There you have it, boys and girls, I finally filed my presidential bid last Monday, Nov 23, 2009, at the COMELEC at the Palacio del Gobernador in Manila. I need all your votes to effect changes in our country! (Please click my link for photos).
Mine is a crusade. Meaning, I'll never stop running for the chief executive post of the land until there is a free exercise of our right to suffrage (2010, 2016, 2022, etc), until we are able to make our 90 million poor kababayan understand the value of electing an honest and dedicated public servant and the benefits this will give to all of us and to our children.
And one of the best ways to launch this crusade on accountability, transparency, honesty and leading by example is by actually joining this race. Now, the first hundreds of text messages and emails have clogged my cell fone and email add.. a very good welcoming sign but very stressful!
Before filing, the media from all over the country had a fiesta of interviewing me for almost an hour (while other presidential hopefuls who filed on the same day only had 10-15 minutes). From day 1 to the last day of registration, I was the only with a clear platform (agenda) typewritten and given to the media. Questions varied from economy, religion, education, employment, and entertainment. But the most rewarding experience was after my media and COMELEC encounters.
The soldiers and policemen guarding the COMELEC building (Palacio del Gobernador) approached me, two of them introducing their names and ranks. They told me that they are so thankful that them and the other civil servants are on top of my agenda. They offered their services to me as my personal bodyguards --without pay -- during the official campaign period (February - April 2010)! Nakakataba ng puso kasi they didn't know me personally till that day. They said they are already sick and tired of big and moneyed politicians and are actually looking for a new, reliable, honest, and serious candidate whom they can rely on as civil servants. To quote them, "Sir, sa lahat ng mga kandidato, ikaw lang ang nakapansin ulit sa aming mga civil servants. Sir, matagal na kaming napabayaan ng ating gobyerno. Sawa na kami sa mga politikong me malalaking pangalan at sikat. Sawa na rin kami sa kanilang promisong mapabuti ang bansa natin. Ang hinahanap namin ngayon ay 'yung hindi kilala, walang partido, hindi sikat at hindi mapera pero me totoong layunin na mapabuti man lang ang pagkain ng aming pamilya sa araw-araw. Sir, ikaw pa lang ang me agendang nakasulat. Alam namin na paninindigan mo ang mga ito kapag ikaw ay nanalo."
The REAL issues sa eleksyong ito ay walang iba kundi ang kahirapan, kaayusan (peace & order), kawalan ng trabaho, kurapsyon (KKKK). The continuing presence of these cancers in our society will forever divide our people, continue to place us into more suferings, and may eventually lead us into turmoil of unprecedented proportion. We can never and will never effect changes and give better future to our new generations. Itaga natin sa bato, pag nanalo ang mga likes ng mga malalaking politikong tumatakbo ngayon (presidente, etc..), it will be another 6 years of extreme poverty and suffering to our 90 million already poor people and economically devastated country.
It's time we change our choices and give chance for ourselves and to our country. Kawawa na tayo, naiwanan na ng ating mga kapitbansa.
Mabuti silang iilan na sikat, me negosyo, me trabaho at me kapit: magsu-survive. Papaano naman ang karamihan sa atin na walang-wala?
I say politics, as a science in the Philippines, is ineffective because we have a mix of corrupt politicians and condoning electorate (the media included). Hindi ko maisip kung bakit me ilan sa ating mamamayan na alam na nga na corrupt and mandaraya at mandarambong ang politikong humihingi ng kanyang boto, eh nagpapa-uto pa rin!
But we cannot blame them. This will be a long fight. Corruption is there even before we were born. To rephrase a quote by a good poet, "Evil men triumphed because good men don't do anything about them".
Filipinos are basically good men and women. Let's put this into action.
Tell me what you think.. hereare some photos at my photostream (Flicker):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sadiosa4president/?saved=1
Monday, December 7, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
UN experts: End elite hold on RP politics
From Philippine Daily Inquirer, Reuters
GENEVA — Investigations into the deaths of 57 people in an election-related massacre in southern Philippines must be the start of a major reform process in the country, two United Nations human rights experts said on Wednesday.
The two experts called for the “effective” prosecution of those behind the killings and an end to manipulation by the elite of the country’s election process.
The authorities must also put in place immediate measures to prevent similar murders in the run-up to elections next May, said the experts, who report to the UN Human Rights Council on extrajudicial killings and on freedom of expression.
“The premeditated killing of political opponents, combined with a massive assault on the media, must be tackled at various levels that go well beyond standard murder investigations,” declared the two experts, Philip Alston and Frank La Rue.
The massacre took place in Maguindanao province on Nov. 23 in the Philippines’ deadliest ever election-related crime. The killings were blamed on members of the Ampatuan family, whom President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has in the past called valuable political allies.
Threat to democracy
Alston and La Rue said the inquiry “must be followed by effective prosecutions of all those responsible for the killings.”
But the massacre should also spark extensive reflection “on the elite family-dominated manipulation of the political processes and the need to eliminate such practices in order to assure the future of democracy in the Philippines,” they said.
The two UN experts—Alston from the United States and La Rue from Guatemala—said any broad inquiry into the country’s political system would have to focus on how to improve protection for journalists, 30 of whom died in the massacre.
Even more urgent was the creation of a task force to prevent more election-related killings.
“There is every indication that the run-up to the May elections will sound the death knell for many political activists,” the two added.
UN intervention
In Manila, journalists said Philippine media groups might ask the United Nations to intervene in the probe of the massacre.
“We’re considering all options, including asking the UN rights body to step into the massacre,” Melinda Quintos de Jesus, executive director of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, told reporters, adding the local press must “not drop the ball to allow the suspects to get away with the murders.”
Int’l press group’s mission
International press groups were also sending a mission to the Philippines to look into the massacre.
Around 15 delegates from groups like the International Federation of Journalists, the Southeast Asian Press Alliance, and the Committee to Protect Journalists were expected to arrive in Manila this weekend, according to National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) board member Rowena Paraan.
“This shows that there is international attention on the incident, as it should be. The trip will also be an expression of solidarity with local journalists,” Paraan said.
Paraan said members of the media would march on the Don China Roces Bridge (formerly Mendiola) on Dec. 9 as part of the Global Day of Action for the slain journalists.
In a report released Thursday, a fact-finding team that went to Maguindanao observed that police had handled evidence poorly, leading to its possible contamination.
“There was little or no consideration given to preserving the evidence. There was little or no consideration given to avoid the contamination of the crime scene,” the report said.
The group said the vehicles used by the suspects in stopping a convoy carrying journalists and relatives of a clan opposed to the Ampatuans were still unaccounted for.
“Investigators said the suspects also used a Nissan Frontier pickup with police markings. One such police vehicle issued to the Maguindanao police is still unaccounted for. This jibes with claims by (witnesses) that police vehicles were involved in the blockade,” the team said.
‘Culture of fear and silence’
The killings have stoked fear among students in some areas of Mindanao.
Fr. Edgardo Tanudtanud, OMI, director of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) for Central Mindanao, cited a recent incident in which several students, out of fear, canceled their participation in a march for peace in Cotabato.
“It has created a culture of fear and silence among the people, including the students, Christians and Muslims alike. But that fear did not stem from that massacre incident alone, but because of the history of violence in the area,” Tanudtanud said.
In a statement, the association of 1,272 member schools, colleges and universities said: “This mass murder ... has showcased the extent corrupt individuals are willing to go in order to arrogate the power to themselves.”
Msgr. Gerry Santos, president of the CEAP, said the group was demanding long-term solutions to the decades-old conflict that had forced Maguindanaoans to live in fear and subhuman conditions.
“We ask the government to dismantle private armies and put an end to the anarchy of clans in the region,” Santos said. Reports from Reuters, Alcuin Papa and Tina G. Santos
(Comment: I have been advocating this issue since my high school years, but nobody seemed to mind what I was saying back in the days. So, there it is, mga kababayan, it took more than 20 years before this issue of private armies -- due to corruption and corrupt mentality of many of our kababayan -- reached the UN. How long will many of our kababayan will 'play deaf and mute' regarding our local politics? It's time to change our leaders. We need new politicians, new names, new personalities, new and updated ideas on how to develop our country, new strategies to overcome poverty and unemployment, new minds that will effect CHANGES in the country. If these old politicians (and those young ones who are just copy-cats of these old politicians and are trying to continue their corrupt practices) did bring good life to Filipinos during their terms, then let us change them with better and younger politicians who have real plans for the betterment of our starving population. Huwag na tayong magmatigas ulo dahil hindi epektibo ang mga corrupt na politicinas na ito. Dahil guwapo, kilala, mapera, sikat, kababaryo, o kaibigan natin, huwag iboto! Piliin natin ang mga hindi kilala ngunit me pag-ibig sa bayan at hindi mga magnanakaw. Kapag pinili natin ang dating mga pangalan ng mga lumang kandidatong ito, itaga natin sa bato, another 6 years na kahirapan ang bansa natin at 6 years na pagkukuskos ng kubeta ng mga amo natin sa abroad ang naghihintay sa atin. Hindi na tayo nagsawa. Hindi na tayo natoto. Galit na sa atin ang Diyos dahil sa katigasan ng ulo natin!
GENEVA — Investigations into the deaths of 57 people in an election-related massacre in southern Philippines must be the start of a major reform process in the country, two United Nations human rights experts said on Wednesday.
The two experts called for the “effective” prosecution of those behind the killings and an end to manipulation by the elite of the country’s election process.
The authorities must also put in place immediate measures to prevent similar murders in the run-up to elections next May, said the experts, who report to the UN Human Rights Council on extrajudicial killings and on freedom of expression.
“The premeditated killing of political opponents, combined with a massive assault on the media, must be tackled at various levels that go well beyond standard murder investigations,” declared the two experts, Philip Alston and Frank La Rue.
The massacre took place in Maguindanao province on Nov. 23 in the Philippines’ deadliest ever election-related crime. The killings were blamed on members of the Ampatuan family, whom President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has in the past called valuable political allies.
Threat to democracy
Alston and La Rue said the inquiry “must be followed by effective prosecutions of all those responsible for the killings.”
But the massacre should also spark extensive reflection “on the elite family-dominated manipulation of the political processes and the need to eliminate such practices in order to assure the future of democracy in the Philippines,” they said.
The two UN experts—Alston from the United States and La Rue from Guatemala—said any broad inquiry into the country’s political system would have to focus on how to improve protection for journalists, 30 of whom died in the massacre.
Even more urgent was the creation of a task force to prevent more election-related killings.
“There is every indication that the run-up to the May elections will sound the death knell for many political activists,” the two added.
UN intervention
In Manila, journalists said Philippine media groups might ask the United Nations to intervene in the probe of the massacre.
“We’re considering all options, including asking the UN rights body to step into the massacre,” Melinda Quintos de Jesus, executive director of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, told reporters, adding the local press must “not drop the ball to allow the suspects to get away with the murders.”
Int’l press group’s mission
International press groups were also sending a mission to the Philippines to look into the massacre.
Around 15 delegates from groups like the International Federation of Journalists, the Southeast Asian Press Alliance, and the Committee to Protect Journalists were expected to arrive in Manila this weekend, according to National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) board member Rowena Paraan.
“This shows that there is international attention on the incident, as it should be. The trip will also be an expression of solidarity with local journalists,” Paraan said.
Paraan said members of the media would march on the Don China Roces Bridge (formerly Mendiola) on Dec. 9 as part of the Global Day of Action for the slain journalists.
In a report released Thursday, a fact-finding team that went to Maguindanao observed that police had handled evidence poorly, leading to its possible contamination.
“There was little or no consideration given to preserving the evidence. There was little or no consideration given to avoid the contamination of the crime scene,” the report said.
The group said the vehicles used by the suspects in stopping a convoy carrying journalists and relatives of a clan opposed to the Ampatuans were still unaccounted for.
“Investigators said the suspects also used a Nissan Frontier pickup with police markings. One such police vehicle issued to the Maguindanao police is still unaccounted for. This jibes with claims by (witnesses) that police vehicles were involved in the blockade,” the team said.
‘Culture of fear and silence’
The killings have stoked fear among students in some areas of Mindanao.
Fr. Edgardo Tanudtanud, OMI, director of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) for Central Mindanao, cited a recent incident in which several students, out of fear, canceled their participation in a march for peace in Cotabato.
“It has created a culture of fear and silence among the people, including the students, Christians and Muslims alike. But that fear did not stem from that massacre incident alone, but because of the history of violence in the area,” Tanudtanud said.
In a statement, the association of 1,272 member schools, colleges and universities said: “This mass murder ... has showcased the extent corrupt individuals are willing to go in order to arrogate the power to themselves.”
Msgr. Gerry Santos, president of the CEAP, said the group was demanding long-term solutions to the decades-old conflict that had forced Maguindanaoans to live in fear and subhuman conditions.
“We ask the government to dismantle private armies and put an end to the anarchy of clans in the region,” Santos said. Reports from Reuters, Alcuin Papa and Tina G. Santos
(Comment: I have been advocating this issue since my high school years, but nobody seemed to mind what I was saying back in the days. So, there it is, mga kababayan, it took more than 20 years before this issue of private armies -- due to corruption and corrupt mentality of many of our kababayan -- reached the UN. How long will many of our kababayan will 'play deaf and mute' regarding our local politics? It's time to change our leaders. We need new politicians, new names, new personalities, new and updated ideas on how to develop our country, new strategies to overcome poverty and unemployment, new minds that will effect CHANGES in the country. If these old politicians (and those young ones who are just copy-cats of these old politicians and are trying to continue their corrupt practices) did bring good life to Filipinos during their terms, then let us change them with better and younger politicians who have real plans for the betterment of our starving population. Huwag na tayong magmatigas ulo dahil hindi epektibo ang mga corrupt na politicinas na ito. Dahil guwapo, kilala, mapera, sikat, kababaryo, o kaibigan natin, huwag iboto! Piliin natin ang mga hindi kilala ngunit me pag-ibig sa bayan at hindi mga magnanakaw. Kapag pinili natin ang dating mga pangalan ng mga lumang kandidatong ito, itaga natin sa bato, another 6 years na kahirapan ang bansa natin at 6 years na pagkukuskos ng kubeta ng mga amo natin sa abroad ang naghihintay sa atin. Hindi na tayo nagsawa. Hindi na tayo natoto. Galit na sa atin ang Diyos dahil sa katigasan ng ulo natin!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
WHY I'M RUNNING (Repost)
Dahil paparami na ng paparami ang nagtatanong sa akin tungkol sa kung ano ang magagawa ko sa bayan if elected, so here's a summary of my plans for the country including Filipnos abroad (my email address is now being clogged by hundreds of responses from the Philippines, Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Australia, Canada, U.S.A. [pinakamarami from Filipinos overseas], the Midle East like Kingdon of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, parts of Europe, islands of Palau, Guam, Hawaii, including emails from Africa and Russia. Please read on and read my thoughts and give me comments. Salamat po)
15 POINTS AGENDA TO CHANGE THE COUNTRY
Many, if not all, presidentiables (and others running for public office) DO NOT HAVE any plan for the Filipinos per se as a nation. They have no long-term vision and goals to benefit the younger generations. Everyone's trying to get gain and to profit DURING their short terms in office. Dahil popular o me pera kaya tatakbo. Wala namang plano para sa bayan. Pagkatapos ng halalan, taghirap pa rin ang sambayanan. Balik sa dating gawi. Balik corruption. Balik hirap ang tao. Like what the bible is saying more than 5,000 years ago, "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn (suffer)...Where there is no VISION, the people PERISH...(Prov. 29:2, 18). This is still very true and will remain true sa panahon natin ngayon. MATOTO na tayo, Pilipino! Choose public officials who have real plans and true hearts for more than 80 million Filipinos who have nothing to eat and future to hoped for. Fight for them and be real heroes of this modern days. We can achieve change -- if we really want it.
Now that automated na (compuetrized) ang darating na halalan, bababa ang tsansa na manakaw o makurap ng mga mandarayang politiko at mga kaalyado nito ang magiging resulta ng botohan. Kahit nakawin pa ni mayor o ni gobernor ang mga computers sa kanilang lugar hindi nila mananakaw ang botong inilagay natin doon. Kung naaalala n'yo, lahat na mga congressmen and women na kaalyado ng pamahalaan ay AYAW ng computerized election. Bakit kaya?
Here are my 15 points agenda (platform or whatever you may call it) to do during my 6-year term that would bring REAL changes in our country (of course, without the use of guns, goons and ammos):
1. Double the salary of our, teachers, policemen, soldiers, nurses and civil servants. This will give them dignity as civil servants and improve their services. Them and the people will start trusting the government again. Of course, controlling the prices of basic commodities should be prioritized and make them affordable to all. The money saved from corruption is more than enough to double the pay of all our civil servants including funds for other major projects to benefit the poor and the unemployed. It is only by doubling the salary of our people to be able to cope with the real inflation in the country. The amount of money being saved from corruption is more than enough to make our civil servants happy and smiling while they're doing their jobs.
2. Control or curtail corruption - if we cannot eradicate it 100%.. We should create a special task force or a commission such as a real Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) to run after corrupt officials and businesses that sabotage our economy. No one is exempted from the ICAC. The Bureau of Customs, Land Transportation Office, the Department of Public Works and Highways, etc. should be given priority to be scrutinized and checked by this agency on a REGULAR basis. If it is necessary, we need to reassign and transfer personnel from these agencies to different posts in the country to avoid connivance and illicit networking.
3. Curtail RED TAPES and BUREAUCRATIC NONSENSE to speed up everything from a simple filing of income tax returns (magbabayad ka na nga lang ng tax, kasalanan mo pa!) to business registrations, court assistance and results, registrations of registrations, and the like. Red tapes already made our country the slowest in business and everything that should be moved to bolster economic development! This is so shameful and disgusting. Red tapes are a major source of corruption in the country.
4. No pork barrel. Civil servants (including the President, senators, governors, mayors, barangay captains, janitors should make their living via government salary and benefits ONLY. Political parties will receive nothing from the government but from their own initiatives -- such as money from sponsors and donors or other sources only who would like to support their parties (like in the U.S.). With no pork barrel, no politician can afford to buy votes or to hire private armies to intimidate voters. They will have no money to corrupt other corrupt officials and individuals. Them and their children (or cronies) will have no means to boast of their ill-gotten wealth (anak ni mayor naka-Expedition). They will no longer be untouchables. We need highly-respected government officials to achieve change. We don't vote for these public servants to bully us in the end. Public servants are not gods. They are only public servants hired by the people to make their lives better each day.
5. Controlling government money (peoples’ money) and spending it accordingly: to education, health, infrastructures (roads, clinics, etc). Education means scholarships, modern schools with facilities (including additional support to government subsidized schools to modern equipment and building facilities, high quality teachers, etc. Health means health insurance for government servants including free hospitalization, modern hospitals, cheaper medicines (made locally), high pensions, etc. Infrastructures also means road and farm (or sea)-to-market roads, garbage disposal equipment, modern air and seaports, access to clean drinking water, new clean public toilets, improved postal services, more lamp posts, etc. A population being supported by health and other perks create a strong nation.
