Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Ellen Tordesillas sez Typhoon Ondoy is Gloria's fault



Before judging the actions of this top woman blogger, I had to step back and consider if I had done the same thing during disasters of the same magnitude as the one brought by Ondoy.

Then I realized, I don't have a lot of posts during the times of disasters and I haven't done enough during those times.

I only have one post, so far, devoted to Ramon Eugenio's cause and it is eating at me right now.

So, here's the deal, people.

Every time a disaster strikes, I plan to twitter and blog for the Philippine National Red Cross -- suspending all the usual commentary.

Now as for top woman blogger and her boyfriend, young chubby blogger, you ought to consider that your traffic can actually be useful during times of great national emergencies.

Here's an action plan of sorts that I'd like to work on with bloggers, twitterers, plurkers, and Facebook users.  It is modeled upon the action plan or idea for the PNRC's Project 143.


BEFORE A DISASTER.

1. Look for your locality on the Google Map.  Identify the houses and buildings in your area, note approximately how many people in each area.  If you can, note names and contact numbers of the people you know in that house or building.  Do this for houses or buildings within a 100 meter radius.

2. Find out if there are any potential hazards in your area.  Do you live near a river? Do you live near the seashore? How many feet are you from sea level? Do you live in a place that is congested and prone to fire? Do you live near a fault line?  Do live on a sloping area on a hill or mountain? Take note of this and also note the last time that such a disaster happened.

3. Find out what pre-cautionary measures are in place against disasters.  If you live near a river, are there dikes? Is there a reporting system in place where during a storm, people are detailed to watch if the dike is being breached and tell people to leave the area?  If you live in a congested area which is prone to fire, do you have the necessary warning systems and firefighting equipment?

DURING A DISASTER

1. Information is key and this is where your google mapping will be useful in mapping out the effects of the disaster in your area.  Give out the map of the area affected, along with the notes of the number of people in your area.

2. Post blog entries, twitters, plurks, and FB status updates alerting people of the disaster.

3. If you can get information, publish VERIFIED data on the people and areas affected.

AFTER A DISASTER

1. Post appeals on the internet for help, informing people how they can send goods in kind and where to drop it off.  As for cash donations, it is best to refer them to established organizations such as LGUs, the Red Cross, and media organizations.


I guess, this plan still needs a lot of work. I need help in developing this.

Typhoon Ondoy relief operations at the Philippine National Red Cross



These kids are volunteering whatever they can.  They have family in flooded areas too.

What are you doing?

NDCC Updates on Typhoon Ondoy Victims, damage

Please click the link below for the NDCC updates on casualties, evacuees, and names of people saved.


http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sites/default/files/others/downloads/ndcc_ondoy.pdf

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Politics during the Typhoon Onyok floods

Victims of disasters will ask and receive help from anyone.  And politicians, presumably out to get votes, will make a display of giving relief goods and giving comfort to victims.

It happens every year.

What would be different is if by next year, we can find the next President implementing specific solutions that would prevent or mitigate the disasters we experience year in and year out.

In the meantime, I think it is much more important that people get clothes, they get food, and they get help rebuilding what was lost.  There are thousands of Filipinos, YOUR COUNTRYMEN, who are suffering and who may still be wading in flood water.

In criticizing the politicians who may or may have not labeled disaster relief goods with their names, some bloggers ought to consider if they had done anything even to help.

Pictures of Provident Village Marikina in the aftermath of typhoon Ondoy's floods



This used to be my father-in-law's house on Harvard Street, Holy Family, Provident Village, Marikina.  It's just an empty shell right now and mud is everywhere.

It is just about a block away from Riverside Drive, which of course, is beside the river.

Flood waters rose up to around 15 feet or more. Everything in it (furniture, appliances, clothes, you name it) it call got damaged.  The noisy dog they have is missing too.

But, I guess, this is the worst of it and others have bigger problems.  Especially poorer communities outside of Provident Village.

MMDA Chairman and former Marikina Mayor Bayani Fernando took the blame for it.  But I guess, that really doesn't do much help.

Other bloggers have begun distributing pictures of relief goods with labels bearing the names of certain candidates.  But, just by looking at the picture, it's easy to see that the food packet with the label could have easily been made up (just by putting a label on an ordinary styropore food container).  Another blogger put up a picture of the President's son buying vodka.

Come on people, leave the politicking till later!  Put up posts saying how other people can help those who have lost everything.

Video of Typhoon Ondoy flooding from SM Sta Mesa

Another angle of the floods brought by Typhoon as it came rushing by SM Sta Mesa. This mall is just beside the Pasig River and you can see just how huge the flood was.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Typhoon Ondoy video of flood rushing into SM Sta Mesa

My favorite mall, SM Sta. Mesa, got flooded and its basement level is now a swimming pool.  This is the level where they have the grocery, one that was just recently remodeled.

Pictures of Philippine National Red Cross rescue operations in Cainta










I had been wondering about what they were doing at the height of Typhoon Ondoy and I guessed rightly, they were out there trying to help people trapped in the flood.

Dick Gordon, Atty. Rey Millan, Joel Erestain, and Atty. Inky Reyes, all just happy to be of help.

List of Typhoon Ondoy Evacuation Centers

(Reposted from www.kakkampi.blogspot.com)

QUEZON CITY


UP College of Arts and Letters

Go to: College of Arts and Letters (CAL)
University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City

Hotline: 09296454102 (Prof. Roselle Pineda)

Look for: Guard on Duty (in UP CAL)

Operations: 24 hours until Wednesday tentatively

You can:

# Donate medicines, clothes, blankets, food to be distributed by Citizens’ Disaster Response Center.


Erica Paredes

Go to: Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City
(Call or text contact number for complete address) Contact #: 09174741930

Look for: Erica Paredes

Operations: Throughout the week tentatively, from 10 am to 6 pm

You can:

# Donate ready-to-eat foods like hard-boiled egg, bread, packed juice, sandwich filling

# Volunteer to prepare sandwiches and distribute goods


NoyMar Relief Operations – QC

Go to: Balay Expo Center, Farmers Market, Cubao or in White Space, Pasong Tamo Ext., Near BMW, Makati

Look for: Clare Amador or Jana Vicente

Hotlines: 09285205508, 09285205499, 0908-6579998, 0939-3633436, 9137122

Operations: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. throughout the week until further notice.

