AlterNation101

On The First Obama-McCain Debate

2008-09-27T14:34:00.004+08:00

I watched in amazement and envy today's US Presidential debate on TV. Although I like the fatherly personality of McCain more than Obama's hip yet businesslike demeanor, I still cannot make up my mind as to who among them would make a better president. McCain seems to know more about foreign policy though, having pointed out some of Obama's gaffes in the past (e.g. seating/talking directly with Iran and Nokor without pre-conditions and the too balanced early comment on Georgia/Russia scuttle). But Obama held his ground too especially on the US economy as he pointed out the defects in Bush's handling of the economy while connecting it with the conservative point of view (McCain's).

But I am not voting in the US elections. Although whoever the US President would be could surely affect the future of the entire world, we cannot do anything about there elections, could we?

But what I envy is the quality of leaders and potential Presidents they have in the US. I envy the quality of elections and debates that they have. I envy the quality of information their mass media and their electoral procedure brings to the people.

Come to think of it, had our COMELEC and mass media been doing their jobs, Erap, or PGMA (or to some, FPJ) would not have been elected. Letting Erap and PGMA sit in one debate with Roco alone will surely make the two Presidents seem like fools. Both of them will surely become the laughing stock of the country. But no, our mass media prefer to accommodate the richer of the candidates. Rather than debate, Erap even proudly says in a brusque John Wayne manner, and agreed to by mass media, that he prefers to do things for the poor rather than debate (or something to that effect).

So that is what we have, we do not know who the candidates are. Filipinos just select their president based on name recall and on who's winning. Heck, we do not even know really how many children Erap had and how many wives he sired!

Godless

2008-09-23T14:29:00.003+08:00

I have just read House Bill 5043 (more commonly known as Reproductive Health and Population Development Bill). Basically, the proposed law:

Calls for government funding (or taxpayers money) for dissemination of information, including multi-media campaign, and government funding (tax money) for full delivery and financial coverage of artificial birth control methods services and supplies
Require healthcare institutions, public or private, their workers, the national government and local government units, even employers to provide access to artificial birth-control methods
Provide penalties for neglecting or not following the above-mentioned mandates
Provide those minors with DSWD certification direct access to artificial birth control methods even without parental consent
Afford women the right to decide to avail of artificial birth-control methods even without spousal agreement
Require schools to provide information on artificial birth control methods as part of curriculum at least to all levels of secondary school (all high-school students)

Obviously, HB5043 is a direct affront to the Roman Catholic Church which teaches the immorality of such artificial birth-control methods. The proposed law requires a portion of your money and mine whether you believe in the law’s immorality or not to be used for artificial contraception for the poor. The proposal also requires all government officials, all hospitals and their employees, all employers, even those that are staunch catholics to provide access to artificial contraception. Well, to those people who says that the church should not meddle with government business… Hello?

Also, the proponents of the law are basically saying that artificial birth-control methods are not immoral, that is if they care about morality at all. In questions of morality therefore, should anyone believe proponent lawmakers such as Lagman and Hontiveros-Baraquel who are leaning towards the Godless left or should we believe the church who devotes time to study and answer questions on morality?

Amazingly, with HB5043, poor people may be provided with artificial birth-control methods services and pills for free when the person is perfectly healthy, but not with other medicine when the same person is sick. HB5043 thought that your birth-control pill is essential medicine while your anti-diabetes drug is perhaps not too much essential. If one wants tubal ligation or vasectomy done, you can have it absolutely for free while you might not have your appendectomy for the same privilege. f you do not want to have babies, the government is required to provide you with all the services, supplies and equipment you need to avoid having a baby. But if you do not have a baby, would want a baby but cannot conceive, sorry the government has no mandate to help you.

Meanwhile, the bill did not care to define abortifacients. Although it says it does not change the status of abortion as an illegal act, it did not say when an act is abortion and when it is not. The issue as to when life begins, from fertilization or ovulation is not tackled. Perhaps, for the bill’s proponents, these minor details are not essential to know!?

The bill profusely contrasts itself. Perhaps, to promote responsible parenthood, the bill proposes direct access of all those minors certified by the DSWD as having been abused, to artificial post-sex birth-control. Meanwhile, perhaps to promote partnership between spouses, the wife is given the right to gain access to the same artificial methods even without spousal agreement. I heard from the radio early today one of the law’s proponents saying that this bill is designed purely for couples and their parental responsibility. Could that be the reason why schools are required to teach young children about artificial contraception?

I cannot fathom how promoting parental responsibility and financing everyone’s freedom to have sex irresponsibly could mix together. Surely, the proposed law spreads around nice words such as responsibility, healthcare, freedom, choice, development, rights, equality, couples, etc. Yet, it is nothing but an attempt to remove God from our government and society.

Shouldn't Lozada be on the Headlines?

2008-09-15T17:01:00.005+08:00

There is news today regarding the Lozada abduction case, wherein Jun Lozada alleged that he was kidnapped by the government. Now, the court ruled that it is was not true. Jun Lozada was not in anyway forced to go with his alleged abductors while he can even send text messages freely to whomever he wants while being allegedly "abducted", the ruling said.

The following are quotes from the Phil. Daily Inquirer news (link)

Lozada wasn't abducted, says court of appeals

MANILA, Philippines--The Court of Appeals has dismissed Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada’s petition for protection, saying the whistle-blower on the scuttled $329-million National Broadband Network (NBN) deal was neither kidnapped nor threatened by government officials.

...In an 87-page decision penned by Justice Celia Librea-Leagogo and concurred in by Justices Regalado Maambong and Sixto Marella Jr., the court said it was not convinced that Lozada’s right to life, liberty or security was violated or threatened by what he had experienced on his return from Hong Kong as shown by his subsequent actions.

“It bears stressing that the instant amparo petition does not involve extralegal killings, enforced disappearances or threats thereof. This court also takes note that Rodolfo even attended an interfaith rally in Makati and has been on campus tours, not only in Metro Manila but also other parts of the country,” the court added.

...“With noon-day clarity, this court finds that the reason why Rodolfo was fetched at the airport was to help him avoid the Senate contingent. Rodolfo clearly knew this because at that time, it was still his decision not to testify before the Senate. He agreed with the plan,” it said.

The court also pointed out that Lozada did not try to resist his supposed captors, who did not hold him and were not hostile to him. He voluntarily went with them, chatted with them and freely used his cell phone and got in touch with members of his family and Atienza.

...The court also said his rights were not threatened or violated when he was brought to the La Salle Green Hills on Feb. 5—upon his request—until he decided to hold his predawn conference on Feb. 7.

Well, it is very natural to fall into this line of thinking. In fact, those should have been the first questions by the media to Jun Lozada. Instead, mass media apparently brainless as they were, dealt on the juicy details which Jun Lozada wishes to divulge regardless whether he has established his credibility or not.

And with all the juicy details that Lozada dramatically emphasized in the mass media, he was all over the headlines. In so short a time, he became the epitome of heroism, the present day Rizal.

So now, when the court ruled that Jun Lozada is a farce, the news should have been one bigger headline. But no, the Inquirer thought it is small news, still on the frontpage but without the prominence they gave Lozada in the past.

Of course, the people did not buy Lozada's exploits. One simple proof is that people did not respond to calls for another People Power. But no... many pundits would rather blame apathy - the people are tired of people power, they said. In any case, people will surely not miss too much of Lozada.

Negative Editorial on BF

2008-08-29T10:12:00.005+08:00

The Inquirer today had an editorial chastising Bayani Fernando for early campaigning and use of the people’s money in the same early campaign. The editorial is of course referring to the tarpaulin announcements (or advertisements) by Fernando along EDSA, apparently an attempt for an early campaign veiled as a call for public order.

Nothing is wrong with the editorial, except that it is obviously not an editorial against early campaigning. Surely, the writer is against Fernando for whatever he does. And what better issue can they forward against the MMDA chief but “early campaigning”?

