REAL KINGS AND FAKE PRESIDENTS

Jordan, Morocco and Saudia Arabia are kingdoms. Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain are emirates, as are five tiny states that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The only sultanate left is Oman. Frankly, we'd be sultans if we had the choice. We'd wear insanely baggy silk pants and play with sharp sabers. The title "king" seems pompous by contrast, too stuffy and inhibiting, and you'd probably have to wear a really embarrassing crown. An "emir" sounds like some kind of horned deer-like creature that roams the Serengeti Plains. Well, a king is almost the same as a sultan, and both have more power than an emir. First, there are real kings and fake kings as there are real presidents and fake presidents. The Philippines has a fake president. But that's another post someday. Fake kings are like the ones in England, who are rubber stamps for the real government, the parliament. Saudi Arabia has a real king. That's why the country is called Saudi Arabia, because it is run by the Saud family. The Saudi king is picked by the family and has virtually absolute power. He gets to appoint everyone in the government. He's the final court of appeal. He doesn't mess around with democracy, but the Americans love the guy because he has so much oil. The sultan of Oman is also an absolute monarch. The only distinction is that when Oman was part of the Ottoman Empire - named after the cushioned seat, of course - there were many sultans ruling different lands, all answerable to the supreme leader, who controlled the empire and was so incredibly powerful he didn't really have a title. Folks just called him by his name. An emir is humstrung by contrast. Emirs rule by the consent of the aristocracy. In this case, being a ruler is more of a job than a hereditary privilege. What about "sheik"? That's a fairly generic title for an aristocrat in one of these emirates or sultanates or kingdoms. Sheik means "prince." Our pronunciation advice is to treat is as a homonym of the word that means fashionable, rather than the word that means a frozen milk-based beverage that comes with burger (or bur-jer a la abalos) and fries.

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

THEY GO ON A JUNKET WHILE THEIR KABABAYANS KICK THE BUCKET

The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines the word 'Junket' as "a trip made by a public official at the expense of the public." Undertow defines it simply as "a picnic or an excursion paid for by someone else." Guess who that "someone else" is. And that clearly is what has taken place recently when President Gloria Arroyo and her cabal of useless government men boarded a chartered plane to the US at the height of 'Typhoon Frank.' The same typhoon that capsized the M/V Princess Of The Stars just a few days ago, snuffing out the dear lives of close to 800 Filipinos. At times like these, don't you wish these GMA sycophants took a Sulpicio vessel instead of a PAL aircraft to their destination? I would think so too. And that is also why it would be best for Sulpicio Lines to just sell off its fleet of ships for scrap metal. Sulpicio's perwisyo and lack of safety precautions is responsible for the deaths of many people. Look closely at the news. Who do you think were many of the survivors of the ship? The vessel's crew! Let's take a look back in history concerning Sulpicio Lines' memorable dates: In 1987, the M/V Dona Paz collided with an oil tanker in Tablas Strait. The tragedy claimed more than 4,000 deaths and was believed to be the world's biggest peacetime sea tragedy. In 1988, M/V Dona Marilyn, sailing from Manila to Leyte encountered gigantic waves brought about by Typhoon Unsang and capsized, killing 250 people. Strangely enough, the Board of Marine Inquiry deemed it to be "an act of God," and therefore ruled that no one was responsible. In 1998, the M/V Princess Of The Orient, travelling to Cebu from Manila sank at the height of Typhoon Gading. 150 people died there, and the Justice Department ruled that Sulpicio Lines could not be held liable for the tragedy. When something of this nature happens once, then it may be just purely accidental. But, for it to happen 3 or even 4 times - now that's criminal negligence! This government must, in the name of those who perished and their respective family members, do something. As it is, it's the same old song played every year. When some tragedy happens, then they call for an "inquiry" leading to nothing. No one ever goes to jail for crimes committed and for the senseless deaths of scores of people. It's the culture of impunity again and again. Once and for all, would this government please throw anyone and everyone responsible for this in jail! Please? A word of advice to you squatters in Malacanang, government junketeers, you shameless cabinet secretaries, you shameless congressmen, you shameless governors and undersecretaries and military officers: next time you plan a junket to the US, go there via one of Sulpicio Lines' vessels. And I promise you, It's a trip you would surely die for.

