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#1575 From: "Perry Diaz" <PerryDiaz@...>
Date: Fri Aug 31, 2007 7:52 pm
Subject: Competing with Japan? -- by Antonio C. Abaya perrydiaz2001
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Competing with Japan?

By Antonio C. Abaya

Written Aug. 29, 2007

For the Standard Today,

August 30 issue

For all the bombast and pomposity of Filipino politicians, the Philippines was never in competition with Japan for anything, except, perhaps, for the dubious title of being "the happiest people in Asia."

(That distinction went to Filipinos, with the Japanese earning the title of "the least happy people in Asia,' according to a silly poll conducted by people with nothing better to do with their time. See my article Happiness, July 31, 2006.)

A paper titled The Philippines and Japan � The Great Divergence, by Robert H. Nelson, makes the preposterous claim that "economically, the Philippines and Japan contended for the leadership of Asia in the first half of the 20 ^th century."

Nelson is identified as a professor in the University of Maryland and a visiting professor at the University of the Philippines School of Economics. His paper was commented on by my esteemed colleague Juan Mercado in his column in the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Aug. 16 issue.

He trots out some statistics, to wit, that in 1902, the Philippines' per capita income was 15% that of the US, while Japan's was 26% that of the US. By 1930, he writes, our PCI had reached 22% of the US, while Japan's, advancing at a slower pace, was 32% of the US. My reaction to all this is: So what?

In 1902, Japan was already an industrialized and expansionist country. It had defeated China in the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-95, for which it acquired as war booty the island of Formosa (now known as Taiwan) through the Treaty of Shimonoseki of 1895. In 1910, Japan forcibly annexed Korea.

In addition, it had annexed some islands in the Pacific, principally the Caroline Islands. In 1898, when Commodore (later Admiral) George Dewey sailed the US Asiatic Fleet into Manila Bay to destroy the Spanish fleet, there were Japanese (and German) naval units anchored off Subic Bay, waiting to see if the Americans would stay or leave.

If the Americans had left after sinking the Spanish fleet, there is no doubt that Japan and/or Germany would have come in and annexed these islands for their own imperial designs. (Germany had earlier annexed some Pacific islands also, including parts of New Guinea, plus the port city of Tsingtao - home of Tsingtao Bee - in China.)

In the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05, the Japanese Imperial Navy under Admiral Togo defeated the Russian Imperial Fleet in a classic naval maneuver off Tsushima Island, between Japan and the Korean Peninsula, in which the Japanese "crossed the 't'" of the Russians. In addition, the Japanese Imperial Army attacked and captured the port city of Port Arthur in the Russian Far East As war reparation, Russia was forced to cede to Japan half of Sakhalin Island.

(Before the advent of aircraft carriers, naval battles were fought by fleets that were within sight of each other. The Russian fleet, which had sailed all the way from its home port of Riga in Latvia, to the southern tip of Africa - the British refused them permission to pass through the Suez Canal - and all across the Indian Ocean, sailed in single file through the narrow Straits of Tsushima. The Japanese ships, hidden from view by some mountainous islands, crossed the 't' of the Russians.

(In this textbook maneuver, all the Japanese ships were able to fire all their turret guns, fore and aft, at the unsuspecting Russians, while only the lead Russian ship had a clear view of the Japanese ships and could fire only its forward turret guns. The Russians were totally out-maneuvered and most of their ships were either sunk or scuttled, at minimal cost to the Japanese. The victory established Japan as a world-class naval power, on par with the US and Great Britain.). .

So in 1902, Nelson's starting year, Japan was already a mature industrialized country and an expansionist military and naval power, having acquired during the Meiji Restoration in the late 19 ^th century the industrial wherewithal as well as the military and naval skills of a world power.

And what was the Philippines in 1902? A languorous tropical backwater, devoid of any industrial base, recently self-liberated from the clutches of a second-rate European power in terminal decline, only to be grabbed through treachery by an ascendant North American imperial power eager to accumulate its own share of backward colonies.

In 1902, the Philippine Revolution, started in 1896 against the Spaniards, was in its last death throes, having been robbed by the Americans in 1899 of the fruits of its earlier victory against Spain. In 1902, its president, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, on the run from the pursuing Americans, was betrayed by his own countrymen and was captured in the jungles of Palanan. In 1902, the Philippines, unlike Japan, could not - even if it wanted to - invade, attack or forcibly annex any piece of real estate bigger than a kangkungan, if even that.

To compare Japan and the Philippines in 1902, as Nelson does, is like comparing a juicy Fuji apple with a stunted, dehydrated lakatan banana. There is absolutely no basis for comparison and I am surprised that an academic like Nelson would even think of using it as a baseline for projecting anything into the future.

Nelson is probably the 6,782^nd person to remind us that until the late 1960s, the Philippines was second only to Japan in standard of living in East Asia. But it is a non-sequitur to draw the conclusion that the two countries "contended for leadership of Asia." As a feudal � at best, semi-feudal - colonial economy, the Philippines was in no position to lead anyone anywhere.

In the 1960s, the Philippines remained an underdeveloped economy, depending on the export of commodities for its sustenance, with hardly any industrial base to speak of or be proud about. We were coasting along on our advantage in literacy, a legacy of the public school system bequeathed by American colonial rule. At independence in 1946, we had a high literacy rate of 67%, compared to only 9% in the Dutch East Indies, and only 15% in British Malaya and Singapore, and also only 15% in French Indo-China.

But after 1946, a succession of mediocre leaders caused us to squander this advantage, even as our neighbors modernized their countries and re-engineered their economies towards the export of manufactured goods, while we remained a commodities-exporting semi-feudal economy.

In the 1960s, Japan was a resurgent industrial power, its war-ravaged industries revived by American war spending during the Korean War (1950-53). In 1964, Japan celebrated its rebirth as an industrial power by inaugurating the Shinkansen or Bullet Train between Tokyo and Osaka, and by hosting the Tokyo Olympics (where I was a member of the Philippine yachting team.)

In 1964, the exchange rate of the Japanese yen was 320 to one US dollar. Now it is 115 or so to the dollar, which shows the continuing strength of the Japanese economy. By contrast, in 1964, the exchange rate of the Philippine peso, if I recall correctly, was P3.95 to one US dollar; now it is 47:1, after having sunk as low as 56:1, which shows the consistent weakness of the Philippine economy over the past 40 years..

It is silly to compare the Philippines and Japan, in 1902 or in 1964. It merely emphasizes the obvious, that Japan was and is an industrial economy, and the Philippines was and is a feudal economy, at best a semi-feudal one.

It is more sensible to compare the Philippines with Taiwan and South Korea, in 1965 as well as in 2005. All three were colonies of more powerful countries. The Philippines was/is resource-rich, while Taiwan and South Korea were/are resource-poor. The Central Bank data below show that the Philippines, exporting commodities, earned more than Taiwan and South Korea combined in 1965,

The Philippines: $769 million

Taiwan: $446 million

South Korea $175 million

Forty years later, in 2005, having geared their economies to the export of manufactured goods since the 1970s (the basis for their industrialization), South Korea and Taiwan have left the Philippines way, way behind:

The Philippines: $ 41.3 billion, or 54 times its 1965 exports

Taiwan $189.4 billion, or 425 times its 1965 exports

South Korea $288.2 billion, or 1,647 times its 1965 exports

This set of statistics really tell the sad story of the Philippines: enjoying an advantage up to the late 1960s, then losing that advantage as one neighbor after another adopted the export of manufactured goods as their strategic economic policy, in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, and under protectionist regimes that protected their nascent industries against foreign competition. Similar comparisons can be drawn with Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and, to some extent, Suharto's Indonesia.

(See my articles How the Philippines Got Left Behind I, Nov. 13, 2001; How the Philippines Got Left Behind II, March 15, 2002; Losing the Export Battles, April 19, 2002; Why Are We Poor? Dec. 14, 2004; all archived in www.tapatt.org)

That the Philippines is closer, economically and culturally, to Latin America than to East Asia, is not an original concept either. In the early 1960s, my good friend, the late Rafael Bernal, a professional historian, who was First Secretary at the Mexican Embassy then, remarked to me that the Philippine Revolution of 1896 was not so much the First Asian Revolution as it was the Last Latin American Revolution. Touche, Don Rafael. (To be concluded) *****

Reactions to acabaya@.... Other articles in www.tapat.org and in acabaya.blogspot.com .

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#1576 From: "Perry Diaz" <PerryDiaz@...>
Date: Fri Aug 31, 2007 6:51 pm
Subject: Medical Test perrydiaz2001
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MEDICAL TEST

STARE INTO THE CAT'S EYES FOR 10 SECONDS ...

Then Scroll Down

NOW STARE IN THE PUPPY'S EYES FOR 10 SECONDS ...

Scroll Down

Your CAT SCAN

and LAB TESTS

are now complete

- couldn't resist ...

Happy Labor Day!

-- Perry

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#1577 From: "Perry Diaz" <PerryDiaz@...>
Date: Sun Sep 2, 2007 8:31 pm
Subject: Readers' Comments on "Quo Vadis, Couples For Christ" (3) perrydiaz2001
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Dear Folks,

The following is the third series of readers' comments on "Quo Vadis, Couples For Christ?" Feel free to send your comments or articles to share with the readers. The original article is reprinted at the end for your reference.

Best,

Perry

==============

Amen to your last paragraph, Perry. Tony Meloto was our luncheon speaker at
the Consular Corps August 29, explaining to diplomats what GK is all about
but without washing the dirty linen in public. We only came to know of the
extent of the problem when it came out in the media that same day. May and I
are part of CfC and we pray that our leaders ultimately see it your way.

Johnny and May Ocoma

==============

Hello Perry,

Again, a fiery issue.

In your profession, it must be very interesting and entertaining to simply sit, read, and watch.

The reflex to react and respond is so strong, sometimes (always?) perhaps it is wise to simmer down,
take deep breaths, take a long walk and sleep through another night (more if necessary);
then revisit the issue.

While striking while it is hot is necessary to shape metal, waiting to cool off may be best for issues
of the heart and spirit.

I believe GK has gone beyond persons, personalities, politics and perdition. It is no longer just a movement,
an NGO, or charity.

GK has become an ideal.

People will come and go, human fault and frailty hurled at it, attempts to discredit, destroy and dismantle
it made, but the lash, slash and bash will go like solids through thin air. The air remains, unscathed.

Even when GK= the organization itself shall have been gone, GK = the ideal will remain.

Your Balita-USA has become a habit for many now, myself included.

Keep up the good work! How are you? Stay healthy and well.

God Bless!

Boy Abay

==============

Hello Perry:

Thanks for the information regarding the latest news and reactions by some readers on the Couples for Christ and one of its pillars, Gawad Kalinga.

Every organization will experience problems during its infancy and when it gets bigger like what is happening to CFC and its affiliates. The CFC's governing body must be firm in defining the direction of the organization for growth and continuity.

As long as there are differences in opinions, policies, direction, goals and change in leadership among the executives running the organization, divisiveness in the organization is inevitable. This is a fact of life and inherent to human nature regardless of race or color of skin.

If divisiveness becomes a major issue in the organization and cannot be controlled , the individual or group of individuals have the right to separate from the organization if they choose to do so. Proper accounting and turnover must be done before the outgoing individuals are officially terminated from service.

Macario C. Flores, Jr.

==============

Perry,

The CFC split reminded me of an anecdote.
One of the visionaries at Medjugorie was
requested to please ask the Blessed Mother why
there are dissensions on earth ... and the reply
was: "God does not create dissensions. Man does."

We can only give what we have. For example, we
can only give Peace if we have it within ourselves.
Personally, I think a cleansing process happens
when there is need for one. While we feel sad
about the CFC split, maybe it needs this cleansing
process in order to refocus its energies. So, I will
just accept the inevitable and look forward to
a more revitalized CFC. This experience is part of
our life's journey, and may we all learn the
lessons. I invoke the Holy Spirit to guide
us all in our path. Best to all,

Linda Nietes

==============

The following article is shared by Aurora Pijuan

We have Vatican support, says Meloto

By Beverly T. Natividad
Inquirer
Last updated 02:02am (Mla time) 09/01/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- After the split into two factions of the lay movement Couples for Christ (CfC), one side now claims to have the official recognition of the Church hierarchy.

Commenting on the split in an interview over dzBB Friday, Antonio Meloto, who was the head of the CfC's highly successful flagship housing program Gawad Kalinga, noted that the recognition of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and the Vatican is with the group supporting Gawad Kalinga.

Meloto also downplayed the split as "tampuhan lang 'yan" (just a tiff) further noting that Gawad Kalinga is not siding with any one side in the falling out. He stressed that Gawad Kalinga's work is toward nation building.

For nation building
"This will be resolved (CfC split issue) because we're all friends but the CBCP and the pontifical recognition of the Vatican is with the leadership of the international council of CfC that is fully supportive of the work of Gawad Kalinga," Meloto also said in the radio interview.

Other faction
But the other faction, the CfC Restoration Movement, is saying that neither of the two groups can claim official Church recognition ahead of the release of the official communiqu� of the body of the bishops that investigated the issue on the alleged "veering away of Gawad Kalinga from the vision-mission of the Couples for Christ."

"We would rather be prudent and wait for the official communiqu� of the bishops so we can be more categorical on that issue," said Nonong Contreras, one of the four people currently in the interim committee organizing the CfC Restoration Movement. Contreras is also a former member of the Board of Elders of the international council of the CfC.

Meloto preempting bishops
Contreras noted, however, that nothing in the CBCP statement last Wednesday stated that the international council supportive of the Gawad Kalinga, Meloto's group, retains the CBCP recognition. Meloto's statement, he said, is preempting the bishops and is "just creating confusion."

The CBCP had confirmed the split within the CfC, one of the Catholic Church's largest lay movements in the world, last Wednesday after a closed-door meeting.

Frank Padilla
Contreras added that Frank Padilla, one of the cofounders of CfC in 1981 and now part of the CfC Restoration Movement, sits in the Pontifical Commission for the Faithful, the pontifical body responsible for the supervision of all lay communities all over the world.

Padilla, he also said, is the one that defended the CfC statutes before the CBCP that had eventually earned CfC the CBCP endorsement to be recognized by the Church hierarchy at the Vatican.

Open to reunification
Amid the falling out, representatives of both groups are saying that they are open to a possible reunification.

Contreras also said that despite the breakup of the two groups, they are always open to a dialogue.

"Our track record shows that we have exhausted all means to have a dialogue when tensions within the CfC are mounting. Our doors are always open to a dialogue," said Contreras.

==============

PerryScope
Perry Diaz

Quo Vadis, Couples For Christ?

Since the inception of Gawad Kalinga (GK) in 2003, the Couples For Christ (CFC) organization has been the prime mover of GK providing the indispensable village "caretaker" volunteers and raising the funds necessary to build the GK villages which now number 21,759 homes in 1,253 communities or villages. In the scheme of things, GK is one of the seven pillars of CFC. The others are Evangelization and Mission, Pastoral Support, Family Ministries, Pro-Life Ministries, Social Ministries, and Special Ministries. In recent years, GK has taken a dominant place at the expense -- as some of the CFC leaders were saying -- of the other six pillars. It was an issue that has been going around -- subtly -- within the tight-knit CFC/GK community.

In June of this year, the subtlety was gone and what surfaced out of the one million-member Couples for Christ organization was an earthshaking temblor that shook it to its core. The headline of a leading Filipino-American newspaper proclaimed: "Split rocks CfC; Meloto quits Gawad." I read the article and nowhere did it say that Meloto quit Gawad Kalinga. However, he resigned as Executive Director of Gawad Kalinga last February but it is my understanding that he is still at the helm -- or behind the helm -- of Gawad Kalinga.

What is the problem? According to a reliable CFC/GK insider who spoke on condition of anonymity, it all came out in the open in June of this year when three Philippine bishops -- Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, Bishop Gabriel Reyes, and Bishop Socrates Villegas representing Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales -- advised CFC to hold off the forthcoming election of its governing body, the International Council, which was to be held on June 22, 2007; thus, preventing a potentially divisive -- and explosive -- confrontation between the two factions. However, CFC decided to proceed with the election of the seven-member International Council. Tony Meloto was present but did not run for a seat in the council. CFC Co-founder Frank Padilla, who resigned from the International Council last February was present; however, he did not participate in the election and walked out. The outcome of the election gave a four-seat majority to the pro-GK/Meloto members.

On August 1, 2007, Padilla officially left CFC and formed the Restoration Movement (also known as the Easter Group), a step that split the CFC. What followed was a series of actions -- and reactions -- around the world. In the United States, CFC-USA's National Council convened and by a 5-2 majority decided to keep the "status quo" and made it retroactive to June 21, 2007 -- the day before the controversial June 22 election. It is interesting to note that CFC-USA is a US corporation which is therefore a separate legal entity. However, it recognizes the "moral authority" of the Manila-based CFC International Council. It is also interesting to note that Joe Duran, the National Director of CFC-USA did not sign the "status quo" declaration and another member abstained.

On August 13, at the conclusion of the CFC-USA's East Coast Annual Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, the National Council's quarterly meeting was convened. At the meeting, Duran asked for another vote on the council's decision to keep the "status quo." The five members who voted for "status quo" reaffirmed their original vote. After the vote, Duran walked out of the meeting saying that "there is nothing more to talk about." The six remaining National Council members then proceeded to elect an acting National Director -- Nani Almanza, one of the five who voted for "status quo" -- to take over Duran's responsibilities. Once again, the National Council took another vote and all of the six remaining members voted unanimously for "status quo."

Meanwhile, on August 14 in Manila, the newly elected seven members of the International Council met with Tony Meloto, Frank Padilla, and Lachie Agana under the auspices of the Singles For Christ. It was a futile attempt to reconcile the pro-GK/Meloto faction with the splinter Restoration Movement of Padilla. My source said that the differences were irreconcilable and therefore separation between the two groups was inevitable. However, he also said that the two groups "did not close the door for future reconciliation and agreed that another meeting will be set as to how the separation could be implemented peacefully -- that is, amicably and civilly -- as brothers and sisters."

But things got worse on August 16 in the U.S. when Ricky Cuenca (a Filipino-Canadian) -- who was appointed by the newly elected International Council to replace Padilla as "Country Coordinator" for the U.S . -- appointed a four-member CFC-USA National Council composed of Joe Duran of Florida, Joe Sinsay of San Francisco, Norman Canete of Chicago, and Rod Bustos of Maryland to replace the existing seven-member CFC-USA National Council. It is interesting to note that as a matter of CFC policy, the "Country Coordinator" is not a resident of the country he or she is coordinating. When I asked my source why Cuenca appointed only four, his reply was that Cuenca didn't know of any other three persons in the U.S. to appoint. The existing CFC-USA National Council did not recognize Cuenca as their "Country Coordinator" claiming it was in violation of U.S. corporation law and that Cuenca did not follow "due process" which is also a violation of the policies of CFC. Furthermore, the CFC manual states that when replacing CFC councils of countries outside the Philippines, the existing council will nominate 10 to 12 nominees and from these nominees the Country Coordinator will choose seven to appoint." And by practice, the Country Coordinator's appointees are usually ratified by the outgoing council.

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) announced that its Episcopal Commission on the Laity is going the meet with the two factions on August 28. Could the meeting be able to bridge the gap that separates the two factions? The new leadership of CFC is committed to social development (Gawad Kalinga) while the Restoration Movement wants to bring CFC back to its core mission -- evangelization.

The question is: Does it have to be social development vs. evangelization? Or can social development and evangelization be achieved within the context of a unified Couples For Christ? And the answer was in Pope Benedict XVI's own words when he was still Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger: "How can positive social development be carried out if we become illiterate with regard to God?" Indeed, this was what Couples For Christ was all about --social development and evangelization working in tandem for the benefit of mankind. And this can only be achieved if the leaders of Couples For Christ and Gawad Kalinga stop playing "politics" and go back to the fundamental tenets of Couples For Christ.

(PerryDiaz@...)

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#1578 From: "Perry Diaz" <PerryDiaz@...>
Date: Sun Sep 2, 2007 9:11 pm
Subject: Readers' Comments on "The Good, The Crab, And The Ugly" perrydiaz2001
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Dear Folks,

The following are readers' comments on Jose Ma. Montelibano's article "The Good, The Crab, And The Ugly." Feel free to send your comments or articles to share with the readers. The original article is reprinted at the end for your reference.

Best,

Perry

=============

Perry,

Thanks for sharing ..

I hope this message reached to the Padilla group that started this breakaway from GW..

It's just one of the gliches , those one stepback one can expect..But GW will move on...

Manny Ramirez

Chula Vista, San Diego County

=============

hi perry,
wonder if we can ask
permission from joma montelibano
to reprint this article?
it exudes so much wisdom and sense
that all filipinos everywhere ought to read it.
i am won over with such Holy Spirit-driven
perspective like this.
thanks again & regards.
--sluggo rigor in seattle, wa.

=============

Perry,

GREAT ARTICLE AND INSIGHT from Jose Montelibano. Gawad Kalinga is such a great humanitarian service which must continue full steam ahead, and NOT BE DERAILED by a few crabs which must be exposed and booted out to discourage others.

Ben Oteyza

=============

Thank you, Perry. Because of you, I have access to very well-written articles like "The Good, The Crab and the Ugly." Jose Ma. Montelibano truly hits the nail on the head with his thoughts well expressed here.

Though this may not match his very witty ending, allow me to add this thought: that despite all these blight, poverty, graft and corrupt practices, deception, the crabs, the ugly... the Filipinos will still find HOPE, fresh renewed spirits ...

And oh, just listen to the beautifully put together "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "Wonderful World"... I just forgot the arrangers/singers... but its is beautiful. At ang mensahe: meron talagang pag-asa sa isang wonderful world...

Mabuhay at salamat!!!

Crisma C. Mina

Cubao, QC

=============

The Good, The Crab, And The Ugly
GLIMPSES
Jose Ma. Montelibano

It is not just the spirit of bayanihan that is well entrenched in Filipinos but also the dreaded crab mentality. I believe that these are two ends of one spectrum, the celebratory practice of helping one another and the pulling down of those who succeed by those who fear being left behind. Both are so much a part of the Filipino that he is like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

The recognition of bayanihan as the highest expression of Filipino behavior drove Gawad Kalinga to adopt it as its premier community value. Banking on the awesome power of a deep-seated Filipino spirit, Gawad Kalinga braved the odds and embarked on a vision and mission of dismantling poverty, corruption and violence. Introducing the movement as a simple program of community development, Gawad Kalinga focused on returning dignity as a birthright of the poor by re-engineering his physical and social environment.

When Tony Meloto and a few of his young wards in the Couples For Christ (CFC) community ventured into the largest relocation site of the Philippines called Bagong Silang in Caloocan City, there was no grand plan to initiate a movement called Gawad Kalinga. There was, however, a grand spirit that invited them to cross the line of fear and reach out to young troubled gang members there. The success of CFC in transforming young lives among teenagers in the CFC community emboldened Tony to penetrate one of the most dangerous urban jungles of Metro Manila.

Staging youth camps which mixed young CFC members and gang members of Bagong Silang, Tony was able to witness instant changes on both sides. It took great faith in their mission and trust in their leader to motivate CFC youth to go to Bagong Silang and mingle with gang members over a weekend of immersion. They must have inwardly cringed with trepidation when they saw the types and amounts of weaponry that the Bagong Silang gang members temporarily surrendered before joining the youth camps. But they believed, and believed strongly enough to conquer fear and begin the process of building relationships with strangers from another world.

In that same spirit of healing the divisions between rich and poor, between the peaceful and the troubled, between supported and the neglected, the initial reach out program evolved so naturally to helping not just the affected young gang members but also their families. A decent house was built in place of a demolished shanty, and later more decent and brightly houses were built in clusters as if to develop a new support system � courtesy of generous individuals who provided the first resources to back up a radical experience.

From that first foray into dangerous territory almost 12 years ago, an outreach program has blossomed to the most effective, massive and widely admired community development program and a noble movement for nation building. Gawad Kalinga was awarded the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award after two years and more than 600 interviews, and so was its public face and moving spirit � Tony Meloto. After receiving the Ramon Magsaysay Award, Tony Meloto was honored by the 1^st Haydee Yorac Award and a stream of several other awards that must have made him the most awarded Filipino within a short period.

More about 1,200 communities and 24,000 homes later, Gawad Kalinga is firmly entrenched as a bearer of hope and a radical approach to nation building. It is blessed by the trust and generosity of the largest local and global corporations operating in the Philippines. It is also recognized, admired and awarded with congressional resolutions thanking Gawad Kalinga for its work as well as active partnerships with governors and mayors.

But by a bizarre twist of fate, Gawad Kalinga's integrity is smeared by a televised remark of a former elder of CFC and now an incorporator of a splinter group who want to set up their own renewal community. His insinuation that Gawad Kalinga may have some problem accounting for the money that it receives to build houses has upset the workers and volunteers of Gawad Kalinga, including corporate partners who have must have done a due diligence check on Gawad Kalinga before giving not just their funds but their corporate name as well.

In the 1^st town development summit held by Gawad Kalinga last weekend, Fil-Am Robert Sanchez, CEO of a $500 million IT company, told more than 100 governors and mayors that he is part of a group of successful second generation Fil-Ams who have banded together to advocate for Gawad Kalinga. Before they committed themselves and their resources to Gawad kalinga, they instructed their lawyers to research on Gawad Kalinga and perform due diligence on the organization. In his own words, Robert said, "Gawad Kalinga has no corruption, Gawad Kalinga has no arrogance."

As if to emphasize his trust and admiration of Gawad Kalinga, Robert then told the LGUs in the audience that he would arrange the funding of 100 GK villages within one year's time if 100 governors or mayors would counterpart with land and site development. Notwithstanding the efforts to erode the credibility of Gawad Kalinga by those seen as simply jealous, Robert gave a $5 million pledge and also shared the information that there will be more Fil-Ams committed to build a motherland that they can be proud of, to lift the poor from poverty and provide new hope and opportunities for them.

Perhaps, it was too much to expect that even the most transparent and participatory effort to help the poor and build our nation would find Filipinos inflicted with a crab mentality, eager to pull down the successful so their misery will find company. The bayanihan spirit which fuels the Gawad Kalinga movement is countered by its negative counterpart � the destructive crab mentality.

Fortunately, caring, sacrifice and determination has built for Gawad Kalinga an ocean of goodwill. Partners from business, government, the academe, civic organizations, and the thousands of poor families who have been helped and the millions more who wish for Gawad Kalinga to reach them one day have given their assurances of continued trust. Many of them have offered to help in any way they can. Its fruits bless the labor of love of the tens of thousands who support Gawad Kalinga. Good, after all, may truly be more powerful than evil.

As for the crabs, well, their ugliness can always be transformed. All they need is to be properly steamed to turn from green to red.***

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#1579 From: "Perry Diaz" <PerryDiaz@...>
Date: Sun Sep 2, 2007 8:54 pm
Subject: Readers' Comments on "A thousand Plaridels" perrydiaz2001
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Dear Folks,

The following are readers' comments on Gemma Cruz Araneta's "A thousand Plaridels." Feel free to send your comments or articles to share with the readers.

Best,

Perry

=============

Dear Gemma:

As an expatriate living in America for over half a century, I am extremely grateful to you for writing pieces of history of our Motherland. Even though my family (several generations) is permanently entrenched in the American culture and environment we thirst for everything Filipino. So it is refreshing to read historical nuggets like Plaridel aka Marcelo del Pilar. Having raised in Filipino traditions, the time I've resided in the States has made me become more Filipino than when I was in the Philippines. I know now who I am and very much comfortable of my skin and our image as a people. I am very protective of our people and our image here in America.

We might be fighting a different war now than Marcelo and Jose Rizal, but it all boils down to parity of our Filipino people just the same. We have inherited a proud culture and my wife and I teach our grandchildren as much about the old country and its beautiful traditions. Thank you again.

Oscar Apostol

Roseville, Ca USA

=============

Thanks for this article on marcelo h. del pilar... I read twice your column when you write about historical footnotes and heroes... thanks

Leo Santiago

=============

Perry,

In school, in our days, we know of Marcelo del Pilar and La Solidaridad, while in Spain. Not much.

Ben Oteyza

=============

A thousand Plaridels
Manila Bulletin, Thursday, 30 August 2007

Landscape
Gemma Cruz Araneta

A thousand Plaridels

Who is Plaridel ?" Jose Rizal once asked. That was
a rhetorical question, of course because they knew
each other and worked together in the Propaganda
Movement (1880 � 1895). Sadly, many Filipinos today
do not even bother to ask that question simply
because they have never even heard of Marcelo del
Pilar.
A Bulake�o, Marcelo del Pilar was born in 1850 . He
was the soul t of the "Propaganda Movement",
(1880-1895), a nationalistic undertaking established
in Spain by Jose Rizal, Graciano Lopez Jaena, the
brothers Luna and other Filipino expatriates. They
demanded political representation and other reforms
for the Philippines, through peaceful parliamentary
means as far as that was possible.

Perhaps he is better known by his pen name,
Plaridel. In Madrid, he founded and for five years
edited the movement's political quarterly "La
Solidaridad". Plaridel believed that the unmitigated
power of the Spanish friars was the root of oppression
and corruption in colonial Philippines. He exposed
their abuses in "La Soberania Monacal en Filipinas"
and "La Frailocracia en Filipinas." Plaridel's
"Dasalan at Tocsohan" (a spoof of the catechism),
"Amain Namin" at "Aba Ginoong Barya" were popular
among the masses.
Marecelo del Pilar advocated "good governance" and
wrote about reforms needed to bring about a more
efficient and progressive colonial administration.
In one of the articles he wrote for "La Solidaridad"
he exposed " the vacuum of a civil registry" and
lamented that while " the civilized world is
abandoning antiquated ideas�" in the Philippine
colony good government in towns is being sacrificed
�for autocratic complacency�" The record of
births, marriages and deaths were made by the friars
and kept in the parish churches. They hired lowly
clerks for a pittance to make these lists.

Famous for his sardonic humor, Marcelo del Pilar
wrote that these clerks were so careless and inept,
their errors were more tragic than comic. Many women
were mistakenly conscripted because they had been
recorded as male births, while men were
unqualified for military service for similar errors.
The parish registry was also the taxpayers' list
not only for "cedulas" but also for parish stipends;
no wonder the "frailocary" vehemently opposed the
creation of a Civil Registry. A crusading
journalist, Marcelo del Pilar criticized 'the
"Manila press" for remaining mute,"�perhaps it
perceives danger ahead�"
" In Spain and in every progressive nation, " wrote
Marcelo del Pilar, "special attention is given to
these lists by civil officials. The Diarong Tagalog
[the first bi-lingual paper] made mention of this in
Spanish and Tagalog and nearly attracted the wrath of
the friars" But Plaridel insisted: "It is time to
think of improving Philippine society. Let us
therefore fill this vacuum of a civil registry. It is
very important and costs very little to do." Today, we
are celebrating the 157 th birthday of this noble
Filipino. (gemma 601@... )

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#1580 From: "Perry Diaz" <PerryDiaz@...>
Date: Mon Sep 3, 2007 4:59 pm
Subject: PerryScope - OFWs on the Road to Empowerment perrydiaz2001
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PerryScope

Perry Diaz

OFWs on the Road to Empowerment

The recent furor over Malu Fernandez's controversial "From Boracay to Greece" commentary has brought to the forefront of debate the issue of political power -- or lack of power -- of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). Little did Fernandez, a Manila Standard society columnist, realize that the article she wrote for her targeted audience -- Manila's elite -- would incite a riot in cyberspace. A torrent of emails flooded the Internet blogs. Her arrogant response which was printed in her column further infuriated the OFWs and the protests snowballed into an avalanche that knocked her out cold. Stunned, she quit her job. Call it "mob" justice or any other term. She deserved it.

What really irked the OFWs was what Fernandez said in her commentary: "While I was on the plane (where the seats were so small I had bruises on my legs), my only consolation was the entertainment on the small flat screen in front of me. But it was busted, so I heaved a sigh, popped my sleeping pills and dozed off to the sounds of gum chewing and endless yelling of 'HOY! Kumusta ka na? At taga saan ka? Domestic helper ka rin ba?' Translation: 'Hey there? Where are you from? Are you a domestic helper as well?' I thought I had died and God had sent me to my very own private hell." In another part of her commentary, she said: "This time I had already resigned myself to being trapped like a sardine in a sardine can with all these OFWs smelling of AXE and Charlie cologne while Jo Malone evaporated into thin air." Well, now that she's jobless, she'd probably switch to Old Spice deodorant which reminds me of that popular television commercial in the 60's, "So it's you they're talking about�"

Clearly, the OFWs have demonstrated that they have immense power. With a strength of 8.5 million, they comprise the largest group of Filipinos -- a tenth of the population. Think of what they could do as a political power block with the capability to raise tons of money for political action.

The government's recent announcement of the strong performance of the economy -- 7.5 % GDP in the second quarter -- is very encouraging. However, the growth was consumption-driven and was due in most part to the candidates' "spending spree" during the election campaign in the first half of this year. In the past ten years, roughly 74% of the GDP came from "personal consumption expenditure." Yes, Pinoys have been on a spending spree� in the malls. Ultimately, the question is: Is the growth sustainable? The true test would be the amount of capital funneled into long-term investments and trade -- two sectors that are needed to turn the country's trade deficit around, a prerequisite to achieving "tiger economy" status.

Now, with Fernandez consigned to oblivion, what's next? Should the OFWs go back to their daily routine and wait until another Malu-ko comes out of the woodwork? Or should they come to the realization that they have the power to institute reforms in the Motherland and participate in governance?

