After surviving Gloria Arroyo’s more-than-one-hour state of the nation address the other day, I feel confident I can survive anything.
The trick is to do a constant reality check. Or else you will be sucked into her Enchanted Kingdom and you’ll end up with the likes of Raul Gonzalez, Luis Villafuerte, Monico Fuentevella, Hermogenes Esperon, Jovito Palparan. You would rather be disenchanted, wouldn’t you?
Here’s the reality check (RC):
She said: “Sa araw na ito, nakatuon ang isip natin sa ating mga kababayan sa Lebanon. Nasa kuko sila ngayon ng malagim na paglala ng digmaan. Kahapon lamang, sinalubong natin ang unang dalawang-daang Pilipinong lumikas doon. Limang-daan pa ang mauuwi natin sa susunod na apat na araw.”
Reality Check (RC): There are more than 30,000 Filipinos workers trapped in Lebanon. On the second week of the hostilities, after other governments had brought out tens of thousands of their nationals out of harm’s way, Arroyo is proud that she has brought home 200 distressed Filipinos and in the process of bringing home 500 more in the next four days. Wow! Big deal.
She said: “We are lining up corrupt officials to face the consequences of their misdeeds.”
RC: Why isn’t she included? How about her husband? Mike Arroyo was there, fresh from an invigorating European vacation, trying to present himself as a faithful husband. Someone must be having a good laugh.
Where is Jocelyn “Joc Joc” Bolante in the line up of corrupt officials facing the consequences of their misdeeds? Didn’t Mike help him with the legal strategy of applying for political asylum to avoid facing the Senate investigation on the diversion of some P3 billion of agricultural funds for her 2004 election campaign?
How about Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos of the Mega Pacific anomaly? Why is he not among the officials facing the consequences of his misdeeds?
Unless we see her and her husband, Bolante, Abalos and many more in the lineup of corrupt officials, her so-called anti-corruption campaign is all a sham.
She said: “The few mutineers have been condemned by the people.”
RC: Wrong. Very wrong. We continue to respect Navy Lt. (s.g.) Antonio Trillanes. We continue to admire Brig. Gen. Danny Lim, Col. Ariel Querubin, Col. Alex Balutan, Capt. Ruben Guinolbay. We hold in high esteem Gen. Francisco Gudani. They are our soldiers. They are the true protectors of the Filipino people.
She said: “Sa mga lalawigang sakop ng 7th Division, nakikibaka sa kalaban si Jovito Palparan. Hindi siya aatras hanggang makawala sa gabi ng kilabot ang mga pamayanan at maka-ahon sa bukang-liwayway ng hustisya at kalayaan.
“In the harshest possible terms I condemn political killings. We together stopped judicial executions with the abolition of the death penalty. We urge witnesses to come forward. Together we will stop extrajudicial executions.”
RC: Last June 26, UP students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan and farmer Manuel Merino were abducted in Bulacan by unidentified men believed to be soldiers. They have never been seen again. The Supreme Court has ordered Arroyo’s favorite general, Jovito Palparan, to produce the two girls. Up to now, they have not been seen.
Journalists and members of the progressive Left continue to be killed. The murderers remain scot-free.
She said: “We are a great people. We have honest students and honest cops.”
RC: What about the Cheat caught in the Hello Garci tapes? What about the bogus president? What about the cheating nursing graduates?
She said: “For surely, there must be a better way to do politics, so that those who lose elections do not make the country pay for their frustrated ambitions.
“There must be a better way so that those who win the nation’s mandate to govern can work without delay and whimsical obstruction. There must be a better way.”
RC: Correct. Gloria Arroyo did not win in the 2004 elections. She should not make us pay for her frustrated ambitions.
She said: After three years, eleven months, and six days, I shall relinquish the Presidency, …
RC: On Dec. 30, 2002, on Rizal Day, she declared that she will not run in the 2004 elections.
Ellen,
She said: After three years, eleven months, and six days, I shall relinquish the Presidency, …
RC: Because I’ll start sitting as the prime minister.
Ngiii! Takot ako.
Korek ka dyan, Schumey.
I’m ashamed to admit that I couldn’t even stomach watching the entire SONA. I spent a few minutes watching that sham of a speech and decided I couldn’t put up with it. I read the full text of the speech online, though, and it doesn’t even come close to saying what the true state of the nation is.
