Dead bodies were found floating in the waters of Sibuyan island in Romblon. They were believed to be passengers of “MV Princess of Stars” that sank at the height of typhoon Frank’s onslaught. The ship was carrying more than 700 passengers and 120 crew members.
Click here for the AP report in GMA-7 online.
Fifty-nine persons were reported dead inthe worst flood that hit Iloilo City.Some 200,000 people were stranded on rooftops.
The disaster was brought by typhoon Frank “that packed maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph.”
Electricity in Metro Manila was cut off for almost ten hours.
In the midst of this, where’s Gloria Arroyo?
In the U.S. accompanied by some 60 junketing politicians.
Inquirer editorial: Most useless junket
Tangna talaga, hindi ka nilamon ng buhawi yung eroplano ng bruha!
Ulit:
Tangna talaga, hindi PA nilamon ng buhawi yung eroplano ng bruha!
Kawawang Noli,sasabunin siya ni Pandak pag-uwi ng Pinas dahil hindi niya pinigilan si Frank na nagdulot ng malaking pinsala sa Pinas.Mag-aaway tiyak ang dalawa dahil sisisihin siya ni Pandak sapagkat siya ang ginawang presidenti.
puro pasarap yang si unaning kasama pa yung mga katulad nyang ungas habang nagkandalokoloko na buhay ng mga kabayan.
I missed the video cabinet meeting of Gloria Arroyo which was aired live, to give the impression that she is on top of the situation in the calamity-struck Philippines while she is in the U.S. with her junketing lapdogs.
She was asking about the capsized ship (I can imagine her dismay that it is the top story , even in international news, and not her U.S visit.)
My friend said this was how the televised cabinet meeting went.
GMA:(shrieking) Why was that ship allowed to sail when there was a typhoon? It should not have been allowed to sail.
Coast Guard official : Madame President, Under the law,when it’s typhoon signal no. 3 is up, ships not more than 2,000 tons are not allowed to sail. But Princess of Stars is a big ship ( 23,824 tons).It’s supposed to withstand even typhoon signal 4.
GMA: Even then. it should not have been allowed to sail.
Coast Guard official: Madame President, there’s no law that prevents that ship with that capacity from sailing.
My friend said the exhange went on for a few minutes, paulit-ulit lang, paikot-ikot. Then Gloria declared:
GMA: Basta, that ship should not have been allowed to sail.
She also ordered to amend the rules.
Publicity says the Pandak is monitoring what is happening in the Philippines while Frank lashes on the Philippines.
Akala mo naman talagang concern. She should have told the pilot of the plane she was on to return soonest to the Philippines if she was really that concern about her people. Palibhasa kasi di naman iyan naboto. Nandaya lang so what does she care?
Or talagang sinasadya, and it will be a good thing to use to ask for donations from Filipinos and Americans in the US. I bet you, Filipino organizations in the US are busy now asking for donations to send to the flood victims. Hindi lang taon-taon iyan ginagawa kundi buwan-buwan pa since the salot became fake president of the Philippines.
But it is signs of the times as a matter of fact!
According to reports, the ship developed engine trouble. The huge waves caused it to hit a boulder that damaged the ship and caused it to sink.
There is no college course for weathermen in the Philippines. Meteorology is the meat of the weather observer and its only a subject for a semester or less in the nautical course. Its enough to know the basic instruments such as the barometer and the weather vane or anemometer. A must thumbrule, the Buy’s Ballot Law is memorized and anyone can go into business with it. With that thumbrule, one can already determine if there is a weather disturbance somewhere and where it is going giving us enough time for typhoon evasion. Things are even made simpler on ships with the weather facsimile, weather bulletins, own office warnings and guidance from weather business companies or the on line weather news. But all these are naught for people that have not taken a few hours of meteoroly. I even doubt sometimes if our weathermen ever heard of the thumbrule after that faulty report on the mysterious movement of Frank. I entertain also some misgivings the master had not exercised enough prudence on his evasion and the company did not keep the engine at tip top shape.
We have no control of natural calamities and the stubborness of Filipinos who will always return to calamity prone sites after a disaster upon disaster, a natural source of calamitous corruptions
Meeting with a lame duck president of the US is no medal for Gloria. If the international news capitalizes on the 700 missing from the capsized boat, it will look bad for Gloria & her Lapdogs that they pushed through with their US junket.
If Gloria will NOT be able to get a meeting with Sen Obama &/or Sen McCain &/or Sec Condi Rice, watch the spin doctors say that the reason Gloria will have to cut short her trip is to attend to the terrible victims of Typhoon Frank !
It’s so easy to predict liars !
Ms Arroyo has now become so irrelevant in the world stage that not a single mention of her movements or pronouncements is now mentioned or published in any world Section of Reputable Dailies as compares to the political happenings and events in the Philippines sans the President..I believe most publishers now understand what kind of a leader she is and not worth a bi-line in their papers…and I read my dailies everyday.
It’s unbelievable that there is “nobody home” during this disaster caused by Typhoon Frank. Even the Head of the National Disaster Council is in the US with Gloria. Most of the people who are talking on radio stations & TV are undersecretaries!
What kind of leaders do we have ? Heartless !
Bida si Frank (Fengshen) sa CNN at pilit ring nagpapabida ang tangnang putang Pidal!
The news videos of Frank and victims were all over CNN last night while the korap president kuno is making bukaka to Bush, McCain and Barack with her junket public officials.
Inutil, inutil, inutil na administrasyon ni Gloria!
I wondered why the bitch and her junkets chose Fresno as their first stop. Kaya pala, Mc Cain was supposed to meet her there as it was also the senator’s campaign stop. Then, he changed schedules and pinasunod na lang siya sa D.C. Sunod naman si Gloria. A president (albeit fake) making buntot-buntot sa isang senador and presumptuous president. A fake, beggar, and sychophant holds no leverage and is not allowed to choose!
Frank is battering Pinas while Gloria is buttering to Dubya and presumptuous US presidents! Putang Gloria talaga!
Oh yes, Ellen. Frank is the top story here and Gloria is nowhere on the screen. The bitch must be cursing Frank for stealing her stage.
“Basta, that ship should not have been allowed to sail.” – Gloria
Ha!ha!ha! Pinagdabugan ni Gloria si Frank na bida sa international news ngayon.
Nandun na nga e, lumubog na ang ferry/ship. Sa halip na mag-utos na ‘iligtas lahat ang maililigtas, there the bitch was making nonsense statements, acting like what she is…a heartless spoiled monster.
Sigurado, ang marine official na sumagot sa kanya ay tanggal sa trabaho!
The report of engine trouble is highly probable. My guess is the ship (top heavy with passengers and tender) was heaving and rolling in Frank’s heavy seas. The swaying motion stirred up the dirt in the fuel tanks, clogging the fuel filters and starving the engine of fuel, causing the engine to stop. A ship without an engine is helpless and when broadside to the wind and seas tends to capsize, being tender (top heavy) in the first place. Excessive debris in fuel tanks usually is caused by poor maintenance or dishonest refueling tanker deliverymen.
Yuko,
Tama, the bitch instead should have used the teleconference “to ask for donations from Filipinos and Americans in the US”. Naunahan pa namin siya dito kasama ng concerned beings by donating to the US Red Cross while she was making tantrums for Frank having one over her.
Mabuti pa ang US Red Cross merong immediate response. Nang makita na malaking disaster si Frank sa Pinas ay nag-email na kaagad sa mga tao while Gloria and her junketeers are more concerned on how to bait Barack to grant them audience.
Sinabon ni Gloriang Pandak si Coast Guard chief Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo. Siguro hangang doon lang. Pa-impress effect sa media. Basta ang style ni Pandak bulok.
Oh, si Vice Admiral pala ang sinabon ni Gloria, hindi siya tatanggalin baka magwala ang Coast Guard at pumanig sa adhikain ng Tanay boys ang Magdalo.
Talaga naman itong si Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo sobra na talaga ang kapal ng mukha. Magpapasarap dito sa America samantalang mahigit sa 700 na mga kababayan niya at passengers on board the sunk ship remains unaccounted. Sino ba ang naniniwala sa salita niya ngayon na kesyo she is “on top of the situation?” Dapat ipagpairal niya ang pasyal niya dito sa America dahil in the first place, wala naman talaga pakinabang ito para sa bayan ng Pilipinas. Dumudugo ang kaban ng bayan sa dami niyang asungot (59? sobra naman) dala pa mga asawa nila at siyempre, lakwatsahan iyan dito, bili dito, bili do’n at masaklap isipin … pera ng bayan ito!!! Magising naman kayo mga katoto ko. Sana pagbalik niya riyan mayroon na nakaupo at arestado na siya . . . sana.
