Aleccia Rocks!

Office of the Ombudsman spearheads anti-graft fight with highest prosecution rate

I've been critical of the Office of the Ombudsman before, not for anything else, but seriously, due to its politics. Many, including this writer, perceived the appointment of Merceditas Gutierrez by former president Arroyo as a political accommodation rather than a judicious executive decision. Her ties with the First Gentleman smacked of politics. Her previous involvement in corporate affairs rather than her years of prosecutory experience, for some, are signs of her lack of qualifications for the post.


Yet, for the past few years, the Office of the Ombudsman registered a very strong prosecution rate--nearly 60%, which if compared with other anti-graft or prosecution agencies of this government stands mightily high, cannot be ignored that easily. Since 2008, the Office of the Ombudsman, particularly its field offices have been quite successful in bringing to justice, scores of erring government and private individuals who have toyed with the idea of making the public coffers their own personal vaults. Curiously, even international anti-graft bodies have cited the best performance of the Office of the Ombudsman in the field not just of investigation, but of filing these graft cases against erring officials as well. 


What is so surprising even is the way Gutierrez handles even the administrative functions of her office. Sources say, employees of the Ombudsman will fight to the death should enemies of Gutierrez successfully yank her out of her current post. Employees gave Gutierrez their full trust and confidence. The entire office is in a very high state of morale due to the very good handling of affairs by Gutierrez and her trusted generals.


Whatever your politics is, the fact remains that one's competency lies not on perceived political ties but on what you do. If you were able to transform a government office like the Ombudsman into a fighting machine, and resolves graft cases left and right despite your meager resources and your undermanned, then, you must be commended rather than villified all because of differing political beliefs. 


Gutierrez's office, for all intents and purposes, should be supported by the People instead of villified.


Yes, I've been highly critical before but my criticism ends when the government agency concern starts reforming itself and begins walking the straight road. 


When one sees the office trying very hard to rectify itself and in fact, registers the highest prosecution rate, why criticize when there is really none to fuss about.

Noynoy appoints Wilfrido Villacorta as ASEAN rep a good move

The appointment of Ambassador Wilfrido Villacorta as our country's permanent representative at ASEAN is one of the best decisions President Noynoy did in his 4-month old administration. I've worked under Villacorta when I served as a Research Specialist of the CIRSS or Center for International Relations and Strategic Studies, the think tank of the Department of Foreign Affairs a few decades back. It was under Villacorta that the CIRSS had its heyday.


Villacorta is a career diplomat, and is regarded as one of the best minds in the Philippine diplomatic community. His appointment at ASEAN means that this administration gives high regard to the ASEAN as a regional organization. It will be critical for the Philippines to once again dominate ASEAN, as what it did for the last few years.


It is quite disturbing however, when President Aquino told in a press conference over at Hanoi, that the Philippines needs Vietnam's help in food production. 


When I was a kid, I remember that Vietnamese officials and scholars went to the Institute for Rice Research at UP Los Banos seeking Philippine technology in rice production. Vietnam, back then, was frantically looking for solutions to their humongous food security problem. The country was suffering from post-war effects and was trying to put itself back to its feet.


Now, a few decades later, the tables have turned and it is now the Philippines who wants Vietnam's rice and strategies on how to become self-sufficient in food production. 


Maybe we need a civil war or a very serious revolution to jolt us from complacency and maybe, just maybe, kick-start our country once again. Many believe that for change to occur in this country, we must turn down the engine and overhaul it and put in a new one?

Willie Revillame's Challenge: News/Reality versus Surreal Entertainment

Whom will the Filipino People choose---watching painful reality as it unfolds or scantily-dressed girls with a wife beater as surreal host?


This is what the controversial host Willie Revillame wants us, televiewers, to decide when he unveiled his newest show, "Willing Willie" over at ABC 5.


The controversial host wants to defeat TV Patrol, the longest-running news and public affairs program in Philippine television and GMA Channel 7's " 24 Oras" in the ratings game. Revillame wants to prove to everybody that he has the star power to trounce a Ted Failon or a Mike Enriquez in the ratings game.


For more than two decades now, the Filipino primetime evening viewing habit has been news and public affairs. This is the only time when everybody runs home and tries to catch the latest news or gossip in town.


With Willie Revillame around, will Filipinos change their viewing habits? Will Revillame successfully redefine Philippine television?


And if Revillame succeeds, will he finally alter the very face and nature of Philippine journalism?


It will be bad news for the public and for the Philippine local media if Revillame succeeds in his dastardly plan. Why?


I am sure that both networks, ABS-CBN Channel 2 and GMA Channel 7 would find ways on how to adapt to a problem such as Willing Willie.


When ABS-CBN tried to defeat RPN 9 news programs (which were the no. 1 news programs during Martial Law), the news network of the Lopezes adopted the tabloid style of reportage. Many people at that time commented in the way ABS-CBN 2 presented the news. Yet, it clicked. The people responded with high approbation. Tabloidism replaced BBC.


Gone were the BBC or CNN type of reportage and was replaced by gory, often violent news. These sensational news stories found extreme support from a public deprived of such staple ware for more than 20 years and those stories resonated because people, for a very long time, were treated with sanitized news reports courtesy of a regime-controlled media. People desired to know what is really happening, and when they saw how gruesome life was, enjoyed it. 