Website: www.marroxas.com

You can:

# Donate drinking water, old medicines, clothing, blankets, canned goods, noodles

# Volunteer to man stations and repack food.


Miriam Quiambao and World Vision Development Foundation

Go to: One Orchard Road Building in Eastwood or at the World Vision office at 389 Quezon Avenue, corner West 6th St., Quezon City

Hotline: 0917-8623209

Look for: The guard in the lobby (on One Orchard Road)

Website: http://www.twitter.com/miriamq, www.worldvision.org.ph

Operations: Until Sept. 28, 2009 (Monday), 24-hour operation

You can:

# Donate goods like clothes, blankets, canned goods, crackers, mattress, hygiene kits, noodles, bottled water, oatmeal, instant coffee, sugar (for relief pack to be distributed by World Vision)

# Volunteer to help repack relief goods for World Vision starting today at 7pm

# Deposit cash donations to World Vision Development Foundation, BPI savings account number 4251002415 and BDO savings account number 270043411


Philippine Army

Go to: Philippine Army Gym inside Fort Bonifacio, Makati or General Head Quarter’s Gym in Camp Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, EDSA, Quezon City

Hotline: 892-3417 (direct line), 845-9555 (trunkline) local. 6464 and 6466

Look for: Any personnel on duty

Operations: Ongoing everyday for 24 hours until further notice

You can:

# Donate relief goods (no cash)

# Call hotline for rescue, evacuation or relief assistance.

# Call to report missing persons


Papemelroti Gifts and Decorative Accessories

Go to: 91 Roces Ave., Corner Scout Tobias, Quezon City or mall branches in Ali Mall Cubao, SM City North EDSA, SM Fairview, SM Megamall, Glorietta 3 in Makati, SM Centerpoint, SM Southmall

Hotline: refer to website for individual branch numbers

Website: www.papemelroti.com

Operations: Mall hours (10am-9pm), ongoing everyday until further notice

You can:

# Donate goods like canned goods, clothings, blanket, cooking utensils and other relief goods EXCEPT cash.


Ateneo de Manila University Disaster Response Group

Go to: Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights , Quezon City, Manuel V. Pangilinan Building Center for Student Leadership Lobby, University Dorm Cervini Hall

Hotlines: 09089977166, 09178952792, 4266001 local 5050

Look for: Gio Tiongson, President, Sanggunian ng mga Mag-aaral

Website: www.ateneosanggu.com

Operations: 24-hour operations for the entire week

You can:

# Donate goods like bottled water, sardines, canned goods, candles, cup noodles.

# Volunteer to help repack relief goods, administer basic first aid.

# Report missing persons.

# Seek evacuation/temporary shelter at University Dorm Cervini Hall.


Citizens Disaster Response Center (CDRC)

Go To: 72-A Times St., West Triangle Homes, Quezon City.

Hotlines: 9299820, 9299822

Operations: 8 a.m. onwards.

You can:

# Donate money, old clothes, blanket, bigas, munggo.

# Volunteer to help distribute goods.


Radio Veritas

Go To: Veritas Tower , West Ave. corner EDSA

Look For: Karla Turingan

Hotlines: 9257931 to 39, 0918VERITAS

Operations: 24-hours, tentatively until Tuesday.

You can:

# Donate old clothes, food, assorted goods, bottled water, cash.


Our Lady of Pentecost Parish

Go to: 12 F. dela Rosa cor. C. Salvador Streets, Loyola Heights , Quezon City

Hotlines: 632 4342397, 63 2 9290665

Operations: 7 a.m. till 10 p.m. Sunday, until further notice.

You Can:

# Donate packed meals, bottled water.


MAKATI/TAGUIG/MUNTINLUPA


Victory Fellowship – Fort Bonifacio

Go to: Victory Fellowship, Every Nation Building , across Market-Market, Fort Bonifacio

Look for: Pastor Bernard Marquez

Hotlines: 813-FORT, 8171212

Operations: Tentatively until 5pm, may may extend hours. Entire week until Friday.

Website: www.twitter.com/VictoryFort

You can:

# Donate canned goods, milk, bottled water, clothes, cash.

# Volunteer to help pack relief goods


Sacred Heart of Jesus Chaplaincy

Go to: Hillsborough Village, Cupang, Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila

Hotline: 8428148, 8079847

Look for: Genelyn Sembrano, Meanne Cuneta

Website: www.sacredheartofjesus-alabang.org

Operations: Tuesday-Sunday (Sept. 29-Oct 4). 8 am to 12 noon, 2 to 6 pm

You can:

# Donate water, blankets, shoes, clothes and other goods

# Donate in cash


PASIG CITY


LUZON RELIEF: Volunteer / Donate / Pray

Go to: Renaissance Fitness Center, 2nd Floor, Bramante Building, Renaissance Towers, Ortigas, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City

Hotline: 0929-8713488

Look for: Warren Habaluyas, co-founder

E-mail: luzonrelief@gmail.com

Operations: Monday to Saturday (Sept. 28-Oct. 3), 9am-7pm

You can:

# Donate non-perishable food items, beddings, pillows, blankets, clothes

# You can donate cash but it is not encouraged


- Compiled by Annalyn Ardoña and Patricia Faustino, GMA NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS

My house: An evacuation center

My wife's family lives on Harvard Street in Provident Village Marikina. Their house was submerged in about 15 to 20 feet of flood water that surged through the village on the weekend of September 26, 2008 at the height of Typhoon Ondoy.

Her father, the former Marinduque Vice Governor Juan Max Lim, bought it for my mother-in-law, Corazon del Prado Lim, who was then teaching at the University of the Philippines in Diliman. It was to serve as the home of their six children who were studying at UP and other schools in Metro Manila.

It was a gift borne out of one man's love for a family that he cherished.

It is now a wreck.

From the accounts of Snooky, the kinakapatid of my wife, the entire first floor is now filled with mud. All of their possessions have been destroyed, including all their stuff on the 2nd floor.

They have no clothes, no appliances, no furniture, no nothing. The house is now just a shell.

Mrs. Gerundio, Tito Eddie, and all the neighbors I normally say 'Hi' too have also lost all their possessions.

My wife's relatives in Malabon experienced even worse flooding and they're possessions, including business equipment, might have all been washed out too.

But, despite this tragedy, I think they'll all be able to rise back up on their feet. They can take care of themselves.

What makes me worry a bit is the sizeable number of people living in Barangka and other areas in Marikina as well as Malabon that may belong to lower income families.

Anyway, for the next few days, my wife's entire family will be living with me and my wife. We are just more than happy for this reunion of sorts.

Philippine National Red Cross Chairman and Senator, Richard "Dick" J. Gordon and his staff communicated with us throughout the ordeal. I am sure he was talking with so many other people who deluged his cellphone with text messages and calls, but instead of shutting off his cellphone, he tried to talk with each and everyone who called.

He personally took my call. He told me and my wife that Red Cross was sending 7 rubber boats to provident village. That was enough to keep me and my wife hoping that things would be all right.

I don't know if the man has had rest yet, but I don't think he will until things are all right -- which will be probably weeks from now.

I'll post pictures later and give you news about the situation in provident village in a while.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

TYPHOON ONDOY FLOODS CONGRESSIONAL AVENUE, QC AND EASTWOOD, LIBIS





Send prayers, but send donations too.

A lot of people are suffering and it is just the beginning. We expect to have food shortages and diseases in the coming days.

The Philippine National Red Cross is accepting donations. Here is how you can help.

Monetary Donations

1. CASH or CHECK
Please send cash or check donations to the PNRC National Headquarters in Manila. Checks should be made payable to The Philippine National Red Cross. We can also arrange for donation pick-up.

