Gloria Forever!

The following paragraphs are from my column of Sept. 22, 2009 titled Festung Gloria:

There is no truth to the rumor that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo tells me in advance what she is going to do.

But I have a pretty good batting average when it comes to predicting what she will do.
After she promised on December 30, 2002, practically on the grave of Jose Rizal, that she would not run in the 2004 presidential elections, I wrote in my column of May 22, 2003 titled She Will Run, that she would. And she did.

Long before anyone thought of the possibility that President Gloria would use Charter Change to remain in power through a shift to the parliamentary system, I wrote in my column of May 17, 2005 titled Prime Minister Gloria? that she would. And she did.

In mid 2006, her then loyal ally, House Speaker Jose de Venecia launched two simultaneous operations to shift to parliamentary. One was a People’s Initiative, led by De Venecia factotum Raul Lambino and his Sigaw ng Bangaw to gather six million signatures endorsing a shift to parliamentary.

The other was a shameless attempt, led by JdV himself, to convene the Lower House into a constituent assembly, without the participation of the oppositionist Senate, to railroad a shift to parliamentary. Both attempts were shot down by the Supreme Court.

But how does President Gloria segue from president to prime minister? In my column of October 03, 2007, titled Dominatrix (referring to Gloria’s hold on the timid and mousy Romulo Neri), I wrote:

“A model (for GMA) may soon emerge in, of all places, Russia.

“Russian President Vladimir Putin was first elected in May 2000 from a field of ten candidates, with the support of the outgoing president, the late Boris Yeltsin. In March 2004, Putin was re-elected president with an astounding 71% of the votes. His presidential term ends in March 2008 and he is barred by the Russian Constitution from running for a third term.

“But – surprise! surprise! – he announced last Monday, Oct. 01, that he will run for a seat in the Russian parliament in the coming parliamentary elections on December 2, and that, as head of the ruling United Russia party, he had a ‘realistic’ chance of becoming prime minister……”

So as early as October 2007, I predicted that President Arroyo will follow the Putin Formula and run for a seat in Congress in May 2010 while she is still the sitting President.”

End of excerpts from my article Festung Gloria.

Now that President Arroyo has filed her certificate of candidacy for congresswoman of the second district of Pampanga, my predictions about her moves have come to pass with alarming - even to myself - accuracy.

Yes, there will be presidential elections in May 2010. No, she will not have her presidential term extended. But yes, she will run for – and win - a seat in Congress while she is the sitting president, like Vladimir Putin in Russia. But in practical terms how does she transit from president to prime minister?

There are two possible scenarios.

Scenario One. The elections in May 2010 will be the first ever computerized elections nationwide and there are just too many things that can go wrong. The more than 150,000 schoolteachers who will operate the system are totally unfamiliar with it. Many of them have never seen or operated a computer in their lives. Is there enough time to familiarize them with it? The system needs 80,000 technicians, one for each cluster of precincts. Do we have 80,000 computer technicians? The machines will not be ready until January 2010, at the earliest. Would there be enough time to train the 80,000 computer technicians in time for the May elections?

Many towns (and their voting precincts) do not have electricity or telephone connections. Even if the computerized counting machines were equipped with back-up batteries that will last supposedly for 18 hours, that may not be sufficient for remote communities that take hours to reach by foot, banca and/or carabao.

Keep in mind that there will be about 300 candidates’ names on the ballot. How long will it take each voter to go through such a long ballot? Is there enough time for 200 voters per precinct to go through 300 names, before the batteries go dead? This will not be like India where voters vote by party, and the parties’ easily recognizable symbols are what voters mark. Here voters choose individuals who most likely do not belong to the same party. Our electoral laws allow even our presidential and vice-presidential choices to come from different parties.

There are just too many things that can go wrong, or be made to go wrong, and likely will. That is Murphy’s Law, and it is in the Philippines, more than in any other country outside Black Africa and Haiti, where everything that can go wrong invariably does.

There is a strong possibility, therefore, that even if we do hold computerized elections in May 2010 and even if we assume good intentions on the part of the Comelec factotums and the schoolteachers, we would likely have chaos, real and/or manufactured, on May 10 that will result in a failure of elections.

This is especially true for the national offices at stake – president, vice-president, senator – because of the sheer volume of voters expected, 40+ million.. Even a ten percent failure rate would render the exercise a total failure that cannot be resolved by a back-up manual count because of the sheer number of voters and the geographical spread involved.

The situation is not so dire in the local offices at stake – congressman, governor, vice-governor, mayor, vice-mayor etc - in which a ten percent failure rate can be swiftly resolved by a back-up manual count, confined as it would be to small areas and their small local populations.

If because of even only a ten percent failure rate, there is no proclamation of a new president, a new vice-president, and 12 new senators by June 30, 2010, we will have no new government in place and we will have a constitutional crisis.

Section 7, Article VII of the Constitution says “Where no President and Vice-President shall have been chosen or shall have qualified, or where both shall have died or become permanently disabled, the President of the Senate or, in case of his inability, the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall act as President until a President or a Vice-President shall have been chosen and qualified.”.

