I'll be with Noynoy if...

I hate to be a prick or the first one to douse cold water on this heating discussion about Noynoy Aquino, but let's dust off the star dusts in our eyes for a while and think---si Noynoy na nga ba? Or for that matter, si Erap ba ulit? Si Manny Villar na ba? Or si Chiz Escudero or Noli de Castro na nga ba?

We know Erap does not deserve a second chance. He blew his first one. We already saw a sample of his performance, and lest we forget, we were totally disgusted. That's why we ousted him in the first place.

Despite his kind heart for the OFWs, we all know that Villar is really interested only on our lands, not our welfare. Villar is spending billions for his campaign and we all know he's a businessman so he'll probably expect a pay-back. That's as sure as the sun sets in the East and rises in the West. In fact, that C-5 deal should remind us of who Villar really is.

Chiz Escudero mouths a mouthfull but it's doubtful if he'll really lead the movement for change. This early, he's being backed by trapos, like Villafuerte and of course the Cojuangcos. The problem with Escudero is we're really not sure who he really is.

Noli de Castro, well, we saw how he performs and surely, he's just Gloria's surety bond. Now, we're left with Noynoy.

If we settle for Noynoy, would he really restore order in this chaotic society of ours? Will he be willing to, say, implement genuine agrarian reform? Will he be willing to dismantle the businesses of oligarchs who continue to siphon off what the rest of us deserve? Will he be willing to fight the Lopezes of Meralco, the Ayalas of Globe Telecommunications and his relatives the Cojuangcos? And will he be willing to really protect the best interests of the workers against their abusive Tsinoy employers?

Easy to say that he will, right? Very easy to dream, but doing the right thing, implementing what is just in this society, is really very hard. It looks doable, and it is, but when push comes to shove, will Noynoy be willing to drastically reconfigurate the entire superstructure to reflect what the rest of us, the poor masses of Pinoys, want and deserve?

They say, this is not about personalities---this is about finding common ground. This will not end with Noynoy getting the presidency and us, retreating to our homes while he and his backers do all the work themselves. This is about involvement. And I agree.

Yet, let's not be fooled by propaganda---the real decision-makers will still be Noynoy and his brady bunch. Like before, we will be their sheep and they, our shepherds.

If NOynoy would be willing to lead a revolution that would:

1. destroy the hold of big comprador and landlord interests over thousands of acres worth of lands and not hand over these lands to foreign interests.

2. increase the participation of members of the academe and the civil society (meaning legitimate members of non-government and people's organizations) in governmental policy-making in all departments and local government units.

3. immediately lower food prices (i went to the grocery last night and boy! I cursed this government for not doing anything to lower the prices of goods. Pinapatay talaga tayo ng administrasyong ito! A foreigner friend of mine reacted that our food prices are much higher than in Wales. And I agree) by re-invigorating the National Food Terminal. Control the prices of goods.

4. immediately order the opening of books of major oil companies and bring back oil industry regulation. Dismantle the oil cartel immediately and jail those oil executives for the crime of economic sabotage.

5. immediately order the opening of books of major telecommunications companies and lower the call rates to respectable levels.

6. immediately institute a moral revolution that would emphasize on love of country and national interest over self.

7. streamline the bureaucracy, institute austerity measures and jail those grafters in government. Shoot them in public if necessary.

8. dismantle big gambling groups especially those led by politicians, arrest and prosecute these scums of the earth. If they resist, kill them without mercy.

9. Hunt down those big drug lords, arrest and prosecute them. If they resist, kill them and cut their heads off. And show these in public. (figuratively of course)

10. Arrest and prosecute illegal recruiters and those involved in human smuggling. If they resist, cut their heads off and show these in public. (figuratively of course)

If Noynoy is willing to do all these things, then, me and my family will die with him if necessary just to restore order in our society. My friends know me---when I say it, I'll do it.

Noynoy deserves all the help. But, let's not be a merciful lot when he's already there in Malacanang. If, after 30 days, and we see Noynoy doing all the bad things that we hate, I, together with all the New Patriots, will, ourselves, act for real change.

Wala nang pagbibigay sa mga cono.