Consequently, the writer said that Fernando is a “pretender” and an “interloper”, and “his pretentiousness knows no bound”. He is also an “extreme egoist” has “insufferable arrogance” and his actions are "pathetic and sacrilegious". I am not sure if the editorial is just trying to use space for lack of more issues to cover for I cannot imagine how they can use pathetic and sacrilegious to describe the same action at the same time.

Fernando is already a pretender and interloper—at the expense of the public. And his pretentiousness knows no bounds. In the run-up to the Ninoy Aquino Day and National Heroes Day, the MMDA distributed stickers and other paraphernalia bearing his name, which means “hero” in English. Motorists put the stickers on their windshields and those who violated traffic rules were reportedly treated leniently by MMDA traffic enforcers. Pressed to explain the stickers, the Land Transportation Office said it’s illegal to put just any sticker on windshields and asked motorists to remove them.
The attempt at self-canonization is both pathetic and sacrilegious. Only the extreme egoist could put himself on the level of patriots and heroes, who are there in the pantheon not by self-aggrandizement but by collective acclamation. And if heroism, in the case of Aquino and others like him, is self-sacrifice and self-immolation, how can Fernando claim to be in their league? He is making martyrs of us all by his insufferable arrogance.

While the editorial is accusing Fernando as a pretender, it is easy to deduce that he is just playing with words, a usual advertising gimmickry (referring to stickers allegedly distributed by the MMDA). As supposed interloper, Fernando apparently used the timing of the national heroes day to play on his name (as in “Araw ng mga Bayani”), again a usual advertisement style. As an “egoist”, perhaps the writer is agitated by Fernando’s name. The editorial should have been content on chastising for early campaign. Instead, the writer also chastised Fernando on the marketing style. Would the same editorial label big advertisers for using public holidays and putting the name of their product in their ads? Obviously, the writer has nothing more to say and in saying more showed his blind anger towards his subject.

Note that the editorial also accuses the MMDA of “reportedly” being lenient to drivers of cars with the “BAYANI” stickers – a very serious charge. That is one thing bloggers do often, getting away with saying something without actually backing it up with facts. I just hope the Inquirer would not resort to such short cuts, for their paper also exists to actually report facts – and their opinions are supposedly based on such facts. Again, if you are angry at something, I cannot blame you for not maintaining your objectivity and professionalism, can I? Or, in the case of an Inquirer editorial, Can I, really?

If we all look closely only on the valid arguments, we can all well conclude that those are old tirades and does not hold water anymore. Those are all old arguments without solutions. It is very easy to focus anger on supposed early campaigning. However, nobody has ever thought how anyone like Fernando can win an election without resorting to such promotion. Meanwhile, the mass media (the Inquirer included) easily forget that people like Fernando who actually does something actually did many things for the country. Actually “forget” is the wrong word. It is more of "ignore" if not "deny". Fernando, and those like him should have always been given free publicity by the mass media. It is mass media’s responsibility to report to the people who among our leaders are doing good, not just those who are doing bad. Instead, Fernando, etc. can only resort to early promotional gimmicks which they did not have to do in the first place had mass media been responsible enough.

Although in the end, the editorial also included the other early campaigners in its tirade, it finally said: “At least they are not using public funds for their visibility campaign”. The writer obviously failed to see that Legarda, Escudero, Lacson, Roxas., etc are blatantly in conflict of interest (and hence engaging publicly and without doubt in graft and corruption) when they agree to use their face for advertisements for specific products. Everybody now forgot that Legarda, Escudero, Lacson and Roxas are senators representing the Filipino people and not just Lucida, Santre, Facial Care or Tide! Is there anything worse than that?

Lastly, I cannot help but note that the writer failed to mention the names of the other early campaigners in similar relation to the vivid negative descriptions he allied with Fernando’s name. People might not notice but this glaring omission is a usual corrupt pundit’s tactic aimed to avoid anyone from reading between the lines as to who the pundit is rooting for. By not mentioning everybody, the pundit conveniently does not need to mention his or her own patron.

Spreading Democracies

2008-08-21T14:50:00.002+08:00

The USA, currently led by a Republican president, claims to be spreading democracy in the middle east and other continents. In saying that, they must mean they are toppling dictatorships and other non-democratic regimes such as what they did in Afghanistan and Iraq. Surely, they are also at least discreetly supporting rebels in other countries that they deem undemocratic. The reason they do that is because they think these dictatorships breed terrorists and therefore pose a threat to worldwide peace as if learning a lesson from 9/11.

However, in doing so, the United States is currently embroiled in endless military involvement such as in Iraq and Afghanistan and criticized worldwide as the real terrorists. Indeed, what right has the Americans to judge a leader of another country as a threat to worldwide peace and cause his/her demise? Meanwhile, there were suggestions that the USA has now spread its forces so thin which could have precipitated Russia’s boldness in its own overture in Georgia. Back in the US, the Democratic Party was able to control the Congress and threatens to take the White House with who could be the first minority President in Obama.

Another argument criticizing the United States is her selectivity. Why does she want Iraq or even Iran become a democracy, while she hardly notices her friend Saudi Arabia’s too undemocratic ways? It has been pointed out by many that the 9/11 perpetrators are mostly Saudis, including its mastermind Bin Laden himself. So why are the Saudi leaders given a free pass? Many argue that President Bush is a hypocrite: perhaps, his real mission is to get hold of those oil barrels coming from Iraq and nothing else. Worse, the argument seems supplemented by Bush’s and Cheney’s past (or present?) business involvement with big American Oil companies.

Whatever the arguments are, which validity we have no way of knowing, I believe that violence breeds violence, that war breeds war. Military action couldn’t stop terrorists. On the contrary, it could breed them further and make them more sophisticated. If you kill a terrorist, would you now kill his children, who most probably will become terrorists, too? Where and when will this violence end? Indeed, it could be foolish to bring war and expect democracy to flourish.

I myself do not judge the US’s actions in Iraq or in Afghanistan. I agree that one cannot negotiate with terrorists while I do not have the information that the American president has to decide which countries to engage militarily in. What I have is the following observation and suggestion on how to spread democracy to other countries.

One important ingredient of democracy is freedom of the press. I contend that a democracy without a responsible and free media is not a democracy. If we closely observe the main characteristic of a democratic country, we can immediately say that it is that their mass media is truly free – that their journalists feel safe doing their jobs and that they even profit handsomely in their profession. Some may argue that it may be the result rather than the cause of democracy, but it is beside the point. The point is: if there is free expression, say in the mass media in Iraq, Saddam would not have survived a day in office. Meanwhile, if by some stroke of lightning the mass media was controlled in the USA in favor of that country’s leaders, then Bush or anybody at the helm will become a dictator. It would then be only up to the heavens or the whims of the President what the American future would look like.

I therefore argue that instead of sending men and weapons in support of war, America and its allies should focus on exporting the idea of the freedom of expression. Instead of supporting rebels, they should support journalists and media entities. When small fledgling democracies ask for help, they must help in exchange for an assurance that mass media will be made free. They can even open their trade (their biggest bargaining chip) only to countries who support the freedom of the press. The US can then send media observers perhaps through the UN to report whether countries are following their side of the bargain.

When mass media is free and responsible, all leaders of all countries will be kept in check. Ideas, not terrorism, will flourish and countries would then be able to tackle problems better and on their own.

An Appeal to the Philippine Daily Inquirer to lead us in the Search for our Future Leaders

2008-07-12T16:38:00.005+08:00

July 12, 2008

Ms. Sandie Prieto Romualdez
President/CEO
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Dear Ms. Romualdez,

The Philippines is in need of true leaders for our future. We need a leader who will lift us from the evils of graft and corruption and bring us to economic prosperity and political stability. However, we know that our elections do not produce credible results while many well-meaning and qualified leaders do not get enough exposure in our mass media.

In India, a similar problem, although on a different plane, was acted upon by one of their leading newspaper, the Times of India. A very unique and fresh idea, the Times of India launched a national search for leaders, the Lead India campaign. Much like a search for an Idol or the next Star, prospective leaders where auditioned, interviewed, questioned, tested, debated with, as true future leaders should be (see the following youtube video).