6. Building factories, roads, hospitals and other government projects to create more jobs and stimulate economic activities. This includes building them in provinces to enahnce employment and economic opportunities. This in a way will discourage many not to migrate to cities already over-crowded and polluted. This will also encourage talents and skills to stay in the country. This means better and higher quality of labor and services to the public.
7. Creating income-generating projects such as loans to support small and medium entrepreneurs to start their own businesses and compete. Support business organizations to again stimulate the economy. More money circulating, more businesses, more production, more employment, higher income. Create Economic Zones to provincial areas to discourage migration of workers to cities. Economic Zones provide jobs in the provinces and further stimulate economic activities, thus developing the countrysides (provinces) and giving quality jobs to the masses. This is one of the best ways to finally defeat insurgencies and rebellions, e.g. NPAs, muslim extremists and separatists, etc.
8. Self-sufficiency in food supply by supporting local farmers (both sea and land farming) to have access to modern equipment, raw materials for planting and good training. This is 100% possible. Farm projects including equipment and raw material support to farmers will be monitored to ensure success. It's not enough to give seeds and modern farm tools to farmers. They need good roads and lower fuel prices to support their trade. This means affordable food to the masses.
Also, we should be self-sufficient in raw materials not by importing but by developing our own resources (machines, equipment, tools, etc) to produce high quality products. This will improve the quality of our local products which in time will qualify for local consumption and exportation. The country is still rich in natural resources (despite the bad publicity and image we have right now). We can start cultivating again, planting again, develop again. In no time, we can be self-reliant on raw materials and get our own supplies.
We should support projects that will improve our own production. Importation drains our national reserves and local businessmen become dependent of producers overseas. Importation kills our local manufacturers. We become dumping grounds of cheap foreign products. We should support our farmers, toolmakers, local manufacturers, etc.
9. Self-sufficiency in defense, including security of our territorial waters. This means modernization of our national defense. By improving its budget, we can acquire good training and good equipment to boost the morale of our men in uniform. We will professionalize our servicemen and women by increasing their salaries and benefits, including fre health, schooling, and housing. By giving respect to our military personnel, they become dignified and respectful to the people they protect.
Having modernized weaponry increase the effectivity of our men in uniform. By controlling corruption, we can have real funds to do this. This way, even the Spratley Islands, which are being "invaded" and claimed by China, Taiwan (only recently), Malaysia, Vietnam, and Brunei will have a different outcome when we fly our modern jets and hi-tech navy around these islets which is geographically within the 200-mile territorial radius of the country. Wala tayong magarang armas kaya binu-bully tayo ng mga bansang ito ngayon. 30 years ago, not one among these countries has any claim on the Spratleys because these islands were being used as target practice both by the US and our navies. Having more than 1,700 islands it should be a prerogative of our government to have a strong navy to guard our seas. Otherwise, we will have no idea how much of our tuna and other marine products are lost to illegal fishing by foreign pouchers. This is also a perfect way to control terrorists and other illegal actitivies plying our shores.
10. We should have a strong I.D. System in the country. This will not only stop corrupt officials to profit from conniving or assisting scrupolous syndicates that bring illegal aliens, but also discourage illegal aliens to enter the country without proper documentation and taxation. This means one ID that we can use for all personal and business transacti0ns. Illegal aliens steal our jobs and transact businesses in the country without benefit to the government. A strong ID system will help facilitate our travels faster without the use of forms and other documents that create delays and discouragement to tourism.
Tourism Promotion
Local and international promotion of the country as tourist destination where tourists are secured and satisfied with our infrastructure and services. Filipinos are good at this. Learning from the success of other countries will not really affect our egos. But we can only be successful at this if we have a strong image abroad, e.g. that we don't have kidnappings and high crime rate in our country. We should give focus on the hygiene of our local destinations with clean public toilets (ni tissue paper wala!), availability of efficient transportation, communication, clean food, cheap hotels and other amenities expected by our local and international visitors. Again, having controlled corruption means having the funds to do this.
11. For OFWS and Filipinos Overseas
They should retire here! (OFWs and Filipino residents abroad including foreigners)
Filipinos who have been overseas, either working or staying permanently, should think of the Philippines as their own and should retire and enjoy their waning years here. But whose idiotic OFW or immigrant Filipino will do this if the country is riddled with corruption, hunger, violence, and disease? We should first fix and clean our homes and backyards before accepting visitors and guests. This is very basic. Failure of having simple conveniences in the country WILL NEVER bring our kababayan back to our country, much more foreigners to retire here. They'll never even think of doing this in the first place if our infrastructures are in shambles. This is basic.
12. Support them, finance them (Filipino Scientists and Inventors)
We should support our Filipino inventors (scientists) and innovators. They will give us better economic opportunities in the long run. Filipino scientists and innovators, like those developing engines that run NOT BY GASOLINE but other energies like water, electricity, or alternative energy (clean and green power). They SHOULD BE given priorities. This will stop our dependency on foreign oil which has been stalking the nation for more than 50 years! Yet our leaders NEVER learned from this! This will sound bad for oil companies (local and foreign) in the Philippines. BUT our priority is for the benefit of the GREATER good.
That Filipino politician from Laguna (?) who innovated the first "e-tricycle" which runs by electricity should be given funds to develop it and make it available to the nation. He said that the "e-tricycle" only uses P20 worth of electricity for a whole day's operation! Tanga lang ang presidenteng di ito susuportahan! (unless naba-bribe siya ng mga malalaking oil companies s atin).
13. Professionally imposing the laws of the land; meaning, a powerful judiciary, controlling nepotism, cronyism, red-tape, padrino system, etc. This also applies to implementing a real LAND REFORM so that many Filipinos would have lands to till and live. If I have the money saved from corruption, I can build more jails to discipline the corrupt, the criminals, and the pasaways! (this includes members of my family, friends, colleagues and classmates. If they too are corrupt, they land in jail. No exceptions).
Executing the laws of the land include correct accounting of taxes from all sectors of the country (personal income, business income, customs, exports, etc.). We know already that ours is country of many thousand certified accountants who do not know how to count. "Doctorism" will not be allowed anymore, unless our prisons need certified accountants too. No one will be REALLY above the law. This kind of action needs political will - and only an uncorrupt President can execute it.Support from the U.S. and other countries
The OBAMA government hates corruption. The new American government has repeatedly snubbed the Arroyo government and our government is aware of this. When US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton made courtesy calls to America's ALLIES in Asia early this year, she snubbed the Philippines -- a supposed ally in its war on terror. She instead visited Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, etc... The Obama government knows that the Philippines, now the 'most corrupt' country in the world, cannot be relied upon, unstable, "balimbing", no political will, and an untrusted ally. Our country’s image had sunk to its deepest level during the current government. Again, IMAGE! IMAGE! IMAGE! Pangalagaan natin!
Yes, the Americans had seen the Filipinos fighting the Japanese with them. But that was more than 60 years ago! Those were the days of gallant Filipinos, dignified Filipinos, brave, Filipinos, trusted Filipinos!
Now the Americans see corrupt Filipino leaders unrealiable, easily bribed, undependable, untrustable, coward, poor, deceitful Filipino leaders who cannot make sacrifices in times of war and crisis. Americans see a country riddled with nepotism, connivance, cronyism, bribed judges and policemen, corrupt politicians and government officials who spend their time enriching themselves out of peoples' money, custom officials and tax collectors rigging everything and conniving with local businessmen, politicians personally fighting among themselves (clan wars and political dynasty wars), a country of strong poverty and low moral, unemployed masses, a country that survives in doles and loans from other countries (which, again, are pocketed by corrupt leaders).
Corruption and in-transparency (sorry for the misuse of the word) have mained and crippled our leaders' determination and determination to stay firm and strong in times of difficulties. This is how our allies see us. It's embarassing, disgusting, frustrating and deceitful. From the eyes of our neighbors and allies, we are plain traitors.
This means the current Philippine government and those who will be running it after the current one WILL HAVE NO SUPPORT from the U.S. government (or its allies), unless they are not corrupt. Now, take a look at the line-up of presidentiables in 2010 (both form the ruling party and the opposition). Most, if not all, of these candidates are coming from old political parties and groups (many tainted and riddled with corruption scandals) or are part of them or a product of a mix of all these parties. Puro balimbing kasi. Walang isang salita ang mga 'yan!
Do we really think that the U.S. government (or other generous countries) will continue to help the Philippines if anyone of these tainted presidentiables (senators, other politikos) become the next Filipino president or leaders in 2010? Even rich countries will start to have second thoughts of helping the country when they know that the aid they will send for the poor people will only end up inside the pockets of corrupt Filipino officials. Magsasawa din sila sa kapapa-utang sa atin. They know it and they are not stupid.
If I am president, I start from scratch - by improving our own and developing our own resources and by investing on our own people. Support for our businessmen, farmers, students, soldiers, health care, insurance, infrastructures, tourism, diplomacy (local and abroad), science and engineering, research, medicine and the like which will make our people really proud and our country strong. We have to make our base really strong. Again, this can only be done by eradicating corruption and transparency. This will create patriots and people who are proud of their country.
14. Slow down on colonial mentality and dependency
If we want to change our country, we have to discourage colonial mentality and dependency. Change should start from within us. Then this change will open new doors and perspectives, new alternatives on how we can run our business.
We have to promote our own and support our own. This way, we stop looking at other nations treating us as second-class citizens or worst, treating us like shit. When we have made our country truly strong and independent, then nations will come to us and respect us. When this thing happens, development is on the horizon. And the time to do this is NOW!
My term is just a precedent; There to do the job and nothing else!
My term will only be a precedent to the next leader, a preparation for the next President in 2016. Like John The Baptist of old, I will only prepare the way for the next President to continue the accomplishments and achievements that we as a country have made during my term. It is only a 6 years' sacrifice. After that, I'll go back to my private life but continue to promote the country as a decent, clean, and honest destination where there is security and smiling people.
Democracy is not cheap
Putting our country on the right track will need no people power, revolutions, or civil wars. It only needs a leader who is honest, transparent, and how knows how to execute laws. Someone who knows how to whip bad peoples' asses. Ours is a budding democracy, and democracy is not cheap! It needs responsible and matured people (not matured politicians who laugh from their mistakes and stupidity and easily forgiven by "religious" Filipinos). We need strong-willed Filipinos to guard our freedom. We need Filipinos who value the sacrifices of our forefathers to become an independent nation. We need Filipinos who know how to make good laws and executive them too.
This will make the country strong, better, more stable, create a more disciplined citizenry to be aligned among the rich countries like Japan, Singapore, China, UK, or the USA.
15. Leading by example
After my term, the people will clamour for the next President who will also lead and worked like I did. This will also be required by the people in choosing the next senators, governors, mayors or barangay captains - to lead by example! Nakita na nila ang resulta ng may malinis na leader. Hahanapin din nila ito sa mga susunod na lider ng bansa. Hahanapin nila ang lider who leads by example!
Dignity and honor to OFWs; Back to the Philippines - JOBS! JOBS! JOBS!
This is also the best way to bring back our OFWs and highly skilled Filipinos to work in the country and help restore our dignity, creativity, and respect as a nation. Having our highly skilled kababayans back into our country will bring enormous benefits to our economy, science, engineering, and the like. Though it is everyone's right to work or travel abroad, we will do our utmost to compete with the salaries and benefits abroad to discourage our professionals to give their services to foreign lands. Working overseas would still be allowed for everyone. But priorities should be given to having decent jobs in the country!
Putting the country in order and on the right track - up and running again!
When a country is in order, there is no need to invite foreign investors to invest in our country. They will come and invest because this is good and profitable for them. The country has the best natural resources in the region. Can we inagine our 1,700 islands all filled with resorts and tourists? Can we imagine the exploding economic activities and the amount of benefits they bring to our people? Employment and other opportunities always tag along with strong tourism.
My work and business in and around Asia gave me the understanding that the Philippines has the most a country can offer among all the other countries around it. The good thing about it is that I have understood how the Asian mind operate and work, what they need, or what else can give them a win-win advantage over other Asian competitors. I know how they do business, what they require to do business with, and how both can profit so that everybody will be happy. Ours is the best country for them to retire and enjoy the profits of their labor -- this holds also true to overseas Filipinos in the region.
Sadly, many of our leaders ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS because they are so tied up with infighting, pa-pogi points, corrupting the government. Our leaders do not mingle with other Asian business leaders. They have no experience of how is it to sell the country's products overseas. They have no idea on how businessmen and business leaders operate to create a win-win environment to benefit their people. OFWs are better off since we have lived with foreigners and we know their habits, characters, weaknesses, strengths. Can we imagine if OFWs are the ones running the country now? No one will leave the country anymore to clean the asses (I mean toilet sits) of our employers! OFWs are typically disciplined, trustworthy, honest (we don't steal from our employers), hardworking, aware of what is happening around us and always ready to save anyone from a burning building.
Our politicians do not have the experience of what I am saying here becasue they are so regional that they never mixed or lived with foreigners whom they are inviting to do business in the country. What our local leaders know is how to corrupt the country and focus their attention on government money (the peoples' money) and don't give a shit on what is happening around the world. They focus more on their party first, then the country second, thus, the poverty and chaos in the country.
MY CHECKS AND BALANCES LIST FOR A GOOD PRESIDENT
How will Filipinos know that I will not become a corrupt public servant or will not end like the corrupt ones? TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, STRONG POLITICAL WILL and HONESTY are in my game plans. Please check them below:
1. ONE BANK ACCOUNT - I will only have one (1) bank account and any Filipino can call my bank and ask for my bank balance 24/7. Having two (2) bank accounts will mean my immediate resignation. No impeachment is necessary. This account will be my only bank account during my 6 years in office which is subject to government audit life-style check every month. All my financial dealings are open to the public for scrutiny and audited by independent representatives from various sectors of the society. Any Filipino can call my bank and inquire my bank balance.
2. ONE PESO SALARY EVERY MONTH - I will only receive Php1.00 salary every month so that each Filipino will know exactly how much money I have in my One Bank Account which is open to them to inquire. This means, I should only be having Php12.00 in my bank account each year. More than that means my resignation. No impeachment needed. Gagastos pa tayo nun! I can take care of my self financially while running this office. I guess there is free food naman sa Malacanang for a Chief Executive to survive for 6 years. Again, I'll be in office for 6 years to fix the country and to keep it running again.
3. ANTI-NEPOTISM -- If anyone of my relatives, friends or colleagues was able to enter Malacanang unofficially or any government post will mean my immediate resignation. No impeachment necessary.
4. SEEN BY PEOPLE 24/7 -- I will be in front of the camera during my official working time as an employee of the people, 24/7. Any official deals done off-camera will mean my resignation. All contracts and laws signed by me are all under the camera. Failure of doing this will mean my resignation. No impeachment necessary.
5. BONDY CLOCK AT MALACANANG -- I will install a bondy clock in Malacanang. This means everyone working there as public servants, including myself, will time in and out - just like a regular government worker. If I miss registering my entry even for a single day will mean my resignation. No impeachment necessary. This is a simple way to tell everyone that the president is not above the law.
6. SMALL WAREHOUSE AT MALACANANG -- I will construct a small warehouse beside Malacanang Palace to safe-keep all personal donations, gifts, palangis, suhol, bribes, etc. from unscrupulous and/or corrupt individuals of corporations to alienate or influence Malacanang. At the end of the month, these gifts and suhols will be auctioned and the money received will be added to the treasury.
7. NO VIP TREATMENT -- No VIP treatment, except official visits in and out of the country. No helicopters, SUVs, yachts, golf meetings, etc. Having used any of these toys will mean my resignation. No impeachment necessary.
8. PRO-MASSES, FRIENDLY TO BUSINESSES -- Neglecting the poor Filipinos and not supporting business will mean my resignation. No impeachment necessary.
9. EMPOWERING THE PESO -- If I was not able to uplift or increase the purchasing power of Filipinos (including additional employment and development of the economic status of government servants) after my first year in office, I will resign. No impeachment necessary.
10. NO RELIGION -- I will have NO religion during my term. If the problem in Mindanao is not resolved or at least see any light at the end of the tunnel in two years, I will resign. No impeachment necessary. As President, I will not be a respecter of persons. This means, I will have NO religion during my term. All religions will be treated equal. After my term, simba na ulit ako.
11. IMPROVE IMAGE -- If the country has not achieved anything in improving its facilities and image abroad after my first year, I will resign. No impeachment necessary.
12. REGULAR LIFESTYLE CHECK --If I am richer than what I am supposed to receive during my first term of office, I will resign. No impeachment necessary.
13. DEDICATION TO WORK ONLY -- There to do the job and nothing else. My six years will only be focused on rebuilding the country: bringing back the trust of the people to the government, increasing employment and production, peace and order, health, education, diplomacy, income, creating opportunities in business, science, politics, etc. This is only for 6 years so that no doubts and malicious issues will affect my term. This is to show how sincere I am in this business.
14. JOBS! JOBS! JOBS! BUSINESS! BUSINESS! BUSINESS! -- My failure to create more jobs for the people means my resignation. No impeachment necessary. Eradicating corruption means opening of new investments and businesses. This means more jobs to our people. No corruption means very good business too. Having a fair business environment brings a lot of opportunities, wealth and security to the people.
Note: The above 15 Point Agenda and 14 Check and Balance conditions shall be signed by me in front of the camera and witnesses and copies of this document shall be posted to all schools, colleges and universities in the country to remind our young generations of Filipinos that nothing beats transparency and honesty in public service.
Any Philippine politician who can do my the tiems above will have my honest VOTE! No questions asked.
+++***+++
Political philosophy (what I thought are sensible and practical to the country and its people):
It is my belief that the President of the land is just another caretaker of the people and not a god or someone who is untouchable. The president is worthy of respect because of the office, not to be treated as someone who is high up there who's unreacheable. Suweldohan lang siya ng tao para mamahala sa kapakanan ng tao. For 6 years, dito lang dapat naka-focus ang attention ng Presidente at wala ng iba. Ang isang sundalo ng pamahalaan ay kagaya lamang ng Presidente na parehong suweldohan at wala ng iba na puwedeng patalsikin ano mang oras dahil sa katiwalian.
Hindi dapat abusuhin ng lider ang taong bayan sa maraming pamamaraan lalo na ang dayain sila o nakawin ang para sa kanila.
Sagrado ang boto ng tao na dapat pangalagaan ng bawat mamamayan--- kasama na ang Presidente.Karapatan ng mamamayan na patalsikin ang isang lider na corrupt at sinungaling sa bayan. Kaya nga dapat lahat ng lider sa bansa ay transparent para maalis ang duda at kutya ng tao sa kanila. Ito lang ang paraan para respetuhin silang muli at manumbalik ang kaayusan sa bansa.
