Pinapalabas ng Malacañang nagsimula na ang evacuation ng mga Filipino sa Lebanon.
Niloloko lang nila ang taumbayan.
Sabi ni Gloria Arroyo taos pusong siyang nagpapasasalamat sa mga lider ng Romano Katoliko sa Lebanon at sa Vatican sa pagtulong sa mga Filipino na ngayon ay hindi malaman kung paano makalabas sa Lebanon ng buhay.
Sabi pa niya;”Samantala, masusing nakikipag-ugnayan ang ating Pamahalaan sa mga katapat nila sa iba-ibang bansang karatig ng Lebanon upang mabilis at mapadali ang paghahatid sa mga manggagawang Pilipino sa mga pook na ligtas sa panganib.
“Nakahanda ang aming mga balak-pangkagipitan at tinitiyak namin sa mga pamilya ng mga OFWs sa Lebanon na ang kaligtasan ng kanilang mga mahal sa buhay ay nasa mabubuting kamay ng makaranasan at may kakayahang pinuno sa naturang pook.”
May naintindihan ba kayo sa sinabi niya? Mukha hindi marunong sumulat sa tagalog itong tiga-gawa ng press release ng Malacañang. Ngunit makikita rin sa kanyang sinasabi na ang ginagawa lang nila ay naghahanap ng ligtas na masilungan ng mga Filipino. Wala siyang sinasabing puwiin sa Pilipinas.
Bistado ngayon na walang nakahandang evacuation plan ang pamahalaan sa mga sobra 30,000 na Filipino sa Lebanon na ngayon ay nanganganib ang buhay sa patuloy na pambubomba ng Israel ng mga lugar ng Hezbollah, ang militating grupo ng Islamic Shiites na ang layunin ay mawala sa mapa ang Israel.
Ang mga Filipino ngayon ay sumisilong sa mga simbahang Katoliko. Sinabi ng Pilipinong pari doon sa simbahan noong isang araw na malapit ang mga binubombang lugar. Parang Quiapo church raw at Quezon bridge.Sinabi rin ni Fr. Advincula na siksikan na sila doon sa simbahan at nauubusan na sila ng tubig na pampaligo at pang-inom.
Sinabi ng Department of Foreign Affairs wala silang perang pang-rent ng barko at panggastos sa evacuation. Siyempre malaking pera yan dahil mag-rent ka ng mga sasakyan at pamasahehan mo sila hanggang makarating dito sa Pilipinas.
Mahirap tanggapin na walang pera ang pamahalaan sa paglikas ng mga nanganganib na Filipino sa Lebanon. Kung madali niyang maipalabas ang isang bilyon pesos para pantugis sa komunista at ng mabusog ang mga bata niya sa military, bakit hindi siya makapagpalabas ng pera para sa mga OFW?
Noong election 2004, hindi kumulang sa sampung bilyong piso na pera ng taumbayan ang napunta sa kanyang election campaign, kasama na doon ang ibinayad niya sa pandaraya. Bakit hindi niya gawin ulit yun para sa OFW na siyang bumubuhay sa ekonomiya? Dahil nasimot na ba niya ang kaban ng bayan?
Mukhang talagang walang plano pauwiin ang mga Filipino doon. Yung mga sinasabi niyang ginagawa nila coordination pra sa evacuation ay pakitang tao lang.Yung mga pinauwi na 200 ay mga embassy staff at mga katulong na nagkaroon ng problema sa kanilang mga amo, bago ba nagbakbakan doon.
Ayaw ng pamahalaan umuwi ang 30,000 na yan sa Pilipinas dahil walang trabahong mabibigay dito. Magdadagdag pa yan sila sa unemployment problem. Tataas pa ang bilang ng magugutom. At mababawasan ang OFW remittances na siyang bumubuhay sa ekonomiya dito.
May posibilidad na ang giyera sa Lebanon ay lalawak pa dahil kakampi ng mga Hezbollah ang Syria at Iran. Ano ngayon ang gagawin nitong pamahalaan ni Arroyo kung mas marami pang Filipino ang malalagay sa panganib?
Maghanap pa ng ibang simbahan, kahit anong relihiyon. Basta huwag lang umuwi sa Pilipinas.
Ellen,
Talagang mga sinungaling ing ang mga hayop na ito. Plan for evacuation? Nasa papel lang…
Tapos ang sabi pa ay may 900 OFWs na nakalista pare sa evacuation na hindi sumama finally at sumunod na lang ang iba sa mga amo nila.
Siguro, hiningan sila ng pera para ma-evacuate sila kaya umayaw yong mga nasa listahan ng scheduled evacuees. Baka racket pa ang nangyari.
Dios mio!
Si Gloria puro kasinungalingan ang alam! Puro kayabangan… puro kasalbahihan ang sinasabi at ginagawa!
Ellen, tama ka! Nagiging delikado ang Beyrut lalo ngayon dahil binomba na. At para matapos ang supply ng Hezbollah ng missiles galing sa Iran (via Syria), baka palawakin ng Israel ang conflict.
Lalo na ang medium range missile ng Hezbollah ay 150 to 200 km range na puwedeng ma bomba ang Israel. Ang Israel, marahil na mag-preempted strike ang Tsalah against Syria and Iran para matigil ang supply nila sa Hezbollah (na sa ngayon ay 50 Zelzal missiles lang ang estimate na sa possesion ng Hezbollah at kailanganing ma-replenish)ay puwedeng mag all out invasion on all fronts iyan.
Sa ngayon, ang Israel ay magpupursigi ng kanilang air raid, tamaan maski sino (maski maglagay pa si Cimatu ng 1,000,000 Philippine flags diyan) para lang mabomba ang FAJR rocket arsenals ng Hezbollah Bekaa plain (east ng Lebanon) at nakakalat sa suburbs ng Beyrut. (Ang kitid pa naman ng topography ng Lebanon.)
At ang sinasabi nitong si Ermita na maraming escape routes from Beyrut – isang katangahan iyan. Tama, may ilan, ilan pero hanggang kailan? Ang maski na pinakamaliit na route from Beyrut leading to Syria ay bomba na at under pummeling pa ng Tsahal.
Kailangan ay makipagugnay itong si Cimatu sa armed forces evacuation groups ng ibang bansa kung kinakailangan.
Ang Vatican ay HINDI makakatulong sa kanila… Ano akala nitong si Gloria Bansot? May tanke at warboats itong si Pope Benedict? Tanga talaga!
Walang balak na pauwiin ni bansot ang mga kawawa nating kababayan sa Lebanon. Para sa kanya, pabigat lang ang mga iyan. Kung mangyari man sa ibang bansa ang nangyayari ngayon sa Lebanon, ganoon din ang gagawin ni bansot. Iyan ang dahilan kung bakit nakiusap siya sa Italy at Spain na huwag ma-deport ang mga illegal na OFWs natin doon. Kung ang mga ibang bansa ay nag-aalala ng labis sa kanilang mga mamamayan, ang atin gobyerno naman sa kamay nitong pekeng pinuno at mabahong bansot ay nag-aalala din…nag-aalala kung paano bubuhayin ang libo-libong mga OFWs na uuwi. Panginoon ko…kawawang bayang Pilipinas!
Considering the source, why am not surprise. Gloria has been bull shiting her way to Malacanang and laughing all the way to Swiss Banks with Miguel and Jose Pidal. Now, all she can afford to do is to provide lip services to those most needed in the critical time. She can’t even tell the truth that’s almost impossible to evacuate 30,000 Pinoys for lack of means and resources. Just tell the frigging truth and stop lying, Gloria. Gloria couldn’t even do that. Those OFW’s are not children. Ain’t amazing this bogus woman called herself a leader. What a laugh.
This reminds me of Filipinos apprehended by police here and indicted as criminals for violating Japanese Immigration Law that labels overstaying as a criminal offense and overstayers as criminals.
For the past two decades, police and immigration officials here have been telling Philippine government officials to encourage these overstaying Filipinos to go home, but instead they have been assuring them that they will talk to the Japanese government about giving them a waiver, but nothing doing because that would serve as a precedent for other foreign nationals overstaying in Japan to ask for similar consideration that would not be favorable to the people of Japan.
Now, instead of going home, these Filipino workers take their chances until they are caught by the police and charged accordingly with the crime of working and staying illegally in Japan. Worse is when they tell the court that they would be willing to be incarcerated in prison rather than go home especially when they learn that they can work and send even a little money back to the Philippines while serving their sentences in prison. It really can be so pathetic!
I’m actually translating some interviews for a TV documentary on the OFWs to be shown on Japanese TV later this year, and there are interviews of women working in Lebanon. One or two of them have admitted being sexually molested by their employers, and yet given a chance, they would rather stay there than cursed that country and vow never to go back there.
I have not seen anyone of them stranded in Lebanon being interviewed on BBC or CNN so I really don’t know their situation right now but I don’t suppose it is anything pleasant and special. It will be amazing to hear them say they’d rather stick it out there even when all foreigners there are gone, and wait and see!
Ang masamang balita diyan ay ang mabahong singaw ng pinoys sa Lebanon – literally and figuratively. Pabyaaan sila ni Gloria na parang basura (figuratively) at maging mabaho silang tunay dahil sa kakulangan ng tubig at sanitary facilities. Siksikan ng tao sa simbahan ay walang biro. Recall the stench of human feces at New Orleans stqadium during Katrina? That is the prospect of pinoys in Beirut. Baka wala pang makain? at mainom?
Bakit ganoon ate Ellen yung 7,000 NPA pinaggastusan niya ng isang biliyon para mawala sa mundo bakit itong 30’000 pilipino na kailangan ng tulong hindi niya mabigyan ng pera o masasakyan para makauwi ng pilipinas huwag naman sana siyang maging madamot walang kasalanan ang mga taong ito gusto lang nilang mabigyan ng kinabukasan ang mga pamiliya nila.So sana tulungan niya ang mga ito para sa akin ito na ang pag kakataon niyang patunayan na mabuting tao siya.
Magan dang hapon uli sa iyong lahat.