2. BANK DEPOSIT
Account Name: The Phil. Nat’l. Red Cross

METROBANK
Port Area Branch
Peso Acct.: 151-3-041-63122-8
Dollar Acct.: 151-2-151-00218-2
Type of Acct. : SAVINGS
Swift Code: MBTC PH MM

BANK OF THE PHIL. ISLANDS
Port Area Branch
Peso Acct.: 4991-0010-99
Type of Account: CURRENT

BANK OF THE PHIL. ISLANDS
UN Branch
Dollar Acct.: 8114-0030-94
Type of Account: SAVINGS
Swift Code: BOPI PH MM

For your donations to be properly acknowledged, please fax the bank transaction slip at nos. +63.2.527.0575 or +63.2.404.0979 with your name, address and contact number.



Credit Card

Please fax the following info to +632.404.09.79 and +632.527.0575:

Name of card member, billing address, contact nos. (phone & mobile), credit card no., expiration date, CCV2/ CVC2 (last three digits at the back of the credit card), billing address, amount to be donated.

For online donations you may also visit our website at www.redcross.org.ph .



In-Kind Donations

LOCAL
Please send in-kind local donations to The Philippine National Red Cross – National Headquarters in Manila. We could also arrange for donation pick-up.

INTERNATIONAL

1. Send a letter of intent to donate to the PNRC
2. A letter of acceptance from PNRC shall be sent back to the donor
3. Immediately after shipping the goods, please send the (a) original Deed of Donation, (b) copy of packing list and (c) original Airway Bill for air shipments or Bill of Lading for sea shipments to The Philippine National Red Cross–National Headquarters c/o Secretary General Corazon Alma de Leon, Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila 2803, Philippines.


The PNRC does not accept rotten, damaged, expired or decayed goods. Though we appreciate your generosity, the PNRC also discourages donations of old clothes as we have more than enough to go around.



SMS and G-CASH (Globe)

SMS
text RED AMOUNT to 2899 (Globe) or 4483 (Smart)

G-CASH
text DONATE AMOUNT 4-digit M-PIN REDCROSS to 2882


Most urgent needs

Food items: Rice, noodles, canned goods, sugar, iodized salt, cooking oil, monggo beans and potable water

Medicines: Paracetamol, antibiotics, analgesic, oral rehydration salts, multivitamins and medications to treat diarrheal diseases

Non-food items: Bath soaps, face towels, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, plastic mats, blankets, mosquito nets, jerry cans, water containers, water purification tablets, plastic sheetings, and Laundry soap

Rehabilitation Programs: Shelter materials for house repair

Call Hotline 143 or 527.0000

THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
Bonifacio Drive, Port Area,
Manila 2803, Philippines

Typhoon Onyok flood video Pacific Regency

Video was taken from Pacific Regency. Reposted from Facebook.



Send prayers, but send donations too.

A lot of people are suffering and it is just the beginning. We expect to have food shortages and diseases in the coming days.

The Philippine National Red Cross is accepting donations. Here is how you can help.

Monetary Donations

1. CASH or CHECK
Please send cash or check donations to the PNRC National Headquarters in Manila. Checks should be made payable to The Philippine National Red Cross. We can also arrange for donation pick-up.

2. BANK DEPOSIT
Account Name: The Phil. Nat’l. Red Cross

METROBANK
Port Area Branch
Peso Acct.: 151-3-041-63122-8
Dollar Acct.: 151-2-151-00218-2
Type of Acct. : SAVINGS
Swift Code: MBTC PH MM

BANK OF THE PHIL. ISLANDS
Port Area Branch
Peso Acct.: 4991-0010-99
Type of Account: CURRENT

BANK OF THE PHIL. ISLANDS
UN Branch
Dollar Acct.: 8114-0030-94
Type of Account: SAVINGS
Swift Code: BOPI PH MM

For your donations to be properly acknowledged, please fax the bank transaction slip at nos. +63.2.527.0575 or +63.2.404.0979 with your name, address and contact number.



Credit Card

Please fax the following info to +632.404.09.79 and +632.527.0575:

Name of card member, billing address, contact nos. (phone & mobile), credit card no., expiration date, CCV2/ CVC2 (last three digits at the back of the credit card), billing address, amount to be donated.

For online donations you may also visit our website at www.redcross.org.ph .



In-Kind Donations

LOCAL
Please send in-kind local donations to The Philippine National Red Cross – National Headquarters in Manila. We could also arrange for donation pick-up.

INTERNATIONAL

1. Send a letter of intent to donate to the PNRC
2. A letter of acceptance from PNRC shall be sent back to the donor
3. Immediately after shipping the goods, please send the (a) original Deed of Donation, (b) copy of packing list and (c) original Airway Bill for air shipments or Bill of Lading for sea shipments to The Philippine National Red Cross–National Headquarters c/o Secretary General Corazon Alma de Leon, Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila 2803, Philippines.


The PNRC does not accept rotten, damaged, expired or decayed goods. Though we appreciate your generosity, the PNRC also discourages donations of old clothes as we have more than enough to go around.



SMS and G-CASH (Globe)

SMS
text REDAMOUNT to 2899 (Globe) or 4483 (Smart)

G-CASH
text DONATEAMOUNT4-digit M-PINREDCROSS to 2882


Most urgent needs

Food items: Rice, noodles, canned goods, sugar, iodized salt, cooking oil, monggo beans and potable water

Medicines: Paracetamol, antibiotics, analgesic, oral rehydration salts, multivitamins and medications to treat diarrheal diseases

Non-food items: Bath soaps, face towels, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, plastic mats, blankets, mosquito nets, jerry cans, water containers, water purification tablets, plastic sheetings, and Laundry soap

Rehabilitation Programs: Shelter materials for house repair

Call Hotline 143 or 527.0000

THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
Bonifacio Drive, Port Area,
Manila 2803, Philippines

Typhoon Ondoy rescue video University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center

Footage from University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center.

Send donations through text for Typhoon Ondoy Victims

To the 1.6 million Philippine Facebook users: 

Please donate 100 pesos each and we'll raise 160 million for Red Cross rescue and relief. 

Red Cross donations through SMS: 

text RED (space) AMOUNT to 2899 (Globe, amount can be 100 or 300) 

or 

4483 (Smart, amount can be 50 or 100)

PNRC deploys WASAR teams to Cainta and Marikina

The Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) today deployed three (3) Water Search and Rescue (WASAR) Teams to rescue the stranded commuters and affected families due to heavy rains caused by tropical storm Ondoy, the PNRC Operation Center reported.

WASAR teams of PNRC National Headquarters were deployed in Providence Village, Cainta and in Marikina which were greatly affected by flooding.

In a report of Leo Ebajo from WASAR Team 1, 40 persons were rescued near R. PAPA LRT Station who were stranded because of heavy flow of water in the area.

“Rescue operation here is still in progress. As of now, around 40 stranded persons were already rescued,” Ebajo reported through a text message sent to PNRC Operation Center.

