Deconstructing Noynoy Aquino's Speech on his 1st year in office

a "sitting" president

(For a full appreciation of this post, please read Philippine 360.com at http://philippine360.com/2011/06/30/president-noynoy-aquinos-speech-on-his-1st-year-in-office-the-truths-behind-the-half-truths/)


A joke was heard shortly after Philippine president Benigno S. Aquino III finished his speech today. This joker asked why did President Aquino decided to present his very first speech on his first year in office before thousands of high school students. 


Answer--because he says, those high school students do not know the real score--their parents do. Mas madaling bilugin ang ulo ng mga kabataan kaysa mga magulang.


Fact is, this is the sad truth. A year ago, President Aquino gave a rousing speech before sectors of different (and differing) persuasions. Thousands went just to hear Aquino talk about his visions, his dreams and his plans for the country. Men, women and children all gathered to listen to what this 50 year old bachelor planned to do for his impoverished country. His speech then was full of hope and to some, hoopla. 


A year past and we see him talking to babes, and dishing out a speech fit only for babes. Where are all the volunteer groups? Those almost fanatical Yellow Army and those volunteers for change? They are no where to be found.


Fact is, some of them were outside the ULTRA--a sad reminder of the kind of politics we have here in this country. This is very sad, and it shows a painful reality--that those who thought that Pnoy is different are now slowly drifting away from supporting his administration. 


Why? Because people expect Pnoy to be different. People expect Pnoy to at least do the right thing. People expect Pnoy to at least do what he promised to do. 


The speech was peppered with rhetoric. It was empty. It just reflected the very sad truth--that Noynoy Aquino's detractors are correct---nothing happened during his first year in office.


He says that people can now sleep soundly at night knowing that Pagasa, the country's weather bureau, is now dishing out correct weather reports. Duh. What happened last time, when Typhoon Falcon unleashed his devastating winds and rains in the Metro? Nearly 30 people died in Davao due to these rains. Pagasa said Mindanao will have clear skies. What happened was the opposite--rains caused rivers to overflow which led to those flash floods. Net result: 27 people killed, scores wounded, 5 remain missing and millions worth of proerty destroyed.


Aquino boasts that he will give 21,000 homes to soldiers and their families, only to backtrack and say that only 4,000 homes are to be constructed.


He says that the conditional cash program will continue and he expects 2 million families to benefit from this. How in the world can he alleviate poverty when 29 million families suffer from extreme poverty?


And you know why poverty rose? Because the economy slowed down. It remains mismanaged. 


Aquino did not even mentioned about foreign investments because the facts will show that these investments went pfft. NO BIG FOREIGN INVESTORS are coming in simply because there is still the perception that the playing field is not levelled enough to risk their monies. Fact is, the economy is now slowly being controlled by the Kamaganak Incorporated. Look at San Miguel--it is prospering under the Aquino administration.


Aquino said that before, Pinoys were dreaming of a visa to work or live abroad. Well, statistics show that the number of Pinoys leaving our shores remain at 3,800/every single day.


Read my take on this at Philippine360.com. 


Seems that Pnoy's speech was really a product of Bahay Pangarap.

Youth walks out of their classes in protest against Noynoy

The youth, instrumental in the election of President Benigno Aquino III last year, is staging a walkout. Today marks Aquino's first year in office, and thousands of youth members throughout the country are protesting. Fact is, their frustration has reached fever pitch, they graded Aquino a falling mark for doing nothing, absolutely nothing.


House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman says it was a monumental mistake electing Aquino into power while retired archbishop Oscar Cruz laments that the country remains the same under a so-called transformative leader such as Noynoy.

“In the past, the Philippines was second only to Japan. But if Fourth World countries exist, then we could be one of them,” he said in jest.Cruz said democracy and poverty could not “go hand in hand.”“How can [a country] be free if [its people] have nothing to eat? How can [a country] be free if its people do not have shelters to stay in?” he said.Asked what could be the possible solutions to these problems, Cruz mentioned three elements of effective leadership—integrity, competence and diligence.

Unfortunately, he said, none of the present and past two administrations had all three: Mr. Aquino’s had integrity but not competence and diligence; Joseph Estrada’s had diligence but not competence and integrity; and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s had competence and diligence but not integrity.

Major business groups also marked Noynoy a passing grade, while Migrante, an OFW group gave Noynoy a failing grade for doing absolutely nothing in taking care of the country's modern heroes.