In a failure of election scenario sketched above, there is no President or Vice-President proclaimed on June 30. There will also be no Senate President. The incumbent Senate President, Juan Ponce Enrile, is in office only up to June 30. He is running for re-election on May 10, but if there is failure of elections for national offices, no new Senate President will be chosen either because there will be no new Senate.

That leaves the Speaker of the House of Representatives as next in the line of succession, and I give you one guess as to who that Speaker is going to be. .

Scenario Two. If there is civil unrest and/or an insurrectionary situation before, during or immediately after the May 10 exercise, because of expectations of or the reality of failure of elections, then this would be a perfect justification for National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales’ transition revolutionary government to kick in.

On at least two public occasions, Gonzales floated this scenario in which a revolutionary government, with the approval and participation of key sectors of society – the Churches, the military, civil society, the business community etc – would take over the reins of government, with the active presence and participation of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and with the likely help of PMA Class of 1978, of which she is an honorary member.

Many Palace insiders, including Executive Secretary Eduardo Ertmita, feigned ignorance of and disdain for the Gonzales scenario. But the fact that President Arroyo appointed Gonzales acting defense secretary when Gilbert Teodoro resigned the post to run for the presidency, shows that Gloria implicitly approves of it. And why not?

Whether via Scenario One (constitutional) or Scenario Two (extra-constitutional), Gloria would remain in power beyond June 30, 2010. One of the first acts that House Speaker or Revolutionary President Gloria will predictably push will be to convene a constituent assembly (ConAss) – remember there will be no Senate in both scenarios – to shift to parliamentary so that she becomes Prime Minister, who holds that office as long as her party retains majority of seats in parliament.

In the Philippine context, that means she would likely be Prime Minister for Life. Gloria Forever!!! *****

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Con-Ass List of Signatories [mga di dapat suportahan sa 2010]

list of the bastards Honorable Kamara De Representantes of the Philippines signed a House Resolution No. 1109 aka Constituent Assembly. sino bang makakatangi sa offer na 20M sa isang perma lang!???


National Capital Region
- Vincent P. Crisologo, Quezon City
- Matias V. Defensor, Jr., Quezon City
- Mary Ann L. Susano, Quezon City
- Nanette Castelo-Daza, Quezon City
- Bienvenido M. Abante Jr., Manila
- Jaime C. Lopez, Manila
- Maria Zenaida B. Angping, Manila
- Maria Theresa B. David, Manila
- Amado S. Bagatsing, Manila
- Daniel R. De Guzman, Marikina City
- Marcelino R. Teodoro, Marikina City
- Eduardo C. Zialcita, Parañaque City
- Henry M. Dueñas, Jr., Taguig
- Alvin S. Sandoval, Malabon City-Navotas City
- Jose Antonio F. Roxas, Pasay City
- Oscar G. Malapitan, Caloocan City
- Mary Mitzi L. Cajayon, Caloocan City
- Roman T. Romulo, Pasig City
- Rexlon T. Gatchalian, Valenzuela City
- Magtanggol T. Gunigundo I, Valenzuela City


Cordillera Administrative Region
- Manuel S. Agyao, Kalinga
- Elias C. Bulut, Jr., Apayao
- Mauricio G. Domogan, Baguio City
- Samuel M. Dangwa, Benguet
- Solomon R. Chungalao, Ifugao


Ilocos Region
- Thomas M. Dumpit Jr., La Union
- Victor Franciso C. Ortega, La Union
- Arthur F. Celeste, Pangasinan
- Conrado M. Estrella III, Pangasinan
- Marcos O. Cojuangco, Pangasinan
- Victor F. Agbayani, Pangasinan
- Ma. Rachel J. Arenas, Pangasinan
- Eric D. Singson, Ilocos Sur
- Ronald V. Singson, Ilocos Sur
- Roque R. Ablan, Jr., Ilocos Norte
- Cecilia S. Luna, Abra


Cagayan Valley
- Florencio L. Vargas, Cagayan
- Manuel N. Mamba, Cagayan
- Junie E. Qua, Quirino
- Carlo Oliver D. Diasnes, Batanes
- Rodolfo T. Albano, Isabela
- Edwin C. Uy, Isabela


Central Luzon
- Jose V. Yap, Tarlac
- Jeci A. Lapus, Tarlac
- Monica Louise Prieto-Teodoro, Tarlac
- Lorna C. Silverio, Bulacan
- Pedro M. Pancho, Bulacan
- Reylina G. Nicolas, Bulacan
- Ma. Victoria Sy-Alvarado, Bulacan
- Arturo C. Robes, San Jose del Monte City
- Albert C. Garcia, Bataan
- Herminia B. Roman, Bataan
- Joseph Gilbert F. Violago, Nueva Ecija
- Ma. Milagros H. Magsaysay, Zambales
- Antonio M. Diaz, Zambales
- Aurelio D. Gonzales, Jr., Pampanga
- Juan Miguel M. Arroyo, Pampanga
- Anna York P. Bondoc, Pampanga
- Carmelo F. Lazatin, Pampanga


