Was he able to prove his accusations? NO. But he had done the damage already. To hell, as long as he got his wish. What makes Joey de Venecia different from Abalos? He is even, for me, worse. Joey’s BOT and the alleged Abalos peddled overpriced contract are likened to letting people chose between the evil and the deep blue sea. Joey’s BOT though initially without cost to the government but will still levy the cost of his investment (incl the loan interest) to the users. In other words, “unti-unti nya rin papatayin ang taong bayan at ang gobyerno”. To cap it all, Jun Lozada, in the company of all these people I cited makes him no different. He is drumbeating in his ecumenical speeches that he spilled the beans of the alleged corruption because of his love of country. My golly! Who are you to say that? You are misguiding the listeners and even the clergies just to get a swell of support for you. Just tell the world honestly that you did those things because you do not have better options left..it was because you are part of the alleged deal. Not the ZTE-NBN but the blackmail ploy of the de Venecias to retain the Speakership. I geist, if all of you have the evidence to prove your allegations, go to court. Do not tell the world that you can not expect fair treatment from our judiciary. When you got favorable decisions vs EO 464, State of Emergency, Cha-cha, etc, you were all praise of the Supreme Court. I challenged you all to bring your case to the proper courts.

igredients of original people power: 1.people 2.church 3.military kumpleto rekados, masarap kaya nagustuhan. ingredients of fake people power: 1.some people 2.some priests 3.some politicians kulang sa timpla. matabang. ala kakain, kaya mapapanis lang. hindi magaling ang cook!

they called Lozada a new hero? are they that stupid? para n nila binastos sila Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio,Benigno Aquino & the rest of our heroes.! as heroes, nangumisyon din ba sila? may ginawa din ba sila na ilegal? naging bayani sila dahil s kanilang magagandang bagay na ginawa para sa bayan hindi katulad ni lozada na may “tsinismis” lang para s mga politiko bayani na?! wow! whats happening to our priests? how much donations do they really receive from those griddy politicians & businessmen? they are not the kind of priests that i used to respect anymore.. i am a religious person. i am a catholic & i’m ashamed of them. GOD said, “thou shalt not serve 2 masters” & “do not judge or you will be judged”! Those priests are the no.1 sinners! they should be teaching us how to forgive, love each other & pray for peace, not to judge & condemend people. they are planting hatred into our hearts & minds. they still have time to repent bago pa sila parusahan ng DIYOS.

Cardinal Sin called the people to protect the few revolting militaries against the offensive of marcos loyalist army. he told us to pray for peace & unity. EDSA 1 happened. thats very far from what priests are doing at present. they are now on the offensive against an innocent person. thats the big difference. lambasting, condemning & accusing a person is against GOD’s will. HE will not allow that. are they really priests?

Aguinaldo scion urges Arroyo to consider resignation — Look Who’s Talking!!!

Probably this scion of our first president, refuse to admit or dont have any idea that his grand dad emilio aguinaldo was also the first corrupt president of our country…well, maybe he didnt know that he and his cohorts before sabotaged Andres Bonifacio just so Emilio Aguinaldo will surely become president…and he took his oath as the first president in an undisclosed place where only him (aguinaldo) and the chief justice were present (what a way to take an oath)….

I personally dont like the present governtment…however the big question is… WHO WILL REPLACE GMA???? If the answer is anyone from the opposition…I say

Aguinaldo scion urges Arroyo to consider resignation — continution!

I say…Heck NO!!!!!! different group..but same breed of corrupot politicians…

If we replace GMA with someone coming from the left (ocampo, beltran, masa..etc), I say…heck NO!!!!!!! still the same breed of politicians…they talk about reforms..and yet they havent done anything in congress to make the lives of the filipino a better one…just like all other politicians…

So, lets replace GMA with someone coming from the church..like the bishops or the priest who has been really active on GMA resign movement…..WHAT??????????? like all politicians…these bishops and priests are hipocrites…talking about corruption..when they are corrupt themselves…

last choice…someone coming from the media…NAH!!!!! Media is just as corrupt as the politicians…and as hipocrites as the bishops and the priests…

SO WHO HAS THE CREDIBILITY?????? THE ANSWER IS.. NONE OF THEM!!!!!

Well, luckily i am a cebuano..and cebu has been booming and has been independent from the doomed MANILA….

Even before my younger days serving as a “sacristan” I already heard that priests in our province collect a monthly allowance from that particular wealthy family. Every month they celebrate mass for them. I have relatives who are also priests but I am just telling this that these Padres are also serving the interests of the rich. They think that if they say something good about a person then the people would believe that the guy is good. When the nuns say that this guy is a hero, everyone should believe. One nun mentioned something about “court of justice” as opposed to “court of law”, as if saying that the congregation they belong to is the group of truth. Looking at the log on the eyes of others while not seeing it in their own eyes eh. Hypocrites! There is a process in the exercise of the law of the land; as well as the Divine Law that they profess. If you don’t go for confession how would you have the absolution? If you don’t go to court how would you know the evidences of both sides and be vindicated. I believe that this is the effect of the teledrama on these nuns. The Vatican should prohibit the convents from having TVs and radios so these nuns should only pray, pray, and pray.

No Democracy

Lozada stated in the Senate that: “There is no democracy in the country”.

All the liberties that Lozada is enjoying are possible only in a democratic society.

He was able to express freely to the media because there is uncurtailed freedom of the press and speech.

The senate that heard his confession definitely is not a tool or rubber-stamp of the president.

He was able to openly accuse the Comelec chairman of corruption.

He believed in the fairness of our justice system that’s why he filed cases of kidnapping and attempted murder against police and government officials allegedly responsible for his abduction last February.

Yet, he complained that there is no democracy in this country. Jun Lozada must be out of his mind!

mabuhay! jun lozada is the new hero of the philippine republic according to some of our religious priests & some good & honest people. congrats mr. lozada, you are now equal w/ the likes of jose rizal, andres bonifacio, benigno aquino, jr., etc. they should build you a monument & it should stand in front of every catholic churches in the philippines, the senate bldg. & universities! but, how bout joey de venecia? he should be a hero too.. attention religious priests & good honest people. look what you’ve done to our country.

Senators who are seeking higher office or want reelection for the year 2010 got FREE PUBLICITY! FOR THESE UNENDING REASON OF SENATORS “IN AID OF LEGISLATION” BUT IN TRUTH LANG HA….IN AID OF ELECTION 2010. MAAWA NAMAN KAYO SA AMIN NA MGA SIMPLENG TAO NA NAGBABAYAD NG BUWIS. MARAMING BATAS PO NA DAPAT IPASA NYO PO. KAYO PO SA SENADO,HUMINA ANG EKONOMIYA NATIN, MASARAP PA RIN PO ANG BUHAY NINYO. HINDI PARA SA AMIN ANG GINAGAWA NYO, KUNG HINDI MA LIBRE KAYO SA BAYAD NG ADVERTISEMENT KAYA PAGDATING NG 2010, FAMILIAR NA ANG TAO SA INYO. WILL YOU PLEASE BRING IT TO THE PROPER FORUM WHICH IS THE COURT,WHEREIN PRESENTATION OF EVIDENCE IS IMPORTANT NOT ON “SA NARINIG KO”,”SA PALAGAY KO PO”. I DONT BELIEVE WHAT JUN LOZADA HAS BEEN ALL SAYING…ALL HIS TESTIMONY ARE PLANNED AND SET-UP. PUROS LANG TAYO REKLAMO,REKLAMO,REKLAMO….WALA NAMAN SA GAWA KAYA HINDI TAYO ASENSO. KAHIT SINONG PRESIDENTE ILAGAY SA PILIPINAS,SASAKIT HUSTO ANG ULO SA DAMI NG REKLAMADOR. KATAWA-TAWA TAYO SA IBANG BANSA, PAG-MAY REKLAMO NA SA PRESIDENTE PEOPLE POWER AGAD! ANO BA YAN? IKAW BA PILIPINO ANO ANG NAGAWA MO SA BAYAN MO? PURO KA LANG REKLAMO AH! PROTESTA AT PRAYER RALLY DAW!HANAP BUTAS SA MGA KAPWA MO PERO HINDI MO GINAGAWA ANG TAMA. BASTA AKO,HINDI AKO SASALI SA PEOPLE POWER NILA AT KUNG AKO KAY GLORIA DEADMA AKO SA MAIINGAY AT SAGUTIN KO PUNTO POR PUNTO AKUSASYON NILA SA SENADO.

The appeal of the CBCP in its latest pastoral statement for a detemined and relentless search for truth is ambiguous. The CBCP asserts that “the search for truth in the midst of charges and allegations must be determined and relentless, and that the way to truth and integrity must be untrammeled, especially at the present time when questions about the moral ascendancy of the present government are being raised.” It is right that the bishops “condemn the continuing culture of corruption from the top to the bottom of our social and political ladder.” However, they backpedal when they “urge the President and all the branches of government to take the lead in combating corruption wherever it is found.” How can one urge the very persons and agencies involved in corruption to lead the combat against it? What they are doing at present is to lie about corruption involved in the NBN-ZTE deal. They present arguments that contradict each other. To urge these people to lead the combat against the corruption they themselves are involved in and are trying to deny is unrealistic. The bishops would have been more consistent if, together with their condemnation of corruption, they had urged the President to step down and the Cabinet members to resign in order to better help in the search for truth. Is this what the bishops are hinting at when they say they “urge the President and all the branches of government to take the lead in combating corruption?” We do not know because it is not clear. At the moment, based on the decisions and statements of the President and the other people involved in the NBN-ZTE scandal, their main concern is to relentlessly deny the existence of corruption in government, particularly in the NBN-ZTE deal. To urge these very same people to lead the combat against corruption is not a sign of a determined and relentless search for truth. It is an appeal of one who is unsure where he stands.

If we look closely at Lozada, he can still be called a hero. Not because he wanted to be from the very start, but at the very right moment he changed his mind. We all know how St. Paul used to persecute the Christians, but after Paul’s change of heart, can we still call him an embarrassment to the church? This guy never said he is a very white lamb, in fact it doesn’t take a genius to see that he wanted the easy way out, to join and cooperate w/ the administration until something snap him out and made him turned to goodness for what is left of his life, and then speak what is needed to be heard. If he is the usual guy, who would argue if i say the quickest way out is to just join the gang. But he did not. At the start of this, any man would say “now it’s a dead end”. Who would have guessed support will be overwhelming in the end. What he did is a sacrifice and not an easy thing, if anyone would want to argue w/ that, look at Neri and the point is easily proven. SO MY FRIENDS HE IS A HERO, MAYBE NOT THE PERFECT ONE, BUT STILL A HERO.

Some people say Lozada’s words are “tsismis”,.. Do we really feel w/ all scholarly intellect and wisdom that the accusations are w/o real basis? Or should we rather believe and have faith in a president who at one time says “everything is tsismis” and “let evidence talk”, and then at another time says “SHE KNOWS THERE ARE LOOP HOLES BUT SHE APPROVED ANYWAY TO PROTECT BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP W/ CHINA”. If there are loop holes, what are those, who are responsible, what should be done. But then the president seem to be quiet about that. So my friends, how clearly can we see evidence? Only groups who would want it to be seen as “tsismis” will misinform the people in calling it “tsismis”.

And those people who hate priests, I am one of those people who think there are more effective lay ministers than priests. But hating priests, is rather sweeping. Because we still know some priests who are righteous to God’s eyes, and those few are the ones walking on the streets to make some change while the unworthy ones are comfortably sleeping or sitting in one corner and watching things happen like a soap opera, wondering what will be the end. I recommend that we rather pray and support those very few who still have the wisdom and decency to remind the government. IF WE READ HISTORY BOOKS, WE CAN EASILY DISCERN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TERMS “SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE” AND “SPIRITUALLY INFLUENCING PEOPLE TO GOOD ACTION”. And by people it means the whole community including the president.

SO WHY CAN’T WE HAVE ANOTHER PEOPLE POWER? A) We have more people than before, B) More support from the church C) Ooopppsss, but we don’t have the military support, they all seem to be smiling on the side of the president. It seemed to be the most crucial ingredient. Second reason, the term itself (People Power) is no longer exciting, because it has been overused w/o dramatic change. And above all, we seem to doubt the logical replacement.

BEFORE ANYBODY COULD GET ME WRONG, I NEED TO FIRST STATE THAT WHAT I PROPOSE FOR THE CHANGE OF THE NATION. AND THAT IS, TO GO BACK TO PRODUCTION LINE. The lesson of the previous “people powers” is clear, we won in changing the government, but we lost in implementing the necessary progress. Why? Because we lack quality of leadership, we are running out of manpower pool of excellent leaders and statesmen. Again why? Because this manpower pool is taken from a set called “citizens of the Philippines”, and this set is poorly brought up currently because of many excuses. The kids are left alone because mama and papa are busy making money and some having fun w/ their vises whatever they are (wives, gambling, name it). And then the kid goes to school, at the mercy of few substandard teachers because most decided to leave the country to get higher paying jobs. Some kids survive though, learning the magic of math, science, and politics. But then growing up w/ their very weak spirit, do you expect their academic strength will help them fight the temptations of power and money?

THE ANALOGY:
For a few minute, let’s be a businessman. If you are manufacturing and selling cars, and 70% of them are rejects what would you do? Some would say, fix the damaged cars. So you let half of your workers fixed the 70%, spending much resource and money and time. And it will surprise you that after th0se wasted extremely huge resource, the fixed cars still contained 60% rejects. Then you realize further that the other half of your people just built new cars only this time 75% are flawed. Then a consultant said, lets go back to production line and upgrade our workers. The result is 20% reject, and while fixing the rejects, only 10% still has flaws.

Ok now, this means FIXING THE CAR IS SIMILAR TO ENGAGING W/ CORRUPTED PEOPLE. It’s a short-term, troubleshooting method but requires more resource, money, time, and in many cases bloodshed. Unfortunately in the end, there is no assurance that everything will work. Consider a political leader, tried by SENATE, brought down from position BY THE PEOPLE and jailed, and after few years convicted BY THE COURT and in few days pardoned by THE PRESIDENT. Can you imagine the time, money, and resource wasted only to end into nothing?

GOING BACK TO PRODUCTION LINE MEANS, no matter how busy we are, let’s spend more time w/ our kids. Provide them w/ emotional and spiritual strength, and above all let’s give them more love and affection. And let’s not end up w/ that, lets share that w/ other families and children specially those who has less time w/ their loved ones. A strong spirit also means academic strength (that’s automatic, his strong spirit will force himself to feed his intellectual hunger) and he can repel himself against temptations better. Now that means you have upgraded your citizens, and you have now a pool to select better leaders. That’s a long-term solution, and more effective. Time, money, and resource spent is just enough, exciting and worth it. Its time that we see a more aggressive focus to this solution. There are many creative ways, like OFW groups w/ extra savings to choose selected students to spend a week of virtue nourishment and fun filled activities to share their time and affection. We don’t forget the long term solution in favor of a short-term one w/c is not guaranteed to work and requires more resource.

Having said this, are we just to let PGMA go away w/ her mistakes? I thought hard and finally I said to myself “NO”. She escaped the Garci scandal, the Computerization shame, the new south rail revelation, and many other things. THE ONE THAT BOTHERS ME MOST IS, if she gets out of this mess again, what’s stopping her from let say over-pricing the next white elephant projects. by S400M? Would another Lozada take a stand for the truth? I think after this SHE WILL BE IMMUNED, SHE WILL BECOME UNSTOPPABLE and expect the next 2 years to be the most feastive years for the Arroyos and friends, filling their pockets here and there, w/ her friend soldiers sharing the loot expects a weaker defense for our nation as well. WHO IN SANE MIND WILL ALLOW THIS!!!??? I would rather take a chance spending the next 2 years w/ Noli or anybody else. At least if I ask myself if he would do bigtime corruption, the answer will be “he might” instead of “she would, I know she would”. A weaker president who will be humble to stronger and more dedicated advisers is better than a strong president who misuses her power. Let’s not look into this issue as something for Erap’s gain, he still owes big deal from the people. JDV should still be answerable for his wrongdoings. And spare President Aquino, she had uncontrollable allies but she is dignified and unstained as a president,. The imperfection of those who support PGMA’s resignation should not hide the reality of her BIG MISDEED AS A LEADER. Finally, CBCP should call for her resignation, instead of asking her to lead the fight against corruption. HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF A STATEMENT ASKING FOR THE DEVIL TO LEAD THE FIGHT AGAINST EVIL? The words are only appropriate if she was not part of it.

SO WHY CAN’T WE HAVE ANOTHER PEOPLE POWER? A) WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE THAN BEFORE INCLUDING MORE DIGNIFIED POLITICIAN, THAT’S GREAT B) MORE SUPPORT FROM THE CHURCH, THAT’S TRULY GREAT C) WE DON’T HAVE THE MILITARY SUPPORT, BUT WE WILL HAVE IN GOD’S GRACE. OVERWHELMING WAVE OF PEOPLE JUST NEED TO MARCH STRAIGHT TO MALACANANG. IF THE SOLDIERS START TO BE VIOLENT AND HURT THE PEOPLE, THE GOOD HEARTED SOLDIERS ON HER SIDE WILL FEEL THE NEED TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE AND RELINQUISH THEIR DOUBTFUL ALLIANCE. THE OPPOSITION AND FVR SHOULD JOIN HANDS FOR A WHILE TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE’S WILL. THE DEDICATION SHOULD NOT BE HALF-HEARTED, ITS SHOULD BE AS STRONG AS OUR FAITH… AND FINALLY. LETS NOT CALL THIS PEOPLE POWER, IF GOD WILL LEAD US THRU THIS, LET’S CALL THIS “THE LORD’S POWER”

POLITICS! PINOY STYLE

ANOTHER PEOPLE POWER IN THE OFFING/
MAJORITY ARE TIRED OF JOINING/
AFTER EDSA 1 AND 2 NOTHING HAPPENED/
CROOKS ARE STILL FREE AND FORGIVEN/

CORRUPT ADMINISTRATION UNDER INVESTIGATION/
BY SENATORS WHOSE INTEGRITY SHOULD ALSO BE QUESTIONED/
KURATONG BALELENG AND JUETING A FEW TO MENTION/
WHO WOULD CAST A BLOODY STONE/

POOR PEOPLE MARCHED IN THE STREETS/
DOUSED WITH WATER BY POOR FIREMAN’S FIST/
LASHED WITH STICKS BY POOR POLICMAN’S BEAST/
WHILE RICH PEOPLE STOLE THE TREASURE CHEST/

CHURCH PEOPLE ENTERED POLITICS/
WITHOUT PAYING TAXES ON THEIR RELIGIOUS ANTICS/
CRYING OUSTER OF AN IMMORAL HEAD OF STATE/
WHILE DARKNESS ALSO FILLED THEIR WEALTHY MANDATE/

CONVICTED CORRUPT OUSTED PRESIDENT/
FREED BY CORRUPT SITTING PRESIDENT/
JUAN DELA CRUZ STEALS ONE CENT/
BUT LANGUISHED IN JAIL TIL THIS MOMENT/

OTHERS CALLED FOR ARMED REVOLUTION/
BUT THEY ENGAGED IN ROBBERY AND EXTORTION/
POOR REBELS DIED IN WARZONES/
WHILE THEIR LEADERS JUST WATCH FROM OTHER HORIZON/

POOR TRAFFIC POLICEMAN FELLED BY REBEL’S BULLET/
BECAUSE HE TOOK 100 FROM A DRIVER’S POCKET/
BUT OTHERS WHO TOOK BILLIONS FROM NATION’S WEALTH/
ARE SPARED FROM THE REBELS’ KANGAROO MINDSET/

POOR PINOYS NOWHERE TO RUN
CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE OF OLIGARC’S SCAM
EVERY CORNER IS ALWAYS A SHAM
JUST WAITING FOR THY KINGDOM COME

on cory aguino to gma to step down to a credible government:
alam ninyo ms cory aquino wala rin po kayong credibility na magsalita ng ganyan dahil corrupt din ang iyong administration. ang kamaganak inc. at ang aligarchs mafia ay nandun din at sa mga government agencies naman ang isang halimbawa ay ang NIA (national irrigation administration) na bumagsak dahil sa nilagay mong si mr alday na gutom na gutom na inubos ang pera ng NIA sa loob lamang ng 6 na buwan. kaya po ms cory tumahimik na lang kayo dahil marumi rin kayo. tingnan niyo muna ang sarili nyo bago kayo maghusga ng kapwa ninyo.

theCBCP has spoken. no call for GMA’s resignation. according to lingayen-dagupan archbishop oscar cruz, he doesn’t know what kind of evil is GMA bcoz its the 1st time for the CBCP to be divided. is mr. oscar cruz a real priest? he is like satan the rebel angel! i think he is the real evil hiding under the “abito”. just like satan who doesn’t want to obey his master, revolted and built his own empire called “HELL”. in that empire he is GOD coz he wants to be GOD. so mr. oscar cruz, build your own empire so you can be GOD & bring w/ you your followers. you are a disgust in the catholic religion.

Look Who’s Talking Part 2- The Madriaga Version

The Senate investigation of the ZTE-NBN controversy is getting messy. It will later on self-destruct if not directed properly. Engr. Madriaga’s version has a lot of inconsistencies. IF he is indeed privy to the deal, why he could not even straightforwardly give the exact project cost? He uttered a lot of figures…$50M, $80M, $90M, $100M, $130M and less than $100. Which of which? To our fellow senators, especially Sen. Lacson who brought this “strange” guy to the Senate, please check the transcript of the senate proceedings on that very hours when Engr. Madriaga was grilled. Moderate the lies. Granting that the project cost is only $50M, who in the world in his right mind and politically astute at that like Abalos, FG and PGMA, to bloat the price to $329M without having second thought that IT experts (both in government and private sectors)and even lowly electronics and communications engineering students would know later that the project is incredibly overpriced. Even Joey De Venecia priced its proposal at $200+ considering that it does not even cover the entire country up to its remotest barangays and with limited facilities. He even insisted that his proposal is fairly priced. Looking back at IMPSA controvery that caused the head of Nanny Perez, it was only a $2M alleged kickback and it rocked the Arroyo government during its infancy years. My point here is very elementary. The Arroyos and even Abalos will have to think a million times to consider corrupting the government that large amount of money ( the difference between $329M and $50M) in a single transaction at that. And do you think China would allow that to happen giving out loan 7 times more than the actual cost? Whoever was the director of drama series in the Senate hearing, please proof read your script. Maybe you forgot that you are supposed to show a true-to-life story but ended up to a fiction. I commend, at least for that day only, Sen. Roxas for stating for the record his reservations and did not add to the confusion of the listening/viewing public.

Nothing special about Jun Lozada.
” … every Filipino is a hero.” says a bank advertisement.
Mabuhay !!!

another bozo has spoken and is trying to focus the spotlight on him: Bro. Eddie Villanueva tells Gloria to hold snap elections. Why would she do that? She has been trying so hard to cling to power all this time, so why would she hold snap elections, at a time when the public opinion towards her is at its lowest?

COMMON SENSE PEOPLE!!!!!

that’s what’s wrong with the picture we have in pinas right now. ANDAMING MIRON!!!

On newsitem titled: “Admin solon demands Cabinet revamp over NBN scandal “…

This is another shortsighted view that which takes a shortcut to let loose the culprits in the NBN-ZTE scandal… the proposed cabinet REVAMP is the answer to weed out undesirable officials ONLY to prevent them from linking their roles to the “one who’s holding the smoking gun”.

However, REVAMP is not the answer to make the same undesirable officials pay for the undesirable deeds they did against the country and its people…

After all, these “undesirable officials” could not have become undesirables if their leader (bosses) is (are) not [undesirable].

This is akin to some cases in the past (and some very recent ones), when those who have been under suspicion or those who have been singled-out to have committed or linked to a crime or misdeed, were either sent on leave, or transferred or - PROMOTED!

This Jamby Madrigal is really a dimwit. Pa’no ba naging senador ito, at mahilig sumawsaw sa ano-anong issue ha?Imagine pati letter ng NEDA with some “FGI/PIS” note inaatupag! The agency webiste already explained what those initials mean sa http://www.neda.gov.ph . Kalabas-labas a certain employee Florentino G. Igbiten of the Public Investment Staff division pala nila yung copy ng letter na pinagkakaabalahan ng jamby na iyan! Hay naku, kay Juday na lang kami kesa mga walang kwentang mga pulitiko na iyan!hindi na mahalag kung sino-sino nakaupo sa senado, kongreso o malakanyang ngayon: for sure mayayaman na mga iyan at kahit di magtrabaho ng isang buong taon.

WHY CAN’T PGMA, et al just reveal ALL the details and answer the questions on the controversial NBN Deal??????????

The people demands shedding light on this. Many are affected! Many are having at least a reasonable doubt if not outright criticsm!

Is explaining so hard to do to save this political crisis??????

If there’s nothing to hide then why hide behind that executive privilege?????

Is that privilege more important than giving the people peace of mind?????

IF they can’t really explain the issues haunting them then there MUST be something wrong for SURE!!!

Simple common sense! The best ones to explain are the people involved in the deal! if they won’t talk then they’re hiding something!

the Filipino people can’t be fooled!
Tell us all. It’s not so hard to do if it’s the TRUTH!

noong mga nakaraang taon…ang nakakasira lang ng bayan natin ay mga POLITIKO lang….pero ngayon…kasama ng nakakasira sa bansa natin ang MEDIA, OBISPO at PARI!!!!!

Puro kasi merong mga personal na interest!!!!

PINAPATAY NINYO ANG MAMAYANG PILIPINO!!!!!!

Balang araw….ANG TOTOONG MGA PILIPINO ANG HAHATOL SA INYONG LAHAT!!!!!

satan is a rebel angel.. itinakwil sya ng langit dahil s kanyang ungodly n gawain at pnanaw. para makaakit ng taga sunod nagkukunwari sya n sya ay DIYOS para manglinlang ng tao. oscar cruz’s teaching is ungodly. dapat sya ang magbitaw as archbishop. pilit nya kinakaladkad ang simbahan s politka. ang simbahan ay maka DIYOS at hindi makademonyo. simbahan para sa DIYOS, politika para s demonyo. i’ll pray for you mr. oscar cruz.

ano ba ito si Mrs. Jamby Madrigal, ayoko sya i-address na senadora sapagkat puro kapalpakan lamang ang kanyang ginagawa, sa harap pa ng media at ng publiko. dapat maging sensitibo siya sa mga pahayag niya sa mga dayuhan lalo na ang Tsina. kapag ipinagpatuloy niya ang mga masasamang pahayag sa Tsina at mga Intsik, sigurado hindi na ako magtataka na kelan man hindi na siya payagang makakatuntong ng alin man sa teritoryo ng Tsina. ayan kasi ibinoto pa ni juan dela cruz ang mga hindi talaga kwalipikado na maging senador… marami pa sila dun.

the CBCP’s new statement is weak, somewhat cautious and tiptoeing.

I expected a bolder, clearer and evil-renouncing statement.

But they instead opted to be technical-sided relying on evidences, procedures and etc.

Come on! By their (PGMA, Abalos, Atienza, etc.) mere refusal to talk means something’s fishy. And you still think there isn’t any reasonable doubt???

Of course, corruption doesnt have any evidence nor paper trails!!!! because its deceit!

I am afaraid our CBCP is deceived.

We will pray for you.

skli man umatend s hearing ng senado ang mga tga gobyerno ay hindi ito pniniwalaan ng mga oposition n senador. ssbihan lng cla n cnungaling at tuta ni GMA khit sbhin nila un totoo. tatakutin or susuhulan p cla para lng bumaliktad at mag imbento ng salita.. pero pgnagcnungaling cla laban s gobyerno pniniwalaan cla kgad ng mga senador at hindi cla ssbihan ng tuta kyo ng oposisyon. is that justice? kya bulok p rin ang sistema ng politika sating bansa. ito ang nagppbagsak at sumisira s ating bansa. mga politikong ganid, uhaw s pagsikat at kpngyrihan.

the ZTE/NBN deal is a close deal. no more deal kya no big deal n dpt. nun inaprove ni GMA tinira sya ng oposisyon, ngaun kinansel nya msama p rin sya? ano b gusto nyo? akuin din nya pati un pg patay kay lapu lapu? d kya sya rin un pumatay kay ninoy? nagttnong lng.

the CBCP’s statement is weak? isang smhan ng mga pari at obispo s buong bansa mali un statement? how bout un stement ni oscar cruz at mga iilang ksmhan nyang tiwaling pari, hindi weak? whre’s the common sense there?

i feel something fishy about thi oscar cruz.. is he really a priest or a politician? kc parang pampulitika un mga pngaral nya at hindi pangsimbhan. he is spreading the word of the politicians not the word of GOD.

mr. jun lozada for president. mr. joey de venecia for vice president. mr. oscar cruz for senator! iboto ntin cla s drting n 2010 election.. mabuhay ang pilipinas!

i guess not all will agree that there is a systemic illness in the government called corruption right?

wrong! lahat naniniwala na may corruption. And by saying that Lozada’s statements are not credible, you are simply saying that there is no corruption. you must be blind or maybe a defeatist not to see all that.

if there is then corruption, why not resolve it??? why just surrender and say “they are all corruptors”. Yes its true many are in the government But a real proactive stance is first to urge them to tell all and tell the truth now! is that hard to do???? Maybe its hard for PGMA or Neri or Abalos if theyre really hiding a rotten rat.

I guess you will agree with me that you also demand for the truth. So why not allow pgma and all of them to testify?

The cbcp statement is weak because it still gives pgma moral ascendancy. But tha fact is she lost it. Inamin na nga nya before na kinausap nya si Garcilliano na comelec person in the middle of elections, tama ba yun???? Now she also admitted na may anomalya ang ZTE contract, inapprove pa rin nya for diplomatic reasons. So pgma thinks that the chinese ZTE company is really important that she’d risk allowing a flawed contract at the expense of the people. There is no moral ascendancy there my friend.

One thing is certain. There is a liar among them. And there are those who tell the truth. And i believe that the one telling the truth is the person who isn’t afraid of whistleblowing and who isn’t hiding under executive privileges.
Liars are afraid of the light.

There may be justification for anyone to call for GMA’s resignation but it sounds ridiculous and absurd when one hears the likes of Erap and Cory making the call. Cory, for one, should be reminded of the number of times her admin was the subject of bloody coups also because of irregularities which, among others, was the emergence of her Kamaganak Inc., which together with chosen friends and political allies took over the sequestered government corporations and private assets of the deposed Marcos and his cronies.

Eto na naman si Erap… nakikisawsaw na rin sa issue… sasama na din sa rally bukas… haayy… pulitika sa ‘Pinas… very bad… (pwede bang bawiin na lang ulit yun parole?..hehehe..) sana wag palinlang mga ordinaryong tao sa mga pulitiko… mag-isip naman tayong mga Pinoy.. matatalino tayo… use our wisdom wisely…

New ZTE-NBN Senate witness Dante Madriaga is too aggressive, bold and overly zealous in giving information, even unsolicited ones, as if they’re freebies. Not surprising some senators found the guy’s demeaner quite suspicious. Not surprising too if he ruins the efforts of Lozada and Joey III in building a case against the ZTE deal.

Ping Lacson falls flat on his face for presenting this witness who already is known in the internet of trying to sell his information for 10 M pesos. The senate investigating committee is better off discarding this witness. There’s nothing new in what he revealed. At best, he only confirmed what Lozada and Joey III had said. Even the personalities he revealed were the same personalities already given in Joey’s previous testimonies. Sure, he mentioned GMA and FG, but can he prove it? Not at all. Listening to him is just a waste of time and will make the senators look gullible.

The CBCP resolution is like a voice in the wilderness for it is the dissenting voice of reason in the midst of anger and hysteria besetting the country today. It behooves everyone to stop for a moment, put behind their hate and anger, and try to read and absorb the deeper meaning of every word written in that resolution.

Open your mind and heart to the message it is trying to give. The message is trying to reach out to everyone, from the citizens, to government functionaries, and the media, and try to understand what it is asking all of us to do.

Significantly, the search for truth will be achieved if this government will listen to the call to withdraw EO 464 which is the object that shields the truth from the people. Good governance, trasparency and accountability can be achieved but it cannot be done in one sitting. Removing EO 464 is a good beginning. The ball is now in Malacanang. How all this will end only they can say.

ESTRADA LEADING RALLY and DEMOSTRATIONS????????????????????

DYOS KO PO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 Ano na ba ang nangyayari sa mga taga manila!!!!! Estrada na naman?????????????

napakaswerte ko at pinanganak ako na isang PROUD NA CEBUANO!!!!

At hindi Manileño na SUMUSUNOD AT HUMAHALIK sa PWET NI ERAP!!!!!

To john m.g.

If you are truly against corruption and not hypocrite then by all means you should denounced Lozada because he himself admitted that he committed some irregularities and therefore also corrupt! And about the CBCP what they did was right in not joining the call for the President to resign not until there is concrete evidence (not hearsays) it could be proven in the proper court of law. And about calling Garcillano, ang dami namang iba na tumawag din. Mabuti pa ang pangulo naghingi ng “sorry” ‘yong iba hindi. With regard to ZTE-NBN she never admitted that it was flawed but that there are allegations of irregularities, kaya nga pinakansela niya ang contract.

Gentlemen and Ladies, your attention please. Here is the biggest joke ( I mean news) in town. PDI Headline: “Estrada To Join Interfaith Rally” .

Have we forgotten? These were the very same people who called for the ouster of Erap. According to him, he was invited. Well, if that is the case, it means only one thing. These people are political prostitutes. They will do anything and everything to satisfy their “desires”.

If Erap decides to join the rally on his own volition, well, what do we expect from a brainless individual. He deserves to be called (or crowned as) the king of political prostitutes.

My dear fellow Filipinos, wake up. We have been used and abused.

Huwag na tayong magpagamit pa.

MC_90

anu sabi mo leading na naman si Erap sa rally, siya bay nagtigil ? di naman ah.At sa totoo lang napakaraming BUDGET ng MANDARAMBONG na iyan na pambayad sa kanyang mga PR MAN at kakuntsaba na kabalae na mga Lopez ang ABS CBN at pahayagang bayaran. LAKAS MO ERAP… epekto parin ba yan ng sobrang paglaganap ng Droga ng panahon mo? Oh minumulto ka ng KURATONG baleleng ni LACson kaya ka lagi sa langsangan. EH KAYA LANG NINYONG UTUIN NI BINAY yung mahihirap. … bakit di mo mauto mga middle Class… di kasi nila matangap na ang utak talangka na si ERap ang magdikta sa kanila. Anu nga naman ang saysay ng pagiging atenista, UP, wag na bangitin La Salle-baka mandaya pa sa laro. Harvard o graduate sa abroad kung papadikta lamang sa isang drop-out… kaya yun dinaanan ng bwenas napatalsik na presidente… kawawa naman ang matanda na ito na alang ginawa kundi magkalat ng anak at mambabae at sikmurain ng asawa nya ang kanyang immoralidad. LAKAS NG LOOB MO ERAP… MANDARAMBONG… IYAN AY MARKA NA DADALHIN NG IYONG MGA ANAK AT APO…. MANDARAMBONG…. SOBRA PA SA MAGNANAKAW…. MANDARAMBONG… NA PARDON PA. GRABE NAMAN TONG GLORIA NA TO BAKIT DI PA BINULOK SA KULUNGAN YAN DAMI PALA NINAKAW NYAN?

MAG ALSA mga bilango na nagnakaw dahil sa gutom nagdurusa pa rin… atwalang parole…. eto ang mandarambong at nag ra rally pa lintek…

Mag alsa mga nakakulong dahil sa droga na naging talamak ng panahon ni ERap… ang ama ng mga drug lord… di bat yung anak nya eh nasan na na nasangkot sa Droga… JUDE ba yun…

SI ERAP at sampu ng mga ulyanin na dating Presidente, VIse Presidente, Hukom , Dating huklubang Mambabatas, Obispo na tatlong itlog- yung TRIAD NG NORTE NA OBISPO, CRUZ, LABAYEN AT SI DATING OBISPO NG ZAMBALES NA SI INUEGEZ. Totoo po ba ang kasabihan na ang mga matatanda ay kulang sa pansin at palaging naghahanap ng attention na masahol pa sa bata?

