EDSA II was a mistake. What guarantee there is that Puno or anyone else will not be like or worse than this one?

Correcting it with another will not make it right anytime. Even if they succeed in their plans, there is an election in 2010. Patience would be a virtue instead of haste.

Is governance now part of the bishops’ temporal responsibility? Look at the wholesale moral decay we are in now — is morality not their major temporal responsibility? They failed miserably yet they want to take more responsibility. Their effort will be more productive if they work hard at uplifting the moral standards of those who are coming after this morally bankrupt generation.

Unless they are planning to run for public office, grandstanding is not the way to go but to lead in humility as exemplified by Jesus.

– Alfredo Quedi, Khamis Mushayt, Saudi Arabia (via e-mail)

THE EXECUTIVE clemency or presidential pardon granted by GMA to former president Estrada is the latest among the litany of blatant abuse of power and disrespect to the Filipino people she and her administration has done to our country.

No wonder Filipinos find it hard to get our much deserved respect. If we don’t respect our own law, why would others do? Why did the Americans refuse to turn over Subic rape case convict Smith to Philippine authorities? Why can an American TV program and company openly insult Philippine medical school graduates? [Why can authorities in different countries] arrogantly accuse our OFWs of any conceivable crime, etc.?

Because our own so-called leaders or vultures in disguise are showing to the world how we are supposed to be treated. It’s pathetic how the individual efforts Filipinos are doing to gain respect are shrouded and washed away by the embarrassing and selfish acts of our own leaders. May God show His amazing grace and mercy upon and save the Philippines and give us a true leader. Let’s just trust that in the end divine justice will prevail.

– Ramon Macalalad, Harbor City, California, USA (via e-mail)

THERE has to be at least one of them telling the truth. While JDV III claims that Neri told him about his conversation with the President regarding the so-called offer of Chairman Abalos in order to have the NBN project approved, Neri counters with a completely opposite stance, saying that what JDV III claims is completely untrue. So now, it is left to us: who is telling the truth?

Better yet, what is the truth? This question seems to always escape the minds of many whistleblowers as well as witnesses, left and right. It is like a neverending cycle of a thesis and an antithesis. Whistle blowers tend to claim that they are the ones telling the truth. Does that mean that those people who are supposedly guilty of the accusation are kings and queens of denial?

One can see how easy it is to just say what you want to say and when you want to say it. In any case, the only way for the Senate to make its hearings of the NBN scandal worth one’s time and effort is if the people who are involved in the procedings (i.e. witnesses, whistleblowers, interrogators) truly have one thing in mind: to tell the truth by first stating what is really the truth!

THIS is a lame excuse.

First, the LPP (League of Provinces of the Philippines) does not have a resolution granting P500, 000 each to Pampanga and Bulacan governors. Second, LPP is hard up on funds. How can it prioritize giving to Pampanga and Bulacan, both rich provinces. This is stupidity. Third, how could you give away P500, 000 of the people’s money without receipts? This is irresponsible.

The LPP [members] say they were able to meet only yesterday since their national president just came back from abroad. How could the LPP have distributed the money two weeks ago without their president, which according to their constitution, is the final approving authority for the release of any fund?

Governor Panlilio immediately reported the issue to the media after receiving the money. Was the LPP president already out of the country?

I think this matter really should be pursued until the truth comes out. The people are tired of all the lies.

– Ruben Tayco, Tabacuhan, Olongapo City, Philippines (via e-mail)

WITH the reported attempt to plant evidence at Glorietta, to my mind the piece is beginning to take shape.

Whatever event that occurs in our beloved country, whether it is accident or planned, conspirators immediately take that opportunity to sow chaos and discord. Just hours after the blast, Senator Trillanes issued statements blaming the administration even without any shred of evidence. Other senators like Pimentel and Lacson issued leading statements. Others used the media to ventilate their biased ideas on this serious matter.

One thing is sure, it is my impression that some Filipinos are already losing their genuine sense of patriotism. Even trivial misdemeanors done by administration officials, military and the police will surely land in the headlines, thanks to the selfish commercialism which abounds in some media outfits. Whatever mistakes President Arroyo has done, still she is our leader. No matter all the political noise and accusations to the contrary, divine providence wills President Arroyo to serve as our leader.

[Read the rest of this entry »]

TRILLANES was quick to blame the Palace for the Glorietta 2 Mall blast incident.

