The beating continues....and the Philippines, not GMA, is in the ropes this early in the bout.
ZTE, Spratlys, Artificial Rice Crisis, and now the so-called Swine scam.
What next?
In the well-kept timetable of the brains behind the present crisis, timing is everything. The Domino Effect: everything is leading up to a penultimate round of confrontation with obnoxious effects on us, common folks. Expect the impeachment process at round 11 and 2010 elections at round 12. Today we’re just in Round 4. Expect security issues (i.e. failure to contain and defeat the Abu Sayyaf, MILF and CPP-NPA) at around Round 5 or 6.
And what happens to GMA? What now for the Philippines? This boxing match between the Big Bully and the resident in Malacanang could only result in one of two things.
First, she distances herself from China. She redraws her INDEPENDENT Foreign Policy to toe the American line of Limiting Chinese Influence in Asia. And whoever she endorses in 2010 will lose. She will be unpopular, isolated and condemned in history. All because she embarrassed her US allies by withdrawing from the Coalition of the Willing in 2004 in Iraq to save Angelo De la Cruz. The price we pay for trying to be independent!
Second, she falls. How? If she remains stubborn with her China-friendly policy, they’ll push for an impeachment trial very similar to Erap: All the legal remedies and avenues will be afforded her and she will be have the upper hand, meaning all those charges thrown at her will remain unproven and lacking in evidence. But in a popular, MTV-generation coverage of a Senate Investigation, the people’s anger will boil over and we will, it is hoped, take to the streets, leading to her resignation.
The first scenario is more feasible and sensible from US foreign policy viewpoint. Once GMA rescinds all those contracts and curtsies before our US Masters/Allies. The second is more unstable, unpredictable, security-wise for US interests. (Consider the risk of Trillanes and the threat from the Left).
What’s happening now is very similar to the post-Edsa moves by the US (using Enrile and Gringo with the quizzical indifference of Fidel Ramos. God save the Queen was a move to drive Cory to the Right. She was perceived as too soft to the left (freeing Joma Sison, Satur Ocampo, Jalandoni, Dante Buscayno, etc; engaging in the a Peace Talks which the Left effectively used for propaganda) and her government was riddled with closet communists (partly true). In the aftermath she “unsheathed the sword of war” against the Communists, and the Oplan Lambat Bitag drawing from the Low-Intensity Conflict textbooks of the CIA and South America.
The US intent could be good. For the country, for the region, for their interests. But the methods are undemocratic, disrespectful and Uncle Sam deserves a kick in the balls for it. One day we’ll be truly free. They’ll see.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Kuryente!
It’s one whole big kuryente.
First off, Jun Lozada framed the administration up with his Hong Kong caper and set up the PNP and Manny Gaite. Second, Ping Lacson set the Senate up for the shocking kuryente by Leo San Miguel. Somebody had been had. And in everybody’s mind, somehow, someone’s going to pay for that slap on the face of Ping Lacson. Ask Bubby Dacer’s widow. Third, the whole ZTE-NBN brouhaha is turning out to be on big kuryente on the Arroyo administration and, in effect, on the Filipino people.
Kuryente is a media axiom of false alarm or false lead. And the whole ZTE-NBN brouhaha is one big kuryente meant to result in several things: For Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to toe the American line with regards to her bi-lateral relations with China; for the Philippine opposition and people to be sucked into the vortex of US manipulations and for influencing the outcome of the 2010 elections.
When Jun Lozada dramatically barged into the Filipino consciousness on the wee hours of February __ 2008, he was playing on our sympathy for the underdog. When he in fact was setting us all up with his lachrymose mea culpas (how many now, by the way? It seems that he has this penchant for quickly owning up to a fault when he is confronted with one. I’ve actually lost count of his guilty pleas), he hit upon all the right buttons to gain public sympathy. Yet by now it is clear that he set Gaite up, he set the PNP up, he set Atienza and Malacanang up. In short, nakuryente sila lahat.
Now here comes Lacson. Throughout the years, Lacson had carefully set himself up to the image of Mr. Clean, a no-nonsense anti-corruption crusader. He has won many a votes for this (although FPJ’s admirers have not yet fully forgiven him for splitting the opposition in 2004, creating rumor that he did so deliberately and for certain concessions). In this same spirit he had doggedly tried to expose and, some say, bring down the Arroyo administration. He had a hand in almost all the scandals that had rocked the present administration.
Yet the crusader had met some electrifying mini-scandals of his own. First was when he was questioned by the fellow Senator Juan Ponce Enrile regarding his prior knowledge of Lozada’s plans before and after the latter flew to London – err, Hong Kong. The usually eloquent and poised Lacson came close to stammering and resorted to the detested line “ I cannot seem to remember.” And lately fate had been rather cruel to Ping Lacson, and that cruelty was named Leo San Miguel. The latter, brought to the Senate supposedly as an opposition witness, brilliantly and effectively parried Lacson’s questions and insinuations on the ZTE-NBN pay-offs. After red-facedly bearing the entire 12 hours of Senate session with San Miguel, Lacson could only say “You have been lying whole day” and meekly “Somebody must have gotten to him.” We e all know Lacson can bounce back from this as he did from Kuratong Baleleng, Aragoncillo and Bubby Dacer. Yet the whole country could never forget the day when the good senator became a victim of kuryente.
Yet the biggest kuryente regarding the ZTE-NBN deal was not Lacson and Lozada misleading the left, the right, the Catholic church, the youth and civil society – though that would qualify as another kuryente in itself. The biggest the kuryente is the American policy of intervention in our affairs. They Americans have long been irritated by President Arroyo’s playing the China. It began when Gloria sacrificed bi-lateral relation with the US by leaving the coalition of the willing n Iraq in 2004. She is also being blamed for the continued embarrassing existence of the Abu Sayyaf and the presence of Jemaah Islamiyah in Southern Philippines. The latter appears only to be an excuse to “legitimize” moves to make GMA toe the line with regards to China.
