Splendide: The Grand China National Acrobatic Circus--One helluva Show!

WOW!

Just seeing your youngest son stupefied with wunderment, as members of the Grand China National Acrobatic Circus dominate the Araneta Coliseum stage, makes you sigh and think that it was really a good decision to watch this show. 


Like my friend, Atoy Co, who also watched the show along with his family said, sulit na sulit itong palabas. And I agree. 


For 1,300 pesos, you'll get to see and feel the excitement of seeing the lithe forms of the human body contorted beautifully before you. 


Feats of human flexibility stand before you. Makes you feel  justified forking those thousands of pesos to watch a show that promises just to be "splendide".


Well, for me and my wife and our two kids, especially my barely three year old youngest boy, the Grand China National Acrobatic Circus show is not just splendid, its spectaculicious!

The much applauded Diabolo

Spectaculicious in the sense that those acrobatic feats are truly spectacular. The imagery created in your mind, delicious!


Imagine, thirteen award-winning acts including plate-spinning, juggling, hoop dives, dancing while hanging from velvet curtains and thin poles and a whole lot more of breath-taking acrobatic acts!


Worrying that you paid more than what you got? Ha! IN this show, you'll worry why you only paid 1,300 pesos for a show that is worth several thousands of dollars more.

The Diabolo

Have seen hundreds of circuses in my lifetime, even watched those in the United States, Europe and even Singapore. 


Nothing compares to this. This is simply beautiful.


What's so special about the Grand China National Acrobatic Circus show is the lack of any additional special effects to highlight the individual acrobatic acts. What you see is pure and simple extraordinary talent. 


Example would be the Diabolo, a stunt cum dance routine which involves several young Chinese girls spinning and throwing saucer-like containers using an elastic rope ala "yo-yo". It looks very simple, but it was'nt.


The girls spin the saucers while doing triple somersaults and hand stands on their fellow acrobats' heads. Wow. They also throw the saucers while doing triple rope jumps and catching the saucers nimbly on its way down.

spinning those plates is not as easy as it looks

Woah! Pure, sheer talent, perfected through years of patience and practice.


Don't expect some exotic animal being exploited here, nor some crazy antics of a mascot with ice skates. This circus is unlike any other.


The Grand National Acrobatics Circus is a show that celebrates the human form. There are no elaborate tricks, no fire throwers or sword eaters--just plain and simple use of ordinary things and the application of sheer acrobatic talent. Plus of course, the use of music that compliments those acts on stage. 

This differentiates this show from others, such as the one at SMX and that of Resort World Manila--these two shows are your average, run of the mill circus shows, that plays up animals, freaks, magicians and what-have-you. 


If you want to watch a complete show, this is it, I tell you!


You want romance? Let that young and beautiful ballerina and her consort show you what love truly is. 


You want some naughty expressions of love? Let the beautiful umbrella girl amaze you with her "romantic liaisons" with her consort.

this will solve our humongous traffic problem

How about bicycles? Remember there was a rage for bicycles during the time of the great Chairman Mao Tsetung when he reminded his compatriots of the need for austerity. Everyone got his own bicycle. 


Imagine at least fifteen people riding just one bicycle. Sounds impossible? Wait til you see the Grand China National Circus at the Araneta Coliseum. No, make it TWENTY people riding one bike!


How did they do that? Well, practice and of course, team work. 


I was teary-eyed when I was watching the show. Why? 

My youngest kid, the bunso, was really amazed at what he was seeing on stage. His face was full of wunderment. And he claps every single time. Imagine, he's barely 3 years old, but he seems to really enjoy the show. 


I tried bothering him, trying to distract his attention. But, no. He was really so at it that nothing would really work to distract him.


This is totally different from our experience watching that fake IMAX Tron Legacy movie featured by SM IMAX at the Mall of Asia. 


I really regretted watching that movie at MOA. I forked 401 pesos for a movie that is not an IMAX movie but simply a 3-D. Talk about thievery and robbery, that was what I and my family felt when I watched at the IMAX theater at the MOA.


Anyway, at least this one is not a fake nor some show that promises to only make you poorer by the thousands. Oh, no. You'll feel that it was really worth it, going to Araneta from Makati to just watch this spectacular of a show. 


Fact is, I commend the Araneta Group of Companies, specifically UNIPROM for staging this wunderment. This is a gift to the Filipino People.


I was informed that the show would stage its last on January 3, at 6pm. Those who have'nt seen the show, you still have time to catch it at the Araneta Coliseum. I don't know the show times (there were two (?) at 2pm and 6pm), but just inquire at the Ticketnet offices. 


Don't wait. Go there now and book yourself. You'll never regret it. Come, see the show with your entire family. 


You want some patikim? Here it is:

Vizconde Massacre Update 3: Lauro fights for Justice

Whoever killed the Vizcondes nineteen years ago probably thought that the case is finally over. He and his group probably thought that Lauro, the family patriarch, already gave up when the Supreme Court decided to release Hubert Webb and several others initially suspected of being the ones who brutally murdered Lauro's wife Estrellita, raped and killed Carmela and inflicted multiple stab wounds against Jennifer, the youngest victim in the 1991 gruesome massacre which shocked the nation. 


Wrong. 


