Col. Ariel Querubin is now a free man!

Former Marine Colonel Ariel Querubin is now a free man. His freedom shows that justice is really working at this time and age. This shows also that his struggle for more than four years is not for naught.

Querubin's struggle is a Just One.

Let his name be enshrined in the People's Hall of Heroes. Let his name forever be invoked by those who want justice.

To those who aspire for a better Philippines, be advised---you will never be alone. The People are behind you.

Sir, we salute you!

Kundiman for Filipinos everywhere

I fell in love once more. And it was not a different lady. I fell in love with our kundiman. Let me share one for you, my dear readers.

New Pinoy

This is a love offering for those who want change in our country. This is for Atty. Alex Lacson, Colonel Ariel Querubin and General Danny Lim. May you all be blessed by GOD and anointed by our people as the New Senators of our country.

The Senators of the People

General Danny Lim, one of those who deserve to be elected for the Senate, is filing his Certificate of Candidacy on November 27. The good general is running under the Liberal Party AS A GUEST CANDIDATE, contrary to earlier reports that he was asked by the United Opposition to bolster their senatorial slate.

In the last survey, Lim was not in the Magic 12. It means that Lim should work harder. That was the situation that Antonio Trillianes found himself in during the 2007 elections. At the last stretch, Trillianes won.


Aside from Lim, I expect good friend Susan "Toots" Ople to file her CoC. She will do so on November 30, the birthday of our national hero and the only representative of the proletariat, Andres Bonifacio.

Ople is the only one with a Labor agenda. She has been working for the interests of the OFWs and locally-based laborers and workers for the past decades. We hope she will continue her advocacy at the Senate.

There are reports that Makabayan has severed their ties with the Nacionalista Party. Good. Satur Ocampo deserves a seat at the Senate. His entire life has been devoted to the Cause of the People. Same goes to Liza Masa who has worked hard to improve the condition of Filipinas and children in this country.

I had a chance to meet Teofisto Guingona III, also running under the Liberal Party and I must say that the scion of the last Filipino Nationalist also deserves to win. TG, as his friends call him, is quite intelligent.

TG deserves our vote.

Col. Ariel Querubin is also gunning for the senate. I don't know how serious he is in his candidacy but definitely, Querubin deserves our support and vote. I don't quite understand though why he is running under the Nacionalista Party.

My Senatorial Slate:

1. General Danilo Lim
2. Susan "Toots" Ople
3. Satur Ocampo
4. Liza Masa
5. Teofisto Guingona III
6. Col. Ariel Querubin

2002: YOU is dead, says Gen. Danny Lim (updated)

"It's so strange", Carlos told me once when I chanced upon him a few days ago when I visited a sari-sari store, " that those who were not there, with us at EDSA, when we decided to fight it out with Macoy, are now the very ones shouting "hallelujahs!", praising its name. How in the name of God that this happened!"

I was not ready to answer back. Carlos, who was with the original group of the Reform the Armed Forces or RAM, was somewhat amused by the way things are unfolding, what with different people saying this and that about the EDSA revolt. When they went out and decided to stand their ground against Macoy, Carlos was then a young and idealistic officer. He was the one who told me how they decided to really just fight it out.

When Jake Malajacan and some RAM members were arrested, the rest of the RAM members were hold up in the safehouse (Ministry of National Defense). Macoy and Ver were playing it all up in the TV broadcast. Macoy threatened to blow these rebels to smithereens if they don't stop their "adventurism". Carlos and the rest of the RAM leadership saw the telecast.

Some of them wanted to just do their thing some other time. Yet, Carlos saw then the late Col. Rudy Aguinaldo who looked at the ceiling and counted. What on earth was Rudy up to! After counting, Aguinaldo just told the group that they have the upper hand and they must fight it out. That made the day for Col. Vic Batac, Red Kapunan, Tito Legaspi and Col. Gringo Honasan. They went out of their safehouse (security group at the Ministry of National Defense building) and marched straight to History.

" I never saw General Danilo Lim there," says Carlos. " Danny Lim was with Marcos at that time. And later on, when we decided to fight Cory, Danny just joined us because he wanted the old regime back. Lim was with Jimmy Zumel at the PMA academy teaching. Lim was never an original member of the Young Officer's Union (YOU). "

Ah, the Young Officer's Union (YOU), the organization that nearly brought the Cory Aquino administration to its knees. YOU was the lead during those tumultuous years under Cory. They made nine attempts, one nearly succeeded in that week-long war in 1989. Querubin was shot and left for dead only to resurrect a few minutes after being declared KIA.

