Dahil Malapit na ang Eleksyon

Sapagkat malapit na ang eleksyon, naglilipatan na nga partido ang mga pulitiko upan mapalayo sa administrasyon. Dahil alam naman nating ang mga tao dito ay madaling makalimot sa balita, gusto ko lamang ipahatid na kahit lumipat ang mga tao ng partido ay hindi dapat nalilimutan ang mga ginawa nila sa kanilang termino.

Eto ang listahan ng mga kongresistang bumoto para sa Charter Change noon Hunyo ng taong ito:

ABANTE, BIENVENIDO M. “BENNY” 6TH District Pandacan
ABLAN, ROQUE R. JR, Ilocos Norte, 1st District
AGBAYANI, VICTOR AGUEDO E. Pangasinan, 2nd District
AGYAO, MANUEL, S Kalinga Province
ALBANO (III), RODOLFO T. Isabela, 1st District
ALFELOR, FELIX R. JR. 4th District, Camarines Sur
ALMARIO, THELMA Z. Davao Oriental, 2nd District
ALVAREZ, ANTONIO C. Palawan 1st District
ALVAREZ, GENARO RAFAEL M. JR. Negros Occidental, 6th District
AMANTE, EDELMIRO A. Agusan Del Norte, 2nd District
AMATONG, ROMMEL C. Compostela Valley, 2nd District
ANGPING, MARIA ZENAIDA B. Manila, 3rd District
ANTONINO, RODOLFO W. Nueva Ecija, 4th District
APOSTOL, TRINIDAD G. Leyte, 2nd District
AQUINO, JOSE S. (II) 1st District Agusan del Norte
ARAGO, MARIA EVITA R. 3rd district, Laguna
ARBISON, A MUNIR M. Sulu 2nd District
ARENAS, MA. RACHEL J. Pangasinan, 3rd District
ARROYO, DIOSDADO M. Camarines Sur, 1st District
ARROYO, IGNACIO T. 5th district Negros Occidental
ARROYO, JUAN MIGUEL M. 2nd District of Pampanga
BAGATSING, AMADO S. Manila 5th district
BALINDONG, PANGALIAN M. Lanao del Sur, 2nd District
BARZAGA, ELPIDIO F. JR. Cavite, 2nd District
BAUTISTA, FRANKLIN P. Davao Del Sur, 2nd District
BELMONTE, VICENTE F. JR. Lanao del Norte, 1st District
BICHARA, AL FRANCIS C. Albay, 2nd District
BIRON, FERJENEL G. Iloilo, 4th District
BONDOC, ANNA YORK P. Pampanga 4th District
BONOAN-DAVID, MA. THERESA B. Manila, 4th District
BRAVO, NARCISO R. JR. Masbate, 1st District
BRIONES, NICANOR M. AGAP Party list
BUHAIN, EILEEN ERMITA Batangas, 1st District
BULUT, ELIAS C. JR. Apayao Lone District
CAGAS (IV), MARC DOUGLAS C. Davao Del Sur, 1st District
CAJAYON, MARY MITZI L. Caloocan, 2nd District
CAJES, ROBERTO C. Bohol, 2nd District
CARI, CARMEN L. Leyte, 5th District
CASTRO, FREDENIL H. Capiz, 2nd District
CELESTE, ARTHUR F. Pangasinan, 1st District
CERILLES, ANTONIO H. Zamboanga Del Sur, 2nd District
CHATTO, EDGARDO M. Bohol, 1st District
CHONG, GLENN A. Biliran, Lone District
CHUNG-LAO, SOLOMON R. Ifugao, Lone District
CLARETE, MARINA C. Misamis Occidental, 1st District
CODILLA, EUFROCINO M. SR. Leyte, 4th District
COJUANCO, MARK O. Pangasinan, 5th District
COQUILA, TEODULO M. Eastern Samar, Lone District
CRISOLOGO, VINCENT P. Quezon City, 1st District
CUA, JUNIE E. Quirino, Lone District
CUENCO, ANTONIO V. Cebu City, 2nd District
