DID GSIS AWARD COMPUTERIZATION CONTRACT TO AN INTERNET CAFE?

My GSIS mole tells me that the GSIS may have awarded a contract to computerize its records to an internet cafe based in Cagayan de Oro. Now, if true, how is it that a multi-billion government financial institution, the fiduciary of millions of civil servants' hard-earned and forced savings, could possibly deal with a penny-ante company is once again an entry for the Guinness' Book of World Records, and possibly for Ripley's too! Well, it turns out that the controlling stockbroker of this internet cafe disguising as a software developer, is surnamed Fiel. Winston Garcia's middle name is Fiel. Coincidence?? Your guess is as good as mine. So, if the botched-up computerization deal has messed up the lives of hundreds of thousands of GSIS members, blame it on Fiel and Fiel-Garcia. Apparently, the former pretends to be an expert on computer systems, and the latter wants us to believe that he is God's gift to the science of management.

(Image from http://pia.gov.ph)

GLORIA AND DUBYA: TWIN SCOUNDRELS

Let's take a closer look at Presidents Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and George Walker Bush.

- Both are children of past presidents.
- Their first term presidencies were decided by a Supreme Court.
- Their second terms were marked with fraud. (Gloria in Mindanao, Dubya in Ohio)
- Both are extremely unpopular and hated by their fellowmen, as evidenced by poor approval and trust ratings.
- Both are war freaks but preach peace as they send soldiers to the battlefields.
- Both run their respective governments through propaganda, deceit and cover-ups at the expense of morality and truth.
- Both have paid 'wind-up dolls' in disguise as spokespersons lying through their teeth.

(Image from http://www.whitehouse.gov/)

MYANMAR'S GENERALS ARE DEAF AND DUMB

One month after Cyclone Nargis devastated Myanmar and claimed thousands of Burmese lives, its leadership under heartless General Than Shwe (and his fellow generals) still closes its country's doors to international aid. Over a million of its citizens to this day have not yet received any form of aid, while US ships wait nearby for any breakthrough in its internal policies. The US State Department claims it has made more than fifteen (15) official attempts to convince Myanmar's leaders to allow aid to be given to its starving and dying citizens. Had its leaders allowed international relief goods into its shores and airports, more Burmese people would surely be alive now. But their cruelty and sheer disregard for innocent lives continue to this day, and their corruption within their ranks make them one of the most corrupt military-state in the world, occupying similar rankings with our very own AFP. I just wonder, did Major-General Jovito 'The Butcher' Palparan Jr. learn soldiery under Burmese military schools?

(Image from http://mensa-barbie.com)

RCBC'S CCTVS

I almost fell from my chair the other night while I was watching an interview on TV of Edwin Ermita, security head of the RCBC when asked about the bank's robbery-massacre in Cabuyao, Laguna. Asked why the bank's CCTVs were not functioning, he idiotically replied: "Hindi sa hindi gumagana ang CCTV, defective lang." His reaction and answer immediately reminded me of another Mr. Ermita who works in Malacanang as one of the top apologists of Gloria Arroyo. The latter, just like the former comes up with the most absurd replies when confronted with a question only they find mind-boggling to reply.

(Image from http://www.pra.gov.ph/)

WALK, HIKE AND BIKE

I walk my whippet every single day, but not the way that guy above walks his lab! Yes, and I'm so glad I gave up driving my car many years ago. I can imagine the headache many motorists are now experiencing with the constant rising of the price of oil. When the cost of fuel goes up, everything goes up as well. I can live well just by commuting. Less stress, less expense. Imagine the cost of parking, toll, maintenance from the wear and tear of your vehicle, and the occasional 'hulidap' one has to live with from cops and the MMDA. Many years ago, TV host Ariel Ureta got in trouble with the Marcos regime when he made a mockery of one of Marcos' gem slogans "Sa ikauunlad ng bayan, disiplina ang kailangan." He simply substituted the word "disiplina" to "bisikleta," and off went Col. Rolly Abadilla's Metrocom to his office! Today, I reflect on Ureta's mockery of that slogan and then realize he had a point. A good one. Countries like China and Holland rely much on the bicycle for transport. It's a good way to get from one place to another. But you and I know the 'macho' character of every Pinoy. So, each day out on the streets, one would see a car with just one passenger in it - it's driver. We should learn 'car-pooling.' It's a good way to save, and a great way to get to know better your neighbors. If I'm not mistaken I believe a newer term for it now in the US is "slugging." which simply means 'instant car-pooling' or 'casual car-pooling.' Motorcycles (the underbone type) are a bad alternative. Each day, several motorcyclists lose their life or limb from accidents. We simply have too little regard for road safety hence, the tragic endings. A bicycle is a good way to start. Walking and commuting is also better. Try it, and see how much money you'd be saving, and how much longer you'd be living.