Love this post. Shows that it’s the people who really know how the country is doing and what the truth is.
Thanks, Lynn
When Wycoco got to the pearly gates he noticed a wall clock showing 5 o’clock. It was noon, so Wykes asked ole Pete,”that clock is not correct”. Ole Pete said, “that clock is yours. It moves faster when you commit lies, robbery, murder, etc.”. Whereupon Wykes noticed other clocks and one of them obviously belonged to FVR. Time showed was six o’ clock. Wykes seemed to be looking for something, but in vain, so he asked ole Pete, “Where is the clock of Gloria”? Ole Pete replied, “it is in the office of Lucifer. Blue eyes is using it as electric fan”.
Great post Ellen!
Reality check is an excellent method to cross out Gloria’s lies.
Alitaptap, that was one mean, great future life story of Gloria! I liked it – hope Gloria gets to read it.
Lots of palakpak boys in Congress during Gloria’s SONA.
Pero….
Narinig na ba ninyo na si Gloria ay napikon nang dumalaw sa National Mental Hospital? Narito ang kuwento….
Minsan ay nagpunta si Gloria sa National Mental Hospital at lahat ng mga pasyente at mga doktor ay nakikinig sa kanyang talumpati. Marami rin pala siyang palakpak boys & palakpak ladies dahil tuwing hihinto siya ng pagsasalita ay palakpakan sila!
Napansin niya na mayroon isang hindi man lang pumapalakpak kaya tinanong niya ang doktor na katabi niya.
Ang sagot ng doktor: AH, IYON PO BA MA’M? KASI PO MAGALING NA IYON!
I like this Malaya cover pic. I think it’s very very appropriate.
“Ich bin Frau Gloria von Hitler! Heil!!!!”
Kayo talaga, mga pilyo kayo. Sige kayo, baka gamitin yan ni pandak sa susunod niyang SONA. Lahat kasi ng gimick nagamit na niya. For sure, ang susunod niyan stand up comedy theme naman.
Hahahah!
Emilio’s joke is great! We need to make kalat these jokes because many truths are said in jest!
Emilio, welcome back! we miss you.
Thanks, Anna. We should not allow GMA to destroy our sense of humor.
Ms. Ellen and Friends,
Thanks. It’s really nice to be back in your blog. Pero sa totoo lang, maghapon akong naghirap na nag-aattempt na mag-log-on pero puro error messages.
Grabe talaga!
Ellen should compile these jokes! Iba talaga ang Pinoy.
Update: DFA and OWWA are now after the neck of Amb. Bichara. He came out on tv early last night saying they will have to stop the evacuation as the embassy had run out of funds. Both DFA and OWWA debunked this claim. OWWA said that it had already sent another $70,000. They also said that a total of $2.7M had been allocated for the evacuation. OWWA even said that hey have taken care of the planes that would take our OFWs home. The money had already been sent to Syria. The embassy’s obligation is to supply the buses and the food for the evacuees. Apparently, the embassy had ran out of dollars and only had Lebanese cash which is not accepted by anybody right now. Let’s all pray for our countrymen in Lebanon.
Why do people call Bush and Gloria BS? Ang parehong tawag sa kanila BS? Hoy, hindi B u l l S h i t…si Bush ang tawag sa kanya Bush S h i t at si Gloria naman Bansot S h i t. So, parehong S H I T nga!
I noticed in the above photo that Mrs. Gloria Arroyo is wearing highly prized precious metal-GOLD Necklace. It’s a showcase of extravagance while millions of Filipinos are suffering from hunger. It looks bulky for her midget physique. I hope this expensive jewelry is not paid by the Filipino people. Ito ba’y galing sa sariling sikap ni Gloria bilang pangulo? Baka naman regalo mula sa mga jueteng at smuggling lords kapalit ng protection.
Diego, who would Gloria emulate if not Imelda? But Gloria is so far behind in class. Even if she wears the most expensive jewelries, she still looks a laundry woman.
Pede bang ma-lifestyle check yang si glue at pidal?
Baka may makita ang mga nakakakita, samantalang nananatiling bulag ang naaambunan at kapwa kurakot….
ellen;
I really like those reality checklist posted above.
Had, even a mere quarter of, all the other respected journalists would only be as Honest and Blunt as you have been (especially, of this late), we won’t have Glue-ria in our midst to contend with in the first place.