DANGWA, SAMUEL M. Benguet, Lone District
DATUMANONG, SIMEON A. Maguindanao, Lone District
Dayanghirang, Nelson L. Davao Oriental, 1st District
DAZA, NANETTE C. Quezon City, 4th District
DAZA, PAUL R. Northern Samar, 1st District
DE GUZMAN, DEL R. Marikina City, 2nd District
DEFENSOR, ARTHUR D. SR. Iloilo, 3rd District
DEFENSOR, MATIAS V. JR. Quezon City, 3rd District
DEL MAR, RAUL V. Cebu City, 1st District
DIASNES, CARLO OLIVER D. (MD) Batanes, Lone District
DIMAPORO, ABDULLAH D. Lanao Del Norte, 2nd District
DOMOGAN, MAURICIO G. Baguio, Lone District
DUAVIT, MICHAEL JOHN R. Rizal, 1st District
DUENAS, HENRY M. JR. Taguig, 2nd District (2nd Councilor District)
DUMARPA, FAYSAH MRP. Lanao del Sur, 1st District
DUMPIT, THOMAS L. JR. La Union, 2nd District
DURANO (IV), RAMON H. 5th District, Cebu
ECLEO, GLENDA B. Dinagat Islands, Lone District
EMANO, YEVGENY VICENTE B. Misamis Oriental, 2nd District
ENVERGA, WILFRIDO MARK M. Quezon, 1st District
ESTRELLA, CONRADO M. (III) Pangasinan, 6th District
ESTRELLA, ROBERT RAYMUND M. ABONO Party List
FERRER, JEFFREY P. Negros Occidental, 4th District
GARAY, FLORENCIO C. Surigao Del Sur, 2nd District
GARCIA, ALBERT S. Bataan, 2nd District.
GARCIA, PABLO JOHN F. Cebu, 3rd District
GARCIA, PABLO P. Cebu, 2nd District
GARCIA, VINCENT J. Davao City, 2nd District
GARIN, JANETTE L. Iloilo, 1st District
GATCHALIAN, REXLON T. Valenzuela City, 1st District
GATLABAYAN, ANGELITO C. Antipolo City, 2nd District
GO, ARNULFO F. Sultan Kudarat, 2nd District
GONZALES, AURELIO D. JR. Pampanga 3rd District
GONZALES, RAUL T. JR. Iloilo City
GULLAS, EDUARDO R. Cebu, 1st District
GUNIGUNDO, MAGTANGGOL T. Valenzuela City 2nd District
HOFER, DULCE ANN K. Zamboanga Sibugay, 2nd District
JAAFAR, NUR G. Tawi-Tawi, Lone District
JALA, ADAM RELSON L. Bohol, 3rd District
JALOSJOS, CESAR G. Zamboanga del Norte, 3rd District
JALOSJOS-CARREON, CECILIA G. Zamboanga del Norte, 1st District
JIKIRI, YUSOP H. Sulu, 1st District
KHO, ANTONIO T. Masbate, 2nd District
LABADLABAD, ROSENDO S. Zamboanga del Norte, 2nd District
LACSON, JOSE CARLOS V. Negros Occidental, 3rd District
LAGDAMEO, ANTONIO F. JR. Davao del Norte, 2nd District
LAPUS, JECI A. Tarlac, 3rd District
LAZATIN, CARMELO F. Pampanga, 1st District
LIM, RENO G. Albay, 3rd District
LOPEZ, JAIME C. Manila, 2nd District
MADRONA, ELEANORA JESUS F. Romblon, Lone District
MAGSAYSAY, MARIA MILAGROS H. Zambales, 1st District
MALAPITAN, OSCAR G. Caloocan, 1st District
MAMBA, MANUEL N. Cagayan, 3rd District
MANGUDADATU, DATU PAKUNG S. Sultan Kudarat,
MARANON, ALFREDO D. III Negros Occidental, 2nd District
MATUGAS, FRANCISCO T. Surigao del Norte, 1st District
MENDOZA, MARK LEANDRO L. Batangas, 4th District
MERCADO, ROGER G. Southern Leyte, Lone District
MIRAFLORES, FLORENCIO T. Aklan, Lone District