(Image from http://www.jonco48.com/)

A MOCKERY OF COMMEMORATION



Republic Act 9492 allows the transfer and observance of (some) holidays to the nearest Monday. Last year, the heirs of General Emilio Aguinaldo denounced the controversial proclamation of President Gloria Arroyo as she declared June 12 a working holiday, saying it was sheer disrespect to all Filipinos - and the great general must have turned in his grave with a clenched fist pointing toward Malacanang. This year, GMA has "changed" the observance of our Independence Day date again - from June 12 to June 9. So it shall come to pass that we have a president who carelessly changes important dates in the name of 'long weekends.' In an interview last year, Emilio Aguinaldo Suntay III, a great grandson of the hero said he was "aghast over such travesty, and what if we declare Christmas as a working holiday, making 95% of Christian Filipinos feel disrespected?" Suntay had written a letter of protest against Proclamation 1211 which declared June 11 last year a non-working holiday and June 12 a working day. And only recently, Malacanang has announced that the same shall be done again this June. The proclamation was effected to create a 3-day long weekend and possibly encourage domestic travel for local tourism to boom. The irony of the matter is that it was President Arroyo's very own father, the late but not great President Diosdado Macapagal who moved heaven and earth to make June 12 the date for our Independence Day, and making July 4 Philippine-American Day. And because of this, President Diosdado Macapagal must have turned in his grave as well. It really doesn't seem right to many people to be commemorating historic events on the wrong day. It's a "mockery of commemoration." For no other right-minded head of state in the world would dare make his or her national day movable. England has no independence day but has St. George's Day, while Ireland has St. Patrick's Day. These days are NEVER movable. So, the idea of moving our freedom day was and continue to be done in bad taste. Thus, it would be silly for President Arroyo since moving our special day again this year by means of another proclamation. GMA, during one of her inebriated nights probably thought that General Emilio Aguinaldo was looking at some old calendar and declared our Independence Day on June 12, 1898 which was a Sunday, maybe because it was his wish for the anniversary of I-Day to fall on a Monday so that Pinoys would enjoy their very first long weekend in malls in 300 years. Bataan was given up on purpose by the Amerikanos on April 9, 1942 which was a Thursday, thinking that they just simply had too much of this thing called war and wanted to have a 3-day long weekend beginning on a Friday. The Japanese had the same thing in mind and since 'karaoke' was still a thing of the future, off they went to their 'comfort women' instead. Dr. Jose Rizal was executed by 'mousqueterie' on December 30, 1896. That was a Wednesday. That infuriated the citizens because the next day was a Thursday, a regular working day. Collectively they muttered, "We'll have to wait two long years before we can make a long weekend out of this. Let's start a revolution instead!"

(Image from http://www.waidev2.com)

THE 'NOUVEAU PAUVRES' UNDER HER ADMINISTRATION

While President Gloria Arroyo and her family have now become millions of pesos and dollars richer, it is heart-breaking to know that 40% of Pinoys are now hungrier and poorer. New Poor is what they have become, or as the French aptly call them 'Nouveau Pauvres,' which simply means "people who have become newly impoverished."

(Image from http://www.everynation.org/)

COKE KO 'TO!

It's been rumored that a PDEA-accredited drug testing center discreetly conducts a monthly 'random drug test' to PEPSI employees to check and see if they're positive for .... COKE.

(Image from http://www.oliva.co.za/)

KA PEPE

FACT. Dr. Jose Rizal was executed by the Spaniards in 1896, buried without a coffin, and exhumed by the Americans in 1898. Most of his remains are interred in Luneta - all except one of his cervical vertebrae which is enshrined like a holy relic in Fort Santiago.

(Image from http://www.admu.edu.ph)

WHO WAS DON PANYONG?

Epifanio de los Santos (April 7, 1871 - April 18, 1928) was a Filipino historian. He was appointed director of the Philippine National Museum and Library by Governor-General Leonard Wood in 1925. Born in Malabon, de los Santos was the very first Filipino member of the Spanish Royal Academy in Madrid. He studied at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila and finished his law course at the University of Santo Tomas. He was considered as one of the best Filipino writers in Spanish of his time, next only to Marcelo H. del Pilar. A nationalist and associate editor of the revolutionary paper La Independencia, writing under the pseudonym G. Solon. He also founded the newspaper La Libertad. He translated Filipino literary works into Spanish - Balagtas' Florante at Laura and some of Dr. Jose Rizal's poems as well. Don Panyong was district-attorney of San Isidro, Nueva Ecija, and later on governor of the same province. Was also provincial fiscal of Bulacan and Bataan. Ask anyone on the street these days who Epifanio de los Santos was and what were his contributions to our country, chances are you''ll simply get a blank stare. But for a man whose initials are on the most significant and historical avenue in the Philippines, encompassing the cities of Pasay, Makati, Mandaluyong, Pasig, San Juan, and Quezon City, he must have been quite a giant in his days. I just hope and pray that none of Gloria Arroyo's lapdog congressmen file a bill changing EDSA to GMAA. If that were to happen, it might as well be the road to nowhere.