I am not sure what the final results will be for the future of India, but surely the same idea is desperately needed to be implemented in our beloved country. Surely, we can make good use of our being the “Text Messaging Capital of the World” to search/screen nationwide, through text messaging, real future leaders.

And to successfully launch a similar campaign, is there any other newspaper more dominant and credible enough than the Philippine Daily Inquirer to lead us? I am sure you feel your paper have done many good things for the country just by being there. I am also sure you feel the same as many of us about how low our country has become through the years. Imagine what could the Philippines be in a few years if we continue in this downward spiral. Perhaps, just being there is not enough. We need leaders and we need them now.

I, and all those who approved of this letter (by adding their name or signature here), therefore, appeal to you to lead a similar campaign. Lead us in the search for our Future Leaders. Lead us in Saving the Country. We ask you to lead us, because we know you can.

Sincerely,

Sef Dudeo

Misery by Sulpicio Lines

2008-06-23T18:57:00.002+08:00

Filipinos are now used to disasters happening around the country. Every typhoon that arrives seems to always result in deaths, if not by landslides, by sinking of sea vessels. So, no one is surprised anymore of the recent sinking of Sulpicio Lines' Princess of the Stars. People even easily joke about it.

EVeryone believe that we must be on the top of the list worldwide in maritime disasters. Indeed, Reuters listed today some Philippine sea disasters in recent memory:

June 23 (Reuters) - Around 800 people are missing on Monday after a ferry sank in a typhoon off Sibuyan island in the central Philippines in what could be one of the island nation's worst maritime disasters in more than 20 years. Here is a list of some of the deadliest shipping disasters in the archipelago over the past two decades.

* Dec 1987 - A total of 4,386 die in world's worst peacetime shipping disaster, as ferry Dona Paz, owned by Sulpicio Lines, and an oil tanker collide off Mindoro Island.

* Oct 1988 - Dona Marilyn, sister ship of Dona Paz, sinks off Leyte province, killing around 300.

* July 1993 - 279 pilgrims drown when an overloaded wooden temple, mounted on three boats, collapses during a religious festival as it is being towed along the Bocaue river, 20 km (12 miles) north of Manila.

* Dec 1994 - Ferry Cebu City collides with Singapore oil tanker, killing more than 140.

* Sept 1998 - Almost 200 die when ferry MV Princess of the Orient, sister ship of Dona Paz and Dona Marilyn, sinks in stormy seas near Cavite and Batangas.

* April 2000 - At least 138 drown after the ML Annahada sinks off Jolo island in the southern Philippines.

* Feb. 2004 - Superferry 14 catches fire near Manila Bay, killing 116 people. Abu Sayyaf claims responsibility, saying a suicide bomber sabotaged the boat to protest ill treatment of Muslim communities.

* June 2008: MV Princess of Stars sinks 3 km (2 miles) from Sibuyan island in central Philippines in typhoon-lashed seas, leaving around 800 people missing.

Source: Reuters

Sad to say, with goverment and businesses so corrupt and inept, these kinds of disasters are bound to happen again.

P20M ransom

2008-06-23T18:37:00.002+08:00

The PNP said that to secure the release of Ces Drilon from the hands of her abductors, her family paid a total of P20M ransom. The amount seems logical. It is easy to believe that the family would have that amount. But it is more logical to imagine that ABS-CBN contributed to the pot although they would never admit it.

And if it is indeed P20M paid, then we can only conclude that the Ces' et. al. abduction is true.

The PNP also said the it was Sulu Mayor Isnaji who facilitated the negotiations with the Abu Sayyaf. Isnaji was alleged to have pocketed part of the ransom payment and is now being charged as part of the kidnappers. The only proof offered so far to the media is the photo of Isnaji counting the money. Surely and sadly, we wouldn't know the truth.

Meanwhile, another journalist who was said to have been also kidnapped some years back by the same group (of which no one can be sure if true), Arlyn Dela Cruz of the Inquirer maintains the that Loren Legarda was able to help secure the release of Drilon and company. If ransom payment was made, then what could be Legarda's role? The only role left her is that of a decoy story. One that can be released as an official story of the abduction... yes that one for the press release.

With all these incongruent information floating around us, it seems that world media yet again dismisses the news as another joke coming from the Philippines. There were no coverage by the CNN (I did not monitor CNN 24 hours daily but at I can easily say no prominence was given), nor was there a headline on Yahoo news. Perhaps the world did not believe Drilon was abducted in the first place.

P20M may be enough to secure the release of Ces from the Abu, but no amount of money will ever have the country recover its credibility in the eyes of the world. Whatever the truth is, we shall remain to be a joke.

All's Well

2008-06-19T10:17:00.003+08:00

Yesterday, Ces Drilon and others was freed by her abductors, apparently without ransom nor any preconditions. So, all is well that ends well. However, many people still do not believe that she indeed is kidnapped. There are many things going against the story:

1. Fresh from a horrifying experience, Ces is ready to make a press conference. Being kidnapped is a horrendous experience and her being in the limelight is not a very natural thing to do.

2. During the press conference, Loren Legarda was portrayed to be the person behind the release of Drilon and others. Asked how she did it, Legarda said she communicated with her contacts in the region, talked to Drilon herself (presumably on the cellphone, but whose phone is not clear), talked to the kidnappers either to plead with or rebuke them directly on their actions. Loren said she worked to release Ces without preconditions and she did it. Isn’t it just too amazing how a beautiful Lucida endorser and a presidential wannabe also a successful kidnap negotiator? To top it, Loren insisted that there were no ransom paid. (of course there is another Loren coverage which is more of a press release and they now have a better story here).

3. When asked if Ces knows her contacts, she said that “they are (the contacts) careful”. She did not answered directly (translation: evaded) but hinted that she doesn’t know the names. The question is obviously referring to the contacts that had her going to the area for whatever purpose and should be more than just Dimampo and Biyaw as referred to in the Inquirer news (here). Obviously, Ces closed the door on the full story of her going there.

....Drilon and her crew were in Sulu province purportedly to interview a leading member of the Abu Sayyaf when they were kidnapped by armed men on June 8. Dinampo, a professor of Mindanao State University who has access to the bandit group, served as their guide, as did Juamil Biyaw...

4. Ces said it more than twice, the experience let her open her eyes to the plight of the Abus, as in why they are there, in the jungle. She said she doesn’t want to justify their (Abu Sayyaf) actions (more than twice too) but she poses the angle the Abu Sayyaf would love. And believe me when I say this is no Stockholm Syndrome, and it looks more like a “press release” granted.

5. Ces mentioned that 4 of them shared one pack of noodles. She said they (the Abus more than her) sleep on hammocks or sacks on the ground. She said you’d sleep wet when in rains. However, it seems she is more of telling us about the miseries of life in the jungle for the Abu Sayyaf, and not the difficulties she faced. Also, she didn’t mention if they were on an Abu camp.

6. When asked if Ces would file a case against her kidnappers, again she evaded the question and said that she is cooperating with the authorities.

7. They (Ces and her staff) still have their cameras intact. Now, we wouldn’t be surprised if they had everything covered, wouldn’t we?

8. They announced that they are going to the Medical City for checkup. After a kidnapping, would anyone want everyone know where you are going to be?

Meanwhile, the Inquirer is notably soft on Ces with their version on the same issues …

…But Drilon refused to elaborate on how she, her cameramen Angelo Valderama and Jimmy Encarnacion, and peace advocate Octavio Dinampo were betrayed.

“We’ll get there. We are cooperating with the investigation and we condemn [the kidnappers] for what they did,” said the 46-year-old mother of four…

…As she did in Zamboanga City, Drilon said she and her crew would continue coordinating with authorities to pursue their captors.

She said their captors were “careful not to give their real names.”…

Of course Ces cannot expect to ask her captors their real name. Obviously, the question was addressing her contacts prior she got there...

…She said there was no toilet to speak of, that meals consisted of a platito (saucer) of instant noodles, and that they slept on hammocks or sacks laid on the ground.

