Neri comes, Neri goes... and the Carlo Caparas Blunder

It's been a while (again) since my last post. Even then, visitors continually access this site looking for something new. And tadaaannn!!!! Here's the list.

1. Romulo Neri will be suspended for his participation in the ZTE Scandal especially for being shy to talk about his President's participation and for being so shy to tell Ben Abalos to "back off".
   
2. Abalos is also indicted "just for being nice to the ZTE people." Talaga? Is that also the reason why he is so nice to Neri for offering the 200...? Kaso mukhang kulang ang 200. Dapat siguro 300 para wala ng mag-squeal.
   
3. Joey de Venecia, the squealer, is planning to run for Senator. Ayos yan para walang sikreto sa Senado... if the price is not right. (?)
4. Pero ang kakapal naman. Kay Bayani Fernando nga okay na ang P1.6 million. Diba BF? Musta ang mga kakalsadahan natin? Mukhang maraming nagkalat na picture mo at praise releases. Kasama ba yan sa P1.6 M?
   
5. Pero if Joey De Venecia is running for Senator and BF for President, Komiks writer-turned director is running for Senator para patunayan na karapat-dapat siya to receive the National Artist Award. Quoting Caparas: They are forcing me to run for a political post, mapipilitan siguro ako because of what they are doing, na parang walang karapatan ang isang galing sa masa na katulad ko na maging National Artist.

Akhhhh!!!

Nabulunan ako dun ah. Since when na ba ang eleksiyon naging venue for the selection of the National Artists?

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.

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?

Miracles & Reverse engineering: From politics to showbiz

In the Philippines, almost everything is possible: Public money vanishing in thin air, infrastructure projects that are invisible, one vote that is equivalent to four or five, agriculture fertilizers for use in buildings, and so on and so forth.

And then the usual trend -- showbiz personalities turning politicians. But lately, it is the reverse: politicians turning showbiz personalities. The culprit of the fad -- Eddie Gil.

Pero dahil uso, we now have Senator Ping Lacson endorsing a product for metrosexuals particularly a beauty product for men. Sunod din si Cong. Joel Villanueva ng CIBAC party-list endorsing a spa and wellness center. To add the list we also have Senators Pia Cayetano, Mar Roxas and Kiko Pangilinan. Galing di ba? Pero teka, iiwan na ba nila ang politics?

For miracle's sake, hindi. Sabi ng mga espiritu-santong prayle, step one daw yun for 2010. Kaya nga todo alma si Senator Brenda Santiago. Porke ba walang offer sa kanya? O violation ng isang existing law or guideline? If so, aantayin na lang natin si Senator. Pero sa ngayon, consistent pa rin ang Pinas and this? This can be found only in the Philippines.

Little Red Riding Hood (lum)?

The words of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, in a speech before signingthe P1.227-trillion 2008 national budget, are clear: To fix the corruption that still plagues our nation, we call on Congress, now that you have passed the budget, to work with us to pass a comprehensive anti-corruption reform act in 2008.

This reminds me of the wolf in the story of Little Red Riding Hood a scene of which goes:

Upon reaching the house of her grandma, Little Red Riding Hood knocked on the door so the wolf asked: Who's there?

Little Red Riding Hood, hearing the big voice of the wolf, was at first afraid; but believing her grandmother had a cold and was hoarse, answered, "It is your grandchild Little Red Riding Hood, who has brought you a cake and a little pot of butter mother sends you."

The wolf cried out to her, softening his voice as much as he could, "Pull the bobbin, and the latch will go up."

Little Red Riding Hood pulled the bobbin, and the door opened.

The wolf, seeing her come in, said to her, hiding himself under the bedclothes, "Put the cake and the little pot of butter upon the stool, and come get into bed with me."

So a question for Arroyo goes: Bakit ngayon lang na naipasa na ang pinakamataas na budget appropriations? At bakit ngayon lang na meron na namang alingasngas? And to add: Why still pass anti-corruption laws eh andami na natin nun? In addition, we even have a Code of Ethical Standards for government employees and public officials?

The issue here is not that we do not have laws. The issue here is implementation. We do not need additional laws. Sumobra na nga eh kaya nga dahil sa sobrang laws like EO 464, hindi nakakausad ang mga investigations na ginagawa.

Likewise, what we need is not an additional number of anti-corruption laws. What we need is an accountable and transparent government. And we do not need laws to be accountable and transparent.

Sabagay, going back to Little Red Riding Hood story, kung transparent ang wolf, he could have not eaten the girl. Kung transparent din ang Arroyo Government, no one could have dipped in their hands in the lucrative government projects. Si sana maingay ang Spratly contract with China, o kaya ang ZTE Broadband Deal, ang North Rail Project, ang South Rail Project, etc., etc., and ad infinitum.

Poor De Venecia

According to Inquirer: De Venecia denies Spratly pact tied to loans from China.

There are only two reasons why former Speaker Jose De Venecia will issue such a statement:

• He also has some benefits from the agreement. Who knows, baka meron din siyang 200.


• On the other hand, he really doesn't know. Otherwise, di siya bibitawan ng kanyang mga ka-KAMPI as House Speaker ng ganun-ganun na lang. Meaning, he is as dispensable as the "burjer wrapper" in Ben's Diner.

If it is really the second, kawawa naman pala ang former Speaker. He doesn't know what's going on behind him. And he can accept that? At di siya iimik? Hmmmnnnn....

The Writings on the Street

When two opposite poles attract each other, the only thing certain is there's a magnet.