Kapag mahirap ang bansa, hindi maaalis ang corruption at pandaraya. Kapag corrupt ang lider, corrupt din and mga followers. Kawawa ang mamamayan. (When corrupt leaders reign, the people suffer).
Leading by example is always the best barometer for an effective leader. Nothing beats honesty and sincerity to the people. The more transparent we are to our constituents, the better they respect us and follow our orders. The will love the leader and never ask him/her to leave the office.
There is no need to cheat the constitution just to stay in power. Honest and transparent leaders last longer and their legacy treasured by the people. They even teach this legacy in schools to be emulated by the next generations.
Please tell me what you think (email me at rsadiosa@yahoo.com). Thank you.
15 POINTS AGENDA TO CHANGE THE COUNTRY
Many, if not all, presidentiables (and others running for public office) DO NOT HAVE any plan for the Filipinos per se as a nation. They have no long-term vision and goals to benefit the younger generations. Everyone's trying to get gain and to profit DURING their short terms in office. Dahil popular o me pera kaya tatakbo. Wala namang plano para sa bayan. Pagkatapos ng halalan, taghirap pa rin ang sambayanan. Balik sa dating gawi. Balik corruption. Balik hirap ang tao. Like what the bible is saying more than 5,000 years ago, "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn (suffer)...Where there is no VISION, the people PERISH...(Prov. 29:2, 18). This is still very true and will remain true sa panahon natin ngayon. MATOTO na tayo, Pilipino! Choose public officials who have real plans and true hearts for more than 80 million Filipinos who have nothing to eat and future to hoped for. Fight for them and be real heroes of this modern days. We can achieve change -- if we really want it.
Now that automated na (compuetrized) ang darating na halalan, bababa ang tsansa na manakaw o makurap ng mga mandarayang politiko at mga kaalyado nito ang magiging resulta ng botohan. Kahit nakawin pa ni mayor o ni gobernor ang mga computers sa kanilang lugar hindi nila mananakaw ang botong inilagay natin doon. Kung naaalala n'yo, lahat na mga congressmen and women na kaalyado ng pamahalaan ay AYAW ng computerized election. Bakit kaya?
Here are my 15 points agenda (platform or whatever you may call it) to do during my 6-year term that would bring REAL changes in our country (of course, without the use of guns, goons and ammos):
1. Double the salary of our, teachers, policemen, soldiers, nurses and civil servants. This will give them dignity as civil servants and improve their services. Them and the people will start trusting the government again. Of course, controlling the prices of basic commodities should be prioritized and make them affordable to all. The money saved from corruption is more than enough to double the pay of all our civil servants including funds for other major projects to benefit the poor and the unemployed. It is only by doubling the salary of our people to be able to cope with the real inflation in the country. The amount of money being saved from corruption is more than enough to make our civil servants happy and smiling while they're doing their jobs.
2. Control or curtail corruption - if we cannot eradicate it 100%.. We should create a special task force or a commission such as a real Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) to run after corrupt officials and businesses that sabotage our economy. No one is exempted from the ICAC. The Bureau of Customs, Land Transportation Office, the Department of Public Works and Highways, etc. should be given priority to be scrutinized and checked by this agency on a REGULAR basis. If it is necessary, we need to reassign and transfer personnel from these agencies to different posts in the country to avoid connivance and illicit networking.
3. Curtail RED TAPES and BUREAUCRATIC NONSENSE to speed up everything from a simple filing of income tax returns (magbabayad ka na nga lang ng tax, kasalanan mo pa!) to business registrations, court assistance and results, registrations of registrations, and the like. Red tapes already made our country the slowest in business and everything that should be moved to bolster economic development! This is so shameful and disgusting. Red tapes are a major source of corruption in the country.
4. No pork barrel. Civil servants (including the President, senators, governors, mayors, barangay captains, janitors should make their living via government salary and benefits ONLY. Political parties will receive nothing from the government but from their own initiatives -- such as money from sponsors and donors or other sources only who would like to support their parties (like in the U.S.). With no pork barrel, no politician can afford to buy votes or to hire private armies to intimidate voters. They will have no money to corrupt other corrupt officials and individuals. Them and their children (or cronies) will have no means to boast of their ill-gotten wealth (anak ni mayor naka-Expedition). They will no longer be untouchables. We need highly-respected government officials to achieve change. We don't vote for these public servants to bully us in the end. Public servants are not gods. They are only public servants hired by the people to make their lives better each day.
5. Controlling government money (peoples’ money) and spending it accordingly: to education, health, infrastructures (roads, clinics, etc). Education means scholarships, modern schools with facilities (including additional support to government subsidized schools to modern equipment and building facilities, high quality teachers, etc. Health means health insurance for government servants including free hospitalization, modern hospitals, cheaper medicines (made locally), high pensions, etc. Infrastructures also means road and farm (or sea)-to-market roads, garbage disposal equipment, modern air and seaports, access to clean drinking water, new clean public toilets, improved postal services, more lamp posts, etc. A population being supported by health and other perks create a strong nation.
6. Building factories, roads, hospitals and other government projects to create more jobs and stimulate economic activities. This includes building them in provinces to enahnce employment and economic opportunities. This in a way will discourage many not to migrate to cities already over-crowded and polluted. This will also encourage talents and skills to stay in the country. This means better and higher quality of labor and services to the public.
7. Creating income-generating projects such as loans to support small and medium entrepreneurs to start their own businesses and compete. Support business organizations to again stimulate the economy. More money circulating, more businesses, more production, more employment, higher income. Create Economic Zones to provincial areas to discourage migration of workers to cities. Economic Zones provide jobs in the provinces and further stimulate economic activities, thus developing the countrysides (provinces) and giving quality jobs to the masses. This is one of the best ways to finally defeat insurgencies and rebellions, e.g. NPAs, muslim extremists and separatists, etc.
8. Self-sufficiency in food supply by supporting local farmers (both sea and land farming) to have access to modern equipment, raw materials for planting and good training. This is 100% possible. Farm projects including equipment and raw material support to farmers will be monitored to ensure success. It's not enough to give seeds and modern farm tools to farmers. They need good roads and lower fuel prices to support their trade. This means affordable food to the masses.
Also, we should be self-sufficient in raw materials not by importing but by developing our own resources (machines, equipment, tools, etc) to produce high quality products. This will improve the quality of our local products which in time will qualify for local consumption and exportation. The country is still rich in natural resources (despite the bad publicity and image we have right now). We can start cultivating again, planting again, develop again. In no time, we can be self-reliant on raw materials and get our own supplies.
We should support projects that will improve our own production. Importation drains our national reserves and local businessmen become dependent of producers overseas. Importation kills our local manufacturers. We become dumping grounds of cheap foreign products. We should support our farmers, toolmakers, local manufacturers, etc.
9. Self-sufficiency in defense, including security of our territorial waters. This means modernization of our national defense. By improving its budget, we can acquire good training and good equipment to boost the morale of our men in uniform. We will professionalize our servicemen and women by increasing their salaries and benefits, including fre health, schooling, and housing. By giving respect to our military personnel, they become dignified and respectful to the people they protect.
Having modernized weaponry increase the effectivity of our men in uniform. By controlling corruption, we can have real funds to do this. This way, even the Spratley Islands, which are being "invaded" and claimed by China, Taiwan (only recently), Malaysia, Vietnam, and Brunei will have a different outcome when we fly our modern jets and hi-tech navy around these islets which is geographically within the 200-mile territorial radius of the country. Wala tayong magarang armas kaya binu-bully tayo ng mga bansang ito ngayon. 30 years ago, not one among these countries has any claim on the Spratleys because these islands were being used as target practice both by the US and our navies. Having more than 1,700 islands it should be a prerogative of our government to have a strong navy to guard our seas. Otherwise, we will have no idea how much of our tuna and other marine products are lost to illegal fishing by foreign pouchers. This is also a perfect way to control terrorists and other illegal actitivies plying our shores.
10. We should have a strong I.D. System in the country. This will not only stop corrupt officials to profit from conniving or assisting scrupolous syndicates that bring illegal aliens, but also discourage illegal aliens to enter the country without proper documentation and taxation. This means one ID that we can use for all personal and business transacti0ns. Illegal aliens steal our jobs and transact businesses in the country without benefit to the government. A strong ID system will help facilitate our travels faster without the use of forms and other documents that create delays and discouragement to tourism.
Tourism Promotion
Local and international promotion of the country as tourist destination where tourists are secured and satisfied with our infrastructure and services. Filipinos are good at this. Learning from the success of other countries will not really affect our egos. But we can only be successful at this if we have a strong image abroad, e.g. that we don't have kidnappings and high crime rate in our country. We should give focus on the hygiene of our local destinations with clean public toilets (ni tissue paper wala!), availability of efficient transportation, communication, clean food, cheap hotels and other amenities expected by our local and international visitors. Again, having controlled corruption means having the funds to do this.
11. For OFWS and Filipinos Overseas
They should retire here! (OFWs and Filipino residents abroad including foreigners)
Filipinos who have been overseas, either working or staying permanently, should think of the Philippines as their own and should retire and enjoy their waning years here. But whose idiotic OFW or immigrant Filipino will do this if the country is riddled with corruption, hunger, violence, and disease? We should first fix and clean our homes and backyards before accepting visitors and guests. This is very basic. Failure of having simple conveniences in the country WILL NEVER bring our kababayan back to our country, much more foreigners to retire here. They'll never even think of doing this in the first place if our infrastructures are in shambles. This is basic.
12. Support them, finance them (Filipino Scientists and Inventors)
We should support our Filipino inventors (scientists) and innovators. They will give us better economic opportunities in the long run. Filipino scientists and innovators, like those developing engines that run NOT BY GASOLINE but other energies like water, electricity, or alternative energy (clean and green power). They SHOULD BE given priorities. This will stop our dependency on foreign oil which has been stalking the nation for more than 50 years! Yet our leaders NEVER learned from this! This will sound bad for oil companies (local and foreign) in the Philippines. BUT our priority is for the benefit of the GREATER good.
That Filipino politician from Laguna (?) who innovated the first "e-tricycle" which runs by electricity should be given funds to develop it and make it available to the nation. He said that the "e-tricycle" only uses P20 worth of electricity for a whole day's operation! Tanga lang ang presidenteng di ito susuportahan! (unless naba-bribe siya ng mga malalaking oil companies s atin).
13. Professionally imposing the laws of the land; meaning, a powerful judiciary, controlling nepotism, cronyism, red-tape, padrino system, etc. This also applies to implementing a real LAND REFORM so that many Filipinos would have lands to till and live. If I have the money saved from corruption, I can build more jails to discipline the corrupt, the criminals, and the pasaways! (this includes members of my family, friends, colleagues and classmates. If they too are corrupt, they land in jail. No exceptions).
Executing the laws of the land include correct accounting of taxes from all sectors of the country (personal income, business income, customs, exports, etc.). We know already that ours is country of many thousand certified accountants who do not know how to count. "Doctorism" will not be allowed anymore, unless our prisons need certified accountants too. No one will be REALLY above the law. This kind of action needs political will - and only an uncorrupt President can execute it.Support from the U.S. and other countries
The OBAMA government hates corruption. The new American government has repeatedly snubbed the Arroyo government and our government is aware of this. When US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton made courtesy calls to America's ALLIES in Asia early this year, she snubbed the Philippines -- a supposed ally in its war on terror. She instead visited Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, etc... The Obama government knows that the Philippines, now the 'most corrupt' country in the world, cannot be relied upon, unstable, "balimbing", no political will, and an untrusted ally. Our country’s image had sunk to its deepest level during the current government. Again, IMAGE! IMAGE! IMAGE! Pangalagaan natin!
Yes, the Americans had seen the Filipinos fighting the Japanese with them. But that was more than 60 years ago! Those were the days of gallant Filipinos, dignified Filipinos, brave, Filipinos, trusted Filipinos!
Now the Americans see corrupt Filipino leaders unrealiable, easily bribed, undependable, untrustable, coward, poor, deceitful Filipino leaders who cannot make sacrifices in times of war and crisis. Americans see a country riddled with nepotism, connivance, cronyism, bribed judges and policemen, corrupt politicians and government officials who spend their time enriching themselves out of peoples' money, custom officials and tax collectors rigging everything and conniving with local businessmen, politicians personally fighting among themselves (clan wars and political dynasty wars), a country of strong poverty and low moral, unemployed masses, a country that survives in doles and loans from other countries (which, again, are pocketed by corrupt leaders).
Corruption and in-transparency (sorry for the misuse of the word) have mained and crippled our leaders' determination and determination to stay firm and strong in times of difficulties. This is how our allies see us. It's embarassing, disgusting, frustrating and deceitful. From the eyes of our neighbors and allies, we are plain traitors.
This means the current Philippine government and those who will be running it after the current one WILL HAVE NO SUPPORT from the U.S. government (or its allies), unless they are not corrupt. Now, take a look at the line-up of presidentiables in 2010 (both form the ruling party and the opposition). Most, if not all, of these candidates are coming from old political parties and groups (many tainted and riddled with corruption scandals) or are part of them or a product of a mix of all these parties. Puro balimbing kasi. Walang isang salita ang mga 'yan!
Do we really think that the U.S. government (or other generous countries) will continue to help the Philippines if anyone of these tainted presidentiables (senators, other politikos) become the next Filipino president or leaders in 2010? Even rich countries will start to have second thoughts of helping the country when they know that the aid they will send for the poor people will only end up inside the pockets of corrupt Filipino officials. Magsasawa din sila sa kapapa-utang sa atin. They know it and they are not stupid.
If I am president, I start from scratch - by improving our own and developing our own resources and by investing on our own people. Support for our businessmen, farmers, students, soldiers, health care, insurance, infrastructures, tourism, diplomacy (local and abroad), science and engineering, research, medicine and the like which will make our people really proud and our country strong. We have to make our base really strong. Again, this can only be done by eradicating corruption and transparency. This will create patriots and people who are proud of their country.
14. Slow down on colonial mentality and dependency
If we want to change our country, we have to discourage colonial mentality and dependency. Change should start from within us. Then this change will open new doors and perspectives, new alternatives on how we can run our business.
We have to promote our own and support our own. This way, we stop looking at other nations treating us as second-class citizens or worst, treating us like shit. When we have made our country truly strong and independent, then nations will come to us and respect us. When this thing happens, development is on the horizon. And the time to do this is NOW!
My term is just a precedent; There to do the job and nothing else!
My term will only be a precedent to the next leader, a preparation for the next President in 2016. Like John The Baptist of old, I will only prepare the way for the next President to continue the accomplishments and achievements that we as a country have made during my term. It is only a 6 years' sacrifice. After that, I'll go back to my private life but continue to promote the country as a decent, clean, and honest destination where there is security and smiling people.
Democracy is not cheap
Putting our country on the right track will need no people power, revolutions, or civil wars. It only needs a leader who is honest, transparent, and how knows how to execute laws. Someone who knows how to whip bad peoples' asses. Ours is a budding democracy, and democracy is not cheap! It needs responsible and matured people (not matured politicians who laugh from their mistakes and stupidity and easily forgiven by "religious" Filipinos). We need strong-willed Filipinos to guard our freedom. We need Filipinos who value the sacrifices of our forefathers to become an independent nation. We need Filipinos who know how to make good laws and executive them too.
This will make the country strong, better, more stable, create a more disciplined citizenry to be aligned among the rich countries like Japan, Singapore, China, UK, or the USA.
15. Leading by example
After my term, the people will clamour for the next President who will also lead and worked like I did. This will also be required by the people in choosing the next senators, governors, mayors or barangay captains - to lead by example! Nakita na nila ang resulta ng may malinis na leader. Hahanapin din nila ito sa mga susunod na lider ng bansa. Hahanapin nila ang lider who leads by example!
Dignity and honor to OFWs; Back to the Philippines - JOBS! JOBS! JOBS!
This is also the best way to bring back our OFWs and highly skilled Filipinos to work in the country and help restore our dignity, creativity, and respect as a nation. Having our highly skilled kababayans back into our country will bring enormous benefits to our economy, science, engineering, and the like. Though it is everyone's right to work or travel abroad, we will do our utmost to compete with the salaries and benefits abroad to discourage our professionals to give their services to foreign lands. Working overseas would still be allowed for everyone. But priorities should be given to having decent jobs in the country!
Putting the country in order and on the right track - up and running again!
When a country is in order, there is no need to invite foreign investors to invest in our country. They will come and invest because this is good and profitable for them. The country has the best natural resources in the region. Can we inagine our 1,700 islands all filled with resorts and tourists? Can we imagine the exploding economic activities and the amount of benefits they bring to our people? Employment and other opportunities always tag along with strong tourism.
My work and business in and around Asia gave me the understanding that the Philippines has the most a country can offer among all the other countries around it. The good thing about it is that I have understood how the Asian mind operate and work, what they need, or what else can give them a win-win advantage over other Asian competitors. I know how they do business, what they require to do business with, and how both can profit so that everybody will be happy. Ours is the best country for them to retire and enjoy the profits of their labor -- this holds also true to overseas Filipinos in the region.
Sadly, many of our leaders ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS because they are so tied up with infighting, pa-pogi points, corrupting the government. Our leaders do not mingle with other Asian business leaders. They have no experience of how is it to sell the country's products overseas. They have no idea on how businessmen and business leaders operate to create a win-win environment to benefit their people. OFWs are better off since we have lived with foreigners and we know their habits, characters, weaknesses, strengths. Can we imagine if OFWs are the ones running the country now? No one will leave the country anymore to clean the asses (I mean toilet sits) of our employers! OFWs are typically disciplined, trustworthy, honest (we don't steal from our employers), hardworking, aware of what is happening around us and always ready to save anyone from a burning building.
Our politicians do not have the experience of what I am saying here becasue they are so regional that they never mixed or lived with foreigners whom they are inviting to do business in the country. What our local leaders know is how to corrupt the country and focus their attention on government money (the peoples' money) and don't give a shit on what is happening around the world. They focus more on their party first, then the country second, thus, the poverty and chaos in the country.
MY CHECKS AND BALANCES LIST FOR A GOOD PRESIDENT
How will Filipinos know that I will not become a corrupt public servant or will not end like the corrupt ones? TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, STRONG POLITICAL WILL and HONESTY are in my game plans. Please check them below:
1. ONE BANK ACCOUNT - I will only have one (1) bank account and any Filipino can call my bank and ask for my bank balance 24/7. Having two (2) bank accounts will mean my immediate resignation. No impeachment is necessary. This account will be my only bank account during my 6 years in office which is subject to government audit life-style check every month. All my financial dealings are open to the public for scrutiny and audited by independent representatives from various sectors of the society. Any Filipino can call my bank and inquire my bank balance.
2. ONE PESO SALARY EVERY MONTH - I will only receive Php1.00 salary every month so that each Filipino will know exactly how much money I have in my One Bank Account which is open to them to inquire. This means, I should only be having Php12.00 in my bank account each year. More than that means my resignation. No impeachment needed. Gagastos pa tayo nun! I can take care of my self financially while running this office. I guess there is free food naman sa Malacanang for a Chief Executive to survive for 6 years. Again, I'll be in office for 6 years to fix the country and to keep it running again.
