Showing posts with label sulpicio lines sea disaster. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sulpicio lines sea disaster. Show all posts
Friday, August 1, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
With the same thick skin
A colleague of mine once said that more people wrote about Ces' kidnapping incident than this latest tragedy involving Sulpicio lines. I just visited www.filipinovoices.com and found his observation false. Both incidents got equal attention. And both should be condemned as signs of government negligence.
However, I find very disenheartening opposition's silence about this latest incident. It seems that their mouths were suddenly gagged. They probably think that this incident is not political at all. It's a tragedy and like their counterparts in the States, they should keep their big mouths shut.
As usual, the opposition is misinterpreting the situation. If they're really dead serious in toppling this government, now is the time to do it. People are mourning. People know that the cause of their suffering was government negligence. First, government still allowed a recidivist like Sulpicio Lines to still operate despite its dismal record as a carrier. Second, the DOTC, Marina and Coast Guard erred in handling Sulpicio Lines with kid's gloves. And third, government just acted after four days, it is as if they allowed all those people trapped inside the ship to die first before undertaking retrieval operations (note: its retrieval, not rescue).
Look at the depth of the people's despair. Any revolutionist would probably exploit this situation to push for his cause. To hell if people would accuse a revolutionist of being a manipulative and exploiter of bad fate. Hey, this is a struggle. And this is an opportunity that should not have been passed by those who want Gloria's head.
That's the problem with the opposition. Their sights are directed at 2010. This fact highlights one thing--they are no different from those who illegally occupy Malacanan. They have the same skin, the same hide as those whom they publicly despise.
However, I find very disenheartening opposition's silence about this latest incident. It seems that their mouths were suddenly gagged. They probably think that this incident is not political at all. It's a tragedy and like their counterparts in the States, they should keep their big mouths shut.
As usual, the opposition is misinterpreting the situation. If they're really dead serious in toppling this government, now is the time to do it. People are mourning. People know that the cause of their suffering was government negligence. First, government still allowed a recidivist like Sulpicio Lines to still operate despite its dismal record as a carrier. Second, the DOTC, Marina and Coast Guard erred in handling Sulpicio Lines with kid's gloves. And third, government just acted after four days, it is as if they allowed all those people trapped inside the ship to die first before undertaking retrieval operations (note: its retrieval, not rescue).
Look at the depth of the people's despair. Any revolutionist would probably exploit this situation to push for his cause. To hell if people would accuse a revolutionist of being a manipulative and exploiter of bad fate. Hey, this is a struggle. And this is an opportunity that should not have been passed by those who want Gloria's head.
That's the problem with the opposition. Their sights are directed at 2010. This fact highlights one thing--they are no different from those who illegally occupy Malacanan. They have the same skin, the same hide as those whom they publicly despise.
Hottest places in RP
Here's my take on the hottest places in this country:
1. Romblon. Go see those floating cadavers. You'll know you're in the Philippines.
2. Iloilo. Go, see what Nature has wrought against men who abused it. Imagine, some government officials telling people to accept their fate since they swept the mountains of trees anyway.
3. Boracay. Now is the time to go. That'll tell you how Nature can destroy a paradise such as this one.
4. Lingayen Pangasinan. Go see the butandings there. And find their carcases lying in the beach.
5. Mulanay, Quezon. Look at those people buried in those black coasts. They are fine specimens of how governments disdain the poor and side with the rich, like the owners of Sulpicio Lines.
6. Sulpicio Lines offices. This is a nice place to see how Pinoys wail in despair but doing nothing to solve their situation. After the wailing, nothing.
7. 4 provinces of Bulacan. Inundated rice fields. Fallen electric posts. Destroyed bridges and roads.
8. Sarangani province. Visit the girl who got caught in the crossfire of men's greed.
9. Jolo. Bask in the midday sun while being ogled by armed men, thinking of making a fast buck out of your head.
10. Malacanan. Think of all those men and women washing their hands from the filth of irresponsibility. And finding erudition from suggestions of "let's not allow ships to sail when it's signal number one." What crap! But, as they say, this place still gives us nostalgia, of an era when true leaders walk its grounds at night, thinking of ways to solve problems instead of causing them.
1. Romblon. Go see those floating cadavers. You'll know you're in the Philippines.
2. Iloilo. Go, see what Nature has wrought against men who abused it. Imagine, some government officials telling people to accept their fate since they swept the mountains of trees anyway.
3. Boracay. Now is the time to go. That'll tell you how Nature can destroy a paradise such as this one.
4. Lingayen Pangasinan. Go see the butandings there. And find their carcases lying in the beach.
5. Mulanay, Quezon. Look at those people buried in those black coasts. They are fine specimens of how governments disdain the poor and side with the rich, like the owners of Sulpicio Lines.
6. Sulpicio Lines offices. This is a nice place to see how Pinoys wail in despair but doing nothing to solve their situation. After the wailing, nothing.