Today, there are OFWs all over the world who are planning or in the process of forming political parties. The new buzzword is "Global Filipino Empowerment" which has its roots in the three million-strong Filipino-American community. In this year's senatorial elections, a Filipino-American ran for a seat and lost. His campaign slogan was "Kampeon ng Overseas Filipinos" (Champion of the Overseas Filipinos); however, he was unable to galvanize the OFWs to turn out for him. Was it because he lacked the ability to deliver a compelling message? Perhaps. However, I believe that the OFWs are not quite ready for political action. In other words, they have yet to reach "self-actualization," a term coined by Dr. Abraham Maslow, which is the "pinnacle in the hierarchy of human needs." Or, perhaps they don't see the value of representation in government. Interestingly, the Filipino-Americans have the same mindset. And that is the reason why Filipino-Americans are perceived as powerless in America. During election time, they're looked upon as the "cheering squads" for other Asian and minority candidates. The main event of political gatherings is the photo opportunity or "kodakan." And the most treasured trophy from such events is a photograph with a politician.

While the OFW political organizers mean well in their endeavors, the question that comes to mind is: Are there any groups -- or individuals -- in the OFW community who have the capability to coalesce the various groups under one political party? Not that they don't have what it takes. Yes, they do. However, in my opinion, they have yet to learn how to work together. The "kanya kanya" attitude still prevails in our community. Undoubtedly, they have the interest of the OFWs in their hearts. But do they have the gumption -- and logistics -- to launch a political movement? To begin with, they have to establish a presence in the Philippines. As some people would say, "Out of sight, out of mind."

Like in any campaign, whether it is political or military, logistics plays an important part. As a matter of fact, logistics determines the outcome of most campaigns. Before the advent of modern military technology, the "baggage train" was the lifeline of any military expeditionary force. In the 13th century, the Mongols succeeded in their conquest of Asia, Eastern Europe and as far as Syria in the Middle East because of their speed in moving -- and protecting -- their baggage trains.

In today's political campaigns, "logistics" is money. That is, lots of money. Needless to say the OFWs have money. But they have to build a war chest that they can tap for any campaign -- political or otherwise. Can they do it? Or, more appropriately, would they even do it? That's the ultimate challenge.

There has been discussion in government circles of starting an OFW Bank. This is a great idea. The only problem is: It is a government initiative. In my opinion, the government should not be involved in organizing an OFW Bank.

Last year, Migrante International -- one of the OFW coalition groups -- protested President Arroyo's plan to use one billion pesos in Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) trust funds to convert the Philippine Postal Savings Bank into an OFW Bank. President Arroyo backed off. That's a victory for the OFWs. The time has come for the OFWs to take full control of their immense wealth and flex their political muscle. They can do it. The road to empowerment is within sight.

(PerryDiaz@...)

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#1581 From: "Perry Diaz" <PerryDiaz@...>
Date: Tue Sep 4, 2007 3:56 am
Subject: Landscape: Remembering "My Guy" -- by Gemma Cruz Araneta perrydiaz2001
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Landscape
Gemma Cruz Araneta

Remembering 'My Guy"
There were many songs written about Ramon
Magsaysay. When he was campaigning for president, the
most popular was "Mambo Magsaysay" composed by Raul
Manglapus who later became the Secretary of Foreign
Affairs. It was written in Filipino English (now
called Taglish) with a catchy refrain: "Our
democracy will die kung wala si Magsaysay". Aside from
the mambo beat, songs popular at the box office
were used for melody recall. The political messages
were all about honest government, clean elections,
peace and security�direct attacks at the incumbent
president, Elpidio Quirino.
When Magsaysay was already president more songs
were composed in praise of his programs like the "
Carabao Ban" My cousins and I used to sing "We
want Magsaysay, ..We want a nation led by God-fearing
honest men who do the job and never rob the public
treasury. This is the cry for you and me. We want
Magsaysay!" Air waves reverberated with the
gloriously militant "President Magsaysay March" which
extolled him as the". Symbol of democracy and honesty,
security and prosperity."
Ramon Magsaysay could be the icon for vocational
education. Although he took up Engineereing and
Commerce mechanics was what he did best. He was
chief mechanic at Try Tran Bus Company which he
saved from bankruptcy . During WWII, he was with the
31st Infantry Division and took care of its motor
pool.
After the fall of Bataan, he formed the
Western Luzon Guerrilla Forces which saw action in San
Marcelino Zambales. He was appointed military governor
of the same province by Gen. Douglas MacArthur after
the war. Magsaysay .became a congressman for Zambales
and was head of the National Defense Committee.
After two terms, he was appointed Secretary of
National Defense by Pres. Quirino.
The man of destiny crushed the Huk rebellion with
both civic and military action. He became so immensely
popular the Nacionalista Party chose him as
presidential candidate. Although Magsaysay enjoyed
full American support, the elections that year have
been reputed as the cleanest ever. . People went out
to vote for the charismatic "My guy", their "man of
action" . Fondly called "man of the masses" he wore
a barong tagalong when he was inaugurated president.
The nation went wild with joy.
Magsaysay opened Malacanang to the people. He had
artesian wells installed all over the countryside and
radio waves reached many places for the first time
because of Magsaysay's electrification program. .He
was obsessed with community development so feeder
roads ( now farm-to-market) were constructed while
the Masagana rice variety was propagated. There was a
homestead program in Mindanao for ex-Huks.
However, not many people remember that during Pres.
Magsaysay's administration, the Laurel-Langley
Agreement was passed, cutting short the controversial
Parity Amendment which had granted citizens of the
USA the same rights as Filipinos to own land in this
country and exploit natural resources. Due to the
Laurel-Langley Agreement Americans had to divest
locally - acquired properties and businesses. Many
people wondered how that happened, considering that
Pres. Magsaysay was known to be an "American Boy".
There were conjectures that he had come under the
influence of nationalistic senators like Lorenzo
Tanada and Claro M. Recto.
Pres. Ramon Magsaysay died in a plane crash in Cebu
on 17 March 1957. The entire nation was devastated by
the tragedy. Had he survived people would have
offered him songs on his 100th birthday last 31
August. (gemma601@...)

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#1582 From: "Perry Diaz" <PerryDiaz@...>
Date: Tue Sep 4, 2007 4:58 pm
Subject: Is It for Real? -- by Antonio C. Abaya perrydiaz2001
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Is It for Real?

By Antonio C. Abaya

Written Sept. 03, 2007

For the Manila Standard,

September 04 issue

There are so many things going on right now, it is actually difficult to decide which topic to discuss and dissect today: threats and fears over the impending verdict on Erap; the arrest and incarceration of Joma Sison in the Netherlands, the increasingly bellicose rhetoric of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney towards Iran; the possible unraveling of Pakistan and its implications for the Philippines; Mother Teresa's newly revealed despondency over the silence of God; the break-up in Gawad Kalinga; the near-collapse of the capitalist financial system, and the surprising 7.5% GDP growth of the Philippine economy in the second quarter of 2007�..each of which can actually be parsed and analyzed under the one-title-fits-all umbrella: Is It for Real?

I have decided to focus on the 7.5% GDP growth, which has taken just about everybody by surprise for its unexpected robustness.

Unless there is statistical and factual proof to the contrary, I am prepared to accept that the economy did grow by 7.5% during the second quarter of 2007, relative to the second quarter of 2006. And I congratulate President Arroyo for it, just as I did when the GDP grew by 6.9% during the first quarter. (See my article Hooray for 6.9%, June 04, 2007).

An analysis of the numbers shows that the service sector grew 8.4% (versus 6.7% in the second quarter of 2006). This is credible, considering the continued expansion and proliferation of call centers and other business processing outfits, and a modest increase in tourist arrivals, especially from South Korea. Part of this growth is also due to election spending by candidates in the months leading to May 2007.

The industry sector also grew, 8.0% versus 4.5% in 2006, with the mining sector growing by a hefty 33% and construction by 21%. Again, this is credible. Mining is fulfilling its promise to be one of the biggest job-generating sectors in the economy � especially among rural folks who would not qualify for call center positions - despite the efforts of stupid (there is no other word to describe them) bishops and the communist movement to block its expansion.

The robust growth of the construction industry is self-evident, much of it attributable to the surge among overseas contract workers and among successful Fil-Ams to buy decent housing and Metro Manila condos for their families.

The Arroyo government has also invested heavily in public infrastructure � roads, bridges, airports, seaports � spending 39.6% more this year than it did in 2006.

The negatives in this summary are: the slow growth in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector (3.9% versus 3.8% in 2006), attributable to extreme weather conditions; the lower growth in exports ( 5.9% versus 21.7% in 2006); and the pronounced drop in imports (negative 12.2% versus 4.1% in 2006), both of which may be attributed to a drop in global demand for our electronic exports.

So, yes, 7.5% GDP growth is credible. The usual naysaying from media, the communist movement and oppositionists like presidential wannabes Sen. Panfilo Lacson and Sen. Manny Villar, that this growth has not filtered down to the poorest of the poor, merely reveals their ignorance of matters economic. Another presidential contender in 2010, Sen. Mar Roxas, who understands economics, laments that the manufacturing sector grew by only 3.71%, but it sounds more like nitpicking for want of something negative to say.

High economic growth has to be sustained for at least twenty years or 80 quarters for the tide to rise high enough to lift all boats. This was the case in South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, etc. But it has to begin at some point in time, and maybe � just maybe - our time is now..

Even after decades of phenomenally high growth rates, hundreds of millions of Chinese, hundreds of millions of Indians, and � in a shorter time span - tens of millions of Vietnamese�. are still mired in grinding poverty. But it does not invalidate the progress already achieved.

President Arroyo is correct in pointing out that her government has been in power for six years or 24 quarters. And that there was never a quarter in those six years when economic growth went down to or near zero�the so-called boom-and-bust cycle..

For this, President Arroyo has had good luck. President Cory Aquino was able to raise GDP from minus 4% in 1985 - an after-effect of Ninoy's assassination in 1983 - to 6.8% in 1988 and 6.2% in 1989, until Gringo Hoanasan's coup attempt in December 1989 brought it down to 4.0% in 1990 and minus 0.6% in 1991.

President Fidel Ramos raised GDP from 0.3% in 1992 to 5.8% in 1996 and 5.2% in 1997. But the Asian financial crisis in July 1997 caused the GDP to crash to minus 0.6% in 1998. During his two years in power, President Joseph Estrada managed only 3.4% in 1999 and 4.0% in 2000.

The question should not be, is 7.5% for real, but, can it be sustained and even increased for the next 20 years? All the economic tigers in East Asia attained their present status by posting average growth rates of 8.0 to 12.0% per annum over a period of at least 20 years, largely through the export of manufactured goods and under protectionist regimes that protected their industries from foreign competition.

The Philippines is the only major country in East Asia that did not adopt an export-oriented economy early on. And it is the only economy that embraced, foolishly and prematurely, the free trade and globalization religion that has since decimated its modest manufacturing base.

In addition, the Philippines � together with the whole world � faces the possibility of US and Israeli attacks on Iran and its disastrous effects on both the price of oil and the continued employment of millions of Filipinos in the Middle East. The Philippine economy would be especially vulnerable to such a catastrophic blow because a major part of our foreign exchange comes, more than from exports and tourism, from the remittances - $12.6 billion in 2006 - of overseas contract workers.

A victory of the jihadists in Pakistan would embolden the jihadists in Mindanao to raise the decibel of their jihad here. There is also the possibility of a perfect storm brewing, in which Erap loyalists and Joma reaffirmists combine their destabilization efforts in reaction to on-going judicial processes here and in Utrecht.

So, to the question, can the 7.5%.GDP growth be sustained in the medium and long terms, the answer has to be: no amount of supplications to Mother Teresa's silent God can draw a reassuuring reply. *****

Reactions to acabaya@.... Other articles in www.tapatt.org and in acabaya.blogspot.com.

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#1583 From: "Perry Diaz" <PerryDiaz@...>
Date: Mon Sep 3, 2007 3:21 pm
Subject: Balitang Pinoy perrydiaz2001
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From: "Abellanosa, Albert P"
To:
Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2007 10:40:40 +0300
Subject: balita

SEPT. 03, 2007

Bansa

NPA mass surrender inaasahan
Ni Danilo Garcia
Monday, September 3, 2007

Inaasahan ng ilang tagamasid na maraming rebeldeng New People's Army ang susuko dahil sa nakikitang demoralisas�yon sa kanilang hanay ma�karaang madakip sa The Netherlands si Jose Maria "Joma" Sison, tagapangu�long tagapag�tatag ng Communist Party of the Philippines at NPA at political consultant ng National Democratic Front. Ilang opisyal ng Armed Forces of the Philippines ang nagpahayag ng pani�niwala na buma�baba na ang moral ng mga re�bel�deng komu�nista na nahi�hiwatigan sa paglala�yasan ng mga rebelde sa kani�lang mga kampo. Sa ulat ng Philippine Army, dalawang malalaki ngunit abandonadong kampo ang nadiskubre ng kanilang mga tropa sa hiwalay na pagsalakay sa lalawigan ng Oriental Min�doro at Quezon. Ayon kay Capt. Carlo Ferrer, tagapagsalita ng 2nd Infantry Division ng PA, sinalakay nila nitong Bi� yernes ang abandona�dong kampo sa Sitio Ku�litob, Barangay Balug, Man�salay, Oriental Min�doro. Kaya umanong mag�kupkop ng hanggang 100 rebelde ang kampo na kum�pleto sa mga pa�silidad. Dakong alas-7:30 na�man ng Sabado ng uma�ga nang salakayin ng Army Scout Ranger class 166-07 ang isa pang kam�po sa Baran�gay Umiray, General Nakar, Quezon. Kaya rin umanong umo�kupa ng higit sa 100 rebelde ang kampo na may 10 kubo, mga poste ng kuryente, firing range, basketball court at water supply. Isinagawa ang pag�salakay matapos na ma�aresto nitong nakaraang linggo ang rebeldeng NPA na si Jimboy Gan�tong. Nakumpiska sa kanya ang isang projector, dvd player, at mga dokumento na siyang naging basehan ng pag�salakay ng mga militar."Tinatayang may ka�ugnayan sa pagkaka�aresto kay Sison sa The Netherlands ang mga nang�yaring ito. Nagka�karoon ng demoralisas�yon sa NPA kaya ina�aban�dona nila ang ka�nilang mga kampo," sabi ni Ferrer. Sina-sabi sa ulat ng militar na ang nakubkob na kampo sa General Nakar ang lugar ng kangaroo court na nagdesis�yon sa pag�paslang sa mga dating lider ng NPA na sina Romulo Kintanar at Arturo Tabara. Ang pagkakapaslang kina Kintanar at Tabara ang basehan umano ng mga Dutch authorities para ares�tuhin at ikulong si Sison noong naka�raang linggo. Nagsi-silbi rin ang kampo bilang punong him�pilan ng Kilusang Lara�ngang Guerilla ng NPA na pinamumu�nuan ng isang Ka Allen. Sinasabing mahigit 30 NPA ang umuokupa sa kampo pero nilayasan nila ito makaraang ma�dakip si Gantong. Samantala sa hi�wa�lay na ulat, isang dating attorney-general ng Uni�ted States at human rights lawyer na si Ram�sey Clark ang nag�paha�yag ng pag�nanais na maging abo�gado ni Sison. Bumisita si Clark kay Sison noong 2005 at ka�bi�lang siya sa nang�a�ngam�panya para maialis ang huli sa listahan ng itinu�turing ng US at ng Europe na mga tero�rista.

Bagong personalidad binabantayan
Mga bagong persona�lidad ngayon ang nakikita ng Armed Forces of the Philippines na magiging bagong tauhan sa ugong ng destabilisasyon sa administrasyong Arroyo ngunit mga lumang isyu pa rin ang magiging armas. Ayon sa isang impor�mante sa Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces, may mga bagong persona�lidad ang posibleng isa-isang maglabasan sa mga susunod na araw na layon na idestabilisa ang pama�halaan. Kasalukuyan na binibe�repika pa ng AFP ang mga personalidad ngunit sinabi nito na mga lumang isyu pa rin na kontra sa pama�halaang Arroyo ang pag�ba�basehan ng mga ito. Pangunahin dito ang isyu ng dayaan sa elek�syon partikular na ang "Hello Garci scandal."Patuloy ring binaban�tayan ng AFP ang sarili nilang hanay upang hindi na maulit ang naganap na "Oakwood Mutiny."Kasalukuyan naman na wala pang malinaw na ulat na makikisangkot ang mga tauhan ng AFP sa posibleng destabilisasyon at naniniwala ito na hindi na magpapagamit ang mga sundalo sa pagpapa�bagsak ng pamahalaan. Kasabay nito, tiniyak rin ni Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno na hindi na mauulit pa ang naganap na bayolenteng "Malaca�ang Seige" no�ong Mayo 1, 2001 sa nalalapit na promulgasyon ng kasong "plunder" ni da�ting Pangulong Joseph Estrada sa Sandigan�bayan. Sinabi ni Puno na wala pa siyang natatanggap na impormasyon sa anumang planong destabilisasyon maging ang pamilya Es�trada sakaling mahatu�lan ng "guilty" ang dating Pangulo. Nakikipag-ugnayan uma�no sila sa pamilya Estrada upang magaba�yan ang kanilang mga tagasuporta. Nanawagan rin ito sa mga kaibigan at supporters ng dating Pa�ngulo na maging mahina�hon kahit ano pa ang maging hatol ng korte. Tiniyak rin ni Puno na handa ang buong puwersa ng Philippine National Police sa anumang kagulu�hang magaganap sa oras ng pagbaba ng hatol kay Estrada. (Danilo Garcia)

Mayors dudukutin ng Sayyaf
Nagbabanta ang mga bandidong Abu Sayyaf na dudukutin nila ang mga mayor, konsehal at iba pang lokal na opisyal ng pamahalaan sa Basi�lan dahil sa pagtulong ng mga ito sa Armed Forces of the Philippines. Sa ulat na nakarating sa AFP, sinabi ni Basilan Vice Governor Al-Ra�sheed Sakalahul na target ng ASG na dukutin ang mga alkalde, konse�hal at iba pang opisyal dahil sa paki�kipagtulungan umano sa militar sa pinaigting na ope�rasyon para walisin na ang grupo sa bansa. Pinayuhan nito ang mga opisyales ng dala�wang lunsod at siyam na bayan ng lalawigan ma�ging mga negosyante at miyem� bro ng media na mag-ingat upang hindi mabiktima ng pandurukot ng Abu Sayyaf at maga�mit upang mapa�atras ang mga militar sa kanilang operasyon. Samantala, isang 19-anyos na tinedyer ang ma�lamang na maging unang tao na makaka�suhan ng paglabag sa kontrobersyal na Human Security Act o anti-terrorism law. Ayon kay Inocensio dela Cerna, abogado ng Criminal Investigation and Detection Group sa Central Visayas, kakasu�han sa paglabag sa HSA si Gina Musa alyas Noy Ampuan.Si Musa ay isa uma�nong miyembro ng Abu Sayyaf na inaresto noong nakaraang buwan. (Danilo Garcia

DOJ execs kinasuhan
Isang mataas na opis�yal ng Department of Justice at tatlo pang opisyal ang sinampahan ng ka�song graft sa Ombudsman dahil sa iregularidad uma�no sa pagpapatupad ng multi-milyong pisong pro�ject na pag-aari ng Pilipi�nas sa Japan. Ang kinasuhan ay sina Justice Undersecretary Ernesto Pineda; Finance Undersecretary at chairman ng bids and awards committee Gaudencio Mendoza Jr., Deputy Executive Secretary Manuel Gaite at Public Works Under�secretary Bashir Rasuman. Inakusahan si Pineda na pumabor umano sa Masaichi Tsuchiya, kina�tawan ng Nagayami Taisei Consortium ng Japan, na siyang nanalo sa bidding ng lease-development ng Nampeidai Machi, Shi�buya-ku property na pag-aari ng gobyerno sa ban�sang Japan. Ang naghain ng rek�lamo sa mga opisyal na miyembro ng BAC ay sina David Diwa ng National Labor Union at Albino Ca�pidos ng Movement for Responsible Enterprise. Anila, malinaw na mas pinaboran ng mga respondents ang Tsuchiya kaysa sa principal nitong NTC.

Opinyon

EDITORYAL � Maramdaman sana ang magandang ekonomiya

NAUNGUSAN na ng Pilipinas ang Malaysia, Hong Kong at Indonesia sa pag-angat ng ekonomiya. Ang Pilipinas ay lumundag sa 7.5 percent na pag-angat mula sa dating 5.5 percent noong 2006. Dahil dito, humahabol na sa Singa�pore at China. Ang Singapore ay 8.6 percent sa�mantalang ang China ay 11.9 percent. At ang ganitong nakabibiglang pag-angat ay ipinagyayabang ni President Arroyo. Kasi nga naman, sa loob ng 20 taon ay ngayon lamang uma�nga�t ang ekonomiya. Ang pinakahuling mataas na pag-angat ng ekonomiya ng Pilipinas ay noong 1986 kung saan ay tumaas ng 7.7 percent. Ang pag-angat ng ekonomiya sa second quarter ng 2007 ay inihayag mismo ni Mrs. Arroyo noong Huwebes. Marami ang namangha at marami rin ang natuwa sa pahayag ng Presidente. Pero nang may isang reporter na nagtanong na may himig pagdu�du�da sa pag-angat ng ekonomiya ay napikon ang Presidente at nagsalita: "Ibig mong sabihin, ang mga tao sa National Statistical Coordination Board ay mga sinungaling?" Hindi na nakahirit ang reporter. Nakagugulat talaga ang mabilis na pag-angat ang ekonomiya. At ibig sabihin nang pag-unlad ng ekonomiya ay ang pagbuti ng kalagayan ng buhay ng mamamayan. Sino ang hindi matutuwa kung ang mamamayan ay maganda na ang kalagayan ng buhay? Ang ganito ang inaasam ng nakararaming Pinoy na sa matagal na panahon ay lagi nang batbat ng kahirapan. Sana nga ay talagang maganda na ang hina�harap ng bansa at nalalampasan na ang krisis. Sana nga ay totoo ang mga sinabi ng Presidente na patuloy na nagtatagumpay ang mga plano sa ekonomiya. Sana nga ay wala nang magugutom na Pinoy at hindi na lalabas sa survey ng Social Weather Stations (SWS) na marami ang nalilipa-san ng gutom. Sana nga ay wala nang Pinoy na lalabas ng bansa para magtrabaho at para maba�wasan na rin ang mga inuuwing bangkay ng mga minaltrato. Sana nga ay totoo na ang magandang ekono�miya. Sana rin ay madama na ito para mawala ang pagdududa. Kapag nalasap na ang sinasabing ganda, wala nang problema.

Ber na ber na!
K KA LANG? Ni Korina Sanchez
Umabot na rin tayo sa mga kilalang "ber" na mga buwan ng kalendaryo. Napakabilis talaga ng panahon! Parang kelan lang, nanga�ngampanya ang ilan para sa eleksyon. Ngayon, nagangampanya pa rin ang iba diyan! Kelan lang, Hello Garci ang mainit na usapin, ngayon Hello Garci pa rin ang mainit na usapin! Kelan lang, gumaganda ang ekonomiya natin. Ngayon, guma�ganda pa rin ang ekonomiya, mas pikon lang ngayon! Ito na yung mga malalamig na buwan. Nararamdaman na nga ang pagbaba ng temperature sa maraming lugar. Ito rin yung mga mabag�yong buwan, pero mukhang itong taon na ito, parang mas konti ang dumating kumpara sa taong nakaraan. Sana huwag naman bumawi sa pagtatapos ng taon. Marami tayong hinaharap kapag mga "ber" na buwan na. Nandyan ang semestral break ng mga mag-aaral. Nandyan ang undas. At siyempre, ang inaantabayanan ng marami at iniiwasan din ng marami, pasko. Sa mga panahong ito, lahat rumaratsada para magkaroon ng magan�dang pasko sa katapusan ng taon. Ito rin ang mga panahon na marami ang nag-iisip, nag-mumuni-muni, sa dumaan na buwan, dumaan na taon. Kaya siguro maraming nalulungkot sa mga panahong ito. Paano naman tayo matutuwa kasi sa mga hinaharap natin itong mga "ber" na buwan? Na�buhay muli ang Hello Garci, kung saan malili�bang na naman ang marami, maging mga pulitiko at mamamayan. May patutunguhan ba ang muling pagbukas ng isyung ito? May testigo na nga ngayon pero malaki pa ang debate kung pwedeng gamitin ang kanyang mga pruweba dahil illegal ang pagkuha ng mga ito. Maganda daw ang ekonomiya, ayon sa pangulo. Isang tanong lang ang pwedeng magpatunay niyan - sigurado na ba kayo na maganda ang magi�ging pasko ninyo? Mas may panggastos ba kayo itong darating na mga pista kaysa nakara�ang taon? Kung oo ang sagot ninyo eh mabuti naman. Kung hindi, anong silbi ng pahayag ng pangulo nga naman sa inyo? Baka mga mayaya�man lang ang nakakaramdam ng magandang ekonomiya. Mga mayayaman lang ang laging maganda ang pasko. Gayun pa man, magpasalamat tayo at papa�lapit na naman ang katapusan ng taon. Sa halip ng dami ng kahirapan at pagsubok, sikapin natin maging maganda ang mga natitirang buwan. Ang kalungkutan madalas nasa isip lamang. Puwera na lang pag nababasa mo sa dyaryo.

Kinasuhan mo na lang sana'
CALVENTO FILES Ni Tony Calvento
KELAN BA ANG GALIT, ang init ng ulo nagiging katanggap-tanggap sa ating batas? Kung minsan nasa tama na tayo subalit kapag pinabayaan ang bugso ng damdamin na manaig nalalagay tayo na sa mali at sa alanganin. Nagsadya sa aming tanggapan si Semvic Hermoso ng Bacoor, Cavite upang humingi ng tulong hinggil sa kasong isinampa nito. Undergraduate ng high school si Semvic. Taong 2005 nang maging CIDG civilian agent siya dahil sa rekomendasyon na rin ni Superintendent Edwin Fernandez na dating Provincial Officer sa Cavite kung saan una niyang pinaglingkuran bilang driver/bodyguard nito. Nang ma-assign ito sa Batangas nagpaiwan na siya sa Cavite dahil malayo na ang lugar para sa kanya. Sa simula pa lamang nais kong ipaabot kay P/Chief Insp. Danilo Morzo na bukas ang aming tanggapan para sa patas at balanseng pamamahayag. Si P/Chief Insp. Danilo Morzo, Provincial Officer, ang kapalit ni Col. Fernandez sa CIDG Imus, Cavite. Ayon kay Semvic, kasa-kasama siya sa operation ng mga pulis bilang civilian agent. Nauutusan rin siya mangulekta ng intelihensya umano sa mga pirated CDs/VCDs, tupada, saklaan at cara y cruz sa Bacoor, Cavite. Nang tanungin ng aking mga staff kung bakit naman siyang inatasan ng ganung tungkulin, ito raw ay dahil matagal na siya bilang civilian agent. maaaring ito ang dahilan kung bakit siya pinag�katiwalaan ng kanyang hepe. Kumokekta din sila ng grocery para sa kanilang opisina. Isa sa kanilang mga pinapuntahan ay ang Blazing Star Videoke Bar kung saan nagbibigay sa kanila ng mga kape, asukal, bigas at iba pa. Ika-23 ng Mayo 2007 nautusan si Semvic na kumuha ng bigas sa Blazing Star Videoke Bar. Kasama niya rito sina Rodolfo Clamor alyas Falcon at Lito Tagum kung saan dala nila ang owner na pag-aari ni Falcon. Inanyayahan sila ng may-ari ng nasabing club na uminom muna bago umalis at ito ay kanilang pinaunlakan naman. Habang sila ay nag-iinuman may dumating na mga CIDG agents na sina PO2 Alfredo Anadia, CA Federico Antonio at CA Ruel Olaybar pawang mga kasamahan din. Nagulat na lamang sila nang tutukan sila ng baril ng mga ito. "Pilit kaming isinasama sa presinto habang nakatutok ang kanilang mga baril sa amin. Sabi ko sa kanila magkakasama kami bakit kailangan tutukan nila kami ng baril. Sa takot namin sumama naman kami sa kanila," kuwento ni Semvic. Sinabihan sila ng mga ito na pinapupunta sila ni P/Chief Insp. Morzo sa opisina. May isang oras nilang hinintay ang pagdating ng kanilang hepe. Dumating ito nang lasing na lasing. Galit na galit ito kina Semvic na bagay na pinagtatakahan din nila. Sa salaysay ni Semvic, sinabi niya na sinakluban ng plastic ang kanyang mukha na halos hindi na siya makahinga at pinag�susuntok siya nito. Hindi pa nakuntento umano itong si P/Chief Insp. Morzo kinuha ang kanyang baril at itinutok sa kanya at sinabihan siya nito na 'BUBUHUSAN KITA.' Pagkatapos noon ay pinalo naman ang kanyang mukha at ulo na halos mawalan siya ng malay.

Sinubukan niyang magpumiglas subalit wala siyang magawa sa pambubugbog na inabot niya sa pulis na ito. Nagulat na lamang siya nang sabihan siya ng kanilang hepe na bakit nito sinisira ang kanyang pangalan samantalang lahat naman ng kanilang ginagawa ay pinag-uutusan lang din nito. "Wala kaming ginagawa na hindi naman niya pinag-uutos kaya gulat na gulat ako at mga kasama ko nang bugbugin niya ako sa loob ng kanyang opisina," sabi ni Semvic. Maging sina Lito at Falcon ay hindi rin nakalusot sa ginawang pananakit nitong si P/Chief Insp. Morzo. Binato ng ash tray si Falcon kung saan tinamaan ito sa balikat, nilitratuhan at ikinulong kasama rin itong si Lito. Pagkatapos noon tinawagan ni Morzo ang isa sa mga tauhan nitong si PO2 Rommel Capua na inutusan nitong mag-file ng kaso laban sa tatlo habang si Semvic naman ay di-umano'y tinaniman siya ng droga at baril. Kinuha rin sa kanya ang Identification Card (ID) na nagpapatunay na siya ay civilian agent ng CIDG. Kinabukasan ng bandang alas-9:30 ng umaga nang makalabas sila ng kulungan. Ayon pa kay Semvic, sapilitan silang pinapipirma sa isang dokumento na nagsasabi na siya ay may kasalanan. Dahil na rin sa takot wala siyang nagawa kundi ang sundin ang gusto nito kaya niya ito napirmahan. Nagsampa ng kasong Physical Injuries at Grave Threats si Semvic laban kay P/Chief Insp. Morzo sa Imus, Cavite Prosecution Office. Nagharap na rin sila sa tanggapan ng Department of Interior and Local Government subalit ayon kay Semvic mariin nitong itinanggi ang kanyang ginawang pambubugbog. Ayon kay Semvic, wala siyang balak maging ang kanyang pamilya na pakipag-areglo anuman ang ialok sa kanila nito. Sa ganang akin hindi kaya nalaman lang ng pulis na ito na sasampahan siya ng kaso ng biktimang ito kaya naman inunahan na niya itong sampahan? Dapat sana noong araw na hinuli nito ang biktima kinasuhan na niya agad ito. Bagamat ganun na nga ang nangyari malaki din ang posibilidad na hindi nagustuhan ni P/Chief Inspector Morzo ang pagkaladkad sa kanyang pangalan sa pagdelihensya ng mga ito ng mga kaban ng bigas. Meron nga naman siyang pangalan na pinoprotektahan. Sana hindi mo na lang ginulpi kung totoo nga ito at kinasuhan na lamang!Para sa mga biktima ng karahasan, pang-aabuso o anumang krimen o legal problems maaari kayong tumawag sa 6387285 o 'di kaya'y sa 6373965-70. Maaari din kayong magtext sa 09213263166 o 09198972854. Ang aming tanggapan ay sa 5th Floor City State Center Bldg., Shaw Blvd., Pasig.

Mula sa pagbabasura magiging environmentalists
AKSYON NGAYON Ni Al G. Pedroche
THIS is a sudden but much welcome twist of fate. Mula sa pagiging scavengers o tagapulot ng basura, ang mga residente ng Smokey Mountain ay magiging environmentalists sa malapit na hinaharap. Ang Smokey Mountain, na sa loob ng halos 50-taon ay nagsilbing tambakan ng umaalingasaw na basura ay malapit nang maging"green city." Well educated na ang mga dating nabubuhay sa mabantot na basura lalu na sa larangan ng information technology. Kaya ang lugar na ito sa Balut, Tondo ay may pangako ding maging Silicon Mountain, tulad nang nasabi natin kamakailan. Nagpapasalamat ang mga taga-Smokey Montain sa Korte Suprema na kumatig na at pinagtibay ang legalidad ng Smokey Mountain Development and Reclamation Project (SMDRP). Ayon sa Parish Priest ng lugar na si Fr. Ben Beltran, may kasunduan ang mga residente sa isang German Pro-Environment Company para sa pagtatayo ng isang state-of-the-art recycling plant at isang "green church" sa 21-ektaryang lupain. At komo hindi na magiging tambakan ang lugar, sari-saring halaman na ang maitatanim upang gawin itong lun-tian. Hindi lang maganda sa paningin kundi maganda sa kalusugan ng mga mamamayan. Of course, basura pa rin ang main concern sa proyekto. Pero ipoproseso upang mapakinabangan. In other words, ang mga basura ng mga taga-Metro Manila ay hindi nakatiwangwang at nanga�ngamoy kundi parang magic na gagawing bagay na mapa�pakinabangan. Ang mga nabubulok na basura ay gagawing organic fertilizer at ang mga recyclable ay magagawang construction materials, ani Fr. Beltran. Sana'y bigyan pa ng ganap at puspusang suporta ng gobyerno ang progra�mang ito. Mantakin ninyo na dahil sa pagpupunyagi ng mga mamamayan ng gobyerno, nakapagtayo na ng paaralan sa computer technology na malamang maging kolehiyo o unibersidad sa malapit na hinaharap. Salamat din sa isang pari na nag�sisilbing civic leader gaya ni Fr. Beltran. Tu�nay na inspirasyon ang nagaganap na pag-unlad sa Smokey Mountain ngayon. Ang progreso sa na�banggit na lugar ay pa� tunay na hindi lamang ang pamahalaan ang dapat gumalaw kundi mas mahalaga ang ak�syon ng mga mamama�yan kung ang mithiin natin ay mabilis na pag-asensyo.