“Not taking sides in the conflict between Lebanon and Israel, as Gloria’s stand on the conflict. We are neutral in this conflict, said tuta Ermita.” Such an inutile. How incredible this people of Gloria and Gloria itself, can’t tell the right from wrong. I guess Gloria is just being Gloria without a backbonen, nor priciple. I don’t think Gloria and her lap dogs even understand the conflict and who are involves in fighting. Certainly not between two States, yet the Stateless Hezbollah and Israel with the sideshow from Syria and Iran. Now, Gloria’s people wants to evacuate as reported in the Manila Times 200 Pinoys by bus to Damascus. It’s just like jumping from a frying pan to a fire. Also, Gloria’s people asked Israel a safe passsage of Pinoys to Israel. Ain’t lunatic, since Israel are engaged in a serious survival and the Israel itself are taking casualties from the missiles being randomly delivered to Israel. Finally, Gloria has asked the help of Washington in bringing the Pinoy migrant workers home. Definitely, Gloria Arroyo is doing something to secure the safety of 30,000 pinoys in Lebanon. Such a BS.
I’m wondering may be one of the Hezbollah’s missile, just one, will find its way to Malacanang Palace during dinner time when you know who and all the cabinets are strategizing their bank porfolio. Are we that lucky. Just a thought and so we can forget the impeachment. Quick resolution to our biggest problem to progress. Justice shall be done one way or the other! Cross our fingers.
Pagtulong sa mga OFWs sa Lebanon ay walang perang mailabas upang magamit sa kanilang madaliang evacuation. Sila man ay bahagi ng milyong-milyon na mga OFWs na nagpapaikot at nagpapasigla ng ekonomiya dahil sa mga remittances.
Ahh, baka naman inilalaan ang pera para pansuhol muli sa mga House of Representatives itong darating na July 24.
Grabe! Si Pandak ang nilikha ng civil society noong January 2001 na ngayon ay talagang PROBLEMA na ng bansang Pilipinas!
Just for generalize interest, since we are into evacuation, I would like to throw in when Gloria evacuated (perhaps administrative mission to be politically correct) the Philippines to visit the Pope with her family and entourage of closed friends and family of friends at the tune of, as I heard, over a million dollars at the expense, of course, the taxpayers. It was useless trip that doesn’t do anything to help the Philippines but Gloria’s propaganda to entertain her selfishness to show off. Now when it count, Gloria is AWOL. Such a liar. Hang on, it’s going to be a long hot summer and more heat will be coming from Malacanang for public entertainment. Any latest news on Joc Joc Bolante?
This may be a little off topic and it’s good to compare Marcos and this midget. Recently, some businessmen were accused of financing coup against the midget. See how Marcos dealt with his enemies and how this midget does today. More and more are beginning to realize how different the two is both in governance and treatment of political foes. Ellen, I think you know the difference for I think you were once anti-Marcos and was a product of Cory’s regime. Herewith is a portion from one columnist:
A former Cabinet minister of Ferdinand Marcos told me that Marcos had information about businessmen who were financially supporting moves against Marcos that these days would be considered as destabilizing.
He relates that once, Marcos called him in and sent him on a mission – to tell a big businessman that the Cabinet minister personally knew that Marcos knew about his activities which included funding those who were trying to bring Marcos down.
When he told the big businessman, the tycoon denied that he was acting against Marcos; but, notes the former minister, from then on, the man laid low and stopped whatever it was that he was doing with the anti-Marcos groups.
That, members of the present government, is the way to handle the situation. The way that you are going about it only shows you up as amateurs in realpolitik. The present administration, by investigating very big businessmen, is actually doing themselves and the government more harm than good.
Sometimes, it is better to speak softly and carry a big stick. It is not always smart to shout about how you will batter the enemy. Who knows that you might have to leave the scene of battle with your tail between your legs?
Lip service is the thing this pretender is good at. Meron na ba siyang siyang tinupad na pangako mula nang siya’y umupo? Wala na talagang aasahan sa administrasyong ito. She couldn’t care less for these OFWs, more aspirants are waiting in the wings to take their place.
Parang utang na loob pa ng mga Pilipino kay pandak ang kanyang pagtratrabaho. Talagang puro yabang lang ang ipokritang ito. For sure, the SONA will be another fairy tale.
SONA? SANA mamatay na siya sa araw na iyon!
ystakei, umarya na naman yang japan is great mo. sa totoo lang marami ring hapon na overstaying sa pinas. ang iba pa nga diyan ay nag aasawa ng unwitting pinay para lang makabili ng lupa sa pinas at manatili doon.
sino ba naman ang gustong maiwan sa lebanon sa panahong ito? ano ang mahalaga makaalis ng buhay at sa ganoon ay muling makapag hanapbuhay o matepok.
ang issue ay ang grandstanding at tuluyang pagsisinungaling ni gma sa pagligtas ng pinoy ofws sa lebanon, hindi overstaying pinoy sa japan.
marami rin akong reminder ukol sa hapon, pero hindi ko sinasabi rito. So please be kind and sensitive enough, and stop reminding us of the sins of your beloved, new found japanese kins.
Salamat Isagani at nabuhay ka uli. Ipinagpatuloy ko lang ang nauna mong puna tungkol sa palaging pagbida ni Haponesa sa Hapon at ako pa ang napahamak. Pinagtulungan nga ako ng mga makapili este mga kakampi niya dito.
Hindi po titigil iyan…basta may butas na puwedeng ipasok ang propaganda ng Hapon gagawin niya. Di lang iyan pati na ang religion niya. Nagiging bad boy na ako sa akin mga pagpuna sa writing style niya pero pilit ko pa rin iginagalang. Ang pakiusap ko lang naman ay tulad mo din…bawas-bawasan naman ang pagbibida sa Hapon. Nakakalimutan na yata na grupong Pilipino ito at tungkol sa Pilipinas ang pinag-uusapan. Ang nakakalungkot may kakampi pang hihirit na ang sabi’y dapat magpasalamat pa daw tayo kay Haponesa dahil ibinahahagi niya ang kaunlaran at at kagalingan ng bansang Hapon na nakakatulong sa atin. Ewan ko ba…bahala na kayo!
That’s what I have been saying…that no one and no Filipino should laud and thank this bansot for their plight in Lebanon. Nothing is being done. The only thing this fake government does is to beg, borrow and this time hitch ride.
RP plea: Please allow Filipinos to hitch ride
By Volt Contreras
Inquirer
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT lacked in ships and aircraft, it tried to make up in letters to foreign countries pleading with them to let Filipinos hitch a ride in their evacuation vessels out of war-battered Lebanon.
Incidentally, is it true that Senator Ping Lacson is the President of the Phil-Japan Parliamentarians Association? He just arrived from Tokyo.
Sorry Isagani I’ve to mention Japan this time ’cause it’s relevant to Senator Lacson’s position. I don’t think our Japanese friend here would read this post and respond to this query ’cause she already said she would no longer read my mails. So if you read this Anna, kindly pass this to her so that she could confirm the above information through you. Thanks.
Schumey,
Hindi land hypocrite at mayabang, talagang stupid pa! At saka itong mga tuta niya, ang dami-daming sinasabi e hindi naman pala tutuparin.
There should have been funds to evacuate the OFWs in Lebanon because there was the OWWA funds that Marcos himself imposed
for the purpose when he made agreements with countries in the Middle East and even Asia to accept Filipino workers, but much as he was accused of plundering public funds, he never touched such funds, even the funds being collected for example for the people at the Judiciary that Davide coveted (Remember?). Ito nga lang si Pandak ang talagang ganid.
Take the case of Filipinos being accused of heinous crimes in Japan, I was told in fact that asking for funds to help the likes of Contemplacion, the woman hung in Singapore for killing a Filipino and an innocent child, among them in fact is no easy feat unlike during the time of Estrada, who tried to abide by the provisions of the Migrant Act that Joe de Venecia in fact hurried to have signed and approve on time for the election in 1998 to use as one of his campaign gimmick. Like in one case I handled as an interpreter and paralegal for a team of lawyers during the brief period of the Estrada regime, the Philippine embassy grudgingly released more than 1M yen for it from the OWWA fund, I suppose. Now, the excuse is there is no fund.
This is because the OWWA fund was/is being used for other purposes than what it was intended for and why the OFWs are paying for such on departure from the Philippines. It actually is even supposed to be just a bond to make sure that there would be money to spend in case of such emergencies as this evacuation of Filipinos from a war zone.
Ang laki-laki ng karatula sa airport about this fund that the Pandak actually used to swindle Filipino voters with during the last election. I understand that there were protests against the issuance of health cards with the picture of the Pandak on it, and a lawsuit filed on this issue. I just don’t know what has happened to it. May balita ka doon, Emilio?
Gosh, inuna pa iyong mga staff ng Philippine Embassy to evacuate out of Lebanon when like a sinking ship, the crew of the ship should be the last to leave to insure that the passengers, the OFWs, are saved!
Anna,
I understand you’re having problem, too, accessing this blog. Try to get a spy-ware, but with the monitoring Ellen’s administrator is doing now, I guess there is now better protection against these attempts by the Pandak’s Internet Brigade to prevent those who oppose to express their sentiments in blogs like this.
I guess the others who cannot easily now get to this blog must have been experimented on by the Internet Brigade monitoring this blog.
May mga nagpre-pretend pa ngang anti-GMA but look at the contents of their messages. Iisa lang naman ang style that you know immediately that the names belong only to one person.
One thing they do not realize I guess is that they cannot and will not be able to kill the human spirit for truth, justice and freedom!
Hullo folks, hello Ellen,
One for the road, before hitting the sack pala… (so hot here 38°C and no wind – ugh!)
Ellen, sana huwag namang lumawak ang guerra. Kawawa ang mga mahirap na tao. Sa Africa (Abijan) maroon na namang trouble na bago.
By the way, Jorgie, I just read your comment in a previous blog of Ellen’s addressed to me and thank you for your ripost.
Let me assure you that I NEVER intimated that you were a hacker neither in my private correspondences with , as you say, my Haponesa friend (or with other friends in this blog) nor in my public postings.
