Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Personal reaction to President Benigno Noynoy Aquino's inauguration

The whole inauguration ceremony seemed like a major production number of a variety show and as can expected, the producers of the inauguration probably intended to trigger as much emotionalism as possible.

There were a lot of odd moments, such as Noel Cabangon leading everyone in swearing some kind of oath.  As much as I admire the musician, what he did tended to detract from the solemnity of the event.

I was actually expecting President Noynoy Aquino to be more business like in his speech, but for the most part of it, what he said was basically a rehash of his campaign spiels.

Yesterday radio announcers on DZMM made a big deal about Noynoy's convoy stopping at every traffic sign and obeying traffic rules.  This was a rather ungracious attempt at PROJECTING him as a humble President.  In his speech today, he made another reference to obeying traffic rules and what stuck out was the part where he said:
Walang wang-wang, walang counter-flow, walang tong.
Yeah, yeah, yeah... President Noynoy Aquino is sincere, humble and kind.  I mean, that bit has been played to the hilt already.
One obvious Obama copycat spiel was Noynoy saying:
Kayo ang boss ko, kaya’t hindi maaaring hindi ako makinig sa mga utos ninyo. 

We will design and implement an interaction and feedback mechanism that can effectively respond to the people’s needs and aspirations.
 Really? I am your boss?  This is such a patent attempt at flattery, if ever there was one.

On the whole, I'd rate the inauguration quite poorly.

Transcript of President Noynoy Aquino's inaugural address

REPOSTED FROM NOEMI DADO on FACEBOK
transcript 06-30 Inaugural address 
[original text 12 pages, 22-23 mins]:

Ang pagtayo ko rito ngayon ay patunay na kayo ang aking tunay na lakas.

Hindi ko inakala na darating tayo sa puntong ito, na ako’y manunumpa sa harap ninyo bilang inyong Pangulo. Hindi ko pinangarap maging tagapagtaguyod ng pag-asa at tagapagmana ng mga suliranin ng ating bayan.

Ang layunin ko sa buhay ay simple lang: maging tapat sa aking mga magulang at sa bayan bilang isang marangal na anak, mabait na kuya, at mabuting mamamayan.

Nilabanan ng aking ama ang diktadurya at ibinuwis niya ang kanyang buhay para tubusin ang ating demokrasya. Inalay ng aking ina ang kanyang buhay upang pangalagaan ang demokrasyang ito. Ilalaan ko ang aking buhay para siguraduhin na ang ating demokrasya ay kapaki-pakinabang sa bawa’t isa.

Namuhunan na po kami ng dugo at handang gawin itong muli kung kakailanganin. Tanyag man ang aking mga magulang at ang kanilang mga nagawa, alam ko rin ang problema ng ordinaryong mamamayan.

Alam nating lahat ang pakiramdam na magkaroon ng pamahalaang bulag at bingi. Alam natin ang pakiramdam na magpagkaitan ng hustisya, na mabalewala ng mga taong pinagkatiwalaan at inatasan nating maging ating tagapagtanggol.

Kayo ba ay minsan ring nalimutan ng pamahalaang inyong iniluklok sa pwesto? Ako rin.

Kayo ba ay nagtiis na sa trapiko para lamang masingitan ng isang naghahari-hariang de-wangwang sa kalsada? Ako rin.

Kayo ba ay sawang sawa na sa pamahalaang sa halip na magsilbi sa taumbayan ay kailangan pa nila itong pagpasensyahan at tiisin? Ako rin.

Katulad ninyo ako.

Marami na sa atin ang bumoto gamit ang kanilang paa – nilisan na nila ang ating bansa sa kanilang paghahanap ng pagbabago at katahimikan. Tiniis nila ang hirap, sinugod ang panganib sa ibang bansa dahil doon may pag-asa kahit kaunti na rito sa atin ay hindi nila nakikita.

Sa iilang sandali na sarili ko lang ang aking inaalaala, pati ako ay napagisip din – talaga bang hindi na magbabago ang pamamahala natin dito?

Hindi kaya nasa ibang bansa ang katahimikang hinahanap ko? Saan ba nakasulat na kailangang puro pagtitiis ang tadhana ng Pilipino?

Ngayon, sa araw na ito – dito magwawakas ang pamumunong manhid sa mga daing ng taumbayan.

Hindi si Noynoy ang gumawa ng paraan, kayo ang dahilan kung bakit ngayon, magtatapos na ang pagtitiis ng sambayanan. Ito naman po ang umpisa ng kalbaryo ko, nguni’t kung marami tayong magpapasan ng krus ay kakayanin natin ito, gaano man kabigat.

Sa tulong ng wastong pamamahala sa mga darating na taon, maiibsan din ang marami nating problema. Ang tadhana ng Pilipino ay babalik sa tamang kalagyan, na sa bawa’t taon pabawas ng pabawas ang problema ng Pinoy na nagsusumikap at may kasiguruhan sila na magiging tuloy-tuloy na ang pagbuti ng kanilang sitwasyon.

Kami ay narito para magsilbi at hindi para maghari. Ang mandato ninyo sa amin ay pagbabago – isang malinaw na utos para ayusin ang gobyerno at lipunan mula sa pamahalaang iilan lamang ang nakikinabang tungo sa isang pamahalaang kabutihan ng mamamayan ang pinangangalagaan.

Ang mandatong ito ay isa kung saan kayo at ang inyong pangulo ay nagkasundo para sa pagbabago – isang paninindigan na ipinangako ko noong kampanya at tinanggap ninyo noong araw ng halalan.