Bakit kaya napaka salbahe ng istilo ng nagpamukhang juday atsay nung election?Sobrang yaman ng tao na yan di ba na yumayaman sa pagkalbo ng kabundukan? Bakit kaya WALANG HIYA ANG DATING NG PAGMUMUKHA NI JAMBY MADRIGAL….

MGA TANUNG NA NAIS KO NG SAGOT??? KAW BAKIT KAMPI KA KAY ERAP???

to Amfedup

the CBCP, the bishops, the priests and the media…puro na sila walang credibilidad (di ko na mention ang mga politiko kasi matagal na yan silang walang credibilidad hehe) !! lahat meron pansariling interest….at gaya ng inaasahan…ginagawa nilang engot ang karamihan sa mg taga manila (no offense)…pero buti ngayon konti na lang sa mga taga manila ang nagpapaniwala sa mga walang credibilidad na mga yan!!!!!

We need to have a revolution…a revolution not against the government…but a revolution against all politicians!!!!!!!

wag ng magpapaniwala sa mga politiko…wag ng magpapaniwala sa mga obispo, pari, cbcp at media pagdating sa politika!!!!!!!!

yan ang dapat nating gawin!!!!!

ito namang taga media, isip nila dahil media sila…aba parang ang galeng galeng na sa lahat ng bagay!!!!! at kapag hinuli sila…sisigaw agad ng FREEDOM of SPEECH kuno!!!!

Ok lang na sila ang nakakalamang..pero wag na wag nyo lalamangang ang media dahil FREEDOM of SPEECH agad ang isisigaw nila!!!!

PWE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! nakakasuka na kayo mga pari, obispo, media, militante at iba pa…wala na kayong pinag-iba sa mga politiko nating mga BULOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

haven’t you noticed? un accused corrupt dw? how bout un witness, hindi corrupt? un mga senador n mga nag iinvestigate d rin kya corrupt? un mga ex-president n gusto pbbain c GMA hindi rin b corrupt?.. ganyan tlga.. ang mga magnanakaw galit sa kapwa magnanakaw.

to natros, thanks for giving me new insights.

yes i denounce what Lozada did before BUT not what he did NOW which is revealing the truth even if it is admitting that he WAS a part of the corruption before. When a person admits wrongdoings and works for correcting himself and all others involved in the corrption, then i do not denounce that.
I denounce those continuing to suppress the truth in hiding.

Lets check our logic. If you believed that Lozada WAS part of the corruption, you must also be saying that there is really corruption in the gov’t. And inclined to the fact that the government officials are involved in it. But you say pgma is not involved? The president not knowing what’s going on within her govt’ officials??? That’s scary or incredible.

About pgma, you’re right that the rule of law and proper court proceedings shall govern the case. So why not allow an impeachment case??? So why not allow government officials to testify?? why are they delaying? why not the president answer all the allegations now? just like Lozada who isnt afraid to talk NOW beacuse even if he’d be in the court, he’d be consistent.

Lets check the news archives in the Hello Garci scandal. It was never resolved. Now, would an innocent president leave it unresolved? and doubted? If she was really innocent then she would have had the upperhand and evidences to clear her name. BUT she was not able to do it. Leaving us reason enough to doubt.

Again if she received info that there were irregularities then why not act responsibly by allowing veriification before signing?

Now throwing back the question, is it already proven that the NBN contract was not anomalous? No.
SO the possibility is still there that pgma signed a possible flawed contract without prudence.

Only in the Philipines, politics is triving all year round. Umpisa, right after the ballots had been counted and will continnue unrelentlessly until the next sets of ballots will be counted i.e. in between elections. Politics are considered an overwhelming events in the lives of Filipinos. Some say this is the biggest business in the entire country. Why can’t we get rid of too much politics? Parang sabong na di maalis alis sa bansa natin. This is the main reason why the country remained a 3rd world country and its nationals referred as TCN inspite of all the natural resources and talents that God had given to us. Excessive politics is the root of graft and corruptions. To rid the country of excessive politics will only be a dream and its difficult to comprehend this malady happened to a country like Philippines. This really impedes economic growth and the biggest stumbling block to achieve progress. Every government that got elected has to start from the scratch. I envy the citizens of the West and other industrialized countries. They have government that works for the people and by the people.

Makati Rallies, and now boasting with clergies and students, and they will be joined by the likes of Estrada, Binay, FPJ group, Bibeth Orteza, communist militant group, ABS-CBN reporters and Black & White???
What will these self-serving group tell the youth and the church leaders? Are these students aware of these oppositionist’s political motives?
Its high-time to condemn corruption in the govt but there are POLITICAL VULTURES also waiting at the side if Arroyo steps down.
EASY TO SAY RESIGN BUT NO SUFFICIENT REPLACEMENT AND REFORM TO CHANGE.

Tell the TRUTH daw… sabi ni Erap kay Neri… What if sabihin ni Neri na.. ndi totoo na kasabwat ang mga Arroyo sa ZTE na yan.. sasabihin ng opposition na sinungaling si Neri… eh alam n pala ng opposition un umano’y truth.. bkit pa nila pinipilit na magsabi ng TRUTH si Neri… just for the sake na maging sikat sila.. gagawa ng kung ano anong ingay… tapos na un contract…na cancel na… ano pa habol nila.. ala nman yata natuloy dun sa mga alegasyon na kumita cla ng malaki…dahil ba sa hindi cla naambunan noon.. kaya cla ngrereklamo… ano kaya kung yan oposisyon maging sangkot sa anomalya? over na check and balance na ginagawa nila sa demokrasya ng ‘Pinas…

Edsa II was not a mistake even if it resulted in placing Gloria in power. We should separate the person from the office. Im sure not one of those who went to EDSA Dos in mind or spirit, was fighting for Gloria Arroyo to assume power. We were fighting for truth , justice, and against corruption which are the same noble ideals that we are fighting for today.

Conversely, it would not be a mistake if we place Noli as president because he occupies the office of the vice president even if he is not the best choice. The person is different from the office but the ideals of truth, justice, and good governance are always worth fighting for.

One last point, the best evidence to me that this government is not serious in fighting corruption is this: She pardoned an ex-president convicted of plunder, and she likewise pardoned a certain Mr. Ponce De Leon , convicted of multiple counts of graft and who hails from Dumaguete because he is a relative of incumbent finance secretary Garry Teves. Why in the world will you pardon these criminals if you are sincere in fighting corruption?

The bishops who think Gloria can lead a moral crusade against corruption are overlooking two simple facts: Gloria Arroyo has pardoned Mr. Ponce De Leon, convicted with finality of multiple counts of graft for ghost road projects in Negros Oriental just because he is a relative of Finance Sec. Garry Teves. She has also pardoned a convicted plunderer Joseph Estrada. Why in the world will you pardon people convicted in a court of law of serious corruption offenses if you are really serious in fighting corruption? I would like to hear what Gloria has to say about her reasons for pardoning these two people.

” tatrabahuin lang namin ang media”.- Mike Defensor

Dont think that this blog is immune from Malacanang’s stooges. ang laki ng budget ng Malacanang to try and shape public opinion in its favor. reading some of the entries in this blog really leads me to conclude that malacanang is really trying hard to mold public opinion. tsk.tsk.

magsasamasama na ang mga corrupt na leaders ng ating bansa. sana si ramos ay sumama na rin. anggagaling ng mga itong mag akusa ng corruption kay gloria pero sila ay ganun din. parepareho lang kayong mga magnanakaw. magsitigil na kayo. sa 2010 na lang kayo magharapharap ulit at kung kayo ang maupo di kayo naman ulit ang magpasasa sa kapangyarihan at tuloy na ninyong ilibing ang pilipinas.

si erap sasama na rin sa rally? hindi ba yung mga nagraraling iyan kasama si cory ay siyang mga nagpatalsik sa kanya noon? talagang hilo na ako sa mga nangyayari ngayon. angdaming sira na ang ulo. only in the philippines.

MC90 you said “We need to have a revolution…a revolution not against the government…but a revolution against all politicians!!!!!!!”

We really don’t need a revolution just to have a good government. What we need are responsible people particularly in the grass roots who will use their God-given intelligence to be conscientious, more discerning and discriminating in choosing leaders that are known for their integrity and capability and not based on popularity as a TV-radio personality or endorsed by political dynasties and unscrupulous personalities.

The people are equally guilty for putting mediocre people in such an exalted office as the Senate that as a result what it produces today is mediocrity. The Senate might as well be abolished or its name changed to Senate Bureau of Investigation.

John MG,

Lozada may have come out from the cold and is now ratting on his accomplices in crime, but I don’t find justification to call him a hero. In the first place, it was never his intent to come out clean because his conscience bothered him, but rather he had no choice because the Senate finally got to him. Now that the dark side of his life is beginning to surface and though he admitted he is a sinner, ganoon na lang ba? So it’s ok to some to acclaim him a national hero because he’s now doing the rounds making speeches to fight corruption, ganoon na lang ba? Even some gullible senators compare Lozada better than new witness Madriaga, because Madriaga was suspiciously more solicitous with unproven allegations and no emotional hangups unlike Lozada. The senators were obviously impressed and overwhelmed by Lozada’s changeable modes, crying a minute, laughing the next. Ganoon na lang ba? So Lozada is home free and a hero to boot with 2 million peso donations awaiting him. So, the Senate will not bother to investigate the charges about anomalies he allegedly committed in the Phil. Forest Corp.? What about the “China thing” he talked about with Joey III in their tapped phone conversation. From the looks of it, that conversation is about a deal that will earn them enough to make their commissioln from their moderated ZTE greed pale in comparison. But the Senate is not interested in investigating it, so again, Lozada goes free? Ganoon na lang ba?

As a religious organization, the CBCP is the moral crusader. In adherence to its moral advocacy it pointed out in its statement the corruption that is ruining the moral fabric of the Filipino society. Their decision to remain neutral on the issue of GMA’s resignation should be taken with an open mind because they know this is one issue the CBCP will be criticized regardless of which side they take.

The demand for GMA’s resignation is a political issue and the CBCP must have felt it is best left to the political protagonists to resolve. The Church interference in the removal of Erap from Malacanang had caused divisiveness among the pro and anti Erap that to this day many continue to insist the strict observance of the separation of Church and State.

Some militant bishops and the religious have rights too that must be respected to express their anger but it is not quite right to criticize the CBCP for taking a neutral and sober mind and not join an angry mob in the streets. Just as there are countless others who have the patience to wait and believe the most effective and practical solution in making a recalcitrant and unpopular president to answer for the allegations against her is when she steps down in 2010 and face the Sandiganbayan. All this can be done without rupturing the peace and economic stability of the country and weakening its democratic processes.

is it also already proven in proper court that the ZTE/NBN deal was anomolous? how can you say lozada is telling the truth? he must prove it not by story telling alone. hey, anybody can accuse anyone for any reason. lozada is a self confessed corrupt & immoral person. a question marked life background & personality. i may suggest he should seek a psychiatrist for a psychiatric help. corruption is like a cancer. there is no cure. the government can only minimize corruption but to totally wipe it out is impossible. speaking of impeachment, do you think congress will allow investigation of an impeachment case without credible witnesses & solid documents connecting PGMA into corruption? its a waste of money & time, just like what the senate is doing right now. these senators already knew that this ZTE/NBN deal investigation will lead them to no where. they are not that dumb (or are they?). they knew that they dont have enough solid evidence to pin down GMA (not even one) & they are also aware that the senate is not really the proper court for this kind of case, but what the heck! for them this is their time to grandstand & become more popular. the politicians will only use this as a stepping stone in future national elections. look at where chiz escudero & his co. right now? they used the previous rejected impeachment case as an issue on their election campaigns & its effective, now they are senators. this is the same tactic the oppositions were applying right now. its the senators’ time to use another investigation for them to smell good in the coming 2010 presidential elections. do you think the next government will be a corrupt free government? maybe more corrupt. can the next government match the economic gain our country is having right now? not unless the next president is pro GMA. if not, all the proposed projects of this present government will be canceled. for sure they will inject new projects. coz for them new projects means new commission. corruption again.

to Amfedup

True. Lozada was part of the corrupt system. He tread in the web of greed.
(web of evil heheh) He ought to be punished. He’s not a hero but i find his exposes’ realistic and truthful.

As he said he’s willing to go to jail together with all those corrupt officials.

Could we at least give him credit for admitting fault and exposing all the evilworks in the gov’t?

Could we at least find it better to put to jail all corruptors rather than just jail one.

Certainly this Lozada was instrumental in uncovering ugly truths in th gov’t.

Yes Lozada is still accountable. But logically I’d go catch the big fat liars and corruptors first. Now, isn’t it better to be led to the pack of corrupt lions.

In cost & benefit analysis, what Lozada exposed far outweighed his shortcomings.

If there’s a unique model of an endangered species of political idiot in the world, the Philippines has one and that is Erap Estrada.
In his own senses, he cannot respect himself after being a convicted plunderer, womaniser and gambler, now look who’s talking???MASYADO NA TAYONG NAKAKAHIYA KASI tayo ay bansa ng walang ka delika delicadeza.
And Bishop Bacani is posturing like a dirty politician, If he is serving God, then he should remove his sotana and be a politician!! Why dont he talked about priests who are gays and those who had case of sexual abuses? or how about corruption in the church? I am a devout catholic but the church intervention in politics is very disgusting !!He loves Erap as he is like a saint..Somehow, I want to assume that what;s happening in my beloved country is just a bad dream!!HOW I Wish, this is just a dream..Mga taong marurumi at madudungis ang salita ng salita laban sa karumihan ng gobyerno ni GMA??

the great escape. corruption will not end as long as there is a person as witty as jun lozada in the government. why? mr. lozada had this formula. you can do illegal government transactions & get away w/ it. how? just go to the senate & turn witness against GMA!

thumbs up efren. joseph estrada & jun lozada both confirmed corrupt & womanizers. birds of the same feathers flock together!

people should also revolt against these immoral priests.. they are sowing our heart & minds w/ “anger” & “hatred”. thats not a good example to our children. ganito b tlga ang catholic religion? hindi mka kristyano? kya minsan ayoko n isimba ang anak ko. those priests will only polute my son’s mind.

John m.g.,

As I said in previous blogs, I am not disputing the allegations of Lozada as untrue but being unaware of the true motives and political agenda of people whose background is highly questionable and specious I am not gullible as the others to be stampeded in declaring him a hero.

If we are against corruption, certainly we have to be consistent in punishing crooks in government without exception because he is part of the crooked system that made the government dysfunctional.

It’s too early for anyone to say Lozada’s revelations far outweigh his shortcomings. Why don’t you wait until the more serious charges against him are fully uncovered. Then you will know what kind of man Lozada truly is.

Calling GMA to resign? Who will take her place? GMA IS THE LESSER EVIL! THAT IS WHY I VOTED FOR HER!
DON’T BOTHER THOSE LEFTEST OR RIGHTEST…..THAT IS THEIR ROLE.

HEY BISHOP BACANI……CLEAN THE CHURCH FIRST OR YOUR PERSONAL ISSUES!
THE CBCP IS CORRECT, EVERYONE SHOULD BE IN THE PROCESS….
BISHOP BACANI HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THE INJUSTICES DONE IN THE CHURCH? HOW MANY CHILDREN ARE MOLESTED BY PRIESTS? HOW MANY WORKERS ARE UNDERPAID? HOW MANY LADIES ARE IMPREGNATED BY CHURCH MINISTERS…..ALL THESE ARE MUCH WORST THAN THE PRESENT CORRUPTION, AND NOW LOOKING AS IF CLEAN! S _ _ T!

Amfed,

I like exchanging thoughts with you ‘coz we’re really (i am) getting some points.

Yep we are on the same boat that Lozada should also be held accountable. But i’m considerate enough to make him useful in chasing for the more culpable ones.

What Im saying is, yes Lozada is also accountable, but why do we stop there? If we abhor corruption, then let’s not just get fixed at Lozada. Lets go get all of them.

I just wonder why you’re so bent on punishing Lozada while his role is still very critical in catching more thieves in the gov’t. Without his ‘whistleblowing’ do you think we would have gotten this enlightened or this invovled? at least give him recognition,.. for what he did is a milestone in our war against corruption.

ang daming pakawala ng malakanyang dito!!!

Marcos and Erap were not convicted in a court of law. They were convicted in the court of public opinion. There is a level of tolerance the public can take with corruption… When it reaches billions of pesos and when a government becomes so arrogant that it can make its citizens disappear that just breaks the public’s threshhold.

Malacanyang and its stooges apparently believe that a lie often repeated will become truth. But as a great US president put it ” you can fool some people all of the time, you can fool most people sometimes, BUT YOU CANNOT FOOL ALL OF THE PEOPLE ALL OF THE TIME!!! Gloria Resign!!

Gloria Resign!!!! Masyado nang garapalan ang korupsyon!!! Ang kapal ng mukha ni Gloria na mag sinungaling sing kapal ng mukha ni Benjamin Abalos mangomisyon!!!!!

President Arroyo is drunk with power , drunk with money, and drunk with all her lies and believing them. The greatest deception that one can employ is to deceive one’s self. Gloria and Esperon are deceiving themselves about the political reality of the situation. These two have gotten away with election cheating, extrajudicial killings, and plundering the nation’s coffers. No wonder they think they can resist the forces of history and reject political reality.

During the time of Erap, many of you in the
opposition, binastos nyo ang Simbahan at mga Obispo
about the same charge.. namumulitka ang mga Obispo!
Kasi nasa pwesto si Erap… Panahon ng election na
sinalihan ni FPJ, ganon din ang ginawa nyong
pambabastos… kayong mga makakaliwa at mga actibistang
militante, ibang uri naman ng pambabastos ang ginawa
nyo like tungkol sa Reproductive rights nyo.. sinasabi
rin ninyo na wag makialam ang Simbahan sa affairs ng
Estado tungkol dito… Pati na kayo sa media… Si
Cardinal Sin… he suffered such rebukes from you… do
have a short memory?…

The Church after that learned from her experience…
She retreated from such situation that can be
impressed as “partisan politicking”… Now with Gloria,
maiinins kayo sa mga Obispo dahil di sila nagpalabas
ng Pastoral Statement ayon sa kagustuhan nyong
patalsikin si Gloria ng agaran sa pwesto?! Sinuswerte
naman kayo! Para kayong mga bata sa pag atungal dahil
di binigay sa inyo ang na kendi… Mano bang maghintay
muna kayo at sumunoid sa mga developments na hinihingi
ng CBCP… di naman sinabi ng mga Obispo na di sila
nananawagan ng pagbaba ni Gloria eh… they are doing it
step by step… we will follow ang mga Pastol namin…
yung vox populi, vox Dei is a political cliché… it is
not a dogma from the Church… remember during Exodus in
the time of Moses?… God designed it that way… the
people follow His appointed one, not the other way
around… otherwise, nagkaloko-loko na… remember this
people decided among themselves to worship a golden
calf… Iwasan nyong bastusin ang Simbahan at ang CBCP…
disiplinahin nyo naman ang mga dila nyo… we follow our
shepherds because when they speak as a Body, that one
is truly Vox Dei… because with their lead in the
Spirit of God, even as we die in the streets, eternal
salvation will be there which no political party, nor
any militant group, nor other religious group can we
trust that they can lead us to… wag nyong pangunahan,
maghintay ng kumpas ng mga Pastol, sumunod… in the
meantime, continue with your small but signicant
activities in the streets…

if we really are sincere in fighting corruption, why dont we start w/ lozano? by admitting to the whole nation that he is indeed corrupt, he is guilty! the senate should punish him so that justice will be serve. he is not that vital to the investigation. as a witness his statements were pure alegations. what about those other corrupt government officials? they’ll just go to the senate, link GMA & thats it? absuelto n rin cla s corruption? are we going to tolerate that? thats one reason why corruption will not dissapear in our govwernment, bcoz of bata bata system.

mdmi din ang pkwala ng oposition d2.. kya balanse lng.

what they’ve done to erap is what they are also doing now to GMA, convict her in public opinion..

no one can overcome GOD’s power. not even satan.. good will always prevail over evil. GOD will listen to prayers that has good intensions..

to boom boom.

you have several valid points against pgma, et al

Corruptors plan their deception well. Especially equipped with power, connections, money & greed, they know the art of stealing. Leaving no evidences. Creating diversions & tactics.

No wonder they can still fool people.

But i refuse to yield.

Dapat lahat harapin at sagutin ang mga alegasyon, kasali na si pgma.

ang takot, may tinatago!

latest news says cops blocking students, professors from going to Makati rally!

That’s absurd, blatant abuse of power protecting the gov’t!

This will only add fuel to the outrage.

I am not a big fan of the administration, but how weird ans stupid it is that one of the personalities attending the rally for ousting GMA is a former president (popularly known as ERAP) who was ousted for the same corruption reason. This might be a big comedy but definitely not a laughing matter.

Many people want to know how much do the local telcos stand to lose if the government broadband system goes into operation?
Did they play a role in the present crisis? The public must be vigilant and make sure that their movement is not serving other private interests so that real truth will come out.

to alex reyes…

ako kampi kay erap?????????? jesus maria at jose….intindihin mo po ang binabasa mo…

pareho tayo ng pinaglalaban alex….di ako maka erap..di ako maka gma…di ako MAKAPOLITIKO!!!!!

KASI PAREPAREHO YAN SILANG MGA MAGNANAKAW AT WALANG CREDIBILIADA AT HIPOCRITO!!! ISAMA MO NA ANG MEDIA AT MGA PARI, OBISPO AT MADRE..ISAMA MO NA ANG MAKAKALIWA..ISAMA MO NA ANG AMGA MILITANTE….

MGA PILIPINO GISING!!!!!!!!!!!! PINAPATAY TAYO NG MGA POLITIKO…MEDIA…PARI..OBISPO..MILITANTE AT IBA PANG MAKALIWA!!!!

can’t say it any better than how 8thBushido described it. don’t go playing with the ‘devil’ and expecting a level playing field. the devil will surely devour you. then in an act of panic you suddenly turned into a saint, with tears and feigned emotion, surrounded by a hosts of religious. whoa. sad thing is that the senate appearance of jun lozada as in the previous ’senate’ inquiries on gma and her administration was initiated and orchestrated by lacson. jun lozada who as it turned out already had numerous meetings with lacson, wasn’t afraid to testify in the senate - he just wanted the most dramatic appearance. and people who are obviously bored with the tv novelas lap it all up with nary a thought if it was believable or not. sad. sad.

ooops not all those who still believe in the rule of law, of a person being innocent until otherwise proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt is ‘pakawala ng malakanyang’. is it a surprise that there are still people who believe in reason, and the democratic space than the hysterics of blemished witnesses, and their senator sponsors. or the who are just so tired of the crap it hears from the same group of people blabbing the same old tired tune TO WHOEVER IS IN THE SEAT OF POWER. grosser still to see cory aquino and erap to be in the same stage denouncing gma! cory of kamaganak incorporated, of mendiola massacre and the hacienda luisita mess … and erap of the boracay mansion, jose velarde etc.. … and the de venecia, the macedas, bro. eddies etc… oh please… we deserve a better alternative!!! better to have gma there who without doubt has been working her butts off since day 1 manning the country, with a record 7.5% gnp growth the highest in more than 20 years, and on whose watch saw the reversal of the fortune of the peso, and the highest foreign investment, and highest stock PSE index, etc… there is no political crisis in this country. the so called ‘political crisis’ is a creation of the opposition and the hindi na pinapansin na politicos… and of course the lovers of the red flag … who like cancer will be there gnawing at the rotten system of this country. GMA hang in there … we know you are not perfect… but am just so glad that you are there battling it out. hang in there please. do not be pressured by the church (damn them! they should be paying taxes!) and the know-it-all-has-been-politicos, and the red flag waving groups. hang in there PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO!

POLITICS! PINOY STYLE

ANOTHER PEOPLE POWER IN THE OFFING
MAJORITY IS TIRED OF JOINING
EDSA 1, EDSA 2, NOTHING HAPPENED
CROOKS ARE STILL FREE AND FORGIVEN

CORRUPT ADMINISTRATION UNDER INVESTIGATION
BY SENATORS WHOSE NAMES STILL IN QUESTION
KURATONG BALELENG, JUETING, A FEW TO MENTION
BLOODY HANDS CAN NOT CAST A WHITE STONE

WITNESSES CAME OUT IN TIMES OF DROUGHT
RECEIVING RAIN FROM OPPOSING SCOUTS
BECAME HEROES WHEN THEY SHOUT
DARK FAT FUNDS INTO THEIR BANK ACOUNT

CONVICTED CORRUPT OUSTED PRESIDENT
CALLING FOR TRUTH HE HIMSELF NEVER ACCEPTED
FOOLIPINOS IN MANILA CLAPPED AND CHANTED
WHILE BISDAKS LAUGHED IN FRONT OF TV SETS

CONVICTED CORRUPT OUSTED PRESIDENT
FREED BY A CORRUPT SITTING PRESIDENT
JUAN DELA CRUZ STOLE ONCE CENT
LANGUISHED IN JAIL UNTIL THIS MOMENT

POOR PEOPLE MARCHED IN THE STREETS
DOUSED WITH WATER BY POOR FIREMAN’S FIST
LASHED WITH STICKS BY POOR POLICEMAN’S BEAST
BUT RICH PEOPLE GOT THE TREASURE CHEST

MEDIA GIANTS ARE MAKING INSTEAD OF REPORTING
LIKE THEIR TELENOVELA THEY ARE PRESENTING
LIKE HUNGRY VULTURES THEY BATTLE FOR RATINGS
AESTHETICS AND INTELLIGENCE GONE TO THE DRAIN

CHURCH PEOPLE ENTERED INTO POLITICS
WITHOUT PAYING TAXES WITH THEIR RELIGIOUS ANTICS
CALLING FOR REMOVAL OF AN IMMORAL HEAD OF A REPUBLIC
WHILE IMMORAL TITHES FILLED THEIR PIOUS ATTICS

POOR TRAFFICMAN FELLED BY HITMEN’S BULLET
FOR STEALING 100 FROM A DRIVER’S WALLET
RICH CROOKS STOLE BILLIONS FROM NATION’S POCKET
GOT SPARED FROM A KANGAROO’S TEETH

CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE OF OLIGARC’S WAR
JUAN DELA CRUZ WISHED FOR A SHOOTING STAR
TIRED OF BEING USED BY OPPOSING CZARS
LIT A FIRE AND TOSSED THEM AFAR

BISDAK

I find the article of Veronica Uy on Richard
Gordon saying not “to use the rally to force resignation of Gloria” awakening.Sen. Gordon noted that EDSA 1&2 did not accomplish anything: no closure to the murder of Ninoy Aquino, the Marcos family’s wealth and influence are undiminished, and ERAP,although was convicted, given pardon.Why? Because these two EDSAs (rally that ousted Marcos and Estrada with military intervention) are actually coup supported by the people.Since 1986 of EDSA 1, we have been actually under military rule hiding behind a president that it can controlled.
The latest rally in Makati is the largest in GMA administration.If the military will intervene again, people will think that this is another triumph for democracy and that people power works.I think they are
wrong and I agree with Sen. Gordon that this will be a coup all over again and nothing will be accomplished.
However using the court system to convict GMA may not work because ours is not a real democracy. Remember we are still under military rule as result of people uprising backed by the military.
In my mind, nothing will change unless we have a real people uprising without
the military intervention.
People power, and prayer rally are not really catalyst of real change.These are bloodless and faked revolution.

If faked revolution is the only alternative offered by the mainstream media, we might as well stay home and do nothing.Just imagine if everybody, who believes that Gloria is guilty, stays home for a day.This will result in work stoppage
everywhere, and transportation and retailing activity will grind to a halt.
We Filipinos except Lapu-Lapu are not battle-tested to do real revolution.This is understandable because real revolution sheds blood like the American revolt against the British resulting in freedom and democracy.
We cannot shed blood however, we can
reduce the size of our military so that it is
no longer seen as potent force to tilt the
balance of power in the government.

403
boom boom Says:
February 29th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Gloria Resign!!!! Masyado nang garapalan ang korupsyon!!! Ang kapal ng mukha ni Gloria na mag sinungaling sing kapal ng mukha ni Benjamin Abalos mangomisyon!!!!!

===========
what make you think she is going to step down. After all there is plenty of money to be made while squatting in malacanyang palace. ano sila tanga!

John m.g.,

You ask, “… why you’re so bent on punishing Lozada while his role is still very critical in catching more thieves in the gov’t. Without his ‘whistleblowing’ do you think we would have gotten this enlightened or this invovled? at least give him recognition,.. for what he did is a milestone in our war against corruption.”

I have always been very critical of characters that are embroiled in government anomalies, whistleblowers are no exception. I am outraged because these are the people that destroy a functioning government and then blame the government for being a mess and dysfunctional. You’ve heard Lozada make self-serving criticisms calling the government as dysfunctional, I am sure. What nerve when he’s part of the corrupt system that made it so.

Fighting corruption has been one of my advocacies that began when Marcos and his cronies plundered this country and I have to be consistent with that advocacy. The wheelers and dealers like Joey III, Lozada, and now Madriaga, would not have surfaced if their own greed were satisfied. Little is publicly known how many of the Marcos cronies turned whistleblowers were able to work out a deal for themselves by giving up part of the Marcos loot to the government and keeping the rest for themselves. Others were even lucky they were not charged for criminal complicity, JDV among them. And to think JDV is now calling for moral revolution? There’s a Pilipino word for that,”ang kapal”, right?

Rewarding the whistleblowers and acknowledging them heroes is no different from the Marcos cronies that now enjoy the fruits of their evil in a society that rewards the crooks and give them a false sense of respectability. Look how a convicted Erap is admired.

When you see people showing their iconic admiration for a convicted plunderer kissing and hugging him then join him in demanding the resignation of another perceivably corrupt president, don’t you get confused by what exactly do these people want? They are against corruption, they claim. Are these people for real? Or it’s just fashionable to go with the flow.

If I must recognize Lozada’s action as heroic then I must give the same recognition to Joey III who initiated opening the ZTE can of worms, and also Madriaga, jueteng lady Sandra Cam, and others, whistleblowers all. And speaking of being enlightened, Lozada did not enlighten us any more than what Joey did. Lozada is one whistleblower hero whose expose cannot bring down a recalcitrant president, and neither can Joey or Madriaga, because their materials cannot even send the president to jail for jaywalking, unlike that unheralded whistleblower Chavit Singson whose testimony validated by damning records and evidences and high credible witnesses like Charissa Ocampo blew Erap away.

There are two kinds of whistleblowers. One who is forced to do an illegal act against his will. The other who does the job willingly because he benefits from it. If we must proclaim a whistleblower a hero can’t we at least be more discriminate in choosing the right one before everyone gets hysterical about it? Masyado tayong OA!

How mr. Boom boom will say that Erap is not convicted of plunder by a legal court? Is he blind and deaf on the realities of history? and Marcos what? he is never convicted because he escaped and die in Hawaii, but dont pretend that you dont know the fact that Marcos accumulated $6-10 billion of the Filipino’s money in different accounts abroad? how about Imelda’s extravagance? don’t tell me It’s just hearsay..Mr. Boom boom give me your address and maybe I can send you history books on how Marcos and Estrada had go down in history as the biggest thieves and gambler of the modern political history of a third world country. Kawawang Pilipinas!!
Corruption as way of life started during the Marcos era where Imelda had to sell Filipino workers in the Middle east as fake modern day heroes, Marcos enormously feed his fat pigs(cronies) with juices from public funds and giving them private companies, to maintain their support and in exchange for the loyalty of the armed forces, he cared for them like his dog pets.
Estrada on the other hand, is a true picture of Filipino’s political immaturity, electing an idiot like him because of his popularity to the highest office..So what he did? planned to legalised all forms of gambling and sucked money from gambling lords at the same time, allowed himself to be manipulated at the people’s expense for the benefit of his family and mistresses..Well, its too long to recall history as this space will not be enough..BUT PLS..MGA KABAYAN who still admire ERAP and MARCOS, Pls open your eyes to the facts and realities that can never be changed, and stop distorting history..
Im not an avid GMA fan, but I preferred fair treatment and judgement on her performance, she may commited mistakes as most of the leaders do, but still she is the lesser evil among our politicians nowadays, If she’s gone, who will replace her? VP de castro?(popular but not capable yet) Lacson and Enrile??(mga berdugo ng bayan) JDV, Villar (mga walang isang prinsipyo) SINO? si Bishop Bacani? or si ERAP? Maawa ka naman sa bayan!!
Why we should not accept that the real PROBLEM lies in us Filipinos? its on us as a people..unless we are able to change that, even 1000 revolutions or Lozadas will make no difference!! ganon pa din ang ating bayan!!

BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM… Hirap sa yo sarado na isip mo igan.

Hindi lahat ng nagsusulat dito pakawala ng Malakanyang oi. Ang problema sa inyong maka opposition kung ano sabihhin ng sensesyonalisadong Media na kagagawan gn PR man eh paniwala kana.

Mahiya kayo oi. WALA PANG 1 PORSIYENTO NG TAO SA PILIPINAS ANG NAG RA-RALLY laban kay GLORIA gamit ang ang bayaran at masyadong komersyalisadong pahayagan at media na may pansariling layunin para tumaas ang rating o antas mg sirkulasyon.

Nabubulagan kayo hindi sapat ang bilang ninyo para i representa ang buong 84 na milyon na Pilipino. Hoi nasobsobrahan ka sa panaginip mo. Tandaan mo matatapos ni Gloria termino nya sapagkat di pababayaan ng Dyos na magdusa pa lalo ang Pilipino sa may ng mga Gahamang oposisyon at kanyang mga kampon.

Asan ba kinurakot no Gloria sa ZTE NBN na yan magpakita nga kayo ng pruweba ng maniwala ako at sumama ako sa inyo. Puro kayo DADA asan pruweba asan?

Yung alegasyon ni Cayetano Kay FG tungkol as account nya ano nangyari ha? Di bat napakaingay nuon ng amerikanong iyan asan na ibedensya asan?

Yung Hello Garci asan ang ibedensya asan? di bat nasabi ng korte panalo si Noli at wala namang dayaan.

Pero ang iingay nyo. Sobra… pag di pabor sa inyo… bayaran wow naman igan mag isip ka nga… Marami kami dito nag OFW bukas ang isip at nag -iisip at di ako magpapadala sa isang high school drop-out na tulad ni ERAP na mandarambong…
MANDARAMBONG SI ERAP kapal ng mga pasimuno ng rally laban kay GLoria… kala mo kayo malilinis… si Lozada corrupt yan AT INAMIN NYA… hoi tagal ko ng gustong maging banal at nagpupumilit pero pilit parin ang aking nakamihasnan ang pumapasok sa isip… kala mo kayo may mataas na antas ng Espirituwalidad… magsitigil pa kayo at manahimik,

Pag umalis si Gloria sino papalit sa pwesto mga magnanakaw di hayaan na si Gloria at least busog na eh yung mga hayok na hayok na nasa kanayeng parang asong gala na nag aantay ng may malalapa sigurado ako mas masahol pa yan.

Ang iyakin na si De Venecia kala mo ba eh napaka lakas ng appeal nyan di oi tama mga taga pangasinan JOE DE BOLA tawag sa yo. ilang taon ka nakaupo sa Kongreso wala ka talaga kinurakot? o kaya ginamit ang impluwensya para makinabang ang kumpanya ng anak mo na kapanagalan mo.
Sayang nausyami ang ZTE di sana dami nyo pakinabang.