Marina official: Madame President, there’s no law that prevents that ship with that capacity from sailing.
GMA: Basta, that ship should not have been allowed to sail.
****************************
This is a perfect description of the woman:
1. Complete disregard for the law.
2. Wisdom by hindsight – should have, could have, would have.
3. Forefinger management – point the finger at somebody to blame, to take the focus away from her.
Gloria putot! Nagpunta si Frank sa Filipinas wala ka doon at nandito ka (sa San Francisco ba?) YAWA LINTI KA! nag papagloria! Matamaan ka ng lintik yawa ka! Ito ang sinasabi ni Frank “kadto ko to waay ka to at ari ka di..yawa linti kaw gid matuod!” Kung may mag aatend pa na Filipino sa whatever events the Consulate prepares for her talaga naman! May mag rarally ba sa Pagcom parade? I will not miss the parade as a matter of fact kasama ako. She will use this opportunity to ask for donations…I would suggest not to send donation through her office..give direct..via local gov’t. Kung nakawin man at least sa provincia din nila ang punta hindi sa bulsa ni Gloria..
Gloria putot! Nagpunta si Frank sa Filipinas wala ka doon at nandito ka (sa San Francisco ba?) YAWA LINTI KA! nag papagloria! Matamaan ka ng lintik yawa ka! Ito ang sinasabi ni Frank “kadto ko to waay ka to at ari ka di..yawa linti kaw gid matuod!” Kung may mag aatend pa na Filipino sa whatever events the Consulate prepares for her talaga naman! May mag rarally ba sa Pagcom parade? I will not miss the parade as a matter of fact kasama ako. She will use this opportunity to ask for donations…I would suggest not to send donation through her office..give direct..via local gov’t. Kung nakawin man at least sa provincia din nila ang punta hindi sa bulsa ni Gloria..
Gloria putot! Nagpunta si Frank sa Filipinas wala ka doon at nandito ka (sa San Francisco ba?) YAWA LINTI KA! nag papagloria! Matamaan ka ng lintik yawa ka! Ito ang sinasabi ni Frank “kadto ko to waay ka to at ari ka di..yawa linti kaw gid matuod!” Kung may mag aatend pa na Filipino sa whatever events the Consulate prepares for her talaga naman! May mag rarally ba sa Pagcom parade? I will not miss the parade as a matter of fact kasama ako. She will use this opportunity to ask for donations…I would suggest not to send donation through her office..give direct..via local gov’t. Kung nakawin man at least sa provincia din nila ang punta hindi sa bulsa ni Gloria..
Ellen paki erase ng dalawa. Kumukulo talaga ang dugo ko sa pandak na ito..I received the news yesterday morning that nagbaha sa Sibalom at neck high pa daw ang taas ng tubig particularly sa area by the river bank…and one of those affected was the “durog” nanday Nang Merle..nalunod kuno ang mga baboy sa piggery ni Eric..(bakit ba hindi pa yong mga baboy sa Malacananang..hindi pa natamaan ng kidlat ang aeroplano na ang carga ay mga baboy sa Malacanang). I understand water waist deep ay umabot sa town center but I was told that it did not reach the church area. I was so concerned that St. Rita shrine was damaged..abi ko nag langoy langoy na si Sta. Rita. I am sure you have news about Antique too..naga kurunas ang lawas ko sa ugot sa linti yawa nga tungaw nga dia!
What more can I say, Chi. Dating gawi na ng ungas. Kunyari lang iyong concern niya. Alam naman nila iyong bagyong darating. Ang bobo kunyari pa raw state visit. Manonood lang ng boxing ni Pacquiao, ang dami pang pakulo!!! Landi talaga!
Sabihin ninyo baka tuwang-tuwa ang ungas at marami na naman makukulekta. Donation na naman kung saan-saan. Dapat may mga accounting ang lahat ng mga donations na iyan at kung saan napunta.
Dasal na lang para doon sa mga nalunod. May they rest in peace!
Gloria does NOT care about anything & anyone except herself. Gloria is loyal to Gloria.
Here’s a dirty finger to her face !
It terms of risk management: two bloggers make sense
1. Valdemar- yes there is a need for meteorology report
2. Fenix: technical problem evaluation.
I will blame the coast guard for not evaluating the ship. Sulpicio lines will pay the family for liabilities. True this is Noli’s job.
For Gloria…She will need to change the law on sea transportation, air transportation and land transportation towards safety measures. She will then requires company to have an automatic life insurance with higher coverage to the victims. Proceeds must be paid within 30 days with penalty to the companies if late. This is what Rule of Law and our Constitution is all about. It needs to be reviewed to benefit the people.
I have nothing personal against Pacquiao and sana manalo siya! pero he is just being used..kaya dapat magretire na siya at that would be a knockout. Para matapos na ang pag kamit sa kanya ng mga baboy! Enough is enough.
As for Gloria and the other most useless junket. They are all worried not because of the calamity. They are worried because of their real estate investment going down the drain. It was our money.
An ABS-CBN article on its web says that “Arroyo concerned about typhoon but not cutting US trip short”. Other decent leaders would have cut their trip short to be by the side of those affected by a disaster because they would be concerned about their people, & politically, it would be a good move. This woman who CLAIMS to be the President of the Philippines, chooses to berate the Coast Guard Chief, Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo, instead, for all to hear, if only to PRETEND she is concerned !
“Press Secretary Jesus Dureza, who was with the President, told reporters by phone, “The President was so concerned about the situation at home that she immediately wanted to be personally informed about what is being done to help victims of the typhoon.” ”
As if !
“Sec. Dureza .. made it clear the President is not considering cutting her trip short due to concerns over the death toll and damage wreaked by the typhoon.”
Obviously, she’s taking a no-care attitude.
Here’s the link to the article:
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=122622
Ang sabi ng Palasyo “there is no reason for her to cut short her trip” as she can still be on top of what is happening in the Phil. Yawa linti! Yes, I agree there is no need for her to cut short her trip, She need not go back! Putot Alis You!
rose,
are you visaya? hahah lawa, linti… anyway…for everyone here. it’s time for us to pray and make your other families aware that it is always not safe to travel even with a number 2 typhoon. let’s not wait for the government to take care of us. Let’s help our own by making them aware. we don’t have the capabilities of predicting mother nature. we are not high tech enough to do this. what we can do is to prevent self-risk to happen.
“I was so concerned that St. Rita shrine was damaged..abi ko nag langoy langoy na si Sta. Rita”.
Hahahaha!
Rose,
Galit na galit ka talaga kay punggok. Sumakit ang panga ko sa katatawa sa iyo, akala ko ay sinadya mo na 3 ang pare-parehong post. Sa galit pala e hindi mapigil ang daliri sa kasa-submit.
Way to go, girl!
Sana nga ay ang mga baboy sa Palasyo ng EK, sa pangunguna ni pandakekang, ang malunod at malibing sa burak ni Frank.
“I agree there is no need for her to cut short her trip, She need not go back! Putot Alis You!” – Rose
Agree, agree, agree. Putot Alis You!
Mas mahalaga kay Gloria ang kodakan with Dubya at baka sakaling kay Mc Cain at Barack kesa sa buhay ng pinoy. Useless sa pinoy ang anumang alibi na i-press release ng mga junketeers.
Ellen,
Right you are! The sea disaster is the banner in The Times UK and in other news on line in Europe.
I sympathise with the families, relatives and friends of the victims of this avoidable catastrophe but this was an Act of God that could have been avoided. Much as it pains me to agree with the BRUHA, the ship’s owners and the skipper should have refused to sail given that even if regulations were such and such — weather forecasts have been very clear, the weather was very volatile and in open sea, what was signal no 3 or 4 inland could easily develop into 5 or 6 in open sea. This is no secret!
Furthermore, this is not the first time this happened — I suspect that the Princess of the Stars was not in tip top shape to battle a brewing disastrous storm after all, maintenance culture is not a great strength in the Philippines.
There was command responsibility here — both owners of the ferry and the skipper should be held responsible for this avoidable disaster.
When my family and I used to sail off to England on our 30-footer sail boat via the Channel or La Manche (as we call that pond between England and France), we would first listen to the weather forecast and if there was any risk at all that the weather would be volatile as in we might be caught in a huge storm, my husband who was a Royal Navy submarine and surface ship commander and a first class sailor, having been a member of the UK Olympics Sailing Team in his younger days, would refuse to sail to avoid putting the lives of his family (and his) or his passengers at risk! It’s just plain common sense.