The PNRC is now accepting donations through the following ways:

Through SMS and GCASH type redamount then send to 2899 or 4483

Through bank deposits:

METROBANK

Account name: The PNRC

Peso account: 1513041631228

Dollar account: 1512151002182

Type of account : savings

Swift code: mbtc ph mm

BPI PORT AREA BRANCH

Account name: The PNRC

Peso account: 4991001099

Type of account: current

BPI UNITED NATIONS BRANCH

Account name: The PNRC

Dollar account: 8114003094

Type of account: savings

Swift code: bopi ph mm
return to list

Typhoon Ondoy Disaster Report from Philippine National Red Cross

This comes from the office of Philippines National Red Cross Chairman and Senator Richard Gordon.

This is a partial report from our field office: 122 evacuation centers, affecting 15,125 families or 71,640 persons as of 8:00 PM September 26.

In Metro Manila, there are 49 evacuation centers with 11,227 affected families or 56,135 persons.

PNRC Rescue operations successfully saved the following;

40 people at R. Papa St.; 117 at Sto. Domingo, Quezon City; 10 children from mother school in Amoranto, Quezon City; and a 115 at Kalentong.

Rescue operations on going.

Could disaster preparedness have prevented the Provident Village Marikina flooding?

JUST LOOKING AT THE MAP OF PROVIDENT VILLAGE, IT IS EASY TO SEE THAT WHAT HAPPENED THERE WAS A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN. 

IT IS A SUBDIVISION ON A DELTA. 


 


DONATE TO PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS FOR ONDOY FLOOD VICTIMS

Monetary Donations

1. CASH or CHECK
Please send cash or check donations to the PNRC National Headquarters in Manila. Checks should be made payable to The Philippine National Red Cross. We can also arrange for donation pick-up.

2. BANK DEPOSIT
Account Name: The Phil. Nat’l. Red Cross

METROBANK
Port Area Branch
Peso Acct.: 151-3-041-63122-8
Dollar Acct.: 151-2-151-00218-2
Type of Acct. : SAVINGS
Swift Code: MBTC PH MM

BANK OF THE PHIL. ISLANDS
Port Area Branch
Peso Acct.: 4991-0010-99
Type of Account: CURRENT

BANK OF THE PHIL. ISLANDS
UN Branch
Dollar Acct.: 8114-0030-94
Type of Account: SAVINGS
Swift Code: BOPI PH MM

For your donations to be properly acknowledged, please fax the bank transaction slip at nos. +63.2.527.0575 or +63.2.404.0979 with your name, address and contact number.



Credit Card

Please fax the following info to +632.404.09.79 and +632.527.0575:

Name of card member, billing address, contact nos. (phone & mobile), credit card no., expiration date, CCV2/ CVC2 (last three digits at the back of the credit card), billing address, amount to be donated.

For online donations you may also visit our website at www.redcross.org.ph .



In-Kind Donations

LOCAL
Please send in-kind local donations to The Philippine National Red Cross – National Headquarters in Manila. We could also arrange for donation pick-up.

INTERNATIONAL

1. Send a letter of intent to donate to the PNRC
2. A letter of acceptance from PNRC shall be sent back to the donor
3. Immediately after shipping the goods, please send the (a) original Deed of Donation, (b) copy of packing list and (c) original Airway Bill for air shipments or Bill of Lading for sea shipments to The Philippine National Red Cross–National Headquarters c/o Secretary General Corazon Alma de Leon, Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila 2803, Philippines.


The PNRC does not accept rotten, damaged, expired or decayed goods. Though we appreciate your generosity, the PNRC also discourages donations of old clothes as we have more than enough to go around.



SMS and G-CASH (Globe)

SMS
text REDAMOUNT to 2899 (Globe) or 4483 (Smart)

G-CASH
text DONATEAMOUNT4-digit M-PINREDCROSS to 2882


Most urgent needs

Food items: Rice, noodles, canned goods, sugar, iodized salt, cooking oil, monggo beans and potable water

Medicines: Paracetamol, antibiotics, analgesic, oral rehydration salts, multivitamins and medications to treat diarrheal diseases

Non-food items: Bath soaps, face towels, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, plastic mats, blankets, mosquito nets, jerry cans, water containers, water purification tablets, plastic sheetings, and Laundry soap

Rehabilitation Programs: Shelter materials for house repair

Call Hotline 143 or 527.0000

THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
Bonifacio Drive, Port Area,
Manila 2803, Philippines

Marikina Floods

Marikina was flooded out last night, with water reaching as high as 15 feet and submerging some 8,000 homes. One of the worst hit was Provident Village where my father in law lives, his house is just two blocks away from the river.

From 12:00 noon till 1:00 AM this morning, my wife was on the cellphone throughout this time coordinating help for the 16 people who were trapped along with her father on the roof of their house on Harvard Street, Holy Family Subdivision in Provident Village.

Last night, the Philippine National Red Cross was able to save just around 280 people

Frantic calls were made to all the emergency numbers that my wife and I could think of.  One of those who responded to us was Senator Richard Gordon and the staff of the Philippine National Red Cross.

According to a report from Philippine National Red Cross: 10 rubber boats of Red Cross deployed in Marikina (3), Cainta (2), Manila (1), Quezon City(2 + 1 aluminum boat), Mandaluyong (1). sent by MRT train since EDSA and main thoroughfares impassable due to floods.

US Embassy donated $50,000 to Red Cross. Promised to send boats and possibly deploy choppers to aid rescue effort.

Olongapo and SBMA rescue teams with 5 boats were stuck in Pulilan, Bulacan of NLEX because also impassable and now closed. 
People actually distributed Gordon's cellphone number on Facebook and Twitter which caused his cellphone to bog down.

People were advised to instead TXT 143 for Red Cross or call 5270000 or 5245787.

More help is needed.

Trucks are needed to ferry people out of flooded areas.


FOOD ITEMS NEEDED:

Canned goods, rice, instant noodles, and water.

NON FOOD ITEMS NEEDED

Clothes, mats, blankets, mosquito nets, kitchen utensils.

You can deliver this to the Philippine National Red Cross Headquarters at the Port Area in Manila. Call 5270000 or 5245787.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

HELP MARIKINA SINKING FROM FLOODS



http://www.google.com/mapmaker?hl=en&ll=14.629368,121.090279&spn=0.01036,0.020428&z=16&t=k

ALL BLOGGERS! PULL TOGETHER!

1. GO TO GOOGLE MAP
2. LOOK FOR MAP OF FLOOD AFFECTED AREAS
3. POST THIS ON FB AND ON YOUR BLOG
4. POST EMERGENCY NUMBERS...

HELP PROVIDENT VILLAGE MARIKINA
PLEASE CALL PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS OPCEN 5270000/5245787

 

ALL BLOGGERS! PULL TOGETHER!

1. GO TO GOOGLE MAP
2. LOOK FOR MAP OF FLOOD AFFECTED AREAS
3. POST THIS ON FB AND ON YOUR BLOG
4. POST EMERGENCY NUMBERS...

HELP PROVIDENT VILLAGE MARIKINA
PLEASE CALL PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS OPCEN 5270000/5245787

 

PROVIDENT VILLAGE MARIKINA FLOODED HELP! PEOPLE DYING!