AY TEKA … nadagdagan ang TRIAD na obispo na gusto ring sumikat …si kabuniyan BRODENT Pabillo… at nag iingay na uli si Bacani… teka tapos na ba kaso ng Obispo na ito sa bintang na pangahahalay. Mga Prinsipe ng simbahan, dumadami po mga paring may anak pero nagmimisa pa at may kakilala ako, mga paring sugarol at laman ng Casino,madyungero, mga babaero at lasingero, at pinakamasaklap po dumadami baklang pari na humahada hangang sinehan. Marami na pong ayaw mag-simba… bakit di iyan ang atupagin ng mga Obispo na to… konkretong programa para magising uli mga tao sa pananampalataya.

MAGSITIGIL KAYO. ISANG TAON MAN LANG BAGO MAG ELECTION BAKA MAY MAGANDANG MANGYARI… PERO KAHIT KAILAN DI NAMAMAHINGA ANG INYONG AMA… SA PAG GAWA NG MASAMA AT GAYUN DIN ANG KANYANG MGA ANAK… EH SINO NAMIN? TANUNGIN MO SARILI MO
baka sakali magising kayo!

Like a story straight from a Robert Ludlum novel, Senator Juan Ponce Enrile unravels what to him appears a sting operation masterminded by Ping Lacson. Lacson’s “witness academy” adds color that makes Enrile’s story interesting reading. Catch it in this link:
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=news1_feb29_2008

Enrile claims Lacson knew Lozada’s every movement and had been in touch with Lozada from the day he left Manila up to his arrival at the NAIA airport from Hongkong. No wonder Lacson was vehemently objecting to a motion in the Senate hearing to get hard copies of text messages in Lozada’s cell phones from Smart and Globe. Is Lacson afraid something might be discovered?

A dangerous alliance -

I shiver with awe upon reading the brilliantly written comments of a young man named Leondro R. Lojo, 23, in today issue of the PDI. A man so young, yet able to see through the political circus in our midst and was able to brilliantly dissect the issues and agendas of the clowns performing before the Filipino people.

May the good Lord bless the mind of this young man and my prayer is that more of these young people will come up and lead these blind old folks of politics, to shame them!

john…john…john puruntong. napapasaya mo ako igan.
why asking amfed to give recognition to JUN crying babe LOZ-loz-ada for being a whistleblower.

I will rather ask him to do a good blowjob to me than recognizing his pseudo-heroism for telling all this ZTE NBN rubbish that has long been declared by the court anomalous and void and cancelled by the President herself because she knew the contract was flawed. SI GLORIA ANG TUNAY NA BAYANI SA PAG CANCEL AT PAG AMIN AT DI SI JUN NA UMAMING CORRUPT SIYA.

What seems to be special to this nullified contract that opposition keeps on faesting on, I believed the goverment did not pay anything to effect the contract.

This is something that i cannot understand WHY those handful of people flocking in Makati ; a known oppositon place is asking for the resigantion of the legitimate President GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO THROUGH THE PROVOCATON OR INSTIGATION OF those senile leaders , school drop -outwith their handful of supporters and trying to represent the 84 million Pilipinos.

Kaya duda ako sa mga interfaith rally na yan. tatawag ng tao para magdasal tapos sasabihin nagpunta yun duon para bumaba si Gloria… Nakupo ….

LOZADA IS corrupt.. he personally admitted it…he made also the people bleed, before I agree with him. let him return first all the money he stolen the as retribution for his guilt together with all the money and properties before he convince me that he is doing it for his soul. Very saintly isn’t it? ADMISSION IS NOT ENOUGH DAPAT ISOLI ANG NINAKAW PAG AYAW MAGNANAKAW PA RIN…

Bugok tigilan NA nyo pag proklama kay Lozada bilang banal at Bayani at hayaan mang wasak ng kapwa sa pag-amin siyay Corrupt din. Cge ibalik mo Jun babe mga ninikaw mo dati ng magkaroon ka ng lisensya na manghusga at gumawa ng mga kasinungalingan mo uli. oi jun jun… OI OI OI….

leron leron sinta buko ng papaya dalay dalay buslo sisglan ng PERA pag akoy nabuko MAGTUTURO ako , kapos kapalaran magnanakaw naman.

Paro-parung buking na iiyak iyak parin sa gitna ng rally pa-pala-palakpak. Pagmasdan mo neneng ang magnanakaw din at gustoy mambisto sa kanya bumaling

at pag nakasingit uulit-ulitin.3 X

May pumukol kay GLoria na isang ibon at nahagip si FG na sobrang binaboy. Mamang kay lupit ang puso moy di na nahabag.
Pag pumanaw ang buhay mo matutuwa kaming lahat.
pag pumanaw ang buhay mo kami ay magagalak.

boom boom Says:
February 29th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
ang daming pakawala ng malakanyang dito!!
*********************************
kaya hindi umaasenso ang bansang pilipinas ay dahil sa mga katulad mong tao. Mapaghinala, mapagsuspetsa walang tiwala sa kapwa.
katulad nito nagbibigayan tayo ng opinyon, sasabihin mo ang dami ng pakawala ng malakanyang!!!!
ni hindi nga namin kilala si gloria o malacanang. sasabihin mo pakawala.
madumi ang iyong isip, paranoid ka!!!

If somebody tells me to do a “good” thing, should I oblige right away? Not yet. First, I must make sure that what I will be doing is really a good thing. Why? It’s so hard to find who is telling the truth these days. It is even hard to believe our priests and nuns, and much much harder our senators! Inasmuch as others find it hard to believe me, or you also. So, I will do only as I am told after I am made sure of the “good” thing to do so that I will not be deceived. However, other people react differently to the above situation. Many will just oblige right away. An example scenario: giving some money to a “sick and pitiful” beggar in the street who is in fact not sick, and who uses some portion of his/her collections to buy cigarrettes and alcohol for himself/herself. Today’s political crisis is a similar but more important scenario. Fellow citizens of our country, let us make sure first who is telling the truth before we should act. Let us not allow the “users” to make use of us, and secretly laugh at us after we are beiing deceived by them. Let us have evidence first before we believe, before we judge. Because if we are in the shoes of the accused, it is not good to think that our neighbors will judge us as the one who owns the garbage that litters the streets of our subdivision without showing evidence. In my opinion, we cannot rid our country of its problems, unless we rid ourselves, and our families of our own problems first. “Let’s not do unto the accused what we do not want the accused do unto us.”

Marami na ring mapag-isip na Pinoy ngayon at kalmado lang sa pangyayari sa kasalukuyang panahon. NATUTO NA DIN ANG PINOY!

Hindi naman masama ang rally, expression ito ng pagsang-ayon at pag-tutol.

May katwiran siguro ang mga rally kung ang walang pag-iimbita, boluntaryo dapat.

Yung rally sa Makati, marami dismayado!
Nandoon nga mga civil society, estudyante( wag isama yung militante), pari( na hindi masyado namumulitika), mga guro( na sana ay di napilit ng superior nila). KASO ANG DAMING DING POLITiKO NA ALAM NAMAN NG LAHAT NA MANDARAMBONG DIN! Sina ERAP at CORY na marami ding nakurakot sa bayan dati, Si BINAY na sobra laki ng kinita sa pagtayo ng Makati City Hall. Sina Maceda, Sigiuon-Reyna, former cabinet members, etc.

Kung sa Makati gagawin ang rally, sigurado kulay pulitika ang rally! Kanya-kanyang interest dito.

I suggest wag sa Makati gawin ang rally at kampo ito ni BINAY na nangungurakot din naman! Nabubulabog pa ang mga negosyo sa Makati.

I had messages for the following personalities who spearheading the further decline of our nation:

GMA- I hope you will reflect in your own conscience your oath on serving the Filipino people, give justice to every man and uphold their well being. If you still love our hapless nation and to cleanse your regime of allegations, let the free wheel of fair investigation roll even If it will involve your husband and close associates. If you will allow justice to prevail and accountability to reign, I supposed you will still restore credibility as final achievement of your administration.

JUN LOZADA- If you had admitted to be part of the corrupt system of govt, why not ask first for forgiveness first from a suffering nation before you deliver your salvo against a corrupt regime that once you are part. Be the first person to be liable of your mistakes before so a genuine credibility could be yours.

ERAP-Please retire from politics completely as you had pronounced after your pardon as your continued presence further promotes deep political divisions among our people. Have a reflection for yourself if your legacy of an inept, corrupt and immoral administration had uplifted the lives of the people you had once vowed to serve or If its still morally fit for you to talk against corruption you once committed.

CORY AQUINO- As a highly respected symbol of democracy, I hope you will still with the freedom loving Filipinos to share with them the responsible meaning of freedom, rather than being used by another sets of corrupt interests to use that democracy to sow disunity, chaos and selfish goals. Your picture with Estrada which you had condemned before and helped ousted in Makati rallies contradicted your norm as a moralist and principled leader.

Our Bishops and priests- I wish you would realised that our nation’s chaotic problems are caused by gross interference in politics by the church since our country’s foundations and contradicted your vows and Christ’s teachings. Try to look back at all countries in South America that was colonised by Spain and ruled by the catholic heirarchy, nothing including our country can be considered highly developed. Why? maybe in your conscience, you know the answer.

To all Filipinos who loves our nation- let us awake from our deep sleep! let us changed our ways, let us love our country as we love ourselves and families.Let us help uplift our people in any way we can, wherever we are!

Interfaith rally can be translated into different languages. But there is only one message and voice………to oust the president…..at the end of the day the Priest and religious people asked…..is this the interfaith rally we are looking for, looking for the truth and pray for the truth will come out. does it meant that what is happening in the senate inquiry is not the truth?….because until now we are still looking for the truth….does the witnesses not convinced of what they are saying is the truth….still looking for the truth….to all don’t be impatient let the rule of the constitution uphold, otherwise you are shorting the constitution by doing unconstitutional acts. Let the investigation in senate come up with conclusion and recommendations. otherwise we are power grabbers which is not in the constitution. imagine what will happened to the Philippines junta will rule the land. we will be like countries. isolated from the rest of the world. because of authoritarian rule without democracy.

To Boom Boom:

Nice comments. It shows your anger deep inside of you. But I pity you. Kawawa ka naman. Bat di ka mag rally mag isa? May ma rerecommend ka bang magiging presidente mo na walang bahid ng dumi? At di gagawa ng inaakala mo? Hey dude, mag isip ka. Baka yung papalit kay GMA mas garapal pa. Si Cory di ba nangurakot? Tignin mo? Kaya wag ka masyado iyakin bata. Mag Couter Stike ka nalang para maaliw ka pa.

Some people won’t be too surprised if Lozada ended up with an executive position in one of the Telcos as a reward for his efforts.

it just shows how power hungry these oppositions are for not following the constitutional on the event gma will resign or be ousted. who are you? the gods in this country? woe to you. God punish you for your greed for power. fools

please cory manahimik ka na lang kasi marumi ka rin. mahiya ka naman. pareho lang naman kayo. nakinabang ka na rin naman kaya hayaan mo na si gma. hintayin na lang ninyo ang 2010 at kung manalo kayo di kayo naman. ganyan lang kasimple ang pulitika dito sa pilipinas. fools

MOTE IN YOUR NEIGHBOR’S EYE

THE BIGGER MOTE has not be answered & this government owes that to us to be accountable for Jun Lozada’s accusation!!!
The number of people calling for the TRUTH is mounting but have left unheeded. Still they resort to using their” DEPT OF DIRTY TACTIS” SO WHO IS MORE CREDIBLE NOW?
WHY DO THEY LEAVE IT TO COURT WHEN THEY CAN ANSWER THE TRUTH WITHOUT THE COURT?

The trouble with these oppositions and all Arroyo critics is their double standard of morality. While they lambasted the administration of being corrupt yet in their midst walking side by side and roaring like a hungry lion are hordes of also proven corrupt and alleged corrupt personalities such as Estrada, De Venecia, Lozada, Binay, Lacson etc. I am pretty sure that if anyone from the opposition or from the ovementioned will takeover the reign of power nothing good will happen to our country and corruption might get even worse. So I urged my fellow Filipinos to use your mind and not emotion. Everyday, despite political noise, we can see that the Pres. is working very hard for the good of the people but these mob-like groups has done nothing good for the country but create chaos and destabilization. Let us allow the allegation to be proven in the proper court and we should not believe in hearsays only. Enough of early politicking and grandstanding! Wait for your turn more corrupt and hungry power grabbers!!!

The generation we had today does not have the kind of Hunger for freedom and Truth the just like we feel during the Marcos Dictatorship and Erap ousting. Shame

ey people like amfedup and alex reyis

this is an avenue of views exchange NOT personal emotional bickering and name-calling or …

if you’re really mature readers and conversation-seekers, do not resort to pinning down comments or calling bloggers some names hehe

relax guys… we are fellow citizens here

if you do not agree to others’ opinion then just say your piece objectively… do not be semmingly desperate by inventing names or judging people OA hahahah

anyway ACTUALLY , “when we judge an artwork we don’t actually judge the work but we judge ourselves”

True, our reactions to this political issue show our true character.

Ey i did not say anything about Erap nor any political biases. My blogs were only focused on expressing distrust for the government, pgma, abalos… i dont like erap either

hey amfedup…

my immediate previous remarks was not
for you. You actually sound very sensible to talk to.
I was just referring to some who enjoy name-calling, but that does not include you.

Pls disregard that message. tnx

It is a disgrace to see Cory sitting cozily among criminals and grafters. Were those her allies when she was fighting against land reforms?

Alam naman ng mga kapanalig ni PGMA kung ano ang tunay na pagkatao niya, pero palibhasa’y nakikinabang sila kaya talagang ipagtatanggol nila ito. “Birds of the same feather flocks together”. Mahirap silang bumaligtad kasi nakasalalay ang kinabukasan nila sa mga kamay ni PGMA. If PGMA is gone, they too are goners. Masakit pero iyan ang katutuhan sa ating bansa.

jun lozada is now targeting th students… he’s trying to brainwash them! kc nga d nya kya utuin un mga matured people. he’s very busy right now doing campus tours. tpos n kc un church tours nya. mlmng mall tours nmn susunod.

some nuns & priests were very dissapointed when estrada went to the stage & deliver a few speech but when its joey’s time they applauded. Y? d b halos mgkpreho lng nmn c erap at joey? parehas lng cla n corrupt at babaero? eto ang mga klaseng tao ang iniidolo nila ngaun. sana naman wag n nila idamay p un mga inosenteng estudyante s mga rally. kwawa nmn un mga bata.

naku pg nag palengke tour c jun lozada mlmng magalit nyan c mr. palengke. doble kayod n tlga c lozada. kpit n sya s ptlim. nagmmdli syng pbgskin c GMA para mblewala un mga kaso. hehehe. pg d k nagtagumpay yari k! s kulungan tlga bagsak mo..

What GMA did on the NBN deal is actually not something new. Let us be honest and admit that we all know someone who has taken a kickback, no matter how small, in the process of realizing an important project. It is almost like a prerequisite to doing business.
We must do something (other than taking out GMA) to correct this moral blindness that we have. If each Filipino will find it repulsive to accept a commission or kickback to allow a project to proceed, I believe that the over all effect would be the total elimination of this problem that keeps recurring. GMA is not the only one committing this crime, should we get all of them and empty the goverment?

A new slogan for Gloria para tumalab sa heart n’ya at sa mga aso-aso n’ya.

U…! GLORIA black heart

BLACK HEART! ka talaga

wala ng pulang dumadaloy sa’yo, GLORIA!

GLORIA + ASO-ASO mooo…! BLACK HEART kayo

kulang pa ba BLACK HEART?! Kulang pa ba? ‘Di ka pa masaya?

SUBJECT:PDG. A. RAZON JR COMPLETE DENIAL OF KIDNAPPING TO MR. LOZADA AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED TO THE PNP
CORRUPTION.

With the present problem that our country experience now, I was bothered by my Conscience for being quite for sometime now. I was admired by the bravery of
Mr. Lozada for exposing the truth of what he had known about the NBN-ZTE deal.

As a former PSPO PNP Officer let me tell this to my fellow countrymen about the SOP in providing security personnel… NAPOLCOM CIRCULAR NO.2000-800 clearly defined Re- Providing the General guidelines governing the detail of PNP personnel as protective security in accordance with RA 6975.As a matter of policy no PNP personnel shall be detailed as protective security except in highly exceptional cases with this following condition:

1.That the applicant requesting for security is under actual treat/s of death and or physical harm.

2.That the treat after due evaluation, is assess to be imminent of highly possible accomplishment.

3.That the security may be withdrawn anytime when the demands of the PNP so require even before the expiration of detail.

The request for protective security shall be made in writing to the Chief PNP stating the therein the existing of treats. However in the exigency of the service, shall detail protective security personnel for the following personages even in the absence of a written request.

1.The President of the Republic of the Philippines.
2.The Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines
3.The President of the Senate
4.The Speaker of the house of Representative
5.The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
6.The secretary of the National defense
7.The Secretary of Interior and local government.

The Chief PNP or his duly Authorized representative is vested with the authority to detail protective security for a period not exceeding one (1) month.

The Protective security of the local executive from the level of the provincial Governors down to the lowest elective official shall be acted upon the C,PNP.

a)For that matter there are limitations for PNP personnel who provide security to the requesting party to with:

b)Only PNP personnel with the rank of PO1 to SPO3 shall be detailed for protective security. Police commission officer may be detailed only as protective security upon the approval of the chairman. (SILG)

c)Their duty shall confined to protective function and do not include the following:

As security guard, gate keeper, family driver, errand boy and other similarity utility task.
As employee’s in the VIP’s business establishment and
As an instrument to harass and intimidate people.

Now in the case of Mr. Lozada it’s very clear that the Chief PNP has something to do to cover up the operation. The question is why a senior police officer of the unit not just only a senior officer but a deputy director of the unit was given the task to act as team leader of the said security detail to Mr. Lozada? I don’t believed that Gen. Razon acted upon the request of Sec. Atienza since for the beginning he knew the SOP’s in detailing PNP personnel as VIP security. As far as I knew, that a maximum of two (2) PNP personnel is allowed under our law to protect the VIP security upon establishing the exigency of the treat. Another is no PNP PSPO personnel detailed to VIP with pending case… Those mention PNCO’s personnel by the Chief PNP and Chief PSPO are grounded since they have pending case…

with this sort of information that I shared to my fellow countrymen, I do hope that they will dig deeper for the truth behind the abduction of Mr. Lozada because I do believed that if ended the media men or the wife of the subject was not made noise through calling in radio station then may be we have another case like Dacer.

Rizal

regarding senator’s arrogance in rejecting sc compromise. siguro mas mabuti pang gawin na lang na Senate Investigating Agency ang senado kasi yun lang naman ang gusto nilang gawin. buwagin na lang ang nbi, ombudsman at iba pang mga investigating body kasi inutil din naman ang mga ito sa pagsugpo sa mga katiwalian sa ating gobyerno.

jun lozada is not brave. he is a coward.. he’s a cry baby. takot sya s mga klokohan n mga gngwa nya. tkot sya s srili nyang multo.. parang planado tlga un mga pinag ggwa nya. mtlino sya pero d sya mtpng.

nagiging diktador n ang mga senador. parang gusto nila n sila ang mangibabaw dito s pilipinas, nalulunod n cla masyado s kpngyarihan. gusto nila lagi cla msusunod at cla ang batas. pkiramdam nila mas mataas cla s korte suprema at presidente ng pilipinas, e mga senador lng nmn cla. umaabuso n cla. dati gnglang, ngaun nagiging ktwatwa n tlaga ang senado.

un inaprove ni GMA un ZTE/NBN deal nagalit mga oposisyon. nun kinansel ni GMA, nagalit din cla. nun inaprubham ni GMA ang EO 464 naglit din cla. nun inabolish ni GMA. nagalit din cla. anu b yn. sala s lamig sala s init.. mlmng nag iisip nnmn ng mga bgong gimik ang mga oposisyon. abangan ntin un susunod nilang pelikula. coming soon!

Confrontation and/or cross-examination is one of the best ways to determine the truth, so it is a good idea for Abalos and Lozada to have a public debate. Because Lozada came out to denounce the alleged corruption not on the day he learned about the 35% or something in the NBN-ZTE deal, and then later on denounced it later when it is for his personal welfare to join Joey de Venecia and discontinue, as an afterthought, to “toe the line” of the administration, it will be for the sake of truth to see a perceived perpetrator of an attempted crime debate like a state witness versus an accused like Abalos who now has a pending case in court.

bakit pinapayagang i-corrupt ni lozada ang utak ng mga kabataan? nakakasiguro na ba tayo na totoo ang sinasabi nya? kahit sino pwedeng mag accuse sa ating Pangulo kapagka ganyang wala namang hinihinging katibayan! mukhang masaya sya sa pagsamba sa kanya ng mga taong madaling maniwala sa sabi-sabi kaya tuloy tuloy din ang kanyang pang uuto nya sa mga tao. para sa akin hindi sya matapang. isa syang duwag na nagtatago sa palda ng mga madre!

Jun Lozada have not presented himself to the students in any school. It is the students who have invited him to speak a few words - the truth. Besides, corruption is what he denounces the government of. And what does “Minh” have to say about the kidnapping that took place upon the arrival of Jun Lozada from HK? What evidence does she/he needs in the kidnapping? An official receipt from the kidnappers?

I respect Ronald’s opinion but I think he is reading the situation all wrong.

Where is jocjoc bolante? what happened to all the anomalies nangbuking di ba if you are the president of the president you have the responsibility towards the tax payers. Are you aware of the budget sa Malacañang? if only they will slash the budget and use it to help the people in the streets. Alam nyo ba paano nanalo mga pro-admin? research nyo para maliwanagan kayo.

Para sa mga taong ayaw tingnan ang katotohanan, o kaya nagbubulag-builagan, kahit na sino pa ang magsiwalat ng katotohanan, hindi pakikinggan. Kung totoo na walang dapat itago si Gloria Arroyo, bakit natatakot siya na humarap sa media? Hangganginterview lang siya kuno sa iisang reporter na may script pa. Bakit hindi siya humarap sa mga reporter, pati ang foreign press? Si Marcos na diktador, kahit minsan hindi natakot na humarap kahit sa mga reporter ng Amerika, bakit si Gloria na wala daw itinatago, hinahayaan ang mga kagaya nina Bunye, Sanchez at Ermita na magtahi ng mga kasinunungalingan at bolahin ang sambayanan? Sa lahat ng mga naniniwala pa kay Gloria Arroyo, bakit hindi ninyo hilingin sa kanya na humarap sa sambayanan, sagutin ang mga tanong ng media sa isang live press conference, kasama ang foreign press? At saka pagsama-samahin sina Lozada at Abalos et.al. sa isang press conference, live, tulad sa programang “Harapan”, para magkaalaman kung sino ang nagsasabi ng totoo. Trial by publicity? Para sa isang taong walang itinartagong kasalanan, pinakagandang oportunidad ang trial by publicity, sapagkat buong bayan ang huhusga, hindi isang hukuman kung saan ang katotohanan ay maaaring hadlangan ng mga teknikalidad. Ang patuloy na pananahimik ni Gloria Arroyo, na dinadaan sa pagbisita kuno sa mga probinsiya ang panawagan sa kanyang pagbibitiw, ay tanda na totoo ang mga paratang sa kanya. Kung ikaw ay pinagbibintangan na magnanakaw, mandaraya, sinungaling, hindi ba dapat ay magalit ka, mag-react, harapin ang nag-aakusa sa iyo at tawagin ang lahat ng tao para madinig ang sasabihin mo? Ang mga Hapon, nagsasaksak ng bituka nila para mahugasan ang bahid sa kanilang pangalan, para ang mga pamilya nila ay huwag kutyain. Pero dito, buking na buking na, naglilinis-linisan pa.

much have been said and heard about this ZTE thing. If the senators think that there’s indeed payoff in the contract then it’s about time a case is filed in courst. Nakaka-sawa na yang puro salita, puro pa-pogi, puro satsat, puro iyak sa camera. DALHIN NA SA OMBUDSMAN..

nasa n b ang hustisya s ating bansa? ganun n b d2? pg ayaw magwitness ng isang tao iphuhuli? parang criminal n un trato s mga witness. ganun b tlga batas ng senado? daig nyo p ang batas ni marcos.. ang lakas nyo mang harass! ang sama n tlga ng imahe ng senado ngaun.

lalabas at lalabas din ang motibo ni lozada. mbibisto din ang tunay n pgkatao nyan. mlmng mphiya ang mga relihiyosong tao n sumuporta s knya. kalawang ang sumisira s sarili nyang bakal. kung ano ang taas ng ambisyon mo ay sya ang lakas ng pglagpak mo. pg d k nagaing senador, pgbbyarin mo ang mga ktiwalian n gnwa mo. partida, maaga k n nga nangangampanya. kya glingan mo pngangampanya.

a little advise from me, isama mo n rin s etinerary mo un daycare center tour. cgurado 100% mauuto mo mga estudyante dun, lolipop lng ktpt ng mga un..

.@”Minh” Lorena Apil

We always say that the youth will later on becomes our future leaders. To say that corrupting the minds of the youth is misleading and outright deceiving. We should encourage our youth to be aware of what is going on around them in terms of governance. We should not deny them the fact that our government has already compromise their future thru lies, cheating, deceptions, and killings. What is happening right now will reflect to the quality of life they will face in the future. Let us tell them about the heavy burden of paying the debts that our irresponsible politicians have created. Also, let them know of corruptions and scandals our government is guilty of, and the billions of pesos which were wasted and over priced on non-productive projects. Let us tell them now how our government has divested the public properties they sold out and our natural resources, given away, such as mines, thru 100 percent foreign capitalization. We should tell our children how our current President has squandered big sum of money thru bribes, just to stay in power. We, the present and the future generation will be the ones who will pay for all these loans, not mentioning the hardship that majority of our people is now facing. We should tell our children that what PGMA is boasting about, having a big amount of remittances, should not be a basis for her success, but the government failure to provide jobs to the citizenry. And that the ever increasing OFW going abroad only shows the lack of opportunity in our country. We should make our children aware about the present cabinet ministers surrounding a lame duck President, that they are nothing but clowns and jesters, and are great pretenders whose only qualifications is to be lap-dogs to the President. For someone to say that “Jun Lozada” should not speak to our children is doing them a great disservice.

Former SC Justice and PDI columnist Isagani Cruz calls the recent Supreme Court action on the issue of executive privilege as a judicial evasion and not a decision. In short, he felt the SC did an injustice by not doing its job decisively and terminating the contentious issues once and for all.

I beg to disagree. While it may appear to some that the SC decision was evasive in character, the objective in fact was to encourage Sec. Neri to attend the hearings and to give the senators the opportunity to ask all the questions they deemed should be answered by Neri. Having done that, any question not answered by Neri may then be gathered together and submitted to the SC for final ruling. These questions, including the three previous ones currently pending before the SC, may then be studied upon and decided on collectively by the SC. This saves time for everybody because in just one sitting, every contentious question that Neri refused to answer shall have been resolved. Lost sight by the critics is the fact that the SC justices have the foresight to anticipate the problems Neri would be facing once he attends the senate hearings and is asked questions he considers covered by executive privilege. To the critics, it was as simple as deciding on the three questions submitted to the SC. They did think more issues will follow once Neri sits in front of the senate inquisitors. But the Senate has rejected the practical solution offered by the SC because of misplaced fears of some narrow-minded senators of losing some of their legislative powers. So, what happens now? Neri will continue to resist attending the hearing by invoking executive privilege. And if for some miracle Neri decides to attend but refuses to answer some questions, this means the senate will again go to the SC for advice, and they will have to do this repeatedly each time Neri or anyone in his situation will invoke executive privilege. This is one senate that has too much pride, too egoistic to accept a sound and practicable advice. In the end, Congress will come to a close and the ZTE hearings are far from over.

Jun finally discovered his talents. He should have been a preacher long time ago.

can we just move on?…enough of mr. lozada.. we heard of him already so let the court decides now… (mr. lozada patahimikin mo na ang bansa) masyado ng naaapektuhan ang araw araw na pamumuhay namin…let the word of God speaks the truth…

Sana yung whistle blower fund na para kay mr. lozada na itinatalaga ng mga madre ay mapunta na lang sa mga totoong naghihirap nating kababayan…

Moral bankruptcy, moral ascendancy, Integrity,truth and conscience are now the vocabularies of our church in relation to NBNZTE scandal.

These are always the epistle of pastoral daily sermon of the bishops. These words are ringing in our ears whenever we go to place of worships but also in the news.

But these words are in the mind.
Morality is how you perceive it. One cannot judge right or wrong. It is the perception. Morality is not absolute, it depends on how you judge it.
Integrity is the principles, it is adherence to one’s level of values.

The bishops are talking of the mind. They are talking of unseen and unforeseen. They are talking of something we cannot see or feel but think.

But we want reality. Reality is our everyday life.
Reality is the fact. Fact that most Filipinos are poor. They need food, shelter, education, health care. These are realities.
Realities should be done and not to think about.

I am a catholic too. I go to church and don’t ask for morality and integrity, I am for real and start my pray….

“Give us daily bread and forgive us for our trespasses”.

“Complete falsehood”, says Eduardo Manalac, reacting to the PDI story linking him to the ZTE deal that he was the surprise witness.

In very strong words, he condemns the “Inquirer’s lack of due diligence, and their unparalleled degree of irresponsibility in making such an inflammatory declaration without confirming its accuracy. I reserve the right to take legal action against the Inquirer and its reporter Tony Bergonia for their part in this piece of fabricated information”, he said.

This comes to mind the CBCP call in its recent resolution whereby they admonished media to be “positive resources of seeking the truth and combating corruption by objective reporting without bias and partiality, selective and tendentious reporting of fact.”

Sadly, that fabricated piece of news quite common now in most newspapers in efforts to out-scoop each other, does not sit well in preserving the good image of the paper “balanced news, fearless views”. How often have reputations been hurt because of irresponsible news reporting? It is no longer freedom of the press when one’s reputation is placed on the line.

regarding ‘people power prodigies’. that is right. absolutely right. the people behind the call for gma to resign where the people who where once in power but have corrupted themselves, in fact some were still in power who continues to enriched themselves and seems to be more arrogant than the dictator marcos. these people will never overthrow gma because they themselves is tainted with corruptions. now they are shifting their strategy in using the students to rise up by helping lozada to roam the school campuses. these people is really desperate in bringing down this administration at all cost even if it will destroy the whole country. fools.

Mga Tanong na dapat sagutin ni Lozada…

1.) Ilang pang kamaganak niya ang umuubos ng resources ng pamahalaan para mag pa tustos niya sa luho niya … ilan pang 2 milyon ang ibibigay sa kanya ng mga taong simbahan?

2.) Sa 50,000 na sweldo ni Lozada baka kulang pa yan na pangkain sa Outback o anumang mamahaling restaurant. Nagbabayad ka ba ng tax? kasi tax pa lang 30%-32% na mawawala sa 50,000 mo so magkano take home mo 35,000 na lang. Sa 35,000 makakapunta ka ba ng Hongkong? O baka naman kulang lang payola mo kaya ka lumantad?

3.) Ilang security meron ka? Siguro nga ikaw na ang number one na sala sa init at sala sa lamig? Sabagay sa testimonya mo nga nilamig ka sa Hongkong? Gobyerno security escort, Opposition another security escort mo, taong simbahan escort mo pa rin? Ah ewan dami mo ngang kinakausap siguro mananalo ka as senator o congressman o mayor o gobernor? Pulitiko nga dating mo sa dami mong escort.

4.) Sa Media at Lozada? Magkano ba ang kita sa pagcocover ng Prime-time SLOT ni Lozada sa mga News ninyo? Nakakatulong ba kayo sa magandang imahen ng Pilipinas? Sabagay ang hanggad lang naman ng iba ay serbisyong totoo o serbisyong kumikita? Even at the expense of the country, they declare concern (Concern to Earn). Both newspapers and television. Magkano ba talent fee ni Lozada dito?

5.) Manang winnie tama ka sinungaling si Lozada. Kilala mo professor niya?

6.) De La Salle brothers tell the truth about Lozada. Ilang classroom ba na donate niya? O baka naman building?

7.) Lozada lahat ng nakausap mo idinamay mo na, baka pati mga kabataan ipapahamak mo sa kasinungalingan mo.

8.) Ito ang tama kay Lozada, marami na kasi siyang dapat kaharapin na kaso kaya para takbuhan ito, nagi syang star witness.

A letter writer opposes vigorously the bid of Sen. Defensor Santiago for a seat in the International Court of Justice. It did not matter to him if that achievement brings honor to the country. Rather, the crab mentality has preceded the intolerance of this person over the behavior of Santiago as a politician such as her outbursts during the Erap impeachment, her diatribes against former President Ramos, etc. Such things are normal behavior of politicians but were never known to have been Santiago’s behavior when she was a sitting judge in the trial court. It’s fair to say Santiago was a very strict judge but known to have observed decorum as a judge.

Do our good senators know that foreign satellites that pass over our heads are spying and exploring our activities and resources every hour of the day?
How about a senate probe for the above?

Ngayon magsisimula na naman ang isang hearing na sa wla rin mapupunta. Bakit ang senado panay ang inbestigasyon tungkol sa mga issue pag maikakabit nila si GMA. Bakit hindi nila tingnan ang sarili nila na sa dami ng investigasyon as they claim aid for legislation pero hanggang ngayon ni isang panukalang batas wala silang nagagawa. Puro na lang investigation pero wala namang nagagawa hanggang ngayon. Siguro natatakot sila na pag nakagawa sila ng batas para sa tulad ng ZTE scandal ay sila ang masampolan pag sila na ang naupo sa posisyon. At isa pa bakit ba nahalal si Jambi Madrigal sa senado ay bobo naman. Gusto laging magpa impress pero wala namang sense ang mga panukala o sinasabi niya. At si Pampilo Lacson ang dami ng inilabas na ebidensiya raw pero hindi niya masoportahan tulad ng zerox copy ng check na related sa Jose Pidal pero hindi niya mailabas ang tunay na check na pinangkunan ng kopya ng check. Ibig sabihin noon, gumagawa lang ng ingay sina Lacson at Madrigal para inisip nila na sa inilalabas nilang ebidensiya “raw” ay magalit ang tao at magpanibagong peole power. Para silang mga showbis reporter para pasikatin ang mga actor o actress o para mabili ang news item nila tulad ng ginawa ni Lolit Solis. At ito namang si tita Cory hindi ba niya natatandaan yung bilyong dollar na nuclear plant na inutang sa world bank ay hindi nagamit at isang dahilan ng pagkakabaon ng Pilipinas sa utang. Hindi siya ang icon ng peoples power kung hindi si Cardinal Sin. How I respect and adore Cardinal Sin. About Teodoro Bacani, Oscar Cruz at ang binansagang running fries bakit hindi na lang sila magbitiw sa pagkapari, they are a disgrace.

JLO2…jlo2..jlo2….

Ganyan palang usapan gusto he he he…

Cge sabihin mo sa akin saang korte napatunayang ang kaso ni Gloria magbuhat ng siya ay manungkulan mula sa pagiging Senador…

PERO ANG amo mo nasi ERAP napatunayan ng korte sa PANDARAMBONG… sa kabila ng napakahuhusay niyang abogado de kampanilya eh mga natalo….

Nauunawaan ko reaction nyo igan… hanga ngayon kumikirot ang sakit ng pagkabigo na maipagpatuloy ang pandarambong…

salamat ng mawala si ERAP kumaunti ang addict…. nabawasan ang kriminalidad ang laganap na holdapn ng mga chinese.

The way the Senate and Media is misleading the public on the Spratlys issue is becoming very alarming.
We must understand that an agreement for exploration to detect the presence of oil and other resources is not a surrender of our sovereignty. Almost all oil/gas explorations in the Philippines are conducted by foreign, private entities engaged by foreign oil companies like Shell, Exxon, etc.
The purpose of an exploration is just to locate and determine the approximate volume of resources present within a specified area. No exploitation is conducted.
If we can share the data of the seismic surveys to be conducted by China or any other countries, we can save a lot of money because seismic and satellite explorations are expensive undertakings.

Exploration is different from EXPLOITATION.