The Real Mar Roxas shows up

For that singular act last September 1 when he withdrew from the presidential race, Mar Roxas regained our trust and confidence. In my book, Mar Roxas deserves the presidency. That one incident showed you the real Mar Roxas.

That's what the public wants to see---a vulnerable Mar Roxas, a gallant Mar Roxas, a gentleman Mar Roxas. Uncluttered. Unpretentious. Un-trapo.

We have not seen that Mar Roxas when he formally announced his intention to run for the presidency. He was packaged like a typical trapo with infomercials showing him in a padyak. Cluttered. Pretentious. Trapong trapo.

That image destroyed the public's views and opinions about Mar Roxas. He was regarded as someone belonging to the trapo class, walang pinagkaiba, just like a Villar, who salivates for the post. He was lumped together with the trapos, an un-trapo, a nationalist, doing what trapos are doing.

Mar's campaign fettered him to an image which he's not. He's not a trapo, yet his campaign looked like one of a trapo. He is a nationalist and what he says about Gloria is true, yet because he is being packaged like a trapo, it did not connect with the people. Those pure expressions of disgusts fell in the communication wayside simply because people thought then that those were being done in the name of trapo politics.

Now, with that one singular act of courage, of gallantry and of expressing his pure heart, Mar Roxas regained the people's trust once again. The 20 million or so people who voted for him, again went behind him.

That singular act gave Mar Roxas a quick makeover. He deserves a fresh start.

I have one message for Mar---sana naman po senator, when you re-calibrate your campaign, please junk that Padyak ad. Please lang, please!

Please show us an ad that inspires. Please show us an ad that highlights your service to the nation. Please show us an ad that glorifies the memories of your forebears.

That is the ad that we want to see. That is the image we need, someone like you, who will sacrifice oneself for the sake of the Nation. Hinding hindi yung papadyak.

Please. Otherwise, forget about running again.

Mar Roxas quits; throws support to NoyNoy Aquino for President

Senator Mar Roxas made history today when he announced that he's throwing his support behind the presidential candidacy of Senator Benigno "NoyNoy" Aquino. Mar made the announcement in a press conference today, September 1, 2009 at Club Filipino. The event was attended by major stalwarts of the Liberal Party. The video below was taken by Patricio Mangubat. By the way, I'll also be uploading this video on http://www.filipinonewsnetwork.com/.

The way I see it, it's too early and too premature for the Liberal Party especially on the part of Mar Roxas to throw in the towel this early. First, honestly, the so-called "clamour" for Noynoy is a clamor coming from the privileged classes who find Mar Roxas a "bland and (un)winnable" candidate and Noynoy a "winnable" one. There is no basis whatsoever if there really is a groundswell of support for Noynoy.

Second, it would have been better if the Liberal Party led by Mar Roxas announced his support after the completion of the 1 million signatures for Noynoy Aquino and after the release of new survey results. The loss of organizational support for Mar might have led to the decision to withdraw but that, in itself, is not enough to withdraw from the race this early.

The withdrawal of Mar Roxas sends a very bad message to the people---it shows how weak the Liberal Party is. If you can decide to withdraw from the race based only on perceptions and possible media blitzes, it shows how weak this party really is, in terms of grassroots support.

Look, what if the latest survey results show Noynoy getting only a fraction of what Mar got since he started his campaign? What would the Liberal Party do? At least in the case of Mar, the party knows that it will get at least 18% of the votes.

Despite his ratings plateau-ing, there is still some room for improvement and I am not at liberty to discuss what those methods are. Simply put, Mar is not entirely a hopeless case. However, Noynoy is also not exactly the solution to a plateau-ing ratings. No.

The solution is fortifying the grassroots organization of the party through effective organizing efforts and possibly getting those territories of their rival political parties. Even if, say, the entire civil society throws its entire support behind Noynoy, there is still no assurance that Noynoy would even surpass the gains made by Villar's and Erap's camps.

Noynoy is an untested candidate. IN terms of electoral performance, Mar is even better. I think that Mar made a grievous and bad decision tonight.

Mar may have gotten some pogi points in terms of gallantry and being a statesman, but, it's good to be described as such if there is some basis for being so. At this point, it's too early to say if Mar's sacrifice would really (1) fortify and unify the reformist movement and (2) secure victory in the polls.

