A direction-less administration says Quiboloy

Senator Joker Arroyo says that what President Noynoy Aquino did last week, taking full responsibility on the hostage crisis, amounts to nothing. He says its good on the image but means absolutely nothing. And I agree.

Again, what the public wants to hear and probably see are resignations from high government officials. The Filipino People want the following to resign:

1. Jesse Robredo for his incompetence, same goes to his deputy, Rico Puno. (Rico Puno was appointed by Pnoy because he is his bosom buddy in several gun firing practices).

2. Secretary Ricky Carandang and Secretary Coloma for their incompetence and uselessness.

3. At least one high ranking police official.

These people, according to observers, have shown high incompetency and cluelessness on their functions. They have shamed the People.

They have shamed their president. Imagine, instead of them taking the cudgels for the president, it is the President who is now staking his own political capital.

What does this mean? It means that Pnoy is staking the very integrity of the electorate when he took full responsibility.

Probably Pnoy forgot that he now represents the entire Filipino People. And he should not unnecessarily stake, and take this rather lightly.

Pnoy is the symbol of the Filipino citizen. Everyone expects him to conduct himself properly before the eyes of the world.

If in such situations where it is entirely clear that his factotums are responsible to the fiasco which happened last August 23 and Aquino immediately put his entire persona at stake, then, Pnoy is doing us a great disservice by continually acting as President.

It cheapens the presidency and opens speculations that, indeed, as what Pastor Quiboloy said, we are now living in a presidency-less government. Where is leadership, says Quiboloy? And Pnoy is not to be entirely blamed on this. The men behind him are to be blamed for staying in their posts when it is entirely clear that they have erred due to their incompetency. And they are bringing this new administration down.

President Noynoy: Sack those responsible for the hostage taking

Yes, I recognize that we are all angry against the present Aquino administration for its continued inaction. I mean, I understand that the probe especially on multiple homicide cases like these would take at least two weeks.

Yet, this administration is misinterpreting what the public really wants---the sacking of those responsible for the mishandling of the hostage negotiations.

The Public does not need to read a CSI report on the hostage crisis. We all saw what happened. It is so stupid to read the headline "Hostage victims died due to bullet wounds" when every single one of us saw already what transpired during those 12 critical hours.

The Filipino People want a different approach in the handling of a crisis. If, during the GMA administration, it took a while for GMA to even make a decision on her factotums and even issued an Executive Order to protect the asses of her corrupt men, Filipinos expect a different thing in this administration.

President Benigno Aquino promised not to tolerate erring members of his Cabinet. He promised a road that is straight, not crooked.

It is time for him to really mean what he says, and not just say it because it sounds wonderful to the ears of many.

Time for this administration to really commit itself to change. Time for it to really act like true agents of change and true professionals.

It is equally humiliating to know that those who continually lambast the former dispensation for its perceived inaction and ineptitude are now those who now show equal ineptitude and ineffectiveness.

If change is what we seek, then, we must be the change movers.

After two weeks, what will Aquino report to his HK counterparts? That the reason why it bungled the hostage negotiations was there is an ongoing spat among groups within his administration?

Why people think the hostage taking incident was a crisis in leadership

The Manila hostage-taking incident, says Catholic Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, was a trial which new President Benigno Aquino failed, and failed miserably. Bagaforo said, Aquino's failure lies in his mishandling of the situation, leading to what others now call, a crisis in leadership. There seems to be, says Rep. Carlos Padilla, an absence of leadership in government.

I beg to disagree.

The assault on the bus was an action only a strong Leader can implement. That assault came only after the confirmation that the hostage taker has taken the lives of some of the captives. That assault was necessary to save more lives.

Despite the lack of equipment, the SWAT team did their jobs. They assaulted the bus with nary protective cover to their bodies. They implemented their mission to the letter. They trapped the hostage taker at the front of the bus, as their planned to do, and hit him eight times with sniper fire. His death save the lives of seven other hostages. Under such extreme and unusual circumstances, the action of the SWAT was justified.

The only thing that really marred the entire hostage-taking drama was the order to arrest the brother of the hostage taker. That incident, according to the ongoing investigation being conducted by the Philippine Senate, changed the entire scenario, from an optimistic one to a gruesome tragedy.

And it turned out that Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, a half-Chinese, half-Filipino, was the one responsible for the fiasco. Lim, says former Manila Police District Chief Director Rodolfo Magtibay, ordered the untimely arrest of SPO2 Gregorio Mendoza, brother of the hostage taker. Shortly after the controversial order came bursts of fire from the bus, which instantaneously killed two to three hostages. The realization that the hostage taker had already taken the lives of his hostages necessitated the assault.

Was the order invalid? No. Lim, upon getting the info from the ground, did what he had to do--arrest the accomplice of the hostage taker.

The core of the issue is the proper time for the arrest. And this lay on the lap of the ground commander, which happened to be Magtibay. Magtibay should have exercised his discretion as a commander. That despite an active order which came from the Manila Mayor, Magtibay should have exercised his discretion, stayed his hand and arrested the accomplice after the incident. Sadly, Magtibay was more of a field trooper than a general.