SIGFREDO… HA HA HA

EH bakit naman aasikasuhin ni Gloria and sobrang posing sa media de wala ng naGAWA yung tao… tulad ng mga tamad na rally ng rally…

eh mga wala namang hanap buhay at magawa kaya ayun nasa kalye…

Mga praning na kakasigaw ng ibagsak si Gloria… rah rah rah sis bomba… ibagsak…ibagsak…ibagsak….

ha ha ha ha aha ha ha… oh anu ilang taon ng isinisigaw yan… di paba masakit lalamunan mo o mag sawa….

bumaksak ba si GLORIA????? ayun ang PANDAK…. MATANGKAD NA MATANGKAD PARIN SA MALAKANYANG ….. 10 TAON MAUUPO SI GLORIA… AT DI MAALIS SI GLORIA…. DI NINYO KAYA UTAK NI GLORIA… AMININ NYO NA… RAH RAH RAH SIS BUMBA….PESTE KAU…. MGA TAGA OPOSISYON

FUROR OVER THE SPRATLYS

The furor and the noise created by the opposition over the China-Vietnam-Philippine exploration of the Spratlys in the South China Sea show the immaturity of the opposition politicians, and their lack of foresight and understanding. Why single out the opposition? Because they are the only ones vigorously opposed to the joint pre-exploration activities for oil and gas in the region. They were so quiet when the idea was still in the planning stage, but because somebody had suggested the exploration was pretty close to or within Philippine waters, and offered a wild conjecture that the president may be liable for possible act of treason, such allegations are the kind that the opposition find stimulating as it gives them the opportunity to go on another GMA bashing spree. As expected, another senate hearing is being lined up. Haay naku! Here we go again.

Exploring the Spratlys for their natural resources such as gas and oil is similar to the exploration done in the North Sea by the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands. In 1960 these countries got together in a common effort to search for oil in the North Sea. They explored the area and were able to work out their respective spheres for sources of oil independent of each other. The Spratlys is a vast body of water and, like the North Sea, it can be a rich source of oil as well. The Spratlys exploration agreement is supposed to be the beginning of a similar cooperative effort to be of mutual benefit to the claimants as it did to the Europeans in the North Sea, but because politics once again has reared its ugly head, many in the opposition just have to spoil it. It is most unfortunate the Philippine initiative is now torpedoed by the same crab mentality that distinguishes many of our politicians. All because of politics. While some people have the audacity and foresight to do what is good ahead of the others, sadly, their efforts are mislabeled treasonous and even linked to unfounded allegations and unfair criticisms as a devious plan for corruption via unlimited cheap China loans.

If it angers these senators that China was allowed to explore along the country’s territorial waters, then by all means they should dump their anger at Malaysia for not returning the territory of Sabah in North Borneo, a verified and confirmed part of the Philippine archipelago, which a couple of Europeans had leased from the Sultan of Sulu some 200 years ago. The lease had expired with the death of the original leaseholders but Malaysia never bothered to return the territory to the Philippines in spite of attempts by the Philippine government before the UN to recover it. Malaysia simply ceded the territory of Sabah arbitrarily as its own. Malaysia recognize the claim as valid because otherwise they would not continue paying rent to the heirs of the Sultanate of Sulu to this day. Enough of this artificial show of concern by these publicity hungry senators.

Media will put what the people expect to see and hear. They sensationalize the story so it will sell. Watching the news backhome here abroad from different filipino feeds, you can immediately discern who is having serbisyong totoo, what kapamilya is all about, and what Pareng Rey’s news is all about.

We all know now the connivance happening in the senate investigation. And we expats had become tired of the biased news. It is now time that the media should also expose the truth and not only present sensation. As former President said, the media should also be responsible.

what? another death threat on Lozada? i know a safe place for him.. the mental hospital! the nuns must turn him over to tha nurse & doctors inchrge there, they will surely take gud care of lozada.

The funny thing that Lozada mentioned about getting death threats, is when he mentioned that he is receiving it from people he does not know, does it mean that the would be assassins have to introduce themselves to him or get in line and register their names to be given priority? If that is not a stupid allegation, I do not know what is, my take on this is that he is making an act to premeditate his own death in order to place the blame on someone he fictitiously accuse of perpetrating the deeds. Such a lame excuse to get more sympathy, from the unsuspecting people.

Joey taught Jun how to sing and Jun proved himself to be a better singer than the late Luciano Pavarotti, he exceeded the High C when he swore to High Heavens.
Lo and behold! Like a miracle, Jun is surrounded at once by all kinds of angels.

the senate were caught surprised by their own surprise witness’ tetimonies.. they were expcting the witness to tell the truth. well, he did. but why don’t they believe him? maybe they want the witness to tell a lie? anyways, maybe they still have 100 more witnesses on their list. nxt wtness pls.

regarding surprise witness:
yan ang napala ng mga senador na yan. ang akala nila matatakot at mabibigyan nila ng patriotic fund ang lahat ng witness nila at saka hindi yata sumunod sa aral ng witness academy professor si san miguel kaya nabulilyaso. niloloko na lang kayo ng mga resource speakers ninyo mga senador. isipin ninyo lahat sila ay nagsasabi ng totoo at pasumsumpa pa. kaya po mga senador kung talagang merong kayong nakikitang corruptions isampa na ninyo sa corte at doon ay malalaman talaga kung totoo ang lahat ng ito.

Subjecting witnesses or resource persons to ridiculously long hours of vulgar interrogation is inhuman and is tantamount to torture. The senators must be sadists if they allow this practice to continue.

When we scrutinize the facial expressions of certain senators during the proceedings, we can readily discern that their questionings are not intended for legislature. Throwing conniving glances to one another, their malicious gestures and behavior are unbefitting for persons of their stature. The senate hall is fast turning into a Gestapo, and in most of senators, we no longer see humility but hypocrisy and arrogance.

The senators should also take one or two sessions off to go for schooling. It is so shameful to see some of them can not do simple arithmetic, the others does know the difference between a bit and a byte and, may be, all of senators does not know how many zero’s in one trillion. They may have to consult their children. And, perhaps, during their re-education this country will enjoy a respite of peace and tranquility.

Welcome to the Philippines!

Here, evil rules.
We eat death threats for breakfast;
We live through lies and deceit;
Corruption is our system;

War in the south;
Massacre and hunger in the Center;
Abductions of all sort in the North;

Gloria to our leaders!
This is the closest you can get to hell!

LACSON’S PRIZED BOMBSHELL TURNED OUT TO BE A HUGE DUD!

In his haste to make a big splash, Sen. Ping Lacson’s ten minutes of fame produced a dud and a bruised pride. Lacson finally met his match outsmarted by his own witness he could neither influence nor intimidate. Unlike the others he produced from his celebrated Witness Academy, Leo San Miguel is one tough cookie like a brick wall none of the senators could break down, cool as a cucumber, shows no emotions, calculating in the way he talks, and can stare his interrogators straight in the eye. But is he lying? Of course he is. Like the others.

A fast thinker, this guy has so much cojones that he did not blink when dared by Sen. Mar Roxas to undergo a lie detector test. Fact is, he even extended the challenge to the other three stooges, Joey, Lozada and Madriaga, to join him in the test. Is this good? Of course, it is for him. LSM must have anticipated this and knew that since all four of them are either lying, or telling half truths, or exaggerating the truth, or selective with what they want to disclose, chances are all of them will flunk the test. It takes only one failed answer to put doubt to the credibility of the witness.

What value will their testimonies have on the NBN hearing when they all fail the test? The hearing becomes a squabble of lying witnesses in a battle of hearsays.

Can the truth ever be found? Yes, only in the court of law. Without fanfare, without publicity. But definitely not in the senate where the accused is perceived guilty before he is even charged of the crime.

Gloria to us All!!!

We have lots of intellect;
But we cow in fear.
Riches are crowned on the few select,
while others crawl in hunger;

Serious issues come our way;
but we swallow all of it as funny;
Alien pirates and smugglers abode this country
Yet, we fools treat them hospitably;

Vote buying is rampant;
Evil equates both givers and takers;
War is constant;
Losers equates both left and right;

Poverty is persistent;
High crimes are the consequence;
Corruption is the system;
Compromise is the solution;

We are getting what we deserve!

mabuhay pilipinas! to unity, peace & progress… to victory! God bless the philippines!

Of guards and thieves

We wait for the thieves at night,
We wait for them to hide their loot,
Then we shout for help

We trace their leads
Review our safeguards,
They hear what we do,
They know were we go,

We fail
for the guards we trust
are the ones that
cloaks from disgust.

Bakit naman:

(1) Ang ANC coverage ng ABS-CBN ay biglang pinutol at the time na si Senator Enrile ay nagtatanong na, at sumasagot si Leo San Miguel?
(b) Iyong previous coverage ay replayed the following day sa States tungkol sa negative testimony vs. administration pero iyong coverage tungkol sa sinabi ni Leo San Miguel na positive for the administration ay hindi.
(c) ang media reports tungkol sa mga sinabi ni San Miguel (including the meeting of Speaker de Venecia, Joey de Venecia, de la Torre, Chairman Abalos and Leo San Miguel) ay buried sa inside pages ng mga newspapers at interactive media at hindi naging intermission ads ng ABS-CBN/ANC programs gaya ng ginagawa nila sa mga sinabi ni Jun Lozada?

Sana naman multi-media print both sides, whether negatively slanted versus, or positively slanted for the administration, at hayaan ang taong bayan/viewers to discern kung sino ang nagsasabi ng katotohanan, ano ang parteng totoo at ano ang parteng kasinungalingan. Tuparin ang journalism code of ethics.

Jakahedy

SEN. PING LACSON TO INTRODUCE ANOTHER SURPRISE WITNESS TO SURPRISE HIS UNCOOPERATIVE SURPRISE WITNESS

Still smarting from ridicule and bruised pride, Lacson said he would ask a common friend to divulge at the senate hearing what Leo San Miguel had told him about the NBN deal. Another fresh grad from the fabled Lacson Witness Academy? Lacson is so obsessed in getting the desired information from his prized witness that he will go to extremes to get it. While going to court is the effective way to get to the bottom of all this, he prefers applying the dirty-cop technique he must have used when he was top cop during the tumultuous Kurateng Baleleng seedy days of Erap.

After the principal whistleblowerJoey III, that will be the third witness Lacson plans to introduce. The other two, Lozada and Madriaga, have given testimonies that more or less confirmed each other’s rehearsed testimonies though conflicting in some facts, but more importantly, by far their testimonies have not gone beyond the hearsay stage. It is interesting to note as well that Lozada was already discussing with Lacson and Jamboy as early as Dec 2007 about raising a patriotic fund of 20 M for Sec. Neri and other whistleblowers. Also, Lacson was in constant touch with Lozada even while he was in hiding in Hongkong, up to his arrival at the Naia airport, as what was discovered at the hearing. Similarly, San Miguel was constantly monitored by Lacson who even met with him the night before the scheduled senate hearing last Tuesday. Lacson does not seem to care that he is giving undue influence to prospective witnesses thus making them tainted.

Does Lacson think introducing yet another witness will bring out the truth? Not at all if that witness will only confirm another hearsay. Worse if the witness will embellish the hearsay with more half truths and lies. Someone calls the senate hearing a Ping and Jamboy show. This is getting to be a comedy of sorts and it’s no longer funny.

JAMBOY MADRIGAL HARASSES 25 MILITARY OFFICERS

Jamboy had to show her arrogance and hold everyone in the Commission on Appointments as well as the candidates for promotion hostage to her whims and caprices just because she did not see eye to eye with some members of the CA and some of the candidates did not convince her to deserve the promotion. This is the same Jamboy who called another lady senator, Pia Cayetano, a spoiled brat in one instance, and a horse in another. This is the same senator who readily convicts the accused when no formal charges are filed yet. For one holding an esteemed position in government, her display of poor breeding is a manifestation of a low class mentality of a senator who cannot argue an issue without resorting to harassment, innuendoes, and threats. The ugly side of Jamboy’s character is often seen at senate hearings where captive and helpless witnesses become victims of harassment and intimidation. This is not the first time Jamboy showed the dark side of her personality and it will not be the last. She should remember what goes around comes around.

492
De los Reyes Says:
March 13th, 2008 at 7:30 am
SEN. PING LACSON TO INTRODUCE ANOTHER SURPRISE WITNESS TO SURPRISE HIS UNCOOPERATIVE SURPRISE WITNESS

Still smarting from ridicule and bruised pride, Lacson said he would ask a common friend to divulge at the senate hearing what Leo San Miguel had told him about the NBN deal. Another fresh grad from the fabled Lacson Witness Academy? Lacson is so obsessed in getting the desired information from his prized witness that he will go to extremes to get it. While going to court is the effective way to get to the bottom of all this, he prefers applying the dirty-cop technique he must have used when he was top cop during the tumultuous Kurateng Baleleng seedy days of Erap.

After the principal whistleblowerJoey III, that will be the third witness Lacson plans to introduce. The other two, Lozada and Madriaga, have given testimonies that more or less confirmed each other’s rehearsed testimonies though conflicting in some facts, but more importantly, by far their testimonies have not gone beyond the hearsay stage. It is interesting to note as well that Lozada was already discussing with Lacson and Jamboy as early as Dec 2007 about raising a patriotic fund of 20 M for Sec. Neri and other whistleblowers. Also, Lacson was in constant touch with Lozada even while he was in hiding in Hongkong, up to his arrival at the Naia airport, as what was discovered at the hearing. Similarly, San Miguel was constantly monitored by Lacson who even met with him the night before the scheduled senate hearing last Tuesday. Lacson does not seem to care that he is giving undue influence to prospective witnesses thus making them tainted.

Does Lacson think introducing yet another witness will bring out the truth? Not at all if that witness will only confirm another hearsay. Worse if the witness will embellish the hearsay with more half truths and lies. Someone calls the senate hearing a Ping and Jamboy show. This is getting to be a comedy of sorts and it’s no longer funny.
=============
Ping, Is after the truth. Do you? Or is it that you’re only trying to protect the LIAR AND CORRUPT GLORIA ARROYO!

Go ahead Ping do your job you suppose too and make sure throw the guilty one behind bar’s and throw the key away.

489
ronald Says:
March 12th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
mabuhay pilipinas! to unity, peace & progress… to victory! God bless the philippines!
=============
Sorry, Mister but the Philippines can’t progress for as long as the thieves in Malacanyang palace never leave.

488
John Says:
March 12th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Gloria to us All!!!

We have lots of intellect;
But we cow in fear.
Riches are crowned on the few select,
while others crawl in hunger;

Serious issues come our way;
but we swallow all of it as funny;
Alien pirates and smugglers abode this country
Yet, we fools treat them hospitably;

Vote buying is rampant;
Evil equates both givers and takers;
War is constant;
Losers equates both left and right;

Poverty is persistent;
High crimes are the consequence;
Corruption is the system;
Compromise is the solution;

We are getting what we deserve!
==================
Gloria Kawatan who keep robbing the government coffer!

481
Gerry Says:
March 11th, 2008 at 11:12 am
The funny thing that Lozada mentioned about getting death threats, is when he mentioned that he is receiving it from people he does not know, does it mean that the would be assassins have to introduce themselves to him or get in line and register their names to be given priority? If that is not a stupid allegation, I do not know what is, my take on this is that he is making an act to premeditate his own death in order to place the blame on someone he fictitiously accuse of perpetrating the deeds. Such a lame excuse to get more sympathy, from the unsuspecting people.
=================
Only Gloria Arroyo, And her gang of thieves want to kill Jun Lozada, For knowing to much.

This may not be a hypothesis but suppose all 15 Supreme Court justices are avid fans of Angelina Jolie and she is seeking a decision from the High Court, are we going to ask all the judges to inhibit themselves, Mr. Manuel L. Quezon III?

jakehedy…MABIBIGO ka lang sa request…alam natin na nabubulok na ang sistema ng pamamahayag sa hirap ng buhay dumarami ang bayaran…at siya mismo ang sumisigaw ng laban sa korupsyon

Would you?

Would Rizal wanted now to be a hero?
The answer is a big NO.
For who dares want to be called a Filipino
When your country is corrupted from head to toe;

Would Bonifacio offer his life once more?
A white flag of surrender would
have been fitting if he sees the
pollutions from shore to shore;

The souls of the great warriors befallen in Bataan,
would they know that the death march is over, if they see the multitude that
take the street?
if they see the multitude in the sidewalk where they meet death?

Should the bemedalled veterans return their honor of valors and cast a retreat?
For the tyrrants that they fought are
up from defeat.

To those befallen heroes,
for what reason did you offer your life,
When the heirs of this country are leaving,
When the heirs of this country are
selling,
When the heirs of this country have forgotten.

Dictionary gone wrong!!

“Military is the foundation of a society’s security”

I thought they all are president’s security.

de los reyes….i fully agree w/ what you wrote re jamboy. some writers have asked how the hell was she elected senator? she paid a young telenovela-drama star juday to endorse her. i honestly think the youth voted for her bec. of this artista, not bec. of what she can do. i cringe whenever she brags about her “good name and pedigree”. if you have a good name, you do not have to tell everyone, let other people assess or praise you as a person, not you, bec. that is damnation!
hindi na sya nangilabot! and does that speak of good breeding? bragging?
i have been writing abt this senator and how ill-mannered she is, and its a good thing many have noticed. do we deserve her? certainly not! and we should be glad bec. her colleagues in the senate cannot take her anymore….mabuti na lang!

and, i like what you wrote re the spratlys, very factual and informative…keep them coming.

note…there is a de los reyes writing to tony abaya’s mla standard article. i wonder if you’re one and the same?

it only shows what type of a person is jamboy.. KSP (kulang s pansin).

Its very clear and too obvious that ABS-CBN wants to topple Gloria Arroyo from power.

Many had observed it already, the boboos that ABS-CBN made on the Manila Pen take-over stimulates that the network is in connivance with some political vutures.

ABS-CBN owes cory aquino so much the time marcos fell as the network went back to the lopez family so we can think that cory can use the network for her own agenda.

Erap’s daughter married a lopez and there’s a report that Erap had a lady broadcaster working for the network, known for her straight talking, already a veteran and famous, as his mistress. So we can also say that Erap can influence the network to air his agenda.

So the TRUTH reported by ABS CBN will always be a one way road favoring the personalities connected or supporting to the two former presidents.

Another one, if Gloria Arroyo steps down, who will succeed her?….. VP Noli de Castro who is currently a talent of ABS CBN.

Re: Letters to the Editor - Civil disobedience an antidote to corrupt gov’t

I am in complete agreement with the author that civil disobedience may be the only potent tool (no blood/no violence) citizens can use against a corrupt government.

But let us not stop there. Non-payment of income taxes ( long practiced by some ) is just one item off a long list that the citizenry can do. Here are some of them:

1. Save your Pesos and hold off on those VAT-able puchases. Think about buying that new cellphone, automobile, or that widescreen plasma TV display for the den, etc. for later.

2. Save gas (and your money). Use public transport as much as you can.

3. Limit your shopping to essential items and food. Patronize the public markets and locally-grown produce. Avoid the malls and signature boutiqes.

4. Limit your entertainment and dining out.

5. Avoid imported items. In other words, avoid China manufactured goods and produce. Stay away from the malls and stalls of Divisoria where these products are rampant.

These are just a few of what one can do. You get the idea, don’t you? Take responsibility — spread the word — do your part. It’s the least you can do.

The senate inquiry is an effective way to get information. As such, the proceedings are patterned in way such that each senator can ask questions and the information they get aids them to formulate laws and legislations that the govern our country. The truthfullnes and the veracity in the information they acquire, however, is not verified as the proceedings does not follow proper jurisprudence. Not all senators are lawyers and there is no practicing judge or arbiter to moderate the proceedings. Any senator has their self-proclaimed power to badger, bully and insult the witnesses. The witnesses and even high ranking apolitical officials with remarkable and unblemished career history have no counsel or lawyer to defend such acts of disrespect, slander, badgering and bullying. Perhaps the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) should focus their attention into the powerful Philippine Senate who I think has done more crime on violating the civil rights of their witnesses. Aside from the CHR, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines should also maintain their ranks and disbar incompetent lawyer-senators who have made clear violation of such crimes of defamation.

The Philippine Senate has a skewed way of verifying the information and credibility of the witnesses. Each senator asks their own questions independent of whether the question has already been asked. They even go beyond what is relevant and asks personal questions that are not related to the case. Since there are no counsels to defend the badgered witnesses, there is nobody to raise an objection on the relevance of their questions – whether it is just to smear the reputation of the witnesses or simply to raise their own chairs and grandstand. The senators also encourage speculations and hear-says among testimonies of the witnesses and considers it as truth beyond reasonable doubt. As such, what goes out of this investigation results in political instability based on unjust or “unlawful” hearings. I can understand why the other invited witnesses don’t want to attend to these hearings because they can not defend themselves on biased senators who already have their version of truth even before the hearing started. Witnesses can not even exercise their basic right to be silent or to self-incrimination. Do so or they will be in held in contempt! Scary isn’t it?

Actually, I don’t know how the Senate represents me as a Filipino citizen. The Senate is a bunch of people whose power I can not comprehend because they are not trully representatives of the Filipino people. Power in a democratic society is supposed to emanate from the people. While I agree that the senators are voted through a nationwide vote, all the votes are just normalized to the highest vote earner. So whoever gets to be in the top highest votes gets to be elected in the senate – without really considering who they represent. In principle, even if only 1% of the Philippine population voted for them, as long as they get the highest votes – they can be part of an elite group of bullies who can dictate the fate of the country. Worse, ones probability to be elected in the senate depends on ones financial capacity to launch a nationwide campaign. So oligarchs and established political families have very high probability to be in the senate – who can in themselves curve the direction of Philippine politics to work for their advantage.

Why cant we have one senator per region – much like the congress but with a larger scope? Is the senate trully the voice of the people? Or are they the voice of certain families only. Today, we have a senate with a couple of blood-related senators. The strongest policy making body in the Philippines is currently controlled by certain group of families. Their votes to certain legislations and political views are obviously coupled with each other making certain political families to have very strong control on the country’s direction.

Majority of the Philippine Senate believe the credibility of Mr. Rodolfo Lozada, Jr. despite the fact that most of his testimonies are hear-says with no physical proof. I read in the news reports that he mentioned the overprice, but as far as I know, he never gave the senate his version of the NBN-ZTE budget breakdown that proves so. What expertise does he bring into the project? As expert consultant for the project, I assume that he would have an idea on why it should cost only the amount he mentioned. Now, Lozada sides and shouts with the opposition for the “Gloria Resign” rallies. Is he now a credible and objective witness having tainted his personality with the opposition? How can he stick to the facts when his statements are now contaminated with anger, grief and fear. The moment he raised his arm with a clenched fist and attended rallies against the government proves that he has now tailored his statements for the outcome he so much desires. Such testimonies are tainted and can no longer be acceptable in the court of law.

Then there is a question of conspiracy and how the government was wooed into a circus that made Lozada’s statements believable among students and righteous factions in the society. Did Lozada ever get hold of the Patriotic fund to have played a beautiful game of chess with the government? Or is it the skillful work of his handlers. I admit, the government was blundered by the Lozada’s moves overturning every predictable move of the government. Why was Lozada afraid of being another Bobby Dacer? Was he really afraid of the government at that time or was he afraid of somebody else whom he has made a deal earlier in December last year? All we know that he is afraid as hell and no one can tell the truth? Now, Lozada is nested into a bunch of his statements (true or false) that makes him popular among the righteous.

Now, the righteous groups is calling on the resignation of the president for lack of moral authority to govern the country. They prey on very young students whose passion can be easily swayed by unproven testimonies. In fact, some of these very young students don’t know or perhaps have forgotten why Joseph Estrada was impeached and later convicted of plunder. And they probably have very little to know about the very dark Marcos era, or probably how an ineffective president was Corazon Aquino. Well, let me trace a bit of history. The early stages of Marcos’ regime indicate that he was a very good leader and a visionary. Unfortunately, greed and power corrupted his good intentions that led to his 20-year dictatorship and later his downfall. On the other hand, Cory Aquino is a very kind person and I apologize for frankly branding her as an ineffective president. In fact, I was in my late high school years when I passionately supported her during the 1986 snap-elections. With Benigno Aquino’s death, she had the charisma to gain enough popularity to topple Marcos. However, as a president, in my honest and frank opinion, she has been only a good caretaker with no leadership and most importantly no long term visions for the country’s progress.

Fidel Ramos has been one of the most visionary presidents who had the discipline and managed the Philippine economy well even with the onset of the Asian crisis. Ramos laid a lot of ground work for progress. Unfortunately, his work remain at ground and never stood up when Estrada took over. Estrada took all the credit of the work that started before his term and he never bothered to make his own visions for a progressive country. Like Aquino, Estrada is again another popularist caretaker with lots of catchy but empty promises like “Erap para sa mahirap.” He has no leadership qualities and most importantly no visions at all. Because of this, I didn’t mind Estrada serving only for two years – serving the full term could have been more disaster. In just two years as president, he has managed to crash the stock market (Phisix went below 900 at that time) and the economy. In two years, he has plundered and accumulated a great sum of money that left the poor, who has voted him into power, at their worse condition with a very high unemployment rate and very low value of the Philippine peso. The buying power for Filipinos at that time is at its all time low. All he managed to do is sit and act like the galant godfather to his friends.

When, Pres. Macapagal-Arroyo took over, she has been a popularist at the beginning. During her first couple of years as president, she made many disastrous mood swings in her decisions to satisfy the public. Perhaps over the years, she has learned her lessons that whatever she does – even how popular the decision was – it can never be the right one – and that’s politics. There will always be people who are against whatever stand you make. It will probably take more than the presidential term to really train a good president. Her re-election over Fernando Poe Jr is a blessing. If Poe won, it could have been another disaster for the Philippines to have another popularist and caretaker president without any leadership and visions to improve the state of the country. The king of Philippine movies was satisfied with his life, happy and successful in his film business until he was dragged into the political arena. The opposition at that time fundamentally cheated the Filipinos for fielding a very popular actor who has not even held any public office or worse, has no leadership experience as far as I know. So who was the real cheat in the 2004 elections? Compared to literally changing of election figures, this type of cheating is subtle but the worse form of cheating because it gives the false impression that what they are doing is moral.

Until now, Macapagal-Arroyo needs a lot of training to become a good leader and a president. She has continued to make mistakes that enjoins the opposition to be loud in the political scene. While I agree that the objectives of the NBN-ZTE are noble and for the country’s progress as she mentioned in her past SONA’s, I would perhaps consider portions of the deal a mistake. However, allegations directly linking to the president are weak and the opposition has always tried to cunningly implicate everybody around her. Well, I leave it for the proper courts to extract the truth behind this controversy. As an expert economist herself, I give her credit for keeping the Philippine economy afloat, with a bullish stock market (Phisix above 3000 level), low unemployment rates and all time high value for the peso despite its worse condition in Estrada’s time. Intelligent moves and decisions for the good of the country doesn’t always need the public’s approval and it takes a good leader to make such decisions.

Looking back at history, we have had more incompetent presidents than good ones, how can we be sure we don’t have another incompetent president in the offspring? Shouldn’t we just stick to the rules and eventually let the democratic rule of law and due process take its place? Our country needs a well-trained president who can have visions that will lead our country to prosperity and integrity. We can not just change the president at will whenever we want to or whenever a president makes a mistake. We have to follow due process and submit to our laws otherwise we can never have political maturity.

If indeed we need to have change in the presidency, why don’t we just let proper procedure such as due process and impeachment in the Congress. Unlike the Senate, the Congress is supposed to be the voice of the people as they are well represented all over the Philippines.

Is it really true that the present administration has control over the congress and this is the reason why an impeachment process will not prosper? In an ideal situation, the people from several districts in the Philippines who voted for them has the control over what the congressman should stand for? Unlike in senate elections, congressmen are not elected in a nationwide vote but through local elections. In principle, any sound of corruption during the elections can easily be checked by the local populace. So would it be fair to brand our congressmen as true representatives of the people all over the Philippines? When the local constituents demand that their voices heard – Isn’t our democracy shaped in a way that the local populace put pressure on their congressman to air their concerns and represent their views to the proper forum? And if the other people in the Philippines doesn’t believe so – shouldn’t the minority accept the decision of the majority? Democracy in the Philippines has long been skewed that it is always the minority who has more share of media exposure – amplifying their voices and thinking that they represent the majority of the Filipino people. The Philippine media has always been biased towards sensationalized stories of underdogs who, until they get what they want, constantly think that they have been oppressed by people in power. Why would they bother rallying for the resignation of the President when they can rally and air their voices to their local congressmen to initiate and support an impeachment proceeding against the president. Isn’t this the proper procedure for people in a civilized country should take?

I am not for resignation of PGMA but I am strongly for our congressmen and senators to do their rightful jobs to make tougher laws that prohibit the current and future governments to do the same mistakes. Now, it looks as if that the other side is just jealous what the government is doing and when they are back in power, they will do the same. So I really doubt that the sincerity of the current senate to make laws that shoot their own foot when they are back in Malacanang. All they want is a poltical instability for them to grab power and perhaps do the same in the future.

Ilang libong beses pa ba tayong LOLOKOHIN, NANAKAWAN, AT IBEBENTA NI GLORIA ARROYO??? Nakakasawa na Wala na ang pagkakakilanlan natin bilang mga Pilipino.. Sanga sanga na ang kawalanghiyaan niya sa SAMBAYANANG PILIPINO… TAMA NA SOBRA NA!!!! Hindi na siya sa taumbayan nagkakasala pati sa DIYOS…. HOY GLORIA!!!! buhay ka pa SINUSUNOG NA YANG KALULUWA MO SA IMPIYERNO!!!!!

English Courses for Beauty Queens

I believe the objectives of having beauty queens are to win international titles and bring honor to and promote our country, the Philippines. Those people calling for English courses and criticizing the English proficiency of our candidates &/or title holders are “myopic” or shortsighted.

First of all, English is a second or in some instances third language for Pilipinos. Second, international titles are not won by being an excellent English speaker. If you take a look at the winners, a lot of them do not speak English.

In fact it is an advantage for ESL speakers to speak in their native tongue and ask for an interpreter during the questions & answers portion of a beauty contest.

A few years ago, I watched on TV the last 2 finalists (a Filipina and an African) in a prestigious international contests. The Filipina was the obvious heavy favorite based on the scoring system being shown on TV but unknown to the participants and live audience. Guess who won! The African who used an interpreter! The Filipina spoke good English but was not able to express herself profoundly as her competitor. The Filipina “bungled” her English answer.

I do not know what the African said but maybe the professional interpreter’s English version was embellished and so it sounded great.

So much for colonial mentality and shortsightedness.

Magsalita tayo ng Tagalog o Visaya o anopa at ang interpreter ang mag-English.

LOZADA: MY CHILDREN HAVE BECOME VICTIMS OF THE SYSTEM

Here is one miserable government small time crook who, after having savored and relished the rewards of high living from a corrupt system, now blames it for making his children victims of the same system he helped corrupt. He did not think he was to blame. He obviously thought otherwise because the adulation given him today exceedingly surpasses the iconic adulation given to Erap who is worshipped only by the impoverished and destitute while his worshippers are no less than from the gullible rich and famous, the naïve Makati businessmen and the educated, the misguided religious, the bishops, priests and nuns, and oh that dear old Tita Cory who still can’t get over the big let down on losing Hacienda Luisita and must blame GMA for it. They were all swept off their feet by Lozada’s tearful drama of a kidnapping and attempted murder that never was.

Indeed, Lozada never had it so good. He is one fake hero lapping it up enjoying every minute of it at the expense of his naive worshippers. There will be a lot of embarrassed faces when Lozada’s hidden life comes into full view. Lozada pales in comparison with that more deserving whistleblower Chavit Singson who exposed and caused the downfall and conviction of that other corrupt unremorseful president. Yet Singson was never recognized a hero. But why Lozada? He never said anything more than affirm what Joey III said. Neither did Madriaga contribute much to put a dent let alone shatter the Malacanang foundation. One thing these guys have in common is their greed brought them together and it is greed that broke them apart. They are all corrupt.

That hero title is better reserved for Neri in the event he is enlightened by the Holy Spirit to come out with the truth. Or someone within the GMA admin who will rise to the occasion and bring to light all the scandals allegedly attributed to the first couple. But Lozada? That’s only for suckers.

509
De los Reyes Says:
March 14th, 2008 at 8:24 am
LOZADA: MY CHILDREN HAVE BECOME VICTIMS OF THE SYSTEM

Here is one miserable government small time crook who, after having savored and relished the rewards of high living from a corrupt system, now blames it for making his children victims of the same system he helped corrupt. He did not think he was to blame. He obviously thought otherwise because the adulation given him today exceedingly surpasses the iconic adulation given to Erap who is worshipped only by the impoverished and destitute while his worshippers are no less than from the gullible rich and famous, the naïve Makati businessmen and the educated, the misguided religious, the bishops, priests and nuns, and oh that dear old Tita Cory who still can’t get over the big let down on losing Hacienda Luisita and must blame GMA for it. They were all swept off their feet by Lozada’s tearful drama of a kidnapping and attempted murder that never was.

Indeed, Lozada never had it so good. He is one fake hero lapping it up enjoying every minute of it at the expense of his naive worshippers. There will be a lot of embarrassed faces when Lozada’s hidden life comes into full view. Lozada pales in comparison with that more deserving whistleblower Chavit Singson who exposed and caused the downfall and conviction of that other corrupt unremorseful president. Yet Singson was never recognized a hero. But why Lozada? He never said anything more than affirm what Joey III said. Neither did Madriaga contribute much to put a dent let alone shatter the Malacanang foundation. One thing these guys have in common is their greed brought them together and it is greed that broke them apart. They are all corrupt.

That hero title is better reserved for Neri in the event he is enlightened by the Holy Spirit to come out with the truth. Or someone within the GMA admin who will rise to the occasion and bring to light all the scandals allegedly attributed to the first couple. But Lozada? That’s only for suckers.
================
BAKIT SI JUN LOZADA ANG SISIHIN MO SI GLORIA ARROYO AT ANG KANYANG MAFIA ANG MAGNANAKAW SA PERA NG BAYAN. IF JUN LOZADA IS GUILTY OF ANY CRIMES BY ALL MEANS HE SHOULD BE IN JAIL ALONE WITH THE BIGGEST CROOKS GLORIA ARROYO!

From a mother’s mouth

“I’m a mother. And I don’t want my children seeing those who have violated the law go unpunished,” said BABAE KA president Ruth Vasquez for their stand against Jun Lozada.

“After [seeing] all the evidence, I no longer believe him,” said Corazon Tumang, BABAE KA vice-president.

It would be very impressive if this BABAE KA organization will be able to shut down even one, just one of those nude shows lining up in Quezon Avenue. Until then, you are just like JUN LOZADA.

As he said, “I have done some things in the past that I will not be proud of!” For the Babae Ka, “I think you have not DONE anything yet that will make us proud!”

to feng ping.. strategy lng ni lozada un death threat kuno. paawa epek. s plgay mo b hindi nnkawin ng gusto mo iplit kay PGMA kaban ng pilipinas at mppaunlad nya ang ating bansa? if i know atat n atat n un mgnkaw kya doble kayod cla n ptlsikin c PGMA. hehehe. nkktwa.

Let’s make sure

2010 is fast approaching;
Another evil term is ending;
Soon new leaders will be born;
New hopes, new burdens.

Those who have left,
What will we make of them,
They, who wrapped us with debt
Even before we are born
and maybe until death.
They are leaving.

And here we are..,
We are fighting.
We are writing.
The fight were we are good at.

On this fight, we will win.
The leaders that failed us,
we will put them all to shame!
Let their failings be curses on their names;

Names that even
their sons and daughters
will be ashamed to remember!
Names that needs to be stricken
out of all registers!

When the clearing is done
What will be left are those
that we have written;

Let’s make sure we win,
Let’s make sure that history
will no be repeated again.