NAVA, JOAQUIN CARLOS RAHMAN A. (MD) Guimaras, Lone District
NICOLAS, REYLINA G. Bulacan, 4th District
NOGRALES, PROSPERO C. Davao City, 1st District
OLAñO, ARREL R. Davao Del Norte, 1st District
ONG, EMIL L. Northern Samar, 2nd District
ORTEGA, VICTOR FRANCISCO C. La Union, 1st District
PABLO, ERNESTO C. APEC Party List
PANCHO, PEDRO M. Bulacan, 2nd District
PANCRUDO, CANDIDO P. JR. Bukidnon, 1st District
PICHAY, PHILIP A. Surigao Del Sur, 1st District
PIñOL, BERNARDO F. JR. North Cotabato, 2nd District
PUNO, ROBERTO V. Antipolo City, 1st District
RAMIRO, HERMINIA M. Misamis Occidental, 2nd District
REMULLA, JESUS CRISPIN C. Cavite, 3rd District
REYES, CARMELITA O. Marinduque, Lone District
REYES, VICTORIA H. Batangas, 3rd District
ROBES, ARTURO G. San Jose Del Monte City, Lone District
Rodriguez-Zaldarriaga, Adelina Rizal, 2nd District
ROMAN, HERMINIA B. Bataan, 1st District
ROMARATE, GUILLERMO A. JR. Surigao del Norte, 2nd District
ROMUALDEZ, FERDINAND MARTIN G. Leyte, 1st District
ROMUALDO, PEDRO Camiguin, Lone District
ROMULO, ROMAN T. Pasig City, Lone District
ROXAS, JOSE ANTONIO F. Pasay City
SALIMBANGON, BENHUR L. Cebu, 4th District
SALVACION JR., ANDRES D. Leyte, 3rd District
SAN LUIS, EDGAR S. Laguna, 4th District
SANDOVAL, ALVIN S. Malabon-Navotas, Lone District
SANTIAGO, JOSEPH A. Catanduanes, Lone District
SANTIAGO, NARCISO D. (III) ARC Party List
SEACHON-LANETE, RIZALINA L. 3rd district of Masbate
SEARES-LUNA, CECILIA M. Abra, Lone District
SILVERIO, LORNA C. Bulacan, 3rd District
SINGSON, ERIC D. Ilocos Sur, 2nd District
SINGSON, RONALD V. Ilocos Sur, 1st District
SOLIS, JOSE G. Sorsogon, 2nd District
SOON-RUIZ, NERISSA CORAZON Cebu, 6th District
SUAREZ, DANILO E. Quezon, 3rd District
SUSANO, MARY ANN L. Quezon City, 2nd District
SY-ALVARADO, MA. VICTORIA R. Bulacan, 1st District
SYJUCO, JUDY J. 2nd Dsitrict, Iloilo
TALINO-MENDOZA, EMMYLOU J. North Cotabato, 1st District
TAN, SHAREE ANN T. Samar, 2nd District
TEODORO, MARCELINO R. Marikina City, 1st District
TEODORO, MONICA LOUISSE PRIETO Tarlac, 1st District
TEVES, PRYDE HENRY A. Negros Oriental, 3rd District
TUPAS, NEIL C. JR. Iloilo, 5th District
UNGAB, ISIDRO T. Davao City, 3rd District
UY, EDWIN C. Isabela, 2nd District
UY, REYNALDO S. Samar, 1st District
UY, ROLANDO A. Cagayan De Oro City, Lone District
VALDEZ, EDGAR L. APEC Party List
VALENCIA, RODOLFO G. Oriental Mindoro, 1st District
VARGAS, FLORENCIO L. Cagayan, 2nd District
VILLAFUERTE, LUIS R. Camarines Sur, 2nd District
VILLAROSA, MA. AMELITA C. Occidental Mindoro, Lone District
VIOLAGO, JOSEPH GILBERT F. Nueva Ecija, 2nd District
YAP, JOSE V. Tarlac, 2nd District
YU, VICTOR J. Zamboanga Del Sur, 1st District
ZAMORA, MANUEL E. 1st District, Compostela Valley
ZIALCITA, EDUARDO C. Parañaque, 1st District