3. ANTI-NEPOTISM -- If anyone of my relatives, friends or colleagues was able to enter Malacanang unofficially or any government post will mean my immediate resignation. No impeachment necessary.
4. SEEN BY PEOPLE 24/7 -- I will be in front of the camera during my official working time as an employee of the people, 24/7. Any official deals done off-camera will mean my resignation. All contracts and laws signed by me are all under the camera. Failure of doing this will mean my resignation. No impeachment necessary.
5. BONDY CLOCK AT MALACANANG -- I will install a bondy clock in Malacanang. This means everyone working there as public servants, including myself, will time in and out - just like a regular government worker. If I miss registering my entry even for a single day will mean my resignation. No impeachment necessary. This is a simple way to tell everyone that the president is not above the law.
6. SMALL WAREHOUSE AT MALACANANG -- I will construct a small warehouse beside Malacanang Palace to safe-keep all personal donations, gifts, palangis, suhol, bribes, etc. from unscrupulous and/or corrupt individuals of corporations to alienate or influence Malacanang. At the end of the month, these gifts and suhols will be auctioned and the money received will be added to the treasury.
7. NO VIP TREATMENT -- No VIP treatment, except official visits in and out of the country. No helicopters, SUVs, yachts, golf meetings, etc. Having used any of these toys will mean my resignation. No impeachment necessary.
8. PRO-MASSES, FRIENDLY TO BUSINESSES -- Neglecting the poor Filipinos and not supporting business will mean my resignation. No impeachment necessary.
9. EMPOWERING THE PESO -- If I was not able to uplift or increase the purchasing power of Filipinos (including additional employment and development of the economic status of government servants) after my first year in office, I will resign. No impeachment necessary.
10. NO RELIGION -- I will have NO religion during my term. If the problem in Mindanao is not resolved or at least see any light at the end of the tunnel in two years, I will resign. No impeachment necessary. As President, I will not be a respecter of persons. This means, I will have NO religion during my term. All religions will be treated equal. After my term, simba na ulit ako.
11. IMPROVE IMAGE -- If the country has not achieved anything in improving its facilities and image abroad after my first year, I will resign. No impeachment necessary.
12. REGULAR LIFESTYLE CHECK --If I am richer than what I am supposed to receive during my first term of office, I will resign. No impeachment necessary.
13. DEDICATION TO WORK ONLY -- There to do the job and nothing else. My six years will only be focused on rebuilding the country: bringing back the trust of the people to the government, increasing employment and production, peace and order, health, education, diplomacy, income, creating opportunities in business, science, politics, etc. This is only for 6 years so that no doubts and malicious issues will affect my term. This is to show how sincere I am in this business.
14. JOBS! JOBS! JOBS! BUSINESS! BUSINESS! BUSINESS! -- My failure to create more jobs for the people means my resignation. No impeachment necessary. Eradicating corruption means opening of new investments and businesses. This means more jobs to our people. No corruption means very good business too. Having a fair business environment brings a lot of opportunities, wealth and security to the people.
Note: The above 15 Point Agenda and 14 Check and Balance conditions shall be signed by me in front of the camera and witnesses and copies of this document shall be posted to all schools, colleges and universities in the country to remind our young generations of Filipinos that nothing beats transparency and honesty in public service.
Any Philippine politician who can do my the tiems above will have my honest VOTE! No questions asked.
+++***+++
Political philosophy (what I thought are sensible and practical to the country and its people):
It is my belief that the President of the land is just another caretaker of the people and not a god or someone who is untouchable. The president is worthy of respect because of the office, not to be treated as someone who is high up there who's unreacheable. Suweldohan lang siya ng tao para mamahala sa kapakanan ng tao. For 6 years, dito lang dapat naka-focus ang attention ng Presidente at wala ng iba. Ang isang sundalo ng pamahalaan ay kagaya lamang ng Presidente na parehong suweldohan at wala ng iba na puwedeng patalsikin ano mang oras dahil sa katiwalian.
Hindi dapat abusuhin ng lider ang taong bayan sa maraming pamamaraan lalo na ang dayain sila o nakawin ang para sa kanila.
Sagrado ang boto ng tao na dapat pangalagaan ng bawat mamamayan--- kasama na ang Presidente.Karapatan ng mamamayan na patalsikin ang isang lider na corrupt at sinungaling sa bayan. Kaya nga dapat lahat ng lider sa bansa ay transparent para maalis ang duda at kutya ng tao sa kanila. Ito lang ang paraan para respetuhin silang muli at manumbalik ang kaayusan sa bansa.
Kapag mahirap ang bansa, hindi maaalis ang corruption at pandaraya. Kapag corrupt ang lider, corrupt din and mga followers. Kawawa ang mamamayan. (When corrupt leaders reign, the people suffer).
Leading by example is always the best barometer for an effective leader. Nothing beats honesty and sincerity to the people. The more transparent we are to our constituents, the better they respect us and follow our orders. The will love the leader and never ask him/her to leave the office.
There is no need to cheat the constitution just to stay in power. Honest and transparent leaders last longer and their legacy treasured by the people. They even teach this legacy in schools to be emulated by the next generations.
Please tell me what you think (email me at rsadiosa@yahoo.com). Thank you.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Solons: No pork for storm rehab
Solons: No pork for storm rehab
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines—Majority of the members of the House of Representatives have rejected calls urging them to donate some of their pork barrel for the speedy rehabilitation of areas ravaged by tropical storms Ondoy, Pepeng, and Ramil.
Speaker Prospero Nograles said that any realignment of their pork barrel, euphemistically called the Countryside Development Fund (CDF), should be voluntary.
Congress allots P70 million in CDF per representative to pay for projects of their choosing in their districts.
Nograles said some provinces that were not affected by typhoons this year had not yet undertaken the rehabilitation of their infrastructure that was damaged in last year’s storms.
“Panay Island, for example, has not yet recovered from the devastation caused by Typhoon ‘Frank’ which hit it in June 2008. Please remember that when Frank devastated Panay, there was no call for realignment, including during the time of the massive floods in Leyte,” he said.
House Majority Leader Arthur Defensor said there was no need for lawmakers to make extra contributions toward storm damage repairs because the P12-billion supplemental relief fund to be sourced from savings in this year’s national budget and approved by Congress was more than enough to pay for rehabilitation work.
Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.
(Comment: Hmmm... patay nga naman ang delihensiya nila kung isasauli pa nila ang perang hindi naman talaga pag-aari nila. Masyado nang madamot ang mga ito sa tagal ng panahon na "kanila" personally ang pork barrel na ibinibigay sa kanila ng tao. Kailangan na talagang baguhin ang sistemang ito at huwag nang ibigay ang pork sa kanila. Sobrang kapal na talaga at gahaman sa pera ng tao ng mga ito).
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines—Majority of the members of the House of Representatives have rejected calls urging them to donate some of their pork barrel for the speedy rehabilitation of areas ravaged by tropical storms Ondoy, Pepeng, and Ramil.
Speaker Prospero Nograles said that any realignment of their pork barrel, euphemistically called the Countryside Development Fund (CDF), should be voluntary.
Congress allots P70 million in CDF per representative to pay for projects of their choosing in their districts.
Nograles said some provinces that were not affected by typhoons this year had not yet undertaken the rehabilitation of their infrastructure that was damaged in last year’s storms.
“Panay Island, for example, has not yet recovered from the devastation caused by Typhoon ‘Frank’ which hit it in June 2008. Please remember that when Frank devastated Panay, there was no call for realignment, including during the time of the massive floods in Leyte,” he said.
House Majority Leader Arthur Defensor said there was no need for lawmakers to make extra contributions toward storm damage repairs because the P12-billion supplemental relief fund to be sourced from savings in this year’s national budget and approved by Congress was more than enough to pay for rehabilitation work.
Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.
(Comment: Hmmm... patay nga naman ang delihensiya nila kung isasauli pa nila ang perang hindi naman talaga pag-aari nila. Masyado nang madamot ang mga ito sa tagal ng panahon na "kanila" personally ang pork barrel na ibinibigay sa kanila ng tao. Kailangan na talagang baguhin ang sistemang ito at huwag nang ibigay ang pork sa kanila. Sobrang kapal na talaga at gahaman sa pera ng tao ng mga ito).
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Busy Preparing and Sending Relief Goods to the Country
Please bear with me on not updating my blog due to my hectic schedules in preparing and sending relief goods and cash to the victims of the recent typhoons in our country.
Sa mga nagbigay ng cash o in kind, salamat sa inyong lahat! Mabuhay po kayo!
I received reports that the Bureau of Customs is under order from the top that they are to traffic relief goods and tax them irregardless of recipients or charitble institutions where they came from. Grabe talaga, pagkain at baro na lang ng mga namatayan at nagugutom na mga biktima ng baha at bagyo sa atin, ninanakawan pa nila! Saan ka makakita ng ganitong kawalanghiyaan at kababuyan? Only in the Philippines! Gising na mga kababayan ko!
Kung term ko to, kalabuso ang bagsak ng mga ito!
Sa mga nagbigay ng cash o in kind, salamat sa inyong lahat! Mabuhay po kayo!
I received reports that the Bureau of Customs is under order from the top that they are to traffic relief goods and tax them irregardless of recipients or charitble institutions where they came from. Grabe talaga, pagkain at baro na lang ng mga namatayan at nagugutom na mga biktima ng baha at bagyo sa atin, ninanakawan pa nila! Saan ka makakita ng ganitong kawalanghiyaan at kababuyan? Only in the Philippines! Gising na mga kababayan ko!
Kung term ko to, kalabuso ang bagsak ng mga ito!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Noynoy, Mar: We won't steal
By Aurea Calica (The Philippine Star) Updated September 22, 2009
MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Manuel Roxas II formally declared yesterday he is running with Liberal Party (LP) standard bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino Jr., and both promised not to steal from the people if elected.
(Comment: So politicians are really stealing. Period)
“I wholeheartedly accept the challenge to push forward the reforms in the country. I wholeheartedly accept the responsibility of being Noynoy’s partner in his fight for change. I wholeheartedly accept to be Noynoy Aquino’s partner,” Roxas said in a speech before supporters and LP members at the Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan.
He also thanked Aquino for the opportunity to work with him “as we raise the banner of reform” and “fight for decency and integrity in public service, and for a government that puts the people’s interest first.”
(Comment: Like I was saying in this blog, there's no deceny, integrity in the publicservice and these people DO NOT put the people's INTEREST first! I was so true from the very start).
“Noy, you have raised the banner. This is the banner of hope and reform. This will put food on the table because the funds for the farmers will no longer be stolen. This will provide jobs to the people because investors will no longer be victims of extortion. This will make prices of medicine affordable because there will no longer be government connivance with abusive pharmaceutical companies,” Roxas said in Filipino.
(Comment: So Sen Roxas knew these stealings, connivance and extortions in the government. How come he is only saying this NOW? Dahil tatakbo sya? Hay, baka naman kasi nakinabang din sya rito? Just curious..)
Roxas was apparently taking a swipe at the Arroyo administration for its involvement in high-level corruption, including the alleged diversion of funds for farmers to the campaign kitty of President Arroyo in the fertilizer fund scam and the overpriced national broadband network deal with China’s ZTE Corp.
Critics have also accused the Arroyo administration of allegedly dragging its feet on the cheaper medicine law due to the strong lobby of giant pharmaceutical firms.
But Roxas stressed the fight would not just be about him and Aquino. “It’s bigger than the two of us, it is bigger than the Liberal Party. It is about our collective thirst for change. It is about our thirst for change finally overcoming those who want to continue the tayo-tayo (exclusive) system, the horse-trading, the greed, the self-interest, the transactional politics that has been the biggest roadblock to progress and prosperity for all,” he said.
“This is about what is straight and what is crooked. This is about the honest against the corrupt. This about right versus wrong,” Roxas said.
Roxas acknowledged that it would be a tough battle in 2010 and that they should not be lulled into complacency.
“We are up against forces who will fight tooth and nail, fair and unfair, legal and illegal, against us. For them, happiness continues; for us, the fight is on,” Roxas said.
“Our opponents will exhaust all avenues in order to win. They have been robbing us for so long, and they want to continue robbing us. But we will not allow them to rob our hopes as well,” he said.
(Comment: Lumang tugtugin at tuno na 'to).
“I am honored to join him (Aquino) in this field of battle. To all of us here in this hall and all across this great nation who are fighting alongside him, make no mistake about it: We will not back down from this fight, not now, not ever,” Roxas said.
“The fog of cynicism has already lifted from our hearts. Now, we can dream again. Together, we will not forsake you. We will fight,” he said.
Lower taxes
For his part, Aquino said in a press conference after Roxas’s declaration that he was hoping to bring down taxes if elected by using government resources judiciously.
“Our ambition is to lower taxes and maybe the key there is to collect the existing ones correctly. And maybe if the use of the public funds will be more proper, then the basic services for the people will become better and available at lesser cost to the people,” Aquino said.
(Comment: Truly, Aquino and ROxas do not have a good plan for the government to earn except from taxes. Talaga naman kasing walang plataporma hindi lang silang dalawa kundi lahat ng tatakbo sa election. The same names, the same faces, the same tunes, the same promises. These two, including all presidentialbles, do not know how to make the Filipino government competitive and attractive to business and investors (local and abroad). So this is what we'll get if they are elected. No plans, no strategy, no long-term blue print for the hungry masses).
He said he hopes to attract more investors by eliminating corruption and ensuring that government funds are spent wisely.
Roxas’s acceptance of Aquino’s invitation to be the LP’s vice presidential bet was timed for the 37th anniversary of the declaration of martial law, which their parents, former senators Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and Gerardo “Gerry” Roxas, fought as LP stalwarts and opposition leaders.
Aquino’s mother, former President Corazon Aquino, took her oath in the same hall at Club Filipino when she took over the presidency after the ouster of Ferdinand Marcos in a peaceful people power revolution in February 1986. His father was assassinated on Aug. 21, 1983 upon his return from self-exile in the United States.
Yesterday was also the celebration of Eid al-Fitr or the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
A Catholic priest and a Muslim preacher led the invocation. The prayers were for change and true freedom from poverty and other problems of the country, particularly strife in Mindanao.
Aquino praised Roxas for giving up his presidential plans for the sake of unity.
“This sacrifice gave way to the launching of a national movement formed by the people thirsty for the return of decent, clean and good governance,” Aquino said.
He cited the long history of friendship - of sharing the same ideals and dreams for the country - between his and Roxas’s family.
(Comment: Like what I have been writing in this blog, I know Sens Roxas and Aquino both have clean intention to clean up the government. Andun na ko. But, again, going to a war with no war plans (platform) for the people is inutile. Ano ba talaga ang mga plano nila para sa tao? Gutom? Crime? War in Mindanao? Corruption (both government and private)? Image of the country? Poverty? etc... They are only taking advantage of the recent popularity of former President Cory Aquino, who by the way, has not put a lot of corrupt and Marcos cronies to jail and whose government was almost toppled by coups. Literaly, hers was a weak government and was not very effective. Again, the same names. What we need are new blood, new leaders, new names who can speed up the development of the country not because they came from prominent families in the country (para bang sila-sila na lang palagi ang pag-asa ng 90 million Filipinos. Mahiya na naman kayo, no?). These new leaders are new Filipinos who can give new meaning, new ideas, new hope and interest for the people to start becoming productive again and bring the much awaited economic rebirth in the country. Palitan na ang mga trapos. Palitan na ang "sila-sila" mentality. Pairalin na ang katotohanang hindi effective ang mga lumang politikong ito kasama na rito ang kanilang mga anak na ngayon ay balak ituloy ang kani-kanilang alitan sa gobyerno --- at the EXPENSE of the Filipinos). Tama na. Mahiya na kayo!)
MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Manuel Roxas II formally declared yesterday he is running with Liberal Party (LP) standard bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino Jr., and both promised not to steal from the people if elected.
(Comment: So politicians are really stealing. Period)
“I wholeheartedly accept the challenge to push forward the reforms in the country. I wholeheartedly accept the responsibility of being Noynoy’s partner in his fight for change. I wholeheartedly accept to be Noynoy Aquino’s partner,” Roxas said in a speech before supporters and LP members at the Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan.
He also thanked Aquino for the opportunity to work with him “as we raise the banner of reform” and “fight for decency and integrity in public service, and for a government that puts the people’s interest first.”
(Comment: Like I was saying in this blog, there's no deceny, integrity in the publicservice and these people DO NOT put the people's INTEREST first! I was so true from the very start).
“Noy, you have raised the banner. This is the banner of hope and reform. This will put food on the table because the funds for the farmers will no longer be stolen. This will provide jobs to the people because investors will no longer be victims of extortion. This will make prices of medicine affordable because there will no longer be government connivance with abusive pharmaceutical companies,” Roxas said in Filipino.
(Comment: So Sen Roxas knew these stealings, connivance and extortions in the government. How come he is only saying this NOW? Dahil tatakbo sya? Hay, baka naman kasi nakinabang din sya rito? Just curious..)
Roxas was apparently taking a swipe at the Arroyo administration for its involvement in high-level corruption, including the alleged diversion of funds for farmers to the campaign kitty of President Arroyo in the fertilizer fund scam and the overpriced national broadband network deal with China’s ZTE Corp.
Critics have also accused the Arroyo administration of allegedly dragging its feet on the cheaper medicine law due to the strong lobby of giant pharmaceutical firms.
But Roxas stressed the fight would not just be about him and Aquino. “It’s bigger than the two of us, it is bigger than the Liberal Party. It is about our collective thirst for change. It is about our thirst for change finally overcoming those who want to continue the tayo-tayo (exclusive) system, the horse-trading, the greed, the self-interest, the transactional politics that has been the biggest roadblock to progress and prosperity for all,” he said.
“This is about what is straight and what is crooked. This is about the honest against the corrupt. This about right versus wrong,” Roxas said.
Roxas acknowledged that it would be a tough battle in 2010 and that they should not be lulled into complacency.
“We are up against forces who will fight tooth and nail, fair and unfair, legal and illegal, against us. For them, happiness continues; for us, the fight is on,” Roxas said.
“Our opponents will exhaust all avenues in order to win. They have been robbing us for so long, and they want to continue robbing us. But we will not allow them to rob our hopes as well,” he said.
(Comment: Lumang tugtugin at tuno na 'to).
“I am honored to join him (Aquino) in this field of battle. To all of us here in this hall and all across this great nation who are fighting alongside him, make no mistake about it: We will not back down from this fight, not now, not ever,” Roxas said.
“The fog of cynicism has already lifted from our hearts. Now, we can dream again. Together, we will not forsake you. We will fight,” he said.
Lower taxes
For his part, Aquino said in a press conference after Roxas’s declaration that he was hoping to bring down taxes if elected by using government resources judiciously.