CALABARZON
- Danilo E. Suarez, Quezon
- Wilfrido Mark C. Enverga, Quezon
- Michael John R. Duavit, Rizal
- Adeline Rodriguez-Zaldarriaga, Rizal
- Angelito C. Gatlabayan, Antipolo City
- Roberto V. Puno, Antipolo City
- Eileen Ermita-Buhain, Batangas
- Mark Llandro L. Mendoza, Batangas
- Victoria H. Reyes, Batangas
- Jesus Crispin C. Remulla, Cavite
- Elpidio F. Barzaga, Jr., Cavite
- Maria Evita R. Arago, Laguna
- Edgar S. San Luis, Laguna


MIMAROPA
- Antonio C. Alvarez, Palawan
- Carmencita O. Reyes, Marinduque
- Eleandro Jesus F. Madrona, Romblon
- Ma. Amelita C. Villarosa, Occidental Mindoro
- Rodolfo G. Valencia, Oriental Mindoro


Bicol Region
- Rizalina Seachon-Lanete, Masbate
- Narciso R. Bravo, Jr., Masbate
- Antonio T. Kho, Masbate
- Al Francis C. Bichara, Albay
- Reno G. Lim, Albay
- Luis R. Villafuerte, Camarines Sur
- Felix R. Alfelor, Jr., Camarines Sur
- Diosdado Ignacio Jose Maria Macapagal-Arroyo, Camarines Sur
- Joseph A. Santiago, Catanduanes
- Jose G. Solis, Sorsogon


Western Visayas
- Florencio T. Miraflores, Aklan
- Genaro M. Alvarez, Jr., Negros Occidental
- Jeffrey P. Ferrer, Negros Occidental
- Ignacio T. Arroyo, Jr., Negros Occidental
- Jose Carlos V. Lacson, Negros Occidental
- Alfredo D. Marañon III, Negros Occidental
- Raul T. Gonzalez, Jr., Iloilo City
- Niel C. Tupas, Jr., Iloilo
- Ferjenel G. Biron, Iloilo
- Arthur Defensor, Sr., Iloilo
- Judy J. Syjuco, Iloilo
- Janette L. Garin, Iloilo
- Joaquin Carlos Rahman A. Nava, Guimaras
- Fredenil H. Castro, Capiz


Central Visayas
- Roberto C. Cajes, Bohol
- Edgardo M. Chatto, Bohol
- Pryde Henry A. Teves, Negros Oriental
- Pablo P. Garcia, Cebu
- Pablo John F. Garcia, Cebu
- Ramon H. Durano VI, Cebu
- Nerissa Corazon Soon-Ruiz, Cebu
- Benhur L. Salimbangon, Cebu
- Eduardo R. Gullas, Cebu
- Antonio V. Cuenco, Cebu City
- Raul V. Del Mar, Cebu City


Eastern Visayas
- Roger G. Mercado, Southern Leyte
- Eufrocino M. Codilla, Sr., Leyte
- Carmen L. Cari, Leyte
- Andres D. Salvacion Jr., Leyte
- Trinidad G. Apostol, Leyte
- Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Leyte
- Reynaldo S. Uy, Samar
- Sharee Ann T. Tan, Samar
- Teodolo M. Coquilla, Eastern Samar
- Paul R. Daza, Northern Samar
- Emil L. Ong, Northern Samar
- Glenn A. Chong, Biliran


Zamboanga Peninsula
- Rosendo S. Labadlabad, Zamboanga del Norte
- Cecilia G. Jalosjos-Carreon, Zamboanga del Norte
- Cesar G. Jalosjos, Zamboanga del Norte
- Victor J. Yu, Zamboanga del Sur
- Antonio H. Cerilles, Zamboanga del Sur
- Dulce Ann K. Hofer, Zamboanga Sibugay


Northern Mindanao
- Vicente F. Belmonte, Jr., Lanao del Norte
- Abdullah D. Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte
- Rolando A. Uy, Cagayan de Oro City
- Marina P. Clarete, Misamis Occidental
- Herminia M. Ramiro, Misamis Occidental
- Yevgeny Vicente B. Emano, Misamis Oriental
- Pedro P. Romualdo, Camiguin
- Candido P. Pancrudo Jr., Bukidnon


Davao Region
- Franklin P. Bautista, Davao del Sur
- Marc Douglas C. Cagas IV, Davao del Sur
- Arrel R. Olaño, Davao del Norte
- Antonio F. Lagdameo, Jr., Davao del Norte
- Isidro T. Ungab, Davao City
- Vincent J. Garcia, Davao City
- Prospero Nograles, Davao City
- Thelma Z. Almario, Davao Oriental
- Nelson L. Dayanghirang, Davao Oriental
- Rommel C. Amatong, Compostela Valley
- Manuel E. Zamora, Compostela Valley


SOCCSKSARGEN
- Datu Pax S. Mangudadatu, Sultan Kudarat
- Arnulfo F. Go, Sultan Kudarat
- Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza, Cotabato
- Bernardo F. Piñol, Jr., Cotabato