Even when we sail on commercial vessels from the Calais region to Dover, there is no way that ferry owners will set sail for England when there is a storm threat even if only to do the less than 2-hour crossing! It’s the only thing to do to avoid potential death and destruction to lives and properties!
Sounded like that all the rats abandoned the ship to a safety ground in Washington…One never know this thing, “Frank” might just decided na salabungin si whore Gloria in the center of Pacific Ocean, if we’re so lucky. We can only hope.
Fresno as the evil bitches’ first stop? Hah,hah,hah. That is an industrial city. A year a go my niece,cousin and I went to Yosemite and we ended up going to a hotel in Fresno. When we arrived at about 8 in the evening we were looking for a Chinese restaurant or any Asian ( Filipino, Thai, Vietamese) but none in sight after even after we had driven from one street to the other. This town is virtually a dead town. There are homes for the aged there yun siguro ang binisita ni evil bitch. She can not dare visit Los Angeles where over two million Filipinos reside nor San Francisco where over a million reside. Ang takot lang niya sa galit namin sa illegal, corrupt at kriminal na presidenteng (daw) na ito!
The sinking of the ship in PI with over 700 people feared dead are on top of our news today! Only two people survived so far amongst 740 passengers. Very sad indeed!
Yong mga kabayan sa tate wag silang mag bigay ng donation kay tiyanak pidal dahil gagamitin lang yong perang donation para pang shopping nila.
Knowing the ways of the evil bitch, she will exploit this “Frank” disaster to the hilt to get more “donations” and “grants” from the US. Nangangalap ng pera ang bruha to finance her “cronies” in the 2010 elections, that is if there will ever be one!
The evil bitches’ trip to the US is like a solicitation trip to beg for donations and grants. Nasa Americano na if they believe that the evil bitch is sincere at all. What she probably can collect from all the grants and donations, kulang pang pangbayad ng gastos ng 60 na kasama niya sa US tour niya!
asiandelght: Yes, I am Visaya from Sibalom,Antique. Ang patron saint namin sa Sibalom ay si St. Rita (the saint of impossible cases) kaya ang dasal ko lagi kay Sta. Rita ay sana umalis na si Gloria (kasi mukhang impossible na aalis ang walang hiyang ito on her own.
Chi: nabasa ko sa news na “sinabon” daw ni Gloria ang mga oficials na naiwan sa Maynila dahil sa nangyari. But that seems to be her style of governing “sabon dito sabon doon” kaya pa siya tinawag na Gloria labandera? She is a Monster!
..and to those who may want to help..may I suggest not to send donations via the government (kahit na sa consulate) simply send it directly to the local gov’t via the churches..kahit nakawin man ng mga local officials at least doon gagastosin sa local regions hindi ideposito sa German banks or sa Swiss banks.
..Ang payo ko kay Gloria sumama ka kay Barack Obama para maraming McCain (makain) sa Pilipinas.
..tidbits: re the kidnapping of Ces nagsinungaling si Loren Legarda…nagsnungaling din si Gloria Arroyo..are they not both from Assumption College…with due apologies to other graduates of this prestigious catholic school..itinuro ba ang honesty? both are high profile politicians..did you have a course on “the art of cheating”? just wondering…
She calls her utang trips as state visits even when they are not that is why more often than not, it does not get any publicity. If there is, more often than not, publicity ads paid with big funds from the Philippine treasury, plus the junket and all. Hanip talaga. Remember guys, these trips add up to the burden that Filipinos of this and the next generations will have to pay with their blood. Pag hindi pa inalis ang animal na iyan, wala na. Kawawa ang Pilipinas na unang kinawawa ng ama niyan!
Meanwhile, my prayers for the Philippines. Frankly, ang lakas din ng ulan sa Japan kahapon.
PSB,
Fresno? Tigang ang lugar na iyan. Mainit masyado during the summer season. I remember going there many years ago myself because I wanted to meet a favorite actor of my mother, Dennis Morgan. Kaso patay na daw and we did not bother look for his grave. Since it was summer, ang init.
Anong ginagawa ng bugaw doon? Trying hard to sell the demoted Filipino doctors as caregivers ba? Dito nga pinipilit pa rin ng bugaw through her emissaries pero no dice. The Japanese government will not bend its rules. I understand the national exam will be much more difficult to prevent these fake caregivers from overseas from coming in kasi pag nahirapan baka bagsak niyan GRO, etc. na naman.
Ang animal hindi gumawa ng trabaho para sa mga pilipino doon sa bansa nila para hindi nasisira ang mga pamilya nila like the families of the Filipinos I met in Hong Kong recently. Ang daming hiwalay sa asawa. Ang liit na lugar, napuno na rin ng pilipino.
Gloria is not cutting her trip, Chabeli. She needs the money to pay for her pala brigade during her SONA. Last year, she was in Singapore at the same time doing the same “palimos” for the dough that Medy Perencia was supposed to distribute to the sipsip in the Philippine Congress. She does it every year as a matter of fact. Bakit hindi iyan pinipigilan?
If she had been real, she would have told the pilot to go back to the Philippines amidst this crisis, but no, she has to make this trip more in fact for yabang! The best thing that Bush, et al can do is turn down at the last minute requests by the idiot to meet them since it is not a state visit anyway, just one of those begging-for-loans trips of hers. Ngayon nga, chance pa niyang mamalimos ng donations for the victims of the typhoon na hindi naman napupunta sa mga talagang beneficiaries.
Kawawang Pilipinas!
Just read the Inquirer report on the visit of the unano in Fresno. Tama pala ang kutob ko—para ibugaw doon iyong mga demoted doctors as caregivers! Ulol!!!
Maraming home for the elderly sa Fresno! The good thing is, Yosemite Park is just a 30 minute drive away. Our nurses and caregivers can go and unwind there. It is one of the best parks in the US!
Sa Fresno kasi doon ang una nilang tagpuan ni Mc Cain. Siguro, merong nagbulong kay Antigo na kapag kinausap mo ang babae na iyan ay babaligtad ang mga Amboy sevicemen kay Barack. Ayun, nabago ang schedule ni tanda at sa D.C. na lang daw. Huli na ng malaman ni bitch na gumawa na ng programa doon involving pinoy caregivers etc.
At kaya pinag-aaralan ng mga bata ni Barack kung mag one-on-one sila ng puta ay baka naman bumaligtad ang mga Barackians kay Mc Cain.
Bakit nga ba pagtitiyagaan pa ng 2 presumptuous US president ang dead duck quacking fake Pinas president na impakta? Sila rin!
PSB/Yuko,
Baka magsa-side liwaliw ang mga ungas sa Yosemite. Kainin sana ng mga higanteng puno doon o kaya ay ma-warp sila sa El Capitan at maging bato ng hindi na makabalik Pinas.
Chi, lamunin sana siya ng bear kamo. Isang subuan lang siya nun!
nakakahiya talaga itong si evil bitch at naghahabol ng mga furture leaders ng US para makahingi nga future abuloy! Pwe! Walang delikadesa at self worth ang unanong ito. Hindi man lang magantay kung sino ang uupo na US President bago siya sumipsip!
PSB,
Kasama ang buong pamilya, pati yayas. Magpapakodak sila lahat kasama si Dubya, McCain at Barack. Naku po!
Sabi ng kaibigan ko sa DC embassy ay talaga raw kinukulit nila ang 2 naglalabang presidente, para nga raw silang nang-aamot ng limos dun sa dalawa para lang makodakan ang impakta at pamilya.
I don’t think the Americans like or believe in the Dorobo. In our business we don’t forget to mention about Putot. Most of the people that we know, tell us that Dorobo is just a repeat of Marcos. Why the Dorobo brought a lot of her people because nobody believes in her, she has to bring her own cheering squad. The corruption in the Philippines is widely known especially with the Dorobo in the helm. Unless you are a Democrat you don’t listen to the swindler of the Philippines. Yes, she might ask the Fil-Americans to contribute to her but in return I’m sure she will contribute your money to Barrack. The Dorobo knows their game, Barrack is a buwaya when it comes to money.
Question: Is GMA’s visit a state visit or working visit? If state visit, the US government pays for her trip. If just working visit, RP government pays for it. Together with Arroyo family are 51 solons and 10 cabinet members not including security personnel and helpers!
I thinik it’s a working visit because she has already made her state visit. A head of state is supposed to make only one state visit to another head of state.
I have to make a correction. The official that Gloria Arroyo bawled for TV effect is Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo.
Here’s the Inquirer link:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080622-144134/Arroyo-blows-top-at-Coast-Guard-chief
bitchevil: working visit? 51 solons para may session? 10 cabinet members para may cabinet meeting? yawa linti gid! bakit pa dito para mag trabajo samantalang marami siyang dapat gawin na trabajo sa Pilipinas. Pag sumama si Obama kay Gloria marami ang lilipat kay McCain. She is a curse! yawa sia! linti!
