Who bred those monsters?

If the Ampatuans are really the brains (and brawns) behind the Maguindanao Massacre, and that the massacre is an act of a monster, then who bred those monsters?

Sino pa nga ba? Di ba tayo?

We voted for them.
When nobody questions the votes the Ampatuans received, we raised not our voices.
When questions are raised over the votes the Ampatuans received, we give no support.
When the questions reach the Comelec and the Courts of Justice, we let our Comelec and judges do nothing. And we are paying the people in the Comelec.

We give the Ampatuans a room to grow.
We allowed the environment and culture become favorable to them.
We also drew precedents that later became favorable to the Ampatuans. We let the national chief executive go un-punished. At least for calling Garci in the height of the elections, and later letting Garci go unscathed. Hence, if we didn't even allowed the leader be questioned, why should we question the Ampatuans?
We also allowed the national chief executive escape impeachment trials. When the Congress was deliberating on the matter, we sat on our hands and let our district representatives decide for us. We didn't even knock their doors to let them know how and what to represent us. And we are paying these district representatives.
When the impeachment failed, we kept our mouths shut. We do not want another EDSA, we say. We are tired of EDSAs as these do not change the society. In doing so, we do not show off our power, where sovereignty and all authority resides. And by doing so we affirm that vox populi is a waste, a garbage, a thrash. And by doing so we give the monsters more power as our silence is an admission of affirmation and not of defeat.

Now, these things happen. So who do we blame? The Ampatuans? Unless we are fooling ourselves. Nobody is to be blamed but us.

The Maguindanao Massacre: Another Record

Today, the Philippines gained another world record -- for claiming to be democratic yet allowing to flourish the violence that suppresses freedoms and liberties;

Today, the Philippines gained another world record -- for claiming to have freest press in Asia and at the same time, the freest country for those that suppresses the freedom of the press;

Today, the Philippines gained another world record -- landing on the top spot for being the most dangerous country in the world for journalists;

Today, we gained another record... and records are the only things that we desire...

Are we happy now?

Redefining a "survivor"

GMA-7's primetime program, "Survivor Philippines - Palau" is revolutionizing the dictionary with its new meaning of survivor. In order to survive the ordeals in the island of Palau and win the P3 M, the participants resort to scheming and betrayals. And surely, the winner that will be declared is the one who is the most scheming and most traitorous person.

Wala tayong magagawa. Yan ang laro. Yan din ang katotohanan sa Pilipinas. You cannot survive if you won't betray others. Just like what Gloria in the Palace did. She betrayed the trust of the people in order for her to remain in power. Tsk, tsk, tsk.

Poll Tax is Good But ....

Malacañang is wondering why there is so much fuss over the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s proposed 5-percent tax on campaign contributions.

“The 5-percent campaign tax is within the purview of the expanded withholding tax system of the BIR which is allowed under the BIR Code and it has been in existence for about 30 years now,” Anthony Golez, deputy presidential spokesperson, said in a briefing. (Source here)

The government has the right to tax so why really is there a fuss over campaign taxes? Let us count the ways...

First and foremost: Where did our taxes go?

• To fancy hotels and restaurants? I love those dinners. Highly paid chefs are indeed better than tikboy's mom.
  
• As payments for houses and mansions in and out the Philippines of high ranking officials? Oh, by the way, I love that house near the beach.
• As payments for luxury cars of select officials? Or as payments for the gas of said cars? Too bad, Tikboy's kariton could not even roll dahil mahal ang grasa.
• As payments to the wines and liquor everytime the day is stressful? Hmmn... si Mang Tonyo nga gin-bulag lang. Si Mang Gustin, yung hindi nagpapabayad na superhero, tuba nga lang kaya tuwing umaga parang may nag-i-spray paint sa kubeta. Sabagay, wala ngang pera kaya papaano maka-afford kahit pekeng brandy?
• As pocket money ng mga nagja-junket? Teka, ano na nga pala ang nangyari sa mga nagpunta sa Russia? Nasiyahan kaya si Misis sa shopping?
  
• As easy cash sa bulsa ng iilan? Pang-shopping kaya? Pambayad sa bodyguards?
  
• Ano pa kaya? I'm sure me alam kayo na hindi alam ni Tikboy.

Second, nagde-declare kaya ang mga pulitiko ng tamang expenses? Bulong-bulungan, si Gloria in the Palace nga gumasta ng P8 billion as campaign expenses. Pero ang declaration, barya lang daw! Iilang milyon lang. Worse, kahit ang barya, ni hindi na-subject sa tax. Pero sabi ng BIR at ng Malacanang, matagal ng batas ang witholding tax. HELLLLOOOEEEERRRR!!!!!! Naglolokohan ba tayo?

Tito Sotto: Nakakatakot ang mga sundalo

In yesterday's Eat Bulaga, the theme was halloween. Halos lahat ay nagsuot ng mga nakakatakot. Me sa aswang, sa bruha, me sa tikbalang.

But former Senator Tito Sotto wasn't funny. He wore a soldier's uniform. A former senator doing that is something of a statement. Was he using his head? That we do not know. But the point is: Former Senator Tito Sotto says that "nakakatakot ang mga sundalo".