Monopolitics: The politics of Monopolies

Government is supposed to be a big monopoly corporation. Remember that government was established mainly to provide for the well-keep of its citizenry. Government is supposed to provide services to its constituents. It is supposed to be the lead agency in protecting and promoting the rights of the people. It is also supposed to dispense justice and protect the people from predatory practices. In exchange, governments are allowed to impose taxes. 


Government, likewise, is supposed to create the necessary environment for people to live and prosper. Those who then want to do business, do so within the limits imposed by government.


Those limits are reflected in a country's laws. The laws dictate the kind of relationships of corporations and individuals. 


The laws, they say, verbalize the kind of environment created by people's interactions. The laws either reflect these interactions or create them. 


IN the scheme of things, governments are supposed to be the "Big Boss". A government should actually be bigger than any corporation, for two things: one, a big government dictates what actions are allowed and what are not; second, a big government can protect the interests of its citizens.


When corporations become bigger than governments; when basic services are being run by corporations instead of a government, that's when problems arise.


For example, when a government sells its stake in the power sector, electricity rates are at the mercy of greedy corporations out for a fast buck. You can't blame corporations because the nature of corporations are like that--they are built to amass profit. Governments are built to serve; while corporations are established to raise profits. 


When utilities are sold to corporations, expect the value of the service to rise while maintaining the level of service once previously dispensed by government.


Corporations usually lord it over weak governments, such as ours. We, the people suffer the brunt of government ineptitude at two levels: first, direct when government itself dispenses the service and two, indirect when corporations themselves do the service.


That's why corporations become huge monsters when governments are weak because they become substitutes. It is to the best interests of corporations for governments to remain weak because a stronger government restricts their movements through regulations. 


It is even more dangerous when government itself encourages corporations to enter and manage services and utilities considered as traditional services of governments.


We, as a people, already experienced how oil firms abuse the franchises or rights given to them by government. We already know how Meralco abuses its franchise by raising its electricity rates every single time it wants to. And we already know how certain companies, like telecommunications firms, generate billions from us, without government intervention.


As more corporations enter as government substitutes, the less secure rights and priviledges of the people become. How can government protect the rights of consumers against stronger corporations who now substitute for government? It is like government fighting itself. The more governments allow the intrusion of corporations into the social and collective life of the people, the more likely rights are violated.


Hence, we as a people must resist monopolies and fight its politics (or what I now call monopolitics)

To Pnoy--fire Margie Juico and the entire PCSO Board Now!

If you're doing something illegal, the best tactic to use is bring up the anomalies of the past to hide those you're doing right now. This is what Margie Juico and the current PCSO board is doing, says Manoling Morato.


Juico is being accused of nepotism. She maintains her son as her chief of staff, earning millions of pesos worth of salaries from the PCSO. Her brother, Emmet Penson, supplies wheelchairs to the PCSO, an obvious conflict of interest. Her husband, Philip Juico, together with publicist Dante Ang, a known Arroyo henchman, reportedly controls the PR funds worth multi-millions of the PCSO. Tons of money from alleged crooked STL operators goes to the pockets of the Juico gang allegedly being facilitated by a staffer of one of the PCSO directors who has numerous criminal cases tugged in his belt. 


Morato says more and more Filipinos are dying because of lack of assistance from the PCSO. The old board left at least 6 billion pesos in the agency's coffers. Now, Juico claims that there is no more money. Where is the money of the PCSO?


Juico is reportedly doing these exposes for the benefit of the people. It is quite obvious, based on evidence, that Juico is just trying to hide her alleged nefarious activities at the PCSO. The PCSO's funds are being used by some directors for their future political plans, says an insider. One of the directors has a plan to run for either the governorship or the congressional post in his/her province.


What this director does not know is one or two of her staffers are getting into illicit deals without her knowledge and even robbing her of her money in clear daylight. An internal probe is being conducted by the palace and the NBI and it is a matter of time before these staffers are hauled to jail.


The Senate or Congress should investigate this mess. The Filipino people do not deserve this. President Aquino should fire the entire board. 

Widow of Ex Governor being victimized by con man staffer

I pity this widow of an ex- governor of a province in Southern Luzon. She is being victimized or swindled by one or two of her staffers, one a notorious so-called "organizer" who has been ousted by his fraternity for mismanaging organisational funds. 


The widow is being swindled and worse, the money being diverted by these staffers are public funds. The widow was appointed to a very sensitive government agency now in hot water. Her PR fund is allegedly being stolen by this co-man, and colluding with another staffer. 