FENG PING must have been offended by my critique about Ping Lacson’s questionable behavior in the way he presents his so-called surprise witnesses that it prompted him to react defensively claiming Ping was after the truth and accusing me of protecting, to use his words, the “liar and corrupt Gloria Arroyo”.

Not that I have any special liking for Gloria, but I play fair and go by the rule of law and since allegations of a “liar and corrupt” GMA are yet to be proven, I cannot hastily prejudge her. Perhaps I can take that as a perception, but I will grant Feng Ping that much latitude for his personal satisfaction. I too want the truth but only in the court of law where it can be found. Can Feng Ping give us an instance where a senate investigation such as the ZTE-NBN resulted in the prosecution and conviction of suspects? The closest was Ping Lacson’s when he was accused of kidnapping and drug trafficking, but he was able to get away from that.

Strange they both share a common name. I don’t buy his stuff that his idol Ping is looking for the truth. For a crooked top cop, he has used every trick in the book that made witnesses sing different tunes and his methods usually bring out the “truth” by hook or by crook.

Feng Ping is advised to learn more about the personal background of his favorite idol when he was with the PAOCTF and his involvement with the Kuratong Baleleng. Did he know Lacson was investigated in 2002 by three senate committees, on illegal drugs, national defense, and blue ribbon, which found probable cause and recommended filing of criminal charges of drug trafficking and kidnapping for ransom against him? Fortunately for him, the joint senate committee report No. 66 was archived through the manipulation of his senate allies. Nobody is talking about that report anymore. Did Feng Ping know about the pending case against Lacson before the Ombudsman for non-disclosure of large amount of deposits which the FBI and US Treasury had discovered? There are much more for Feng to know.

I am not gullible to believe a calculating and manipulating schemer. I cannot for the life of me ever trust a man with a baggage of criminal offenses on his back who never bothered to clear his name.

Yes Abbygail that’s me.

now it comes to a conclusion that lozada is “pAkawala”ng opposition. That lozada now has to answer 7 counts of graft and corruption charges to obudsman. That he still president of PFC, not even consider a cabinet level, he muster to get life insurance of P5M by his wife as agent and 40 hec distributed to his relatives and P40T/mo for his brother as vice, what a shame how he still government funds and how much more if he becomes president. The ZTE already cancelled but he lozada already committed graft like wise the senators where they spent P200M pork barrel how much they really steal diverting peoples mind to not discuss their business is to fund protest no one will scrutiny their monkey business. Mind you media is half true and half lies.

A QUESTION OF HYPOCRISY … AND STUPIDITY

Erap Estrada lost his cool over a fair question by a news reporter from the Agence France Presse how can he lead the fight against corruption in the GMA admin when he himself was a convicted criminal. Enraged by that question, he accused the reporter of a “pakawala” by the administration. Erap fought back claiming his conviction by the court was already written off by public surveys which showed he was more popular than GMA. If popularity is the basis for public acceptance, did Erap stop to wonder how come GMA who holds the record of being the most unpopular president and the least trusted continues in office?

Erap has rewritten the judicial processes. By Erap moral standards, conviction of a criminal by a court of law can be offset by his popularity. By his standards, it is the popularity surveys that determine the innocence or guilt of a suspected criminal and not through dispensation of justice in the court of law.

In Erap’s warped sense of justice, therefore, the popularity of “hero” Jun Lozada extinguishes the illegal activities he allegedly committed in the Philippine Forestry when he was its president. Just as well, the popularity of Bin Laden in the Middle East nullifies the criminal activities attributed to him in America. Only the demented or mentally challenged will put up this hypocritical moronic reasoning. And to think Erap is the spiritual leader of the Opposition? Small wonder the opposition cannot gather enough support from the people despite the huge unpopularity of GMA. If not for them, it would have been very easy to bring down a very unpopular president who leads a conceivably corrupt admin.

NEWS HEADLINE: BISHOPS DENOUNCE GRAFT BUT SAY OUSTING ARROYO IS WRONG

It is not wrong to demand the ouster of the President provided it is done by constitutional means.

kayana2 comments,

here we go again, phils. trapos et al,(aka)”hangers” on are in town, and will for sure will behave like they were in their own backyard. too many of them that made them like another side show that it is hard not to be notice because of some of them lacks of tack and decorum.

talking about the “talks of the town”, we are the talks of the town.

kayana2 sends.\\\
lasvegasnv

I agree 101 percent with what Renato Tuazon has said. If our contestant can’t express herself articulately in English, she should be encouraged to require an interpreter.

Is it true that we ceded our sovereignty to the Chinese when the Philippines signed the JMSU agreement? The following is the joint statement issued by the three parties concerned.

Joint Statement on the Signing of a Tripartite Agreement for Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking in The Agreement Area in the South China Sea
March 14, 2005
Makati Shangri-la Hotel
A Tripartite Agreement for Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking in The Agreement Area in the South Sea was signed on the 14th March 2005 in Manila, Philippines, by and among China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), Vietnam Oil and Gas Corporation (PETROVIETNAM), and the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC).
By signing this Agreement, the three parties expressed their desire to engage in a joint research of petroleum re resource potential in the Agreement Area as a pre-exploration activity. The joint activities will be conducted in the Agreement Area in accordance with the seismic work programmes approved by the parties.
The term of the Agreement will be three (3) years. The joint activities will cover an area of about 143,000 square km which is defined by specific geographic coordinates.
The three parties affirm that the signing of the Tripartite Agreement will not undermine the basic positions held by their respective Governments on the South China Sea issue and will contribute to the transformation of the South China Sea into an area of peace, stability, cooperation, and development in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

” Something evidently went wrong out there” by Recah Trinidad is such a malicious comment. How can Mr. Trinidad say that when he has no proof. The judges saw the fight the way they saw it and nobody has the right to conclude that something is behind to what has tanspired - which Mr. Trinidad is insinuating. I surmised that Mr. Trinidad lost in the betting game. He should have soften a bit in writing what he believed in considering that he is a Filipino.

NERY’S PIECE ON MANNY PACQUIAO’S WIN

Everybody it seems has been reading too much of Pinoy politics that even the legitimacy of Pacquiao’s win is questioned. Shades of Garci tape. Worse, in a post-fight interview PDI sportswriter Recah Trinidad wants the win investigated. He should have been asked why he did not demand for one when Pacquiao was denied a clean and honest decision in his first fight against Marquez when one judge inadvertently (or deliberately?) scored the three first round knockdowns 10-7 instead of 10-6 in favor of Pacquiao thus allowing Marquez to escape with a draw and denying Pacquiao a decisive win.

Everybody agrees that the fight was a very close one, too hard to call, and could have gone either way as both boxers were evenly matched. This is where verdicts usually differ. People watching on TV have a different dimensional perspective of what they see that they differ in their perception of aggressiveness and feel of the blows unlike the judges who are much closer and have better view of the fight from where they are seated. Even judges differ in appreciating the fight because oftentimes the exchanges of blows are not clearly seen when the boxers’ backs are turned to them.

Pacquiao stood 10 feet tall when he took the raw deal he got in his first fight. Marquez should have accepted the decision just as well. His sour-graping made him look like a bad loser. And the kibitzers should keep their peace as well. They can be sure there will be much more of unbelieving kibitzers if Pacquiao lost that there will be no end to this.

US THINK TANK SAYS: “It observed that the NBN-ZTE scandal had aroused “still-meager protests” and that “public outrage has not reached a level that rules out amicable settlement.”

You are reading it wrong fellas. Aren’t you guys reading the public outrage as shown in those public surveys that sez Gloria is undisputably the most unpopular president this country has ever had because of the non-stop scandals? Scandals happen in every government, I can take that. To play fair, I will even grant that Gloria personally is clean since I cannot prove that otherwise, but she cannot get away from the responsibility that all these scandals are happening and she is not stopping them. This is why there is so much public outrage and her popularity is miserably low. And if you guys in the US think tank can read better, you should have known by now that the only reason that keeps people away from going to the streets is because of the very bad mixture that compose the opposition that wants to take over. Reasonable people have learned the lessons of the past and would rather take chances in 2010 to straighten out things peacefully and lawfully and without violence.

go ahead recah & file a protest! investigate the judges. why dont u just accept it n ntalo manok mo n c marquez? cguro may dugong mexicano k ano? mlmng ntalo k s pusthan. sana kay pacman k nlng pumusta… sure win. MABUHAY C PACMAN!

On the search for Truth

What kind of people have we become that we trust the evil that we know instead of the good that we seek?

It is true that we each are culpable for the corruption in our midst—how we let it go for very long among so many people, from the bottom rung of nobodies, amongst ourselves, to the topmost reach of our leaders—whether in government, in the Church, in the media or in corporate Philippines.

But to say that we the people are guilty of one person’s particular wrong is itself a falsehood.

True we are a communal gathering of people, a race of Filipinos who have banded together as a nation. True, one man’s sin diminishes us because sin has common repercussions for all.

But to kill the people’s initiative to extract that wrong that defiles them and to say that this fight goes beyond discovering the truth is a great disservice. If Truth cannot be the basis for one’s actions and faith, then we all live a lie.

Leaders are held in higher regard and for this reason they occupy the positions they are in, elected or appointed because of someone else’s belief in their abilities to do what is right. Leaders are greater scrutinized because of the sensitivity of their decisions and the far-ranging effects of their actions. Leaders know that they do not live forever and so they work their best for the advancement of their people in every regard.

The best way to fight corruption is by example, true—from the top down, and the bottom up. But because of the privileged position of leaders in the Philippines, it is oftentimes too easy for them to disregard the mandate to serve and to serve with moral rectitude.

Generations may come and go, but never will we completely rid ourselves of petty corruption. Still, must we act on the false notion that we have no right to demand the truth until the time comes when we are ourselves without fault? That we have no right to expect it of anyone else because we ourselves are imperfect? That we have no eyes or ears to recognize it because walking around with blinders and ear plugs on keeps us from hoping too much for positive change?

It is the right of the people who installed these elected leaders, in particular, to demand the truth and to obtain it. The Philippines is not a monarchy whose subjects exist at the liberty of a particular person. The Philippines is a democracy, whose leaders serve by the approval of the people.

To expect an overhauling change to take place generations from now is to postpone or to kill the present expectations of a people who themselves do not live on this earth forever. That change may take place decades from now is not the concern of the citizen who loves his country now, and works as if tomorrow is already here.

On the Bishop’s place

We often misread the teachings of the Catholic Church on family planning. As one priest said, “Don’t flatter yourselves. The Pope [and the bishops] don’t want to be in your bedroom either.”

What is at question here is the contentious issue of abortion. Mother Teresa of Calcutta spoke out numerous times about this. It says a lot about a society when it cannot protect a child in its mother’s womb, she said, a place where the child ought to be safest.

Misrepresenting the issue or couching it in terms of fertility and free choice detracts from the core matter of protecting life from natural conception to death.

A good reading of “Humanae Vitae” by Pope Paul VI might be more helpful. It’s not his personal teaching. It’s his defense and explanation of a tenet of the faith. It had made him hugely unpopular. But there are things that matter beyond “getting with the program.”

tama lang na hindi na imbitahan si mr lozada sa mga simbahan kasi ginagamit lang nila ang simbahan sa kanilang hate campaign laban kay gma na hindi naman nakabubuti para sa bayan. dapat lang na hindi makialam ang simbahan sa pulitika. kung merong malakas na ebidensya si mr lozada laban kay gma di dalhin na lang nila sa korte para doon ay may pagkakataon naman ang kabilang panig na ipagtanggol ang kanilang sarili hindi yung hinuhusgahan na lang kaagad nila ng walang paglilitis. kaya please mr lozada sa metro manila ka na lang maglibot kasi wala kang mapapala sa mga probinsya kasi mas matatalino ang mga probinsyano kaysa sa mga taga metro manila. gusto ng mga taga probinsya ay katahimikan at sa korte na lang gawin ang paghahanap ng katotohanan.

B ni Gloria tells me, “BAKIT SI JUN LOZADA ANG SISIHIN MO SI GLORIA ARROYO AT ANG KANYANG MAFIA ANG MAGNANAKAW SA PERA NG BAYAN. IF JUN LOZADA IS GUILTY OF ANY CRIMES BY ALL MEANS HE SHOULD BE IN JAIL ALONE WITH THE BIGGEST CROOKS GLORIA ARROYO!”

I can understand where you are coming from BNG, but I stick to facts and take allegations as a matter of perception unless proven otherwise. True, GMA’s admin is mired in scandals and quite possible she is involved in some of them, but are you a Clarissa Ocampo or Chavit Singson who were direct witnesses to Erap’s crimes that it was not difficult to believe the charges against Erap because the allegations were substantiated with evidence?

It’s not that I’m defending Gloria. But try to state facts you can prove instead of innuendoes. I do share your anger and frustration about the scandals that are happening seemingly without let up, but it does not mean I share your statement which I know without evidence cannot be substantiated in the court of law. I am not gullible as the others to be carried away by emotions and make motherhood statements. I think with my brain and write from my heart.

It wonders me why should Lozada go on a nationwide visits to schools and churches specially and tells them the “truth”?

It appears like a campaign sortie to me?
He had proven his worth as a witness in the much publicized and media crazed NBN investigation. In fact if theres an election today, Lozada sure is a landslide winner!

Where is he getting the funds to these school sorties nationwide? Everyone learned that he’s in need of money in fact, did he receive instead the 500K amount from Mike Defensor to fund his school and church visits?

Anyone have a knowledge on these?

de los reyes…my unsolicited advice re BNG(this is only 1 of her aka)…ignore her comments which are almost always nonsensical. i had the unfortunate experience of biting the bait. you wouldn’t be understood by this blogger. just be content that there are others like us, who would see things like you do.

i agree w/ what you wrote re the “senate cop”. it is unfortunate that enrile has been constantly ignored in the hearings when he was suggesting something crucial re the lozada “kidnapping”, because even abs-cbn clipped that portion and the viewers weren’t able to see it, talking of fair play and biased media. this cop is so much like a “teflon” that it seems nothing sticks, but clearly he is not w/o sin. in vallejo, ca, everybody knows he and his former idol patron are owners of a big pinoy mall. pray tell how on earth were they able to raise that kind of money? drugs, jueteng? who knows?

how i also wish media and some readers here who are so hell-bent on rushing judgment re the spratlys issue, to comprehend, study and read the write-ups first. naniniwala sila kaagad sa mga militante(ocampo, beltran, casino, and some journalists). these guys know nothing except utter these mantra “ibagsak!” nothing else..

keep on writing DLR..
harry king also writes sense.

SEN. VILLAR SAYS NBN-ZTE HEARINGS TO CONTINUE UNTIL SEC. NERI ATTENDS HEARING

Senate President Manuel Villar wants to wait for Sec. Romy Neri until he decides to attend the ZTE hearing. Perhaps Villar feels secured by a boundless optimism of a favorable Supreme Court ruling denying Sec. Romy Neri’s appeal. Because otherwise what will he do if the ruling is unfavorable? What if the ruling grants Neri his appeal not to appear at the senate hearing? Is Villar going to wait for Neri until hell freezes over?

The senate hearings have dragged on much too long and are headed nowhere. It is dragged further down by unwieldy inquisitors sitting en banc when half a dozen senators would suffice, and worse yet when certain senators with penchant for the dramatics present surprise witnesses in their hope to shock and awe an incredulous audience. Not to be outdone, it is show time for some mediocre senators to fantasize themselves like frustrated criminal lawyers which only overstate their mediocrity by asking irrational and often irrelevant questions and end up asking the same boring questions which all of the senators have asked repeatedly for lack of anything better to say.

The longer time it takes to finish the hearings, the greater danger that the investigation will come to naught as some circumstances may intervene to save the accused from prosecution. Today a survivor of the Jabidah Massacre in 1968 has reminded us that nothing came out of the senate investigation of the Massacre. The perpetrators of that Massacre were never brought to justice. Recall too what happened to Senate Committee Report No. 66 in 2002, a joint committee report of the Blue Ribbon, National Defense, and Illegal Drugs, chaired by Senators Joker Arroyo, Jun Magsaysay, and Robert Barbers, who investigated Sen. Panfilo Lacson for drug trafficking and kidnap for ransom. The committees found probable cause to charge Lacson but by a trick of fate (read that clever maneuvering), the senate committee chairs were suddenly changed and the report was left unsigned. That prevented the recommendation from being implemented and the SCR 66 was archived. The same fate as the Bolante fertilizer scam. That is the danger the ZTE-NBN case is facing if the hearings continue to drag on and not endorsed for judicial action immediately. There will be no closure to it like the case against Sen. Lacson, the fertilizer scam and the perpetrators of the Jabidah Massacre.

End the hearings now and endorse the case to the Ombudsman and NBI. These are the proper agencies that can do a far ranging investigation with greater efficiency and competence. Unlike the Senate, Neri cannot invoke executive privilege in the court of law investigating a criminal offense. If there is any doubt the NBI, the Ombudsman and Sandiganbayan cannot be expected to do their job faithfully because of the perception they are under the influence of the administration then we might as well drop the idea of keeping a judicial system in this country and forget that we even have a Supreme Court. Surely, they cannot be less competent and trust-worthy than the senators.

lozada is destroying our country & our church… let us all pray for him.

CEAP is Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines and not Catholic Educators Association of the Philippines. CEAP has 1,252 member-schools at present. Please visit our website http://www.ceap.org.ph to know more about CEAP and about our statements/positions on current national issues. Thanks.

I don’t understand why nobody is coming forward to charge Lozada of a crime, that is adultery, concubinage.

All the evidences are there, the children he fathered out of wedlock, his open admission of having a scandalous sex relationship and the woman whom he had sex with.
I think it is time that anybody who is offended by his wrongdoing come in the open and publicly charge him court.
How about the BABAE organization or the Babaing kinaliwa or babaing kinabit. I think it is time for them to raise their issues when it comes to women’s rights.

On the part of the government, what is the ombudsman waiting for, there is again open admission of corruption on his office when he was the head of the government agency;
the bureau of internal revenue should look to his income tax return in as much he can afford to send his children to exclusive schools with a monthly meager salary;
and the offended party, gma, first gentleman, charge him with libel. you have all the weapons and let it loose. you are lawyers, why binding time.

Lozada is spreading lies, he is corrupting our young people by his campus tour.
Lozada should stop and be stopped.
It is doing no good for the country and filipinos.

please madame president augment the present workforce of the National Irrigation Administration technical people because without the expertise of these people, the rice production will greatly be affected due to the rapid deterioration of the irrigation facilities.

PDI Sports columnist Recah Trinidad asks: Can Pacquiao unite RP with his doubtful win?

What has Pacquiao win got to do with uniting the country? Recah’s column today oozes with sarcastic innuendoes putting down MP’s victory in his endless repetition in interviews and articles. How much longer does he have to repeat his one-man crusade to take away the win MP fought hard for and disgrace him before his own people? He cannot even give MP the benefit of the doubt that he won since many other sports writers including pro boxers saw MP win. Sure there are many doubting Thomases, but certainly there are much greater believers MP won and in all democracies it is always the majority that rules.

Recah Trinidad’s ego must be so huge to believe that he is a better judge than the official judges of the fight. The way Recah puts it, he cannot be wrong in his judgment that he is beginning to sound like those politicians who lost an election fairly and squarely but claimed they were cheated.

There is no question it was virtually an even match that only judgment calls can decide the outcome, but to say MP was outclassed and Marquez won decisively is highly debatable.

Writing about boxing does not necessarily make one an expert judge. Two out of three judges saw MP the winner, but from his narrowed point of view, he obviously believes these two judges were also wrong. What arrogance.

Thanks Abby I will take that under advisement.

You are quite right about people making rush judgment on a lot of things. I see this happening today where mere allegations repeated twice or thrice over become the “truth”. Nobody questions any more the motives of those saying it, the veracity of the facts surrounding the allegations, and most of all the credibility of those behind it. Hatred is pitted against hatred that sound judgment is cast aside as emotions are left to rule.

Regarding the 1.5 billion pesosto boost rice production.Who will receive this fund is it really the farmers or the relatives of the DA employee or the farmer who support the town mayor or the barangay captain.Just asking I am a rice farmer for 5 years now in the province,governmet certified seeds were not given free it is for sale.Reducing the price of fertilizer and insecticide is the best thing our leader should start to study,so many rice paddies will be planted with rice.

De los Reyes Says:
March 19th, 2008 at 9:41 am
B ni Gloria tells me, “BAKIT SI JUN LOZADA ANG SISIHIN MO SI GLORIA ARROYO AT ANG KANYANG MAFIA ANG MAGNANAKAW SA PERA NG BAYAN. IF JUN LOZADA IS GUILTY OF ANY CRIMES BY ALL MEANS HE SHOULD BE IN JAIL ALONE WITH THE BIGGEST CROOKS GLORIA ARROYO!”

I can understand where you are coming from BNG, but I stick to facts and take allegations as a matter of perception unless proven otherwise. True, GMA’s admin is mired in scandals and quite possible she is involved in some of them, but are you a Clarissa Ocampo or Chavit Singson who were direct witnesses to Erap’s crimes that it was not difficult to believe the charges against Erap because the allegations were substantiated with evidence?

It’s not that I’m defending Gloria. But try to state facts you can prove instead of innuendoes. I do share your anger and frustration about the scandals that are happening seemingly without let up, but it does not mean I share your statement which I know without evidence cannot be substantiated in the court of law. I am not gullible as the others to be carried away by emotions and make motherhood statements. I think with my brain and write from my heart.
…………………………
If you’re looking for evidence its stearing at your face. Look no further. Clarissa/Chavit is liar and we all knew it. Its been proven in court of law that the Jose Verlardi bank account is not belong to Erap. The money Chavit singson were saying that Erap stole, Its been probe that Chavit Singson the one stole that money.

All relevant document’s is there for everyone to see, Check it out for yourself.

Afraid congress would miss out the inclusion also of Sabah and Marianas Islands or Guam in our baseline. At least our chances of getting one or two or three ( including Spratlys) are better than the other claimants’, if any. Lets only hope no one would bring a claim on our country altogether.

On Lozada and Black and White Movement calling names on Cardinal Vidal.

“Archdiocese of Malacanang” as Lozada calls him, “Congressman in a cassock” as what the Black and White Movement describes. Who are you guys to call Our Beloved Cardinal names. Even if he calls all priests to give mass, still nobody would come. I noticed that the people who went to the school for the forum are the people who came from manila and the journalists who covered the event. Sad to say, it was a FLOP. Sorry, but Cebuanos don’t believe in you as what you’ve said in the senate are only hearsays, no concrete evidences. I’m sure you are pissed off by the nuns that surrounds you all the time. So how do you call them “prostitutes in a habit”? So how about the Black and White movement?…..hmmm “leeches and crocs”? If you are thinking of running for a senate seat in 2010, think again, it is the Catholic Church you have offended not
Cardinal Vidal.

On Looming Rice Crisis in the Philippines..

Despite the so called best performance in the last decade of Philippine economy under the Arroyo gov’t, the Philippine economy is still very much dependent of the ups and downs of the agricultural performance. Meaning, this country of ours no matter how you called it is still an agricultural economy.

GMA being an economist has never improved this very important sector of the society. The proof of her failing in many areas of her governance is the rice shortage. While I don’t hope that true agrarian reform will prosper under the landlord dominated congress, senate and executive office, I believe there are lots of opportunities for this government to uplift the lives of hundreds of thousands of Filipino farmers.

I believe this gov’t has lacked the vision in moving this country out from poverty. GMA has failed in her presidency to ensure that Philippines will be rice sufficient and there will be rice (the country’s staple food) for the 90 million Filipinos.

How can this government think of connecting all government agencies throughout the country via internet ( NBN broadband scandal) when the Philippines cannot even feed its own people?

I believe we cannot leap out to a status of a developed economy when the fundamentals are not being addressed. Looked at Vietnam and Thailand their governments made it sure that they have enough food for there people. It’s very shameful as both countries learned the hybrid rice technology from Philippines rice research centers in UPLB and Nueva Ecija.

Time is running out of this government to address Rice Crisis, as they are busy on short term gains for political and economic advantages.

But time is not running out for hungry Filipinos to decisively act as one people to chart their own destiny.

Happy Easter to all the readers….

Salamat sa Dios na biniyayaan tayo ng CNG o Compressed Natural Gas.

Isang Article ang nabasa ko ngayon na may mga bus na nag ooperate na ng CNG.

Sana hindi lang bus mag lagay din ng pipelines from Batangas to major cities na mag supply ng CNG para mabawasan ang pag angkat ng LPG…

Sana pag aralan ito ng DOE and pag gamit ng CNG imbis na LPG….

para naman mabawasan ang gastusin sa Gas….

malaking tulong ito sa atin….na may CNG gas na tayo….

Lalo na ngayon nag hahanap tayo ng mga alternatibo para maiwasan ang pag gamit ng oil…

Sa mga taga Shell keep up the good works…

Sana mag CNG na tayo imbis na LPG…

Sana Hindi lang Batangas ang libre sa pasahe pati rin sa buong Pilipinas…

Now, that we are facing a serious rice shortage problem, should we hang those wise-guys that said this country should go ethanol?

On Mr. Recah Trinidad’s column “How much is there left of great Pacman”

I’ve seen the fight in youtube and i can also say that Pacquiao’s win was somewhat not so convincing. But I’d like to offer some unsolicited opinions on claims by your respected readers/friends like the shy Ilongga (who said something was missing with Pacquiao that night), the horde (whose verdict you said it was not the same old Pacquiao), Vice Gov. Pinol (whom you claim expressed concern about Pacman’s below-par performance).
Comparing Pacman’s first fight with the last one, it was evident that Manny was not the more aggressive one. Marquez was, in my opinion, using an attack-counter-attack stance, trying to confuse Pacquiao. There is nothing missing with Manny but his more aggressive style which has to take a back seat inlieu of Marquez counter-punching style. Besides, Roach is traing to mold him into a well-rounded fighter.
No, he was not sluggish,slow or like a baseball pitcher like you said. He was a boxer, reading his enemy, trying to figure out the best combinations to unleash.
Below par? I doubt it. I would rather say that Marquez and his camp did a better job in preparing against Pacquiao. They did their assignment well but came up short in the end (as the verdict said).
So-so showing? Sickening slump? Disturbing incompetence? Sounds like you’re the one who is a sorry loser not Marquez. Not all fights of great (or good, to put it mildly) boxers have been always against great opponents. You know that very well since you’re an sports columnist.
Some words of advice: Whatever your problem is with Pacquiao, we readers do not know but the next time you write about Pacquiao, please don’t use others such as this Ilongga or VG Pinol or the horde just to back up your own misgivings.
Better yet, why don’t you just retire and let other aspiring sportswriters to take over?

HEAVEN HELP US tells me (in his own unedited words):

“If you’re looking for evidence its stearing at your face. Look no further. Clarissa/Chavit is liar and we all knew it. Its been proven in court of law that the Jose Verlardi bank account is not belong to Erap. The money Chavit singson were saying that Erap stole, Its been probe that Chavit Singson the one stole that money.
All relevant document’s is there for everyone to see, Check it out for yourself.”

If that’s how you think Erap’s conviction is all about, you really need divine help from heaven. I can see you are one of Erap’s mindless iconic worshippers who will swallow his lies hook, line, and sinker. You are unwittingly placing yourself in an awkward situation where you are seen as naïve, gullible and has a dysfunctional moral ability to distinguish right from wrong if you insist Erap is innocent in spite of the court ruling. Here we are expressing anger over corruption in government and pointing accusing fingers at personalities we think are responsible, and yet you are condoning the very person already convicted in the court of law of the crime of plunder. You even deceive yourself by twisting the facts and creating your own spin about the documentary evidence the justices had used as bases for Erap’s conviction, and have the audacity to say the evidence are staring me in the face? I don’t know if I should suggest you seek legal advice if you have difficulty understanding the rules of law or a shrink to straighten you out. Do yourself a favor and reread the verdict of the Sandiganbayan in this website link before you embarrass yourself any further:
http://sandigan.supremecourt.gov.ph/decision/cc26558.htm

Incidentally, you sound like B NI GLORIA or are you? Cheers!

THE MANY FACES OF TRUTH

Everybody is seeking the truth surrounding the ZTE-NBN deal. A writer wonders as he writes the PDI editor why all of a sudden everybody seems to be infatuated with the truth.
What is the truth, the whole truth, of the ZTE-NBN deal, he asks.

He further writes, is the whole truth what Joey III, Jun Lozada,. and Dante Madriaga assumed and disclosed? Or what Senators Lacson, Jinggoy, Jamby believed? Or what Romulo Neri, Benjamin Abalos, et al. said in denial of the accusations against them?

Yes, indeed, everybody has his own version of the truth. Such are the many faces of truth. Even the bishops, priests and nuns have theirs. But I ask, aren’t the truth as played in the political arena dependent on one’s personal biases and prejudices? All products of the dirty political game?

The truth is so muddled up, twisted and spun in a series of lies, half truths and embellished for self aggrandizement and preservation that it has become difficult to know who is lying and who is not.

HEADLINE: GMA TRUST, APPROVAL RATINGS DOWN

There is no more hope for GMA’s approval rating to improve. The downward trend will continue until the very end of her term in 2010 unless it is terminated sooner, voluntarily or involuntarily.

But it does not mean this is the end of it all. Trust can be redeemed and only GMA can make it happen. One way of doing it is by instructing Sec. Neri to appear before the Senate hearing to clear the air and prove she has nothing to hide about the ZTE-NBN deal. Neri’s appearance at this particular instance does not mean surrendering the presidential executive privilege. What is important is for Neri to explain to the people’s satisfaction, not necessarily to comfort the opposition senators of what they want to hear, but rather to remove the persisting cloud of doubt about GMA’s involvement in the alleged over pricing and kickback. For a start, this will be a good beginning that can redeem herself in the eyes of the people.

Beyond the NBN contract, however, if there is nothing to hide in the North and South rail contracts with China, GMA should initiate the full disclosure of the contracts to prove that everything is above board. Nothing short of this can make her regain the absolute trust and confidence of the people ever again.

Spratly’s time, also the time china started working in Phils geothermal plants as contractors for PNOC-EDC. Privatization of geothermal & powerplants(MAKBAN), what are the benefits for Filipino people? If government cannot control these main needs of Filipinos, oil price is unstoppable for businessmans like GMA?.. or the allies.. what is the benefit of controlling the dollar (going down)? market price didn’t go down. only diligent Filipinos & OFW’s suffer from the dollar going down Peso going up “Scheme”.. Does will make POEA (TAXES) go down? or will they take back the 12% VAT?.. nothing happened.. now rice going up?.. because the lands (of Villars?) are transformed to townhomes, residential place instead of Palayan.. for the Filipino people’s benefit ba yun? we have to import rice fr China. is it part of NBN deal pa rin?.. As of the issue, on Makban’s bidding - is it part of NBN deal again? same with Spratly’s? binebenta na ang mga mamamayang pilipino(kagaya ni Pacquiao - laki tax nun d b?), binebenta pa ang pilipinas.. kming diligent nagbabayad ng tax ang nagsusuffer.. tpos lalagyan pa ng bond ang mga ofw pra malimit ang pag-alis sa pinas?.. ano na mangyayari sa pinoy nyan? Noypi ikaw ba yan?!! Aahon na dapat, lumalagpak na naman.. parang basang sisiw.. Yung Trillon na nsa dyaryo last week, san nanggaling? may pera bang ganun ang pilipinas? Ano? Utang n naman? d pa nga nkakapanganak may utang na ang magiging apo namin!! pati ata daga at ipis na nabubuhay sa pinas may utang na rin.. talaga bababa ang rate ng education sa pinas, 6yrs old pa lang binebenta na pra lang magkapera at maipambayad sa utang ng pinas! hay, kawawa naman tayo!!! Crab mentality ba tawag dyan?

On the articles of Recah Trinidad about Manny Pacquiao win over Marquez. I am one of the few Filipinos who agrees with Mr. Trinidad that Marrquez did win the bout in their rematch. Marquez is the far superior boxer. I disagree however that Pacquaio skills are deteriorating. Pacquaio looks bad because Marquez makes him looks bad. Marquez has the skills to counter everything Pacquaio gave. Compared to the fights with Barrera and Morales, Pacquaio almost dictates his will and makes him look very good, fast and powerful. But in the case of Marquez he looks just another mortal and very vulnerable. Pacquaio should learn this lesson, he is not unbeatable.

The justice system in the Philippines can not be that slow.

Senator Alan Cayetano should immediately initiate a hearing to investigate the delay on the “Abadilla 5” case, now that it has reached the United Nations Committee on Human Rights (UNCHR).

The reputation of our judiciary is now at stake and Alan must show us some of his “real” sense for justice before the Alex Boncayao Brigade takes the initiative again.

Thank you, PDI for keeping the flame alive for Brian Gorrell. Im a big fan of his blog.
Thankfully, Tim Yap is not in your roster of contributors anymore, Good move, PDI. Some tsismis was swirling around about his departure sometime ago. This was way back before this Gucci Gang expose came up. So in case, DJ and Celine get the boot from the other paper, please do not welcome them to your fold. I swear not to buy your paper anymore, I only read PDI you know.

in my score card, pacman won by 3 pts. jmm’s rds: 1,2,5,6,8,.. pacman’s rds:3,4,7,9,10,11,12. i scored 10-8 for pacman in rd 3. my final score 115-112 for pacman. for me profesional boxing is diffrent from amateur boxing. if they were amateurs maybe jmm could hv won.. how come jerry roth scored it 115-112? pacman knockdown jmm in rd 3 & stagered him again in rd 10. on rds 9 to 12 we cn see jmm leading in d early minutes (tnx to his amateur style jabs)but pacman always comes up with a great finish (profesional style). sory nlng un kumampi kay jmm. u r all bunch of losers! bawi nlg kyo s sunod n laban ni pacman..

Re: Recah on Manny
Let’s put things in perspective.
Last night, the Los Angeles Lakers played lousy ballgame thoughout the game but if in the last 4-seconds, the opposing team got called for an offensive foul that effectively decided the ballgame, the world politics did not come to a halt, drag the President’s name. Question if that win would contribute to the peace efforts in Iraq or end the US recession. Mr. Recah Trinidad is doing just that in his column. IT’S SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT! It’s a done deal. It’s in the history books. Tama si Manny, 3rd fight OK, let the money talk. At ito ang pinaka the best…. “Malamang boxer pa rin” ang susunod na kalaban niya. HAHAHA. Aliw ka talaga Manny. MABUHAY KA!

As to Mr. Recah Trinidad’s boxing judging skills? It’s as good as this analogy.

This year 08 is the year of Pinoy’s..Pacquiao, Malubay, Arnel Pineda, Allan Pineda, Muay tAi Champ..etc..and right now please check this…Jabbawockeez of Randy Jackson’s America’c best Dance Crew composed of 50% fil-ams who are rocking the hip hop dance world…check them out on MTV or you tube..they are crazzzyyyy!!

Secretary Yap on Alleged Rice Shortage

I was terribly surprised of the unfounded explanation and suggestions of DA Secretary Arthur Yap on the alleged rice shortage. He was quick to blame the increasing cost of production (e.g. farm inputs) to the high price per kilo of rice. When the price of milled fancy rice then was P18.00-P20.00/kilo, the average farmgate price of palay (dry) was between P9.00 to P11.00/kilo. However when it skyrocketed to PP28.00/kilo, the farmgate price of palay per kilo remains. In other words, it is the traders and millers between the channel of distribution from farmer producers and retailers that caused the price increase. Sec. Yap’s contention would be acceptable if the farmgate price shoots up because of high cost of production. But it has never happened since it is the palay traders who dictate the price to farmers’ produce. To put it differently, it is a buyers’ market. Only the traders gain in this “artificial” rice crises. The lowly rice farmer producers suffer.

I think the reported rice crises is an eco-political ploy to justify rice importation and to further benefit the traders.