“Our ambition is to lower taxes and maybe the key there is to collect the existing ones correctly. And maybe if the use of the public funds will be more proper, then the basic services for the people will become better and available at lesser cost to the people,” Aquino said.
(Comment: Truly, Aquino and ROxas do not have a good plan for the government to earn except from taxes. Talaga naman kasing walang plataporma hindi lang silang dalawa kundi lahat ng tatakbo sa election. The same names, the same faces, the same tunes, the same promises. These two, including all presidentialbles, do not know how to make the Filipino government competitive and attractive to business and investors (local and abroad). So this is what we'll get if they are elected. No plans, no strategy, no long-term blue print for the hungry masses).
He said he hopes to attract more investors by eliminating corruption and ensuring that government funds are spent wisely.
Roxas’s acceptance of Aquino’s invitation to be the LP’s vice presidential bet was timed for the 37th anniversary of the declaration of martial law, which their parents, former senators Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and Gerardo “Gerry” Roxas, fought as LP stalwarts and opposition leaders.
Aquino’s mother, former President Corazon Aquino, took her oath in the same hall at Club Filipino when she took over the presidency after the ouster of Ferdinand Marcos in a peaceful people power revolution in February 1986. His father was assassinated on Aug. 21, 1983 upon his return from self-exile in the United States.
Yesterday was also the celebration of Eid al-Fitr or the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
A Catholic priest and a Muslim preacher led the invocation. The prayers were for change and true freedom from poverty and other problems of the country, particularly strife in Mindanao.
Aquino praised Roxas for giving up his presidential plans for the sake of unity.
“This sacrifice gave way to the launching of a national movement formed by the people thirsty for the return of decent, clean and good governance,” Aquino said.
He cited the long history of friendship - of sharing the same ideals and dreams for the country - between his and Roxas’s family.
(Comment: Like what I have been writing in this blog, I know Sens Roxas and Aquino both have clean intention to clean up the government. Andun na ko. But, again, going to a war with no war plans (platform) for the people is inutile. Ano ba talaga ang mga plano nila para sa tao? Gutom? Crime? War in Mindanao? Corruption (both government and private)? Image of the country? Poverty? etc... They are only taking advantage of the recent popularity of former President Cory Aquino, who by the way, has not put a lot of corrupt and Marcos cronies to jail and whose government was almost toppled by coups. Literaly, hers was a weak government and was not very effective. Again, the same names. What we need are new blood, new leaders, new names who can speed up the development of the country not because they came from prominent families in the country (para bang sila-sila na lang palagi ang pag-asa ng 90 million Filipinos. Mahiya na naman kayo, no?). These new leaders are new Filipinos who can give new meaning, new ideas, new hope and interest for the people to start becoming productive again and bring the much awaited economic rebirth in the country. Palitan na ang mga trapos. Palitan na ang "sila-sila" mentality. Pairalin na ang katotohanang hindi effective ang mga lumang politikong ito kasama na rito ang kanilang mga anak na ngayon ay balak ituloy ang kani-kanilang alitan sa gobyerno --- at the EXPENSE of the Filipinos). Tama na. Mahiya na kayo!)
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Noynoy Aquino to run for president in 2010
By Maila Ager
INQUIRER.net
Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III officially announced that he will run for president in 2010 on Wednesday, exactly 40 days after the death of his late mother, former President Corazon Aquino.
“Tinatanggap ko ang hiling ng sambayanan. Tinatanggap ko ang tagubilin ng aking mga magulang. Tinatanggap ko ang responsibilidad na ituloy ang laban para sa bayan. Tinatanggap ko ang hamon na mamuno sa laban na ito. Tatakbo po ako sa pagka-pangulo sa darating na halalan (I accept the voice of the people. I accept the advice of my parents. I accept the responsibility to continue the fight of the people. I accept the challenge to lead in this fight. I will run in the coming elections),” declared Aquino.
Aquino made the announcement of his candidacy for the presidency at about 8 a.m. at the Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan City, the same venue where his late mother took her oath as president in 1986.
Personalities present at the jam-packed room were Liberal Party members Senators Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, Francis Pangilinan, former Senate President Franklin Drilon, Quezon Representative Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada III, former congressmen Florencio “Butch” Abad and Nereus Acosta, singer-composer Jim Paredes, former Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz, and singer Leah Navarro of the Black and White Movement.
Noynoy’s sisters, Ballsy, Pinky, Viel, and Kris, were also there. They were all wearing black as was Noynoy.
At a presscon after the announcement, he declined to say if Roxas will be his running mate, saying that he will just let the senator make the decision himself.
(Comments: First of all, he is running kasi dala ng simpatiya ng ilang Pilipino ng pagkamatay at libing ng dating Presidente Cory Aquino, her mother. Kaso, wala naman talaga sa intention n'ya na tumakbo at ilaban ang bansa sa kahirapan at mga problema sa ngayon. Napilitan lang kaya tatakbo. Eto ba ang karakter na kalilangan natin sa bagong lider? Ni wala siyang agenda man lang kahit isa para sa mga OFWs. This is the bitter reality. He has no passion, intention, plans, and agenda for the Filipino masses. Yes, he is the son of former Ninoy and Cory Aquino. But this is not a qualification for him to lead the nation, though he is a senator. As of the moment, wala naman siyang matinong nagawa o naipasa para sa bayan lalo na sa mga Pilipinong nasa abroad. Napilitan lang kaya tatakbo. Walang plataporma at balak sa bayan. Ni walang balak man lang tungkol sa negosyo o plano para sa karagdagang trabaho. Eto ang katotohanan dito. Papaano na naman ang nakararaming gutom sa bayan? Sa mga pagod na katatrabaho sa labas ng bansa? Ni hindi niya kilala ang mga OFWs. Para sa akin, mas mabuti pang maging lider ang isang HINDI politiko o galing sa angkan ng mga politiko para magkaroon naman ng panibagong pananaw ang bansa kung papaano mahango sa hirap. Itaga natin sa bato, his term and leadership will be the same thing all over again for the nation. Kawawa na naman tayo
Likely scenario: According to the news, Ninoy Jr will ran after the Marcos wealth daw. Hmmm.. What will happen is magiging labanan na naman ito ng mga pamilya at hahalukayin na naman ang mga lumang issues ng iba pang mga politiko laban sa kani-kanilang mga pamilya. Old grudges. Old issues. Old story na ito at panis na. Magiging lugar ng labanan na naman ang senado at kongreso ng mga lumang politiko at ng kanilang mga lumang alitan. Labanan ng mga anak ng dating me galit at utang ng kani-kanilang mga tatay at nanay. Mauubos na naman ang panahon at pera para panuorin na naman ng mga Pilipino ang kanilang sigawan at insultuhan sa konseho. Hay, sayang ang pera, sayang ang oras, sayang ang opportunities. Gutom ang Juan de la Cruz for another 6 years! Hindi talaga marunong matoto ang Pilipino!
Second round na labaanan na ito ng mga anak ng mga Marcoses, Aquinos, Chavits, Escuderos, Roxas, etc.... all over again!!!! Walang pupuntahan ang bayan kundi sa kangkungan at KAHIRAPAN!
Political dynasty ang tawag dito. Sila-sila lang ang nakikinabang sa pera at oras ng mga tao. Nandoon na rin ang mga kaalyado ng mga anak ng politikong ito at mga nakikisakay sa kanila. Mga alipures na naghihintay lang ng tamang pagkakataon para kumita. Walang loyalty. Walang prinsipyo. Walang pagmamahal sa bayan. Walang pakialam sa kahirapan. Period.
Para naman kay Sen Mar Roxas na nag concede agad (at sa mga iba pang nagtake advantage na sumuporta kaagad kay Sen Ninoy Jr for president), sayang kayo. Mga bata pa naman kayo ngunit wala kayong determinasyon na ipaglaban ang inyong paniniwala at prinsipyo para sa mga Pilipino. Ipinakita lang ninyo sa desisyong ninyong ito na nahina kayo at walang lakas na loob na lumaban at ilaban ang mahihirap sa ating bayan. Madali kayong madala sa agos at madali rin kayong mabili ng inyong partido! Ipinakita ninyo na tama ang aking paratang na INUUNA ninyo ang inyong PARTIDO at hindi ang bayang Pilipino! Kung talagang makabayan kayo at mahal ang mahihirap at mga mahihina, ipaglalaban ninyo ang inyong prinsipyo. Ipaglalaban ninyo ang nakararaming kababayan natin na napakatagal nang naka lubog putik ng kahirapan. Papaano ninyo maidedepensa ang mahihina kung vice president lang kayo? Ano ang nagawa ni VP Noli de Castro, aber? Sayang kayo at sayang ang mga ginastos na ninyo para lituhin ang bayan. Sayang ang inyong mga liderato.
Success does not always come from a STRONG leader. Success comes from a leader that CARES for his people.
Hindi na tayo natoto. Sayang ka, Pilipino!).
INQUIRER.net
Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III officially announced that he will run for president in 2010 on Wednesday, exactly 40 days after the death of his late mother, former President Corazon Aquino.
“Tinatanggap ko ang hiling ng sambayanan. Tinatanggap ko ang tagubilin ng aking mga magulang. Tinatanggap ko ang responsibilidad na ituloy ang laban para sa bayan. Tinatanggap ko ang hamon na mamuno sa laban na ito. Tatakbo po ako sa pagka-pangulo sa darating na halalan (I accept the voice of the people. I accept the advice of my parents. I accept the responsibility to continue the fight of the people. I accept the challenge to lead in this fight. I will run in the coming elections),” declared Aquino.
Aquino made the announcement of his candidacy for the presidency at about 8 a.m. at the Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan City, the same venue where his late mother took her oath as president in 1986.
Personalities present at the jam-packed room were Liberal Party members Senators Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, Francis Pangilinan, former Senate President Franklin Drilon, Quezon Representative Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada III, former congressmen Florencio “Butch” Abad and Nereus Acosta, singer-composer Jim Paredes, former Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz, and singer Leah Navarro of the Black and White Movement.
Noynoy’s sisters, Ballsy, Pinky, Viel, and Kris, were also there. They were all wearing black as was Noynoy.
At a presscon after the announcement, he declined to say if Roxas will be his running mate, saying that he will just let the senator make the decision himself.
(Comments: First of all, he is running kasi dala ng simpatiya ng ilang Pilipino ng pagkamatay at libing ng dating Presidente Cory Aquino, her mother. Kaso, wala naman talaga sa intention n'ya na tumakbo at ilaban ang bansa sa kahirapan at mga problema sa ngayon. Napilitan lang kaya tatakbo. Eto ba ang karakter na kalilangan natin sa bagong lider? Ni wala siyang agenda man lang kahit isa para sa mga OFWs. This is the bitter reality. He has no passion, intention, plans, and agenda for the Filipino masses. Yes, he is the son of former Ninoy and Cory Aquino. But this is not a qualification for him to lead the nation, though he is a senator. As of the moment, wala naman siyang matinong nagawa o naipasa para sa bayan lalo na sa mga Pilipinong nasa abroad. Napilitan lang kaya tatakbo. Walang plataporma at balak sa bayan. Ni walang balak man lang tungkol sa negosyo o plano para sa karagdagang trabaho. Eto ang katotohanan dito. Papaano na naman ang nakararaming gutom sa bayan? Sa mga pagod na katatrabaho sa labas ng bansa? Ni hindi niya kilala ang mga OFWs. Para sa akin, mas mabuti pang maging lider ang isang HINDI politiko o galing sa angkan ng mga politiko para magkaroon naman ng panibagong pananaw ang bansa kung papaano mahango sa hirap. Itaga natin sa bato, his term and leadership will be the same thing all over again for the nation. Kawawa na naman tayo
Likely scenario: According to the news, Ninoy Jr will ran after the Marcos wealth daw. Hmmm.. What will happen is magiging labanan na naman ito ng mga pamilya at hahalukayin na naman ang mga lumang issues ng iba pang mga politiko laban sa kani-kanilang mga pamilya. Old grudges. Old issues. Old story na ito at panis na. Magiging lugar ng labanan na naman ang senado at kongreso ng mga lumang politiko at ng kanilang mga lumang alitan. Labanan ng mga anak ng dating me galit at utang ng kani-kanilang mga tatay at nanay. Mauubos na naman ang panahon at pera para panuorin na naman ng mga Pilipino ang kanilang sigawan at insultuhan sa konseho. Hay, sayang ang pera, sayang ang oras, sayang ang opportunities. Gutom ang Juan de la Cruz for another 6 years! Hindi talaga marunong matoto ang Pilipino!
Second round na labaanan na ito ng mga anak ng mga Marcoses, Aquinos, Chavits, Escuderos, Roxas, etc.... all over again!!!! Walang pupuntahan ang bayan kundi sa kangkungan at KAHIRAPAN!
Political dynasty ang tawag dito. Sila-sila lang ang nakikinabang sa pera at oras ng mga tao. Nandoon na rin ang mga kaalyado ng mga anak ng politikong ito at mga nakikisakay sa kanila. Mga alipures na naghihintay lang ng tamang pagkakataon para kumita. Walang loyalty. Walang prinsipyo. Walang pagmamahal sa bayan. Walang pakialam sa kahirapan. Period.
Para naman kay Sen Mar Roxas na nag concede agad (at sa mga iba pang nagtake advantage na sumuporta kaagad kay Sen Ninoy Jr for president), sayang kayo. Mga bata pa naman kayo ngunit wala kayong determinasyon na ipaglaban ang inyong paniniwala at prinsipyo para sa mga Pilipino. Ipinakita lang ninyo sa desisyong ninyong ito na nahina kayo at walang lakas na loob na lumaban at ilaban ang mahihirap sa ating bayan. Madali kayong madala sa agos at madali rin kayong mabili ng inyong partido! Ipinakita ninyo na tama ang aking paratang na INUUNA ninyo ang inyong PARTIDO at hindi ang bayang Pilipino! Kung talagang makabayan kayo at mahal ang mahihirap at mga mahihina, ipaglalaban ninyo ang inyong prinsipyo. Ipaglalaban ninyo ang nakararaming kababayan natin na napakatagal nang naka lubog putik ng kahirapan. Papaano ninyo maidedepensa ang mahihina kung vice president lang kayo? Ano ang nagawa ni VP Noli de Castro, aber? Sayang kayo at sayang ang mga ginastos na ninyo para lituhin ang bayan. Sayang ang inyong mga liderato.
Success does not always come from a STRONG leader. Success comes from a leader that CARES for his people.
Hindi na tayo natoto. Sayang ka, Pilipino!).
Monday, August 31, 2009
Palace increases 'pork' by P700 million
By Jess Diaz (The Philippine Star)
MANILA, Philippines - The administration did not reduce the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or the pork barrel allocation for senators and congressmen, which actually increased by P700 million, contrary to the claim of Malacañang officials.
Research conducted by The STAR showed that last year, Malacañang proposed P6.24 billion for PDAF in the 2009 budget, the same level as in previous years.
During the Senate-House of Representatives conference on the budget, senators increased the PDAF appropriation by P3,425,027,000, to P9.665 billion.
President Arroyo did not veto the P3.425-billion increase in pork barrel funds when she signed the 2009 national budget.
Mrs. Arroyo has proposed in the 2010 national budget a PDAF allocation of P6.940 billion, which is P700 million more than what she proposed in previous years.
Congressmen sitting in the House appropriations committee surmised that the additional P700 million would be for the 32 new party-list representatives the Supreme Court recently added to the chamber’s membership.
The PDAF is a more transparent form of the pork barrel and it is the source of funds for so-called “soft” projects like medical, livelihood and educational assistance.
Funds for “hard” projects are embedded in the budgets of infrastructure agencies such as the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Transportation and Communications, and Department of Agriculture (for farm-to-market roads and irrigation canals).
The pork barrel dispenses P200 million for each senator and P70 million for each House member.
Only opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson does not avail himself of his P200 million.
In the House, militant party-list members like Satur Ocampo and Teodoro Casiño of Bayan Muna do not receive their allocations.
(Comment: Imbes na alisin, dinagdagan pa ng Palasyo ang pork. More pore, more corruption, more kahirapan. Simply lang ang reasoning dito. Hindi na dapat isipin pa).
MANILA, Philippines - The administration did not reduce the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or the pork barrel allocation for senators and congressmen, which actually increased by P700 million, contrary to the claim of Malacañang officials.
Research conducted by The STAR showed that last year, Malacañang proposed P6.24 billion for PDAF in the 2009 budget, the same level as in previous years.
During the Senate-House of Representatives conference on the budget, senators increased the PDAF appropriation by P3,425,027,000, to P9.665 billion.
President Arroyo did not veto the P3.425-billion increase in pork barrel funds when she signed the 2009 national budget.
Mrs. Arroyo has proposed in the 2010 national budget a PDAF allocation of P6.940 billion, which is P700 million more than what she proposed in previous years.
Congressmen sitting in the House appropriations committee surmised that the additional P700 million would be for the 32 new party-list representatives the Supreme Court recently added to the chamber’s membership.
The PDAF is a more transparent form of the pork barrel and it is the source of funds for so-called “soft” projects like medical, livelihood and educational assistance.
Funds for “hard” projects are embedded in the budgets of infrastructure agencies such as the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Transportation and Communications, and Department of Agriculture (for farm-to-market roads and irrigation canals).
The pork barrel dispenses P200 million for each senator and P70 million for each House member.
Only opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson does not avail himself of his P200 million.
In the House, militant party-list members like Satur Ocampo and Teodoro Casiño of Bayan Muna do not receive their allocations.
(Comment: Imbes na alisin, dinagdagan pa ng Palasyo ang pork. More pore, more corruption, more kahirapan. Simply lang ang reasoning dito. Hindi na dapat isipin pa).
Sunday, August 16, 2009
P1 pork barrel for each solon proposed
By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — A member of the House of Representatives on Monday proposed a P1 allocation for each lawmaker’s pork barrel or Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) to ensure that the fund would not be used for the 2010 election campaign.
The amount originally allotted to congressmen and senators as their PDAF in the 2010 budget proposal by Malacanang could be re-channeled to meet the shortages in teacher positions, classroom, textbooks, chairs, and laboratories in public school, Representative Teddy Casino said at the minority’s weekly news conference.
Casino’s proposal directly runs counter with the earlier proposal of Sorsogon Representative Jose Solis to increase the PDAF of each lawmaker by P30 million.
Each congressman receives P70 million and each senator gets P200 million under the current budget.
Casino said increasing lawmakers’ pork barrel allocation increases the risk of government money being spent for the 2010 elections.
He said lawmakers can instead propose projects under line items of departments under the proposed budget.
“The threat of one-peso budget has always been used by Congress to get what it wants from an agency. Perhaps it is time congressmen get a taste of their own medicine,” he said.
“Let’s allocate one peso for the pork barrel and let the various nominated projects of congressmen undergo line item budgeting and the public scrutiny it deserves,” he added.