Well, at this early stage everyone could be a suspect: the Palace through the military/police operatives, JI terrorists, the Communists, etc. The problem however is that Trillanes himself, like most of the Palace people, is not a credible person to throw such an accusation.

Sorry, but no matter what the cause or justification they may have, I have very little sympathy for people involved in military coups. As I see it they are as reckless and selfish as most Pinoy drivers. They would grab your lane unmindful of the harm it might cause the innocents just as the failed mutinies and coups have caused harm to our economy.

THERE was collective outrage among bloggers with the Malu Fernandez controversy. There was collective outrage among Fil-Ams at the racist statement from “Desperate Housewives.” Today, we are confronted by a much, much more despicable incident but where is the outrage?

The opposition is and will bleed the issue for their selfish motives. The commentators and opinion writers are having a heyday making various spins and interpretations with Fr. Panlilio’s expose. But where is the outrage?

Definitely, it is not only the few who have spoken that received a paper bag with bundles of money. An ABS-CBN video footage showed other politicians carrying similar bags. The rest may deny getting any money but it won’t change the fact that public perception is that they indeed got money. Delicadeza is alien to them. Garapalan is the name of the game. But still, where is the outrage?

Why are we not out in the streets demanding explanations and even making calls for resignation? Why do we go on with our lives as if this suhulan is just a normal incident? Why is there no collective outrage? No, I am not calling for people power. I am merely asking why have we become so meek and numb as a people in spite of the endless political scandals that confront us everyday.

The suhulan did not really come as a surprise. The suprise is when somebody, thanks to Fr. Panlilio, finally came out to expose the incident. (I am quite disappointed with Gov. Grace Padaca when she claimed on the news that she got a Christmas card from the GMA with P50, 000 but never came out to expose this gift giving incident at the time.) Corruption has become a way of life in our country. We know it happens. It is the P500, 000 that Fr. Panlilio showed to media that gave corruption a “face.”

In his column, Jose Ma. Montelibano said, “Nation building is character building.” Precisely. And that is my personal advocacy. Call it character building, value formation, good citizenship. If there is no collective change in our attitude and ways as a people, we will remain unaffected by the corrupt practices we see and hear everywhere. It is not really surprising why there is no collective outrage with regards to this blatant suhulan in Malacañang.

THE ACT of Congressman Benny Abante is more or less the same as the act of the Pampanga governor.

Is it that hard to clarify to the president or whoever distributed the money what it was for? It is pathetic for this lawmaker to suddenly come out of the closet after the scandal broke out. Transparency is the keyword here. Why is it that these mushrooms suddenly sprout only after one individual decides to stand for the right of the people to information? They are all like Pontius Pilate who washed his hands before Christ was crucified. They are only admitting that they received cash because there was a whistleblower and now claim to be innocent when in fact they could have actually done something in the first place.

Please, you politicians know that you are public servants and not servants to your personal interests. This should be a lesson for those who keep silent because they benefited out of such anomalous transactions and suddenly wash their hands and try to appear innocent when it is disclosed.

Sorry, but you are all guilty in the eyes and voice of the people.

Vox populi, vox dei.

THERE are obvious reasons why this former priest is thankfully now an ex-priest.

He will bite the hand that feeds him. He is no more than a stir-the-pot-type person. He knew coming in that politics is what it is — and why is it that now he is claiming to be the holy one. The Mister Clean?

– Louis Payawal, California (via e-mail)

THIS is all bullshit. We are not even focusing on this issue.

Who are these people adding fuel to ignite hatred and malice against the TV station and its parent company Walt Disney? Excuse me, they do not represent the doctors and any Filipino in the United States; they might as focus on something more interesting. We have no complaint
about what had been said. Only a dumb person would still insist on what kind of apology the station needs to provide.

They have already apologized. Am I assuming that these some so-called “Filipinos” are up for dinero, mukhang pera kayo. If you keep on pressing those silly issues it will have an impact on the ordinary Filipino living in the US; they can be implicitly discriminated against if these stooges keep going. If there was anything that was said, look at [it] the positive way.

Filipino doctors need not take it as an insult but further [improve] themselves and work better. Simply to stave off the negativity and show your worth as a qualified, dignified and intelligent doctor.

– Gina Lauder, California (via e-mail)