7. 4 provinces of Bulacan. Inundated rice fields. Fallen electric posts. Destroyed bridges and roads.
8. Sarangani province. Visit the girl who got caught in the crossfire of men's greed.
9. Jolo. Bask in the midday sun while being ogled by armed men, thinking of making a fast buck out of your head.
10. Malacanan. Think of all those men and women washing their hands from the filth of irresponsibility. And finding erudition from suggestions of "let's not allow ships to sail when it's signal number one." What crap! But, as they say, this place still gives us nostalgia, of an era when true leaders walk its grounds at night, thinking of ways to solve problems instead of causing them.
Frank reminders
While Gloria was hobnobbing with Washington royalty, "Frank" went on a killing spree, slaying hundreds and destroying property worth 4.3 billion pesos. Thirty eight provinces were laid waste and made desolate. The devastation is widespread, from as far as Pangasinan to the Southern provinces of the country. It is as if God has judged us for our omissions.
More that these raw stats, the devastation wrought by Frank is worth more than that. Thousands or even millions face the prospect of hunger and depression. To prevent things from turning worst, Gloria ordered the flooding of NFA rice to affected areas. But, this is just a stop gap measure.
You can't eat raw rice. You have to cook it. But, how could you when you don't have electricity? You don't have gas? These areas were rendered disabled due to the storm.
International help should be pouring in right now. The United States says it will give US$200,000 as aid to those affected areas. They even lent their precious military rescue hardware to retrieve those bodies off the coast of Romblon.
As more bodies are being recovered from the sunken ship, Malacanang's men are in a frenzy as to who should conduct that probe of Sulpicio lines. (In) Justice Secretary sRaul Gonzales says it should be a probe initiated by Malacanan with the Marina and the Coast Guard made to inhibit themselves for an impartial investigation. DOTC secretary Leandro Mendoza meanwhile said, it should be his department since it is mandated by law. This is the first time that a non-lawyer remarked with legal authority on a matter which the chief enforcer of the law should have known in the first place.
While they're pointing fingers, all the Vice President can suggest is disallow ships from cruising when there's a storm signal. What a whimp of a leader. Those footages showing VP Noli conducting a cabinet meeting should remind us even more not to elect him in 2010.
IN these times, we need someone who will lead us. Mar Roxas went to Iloilo to assess the damage and provide some solutions to the problem. That's the way to do it. Go to the people, see these things not from a distance but from close range. And provide intelligent solutions.
Some things are very clear in all of these things:
1. Government should have a comprehensive disaster contingency plan in place to address natural or man-made disasters such as these.
2. A clear organisational chart or command responsibility should be effected in case the president goes someplace else, and not allow a whimp such as the Vice President to command such a crucial Cabinet meeting.
3. Remember not to vote for the Vice President come 2010.
4. As a leader, go to the people and attend to their needs and not spend time finger-pointing, least a non-lawyer reminds you about the law which you ought to enforce.
More that these raw stats, the devastation wrought by Frank is worth more than that. Thousands or even millions face the prospect of hunger and depression. To prevent things from turning worst, Gloria ordered the flooding of NFA rice to affected areas. But, this is just a stop gap measure.
You can't eat raw rice. You have to cook it. But, how could you when you don't have electricity? You don't have gas? These areas were rendered disabled due to the storm.
International help should be pouring in right now. The United States says it will give US$200,000 as aid to those affected areas. They even lent their precious military rescue hardware to retrieve those bodies off the coast of Romblon.
As more bodies are being recovered from the sunken ship, Malacanang's men are in a frenzy as to who should conduct that probe of Sulpicio lines. (In) Justice Secretary sRaul Gonzales says it should be a probe initiated by Malacanan with the Marina and the Coast Guard made to inhibit themselves for an impartial investigation. DOTC secretary Leandro Mendoza meanwhile said, it should be his department since it is mandated by law. This is the first time that a non-lawyer remarked with legal authority on a matter which the chief enforcer of the law should have known in the first place.
While they're pointing fingers, all the Vice President can suggest is disallow ships from cruising when there's a storm signal. What a whimp of a leader. Those footages showing VP Noli conducting a cabinet meeting should remind us even more not to elect him in 2010.
IN these times, we need someone who will lead us. Mar Roxas went to Iloilo to assess the damage and provide some solutions to the problem. That's the way to do it. Go to the people, see these things not from a distance but from close range. And provide intelligent solutions.
Some things are very clear in all of these things:
1. Government should have a comprehensive disaster contingency plan in place to address natural or man-made disasters such as these.
2. A clear organisational chart or command responsibility should be effected in case the president goes someplace else, and not allow a whimp such as the Vice President to command such a crucial Cabinet meeting.
3. Remember not to vote for the Vice President come 2010.
4. As a leader, go to the people and attend to their needs and not spend time finger-pointing, least a non-lawyer reminds you about the law which you ought to enforce.
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