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PLEASE HELP

FOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PLEASE CALL PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS OPCEN 5270000/5245787

Pinoy Buzz, finalist in the 2009 Philippine Blog Awards

I don't expect to win.

There are other bloggers out there whose writing blinds me with its wit and awes me with their substance.  There are bloggers out there whose writing I do not even read because it has a way of stopping me from writing all together.

I started writing this blog in 2005 as a way to get money through Adsense and this explains why my url is pinoybiz.  It is a conjunction, the full title of the blog used to be Pinoy Business and Life Stories.  I tried writing about business ideas which I thought would bring me traffic, but, I abandoned this idea after about a year.

I resumed blogging on December 2008, having been inspired by Better Philippines who had just started blogging.  This was when I started writing about Philippine Politics consistently, never minding the fact that I didn't have the depth of insight that other political bloggers have.  My premise was just to share what I thought about political developments and my views on other things that is happening on the internet.

I changed the title to Pinoy Buzz this year mainly because I thought it was a friendlier way of referring to what is now a mission of sorts to sting politicians.  That's mainly how I thought of coining the title phrase for this blog: Stinging till the truth comes out in blisters. 

I proposed the idea that this blog would be a digital inquisition of sorts which would torture erring politicians till they told the truth.  I haven't succeeded yet, but I haven't quit either.  So, it is a draw.

With that said, I wish everyone good luck to everyone who joined the Philippine Blog Awards!

No to ray number 9



Filipino patriotism is sometimes roused by short-lived indignation.  I hope the people who have registered their opposition to the ninth ray stay mad enough, long enough.  And I hope they honor and obey the Heraldic code of the Philippines, otherwise, all this will be meaningless.

With that said, allow me to present the views of those opposed to the addition of a ninth ray to the sun in the Philippine flag.  This will be followed by another entry devoted to the views of Muslim Filipinos who support the Ninth Ray Bill.

Smoke
The sun’s rays do not represent mere hostilities with the Spaniards – which the Muslims undoubtedly had – but the attempt to gain freedom. The Muslims weren’t fighting for freedom.They were fighting to keep their lands free from Spanish incursion and to stave off the Christianization campaign. From all accounts there was no solidarity between the Muslims in the south and the rest of the country then firmly under the Spanish heel. So why should the flag – designed to reflect the heroism of those provinces that first rose up in revolt – be forcibly made to accommodate a people who did not have any sort of ideological kinship with those brave rebels?

And even if we were to accept that, yeah, the Muslims were fighting the Spaniards for the same reason as those eight provinces did, adding just one ray to the sun doesn’t make sense.



Following Gordon’s logic of rewarding a nation for fighting the Spaniards, then why not give every other nation a place in the flag as well? What about the nation of Cebuanos? I’m sure they didn’t just sit the fight out. What about the nation of Hiligaynons? Heck, Marcelo H. del Pilar Graciano Lopez Jaena – the great propagandist – was from Iloilo (Thanks, non-smoker, for the edit)! Oh, and didn’t the Ifugaos mix it up with the Spaniards as well? So that makes, what? 12 rays now?

Black Shama
In short, the flag is all about the revolution of which the Katipunan initiated and gave rise to the Republic we have now. Gordon is right to pay homage to Muslim resistance to colonial rule but they did not join the Katipunan. Cesar Majul’s “Muslims in the Philippines” cites the letters sent by the Aguinaldo government to the sultans asking them to join in the revolution but while the sultans recognized the common struggle for independence, they could not join it. They viewed the Christian Filipinos as colonial proxies for subjugating Islam in the Philippines. The American, Commonwealth and post 1946 independent Philippines sadly confirmed this as true.

With Muslim Filipinos choosing not to be part of the Katipunan led revolution, should they be honored with an additional ray? This I believe depreciates and trivializes the nature of their struggle against colonialism. If Filipinos want to honor their struggle, the Christian majority should say their mea culpas and recognize and value their Islamic identity in all aspects. They should not be surprised when Eid al Fitr is celebrated. Christian and Muslim Filipinos should accept that the Mindanao Star in the flag recognizes that the First Philippine Republic wanted a united Philippines that includes Muslim Mindanao. That is the ideal that we Filipinos haven’t reached. Gordon should leave it at that.

As Philippine society becomes more mobile, Muslims are found in all regions of the country. By and large Christian and Muslim communities exist peacefully side by side. Mosques are found in Luzon, Visayas and of course in Mindanao and Sulu. Many are in close proximity to Christian churches.

Of course the Flag can be changed by law. What riles me as a citizen (whose great great grandparents, grandparents and granduncles died for the Flag) is that these amendments proposed without consulting the Filipino people. Gordon should submit his bill to a referendum if he wants to change the Flag. Not a few Muslims died for the same Flag in World War II. They died for that Mindanao Star too. My Aglipayan and Roman Catholic granduncles were executed by the Japanese in Intramuros for the Flag and the Luzon Star.

Marocharim
Flags are not just repositories of symbols: the flag itself is a symbol. Our nation’s flag represents our nation not because of what forms it, and the meanings of the forms inside it, but because of what it is. Those rays may mean more than just provinces,, those stars may mean more than just Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Those colors may mean more than just purity, bravery, and peace. The Flag, on its own, without the forcible deconstruction of its component parts, is the definitive symbol of our people. That Flag, as it stands and waves, is the representation of our people, our sovereignty, and our independence.

Adding rays on the Sun on that Flag is to trivialize that Flag as a piece of cloth, a scrapbook, a repository of symbols. In his sales pitch, Gordon claims that our Flag becomes all-inclusive and united with the addition of a ninth ray. Will it make us any “more Filipino” to add one, sixteen, or 7,099 more rays to that Sun? Will it make us any “more Filipino” if we added a crucifix and crescent to that white field? Does the present iteration of our Flag make us any less Filipino?

Adding rays to the Sun to accommodate Mindanao is the brilliant (pun intended) excuse to make up for promises forgotten and a history forgotten. Rays that translate to votes, support, and more than just the usual footnote to history. The people who live and die by that Flag do not do so because they have a province in a ray, or a star in the field, but because that Flag represents who they are, where they came from, and their duty to protect what it stands for and what it is.

Any piece of cloth – burned, altered, sewn, or changed – wouldn’t mean much. Yet when a symbol of national identity – when that rectangle called the Flag – is changed, it is the people who are represented and who represent that Flag will evoke and invoke emotions never given to other pieces of cloth. The Flag, as it stands, is all-inclusive; it is the identity and representation of a nation, a population. As it stands, it is meaningful and beautiful. To change it just because, is to reduce that Flag to nothing more than cloth.

Friday, September 25, 2009

The Ninth Ray and our quest for peace in Mindanao

Senate Bill (SB) 3307 or the Ninth Ray bill was approved by the Senate and House of Representatives last week during the bicameral conference where differences between the senate and house versions were reconciled.