This con man claims that he already settled his debt with a marketing professional. The truth is--no single cent was paid to the marketing professional who spent his time to help the widow. The professional was warned previously about the conduct of this con man, but due to his kind nature, allowed himself to be swindled by the con man who introduced himself as a frat brother.


The marketing professional incurred "debts" with his colleagues because he covered the expenses of a PR activity attended by the widow. The staffer refuses to pay him.


The widow reportedly gave the money already to the con man, but sadly, the con man used the money for himself.


Unknown to the con man, he is now under surveillance by the palace.

MMDA should not implement so-called Smoking ban in Metro

MMDA should stick with its mandate----solve the humongous traffic and flood problem in Metro Manila instead of implementing what it claims is its mandate of arresting smokers in the metropolis. Instead of chasing smokers, chase smoke belchers, colorum buses and erring killer drivers. This policy of arresting smokers will defocus the attention of MMDA TRAFFIC enforcers. Worse, this will be another means of corruption. MMDA chairman Tolentino has not entirely cleansed the agency of corrupt personnel. It is not yet ready to implement what it claims is part of its mandate.


Tolentino would be doing Noynoy a great disservice particularly now when public support is in the wane. Many people will surely get angry with the government with this so-called ban.


Besides, MMDA will surely violate the law because its claim of being the designated implementing agency of Republic Act 9211 is not legally supported. Section 29 of the same law specifically says which agencies are legally mandated to implement the law:

Section 29. Implementing Agency. - An Inter-Agency Committee- Tobacco (IAC-Tobacco), which shall have the exclusive power and function to administer and implement the provisions of this Act, is hereby created. The IAC-Tobacco shall be chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) with the Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH) as Vice Chairperson. The IAC-Tobacco shall have the following members:
a. Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA);
b. Secretary of the Department of Justice (DOJ);
c. Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR);
d. Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST);
e. Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd);
f. Administrator of the National Tobacco Administration (NTA);
g. A representative from the Tobacco Industry to be nominated by the legitimate and recognized associations of the industry; and
h. A representative from a nongovernment organization (NGO) involved in public health promotion nominated by DOH in consultation with the concerned NGO's;
The Department Secretaries may designate their Undersecretaries as their authorized representatives to the IAC.

Did you see anything like "MMDA" there?


Again, MMDA should refrain from enforcing this. It will be total chaos in the streets. This will only be a source of graft and corruption.

Filipino People: Home Alone

Former president Gloria Arroyo accused President Noynoy Aquino of  being an "absentee" president. She says Aquino's "nobody's home" style of leadership has affected the economy of the Philippines. The former Chief Executive boasted of her "economic gains". Arroyo even bruited her strong leadership style which protected the economy from the financial stresses of the late 2000.


Arroyo criticized Aquino for the underperformance of the economy. Arroyo's rejoinder came out shortly after the PCCI gave a scathing remark against the Aquino administration, giving the administration a very low mark in terms of economic performance.


Bull. Crap.


Factually, both are "absentee" presidents. Both are equally galling in claiming successes or victories for and on behalf of the people. The fact remains--the majority of the Filipino People continues to wallow in dire poverty due to rising prices of commodities, particularly gas and food prices.


For one, there is overwhelming evidence of Arroyo and her associates pulling this economy to the ground with their wanton disregard of morality and law. Her involvement in onerous contracts and graft-laded projects have put great stress upon the economy, with debts ballooning to trillions of pesos. Worst, Arroyo's term was a game changer. It institutionalized cronyism, and graft and corruption. All political institutions were corrupted and became part of Arroyo's personal fiefdom. 




Sad though that the one-year old Aquino administration is showing signs of an Arroyo administration. Former Archbishop Oscar Cruz says that the only accomplishment of the Aquino administration is the enforcement of the anti-"wang-wang" campaign. Rampant graft and corruption continues unabated, with very close associates of the President involved. Erring officials in the Aquino Cabinet remained, protected by a President who is now very isolated by contending groups within.

“With pomp and pageantry, the present government took over. It is now anybody’s guess what the forthcoming SONA (State of the Nation Address) will say-and what will the people in turn say thereafter. The following is predictable: Grand accomplishment report. Miserable reality show. And that’s it. And this is no guess,” Cruz said.