For Lauro, the Supreme Court decision is just a start of a brand new ball game. He insists that the NBI, the police and the courts did not err in tagging Hubert Webb and several prominent names as perpetuators of the crime. Fact is, Lauro believes in the testimony of the lone eye witness, Jessica Alfaro, that, indeed, Hubert Webb and the rest of his buddies committed the crime nineteen years ago. 


The Supreme Court thinks that Alfaro is a tainted witness, a liar, whose testimony was manufactured by the National Bureau of Investigation. 


Really, if you study this case, this would have been different if there were pieces of evidence presented which scientifically or forensically linked or proved the link between Webb etal and the murder or crime scene. 


Let's admit that the NBI, in those times, employed very crude methods in solving this crime. Were fingerprints lifted from the crime scene? How about the blood samples recovered from the crime scene, where were they? The agency even blundered when they lost the sperm sample recovered from the cadaver of Carmela. This would have given the courts sufficient evidence to believe or disbelieve the testimony of Alfaro.


Instead of relying on scientific evidence, this case became somewhat of "she said, he said" thing. It was never scientific from the very start. That's why the case is weak. 


Now, revisiting a 20 or so year old crime scene is still possible, if the integrity of the place is still intact. 


The NBI can still revisit the place and use sophisticated equipment available to them now, and lift pieces of vital evidence from the crime scene. 


For example, I was given the information that Mang Lauro replaced his wallpaper because it was full of blood. Where are the remnants of this wallpaper? Maybe Mang Lauro can give the investigating team those old and blood filled wallpaper for analysis. 


Now, if this is entirely not possible given the age of the crime scene, the only recourse left is circumstantial, meaning, try to re-enact or piece the recovered evidence together and picture the crime as it happened.


Four things:


1. Whoever did the crime knew the Vizcondes since they were able to go inside the house without employing force.


2. Whoever did the crime was either drug induced or hated the victims so much, they brutally inflicted wounds that an ordinary person of a stable mental condition would surely not do. 


3. Whoever did the crime did it out of spite to Carmela, who was brutally raped and stabbed repeatedly. Fact is, it is even possible that Carmela and her sister Jennifer knew the suspect since Jennifer suffered defensive wounds and was stabbed nineteen times, probably when she was trying to either defend herself or her sister from the perpetuator.


This is a very crucial aspect of the case since this proves that the perpetuator of the crime only wanted to rape Carmela, probably out to spite her, to humiliate her, not necessarily to satisfy his carnal desire. The entire crime revolved around this simple fact--the motivation was clearly rape Carmela just to spite her.


Had it been that the motivation was carnal desire, Estrellita would have been raped as well. Estrellita's body was not violated. 


If the purpose was to rob the place, then, the suspects would have carted several valuable items from the house. Estrellita's money and jewelry were all intact, save a few which were possibly stolen post-mortem. 


4. Whoever did it has or have links with Biong, the first to the scene investigator, who burned all the pieces of evidence without recording or documenting them. 


Process of elimination


1. Akyat-Bahay gang members. We all know the modus operandi of Akyat-Bahay gang members. They don't kill. They just tie up their victims and rob the place. 


Now, is it entirely possible that these criminals took a fancy of Carmela and decided to rape her? Possibly. How about kill her? Possible, but under the circumstances, least likely. 


If these suspects did the crime, then, why spare Estrellita and why inflict such mortal wounds to Carmela and her sister, Jennifer? Two mortal wounds are enough to debilitate and or kill their victims, but not nineteen stab wounds.


The wounds inflicted show you the state of mind of the perpetuator. It was not just to kill, but kill severely or kill with such brutality. Only a drug crazed individual would do this, or someone mentally unstable or passionately hate his victim.


2. Policemen or associates of Biong. There is a theory that policemen or cops did the crime. Again, this is entirely possible. If they, indeed committed the crime, then, why this brutality? Why spare Estrellita? Estrellita was just killed because she probably prevented the suspect or the suspects from reaching Carmela. 


Carmela was not raped by a gang--she was raped and killed by one man. Had one gang perpetuated the crime, they would have taken turns raping Carmela and even possibly, Estrellita. 


Likewise, the state of the crime scene showed that an amateur did the crime, someone unfamiliar with police procedures or someone unmindful of leaving traces of his crime in the scene. Had it been the police, they would have surely, and probably just killed the victims with one or two stab wounds and not twelve or nineteen stab wounds. They would have cleansed the crime scene with every trace of their own blood or skin or any pieces of evidence. These wounds show you the state of mind of the criminal when he was committing the crime. Such brutality and gruesomeness can only be committed by someone crazy enough to commit such a crime.


3. Construction workers. Possible, especially if they were under a state of drugs induced hallucination. If workers were involved, then, two things might have happened: they would have repeatedly raped Carmela and would have stolen several pieces of jewelry inside the house. They would have ransacked the house. 


Carmela, based on findings, was raped by just one man--not severally, and killed by the hand of one man. Besides, if these workers were drug crazed, they would have probably violated the entire family, including Jennifer. Jennifer was just brutally killed while defending herself and Carmela. Estrellita, again, let me say this, was not raped. 


