BIRDS OF A FEATHER

Once upon a time and not so long ago, there was a conversation between three political leaders of the land, and it went like this:

ZALDY: "Boy, can I borrow a backhoe?"

BOY: "Sure, governor! I'll have one delivered to your house in Davao City."

RAUL: "Noted."


(Above photo, L-R: Secretary Raul Gonzalez, Speaker Prospero 'Boy' Nograles and ARMM Governor Datu Zaldy Ampatuan)

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

NIXON AND THE FOURTH ESTATE

Speaker Prospero Nograles, Secretary Cerge Remonde and Attorney Romulo Macalintal may be interested about a few words from former US President Richard Nixon on how to deal with the press, as reported in an old copy of Time Magazine I had recently unearthed from my baul. Nixon should know the subject very well, after more than 40 years of a love-hate relationship with media. It should also be a reminder to these gents that the media is the Fourth Estate, meaning, the fourth branch of government, and among its functions is to report how government people behave - and dine in public places.

I have chosen the following Nixon quotes which should be of interest to Boy, Cerge and Romy, and to every Tom, Dick and Harry in public office for that matter: Nixon says, "One tactic that should be used only sparingly is for a public official who has been attacked by the press to counter-attack. He may win in the short run, but in the long run, the press has the last word and they will never forgive him for taking them on. This does not mean he should take their barbs lying down or that he should go crawling after them to win their support. It does mean that he should give as good as he receives, but in a manner that will not expose him to the charge that he is taking on the press to divert attention from his own vulnerabilities."

"Based on 44 years of dealing with media on the national level, I can say they are above average in intelligence. They are proud of their profession and sometimes find it difficult to hide their contempt for the less-educated politicians and businessmen they cover. Many believe they are underpaid compared to the lobbyists and PR flacks who rip off their employers so shamelessly. Finally, most are interesting people. An off-the-record session with a group of top-notch reporters can be far more stimulating and informative than with a meeting with a group of senators and congressmen."

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

ADOPTING THE FRENCH MODEL

Imagine this scenario: With Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile stepping closer to support former President Joseph Estrada, if and when he runs for president, Malacanang may orchestrate a Senate coup and unseat JPE, to be replaced by a new Senate President/Palace puppet. This possible coup against Enrile would ensure Senate approval of the proposal to shift to a parliamentary form of government. A change in the form of government will ensure that the Arroyo administration will remain in power beyond 2010. Under the plan, the present Congress will constitute itself as a Constituent Assembly to amend the Constitution. It will vote for a shift to a parliamentary system and submit the decision to the people for ratification.

Incumbent senators and congressmen would have to run in their respective districts for seats in the unicameral legislature. The Arroyo people, with their vast resources and political network already in place down to the precinct level, are confident they will enjoy a large majority in the new parliament, which follows the French model which calls for a strong President (the British model has the Prime Minister as the virtual ruler and the monarch as a ceremonial figure head).

Under the plan, President Arroyo, who will run in Pampanga, will be elected President and Speaker Prospero Nograles as Prime Minister. The scenario calls for unseating Enrile if he refuses to go along with the plan. But Enrile's supporters say the Arroyo people have another guess coming. Enrile has his own counter-moves ready.

On that note, that is why I strongly oppose incumbent senators and congressmen from running for Parliament if the proposed shift to a parliamentary system is approved by a Constituent Assembly composed of the incumbent legislators to amend the Constitution. Hence, the proposed shift is merely a political maneuver by the party in power to allow its members to remain in office and even allow President Arroyo to stay on as President, and a Prime Minister chosen from among the majority parliamentarians.

It would be Machiavellian to amend the Constitution just to suit the ambitions of some trapos.

(Image from http://wiki.erepublik.com/)

TURONS DON'T MAKE A RIGHT

One of the most bizarre accusations that ever hit the Batasan Pambansa in the past was its spending of some PhP45 million for turon snacks of congressmen during committee hearings. Yes, turon. A ranking congressman, chairman of a powerful committee, had this amazing defense for the gargantuan expense: "It's good we spent only for turons. Suppose we had ordered steak sandwiches and crepe suzettes?"