Sigaw natin noong kampanya: ‘Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap.’ Hindi lamang ito pang-slogan o pang-poster – ito ang mga prinsipyong tinatayuan at nagsisilbing batayan ng ating administrasyon.
 
Ang ating pangunahing tungkulin ay ang magsikap na maiangat ang bansa mula sa kahirapan, sa pamamagitan ng pagpapairal ng katapatan at mabuting pamamalakad sa pamahalaan. Ang unang hakbang ay ang pagkakaroon ng tuwid at tapat na hanay ng mga pinuno. Magsisimula ito sa akin.

Sisikapin kong maging isang mabuting ehemplo.

Hinding hindi ko sasayangin ang tiwalang ipinagkaloob ninyo sa akin.

Sisiguraduhin ko na ganito rin ang adhikain ng aking Gabinete at ng mga magiging kasama sa ating pamahalaan. Naniniwala akong hindi lahat ng nagsisilbi sa gobyerno ay corrupt. Sa katunayan, mas marami sa kanila ay tapat. Pinili nilang maglingkod sa gobyerno upang gumawa ng kabutihan. Ngayon, magkakaroon na sila ng pagkakataong magpakitang-gilas.

Inaasahan natin sila sa pagsupil ng korapsyon sa loob mismo ng burukrasya. Sa mga itinalaga sa paraang labag sa batas, ito ang aking babala: sisimulan natin ang pagbabalik ng tiwala sa pamamagitan ng pag-usisa sa mga ‘midnight appointments.’

Sana ay magsilbi itong babala sa mga nag-iisip na ipagpatuloy ang baluktot na kalakarang nakasanayan na ng marami. Sa mga kapuspalad nating mga kababayan, ngayon, ang pamahalaan ang inyong kampeon. Hindi natin ipagpapaliban ang mga pangangailangan ng ating mga estudyante, kaya’t sisikapin nating punan ang kakulangan sa ating mga silid-aralan.

Unti-unti din nating babawasan ang mga kakulangan sa imprastruktura para sa transportasyon, turismo at pangangalakal.

Mula ngayon, hindi na pwede ang ‘pwede na’ pagdating sa mga kalye, tulay at gusali dahil magiging responsibilidad ng mga kontratista ang panatilihing nasa mabuting kalagayan ang mga proyekto nila.

Bubuhayin natin ang programang ‘emergency employment’ ng dating Pangulong Corazon Aquino sa pagtatayo ng mga bagong imprastruktura na ito. Ito ay magbibigay ng trabaho sa mga lokal na komunidad at makakatulong sa pagpapalago ng kanila at ng ating buong ekonomiya. Hindi kami magiging sanhi ng inyong pasakit at perwisyo.

Palalakasin natin ang koleksyon at pupuksain natin ang korapsyon sa Kawanihan ng Rentas Internas at Bureau of Customs para mapondohan natin ang ating mga hinahangad para sa lahat, tulad ng:

* de-kalidad na edukasyon, kabilang ang edukasyong bokasyonal para makapaghanap ng marangal na trabaho ang hindi makapag-kolehiyo;

* serbisyong pangkalusugan tulad ng PhilHealth para sa lahat sa loob ng tatlong taon;

* tirahan sa loob ng mga ligtas na komunidad.

Palalakasin at palalaguin natin ang bilang ng ating kasundaluhan at kapulisan, hindi para tugunan ang interes ng mga naghahari-harian, nguni’t para proteksyunan ang mamamayan.

Itinataya nila ang kanilang buhay para mayroong pagkakataon sa katahimikan at kapayapaan sa sambayanan. Dumoble na ang populasyong kanilang binabantayan, nanatili naman sila sa bilang. Hindi tama na ang nagmamalasakit ay kinakawawa.

Kung dati ay may fertilizer scam, ngayon ay may kalinga nang tunay para sa mga magsasaka. Tutulungan natin sila sa irigasyon, extension services, at sa pagbenta ng kanilang produkto sa pinakamataas na presyong maaari.

Inaatasan natin ang papasok na Kalihim Alcala na magtayo ng mga trading centers kung saan diretso na ang magsasaka sa mamimili – lalaktawan na natin ang gitna, kasama na ang kotong cop. Sa ganitong paraan, ang dating napupunta sa gitna ay maari nang paghatian ng magsasaka at mamimili. Gagawin nating kaaya-aya sa negosyante ang ating bansa.

We will cut red tape dramatically and implement stable economic policies. We will level the playing field for investors and make government an enabler, not a hindrance, to business. Sa ganitong paraan lamang natin mapupunuan ang kakulangan ng trabaho para sa ating mga mamamayan.

Layunin nating paramihin ang trabaho dito sa ating bansa upang hindi na kailangan ang mangibang-bansa para makahanap ng trabaho.

Nguni’t habang ito ay hindi pa natin naaabot, inaatasan ko ang mga kawani ng DFA, POEA at ng OWWA, at iba pang mga kinauukulang ahensya na mas lalo pang paigtingin ang pagtugon sa mga hinaing at pangangailangan ng ating overseas Filipino workers. 

Papaigtingin namin ang proseso ng konsultasyon at pag-uulat sa taumbayan. Sisikapin naming isakatuparan ang nakasaad sa ating Konstitusyon na kinikilala ang karapatan ng mamamayan na magkaroon ng kaalaman ukol sa mga pampublikong alintana. 