(Image from http://epifaniodelossantos.com)

LIE-TOTING BUNYE

So, Press Secretary Ignacio 'Toting' Bunye will be moving soon to the Monetary Board. It's employees should be up in arms because his entry will surely cheapen the institution. Why do I say that? Well, how can we ever forget that day in Malacanang, right after the 'Hello Garci' expose when he was brandishing two tapes asking members of the Malacanang Press Corps the question, "which one of these do you think is fake?" I swear, I could have heard one of the reporters answer faintly, "Gloria." Bunye goes on to defend his appointment by jumping the gun on his critics saying that they should not forget that he was once a banker. But that was long ago. He has now evolved into a rabid sort of banker - of lies. Time and again, each time his lady boss and her cohorts would be caught in an imbroglio, he would quickly declare the expected words, "let's move on." For Lie-Toting Bunye, he sure has a big chance to be the lying-est Spokesman and Press Secretary for the lying-est President.

(Image from http://www.gmanews.tv/)

ONE BLOG ONCE A DAY

BLOGOLALIA. It's not the full name of the late labor leader's grandson. It simply means the uncontrollable urge to post at least one item however senseless in your blog each day. I am afflicted with it. And I ain't finding a cure.

(Image from http://www.tigulliovino.it)

YOU REAPPEARING IN MY MIND

You, reappearing in my mind,
you were right and I was blind,
but that was long ago.

Now, do I ever cross your mind,
are your memories like mine,
or have they let you go?

After all the loves I've lived through all these years,
I had to go so far without you,
now it's clear.

You were my favorite love.
That was my favorite year.

When we - we were young forever yesterday,
fools and little children run away,
if we could go back there would we stay?

After all the loves I've lived through all these years,
I had to go so far without you,
now it's clear.

You were my favorite love.
That was my favorite year.

(Image from http://www.moviesharkdeblore.com/)

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/)

PRESIDENT-EVIL

Top 3 causes of international hunger and displacement resulting in the massive number of deaths to innocent people: 1) Cyclone in Myanmar; 2) Earthquake in China; 3) Gloria in the Philippines.

(Image from http://bicoltoday.wordpress.com)

NUT HOUSE

Senate brochure on select 'Homes of the Senators': "Welcome to Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago's mansion. Nepalese garden, Tibetan kitchen, Djiboutian laundry, Congolese library - and the rooms ...... WALL-TO-WALL PADDING!

(Image from http://aboutmyrecovery.com)

SPLAT LI'S

Beijing Ministry of Tourism advertisement: "Gloup touls to Splat Li's available. Fo mo infomation, contact Philippine Toulism Secletaly Ace Dulano, plus bonus English Ploficiency lessons by Secletaly Selgio Apostol."

(Image from http://www.cnn.com/)

PRESIDENTIAL PREDICAMENT: NEW CLEAR DAYS OR NUCLEAR DAYS?

WAKING UP WHITEY. Thirty-two years after construction began on the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP), Filipino taxpayers for the longest time have paid $155,000 a day on interests alone on a facility that has never produced a single watt of power. The BNPP was a promising solution by former President Ferdinand Marcos to the energy crisis that plagued us in the 1970s. And now, with the skyrocketing prices of oil, thoughts on the BNPP hound us again. It was then when the oil embargo had imposed a hevy burden on the economy, and Marcos' vision for our country saw nuclear power as the path toward meeting the country's future energy requirements and thus, lessening the country's dependence on foreign oil. Sounds familiar? Construction commenced in 1976 and finished in 1984 at a cost of $2.3 billion. However, the plant located 97 kilometers north of Manila had been the center of controversy from day one of its birth. When Marcos was overthrown in a popular revolt in 1986, a team of international inspectors visited the facility and declared it "unsafe and inoperable," claiming it had been built near major earthquake fault lines and near Mount Pinatubo, which at that time was as dormant as a satiated snake. And so, the first post-Marcos government of Corazon Aquino sealed the nuclear plant's fate for good when it banned the use of nuclear power, enshrining it even one step further in the Philippine Constitution. Debt repayment to the plant was the country's single biggest obligation. And although the plant has been in the market for takers for some decades now, it is unlikely for it to be sold with a reactor dating back to the 70s. But a South Korean company (them again??) once upon a time expressed interest in taking over the BNPP to develop it for commercial purposes - to put up an English-Korean school, a Korean grocery or a spa nearby perhaps? But again, a provision in our constitution simply ruled this out. The plant could be converted to utilize other kinds of fuel, and successive governments have looked at ways of converting it into oil, coal or gas-fired power stations. To convert the existing plant stands as an economic disadvantage. Certain sectors of society led by President Arroyo are perhaps toying on the idea of the Philippines going nuclear, or converting the plant into a fossil fuel power station, but past studies have shown that converting it is just too costly for the government. They'd rather use it somewhere else or pocket it, I suppose. Much of the technology infused into the plant was in the early 70s, but modified following the Three-Mile Island accident in the US in 1979. The plant itself is still being maintained despite never having been commissioned. Only commissions of the other kind materialized. For now, it could well be just another tourist attraction - a white elephant. But depending on one's opinion on the facility, it could solve our energy problems with Meralco and GSIS fighting it out for energy supremacy. Other than that, it could very well be the next Chernobyl, and depending on the government and its insatiable lust to hang on to power, for President Arroyo, these days may be new clear days for her, or nuclear days for us.