Ang mali ay dapat itinutuwid! (Para kay Mon Tulfo)
BAHALA SI TULFO Ni Ben Tulfo
MATAGAL ko munang pinag-isipan kung isusulat ko ang kolum na ito, subalit nanaig sa akin 'yung tama at katotohanan lang. Hinggil ito sa naisulat ni Mon Tulfo sa kanyang kolum na On Target nitong nakaraang Sabado, Setyembre 1, 2007 sa Philippine Daily Inquirer. Pambungad pa lang ni Mon, eto ang kanyang sinabi, "KUYA STOP WRITING about Mike Velarde because I'm in trouble", my brother Ben pleaded me Wednesday. MALI at hindi totoo! Kinausap ko siya sa telepono at nagbabakasakaling mabigyan niya ng patas at parehas na pagkakataon 'yung tao na kanyang naisulat at binanatan si Mike Velarde na makunan man lang ng panig. Hindi ko ipinagkakailang kaibigan ko si Jayjay Yam� bao na presidente ng IBC 13. Dagdag pa ni Mon sa kanyang kolum, "Ben told me he was told � indirectly, of course- that if I continued to write about Velarde his contract with IBC 13 would be canceled." MALI at hindi totoo! May hawak akong kon�trata sa IBC 13 na pinirmahan hanggang katapusan ng taong ito sa programang BITAG. Inihambing pa ni Mon ang kanyang sitwasyon noon sa akin ngayon. Subalit malayo at magkaiba. Nadamay sina Erwin at Raffy na nakisama lang sa kanyang pakiki�pagbanggaan sa itaas. Sinisisi ni Mon si First Gentleman kung bakit natanggal ang kanilang programa sa RPN 9, ang "Isumbong mo, Tulfo brothers". Aniya, Ben's predicament is similar to what his brothers � Erwin, Raffy and myself � went through last year at another government-sequestered TV station, RPN. Ang pagkakaiba na� min ni Mon, hawak ko ang kapalaran ko. Hindi tulad niya, padalus-dalos sa kan�yang mga hakbang. Hindi pinag-iisipan nang maigi. Hindi kasi marunong makinig at walang pinakiking�gan. Kalimitan, init lang ng ulo ang pinaiiral. Iba ang mga pana�naw ni Mon. Gaano man kala�wak o gaano man kakitid, trademark niya 'yan bilang Ramon Tulfo. Malaya siyang gawin ito sa kanyang kolum. Subalit ako'y nag�papasalamat kay Mon na sa mga panahong ito kinikilala na niya pala ako bilang isang kapatid. Hindi tulad noong panahon ng kanyang kasikatan sa telebis-yon, sa radio, isama na natin ang kanyang kolum na rin, ang tawag niya sa akin ay "The other Brother" lang. Hindi ko sana na�sulat ang kolum na ito kung kina�usap niya lang ako bilang isang tunay na kapatid at pi�nayuhan nang harap-harapan. HINDI sa kan�yang kolum. Hindi ako maka�pa�niwalang nasulat ni Mon sa kanyang kolum 'to: "So Ben, prepare for the worst: your show getting canceled because of me. Welcome to the club!" Kaya ang sagot ko sa kanya, "Mon, good try. Keep trying hard to get me out of IBC 13." "I will not be a member to your so called club. I know that you believe in saying, UNITED WE STAND and DIVIDED WE FALL kaya nadamay 'yung mga pobreng kapatid natin na sina Raffy at Erwin." Para magkain�tin�dihan tayo Kuya, pano�orin mo ang BITAG sa IBC 13 nang main�tindihan mo kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng "in solitude, there is strength". "I work alone".

Maaring madiin lalo sa sariling pahayag
SAPOL Ni Jarius Bondoc
BIGLANG uminit ang ZTE issue nang idawit ni Rep. Carlos Padilla si Comelec chairman Ben Abalos. Nauna na niyang hinabla si DOTC Sec. Leandro Mendoza nang graft and corruption sa pagpirma sa $330-milyong (P16-bilyong) kontrata. Kaya't paborito silang tatlo ma-interview sa radio talk shows. Kontra-pelo ang mga salita nila. Maaring gamitin ni Padilla ang mga sinabi ng dalawa para lalong idiin sa anomalya. Halimbawa ang usapin ng pag-utang sa China Eximbank ng $330 milyon para pondohan ang pagbili sa ZTE Corp. ng exclusive government broadband network. Napaulat na nagkapirmahan na ng pautang nu'ng maka�lawang Sabado. Ani Mendoza sa panayam ni Ted Failon sa DZMM, nilalakad na nila ang approval ng Monetary Board ng utang. "'Yun na nga ba ang sinasabi ko," banat naman ni Padilla nang siya na ang ka-phone patch. "Sabi sa batas kailangan aprubado muna ng Board ang pag-utang bago pa man pirmahan ang loan agreement." Dagdag pa ni Mendoza na pinili nila ang ZTE dahil hindi kaya ng dalawang kakompitensiya na pinansiyahan ang proyekto. "'Yan na nga rin ang sinasabi ko," ulit ni Padilla. "Ilabas nila lahat ng papeles, para makita ng mga eksperto kung meron nga bang kakayahan o wala ang mga nag-aalok ng broadband network." Si Abalos naman ay in-interview ni Arnold Clavio at Ali Sotto sa DZBB. Umamin ang Comelec chief na di-bababa sa tatlong beses siya pumunta sa Shenzhen kamakailan para makipag-golf sa ZRE execs. Pinag-usapan daw nila ang pag-invest para umunlad ang Mindanao' "krimen ba 'yun?" Hindi nga impeachable offense maki-golf, sagot ni Padilla, pero bakit nakikipag-usap pa si Abalos sa ZTE gayong kontrobersiyal na ito at nasa gitna na ng election period. Inamin ni Abalos na bawal mag-award ang gobyerno ng kontrata kung election period, tulad ng Apr. 21 para sa ZTE. Pero dagdag niya agad na hindi naman kontrata kundi memorandum of agreement ang pinirmahan sa Boao, China. Pero bakit giit ni Mendoza, kontrata raw?

Probinsiya

Gobernador binira sa sex joke
SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union � Tumaas ang kilay at hindi makapaniwala ang napakaraming matataas na opisyal ng militar, pulisya at pamahalaan na dumalo sa isang sensitibong pulong noong Biyernes ng hapon nang biglang magkuwento ng kalaswaan ang goberna�dor ng lalawigang ito na tinu�turing na isang idolo ng mga pulitiko rito. Si Gov. Manuel Ortega ay isa sa mga nasa presi�dential table at inatasang magbi�gay ng pananalita ng emcee nang bigla na lamang siyang magkuwento tungkol sa "agad tinitigasang heneral na nauutusan ang kanyang ari sa pamamagitan lamang ng pag order ng attention, ang paghuhubad ng babae at masturbation. Ginawa niya umano ito sa joint meeting ng Regional Peace and order Council at ang tinatawag na RLECC na dinaluhan nina ex-Ge�neral Dionisio Santiago, Director General ng PDEA; Chief Supt. Leopoldo Bataoil, Region 1 police director; mga Re��gional Directors ng iba't-ibang ahensya ng pamaha�laan, PNP provincial directors, mga government officials na babae, mga policewoman, mga bokal ng La Union at iba pa. Halata ring hiyang hiya si Pangasinan governor Ama�do Espino dahil sa sumablay na kuwento ng gobernador dito. Dahil sa umuulan noong nagsasalita ang gobernador, napigilan ang balak na pag boycott ng ilang participants na iiling-iling habang nagsa�salita ang tuwang-tuwa na gobernador sa kanyang malaswang kuwento. "Okay lang sana kung puro lalaki ang nasa loob ng pulong," anang isang pulis. Bagamat malamang na biro lang iyon ni Ortega, wala namang kaugnayan sa pulong ang kanyang kuwento sa sex, anang ilang nakarinig. (Myds Supnad)

Pulis patay sa ihi ng daga
LINGAYEN, Panga�sinan � Ito ay isang ba�bala sa publiko: Huwag bale�walain ang ihi lamang ng isang daga dahil nagta�tag�lay ito ng nakamamatay na tetano. Isang pulis na halos ka�pa�pasok pa lamang sa ser�bisyo ang namatay kama�ka�ilan dahil sa sakit na tina�tawag na leptospirosis. Ang leptospirosis ay na�kukuha sa mga tubig-ulan o baha na kontami�nado ng ihi ng daga dito. Nabiktima nga ng leptospirosis si PO1 Ronald Pag�lingayen, tauhan ng Regional Head-quarters Support Group ng Philippine National Police sa Aringay, La Union. Matapos mabagbag ang kanyang damdamin, agad namang inutos kahapon ni Chief Supt. Leopoldo N. Bataoil, Region 1 police director, sa kanyang staff ang agarang pagbibigay lahat ng benepisyo kay PO1 Pag�lingayen, tubong Lib�song East, Lingayen, Pan�gasinan dahil isa na siya aniyang pulis sa ating bansa. "Bagamat ito yong tina�ta�wag na one-day old policeman in the service, dahil talagang kapapasok pa lamang ng biktimang si PO1 Paglingayen, dapat nang bigyan ng mga kauku�lang benepisyo ng isang regular na pulis dahil naka�panumpa na siya," ani Gen. Bataoil sa isang panayam. Tinawag din ng mga doktor ang pagkamatay ng biktima na Myocardial Infarc�tion and Acute renal failure. Sa ulat na natanggap ni Gen. Bataoil, ang biktima ay may kaunting sugat nang ito ay lumusong sa tubig na naihian pala ng isang daga. Ngunit walang kamalay-malay ito na ku�mapit ang tetano sa sugat ng biktima hanggang sa nakaramdam ito ng undo�cu�mented fever associated with signs and symptoms, kagaya ng matinding pang�hihina ng katawan, pag��susuka, matinding sakit sa ulo at pagdudumi. Agad namang itinakbo sa hospital ang biktima ngu�nit hindi na ito nakaligtas dahil sa tindi ng nararam�da�man nito sa sakit na nag�mula lamang sa ihi ng daga. (Myds Supnad)

Bebot tinodas ng kapitbahay
Napatay ang isang 26-anyos na babae makaraang saksakin ito sa dibdib ng kanyang sigang kapitbahay kamakalawa ng gabi sa San Mateo, Rizal. Idineklarang dead on arrival sa Amang Rodriguez Medical Center sanhi ng isang saksak sa kaliwang bahagi ng dibdib ang bikti�mang si Maritess Balbao, residente ng Blk 3, Valley View Subd. Brgy. Gulod ng bayang ito. Agad namang tumakas at kasalukuyang pinaghaha�nap ng kagawad ng puilsya ang suspek na nakilalang si Naser Lambino, 18, umano'y siga-siga sa nasabing lugar. Sa ulat, naganap ang insidente dakong alas 11:00 ng gabi sa nasabing lugar. Nauna dito, lumabas ang biktima sa kanyang bahay upang bumili ng sigarilyo sa kalapit na tindahan nang makita siya ng suspek at walang sabi-sabing binatu�kan. Dahil sa pangyayari ay nagalit ang biktima at pinag�bantaan ang suspek na ba�balikan niya ito sabay uwi ng kanilang bahay. Subalit lingid sa kaala�man ng biktima ay inaaba�ngan na siya ng suspek na armado ng mahabang pata�lim at nagkubli malapit sa kanilang bahay. Nang lumabas ang biktima sa kanilang bahay ay bigla na lang lumabas ng dilim ang suspek at tinarakan sa dibdib ang babaeng bik�tima bago mabilis na tuma�kas. Isang manhunt operation ang isinasagawa ng puilsya para sa agarang pagdakip sa suspek. (Edwin Balasa)

3 lasing nagwala, tiklo
KIDAPAWAN CITY � Arestado ng mga pulis ang tat�long lasing na lalaki na nagwala sa isang compound sa Tacurong City kamakalawa ng gabi. Nang kapkapan ang dalawa, nakuha mula sa kanila ang mga armas na may memorandum receipt na pirmado ng Philippine Army. Kinilala ni Insp. Marifel Maganto, chief ng anti-vice and intelligence division ng Tacurong City PNP, ang mga inaresto na sina Carando Baluno, 35; Mansiyaw Kalim, 24; at Bashir Kalim, 22, pawang mga residente ng Baran�gay Poblacion, Buluan, Maguindanao. (Malu Cadelina Manar

Metro Bangkay sa ospital ninanakaw
Ni Doris Franche
Dahil sa isang taon nang hindi pa nakikita ang bangkay ng kanilang anak, ipinagharap na ng kasong robbery ang isang ahente ng pune�rarya ma�ka�raang ma�wala ang isang bangkay ng lalaki na umano'y tinangay ha� bang ito ay nasa panga�ngalaga ng Ospital ng Maynila, may isang taon na ang naka�karaan. Si Jonathan Villas, alyas Eric Villas, ng No. 217 Marivels St., La Loma, Quezon City ay ki�nasuhan ng pagnanakaw sa bang�kay ni Jaime Ray�mundo Jr., alyas Jojo, 33 binata, re�si�dente ng No. 434 Jasmin St., Phase 2, Block 22, Old Sta. Mesa, Maynila. Ang pormal na pagsa�sampa ng kaso laban sa suspek ay naganap maka�raang dumulog ang pa�milya ng biktima sa tang�ga�pan ni Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim kamaka�lawa. Dahil dito, inatasan ng alkalde ang tanggapan ng Manila City Hall-District Special Project Unit sa ilalim ng pamumuno ni P/Supt Alejandro Gu�tierrez na imbestigahan ang rek�lamo ng mga magulang ng bangkay ng lalaki na nawa�wala sa nasabing paga�mutan. Base sa inisyal na ulat na ibinigay ng tanggapan ng DSPU sa Manila City Hall Reporters Association, dakong alas-8:00 ng umaga noong Marso 12, 2006 nang umalis sa ka�nilang bahay si Ray�mundo. Makalipas uma�no ang ilang araw na hindi pag-uwi ng biktima hina�nap na nila ito subalit hindi nila ito natagpuan kaya naisipan nilang magtungo ng General Assignment Section sa Manila Police District headquaters para ipa-blotter ang nawawala nilang anak. Dakong alas-9:00 ng umaga ng Setyembre 26, 2006 ay may natanggap na tawag sa telepono ang nanay ng biktima mula sa isang hindi nagpa�kilalang empleyado ng Reception and Action Center at itina�ta�nong ang mga palatan�daan ng ka�ni�lang nawa�walang anak Sinabi umano ng caller na ang nawawala nilang anak ay nasa panganga�laga ng RAC-Manila Chap�ter mula pa nuong Marso 30, 2006 batay na�man sa impor�masyong ibi�nigay sa kanila ng isang Mr. Rod�rigo Ramos, OIC ng RAC na nuong Mayo 29, 2006 bandang alas-8:20 ng gabi ay itinakbo nila ang biktima sa Ospital ng May�nila dahil naman sa sobrang dehydration at kinabukasan ay idinek�lara ng mga tumiti�nging mang�gagamot na ito ay patay na. Nang puntahan uma�no nila ang bangkay ng kanilang anak sa Ospital ng Maynila ay nabigla sila nang kanilang matuk�lasan sa impormasyon at record ng morgue na ipinakita ng embalsa�ma�dor na si Leo�poldo Tam�bong na ang bangkay ng kanilang anak ay kinuha ng isang Eric Villas na may petsang Mayo 31, 2006 para sa custody at safekeeping daw sa Saint Harold Memorial Chapels na nasa 1511 Gen. Luna St., Paco, Manila. Subalit nang ito ay ka�ni�lang alamin sa punenar�ya at sa record nito ay wala silang maipakita, ultimo ang bangkay ng kanilang anak ay hindi na rin mala�man kung saan na na�punta.

Smokey Mountain magiging "Green City
Malapit nang tanghaling "green city" o luntiang lungsod ang Smokey Mountain sa Balut, Tondo, Manila� matapos pagtibayin ng Korte Suprema ang legalidad ng Smokey Mountain Development and Reclamation Project. Inihayag ni Fr. Ben Beltran, parish� priest at civic leader sa naturang lugar, na mag�tatayo doon ng isang makabago at state-of-the-art recycling plant sa 21-ektaryang dating bundok ng basura upang iproseso ang solid waste o basura ng mga residente ng Maynila at iba pang kalapit na lugar. Ayon sa pari, ang proyekto ay sa pakikipagtulu�ngan ng isang German pro-environment firm at ang tanging hinihintay na lang ay ang permiso ng pamahalaan para mapasimulan ito. Pero bago masimulang iproseso ang mga basura mula sa ibang dako ng Metro Manila, sinabi ni Beltran na sisi�mulan muna ang recycling sa nalalabing mga basu�rang nakatambak sa Smokey Mountain. Ani Beltran, ang ibang bahagi ng basura ay maipoproseso sa construction materials na gaga�mitin ng mga residente sa pagtatayo ng "green church" sa komunidad. Ang tina�tawag na "residual waste" ani Beltran ay puwedeng gawing hollow blocks o panghalo sa semento para pampalitada.

P1.5-M ari-arian naabo sa sunog
Tinatayang umaabot sa P1.5 milyong halaga ng ari-arian at negosyo ang naabo matapos na masunog ang isang hardware shop sa Lungsod ng Mandaluyong kahapon ng madaling araw. Dakong alas-3:07 ng madaling araw ng sumiklab ang apoy sa Sonic Construction and Hardware supplies sa Shaw Boulevard, Barangay Wack-Wack at pag-mamay-ari ng Khang Family. Nabatid na umabot sa 2nd alarm ang nasabing sunog na tuluyang naapula dakong alas-3:40 ng umaga. Dalawang tao naman ang malubhang nasugatan nang masunog ang limang kabahayan kahapon ng umaga sa lungsod ng Malabon. Ayon kay SFO1 Joseph Gatchalian, Malabon City Fire Arson Investigator, ang mga biktimang kasalukuyang ginagamot sa Tondo Medical Center sanhi ng tinamong 1st degree burn sa kanilang katawan na sina William Her�nandez, 29, at Analyn Medina, 28, kapwa residente ng Pasco Street, Barangay Tonsuya ng nabanggit na lungsod. Nabatid, na bandang alas-6:40 ng umaga nang bigla na lang sumiklab ang apoy mula sa bahay ng isang Rufina San Pedro hanggang sa mabilis na kumalat sa mga katabi nitong bahay. (Edwin Balasa at Lordeth Bonilla)

4 UP student tinutugis
Pinaghahanap ngayon ng Quezon City Police District ang apat na estudyante ng University of the Philippines na may kinalaman sa pagkamatay ni Public Admi�nis�tration student Chris Anthony Mendez na kumpirmadong nasawi dahil sa hazing. Hindi naman muna pinangalanan ni QCPD-Homicide Section Chief Insp. Lino Banaag ang naturang mga estudyante na isinasailalim pa nila ngayon sa masusing imbestigasyon at habang kumakalap pa sila ng matitibay na ebidensya laban sa mga ito. Lumabas na rin naman ang resulta sa awtopsiya na isinagawa ng Scene of the Crime Operatives sa bangkay ng 20-anyos na si Mendez kung saan lumalabas na sa "mauling" o pambubugbog nasawi ang biktima. Naging "fatal" o sanhi ng ka�ma�tayan ng biktima ang mga bugbog na natamo nito sa likod, ayon kay Banaag. Sinabi rin nito na ang "mauling" ay maa�aring sabihin na rin na "hazing". Sinabi rin nito na nakipag-ugnayan na sa kanila si Dr. Francisco Cruz, assistant chief ng Veteran's Memorial Medical Center ophthalmology department, na itinu�rong nagsugod sa bangkay ni Mendez sa naturang pagamutan nitong nakaraang Lunes ng madaling araw. Ayon kay Cruz, may inasikaso lamang siyang mahalagang bagay kaya nag-leave sa pagamutan. Sinabi rin nito kay Banaag na dinala sa kanyang bahay ang katawan ni Mendez sa Congressional Village ngunit tumanggi na banggitin ang pangalan ng mga nagdala sa biktima. Nangako na�man ito na lulutang sa pu�lisya upang magbigay ng kanyang opisyal na paha� yag ngunit hindi nabanggit kung kailan. Nagsasagawa na rin ng hiwalay na imbestigas�yon ang administrasyon ng UP upang makilala ang mga estudyanteng miyem�bro ng Sigma Rho fraternity na sangkot sa natu�rang "initiation rites" kay Mendez. Kabilang sa mga pa�ngalang lumulu�tang ay ang anak ni Dr. Cruz na isang Mikko, estudyante ng UP College of Law; at Ariel Paolo Ante, chairman ng National College of Public Administration student council at miyembro rin ng naturang kapatiran na kasalukuyang nagta�tago na ngayon.

Parak nanutok ng bagets

Inaresto at ikinulong ng pulisya si Police Officer 1 Arnold Sagun, 29, ng Quezon City Police District, dahil sa panunutok umano niya ng baril sa apat na tinedyer na napadaan lang sa harapan ng isang videoke bar sa Parang, Marikina City habang nag-aaway sila ng kanyang nobya sa naturang lugar kahapon ng madaling-araw. Humingi ng tawad kinalaunan si Sagun pero tuloy pa rin ang kasong grave threat na isinampa laban sa kanya ng mga biktimang sina Marty Ramirez, 21; Angelo Escala, 20; John Daryl Venzon, 19; at William Alvarido, 20; pawang residente ng Gen. Menez st. sa Brgy. Parang ng nasabing lungsod. (Edwin Balasa)

Kuya todas sa bunso

Nasawi si Albert Estose, 45, ng Villaflor Village, Gulod, Novaliches, Quezon City nang masaksak siya ng patalim sa pakikipagduwelo niya sa kanyang kapatid na si Renato, 29, nang magkaroon sila ng mainitang pagtatalo habang nakikipag-inuman sa ilang kaibigan sa harapan ng kanilang bahay kamakalawa ng gabi. Nasugatan din sa insidente ang batang Estose na kasalukuyang ginagamot sa Novaliches General Hospital. (Danilo Garcia)

May topak ginahasa

Isang 44-anyos na babaeng may diperensya sa isip ang hinihinalang ginahasa bago pinatay nang matagpuan ang kanyang bangkay sa tabi ng Del Pan Sports Complex sa Binondo, Manila kahapon ng umaga. Nakilala ang biktima na si Marita Oligario ng Gate 5, Parola Compound, Tondo, Manila. May mga pasa sa katawan ng biktima bukod sa walang saplot sa ibabang bahagi ang katawan nito nang matagpuan ang bangkay. (Grace dela Cruz)

"Nalunod" sa kalasingan

Isang 51-anyos na stevedore na si Isabelo Panilagao Jr. ng Tondo, Manila ang hinihinalang nalunod nang maligo sa dagat nang lasing kamakalawa ng hapon. Natagpuang lumulutang ang kanyang bangkay sa tubig sa pagitan ng mga nakadaong na barge sa Pier 4 sa North Harbor sa Tondo. (Grace dela Cruz)

Palaro

Pacquiao magaling na, balik ensayo
Matapos dapuan ng lagnat noong Biyernes, magbabalik na sa kanyang training session ngayong umaga si Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao sa RWS Boxing Gym sa Cebu City. Gusto sana ng 28-anyos na si Pacquiao na magbalik-ensayo noong Sabado ngunit hindi siya pinayagan ni attending physician Dr. Hans Potpot. Makaraang makapag-pahinga, pinayagan na ni Dr. Potpot si Pacquiao na bumalik sa kanyang pagsasanay kasama ang kanyang American trainer na si Freddie Roach. "We haven't lost much. A couple of days off actually the way he's been working might be the best thing for him," ani Roach sa estado ng kanilang preparasyon ni Pacquiao sa rematch kay Mexican boxing great Marco Antonio Barrera sa Oktubre 6 sa Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino sa Las Vegas, Nevada. Idinagdag ni Roach na 'on track' pa rin ang kanilang paghahanda ni "Pacman" kahit na ito ay nagkasakit pa. "We are pushing hard and working hard and running the hills and sparring and so forth," ani Roach. "So he's right on schedule and this shouldn't put us back at all." Katulad ni Pacquiao, nagkaroon rin ng lagnat sina Mexican sparmates David Rodela at Raymund Beltran kamakailan. Nakatakda sanang maging guest si Pacquiao sa "SOP" program ng GMA Channel 7 kahapon subalit hindi siya pinayagan ni Dr. Potpot na magtungo sa Maynila. Nabigo rin ang bumibisitang HBO Sports crew na makakuha ng video ni Pacquiao noong Biyernes. (RCadayona)

La Salle sa Final 4; Uste nalo rin
Nakasiguro ang De La Salle University sa Final Four matapos ang magaang 78-64 panalo kontra sa National University sa pagpapatuloy ng UAAP men's Basketball tournament sa Araneta Coliseum kahapon. Tumatag sa No. 2 spot ang Green Archers na may 9-3 kartada sa likod ng wala pang talong University of the East na may 12-0 record at dalawang panalo na lamang ang layo sa sweep na magkakaloob sa kanila ng awtomatikong finals slot. Sakaling makasweep ang Red Warriors, ang No. 2 team ay makakabye sa stepladder semifinals. Kung mamalasin ang East, sigurado na rin sila sa No. 1 ranking sa Final Four at twice-to-beat ticket. Nagtala rin ng magaang tagumpay ang defending champion University of Santo Tomas kontra sa kulelat na University of the Philippines, 77-61 sa unang laro. Umangat ang UST Tigers sa 7-5 kartada sa fourth place sa likod ng Ateneo na may 7-4 record. Nalasap ng NU Bulldogs ang kanilang ikapitong talo sa 11-laro habang lalo namang nabaon sa kulelat na posisyon ang UP Maroons na lumasap ng kanilang ika-11 sunod na talo . (MBALBUENA)

Corteza sa finals ng GUINNESS 9-BALL
KUALA LUMPUR -- Patuloy sa pananalasa ang reigning Philippine National Champion na si Lee Van "The Slayer" Corteza sa 2007 Guinness 9-Ball Tour Grand Finals matapos magtala ng kahanga-hangang come-from-behind victory kontra sa Chinese Taipei bet na si Wu Chia-Ching, 11-9 sa semifinal ng US$70,000 rich tournament. Lumamang ang 2005 World pool champion na si Wu, nakapasok sa semifinals bilang second seed sa Group B na may 3-1 preliminary round record sa 5-2 nang alatin sa kanyang breaks si Corteza. Ngunit nang gumamit ito ng soft break, naging epektibo ito para maitabla niya ang iskor sa 8-all. Nanalo si Wu sa sumunod na rack ngunit dahil may kumpiyansa na si Corteza ay naisubi nito ang sumunod na tatlong racks tungo sa kanyang tagumpay para makasulong sa finals. Habang sinusulat ang balitang ito, kasalukuyang nakikipaglaban si Corteza sa isa ring Chinese Taipei na si Chang JungLin na nakapasok din sa finals matapos igupo ang kababayan at overall tour leader na si Yang Ching-Shun sa semifinals. Ang Corteza-Chang clash ay rematch nang kanilang finals showdown sa inaugural Jakarta leg kung saan tinalo ni Chang si Corteza para sa kanyang unang Guinness 9-ball Tour title .

Lumilipad Ang Panahon!
FREE THROWS Ni AC Zaldivar
Habang pinanonood ko ang laro ng University of the East at Far Eastern University noong Sabado ng hapon ay nangingiti ako at nasasabi ko sa sarili kong: "Hay naku, tumatanda na nga ako!" Paano'y noong kabataan ko'y nahalina ako sa daigdig ng basketball dahil sa Purefoods Hotdogs na naging miyembro ng PBA noong 1988. Kabilang sa unang batch ng Hotdogs sina Jerry Codi�era, Jojo Lastimosa, Glenn Capacio, Alvin Patrimonio at Edgar Tanuan na kinuhang direkta buhat sa amateur ranks. Nang sumunod na taon ay nakuha naman ng Purefoods buhat sa draft sina Dindo Pumaren at Nelson Asaytono. Ang lakas ng Purefoods noon. Malakas ang dating sa mga fans. Pero natagalan bago napanalunan ng Purefoods ang kauna-unahang kampeonato sa PBA bagamat sa unang dalawang conferences nito'y pumasok kaagad sa Finals. Noong 1990, sa paggiya ng "The Maestro" na si Virgilio "Baby" Dalupan, ay napanalunan ng Hotdogs ang unang titulo matapos ang come-from-behind 3-2 win kontra Alaska Milk sa Third Conference. Maraming taon na ang nakalipas. Heto at coach na sina Pumaren at Capacio! Iyon ang ikinangingiti ko habang pinanonood ang duwelo sa pagitan ng Red Warriors at ng Tamaraws. Si Pumaren ay nasa ikaapat na taon niya bilang head coach ng UE. Sa unang tatlong seasons ay palaging pumapasok sa Final Four ang Warriors subalit nadidiskaril at hindi makausad sa championship round. Well, tinalo ng UE ang FEU, 79-72 noong Sabado para sa 12-0 record. Dalawang panalo na lang ay mawawalis ng Warriors ang double round elims at didiretso sila sa best-of-three championship series. Bunga naman ng pagkatalo ay bumagsak sa 6-6 record ang Tamaraws at nasa ikalimang puwesto. May pag-asa pa naman ang FEU na makarating sa Final Four. Sa tutoo lang, maraming nagugulat sa FEU. May sampung rookies ang team na ito at rookie din ang kanilang coach. Ito ang unang season ni Capacio bilang head coach ng Tamaraws pero maganda na kaagad ang kanyang performance. Well, kapag binalikan natin ang mga nakasama nina Capacio at Pumaren sa unang dalawang seasons ng Purefoods sa PBA, makikitang si Lastimosa ay bahagi ng coaching staff ng Alaska Milk, si Codi�era ay naging head coach ng TeleTech at assistant coach ng Fedex samantalang si Patrimonio ay team manager ng Purefoods Giants. Hay naku, ang bilis talaga ng panahon!

Showbiz

Albert, impressed kay Direk Lino
SUNTOK SA BUWAN Ni Emy Abuan-Bautista
Nainterbyu namin si Direk Lino Cayetano sa presscon ng kan�yang movie directorial debut na I've Fall�en For You. Hanga sa kanya si Albert Mar�tinez na kasama rin sa pelikula kung saan sinabi nitong kahit first time silang nagka�trabaho ay magaling itong direktor. "Hindi siya nagmo-motivate sa kanyang mga artista para maka�arteng mabuti, mas type nitong mag�karoon ng discussion ang cast para pag-usapan kung paano mapapaganda ang pelikula," sabi ni Albert. Nang may mag�tanong tungkol sa kanila ni KC Concep�cion ay iniba nito ang usapan at mas gusto niyang pag-usapan ang pelikula. "I'm not a private person dahil madaldal nga ako pero mabuti ang 'wag na lang natin siyang pag-usapan," anang di�rektor.

Isnabero?

Nilinaw ni Gerald Anderson ang intrigang isnabero siya dahil mis�mong mga press people ay di niya naba�bati ka�pag nakikita o nasasa�lubong nito kahit pa mga editors. "Kaya hindi ko po kayo nababati ay dahil wala po akong contact lens o kaya wala po akong salamin. Pero ngayong ayos na ang salamin ko ay binabati ko na ang mga press people. Hindi naman po ako isnabero," sey ng aktor. Marami namang na�ka��puna na matatas na itong magsalita ng Ta�galog di gaya noong bago pa lang siya sa showbiz. Sa kabilang banda, malaki ang pag-asa ni Gerald na matamo ang matamis na oo ni Kim dahil sinabi nitong sa ngayon ay sweet lang sila bilang magkaibigan pero kung willing mag�hintay ang aktor ay may tsansa siyang sagutin ng dalaga. Halos araw-raw ay nagpapalitan sila ng text messages lalo na ka�pag di sila nagkita sa buong maghapon. Natutuwa ang mag�ka�pareha dahil may magandang mensahe ang I've Fallen For You na palabas na sa September 26 mula sa Star Cinema.

Jigo, Proud Sa Anak

Nagkita kami ni Jigo Garcia sa isang res�toran sa SM North kung saan napagkwentuhan namin si Jennica na gumagawa na rin ng pangalan sa showbiz. "Every Sunday ay nagkikita kami para mag-bonding at kahit buong maghapon lang ay ibinibigay ko sa kanya ang quality time at bago siya umuwi ay nag-uusap kami ng sarilinan at binubusog ko siya sa pangaral. Very close naman ka�ming mag-ama at lagi akong nakasuporta sa kanya," sey ng dating aktor na ngayon ay barangay captain na sa Do�a Josefa sa Quezon City. Abala si Jennica ngayon sa mga showbiz commitment .