Binuhay natin ang diwa ng people power noong kampanya. Ipagpatuloy natin ito tungo sa tuwid at tapat na pamamahala. 

Ang naniniwala sa people power ay nakatuon sa kapwa at hindi sa sarili. Sa mga nang-api sa akin, kaya ko kayong patawarin at pinapatawad ko na kayo. Sa mga nang-api sa sambayanan, wala akong karapatan na limutin ang inyong mga kasalanan. 

To those who are talking about reconciliation, if they mean that they would like us to simply forget about the wrongs that they have committed in the past, we have this to say: there can be no reconciliation without justice. 

Sa paglimot ng pagkakasala, sinisigurado mong mauulit muli ang mga pagkakasalang ito. Secretary de Lima, you have your marching orders. Begin the process of providing true and complete justice for all. Ikinagagalak din naming ibahagi sa inyo ang pagtanggap ni dating Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. sa hamon ng pagtatag at pamumuno sa isang Truth Commission na magbibigay linaw sa maraming kahinahinalang isyu na hanggang ngayon ay walang kasagutan at resolusyon. 

Ang sinumang nagkamali ay kailangang humarap sa hustisya. Hindi maaaring patuloy ang kalakaran ng walang pananagutan at tuloy na pang-aapi. My government will be sincere in dealing with all the peoples of Mindanao. 

We are committed to a peaceful and just settlement of conflicts, inclusive of the interests of all – may they be Lumads, Bangsamoro or Christian. We shall defeat the enemy by wielding the tools of justice, social reform and equitable governance leading to a better life. Sa tamang pamamahala gaganda ang buhay ng lahat, at sa buhay na maganda, sino pa ang gugustuhing bumalik sa panahon ng pang-aapi? 

Kung kasama ko kayo, maitataguyod natin ang isang bayan kung saan pantay-pantay ang pagkakataon, dahil pantay-pantay nating ginagampanan ang ating mga pananagutan. Kamakailan lamang, ang bawa’t isa sa atin ay nanindigan sa presinto. 

Bumoto tayo ayon sa ating karapatan at konsensya. Hindi tayo umatras sa tungkulin nating ipaglaban ang karapatang ito. Pagkatapos ng bilangan, pinatunayan ninyo na ang tao ang tunay na lakas ng bayan. Ito ang kahalagahan ng ating demokrasya. 

Ito ang pundasyon ng ating pagkakaisa. Nangampanya tayo para sa pagbabago. Dahil dito, taas-noo muli ang Pilipino. 

Tayong lahat ay kabilang sa isang bansa kung saan maaari nang mangarap muli. 

To our friends and neighbors around the world, we are ready to take our place as a reliable member of the community of nations, a nation serious about its commitments and which harmonizes its national interests with its international responsibilities. 

We will be a predictable and consistent place for investment, a nation where everyone will say, ‘it all works.’ Inaanyayahan ko kayo ngayon na manumpa sa ating mga sarili, sa sambayanan, WALANG MAIIWAN. 

Walang pangingibang-bayan at gastusan na walang wastong dahilan. Walang pagtalikod sa mga salitang binitawan noong kampanya, ngayon at hanggang sa mga susunod pang pagsubok na pagdadaanan sa loob ng anim na taon. Walang lamangan, walang padrino, at walang pagnanakaw. 

Walang wang-wang, walang counter-flow, walang tong. 

Panahon na upang tayo ay muling magkawanggawa. Nandito tayo ngayon dahil sama-sama tayong nanindigan at nagtiwala na may pag-asa. The people who are behind us dared to dream. Today, the dream starts to become a reality. 

Sa inyong mga nag-isip pa kung tutulong kayo sa pagpasan ng ating krus, isa lang ang aking tanong – kung kailan tayo nanalo, saka pa ba kayo susuko? 

Kayo ang boss ko, kaya’t hindi maaaring hindi ako makinig sa mga utos ninyo. 

We will design and implement an interaction and feedback mechanism that can effectively respond to the people’s needs and aspirations. 

Kayo ang nagdala sa akin sa puntong ito – ang ating mga volunteers – matanda, bata, celebrity, ordinaryong tao, na umikot sa Pilipinas para ikampanya ang pagbabago; ang aking mga kasambahay, na nag-asikaso ng lahat ng aking mga personal na mga pangangailangan; ang aking pamilya, kaibigan at katrabaho, na dumamay, nag-alaga at nagbigay ng suporta sa akin; ang ating mga abogado, na nagpuyat para bantayan ang ating mga boto at siguraduhing mabibilang ang bawa’t isa; ang aking mga kapartido at kaalyado na kasama kong nangahas mangarap; at ang milyun-milyong Pilipinong nagkaisa, nagtiwala at hindi nawalan ng pag-asa – nasa inyo ang taospusong pasasalamat. 

Hindi ko makakayang harapin ang aking mga magulang at kayong mga nagdala sa akin sa yugto ng buhay kong ito, kung hindi ko maisasakatuparan ang aking mga binitawang salita sa araw na ito. My parents sought nothing less and died for nothing less than democracy, peace and prosperity. I am blessed by this legacy. 

I shall carry the torch forward. Layunin ko na sa pagbaba ko sa katungkulan, masasabi ng lahat na malayo na ang narating natin sa pagtahak ng tuwid na landas at mas maganda na ang kinabukasang ipapamana natin sa susunod na henerasyon. Samahan ninyo ako sa pagtatapos ng laban na ito. Tayo na sa tuwid na landas. Maraming salamat po at mabuhay ang sambayanang Pilipino! ***

Noynoy Aquino says I am his boss!

