[...] Vox Populi: Anti-Arroyo rallies in Italy, Europe [...]

Tama lang yun, why would there be foreign aid in the first place. So that her administration cohorts will pocket it?

Mga pakawala ni Joma Sison yung mga ng ra rally na yun.

The left. The left. The left. Can’t they get it?

That is nothing new. These militants who are in congress are just as corrupt as those they condemn. Most of them are richer now that they join congress. Mahilig sa camera at kulang lang sila lahat sa pansin. Corrupt and KSP.

They’re “anti-Arroyo,” not anti-Filipino, not anti-aid, not anti-democracy… Just wondering how many of the protesters are OFWs.

What’s the message here? Send your money home and keep mum?

It is ok for the Filipinos who are against Gloria’s regime demonstrate, one way to inform the international people what a liar this woman is. The killings are nothing to her kakampi. Ang nakikita yung mga dollar na diretsong bumabaksak sa mga accounts ng mga already rich Filipinos who made up a measly 15% of the population. Ang mga kumakampi sa kanya pirming iginigiit na ang economya tumataas dahil ke Gloria. Very far from it. The peso is strengthening as the US dollars dip in value. The economy in the Philippines seems to be rising because of the dollars that are going directly to the hands of Filipino consumers who are frequenting the malls as soon as they receive the remittances that their love ones sent them from abroad. This makes the stores in the Mall livelier and selling. So where is Gloria coming in? She is still borrowing left and right and with bended knees asking aids and alms from foreigners… nakakahiya. Sa halip na harapin ang pagpapatayo ng mga distribution center and infrastructure for trade and commerce to flow from the mines, fields and farms to the manufacturers, masiadong abala sa pagbebenta sa mga foreigners of the right to mine our own resources. Kaya ng mga Pilipinong magrun ng mga mining plants and processing plants KUNG ME PERA. Walang natitira sa Bayan. Libut ng libot, sang katerba ang kasama. Ang gastos lahat sa kaban ng Bayan. Ang karamihan sa mga kabuhayan ng mga Pilipino nanggagaling sa bukid, sa babuyan, sa pagtatanim ng mga mulawin at nara, at mga mina. Harapin ito at huwag masiadong bilugin ang ulo ng mga Pilipino tungkol sa mga kita ng mga stock buyers. They are but a puny part of the whole Population…lahat lang nung me mga kayang itapon sa equity market kung bumagsak ang mga ito. Para yang sugal lalu na kung hindi naman nagbabasa ang mga bumibili ng stocks. Those economic predictions and reports are specifically for the attention of those moneyed Filipinos in Alabang, Makati at San Juan…hindi sa mga Pilipino sa mga parang at liblib. Tama na ang puro bola. Masiadong binibilog ang ulo ng mga tao, puros laway lang naman ang mga yan at papel. Walang epekto sa buhay ng mga mamamayan.

it’s people’s right to express their feelings and you can’t blame them doing it coz talaga naman rampant ang corruption sa administration nya…garapalan.

Hoi Ms. Ott

Di mo ba gusto na may mga foreign investors na nagtitiwala ulit sa economiya ng pilipinas? dahil nung panahon ni erap…walang nag invest dito na mga companya…ano ba gusto mo mangyari? maghirap talaga ang pilipinas? at wag mo sisihin si gloria kung ang mga pilipino ay di marunong gumastos ng kanilang pera…na pag nagkaroon lang ng malaking salapi eh takbo na agad sa SM. Typical squatter mentality! sawang sawa na ako sa mga taong tanga!

walang kwentang presidente yang si gloria ang mahirap lalong naghirap. sasabihin tumaas ang ekonomiya ng pilipinas nasaan? yung lamang mga tagasunod lang ni gloria ang naniniwala sa kanya ang taong bayan sawa na sa kanila dahil kitang kita na walang kwenta ang administration niya. . . kaya kung si gloria may natitira pang kahihiyan umalis ka na sa posisyon mo. tsupi. . .

I think it’s just right to stop foreign aid to the country. It’s only a fraction that really goes to the recipient kung meron man. The rest of the AID? Well my guess is it wouldn’t be different to FERTILIZER FUND. And besides they say our economy is doing well or was it?
Anyway they are not pakawala ni sison in europe. It happens when ever Arroyo goes, In US, Australia & New Zealand…They are EXILED FILIPINO WORKERS forced to leave to find a job overseas wanting to come home but can’t because of our corrupt government.