The saddest and most tragic part of the whole thing is the US view of the world as their own: that it is their right to meddle in ANY part of the world to protect American business and political interest. They have no respect whatsoever for national freedoms and they have always shown a proclivity to subvert friend or foe. That’s the biggest kuryente in the world.
First off, Jun Lozada framed the administration up with his Hong Kong caper and set up the PNP and Manny Gaite. Second, Ping Lacson set the Senate up for the shocking kuryente by Leo San Miguel. Somebody had been had. And in everybody’s mind, somehow, someone’s going to pay for that slap on the face of Ping Lacson. Ask Bubby Dacer’s widow. Third, the whole ZTE-NBN brouhaha is turning out to be on big kuryente on the Arroyo administration and, in effect, on the Filipino people.
Kuryente is a media axiom of false alarm or false lead. And the whole ZTE-NBN brouhaha is one big kuryente meant to result in several things: For Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to toe the American line with regards to her bi-lateral relations with China; for the Philippine opposition and people to be sucked into the vortex of US manipulations and for influencing the outcome of the 2010 elections.
When Jun Lozada dramatically barged into the Filipino consciousness on the wee hours of February __ 2008, he was playing on our sympathy for the underdog. When he in fact was setting us all up with his lachrymose mea culpas (how many now, by the way? It seems that he has this penchant for quickly owning up to a fault when he is confronted with one. I’ve actually lost count of his guilty pleas), he hit upon all the right buttons to gain public sympathy. Yet by now it is clear that he set Gaite up, he set the PNP up, he set Atienza and Malacanang up. In short, nakuryente sila lahat.
Now here comes Lacson. Throughout the years, Lacson had carefully set himself up to the image of Mr. Clean, a no-nonsense anti-corruption crusader. He has won many a votes for this (although FPJ’s admirers have not yet fully forgiven him for splitting the opposition in 2004, creating rumor that he did so deliberately and for certain concessions). In this same spirit he had doggedly tried to expose and, some say, bring down the Arroyo administration. He had a hand in almost all the scandals that had rocked the present administration.
Yet the crusader had met some electrifying mini-scandals of his own. First was when he was questioned by the fellow Senator Juan Ponce Enrile regarding his prior knowledge of Lozada’s plans before and after the latter flew to London – err, Hong Kong. The usually eloquent and poised Lacson came close to stammering and resorted to the detested line “ I cannot seem to remember.” And lately fate had been rather cruel to Ping Lacson, and that cruelty was named Leo San Miguel. The latter, brought to the Senate supposedly as an opposition witness, brilliantly and effectively parried Lacson’s questions and insinuations on the ZTE-NBN pay-offs. After red-facedly bearing the entire 12 hours of Senate session with San Miguel, Lacson could only say “You have been lying whole day” and meekly “Somebody must have gotten to him.” We e all know Lacson can bounce back from this as he did from Kuratong Baleleng, Aragoncillo and Bubby Dacer. Yet the whole country could never forget the day when the good senator became a victim of kuryente.
Yet the biggest kuryente regarding the ZTE-NBN deal was not Lacson and Lozada misleading the left, the right, the Catholic church, the youth and civil society – though that would qualify as another kuryente in itself. The biggest the kuryente is the American policy of intervention in our affairs. They Americans have long been irritated by President Arroyo’s playing the China. It began when Gloria sacrificed bi-lateral relation with the US by leaving the coalition of the willing n Iraq in 2004. She is also being blamed for the continued embarrassing existence of the Abu Sayyaf and the presence of Jemaah Islamiyah in Southern Philippines. The latter appears only to be an excuse to “legitimize” moves to make GMA toe the line with regards to China.
The saddest and most tragic part of the whole thing is the US view of the world as their own: that it is their right to meddle in ANY part of the world to protect American business and political interest. They have no respect whatsoever for national freedoms and they have always shown a proclivity to subvert friend or foe. That’s the biggest kuryente in the world.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Cry Treason
How quick the blows are coming now. From the ZTE-NBN to Spratlys and Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU). Why the sudden change in tune?
Far beyond the posturings of Ping Lacson and others from the uncivil society who are trying to unseat the President of the Philippines, far beyond the ineffectual Jun Lozada as the icon of and rallying point for truth, indeed far beyond the ZTE - and now the Spratlys controversy - is the fact that there are unseen hands in the current political crisis besetting our country. The turmoil we are in goes much more deeper than Jun Lozada and Ping Lacson though they are an active part of the plot. Almost the entire political spectrum is being sucked into the US moves trying to get back at GMA for perceived sins of defiance – of showing INDEPENDENCE! Ever since GMA pulled out Filipino troops from Iraq – to save a Filipino OFW’s life – that embarrassed the Americans and for her seemingly warming relationship with China.
The American government had shown time and again that it has no qualms about abusing its allies when the latter step out of bounds and doesn’t care about our political or economic growth. Remember they supported a dictator for twenty years in exchange for military bases. They supported efforts to oust Joseph Estrada yet supplied him with crucial intelligence data (thru Lacson, recipient of “leaks” by the Fil-Am US Marine Sgt., Leandro Aragoncillo, formerly of the FBI and who later worked in the White House staff of Dick Cheney. Aragoncillo turned out to be a double agent) that the opposition used against President Arroyo.
They were meddling then, they are meddling now.
Admittedly the President is paying for the China gambit. Yet as nationalists, isn’t it high time we show the US that they cannot have everything they want, much less a political hegemony? If the current political troubles being faced by GMA are absent, in another less politically-turbulent times, we might have declared her a hero, much as we did the Senate 12 who kicked out the American military bases in 1991. In politically calm waters, we would be hailing her a nationalist. Yet the US had chosen, as always, the perfect political climate to sow their vengeance.