Magtibay and Lim are some of the people responsible for this incident. And you guess it right, only Magtibay will surely get the gautlet this time. Lim is a strong political ally of the President, and despite what Noynoy said that those held responsible will surely pay, I doubt it if Noynoy has the gall to even order the suspension of Lim.

And I also doubt it if Noynoy would even suspend or cause the resignation of two of his communication managers, who, unfortunately, have not exhibited executive crisis management at all in their 50 plus days in office.

The current brouhaha has not only caused unrest and distress here in our country, but also caused an international scandal. Hongkong officials have warned the RP consulate in Hongkong to brace for more rallies as more and more Hongkongers feel angry and rage over the incident.

These things, should have been handled deftly by a professional communications man, someone with managerial expertise.

Carandang, unfortunately, is all style and no substance. Coloma, meanwhile, is just an eloquent speaker of the vernacular, but shows no other capability than the ability to deflect, and deflect in a wrong manner.

If Aquino continues this way, I would not be surprised that his administration would just last for a few more months or years. The actions of Aquino and his Cabinet members are weakening government insitutions, instead of strengthening the bureaucracy. This weakness, would surely be exploited by the enemies of the state.

This perception of Aquino as a weak leader, incapable of doing his job as the country's chief executive, would affect the entire government bureaucracy. This is the job of the communications team. Their lack of managerial experience, and their continued mishandling of the bureaucracy's enormous communications infrastructure would surely and definitely cause more harm than goodwill for government.

It is time for Aquino to make the ultimate sacrifice and fire his cabinet members who are inept and continues to mishandle his communications.

RP Black listing by Hongkong should have been avoided

The travel advisory issued by the Hongkong government is, at best, a blunder. It was a knee-jerk reaction, more of a political statement than a factual and unbiased assessment of the incident and its effects to their citizens.

And I really don't blame the Hongkong government for issuing such a black warning travel advisory. It could have been avoided if the Philippine government managed to communicate with their counterpart in Hongkong during the hostage crisis.

Tourism secretary Bertie Lim correctly said that the advisory was more of a political statement than anything else. And you know what prompted the Hongkong government to do just that?

Because Philippine president Noynoy Aquino or his Cabinet members failed to answer the call of Hongkong chief executive Donald Tsang.

Tsang wanted to get an assurance from us, but did not get it because our President was doing something else. The first impulse should have been the President calling Tsang and assuring him that everything is under control.

Instead of us calling Tsang, Tsang was calling us. And why is that?

Because this government treated this hostage taking incident as a local affair, despite the involvement of several tourists as hostages.

That is a major blunder. This I believe is unforgiveable. It showed government's lack of appreciation and foresight.

Press secretary Ricky Carandang's response was utterly stupid. He told the media today that Noynoy gave Tsang a call shortly after the incident was contained---when tourists were already dead and the police already blundered the entire thing.

How will you defend yourself then against fellow Asians calling us stupid when the very government is, itself, stupid?

Look at how Local Government secretary Jesse Robredo answered Ted Failon this morning. Robredo was clueless and did not know all the facts of the hostage taking when he claims to have been there and managing the situation. Robredo did not even know the names of the police authorities managing the scene.

Noy's website says "some characters are not allowed."

I visited the new President's website at http://www.president.gov.ph/government/default.aspx and when I was giving a comment and sending it, it was not working.

Instead, it showed this:

" * Some characters are not allowed."

And this is my comment:

"Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda says the government is ready to stake your political capital on the VAT on the tollways controversy. The question really is--Mr. President, are you ready to sacrifice your political capital just to pursue what many believe is a violation of the law on taxation?"

Can you guess which characters are not allowed in the above comment which I tried to post at the new Office of the President website? Is it the word Lacierda? Or probably "VAT"? Or the word "controversy" shortly after the word "Tollways"?

Oh, well. I guess those who are well-intentioned and are critiques are practically disallowed to comment on the New President's website.

CUSTOMS IS STILL HOLDING EMPTY FISH NET

Slowly, we are feeling that government is honestly doing something to address our concerns. DPWH secretary Rogelio Singson has just written off 19 alleged midnight deals. Kudos to Singson. While we wait with bated breath, Customs chief Angelito Alvarez's promise to present one smuggler every single week. It is now Thursday and still no big fish presented.

Oh, well. Mr. President, yung bata mo, papatay-patay. Are we going to wait for him forever to produce? President Noynoy, you promised to boot Alvarez' butt off if he fails to produce. It is now what, three weeks and still Alvarez reneged on his promise to rid the Customs department of big-time smugglers and greedy officials.

Alvarez claims to have 20 years experience transacting with Customs. It is entirely unbelievable for him to say that he still does not know who among hundreds of officials there are involved in shady deals.

Alvarez should be fired, pronto. He's not fit to be a fisherman, even a whaler.