Really?!




Tayo na sa daang matuwid...

Well, folks, there you have it... It's official! We now have Benigno Noynoy S. Aquino III as our fifteenth President.


I was too busy watching the inaugural ceremony and waiting for it to turn into a gameshow ala Wowowee.

I found it funny that whoever that guy who was singing and playing guitar led everyone to taking an oath of sorts.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

NEDA nominee is ethically challenged

(Reposted from Lamang Lupa)

It seems everyone wants to 'help' President Noynoy Aquino fulfill his promise to eradicate corruption and end poverty.  With the sheer number of applications and recommendations, I can imagine that the screening committee of the incoming administration must be swamped.  Of course, this situation isn't something that is hard to predict and there might be those who'll  try take advantage of the situation.
One of them might be a guy named Cayetano Dondon Paderanga Junior,  according to Lamang Lupa.

Here is his note on Facebook that I think those in the screening committee ought to consider.

http://lamanglupa.blogspot.com/2010/06/nominee-for-neda-ethically-challenged.html

Many in the business community are disturbed by the rumors that President-elect Noynoy Aquino is seriously considering the appointment of economist Cayetano "Dondon" PaderangaJr back as NEDA secretary general and economic planning secretary (a post he held from 1990 to 1992 under President Cory Aquino). They believe he is ethically challenged.

Paderanga, who was also a former member of the Monetary Board from 1993 to 1999, carries with him a very shabby and questionable record as a business executive and manager. If Noynoy names him for the NEDA post, there is bound to be a serious challenge of his appointment during the confirmation hearings by at least two companies whose operations were hurt by his irresponsible management.

The brief against Paderanga is shocking considering that is both an economist and an accountant. Among the shocking charges are:

1.When he was president of Credit Information Bueau(CIBI), the company did not pay taxes for at least four years -- from 2004 to 2007. These taxes consisted of: VAT, expanded withholding tax, and withholding tax on compensation. CIBI had to pay all unremitted taxas surcharge and penalties after he left in 2008.

2. He window-dressed the financials of the company to show an income when in fact it was incurring losses every year of operation under his watch. He did this by recognizing future income in the current periods and manufacturing bogus contracts to increase revenues.

3. He hired his brother-in-law as an officer of the company (legal consultant) at a cost of P90k per month, without informing the board. Brother-in-law hardly reported for work, causing office demoralization.

4. He did not pay rentals for office space starting January 2001 -- leaving all outstanding rentals to the parent company to absorb.

5. He charged CIBI huge management fees for a company of which he was also the president.

6. While president of CIBI, he also ran an economics consulting firm, IDEA, on the side. He diverted company computer hardware to the company and used IT personnel of CIBI for the consulting work.

7. Within one year from the time he left CIBI in 2008, the new management which took over was able to turn a profit for the company.

Paderanga's dismal record should not be allowed to disfigure the new Aquino government. He should be dropped from consideration at once.

Monday, June 28, 2010

UP School of Economics professor says Noynoy ain't Superman and Einstein

In an interview with ABS-CBN, a.k.a. the station that got voted into government service along with Noynoy Aquino, Raul Fabella of the University of the Philippines School of Economics said that President Noynoy Aquino ought to tell the people that he is not a combination of Superman and Albert Einstein.

Gee!  No kidding?!

After all those campaign TV commercials and write-ups which basically deified him, there now seems to be a rush of news articles and columns all aimed at managing peoples' expectations of the incoming President.

Even before he does the ceremonial climb up the stairs of Malacanang (did Manolo make this up?!  I've never heard of it), Noynoy better have clear directions in mind about what to do with the P340 Billion budget deficit.

Unlike the fork in the road that he pointed to in one of his TV commercials (where he asked people to choose between the crooked path and the straight path), the answer to how to deal with an enormous budget deficit ain't a simple choice between new taxes (which he PROMISED not to impose) or no new taxes, more spending or less spending (which he PROMISED), etcetera..
And Mr. President, before any of your advisers forget, IT ALSO TAKES MONEY TO ERADICATE CORRUPTION.

Returning to the mission

The mission remains and the cause endures...

I can still hear the words of a former boss ringing in my ears and now that I've got enough funds to do political blogging full time, I have hunkered down to the work of reviving this blog -- my first and only personal blog.


I think this is a crucial time for all of us Filipinos as we continue to try to get our acts together and perhaps this blogger, yours truly, can contribute something valuable to the ongoing conversation.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Yaya Cora said Noynoy fulfills his promises

(A reaction to "Aquino wants to lower our expectations" in Better Philippines.)

Noynoy Aquino's nanny, Yaya Cora, was interviewed by ABS-CBN's Ces Drilon about her former charge's character and habits as a young boy and from start to finish, the whole piece felt like a PR job.

My neighbor, who runs a tailoring business across the street where I live, made the same observation and he remarked that perhaps the giant TV network is trying to consolidate its position further by eating up the meager audiences of the country's three government owned or controlled TV stations (NBN, RPN, and IBC).

It is said that a person's true character takes root and becomes evident at the age of three.

The TV news feature presented by Ces Drilon portrayed Noynoy through the eyes of a very loyal member of their household and one who was jailed during the Marcos administration.  

As support video, pictures of Noynoy as a young kid were shown.  There were even pictures of him that showed an uncanny resemblance to one of his nephews, Bam Aquino.  He was so darned cute!

Of course, why would anyone expect pictures of Noynoy as a kid in soiled diapers with snot caked all over his upper lip and drool dripping from the corners of his mouth.