Thanks Ellen. If it’s a working visit, she had the option to cancel or postpone her trip inasmuch as it’s the RP government that pays for it. And where are the US ships in Mindanao? This is one time when their help is badly needed.
Anna,according to maritime officials and the Sulpicio lawyer, when Princess of Stars left the port Friday, it was still signal no. 1 and the direction of the typhoon was towards the Visayas, which was opposite their way.
They were already 17 hours at sea when “Frank” changed direction.
Also they said something like the ship was already “dead in water” which means there was something wrong with the engine when it was battered by the typhoon.
Rose, majority of the solons and cabinet members are staying in the US to watch the Pacquiao-Diaz fight. FG and son Pidal are certain to join the gang led by Chavit Singson. Lots of big betting again amid the suffering of the Filipino people.
The way I see it, the Coast Guard acted appropriately by allowing the ship to leave if it was indeed still Signal No.1.
The one liable should be Sulpicio Line that did not maintain the ship. This is the 4th accident involving ships owned by Sulpicio.
Chi, okay yung line mo a. “Frank batters RP while GMA butters up to Bush”
Thanks. Ellen.
Sobra kasing magpadulas itong si impakta kay Dubya at mukhang nagmamakaawa doon sa dalawang candidates. Naiinis ako talaga. Heto at nanood ako ng balita at halos lahat ng tv channels ay video ni Frank ang ipinakikita, wala si Guriang Korap.
Putang Gloria is in the US on a working visit kuno. Dubya has no money for her state visit as he already spent billions of dollars in Iraq war. Saka pinagbigyan lang siya ni Dubya for the signing of the Veterans Bill. Kung wala iyan ay nunca na kausapin siya ni Dubya, ngayon pa na lame duck silang pareho. Besides, siya ang nagpa-imbita sa sarili niya, hindi siya inimbita. Walanghiya talaga ang bruha.
The creep is legitimizing her visit to the US with typhoon Frank, no doubt. Nagpapalimos ng husto! Kinakapalan na ang mukha dahil desperado talagang humanap ng pangsuhol doon sa mga mandarambong na supporters niya sa Congress, Senate, etc. Huwag na raw goods, lalo na pang-ukay-ukay. Perahin na lang daw! Ang kapal di ba?
Kaya, kung magbibigay kayo ng abuloy, better course it through the Red Cross para siguradong pupunta sa mga victims. Taon-taon may salanta, hanggang ngayon wala pa ring alam para tulungan ang mga biktima! Kawawa iyong mga batang basang-basa ng ulan, nanginginig na sa ginaw! Hanip din ano?
Buti inaamin na naglalakwatsa lang si Gloria Bugaw. Noong state visit daw pero nabisto kaya working visit na lang. Wow, kung ano-ano pa ang tawag, gusto lang namang makapanood ng boxing ni Pacquiao iyong mga binigyan ng junket led by the husband. Dapat diyan nagkakaroon na ng coup sa Pilipinas. Lumalaki lang ang ulo ng pandak sa totoo lang!
Chi,
Ang sama ng assessment ni Bush kahit saan, maski sa Tate. Amenado na ang mga kano na palpak ang ginawa ni Dubya sa Iraq, tapos ngayon hindi na sila makaurong dahil mapapahiya sila. Sabi ng kaibigan kong kano, “Bush will go down US history as the worst president ever.” Iyong papalit na president pihadong mahihirapang ibalik ang dating image ng America as the “Champion of Democracy.”
Hopefully, Obama will not be stupid to meet with Gloria Dorobo. Masisira siya sa mga pilipinong democrat na galit na galit kay Dorobo.
Yuko,
Bush’s current approval rating is only 29-30%. Since the start of this year, his approval rating has been this low due to Iraq war and economy. Nabulilyaso ang US economy dahil sa sobrang gastos ni Bush sa Iraq war.
Lumalabas ngayon na economy and number one concern ng Amerikano na siya ring number concern ng Pinoy. Kaya magbobolahan na lang ang dalawang lame duck economisseds.
Inquirer reports that the Dorobo has ordered embassies to open accounts for donations for typhoon Frank. Ang kapal talaga ng mukha. Puedeng duraan sa mukha ang animal na walanghiya. Iyong ginagastos nila ng mga kasama niya ang iabuloy niya sa mga biktima ng bagyo ang dapat niyang gawin. Ulol!
My advice to my friends is not to send their donations to the Philippine Embassy but to the Red Cross. Mas safe.
Golly, si Pandak nagbibilang na ng makukurakot na abuloy! Ang tindi talaga ng tigas ng apog ng ungas! Kakakulo ng dugo.
BTW, Chi, balita ko nahihirapan pa ang inutusan na maggawa ng appointment kay Dubya para kay unano. Inis na inis siguro si Mokong unless na sabihin ni unano na ibibigay na sa Tate iyong lupa sa Mindanao na gagawin US base! Abangan ang raket na ito.
Gloria is a greedy, heartless, insensitive piece of shit!!!
We should all open our eyes, that the Inquirer, the bible of the Evil Society, is GMA’s ally. Di niyo ba nahalata, ang mga headline at mga stories nila, parang Manila Bulletin na? Noong panahon ni Erap, ang tatapang, walang ginagawa kundi manira ng manira. Ngayon naman, walang ginawa kundi pagtakpan mga kalokohan ni Gloria the Evil Bitch!
Let us open our eyes, the Philippine Daily Inquirer is GMA’s instrument for cover-ups! Boo!!!
Yuko,
Baka sa signing lang magkita ang dalawa dahil iyon ang opisyal at hatakin uli ni Korap si Dubya sa isang corner para one-on-one sila for 10 seconds.
Iyong appointment na nililimos nila ay para siguro makaapak ang putang babae sa Oval office o nagbabakasakali na invite siya sa Texas ranch.
Walang mangyayari sa usap ng dalawang lame ducks because Bush is busy preparing for his exit na.
Kambal ata ni Bush si Gloria..si Bush anak ng nating Presidente..ganoon din si Gloria…si Bush ay the worst president ng America..si Gloria ni worst president ng Pilipinas..it is said that may daya din sa election ni Bush..si Gloria ay talagang nang daya..kaibahan lang..si Bush ok ang asawa…si Gloria baboy ang napangaasawa…yawa!
…kung may pustahan sa Vegas sa Pacquiao fight..matalo sana si Pacquiao! alam ko hindi maubos ubos ang pera nila Arroyo..pero sana matalo sila!
BBC News quote: “Why did you allow it to sail and why was there no ample warning? I want answers” Gloria Arroyo Philippine President
My calibrated retort would be: “Why did you persist in proceeding with your junket when the Fengshen (Frank) typhoon was only hours away from battering Samar? Undeniably, your plane must have taken a skirting route to evade Frank.”
To the Master of the ill-fated ship: If you defy the odds (like the bettors of lotto), you lose. Although averse to gambling, I am willing to bet you knew the ship’s course converges with the typhoon’s westward path, yet gambled with the passengers’ lives that your vessel can ride the tempest.
GMA’s governance could be compared to the ill-fated ship. She’s the captain; the crew were her cabinet members and the passengers were the people.
fenix,
pasenciya na si Mrs. Arroyo. Ganyan ang babae na sanay magalit at wala ng period. The maritime world would rather send out to sea vessels than keep them in their harbors on the approach of severe typhoon, hurricane or cyclones.
The local master is programmed to follow the owner’s dictum. Proceed on schedule, etc. But lets find out what he is. Normally, masters for inter island ships are hard to find so their position is jacked up from lower licenses. The hardened masters of seagoing vessels are never dictated by the office but to take the safest course they know. To be caught by extreme weather between islands close together is a cardnal unforgiveable error. The open sea is always the safest place for that huge ship.
…with or without power. A tender ship DIW (dead n water) can comfortably ride the waves.
Two years ago, 250,000 dollars na ang bet ni Fatso, na pataas ng pataas bawat laban ni Pacquiao. By now, humigit-kumulang 1M dollar na siguro ang bet niya at ni Sabit. Pero sabi nga, perang madaling kinita, madali ring mawawala. Gabaan sana sila.