CARAGA Region
- Glenda B. Ecleo, Dinagat Islands
- Philip A. Pichay, Surigao del Sur
- Florencio C. Garay, Surigao del Sur
- Francisco T. Matugas, Surigao del Norte
- Guillermo A. Romarate, Jr., Surigao del Norte
- Edelmiro A. Amante, Agusan del Norte
- Jose S. Aquino II, Agusan del Norte


Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
- Pangalian M. Balindong, Lanao del Sur
- Faysah Omaira M. Dumarpa, Lanao del Sur
- Yusop H. Jikiri, Sulu
- Munir M. Arbison, Sulu
- Simeon Datumanong, Maguindanao
- Nur G. Jaafar, Tawi-Tawi


Party- Lists
- Narciso D. Santiago III, Alliance for Rural Concerns
- Edgar L. Valdez, Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives
- Ernesto C. Pablo, Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives
- Robert Raymund M. Estrella, Abono
- Nicanor M. Briones, Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines, Inc.

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DSWD DO NOT DELAY!

Dear friends,

I’m asking your help to spread the word. Tulungan po ninyo akong ikalat ito. Beyond this, we should also demand action. I disabled a plugin so you can copy the photos of relief goods rotting in DSWD warehouses. You can link this post to your blogs, facebook, websites etc. You can also email the photos.
Philippine News (US based Philippine newspaper) will use this as its front page story this week. Every Filipino has the right to know where the tons of donations from the UN and other counties go. Kahit po nakakahiya sa mga nag-donate. Kung sa ganitong paraan, matutulungan natin ang mga nasalanta, then by all means, let’s do it.
For those who have the time, please try to volunteer sa DSWD warehouses. Getting in was not easy. A friend had to put in a word for us. Let’s see kung madali nang makapasok sa DSWD warehouse ang mga volunteers.
Please read on and good luck to us.

Ella

(This post was last edited Oct 22, 12:30 pm)

Kahapon, tinanong ng Philippine News si DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral:

Editor of Philippine News: Why are the relief goods in DSWD warehouses not moving?
DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral: Wala kasing volunteers.

This short interview was done over the phone. Philippine News wanted to hear her side pero ayaw niyang makipag-usap sa press. After four tries, pinasabi na lang niya ang maikling sagot na ito sa secretary niya - “Walang volunteers”.
I don’t want to accuse her of corruption but at the very least she is showing signs of being totally incompetent. We are in a state of calamity where every second counts. May namamatay araw-araw dahil sa sakit.
In my opinion, these deaths could have been prevented if Secretary Cabral had tried a little harder to do her job.

DON'T FORGET TO CLICK HERE

Deaths from Philippine storms nears 1,000

“Tropical Storm Ketsana left 420 dead and 37 missing when it flooded 80 percent of Manila on September 26, a disaster the government said affected 4.35 million people.
Some areas are still flooded three weeks later and 189,000 people remain in evacuation centres,
Typhoon Parma hit the northern Philippines on October 3 and lingered as a tropical storm for a week, triggering landslides that killed 438 people and leaving 51 missing mostly in mountain communities.
The government agency said Parma affected 4.16 million people, including more than 32,000 who remain at evacuation centres.”

• • •

During the first week after the storm, lumabas ang “bayanihan spirit” ng mga Pinoy.
“Makatulong lang kahi’t konti,” katwiran nila.
Kung walang volunteers, ano ‘to, komiks?

From Stella Arnaldo’s blog:

“At the offices of many civic groups and private organizations, hundreds of people showed up to volunteer in packing relief goods.
At the Tulong Bayan center at the Expo Centro in Cubao, Most of the volunteers were adolescents as young as 10 years old, along with their kuya or ate in high school and college.
They came in huge numbers, many of them barkadas, classmates or siblings, dressed just in their tees and shorts, wearing their Havaianas. All were just enthusiastic to do their share!

Photos by Leah Navarro


Even grade school kids pitched in to help!


Youth volunteers repack detergents for distribution


Making beds from carton boxes

GMA asked world for donations

Our government begged the world for more donations. Sumagot ang buong mundo sa ating panawagan. In less than three weeks, dumaong ang mga barko, ibinaba mula sa mga cargo planes, i-diniliver ng mga trak at container vans ang sandamakmak na relief goods. Cash donations were in the millions of dollars.
But these donations must be coursed through DSWD.
Nagpalabas ng directive ang pangulo. Individuals, private companies and other nations were ENCOURAGED to send their donations to DSWD. I blogged about it here and the video of her announcement here.
This PGMA directive sounded suspicious to me then. Now I know why. Here’s the story.
A group of eight people, your ate Ella included, went to one of DSWD warehouses to help in repacking relief goods. We know they need volunteers pero hindi namin akalaing WALANG TAO TALAGA SA LOOB NG WAREHOUSE!
As in sa isang humongous warehouse (1000++ sq.m) NA PUNONG-PUNO NG RELIEF GOODS HANGGANG BUBONG, ISANG DSWD employee lang at ISANG SECURITY GUARD ang tao!!

Kailangang magpa-register at i-schedule ang volunteering

UNICEF Registration (as a volunteer)
The warehouse can only take as much as 50 volunteers at a time or per shift. Here you will find that there is a 4-hour shift, and an option for a 6-hour shift for the volunteers to indicate their availability.