Noynoy Aquino's honeymoon

President Noynoy Aquino asked---where's my honeymoon? Noy was referring to the 100-day respite from media attacks usually accorded to new heads of state.

The president even jokingly said that because he's a bachelor, people probably thought that he does not know what "honeymoon" means.

Let me impart my two-cents worth knowledge on why there's no honeymoon for New Pnoy--it's his fault. His stirring inauguration speech left many with a higher expectation than his predecessor.

He promised change. Yet, he did not say that it will be slower than expected.

He promised a New Philippines. Yet, he did not say that it will actually be a "modified" version of the old.

His first acts as the New Head of State were totally shocking because they were so "traditional", these disabused the minds of many people and re-defined what "new" means.

He re-cycled Cabinet members of the old dispensation, and allowed one of them, Finance secretary Cesar Purisima to appoint a dubious character at the Bureau of Customs. Trusted family associates were appointed to sensitive posts, including someone who headed Maynilad to the agency which Maynilad directly transacts with.

Noy hired someone from the energy sector to head the energy department, totally subservient to the interests of the big oil players. And he allowed a very close family friend to audit Malacanang, a very suspicious thing since under the law, it's only the Commission on Audit which does that.

Noy allowed families to populate his Cabinet. The Abads control the purse while the Romulos controlled both the Foreign Affairs and the Department of Agriculture.

He then appointed a veteran LTO official to the top post and allowed her to transact with Stradcom. Stradcom, even at this time, still gives bad service. This was discussed but never resolved.

The Customs department promised to present one big fish every week, but failed. The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) did the same, but again, reneged. These were promises which the people were given but never implemented.

The People are doing their best to support the new administration, but times are making it difficult for people not to criticize this new government.

Food prices remain extremely high. Oil prices remain high. Meralco wants to increase their electricity rates while Maynilad and Manila Water are telling the people that there is a possibility of a water shortage. These things are making life extremely hard for Pinoys.

If the Pinoys, whom Noynoy described as his bosses, are having a very difficult time to survive life here in this country, and his new administration is now perceived to be helpless in stemming this, what then would stop us from commenting and criticizing?

Odette Ong, Pnoy's alleged Iron Lady and her alleged links with Lucio Lao Co

Who is Odette Ong and why is she now being tagged as the new "Iron Lady" in the new Aquino administration?


Odette Ong, seen here with Cory Quirino, is reportedly a very close associate of former president Cory Aquino. She is one of the prime movers of the Spirit of EDSA movement.


She is now back in Malacanang although her "role" in the new administration is unknown. According to several sources, Ong is conducting an internal audit, a clear function of the Commission on Audit (COA). Why is the new administration allowing a private citizen to conduct an internal audit of all Malacanang transactions? 


Ong is said to be somewhat a Meldy Poblador, meaning, an "operator". Or, let's just say, she's actually an "unofficial liaison" between Malacanang and interest groups.


Odette Ong is very influential among political circles. She moves within the inner circles of the Aquino family. She is considered as a dear family friend, like retired General Ramon Montano, Voltaire Gazmin and Cesar Sarino.

Fact is, when the Aquino sisters awarded Filipino boxer Donito Donaire with a ceremony and a party, Ong was there. Among those who attended the lunch were US Ambassador Kristie Kenney, Bro. Bernie Oca of La Salle, Star columnist Popoy Juico and wife Margie, Ambassador Howard Dee, Mila Drilon, Dinky Soliman, Fulgencio Factoran, Cesar Buenaventura, Antonio Gonzalez, Deedee Sytangco, Domingo Lee, Miguel Perez-Rubio, Cesar Sarino, Gen. Voltaire Gazmin, Gen. Ramon Montano, Odette Ong, Speaker Jose and Gina de Venecia, Solar owners William and Wilson Tieng, Ambassador Mercy Tuason, Adolf Azcuna and Maritess Lopez.




There are now fears that Ong is allegedly serving as liaison for several big-businessmen who have interests in several government owned and controlled corporations.
 
That includes, according to my sources, RPN 9 and IBC 13. Ong is said to be representing Solar entertainment owners William and Wilson Tieng, who have a very serious business interests at RPN 9. Solar owns the primetime evening program slots in RPN 9. Solar has not remitted allegedly the funds which they have collected from advertisers, according to several insiders.
 
What is most disturbing is the alleged lobbying being undertaken reportedly by Odette Ong on behalf of big-time smuggler Lucio Lao Co. The amount involved reportedly is a whopping P 200 million pesos. Wow.
 
The deal? Lucio Lao Co wants the new administration to go easy on him, since he has been identified as one of 14 big-time smugglers in the Philippines. Lao Co has been investigated by the Senate, along with fellow alleged smugglers, Vicky Toh and Samuel Lee.
 
Lao Co is a close buddy of former president Joseph Estrada. In a PCIJ report, Co is described as the "Philippines' chicken king":
 

Lucio Lao Co topped the list of 14 suspected major smugglers ordered investigated in 1999 by no less than Estrada himself.




