Cory Magic: Nation-building after burial

Malacanang says sorry to Aquino family for the reported "military bureaucratic lapse" re: withdrawal of Cory's military escorts while she was still confined at the Makati Medical Center. Cerge Remonde, the main tuta of Gloria, sheepishly expressed the palace apology yesterday. And yet, many people doubt Gloria's sincerity.

Gloria has been lying since Day One, that's why people don't believe her anymore. She lied when she announced her candidacy for the presidency at ginamit pa si Rizal. Gloria lied when she apologized for the Hello Garci scandal. Gloria even lied when she presented a rosy picture of the Philippines during her SONA.

Cesar Buenaventura, former Aquino economic adviser, remarked that he was overtaken by emotions when he saw how big the crowds were yesterday. Almost a million people lined up yesterday, from Greenhills to Intramuros just to express their support for Tita Cory. And millions more witnessed the funeral cortege in the comforts of their homes and viewed it online.

"Cory magic is back," headlines the Inquirer. Many people, this writer included, felt the power of Cory's presence at La Salle and even at the entire stretch of Ayala and Roxas Boulevard.

It was like 1983, all over again. I don't agree.

It took us three more years before we were able to oust Marcos from power. I think that after Wednesday, we will see a `quickening' that will lead to the eventual demise of this regime. People are angry. Many people are thinking that, after Cory's burial, they will then attend the work of nation-building.

Cory Aquino:

We were fortunate enough that the cortege which bears the remains of President Cory Aquino went pass our building today. As I'm too weak to go outside of our house (I got sick after lining up for more than 5 hours yesterday at La Salle Greenhills), my wife and two kids saw Cory and thousands of those who believe in her march infront of our building along Buendia Avenue, Makati City.

Let me share this video to all my fellow Filipinos around the world, especially those who are living abroad. The Spirit of EDSA is alive my friends! Time for all of you to come home and create a New Society with us!

I waited for five hours yesterday in line with thousands of others to pay my last respects to the lady who redefined our concept of Citizenship. My memory of Cory was during my days as a broadcast journalist. I was fortunate to had a chance to converse with her when she was still alive. Yet, those precious 30 seconds, seeing her smiling, will forever be etched in my mind.

I was too young then to march with her at EDSA, but my struggles and the rest of those who believe in what she and her husband fought for continues.

I hope that these people, fellow Filipinos, who now march with her today, will not flinch nor waiver in the work that lies ahead. We have a long way to go. Cory's legacy should continue. Let those who feel the Spirit of EDSA and those who marched along side with her on that historic avenue, share their experiences with the younger set, eager to create history themselves.

More than 30,000 people are now marching infront and behind the convoy. People from all walks of life are joining the march. I, well, am inside my house, sick. They're now proceeding towards Manila Cathedral.

RP Malls vulnerable to H1N1 spread

I watched " The Terminator" over at Waltermart Makati yesterday. Before that, I went to Greenhills and Glorietta and you know what I noticed?

No one was checking on the temperatures of those going in these malls. Why? What's the difference between schools and shopping malls? Nothing. Why are schools doing their routine temperature checks when malls are not?

I also inspected their comfort rooms and there are no hand sanitizers or even alcohols. Por dios por santo que horror!

Malls are susceptible. I think this early, government, especially the Department of Health should urge mall owners to do what schools, like Reedley International School, is doing and that is, check the body temperatures of those who enters their facilities and ensure that adequate health sweeps are done to ensure that their facilities are virus-free.

Creeping Authoritarianism, InterElite Wars

Now, let's discuss what's happening to our country now.

As it stands, there are three contending forces in Philippine society and politics right now. All these forces have backing from veritable plutocrats who grew big in the post-authoritarian regime. Let me cite them now:

1. The Cojuangco Bloc

After his exile in the United States shortly after EDSA One, Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco was avoided by his friends like a plague. Yet, one persevered. His name--Ramon Ang. It was Ang's role in Cojuangco's life that put the former Marcos man back into the corporate limelight.

Ang is Cojuangco's right hand man. An intelligent and highly gifted visionary, Ang helped Cojuangco regained his San Miguel empire. It's an open secret how they managed to do it.

Cojuangco, according to friends, is a savvy businessman with a vicious gut. He plays by the rules yet dishes out decisions that are based on his gut feel. Almost always, he's right.

When the duo turned San Miguel Corporation into a regional beverage powerhouse, that turned Cojuangco's future from just a big man in the Philippines to the most powerful man in the entire region. Before Cojuangco went back as SMC chairman, the Philippine company was stripped of cash. A few years of pivoting the company from dangerous water made it one of the most powerful and the most influential Asian company nowadays.

Now awash with cash, San Miguel Corporation is now diversifying. It is now into energy, infrastructure, real estate, superhighways, mining and telecommunications. It will not be too far off to see it cornering all components of the Philippine state superstructure. Eventually, Danding will be the foremost kingmaker in this country even after Arroyo.