My asking where you were was simply a question out of the blue, tinged perhaps with curiosity which I admit, but is based on a real instant observation since I wasn’t seeing your posts as often as I had every single time I came to visit Ellen’s blog these last few days or weeks.
That you may suspect me of being in cahoots with Gloria and her government is your prerogative but I hope you will allow me the elbow room not to dignify your suspicion neither with a yes nor a no.
I believe that you should also accept my comment about Yuko being a mabuting tao without lending it any further color because my comment is not meant to say anything against you. You may not share it but it is my honest opinion.
Also, as to being opinionated, I do believe that all of us here are quite opinionated, you included (otherwise, you will agree with me that you wouldn’t have had a run in with Yuko), and sometimes many of us express our opinions in the extreme but unless Ellen tells us to refrain from expressing them, I suppose we may continue to do it and must consider ourselves lucky to do so. So opinionated are most of us indeed that we wouldn’t be so assiduously posting in Ellen’s blog had we not been at all.
Moreover, if you noticed, I’ve never ever countered your assertions on Yuko with the slightest vehemence but did make a “quiet” rebuttal when you said that you would or might or perhaps, “hack her with an ax” which to tell you the truth, I personally found rather offensive because I felt it was going out of bounds. Yet I think my reaction was quite “measured” when I simply asked you to “cool it”.
Having said all that, I agree that we all seem to be waging the same battle, at least in Ellen’s space, against a common enemy, save perhaps for some, so I feel that there is no need to savage one or the other unless we feel directly attacked for no reason whatsoever. Civility dictates that we all behave within bounds as much as possible (I ain’t always a good example, mind you!) so that we may focus against a common enemy with efficiency (if that is possible at all).
Lastly, I have no beef against you Jorgie. I read what you write as I do everything published here and from what I’ve read of your posts, you are as passionate as my Haponesa friend and I and perhaps, you should allow her and me the “space” to write what we feel until Ellen tells us herself, “Basta”!
Thank you.
Ang hirap…hirap talaga pumasok sa blog na ito. Masakit na ang mga daliri at kamay ko. Anyway, iisa ang sigaw ng mga OFWs natin sa Lebanon. Sabi nila bakit daw sila tinawag na mga “bayani” ni Pandak tapos pinababayaan na lang sila doon. Biro mo nga naman pinapaangkas lang sila sa mga barkong dayuhan dahil wala daw eroplano o bapor ang Pilipinas!
Apologies, Ellen for that rather personal note which is absolutely off topic…Thanks.
“Lastly, I have no beef against you Jorgie. I read what you write as I do everything published here and from what I’ve read of your posts, you are as passionate as my Haponesa friend and I and perhaps, you should allow her and me the “space” to write what we feel until Ellen tells us herself, “Basta”!”
Anna, I have no personal grudge again anyone including your Haponesa friend. My only request and this is what Isagani also wants is for her to cut down on her Japanese propaganda. I think you do notice that it’s sometimes over emphasized forgetting that the issues are about the Philippines. Iyon lang naman. In fact, I have a question about Ping Lacson who just arrived from Tokyo. Maybe your friend knows about this and may want to share. I’m allowing her to write about Japan this time so I could find out the truth about Lacson’s being the President of Filipino-Japan Parliamentary Association.
Ellen,
Kawawa talaga ang mga pilipino lalo na iyong mga sinasadyang gutumin para kayang-kaya silang lokohin like these OFWs in Lebanon, a lot many of whom must have told their own selves that they have no choice but stay there and try to survive if they can.
I actually have difficulty understanding such mentality of staking one’s life for a meager fee of 1,500 dollars a month working for example in Iraq, or 300 dollars a month for losing one’s purity as in the case of a lot many of the domestic helpers being raped by their employers in Lebanon.
I remember volunteering in fact to bring complaints to the Lebanese Embassy here because there was no Lebanese Embassy in the Philippines some years back regarding the negligence of the Lebanese police in investigating the deaths of 3 Filipino maids who died mysteriously in Lebanon.
They were apparently thrown from the same building to their death after being sexually molested, but the police there ruled their deaths as suicides, and the Philipine government (si Pandak na ang president) finding it more convenient to not insist on a thorough investigation of the 3 deaths.
What is absurd and disappointing about this case was that the one campaigning for justice for these women were not in Lebanon but in KSA. Unfortunately, the leader of the group died not seeing the result or anything done favorably on this case and even before he could provide me with the documents to file at the Lebanese Embassy here.
I can understand the desire of those who have little and almost nothing for the kind of comfort and luxury that working overseas can afford them, but do they have to allow this government and crooks like Pandak to manipulate and take advantage of them even at the peril of their lives and destruction of their homes with long separation from families, spouses and children resulting in a lot of broken homes.
Remember that the families are in fact the foundation of the society. Imagine these eroded families as being such! 🙁
Anna:
Has this crook been saying all those things about me? Gosh, I won’t waste time battling even in words with this insane brigader no doubt. Nagpre-pretend pang anti-GMA, and if he/she is, then something must be wrong in the head of this guy, or should I say gal because he/she blogs likewise in some female names?
Did he/she say hack me with an ax? Di subukan niya e baka maghalo ang balat sa tinalupan. Haponesa na may lahi pang Ilokano ito sa totoo lang! Sayang na lang na nanggaling ako sa pamilyang miyembro ng Heike or kahit na lang ng mga Luna ng Ilocos!
On the other hand, why should I bother waste a breath on this lunatic, who apparently gets a kick out of messing up serious discussions on issues that should have been properly and squarely faced and addressed by all concern. Worst is when rabidly anti-GMAs that this crook has encountered and got into a heated discussion on cyberspace suddenly find logging in lists such as this to be practically impossible as what I have experienced for the past day or two.
Frankly, I just recently volunteered to be in a some kind of experiment being conducted by authorities here for the implementation of the new Internet Law, and though reluctant at first, I am grateful I did because I got prompt response regarding my complaint about not being able to see Ellen’s blog or MLQ3’s blog that I actually had not joined after finding blogging here more pleasurable even when this lunatic started being too personal probably thinking that he was free to use me for his/her perversion the way he/she does in other lists.
What he/she has not realized still is I fear no one but the Lord! And I am saying this not to brag but to state a fact!
BTW, have I thanked you for posting my messages when I could not access this blog? Salamat, kaibigan!
Frankly, I have, many a time, wondered if Satan and his legions blog likewise in lists like this intentionally to create chaos and confusion, for the devil will do everything to thwart God’s plan to bring to pass the immortality of men.
In short, Anna, nababaklaan ako. And since I am not a man pretending to be a woman, I’d rather ignore and allow this entity to gnash its teeth and suffer fire ang brimstone in hell!!! 😛
Alitaptap:
I don’t know with Lebanese, but I can understand what you mean. At least, iyong mga Iraqis na na-meet ko sa International Criminal Tribunal for Iraq ay mas walang amoy kesa doon sa mga Afghan na kahit yata maligo ay masangsang ang amoy katulad noong mga bombay!
I remember our visit to the refugee camps in Islamabad na sumakit ang ulo ko sa amoy noong mga Afghan at bombay na na-meet namin doon! Hindi tuloy ako makakain kasi nga talaga namang hindi lang amoy suka kundi amoy patay pa yata.
Kawawa naman talaga ang mga pilipinong matitira sa Lebanon samantalang ang mga ibang dayuhan ay nagsipaglisan na. Tignan natin kung maawa ang mga kano na mag-volunteer na iligtas iyong mga pilipino sa sarili na rin nilang initiative na maligtas. Huwag na nilang asahan ang pangako ni Pandak. Hindi naman tumutupad iyan!
Sinabi ko na doon sa naunang sinulat ko na hindi matutulungan ni bansot nag mga OFWs sa Lebanon? Kunwari lang ang kayang sinasabing ililikas sila. Sinungaling ang babaing iyan, at kahit anong lumabas sa bibig niya ay walang katotohanan. Her evacuation plans are pure papers and talks only….nothing more. First, wala nang pera ang Pilipinas, naubos na ng pamilya niya at mga alipores, second, walang kakayahan ang ating mga lider na makipagsabayan sa ibang bansa pagdating sa agapang pagtulong sa ating kapwa Filipino. Third, dahil sa kayabangan ni bansot, turn-off ang mga karatig bansa at wala siyang kredibilidad. Pero kung ang pag-uusapan ay ang gagastusin para patahimikin ang kanyang mga kritiko at payamanin ang kanyang mga alipores, aba!!! kahit ilang bilyon go siya!!
Palibhasa ay isang pekeng presidente siya, kaya ang bibiyayaan lang niya ang mga taong naglagay sa kanya sa pwesto. Kung hindi ba naman siya ay walang utang na loob, tingnan nyo ang ginawa sa bishops na pumupuna sa kanya, pinaratangan niyang mga destabilizers!! Sa isang banda, buti nga sa CBCP, suportahan ba naman ang isang sinungaling, magnanakaw at mandaraya, mamamatay-tao, kidnapper, mayabang, may topak, o eh di ayan, magdusa ang mga pari, ha!
Maiba ako, nabasa ko ngayong umaga sa news na si director Joel Lamangan ay sumapi na sa LIberal Party of Lito Atienza dahil plano din niyang tumakbong mayor sa Bulacan. Walastik !!, kung punahin ni Joel si bansot ay ganoon na lang, at may padrama-drama pa siya noong nakaburol si FPJ, iyon pala kaya din bayaran ang kanyang karangalan.!! PWE!!! bakla ka nga Joel. Wala kang isang salita. Palibhasa hindi mo alam kung ikaw ay lalaki o babae. Mark my words: HINDI KA MANANALO sa eleksyon. Isinusumpa ko!!!
Gloria is ALL TALK…but cannot walk!
Just pure lip service and nothing more.
I understand that those Filipinos employed by Americans are getting to be evacuated by the American rescuers likewise if they have their credentials alright. So, if you have relatives there working for Americans, tell them to contact their employers and ask to be flown to Cyprus and tell the Philippine diplomatic mission there to fly them back to the Philippines if their American employers cannot get them permits to enter the USA.