Co's Puregold Duty Free Shop had come under fire when it bagged the contracts to run the government's duty-free shops in Davao, Cebu, Laoag and Clark without a public bidding. The businessman was subsequently accused of smuggling fake Maling pork luncheon meat, Hope and Champion cigarettes, and Fundador brandy.


The goateed Co also became known as the "chicken king" for shiploads of chicken that he supposedly imported from the United States duty-free then diverted to Metro Manila retail outlets.


A resident of Paco, Manila, Co's family made a fortune from importing cheap glassware from Indonesia. Co himself controls RN Development Corp., which owns the majority shares of Fontana. He is also a director of exploration firm Alcorn Petroleum & Minerals Corp. (APMC).


Co is associated with FVC Realty and Development Corp., which holds the title to Laarni Enriquez's residence at 771 Harvard St. in Wack-Wack, Mandaluyong. The property was formerly under the name of Jacinto Ng, another Estrada friend.


Co once used Luneta as a helipad, to the chagrin of friends and park goers. He is also known for being formerly close to socialite Rosemarie 'Baby' Arenas.

Co has also maintained a very big contract with Duty Free Philippines, a crony deal which was not investigated during the Arroyo administration.


Fact is, Vicky Toh, the alleged paramour of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and Lucio Lao Co are best friends, along with Samuel Lee. Lee was slapped with a 151 million peso tax evasion case but never spent a single second in jail.


A Palace source, whom I will not identify for the moment, says that Ong is really involved in Malacanang in an "unofficial capacity". Ong is said to be undertaking an "internal audit". Wow. Is that the function of the Commission on Audit, not by an individual?


What is there to audit? Auditing is only undertaken to identify some irregularities. Why not allow the COA to do it instead of a close family friend of the Aquinos? This is something very irregular.

An Abad Administration instead of an Aquino?

President Noynoy Aquino should be advised by his media handlers. There is a limit to being transparent. Example is the uproar created by his statement practically clearing Senator Antonio Trillianes IV of the coup d'etat charges against him.

Aquino is not a private citizen anymore. His views, even if its personal, is now clearly "official". There is no distinction anymore between Citizen Noy and Pnoy. Utterances of the president are now fair game, always.

It seemed that Aquino's statement absolving Trillianes was interpreted as "presidential intervention". It is clear from our laws that the Executive cannot interfere with the workings of our courts, that is certain.

Anyway, what is this we hear from there? That the description of this administration is not Aquino, but ABAD.

Is there a dearth of good men in our country?

Butch Abad is Budget secretary. His daughter, Julia, sits as the Presidential Management Staff head while her brother, Lucio, serves as Consultant to Finance secretary Cesar Purisima. Butch's wife has been elected and is poised to serve as a Legislative liaison to President Noynoy Aquino.

Another form of Kamaganak Incorporated?

Tony Meloto's challenge and our Response--the Filipino

Tony Meloto's article today at the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) (titled "The Challenge of a 100 days") makes one think of how people should act in these 100 days of the Aquino administration. As early as the eighth day though, thousands of people are already starting to complain. Some are questioning the wisdom of the President in appointing people tainted with graft and corruption, while others say, the President is not really serious in creating a new government out of the old and discredited one.


Meloto's advice for Filipinos is simple---do the little things, be honest and therefore, contribute to nation-building. But, is that really nation-building, in the first place?

We don't need to tell Filipinos to be honest--most of us are. We don't need to tell Filipinos to be like this and that because most are already hard-working, patient, and doing their small or little things in their own and simple ways already, Mr. Meloto.

It is like we are blaming the rest of the Filipinos for the monumental ills of this country when everyone is really contributing his share towards maintaining the stability of this small republic.

Consider this---70% of the revenues collected by government comes from personal income tax. The 30% or so left are supposed to be the burden of company owners. But, what do these company owners do? They cheat. They don't give those taxes they are supposed to give to the government.

Some, like Lucio Tan, were able to go scot free from his 23 billion peso tax obligation. And there are others. Maybe Mr. Meloto should direct his appeals and pleas to Tan and the rest of those other tax cheats, and not to the ordinary Filipino who religiously pay his taxes despite the very threat in his daily existence.

We pay our taxes, yes, even that stupid VAT. That VAT, by the way, was imposed on us because the previous government stole the monies of the Filipino People. Those "honorables" and "his" and "her excellencies" and those "technocrats" and "Harvard" and Oxford graduates or graduates of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) were so intelligent and so greedy, they pocketed much of the collected money, therefore, creating that humongous budget deficit.

Government needs to plug the hemorrhage and what they think was the best way to do it? Impose higher taxes or some tax measure like VAT to the ordinary Filipino, who did not cheat, nor stole a single cent from the national coffers.

What others stole, the hapless citizentry pays back with his hard-earned money.

Those big loans and budget deficits were not supposed to happen if our government, especially these "honorables" had the decency of not stealing from us and just keeping their promises of austerity and living within their means.