Please do continue with what you have started, and help rekindle those desires for real progress and lasting peace.
You can count on my family’s support.
Mabuhay kayo!
Schumey said: “DFA and OWWA are now after the neck of Amb. Bichara. He came out on tv early last night saying they will have to stop the evacuation as the embassy had run out of funds.”
Didn’t GMA brag “we have the money” several times in her Sona?
One day after, buking na sya by her own people. That’s what one gets for lying.
Yes!, good reality checklist!!! Ilan kayang pamilya ang makakain ng masasarap ng putahe kung ibebenta ang kwintas ni bansot?? aling glenda, ay! gloria pala, pwede bang maisanla muna ang iyong mga alahas?? Wla kaming pambili ng bigas at ulam. Iyan damit mo hubarin mo na rin, alam ko mahal iyan. what a president!!! Kaya lalong nagaalburuto ang bulkang Mayon eh, dahil sa kabansutan ng pag-iisip ng reyna ng kadiliman!!
schumey Says:
July 26th, 2006 at 1:26 am
Ellen,
She said: After three years, eleven months, and six days, I shall relinquish the Presidency, …
RC: Because I’ll start sitting as the prime minister.
Ngiii! Takot ako.
@schumey…LOL….LOL…LOL, sakit tiyan ko dyan sa sinabi mo 😀
pero “joking aside”, hindi malayong gawin ni gloria yan…kasi plano nila, antayin yung apo nilang “anak” ni Mikaela “este”…TONGressaman Mikey Arroyo, para isalin ang “kaharian ng engkantasya”.
Yes Dominique. Expect Bichara to be recalled or fired like what happened to Del Rosario. Bichara was only telling the truth, and this Arroyo government is allergic to “truth”.
Npongco: Albicharra and Del Rosario cases are poles apart. You can not compare apples from orange.
Del Rosario was fired because Baja will be his replacement and Davide (the great divide) will be the permanent Philippine representative to United Nations.
Albicharra will be fired because of telling the truth (?). Truth on what?
The only time these people is telling the truth is when they shut their mouth.
What a boring site. 100% of loggers are of the same track mind. No free flowing of contrasting ideas. Misery loves company, indeed. Unless this blog is a fan’s club blog.
Unsolicited advice to all posters here – life is too short for your existence to be identified with the person you loathe
Alitaptap:
Even if that is in fact an old joke attribute to the mad man at the White House, it still looks good and fitting when applied to the Bansot.
I just quoted a verse in the Bible that I posted in the other loop about the end of this oppressive coming to an end soon. I’ll post it here again if it will give everyone here, except the paid lurkers who think that they can mar the good discussion in this list of their childish pranks and neurosis, hope and comfort (I don’t know why I am feeling happy and assured despite the threats and intimidations in the speech of the undoubtedly now paranoid crook, who has learned the Judas smile no doubt:“To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.” (Deut. 32:35)
There is one more mutant here no doubt! Or should I say clones of one individual lurker who must be sick in the head. For all you know, it can even be the wannabe national heroine now sporting a Rizal hairdo lurking in this blog and pretending to be hardworking always in front of the laptop except when she has her daily dose of 3 x a day sex (an info she gave when asked by a journalist at the Foreign Correspondent Club in Manila about her sex life) with or without the Fatso I guess.
Kaya, dear friends, tuloy ang batikos. Tuluy-tuloy na ito kahit na hulihin na nila kung sinong gusto nilang hulihin. Bagay, ang kawawa lang naman ay iyong mga nasa Pilipinas gawa nang pinayagan nilang maging abusado itong mga sundalong pulpol, at mga sundalong kanin na labas ang mga tumbong!!!
Come to think of it, this wannabe Rizal has actually just threatened the majority of the Filipinos who are not opposing her, for the Opposition can be more in number than those willing to be used by her as props.
Schumey, et al, will you please post here how many times she has used threatening words like the kind of threat she has issued against the NPA, etc.
Sabi ni Bansot, “She said: “Sa araw na ito, nakatuon ang isip natin sa ating mga kababayan sa Lebanon. Nasa kuko sila ngayon ng malagim na paglala ng digmaan. Kahapon lamang, sinalubong natin ang unang dalawang-daang Pilipinong lumikas doon. Limang-daan pa ang mauuwi natin sa susunod na apat na araw.”