Now, the threat comes from a very controversial host who wants to prove that entertainment, and not news, should be presented to a people, hungry not of information, but of something to uplift their tired spirits affected by much poverty and daily strife.


If Revillame's ratings improve, then, these two giant networks will definitely either replace their programs with entertainment shows or stay with their news and public affairs programs but will alter how news is presented.


The different twist will either be more celebrity or entertainment news to counter Revillame's or more gory and more sensational news stories to catch more attention and provide the "shock factor" which has been the success element these news programs used for decades.


News programs will definitely present more crime stories than before, more gory scenes, more sensational news topics and more "exclusive stories" to at least neutralize the Revillame threat. 


Reporters will either do more baring and daring stories, more exclusives that are below the gut or probably sing and dance while doing the news. News networks would probably recruit more beautiful or cute faces to try and counter Willie Revillame's dancers or bring back the "Voice" in Philippine journalism--Kabayan, to the fore. The only question is, is Kabayan more attractive than Revillame?


If Revillame succeeds, this will be the beginning of the end for local Philippine journalism. News and public affairs programs will again be pushed either prior or after the primetime evening slot, just like what happened in the middle of the 1990's. 


Really, Revillame is doing us, Filipinos, a great disservice. His slapstick comedy, his sarcasm and his bravado will find its target for sure, since Filipinos are tired of seeing the same old things under what is perceived to be a new road to change. 


If he wins, Revillame will set back years of effort trying to make the Filipino an intelligent and more informed member of the global community. If he succeeds, Revillame will again make the Filipino a star-struck, teary-eyed dreamer, dreaming of getting that fast buck from a miscreat and meeting that scantily-clad dancer somewhere, somehow. 


If Revillame succeeds, he will influence behavior and will bring us to a time when nothing is important anymore, nothing is relevant anymore, nothing is reality anymore, but surrealism. Yes, surrealism.


I am sure Revillame will succeed, the only question is, how fast will he do it or how slow will people adopt to the change in their viewing habits.


It has been proven that people preferred a Spanish telenovela before rather than TV Patrol. Filipinos have this tendency of choosing a beautiful artista and be entertained rather than see a girl stuffed in a drum somewhere in Tondo. Filipinos once swooned by the charms of an Argentinian soap opera star than the charms of a Korina Sanchez. Will history repeat itself?


Will Filipinos choose Revillame than a Kabayan or a Mike Enriquez? I am sure that Revillame will eventually succeed since our news programs are getting to be boring to the boorish and too scandalous to a perf. 


Aside from re-programming, networks will probably replace their news editorial teams with those whose experience is entertaining crowds rather than journalism. Maybe the solution is getting back to the BBC style rather than going to where Revillame wants news and public affairs teams to go--to the slack and the slapstick route. As they say, to catch attention, you need to be different. 

COMELEC admits unpreparedness in SK and Brgy Elections

Out of 40,000, nearly 2,000 barangays were not able to take part in the SK and Barangay elections yesterday. The Comelec said there will be elections today in these parts. The question is--what will happen to those who went back home in the provinces and live and work in the Metro? What will they tell their employers? Are they still allowed not to go to work today?


An interview with Comelec commissioner George Larrazabal last night over DZMM (Dos por Dos) revealed that the poll body did not elect a committee to oversee election preparations for the SK and Barangay elections. Larrazabal admitted that they were not entirely prepared to conduct the elections. This led to the chaotic situation yesterday.


Larrazabal, for those who don't know, is leaving Comelec. Comelec Chairman Jose Melo is also thinking of leaving the poll body. 


By the way, Comelec expects to receive more than 4,000 cases because of this elections. It turns out that there are nearly 2,000 barangay officers with expiring terms who filed their certificates of candidacy despite a constitutional bar for them in doing so. 


If these cases are filed, then the Comelec will have its hands full resolving these cases. There will be chaos. 

Aleccia---inheritors of the past legends of Pinoy rock

I had a blast three nights ago. This Aleccia rock band is simply outrageous! What's good about this band is their artistry. They are a young band with a very good musical grounding. They have their own unique sound that simply f....ng good. 


Anyway, they performed at the former Mayrics three nights ago. As you know, the former Mayrics is the place where true Filipino musical artistry was born! All the bands that eventually went mainstream performed at that place.


Nearly two decades ago, it was Mayrics and Red Rocks which Filipino artists went to perform. It was at Red Rocks that I met The Dawn. Owners of the joint were my friends. Eventually, Red Rocks went from black to Red. Owners were forced to sell the joint to somebody who turned it into Club Dredd.


From then on, those who think they are edgy or those who believe in what Nirvana and the rest of the grudge bands say, went there full force. It was the time when conos turned into grudge and the style was something black with a little cowboy boots to boot. Death metal was also the rage and it was at that time that the legendary rock band, Rizal Underground and the  fab five of Pinoy rock owe their existence.


Marcus Aurelius metamorphosed into Marcus of The Eraserheads and they eventually abandoned death metal to croon rock solid love songs that don't use love in their lyrics. They became a hit as everybody felt the honesty of their songs and the emotions that went with it. Thousands of upeyans felt alive and remembered those times when they spent the night with their girlfriends at CSSP or drank their woes away at the quadrangle or at the swamps.


Anyway, what am I saying? 