(Image from http://www.energy-daily.com/)

SERVES YOU RIGHT!

Some time ago at a pro-GMA rally, Secretary Lito Atienza made an emotional appeal to the crowd saying: "Please return the side-view mirrors of my Expedition!"

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

SUPERVISE THE LOOTING

Instead of sending a 15-man medical team to Myanmar, President Arroyo should just send them to our provinces here where Filipinos need the medical attention as well. GMA should just send a select group of her sycophants to Myanmar to supervise the looting.

(Image from http://www.irrawaddy.org)

PARIS WANNABES

Celebrity heiress Paris Hilton reminds me of many of our local female stars here at home. While Paris is a natural blonde and a Caucasian, a lot of Pinays spend fortunes for whitening creams and hair color, desiring to possess her looks. What they invest in the name of beauty and vanity, they simply neglect in education. Paris is known as many things and "scholar" isn't one of them. Still, while nobody would confuse the heiress with a rocket scientist or a brain surgeon, she did manage to graduate high school - in a way. Hilton attended Dwight School in New York, but didn't stick around long enough to wear a cap and a gown. However, she did earn her General Equivalency Diploma (GED) later on after some home-schooling. Passing the test certifies the taker has some academic skills at par with a typical high school grad. Connect the dots and you'll realize that she possesses the intelligence of an average American high school student. Now, whether that's terrifying or a simple sign of the coming apocalypse, I leave that to you. But maybe I'm being too hard on the starlet. After all, by anyone's definition, Paris is a successful person and an heiress to a vast fortune. Granted, she's been publicly humiliated more times than one can count, but she's certainly a genius at marketing herself. Going to jail was probably part of the publicity plan, and maybe she ought to teach a course to many of our so-called public servants here. Who knows, they might even follow her footsteps just one step further and experience going to jail as well.

(Image from http://mog.com)

HELPLESS NOGRALES

Speaker Prospero 'Boy' Nograles Jr., whose promise of reforms in the House of Representatives was among the reasons of his ouster of Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr. (JDV) in February, is "helpless" in implementing such changes, prompting his supporters from KAMPI to complain "quietly," according to one of Nogie's staunch supporters. Rep. Amelita Villarosa (KAMPI), House Deputy Speaker for Women, reportedly was backing up JDV "up to the last minute, but only changed her mind when it became known to KAMPI leaders that her support for Nograles was not all out." During the presidential visit to Davos, Switzerland recently, Villarosa reportedly egged congressmen in the delegation to continue supporting JDV, a move that angered GMA who scolded the lawmaker. Nograles' speakership is headed for a rough ride. Well, political paybacks are in the offing, and for a guy who used to be JDV's favorite "coffee boy," he sure has a lot of work to accomplish if he intends to stay on as speaker long enough just like his former master.

(Image from http://www.abante-tonite.com/)

PUBLIC SAFETY

Warning To Government:
Winston Garcia is dangerous to our health.

(Image from http://www.philippineconsulate-sf.org/)

ABUSE OF COMMEMORATIVE AND LOW-NUMBERED PLATES

Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. recently called for a ban on the issuance of low-numbered plates on vehicles of high-ranking government officials, but excluding the President and foreign envoys. He filed Senate Bill 1158 canceling all low-numbered car plates beginning from No. 2, all the way down to the numbers now being assigned to the cabinet and bureau directors. I support Senator Pimentel's bill because the issuance and the abusive use of one-digit (and even two-digit) plate numbers paints an ugly picture that top-level public servants are a special lot, giving them and their chauffeurs a twisted notion that their plate numbers are a license to break traffic rules, parking anywhere they like, including spaces reserved for the handicapped. Many government officials and middle-level bureaucrats today drive around like members of royalty in heavily-tinted vehicles sporting low-numbered plates. My pet-peeve are the not-so-honorable congressmen (including those who abuse vanity plates) with their No. 8 cars and their PGH100 or PPSA or PNPA commemorative plates. One sees them all over. But why has the LTO issued plates for congressmen now without the respective province and district indicated below, and not just the simple "Matatag Na Republika" or "Perlas Ng Silangan," lest they be covered with masking tape to escape identification and detection in the event of a traffic violation or altercation? Many relatives, in-laws and staff members of these congressmen fantasize being congressmen themselves and abuse these plates as well. There's always at least one in your community. It's a common sight these days.

(Image from http://www.pcij.org/)

WANDERLUST WOMAN

President Arroyo's wanderlust plays a major factor in her negative rating amongst the Filipino people, contrary to what her publicists want her to achieve. She is seldom seen at her desk in Malacanang to attend to the affairs of the state like a true chief executive. Instead, she socializes and visits weddings, funerals, inaugurals, launches and victims of calamities. Okay, so what's wrong with that? It's a humanitarian act and is expected from no less than the President. Well, she should know by now that none of these actions worked for her favor, otherwise she never would have gotten a negative acceptance rating. For her remaining two years (or less) in office, the citizenry want her to get down to real executive work and just delegate to her sycophants affairs of lesser national importance. Less talk and more action is what is expected of her to be doing. For "when the defecation hits the ventilation," again, more protest actions will be hounding her administration and its dismal performance in delivering basic services to the people.

