Inauguration of Noynoy Aquino--inauguration of a New Philippines

At exactly 11:52 today, June 30, 2010, the sixteenth president of the Republic of the Philippines is sworn in. Benigno Simeon Aquino III, son of former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino and former president Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, was sworn in by Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales, assisted by a Jesuit priest, Fr. Catalino Arevalo, a close family friend of the Aquinos. Arevalo held the bible as Aquino swears himself in before a throng of half a million Filipinos.



The inauguration started early. Despite the occasional drizzle and the threats of rain, the mood was festive and the event started with nary a hitch. A full three hours before the ceremonies at noon, people from all walks of life started arriving in droves. These people from as far as Tarlac left their homes purposely to witness a very historic event.


Aquino left his Times street residence in Quezon City and arrived at the Malacanang palace thirty or so minutes early than the 10:30am schedule. He was met by former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Vice president Noli de Castro, Executive secretary Leandro Mendoza, Finance secretary Margarito Teves and Justice secretary Alberto Agra. After a few pleasantries and photo shots together, the two then proceeded to the presidential car, an executive limo with plate number 1. The head of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) opened the car door for Arroyo, while Aquino went through the right side of the door.


As they exit the palace grounds, a whole line of people greeted the presidential car as it whizzes by. It took only 5 minutes from the palace to the Quirino grandstand grounds, not enough time perhaps for the two leaders to speak with each other. Days before the inauguration, there were malicious talk that Mrs. Arroyo would plead her case before Aquino, who, a day earlier, already established a truth commission to try members of Mrs. Arroyo’s cabinet for their alleged crimes against the People.


When the car arrived, President-elect Noynoy Aquino exited at the left side of the car while his predecessor, Mrs. Arroyo, exited at the right. They then proceeded to a mini-stage, with Mrs. Arroyo at the center, flanked to her left by Aquino and the head of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) at her right. The ceremonial troops then began the ceremonies which kicked off the formal inauguration ceremonies.


As Arroyo reviews the troops, the large crowd started booing her. The crowd, mostly members of the volunteer groups who helped Aquino during the May 10 elections, began heckling the outgoing president. When Arroyo ended her review, she saluted the PSG commander and then went and rode her black SUV, with her PSG commander riding in front of the vehicle. They then left the parade grounds amidst boos and some cheers from the crowd.


Aquino then went up the stairs and seated himself in front of the stage. Vice president Jejomar Binay then arrived. Binay rode an electric jeepney from Manila hotel. He joined Aquino on the stage.


Flanking Aquino to his right is former president Fidel Ramos, while to his left, Vice President Jejomar Binay. Two former heads of state graced the event, Ramos and President Joseph Estrada. Vice president Noli de Castro joined them, possibly the representative of the outgoing administration. At his left is Chief Justice Renato Corona, whose midnight appointment was opposed by Aquino. At de Castro’s right side, meanwhile, is Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales, sister of Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, who was Aquino’s choice for the Chief Justice post.


Throughout the ceremonies, former presidents Ramos and Estrada did not see eye to eye, neither did they speak to each other. Estrada talked with Associate Justice Morales, never to Ramos.


Meanwhile, Vice president Binay talked animatedly with Aquino, whom he met several days prior to the inauguration. It was evident that there was no tension between the two. It was unclear what they talked about. Elenita Binay, the vice president’s legal wife, is seated beside her husband.


At their back, the Aquino sisters were seated. Several close family relatives, diplomats and senators were also seated, including Senate president Juan Ponce-Enrile, Senators Teofisto Guingona III, Tito Sotto III and Gregorio Honasan. In that row, former vice president Teofisto Guingona Jr. was also seated. While his erstwhile “girlfriend” Valenzuela councilor Shalani Soledad, is seated at the third row, flanked by a presidential nephew. Soledad was wearing a Mango-colored barong gown. She looks like candy, but no one wanted to try and eat her. Even the Aquino sisters did not talk with her. (Fact is, even when the Aquino family arrived at Malacanang, there was no sign of Shalani. Good decision. She's not a legal wife.) 


Kris Aquino-Yap, the controversial sister of the President, was also seated along with her other sisters. Her husband, basketball star James Yap, was not there. She was with her three year old son, James and his teenager kid, Josh, her son with former action stars Philip Salvador.


Over at far end top of the stage were other members of the Aquino family, friends and political allies. Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, Aquino’s uncle and supporter during the last elections, was seated far from the front row seats, together with his wife, Margarita “Tingting’ Cojuangco. ABS-CBN executives led by Charo Santos-Concio were also seated at the far end corner of the grandstand. Local government officials led by Liberal party supporter and Caloocan mayor Echiverri were also there. Meanwhile, Cojuangco right hand man, and former coup plotter and self-proclaimed COPA head, Pastor Boy Saycon was seen seated at the grandstand grounds, along with several other Aquino and Liberal party supporters.


The ceremonies started with Filipina international singer Charice Pempengco singing the national anthem. The rendition was beautiful. Pempengco stuck to the official National Historical Institute (NHI) recommended tune, which was actually martial, true to the original beat and composition of Felipe.


After the singing of the national anthem, three religious leaders were called to lead the national prayer, one Catholic priest, another an Imam from Manila and a Protestant priest. When they finished the prayer, a succession of nationalistic songs was rendered.


Famous compositor Ryan Cayabyab led the Madrigal singers in conducting “Bayan Ko”, a popular Filipino protest song, followed by his own composition. Then, the Apo Hiking Society sang their tribute song. Afterwards, Ogie Alcasid went to the stage with his girlfriend, Regine Velasquez and they both sang Ogie’s campaign song for Aquino. Christian Bautista, a talent of ABS-CBN channel two, sang his popular song “You raised me up” acapella. After this, an entire cast of popular singers led by Gary Valenciano, Alcasid, Noel Cabangon, Bautista, Velazquez, etc. sang the inaugural song, “ Bagong Pilipinas” before an amused Aquino.


Yet, it was still a full 45 minutes before the noon swearing in. Noel Cabangon, a former activist turned folk singer, sang at least three of his songs, one of which made the crowds alive. After the Philippine Philharmonic orchestra finished their rendition of popular Filipino folk songs, the swearing in then proceeded.

Senate president Juan Ponce-enrile read the joint resolution of the 14th Congress declaring Noynoy and Binay as the duly elected president and vice president of the Republic of the Philippines, respectively. Speaker Prospero Nograles Jr. was not present.

Vice president Binay was first called. He went before the crowd with his wife, Elenita. Elenita was the one who held the bible. Binay was sworn in by Carpio-Morales, witnessed by his entire family including his sons-in-law.


The Speech


After his swearing in, new Philippine president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, then went to the podium and gave his inaugural speech.


The speech was at least 21 minutes long and 11 pages. It was a combination of a State of the Nation address and a campaign speech.


Noynoy began his speech with a recollection of the events which catapulted him to the presidency. He started with acknowledging the sacrifices to the nation of his forebears. He talked about how his parents sacrificed their lives for the people, and of how his parents raised him to be a responsible citizen.


He then told the people of how, like them, he suffered under the tyranny of those who were given the people’s trust yet acted like rulers of the people. Noynoy even told them of how he suffered during traffic jams, of meeting people who acted like they were petty kings and queens and used their positions to gain leverage over other people.


What is most beautiful about the speech is the acknowledgment of the present condition of the people—that most Filipinos suffered from inept, even unjust governance. It is time, therefore, for the government to regain the trust and confidence of the people. How will he do it? Noynoy says he will represent the People, and will do his best to cleanse the bureaucracy of graft and corruption. He will be the foremost example of a true and honest Filipino citizen.


Noynoy talked about his desire to realize his campaign slogan of there is no poor people if there is no corruption. For the new president, this is not an empty campaign slogan but a realizable and doable platform for governance.