What's certain---Mar's decision further plunged his party into the realm of uncertainty and possible defeat in 2010. Why?

Filipinos don't vote for weak personalities. They always side with the strongest or perceived to be the strongest party. Mar might have been given unwise counsel, and probably some Liberal Party men told him that a Noynoy candidacy is stronger. But, how sure is Mar that Noynoy is really the strongest candidate that the Liberal Party could offer?

Okey, so what is the explanation for Mar Roxas' withdrawal? Was he influenced by pronouncements made by Aksyon Demokratiko and Kaya Natin! movement, two neophyte organizations in this game called politics thah they'll throw their support behind Noynoy? If that is so, then, poor Mar. He made a very weak statement. Aksyon Demokratiko lost by a mile in 2007 and the Kaya Natin! movement is at best, an Atenean experiment based possibly on theory rather than reality. I would probably think otherwise if it's Lakas or the Nacionalista who withdrew, but, these two? If I were Mar, I would probably think twice or thrice before I throw in the towel.

Of course, we're not Mar Roxas and he knows things better, especially in terms of how big or small his campaign organization is. What is certain is that his withdrawal this early proves beyond a doubt that he and the Liberal Party lacks the party machinery to win. And knowing this, Mar and the Liberals are probably hoping that they can exploit the "pulling power" of the Aquino political brandname to bolster party ranks. For an idealist, that's possible. But for an astute political strategist, that's wishful thinking.

The Liberal Party will not split at this point but they'll never get stronger anyhow and anyway you see it.

Noynoy Aquino-Mar Roxas tandem--90% possible?

Last night, the second meeting between Senator Mar Roxas and Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III was held in Makati. Liberal Party stalwarts were tight-lipped on what transpired. However, one source said that the possibility of a Noynoy Aquino-Mar Roxas seems plausible as each day passes.





Just recently, the Aksyon Demokratiko already invited Noynoy to be their standard bearer. There are indications that Ed Panlilio already threw his support behind Noynoy while Harvey Keh's Kaya Natin! and the Black and White Movement are already moving to fortify the Noynoy for President Movement (NAPM).





The only citizen's organization behind Mar Roxas is Akbayan, since its representative, Risa Hontiveros will be running as senator in the Liberal Party slate. Some youth organizers of Akbayan, however, said that should Mar Roxas slide down, then, the entire machinery will shift to Noynoy.

Another citizen's group, this time led by Lawyer Alex Lacson spearheaded another campaign in support of Noynoy. Read the next entry and I'll tell you why Mar Roxas is now on the verge of losing the Liberal Party nomination. And mind you, it's not just because there's a clamor for Noynoy to run.

Mar-Noynoy, Noynoy-Mar Tandem---winnable?

Which is a formidable tandem---a Roxas-Aquino or an Aquino-Roxas? This is the problem right now of the Liberal Party. Before August 5, discussions were centered on either a Roxas-Lacson or a Roxas-Pangilinan tandem. Interestingly, discussions are even focused on Senator Noynoy Aquino snatching the presidential nomination from Roxas.

And this for me, shows how weak Mar Roxas' hold in his own party is. If Mar really controls his party, then, there should never be any talks whatsoever of replacing him with Noynoy, only talks about the possibility of Noynoy as his running mate.

There is a palpable public demand for Noynoy to run for public office. It remains to be seen, however, if this demand is strong enough to lift the sagging popularity ratings of the Liberal Party. The last presidential survey shows Mar again slipping to 8 percent after registering a high of about 18 percent a few weeks prior. Mar needs a boost. Despite the public announcement of his wedding with Korina Sanchez, Mar's ratings have not really shown "resiliency" yet. Roxas' ratings are inconsistently average--hovering between 8 to 18%---not enough to really assure poll victory.

One thing though---there is a noticeable attempt by certain sectors to claim "EDSA" as theirs. No one owns EDSA. It is only the Filipino people who can claim EDSA and this phenomenon is not the sole domain of the Liberal Party.

One criticism that I think Mar knows himself---he has not distinguished himself above the rest. People want somebody who would rise above the occasion, somebody who will astound them and inspire them. Inspiring the people through non-traditional means, meaning, not thru TV ads.