4. The architect and his men. The architect, a close family friend of the Vizcondes, is the weakest among four possible suspects. Why? A background check revealed that the architect was not present within 5 kilometer radius of the house, had a very solid alibi, and never even dabbled in drugs. He never took a fancy of Carmela nor any member of the family. How about his men? This cannot be because those men left the place several months prior to the massacre and even if they, pre-planned the crime, and probably took a fancy of Carmela, why was Carmela raped by just one man and not several? 


5. Now, is it possible that Joey Filart, a nephew of then NCR head General Filart and his friend, Artemio Ventura, did it and not Hubert Webb? Flight, under the law, is a clear sign of complicity. 


Before Carmela died, she revealed that she rejected the overtures of a man who claims to be the son of a politician. She, however, failed to specifically identify this man to his father. 


Joey Filart and Artemio Ventura are known drug dependents in that subdivision. They are well connected. And surely, they have connections with the Paranaque police since his uncle was then the head of the NCR. Among these groups, there are only two groups who probably committed this crime: Filart and Webb.


Let's admit one thing, and every BF subdivision resident knew this eversince--Hubert Webb and his friends are not your average group of users. Everyone knows they were drug dependents. Everyone knows that they took an interest in the case post-mortem, since some of them were caught observing the crime scene when Biong and several others were conducting an investigation. 


If, the Webb group claims that they don't know each other, it's quite implausible. Tonyboy Lejano knows HUbert Webb. They belong to one group.


Besides, they did not raise it during the trials. If they were really fall guys, they did not protest this as wildly and as loudly as those Akyat Bahay gang members, who were tortured and made to admit the crime.


Hubert Webb and the rest of these suspects were not tortured. Why allow yourself to suffer more than fifteen years of incarceration if you really believe that you are innocent? An innocent guy would have raised hell back then. 


But, no. If you will just look at the demeanor of the suspects during the time when the case was being heard, they were under a state of quiet acceptance, probably they already prepared themselves psychologically that the authorities already caught them and its the end of the line for them. If they were really fall guys, they should have shouted it to high heavens when they were caught. But no, when they were arrested, their expressions were of those criminals who really did the crime.

Mar Roxas as Executive Secretary in 2011

There are talks about the possible appointment of former Senator and campaign buddy Mar Roxas as Executive secretary of President Benigno Noynoy Aquino. Other appointments, says several sources, include members of the Balai group. 


Roxas wants the Executive secretary post. He does not want to re-assume his post as Secretary of Trade and Industry.


Jose Almendras, the current Energy secretary and rumored as Ochoa's replacement instead of Roxas, stays with the Energy department. 


Several sources within Roxas camp are against the former Senator's decision. There are, however, several business groups who want Roxas as Executive secretary. 


Other Liberal candidates, including Riza Hontiveros, will be given highly sensitive posts in the Aquino administration come 2011. Hontiveros is being groomed to take care of Tourism and/or overseas Filipino workers. 


Dr. Nereus Acosta is preparing to assume the DENR post. Fact is, Nereus has prepared a set of his close associates to accompany him to the DENR.


Executive secretary Paquito Ochoa will be given a Cabinet portfolio. He is bound to lead a government agency close to the Office of the President. The current legal counsel of Aquino, a close Ochoa associate, will also be replaced. 


There are talks of Ochoa assuming the DOJ role, replacing Leila de Lima, who was rumored as the strongest candidate for the COMELEC chairmanship.


De Lima, according to sources, has quietly refused the chairmanship. De Lima's decision muddled the original plan, since there was a plan for Ochoa to replace De Lima there. Ochoa, says some sources, is expected to occupy a post which has "lesser implications". 


Aquino is scouting for a reputable "Constitutionalist" and/or "election lawyer" to assume the COMELEC chairmanship. There is, however, several talk of a Comelec commissioner being asked to chair the electoral body. This is none other than Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento. 


The DILG post will be given to a former general, while former Naga and Ramon Magsaysay awardee Robredo will be ousted from his post and given a more "non-controversial" one.


Other news include the possible integration of a political party headed by close Arroyo ally Pablo Garcia with the Liberal party. This regional aggrupation supported the legislative agenda of Speaker Sonny Belmonte. Garcia's inclusion in the administration party will make the Liberal, the strongest political party in the country.


How true? 

Ricky Razon and the May 10, 2010 Presidential elections

Mr. Ricky Razon
with a pro golfer

What was the role played by Enrique "Ricky" Razon in the last May 10 presidential elections? Ricky Razon, if you remember, became a national celebrity when he figured prominently in the ZTE-NBN deal expose led by his friend, Joey de Venecia III. 


However, even prior to the ZTE-NBN scandal, Ricky Razon's name came up as the "business genius" behind the world-wide expansion of the only Filipino international port operator. Razon, who belonged to the old Spanish rich families, is one of the country's richest men. He got his wealth through sheer hard work. Some friends who know him, tells of a man who is very intelligent and is PR savvy. He is the quintessential business genius, who quietly carved his empire without encountering any major problems with government, unlike other businessmen who used their clout just to get economic concessions.


For Razon, his role in Philippine society is of a kingmaker. Yes, Mr. Enrique "Ricky" Razon is a political player, a Machivelli of sorts, who knows how to play the game and play it like a pro.