(Comment: This is precisely the one item in my candidacy to be implemented. Matagal ko ng minumungkahi ito or better yet NO PORK BARREL sa lahat ng mga lawmakers ng bansa para matigil na ang corruption na sanhi nito. There is no law in the country that says that these corrupt lawmakers (karamihan, hindi lahat) should receive pork barrel. Pansariling kapritso lang naman nila ito and this has been going on for years and years. Imbis na magamit ang mga perang ito sa tamang ahensiya o proyekto ng bansa, napupunta lamang ito sa bulsa ng mga corrupt officials na ito. Matagal na tayong niloloko at pinagnanakawan, naka smile pa rin tayo! Common on, Filipino lawmakers, huwag na tayong maglokohan! Alam na ng maraming Pilipino ito kaya kung hindi kayo mabubuhay dahil walang pork barrel, magsialisan na lang kayo sa puwesto n'yo and let new and young Filipino politicians do your jobs para umasenso na ang bayan natin. Kung ayaw n'yo ng ganitong arrangement, sa Mars na lang kayo tumira kasama ang mga alipores n'yo at kapwa corrupt officials!).
INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — A member of the House of Representatives on Monday proposed a P1 allocation for each lawmaker’s pork barrel or Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) to ensure that the fund would not be used for the 2010 election campaign.
The amount originally allotted to congressmen and senators as their PDAF in the 2010 budget proposal by Malacanang could be re-channeled to meet the shortages in teacher positions, classroom, textbooks, chairs, and laboratories in public school, Representative Teddy Casino said at the minority’s weekly news conference.
Casino’s proposal directly runs counter with the earlier proposal of Sorsogon Representative Jose Solis to increase the PDAF of each lawmaker by P30 million.
Each congressman receives P70 million and each senator gets P200 million under the current budget.
Casino said increasing lawmakers’ pork barrel allocation increases the risk of government money being spent for the 2010 elections.
He said lawmakers can instead propose projects under line items of departments under the proposed budget.
“The threat of one-peso budget has always been used by Congress to get what it wants from an agency. Perhaps it is time congressmen get a taste of their own medicine,” he said.
“Let’s allocate one peso for the pork barrel and let the various nominated projects of congressmen undergo line item budgeting and the public scrutiny it deserves,” he added.
(Comment: This is precisely the one item in my candidacy to be implemented. Matagal ko ng minumungkahi ito or better yet NO PORK BARREL sa lahat ng mga lawmakers ng bansa para matigil na ang corruption na sanhi nito. There is no law in the country that says that these corrupt lawmakers (karamihan, hindi lahat) should receive pork barrel. Pansariling kapritso lang naman nila ito and this has been going on for years and years. Imbis na magamit ang mga perang ito sa tamang ahensiya o proyekto ng bansa, napupunta lamang ito sa bulsa ng mga corrupt officials na ito. Matagal na tayong niloloko at pinagnanakawan, naka smile pa rin tayo! Common on, Filipino lawmakers, huwag na tayong maglokohan! Alam na ng maraming Pilipino ito kaya kung hindi kayo mabubuhay dahil walang pork barrel, magsialisan na lang kayo sa puwesto n'yo and let new and young Filipino politicians do your jobs para umasenso na ang bayan natin. Kung ayaw n'yo ng ganitong arrangement, sa Mars na lang kayo tumira kasama ang mga alipores n'yo at kapwa corrupt officials!).
Monday, August 10, 2009
For Lapid, service sucks at Le Cirque
By Christine Avendaño
Philippine Daily Inquirer
No photo with Obama plus the restaurant service sucks.
Sen. Lito Lapid might well have just stayed home.
After failing to have his picture taken with US President Barack Obama, Lapid was said to also not have enjoyed the P1-million dinner which he and other members of the Philippine presidential delegation had at Le Cirque restaurant in New York.
It was Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago who yesterday recounted Lapid’s unhappy experience at the favorite hangout of international celebrities, while herself expressing distaste at such a display of “outlandish” spending.
Like Lapid, Santiago joined the recent US trip of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, but she said she skipped the dinner at the popular French restaurant, which the New York Post said cost a whopping $20,000—or P1 million.
Those who go to restaurants like Le Cirque pay “for the prestige of that place and the privilege of seeing and being seen,” Santiago said in an interview on radio dzBB.
Apparently, the ambiance of the restaurant failed to impress Lapid.
Slow meals
Santiago said she learned that Lapid had told protocol officers that he did not enjoy the dinner.
“Sabi niya, grabe naman itong restaurant na eto, katagal tagal dumating ng order (He said this restaurant is terrible, the orders take so long),” Santiago said. According to her, Lapid pointed out to protocol officers that it took time to serve the meals because the waiters would change plates and silverware with every course.
“That’s why he did not like the French restaurant,” she said.
Unfulfilled wish
During the US trip, the movie actor and former Pampanga governor also raised eyebrows—not to mention giggles—when he admitted that he would like to be part of a select group meeting Obama because he wanted to be photographed with the US president.
Lapid did not get his wish. He wasn’t included in the exclusive group.
Santiago said she skipped the Aug. 2 dinner at Le Cirque with President Macapagal-Arroyo and her entourage because she said she normally did not like to go to such places as this would require her to doll herself up with make-up and jewelry. The senator also said she was not a “scintillating personality after 8 p.m.” She attributed this to her chronic fatigue syndrome condition which, she jested, makes her cranky in the late hours.
Still, she said she was surprised to find out that the dinner was at the watering hole of the rich and famous.
‘Powerful woman
The senator said that, when in the United States, she preferred to go to Vietnamese restaurants because for $10 to $15, one could have a meal of rice and viand.
Regarding Lapid’s missed photo opportunity with Obama, Santiago said she explained to Lapid how strict the protocol was at the meeting, adding that the Philippine group itself didn’t have a chance to be photographed with the US president.
“We have no picture with Obama because we’re not allowed to have pictures with him. His time was very very limited,” she said.
Santiago said Obama was all business. “So there was no picture taking,” she laughed.
She said that at the meeting, she was able to tell Obama that “America would not be able to get what it all wants from President Arroyo because she was not free to sign treaties as these needed to be approved by the Senate, which is dominated by the opposition.”
For that remark, she said Obama told her with a laugh, “I can see you are a powerful woman.”
It was a good thing that at the meeting, there was no talk of Muslim radical prisoners in Guantanamo being shipped to the Philippines.
Had this been mentioned and with Obama telling her she seemed to be a powerful woman, Santiago said she might have ended up being really “powerful in a sense that I would have raised my voice” on that issue.
(Comment: Lito Lapid opting for a photo with Pres. Obama? Hmmm.. Talagang pag tiwali ang kaisipan natin tungkol sa mga Amerikano, ganito ang magiging attitude natin. As a senator bakit ka magta-trying hard na makakuha ng picture kay Pres. Obama na para bang isa siyang artista na kailangang me souvenir photo ka? Kakahiya ito at pinapakita lang natin na talagang wala tayong respeto sa sarili natin bilang mga Pilipino (or as a Philippine Senator for that matter). Colonial mentality ang tawag dito at tayong mga Pilipino second best lang na sumasamba sa mga puti. Regarding this lavish dinner? hmmm... again, pag malayo ang puso natin sa Pilipinong mahihirap, talagang gagawin at gagawin ito ng mga lider na 'to. Nakakahiya na! Sobra na! Palitan na!)
Philippine Daily Inquirer
No photo with Obama plus the restaurant service sucks.
Sen. Lito Lapid might well have just stayed home.
After failing to have his picture taken with US President Barack Obama, Lapid was said to also not have enjoyed the P1-million dinner which he and other members of the Philippine presidential delegation had at Le Cirque restaurant in New York.
It was Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago who yesterday recounted Lapid’s unhappy experience at the favorite hangout of international celebrities, while herself expressing distaste at such a display of “outlandish” spending.
Like Lapid, Santiago joined the recent US trip of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, but she said she skipped the dinner at the popular French restaurant, which the New York Post said cost a whopping $20,000—or P1 million.
Those who go to restaurants like Le Cirque pay “for the prestige of that place and the privilege of seeing and being seen,” Santiago said in an interview on radio dzBB.
Apparently, the ambiance of the restaurant failed to impress Lapid.
Slow meals
Santiago said she learned that Lapid had told protocol officers that he did not enjoy the dinner.
“Sabi niya, grabe naman itong restaurant na eto, katagal tagal dumating ng order (He said this restaurant is terrible, the orders take so long),” Santiago said. According to her, Lapid pointed out to protocol officers that it took time to serve the meals because the waiters would change plates and silverware with every course.
“That’s why he did not like the French restaurant,” she said.
Unfulfilled wish
During the US trip, the movie actor and former Pampanga governor also raised eyebrows—not to mention giggles—when he admitted that he would like to be part of a select group meeting Obama because he wanted to be photographed with the US president.
Lapid did not get his wish. He wasn’t included in the exclusive group.
Santiago said she skipped the Aug. 2 dinner at Le Cirque with President Macapagal-Arroyo and her entourage because she said she normally did not like to go to such places as this would require her to doll herself up with make-up and jewelry. The senator also said she was not a “scintillating personality after 8 p.m.” She attributed this to her chronic fatigue syndrome condition which, she jested, makes her cranky in the late hours.
Still, she said she was surprised to find out that the dinner was at the watering hole of the rich and famous.
‘Powerful woman
The senator said that, when in the United States, she preferred to go to Vietnamese restaurants because for $10 to $15, one could have a meal of rice and viand.
Regarding Lapid’s missed photo opportunity with Obama, Santiago said she explained to Lapid how strict the protocol was at the meeting, adding that the Philippine group itself didn’t have a chance to be photographed with the US president.
“We have no picture with Obama because we’re not allowed to have pictures with him. His time was very very limited,” she said.
Santiago said Obama was all business. “So there was no picture taking,” she laughed.
She said that at the meeting, she was able to tell Obama that “America would not be able to get what it all wants from President Arroyo because she was not free to sign treaties as these needed to be approved by the Senate, which is dominated by the opposition.”
For that remark, she said Obama told her with a laugh, “I can see you are a powerful woman.”
It was a good thing that at the meeting, there was no talk of Muslim radical prisoners in Guantanamo being shipped to the Philippines.
Had this been mentioned and with Obama telling her she seemed to be a powerful woman, Santiago said she might have ended up being really “powerful in a sense that I would have raised my voice” on that issue.
(Comment: Lito Lapid opting for a photo with Pres. Obama? Hmmm.. Talagang pag tiwali ang kaisipan natin tungkol sa mga Amerikano, ganito ang magiging attitude natin. As a senator bakit ka magta-trying hard na makakuha ng picture kay Pres. Obama na para bang isa siyang artista na kailangang me souvenir photo ka? Kakahiya ito at pinapakita lang natin na talagang wala tayong respeto sa sarili natin bilang mga Pilipino (or as a Philippine Senator for that matter). Colonial mentality ang tawag dito at tayong mga Pilipino second best lang na sumasamba sa mga puti. Regarding this lavish dinner? hmmm... again, pag malayo ang puso natin sa Pilipinong mahihirap, talagang gagawin at gagawin ito ng mga lider na 'to. Nakakahiya na! Sobra na! Palitan na!)
New York dinner, Pinoy hunger
CDN Editorial
Two out of five Filipinos consider themselves as “food poor.”
This was according to the latest Social Weather Station (SWS) survey which showed that about nine million Filipinos classified themselves as poor.
While many Filipinos cringe in hunger, the country’s chief executive and her entourage managed to splurge on an expensive dinner at an exclusive restaurant in New York during last week’s official visit.
A New York Post report said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her party spent $20,000 or close to P1 million on food and wine at Le Cirque, a favorite hangout of famous personalities like broadcaster Barbara Walters, director Woody Allen and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.
Richard Johnson hit it right on the nail when he wrote in the Page Six “Eat and Drink” section of the NY Post online edition that “The economic downturn hasn’t persuaded everyone to pinch pennies.”
At a time when many of Filipinos can barely afford a decent meal at a cheapest fastfood, Arroyo gorged on caviar, lobster salad, wild burgundy escargot, soft shell crab tempura, black cod, halibut, over sole, saddle of lamb, prime dry-aged strip steak and Krug champagne, which cost $510 a bottle.
They spent P1 million on dinner when the Arroyo administration was spending only P6 per Filipino per day on education and P1 on health, according to the data released by Ibon Foundation.
Press Secretary Cerge Remonde explained that the bill was paid by Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez who hosted the Aug. 2 dinner for Arroyo and her husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo. He said they didn’t know how much was paid.
But Malacañang has a lot of explaining to do and cannot just downplay the fact that the bill was paid by a political ally.
It has to show proof that no public funds were spent on the lavish dinner. If indeed the dinner was paid by Romualdez, they must prove that the money came from his own pocket and not from his pork barrel.
Still, an expensive dinner was highly inappropriate considering that the country was in the middle of a financial crisis and that about 10 million Filipinos were either underemployed or unemployed
It is not proper for the first couple and their entourage to spend P1 million in one night when based on the November 2008 study of Gallup’s World Food Day survey, 40 percent of Filipinos reported having experienced hunger “often or sometimes” in the last 12 months.
When they sipped the expensive wine and took a bite on the steak, did they even think about Juan dela Cruz who had to settle on watered down rice and a piece of dried fish for dinner? Or did they remember the children in poverty-stricken provinces in Mindanao who had not set foot on Jollibee?
(Comment: Pag lider ka (o kaalyado ng presidente) na HINDI SENSITIVE sa pangangailangan o paghihirap ng mga tao, ganito ang nagiging resulta ng pagdedesisyon. Para bang impulse decision dahil inabot ng gutom basta na lang gagawa ng ganitong hakbang --- irregardless kung ano ang situwasyon ng gutom sa ating bansa. Pag ako ang presidente hindi at malayong mangyari ito. Sa totoo lang kasi often laging ganito ang ginagawa ng marami nating opisyales sa bansa pag nasa labas ng bayan. Business with pleasure lagi. Kaso mas maraming pleasure ang kanilang inaatupag na para bang nasa bakasyon grande sila. Kaya yun lavish spending. Romualdez ba kamo ang nagbayad ng dinner bill? Hmmm.. again we know why).
Two out of five Filipinos consider themselves as “food poor.”
This was according to the latest Social Weather Station (SWS) survey which showed that about nine million Filipinos classified themselves as poor.
While many Filipinos cringe in hunger, the country’s chief executive and her entourage managed to splurge on an expensive dinner at an exclusive restaurant in New York during last week’s official visit.
A New York Post report said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her party spent $20,000 or close to P1 million on food and wine at Le Cirque, a favorite hangout of famous personalities like broadcaster Barbara Walters, director Woody Allen and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.
Richard Johnson hit it right on the nail when he wrote in the Page Six “Eat and Drink” section of the NY Post online edition that “The economic downturn hasn’t persuaded everyone to pinch pennies.”
At a time when many of Filipinos can barely afford a decent meal at a cheapest fastfood, Arroyo gorged on caviar, lobster salad, wild burgundy escargot, soft shell crab tempura, black cod, halibut, over sole, saddle of lamb, prime dry-aged strip steak and Krug champagne, which cost $510 a bottle.
They spent P1 million on dinner when the Arroyo administration was spending only P6 per Filipino per day on education and P1 on health, according to the data released by Ibon Foundation.
Press Secretary Cerge Remonde explained that the bill was paid by Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez who hosted the Aug. 2 dinner for Arroyo and her husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo. He said they didn’t know how much was paid.
But Malacañang has a lot of explaining to do and cannot just downplay the fact that the bill was paid by a political ally.
It has to show proof that no public funds were spent on the lavish dinner. If indeed the dinner was paid by Romualdez, they must prove that the money came from his own pocket and not from his pork barrel.
Still, an expensive dinner was highly inappropriate considering that the country was in the middle of a financial crisis and that about 10 million Filipinos were either underemployed or unemployed
It is not proper for the first couple and their entourage to spend P1 million in one night when based on the November 2008 study of Gallup’s World Food Day survey, 40 percent of Filipinos reported having experienced hunger “often or sometimes” in the last 12 months.
When they sipped the expensive wine and took a bite on the steak, did they even think about Juan dela Cruz who had to settle on watered down rice and a piece of dried fish for dinner? Or did they remember the children in poverty-stricken provinces in Mindanao who had not set foot on Jollibee?
(Comment: Pag lider ka (o kaalyado ng presidente) na HINDI SENSITIVE sa pangangailangan o paghihirap ng mga tao, ganito ang nagiging resulta ng pagdedesisyon. Para bang impulse decision dahil inabot ng gutom basta na lang gagawa ng ganitong hakbang --- irregardless kung ano ang situwasyon ng gutom sa ating bansa. Pag ako ang presidente hindi at malayong mangyari ito. Sa totoo lang kasi often laging ganito ang ginagawa ng marami nating opisyales sa bansa pag nasa labas ng bayan. Business with pleasure lagi. Kaso mas maraming pleasure ang kanilang inaatupag na para bang nasa bakasyon grande sila. Kaya yun lavish spending. Romualdez ba kamo ang nagbayad ng dinner bill? Hmmm.. again we know why).
I have never profited from my office - GMA
By Paolo Romero (The Philippine Star) Updated August 11, 2009 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo maintained yesterday that she has never and will never use her position for personal profit even as she strongly denied manipulating her statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) that showed her net worth doubling in the last eight years.
Her lawyer, Romulo Macalintal, said the President vehemently denied “any report or speculation alleging defect or her non-compliance with the law in filing her SALN.”
A report from the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) said that based on her SALNs, Mrs. Arroyo’s declared net worth more than doubled from P66.8 million in 2001 to P143.54 million in 2008, or bigger than the combined growth in declared wealth of her three immediate predecessors, including former President Joseph Estrada, who was convicted for plunder.
“The President reiterates that she has never used and will never use or take advantage of her position for personal profit as she had declared in her State of the Nation Address and as expected of her by the people,” Macalintal told a news conference at the Palace that was also attended by First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo’s lawyer, Ruy Rondain.
He said he spoke over the phone with the President who was in Ilocos Norte yesterday and received instruction that he speak for her on the matter. She did not sound upset, he said.
He said Mrs. Arroyo prepared and signed her SALN under oath to the best of her knowledge and in full compliance with the Constitution.
“She honestly believes that she has been very transparent on her assets and liabilities and she has nothing to hide,” Macalintal said.
He said the report insinuating irregularities in the preparation of her SALN “is most unfair and uncalled for.”
He said the report “would accuse the President’s SALN as somewhat irregular just because she reported an amount bigger or higher than her predecessors.”
“We do not know what standard used by the reporter in coming up with her analysis. It is as if that if you reported a big asset, this must be investigated; if small, it’s okay and there should be no more investigation,” Macalintal said.
He said Mrs. Arroyo is inviting anyone to question before the Office of the Ombudsman, where the SALNs are filed, “if he or she has any evidence that the President violated or did not comply with the constitutional requirements in the filing of such disclosure documents.”
He said the President filed her SALNs in good faith and without any intention to deceive anyone.