Speaker Prospero Nograles should really crack down on those huge expenses for food in the House, even though he himself was criticized for overspending on lavish toilets for the Batasan. During sessions and committee hearings, there are heavily-laden buffet tables with all forms of victuals and vinos. It's not only the solons who partake of this food, but also their employees, family members and guests. Some even have the food wrapped and taken home.

If you don't see your favorite solons on the session floor or in committee hearings, they could be in their chambers, sleeping soundly due to over-eating and over-drinking. The people happiest over the situation are the food concessionaires who overcharge the House and presumably give kickbacks to some House officials and finance officers.

One thing is certain: Not one of our legislators will ever die of starvation.

Being overpaid and overfed are among the perks of power. Years ago, Lily Tomlin remarked that "98 percent of the adults in any country are decent, hard-working honest citizens, and that the other 2 percent get all the privilege and publicity and only because we elected them."

By the same token, Auberon Waugh commented in the Spectator, "When we have finally stirred ourselves to hang them all, I hope our next step is to outlaw political parties on the grounds that like our amusement arcades, they attract all the least desirable members of our society."

Here, they are simply censured as trapos.

(Image from www.pinoyexchange.com/)

YESTERDAY'S DARLINGS, TODAY'S TYRANTS

In his book "Notes On The New Society," the late President Ferdinand Marcos listed the following to justify his exercise of emergency powers and eventual imposition of martial law: rightist conspiracy, economic dislocation, graft and corruption, the Muslim secessionist movement, communist insurgency, rising criminality and increasing social justice.

Sounds familiar?

During the long years of the Marcos rule, many men and women gained majestic eminence by their sacrifices for freedom and liberty, and when Marcos was ousted by a popular uprising, these heroes were rewarded by a grateful people by electing them to high positions.

Now, as storm clouds begin to gather again threatening such freedoms and liberties, these stout-hearted former street parliamentarians and human rights champions, except for a handful, are ominously silent. Matter of fact, some of them are the ones insisting on repressive Draconian measures trampling on civil liberties and constitutional freedoms. Observe them now. Aren't they the ones in elected offices forcing to amend our Constitution? If you ask me, they don't deserve another day in office. They should just return to their caves and for once, do the country a favor and hibernate as long as they want.

Indeed, how money and power can corrupt even the noblest of heart! So many people recoiled in horror and shock as they read and heard these former intrepid heroes against the Marcos regime become the new oppressors and executioners. Especially horrified now are members of the fourth estate many of whom shared the same cells with these new tyrants from Malacanang, the House and the Senate - in Camp Crame and Bicutan during Marcos' iron rule.

These budding dictators have learned their lessons well, and no less than President Gloria Arroyo and Speaker Prospero Nograles emerge as honor students. These people know that for a totalitarian state to be set in place, there must first be a slaughter of the press.

Tick off the names in Malacanang, Congress and the Senate who would now act as executioners of the citizenry - and weep. These were the glorious leaders of the parliament of the streets and those who went into exile fighting Marcos to the bitter end. Gout-inflicted fat cats, filthy bottomless pits and all.

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

JAIL TO THE CHIEF!

Our Constitution was not written on sand only to be washed away by a roguery of self-serving politicians like Speaker Boy Nograles and Rep. Ed Zialcita, allied with Gloria Arroyo, blown in by the political wind, otherwise known as the Arroyo regime's corrupt, polluted air.

On that note, before GMA and her storm-troopers have it their way changing our Constitution, perhaps it would be a good reminder for all to see what kind of legacy they really will be leaving behind.

