Afraid of the media?

In the country where the media practitioners are butchered, why be afraid of the media?

During the first day of the P-Noy Administration, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda had a negative encounter with the media. This was followed cabinet secretaries like DOH's Ona, etcetera, etcetera. The latest is Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo who got irked in his encounter with the press especially with veteran journalist, Ellen Tordesillas, on the issue of extending the term of the envoys.

Such press encounters are not rare -- the very reason why GMA was always evasive of the media. Though, allegedly, she also showed concern for the members of the press during her last few days in office. That was when the GMA was showcasing her PNR project south of Manila. But in general, GMA "hated" the media for the negative reports she herself did. As such, during the height of the "Hello Garci!" controversy, a number of media outfits were even raided, and only seven cases of media killings were solved out of 104. According to NUJP, a total of 137 media practitioners were killed since 1986 and 104 of these are committed during the nine years of Arroyo Administration.

Grabeehhh!!!!

Pero teka, kung puwedeng katayin ang mga miyembro ng media na parang manok, bakit kailangang matakot sa kanila? O may itinatago dahil takot? May nais itago? Numbers na kailangang taasan? 200 million ba? Hello?... Garci?

Siguro nga ganun. Sabi ng tatay ni Tikboy, "Kung wala kang ginagawang masama, makikipag eyes-to-eyes ka. Maliban na lang kung isa kang aswang".

Kung sabagay, puwede nga. Si P-Noy nga kahapon nakipag-biruan pa sa press. Casual lang. Hindi takot at walang "ismid". Minsan siya pa nga ang nagtatanong sa media imbes na ito ang magtanong ng magtanong sa kanya.

Kaya lang, hindi pa rin maubos maisip: Bakit nga ba talaga ang iba takot sa media? Aminin.....

Midnight Deals

The midnight deals are one of the reasons why Erap Estrada was ousted. The midnight deals are also one of the reasons why Gloria Arroyo was able to become the Philippine President starting 2001.

It appears, however, that Mrs. Arroyo forgot the reason why she became the sitting-President. She also had her midnight glass ... err, class ..., err, deals this time by appointing officials like Chief Justice Renato Corona near the end of her term.

Understandable naman bakit kailangan ni Mrs. Arroyo na mag-engage sa midnight appointments. May mga nilalang talaga na, sabi nga sa kanta, "don't wanna miss a thing". Kasama na diyan ang mga buwitre na kailangan talagang mag-take advantage ng situation otherwise baka sila magutom. Ganun din ang mga bampira na dahil pahirapan maghanap ng biktima, would not want to miss a droplet of blood from their victims. Malay natin, takot lang talaga si madam na maubusan din ng makakain pag dating ng panahon na sunod-sunod na ang kaso laban sa kanya. O kaya baka rice and noodles na lang ang makuha niya dahil nailit na ang kanilang mga ari-arian.

Buti kung nanalo si Erap. At least puwedeng sabihing reciprocal ang obligations. Binigyan niya si Erap ng pardon kaya ipa-pardon din siya. Sabi nga ni Aling Rosing: Kung ang sabi ni Erap ay weather-weather lang yan, iniisip ni GMA na pardon-pardon lang yan!

Teka, ano ba to, biru-biruan?

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.

Phil Star: Profligate leadership by example

The Philippine Star's editorial today is worth reading... and sharing. Below is a copy. For the source, click here.

Profligate leadership by example

While other countries have slipped into recession, President Arroyo appears determined to show to the world how healthy the Philippine economy is: by traipsing around the globe. Her latest eight-day jaunt across Europe, the Middle East and North America cost taxpayers a whopping P123 million — and that’s the amount that Malacañang was willing to acknowledge.

What did Filipino taxpayers get in return? Few people remember exactly why the President went to Davos, Switzerland, or to Italy. If she went to the World Economic Forum to brag about the Philippine example, the international community seemed unimpressed.

Malacañang cited benefits from the entire trip amounting to an even more whopping $2 billion. Where did that fantastic figure come from? Palace officials said the President received pledges of aid from Saudi Arabia totaling $500 million and, from Bahrain, an investment commitment of $350 million for a hotel project in Makati City. In the United States, where her quest for a coveted photograph with new President Barack Obama ended in humiliation, there is a possibility that the Philippines can export $1.2 billion worth of textiles.

Decisions regarding foreign aid or major investments are not made as quickly as the President decides to fly to Washington for a photo op. The groundwork for decision-making is laid over several months, and the final commitment does not need the presence of the head of the recipient country. The original reason cited for the President’s Middle Eastern trip was to act as job-hunter for overseas Filipino workers. But the region has been hit by the precipitous plunge in world demand for crude oil. Projects and major investments in the Middle East are on hold, foreign workers are being sent home, and it’s doubtful that recovery will be quick.