“Then it will rain and you’ll sleep with your clothes wet. It was really bad,” said Drilon, looking refreshed now in a white button-down shirt, jeans, black rubber shoes and polka-dotted socks…

…Eye-opener

Besides the trauma of captivity, a discovery in the jungle has left another lasting mark on Drilon.

“I don’t want to justify what they’re doing—they are bandits and we’re cooperating with authorities so they’d be caught—but I think we must also understand why they are doing that. There were bandits who were 12 years old, 17, 15, and they were holding guns,” she said, adding:

“Your eyes will be opened. You’d think, why are these children holding guns instead of holding notebooks and studying?”

Asked by a fellow ABS-CBN reporter if she would ever return to Sulu, Drilon said with a quip to her boss, Ressa: “The office will not allow me anymore... But Mindanao is vast, right, Maria?”…

On the other hand, there are a few things going for the story.

1. Ces had mosquito bites on her face and had no (or little) makeup.

2. Ces cried when she talked about her family, and the family of her staff.

3. Ces said she was at fault and her employers are not to be blamed (or something like that).

Note: all quotes and the photo from the inquirer.net .

Tim Russert, 58

2008-06-14T14:53:00.002+08:00

Today, I heard the news that NBC's Tim Russert died of heart attack while at work. Many would not have known him but I have seen and liked his show "Meet the Press". I have watched the show for about a dozen times (I only see it intermittently on cable as it is not regularly shown), and I am amazed at how much research Russert make for his political interviews.

What Russert usually do on his interview are quoting the things a politician said years ago, contrasting that with what the same politician is saying now, and giving the same politician chance to clarify his position. He just do not quote some sound bites but he really make extensive research of many instances when and where a politician said what and how. Clearly, if this Russert guy is even just a radio anchor in our country, all Pinoy Politicos would have been exposed as double-faced fakes.

If Tim Russert was a DZMM or a DZBB anchor for example, a politician with dozens of wives and hordes of children like Erap, etc. would not even be a candidate for Barangay Captain. Anyone who cannot speak straight, like De Venecia or even PGMA will never make it to the top. The verbose style of Mirriam Santiago may even falter. Only persons who speak fluently such as Ninoy Aquino or Raul Roco would have made it.

But this kind of Russert Journalism would not survive in our country. Our mass media are controlled only either by corrupt or incompetent hands. I think that even the Catholic controlled Veritas will not play host to any Russert type anchor. Veritas seem to me to be too busy talking and not able to listen and realize what the people actually needs. No media player in the country today is bold enough to employ or encourage a Russert-type journalist to host anything. They prefer to play with the politicians and profit from the absence of reality.

Meanwhile, well-meaning groups such as the AngKap political party are also too busy (being used) trying to oust PGMA, that everyone forgot that without a working mass media, the country will never rise from the dump.

I know I am not but I hope I can be a Russert kind of guy. But I do not speak too well and I easily get distracted by many things and forget what was being said right in front of me at many given moments. So being a Russert is out of my league. Sadly, I know that we need this Russert Journalism started here but I am out of ideas how to do it.

Abu Sayyaf Board and Lodging Fee

2008-06-14T14:05:00.002+08:00

This could be the most expensive vacation one can have, a two million peso 5-day jungle vacation in the island of sulu hosted by the Abu Sayyaf. Of course, we won't really know if this is the ransom price actually paid by whoever to secure the release of Angelo Valderama, one of the abducted ABS-CBN staff who with Ces Drilon was kindnapped by the Abus last Monday. I found the information in gmanews.tv as follows:

A GMA News source, who is involved in the negotiation for the release of Drilon’s group, said the ABS-CBN newscaster was with Prof. Octavio Dinampo of the Mindanao State University. Drilon’s crewmen were being held separately by the captors. On Thursday night, Drilon’s assistant cameraman, Angelo Valderama, was released.

Reports quoted Undersecretary Amilasan Amilbajar of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Mindanao as saying a P2-million "board and lodging fee" was paid in exchange for Valderama's freedom.

Now, Ces Drilon is not yet free and it was also said that from P10M, the ransom demand for her release has now gone up to a range of P25M to P50M...

It was not immediately known whether ransom was paid in exchange for the release of Valderama, but the kidnappers have reportedly demanded as much as P50 million for the hostages.

The kidnappers originally demanded P10 million, but radio network dzRH on Thursday said the bandits asked for P50 million.

The report said the hostages should have been freed on Wednesday after unnamed negotiators agreed to pay the ransom.

The radio network, which quoted "unnamed sources privy to the negotiations," also reported that the kidnappers already lowered their demand to P25 million.

For people like myself, P2M is a whole lot of money, more so P50M. I am sure though that for ABS-CBN, this is just a drop in the bucket. In 2007, it was said that ABS-CBN posted consolidated revenues close to P20B.

Meanwhile, I am not sure how talents are paid in the entertainment industry. I heard that Regine Velasquez charges hundreds of thousands of pesos to sing 5 songs in a private event. In comparison, I wonder how much ABS will pay the Abu to secure an exclusive interview?

"Board and lodging" fee has been said to have been paid to the Abu Sayyaf before. This time, they could also be charging ABS-CBN an "exclusive interview" fee.

ABS-CBN is changing tune on the Drilon Abduction

2008-06-12T17:45:00.002+08:00

ABS-CBN seem now to be changing tune on the abduction of Ces Drilon, et. al. by the Abu Sayyaf. They are now asking other stations and journalists to condemn the Abu Sayyaf for the incident, which is quite a departure from their previous stance requesting for a news embargo. ABS-CBN is also now announcing a supposed corporate policy of "no ransom payments" for kidnappers.

If the abduction is true, it seems that their initial negotiation with the abductors broke down and they must have made todays pronouncements to discourage the Abu Sayyaf from negotiating something more than what ABS is willing to offer.

Of course, as bystanders, we wouldn't and may never know the truth. However, at this point, many people I talked to still do not believe the news. Many would rather believe that the station is just trying to make some publicity. Some are even suggesting that this is just a ploy to sideline the negative news on Meralco, while at the same time they bombard the media background with Judy Ann's cute pro-Meralco advertisement.

ABS-CBN cannot blame many people from doubting them and speculating. They have been known to create and sensationalize news rather than just report them. Their news embargo at the start even helped fuel the doubts. Personally, I am still not fully convinced although I continue to pray, and I enjoin everyone to do the same, that Ces and her staff, wherever they are, be safe.

The Abduction of Ces Drilon and the News Blackout that followed

2008-06-11T13:27:00.007+08:00

Our Mass Media is suddenly sensitive. Easily, when the safety of one of its own is at stake, our mass media folds up and most would heed the calls for a news blackout. This is the case now when ABS-CBN news reporter and TV personality Ces Drilon was supposedly abducted by the notorious Abu Sayyaf. ABS-CBN requested other media outlets to suspend highlighting the big event apparently to assure the safety of Drilon. Inquirer did not run the news the next day nor did many other news organizations. It was only today that the event was on headlines (not yet at abs-cbnnews.com, though).

From the Inquirer website:
MANILA, Philippines—The biggest story on Monday did not come out the next day in the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net) or in any of its competitors.
But broadcasting giant ABS-CBN Tuesday maintained it had good reason to hold the story on the abduction of its senior correspondent Ces Drilon and her crew in Sulu by armed men said to be members of the Abu Sayyaf, and to ask other media outfits to do the same.

Bong Osorio, head of ABS-CBN corporate communications, said the network made a “gentle request” to other news agencies to “embargo” the story.

“The request was made primarily for the security and safety of Ces and her companions. At that time (Monday), we did not know what their situation was. We didn’t want to speculate on any information that would jeopardize their safety,” he said.

Osorio thanked the media outfits “who allowed the request to happen,” but said the network thought it was “okay” that others did not heed it.

“They got the stories from interviews with other sources. That’s OK. We are just sticking to our official statement on the matter,” he said.

He added that making such a request to other media agencies would not be a company policy and would be made “on a case-by-case basis.”

News blackout

ABS-CBN news and current affairs head Maria Ressa appealed for a news blackout on the reported kidnapping of Drilon and company so as not to jeopardize their safety.