What “volunteers”? Nasaan?
Aside from the 8 of us? Nope, there was nobody there. Bakit kailangan ang scheduling? Feeling hindi ba magkamayaw at nagu-unahan ang mga volunteers?
I know somebody who wanted to volunteer many times. She was always bumped off, laging nirere-schedule kasi “there were too many volunteers” daw. At tuwing Sunday lang daw puwede. What the hell is going on here?
Nakatambak ang donations ng UNICEF sa warehouse, local and international
Mga banig na dapat ay nahihigaan ng mga nasalanta. Mga imported camp beds na hindi na yata masisilayan ng mga biktima. Mga kumot na hindi naman nakabalot sa katawan nila. At mga pagkaing hindi sumasayad sa sikmura nila.
The relief goods are not going anywhere
We arrived at about 8 am and left by midafternoon and yes, you guessed it right. Kami pa rin ang tao bukod sa isang DSWD employee sa loob ng warehouse maghapon. Walang ibang dumating.
The relief goods are not moving. By the way things look, they are not going anywhere. Hindi maglalakad mag-isa ang mga donations na ito papunta sa mga evacuation centers.

LET THE PICTURES DO THE TALKING

Note: Pinagbawalan kaming kumuha ng pictures sa loob ng warehouse. I wonder why.


“Not a creature was moving, not even a mouse.”


Parang haunted warehouse ang dating. May multo na yata.


Kahit na daig pa ang tindahan sa Divisoria sa dami ng naka-stack na kaldero


At walang katapusang kaldero pa ulit


Kahit halos natakpan na ang mga bintana sa dami ng mga kahon


Kahit umabot na hanggang kisame ang stack ng mga kahon


(Close up ng Coleman camp beds sa previous photo) Hindi ito kasama sa ni-repack naming goods. Para sa mga “special victims” kaya ito? Ire-repack kaya ang mga “imported” camp pads na ito ever?


Sabagay, may BANIG naman para sa “ordinary victims”. Ito ang kasama sa inimpake namin. Sayang ‘yung imported.


Ano kaya ang laman nito? Hindi rin pinabuksan. Pang-special victim din kaya ito? (teka, dito nga pala galing ‘yung mga kumot)


Mahiwagang mga kahon from Japan Aid.


(close up ng mahiwagang kahon) Hindi rin ito kasali, of course. Hindi namin alam kung ano ang laman nito. “Imported” are not included, we have concluded.


Marami ito, mga laruang kasinlaki ng tao. Hindi nakunan ng pic kasi nasa tabi ng sikyo.


PORK AND BEANS? Yup, you’d think kasama ito sa relief bag. Pork and beans lang ‘to, puwede na sigurong ipamigay,


Naaah! “Imported” pork and beans from Spain po ito. Sorry, hindi pa rin included

Now let’s take a look at what a victim will get from DSWD


Look Ma, sampung lata ng sardinas! How generous! Kaldero ang unang ilalagay sa sako. Sabong panglaba (bar soap) at sampung sardinas sa ilalim. Siyam na sabon sa gilid ng kaldero. Local goods lahat syempre.


Tapos papatungan ng isang tuwalya at isang pack ng sanitary napkin.


Sisiksikan ng tatlong rolyo ng kumot(?) ang blue water jug tapos ipapatong sa kaldero sa loob ng sako.


Last but not the least, lalagyan ng dalawang banig.


Sabay tatahiin na ang sako. O di ba, parang asong tinapunan ng buto ang mga nasalanta? Eniwey, busog naman sila sa SAMPUNG lata ng Mega sardinas


YOU THINK?? WTF is the matter with these people? Mag-iisang buwan na mula nang masalanta ang mga kababayan natin. ISANG BUWAN!! Do you mean “do not delay ang dati nang delayed”?? Shet.

Anong ginagawa ng mga donations na ito sa warehouse?? APAT na warehouse ang nasa loob ng compound na ‘yon! APAT na warehouse na punong-puno ng inaalikabok na relief goods! Relief goods na ayaw yata ibigay sa mga nasalanta. Halatang-halata.

Marami pang pabubulukin


Wow! May bagong shipment na naman! At the rate DSWD is moving, next year na madi-discover kung ano ang laman ng mga kahong ito.



“The first of two of the largest high-energy food shipments from the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) arrived in the country two days ago for victims of storm “Ondoy” and typhoon “Pepeng.”
The biscuits were fortified with essential vitamins and minerals for supplementary feeding to children, pregnant women and the elderly in evacuation camps. Another 100 tons of biscuits will arrive on Oct. 24, in a continuing effort to provide food assistance to flood victims.
Sige, ideretso ‘nyo ulit ‘yan sa DSWD warehouse. Para AMAG naman ang abutin ng biskwit… at sapot ng gagamba.