Textile exports to the US? The Philippine textile industry has been devastated by competition from China and India. And if there is textile to speak of for exports, are Americans buying at this time? As for that unfortunate pilgrimage to Washington, where the President did not merit even a nod or word of acknowledgment from her US counterpart, the embarrassment should be enough to keep her home at least for the duration of the global slump. But then that would be too much to expect of this President. If members of Congress and even police officers are inveterate junketeers at taxpayers’ expense, it is because they are simply following their leader’s example.

No Cha-Cha -- Lakas Agrees

Finally, Lakas-NUCD conceded. It's impossible to have charter change at the moment.

Pero bakit nga ba kailangang magmadali na baguhin ang saligang batas? Let us count the ways:

1. Mabilis bumaba ang presyo ng gasolina. Baka makasabay si Gloria.
2. Dumadami ang populasyon dahil marami pa rin ang sumasalungat sa Reproductive Health. Baka dahil sa pagdami ng populasyon mahigitan ang mga botante ng administrasyon. Talo na sila sa susunod na eleksiyon.
3. Malapit ng maayos ang economic crisis ng mundo. Mawawala na ang "chaos". At dahil mawawala na ang chaos, mawawala na rin ang mga opportunities ng mga nasa gobyerno at malapit sa gobyerno ni Arroyo. Di ba may kasabihan, "In chaos there is opportunity"? Remember the rice crisis -- sino-sino nga ba ang nanginabang? Tanungin natin si Sec. Yap at ang biyenan nito.
4. Malapit na ang eleksiyon. Nawawala pa rin si Garci. Wala pa nga atang kaso.
5. Wala na rin ang ZTE at mahina na rin ang kita dahil sa ibinunyag ng World Bank na kapalpakan sa DPWH. Wala ng perang pumapasok.... waaaaahhhhhh!!!!!
   

JDV is cheap!

Cong. Jose de Venecia admitted accepting a P500,000 bribe just to stall the October 2007 Impeachment complaint against Gloria Arroyo. Here's the report of the Inquirer:

Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that he, along with some other congressmen and local officials, was given the alleged bribe on Oct. 11, 2007, to support a "sham" impeachment complaint to protect President Macapagal-Arroyo from a stronger suit.

On the same day he received the payoff, the then Speaker De Venecia said Ms Arroyo pressured him three times during a meeting in her Malacañang office to endorse the "weak" impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Roel Pulido.

De Venecia said the P500,000 was brought to his office in the House of Representatives by a staff member of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office on the afternoon of Oct. 11 when the House was set to vote on the Pulido complaint.

How cheap naman!

But JDV seems to have forgotten: Coming out this late (it's one year and one month!) does not relieve him of his guilt of being a party to bribery! Is he coming out only because he wanted to get even? If he really wanted to follow the law to the letter, he should have came out earlier and accused Gloria in the Palace of bribery and not after one year. In bribery, the issue is not whether or not the money is intact. It's the act of accepting the money and the intent behind such act.

How sad naman...

GMA and the Cha-cha Train

Action speaks louder than words.

Presidentiable Mar Roxas is correct: If Gloria in the Palace wants, all she can do is to tell her allies in the lower house to stop the Cha-cha train.

But Arroyo is still hopeful to extend her term. Thus, she wants to amend the charter. Clearly, "Press Sec. Jesus Dureza said that the Palace will not intervene in efforts to push Charter change at the Lower House.A report aired over dzBB radio quoted Dureza as saying that the President will leave Charter Change in the hands of the Congress. Dureza said President Arroyo remains supportive of efforts to amend the Constitution." (source here)

Buking!

First, it was Press Secretary Jesus Dureza's prayer, now it's the son's turn to show what is obvious: Gloria Arroyo will sit beyond 2010.

In a televized prayer with Arroyo listening, Dureza said: Bless the president so we will have forebearance, good health, the tolerance to lead the nation up to 2010, and perhaps who knows, even beyond.

GMA was embarassed. Indeed. But GMA did not scold Dureza in public just like what she used to do everytime her underlings commit an error. Remember the LTO incident? And the reporting of OIC of DepEd Ms. Fe Hidalgo? This just shows the obvious and Dinky Soliman is right: Embarassed sa media si Arroyo but she liked the prayer. And very much.

And to sustain her liking, her son, Cong. Mikey Arroyo even endorsed the moves to amend the constitution. And proud pa si Mikey. And to note, Arroyo can only extend her term if the charter will be amended.