These OFWs should force the Philippine government to pay for their fares, etc. since they have paid fees that were supposed to be used for this kind of emergency. Hindi puede iyong excuse ni Pandak at ng mga kurakot na tagapalakpak niya na walang pera pero may pangsuhol siya doon sa mga katulad ni Nograles na harangan ang impeachment!
Enough is enough! Tama na ang pagpapaloko sa kumag na Pandak na ito!
Please let’s focus on issues. We have had enough of Yuko and Jorgie’s feud. Enough na, please.
Goldenlion,
Hindi ko kilala ang Joel na iyan pero ang mga sumasali sa grupo ni Atienza na humahalik sa puwit ni Pandak ay pihadong walang Viag-ha! 😛
Magdilang anghel ka sana na hindi mananalo ang ungas na iyan. Ang malungkot, kaibigan, ay kinikidnap sa Bulacan iyon mga nagbibigay lakas-loob sa mga mamamayan na tanggihan ang kahit na anong suhol kapag eleksyon kahit na magutom sila.
Iyong kaibigan ko nga sa Negros, hindi na re-elect dahil nakalaban iyong burot na kapatid ni Fatso. E di talo!!! Pati mga election campaigner niya nabili!!!
What’s new with these issue? Talagang itong si Pandak ay mahilig lang sa “press release”…ayun kahapon kesyo ganito na daw ang mga “plano” para i-evacuate yung mga OFWs sa Lebanon….while watching the news last night in TFC, I told my wife that it’s another BULL!#^*!…ayun na nga, this morning, MUP has a “live” phone patch with this Fr. Advincula, a filipino priest in Beirut, who was helping our “stranded” kababayans there. Live in “national and international TV”, he said when asked by Julius Babao and Cherryl Cosim, about the “arroyo government plan for evacuation” that was being “publicized” yesterday…”ay wala po akong alam diyan…” Ayun, “huli” na naman si gloria at mga “kampon” niya na “iba ang sinasabi kaysa sa totoong nangyayari”…Patawarin po ako ninyong lahat dito mga kababayan ko…pero….P..I TALAGA ANG MGA HAYOP NA ‘YAN!!!!!!!! Kung puwede lang tayong “magkaruon ngayon din” agad-agad ng “French style revolution”…pugutin na ulo nina gloria, mike arroyo, mike defensor, dagdag na rin si raul gonzales. Tinanong din yung pari sa Beirut kung “ano daw sabi sa embahada”…”eh di wala”…papano me sasabihin ‘yung embahada ng Pilipinas sa Beirut eh nuon ngang last last week pang “sinabi na nasa ‘Pinas na yung ambasador na si Bicharra (or whatever the spelling of his fuc!#^*!@ name). Kaya ‘yung “isyu” dun sa isang entry ni Ma’m Ellen na sinabi “daw” ng ‘Pinas na tutulungan iyong mga Thai nationals na “mag-e-evac” din…sige, “kwentuhan” lang naman eh…nagda-drugs yata itong “pangkat” ni Pandak.
jorgie Says:
July 20th, 2006 at 7:08 am
My only request and this is what Isagani also wants is for her to cut down on her Japanese propaganda. …
….I I’m allowing her to write about Japan this time so..
Jorgie, what would your next request be? Make her eyes blue? Do you really have the clout/ability to allow or disallow her what to do? Let’s see you walk your talk.
Now, now … no ad hominems like you did to me last time. I won’t stoop to that level. If you do that will only prove that you are no gentleman.
My apologies, Ellen, for going off tangent. Now back on track. It is appallingly shameless for DFA begging other nations to allow pinoys to hitch a ride on their evacuation vessels. The least they can do by way of helping the evacuation is to foot the expenses of the pinoys. Fatso guy can throw away $20,000 for overnight stay in Las Vegas, but no money for pinoy evacuees?
Bawal ngang umuwi sa Pinas ang mga OFWs: Bakit?
>>>mawawalan na ng remittance, problema pa ang unemployment!
Equals====> mawawala ng pork barrel ang mga alipores
ni gloria; mawawalan din ng Pera sa Kaban ng Bayan na winawaldas ng nakaupong tenant sa may Pasig!
Spartan:
Ang dapat gawin ng mga kamag-anak ng mga stranded OFWs sa Lebanon ay magmartsa para mapilitan si Pandak at mga galamay niya na ilabas iyon mga ninakaw nila, pero malabo yatang mangyari ito dahil talamak na ang mga kawalanghiyaan ng mga ito. Hindi na tinatalaban ng hiya, ika nga! Golly, 8 days na ang guerra na iyan hindi pa rin kumikilos si Pandak, puro plano at dada lang.
Ayon nga at aalis na raw iyong mga taga-Philippine Embassy na may mga immunity daw na lusubin ng mga Israeli! Naalala ko iyong katulong na ipinasa sa akin ng Philippine Embassy long, long time ago na binugbog ng amo niyang Egyptian na mga diplomat pa ha! Hindi na ako pilipino noon ha kaya alam kasi ang ginagawa kong pagshe-shelter ng mga stranded na pilipino noon, pati nga iyong mga seamen na niloloko ng mga recruiter.
No wonder na kahit na sabihin pang “There is no place like home” ay ayaw umuwi ng mga pilipino sa sarili nilang bansa. Para bang sinabing mas mabuti pa sa impiyerno kesa sa Pilipinas!
Si Bush nga rin binabatikos ng mga Amerikano ngayon dahil sa bagal ng ginawang pagtulong sa mga Amerikanong stranded sa Lebanon. Ang palusot niya ay kailangan daw na masiguro ang kaligtasan ng mga kano. Sigawan ang mga Amerikano nang sabihing sisingilin sila sa pamasahe nila papunta sa Cyprus. Laking pera nga naman ang inuubos ni Bush sa Iraq at Afghanistan.
Ipagdasal na lang natin na wala nang mamatay sa kanilang mga pilipino na naiwan sa Lebanon. Isang obispo nga ng CBCP na sinabing magdasal daw ang mga pilipino na matapos na ang guerra sa Lebanon para makabalik na iyong mga OFW sa trabaho nila. Pero tignan mo ang nangyayari, lalong lumalala yata ang sitwasyon at itong mga Israeli ay gagamitin na ang kanilang mga missile! Heaven forbid!
Alitaptap,
My eyes sometimes turn dark green as a matter of fact especially when I’m upset. Got them from my British ancestors I guess! Hindi lang nga mapansin kasi singkit kasi ang mga mata ko like my Japanese ancestors before me!!!
You bet, nakakahiya itong Bansot na ito na ginagawang pulubi ang lahat ng mga pilipino pero siyang ang kapal ng mukhang mag-good time sa Spain para daw i-celebrate ang birthday ng asawang Fatso na akala mo naman talagang in-love sa isa’t isa ang mga fornicators na ito! Yuck!
I’ll get in touch with my friends in the movements of the OFWs and see if they have people coordinating with the Filipino priest to save the 30,000 Filipinos there. Biro mo ang dami niyan but I doubt if the Philippine Embassy there has even bothered to account for them!!! Ganyan ka-inefficient!
Toney Cuevas, you’re right to say that the “plan” of gloria and her “gang” (actually, more of the ideas of her advisers than hers, boba yan eh) to bring the OFW “evacuees” to Damascus, is like “jumping from the frying pan to the fire”…ang problema nga kabayan, is that “they have no option left”, kasi nga “too much too late” na ang ano mang gagawin nila as of now. The Beirut Int’l Airport was already bombed by the Israelis since 4-5 days ago…kaya sa Damascus nila “plano”(again plano pa lang ‘yan, wala pang aktuwal na gawa) dalhin ang mga kababayan nating “stranded” sa Lebanon, partikular sa Beirut…kasi duon ang may “pinakamalapit” na Int’l airport, kung saan pwede lumapag ang “chartered flights” na ipapadala ng ating “gobyerno”(hindi ni gloria, pera din ng taumbayan yung ipapang-arkila sa mga eroplano). Pwede nga din sana sa Cyprus “ilikas” by ships ang ating mga kababayan, kaso “maraming kondisyones” na gusto ang Cyprus government, particularly their Immigration Department (kasi marami ring TNTs na Pinoys dun). Kaya, walang susulingan ang ating mga “kababayan”, pero ang problema kapag HINDI NAGMADALI sina Pandak, at dumating ang time na pati Syria ay “makaladkad” na sa “direct conflict” with Israel…TAPOS tayo…kawawa talaga mga Pinoy.
Here’s a note from one of the people in our advocacy for the OFWs. Let’s heed his call for action:
Rob Ceralvo wrote:
Finally, after days and days of anguish and worry for our OFWs in Lebanon and their families in the Philippines, the govt. recognized the fact that they should act, and in solidarity, face the danger that faces the 30,000 Filipinos in Lebanon!
What took them so long to act is beyond every OFWs’ families’comprehension. The seemingly helplessness and the uselessness of OWWA in the initial outbreak of this crisis is again bringing back the question to the families and beneficiaries of OFWS: whose welfare is OWWA really concerned of? What’s the use of the money that is being
collected or shall I say, extorted, from every OFW when they go out of the country?
When lives of our fellow-OFWs are in danger, especially this big number (30,000), and all you hear is about Bolante, your blood pressure shoots up to double the 102 degrees temperature in New York. It shoots up more when you hear reports that the Philippine govt. will ask the
US, the British, the Vatican, etc., etc., etc. to evacuate its own citizens in war-torn Lebanon. “Sir, paki-sama nyo na rin sa evacuation cruise ship o helicopter nyo yung DH na Noypi nuong citizen nyo.” What in the world is this govt. thinking? In the first place, it is this government’s policy to send its people to those places to find work.
Common sense then dictates that it is this government’s responsibility, come hell or high waters, to evacuate its own people when they are in danger in those places. And NOT pass the buck or rely on anybodyelse.
It is very disguting that OWWA cannot take a lead in this crisis! All they are trained to is to wait for someone to bark at them! (Heck, for one time or another, almost all of the OFW’s contributions goes to their salaries and perks (administration kuno), and this is the kind that we get: undecisive mangers in times of crises!