Compared with the glare of Arroyo though, Aquino is doing much less. That glare of corruption has blinded most of those close to Arroyo, blinded by so much stolen monies. Aquino, meanwhile, continues to correct the monumental wrongs committed by Arroyo. Yet, both do not understand the real situation; hence, continues to commit the same wrongs of the past. 


There is promise however, in Aquino. Aquino has to give up his cronies this early. 


Fire PCSO chairman Margie Juico with her whole board. Same goes to LTO chief Virgie Torres, Customs Chief Angelito Alvarez and others who continue to shame the administration with their acts. 

Dacer-Corbito case will not be closed without Tan Testimony

Dante Tan

The Dacer-Corbito case will never be totally closed without the testimony and arrest of Dante Tan. Tan, who was involved in the very controversial BW Shares scandal, left for Canada shortly after the EDSA dos revolution. NBI sources say he's either in Canada or New Zealand. The question is---why is he not being pursued?


Tan was a client of the late publicist. Tan was a very close buddy of former president Joseph Estrada. At the height of the BW scandal, Tan, according to several sources, gave several incriminating documents to Dacer.

Dacer consulted former president Fidel Valdez Ramos and wanted to come clean on the issue. It was then the impeachment trial and the BW shares were being discussed in public. 


Based on several accounts submitted by those involved in the case, Tan reportedly got angry. Several days later, Dacer went missing. The publicist vehicle was recovered.


Angles were put forward:


1. Dacer was executed due to his knowledge of the BW SHARES scandal. Who executed him? Several theories:


1.1. A unit within PAOCTF reportedly headed by Cesar Mancao. According to several PAOCTF members, only Mancao got the order from alleged conspiracist Dante Tan. Michael Ray Aquino and Ping Lacson do not know about it. There is a current practice in the police force of "special projects". These "projects" constitute assassination. Mancao reportedly got the job order from Tan directly.


This explains why Mancao is so ashamed to reveal this aspect of the case. They operated on Dacer mainly upon the orders of Tan. Tan, being very close to Erap, has a direct communications with the PAOCTF team.


That explains why Michael Ray Aquino's public pronouncement yesterday involves exonerating both Lacson and Estrada. They have nothing to do with the death of Bubby Dacer . 


Dante Tan must surface immediately to clear his name on this one. There are also several talks of reviving the investigation on the BELLE CORPORATION/BW SHARES SCANDAL.

PCSO scandal, part 4: Ghost employee acts as jueteng conduit by PCSO director

Morato with Bloggers

According to Manoling Morato, the current PCSO board is the most corrupt. They have this tenet at the PCSO---"AQUIN'TO" or AKIN ito. Yep.


Fact is, a confidential employee of one of the directors of the PCSO wants 70% cut from advertisements placed by the PCSO. This employee brags that he is very influential in the Liberal Party, the party whom his boss maintains ties. He is also the go-to man of a very corrupt Customs official. 


This employee is now the subject of a probe by Malacanang. Fact is, even his boss is now the subject of a deeper investigation after pieces of evidence were gathered that establish their role in getting millions from STL operators in Luzon. 


The employee is now being investigated by the Palace, according to sources. The director reportedly got a huge chunk of jueteng money just to prolong the implementation of the Loterya ng Bayan.


Likewise, this employee has been involved in several murder charges, one of which involves a journalist. According to Department of JUstice sources, a new case is in the works based on a re-investigation. It will only be a matter of time before the bars of justice gets this guy off the streets and into prison.

Ang Ladlad: Hate crimes against the LGBT community in the Philippines rises

Do you know that at least 209 gays and lesbians have been killed over the past five years due to their sexuality? And according to a study conducted by Ang Ladlad, there are thousands more unreported because victims are afraid. 


Hate crimes against members of the Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transsexuals Community in the Philippines, should be stopped once and for all, says Ladlad Political adviser Boy Abunda.


" Hate crimes against gays and lesbians should not be tolerated. It should be stopped. And one of the most effective ways of countering such hateful crimes is for people's minds to be changed." says Abunda in a press conference held last Wednesday at the Astoria.


I was one of a few journalists invited by Ang Ladlad, the other one, Inquirer columnist Rina David. I've been supporting Ang Ladlad eversince.

Go, fight for the LGBT rights!

Fact is, the very first people who encouraged the formation of what we call "pink collectives" happens to include me. I am straight. Yet, I share their struggle, simply because I am a human rights advocate.


Hate crimes are usually unreported in such a chaotic country such as the Philippines. For one, gays are discriminated here. When they are beaten to a pulp, those beatings constitute slight physical injuries, but never attributable to gender.