'Ako na mismo ang nagsasabing 'wag makipagbati si Joey kay Willie'
TAKE IT! Ni Lolit Solis
May taping si Papa Joey de Leon noong Biyernes kaya hindi niya napagbigyan ang imbi�tasyon ni Chair Conso�liza Laguardia na mag�kita sila sa MTRCB of�fice. Blessing in disguise ang pagkakaroon ng taping ni Papa Joey da�hil kung nagpunta siya sa MTRCB office, baka nagkita sila doon ni Wil�lie Revillame na inimbi�tahan din pala ni Mama Consoliza. Set-up? Type ni Mama Con�soliza na pagbatiin sina Willie at Joey eh hindi naman ganoon 'yon kadali. Siyempre, na-hurt si Papa Joey sa mga pa�ratang ni Willie kaya ako mismo ang nagsabi sa kanya na huwag siyang makipagbati 'noh! Ni hindi nga bina�bang�git ni Papa Joey ang pangalan ni Willie dahil ang feeling niya, siya ang nagamit nang husto.

Ipinagtanggol ni Vic Sotto si Papa Joey. Best of friends ang da�lawa kaya nag-react si Bossing sa kontro�ber�sya na kinasasangkutan ng kanyang kaibigan. Maanghang as in spicy ang mga state�ment ni Bossing tungkol sa Willie-Joey issue dahil alam niya na nasa katwiran si Papa Joey. Pinatunayan ni Bos�s�ing ang pagiging tunay na kaibigan nang sabi�hin niya na bago si Joey, siya muna ang maka�kaharap ng mga nang-aaway sa kanyang kai�bigan. 'Yan ang tunay na friend... Maaasahan sa oras ng panganga�ila�ngan. Nakita ko ang am�bu�lansya na nakapa�rada sa tapat ng GMA 7 buil�ding noong Sabado. Kasi naman, nagka�roon ng heart palpita�tions ang fashion desig�ner na si Frederick Pe�ralta. Naapektuhan yata si Frederick ng pagkaka�tanggal niya sa Cele�brity Duets at hindi na�tin siya masisisi dahil na�kakatensyon talaga ang maging contestant sa isang reality TV show. Natsugi man si Fre�derick, napatunayan niya sa madlang-bayan na may talent siya sa pagkanta. Kailangang maging maingat na si Frederick dahil mukhang bawal sa kanya ang ma-excite at malungkot or else, bibilis ang pintig ng kanyang puso.

Nakakatensyon tala�ga ang mga eksena sa Celebrity Duets noong Sabado. Kasama sa Bottom 3 si Tessa at halos mapa�iyak ito nang sabihin ni Regine Velasquez na ligtas na siya. Eh matindi ang effort ni Tessa sa bawat epi�sode ng show. Talagang naghahanda siya at ma�kikita ito sa mga kaka�ibang damit na isinusuot niya. Saka kaplastikan kung sasabihin ng isang talunan na hindi siya na-hurt sa pagkatalo niya. Normal sa mga human being na makaramdam ng sadness kung luhaan silang uuwi 'noh! Isa si Tessa sa mga inaabangan na contestant ng Celebrity Duets dahil sa kanyang nakakaaliw na pananamit! Second time ko na pumunta sa taping ng Celebrity Duets at naaaliw ako dahil feel na feel ko ang excitement ng audience. Maganda rin tingnan ang mga asawa nina Tessa Prieto-Valdes at Jessica Rodriguez na nag-aalaga sa kanilang mga anak habang humaha�taw sa pagpe-perform ang mga misis nila. Na-meet ko nga pala noong Sabado ang nanay ni Dr. Hayden Kho, ang pinakamamahal ni Dra. Vicki Belo. Maganda at bagets na bagets ang itsura ng madir ni Hayden. Parang mag�kapatid lamang sila 'huh!

Manny Pacquiao, sitcom ang unang project sa GMA
ABOUT SHOWBIZ Ni Nitz Miralles
Maganda ang laba�nan ng mga programa ng ABS-CBN at GMA-7 simula ngayong Lu�nes. Ang magpa-pilot na Pangarap Na Bituin ang makakatapat ng Marimar at ibig sabihin, ang grupo nina Rica Pera��lejo, Sarah Gero�nimo, Maja Salvador at Jericho Rosales ang makakalaban nina Ma�rian Rivera, Katrina Halili at Richard Go�mez. Dahil bababa ang time slot ng Ysabella, ang Impostora nina Iza Calzado at Sunshine Dizon ang magkaka�tapat. Best of friends pa naman sina Iza at Judy Ann Santos mula nang magkasama sa Ouija, kaya friendly competi�tion ang mangyayari sa kanila. Samantala, mala�king tulong kay Sarah na naipapareha sa iba't ibang actor. Sa PNB, isa siya sa leading ladies ni Jericho at pelikulang ga�gawin niya sa Viva Films, si John Lloyd Cruz naman ang kan�yang makaka�tam�bal. Kanino kaya siya mag�kakaroon ng che�mistry sa dalawa? Hindi pa malinaw kung sitcom o reality program ang gagawin ni Manny Pacquiao sa GMA-7 at ayaw pa itong kumpirmahin ng net�work. Natawa nga kami dahil 'yung tinanong naming may katung�kulan sa network, nagu�lat pa kunwari at nag-deny. Ang dagdag na bali�ta, kung sitcom ang gagawin ni Manny, isa�sama raw nito sa cast sina Dennis Padilla at Long Mejia na kanyang mga kaibigan. Umaalma ang Kapuso fans, isa�ma na raw ng boxer kahit sino, 'wag lang ang dalawang ito. Hindi malimutan ng fans na iniwan nina Den�nis, Long at Dagul ang hit sitcom nila sa Ch. 7 (forget namin ang title) at lumipat sa ABS-CBN. Kaso, hin�di nagtagal ang mga show nila sa Ch. 2 at unti-unti silang nawala sa ek�sena. Ngayon, dahil kay Manny, ma�kakabalik sila sa Siete at ito ang ayaw ng Kapuso viewers. Nagbanta ang iba sa kanilang hindi panonoorin ang show ng boxing champ kung kasama sina Dennis at Long. Nahihiya si direk Lino Cayetano sa nalamang may ibang fans na kaya pa�nonoorin ang I've Fallen For You ay dahil sa kanya at hindi dahil kina Kim Chiu at Gerald Anderson. Titingnan nila ang trabaho nito, pero ang Star Cinema na ang nagsasabing masaya at kontento sila sa directorial debut nito. "We are very happy that direk Lino came on board for this project. He is very meticulous, hardworking and it show�ed in this endeavor," sabi ng producer ng movie na si Marizel Samson-Martinez. Nag-senti naman si direk Lino, sana raw noon pa siya gumawa ng pelikula para napanood ng daddy niya (the late Sen. Rene Cayetano). Wala man ang ama, nariyan pa ang ina at mga kapatid na tiyak na ipagmamalaki siya dahil sa magandang pelikula. Showing na ang I've Fallen For You sa Sept�ember 26 sa more than 100 theaters na�tion�wide. Magkakaroon ito ng premiere night sa Cebu sa Sept. 24 (kung saan lumaki si Kim) at sa Sept. 25 sa SM Me�gamall. Walang takot si Mark Bautista na maki�pagsabayan mag-con�cert sa RnB singer/com�poser/record producer na si Baby Face. Pare�hong sa October 13 ang concert nila, ang sa foreign artist ay sa Ara�neta Coliseum at ang kay Mark ay sa Aliw Theater. Billed Simply Irre�sis�tible ang second ma�jor concert ni Mark with guests Sarah Ge�roni�mo, Rachelle Ann Go, Sitti, and Rufa Mae Quinto. Marami pang friends ng singer ang da��rating para makipag-jamming, kaya sigura�duhing kayo'y mano�nood. Produced naman ng Viva Concerts and Events ang Simply Ir�resistible at mabibili na ang tiket sa SM Ticket�net outlets at P1, 260 (VIP Center), P1,050 (Patron Center), P840 (VIP Side), at P525 (Patron Side).

Mahilig mambintang?
ISYU AT BANAT Ni Ed De
Nabasa namin nang buong-buo ang sinulat na column ni Joey de Leon, at sa tingin na�min, isang over reaction ang pag-iyak pa ni Wil�lie Re�villame sa kan�yang show para bana�tan si Joey. Hindi naman bi�nanggit ni Joey si Wil�lie, o ang kanyang show. Sinabi lang ni Joey na hin�di tamang mandaya sa tv. Hindi lang naman ngayon nagkaroon ng usapan sa pandaraya sa tv. Bakit naman nag-react nang ganoon si Willie? Noon ding nagka�ro�on ng stampede at may 70 katao ang na�matay sa show ni Willie, kung na�tatandaan ninyo sini�sisi rin nila si Joey at pi�nagbintangan pang pi�nag�tatawanan ang mga pangyayari. Kung pu�wede lang sigurong isisi ni Willie ang reklamong pambubugbog ng kan�yang dating asawa na si Liz Almoro, malamang binintang na niya kay Joey. Sa totoo lang inaa�bangan namin ang sa�sa��bihin talaga ni Joey noon pero hindi siya ku�mibo, nanawagan pa nga si Vic Sotto na sana ipagdasal ng lahat ang mga kalu�luwa ng mga nasawi sa kalaban nilang show. Mukha ngang pabo�rito nilang pagbintangan si Joey para mabaling doon ang atensiyon ng mga tao at mailihis nang kahit na kaunti ang tu�nay na issues. Ang is�sue naman ay hindi kung nadaya man iyong con�testant noong araw na iyon. Ang issue ay ba�kit nga ba dalawang numero ang nasa loob ng isang wheel, saman�talang dapat ay isa lang para maiwasan ang daya. Ang tanong, ilan pa kayang wheel ang may dalawang numero sa halip na isa lang? Pero makakalusot diyan ang show ni Willie. Nagsabi na ang MTR�CB na hindi iyon saklaw ng kanilang ahensiya. Sinabi na rin ng DTI na hindi rin kasali iyon sa kani�lang binaban�tayan. Nagsalita na rin ang Department of Jus�tice na kailangan daw may complainant para ma�imbestigahan iyon ng NBI. Palagay namin, wa�lang imbes�tigas�yong mangyayari dahil hindi pala saklaw ng ba�tas ang ganyang pang�ya�yari sa isang game show. Tama nga sigurong imbestigahan ng sena�do o ng kamara 'yan para makagawa sila ng batas na makakapag-regu�late sa mga game shows nang hindi na na�u�ulit ang mga gan�yang pangyayari,at kung may dayaan man, para na�man hindi ma�kalusot kung sino man ang nan�da�daya. In aid of legis�lation dapat para maka�gawa na sila ng isang batas na uugit diyan da�hil napakarami nang game shows sa tv, tapos lumalabas na wala pa�lang batas o ahensiya ng gobyerno na suma�saklaw sa kanila? Natuluyan din pala ang kaso ni Joey Mar�quez noong panahong mayor pa siya na may kinalaman sa pagbili ng walis tingting. Mabuti't mabilis na nakapag-pi�yan�sa si Joey mata�pos siyang hatulan ng guilty ng Sandigang Bayan. Pero ang tsismis sa amin, may iba naman daw taong talagang may kinalaman sa pag�bili ng walis tingting na iyon eh, si Joey nga lang ang pinutukan. Takot ang isang ba�ding na matinee idol matapos siyang pag�ban�taan ng karelasyon niyang male starlet na kung maki�kipagbalikan siya sa dati niyang boy�friend na flight steward at iiwanan ang boyfriend niyang male starlet, ibu�bulgar daw noon ang kanilang relasyon. Mukhang do or die din naman ang male starlet. Ayaw din niyang iwanan siya ng bading na matinee idol, kasi ang tsismis bading din na�man daw talaga ang male starlet na iyan. Sa�bi pa, payag daw ang male starlet na maki�pag�balikan ang bading na matinee idol sa kan�yang ex, basta dapat threesome sila.

PDA concert sa Amerika, flop
RATED A Ni Aster Amoyo
Ang pelikulang First Day High ang unang pe��likulang ginawa nina Kim Chiu at Gerald An�der�son, ang PBB-Teen Edi�tion winners na pa�tu��loy gu�magawa ng ingay sa showbiz. Pero ang peliku�lang I've Fal�len For You ang mag�si�silbing launch�ing movie ng dalawa dahil hindi lang naman sila ang bida. Excited ang mga ta�ga�hanga nina Kim at Ge�rald sa I've Fallen For You dahil ito talaga ang pelikula na sa kani�lang dalawa naka-sen�tro ang istorya ng peli�kula na siyang directo�rial debut ng napapa�balitang boyfriend nga�yon ni KC Concepcion, si Direk Lino Caye�tano. In a scale of one to ten, nasaan na si Gerald sa puso ni Kim? "Nasa pagitan ng 8 and 9," ani Kim bagay na ikinatuwa ni Gerald dahil malapit-lapit na siyang sagutin.

Habang lumalaon ay lalong kapana-panabik ang mga episodes ng co�medy-reality show na Kung Ako Ikaw hosted by Joey Marquez at Keempee de Leon ay natutunghayan tuwing alas-10 ng gabi mula Lu�nes hanggang Miyer�kules sa GMA-7. Simula ngayong Lu�nes (September 3) ng gabi ay kakaibang pag�subok ang haharapin nina Arnel Ignacio, Jesi Corcuera at Pau�leen Luna. Ang tatlong 'Celebrity Manggagawa for the Week' ay susu�bok sa paggawa ng ka�baong - mula sa pagka�karpintero, pagma�malil�ya, pagpipintura, pag-a-assemble at iba pa. Ang bisor (super�visor) ang siyang magsi�silbing hurado kung sino kina Arnel, Jesi at Pau�leen. Malaking kontri�busyon ang text votes ng mga manonood kung sino ang dapat pa�boran na KAI Galing-Ga��ling Celebrity Mang�ga�gawa for the Week at maka�kapag-uwi ng P100,000 cash! Samantala, paano kaya tinanggap ni Joey Marquez ang naging hatol sa kanya ng San�digangbayan kung saan siya na-prove na guilty sa kasong graft and cor�ruption na isinampa laban sa kanya. Ang buong akala na�min ay tuluyan nang nagretiro sa broadcast me�dia ang veteran ra�dio/TV personality na si Jay Sonza dahil mata�gal-tagal na namin itong hindi nababalitaan. Yun pala ay meron itong mas mahalagang pinag�kaka�abalahan ngayon na may kinalaman din sa TV broadcasting. Si Jay ang tumatayong Station Manager ng UNTV37, isang alterna�tibong TV network kung saan din news anchor ang dating ka-tandem ni Mel Tiang�co kasama ang dating GMA news talent na si Candace Giron. Sina Jay at Can�dace ay araw-araw na�pa��pano�od, mula Lunes hang�gang Biyernes ng alas-6 hanggang alas-7 ng gabi sa Ito Ang Balita. Gaano kaya katotoo ang balitang nakarating sa amin na flop lahat ng mga shows ng Pinoy Dream Academy sa Amerika na pinangu�nahan ng PDA grand win�ner na si Yeng Cons��tantino? Maging ang unang US tour ng PDA last April ay nila�ngaw umano. Mara�mi rin ang nagsabi na hindi pa umano kaya ni Yeng magdala ng con�cert lalung-lalo na sa Ame�rika. Matupad kaya ang plano ng PDA Produc�tions na gawing another Sarah Geronimo si Yeng? Nakarating din sa amin ang baltta na ma�ra��mi umanong naging problema sa coordi�nation kaya maging ang concert producer ng New York ay kinansela ang show. Samantala, may nagparating din sa amin ng balita na nag-back out umano ang producer ni Sarah Geronimo sa Las Vegas, Nevada at kinansela ang show one week before the concert date pero ipinagpatuloy umano ito ng circuit concert tour producer bagay na ikinalito ng mga Pinoy sa Vegas. Pero yung naunang da�lawang US concert tour ni Sarah ay tala�gang dinumog ng mga tao. Ano kaya ang naging problema sa ongoing concert tour ni Sarah sa Amerika? Personal: Ang NO�BITCOMS (Natives of Borongan in the city of Manila and suburbs) ay magsi-celebrate ng ka�nilang kapistahan sa September 8 (Sabado) sa Jade Valley, Scout Torillo, Quezon City. Ang misa para sa Mahal na Patron ay gaganapin din sa Jade Valley sa ganap na alas-10 ng umaga at kasunod na rito ang libreng panang�halian. Ang social night naman ay gaganapin sa Quezon City Sports Club sa September 15 sa ganap na ika-6 ng gabi. Ang daily novena ay nag�simula nung Agosto 30 at mag�ta�tapos sa Sep�tember 7, alas-5 ng hapon sa Mt. Carmel Tertiary House, 5th St. New Manila, Quezon City .

True Confessions Ellang (ika-99 na labas)
Ni Ronnie M. Halos
Monday, September 3, 2007

(Kasaysayan ni M.R.A. ng Riyadh, KSA) NGAYON ko lang na�kita na umarko ang kilay ni Sir. Matagal na rin naman ako sa ka�nila pero ngayon ko lamang nakita ang ekspresyon ng mukha kapag galit. Maba�lasik ang mukha. Binitiwan nito ang hawak na si Abdulatiff at saka mabilis na sumugod sa kuwarto ni Rashid. Malaking komprontasyon ito. Ngayon lamang ako makakakita ng pag�mumurahan. Tala�gang galit si Sir sa ginawang pagpapa�pasok ni Rashid sa dalawang kabarkada. Mabilis kong ki�narga si Abdul at dinala sa aking silid. Gayunman, hindi ko isinara nang ganap ang pinto para mari�nig ang usapan. At ako ay nanggigigil kay Rashid at dala�wang kabataan lalo pa sa isang man�da�daklot sana sa "keps" ko ka�nina. Kung hindi du�mating si Sir, baka nga kung ano ang gina�wa sa akin. Baka nirape ako o pinaghihipuan na. O pinaglaruan at pi�nag�salitaan ng masa�sakit. Talagang mabisa ang panalangin. Narinig ako ng Diyos. "Ma hada?" Iyon ang narinig ko mula sa silid ni Rashid. Malakas ang boses ni Sir. Galit na galit. Wala akong narinig na sagot. "Shinu hada?" ta�nong pa rin ni Sir na ang ibig sabihin ay ano ang nangyayaring ito. Nang hindi sumagot si Rashid ay ang da�lawang kabataan ma�rahil ang hinarap. "Man ant?" (Sino kayo?) Narinig kong suma�got ang isa sa binatilyo. "Ana Mohammad." Ang isang binatilyo ang tinanong pero katulad ni Rashid ay ayaw sumagot. Hindi ko ma-imagine kung ano ang itsura ni Rashid habang binabakbakan ni Sir ng mura. Sa pa�lagay ko ay gustong lu�maban ni Rashid kay Sir. Maski ang isang bi�na�tilyo na ayaw su�magot ay tipong pala�ban. Marami pang sina�bing mura si Sir kay Rashid. Hanggang sa makarinig ako ng ha�gupit ng tila sinturon. Hindi ako humihinga. Niyakap ko si Abdulatiff. Wala namang kamalay-malay si Abdulatiff sa mga nangyayari. Ilang hagupit pa ang narinig ko at saka narinig ko ang sabi ni Rashid na "na-am!" Aywan ko kung bakit ganon ang sinabi niya. Ang alam kong kahu�lugan ng "na-am" ay "yes" o "oo." Pagkaraan ng mga hagupit ay nakita kong lumagabog ang pinto. Sumilip akong mabuti para malaman ang mga nangyayari. Nasa labas na ng pinto sina Rashid at ang dalawang kabar�kada. Si Sir naman ay hawak ang itim na lubid na naka�patong sa ulo. Tila iyon ang ipinam�palo kay Rashid. Ang hindi ko inaa�sahan ay ang biglang pagdura ni Rashid kay Sir. Siguro ay iyon ang ganti sa gina�wang pag�palo. At si�guro, pinala�layas na ni Sir si Rashid kaya na-am ang sagot kanina. Mabilis na lumabas ang tatlo. Hinabol ni Sir ang

Reply | Messages in this Topic (1)

#1584 From: "Perry Diaz" <PerryDiaz@...>
Date: Mon Sep 3, 2007 3:40 pm
Subject: Mother of the Year perrydiaz2001
Send Email

Shared by Rose Barin

Mother of the Year

In a zoo in California , a mother tiger gave birth to a rare set of triplet tiger cubs.

Unfortunately, due to complications in the pregnancy, the cubs were born prematurely and due to their tiny

size, they died shortly after birth.

The mother tiger after recovering from the delivery, suddenly started to decline in health,

although physically she was fine. The veterinarians felt that the loss of her litter had caused

the tigress to fall into a depression. The doctors decided that if the tigress could surrogate

another mother's cubs, perhaps she would improve.

After checking with many other zoos across the country, the depressing news was that there

were no tiger cubs of the right age to introduce to the mourning mother The veterinarians

decided to try something that had never been tried in a zoo environment. Sometimes a mother

of one species will take on the care of a different species. The only orphans" that could be

found quickly, were a litter of weanling pigs. The zoo keepers and vets wrapped the piglets in

tiger skin and placed the babies around the mother tiger. Would they become cubs or pork chops?

Take a look...you won't believe your eyes!!

Now, please tell me one more time.................. why can't the rest of the world get along?

Reply | Messages in this Topic (1)

#1585 From: "Perry Diaz" <PerryDiaz@...>
Date: Wed Sep 5, 2007 3:28 am
Subject: Readers' Comments on "OFWs on the Road to Empowerment" perrydiaz2001
Send Email

Dear Folks,

The following are readers' comments on "OFWs on the Road to Empowerment." Feel free to send your comments or articles to sharew with the readers. The original article is reprinted for your reference.

Best,

Perry

=================

That condescending attitude of Malu Fernandez ought to be condemned in the strongest possible terms, as it was by the OFWs, among others. That hard kick in her butt forced her to resign - a good riddance.

But that justified display of wrath, I feel, did not necessarily represent collective power of our OFWs. Tapping that potential to make a difference at home and abroad would be great, though that may not be easy.

The greatest barrier to this unity lies in the fact that those millions of Filipinos living and working abroad are scattered in close to 100 countries, with all the logistical difficulties that would pose for any leader to forge these disparate groups into a "Global Filipino Nation." That was seen in the failure of some Fil-Am leaders in San Francisco, led by Vic Barrios, to chase that dream, as it was in the similar failure of a politician, avowedly representing the interests of the OFWs, to get elected to a Senate post.

Even here in the U.S., with most Filipinos being either naturalized citizens or permanent residents, I sense in our community an insularity and a vague familiarity with the plight and problems of OFWs working, for example, in other parts of the world such as the Middle East, Europe, Africa, or even Asia. I see instead the same disparate groups we see back home, with no cohesiveness or massive political clout that three million Filipinos living here can command. NaFFAA is here, but most Fil-Ams have never heard of it.

Yes, we can get mad over the words of a snobbish prick like Malu Fernandez, but we still have not harnessed our numbers into unity and strength we can wield in politics and other

important areas of life. That may never come.

REMIGIO G. LACSAMANA

Daytona Beach, Florida

=================

Excellent article "On The Road...." You hit it right on the nail with your analysis. But just to play devil's advocate, who or how, pray tell, will sticky fingers be prevented from dipping into the OFW's largess? And more important how can we prevent the God-knows-Hudas-Not-Pay miscreants from leading the OFW's to slaughter, so to speak? And finally, who will play the role of "Moses" and part the Red Sea? Looks like we've spent more than 40 years in the "desert", don't you think?

I am familiar with Maslow's work. The influx of Vietnamese here has, in a relatively short span of time, have, I believe, achieved their "self-actualization" and have surpassed Filipinos in achieving political gains. However, like us, they don't have snowball's chance in hell in kicking out the regime in their homeland. But that's just me. I could be wrong.

Regarding Malu ( should be renamed "Mal"). She was correct with one thing: She correctly pointed out that she was the wake up call for the masses, the straw that stirs not the drink but the hornet's nest.

Regards.

bagman

=================

dear perry,

my hat is off to you! you have said it very succintly.

all that you have said has been jelling in my mind too
these past year. as a matter of fact i have said so in
one of our meetings of Global Pilipino Nation.

i think that when someone, in the perception of the
OFW community, they can trust comes to the fore to
lead this formation and establishment of an OFW Bank,
something will happen. so am hoping and praying that
someone will appear before us.

all the best

moigs benedicto

=================

Hi Perry,

Congratulations on the interests you have generated with any topic you brought to light. kudos to to your colleague

Gerardo

=================

Dear Perry:

Congratulations, Perry, great article.

Luz de Leon

=================

To Perry Diaz - Congratulations. Your piece, re-OFW on the Road to Empowerment is just great. Hopefully it will successfully galvanized the OFWs into action.Warmest regards.

Jim Cortes

=================

Hi Perry,

There are millions of Filipinos abroad and lots of Filipino organized groups. If OFW's can do it, these other groups can do the same to influence , change and make an impact to the management of the country. If Dual Citizenship is being encouraged by the Philippine government in which the country's economy would benefit from it, then it is time for us Filipinos to make a move and the Philippine politicians should accommodate us and listen to what we are initiating for the sake of the country. In the first place, Filipinos are not supposed to be out of the country . But because of economy, OFW's and other Filipinos SACRIFICED themselves to be separated from their families. It is a shame that OFW's are being insulted. It is also a shame , despite of these Filipino sacrifices abroad, politicians are still ignorant of their basic responsibilities as servers of the land. Out political maturity is still far behind.

Edwin Dominado

=================

PerryScope

Perry Diaz

OFWs on the Road to Empowerment

(PerryDiaz@...)

Reply | Messages in this Topic (1)

#1586 From: "Perry Diaz" <PerryDiaz@...>
Date: Tue Sep 4, 2007 5:03 pm
Subject: The Americas and the Philippines Salute Mexico and Central America perrydiaz2001
Send Email

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE � good thru September 15th

BEGIN###

CONTACT:

Alvaro Vanegas, Proyectos Saluda

714-404-2926

alvaro@...

THE AMERICAS AND THE PHILIPPINES SALUTE MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA

Mexican and Central American Parades welcome the great mosaic of the Hispanic World

Crowded delegations showcasing folklore and culture of South America, the Caribbean and the Philippines will be participating in two large Hispanic parades celebrating the Independence of Mexico and Central America. In line with its 2007 production "El Mundo Hispano Saluda a Los Angeles", Proyectos Saluda, founded and directed by the Venezuelan Alvaro Vanegas, resident of Anaheim, brings once again hundreds of participants with the folklore, voice, color and renowned personalities of the other communities to foster the understanding and union of a global Hispanic Family.

The dates are September 9^th and September 16^th. The Mexican Independence Parade, produced by Comit� Mexicano C�vico Patri�tico, takes place on Sunday September 9^th at 11:00 am, starting at the corners of Cesar Chavez and Indiana. The Central American Independence Parade, produced by Comit� de Festejos de Centroam�rica takes place on Sunday September 16^th at 11:00 am, starting at the corners of Pico and Vermont. Both parades combined showcase over 7,000 participants, with floats and convertibles, an estimated crowd of a million people, and both are broadcasted live by Univision/Telefutura among others, reaching millions on the East Coast, Mexico and Central America in rebroadcasts.

The combined lineup of countries Proyectos Saluda intends to produce is Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, M�xico (to the Central American Parade), Nicaragua (to the Mexican Parade), Peru, The Philippines, Uruguay and Venezuela. Preparations are on their way to bring the best folklore groups and community leaders, volunteers in typical, as well as showbusiness personalities and consular representatives. Several delegations bring community effort, such as the Argentinian, Uruguayan and Philippine blocs; Peruanitos Foundation is joining effort for the Peruvian delegation, some dance groups are coming from out of state and San Diego, such as the Venezuelan delegation.

The Philippine Delegation this year is coproduced by PANA and Los Angeles Historic Filipinotown, including representatives from the Rotary Club, SIPA, People's CORE, FASGI, Celebrity Chronicle and many more leading community organizations in the process of joining. Its second year into this parade, the Philippine Delegation is once again bringing a mesmerizing lineup of folklore, typical costumes and renowned organizations and personalities to impact the Latin American community with the best of the best, and to rejoice in a celebration of one big family where The Philippines has a natural place.

Taliba, La Prensa Colombiana and El Peruano USA are confirmed proud Media Partners, and other key publications are in the process of joining this monumental effort.

Thus, South America, the Caribbean and The Philippines are coming together to congratulate the Mexican and Central American communities on their Independence Celebration.

You are welcome to attend the two events, but in particular the Central American Parade Sunday September 16^th (route is on Pico between Vermont and Alvarado, or on Alvarado between Pico and MacArthur Park) where the Philippine Delegation will participate, as well as the biggest lineup of Proyectos Saluda countries. A visual feast to never forget. Bring your flags, bring all the family!

More Info:

www.proyectos-saluda.org

www.cmcpla.com

www.cofeca.org

###END

Reply | Messages in this Topic (1)

#1587 From: "Perry Diaz" <PerryDiaz@...>
Date: Tue Sep 4, 2007 7:10 pm
Subject: Filipino American Television Premieres on WHRO perrydiaz2001
Send Email

MEDIA ADVISORY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 4th, 2007

FILIPINO AMERICAN TELEVISION PREMIERES ON WHRO

Locally Produced TV Show Begins Airing November 4^th, 2007

NORFOLK, VA: Filipino American Television, also known as Fil Am TV, begins a weekly broadcast on public television station WHRO Channel 15 Sunday afternoons at 2pm. Produced by Pinoy Productions, the 30-minute program is designed to share the rich and diverse Filipino community with Hampton Roads. Fil Am TV showcases local cultural events, personalities, educational and topical issues, cooking segments and events calendar. "The vibrant local Filipino community contributes a great deal to the economic and cultural life of Hampton Roads," said Bert Schmidt, WHRO President and Chief Executive Officer."WHRO is especially pleased to be able to share those contributions with the community at large through Fil Am TV."

Hampton Roads is home to a growing Filipino population estimated at 40,000. Largely due to the U.S. Navy, Virginia Beach has the largest concentration of Filipinos on the east coast and is also the largest Asian minority group in the area.

"The Filipino American community of Hampton Roads has always been an integral part of the history and progress of our local area, from our involvement in the military to helping shape the community, the Filipino American community story needs to be shared" said Virginia Beach City Councilman Ron Villanueva. "I am proud to know that an endeavor like Fil Am TV will help promote diversity as well as share the success and challenges our community faces."

Pinoy Productions was founded in 2003 by independent television producer, Jay Sanchez and created to produce thoughtful and relevant, community-related programming. Recent projects include: "In Our Aunties' Words" for the Filipino American National Historical Society of Hampton Roads. The program was shown at the ODU film festival and broadcast on WHRO.

CONTACT: Jay Sanchez, Producer � Pinoy Productions 757.478.6340

###

Reply | Messages in this Topic (1)

#1588 From: "Perry Diaz" <PerryDiaz@...>
Date: Thu Sep 6, 2007 3:06 am
Subject: Readers' Comments on "Mother of the Year" perrydiaz2001
Send Email

Dear Folks,

The following are readers' comments on "Mother of the Year." Feel free to send your comments or articles to share with the readers.

Best,

Perry

==============

Dear Perry:

Enjoyed this immensely. Thank you for fowarding it.

Luz de Leon

=================

Perry:

I like this pig/tiger story. It shows the maternal instinct is so strong, it is hard to break.

max fabella

=================

Dear Perry,

Your "Mother of the year" is a timely example how even God's creatures of diverse biological origin/culture can become "family" despite their diversity. Maybe in time the Filipino can imitate this Mother-Tiger and who knows, the taho/tokwa mentality will go away.

Jose I. Regino - Zamboanga City, 6 Sept. 2007

=================

Shared by Rose Barin

Mother of the Year

In a zoo in California , a mother tiger gave birth to a rare set of triplet tiger cubs.

Unfortunately, due to complications in the pregnancy, the cubs were born prematurely and due to their tiny

size, they died shortly after birth.

The mother tiger after recovering from the delivery, suddenly started to decline in health,

although physically she was fine. The veterinarians felt that the loss of her litter had caused

the tigress to fall into a depression. The doctors decided that if the tigress could surrogate

another mother's cubs, perhaps she would improve.

After checking with many other zoos across the country, the depressing news was that there

were no tiger cubs of the right age to introduce to the mourning mother The veterinarians

decided to try something that had never been tried in a zoo environment. Sometimes a mother

of one species will take on the care of a different species. The only orphans" that could be

found quickly, were a litter of weanling pigs. The zoo keepers and vets wrapped the piglets in

tiger skin and placed the babies around the mother tiger. Would they become cubs or pork chops?

Take a look...you won't believe your eyes!!

Now, please tell me one more time.................. why can't the rest of the world get along?

Reply | Messages in this Topic (1)

#1589 From: "Perry Diaz" <PerryDiaz@...>
Date: Thu Sep 6, 2007 3:34 am
Subject: Readers' Comments on "OFWs on the Road to Empowerment" (2) perrydiaz2001
Send Email

Dear Folks,

The following is the second series of readers' comments on "OFWs on the Road to Empowerment." Feel free to send your comments or articles to sharew with the readers. The original article is reprinted at the end for your reference.

Best,

Perry

=================

Malu's column was just like an issue of OFW taxation and transfer of OWWA fund to government-controlled bank where it spark and made a loud boom like a detonated bomb from a suicide bomber in Tikrit, Iraq.

But start talking about politics and OFW political empowerment, nobody will react, no emotions, as if late Bert Tawa Marcelo's famous movie "WANAKOSEY". Why? It is because politics to all of us Filipinos is dirty and we can't deny it. What happen to our country now is just like a cancer that cannot be cured. Our Government is governed by the same politicians, people who can manipulate the lives of other people through the power of money and influence.

WE heard it, we feel it, and we saw it in front at our very own eyes and how come we OF/ OFWs ignore these? Is it because we are not there? Is it because you are an immigrant or an overseas Filipinos who enjoy the customs, traditions and the life of the country you live in? Or I am an OFW in Saudi Arabia or a seaman who believes that if my family back home eat three times a day, owned a big house and an expensive car "KALIWALI" (never mind) what happen to our country.

