Noynoy Aquino's smile and sorry seems to be an empty word

The controversial "smile" of RP President Noy Aquino

Had an expert communications guy accompanied President Noynoy Aquino when he first visited the "crime scene" a few hours after the clearing operations at the Quirino Grandstand, Aquino would not have "smiled". That "smile" earned the ire of thousands, even millions of Hongkongers who were closely watching the story unfold in Manila. 

Aquino, the head of state of our government, would not have issued an apology later on. 

Compare Aquino's demeanor with that of Hongkong Chief Executive Donald Tsang. Tsang acts were presidential. Ours, well, is definitely wanting.

What is so humiliating are the acts of our government shortly after the incident. Our Communication secretary Ricky Carandang tried to justify the absence of his principal by saying that the President deemed it wise not to communicate with his Hongkong counterpart and just do it shortly afterwards.

Carandang said, a Malacanang aide failed to give Aquino the phone when Tsang called. Imagine that. The entire country was in the state of shock and in agitation, and the President is nowhere to be found. Fact is, during the crisis, Carandang issued a statement saying that Malacanang deemed it wise not to take part in the resolution of the issue, saying that it was just a "local matter". Wow.

What is also a letdown is this smile by the president. Some people were reminded of the vicious psychiatric reports which appeared during the elections, insinuating that Noynoy Aquino suffered from certain mental problems before. That "smile", as reports say, provoked those memories.

And again, that "smile" elicited another sorry statement. How many sorries do we expect to get from this administration? That each and every time this government says sorry, we will just shrug it off and continue on with our lives?

When presidential spokesperson Ed Lacierda said "sorry" for misintepreting the first official act of this administration, everyone forgave him. When Education secretary Luistro said sorry, everybody says it was just a neophyte blunder.

But when you're two months already in the job, and things remain the same, and a serious incident like this happen, sorry, it seems, is definitely not enough anymore.

Is this government sorry for still allowing smugglers and corrupt Customs men to do their illicit acts, as admitted by Finance secretary Cesar Purisima. Purisima admitted in national radio (DZMM) that there are still smugglers doing their thing at Customs. What is Customs chief Alvarez doing? And why is Purisima allowing Alvarez to still keep his job?

Are we just to accept the sorry of DPWH secretary Babes Singson for allowing corrupt DPWH men to still get hefty commissions from poor road construction of their preferred contractors?

There is a limit in saying sorry.

Fact is, we Filipinos believe that the more you say "sorry", the more you really do not mean that you're truly sorry.

We are in a very sorry state. Fact is, our government right now just issues sorries and then still do the same thing. How much harm do we have to take from this government before we really tell ourselves that we are really sorry for supporting it?

Rogelio Singson's sudden attack of delicadeza and Customs Chief's Alvarez empty fish net

New DPWH secretary Rogelio "Babes" Singson had a sudden attack of "delicadeza" when he purportedly gave up as "chair" of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage Systems or MWSS citing "conflict of interest".



Singson only had this "epiphany" shortly after an interview over DZMM and when he already assumed the post. And to think that Singson is proud of telling the people that he's a "minister" of God.

If he, really, is a minister, then, Singson would have the decency of resigning altogether as DPWH secretary, not just giving up the MWSS post. Imagine, he just barely warmed his seat and he now has this problem about "delicadeza"? How many more delicadeza-related issues would he encounter in the future? Noynoy has six more years to go.

Singson, before assuming the DPWH post, is the top executive of Maynilad, a public utilities corporation. If Singson really felt "hiya", he should have refused the offer of Noynoy Aquino the very first time he was offered the public works portfolio.



Singson only gave up the chairmanship after media reminded him of a conflict of interest. I don't believe that he did not know that there's a problem prior to assuming the post.


Fact is, his very appointment smacks of the absence of delicadeza.


He's the representative of Big Business in government and we all know that Big Business right now is eye-ing other government businesses and services which the State plans to privatize.


Had we not pointed this out to him, Singson would not have relented and would have taken over the MWSS with impunity. Such is the lack of delicadeza of a few of the President's men.


What is there at the MWSS that is so juicy and so salivating that Singson wants nothing more than its chairmanship?


Water rates. MWSS is now acting as the regulatory body that protects the public's interest in water services of two concessionaires--Maynilad and Manila Water. MWSS is the one who approves water rates. Probably, Singson is so desirous to control it because his backers are salivating on increasing water rates.


Woe is the Filipino consumer! We already have a cartel over oil prices. We have a mammoth and inefficient electricity cartel, likewise in rice cartel. Now, even water is slowly being cartelized and commodified.

By the way, it's already SATURDAY AND CUSTOMS COMMISSIONER ANGELITO ALVAREZ IS STILL TRYING TO FIND A BIG FISH INSIDE THE BUREAU WILLING TO BE HIS FIRST GUINEA PIG.

WHY IS IT TAKING HIM TOO LONG TO PRESENT ONE WHEN HE BRAGS THAT HE KNOWS THE "INS" AND "OUTS" OF THE BUREAU?

ALVAREZ IS A VETERAN PLAYER, WITH MORE THAN 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN THE FREIGHT AND CUSTOMS INDUSTRY.

SO MUCH FOR THIS GUY WITH LOTS OF AIR IN HIM. WELL, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM A GUY WHO CHEATED HIS WAY TO A GOLF WIN?

DPWH and Customs "Business As Usual"

When Rogelio "Babes" Singson entered the halls of the DPWH, one of the most corrupt agencies in this Republic, he was carrying a big sign which says "BUSINESS AS USUAL. "


Now, with the appointment of former PBA commissioner Joselito Alvarez, a former employee of Bert Lina (of FEDEX fame) to the Customs post (recommended by Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima), Alvarez will also be carrying this big sign which also says, "BUSINESS AS USUAL."


The sharks and the big-time smugglers all heaved a sigh of relief. They all thought that President Noynoy Aquino really meant what he said that he will cleanse the bureaucracy of all graft and filth. 


When these unscrupulous groups heard that Singson is to be appointed to DPWH, the contractors who already overcharged the public previously under the Ebdane administration thanked their angels in hell. Tuloy ang ligaya, they said. 


Expect those who fattened their bank accounts during the Arroyo administration to continue their erring and stealin ways.


A bigger celebratory party will surely happen once Alvarez assumes his Customs post. Alvarez was the second choice because Guillermo Parayno reportedly had a conflict of interest. People expect that Pnoy will appoint a more competent, less controversial and a person who has nothing to do with the business of freight nor of customs.


Everyone knows that Alvarez is pretty much involved in the customs and freight business. Alvarez owes his career to Bert Lina, the pretty boy brother of Joey Lina, involved very much in the so-called "notorious business of freight". (There was an alleged US Customs confidential report which shows that the Linas reportedly used the FEDEX network in smuggling activities. How true? Is that the reason why they lost the FEDEX franchise in the first place) Is there no one out there better and more competent than Alvarez? I mean come on, Pnoy!!


How will we be able to build a "New Philippines" when we are recycling these nincoompoops who caused these monumental problems we face today?


There is also news of the re-appointment to the LTRB post of Dante Lantin, the notorious official during the Arroyo administration, who granted thousands of franchises and allowed the proliferation of collorum buses in EDSA. 


WALA NA PO BANG IBA, MR. PRESIDENT?


Is this the change we expect to happen? Of industry insiders being appointed to highly corrupt and sensitive posts in the bureaucracy? How will Pnoy fight the forces of evil when he is, in fact, going to bed with them? And this early? Wow. 


I am definitely sharpening my bolo.