The following best describes it all:

- $500 million IMPSA/Napocor/Argentine deal c/o Sec. Nani Perez
- NAIA-3 project/Germany's Fraport AG
- Grossly overpriced P1.2 billion PEA-Diosdado Macapagal Highway (Dioscopo Napacamahal Highway)
- PCSO ads and the multi-million peso funds mis-use
- SBMA smuggling operations
- BCDA loss of AFP modernization funds
- Camp John Hay Baguio rentals
- Poro Point revenues
- PhilHealth cards
- Joc-Joc Bolante's P728 million fertilizer scam
- OWWA fund diversion
- PAGCOR secret deals with the clergy, media and government officials
- DPWH contracts including the Road-User's tax
- $329 million grossly overpriced ZTE-NBN mess c/0 Chairman Ben Abalos
- North Rail's 'railroaded' projects
- South Rail's 'railroaded' project
- DoTC contracts including RORO ports and local airports misu-use of funds
- Anomalous TRANSCO bidding
- NFA rice mess up
- SPRATLYS sell-out to China
- "Hello Garci" scandal, Lintang Bedol's magic, and Gloria's 'manufactured mandate'
- P1.3 billion missing irrigation funds
- Anomalous VENABLE contract c/o Sec. Bert Gonzales
- P5 billion Swine Scam c/o pigs in government
- Jose Pidal kickback accounts
- P2 billion National Food Fund loss in 2005
- Grossly overpriced lamp posts (from P16,000 to P300,000 each) in Gloria's Cebu c/o DPWH
- $1.3 billion crooked COMELEC Computerization deal
- $147 million DA/Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (authored by Sen. Ed Angara)
(The DA has mis-used these funds)

And now, the LEGACY mess of Celso Delos Angeles. And the list goes on.

Shall we simply give them our Constitution on a silver platter for them to amend and contaminate with their filthy hands, and pave the way for Gloria Arroyo's perpetuation to power? Let us now examine their credibility and coming legacy, and then, let the sovereign Filipino nation decide.



(Image from http://indymedia.org/)

PHILIPPINE CROCODILE (CROCODYLUS MINDORENSIS CONGRESSMANUS)

I recently visited the Batasan Pambansa to meet a former staff member of mine who now works for one of the elected officials there. I was so surprised to see the latest imports bearing the #8 on them. The most beautiful and expensive vehicles can be found right at the Batasan. Well, what do you expect? They now have a Speaker who has evolved from a tweeter to a boom-box. He sure is living it up as well. They all are. I immediately thought that being a congressman was always equivalent to being filthy rich. Since there was no session that hour I was there, many of the congressmen were just casually dressed, but wore the latest Lacoste shirts with that little crocodile on them. Imagine that, a tiny crocodile on a big crocodile. Funny, but true. Methinks congressmen are from a diffrent species of crocs. They're both land and water creatures, which means they are amphibious. They can easily adapt to the environment and climate change, and will always be more accomodating during the campaign season. They are Pachyderms. Once elected, their body clocks automatically switch to "hibernate" mode, which means that you'll have to wait the whole summer season until you get a satisfactory attention from them. But we never learn. We elect their offsprings to the very same positions they once occupied. It's called "dynasty." I guess we're just simply too familiar and stuck with the system already, and that's why the 'Dynasty Bill' will never prosper in Congress. And the Cayman congressman will always put the 'nasty' in dynasty. Before leaving the Batasan, my friend whispered to me that this year just like last year, there won't be any 'Nativity Scene' again in Congress. I asked why and he said, "They probably won't be able to find again even just three wise men and a virgin right here. Only enough asses amongst themselves to fill the stable!"

(Image from http://iucncsg.org/)

BATASAN PAMBANSA VOTES TO OUTSOURCE THE PRESIDENCY

Batasan Pambansa, Quezon City --

Congress today announced that the Office of the President will be outsourced to India soon. The move is being made in order to save the President's yearly salary, and also a record billions in pesos in deficit expenditures and related overhead that the premier office has incurred during the last 8 years. It is anticipated that several billions of pesos will be saved to the end of GMA's term (if she really does step down). "We believe this is a wise financial move. The cost savings are huge," stated Speaker Prospero 'Boy' Nograles. "We cannot remain competitive on the world stage with the current level of cash outlay," Nograles noted.