It is not the President who is committing treason. Those who willingly and shamelessly dance to the marching tune of Uncle Sam do.
Far beyond the posturings of Ping Lacson and others from the uncivil society who are trying to unseat the President of the Philippines, far beyond the ineffectual Jun Lozada as the icon of and rallying point for truth, indeed far beyond the ZTE - and now the Spratlys controversy - is the fact that there are unseen hands in the current political crisis besetting our country. The turmoil we are in goes much more deeper than Jun Lozada and Ping Lacson though they are an active part of the plot. Almost the entire political spectrum is being sucked into the US moves trying to get back at GMA for perceived sins of defiance – of showing INDEPENDENCE! Ever since GMA pulled out Filipino troops from Iraq – to save a Filipino OFW’s life – that embarrassed the Americans and for her seemingly warming relationship with China.
The American government had shown time and again that it has no qualms about abusing its allies when the latter step out of bounds and doesn’t care about our political or economic growth. Remember they supported a dictator for twenty years in exchange for military bases. They supported efforts to oust Joseph Estrada yet supplied him with crucial intelligence data (thru Lacson, recipient of “leaks” by the Fil-Am US Marine Sgt., Leandro Aragoncillo, formerly of the FBI and who later worked in the White House staff of Dick Cheney. Aragoncillo turned out to be a double agent) that the opposition used against President Arroyo.
They were meddling then, they are meddling now.
Admittedly the President is paying for the China gambit. Yet as nationalists, isn’t it high time we show the US that they cannot have everything they want, much less a political hegemony? If the current political troubles being faced by GMA are absent, in another less politically-turbulent times, we might have declared her a hero, much as we did the Senate 12 who kicked out the American military bases in 1991. In politically calm waters, we would be hailing her a nationalist. Yet the US had chosen, as always, the perfect political climate to sow their vengeance.
It is not the President who is committing treason. Those who willingly and shamelessly dance to the marching tune of Uncle Sam do.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Seizin' the City: The enemy within
Joma Sison: “As in the gigantic mass actions of 1970, 1986 and 2001, the communists will exercise their right to join the protest actions in the national capital region and in the provinces…….The broad participation of youth and student demonstrators was significant. College and university campuses in Metro Manila and the provinces have been transformed into hotbeds of anti-Arroyo protests and fora for seeking truth behind the regime's lies. The upsurge and expansion of the youth and student protest movement to more campuses, factories, communities and streets should rouse anew and invigorate the propaganda movement against the hopelessly rotten regime and ruling system.”
“The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) calls on the Filipino people to further intensify their protest actions, muster the force of several hundred thousands up to millions all over the country and proceed to launch another people power uprising for the ouster of the Arroyo regime.”
If you listen to Lozada's speeches this days, he is dangerously crowing the same things as the above paragraph taken from the official site of the National Democratic Front. The point is, Lozada is not a communist but he may wittingly or unwittingly play into the hands of these people. Here's more, for future protests:
“The CPP supports the efforts of the organized forces and the broad anti-Arroyo united front in arousing, organizing and mobilizing the people for massive and powerful protest actions. At the same time, the revolutionary armed forces are instructed to intensify their tactical offensives against the fascist forces of the corrupt, brutal, lying and moribund US-Arroyo regime in a parallel effort to punish it and hasten its downfall.”
Now there. It says something isn’t it?
“The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) calls on the Filipino people to further intensify their protest actions, muster the force of several hundred thousands up to millions all over the country and proceed to launch another people power uprising for the ouster of the Arroyo regime.”
If you listen to Lozada's speeches this days, he is dangerously crowing the same things as the above paragraph taken from the official site of the National Democratic Front. The point is, Lozada is not a communist but he may wittingly or unwittingly play into the hands of these people. Here's more, for future protests:
“The CPP supports the efforts of the organized forces and the broad anti-Arroyo united front in arousing, organizing and mobilizing the people for massive and powerful protest actions. At the same time, the revolutionary armed forces are instructed to intensify their tactical offensives against the fascist forces of the corrupt, brutal, lying and moribund US-Arroyo regime in a parallel effort to punish it and hasten its downfall.”
Now there. It says something isn’t it?
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Another side of the coin
A couple of activities prior to the Feb. 29 Interfaith Rally by the opposition is worth noting. One was the “Peace Camp” by a group calling itself Kongreso ng Mamamayan held at the Welcome Rotonda in Quezon City while another is the mass for “peace and unity” by a group called Mahal Ko Bayan Ko in Makati. These activities are in themselves very revealing. Not only does it show that those who support the President are capable of mobilizing (as in the Rotonda camp-out) but also, and more importantly, that there may indeed be another aspect, another side of the Jun Lozada coin.
Such activities are not to be dismissed as mere “hakot” or staged political action. These are expressions of this very different viewpoint of the ZTE-NBN scandal now hounding the government. It is a physical expression of another point of view which genuinely exists among a significant section of society. These two events serve notice that there are still people in our society today that wants to uphold and support the present dispensation.
As such it should be taken seriously, especially by those pondering on grabbing political power from the president. Arroyo maybe unpopular in the media these days yet it cannot be denied that certain segments of our population have also a very regard for her and for what she had been able to do for them through the delivery of social services. To grab political power through extra-legal means is to invite political divisiveness and civil strife. To force the issue of unseating the presidency could provoke civil war.
Certain members of the so-called civil society and the academe insists that we have to chose between the lesser evil of a continued Arroyo presidency and the incessant political conflict which could settle in wake of her ouster. As I have always argued, we must allow our judiciary and electoral system to grow even if we perceive such political processes as flawed. To resort to extra-constitutional means of succession every time we see an incumbent president as “corrupt" would not only denigrate our democracy but also poses the danger of playing into the hands of those who stand to gain from the unrest. We must use the processes enshrined in our laws and the constitution and have faith in our democratic system, which maybe imperfect for now, but will shall ultimately mature.