(Image from http://www.stuff.co.nz/)

CHARITY FOR THE DOWNTRODDEN

It seems altruism is not something we Filipinos are big on. While billionaires Bill Gates and Warren Buffet are giving away virtually all their wealth to ease poverty in the Third World, we can't even spare a peso to a street urchin begging for alms. In a recent survey, the Ateneo-based Social Weather Stations (SWS), a normally accurate and correct surveyor of the public pulse, found out that when it comes to charity, we seem to be paying nothing more than lip service. The survey - covering 1,200 respondents aged 17 to 69 across four economic classes - revealed that the average Filipino gives to charity only 12 times a year, at most.
In Metro Manila, where awareness of charitable organizations are supposed to be the highest, only 3 out of 5 are aware that there are organizations advocating care for orphans and street children. Are we really stone-cold tightwads when it comes to charity? Not really. Our hearts still bleed when we see a rain-soaked three-year old girl barely able to carry her eight-month old brother begging at a corner of a busy intersection. We do, however, often ask ourselves if by giving alms, are we really helping them or making their situation worse? We are bothered sometimes because we know that the same girl and the same baby are going to be at that same corner when we pass by it again tomorrow. We wonder whether the boy with the amputated leg would use the loose change we give him to a cara y cruz match or buy a vial of mind-altering adhesive - rugby. We also cannot shake away the thought that all those loose change we dole out may end up in the hands of a syndicate running all those begging children, amputees and beaten-down senior citizens. But we give, anyway, thinking that it's not our problem how they use the money. The important thing is that we give away something, anything to help them get through the day. But sometimes, even that is not the wise thing to do. For we often wish though that we can do more for them, and remember that mantra that we think is a much better recourse: "Do not give them fish, but teach them to fish." The problem as the SWS has correctly diagnosed, is that we often don't have a clue how to help them help themselves. The closest and the most immediate thing we can think of at that very moment is to drop a few coins in those cans sitting beside the cash register of a shopping mall or a restaurant advocating a noble cause: caring for orphans, getting street-children off the streets, helping battered women and protecting the environment. Sometimes, we come across charitable causes in our own workplaces that ask us to donate a portion of our salaries, or just our own time to an unselfish undertaking, like building homes for the homeless, visiting an orphanage or a medical mission, but these are few and are often seasonal. The SWS is correct in advising charitable organizations to get their act together so they can make the public more aware of their existence and the causes they espouse. Otherwise, they simply seem to us as nothing but vaporware, and we just do the best we can, in our own small way to help out. We do have a bleeding heart for the downtrodden. The problem is: How can we really stop the bleeding?

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

UNLIQUIDATED CASH ADVANCES

Malacanang Palace, specifically the shameless Office of the President has with it a whopping unliquidated P632 million in cash advances. Just imagine how many toilets that money can build for our public schools where the average ratio is 1 toilet for every 2,000 pupils. In the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) alone, my unimpeachable source tells me that a top official of that agency has a total of P30 million in unliquiated cash advances. If those figures are indeed true, then something is wrong with the values of our public servants - or they simply have no values at all. These pseudo-servants of the people treat government agencies like convenient ATM machines, but are always a bunch of flunkies when lifestyle checks are conducted. Obviously, the stink begins at the top all the way to the bottom. Matter of fact, I have always maintained that "our ship of state is the only ship in the world that leaks from the top," and if that is so, what kind of legacy is this administration boasting about? In the subject 'moral bankruptcy,' they are all straight-A students. But in delicadeza and honor, they are as useless as an old pager of the 90s era having a moral capacity of a minor kitchen appliance.