And then came Yaya Cora's revelations about Noynoy's character as a kid.  He was described as mabait or kind and easy to take care of.  Yaya also said that he had been trained to be self-reliant and do things for himself.

But, perhaps, in order not to be accused of being overly positive and promotional or propaganda-like, Ces probably asked if Noynoy had any bad habits or bad traits.

Yaya Cora said that Noynoy was 'mahirap gisingin' or hard to wake up and he took such a long time to dress up.  This minor misbehavior, as narrated by Yaya Cora, sounded so innocuous and even endearing -- after all, what kid isn't a sleepy head and prone to procrastination?
And then, something in the whole TV segment stuck out like a sore thumb and this was when a soundbite of Yaya Cora's interview was aired saying that "Noynoy always fulfills his promises" and also "Noynoy never forgot me, he introduces me to everyone."

My neighbor observed that Ces' interview wasn't incisive enough because it didn't tell people about a number of things, including:

- What age did Noynoy start smoking?  When did he have his first 'buzz' or taste of alcohol?

- Who was the object of his first infatuation?

- Did he read any dirty magazines?  Did he make silip any of the maids while they were taking a  bath? Or more to the point, was he ever caught jacking off?   Who gave him his first experience?

Stuff like that, my neighbor said, told more about a man than anything else.

(Of course, my neighbor definitely part of the masa because his concerns revolve around sex, food, and drinking beer.)

So, why bring up Ces' interview with Yaya Cora as a reaction to Better Philippine's view that Noynoy Aquino is lowering people's expectations?

Well, the work of deifying Noynoy will go into overdrive in the next few days and the expectations that Noynoy is said to be lowering won't be happening.

For some, and probably for a very few, their expectations need not be lowered because they weren't high to begin with.  A number of people don't expect Noynoy to fulfill any of his campaign promises primarily because he isn't capable of leading a team (a very huge one at that) that will work to deliver his promises.

There was a news item quite recently that said that he is expected to reveal who the members of his cabinet will be tomorrow, Monday June 28.  However, one has to keep in mind that forming a team is one thing and leading the team you've formed is another thing.

One way to think about this is taking into consideration the sort of thinking it takes to lead a dog-powered sled through the wilderness of Alaska.  One would think that all you have to do is to harness a bunch of dogs together and lead them by tethers.  But, that's where most people would probably be wrong.

First of all, you have to consider the temperament, endurance, and strength of each dog in the train.  You can't lash together two dogs who are prone to fighting with each other and you can't expect the strongest dog to be at the lead all through out or do without planning for reconfiguring the whole team should the lead dog perform in an unexpected manner.

But even before you lash together the dogs, the one holding the tethers should already be well-trained in leading the particular pack of dogs and he or she should already know the route that he is leading them through by heart.

Anyway, apart from those who are expecting something from the Noynoy Administration are the one who expect that nothing will change.  And basically, these are the ones who are benefiting from the status quo.

You don't have to be corrupt to benefit from the status quo, all you have to be is a government employee or be an employee whose company stays afload because of the contracts it gets from the government.

Imagine the collective shock of these people when they find out that the new administration has to cut down on expenses in order to keep itself from burdening the people with more taxes (Noynoy promised not to raise taxes).  

This  can mean government projects in the pipeline will probably not push through or will be delayed.  And in the case of construction firms building roads, bridges and whatever else, this will mean no new hires for labor.

It can also spell disaster to people who have already started on a government project only to find out that funding for the project has been stopped.  In most cases, these companies will have already spent a considerable sum -- such as the kick backs and grease money given to government officials as well as actual money spent on the project.  This is because, as any government contractor will tell you, companies who get government contracts often have to perform the service or deliver first before they get paid.

Government employees whose jobs are contractual or temporary in nature will probably be jobless when the new Aquino administration declares a need to cut back on government programs.

Apart from those who expect nothing and those who expect little to change, there are those who expect a lot of change to happen.  And this will be where the biggest disappointments will happen.

One of the people who commented on Better Philippines, one going by the name of "Dick Gordon", asked to ease up on Noynoy.

The "Dick" was basically selling a cop out interpretation of Noynoy's promise to eradicate corruption completely and lift people out of poverty -- "Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap."

Here's one comment from "Dick" ( or as I suspect, Charlie from one of the Noynoy sites.)
The campaign slogan was “Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap.” Yun ang pinakanapansin kasi yun ang pinakarelevant given the corruption under Arroyo.

That said, I think the president-elect knows that fighting corruption is not the end-all to solve poverty. 

Take, for instance, his stance on the RH bill. Or his pledge to increase spending in public works projects that give employment to many of the poor. Or his focus on area upgrading and in-city resettlement. Mayroon nang mga nakakasang programa to fight poverty.
(your readers can see more here: http://www.noynoy.ph/v3/covenant-urban-poor.php)

I agree na hindi matatapos sa paglaban sa corruption ang laban towards poverty alleviation, and I think the president-elect knows this too. How about reading his slogan from a different angle? Instead of interpreting mahirap as “poor,” interpret natin siya as “hard (to do).”

Without corruption, anything is possible.
Given the ambiguous nature of the Liberal Party platform and the slogans it carried, I'd say that it is very easy for Noynoy Aquino to weasel out of any of the promises made to the people when he was campaigning.

This is the problem one confronts when advertising slogans are treated like stipulations in a contract.