A Forbes article described him as a tough cookie, a "tough sonavagun." And he is. 


Everyone knows that Razon is a very close associate of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. He is a strong supporter of the former president's administration because his business, which is port operations, rise and fall, depending on who's in power. The Arroyos are not just Razon's business or political ally, the Razons are close family friends. 


As a family friend, Razon treated the Arroyos to extravagant and lavish dinners, one of them, the infamous Le Cirque dinner.


Some tongues wag that Razon's role in the Arroyo administration was not just the one who gets a wad of money from his own pocket to finance a last supper, oh, no. 


Razon was, according to sources, a close confidante, whose counsel in terms of investments was clearly valued by the former official family. 


Fact is, according to deep sources, Razon was the one who orchestrated the ZTE-NBN deal. He chose the players there, and his New York connections were used in solidifying the deal which would have given the Philippines a very stable communications network.


Some say that Razon knows the Arroyos investments abroad. And some of the money from these investments, wagging tongues say, were used to finance not Gloria Arroyo's candidate, oh no. 


Razon's money, according to malicious insiders, were used to fund Aquino's presidential campaign.


Here is what happened, according to deep business sources.


Sometime in November of 2009, Razon through certain friends from the Aquino camp, offered to finance his campaign. Aquino, according to sources, reportedly rejected the offer. 


Razon, by this time, according to sources, hold certain aces in the operation of the elections, including source codes and all. Razon, says these unimpeachable sources, is not just full of money, he also knows how to reportedly manipulate the results of the elections.


So, it was not just money that Razon was reportedly offering. It was the very prospect of winning the elections.


Despite Aquino's rebuff, two very close Aquino supporters led by Tonyboy Cojuangco and Rapa Lopa, continued liaising with the Razon camp. 


Tonyboy, says sources, opened the backdoor for Razon's "investments" and his "election operators" to take part in the yellow campaign. He was, based on stories shared by very close operators during the elections, very active as a silent representative of the previous administration and that of the FVR group.


Razon's role became extremely important during the most crucial moment of counting the votes. Some very deep Comelec sources say that the real winner of the May 10, 2010 presidential elections was former president Joseph Estrada. The real score, says these sources, was of Erap leading Noynoy Aquino by roughly 800,000 votes. 


During those crucial midnight hours, it was decided that the win should be given to Noynoy since an Erap win would cause instability. 


Certain quarters say that the real winning score was that of Binay's. The rest of the winners, including those who won the Senatorial race, were reportedly manipulated to favor the May pre-election survey results. This, says certain sources, was done to divert attention away from what was happening in the presidential results, which were being manipulated. The quieter sectors are, the best it was for the operators of the presidential results.


Now, the question really is--what was the compromise given to Erap to "shut his mouth" and not "contest the results of the May 10, 2010 presidential elections"?


I know, I know. This sounds as something out of a "conspiracy" movie. But, if you only know who shared these stories to this writer, you'll probably believe them since these people are quite prominent. 


The only question is, what were the concessions made by Razon with the Aquino camp? Does this include the non-prosecution of Gloria Arroyo and her mafia gang? Does this include the stay of many of Arroyo's trusted lieutenants in the government bureaucracy?


2011 will be a very crucial year for the new Aquino administration for two (2) things: one, the expected Cabinet revamp. Will Aquino replace his current Cabinet with those nominated by business groups surrounding him?

Rizal's death was no trigger

As an historiographer, let me correct the popular perception that Rizal's execution on the thirtieth of December 1896 sparked the 1896 Revolution. Far from it.

Rizal's execution was not the trigger that led to the August Revolt. No. It was his arrest and detention that Filipinos interpreted as a sign that there was no other recourse but to fight foreign aggression.

Had the Spaniards allowed Rizal to live, history would have been different. Rizal, for many people, was the symbol of compromise, of a reformist whose thoughts were about assimilation, not independence. Political independence was farthest from Rizal's mind when he went back from Hongkong. Rizal came back upon the prodding of his Masonic brothers in Manila to unify the disparate Masonic lodges who were at odds at each other.

There was the National Katipunan War Society led by Arellano and Bonifacio who were for independence. And there were the Compromisarios led by Ilustrados such as Apolinario Mabini and others who see salvation not thru arms but thru compromise and reformism.

Rizal had just been given the honor of being the spiritual icon for reform. His arrest justified the use of aggression against aggression, and totally threw the entire Reform Movement into disarray. 

For all its worth, Rizal's death was meant to stop further Filipino resistance against Spanish rule.  The Spaniards thought that by repeating the brutality they so inflicted against Filipino reformists in 1872, that would quell the revolt. What the Spanish did, instead, was inflict upon themselves the final death knell. 

Rizal's sacrifice was meant to justify the use of arms. Filipinos never stopped their revolution after his execution. His execution justified the use of arms. His death unified the various forces of Filipino society to rally behind the banner of revolution.

As we commemorate Rizal's great sacrifice today, let us also not forget the extreme sacrifices of other Filipinos, especially those who belonged to the masses, who fought, and died before the altar of the Revolution. These men, most of them faceless and nameless, fought not just for themselves, but for their fellow Filipinos. 

How many of us would actually sacrifice our lives so that others may live?