Women and children are being taken cared of by cops. When somebody beats them or kills them, they are charged based on the Revised Penal Code and the special law. Meaning, their crimes are given special focus.


Here, there's no gay or lesbian crime desk. A law is needed to be able to establish one. 


There are so many violations of gays and lesbian rights in the Philippines and they go unnoticed. No one ever did a serious study on hate crimes in the Philippines. What Ang Ladlad did was monumental in the sense that it was the very first study on hate crimes.


Yet, the study have gaps because PNP records show no distinction between genders. The PNP only recognizes two genders. 


If Ladlad wins, surely, the rights of this disfranchised group will be recognized. It is time for us to do just that.

7-eleven Gulp Polls--take the refreshing challenge!

7-eleven Marketing Director

Want to know the latest pulse of the people? Want to take part in it? You don't believe in SWS or PulseAsia surveys? Well, there's an alternative. 


Take the 7-eleven Gulp Polls. Yeah. This is the most refreshing way of knowing people's views on things happening around them.

Speak Up, Gulp Up Campaign

For you 7-eleven patrons out there, there's an ongoing campaign to figure out the sentiments and feelings of the people, yeah. It's called Speak Up, Gulp Up.


When you buy your Gulp, get the chance to participate in the 7-eleven Gulp Polls. It's like Gallup, yeah, but with a refreshing Coke.


It's very simple.


Choose between two slightly different colored Gulp styro cups--one labelled with a "yes" and the other "no". Read the question of the week. If you think it's a "yes", then, by all means, vote for it. If it's a "no", then don't think twice, put that styro cup in!

Every Gulp counts!

Questions are very interesting. One question is about the reproductive health bill. The other, about divorce. The results are pretty interesting. Yet, what my friend Gina Virtusio wants to emphasize is, these results reflect those in Luzon, not the Visayas or Mindanao. Reason? 7-eleven stores are mainly in Luzon.


I figured that those votes are pretty much reliable in the sense that those who voted drank their ice-cold softdrinks first to clear their minds before they finally say "Yes" or "No". Some questions are pretty "earthshaking" for a bum, that is.


I heard that President Noynoy Aquino was in such a rage because of an SWS survey showing him down by 7 points, he decided to go to Cotabato and declare war against water lilies. 


Noynoy should have gone to a 7-eleven store instead and read how people are voting for or against his administration. 


He should ask his men to regularly check the 7-eleven Gulp polls. Go to their nearest 7-eleven stores and see if people are still proud of being Pinoy (that's the question of the week) and not if they are still proud of Pnoy.:-)


This innovative campaign runs for 12 weeks, according to the 7-eleven Marketing Director. 

PAGASA is now "MORE SCIENTIFIC" Oh yeah? Floods everywhere

One of PAGASA's longest serving and the most trusted government official was forced to resign when President Aquino berated him for allegedly manipulating the "predictions of PAGASA". We remember how the president humiliated Frisco Nilo for reportedly being involved in anomalies inside PAGASA. After Nilo's resignation, the President appointed Yumul, his trusted "scientist" and "meteorologist" to head the agency.


Now, look at PAGASA now. Is there any difference between what they did before and what they are doing now?


Yesterday, millions got stranded because of heavy rains and flash floods. Floods in some areas reached six feet. 


PAGASA should have made the right prediction. But, sadly, the people got soaked. 


I, am sick because of PAGASA. 

The New Firm under the Aquino Administration

Arroyo had her "The Firm" in her days. Now, introducing the new "Firm" of the Aquino administration supposedly the one who now dominates and replaced the previous one. 


It is none other than the  Marcos Ochoa Serapio Tan Law Firm. Yes, that's the firm.


A Palace insider confided yesterday that one of the reasons why several foreign-aided projects were either shelved or disprioritized was the fact that one of the requirements is the hiring of this firm.


I am friends with Liza Marcos one of the associates of this law firm, and I would like them to clarify this information. It is rumored that before you can get to the Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, you must hire or retain this firm first before you reach first base.


The insider also says that certain groups have created layers to protect the President. It is now very hard to schedule an audience with the President because he has been effectively isolated by the contending groups within the palace. 


Several foreign investors and businessmen have confided to this writer that they are finding it extremely hard to get an audience with the President not because he's too busy with his work but because of the "layers" or condon sanitaire setup by the groups. 