You can't inspire people to believe in you in ads because it's common knowledge that 86% of Filipinos believe in word-of-mouth marketing more than advertisements (only 17% of Filipinos do based on a Nielsen survey 2008).

People, according to a private poll survey, are expecting someone who can speak the language of the masses, like how Erap does it. He should be of youthful exuberance, like Chiz Escudero and having a quick wit, like Loren Legarda.

Now, let's also wait for the next survey results. If there is really a huge "demand" for Noynoy to run as president, then, it should reflect in the next survey results.

What is certain is that, whether or not August 5 happened, Noynoy is one of the best alternatives for the people. Like his martyred father, Ninoy, Noynoy has the best qualities of a leader. He is nonassuming. He does not crave for the position, nor lust for its perks and privileges. He's quite humble and shows it always. And he recognizes the power of the people as the supreme one.

Quintuplets left to die by Mar Roxas

It seems that even Liberal Party president and aspirant for the top post, Mar Roxas has been afflicted with the trapo way of ngako politics. And this my friends, is truly disapppointing. Read on...

A few months ago, Mrs. Lorie Fernandez gave birth to quintuplets at a Manila hospital. The babies were put under intensive care since they were born premature. They asked for the media's help since the family is so poor, they can't afford the 25,000 pesos worth of medicines that the babies need to save them from death.

Out came Senator and presidentiable Mar Roxas like a knight in shining armor. He went to the hospital with his fiance ABS-CBN news anchor Korina Sanchez. The couple gave the family baby's clothes, some cans of baby's milk and 20,000 pesos as financial assistance. But, not after taking some photos with the quintuplets and plastering the news all over town in tabloids, newspapers, radio and television. Roxas reportedly told the family that help is on the way and he'll continue to support the financial needs of the impoverished family.

A few days or weeks later, two of the babies, Korina Ysabel and Marie Loralaine, died due to complications and lack of medical support. Only three babies---Sara, Erika and Wenna Mavinia--continue to stay alive due to help from private individuals. Still, expenses remain very high.

Mr. Gary Fernandez, father of the quintuplets, said that they called Senator Roxas and the senator was always, always cannot be reached. They waited for his help but nothing came. Sa yaman at karangyaan ni Mar Roxas, ang nagawa lamang na tulong ng kagalang-galang na senador ay magbigay ng 20,000 pesos sa isang pamilyang kailangang-kailangan ang kanilang tulong.

The remaining three kids are under serious condition in a Manila hospital because two of the babies were diagnosed with hernia. They need immediate medical attention, particularly a cranial scan.

Gary Fernandez, the babie's father said he was truly disappointed with Mar Roxas, who sought his family and expressed desire to help them. After a full media conference with them, and taking their photos with the Senator which were plastered as banner stories in newspapers and television, Gary said they were just given 20,000 pesos and some clothes and baby's milk by the Senator. Roxas reportedly assured them of his help but, until now, nothing came out of that promise of assistance.

Gary said his two babies could have been saved from death, had Roxas fulfilled his promise of at least helping them raise funds for the medical expenses. Medicines for the babies cost 25,000 each per vial, and they were not able to raise the amount.

Yesterday, help continues to pour in for the Fernandez family from callers and fans of Raffy Tulfo in the radio show Wanted over DZXL (558 khz, 2-4pm). Callers from as far as Saudi Arabia heard of the family's pleas and OFWs pitched in and gave funds. The show generated more than 35,000 pesos in just one day, more than the 20,000 pesos given to the family by a billionaire politician.

Yan na nga ba ang sinasabi ko eh. Ngayon pa lang, hindi na makatulong. Pano mo pa aasahan yan pagka nakapuwesto na sa Malakanyang. Milyon-milyon ang ginagastos ni Senator Mar Roxas sa mga TV at radio ads niya, hindi man lang siya makapagbigay ng kahit kakarimpot lamang para sa mga tunay na nangangailangan.