Such activities are not to be dismissed as mere “hakot” or staged political action. These are expressions of this very different viewpoint of the ZTE-NBN scandal now hounding the government. It is a physical expression of another point of view which genuinely exists among a significant section of society. These two events serve notice that there are still people in our society today that wants to uphold and support the present dispensation.
As such it should be taken seriously, especially by those pondering on grabbing political power from the president. Arroyo maybe unpopular in the media these days yet it cannot be denied that certain segments of our population have also a very regard for her and for what she had been able to do for them through the delivery of social services. To grab political power through extra-legal means is to invite political divisiveness and civil strife. To force the issue of unseating the presidency could provoke civil war.
Certain members of the so-called civil society and the academe insists that we have to chose between the lesser evil of a continued Arroyo presidency and the incessant political conflict which could settle in wake of her ouster. As I have always argued, we must allow our judiciary and electoral system to grow even if we perceive such political processes as flawed. To resort to extra-constitutional means of succession every time we see an incumbent president as “corrupt" would not only denigrate our democracy but also poses the danger of playing into the hands of those who stand to gain from the unrest. We must use the processes enshrined in our laws and the constitution and have faith in our democratic system, which maybe imperfect for now, but will shall ultimately mature.
The greater task is not organizing and mobilizing the people to participate in sedition and confrontational political action. There is much more that has to be done with regards to our countrymen’s political education and values formation. Efforts and resources spent trying to unseat a president would be more meaningful if used towards the upliftment of our collective well-being.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Cat out of the bag
You have to question Senator Johnny Enrile's credibility to argue with his accusation that the entire Lozada affair is nothing but an elaborate plot by Senator Ping Lacson.
In Manila Standard Today's frontpage story, Enrile said that Lacson seems to know every move that Lozada made and was planning to make before and after the latter left for Hongkong. The fact too that Lozada's family have "booked" themselves into LaSalle Greenhills even before Lozada arrived was being questioned by Enrile.
Not a few have been questioning Lozada's motives. According to Vic Agustin's Cocktales, Bongbong Marcos have already said that when he wanted to consult then Speaker Joe de Venecia on a Chinese-related project, he would be reffered to same consultant: Jun Lozada. Agustin's blog also hints at another motive: Victor Corpus. The former NPA rebel and intelligence chief apparently is still smarting over being eased out of the National Resources Dev't Corporation by, guess who, Mike Defensor. Nice job. No not Mike D... nice job, Coktales!
And there's also the Ping Academy. According to the same Manila Standard article, PNP chief Avelino Razon is set to investigate "charges that Lacson used a safe house—referred to as “Ping Academy”—to train witnesses to implicate the President’s husband in the 2005 jueteng scandal."
Well, what can we say?
In Manila Standard Today's frontpage story, Enrile said that Lacson seems to know every move that Lozada made and was planning to make before and after the latter left for Hongkong. The fact too that Lozada's family have "booked" themselves into LaSalle Greenhills even before Lozada arrived was being questioned by Enrile.
Not a few have been questioning Lozada's motives. According to Vic Agustin's Cocktales, Bongbong Marcos have already said that when he wanted to consult then Speaker Joe de Venecia on a Chinese-related project, he would be reffered to same consultant: Jun Lozada. Agustin's blog also hints at another motive: Victor Corpus. The former NPA rebel and intelligence chief apparently is still smarting over being eased out of the National Resources Dev't Corporation by, guess who, Mike Defensor. Nice job. No not Mike D... nice job, Coktales!
And there's also the Ping Academy. According to the same Manila Standard article, PNP chief Avelino Razon is set to investigate "charges that Lacson used a safe house—referred to as “Ping Academy”—to train witnesses to implicate the President’s husband in the 2005 jueteng scandal."
Well, what can we say?
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
A reader's view
I’d like to share this comment from the post below, “What would they call it?” It succinctly captures another, inarguably unpopular sentiment nowadays, yet, as I have always maintained, such voices – anonymous, passionate, patriotic - may yet prove to be the most rational and may just save our country in the end. They deserve to be heard…..
Anonymous said...