These being so, what can we say? Shall we say na ang isda ay nabibingwit sa bibig? Or shall we say: Ang taong may bad breath nalalaman pag ibinubuka niya ang kanyang bibig either dahil magsasalita siya o maghihikab lang.

Joke-joke Bolate

Jacky Chan's "Who Am I?" now has a Pinoy version in the story of Joke-joke... I mean, Joc-joc Bolante.

Tribune has also its own version in the story and it is entitled: Where Am I?

A copy of Tribune's cartoon appears below. All copyrights are Tribune's.

Double standards

When Arroyo's camp accused President Joseph Estrada of being corrupt and that he step down in that fateful January 2001, nobody called Arroyo nor the members of his camp as "seditious". But when Catholic Bishop Angel Lagdameo accused the Arroyo administration as corrupt and that sitting president should resign, loose tongue Secretary of (in)Justice Raul Gonzales fired at Lagdameo and accused the bishop of uttering seditious statements.

Ba't ganun?

Kung sabagay, kailangan pa bang i-memorize yan? The Arroyo camp is a fan of George Orwell at mahilig sila sa Orwellian double-talk defined as "saying one thing and meaning the other". So Mr. Bishop Lagdameo, when Gonzales says "seditious ang statements mo", you must praise the Lord dahil inaamin nila na talagang kurakot ang administrasyong Arroyo. Kung sinasabi rin nila na wala sa expertise ng mga pari ang pulitika, you should also praise the Lord dahil inaamin nila na magagaling kayo kaya nga hanggang ngayon, uphill battle pa rin ang kaso nila laban kay Pampanga Governor Father Ed. Panlilio.

Praise the Lord, Bishop?

Mafia and de la Paz

When I was still struggling in my profession, and the world during the time of Tabako Ramos was still chaotic and uncertain, my mentor taught me the difference between a legitimate business man and a person involved in illegal business transactions. Sabi niya, ang legitimate businessman ay mahahalata mo dahil kung makipag-usap yan it's either in cash or in cheque. Pero kung nakikipag-deal siya using cash at laging makapal ang bulsa, it's either that he is a mafiosi or a yakuza.

Does this confirm na may mafia nga diyan sa loob ng gobyerno? And De la Paz is a mafiosi?

If RETIRED PNP comptroller Eliseo De la Paz is in an official mission (which is amazing kasi nga retired na siya), he should be carrying cheques and other bank notes. Besides, the Philippine Government uses cheques in paying its transactions. Si Mang Impong nga na sanlibo lang ang sinisingil sa gobyerno kailangan pang sumuot sa butas ng karayom makasingil lang at makuha ang tseke niya. And we are talking here of millions? Ano to, tulad ng expose ni Panlilio with regards the cash gift? O baka cash gift din yun na dala ni De la Paz?

Peace, men! Peace!

Trust!

From the ZTE scandal, we have the Meralco Scandal, then the Court of Appeals Scandal. Wala na bang katapusan?

I thought sa Quiapo lang mabibili ang mga "scandals" -- tatlo-isandaan, DVD, DVD. Di pala. Eto ang mas malala pa sa sex scandals sa UST, sa KyuSi, sa Cotabato, sa Makati, etc., etc. At least ang mga sex scandals, manonood ka na lang. Eto, apektado ka, sila, kami, tayo. Ang desisyon ng Korte Suprema sa kaso ni CA Justice Roxas indikasyon na mahirap na magtiwala. Kung nangyari yung ginawa kuno ni Roxas, maaaring nangyayari rin sa iba mula sa mababang hukuman pataas. Wala nga lang may nagrereklamo.

Kung sabagay, kailangan pa ba nating ma-shock? Si Gloria in the Palace nga ni hindi man lang dumampi ang kanyang tumbong sa Impeachment Court so bakit pa tayo mabibigla? And the alleged president, who should show the highest integrity and be the model all over the land eh tainted ang pagkatao so why be shocked? Roxas is just a small pawn... o kahit pa sabihin nating bishop.

Kung sabagay, sabi sa Constitution, "Public Office is a Public Trust". Di naman sinabi na hindi condom di ba? Sabi lang "Trust". So kung hindi man nabuntis, lomobo lang -- lomobo lang ang katiwalian.

Heck!

GMA - the Girl Who Cried Wolf

Sabi ng Inquirer:

Malacanang: All systems go for Charter Change

This time, Malacanang is reaching out their hands to Senator Nene Pimentel by supporting his Resolution No. 10 favoring the change in the charter. Pero sabi ni Pimentel, "ayaw ko!".