“Those who alleged otherwise should come up with evidence to prove their uncalled for or self-serving accusations instead of being speculative or judgmental on the matter,” he said.
Macalintal and Rondain said if there were any vagueness in the SALNs, the Office of the Ombudsman should have already pointed out the matter to the First Couple.
Rondain also criticized the article’s use of the term “token compliance” to describe the First Couple’s handling of the requirements of the law.
“Under the law, there’s no such thing as token compliance. Either you comply with the law, with the requirements or you don’t comply. Either you’re alive or dead,” Rondain said.
On the issue of the alleged non-disclosure of the First Couple’s business in the stock market, he said the data is open and available in the records of the Philippine Stock Exchange.
“My feeling is that if the PCIJ has any evidence, it would be better if they bring it out. Because the report is just full of insinuations,” Rondain said.
“It’s a clear indication that democracy is in action in the Philippines and nobody is prevented from making this report but of course the President expects the report to have evidence and not based on speculations,” Macalintal said.
A lot of explaining to do
Senators said the president has a lot of explaining to do regarding the allegations in the PCIJ report.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said every public official should account for the wealth he has acquired as stated in the Constitution and the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Sen. Manuel Roxas II said the Office of the Ombudsman should be the one to look into accountability of a public officials but it was unfortunate that the anti-graft body was sitting on many scandals involving the Arroyo government.
“Of course it will raise eyebrows and the people will wait for an explanation on how it happened because she has no other businesses that can be the source of (her additional wealth),” Roxas said.
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said it would be wise to check the income taxes filed by Mrs. Arroyo.
Enrile said the figures must be justified. “I’m a lawyer, I know how to handle that,” he said.
Roxas said if the President and her financial advisers would say she earned from her shares of stocks, it would be good to check the rates at the time she said she made money out of them.
Sen. Francis Escudero said he had not seen the SALNs of the President but that her salary was considerably low.
Moreover, he said, there is always conflict of interest when a president ventures into a business.
“There is also a worldwide crisis not only in the Philippines, so you wonder why her wealth grew much bigger considering ordinary interest rates, ordinary return on investments on any business that one gets into,” Escudero said.
“I hope she will put that in her SALNs, the explanations of where her wealth came from and that she must be transparent along with the public officials,” Escudero said.
Escudero said it’s doubtful that the wealth had been acquired legally by the President and that her lawyers’ defense should be examined in detail.
Confirmation
The United Opposition (UNO) said it is seriously concerned over reports of “exponential growth” in the wealth of President Arroyo and her family during her term, which exceeded the growth in the wealth of all the three presidents before her, spokesman Ernesto Maceda said yesterday.
“The PCIJ report confirms what people have long known. Arroyo has flouted the rules on accountability and transparency in government and has made a bad example for the million and a half other civil servants running the government,” Maceda said.
“Now we know why she has made token compliance to the requirement of regularly stating a public official’s assets. It’s because she has much to hide. In her eight years in office, Arroyo’s declared net worth more than doubled, from P66.8 million in 2001 to P143.54 million in 2008. The increase of P76.74 million represents a growth rate of 114 percent.” Maceda said quoting the PCIJ report.
Maceda said the PCIJ report showed that the late President Corazon C. Aquino’s declared net worth grew by only 4.8 percent from 1989 to 1992.
He said, by comparison, Fidel V. Ramos’ rose by 34.2 percent from 1992 to 1998, and Joseph ‘Erap’ Ejercito Estrada’s, by 7.2 percent from 1998 to 1999.
If various allowances are thrown in, Mrs. Arroyo’s monthly pay would total P100,000 at most or P1.2 million a year before tax. Yet even then, this represents only 10 percent of the P10.97-million average annual increase in Mrs. Arroyo’s net worth since 2001.
The president’s SALNs, however, offer few clues to explain the big difference, or whether she has other lawful sources of income.
PCIJ said that since 2001, the president has apparently taken the path of “token compliance” instead of going for full disclosure in form and substance of her assets and liabilities, in accordance with the Constitution. As a result, her SALNs in the last eight years have been remarkably full of gaps in data.
Allies come to GMA’s defense
Mrs. Arroyo’s allies at the House of Representatives defended her from insinuations that she had enriched herself during her eight years in office.
Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III saw nothing wrong in Mrs. Arroyo’s net worth since her wealth came from legitimate sources.
“Baka nga interes lang ng pera iyan sa bangko o kaya sa stocks, shares and other investments,” he said.
“Critics are trying to throw everything because they have no more legitimate issues to raise. It is very clear that politics is behind everything.”
Camiguin Rep. Pedro Romualdo said the report on Mrs. Arroyo’s wealth is incomplete.
“It should have included details about the increase on President Arroyo’s net worth,” he said.
Romualdo said being an economist, Mrs. Arroyo had made some good significant investments that earned dividends.
“It seems that the battle among newspapers to boost its circulations is to report negative stories,” he said.
“How about good news? What happened to the positive gains of this administration? Do these good stories and positive achievements of the administration have been given enough space and prominence?” — with Aurea Calica , Jose Rodel Clapano, Delon Porcalla, Jess Diaz
(Comment: This kind of thing will not happen in my term as president. As stated in one of my crowning agenda (which all other presidentiables do not have -- they're only famous and nothing else). I only have one bank account which is open to all Filipinos. Anybody can check it anyday they want and the bank which handles my account will gladly tell them the balance. If that balance is more than what I should be earning as president, then I'll resign. No impeachment needed. If another bank says that I have another account with them or any Filipino finds out that I have another bank account not known to the people, then I'll resign. No impeachment needed. If we are sincere to the people, then this is the best transparency that they'll gonna get form me as their chief executive. You wanna kill corruption from the top? Then let's do this!)
MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo maintained yesterday that she has never and will never use her position for personal profit even as she strongly denied manipulating her statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) that showed her net worth doubling in the last eight years.
Her lawyer, Romulo Macalintal, said the President vehemently denied “any report or speculation alleging defect or her non-compliance with the law in filing her SALN.”
A report from the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) said that based on her SALNs, Mrs. Arroyo’s declared net worth more than doubled from P66.8 million in 2001 to P143.54 million in 2008, or bigger than the combined growth in declared wealth of her three immediate predecessors, including former President Joseph Estrada, who was convicted for plunder.
“The President reiterates that she has never used and will never use or take advantage of her position for personal profit as she had declared in her State of the Nation Address and as expected of her by the people,” Macalintal told a news conference at the Palace that was also attended by First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo’s lawyer, Ruy Rondain.
He said he spoke over the phone with the President who was in Ilocos Norte yesterday and received instruction that he speak for her on the matter. She did not sound upset, he said.
He said Mrs. Arroyo prepared and signed her SALN under oath to the best of her knowledge and in full compliance with the Constitution.
“She honestly believes that she has been very transparent on her assets and liabilities and she has nothing to hide,” Macalintal said.
He said the report insinuating irregularities in the preparation of her SALN “is most unfair and uncalled for.”
He said the report “would accuse the President’s SALN as somewhat irregular just because she reported an amount bigger or higher than her predecessors.”
“We do not know what standard used by the reporter in coming up with her analysis. It is as if that if you reported a big asset, this must be investigated; if small, it’s okay and there should be no more investigation,” Macalintal said.
He said Mrs. Arroyo is inviting anyone to question before the Office of the Ombudsman, where the SALNs are filed, “if he or she has any evidence that the President violated or did not comply with the constitutional requirements in the filing of such disclosure documents.”
He said the President filed her SALNs in good faith and without any intention to deceive anyone.
“Those who alleged otherwise should come up with evidence to prove their uncalled for or self-serving accusations instead of being speculative or judgmental on the matter,” he said.
Macalintal and Rondain said if there were any vagueness in the SALNs, the Office of the Ombudsman should have already pointed out the matter to the First Couple.
Rondain also criticized the article’s use of the term “token compliance” to describe the First Couple’s handling of the requirements of the law.
“Under the law, there’s no such thing as token compliance. Either you comply with the law, with the requirements or you don’t comply. Either you’re alive or dead,” Rondain said.
On the issue of the alleged non-disclosure of the First Couple’s business in the stock market, he said the data is open and available in the records of the Philippine Stock Exchange.
“My feeling is that if the PCIJ has any evidence, it would be better if they bring it out. Because the report is just full of insinuations,” Rondain said.
“It’s a clear indication that democracy is in action in the Philippines and nobody is prevented from making this report but of course the President expects the report to have evidence and not based on speculations,” Macalintal said.
A lot of explaining to do
Senators said the president has a lot of explaining to do regarding the allegations in the PCIJ report.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said every public official should account for the wealth he has acquired as stated in the Constitution and the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Sen. Manuel Roxas II said the Office of the Ombudsman should be the one to look into accountability of a public officials but it was unfortunate that the anti-graft body was sitting on many scandals involving the Arroyo government.
“Of course it will raise eyebrows and the people will wait for an explanation on how it happened because she has no other businesses that can be the source of (her additional wealth),” Roxas said.
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said it would be wise to check the income taxes filed by Mrs. Arroyo.
Enrile said the figures must be justified. “I’m a lawyer, I know how to handle that,” he said.
Roxas said if the President and her financial advisers would say she earned from her shares of stocks, it would be good to check the rates at the time she said she made money out of them.
Sen. Francis Escudero said he had not seen the SALNs of the President but that her salary was considerably low.
Moreover, he said, there is always conflict of interest when a president ventures into a business.
“There is also a worldwide crisis not only in the Philippines, so you wonder why her wealth grew much bigger considering ordinary interest rates, ordinary return on investments on any business that one gets into,” Escudero said.
“I hope she will put that in her SALNs, the explanations of where her wealth came from and that she must be transparent along with the public officials,” Escudero said.
Escudero said it’s doubtful that the wealth had been acquired legally by the President and that her lawyers’ defense should be examined in detail.
Confirmation
The United Opposition (UNO) said it is seriously concerned over reports of “exponential growth” in the wealth of President Arroyo and her family during her term, which exceeded the growth in the wealth of all the three presidents before her, spokesman Ernesto Maceda said yesterday.
“The PCIJ report confirms what people have long known. Arroyo has flouted the rules on accountability and transparency in government and has made a bad example for the million and a half other civil servants running the government,” Maceda said.
“Now we know why she has made token compliance to the requirement of regularly stating a public official’s assets. It’s because she has much to hide. In her eight years in office, Arroyo’s declared net worth more than doubled, from P66.8 million in 2001 to P143.54 million in 2008. The increase of P76.74 million represents a growth rate of 114 percent.” Maceda said quoting the PCIJ report.
Maceda said the PCIJ report showed that the late President Corazon C. Aquino’s declared net worth grew by only 4.8 percent from 1989 to 1992.
He said, by comparison, Fidel V. Ramos’ rose by 34.2 percent from 1992 to 1998, and Joseph ‘Erap’ Ejercito Estrada’s, by 7.2 percent from 1998 to 1999.
If various allowances are thrown in, Mrs. Arroyo’s monthly pay would total P100,000 at most or P1.2 million a year before tax. Yet even then, this represents only 10 percent of the P10.97-million average annual increase in Mrs. Arroyo’s net worth since 2001.
The president’s SALNs, however, offer few clues to explain the big difference, or whether she has other lawful sources of income.
PCIJ said that since 2001, the president has apparently taken the path of “token compliance” instead of going for full disclosure in form and substance of her assets and liabilities, in accordance with the Constitution. As a result, her SALNs in the last eight years have been remarkably full of gaps in data.
Allies come to GMA’s defense
Mrs. Arroyo’s allies at the House of Representatives defended her from insinuations that she had enriched herself during her eight years in office.
Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III saw nothing wrong in Mrs. Arroyo’s net worth since her wealth came from legitimate sources.
“Baka nga interes lang ng pera iyan sa bangko o kaya sa stocks, shares and other investments,” he said.
“Critics are trying to throw everything because they have no more legitimate issues to raise. It is very clear that politics is behind everything.”
Camiguin Rep. Pedro Romualdo said the report on Mrs. Arroyo’s wealth is incomplete.
“It should have included details about the increase on President Arroyo’s net worth,” he said.
Romualdo said being an economist, Mrs. Arroyo had made some good significant investments that earned dividends.
“It seems that the battle among newspapers to boost its circulations is to report negative stories,” he said.
“How about good news? What happened to the positive gains of this administration? Do these good stories and positive achievements of the administration have been given enough space and prominence?” — with Aurea Calica , Jose Rodel Clapano, Delon Porcalla, Jess Diaz
(Comment: This kind of thing will not happen in my term as president. As stated in one of my crowning agenda (which all other presidentiables do not have -- they're only famous and nothing else). I only have one bank account which is open to all Filipinos. Anybody can check it anyday they want and the bank which handles my account will gladly tell them the balance. If that balance is more than what I should be earning as president, then I'll resign. No impeachment needed. If another bank says that I have another account with them or any Filipino finds out that I have another bank account not known to the people, then I'll resign. No impeachment needed. If we are sincere to the people, then this is the best transparency that they'll gonna get form me as their chief executive. You wanna kill corruption from the top? Then let's do this!)
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Arroyo announces P500M for repair of schools
By Tonette Orejas
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MACABEBE, PAMPANGA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday announced the allocation of P500 million to repair school buildings that were destroyed or damaged by floods and typhoons in the country.
Of the amount, P110 million will go to the second district, where the President’s elder son Juan Miguel or “Mikey” is congressman, and to the fourth district.
Ms Arroyo made known the fund allocation in a program at Macabebe East Central School in Barangay San Roque here. It was her 21st visit to Pampanga since February and her first out-of-town trip after arriving from a working visit to the United States. She also visited Pampanga a few hours before leaving for the US.
As in her previous visits, Ms Arroyo did not announce her political plans after her term ends in June 2010. At least 19 of the 21 visits were to Pampanga’s second district, fueling the belief that she might run for its congressional seat next year.
Rep. Anna York Bondoc (fourth district) thanked the President for approving the allotment and Representative Arroyo for sharing at least P50.43 million with her district.
Bondoc said she would use the money to repair 45 flooded schools in Apalit, Masantol, Macabebe, Sto. Tomas, San Simon, San Luis and Candaba towns.
At the same school, Ms Arroyo inspected the repair of two buildings submerged under two feet of water.
In Sasmuan town, Ms Arroyo awarded 40 certificates of lots to families relocated to a housing site in Barangay San Antonio.
Despite the strong rain, the President proceeded to Barangay Sta. Monica to lead groundbreaking rites for a bridge, inspected a road in Barangay San Pedro, observed the cleanup of a creek in Barangay San Nicolas I, and opened a road in San Nicolas II.
In Barangay Sto. Tomas, she inspected the repair of a school and witnessed a government service caravan.
(Comment: Why only now? Kasi malapit na ang 2010? Ang tagal na nitong kailangan hindi lamang sa lugar nila kundi sa buong bansa!)
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MACABEBE, PAMPANGA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday announced the allocation of P500 million to repair school buildings that were destroyed or damaged by floods and typhoons in the country.
Of the amount, P110 million will go to the second district, where the President’s elder son Juan Miguel or “Mikey” is congressman, and to the fourth district.
Ms Arroyo made known the fund allocation in a program at Macabebe East Central School in Barangay San Roque here. It was her 21st visit to Pampanga since February and her first out-of-town trip after arriving from a working visit to the United States. She also visited Pampanga a few hours before leaving for the US.
As in her previous visits, Ms Arroyo did not announce her political plans after her term ends in June 2010. At least 19 of the 21 visits were to Pampanga’s second district, fueling the belief that she might run for its congressional seat next year.
Rep. Anna York Bondoc (fourth district) thanked the President for approving the allotment and Representative Arroyo for sharing at least P50.43 million with her district.
Bondoc said she would use the money to repair 45 flooded schools in Apalit, Masantol, Macabebe, Sto. Tomas, San Simon, San Luis and Candaba towns.
At the same school, Ms Arroyo inspected the repair of two buildings submerged under two feet of water.
In Sasmuan town, Ms Arroyo awarded 40 certificates of lots to families relocated to a housing site in Barangay San Antonio.
Despite the strong rain, the President proceeded to Barangay Sta. Monica to lead groundbreaking rites for a bridge, inspected a road in Barangay San Pedro, observed the cleanup of a creek in Barangay San Nicolas I, and opened a road in San Nicolas II.
In Barangay Sto. Tomas, she inspected the repair of a school and witnessed a government service caravan.
(Comment: Why only now? Kasi malapit na ang 2010? Ang tagal na nitong kailangan hindi lamang sa lugar nila kundi sa buong bansa!)
Kris, Noynoy now critical force in 2010
By Leila Salaverria, Marinel Cruz
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines — When Kris Aquino and her brother Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III take up where their parents left off, they could be a force to reckon with, according to a lawmaker.
The way former President Corazon Aquino’s children comported themselves after her death, coupled with the overwhelming outpouring of affection and gratitude for her, boosted the family’s political stock, Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez said yesterday.
“They have ascended to a higher plane as far as the political climate is concerned. Because of this, Sen. Noynoy Aquino is going to play a critical role in the 2010 elections. Inevitably, the Aquino family is going to play a critical role because of the great outpouring of love and affection for the former President and the Aquino family,” Golez said.
The Aquino children are also the logical heirs to the legacy that the former President left behind.
“The bigger question now is who would be the heir to the Cory legacy. Of course, the first claimants to that are those who are part of the bloodline,” Golez said at the Serye forum.
As she bade farewell to her mother on Wednesday, Kris, Aquino’s youngest daughter and a well-known show biz personality, indicated that she might join her brother in politics to continue their parents’ work.
“Like the promise left by dad and mom to our country, Noy, you and I are in the position to continue what they have started,” Kris said Wednesday after the Requiem Mass at Manila Cathedral.
Loud applause greeted Kris’ statement. She also promised to support her brother, the only Aquino child to have embarked on a political career so far.
Thousands, if not millions, have commiserated with the former President’s children and loved ones after her death on Aug. 1 following a bout with colon cancer.
Many have showed up for her wake and funeral, invoking memories of the massive turnout that also marked the funeral of her assassinated husband, Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr.
(Comment: There goes another trapo trying to giving a food-for-thought (a typical makalumang style na naman ng lumang politiko) that the Aquino kids may run and win in 2010. If this happens, it will be the same thing all over again for Filipinos. With respect to Ninoy and Cory Aquino, Kris has no political agenda for the poor masses of Filipinos and neither Nonoy III. This is a typical Filipino style political cycle that should now be stopped in Philippine politics. Dahil mga anak ng dating politiko pwede nang tumakbo. Bilangin natin ang mga politikong anak ng mga dating politiko at sabihin natin kung me nagawa nga ang mga ito sa more than 50 years nang kahirapan sa bansa?? Aber?? We need new politicians. New minds. New energy and strategies to alleviate and change the lives of more than 90 million poor Filipinos! Not some emotional statements from old politicians who have nothing for us but old, outdated and unsuccessful strategies for the poor) Dapat tumahimik na lang 'tong si Rep. Golez at magretire na. Period.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines — When Kris Aquino and her brother Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III take up where their parents left off, they could be a force to reckon with, according to a lawmaker.