Who knows, this typhoon may prove to be a bad omen. We’ll see. This reminds me of a comment in Sky News or CNN yesterday about what actually started the defeat of Hitler in WWII. Nagkamali ng hakbang because of arrogance and conceit. Walang pinag-iba kay Gloria Dorobo. God in His Infinite Wisdom, when the time is ripe, will definitely cause the sudden downfall of this crook who is going to be remembered in Philippine history and mankind maybe as the worst president of the Philippines. She cannot wash her hands off her responsibility for all that has happened to her country and people. Golly, ugas kamay ang ungas sa bagyo! Sinisisi iyong mga taga-Suplico for this freight mishap. Di ba niya alam na kasalanan iyan ng government agency na nagbigay ng permit for the boat to sail. At siya ang head of the government (kuno) kaya dapat siya ang umako ng responsibilidad sa lahat ng kapalpakang ginagawa ng mga tauhan niya. Boba!!!
Philippine Daily Inquirer = Philippine Daily Inquisition
Golly, the Philippines is asking the US Navy to send a ship with helicopters to help look for the survivors if any of the ship that sunk off Iloilo! Tapos ang yabang ni Gloria Dorobo to say that by the time she exits in 2010 (?), the Philippines will no longer be among the third world’s most backward countries!!! Asan ang mga perang inuutang ng animal na iyan na hanggang ngayon wala pa ring matinong helicopter to save Filipinos in times of calamities such as this typhoon? Tapos akala mo talagang tunay naman na mino-monitor daw ang nangyayari sa Pilipinas habang naglalakwatsa siya sa Tate! Ulol!!! Lokohin niya ang lelong niyang traydor! Dugong aso!
kind of strange, don’t you think: that while we are a country made up of islands, an island nation hence majority of the population do have an access to bodies of water to learn swimming , but most Pinoys does NOT know how to swim!
maybe it about time to consider swimming, seriously– its practically as a life-saving measure, and as a sport on top of everybody’s list: the school and local officials, policy makers, corporate bosses, etc.
make swimming an obligatory Physical Education subject/course…
tsaka puwede ba, ITIGIL na yung kalokohan na gumagawa ng sariling pangalan ang ating mga opisyales sa pag-bansag ng pangalan ng mga bagyo ?!!
itong si ‘Frank’, known internationally as Fengshen, what good does it make that merits changing its name ?!!
maraming expats na Pinoy friendly na bloggers na tumutulong sa pag-track ng mga bagyo, pero nalilito lahat kasi pag-kinukumpara ang movement ng bagyo, sa local bulletins, iba ang pangalan…at iniisip tuloy, ibang bagyo naman ang tinutukoy.
kaya plis lang, kung ano ang pangalan na bansag sa kanya internationally, yun na ang sundin para makatulong sa mga independent weather trackers.
I remember what happened during the landslide in Leyte. Nauna pa iyong mga intsik from Singapore and Taiwan to try to save any survivor of the landslid kesa doon sa mga sundalong pinoy who could not be transported via helicopter to the site dahil malakas daw ang hangin kaya they had to use buses that took then 8 hours I guess to reach the place from their base up northern Leyte. Golly, ang negligence and incompetence talaga. Tapos si Pandak akala mo tunay, iyong meeting niya sa cabinet niya televized pa, pero wala namang ginawa kundi magtawag ng mga donations for the victims kuno.
Pumunta ang ungas sa site five days after, tapos pinahinto na ang search with a lot many of the victims no doubt, nalibing na ng buhay! Tapos para makatipid daw, nagpatayo na lang ng malaking krus doon sa sentro ng bayan ng salanta. Creep talaga!
May ginawang movie to commemorate that disaster recently, I am told. I think it is named “Signos.”
Tignan naman natin ngayon ang pakulo ni ungas re this present calamity. The monies that the embassies should get should be monitored by the NGOs like the Debt Coalition, etc. by all means. Pihadong lulustayin na naman ni Pandak iyan sa mga pakulo niya to stay in power.
Valdemar,
culled reports indicate the Sulpicio Lines ferry, a company that habitually hugs the headlines for infamy and shame, sank off the island of Romblon.
if true, then it must be the Tablas Strait—a narrow sea- lane between the islands of Romblon and Mindoro, is known, by every Pinoy seafarer worth his salt, to be a disaster prone area.
this particular strait is known by patrons of sea-travel, and even more by local ships personnel, for its unusually strong undercurrents, and consequently the dizzying rides, even during light weather, which could suddenly turn ferocious and deadly during weather anomalies.
have not gone formal counting myself, but based on what I could remember, every time reports say, a ship off Mindoro has sank (or as in this case, off Romblon), those who are in the know, readily understand and helplessly attribute the disaster to the meanness of nature of the Tablas Strait.
why do the ship masters, ship-owners, government officials keep this to themselves; allow travelers to board, or proceed to sail, and try their luck against Nature is pure insanity. this is not the first, nor second, not even the third time, but a horrifying center-show, year after year, after year !!
Funny, but it used to be babae ang pangalan ng bagyo sa Pilipinas. Bakit ngayon intsik na! :-O
Sa Japan, ang bagyo named according to yearly occurence by 1, 2, 3, etc. Sa Hong Kong, iyong ulan may kasama pang kidlat.
Si Fengshen, medyo unpredictable daw. Supposedly on its way to Taiwan na raw pero baka magpasyal pa sa China via Hong Kong/Canton. Talaga naman. Hindi kaya hinahanap si Gloria Dorobo para tapusin na? Wishful thinking I know!
zen2,
Bermuda Triangle? Perhaps. That happens to be a busy one lane highway like the SLEX wthout a centerline and the watch officers are always busy flirting with passengers, 15 minutes away from their post celebratng whatever doomed the passengers’ luck…
Ellen,
If it’s true that the vessel was dead in the water 17 hours after it sailed, then it’s easy to suppose that the ferry was not in good condition to sail in potentially volatile weather conditions. (As I’ve pointed out earlier on, maintenance culture is not a great strength to say the least in the Philippines.)
Even if for the sake of argument, the skipper had learned before he set sail that it was only signal no 1 and judged that it was alright to sail, he wouldve been in touch with the weather station all throughout the journey (given that signals had been given that storm would be lashing out in that region, even I knew about this just by watching CNN long before it hit the Philippines) and would have learned in the course of travel that storm signal alerts had heightened even before the fatidic 17-hour dead in the water situation and should have either turned around or at the very least, prepared the passengers for trouble.
If Princess of the Stars had been dead in the water, then it would’ve naturally drifted amidst the gales and the strong wind. The ship’s stability would’ve been greatly affected — especially if passengers started to panic and converged in one area of the vessel thus making it vulnerable to Frank’s moods.
Ordinarily, when engine trouble arises in open sea amidst gales and storms, the first thing a skipper does is to order the distribution of life jackets to EACH AND EVERY PASSENGER and to ensure that they are worn as well as the preparation of life rafts. Again, remember that a signal 3 or 4 inland could easily turn into 5 or 6 and worse in the open sea.
One important point Philippine ferries are reputed to carry more freight and passengers authorised. What about safety measures on board? Were there sufficient life jackets on board? One for each passenger? What about life rafts?
This was a sea disaster that could have been avoided.
Last 27 December, on our way home from England, we were due to take a RORO trip from Dover to Calais (less than 2 hour crossing of the Channel), the weather forecast was clear but as we were queuing into the mouth of the ship, there was an announcement of a potential heightening of the storm. The ferry crossing was immediately canceled by authorities and we had to wait 8 hours in the port to be able to cross. Ferry was 6000 tonnage and so, heavier than Princess of the Stars.
When will the Philippine businessmen (Sulpico Lines) and authorities ever learn that you don’t challenge the forces of the sea?
Yes, you are right. Sulpicio Lines bears a responsibility of this tragedy and government agencies that allowed Sulpicio Lines to get away with neglect.
Follow on: Engine trouble may have been a major cause ultimately of the disaster but that only reinforces my suspicion that the ship was not in tip top shape to sail at all!
Ordinarily, a 4000 ton vessel in tip top shape could skirt a brewing storm provided of course there was an excellent navigator on board with the right equipment but there was no way even an excellent navigator could steer the ship away from the eye of the storm if the vessel was in poor mechanical condition.
Unregulated payload (freight and passengers) would have contributed to Princess of the Stars’ instability and non-respect on board for safety measures and equipment would have been the ultimate cause of so many deaths and disappearance at sea.
Btw, Ellen, is Rolex Sulpico related to the owners of the vessel?
I don’t think Rolex is related to owners of Sulpicio Lines.
Rolex is Sulpico minus the “i”.
Sulpicio Lines management now is denying that MV Princess of the Stars experienced engine trouble. We don’t know now who is telling the truth.
“Heads should roll over ferry sinking – Nograles”
Heads should also roll over the sinking of our country’s economy!
Ellen,
Diba Rolex Suplico? I may be wrong though.
It’s SUL-PI-CIO Lines NOT SU-PLI-CO(as in Rolex Suplico)..It is the Go family of Cebu who owns Sulpicio Lines & if I’m not mistaken, a staunch supporter of Gloria.