Kayo na ang bahala kung ano ang gagawin ninyo.

Mga Gustong Magkapwesto

Ang gulo ng pulitika sa Pilipinas ngayon (kelan ba hindi pero eto ibang klase na ito), kung sino-sino na lamang ang nagaasam na tumakbo para sa matataas na pwesto sa gobyerno, at para lamang makatakbo ay kung kani-kanino nalang sila dumidikit. Hindi lang ang mga personalidad ang malabo, pati na rin mga partido. Sa ibang bansa ay ang mga partido ay may nakatatag nang idolohiya at mga habang buhay na miyembro, halimbawa, nalang ang mga partidong conserbatibo and socialista or partido ng mga mangagawa sa Europe. at ang Democrats and Republicans sa US. Ang mga miyembro nito ay habang buhay nang kasali sa partido, at walang lumilipat. Dito sa Pilipinas alam nating iba ang usapan pag eleksyon.

Isa sa mga nais kong gamiting halimbawa ng mga makukulay na personalidad sa bansa ay ang dating Kalihim ang Kagawaran ng Pagawaing Bayan at Lansangan (Department of Public Works and Highways) na si Jun Ebdane na nais tumakbo bilang presidente sa ilalim ng Philippine Labour and Peasant Party (PLPP). Tinanong nga ako ng kaibigan ko kung kelan ba, bilang isang Heneral sa pulisya at Kalihim ng DPWH, naranasan ni Ginoong Ebdane ang pinagdadaanan ng mga trabahador at magsasaka.

Sa tingin ko eh madalas naman makita ng dating kalihim ang kanyang mga kinakatawanan, yun nga lang eh nasa magkabilang dulo sila ng mga kilos protesta. Bilang Heneral sa PNP ay siguradong marami nang natulungang mga trabahador at magsasaka si Ebdane, biruin mo, ang tagal mong naglalakad, sumisigaw at kumakanta kaya malaking tulong ang water cannon para mapawi ang init at uhaw ng mga ito. Dahil dito ay dapat nga sigurong iboto ng mga aktibista si Ebdane.

Ngayon ay si Edu Manzano naman ay tatakbo bilang bise presidente ni Secretary Gilbert Teodoro. May karanasan na raw kasi si Manzano sa pagsisilbi sa taong bayan bilang vice mayor ng Makati at bilang Chairman ang Optical Media Board (OMB), sigurado akong sapat na ito upuan iboto siya ng taong bayan bilang posibleng pumalit sa presidente ng Pilipinas.

Hindi ko alam kung ano talaga ang nagawa niya para sa Makati pero dahil hindi ako tagaroon, pero ang alam ko ay bilang Chairman ng OMB ay nasugpo niya LAHAT ng mga nagbebenta ng mga pekeng DVD and kung ano ano pang pirated software. Teka, lang, eh baket ang dali pa rin makabili ng pirated na DVDs sa Maynila? Ahhh baka kasi nagkakasabay yung taping ng Game KNB? sa oras ng mga raid, kaya kelangang i-resked ito. Pero seryoso lang, sa tingin ko ay ang tunay na serbisyo niya sa OMB ay ang hindi niya pag huli sa mga illegal vendors ng DVDs, kasi ang mahal ng original, pucha! Salamt Edu!