One more thing, Sec. Yap’s suggestion of asking the fastfood chains to reduce rice servings to help solve the problem is ill-advised and devoid of scientific and social investigation. His suggestion would rather result to more sales to fastfood establishments. One has to consider also that the customers belong mostly to middle and lower middle class. The same people who consume more of rice while at home..more than what is served in fastfood chains. Reducing the amount of rice per serving would only encourage more craving for rice..resulting to additional orders.

Confronted by this situation of rice crises, i strongly recommend to our government lawmakers to think about crafting a law that would cut off the long chain of distribution. Middlemen largely contribute to the sufferings of our people, at least for basic commodities. Cut them off. And also clearly define our food security thrust. Ricefields are converted to banana plantations and housing subdivisions. It requires guts and political will. To Sec. Yap, please ponder on this.

The good Fr. Joaquin Bernas with all his sarcasm in his article “JMSU born of a hangover” sounded as if he is ready to go to war over an agreement signed two years ago.

The vast swath of water which Fr. Bernas claimed to be Philippine territory is still in dispute. We still have to establish our territorial baseline and seek its approval before the UN.

If that JSMU Agreement is indeed a document evidencing invasion of Philippine sovereignty by China and VietNam, then we should present it before the United Nations Security Council for proper attention.

If the agreement has violated the Philippine Constitution, the congress should ask GMA to direct the DFA to advise the other two governments of the situation and seek for its immediate nullification. If we are to impeach a President every time he commits a mistake then, as a people, we are stupid.

If China or VietNam has violated any stipulations in the tripartite agreement, especially on the last paragraph, we should not hesitate to issue them stern warnings.

Since the agreement is about to terminate, it is too late and useless to take a hostile stance against a venture which from all appearances is beneficial to all parties concerned.

Tungkoy sa huling laban ni Pacquiao at Marquez I think it is a very close fight and in the eyes of the judges Manny won the fight. In their first bout Marquez was knock down thrice and it seemed Manny won in that fight but the decision was it was a draw. Manny did not complain but accepted the decision. As a sportsman, sana tanggapin din ni Marquez na talo siya, kung tutuusin, apat na beses na siya na Knockdown ni Pacman. Si Marquez ni isang knockdown hindi pa niya nagawa kay Pacman. Mabuhay ka Manny! Mabuhay ang Filipino!!!

Bishop Oscar Cruz is right. GMA should not be given the Holy Eucharist or allowed communion. She has no moral leadership to speak of. Her governance is riddled with so many anomalies, all of which were either covered-up, white-washed, or just ignored by her. No amount of propaganda by her well-paid allies could justify the fact, that hers, is the worst governance, worst administration the Philippines ever had. Again, we only have to remember the Garci tapes, Jocjoc Bolante fertilizer scam, the Macapagal highway, Northrail, etc., the 2004 elections, and the unsolved killings.

The recent statement of Bishop Cruz would have embarrassed ordinary people but to a thick-faced, shameless GMA, such a statement is ignored.

Delos Reyes, marunong ka bang umintindi ng binabasa mo, convicted si Erap ng Sandiganbayan for plunder, sasabihin mo liar si Clarissa Ocampo sa Impeachment hearing at sa plunder case court hearing. SENTENSIYADO SI ERAP NG PANDARAMBONG KAYA HUWAG MONG BAGUHIN ANG NAGANAP. Sino ka para baguhin ang hatol ng Sandiganbayan? This is now a history that you can not change. Ikaw ang sinungaling sa paglulubid ng kasinungalingan.

Lessons of nonviolent protest from Mohandas Gandhi

Gandhi based his philosphy on truth and nonviolence. This spirit inspired many. Rightly so, he knew that India’s problems could not be solved with violence. But he could not silence his conscience either against injustice. There are lessons aplenty from Gandhi. A greater woe to us Filipinos if we heed them not.

“In fact, I believe that I have rendered a service to India and England by showing in non-co-operation the way out of the unnatural state in which both are living. In my opinion, non-co-operation with evil is as much a duty as is co-operation with good. But in the past, non-co-operation has been deliberately expressed in violence to the evil-doer. I am endeavoring to show to my countrymen that violent non-co-operation only multiples evil, and that as evil can only be sustained by violence, withdrawal of support of evil requires complete abstention from violence.”–from the Statement In The Great Trial of 1922

The NBN ZTE Senate investigation on President cabinet members, the Supreme Court has spoken and say NO.

This is what we call Separation of Powers, that one cannot encroach on the power of others for they are co-equal; that one branch of the government cannot be over or above the other for it will result to abuse of power and the supreme court stepped in to stop this nonsense quarrel and bickering between branches.

The senate went overboard. They think they have all that supreme power; that in aid of legislation they can bringing witnesses with shady character, threatening witnesses with power of arrest and detention, and making irresponsible and unsavory comments that only a palengkeros and palengkeros do, yet they are called honorable.
Their purpose is not aid of legislation, and it is not in consonance of healthy democracy but to put shame and dishonor to the president, the paramount interest of the nation and the people is disregarded.

I hope our distinguished senators learn their lesson that there is one branch of government watching, keeping watch that you cannot bully your sister.

Congratulations.

DLR….i had a good laugh reading your piece 547 re BNG(i can count 10 other AKAs)…and how she should seek a shrink’s help lest she embarrasses herself any further i don’t think she can comprehend serious legal discussions as posted in that website but if she try to study and learn grammar and spelling, she just might

another topic….

re the sc decision on the neri case, i also would want neri to reveal all so the people may know.
but, w/ the latest sc ruling on this, it is just prudent to abide by their decision. the 9 justices may have reasons that we are not aware of..
but, i find it very inappropriate for a sc chief justice to let himself be interviewed re his decision, short of telling the other 9 justices they have erred and he did not. isn’t that unethical? he is playing politics. when davide was chief, this never happened in his stead. he even reminded the justices not to make comments about sc decisions and actions.
just because the sc have ruled in favor of neri does not mean that this body is pro-gma. in fairness, gma has many setbacks from this sc, decisons like the state of emergency, beltran et al.
the supreme court is our last bastion, let us honor the decisions of the majority of the justices.

On truth, justice and peace

If most Filipinos call themselves Catholic, it might do some good to read up on what the Church teaches about truth, justice and peace.

Firstly, in the Gospel, Jesus himself did not underestimate the power of prayer and fasting: Mark 9:29.

Pope Benedict XVI wrote in his 2006 New Year message on Truth, Peace:
“In truth, peace — expresses the conviction that wherever and whenever men and women are enlightened by the splendour of truth, they naturally set out on the path of peace.”

“But what do those words, ”the truth of peace”, really mean? To respond adequately to this question, we must realize that peace cannot be reduced to the simple absence of armed conflict, but needs to be understood as ”the fruit of an order which has been planted in human society by its divine Founder”, an order ”which must be brought about by humanity in its thirst for ever more perfect justice…”

“…whenever the integral development of the person and the protection of his fundamental rights are hindered or denied, whenever countless people are forced to endure intolerable injustices and inequalities, how can we hope that the good of peace will be realized? The essential elements which make up the truth of that good are missing. Saint Augustine described peace as tranquillitas ordinis, the tranquillity of order. By this, he meant a situation which ultimately enables the truth about man to be fully respected and realized.”

“Any authentic search for peace must begin with the realization that the problem of truth and untruth is the concern of every man and woman.”

“Peace thus comes to be seen in a new light: not as the mere absence of war, but as a harmonious coexistence of individual citizens within a society governed by justice..”

“Jesus defined himself as the Truth in person, and, in addressing the seer of the Book of Revelation, he states his complete aversion to ”every one who loves and practices falsehood” (Rev 22:15). He has disclosed the full truth about humanity and about human history. The power of his grace makes it possible to live ”in” and ”by” truth, since he alone is completely true and faithful. Jesus is the truth which gives us peace.”

“…All this must not, however, lead to a naive optimism. It must not be forgotten that, tragically, violent fratricidal conflicts and devastating wars still continue to sow tears and death in vast parts of the world.”

“At the same time I ask for an increase of prayers, since peace is above all a gift of God, a gift to be implored incessantly.”

Pope John Paul II wrote in his 2000 New Year message on working toward peace:
“No one should be deceived into thinking that the simple absence of war, as desirable as it is, is equivalent to lasting peace. There is no true peace without fairness, truth, justice, and solidarity. Failure awaits every plan which would separate two indivisible and interdependent rights: the right to peace and the right to an integral development born of solidarity. “Injustice, excessive economic or social inequalities, envy, distrust, and pride raging among men and nations constantly threaten peace and cause wars. Everything done to overcome these disorders contributes to building up peace and avoiding war.”

“Today more than in the past there is an urgent need to foster a consciousness of universal moral values in order to face the problems of the present, all of which are assuming an increasingly global dimension. The promotion of peace and human rights, the settling of armed conflicts both within states and across borders, the protection of ethnic minorities and immigrants, the safeguarding of the environment, the battle against terrible diseases, the fight against drug and arms traffickers, and against political and economic corruption.”

“It is necessary, then, to abandon ideas and practices - often determined by powerful economic interests - which subordinate every other value to the absolute claims of the nation and the State.”

To read the full texts go to:
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/peace/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20051213_xxxix-world-day-peace_en.html
and
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/messages/peace/documents/hf_jp-ii_mes_08121999_xxxiii-world-day-for-peace_en.html

c mr cruz ayaw dw mag serve ng comunion kay GMA, kc dw she is a sinner. hehehe. bkit? pari b sya?.. c lozada lng dw iseserve nya ng comunion kc parehas clang hindi dw sinner. nye! atsetse.

it is disappointing that in our country the decision of the supreme court is not respected unlike in the united states when the supreme court said that the winner is mr bush, the other side accepted it. ang daming gago talaga dito sa pilipinas. ayaw tumanggap ng pagkatalo.

THE HYPOCRISY OF SOME BISHOPS

I saw and heard this Bishop say in a TV interview that he would not give Holy Communion to GMA because she is a sinner. Now this bishop is denying he said that. I never thought I’d see the day that a priest, a Bishop no less, would lie.

Does this bishop know what he is saying? Is it not a priest’s obligation to give Holy Communion to anyone that belongs to the Catholic Church who seeks it? No priest can deny communion even to a sinner and if he is strict about it the priest can ask the person if he has gone to confession and only then can he deny communion if he has not. Has this bishop bothered to ask the multitude of communicants during Sunday Mass who among them have gone to confession before receiving communion? I doubt he has ever done that at all.

This bishop is too politicized his religious advocacy has been affected that he has become a hypocrite without realizing it. This bishop is one of the reasons why many Catholics have gone bad, others have become Born Again or joined INK and Dating Daan. Haay naku!

What are you doing CBCP, can’t you do something with this loose canon and there are many of them in your midst. This bishop is a disgrace to the Catholic Church.

YES ABBYGAIL, I don’t think it’s ethical for a SC justice to allow himself to be interviewed specially in a situation where he has given a dissenting minority opinion on a critical and very sensitive issue opposed to the majority decision. What else will he say other than his opinion is right and the others are not. It would have been better if he kept his mouth shut and let media make their conclusion from his dissenting opinion. His public appearance gave the public a wrong sense that justices are also playing politics. That was a mistake.

As regards the SC decision, my sense of it is that instead of deciding on the questions raised by Neri, the SC raised the issue to a higher level as they were more concerned about the creeping encroachment on the sanctity and probable violation of the powers of the two co-equal branches of government. SC’s main consideration, I believe, in that unprecedented ruling is to preserve and protect the constitutional prerogatives of the Legislative and Executive, two co-equal branches that are on a collision course, and by that decision prevent those powers from being encroached upon and diminished.

The Neri questions were not resolved but the SC decision pertains only to the specific issues Neri raised and does not encompass nor prohibit any and all future attempts to challenge the executive privilege. It does not disqualify the Senate from challenging the executive privilege now or in the future if it is denied access to information by the Executive which the Senate has the right to know.

I think what the SC is trying to say is that the executive privilege is not an absolute power of the president and can be overridden, but only when the president is the subject of a criminal investigation. This is not the case of the ZTE-NBN as the subject of investigation is principally Comelec Chairman Abalos. GMA and the FG may have been linked but the testimonies of witnesses are not substantiated and are considered hearsay. What is being speculated is that Neri would tell all he knows, but that is purely speculation. What if Neri said nothing to implicate GMA? That means the executive privilege has been violated unnecessarily and for what? Do you think Neri would talk? I doubt it. He would have done so with or without executive privilege in the interest of justice.

Bishop Oscar Cruz in his duty as a priest must carry out God’s will and never his personal will which he can keep to himself. Otherwise, he is no longer a servant of God.

mang godo….you are absolutely right about the senate going overboard in its so-called “in aid of legislation” investigations.
yes, we are all for the truth to come out, but these senators should undergo a lesson or two in conducting such. why not watch c-span usa and learn how the us congress conduct all its hearing? they do not shame, dishonor, malign and ridicule their witnesses and resource persons.

a case in point on how low some senators can be…one particular senator asked this malicious question to the sec. of agriculture “is his father-in-law a rice trader?” and perhaps investigate this matter, w/c the press even made its headlines…and the sec. denied this outright. but you know, the harm has been done, and this senator refuses to apologize bec. he says, he just asked a question! imagine, what if someone asked this senator if he is a son-of *&$#@!!? would he take that lightly bec. its just a question? this is a just a sample of the kind of behavior these legislators have. again, how i wish i had been living in the times when diokno, tañada, aquino, salonga, et all were the senators. i would have been proud to be a filipino.

TOLITS…..i think you are referring to the wrong person, the one who is pro-ERAP has many AKAs, Gloria P., Gloria K, Chi-chi, Belat ni G.. this blogger w/ so many names is a self-confessed Erap admirer. better ask her/him why;-) i am clueless

people are disappointed re “mr. cruz” hypocrisy on gma not deserving to receive holy communion…who is he to say that? isn’t he a sinner too? we were taught early on that God loves a sinner, so why would he deny gma? tapos i-de-deny nya yung sinabi nya. ngek@# ay mali#!
i think this mr. cruz should quit being a priest and run in the next elections ;-( gusto maging Cardinal Sin, eh hindi bagay. nag-iisa lang si Cardinal Sin…

Conrado’s opinion (Healer, Heal Thyself) about the Bishops’ Pastoral Letter “Toward a Morally Rebuilt Nation” is somewhat lacking in more ways than one. Corruption in the Philippines has not only seeped in the highest eschelons of the government but to the rank-and-file individuals. The focus of the pastoral letter is to command everyone to look into oneself and discern each his own’s responsibility of this “plague”. Though to the more has been given, more has been also expected, this does not mean to exempt those who have been given less. At the least, the basic exhortation everyone must heed is what Jesus spoke when everyone would have stoned to the woman from Magdala: “those who have not sinned must cast the first stone”. Of course, it would be completely misreading the bishops’ pastoral letter to negate the existence of this government’s role and responsibility of the corruption; however, it must be borne in mind that the relation each one has to this national sin should also be taken into account. Our subjective contribution to this objective reality is what the focus of this letter without denying the existence of the possibility of the President’s own grave role in this mess.

It seems to me also that our national consciousness has fixed our gaze to the government more than our contribution to corruption. Sometimes when we focus intently on one thing, we blur the divisions of its boundaries. It is like putting a wedge between subjectivity (our own culpability) and objectivity (the national sin); we forgot that in part we contribute to this reality. But shouldn’t we clean our hands first before preparing the meal? The theological underpinning of the pastoral letter is to implicitly dissuade man from being Pelagians in any way. We have to check our own ascent to national salvation without due regard to the spiritual anchor of grace, which God can only provide. At the backdrop of all this is to stray from the focus of our inward-looking selves but to look at the one who was pierced to cleanse us before we can do the work he has given us: the salvation of our country.

On the other hand, we can take the standpoint of Conrado and to look where it truly stands in perspective. If, indeed, the head represents the whole, then the road toward national redemption must in the first place be actualized by the President before it trickles to the secondary. David was not even spared when he intently planned to kill Uriah beggetting the latter’s wife in the end. But more poingnantly, this woman would bear the future great king, Solomon, who has been greatly favored by God. We could gleam from this that, though Filipinos will always be stained by the sin of Adam and found himself in a country besieged of corruption, in the end our efforts will not run into futility and drive us into hopelessness. We will find respite.

NENE PIMENTEL, AN ABUSIVE SENATOR

Agriculture Secretary Yap is another smear victim of Sen. Pimentel. After refusing to apologize to Yap for saying his father-in-law is a rice trader, inferring Yap is promoting nepotism and corruption in NFA rice trading, which Yap has firmly denied, Pimentel is now saying he was only asking not accusing and therefore no reason to apologize.

This is not the first time Pimentel tried to destroy other people’s reputation by dropping innocent but heavy loaded double meaning statements. That’s his clever way at smearing people he dislikes. Even Migs Zubiri got smeared after beating Pimentel’s son Koko to the last senate seat.

In another instance, during the ZTE NBN hearing, Pimentel threw Comelec Chairman Abalos a vicious left-handed compliment saying that he had received a text message from an unknown source that Abalos had a child by a querida. The question was too personal and had nothing to do with the ZTE-NBN issues but obviously to make Abalos look bad Pimentel found it worth asking the question even if he knew the information could have come from a polluted source.

If Pimentel thinks his question to Yap was fair, then it should also be fair game if Yap asks Pimentel if his wife is a prostitute. And if Pimentel demands an apology a fair reply from Yap would also be it was just a question not an accusation. This once esteemed senate used to house illustrious and respected senators. Now they are all gone and in their place you see that it is now infested by low life. Small wonder the clamor for its abolition grows stronger.

There is substance to what the Bishop is saying when he said, he would not give communion to a consumate and habitual sinner.

I believe on what the Bishop is driving at. Why in the first place would you give a President commuinion, someone who has abuse her moral accendancy. I believe more on the facts that she has a hand and knowledge on what is going around her.

Remeber the Jok Jok Bolante fertilizer scam?

Remember the Diosdado Macapagal, erstwhile, most expensive highway in the world?

Remember the now on going ZTE-NBN scandal?

Remember the extrajudicial killings against cause-oriented groups?

Remember how she squanders millions of people’s tax jetsetting around the globe, together with her hangers-on?

Remember the up and comming North Rail undertaking?

Remember the shameless take-over of Airport Terminal 3? Greedy bastards!

Remember a BILLION PESOS worth of Dam project fiasco, wherein there is no sufficient rainfall to supply water to the dam?

Remember the purchase of 30 X-ray machines bought from China, when in fact Los Angeles, U.S.A. has only bought two, a port which is busyer than any pier in the Philippines? Why 30 X-rays, and more expensive by 1.8 million dollars? Would she install one in Malacanang gate?

How would you evaluate the facts, that inspite of these x-rays, drugs are still getting in to the Philippines?

Remember of our present budget of ONE TRILLION AND TWO HUNDRED BILLION PESOS: and now the government is borrowing 30 Billions, just for this month of March, to built irrigation dikes? Are we not going into a deficit spending, wherein our government’s budget is base on borrowing loans, and at the end of the day, we, the citizen will inherit all these loans?

Who says, there is no extrajudicial killings? Just this month alone, T.V. news shows several victims are tortured, killed and dismembered? When a single ethnic Chinese is killed or murdered in the Philippines, the ENTIRE MILITARY/POLICE FORCE is activated to solve the crime. But, when a lowly ethnic Filipinos are the victims, no one gives a dam what happens these victims?

PGMA should be weary of having her picture publish in major newspaper showing her taking communion. This is blasphemy!
When through her initiative, she abolish the death penalty, this is just to appease the BISHOP in Rome before she goes there. But what about the killings that have increase again just recently? We are now, again, on a killing spree. And yet, just like before, all our military/police can say is “the incident is under investigation’’ period! Nothing but rhetoric! Unsolved crimes!

Communion? What for?

ilan pa ba kaya ang mamamatay sa mga holdup dahil sa cellphone. kailangan pa bang dumanak ang maraming dugo bago matauhan ang ating mga mambabatas bago gumawa ng batas sa pagreregister sa lahat ng cellphone? please gawan naman ninyo ng paraan kung paano masasawata itong nakawan ng cellphone.

Any elementary schoolboy knows that a question can be a vicious insinuation, it can destroy one’s credibility and reputation. Arthur Yap can insult Aquilino Pimentel by asking how he spent his pork barrels, but he did not. Is it the difference in upbringing between the two?

SEN. KIKO PANGILINAN SAYS SENATE RENDERED “INUTILE” BY SUPREME COURT RULING

People have different interpretation of the SC ruling. To this layman’s view, using pure common sense, the SC did not resolve the Neri questions and instead raised the issue to a higher level because the SC saw the creeping encroachment on and probable violation of the powers of the two co-equal branches of government that were on a collision course. This is the abuse of power and the attempt of one branch to access the power of the other. Thus, by a 10-5 vote, the SC took cognizance of how the Senate has abused its powers in arresting and violating Neri’s rights arbitrarily.

It will be noted that earlier the Senate had rejected the SC’s offer of compromise where Neri would have been compelled to appear before the Senate and any more questions he refuses to answer other than the previous three may be presented as well for SC deliberation. The Senate rejected the compromise claiming it was tantamount to surrendering its powers. The Supreme Court must have considered this refusal as the Senate’s intolerance to compromise when it has already abused its powers. It does not seem right to set precedence breaking into the executive privilege of the President when the Senate does not want its powers to be broken into. Obviously, the SC foresees this will create a constitutional crisis and thus gave it paramount importance because of the unprecedented impact it will bring than probing the Neri questions. While the President’s accountability is equally important the SC must have considered that there are legal processes to determine the President’s accountability at the proper time and place, but equal protection for and clipping excesses of those powers should work both ways.

Zamboanga farmers become extinct.

I believe this is more believable why our country is importing rice compared before when Phil. is one of the major exporters of rice and once upon a time, being look up to by our neighbor countries. in fact, other Asian countries have brought their students to learn agriculture on how to plant rice and the likes during the70’s.

It all boils down to interest, yes we Filipinos especially farmers lost their interest or give up is the better term of their work. And to think, farming or “pagsasaka” is our “national work”.

Due to progress, we already neglected these people. Our government should have given the farmers a lot of incentives to be inspired continuously on planting rice like housing, land reforms, commissions, free education or scholarships on their children so the next generation will continue cultivating lands for rice crops. And most especially, give them respect and importance by recognizing their hardship through, awards, feast days, holidays to commemorate their efforts and for just the simple reason of remembering them, our unsung heroes who are continuously declining due to joining leftist groups, migrating to cities to look for greener pastures, and brain-washing next generation children to take up courses that’ll earn USDollars.

Sen.Pangilinan saying inutile the SC decision on their NBN investigation.
As a senator and as a lawyer, Pangilinan should acknowledge the SC decision with respect.
For he knows what separation of power and check and balance mean in a democratic country like the Philippines.
The supreme court is interpreting the law.The supreme court did observe the rule of majority for it acknowledge also the dissenting opinion of other justices as regards the NBN investigation.
Secondly, the senators are after for the “careless whisper” of arroyo to neri as regards the NBN investigation. What’s the point of knowing.
The NBNZTE deal is not a secret. It is an open document and they can just read the provision.

The law states that there is no crime if there is no crime committed. There is no criminal if there is no crime.
The NBNZTE contract was cancelled by the president after the supreme court nullified the deal. Where is the crime? Where is the contract. The contract is non-existent. Whether there is good faith or bad faith as to negotiation, it is negated by cancellation.
Pangilinan is a lawyer, a simple obligation and contract is not hard to interpet at all much more a given provision on the principle separation of power does not need interpretation.
If he says that the SC decision is inutile, well, i cannot help but think who is inutil.

THE PERPETUAL RICE PROBLEM

As usual, it’s time for finger pointing who to blame and the fingers pointed at the government as solely the whipping boy whenever rice shortage happens. The politicians do not want to admit that they too are partly responsible for not addressing this perennial problem and seem content with just importing rice as the only solution. Others blame the land reform program or lack of irrigation facilities, or whatever, but ignore the exploding population where a million little Pinoys are born each year. Ten years ago there were only some 80 million Filipinos, now there are 10 million more but the level of rice production has not increased by much.

As usual, the short term solution of the government is to import rice. This knee-jerk reaction of the government must stop. Those politicians, particularly the lawmakers, together with the government, should draw a long term solution that will provide incentives and encourage farmers and landowners to develop rice production and make this country self sufficient for rice. Since irrigation is a major factor in rice production, and is really the major problem, lands that are near irrigation facilities like rivers and water ways should be designated strictly for rice planting only and cannot be used for other crops or for real estate development. Areas lacking in irrigation facilities but nonetheless suitable for planting rice should be provided with such facilities at government expense. Moreover, fertilizer and other agricultural implements needed for rice production should be provided for by the government at subsidized costs. Land under CARP can be mandated to be used exclusively for rice crop whenever the land is suitable for the crop. Think of the national savings on imports, the business the farmers and landowners will derive from this, and the employment it will give to the jobless.

But no, instead of offering far ranging solutions the politicians can only manage mediocre ideas. There is presidential wannabe Sen. Loren Legarda trying to impress everybody with her mediocrity by privatizing rice import. Rather than submitting legislation for long term solution she prefers allowing rice importation by private entrepreneurs which does not in any way solve the shortage problem but make the country more dependent on rice imports. Does she realize that this continued government importation of high priced rice to be sold at subsidized NFA price is costing huge losses for the government that only the traders and the foreign producers are benefitting from this importation?

That’s the problem with our lawmakers. Not a single one of them is creative enough to think of some extraordinary ideas. For one aspiring for president, Loren lacks the mental skills of a leader that can lift the country from the bondage of poverty and so are the rest of the 2010 wannabes. Loren’s masa appeal is due to her pretty face. She ain’t got what it takes to be a President.

AN OPINION WRITER SAYS NEVER GET TIRED OF PEOPLE POWER

At first glance, the idea sounds devilishly patriotic, but on second thought it’s a sure-fire formula for anarchy.

I think it should be reserved only when every constitutional means has been exhausted to remove a real bad president.

If every bad leader is removed forcefully by people power, beginning with the sinful one in Malacanang, if one is to believe Pangasinan Archbishop Cruz, and another one follows her and turns out to be just as bad, and another and another and another, what the hell you want this country to be? A banana republic?

Sen pangilinan is an idiot…he and his family have always been idiots…the people just thought he is smart because he married sharon cuneta bwahahahaha

Di naman ito mahirap na intindihin. Ang ‘Pinas ay walang problema sa rice production dahil in areas with irrigation ay minimum of two cropping seasons ang nagagawa ng mga magsasaka lalo na doon sa nasasakupan ng NIA. We are also using high breed na punla to ensure increase in rice production. Favorable pa rito ang walang draught na naranasan ang bansa for the last several years. Kung walang problema sa production ng rice, ang tanong ay bakit may crisis? The basic answer is the demand of rice due to bloating population of our country. Ito ang di nakikita ng magagaling di umano nating mga senadores. Dapat ay gumawa sila ng batas kung paano i address ang population explosion of the country. The govt. want to regulate the population growth pero maraming umaangal at nag re resist. Simpleng birth control na i introduce ng govt. ay agad na aangal ang critics tulad ng simbahan at mga civic groups na ito raw ay against the teaching of God. Ngayon anong nangyari sa rice situation in Philippines, sabi nila ay crisis. Who is to blame then except those stupid and irresponsible sectors of our society doing nothing but criticize the government when the authorities try to regulate the unmanageable increase of our population. I hope the proper solution to this future disaster can still be in place, the sooner the better.

DLReyes….your take on the current rice problem is worth looking into. the solutions you offered have been done by our asian neighbors, i don’t know what’s keeping the govt from doing these things.
it is sad to know that we are the biggest importer of rice today!
and yes, here is one pres. wannabe, whose only claim to fame is being a news reader, acting as if she knows the solution to our problem! i think somebody should tell her to shut up.

OT…saw this senator up close w/o make-up, and she is just a plain, ordinary-looking lady. sorry for OT

Puro lang kayo (ilan sa mga senador) dada ng dada wala namang laman ang inyong sinasabi. Instead of sitting down and find solutions to all the problems that beset our country ano ang ginagawa ninyo? instead of helping or cooperating with the President anong ang ginagawa ninyo? instead of doing the right things for our beloved country ano ang ginagawa ninyo.

mga madunong man kayo di ba? pero hindi ko nakita itong elemento na magamit ninyo sana upang umunlad ang ating bansa.

it is high time na siguro for you to look at yourselves in the mirror and ask what have you done for our beloved country. iyan lang siguro ka-simply ang dapat ninyong gawin. with this i believed our country will be GREAT again. we must be united and think for the common good and not just to think for our own.

PDI HEADLINE: 9 MAGDALO SOLDIERS IN MUTINY TRIAL CHANGE PLEA TO GUILTY

This is bad news for Antonio Trillanes. Now that his coup pals have pleaded guilty, it will be difficult for him to prove he’s innocent of the charge especially since he is the leader of the failed coup. He’s in for a looonnng stay in the military stockade.

If he wants to get out quickly he should follow his comrades, plead guilty (he can’t save himself from this anymore) then ask for presidential pardon for the reason that he was elected by his constituents to serve in the senate. It’s probably a long shot, but it’s worth a try if only for the sake of serving in the Senate.

But does he have the courage to ask a president he hates to help him? It took courage for one to rebel against the government, but it takes greater courage for one to admit that he is wrong.

HEADLINE FROM ANOTHER BROADSHEET: A MILLION SIGNATURES TO BE LAUNCHED ON ERAP’S BIRTHDAY APR 19 FOR HIM TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2010

Now you will understand why this country is eternally in trouble. Many still do not learn from the lessons of the past. It is still the crabs in us Pinoys that bring down this country and disgrace ourselves before the eyes of the world.

GMA is hated because of claims that she is corrupt. What kind of people are these that they want to replace her with a genuinely certified and undisputedly corrupt ex-president and convicted plunderer? These people should be shot. Have we ran out of good qualified leaders that these morons can only think of Erap? Or could it be because these people have become morons and stupid due to malnourishment for lack of rice to eat? WTF!

The circus has already started.All those ambitious wannabes are armed with all their rhetorics just to show the common tao they have what it takes to be called a politico. It’s same tune every time a crisis crops up.And to think of all those agriculture experts!!!! Now they have plans of every kind to solve the rice problem. WHY DID THEY NOT EXECUTE ALL THOSE PLANS WAY LONG AGO? Why just now when the people are already the poor are already half dead?

So Mr.Cayetano and company, (Lacson,Pangilinan,Madrigal,Pimentel,Roxas,
Legarda and the rest of the ambtitious trying hards,when are you going to start another circus (investigation of the rice problem)?

The Lopezes must be finding it more and more unbearable to have a criminal-in-law in their midst. Recently, they got him as a guest speaker for their school and the helpless graduates had to endure the inspiring speech of an incorrigible, pardoned criminal. With their awesome propaganda machinery and networks they will have no difficulty in convincing some people that Black is White but the Lopezes must also remember that, as Warren Burger said: “There are some incorrigible human beings who cannot be changed except by God’s own mercy to that one person”.

¨HEADLINE FROM ANOTHER BROADSHEET: A MILLION SIGNATURES TO BE LAUNCHED ON ERAP’S BIRTHDAY APR 19 FOR HIM TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2010¨

This is a very sad story…at kung manalo pa si erap…masasabi ko na talaga na ¨Filipinos are not worth dying for¨

Granting that Neri will testify against GMA, it is still a testimony without solid proofs. We cannot allow a President to be impeached on the grounds of mere testimonies. There should be a Clarissa with the signature cards or a smoking gun in the form of a “second envelop”. Chavit Singson’s testimony alone was not enough. What the current Senate wants to achieve by its investigations is to create public disorders and force the President to resign..

From the Senate proceedings, the Supreme Court sees though all the naked intentions and the ill-motives of the Senate investigating panels and by its decision it seeks to put a stop to this gross abuse of legislative powers. Many will find faults with the decision but we should be grateful that the wisdom of the Supreme Court has kept this government from falling into shambles.

to the one whose pseudonym has tentacles, pogito…
i have noticed that your vocabulary is limited to these words…cretin, moron, liar, stupid, evil, and everything negative.
you make it appear you are the only intelligent guy there is, and everyone else is stupid, huh?
let everyone express themselves, stop labeling them.

erap & lozada tandem on 2010? mabuhay dw ang Pilipinas. tsk, tsk, tsiks

star witness, surprise witness & secret witness. what’s next? blind witness? deaf & mute witness? or even a paralitic witness. un bang nguso nlng nya un pangtuturo. hehehe

Who are to be blame for the present rice shortage problem?

Those raising large families. The uncontrolled population growth is causing the continuous, abnormal increase of rice consumption.

Landowners that converted their lands to golf courses, resorts, subdivisions,export processing zones, etc. to evade the land reform program resulting in the disappearance of arable lands.

Legislators, technocrats and pseudo-scientists that advocate the planting of crops for the production of ethanol and other renewable energies, sacrificing valuable agricultural hectareage for non-staple crops.

Greedy farmers that switched from staple crops to non-essential, high-value crops.

If you belong to any of the above categories please keep your mouths shut before blaming the government for the rice shortage.

The best way to fame is to hit on anybody high enough to merit media mileage.
What if you constantly hit on the President? You might get elected as a senator… even as president.
Let us look at the newspapers nowadays and see who are aspiring for high government posts.
Atty Roque, or is it rogue, is definitely one of them with all his exposes and antiques in televised court hearings and in tv talk shows.
He sees to it that he involves the president in all his cases. What a great strategy.
You think maybe he is doing this because he loves the poor or because he is nationalistic?
I better start hitting on the president myself and who knows maybe I will be eligible for the senate race in 2010.
Better still let’s all start hitting on the president so we can all be senators.

AN IRATE PHONE CALLER LAMBASTED PGMA FOR NOT HELPING VISITING PALAU PRESIDENT BOARD HIS PLANE

This angry phone caller called up radio station DZBB to complain that PGMA was so inutile for not stopping commercial airline Continental Airlines from enforcing its security rules on the visiting Palau President who refused to be frisked bodily before boarding the plane that would bring him home. The plane left without the President and his entourage. The caller said the visiting dignitary deserves to be exempted out of respect for his position. He added PGMA should have used her presidential powers over the airline which at this point is under Philippine jurisdiction. What’s wrong with this scenario?

First, let me say that royalty or dignitary or any plain Jane or John, no one is supposed to be above the law. Security measures on plane travel are universally imposed and nothing in the rules says a President or the Pope is exempted. If one doesn’t want to be frisked then go get a private plane. The prerogative to frisk or not is the airline’s call. I don’t think PAL has ever frisked any Filipino president before boarding. The caller may be right PGMA could have used her powers to compel Continental Airlines since it is here under Philippine jurisdiction. But, is it right for GMA to use such powers? If she did, I’d say that’s abuse of power because she used it to violate an international agreement on air travel security. Also, how sure is this angry caller that the US government will not charge Continental Airlines, being a US airline, of having violated the extremely strict US homeland security rules on airline security? This plane may have come from non-US origin but its destination is Guam which is a US territory. Can this caller guarantee that the airline will not be penalized or censured for violating US rules? And why blame GMA for not doing anything? Is it still her responsibility even on trivial matters such as this? This is a matter between the Palau President and Continental Airlines which no longer concerns us. Surely, the Palau President knows what to do under such circumstance.

I have my gripes against GMA too and criticized her severely on many occasions but this is one instance that blaming her for the faux pas on the Palau president is one issue attributed to her that has gone overboard. It is this blaming her for everything that goes wrong is what makes her too much an underdog and you know how Filipinos feel about underdogs. Get my drift?

The whys of Internet porn

Kudos to Ms. Rina Jimenez-David and her piece on the battle against pornography. To read an insightful Catholic perspective on the reasons behind internet porn addiction and how to end it, check out the article titled “pornography, electronic media and priestly formation.”
http://www.ignatius.com/magazines/hprweb/weber_april08.htm

Well, Everything was perfectly said. You cannot please everyone. Phil Goverment is in a prime time show….In Comedy channel. Specially the Senators. Clap clap clap. Ginagawa nyong Bobo ang pilipino. Hope GMA News and ABS CBN news must show more on Tourist Spots in the Philippines rather showing these morons time and time again.