Sabagay, malay nga naman ni Pimentel kung may dura ang kamay ng Malacanang? At iniisip ng mga ito kung paano palawigin ang pag-upo ni Gloria in the Palace sa kanyang upuan?

Press Secretary Jesus Maria... este, Jesus Dureza said: Wag naman kayong ganyan. Let's be fair to the president. Wala siyang plano na umupo sa puwesto beyond 2010.

Oo nga naman. Let's be fair to GMA. Let's pretend as if there is no double standards when it comes to her -- how she called Garci, how she stalled the election protests filed by FPJ et. al., how her camp manipulated the Impeachment trials, and how she changed her mind in 2003 by announcing that she will not run for president. If it is possible kasi na ang bayabas ay mamunga ng "guaple", it is also possible na ang bayabas ay puwede ring mamunga ng "pure apple". So if GMA says di na siya uupo sa puwesto beyond 2010, malay natin, though she has a lying lips she might indeed stick to her promise.

Yan kasi. Mahirap ang maglaro ng "the boy who cried wolf". Kahit babae ang naglalaro, the effect is the same. Next time na magsalita ka, di ka na paniniwalaan.

The people have rendered their judgment

Inquirer's headline:

Palace: Let people be judge of Arroyo


Well, the people have rendered their judgment already. The problem, Garci bastardized it. Well, Garci would have not done it had it not for his lady caller who said "So I will still lead by more than one M., overall?". As to who the lady caller is, Malacanang is not aware but for those who have heard the recordings both the tampered and not believes it is not Loren Legarda.

Second, the people also rendered their judgment through surveys by making her the most infamous and most unpopular president. The problem, Malacanang is always questioning the survey every time the results are not favorable to the sitting-president. Pero pag paborable, gusto pang sambahin ang pollster.

According to the report:

(Ermita) wondered about the accuracy of the SWS survey that showed the President’s public approval rating plunging to a record low of negative 38 percent in June when, he said, she has done so much for Filipinos, including crisscrossing the country to oversee antipoverty projects and typhoon relief and rehabilitation.

Kelangan pa bang i-memorize yan? She had done much. But the question is: How much? Isa pa, ano ba ang ginawa? Namigay ng noodles? What about long term projects with impact like employment?

Second, what about the solution to the issues like corruption, ZTE scandal, jueteng, betrayal of public trust?

Next, sabi ni Ed Ermita:

Of course people have to wonder why after the many things that she is doing for the well-being of our citizens that that should still be the perception.

Sorry po Mang Ed. Ikaw lang po ang nagwa-wonder why and wonder how. Just open your eyes and see for yourself. Don't leave in dreams...

Gloria needs a reality check

It is impossible to heal a physician who believes that he has no sickness. And Malaya hit it on the head when it ran an editorial entitled: Gloria Needs a Reality Check.

For this reason, no Filipino should expect that he will have a beautiful life for the rest of Arroyo's term. The editorial says it all. Read here.

Credibility Problem

In virtual forums, there is this large number of US citizens demanding the resignation of George W. Bush for suffering a decreasing satisfaction rating. Sabi nila, dati ang rating ni Bush ay lagpas 50%. Minsan nga daw lumagpas din ito ng 60%. Pero ngayon, lagpas na lang ng 40% kaya dapat na itong mag-resign.

Most of the Republicans, Bush's political party, slightly agree. But since the November presidential elections is just a few months away, it is better that the idea be shelved na lang. Instead of resigning, wag na lang daw sumama si Bush sa kampanya ng pambatong kandidato ng mga Republicans na si John McCain.

Well, kahit papano, me nipis din pala ng mukha itong mga Kano. So winner pa rin si Aling Gloria na negative na nga ang rating, ayaw pang umalis. At hindi nga buwan ang bibilangin kundi taon pa bago dumating ang eleksiyon!

Kung sabagay, hindi lang naman niya solo ang problema. Si Toting Bunye na sabi ng ilang espiritu santong prayle na nakausap ni Tikboy ay isang magaling at respetadong tao sana bago nadikit kay Aling Gloria, naapektuhan na rin. So when he left his office as a presidential spokesperson, kumabit na sa kanya ang mantsa at amoy ng baho ni Aling Gloria. Tiyak, susunod na rin dito si Lorelei Fajardo at Anthony Golez. Mahahawa rin sila tiyak... o nahawa na nga. Consider, for instance, Ms. Fajardo's twisted logic.

A good accompanying read with this is the Daily Tribune's Editorial: A problem of credibility.