He then talked about how to prioritize poverty reduction by leveling the playing field in the investment sector, effecting efficient tax collection and ridding corruption in the customs department. Noynoy vowed to speed up modernization in the countrysides by eliminating middle men in the agricultural sector. He asked incoming Agriculture secretary Alcala to form trading centers in the provinces so that farmers will now be able to directly transact with consumers. This, he hopes, would lower the prices of goods. He also vowed to create agri infrastructures to enable farmers to increase their yields and market access.


He will continue infrastructure development, yet, vowed to prosecute contractors who build defective and low quality roads and infrastructure.


Aquino also vowed to improve the education system, by emphasizing on skills-based courses for Filipinos who cannot afford to study a college course. He will revive the jobs generation program of his mother so that Filipinos will be able to get jobs here, instead of getting those jobs abroad. He also intimated his desire to modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police and restore their dignity as institutions.


For those who want to reconcile their political differences with him, Aquino vowed to forgive them. Fact is, he says, he already forgotten their sins. Yet, he cannot assure that these people, especially those who tyrannized the citizenry for so long would enjoy the same “privilege”.


Noynoy says that for reconciliation to really happen, justice should first be rendered. He informed the public that he already formed a truth commission headed by former Chief Justice Hilario Davide. Davide’s task is to try erring government officials who served under the Arroyo administration accused of committing numerous crimes against the people. He also directed incoming Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to start the filing of charges against corrupt government officials.


He vowed that his administration will be transparent and will hold itself up accountable before the people. He will also be extremely fair with the enemies of the state by entering into dialogues and peace negotiations with them. Aquino specifically talked about the Bangsamoro problem which he vows to solve by consultation with different stakeholders. As for the Communist insurgency, Aquino vows to render social justice to eliminate the root causes of revolt.


What are note-worthy about his speech are his thoughts on transforming government, from an inept and tyrannical one to a participative government, one that hears and opens itself up for criticisms and observations. Aquino vows to affect a feedback mechanism, a communication system , whereby government will be able to adjust its policies based on the people’s perceptions and views. This is the first time that government will try to effect a participative or a responsive system, a system which relies on a mass-based feedback mechanism.


However, Aquino failed to say anything about land reform, the reproductive health policy nor his gender program. This, says Prof. Claudio of the UP Women’s Center, is most worrisome because it reflects how the incoming administration treats these issues as “non-issues”.


The core message of the speech though is simple---for change to occur, the people must take part in the process for nation-building. For at least five times, Noynoy Aquino reiterated his desire for the people to take part in this extremely difficult process of change. This shows you the character of the incoming administration—it is not just a responsive but a participative one.


As a show of support, members of civil society led by St. Scholastica head Sister Mary Grace Mananzan led other sectoral leaders in their public avowals of support for Aquino. It was very symbolic.


After this, Aquino was then asked to descend the stage and meet the ceremonial troops for a review. Amidst large shouts of Noynoy, the new President reviewed the troops. He then saluted the troop commander, signaling the end of the ceremonies. Noynoy then went to the presidential car, but not before looking at his watch. His new PSG commander went with him and seated at the front row of the car. The car, along with at least six (6) PSG vehicles proceeded to the palace.


Along the way, huge throngs of poor folk went on and greeted him. When the entourage reached the palace gates, they were greeted by hundreds of poor people.


The New president then disembarked from the presidential limo and met his PSG team. He then proceeded to the palace rest house. Shortly after about 15 minutes, Aquino then re-emerged. He posed for a ceremonial photo shoot with his family, then went out of the rest house to meet the PSG troops. A ceremonial review was held. Afterwards, Aquino then proceeded to the main Palace where he is expected to conduct his first cabinet meeting.


From the time he left his house to the time he entered the room to meet his cabinet at Malacanang—it’s all over for three hours, at least. The entire inauguration was professionally handled. It was swift, but sweet.


At last, a new age has begun.

A New Day is upon us--Let us create a New Country!

A new day is upon us. Those who caused nine and a half years of misery will leave the palace by today, and will be replaced by a solid team with an idealist for a leader. Many hail this as a triumph of democracy, yet, it is too early to even say that change is upon us. Best that we look forward to a good day tomorrow.

Today, we celebrate the inauguration of a new Head of State, someone who will manage our affairs for the next six years, and someone who will definitely set the direction of our country for the next decade or so. Undeniably, he faces a most critical juncture in our history, and the challenges are truly daunting, to say the least. No amount of "image building" or "crisis prevention" will ever be effective once he strays from the path of change. The People, all 15 million and rising, have reposed their trust in him and expects him to fulfill his campaign promises. The level of trust and expectations are so high, one false move and deeper still is the abyss waiting for him and those who will break their promises with the people.

Half a million Filipinos will also make a vow to ever be supportive of the new government. This vow includes sharing the responsibilities of nation-building. Nation-building is not something to trifle with. This is serious business, and entails a lot of thinking, blood and sweat. Nation-building is not solely calling for unity. Nation-building is more of calling for those who have solid and doable visions for the country to share their talents with the new administration.

I watched an interview with Carlos Celdran over at the Explainer by my good friend, Manolo Quezon III, and Celdran talked about the "cosmetic overhauling" of metropolitan Manila, similar with what happened in Paris shortly after the war. Celdran says that Manila, especially Quezon City, has an enormous tourism potential and what we only need is one person or an agency of government who will be given one task of envisioning this reconstruction and put together a very solid plan. That plan should probably be patterned after "cantons"

I agree---Metropolitan Manila should actually be reconstructed or "remodelled" to impress visitors of this country. The greyish urban landscape should be reworked and given life, colors, that is. The colors of modernism should ever be present in our lives. These colors and hues should be expressed ever so strongly in Manila.

Look around, and you'll find that there is nothing to rejoice about in Manila. A tourist who is visiting will find nothing extraordinary here. He would have to leave Manila and go to Palawan or to any other city.

Manila should be transformed into Asia's new cosmopolitan city, not just a centerpot of trade and industry, but also of tourism and hospitality. There should be at least one place where malls are located and one long stretch of road filled with everything pleasurable about this country.

We should have more art galleries, more entertainment centers, more cultural landmarks and more places to go to to enjoy life.

Let's drive off bad luck and that ever present feeling of dread and drudgery of life, by infusing colors into our landscapes and throwing away these greyish and rotting images of a life.

Let us revive the wonderful glory of Manila in the 1930's. Those who lived during those times see a wonderful cornucopia of art, culture, prestige and greatness, all in one space. That space has all been lost and we all just see it in those old pictures.

Let us work together, the private and public sectors, to revive Manila. Let us create centers of life in each and every city and town in this wonderful country and show the world our greatness.

Let us abandon those thoughts of death and destruction from our minds, and focus on the good and great things. Greatness is upon us and we must seize it by the horns and make sure that we use this to create and mold a new country for us and for our children.

Old and New Faces in Aquino administration

Government agencies which enjoyed minimal public approbation and traditionally perceived as corrupt, would now be under the administration of former or previous Cabinet members. I really don't know if this would help pursue what Noynoy promised during the campaign period--that he would rid government of graft and corruption. Consider...

Ramos man Guillermo Parayno, former revenue commissioner who served during Arroyo's time, is being recycled to head the Customs department. Everyone knows how dirty this agency is, and I am very sad that this agency will now be headed by a "player", who comes from BIR, another agency with a very low tolerance to graft and corrupt practices.

Kim Henares, a Parayno bosom buddy, is expected to head the Bureau of Internal Revenue. So, there will be two powerful names in the Aquino administration--Parayno-Henares. How then would we expect these two secretaries to do balance or systems check to each other when they are buddies?

Secretary Ping de Jesus, a former Erap Cabinet member, is being tapped to head the Department of Transportation and Communication.

Cesar Purisima, who also resigned during Arroyo's time, will head the Finance department, the post he left when he joined the Hyatt 10. Expect the same finance policies under Arroyo to be implemented in Aquino's administration.