“In deference to the safety of Ces Drilon and her crew, the Inquirer decided to hold the story for just one day,” said Inquirer newspaper editor in chief Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc.

Ressa phoned the Inquirer on Monday to appeal for a news blackout until 6 a.m. Tuesday while negotiations for the release of the ABS-CBN team were ongoing.

She told Magsanoc that reporting the abduction would pose a danger to the lives of Drilon, Jimmy Encarnacion and Angelo Valderama.

Ressa said the news blackout was important because the network was afraid that other extremist groups in the area might take advantage of the situation.

In response to Magsanoc’s reservations about the news blackout, Ressa said she had also appealed to other newspapers, ABS-CBN’s rival network GMA 7, the wire service agencies and the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines to observe a news blackout...

I too pray for the safety of Drilon and the others now with her, if indeed they were abducted (yesterday, many people do not believe there is an abduction specifically because of the limited news it garnered). But it is somehow ironic to note that in the recent past, even a small call for the mass media to curb their coverage would have started cries for press freedom and independence, even when national security is at stake.

It is noteworthy also to consider the reasons why ABS would call for a news black-out. Among their official reasons are to avoid jeopardizing the rescue efforts and/or to hamper other extremist groups from taking advantage of the situation, all for the safety of Drilon and others. ABS did not explain why Drilon will be more in danger if news of the kidnapping will be on headlines. One reader of my blog commented that news will hamper ABS' efforts to pay "ransom".

We all know that paying ransom to kidnappers only encourage more kidnappings in the future. But of course, we also know that most everyone will pay ransom when kidnapped. This is the truth that nobody wants exposed. Indeed, this could be the only reason why a news black-out is needed.

Apparently it is not only now that kidnappings of journalist and probably payment of ransom by their employers happened. Obviously in order to explain that it is not only them asking for news blackouts in such events, ABS-CBN made a list of past Abu kidnappings which many of us are unaware.

...Based on abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak’s research, there have been at least 20 journalists that the group has held captive since 2000. Most of them were foreign journalists, but the list includes reporters of the country’s top news agencies—leading television networks ABS-CBN and GMA-7, and the newspaper Philippine Daily Inquirer, among others.

Date of Captivity	Victims	Length of Captivity
April 2000 (Basilan)	GMA-7 television reporter Susan Enriquez	A few days
May 2000 (Jolo)	10 Foreign journalists (7 German, 1 French, 1 Australian, and 1 Danish)	10 hours
July 2000 (Jolo)	German Andreas Lorenz of the magazine Der Spiegel (He was also kidnapped in May.)	25 days
July 2000 (Jolo)	French television reporter Maryse Burgot, and cameramen Jean-Jacques Le Garrec and sound technician Roland Madura	about 2 months
July 2000 (Jolo)	ABS-CBN television reporter Maan Macapagal and cameraman Val Cuenca	4 days

January 2002 (Zamboanga)	Philippine Daily Inquirer contributor and Net 25 television reporter Arlyn de la Cruz	over 3 months
September 2002 (Jolo)	GMA-7 television reporter Carlo Lorenzo and cameraman Gilbert Ordiales	6 days

It is now for everyone to see how powerful our mass media is, they can easily filter the information coming our way. They can easily make big even the littlest of issues or hide big news such as this. ABS-CBN obviously do not trust the quality of journalism in the country because they have short of admitted that coverage of the event will put Drilon and others in more danger. Why else would there be more danger for the victims except for when so called "journalists" try to outdo each other for a scoop of sensationalized news?

Another truth we can easily see now is how our so called journalist have turned a blind eye on the Abus. Kidnappings by the Abus of journalists are not highlighted by the mass media. Meanwhile, again and again they cry harrasment by the government and/or the military when there are dead journalists or when some of their ranks felt threatened. Obviously, they know that the government will not touch them. There may be dead journalist but surely they know that government is mostly not to blame (although still government should be blamed for the lawlessness in our society). Meanwhile, they know that the Abus are a serious lot and are not to be cried to.

Blind Ads in the Inquirer, is itFair?

2008-06-10T19:41:00.005+08:00

I read so many times in the Philippine Daily Inquirer some advertisements about the excesses of Napocor and why Napocor is to blame for the increased cost of electricity in the country. The advertisements themselves did not say who paid for the ad but it is obvious they were supportive of Meralco. It is therefore easy to conclude that Meralco, or the Lopezes are behind the ad.

Reading through the ads, it is also easy to conclude that the assertions are wrong or at least incomplete. For example, one ad showed that the price of electricity from Napocor/WESM is much more expensive than those which Meralco bought from their own ISP. However, Napocor and WESM are two different entities and totally unfair to confuse them as one. Also, since WESM price is fluctuating according to the time of day, the ad did not say whether the prices were of what given time. I am not sure if people are actually reading the ads and digesting them as gospel truth but surely those unaware of the situation will be duped. The ads also are laden with words such as "Tongpats" and "bukol", the terms recently used to refer to graft money supposedly for the administration added to the cost of goods.

Amazingly, the newspaper that claims "balanced news and fearless views" did not even comment as to the truth of the ads' claims. Of course, the advertiser paid them good money, but isn't it the Inquirer's responsibility to deny access to people using their paper to spread propaganda? Shouldn't they at least investigate the claim and publish on the paper if said claim was true or otherwise? Or is it the papers policy not to touch their advertisers? So, does it mean also that a dirty politician can get free from the Inquirer's journalistic investigation by paying for advertisements?

I think the advertisements are totally unfair and newspapers should resist printing such unfair ads unless they are part of a propaganda machine. The Inquirer (and the others, as I heard many other papers run the same ad) therefore is answerable to the people: Can we expect them to report the truth as far as Meralco is concerned, or would they spin the news in behalf of their advertiser?

Ces Drillon, Kidnapped?

2008-06-10T19:23:00.004+08:00

There were news that Ces Drillon was kidnapped by the Abu Sayaff. I found about it only when I browsed through inquirer.net website. Here is a news clip...

MANILA, Philippines -- Television reporter Ces Drilon and her crew who police said were abducted by local terror group Abu Sayyaf were "alive and well" and being treated fairly by their captors, an official said Tuesday.
"Pinapakain naman sila [They are being fed well], they are well and alive, hindi sila nakatali [they are not tied] and nakakalabas sila [they are able to move around] but they are being escorted," Chief Superintendent Joel Goltiao, police regional director for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao told INQUIRER.net in a phone interview, citing reports from the crisis management team formed to negotiate with Drilon’s captors.

Goltiao said that the ABS-CBN news team was intercepted Sunday in Maimbung, a township in the Sulu capital Jolo, by armed men under Albader Parad, an Abu Sayyaf leader in the area and Gapur Jundain, a former member of the Moro National Liberation Front who recently joined Abu Sayyaf.

However, I am not sure what to make of this as it seems that ABS-CBN is not too much concerned. I immediately browsed their online news and I took the following screenshots of their front page...

It is amazing that ABS didn't think that the news is worth their headline but posted the news on the "nation" news as if it is just an ordinary news... "Ces Drillon kidnapped" is certainly a headliner but not so for the administrator of abs-cbnnews.com?

So is this true? If it is, then why is it not on the headlines? If it is not, then why is abs-cbnnews.com not denying it?

I may be wrong but if asked to bet, I will bet on this NOT being true. I suspect that ABS-CBN is doing some story on the Abu-sayyaf and would like to use some opportunity to sensationalize it. Perhaps even the Abu-sayyaf is in on it to have some publicity too..

True or not, this news does not do good to the image of our country.

Among Ed is now blogging

2008-06-10T19:02:00.003+08:00

I just found out from the Ang Kapatiran yahoo groups mail that Among Ed, the respected Governor of Pampanga, is now blogging his heart out (amonged.org). It seems he targets his blog messages to the youth with the following invitation...

... One sector that has its voice muffled for so long has been that of the youth. Their exuberance, idealism and even their angst are wasted on the wayside, as adults struggle to shape the future with what they perceive to be the wisdom of the ages. They forget that they, too, were once a little less older, with far more capacity to imagine.