E di tama pala ako. Did I not tell you that at the phase they are going of an average of 50 to 100 OFWs a day, patay na ang marami sa kanila bago pa makauwi iyong natitira pang kulang-kulang na 30,000 OFWs sa Lebanon unless the OFWs themselves on their own volition try to get out past from that place.
The point is without their credentials like a lost passport and the staff of the Philippine Embassy there long gone and will not stand for them, how will you expect them to be able to leave Lebanon or enter another country? Kailangan talagang sabihan na lang silang to look for the nearest UN or Red Cross facilities in the area.
Ellen, sorry for the profanity, but Tangna talaga nitong Bansot na ito. What a nerve to be mentioning still the OFWs in Lebanon and receiving palakpaks from the parang mga pataygutom sa pera for a truly lousy work!!! Ang kapal talaga ng ungas na ito!!!
Golly, papaanong nakakalusot ang walanghiyang ito?!
Emilio, you might have misunderstood me. Allow me to clarify. Bichara told the truth about the sad plight of the OFWs in Lebanon and our Embassy’s lack of budget there. That’s what I was pointing out. As for Del Rosario, he was in similar situation but only differed in issues. And contrary to what you mentioned about Baja getting the post, it’s Willy Gaa. I think Max Soliven lobbied for Gaa.
Oops, sorry, mali na naman, but this should read: Come to think of it, this wannabe Rizal has actually just threatened the majority of the Filipinos who are NOW opposing her, for the Opposition can be more in number than those willing to be used by her as props.
The constitutional provisions that Gloria terms as “prohibitive red tape” are the checks and balances instituted in 1986/87 to ensure that the powers of government remain separate and limited.
That is the reason behind the presidential form of government – that those powers remain separate and limited and that each branch of governement be bound by a system of checks and balances that ensure accountability.
Gloria finds that need for accountability inconvenient to the point that she spins calls for accountability and defines them as “politiking” bastardizing the constitutionally prescribed process of impeachment to limit her accountability to the system and going a step further by proclaiming that she is accountable to no one but God.
The principle of separate and limited powers is a principle
instituted by the people in 1986 as a reaction to the 1973 charter that merged the legislature with the executive. That principle proceeded from the direct exercise of the people of their right to destroy one form of government and create another that better embodies their desires.
A major precept of constitutional law, one that Americans on this board should recognize from Marbury vs. Madison is the fact that the exercise of the original right of the people to create a government is a “very great exertion and that power should not be and ought not to be exercised frequently” and the principles adopted back in 1987
through the exercise of that original power of the people should be deemed fundamental and considered permanent.
The constitution has its flaws and needs fixing but to overhaul it in the manner that Gloria proposes to overhaul it is to completely rework the mechanics and principles behind the document in order to acommodate the needs of one de-facto administration.
Amending the consitution in that manner requires proper study and should not be implemented by a peoples initiative after a three month study.
Npongco,
Re: “Amending the consitution in that manner requires proper study and should not be implemented by a peoples initiative after a three month study. ”
Agree! We call that railroading the Constitution.
Gloria has already railroaded it once with victims left , right and center being left in the wake of that devastation wrought by her and Chief Injustice Davide.
She mustn”t be allowed to do it again.
Ellen
You reminded me of other things Pandak said in the past, and what she’s done about it.
Pandak said, “The people are tired of politics, and they want a clear economic direction for the nation and a plan detailing how we are going to get there”
The people are not tired of politics. They are disgusted with what the politiicans, including the scoundrels and scalawags in the administration, are doing, manipulating their rights.
The problem with Pandak is, she is reading the whole political situation the wrong way and making incorrect assumptions. The people do not understand what she is saying. She is running the government like a technocrat managing a business corporation, not as a leader of a country. Being with the government, she can not take away politics from the equation. To be a good leader she has to work with the people, not for what she thinks are good for them. What is she? Playing God?
The Filipinos, in general, are not consumer-driven people. They can be happy with basic things they need, live in peace, and exercise their rights with guaranteed government protection from harm. To prove that, Filipinos are ranked 17th as happiest in HPI, ahead of the most advanced countries in the world. The idea of Enchanted Kingdom is only for the rich like GMA and her minions, who are never satisfied with what they already have.
Pandak said, “I believe that we can create a strong and modern Philippine Republic, but will take personal sacrifice from each one of us.”