Aleccia, to me, has a bright future. They have a solid musical grounding. They have a full understanding of their music and what's good about it, they are trying to own it. Of course, their music had strains of popular US rock bands, but what's good about a Pinoy rock band is simply their way of adapting those strains as their own. 


And if you're already performing at a legendary place like the former Mayrics (I don't want to call it Santis or anything...I want to call it Mayrics. Period.), then, in my book, you have arrived already. What's lacking is an album. 


THe only thing I want this band to think and remember is simply--don't sacrifice artistry with commercial success. Better to be poor and recognized as an icon than being rich and a sell-out. 

The True Faces of Dissent today

FV is back. Let me repost what I wrote there some minutes ago.

A shadowy group, which named itself S4, (which sounds like that famous all-male Taiwanese rock band some years back), is now a subject of intense discussion among coffee shop habitues for some time now. The group, described as an organization composed of former Arroyo associates and anti-Arroyo personalities, says that what we have right now is a digital presidency. The group believes that the previous election was rigged and that the true expression of the Filipino’s voice was suppressed during that democratic exercise. Hence, it wants the Armed Forces of the Philippines to intervene and protect the welfare of the Filipino People.

The group posted their views in a full-page ad recently.

Malacanang just brushed it off, saying that the AFP is solidly behind the new administration. Other legislative allies of the present dispensation also came out from the woodwork and denounced the group.

The reason why I am writing about the group right now is simple–where did the idea of using the word sovereignty came about? I mean, sovereignty for me is a heavy word with a heavier meaning that losing it in an election seems more than an illusion rather than fact.

Sovereignty means losing the legal authority to govern a state. You either lose it through invasion or through subversion. Is the group saying that we lost our sovereignty when the wrong guy was elected into office?

What we lost is not sovereignty since we, the Filipino People, the true sovereign, still reigns supreme. If at all we lost something last 2010 elections, is initiative.

Initiative in the sense that our Constitution gave us the democratic way out of a hopeless governance, and only to end up catering to a more hopeless dispensation. We lost the chance to really elect a government that is as serious as the Masses in seeing real change happen in these lands.

I heard Linda Montayre, the convenor of the group in an interview over RMN yesterday that the reason why they are slowly re-appearing in the public sphere is simply their desire to really see real change happen in our country. The question is–under whose idea or ideological platform?

Is the group an expert in what the Masses think and want? What is the Filipino dream, do they know?

Montayre claims that the new administration is the same one with a more refreshing face. That a few days before the elections, both the old regime and the incoming one met in one meeting and decided to once again team up for the sake of bourgeois democracy. In Montayre’s mind, the elites won that elections, not the masses.

If at all there was a conspiracy to maintain the old order between Aquino and Arroyo, this is expected since they belong to the same deceitful group that bartered the true spirit of EDSA. Their forebears were the traitors of the First National Revolution who killed the embers of the Katipunan and want nothing more than elite-led democracy to rule these lands. They again re-appeared in History when they snatched the initiative towards radical change in 1986.

The masses are intelligent. They know and feel that nothing has changed. In fact, the steady stream of Filipinos leaving our shores is proof positive that the Masses expect nothing to change. That the straight road that Noynoy spoke of, is nothing but an illusion, a masterstroke, to deceive those among us who still cling to that hope of change.

Now the only question that remains–is this the only reason why a group such as S4 would spend a quarter of a million pesos for an ad just to say that we live in a digital democracy ruled by a digital president with digital cabinet men? Is there something new to what they are telling us?

None.

The same faces of dissent that have hugged our newspapers and our airtimes for decades are the same ones that continue to shout and tell the world of how damned we are. Yes, we know we are damned, yet no one seems interested anymore in going to the streets to do something about it. No one has the strength to even pick a stone and throw to the new Judases sitting in Malacanang. We only have our pens and our laptops to say that we are disgusted by the way the administration has paved the roads, purportedly straight, but in fact, crooked and as twisted as a Rubick’s cube.

And the reason is simple—those who shout hell were formerly its occupants. Where are the true angels that will rouse the Patriots from their stupor and thereafter, smash the Establishment with their righteous might? Where are the true Patriots who committed their lives to the Cause of True Democracy? Are they so star-struck and so misty eyed by the illusory words of the Inaugural that they already forgot the ideals they so promised to pursue under the banner of the Bagong Katipunan?

If at all, we need change, we need it to re-define the Filipino Soul, then later, societal change.

Damayang Bayan

Ako'y lubusang napaluha nang ihayag ng ilang mga Youth Groups na sila'y naglunsad ng Tulong Kabataan upang magbigay agapay sa ating mga kababayang nasalanta ng bagyong Juan. 


Pinangungunahan ng NUSP or National Union of Students of the Philippines, kabilang sa Tulong Kabataan ang League of Filipino Students, Kabataan Partylist, Anakbayan, College Editor's Guild of the Philippines at ilan pang mga grupong pangkabataan. 


Halos mapahiya ang iba pang mga grupo sapagkat nangunguna na ang Kabataang Pinoy sa kilusing ito. 


Noong dalawang araw bago pa man sumalanta ang bagyong Juan sa Isabela, nanawagan na ako sa mga grupo na ilunsad na ang Damayang Bayan upang handa ang Sambayanang Pinoy na magbigay agapay sa mga biktima ng ganitong bagyo.