Hangat pumapayag ang mga Pilipino na mahalal ang taong tumabo lamang dahil sa personalidad (kung tumakbo si Willie at nanalo, wala na tayong pagasa talaga) at hindi dahil sa plataporma, habang hinahayaan nila na bumalimbing ang mga pulitiko ay malabong titino ang mga ito. Pero kung gusto niyo ng ganito, isipin niyo nalang kung ano ang mangyayari sa bansang na pinamumunuan nila Ebdane at Manzano. Pilipinas, Game Knb???

Badtrip daw ang COMELEC ang haba ng pila

Ito ay para sa mga taong nagagalit sa COMELEC dahil sa haba ng pila para sa mga nagnanais magrehistro para bumoto sa paparating na eleksyon sa susunod na taon.

Mga TANGA kayo. Binigyan na nga kayo ng kaukulang oras, halos isang taong, para magpunta sa mga opisina ng COMELEC at hindi niyo pa ginawa. Ang COMELEC ay naglalabas na ng mga komersyal sa TV, radyo, sa mga pahayaganat tabloid, at mga poster sa mga estasyon ng tren para lang maipaalala sa inyo na pwedeng magrehistro. Kahit ang bulag ay maririnig ito, ang mga hindi marunong bumasa ay mapapanood ito pero ang mga tamad ay hindi ito papansinin at dapat lang pumila ng kasama ng iba pang tulad niyang hindi nakaparehistro dahil sa katangahan.

Kaya wag niyong sisisihin ang COMELEC kung baket parang may rebolusyon nanaman sa ESDA sa dami ng taong nakapila sa mga opisina ng COMELEC. Wag kayong mapipikon kung baket ang bagal ng pagasikaso sa mga dokumento ninyo, at wag kayong magwawala kung hindi tanggapin ang mga dokumentong ninyong mali-mali pagkatapos ninyong pumila.

Pero kung gusto ninyong magwala at mambato ng kung ano man, gawin ninyo para mas lalong hindi na kayo makarehistro, mabuti na yung ganon dahil hindi kailangan ng bansa ng mga inutil katulad ninyo.

Kung nais ninyong mabago ang sistema ng bansa, mainam na magsimula muna sa sarili. Ang katangahan ay hindi kapansanan.

Pag Maganda Daw ang Puno, Maganda Rin daw ang Bunga

Over the radio you hear certain candidates declaiming their so-called note-worthy accomplishments. One in particular captured my attention, the one which said that "Pag Maganda ang Puna, Maganda rin ang Bunga" (If the tree is good, then the fruits will be good as well).

The official responsible for this PR campaign is the current Secretary of Interior and Local Government and he takes great pride in increasing the number of police personnel and law enforcement equipment for the Philippine National Police.

So now that the police have all the equipment, what happens next? Equipment and increased personnel alone are not the solution to crime prevention, much less for people to trust the police. In the Philippines, people seem to be more wary of the police than of suspicious looking individuals, now why is this? Well I'm sure those people have their reasons but for me, the one that stands out is this:

In other countries, such as the United States, when police officers pull you over, they courteously say: "excuse me and sir" to the citizen. In the Philippines, there tends to be a reversal of roles, its the police who seem to demand that they be called "sir". Now I'm not sure how many of the Philippine National Police have really been knighted by a monarch but I doubt so many of them deserve the title.

The addition of personnel and acquisition of equipment is all fine and good but what is needed is more than a PR campaign to improve the image of police force but actually tangible efforts at doing so. A change in the culture which has been marred by charges of corruption and abuse of power and out of shape officers who shoot/arrest first and ask questions later. By train the next generation of policemen to become models of courtesy and law enforcement, the government can return the long lost trust of the citizenship to this once glorious institution. Its not impossible really, just daunting.

I believe that once people begin to see the police as protectors rather than threats then law enforcement will become much easier with the support of the citizenship. I hope I live to see that day.

By the way, shouldn't we also be asking who paid for this advertisement?