(Image from http://www.elaput.org/)

LABANDERA CO.

Si Gloria Labandera, 'di na tumatanggap ng labada kung walang pera sa mga bulsa nito. Labada ang front, pero ang tunay na gawain ay Money Laundering, at kasosyo pa dito ang Pagcor. I wonder, kung imbestigahin ni DoJ Secretary Raul Gonzalez ito, siguradong WHITEWASH na, mabango pa!

(Image from http://www.shef.ac.uk)

GOOD RIDDANCE TO YOU GENERAL ESPERON!

AFP Chief of Staff General Hermogenes Esperon will be retiring next month. Good. At least that's one less idiot for the country. But wait, I heard he's eyeing the defense portfolio. Uh-oh. That's one more idiot for the country. Other than that, he may seek public office in 2010, or asked to be appointed ambassador to some obscure country befitting his wits. For indeed, an ambassador is a person who, having failed to secure an office from the people, is given one by the administration on condition that he leaves the country.

(Image from http://daylife.com)

HONORABLE CON-GREASE-MEN

Nobility obligates that the elected persons in the Lower Chamber, by virtue of their "high rank," be of honorable, generous and responsible behavior concomitant to their office, as the definition states. May they attend to the daily business of legislation inside the session hall where their presence for a quorum needs to be constantly, repeatedly eternally heralded by the mechanized notes of a sonorous bell. May they, at the very least, be of a disposition as to approximate the adjective attached to their names: "Honorable," or so it says.
We have watched the Lower House for the past years, and we weep. We weep at the billions of pesos spent for the passage of several bills, two-thirds of which do not concern our country. These were bills changing the names of streets and schools, declaring local holidays and such. The hundreds of millions spent on salaries, allowances, bonuses, junkets both domestic and foreign, an almost invisible district staff, brand new SUVs, country club fees, office repairs and renovation, and a host of other expenditures - these are more than enough to make us ache in the innards from the sheer volume and profligacy. We must also add to our pain the "Pork" of 70 million pesos for each conniving congressman/woman, and 200 million pesos for each sinful senator.
This is where most of your taxes go. The toil and sweat of an eight-hour work day for the ordinary employee, the deductions of the compulsory withholding tax, the toll fees, the added payments for VAT and the Extended-VAT when you buy anything other than fresh food - all these go to the billions that support your pseudo-public servant.
Why then do the supposedly "Honorable" personalities in the House of Representatives not attend sessions as regulary as required? Sometimes they stay in their rooms and listen instead to the deliberations from the built-in sound system. Sometimes they lounge at the South Lounge to eat, chat or smoke. Sometimes they are abroad. Sometimes they are present for the roll call and leave shortly after their names have been called. Sometimes they only attend to deliver a self-serving privilege speech after asking an audience to sit at the gallery to listen. Most times they talk about their material wealth, investments and golf. I've always said that the only time congressmen tell the truth is when they call each other "Liars." And we still call them "Honorable?"

(Image from http://bbc.co.uk/)

GAIA

The planet Earth has been called Gaia with all the collateral meanings attached to a living organism, not just the living creatures of plant and animal life including humans, but Earth itself together with the non-living elements like the soil, the minerals, the sand on the ocean beds, mountains, valleys, rivers, clouds, mist, precipitation, snow, wind and rain. As we recently celebrated Earth Day, today we still pray for rain because our water reservoirs are dry and so are our rivers. So are our fields, and shortly, so are our faucets to drink. We have punctured the protective layer of our planet with toxic pollutants, cut down the trees (thanks to Bayani Fernando's MMDA for this) that provide us with oxygen, thrown garbage and waste into our rivers, and dehydrated our fields with an over-supply of pesticides and fertilizers (thanks to Joc-Joc Bolante for this). Whatever we do to ourselves, we do to Mother Earth. We have choked the arteries of our bodies the way we have choked the arteries of our cities. Smoke, carbon emissions, fumes from factories (thanks to my pollutant-factory neighbor for the toxic emissions), exhausts from freon and mining waste poison (thanks to DENR Sec. Lito Atienza for the mining permits), and the water channels that weave in and out of our habitats. Thus, the water we drink must be filtered, distilled or boiled, else unsafe for human consumption, and the food we eat must be harvested free from chemicals or animal disease. We go to war and inflict violence to each other in the name of peace or survival. And Mother Earth weeps with us for this unexplained occupation. Today we seed the clouds because a drought is upon us, or the opposition is planning a protest rally again for President Arroyo. For millions of pesos worth of precipitating the heavens, four centimeters of water level is recorded in a dam closest to the metropolis. Not enough, not barely enough, not even little enough to let the flow of a normal supply of water for our homes, much less irrigate our farms which will soon turn into Biofuel plantfields (thanks to Sen. Migs Zubiri's selfish ambition). So, conserve we must, because the crisis is at hand. But in the process, we must also learn to undo the harm we have inflicted upon ourselves, and upon her, Gaia, Mother Earth.