Mr. Meloto, ordinary Filipinos do not cheat their wives--it is those moneyed people who do. What these people do with their stash? They buy luxurious condominium units for their paramours. The money that is supposed to build hundreds of low-cost houses for us, the ordinary Filipino, are being used to purchased luxury items, such as houses and condominiums.

And what Mr. Meloto thinks of nation-building? It is bridging gaps.

To build a strong nation, we must learn to engage everyone, bridge gaps that divide, and leverage limited resources by encouraging those who have to give more to those who have less.

While we must engage every politician without judgment and without compromise, our cause of nation-building must transcend politics. Politics is for politicians, nation-building is for everyone—from the highest leader of the land to the weakest squatter in the poorest slum. It is for ordinary citizens like me to help provide connectivity to the un-reached, build trust among the wary and give hope to those in despair.

In the first 100 days, let us be a people of faith.

It is very easy for Mr. Meloto to say that "in the first 100 days, let us be a people of faith" because he is not as poor and as desperate as many of us. He can still wait for changes. He can still say that nation-building should transcend politics, that it should be apart from politics.

Nation-building has always been, and will continue to be, political.

This is how his social class wants us, ordinary Filipinos, to do---wait patiently while they, the ruling class, fix their acts together.

Mr. Meloto, we have waited for decades. The poor has waited for nine long years for change to happen. Actually, even prior to Mrs. Arroyo's time, the poor has waited and has been patient. Hope started to flicker when Cory Aquino transcended the presidency. That hope lingered for six more years, and nothing substantial happened, no change that would benefit every single poor folk out there.

When you came out to our communities in the late 90's Mr. Meloto, what you saw are patient and poor Filipinos who hoped for change and received loose change instead.

Mr. Meloto, how can we unite the rich and the poor when their interests vary? Will they unite seriously by just giving the poor their houses through the generosity of the rich?

How will engagement happen when the very members of your class, refuse to even see us in our misery? We constantly engage government in our daily lives and we always appeal to the rich and the powerful to help us, since we suffer in poverty due to the inequality they so bestow and reap in this beautiful land. The reason we are poor is not on our own making, oh no.

We are poor because the money that we are supposed to have are not being given to us. Look at our pay slips. The ordinary Filipino worker is the lowest paid among Asian workers.

We spend our hard-earned monies trying to pay for those exorbitant Meralco rates, the highest in the region. We buy food stuffs priced higher than what our Asian neighbours pay for. We even pay for higher priced water, which runs abundant deep in our lands but exploited and transformed into a commodity by "intelligent and greedy" technocrats like Babes Singson and Ping de Jesus, who now run our DPWH and DOTC.

Mr. Meloto, be our bridge by asking owners of companies to pay us decent wages, the correct ones. Mr. Meloto, be our bridge by asking food manufacturers to lower their prices and for giant oil companies to give us what is our due. Lower gasoline and diesel prices and we can save some of our hard-earned monthly wages for the education of our kids.

Meloto’s appeals are just being used by the ruling class, the elites, to manage the raging anger within the breasts of every ordinary Filipino against the ruling order. While we pray, and wait, governments steal, cheat and lie before us.

Meloto's appeal to those who believed and helped Noynoy Aquino ascend the highest rungs of power is this:

Let us not trivialize the opportunity to start right with our petty politics nor be influenced by ugly cynics who do not see anything good in this country or in this life. Let us be radical optimists and hope-weavers for a change, to give our new leader and our country a chance.

It is imperative for those who worked hard for his victory to remain noble and true by not expecting any favors in return for their efforts. Great leaders are often pulled down by followers who demand their share of power. Great chances to do great good are spoiled when nobility is exchanged for the spoils of victory. On the other hand if asked by their leader to do a crucial task, they must also be humble enough to accept.

From our new President, let us demand nothing but faith in himself that he can be faithful to his covenant to govern with integrity, courage, and justice.

Mr. Meloto, every poor Pinoy is a cynic, so the poor Pinoy is ugly? I thought you want to be the "bridge" between the poor and the rich? Why describe cynics ugly? Is Patricia Evangelista, for example, ugly?

Are those people who demand and hammer out the demands of the people before this new administration, ugly because they don't believe in your appeal for them to just sit back, relax and have faith that everything will correct

And who, among us, ordinary and poor Filipinos who trooped the polls last May 10, and voted for Noynoy wanted anything from him, except social justice? Meloto's appeal is for those of his own class who gave their monies to fund Noynoy's electoral machinery. The appeal fell on deaf ears, as members of Hyatt 10 and others are now occupying positions of power. They were not humble though, Mr. Meloto. They scrambled for and lobbied to be appointed.

It is easy to say, Mr. Meloto, that the least we can demand from our new president is faith. No, Mr. Meloto, I do not agree.

We, the ordinary Pinoy, demand loyalty to the promises he eloquently delivered in his numerous speeches, particularly that one last June 30. We demand swift action to the ordinary problems we so face. And Mr. Meloto, it is our right to demand to this new administration things which past dispensations have so long denied us.