Expressing gratitude to the Canadian Embassy

I'd like to express my gratitude to the Canadian Embassy for denying my request for a Visa based on my economic and marital status. Thank you for your honesty in stating that you believe that once I set foot on your wonderful wonderful developed country, I will no longer go back to my poorly developing, poverty invested homeland. Of course EVERYONE wants to go Canada and never come back to where they're from, why its wonderful over there!

Lets list the reasons why its awesome there: There are uh... steaks and uh... mounties... and uh... The long tradition of wrestlers and George St Pierre and... snow and ice, alot of ice... did I mention ice and cold weather?

It seems that discrimination happens in democratic countries as well, if you don't have enough personal finances then you are immediately treated as a risk of becoming an illegal immigrant. Well poor people do that, damn us ignorant masses from developing countries. My poverty disgusts me, it really does. We're all uneducated, ignorant people who view their country as the promised land.

But its a fair trade isn't it? We have the honor, nay, the privilege, of letting them enter our developing countries with ease, to enjoy the tropical climate, picturesque beaches, exotic prostitutes and the opportunity to watch how real poor people live, not like welfare-supported-soup-kitchen-fed poor people, but real third world poverty, the kind you see on United Nations Websites and other feeding programs complete with flies and grime. The visit also provides them a look of human ingenuity and how people can construct habitations with discarded scraps of wood, cardboard, tires and steel, must be like watching early man build his first dwellings except this is made of scrap.

It seems that they're under the impression that I dislike my country so much that I'd be more than willing to trade my dignity just to stay there as an illegal. Thank you for a glimpse in your perception of ordinary citizens in a developing country.

More Pork

Its the holy month of Ramadan and still there is new of more pork on the way...

Members of the Philippine legislature are up for another bonus as the budget for the Countrywide Development Fund, better known as the Pork Barrel Fund, is looking to increase another Php 700-million.

I guess the Php 70 million allocated for each congressman isn't enough to implement the much needed development services in their respective congressional districts.

One should really ask how many areas lack paved roads, proper school buildings and necessary healthcare facilities and other basic services that the residents rely on the government for? Now is 70 million a year not enough to build these facilities?

Interestingly enough, according to an article in the Philippine Star published in yahoo news (http://ph.news.yahoo.com/gma/20090831/tph-palace-to-public-dont-judge-presiden-d6cd5cf.html) the First Male Children (Mikey and Dado) purchased properties in the United States within their first term as congressional representatives. The article states that Mikey's beachfront property is pegged at an estimated at Php 63.7 million. While Dado's property, also in the US, was priced at Php 26.7 million.

Hey wait, the beachfront property is almost one year's pork allocation. I wonder how many classrooms could've been constructed, how many roads built, and how many health centers would have been put up in the barangays which need them?

The only thing those members of the first family will do that will surprise me is if they just vacate their positions and submit to a fair and impartial investigation on plunder charges. Anything they do which aims to increase their holdings is no longer a shock, its more of the rule rather than the exception.

And the Willie Revillame saga continues

This is the poem written by Joey de Leon in his column in the August 9, 2009 Philippine Star broadsheet newspaper. The poem is in response to the uproar over Willie Revillame's vocal protest against showing the funeral procession of the late President Corazon Aquino from La Salle Greenhills to the Manila Cathedral.

My hat goes off once again to Mr Joey de Leon for another intersting piece of literature .

The funeral cortege of former Pres. Cory Aquino: My tears came naturally

Wala na sa piling ng mga Pilipino,
Tinig ng awiting Mga Kababayan Ko,
At lumisan na rin noong isang Sabado,
Inang nagpalipad sa awiting Bayan Ko.
Ako'y sumasaludo, paalam Pangulo,
May isa 'kong lihim, kay tagal itinago,
Sa lahat nang inabot kong mga namuno,
Tanging ikaw lang sa luha ko'y nagpatulo.

Marami ang nalungkot sa iyong pagyao,
Magalang ang lahat at puno ng respeto,
Nagpasalamat pa nga Kapamilya sa 'yo,
Dahil kanilang himpilan naibalik mo.