The amonged.org blogsite allows for that imagination to come through and be expressed in a new form. It also allows for a healthy dialogue with the elders, with which I confess to belong. In a movie that was filmed long before you were born, a protagonist remarked, “what we have here is a failure to communicate.” Indeed, when everyone talks at the same time, there is no moment left to listen. Putting our thoughts, opinions, perceptions and perspectives in a written form allows for more time to reflect on what each of us really wants to say, and allows further for a more sober and contemplated response...

I tried congratulating him on his blog directly though but I cannot get through the comments portion... It seems in order to comment, one must be a registered user (of WordPress, which I am) but I somehow cannot get access. Perhaps, the blog comments is still work-in-progress. If not, I suggest Among Ed opens his blog to all comments with few restrictions (among them banning the use of vulgar words, and requirement to pre-register as user and some anti-spam methods).

Anyway, congratulations again to Among Ed!!!

My BF Blog

2008-05-06T18:06:00.002+08:00

I am now also writing on my BF4P 2010 Blog. Today, I tackle BF's problems and the questions that are most crucial for anyone with the most honest intentions for the country.

Please read the article here.

My Taberna Page

2008-05-01T11:28:00.002+08:00

I am not sure why, but I think when people search for Anthony Taberna, they are led to my blog (2nd ranked on google and 3rd on yahoo when "Anthony Taberna" is searched, as of today) where in 2006 I commented on the reasons (or lack of it) why he is becoming more and more successful (eg: more shows). As a result, that has become this blog's most read page and the article is the most commented on.

Again, I still maintain the opinion that I cannot see why Mr. Taberna is gaining success on TV and radio (ABS-CBN). His voice is not as good as many on radio nor does he look any good on TV. His comments are obviously scripted (not bad) but also obviously has an underlying agenda not necessarily the truth (bad).

By the way, I watched Taberna one time on ABS's Umagang Kay Ganda and it seems there are some tension between him and Edu Manzano. Of course, I can conclude that Manzano is from PGMA's camp and Taberna is from somebody else's. But I digress...

But of course, the mere fact I am asking the question (the why Taberna's success) means I have an inkling of the answer. I suspect Taberna is a deployment from some group with a political agenda, possibly former President Erap's camp. Little by little though, everything seems to be getting confirmed. Through this blog someone pointed me to the fact that Taberna is an Iglesia ni Kristo (not bad), and we know that the INK supported both Erap and FPJ (bad). We also know that during Erap's time, many INK members became part of government, the most notable was the Justice Sec at that time (but of course this is not proof enough that there is a conspiracy between Erap's camp and the INK.)

What is striking though is that when Taberna got married, it was pointed out that his wedding sponsors are from the opposition, the principal and most noteworthy of which is the Sen. Panfilo Lacson. The following is a newsclip from Aster Amoyo (a showbiz/gossip reporter):

THE recent wedding of DzMM’s popular radio commentator and field reporter Anthony Taberna (33) of Nueva Ecija and 22-year-old lass from Calamba, Laguna, Rossel Velasco which was held at the Iglesia ni Cristo temple on E. Rodriguez Avenue, Cubao, Quezon City last January 4 (Monday) was like a political event with the presence of political luminaries like Sen. Panfilo Lacson, Sen. Chiz Escudero, Sen. Allan Cayetano, former senators Ernesto Maceda and Robert ‘Bobby’ Jaworski, Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone, former Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, among others. Lacson headed the list of the principal sponsors while Sen. Escudero and Cayetano were among the secondary sponsors along with Julius Babao, Bayani Agbayani, Cheryl Cosim and Anthony Taberna’s radio partner in “Dos Por Dos,” Gerry Baja.

Now here is where Erap and the opposition's problems lay. They cannot for once act discreetly as to their associations and movements. Taberna, by having Lacson as his principal sponsor, basically threw his credibility out of the window. But to the opposition, credibility obviously is not one of their aspirations. Surely they know they can pay their way through media and credibility is of no importance. They think that the people easily forgets and there is no need to sacrifice the most important day of their life (such as wedding) and you can still be with your friends and sponsors - "sponsors" in your wedding or whatever else.

Again and again this is proven as in the following examples: 1. Erap openly goes to the Casino while being a government official - a corrupt and illegal act (he was taped seen inside the casino when he was still VP, which recording Morato leaked to the Media). Erap cannot take hold of himself. Yes, he won the election anyway! 2. Lacson openly met with Jun Lozada directly way before the recent ZTE hearings while purporting that Lozada's testimony is his own, lessening both of their credibility - they cannot even meet in secret. Yes, Jun Lozada is well believed, still. He was not able to convince more as they were expecting though (hence no people power, only people laden with "apathy" and the catholic church "conniving" with the government).

Taberna, is a newscaster, a field reporter, a TV and radio commentator. His principal wedding sponsor is Ping Lacson. Can someone please tell me if there is a bit of credibility left in their bones?

There are many more comments posted on my August 2006 article... Many of them from Anthony Taberna's supporters who merely said that Taberna is their idol, is so good, that If I do not like him I should not watch or listen to him - all nonsense comments. (There is one observation that can be made here though, that the opposition machinery is very much alive and well-planted on the internet - perhaps not only the opposition's. For how on earth can some speck of a blog such as mine can be visited by dozens of Taberna adoring fans, except when those fans are actually paid workers to do just that? Now that explains why BF, gets hammered on the internet, see my other blog)

Meanwhile some people who commented on my article are obviously angry at Taberna such as a certain Teresa Andrada who is trying to inject some unsupported attacks on Taberna and who writes as if she knows Taberna and his wife so well. There are some people who claim they are journalists themselves and know that Taberna is in Lacson's employ or that Taberna is what they call a "pagador" - whaver that means. Since I do not support gossip and believe in giving Taberna a fair chance, I do not subscribe to some of those comments. I advise everyone to hold their judgements unless claims are supported with facts.

A hero as Ninoy is

2008-03-25T12:19:00.000+08:00

It is with shock that we all greet the day with news that Cory has colon cancer. It was just recently that we saw her so actively supporting Jun Lozada and the action to oust Arroyo that we are just happy to see the beloved former president move about, even if some do not agree with her. But as Gump said, life is like a box of chocolates, you wouldn’t know what you are going to get. This time, it was a bitter chocolate Tita Cory got, and it is bitter for all of us.

Nobody can deny that Cory is a symbol of democracy for the country. She rose at the time when nobody thought that we will ever be able to remove ourselves from the shackles of Marcos’ dictatorship. She was an icon of strength, perhaps strengthened by Ninoy’s death. She challenged the dictatorship at the time when Marcos is still in total control. She might have been used, pushed by others with hidden agenda, but we saw that she proceeded even surely knowingly so.

If we consider Ninoy as a Hero for offering his life when he has other choices, we can only confer the same if not more respect for Cory. She has a comfortable life, she doesn’t need to come and lead us. But God must have called upon her to save the country from what could possibly be more of Marcos’ destruction or violence.

Cory, with Cardinal Sin’s support, was swept to office by People Power in 1986. But during her presidency, we all realize the rigors of running a country after a dictator. We know of several coup and destabilizing attempts against her. But most may not realize that even within her government, many with different agendas are pushing and pulling the country to varied directions. It was Cory at the middle of these hidden contradicting forces. Even the media was not so kind to her. She was often portrayed a wimp or lacking in intelligence, which many believed. Even up to now, Cory is portrayed by many as to have bungled the opportunity to reform the country. For me though. it was a miracle enough her government even survived.

Many are disgusted when Cory endorsed Ramos for the presidency after her, in 1992. He was too much involved in working with the former dictatorship and that although he led a revolt against it, we cannot help but be fearful of what he might do. Ramos won nevertheless, although not without controversy (I believe Santiago won in that election). To this day, I wonder what would have happened if Cory endorsed either the statesman Salonga or even the feisty Santiago. But at that time, we can only surmise that Cory is dependent on Ramos for her survival. In retrospect, her choice might have been right. Without Ramos, the country might have indeed fallen back to disarray and the former dictator’s men could have held us all hostage.