Former water executive Rogelio Singson will head the Department of Public Works and Highways. How in the hell was Singson appointed or even considered, knowing that he came from a utility company controlled by the Ayalas? (ERRATUM:1. In my previous entry, I said Maynilad is owned by the Lopezes. Wrong. Maynilad is now AYALA-owned. Sorry for the mixup.).

New names were also named by Aquino:

Instead of Dr. Alip, a veteran trapo from Quezon province by the name of Cong. Alcala was named Department of Agriculture secretary.

Leila de Lima, the tough cookie who once headed the Human Rights Commission, is now head of the Justice department. De Lima is the only appointee deserving of the post.

While Bertie Lim of the Makati Business Club (MBC) will head the tourism portfolio. Bertie Lim is the brother of the Probe team head.

It is now being bruited about that Noynoy will personally head the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), a probable compromise with Vice President Jejomar Binay.

A New Day will dawn

On July 5, a very significant event will happen to each and every one of us. In this day, the planet Uranus will have its retrogade. It will affect all the movements of the planets. It will also usher in a new way of thinking, newer perspectives and new relationships. Some say, it will be totally revolutionary.

Two days from now, expect to witness another revolutionary event--with the inauguration of president-elect Senator Benigno Aquino III. As the 16th president of the Philippines, many expect Aquino to perform far better than his predecessor, Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Two things why this event is revolutionary: first, Aquino's "lean and mean" team of Cabinet members is composed of young and old faces. His Executive secretary, Atty. Ochoa, is a young and highly efficient man. He represents the incoming successor generation, composed of people in their early forties and fifties. Ochoa is expected to perform better than his predecessors, and I will say it forthrightly, he deserves to be called a better version of Eduardo Ermita, who served for three administrations.

Ermita, to the minds of many, represent stability and continuity of whatever is good in this republic. Ochoa, to my mind, deserves to give us a service better than what Ermita did in three generations.

Second, people expect relevant changes in their lives. People expect prices of basic commodities lower or at least reflecting their true values. People expect at least a lowered electricity bill in the coming month of July and probably, even lower water rates. Of course, who would not want lower gasoline and diesel prices?

For this to happen, Aquino should marshall his energy secretary to hammer out a respectable compromise with these giant oil companies. Or, better, ask Congress to totally scarp the Oil deregulation law and replace it with a better version. Order his trade secretary to ask unscrupulous companies under pain of punishment, to give the correct prices of their goods and not resort to cartelism or other harmful trade practices. Order the security forces to go after smugglers, slap charges against them, and put them behind bars. Or, even better, revive the death penalty and make examples of these economic saboteurs.

The minimum that the people expect Aquino to do is simply give them a chance to live respectably and with dignity. And what do I mean by this?

If there is a clamour to improve the business environment, more than this, improve the quality of life of the people. What many of our people demand of government is simply give them the chance to eat at least three times a day, make their salaries enough for their kids to study, have some money for transportation and at least a few pesos in their savings account. Filipinos are easy to please. Just make them enjoy the finer things in life and all is well.

Revolutionary this will be if Aquino sticks to his campaign promises---eradicate graft to improve the economic life of the people. The people is sick and tired of promises of change especially coming from politicos. They want concrete solutions to their problems. They expect government to do its part and make life easier for everyone.

Now, if the incoming administration will just be hoopla or just act like its doing something good or what people say "paporma lang" or " gaya-gaya kay Obama", then, nothing will happen. Even if , say the entire people support Aquino and do the "12 Little Things Every Filipino Can do to help our Country" (the "rule book" written by Atty. Alex Lacson), but government is unresponsive and adamant against change, then, nothing really will happen. This will justify the earlier models for change advocated by genuine revolutionaries.

This successor generation, as represented by Aquino, Ochoa and Escudero should do its best to prove that they are not the same old dogs with new collars. They are scions of traditional political families. They should do the opposite of what their fathers did. Or, improve what their ancestors did.

I am giving this administration the benefit of the doubt, and people should do the same. Its too early to comment against this administration.

Justice, according to Alberto AGRA (Now known as Agra's Alibi)

OUTGOING JUSTICE SECRETARY ALBERTO AGRA (thank God he's on his ignominious way out) blames Atty. Harry Roque for the death of Swaib Upham, the man whom many called "Jesse". Agra said Roque did not formally "turn-over" Upham to the DOJ, hence, he was not placed under the Government Witness Protection Program (WPP), that's why he was killed. Agra also said (and he said this before Ted Failon and Pinky Webb over at DZMM) that Upham is NOT a state witness because he, himself is an accused and they are "choosy" over whom to get as state witnesses against the Ampatuan massacre case. Agra said Upham might "disrupt" the government case and what kind of "disruption" is Agra referring to? Agra surmised that Upham might be a "planted one".

So, that, my friends, is the logic of Agra. Or, to many, Agra's alibi.

Agra is mimicking Pontius Pilate, washing his hands over the bloody murder of Jesse. He felt compelled to go on a national media tour to tell the whole world that he has nothing to do with the brutal assasination. Jesse is not under our custody, hence, we don't owe anybody an apology. Plain and simple logic.

Probably when Agra was taking his freshman law courses over at the Ateneo, he forgot to take his Legal ethics course. Or, he simply skipped that over knowing that the First Gentleman's classmate is the one lecturing the course.

Or, he probably failed to read the mandate of his department and the very words used to describe the department which he heads---JUSTICE.

For Agra, it is not the responsibility of the Justice department to investigate, let alone, asked for othe material witnesses in this controversial case against the Ampatuans. For Agra, it is unusual for his department to pursue other leads that may improve their chances of prosecution. The police investigation report is probably enough for Agra to prosecute his friends. Or, those spread of photos showing scenes too gruesome even for late night entertainment.

It is AGRA's opinion that the ones they have are enough to take the Ampatuans to the guillotine, even that of History. And another Jesse will just "spoil the broth", so to speak.

When I was at the Ateneo studying law, my ethics and even my criminal law professors always emphasize the duty of a lawyer to know the truth. And that the truth has many facets. Lawyers are like private investigators or puzzle solvers--they need to have even the slightest curiosity of what really happened. They should not be satisfied with just a cursory knowledge of a case--they should at least have the overall picture to determine a judicious rendering of a particular case.

Three months after Jesse went on air, exposing what he knew about the massacre and the Department of "Justice" did not even give him the courtesy of a call. Nor, did they ever tell the would-be state witness that government has adequate resources to protect him from the Ampatuan's swift arm of injustice.

Fact is---the Ampatuans and their sympathizers are even faster than government. It took them just three months before they finally catch up with Jesse and took his life. With his death comes the dissolution of an aspect of the truth. We may never know what really happened in that November 23 massacre.

And even if Jesse was one of those who killed those hapless victims, and probably disqualified him from being a state witness, his life is still material to the state, even for research purposes. Is the state not interested in pricking the mind of a hired killer? Even for that alone, the DOJ should have placed him under the government's custody.

The death of Jesse will be in Agra's memory for years to come. Whatever Agra thinks, this assassination is on his conscience. No amount of crocodile tears shed in public will erase his blood on Agra's hands. Agra will have to live knowing that he was party to a gruesome crime when he failed to protect Jesse. So much for an alibi.

Meralco--the new definition of Greed

INQUIRER WRITES IN ITS OPINION PAGE TODAY:

WHAT CAN ONE SAY WHEN A REGULATED public utility, after earning a huge profit, comes around a few days later asking for an increase in its rates? This was precisely what Meralco did on June 18, 2009 when it went to the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to seek approval for its “annual revenue requirement and performance incentive scheme” which would have the effect of raising its distribution, supply and metering charges at least once every year from 2012 up to 2015. Three weeks earlier, it had proudly announced it earned P2 billion in profits during the first quarter of this year, or 135 percent more than its profits for the same period last year. Very few firms in the Philippines can boast of such earnings in three months, or even in a year. And it smacks of greed that the petition comes on the heels of two successive increases (granted in May 2009 and May 2010) as well as another increase next year.