If it was so easy to get Arroyo's ear for the sake of the country, it is now very hard to get the present President's ear. Fact is, groups believe that the President is receiving sanitized information.


This is very bad.  

President Aquino displeased with PCSO board over thermal paper issue and ghost employees

A Palace insider says that President Aquino is currently displeased with the present Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board led by Margie Juico, Betty Nantes, Tolentino, and Maramba. The President reportedly lost face when the Australian ambassador called him up and told him about the thermal paper contract which the board reportedly rescinded without undertaking due diligence and legal audit procedures.


The supplier of the thermal paper being used by the PCSO is an Australian company. The company had a 50 year perfected contract with the agency. This contract has been rescinded by the new board. 


The President is thinking of changing the board. Reportedly, Juico has been offered an ambassadorial post but was rejected by Philip Juico, a close Aquino associate. Sources say that Popoy controls the steady stream of STL and loterya ng bayan contracts amounting to millions of pesos, while former PCSO chairman Manoling Morato says that Popoy and Publicist Dante Ang controls the huge PCSO PR funds.


Says Morato in his recent column about the PCSO thermal paper deal:

Much has been said about that so-called joint-venture contract between the PCSO and TMA Australia Group of Companies Limited Subsidiary.
For some reason or another, the present PCSO management headed by  Chairman Margie Juico cancelled a perfected contract and even called it a “midnight deal”.  How could it be a “midnight deal” when the unsolicited proposal was submitted on May 4, 2009?  We were replaced by P-Noy on June 30, 2010 through Executive Order 1. The contract was signed on Dec. 4, 2009.
The so-called joint venture between PCSO and TMA of Australia went through the process, including a Swiss Challenge. It was published in all the important newspapers.

Apparently, the truth behind the cancellation was the entry of a losing bidder. Reportedly, this losing bidder approached a board director. That board director, who is a Kababayan and very close friend of Juico, had a "deal" allegedly with the losing bidder. The deal was cemented by the director's "ghost employee" who was also rumoured to be the conduit of several gambling lords, STL operators in Luzon and others. 


This writer made several inquiries and found out that the President made a silent probe unto the PCSO and validated several accusations made against Juico and the present board. 


This space welcomes any reaction from Juico and the PCSO board members. A deeper probe into the PCSO scandal is forthcoming. Congress intends to investigate the current and past boards this July.

President Aquino going the way of Erap?

Is President Aquino going the way of an Erap?

The recent Social Weathers' Station survey puts Aquino's satisfaction ratings at 46%, a drop from the previous 51%. Malacanang expressed elation because they purportedly prevented an expected 13points plus drop which happened a few weeks ago. Malacanang seems to be connecting once more with its traditional mass base which is the A-B-C classes. Obviously, they are losing the D-E classes due to inflation.

This is basically what happened to Erap in 1998-1999. There was a high optimism that prevaded in the air and shortly after a year and a half, if dissipated. Remember that Erap had the support of most of the NGO's and PO's, yet was'nt able to survive the political crisis.

Fact is, if at all, President Aquino can be charged or impeached even on a filmsy reason like indiscretion. He does'nt have any wives, yet, his celebrated dates could be used by some sinister mind in laying out an ouster move. Think about it.

Anyway, will Aquino arrest the decline of his ratings and avoid a possible repeat of the Erap episode?

Virgie Torres Challenge: Find fault and I'll resign

Embattled Land Transportation Office (LTO) head Virgie Torres issued a fresh challenge to her detractors: find just one wrongdoing on my part and I will tender my resignation before the President. She issued the challenge a day before she assumes office once again at the LTO.

If you remember, Torres was recommended suspended administratively after being caught supporting the Sumbilla group of LTO. Sumbilla is currently fighting Cesar Quiambao for leadership at the STRADCOM, the I.T. provider of LTO. This leadership struggle has affected LTO operations.

The law states that heads quasi-judicial bodies such as the LTO shall maintain a status of an impartial judge. By siding with Sumbilla, Torres violated the law. She should not interfere with an internal corporate dispute. 

This is just one of the things that Pnoy should consider in definitely deciding the fate of this woman.

Philippine Justice is compromised

Criminal gangs already admitted it--the entire New Bilibid prisons facility has been taken over by gangs. They control the prison. They operate their illicit activities there with impunity and even the Justice secretary Leila de Lima is helpless in implementing the law right there. 


I can't seem to accept that De Lima stopped the order to destroy those kubols just because these gangs threatened her with a riot. So what if they do it? 