How did SMC do it? Their strategy is very simple--synthesize both the political and corporate world. Danding holds the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) like a fiefdom. He's the recognized power behind the throne. The NPC is just there to protect the interests of San Miguel Corporation from all contending powers. And that includes the Arroyo bloc.

2. The Arroyo Bloc

Rumours about this bloc are stuff of coffee shop talk. Yet, if you look at it, this bloc is the biggest syndicated operation ever to hit the Philippines. They control practically every government transaction, every department of government and even, some legitimate businesses. Now, they are trying to legitimize their setup by forming a huge off-shore investment firm. Based in Hongkong, this investment firm aims to attract foreign partners in their plan to buy Philippine lands. What this firm will do is just serve as conduit of foreign companies and earn from all sides. They will be the ones who'll represent these foreign firms in buying property and will also sell these properties to these foreigners using another dummy, a real estate firm owned reportedly by a close associate of the Arroyos.

Its a fact that this bloc is lapping up properties in Makati left and right. It is no secret that the new building along Ayala Avenue has been sold to this Chinese associate of Arroyo, who owns one of the 4-star hotels in Ortigas Center, Pasig City. There are plans, according to a source who's privy inside this bloc, to buy up more properties since the bloc anticipates the victory of lifting the economic provisions of the Constitution in 2009.

On my next entries...

3. The Ayala-Pangilinan Bloc

4. The Lopez etal bloc

My wife already called for me. We need to buy groceries.

JLo's Last Option

Former Jueteng star witness Sandra Cam was last seen hobnobbing with Gloria. What had happened to this lady who once regaled us with talks about Mikey and Iggy Arroyo receiving jueteng protection money? Well, since the probe never resulted to anything, obviously Sandra went back to her former life. Money, they say, talks.

Yesterday, ZTE star witness Jun Lozada expressed his fear of losing valuable security from the Senate. Lozada says he's thinking of migrating to the United States, especially since nothing happened with his expose.

I don't know if Jun knows it but many things happened due to his expose.

First, he inspired thousands of young Filipinos to stand up for what is right. That Ayala Makati incident is a testament of that. An entire generation of youngsters took part in that rally, giving us a sense of relief that when it's their turn, they would better manage this country than the present generation.

Second, he enlightened so many Pinoys. Filipinos know now how corrupt this government is. They're willing to struggle for a better Philippines but they need some leadership from those who bear arms. Without it, the fight is useless.

And lastly, Jun Lozada invigorated the whistleblower industry, which is now being threatened by extinction.

Jun Lozada must stay. It's Gloria and her bunch of misfits who should leave. Isama na natin ang greedy golfing buddies of her husband.

Heard there's a new witness in this ZTE probe. Well, that witness could possibly be the last. If the media does'nt support it, that new witness will not be enough to send this regime to the pits.

As I've said, its time for the Zonrox brigade to do its job of cleansing this country from the filth of this regime.

A Mandate From Heaven

The PNP, the tuta ni Gloria, said that its only 15,000. Yet, the video above taken by an Inquirer reporter shows otherwise. There is, in fact, 80,000 people who took the challenge of PNP Chief Razon very seriously. These numbers are signs from above, a mandate from heaven, so to speak, for the immediate ouster of Gloria. Defenders of the palace were quick to downplay the obvious numbers that went to Ayala Makati City. They say that these people who want to oust Gloria are not reflective of the national sentiments of the people.

ABS-CBN shows otherwise. Filipinos from abroad and megacities in the Philippines have mobilized their forces in support of the big inter-faith rally in Makati. We expect though these so-called leaders to support Gloria because, under the present system, the palace controls the distribution of the purse.

As I wrote previously, this issue is not a political nor a legal issue. This is an issue of morality. When a people rejects their leader due to morality, all the more the concerned citizens, especially the elite, should move for the physical ouster of this leader. A leader should not only be intelligent; he or she should also be moral. Why? Because governance is all about ethical rule, not only on technicality. These people in government are being reposed of the trust especially in the handling of the people's money. If the people, who is the true representative of the collective will, move to depose a president, it should be heard instead of being dismissed as an action of an unruly and minority segment of the population.

The numbers are obvious. The people are tired of graft and corruption. They are tired of being gagged. They are very tired of being stopped in expressing their disgusts against Arroyo.

The only way for us to be saved from this political crisis is for Arroyo to gain her hiya once more and resign immediately.

Under the present circumstances, the people does not need the military's withdrawal of support. These generals are not nationalists. They are far from being conscious followers of the people's will.

What the people need are for the sergeants-majors and the junior officers to lead the movement for change. The Youth of today have spoken. As stakeholders of the country's future, the Youth knows that if they don't act now, their futures are being compromised.

For those who are members of my generation--are we not ashamed that the younger ones have taken the reins of the movement of change from us? We're supposed to be the leaders of this movement for change. We're supposed to do something for the Youth, not the Youth doing something for us. Woe to my generation! We must take into the streets and revolt. Now is the Time to Revolt.

I appeal to the True Patriots of the Filipino People--seize the reins of Fate. Create a glorious history. And God will look kindly on our people and pardon us from the sin of allowing a fake president to rule us and use our money for her own self-preservation.