NO! Whether we like it or not, an Overseas Filipinos and OFWs are part of Philippine politics. We are Filipinos in thoughts, in words and in deeds. Kayumangi ang kulay natin wherever you may be.

We can't ignore what happening within the community and our beloved country, because deep inside we feel the sacrifices and struggles of the poorest of the poor Filipinos. We feel the pain of our Filipina Household Service Worker, maltreated and raped in the dessert land of the Middle East.

If you feel all those mentioned above, then you are a Filipino.

What we need is to act and set things our country towards the right direction. And only the power of the 8 Million Overseas Filipinos and families at home is the answer to all of these anxieties. We need change and that changes must start from us.

Mr. Victor Barrios is one of the 8 Million Overseas Filipinos who believed that a Global Filipino Coalition could change our country from turmoil, corruption and injustice.

We OFWs in KSA and around the globe believes that this is about time to empower ourselves towards a new beginning.

An e-group was formed to discuss a possible creation of an OFW-led Political Party. We call it Partido Pandaigdigang Pilipino, PPP in short, where we consolidate our opinions, heard our different views and would probably come up into a cohesive foundation in the formation of a powerful Philippine political party in 2010.

We are very grateful to those who respond so promptly in this urgent call and it shows a great responsibility and challenge to all of those who believed that unity after all is not too elusive to attain. The formation of PPP gives a new growth in our own sense of unity. As the time goes on, we will learn that this unity will hold us together even in the midst of diverse opinions and variety of ideas.

OFW Political Empowerment is just around the corner.

Manuel Amora

OFW-Riyadh

PPP E-group Moderator

===============

Perry:

Some OFWs jump ship in Florida, and blend in. Some do not have social security numbers, and take "cash only jobs" I hope, that nobody reports them to the dept of homeland security. Reporting an illegal for $50 is shameful. Here is where "God knows who does not pay" applies.

I deplore, Malu's losing her job, for an honest, but condescending opinion.

max from florida

===============

--- In expat_philippines@..., Jerry Lynch
<gelynch52@...> wrote:

One of these days I will write my own political statement on this
issue. In the meantime my best suggestion would be for the OFWs to
somehow unite, tell their families to conserve the next 2 monthly
allotments in preparation for a money drought, then simply stop ALL
remittances. Don't you think THAT would get the attention of the
politicians & bean counters!

Jerry Lynch

=================

--- In expat_philippines@..., "jumpsummo"
<jumpsummo@...> wrote:

It WOULD get their attention. Then they woudl exact revenge on
those stuck there.

Jumpsummo

=================

The Real MOB & MOBSTERS in Philippine Society

Fidel Umaga of Movement for a Free Philippines (MFP) reaction to the article on "Mob Rule" in the downfall of Malu Fernandez, ANC article which I felt needed to be posted as a fitting entry for the blog.

Another entry is that of Perry Diaz titled OFW Empowerment that I felt should be posted both of which highlight the need for the OFWs to organize and flex their political and economic muscle to level the political playing field. It is ironic that we see some in the establish media subtly comes to the rescue of a "diva" in "distress" over the reactions of the OFWs, a sector that is supposed to take all the insults and abuse sitting down. Feudal mindset of the elites are alarmed at the prospect of the meek sector fighting back aginst the feudal overlords is to them unimaginable.

Yes, the most maligned sector are the most convenient target I should say because it take guts and real courage to point out the real MOB and MOBSTERS in Philippine society�� the ruling minority where the Malu Fernandezes belong.

It is so convenient to label and brand those that reacted as the "lynching mob" because of their reactions in contrast I saw this on expat yahoo groups a typical ruling elite with not just a Mafiosi mindset but acting like a true mobster making the Sopranos look like a playground prank .

Cyber Istambay

http://pedestrianobserver.blogspot.com/2007/09/ofw-empowerment.html

=================

Perry,

The road to empowerment is rocky, sometimes narrow, slippery and full of barriers. The Malu saga is a matter of "amor propio" or wounded feeling which as Rizal recognized can be the cause of an uprising. However, do we really need an ultimate insult or what can be the ultimate mockery that can cause all overseas Filipinos to unite and be truly empowered? I understand too, that after being united, it is a matter of trust.

I wrote about political empowerment of Filipinos in Australia, and in order to demonstrate my passion (that we do not duplicate FilAms experience), I am now running to be a member of the Australian Federal Parliament in an electorate where most Filipinos live. I am now in the middle of a campaign for an anticipated elections in November.

I am receiving mixed reactions although the majority of Filipinos are supportive and positive. I have assembled a campaign team and hundreds of volunteers. But it pains me when there is an evasive (few hostile) or defeaning silence from Filipinos of all levels.

I have been pre-selected as an official candidate by the Liberal Party, a major party now in government. This in itself is a feat, being the first Filipino to run for Federal Parliament endorsed by a major political party. Although the seat favors Labor (the other major political party), it is winnable because of changed demography, where the Filipinos comprise the biggest ethnic group. If the majority of Filipinos (let alone all; and usually pro-Labor) vote for me, we can create a historic first.

My running is a litmus test of Filipino empowerment in Australia. I am focused on the proposition of what it means for our community to have a Filipino-Australian in the Austrlian Federal Parliament and to the cause of Philippine Australian relations. One of my strongest motivations is to open
the door for the second generation of Filipino-Australians and mentor them in their leadership and political aspirations (an omission of early FilAms).

I also did not come out of the blue, having been active in the community since coming to Australia in early 70's and taught in several schools and have been practising law for over 15 years.

I have often said that Filipinos demand a higher standard from a Filipino candidate than an Australian candidate, part and parcel of our ingrained "colonial mentality" or sense of inferiority, but I am willing to be compared with my political opponent.

I will update you on the outcome of my campaign. I am positive and confident for a successful outcome that will bring about genuine and effective empowerment, raise the esteem and inspire overseas Filipinos.

Sincerely,

Jess Diaz
Liberal Candidate for the Australian
Federal Seat of Chifley

=================

PerryScope

Perry Diaz

OFWs on the Road to Empowerment

(PerryDiaz@...)

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#1590 From: "Perry Diaz" <PerryDiaz@...>
Date: Thu Sep 6, 2007 5:36 pm
Subject: Competing with Japan 2 -- by Antonio C. Abaya perrydiaz2001
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Competing with Japan 2

By Antonio C. Abaya

Written Sept. 05, 2007

For the Standard Today,

September 06 issue

In his essay The Philippines and Japan � The Great Divergence, Robert H. Nelson makes the preposterous claim that the Philippines and Japan "contended for the leadership of Asia in the first half of the 20 ^th century."

In my critique of this claim, Competing with Japan (Aug. 30), I pointed out that it did not make any sense to compare the two countries because, even as early as 1902 � Nelson's starting point � Japan was already a mature industrialized country and a global expansionist power. The Philippines, on the other hand, was just another backward colony in the tropics, without any industrial base to speak of, and certainly without any ambition to invade, attack or forcibly annex any other country, as Japan had been doing since 1894.

Nelson, an economics professor at the University of Maryland and a visiting professor at the UP School of Economics, used a curious yardstick in measuring the comparative economic development of Japan and the Philippines: their per capita incomes vis-�-vis that of the US�.in 1902, in 1935, in 1946, in 1952, in 1991 � without at all taking into consideration how those incomes were being earned - and comes to the earth-shaking conclusion that the Philippines has indeed been left behind by Japan.

And he blames all this on the Philippine oligarchic elite "that had captured the political power of the state for their own purposes."

That is pure hogwash. The political power of the Philippine state had been in the hands of the American colonial government and the American president since the US paid Spain the princely sum of $20 million for ownership of these islands, through the Treaty of Paris of 1898, long before the Philippine oligarchic elite wielded effective control of the economy.

If it had been the intent of the American leadership since 1898 to groom the Philippines into an industrial power to rival Japan, it would have built an industrial base as early as 1902 � Nelson's starting point � and Nelson would have had some rational basis for comparing the two countries' per capita incomes vis-�-vis the US,' through 1902, 1935, 1946, etc.

But, of course, the Americans had no intentions of grooming the Philippines into an industrial power to rival Japan, for that would have made the Philippines an industrial rival of the US as well. The Americans merely wanted the Philippines as a depot for American manufactures for trans-shipment to China, and as a coaling station for American ships transporting those manufactures to China.

And so the Philippines remained a feudal economy all throughout the American Occupation and long after nominal independence in 1946 The Filipino landed aristocracy, joined by American carpetbaggers, was allowed by the American leadership to continue the feudal plantation economy inherited from the Spanish era.

And that was the conventional wisdom of the day, practiced also by the Dutch in the East Indies, the French in Indo-China, the British in the Straits Settlements, and the Japanese in Korea and Formosa.

The transformation and modernization of East Asia began in the 1970s when South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong (then still a British colony) � but not the Philippines - geared their economies toward the export of manufactured goods, which was the beginning of their industrialization.

In the 1980s, the four original tigers were followed by Malaysia, Thailand and Suharto's Indonesia, but not by the Philippines which, under President Marcos, remained focused on its domestic market and continued to export mostly commodities..

Even the few import-substitution industries that were started under Marcos were geared for domestic consumption, not for the global market, except for a few such as the garments and furniture sectors.

Of all the presidents who have occupied Malacanang Palace, only President Elpidio Quirino had a concept of industrialization as a national economic strategy, but even he did not think globally.

Ramon Magsaysay was focused on the Hukbalahap insurgency in Central Luzon, which he defeated with a combination of hot military pursuit and social amelioration. Carlos Garcia floated a "Filipino First" policy but it remained a disembodied slogan without any anchor in concrete economic initiatives. Diosdado Macapagal, the 'Poor Boy from Lubao,' ended up in Forbes Park after initiating agrarian reform.

It was Ferdinand Marcos who had the biggest opportunity to re-engineer the Philippine economy. After declaring martial law in 1972, he had the authoritarian powers to dictate a paradigm shift towards industrialization.

But - unlike the other authoritarians in South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia - Marcos did no such thing, using his authoritarian powers merely to perpetuate himself and his family in power and, instead, giving his relatives and cronies monopolies in the domestic market. Whatever export industries Marcos set up in the Bataan export processing zone were deliberately wrecked by the communist KMU.

This was really the turning point in Philippine economic history, which Nelson is/was apparently ignorant about, during which this country was overtaken by one neighbor after another as they ventured boldly into the global marketplace, while the Filipinos contemplated their collective domestic navel.

Under President Quirino's Total Economic Mobilization, there was an earnest attempt to build an industrial infrastructure. I recall that in the early 1950s, President Quirino appointed my father, an engineer, to the board of directors of a government corporation (NASSCO) with a mandate to set up the country's first steel mill and first shipyard.

These projects were successfully completed, but succeeding presidents � from Magsaysay onward to Marcos and beyond � had little or no interest in industrialization and these projects were left to seed. The steel mill went bankrupt, was sold to a Malaysian company, went bankrupt again, and was sold to an Indian company.

By contrast, decades AFTER we started our first steel mill, South Korea built its Pohang steel works, Indonesia its Krakatoa steel mill, Malaysia its Heavy Industries of Malayasia, Thailand its own steel complex in its Eastern Seabord industrial corridor. As far as I know, these enterprises are prospering and are integral parts of their ongoing industrialization.

Let me cite another sad example. More than 50 years after the Philippines established the first automotive industry in East Asia outside Japan, the Philippines still merely assembles components fabricated and pre-formed in other countries and imported into the country as CKDs or completely knocked down kits. After 50 years of assembling imported components,, we never graduated into actual car anufacturing. .

By contrast again, decades AFTER we started the first Asian car industry outside Japan, South Korea has become one of the biggest car manufacturers in the world, Malaysia successfully launched its national car, the Proton, more than ten years ago and it has been exported globally. Thailand has become the Detroit of Southeast Asia, and is now the biggest manufacturer and exporter of pick-up trucks in the world�.while we have remained content merely assembling imported components. Don't we have any national ambitions at all?

I am sure we do. But we do not seem to know how to translate those ambitions into reality. I recall that in the 1980s, ex-Foreign Affairs Secretary Raul Manglapus joined up with several prominent Filipinos in a project to build Filcar, the first Filipino-designed and Filipino-built car.

Raul went on a road show in the US, speaking eloquently before gatherings of prominent Fil-Ams in several cities, and firing up their emotional patriotism to cause them to pompously announce that they were contributing x-thousands of dollars to the project.

I do not recall how many tens of thousands of dollars Raul was able raise, but he was clearly short by several billion dollars of the capital needed to jump-start an automotive industry. Needless to say, Filcar never even got to the drawing boards.

By contrast, Malaysia started its Proton national car by setting up a joint venture: 70 percent from the state-owned Heavy Industries of Malaysia Corp. or HIMCO, 30% from Mitsubishi of Japan. The project had a rational timetable in which local content was increased every year, until the entire car, including its engine and transmission, was fabricated totally in Malaysia.

You cannot build an industry on patriotism alone. You also cannot truly build a car industry by merely assembling imported components forever.

Even the highly touted $1 billion investment of Hanjin in Subic to build the super-tankers of the future is just another assembly operation, with the steel plates fabricated in and imported from South Korea's steel mills, to be riveted and welded together here into the ships' hulls, decks and structures, using cheaper Filipino labor. While we benefit from the jobs that will be created and the taxes that will be paid, this is not true industrialization.

It can be argued that the failure of the Philippines to create millions of jobs � forcing millions of Filipinos to seek employment overseas and keeping local wages depressed in dollar terms � is a direct result of our failure to industrialize-for-export in the 1970s and 1980s, when our neighbors did.

A depressing situation made worse by a runaway population growth rate, and a foolish embrace of accelerated free trade and globalization in the 1990s (under President Ramos and then. Sen. Gloria Arroyo) that decimated our incipient manufacturing base.

Given such an enormous handicap, how could the Philippines have "contended (with Japan) for the leadership of Asia in the first half of the 20^th century?" Much less, in the rest of that century. *****

Reactions to acabaya@.... Other articles in www.tapatt.org and in acabaya.blogspot.com

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#1591 From: "Perry Diaz" <PerryDiaz@...>
Date: Thu Sep 6, 2007 5:35 pm
Subject: GLIMPSES: A Christian Awakening -- by Jose Ma. Montelibano perrydiaz2001
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A Christian Awakening
GLIMPSES
Jose Ma. Montelibano

It is not unusual for Christians to have a prayer rally, and one will be held this coming Sunday afternoon at the Ultra. What may be unusual is for Christian communities who oftentimes quietly compete with one another to recruit the common targets break patterns and instead get together to co-organize a common event. September 9 will hold the distinction of a merger of renewal or charismatic communities I n holding a prayer rally without a pope, a cardinal, or a major religious event prompting them to do so.

Dubbed by the organizing communities as "One Nation For God," the prayer rally symbolizes a shared awakening that a Christian nation has not been very Christian if one goes by national statistics. Of course, the statistics are not about faith or religion, but they are evidence of how the tenets of faith and religion are practiced. If the performance of Christianity as the dominant faith in the Philippines were to be judged, then the extent of poverty, corruption and violence speaks volumes about fidelity to Christian virtues.

What is ironic is that Christianity is about love, and it is love that is rejected and discarded where poverty, corruption and violence abound. What is really disturbing is how the very mission of the Founder of Christianity of bringing glad tidings to the poor has meant next to nothing considering the massive poverty in the Philippines. It leads us to ask all sorts of questions, the first being, "why did we not openly question this anomaly before?"

It would be like beating a dead horse, however, to dissect why Christianity has been most ineffective in raising the quality of life of Filipinos. The Christian ideal of human beings being entitled to the fullness of life cannot even be discussed with credibility in an environment where the incidence of hunger affects one of every four to five Filipinos in Metro Manila. As government proudly announces a growth rate of 7.5 % and banks levels of profitability that are outstanding, SWS surveys says that the incidence of hunger in the same Metropolis hosting the seat of government and the headquarters of banks has climbed to shocking levels.

These are not mere statistics. These are hungry stomachs, hungry Filipinos, in a country that is Christian, with a faith that puts love above all, with a mission of bringing glad tidings to the poor. These are not mere statistics, they are evidence of failure in many fronts, especially Christian fidelity to the teachings of its faith. Truly, there is much cause for shame.

The shame, in the Christian sense, must provoke admission, repentance and reconstitution. If poverty, corruption and violence reflect the absence of love, then it is love that must find its way back into our Christian lives. And love is empty without its expression, its manifestation. Faith and prayer as the traditional manner of showing love for God remains a hollow reflection of their missing substance. The ordinary human act of loving and helping one another is the validating truth that, indeed, a Christian loves God.

It is not to point out failure that Christian communities led by Couples For Christ and its powerful social movement, Gawad Kalinga, Bukas Loob sa Dios, Focolare, Light of Jesus, and Ligaya Ng Panginoon find themselves in the same page at the same time. It is to find courage despite the failure, to pursue ideals despite difficulties, to love the poor after a long apathy to their pain. It is simply time to cross the line beyond our comfort zones and take the first steps towards the zone of misery and despair of the poor and hungry.

A prayer rally is not the answer to hunger, but it will point out to Christians that there is so much of it. A prayer rally is not the answer to poverty, but it will make Christians acutely disturbed by it. A prayer rally is not the answer to violence, but it will make our souls revolted by it. Awareness, disturbance and revulsion to hunger, neediness and brutality can begin a journey which may dismantle religious hypocrisy and political exploitation. It is but a prayer rally, yet who knows what kind of spirit and fire may touch Christian hearts.

As it is, the prayer rally on September 9 is the fruit of an irresistible urge among Christians to walk more and talk less, to see the poor as equal in worth and dignity and then treat them as such, to shelter the homeless, clothe the naked, and feed the hungry. Strange, most of us are Christians but it will take so much just to be a kind Samaritan. Christian communities who each already are involved with the work for the poor are finding strength in one another to raise the bar of their fidelity to the footsteps of their Lord.

It is just a prayer rally, but be prepared to be a new person with a new conviction because of it. Prayers, song and drama will combine to prime an unusual commitment � to feed the hungry in the jungles of Metro Manila. It is the purpose of the organizing communities to exhort their members to lead in a coordinated and massive initiative to intervene and break the grip of hunger among the poor. Beyond that will be a campaign called Feed My Sheep which will strive to merge efforts of government, business and civil society in emergency feeding and building awareness and sympathy for the hungry.

It is scandalous for Christians to engage in commentaries and activities that are peripheral or incidental to their faith. A controversial movie comes out and all sorts of efforts are dedicated to block its showing, or to discourage Christians from watching it. Controversies about game shows, about lives of entertainers, about Senate investigations, about jueteng � they excite and stimulate our imagination. Yet, when information about hunger is released, affecting millions in Metro Manila alone, Christians do not pay much attention to it.

Well, Christians do want to pay attention to poverty and hunger now. A few renewal communities may not be that many, but they are many enough to be thousands of candles lighting the lives of the poor, giving food and hope along with it. Let us all join them, in prayer and in good works, and erase the shame we have earned by preaching love and turning our backs to those who need love the most.***

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#1592 From: "Perry Diaz" <PerryDiaz@...>
Date: Fri Sep 7, 2007 6:25 pm
Subject: Readers' Comments on "OFWs on the Road to Empowerment" (3) perrydiaz2001
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Dear Folks,

The following is the third series of readers' comments on "OFWs on the Road to Empowerment." Feel free to send your comments or articles to share with the readers. The original article is reprinted at the end for your reference.

Best,

Perry

=================

Hi Perry,

"Global Warming" is the hot issue now with Ex-Veep Gore out front.

Your enlightening article puts a twist in the "Global Warming" issue.

Now it is the Pinoy OFWs generating the heat globally with the power

of their remittances and recently their Overseas Absentee Vote

to improve governance in their motherland.

Additionally, I attached here the inaugural message of Silliman U President,

Dr. Ben S. Malayang III, regarding Philippine education. I just received it by email

and I want to share it with you because understanding his message can empower

not only those in school but also those past school age who can make a difference

by what they say and do.

Assalamu alaikum,

Sito Serate

=================

Dear Perry:

Below is self explanatory. I ran your periscope story on ofw empowerment and here is the reaction from Frank Naval.

Thanks.

leo j. santiago

Dear OFWs around the World,

What Romano Nicko Santiago have laid on the table of email manias (Periscope - Article below) was on the very point of desires and intentions of OFWs on the Road to Empowerment. It is the most important and very interesting OFW story we've ever read. It involves all OFWs whether they are economically oriented, politically inclined or socially obssessed in sports, cultural, enterntainment, heath, welfare, etc. ect.

But first we would like to request from Nicko the email address of Malu Fernandez. In fairness, we want to say hello to her and we wanted to help her and recruit her as HSW here in Riyadh . So that she can write more what is meant and how does it felt to be an HSW.

The writer (Periscope) with all the good intentions has penetrated the hearts and mind of OFW leaders and prime movers. Thus, Periscope said everything that we should learn and we might just as well be quoting and highlighting (in italic) such lessons and clear messages and write some observations and suggested solutions (in blue color):

From Periscope:

"Clearly, the OFWs have demonstrated that they have immense power. With strength of 8.5 million, they comprise the largest group of Filipinos � a tenth of the population. Think what they could do as a political power block with the capability to raise tons of money for political action". - We should form and mobilize the missing link in the political empowerment of OFWs. Form a national political party now!

"The true test would be the amount of capital funneled into long-term investments and trade � two sectors that are needed to turn the country's trade deficit around, a prerequisite to achieving "tiger economy" status." - Realize the role of OFWs in persuading the international community for long-term investment and trade. To enhance the economic credibility of OFWs, the missing link is an OFW-owned International Bank not only in the Philippines but in countries of Global Filipinos.

"Or should they (OFWs) come to the realization that they have the power to institute reforms in the Motherland and participate in governance." � Realization? That time has yet to come for the many OFWs have short vision. Wait and see. To see is to believe. Form first and mobilize a national political party. Then that time will come.

"The new buzzword is "Global Filipino Empowerment" which has its roots in the three million-strong Filipino-American community." - The words are very familiar to us now. The Grand Strategic Alliance of BalikLaban Movement from Southern California and the Global Filipino Nation of Global Filipinos Coalition from Northern California are now on the process of conducting International Conferences .

"I believe that OFWs are not quite ready for political action �. They have to reach self-actualization �. which is the pinnacle in the hierarchy of human needs." � That is reality and we have no formula against it rather than the words unity and passion. But with the involvement of more brains, somehow we can come up with it.

"Or perhaps they don't see the value of representation in the government" � Legislative representation thru party-list had been very discouraging and frustrating. But Legislative and Executive representations from Barangay Councilor up to President with over 390,000 elective positions is a new menu and very interesting to OFWs' community leaders and their relatives and friends in the Motherland. There will be enough rooms for everyone, ika nga.

"During election time, they're (Filipino-American) looked upon as cheering squads for other Asian and minority candidates. The main event of the political gatherings is the photo or kodakan. And the most treasured trophy from such events is a photograph with a politician". - FilAm must first learn how to look back and walk forward chin-up-high with pride and sympathy. Sa Tagalog � Ang hindi marunong lumingon ��.. sa patutunguhan.

"Are there any groups - or individuals � in the OFW community who have the capability to coalesce the various groups under one political party? � Capability to coalesce the various groups in one e-group? Yes! We have PPP e-group. But in one political party? We doubt! Let's see first the result of the May 8-11, 2008 International Conference in University of Makati and the outcome of the International Conference in the October Festival 2008 in USA . But the coalition is eight more months to go (May 2008) and the grand alliance is thirteen more months to go (October 2008). Maybe PPP political party can give it a try in the next three or four months.

"However, in my opinion, they have yet to learn how to work together. THE KANYA KANYA ATTITUDE STILL PREVAILS IN OUR COMMUNITY". � Concerted efforts dapat mga kaibigan! Sabi nga ni Ka Jun Aguila Vicente. As what the Good Labor Attach� Resty Dela Fuente said "Nobody (group or individual) has the monopoly of good ideas."

"Undoubtedly, they have the interest of the OFWs in their hearts. But do they have the gumption � and logistics � to launch a political movement?" - Gumptions? Yes we have full of courage and inspirations. Logistics? No we don't have yet.

"To begin with, they have to establish a presence in the Philippines . As some people would say, "Out of sight, out of mind". Like in any campaign, whether it is political or military, logistics plays an important part. As a matter of fact, logistics determine the outcome of most campaigns." � This is one advantage of the initiative of Global Filipinos Coalition, the series of conference meeting held in the Philippines . Bright strategy of the BalikLaban Movement in the mobilization and establishment of the pilot cooperatives in some parts of Luzon sometime in December 2007. What's then the PPP mobilization plan?

"In today's political campaign, logistics is money. That is lots of money. Needless to say that OFWs have money." � Right and True! OFWs have money and lots of money! But where is it? The Global Filipinos Coalition is led by an International Banker Mr. VB. Sir, Why don't you initiate the formation of an OFW-owned International Bank?

"But they have to build a war chest that they can tap for any campaign � political or otherwise. Can they do it? Or, more appropriately, would they even do it? That's the ultimate challenge" � Those are great questions and a big challenge to the OFWs' leaders and prime movers. The camp of Sir BR of BalikLaban Movement has more to show us in the near future as promised. May be they could consider the missing link � formation of an OFW World Foundation - in the social empowerment of OFWs. We can mobilize simultaneously under OFW empowerment, the social groups who are apolitical and non-economic oriented OFWs.

"In my opinion, the government should not be involved in organizing an OFW Bank. � No! The government should not be involved. But for an OFW-owned International Bank, Yes! The Hows? It's up to the great minds of the many OFW executive bankers both national and international.

" � one of the OFW coalition groups � protested President Arroyo's plan to use one billion pesos in Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) thrust funds to convert the Philippine Postal Savings Bank into an OFW Bank. President Arroyo backed off. That's a victory for the OFWs" � It's not actually a victory for OFWs (we beg to disagree), rather it was a political bounty to that coalition group. President Arroyo has still her hands on the funds anyway. We knew Administrator Roque's loyalty and salamankas! Victory as far as OWWA trust fund is concern, is the acquisition of that trust fund and all OWWA funds into the vaults of an OFW-owned International Bank. The seven billion pesos plus OWWA fund is something. After all, contributors are OFWs themselves.

"The time has come for the OFWs to take full control of their immense wealth and flex their political muscles. They can do it. The road to empowerment is within sight". � " UNITY among OFWs as a whole" is the virtue and principle onward to the smooth road of these empowerment. Yes we can do it but it's not yet within sight. Many still believe that UNITY can never be attained among OFWs, unless leaders and prime movers of OFWs will humbly accept the bitter dose of the fundamental formula of UNITY. Which is Equality + Humility over pride = Unity.

PPP members and friends, the three-legged Troika and the tri-Modules (economic, political and social) of empowerment as introduced to us by our alliance and coalition groups from the USA are the major components and aggregates in the construction of the road to empowerment of OFWs. Let us involve all as in all OFWs in these endeavor. If they are economically oriented, we will invite them to join the formation of an OFW-owned International Bank. If they are politically inclined, we will ask them to join the formation of an OFW-led National Political Party. If they are neither economically oriented nor politically inclined, we will persuade them to be part of the formation of the OFW World Foundation that would take care of the general welfare, sports, cultural, religious, health, youth and entertainment affairs and activities of OFWs around the world.

The troika and tri-modules (economic, political and social) is the tripod and foundation of OFW empowerment. A tripod, without one leg, the body and the tripod itself will fall. Let us join our minds and put some efforts to convince and persuade all our OFWs leaders and prime movers to join us in this endeavor onwards to the construction of the Road to OFW Empowerment.

Frank Naval

United OFW

=================

dear tony,

i think the reason why tony lopez's article didn't create a stir is because the target are politicians and most filipinos have a low regard for politicians anyway. the target of malu frnandez's article are the self-sacrificing overseas filipino workers whose only fault are that they are not as refined or sophisticated as malu fernandez. niyurakan niya ang dignidad ng mga ofws na nagsakripisyo para lang maiangat ang buhay ng kanilang pamilya.

rgrds.

plu

--- tony v wrote:

hi plu,

what do you think of this? di ba may point ang friend ko?

tony v
********************************************
From: Ray L
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2007 5:01 PM
Subject: a fitting counterpoint to the malu fernandez internet brouhaha

just a thought - how come filipinos are quick to react when confronted by an extremely honest and "personal observation" like that spawned by malu fernandez' people asia article yet almost totally take in stride stories (similar to below tony lopez article) that beg for bigger attention and more passionate discussion... isn't that the very definition of hypocrisy?

=================

The insensitive and deplorable negative characterization of our overseas workers by Malou Fernandez, which led to her quitting or firing (thank God!) from Manila Standard as a society columnist, brought back memories of a similar image-assassination about 21 years ago.

In December of 1986, I had the privilege, as president of the Association of Philippine Physicians in America (APPA), to spearhead a medical convention and a massive homecoming to the Philippines of my fellow Filipino physicians and some OFWs from the United States. Our "battle cry" was "Pilipinas, Hindi Ka Namin Nalimutan" ("Philippines, We Have Not Forgotten You.") Then President Cory Aquino, who was our keynote speaker, together with former President, then General Fidel Ramos, was most appreciative of the Fil-Am physicians and other OFWs. Since then, this Christmas season trek back home to our beloved Pilipinas has become an annual tradition of this national umbrella association of all Philippine medical organizations in North America. During this yearly visit, our chapters and their members also conduct medical and surgical missions, ministering to the health needs of our underprivileged fellowmen in various rural towns in the Philippines.

The short two weeks of happy balikbayan came to an end almost instantaneously and the APPA conventioneers and other OFWs were now returning to the United States. As we got to our seats aboard Philippine Airlines, a well made-up and bejeweled Pinay seated a few rows behind ours was cursing aloud (in a broken Tag-lish): "The 'f_ _ _ _ _g' traffic in Manila, the ' mab of smelly' people in the shopping 'mulls', the 'estyupid' taxi drivers, 'mga pesteng nakasusukang' (the pest and nauseating) estreet beggars"�. and she went on and on with her non-stop angry tirade on how bad the Filpinos and the country were.

I turned around and was about to get up when my wife, Farida, knowing my temper and what I was about to do, pulled me down. I sat back and kept my cool. But when the woman added "Nasayang lang yong perang pinamasahe ko ; I will not kam bak to dis gad dem kantree eni mor, " (I only wasted my airfare money; I will not come back to this God Damn country anymore), I lost my composure and shouted back "That's good; don't ever come back!" The passengers applauded and cheered.

Our plane soon took off. The Filipino pride was flying high, way above the single blemished pocket of dark cloud. The estet-side pinay didn't utter a sound since.

Philip S. Chua, M.D., scalpelpen@...

=================

PerryScope

Perry Diaz

OFWs on the Road to Empowerment

(PerryDiaz@...)

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#1593 From: "Perry Diaz" <PerryDiaz@...>
Date: Sun Sep 9, 2007 4:47 pm
Subject: Landscape: "Sword and Pen" -- by Gemma Cruz Araneta perrydiaz2001
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Landscape
Gemma Cruz Araneta

"Sword and Pen"

The "Sword" is Macario Sakay, one of our
forgotten heroes who was born in Tondo, Manila in
1870. He worked at a kalesa shop, was a tailor,
barber and actor in comedias and moro-moros. He joined
the Katipunan and fought side by side with Andres
Bonifacio and Emilio Jacinto.

Later, he became a general of the Revolutionary
Army of the First Philippine Republic. Using guerrilla
tactics, General Sakay fought USA's imperialist
incursions in the Philippines, even after Pres.
Emilio Aguinaldo was captured by American forces in
1901. With other ex�katipuneros, Gen. Sakay
established the Republica ng Katagalugan which he said
was not only for the tagalogs but for the entire
ex-colony, including Mindanao and Jolo. He was
captured in 1902, escaped, only to be betrayed by
Dominador Gomez in 1906. He was imprisoned in Old
Bilibid where he was hanged on 13 September 1907.

Because of the Brigandage Act of 1901, General
Macario Sakay and other Filipino revolutionaries were
branded as "insurrectos" and "tulisanes" by the USA.
However, before dying, General Sakay declared that he
and his fellow revolutionaries were not bandits nor
brigands but freedom fighters and defenders of the
Republic.
The "Pen" is Amado V, Hernandez who was born on 13
September 1903. He was a prolific poet, essayist,
novelist, playwright and journalist, and winner of
numerous literary awards He was Councilor of
Manila in 1945 and 1947 and a member of the Akademya
ng Wikang Tagalog.

He is best remembered as a militant labor
leader who pushed for a nationalistic agenda to end
the long history of workers' oppression. During the
administration of Pres. E. Quirino and at the height
of the Huk rebellion, Amado V. Hernandez was accused
of subversion and jailed in 1951, paroled in 1956 and
was finally acquitted in 1964.

Isang Dipang Langit, a collection of poems, which he
wrote while in prison, is probably is most widely-read
of his works.. He was married to zarzuela queen,
Atang de la Rama. Amado V. Hernandez passed on in 1970
and was posthumously proclaimed National Artist for
Literature. There is a school named in his honor in
Manila.

Mayor Alfredo S. Lim will lead the first
ever "Sword and Pen" celebration to honor these two
great Manile�os who have taught us to put national
interests above our picayune ambitions.. There will
be floral offerings during a brief but meaningful
program at the Plaza Amado V. Hernandez ( Chacon St.,
in front of the Santo Ni�o church , on 13 september at
9 o'clock in the morning. ( gemma601@...)