Salamat at nagkaroon din ng plano patungkol dito ang gobyerno. Maganda ang plano for evacuation, grandiose. Ready na sila for execution. Kaya lang, it still irritates me, kasi sabi nitong in-charge na si Conejo, $500,000 lang daw ang in-allocate dito ng pangulo. Pwede ba? Nasaan
yung OWWA money? Kakapiranggot lang yung limang-daang libong dolyar. Magkano ba yong blood money para kay Angelo? That alone is more than a million dollars. Ngayon, 30,000 lives are at stake, kalahati lang nuong ipinangbayad kay Angelo ang budget? Ano ba yan? Joc Joc joc? Mga Utak
Bolate!
I’m calling all our fellow overseas Filipinos to pressue our government and OWWA to release more funds (meron silang pera!) to properly fund and implement yung plano ni Conejo (or any workable plan) to evacuate our fellow Filipinos in Lebanon. Sana maka-usap din natin yung me ari ng Super-ferry, ng PAL na si Lucio Tan, para magamit yung kanilang mga barko at eroplano para ma-evacuate yung ating 30,000 na mga kasamahan sa Lebanon. Baka naman maantig din ang puso nitong si KapiTan, i-libre na yung PAL jet 747.
— End forwarded message —
You can’t help saying bad words dahil sa mga kagaguhan at ka-ipokritohang ito. Golly, tinitipid pa ang pag-rescue ng mga pilipino. Baka maubos na ang mga pilipino hindi pa kikilos ang Pandak na ito! Pa-cute-cute lang ang alam! Baka ang ginagawa pa nga niyan ngayon e nagpa-practice ng SONA niya na akala niya may maniniwala pa sa kaniya dahil kahit iyong mga ungas na papalapak sa speech niya for a fee ay pihadong pinagtatawanan kung anu-anong kabulastugan ang sinasabi niya!
Pihado babanggitin niya kung papaano siya nag-offer ng tulong sa mga Thai kahit na sa totoo lang ay hindi naman niya kaya. Balak lang niyang i-swindle iyong mga Thai!!!
Below is part of a recently CNN online post regarding the Israel “offensive” in Lebanon…can’t imagine the “torture” our kababayans are experiencing right now.
BEIRUT, Lebanon (CNN) — New explosions shook Beirut early Thursday, hours after Israeli warplanes dropped 23 tons of bombs on a bunker where Hezbollah leaders were holed up, according to the Israel Defense Forces.
The explosions Thursday reportedly were caused by new Israeli airstrikes, but that could not be immediately confirmed.
Hezbollah said via its Al-Manar television station that none of its leaders was in the bunker at the time of the huge Israeli airstrike. Hezbollah earlier said Israel hit a religious center with the attack.
Dozens of bombs landed at about 11:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m. ET), the IDF said. CNN crews in Beirut said they didn’t hear any explosions or the sound of jets at the time the strike is said to have occurred.
I have never experienced war but I have seen the effects of war as when I saw lots of kids in Afghanistan without arms and legs due to the bombings and landmines. I feel sorry for these Filipinos who are the most pitiful among the stranded foreigners in Lebanon. Buti pa nga iyong mga Bangladesh nakahingi na ng tulong ang bansa nila sa isang international government sa Europe. Ilang mga bombay nga ang isinakay sa warship ng UK para iligtas ang mga British sa Lebanon. Iyong mga pilipino sinabihan lang doon sila magtago sa simbahan na baka bombahin na rin ng mga Israeli one of these days. Diyos mahabagin, wala naman sanang may mamatay pa sa kanila. Buti nga hindi nila isinusumpang bakit pa sila ipinanganak na naging mga pilipino!
20 July 2006
Sad state talaga ang mga kababayan natin sa ibang bansa, imagine, before they left the pinas they pay USD25(???) to POEA/OWWA, tapos ginamit lang sa pagmudmod ng PHILHEALTH para kung kani-kanino lang??? now that they need the government’s help, “limited resources’ daw, tsk, tsk, tsk….. funny thing ms. ellen, if the government wishes to end/eradicate the CPP/NPA/NDF they have P1 billion peso for the AFP to do it, if the government wants to investigate opposition who are in the service, they also give P1 billion to PAGC, but to help alleviate poverty, improve basic social and health services, NADA!!!!!! And now, our kababayans are asking the government’s assistance in helping them leave the war-torn Lebanon, the government says we have to do it with our limited resources and just seek protection from the catholic church/es in Beirut. My question is, why not, divert the P1 billion fund/s given to the PAGC and AFP to help our kababayans escape dangers in Lebanon. We have the resource/s, except that the government has its own set/s of priorities, and that my friend/s does not include the immediate relocation of our kababayans in Lebanon.
Jinx
OWWA is amiss at the present situation in Lebanon. They need to move and move now before it’s too late.
From May 2004 (when Pandak dipped her hand in the OWWA cookie jar and used “our” funds in her election campaign) up to present, OWWA funds must have been back to an enormous amount. You see, Yuko, everything that is May 2004 election-related issues, especially the protests and lawsuit files regarding the PhilHealth cards with the Pandak’s picture in it are gathering dusts in the courts.
Administrator Marianito Rubio (if he is still the current) of OWWA should initiate the necessary steps to help and alleviate the sufferings of OFWs in Lebanon caught in the war between Hezbollah and Israel.
I am trying the access the OWWA website but, however, the message I am getting was the website has been down for maintenance.
Here’s some links that maybe useful:
http://www.owwa.gov.ph/abtowwa.html
hhtp://www.gov.ph/faqa/ofw_owwa.asp
Ms. Ellen,
Is any enhancement applied in your blogsite recently for some sort of filtering? I submitted a post and it was not posted.
Thanks.
What the Pandak is doing now is the same as always that she does when there is calamity in the Philippines as when the mountain in Leyte collapse because of the fault there. Lumindol ng kaunti, bagsak ang bundok and victimized over 5,000 villagers.
Gosh, on the first day of that incident, may gana pang umarte sa camera na akala mo naman talagang tunay. Tinawagan iyong Gov. ng Leyte na wala ring magawa dahil ubos din ang kaban ng probinsiya nila dahil na rin sa kawatan doon siguro. Tinawag iyong mga sundalo, nangatwiran pang hindi makalipad ang mga eroplano nila at baka bumagsak dahil sa ulan samantalang iyong mga intsik na galing Tsina, Malaysia at Singapore are nakarating naman doon kaya lang wala ring magawa agad dahil walang organisasyon ang relief activities doon samantalang taon-taon ay may disaster sa Pilipinas. Dumating si Pandak doon one week after pa kasi busy siyang nangongolekta ng pledges ng abuloy para sa sa pangungurakoy niya siguro. Iyon mga sundalong pinoy, ilang araw rin bago nakarating doon gawa ng nag-bus na lang at hindi naman din makaandar iyong mga bus nila gawa ng pangit ang mga daan, etc. at marami pang dahilan. Gosh, suyang-suya akong pinakikinggan iyong mga interviews na itina-translate ko sa wikang hapon para sa mga news flashes sa mga TV dito sa Japan na hindi naman lahat ay ipinapalabas sa TV. Ang arte-arte pa ni Pandak na parang nakakaloko na inuuto iyong kaniyang cabinet member na si Nongnong whatchahisname. Sa isip ko nga, hindi kaya naaalibadbaran ang mga kumag na nakikinig sa nonsense ni Pandak? For the love of money, ang mga ungas ay parang uto-uto talaga sa Pandak na ito na kaya siya palaging feeling high!
30,000 ang mga pilipinong ito na masasalanta ng guerra sa Lebanon. Dagdag ang numero ng mga iyan sa parami nang paraming mga pilipino ang hindi na makatiis sa inamin noong pareng si Arguelles na nandaya noon eleksyon. Ano kayang pangloloko na naman ang gagawin ni Pandak sa SONA niya.
E baka sabihin niyang para siyang Joan D’Arc na tagapagligtas di lang ng mga pilipino kundi pati mga taga-Thailand! Yuck! Ang tayog ng pangarap!
Emilio, your comment was submitted for moderation and it’s only now that i checked the blog. The filtering device has been there for sometime. Some of the comments are subjected for moderation, some are not. I think it’s randomly done.
Anyway, your comments on OWWA is already posted. Thanks.
Emilio,
Thanks for the link. Just been there and read the contents.
Let’s face it, $US25 is a significant amount and becomes even more significant if you multiply that by the number of OFW members. But alright, let’s say there’s only a scant number of membership, say 10%of the total OFWs. (Hmmm, can’t trust my brain to produce the answer so, I leave people to do it! Heat in Europe is affecting my ageing brain – heh!) That’s a hefty sum. I suppose it goes to documentary and manpower expenses at OWWA which, in principle, is acceptable. So I have no quarrel with that.
From what OFWs tell me here, I gather that fees were collected from them while they were in Manila or prior to their being “exported.” So, in theory, there are two sets of fees that are collected from OFWs: (begging your indulgence and patience am trying to get things a little in order in my tiny brain)
1) the multitudes of fees for various govt agencies in Manila involving supporting documents, documentary stamps, and other bits and pieces of papers before a OFW gets his exit stamp, “Approved for Export” sort of.
2) fees are also collected from OFW as well as similar fees from the same OFWs when they’re already out of the country (as when the go to the embassy for processing of documents, etc.).
My question is, does the govt set aside some of the collected funds for contingency? I suppose it does. So, give or take an average expenditure of say, 100 dollars that each OFW gets to spend for all those documents – and this is very hypothetical
Geez, sorry about that! Was trying to put sense in my post and I clicked the button… I have to rephrase my no. 2 item:
2) fees are also collected from OFW as well when they’re already out of the country (as when the go to the embassy for processing of documents, etc.).
So, give or take an average expenditure of say, 100 dollars that each OFW gets to spend for all those documents, that is, if the government sets aside a miniscule portion of those fees for OFWs contingencies and bearing in mind that the govt has officially declared EIGHT MILLION OFWs, any accumulated sum should prove quite HEFTY and sufficient for the most basic of emergency needs for OFWs.