ANSWERS:

1. UNBRIDLED GREED. I don't care if Manny V. Pangilinan now heads this public utility nor that the Lopezes retained their chairmanship. The fact simply is---PURE GREED. We now have the highest electricity rates in Asia. I know that MVP wants to always be Number One. But, please, don't make us the No. 1 in terms of the highest electricity rates in the world. That's sickening.

2. KAKAPALAN NG MUKHA. I really don't care if Manny V. Pangilinan and his PLDT cut my Internet services after this but I can't simply allow such things to happen. You already got 2 billion pesos in profit, what else do you want to do? Double it at the expense of the public? That's plain and simple, callousness.

3. SOUL-LESS CAPITALISM AT ITS BEST. I simply don't care that Manny V. Pangilinan and his bosses over at Kuala Lumpur wants my head delivered on a silver plate but this is pure and simple wagging tongue capitalism. The salivation is simply too much to bear. Meralco is salivating for the few pesos we earn every month. What do you call that but the acts of a fiendish capitalist.

And I simply don't care if Manny V. Pangilinan led this "Ako Mismo" campaign nor supported President Benigno Aquino III or whoever he supported during the last elections. The fact simply is, MVP, for me, means Malaysian Valet is a Pilipino. Too much kowtowing with his Malaysian principals, too little care for the Filipino. But, as they say, its all business, nothing personal.

Well, if that's the case, then, let's militate and push these greedy people out of our country fast. It can be done. It will definitely be bloody but hell! Better to have them out here than them frying us with our own body fat....for the next six years!

And I simply don't care if Noynoy Aquino nor the incoming administration have a former Lopez or a former Ayala executive at the helm of the energy and public works department. A just cause simply is worth sacrificing one's life.

Aguinaldo as a Spanish spy?

My other site, PinoyObserver is back! Check it out at http://pinoyobserver.wordpress.com. I am still finding another webhost since my last one, is damn inefficient. Publish your comments on my take on the Kristeta-James Yap split. Very interesting and contains some info you don't get from newspapers.

I am down to my last three chapters of the book I am intending to publish. This is a history book, written in an "easy reading" style. While doing this, it benefitted me, immensely. It was not only a refresher for me, it also provided me with newer insights on Philippine history.

Example is the possibility that Aguinaldo is once a spy for the Spanish government. The evidence is just astounding. What is really good news at this point, especially for historiographers is the overwhelming and sheer volume of historical documents now available online for those who want to know the truth about the revolutionary movement.

Likewise, I provided a newer definition of the term "Filipino Nation". What "Filipino Nation" means to me now is something revolutionary--for it includes, Chinese, Japanese, Indian and Arab as part of the Filipino Nation. Filipinos are not a conglomeration of different (and sometimes differing) regional ethno-linguistic groups, no. We are essentially a Mestizo nation. Very few of us belonged to indigenous tribes. Mestizo, for me, is not the derogatory term used by us to describe elites, oh no. That is historically, wrong.

Ilustrado is, I think, the most derogatory term that someone will ever use to describe a scheming leech of a politico, like what we have right now.

Now for those who will probably question my aptitude for this, consider that I am first and foremost a historiographer. I once lectured history (and mass comm) in some of the country's top universities and also took masteral in this subject. I am also motivated to correct the erroneous entries in several elementary, highschool and even college history textbooks. I specialized also in research. And I think the new administration must also come up with an OFFICIAL HISTORY SOURCE BOOK that every author should refer themselves from each and every time they write a textbook.

What's more (an add-on if you will), you will gain some very valuable insider info on the workings of the present and incoming administrations. More than recorders and record holders, historiographers are likewise investigative journalists. They piece together several events, exposed their linkages and come up with a rational and truthful narration of what and why several of these events happened in the first place.

Wait for the official launching of the book. Hope to see you all there.

Asian School of Hospitality Arts--training Filipinos to be globally competitive in the hospitality industry

Up to the very end, Mrs. Arroyo's army of apologists, writers (especially speechwriters) and "media experts" failed in their jobs of highlighting what her administration mismanaged, err, accomplished during these past nine years. They said, infrastructure, call center, etc. If I was in their shoes, I would have said tourism.

Really, Tourism secretary Ace Durano is, I think, the most successful Cabinet secretary of Arroyo. He did his job. He left a potential 64 billion peso investment and created the possibility of 3 million Filipinos having jobs in the tourism and hotel industry. This, I think, is the most concrete accomplishment, that despite the socio-political and geophysical disasters that struck the country, investors from the tourism industry still considered the Philippines as one of the great places to invest their tourism money in.

Three million jobs is nothing to sneeze at. Sixty Four billion pesos is a lot of dough. What is really very good at this---this money will go directly to the economy. Small and medium size enterprises will surely benefit from this directly.

I researched and found out that there is an excellent school for Filipinos who want to be part of this hospitality and tourism industry. The school is called Asian School of Hospitality Arts or ASHA.

ASHA is one of the best, if not the best school that offers a course in HRM or Hotel and Restaurant Management (HRM). I talked with their numerous graduates, who are now working in some of the posh and 5-star hotels in Asia (I just left for Singapore, and went to Malaysia also) and curiously, these top Filipinos all graduated from the same school--ASHA.

I asked these Filipino managers what made them very successful and they chorused---ASIAN SCHOOL OF HOSPITALITY ARTS. What is the advantage of studying there? They answered that it provides their students excellent facilities and they are being taught by the best industry practitioners. They have accessed to some of the country's best kitchens and bars. It's somewhat like a hands-on approach to learning, most of their time are spent actually doing their jobs rather than just learning things inside a classroom.

What's more, they said that their curriculum is WORLD-CLASS. They know how to operate the best and the most modern equipment simply because the school provides them with it. Its really world-class training with an asian touch.

If there is one bright spot that I see now in our country, it is the potential of this Nation as a tourist destination. And it would be very nice to hear that Filipinos are working in most of the world's best hotels, trained by the best ASIAN school in the industry--ASHA, Asian School of Hospitality Arts.

What a Joke--Arroyo budget deficit at 340 BILLION PESOS

What a joke---Gary Olivar and Ric Saludo, deputy spokesperson of Mrs. Arroyo, advising Noynoy Aquino spokesperson Atty. Ed Lacierda on what to do with the media. For several years, these two stooges have been practically ineffective in their jobs and now they are counseling Lacierda? What jokers, really.

What a joke---Arroyo bragging about her "achievements" over the past nine years--good roads, bridges, etc. At what costs, you might ask? Well, she left a staggering 340 billion peso deficit---the highest in Philippine history!

And not only that---Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo spent 2.8 billion pesos on foreign trips. And Malacanang is so brazen even claiming that it actually brought US$ 6 billion worth of foreign investments. Come on! If this is true, then, we would not have a gargantuan deficit in the first place.

Look around Madame Gloria and no where do you or anyone see anything worth an additional SIX BILLION DOLLARS in the urban and rural landscapes.

Look around you Madame Gloria and all you'll see is misery caused by your mismanagement. Ah, you can't really see, can you? Your eyes have been "Belo"-ized, I see.

Arroyo and her men are perennial liars. They are so good at it, they already believed whatever shit they dish out as evident truth. I would not be surprised if they even claim that the Philippines is already number 1 in Asia.

What a joke---when "Jesse" or Suwaib Upham in real life, was still alive, he hid and felt safe among the MILF rebels. Jesse, by the way, testified against the Ampatuans. He was one of the militiamen involved in the brutal massacre last November 23, 2010.

Imagine, a government witness hiding in a rebel camp? THis is a direct slap in the face of government. It goes to show that the AFP, PNP and the DOJ are so untrustworthy that a vital witness actually chose to hide among the secessionists instead of seeking refuge from an ineffectual government. What a joke!