The bill's full title is AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8491, ENTITLED 'AN ACT PRESCRIBING THE CODE OF THE NATIONAL FLAG, ANTHEM, MOTTO, COAT-OF-ARMS AND OTHER HERALDIC ITEMS AND DEVICES OF THE PHILIPPINES' OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE FLAG AND HERALDIC CODE,

What it proposes to do is to add a Ninth Ray on the sun symbol in our flag to represent the Muslim nation (yes, there was/is a Muslim nation) that fought against the successive hoards of Spanish and American colonizers.

Here's an excerpt from Gordon's press release on the subject:
"This is a great step in recognizing the fact that we had Muslims such as Lapu-Lapu, Sultan Kudarat, Amai Pakpak, Sorongan, who kept fighting the Spaniards long before this country thought of a revolution against Spain. This would foster unity, make sure that nobody is excluded. If we are to have national unity in this country it must begin in our flag, it must be symbolized in our flag," he said.

"We take an amendment of the law here but we actually amend the mindset of our countrymen and bring the nation back to its original posture, one that will not accept tyranny, one that will oppose tyranny. And we should give credit where credit is due," he added.
Some people thought it would be funny to make jokes about the proposed legislation and others have registered their opposition to it.

What these people don't know and don't realize is that Gordon didn't file the bill out of the blue.  Certain groups representing our Muslim countrymen lobbied for the Ninth Ray bill and making fun of this bill is like making fun of those who seriously think that it will rid us of a historical resentment some Muslim Filipinos have against mainstream Philippines.

Of the whole lot of those who reacted to the Ninth Ray Bill, Ill comment on the views that fellow bloggers Smoke and Indolent Indio have put forward. Smoke's satire on the proposed bill actually led to a very interesting rendition of the Philippine flag; and Indolent Indio says he finds it superficial compared to bringing the development needed in Mindanao.

Smoke, a girl who got my goat weeks ago and hasn't returned it yet, wrote:
"Dick Gordon is a moron. But he’s a smart moron. Haha. After all, there are morons and then there are morons who can disguise their blatant bid for the Muslim vote with historical revisionism!"
Indolent Indio, also wrote:
"Mindanao will still have to struggle with underdevelopment, poverty, and an insurgency caused by the two, but, hey, they’re on the flag now. So, hooray. Let it not be said that Imperial Manila does not care about Mindanao."
Before I go into what I have to say about Smoke and Indolent Indio's valid views on the Ninth Ray bill, let me ask, "Just how important is the Philippine flag to you?"  Let me ask you, when the TV station you are watching signs off for the night, do you stand up and place your right hand on your left breast?  Do you know the words to Lupang Hinirang or Bayang Magiliw (as it known to other 'patriots')?

Do we really care about any of our country's symbols? How much do we really care? Think about it.

Smoke, despite calling Gordon names, has a valid point and so does Indolent Indio.

Taken alone, the Ninth Ray bill is meaningless.  It is superficial as the whole flag and all of our nation's symbols are superficial.  If you're not convinced that it is superficial, just look around and see if anyone regards any of our nation's symbols as with the respect that is due to these symbols.  The Heraldic code, apart from articulating in words what our country's symbols are, also prescribe the manner in which these symbols must be treated.

If I understand it correctly, the flag and all of its elements, ought to be displayed and used in a certain manner.  But of late, I've been seeing very stylized renditions of the the flag and we see these renditions on T-shirts.  The Philippine flag, our most sacred symbol, has become FASHION MERCHANDISE.

If you haven't read the heraldic code and are at a loss about what I am talking about, here are the relevant sections of that code:

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8491
AN ACT PRESCRIBING THE CODE OF THE NATIONAL
FLAG, ANTHEM, MOTTO, COAT-OF-ARMS AND OTHER
HERALDIC ITEMS AND DEVICES OF THE PHILIPPINES

CHAPTER I
THE NATIONAL FLAG
A. Design of the National Flag

SEC. 4. The flag of the Philippines shall be blue, white and red with an eight-rayed golden-yellow sun and three five-pointed stars, as consecrated and honored by the people.

H. Specifications of the National Flag


SEC. 27. The flag shall have the following proportions. The width of the flag, 1; the length of the flag, 2; and sides of the white triangle, 1.

SEC. 28. The technical specifications shall be as follows:

The blue color shall bear Cable No. 80173; the white color, Cable No. 80001; the red color, Cable No. 80108; and the golden yellow, Cable No. 80068.

SEC. 29. In order to establish uniform criteria in the making of our national flag and to guarantee its durability by the use of quality materials, the following standards and procedures shall be observed:

(a) All requisitions for the purchase of the Philippine National Flag must be based on strict compliance with the design, color, craftsmanship and material requirements of the Government;

(b) All submitted samples of flags by accredited suppliers offered for purchase for government use shall be evaluated as to design, color and craftsmanship specifications by the Institute, through its Heraldry and Display Section, which shall stamp its approval or disapproval on the canvass reinforcement of the flag
sample submitted. The samples shall be sent to the Institute by the requisitioning office, not by the flag supplier; and

(c) The Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) or the Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) shall evaluate the quality of material of all flag samples and certify whether the fabric for the blue, white, red and golden yellow colors, including the canvas submitted, conforms to government requirement as to quality of the material. The samples shall be sent annually to the ITDI/PTRI by the manufacturer. The laboratory test results shall be submitted by the said office to the Institute.

SEC. 30. All deliveries of the flags requisitioned by the government shall be inspected by the requisitioning agency's internal inspector and by the Commission on Audit (COA) using the flag stamped approved by the Institute as reference.

SEC. 31. In carrying out its responsibilities under Section 4 hereof, the Institute, COA, the ITDI/PTRI shall prepare guidelines to be approved by the Office of the President.

SEC. 32. All government agencies and instrumentalities shall ensure that the requirements under this Act with respect to the standards, requisitions and delivery of the national flag are strictly complied with.

SEC. 33. All departments, agencies, offices, and instrumentalities of the government, government-owned or
controlled corporations, local government units, including barangays, shall include in their annual budgets the necessary outlay for the purchase of the national flag.

I. Prohibited Acts

SEC. 34. It shall be prohibited:

(a) To mutilate, deface, defile, trample on or cast contempt or commit any act or omission casting dishonor or ridicule upon the flag or over its surface;

(b) To dip the flag to any person or object by way of compliment or salute;

(c) To use the flag:

(1) As a drapery, festoon, tablecloth;
(2) As covering for ceilings, walls, statues or other objects;
(3) As a pennant in the hood, side, back and top of motor
vehicles;
(4) As a staff or whip;
(5) For unveiling monuments or statues; and

(6) As trademarks, or for industrial, commercial or agricultural labels or designs.

(d) To display the flag:

(1) Under any painting or picture;
(2) Horizontally face-up. It shall always be hoisted aloft and be allowed to fall freely;
(3) Below any platform; or

(4) In discotheques, cockpits, night and day clubs, casinos, gambling joints and places of vice or where frivolity prevails.