" I was one of those who established the YOU and I remember that time, very vividly." says Carlos while sipping his favorite barako. " And I never saw Danny Lim there."

Eventually, most of those affiliated with the YOU got caught and was imprisoned. During Ramos' time, they, along with the RAM-SFP, forged a peace agreement with the government. Most of the officers went back to their barracks. Some, including Carlos, decided to serve the country as cops.

In 2001, the YOU leadership again spearheaded the revolt, this time, against former president Joseph Estrada. It successfully installed Mrs. Arroyo, who now rule this land with impunity and immorality. In December of 2002, Danny Lim and Ariel Querubin declared the YOU dead. Shortly thereafter, the original leadership of the YOU was prosecuted, and charged with ridiculous crimes. One of them was even shot and killed and the crime was blamed to an innocent organizer and co-founder of the YOU.

In 2005, Lim even said that YOU members were living ordinary and peaceful lives and that "any group could use the name "Young Officers' Union" for their own ends.

" Now, Danny and Ariel claim to be members of the YOU and that they use the very name of the organization to further their political careers. How ironic, right? They claim membership to an organization which they said already died in 2002. What on earth is that for!"

I understand where Carlos is coming from. Carlos, who sacrificed his life for his country, is now silently re-organizing and fortifying the organization which still struggles towards a True and Just Filipino society.

Randy David bilang Pangulo at Noynoy bilang VP

Maari ba tayong mangarap ng sandali at isulat ko ang mga pangarap na iyon dito sa New Philippine Revolution?

Kung posible nga sana, sino-sino ba sa pananaw ko ang kakatawanin ng isang dream team sa eleksyon sa 2010? Suriin natin at paka ngimiin.



Para sa Pagkapangulo



Nais ko sana ng isang Pangulong may alam hindi sa pangungurakot o kung papaano babawiin ang kanyang campaign funds, kundi sa papaanong maiging patakbuhin ang isang pamahalaang may dambuhalang burukrasya. Maganda sana ang isang Pangulo na may magandang bisyon o pangarap sa pagpapaunlad ng bansa, na maglalatag ng isang agenda na istratehiko, hindi taktikal. Napansin ko sa mga nakaraang mga pangulo, puro taktikal na kampanya lamang ang kanilang mga ipinatupad, mga stop gap measures na lumulutas ng panandalian sa mga problema ng bayan ngunit iniiwanan ang pagpapasya sa paglutas sa mga tunay at ugat ng problem sa susunod na administrasyon.



Nais ko sana ang isang kandidatong walang utang na loob sa mga dambuhalang mga kumpanya at mga lokal na panginoong maylupa.



Sino ba sa palagay ko ang maaaring lider sa panguluhan na tumutugon sa mga kwalipikasyong ito?



Sa ganang akin, ito'y si Professor Randy David.



Opo, ang tanyag na propesor Randy David. Una, may talino siya't may marubdob na pagmamahal sa Inang Bayan. Ikalawa, mayroon siyang pag-asang maging isang tunay na alternatibong kandidato laban sa mga pumapalaot na mga trapong nais maging pangulo. At ikatlo, wala siyang pangarap na maging pangulo, alalaong baga'y para siyang isang Corazon Aquino.



Sa Pangalawang Pangulo



Maganda sana kung si Senator Benigno "NoyNoy" Aquino ay siyang magpahayag ng kahandaang tumakbo bilang ikalwang pangulo o kung hindi man, suportahan na lamang ang kandidatura ni Senator Kiko Pangilinan. Sa ganang akin, tunay ang abilidad at kakayanan ng dalawang ito upang pamunuan ang pamahalaan. Magagamit natin ang kanilang karanasan bilang mga mambabatas para magkasanib puwersa nilang tulungan ang Pangulong Randy David sa pagpapatakbo ng pamahalaan.



Sa mga Senatoriables



1. General Danilo Lim---para sa tunay na reporma ng Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas at pagpapatatag ng sekyuridad ng ating bansa.



2. Susan Toots Ople---pagpapalakas ng hanay ng lakas paggawa at pagsulong pa ng mga batas na magpapa-igi sa kapakanan ng mga Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW).



3. Joey de Venecia III---pagpapakinis sa business environment upang maging lebel ang playing field at sa gayun, ma-attract ang foreign investments sa bansa.



4. Ariel Querubin--tungo sa pagpapakinis ng relasyong pangtanggulan ng Pilipinas sa iba't-ibang bansa at pagpapatatag din sa pagbigay benepisyo sa mga bayani ng bayan.