Damayang Bayan--isang konseptong Pinoy na noon pa ma'y naririyan na sa ating kamalayan. Pinalaganap ng Katipunan sa pamamagitan ng Supremo. 


Sa mga Bagong Katipunero, nawa'y makiisa kayo sa Damayang Bayan. Tulungan natin ang ating mga Kabayani na nasalanta ng bagyo sa Isabela gayundin sa ilan pang mga lalawigan sa Hilaga. 

S4 is S$ (Singularly Green Bucks)

Who on earth would wish ill to the new administration?


A revolution faces two daunting challenges: First, in its first few years, the challenges brought by counter-revolutionaries and second, in its last years, the struggle against being more traditional than the former dispensation.


President Noynoy Aquino has, time and again, said that he is spearheading a revolution. He will now face the daunting challenge of having counter-revolutionaries questioning the very integrity of his administration. 


Who on earth would wish ill or damn the new administration?


Definitely those who prospered during the past or previous dispensation, for one. Those who are now out of power and are now feeling the heat so to speak, are naturally, counter-revolutionaries. They have all the reasons in the world to wish ill or damn the new administration. The only question is--do they have the gumption to act against it?


Normally these people are compromisers. You don't survive nine years without ever learning the Art of Survival. They just need a pat in the back or an assurance that their personal interests would not be harmed, then, they will just sulk in one corner and weather the storm. 


Others who most probably would act counter to the interests of the administration are the criminally minded. Those who operate illegal enterprises and are now feeling the heat, are worse than the compromisers. They are criminals. And criminals do fight when threatened. They deserve death, if you ask me, because people of the criminally minded stuff who wear barongs and Americanas and parley their wealth before the world, knowing full well that they got their wealth from illegal sources, deserve nothing but our derision and death. 


The most lethal counter-revolutionaries are those motivated by ideologies. Ideologically motivated people are most determined individuals. They seek not the riches of this world, but the very thought that their ideas can actually, change things. Some ideologues, however, are motivated not just by this, but by the thought of Power.


Ah, power. This elixir corrupts the soul. Those who have enjoyed power for so long, even though it was ill-gotten, are the worse enemies. They see themselves as saviors. When people think that they are saviors, they are of the worse kind because they think highly of themselves, as if they are superior beings, of higher intellect. 


An ideologue who already tasted power will go to great lengths to again, taste the trappings of Power. An ideologue deprived of his natural environment, would resist. 


This is how the S4 position themselves. They want the Filipino People to think that they are ideologues out to question the very legitimacy of this administration on the basis of sovereignty. They think that we lost sovereignty when we gave Power to a motley crue of yellows and produced what they described as a digital presidency.


Those who spend 250,000 pesos for a full page ad surely have the resources to do what they think is fair, and just, and honorable. They are most probably determined to see the damnation of this administration.


Honestly, something in us feel the same feelings as those of S4. We feel that we are being led by fools who position themselves as political innovators only to realize that they are the same people whom we want ousted in the past dispensation. 


S4 really is not the name of this administration. Type the name and you'll notice that a mis-typing will actually render the name S$, which, for me, means Singaporean dollars. (4 equals $ in the QUERTY)


Why use the solemn issue of sovereignty? Who is really the sovereign in these lands?


Are the political families the true sovereigns? ARe the military cliques the sovereign? Are the businessmen who lost or will lose their shirts due to the loss of power, the sovereign?


S4 does not even explain their notion of sovereignty. They just sparingly use the term because it is cute, and nationalist sounding.


The very fact is, they will always seek the sovereign and will always fight whoever is in power because the very idea of sovereignty eludes them.


Are we being threatened by foreign powers? Yes, we are. 


We are being threatened by China's rising economic power. We should always be on guard against Singapore and Malaysia, two of our neighbours who always want to be ahead of the economic and political game in the region. 


The sovereign, for me, has always been and will definitely be, the Filipino People. There is no stirring movement, no visual revolt, nor are there rallies in the streets or anywhere that suggest that the Filipino Masses are revolting against the loss of their sovereignty.


No one revolted against the allegations of massive electoral fraud, not in the dimension of 2004, when I and my family went out of our house to protest against the loss of sovereignty when Arroyo declared herself winner in a very fraudulent elections. 


2004 was evidently, the time when we, the Filipino People, lost not just our shame, our honor and our integrity, but moreso, our sovereignty. From 2004 up to the very last time when Arroyo walked that concrete road in Quirino grandstand, we felt we were not in control of our futures--the ruling elites were. 


Now, we still feel that we are being played upon by the new elites and are being made to believe that changes are in order when all we see are the same greying stuff that the nine year Arroyo administration created. 


President Noynoy and his factotums, for all their fancy statements and their posturings of being change agents, are definitely not the real deal. They are masters of the Illusion. They weave imaginings.


Yet, despite they being pseudo-nationalist, they have one singular thing which makes them worthy of being in the halls of power--they have the will to effect change.


President Noynoy, for one, believes that he needs to work to better the lives of people. That is more than enough for me. It is worst when even the head of state believes that she deserves to be rich and deserves to be a billionaire because she believes she and her family were deprived of these riches when her father lost the political game to a more powerful man. 


President Noynoy is just a simple man, with a simple mission---prove to the world that we Filipinos, are capable of changing ourselves for the better. That is enough for me. I will not demand more than this because this is simply what the Filipinos want. 


