Five days after “Milenyo” struck,which is not even a supertyphoon, our home is still without electricity. I’m posting from an internet cafe in a subdivision next to us, which was one of the fortunate few to have their electricity restored yesterday.
I’m sorry for not being able to interact with you the past days. Thank you for visiting this site even if I myself has been unable to.
“Milenyo” showed how inutile this government when it comes to basic services. Gloria kept on barking “do this, do that” Nobody listens to her. No electricity, no water. This government is unprepared to deal with “disasters”.
The most disastrous part of “Milenyo”s passing is the inability of the government to cope. Imagine, we are just a few hundred kilometers from the center of government and five days after a typhoon, we still don’t have electricity and water.
You can imagine how it is in provinces that were hit harder.
Government resources were poured in such scandalous activities as People’s Initiative and others designed to perpetuate Arroyo in power but the most basic like providing water and electricity to people in time of crisis, there is no ready mechanism for it.
I’ll make “kwento” later. Suffice it to say that galit ako.
Sabi ko na nga ba, eh!
Wala pa rin daw kuryente sa Metro South!
That means no water, either!
Wow! How many days nang walang ligo ang mga taga-roon!
Ellen,
Thanks god, OK naman pala kayo. Akala ko ipinakulong na kayo nong addict sa libel. Grabe nga pala ang bagsik ni Milenyo. Bakit hindi pa pumunta si Milenyo sa Malacanang at doon na naghasik ng lagim. Hindi bale, ang mahalaga OK kayo diyan sa Pilipinas.
milenyo is unfair. it should have hit malacanan with all its might and sucked up that evil couple who reside there. sometimes nature is blind, or deaf or mute. or, baka talagang mahirap puksain ang masamang damo?
It’s really nice to finally “hear” from you Ma’m Ellen 🙂 although most of us that have watched the news and saw the destructions brought about by Milenyo in Metro Manila and Southern Tagalog symphatized with our kababayans, we are also hoping that a good recovery would be on hand soon.
Speaking of “inutile”…what’s new with gloria…magaling lang sa “press realese at photo ops” ang hayop na yan. Have you seen the scenes in Malabon/Navotas when she did an “occular inspections”(much more of pa-kyut ala-singing in the rain stroll), while she was there..people all around don’t gave shit about her, they continued on “salvaging and stealing” Meralco posts cables and guy wires made of aluminum and copper to try and sell to the junkshops…parang mga busabos talaga itsura ng mga pinoy sa eksenang iyon…hayop na gloria.
tapos ang galing ng gloria sa paglabas sa tv at sabihing…”I want the power service to be back at 80% by today..”(that was last Saturday)….kundi ba tanga, boba at pulos yabang lang ang pandak na yan, how could she order it when she herself and not anyone among her alipores knows the extent of the damages to Meralco’s infrastructure like it’s power poles and transmission lines…so STUPID!!! Pero mapapansin ninyo until last night, wala pa siyang ikino-commit na pera para tulong sa mga nasalanta…kasi, hindi pa nila tapos kuwentahin ang mababawas sa “kaban ng bayan” na inaari na nilang kanila. 😡
kagabi (sunday) lang kami nagkaroon ng ilaw, ellen. ang hirap talaga kapag walang kuryente. ang hirap matulog dahil walang electric fan. tang na.
John Marzan,
Ingat sa kandila. May isang pinay dito, naputulan ng ilaw, gumamit ng kandila pagkatapos natulog na hindi pinatay ang kandila gaya ng sabi niya. For some reason, nasunog ang bahay. A few days later, tumakas siya and she was arrested for arson.
buwisit din johnm!
biruin mo hindi pa rin naisasaayos ang mga maliliit na puno na nakahambalang(tumumba/uprooted) sa may LRT2 Katipunan(Recto bound) station.
Kaya nagkanda-traffic trapik tuloy at late ako sa office.lintek!
Eh noong huwebes pa iyon at Lunes na ngayon?Samantalang panay ang balita sa TV na iniaayos na raw ng mga MMDA ito?
Dapat siguro ay magkaroon ng mga volunteer sa panahon ng kalamidad!
Spartan:
Sinong may sabing maglalabas ang Bansot ng pera. Naghihintay iyan ng mga pledges for contribution sa mga nasalanta ng bagyong ito that she must be praying for even to hit the Philippines that hard para magkaroon siya ng pangtustos sa mga tatapalan nila ng pera for her Chacha o kundi naman para sa election sa isang taon.
The way I see it is that JdV is still hoping he can get his fellow crooks in the Philippine Congress to OK the ChaCha sans any confirmation by Filipino passport holders and voters like you. I am told that millions of yen have been collected for the Leyte Landslide victims. Now, the wife of the Philippine ambassador here must have been busy planning again on talking to her fellow Japanese to give to any fundraising the Bansot is thinking of promoting for victims (kuno) of this calamity!
Iyan na lang yata ang pinagkakakuwartahan niyan.
Hawaiianguy:
Marami nang unos ang dumating sa Pilipinas, but not has destroyed the palace by the murky river. Gawang kamay iyan panahon pa ng mga kastila katulad noong mga simbahan sa probinsiya na puro lumot na pero hindi mabuwag.
Siguro OK kung Tsunami na dadaan sa Malacanang. Pero may araw din iyan. Hindi naman maaaring tumagal ang kasamaan sa totoo lang.
This should read: but NONE has destroyed the palace by the murky river.
Been checking with families in Laguna and Cainta and they all have the same problem. No power , no water and my little house in Brookside only a few inches turning into an indoor swimming pool. And we just paid 60 grand in property taxes (re-assessment kuno).
Madame Gloria again will make a big issue of this Nature’s fury. She’s going to brag how fast she “talked”, but does anybody listening? Not nature itself. The Civic Government at all Levels are “unprepared” for any emergency. ‘Milenyo’ played no favoritism, but as always, our poor will suffer more for their damaged property and lost of livelihood. Now she will order to gut down all those stupid gigantic Billboards, who in any other roadways should not be up in the first place. Order her building inspectors to make sure all infrastructures meet the safety engineering codes. More sources of corruption and when the next Nature’s fury comes to visit again, we can only watch and “replay her again”..
The first “victims” of Milenyo apparently are the billboards. If this is not saying something, what is? I remember Nelbar commenting on those billboards in this blog. At least, now, he can thank Nature for doing what protesters there can’t—remove the billboards with a force. Let’s see if the crooks will listen to this warning by even perhaps the Lord above.
“And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea: and if one look unto the land, behold darkness and sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof.” (Isaiah 5:30)
Hi..
Welcome back, Ellen…
Have you noticed that the peso is still ‘gaining strength’ despite of Milenyo. Last report was Peso to Dollar rate is 49.95 to 1. Makes me think… shouldn’t the peso become weaker because of the calamity that struck the country? Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mean I don’t want the peso to become strong.. BUT, this only shows the ‘magic’ MIDGET is doing, to make it appear the the country is ‘doing good’ in her term thus making it easier for the people to accept whatever changes she is trying to instill (i.e., Cha-Cha, etc).
Piso lumakas despite of not so good OFW remittances volume and after a calamity brought by Milenyo?… tsk, tsk, tsk… ginagago talaga nila ang tao… add to that that there was no transactions in the stock market during the weekend kasi nga nag-blackout…
Filipinos should be very wary about this. Napakadali para sa kanila ‘palakasin’ at ‘pahinain’ ang piso whenever they want to. I hope the people won’t be fooled by this ‘trick’ of MIDGET and her DOGS!
There is the picture of the Bansot in Tribune that is really funny. My secretary says it looks like the head of a doctor’s stethoscope. I told her it looked to me like a toddler’s pacifier, iyong tsupon to pacify a baby having tantrums!
Gosh, kung mag-utos akala mo tunay talaga! Bakit siya ba ang may-ari ng Meraldo? BTW, why is MERALCO too slow to restore electricity. Dito iyan bawas ang bayad ng ilaw to make up for inefficiency!
Oops, ang kamukha ng pacifier ay iyong suot ni Bansot na amulet daw!
menOk…speaking of the US$ to Php rate, unang-una ay talagang bagsak ang dolyar ngayon laban sa mga ibang major currencies like the yens and the euros…pangalawa, ang problema diyan sa bansa natin, todo “publicity” ang gloria about the exchange rate, kesyo binaba ng ganito-ganuon ang gasolina…ang tanong, yung mga basic commodities ba na nagsitaasan nuon ang presyo ay ibinaba na rin ba? yung pasahe nga na tumaas during ng kasagsagan ng taaas ng presyo ng gasolina hindi naman na ibinaba sa ngayon, then here comes this calamity, sa dami ng walang trabaho, ngayon ay wala ring matirhan dahil kundi binaha ay sinira ng bagyo ang kanilang tinitirhan, mararamdaman kaya nila ang GINHAWA na “bunga” ng mababang palit sa dolyar laban sa piso??? Maganda lang ang mga publisidad nitong si gloria, pero lahat iyon ay ika nga sa showbiz “press release” lang.
and ystakei…you’re right, tiyak na nag-aantay na ng mga “dole-out” ang pangkat ni gloria from countries that would give “help in cash” para sa mga biktima ng kalamidad…ika nga “kikita” pa sila. Mga GANID talaga!!!
anumang panalangin ninyo upang sugpuin ng kalikasan ang pinakamalaking salot na dumapo sa pilipinas ay hindi mangyayari dahil itinalaga ng kanyang dinidiyos. diba sabi nga niya ay annointed daw siya? nino kaya? bahala kayong tumurol kung sino ang nag-annoint sa kanya. basta ako, ang alam ko ay isa siyang alagad ng lagim na nagkatawang tao kaya nagkakaganito ang pilipinas sa pagdanas ng mga kalamidad mulang agawin niya ang malakanyang. isang bansang mistulang isinumpa.
kapag mga tipo ni Erap at ni FM ang namumuno, talagang bagsak ang piso.
dahil nga si GMA ay kakampi ng mga elitista siguradong lakas ang piso kontra dolyar kahit na hindi totoo..
Baka ikonekta na naman ang lakas ng Piso sa Baht, na kung saan ang Interim Prime Minister ay dating Heneral ng Army na si Surayud Chulanont.
menOk, isip kasi ni gloria ay reporter siya palagi na scoop & sensational ang kanyang mga balita. meron ba tayong aasahan sa kanya maliban sa panloloko, pandaraya at pangungurakot?
Tama ka, Nelbar, riding on lang naman si Pandak. Wala namang originality kundi sa pangloloko at pagdaya ng eleksyon! Diyan siya original!
The u.s. currency has been weakening for a while now against every other currency. Example barely a year ago our Canadian $ is worth a little over 70 Cents now it is hitting $.90 to the U.S.. Good for sending remittance home. To help Gloria take the credit.. She got nothing to do with the exchange rate, unless she managed the Central Bank herself.
Yeah, point taken.. but despite of the calamity, the peso now is on it’s strongest after such a long time.. again, after a very destructive calamity.. nagkataon lang cguro na mababa tlga ngaun ang dollar… I still think that MIDGET and her DOGS have a hand in this..
If they will argue na wla silang ginagawa and talagang mataas na ang value ng piso ngaun DESPITE OF A CALAMITY, then this is a very good proof that miracles do happen.. 😉
It’s an open secret that the exchange rates are being manipulated. And foreign banks controlled by the western power are the culprits. If they want to oust a Philippine leader (just like Erap and even then Marcos), all they have to do is to screw up our peso. This is more evident during the election period depending on whom this foreign power is backing. Another culprit is the Binondo Mafia. The Tsinoy bankers and businessmen are very good at this.