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#1594 From: "Perry Diaz" <PerryDiaz@...>
Date: Sat Sep 8, 2007 10:28 pm
Subject: How to Stay Married!!!! perrydiaz2001
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How to Stay Married!!!!

A man and woman had been married for more than 60 years.

They had shared everything. They had talked about everything. They had kept no secrets from each other except that the little old woman had a shoe box in the top of her closet that she had cautioned her husband never to open or ask her about.

For all of these years, he had never thought about the box, but one day the little old woman got very sick and the doctor said she would not recover.

In trying to sort out their affairs, the little old man took down the shoe box and took it to his wife's bedside.

She agreed that it was time that he should know what was in the box. When he opened it, he found two crocheted dolls and a stack of money totaling $95,000. He asked her about the contents.

"When we were to be married," She said, "my grandmother told me the secret of a happy marriage was to never argue. She told me that if I ever got angry with you, I should just keep quiet and crochet a doll."

The little old man was so moved; he had to fight back tears.

Only two precious dolls were in the box. She had only been angry with him two times in all those years of living and loving. He almost burst with happiness.

"Honey," he said, "that explains the dolls, but what about all of this money? Where did it come from?"

"Oh," she said, "that's the money I made from selling the dolls."

Women will love this.

A Prayer.......Dear Lord, I pray for Wisdom to understand my man; Love to forgive Him; And Patience for his moods; Because Lord, if I pray for strength, I'll Beat him to death. And I don't know how to crochet. Amen!

-- Shared by Johnny Villanueva

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#1595 From: "Perry Diaz" <PerryDiaz@...>
Date: Sat Sep 8, 2007 5:36 pm
Subject: Balita 08 September 2007 perrydiaz2001
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The following is shared by Albert Abellanosa

Sept. 8, 2007

TOP STORIES

Nilalapatan ng paunang lunas ng mga rescuer si Rommel Lomentigar, 23-anyos, na kabilang sa apat na sugatan makaraang sumalpok ang minamanehong kotse sa isang concrete barrier sa kahabaan ng Commonwealth Avenue, UP Diliman, Quezon City. Madilim sa lugar at sa bilis ng takbo hindi agad napansin ang concrete barrier kaya't sumalpok ang naturang kotse. (Mike Perez)

ABALOS NAYARI SA POWER PLAY Ni Boyet Jadulco

Ibinunyag ng isang administration senator na ang naglalagablab na isyu ng iregularidad sa broadband deal ng Pilipinas at China ay resulta ng power play ng mga naglalabanang opisyales ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Ayon sa senador na tumangging magpabanggit ng pangalan, pinag-initan ng isang paksyon sa gobyerno si Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Benjamin Abalos matapos nitong sulutin ang kontrata ng national broadband network (NBN) project mula sa anak ni Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. Si Jose "Joey" de Venecia III ay isa sa stockholder ng Amsterdam Holdings Inc. (AHI) na nawalan ng proyekto dahil naagaw ni Abalos ang kontrata nang ipasok ang ZTE Corp. ng China. "Nayari siya (Abalos) sa power play, abangan na lang natin kung ano ang mangyayari sa kanya," dagdag ng senador. Kabilang umano sa nagalit kay Abalos ay ang kampo ni Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita na kakampi ngayon ng kampo ni De Venecia. Magugunitang nagbanta na ang oposisyon na maghain ng impeachment case laban kay Abalos subalit duda ang source kung ito'y uusad. "Tinatakot lang nila si Abalos. Baka hindi umusad iyan lalo na kung makikialam na si GMA," dagdag pa ng impormante. Kaugnay nito, ipinangako naman ng mga kongresistang kaalyado ni De Venecia na magiging patas ang liderato ng Kamara sa pagdinig sa ihahaing impeachment complaint laban kay Abalos kaugnay sa pagkakadawit nito sa kontrobersyal na ZTE deal. Tiniyak ni Baguio City Rep. Mauricio Domogan na nasangkot man ang pangalan ng anak ni De Venecia sa kontrobersya ay hindi umano gagamitin ng House leader ang kapangyarihan at impluwensya nito sa gagawing impeachment proceedings laban kay Abalos. "In fairness to the Speaker, he has observed delicadeza and has not prejudged Chairman Abalos," diin pa ni Domogan. Sinabi pa ni Domogan na hindi mahalaga ang sinasabing 'De Venecia factor' sa sandaling talakayin ng mga kongresista ang reklamo laban kay Abalos dahil ibabatay nila ang desisyon sa ihahaing reklamo mula sa pinagtibay na rules on impeachment noong nakalipas na Miyerkules. Samantala, umapela naman si Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran kay dating planning Secretary Romulo Neri na huwag magpadala sa pressure ng Malacañang sa halip ay panindigan ang kanyang mga naunang pahayag partikular ang ipinahiwatig nitong laganap na suhulan sa ZTE deal."We hope that Mr. Neri will not allow himself to be pressured into silence by Malacañang, but instead cooperate with all efforts to bring just resolution to this controversy of corruption. This is a matter of public accountability, and personal relations must not affect his decision to speak up," diin pa ni Beltran. (With Eralyn Prado)

Palasyo natakot sa kanta ni Doble (Boyet Jadulco)

Natakot umano ang Palasyo ng Malacañang sa isisiwalat ni dating ISAFP agent Vidal Doble kung kaya't inatake nila ang kredibilidad at katauhan ng testigo sa Hello Garci scandal. Ito ang patutsada kahapon ni Sen. Panfilo Lacson kung bakit pilit sinisira ng ilang senador, partikular na ang mga kaalyado ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, ang kredibilidad ni Doble nang umpisahan kahapon ang pagdinig sa nasabing kontrobersya. "Obvious naman kung ano ang tinutumbok nila," wika ni Lacson na nagpahayag ng matinding pagkadismaya sa ginawang pangha-harass ng administration senators kay Doble dahil kahit na ang mga nakarelasyon nito sa buhay ay pilit na inuungkat ng mga mambabatas. Nalimita ang bombang pinasabog ni Doble sa pagkaladkad sa pangalan ng close aide ni Pangulong Arroyo na si Remedios Poblador, alyas "Medy" na gumawa umano ng hakbang upang hindi ito makapagsalita noong 2005 sa Hello Garci scandal. Maging si Lacson ay hindi nakaligtas sa panggigipit kay Doble nang tanungin ni Sen. Richard Gordon kung bakit umaastang testigo nang sabihin ang tunay na pangalan ng taong nakilala lamang ni Doble na "Medy" gayong ang dating ISAFP agent dapat ang magsabi nito. Sa kabila nito, sinabi ni Lacson na kuntento na rin siya sa kinalabasan ng imbestigasyon ng Senate joint committees dahil sa naisawalat pa rin ni Doble na si Poblador ang kumilos upang mabawi ang ISAFP agent sa kamay ni dating NBI Deputy Director Samuel Ong sa San Carlos Seminary, tuloy ay hindi ito nakapagsalita na ang hawak ni Ong na "mother of all tapes" ay ang tunay na tape ng usapan nina Pangulong Arroyo at dating Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano. Sinabi pa ni Lacson na kahit ano pang paghadlang ang gawin ng Palasyo, lalabas pa rin ang kanilang baho at ito na nga ang nangyari sa hearing kahapon. "Maski anong klaseng pag-discredit ang kanilang gawin kay Doble, lalabas at lalabas pa rin ang totoo," diin pa ni Lacson. Nauna rito ay kinuyog ng administration solons si Doble kung saan inungkat pa ang naging testimonya nito sa isang hearing sa Court of Appeals (CA) para lamang makasuhan ito ng perjury dahil sa pagsisinungaling sa hearing ng CA. Dinagdag pa ni Gordon na hindi na nila kailangan ang testimonya ni Doble sa Senado kung wala naman itong ibang sasabihin. "Kung ganito rin lang ang mangyayari, hindi na natin kailangan dito si Mr. Doble," ani Gordon. "Ano pa ang itatanong namin sa kanya? Umamin na siya sa wiretapping. Kung isasama natin ang privilege speech ni Lacson kung saan may video testimony siya, ano pa ang kailangan nating itanong sa kanya," sundot naman ni Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile.

M'cañang handang-handa na sa pagbaba ng Erap verdict

(Rose Miranda)

Handa na ang Malacañang sa nakatakdang pagbaba ng hatol kay dating Pangulong Joseph Estrada ngayong darating na Setyembre 12. Sinabi ni Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita na igagalang nila ang desisyon ng Sandiganbayan sabay-giit na wala naman silang nakikitang direktang banta sa seguridad sa araw ng promulgasyon sa dating pangulo. Sa kabila nito, sinabi ni Ermita na hindi "overkill" ang libong pulis na ipapakalat ng Philippine National Police (PNP) sa Kalakhang Maynila sa araw ng promulgasyon dahil mahalaga na matiyak ang seguridad ng dating lider at masigurado na walang grupo na magsasamantala sa sitwasyon. Tulad ng dati ay tumanggi ang Malacañang na magbigay ng "fearless forecast" sa magiging hatol kay Estrada bilang respeto sa hurisdiksyon ng Sandiganbayan. Hindi pa rin matiyak ni Ermita kung ano ang magiging aktibidad ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo sa nasabing petsa. Kaugnay nito, sinigurado naman ng Presidential Security Group (PSG) na kasado na ang security arrangement nila sa Setyembre 12 at hindi pababayaan na muling maulit ang Malacañang siege noong 2001 kung saan nakalapit sa Malacañang ang mga Erap supporters.

Pagbitin sa bgy. polls gagamitin sa ChaCha (Boyet Jadulco)

Ibinunyag kahapon ni Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano na bubuhayin ng administrasyong Arroyo ang pagretoke ng Konstitusyon sa susunod na taon upang maisulong ang pagpapalit ng gobyerno mula presidential patungong parliamentary para mapanatili sa puwesto si Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Ayon kay Cayetano, nagsimula nang kumilos ang mga kaalyado ng Pangulo na isakatuparan ito sa pamamagitan ng pagpapatibay ng panukala para ipagpaliban ang barangay at Sangguniang Kabataan elections ngayong Oktubre at ililipat sa Mayo 2009. Aniya, kaya umano ipinipilit ng mga kongresista na ilipat ang barangay at SK elections ay upang maisabay ang plebisito sa charter change. "Itong paglilipat ng barangay at SK elections ay part ng plano na buhayin 'yung ChaCha," pagbubulgar ni Cayetano. Noong Hulyo ay nagduda na ang mga miyembro ng oposisyon kung bababa sa puwesto si Pangulong Arroyo sa pagtatapos ng termino nito sa 2010 nang hindi nito banggitin sa kanyang state of the nation address kung kailan siya bababa sa puwesto. Naniniwala naman si Cayetano na hindi magtatagumpay ang plano ng administrasyon dahil nanindigan na si Senate President Manuel Villar na hindi makakalusot sa Senado ang panukala para sa postponement ng barangay elections.

Pinay na nahulihan ng bala sa Brunei, pinalaya na (Vladi Eduarte)

Pinawalang-sala na sa kasong possession of ammunition ang isang Filipina sa Brunei, ayon sa report ni Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Virginia Benavidez sa Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Matapos ibasura ng public prosecutor ang kaso ay pinalaya na si Florida Narvarte Norman noong Setyembre 1. Hindi na itinuloy ang kaso "on compassionate grounds" at sinabi ng public prosecutor sa kanilang Magistrate Court na hindi naman banta sa seguridad ng bansa si Norman matapos ang background check dito. Pagkatapos ng sampung araw na pagkakadetine sa Jerudong Prison, nakasama na ni Norman ang kanyang asawang Australian at isang taong gulang na anak. Si Florida, ang kanyang asawa at kanilang anak ay pabiyahe rito sa Pilipinas mula Darwin, Australia at dumaan sa Brunei Darussalam noong Agosto 21, 2007. makasakay sa kanilang connecting Bago flight patungong Manila, pinigilan sa Departure Hall ng Brunei Darussalam International Airport si Florida dahil isang bala ng baril ang nakita sa kanyang wallet sa routine check. Ipinaliwanag ni Florida sa imbestigasyon ng pulisya na ang bala ay ibinigay pa ng kanyang ama noong college siya bilang anting-anting, at hindi na niya ito tinanggal sa wallet bilang lucky charm. Nakipag-koordinasyon ang Philippine Embassy sa Attorney General's Office doon at sa Royal Brunei Police Force at tinulungan naman ni Consular Officer Atty. Neil Brillantes ang Pinay at pamilya nito. Umapela rin si Ambassador Benavidez sa Attorney General's Office ng Brunei para i-dismiss ang kaso "on humanitarian grounds".

HULAAN BLUES

'Boy Decor' balik-eskuwela sa Senado! (Rey Marfil)

Dalawang buwan makaraang magbukas ang 14th Congress, kasabay ang nalalapit na selebrasyon ng Kapaskuhan, balik-eskuwela sa Mataas na Kapulungan ng Kongreso ang tinaguriang "Boy Decor", animo'y nagsisilbing malaking palamuti at dekorasyon lamang sa loob ng session hall. Ngayong pumapasok ang katagang "ber" bilang simbulo ng Kapaskuhan, muling naispatan ng TONITE Spy ang pag-astang dekorasyon ng isang sophomore senator, katulad ng malaking palamuti sa Christmas tree kung saan naging routine o nakaugalian sa nagdaang tatlong taon ang pagpapa-check ng attendance, sabay sibat palabas ng Upper House. Sa nakaraang dalawang buwan, iisa pa rin ang routine ng sophomore senator, katulad ng atrasadong pagpasok sa loob ng session hall at itinataong nagtatawag ng attendance o roll call si Senate President Manuel Villar Jr., bago uupo sa designated seat nito. Tulad sa nagdaang tatlong taon, papasok lamang ng session hall ang sophomore senator hindi para makihalo sa debate at diskusyon kundi para magpatala ng attendance sa Senate Secretariat. Ilang segundo itong uupo sa kanyang silya, sabay tayo para makipagkuwentuhan at makikipagbiruan sa mga katabing mambabatas, partikular sa kahilerang lamesa. Lingid sa kaalaman ng mga kurimaw sa session hall, sampu ng bisita sa North at South Gallery, maging sa VIP Gallery, drama lamang ng sophomore senator ang makipagkuwentuhan dahil magsisilbing graceful exit palabas ng session hall ang pakikipaghuntahan nito sa mga kasamahan. Makalipas ang ilang minutong pakikipagbiruan, pasimpleng tatayo ang sophomore senator patungo sa VIP Lounge sa likuran ng rostrum na kinalalagyan ng presiding Senate President at harapan ng session hall. Pagpasok ng VIP Lounge, hindi naman kakain ang sophomore senator. Pupuntiryahin nito ang exit ng kuwarto na konektado sa fire exit, katabi ng Senate Lounge na isang palapag lang ang layo sa basement ng Upper House. Pagkalabas ng VIP Lounge, dire-diretsong bababa sa fire exit ang sophomore senator tungo sa basement na parking lot ng lahat ng senador at ilang Senate official, kung saan naka-standby ang sasakyan ng mambabatas. Ang ending, katulad ng isang pelikula, pagkasakay ng sasakayan, agad humaharurot paalis ng GSIS Compound o Senate Building ang sophomore senator. Animo'y pasipul-sipol pang nakaupo ito sa malambot na upuan nang deotsong makina na kanyang service vehicle dahil naisahan uli ng kumag ang mga kasamahan sa Upper House.

Clue: Kung kabaitan at pagiging tapat sa kaibigan ang pag-uusapan, maasahan ang sophomore senator at hindi rin matatawaran ang public service sa dating propesyong pinaglilingkuran subalit bilang mambabatas, bagsak ang grado ng kumag. Ito'y nagbabalak bumalik sa dating trabaho ngayong 2010 national election.

EDITORIAL

Anomalya sa IT projects

Unang lumabas sa pahayagang ito ang isyu tungkol sa National Broadband Network (NBN) project noong mabunyag na nawawala raw ang kontrata para sa naturang proyekto. Misteryoso ang pagkawala ng kontrata at hindi maipaliwanag kung bakit sa isang iglap ay nawala ito pagkatapos magkalagdaan. Panahon noon ng eleksyon at nakatutok ang buong bansa sa nagaganap na kampanya ng mga kandidato kaya marahil hindi nabigyan ng pansin ang isyu sa nawawalang kontrata ng NBN project. Hanggang sa sumabog na nga ngayong balik sa normal ang trabaho ng pulitiko, partikular sa dalawang kapulungan ng Kongreso. Kaduda-duda na noong unang sumingaw ang balitang nawawala ang kontrata. Hindi rin malinaw sa publiko kung ano ba itong pinasok na kontrata para sa tinatawag na NBN project? Bakit hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin ipinapaliwanag ng gobyerno kung ano ang mga nilalaman ng kontrata? Bakit kailangan ng Pilipinas ang NBN project? Ano ba ang kahalagahan nito sa buhay ng sambayanang Filipino at sa kinabukasan ng bansa? Ang tanging malinaw ngayon sa isipan ng taumbayan ay nagkaroon na naman ng panibagong anomalyang kinasasangkutan ang administrasyong Arroyo. Bilyones ang halaga ng perang pinag-uusapan. At malalalaking tao ang sabit. Kung pagbabatayan ang mga isyung naglabasan tungkol sa NBN project, may punto si Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teddy Casiño sa pagsasabing lumalabas na pinakamalaking 'milking cow' ngayon ng mga korap na opisyal ng gobyerno ang IT o information technology projects sa bansa. "Habang sinasabi nila na kailangang maging technologically-savvy society ang Pilipinas, marami naman pala ang kumita. Lumalaki ang corruption dahil sa IT project," pahayag ni Casiño. May punto 'di ba? Tingnan ninyo ang nangyari sa computerization program ng Commission on Elections (Comelec) na hindi natuloy. Ngayon ito namang NBN project ang nababalutan ng madyik. At kakambal daw nitong NBN project ang $465 milyong "cyber education project" ng Department of Education na gusto rin imbestigahan ng Senado dahil nababalot din ng misteryo ang naturang proyekto? Whew! Nakakalula ang halaga ng mga proyekto.

OPINION

Ano pa ang patutunayan?

Inabot ng halos apat na oras 'yung imbestigasyon ng Senado sa Garci (o Doble?) tapes, at nagkatotoo ang inaasahan ng marami... na gigibain ang kredibilidad ni dating Sgt. Vidal Doble. At hindi naman maiaalis ito sa mga kaalyado ng administrasyon dahil "bagong" version ang kanyang testimonya... na malamang siya ngang totoong nangyari. Kung noon ay sinabi niyang walang siyang kinalaman sa wiretapping ng ISAFP, kabaligtaran ang mga sinabi niya ngayon, at mas detalyado. At makatutulong na magiba ang panggigiba sa kanyang kredibilidad, kung maglakas-loob na lumutang din ang mga kasamahan sa ISAFP, at patotohanan (corroborate) ang kanyang bagong testimonya. Tulad ng inaasahan, muling binuhay ng administrasyon ang EO 464, na siyempre pa, ginamit agad na panalag ng mga opisyales ng ISAFP na nasa serbisyo pa. Pero kung ang EO 464 ang ginamit ng mga sundalo, "religious duties" naman ang ginamit na katuwiran ni Msgr. Soc Villegas, kaya raw siya hindi makadalo sa hearing. Maliban sa pinagdidiinan ni Doble na ang kanyang grupo sa ISAFP ay naatasan ngang gawin 'yong wiretapping, ang mga bagong nabanggit ay... 1) na hindi puwedeng mag-wiretap ang ISAFP kung hindi kakutsaba ang mga telecommunication companies at 2, may kinalaman umano ang isang Medy Poblador na malapit kay GMA, sa pagkakadala ng kanyang pamilya mula sa Kidapawan patungong Camp Aguinaldo. Nag-alok pa umano si Poblador ng tulong, kung may magiging problema ang kanyang pamilya. At ang pangatlong pangyayari ay personal kong naranasan. Maliban sa pagbuhay ng EO 464, binuhay din ang text brigade na ginamit ng Team Unity nu'ng eleksyon. Habang nanonood ako ng hearing, sunud-sunod ang dating ng text messages ng paninira sa imbesti-gasyon ng Senado, at kay Ping Lacson. Sabi tuloy ng grupo... may budget na naman. Ang isang tanong ngayon... magka-karoon ba ng 2nd round sa Supreme Court sa pagitan ng Senado at Malacañang tungkol sa EO 464? Sabi pa nga ni Miriam Santiago du'n sa kanyang speech nu'ng Miyerkules... "Kung sinuman ang nagsubo kay GMA nu'ng EO 464 ay dapat barilin..." Habang nakaamba ang EO 464, walang mahihita sa ISAFP ang Senado. In fact, walang mahihita ang Kongreso sa anumang imbestigasyon sa mga katiwalian sa gobyerno. Ang nakakatawa pa rito ay kapag budget hearing na ang ginagawa ng Senado, nagkakandarapang dumadalo ang mga opisyales na 'yan. Humihingi kasi sila ng pera ng bayan. At si Garci... kailangan pa ba siya sa imbestigasyong ito? Tiyak namang walang mapipiga sa kanya. Tiyak na hindi siya aamin sa umano'y pinag-usapan nila ni GMA. Mas nakakahiya kung pati Senado ay paiikutan niya, tulad nu'ng ginawa niya sa House. Ayon ako du'n sa sinabi ni Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile... na ang imbestigasyon na ito'y isang political ang public trial, at ang taumbayan ay ang jury (hukom). At palagay ko'y matagal nang may hatol ang taumbayan... na na-wiretap sina GMA at Garci, at naniniwala sila sa pinag-usapan ng dalawa tungkol sa eleksyon nu'ng 2004. Paano ito mapapatunayan? Kung ayon kay Enrile, ang taumbayan nga ang jury, eh di hindi na kailangan.

FOR THE RECORD

Ni Jeany Lacorte

Hindi mahatulan ng pulitika

Maiksi ngunit makahulugan ang binitiwang pahayag ni dating Pangulong Joseph 'Erap' Estrada kaugnay sa nalalapit na pagbababa ng hatol sa kinaharap nitong kasong pandarambong at perjury na nag-ugat upang mapatalsik ito sa kapang-yarihan. Gayunman, walang nararamdamang takot ang dating Pangulo sa anumang hatol na ibababa ng Sandiganbayan laban sa kanya maliban lamang kung mahaluan ng pulitika ang pagdedesisyon ng Sandiganbayan. Sa mahigit anim na taong pagkakabilanggo sa Tanay, Rizal wala na umanong dahilan upang mangamba pa ang dating Pangulo sapagkat batid niyang wala siyang kasalanan. Labis ding nagtataka si Estrada sa napakalaking puwersang binuo upang magbantay sa bisinidad ng Sandiganbayan sa mismong araw ng paghahatol sa kanya sa Setyembre 12. Sa pinakahuling pagtataya ng Philippine National Police (PNP), nasa 6,000 kagawad ng pulisya ang ipinakalat upang magbantay sa kapaligiran ng Sandiganbayan. Maaaring overkill na masasabi ang preparasyon ng gobyerno pero para masigurong walang gulong mangyayari sa mismong araw ng pagbababa ng hatol sa dating Pangulo, dapat lamang na maging preparado ang ating kapulisan kesa naman malusutan. Sabagay, sa dami ba naman ng tagasuporta ni Estrada, paniguradong may mga lulutang bilang pagpapakita ng suporta sa kanilang pinaniniwalaang lider, hatulan man ito ng guilty o hindi ng Sandiganbayan. Pero kagaya ng inaasam ng dating Pangulo, 'wag sana siyang mahatulan ng pulitika nang sa gayun ay magtuluy-tuloy na ang maayos na takbo ng ating gobyerno at makamit na ang inaasam na pag-unlad.

Dumarami ang insidente ng karahasan sa lungsod ng Maynila. Hindi simpleng patayan ang nagaganap kundi karumal-dumal na mga krimen. Isang malinaw na pruweba ng krimeng naganap sa lungsod ay ang sinapit ng batang si Geraldine Palma na matapos dukutin at gahasain ay pinaslang at isinilid sa maleta bago ipinaanod sa Pasig River. Bukod sa pinaslang na bata, marami pang kaso ng pagpatay at panggagahasa ang nangyayari sa lungsod ng Maynila nitong mga nakaraang buwan. Ang masaklap ay tila nangyari ang karahasan sa panahong nakaupo ang bagong halal na alkalde na si Fred Lim. Matindi ang paghanga natin kay Mayor Lim dahil sa napakagandang performance nito sa serbisyo bilang pulis hanggang sa maging alkalde kaya't sana ay matutukan ng kanyang liderato ang pagsugpo sa karumal-dumal na krimen sa kanyang nasasakupan. Alam nating kayang-kaya itong resolbahin ng butihing alkalde kagaya ng kanyang ipinamalas noong manungkulan ito sa National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) at maging nang hepe ng Northern Police District.

CRIME STORIES

Mahigpit na binabantayan ni PO3 Rommel del Rosario ng Manila Police District-Homicide Section ang dalawang pangunahing suspek sa Geraldine "Dindin" Palma rape-slay case na sina Joey Egos at Renato Bohol nang dalhin sa piskalya upang pormal na sampahan ng kaso kahapon ng hapon. (Devery Mark Alegata)

Nabiktima ng 'Dugo-Dugo Gang'

KATULONG NAGLASLAS NG PULSO AT UMINOM NG LASON

(Irwin Corpuz)

Dahil umano sa pangamba na mapagdudahan ng pinaglilingkurang amo na kasapakat ng 'Dugo-Dugo Gang' matapos mapaglalangan ng isang caller at naibigay ang mga pera't alahas ay tinangkang wakasan ng isang kasambahay ang kanyang buhay sa pamamagitan ng paglaslas ng pulso at pag-inom ng lason sa Mandaluyong City. Nakilala ng pulisya ang kasambahay na si Maureen Macagba, 31-anyos, stay-in housemaid sa tahanan ni Conchita Corrales Razon, isang American citizen na residente ng Unit 30-A #8 Wack-Wack Road, ng naturang lungsod. Lumalabas sa isinagawang imbestigasyon ni SPO4 Jaime Masilang ng Mandaluyong City Police na naganap ang insidente kamakalawa ng hapon. Isang tao umano ang tumawag sa tahanan ni Gng. Razon at nagpakilalang napag-utusan ng amo ng katulong dahil nadisgrasya ito at kailangang dalhin ang mga pera at alahas. Nagbilin pa umano ang tumawag na magkita sila ni Macagba sa Sta. Mesa, Maynila. Lahat umano ng sinabi ng tumawag ay sinunod naman ni Macagba. Gayunman, pagbalik sa bahay nagulat na lamang si Macagba nang makausap sa telepono ang kanyang amo. Labis marahil na nag-alala na akusahan siyang kasapakat ng mga manloloko at masadlak sa kulungan kaya nagtangkang magpatiwakal si Macagba. Pag-uwi ng amo ay nakita nito ang housemaid na laslas ang pulso at bumubula ang bibig dahil sa ininom na dishwashing liquid kung kaya agad nitong dinala sa pagamutan. Naibigay umano ni Macagba sa taong tumawag ang $1,000 at mga mamahaling alahas ng kanyang amo.

Pulis na ayaw magsuot ng helmet, kakasuhan (Lily Reyes)

Nagbabala kahapon si National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Deputy Director Reynaldo Varilla sa mga pulis na gumagamit ng motorsiklo ngunit hindi nagsusuot ng helmet na huhulihin at kakasuhan ng paglabag sa batas trapiko. Bukod sa kasong paglabag sa Land Transportation and Traffic Code of the Philippines, sinabi ni Varilla na mahaharap din sa kasong administratibo ang mga pasaway na pulis. Iginiit ni Varilla na nararapat na maging ehemplo sa taumbayan ang mga pulis sa pagsunod sa batas upang gayahin din sila ng mga motorista. Ayon kay Varilla, kabi-kabila ang ginagawang panghuhuli sa mga checkpoint ng mga pulis sa mga motorcycle riders na walang helmet ngunit sila mismo ay hindi sumusunod dito. Nagpaparating umano ito ng maling mensahe sa taumbayan na maaaring labagin ang batas trapiko kung ang mga nagpapatupad mismo ng batas ay hindi sumusunod. Isa rin sa mga maling gawain ng mga pulis na nakamotorsiklo ang hindi pagsunod sa traffic lights, pagpasok sa kabilang linya ng trapiko, at ilegal na pagpaparada ng kanilang sasakyan kahit saang lugar.

NBI umatras sa doktor ng UP hazing victim (Lily Reyes)

Tila nabahag ang buntot ng pamunuan ng National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) matapos bawiin ang unang pahayag na ipaaaresto ang doktor na nagdala sa hazing victim na si Cris Anthony Mendez sa Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC), kung hindi lulutang sa kanilang tanggapan kahapon. Ayon kay NBI-Anti Terrorism Division chief Atty. Romulo Asis, bubuo muli ng team ang kanyang tanggapan upang kumbinsihin si Dr. Francisco Cruz na lumantad na at magbigay-linaw sa pagkamatay ng naturang estudyante ng University of the Philippines (UP) na pinaniniwalaang biktima ng hazing. Ipinaliwanag pa ni Asis na idedepende ng NBI ang kanilang susunod na hakbang at ang pagsasailalim dito sa watch list sa magiging resulta ng pangungumbinsi kay Cruz. Unang nagbanta si Asis na aarestuhin ng NBI si Cruz kung hindi ito sisipot sa pagpapatawag kahapon dahil maituturing na umano itong obstruction of justice. Sinabi ni Asis na mahalaga ang mga detalye na nais nilang makuha mula kay Cruz, kaya hindi sapat ang isinumite nitong affidavit na hindi naman napanumpaan sa NBI. Kinakailangan aniyang humarap sa NBI si Cruz, para sagutin ang mga clarificatory question ng ahensya, hinggil sa pagkamatay ni Mendez.

'Dugo-Dugo' bulilyaso sa PNP official (Lily Reyes)

Hindi nagtagumpay ang mga miyembro ng "Dugo-Dugo Gang" na mabiktima si Philippine National Police (PNP) Director for Comptrollership Gerry Barias dahil nabigo sila na makumbinsi ang katulong nito sa Quezon City. Sa kabila nito, ipina-blotter ng security aide ni Barias na si PO2 Ramil de Leon ang pangyayari sa Batasan Police Station 6 ng Quezon City Police District (QCPD). Sa report ng nasabing nakatanggap umano ng tawag sa telepono ang katulong ni Barias na presinto, dakong alas-tres ng hapon kamakalawa. Norma kinilala sa pangalang Ayon umano sa lalaking tumawag, naaksidente si Mrs. Barias at ang drayber nito at kailangan ng malaking halaga upang agad na maoperahan. Nang ipakuha ng lalaki ang pera at alahas ay nagduda ang katulong at binabaan na lamang ng telepono ang kausap.

ENTERTAINMENT

Supalpal sa mga super-tapang na hostess

Nasa Max Restaurant kami kahapon hindi para tikman ang manok ni Piolo Pascual kundi para tingnan kung ano 'yung ipinatawag na preskon ni Edu Manzano. border=0 v:shapes="_x0000_i1031">

It's been how many years since we last set foot on this fried chicken house na orig sa Roces area. That was over 27 years na ba? Nu'ng early '70s when we were a part of the biggest comics publisher in the Philippines na Atlas Publications na siyang gumagawa ng Pilipino Komiks, Hiwaga, Tagalog Klasiks; sa kabilang building ay may Ace publications na Bondying Komiks, affiliated publications na may Superstar Nora, Topstar Pip, Filipino Reporter, Super Idol, Super Duper Komiks; sa kabilang building may True Confession & Modern Romances, Mod magazines, Orig, Moviestar, etc., pag may presscon ay walang ibang venue round that corner kundi itong Max Restaurant na isang building na maliit pa lang noon (ngayon ay super-luwag na at moderno na).

It was nostalgia time, too, for veteran writers who, like us, started too at Atlas like Vero Samio, Bong de Leon, Ernie Pecho, Remy Umerez, na nanduon din sa preskon at nakatuntong muli sa Max Resto. Sa pamamagitan ni G. Ronald Pecho, marketing manager of Tubu Food Manufacturing Corportion na may gawa ng ibang kutkutin tulad ng Totoy Green Peas, Cheez Rings, Squid Rings, Cheese Balls, Totoy Tong Niks, Yoya Toasted Bread, ay itong energy drink na V. Go ang ini-endorse ni Edu Manzano. During the affair, the press enjoyed the product sampling of the powdered energy drink. May pineapple taste. Iyung V. Go powder na nasa sachet ay bubuhusan mo lang ng tubig sa baso at may instant energy drink ka na.

May choice ka pa ng water, hot or cold. Parang instant kape.

Sey ni Edu, "Now I can always recharge with V. Go powdered energy drink. Sa tulad kong always on the go, bawal ang low-batt lalo na pag nagre-raid kami sa pirates' lair!" Nagpa-raffle pa ng tig-isang bags ng lahat ng produkto ng Tubu Food Manufacturing corporation, pero ang higit na naging in-demand ay ang mga sachet ng V. Go powdered energy drink, a clear sign na Edu was convincing enough for the press para mahikayat niya ang mga ito na subukan ang pag-inom ng energy drink lalo na sa mga reporter na palagi ring on the go tulad ni Edu Manzano! So GO! GO! for V. Go energy drink! Tabi na muna riyan ang mga Joss, Lipovitan at Red Bull?