By the way, ONE TIP FROM ANTI-TERROR OBSERVERS IN THE PHILIPPINES---THE BIGGEST TERRORIST LIVING IN THE PHILIPPINES IS THE AMPATUANS. THEY TRANSACT EVEN GUNS WITH KNOWN TERRORISTS IN THE AREA AND EVEN GIVE REFUGE TO MOST OF THEM.

Ampatuan assassins killed vital witness: Aquino should unleash the dogs of war against warlords

"Jesse", not the outlaw "Jesse James", is dead. He was felled by an assassin's bullet, three months after he surfaced before the media and admitted his participation in the gruesome November 23, 2009 massacre which killed 67 people. Jesse, the former outlaw of the Ampatuans, took part in killing those people in Datu Sharif Aguak. For that, he hid himself in the hinterlands of Maguindanao. Yet, something pricked in his heart. He wanted to tell the truth. From his hiding place, God must have ordered him to go down the mountains and revealed what really happened.

And for that, he was gunned down.

Before his assassination, Jesse had the temerity of revealing who ordered and will probably order his execution---his former boss, Datu Aguak mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. Despite being incarcerated at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) jail, Ampatuan Jr. was reportedly allowed by his captors to call his henchmen on the lam and ordered the execution of several witnesses. That included Jesse's name.

His "prediction" came true. Shortly after three months, Jesse's name again surfaced in the newspapers, this time, as one of many who are now listed in our country's crime statistics. Before Jesse, several people in Maguindanao were also brutally executed by a family whose words are law.

Jesse's death, according to government prosecutors, will surely affect the trial for the prosecution of the Andal Ampatuan family. It will send a chilling effect among relatives of the victims and possibly, even those who wanted to testify against the Ampatuans.

Yet, fear not. For God is on the side of Just. He comforts the weak and the defenseless. And God is the God of Justice.

The state has achieved its part---defanging the Ampatuans and erasing their names in the roster of "honorables". Yet, they still have adherents in the field. They still have money. What is the anti-money laundering council doing? Why are they not freezing the assets and monies of the Ampatuans? Why is there no one conducting a lifestyle check? Those mansions are proof positive of the way this family laundered and possibly spent the people's monies.

Andal Ampatuan senior is just a petty driver when the military coddled him and provided him with ammunition to fight the Bangsamoro revolutionaries. He was so good and so brutal at it that several generals promoted his social status, from petty driver to petty mayor. From mayor, he then ascended the socio-political ladder by becoming governor. And when he was governor, he befriended several high-ranking government officials, and promised them a peaceful Maguindanao through the institution of an iron-fisted policy.

One of those high-ranking officials is former president, Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Fact is, the Ampatuans were even instrumental in her doubtful win in 2004. And the Arroyos know how to reward their loyal subjects---by giving them the right to become their relatives. Andal Ampatuan Jr., the main mastermind and executioner, even calls Mrs. Arroyo "mother". Nothing ironic there, Andal is simply telling the truth.

Mrs. Arroyo is definitely the mother of all political terrorists and warlords. Her reign saw the rise of warlordism, a definitive sign that despite what the Arroyo administration has bruited about, that of a "Strong Republic" (a state of mind invention of Rigoberto Tiglao, a dreamer turned apologist of Mrs. Arroyo), weakest is the hold of this republic in places other than Manila.

During Ampatuan's reign of terror, Maguindanao's socio-economic situation worsened. People's live stagnated. And the entire province became a personal fiefdom of the Ampatuans, whose words, according to their former servant "Lak" are law.

With this brutal slaying of Jesse, it goes to show that the Ampatuans remain a force to contend with. The propensity of this killing shows how weak, helpless and inept our government forces are.

The Ampatuans' show of brutality and force signifies how weak the state is against political warlords. This weakness is being exploited by heartless people who remain as the People's oppressors.

Time for the people to act. If the state is weak, then the People should not allow these kinds of people to even live. The continued existence of this warlord clan is blasphemy, plain and simple. Their existence is a strong condemnation of the government. Their very presence spites legitimate authority. These psychopaths pretending to be warlords are a scourge of society. They should be rooted out, condemned and exterminated. They should face the People's Tribunal and answer for their numerous crimes.

If government is weak, then, the people should be the ones to exact justice. Let the People's patriots do their part and extinguish the bravura of warlords such as these. Let the law of God prevail---cut off the hands of thieves and execute those who kill their fellow men.

Those who only know the language of violence should get what they deserve--violence. There is simply a limit of God's grace. The Good Lord orders His most noble and pious subjects to root out evil and smite the heads of devils and unbelievers with utter force.

Noynoy Aquino should make these warlord clans an example of what Philippine justice really means. Incarceration is simply too kind, too gentle to those who continually and perpetually commit gruesome crimes against the people. Aquino must revive the death penalty. And let these warlords be the first ones to suffer.

Sex education in schools is simply dead

New Philippine president Benigno "Noynoy' Aquino III said his cabinet is almost complete. What's left to determine are the posts of Health secretary and foreign affairs. Names have been bruited about for the health posts, including the name of former health secretary Jaime Galvez-Tan who served during the Ramos administration.

Tan is perfect for the post. He is a rural health physician. For those who don't know, here is Dr. Tan's brief background.

Dr. Tan served as Chairperson of CFSI from late 2003 until November 2006 and is a former Secretary of Health for the Philippine Government. He served as Undersecretary and Chief of Staff of the Department of Health from 1992 to 1994. Prior to that time, he held senior positions at the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), both at the national and the regional levels. Earlier, Dr. Tan served as a rural health physician and trainer. Dr. Tan has been a Consultant for UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), The World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Dr. Tan is widely published and has lectured in fifteen countries on several continents. The recipient of numerous awards, Dr. Tan is currently an International Consultant on Health Policy Development and was until recently Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of the Philippines Manila and, concurrently, Executive Director of the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Tan is President and/or Chief Officer of several health-related nongovernmental organizations. He is a graduate of the University of the Philippines and the Prince Leopold Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, Belgium. Dr. Tan is a Philippine citizen.

It seems that Esperanza Cabral's job is on the line. Probably, Cabral is being "sacrificed" for her strong stance against the Catholic church stand on sex education.

Cabral has been a strong advocate of pro-choice, and has even publicly shown herself on television, promoting the use of condoms. Her controversial statements that even kindergarten kids should be taught sex education have incurred the ire of the Church.

With La Sallian brother Arman Luistro poised to take the education department, it is all but certain that Cabral will surely not be retained as health secretary of Aquino. How will these two departments implement the sex education policy when two department heads are at odds? Cabral's position is simply too radical and different from Luistro's. Luistro of course will follow Church teachings. How then will Luistro as EDUC head implement the state policy on sex education? Will we expect Luistro to countermand government or state policy in lieu of the church's?

Curiously, Aquino has yet to formalize the alleged appointment of now Foreign Affairs secretary Alberto Romulo, who, at 76, is the oldest Cabinet member of the outgoing Arroyo administration. Romulo who reportedly supported Aquino but remained as a political ally of former president Arroyo, is confident that he'll retain his post. Yet certain quarters are demanding for his removal, particularly the president of the association of Filipino diplomats.

Romulo is a veritable asset to the administration for his strong networks and of course, the high regard for his name. The name Romulo has been synonymous with Philippine diplomacy. This position should be entrusted to someone experienced in the arts of diplomacy and is highly respected among his peers in the foreign service.

Draft Arroyo farewell speech today

Here is the draft of Mrs. Arroyo's farewell speech...

Mga mahal kong kababayan,

Mahaba haba rin ang panahon ng ating pagsasama. Siyam na taon na ang nakalipas matapos nating kunin ang kapangyarihan mula sa may-ari nito. Mahaba para sa karamihan ang siyam na taon. Para sa akin at sa aking asawa, maikli ang siyam na taon. Dapat sana, siyamnapung taon.