The Filipinos do not want to tackle the issue of sovereignty because evidently, we are as sovereign as any other nation. There is no singular foreign power that dominates our affairs. There is, however, a perception, that the US does manage our affairs, but, these are all perceptions.


When Arroyo was in power, the very perception that the Chinese government dominate our affairs was as palpable as my pulse. Every contract in government was granted to Chinese firms. The president even played golf with them. 


All Filipinos want is a fair share of his contributions to society. We pay our taxes and it is just fair that we get good governance. 


We follow the laws and it is just fair that those who have will also follow them to the letter. 


We respect the authority of some over others and it is just fair that they who were vested of this authority respect the rights of those below them.


The bottomline is simple--those who will seek the destruction of this administration will do so out of their very evil intention of regaining what they lost. 


And when a government faces this challenge from people who think highly of themselves it is best for the people to support that government than support people with irreverent designs. 


The only thing that will lead to the downfall of this government is simply, the incompetence of its people. 


What people do not know is simply this--this administration, for all its weakness, has the Filipino People behind it. Any and all attempts at destabilization and or weakening the Power it has right now, will all be perceived as naked power grabs. 


By the way, even if they succeed know this---the inevitable civil war looms in the horizon. This civil war will not be in the name of any ideology nor motivated by nationalism or the fight for freedom. No.


This war will definitely be a war where competing economic and political forces will fight themselves to the death, knowing full well that the prize is a trillion dollar. Whoever wins, becomes a billionaire. This is a parable. Whoever has ears, listen. Whoever has eyes, look. 

Dr. Zeus Salazar and Pantayong Pananaw

Dr. Zeus Salazar, the ideological giant in the University of the Philippines academic community is one of my History professors. I met him yesterday. He was eating with his relatives at Cravings. And he loved C2 or Classic Cuisine, which is a fusion of Filipino food with other flavors. Kudos to Chef Menoy for such a very creative menu.


Anyway, Salazar is the one who wrote numerous tracts on Pantayong Pananaw, a theoretical construct which, essentially, calls for Filipinos to re-examine Philippine History on the point of view of the Filipino. It is time, says Salazar, for Filipinos to speak amongst themselves. It is also time for Filipinos to look for answers to certain questions by deeply analyzing their History.


History, says Salazar, is a narrative. By a narrative, it means that it depends on the memory of People on certain substantial events in their History. History is something which we use to point the direction where we should go.


For example, when I wrote my book " Bagong Istorya: The Rise of the Filipino and other Great Stories in Philippine History", I am speaking with my fellow Filipinos. I am telling them what happened to us in the past. I am explaining things with my fellow Filipinos, so that, jointly we will be able to identify the core problems in our society, and thereafter, find solutions.


The book has a 12 point agenda which recommends solutions to the structural problems which we face. My book starts with situating the present condition to the past, and looking into the past to explain why the present looks this way.


What Salazar does not know is he provided the correct theoretical construct for our country's salvation. 


He provided the answers that we need to solve our country's problems. He is, I regard, the ideological giant who already gave us the way or the path towards our people's salvation.


BY the way, my book is still under the printing stage. If you want an electronic copy of the book, you may purchase it for US$ 9.95. I already have the electronic or e-book edition of the book. Just email me at mangubat.patricio@gmail.com.


Thanks to Kay Abella for helping me in this book. We are ever so indebted to her for giving her precious professional time reading and editing this book.


Now, one of my friends, Susan Ople, wants me to submit the book for Anvil. If there are Anvil people around, I am ready to listen. Just email me at mangubat.patricio@gmail.com

S4 or Solidarity for Sovereignty

Yesterday, an alleged anti-Aquino group published a full page ad calling on the Armed Forces of the Philippines to do its mandate and protect the interest of the Filipino People. It claims that the recent May 10, 2010 elections was a farce and unconstitutional. It claims that all elective posts should be declared vacant owing to the unconstitutionality of the polls. 


Crap.


Who legitimizes every electoral exercise but the Filipino masses? Who gives legitimacy to a democratic exercise but the very people whom the government serves?


Surely, any attempt to destabilize and/or create situations that would lead to the downfall of this government would end in disaster. For any attempt should be supported by a large majority of the People.


An intelligence source says that the group, which calls itself S4, is just monitoring the people's emotions and views. When Aquino's ratings fall, that, says the source, would be the opportune time for the group to move. 


Why destabilize a government with good intentions? I admit, I am one of those disappointed with the way things are in this government. But, I am not about to go to the streets and call for its downfall. No.


There are still several ways for this government to redeem itself. One of those is remind all these incompetents within Aquino's cabinet to get themselves a conscience and boot themselves out of office, for the sake of Pnoy. 


If at all, this government would fall, it would surely fall by the weight of incompetence of its own people.


And definitely the YOU will not be a part of such an enterprise to declare this government illegitimate. YOU listens to the views and opinions of people. No one right now has the wrong mind to say that this government is illegal. No.


Which government was declared and considered largely illegal by the people? It was the former government of Arroyo who allegedly won the 2004 elections through fraudulent means. 


The YOU will definitely stand by the Filipino People. 