It is quite clear that the “NBN-ZTE Deal” is a dead matter. Jun Lozada is merely being used as a political pawn by the opposition in its desperate attempts to steal power from the current administration. I come from the Visayas and very few people here care about political issues concerning the nation and yet I still feel the weak yet resonating effects of evil plots and acts of destabilization carried out by a few opposition Senators, Congressmen, radical priests and nuns, oppositionist businessmen and the media in Metro Manila. Cory Aquino has turned desperate and has nothing to do but call for the resignation of almost all the presidents that succeed her. She has lost her identity as she allows herself to be ingeniously manipulated by extreme oppositionists. The church should also refrain from joining and partaking in deliberate acts of politics. Bishops, priests, and nuns should remain NEUTRAL and reflect on their true purpose as the guardians of the people’s FAITH and MORALITY not as tools for political maneuverings headed by jejune oppositionist “trapos” seated in the Legislative Department. The Senate is a venue of legislation and is not to hold judiciary processes such as their so-called “inquiries” which in actuality are unconstitutional hearings benefiting only the opposition. The media are also to be considered as the merchants of chaos in the country. The media’s abuse of their right to published, aired and televised expression has gone too far and that it is quite obvious that THE LEADING TELEVISION NETWORK AND NEWSPAPER HAVE BECOME ONE-SIDED PROTEGES OF THE OPPOSITION who have confidingly upheld Lozada’s fake credibility to a point of worship and idolatry. Jun Lozada and that Madriaga coot have trifled with the sanctity of speaking under oath with their deceitful statements that tell of nothing but twisted versions of the truth as they are controlled as puppets by still anonymous handlers. I could really attest that it is highly probable that in the near future(several months from now when the opposition has extracted every single drop of political gain from Jun Lozada), Jun Lozada may be assassinated under the orders of his own oppositionist handlers who promise him large sums of money, security and privileges in exchange for his lies so that the Arroyo administration will be falsely blamed. Enough with the political circuses causing ruckuses to our country! I call for Charter Change towards a Parliamentary form of government wherein the Senate and Congress (the main beneficiaries of wealth through corruption) shall be dissolved and the opposition shall lose its power.All those in favor of Jun Lozada and Madriaga’s erroneous testimonies are not to be welcomed to post comments on blogsites and newspaper sections especially those who post rudimentary and dumb comments defending Lozada. They are gullible morons just like the majority of scoundrels in Metro Manila. Their use of the Filipino language instead of proper and precise English is informal and dictates that they, just like the majority of opposition supporters, are uneducated and are wretchedly in denial! I am a college student here in the “City of Friendship” and I am not being paid to articulate my opinion and I would never trade my self-principles for money! I do not need bribes to explicate my true opinions! Persons the likes of fanatic “Lozada-worshippers” insinuating false allegations against PGMA and her administration are to be obliterated. PGMA has done a lot of good for our country. A lot of infrastructure and economic development has and is still going on in our provinces. She has lifted the Filipino towards greater heights as she is the most qualified and able president in our forsaken country’s history. She has done nothing anomalous and only uneducated persons with low IQ’s easily believe the deceitful allegations against the president made by that “crying lady” Jun Lozada. Jun Lozada is a fool for having caused division and disunity in our country but I assure you who read my comment that we who live in the Visayas strongly support the president and her administration. Almost all of us here in the Visayas and a great percentage of the country support the president and we rebuke Lozada’s lies and false allegations. The media may exaggerate and falsely implicate that majority of the country distrust PGMA but it is all but a gargantuan lie for the facts point out that only Metro Manila is squabbling about these political issues. We have had enough of Metro Manila’s monopoly of political opinion and demonstration. They think they own the country! What about the greater majority of the country who think contrary to you who lurk in Metro Manila? Those who rally for the opposition are clearly destitute partisans being paid or morally manipulated to do the opposition’s bidding. How dare you blame our president! She has done nothing evil and corrupt. She did not directly cancel the “NBN ZTE” deal with China in order to preserve our country’s diplomatic relations for to automatically cancel the contract would be a huge insult towards the Chinese Government and may cause them to halt investments to our country thus starving numerous workers and laborers.
February 27, 2008 1:43 PM
Anonymous said...
It is quite clear that the “NBN-ZTE Deal” is a dead matter. Jun Lozada is merely being used as a political pawn by the opposition in its desperate attempts to steal power from the current administration. I come from the Visayas and very few people here care about political issues concerning the nation and yet I still feel the weak yet resonating effects of evil plots and acts of destabilization carried out by a few opposition Senators, Congressmen, radical priests and nuns, oppositionist businessmen and the media in Metro Manila. Cory Aquino has turned desperate and has nothing to do but call for the resignation of almost all the presidents that succeed her. She has lost her identity as she allows herself to be ingeniously manipulated by extreme oppositionists. The church should also refrain from joining and partaking in deliberate acts of politics. Bishops, priests, and nuns should remain NEUTRAL and reflect on their true purpose as the guardians of the people’s FAITH and MORALITY not as tools for political maneuverings headed by jejune oppositionist “trapos” seated in the Legislative Department. The Senate is a venue of legislation and is not to hold judiciary processes such as their so-called “inquiries” which in actuality are unconstitutional hearings benefiting only the opposition. The media are also to be considered as the merchants of chaos in the country. The media’s abuse of their right to published, aired and televised expression has gone too far and that it is quite obvious that THE LEADING TELEVISION NETWORK AND NEWSPAPER HAVE BECOME ONE-SIDED PROTEGES OF THE OPPOSITION who have confidingly upheld Lozada’s fake credibility to a point of worship and idolatry. Jun Lozada and that Madriaga coot have trifled with the sanctity of speaking under oath with their deceitful statements that tell of nothing but twisted versions of the truth as they are controlled as puppets by still anonymous handlers. I could really attest that it is highly probable that in the near future(several months from now when the opposition has extracted every single drop of political gain from Jun Lozada), Jun Lozada may be assassinated under the orders of his own oppositionist handlers who promise him large sums of money, security and privileges in exchange for his lies so that the Arroyo administration will be falsely blamed. Enough with the political circuses causing ruckuses to our country! I call for Charter Change towards a Parliamentary form of government wherein the Senate and Congress (the main beneficiaries of wealth through corruption) shall be dissolved and the opposition shall lose its power.All those in favor of Jun Lozada and Madriaga’s erroneous testimonies are not to be welcomed to post comments on blogsites and newspaper sections especially those who post rudimentary and dumb comments defending Lozada. They are gullible morons just like the majority of scoundrels in Metro Manila. Their use of the Filipino language instead of proper and precise English is informal and dictates that they, just like the majority of opposition supporters, are uneducated and are wretchedly in denial! I am a college student here in the “City of Friendship” and I am not being paid to articulate my opinion and I would never trade my self-principles for money! I do not need bribes to explicate my true opinions! Persons the likes of fanatic “Lozada-worshippers” insinuating false allegations against PGMA and her administration are to be obliterated. PGMA has done a lot of good for our country. A lot of infrastructure and economic development has and is still going on in our provinces. She has lifted the Filipino towards greater heights as she is the most qualified and able president in our forsaken country’s history. She has done nothing anomalous and only uneducated persons with low IQ’s easily believe the deceitful allegations against the president made by that “crying lady” Jun Lozada. Jun Lozada is a fool for having caused division and disunity in our country but I assure you who read my comment that we who live in the Visayas strongly support the president and her administration. Almost all of us here in the Visayas and a great percentage of the country support the president and we rebuke Lozada’s lies and false allegations. The media may exaggerate and falsely implicate that majority of the country distrust PGMA but it is all but a gargantuan lie for the facts point out that only Metro Manila is squabbling about these political issues. We have had enough of Metro Manila’s monopoly of political opinion and demonstration. They think they own the country! What about the greater majority of the country who think contrary to you who lurk in Metro Manila? Those who rally for the opposition are clearly destitute partisans being paid or morally manipulated to do the opposition’s bidding. How dare you blame our president! She has done nothing evil and corrupt. She did not directly cancel the “NBN ZTE” deal with China in order to preserve our country’s diplomatic relations for to automatically cancel the contract would be a huge insult towards the Chinese Government and may cause them to halt investments to our country thus starving numerous workers and laborers.