Fact is, I welcome a riot inside the New Bilibid prisons. Why? Because the State can use and show its police power. So what if these prisoners announce a riot? Soldiers can come in and kill all of these scums.


Imagine, we have been injured by this issue personally. These criminals violated our laws, killed our loved ones with impunity and now they even control our justice or penal system? Ano na lamang ang mararamdaman ng mga naging biktima ng mga hinayupak na ito? Na habang sila'y nagluluksa dahil sa pagkawala ng kanilang mga mahal sa buhay, buhay mayaman naman sa bilangguan ang mga demonyong ito?


New Bilibid is a microcosm of Philippine society. Criminal elements, both big and small, lord it over our lands simply because we have a very weak state. Demons in barungs who portray themselves as Honorable men with criminal minds dominate our affairs. Government officials continue their wanton pillage of our coffers. 


IN his Rizal birthday celebration speech, President Aquino urged the people to tread Rizal's "tuwid na daan".


Those who heard him, just shrugged their shoulders.


How will the People obey him when Aquino continues to be the foremost promoter of the crooked path?


Aquino has lost all credibility in the eyes of the people. He does not have the right to lead the straight path movement simply because he can't even discipline his own buddies, relatives and classmate in office?


A friend said that we must judge Aquino on two things: he's not using public funds for his personal use and he's not abusing his power.


The first is we don't know for sure. Who really gave him that Porsche? The second, well, Aquino already abused his powers by allowing Big Business to take over the roles and responsibilities of government and by tolerating the illicit actions of his men.


Justice will forever be compromised in this country if we continue this practice of tolerating weak leaders to head our government.

14 year old gang raped; carnappings rise in QC; yoga instructor shot dead

Philippine360.com reported: 

A 14-year old student is now suffering at an undisclosed hospital as we speak. Police reports say the student was gang raped by three suspects, mostly minors. One of the suspects got caught. He said that the girl was pimped by one guy. The victim denied it.The crime happened in a pushcart right under the Metro Rail TRansit (MRT) station on Taft Avenue. The victim said she was dragged to the pushcart by the three suspects and raped. Barangay tanods discovered the crime after they noticed that the pushcart was wrapped with a blanket on top.One of the suspects is now in jail while the victim is now under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

This is just one gruesome crime that happened in the metropolis. There are several others, including that dastardly killing of a yoga instructor in Quezon City and numerous car thefts and holdups happening all around town.

Criminal elements are on the rampage. What is the DILG/PNP doing?

Are they so busy collecting jueteng money that they already forgot their duties? Sources told me the yearly take now from jueteng has increased to 15 billion pesos. Wow. And who benefits from this? 

Jueteng money is being laundered, according to a very confidential report by the State department. Who benefits? In due time, I will expose those behind this.

Let me go back---what is government doing about this? There is a feeling right now of hopelessness. Graft and corruption continues unabated. Gangs have took over the New Bilibid prisons. Drug lords  continue their operations, again with impunity and criminals roam the streets like they own them.

One of the basis for saying that a society is truly safe is when criminal incidence is down. Poverty incidence is on the rise, and expect criminality to increase as well. People are desperate. And victims are underprotected and the citizenry's safety lies naked.

Presidential attention has been pricked. President Aquino appointed his Executive secretary Paquito Ochoa as anti-crime czar, an overt admission that the crime situation has already deteriorated and it probably needs close presidential attention.

What then is the use of having an UNdersecretary for Police headed by presidential buddy, Rico Puno? What is the use of having a PNP chief? These gentlemen are useless. They should be fired.

Of course, expect the police to say that they are ill-equipped and undermanned and they need more money. What?

Before, we used to sleep soundly at night, confident that our protectors are really doing their jobs out of respect for themselves and of their sworn duty to protect the welfare of the People.

Now, the very protectors of the People are now protectors of criminal syndicates, and lowlifes.  IN every street, there is yet one cop who protects those petty thieves, murderers and drug pushers.

Metro Manila has become one big ghetto. Is there a breakdown of morality that's feeding this criminal frenzy? Morality has nothing to do with this.

This is survival, plain and simple. The people is just expressing their exasperation especially on the dire economic situation they are in. Many people are resorting to crime and proto-crime acts because they are truly desperate. That 500 pesos dole out money from the DSWD is not enough to tide the people over. 

Why appoint Ochoa as anti-crime czar? He's useless.