I think the Philippines’ economy is
not only seems to be rising, as what
Ms Ott stated in her comment, the
economy is actually growing by leaps
and bounds. Actually, we are in the
bull market. Go and check the PSE, GDP and the current value of our
local currency against the US dollar.
These facts and figures are real proof
that the Philippine economy is impro-
ving. Come on! my dear kabayan, let’s
not be too negative about this
administration. All I can say is that, it
pays off to have a president with a
Phd in economics. Now the sick man
of Asia is recuperating back to its
financial health. Thanks to Ate Glow.

Whatever AID is given to the Philippines people in government especially GMA’s government will always find ways and means to steal it. Filipinos are literally going hungry because people in government steal whatever money is there left to develop the Philippines especially the countrysides. Even the fertilizer fund meant for my district ended up in the Congressman’s pocket. A Congressman allied with GMA. No development means no jobs. I don’t think you can blame the left. These people are engage in a class struggle more than a communist ideological struggle (That’s coming from a Republican). Give them good paying jobs and you won’t see them up in arms in the hills. If people brand the NPA as criminals I don’t see GMA and her cohorts are any different. At least the NPA is not being treacherous by pretending to uphold the law and taking an oath to serve and protect the people when in fact the so called “duly constituted authorities” are conspiring to plunder the coffers of the National treasury. So who has committed the bigger crime? Moreover, GMA has not explained the Garci scandal. She has not explained why P750M was stolen through Mr. Bolante and ended up in her campaign Kitty. She has not explained why her brother in law (Jose Pidal) has billions of pesos which in his wildest dreams would never acquire through legitimate means. She has not explained why she is unable to stop the extrajudical killings of media personnel and street activists. She can’t even explain why the Philppine army was posting Dato Arroyo’s poster in Camarines Sur. Such greed for power! Her attempt to control Congress and the entire Philippines is anathema to democracy. Whatever voodoo economics she claims she has gained for the country is bereft of any concrete results because the fact remains that more and more Filipinos are going under the poverty level. Whatever economic gains she claims she has achieved are eaten away by inflation, high cost of living, gas prices and population explosion (similar to Banladesh). So don’t talk about the economy doing well under her administration. She can’t even address the power shortage in the provinces. Without the remittances which OFWs like me send to the Philippines, the country is sunk!

Imbes na mag tulungan tira ng tira ..dapat kapit bisig tayong lahat. Hinde yun batikos dito batikos doon.

Ang Pilipino nga naman …

ok lang naman ang aid at cguro kahit sino gustong makatanggap nun lalo na ang mga pilipinong naghihirap.ang tanong lang naman ay napapakinabangan ba ng mga pilipino ang aid o tulong na ibinibigay ng maraming bansang nilalamyerdahan ng gobyernong arroyo?

bakit mahigit 70% pa rin ang mahirap at papalaki pa yata?bakit marami ang out of school youth at ang mga batang hindi makatuntong sa paaralan?bakit maraming nakatira sa estero at sa mga overpass at kung saan saang lugar na di mawari kung paano mo masikmurang tumira?

pag nasagot ito ng gobyernong arroyo, baka bumaba ang mga mamamayang pumapanig at naniniwala sa kaliwa.

I share the common sentiments here to stop foreign aid and let our government learn how to stand on it’s own. A big challenge indeed for our government officials.

On the other hand, I have witnessed how the leftist have critisized all the administrations from Marcos to GMA. Question is, after this long years of opposition which often resulted to violence in our streets, can’t we try to join hands and support our leaders? atleast give them the chance to proved themselves.

I believe we have selected a pretty good set of leaders from our recent election. Also, the recently concluded election shows that our electorate have gained maturity. With this indicators, coupled with our unity, our country can move forward. It is time for our leaders and our people to set aside politics and work together for the common good.

This is our country and all of us has the responsibility. Not just our leaders but also are the masses.We have to be united. We have to stand as one. We don’t have to beg other countries for our future.