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

PETER WALLACE, THE UGLY AUSTRALIAN

His name is Peter Wallace of the Wallace Business Forum, an Australian living in the Philippines who I believe owes every Filipino a sincere apology. At a recent gathering for the signing of a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and several business groups such as the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) and the Makati Business Club (MBC) with Wallace as the emcee, he tried to be cute like an old Koala Bear by cracking a joke on the Glorietta blast last October 2007 - pointing out to the Philippine National Police's (PNP) official findings that the cause of the explosion was Methane gas from the sewage system in the Glorietta mall's basement. Wallace's racist remarks irked many people when he said, "I've seen this international report recently. The Glorietta blast is being blamed by the police on Methane gas, from shit in the old Makati Supermarket building. Ever since the police made the report known, the world is fearing Filipinos as the people with the most explosive shit in world." He also said that scientists from Russia and China are now analyzing the typical Filipino "to learn Filipino shit." In addition to that, he went on to to say "several Filipinos kidnapped in Afghanistan and Iraq, surprisingly by Arab terrorists ... kidnapped Filipinos have been asked to produce shit to be made into bombs for suicidal missions." He added more insults by saying that "the US State Department, fearing deadly consequences, has assigned Delta Force operatives to keep watch on Filipinos and their shit from falling into the hands of terrorist groups." And on the Batasan blast, he said that "the explosion wasn't caused by a bomb, but was triggered by a congressman who couldn't hold on to his shit any longer." Well, if Wallace was trying to be cute and funny, one thing he surely achieved was not that, and instead created a lot of enemies that night. And hey, I'm a typical Filipino, and I'm not taking shit from a typical racist pig like Peter Wallace. He's the one who's full of it with his verbal diarrhea, for "when the defecation hits the ventilation," he should start finding another country to live in.

(Image from http://www.pcs-ict.org/)

GIVE THEM LIVELIHOOD PROGRAMS THEN KILL THEM?

The very day news came out on Ces Drilon's abduction, I have maintained that ransom shall have to be paid. No other option was available. In fact, in the following days of her captivity, as ABS-CBN and Malacanang insisted on the "no ransom policy," I knew that was just plain and simple baloney, for the more they denied the possibility of ransom, the more I suspected a ransom was in the offing. Take the case of this silly pronouncement made by Indanan Mayor Alvarez Isnaji: "Instead of ransom, we will offer livelihood programs for the kidnappers." And then, a day after Ces' release from her barbaric captors, no less than President Arroyo gives the order to "crush the Abu Sayyaf." Give them a living and then kill them?? Duh! "Durugin ang Abu Sayyaf" is a statement we've heard many times already before. And as it was the practice done before of paying ransom in exchange for the safe release of kidnap victims, it's so obvious that ransom indeed has been paid again.

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

FREE AT LAST!

Philippine Commentary claims that ABS-CBN news anchor Ces Drilon has been released earlier, contrary to the same station's report tonight at 10:00pm that "she will be released in a few hours." Now if that is true, I rejoice and thank God for this wonderful news! And if it is true also that a ransom has been paid by ABS-CBN, I dread receiving my next Meralco bill. The Lopezes might just try to get back that amount from its consumers thru Systems Loss.

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

ANC'S SHOP TALK SHOULD READ THE PHILIPPINE FLAG LAW

While watching Pia Hontiveros' Shop Talk the other day on ANC with guests Bambi Harper, Mark Higgins and Eric Zerrudo, I noticed something embarrassingly wrong with the way our Philippine Flag was displayed on the studio wall right behind the host. The red was on the left (of the observer), while the blue was on the right (of the observer). Section 10 of RA 8491 specifically says that "when a flag is displayed on a wall during peace time, the blue field is to the observer's left and the red field is to the observer's right." So, in times of war, the blue field is to the observer's right and the red field is to the observer's left. I wonder, was this done on purpose by ABS-CBN to send a war declaration message to Winston Garcia and the GSIS? Or was it simply carelessness on their part? The irony of it all you see, is the topic of Hontiveros' show was all about Filipino Heritage.