During his time as Quezon City administrator, Ochoa was a sitting duck. Is it not that Quezon City is the crime capital of the Philippines? Is it not that Quezon City is still the carnapping capital of the world?

With Ochoa as our anti-crime czar, please pray. It will not be long before the entire country becomes the number one crime-prone country in the world.

The Rizal within Us

This is the first time that we as a nation are celebrating the birth and not the death of our National hero, Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal. 


This is but fitting, seeing that we value his life more than his death. His life enriched ours, mainly because it was a life dedicated to the Country rather than to the Self. 

We have this national consciousness culled from his writings. We appreciate our Filipino-ness because of the life he lived.

His death, which we normally celebrate every December 30, is but an affirmation of his perfected glory.


There are so many interesting things about the life of Rizal. However, I always read about his past loves, his being Chinese, and other mundane things which are attempts to humanize him rather than picture him as what he truly was--a great doctor. His life was multi-faceted. Viewed on every angle, it was a life lived by a globalist, the first of his kind. 


His thirst for knowledge made him tour the world. He was able to study different cultures and read so many paradigms that he applied in studying and analysing our own. 

Rizal was imbued with so much knowledge that he used it for the benefit of his country. His numerous writings were expositories, meant to enlighten and rouse the people to action. 


Rizal is the quintessential Pinoy, fact is, his life is everything Pinoy.


Every one of us wants to tour the world, see new things to learn new ways and newer thinking. Many believe that those 10 million OFWs are just there, working and sweating it out as OFWs just for money. They don't see that these Filipinos are also there to learn many things so that when the time comes, they'll apply these knowledge to their own towns.


An Inquirer opinion piece today described Rizal as the First Filipino, and yes he was. He actually represent the Modern Filipino. His ancestry reflects the ancestries of the ordinary Filipino.

However, what he did was actually rediscover that Filipino community. The true Filipino Nation did not die with colonialism, no. It just morphed or merged itself with the colonial one yet remained the dominant culture even during Rizal's time.


What extraordinary thing Rizal did was to actualize or legitimize other sectors not traditionally Pinoy, for example, the half-breeds. 


Rizal was a half-breed, a sire of a family with Chinese and Iberian blood. His writings reflect the longing that this half-breed belonged exactly with the Pinoy nation.


What is our calling? OUr calling is be a Rizal. How then can we be a Rizal? Simple.


1. Be respectful of our parents.
2. Study hard.
3. Love others.
4. After finishing college, try to see how best you can help the country. Dedicate your profession to the Motherland.
5. Love God, Country and Family.
6. Marry a foreigner :-) 


Happy RIzal day!

Dela Salle celebrates a 100

I'm not an alumnus of Dela Salle. Yet, I consider myself a part of their history since I once taught there. And those times were memorable.


I was'nt in my middle twenties back then, still fresh from college, yet able to teach at the University of the Philippines and La Salle University. I had a very strong academic record. I graduated with masteral units and that earned me the right to teach History at Dela Salle (in 2004, I taught Mass Communications).


My life revolved on two things: teaching and journalism. I report to the newsroom of DZBB at 9 in the evening, wrote 45 news stories every single day and went out of the office by 7 or 8 in the morning. From there, I proceed to UP to teach two classes about history. Afterwards, I go to La Salle in the afternoon. That was my routine for at least three years. (my goolai!)


Back then, the quadrangle was full of decades-old trees. Concrete benches were constructed beneath those trees and when I find the time, I would sit there and rest.  I would converse with my students there, explaining to them the wonderful workings of dialectics and encouraging them to apply these fundamental laws in widening their understanding of the world.


La Salle is a wonderful employer. I became a member of the La Salle Faculty which earned me the right to discounts at the canteen and of course, borrow books from the library. I enjoyed my stay there. 


Some of my students, like Alvin Aguilar, Owen Singson, Cong. Teves and even Darlene Antonino-Custodio carved their particular niches in society. Others became owners of their own businesses while some, well, ascended to the family businesses. 


Sometimes, I think about continuing teaching since it was one of those times that I feel satisfied and contented about life. 


I plan to teach again sometime in the future, maybe when I'm nearing my sixties. I would like to share whatever knowledge I accumulated through the years to the next generation. 


That university deserves the honors and glories that people gave it as one of our most beloved institutions of higher learning.


Now, I am proud to say that:


1. I learned the basics from UP
2. Learned the law from San Beda and Ateneo Law
3. Taught all these to La Salle.


Congratulations La Sallians! May you always shine like stars in the darkest of nights.