Maramdamin ang TV commercial ni Mar at i-engganyo pa ang madla na lumaban. Pero, heto ngang pamilya na pilit lumalaban para mabuhay ang kanilang mga anak ay hindi nga natulungan ni Mar, isa lang pamilya sa milyon-milyong iba pang nagdurusa, pano niya sasabihing karapat-dapat siyang maging pangulo ng bansang ito?

Mr. Roxas, sa bilyong pisong kayamanan ng iyong pamilya, sana man lang nagdamot ka ng kaunting pantulong sa pamilyang Fernandez. Halagang 20,000 pesos lang ba ang kaya mo para sa tunay na nangangailangan na buhay ng kanilang mga sanggol ang nakataya?

For Filipinos abroad and friends of Filipinos who want to help these quintuplets, please, I ask of you, please help them. Listen to the radio program of Raffy Tulfo today at 2-2:30pm over at DZXL 558 Khz " Wanted sa Radyo" and take down the details of how you could help this family. The moral lesson in this case is simply don't trust politicians who want to be president.

Cheap Medicine by Double Talking Trapos

Mrs. Arroyo just signed Executive Order 821 mandating a 50% slash in 5 of about 22 medicines recommended by the DoH. Out of this list, pharma companies voluntarily submitted 16 medicines for a price cut by half. That's only 21. What was the drug that Mrs. Arroyo did not approve to be cut?

That's the problem here. Mrs. Arroyo said that she's protecting and taking care of the poor. Why settle for just 21 drugs when the Cheaper Medicines Law actually gives power to the government to slash all prices of medicines by more than half? The palace said, they're doing a balancing act. Why balance it when for many years these pharma companies have been raking profits after profits at the expense of the poor and sick Filipinos?

Also, what happened to the alleged bribery attempt by Pfizer Philippines? No probe? Not even a singular investigation? Senator Ponce-Enrile's accusation was very serious. Is Malacanang protecting its hide and those of giant pharmas? By the way, the E.O. takes effect on August 15 for big drug stores while smaller ones need to adjust their prices a full month after.

A week ago, Senator Mar Roxas reportedly called for an investigation into this. Today though, we did not hear anything about it. Is Roxas fidgeting? That supposed bribery incident is still fresh in the public's mind. Where's the supposed letter that the good senator submitted to the US State department to check on the record of Pfizer? And when is the Senate probe on this very crucial issue?

That's the BIG problem here. These politicians are just pulling our leg. A day after I asked my friends to give Mrs. Arroyo the benefit of the doubt, here comes this signing of an E.O. which, for all intents and purposes, is really a half-baked measure.

And here comes the author of the bill, spewing fire and brimstone after that supposed fidgeting incident by Arroyo and now, he fidgets as well? If you accuse someone of being "bribed" or "lobbied" by these giant pharma companies, then, the most logical thing for you to do is avoid being "bribed" or "lobbied" yourself. These trapos are playing the emotions of the people.

Mar Roxas should push ahead of his plan to get to the bottom of this bribery scandal and ensure that he prosecutes and files charges against those responsible for attempting to corrupt government officials. It's so easy to use an issue as a campaign platform but people expect their "champions" to back their words up with concrete actions.

We really need to get rid of these people and fast.

Pfizer tries yet fails to wriggle out of "bribery" scam

Pfizer Philippines today denied that it tried to bribe government and considered it a "direct affront" to its corporate reputation when Senator Juan Ponce-Enrile described their offer as a "bribe."

( By the way, read The Huff on history of Pfizer's alleged moves to "bully" the Philippine government to protect its anti-hyperintensive drug Norvasc from price ceilings. Read this link. Pfizer pala sued government in 2006 and even used its ties with the US State department to pressure our government to succumb to its whims)

Pfizer explained that the alleged offer to provide 5 million Sulit Patient Care discount cards was actually a plan to partner up with the Department of Health. Pfizer says its sulit cards are being used by 1.8 "indigent" patients throughout the Philippines. Pfizer just thought it wise to expand the program to include an additional 5 million people. The offer daw was made last May, weeks before the release of the list of drugs with maximum retail price ceilings.

Crap. Bull. Pfizer is definitely not telling us the truth.

Look, Pfizer and their PR handlers probably surmised that we're all suckers. In fact, their statement opened a Pandora's box of questions. Tangekngek ang mga PR nitong Pfizer!