Abangan me sa UNTV 21 mamayang 6:00-7:00 PM kasama nina Pete and Peter sa Chika Mo, Chika Ko . Mag-enjoy kayo nang husto sa okrayan portion at talagang bull's eye, walang blind-blind item, name names talaga ang mga bading! Sapal at supalpal lahat ng mga malalakas ang loob na mag-blind items at walang mga balls para pangalanan ang mga dapat pangalanan. Walang katulad ang show na Chika Mo, Chika Ko at lalong wala nang katulad ang mga super-tapang na mga leon at tigre na mga hostess like Pete and Peter, Natasha Ledesma, Ian Valdez and Benny Andaya. Ngayong gabi, nandaya si Benny dahil wah siya apir. Baka raw mainitan sa klieglights ang bagong matangos na ilong niya, 'noh?! Then at 8:00-11:00 PM, nanduon kami sa pakinggan around the world tuwing Sabado DZMM teleradyo na inyong paboritong nang gabi. May special portion kami roon mamaya for Mama Mary na birthday today. Happy birthday, Mama Mary, I know you love us! God bless po.

Maglilimang taon na ang Wish Ko Lang at patuloy ang pag-arangkada nito sa TV ratings at sa pamimigay ng mga kahilingan. Ayon sa AGB Nielsen Media Research Mega Manila, #1 ang Wish Ko Lang sa 100 Daytime Programs (Agosto 19-25, 2007 survey period). Nakakuha ito ng 24.7% Household Ratings. Nilampasan ng WKL ang malalaking programa gaya ng Meteor Garden, Eat Bulaga at Wowowee . Kung hindi pa ninyo nasusubukang manikip ang dibdib sa sobrang ligaya at sangkatutak na sorpresa, panoorin ang Wish Ko Lang tuwing Sabado nang 4:30 PM sa GMA-7. Exciting na naman ang labanan sa All Star 'K' bukas nang gabi sa GMA 7. Pasiklaban sa videoke challenge ang mga mag-IN-LAW na sina Jackie Lou Blanco & Mymy Davao, Geryk Genasky & Mommy Guapa, Christopher Roxas & Sonyer Reyes, Yayo Aguila & Marge Martinez, Romnick Sarmenta & Butch Bautista, Matet de Leon & Mike Estrada, at Gene Padilla & Antonio
Atienza.

CAMILLE, AAMING BUNTIS

Aaminin na ni Camille Prats sa Showbiz Central na buntis siya, pero may mga naglalabasang intriga ngayon sa ama ng dinadala niya. Nang umalis si Camille noong Miyerkules pa-Amerika ay sinamahan daw ito ng kanyang magulang at non-showbiz boyfriend nito na nakabuntis sa kanya. May intriga na ang ang boyfriend ni Toni Gonzaga na si direk Paul Soriano daw ang nakabuntis sa young actress. Ilan sa mga taong malapit kay Camille ang nakausap ko at tinitiyak nilang walang kinalaman si direk Paul sa pagbubuntis ni Camille. Totoong naging boyfriend daw ni Camille ang current bf ni Toni pero sandali lang daw iyun nang mag-break si Camille at ang kanyang non-showbiz boyfriend. Parang ininda raw ni Camille ang break-up nila ni direk Paul dahil mga apat na buwan lang daw ang kanilang relasyon. Tamang-tama raw pagkatapos ng break-up kay direk Paul, nakipagbalikan daw itong non-showbiz boyfriend na tinanggap ni Camille hanggang sa nangyari na ang pagbubuntis. Sobrang apektado raw ang mga magulang ni Camille pero wala silang magagawa kundi suportahan ito kaya sinamahan nila ito pa-Amerika. Itutuloy pa rin naman daw ni Camille ang pag-aaral doon. Pagbalik dito ay gusto raw ni Camille na ituloy ang matagal na niyang balak na day-care center o preparatory school para sa mga bata. Ngayong hapon ay tuloy na raw ang contract signing ni Manny Pacquaio sa GMA 7.

Isang sitcom ang gagawin ni Pacquiao pagkatapos ng laban niya sa Las Vegas sa October. Live na mapapanood sa Startalk ang contract-signing at sasagutin na rin ni Pacquiao ang matagal na intriga sa kanila ni Ara Mina, pati ang nanganganib daw na pagsasama nila ng kanyang asawa. Puspusan ang ensayo ngayon ni Pacquiao sa Cebu. Mabuti at pinayagan siya ng kanyang coach na lumipad sandali para makapirma sa GMA. Babalik din daw agad sa Cebu si Pacquiao para ituloy ang naturang ensayo. Ngayon pa lang ay hinuhulaan nang si Ara Mina ang makaka-partner niya sa sitcom pero wala pang ibinibigay na ano mang impormasyon ang GMA 7.

Sa Startalk ngayong hapon ay may statement pa si Joey de Leon sa isyu sa kanila ni Willie Revillame. Abangan kung ano ang sagot ni Joey sa public apology na hiningi ni Willie bago ito umalis pa-Amerika. May dagdag pang isyu tungkol sa sinulat ni Joey sa kanyang column sa Manila Bulletin. 'The Filipino Cheater' daw ang title sa kanyang column na wala siyang binabanggit na pangalan at pinatatamaan. Pero dinig namin, nag-react dito ang ABS-CBN 2 dahil TFC ang abbreviation ng title na 'The Filipino Cheater.' Nagulat si Joey nang binanggit namin ito sa kanya dahil ngayon lang daw niya naisip na TFC ang initials sa title na isinulat niya sa column niya. Hindi raw niya alam na may ganung isyung nag-react pa ang ABS-CBN 2. "Gawa-gawa mo lang yata iyan," sagot sa akin na parang ayaw maniwala sa intrigang tinanong namin sa kanya.

Sinorpresa ni Patrick Garcia si Jennylyn Mercado sa live chat nito sa GMA 7 nu'ng Huwebes nang hapon. Natuwa si Jennylyn sa biglang pagdating ni Patrick. Ang pagkakaalam niya, nasa taping ito ng Fantastic Man. "I just wanna see a smile in her face naman. It's nice to see her inside GMA. I hope everything will turn out well for her now. nadamay lang siya sa problem, "Siguro, but she belongs here," pahayag ng aktor na mukhang love na love si Jennylyn. Unti-unti nang nabibigyan ng project si Jennylyn pero mga guestings muna sa ngayon. Ayaw pa niyang kumpirmahin kung siya na ba ang gaganap sa Angela Markado dahil dinig namin ay kay Katrina Halili raw ito. "Wala pa po akong alam diyan," sagot ni Jennylyn sa tanong namin tungkol sa Angela Markado . "GMA na po 'yung nakaaalam at may karapatan na maghusga kung sino talaga ang gusto nilang kunin bilang Angela Markado," pa-safe na sagot nito. In fairness kay Jennylyn, mas bagay sa kanya ang Angela Markado at dapat mabigyan na ito ng regular show sa GMA 7. Ilang beses niyang sinabi na sa GMA 7 ang kanyang loyalty at wala sa isip niyang lumipat kung saan man. Nagkakaintindihan daw sila ng manager niya sa bagay na iyan.

Wanted: underwear ni Richard

Natutuwa ang magkakapatid na Ruffa, Richard at Raymond dahil habang papalapit ang RRRampa for a Cause… Runway for Charity (Rockwell Tent, Setyembre 16) ay dumarami ang mga artistang sumasali. Noong Huwebes ay nag-presscon sina Richard at Raymond kasama sina JC de Vera at Rhian Ramos para sa event na 'yon. After ng presscon, nadagdag si Diether Ocampo sa listahan ng mga artistang rarampa sa gala fashion show (start ng 9:00 PM). Nag-text si Diet kay Ruffa na pwede na siya sa event na 'yon. Naayos na ng aktor ang kanyang schedule sa araw na 'yon. Magmo-model si Diet para sa fashion designer na si Paul Cabral at makakasama niya sa pagrampa sina Piolo Pascual at Wendell Ramos. Gusto naming linawin na 'yung celebrity bazaar ay mula 8:00 AM hanggang 5:00 PM lang at P300 ang entrance fee roon. Marami ring mga artista ang may booth at may performers din sa maghapon.

Nabasa ni Ruffa 'yung nasulat na may reporter na nagtanong sa presscon ng RRRampa kung may ibebenta bang briefs (preferably slightly used) ang mga kapatid niyang sina Richard at Raymond. Naloka si Ruffa. "Hindi kaya tanungin nila ako kung magbebenta rin ako ng panties? Naku, wala akong underwear sa mga ibebenta ko. Puro mga damit. Magbebenta rin ako ng colognes and other items," sabi ni Ruffa. Sisiguraduhin ni Ruffa na hindi mauulit ang nangyari last year na wala pang lunch time ay ubos na ang paninda nila. "Hahati-hatiin namin. May products na ilalabas sa umaga, sa tanghali at sa hapon. Para lahat ay makabili. "Hindi rin puwedeng isang costumer lang ang papakyaw sa lahat ng mga paninda namin. "Mas maganda kasi kung marami ang magkakaroon ng chance na makapamili ng mga paninda namin," pahayag pa ni Ruffa. Sa gala fashion show, may auction para sa mga damit na ginamit ng mga artista sa pagrampa. May bagong items na ibebenta si Ruffa at itatabi lang niya ang puhunan para sa items na 'yon. The rest ay ido-donate niya sa Make-A-Wish Foundation at World Vision, ang beneficiaries ng kanilang charity event this year. Malaki ang pasasalamat ni Ruffa sa mga artista at sa mga manager ng mga ito na pumayag na makibahagi sa RRRampa. Malaki rin ang pasasalamat nila sa sponsors at ang iba roon ay ang Nestle, Calayan Surgicentre ng mag-asawang Drs. Manny at Pie Calayan, Manny Pacquiao, Direk Carlo J. Caparas at Donna Villa at iba pa.

Ang kanilang Digital TV (DTTV) na ilo-launch sa Enero ang pinu-push ngayon ng ABS-CBN 2. Panay ang email ni Amy Mosura (assistant corporate PR) ng pralala ng Dos kaugnay ng pagiging "broadcasting pioneer" na naman nila pagdating sa DTTV. Ayon pa kay Amy, 2 years na nilang tine-test ang DTTV at okey naman ito, kaya sa Enero ay nakatakda na nila itong ipamahagi sa lahat at kailangan lang ng set-top box (STB) na hindi kamahalan ang presyo. Para sa karagdagang kaalaman tungkol sa DTTV, tumawag sa ABS-CBN DTTV hotline 411-0015 mula 10:00 AM hanggang 7:00 PM, Lunes hanggang Biyernes. "Cable TV ng masa" ang tawag ng mga taga-Dos sa DTTV. Oo nga pala, kahit inilalabas namin ang mga pralala ni Amy at ng iba pang mga taga-Dos, gusto lang naming linawin na kadalasan ay iniisnab kami ng kanilang corporate PR office sa kanilang mga pa-presscon. Pero okey lang dahil mabait naman sa amin si Ms. Charo Santos-Concio, Ms. Cory Vidanes at iba pang executives ng Dos! Tama nang alam namin na type din pala nilang mabasa sa aming column ang kanilang mga pralala.

Noong Huwebes ay isinulat namin dito si Direk Joel Lamangan. Kinahapunan ay tinawagan niya kami para pasalamatan. Touched kami sa gesture na 'yon ni Direk Joel. Kahit, kasi may image siya bilang "terror" director ay very sweet pa rin ang pamosong direktor. Sana, lahat ng mga taga-showbiz ay katulad ni Direk Joel na marunong magpahalaga sa mga manunulat na sumusuporta sa kanilang mga proyekto.

Dingdong, nagmistulang sex symbol

Dumagsa na naman ang mga girlash at bading sa taunang Cosmopolitan Bachelor Bash kamakalawa nang gabi sa NBC Tent sa The Fort. Bandang 10:00 PM nagsimula ang actual show, pero bago 'yon ay may sexy parlor games ng sponsors na pang-warm up sa audience. 'Inflight games' ang tawag dito ng babaeng host dahil isang malaking eroplano ang drama nu'ng gabing 'yon na kunwari ay sakay ng 'Air Cosmopolitan Flight 69' ang mga nasa NBC Tent. Pagkatapos ng mga kalandiang palaro with the guys na sinalihan ng mga game na girls sa audience ay kiyemeng nag-crash land ang Air Cosmo sa isang deserted island. Paghawi ng tabing ng stage ay isa-isang naglabasan ang mga lalakeng itsura ng native islanders na may mga hawak na sibat. Mala-gubat ang design ng stage with matching waterfalls. Sunud-sunod na umentra ang unang batch ng male models na umiindak-indak sa saliw ng tribal beat ng live band sa gilid ng entablado. Sari-sari ang itsura ng mga modelo at kung anik-anik ang kanilang suot. Halos puro maninipis na tights o shorts ang kanilang pang-ibaba kaya nagbabakatan ang kanilang mga bukol. May mga nagsirampang mataba ang katawan kaya ang sagwa nilang tingnan. Grabe ang hiyawan ng crowd na para bang takaw na takaw sa mga lalake. Bilib kami sa mga girlash na nagtiyagang tumayo sa tila moshpit sa gitna ng magkabilang rampa, makita lang nang malapitan ang katawan ng mga sexy hunk. May mga kasali pa ring Brazilian models at iba pang banyagang modelo pero parang mas impressive at mas kaelya-elya ang batch nina Sofian (French male model na natsismis kay Keanna Reeves) last year. Ang sunod na batch ay may mga naka-helmet o pilot hat na nagkikintaban ang mga suot na leotards at may mga hawak na umiilaw-ilaw. Nakabalatay ang mga harapan nila sa hapit nilang suot at kung saan-saan nakapaling ang kanilang mga nota. Tuluy-tuloy ang pag-entra at pag-exit ng mga modelo at halos iisa na ang tingin namin sa mga mukha nila kaya hindi na namin matukoy kung sino sa kanila ang kilalang model, sino ang kasama sa 69 bachelors at sino ang pamparami lang. Maya-maya ay lumitaw ang isang malaking sapot ng gagamba sa entablado na may mga lalakeng nagkukunyapit o nakatiwarik, itsura ng mga gimik kapag big night sa gay bar. Rampahan na naman ang panibagong batch kaya non-stop ang parada ng mga bukol. Kung may matataba ay meron ding batu-bato ang katawan at mukhang wrestler o kargador. Huling grupo 'yung kasunod ng mga piratang nag-eeskrimahan. May mga matatangkad na ang gaganda ng mukha't katawan at katakam-takam ang dating pero meron ding hindi namin alam kung bakit nandu'n sa entablado.

Umugong ang tunog ng paparating na choppers at ipinakita sa videowall ang tatlong helicopters na lulan ang 'rescuers' na magliligtas sa crash survivors. Sila ang sampung celebrity centerfolds this year na isa-isang umentra sa stage suot ang kanilang military combat uniform. Una si Paolo Paraiso na tinilian ng crowd nang hubarin niya ang kanyang shirt at ihagis sa audience. Sunod ang Bench model na si Jon Avila mabalahibong keychain mula sa kanyang na nagtanggal din ng pantaas at humugot ng camouflage chorts sabay hagis sa wild crowd. May landi ang pagrampa at pag-project ng tinaguriang Brazilian sensation na si Bruno Folster. Naghubad din ng shirt ang seksing miyembro ng Showboys ng SOP. Kasunod ni Bruno ang Star Magic talent at kasali sa teleseryeng Walang Kapalit na si Joem Bascon. Medyo may hawig kay Piolo Pascual si Joem pero hindi sexy ang katawan niya at hindi maganda ang balat niya kaya kataka-taka na nakasama siya sa sampung centerfolds. Bagets ang appeal ng modelong si Marvin Raymundo at ang ganda ng kanyang abs pero parang malamya ang kanyang dating. Imbes na Marvin ay 'Ina Raymundo' tuloy ang sigaw sa kanya ng katabi namin. Angas-angasan na animo'y si Incredible Hulk ang drama ni Luke Jickain pagrampa niya sa catwalk, pero puro sila tweetums dahil panay sila nakapantalon at shirt lang ang hinuhubad.

Ang lakas ng hiyawan paglabas ni Derek Ramsey lalo na nang tanggalin niya ang kanyang black sando. Si Derek ang pinakamukhang military man sa kanilang lahat, pero hanggang topless lang din siya at wala man lang ibang ipinasilip sa audience. Panghuli siyempre si Dingdong Dantes na nagtanggal din ng shirt at rumampa in his fatigue pants. Hindi magkamayaw ang audience kay Dingdong na para bang bigla itong naging isang sex symbol. Hindi kasing-defined nu'ng nasa Cosmo supplement ang katawan at abs ni Dingdong sa personal pero keri na rin at dinaan na lang niya sa attitude. Bumagay kay Dingdong ang kanyang tan, na mas naging brusko ang kanyang appeal kesa nu'ng tisoy na tisoy siya. Wala roon ang nobya niyang si Karylle dahil dumalo raw ito sa kasal ng bestfriend sa Amerika. Wala rin ang katambal ni Dong sa Marimar na si Marian Rivera dahil may taping daw sila nu'ng araw na 'yon, nag-excuse lang siya para dumalo sa Cosmo Bash at pinagbigyan naman siya ng GMA. Hindi rin nakasipot ang dalawa pang celeb centerfolds na sina Alfred Vargas (na may taping ng Nuts Entertainment) at Jake Cuenca (na may taping ng Natutulog Ba Ang Diyos?).

SPORTS UPDATE

Nagdiwang ang number three seed Serbian tennis player na si Novak Djokovic matapos niyang itumba ang No. 17 seed Spanish netter na si Carlos Moya sa kanilang men's quarterfinals match sa 2007 US Open sa Flushing Meadows, New York noong Huwebes, 6-4, 7-6 (9-7), 6-1. (AFP)

DJOVOKOVIC, NEXT STAR?

NEW YORK (AFP) --- Buong pagmamalaking ipinakita ni Novak Djokovic ang kanyang kakayahan sa panggagaya matapos ang kanyang nakagigitlang tagumpay sa US Open quarterfinals noong Huwebes, na nagbigay pansin sa kanyang potensyal bilang susunod na tennis star personality at pinakamainit na contender. Ginulantang muna ng 20-anyos na Serbian, na kilala sa trademark niyang pagpapatalbog ng bola ng lagpas 20 beses bago mag-serve, si Carlos Moya ng Spain 6-4, 7-6 (9/7), 6-1 bago niya simulan ang kanyang pagpapatawa sa Arthur Ashe Stadium kung saan ginaya niya sina Maria Sharapova at Rafael Nadal upang pagbigyan ang hiling ng isang television announcer. "I enjoyed it," bulalas ni Djokovic. "I'm really happy the people accepted it in a positive way, not trying to make fun of Maria or Rafa or anybody else, just trying to make people laugh and enjoy and have a good time." Ang third seed na binibigkas ang kanyang pangalan na "Joke-o-vic" ay ginagamit ang kanyang talento na kopyahin ang mannerisms ni Sharapova, kung saan binatak-batak niya ang kanyang damit, palundag-lundag sa labas ng baseline at inililiyad ang kanyang dibdib habang naglalakad. Ginaya pa niya ang ginagawa ng Russian beauty na pag-aayos ng kanyang buhok sa likod ng kanyang tainga, na sinundan pa ng pag-inat ng kanyang bisig at mataas na pagpapatalbog sa bola bago pumalo ng serve. Sa pag-impersonate naman kay Nadal, inirolyo ni Djokovic ang manggas ng kanyang damit, yumuko upang ayusin ang kanyang sapatos, tumakbo sa baseline at paulit-ulit na binabaltak ang kanyang short na shorts. "These are just some of the things I usually do to make people laugh. This is one of the ways I like to relax and smile," dagdag pa niya. "It's just motivation more for the future. My goal is to be the number one player in the world. I'm just 20. I have a lot of time left. The priority is playing tennis. The rest will come naturally."

Noorwood sa PBL draft

Malaking hatak ang Filipino-American na si Gabe Norwood sa taunang Philippine Basketball League Rookie Draft sa Setyembre 28 sa tanggapan ng liga sa Ortigas Center sa Pasig City. Sumabak ang 6-5 na si Norwood sa all-professional San Miguel Corporation-Team Pilipinas sa FIBA-Asia Men's Championship sa Tokushima, Japan sa nakalipas lang na buwan kung saan pangsiyam lamang ang RP 5. Maglalaro siya sa semi-pro league ngayong taon at sa Southeast Asian Games bago mag-pro o lumaro sa Philippine Basketball Association sa papasok na taon. Umaasa si PBL commissioner Chino Trinidad na sa malaking bilang ng talentong makukuha sa okasyon dahil na rin sa intensyong pagsali pa ng ilang Fil-foreign players. "The league lost a great number of its marquee players but I'm confident a new batch of exciting players will rise and take the spotlight," aniya. "There are lot talents around so I'm confident we can discover new ones. If the player will join the league, we are willing to provide them the training they want. We're going nurture and help them build a career for themselves."

LEISURE

BIODATA NI INDAY

HUWAG PO NINYONG SERYOSOHIN ang mga kabulastugang natitipon sa pitak na ito. Jokes lang po [0916-443-8011], walang personalan.

"Hindi nandaya si WILLIE! Kami ang magpapatunay niyan sa Senado!" – GARCI at BEDOL [Lee 23, 0915-580-3962]

"In accordance to the Labor Law of the Republic of the Philippines, all services rendered should be given just compensation… "In relation, it is mandated by law than an incentive be given according to the length of his/her service in the said establishment or in this residence."

Iyan ang katwiran ni Inday nang humingi siya siya ng dagdag na sahod sa amo niya. [Baby Chinito, 0926-626-3109]

"Don't limit my capacity in the four corners of this luxurious abode. Expose me to the real challenges of the outside world. "I want to grow as an individual with dynamic experiences." Iyan ang himutok ni INDAY nang ayaw siyang isama sa Enchanted Kingdom. [Baby Chinito]

"Success is often the result of taking a misstep in the right direction. Show me a person who has never made a mistake and I'll show you somebody who has never achieved much." Iyan ang palusot ni INDAY nang sumabog ang microwave na ginamit niya. [Baby Chinito]

"The oil normalizing series specifically designed for my oily skin not only works physically on the skin surface, but penetrates deep into the skin layers to normalize oil secretions shine-free skin." for a healthy and long-lastin g Iyan ang sabi ni INDAY kay Maring habang nagpapahid siya ng Chin Chan Su. [Allan Diones]

"In this world, what you orate gives a reflection of your inner self, your soul… "Though I have nothing against your wisdom and philosophical approaches, it seems that I see a certain clash between our thoughts and your projected manners. "You seem to be flaccid sometimes a propos the way you establish a persiflage, and honestly it gives ennui to my work now making me an otiose person…" Iyan naman ang sagot ni MANANG LABANDERA nang napuno na kay Inday. (Hala! Nakahanap ng katapat!) [Baby Chinito]

EDERLYN: Ikaw ba ang Inday na sinasabi nila? At sino ka para itulad sa akin ang 'yong kasikatan ngayong ako'y nananahimik na? Wala kang karapatan para pantayan ako! Hayop ka! INDAY: My apologies, but the fact is, your glory days are over, my friend. I find it somewhat ridiculous, your persistence on persuading people to come to your party that never existed is beginning to get into my nerves! Damn you, Ederlyn! Damn you! No one undermines Inday's intellect! Bitsh! (evil laugh) NAG-AWAY NA NGA sina Ederlyn at Inday! Kayo kasi, eh! [Baby Chinito]

AMO: Inday! Nabalitaan mo ba ang nangyari kay Mang Tomas? Bumili ng nakaw na cellphone. Nakulong kahit inosente siya. INDAY: Ganu'n talaga 'yun, ati… AMO: Aba'y nagmamarunong ka na ngayon, ha?! INDAY: According to the provisions of the law on obligations and contracts, in that case, the law has the presumption that, 'Ignorance of the law excuses no one from compliance thereof.' AMO: Ay, ganu'n?! [Baby Chinito]

AMO #1: Inday, ano ang gamit mo sa katawan? Ang kinis mo kasi, eh! AMO #2: Siguro, gumagamit ka ng papaya… AMO #1: Baka naman kalamansi? INDAY: No! Only Belo touches my skin! Who touches yours? [Baby Chinito]

"There are tulips in the street. There are tulips in the park. But nothing compares to our two lips meeting in the dark." Iyan ang pamatay na banat ni DODONG kay Inday. [Joshue Gay 40+, 0917-370-6308]

BUZZ EXPRESS!!!

"Hoy, malditang Ederlyn at ambisyosang Inday! Wichels sa pagkembot! Kinikeso nyotei akesh! Nyotang enamesh! Shombagen ko kayoti sa fes! Bet nyoti? Eklavu ang chikang kayo ang reyna dahil ang trulalu, akembang at ang sisterette ko ang may nyowak ng koronabels!" Nagalit ang dalawang batang bakla kina Ederlyn at Inday! Oo nga naman, kinalimutan n'yo kasi sila, eh! [Yeoj, 0926-697-4646]

Sa mga curious sa biodata ni Inday, eto, may nag-forward sa akin… NAME: Inocencia Binayubay NICKNAME: Inday

AGE: 18 PARENTS: Aling Seling at Mang Andoy SIBLINGS: Iying, 13; Itoy, 8; Iking, 5 EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND College: La Salle Zobel 2 ^nd year (scholar) High School: P. Gomez High School (Valedictorian, Best in English) Elementary: Sta. Monica Elementary School (Valedictorian, Best in Dancing) Work Experience: 3 years, Household Service Manager (katulong), Mr. & Mrs. Montemayor [Mikee, 0916-552-2904]

"La vida no es una broma actualmente. El dinero es tan duro de pasar. Puede usted bajar el precio parci mi? Soy ya su comprador avido diario. Por favor?" Iyan ang sabi ni INDAY habang tumatawad sa palengke nang is

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#1596 From: "Perry Diaz" <PerryDiaz@...>
Date: Mon Sep 10, 2007 3:16 am
Subject: One Nation For God -- by Jose Ma. Montelibano perrydiaz2001
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Prayer Rally: One Nation For God

In a rare display of solidarity, four renewal and covenanted Christian communities joined hands in a beautiful and spirit-filled prayer rally with the united purpose of working together to do battle with the evil of poverty and the curse of hunger afflicting millions of Filipinos. Spurred by the urgings of Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales citing Pope Benedict XVI who declared that communities cannot be truly Christian when they are unable to resolve the poverty in their midst, Bukas Loob sa Dios, Focolare, Light of Jesus, and CFC/Gawad Kalinga committed themselves to address hunger in our midst, especially Metro Manila which is experiencing shocking levels of hunger incidences.

From the homily of the mass to the emotional sharing of painter Joey Velasco and Bo Sanchez to the exhortation of Tony Meloto and an hour of praise and worship led by GK Executive Director Luis Oqui�ena, the whole event raised the spirit and resolve of more than 5,000 Christians who committed themselves to serve Jesus by serving the least among us.

To put flesh to the fired-up spirit of the occasion, Ric Pascua of BLD led the elders and members of the four communities to a Covenant of Solidarity. The covenant is self explanatory and will be introduced to many other groups from the Church, from Business, from the academe, from civil society and also from national agencies and local government units.

Gawad Kalinga was instrumental in bringing the four communities together as all four have their respective engagements with Gawad Kalinga already - directly or indirectly. Three have GK villages while the fourth has been donating homes to the GK village that Joey Velasco is building for the street children in his painting and their families.

Each community will be contributing to an comprehensive and integrated campaign aptly called Feed My Sheep. Specifically intended to address hunger in Metro Manila which is suffering from an unusually high incidence of involuntary hunger, the Feed My Sheep campaign will solicit multi-sectoral support and resources and design a feeding/food distribution system asking all to be part of the infrastructure.

The message was clear. In prayer, the communities of believers heard a single reminder - that Jesus is fed, clothed and sheltered when the least among us are fed, clothed and sheltered. It is a time for Christian love to be manifested, and manifested powerfully in the face of massive poverty and growing hunger in our midst.

May the Lord bless us with courage and generosity.

Boy Montelibano

COVENANT OF SOLIDARITY

WE, MEMBERS OF VARIOUS LAY MOVEMENTS, CHARISMATIC GROUPS, ASSOCIATIONS, AND SCHOOLS MAKE THIS COVENANT TO HELP ERADICATE HUNGER AND BUILD A CULTURE OF LOVE AS WE WORK TOGETHER TO RESPOND TO THE CHALLENGES, SOCIAL NEEDS, AND SUFFERINGS OF OUR TIMES AS OUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. WE UNITE IN SHARING OUR TIME, TALENTS & TREASURE SHOWING OUR LOVE AND SOLIDARITY FOR JESUS WHO IS PRESENT IN THE WEAK, THE POOR, AND THE HUNGRY.

WE COMMIT TO ACT CONCRETELY AND MOBILIZE OURSELVES TO SUPPORT THE FEED MY SHEEP CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED HERE TODAY AND GIVE DIGNITY TO THE HUNGRY IN OUR COUNTRY. WE WILL HELP IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CHARISM OF OUR MOVEMENT, ORGANIZATION, GROUP OR SCHOOL IN THIS ENDEAVOR.

SO HELP US GOD.

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#1597 From: "Perry Diaz" <PerryDiaz@...>
Date: Mon Sep 10, 2007 9:51 pm
Subject: Readers' Comments on "OFWs on the Road to Empowerment" (4) perrydiaz2001
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Dear Folks,

The following is the fourth series of readers' comments on "OFWs on the Road to Empowerment." Feel free to send your comments or articles to share with the readers. The original article is reprinted at the end for your reference.

Best,

Perry

================

Mr. Perry,

To tell you frankly my friend most of us so called OFW's hates politics, we left our dear country because we are too much disgruntled of how they run the country. As we say we are for the dogs and it will take another generation more to make a change for the better.

You know exactly what you mean from your own words kanya, kanya tayo. Us Filipinos are pretty much impossible to unite as per my own assessment we are just like a small Africa who is very tribalistic. Yes we have the kuyog mentality because we are raised to be kind hearted and good Samaritans. In times of needs of other Filipinos we offer a helping hand yet the ningas kugon attitude still prevails at the end.

Malu Ko is just one guinea pig or a mere example of blatant racist elite that prevails in our society. Well good for her she just deserved to be in limbo, hopefully for the rest of her life.

OFW's deserves respect, even the littlest one must not be criticized for what they wear or what brand of perfumes they used, this is not how you see the person it must be thru the heart not the physical. Anyway they are all very holistic in their humble way, struggling and doing all the sacrifices only resilient people can forebear.

I respect your try for a push but no thanks, we are happy now where we are, doing a lot of help to our relatives back home, in turn making our economy moves, please let us just stay like that. Speaking of migrante I don't think they are true representative of us.

Shioban Keogh

================

Hi Perry,

We need more Malu Fernandezes to make our people mad as hell. It is the fastest way to unite our people who have so much patience like the carabao. At the same time, there should be leaders like you who will try to direct their energies to worthwhile program of action.

Rodel J. Ramos

================

Hi Perry,

I would like to share my comment on this issue as well. Thank you so much.

Susie

Malu Fernandez, A curse or a Blessing?

The force of power that the OFWs displayed after the dramatic and explosive article of this socialite writer Malu Fernandez is a big sign that we can do something together and our voices can be heard with an impact in the Philippine society. Because of this national and international outrage, the poor Malu was obliged to resign and ask a public apology.

Malu Fernandez is portrayed as the most hated women in the world. She has been lambasted in the cyberspace, in the media, was threatened and been treated as more than a sub-human. If I were her, I think living in this world is not worth any longer.

I myself was shocked and dismayed and even commented something which is not really very pleasant and at that time, I wanted to vent out anger towards her.

However as I come to look at it, there is always a positive side that we could obtain from this dramatic event. It`s very simple, had she not written this article, we will not be able to realize that the 10 million Filipino people in diaspora when motivated for a cause, the unity among us could have not been indentified and established. And we have shown that we have the power to move mountains. Gone are the days that the OFWs are treated like second class citizens because they could not even afford to find jobs at home. Have we not have the 12 billion dollars remitted at home every year, the Philippine economy has long gone, vanished into the thin air like Malu`s expensive perfume.

In short, we have the power. We have the money. We have the competence and thanks to Malu, she unified us and made us more patriotic to our bansang sinilangan.

And on Malu`s part, I think there is one thing that she should be thankful as well. That I am sure has changed her life dramatically. From a high society woman who looked down to others to a "humbled" person that she is now. Accepting one`s fault in public and ask apology and forgiveness is the hardest thing to do in somebody`s life. I hope thru this unfortunate mishap it has given her a great lesson of humility.

And on the OFWs side, we have learned that we can get united, that it`s about time to manifest our sincere desire for a change. A change for the better. A better economy in which the OFWs could go home and be with their families. And could enjoy the presence of their children. See them grow and and live normally as a family in a loving Filipino home should be.

This is no longer a dream....Yes, pretty soon, we can achieve it by working hard and be sensitive to answer for the call of POWER and UNITY among us. Can we make it? Surely. I am positive about it. But then, it`s all up to us. We have already made a great step towards change. Why don`t we keep on? Life is always fun when there`s a challenge. Let`s move on and keep that burning desire to change for the better.

I personally take the challenge.

Now, is Malu a curse or a blessing? To me, without a doubt, what she did is actually a blessing. However, it`s a blessing in diguise.

Susie Barieri

Seoul, South Korea

================

The only good thing that has come out of OFWs is their contribution to the Philippine economy which has made it possible to keep the country in the black. However, the number of OFWs abroad is not an encouraging endorsement of Philippine exports. When it comes to export of people/brain power (where applicable), it is bad news for the country doing it. Second, the (number of) OFWs scattered all over the world are powerless and diverse with their own agenda and directions that it is physically impossible to bring this number together and coordinate their activities to benefit the mother country when they are primarily involved in survival. Without another bureaucracy and separate budget, it has managed to help the country to date, not because they want to but by helping their own families, nuclear and extended. Third, as is true of the US, many of the OFWs here are illegal aliens that they have to keep a low profile or risk being caught, jailed and deported, a humiliating embarrassment, more so if they are college graduates. The potential power of this group is more imaginary than feasible, full of hope but with little promise, a political hoopla than a practical reality.