Subalit ano itong nabalitaan ko?
Nangyari noong Lunes, a-tres ng Agosto,
Habang inililipat ang mga labi mo,
Ika'y parang nabastos sa isang TV show.

At ang napakasaklap at masakit dito,
Ang nambastos pa'y kapamilya ng anak mo,
Napanood ito ng tao at publiko,
Kakaunti na nga, ngunit lahat nahilo.
Sabi ng TV host na mainit ang ulo
Pagkakita sa video na kanyang kasalo,
"Sandali, meron akong ano... sa'ting ano...
Hindi naman sa ano," nagkaanu-ano!
Ayon sa Internet, meron pa s'yang nasambit,
"Sana pakitanggal muna 'yan sa'ting traffic..."
At 'di maaalis sa iyong pag-iisip,
Ang parada ng patay ang pinaliligpit!
At dagdag pa daw ng naghahari-harian,
"I don't think na dapat n'yong ipakita iyan..."
Nasaan naman ang paggalang, o nasaan?
Mga sinasabi natin minsa'y pag-ingatan.

At 'di pa nangimi nang sumunod na araw,
Pinilit pa ring ginawa n'ya ay tama raw,
Mga nakarinig 'di na nakagalaw
At ayon sa iba sila na la'y napa-wow!

"... Pero ako, totoo 'ko eh ... ", sabi kuno,
Totoo nga at totoo ring walang modo,
Pwede namang sabihin itong pa-sikreto,
Kaya't wala na rin mga paliwanag mo.

"Kung ganyan, pakita na lang 'yan!", ang hamon pa,
Para bang ang prusisyon nila-"lang - lang" lang ba,
Ang pangasiwaan ay pinapili pa n'ya,
Sumunod ang himpilan, nung August 5 wala s'ya.

May mga komentong pwede nang pang-harapan,
"On camera" baga sa TV ang tawag d'yan
At kung sensitibo man ang gustong bitawan,
Pagpasok ng commercial, hintayin mo na lang.

Matutong magbaba muna ng mikropono
At saka idikta lahat ng iyong gusto,
Lagi kang mataas lahat daw takot sa 'yo,
Ratings lang ang mababa — totoo ba ito?

The breaking news breaks your heart — at 'yan ang bawi mo,
Nang mahalata mong sumablay ang pasok mo,
Pero sigurado ika'y maa-abswelto,
'Di ba ikaw rin ang may-ari ng network n'yo?
Nung Hueves nag-apologize sa diario naman,
O, akala ko ba wala kang kasalanan,
Tapos ng angalan, sunod paliwanagan —
COMPLAIN before you EXPLAIN ka na naman!
O ito kaya ay isa na namang "glitch" lang,
Tulad ng "two-zero" 'di na natin nalaman,
O ito ay maliwanag na kabobohan?
Sa tingin ng marami, mahirap lusutan.

Ang sabi ng iba — istupidong mayabang,
At giit ng iba — istupidong mayaman,
Mayaman man o mayabang ang tiyak diyan,
Napakayaman n'ya sa kaistupiduhan.

Buti pa ang apat na honor guards ni Cory —
Sina Malab, Laguindan, Rodriguez, Cadiente,
Walong oras tumayo sa ulan at viaje,
Ang lahat ay tiniis at walang sinabi.

Samantalang ikaw na may bubong sa ulo,
Komportable ka lang sa malamig na studio,
Nang kapirasong libing sa TV sumalo,
Angal at inis ang sumambulat sa iyo.

Maaari din namang pabayaan na s'ya,
Subalit ang nangyari'y mabigat talaga,
Namayapang pangulo'y huling paalam na,
'Di mo pa pinagbigyan ... hoy, nag-iisa ka!

At nais ko lang sabihin at ipagyabang
Sa mahigit na s'yam na libong tanghalian,
Sa limang pangulong sa Bulaga'y dumaan,
Kahit isa wala kaming nilapastangan.