“Fengshen” must be really that strong enough to overturn the ferry boat.
Anna, you bet, the Brits can be very careful and meticulous about such minute details. I’ve experienced travelling to France from UK via the ferry from Dover long, long time ago. Even just a drizzle can delay the departure as a matter of fact.
Golly, may Signal 1 na, pinaalis pa! Swapang talaga!
What’s so ironic is the marketing masthead of Sulpicio Lines doesn’t jibe with the number of passengers they have lost:
http://www.w3fire.com/web/sulpicio/index.html
Biyaheng Panalo
Biyaheng Sulpicio
Thanks, Chabs!
Isn’t it extraordinary that most Chinese-Filipino families involved in any major industry in the Philippines are reputed to be staunch supporters of BRUHA aka as Gloria Macapal Arroyo?
Yuko,
Re: Even just a drizzle can delay the departure as a matter of fact.
Hindi naman! Hahahah!
We have booked a RoRo trip to England again in a couple of weeks and I would have no qualms taking that ride even on a stormy weather (have been through a few stormy boat rides both on commercial vessels and private boats) because I know that maximum safety measures will have been undertaken.
Alas, I’ve already used hoverspeed transport in Manila to go to Bataan to visit the Maritime School there and can tell you that when I asked crew members on the number of life jackets, life rafts on board, etc., either the reply was they weren’t sure or the numbers were short. I asked my friend about this who was an official at the Marina and his reply was, “All of them (commercial vessels) don’t have adequate safety equipment on board.”
As if it was the most normal way of how things were done in the Philippines. Needless to say, I was dumbfounded.
According to a survivor interviewed on TV, the ship listed (lean to one side) before it capsized. (A ship listing is caused by unbalanced loading or by shifting of cargoes to one side.) The Sulpicio vessel had normal trim at departure, so the list was caused by shifting of cargoes which came loose of its lashing cables either by careless personnel or material failure.
Relying on the vessel’s sturdy design capable of resisting typhoon No. 3 forces, the ship Captain, in carrying out the contract to convey the fares to destination, decided to risk completion of the voyage. Fate conspired and loaded the odds against him in the form of dead engines and unsecured cargo lashing.
the ill-fated vessel is 24,000 gross tons. It is always convenient to blame the Coast Guard everytime a maritime accident occurs. The PCG has its hands tied behind its back. It does not inspect the ships for seaworthiness. Marina does. PCG does not issue the safety documents/licenses of the ship’s officers. marina and prc do. Yet, everytime a ship leaves port, people expect the PCG to be omniscient, if not clairvoyant. What is Congress(both houses) doing about the long overdue Coast Guard bill? Nothing! You want the Coast Guard to do a better job? That typhoon doctrine the PCG is enforcing has been revised several times to suit the business interest of the shipping firms. These lobbyists insisted, thru their lawmaker patrons, that all vessels will only be grounded in case of typhoon signal #3. The PCG in this instant case cannot do anything about it as it was only signal #1 when Princess of the stars departed last friday and the typhoon was forecasted to hit bicol and not Western visayas. Congress should stop protecting Sulpicio Lines and bullying the Coast Guard. Let independent safety inspectors audit their ships maintenance and crew capability. Im sure a can of worms will be opened.
24,000 tonnage? Whoa — that’s a big big ship!
I agree with Henry90. Much as I despise the PCG leadership for corruption, it’s fair to say that the fault for negligence does not lie in the PCG. It’s the MARINA that inspects the seaworthiness of vessels.
PCG would be there for rescue operations if at all they were involved.
The Sulpicio Lines executive said “Princess of Stars” is the biggest ship in the Philippines.
Re henry90s “You want the Coast Guard to do a better job? That typhoon doctrine the PCG is enforcing has been revised several times to suit the business interest of the shipping firms.”
I can imagine what those shipping firms gave to the government to get the typhoon doctrine they want.
Thanks Henry for the clarification.
Where in the world can u find a Coast Guard that is expected to do a herculean job but is not adequately supported in terms of logistics and manpower? In our case, there are several agencies involved in maritime safety. PCG, MARINA, PPA, PRC just to name a few. In case of maritime accidents, these agencies pinpoint at each other as being remiss in their respective duties. If this government wants to solve the problem, it must make up its mind to just designate one agency to regulate, inspect and issue safety certificates to all vessels. If its MARINA, so be it. If it’s the PCG, give it to them. We haven’t really learned from the lessons of the past maritime incidents. Same findings and recommendations. No action taken. Look at the US Coast Guard. It is solely responsible for maritime safety, thus it cannot blame other federal agencies in cases of maritime accidents. Nograles call for heads to roll and that good for nothing Congressman Zialcita’s call for the Commandant of the PCG to resign are kneejerk reactions. What have they contributed to the cause of maritime safety? Kawawa naman si Admiral Tamayo. Napagdiskitahan ni pandak! Kailangan lang kasi ng may ma bawl out para kunwari concerned. My ass! Buksan nyo records nang mga investigations na ginawa ng Board of Marine Inquiry. Tingnan nyo kung may nasunod na recommendation. Kahit pa irelieve si Tamayo, la ring mangyayari! Ang papalit sa kanya ay wala ring magagawa kundi manalangin na sana wala ng bagyo na kasing lakas ni Frank na papasok sa Pinas para lang lumubog na barko. Hoy gising Pandak!
Adebrux:
Admiral Tamayo’s record in the PCG is unblemished. A product of the US Coast Guard Academy, he has been at the helm of the PCG for less than a month. I suggest we give him a chance to prove his worth. Naawa lang talaga ako na na boldyak sya ni Pandak na wlang alam sa trabaho ng Coast Guard! By the way Ellen, can u please find out kung may nakasuhan ba sa management ng Sulpicio in its past involvement sa maritime accidents like Dona paz, Dona Marilyn, Princess of the World? If none, then alam na natin na wala ring mangyayari sa gagawing imbestigasyon bout the latest tragedy.
Iloilo Vice Governor Suplico is not related to Sulpicio Line. Not only the names are spelled differently, the Sulpicio Line is owned by Tsinoy which Rolex is not.
You bet Henry.
We have invited Vice Admiral Tamayo to guest in Strictly Politics, hosted by Pia Hontiveros, in ANC tomorrow night. I’m editorial consultant in that show.
Henry90,
OK. But I don’t know if his record has always been “unblemished!”
Just for clarification: When I mentioned that I despised PCG leadership for corruption, I didn’t mean to single out Tamayo whom you pointed out has been on the job for only a month. PCG “leadership” in my view, included all those who have and have had command responsibility on all levels, procurement included (let’s not forget their useless hobycats that the PCG procured from Australia, etc.)
PCG has been beset with corruption since it separated from the Philippine Navy. With the meagre resources it has at its disposal, they should be tough on corruption and should self-regulate but that would be too much to expect I suppose, since DOTC of course has a lot to answer for in this regard, i.e., corruption.
From Philstar:
Parañaque Rep. Eduardo Zialcita called yesterday for the resignation of Philippine Coast Guard chief Vice Admiral Tamayo over the sinking of the Princess of the Stars at the height of typhoon Frank.
Does Zialcita know how the tasks of various agencies involved with the maritime industry are delineated? Easy to lay the blame at the foot of the PCG at this point.
As Henry90 pointed out, seaworthiness of vessels are determined and certified by MARINA.
If the PCG is deemed to be in serious fault somewhere, i.e., inability to come to the rescue illico, then DOTC leadership should also be held responsible. (PCG falls under corrupt Mendoza’s Dept of Transport and Communication).
Ooops, everything was italicised!
Correction: Does Zialcita know how the tasks of various agencies involved with the maritime industry are delineated? Easy to lay the blame at the foot of the PCG at this point.
As Henry90 pointed out, seaworthiness of vessels are determined and certified by MARINA.
If the PCG is deemed to be in serious fault somewhere, i.e., inability to come to the rescue illico, then DOTC leadership should also be held responsible. (PCG falls under corrupt Mendoza’s Dept of Transport and Communication).
Meanwhile, Golez says:
“The Coast Guard should constitute a board of marine inquiry, per standard operating procedure, consisting of independent merchant marine experts,” he said.
A Board of Marine Inquiry is an SOP (well, in most countries) but even if the Coast Guard constitues one, how sure are we that reports on findings will not be doctored by some quarters, as in some officials will not be bribed to revise some potentially damaging portions of the report?
The worst calamity to have hit the Philippines, which the people continue to suffer as of the moment is GMA. Ever since she stole power from the duly-elected President, our nations problems, economic or political never seem to end.