First, if Pfizer was really telling the truth that the offer was "genuinely for indigent patients", then, why did they not offer it to the Department of Health at the time they conceptualize it? Why did Pfizer entered into agreements first with GSIS and Philhealth before going to DOH? What's so special with employees of GSIS and of PhilHealth?

Second, if Pfizer really was on this "with clean hands and with clean intentions," then, why was the offer made months before it was launched? The timing is very suspicious to say the least.

Third, if their sulit card program is really "above-board", then why was it rejected outright by Health secretary Francisco Duque Jr.? Some say, Duque favors Wyeth kasi. But, I don't think that's right. Duque probably thought it wise not to succumb to the tempting P100 M. Good for Duque.

Pfizer will find it very, very hard to wiggle themselves out of this mess. One principle in effective crisis management is---admit the truth. Don't lie. Try to be very transparent. In this case, palpak na agad ang Pfizer.

And this is a challenge to Senators Mar Roxas and Juan Ponce-Enrile and even to Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo----HUWAG PALAMPASIN ANG GINAWANG ITO NG PFIZER PATI NG MGA PHARMA COMPANIES. I ADMIRE YOU GENTLEMEN. DON'T LET THE PUBLIC DOWN. IF THESE PHARMA COMPANIES ARE NOT PUNISHED DESPITE ENRILE'S ASSERTION THAT THEY TRIED TO BRIBE GOVERNMENT, THEN, I'M SORRY BUT I HAVE TO WRITE THE TRUTH. DO NOT COMPROMISE YOUR PRINCIPLES, HONORABLE SENATORS.

I CHALLENGE MRS. ARROYO TO ORDER THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO FILE ATTEMPTED BRIBERY CASE AGAINST PFIZER AND OTHER PHARMA EXECUTIVES WHO WERE THERE LAST JULY 8, 2009. IF ARROYO IS REALLY HONEST IN HER ANTI-GRAFT CAMPAIGN, START WITH PFIZER.

PETER FAVILA SHOULD ALSO COME CLEAN AND REVOKE THE LICENSES AND REGISTRATION OF THESE PHARMA FIRMS, PARTICULARLY PFIZER. IF THEY DO THESE, I WILL STOP CRITICIZING THIS REGIME.

O, KAYA MO BA HA GLORIA?

Michael Jackson--the Voice of My Generation

The one legacy that Michael Jackson left us, is that he sang the very song that defined the Spirit of my generation.

Yes, I grew up listening his songs. Like me, most of the present crop of our leaders grew up dancing with Michael's songs. They even admitted they even mimicked his dress and his dance moves.

My generation grew up with most of us wearing white socks, tight jeans, loose big t-shirts and "de-syete" haircuts. It was a time of Friday night parties lasting up to the wee hours of the next morning, of going up to Eagles Nest in Antipolo City and hanging out with friends. That was also a time of unbridled rebellion, of questioning everything that exists and of going to the streets to tell the world that there are still some out there that do not agree with what's happening.

Let me share with you one of my favorite Michael Jackson songs. I admired him when he was still a kid. This song I offer to all of our leaders. Listen to the lyrics and relish the melody.

This is, I think, the song that really define my generation. This song also defined my personal beliefs and principles. The title is " I gotta be Me." He sang this with utmost passion, as if this is his personal longing. Michael worked early in life, pushed to the brink by his father. In one of his later interviews, Michael said that his favorite song is " Childhood", which he wrote himself. That song was very personal to him. I think though that this song, " I gotta be me, " is that one song that really summarized Michael's life.

Legacy owner--campaign contributor of Gloria Arroyo?

In the recent Senate hearing on the Legacy scam issue, Senator Mar Roxas thundered why the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the SEC failed to prosecute Legacy owner Celso delos Angeles.

The good senator seems to insinuate that delos Angeles enjoys the protection of the high and mighty.

Since 1985, Delos Angeles was already blacklisted by the BSP yet managed to return to the banking sector.

Some say, the closeness between Delos Angeles and Speaker Prospero Nograles explains it, since even the brother of the Speaker was appointed as PDIC President.