Mr. Meloto, you can sit in your chair and think of things of how to give houses to a select few of us, but, for us, we cannot do that. We cannot sit idly by and wait while manna falls from the mahogany dinner table in Malacanang. Oh, no.

The elites, the ones you regularly hob-nob, promised change. And we, the ordinary Pinoy, want nothing but demand these elites what they so promised.

Lastly, we find Meloto appealing this to us, ordinary Filipinos.

"From every Filipino, let us also demand nothing less than faith in ourselves that we can transform an entire nation—slum after slum, barrio after barrio—by transforming ourselves first. Let us not simply depend on the awesome power of the President and blame everything on him if he fails to deliver. Rather, let us harness the awesome power of the people, united and committed to do good, to help the President deliver."

Mr. Meloto, where were you in the last couple of decades? We, ordinary Filipinos, have been helping our government for decades. Instead of helping us and correct the ills of our nation, these administrations have been helping themselves.

We, the ordinary Pinoy, have always been united in just one cause---SOCIAL JUSTICE. This term has been inscribed in our charter and repeated so many times in various provisions of the 1987 Constitution. Yet, what do these ruling elites do? They simply don't know what social justice means! For them, it is as empty as the promises they sow during elections.

We, the ordinary Pinoy, have been paying our taxes, buying those food stuffs and higher prices of gasoline and diesel and trying hard to save money so that we avoid getting our electricity services cut. We follow traffic rules. That wangwang appeal is not for us, but for members of the elite who have one. We follow the law, and what do we get?

Poorly constructed roads and bridges. Are we supposed to help government do its job of making sure our roads and bridges are at least of local standards?

Not enough money to give free education to our kids. Are we supposed to help our government pay for the “free education” of our kids when we already did that thru payment of VAT and income taxes? How much more, Mr. Meloto?

Inept public service when we go to government agencies to get our passports, our land titles, our birth certificates and even the death certificates of our kin. When we ask for police assistance, no one goes and attends to our needs because of lack of police personnel. Are we supposed to just pray and wait for all these things to come when we, ordinary citizens, have been paying government religiously for all our lives, for them to just do their work and give us the things we so rightly deserve?

No, Mr. Meloto. We have waited all these years. Who do we blame but ourselves eventually when the dust settles down and after six years, we find ourselves still under extreme conditions? When all are finished blaming Arroyo for all these miseries and we find Aquino responsible for exacerbating our condition, who do we blame but ourselves for being cynics?

I was once a revolutionary optimist, Mr. Meloto. I have been so faithful and patient. Are you saying that we, ordinary Pinoys, are supposed to wait for the ruling class to have an epiphany just for our sake?

No, Mr. Meloto. Like other “public servants” before him, Noynoy Aquino will not get our praise when we see that he bungles his job like others before him. We will definitely blame him if the social conditions continue the way they are right now. Blame ourselves for the erring ways of the elite? No, Mr. Meloto, we will not fall to this friar-inspired pathological trap you want us to fall into.

Noynoy Aquino, if he continues to succumb to the wiles and wills of the elite and will just be someone who will continue the policies of previous administrations, will suffer the brunt of the people's anger.

Inauguration of Noynoy Aquino--inauguration of a New Philippines

At exactly 11:52 today, June 30, 2010, the sixteenth president of the Republic of the Philippines is sworn in. Benigno Simeon Aquino III, son of former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino and former president Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, was sworn in by Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales, assisted by a Jesuit priest, Fr. Catalino Arevalo, a close family friend of the Aquinos. Arevalo held the bible as Aquino swears himself in before a throng of half a million Filipinos.



The inauguration started early. Despite the occasional drizzle and the threats of rain, the mood was festive and the event started with nary a hitch. A full three hours before the ceremonies at noon, people from all walks of life started arriving in droves. These people from as far as Tarlac left their homes purposely to witness a very historic event.


Aquino left his Times street residence in Quezon City and arrived at the Malacanang palace thirty or so minutes early than the 10:30am schedule. He was met by former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Vice president Noli de Castro, Executive secretary Leandro Mendoza, Finance secretary Margarito Teves and Justice secretary Alberto Agra. After a few pleasantries and photo shots together, the two then proceeded to the presidential car, an executive limo with plate number 1. The head of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) opened the car door for Arroyo, while Aquino went through the right side of the door.


As they exit the palace grounds, a whole line of people greeted the presidential car as it whizzes by. It took only 5 minutes from the palace to the Quirino grandstand grounds, not enough time perhaps for the two leaders to speak with each other. Days before the inauguration, there were malicious talk that Mrs. Arroyo would plead her case before Aquino, who, a day earlier, already established a truth commission to try members of Mrs. Arroyo’s cabinet for their alleged crimes against the People.


When the car arrived, President-elect Noynoy Aquino exited at the left side of the car while his predecessor, Mrs. Arroyo, exited at the right. They then proceeded to a mini-stage, with Mrs. Arroyo at the center, flanked to her left by Aquino and the head of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) at her right. The ceremonial troops then began the ceremonies which kicked off the formal inauguration ceremonies.