Conclusion

Sa maghapon namin sa warehouse,nakagawa kami ng 150 sacks of relief goods. 150 bags of relief goods lang ang lumabas sa warehouse na ‘yon that day. At nandoon pa rin sa loob ang mga imported relief goods, safe, sound and packed as the day they arrived.
Nakisakay kami palabas sa isang DSWD delivery van. Gusto sana kaming ihatid ng driver hanggang Makati pero wala raw siyang sobrang gasolina. Ibinaba na lang niya kami sa gitna ng EDSA. Millions of dollars in donations, walang extrang pang-gasolina.
Susulpot din siguro ang laman ng mga mahiwagang kahon at mapapasakamay din ng mga tao…sa ARAW NG ELEKSYON. O mabibili na nila ang mga imported goods na ‘yon sa mga puwesto sa Quiapo at Divisoria.

Suggestions lang po sa DSWD:

• Alam ‘nyo palang walang mag-volunteer sa inyo, bakit hindi kayo mag-hire ng mga tao? Bayaran ‘nyo ng arawan para mag-repack. Ang daming walang trabaho, makakatulong pa kayo. Hindi naman malaking kabawasan ‘yon sa bilyong pisong donasyon na natanggap ninyo.

• Isa pa, gaano ba karami ang mga sundalo natin? Hindi ba puwedeng ipagawa sa kanila ‘yan? Baka isang araw lang, tapos na ang problema ‘nyo

• Bakit hindi ‘nyo ibigay ang trabaho sa mga NGO, churches, private charities, TV stations? I’m sure they are more than willing to help. Time is of the essence. Huwag kayong suwapang. Obvious ba, hindi ‘nyo naman kaya.

Kung talagang gugustuhin ninyong makarating agad sa mga kawawang biktima ang mga donasyong ‘yon, nagawa ‘nyo na ‘yan. Maraming paraan…kung talagang gusto ‘nyo lang.
You are the government. You have the power, the resources and the money. You just have to really care.

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STATEMENT of Young Artists on PGMA’s Order of National Artists Selection Anomaly

We, young artists and cultural workers condemn the manipulation of the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo regime in the selection of this year’s Order of National Artists and hold her accountable for abuse of power and victimizing the Filipino people in a psychological “all-out war”.

Ms. Arroyo’s July 6 presidential proclamation on her engineered list and announced in July 29 through its Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita is a sham that the youth would rather not easily forgive and forget especially that the national culture and arts is at stake...


Herself beset by anomalies as Executive Director of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and as Presidential Adviser on Culture, Cecille Guidote-Alvarez made it to the Order alongside three other names while Music scholar Dr. Ramon Santos was deleted from the original list of the Council of Experts composed of, as mandated by law, the Board of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the NCCA and National Artists.

Alvarez is popular in the arts community for malpractices, favoritism, questionable dissemination of public fund, the controversy on the illegal transfer of P2.5 billion National Endowment Fund for Culture and the premature appointment of then DepEd Underseceretary Vilma Labrador who is now the NCCA Chair and stunt defender of Ms. Alvarez’s designation in the Order. It was also in Ms. Alvarez’s term that during the 2005 National Cultural Summit with the theme “Breaking the Cycle of Corruption, Poverty, Pollution and Violence that progressive artists were harassed and barred from staging a lightning performance depicting the pressing issues of the country, such as corruption.

Contrary to Ms. Alvarez’s alibi that her National Artist designation is not a political gift from GMA, Malacañang’s shameless move is of the obvious, both a political and a gift in the name of public fame and funds.

The Order of National Artists is set as the highest national recognition given to Filipinos who have made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts and a National Artist is granted a sum of P100,000 upon awarding, a monthly stipend of P24,000, medical support, a P1-million project grant for a year and privileged burial at Libingan ng mga Bayani.

In exchange for the gift, it is possible that the monetary grant would be channeled to cultural outputs that may only serve the interests of an already isolated and unpopular GMA regime in desperate moves to stay in power and escape accountability to her corruption issues, among others.

It must be noted that in the exposé of the Arroyo’s anti-insurgency program called Oplan Bantay Laya (OBL), psychological war materials proliferated in the form of komiks, powerpoint presentations, stage performances, video flash, commercial tv ads and full length film in a form of teleserye where one untitled series was a direct attack to workers striving to live in a state of unemployment, contractualization and labor exploits and the other series titled, “Ligaw na Pangarap” aimed to harass students who chose to be critical and vigilant in a time of worsening commercialized education. The number of victims of human rights violation and enforced disappearances rose to alarming figures since OBL was implemented in 2002.

The Filipino people don’t need a leader like Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and a national artist like Cecille Guidote-Alavarez, who no matter how much foundation they apply on their face offcam, no matter how ironed their scripts are, no matter how spectacular their visual and human exhibits are, they cannot deceive sensible and thinking artists. We call to disregard the conferment of Arroyo’s picks in the Order of National Artist, an investigation to the “honors committee” that the Malacañang claims to nominate Alvarez and a culture of respect to a democratic process to the recognition.

The Arroyo regime and her tandem in culture of corruption, Ms. Alvarez, seem to underrate the collective power of the cultural sector, who, with the solidarity of the majority basic sectors, have championed in history struggles such as the defense of freedom of expression and civil liberties. Temporal was our Black Friday grief of the Death of the National Artist Awards as we remain in staging protest art, productions and actions for democratic cause. Arroyo’s recklessness is her own demise in power.