Some even surmised that this Legacy thing is really a big syndicated racket, really designed to fail, so that Delos Angeles and his associates in the syndicate would be able to get 14 billion pesos of public money.

Imagine, Delos Angeles just invested a few millions to acquire certain banks and put it under the Legacy bank network. He then, crafted this double your money scheme to entice more depositors. When they collected these deposits, they then maneuvered to spread these deposits to other banks under the Legacy bank network, cutting them down into comfortable 250,000 peso accounts.

The PDIC meanwhile, said that 6.5 billion worth of Legacy bank deposits are questionable ones, suggesting that most probably these are just proxy deposits meant to defraud government of money.

Yet, despite these, PDIC is still willing to finance 14 billion of the people's money to finance the deposits of some 140,000 depositors.

Quite questionable, is'nt?

Why is it that delos Angeles remains a freeman until now? Why is government still adamant or refuses to arrest him and throw him in jail?

A lawyer friend of mine provided me an answer---Celso delos Angeles is a big contributor to the campaign kitties of certain officials, including.....Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

What Malacanang officials fear is the potential expose of certain receipts and documents showing campaign contributions of Mr. delos Angeles to certain personalities.

What if there's a pandora's box of statements which bear the code names of certain government officials, including Arroyo's?

This is starting to get really interesting. More on this in later entries.

Pontificating Dick Gordon

Much fuzz have been generated by Senator Mar Roxas' outburst during the interfaith rally. A colleague, Senator Richard Gordon, was one of the first one who "castigated" Mar when the Iloilo solon uttered such "bad words". After Gordon's self-moralizing tirade, Malacanang followed suit.

I don't know about you but I remember that incident before the establishment of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Area (SBMA). Gordon was then mayor of, I think, Olongapo Zambales. He was campaigning for the retention of the military bases since, he said, his entire province of Zambales and possibly, of Bataan, would not be able to cope with the withdrawal of US troops.

When Gordon was lambasted publicly by anti-bases groups, he cussed and threatened everyone. His cursing was worst than Mar Roxas. He even accused those who oppose the extension of the military bases as "ingrates", "fools" and "Communists". Had I decided to write in Tagalog, these words would definitely offend the sensibilities of many.

Yet, unlike Mar, Gordon cursed the people, not the people's oppressor, as what the good senator from Iloilo did.

I hope Mr. Gordon would not be that too a moralist and a pseudo good doer. Like Mar, Gordon is just human.

What would Gordon say if PGMA declares, say, Mr. Manny Villar as the administration's standard bearer and colleague Cheez Escudero as the administration's vice presidential timber, leaving him, Bayani Fernando and Noli de Castro in the lurch?Will he blurt the classic Tagalog cuss word against Gloria?

I would advise those who dreams to become president to just shut up, just do your own thing and not pontificate like they're saints when obviously, they're not.

And since I was one of those who suffered the brute force of state security forces during the struggle against the military bases agreement in the 1990's, I still remember that angry face of Mr. Dick Gordon and how he fought for the "right" of foreigners, especially foreign troops with the same color of his skin, to occupy a piece of his own country.

On a similar vein....

I came across a blog maintained by a supposed "queen". My blogger colleague is right. You'll just land there and will not dare come back.

She's one of the worst writers I have ever seen, a prostitute of the English language and of the most brutal kind. She cusses. She curses. And she even sells her mother online.

It's a shame. She speaks like a jolog, yet pretends to be a member of the elite. Shame. And, as I look at her face, her face is as crispy as lechon. Ah, now I understand.

She has flaws and flabs to hide that's why she cusses so that people will look the other way.

IN DEFENSE OF FELLOW BLOGGERS.

I vehemently condemn those who castigated some of the personalities I mentioned in my earlier blog entry. If you're a blogger, you need to respect my views on Noemi Dado and all the rest of the guys I met as I respect your views.

Dado and her husband are right. They are not after cleaning the blogosphere. However, I perceive them to be good people and I really think that they are really doing a great job as bloggers. And it is a shame for those people who hit them just because some blogger who happens to be me, perceive them as good folks. What's wrong with saying that Noemi is a great person? Or that Butch Dado, a great guy? I just met Noemi I think twice and I just like her tenacity. I just saw Butch once during the PhilippineBlogawards and I think that he's also a nice guy. Same as with what I know about Jayvee Fernandez and Juned Sunido. Totoong tao sila and I admire them for the sacrifices they are making for fellow bloggers who want the world to know that, the Pinoy blogosphere exists and it is making huge waves.