(Image from http://www.xoospace.com/)

THE TRUTH XIAO PREVAIL

For those who still do not know what has happened to my friend, UP Professor Michael Charleston "Xiao" Chua, well, his application for renewal as instructor in the History Department of UP Diliman I believe was unjustly denied without just cause or due process, and without transparency and decorum due him as a well-loved faculty member of UP. In the UP, the students (and faculty) pride themselves in upholding the ideals of a free society which embodies the fundamentals of freedom of speech, freedom to believe in any ideology without fear of reprisal. Such a shame that this travesty of justice and the perversion of truth has befallen the majestic halls of UP, especially in the History Department. This is an outrage we must not let pass. This is an incident we must act upon - or should we just stand by and wait for Edmund Burke's belief that "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing," to happen? It seems that the suppression of the truth is no longer exclusive for Malacanang and its squatters pretending to be honorable public servants. You may show your support for Professor "Xiao" Chua by visiting: http://truthxiaoprevail.multiply.com/

(Image form http://www.upsolidaridad.com/)

A ROTTEN LEGACY

Since President Gloria Arroyo and her army of apologists have been talking about the legacy she intends to leave behind, allow me to post a number of GMA's 'legacy' then, and see for yourself if it makes you happy or angry.

1. $500 million IMPSA Napocor/Argentine deal c/o Sec. Nani Perez
2. NAIA-3 project / Germany's Fraport AG
3. Overpriced P1.2 billion PEA-Diosdado Macapagal Highway
4. PCSO ads and multi-million funds misuse
5. SBMA smuggling operations
6. BCDA - loss of AFP modernization funds
7. Camp John Hay rentals
8. Poro Point revenues
9. PhilHealth cards
10. Joc-Joc Bolante's P1.3 billion fertilizer scam
11. OWWA fund diversion
12. PAGCOR deals with the clergy, media and gov't. officials
13. DPWH contracts including the road-users' tax
14. $329 million overpriced ZTE-NBN mess c/o Abalos and Neri
15. North Rail ('railroaded' project)
16. South Rail ('railroaded' project)
17. DOTC contracts including RORO ports and local airports
18. Transco bidding
19. NFA rice
20. DSWD cards
21. Spratlys sellout to China
22. 'Hello Garci' scandal and GMA's 'manufactured mandate'

23. P1.3 billion missing irrigation fund

24. Venable contract c/o Sec. Norberto Gonzales

25. P5 billion swine scam c/o pigs in government

26. Jose Pidal kickback account

27. P2 billion National Food fund loss in 2005

28. The grossly overpriced lamp posts (from P16,000 to P300,000 each) of Gloria's Cebu c/o DPWH

29. $147 million DA/agriculture and fisheries modernization act (authored by Sen. Angara) the DA has misused the funds

30. $1.3 billion crooked Comelec computerization deal

These are only some of GMA's legacy projects. Want more? Abangan ang susunod na kabanata.

(Image from http://www.inquirer.net/)

SONATAS DE GLORIA

In 2001 - She said she was fighting poverty with a four-point program: free enterprise, modernized agriculture, attention to the disadvantaged, high moral standards for government and society. Three little boys with their wishes written on paper boats sailed (kuno) all the way down the Pasig until she caught them (kuno) by the river alongside the palace and read them aloud before congress, exhibiting the tykes - Jason, Jomar and Erwin - as testimonies of her compassion.

In 2002 - She sounded like President Fidel Ramos, announcing "A strong republic, independent from class and sectoral interests, supported by a strong bureaucracy." "A strong republic takes care of its people," she said. "A strong republic is the bedrock of the victory we seek over poverty," she concluded. The oratory was slightly as impressive as her diction.

In 2003 - She was confident. "We should be at peace," she began, "but we war against terrorism, against corruption, against disease, against drugs..." There was not much to remember after that.

In 2004 - She orated about creating "jobs thru higher economic growth; eradicate corruption thru good governance, provide social justice and basic needs, enhance education and youth opportunity, boost power sufficiency and savings." The rhetoric was vintage classroom teacher, and she was the economic professor lecturing about the financial projections and expectations under her tutelage.

In 2005 - She suddenly enthused over Charter Change and emphasized how seriously it was needed to enable the country "to surmount the unprecedented challenges of the 21st century." The Garci scandal was still hovering over her pathetic "I am sorry" (kuno), and an impeachment debate was the soap opera entertainment of the day. She had to hold on to the urgency of changing the constitution. It was a tactical diversion. An emotional crutch and a Samurai sword alternately.