Apology

Brigadier General Danilo Lim says that there's nothing to apologize for. Lim says that the proclamation order which President Benigno Aquino III wrote says nothing of apologies. A comment which the Palace issued says that for Lim and the others to qualify for amnesty, they have to apologize for trying to oust the previous administration. 


What is to apologize for? Apologies are given only by those who really committed wrongdoing. Is it wrong to militate against an immoral and illegitimate government? No. It is well within the rights of individuals. It is dictated by our consciences as Filipinos that we always rise up whenever a government oppresses the people with its policies and when the very same government pursues an elitist democracy rather than open democracy.


The blood that flows within our veins always tell us that when we see oppression, when we see immorality and when we experience the effects of mis-governance coupled with graft and corruption, we never allow such things to happen. As Filipinos, it is in our nature that we fight off corrupt men and women occupying sensitive positions in government. 


Lim and the rest of those who militated against the previous administration need not apologize. It should be the other way around--Gloria and her bunch of barung-clad thieves should apologize, nay, even, punished for their wrongdoings and their large-scale thievery during these nine years. 


Gloria Arroyo and her gang should be put to jail. Gloria Arroyo should be crucified for her evil ways. There is no other form of justice left for her and her gang of misfits. Why?


Arroyo's nine year misgovernance have set back the very gains generated by previous administrations in terms of lessening poverty incidences. Our current state is such a deplorable one that we must make faster our efforts at developing the economy for the benefit of the people. People are fast losing Hope, Mr. President, and it is incumbent upon all the leaders of this country, to unite behind one common agenda--that is, improving the quality of life of Filipinos. 


But before we undertake this great entreprise of re-building our Nation, we must first give the People justice. Justice is what we need. Justice is what we desire.

Gloc9 Lando--one of the best rap songs I ever heard

Will I start calling my friends "dude"?


Hehehe. Anyway, for the past few days, I've been immersing myself with Francis M and Gloc9 songs, and really, these songs are amazing. They are meaningful. Gloc9 sings with conviction, me pinaghuhugutan, a trademark of a great rap artist.


Gloc9 and Francis M are two of the greatest rap artists of our time, representing two generations. Listen to their music. Enjoy and think.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!


Though its really hard to say that this day is really Jesus Christ's birthday (biblical scholars say Jesus was born either on the last week of September or the first week of October), nonetheless, best that we have this day to rest our souls and re-kindle old ties. 


Its alright if this is not Jesus' birthday, the fact that we have one day in a year when we celebrate with friends, get some extra money from greedy capitalists and at least enjoy some special food, these things are enough to justify this day, a holiday.


Its good for everyone, really, to enjoy this day. I have two more days to go before I go again to the office and present something to my boss. Until then, I have the time to spend it with my kids. 


Christmas is really for giving and what do we really give to people? Our love, and our souls. That we must always do.


Doing simple things every single day realizes the changes that we envision.


The more we change, our environment changes with us. 


Let us realize this by next year.

Gloc9 "Upuan" and "Balita"--the best Pinoy rap songs ever

I'm a pure rocker. I never appreciated rap music except now.


Gloc9 is one helluva a rapper. He raps with substance. He inspires me. Two songs in particular, Upuan and Balita struck me as very, very good rap music. If you don't believe me, check out this music video. Mabangis ka talaga GLOC9. Keep it up man! You made a believer out of me.

What's in Canada? A chat with an old friend

When I was still a young reporter back in 1994, I met a young couple at the Pasay Press club, the first press corps that I ever decided to member with. 


Macon Araneta was, back then, writing and doing editing jobs at the old Manila Times. MT was then with the Roces' and I think Malou Mangahas was still the EIC(?). Anyway, Macon and I hit it off as good friends, along with her husband, Sandy, who was a Manager of Fedex but started as a journalist way back in 1984. 


Pasay Press Corps was just one solid organization back then, with Macon, Jemma (Tempo), Gigi de Vera (Malaya), Mike Frialde (Star), Nick Ferrer (Star), and of course, who could forget Roy Mabasa (Bulletin). James Catapusan and Elena Aben (of the Manila Bulletin) were my friends and mentors then. Aben used to be a member of my organization at UP, the Kabataan Para sa Bayan or Kabayan. Ariel Fernandez was a very young reporter of an unknown radio station and I was then, reporting for Radio Veritas. Glenda Galuno was also there and of course Mario of Pilipino Star Ngayon. Robert Requintana goes there every so often.


We were very big at that time, and whenever one goes, the rest of the group goes with him. When someone from the print group gets a story, we from the radio group reports it as it is. 


As we age, we of course, went on different ways. Most of the people I wrote here, continued on their journalistic careers while I, well, changed my path---from an investigative reporter, to a Marketing and PR manager. But, we managed to keep our ties very close and our communication lines open.


Yesterday, I met my long time friend, Sandy. For more than 10 years, he's been writing for a major newspaper. And he's waiting for his chance to go to Canada.


Why, I asked, when there are opportunities here? He told me that the economy is still bad. The things that we are seeing right now do not reflect the real score. He predicted that the economy will go south by next year. 


I asked why? He said that this new administration will mismanage things and this will impact greatly on the economy. He's apprehensive of the future, and therefore, decided that it's time to leave. 