President Arroyo was informed by e-mail this morning of her termination. A member of the Malacanang Press Corps was present to explain the congressional decision to Press Secretary Cerge Remonde in simpler terms.

Sanjay Singh, a tele-technician for Indee-Ya Teleservices, Mumbai, India will assume the Office of the President shortly. Mr. Singh was born in Paco, Manila, while his Indian parents were vacationing in the Philippines, thus making him eligible for the position. He will receive a salary of PhP 45,000 a month, but no health coverage or other benefits.

It is believed that Mr. Singh will be able to handle his job responsibilities without a support staff. He will instead be working at night, similar to a call-center job. "Working nights will allow me to keep my day job at the Dell Computer factory," stated Mr. Singh in an exclusive interview. "I am excited about this position. I always dreamed of being president of something someday."

A staff member of Speaker Nograles' office noted that while Mr. Singh may not be fully aware of all the issues involved in the Office of the President, this should not be a problem as President Arroyo has never had a clue either.

Mr. Singh will rely upon a script tree that will enable him to respond effectively to most topics of concern. Using these canned responses, he can address common concerns without having to understand the underlying issues at all. "We know these scripting tools work," stated the staff member. "President Arroyo has utilized them successfully for years, with the result that many Filipinos actually thought she knew what she was talking about. But then, even Vice-President Noli de Castro is still clueless to this day."

President Arroyo may have difficulty in securing a new position for lack of any moral credentials whatsoever.

Hobbit House Manila has expressed interest in hiring her as floor manager.

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

HOW TO START EACH DAY WITH A POSITIVE OUTLOOK

'Positive Thinking' teachers can be found at every street corner. Many of their 'pupils' hold office in Malacanang Palace and in the Batasan Pambansa, positvely thinking of other "acceptable" ways to change our constitution for GMA. For the new year, I give them my version of 'Positive Thinking.' ...

1. Open a new file in your computer.
2. Name it "Gloria Macapagal Arroyo"
3. Send it to the trash.
4. Empty the trash.
5. Your PC will ask you, "Do you really want to get rid of "Gloria Macapagal Arroyo?"
6. Firmly click "Yes"
7. Feel better?

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

FOUR DOCTORS AND A SQUATTER IN THE PALACE

(with gratitude to http://oppositeofapathy.wordpress.com/ for the excellent photo above).

Four successful doctors of medicine were attending a medical conference and were together in the same table. And so goes this discussion over dinner:

The world-renowned Japanese doctor said, "Medicine in my country so advanced, we take kidney out from man, put into anoder man, and he out looking for wok in six weeks!"

The ultra-famous German doctor said, "Zas eez notzing! Ve can take a lung out of zis one person, put it into anozer, und have him out looking for vork in four veeks!"

The highly-acclaimed British doctor said, "In my country, medicine is so bloody advanced that we can take half the heart out of one person, put it into another, and have both of them looking for work in two weeks!"

The multi-awarded botica sa barangay Filipino doctor, as usual, not to be outdone, interjected, "You pipols are so way behind na talaga! We Pinoys allowed a woman with NO HEART to illegally occupy Malacanang Palace since 2001, and she's still alive! And because of that, to this day, HALF THE COUNTRY ARE STILL OUT LOOKING FOR WORK!"

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

GIVE THEM MERCURY (NOT THE DRUGSTORE)

Among the Romans, the deity who presided over commerce and banking was Mercury, who, by a strange association, was also the god of thieves and orators. The Romans, who looked upon merchants with contempt, fancied there was a resemblance between theft and merchandising and they easily found a figurative connection between theft and eloquence; hence, thieves, merchants and orators were placed under the superintendence of the same deity. On the seventeenth of May, in each year, the merchants held a public festival, and walked in procession to the temple of Mercury, for the purpose of begging pardon of that deity for all the lying and cheating they had found it to practice, in the way of business, during the preceding year. Lying, Cheating, Thievery and Eloquence? Hmm ... perfect. The very elements which best describes this administration. Experts in cheating and stealing. Eloquent in lying. Perhaps, Executive Secretary Ed Ermita and Speaker Boy Nograles would now care to start the new year with statues of the Roman god Mercury to be given as Christmas gifts to cabinet members and congressmen respectively. And then have GMA sign an Executive Order (E.O.) making Mercury the patron god of cabinet secretaries and congressmen. While at it, let it also be the official icon to be prominently displayed all over the Office of the President.