I am hoping that one day that the calamity which is GMA be gone and our country can start anew…
I guess millions of Filipinos share this dream.
Ans,
“Isn’t it extraordinary that most Chinese-Filipino families involved in any major industry in the Philippines are reputed to be staunch supporters of BRUHA aka as Gloria Macapal Arroyo?”
It’s sickening, if you ask me. That’s probably why the government seems to be going easy on the Go’s. As of late, Sulpicio Lines is claiming that it was force majeur that caused their ship to capsize, when earlier reports said that the ship called the main office(?) asking for help because there was engine trouble. What happened to that first story ? I guess Sulpicio Lines will be able to go scott free if they claim Acts of God, just like the 3 other mishaps !
************************************
I like what you said, Andres, “I am hoping that one day that the calamity which is GMA be gone and our country can start anew…”
I, too, can’t wait for that day !
It is not easy to be in shipping business or any business in Pinas. Can you imagine the fuel the company has to come up of running a ship? Most Cruise ships or commercial vessels are manned by Filipinos so they are good seafarers. My relatives were in shipping business for the longest time. They were lucky not to have accidents with this magnitude. I don’t know if this is the sign of times. Look at the Titanic, it hit an Ice berg. No amount of weather forecasting can prevent this kind of accidents. I have the feeling I knew a lot of crew members that went down with that “Morning Star”. Lets just hope and pray that they go to heaven if they are indeed dead.
The ship has sunk, nothing much can be done there.
But look how slow rescue has been responding! If they had cut through the inverted ship’s hull or even just drilled a hole immediately after it capsized, surivivors from inside could breathe air for days and survive not just from the little trapped air but from a continuous supply pumped through tubes. I’ve not seen any of these things done yet. The maritime transport and shipping industry, after all these years still do not have emergency and rescue manuals to this date! They just let all those 800 or so poor souls trapped inside die a slow death.
Unbelievable.
But look how slow rescue has been responding!
**********************
Parang New Orleans. Pareho ang ineptitude ng mga anak ng dating pangulo, na pareho ring mandaraya.
Strong rain and wind should not be the excuse to rescue the helpless victims if only the Coast Guard and Navy are well equipped. If such tragedy happens to countries like the US or even around here in Japan, there would be more survivors. Instead of conducting an all out rescue operation, they are arguing and pointing fingers at one another for the tragedy.
Yuko,
re: used to be babae ang pangalan ng bagyo…
you are right… ‘ Trining’, ‘Saling’, etc. were the local code-names. but not too long ago, exact year can’t remember though, concerned women’s group lobbied for its scrapping; saying its plainly demeaning, and an affront to women.
Valdemar, Henry90,/or anyone who knows;
could you please enlighten me, as am totally ignorant on this; where do these people rely for their info on weather patterns and bulletins:
a.) PCG/ DOTC
b.) shipping companies
c.) Marina
does PAG-ASA, the nation’s official meteorological body, owns a proprietary satellite solely devoted for weather tracking?
zen 2,
Usually, pag-asa issues weather updates every 6 hours or so. However, this agency do not hve the much modern Doppler radars that can more or less give a more accurate track (70%)of a weather disturbance. I normally rely on the weather forecasting of Japan Meteorological Administration to monitor forecast positions of typhoons. This is of course a sad commentary on the ability of PAG-ASA which by the way has been practically begging the executive Department to modernize it. The PCG, while monitoring the forecasts /bulletins of other foreign countries, relies on PAG-ASA’s official bulletin to come up with travel advisories, i.e, restricting movements of vessels during heavy weather. The problem arises if the PAG-ASA comes up with a different forecast position with those of Japan’s for example. Which will the PCG follow?
that’s the killer question ZEN 2.
Just sharing, quotes of the day:
You know your country is dying when you have to make a distinction between what is moral and ethical, and what is legal.” — John De Armond
It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong. Voltaire – [François Marie Arouet] (1694-1778)
Zen2:
Is that so? But what a silly argument indeed since the hurricanes in the Atlantic were used to be called with “male names” to distinguish them from the typhoons in the Pacific. Over in Japan, we call them by number of occurence each year. Nakailan na ba tayo over here?
Tongue:
I heard Richard G telling CNN yesterday that the idiot left to man the government in the absence of the Super Idiot had promised him US help, the Americans were sending a ship with helicopters to help in the rescue operation. Wow! pag di dumating lagot, at kung dumating man, patay na ang kabayo!!!
On the other hand, pakulo lang talaga para pag nakita ni Super Idiot si Dubya, kunyari pupurihin niya ang mga kano pangtaas ng ego ng mga kano for their efforts kuno sa rescue effort nila ngayon, and I bet you, sasabihin ng ungas, “That’s why I am pushing hard for cleaning up Mindanao so that the US can soon re-establish a US base there just to show you how loyal I am to the US of A.”
Prueba daw ang bagyo to prove that the Philippines still need the Americans. Kaya pala doon sa Leyte, nagkandadulas-dulas ang mga kanong ipinadala doon, at wala ring nailigtas. Talaga naman!
In the case of New Orleans hurricane, the President has to ask the Governor of New Orleans before he could come in and assess the damage. There were 400 buses and a few Amtrak train at their disposal help evacuate the people out of the Stadium but the Mayor said no. 80% of the people of New Orleans are in Welfare. When some of the people finally got the money, they spent it on expensive jewelries, some spent it on prostitution. There were a lot of temporary housing provided by the Federal government but they disregarded the offer. Yet the Governor of New Orleans is asking $257 billion for the reconstruction of New Orleans. That is how some of the Democrats acted in the Disaster in New Orleans.
This tragedy is being reported worldwide.
Just imagine if tiyanak pidal was in Pinas when this tragedy of sunken ship occured. She is going to maximize photo op in anyway she can. It is good that tiyanak pidal missed one of the best photo op with worldwide audience.
dandaw, I think you meant Governor of Louisiana and the Mayor of New Orleans.
henry90,
many thanks. you have more than answered my question, in fact provided this blog, a lead, a window, into what seems to be a grand scale incompetence and possibly of corruption of the executive branch and the Congress; by being remiss in its basic duty: providing the people basic protection.
shipping companies, too, must equally share and bear the blame, and the corresponding responsibility of making it up to their paying patrons, and to the bigger community, the public.
it could not be otherwise, as been pointed out by everyone. while we cannot stop the forces of Nature; a sensitive and sane government administrators can, and must, put a stop to the vicious mutual back-scratching detrimental to the ferry-riding patrons between ship owners, executive-level government administrators and members of Congress.
re: “…that’s the killer question, zen2.”
indeed! and that particular question have brought our people, misery, and death.
and infamy and shame for the nation.
thousand lives, possibly tens of it, for the last 20 years were lost into the sea with no signs of relief, that it will soon end.
suggestions:
1. PCG and Pag-Asa must have a frictionless, politics-free, lines of communication; collectively identify those ‘killer questions’ and resolve it among themselves.
2. Pag-Asa perhaps would have a better chance of being heard, and assisted as a consequence, by Japan’s official meteorological body, the JMA, than by its own government, should it opt to directly ask for its assistance.
the JMA have the neatest equipment around, has its own satellites, and could issue weather bulletins by the minute if required.
3. must be basic for inter-island shipping companies—those that solicit paying passengers to board its ferries, be REQUIRED to subscribe to a commercial weather-trackers, i.e. weathernews, etc.
4. its my impression that Pag-Asa personnel are mostly the academic types, and non-political appointee; it would do them good to seek help and popularize their issues with the public, with the end-aim of acquiring the required radars and support to man its daily business.
Tongue,
Re: “If they had cut through the inverted ship’s hull or even just drilled a hole immediately after it capsized, surivivors from inside could breathe air for days and survive not just from the little trapped air but from a continuous supply pumped through tubes.”
Agree! But unless it was done within the first few hours after the vessel capsized, rescuers would be very lucky to find survivors. The cold (even in tropical areas) would finish off victims who were trapped.
Orly posted some intersting comments in my blog, among which he said:
“The torched hole becomes the entry point for search and retrieve, and a sardonic access for looting.”
Yes, most were trapped inside the ship. If they jumped out, they might have the chance. I can just imagine those dying moments…the agony. It’s so sad. It reminds me of the movie “Titanic”.
Sioktong, you are right Governor of Louisiana and Mayor of New Orleans. They are the same piggies democrats. Putot will wait who will be the next President of the U.S. then she will side with him. Her only talent is to fool the Americans. How stupid Ambassador Negroponte, he gave $4million to Putot. Does he not realize that there is a big sentiment among the Filipinos with Americans. The Pinoys might think that we are cozying up with them because we want to invade and capture the Philippines or establish a base in Mindanao.