Kung siyamnapung taon, marami pa sana akong napagawang kalsada, tulay, paliparan at mga daungan.Marami pa sana akong mag re-reclaim na lupain, maidevelop ang Manila Bay at naipasemento ko pa sana lahat ng bukirin.

Ang paggawa ng mga imprastraktura ang pinakamabilis kumita ng pera, este, ang pinakamabuting tungkulin ng isang pangulo. Dahilan sa kalsada, uunlad ang ekonomiya. Isang halimbawa na lamang si Senador Manny Villar. Nang magkaroon ng C-5 na dumaan sa kanyang mga sabdibisyon, mabilis niyang naibenta ang mga maliliit na bahay sa halagang tatlong milyon.

Sabi nila, marami daw naghirap sa ilalim ng aking administrasyon. Ito po'y isang kasinungalingan! Pano dadami ang mahirap, eh, nung tinignan ko ang aking bank account sa Hongkong at Portugal, lumobo pa ito sa mahigit 80 milyong piso.

Noong dating nangungupahan lamang sa isang maliit na apartment ang aking anak na si Mikey, wala pa siyang pambayad sa renta. Kita mo ngayon, may mansyon na rin siya sa California.

Hindi ba kami ang First Family o unang pamilya? Kung yumaman ang First Family, tanda yan na marami rin sa ating mga Pilipino ang yumaman ng ako ay nanunungkulan.

Peace and order improved in our country. Kung noong panahon ni Cory, talamak ang mga rebelde, ngayon, imbes na nasasa bundok sila, naririto na silang lahat sa Maynila. Patunay yan na nasugpo ko ang Komunismo dahil pinalitan ko lang yan ng Pasismo at nepotismo.

Ang sabi nila, nangurakot daw ako ng katakut-takot nitong siyam na taon. Wala pong katotohanan yan. Kung may nakuha man akong pera, sino ba ang nakinabang? Ang akin bang pamilya? Hindi po.

Bilangin na lamang ninyo kung ilang tao ang napakain ko ng steak at binusog ko ng marangyang pagkain sa mamahaling restawran? Hindi ba mahigit 200 daang katao ang laging kasama at buntot buntot sa akin? Mga kababayan, sila po ang nararapat ninyong siningilin dahil sa kanila, napunta ang pera ko.

At ngayon ko lang din po aamining, oo, tumawag nga ako kay Garci pero ito'y sa pagaalalang baka walang makain ang mga tao ko sa Mindanao. Oo, dinayal ko ang number ni Garci pero ito'y sa paghahangad na hindi siya tumalon ng bakod noong halalan.

Hindi rin po totoo na lumaganap ang smuggling nang nakaupo ako. Human smuggling po at hindi smuggling ng bigas ang lumaganap. Smuggling po ng kuryente at gasolina po ang tumaas, hindi po ang smuggling ng mga produktong gawa sa China.

Paano po magkakaroon ng smuggling eh pinababayaan naman namin ang mga produkto ng mga Intsik na pumasok dito ng walang taxes? And honestly, sino ba ang nakikinabang sa mga smuggled goods, hindi ba tayo ring mga Pilipino? Nakakabili na tayo ng mga murang damit, murang sapatos na de tatak, dahil sa smuggling. Dati, walang nakakabili ng C-K o kaya ng Michael Kors na damit. Ngayon, dahil sa smuggling, pati Abercrombie, naisusuot mo na.

Kung pakikinggan niyo lang po si Enrile, na ako na ang pinakamasipag na pangulo sa kasaysayan ng ating bansa, hindi siguro marami ang nagalit sa akin.

Kailangan ko pong magsipag dahil ang aking bank account noong 2001 ay 20 milyong piso lang. Kailangan kong mag catch up sa mga kaklase ko sa Miriam na multi-milyonaryo na ngayon.

Pero, huwag po kayong mag-alala, magkikita-kita pa rin tayo.

Bilang kongresista ng Pampanga, hindi pa mawawala sa eksena ang inyong Tita Gloria. Sa susunod na tatlong taon, media blitz ang gagawin namin para by 2013, ako na ang inyong Prime Minister.

Maraming salamat po and see you soon.

A Singson to head DPWH and a politico now at DBM: Lopez proxy in energy department?

The appointment of a former campaign manager as Budget Management secretary is understandable. Butch Abad, the Liberal party campaign manager, is a former politician. He will head the DBM, the agency tasked specifically on disbursements of government funds. And you know what will definitely happen next?

Expect those local executives who supported Noynoy Aquino to get what they want. Expect other local executives who jumped ship to be pampered with pork barrel funds. And expect those who are intending to follow suit to get the same. As the saying goes, politics is a rewarding enterprise.

With a former politico as the DBM head, what will then happen to the anti-poverty program of the government? What will be prioritized first? Will the Aquino administration limit debt servicing in exchange for increasing the budgets of needy agencies such as DECS and others? Or will they put greater emphasis on giving those meaty pork to those who rah-rah with them last elections?

Another one, a certain Rogelio Singson, president of Maynilad waterworks system, is being eyed to head the public works department. Nothing wrong, except that he's a very close relative of Ilocos governor Chavit Singson, who happens to be very close to the previous dispensation AND a certified big time operator here in the Philippines.

A Singson to head DPWH? We all know what happens inside that old building along North Bay boulevard. DPWH, according to Transparency Network, is one of the most graft-ridden agencies in the Republik.

While Singson heads the Maynilad, look at our water rates--they are higher than water rates in the entire ASEAN region. Imagine, a country rich in water resources selling water to its citizens at a price they can't ill-afford!

Probably, Singson is good in numbers. If he prices cents per cubic meter of water, he can very well price ten pesos for every cubic inch of asphalt. Or even higher. How then can we sleep well at night knowing that our money is being treated like water?

Jose Almendras, another water executive, is being asked to head the energy department. Are Singson and Almendras now the Lopez company proxies in the Aquino administration? Probably yes.

We all know that the Lopezes' have a stake in the energy generation department, a direct competitor of close Arroyo associates, the Aboitiz.

Is the new administration now saying err assuring the Lopezes, very close political allies of the Aquinos, that what they lost in Meralco, they will now regain by putting their man at the helm of the energy department?

Hmmm....at this early, what we are seeing are danger signs ahead. Imagine, two critical government agencies--public works and energy---in the hands of proxies of the Lopezes. Are we now saying, Mr. President that all is game in the name of politics?

Its like saying, go after big-time rice smugglers yet spare those who are responsible for jacking up our water and electricity rates.

Wow. Talk about "new administration", this one is showing signs of being old.

Peping Cojuangco blasts Hyatt 10

AS ALWAYS, it seems like President Noynoy Aquino faces tough times ahead. Not only will he try to help his sister, Kris Aquino from again, another marriage "on the rocks", he will have to contend with his uncle, Peping Cojuangco, who is now on a media blitz against his administration.

Peping, a staunch supporter of Noynoy, and brother of Cory, has just granted an interview over TV Patrol. In the interview, Peping lamented how his nephew has acted over the past few weeks. Obviously, his group, the nefarious COPA (Council on Peping Affairs, este Philippine Affairs), is being isolated and being effectively barred from participating or taking a direct part in the Aquino administration.

He feels that Noynoy is now at the mercy of certain forces once aligned with the Arroyo administration. Peping did not directly name this group circling around Noynoy, but obviously he's referring to the Hyatt 10, former close associates and Cabinet members of Mrs. Arroyo and is aligned with the Mar Roxas group.

There's a catch though.

I thought that Peping was just blasting people away out of genuine concern for his nephew. I was terribly wrong.

At the tail end of the interview, Peping was attacking people because he wants his own people to run the show for Noynoy. And you know what that means.

Everyone knows what Peping did during the 1st Aquino administration--he used the good name of Cory for his so-called "shady deals." Many people knew how Peping exploited his filial relations to the hilt. Fact is, it was Peping who actually gave some people cause to militate against Cory. He was, as we already know, the first one who was out of power but present in every deal entered into by government, or so alleged by some quarters. He was also instrumental in that slanderous tag of "Kamaganak Incorporated."