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

HALIK NI HUDAS

Secretary Butch Pichay, Speaker Boy Nograles, President Gloria Arroyo and Secretary Raul Gonzalez were sitting in a train in one of their junket trips abroad. The train goes through a tunnel and it gets completely dark for the next 10 seconds. Suddenly, there is a loud kissing sound and then a slap! The train comes out of the tunnel.

Gloria and Pichay are seated across each other, both looking perplexed. Nograles, seated across Gonzalez is bent over holding his face, which is now red from an apparent big slap.

All of them remain diplomatic and nobody says anything. Pichay is thinking: These DOMs all have bad taste and are crazy after Arroyo. Nograles must have tried to kiss her in the tunnel. Very proper that she slapped him!

Arroyo is thinking: Nograles must have moved to kiss me, but kissed Pichay instead and got slapped.

Nograles is thinking: Lintek! Pichay must have tried to kiss Arroyo, thought it was me, and so slapped me instead! Buang gyud!

Gonzalez is thinking: If this train goes through one more tunnel again, I could make another kissing sound and slap this Nograles again.

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

TODAY'S MERIENDA AT THE BATASAN CAFETERIA: LUGAW HEAVEN; GOTO HELL

I just received this news today. President Arroyo's puppies in the Batasan Pambansa will see to it that right after they amend our Constitution, they will immediately start working on amending the Bible. For a moment there, I was at a loss as to why a gang of dishonorable congressmen be interested in amending the Bible? Then I found out that they were only interested in amending the concept and reality of Hell as mentioned in the Holy Scriptures. They intend to abolish Hell before their respective terms expire here on Earth.

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

GLORIA'S ILLEGITIMATE PRESIDENCY IS A LEGITIMATE CURSE

Filipinos above a certain age remember the fifties and sixties as the "golden age of Philippine progress and development." The country led the rest of South-East Asia in scientific research, education, business, the arts, and the practice of democratic governance. Filipinos then exuded an air of confidence and a purpose befitting a people in control of their destiny with a bright future ahead of them. Contrast that image with today's reality as outlined by a fact which we quote in part below:

By her own admission, President Gloria Arroyo accurately assessed that "over the last decades, our (strong) Republic has become one of the weakest, steadily left behind by its progressive neighbors, and forty years ago, we were second only to Japan in economic stature, and way ahead of Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Thailand." At our present growth rate, it will take us some 30 years to get where Thailand is today. And by the year 2030, our children will experience far worse conditions than we have today:

1. A population of 160 million;
2. Of those, 70 to 90 million will live below the poverty line;
3. Our national debt is estimated to be US$ 200 billion (compared to US$ 28 billion when President Ferdinand Marcos fled the country in 1986, and US$ 72 billion today);
4. We will be competing, not against Thailand or even Vietnam, but against Bangladesh;
5. We will still be the most corrupt nation in Asia, if not the world.

The signs are very clear. For as long as Gloria Arroyo remains our President, our nation is headed towards an irreversible path of economic decline and moral decadence - contrary to what she and her economic snails are now reporting to the people.




(image from http://www.chinapost.com/)

HONORABLE CONGRESSMEN - A DYING BREED?