February 27, 2008 1:43 PM
What would they call it?
What would they call it, by the way, Edsa 3? Would Erap, a self-confessed “supporter” of Lozada, allow it ? After all he had already launched Edsa 3 right after his ouster by Edsa 2. Calling it an Edsa 4 would be too much for our national pride. As the President, aptly puts it, “the world will never forgive another Edsa (uprising)” because it would make a big, big mockery of our claim to democracy.
The reality is, and even the opposition realizes this, that the people do not want another Edsa. They may be angry with corruption but they knew that instigating chaos and toppling the government would do more harm than good. Choosing the next leadership alone is cause for another uprising and that would make us no worse than Somalia or Afghanistan. The prospect of constant bickering and continued instability is enough to restrain most ordinary folks from flocking to Edsa.
The reality is, and even the opposition realizes this, that the people do not want another Edsa. They may be angry with corruption but they knew that instigating chaos and toppling the government would do more harm than good. Choosing the next leadership alone is cause for another uprising and that would make us no worse than Somalia or Afghanistan. The prospect of constant bickering and continued instability is enough to restrain most ordinary folks from flocking to Edsa.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Puppets and Masters
Who is Jun Lozada? What motivates him?
Hindi ba sya pakawala lang ng mga taong makikinabang sa pagkakaroon ng kaguluhan sa bansa?
Sabihin na natin na wlang nag-udyok sa kanya noong una syang lumabas, pero hindi natin maikakaila na sya ngayon ay kisnkasangkapan ng mga taong gustong mgkaroon ng gulo sa bansa. Ilan dito ay ang mga:
*Makakaliwa
*Mga adbenturerong military
*Mga ganid na politico
*Mga politikong gustong gumanti kay GMA
Bago natin syang itanghal na bayani at pumayag tayong maging sunod-sunuran sa iskrip na kanilang sinusunod, kailangan natin pag-aralan ng mabuti kung sino ba tlaga si Jun Lozada.
Sapat na ba ang mga sinabi nya upang tayo’y mag-alsa laban sa ating pamahalaan?
Ano ba ang kasiguruhan na kapag napatalsik natin ang kasalukuyang pamahalaan ay UUNLAD at AASENSO ang ating buhay at kabuhayan?
May ilang sector ng lipunan, lalo na sa akademya at kinatawan ng iba’t-ibang relihiyon na nangangatwiran na hindi sapat na dahilan ang kawalang-kasiguruhan upang hindi natin pabagsakin ang gobyernong kasalukuyan. Ayon sa kanila dapat nating palitan ang gobyernong nagkasala sa pamamagitan ng pag-aalsa at hindi sa legal na paraan dahil nasa ating mga kamay ang kapangyarihan bilang “taong-bayan.” Ang tanong po:
Ano na lamang ang mangayayari sa ating lipunan kung sa bawat ma-dramang akusasyon laban sa pamahalaan tayo’y mag-aalsa at maghahasik ng kaguluhan at mananawagang palitan ang gobyerno? Liban sa magiging katawa-tawa tayo sa mata ng sandaigdigan, hindi ba ito pagbibigay-daan sa walang-katapusang panlipunang kaguluhan? Kung sa bawat reklamo laban sa pamahalaan tayo ay magpi-people power, paano na lang ang mga serbisyong panlipunan? Paano ang edukasyon, kalusugan, hudikatura, lehislatibo at iba pang gawaing gagampanan ng pamahalaan? KUNG MAY REKLAMO DALHIN SA HUKUMAN. SA PAMAMAGITAN LAMANG SA PAGTANGKILIK NATIN SA ATING MGA LEGAL NA INSTITUSYON MAGIGING MATATAG ANG ATING LIPUNAN. ANG PAG-AABUSO AT [OVER-USE] NG EXTRA-LEGAL NA PAMAMARAAN AY MAGBUBUNSOD LAMANG NG PAGKAKAWATAK-WATAK, ANARKIYA, AT HIGIT SA LAHAT ANG HINDI PAG-MATURE NG ATING POLITIKA.
Sa puntong TUNGKULIN (social responsibility) natin ang pag-aalsa laban sa katiwalian: (“Yes, we will march again if called for by circumstances. And again, and again and again, until those in government realizes that it is THE PEOPLE who are more powerful than them.”) hindi sukatan ng social responsibility ang pag-aalsa. Naparaming Pilipinong tinitingala sa buong mundo at nakapag-contribute ng malaki sa ating lipunan – mga scientists, artists, etc. – na ini-angat ang ating bansa na masasabi nating mas higit pa ang nagawa para sa bayan kesa sa mga “career destabilizers” na maituturing gaya nina Satur Ocampo, Rafael Mariano, Randy David, RC Constantino, BMP, KMU, BAYAN. Ayon sa website ng CPP: The ultimate aim of the CPP and its legal fronts is to “grab political power” establish a god-less communist regime and “redistribute land and nationalize all major industries.” Pag nalusutan tayo ng mga komunista baka magsisi kayo, De Venecia, Makati Business Club, Cojuangco-Aquino, Bishop Cruz and CBCP, mga kasapi ng civil society atbp.