5. Risa Hontiveros---pagbalangkas ng isang matatag na batas tungo sa proteksyon ng mga karapatan ng mga kababaihan at iba pang batas na siyang magpapa-igi sa kalagayan ng mga urban poor.



6. Ruffy Biazon---mga batas na magpapalakas sa hanay ng mga kabataan at magbibigay ng libreng edukasyon sa mga kabataang napagkaitan ng gayung oportunidad.



7. Teddy Casino---magkakatawan sa mga middle class gayundin sa mga propesyunal at magiging kasangkapan upang makapagpanday ng mga batas na siyang magsusulong ng isang Pambansa Demokratikong lipunan.



8. Satur Ocampo----magpapatatag sa mga batas tungo sa proteksyon ng karapatang pantao at karapatan ng hanay ng mga manggagawang Pilipino, gayondin ng midya.



9. Teofisto Guingona III---magpapanday ng mga batas upang patatagin ang ugnayang Kristiyano at Muslim sa Mindanao gayundin ang paglikha ng mga batas tungo sa pagpapaunlad ng mga kanayunan.



10. Lisa Masa----tunay na kinatawan ng mga kababaihan sa Senado at magiging malakas na tagapagsulong ng mga rebolusyunaryong inisyatiba.



11. Atty. Adel Tamano---pagsusulong ng mga interes ng Bangsamoro sa Senado.

12. Jamby Madrigal



Dream Team



Prof. Randy David---Pangulo

Noynoy Aquino------Ikalwang Pangulo



Senatorial Slate



1. Gen. Danilo Lim

2. Susan Toots Ople

3. Joey de Venecia III

4. Ariel Querubin

5. Risa Hontiveros

6. Ruffy Biazon

7. Teddy Casino

8. Satur Ocampo

9. Teofisto Guingona III

10. Lisa Masa

11. Adel Tamano

12. Jamby Madrigal

Danny Lim and the Patriots--Mga Maginoo

Brigadier General Danny Lim is a person of high integrity. A West Pointer, Lim dedicated most of his life to the service of the Filipino People. Yesterday, Lim said he's seriously considering running for a senatorial post. He says that he's still committed towards achieving lasting peace through an improvement in the political system.

Another officer who is also thinking of running is General Ariel Querubin. Like Lim, he's also under detention for alleged mutiny charges.

Teddy Casino is rumoured to be eyeing a senatorial seat himself. Good. Like Lim and Querubin, Teddy exemplifies the kind of legislator we need for the Upper Chamber. He's young. He's idealistic and has an electrifying charisma.

Joey de Venecia III has also intimated his desire to run for a senatorial post. The younger de Venecia, if you remember, went out of his comfort zone as a businessman and sacrificed almost everything just to at least make that ZTE transaction above board.

Pia Hontiveros' sister Hontiveros-Paraquel, is also gunning for a senatorial seat. Like Teddy, she has a very strong will and principles for the benefit of the Filipino People. She deserves our attention and support.

Governor Grace Padaca, I heard, is also running for a higher post. Her achievements in her hometown deserves emulation.

Susan "Toots" Ople, the daughter of former Labor secretary and Senator Blas Ople, is also Senatorial material. Toots has been helping OFW's through the Blas Ople Labor Policy Center. She's one of the OFW's hopes for them to at least be heard in the chambers of Congress.

If Roilo Golez intends to run for a senatorial post, many people would be extremely happy. Golez is an expert in security matters and our security infrastructure would definitely be enriched with his contributions.

Is Ruffy Biazon, son of nationalist Senator Rodolfo Biazon, running for a higher post? I hope so. He could be one of our finest senators in the new generation.

I heard bar topnotcher Atty. Kiko Pimentel III is expected to resume his campaign. He nearly won the 2007 elections after a bitter contest with Senator Juan Zubiri. Hope things turn out different this time, since automated na ang elections.

Adel Tamano, son of former Senator Mamintal Tamano, is running under the Nacionalista Party. His ratings are really not that high and I heard that many Muslims do not like him. Nonetheless, I think Adel has the qualities of a good senator. He deserves a chance. He's intelligent and has the vision to pursue the Bangsamoro agenda in the upper chamber.

Lastly, there's another idealistic officer who wants to run for a senatorial post. I am still not at liberty to reveal his name except that if this person stands up and tells me that I need to go out of my comfort zone and fight for my country even with my bare hands, I will. This guy has the highest integrity. And even if he's past fifty, the last time I talked with him, he still has the same fire in his belly. He is, to me and others, the true Maginoo.