SINAGBAYAN is Sining na Naglilingkod sa Bayan, an organization of young writers, enthusiasts in various art disciplines and cultural workers committed to serve the arts for the education and organization of basic sectors. It has been in the forefront of advocating a nationalist, scientific and mass-oriented arts and culture since the turn of the millennium.

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Rep. Mikey Arroyo, President Obama ate in a hamburger joint at turo-turo oh, kaya ba ng nyo ba yan ha!?

For US President Barack Obama, eating in a hamburger joint DOES NOT AT ALL disrespect the presidency.

But President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's son, Congressman Mikey, said it would. In fact, he said, “You want your president to eat in McDonalds or some turo-turo (food stand)? I think there's more dignity in having your president and her cabinet members and members of the Lower House to eat in a decent restaurant.”

see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ng7spMHEolE

Who is right, do you think? The leader of the mightiest nation on earth? Or the son of an accidental third world president?

Early this year on January 10, 2009, Mr Obama ate at Ben's Chili Bowl in Washington DC, the kind of joint that Congressman Mikey sneers at. Mr Obama was accompanied by the DC mayor.

MORE HERE >> http://raissarobles.blogspot.com

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The Filipino is worth DINING for

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ARROYO ONE TIME DINNER WORTH 1 MILLION PESOS. WTF!!!!

yung ginamit lang naman dito eh TAX ng sambayang pilipino, mahirap man o mayaman tax nating lahat to. ang lufet noh, parang EB ng mga demonyo.

Bakit kung tignan mo yung administrative cases nung lawyers eh barya lang naman yan.. P40,000, P30,000, P20,000. eh yung iba nga diyan sila gloria and FG ang lalaki nang pera na paguusapan, bakit sina First Gentleman Arroyo who is a lawyer at yun si Justice Sabio bakit sila hindi pinanagot, kahit nasa millions yung atraso nila...

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INTERES nga ba ng kararamihan ang mahalaga?

bakit kaya. kapag ang Executive Order or E.O na magtatakip para katotohanan at para sa PANSARILING INTERES gaya ng E.O 464 eh permado agad ni gloria wala pang 24hrs. PERO kapag ang Executive Order or E.O na magbibigay para maibaba ang mga presyo ng gamot INTERES NG KARARAMIHAN eh patay na yung may sakit hirap na hirap paring permahan ni gloria, parang lumalabas na kontrolado ng mga pharmaceutical company ang galaw ng gloria, hindi po ba mas magandang isabatas nalang yan para magkaron ng permanenteng solusyon at wag yung discount lang ang ibigay na panandalian lang.

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Cha-CHa Ibasura... Trapo isuka...!

Lagpas isang dekada na ang pamamayapag ng mga eletista sa halalang sa simula pa lang ay kontrolado na nila... kaya't hindi nakapagtataka na iilang pamilyang eletista lamang ang humahawak sa poder ng kapangyarihan sa ating Bansa mula sa Lokal na Pamahalaan sa mga Probinsya hanggang sa Palasyo ng Malakanyang... samahan mo pa ng mga oligarkiyang takam na takam rin sa kapangyarihan at mga pribelehiyong kapalit ng kanilang pagsuporta sa mga politiko...

Panahon na ulit ng Halalang Eletista... mapula na ang kanilang mga hasang... lahat ng panloloko sa mga botante ay ginagawa na nila upang sila ay muling magpakilala... handa na uli silang magtunggalian upang pag-agawan ang poder ng kapangyarihan na tanging layunin lamang ay maprotektahan ang kanilang mga pansariling interes...


Ano ba ang aasahan ni Juan Dela Cruz sa sarsuela ng mga eletistang ito... tuwing may halalan ay ganito na ang eksenang bumubulaga sa ating mga Filipino... sa aking palagay ay hindi sa ganitong uri ng halalan giginhawa ang buhay ng mga Mang Pandoy ng ating Lipunan... nasubukan na natin ito ng ilang beses at wala namang nabago...

Sa Eletistang Halalan ang tanging nagagawa pa lang natin ay ang palitan ang mukha ng namumuno... ngunit parehong pangalan parin... mula sa parehong angkan... parehong dugo... parehong uring eletista parin... sa maikling salita ay pinalitan natin ang isang Eletista ng isa pang Eletista... ang isang Trapo ng isa ring Trapo... may mababago ba sa ganitong paulit-ulit na pangyayari... wala... ginagago na lang tayo ng Trapo at Eletistang Sistemang ito...

Lahat sila ay Trapo... kahit ang Oposisyon na naghahangad na pumalit kay Gloria ay mga Trapo rin... bistado sila sa kanilang pamamaraan ng pamumulitika... lahat sila ay gumagamit ng pera... baril... bayarang sanggano... at mga gimik na "feeling artista"... at sino man ang makipag-alyansa sa mga Trapo ay siguradong Trapo rin... kahit na baguhang kandidato ngunit gumagamit ng pamamaraan ng isang Trapo ay Trapo rin... kahit pa isa kang progresibo kung ang gawi mo ay gawain ng isang Trapo ikaw ay kabilang na rin sa mga Trapo... "birds of the same feather cheat, terrorize, rule, and steal together!"