(e) To wear the flag in whole or in part as a costume or uniform;
(f) To add any word, figure, mark, picture, design, drawings, advertisement, or imprint of any nature on the flag;

(g) To print, paint or attach representation of the flag on handkerchiefs, napkins, cushions and other articles of
merchandise;

(h) To display in public any foreign flag, except in embassies and other diplomatic establishments, and in offices of international organizations;

(i) To use, display or be part of any advertisement or infomercial; and

(j) To display the flag in front of buildings or offices occupied by aliens.

Now consider if the pictures below conform to the use of the Philippine flag as prescribed by the Heraldic code.





NOTHING IS MORE SUPERFICIAL THAN PATRIOTISM IN THE FORM OF A T-SHIRT.

Now, as for Gordon's Ninth Ray bill and Smoke's contention that it is a "blatant bid for the Muslim vote with historical revisionism".  She stacked the cards against Gordon by conveniently ignoring all the other things that the Senator has done in an effort to bring peace to places in conflict in Mindanao.

Part of Gordon's thoughts on bringing peace to conflicted areas in Mindanao is solving the root causes of conflict -- poverty and isolation.  Gordon has, on his own, sought to apply solutions to poverty in Mindanao and sought to create policies of inclusion for people living in conflicted areas in Muslim Mindanao.

As far back as the time when he was still Subic Bay Chairman, Gordon told FedEx to set up spoke in Gensan so that Tuna from that area can be shipped by air-freight to Japan -- this had an impact on the livelihood of fishermen there.

As tourism secretary, when countries all over the world were slapping the Philippine left and right with travel bans, Gordon the ONLY VOICE that opposed these travel bans.  He even brought people to places blighted by kidnapping and conflict to prove that these areas were not WAR ZONES as they are often described by the press -- our press and the press of other countries.

As Senator, one of the first bills that he pursued was the scheduling of the ARMM elections and in 2008, he pushed for the Automation of the ARMM elections -- ensuring our Muslim countrymen's participation in our country's democratic processes.

As Red Cross Chairman, he launched the Fruits of Hope project which sought to give farmers in conflict areas livelihood by selling their produce in Manila.  This was done at the height of conflict in Basilan and Sulu.

More than these actions, he has consistently been kicking the government's rear in an attempt to drive it to provide a full court press of government services to places like Basilan, Sulu, and other places where there is conflict.  He has, time and again, berated the COA to do its job in ARMM to ensure that government services are being delivered.

I am sure I must have left an inordinate number things out in this preliminary list of what Gordon has done to bring peace to Mindanao, but at the core of all of these things is a drive to forge peace through measures that haven't been tried before.

We've talked with Muslim separatists and till now, that talk breaks down -- then fighting resumes.  We've also tried eradicating Muslim separatists and taken to branding certain elements as TERRORISTS, launching tons of bombs and bullets.  This didn't succeed either.

Perhaps the NINTH RAY, AS AS SYMBOL of a commitment to forging more policies of inclusion and more policies of bringing the peace will get us further than all of the talk and conflict that has been applied to resolving conflict in Mindanao.

The NINTH RAY, perhaps, can be seen as Gordon's promise to bring peace to Mindanao.

And SMOKE, there is nothing wrong with courting votes, there is a wrong way to go about it (false claims in political ads) or real action in the real world.

So far, despite those who made fun of the Ninth Ray Bill, there are people who celebrated its progress in legislature.

MAY NATUWA BA SA GIYERA NI GIBO, SMOKE?


NINTH RAY IN RP SUN'S FLAG ELATES MUSLIM COMMUNITY
Gordon says, measure would further promote national unity

The approval of the Senate and the House of Representatives in a bicameral conference of the proposal adding a ninth ray to the sun in the Philippine Flag has elated different sectors of the Muslim community.
Senator Richard J. Gordon (Ind.), author of Senate Bill 3307 proposing the ninth ray, said Muslim Filipinos welcomed the bicam approval because it is expected to further promote respect, understanding, and acceptance between Muslim and non-Muslim Filipinos.

"This measure would further promote national unity. Our Muslim brothers hailed this act. They wanted to celebrate it for the Eid'l Fitr Festival last Monday because this is a great step in recognizing their role in the fight for the nation's independence. We owe it to our Muslim brothers who have contributed many things but have become totally marginalized," he said.

Atty. Pangnal Datu Ramos, legal counsel of the Bangsa Moro Civil Society and former Vice Governor of Lanao del Sur, said that Gordon's initiative displays his statesmanship and respect for the Filipino Muslims.

"The Bangsa Moro people will never forget Senator Dick Gordon's consistent advocacy of recognizing the heroic struggle for freedom of the Bangsa Moro people that led to the approval of the 9th ray in our country's national flag. Senator Gordon displays his statesmanship and respect for the Filipino Muslims, sorely lacking in our national leaders. May his tribe increase," Datu Ramos said.

For his part, Congressman Munir Arbison of the 2nd District of Sulu stated that "the people of Sulu thank Senator Gordon for his bill honoring Filipino Muslims who, history tells, have fought foreign intruders for hundreds of years to protect and preserve our unique and inspiring way of life."

Meanwhile, Datu Norodin Alonto Lucman, a Moro Historian, said that having the ninth ray makes him feel good "to be part of the Republic."

"I am so proud that after more than a century of non-recognition of our heroic ancestors who gave up their lives for the freedom of our country, the Senate finally added a 9th ray to the flag in honor of their heroism and historical role in the independence of our country," Lucman said.

Those who also expressed their elation over the measure include Bai Samirah Gutoc of the Young Moro Professionals Network; Ambassador Abul Khayr D. Alonto, Moro Leader and co-founder of the Moro National Liberation Front; Datu Haron Demarunsing of the Muslim Traders Group of Zamboanga; Assemblyman Zia Alonto Adiong of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Regional Legislative Assembly; Datu Mohammad Dimaporo Dimalna, Vice Mayor of Binidayan, Lanao del Sur; Atty. Aymee Biruar-Metmug from a group of young Moro lawyers; Norodin Bin Hashim, an overseas Filipino Worker in Qatar who is a member of the 9th Ray Mindanao Movement; and Datu Drieza Lininding, a Moro youth leader.

Gordon said that the warm welcome of many Muslims to the ninth ray implies that they already feel that they are gradually being respected, understood, and accepted.

He pointed out that it is important to recognize the efforts and contributions of the Muslim Filipinos in the country's history so that they would not feel marginalized and Filipinos would be united regardless of creed.

"With their courage, bravery and integrity, our Muslim heroes left an imprint on national history that, at the very least, must be given due recognition in the most heraldic item of national importance--the Philippine flag," Gordon said.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Jologs central says Boy Abunda didn't defect because of money

This is an excerpt from an entry in Jologs Central and IT IS AN ABSOLUTE LIE.




May natanggap akong tsismis noong isang araw na binabawi raw ng kampo ni Sen. Manny Villar ang P25 milyon na binayad kay Boy Abunda sa paglabas niya sa political ad kung saan ini-interview niya si Villar tungkol sa kayang pag-asenso sa pamamagitan ng sipag at tiyaga.