He has just applied his entire family for Canada. His brother is there, along with his family. Our friend, Mio Cusi, is also in Canada. 


I told him, I have a friend, Geo Aguila who just got married here and migrated to Canada. If I remember, Geo married his girlfriend here and went off to find their future somewhere else. 


My conversation with Sandy struck me. How many people think this way? How many Filipinos think this way but somehow was'nt reflected in the surveys? Is there an undercurrent of hopelessness, that somehow, the media and the survey firms did not identify or failed to identify?


My friend has been with the media for decades, and opportunities abound in the area of business. But, no. He says there is nothing to hope for any longer. He lives comfortably with his family and his daughter and apo in Las Pinas, and he has no financial trouble. Yet, he, along with his wife, are thinking of migrating to Canada. 


I experienced living abroad, and yes, the economic situation there is better than ours. Yet, it is still best to live in one's country. There are certain things that we treasure here that you'll only find here, not anywhere else. 


Anyway, that chat kept me thinking--why not? I give myself one year. If things will not improve here, then, off to Canada I go. 

Bayanihan

IMagine Filipino soldiers wearing traditional barung saya, with a guitar in tow, serenading the poorest folks in Bicol. Imagine them carrying a traditional nipa hut on their shoulders while the rest of them help the poorest of the poor in their field work.


No, no, no, this is not a dream. This basically sums up the new anti-insurgency strategy of the AFP which they call "Bayanihan."


From "Bantay Laya" which is militarist in approach, the new approach is a sing and dance routine called "bayanihan" or civil-military work. Engagement is thru civil works not thru an armed encounter. Meaning, the new definition of an "encounter" really is "engagement."


What would be the effects of this new strategy? Well.


First, this will re-model or re-imagine the image of the Filipino soldier in the countryside. This strategy is more of an image-building one, than anything. 


What the AFP wants is supplant or represent the national government in insurgency infested areas. If we are to look in the map, insurgency breeds in largely poverty stricken areas, and these areas are mainly away from the centre of power. IN our system, the farther you are from the center, the lesser you reap the economic benefits of whatever growth the government gets. 


Insurgency hotspots highlight the inability of government to extend its power over these territories. The lesser government presence is in those areas, the higher the possibility of rebel control. When people feel neglected, they then turn to alternatives. The supplantation of government therefore completes itself when the entire area gives the revolutionaries the power to administer their daily affairs.


Now, it would take some years for the AFP to fully change their image, from an oppressor to a friendly. It would also take some years for the people to turn from frightened and oppressed masses to a cooperative one simply because of years' of barbarity some AFP units did in certain areas of the country.


It would, therefore, not be as easy as the State envisions this to be, simply because Filipinos have long memories especially those living in agrarian areas. 


Second, a more engaging role for the AFP means lesser fights and encounters and more negotiations than actual engagement. This would mean, lesser allocation for bullets and guns and more allocation for civil works, especially road works. This is a good strategy because even if this strategy fails to quell the decades-old rebellion in the countrysides, in the long run, this benefits the entire polity. 


However, I feel extremely optimistic if the AFP applies this strategy in Mindanao. For one, the Bangsamoros only desire is peace. If the AFP manages to dismantle their Tadtads and other para-military units in the area and replace them with civil-military teams, this would probably lessen the incidence first, of criminality and second, of insurgency. If the AFP manages to position itself as a harbinger of peace instead of death, then, the organisation may be able to solve the peace and order problem in Mindanao, quicker and faster than what other generations of AFP generals failed to accomplish. 


This happens on the ground, what about at the top? If the AFP thinks that centralised authority will be completely crippled when individual units "cooperate" with them thru "Bayanihan", that is a long shot. First, the centralised authority is completely ideological and political. It would take a long convincing for old revolutionaries to consider peace than revolutionary work. 


By the way, that image of a soldier carrying a nipa hut on their shoulders should probably raise alarm bells, if implemented in the countrysides. Why? Because people might suspect that they are being hamletted to some area away from their actual homes. Joke.


It would be nice if we see a coalition government spring from this new administration. That is the political solution to this decades-old insurgency---giving power to those whose lives have been dedicated to the advancement of the people's cause. 

My loyalty is to my country, not to Pnoy

I don't know about you, but whenever someone asks me where my loyalties lie as a Patriot, I'll tell them that my loyalty is with the Filipino People. 


I may agree with most of the things President Noynoy Aquino does or I may even declare that my thoughts are often more Socialist than any other, but when loyalties are being asked, I declare that I am loyal to the Filipino People, not to someone or some political or ideological aggrupation. 


That's why many people are somewhat puzzled by the twin announcements of Generals Danny Lim and Senator Antonio Trillianes IV. General Lim and Trillianes were granted freedom by the courts after President Aquino signed an amnesty proclamation for them. A few days later, Lim was quoted as saying (in a RAM reunion) that he will cooperate with the present administration. Trillianes told the same thing yesterday. Trillianes admitted being a partner of the Aquino administration and will stay as not as an outside critic but as an active partner of the new administration. 