You, guys, should see the movie “Amin: the Rise and Fall.” I bet whoever is the Bansot’s puppeteer, he must have learned a lot from that movie, even the art of manipulating foreign exchange to trick everyone that her economic policies are working! What she does not is reminiscent of all the evils that Amin did as a matter of fact.
Sino ba ang niloloko ni Ungas kundi sarili rin niya, for her down dollar rate does not reflect on the livelihood of Filipinos, even those who have managed to stay overseas like for example the wives of Japanese nationals who are now on welfare and are hot proving to be productive members of even the Filipino community in Japan but a heavy burden on the Japanese society.
I never actually realized the gravity of the poverty in the Philippines until I saw the interviews with Super Atsoys and Atsays working overseas and the wannabe Super Atsays and Atsoys being now trained (kuno) in some Junior Caregiver Course in a connivance between Philippine and Japanese recruiters who are changing tactics of recruiting caregivers kuno instead of the now banned Japayukis! Nakakasuka!
I understand that the Amin movie is no longer available even at Ebay or Amazon but it is downloadable at one of the bittorrent sites. I downloaded a copy and put it in DVD.
Noong nasa Singapore ako (yr 2000), ang exchange rate ng Singaporean dollar ay equivalent to 25~26 pesos.
Parehas din ang value ng Brunei dollar sa Sing’$.
Ngayon ang Singaporean dollar ay 32~33 pesos na.
Ang balitang strengtening of Peso ay noong Sept 27 pa sa International Herald Tribune.
E kundi ba talagang bobo, ang basis ng kaniyang progreso kuno ay ang pagbaba ng dollar sa peso kuno. But look who suffer most, e di iyong mga OFW na imbes na malaki ang ganahin ng pamilya nilang nagugutom sa Pilipinas, maliit tuloy ang palit ng dollar nila. Ang hangarin kasi ni Ale Boba ay malaki ang palit sa foreign currency ng pesong ninanakaw nila mula sa kaban ng bayan, inutang sa ibang bansa o nasa banko sa ibang bansa gaya noong inutang sa Tsina, para malaki ang maitatago nila sa ibang bansa. Pingpong! Isa pa siyempre malaki kuno ang dollar (foreign) reserves ng Pilipinas na ang hindi alam ng mga pilipino ay malaki ang adverse effect sa mga ekonomiyang may koneksyon ang Pilipinas gaya ng America o Japan o kahi na Tsina. Simpleng utak lang naman. Kahit sino madali namang makita ang kapalpakan ng ginagawang ito ni Ale Boba.
Dito nga sa Japan, mas mataas ang yen sa dollar, mas makakabuti sa mga exporters. Sa Pilipinas iyong ini-export ng mga pilipino pag balik ng remittances nila gutom ang pamilya nila kapag lalo pang bumaba ang peso rate ng dollar gayong wala namang ipinupundar itong Pilipinas kundi laway at future Super Atsoy/Atsay at Super Tapu and Topu! Tignan natin ang sasabihin ngayon ng WB at IMF.
” ‘Milenyo’ showed how inutile this government when it comes to basic services. Gloria kept on barking “do this, do that” Nobody listens to her. No electricity, no water. This government is unprepared to deal with ‘disasters’. ”
‘Maging Presidente muna kayo!’ – Pres. Joseph Estrada
Do ordinary Filipinos care about the strengthening or weakening of Peso? No dice, wala nga ni pambili ng dried fish or bagoong.. Kaya, dumaan lang si Milenio sandali, hands down disaster na ang nangyari. Mabuti, ang mga may pera, naka-checked in kaagad sa mga hotels, eh ang mga mahirap, saan nag-checked in? Good question , di ba? May tulong ba si Maam Glue na narinig tayo, except, “I want power service be 80% back in the country today, etc…”
Talked to a friend, (who owns a beach resort somewhere in Bohol) and is now vacationing here in Europe), admitted for the first time (during the course of our conversation on our current political situation), that Maam Glue really CHEATED her way to Presidency. When this friend of mine was here last year, she was still Maam Glue’s staunched defender. So when I asked her, why the changed of opinion?”I tried to give Gloria the benefit of the doubt(walandyo)! She hasn’t done anything but to cover one crime after another. The poor are suffering more. Good for us businessmen, we are earning dollars; but the ordinary folks, talagang kawawa! You should visit our country often and live there for sometime, not as a tourist, and you will understand and witness what’s happening with our folks in the country side.”
What my friend forgot: I was in the country last 2004, election time, and witnessed, the cheating and vote-buying, in our region. Another disaster coming? Please Lord, spare our poor people!
The damages and destructions left on the path of ‘Milenyo’ were not all its fault. Faultless and blameless nature’s fury had wrought, most of the destruction are man-made. The Billboards-why would the billboards built close to the roadways where its failures or destruction however caused will predictably result in more property damages and casualties? Think..On flooding-most flooding are caused by clogged drainage and neglect of drainage systems. The storms didn’t even pour that much precipitation to cause major flooding had there been proper drainage. Where do you suppose the water to go? Up? Eventually when the sunlight sucks it back. And pour it down again.
Hope the government, at all levels should at least learn something from “ milenyo”. Be prepared for the next visit, otherwise we will picking up the pieces again after every one of them.
Elvirra:
Thanks for sharing. Pero hindi naman kailangang pumunta ka pa sa Pilipinas para malaman mo na mahirap pa sa daga ang buhay doon. Tama na ang mga kuwento ng mga pilipinong nahuhuli ng mga pulis dito sa Japan that I interpret for para malaman kong kawawa ang buhay ng mga wala sa Pilipinas madami man o hindi ang magnanakaw doon kasi hindi naman lahat ng magnanakaw doon mahirap, di ba?
Kawawang bansa!
Criticisms continue
FRONTLINE
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
10/02/2006
If Gloria Arroyo thinks that she got away with criticisms from international bodies and organizations on her horrendous record of human rights abuses with her claim of her having created the Melo Commission to look into these reports of abuses, she certainly has another think coming to her.
Another international human rights group has accused the Arroyo administration of lacking the desire to solve a series of high-profile media killings in the Philippines.
The New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) recently implied that the Melo Commission is a useless body since the witnesses often feared for their lives while the military made little effort to help with investigations.
Citing reports from the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), HRW stressed that a special task force set up by Mrs. Arroyo last August to probe the deaths of 10 journalists had made “little visible progress amid a climate of fear and a lack of cooperation by military authorities.”
This observation hardly surprises Filipinos, given that even before the Avelino Razon-led Task Force Usig finished up its report, he was already claiming that the bulk of the killings of newsmen was either not work-related or that it was the communists who were the perpetrators of the murders.
And this was concluded despite the admission from Razon that the witnesses had refused to come forward.
What was even more amazing was the fact that the head of the Melo Commission, retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Jose Melo, even before the start of the probe, claimed that the Razon report was “credible.”
Also surprising was that the Melo Commission quickly called the police and military authorities first and to date, has had no victims of the slain militants and journalists to testify to these murders.
It is usual, even in courtrooms, for the victims, or complainants to have first crack at the witness stand.
Then too, Justice Melo himself announced that the commission will not focus on who the killers are, but will instead probe why these killings occur.
It was clear then that the Melo Commission, which is staffed by government officials, including those from the Justice department, was created by Gloria to merely show the international community that she was doing something about these abuses, while getting the commission to clear her police and military generals from charges of violations of human rights.
The IFJ president, Christopher Warren, earlier expressed alarm over the killings of journalists in the country, noting, “Ten journalists have now been killed in the Philippines just this year, which is more than the total number killed in the rest of the Asia-Pacific region…Devastating numbers of journalists are being killed in the Philippines and something urgently needs to be done to stop these killings.”
The Philippines has already earned the tag of being the second most dangerous place in the world for journalists, and this is only second to Iraq, a war-torn country.
The spate of extra-judicial killings has alarmed the Catholic Church and the European Union as well as human rights groups such as Amnesty International, which led to the creation of the Melo Commission, a supposedly independent body tasked to investigate the string of killings of media workers and activists in the country, with Gloria hoping to stop the criticisms from these bodies.
The HRW said despite dozens being killed, none of the recent cases has been brought to trial and only a handful of cases has been filed,” the report said.
But the reason for this, many suspect, is that Gloria, who relies on her police and military to stay in power and position, cannot afford to have any of her military and police generals held accountable for these abuses, since they could turn against her if she does so.
This is also the reason Gloria has not directly ordered her military and police to stop these killings nor condemned them for these abuses, despite eyewitnesses pointing to the military as the perpetrators of these abuses.
Leftist groups accuse the military and its intelligence arm of masterminding the execution-style killings of more than 700 activists since Mrs. Arroyo took office in 2001.
At the time, Gloria claimed that she condemned media and leftist killings and ordered law enforcement agencies to dig deeper into the motives involved, yet as HRW pointed out, nothing has been made public since then.
“It’s not surprising Filipinos are losing confidence in their country’s security forces and government,” HRW said. “Not only is the government failing to provide real protection and redress for ordinary citizens, it hasn’t even acknowledged that the system needs fixing.”
She isn’t aiming for that at all.
di ako economics expert pero di ba supply and demand lang ito kung free flow of goods.kung maraming nagpapadala ng dollar sa pinas ay siempre lalakas ang peso dahil ang number ng pesos ay constant.ang problema ay ang basic commodities tulad ng bigas, maraming businessmen na kapag may bagyo na ay itatago na nila kung saan saan ang bigas para magkaroon ng shortage at siempre ma mahal ang mga bilihin.ang mga politiko naman na may mga stakes din diyan ay siempre ganansya at the expense of the people whom they cheated anyway to come in power.
Ang daming nasalanta ni Milenyo!
Tila may hinahanap si Milenyo sa Luzon….
Hinahanap daw yung nakumpiskang isang container [nga ba?] ng corned beef dahil daw sa “kakulangan ng papeles!”
Aba! Dapat lang na ilabas nila yung corned beef at siyang ipamigay sa mga nasalanta! Lekat, baka i-negosyo pa ng mag-asawa yun, ah!?
Hala! Ayan na si Neneng….
Ystakei:
I agree with you that we don’t have to go home to the Phils. to witness the sufferings of our kababayans. At totoo din ang sinabi mong hindi naman lahat ng mga MAGNANAKAW sa atin ay Mahihirap! Sa katunayan nga, karamihan sa mga Mahihirap ay hindi mga Magnanakaw, o, di ba? At kaya sila mahihirap ay dahil sa hindi sila marunong magnakaw!!! LOL! Ay, tama ba ‘yon! Napasama yata ang analysis ko!
Elvirra,
Correct. Tama ang sinabi mo, said with wisdom no doubt. Pati nga bigay ng ibang bansa para sa mga mahihirap ninananakaw e. Kaya iyong mga mahirap nakadilat na lang ang mga mata. Pero nakakapagtaka din na mahaba ang buhay nila kahit na anong pasakit ang inaabot nila. I bet you that a lot of them have prayed na sana mamamatay na sila kesa dumanas pa ng mas lalong katakot-takot na hirap sa ilalim ni Pandak!
PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!
Vic,
Tama ka, the US dollar is weaker not because the Philippine peso is stronger. Pati dollar exchange rate dinadaya! Ano iyan! Hopeless case talaga!
PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!