As Arroyo reviews the troops, the large crowd started booing her. The crowd, mostly members of the volunteer groups who helped Aquino during the May 10 elections, began heckling the outgoing president. When Arroyo ended her review, she saluted the PSG commander and then went and rode her black SUV, with her PSG commander riding in front of the vehicle. They then left the parade grounds amidst boos and some cheers from the crowd.


Aquino then went up the stairs and seated himself in front of the stage. Vice president Jejomar Binay then arrived. Binay rode an electric jeepney from Manila hotel. He joined Aquino on the stage.


Flanking Aquino to his right is former president Fidel Ramos, while to his left, Vice President Jejomar Binay. Two former heads of state graced the event, Ramos and President Joseph Estrada. Vice president Noli de Castro joined them, possibly the representative of the outgoing administration. At his left is Chief Justice Renato Corona, whose midnight appointment was opposed by Aquino. At de Castro’s right side, meanwhile, is Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales, sister of Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, who was Aquino’s choice for the Chief Justice post.


Throughout the ceremonies, former presidents Ramos and Estrada did not see eye to eye, neither did they speak to each other. Estrada talked with Associate Justice Morales, never to Ramos.


Meanwhile, Vice president Binay talked animatedly with Aquino, whom he met several days prior to the inauguration. It was evident that there was no tension between the two. It was unclear what they talked about. Elenita Binay, the vice president’s legal wife, is seated beside her husband.


At their back, the Aquino sisters were seated. Several close family relatives, diplomats and senators were also seated, including Senate president Juan Ponce-Enrile, Senators Teofisto Guingona III, Tito Sotto III and Gregorio Honasan. In that row, former vice president Teofisto Guingona Jr. was also seated. While his erstwhile “girlfriend” Valenzuela councilor Shalani Soledad, is seated at the third row, flanked by a presidential nephew. Soledad was wearing a Mango-colored barong gown. She looks like candy, but no one wanted to try and eat her. Even the Aquino sisters did not talk with her. (Fact is, even when the Aquino family arrived at Malacanang, there was no sign of Shalani. Good decision. She's not a legal wife.) 


Kris Aquino-Yap, the controversial sister of the President, was also seated along with her other sisters. Her husband, basketball star James Yap, was not there. She was with her three year old son, James and his teenager kid, Josh, her son with former action stars Philip Salvador.


Over at far end top of the stage were other members of the Aquino family, friends and political allies. Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, Aquino’s uncle and supporter during the last elections, was seated far from the front row seats, together with his wife, Margarita “Tingting’ Cojuangco. ABS-CBN executives led by Charo Santos-Concio were also seated at the far end corner of the grandstand. Local government officials led by Liberal party supporter and Caloocan mayor Echiverri were also there. Meanwhile, Cojuangco right hand man, and former coup plotter and self-proclaimed COPA head, Pastor Boy Saycon was seen seated at the grandstand grounds, along with several other Aquino and Liberal party supporters.


The ceremonies started with Filipina international singer Charice Pempengco singing the national anthem. The rendition was beautiful. Pempengco stuck to the official National Historical Institute (NHI) recommended tune, which was actually martial, true to the original beat and composition of Felipe.


After the singing of the national anthem, three religious leaders were called to lead the national prayer, one Catholic priest, another an Imam from Manila and a Protestant priest. When they finished the prayer, a succession of nationalistic songs was rendered.


Famous compositor Ryan Cayabyab led the Madrigal singers in conducting “Bayan Ko”, a popular Filipino protest song, followed by his own composition. Then, the Apo Hiking Society sang their tribute song. Afterwards, Ogie Alcasid went to the stage with his girlfriend, Regine Velasquez and they both sang Ogie’s campaign song for Aquino. Christian Bautista, a talent of ABS-CBN channel two, sang his popular song “You raised me up” acapella. After this, an entire cast of popular singers led by Gary Valenciano, Alcasid, Noel Cabangon, Bautista, Velazquez, etc. sang the inaugural song, “ Bagong Pilipinas” before an amused Aquino.


Yet, it was still a full 45 minutes before the noon swearing in. Noel Cabangon, a former activist turned folk singer, sang at least three of his songs, one of which made the crowds alive. After the Philippine Philharmonic orchestra finished their rendition of popular Filipino folk songs, the swearing in then proceeded.

Senate president Juan Ponce-enrile read the joint resolution of the 14th Congress declaring Noynoy and Binay as the duly elected president and vice president of the Republic of the Philippines, respectively. Speaker Prospero Nograles Jr. was not present.

Vice president Binay was first called. He went before the crowd with his wife, Elenita. Elenita was the one who held the bible. Binay was sworn in by Carpio-Morales, witnessed by his entire family including his sons-in-law.


The Speech


After his swearing in, new Philippine president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, then went to the podium and gave his inaugural speech.