The Cavalier Way

Senator Mar. Roxas expressed dismay and alarm over what can be described as a "cavalier" way in  which PNP Chief Jesus Verzosa took in addressing this 6.9 million "cash advance" scam. Verzosa's mistah (classmate), Director dela Paz is at the center of this controversy, along with seven other PNP generals, believed to be members of PMA Class 1976 also. If you look at it, it does seem like Verzosa acted "cavalier-ly" when asked if he knows about General dela Paz's withdrawal of 6.9 million from the PNP funds. 

Roxas says the people should be alarmed since Verzosa seems "too kind" to his classmates.  Verzosa's nonchalant way should be a cause for worry, since Verzosa has a tendency to favor the caprices of his mistahs instead of thinking about the national welfare. 

Roxas said if Verzosa already demonstrated how disinterested he is in safe-guarding public funds in his office, the public should ever be more vigilant since this reflects a very serious flaw on Verzosa's administrative style. 

I agree with the good senator. The fact that Verzosa did not know about his mistah's acts and that he allowed the release of the funds with just one phone call from dela Paz, shows that Verzosa's priorities are somewhere else. 

These mistahs should be reminded of their Honor Code. And lest they also forget is--they owe their careers as cavaliers to the people. If they show or exhibit arrogance when called upon to account for their actions, they are no different from their enemies who defy the law.

Government officials should be reminded that they are accountable not to Gloria but to the people. The Filipino People deserve officers that respect the Filipino People, not those who "cavalier-ly" act in deference to their true masters.

War

Philippine security services are on high alert after the Philippine Supreme Court issued a TRO on the signing of the peace agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The Philippine Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are preparing troops to protect areas covered by the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) since elections are just days away.

Meanwhile, North Cotabato vice governor Manny Pinol engaged peace adviser Hermogenes Esperon to a "word war", alleging that the former AFP Chief-of-Staff bullied him into agreeing with the government on the ancestral domain issue. Esperon denied the charge and despite calls from various sectors, that includes a call by Senator Mar Roxas for Esperon to step down, the retired general refused and said that he owns his post to Gloria, not to everybody else. Ho-hum. 

Reports say, the MILF is also readying its troops for a possible showdown with civilian armed groups (CAFGUs) financed by wealthy caciques in the affected areas. Analysts say that these two groups might create violence during the ARMM elections and that's not a far-fetched idea. Apart from this, an electoral group watchdog called Marangal na Eleksyon says that those automated counting machines might bog down during the polls. 

Rumours are circulating now that former generals have activated their so-called "golfing club" sessions in Camp Aguinaldo. This came about after a meeting was held by the AGFO, an association of generals and flag officers of the AFP. We are not privy to what was discussed but surely, our snoops say, it's all about Gloria and the situation in Mindanao.

Another rumor is that Gloria and her family already purchased a "vacation home" in Portugal. Wagging tongues say, it's for their eventual exile, should the situation gets worst. Gloria is slated to go to the Beijing Olympics, along with superstar boxer Manny Pacquiao. Will Gloria again make a sidetrack and go to Shenshen for a golf game?

While hawks are enjoying all of these, common people are engaged in a daily war against high food and fuel prices. Electricity rates are expected to go up next week. And despite lower global oil prices, most oil companies say they'll not lower their pump prices since they still need to recover so-called "losses". Well, if an oil company reported a P 7 billion profit, that, for them, is still a "loss".

Friends, we are encountering a period of instability leading to a "transformative event". Things are getting worst and history has shown us that there's a rupture when these things happen. That social rupture will be upon us very, very soon. We don't need to wait for a singular "casus belli". These events are more reason for us to prepare for an engaged fight for survival. 

As what Senator Rodolfo Biazon commented, these events have been transformed into serious "security issues". And nearly 70 percent of us Filipinos agree.

A Few Questions to Mar Roxas

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