"How beautiful it is to do nothing and then rest afterwards." - Spanish Proverb

It always seems to many of us Filipinos that our legislators are always busy everyday tackling matters of national interest. Meetings here, meetings there. Well, that's not all entirely true. Truth is, many of these congressmen spend more hours talking about pork barrels, mistresses and golf. They also talk about the latest SUVs and interest rates, not to mention the latest color designs of Lacoste, which really is their brand of choice. I wonder, does that tiny crocodile on the shirt have a direct link to their lifestyle? Most of the time, we see them on our streets with flashy imports and gas-guzzling SUVs bullying their way through traffic sporting #8 plates. It will be a cold day in hell when I actually see a #8 vehicle obey a traffic light. So, lawbreakers in disguise as lawmakers? A congressman's normal life is a life of luxury and influence. He gets the best table in a restaurant, the best seat in a theatre, the best tickets to a concert and the best looking umbrella girl. He gets the first billing in a wedding invitation, which means that he is also one of the first VIPs to kiss the bride. When in a bank, he doesn't get to fall in line like the rest of us ordinary bank clients. He is a "preferred client," as BPI proudly advertises it. He gets the immediate attention of the bank manager, otherwise, he gets to deposit his millions to the bank next door. A congressman isn't subject to a body search whenever he enters a mall. He is saluted snappily by security guards on duty. He gets a steady supply of Viagra and Cialis from his personal physician, and always, the best room with the best view in a 5-star hotel. No wonder many make it a career in life to be a congressman, spending huge sums to buy votes and air time. To get elected no matter the cost, because when elected, can easily get back that money spent via pay-offs, bribes, kickbacks and of course - pork barrel! Oh, he also gets to be addressed as "Honorable." Of course, I find this very difficult to just swallow hook, line and sinker because most of the time, they do the exact opposite. And by the way, the only time they tell the truth is when they call each other "Liar."

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

LAWBREAKERS IN DISGUISE AS LAWMAKERS

1. If PRO is the opposite of CON, what then is the opposite of PROgress?

2. Q: What is the difference between the Durian fruit in season and the Batasan Pambansa in session?

A: The PRICKS of the Durian fruit are outside.

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

THE STRENGTH OF A TRUE LEADER

Gloria Arroyo's apologists like Eduardo Ermita, Lorelei Fajardo and Anthony Golez keep on saying that their boss would "rather be right than popular." Fine. But even right, from the eyes of the citizenry she ain't. As confirmed from recent survey results on how the Filipino people view her as "their president," it speaks well from where her strength (or weakness) arises. Perhaps, it is as she wants it to be, not as the people feel her to be. To me, the strength of a true leader lies in a relationship: that is defined as the political bond between the leader and the led. The strength of a true leader lies in an investment of goodwill and compassion for the people. The strength of a true leader mirrors the social and moral conditions of the masses. The strength of a true leader comes from the dynamics of the working class and the peasants participating in the struggle of building a nation together. The strength of a true leader is in the collective identity of the citizens expressed by the eloquence of the heart and not the fine choice of words - as in the speech Gloria Arroyo delivered in yesterday's SONA. The strength of a true leader lies not in turning "the misfortunes of the masses into a joyous pageant." We witnessed the state of the nation from a leader who speaks of her strength alongside that of our country, but the programs of her pseudo-reign must have the countenance of a human face, else they cannot stand alone as the sole objects of our national destiny, nor of our shared strength. The strength of a true leader is in telling to the whole nation the true state of it. Yesterday's SONA was fiction with a touch of tragedy whose main characters are Gloria Arroyo and her cabal of self-serving lawbreakers in disguise as lawmakers in the House.

(Image form http://daylife.com/)