For all these, what is so astounding about Peping's group anyway? My sources tell me that Peping Cojuangco runs the POC like a veritable fiefdom. Ask around, specifically if the POC is not, in any way, involved in shady advertising deals with companies? Ask around if POC is not involved in anyway with deals with tour operators, travel and events agencies, and you'll know why Noynoy shuns his uncle.

Every one knows what "Pastor" Boy Sayco is doing. During the Arroyo administration, he was instrumental in that deal with San Miguel Corporation and a Qatari telecommunications company. Don't tell me that Saycon did not use his government connections in that multi-billion peso deal? And don't tell me that he's not benefitting in any way in any government transaction? The pseudo Pastor has benefitted a lot during Arroyo's time and he, and Peping expects to get something too from this new administration?

As the saying goes, man has to learn how to curb his voracious appetite, otherwise, he might turn into a Nero.

Re-branding of EDSA (continuation)

Everyone knew that EDSA was not an enterprise of just one group. No. And it did not sprout as spontaneously as others were made to believe. The seeds of dissent were planted by those students in the sixties and seventies barricades, and rebelliousness resides in the Filipino DNA. Marcos just watered those seeds and allowed them to bloom like a thousand, even millions of flowers. (For hippies, those were poppy flowers, or so they believe)

Socialist-minded activists also took care of those seeds. Some who matured faster than the others, went on to work as propagandists in the factories, in those small shops while those sophisticated enough to wear Amerikanas, went the rounds of coffee shops, planting doubts and making dissent something of a fashion, a vogue.

Before Ninoy came home, the people were ripe for the picking. The armies of reason have reached critical mass. The Maoists camping in the hills and mountains near Manila were extremely ready to continue Bonifacio's struggle. More than 27,000 responded, all fully armed to the teeth and ready to wage battle against 100,000 of Marcos' troops.

And then it happened.

Ninoy got himself shot. He lies slumped on the airport grounds, bloodied. It was 1983. He went back home to finish what he started. He was the Filipino's Caudillo, a Knight in shining intellectual armor, re-born and determined to prove that the Filipino is worth dying for.

His blood became the precious water that fully germinated the seeds of those still young enough to accept the harsh realities of their time. Against the laws of nature, the maturity of those who saw Ninoy's sacrifice came faster than usual. From then on, everything went on a dizzy-ing pace, time warped, and everything happened quicker, faster, stronger, firmer.

Three years later, those thousand flowers, mostly roses and vermillions, populated the streets of EDSA. (to be continued...again. have to leave for a meeting)

TCB--one nice coffee shop along West Avenue

This is the first time that I sipped hot, steaming coffee from TCB. TCB, if you still don't know what it means is The Coffee Bean. When one of my colleagues told me to go to The Coffee Bean, I thought she meant Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. Wrong. TCB means just plain coffee beans.

TCB would also, probably mean Total Cup of Barako or Talagang Capeng Barako. Or, maybe, just maybe TCB is the initials of the owners' names. I dein say that TCB is the owners' way of copying CBTL, oh no. There's simply a gulf of difference between TCB and CBTL.

CBTL simply means Capeng Barako sa Tabi ng LRT, different from Tasang Capeng Barako. CBTL, as one publicist say is a Hollywood brand. Crap. What's so Hollywood with a coffee which tastes so bitter. With TCB however, the bitterness is so sweet.

I'm now using their WI-FI, which I was informed, only last 15 minutes. Good enough. That'll be enough to finish this entry.

By the way, this place is a few meters away from EDSA, a small nook along West Avenue in Quezon City, before your reach EDSA. Why go here? Well, simply, it's a nice place. If you don't want to be disturbed and you simply want to enjoy your hot cup of barako coffee, TCB is for you.

Re-branding EDSA

Before I publish this, let me just say that I have nothing against Mar Roxas. Fact is, I voted for him. Whatever negative things you'll find in this entry are actually connected with one proposition--the re-branding of EDSA.

Its already a foregone conclusion--that between thirty five to forty percent of the present electorate have jaundice in their minds. Yes, they all prefer yellow as their favorite color. Only about 10 to 12% of the electorate probably are Communists--they simply don't vote at all, consistently since 1987. Or, they are Marxists. Marxists dont believe in elections.

Its expected though. Most of the members of this so-called "Yellow Army" were teenagers during Cory's time or they simply joined that great social experiment called EDSA uno. Some, our present generation of "enarians" or senior citizens were probably victims or hate the Marcoses so much, they erased blue from their minds and stuck with yellow. Yellow, they say, represents the color of delivered mail. And you know what retirees always expect at the end of the month. 

More than this though, Kris Aquino also did a lot in bridging the generational gap and kudos to ABS-CBN too. Kris and the bunch of creative writers over ABS-CBN succeeded in re-creating the conditions that justified collective action. Social vigilance was resurrected from its lethargic state during the time of Arroyo to a vanguard position. Its now simply part of Filipino street fashion to be caught wearing Che Guevarra or those Filipino maps plastered in poloshirts.

Behind these published statements and actions though lie a far deeper, even sinister reason--the silent reconditioning of the minds to accept that this social experiment called EDSA is simply owned by just one group--the Liberals.

We all know who really worked very hard in creating that social phenomenon. In the original EDSA, majority of the people there simply wore RED, not yellow. Some activists in the Social Democratic mold, yes, they wore yellow. Yet, the post-mortem analysis was simply stark mad--this was the experiment of socially conscious members of the petty bourgeois and the nationalist bourgeosie who seriouly studied and tinkered Filipino consciousness and conspired to create a more acceptable mode for regime change. And they had pure-blooded rebels as counsels.

Yes, in pre and post-1986, it was vogue to be a dissident, a dissenter, even a rebel. That's why from a mere 67, the NPA ballooned to 23,000. From just one person, the MNLF grew close to a million.

Those who are simply too weak to hold a gun or simply too lazy to go to street demonstrations, made themselves content with just wearing yellow teeshirts or flashing those Laban signs. Behind those pretensions lie a deeper social conscience or a personal yearning to be part of something that would eventually change society. Those whose conscience never went beyond Constantino, satisfied themselves with just watching those rallies on GMA Channel 7 and within the confines of their homes, chanted themselves hoarse. Or simply curse Marcos to death. (That explains why he contracted lupus.:-)

There were no Facebook or Twitter accounts back then nor cellphones with texting capabilities. Engagement was simply too personal more than social. That deeper engagement we find during those times recorded themselves as memories. These memories or experiences are what made those lines longer last May 10. People wanted nothing more than oust Arroyo from power. And since there are no NPA armies in sight, they chose a Yellow Army instead.

EDSA, the original one, is a people's fight. Yes, it was inspired by songs and marches created in mountain bases of the CPP-NPA and most, if not all who worked for the downfall of Marcos at least found time reading Marx's Manifesto and Amado Guerrero's PSR. It was the people who made it happen, never mind if Enrile's Gringos claim all the fame, the fact simply is the People trooped infront of Camps Aguinaldo and Crame just to save their sorry asses from Ver's firepower.

EDSA, to the minds of many simply equates collective action. It is a weapon of the People, a democratic exercise operationalizing several concrete provisions of a Freedom Charter. Never mind if, after the assumption of Cory into power, the only basic operationalizing principles of EDSA was simply an approved mechanism of veto-ing a law passed by Congress. (to be continued. Have to leave. Read more on my book)

Expectations and no change

Challenges facing the incoming Aquino administration are far and wide, serious and dangerous. Beyond the challenge of reducing the scourge of poverty and the ever-serious and endemic problem of graft, lies the problem of failed expectations.