The speech was at least 21 minutes long and 11 pages. It was a combination of a State of the Nation address and a campaign speech.


Noynoy began his speech with a recollection of the events which catapulted him to the presidency. He started with acknowledging the sacrifices to the nation of his forebears. He talked about how his parents sacrificed their lives for the people, and of how his parents raised him to be a responsible citizen.


He then told the people of how, like them, he suffered under the tyranny of those who were given the people’s trust yet acted like rulers of the people. Noynoy even told them of how he suffered during traffic jams, of meeting people who acted like they were petty kings and queens and used their positions to gain leverage over other people.


What is most beautiful about the speech is the acknowledgment of the present condition of the people—that most Filipinos suffered from inept, even unjust governance. It is time, therefore, for the government to regain the trust and confidence of the people. How will he do it? Noynoy says he will represent the People, and will do his best to cleanse the bureaucracy of graft and corruption. He will be the foremost example of a true and honest Filipino citizen.


Noynoy talked about his desire to realize his campaign slogan of there is no poor people if there is no corruption. For the new president, this is not an empty campaign slogan but a realizable and doable platform for governance.


He then talked about how to prioritize poverty reduction by leveling the playing field in the investment sector, effecting efficient tax collection and ridding corruption in the customs department. Noynoy vowed to speed up modernization in the countrysides by eliminating middle men in the agricultural sector. He asked incoming Agriculture secretary Alcala to form trading centers in the provinces so that farmers will now be able to directly transact with consumers. This, he hopes, would lower the prices of goods. He also vowed to create agri infrastructures to enable farmers to increase their yields and market access.


He will continue infrastructure development, yet, vowed to prosecute contractors who build defective and low quality roads and infrastructure.


Aquino also vowed to improve the education system, by emphasizing on skills-based courses for Filipinos who cannot afford to study a college course. He will revive the jobs generation program of his mother so that Filipinos will be able to get jobs here, instead of getting those jobs abroad. He also intimated his desire to modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police and restore their dignity as institutions.


For those who want to reconcile their political differences with him, Aquino vowed to forgive them. Fact is, he says, he already forgotten their sins. Yet, he cannot assure that these people, especially those who tyrannized the citizenry for so long would enjoy the same “privilege”.


Noynoy says that for reconciliation to really happen, justice should first be rendered. He informed the public that he already formed a truth commission headed by former Chief Justice Hilario Davide. Davide’s task is to try erring government officials who served under the Arroyo administration accused of committing numerous crimes against the people. He also directed incoming Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to start the filing of charges against corrupt government officials.


He vowed that his administration will be transparent and will hold itself up accountable before the people. He will also be extremely fair with the enemies of the state by entering into dialogues and peace negotiations with them. Aquino specifically talked about the Bangsamoro problem which he vows to solve by consultation with different stakeholders. As for the Communist insurgency, Aquino vows to render social justice to eliminate the root causes of revolt.


What are note-worthy about his speech are his thoughts on transforming government, from an inept and tyrannical one to a participative government, one that hears and opens itself up for criticisms and observations. Aquino vows to affect a feedback mechanism, a communication system , whereby government will be able to adjust its policies based on the people’s perceptions and views. This is the first time that government will try to effect a participative or a responsive system, a system which relies on a mass-based feedback mechanism.


However, Aquino failed to say anything about land reform, the reproductive health policy nor his gender program. This, says Prof. Claudio of the UP Women’s Center, is most worrisome because it reflects how the incoming administration treats these issues as “non-issues”.


The core message of the speech though is simple---for change to occur, the people must take part in the process for nation-building. For at least five times, Noynoy Aquino reiterated his desire for the people to take part in this extremely difficult process of change. This shows you the character of the incoming administration—it is not just a responsive but a participative one.


As a show of support, members of civil society led by St. Scholastica head Sister Mary Grace Mananzan led other sectoral leaders in their public avowals of support for Aquino. It was very symbolic.


After this, Aquino was then asked to descend the stage and meet the ceremonial troops for a review. Amidst large shouts of Noynoy, the new President reviewed the troops. He then saluted the troop commander, signaling the end of the ceremonies. Noynoy then went to the presidential car, but not before looking at his watch. His new PSG commander went with him and seated at the front row of the car. The car, along with at least six (6) PSG vehicles proceeded to the palace.


Along the way, huge throngs of poor folk went on and greeted him. When the entourage reached the palace gates, they were greeted by hundreds of poor people.


The New president then disembarked from the presidential limo and met his PSG team. He then proceeded to the palace rest house. Shortly after about 15 minutes, Aquino then re-emerged. He posed for a ceremonial photo shoot with his family, then went out of the rest house to meet the PSG troops. A ceremonial review was held. Afterwards, Aquino then proceeded to the main Palace where he is expected to conduct his first cabinet meeting.


From the time he left his house to the time he entered the room to meet his cabinet at Malacanang—it’s all over for three hours, at least. The entire inauguration was professionally handled. It was swift, but sweet.


At last, a new age has begun.