I often wonder why I remain as an active revolutionist. Simple: I belong to the masses and am part of the masses. I was not born with a proverbial silver spoon in my mouth. I understand the condition of the Filipino Masses. That's why whatever I write here, crooked, funny, interesting or just plain simple here, I write it as that so that I may be understood not just by the elites or the middle class who reads this blog (thanks!), but moreso by those who belong to my class. 


In fact, I don't need to tell the masses that they are oppressed. They know it already. I am writing stuff so that the middle and the upper classes may clearly understand the condition of the poor folks in the ground. 


And I am under the impression that these two highly esteemed Patriots and gentlemen at that, also took the least taken road for just one cause---the Cause of the poor Filipinos. 


Many people identified themselves with the Cause of the Bagong Katipunan and its predecessors, the RAM and the YOU, because their dream of seeing a New Philippines arise from the old, is a "dream that shall never die". 


Many believe in the cause of the Bagong Katipunan because it reflects the age-old yearning of the Filipino to see this country become great again.


Politically, one links or ascribes himself with this administration because, for one, this administration strives or at least tries to be progressive--something which previous administrations never even thought of being. 


Pnoy, for all his so-called "neophyte blunders", at least blunders or errs on the side of Right, instead of wrong. Others like Arroyo blunders on the side of Wrong and immorality.


However, one thing that I often ask myself is this---where will the struggle go and up to when will we, those who want to regain the glory of this Country, struggle? 


The answer lies as simple as the sun sets in the West and rises in the East--it is when the opportunities present in this society become equal--when the poor and ordinary Person working or non-working would be able to say that he enjoys the same rights as those working and filthy rich. 


When one Filipino can proudly say that his country belongs to the elites, when his country takes care of its people the same way as the People take care of their government, that, I think is the sign, of the setting of the revolutionary Sun. And that scene, I pray, happens during my lifetime. 

Christmas holiday in the Philippines--no difference?

It's like days before Christmas, and despite the glittering lights and the occasional news of people rushing for late holiday shopping, seems like there's a general feeling of melancholy in the air. 


I don't know, it's like people are not celebrating or are happy of the way things are happening lately in our country. Most of the people I talked with, says that they were glad to hear that there's new money, but the most often remark was "me tao sa pera, pero tao, alang pera."


Admit it---most people don't really feel the change in our environment.


President Aquino, like his predecessors, often harp on the improved business environment. Yet, the perennial problem seems to be the absence of an effective mechanism that allows the steady flow of these benefits or economic fruits from the top down to the bottom rungs of society. The spill over effects do not redound to the benefit of those clearly in need. 


In a capitalist system, this is reflected in the giving of bonuses or 13th month pays. 13th month pays are mandated by law. Bonuses are not. 


In a capitalist system, this should reflect on improved employment rates and lowered inflation. 


Aquino said that in the last six months, the administration managed to get billion dollar investments. And Aquino is not lying. He is actually telling the truth. 


However, people are not really feeling the effects of these pronouncements simply because they are not deals that would clearly take effect immediately. These are strategic investments that takes a long time to mature and takes a long time for the people to see and feel the changes. 


I think at the interim, this administration should do its best:


1. Lowering the prices of commodities so that people will be able to clearly feel the purchasing power of the peso.


2. Lower prices of gasoline and diesel so that the middle class will at least, enjoy the holidays. I am not travelling these days simply because of the jacked up price of diesel fuel. 


3. Make or do a constitutional body that will behave like the SSS, but in an enhanced way. People are willing to invest their savings, yet there is no government agency that will help them invest their hard-earned monies. 


I just talked with one of my staff, and she appeared lonely. She just blew away her half-month pay and her 13th month, with just one purchase of a new dress, some monies given to her parents and some to her only nephew. She's just left with a pittance. 


I myself, am clearly astonished on how a 13,500 half-month allowance would just simply last a few days. My groceries amount to about 6,000 per 15th day, while my gasoline reaches to about several thousands in just a few days. 


This is what is happening in the ground, Mr. President. 


For us to really prove to the people that changes have already taken place, we must at least improve the current situation in the ground so that people will not lose hope and still cling to the notion that change will, surely, take effect not immediately but at least in the near future.

TV5 outguns ABS-CBN2 in the ratings game

There's no doubt about it---from the last Nielsen surveys, TV5 has outgunned, outstripped and outplayed ABS-CBN 2. That 20 plus rating over some 18 or 19 plus rating over ABS-CBN 2 was something out of the extraordinary. ABS-CBN has lorded it over the airwaves since the 90's, and even the trumpeted comeback of the Kabayan did not arrest the slide of the Lopez-owned network.


And sincerely, please give the hard-working creative team of producers and editors the applause. Willie Revillame may claim wholly or in part, the credits, but I think it was really the entire team that made this possible.


Every single individual in the industry knows that this will happen sooner or later. People are really tired of seeing bloodied individuals on their tele. People are tired of the mayhem, the inexplicable corruption and the unresolved maladies of this country that they hope that at least when they went back to their homes, they would, at least see something beautiful in their television screens. 


I am not saying that we will all paint a Matrix-like reality in our teles---we will be doing the Filipino People a great disservice. 


What the Filipino masses expect us from the news industry is some simple gesture of how best we can serve them by at least being part of the solution, instead of being always the harbinger of bad news.