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

CES

Good news comes to us in the strangest of ways. Yesterday, June 11 is a date I shall never forget. As I was getting off the MRT on Quezon Avenue on my way to a friend's office in the Banawe area, I suddenly thought of my friend Ces Drilon who had been reported to be held against her will by bandits, together with her ABS-CBN crew in the jungles of Sulu. I first knew about this in the early morning of Tuesday, June 10, and have been worried for her safety. And so, curiosity egged me to reach for my phone from my pocket at that very moment, search for her name in its directory, and press "call," expecting a recorded message saying the subscriber would be "outside the coverage area, or has turned his unit off. Please try again later." That was exactly 1:00 PM. Lo and behold, Ces' phone rang! I was so surprised with this unexpected ringing of her phone that I immediately terminated the call after just one ring - a.k.a. a "miscol." Then the real surprise came when Ces immediately called back. I answered my phone, and the voice on the other end said, "Les, I'm sorry I can't talk right now." "Click." It was her. I smiled and thought at that moment, though I didn't have the chance to ask Ces how she was doing, I was just so thankful to hear her voice, obviously which meant that she was alive! I was just so happy as I began boarding the jeepney on Quezon Avenue bound for Banawe. But then again, I was sad too that such things must happen to a good person. A kind-hearted lady. As of this writing, Ces is still in the jungles of Sulu together with her crew, held captive by the Abu Sayyaf led by Al-bader Parad. Wasn't this the same fellow responsible for the abduction of Father Giancarlo Bossi? Nevertheless, I ask you to join me in faith asking God to protect her, to shield her from the enemy, and to bring her back to her family safely. Yesterday, June 11, is a date I shall never forget.

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

TWO PRAYERS FROM THE 1930S

Since we shall once again be commemorating our Independence Day in a few days, allow me to share with you a very rare appearance of two prayers which my grandfather Jorge Bocobo, with his unwavering Protestant faith had written and read in 1931, and the other in 1932 during the Liberty Parades of those years. If you observe and read the prayers carefully, it would seem that these prayers were written only yesterday, for it speaks of the same evils and ills that hound our country today.


THE LIBERTY PRAYER OF 1931

O living God our Father, may Thy grace ever abound unto our nation. In perfect trust do we seek to know Thy will in our strivings for liberation. Bless Thou every hand that toils and every heart that throbs for freedom. Grant that in the vehemence of our struggles for liberty, no ill-will or hatred may creep into our hearts. Give us to bear our disappointments with charity and long-suffering, confident that Thou, O God of deliverance, will never forsake us Thy people.

We beseech Thee to bestow increasing strength and power upon those who labor for our emancipation, and may those who deny us freedom see the righteousness of our cause.

In the hollow of Thy mighty hand are the destinies of all nations. To Thee we commend our country's future, so that, we pray Thee, it may shine unto the perfect day. We fear no harm or evil under the shadow of Thy wings. Lead our people on the paths of righteousness and of goodwill toward all men. Let freedom be ours, O Thou giver of every good gift. We thank Thee for manifold blessings in the past. May we be deserving of Thy continued protection today and in the years to come. To Thee we attribute all glory and all power forever and ever. Amen.


THE NATIONAL PRAYER OF 1932

Almighty God, Father of all nations, fountain of all strength and mercy, we Thy people come unto Thee in the hour of danger and distress. Hide not Thy face from this nation, we beseech Thee. Do Thou pour out Thy holy comfort upon our afflicted souls. We are Thy people, and Thou art our refuge and deliverer. Of Thy loving-kindness, there is no end.

We entreat Thee, O most gracious Father, stay Thou the hand that would smite our liberties. Send forth Thy spirit unto our rulers and so touch their hearts and quicken their sense of justice, so that they may in honor keep their plighted word to us. Let not the covetous designs of a few interests prevail in the councils, nor sway its noble purposes toward our country.

We pray Thee, O Lord, grant us peace to forgive those who seek to destroy our freedom.