The slogan does not refer to a doer, a recipient, and action to be performed or goods to be delivered.  All it is, IS an observation or a musing which can be true or false or meaningless, but does not bind anyone to perform anything but makes it seem so.

You'd have to consider if it is actually possible for both conditions to exist in the real world.  Is there a place where corruption DOES NOT EXIST? Is there a place where there absolutely NO POOR people?  Is there in fact a place on this earth where people are both morally upright and not poor? 

You'd probably think of places like Denmark, Finland, and New Zealand.  Countries that are perceived to have the least amount of corruption and whose people are mostly rich.

Now, since such a place is possible, the next question is: Can Noynoy Aquino lead our country to becoming like Denmark, Finland, and New Zealand?

I think Noynoy will probably rework his campaign promise (like all other Preisdents in Philippine history) and it will probably be...
KAPAG WALANG CORRUPT, WALANG MAHIRAP KAYA MAG-MIGRATE NA KAYO SA DENMARK, FINLAND, AT NEW ZEALAN!

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Four days to President Noynoy Aquino's June 30 Inauguration

When the sun reaches it's zenith on June 30, 2010, the entire country will witness the second biggest transition to happen this year -- the inauguration of the country's 15th President, Benigno Noynoy S. Aquino or PNoy for short.

The first biggest transition (nationwide automated elections) this year actually paved the way for the ascent of Noynoy as President and his ever active horde of Yellow Worshippers are probably preparing for his inaugural like they would a wedding.

Oh I am sure thousands of pigs, cows, and chickens will be slaughtered for the feasts that will welcome the coming into power of Noynoy.

I am not at all sure if vegetables and root crops like kalabasa, kamote, and kangkong will be served on the buffet tables at the grand street party for Noynoy at the Quezon Memorial circle.

It would probably be a good idea, though, to include these in the buffet as it contains a lot of anti-oxidants which is great for people who smoke a lot and run the risk of getting cancer.

Anyway, after the fiesta and the hangovers, people will soon be waking up to the realities that will confront the Noynoy Administration.

The writing on the wall can be read from the moon, perhaps, and the first thing on the agenda -- after all the hoopla -- should be how to keep the economy moving.

On the front page of the NEW government newspaper, The Philippine Daily Inquirer, it says that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will leave a budget deficit of P340 BILLION and the article somewhat emphasizes that it will be the biggest deficit in Philippine history.

On historical matters as well as inaugural matters, I'll probably have to take Manoling Quezon's word for it.

But what I am sure about is that Noynoy's job as President will be tough, to say the least.

First and foremost, he has traded the rather comfy job of 'fiscalizing' (if ever there was such a word) or complaining, for the job of ACTUALLY doing something.

His Yaya Cora's interview with Ces Drilon didn't give much to calm away my apprehensions.

Noynoy, according to Yaya Cora, had one nasty habit or ugali which really peeved his sisters and that was his penchant for falling asleep in the bathroom as well as taking too long to get ready to go out.

I laughed at the thought of all three of his sisters dragging Noynoy by the hair on such days and think this would account for his latent follicle growth.

One thing is for sure though, the Aquino sisters better make themselves handy because in the days ahead, their countrymen will need them to get Noynoy's ass moving... If not to solve the country's ills, at least to be awake in the front row to watch as the country sinks into the sea.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Does Pond's have cocaine in it?

I found this rather funny blogpost on Utak Pugita today.
The title of the post is "Pond's Reinvents Celine Lopez" and if you don't know who she is, then you probably weren't around when the Brian Gorrel bomb exploded on the Philippine blogosphere.

Luckily, there's a snippet about it on the post:
"CELINE LOPEZ, daughter of former Iloilo Rep. Albertito Lopez and Guimaras Rep. Emily Relucio, is now caught in a crossfire in the quarrel of two gay men, Australian landscape designer Brian Gorrell and Filipino lifestyle columnist DJ Montano.

Gorrell, who had since fled to Sydney, accused Montano of swindling him of money totaling US$70,000. From where he is, he opened a blog on 4 March 4 2008 where he maligns Montano and accuses his well-to-do friends, whom he identified as the Gucci Gang, of attempting to cover up the deed and striking back at him.
The controversy is now featured in Wikipedia, which noted that Gorrell’s blog ”has since become a major gossip topic in Philippines’ capital city Manila, exposing its high-society youths’ alleged freeloading lifestyle and addiction to COCAINE... "

Pond's institute has taken the initiative to revive the 90's lifestyle!
-- Source: Utak Pugita
Now, what does Celine Lopez have to do with Pond's?
Well, apparently, Pond's has taken on Celine Lopez as an image model of sorts:


Local fashion’s known druggies come together to represent the limited edition Pond’s Plains & Prints collection... Model-columnists and best friend of the notorious DJ Montano, Celine Lopez leads tha pact as well as "self proclaimed" real estate goddess and "party animal" Divine Lee. Others include has been model Apples Aberin, lifestyle writer "kuno" Patty Betita,  interior designer (not certified) Mai Kaufmann, and "makeup artist" Bianca Valerio.
-- Source  Utak Pugita
Pond's is a brand of Unilever, the foreign multinational colossus that spends billions of pesos in advertising in the Philippines.

To me, that's enough money to make any company and any product the apple of everybody's eye.  At least in a PR sense, no news program or current affairs show will talk about what the company is doing wrong lest Unilever pulls out its ads from the TV station or Newspaper.

I mean, never mind that it's latest commercial showing an apple turning brown is absolutely misleading.

As any kid from a good private school will tell you, halved APPLES will TURN BROWN if you leave the flesh exposed in the air -- whether or not you put anything the exposed flesh.