What, Taipan, corned beef naman ngayon ang na-hoard. Noong 2001, bigas na galing sa USA ang nabulok sa isang bodega sa Batangas. Pero marunong ang Panginoon. Nagkaroon ng amag ang mga bigas kaya hindi napakinabangan. Baka ganyang ang mangyari doon sa ulam!
Ano ba iyan wala na ba talagang magawa sina Biazon, et al para mahinto ang ganitong kabulastugan!
PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!
Bumaha rin daw sa Antique dahil sa typhoon surge. Aba, malapit lang ang Guimaras doon. Kung bumaha sa Guimaras, siguradong washed ashore ang oil spill at kumalat sa ibang lugar. Walang nangyari sa $16 million na ibinigay ng UN environment fund kundi itinago where the sun don’t shine.
bastusan na nga talaga ….
“The Ombudsman announced on Monday that officials of the Comelec and the Mega Pacific Consortium (MPC) will not be held criminally or administratively liable for the P1.3-billion poll automation contract, which that the Supreme Court earlier voided.”
Sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon ng weather-forecasting sa Pilipinas, ang PAGASA ay naging tama sa kanilang pagbibigay ng ulat tungkol sa dumaan na bagyong Milenyo. Mabuhay ang mga tauhan at namumuno sa PAGASA!
Karamihan sa mga nasawi ay dahilan na din ng mga kagagawan ng mga taong ganid at gahaman sa kikitaing pera – ang mga nagtataasang advertsing billboards na hindi naman inaalintana kung ang structural supports ay talagang matibay at ang mga naghuhukay sa lupa (treasure hunters) kaya naging mabuway ang lupa ng kapaligiran upang nang dumating ang malakas na daloy ng tubig ay inanod ang mga mamamayan na nasa paligid na nag-uusyoso lamang.
Kaawa-awa talaga ang karamihan na naapektuhan dahil walang nailigtas na kagamitan. Ang mahalaga sa kanila ay buhay ang mga miyembro ng kanilang pamilya.
Ang anumang donasyon na malilikom ay kailangan ng ibigay ng diretso sa mga nasalanta at hindi na dumaan sa kamay ni Pandak.
Bayonic, I just read the headline right now when I woke up.
Well, what can you expect from the Ombudsman (Ombudswoman)? Gutierrez just shows to the world her canine devotion to Gloria! Garapal na talaga! She also has the nerve to go after Binay and Trinidad, but never to bigtime crooks like Chavit, Bolante, Garci, Iggy and the Pidals around Gloria Arrovo.
Ombudswoman will eliminate all opposition along the way, and allow the real scoundrels get what they want. Is this the kind of country that will move forward? Pathetic!
Emilio:
Several days ago pa alam ko nang malakas ang bagyo sa Pilipinas dahil ibinalita naman ng CNN at BBC to which I am subscribed. Pero tignan mo ang neglect. Dito iyan may announcement nang mag-ingat. May kalimbang pa kasi nga earthquake-prone at typhoon path ang Japan.
Sa simbahan nga namin may check-up kung meron kaming 72-hour kit na recommmended dito. Bawat isa sa mga kasama ko sa bahay ay meron kaming kani-kaniyang 72-hour kit, sleeping bag, flashlight, maliit ng radio at saka mga batteries para sa cellphones, etc. Hindi naman problema ang pagkain gawa nang may storage ang bawat distrito namin at saka nakalista na ang mga evacuation center na usually ay mga eskuwelahan.
Pilipinas wala niyan tiyak dahil pirming nakaasa sa ibang tao. Ang gawain ng mga swapang at ganid na nakaupo ay manghingi lang ng abuloy. Nakakasawa na tuloy magbigay lalo na kung alam mo namang hindi pupunta sa mga nasalanta. Gosh, tinitignan ko lang iyong rescue operation sa Leyte landslide, nasusuka na ako sa totoo lang. Walang sistema kahit kailan! Tapos sasabihin ni Ale Boba matalino siya! Yuck! Nakakasuka talaga!
Pero salamat na lang nagbagsakan iyong mga billboard. Dapat ipagbawal ang mga billboard na pinupuri ng mga ungas ang mga sarili nila kahit na alam nating maraming kupitan sa mga projects nila.
BTW, bakit ba ina-aaprove ng CA ang mga appointments ng political appointees ni Ale Boba na recommended ng asawa niya? Tapos magrereklamo sila!
During the Ginsaugon, Leyte mudslide, pinoys from Hawaii generously contributed money, goods and even services to the victims. The Hawaii Red Cross did the same, as usual. I just didn’t know how the goods were delivered. Quite possibly, they might have landed on the hands of the vultures and hungry officials. Problem is, donors don’t have a way of assuring that help gets to the right persons, not to the pockets and bulging stomachs of the corrupt. But the medical service that pinoys put up did get there, because pinoys doctors and nurses really went to Leyte to help the victims.
Naghihintay pa rin ako sa kasagutan sa tanong na ito: Ano pa kaya ang hinihintay ng bayang Pilipinas bago umaksyon? Puro banta at kantyaw na “patalsikin na, now na . . . etc” ang nakikita/naririnig ko. Ano kaya?
Tom, call ako sa sinabi mo. dapat siguro pag usapan kung anong strategies diyan. halimbawa, paano iparinig sa mundo ang hinanaing ng mga walang boses (o naunsiyaming boses) sa pinas. huwag lang yung sinabi nung isa nating kasama na “patayin na!”, “I want blood,” “revolution!” ano say mo?
Coming Storm
http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/map/RPXX0047?name=index_large_animated&day=1&par=yahoo&site=www.yahoo.com&promo=img&cm_ven=Yahoo&cm_cat=www.yahoo.com&cm_pla=imagespage&cm_ite=Maps
Ms. Ellen laments the slow-paced action of government to restore basic services. NOW, the sign “SLOW MEN WORKING” makes sense!
Last year I posted this in my blog, and I’d like to share it with you all,since EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS proves timeless to all, whether overseas or in Inang Bayan:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Monday, September 12, 2005
HOW PREPARED ARE WE?
NEWS ABOUT KATRINA and the slow-paced relief operation of the richest nation in the world has inundated most news page since it struck weeks ago. This also prompted the lowest rating garnered by Bush,Jr. He was vacationing at the time Katrina struck. Huh!
THE CATASTROPHE revealed something the outside world did not know before: that the mostly African-American communities in the South are as poor as any third world country could be. It pulled the shroud that has been in place since time immemorial. It also revealed that the poor is helpless amidst the ramblings and the posture to maintain the image of being the ‘superpower of the world.’ It also projected tot he world the INADEQUACIES of a program fro DISASTER-PREPAREDNESS of a superpower.
LOOKING AT all these from the outsider’s view makes me wonder: Is INANG BAYAN ready for such disaster? I wonder.
RECENT DISASTERS such as the Tsunami last December and the Katrina devastation must open our eyes and ears. We must insist on a DISASTER PREPAREDNESS PLAN that must be given priority just in case. Being caught red-handed and unprepared is a big NO-NO!!
FOR ALL its faults, JAPAN has adequate plan properly laid out in case disaster of great proportions strike. There are constant updates and drills being conducted in companies, schools, and even in government offices. Every year, they conduct a General Drill at all levels utilizing all agencies.
It was put to use when the Great Hanshin Earthquake struck one winter morning in January ten years ago. The concerted effort and the DISCIPLINE of the victims were obvious WHEN THEY LINED UP AND WAITED FOR THE DISASTER WORKERS TO DO THEIR JOBS. Apparently, this same discipline was sorely lacking in Katrina’s wake.
ALTHOUGH PILIPINAS do not suffer as much earthquake as Japan, our country eats typhoons every other day during the Wet Season. This should make us ready and aware.
HAS THE PROPER AGENCY made studies regarding the strengthening of our shorelines?
DO WE have a DISASTER-PREPAREDNESS PLAN in place, ready anytime to do their job?
DO WE have enough DISASTER-PREVENTION PERSONNEL who can respond anytime?
DO WE have a CLEAR PLAN TO COPE WITH ANY SITUATION just in case?
DO WE have LOGISTICS to go by? Baka lang naubos na sa ‘pagbili’ ng simpatiya.
SO MANY QUESTIONS. YET the government led by the putative-president appears to be focused ONLY on holding on to dear power as if it is defending life itself.
I HOPE in my heart that WE THINK ON THESE LINES….
….”Tommorow may not come…By then will be too late.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As of today, marami pa rin ang walang kuryente.
Kapag walang kuryente, siyempre, walang tubig sa karamihan ng mga lugar…..They use electricity to pump water.
Bumagyo na, bumbaho pa sila!
Sana mawalang ng electricity sa Malacanang, para matikman ni gloria ang bumaho…..
sabagay, mabaho na talaga siya sa Bayan!
Samantala…..
ayun si glue, at nagbi-bilyar…
Habang ang mga nasalanta, umiiyak at nagugutom!
Basa ang likod dahil ang bahay ay naanod!
Walang makain, walang matirahan
Ang gloria, nagla”laro”!
Anak ng potek!
taipan,
From the sound of your article, you were hit by katrina’s wrath, hahahaha! You asked those questions which its victims raised, as to the way RP officials react? (Actually, they don’t react because they are inept to the first degree) Realize that the answers reveal the same ills exposed by katrina: those officials around Gloria are good for nothing except talk, that’s where they are known for. lots of noice, no action. Others are quick at getting something out of typhoons, they hijack the goodies supposed to go to the hapless victims.
I wonder if party list Rep. Mario Aguja, one of those 32 impeachment signatories, is listening. He wrote his MA thesis on the sociology of disasters. Mayong, is there a political aspect in it?
HAWAIIANGUY: Alanganin ako na mag-suggest ng strategy kasi hindi naman ako kabilang sa mga makakapag-implement. Mostly miron lang ang role ko na paminsan-minsan ay nagpo-post ng maiikling comment. Achaka marami na rito sa blog na mga experts. Pag binasa mo ang kanilang mga comments (dati binabasa ko, pero ngayon puro skip na lang), halatang marami silang alam on almost any given subject. Achaka mga mukhang well-connected whether sa Pilipinas o sa kanilang bansang tinitirahan sa kasalukuyan. Sila yung mga tinawag ko dito minsan na “heavy hitters.”
Ellen:
We missed you! Some of the natives were acting up, and some friendly heavy hitting all over the blog while you were awol. But, everything is cool now, just some steam need to be released. Anyway, I guess we can forgive you this time, and don’t let Milenyo enter the country next time without proper documents.
In a way, Milenyo an independent without political affiliation has proven illegitimate Gloria’s rhetoric when she solely declared Philippines were upgraded to Second World Country was a farce. Obviously, like I said, it was just a rhetoric of fake Gloria, the usual spin to pacify the immediate selected audiences. Well, now we know that the Philippines wasn’t quite ready for the throne to be claimed. The elusive title must be earned and not taken nor given just because bogus Gloria said so. Milenyo did it as a test to illegitimate Gloria’s honesty. Of course, fake Gloria once again failed. Milenyo exposed illegitimate Gloria that she’s not quite ready to move up without upgrading the country’s infrastructures, such as domestic water, electricity, et al. You can’t fool mother nature!
Well back to the third world country again, at least for awhile after the water and electricity are completely back to normal service.
Moreover, illegitimate Gloria will screw up a one car funeral. Fake Gloria couldn’t even manage a simple billboard strutures. This is how bad bogus Gloria as a manager of the country.
Welcome back!