Manny Pacquiao trains hard for Antonio Margarito fight

Manny Pacquiao has been criticized for including "singing" as part of his training. The Sarangani Congressman and the world's number one pound-for-pound fighter has been busy training for his fight with Mexican fighter Antonio Margarito. Several analysts have predicted a knockout win by Margarito. That's why the Pacman is definitely not letting his guard down.


Margarito is your natural welterweight. He is taller than the pacman, can pack a punch harder and stronger than the Pacman and is even faster than the Pacman.  Margarito does not need to add weight to be a welterweight. He moves easier than someone like the Pacman who needed to add more pounds in his small frame to make the grade.


That's essentially the problem with this fight. The Pacman is fighting someone whose tough and is hungry for recognition. Yes, the Pacman fought taller and stronger opponents before. Margarito, however, is different. 


The Mexican fighter is known as one of those who really trains hard for a fight, possibly even as tough as Pacquiao. Pacquiao's training is being beamed live and direct to Antonio, while the Mexican fighter's camp is silent. No one knows how extensive Margarito's training is. But, it is sure as brutal as the Pacman's.


The only hope for the Pacman is his speed. He must connect with his legendary 1-to-2 punch. The Pacman must weave his way out of tight situations. Margarito would definitely use his height and longer reach to defeat the Pacman. Surely, Margarito will tip the scales at 151 lbs, the heaviest fighter that the Pacman at 145 lbs will face in his entire career.


Everyone knows that the heavier the fighter is, the stronger his punch becomes. A boxer unleashes those jabs using the entire weight of his body. The heavier, the better. 


Margarito also enjoys a 73 inch reach advantage over 67 inch of the Pacman. 


For all of these, I think this bout on November 13 will actually be decided on who has the stronger will to win and who has the heart. 


Margarito may have his height and reach advantage, but if he does not have what the Pacman and the rest of the 90 million Filipinos who will be rooting for him come fight night, then, he'll surely lose. And I don't want to tell Margarito what we have against him. He has to figure it for himself. 

Chevron raises pump prices while we suffer

While the Northern parts of our country suffers in agony over this natural catastrophe, Chevron raises its pump prices of gasoline and kerosene by 25 and 50 cents respectively. 


I don't know about you, but this act is definitely one of the most deplorable and sickening thing I have ever witnessed in my entire life.


Chevron and the rest of these giant oil companies have been getting a lot of monies from us. They are getting billions of dollars from us. And they have the gall to raise prices at a time when we most need help.


Chevron's heart is as black as that gooey liquid they are selling. Imagine, at least 3,000 families are now suffering from the brunt of Typhoon Megi and here you are, an oil giant, raising your pump prices. 


Is this economic sabotage or what? I mean, come on!


These oil giants did it at the height of Typhoon Ondoy. When everybody's licking their wounds from the devastation wrought by the typhoon, these oil companies raised their fuel prices. And they are doing it again now. 


Government must interfere. Government must stomp their feet down. Pnoy must not let companies capitalize from our misery.

Megi is an opportunity for Filipinos everywhere to unite

President Noynoy Aquino has just ordered all government contingency teams to look after the welfare of people who will be affected by super typhoon Megi. Packing winds of about 250 kilometers per hour, meteorologists even of China described Megi as the strongest typhoon ever this year. 


Megi, which turns into Juan when it enters the Philippine area of responsibility, barreled towards Northern Luzon last night. Pagasa expects it to hit landfall by today. Affected areas have been placed with their corresponding typhoon signals. 


Aside from government, people, especially private companies, should also be ready. We must not allow government to just be the one who will shoulder the cost of helping our fellow Filipinos. I urge every one, every single Filipino, to be ready and be involved in reconstruction when this typhoon hits us. We should help Filipinos in the Northern provinces who are expected to be affected by this super typhoon. 


This is the most opportune time for us to show our unity as a people. In many instances in the past, we have shown the world how we Filipinos exercise Kabayanihan. 


Kabayanihan, an inherent Filipino trait, is an example of how Filipinos love their fellow men. Kabayanihan is an admirable trait which we Filipinos should always exercise not just when there's a contingency like this. It should always be our daily ritual in life, to help others who are far lesser in life than us. 

Pilipinas Shell charged with 24 billion tax case (Thank you Customs!)

Yes, I admit. 


IN several entries here, I lambasted Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez for not lifting a finger against smugglers and tax evaders. Now, I am saying "thank you" to him for this singular effort to recover 24 billion pesos from Pilipinas Shell. 


I am extremely overjoyed that the administration is finally starting to regain its moral compass and starting to really go after these big-time smugglers, tax evaders, and criminal lords in barongs. I hope this is not the usual ningas cogon.


I am very happy that I will just quote the entire Philippine Daily Inquirer article about Pilipinas Shell tax evasion case. Thank you, Mr. Alvarez for a job well done.


