LET HER SPEAK THE TRUTH

For a giant TV network to boast of its 'KAPAMILYA' culture, ABS-CBN sure doesn't think much of family values. In the case of its recent victim, fall guy (girl) Precious Lara Quigaman was booted out of Wowowee for a simple stupid reason. Lara took along with her to Hawaii her mother and her boyfriend to the dismay of superstar Willie Revillame who has been hounding her, even placing a call one day to Lara's mother in Canada hinting that he should instead be Lara's boyfriend. Now, wasn't this the same guy who said he didn't like Lara at all? And contrary to Ricky Lo's Philippine Star entertainment column of May 21, 2008, Ricky should have checked his facts first with his 'unimpeachable source' before writing an obviously distorted piece, aside from a few other wrong data. Ricky failed to mention that Lara's mother was part of her 'entourage.' It wasn't just her boyfriend who came along. Well, my own unimpeachable source at ABS-CBN tells me that the network is now working on the statement they would like her to say, if and when she airs her side. I know Lara to be one who is not easily intimidated by blackmail and threats. Now, it won't surprise me a bit though if she tells her side (the truth) of the story and then loses her "That's My Doc" slot with Aga Muhlach. That's KAPAMILYA for you. For this network would do anything just to preserve the 'moral values' and 'innocence' of its superstars no matter the cost. The very same stars who remain the 'suki' of the MTRCB. Sometimes, it's better to just join an organization with a genuine heart and noble intentions toward its talents. I wonder, does 'KAPUSO' have these qualities?

(Image from http://naptimerocks.com)

ILLEGITIMACY INC. (REVISITED)

A criminal act was committed against the Filipino people on January 2001. It is a continuing crime and we should be doing something about it. Injustice is only tolerable when the necessity to avoid a bigger injustice is. But a bigger evil, and not a smaller one, is likely to result if we fail to do something - anything. Distrust and disrespect of the Supreme Court can very well be total and absolute. Legislation would be a farce as long as the constitutional order and the rule of law is in total chaos. We have to put a closure to the wrongful acts of 2001, if the Constitution and the rule of law are to function correctly again. Not anyone should ever be permitted to usurp power by misusing and abusing the Constitution.

(Image from http://ellentordesillas.com/)

WILLIE OF IMPORTUNE AKA WOWOW WIMP

The Oxford Dictionary of Foreign Words and Phrases defines the French terms FAUX BONHOMME as "a false good-natured man," and "a malicious or devious person who pretends to be open-hearted and good-natured," and FAUX NAIF as "a person who pretends to be naive."

ABS-CBN's Wowowee host Willie Revillame is exactly that. After having apologized a la cry-baby a few times on national TV for his ill behavior, he seems to have not yet learned his lesson. He is indeed a swell guy - in the head. He recently booted out of Wowowee co-host Precious Lara Quigaman, a well-respected beauty and brains lady who only happens to be one of our country's pride and joy, having won the 2005 Miss International Beauty Pageant in Japan. The reason? He simply couldn't conquer her heart and God knows what else, perhaps thinking that he (Willie) is God's gift to women. He was oh so wrong! So, what better way to seek revenge than to cut short her appearances on the show. But it doesn't end there. A PR campaign is well under way to attempt at discrediting Lara's unblemished reputation in the showbiz industry - contrary to Willie's reputation which is that of a guy who just can't show good behavior which always lacks the moral side of it. What got Willie's ire to boot Lara out was the recent Hawaii trip of the Wowowee cast. Willie had other plans aside from his cheap tricks for his blinded fans. He thought he would be able to take Lara out on a date (finally) which he's been itching to make it happen, but to his disappointment, the lady was escorted by no less than her mother and boyfriend. And so the rest is history as it was now an opportunity for the ill-will Willie to get even. Well, one can never put a good man (woman) down. As for Willie, it simply would be just "a walk in the park." For a guy who used to ask help from friends when he was down, he sure has reached the top financially, and so popular that women would fall flat on their breasts just to get his attention. But not Lara. Willie is not in her caliber at all. Like I said, she packs beauty, brains and an untarnished solid moral fiber, which Willie lacks all of the three qualities. I wonder, will it be soon once again for people to see him in tears (crocodile tears), apologizing for another "sin" he is so familiar with? You can bet on it. Even as this importunate Willie denies to high heavens that he doesn't like Lara, his behavior always gives him away! He's better off as a drummer than a TV host, for he sure can't control his verbal diarrhea. So, it really is Wowowee's loss and not Lara's. And by the way, why wasn't Lara given a contract by the TV network? Attention Ms. Cory Vidanes.

(Image from http://abs-cbnnews.com/)

NATIONAL FRAUD AUTHORITY PART 2

The widespread corruption at the National Food Authority (NFA), with particular emphasis on the importation of rice used as a buffer for the country's rice supply merits a closer study. The NFA has long been a milking cow of politicians. It is a low-profile agency and therefore attracts little attention. The NFA loses hundreds of millions of pesos every year. The following is a summary of corruption at the NFA:

- It is an open secret that each and every sack imported by the NFA yields P100.00 "commission" to all the players in control of this agency. (The country can easily import close to 1 million tons of rice per annum. You can do the math on the scale of corruption involved)

- The less obvious source of corruption is the cargo handling involved in hauling and transporting the rice from the international vessels to the various NFA warehouses.

- The NFA is so brazen in their corruption that they regularly do away with the bidding for the cargo handling services. Their 'modus operandi' would be to invite accredited cargo handlers to a bidding and then cancel the bidding. They then declare a failure of bidding and subsequently award a favored contractor through a negotiated contract.

- A less obvious barrier to entry of other potential bidders is to make the pre-qualifying requirements so complicated, making it impossible for accreditation. The favored contractor specifies the requirements so that it matches their company so perfectly.

- It is an open secret in the lighterage industry that there are more than ten (10) contractors who could do the cargo handling for the importation of rice. A cargo handler close to Malacanang has a virtual lock on NFA's business. What say you, Art Yap?

- The actual market price of the cargo handling on rice to the warehouse ranges from P300-P400 per ton. The NFA pays this 'Malacanang Crony' more than the market price. Subject to actual audit from the NFA, the industry estimates an overprice of P300 per ton of rice imported. A million tons of rice can thus produce a P300 million windfall for the corrupt operators.

Because of this, I won't be surprised if a section now in Malacanang has been converted into an NFA warehouse for the 'greedy group.'

(Image from http://nationalpost.com/)