Sleeping with the enemies of the state to advance self-interests is treason.
Hindi ba sya pakawala lang ng mga taong makikinabang sa pagkakaroon ng kaguluhan sa bansa?
Sabihin na natin na wlang nag-udyok sa kanya noong una syang lumabas, pero hindi natin maikakaila na sya ngayon ay kisnkasangkapan ng mga taong gustong mgkaroon ng gulo sa bansa. Ilan dito ay ang mga:
*Makakaliwa
*Mga adbenturerong military
*Mga ganid na politico
*Mga politikong gustong gumanti kay GMA
Bago natin syang itanghal na bayani at pumayag tayong maging sunod-sunuran sa iskrip na kanilang sinusunod, kailangan natin pag-aralan ng mabuti kung sino ba tlaga si Jun Lozada.
Sapat na ba ang mga sinabi nya upang tayo’y mag-alsa laban sa ating pamahalaan?
Ano ba ang kasiguruhan na kapag napatalsik natin ang kasalukuyang pamahalaan ay UUNLAD at AASENSO ang ating buhay at kabuhayan?
May ilang sector ng lipunan, lalo na sa akademya at kinatawan ng iba’t-ibang relihiyon na nangangatwiran na hindi sapat na dahilan ang kawalang-kasiguruhan upang hindi natin pabagsakin ang gobyernong kasalukuyan. Ayon sa kanila dapat nating palitan ang gobyernong nagkasala sa pamamagitan ng pag-aalsa at hindi sa legal na paraan dahil nasa ating mga kamay ang kapangyarihan bilang “taong-bayan.” Ang tanong po:
Ano na lamang ang mangayayari sa ating lipunan kung sa bawat ma-dramang akusasyon laban sa pamahalaan tayo’y mag-aalsa at maghahasik ng kaguluhan at mananawagang palitan ang gobyerno? Liban sa magiging katawa-tawa tayo sa mata ng sandaigdigan, hindi ba ito pagbibigay-daan sa walang-katapusang panlipunang kaguluhan? Kung sa bawat reklamo laban sa pamahalaan tayo ay magpi-people power, paano na lang ang mga serbisyong panlipunan? Paano ang edukasyon, kalusugan, hudikatura, lehislatibo at iba pang gawaing gagampanan ng pamahalaan? KUNG MAY REKLAMO DALHIN SA HUKUMAN. SA PAMAMAGITAN LAMANG SA PAGTANGKILIK NATIN SA ATING MGA LEGAL NA INSTITUSYON MAGIGING MATATAG ANG ATING LIPUNAN. ANG PAG-AABUSO AT [OVER-USE] NG EXTRA-LEGAL NA PAMAMARAAN AY MAGBUBUNSOD LAMANG NG PAGKAKAWATAK-WATAK, ANARKIYA, AT HIGIT SA LAHAT ANG HINDI PAG-MATURE NG ATING POLITIKA.
Sa puntong TUNGKULIN (social responsibility) natin ang pag-aalsa laban sa katiwalian: (“Yes, we will march again if called for by circumstances. And again, and again and again, until those in government realizes that it is THE PEOPLE who are more powerful than them.”) hindi sukatan ng social responsibility ang pag-aalsa. Naparaming Pilipinong tinitingala sa buong mundo at nakapag-contribute ng malaki sa ating lipunan – mga scientists, artists, etc. – na ini-angat ang ating bansa na masasabi nating mas higit pa ang nagawa para sa bayan kesa sa mga “career destabilizers” na maituturing gaya nina Satur Ocampo, Rafael Mariano, Randy David, RC Constantino, BMP, KMU, BAYAN. Ayon sa website ng CPP: The ultimate aim of the CPP and its legal fronts is to “grab political power” establish a god-less communist regime and “redistribute land and nationalize all major industries.” Pag nalusutan tayo ng mga komunista baka magsisi kayo, De Venecia, Makati Business Club, Cojuangco-Aquino, Bishop Cruz and CBCP, mga kasapi ng civil society atbp.
Sleeping with the enemies of the state to advance self-interests is treason.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Of Means and ends
“The question is not whether the ends justifies the means, but rather, does this particular end justifies this particular means.” – Alinsky, Rules for Radicals
Jun Lozada is not an end, he is merely a means to an end. And he is serving his purpose well. These days, he is everywhere: radio, TV, newspapers, internet. Then there’s his personal appearances at campus rallies, noise barrages and what-not. As Mang Ben, our nosy neighbor puts it, “Lamay nalang ata ang di nito pinupuntahan.” (Who knows, Mang Ben, Lozada may have already done so). This is not surprising, what with his handlers making no secret of their desire to use him as a beacon for an uprising. But do they really want an uprising? Is the downfall of the Arroyo government their ultimate aim?
Wary of the chaos brought about by Jun Lozada and watching growing efforts to overthrow the government had me wishing for a Filipino Lee Kwan Yew. And this got me thinking, maybe this is what they really wanted: ordinary people like you and me yearning for a “stronger, more decisive hand” to steer our nation towards genuine social progress. Are we not being lead to think in a particular way, to benefit certain political interests?
In this light, I’d rather have Lozada than a military junta, though the two are dangerously becoming synonymous!
Scandalous
Overpriced goats, reckless dispersal of public lands to relatives and friends, kickbacks from previous government projects he had been involved with, and more… all these have slowly eroded Lozada’s credibility. But the most damning thing he ever did was to dance to the tune of his new marching band(his patrons)…and go around schools convincing kids (as young as pre-schoolers) to support an uprising against the government. Such blatant manipulation reeks of goat-shit. Unable to convince the masses to join them in renewed bid to grab political power, the political opposition (a friend calls them the disgruntled opposition) are trying to mobilize the youth by USING the religious sector and the media and just about everybody else who dares falls into the trap of their Jun Lozada script.