As if we don't have enough problems as it is with our public education system, Unilever has by itself wrecked the chemistry education of millions of public school children.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Stinky river Pasig

I was rather glad that my former boss Sen. Richard Gordon finally got to open the Maestranza Wall in Intramuros. 

It should be yet another addition to Manila's tourist attractions, however, one thing that will definitely go against it is the stink that comes from the Pasig River.

Despite the almost European feel of the place, I can't imagine eating Al Fresco or EATING AT ALL in that area.  The place stinks like shit, especially after it rains -- because that is when the esteros or tributaries dump hundreds of thousands of liters of rank sewerage and trash.

Can you imagine going out on a date near the Maestranza wall?

The reason why I am glad about the Maestranza wall's opening is because it will focus attention on just what is being done to revive the river.

Despite the glossy and noisy 'Save the Pasig River' movements... Despite the billions of corporate money thrown into it, why is the river is still dirty?

Where did all the money from Piso para sa Pasig go?

Also, where did all the river clean up money from big corporations like Unilever go? I'd hate to think that all that it really amounted to was PR, when in fact, nothing is really being done to revive the river.

One sign that President Noynoy Aquino's drive against corruption is actually taking effect would be if the Pasig River finally begins to get cleaner.

If the Pasig River starts getting really cleaner, then perhaps it would mean that environmental laws  and anti-dumping laws are finally being enforced -- wala nang nakakapaglagay sa DENR and LGUs.

Perhaps, cleaning up the Pasig River would be a great showcase for the Aquino Administration.
A cleaner Pasig River would be a better symbol than the BANGKANG PAPEL of the three squatter kids.

 


Friday, June 18, 2010

Noynoy: Roxas is my alter ego

Seeing these words on Inquirer dot net got me thinking:
  • Are you sure Mr. President?  I was thinking Spongebob was your alter ego, but apparently, I'm wrong.
  • Can Korina tell the difference?
  • Shouldn't Ochoa be leading the transition team?
Is there anything barring Mr. President Aquino from taking the lead in the transition process?  Shouldn't he be directly leading his team in navigating through this rather tricky period?

Will leadership by delegation and proxy be the hallmark of his administration?

If you're wondering what I am talking about, here's an excerpt from the Inquirer story:
“We have the same mind-set, the same vision. In effect, he is representing me in a lot of aspects to be able to get the necessary data,” Aquino said in a press conference at his house in Quezon City. “We are getting ready to govern, so why would I not utilize the talents of Senator Roxas?”

Aquino has tapped Roxas to take the lead in his five-member presidential transition coordination team because of the latter’s expertise in fiscal data, having served as trade secretary in the Estrada and Arroyo administrations.

“We promise to have a handle on every single problem of the country as soon we take over,” Aquino said.

He said he also named former Trade Secretary Cesar Purisima to the team because of the latter’s inside knowledge of the government’s financial picture. (The other members of the team are Executive Secretary-designate Paquito Ochoa Jr., Liberal Party campaign manager Florencio Abad, and his daughter Julia Abad.)

Thursday, June 17, 2010

List of those who contributed to Noynoy Aquino's 2010 Presidentical Campaign

I wish I had a copy of the actual document, but the one printed on the Philippine Daily Inquirer will have to do.

One of the challenges claimed by President Noynoy Aquino is to make government more transparent and perhaps his first steps towards achieving this will be helped immensely by the State of Contribution released by the Commission on Elections.

Also-ran Presidential Candidate Manny Villar had been criticized for spending so much money on his campaign and people said that he was bound to find a way to get back the money he spent.

In Aquino's case, it would be great to see Aquino making sure that those contributed to his campaign won't get "rewarded" or favored with juicy government contracts.

The Statement of Contribution should be a great help to those who want to make a watch list of sorts for people who want to make sure that Aquino remains true to this word of ridding the government of corruption.
  1. Antonio Cojuangco
  2. Chiong Bu Hong
  3. Martin Ignacio Lorenzo
  4. Fulgencio Factoran
  5. Kristine Bernadette Yap
  6. Leonardo Javier Jr.
  7. Jose Ramon Aliling
  8. Cesar Purisima'
  9. Alex Tanwangco
  10. Jose Mari Gamboa
  11. David Lim
  12. elena Lim
  13. Abeto Uy
  14. Feliz Ang
  15. Felix Chung
  16. Felipe Diego
  17. Jose antonio Larrauri
  18. Gerardo Esquivel
  19. Aurora Abellada
  20. Lourdes Ong
  21. Ricardo Bautista
  22. Antonio Aquino
  23. George Barcelona
  24. Eduardo Galvez
  25. Philip Juico
  26. Maripola Aquino
  27. Angleita legarda
  28. Josephine Guingona
  29. Alexander Ayco
  30. Salvador Zamora II
  31. Gregorio Yu
  32. Josephine Reyes
  33. Mariano Chua
  34. Augusto Santos Sr.
  35. Ma. Elena Cruz
  36. Julio Jr. D Sy
  37. Howard Dee
  38. Bernardine Quiason
  39. Abrahan Pascual
  40. Sylvia Pascual
  41. Sostenes Campillo
  42. Jose J. Ong
  43. Victor Gomez III
  44. Zamora
  45. Enrique Quiason
  46. Antonio Lopa
  47. Jose Manuel Lopa
  48. Cornelio Torja
  49. Teresita Lacson
  50. Maria Cecilia Santos
  51. Camilio Quiason
  52. Miguel Antonio Lacson
  53. Emmanuel Cochico 
  54. Daniel Lichauco
  55. Anita L. Vistan
  56. Lourdes San Gabriel
  57. Romeo Chan
  58. Cecilia O. Cagulat
  59. Jose Armando Nanawa
  60. Jose Gerardo Castro
  61. Paul Tayag
  62. Eduardo del Rosario
  63. Marinette Aglipay
  64. Ricardo Lopa Jr.
  65. Jose Maria Lopez
  66. Jaime Lopa
  67. Edward Go
  68. Hirene Lopez
  69. Carios Syquia
  70. Michael Lopa
  71. Maria Therese Ryees
  72. Anna Lopez
  73. Christina Lopa
  74. Rafael Lopa
  75. Natividad Reyes
  76. Renato Lirio
  77. Cochico Josephine
  78. Francis San Gabriel
  79. Richard Tamayo
  80. Peter Ong
  81. Rene Dela Calzada
  82. Joe Marie Lesaca Sy
  83. Ralph Ante
  84. John Carlyle Quimbo
  85. Deborah Anne Tan
  86. Antonio Jude Montinola
  87. Patricia Montinola
  88. Marvin S. Matias
  89. Eduardo Gana
  90. Constantino Gavino
  91. Gerolaga Rheyvan
  92. Carmen M. Luz
  93. Hector Quesada
  94. Goco Ma. Theresa
  95. Cecilla Lourdes Teodoro