The people has sacrificed a lot in the last 5 years while she was wallowing in wealth. The strong and modern Philippine Republic is still nowhere in sight.
People can not eat rhetorics. She must walk her talks, and lead by example
Pandak said, “It does not matter if the people like me or not, I am running a government not a popularity contest”.
I think it matters, and matters a lot to her. Why spent a lot of money for PRs, one after another, and media exposures as Gloria Labandera, Ina ng Bayan, Iron Lady etc. etc. In spite of all those efforts, she is still unpopular, which make her so mad about herself, taking her frustrations on her friends and foes alike.
Pandak current SONA is tantamount to saying, ” Let’s forget the last 5 years, and start all over again”. Is she playing or governing? The only significant thing she has achieved in the last 5 years is messed up the remaining people’s faith in the system. Shall we allow ourselves to be manipulated again?
Pandak is living in a different world. She is a square peg in a round hole. She does not have what it takes to be a leader. She should be replaced before she can
do anymore damage to the country.
Yes, Armand. Arroyo wants us to forget that she cheated in the 2004 elections. She wants us to forget her crimes. Masiya siya.
If we do that, what happens to our justice system? What happened to others who cheat like the nursing graduates who cheated in the nursing board exams, like the boys in the baseball team competing in the Palarong Pambansa, like the tax cheats. If you let gloria arroyo get away with her crimes, why are you punishing others who committed lesser crimes.
what do you tell your children about honesty?
What happens now to our values system and our sense of right and wrong?
Re changing the constitution, the latest Pulse Asia survey show that Malacanang’s propaganda is working in the sense that resistance to it is declining.
One positive finding in the survey: of those aware of the perverted people’s initiative being pushed by Sigaw ng Bayan, 65 per cent do not favor the manner by which the signatures are being collected across the country.
But it is still worrisome because, with all their resources, Malacañang’s propagandist will not stop until they brainwash the whole Filipino nation. It’s disturbing.
Hindi malayo mangyari ang sinabi mo Ellen. Iyan din ang aking pakiramdam. Parang humihina pati ang opposition. You picked the right word- brainwashing. But I am still hoping to turn the table in our favor. Marunong ang Panginoon. Whatever it is, I am praying it should happen soon.
A divided opposition and pouring of government resources and funds are enough to ahieve this Arroyo’s evil schemes particularly the amendment of constitution. For weeks and months, we all cried “Cha-Cha is dead”. Now, it’s been resurrected…alive and kicking. Very sad but true…
Armand,
Tawag ng mga Sigaw ng Bayan sa sarili nila “legions” at may gana pang i-quote iyong Biblical statement regarding the legions Christ exorcised from a man possessed of the devil, “We are many!” Wow, out of the horse’s mouth! They admitted na demonyo sila!!!
Ang kulang ng mga pinoy ay tunay na tiyaga! Kung meron niyan, mahirap na magtagumpay si Pandak. Huwag kang maniwala sa survey. Mali ang figures na ipinalalabas ng mga tagabilang ni Pandak. Ang kapal ng dami ng mga nag-protest laban kay Pandak noong SANA. Kahit may bagyo!!!
As for humihina ang opposition, I doubt kahit patayin sila. Lalo ngang lalakas iyan kapag nakahalata na ang mga pilipinong niloloko sila at kapag nagutom na sila ng husto. Hindi naman ganoong kaduwag ang mga pilipino sa totoo lang.
Medyo mahina lang ang response I guess kasi iyong mga matatalino ay halos nasa ibang bansa na at ang mga natira karamihan kailangang tatlong beses mong paliwanagan bago ka maintindihan. Kawawa naman!
Pero kapag nagutom ang mga iyan ay hindi na kailangan ang paliwanag. Kalam na lang ng tiyan aalma na iyan. That is kung may natitira pa silang lakas ng katawan!
Ang tanong, Armand, is will you be there to be of help when that happens?
Sa palagay ko Yuko, lahat tayo na nasa diaspora who are very much concerned sa kalagayan ng ating bansa will be there when that happens. AT marami pa rin naman na matatalino na nasa Pinas. Matindi nga lang ang lakas ng kalaban. Kaya lumakas ng ganito dahilan sa mga Generals behind the military. Kung walang military na kakampi si Pandak, she’s nothing.