Re Tom & hawaiianguy’s posting:
>Naghihintay pa rin ako sa kasagutan sa tanong na ito:
>Ano pa kaya ang hinihintay ng bayang Pilipinas bago
>umaksyon? Puro banta at kantyaw na “patalsikin na, now
>na . . . etc” ang nakikita/naririnig ko. Ano kaya?
>Tom, call ako sa sinabi mo. dapat siguro pag usapan kung
>anong strategies diyan. halimbawa, paano iparinig sa mundo
>ang hinanaing ng mga walang boses (o naunsiyaming boses)
>sa pinas. huwag lang yung sinabi nung isa nating kasama
>na “patayin na!”, “I want blood,” “revolution!” ano say mo?
pag-aralan nyo ang attitude ng Eastern Europeans noong 1989, bago bumagsak ang Berlin Wall.
Hindi ba’t naglabasan din sila? 17 taon na ang nakakaraan?
Mas masahol pa sa mga sosyalistang bansa ng Silangang Europa. Ginagago na tayo, binebenta pa tayo sa ibang bansa para maging atsoy/atsay, ginigisa pa tayo sa sariling mantika!
In fairness to illegitimate Gloria, (its killing me to say it) I guess it could’ve happen to anyone in-charge of Malacanang, not only fake Gloria. But we can always blame fake Gloria since she is now presently in Malacanang. It comes with the territory, ika nga. Philippines infrastructures has been neglected for decades. Most of the underground and above ground utilities are outdated and old, the life expectancy has long over due. We just don’t have the capitals to make necessary improvement. And limited amount of the monies dedicated to improvement somehow never make it to the intended necessary public projects instead the monies ended up to some one pockets as the Jose Pidal, fertilizer scam, etc. Govt. Perks is nothing but an authorized, approved govt scam. Perks monies rarely spent for public improvements. Milenyo, said so.
Nelbar,
It’s possible for the Berlin incident to happen in RP, when pinoys wake up after getting weary of people power, or suffering from a lingering sickness (Rizal said, cancer). We may have another kind of bloodless “revolution”, without the bishops or the elite providing the leadership. But somebody or some group must initiate. History tells us that Filipino masses are lethargic and will not rise without the prodding of a leader, esp. one with a charisma. We probably need another Ninoy as a catalyst. Or a much stronger model to rally people and mobilize them to action. Or maybe, just plain Divine intervention, if all else fails.
Sadly, the nation is right now bereft of Ninoys and Cardinal Sins and other heroes. Even the bishops are getting bribed, like the military, police, judiciary and others.
nelbar: Dito rin sa thread na ito, pinuro mo kami ni hawaiianguy. Ano ba ang atraso namin/ko sa yo at mukhang mainit ang dugo mo sa amin/akin?
tom, napansin ko na rin. dun sa kabila, tinira din niya tayong dalawa ng deretsahan. wala naman akong alam na earlier posting sa kanya. ah, may duda na ako. nangyari na rin ito sa Batasan 6 blog, na binanggit ko dito dun sa itaas o kabilang thread.
Hwaiianguy, you asked why when we attack this GMA it travels to Bush? Of course it does. These two have so many things in common. Take note of their policies domestically and internationally. Most of all, the two are liars and cheaters.
Npongco, got you. S your attack on Bush is not peripheral because you think of or make comparison with Gloria – as both have many things in common, they are cheats and liars. I respect that. and as I said, I dont give a damn to Bush or America. All I care for now is the Philippines, which is going to the dogs. What I avoid hearing or reading is when people make Bush or America or whatever country the central point of argument, when we are supposed to talk about Gloria. I think that’s a misplaced and unproductive discussion, unless we learn from what has been done elsewhere by using their strategies to boot out a tyrant or despot.
If you really care about the Philippines, you also need to be concerned about Bush and the US. The US foreign policies especially toward the Philippines is of great importance to the Filipinos. Needless to say, RP’s own policies from economic to political plans are geared toward what America also does. That’s a given fact, my friend.
If you really care about the Philippines, you also need to be concerned about Bush and the US. The US foreign policies especially towards the Philippines is of great importance to the Filipinos. Needless to say, RP’s own policies from economic and political plans are geared toward what America also does. That’s a given fact, my friend.
Sorry for the double posting…I’m having trouble sending it to this blog.
Hawaiianguy:
It’s easier said than done, but God willing may mangyayari sa ginagawa ng mga kakilala ko sa Manila (halos araw-araw nagproprotesta) except of course doon sa mga donya kuno na ayaw umitim sa araw dahil nga naman hindi ka naman puedeng magpayong kung ang mga kasama mo ay hindi nakapayong.
I saw such rallies in the Philippines. Naawa ako sa mga farmers na nag-rally sa harap ng Senate. Ang papayat nila and you will see the poverty written on their faces. Galit na galit ako kasi compared sa mga farmers dito, wala silang lakas at lalong kinakawawa.
Tignan mo na lang ang ginawa sa fertilizer fund, ninakaw pa! Tapos ang gusto ni Bansot ipadala na lang itong mga farmer sa ibang bansa. Iyon ngang mga matador daw ay binibigyan na na ng training kuno sa TESDA for possible placement daw overseas!
Sino na lang ang matitira sa Pilipinas? Iyan ang tanong! Sirit? Mga bata ang ipapalit sa mga may edad na gagawing mga Super Atsay, Super Atsoy, at iyong mga dalaginding na may potential kuno ay gagawin namang mga Super Tapu! Iyan ang policy ni Ale Boba.
Now, what can you and I do? Join the protest rallies in our cities is one. This is what we are doing here as a matter of fact. At least, we see now the positive result of our action with EU, etc. for example giving the bogus president some warning. Now, of course, if we do not present them with valid facts and datas, they will not stop giving her the aids that she tells them the Philippines need even for disasters caused by Nature or by men like the oil spill in Guimaras that everyone I talk to says is rather suspicious and deliberately done to force international organizations to give because the truth is even Japan is reluctant to give aids now to the Philippines.
Number in fact is not important basta may nagmamartsa. We find this action very effective. You bet, Cory by the Sea, “SLOW MEN WORKING” but working they do with a lot of them even finding themselves six feet underground.
I know one in fact who was sacrificed for the Ale Boba in fact, and his death was deliberately done to make Estrada an ogre. He was a radio broadcaster who was very critical of one of Estrada’s cabinet members, and he was shot in broad daylight by the same group of men on autobike.
He was a member of our church, and members of our church in Utah in fact wrote Estrada to order an investigation, but by then Estrada was already about to be removed without his knowing the plan to remove him cooked up by Ale Boba, her husband (as they had admitted), and the Evil Society, many of whose leaders are now likewise slapped with libel, treason, sedition and other suits but not her and her cahoots including Art Panganiban, who said that he played god in this plot to remove Estrada!
So what kung wala pang nakikitang resulta? Tuloy ang martsa! PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA! Sabi nga, “God helps only those who helps themselves.”
As the old adage says, “Perseverance is genius in disguise.” Lalo na wala namang kasamaang nagtatagal. Iyan ang prinsipyo ng mga nagtatagumpay!
taipan88…so you also watched it huh…si gloria kasama sina “Bata” at “Djanggo” habang nagbi-bilyar sa Malakanyang…hehehe. Sarap paluin ng tako ang pandak, ubod talaga ng siba sa “publisidad” ng walanghiya…and those “palakpak boys and girls” niya sa Malacanang, sarap ng buhay ng mga “damontres” na uto-uto…hehehe
Pustahan tayo tiyak na pinaplano na ng mga “alipores” niya ang gimik nila sa Nobyembre kapag nanalo si Manny Pacquiao kay Morales..sana “mag-ispar” sila kunyari ni Pacman, at aksidenteng tamaan ng ligaw na left-hook…hehehe, bitay ang Pacman, pero oks lang makikita naman natin kung papano “maiskambol” ang utak ni gloria 😀
Npongo, make no mistake about it – I care for the Philippines and I don’t give a damn to what’s happening in the US. But being here in the US myself, I can’t help doing something that makes me link the two countries in a way that impinges on RP. I join protest groups/signature campaigns to lawmakers, write articles or speak in fora critical of the Arroyo regime, and more. (Maybe if I were in RP, I would be a dead meat by now, because I’m just an ordinary man.) Give me your email and I will send you a recent commentary I wrote against this dictatorial woman from Malacanan.(This request also goes to Ystakei.) I am also writing an academic paper for a November conference here, about the negative effects of Gloria’s mess on the image of Filipinos abroad. This is not bragging, just admitting that I do something for the cause that our kababayans are fighting for.
By all means, my e-mail is npongco@yahoo.com. Anyone can write to me in private including the one who hates me so much.
Hey you guy from Hawaii, I have no doubt you do care about the Philippines. I wrote IF. And I don’t stop you from idolizing Bush. Like Toney, you might be a pro-Bush or Republican. But I also don’t give a damn. To me, Bushit and Gloriashit are the same.
ang bayan natin ay puno ng walang katapusang pagsubok, marami na naman tayong kababayan nasalanta at marami ang nagdurusa, habang pinapanood ko sa tfc nakakapanlumo. Tapos biglang susulpot yung kapirasong ale, nagbibida akala mo epektibong lider, pero walang kuwenta.
Sana huwag ng icover ng media yung mallit na ale, nakakaasar panoorin sa tv, sana iboycott na ng mga newscaster yan, dahil puro walang saysay pinagsasabi niyan. Kung uumpisahan ng mga media susunod na siguro mga kababayan natin. Sayang ang oras ng media at oras namin kung nakakabwiset na pagmumukha ang makikita namin sa tv.
Snap election walang batayan — Solon
Ang Pilipino STAR Ngayon 10/03/2006
Isinantabi kahapon ng kongresistang kaalyado ni Pangulong Arroyo ang panawagang snap election ni Bro. Eddie Villanueva.
Hinikayat na lamang ni Davao del Sur Rep. Douglas Cagas ang pinuno ng Jesus Is Lord (JIL) na sumama na lamang sa malawak na bilang ng mamamayan na nagnanais na mabago ang Konstitusyon.
Ayon kay Rep. Cagas, puwede lamang ang snap poll kung mayroong bakanteng posisyon sa pagka-Pangulo o Bise-Presidente.
Idinagdag pa ng mambabatas, malinaw naman sa Saligang Batas kung paano papalitan ang isang halal na opisyal at ito ay sa pamamagitan ng impeachment.
Aniya, lumutang lamang ang panawagang snap election matapos mabigo muli ang oposisyon sa isinusulong nilang impeachment laban sa Pangulo sa ikalawang pagkakataon. (Malou Escudero)
hawaiianguy…will ask you an off-topic question…what does Lahaina means? is it a place there in Hawaii? Recently watched the 2006 WSC and saw an entry named Lahaina Boys from Hawaii…they’re 2nd entry made better…by the way, I just learned thru that same DVD that the kapal muks tongresman nograles is also into cockfighting….swerte pa ng damuho at nagpapanalo pa mga nokis niya…;-)
nakakaawa talaga ang kalagayan ng mga binaha lalo na sa los banos, calamba city at sta. rosa. grabeng pangyayari na dapat sanang matagal nang napagtuunan ng pansin upang hindi man mapigilan ay magbibigay kahandaan para sa ating mga kababayan sa ganitong mga kalamidad. mayroon daw isang dam na hindi agad binuksan kaya nagkaroon ng pagbaha. kanino kayang pagkukulang? sa taong bayan o sa mga kinauukulang nagtutulugtulugan?