Gone are the days when we see journalists being asked to mediate in a crisis situation, or Kabayan blasting erring government officials away. 


When TV Patrol pitted itself against Willing Willie, the odds are really astounding. You can't defeat someone who always make people smile by giving them entertainment or at least money. 


TV Patrol, honestly, is not the same thing that it was several years ago. The reason why people always tune in is because they expect fireworks between the Kabayan and several erring officials. 


Kabayan was, at that time, the representative of the common man, who longs for answers and expect at least some assault against those who err in government. 


Clearly, people have suppressed feelings of what's happening around them. They want somebody who'll express it for them. And Kabayan is not dishing out the same aplomb and the same fire which people expect of him.


And who will do it for them?


How can ABS-CBN 2 for example, protect or champion worker's rights, when the Lopez-owned network continues to be one of the biggest anti-labor business organization in the country? 


How will ABS-CBN 2 for example, champion human rights when its big executives trample the rights of their employees especially those members of the network's union every single act of violation of labor rights?


And how will ABS-CBN 2, for example, criticize this administration or at least picture itself as "neutral", when it clearly shows its partiality every single network ad, from ABS to ANC?


For his part, Kabayan seems unwilling to don the crusader's cap simply because of his previous association with political personalities. Kabayan has lost the trust and confidence of the people because most of them now think that he is a politico. 


Likewise, despite the glitz and glamour and new technology, ABS-CBN, to some, is age-ing. People are tired of seeing those old faces with age-old antics in their screens. What they expect are new stars that would really represent the masses.


TV5 has positioned itself most excellently, probably identifying the right target audience and probably recognizing early on, the trends in television viewing. TV5 is leading in innovating the television experience, not through technology, but through content, which is more important. 


TV5 will continue to dominate the airwaves despite an injunction against Revillame. Revillame has sparked his revolution in TV5, and clearly, this cannot be undone. This is like when RPN9 made headway in pioneering the Spanish telenovela trend or when GMA7 led the industry in news innovation. 


What TV5 has demonstrated is that the most creative wins in an industry where innovation is not about technology, but about people.

Truth and Justice in the Philippines

A foreigner friend asked me--what now, Mr. Patricio, what is your take on the judicial system in your country? If I were to follow my principles as a Kabayani, I would probably tell this foreigner, it's fine. Its working perfectly well and I enjoy living in a perfectly normal and democratic society such as the one I have right now.


Crap. Bullshit.


The one that I am living under, is a system being manipulated by corrupt men, whose interests conflict with the national interest. Men of dubious character, men of sullied histories and men of such despicable interests rule these lands like feudal lords of old. 


Their only claim to fame is being more criminally minded than others. The more criminal your mind is, the more rewards you get from this discrepit and retrograding system. Rewards are given to those who can get billions from the public coffers without violating the law. Punishments are rendered to those not sophisticated enough to steal, and are quite ravenous in their thievery. 


That plea bargain agreement with Major General Carlos Garcia only shows you how twisted our system is. Imagine, you have a very strong case to prosecute this General and has, in fact, presented everything in court. Then, government had a change of heart and agreed to a plea bargain? What sort of stupidity is this, of the monumental order?


Allowing someone to keep 173 million out of 303 million just to get 130 million of looted funds? This reflects the policy of this new administration--get as much as half of the loot and allow the thief to run scot-free? 


So, this means, that if the Arroyos have, say more than a billion stashed somewhere, then, this administration would allow just 500 million pesos and the rest, the Arroyos can very well keep as their own? Half-half kumbaga? That probably explains why the Aquino administration has now de-activated the Truth Commission.


That is the criminal justice system--it favors the big-time moneyed criminals while letting those without any cent to rot in jails throughout the country. What about those suspects involved in Abadilla 5, those suspected of gunning down Col. Abadilla? They don't have enough money to prove their innocence. They rot in Muntinlupa, innocents all, but do not have enough money for their voices to be heard by a pragmatic mob. 


What about the famous Morong 43? Are'nt they released? They don't have money yet the government let them loose. 


Morong 43 is different. Their crimes are political, if you can call public service to the poor living in the uplands as a crime. 


Besides, they have the support of a huge organization, with one armed component, ready to strike back if government will not relent on this condition preceding a peace talk. 


What about those innocents who were finger-pointed by tainted witnesses and were hauled to jail by policemen as fast as they get monies from hapless victims? 


This explains why many people are so deathly afraid, not because the Law is rational and just. It is the injustice in our laws that make people afraid of our system and the brutality of our methods that make people less trustful of the system.


My good friend, Dante Jimenez, has just resigned from his post as Chairman of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC). 


Jimenez does not believe in the criminal justice system anymore. He is now, according to him, looking for other "extra-legal means" to get justice.


I just remembered a few decades ago, when the Sparrows are still around. People were optimistic then that they can get justice. The Sparrows are quick. The Sparrows give people some semblance of Hope. Maybe it is high time to activate these birds for the sake of the People? 


By the way, Ka Dante will grace our regular Monday kapihan sa The Orange Place tomorrow, Monday. The Orange Place hotel is just a few meters away from EDSA. It is along Kamias Road. It starts at 9 in the morning and ends at 11am.


Attend this very historic event. There is something which will happen there which will shock every one.