Biggest ever: P24-B tax case filed vs Shell 

By Nikko Dizon
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:45:00 10/15/2010

Filed Under: State Budget & Taxes, Smuggling, Crime and Law and Justice, Oil & Gas - Downstream activities, Graft & Corruption

MANILA, Philippines—The Bureau of Customs Thursday filed with the justice department a P24.5-billion complaint against the local unit of oil giant Royal Dutch Shell, accusing the company of evading import duties and taxes in what could be the country’s biggest smuggling case.
“This criminal complaint should prove to everyone that President Aquino’s campaign against smuggling, corruption and other economic crimes respects no sacred cows,” Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez said at a press conference in the justice department.
Edgardo Chua, the chair of Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., said his company had “never, ever engaged in smuggling. That’s against our business principles.”
In its 18-page complaint backed by 17 brown folders of invoices and other documents, the customs bureau accused Pilipinas Shell of “intentional misclassification and misdeclaration” of its various petroleum imports from 2004 to 2009 to avoid the payment of excise duties and value-added taxes (VAT).
In what Alvarez described as the biggest claim ever against a suspected smuggler, the government is seeking the payment of P24.5 billion in unpaid taxes and additional penalties.
‘Totally ridiculous’
Still, Chua belittled the government case. “We are one of the biggest taxpayers in the country. This charge is totally, totally, shall we say, ridiculous,” he said, adding the company has yet to see the complaint.
Named respondents in the complaint were Nigel Avila, Pilipinas Shell country tax manager; Brian Khriz Acosta, Carolyn Francisco, Ma. Cristina Rago, and Janice de los Reyes, Pilipinas Shell employees who signed the import entries; customs brokers Diosdado Bagon, Jorge Pascual Jr., and Mary Grace Maleon; and other John and Jane Does.
Alvarez said 52 import entries filed from 2007 to 2009 showed that Pilipinas Shell’s shipments of unleaded gasoline were “intentionally misclassified” as tetrapropylene under the Harmonized System (HS) Code.
The customs commissioner said this was “a ploy to cheat the government of billions of pesos,” as tetrapropylene was not among the articles under the National Internal Revenue Code subject to excise tax.
He said the misclassification in the 52 import entries defrauded the government of P2.5 billion in excise duties and VAT.
Between August 2005 and December 2008, Pilipinas Shell also allegedly misdeclared its imports as catalytic cracked gasoline (CCG) or light catalytic cracked gasoline (LCCG). Documents issued by Shell International Eastern Trading Co. and other shipping companies, however, described the shipments as unleaded premium gasoline—which has a higher tax rate.
Alvarez said the misdeclaration deprived the government of P385.8 million in revenues.
“With the twin acts of misdeclaration and misclassification, the government lost at least P2.7 billion worth of excise and value-added taxes,” he said.
800-percent surcharge
Alvarez said the Tariff Customs Code of the Philippines provided that fraudulent acts and practices committed by the accused could be penalized by as much as 800 percent of the taxes owed the government.
In this case, the surcharge amounted to P21.8 billion. Thus, the bureau is demanding P24.5 billion from Pilipinas Shell.
Alvarez said that the smuggling case against Pilipinas Shell was different from the P7.3-billion tax collection case against Pilipinas Shell pending before the Court of Tax Appeals.
Chua, however, said Pilipinas Shell believed the complaint was covered in the pending case.
The Aquino administration, which took office on June 30, has launched a high-profile campaign against tax evasion and smuggling under its Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) and Run After The Smugglers (RATS) programs.
Prior to the Pilipinas Shell case, the cases unveiled each week since July involved relatively small amounts and none has yet made it to court, prompting analysts to say the Aquino administration needed to show more to convince investors it was serious in stamping out corruption. With a report from Reuters

Magdalo soldiers deserve freedom

Even without Proclamation 50 which announces the grant of amnesty to the "Magdalo" soldiers, the fact remains--they will get their day in court. They will get justice. Why? Because it was evident that what they did was not illegal nor criminal. There was no coup d'etat.


Some public intellectuals say the proclamation would set a very bad precedent. I don't believe so. The action of these soldiers was not unconstitutional. No. It was well within their rights to express themselves, even in such a weird situation, as going to a hotel to do it. 


The implications of such a proclamation would actually be beneficial for the country. It aims to make a closure to the issue. This, I think, is one of the best decisions of Aquino.


However, is this a way to appease the military? Of course not. The Magdalos are just a part of the organization. It would not serve as a deterrent for other groups with personal political motives to move against the administration, if they so desire. 

Is Justice secretary De Lima out of the loop already?

The hostage crisis that changed the administration

Is De Lima out of the presidential loop already? It seems like it. The Justice secretary admitted much in her interviews, shortly after President Aquino released the diluted IIRC report and the grant of Amnesty Proclamation no. 50. De Lima admitted she was not consulted by the President in these two things, which, traditionally, are consulted to the chief of the justice department. It seems that Ed de Mesa and Ochoa are more than enough legal counsels for the president. 


I remember one threat made by De Lima that she will resign if Aquino does not fully support the findings of the IIRC report. Aquino did not and instead targetted policemen and even the Office of the Ombudsman as his fall guys. De Lima, it seems, is staying. 


The Hongkong administrative state has expressed their sorrow over the IIRC report. Senator Joker Arroyo also expressed his dismay, saying that the review was undertaken by those of lesser minds.


This also is very alarming. Joker is right on saying that how, then, will the palace, treat the report of the Truth Commission, chaired by no less than a former Chief Justice? Will it undergo the same process? Imagine the scenario of a report written by a former Chief Justice and then put into scrutiny by lesser mortals such as Ochoa and de Mesa? 


It also puts this administration in moral question---what is their interpretation of truth? Is it legal or factual truth? So, now, truth and justice now depends on the opinions of two people?