What is the BIG FUZZ being created by ABS-CBN again about GABO Concepcion. There is nothing new aboutr Gabby. Same old Gabyy.. field with LIES>..BIG LIES>

The interview of Gaby Concepcion is simply unbelievable. One wonders if Gaby and ABS-CBN are in cahoots with each other in peddling these lies.

1. Gabby graduated from Lincold University, with two majors. Note: Gabby is from Stockton, CA and lived there all his stay here in the US. THERE IS NO LINCOLN UNIVERSITY in Stockton, CA. There is no in SF. However, search and inquiry made from the Lincoln University in SF revealed that there is not such student by the name of Gabby Concepcion ever. Yes, there is LINCOLN in Stockton, CA. LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL.. which also offers… adult courses (something like vocational courses). So, where did Gabby graduate again? I dare him to show his transcripts which he could easily obtain since Universities here have online access.

2. REAL STATE BROKER Course? There is no such course being offered in any university. Real State Broker studies are being offered only in adult vocational schools. It is just a one to two week course… not a real degree course.

3. One of the top 10 Realtors in California? Hahaahahahaha… then why is he there trying to earn a living. The truth is.. he never even made it big in real state.

4. His DAD’s heart condition as reason for him to go back. What a dumb excuse… and heartless at that too. The real reason is that he needs to earn a living. Real state market here in the US has collapse… and a lot of so called “real state broker” like him.. lost their house, shirts.. and all.

SO what is the truth? The only truth is… HE LIES!!! The SOB lied to his teeth. Is it with the blessings of ABS-CBN? Who knows. What is obvious is Boy Abunda has been trying to build Gabby up… even if they had to LIE to everyone of us… the public. Enough is enough!!!

By nature, the Philippines is blessed with abundant natural resources and scenic places that few countries can match. We have mountains, seas/oceans and lands/rivers that sustain life for the entire country if only to be harnessed positively by the government and its people. What happened is that, we had governments and citizens that abused all these blessings. Governments, that only exploited all the natural resources without exerting any efforts for its regeneration so that future generations of our people can be benefited by the nature that God had given to us.

Corruption in all governement levels remained unabated since the nation gained it independence from foreign occupations.

We have the kind of citizens whose attitude is to expect the government to work for them and never mind sharing the responsibility of nation building. As Kennedy said, “Ask not what the government can do for you but, Ask what you can do for the government”. The rich don’t want to share their wealth to the poor and the poor don’t have effort to chage their lives by controlling the population explosion.

With the present events taking place in this country, we are almost sure that this nation will experience man-made disasters and destruction. Let’s be responsible enough to share what we can do to save what we have, for the benefit of our children and their children’s children.

Peace and order situation in this country is now alarming because news in the daily broadsheets and tabloids have exclusive sections for news about crime as if they sensationalize the ciriminals. We had been victims of heinous crime (senseless killing) due to proliferation of drugs. I wish all heinous crime convicts should be made to pay their crime by lethal injection to ensure they will not repeat what they did. Our prisons had been congested with heinous crime convicts and need to be decongested by eliminating this kind of human beings that have no right to live at all. The government had the primary duty to protect its people against these monsters roaming freely within our neighborhoods. They are social cancer that needs to be eradicated. KAWAWA NAMAN ANG MGA TAONG NAGIGING BIKTIMA NILA NA DI MAWALA ANG SAKIT NA IDUNULOT NG MGA CRIMINAL NA ITO SA GAYA NAMING MGA BIKTIMA. HAHAYAAN NYO BANG DUMAMI ANG BIKTIMANG GAYA NAMIN? I believe, it is time the authorities take decisive actions to address this big peace problem besetting our country.

Why do we take care of the criminals, and why not their victims? We give food, shelter and clothing to them as if they are rewarded. Some law abiding citizens sleep in the sidewalks.

to abbygail..

The solutions to rice problem is very easy… here in UAE, we used to have desert. No land, no water. but UAE now is more green then the Philippines. It takes just a simple “thinking” mind, and sheer determination. The problem with us PINOY… we dont think GREEN as in Palay, but rather, we evolved in thinking GREEN as having green mind. Most of the youth are now engrossed to non-productive activities.

i sympathized with mr lozada a bit of his expose but lately he is becoming arrogant in urging the people to rise up against gma and oust her. what happened in cebu and his statement recently is a manifestations of arrogance. maybe God did not allowed this to happen because the worst thing may happen to the country if the vultures will take over. his speaking engagements in schools and churches will go nowhere because truth will never be achieved that way where only his side is being heard. we have the courts to determine all the accusations and eventually prosecute those found guilty. if that is his way of looking for truth then time will come that nobody will ever listen to him anymore. the issue will subside and nobody will be punished. think of it.

It is surprising that Senator Pangilinan is still sleeping when everybody else has woke up.

The Supreme Court by its decision is trying to stop the fight between the two branches of the government. The intention of the Senate to bring down the Presidency is too obvious that Supreme Court can no longer consider the Senate hearings to be in aid of legislation.

The fight being too lopsided against the Executive branch and the purpose of the SC decision is to put a stop to the hostilities and not so much as to to say who is right and who is wrong. What the President has is only her veto power which she can not use here.

Actually, what we are witnessing now is how the Justices applied their wisdom in exercising their check and balance powers; for how else would somebody stop a fight between two brats?

Senators are calling for another investigation into the so-called “hogs scam”. According to Arthur Yap, the anomaly has already been reported to the Ombudsman so wherefore the need for a Senate investigation?

If some senators have nothing to do, why not spend time with those “undelivered” pigs, those animals are sociable, playful and possess an “amazing capacity” for love. They may impart some of their virtues and sensibilities to the good senators. Studies have shown that pigs are sometimes more intelligent than humans.

Senators are calling for another investigation into the so-called “hogs scam”.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Then let it be. Let the investigation begins. It is not hog scam. It is pork scam. The senators’ pork barrel scam. What happened to their pork barrel. I know there are also scam on how they spend their pork.
Unless, the pork went directly to the poor filipinos in the form of ham or lechon the better but if the pork forked to their pocket then, let them be investigated.
Or else it is a hogwashed.

Another crisis to be investigated is the rice shortage. As usual, the media created panic among poor filipinos about the rice shortage.
It is better to examine the root cause of this palay/rice shortage.
As we all know, the agricultural land of ours which was beautiful scenery along the highway of batangas, laguna, cavite, bulacan, pampanga to nueva ecija were all gone.
Gone also are our farmers in their “salakot and karit” doing magtanim ay di biro.
And gone also are the aroma of palay ready to harvest.

What substituted on our palay green scenery along the highways are subdivisions, countless homes of developers; earning big profit that choke the highway, and choke the air with homeowner cars polluting the air.
Also, depriving our farmers the occupation, and the land they till.
The end result is rice shortage, for there is no more land to plow and plant palay.

Who is the root cause? Well, the senators should also investigate.
Why our palay agricultural land became flowers like palmera, camella.

Calling Manny Villar, you should investigate the root cause of rice shortage.

mga kagalanggalang na mga senador. please tama na yang mga drama ninyo. tanggapin na nainyo na talo kayo. kung talo, talo. wala ng pikonan. ang pikon talo. mga gunggong.

LOZADA RUES FILIPINOS FOR INACTION AGAINST CORRUPTION

Whistle-blower Jun Lozada complains the Filipino people are not taking action against the rampant corruption in the administration. Look who’s talking. Where was he when most Filipinos were crying their hearts out? Oh, he was busy moderating the greed of his partners in corruption, telling them how to share the loot “para hindi bubukol”. He must have been very busy enjoying the perks of corruption, rubbing elbows and playing golf with the corrupt that he did not notice the deep resentment against the president has been reflected in public surveys of the growing number of angry and dissatisfied Filipinos.

Suddenly, Lozada is behaving like he is popish than the pope just because he is in the company of the religious. Maybe Lozada wants people to go out to the streets for another people power. I don’t think that will ever happen. People today have more sense than that and won’t be seen in the company of gullible priests and nuns with the equally gullible Erap supporters and leftists and political opportunists who have other ideas about replacing an unpopular leader. Sane people have enough of people power. They prefer to wait in 2010 and do the change through the constitutional way.

ERAP WANTS TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2010 AS LEGACY TO THE FILIPINO PEOPLE

Poor fellow, his popularity in the squatter districts of Manila must have given him the sense that since the majority of Filipinos are poor their vast number will carry him to the presidency in 2010. He probably thinks intelligence is determined by one’s status in life, thus if one is poor he must be stupid. His rationale being the poor is incompetent to know the difference between a convicted plunderer and an honest person.

In a way, I’d love to see Erap run for the presidency. I do hope he does. Two things will happen here. If he loses, he will be like a deflated balloon that goes pffft when it loses air and perhaps that will burst his huge ego. If he wins, then we know there are more morons in this country than we thought and this country is a hopeless case it’s time to leave. Who wants to live with morons?

ROQUE ON THE WARPATH AGAIN; SEN. LACSON CALLS IT “SWINEDLING” SCAM

UP lawyer Harry Roque said the COA has discovered millions of pesos supposedly loaned to hog raisers have remained unpaid and/or unaccountable. Though this could be similar to problems usually encountered by banks on overdue loans, but more than this, Roque accuses Malacanang of diverting the funds for use in the 2004 election. His basis for his accusation is the transfer of Quedancor from the Dept. of Agriculture to the office of the President in 2004. As if on cue, Sen. Panfilo Lacson calls it a “swinedling” scam and wants a senate probe on the alleged anomaly. He said Gloria Arroyo who was then running for president must have used the funds to bankroll her candidacy.

I am struck by the hastiness by which this conclusion was reached on mere coincidence that Quedancor was transferred to the office of the President. Is this another shoot first and ask questions later? Roque and Lacson did not think it was worth asking themselves first the question why was the transfer done in July or two months after the election and not months before if the purpose was to use the funds for the May 2004 election? That would have taken away the fun, wouldn’t it?

The problem with presumption of guilt is they are made up to look like it’s the truth. We have enough of unsettled issues and unsubstantiated accusations that presumptions of guilt on mere speculations are being made quite freely and unfairly. Anomalies must certainly be investigated but right thinking Filipinos don’t want to be stampeded into believing every accusation. They look into the motives of those making accusations because both sides of the political fence play the game of deceit with exaggerated and/or false or half-truth reports. Only by making formal charges in court will settle the issue. We have too many insinuations of corruption and unmitigated politics. We have to cut down on both. We often shoot ourselves on the foot.

Population policy

Researchers in the Chicago and Great Lakes area have long been aware that hormones leeching out from birth control pills–passing out in urine into sewage and Lake Michigan have begun adversely affecting male organs and behavioral patterns of male minnow fish. Please verify this yourself if you don’t believe it. The suggestion to re-think population policy may be timely. But to offer birth control pills as a solution may only exacerbate the situation. The Philippines already has staggering water pollution problems among other concerns. What is an intelligent way to address family planning? Perhaps the Philippines can find solutions best suited to its needs, without compromising its people’s beliefs.

More on population policy

Knowledge is power. For more on “Contraceptive imperialism and Third World poverty,” please read the article in this Web site: http://catholiceducation.org/articles/population/pc0007.html

At the very least, natural family planning is forever free.

ALAN APPEALS TO THE SUPREME COURT ON THE EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE

Sen. Alan Cayetano’s appeal for reconsideration slams the Supreme Court short of saying the SC has abused its authority in denying the Senate’s right to break into the President’s executive privilege. He did not agree with the SC offer to compromise which for him was by itself an act interfering with the Senate powers thus he and his senate allies rejected it but it’s alright, they think, to break into the power of the Executive. What arrogance, the SC must have thought.

It’s not difficult to imagine a dialogue transpiring between Alan and the SC. The SC must be saying look guys you want to break into the President’s executive privilege, but when we asked you to compromise you rejected it outright for fear you’re giving up some of your parliamentary powers. You’re too jealous to allow anyone to break into your legislative powers. Besides, you have violated your own rules by not publishing the guidelines for witnesses. You claim you did but that was more than two senate elections ago. You are supposed to publish them every time a new set of 24 senators hold office. You claim the guidelines are published in the website, but the rules require their publication in newspapers. There’s nothing there that says website. Heck, if that’s how you wanna play this game, we can play that game even better. Alan would ask, but what about our investigation on the President’s involvement in the anomaly? Oh, that, the SC will probably say. There are other ways to find that out. Try being imaginative and creative, Alan. Remember the half dozen big black bags of evidence against Mike that you presented during the House hearing which you claim were documents to prove the paper trail leading to Mike’s bank deposits abroad? Whatever happened to those evidence, huh, Alan? How come you never brought them up again and press charges against Mike? Or, was that for dramatic show only that won you a seat in the Senate? And maybe your game plan this time is get you elected as VP in 2010 since you’re too young to be President? For not doing your job Mike is back on the prowl again. For that your appeal is denied, Alan, sorry. Better luck next time.

On Rice Prices and Government Subsidies.

The government should cut the fat in delivering rice from the fields to the table. It appears that farmers should get more for their labor than wholesalers and retailers. Do this to encourage rice production in the country rather than subsidize foreign grain at inflated prices.

How about an ERAPING tandem for 2010? An Ex-convict + An Ex-cop is always a good team. Nothing can go wrong with Ping watching Erap 24/7 and Ping can be the President anytime he chooses.

SWS should start a survey now and we will know how many percent of us are idiots.

Binay and the MMDA

When will Binay ever realize that the current MMDA management dwarfed whatever accomplishment he had as an MMDA chairman - if he ever had any significant achievement then?

Binay always harps on the argument that the MMDA has no legislative and police powers to craft oridinace of implement intiatives. Is this his excuse for not accomplishing anything significant when he was the MMDA chairman? If so, then by all means he should be proactive and be the first to propose solutions to the massive problems of Metro Manila. And not just shootdown ALL MMDA initiatives. People can see that the current MMDA is working hard to solve the problems of traffic, cleanliness and order in the metropolis. And all Binay has to do is shoot down those initiatives. I hope the current MMDA can submit to the media the attendance rate of all mayors during MMDA meetings with the mayors. I will not at all be surprised that Binay’s attendance is the worst.

Can Binay even for a day transcend beyond political lines and show the filipino people that he can effectively work with even with people who do not share his points of view or political color?

May paki-alam lang siya pag siya ang bida. A behavior of a typical trapo.

ESPERON SAYS PARDON FOR THE 9 REBEL SOLDIERS POSSIBLE

It is not only possible, it is going to happen. That’s the whole idea behind the soldiers’ sudden switch from not guilty plea to guilty. They plea bargained for it because they saw the futility of proving themselves innocent when they were all dressed up in combat armed to the teeth and ready to do battle against the government in that Oakwood hotel in Makati in 2003. This puts Trillanes in a bind. Even if he seeks pardon for the Oakwood incident, he still has to face a second charge of rebellion when he pulled that Manila Pen caper last year.

Trillanes has not seen yet the end of his woes. Tough luck for him. His talents wasted and opportunities busted because his impulsiveness has caused him to make the wrong decisions.

Darno and DLR…i agree with you that this ROGUE atty. from UP(buti na lang hindi ko sya prof.) is positioning himself as he will run for senator come election time. he has learned a lot from Cayetano, Escudero, et. al. also watch out for Tamano guy, the favorite of Pinky and ces drilon and pia hontiveros….senator na rin yan sa 2010.
Allan Ongpin….you are right about Binay. the nerve of him to say in a tv interview “what i have done in makati, i can w/ the whole country”. just what has he done to makati? you mean the Makati bus. district? Ayala developed Makati, not him! what Binay is doing is spoiling the masses of Makati. ask the seniors there he attends their wake, giving the seniors free movies, hospitalization etc., its for election purposes only, for his children who are all makati officials. when Edu ran against him, edu exposed the extent of his corruption in makati, but binay prevailed. just who will win against a Binay? @#$&*perhaps another Binay!
Alex Reyes….what you wrote about Villar and the things he has done to get rich has been exposed by Joker when they were both vying for the speakership then. Villar won bec. Joker had no money. it was widely rumored money flowed in congress then.
Harry….Eraping in 2010? then, for those who haven’t left the country, it’s time to leave

EX-SC CHIEF JUSTICE PANGANIBAN INFLUENCES JUSTICES TO REVERSE THEIR DECISION ON NERI RULING

Question: Is it ethical and proper for Panganiban to use his influence over the Supreme Court justices to make them change their decision?

If the answer is yes, then it must be equally ethical and proper if GMA were to use her presidential influence on the justices NOT to change their decision, isn’t it.

There is absolutely nothing wrong if people freely give their pro and con opinions on the issue regarding the executive privilege. Neither is it wrong for Panganiban to state his case in public, but it is something else to say the other justices erred and made a flawed decision then tries to use his influence over them. Who is he to say that his dissenting opinion is better? Having said his piece, he should have stopped there and let people to decide for themselves, including the justices, because surely there will be those who will agree with him and others who will not. Opinions are based largely on one’s personal views which to some extent are influenced even by the slightest tad of personal biases, preferences, including honest convictions rightly or wrongly. This is why unanimity in SC decisions is seldom seen.

Panganiban took part in that flawed removal of a corrupt president and rectified that extra-constitutional action by making up a reason calling it “constructively resigned,” which is not specified in the Constitution. The pro-Erap supporters and adherents to the rule of law denounced that unprecedented decision and rightly so, but did Panganiban admit that the decision he and the other justices had contrived was flawed and unconstitutional? Panganiban is not helping to keep the people’s trust and confidence in the Supreme Court. On the contrary, he is the object of divisiveness. Leave the Supreme Court alone. Agree or disagree with its ruling but accept it no matter how bitter the pill may be because we don’t want people to lose faith in their last bastion of hope.

Harassing Civilians a part of Philippine Airforce Modernazation Program?

How do they understand it or nothing but harassing the civilians specially here in Cagayan de Oro City they always Fly Wildly periodically(Twin engine Bronco or Huey Helicopter) very close to civilian areas as will as Muslim communities living peacefully with cousin of Abrahamic faith the Christian communities.

We regard the Supreme Court justices in the highest norm of standard, that’s why they are called supreme.
And in the context of norm, nobody can question their integrity, their integrity is beyond reproach. It cannot be questioned, censured much more challenged.

That’s why they are associated with DELICADEZA, a sense of propriety, decency and modesty.
Well, even if the chief justice panganiban is still chief justice, his dissenting opinion on executive privilege does not matter much more influence as majority of the justices are in concurring decision.

But OUT OF DELICADEZA, the former chief justice should not make a contrasting view in a newspaper which is not the proper decorum.

on lozada’s snub of doj investigation: he only trust the senate investigation and nothing more because it is the only venue where he can find the truth. let the senate be converted into an investigating agency.

LOZADA TAKES STAND BEFORE CA, NARRATES ALLEGED “KIDNAP”

What’s wrong with this PDI headline? Nothing really, except notice that the word kidnap, as well as those in other newspapers, is always in close quotations. Which means even media do not believe Lozada’s claim he was kidnapped.

RECAH TRINIDAD, THE SPORTSWRITER FOREVER A PINOY MENTAL CRAB

In a recent commentary, Recah Trinidad said he could not believe the Pinoy boxers scored an overwhelming 3-0 sweep of their foreign opponents at the Araneta Coliseum. He shares the view it was lutong macaw. He is the same boxing expert kuno who wanted Pacquiao investigated for winning over Marquez which prompted Pacquiao to ask if he wants Congress to do the investigation. When confronted, this columnist even denied he said it until his own son, Chino, told him that he did, short of saying he lied. Because I too saw him say that in a TV interview. Would he have said it was lutong macaw if the foreign boxers won over the Pinoy boxers?

I’ve seen this sportswriter do mediocre boxing commentary on live events unlike the heady articulate guys like Joaquin Henson, Hermie Rivera, Manny Pinol and that boxing’s walking encyclopedia Ed Tolentino among others. But this sportswriter prolific in writing critique but struggles in verbal discourse due to his limited ability to do so often drives listeners to sleep.

It’s fine to be a sports critic but be sure you know what you are talking about and not lose of the fact that there are many who know the sports much better than you.

Arroyo Govt. effort to assist Filipino workers is usual Lip Service

This is the very first time we heard from the acting Chief of the Department of Labor and OWWA Administrator Marianito Roque that repatriation is part of government’s effort to assists Filipino workers in distressed.

Mr. Roque has made the pronouncement that repatriation is part of government’s effort after his office in Manila has already received the confirmation of the flight bookings of the 62 distressed OFWs among the more than 200 who have been in the deportation centers since late quarter of last year.

Last week, it was also announced by Vice President Noli De Castro, who is also serving as Presidential Adviser for OFWs affairs, that there are a few stranded OFWs who are due for repatriation from Saudi Arabia pending confirmation of their flight bookings.

We are used to hearing series of pronouncements from the Arroyo administration that stranded OFWs will be home soon. The fact is, the Arroyo administration, DoLE and OWWA were only pressured to an effort primarily because Migrante International, Migrante ME amd Unifil-Migrante-Hong Kong and other chapters around the world have intensify its campaign for the immediate repatriation of stranded OFWs in Saudi Arabia especially those seeking refuge in Kandera Bridge in Jeddah.

Migrante immediately commenced their collective actions, launched several dialogs, picket and rallies in the DFA Main Office in Manila, issued statement of condemnation and possible filing of an appropriate case in the United Nations Commission on Human Rights Special Rapporteur for Migrant Rights against the Arroyo Administration’s continued neglect to their worsening plight; all these actions undertaken by Migrante forced the inutile Arroyo Administration to “exert an effort” as per Mr. Roque’s pronouncement, to assist Filipino workers that are in distress abroad and want to go home.

Mr. Roque’s pronouncement that repatriation is part of government’s effort, (please note: he used the term “effort” instead of “responsibility”) is like making a promise whose words are coming from his nose and not from his mouth, or to say this in appropriate way, he was forced to pronounced that repatriation is part of government’s effort so that they can claim before the very eyes of the public that Mrs. Arroyo’s administration is doing good for the protection and welfare of OFWs.

We would like to remind Mr. Roque that there are still a hundred of OFWs in the deportation center in Jeddah and as per our Migrante-Jeddah reports they are seeing few OFWs who are now in the Kandera Bridge. Again, they are runways who can’t afford anymore to stay working with their errant and abusive employers; they are the runaway OFWs who are often manhandled by their employer, who are often harassed sexually, who are often not paid for their labor, who often their being degraded. They are our fellow OFWs working as domestic helpers and constructions workers.

They are the majority of OFW population in the Middle East. Unfortunately, many of them were also abused and harassed.

Some hundred OFWs in distress are also at Philippine Embassy’s Bahay Kalinga in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The above figures does not include the more than 200 OFWS in distressed in Jordan including the Domingo Sisters, who were pressured to pay for their placement and airfare costs as they were directly hired by the principal agent who is a friend to a certain Enrico Garcia and Alexander Maestrado of the Philippine Embassy’s ATN (Assistant to the Nationals) in Jordan. Worst, ATN Garcia is pressuring the Domingo sisters to pay US$1,500 plus airfare costs of Php40,000 as per their short messages sent to their father and was confirmed by Migrante ME during a short talked to one of the sisters on April 5.

There are more to add: the more than 30 OFWs in distress in Kuwait and more than 20 in Dubai, UAE including the distressed OFWs working for Princess House party organizers.

According to Mr. Nhel Morona, Migrante-UAE Secretary-General, three (3) of the OFW-victims of Princess House party organizers are now in jail. Two OFW women were accused of scratching a page in Koran, the holy bible in Islam.

And just yesterday, distressed OFW Renato Garcia was also picked up and handcuffed by Dubai Police in-front of the Philippine Consular Office after seeking assistance to a certain ATN Mendoza on a case filled against him by his employer.

To OFW Renato’s surprised after talking to Vice-Consul Mendoza and upon going out of the Consular office, Dubai Police arrived, picked and handcuffed him and he was brought to jail.

What is irking us is when Vice-Consul Mendoza and other PCG staff were informed of about the incident; they were hesitant to go out of the office to provide assistance to OFW Renato.

What made the Dubai Police knew that OFW Renato is in the PCG office that time? We are not deducting the possibility that PCG staff have tipped off the Dubai Police that OFW Renato is at the PCG Office that time, as he was properly identified by the Police and upon seeing him, they immediately picked and handcuffed him.

What maybe their motive of giving information of his whereabouts? Simply because OFW Renato’s case is under Migrante’s care. Not remote. We have had several experienced before like this.

We demand the Arroyo administration and Mr. Roque, not to exert an effort, but to perform its state responsibility of providing assistance to all OFWs in distressed and runaways in the entire Middle East. What we have mentioned above are only a few of the thousand OFWs in deportation centers, shelters and jails in the entire Middle East.

Protecting OFWs, in distress or runaways, is a state responsibility. It’s not a matter of choice to exert effort or not. But it is inherent to every government; government has an obligation to protect its people especially those who are working abroad not only to survive their own families but above all contributing much to keep its nation’s economy afloat.

But sad to say, OFW’s significant contributions in keeping the economy afloat have not been given due worth by the Arroyo administration like previous administrations by return providing to OFWs’ genuine service and programs. Instead, continued neglect and disservice to OFWs and families are still observed and in fact becoming extensive.

Worst, their US$25.0 contributions now amounting to Php10-B held in trust to the government through the OWWA have been misused and corrupted.

To Mr. Roque and to Mrs. Arroyo’s administration: Please be reminded that protecting OFWs is state responsibility. Your neglectful administration is exhausting us, OFWs and families of repeatedly reminding you of your responsibility as public servant.

Mrs. Arroyo’s administration does not deserve even a single “thank you” from OFWs and families for its effort to assist OFWs in distressed who are long been neglected and who suffered a lot under her seven years (7) in office. # # #

For reference:
John Leonard Monterona
regional coordinator
Migrante Middle East
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012

Allan Ongpin, how can you expect Binay to see your point. He is not even human, he is a over make-up monkey with a planted speaker on his mouth with Erap on the other end holding the mike.

San Beda law dean calling senators childish.
This is a very inappropriate and respectful description. I don’t think they deserve that kind of love.

Children are fun, joy and lovable. That’s why we love to see them when we are sad, mad and lonely. The mere sight of them is a joy and we forget our worries. The kids are there to enjoy and we also enjoy. Their antics, tantrums are forgivable and enjoyable. We always love to see children whether they are mad, angry or happy. No bad and sad moments for us. They are called children, children of God.

And the law dean calling the senators childish. Of course it is a very wrong and incorrect adverb or adjective as you may call it. They are not lovable. They are maddable and hateable. You hate to see them, much more you hate them talk nonsense. They are not fun.

Please spare our kids for being compared to the antics of our senators as childish. These senators whether they act like a child or acting like one as most of them have no brain. The senators are not childish.

The senators are what my uncle used to tell whenever he sees an adult acting like child as
“tumandang walang pinagtandaan” or “tumatanda ng paurong”

A View on Hanjin’s Forest Condominium on Subic Bay Freeport Zone Forest Philippines

Due to the current debacle of the Subic bay Forest Condominium purposely built by Hanjin to house it’s employees, I asked myself , is the Hanjin Company from Korea had a special treatment on Arroyo’s regime?..It’s fair to say as what Sen. Gordon said before in a previous interview “the government needs to tread carefully on the issue because Hanjin is the biggest investor in the country today”, is it really fair and ok to sacrifice our forest for the benefits of this so called “super investor” in which standard and safety is the last thing in their agenda..The death of many workers/employee due to below the standard safety regulation plus the foreseen death of the Subic’s protected wildlife is enough for us to comment and act.

As a response to what SBMA Administrator Arreza ’s claim that there are no ground to stop the Condominium project by Hanjin, Clemente Bautista, National Coordinator of Kalikasan People’s Network today cited three (3) reasons why said project must be scrapped…

Firstly, it is ecologically destructive, as the project stands to impact on the Subic Forest Reserve Area, one of the few remaining forest reserve areas in the country. More importantly, the area in question boasts of high biodiversity, containing approximately 15 percent of the bird species in Luzon, 10,000 fruit bat colonies and 27 endemic vertebrate species. In addition, disturbances to the Subic Forest ecosystem will affect 157 hectares of mangrove areas located in the Central Luzon region.

This is unfortunate as the Philippine forest is in critical stage, with 2004 data showing that the country only has 14 -18 percent forest cover left. This is way below the 54 percent forest cover standard for a tropical country to remain ecologically stable. In such a condition, each remaining forest cover must be protected.

Secondly, there is a glaring lack of consultation with the members of the affected communities, especially the Aeta indigenous group which had been occupying the area for centuries. Since the project area encroaches on parts of their ancestral domain, the Aetas possess the right to be consulted about possible projects to be implemented in the site.

Finally, the project illustrates the outright sale of national patrimony. Hanjin does not deserve a special treatment from the Arroyo administration to be allowed to enter an ecologically critical and protected area? A foreign company was easily given the right to own and control our forest land.

Granting that the Hanjin project passed all the test and requirements to built it’s condominium in a protected wildlife sanctuary, is Hanjin the victim in case the land is proven to be protected for they apply for permit in good faith and the SBMA Management approves it?. Do we expect more project to encroach over our protected forest environment and ancestral domain of our indigenous people?..Are the laws passed to protect the environment such as the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) and Indigenous People’s Rights Act (IPRA) proved to be a failure and just like any other law who have no teeth?.. Does anyone take a look at a report where the said condominium building is being built without Environmental Clearance Certificate and only been issued upon 20% of the structure had been built? Just wondering.

Sources:
• http://subicbulletin.blogspot.com/2008/04/where-is-super-investor-that-will-save.html
• http://www.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2008/0406_legarda1.asp
• http://www.bulatlat.com/2008/04/condo-forest-reserve-render-laws-protecting-environment-ip-rights-failure
• http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080414-130186/Hanjin-condo-projects-began-without-ECC
•

Sectoral partylists are political parties but how can partylist like Migrante represent the OFWs when among the OFWs there are pro-Eraps, pro-GMAs, leftists, rightists, etc., etc., What is the common political denominator within the party?
Organizations like Migrante should be treated like trade unions or clubs and nothing more. As political parties they are shams.

CBCP OBJECTS TO GRANTING PARDON TO MAGDALO 9

Now the CBCP is behaving like demagogues. As priests, they should be more forgiving than politicians to be consistent with the faith that Christ has taught them.

GMA APPROVAL RATING PLUNGES IN LATEST SWS SURVEY

Ho hum, that’s old news. What else is new?

Food Shortage is real. It is global and it is serious.

Like what has been said before, the fundamental cause for the shortage is the continuous increase in global food consumption due to lack of effective population control. The other causes for the present food situation, besides war and natural weather change/calamities, are to be attributed to the insatiable human greed for wealth.

Many countries, the Philippines included, because of the oil price increase, jumped haphazardly into the development of biofuel production. Large areas of arable land once planted to staple crops are now planted to corn and jatropha to produce ethanol and biodiesel oil, causing shortfalls in food production.

Many countries, the Philippines included, converted agricultural lands to golf courses, theme parks and resorts, industrial parks, high-class residential subdivisions, etc. causing again the depletion of the arable hectareage.

In many countries, the Philippines included, the farmers switched to high-value, non-staple crops such as fruits, flowers, sugar, palm oil, mushrooms, coffee and other similar agricultural products. Many of those crops can be planted on hillsides or less arable lands.

The above trends are common in several countries and when the time reaches that these countries simultaneously encounter domestic food shortages, the bubble bursts resulting in a global food shortage very similar to the credit crisis, the only difference is that this time money will not save us from starvation.

Hoarders only create temporary food shortages. They caused price increases and sooner or later they have to unload to make their profits.

The real culprits to be blame for crises like this are none other than the legislators, they are supposed to write the laws that shapes the nation’s future. A recent piece of legislature is the Biofuels Act which serves to benefit certain sectors at the expense of our rice produtction and in face of the present food crisis, it should be reviewed or scrapped.

CBCP and issue re forgiveness….look who’s talking now and are they practicing what they preach? why don’t they change their outdated stand re population control? they think like they are still in the dark ages ;-(

allan…ang galing ng description mo kay mayor B. ng makati! gustong mag-presidente yan. marami daw syang nagawa sa makati?

A comment for the Article Titled ” A Museum for New Design”…

It just made me think about Arch. Torres’ statement,

” We are not a fine arts school, but a design school, …”

I am aware that the word Art or Design may have a wide range of definition, meaning, or interpretation, but the way Mr. Torres puts it in describing their college made me wonder. Why? Because, from my understanding of what his pointing out, he wants to be specific of what their school do and enumerated the particulars. Sure, maybe what they do is not Fine Arts, as he clearly and specifically stated with all the particulars of being not. But then, why point out as being a Design School, which has a general idea or connotation, and begin explaining the exact things that their school offer, which is Industrial Design. For me, from how I see it, since he is trying to describe their school in a specific and particular way. Why summarize it in a phrase which is broad in interpretation? He could clearly say that they are an Industrial Arts School as he clearly pointed out instead of just being ” a design school”, which is general.
Sure, maybe his making a general point, but why start it with something particular and end it in a general way, if there is a specific term, which is ” Industrial Arts” .
Just wondering…
Also, maybe they should check again the name of their school where he holds office
since he clearly pointed out what they offer. Instead of “School of Design and Arts” they should change it to “School of Industrial Arts” as per the specifics Arch. Torres proudly mentioned. So that it won’t be misleading and at the same time truthful to what they are proud of.
Just Wondering…

Sincerely Yours,

Wonderer ( L.O.L. )

I don’t understand why we have to allow foreign investors like Hanjin to exploit our remaining forest parks as what had happened at Subic where two condominiums were being constructed for the sake of investment. Why DENR allowed them to construct these buildings in the middle of our forest reserves solely for the permanent use of these foreigners? Is corruption still part of the game why Hanjin constructed these condominiums? Next time around, Hanjin will expand the area of their habitat until the forests are gone. My opinion as a citizen of this country is that foreigners should not be allowed to alter the gift of nature to us irrespective of their investment. In short, Hanjin’s condominiums being constructed in Subic should be stopped to protect our remaining nature’s beauty.

Huwag namang hayaan ng ating pamahalaan na malusaw ang konting natitirang natural na kagandahan ng ating bansa dahil sa mga dayuhang namumuhunan. Marami namang lugar na pwedeng gumawa ang Hanjin ng mga condo e bakit sa gitna pa ng gubat na pinangangalagaan ng mga Pilipino para sa susunod na henerasyon. Ang buong mamamayang Pilipino ay di sang ayon sa pagbibigay ng pamahalaan ng karapatan sa taga ibang bansa na pakialaman ang nga likas na kagandahan ng bansa dahil lamang sa pamumuhunan.

GMA rating plunges in the latest SWS survey? So what’s new> Everybody needs a shipwreck once in a while. Hahahaa.

Frankly speaking, we expect the trust and approval rating of this poltiical bitch and evil tenant of Malacañang to further take a nose dive. Let’s say negative 60 percent.

Kailangan magtiwala tayo sa masa at sambayanang Pilipino. Their wisdom and collective strength will surely throw this criminal and corrupt president out of Malacañang.

“Tubbataha, which was nominated by the Department of Tourism…”

Ito yung nasa news nyo.. You have told the people that tubbataha was nominated ng DOT, which is NOT true! I nominated Tubbataha last july 2007 and when the entry was included on the list, I contacted Tubbataha org, and that time time, they asked help on DOT.

I nominated mayon and chocolate hills last january 2008 and the puerto princesa underground river last feb, 2008.

You know what… I am not asking my name to be printed on the news, kasi para naman sa bansa ito. Pero wag naman sana kayo magsabi ng hindi totoo. INQ7 news is not fair.. you are not seeking the truth.

If you want to clarify what I am saying, you may contact the person in Tubbataha.org in which I informed about the nomination. here is her number: 09178608891.