And although Cory endorsed Ramos, I recall her leading the people again with Cardinal Sin by her side for another people power protest against him when the he started calling for a Constitutional amendment, seemingly meant to extend his term. At best, Ramos must have been trying to avoid Erap’s sure rise to the presidency. At worse, he could have been plotting to establish his own dictatorship. Cory obviously preferred a country with a leader like Erap over a country back to a dictatorship. Ramos buckled to Cory’s and Sin’s pressure, which could have sealed Erap’s rise.

In the Presidential election of 1998, Cory was shown to be politically minimized. Her choice for President, Lim under the Liberal Party, ran a distant 5^th. It showed though for the first time the importance of the Liberal Party to her, probably because she is still feeling the passion of Ninoy as a Liberal, against the Nacionalistas. It could be argued also that Cory’s decision to go against PGMA now is a result of a mere decision to support the LP, with his son Noynoy now running under its wings.

1998 also showed how people whom we could possibly trust (at that time) to lead us could all get it so wrong. Raul Roco, Alfredo Lim, Renato DeVilla, Emilio Osmena, all ran under different banners and lost bad. Cory, Orbos, De Villa and all the other leaders didn’t notice that Erap is silently being built. And with the Philippine mass media largely tolerating the gambler and playboy Erap while seemingly endorsing his mass appeal, the country was now disappointed by its leaders. Given this background, People Power 2 was an event waiting to happen. It was only a matter of time that Erap will be ousted by another People Power – the first move of its kind noticeably without Cory at the forefront (although Cardinal Sin and even Ramos openly supported the move).

As to why Cory did not figure well against Erap in People Power 2 is unclear to me. In fact, my memory might have been mistaken and Cory might have been there. What is clear to me though is that without Sin, Cory’s choices of moves are doubtful. In the Garci scandal, Cory would be seen misplaced near the company of Imelda Marcos. In the present ZTE situation, she will be seen in close company with Erap.

This is not to say that Cory is now a lost symbol. Indeed, we will all be watching her as she tackles this one big recent challenge on her life. I am sure, she will rise again as an icon of strength. With prayers from everyone, she might even survive. But I hope it will not be too late for everyone to agree and say that, indeed, Cory is a hero – as she chose to unite us in 1986 and lift the country from one of the darkest days of our history.

All Politics as Usual

2008-03-17T19:17:00.001+08:00

As early as now, we can all see that many politicians are already posturing and advertising themselves for the Presidential elections in 2010. Those who use EDSA wouldn’t fail to notice Bayani Fernando’s towering ads on MRT posts (where he supposedly wants advertisements removed). Everyone saw Loren’s and Villar’s emotional ads on TV. Of course we all know that Lacson, Escudero, and Roxas are all posturing well also on TV and radio during the ZTE (and subsequent) hearings. Even Erap is doing provincial trips obviously trying to promote himself as possible candidate in 2010. Also, we hear about the readiness of Noli de Castro and his possible team-up with Ate Vi.

I am sure, these days, negotiations are ongoing for team-ups and alliances. I am sure many in the mass media are now haggling or have already haggled with many politicians as to how each candidate is to be treated. Obviously Fernando does not have anything going on with the mass media, he is now beginning to be lambasted left and right. On the other hand, Villar is now always interviewed about any topic that comes up in the news, which means he has already done his haggling. Lacson and Escudero are both given good images on TV and radio for there are no negative comments about them even how stupid their questions are on those senate hearings. Also, there are no negative comments on Erap’s campaign, except for that one little question from someone from that French News Agency (AFP). There are some negative comments on Noli although they seem to be controlled, still at this point.

In fact, political re-alignments have started even since the first Hello Garci controversy. I remember I was on the verge of being touched on that day when the Hyatt-11 has resigned and when Cory came up in the open to denounce the cheating in elections. I am almost convinced that that was a turning point for PGMA, only to find out later that those moves are not individual spontaneous reactions, but are a pre-planned concerted action by members of the liberal party (LP-Drillon wing), as a whole to advance their groups chances.

It is clear to me now, that while all of well-meaning people are arguing why PGMA should or should not resign, our leaders are all politics as usual. Meanwhile, we all forget what we need to do. To this very day, while we question PGMA’s legitimacy and call her a cheat, and while we tend to abhor all kinds of cheating and corruption, all of the presidential wannabes are already cheating their way to 2010. They are now advertising themselves in violation of election laws. Of course, they have ways and means to avoid prosecution, but even a child would say that they are now all cheating.

While rallying at Makati and Liwasan, well-meaning people forgot that elections are coming and we are still vulnerable to cheating. While we follow every word of Jun Lozada’s sweet pied piping stories of how corrupt our government is, we forgot to see that our mass media is awash with spins and already prepared for 2010. While we are all deeply and emotionally involved in search for some truth, we fail to see that we still have not a set-up for a fair nor meaningful elections. Even the Ang Kapatiran party, with all its romantic vision of a better country forgot to market themselves and still remain surely a boring group come 2010.

Short of naming all our leaders, both in the opposition and administration, the CBCP and recently the Bishops in Manila asked our leaders to lead the fight against corruption within ourselves. Nobody seems to be heeding that call. Every politician while clamoring for truth is actually politics as usual. Worse, we naively buy their stories.

We are indeed doomed beyond 2010.

Highly Placed Sources

2008-03-12T08:43:00.002+08:00

The Inquirer recently has resorted to quoting highly-placed sources to add credence to their news reports. Last Sunday, again, highly-placed sources were quoted saying that a former PNOC head (named as Eduardo Manalac) will testify to the alleged multi-million dollar bribery on the ZTE deal. The news was the biggest headline of the day for the Inquirer.

The following are some passages from the Inquirer headline last Sunday referring to information coming from “highly-placed sources” (italics are mine):

….A former president of the state-owned Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) is the “surprise” witness who will testify on the purported million-dollar kickbacks in the $329-million National Broadband Network deal with Chinese firm ZTE Corp., according to highly placed sources.

Eduardo Mañalac, who is said to have deep connections in China, is to testify at the Senate on Tuesday on how at least $41 million in alleged under-the-table commissions were funneled from the Chinese firm to the so-called “Greedy Group plus plus” that was packaging the NBN-ZTE deal, said the sources who asked not to be named for security reasons…..

….But his value as a witness in the now scuttled NBN-ZTE deal, according to the sources, is based on his knowledge of how ZTE officials purportedly paid off the “Greedy Group” to allow China’s second-biggest telecommunications firm to bag the NBN project….

…The sources said Mañalac had an extensive network and deep connections in the Chinese government and was a trusted go-between for Chinese projects in the Philippines.

He is “a familiar face in China,” the sources said….

….The sources said Mañalac was tapped to head the PNOC because of his deep connections in the Chinese bureaucracy that were to prove highly valuable in the signing of the original RP-China agreement on a seismic study in the Spratlys that was later amended to include Vietnam.

According to the sources, Mañalac also developed close ties with the family of then Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. when his own family joined De Venecia’s wife Gina in Inang Nawalan ng Anak (INA), a group that helps women cope with the loss of their children to tragedy or violent crime….

Right from the beginning, the story doesn’t hold water, as how could any source know what has not yet happened. Reading the report, one can have a sense of exasperation and might be tempted to subscribe to that source's newspaper if ever he/she would have one, for it seems that source is the only source of information available in the world (of the Inquirer). And as for the Inquirer, what kind of journalistic standards do they adhere to, to believe a highly placed source saying someone will do something without first verifying with that someone if he indeed is doing what he is supposed to do?

This is unfair to the highest degree for Mr. Manalac (the supposed witness). It puts Manalac in a very awkward position where if he denied that he knows anything he will be deemed to have backed down (and hence a coward or was pressured or what have you).

Yesterday, the Inquirer fell right flat on their faces when their news headline turn-out to be not only true but totally out of the blue. Today, they issue the following apology:

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Daily Inquirer apologizes for its banner story on March 9, which erroneously reported that Eduardo Mañalac, former president of Philippine National Oil Co., would testify on the alleged kickbacks in the $329-million National Broadband Network (NBN) deal with ZTE Corp.