Npongco,
thanks. Beware, am not an idol of Bush. Unlike Toney, hehehehe! But I respect his views. One last request, Npongco, may I ask you to answer this question (later, by email): are you male or female? Sorry, nothing sexual, but I am at a loss how to deal with you in writing.
Spartan,
yeah, Lahaina is the name of a place here, on the Maui island. Lahaina in Hawaiian means “cruel sun,” but I wonder why the place is called such. King Kamehameha made this place his capital in the 1800s, and is now a favorite tourist destination. Partly, Lahaina makes the island of Maui known for “marriage in heaven.” You bet what that means, the honeymooners come here. If interested in Hawaii, give me your email so I can send you materials. Baka sabihin ng iba, pagyayabang ito.
Hindi sinisisi ang pamahalaan sa bagyo. Ngunit, pagkatapos ng isang disaster, dapat mayroon mechanism para ayusin ang damage, kasama na doon ang basic needs ng mga tao. Alam naman nila na kapag walang kuryente, walang tubig, bakit hindi nagdistribute ng tubig by the tuckloads. Bibili naman ang mga tao.
The people cannot be faulted dahil makikita mo naman tulong-tulong lahat sa paglinis ng mga nasirang puno. Ngunit providing basic services, sa pamahalaan yun. Yan ang binabayaran natin ng ating taxes.
mrivera: dyan ka ba sa laguna?hinahanap ko sa internett kung saan ang mga napinsala pero di ko makita ang mga towns na sabi mo. nagtrabaho kasi ako ng 10 years diyan sa uplb at marami akong kakilala pa diyan, maging sa calamba at sta rosa.salamat sa info mo…agree naman ako dito sa sinasabi ni ellen.
To npongco:
“Bushit”
Hey I liked that. I wish that Dubya will stop invoking God in his military “interventions” because doing so he’s no different from islamic extremists invoking the name of their deity. Didn’t you know that throughout history millions have died, in the name of “God”?
As to the WMDs, the US could not find one in Iraq. The yanks forgot that all the WMDs are in US soil!
One thing great about the US (the country) is that regardless of who resides in the White House, the US economy continues to run, like (as the cliche goes) a well-oiled engine.
How I wish that most Pinoys will come to realize that GMA need not be an obstacle to progress. Booting out GMA need not be the starting point.
To hawaiianguy:
“I am also writing an academic paper for a November conference here, about the negative effects of Gloria’s mess on the image of Filipinos abroad”
I’m interested to know your methodology. My concern is that you’re not coming from a neutral, detached point of view, as you are already predisposed against GMA. Media are very key variables, since they create the perception by which people in the US make of Pinoys. Media are hardly detached observers!
(unless that conference has an anti-GMA slant)
And maybe a comparison with Erap, FVR, Cory and Marcos (you’ll agree that each president creates his/her own mess) might help.
Like IBON here, which never saw a Philippine government it didn’t like.
oops, that should be
Like IBON here, which never saw a Philippine government it didn’t dislike
Anthony,
I also wonder if you are anti-GMA or not. Maybe I should find that out first, since I haven’t read your postings except your response to Josephs. Honestly, I admire the rationality of your arguments.
I don’t hide my displeasure with her, and with the other RP presidents. To me, they just differ in shades. If you are a typical scientific-oriented man, you may be disappointed with my methodology. I am aware of IBON being consistently anti-government. Their surveys are somewhat inflated, compared to SWS and Pulse Asia. But IBON’s statistics sometimes prove more believable and credible than what NEDA produces.
A detached scholar has remained the ideal, following the scientific norm in the social sciences. I used to invoke its merits. Not anymore, since I go beyond the limits of mere discovery or description. I prescribe action based on the data to inform others. I criticize leaders and the institutions they create, or destroy.
If still interested, sound me off and I will send you a copy after the conference. Maybe you may want to give me your email?
Anthony, you see it’s not only this Bushit who keeps invoking God’s name; also this Gloriashit. That’s why I say the two have many things in common and that’s one of those.
Hawaiianguy, I’m a 100% male. You’re still new here not to know who I am and my little personal data. My name is Noel Pongco, born in Manila and grew up in Quezon City. My father’s from San Fernando, Pampanga but was raised in Manila…so some jerks here call me “dugong aso” when in fact my family is more Tagalog than anyone who claims to be.
I’m anti-GMA and anti-Bush. I’m definitely not a member of the so called Malacanang Internet Brigade as one here keeps implying.
Just for generalized information and since we are on the subject, I’m neither. I’m not Anti-Gloria nor Pro-Bush. What I offer and bring to this blog are what I believe are facts, hopefully to best of my knowledge. I said lots of thing in regards to llegitimate Gloria, but it’s not an attack to her personally, if you all can understand the difference. I just want the truths to be out and it doesn’t matter to me if I have to say it 100 times. Gloria is illegitimate, and proofs are on my side.
I believe on President Bush and his mission. It’s not because I like the man that much, but I believe that he’s fighting the cause for humanity. Even when some or most are trying to discredit him. I hope that he stays the course for the sake of liberty and pursuit of happiness, so help me god.
From Channel News Asia World News Headlines:
Bush ‘troubled’ by school shooting
Posted: 03 October 2006 0913 hrs
RENO, Nevada – US President George W. Bush was “deeply saddened and troubled” by a shooting Monday at a Pennsylvania schoolhouse that left at least three girls dead, the White House said.
Bush ordered cabinet officials to find ways for the government to help in the aftermath of recent school shootings, said Dana Perino, a White House spokeswoman.
Bush is “deeply saddened and troubled by the recent school violence,” Perino told reporters on a presidential trip to Reno, Nevada.
“It breaks America’s collective heart when innocent children who are at school to learn are violently taken hostage and gunned down,” Perino said.
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and US Education Secretary Margaret Spellings will convene a conference next week with education and law enforcement groups to discuss school violence, she said.
Gonzales and Spellings met Monday with Bush’s domestic policy adviser, Zinsmeister, to discuss the issue, Perino said.
A truck driver burst into an Amish schoolhouse in rural Pennsylvania Monday and killed at least three girls “execution style” after lining them up in a classroom, police said.
It was the third fatal killing in a US school in the past week.
Last week a 16-year-old schoolgirl was killed when a gunman took six hostages at a Colorado school before opening fire and turning the gun on himself as police stormed a classroom.
On Friday, the principal of a Wisconsin high school was killed after being shot by a student. – AFP/ir
Copyright © 2006 MCN International Pte Ltd.
Npongco, thanks for the personal info. Pls. check your email, I sent you something there. You owe me something, respond to it by email.
Toney, I am at a loss trying to reconcile your very positive views about Bush (whom you argue is a great man) and your proclamation here that you are not pro-Bush. You even go at great lengths arguing with our good friend Josephs and others in this blog about that positive position. Would you also say that you are anti-gloria?
hawaiianguy:
Certainly not anti-gloria in a sense of the word, but I do understand the Philippines constitution, and the need for law and order. I just have a different opposite view of illegitimate Gloria. I look at things with merits, individual cases, and certainly trying to avoid stroking with the wide brushes. But I do understand and not naive, with fake Gloria’s case is not that quite hard to hate the person. As we say, bogus Gloria is an easy target, just one’s can’t help but despise the person. But anti, never.
hawaiianguy:
Pro-Bush, not I. But, I recognized a great man trying to do an almost impossible task to save humanity from evils. What I admired the most about a great man, especially when others couldn’t wait for him to vacate the White House. Man has a great vision for his country that he loves and nothing will sway him for accomplishing that promised he made at the ruined of 9/11. Soon they will hear from us!
Nothing to reconcile, simply, it’s not somekind of a mystery on a novel book. It’s that someone out there would want to kill you only because you are an infidel, with different faith. That’s the crux of the matter!
Toney, thanks for the clarification. So, you just separate the grain from the chaff? You like (or dislike) the behavior of a person, but you are not necessarily pro (or con) about the person as such. Maybe you have a point, I like that.
One last comment about your mention of “facts.” You may or may not respond to this, or others may follow it up.
Wondering if you are aware that “facts” can appear in different faces, being a spirited discussant in this blog. The facts that oppositionists hold against a lawbreaker, and the facts that those who defend him/her use to argue the case. Clearly, many people have “facts” – for or against – Bush’s decision to invade Iraq and Afghanistan. This also applies to GMA’s case. Her allies (congress, for instance) believe that there is no “substance” in the impeachment complaint, because it cannot be justified and lacks sufficient basis. But a few hold evidence that she is, in fact, guilty.
Since the majority says, or waves, a bundle of “facts” would you not believe in its credibility? Or would you insist that the minority view is correct, because it holds what they say are infallible “facts.”
Just asking.
Some claim not to be pro and anti that or what; but the contents of their messages and comments more than show what they really are. Let’s stop all this hypocrisy!
hawaiianguy:
I can appreciate others bringing forth what they believe are facts. However, as an individual I have a responsibility to myself to isolate what are facts and fictions. For example, Gloria’s grabbed of power, of course, coming from Gloria’s selected team, Gloria was duly placed in Malacanang in accordance with the law. But, I’m smart enough to realize it wasn’t so. Since facts, Gloria as VP lead the mobs to overthrow a mandated President. And the supreme court went along and designed to justify the subversion of the govt. by, “Constructive Resignation.” You and I know there is no such thing in the constitution. Illegitimate Gloria is guilty of crimes against the people of the Philippines and that should not be mistaken. What saving Gloria’s behind is the raping of the law of the land by those been bought and paid in bulk by people’s money.
President Bush decision to invade Iraq? It wasn’t so, sounded as if it his decision alone. It was recommended by his people all combined together and I won’t deny that President Bush wasn’t forceful, perhaps he was. Be that as it may, the decision to invade Iraq was a unanimous consensus by the Congress of the United States of America, and ultimately gave its blessing to rid of Saddam. Invasion of Iraq was followed to the letter of the law, and it was a lone Cowboy. So, in that premise, no one should single out President Bush, but equal blame should go directly to the institution, the Congress of the USA.
Npongco, I can sense your feeling. It’s really hard to imagine that a person who talks, or writes good (or bad) things about somebody to be detached from his/her cognition of other images about that somebody. There is lack of balance or congruence. Eventually, however, things will balance out to maintain harmony in cognition and lessen the discomfort it brings. So, if one is positive (negative) in two aspects about a subject (person or thing or idea) with one negative (positive) view, the latter will sooner or later change to something positive (negative). Imagine a triangle, with two positives (negatives) and one negative(positive), the lesser valence will shift to the majority valence to make the needed balance.
Sorry folks about this mental exercise. You may take it or leave it.
npongco:
If you addressing me directly via generalization, about pro and anti as hypocrisy. All I can respond to you without going into details is how little you put value on an individual to think for themnselves, and to be available to detect right and wrong.
Know what toney, you are cool. Keep it up.
Npongco, you are still awake at this time? It’s about 2:15am in RP. Aren’t you there?
It’s their choice and prerogative, pero obserbasyon ko lang about some–masyadong serioso ang iba dito. Kung yung ibang posts dito ay intended para inisin ang iba pa, nasa tumatanggap na rin yan. Sabi nga, yung mainis, talo. Yun namang mga tipong galit at mabigat ang dating, choice din nila yun. Ang puntos ko lang: kanya-kanyang diskarte yan. In terms of GMA, Bush, USA–merong pro, merong anti, merong neutral. Kung gustong mag-prove ng point ang isa, hindi naman pinipigilan ni Ellen na mag-post dito, kahit na nga parang hindi disente ang dating minsan. Kung meron namang kakontrang opinyon, sige lang din. Pero pagka nagreresort na sa name-calling ang iba, sa palagay ko para bang nauubusan na ng puntos sa debate. Kung tama ang hinala ko, kahit itong post na ito, meron ding babatikos maya-maya.