(Am in no way an accountant and can hardly balance my own home accounting, so please bear with me…)
Questions:
HOW MUCH OF THE FEES collected from the OFWs in and out of the country are set aside for the same OFWs? (Do documents, prior to travel and after travel or once the OFW is in situ, have relevant annotations to show that fees collected are from an OFW?)
What does this govt do with the OFW fees, nay, the miniscule fraction of those fees?
And if so, where is the money?
500,000 dollars to save 30,000+ of OFWs isn’t quite sufficient (I know there are other OFWs in distress around the world so govt should bear that in mind) yet Gloria is prepared to pummel a few thousand NPAs with 1 billion pesos!
She can’t seem to get it in her brain, which I suppose is as tiny as mine (Gosh, I do hope hers is tinier!) that SAVING the lives of its citizens from the jaws of war is first and foremost a State DUTY while KILLING citizens, FRANKLY isn’t a STATE’s duty and should therefore take back seat…
Yes, Anna, the Pandak only sees money flowing to the Pidal fund, and probably once in a while she orders spread on her bed to sleep on with regard for whether or not they come from the blood ad sweat of her poor countrymen.
Emilio, Anna,
To think that most of these OFWs had to sell their properties for their placement fees. I understand that most of them earn a measely $150 a month. That’s how desperate life is in the Philippines. So much sacrifice have been done by our OFWs, the least this administration can do is to be honest to these heroes. Buti pa si Pacquiao, may parade. Sila ang parade nila is to wander about Lebanon, looking for a way to escape this conflict. At least, may mga “flag” si Cimatu to accompany them along the way. Ermita also had said that there are many escape routes, sige nga Ed, punta ka dun and just like Moses, lead our OFWs to the promise land.
Alitaptap,
I savor the “peace” we all experienced here before certain commenters appeared and ruined the “serenity” we used to enjoy. We used to have a dynamic and intelligent discoure here. No one was bashing the other. We had a healthy exchange of ideas even with those on the other side of the polical fence. We had civility back then. Fond emories my, friend.
Ellen,
Sorry for my segue, just had to air my side.
Anna, All:
All the monies that the Pandak’s government is telling the media that it is releasing for evacuating OFWs in Lebanon to be broadcasted on air and in the newspapers now are called “STAND BY FUND,” whatever that means.
I have a suspicion that it is more a ploy to stop people like Spartan, you or me from bursting those expletives that I really would like to ask the indulgence of Ellen for.
Ang galing talagang manloko! Kaya tuloy nalilito ang mga OFWs.
Sorry this should read: “Yes, Anna, the Pandak only sees money flowing to the Pidal fund, and probably once in a while she orders spread on her bed to sleep on WITHOUT regard for whether or not they come from the blood ad sweat of her poor countrymen.”
You bet, Schumey, I thought it was pleasant company. I actually got addicted to this blog!
Yuko, Schumey, Emilio and friends,
If for the sake of argument, 1 US $ from the transactions that DOLE and other agencies is saved from each of the exported OFW, shouldn’t there be 8 MILLION DOLLARS equivalent to 8 million OFWs in the kitty (barring interests accrued on the “savings”?
Alright, perhaps 8 million registered OFWs is a bit fanciful. But that’s what DOLE declares officially as being in its registry and given their November 2005 declaration that almost 800,000 OFWs left the country so multiply that by 6 years under Gloria that’s 4 million or so give or take a few hundred thousand.
So, let’s go for 4 million! That’s still 4 million dollars which she should tap without batting an eyelash because human lives are at stake here. I’m ONLY referring to funds that came fees direct from OFWs and not from taxpayers’ indirect or direct payments.
Could the government show that DOLE indeed has been on top of the situation when it comes to the planning, implementing what’s good for these modern day heroes? After all, that’s the reason why DOLE has balooned into a simile DFA both in stature and in number of posts abroad!
Or perhaps, Gloria has just incorporated every single racketed cent from these poor OFWs into HER government treasury to be used on costly, useless junkets abroad and on her wild press and media advertising campaigns?
Greetings All,
Thanks Ms. Ellen for bringing back sanity.
There is no statistics of the daily migration from the Philippines’ major international airports, namely: the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Diosdado Macapagal International Airport and the Cebu International Airport to present the current hypothetical OWWA funds from OFWs US$25 fees.
Let’s say a daily average of 500 OFWs migrate to different countries of the world. With the payment of US$25, that’s US$12,500 daily to OWWA funds. Multiply the daily amount to 365 days will result to US$4,562,500. With the modest prevailing exchange rate of PnP52 to a US$, that is a whooping PnP237,250,000 per year! That is my hypothetical computation just from May 2004- May 2005. Multiply the amount twice if we want to include up to May 2006.
Someone from OWWA must explain where is this amount, considering the previous OWWA funds was diverted to the PhilHealth and used as an election propaganda by Pandak in May 2004 election.
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please visit http://subicrapecase.wordpress.com
thank you.
I don’t really care if a particular government is not as well-off as the next one, but in time of Emergency, it got to do more than ‘talk’ to save or bring home its nationals away from any danger, I mean evryone of them, expept those who in their own free will, decides to stay. There were instances in the past that I was close to bankruptcy, but if my brothers of any of my relatives need any funds for emergency I always managed to somehow produced in legal ways. So how can a country, receiving more than 1.5 billions in OFWs remittances in a month can not suddenly extend the Help to its own nationals in this time of their dire needs??
Last night on TV patrol, Ted Faylon was interviewing teh Phlippine ambassador to Lebaon who arrived there only now because he was in Manila when the bombardment started.
When Faylon asked him the progress of the evacuation of the first batch and also of the second batch, he replied, “What second batch? There is no second batch. Wala ng Filipino refugees.”
My God!
Faylon said he just talked with Fr. Agustin Advincula who said there are more than a thousand OFWs still with him.
Ayaw talaga nilang umuwi ang mga yan dito sa Pilipinas.
Ellen,
“Ayaw talaga nilang umuwi ang mga yan dito sa Pilipinas.”
may mga misis na akong narinig na ganito ang sinasabi sa kanilang mister na nagtatrabaho sa abroad(ibang bansa):
“hwag ka nang umuwi, ipadala mo na lang sa amin ang perang pamasahe mo”
Nakakalungkot, di ba?
Nelbar:
I believe you, but this is nothing to gloat about as a matter of fact, for it is a reflection of the pathetic state of the nation that you and the rest of those who still really feel strongly for the Philippines, whether at home or abroad, should do something about even at the peril of one’s life. Hindi na puede ang pa-cute-cute noong magnanakaw ng mga boto.
I am actually transcribing now interviews of Filipinos wanting to be caregivers and those who are already working even within the Philippines as domestic helpers on why they would opt to be such. Sa totoo lang when we left the Philippines in the 60’s none of our friends would ever think of working as “katulong” to salvage their families from poverty!
There is in fact a woman interviewed there working in Lebanon and she was kind of pawning herself to save her family. It’s pathetic when she said that the reason why she went abroad was because she wanted to save her family, but what happened was she and her husband separated and so did their children with one retarded son left to her, and the other child, a girl, to the father. Now she helps support her father and son, whom the father looks after. What was shocking in the interview was her admission that she was raped by her employer, but given no other choice, she had to go back to the same employer, whom she claimed was now kinder to her.
In other words, Nelbar pati sense of right and wrong, nawala. This deployment of OFWs in fact should be phased out because it is not making anybody really happy, etc. with the breakup of thousands of Filipino families, the foundation of the society.
Kung mas mabuti ang bansang may guerra kesa sa Pilipinas, this alone is saying that something must be really wrong somewhere.
PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA! 30,000 PAMILYA NG MGA OFWs SA LEBANON, MAGMARTSA NA!
By the way, speaking of TFC…I just learned that this Anthony Taberna ay Iglesia ni Kristo pala…pero, the way he’s “commenting against” gloria, made me thought he’s not INK. Palagay ko totoo nga na hindi lahat ng INK ay maka-gloria….mabuhay kayo mga “kapatid”.
“sense of right and wrong, nawala”
Ellen , ystakei and All:
Ayan ang masakit sa mga pilipino. wala kasi silang idelohiya!
karamihan sa mga pinoy ang mahalaga ay pera at mga materyal na bagay.
totoo na lahat naman tayo ang layunin ay makahulagpos sa kahirapan, pero hindi naman sana sa paraan ng pagkakatulong, pagke care-giver o pagpapa alila.
kung ikukumpara sa Rusya, Tsina at India ay hindi naman ganito. mayroon din naman mahihirap sa kanila, pero hindi sa paraan ng pagpapa-alila at care-giver sa ibang bansa para maingat ang kanilang kabuhayan o “self-worth” na tinatawag.
hindi na ito isang katanungan para sa isang kristyano, pilipino, moro o muslim?
may halaga pa ba ang dangal ng isang pilipino?
Nelbar:
Para iyang “sad movies always make me cry!” You bet, wala silang ideology, o meron din, and it is the ideology of survival, mali nga lang ang idea and procedure!
When I came to Japan, none of my fellow scholars wanted to stay in Japan. All went home or the US. I had an option to go to the US but I decided to stay, and stay I did since 1969. Now, most scholars from the Philippines opt to stay here than go home and use their know-how there with Philippine officials visiting Japan telling them to take advantage of being already here to find good jobs with their qualifications. Pati nga overstay ini-encourage ng mga mokong na mag-stay dito.
I bet you na iyan din ang sinasabi ni Pandak doon sa mga OFWs doon sa Europe and Libya, etc. that she meets during her trip. Ganoon katindi ang unemployment situation I gues in the Philippines kaya they feel insecured to go home.
I think suicide na ang mga pilipino sa Lebanon kesa naman siguro umuwi silang bigo! I remember what an interviewee in the material that I am transcribing now. Ang sabi niya, “Minsan nga ho tinatatagan ko na lang ang loob ko sa lungkot dahil parang gusto ko nang magpakamatay!”
I bet you that a lot of these OFWs stranded in Lebanon must have been feeling that way. This war must be providing an easy way out even to a lot many of them. Nakakaiyak talaga sa isang banda!
PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA! ONE THING THAT FILIPINOS SHOULD DO TO SHOW THEIR DISGUST TO THIS REGIME IS SWITCH OFF THEIR TVs WHEN THE PANDAK DELIVERS ANOTHER PACKS OF LIES AND PROMISES MEANT TO BE UNFULFILLED! Basahin na lang sa dyaryo ang mga pambobola niya! Magiging newsworthy pa iyan!
stoxbnx3, if you need our moral support from over here, just holler.
Don’t give up. Don’t believe that these horny US soldiers can get away with this case. We can include this case in our next march maybe to embarrass these crooks protecting these Americans instead their compatriot who has been abused, and misused by these animals.
Our Japanese friends against the maintenance of US military instalations in Okinawa can help let Nicole’s sentiments known to the bosses of these horny soldiers in the US base in Okinawa. Send me an appeal and I will pass it to them.
I’ve translated in Japanese courts for criminals from the base who have committed similar crime against Japanese women. Walang nakakaligtas. Kulong sila dito sa Japan, not the US. Kaya bakit hindi iyan puede sa Pilipinas!
Sorry for the expletive, pero talagang Tangna iyan SiRaulO Gonzales. Hindi naman Amerikano bakit niya ipinagtatanggol iyong mga kano? E kung gawin sa anak niyang babae iyan? Hindi komo pangit ang anak niyang babae kung meron man, e hindi siya kakasiguro sa mga kanong ito na sa totoo lang ay mahilig pumatol sa mga pangit! 😛
Stoxbnx3, I just wonder if your lawyers there can try talking to lawyers at the Japan Federation of Bar Association if they can study the possibility of bringing the case of Nicole to the Japanese court kapag hindi iyan naayos ng tama sa Philippines kasi based sa Okinawa ang mga horny na sundalong kanong iyan. Dito kasi may bagong batas na puedeng dalhin sa Japan ang kaso ng isang taong residing here or a national of Japan na gumawa ng kasalanan sa Pilipinas pero hindi kinakasuhan doon para dito kasuhan sa Japan. Pag nagkataon ay baka mapahiya ang Pilipinas. Puede namang hindi i-apply ang forces agreement sa kasong ito kasi nang gawin ang krimen ay out sa military ang mga loko at on furlough. Kaya nga importanteng naka-uniform sila kung gusto nilang masakop ng agreement. Iyan ang pagkakaintindi ko in fact the forces agreement between Japan and the US for example regarding the conduct of military officers on and off duties!
Good luck sa ginagawa ninyo!
Nelbar:
I can understand your lamentations, even your hatred for what you see is wrong about the Philippine government, the system and even the ordinary Filipino who can still afford to be indifferent and allow themselves to be treated like slaves by people they vote for and help put there to abuse them.
I felt the same way, but I just don’t talk, I walk my talk, sabi nga. This is why I am in this blog, etc. for one. And I am glad at the number of kindred in spirit I am able to connect with in this kind of blog. Hopefully, with them I hope to make a difference, regardless of whether you are there where it happens or not.
Hindi ka nag-iisa. Huwag kang bibigay. Kasama mo kami!
PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA! WALANG MANGYAYARI SA PURO LANG HIMUTOK! KAILANGANG KUMILOS! HINDI NAMAN KAILANGANGAN SA DAHAS KUNG MATINO TALAGA ANG MGA NAKAUPO. TULUNGAN NINYO ANG MGA GUSTO PANG KUMAPIT SA TALAGANG DEMOKRASYA TULAD NINA SENATOR PIMENTEL, DRILON, REP GOILEZ, ESCUDERO, CAYETANONG MAGKAPATID, IYONG MGA REP. NG AKBAYAN, BAYAN, ET AL! I BET YOU MARAMING MGA BUREAUCRATS DIN ANG GALIT NA KAY PANDAK TO KEEP DEMOCRACY OR THE SPIRIT OF IT ALIVE!!!
Yuko,
More fronts to fight. Vic is monitoring the Filipino youth shot in Canada, now we have an appeal from Nicole’s supporters. We must let it be known to all about the plight of each and every Filipino, no matter where they are.
Schumey and Yuko,
If there is anything I can do from my side as an expression of support just let me know.
One I am most interested to concentrate on in my fight for a better Philippines is the protection of children in the Philippines and their right to be pampered and be educated so that they will grow up to be the hopes of the motherland.
I am learning a lot in fact from the children I am helping now together with their Filipino mothers, whom I cannot totally blamed for their “katangahan” for what they have become and suffered dala pati mga anak!
But the more I learn of how Japanese children (pati mga anak ng mga pilipinong walang lahing hapon for that matter) are pampered under a Child Welfare Law drafted in 1947 and passed and implemented in 1949, and still is being used today, the more I thank God for allowing me to be part of this better (I was about to say exalted) system, even in protecting it from those who want to corrupt it.
In fact, this is what this government should have been concentrating in, turning Filipino children into progressive, and productive law-abiding citizens, not turn them into potential modern-day slaves wiping butts of people of other countries, etc.
My heart breaks to hear of children not being able to continue schooling because their parents do not have money to pay for their matriculation, and schools there not being kind enough to let the children take their exams and pass them even when they cannot pay their fees. What is nauseating is when you see the Pandak and her family having their holidays in expensive resorts overseas as the last one on government junket to Spain, Italy and the Vatican, and also when you hear her squandering funds to pay to those crooked priests, generals, solons, et al. Sorry for the profanity but talagang “Tangna talaga ng pandak na ito!” ‘Kakasuka talaga!
Mahirap namang mangolekta ng mangolekta ng mga abuloy for these kids when there should have been a national budget to provide these kids with this kind of right and privilege—the right to good education!!!
Puede ba, PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA! TAMA NANG GINAGAWANG MGA KATULONG LAHAT NG PILIPINO! ‘KAKASUKA NA! TAPOS MAGAGALIT SILANG NASA OXFORD U DICTIONARY ANG PANGALANG PILIPINA TO MEAN “DOMESTIC HELPER”!!! PWE!
Emilio,
By all means, this case is a landmark case. Even when the U.S. bases were here, no rape case prospered in the courts involving U.S. servicemen. Any kind of support will be much appreciated. You may direct your friends to http://www.subicrapecase.wordpress.com. Sorry Ellen if off-topic ito. Filipino dignity is at stake here. Pasensiya na.
Emilio,
At the height of the pandaks efforts to push Pinoys into slavery, about 3,000 OFWs leave everyday. I don’t know the stats now. Maybe Ellen can furnish us these numbers.
Schumey,
According to DoLE’s figures late last year, an average of 80 thousand OFW left monthly so your figure is quite close.
Early this year, I seem to recall that the official tally of OFWs who left in 2005 were close to a million (but not quite sure of the figure).
What I would like to know is where these OFWs are deployed?
Italy’s premanent rep in the EU in Brussels has just filed a resolution today to step up border control against clandestine immigration calling for a tightly coordinated European border police force.
I reckon that if this inter-state border police goes in action, there will be spot checks. I am personally worried for a few people I know here who don’t have residence permits and are working illegally.
An anecdote and how illegal Pinoys survive ID control in France:
Last month, during a ticket control on a train from Paris to Evry, a Paris suburb, a Pinay friend of mine was controlled. She couldn’t produce her ticket which she swore she bought before climbing on the train (and I believe her). She said she must have lost her 8 Euro train ticket while she was getting on the train in a hurry (coz these tickets are so tiny pieces of carton).
Since she didn’t have enough cash to pay the 75 Euro fine, the controller asked for her ID in order to send the train violation ticket to her address but the poor girl didn’t have French papers at all coz she’s illegal and so feigned having forgotten it at home.
The controller, now joined by his chief said that he’s obliged to turn her over to the police on arrival. That would have been disastrous!
The Pinay fortunately spoke good French and had the presence of mind to show them a French bank credit card and said, “If I don’t have a valid French ID, how can I get this?” (Which is actually true coz a ruling was passed that a person can no longer open an account without proper ID and income tax returns documents in France and elsewhere in Europe some 5 years ago) but what the controller didn’t know was that the Pinay opened the account 10 years ago and has had it since.
Because she spoke French and perhaps because she was carrying a French book, magazines and newspaper with her (these items are always part of her travel prop in France in case she gets controlled to give an air of being a bona-fide immigrant), the controllers were more passive and simply issued her a ticket and even accompanied her to get the cash from the ATM.
She was smart, therefore lucky. Otherwise, with no valid papers, she would have been brought straight to the detention center and deported at the earliest possible time.
hi all,
thank you so much for the show of support. right now, we need articles/commentaries/statements from people like you for the blog. if you have some please send them to us.
ystakei, i will relay your suggestion to our lawyer. =)
btw, to whom should we address the appeal, if ever?
Schumey, Anna & friends,
Then my hypothetical figure of everyday OFW migration was way off. Consider your figure of 3000 OFWs migrating everyday, that’s US$27.36 million per year and PnP0.143 billion with the modest rate of PnP52 to a US$.
The amount needed to repatriate these OFWs from Lebanon should be funded from this OWWA funds.
stoxbnx3:
Give your addy to Ellen and I will give you the contact in Tokyo.
BTW, is the case being monitored by the group of Romy Capulong? If so, please go to him and tell him to write to his lawyer friends in Tokyo. I can do the additional legwork here especially when there are ways to embarrass the US military on this case over here. At least, there seems to be a better symbiotic relationship between the Japanese government and the US embassy and military over here than I can see there is between the Philippine government and the US embassy in the Philippines.
I am not happy about this as a matter of fact, because this is for me a big insult on the Filipinos who actually deserve to have better treatment from the Americans than what they are willing to accord the Japanese, who were their former enemies.
One thing sure is that we have a law over here that says that Japanese nationals can be charged in Japanese courts for crimes committed overseas and not getting punishments for their crimes because of corruption, etc. where they have committed the crime as in the Philippines where the courts are oftentimes regarded likewise as corrupt.
The Japanese Federation of Bar Associations may find a way to accommodate cases against unpunished foreigners even those military personnels who did this kind of crime when they were not on duty! Even if, for instance, the court here cannot charge them on the basis of mutual forces agreement between Japan and the US especially because the crime was not committed in Japan, we can appeal in fact to the Japanese court and the Ministry of Justice to deport these horny soldiers on the claim that they can pose danger to the Japanese society when they are returned here unpunished. That would be enough for a publicity that would be an embarrassment to the US, and to the crooks there in the Philippines who would not protect their own nationals!