In another context, aside from the U.S. Navy what country helped in the rescue of the sunken ship? I think we Rambos are still better than the Chinese (China) because we help in any disaster all over the world regardless what color they are. The money that they use is part of our tax dollar.
In any rescue attempt the first step is to get the ship’s blue print. From there you can determine which part could have the most passengers.
Underwater Oxy-acetylene cutters are readily available, we have large shipbuilding companies in Subic, Cebu and Mindanao that have several of them. Gloria’s friends in Aboitiz Shipping have them. The offshore oil rigs in Palawan also have them for maintenance purposes. It’s a simple procedure done with a not so complicated equipment like the cutter and magnetic or suction belts to attach the welder to the side of the ship since a high pressure airjet would blow the welder away.
The ship is a few meters from the shore, judging by the pictures, access is therefore not a problem. Even rubber dinghies can make it there in stormy weather.
The problem is, there were no government officials capable of making things happen when Gloria and her cabinet is not around. And also, it seems there is no one competently trained for such procedures which should have been standard for any country regularly visited by storms, like ours.
Incompetence at its worst!
Gloria should have declared a state of emergency at the height of the storm and directed her military to go full force in assisting the victims and those threatened by disaster.
But of course, she only declares emergency when she is personally threatened.
Dandaw, it was not $4M but $100,000 which is peanut in any language. $100,000 is just one boxing bet for Pidal.
Why did the US send nuclear warship instead of salvage ship? It violates our country nuclear-free zone.
bitchevil, The nuclear warship is in the vicinity that is why. That would be impossible to send a salvage ship from the tate considering the distance. You and I probably agree that they have to act the soonest to rescue this people. Time is of the essence. That Ronald Reagan nuclear ship is a very safe vessel. It use nuclear power to mann that ship. All the nukes are very well guarded in a safe place. I’ve been in that ship, very impressive. For one thing safety is their priority.
Guys, don’t worry about Putot. She is just a spoiled bratt. I bet even if she is 80 years old she will never grow in height. We are watching every move she has in America and she didn’t come out on TV at all.
dandaw,
I take issue with the presence of USS Double R in Philippine waters not because she’s American but because Philippine Charter prohibits the presence of nuclear-armed warships in Philippine waters.
Having said that, you are right — Ronald Reagan is safe. There’s no real worry (except if she starts spewing toxic waste in Manila Bay just like what happened when the American bases were still up and running in Subic.) But how can we reconcile this offered American hand with Philippine Charter? The law is the law and our Constitution is very specific so there lies the dilemma.
The real despicable thing about the entire situation is the irony of it all: foreigners are prepared to lend a helping hand while a 4th of Congress and Pandak are having a god time in the US?
That said, we must not get over excited on why and the wherefores of the presence of the USS Ronald Reagan – I reckon she was already in the vicinity so, to turn around and head for Pinas to extend some help to their distraught brown brothers (while Gloria fiddles abroad) is just a fantastic US diplomatic gambit for Bush, for the US, and for any future US president. I kid thee not! It helps boost US image…
It was not as if USS RR sailed all the way from San Diego and reached the Pinas in 3 days! She’s probably in transit and the Americans diverted her — must admit, very nice of them to do that to show sympathy for her poor friends in Pinas (unlike thick-skinned Gloria who couldn’t give a bloody shit)… Any nation with an aircraft carrier (except China but China’s in a bit of a bind too at the moment) in the vicinity would have done the same. America being in the proximity did the right thing and her presence is a welcome diversion, at least our Navy officials can perform a song and dance act around her and perhaps if they are good, very good, they might even be invited aboard and shown around on board!
(My advice though to Philippine military officials and politicos who will be invited aboard USS Ronald Reagan is to keep their hands behind their back — US navy officials don’t take kindly to lil brown visitors touching and feeling equipment with their dirty hands — or they risk being slapped around!)
Again, let’s put things in the right perspective — USS Ronald Reagan’s presence in Pinas is also a perfect PR coup for Dubya Bush, besides we must not forget the motto by which US aircraft carriers go: “90,000 tons of US diplomacy anywhere, anytime” or “4-and-a-half acres of US sovereign territory when and where it’s needed!”
I reckon USS Ronald Reagan is safe (safer perhaps than most of our commercial and military vessels.)
Hmmnnn….that explains why Pres. Bush gave tiyanak pidal $4M, if I remember it right, so that she cannot say no for the US nuclear carrier to go in that area which Bush must know is against our charter and also to map the undersea territory over there.
That’s what came out of my mind about the $4M. I am just thinking out loud but I have no proof.
Kulit ni sioktong, sabi ni bitchevil $100,000 lang daw. Ganoon din ang pagkakaalam ko.
$100,000 is about P4M (pesos). Sioktong doesn’t know how to use the “P” key.
With regards to the American’s giving us a hand by sending the nuclear powered USS RR, I really wouldn’t mind and would even thank them profusely. All the help we can get I would really appreciate it. One reason is that, we really can’t depend on our own government in a crisis such as big as this. Tulong po yon at hindi dapat tanggihan. If they help because there are ulterior motives, like para magka pogi points si Bush, I still wouldn’t mind and would still accept it (the help). But thats just me.
You won’t mind but we do, Mike. What would a nuclear ship do to retrieve the bodies? Our Constitution does not allow nuclear ship to enter our territory the Philippines being in nuclear free zone. GMA cannot enter into an agreement with the US or any other government if it violates our law. But then, how many times did she already violate our laws?
Didn’t you see those US Navy frogmen diving to rescue for survivors? Lets say that there were 800 hundred dead. That is almost equal to what the Dorobo did to some journalists or judicial killings. The law is the law and the Constitution of the Philippines says that no nuclear carrying vessel should be around Philippine waters but how many times the politicians and Dorobo disregarded the Constitution. I am at least thankful that there is such a ship as RR around there to help in the rescue. To some blogers who say that President Bush is like the Dorobo is a very vendictive and mean person. You don’t know what you are talking about but you sound like a Democrat. Shallow and does not know right from wrong.
ADBX – Why do you take issue about “Brown Brothers”. Unless one feels inferior. If one has talent and is decent theres no reason why we would be inferior or be called “Brown Brothers” Look at the Cabinet members of Bush, they are mostly colored. It is only the Democrats that inject “race” in every issue.
If not for US Navy’s sophisticated equipment and resources, our Filipino divers are better. They have already dived and retrieved lots of bodies before these US Navy personnel joined the rescue. Of course we appreciate their help. But whether they’re sincere or not, that’s another thing. That US nuclear aircraft was initially leaving South China sea to avoid the typhoon “Frank” about to hit Hongkong and Southern China. Then, they were ordered to proceed to the Philippines when “Frank” left the country. What a convenient place to stop over…hitting two birds with one stone. RP’s the closest and best place to pass while the typhoon is in other areas. At the same time, they help the the Philippine Navy. I can assure you that the dirty job is left to the Filipinos and the US Navy mainly provides logistics. The life of a US personnel is much more valuable…
Tongue and bitchevil,
It’s not Bush who directly mentioned about the $4M. It’s one of his cabinet or secretaries. I could not find the link, I wish I saved it.
Maaring ding may hang over lang ako noon ng nabasa ko yon kaya siguro nagkamali ako ng pag kaintindi….heeheh
All the newspapers mentioned $100,000 not $4M. You might have heard it wrong, my friend. $100,000 is equivalent to a little over P4M pesos.
Like I said, its just my opinion. Anyway, sabi ni Golez that the carrier is outside Philippine territory daw. Here is the link.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storyPage.aspx?storyId=123221
Most coverage of the media mostly the goverment side were blaming the Sulpicio Lines the tragedy as negligence, the company is only simple as shipping company, fulfilled all the requirements to the authority for the company operations, paid its obligations to the government including the 12% VAT for the fuel for the operation. What was happened to the Ill-fated M/V Princess of the stars was clearly due to national or international calamity that struck not only Philippines but some Asians countries. The sails was been cleared by the Philippines authorities and unfortunately end with tragedy. Now technically the authorities were supposed to take care the safety of the public from the beginning by means of routine inspections of company for comlying the basic operation of the carrier, then should prevent the sails of public transports if there are disturbances like typhoon. Anyhow nobody wants the tragedy but it was. My appeal to the relatives is patient! Anyway the company will shoulder its obligations to the victims and they were committed on it. We should have patient in this earth especially if you are under the Philippines territory which everything slow. We should all blame the Philippines government for inadequate action to dealt with calamity victims. It should be the national disaster commission responsibilities for the retrieval of the remaining victims. Condolences to the relatives of the victims