Ano na nga ba ang topic dito? Oo nga, epekto pala ng nakaraang bagyo! Sige na nga at kailangan pang linisin yung bakuran namin. Kailangan ding palitan yung ibang yero at puro kalawang na. Lalong lumala ang tulo ng tubig-ulan dahil dito sa nakaraang bagyo.
Tom, tama ka. Bagyo ang pinag uusapan. Lintek, pati ako nalihis ng landas. Pero ok lang naman sguro kung paminsan, na hindi maiwasan. At saka game naman itong si Toney. Tingin ko, hindi naman siya yung type na balat-sibuyas. Ewan ko lang kung nakatikim na ito ng maanghang na salita, tulad nung banat sa atin.
Pano ba ito, iiwan ko muna kayo. Trabaho muna. Pati ako nawili ng kaka blog. Maya na ulit pag break. (Pansin ko sa iyo Tom at Npongco, naglalamay yata kayo diyan. Aga-aga pa gising na kayo at panay din ang blog tulad ko, hehehehe. Ok lang sa amin ni Toney, kasi gising kami dahil araw na dito.)
hg: Saang banda ka ba diyan sa Hawaii? Marami ka rin sigurong kasamang Pinoy diyan, ano. May mga kaibigan ako diyan sa Kaneohe.
Hindi na sinagot nung isa yung mga tanong ko kaya hindi ko na rin uungkatin pa. Nagulat lang ako sa biglang banat sa ating dalawa.
Tom, andito ako sa Honolulu mismo, malapit sa Waikiki beach. Ang Kaneohe ay andun sa kabila ng isla ng Oahu, na siyang kinaruruonan ng Honolulu. (The whole Oahu island, in fact, is the most populous and urban area of Hawaii. The City and County of Honolulu occupies the entire Oahu.) Maraming pinoy akong kasama dito, pero yung iba ay Fil-Am o local borns (hindi marunong magsalita ng Tagalog o Ilocano). Ang pinoy ang third largest population group sa buong Hawaii (24% of total), at more than 270,000.
Sorry guys, private matter ito na dapat sa email lang.
hawaiianguy, thanks for the reply about the meaning of Lahaina…so it’s literally means “cruel sun” huh?…hehehe that’s why maybe those Lahaina Boys that entered the 2006 WSC last January must have felt “so hot” and sweated so much they wet even their underwears, after losing almost consecutively….hehehe
well, yeah why not, in fact my wife got some relatives there in Oahu and Maui (she’s Ilocana), and we’ve been planning to visit them for quite sometime now…wala lang oras ‘coz of the work sched here on the island where we’re based.
To hawaiianguy:
“I also wonder if you are anti-GMA or not. Maybe I should find that out first…”
Let me put it this way – for me its not a matter of pro- or anti-GMA. I have to start with GMA as sitting president, because I have no other choice. Let her sit till 2010. But I am free to citicize her. And booting out GMA is not the solution to our country’s problems. I believe our country has more pressing problems than kicking her out. Like unemployment, which I think can be solved by the private sector.
The call center industry is growing very fast and it is projected to employ 300,000 and earn US$10 billion by 2010. And other outsourcing services – IT, finance and accounting, HR, transcription – are also growing slowly but surely. All these took place without the help of GMA. Just private sector initiative.
Its impossible to look at our country’s situation in a vacuum, because there are many variables –
(1) high unemployment which still persists after several presidents
(2) the “united opposition” who are as ‘united’ as the people who finished constructing the Tower of Babel; who wants to go with them? they might as well replace ‘united’ with ‘incredible’
(3) the “remove-GMA-at-all-costs-even-if-it-brings-the-economy-down” stance of the incredible opposition
(4) people are already tired of EDSAs, that they can’t afford to stage one more
(5) stability is what we need now; another EDSA will just compromise that stability
(6) everybody who shouts “kick GMA out” is a mixture of political opportunists and sincere Pinoys who only have love for the country. sadly, the political opportunists shout the loudest. Can you blame us for not heeding?
GMA is still sitting now, because of luck.
In short, in my desired advocacy, letting GMA continue is an incidental (but not deliberate) by-product. Sadly in this blog, if I don’t want GMA kicked out, I’m for her and I must be a member of the ‘GMA Internet Brigade’ ***sigh***
I’d rather help create jobs for 5 million Pinoys and having GMA stay till 2010, than kicking GMA out and unemployment remaining at 8 million.
“..you may be disappointed with my methodology”
Well, yes. But still, I’d like to read it when its available. Please send me a copy. Here’s my email –
jakethesnake_gregthehammer@yahoo.com
Toney, you want a direct address then I’m directing it to you. Aren’t you pro-Bush and US? At first glance, there’s nothing wrong with that especially if you’re now a US citizen. But please don’t say Bush’s policies don’t affect RP’s. More than ever, the US must review her foreign policies. Americans are basically nice people. It’s Bush and the US foreign policy that sucks!
To hawaiianguy:
“Honestly, I admire the rationality of your arguments.”
Thanks for the compliment!
To hawaiianguy and toney cuevas:
Let me also appreciate you for showing correctly how discussions should be conducted.
Bloggers like you make me want to echo that famous Voltaire quote – “I don’t agree with what you said, but I will fight for your right to say it”!
(i definitely don’t agree that the incumbent US President is a great man, but i’ll respect your right to say it)
npongco and norpil also join you.
HOW I WISH ALL BLOGGERS HERE POST LIKE YOU!
Anthony, thank you also for the compliment. I appreciate it. I just saw your earlier posting before this, which I failed to answer. I have no illusion that everybody around here would like my postings, thinking that I attack them, or maybe just feeling offended even if I mean no harm. But I do respond to those who hurl mud to me first, by pointing out that their faces are as muddy – if not more. Sadly, some would just hit you below the belt, seeing only the trees instead of the forest.
Got your email, and will send you an article I recently wrote on Gloria about her dictatorial leanings. Oh, by the way, your detailed explanations why you like Gloria to continue rather than get ousted sound good. I like your justifications, but my view runs counter to yours. If I had my way, I’d rather have Gloria removed from office by all civil means possible: impeachment, people power, even voluntary or forced resignation.
I believe she is the main source, or root, of all political, social and economic ills that set back the country today. A bad grass has to be uprooted to allow crops to grow. Left alive, that grass will multiply and become host to pernicious insects and parasites that risk a good harvest.
My analysis informs me that the longer she stays in office, the greater the damage she brings to the country. 2010 is too long to wait for a change. Who knows, she might stay beyond 2010, when the constitution is railroaded to her whims and caprices for power. By then, all the remaining insitutions might have been wrecked by her and her mindless crews. When she assumed office in 2004 (fradulently, according to critics, and I believe them), the legitimacy issue that shrouds her government began eating up the gains in civil society and the state since Cory’s time. Illegitimacy, loss of political trust, corruption, nepotism, mockery of justice, fixation to power and privilege, and more, are all correlated. They form a league of evils. Results?
(1) The bureaucracy collapsed, when “payback time” became the norm of governance under Gloria since 2001. (How many retired, pro-Gloria generals were given juicy positions in government or government-controlled corporations? Even the ex-SC Chief Justice couldn’t resist the temptation of GMA’s offer.)
(2) Political and social institutions also crumbled, when ineptitude and demoralization dominated agencies of the government. The military, judiciary, and even religion were silenced, or roused by 3 P’s (perks, power and privilege), plus the more tempting P (pork) adored by cooperative lawmakers (allies and even oppositors). Critical media people are gagged, sued, harassed or simply made to disappear from sight.
(3) Political values went down the drain first, when democracy and rule of law were made subservient to militarism, favoritism, double-standard justice, and the return of cronyism in government. Fakery, cheating, lying and other forms of cutting corners became ordinary behaviors, and therefore, by sheer occurrence are now “normal.” But not when you are a subordinate, an oppositionist, or a mere nurse. All who criticize Gloria and her tainted regime were bundled together as “enemies of the state,” “destabilizers, “leftists” and “communists” – without distinction.
(4) Social values eroded, when the traditional culture of Filipinos based on “hiya” is replaced by “walang hiya” or “pakapalan na,” thereby turning the country into a “Bastusan Republic,” as Anna puts it. Sensitivity and delikadesa gave way to callousness, greed and obsession to power, by all means. Fallows’s “damaged culture” is probably more apt to describe it (although Gloria was not yet president then). Filipino writers who initially reacted against Fallows’s tirade may now reverse their position, and pin him a medal for dousing them from slumber.
To hawaiianguy:
Thanks for that comprehensive reply.
Actually I suggested in another post that all anti-GMA should just campaign for pro-impeachment congressmen in 2007. At least, its more specific and a step forward, compared to just shouting “GMA patalsikin na now na!” which will get them nowhere. They call GMA calloused, so what made them think screaming “patalsikin na now na” ad nauseam ad infinitum could somehow pierce her
I can’t stand First Get. To get rid of him GMA must go. If only to remove First Get out of the picture, I’d support the impeachment of GMA.
My opinion on the four (4) results you mentioned is that they have been around ever since, that they’re not specific to GMA. They are hardly surprising. Paybacks are already expected. Even Erap, who I least expected to give paybacks, did it also (his ‘loyalty’ is legendary)
I agree with the observation of one author that the two EDSAs only resulted in one elite group supplanting another elite group. I am certain another elite group is waiting in the wings. Siyempre the ruling elite now wants the status quo.
I think we can’t prevent the elites from ruling our country. But we can help create jobs, that can empower the citizenry. If many of the poor become middle class, they will be aware of the wiles of the politicians and be independent of them.
(The strategy of a mayor of one famous city is to take good care of a critical mass of squatters, that ensures him/her votes. Two decades of power, and the squatters are still squatters, still living in a slum environment)
I can just imagine the payback if the “united opposition” were able to dislodge GMA – mayhem of the highest degree on the spoils! Better be safe than sorry.
on GMA’s fraudulent election – All cheating was on padding the winning margin, never on the outcome. Without the cheating, GMA still won, but only by a hairline; such a result is suspicious, so GMA and co. had to “increase” her lead.
Immediately after the 2004 elections, there is already public acknowledgment that GMA cheated. But how come there’s no public outcry to support FPJ’s protest? If we count all the votes of GMA, Roco, Lacson, Villanueva, an overwhelming majority do not want FPJ to sit. The majority can tolerate GMA, but not FPJ.
Isn’t it possible for all of us to just move on? Like what Al Gore did.
Weather-beaten
SHE SAYS
Dinah S. Ventura
10/04/2006
So there I was in the middle of Edsa, trying to get dry with a dwindling supply of tissues from being drenched, head to toe, walking to the car from the entrance of the Mall of Asia. I had just come from a morning press launch at the mall, and was en route to another one in Ortigas. The wind buffeted around us, sending debris, scaffolding, corrugated metal sheets, leaves and branches flying. It was, as my friend AA texted later on, “a wet inferno.”
I held my fear at bay as the force of the wind sent the van I was in shaking from side to side. A piece of yero followed us for a few minutes, banging against the side of the vehicle. We saw a bus stuck under a fallen tree along Edsa, some billboards torn and lying on the road, and as the traffic built up from the debris lying on the road, it occurred to me that storms like these can really strip us of our illusions.