BOY NOGRALES' OVERPRICED KUBETAS AT THE BATASAN / CERGE REMONDE'S ELONGATED ILONG

Presidential Management Staff (PMS) head Secretary Cerge Remonde lied on national TV before the Filipino people when he said that President Gloria Arroyo will not be "making bola" on her 8th State Of The Nation Address (SONA). Indeed, nakakahawa na talaga ang pagsisinungaling sa Malacanang. On the other hand, Speaker Boy Nograles defended the beautification project of the Batasan Pambansa which cost taxpayers' money some PhP90 million. That much just to please one power-grabbing president? If it costs PhP700 thousand to refurbish each toilet in the Batasan, can you imagine how many toilets that amount could build for our public schools around the country, whose ratio is one toilet for every two thousand pupils? No wonder the PNP surrounded the Batasan today for GMA's SONA, that's because a majority of the criminals in our country were inside Congress today with their expensive jewellery and barongs. What twisted characters these people are. We really are a bunch of show-offs, and when it comes to pagalingan and pahabaan, 'di tayo patatalo. Imagine, we make a big deal of priding ourselves of having the longest puto bumbong, the longest Banana Q, the largest bibingka and the biggest boodle fight. How about the longest list of Pinoy congressmen and women with US green cards, or the longest list of lies by a sitting president?

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

SONA - SAME OLD NOTHING AGAIN

Gloria's State Of The Nation Address (SONA) is a ritual that coincides with the opening of Congress. A lot of preparation has gone to the speech (thanks to AIM Professor Gary B. Olivar), not to mention the collateral fuss that the whole government structure underwent for the occasion - overspending taxpayer's money for the Batasan and its surroundings (thanks to Speaker Boy Nograles), securing the place and the roads that lead there, printing invitations and programs, installing a new set of microphones, tapes, CDs, flags, lights, plants, drinks, finger food, light dinner at the lounge, haute couture for the lady (and the not so lady) representatives, signature suits for the men (and the not so men) representatives, and a host of other details and expenses for a one-hour, lie-filled speech. Only those with invitations are allowed entrance to the hall and galleries. The rest of the nation for whom the address is being made are expected to watch the televised broadcast in their homes or offices, or wherever they may be at the time of delivery and are advised to take two (2) tablets of antacid before listening to Gloria's Sonatas de Kasinungalingan, or they may watch the replay before retiring to bed at night. Last year, the SWS gave GMA a negative rating in the urban centers, but a slightly higher average rating in the provinces although still in the negative too. Why is this so? Has she not worked hard enough to make the citizenry feel that her super-projects are already part of the legacy she has spoken of? A bankrupt legacy perhaps. Are not these super- projects for the super- regions super enough to have the people feel superiorly taken care of? There are lessons in history one reads about regarding the leader who does not encourage the people to be part of whatever the government is doing with them. Participation, initiative (not inis sa thief) and responsibility - these are the key elements if one is to spur the people to development. Everything the president has talked about lies (lies!) in the balance between the forward motion of her projects and the participation, initiative and responsibility coming from the mass base. If these are not elicited from the people, the recited list of infrastructure would remain simply as cold as steel, iron and cement, while the individual citizen remains equally as cold and detached. If such a relationship between the leader and the people has not been established, or has been falsified, all these super-projects would self-extinguish in the consciousness of the masses. If she is not able to "awaken the imagination of her audience," hence the oratorical delivery of the SONA would be for naught. And I expect it to be just that on Monday's SONA.

(Image from http://www.abante.com.ph/)

KA-SONA-NGALINGAN NA NAMAN!

So, it's that time of year again when lies shall be forced into our ears by no less than a lying president. On Monday, July 28, Gloria Arroyo's State Of The Nation Address (SONA) in the Batasan Pambansa will focus on her favorite reminder to us all - "Ramdam Ang Kaunlaran." Really?? Where? How? Ask anyone on the street (any street) about this and you'll surely get a similar reply - "Ramdam Ang Kahirapan!" Hence, I made up a few meanings of SONA.

1. Same Old News Again
2. Save Our Nation (from) Arroyo
3. (She) Screws Our Nation Always
4. Send OFWs No Assistance
5. Seven Out (of) Nine (despise) Arroyo
6. Stamp Out Now Arroyo
7. Sulpicio Owners' No Action
8. Show-Off, Numb, Arrogant
9. Same Old Nothing Again
10. Shame On (this) Nation's Administration
11. Same Old Nincompoops (in her) Administration
12. Sense Of Neuralgia After
13. Same Old Nematode (this) Arroyo
14. Same Old Nitwits (in her) Administration

Our Ship of State is the only ship in the world that leaks from the top. That's the real SONA.

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