We thank Thee, O heavenly Father, that we can thus pray to Thee. We thank Thee that Thou hast inspired us with a renewed spirit of national unity. Do Thou bless and sanctify our aspirations as a people. Guide us in our endeavors for our emancipation to the end that our every thought and deed may be accepted in Thy sight. And to Thee be all honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

(Image from http://en.wikipilipinas.org/)

GENERAL ESPERON AND PRESIDENT ARROYO'S LEGACY

In a recent issue of the Wall Street Journal, John Hopkins University Professor Brett Decker said that "The Philippine military's second crisis concerns endemic corruption in its upper echelons. Unlike in the United States and many countries where military officers are among the most respectful elites in society, the Philippines' senior officer corps has long been regarded as one of the most corrupt classes in a very corrupt social system. There are many examples of officers taking bribes to let rebels escape, and of military equipment being sold to insurgents who use the weapons against the soldiers for whom they were intended. In its country report released recently, the US State Department listed very low morale, corruption and lack of inter-agency cooperation as institutional factors that undermine anti-terror efforts in the Philippines." This report certainly corroborates with the opinion of Transparency International (TI) when it ranked the Philippines as the 8th most corrupt country in the world, as Malacanang as usual disputed the findings calling it "unfair" saying it is addressing the problem of corruption squarely. How can it when the very heart of corruption has been squatting in Malacanang for several years now? Two more years in office and we could very well be the #1 in its list.

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

ESTRELLA ELAMPARO'S ERROR

GSIS chief legal counsel Estrella Elamparo was wrong to say that Winston Garcia's family in Cebu are in no way involved in the operations of Visayan Electric Co. (VECO), the Cebuano version of Meralco. She went public recently in an attempt to fool consumers that Winston Garcia has no hidden agenda whatsoever. The Garcia's are indeed interlinked with the Aboitiz family (VECO owners on record), in the management of RP's second largest franchise of electricity. Again, my GSIS mole tells me that VECO is owned by the Aboitiz family and has for itself a lawyer in the person of Jess Anthony Garcia from the Neri-Garcia clan. He is Winston Garcia's nephew and the eldest son of Alvin Garcia, former Cebu City mayor and younger brother of Jesus "Sonny" Garcia, FVR's former transportation secretary. Alvin and Sonny are Winston's first cousin. Sonny Garcia sits in the board of Vivant Corp., the holding firm of the Aboitizes' VECO. Sonny Garcia has been lawyering for the Aboitizes shipping business in particular. Elamparo failed to do her homework. A costly blunder such as this could backfire on her boss, especially if the Lopezes take on this error hook, line and sinker.

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

FUWA

The cuddly 'Beijing 2008 Olympics' mascots known as "Fuwa" could be toxic and dangerous to one's health. Chinese police have seized close to 30,000 counterfeit versions of the fluffy stuffed mascots, some made with toxic materials, in what appears to be one of the largest haul of fakes to date, the state-run Beijing News said recently. This is a warning to consumers to take care when purchasing the dolls to avoid any health risks. Over here, another health risk threatens the lives of Filipinos each day - a counterfeit president and a counterfeit administration, so toxic that people who work closely with her immediately develop a digestive illness called "daya-rhea."

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

SI RAUL O SI GONZALEZ?

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez was recently sucking on the barrel of his gun when he accused CHR Chairman Leila de Lima of undue haste and unfairness to some cops in concluding the Tanauan, Batangas killings by Task Force RCBC elements was a rubout or simply a summary execution. Gonzalez likewise was suffering from an acute verbal diarrhea when he said that the bank robbers-murderers should be subject to a "shoot to kill" order. Undue haste? But four people are dead! The PNP record of summary executions and the practice of using 'fall guys' is not a secret. Chairman de Lima was doing what was just right. So, why should Sec. Gonzalez be disappointed about de Lima's swift action? It is be Gonzalez who is guilty as hell for undue haste in clearing Proclamation 1017, in permitting CPR and E.O. 464, in orchestrating the raid on the editorial offices of Tribune, in filing charges against several opposition leaders, including the late Rep. Crispin Beltran. Chairman de Lima simply has set a good example of prompt action by a government agency, in contrary to Gonzalez' canine partisanship.

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

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/)