Likewise, this is also very dangerous. Are we now saying that all reports or at least those undertaken by the Justice department are to be reviewed first by the Executive secretary and the presidential legal counsel before being released to the public? 

Top 10 Women for Noynoy Aquino

Totoo ba ito?

Now that the word is out, who do you think deserves to be our President's girlfriend and maybe, our very First Lady under the Aquino administration? Let's name some beautiful bachelorettes out there.


1. Riza Hontiveros---responsible, principled, intelligent and more importantly, beautiful.


2. Georgina Wilson---top A-list. beautiful, intelligent, comes from a very respected family and young.


3. Miriam Quiambao---beauty queen, intelligent, conversationalist, sexy and young.


4. Pinky Webb--beautiful, young, intelligent.


5. KC Concepcion---beautiful, sexy, young, intelligent, socially-conscious, UN Ambassador.


6. Heart Evangelista---recognized as one of Asia's most beautiful faces, young, uncommitted, belongs to one of the country's most respected families. 


7. Dina Bonnevie---not too young, but highly intelligent, beautiful, sexy and still, un-married. Knows how to raise kids.


8. Kim Chiu---voted as one of the most beautiful and sexiest Asian, intelligent.


9. Sam Pinto---statusque, beautiful, intelligent and highly conversant.


10. Abigail Ferriol---Kalinga partylist representative.


Who's your pick? Vote now!

Noynoy Aquino-Shalani Soledad Split: The True Reason

Patricia Ann Roque

What is the TRUE REASON behind the split of Valenzuela councilor Shalani Soledad and President Noynoy Aquino III? Is it because of the president's busy schedule? No, according to a very deep source. Is it because Noynoy is now enamoured by the beauty of a Malacanang reporter? Yes, probably.

And what is the name of this ABC 5 reporter, now reportedly the apple of the president's eye? It is none other than former child star Patricia Ann Roque, who is now covering the Malacanang beat. 

Patricia or "Trish" Ann Roque is reportedly the president's "crush". The twenty two year old Trish is a journalism graduate of the University of the Philippines in Diliman. (Birthday: June 26, 1988)

Trish used to be Eat Bulaga Little Miss Philippines. She graduated from Holy Spirit before deciding to study at the UP. She has a string of TV shows under her belt. 

I met Trish a couple of times before and she seems like a young Bernadette Sembrano. She's lovable. She's dead serious about her craft. And I think, given a couple of more years, she'll blossom into one of our country's most respected journalists. 

Fell out of love?

Is it surprising to know that Noynoy fell for the charms of a reporter? Nope. When he was still a Congressman, Noynoy had a long relationship with Ms. Korina Sanchez (now the better half of Noynoy's buddy, Mar Roxas) and of course, the former GMA7 reporter and now ABS-CBN anchor (married na po siya) Bernadette Sembrano-Aguinaldo.

If this is true, then, the age gap between Noynoy and his current flame is about 28 years. Wow. Talk about a sugar daddy, joke!

Now, what caused the split of Shalani and Noynoy? Is it because of the rumoured love child of Shalani, whom she had with her former boyfriend, Atty. Jimboy Cabochan?

Atty. Jimboy Cabochan is a dashing lawyer gentleman from a political clan in Bulacan. According to Valenzuela sources, Cabochan and Shalani used to date and in fact, sired a child. There is no confirmation yet about this and I would love the two to clarify this before the public since Shalani is a public figure.

Sources say Shalani reportedly went back to Jimboy's arms or is dating another official from the Valenzuela city council. The break up actually happened not just this month, but a few months ago. At that time, there was still no third party involved. The couple just reportedly went their separate ways. Inside sources however revealed that it was that rumor about Shalani's past romantic liaisons that irked the Aquino family, most especially Noynoy's elder sister. 

Now, if you are expecting that this relationship between Noynoy and Roque is the last one, think again.

In an interview with Noynoy, here is his take on relationships:

Matters Of The Heart

"Did I ever ask Dad about girls and sex? No, he was the one who asked me! (laughs).

"Yes, even when Dad was incarcerated I did have girlfriends. The first was when I was 18. I took our separation hard. I would fall asleep in the middle of my thoughts and I couldn’t laugh.

"I also had a girlfriend while we were in Boston. I’ve had other girlfriends but sometimes I think that maybe singlehood might be part of my fate. I learned in a Philosophy class that if something unexpected happens, maybe it’s pointing you to other paths.

"Having the Aquino name (somehow leads to) a transition phase – a lot of my ex-girlfriends start off aloof before we become super close.

"I’m single now. Pagod na ang puso ko! (laughs)

"I was in a car with a nephew who’s in high school and he asked me, ‘Mauuna pa ba akong ikakasal sa ’yo?’ And my reaction was ‘Ibaba sa kotse! (laughs)

"Sometimes I wonder (when I break up with someone) if it would have been better not to have said ‘hello’ and spared each other the pain.

"How romantic can I get? If I don’t pass the test na hindi ako plastic, ’di ko ginagawa (romantic gestures). So sometimes she (a girlfriend) might say, ‘Ang tagal naman bago dumating (romantic gestures).’ Ayoko yung nagpapaandar ng kapwa ko, yung mina-manipulate. (Maybe that’s why) I don’t think any of my ex-girlfriends have any ill will towards me.

"As far as my love life goes, Mom is the quiet one; she does not comment unless asked.

So, there.