To be reckoned with in any country is to have economic clout. OFWs do not have it, because their primary concern is to help their families, with very little left after financial obligations are met. With limited income, how much can they afford to achieve this economic power. The greatest threat to this goal is the sleaziness of Filipinos themselves who take advantage of their kababayans and extort/embezzle money from them over questionable investments and/or empty promises. To convert the OFWs into a political power is an exercise in futility. It won't happen anytime soon!

Rawley Soberano

Germantown, Maryland

================

PerryScope

Perry Diaz

OFWs on the Road to Empowerment

(PerryDiaz@...)

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#1598 From: "Perry Diaz" <PerryDiaz@...>
Date: Tue Sep 11, 2007 4:57 pm
Subject: PerryScope - Maid To Order perrydiaz2001
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PerryScope

Perry Diaz

Maid To Order

In 2005, Human Rights Watch published a critical report on the abuses suffered by women domestic workers. The report, "Maid to Order: Ending Abuses Against Migrant Domestic Workers in Singapore," outlined the research made on the "abusive conditions facing many domestic workers in Singapore." Although the report was limited to the study of abuses in Singapore, human trafficking is as widespread as the common cold; that is, no country is immune to this abhorrent "disease." There are approximately two million people -- mostly women and girls -- who are trafficked into slavery every year.

The United States has its share -- or more than its share -- due to the fact that lots of people around the world dream of going to America where the streets are paved with gold. People from third world countries are brought to the U.S. in various -- mostly illegal -- ways. According to the U.S. Department of Justice about 15,000 women and girls are trafficked into the U.S. every year.

The United States -- the "land of the free" -- is not as free as one would think it is. Yes, slavery is still being practiced in America today but in more subtle ways. The slave masters could be some of the most successful and respectable model citizens.

One of the celebrated cases of human trafficking involved James J. Jackson, vice president of legal affairs at Sony Pictures Entertainment, and his Filipina wife, Elizabeth Nicolas Tagle Jackson. Their victim, Nena Ruiz, a former Philippine teacher, filed a lawsuit in 2003 against the couple for "involuntary servitude, false imprisonment, invasion of privacy, negligence, fraud, assault and battery, and violation of labor laws." Ruiz claimed that she was only paid $300 for one year's work. She also claimed that she worked seven days a week from 5:30 AM to 10:00 PM, slept in a sleeping bag in the living room, and ate days-old food while she prepared fresh food for the Jacksons' two dogs.

Ruiz was recruited by her cousin-in-law, who worked for Mrs. Jackson in the Philippines, to become the traveling companion and caretaker of Mrs. Jackson's mother in Sacramento, California. However, shortly after her arrival in the U.S., the Jacksons took her to their home in Culver City in Southern California. After a year of enslavement, Ruiz ran away and sought the help of the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking. She filed a lawsuit against the Jacksons and a jury awarded her $825,000. In addition, she was awarded another $825,000 for compensatory and punitive damages. However, she was unable to collect because the Jacksons filed for bankruptcy protection before the trial began.

Another celebrated case of human trafficking involved a rich Filipino-American couple, Dr. Jefferson Calimlim, Sr. and his wife Dr. Elnora Calimlim of Brookfield, Wisconsin. In March of 2006, the Calimlim couple were convicted in a Federal court for using "threats of serious harm and physical restraint" to coerce a Filipina -- Irma Martinez -- to serve as their domestic servant for 19 years. Each of them was sentenced to four years in prison.

Martinez testified that the Calimlims paid her $1,200 a year for the first 10 years and $4,800 a year for the last nine years, way below the minimum wage rates. The judge ruled that Martinez was entitled to restitution of more than $900,000 and the Calimlims were ordered to pay $1.25 million in fines.

Recently, another case of human trafficking made it to the front page of Filipino-American newspapers. In a press release issued by the New Jersey Attorney General, a Filipina named Angelita Reyes of West Windsor, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to a charge of third-degree criminal restraint. Under the plea agreement, Reyes will get a sentence of probation and pay $78,000 in back wages to the victim, Arlene Gado, a 23 year-old Filipina.

A report published by the Attorney General stated, "In 2005, Gado signed an employment contract in the Philippines, witnessed by her parents, that provided that she would travel to the U.S. to work in the home of Anthony Mandap, a vice consul in the Consulate General of the Philippines in San Francisco. The contract provided that her duties would focus on the care of Mandap's three children and she would receive $8 per hour for a 40-hour work week, with overtime paid at a rate of time-and-a-half."

Shortly after Gado arrived in California, she was transferred to the home of Mandap's in-laws, Angelita and Norberto Reyes, in New Jersey." For two years, she worked for the Reyeses and provided care to Norberto who was incapacitated and needed assistance in feeding and bathing.

Gado contacted a cousin in Michigan and told her of her problems. Her cousin then contacted the New Jersey Department of Labor and reported Gado's low wages. On May 2, 2007, Criminal Justice agents rescued Gado and placed her in a shelter. Reyes is scheduled for sentencing on October 12, 2007.

What is really disturbing is that these three cases of human trafficking involved Filipinos -- the victims as well as the traffickers. Are we looking at the tip of an iceberg here? It is estimated that there are about 500,000 Filipino undocumented immigrants in the U.S. today. Since most of them are employed clandestinely, they're vulnerable to abuses and exploitation. Assuming that only 10% are victims of human trafficking, there may be as many as 50,000 Nena Ruizes, Irma Martinezes, and Arlene Gados working as virtual slaves in the U.S.

What is deplorable as the human traffickers themselves are their recruiters -- or accomplices -- in the Philippines, some of whom are related to the victims or traffickers. Indeed, without the assistance of these recruiters, the "maid to order" business would not be as rampant -- and lucrative -- as it is today.

In 2000, the U.S. Congress passed the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). The goals of TVPA are: 1) Prevent human trafficking overseas; 2) Protect its victims and help them rebuild their lives in the U.S. with Federal and state support; and 3) Prosecute traffickers of persons under stiff Federal penalties. In addition, they may be granted temporary residency (T-visas). An Information and Referral Hotline has been established for anyone who have come in contact with a victim of human trafficking. The number is 1-888-3737-888.

(PerryDiaz@...)

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#1599 From: "Perry Diaz" <PerryDiaz@...>
Date: Wed Sep 12, 2007 3:21 pm
Subject: Peace & Prayer Rally for Dr. Noel Chua perrydiaz2001
Send Email

Where two or three are gathered together

in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

- Matthew 18:20

PEACE & PRAYER RALLY FOR DR. NOEL CHUA

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2007 @ 6:30PM

WOODRUFF PARK�DOWNTOWN ATLANTA

Today's event commemorates the one-year anniversary of

Dr. Noel Chua's incarceration, without a trial, in Kingsland,

Georgia (Camden County). In September 2006, Dr. Noel

Chua was accused of the murder of Mr. James Carter III.

Despite autopsy and police reports stating it was an

"accidental death," Dr. Chua, has been held in jail, without

bail or bond. Chua is posted as a flight risk and all of his

assets have been frozen. As a result, Chua has not been

able to support his legal defense.

Dr. Chua has received immense moral support from The

Philippine Honorable Consul General Ray "Raoul" Donato;

Civil Rights leaders Reverend Dr. Joseph E. Lowery,

Reverend Dr. J. Allen Milner; the Camden County Sheriff,

Bill Smith; Filipino leaders, all of his 2000 patients, and

avid citizens throughout the community.

Sheriff Smith stated, "Dr. Chua has been like God to this

community and I will do everything I can in my power to

support him." When Blanco and Nicolson met with Dr.

Lowery and Reverend Milner, they agreed that, "This is

definitely a case of discrimination."

Coordinators: Soli Nicolson & Marilyn Doromal

sampaguita127@...

Where two or three are gathered together

in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

- Matthew 18:20

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#1600 From: "Perry Diaz" <PerryDiaz@...>
Date: Tue Sep 11, 2007 4:49 pm
Subject: The God of Silence -- by Antonio C. Abaya perrydiaz2001
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The God of Silence

By Antonio C. Abaya

Written Sept. 10, 2007

For the Standard Today,

September 11 issue

Or The Silence of God. The titles are interchangeable, as they apply to the spiritual torment of Mother Teresa, who is one step away from being canonized a saint in the Roman Catholic Church.

According to some 40 letters written by her to different persons over a span of 66 years before her death in 1997, Mother Teresa was tormented by doubts about the existence of God. These letters have been compiled in a book recently published by Doubleday, Come Be My Light: The Private Writings of the 'Saint of Calcutta', excerpts of which were published in the cover story of Time magazine, Sept. 03 issue.

"Such deep longing for God and �repulsed, empty. No faith, no love, no zeal. [The saving of Souls] holds no attraction. Heaven means nothing. Pray for me please, that I keep smiling at Him in spite of everything��." (1956)

"What do I labor for? If there be no God � there can be no Soul. If there is no Soul, then Jesus � You are also not true��" (1959)

"Tell me, Father, why is there so much pain and darkness in my soul?" To. Fr. Lawrence Picachy. (1959)

"This means nothing to me, because I do not have Him." After receiving "an important prize in the Philippines in the 1960s."

"If I ever become a Saint�I will surely be one of 'darkness.' I will continually be absent from Heaven�." (1962)

"Jesus has a very special love for you. As for me, the silence and emptiness are so great that I look and do not see, listen and do not hear�the tongue moves [in prayer] but does not speak" Letter to a confidant, Fr. Michael van der Peet (1979)

"Inside it is all dark and feeling that I am totally cut off from God�" To a priest. (1985).

"Where is my Faith � even deep down right in, there is nothing but emptiness and darkness � my God � how painful is this unknown pain. I have no Faith � I dare not utter the words and thoughts that crowd in my heart � and make me suffer untold agony�So many unanswered questions live within me afraid to uncover themselves�because of the blasphemy. .

"If there be God � please forgive me � When I try to raise my thoughts to Heaven � there is such convincing emptiness that those very thoughts return like sharp knives and hurt my very soul. I am told God loves me---and yet the reality of darkness and coldness is so great that nothing touches my soul--- I call, I cling, I want � and there is no one to answer. No One on whom I can cling � no, no One - Alone��.Letter to Jesus. (undated)

The imagery and language that poured out of her spiritual torment � emptiness, darkness, silence in the void � suggest that Mother Teresa may have watched and was deeply disturbed by Swedish director Ingmar Bergman's classic metaphysical film The Seventh Seal, which was released in 1956. (See my article Resurrection, April 08, 2007)

In it, a Swedish knight � Antonius Blok - returns home from the Crusades in the 14^th century, physically exhausted by the ordeal, emotionally drained of his idealisms, and spiritually tormented by the apparent absence of God.. (He returns to a Europe ravaged by the Black Death which kills millions in its path, despite the fervent prayers of the faithful.).

Death � theatrically represented by a figure with a chalky white face and wrapped in a black cape � is about to claim him, when Antonius challenges him to a game of chess, to gain time for him to "perform one significant act." Death agrees, and their story unfolds.

In a village chapel, Antonius unburdens himself to a priest in the confessional box. "Is it so hard to conceive God with one's senses? Why must he hide behind invisible miracles? How are we to believe the believers when we don't believe ourselves? What will become of us who want to believe but cannot?

"Why cannot I kill God within me? Why does he go on living in a painful, humiliating way? I want to tear Him out of my heart, but he remains a mocking reality, which I cannot get rid of.

"I want knowledge. Not belief. Not surmise. But knowledge. I want God to put out His hand, show His face and speak to me. I cry out to Him in the dark, but there seems to be no one there."

Priest: "Perhaps there is no one."

Antonius: Then life is a senseless horror. No man can live with Death and know that everything is nothing. ".

Priest: "Most people think neither of Death nor of Nothingness."

Antonius: "Until they stand on the edge of Life and see the Darkness. We make an idol of our fears and call it God�.."

The priest, who has all this time kept his face hidden, now shows himself to Antonius. He is none other than Death himself.

In another episode in the film that was not mentioned in my article, Antonius Blok and his companion, his hedonistic and rationalist squire Jons, chance upon a group of soldiers preparing to burn at stake a girl who has been accused of being a witch.

As the flames consume the girl, Jons asks Antonius:: "What does she see, milord? Who will look after that child? The angels? God? Satan? Emptiness? Emptiness, milord."

Antonius protests: "It cannot be!" Jons insists: "Look into her eyes, milord. Her poor mind is making a discovery. Emptiness, milord, emptiness under the moon!" Antonius cries out in anguish: "No!!!"

The Seventh Seal is the only film I have ever watched twice in one sitting, the first time I saw it, and I have watched it more than 20 times since. Perhaps Mother Teresa also did. *****.

*****

INEVITABLY, Death claimed Ingmar Bergman, last month, as it also did Luciano Pavarotti, this month.. But it does not matter. They had each performed their "one significant act" and had thereby transcended Death and attained immortality.

Bergman through the metaphysical and psychological explorations in his films that expanded our appreciation of the human condition. Pavarotti through the undiluted joy that his magnificent voice generated in every human heart that welcomed it.

Mother Teresa also performed her "one significant act" by redefining the meaning of saintliness. After her, saints may no longer be recognized by the voices that they claim to have heard or the visions that they claim to have seen, but only by the intensity of the life that they have lived in the service of others, especially those who have been forgotten and abandoned.

Thus saintliness becomes secularized, freed of the exclusivist confines of dogma and ritual which are often narrow and unforgiving, and becomes grounded instead in a common humanity.***** .

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#1601 From: "Perry Diaz" <PerryDiaz@...>
Date: Fri Sep 14, 2007 1:35 am
Subject: Readers' Comments on "Maid To Order" perrydiaz2001
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Dear Folks,

The following are readers' comments on "Maid To Order." Feel free to send your comments or articles to share with the readers. The original article is reprinted at the end for your reference.

Best,

Perry

===================

Dear Perry:

Very sad to say but it is so true. Let me dwell with on another subject parralel to this. Children "recruit" parents from the Philippines to join them abroad. Once the parents arrive, they become babysitters, cooks, housemaids, etc. Some of them work inside their children's homes, abused by their children and grandchildren alike. They are never given any money, or if they are, call it "starvation allowance". Then when they get very old and do not want to return to the Philippines, they become "drfiters" often "saved" by people who are not even their relatives.

The real scenario? These people are so pious they go to church every Sunday and received communion just like the rest of us. The truth is always hidden but somehow sips through our community through word of mouth. There are some among us that are also the epitome of love to their parents.

How can we be so cruel? This is so true not only to us Filipinos, but among the other ethnic communties. When people come to the U.S. and work as housemaids and homecaretakers, they are shunned, and never given the respect they deserve. We are all people and some are so "lucky" or "blessed" to be in a better position than others.

Where is our Christian sympathy and compassion? What do we learn on our Sunday experience in church?

Freddy Panes

Philadelphia

===================

--- In OFW-Kuwait@yahoogroups.com, Alma Martinez <alma29@...> wrote:

It is surprising to know that the rich and privileged
people (Filipinos) can easily bring domestic workers
to the US without so much ado as far as immigration
procedures are concerned, but bringing relatives takes
forever. Here in Canada, despite having honourable
employers and legal contracts are created, to bring a
caregiver takes years, not to mention the caregiver
training and university education required by the
immigration. There can be cases of abuse as well, but
I believe that our caregivers coming to Canada are
more educated concerning their rights and freedom that
really protect them from any forms of abuse, or at
least to help them approach the proper authorities
when needed.

Alma Martinez

===================

--- In pearloftheorient7000@yahoogroups.com, nilesjsiegel@... wrote:

One of the truly unfortunate sides of this problem is that the workers
live in fear of being deported because they are illegal immigrants and
do not file complaints. The US government has a record of being very
fair with those who have been abused and bring charges but, of course
the workers who are suffering don't get that information until their
abuse is? beyond bearable. There was similar situation to those you
mentioned in New York in the past few months. The feds came down
heavily on the side of the worker and jailed the rich immigrant
offenders.

Niles

===================

PerryScope

Perry Diaz

Maid To Order

(PerryDiaz@...)

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#1602 From: "Perry Diaz" <PerryDiaz@...>
Date: Thu Sep 13, 2007 9:55 pm
Subject: Guilty -- by Antonio C. Abaya perrydiaz2001
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Guilty

By Antonio C. Abaya

Written on Sept. 12, 2007

For the Standard Today,

September 13 issue.

The day before, I had been interviewed on the telephone, separately, by the French news agency Agence France Presse, and by Ces Drilon on ABS-CBN.

They asked what I thought would be the verdict: guilty or not guilty? Would he, perhaps, be found guilty of the lesser charge of perjury, and found not guilty of the major charge of plunder, as part of a deal? If the verdict is guilty, would civil unrest ensue? Etc.

My categorical reply was: Erap would be found guilty of plunder.

Not being a lawyer, I have no take on the strength or weakness of the evidence presented by the prosecution, or on the strength or weakness of his defense.

This was, aside from being a criminal trial, also a political trial. A not-guilty verdict would have been impolitic. It would lead to a possible challenge to the legitimacy of Gloria Arroyo's presidency from 2001 to 2004, which could lead to a constitutional crisis

Although at the height of EDSA 2, it was generally assumed that Joseph Estrada was deposed by spontaneous people power, triggered by the abrupt end of the impeachment proceedings at the Senate, we have since become aware that it was actually a military coup d'etat, put into play by a coterie of generals who had held previous meetings with then Vice-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo before they announced withdrawal of their support from President Joseph Estrada.

Even the formal proceedings that elevated Mrs. Arroyo to the presidency were dubious . I distinctly recall that when then Supreme Court Justice Hilario Davide was interviewed on television, he said that he was going to swear in Mrs. Arroyo as "acting president," the implication being that she was going to be president only temporarily and that Estrada would be returned to the presidency after the political uncertainty created by his physical departure from the seat of power was sorted out.

But then the Supreme Court, including CJ Davide, meeting en banc and citing the newspaper recollections of Edgardo Angara, declared that the presidency had indeed been rendered vacant by Estrada's hasty departure from Malacanang, and that VP Arroyo was rightly elevated to the vacant presidency.

Only a country with 56,000 registered lawyers could have created such a legal and constitutional mess.

So, to go back to the Sandiganbayan's verdict, an acquittal would have opened a can of political worms, not least of which would be a challenge to the legitimacy of Mrs. Arroyo's presidency from 2001 to 2004, Estrada's unserved term.

While this would not necessarily render her presidency from 2004 to the present invalid or illegitimate, an unfavorable judgment on her 2001-2004 tenure � if only for the sake of setting the historical records straight - would be patently unacceptable to Mrs. Arroyo and, considering her widespread unpopularity, could lead to exploitable civil unrest.

Just as Estrada did not want to go down in history as the first Philippine president to be convicted of plunder, so also does Mrs. Arroyo not want to go down in history as the first Philippine president to have usurped the office for three years.

Will there be widespread unrest in the wake of this verdict? In the short term, perhaps a demo here and there, but in the medium and long terms, very unlikely.

The middle class, who were the storm troopers in EDSA 1 and (the false) EDSA 2, do not have any love for Erap and will not exert any effort to join protest actions on his behalf. Especially since the economy is doing fairly well.

The masa mobs-for-hire are still available, especially in the squatter colonies of Jejomar Binay's Makati, but their enthusiasm for Erap may have waned after the failure of their street protests in 2003, 2005 and 2006.

Likewise for the military mercenaries, who rented out their idealism and staked their careers in the Oakwood Mutiny of 2003 and the Marine Stand-off in 2006�.. and lost.

There is ample evidence that Erap was involved financially in the efforts to destabilize the Arroyo Government in 2003, 2005 and 2006, apparently with the active support of Vice-President Dick Cheney and the neo-cons in Washington who had their own geo-political reasons for wanting to see Mrs. Arroyo removed from power. (See my article Kidnapped Pinoys atbp, Aug. 06, 2007, and previous articles referred to in that article.)

But President Arroyo was able to weather all these challenges. And, after the flap over espionage in the White House offices of Dick Cheney involving Estrada-mole Leandro Aragoncillo (who was also assigned by Cheney's office to coordinate with Estrada � making him a double-agent), Estrada no longer enjoys the good graces of the Great White Fathers.

So who is left to carry the torch for Estrada after the Sandiganbayan verdict? The communist movement?

According to a news story in the Manila Standard Today (Aug. 30, 2007), efforts to overthrow the Arroyo Government did not end with the Marine stand-off in Fort Bonifacio in February 2006.

In a 17-page affidavit, 1^st Lt. Angelbert Gay, identified as a Magdalo officer involved in the Oakwood Mutiny, states that "on the third week of May (it is not clear if this referred to 2006 or 2007), P5 million in financial support from Estrada arrived and it was coursed through Renato Constantino Jr. and then to Lawyer Mark (alias of Lawyer Jose Belmonte). One million peso additional support from Erap arrived days later, followed by an additional P2 million in the second week in June."

Constantino Jr. and Belmonte belong to the rejectionist (meaning, anti-Joma Sison) faction of the communist movement, the same faction that tried to choreograph the Marine stand-off in Fort Bonifacio in February 2006.

Gay said in his affidavit that "Constantino brought the additional P2 million in a shoe box to the Magdalo safe house in Wisdom Street, near Congressional Ave in Quezon City, where his daughter Maui, the group's unofficial finance officer, took charge of it�."

The Standard Today news story also mentioned guns and ammunition being delivered for a "Tet Offensive" for which P42 million had been set aside, and claimed that Sen. Panfilo Lacson had promised "2,000 troops for the overthrow of the Arroyo administration�.."

If this is true, it represents a last ditch effort on Estrada's part to turn the tide, but evidently it has not worked to his favor.

Estrada has no more option now except to accept his fate and hope for a presidential pardon in the next few months or years. He has defiantly stated that he will not apply for such a pardon, and he would not accept it if it were offered.

This must be looked at as defiance for show, to encourage his troops to be steadfast in their belligerence towards the Arroyo government. But when all else fail and there is no more recourse left, he may mellow and capitulate. What would he do if he were granted absolute pardon even without his consent? Cry out, Ibalik niyo ako sa kulungan"?

In 1995, South Korean President Kim Yung San ordered the arrest of two former presidents, both former generals, for corruption during their watch, involving hundreds of millions of dollars. When they faced the court for sentencing, both were humiliatingly handcuffed and dressed in prisoners' uniforms.

Ex-President Chun Doo Hwan was sentenced to death (later commuted to life), ex-President Roh Tae Woo was sentenced to 22 years in jail (later commuted to 17 years). Both were subsequently pardoned by President Kim Yung San in 1997 after serving two years of their sentence. The same could happen here in 2010 or earlier.

In an unexpected postscript to this episode, President Kim Yung San's own son, Kim Hyun Chul, was accused and convicted of accepting $7 million in bribes and evading taxes. He was sentenced to three years in jail and ordered to pay $1.5 million in fines while his father was the sitting president. Could this ever happen here? *****

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#1603 From: "Perry Diaz" <PerryDiaz@...>
Date: Fri Sep 14, 2007 2:48 am
Subject: Readers' Comments on "OFWs on the Road to Empowerment" (5) perrydiaz2001
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Dear Folks,

The following is the fifth series of readers' comments on "OFWs on the Road to Empowerment." Feel free to send your comments or articles to share with the readers. The original article is reprinted at the end for your reference.

Best,

Perry

=====================

Hello Perry:

The OFW was the result of Filipino diaspora (scattering of a people) in seeking economic opportunity in another land.

Nobody would think that the earnings remitted by OFW to the motherland would replace the Philippine's combined top exports of yesteryears such as: abaca, tobacco, sugar, rice and coconut by-products in sustaining the country's economy.

I think, for now, let OFW remain a powerful foreign exchange earner of the Philippines.

Allow time for OFW to evolve gradually in identifying the role it may wish to take in nation building and/or other undertakings.

I recall the historical past of the Jewish nation's diaspora for several hundred years when they were conquered by more powerful nations during the ancient times. They were a nation without a country of their own, unlike the present-day Filipinos in diaspora.

In their desire to have a homeland, the Jews in diaspora organized the Jewish World Congress. This became a forum for the Jews in diaspora to unite as one nation again in establishing their homeland they now call Israel in the Middle East.

With that as a background, OFW should eventually unite as an organized body functioning as a forum and then define the objectives it wants to achieve with or without the Philippine government intervention.

Mac Flores

=====================

Dear Perry,

I am an onlooker, an involved onlooker nevertheless, to all these passionate exchanges
about our pride pricked and pruned, and the new found energy to exorcise the blundering
witch(es).

That beastly chest beating should follow is perhaps as natural.Very Filipino, perhaps.

There is reason behind the spewing lava from the eription of a long suppressed
anger after chronic oppression, when occasion to vent this powerful pent up emotion
is given by a thoughtless, perhaps insensitive tremor that cracked a vulnerable, thin
wall

The build up of such an enormous energy result from very real heat derived from deplorable,
hateful occasions and situations that our OFW, HSW and all Filipinos, at one time or another
find themselves. Filipinos are usually timid and stymied to even raise an eyebrow, much less
complain about their wretched, often undeserved lot.

Perhaps, we ought to pause and ponder...

The reason the blow stings, is the fact that it hit a sensitive nerve of truth in many. That it
came from an arrogant, unfeeling swing made it stinky sore.

The truth uncovered however need be noted, perhaps recognized, accepted and rectified.

At the risk of being misunderstood, perhaps it is time, we Filipinos own up to some of the painful
truths that have occasioned others to treat us with little or no respect, many times harshly.

It angered me to no end when, Filipinos, their passport collected and held, were herded like
cattle into a hall bare with no furnitures in Seoul, Korea, in transit to the homeland, while other
nationals were led to a beautifully furnished waiting area with refreshment kiosk, shops and
entertainment.

Was it outright discrimination? Or could it have been because, Filipinos littered the plane seats,
hallway and bath rooms, unmindful or no courtesy to the next users? Or after repeated admonition
"to remain seated until the plane has come to a complete stop and the seatbelt sign turned off,"
Filipinos would stand and open overhead bins to collect their belongings as soon as the plane
approaches the terminal to the stewards/stewardesses' chagrin?

Or is it the sum total of the lack of respect for the law and for each other in our day to day
living in our streets, our homes and our country, "ako muna, bahala kayo sa buhay ninyo"
prevailing attitude as seen by foreigners in our own country and elsewhere?

Even as we find an occasion to come together for a good reason, like Gawad Kalinga, the new
found potential of OFW might and power, we will step on one another to prove we are better than ,
and be on top of the other. How many "Global Filipino Organizations" are there?

Could it be possible we brought all these upon ourselves?

If I had my way, I will never take an airline that stops in Seoul, Korea on the way home.
But shouldn't we perhaps seriously consider, taking a little bit more pride in ourselves, in
our country? Show the world what we Filipinos are truly made of?

There is a need to change our flawed "culture". Let us rally to a good cause like GK, Focolare
and the like.

It doesn't matter who gets the credit.

Let us rally to our beloved country's cause. Together, we can do it.

God Bless!

Boy Abay

=====================

I'm not tolerating Malu Fernandez behavior regarding her comments on OFWs, I think it was not the intention to degrade and humiliate anybody, she is just expressing her feelings which is unfortunately not acceptable. It's a matter of educating herself with the sentiments of OFWs to gain sympathy and at the same time OFWs should be aware that somehow we have a distinctive upbringing, let's face it, everyone of us are not in the same playing field and to condemn her to death is very inhumane. Let's forgive and forget and learn from each other to co-exist pleasantly. What we really need is self discipline, honesty and unity to move on as a country�� sad to say that we are too far away from achieving this reality, that is why there are many OFWs.
Regards,

Emmanuel P. Barbin, Jr.
Canada

=====================

--- In Phuketmo@yahoogroups.com, Domingo Lira <rosigs2003@...> wrote:

Dear Perry:

My guess is that it will take about a century for the OFWs to
become a force, a massive force, for the eventual elimination of the
present political system in the Philippines and the birth of a
system that will truly serve the people's interests. What is a
century as opposed to forever hoping against hope?

In the meanwhile let us hail their efforts to find a place for
themselves; salute the families and friends they left behind.

Truly OFWs road to empowerment has begun.

JR

=====================

PerryScope

Perry Diaz

OFWs on the Road to Empowerment

(PerryDiaz@...)

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#1604 From: "Perry Diaz" <PerryDiaz@...>
Date: Thu Sep 13, 2007 10:28 pm
Subject: GLIMPSES: Destined & Fated -- by Jose Ma. Montelibano perrydiaz2001
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Destined & Fated
GLIMPSES
Jose Ma. Montelibano

The presidency of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo can be said to be destined. She
wanted to run for president in the 1998 elections and was deep in the
preparations for the contest when circumstances forced her to withdraw and
slide to the vice-presidency post. But when Joseph Estrada was removed by a
second successful people power revolution, Gloria was bestowed the
presidency, the first vice-president to succeed in that manner.

But if her becoming president was destined, it seems that her hold to that
presidency was also fated to be tenuous. From the first months of the Arroyo
presidency, its legitimacy was questioned and a third attempt for people
power was launched but failed. Even a mutiny against her known as the
Oakwood incident showed a crack in the military institution.That was six
years ago. Declared winner in the 2004 presidential elections, Gloria should
have had a clear and stable path ahead. But the pattern of uncertainty
hounds her. Severely threatened by the Hello Garci scandal which saw some
members of her cabinet resign so they could, in turn, ask her to resign,
Gloria managed to weather that and every other challenge after.

Considering the trials that hovered over her presidency from the beginning,
it is quite surprising that Gloria has survived up to now. In fact, it is
more than just a surprise - it is an outstanding accomplishment. I am not
talking about presidential achievements, but an embattled politician's feat
in parrying and surviving everything that has been thrown against her by a
potpourri of enemies. She even managed to escape the worst of consequences
for withdrawing Philippine military support to America's Coalition of the
Willing.

Look at a typical scenario. Gloria herself announces a record growth rate of
sorts, 7.5%. At the same time, several banks report record profit levels, an
apparent affirmation of the country's bullish mood. Yet, in the same Metro
Manila which hosts Malaca�ang and the headquarters of all the major
financial institutions, the incidence of hunger reaches record levels as
well.

Remittances from overseas Filipinos also reach record levels of at least one
billion dollars a month. Again, at the same time, the ZTE contract which is
now raised as a major public scandal even before a formal investigation is
conducted overshadows the good news about the remittances. Furthermore, the
military suffers horrible losses in Sulu and Basilan, punctuated with the
beheading of some of them and the loss of three young graduates of the
Philippine Military Academy.

The optimism that many businesses feel was deflated when our stock market
shuddered with the chill of a stock market collapse thousands of miles away,
in New York to be exact. Every cheer seems accompanied by a tear. What
remains in sight is not a bright picture. Presidential elections in 2010 and
the recent elections which showed administration candidates faring badly
point to another contentious three years where the opposition will try to
take advantage of what appears to be a waning presidency. I cannot say
Gloria is a lame duck, but she walks a tightrope.

The guilty verdict of former president Joseph Estrada in the plunder case
filed against him will be another fly in the ointment. His supporters are
many, and his sympathizers even more. However, not that many will cross the
line of safety and comfort to march the streets in protest, not because of
the guilty verdict alone. People want answers more than confrontation, and
this strong desire in Filipinos to break a vicious cycle of poverty,
corruption and violence slow down considerably the build up of a momentum of
another people power event.

If Gloria is in the midst of a tug-of-war between destiny and fate, between
the spectacular and the ignominious, between a proud legacy and the
possibility of her own persecution when she is not in power anymore, the
Filipino people are stretched and strained as well. The pendulum swings not
only bring us from one extreme to another in a pace that is definitely
faster, but what is in the middle is constant poverty, corruption and
violence. Something has to give.

Evolution works that way. When a society is pushed to move from one stage to
another, a build up of tension is experienced over an extended period. When
a caterpillar senses its own destruction, everything may look so bleak. It
has no idea that it is being brought to another state of existence. It
struggles to live the way it knows how, but a higher and stronger calling
cannot be denied. It has a destiny, it has to become a butterfly.

Filipinos have a destiny as well. It is seeking its own higher self, its
next stage as a people, as a nation. It cannot stay where it is. It cannot
remain mired in poverty, dirtied by corruption, and tortured by violence.
History has seen other peoples, other nations, rise from their own
feudalism, outgrow their own carpetbaggers, and reach their own state of
honor, of progress, of fuller democracy where the principle of equality goes
beyond being a theory in books of law and finds expression in daily living.

It is not as though our own catharsis has been caused by Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo. No one person can move a society from one stage of evolution to
another. It is our history with all its pains and joys that readies us for
our own social maturity, for life's required rites of passage. But the
tipping point can be accompanied by personalities who either inspire us so
powerfully that we are spurred to cross over, or govern us so badly that we
rise in anger, break out of patterns of subservience and tolerance to evil,
and suddenly find ourselves in a determined journey towards our own dignity
and nobility.

A society's catharsis is not an event but rather a deep, powerful struggle
where the old clings on desperately for a past that is fated to fade away,
when the coming of new wine demands a new wine skin and will succeed despite
the strong resistance of what must give way, when the darkness of night must
surrender to the break of dawn. A catharsis is never smooth, is never easy,
is never light. It is defined by contraction, by pain, by forced expansion.
The dominance of the old resists its own self-destruction but it struggles
against its own higher dream, its own undeniable aspiration, its own
transformation.

Our moment may be near. Let us be sensitive to the intensity of our people's
pain and their sacrifice for their own dreams. When we feel they are being
torn apart, our birthing begins. ***

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True Confessions Ellang (ika-99 na labas)
Ni Ronnie M. Halos
Monday, September 3, 2007