The way former President Corazon Aquino’s children comported themselves after her death, coupled with the overwhelming outpouring of affection and gratitude for her, boosted the family’s political stock, Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez said yesterday.
“They have ascended to a higher plane as far as the political climate is concerned. Because of this, Sen. Noynoy Aquino is going to play a critical role in the 2010 elections. Inevitably, the Aquino family is going to play a critical role because of the great outpouring of love and affection for the former President and the Aquino family,” Golez said.
The Aquino children are also the logical heirs to the legacy that the former President left behind.
“The bigger question now is who would be the heir to the Cory legacy. Of course, the first claimants to that are those who are part of the bloodline,” Golez said at the Serye forum.
As she bade farewell to her mother on Wednesday, Kris, Aquino’s youngest daughter and a well-known show biz personality, indicated that she might join her brother in politics to continue their parents’ work.
“Like the promise left by dad and mom to our country, Noy, you and I are in the position to continue what they have started,” Kris said Wednesday after the Requiem Mass at Manila Cathedral.
Loud applause greeted Kris’ statement. She also promised to support her brother, the only Aquino child to have embarked on a political career so far.
Thousands, if not millions, have commiserated with the former President’s children and loved ones after her death on Aug. 1 following a bout with colon cancer.
Many have showed up for her wake and funeral, invoking memories of the massive turnout that also marked the funeral of her assassinated husband, Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr.
(Comment: There goes another trapo trying to giving a food-for-thought (a typical makalumang style na naman ng lumang politiko) that the Aquino kids may run and win in 2010. If this happens, it will be the same thing all over again for Filipinos. With respect to Ninoy and Cory Aquino, Kris has no political agenda for the poor masses of Filipinos and neither Nonoy III. This is a typical Filipino style political cycle that should now be stopped in Philippine politics. Dahil mga anak ng dating politiko pwede nang tumakbo. Bilangin natin ang mga politikong anak ng mga dating politiko at sabihin natin kung me nagawa nga ang mga ito sa more than 50 years nang kahirapan sa bansa?? Aber?? We need new politicians. New minds. New energy and strategies to alleviate and change the lives of more than 90 million poor Filipinos! Not some emotional statements from old politicians who have nothing for us but old, outdated and unsuccessful strategies for the poor) Dapat tumahimik na lang 'tong si Rep. Golez at magretire na. Period.
Monday, August 3, 2009
FAMILY FEUDS
Again, we are witnessing feuds from the small families running the Philippine politics. I suggest these people respect the wake of former President Cory Aquino and say their differences after the Mother of Philippine Democracy has been buried.
The Aquinos, Arroyos, Estradads, Enriles, Marcoses and a few other political players in Philippine politics are trying to show that the lives and future of more than 90 million Filipinos "depend" on them. Para bang nasa kanila na lamang ang pag-asa ng Pilipinas. Parang sila na lang ang tama.
Even the rich families in the country are but a handful. The whole 1,701 islands are owned or being ran by few families. The economy seems "dependent" on them too, while more than 12% of the population are out of the country trying to find a confortable living.
This is the grim scenario that our country now has. This has got to change. Politics should change. Politicians should be changed. The rich has to share their wealth by creating more opportunities to the poor majority of the people. Politicial dynasties should be abolished all together while the people should be brave enough to choose honest and responsible leaders. Leaders that mind its people. Leaders that think nothing but the good of its constituents and not for themselves only and their cronies. Oras na para wasakin natin ang ganitong kaisipan. Panahon na para baguhin nating lahat ang kaisipang ang ilang pamilya lang na ito at mayayamang ito nakasalalay ang ating kinabukasan.
Again, the obvious is being highlighted because of Tita Cory's passing. Panahon na! Sobra na! Palitan na! Battlecries that toppled the Marcoses to power. This time let justice be done.
Again, Ninoy was right; the Filipino is worth dying for.
Let go of corruption. Jail the corrupt. Let justice and equality reign.
Sa darating na election, piliin natin ang may malasakit sa atin, sa ating mga kapatid, kapinsanan, kamag-anakan at kaibigan.
A successful leader is not always the one that is the strongest, but the one that cares for his people.
The Aquinos, Arroyos, Estradads, Enriles, Marcoses and a few other political players in Philippine politics are trying to show that the lives and future of more than 90 million Filipinos "depend" on them. Para bang nasa kanila na lamang ang pag-asa ng Pilipinas. Parang sila na lang ang tama.
Even the rich families in the country are but a handful. The whole 1,701 islands are owned or being ran by few families. The economy seems "dependent" on them too, while more than 12% of the population are out of the country trying to find a confortable living.
This is the grim scenario that our country now has. This has got to change. Politics should change. Politicians should be changed. The rich has to share their wealth by creating more opportunities to the poor majority of the people. Politicial dynasties should be abolished all together while the people should be brave enough to choose honest and responsible leaders. Leaders that mind its people. Leaders that think nothing but the good of its constituents and not for themselves only and their cronies. Oras na para wasakin natin ang ganitong kaisipan. Panahon na para baguhin nating lahat ang kaisipang ang ilang pamilya lang na ito at mayayamang ito nakasalalay ang ating kinabukasan.
Again, the obvious is being highlighted because of Tita Cory's passing. Panahon na! Sobra na! Palitan na! Battlecries that toppled the Marcoses to power. This time let justice be done.
Again, Ninoy was right; the Filipino is worth dying for.
Let go of corruption. Jail the corrupt. Let justice and equality reign.
Sa darating na election, piliin natin ang may malasakit sa atin, sa ating mga kapatid, kapinsanan, kamag-anakan at kaibigan.
A successful leader is not always the one that is the strongest, but the one that cares for his people.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Some senators slam President’s report
The staunch critics of President Arroyo at the Senate were disappointed over her supposed final State of the Nation Address (SoNA) Monday.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. said Mrs. Arroyo’s ninth and final speech before Congress was a “total waste of time.”
“For people to have been fooled before by the promises of a good SoNA was plain stupidity. To be fooled the ninth time around is utter insanity, total waste of time, and unforgivable,” Pimentel said in a text message to reporters.
Sen. Francis Escudero said he is disappointed that she “did not say goodbye” to the people which they have all been waiting to hear from her.
“I’m disappointed she did not clarify her stand on Charter change and her 2010 plans,” Escudero said.
Escudero also said it was a “glass half-filled” speech with scant mention of the “glass half-empty” part of the picture.
“There was no mention of corruption in government and the human rights situation. I would have wanted a more balanced presentation to complete the picture of the true state of the nation,” Escudero said.
“I seriously doubt and will check her figures on the construction of 95,000 classrooms, 60,000 teachers, eight million jobs, and two million hectares of irrigated lands. I disagree with still ‘reactionary’ policies regarding Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs),” he added.
But Escudero said he noted Mrs. Arroyo made some good points in her speech. “I agree though with the following: condonation of P42 billion in obligations of Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) beneficiaries; continuation of the hunger mitigation program; concentrating on revenue collection efficiency; a knowledge-based economy as the way of the future; and exploring the settlement of conflicts via talks instead of bullets, with exception of terrorists,” Escudero said.
“To be fair, masipag naman talaga siya. Kung saan nga lang ginagamit ang sipag, ibang usapan na iyon. And I hope her last line meant goodbye,” he said.
Other senators said President Arroyo merely used the SoNA as an avenue for critic-bashing.
“Hindi ko pinagpapansin ang mga ganyang banat, ang pinapansin ko ay ang hinaing ng ating mga kababayan,” Sen. Manuel Roxas II who was alluded to by the President on the Cheaper Medicines Bill.
Roxas is author of the Senate version of the bill that seeks to lower the price of medicines. He is also a staunch critic of the Arroyo administration. He declined to attend the SoNA and instead joined street protesters in Quezon City.
Sen. Rodolfo Biazon also said he was waiting to hear from Mrs. Arroyo a specific program for national unity but was upset by what he heard.
“I wanted to hear what should be done to end this insurgency (in Mindanao) in 11 months. Nobody is arguing about that we need a government-initiated peace process, but how do we end the insurgency? I did not hear it on her presentation,” Biazon pointed out.
Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, for his part, said Mrs. Arroyo deserves the “best actress award for portraying a good, honest, and productive president.”
“(There is) major disconnect between PGMA’s speech and the reality being experienced by the Filipino people. Like a student being kicked out of school for failing too many subjects giving a speech at the graduation claiming to be an honor student!” Cayetano said.
Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said notwithstanding the absence of a formal farewell, he said the people will have to simply bring her to the door come the May, 2010, elections so as to ensure her exit.
Sen. Loren Legarda, said the SoNA did not “reach the stomachs of hungry Filipinos.”
The President’s SoNA, while having less gimmicky compared to those of previous years, continued to be a hit-and-miss affair, she said.
Earlier, at the opening of the new session of the Senate, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile led the senators in warning the House of Representatives that they would shoot down any move to convert Congress into a Constituent Assembly to amend the Constitution.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. said Mrs. Arroyo’s ninth and final speech before Congress was a “total waste of time.”
“For people to have been fooled before by the promises of a good SoNA was plain stupidity. To be fooled the ninth time around is utter insanity, total waste of time, and unforgivable,” Pimentel said in a text message to reporters.
Sen. Francis Escudero said he is disappointed that she “did not say goodbye” to the people which they have all been waiting to hear from her.
“I’m disappointed she did not clarify her stand on Charter change and her 2010 plans,” Escudero said.
Escudero also said it was a “glass half-filled” speech with scant mention of the “glass half-empty” part of the picture.
“There was no mention of corruption in government and the human rights situation. I would have wanted a more balanced presentation to complete the picture of the true state of the nation,” Escudero said.
“I seriously doubt and will check her figures on the construction of 95,000 classrooms, 60,000 teachers, eight million jobs, and two million hectares of irrigated lands. I disagree with still ‘reactionary’ policies regarding Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs),” he added.
But Escudero said he noted Mrs. Arroyo made some good points in her speech. “I agree though with the following: condonation of P42 billion in obligations of Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) beneficiaries; continuation of the hunger mitigation program; concentrating on revenue collection efficiency; a knowledge-based economy as the way of the future; and exploring the settlement of conflicts via talks instead of bullets, with exception of terrorists,” Escudero said.
“To be fair, masipag naman talaga siya. Kung saan nga lang ginagamit ang sipag, ibang usapan na iyon. And I hope her last line meant goodbye,” he said.
Other senators said President Arroyo merely used the SoNA as an avenue for critic-bashing.
“Hindi ko pinagpapansin ang mga ganyang banat, ang pinapansin ko ay ang hinaing ng ating mga kababayan,” Sen. Manuel Roxas II who was alluded to by the President on the Cheaper Medicines Bill.
Roxas is author of the Senate version of the bill that seeks to lower the price of medicines. He is also a staunch critic of the Arroyo administration. He declined to attend the SoNA and instead joined street protesters in Quezon City.
Sen. Rodolfo Biazon also said he was waiting to hear from Mrs. Arroyo a specific program for national unity but was upset by what he heard.
“I wanted to hear what should be done to end this insurgency (in Mindanao) in 11 months. Nobody is arguing about that we need a government-initiated peace process, but how do we end the insurgency? I did not hear it on her presentation,” Biazon pointed out.
Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, for his part, said Mrs. Arroyo deserves the “best actress award for portraying a good, honest, and productive president.”
“(There is) major disconnect between PGMA’s speech and the reality being experienced by the Filipino people. Like a student being kicked out of school for failing too many subjects giving a speech at the graduation claiming to be an honor student!” Cayetano said.
Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said notwithstanding the absence of a formal farewell, he said the people will have to simply bring her to the door come the May, 2010, elections so as to ensure her exit.
Sen. Loren Legarda, said the SoNA did not “reach the stomachs of hungry Filipinos.”
The President’s SoNA, while having less gimmicky compared to those of previous years, continued to be a hit-and-miss affair, she said.
Earlier, at the opening of the new session of the Senate, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile led the senators in warning the House of Representatives that they would shoot down any move to convert Congress into a Constituent Assembly to amend the Constitution.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Visit To Manila
I got a chance visiting Manila last week and guess what I saw from TVs and heard from radios? Yes, advertisements "paid by friends" daw of Sens. Manny Villar, Mar Roxas, and even Mr. Puno. Even national papers are heralding full pages of political parties specifically that of the majority block dead-ma lang ang dating, but clearly promoting it to the public.
Now we know that formal political campaigns by law are allowed only in February 2010. It's not even November yet (the month for presidentiables to file for candidacy). Malayo pa ang kampanya pero naglabasan na ang mga "paid by friends" ads ng mga aspirants na 'to. We know that they have the money to do it, but this does not give any of them the right to banner their ads even paid by their friends.
Now we know exactly kung sino ang kurap at bumabalga ng batas! Ipinakikilala lang nila this early kung sino ang mandaraya at gustong magkaroon ng advantage over the other candidates. Ngayon pa nga lang nag-i-invest na ng mahal tong mga ito, papaano pa kaya kung manalo ang mga ito dahil sa pandaraya? Tayo na naman ang kawawa. Ngayon pa lang eh hindi na sumusunod ang mga ito sa guidelines ng COMELEC. Papaano pa kaya kung manalo ang mga ito? Sino ang babawian at kukunan ng kanilang itinaya this early? Lumang strategy na to ng mga TRAPO na ginagawa pa nila. Huwag na kasing botohan ang mga 'to. Magbago na tayo. Ngayon computerized na ang election, patalsikin na natin 'tong mga obvious na trapo para magkaroon ng totoong pagbabago ang ating bansa!
Now we know that formal political campaigns by law are allowed only in February 2010. It's not even November yet (the month for presidentiables to file for candidacy). Malayo pa ang kampanya pero naglabasan na ang mga "paid by friends" ads ng mga aspirants na 'to. We know that they have the money to do it, but this does not give any of them the right to banner their ads even paid by their friends.
Now we know exactly kung sino ang kurap at bumabalga ng batas! Ipinakikilala lang nila this early kung sino ang mandaraya at gustong magkaroon ng advantage over the other candidates. Ngayon pa nga lang nag-i-invest na ng mahal tong mga ito, papaano pa kaya kung manalo ang mga ito dahil sa pandaraya? Tayo na naman ang kawawa. Ngayon pa lang eh hindi na sumusunod ang mga ito sa guidelines ng COMELEC. Papaano pa kaya kung manalo ang mga ito? Sino ang babawian at kukunan ng kanilang itinaya this early? Lumang strategy na to ng mga TRAPO na ginagawa pa nila. Huwag na kasing botohan ang mga 'to. Magbago na tayo. Ngayon computerized na ang election, patalsikin na natin 'tong mga obvious na trapo para magkaroon ng totoong pagbabago ang ating bansa!
‘Narration of lies’—Estrada
BAGUIO CITY – Former president Joseph Estrada, convicted of plunder and freed by presidential pardon, said here on Friday that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) tomorrow would be “nothing but a narration of lies and corruption in her years of being the nation’s leader.”
“On Monday, GMA’s Sona will be anything like in the past, a litany of lies, so be pro-active and make your voices be heard,” he told a youth forum at the University of the Cordilleras here.
“We need real leaders who are transparent, honest and sincere. For someone who wants to be a president, my advice is do not lie, cheat or steal,” said Estrada, who was jailed for receiving millions of pesos in kickbacks from the illegal numbers game jueteng.
Estrada, ousted in a military-backed uprising, was also found to have used an alias when he opened a bank account.
Estrada, who insists he was wrongly convicted, criticized the Arroyo administration for having the most scams involving her Cabinet. He claimed that none of his Cabinet members were involved in scandals during his term as president.
Quoting a World Bank study, Estrada said the Philippines was one of the most corrupt countries in the world as a result of bad governance.
During his trip here, Estrada distributed T-shirts, cellular phones and P30,000 in cash to students who attended the forum.
He later joined a motorcade on Session Road.
Estrada calls his sorties a campaign to explain to the people that he did not commit the crimes which he was convicted of, but many in his camp said it was the ex-President’s way of preparing for a return to power through the 2010 elections.
During his abbreviated term, various scandals also rocked the government, including accusations that government funds were used to raise the value of shares of stock of one of Estrada’s closest friends.
Estrada was also linked to the murders of publicist Salvador Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito, but he repeatedly denied it. Desiree Caluza, Inquirer Northern Luzon
(Comment: This is another nonsense news. GMA is corrupt being criticized by Erap who got jailed for corruption. Waste of time 'to).
“On Monday, GMA’s Sona will be anything like in the past, a litany of lies, so be pro-active and make your voices be heard,” he told a youth forum at the University of the Cordilleras here.
“We need real leaders who are transparent, honest and sincere. For someone who wants to be a president, my advice is do not lie, cheat or steal,” said Estrada, who was jailed for receiving millions of pesos in kickbacks from the illegal numbers game jueteng.
Estrada, ousted in a military-backed uprising, was also found to have used an alias when he opened a bank account.
Estrada, who insists he was wrongly convicted, criticized the Arroyo administration for having the most scams involving her Cabinet. He claimed that none of his Cabinet members were involved in scandals during his term as president.
Quoting a World Bank study, Estrada said the Philippines was one of the most corrupt countries in the world as a result of bad governance.
During his trip here, Estrada distributed T-shirts, cellular phones and P30,000 in cash to students who attended the forum.
He later joined a motorcade on Session Road.
Estrada calls his sorties a campaign to explain to the people that he did not commit the crimes which he was convicted of, but many in his camp said it was the ex-President’s way of preparing for a return to power through the 2010 elections.
During his abbreviated term, various scandals also rocked the government, including accusations that government funds were used to raise the value of shares of stock of one of Estrada’s closest friends.
Estrada was also linked to the murders of publicist Salvador Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito, but he repeatedly denied it. Desiree Caluza, Inquirer Northern Luzon
(Comment: This is another nonsense news. GMA is corrupt being criticized by Erap who got jailed for corruption. Waste of time 'to).
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Sa Mga Maagang Election Banners O Posters ng mga Politiko sa Bansa
Naglipana na ang mga banners ng mga kandidato sa bansa at napakarami pa sa mga kandidatong ito ay ikinabit pa sa mga linya ng kuryetnte ang kanilang mga mukha; mga kandidatong tatakbo sa susunod na eleksiyon. Ngayon pa lamang, alam na kaagad natin kung sino sa mga kandidato ang me masamang intentisyon na makalamang sa ibang kandidato dahil ilang buwan pa bago nila pwedeng ikabit ang kanilang mga anunsiyo at banners o posters. Alam na kaagad natin kung sino ang mga mandaraya, mga corrupt, at mga gagawa ng hindi mabuti para sa taong bayan. Ngayon pa nga lang eh binabalga na nila ang batas o hindi sumusunod sa batas, papaano pa kaya pagkatapos ng eleksiyon kapag nanalo ang mga ito? Hay, nakakasuka na talaga ang mga ito!
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