Si Sen. Noynoy Aquino na kasi ngayon ang tinutulungan ni Boy na matalik na kaibigan ni Kris Aquino.


Tinanong ko si Boy kung tutuo ang tsismis at natawa lang siya. Hindi totoo sabi niya.


“Nakakahiya naman kina Sen. Villar,” sabi ni Boy.


Pinabulaanan rin ito ng kampo ni Villar itong tsismis ng tinanong ko sa kanila. “Wala kaming ganung kalaking pera,” sabi ni Jan Mata, ang media officer ni Villar.

Gimme a break!

Boy Abunda's endorsement is FOR SALE.  Would you frickin' believe that he did that frickin' commercial on radio for FREE?!

How the frickin' hell do you get to call yourself a frickin' journalist with your filthy penchant for lying?

AND COMB YOUR HAIR FOR CHRIST'S SAKE!

Real Deal sez Gibo is better than Noynoy

Real Deal wrote a very long comment on my entry about a letter addressed to Conrado De Quiros about his campaign for Noynoy Aquino.

He basically says that Administration/Lakas-Kampi candidate Gilbert Teodoro is a better Presidential candidate than Noynoy Aquino.

I don't agree with his position on this, but what I do find worthy of re-posting is his argument that the more important thing that ought to be discussed by the candidates is the economy.

It shows good reasoning, without the fluff of emotionalism (my mother and father are dead, my sister is a slut, my nephew is autistic, I'm balding, over forty and the only that is going for me is that I have a pretty girlfriend -- vote for me.)

If the supporters of Chiz, Noynoy, Villar, and whoever else can come up with a comment that shows good reasoning and an effort to elaborate on their candidate's perceived platform, I WILL REPOST IT.

DID YOU READ THAT CHARLIE? EH! I WILL REPOST ANYTHING THAT YOU WRITE THAT EVEN REMOTELY SHOWS REASONING AND TALKS ABOUT YOUR CANDIDATE'S PLATFORM.

Are you too yellow to take up this challenge?

Anyway, here's REAL DEAL's long comment.

Will some of you people just stay away from the allegations and stupid conspiracy theories about GMA and Gibo?

First of all, all the stuff that have been hurled against GMA are coming from people who are obvious enemies. The stuff they hurl are all allegations.

Any allegation about anyone that is regarding corruption or even murder, without clear-cut evidence is just an allegation. But what differentiates a good president from a lousy president as far as performance is concerned is HOW WELL THE ECONOMY RUNS.

Like it or not, GMA has delivered. Her performance gets the World economic community heaping praises on her economic policies, and more importantly, on her performance.

Say what you like against her, but the reason that the Philippine economy didn't collapse together with the USA thanks to the global crisis - despite having been traditionally closely coupled with the US - is precisely because of her administration's sound economic policies. She managed the budget well, cut deficit, and increased gov't reserves. That made sure that the Peso wouldn't collapse along with the Dollar.

Truth be told, it was the mismanagement of the economy that threw Marcos out.

For all the allegations about martial law abuses and Ninoy's murder, no one can really say that Makoy himself was behind all that shit. In fact, Martial Law per se was not even a real problem for most people. It was a problem only for rebels and trouble-makers. And it was a problem for some people who may have had personal troubles with certain people in the military. But were these Marcos' sins?

I'm not defending Marcos at all. But all I'm saying is that Marcos fell because he did not deliver on the economy.

For all the money he borrowed from foreign sources during martial law, he chose the wrong people (his cronies) to distribute those loans to. Instead of them delivering, they squandered the money and later couldn't pay him back. With the Philippines under Marcos not being able to pay back those loans to private banks and the IMF-World Bank, sanctions caused the Philippine Peso to collapse, causing the Philippine economic crisis of the early 1980's that caused Ninoy to decide to return in 1983. That Ninoy got shot merely sped up the process of Marcos' removal.

But Marcos would have been replaced anyway. He was too sick. He was, in fact, terminally ill. There are speculations, in fact, that his illness was what made him unable to meet regularly with his economic development staff and his cronies in order to check on their progress. Whatever it is, Marcos did not deliver on the economy.

That failure to deliver is the totally provable fact. The peso went down so low that the state of crisis was undeniable. Worse, it was undeniable that Marcos was not doing much about it - because he was sick and always undergoing dialysis or in his sick bed.

Economic Failure, I repeat, is what ultimately got Marcos out.

Ever wonder why despite all the bad press and rumor-mongering by media against GMA, that it's next to impossible to get rid of her?

It's not because she has a strong link to the military... It's simply because the real clamor to get rid of her is not there because she has generally done well on what really matters: the Economy.

Say what you all will about GMA, but her economic focus has been good.

And if Gibo is going to continue that economic focus, then GOOD!


Now let's ask the real questions here... What does Noynoy have to offer as far as THE REAL DEAL is concerned?

And I mean the ECONOMY... What are his plans on improving the economy in order to make sure that the country continues on its quest to make things better on all fronts?

Truth be told, there really should be ONLY ONE agenda for the Philippines: THE ECONOMY.

Why? Because everything depends on it.

Education depends on it (salaries for teachers, funding for schools, etc)

Defense depends on it (salaries for soldiers, costs for upgrading equipment, training, etc)

Infrastructure depends on it (obvious ba?)

Everyone depends on it! (we need to eat!)


Hell, the only real problems of the Philippines are actually basic economics! People leave the Philippines to work as butt-wipers, lowly laborers, or even prostitutes because the economy is not good enough.

Even if GMA did well, still, it's not enough. We need people to stop fighting with an economic-focused government, because when a government wants to go full-speed ahead with the economy, people that go against it are like stupid shitheads who pull on the handbrake while the driver is driving!

We need long term economic growth. If Gibo will continue it and even improve on it, well and good.

Now, again, let's ask the question, what exactly does Noynoy plan to do?

Is it all motherhood statements about Good and Evil and shit like that? Putangina, pagod na kami dyan sa punyetang yan.

We need real solid and concrete plans that are economy-focused. Otherwise, the population growth rate will continue to outpace our economic development and we'll get poorer each year per capita.

Apparently, putting Gibo on the ticket makes the public see the two Cojuangcos as sharing the same middle name and hopefully, sharing some of that Cory DNA (even if Gibo is not Cory's descendent).

So if Noynoy, himself a Cojuangco, is running, let's see what happens when GIBO, also a Cojuangco (and Noynoy's cousin), runs too.

The public now will see who's the better man.

Gibo: Cojuangco, smart, bar top-notcher, high achiever, well-informed

Noynoy: Cojuangco, not smart, lethargic, nothing special, not informed


The choice is simple... Kung pipili lang kayo ng Cojuangco, pumili na kasi kayo ng MARUNONG!


Eh kung puro Noynoy kayo nang Noynoy just because of his parents and because of his name, useless na talaga... It just proves that Filipinos are stupid kung nanalo si Noynoy over Gibo who is clearly the better of the two cousins.

Tanga lang ang makikipag-debate sa sinabi ko, kasi totoo at tama ang sinabi ko at walang makakadeny.

*BOW*
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