Yesterday's inter-faith rally was an interesting sight. There we see ousted president Joseph Estrada and one of the key figures in ousting him, former president Cory Aquino, joining together in a common cause. Inquirer.Net even had a picture of them appearing to be dancing together. We also see the prayerfuls and the prayerless; the religious groups and the atheists; the movie stars and the movie-goers; the left and the right; the capitalists and the anti-capitalists; the employers and the employees; and so on and so forth. All are united in saying that truth must come out. But will the concerned people led by the claiming president Gloria Arroyo herself listen?

For a person trying to save his or her ass, parting with power may disprove Shakespeare's statement that "parting is such sweet sorrow". For this people, parting will be very bitter, hard to take pill. Paano pa kasi magiging Darna si Darna kung wala na ang bato? O paano pa magiging presidente ang presidente kung wala na siya sa puwesto?

But whether these people will listen or not, the writings on yesterdays streets in Makati will show: the end might be near. Ang pagsasama-sama ng magkakahiwalay at magkakatunggaling na puwersa ay isang indikasyon na dapat bigyang pansin. Ganun din ang pagpayag ng mga publicity-hungry na pulitiko na huwag magsalita sa entablado at ang mga anti-imperialist na huwag sumigaw ng "ibagsak ang imperialismo" para huwag mabuwag ang mga tao. It's plain and simple science: Opposite poles attract. When these attract each other, a new shape is forming, and a new shape will surely be formed.

War and Lip Service

"Just like America."

This statement bests describe the administration of Aling Gloria as she tries to project that her government is also a power-that-be. Mantakin niyong mag-utos ang ale na: "I have specified a timeline -- three years -- to end armed rebellion in the Philippines.” Galeng di ba? As if ang choppers ng AFP ay di bumabagsak pag inaabutan ng hangin. As if ang ulo ng mga marines ay ulo lang ng teddy bear na kinatay ni Biboy. As if kaya nga talaga. Hanep, di ba?

Dagdag pa: We too will fight back and repel the incursions of insurgency and terrorism. We will not stop until the bandits find no more nook to hide in the land they have blighted and no sanctuary to seek from the people they have terrorized and used as shields.

Galing! Paano na nga ba nakuha ang pari na na-kidnap a few weeks ago? May nakakaalala pa ba?

Sabagay, ever since naman, trying hard copycat ang Pinas at ang ale. At the brink of collapse, Bush declared war against Afghanistan and Iraq kaya natalo si Kerry. Sabi nga sa film ni Jackie Chan na Rush Hour 3, war freak ang mga kano at parang di sila kano kung walang giyera. So Gloria tried to copy that. Ang problema, mukhang di swak ang script sa totoong mga pangyayari. Ano ang ibabala sa mga baril ng mga sundalo, laway? O gagawa na naman kayo ng excuse para dagdagan ang budgetary allotment sa AFP? At budgetary allotment din sa intelligence funds? Hmmmnnnn.....

One time, nahuli si Tikboy ng prof niya na nangongopya during exams. Even then, di ito pinahiya ng prof. Nang i-release ang result ng exams, negative ang resulta ni Tikboy so he asked his prof why. Sagot ng prof: Mangongopya ka na nga lang mali pa? So dahil dalawang beses ka nagpalpak, negative ang binigay ko sa iyo.

Similarly, nangongopya na nga si Aling Gloria, mali pa ang kinokopya. Ba't di na lang tularan ang Switzerland? O kaya ang mga free country sa iba't ibang lupalop ng mundo? Ang Japan? Sila, walang masyadong focus sa giyera. Focus nila, paano pagsilbihan ang mga constituents nila at ma-satisfy ang gusto ng mga ito. Similarly, if Gloria will focus on social welfare and poverty alleviation, nobody will be thinking of fighting for food and joining the terrorist for the sake of income. And nobody will go to the streets and shout their grievances. Di ba malinaw ang kasabihang "Don't talk when your mouth is full"? Ibig sabihin, kung busog ang mga tao, nobody will cry foul and nobody will want her ouster.

The Trillanes's Mandate

The editorial of Inquirer is quite incisive. To quote:

Should [Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV] accused of leading a coup d'etat be allowed either temporary or conditional liberty, to allow him to discharge his duties as a new member of the Senate? Should he enjoy a change in his custody status, from military detention to perhaps the custody of the Senate? Not least, should his election to the Senate, on the strength of over 11 million votes, be considered as absolving him of his liability?

A friend who is now a Dutch citizen lamented that in the Philippines, anybody who wants to be a senator must first stage a coup d' etat. Just like Honasan and Trillaness. Such a thinking, he continued, makes the Filipinos an "inexplicable political morons".

(Well, my friend isn't Miriam Santiago. Too bad he isn't that we can't rid a country with at least one genius liar.)

Well I may not be proud to be a Filipino. Neither am I proud to be an inexplicable political moron. But if such a moronic state could give sanity to elections, so be it. The way I read the signs, the election of Trillanes simply means a wake up call to those "seated in the most high". If the Filipinos are satisfied, why would they exchange chocolates for "delimon"? Or a castle for a "barong-barong"? Nobody would even want a "tinapa" in exchange for a beefsteak (unless he/she is a Hindi).

At first I also believe that the Filipinos are an irrational voter. It's hard to predict what they want and who will they choose. Add the mud that the Catholic church spread by saying "Ang pera sa bulsa, ang boto sa balota". But th was before. It was only lately that I realized Filipinos are what Samuel Popkins call as a "Reasoning Voter". They vote retrospectively and prospectively. They want to punish their officials for not performing well, and they sometimes have "moronic" choices because they think that someday, somehow, things will still change. And for that reason, they chose Trillanes.

But as to Inquirer's question on the fate of Trillanes, the only possible reply is: Read the signs. The signs are clear and these are written already on the ballot.