August 2007 Archives

THE PUBLISHED comments in Malu Fernandez's article out of the "ignorant investigative journalism genre" regarding OFWs [created] an astonishing ripple of reactions in cyberspace. Why [have] OFWs all over united and fought back? Why is that so?

Obviously, it's enough humiliation and degradation of the so-called modern heroes of the Philippine economy! But, [should] her superior/employer be made accountable too? Can she publish her article without the blessings of her bosses? Was an apology plus resignation enough?

I solicit your opinion to let the whole world know your sentiments.

MR. Roilo Golez proposes the purchase of at least a hundred UH-1 helicopters, better known as Hueys, in order to fulfill Mrs. Arroyo's order to shut down the insurgency/ies (?) in three years.  See "Solon pushes for purchase of 100 Hueys for combat missions." He gives a convincing argument, but while I have no wish to impugn on Mr. Golez's character, I wish to remind one and all that purchases such as this have been sources of graft and corruption in most administrations. Notwithstanding, if according to this former military officer's estimates, the purchase will greatly help the anti-insurgency efforts, then let's do it. However, that should be the short term. The long term should be to enable the Philippines to build its own equipment, from firearms to jet planes, a capability that is sure to generate employment, and eventually, help fight the insurgency itself and strengthen the Philippine economy. Skeptics will pout and laugh but what do they have to propose in turn ? Continue buying in the ukay-ukay world market ? Let's find ways and means to employ the thousands of engineering graduates we churn out of our schools year after year, and eventually build up a generation of Filipinos that do not look to "employment abroad" as the end-all of their education. Just my two cents' worth.

FEAR spreads as fast as fire itself.  After reading a few articles about the fires in Greece, I came upon the conclusion, along with many others, that these fires were not just freak accidents but terrorism attacks.  When I think of terrorism, I think of cars exploding and suicide bombers, but never forest fires.  Who could have even come up with such an idea like that? Honestly, it bewilders my mind.  Many countries stand for no tolerance of terrorism policy, including Greece, so why aren't others stepping in to help?

IF your cell phone is under surveillance, it can be turned off and on remotely and be used to bug the conversation in your room even if you think your cell phone is turned off -- unless you disconnect your battery. All your text messaging can be intercepted and replied to using your cellular registry in the records of your cellular provider. The information in these new surveillance equipment is easily found on the Internet. Most especially because of the new Anti-Terror Law where your cell phone may be legally tapped upon mere suspicion, text messaging should no longer be allowed to hold in Court as evidence. Anyone, for that matter, who can afford a surveillance gadget can put someone in big trouble. The convenience of bringing someone to court with text message evidence must give way to this perversion. If we want to make sure that our justice system will protect everyone against false accusations, then this must be acted upon immediately. SMS should not hold in court.

IT is not a secret that Thailand is one of the most tourist-friendly countries in Asia, making it one of the most preferred destinations for Europeans and Americans. Tourists would bring in their euros and dollars each time they visit Thailand making the baht one of the most stable currencies in the whole of Asia. Baywalk's gimik spots are a lot more decent compared to Bangkok's rows of girlie bars, yet Baywalk attracts lots of foreigners and decent Filipinos alike who are seeking clean fun. Not many people are complaining but what [Manila Mayor Alfredo] Lim cannot accept is that the credit for transforming Baywalk from Lim's era of mugger-infested, smelly Roxas Boulevard goes to [former Manila mayor Lito] Atienza. Too much for Lim to bear. Watch the stubborn old man waste all of Baywalk's worth. He simply doesn't care. -- Tony Diaz, Karachi, Pakistan (via e-mail)

TO TEACH the smugglers? Wasting millions' worth of materials and efforts? Is this how Ms Gloria teaches?I wonder what lesson the smugglers would learn from watching those cars crushed? Let's try to replace "smugglers" with "kidnappers,"  will Ms Gloria crush the victim? Got my point? I would have applauded Ms Gloria if she taught the smugglers some lessons, like sending them to the battlefront in Mindanao... now that would be a good lesson to the "smugglers." What a waste... what a waste... what a stupid way of making a point. (It's P3M worth, it would be swift to sell it even at P2M... that's a lot for those who are affected by the floods.)

THE MILITARY suffered one of its biggest casualties in decades. Why? Think of this. We have more logistics than the bandits and yet we are battered out there by these "fewer" terrorist-minded Moros. Perhaps, one reason is that we lost many of our smartest commanders in the field. We may still have the fiercest warriors but we may have lost the [smartest] ones. Fighting the rebels requires not just mere courage but wits! Battle with the mind more than with emotion. The Magdalo commanders, Gen. Danny Lim, Col. Querubin, Lt. Col. Segumalian, and the rest of those most intelligent junior commanders. Where are they now? They're behind bars! Ah, that all (or shall we say, "they") explains why many low-ranking (or "low-earning") privates, corporals, and sergeants of the military have lost their precious lives. Mrs. Arroyo, General Esperon, for how long can we bear seeing and hearing the mourning and cries of those orphaned by the courageous dead soldiers? Conscience, Ma'am, Sir! -- Raymond Labrador, Cebu City, Philippines (via e-mail)

The collective silence WITH all the political killings and disappearances that are happening around us, Jose Ma. Montelibano laments why are we not out in the streets to condemn the killings. Even US solons have urged GMA to act on the killings. The absence of collective outrage may be explained by the absence of a collective sense of nationhood. Those who are silent about these killings, view these killings as a fight between the left and the right. They are silent because they are not part of any of these groups. They are mere watchers on the fight between these two protagonists. We all know that the killings are condemnable. We should rise up against it if we are morally upright citizens. But unfortunately, we are, collectively, not good citizens. It is more of a norm to look in a different direction when we see unlawful acts. Good deeds, good citizenship, volunteerism, heroism are very common news items because they are not the usual way things are done. Apathy, distrust, hopelessnes is not news because these are the prevailing attitude. These are the norm. The absence of a collective sense of nationhood results in a collective silence towards political killings. A campaign on citizenship will help bring about this sense of nationhood. With s strong sense of country, we can easily mobilize our people to pressure government to act on the killings. With better collective moral values, it may be difficult to find individuals who will commit these dastardly acts. Our moral values have become so low that life has become so cheap. The absence of a collective outrage to condemn the killings is a reflection of what we are, as a people, walang pakialam. But we can do something with this kind of collective attitude. We are just too busy with our individual advocacy and agenda.

VERY nice of Dr. Duque to say the government can stop doctors from leaving; they can and they will. But can they also guarantee that we will earn a decent living and not end up in jail because of debts? Does he have any doctor-relative who is starting up? Do they care about the social condition of doctors? I've been a doctor for more than 10 years, and I am living like a daily wage earner and have debt up to my neck and I have not paid back my parents for the tuition they've paid. All the more that we'll lack doctors because no parent would want to send their children to med school once they do that. Hostaging doctors is not the solution. Cut your salary and improve the salary of start-up doctors; maybe then we won't be tempted to leave. Give us a better reason to stay and don't blame us for wanting to have better lives. -- Cora Bernabe, Olongapo City, Philippines (via e-mail)

I AM very sure that millions of Filipinos like me would be very happy if the bill of [Iloilo] Congressman [Ferjenel] Biron on cheaper medicine is approved. The price of medicine here in our country is so high that an ordinary Filipino cannot even buy a drug for his aching stomach. This bill will prolong the life of every ailing Filipino. I hope and pray that there will be more people like him who will come out and fight for the benefit of his kapwa (fellow) Filipino. Congratulations and good luck. -- Etrellita Mendoza, Nueva Vizcaya (via e-mail)