So the peso is getting “stronger” via the dollar ?
Big deal.
I think it’s simply “cosmetic” which tends to melt away when the heat of the international economic sun really rises.
But.
I’m not an economist, and I am not in the Philippines, so I might be wrong.
One time when I will be happy to be wrong.

In the meantime, I send money every now and then to the Philippines, and, hellllooo…..what is this I detect from the voices of those I send money to ?

Mababa ang dollar ngayon, e.

Hey, this tells me that the dollar may be gaining “strength” statistically, but is the economic bag of the ordinary housewife getting heavier ?

Did the price of staples and food go down ? What about oil (and I’m not asking about the one at the gas pump), sugar, fish, meat, tomatoes, malunggay, bagoong, etc. ?

How much does a dollar cost now ? Last I looked, it was about 45 pesos to one.

So.

Did prices go down to that dollar level as well ?

Just wondering.

You know, I don’t care if high rises come up everywhere in the Philippine cities, or if magnificent bridges span islands or if the roads from Manila to Batanes and Manila to Sarangani are all paved.

This doesn’t, to me, spell “progress”.

Progress is:

a strong dollar -
food on the table for the wage earner’s family -
happy, chubby, smiling faces -
low unemployment rate -
domestic helpers abroad returning home because now they have jobs they can hold that are commensurate to what degree they finished -
affordable housing for the daily wage earner -
low percentage of underemployed -
dropping economy-related crime rate..

You get the picture.

Selena, dun mo itanong sa taga estero at overpass, di natin masyadong isisi sa gobyerno kung bakit nandun sila. sila na nga to’ng salat sa pera at trabaho sila pa tong anak ng anak. disiplina ng bawat pinoy ang kailangan, kaya sang ayon ako sau Frank na tulungan na lang tayo kaysa mag tirahan at sisihin ang gobyerno….
OFW’s help educate people back home!!

I would like other countries to stop extending financial aid to the Philippines simply because it doesn’t go to the Filipino people anyway. It would just end up in the politicians’ pockets. The recent election only proves that a government position is a goldmine to anyone who intends to become rich. Why the freakin’ hell would one spend a freaking hundred million pesos in election campaign to become a public servant for 3 freakin’ years? No stupid businessman would invest on something which doesn’t guarantee a good return. Why would someone resort to killing of his political opponent if his intention is just to serve the public? Anybody can be a public servant without being in the government. It is also unbelievable to see that even a dumb movie actor would even dare to become a senator when he does not even know how to recite the Preamble of the constitution. These actors just know nothing. Nothing. It’s amazing these people were still able to get more than a million votes despite their educational incapacity. I guess more Filipinos are still presently happy about the way poverty is pinching everyone must by observing the voting habits.

Each time GMA leaves the country, that means more debts and more for her pocket. Juan dela Cruz, think about it!

Alan said,

I think the Philippines’ economy is
not only seems to be rising, as what
Ms Ott stated (this is a lie…he he he just like his ate glow…) in her comment, the
economy is actually growing by leaps
and bounds. Actually, we are in the
bull market. Go and check the PSE, GDP and the current value of our
local currency against the US dollar.
These facts and figures are real proof
that the Philippine economy is impro-
ving. Come on! my dear kabayan, let’s
not be too negative about this
administration. All I can say is that, it
pays off to have a president with a
Phd in economics. Now the sick man
of Asia is recuperating back to its
financial health. Thanks to Ate Glow.
======
Pssst! three days in a raw, the Philippine market just went kaput!!! How is ur ate glow? And hear this, the US dollar is gaining again. Then the Peso’s value slid down to 45.90. Soon the OFW will be happy again. As the US economy gets stronger, your Ate glow’s prediction will go boink!!! the peso’s value will go with it. A dollar to 55 pesos is good for the Filipinos sending them from abroad…but will be bad for your Ate glow’s oligarch
s friends and friends from Alabang and Makati.

trying to ditch the president won’t help solve the problems the country is encountering! Y make things complicated?! kahit sino ang iupo niyo diyan sa pwesto ng presidente, impossibleng hindi yan kurakot! Remember ” Money/power is the root of all evil!” Kahit sino pang anghel ang umupo diyan, matino man siya sa una, magiging kurakot din yan! Magpakatotoo nga tayong lahat!!!! ang pagbabago ay nagsisimula sa bawat isa. sa sarili muna natin! huwag natin subukang baguhin ang kung sino man, sarili muna natin bago ang iba! Help urselves, so u can help others!!!