I agree that it is the duty of every citizen to be concerned with the affairs of government but we must NEVER fall into the trap set by politicians who have shown no qualms of using public opinion in the furtherance their selfish ends. The danger of Jun Lozada is not in the exposure of seemingly unbridled corruption in government: It is in manipulating the political power of the people and abusing popular will in order to serve self-serving interests.
Enlisting kids to join in subverting authority is one example.
This we cannot allow.
The loudest of them all
Amidst the hysterical calls for revolution and uprising brought upon by Jun Lozada (or Jel as Bondying fondly calls him), there are a tiny voices amongst us that in the end may prove to be the loudest and sanest and may yet save our country from going to the dogs (or, as you please, to the goats).
Disparate groups of individuals and organizations have braved the tumultuous current of popular opinion and called for sobriety and letting the rule of law, not of the mob, reign.
The Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC), a network of denominations, churches, mission groups and para-church organizations in the Philippines, for example, have called for those planning to use extra-judicial means "to be prudent." In a statement, it added: "Our nation can no longer bear any political upheaval. Let’s just wait for the 2010 elections. Such calls for prudence seems like a whisper in din caused by Lozada.
A group of concerned women from the Mahal Ko Bayan Ko have issued also issued a statement calling for “sobriety and true patriotism,” saying we must avoid playing into the hands of “malevolent groups out to grab power by all means”. Such words should lead us to ponder upon the reality of it all. Are we not being played for suckers by some master puppeteers?
Another group calling itself the Kongreso ng Mamamayan, even came out with a full-page ad in the Philippine Daily Inquirer asking us for a long, hard look at Jun Lozada. The ads have made the group a target of criticisms for questioning the popular hero that is Lozada. The said group, in a statement defending itself, have this to ask: "Why is it that whenever a group like us advocate peace, unity and progress, it is branded pro-government and, worse, mercenary? Do our critics advocate civil strife, disunity and backwardness?" Oh, well...
But what if these groups happens to be right? Do we need an Edsa 4 to correct our mistakes again?
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Gone, baby, gone….
It’s funny. Picture this: The knight in shining armor, riding the white steed of truth, cloaked in histrionics, waving to an adulating crowd; bible-quoting, hero-worshipping, parable-laden; mouthing such virtues as truth, patriotism, sacrifice, dignity and liberation… all the while dragging along a prized herd of filthy goats each worth P35,000...
No, this can’t be the hero of our times. Much as I would like to sympathize (in fact, I do, considering his predicament and the obvious risks he’s taking for his “unseen” and equally-patriotic paymasters) with Jun Lozada, his demeanor turns me so off.
He paints himself as a simple probinsyanong intsik and a poor, sympathetic one at that, yet by his own admission, he had made hundreds of millions as a telecom businessman. That alone grates on my senses. Why misrepresent himself?
The guy seems to have a perfect grasp of mass propaganda and social psychology (or is it him alone?) that he can twist and smile and cry and quote his way to public sympathy. When confronted by his own wrongdoings, he readily admits to them, unmindful of the legal consequences (reminds me of one Jose Velarde, the owner admitting ownership of the account, nearly sending his lawyers to suicide and self-invoked hypertensive attacks). The mea culpa played right into the hands of public opinion. Carrions in the media pounced on the new hero they have found, sending ratings and circulations up. And of course the sentinels of our democracy, the opposition, the ever-ambitious, politically-immatured opposition, rides on the coat-tails of the hero.
Tell me, who among our politicians are clean? Who have not succumbed to the trappings and benefits of political influence? Tell me, Noynoy, and I’d slap your face with the whole weight of an un-CARPable Hacienda Luisita. Tell me, Allan Peter, and I’d dig your father to teach you the perils of membership in Kapamilya Inc. Let him who without sin file the first certificate of candidacy.
The continued manipulation of public opinion is so outrageous to the point of hideousness. One of these days, history will catch up with all of you, heroes and traitors alike.
Then we’ll bury you all deep in goat shit.
The continued manipulation of public opinion is so outrageous to the point of hideousness. One of these days, history will catch up with all of you, heroes and traitors alike.
Then we’ll bury you all deep in goat shit.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Who gains?
Sick and tired... we all are.
Sick of the politicking, tired of the posturings. Sick of selective Senate inquiries, tired of manipulating the masses.
Sick of the politicking, tired of the posturings. Sick of selective Senate inquiries, tired of manipulating the masses.
Suppose President Arroyo goes now, who gains? If we take a moment to look at the present players in the ruckus created by JLO Lozada, we might not go out rushing to the streets, screaming for revolution, whether moral or not. (A note: one wonders if there ever is a moral revolution - all revolutions are exigencies of history and has nothing whatsoever to do with morality. Though fine men and women throughout history have espoused revolutions, not one of them was a dethroned Speaker. But that is another story).
There is a buzz that Lozada may not be lonesome cowboy taking on the State. His secret meetings with opposition senators have done more to fan the suspicion that he may be following a well-written script produced to affect not only the outcome of the 2010 elections but to test the waters for an immediate power grab. There is no lack of personalities and groups that are drooling over the idea of ascending into political power right away. Especially those who have 3rd or 4th-rate chances to win in 201o....
With the Pinoy penchant for telenovelas, Lozada's antics (and the script he closely follows) was just what the politicians needed. In the face of GMA's political consolidation, with the opposition in disarray or close to it due to unbridled self-interest among presidentiables, Jun Lozada was a blessing from heaven or from nether. Or is he a simple probinsyanong intsik thrust into the limelight of our history? Or is he a brilliant part of a diabolic plot to topple the government with us, the people, the unwitting accomplices of our own doom?
We'd welcome a little stablity and let our politcal system grow a bit more mature and let the electoral process assume a life of its own. American democracy, for all its flaws and strengths, did not come to pass overnight. We cant' have people power every forthnight and make a mockery of our own judicial system.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