In 2006 - She was dwarfed (she's a black dwarf) by a background of a huge screen projecting an awesome power-point presentation on the 'super regions' of her creation. She talked about them collectively and singularly, "enhancing the competitive advntage of the natural configurations," whatever that meant. These were the North Luzon agri-business quadrangle, the Metro Luzon urban beltway, the region in Central Philippines, and Mindanao's power sources, with the entire country linked by "the cyber corridor." The superlatives were profuse, so were the applause for other "super" people in the audience she sorted out on cue. The audience was breathless at the revelation of the proposed infrastructure's magnitude. She fashioned "new heights" for the people's expectations.

In 2007 - We heard more of those super regions. Expectedly she concentrated on the progress of the work that was done and may still be on-going: roads, bridges, ports, airports, shipyards, ship-building facilities, billions of dollars in investments (kuno), and the cyber highway connecting the islands to her laptop.

2008 - She is well on her way - clearly, signs that she will be leaving us a legacy of illegitimacy, immorality, corruption, and the frequent "Filipino Last Policy" evident in her subservient business deals with foreign businesses.

(Image from http://www.geocities.com/metropolitanbacolod)

NFA = NATIONAL FRAUD AUTHORITY

A journalist recently asked this question: "Considering what had happened to the P783 million fertilizer fund managed by Joc-Joc Bolante, what can be done to assure that the P500 million for fertilizers just announced by Sec. Arthur Yap from the Agriculture Competitiveness Enhancement Fund reaches the farmers?" Well, in Joc-Joc's time, the fund was released to congressmen and governors, including city districts that had absolutely no need for agriculture fertilizers. Perhaps it would be wiser if the fund be given directly to farmers' cooperatives and associations instead of giving them to the usual greedy congressmen and governors. If Secretary Arthur Yap is really serious in making sure that the fund reaches our farmers, then he should at once institute correct measures. As it is, seventy-six NFA retailers were suspended in the Bicol region while scores of retailers were found to have been diverting rice from Isabela to Metro Manila to Cotabato. Proof that NFA operations are tainted with crooked deals, run by a syndicate close to Malacanang from the importation, transport, palay-buying to retail. What is Secretary Yap doing about this as chair of the NFA board? And, remember the 'Gloria Rice' of 2004? What has become of it now it? Was it just a campaign propaganda, or have the many cooks in Malacanang cooked it to porridge to be called 'Arroyo's Caldo'?

(Image by http://english.aljazeera.net/)

SM MALLS ARE ANTI-FILIPINO

I've asked this before and I'll ask this again. Why do SM malls feature Caucasian models on their posters and billboards to promote local brands made to appear imported? This certainly gives the wrong impression that white people are more acceptable and more pleasing to look at when it comes to selling their wares, and that the color 'kayumanggi' may not endorse too well in comparison. No wonder whitening creams are the top selling items these days. It's because of ant-Filipino culprits like SM that prefer to display white-skinned people instead of the beautiful brown. Mr. Sy, revamp your advertising department. They're anti-Filipino. Otherwise, you might as well build another SM mall in the Spratlys.

(Image from http://policy.aim.edu.ph)

THE JUDICIARY DEVELOPMENT FUND A.K.A. ATM FOR SOME SC JUSTICES

Our Constitution was not written on sand only to be washed away by each Supreme Court Justice blown in by a political wind, otherwise known as the Arroyo administration's corrupt, polluted air.

On that note, what has become of the Judiciary Development Fund? Is this now being used to buy brand new cars for our so-called Justices like Camrys, Cefiros and costly courtroom curtains, but hardly to hire a good number of security guards for our courts?

(Image from http://www.tribo.org)

BF'S UGLY POSTERS / 'METRO GAGO' AND 'TAO GINAGO' CAMPAIGN

Those shameless posters of MMDA's Bayani Fernando along EDSA must be acted upon and removed by the MMDA boss himself, or he truly will invite public anger for them to tear it down themselves. It's really all done in bad taste. Imagine a picture of 'Metro Gago' himself and 'Tao Ginago', while his message is likened to that of a fineprint in a contract compared to his huge pachydermic face. I do have a suggestion to his MMDA stormtroopers though. Why not put BF's pictures on all the unlit and destructive concrete barriers on EDSA? That way, motorists would now have a valid reason to plow into those concrete barriers!

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

PINOKYA

GLORIA: Father, everyone thinks I'm a LIAR.

PRIEST: Really?? I don't believe you!

(Image from http://maths.monash.edu.au/)

DREAM-BOY

Speaker Prospero (Boy/Nogi) Nograles is in dreamland. In his birthday wish to Gloria Arroyo today April 5, he said, "While it has been a tradition for us Filipinos to give gifts on such an occasion, I believe that President Macapagal-Arroyo is as much a gift to our nation and people." Say that again Boy? Do you really believe that GMA is a gift to the Filipino people? Wake up Boy! Look around you! Ask anyone on the street! And see for yourself that GMA is hardly a gift to us today. A curse perhaps, but surely not a gift. Or are you and the rest of GMA's lapdogs starting to believe each lie that is peddled to the public? For a Speaker, you sure sound like a tweeter!

(Image from http://solidarityeconomy.net/)

ANG FERNANDONG 'DI BAYANI!

MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando's pink fences are a sight for sore eyes, not to mention the harmful concrete barriers along EDSA and that stupid order for motorcyclists to display their motorcycle's plate numbers on their helmets. It gives one a sneak preview of the kind of taste BF has for colors and slogans (and ideas) such as his METRO GWAPO project which should be more fittingly called METRO GAGO, after his dumb antics - and now comes huge posters of himself in disguise as slogans of discipline. Say what? Wasn't he the same guy who cautioned advertisers on the blatant display of posters in the Metropolis, EDSA in particular? And now we have to suffer each day having to look at his posters that display his picture more than his message. But one clear unwritten message here is that he is now positioning himself for the 2010 presidential elections. He has disobeyed the law (his law) by putting up posters - contrary to his campaign to rid our main thoroughfares of billboards that would only distract the motorist. And, where did he get the funds to put up these sickening pictures of himself? It certainly must be from taxpayers money. Pink fences and sneaky antics. That's Chairman BF for you. But as for me, he won't get my vote. By the way, the picture above seems more appropriate for his latest campaign. It's a picture that certainly speaks for itself, wouldn't you agree?

(Image from www.websaytko.com)

THE PRESIDENT WEARS PRADA

Romulo Neri may never return to the Senate to testify again. However, at a recent presscon, he told the press he NEVER called the President 'EVIL.' Instead, he said that as one of the closest advisers of the President, he knows her intimate enough to be aware of her lust not only for money and power, but for expensive brand names as well. He corrected himself by saying that "THE PRESIDENT WEARS PRADA."

(Image from http://news.bbc.co.uk/)

POTA

So, tama din pala si Gov. Joey Salceda when he called Gloria a "Bitch." Kasi, sa US, ang nickname ng presidente nila (coined by the US Secret Service) ay POTUS, for President Of The United States. Which means, ang dapat itawag din natin sa presidente natin ngayon ay POTA, for President Of The Archipelago. Tama si Salceda, POTA si Gloria!

(Image from http://www.ctv.ca/)

FG

What is the real meaning of FG?
Choose one or choose all.

1) Fraudulent Government
2) Firingsquad Gloria
3) Fortyonemilliondollars Given
4) Fivehundredthousandpesosfrom Gaite
5) Forever Greedy
6) Filipino Ginagago

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

JOKER-FACED

Over at the Senate hearing today on the ZTE-NBN deal (February 26), Senator Joker Arroyo wanted to establish the credibility of his fellow-Bicolano, Deputy Executive Secretary Manny Gaite by saying that Gaite has a nun for a sister, a parish priest for a brother, and that Gaite himself was a seminarian before joining government. What Joker was trying to say is that we should all believe Gaite instead of Jun Lozada because of his relatives wearing halos and carrying Rosaries. Will someone please remind Joker Arroyo that just because Mr. Gaite has a nun for a sister and a parish priest for a brother does not automatically make him even a bit credible than the next person. But, a deck of cards with a Joker in it may help in a game called "Bluff."

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

ERWIN SANTOS' CROCODILE TEARS

My reaction/suspicion on Philippine Forest Corporation's Erwin Santos' counter-expose on Jun Lozada: "ERWIN WAS CRYING HIS WAY TO THE BANK!"

(Image from http://i.ytimg.com/)

MAKE UP YOUR MIND ENTENG / CIVIL SOCIETY IS A MISNOMER

Recently over at ANC's 'Strictly Politics' with Pia Hontiveros, I heard Enteng Romano of the 'Black and White Movement' say that GMA must now prepare the way (to that effect) for a Noli de Castro presidency. What? Did I hear him right? You see, the Black and White Movement's blog clearly declares that "... Noli de Castro has staked his lot with GMA and therefore does not deserve the mantle of leadership. We, groups and individuals who are part of the Black and White Movement, advocate the resignation, impeachment, or ouster of GMA and Noli de Castro." I'm beginning to suspect that Enteng is now VP Noli's newest PR guy. But I heard that the Black and White Movement will not be joining tomorrow's scheduled rally in Makati (February 15) to be led by the so-called 'Civil Society' groups. I think this is clearly a misnomer. You see, Civil Society had its serious sins against the nation during EDSA Dos. That is why they will simply be new 'askals' with different collars. Look at their faces. Are they not the same questionable characters themselves? What we need are pure hearts with pure motives to exorcise the legions of demons in power - Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Mike Arroyo, Mikey Arroyo, Dato Arroyo, Raul Gonzalez, Lito Atienza, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Joker Arroyo, Hermogenes Esperon, Ignacio Bunye, Prospero Nograles et al to name a few. Remember these people, for they owe the nation big-time!

(Image from http://inquirer.net/)

MR. SPEAKER, MR. SPEAKER ... WOOF!

Kanta ng pamilyang Arroyo sa isang KTV bar sa tabi ng Malacanang: "HOW MUCH IS THAT NOGIE IN THE WINDOW? ... AW! AW!

(Image from http://www.congress.gov.ph/)

FG BILL IN THE MAKING?

Vote Monica Lewinsky's boyfriend's wife for President !

(Image from http://www.cnn.com/)