Rape is something that we consider in our church as an unforgivable sin unless properly retributed. So, I am pretty sure God will provide the way for justice and truth to prevail. You just have to have faith that He will and these crooks in the Philippine Justice Department be damned!
Stoxbnx3,
There should also be people to try to help you in the US to bring this case to the attention of the Justice Department there.
You may try to solicit the help and assistance of such groups as the International Action Center in SFO and NYC. Bayan USA in fact has a strong connection with this group headed by ex-D.A. Ramsey Clarke.
Right now, however, you should try to fight bad publicity even being engineered by Filipinos who should be sympathizing with their compatriot whatever she is or what she did to give these horny US soldiers the wrong ideas. Iyan ang kulang ng mga pinoy as a matter of fact. Imbes na maawa, sila pa ang mang-iinsulto ng kapwa nila pilipino.
Over here, the Americans may say what they want against the Japanese but when the victim is Japanese, manigas na sila. The scale of justice will most likely tip to the Japanese side, never on the American criminal!!! 😛
Kaya maingat ang karamihan sa kanila dito na gumawa ng kalokohan. Bugbog pa ang abot nila sa mga maloko ring mga hapon!
Marami ring mga pilipino dito katulad ng sinabi mo sa anecdote, Anna. Ayaw magbayad ng train ticket. I don’t know what they get out of it. Konting halaga, gusto pang makalusot!
ystakei,
honestly, i don’t know if atty capulong’s group is monitoring this case, but i copied all your comments and sent them to our bosses. they will know what to to.
our email address, by the way, is nicoleinfobureau@yahoo.com.sg
thanks again.
i’ll let you know when i get our bosses’ responses tomorrow.
you may also send your emails to my personal address: stox85@yahoo.com
Stoxbnx3,
I have all information of who to contact in Japan at my office. I won’t go there till Monday.
I’ll send you the information then. Hopefully, we’ll be able to work on this for God, and for justice to prevail for the sake of the honor of not just Nicole but all Filipino women who may likely be the victims of this kind of abuses by these Americans when they are allowed to rebuild their operation in the Philippines.
I’ll provide Senator Pimentel of our communications likewise.
God help us in this endeavour, for our bodies are holy as a matter of fact!
wow, thank you!
i’ll be waiting for the info. =)
Ban ang paguwi ng mga OFWs na nasa nagkakagulong mga bansa. Wala kasing mahihita ang mga buwaya sa gobyerno, kundi malalagasan pa sila ng mga kukurakutin. Sayang din yong gagastusun nila sa pagtulong sa mga kawawang pinoy, instead na ibulsa na nila, mawawala pa. Ganyan kalupit ang mga buwayang yan, kung pinakikinabangan ka kabilang ka sa mga modern heroes, pero pag hindi ka na kailangan, bahala ka na sa sarili mo at mamundok ka na lang sa Lebanon.
From Washington Post:
To Save a Revolution
By David Ignatius
Friday, July 21, 2006; Page A17
You could sense the hurt and anger as Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora pleaded this week to the U.S. ambassador and other diplomats in Beirut for a halt to Israeli attacks on Lebanese targets. “The country has been torn to shreds,” he said. “I hope you will not let us down.”
The challenge for the Bush administration as the Lebanon war explodes into its second week is just that — to keep faith with Siniora and his Cedar Revolution, even as it stands by its close ally Israel. This isn’t simply a question of appearances and public diplomacy. Unless Siniora’s government can be strengthened, there is little hope for achieving the U.S. and Israeli goal of bringing Hezbollah’s guerrillas under lasting control.
“America’s role is to energize a political outcome that helps to satisfy Israeli military objectives by other means,” says one administration official. The problem is that the American diplomatic timetable is so slow that by the time a cease-fire is reached — more than a week off, by U.S. estimates — Lebanon may be too broken to be put back together anytime soon.
Administration officials rightly insist that returning to the status quo in Lebanon would be a mistake. After last year’s triumph of forcing a withdrawal of Syrian troops, Siniora’s government was struggling (and largely failing) to establish a viable nation. This nation-building effort was hamstrung by Hezbollah’s insistence that it maintain what amounted to a state within a state.
The administration’s strategy is to let Israel do the dirty work of breaking Hezbollah and then move in a foreign “stabilization force” to bolster the Lebanese army. Once Israel has pushed the guerrillas north, this international force would help the Lebanese army deploy to the southern border with Israel and the eastern border with Syria. The plan is for a beefed-up successor to the existing United Nations force in southern Lebanon, known as UNIFIL.
The administration’s informal deadline for getting a U.N. mandate for this new international force is July 31, when UNIFIL’s current mandate expires. The French now command that force, and the United States hopes they can remain in that role, with new troops coming from such robust military powers as Italy, Turkey and Canada.
Siniora has privately warned the Bush administration that by bombing so many targets in Lebanon, Israel is undermining its own strategic goals. Lebanese are angry with Hezbollah for starting the war by kidnapping Israeli soldiers, and most want to see the militia under government control. But Siniora has asked why the Israelis are hitting Lebanese airports, ports, roads, villages and other targets that primarily affect civilians. And he has criticized attacks on the Lebanese army, which even the Israelis say is the key to long-run stability and security.
Some Bush administration officials share Siniora’s concern about the scope of Israeli attacks. These officials are said not to understand Israeli targeting decisions. The administration is understood to have communicated this concern to Jerusalem.
The Lebanon crisis has put the administration in a double bind. U.S. officials know they need to move soon toward a cease-fire to preserve any chance for the Siniora government to regain control of the country. But they don’t want to move so quickly that they prevent Israel from completing its primary military mission of destroying Hezbollah’s arsenal of missiles and pushing the Shiite guerrillas back from the border. The administration’s two-track approach is perhaps summed up in Augustus Caesar’s famous admonition: “Make haste slowly.”
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will head for the Middle East this weekend to try to animate this diplomacy. She has no plans to stop in Syria, and that’s a sensible decision. It’s up to the Syrians to demonstrate that they can play a positive role — not least to their Sunni Arab neighbors, who are angry about President Bashar al-Assad’s alliance with Shiite Iran and its proxies. A recent claim by Syrian intelligence officials that they have no control over Hamas leader Khaled Meshal is said to have infuriated Egypt’s intelligence chief, Omar Suleiman, who responded indignantly: “Don’t give us that! We are not Mauritania! We are Egypt!”
Supporting Israel and Lebanon at the same time is a tricky task — especially at a moment when the bombs are flying between one nation and the other. Unless the administration moves quickly to demonstrate that it supports the Siniora government, and not just Israel, its larger strategy for defusing the conflict may begin to unravel. Administration officials recognize that a stable Lebanon cannot be achieved by military action alone. But for now, all the world sees is Hezbollah rockets and Israeli bombs.
© 2006 The Washington Post Company
* * * * * * *
Noong 1978 “Operation Litani”, 1982 naman ay “Operation Peace of the Galilee”, ngayon 2006 “Operation Change of Direction” (Operation Truthful Promise-Operation Just Reward) …wala na ba talagang katapusan ito???
Nelbar:
Like it or not, the Jews or the Israelis are a chosen people. What we see in fact today is a kind of pruning of the vine even as what Christ prophesied during his mortal existence.
Accordingly, I don’t waste much time anymore looking for the obvious that we can actually now have at the click of the mouse that I have a feeling is something God must have planned in fact to help us seek more for Gospel truths than waste precious time reading what are in fact trashes unless they are to confirm the truths that we can actually find in the Scriptures, and be amply forewarned.
The best readings on what is going to happen in the last days are in Daniels and Revelation. Isaiah does, too, especially with regards to our relationship with Our Creator, and Our Heavenly Father.
I’m actually not afraid, because even when the whole world goes to war for instance and we see the baptism of the world with fire, I believe that we shall witness the promised resurrection of God’s spiritual children. Not all will die but the whole process of birth and death and resurrection with the twinkling of an eye will be preserved even during the millenium when Christ will reign on earth and Satan will be bound for a thousand years. I look forward to it as a matter of fact!
I don’t know why they still keep Kofi Anan as head of the UN. He may be a good man, but he is black and none of the biggies in the UN seems to really care what he says.
The UN is being held useless with him. He should resign and be replaced by someone even the Americans can respect and forced to follow, but I surely would not want an American to take his place and tell other countries what they should do, especially someone who is at the beck and call of someone who loves to see war but never actually has been there in the front and getting scared for his life!!!
On the other hand, why am I not seeing any peace rally in the Philippines that should in fact be led by members of families of the stranded OFWs in Lebanon, who may just as well seek UN help than depend on their incompetent officials.
Golly, puro yabang pa ang mga lintik. Itong si Cimatu naman, akala mo naman talagang bida! Doon siya magngingiyaw sa Lebanon, at hindi doon lang sa border, Syria pa na hindi naman makapasok sa labanan gawa ng alitan sa Lebanon!!!
I feel sorry for both civilians in Lebanon and Israel. Hindi na natapos-tapos ang guerra nila. Since the meridian of time, ang cause ng mga labanan ay itong mga hudyo. Iyan ang hirap na maging chosen people tapos hindi naman worth ng ibinigay na pahalaga sa kanila. Kailangan nila ang malaking pagpapababa ng loob. Time will come when God will humble them again. I was going to use humiliate but it was not the appropriate word.
Hopefully, itong mga kano ay huwag na lang makialam. Let the UN do its job. Kundi baka mangyari na naman ang nangyari sa Kosovo at Serbia.
Itong si Bush, terrorist ng terrorist, pero para sa akin ay siya ang No. 1 Terrorist, gusto lang niyang magtinda ng mga ammunition na ibinibenta ng pamilya niya noong pang kahit na unang world war. Kaya mayaman ang ungas!
My folks in the US are in fact traditional Republicans, but since the elder Bush, I have stopped supporting the Republican but it does not mean that I am all out for the equally untrustworthy Democrats!