It’s “talanga mentality” on the rise here. It’s no wonder how the opposition can easily get the people’s favor because of so many crabs lurking even among the common people. Nakakahiya kayo!!! Akala mo kung sino mga malilinis when they’ve got asses for their faces. **gO!!!

Yes Pablo Escobar it’s a goldmine. See how far the oppositionists have gone just to have themselves elected. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Naloko na naman sangkatauhang Pilipino. And dumb actors going to polictics? Perfect example - ERAP. You’ve got it right baby!!!

Ang problema 70% ng Pilipino ay TAMAD!!! Paano nagagawa ng iba na umahon sa kahirapan? Madami na rin kasi sa atin ang naadapt ang utak banyaga na ayaw madungisan ang kamay para kumita. I salute the OFWs but do not see yourselves as better than those you have left behind. Dapat nga turuan niyo sila a thing or two on being masipag. And don’t fret if the peso becomes stronger. Mga Pinoy din kayo so be proud of this achievement, besides, isa din naman kayo sa dahilan kung bakit lumalakas ang piso.

Ms ott said,

Pssst! three days in a raw, the Philippine market just went kaput!!! How is ur ate glow? And hear this, the US dollar is gaining again. Then the Peso’s value slid down to 45.90. Soon the OFW will be happy again. As the US economy gets stronger, your Ate glow’s prediction will go boink!!! the peso’s value will go with it. A dollar to 55 pesos is good for the Filipinos sending them from abroad…but will be bad for your Ate glow’s oligarch
s friends and friends from Alabang and Makati.
===============================
Read the news now lady. Sana makiisa ka sa mga Pilipino at huwag lang isipin conversion to Peso nung pinapadala mong salapi sa mga kamag-anakan mo dito. Besides Pilipino ka pa rin naman di ba???

to ms ott wala pong magagawa ang govt if ung people na may purchasing power ehh gustong gumastos sa akong leisure ang gusto nila.

as for asking investors to come in our country for business one way po iyon to create employment, to stable ung peso at madagdagan ung kita ng bawat pilipino

every country has this inflation na normal lalo na po sa city kasi nandun po ung malaking population na nagcreate po ng demand.. try nyo pong tumira sa rural mas mura po ang cost of living dun.

sa mga pinapatay po may prove na po ba kung sino ho ang pumatay?

with regards to borrowing left and right para po may mag sponsor to start the project dahil wala pong pera ang gobyerno natin para isustain ung such project. dahil ung nakokolekata ng govt binabayad po sa inutang ng sinaunang administration (The country’s foreign debts were less than US$1billion when Marcos assumed the presidency in 1965, and more than US$28billion when he left office in 1986. A sizable amount of these moneys went to Marcos family and friends in the form of behest loans. These loans were assumed by the government and still being serviced by taxpayers.[19] Today, more than half of the country’s revenues are outlayed for the payments on the interests of loans alone.)

LAN BAUTISTA/ ms OTT sino po ba ang gusto nyong mag lead ng country? tanong lang po.. baka kasi mas matindi pa po yan sa present…

Stop foreign aid? Of course not. Stop giving aid through the government? By all means.

Nothing much of the foreign aid whether military, economic, social, humanitarian etc. that have been coursed through the goverment have been accounted for. Most of these aids end up in the wrong hands.

I suggest that foreign aid should be coursed through NGOs, the Churches and other socio-civic organizations whose main job is not to enrich themselves but to provide basic services to the people.

I still remember when I used to work with the Social action arm of the CBCP, I was very familiar with the operations of CARITAS MANILA. This institution is being funded by MISEREOR of Germany. Most of the funds and services reach the people through the social action centers in the different parts of the country mostly run by priests and nuns. These people are dependable and have no desire at all of enriching themselves while in office. Very much different from our government officials.

Foreign aid should bypass the government institutions, instead it should be directed through the private and religious organizations that make sure these funds go to the right intended beneficiaries, the poor filipino people.