How strong are we against the “storms” that come our way?
“Milenyo,” said to “the worst storm to hit Metro Manila in a decade,” was a rude reminder of our powerlessness against the forces of nature. No matter how much we prepare or how much we think we are prepared for natural disasters, we are never in complete control of the situation.
More than anything else, however, Milenyo also revealed the ugliness that we continue to endure like so much old furniture.
I am not talking about the felled trees and gigantic billboards that took innocent lives, nor even the rooftops that were virtually yanked off from some homes or the precious things that were destroyed in the process.
I am simply referring to the way our country has been flailing around like that helpless tot that Milenyo winds scooped up and brought banging to a nearby tree before falling to the ground, injured, but not dead.
We cannot seem to get a firm grip on solid ground, so easily knocked down as we are by one problem after another.
Typhoons and earthquakes, oil spills, blackouts and billboards falling on the heads of innocent people — our government always seems to be running to catch up, never ahead of the game. Its lack of foresight and preparedness often sends people to the brink of despair, crying against the loss of lives, of homes, property, sources of income, and even electricity.
Unless we really and truly learn from our past mistakes, we will continue to mourn over hundreds dead, missing or injured. Unless we sit up and take notice, some people will never look beyond immediate profits to see how insufficient, deficient or plain unacceptable measures could possibly affect the public.
Big storms like Milenyo and other natural and man-made disasters easily peel away layers to reveal so much ineptitude, greed and lack of conscience that continue to exist in the halls of power. When a government is either always running to catch up or making hollow pronouncements after damage has been done, a country will find it immensely difficult to weather the storms that come its way.
And as long as this country is weakened by disunity and the leadership remains sunk in the depths of corruption and immorality, we cannot hope to stand strong as a republic.
Ellen,
Whatever happened to the National Disaster Coordinating Council?
Dearest Ellen, if you feel that things are getting out of hand, please intervene, if you must. As I see it, just nothing but off the topic lively or lovely exchanges, discussion if you will. No foul, no harm than! And at the end we will all still be in speaking term having Kape and Pandisal sa kanto.
I shall return.
Anthony:
I’d like to tell you a story about this Mayor of our town. This Mayor shot and killed a person, and everybody knows that he’s corrupt. Nevertheless, he never been prosecuted, jailed and completed his office terms. Do you think that the law should’ve look the other way and forget his crimes? Perhaps he brought some improvement to the town, but is it enough to ignore the law of the land for this Mayor? What kind of society we would’ve if we keep ignoring the written law. And how about the constitution, what is it really meant to the people? Can you imagine playing basketball, and the referee keep changing the rules right in the middle of the game, it would be total chaos. And Anthony this is what we’ve in the Philippines. Chaos!
Now, you said,” I have to start with GMA as sitting President, because I have no other choice. Let her sit still 2010.” Can’t believe what I’m reading in the land of supposedly (underline supposedly) that respect the law of the land. If I may, please let me make my strong argument to you, that illegitimate Gloria is illegitimate in every sense of the word. Aling Gloria grabbed power, you may deny it, or Gloria a better replacement for President Estrada. But, still the point being, Aling Gloria and not to mention the husband Miguel, as Vice President swore an oath to the flag and God that she will protect the constitution of the Philippines. Yet she went out with the mobs on the streets, was she protecting the constitution? Was the Congress correct to walk out of impeachment? Was Hilarious Davide justified in legislating from the bench and while President Estrada still sitting in Malacanang swore Aling Gloria as the new President? Ask yourself, does Aling Gloria has the moral right to be in Malacanang? Most importantly, should the law of the land be ignored only because Aling Gloria already sitting in Malacanang? Aren’t you looking for an easy out, the conveniency if you will, yet totally ignoring the law?
My friend, the beauty of democracy to an individual, we are afforded with choices. There are right and wrong in every choice one’s make. And I can honestly express without any benefit of doubt, Aling Gloria was the wrong choice.
Aling Gloria broke the law and we shouldn’t make exception if we want to retain democracy and be part of the civilized nations. The choice is ours to make, just a matter how we apply them.
Hello Garci!
Anthony:
I finally took some time to read your postings and I’m just stunted and amazed of what I’m reading. The bottom line of what you’re promoting to this blog is to let go of Gloria unpunished, and forget Gloria’s crimes since she already in Malacanang. What a horrible thought to even imagine. Most especilly when the country, Philippines is struggling to rid of graft and corruption and strengthening the judicial system (at least an ambition or idea). But to surrender without even giving fair justice a chance, is like giving up part of you. Gloria’s crimes wasn’t a misdemeanor, it was a major crime against to the very foundation of what make a civilized country, it’s the backbone what make a country great. We shouldn’t move on and forget, never.
This is one of the case that we should not “Get over it.” As the country never forget the Marcoses. The wound is so deep that can’t be healed, there must be accountability and we are no better than the Al Quedas, if we ignore the law of the land, little extreme. But, in the Philippines we need extreme measures to get sanity back in the society. Gloria’s regime can’t go on, and it must not. Sorry, you don’t see it that way.
I’m enjoying reading some of the more civil discussions here, thanks to some of you like TC, as, hg. Just my own personal opinion–I don’t think may naidadagdag na makabuluhan ang name-calling ng iba, at yung mga mabibigat na batikos a la ad hominem. Kung hindi makakatayo by itself ang argument ng isang proponent, hindi ito matutulungan ng galit, pagmumura, paninira sa kapwa o ibang katulad na techniques. Having said that, alam ko na kanya-kanyang diskarte pa rin ang mangyayari dito.
Anthony,
“My opinion on the four (4) results you mentioned is that they have been around ever since, that they’re not specific to GMA.”
I agree, and those could even apply to local politics. I can also see them happening to Indonesia, whose culture is like ours. But if people take a serious look at the quality, scale and magnitude of institution-wrecking and corrupting that this Malacanan lady does because of power, their blood may rise to boiling point. Frankly, I was apathetic to Philippine politics before and I didn’t give a damn to what was happening then. My view was, pare pareho lang sila. But from what I can see now, I just can’t help myself joining the thin and risky ranks of critics. I used to write about non-controversial stuff (cultural, economic) of Philippine life and society, but now find it productive to relate it to the political. I just realized that most of what happens lead us to it.
In Gloria’s case, the legitimacy question of her regime is central to our lives today. Unless that is settled first, no amount of effort could make life any better. RP may generate millions of jobs, or the peso may even go to par with Thailand’s relative to the US dollar, but the damage to our core values and democratic institutions will remain unless a major repair is done. Contrary to your advocacy, or opinion, I don’t believe Filipinos could move on with their life, like what Americans did after the Bush controversy. (I posted my reason for this in another thread.) For one, this is also the familiar Gloria line that makes it even more objectionable to her critics, because it is self-serving.
You are correct in pointing out that focus should be on what is realistic and doable. 2007 election is just around the corner. If those wreckers from Malacanan and congress fail in their obvious railroading and manipulating, and assuming that Comelec will become truly “independent” just for once, we may see some results favoring change. At least, it may put in place a system of check and balance in the political order that Gloria and her allies have been trying to eliminate. If lucky, it may even tip the tide of majority-minority voice in congress, when more oppositionists are voted in and the pork-barrel lovers and “bad trapos” are voted out.
As to your issue on the elite, you are right. We will always be dominated by the people who comprise it. They just circulate, after dislodging those who are at the apex. I just wish that ordinary people were informed enough to discern things, and would exercise the power of choice inherent in their rights.
hg: You certainly don’t need any help from the likes of me–you articulate your position/s very well. I just suspect that you and I share a lot in common by way of points-of-view and sensibilities. As steel sharpens steel, I’d like to associate personally and literarily/journalistically/blogwise/etc with people who will inspire me to better myself. (Even in this, delikado na naman na may mag-akalang nagmamayabang ako.)
Keep up your efforts towards what you see as a path towards a more just and righteous Philippine society. Doubtless there will be some, perhaps many, who would agree with your position/s, as well as those who would hold opposing views. The beauty of a forum like this is that each participant is granted freedom by the host to voice opinions, even when the form is sometimes objectionable to some of us. Like most people do, I believe the substance of anyone’s argument is vitally important. However, I still hold that the form its presentation takes is significant. I believe in part what Marshall McLuhan proposed in his classic book, “The Medium Is The Message,” namely, the medium IS the message.
On another subject, I lament the fact that because of abject poverty, most people couldn’t care less about government and politics except where it directly touches their lives. Most, if not all, of their waking hours might be dedicated to just eking out a living. On the other hand, even among those who are fortunate enough to either inherit wealth or by sheer discipline and hard work lifted themselves up from the quagmire of helplessness, I see some who seem indifferent to the nation’s plight because they are somewhat insulated from most of the misfortunes befalling their fellowmen. Like I wrote in another post, I don’t pretend to know solution/s to the very complex problems of our Philippine society. I am just one lonely voice in the sea of humanity longing for positive changes. There are many others better equipped to effect those desired changes.
Tom, I don’t wish to sound as if we were the only ones talking here. But some seem to have the habit of picking up a fight and will bait you out to a debate garnished with mudracking, insisting on their position as the “best.” I don’t like it, because I believe good (bad) positions are judged best by others in the free market of ideas. This is not to say that what the majority says is always right, they may all turn out to be “bad eggs” (remember the line “tyranny of the majority.”)
“…I don’t pretend to know solution/s to the very complex problems of our Philippine society.”
I think you have posed a challenge here to others. Like you, am not sure about the answers either. Maybe concerned bloggers can suggest ways by talking about them dispassionately. I believe that people can do something to make a difference, once they realize they have enormous power in their hands (despite seething poverty and perception of helplessness). But then, how to mobilize them without being charged as Marxist or whatever is a problem. Doing it solo certainly does not deliver an impact, it only creates ripples that dissipate across space and over time.
I hope a new thread on this will be started by Ellen.
If I may, it’s not a kept secret to the predicament the Philippines is in presently. What brought the country to such quandary are also well established and all recorded in tapes and discs. The difficulty and the solutions to such intricate problems are staring us conspicuously, right in front of our face. All we need and lacking foremostly is the will to execute them. The way things are, we are content to sit back for the proper moment that may and may not arrive. Impeachment doesn’t work, random rally doesn’t work, military can’t be counted on, since they’re all seems quite satisfied to things as they are. And for them if ain’t broke, why fix it. The majority of the populace instead are the victims of this beyond comprehension.
In any successful endeavors always one person stands out as the leader that brings greatness emotionally on the people they lead. In the Philippines, I guess we can attribute to Jose Rizal. Abraham Lincoln as one of the great man, I would consider. Magellan and Columbus should be on the list of great people of the past for their visions to find new world. It’s most apparent that we need a person with a vision to lead the country without fear, with honesty and integrity beyond question. Is there such a person among Pilipinos? If not we are in deep shit!
We must liberate our fear!
Toney,
Agree, finding a hero or a great man in RP is most needed now.
Someone whispered, how about the “great man” Bush trading place with “illegitimate” Gloria? Just kidding.
But I am piqued by your statement: “…we are content to sit back for the proper moment that may and may not arrive.” How do we change that? I know what you mean, keeping silent or just sitting idly will never change things. For evil to triumph, all you need is for the many good people to do nothing, while the few bad guys go on a rampage. Tom raised a similar point.
Just wondering.