Clear out your self guys… Hindi ganyan ang pagkakakilala ko sa Inquirer. nakakadismaya.
Inquirer.net is the first website I search everytime i open my computer pero this time… mukang hindi na. NAKAKDISMAYA TALAGA. Have a great day.

negative comments about blacks are not necessarily racist. some blacks feel that they are entitled to better treatment than filipinos and other immigrants. this is the attitude that triggers negative sentiments against them. some blacks do not take care of their communities. they destroy them instead.

I noticed that most of us, if not all, contributors here are very intelligent; able to think and project bright, sage, rational and logical thoughts and ideas. So why don´t we aspire for government offices, high and low, and/to dislodge these officials (worms) from their positions and finally alter the perpetual corrupt and murderous course of our so-called government? If we are elected, maybe we´ll have the sense of stealing only a little, spreading the goods among our people, instead, unlike what these present hyenas and carrion birds in the present administration are doing. Because we are wise, when we have taken these government responsibilities, I´m sure we will stop “devouring” when we are already full; that we will not act like dogs that refuse to relinguish the fodder to the horse and goat even though we cannot eat it.
Huh? Abigail, de los Reyes and others?
Wala namang nangyayari sa galing ng dakdak natin! We are just trying to satisfy ourselves that we are capable of projecting our thoughts in writing. Ego lang! “The pen is mightier than the sword?” Not here in the Philippines! Mighty are those in positions with money, guns and authority, mandated or not, to steal, murder, fool. Nominate me for president! Like you I am so intelligent I have the sense not to steal too much if elected! I promise! Kayo rin!

OMBUDSMAN FILES CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST EX-SEC OF JUSTICE HERNANI PEREZ

This has been long overdue. Why it takes sooo long, years in fact, just to determine whether an accused should be charged or not, despite the preponderance of evidence, does not speak well of the Ombudsman. It is a reflection on how slow the justice system works in the country. Worse if the accused is influential. The case will not move at all.

The judiciary today is a far cry from the judiciary half a century ago. This is not the first time a cabinet member, a justice secretary no less, is indicted for a crime. History tells us of how an incumbent Justice and concurrent Defense Secretary Oscar Castelo, a very influential and trusted friend of then Pres. Quirino, was convicted for the crime of murder. The full force of the law was applied and justice was served without fear or favor by an unheralded trial judge Rilloraza. And who can forget Castelo’s defense lawyer ex-SC justice Mariano de Joya. There can never be anyone in the judiciary more honorable and unquestionable integrity than him. Who among the jurists of today with all the perks available to them will resign their posts as De Joya did because his salary as associate justice of the Supreme Court was not enough to feed his family of dozen children? A lesser mortal would have done what many unscrupulous members of the judiciary are doing today.

De Joya is the kind of breed that we miss today. We need a renaissance man that can make good things happen. I thought Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo was that man until he wilted. He resigned his post and went back to private practice. His close friends say he resigned out of frustration. A renaissance man needs to have intestinal fortitude, patience and courage and will not wilt against all odds.

The reason their is brain drain in our country is because the ethnic Chinese “out wit” the ethnic Filipinos in their own land. Who are the riches Filipino citizen in the country. None other than the Filipino Ethnic Chinese!

They are shrewed, they are hard working, but they are conning, they are the best cheater. They produce fake products, they adulterate, they undersize, they delute, they put in their product, elements which are way below what has been specified. They are the best smugglers. They are the greatest when it cames to bribing. They don’t respect interenation bounderies. They smuggle themselves in to the Philippines, pretending to be tourist, suddenly, they are in as hardware owners, big time rice cartel, and the worse, the DRUG DEALERS!

Chinese by nature is a rapcious race. It stops at nothing, neither religion, concience, or laws of the land, if their endeavor will reap huges profit for them.

And with these traits, they are the greatest smugglers of the world!

They are the greatest copyrights violators. Name any product, and they have a fake version.

They also have the great number of human rights violation.

Brain drain? All the ethnic Filipinos needs to stop brain drain, is to sent back to China, either in Taiwan, or Mainland China, all the ethnic Chinese in the Philippines, starting with PGMA.

VATICAN ‘CORRECTS’ COUPLES FOR CHRIST’S FOCUS ON GAWAD KALINGA

CBCP Chair on commission on the laity Bishop Gabriel Reyes explains “It is more of a guidance, a correction. It is merely correcting the overemphasis on social work. It is correcting receiving funds from pharmaceutical companies [who support or manufacture contraceptives]. It is saying, stop acting like that,” he said.

If that is the case, the CBCP should take a firm stand against accepting donations or any form of financial assistance from the PAGCOR and the PCSO which are in the business of gambling.

A religious once said it was not soliciting donations that come from immoral sources but would accept it nonetheless if given voluntarily. I think this is not consistent with the fundamental issue that if the money came from a bad source the money is bad as well. The law does not justify stolen money to feed the hungry. If the CBCP believes otherwise and justifies that the money from gambling is being used for a good purpose then it becomes hypocritical for them to reject the financial support offered by the pharmaceuticals because of the moral issue that they are the makers of contraceptives.

The point of contention is a moral one. The CBCP cannot claim it is immoral to receive financial help from the pharmaceuticals that produce contraceptives, but it is not from PAGCOR that operates casinos.

some businessmen have voiced out their concerns re the lack of job applicants from ages ranging 20-30 y/o, reasons, these yuppies have gone abroad to work. hence, most of those left are within the ages of 35-60 y/o.
one glaring discrimination here in rp w/ regards to job hiring is age and sex discrimination. if you are over 35, you’re a goner. just what can a 30 y/o do that a 40 or 50 can’t? don’t they know that as you age you become wiser, w/ experience and ability? look at the calssified ads and the jobs section, it is disgusting.
in the us, i think you will be sued if you specify age, sex and religion when you hire people.
calling all lawmakers…..i think you should legislate laws re abolition of these restrictions. instead of concentrating on changing street names, for crying out loud, PLEASE! staff members of the solons reading this blogs, pls. relay this to them….

I have some misgivings about the April 18 2008 article, “Vatican ‘corrects’ Couples for Christ’s ‘GK’ focus”

(1) There was a good disclaimer about being able to “work with everyone” but maintaining high standards for “Christian values”. But how do we draw the line? How different would refusing donations from contraceptive manufacturers be from, say, *not* greeting an adulterer or *not* praying for the corrupt politician? Even if we have God’s standards of holy living, we must be careful not to judge others because we have all sinned anyway.
Without going into a debate over the immorality of contraceptives (a *bad* thing, according to the Catholic Church), shouldn’t the companies who manufacture them *at least* be lauded for supporting GK (perhaps we would all agree is a *good* thing)? Are we keeping *sinners* from doing the little *good* that they can still do? Do these sound like “Christian values”? Shouldn’t we rather work together and even encourage each other to do good? Each deed is a good place to head in the right direction.

(2) Truly we must have God as the God of our lives, whether we serve the poor or work for the rich and so on. It’s important to be reminded to put “your relationship with Christ” first.
But that relationship is personal and cannot be judged by others on the basis of appearance or behavior. Just because someone is helping the poor doesn’t make him less spiritual, or distant from God. On the contrary! The one who helps the poor is actually more likely to be following the God of mercy and compassion; and one who says he follows God should be obeying what He says about unconditional love and goodness.
Are the Pope and other leaders signifying that GK should do less social work and instead preach more (and/or pray more)? I’ve learned that there are different approaches to sharing about God, because people have different personalities and different needs (financial or otherwise). Can a homeless man listen to a preacher above the growling of his stomach?
Serving God entails feeding His sheep. Even if the most important aspect of this context is spiritual, will we merely say “God bless you” to a hungry man before walking away?

On Meloto seeking clarification of Church policy on social action..

The church should really help the country and stop blaming the gov’t. they are to be blamed for the population explotion in this country. if they don’t want articial family planning methods, then they should feed their flock. what do priests with no children know about feeding hungry children? they are plain hypocrites!!!!! i’m sorry father for i have sinned, but i think you’ve sinned more than me by making poor filipinos make more children and making their children hungry. such a shame. you should rethink your stand on family planning and please help cooperate to help this country. the poor of this country have the priests to trust for guidance, please be wise, and help them. don’t be hypocrites, fathers.

ON EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE CASE
Sen. Pangilinan’s call for justices’ inhibition wrong – Escudero

I agree with Escudero. Justices are also human and can take personal offense when their integrity is questioned. Who will not take offense when one becomes suspect of not being worthy of the trust as Supreme Court justice? That’s utterly insulting. There is danger that sympathy to a cause favoring an appellant may turn to disfavor if justices take offense of calls for their inhibition.

It is important that our government takes full charge in solving the food shortage now. If the present worldwide food shortage develops into a global crisis, it is expected that there will be no food supplies available for sale internationally. That’s why I said before that there may come a time when money will not save us from starvation.

Ramon Tulfo: “If filing the libel case against Cruz after four years is not persecution, I don’t know what is.”

It is called “political leverage”.

I checked the new7wonders website and our Chocolate Hills entry is missing. Please react with this situation because my last time I seen the tally Chocolate Hills is in 7th place now the whole page is missing. I hope there are no hocus fucos on this survey.

Global rice crisis. Indeed. I just read LA Times and two largest wholesale retail chain in the US is limiting rice purchases to its customers while other retail chains have run out of rice.
Even the US which is not a rice eating country is having rice problem.
But nobody complains. It is global so no one is to blame. Production world wide did not meet its demand and consumption.
In the Philippines a rice producing country, everybody is howling protest and blaming Arroyo for rice problem.
Of course,that’s what we are.Good in blame game. So who is to blame but Gloria whether it is local, international or global.
We need to look at the root cause of rice problem. It is not the seedling for we have the IRRI. Maybe it is the agricultural land that became flowers like palmera and camella.
But the rice production is the same. Our ricelands yield the same or more than it used to produce because of scientific research by our agri school in Los Banos.
But why we have shortages, why we have to import and not export.
There is no rice problem.
The problem is too many filipinos are now eating rice. The root cause, filipinos are planting not the seed of palay but planting seed of life.
Population is out of control. There is planting but no harvest.
Planting whether rice or not is not really fun.

The recent column of Neal Cruz on the comments of Sen. Biazon recommending the postponement of the Biofuels law implementation shows how poorly our legislators are informed on the merits of the issue of improving our energy independence and security. We should not fault him for his statement, but his staff should take the pains of compiling the correct information on important issues like biofuels so that the senator’s opinion would appear to be balanced and not destroy the nascent industry. As we all know, no major issue can be resolved overnight and in the case of energy independence it will take more than biofuels to truly make our country significantly free from the clout of OPEC countries. This year we will be spending more than $10 billion dollars to cover our oil imports.

I don’t know why is it that the Philippines is trying to import large quantities of rice where in fact we are an agricultural nation. I believe that it will be good if the present adminstration will do their very best in solving this crisis. It will also be better if the agriculture secretary will seek ways to improve our agragrian condition.

It is really a sad thing that we filipinos are exporting rice where in fact we have lots of agricultural area nationwide.

As filipinos we should ponder whether this food crisis is a political trick or not.

If the president says that importing rice is safe, then we should think again.

Hi! Please support Ramiele Malubay, Pinay finalist at American Idol. She joins the Summer Idol Tour in the US and plans to go back home to the Philippines.

Visit us at http://www.americanidol.com or:

Ramiele Malubay

Thanks.

I wish President GMA will show political will and resolve in protecting the interests of the majority of our people right now. Then I will believe her sincerity on serving our hapless nation at least until 2010.

First, why she cannot impose a price ceiling on the prices of rice?, for God sake, this is the main staple food of our people, or at least distribute them by free to the most poorest. So many smuggled food and goods are just lying rotten at Customs and crocodiles are feasting on them, why not distribute them to the poor?

Second, why she cannot impose a total ban on the deployment of housemaids to the Middle East? For sure, she is aware that our housemaids are just being abused If not butchered by their inhuman Arab employers, and why she is just closing her eyes on this? or her gov’t is just happy counting the growing numbers of victims everyday?

Kawawa na masyado ang ating mga kababayan! Pag-asa nalang at dasal ang tanging bumubuhay sa kanila, bakit walang kwenta ang gobyerno pagdating sa pangangailangan nila?

About your Brian Gorrell article:

im inviting everyone out there to share any info you know about this.Mr. Gorrell has cross the line already,and a group of concerned Filipinos are not taking this lightly.

OMG!I KNEW IT!Brian is posting comments as anonymous on his blog!I saw something like

from BRIAN:
“brian were here to support you ,boracay people loves you” next to brian’s picture tapos nag blip yung picture 9 ulit yung comment instead of 10.bwhahaha!!!huli ka Brian!

HAHAHA!!!Mr. Gorrell,natataranta na sa dami ng nagagalit sa panlalait nya sa tao ayan tuloy nakalimutan muna mag log out sa account nya bago mag post nga comment sa sarili nyang blog!

anyway,there are other Filipinos who are skeptical about him,me included,there are so many loopholes in his stiry and he has now shown his true color by ranting against Filipinos and everything about the Philippines,by the way,please visit this site so you can see what i am talking about,a lot of stuff out there about brian is posted there,we are actually conducting background check on gorrell.

see :http://themeanstreak.blogspot.com/

P5-B AID ANTI-POOR, SAYS CHURCH GROUP

It makes the poor lazy, they said. Here is a case of damn if you do, damn if you don’t. Here is another case where religious critics shoot off their mouths first without absorbing the reason behind the action. Of course, every body knows this is not like a life-time pension being given to the poor. This is a temporary financial help being given to the poorest of the poor at this most trying moments to tide them over during this food crisis and hopefully within the time span allowed the jobless will find employment.

The Church thinks that it has the exclusive rights to Charity. It hates to see an unpopular administration extending help to the poor; but what is wrong with a government saving its own people from starvation and death?
The Church should be ashamed in making such a stupid statement. If centuries of Christianity did not make the Filipino people more industrious, can Five Billion Pesos worth of assistance today make them more indolent?

The article written at infotech about blu-ray useabilty was picked up by theinquirer.net website. I think it is the first time that report from inquirer was used and referred by a famous site. Congratulations

Bush chides Congress for lack of action
‘Tough time for our economy,’ he says, urging action on energy plans.

Philippine Congress and Senate are the thinkers, the idealists, the brain. These senators and congressmen are elected to think, to invent new ideas that is good for the filipinos and the country.
But what is happening… these lawmakers are not making laws, they are indulge in talking and blame game. They have only one to blame… Gloria.
Gloria is the executive, the implementor, the enforcer of what the senate and congress did and wanted to do thru Gloria.

As George Bush said, the responsibility of economic crisis should be in the hands of Congress and Senate for they failed to enact laws to combat the crisis.

Well, Gloria should also slam our congress and senate for not only failing to act by legislation but instead pointing finger to her.
In short, our lawmakers are like palos, madulas, magaling lumusot pagdating sa problema.

Senator Alan Cayetano and the opposition senators have done the nation a great disservice. They wasted the taxpayers’ money on a fruitless investigation of ZTE/NBN spanning over seven long months, now he is claiming that the President was not involved because there was no direct testimony against her. The senator must realize that unless he has the smoking gun, the investigation is totally useless even if the Chinese of ZTE stepped out to testify against the President.

We have yet to see what remedial legislature can evolved from that failed investigation; meantime, the taxpayers’ money that the senate is squandering should be put to good use like buying more rice for the poor.

BTW, how about enacting a law allowing torture of witnesses during Senate hearings.

mang godo…i agree w/ you that the root cause is over population. but, the church still is not convinced, hence, they are stuck in their dark ages’ notion that people should go out and multiply, a trillion times, and who will provide for these hungry mouths? is it the church? they point to the govt. and yes, we are back to the blame game again.
i like your reference to “camella and palmera” may i add “maia alta” too.

yes, harry, there will come a time when even money will not save us from starvation, bec. there’s nothing to buy anymore…

P5-B AID ANTI-POOR, SAYS CHURCH GROUP.

Here they are again. They don’t like to be left behind. Whenever the government is the forefront of doing something good,this religious sector want to join the fray, they have good suggestion and they have good negative thinking.
Their action is only thru words and not in deed.
George Bush’ stimulus package plan is already in the bank deposit of every american taxpayer; california supplemental income is given to help low income earners; food stamps are given to children of poor familys to help them in their daily needs.
Nobody is crying foul, no american is howling protest, no church group or religious organization are making statement about the program…. because they know the government is doing it right because they are the government.
In the Philippines, once Gloria do something, of course for the good of the filipinos, everybody cries foul.
That’s why she can’t go right.

“Rice crisis just meant to be political diversion”

another loose thread. talking just for the sake of talking.
rice crisis is not only in the Philippines, it is global, even the United States is affected by this staple problem, the grain cereal shortage.
though i admire our reader’s bone contention on every topic, why always associate with politics.
if the problem is agricultural, then find solution according to farmer’s point of view; if it is fish crisis, then solve on fishermen’s perspective; if it is forest denudation, then solve the problem by way of our politicians loggers’point of view; if there is housing problem, then ask manny villar as palmera’s developer.
the point is… we always point finger to arroyo. we always see her though she is not easily seen among the crowd.
i don’t understand why she stands tall among us with her size.

i remember a proverb of our own “walang malaking nakakapuwing” that’s arroyo a pesky little thing.

It is imperative that Meralco opens its books to government scrutiny. The Meralco being a public utility company must be transparent and it is not only the stockholders that have the rights to inspect the books. The government that granted Meralco the franchise should have unlimited rights to inspect its operations in order to safeguard the interest of both the consumer and investment public.

If Meralco has nothing to hide then it should welcome such official inspection of its books of accounts.

Thank you for your article celebrating the 2008 New York Times educator of the Year, Feliciano Jaime Atienza, known to everyone as “Chito.”

Atienza is a Filipino immigrant and a career (English as a Second Language) ESOL professional in New York City.

I don’t know what his concept of “skinship” means, but his teaching is compassion in action. (The article would have been better if it included more quotes from Atienza and more suggestions about his teaching philosophy.)

“Education is an ornament in prosperity, and a refuge in adversity,” noted Aristotle centuries ago. Whether teaching in New York City or in the Philippines, this observation will help motivate English language learners.

Again, please print more article celebrating quality teachers and educators! Congratulations, Chito!

The recent disasters happened in Myanmar and China that caused indescribable pains to the victims should serve as a strong reminder to the Government to start implementing preventive measures such as instituting early warning systems that will warn all the citizens to take appropriate actions prior to the occurrence of super typhoons, earthquakes, flash floods etc. In this kind of disasters, destruction of properties can not be avoided but death toll can be minimized when early warnings can be relayed to the nation in advance to enable all citizens prepare to evacuate in safer areas before the disaster occurs. Natural and manmade drainage systems should undergo clearing and maintenance to ensure of not being clogged during heavy rains and floods.

The Government should also make sure that high rise buildings like condos and others can guarantee to withstand the maximum effect of earthquake thus, preventing the destruction and death as what happened in China. Those buildings existing for the last 25 years should be verified if they are still structurally sound and condemn those buildings that will not comply safety standards. We all knew that our country is an earthquake prone area.

Let’s instill the common saying that “an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure”.

With regards to the “take or pay” provision in energy purchases, Meralco should not be allowed to pass the payments for unused or undelivered power to its customers. Since it is Meralco that decide how much power to purchase therefore it should also be Meralco alone to absorb the losses due to over-procurements. The practice of charging all “unused” power to its customers opens the door to “irresponsible” power purchases and possible connivance with its energy suppliers.

To state that without the “take or pay” provision, no investor will venture into power generation is an overstatement. Whenever the government foresee a future shortage in energy supply, it can invite investors to venture into setting up additional power plants and given the proper incentives there will always be takers for such offers.

All power plants are built with excess capacities. An energy supplier and buyer usually enters into agreement for an initial volume of electricity and the supplier is given the right to adjust the agreed volume upward if the energy supplied consistently exceeds the initially agreed volume. In this way the energy supplier is assured of a definite sales volume while the buyer will not suffer excessive losses for large volumes of unused power.

JAMBY QUESTIONS THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF BILLONAIRE AUNT CHITO MADRIGAL-COLLANTES

Jamby has no business questioning or disputing the disposition of her aunt’s vast fortune since she is not a direct heir to it such as if she were a disinherited wife or daughter or even an adopted daughter left out from the will. Neither can she put a claim to it being only a niece unless her name appears in it as one of the heirs. The deceased billionaire could have given some of her wealth to a favorite pet dog and nobody can do anything about it if it’s in her last will and testament. The most Jamby can do is question the authenticity of the will which if proven to be authentic the terms and conditions it imposes must be honored. To question that the deceased favorite foundation was excluded from the will is not an issue. Neither can she question who gets the bulk of the inheritance.

I been in the Philippines for 2 years and your report is just Bull on top of Bull!

1) As an American I cannot buy land/house in the Philippines and can never get rights in your Country, and you ask America to help you–bull.

2) Why should Americans start a business in the Philippines since we cannot own the Business–Grow-up!

3) Look at your few Families that own most in the Philippines why prices for almost all goods are more costly in the Philippines than the USA. Also the USA workers make 50 to 100 times more and yet prices are lower in the USA.

4) You must fix your problems of only a few people/families making large profit with the workers living on shit!

5) Your prices of services are un-real and of very poor Quality. DSL, Phones, Electric and Satellite TV is far more costly in the Philippines then in the USA and yet the service provided is 3rd world at best. Look like they are just money sucking and have no reason to get better. A few Families control the Government.

6) Your country sucks all tax money such as the value added tax and it benefits the manila area only. This tax plus many others are an area tax and should be used in the area that the tax money comes from. If you think this is a one-city country than be that and form different countries!

7) Why do you think your land is value more than land in the USA— Is your country Sick!

Your want America to help you, but you price American goods out of reach in this country. Over 200 to 600% more. Maybe the USA should start to tax the hell out of Philippine Goods in the USA—then your country will sink into the water! You think China will help you—get real!

Keep up your ways and you will keep going to hell on a one-way ticket!

NANI PEREZ CHARGED WITH ROBBERY ON THE ALLEGED 2 MILLION DOLLAR EXTORTION CASE OF MARK JIMENEZ?

I thought this was an anti-graft and corruption case bordering on plunder and anti-money laundering against the former Justice Secretary. Possibly a no-bail offense. Why suddenly a switch to robbery charge? What gives? Jimenez is not testifying he says so Perez goes home free? Wow!! If so, this is reflective of the GMA admin to ignore how the public will react.

Why does it take too long for this country to allow hybrid cars in the market? Hybrid cars have been sold all over the world for years now but not here.
With the prices of fuel sky-rocketing, arent we supposed to pressure this goverment and the car companies to provide us with these hybrid models so we can minimize out gasoline/diesel consumption?

” To Frank”,

We respect America and the Americans but if you will not respect the Philippines where you are staying at present, don’t stay here and return to where you came from. We don’t need your tribe here.

The general belief that downscaling a company does not improve its performance is not always true. At times, splitting up a large utility concern makes each subdivided unit more manageable and efficient. This is extremely advisable in the cases of MWSS and Meralco because of the total absence of competition.

The privatization and splitting of franchise area of MWSS were only partially successful due to the dismal performance and alleged overcharging by Maynilad Water Services. Nevertheless, the existence of a competing Manila Water Company which is run by Ayala performed exceptionally well; this has given proof that profitability does not depend entirely on the size of the franchise area.

Maynilad Water, owned by Benpres Holdings then, was lagging in expansions and rehabilitation, saddled with cash flow problems, crying for price increases and finally embroiled in a protracted dispute with MWSS on the issue of non-payments. For a more detailed report on Maynilad’s tragic failure readers may refer to a Manila Times report on Mar. 26, 2003 – “Maynilad: A model in water privatization springs leak”. A possible insight of how the Meralco is operated may also be gained from that article.

Winston Garcia’s personal agenda will not go unchallenged by other big guns that are eager to join in the game and the worst scenario that can happen is the government competing with Meralco. Should Meralco back out of such a proposition, the public would like to know their reasons. Competition will always work in the favor of the consumer public. Definitely, we have nothing to fear; electricity can never be more vital than water, and the final outcome of a split can not be worse than the MWSS privatization.

I subscribed and agreed to Mr. Neal Cruz’s positive points concerning the loopholes on the implementation of EPIRA and other bills in Congress.

Everytime a bill comes for deliberation in Congress, especially if it hurts the interests of businessmen, surely a lobby money comes hovering around the minds of some legislators. Consequently, if only to satisfy the clamor of the greater good of the people, a certain bill is enacted into law. But mind you, it has a lot of loopholes where businessmen are given the chance to circumvent the newly enacted law for their own selfish interests.

Politicians and accountants can be bought. Therefore, why can’t the administration appoint a priest or bishop or a Christian minister to head the Energy Regulatory Commission and other sensitive government agencies like the Bureau of Customs, the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of Energy, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Land Transportation Office? Let’s see what happens?

This refers to an article entitled “Energy task force revived, which came out on 5/27/08 at Inquirer.net.

My only comment is that unless the administration is sincere enough in its intention to uplift the miseries of the people, especially those energy-related concerns, nothing much will happen no matter what the government does. Time and time again, the socially disadvantaged majority will remain reeling from the negative impacts of unpolished or improperly enacted laws that only cater to the interests of the elite few.

The grim abuses of Meralco by taking advantage of its position as the sole power distributor in Metro Manila are concerns that need to be corrected now. Any dilly-dallying on this problem will all the more jeopardize public interests. If the administration is really serious in putting everything in order and gets back the confidence of the people, all it has to do is let non-government or religious organizations take the lead instead of appointing someone in the Palace to head any government task force for that matter.

The relief of the nine cops allegedly involved in the rub-out of four suspects in Tanuaun, Batangas, was a temporal choice that the PNP director-general Avelino Razon could impose. When proven, through the conduct of proper investigation by those concerned police bodies, the police personnel involved could face the consequences of the law.

The four suspects were tagged by the police as members of a group that killed nine employees and a civilian depositor at the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation branch in Cabuyao, Laguna, recently.

Whenever a bounty or reward is offered so that the murder suspects could be immediately arrested or killed, if they try to fight it out with the arresting group, sinister minds begin to play devils on those they think could become part of the drama just to get the P2 million brought up by the RCBC management and the victims’ relatives. While in other police operations, the pursuers are sometimes after the big loot before the robbers could even get farther and consume everything in their hands. I just hope the RCBC robbery case is different.

It is amazing that the Meralco management can defy an order from the Security Exchange Commission. If the SEC can not control Meralco and the Lopezes then who can?

The SEC order may be faulty but Meralco should postpone the counting and contest the validity of the order in the court of law. Such outright defiance only showed the arrogance and total indifference to law and order.

The Meralco management declared the SEC order as “null and void” but the SEC has more reasons to declare the Meralco election as “null and void” too. Is this the way how this country is run? The rich and the powerful can dictate what they want? If that be the case, the SEC, ERC and all other regulatory agencies should be abolished.

The Solution to Economic Downturns in the Philippines?

I am an accounting graduate, a CPA by profession but i believe my undergraduate education in UP taught me a lot about Macro and Micro Economics. The country’s population is increasing, there is an increase need and demand for food, our food supply is scarce, and so the prices are skyrocketing, especially the price of our staple food-rice. Everything else follows, the price of basic commodities…The simple solution to these problems is to boost our local production and not rely on imports. When the country imports from the other countries, our resources quantified in monetary terms are also transferred to the said countries. We can offset that with our exports, of course. But when our imports are exceeding our exports, then the country will suffer an economic crisis.

It is so ironic that the Philippines have fertile lands and rich marine resources yet many Filipinos are starving…I do not believe that we have a shortage in rice production- there is just a problem in the tdistribution…Thousands of tons of harvest by local farmers are stocked in the warehouses of Dealers or Middlemen. Apparently the National Food Authority has failed to execute its function to purchase the produce of our farmers and do the distribution. There is just mismanagement in the logistics of our rice production..

The Philippines is an agricultural country, the government should focus on helping the Agriculture sector. Agriculture does not only mean rice production but it includes poultry, livestock, fishery, horticulture, floriculture, and all sorts of production… If we have more than enough of our local consumption, we can do well export our excess production. people in the rural areas need not flock to Manila and other cities that are already overpopulated if there is enough source of livelihood right in their backyards or shores in the province..

If rural folks have stable income, they will have a purchasing power to go to malls in the cities and spend their money. In that way the business sector will benefit and the economy turns smoothly..

another thing, other than the Agriculture sector, the government should also protect out local industries in shoes and garments production. Next to Food, clothing is our second basic need. What do we have in our department stores? Goods from China. Cheap shoes and clothes from China. many shoe factories in Marikina have closed down because of price cannibalism of China. The Philippine government should encourage the Filipino people to patronize our own products so that our money will not go elsewhere but revolve within our country…

I must have gone too far but my message is short and simple: Boost our local production, protect out local industries, patrinize Philippine-made products, minimize imports and maximize exports. Most of all, every Filipino should have discipline.

Greetings! I have been trying to register to vox populi for three days now but still, whenever I click the link to register, “cannot find server” window appears.
is it my connection? what shall i do?
i hope to join soon.
thank you!
sincerely,
carmela

Nice to hear that the Bureau of Internal Revenue has issued an order that would review the tax income payments of corporations and individuals in 2007.

Perhaps, it’s about time that the BIR should also look into the billions of revenues made by Meralco, which excessively imposes higher electricity rates among its millions of hapless consumers in Metro Manila.

The successful victory of the Lopez family at the recent Meralco stockholders’ meeting should only serve as an eye-opener for the hapless power consumers who are expected to suffer more from the insensitive manipulations of electric consumption rates in order to serve their corporate interests.

In retaliation, Government Service Insurance System general manager and president Winston Garcia, who represents the 35 government’s stakes in Meralco, could only sigh in relief as he filed a complaint with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that questions the proxy votes made in favor of those elected members of the Meralco board. The case is to be deliberated and decided by the Court of Appeals, with both parties providing a battery of lawyers on their sides to articulate whatever legal strategies they could muster to win the legal battle.

As this long legal battle looms in the offing, millions of muffled voices in the sidelines, belonging to the millions of honest electricity consumers, are ecstatic about its outcome. While in wait, the volcanoes in their breasts are slowly activating and pretty soon, these will explode to the detriment of the public utility firm. Actually, the least that the power consumers could do is perhaps, to boycott payment of their electricity bills as a form of protest against the mismanagement and inefficiencies of Meralco. Surely, the next thing that Meralco will do is to cut the flow of power current into the homes that abandoned their monthly bills. But once Meralco does this tactic, there is a strong possibility that thousands of irritated consumers will swarm the proper courts with individual charges related to illegal disconnection and overcharging of electric rates against the power distributor. A legal precedent could no longer be ignored when the proper court recently ordered Meralco to pay P800,000 to a certain company for illegal disconnection.

With reference to the questionable coco levy funds, which was reportedly reduced from P54 billion to what is now only P21 billion.

If these coco levy funds really belonged to the real coconut farmers, particularly the members of the Coconut Federation of the Philippines (Cocofed), why can’t the government just distribute these funds to the rightful beneficiaries, rather than invest them somewhere else, without the knowledge of the Cocofed members?

There is no doubt that holding these funds for a long, long time will all the more create unwanted suspicions among the marginal coco farmers that the government is just making fool of them.

It’s high time that the government take serious approached in addressing the peace and order situations of our country. Everyday, significant portions of the daily news cover crimes that can be attributed to poverty, menacing drugs, deteriorating family values and other factors like higly liberal sex among young persons, pornography that seemed being ignored by the concerned authorities and families as well. The nature of crime perpetrated by the criminals are sometimes incomprehensible like RCBC massacre and other heinous crimes that are taking place in a well guarded place like banks, city centers, in the midst of our homes and in broad daylight. So many drug addicts are roaming around freely like monsters looking for their freys and are even ignoring the presence of the police authorities. We feel, we are no longer safe from these “animals” and the proper authorities seemed to be helpless in dealing these kinds of dangers.

We are now worried for our safety and the fear is always prevailing in this kind of environment. The government should implement drastic measures to seriously address these problems. This is a social cancer that should require not only medication but to determine and eradicate the source of the problems.

Peace loving citizens should be protected and the authorities should be vigilant to control those menace before they can inflict death and injuries to the hapless persons. The evil persons prevails when good persons don’t take action/s.

Now it’s not just Senator Pimentel. JDV has come into the fray. They, basically, have neglected local autonomy during all their years in Congress. Now they want it buried altogether through federalism. There must be a way to stop this folly.

What is in federalism that’s not in local autonomy? Nothing, except added expenditures! Local autonomy would directly strengthen local governments units (provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays). Federalism would do it through the regional subdivisions it would have to create!

Now LGU’s have to contend only with Imperial Manila. With federalism each of them will have their own Imperial Regions, with each province trying to outdo each other for attention. I don’t think even the Bicol and Ilocos which are comparatively established regions would be spared of intraregional bickering.

The 70-30 sharing can be done now, if Congress wants to. Why wait for a cha-cha? LGU’s are mature structures; regions are artificial ones. LGU’s have existing financial systems and procedures; how about regions? Now we can barely finance the LGU’s; how would it be with the added burden of regional offices?

If it’s any consolation though, there wouldn’t be much left for the provinces after the regions have had their fill.

is jamby madrigal aunt’s fortune part of the marcos loot? nagtatanong lang po.

The coco levy fund is not owned by the coconut farmers nor the Cocofed. The source of these funds were from taxes levied on coconut planters which as the Supreme Court had ruled are public funds and therefore belong to the government. This is the reason why Danding Cojuangco lost ownership of UCPB to the government because he bought the UCPB shares using the coco levy funds.

Nobody knows what really happened as the CA deliberated the case. Earlier reports said that it’s not good for government to take over a public utility firm like Meralco because it’s not good for business. It may have been the basis of the appellate court for siding with Meralco. But GSISpresident Winston Garcia doesn’t want to rest his case and would even seek the court intervention that would break the Lopez family’s monopoly of power distribution and supply in Metro Manila.

Garcia, in fact, has vowed to ask the court to order Meralco to buy cheaper power supply from the government’s National Power Corporation and not from its subsidiary First Gas Power Company, which is the reason why the power rate becomes unaffordable to ordinary electric consumers.

But I have another suggestion should Meralco continues to rear its ugly heads on this sensitive issue at hand. And the way I see it nothing positive will happen considering that Meralco has the money to bribe anybody to gain favor on its side.

Why can’t the Filipino consumers think about alternative energy sources. The Philippines is a tropical country. Sunshine and wind are available almost all year round. With solar and wind power, I have no doubt that each home will be capable of running its own power requirements on a daily basis.

All they have to do is try forming an association or cooperative that will spearhead the formation of an alternative energy facility whose main intention is to help its members avail of subsidized electricity to power their homes.

With all these hassles, I have a strong doubt that Meralco will continue to impose what it feels will benefit its corporate interestes rather than for
public good. I think this is the time to start this move. Once and for all, it will lessen the consumers’ heavy burden on their pockets. At the same time, it will minimize the national government’s heavy dependence on imported fuels, thus a big savings for the country’s foreign coffer.

Mr. Cuna, I can’t blame you for being so defensive of your employer. But I’ll look forward to that day when you retire from the service and become one of the ordinary power consumers. Then, perhaps, you can judge for yourself that what Meralco does to its millions of consumers is legally wrong. Come and think about it.

Meralco may have seemingly won the first round with the CA granting them a TRO, but the Court did not grant them their motion to issue a ‘cease and desist’ order to stop Winston Garcia from seeking the annulment of the newly elected Meralco Board. There is very good reason to believe the judicial ruling will favor what is to be in the public’s interest.
This is a matter of a monopoly vs. public interest.

The Commission of Human Rights seems to be functioning as an extension of the Militants and Leftist Organizations as well as the outlawed the way they promulgate their decision. When there is an encounter between the police / military personnel and the casualty/s happened to be from the other side of the fence, CHR is very quick of declare to condenm the govt side even as they have in their possession only the initial results of the investigation. They should not be one sided in rendering their decision and should stay in the middle ready to receive the complete results of the investigation in the name of fair judgement. Jumping to the outright conclusion perematurely become more of a problem than the solution.