Moving, very moving...

Willie Revillame vs Icons of Democracy

The popular noon-time show host Willie Revillame once again scored another achievement in national Philippine television by criticizing the coverage of the funeral procession of the late President Corazon C Aquino last Aug 5 2009.



Stating that" Di po maganda. Nagsasaya kami dito habang nagluluksa ang sambayanang Pilipino. Di ko magagampanan ang pagpapatawa habang ipinapakita ang libing ng dating president." (Its not very nice. We are having fun here while the nation is mourning. I can't do my job of making people laugh while the funeral of the late President is being shown)

Basically the it seems that Mr Revillame believes that his show is more important than the country being able to pay its respects to one of the most iconic leaders in Philippine history.

Sometimes I wonder if he could actually be blamed for thinking this since he's been has gotten away with a number of rather disturbing things, most notably:

1) The death of dozens of people (mostly the very young and the elderly) during a stampede while waiting for the gates to open for his anniversary show a few years ago. The result: uproar by the people, tears from Willie, then nothing.

2) He was caught on national TV with evidence of game fixing on his show. Result: Short uproar, Willie in tears, then nothing.

Based on these, is there really a chance that things can be different? When you think about it, the tears he sheds during his show are the same tears he sheds to apologize for whatever he does next to offend the Filipino people. The clamor from the viewers and bloggers both in the Philippines and abroad may have stirred the attention of the MTRCB but how long will that attention hold? I think a few days more and Willie will be able to return to continue to play on the hopes and dreams of the less fortunate Filipinos and insult the pride of a mourning nation.

The man peddles hopes, dreams and lies and the people love him for it. If he gets away with it then kudos to him, nice one Willie, you've done it again! Maybe next time you can pee on the flag on national TV and expect a party and a significant increase in your talent fee!

Little monarchs in their own little kingdoms

A few weeks ago I went to the Department of Social Welfare and Development office* of the Municipality of Angono, Rizal for the purpose of conducting a research on the social welfare programs being undertaken by the local government unit for its constituents. To make the long story short me and my associates were informed by a rather "clerk-ish" looking woman that the Head of the DSWD office was on leave for a week and as such, and repeatedly stated that no information could be released without the individuals express permission and without a formal letter of request.

This struck me as a rather stupid setup. First of all it demonstrated that there was nobody designated as the "second-in-command" to make decisions in the absence of the Head, meaning that no work will actually get done if a decision had to be made. Second I was not informed that the social welfare programs of a local government on a 1st class municipality were a matter of national security and should therefore be guarded jealously. I believe this person imagined this moment as an opportunity to lord her influence over others, that instead of being supportive, chose rather to be combative in order to protect thier little kingdom.

But what would be most disturbig is that what if the local DSWD did not have any programs which support social development? Now that would be another surprise! Another government office with no programs? How could that happen in the Philippines?!

But in the end sometimes I cannot really blame these people, if your work can be summed up in one word: "clerical". This also includes those who've been in that position for years with no hope of advancement or drive to improve. No, indeed I cannot blame them because the world needs mean and incompetent people with no better prospects for the future to ensure that the make the world a more exciting place.

In the start I was angry, now I just feel pity. Sucks to be you.






*The Local Government Code of 1991 was created to allow many functions of the national government such as health, education, social welfare and development, etc, to be devolved to the local governments to provide them greater autonomy in the formulation and implementation of programs which are attuned to the needs of the community.

Restart

I've lost interest in chronicling the various goings-on around me in the last couple of years and so my old journal was deleted or it just ceased to exist out of sheer boredom, inactivity and stagnation.

Recently though, I've found that it helps to have an outlet to express my observations and comments on whatever topic I find most annoying at this moment. These aren't the memoirs of an optimist but more likely the ravings of a mean and critical individual with very few good things to say about anything.

Read it or don't read it doesn't really matter as long as I can say it.