>great man
>great people
Itanong ko lang kay “Direk Carlo JC” kung bakit napili nyang isadula ang buhay ni Rizal Alih at Ben Tumbling?
tom & hg, nag react lang naman ako sa comments nyo noong nakaraang araw tungkol sa “calligraphy” ng mga bloggers dito kay Ellen.
>Isn’t it possible for all of us to just move on?
>Like what Al Gore did
Ano kaya kung hinintay na lang natin noong 1987 na matapos ni FM ang term nya?
Magiging presidente kaya si Doy noong 1989?
gaya nga Newsweek poster na nakita ko noong 1998 … REFORMASI!
Isn’t it possible for all of us to just move on? Like what Al Gore did.
anthony scalia, madaling sabihin ‘yan pero paano tayo kikilos pasulong kung sa harapan natin ay angdudumilat at nagsusumigaw ang mga panloloko, pagnanakaw, pagtatakip sa mga kapalpakan ng mga kaalyado ni gloria, ayaw niyang sagutin ang mga issues na may kinalaman sa kanyang mga pagkukulang? paano natin mararamdaman ang katapatan ng kanyang mga salita kung pawang drowing lamang ang kanyang ipiprisinta sa tao?
uulitin ko ang dati ko nang sinabi noon. kung totoong nanalo siya nang parehas. kaya siya nariyan sa pwesto ay dahil sa paniwala niya at paniniwala ng mga taong sumuporta sa kanya na kaya niyang gampanan ang kanyang tungkulin nang buong katapatan. pero sa halip na ganun ang gawin niya, ano? niloloko niya ang taong bayan. isinisisi sa mga nagdaang administrasyon ang kawalang silbi ng kanyang gobyerno at sa oposisyong ang batayan lang naman ay kung ano nakikitang ginagawa niya.
hindi rin tama na akuin ng ilan ang responsibilidad na dapat ay sa balikat niya nakaatang lalo na ang paghanap ng solusyong mabigyan ng trabaho ang mga walang hanapbuhay. kung talagang hindi niya kaya, magkusa na lamang siyang bumaba sa pwesto. marami pa namang matinong maaaring mamuno sa bansa natin. hindi ang katulad niyang kapangyarihan lamang ang habol kaya siya kapit tuko sa bawat sulok na malakanyang. lahat sa paligid niya ay dinadaan sa panunuhol upang huwag pakialaman ang kanyang paglulustay sa kaban ng bayan. maaaring isa ka sa mga karapat dapat na iyon.
hindi kapanipaniwala ‘yung sinasabi mong majority ay ayaw kay fpj. bagama’t tanggap kong hindi nanalo ang ibinoto ko (hindi si fpj) hindi ako kumbisidong nanalo si gloria kung hindi dinaya ang resulta. aminado ka na ngang nandaya pero pikit na lamang ang mga mata mo sa paniniwalang mas walang mangyayari sa pilipinas kung mapapatalsik si gloria sa pwesto na para bang isinalalay mo na lamang ang kinabukasan ng ating bayan sa mga kamay ng taong walang pagmamalasakit sa kapakanan ng kanyang nasasakupan.. napakadesperadong pagtanggap ng katalunan.
sa mga pagsalag mo sa mga dapat bigyang pansing ginagawang manipulasyon ni gloria sa kanyang mga ulat sa taong bayan, lumalabas na gusto mong pabayaan na lamang siya hanggang matapos ang termino niya sa 2010 kahit inilulublob sa utang ang pilipinas subalit hindi mo yata iniisip na lahat ng paraan ay ginagawa niya upang manatili sa pwesto tulad ng pagsusulong sa chacha na magbubuwag sa senado tungo sa pagkakaroon ng unicameral body kung saan namamayani ang mga bayaran niyang kaalyado.
…nagdudumilat at nagsusumigaw…..
Nelbar,
“tom & hg, nag react lang naman ako sa comments nyo noong nakaraang araw tungkol sa “calligraphy” ng mga bloggers dito kay Ellen.”
ok lang yun. matapos mong basahin ang history ng aking reaction din, alam ko naintindihan mo na ang punot-dulo. peace man (or woman?)! [sorry, hindi kita kilala dahil bago lang ako dito.]
Mrivera, nasabi ko na rin ang aking gusto sa puntong ito at hindi ko na uulitin pa. may dagdag lang ako. Sa tingin ko, naging masyadong unpopular na ang proposal na “why don’t we just move on” dahil nakakabit lagi dun sa madalas sabihin ni gloria at bunye. para bang ang gusto nilang mangyari ay kalimutan na lang ang lahat, o kaya ay patawarin at pagbigyan na lang siya na tapusin ang term niya.
palagay ko ang pagsabi ng “I’m sorry” ay hindi sapat, dahil pinagpipilitan pa rin niya na malinis siya. kailangang mapatunayan muna sa tamang proceso kung tutuo yung sinabi niya. dapat ay harapin niya ang akusasyon sa kanya at hindi basta na lang supilin ang demokratikong proceso. ang pagpatawad ay sa dakong huli, kung tapos na ang lahat.
wari ko ay may punto si anthony, na posibleng nanalo si gloria, pero very slim margin lang. alam ng marami na mas popular si FPJ nung una, pero unti-unti yatang nawawala ang suporta habang palapit na ang election. ang SWS mismo ang nagsasabi ng ganung trend. siniguro lang ni gloria ang kanyang panalo ng at least 1 million votes, sa tulong ni Garci na sanay sa ganung paraan bilang matapat at masunuring kampon. (kaya lang, maliit man o malaki ang pandaraya, pareho ring daya yun. at hindi tama yung sinabi ni Borra na “everybody cheated, including the opposition” para pagtakpan o ilihis sa public debate ang pandaraya ng isang tao.)
hg, ‘yun na nga. panay sabi ng “why don’t we just move on and unite for the future of the nation”, pero nasaan ang sincerity? sana bago ilahad ang kamay upang magkaisa, sagutin muna ang lahat ng isyu at maging transparent gaya ng pangakong gagawin niya. pero iba ang sinasabi sa ginagawa. paano nga tatalima ang mga tao?
yung posibleng nanalo si gloria? by slim margin? hindi lang padding ng electoral returns sa pilipinas ang dapat maging basis ng dayaan kundi ang mga pangyayari dito sa labas ng bansa. ‘yung kung paanong ginawang tanga ang mga OFW’s na ibinigay nga ang karapatang bumoto pero hindi rin naging malinis ang bilangan.
kung pagsasamahin ang mga boto ni gloria, roco, lacson at villanueva na nagpapatunay na majority ay hindi gusto si fpj na maging presidente? kung ganito naman, pagsamasamahin natin ang boto para kina fpj, roco, villanueva at lacson, majority kaya gusto si gloria para maging presidente? paikot ikot na tanong lang, di ba? na ang kasagutan ay ang pagharap ni gloria sa katotohanan na dahil sa kanyang “lapse of judgment” watak watak na ang ating mga kababayan. wasak na ang kinabukasan ng ating bansa. magpakatotoo naman sana siya sampu ng kanyang mga kaalyadong walang ginawa kundi sumalag, pagtakpan at iwasan ang pagharap sa dapat niyang panagutan sa taong bayan.
Mrivera, kaya pati ako galit sa nangyaring lokohan sa election noong 2004. Nabanggit ko na minsan na isa ako sa absentee voters (hindi ko binoto si Gloria), pero nung bilangan na sa kanya yata napunta yun dahil mas marami ang counted ballots kaysa dun sa registered voters. At panalo pa siya, gayung sa tingin ko ay unpopular siya sa mga OFWs at ibang pinoy abroad.
“magpakatotoo naman sana siya sampu ng kanyang mga kaalyadong walang ginawa kundi sumalag,”
hindi ko na inaasahan yan na mangyari. ang voluntary resignation o pagharap sa katotohanan ay mahirap niyang gawin, dahil alam niya kung ano ang nangyari kay erap at marcos. wika nga, nagkasubuan na, total lasog na ang palong, ituloy na lang ang laban. alam din niya na kung gaano kalaki ang pananagutan niya sa taong bayan paglampas ng termino niya sa 2010. kaya sa parliamentary system, gusto nila andun pa rin silang lahat na magka alyado sa puwesto. alam na natin yan, hindi na nila tayo maloloko. ang kawawa yung ibang kakabayan natin.
Hello,
Am sorry to ask this but what exactly is “sumalag”?
I think I’m pretty fluent in the vernacular but there are words that escape me… heheh!
sumalag is the same as sumangga or maybe to defend.(my interpretation).
sabi ng isang blogger, synonym ito ng SPIN DOCTOR:
“Spin doctor. Para SUMALAG na mahusay sa santambak na ibinabalibag sa kanyang mga panginoon sa Palasyo.”
ang pababayaan na lang na ipagpatuloy ni gloria ang kanyang bogus na termino hanggang 2010 ay nangangahulugang bow na lang tayo sa kanyang mga panloloko sa atin. tanggap natin kahit gawin niyang mistulang timawa ang pilipinas sa paningin ng mga dayuhan dahil pati trabaho para sa tao ay ipinanghihingi ng limos. super atsay at tsimoy. mga professionals na ang sahod ay wala pa sa kalahati ng laborers ng ibang nationalities (ganyan dito sa saudi arabia). habang ginagawa niya ang ganito ay patuloy din ang kanyang pagskunsinti sa katarantaduhan ng kanyang mga galamay, asawa at mga kaanak. ibabaon sa utang ang pilipinas gayung wala namang mga makabuluhang proyekto at hindi matugunan ang pangangailangan ng mamamayan dahil ang malaking bahagi ng pambansang badyet ay sa bulsa lang nila napupunta na ang pagbabayad ay sa taong bayan iaasa.
maliwanag na kung hahayaan nating magpatuloy ng ganito tayo na rin ang gagawa sa ating sarili na mistulang (o talagang) tanga.
Dapat ‘yang Melo commission ay tawaging ‘Melon Commission’. Bilog na melon, meaning ‘O’, or zero, zilch, nada, nothing. Zero credibility, regard it as nothing, of no consequence, expect nothing. Disregard, throw in the bin.
Ano ba itong si Anthony Scallop? Ang gulo ng komento niya na hindi ko maintindihan. Saan ba siya talaga? Kay Gloriang Tiyanak o sa atin?
artsee, huwag mo nang pasakitin pa ang ulo mo sa pag-iisip kung saan siya. maha-high blood ka naman.
to Toney Cuevas:
“But, in the Philippines we need extreme measures to get sanity back in the society. Gloria’s regime can’t go on, and it must not”
by analogy – corruption is just as dirty, and more massive, in the US. Some sources are saying that Bill Clinton was the most corrupt President ever. Yet whoever the President is, the US remains the biggest economy in the world. The US economy is unaffected by the circus composed of the US Congress and the US Executive. The private sector, not the President, was and is responsible for the US economic might.
You know what, every Philippine President is always the worst, every President after Marcos is always the worst since Marcos. When will this cycle end?
We can help our country develop, even with GMA around.
Wake up! The solution is not with the President – its with all Filipinos. We are deluded by a salvation resulting from kicking out the President. We can kick out every elected president, once we are as rich as South Korea already.
The problem with the efforts to bring the President down is that they bring down the economy too.
Gawad kalinga is the best example of private development initiative.
The booming business process outsouricng (BPO) industry here helping solve the unemployment problem. And not only that, real estate demand shot up, and more 24-hour convenience stores and restaurants opened up to cater to the unusual working hours of BPO workers. Mind you, this growth is without GMA’s help.
And there are many other success stories on private initiatives.