Unwittingly, the incoming Aquino administration has raised the bar of expectations among the people. I think the initial 35% of the registered voters who believed in Aquino and hoped for changes to happen, has probably ballooned to about half or even more than half of the population. You can feel it. I feel it. Everyone I think feels it.

Noynoy's policy statements are at best, reflective of popular sentiments. His strong stance against the stay of midnight appointees, and his consistent vow to punish smugglers and grafters in government have resonated within the four corners of the Republic. Everyone expects some heads to roll and every single one, in fact, most of those who supported Aquino, expect Noynoy to do the "right thing"...always.

This is the problem. The nation's problems, as I said, are far and wide, serious and dangerous. Along the way, expect this engine of change to falter, even sputter while it morphs from an idealistic organization into a naive, even a pragmatic one.

It remains to be seen how this organization, composed of idealistic volunteers would try to inject their "nationalist, bourgeois" concepts of change into a monolithic and very traditional bureaucracy. The Philippine bureaucracy would not easily open itself up and make itself a participative organization. It would take a great number of years before a complete change happens.

An industrial engineer knows that.

Change, as it seems, is far from the grasps of those who invested their faith in the peaceful manner of change. For example, this monstrosity of a bureaucracy will still retain much of its despicable character even beyond June 30. It is its nature of being a monstrosity. It is in its nature of being a counter-agent for change, because it has survived for decades being non-traditional.

June 30 is not some magical moment when everything changes in a blink of an eye. No. June 30 is just the start of the struggle.

This is the problem---every one thinks that come June 30, one will see substantial changes to happen.

What I expect to see come June 30 is merely a change of the guards---from the nuovo elites called Arroyo mafia to the old elites composed of relics of 60s style politics. The behavior of government will not change, no. The nature of the bureaucracy will not cease to exist, no. Only those faces who terrorized us for nine years will fade. Yet the acts and behavior which we experienced throughout the entire existence of the Philippine Republic will continue.

Consider this.

When Arroyo was still in power, counter-elites demand for the abolition of the pork barrel. Now that these counter-elites are now in power, in a blink of an eye, the image of the pork as a necessary evil turned into a blessing.

There are still no concrete policy statement regarding land reform. We only heard things like no smoking for Noynoy, but nothing against landlords retaining their lands.

Nothing substantial did we hear from the Aquino camp on how they would deal with the insurgency problem. Aquino was just quoted to have said that those who will not join him nor toe the government line will be left by the wayside. Does this mean that his way is the only way? What if his way goes against what the People think as the best way for them to tread?

Mindanao-ans expect something concrete and possibly better to happen under Aquino than Arroyo. Yet, aside from appointing Teresita Deles as his peace adviser, nothing substantive was ever heard from Aquino. If we are to judge his closeness with Manuel Roxas, surely, an agreement along the lines of the controversial Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domains (MOA-AD) will have to be relegated to the dustbin. Roxas opposed the implementation of the MOA-AD. He even threatened to marshall a sizeable number of Ilonggo volunteers to make war against the Bangsamoros. If this is the case, expect the Mindanao problem to remain a festering issue for the next six years.

And if we are to say that the economy will improve, yes, it will. Yet, the conditions of the Filipino worker will not. NEDA and the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) already showed us the figures. Despite the purported growth of the GDP, unemployment grew by 3 million. The hold of less than one percent of the Philippine population over 56% of this country's resources will remain. It would not be surprising if it even increased, what with the traditional economic elites represented by the Makati Business Club (MBC) participating in how government conducts trade and how it treats labor relations.

How then will we ever expect a change in the economic philosophy of this country when the incoming administration will appoint Cesar Purisima in Finance and Paderanga in NEDA. I dein say that the BSP will have a Cuisia clone as its head, again, signs of a continuation of the depredatory economic policy that impoverished many in the late 90s and early 2000's.

Smuggling, which stifles competition, will remain. The drug trade and the flourishing jueteng operations will ever oh so remain in this country. Expect rice prices to remain high, even prohibitory in the future. Eradicating 300 billion pesos through anti-corruption drives will not deter evil traders from their trade.

And how would Aquino control the increasing power of the military elites who demand respect and probably even a slice of the economic pie? With idealistic elements now poised to go back to their barracks while some enterprising ones vow allegiance to the new administration, who, then, will serve as the opposing voice? Not this Rasputin by the name of Norberto Gonzales. He deserves nothing but our contempt.

In the end, after ninety days, brace yourself. Our oohs and ahhs will turn into scorn. But, not if we can prevent it.

The Smokey Mountain Scam

In 1992, a flurry of humiliating articles about Smokey Mountain suddenly appeared out of nowhere in some newspapers. It was a year of transition, from the Cory Aquino administration to Ramos. Aside from a series of coups, a succession of blackouts, a raging insurgency both in the North and South, there was this symbol of Philippine poverty that was used as the very sign that EDSA revolt faltered in its mission.

What the incoming administration did was simple---bring Smokey Mountain down. Transform its image, from a dump to a mountain of promise. Government wants low-cost housing there for some 2,600 poor families.

Government estimated that it will take 6 billion pesos to reclaim the land, a hefty sum, which it is not ready to finance. Hence, it decided to bid out the project.

R-2 builders, a contractor very close to the Powers-That-Be at that time, won the bidding. R-2's mission is to reclaim 79 hectares of land previously devoted to refuse and turn it into a low cost housing site. The contractor close to Fidel Valdes Ramos entered into a JOINT VENTURE AGREEMENT (JVA) with the government, composed of the National Housing Authority (NHA), the Home Guaranty Corporation and the finance department.

From 1992 to 1996, R2 Builders reportedly did its part and bankrolled at least 4.1 billion pesos into the Smokey Mountain Asset Pool (SMAP), where other resources to finance the project goes into. Court records show R-2 failed to release that amount of 4.1 billion pesos, its contractual obligations under the MOA and JVA it entered into with government.

R2 Builders claimed that it constrcuted 33 temporary and 21 permanent buildings apart from reclaiming 79 hectares from Manila Bay. The 21 PERMANENT STRUCTURES have been turned over to the beneficiaries since 2002 and R-2 Builders claim that until now, government has not paid them yet.

R-2 Builders, according to court records, only forked 211 million pesos for the project. It now claims that government owns it 1.8 billion pesos. It then filed a claims suit before the Quezon City Trial Court.

And because R-2 Builders did not complete the project, a so-called Smokey Mountain Development Fund (SMDF) was created to address the billions of pesos worth of shortfalls the project encountered due to the inability of the contractor, which, in this case, R-2 builders, to fully finance the completion of the project.


SSS purchased so-called Smokey Mountain Development Fund (SMDF) certificates worth 1.2 Billion while the Home Guaranty Corporation, based on its mandate, exposed itself to the tune of 3 billion pesos.

Okey, here's the catch.

According to a certain Naval, who claims to be a journalist, Vice President Noli de Castro, who heads the government's low cost housing project reportedly signed a May 25 Memorandum of Agreement/Compromise which directs a payment of 4 billion pesos to the Home Guaranty Corporation (HGC), one of those who forked billions of pesos worth of the People's Money for the completion of the project.

The compromise agreement, Naval claims, is a conspiracy cooked up by de Castro, National Housing Authority President Federico Laxa, Home Guaranty Corporation president Gonzalo Bongolan and Finance secretary Margarito Teves in "collusion" with R-2 Builders owner Reghis Romero.

What this Naval fears is that the 4.4 billion pesos will go straight to R-2 Builders. The other camp, however claims that the 4.4 billion pesos will actually pay out HGC who bought 3 billion pesos. The residual amount, R-2 Builders claim, will go to them, if there is any left.

So, Naval is right---1.4 billion pesos will go to R-2 Builders, an amount far exceeding that of what they really financed! Remember that they only financed 211 million, now they will be paid 1.2 billion pesos more.

If this Memorandum is true, then, this is really a stinking deal indeed!

Kita mo itong administrasyong ito, aalis na lang, nag-iwan pa ng malaking utot.