Corruption Worsened

Is this still new? With the way the Arroyo government runs the country and with the way she tries to cover her filth, the report of the corruption worsening in the Philippines is not anymore a shocking story.

Even then, I can already imagine the reaction of the Palace: Pakana ng oposisyon yan.

Here's the accompanying read: Transparency groups: Corruption worsened

Free Text Issue: Another "Wag the Dog" Tactic

It's "Wag the Dog" time again for Malacanang. After successfully fending off the ZTE scandal with the rice price crisis, Malacanang is once again buying time to channel the attention of the public from the rice price crisis and the Meralco problem to "free texts" in mobile phones. And Speaker Prospero Nograles also joined in when he said last week that he will ensure that the franchises given to mobile phone service providers will be reviewed. Thus, reacting to the lower House's statements, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) announced that it will conduct a study. And the Commission, even before conducting a study, already made a biased statement through its Deputy Commissioner Jorge Sarmiento who said that they will certainly reduce the rates.

Teka, teka, teka. Ok lang naman yun. Sino ba ang ayaw ng free texts? Pero bakit di muna unahin ang dapat unahin?

First, the ZTE Scandal remains an open book. Asan na ang parusa sa mga involved? Di ba sabi ni Gloria in the Palace she is battling against corruption? Ba't walang napaparusahan para huwag ng pamarisan? Ok na ba ang "200"? Or talagang inamin ng Malacanang ang statement na "Back off!" ni FG?

Second, ano ba ang ginagawa ng palasyo sa problema sa mahal na presyo ng bigas? DSWD Card? Ganyan lang ba ang kayang arukin ng Palasyo? O ok lang ang mataas na presyo kasi pabor sa mga smuggler ng bigas? Ilan na nga pala ang nahuli na rice smuggler? Zero? Nada? Wala?

Ikatlo, ano na ba ang nangyari sa Solomonic decision ng presidente? Ba't ang mahal pa rin ng kuryente? Dahil ba di na kaya ng Palasyo ang pressure kaya binabaling na naman sa free texts kung saan 3 sa 5 Pilipino me cellphone?

Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk!

Arroyo and her Solomonic Decision

If King Solomon were alive today and he heard the "Solomonic decision" of sitting president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, he would curse his mother for giving him that name.

Because of the quarrel between GSIS president Winston Garcia and Meralco, GMA had to issue a 'solomonic decision' which is: Throw the matter to the NEDA core group so that they can come up with a position to be recommended to us (Arroyo and the Cabinet).

Di ko ma-imagine ang expression ni Doy na "HUWAAATTTT!!!!"

Ganyan ba kasi kababaw si Arroyo? Kahit ang municipal councilor sa bayan ni Aling Tonya na Grade 2 lamang ang natapos, alam na alam na ang gasgas na linyang yan para di maipit sa mga interbiyu. Pag tinatanong ng mga reporter ang laging sagot: pag-aralan muna natin ito.

Kung sabagay, ba't ba naman tayo magtataka pa eh solusyon nga ni GMA sa rice price crisis: Mag-import.

Solusyon din naman niya sa problema sa pagkagutom: Kumain ng noodles at bigas.

At dahil kulang na ang bigas: Kumain na lamang ng kamote.

Ganyan siya katalino. Kaya talagang magagalit si Haring Solomon sa kanyang nanay dahil
nababoy ata ang pangalan niya sa 'Solomonic decision' ni aling Gloria.

Rice auction fails

Headline ng Inquirer: NFA rice auction fails

A portion of the report reads:

THE PHILIPPINES, THE WORLD’S biggest rice importer, failed to buy new supplies of the staple on Monday after its auction attracted only one bidder, plunging Asia’s rice market into uncertainty.

National Food Authority (NFA) Deputy Administrator Ludovico Jarina said the fact that only one company submitted a bid—Vietnam Southern Food Corp. (Vinafood)—indicated “a tightness” of supply in the world market.

Yesterday’s auction was for 675,000 metric tons.

The auction was held in the midst of rising prices of rice in the country caused by uncertainty over the stability of supply. This has prompted the Arroyo administration to adopt several measures, such as a new distribution system involving issuing rice cards to the poorest households in Metro Manila to enable them to buy NFA rice, priced at P18.25 a kilo.

Teka, akala ko ba under control ang lahat? Ano itong balita ng Inquirer? Or this just adds to another Orwellian talk ni sitting duck... este, sitting president Gloria in the Palace? Kung sabagay, kelan pa nga pala siya nagsimula na magsabi ng totoo? When she she said she will not run?... Hmmmnnn