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Inquirer... Why piss on such a beautiful gesture?

In 2008, controversy hounded Mendoza after she appeared nude for a jewelry advertisement. The following year, she posted an entry on her blog about her visit to the detention camps at the US naval base in Guantanamo, which she described as a “relaxing place.”

Other blogs condemned her ridiculous comments, forcing her to remove the entry in April 2009.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer, http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100616-275816/Miss-Universe-2008-Smartmatics-hottest-flash-card
I am appalled by the Philippine Daily Inquirer's inclusion of the details posted above in blockquote. 

It just doesn't seem right at all to mention these things about a visitor, especially one invited as a goodwill ambassador of sorts. 

Of what relevance is it anyway?

Yesterday, I had a chance to exchange a couple of comments with Renato Reyes Jr. when he said that  Miss Universe Venezuela Dayana Mendoza's visit to the Philippines was "Very devious, these Smartmatic people. But this won't get you off the hook!"

I really don't know what offenses Renato is charging Smartmatic-TIM with, but I wouldn't put it outside of the sphere of charges that are on heavy repeat cycles in some cliques in the tibak crowd.
 
For one reason or another, seems remind me of the line taken by Communist leader Joma Sison that Smartmatic-TIM, outgoing Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and President Noynoy Aquino's sister Pinky Aquino-Abellada had somehow rigged the results of the 2010 elections.

Well, doubt the results if you must and pick at the faults of Smartmatic-TIM's poll automation project, but for God's sake... Be kind to my girlfriend!
 
She's working for world peace and trying to end hunger... So give her a break!
Being pretty is hard enough work as it is!

I'm back... (President Noynoy Aquino's biblical problems.)

I'm back.

Not necessarily with a vengeance.  Not necessarily wiser.  Not necessarily repentant.   Not necessarily better.

After going all out for Dick Gordon in the recently concluded 2010 Philippine Elections, I decided that I needed to take a break from writing about politics in the Philippines.

Things got pretty crazy on the internet and I can't say I didn't go beyond the realm of reason.

Yep! I called President Noynoy Aquino a lot of names and probably passed on stuff that were kinda nasty. 

I called a couple of other bloggers pretty bad things too.


I haven't, as of yet, regretted having said any of the things I've written. 

(Well, except for the few weeks that I spent fearing for the safety of my family when you-know-who started posting pictures of my family on his blog.  I mean, it wasn't bad enough that he VIOLATED INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PRIVACY LAWS, he also started persecuting an HIV positive man, which is actually ILLEGAL in the US.)

Anyway, maybe, like Conrado de Quiros who railed against automated elections, perhaps, there is a chance that I will write my apologies to President Noynoy Aquino.

When I was still a scriptwriter/producer for the Presidential Broadcast Staff - Radio Television Malacanang (an agency created and led by Maria Montelibano), my former boss Alex F. Ontong asked me to write a feature on President Fidel V. Ramos "War on Poverty".

Being still raw and unaccustomed to the bureaucratese that populated most of the documents pertaining to the Ramos Anti-Poverty program, I turned in scripts that was successful in having the look and feel of absolute propaganda.

After reading my last unsuccessful attempt at a script, Alex generously gave his counsel and clued me in on how to view the Ramos Anti-Poverty program.

"Paul," Alex said in between puffs of his Marlboro reds, "kelangan mong maintindihan naman kasi pare... Ang poverty, tangina, BIBLICAL PROBLEM YAN!"

"Hmmmm.... so what do you mean? Do I put that in the script?" I said.

"Tangina! Bobo ka ba?  That is not the point.  The point is that you should realize that you are writing GOD DAMN propaganda about a program that will not succeed in what it says it will do.  The Anti-Poverty program will not END POVERTY.  Neither Moses nor Jesus Christ ended poverty, what would make you think that Ramos can do it?"

Well, Mr. President Aquino, it seems you've got a real challenge ahead of you because on top of promising to end POVERTY... You also promised to END CORRUPTION, which I think is yet another BIBLICAL PROBLEM.

Cheers!
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