Ngunit wala na ba talagang pag-asa... nangangahulugan ba na titigil na tayo sa paggamit ng ating karapatang mamili ng ating mga pinuno... makokontento na lang ba tayo sa pagiging "matatalinong botante"... payag ka na bang mamili ng lang ng isang "lesser evil" mula sa mga "evil" na kandidato... tira-tira lang ba ang pwede nating makuha sa halalang ito... ano ba ang tingin natin sa ating mga sarili... daig pa tayo ng mga aso... ang ating mga alagang aso ay hindi pwede ang tira-tira... tayo payag na tira-tira na lang ang pagpipilian...

Panahon na upang lumaban... panahon na upang ibagsak ang trapong paghahari... panahon na upang wakasan ang kanilang pamamayagpag... at ang ating gagamiting sandata ay ang mismong Halalang kanilang nilikha... ipatitikim natin sa kanila ang pait ng pagkatalo... ipamamalas natin sa kanila ang tunay na lakas ng masa... ipakikita natin ang ating kakayanang makapagluklok ng mga kandidatong magsusulong ng tunay na pagbabago... ng isang sistemang may pagmamalasakit sa uring manggagawa...

Sabi nga ng iba... Kaya Natin ito!... kung nais natin ng pagbabago ay dapat na itong simulan ngayon pa lang... labanan natin ang mga Trapo... tayo ang humanap ng ating mga kandidato... tapusin na natin ang pananahimik... nasimulan na natin sa pamamagitan ng pagkundina sa Con-Ass at Cha-Cha... ituloy natin ang laban... iangat natin ang ating panawagan... ang Con-Ass at Cha-Cha ay bunga lamang ng Eletista at Trapong Sistema... itong sistema na ito ang ating dapat buwagin...

Huwag Iboto ang mga Trapo at Eletista!
Ang Anti Trapo Movement ating ikasa na!
Ngayon ang panahon upang tayo ay magkaisa!
Isulong Rebolusyon ng Masa hindi Cha-Cha!

http://sakay2007.multiply.com

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50 cents Text to others promo

For those who was not able to see, hear or read the SONA yesterday, the President said that she was able to convince the telcos to cut inter-sms or text messaging rates by half. That means from P1.00.. its now down to just 0.50 cents.

Let’s take a closer look at this. Its a “PROMO”. Meaning it’s not a permanent thing yet.

Here’s SMART’s promo about it.

Smart released an info about their “text to others” promo on major broadsheets yesterday… the day of the SONA.

You need to register to avail of this promo. to do that, type: TO20 then send to 2827.

Meanwhile, if you are a Globe or Touch Mobile Subscriber, you will also need to register. Text TO<space>20 and send to 2868.

For both networks, you have to maintain 21.00 balance before you register. After registering, P20.00 will be slashed from your load. You then have to maintain P1.00 for you to still be able to avail of the promo. Once you are registered, you will now have 40 sms credits for you to be able to use to send text messages to other networks. And it will be valid for 1 day only (24 hours).

Just a reminder, 1 sms mesage means 150 characters.

After you consume all the 40 sms credits, any message sent to other networks after that will be charged with the regular rate of P1.00 per sms.

So to summarize:

1. You need to register
2. You need at least P21.00 available load
3. After successful registration, you will be given 40 sms credits to other network
4. 0.50 cents will apply if you

* Still have load (at least 1.00)
* You are still enrolled in the promo (1 day only)
* You have not yet consumed the 40 sms credits.

Here’s more info for Globe’s promo (and i think is also applicable to SMART subscribers - but i’m not sure of that)

* Text to others will be prioritized over free text messages. Meaning even if you still have free sms credits but you are enrolled to the promo, your sms credits for text to others will be consumed first.
* You can also use text to others even if you are also registered or using UNLITEXT
* Multiple registration for Text to others promo is allowed. Meaning you can register again and again even if you aven’t consumed your first 40 sms credits from your first registration. If you register again, you will then have another 40 on top of your first registration and the period covered will be extended based on your last registration.

Both promos started last JULY 28, 2008 and will end OCTOBER 22, 2008 unless extended.

Oh, SUN cellular’s sms cut is a permanent offer. Its called Budget Text.

You just need P5.00 and you will then have 10 sms credits ti use for other networks. But, you still have to register to use it. Text BGT<space>5 and send to 223. Another way is to dial *230*2*17#. This will enable you to purchase Budget Text 5.

So, it looks like only SUN made the reduction in SMS rates a permanent thing. But if you’ll listen or watch the speech of the President yeterday, she was so happy announcing it and like what i said here, it was one of the most applauded part of her speech.

By the way, i assume that registration to these promos are free. I haven’t verified that yet.

Also, you won’t see this promo or details of it in any website of the participating networks. But they were saying that they were not forced to give this promo.

I am for the reduction of the cost of SMS messages. Reduce the cost within the same network and those for other networks as well. But making it free will clog the network. Right SUN? =p

Thanks to brader Dom for the GMA meNAme pic.

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