In his press conference on Monday, Mañalac said he would testify at the Senate, if invited, on the agreement signed by the Philippines with China and Vietnam to search for oil in the Spratlys—not on the alleged kickbacks in the NBN-ZTE deal.

The Inquirer newspaper also erred in reporting, among other things, that Mañalac would testify in Tuesday’s Senate hearing. Leo San Miguel, ZTE consultant, was Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s “surprise witness” at the Senate hearing Tuesday.

Well, at least, the Inquirer apologized. But what about their “highly-placed source/s” whose “identity/ies are not revealed for security reasons”?

Headline News

2008-03-07T10:22:00.003+08:00

There should be People Power because Arroyo sold out the Philippines to China on Spratlys in order to get money from deals such as the NBN, North Railways and the Cyber Education projects.

In a nutshell, this is what the Inquirer headline news today is all about. The plot thickens. The reasons behind all the corruption are now unraveling. The President is doomed!

Arroyo hit on Spratlys deal (Drilon: Her lawyer worried pact basis to impeach)

Of course, the Inquirer wouldn’t say it as such. They had the angle coming from Drillon, who says he was told by Gutierrez that he was being “pressured” by De Venecia to give her imprimatur on a Chinese contract that in her opinion could get the President impeached. Well, er, don’t lose me… let’s have it again…. Drillon, Gutierrez, DeVenecia, Chinese Contract, President, Impeach. Got it?

And believe it of not, on this funny premise, Drillon said he is willing to testify (presumably, testify that Gutierrez told her that). And with all the high journalistic standard the Inquirer supposedly have, they forgot to ask Drillon why, of all people, Gutierrez asked for “his help”. Could it be that Drillon is good friends with De Venecia and he could ask the latter to stop pressuring Gutierrez?

“I’m willing to state this under oath wherever they will call me,” Drilon told the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net).

And as if funny is not enough, Drillon said that he is not sure if the contract signed was the same contract that Gutierrez is concerned about. Per the Inquirer: He (Drillon) said he did not know whether the agreement that was eventually signed contained the same provisions over which Gutierrez had expressed reservations. Hello, Inquirer? If Drillon is not sure, then why is he in the news?

Not content yet on downgrading its frontpage with the ultimate in trash based on a funny premise, the Inquirer also quoted a “highly-placed source privy to the deal” to say that “the Philippines gave up its natural resources when it signed the agreement…”. And, the highly placed source cannot be named because of “security reasons”.

Hilarious! Why do you need a “highly-placed source” give an opinion? You need only a “highly-placed source” when you get facts! That “highly-placed source” can even be Drillon himself or DeVenecia and it doesn’t matter because that is the natural although unfounded conclusion from the news. We know of course that the reason the Inquirer used a “highly-placed source” is to add credibility. In short, the Inquirer is plainly saying: This news is true (even if it is unfounded). It came from a “highly-placed” source.

Last week, a highly placed source privy to the deal told the Inquirer that the Philippines gave up its natural resources when it signed the agreement allowing China to gather seismic data off Palawan province in an area mostly within Philippine territorial waters. The source, who asked not to be named for security reasons, said the agreement might have been forged to provide a “political solution” to the long-standing struggle among six nations for ownership of the Spratly group of islands, which is said to be rich in gas and oil deposits, and which the Philippines is claiming in part.

If I go on word for word on the news that come out today from the Inquirer, I could give endless examples of what the paper is actually trying to say which runs something like these: You do not believe our headline news? Well, look up the article of Barry Wain from the Far East Economic Review. You do not have access? Well, there it is comfortably seating on someone’s blog. Yes, we are a very embarrassing news organization that we need to read it first from Wain, but hey, forget that…, we have a highly-placed source and Drillon is willing to testify. Isn’t that juicy enough to start the ball-rolling for another scandal?

But whatever the news is, by the end of the day, we will all conclude that PGMA is corrupt: Yes, that same conclusion which we all have already the first day she sat in office. And wherever all this is going, some things remain sure: The Philippines remains poor, the government remains corrupt, our media remains to be a joke, and that poor fellow under the bridge remains poor and dying (if not already dead).

The CBCP spoke but people might not notice

2008-02-27T09:26:00.000+08:00

In case people do not notice, the CBCP said something yesterday (CBCP Statement). Most notably though is that they DID NOT ask PGMA to resign. Instead they ask her to lead the anti-corruption crusade.

And in case people do not notice, the CBCP also said:

..."Condemn... corruption from top to bottom of our political and social ladder." Obviously, the bishops does not emphasize ONLY corruption in the office of the President, but everywhere it is. This is in direct contrast to current protestations focused only on the highest position.

..."Appeal to our senators and the ombudsman to use their distinct and different powers of inquiry into alleged corruption cases not for their own interests but for the common good" Obviously, the bishops thought that the senators are not doing this for the common good. On the other hand, they fear that the Ombudsman might do an investigation only in behalf of PGMA.

..."Call on media to be a positive resource of seeking the truth and combating corruption by objective reporting without bias and partiality, selective and tendentious reporting of facts" Obviously, the bishops thought that our mass media is bias and selective.

Now, is there anything clearer than that?

I am sure though that everyone will notice the Bishops' call for the repeal of EO464 and their urging of PGMA to allow her people to tell all. But again, not anyone might notice the little hesitation of the bishops when they refer to "the "appropriate" investigating bodies" meaning there are some questions on the appropriateness of the senate hearing.

But of course, I am talking about the mass media and the senators who would naturally say that the bishops "rebuke" PGMA but would not say they received some words from the bishops too.

Some people deeply misses Cardinal Sin. I am sure they miss only the part when the Cardinal ask the people to go to the streets. However, I am also sure that people will forget the reasons the CBCP issues statements in the first place.

Sadly, it is but easy not to hear when the good Cardinal is speaking.

Sadly, the truth

2008-02-20T15:05:00.001+08:00

These days, truth has become such a depleted word. Everyone is practically calling for the truth to come out - the mass media, the senators, everyone… But can we not notice that among those that are shouting for truth are the people whom we all know live and breath lies?

I remember Jun Lozada, when asked by Sen. Santiago, said that he himself is not entirely clean, which is a milder way of saying he himself is corrupt. Now, people say that that is proof Lozada is telling the truth. He is willing to tell all, even to the extent of incriminating himself about his own sins. It takes courage to admit one’s own guilt. Or did he, did he really incriminate himself? How much did he say is he bound to earn from this ZTE deal? How much he say did he receive from the railway project? How much did he say he received from all the projects and contracts of the Phil. Forest agency which he served? Or is he still really just that “Probinsyanong Intsik”?

Lozada said that in government, there is this SOP for every project. We all understand what he meant: that for every government project, there is a standard kick-back. Lozada said something like 10% as the going rate. But didn’t we all believe that the standard is 20%? To this, the senators did not react. They did not agree nor disagree. Their silence obviously mean they believe Lozada. But they cannot agree openly. They themselves have their own projects and are also influential in many other government projects. Surely, and we all believe, these senators gain from all the projects where they exert influence. Now, are the senators – the same senators who demand for truth – also ready to tell the truth about kickbacks of their own?

I am sure Lozada knows more than what he is saying. I am sure he knows all the inner workings of corruption (I am sure he doesn’t need Neri to tell him those). I am also sure that the Senators know how it is to get a kickback from a project. I am sure they know who among them profit from projects and even laws that they pass. I am sure even the mass media knows who among them are paid hacks. Indeed, they all really know the truth.

Indeed, the truth that is being demanded now is only that truth that will bring the President down. If the truth will border on one’s own interests, those truths are impertinent. And that is the reason why PGMA is still around, she is assured of her lifeline. Not anyone can really tell all without pointing to himself as well.

This is much the same way as in the Hello Garci scandal. We all heard (and we all believe that it is her) PGMA talk to Commissioner Garcillano. But the only way to really verify those recordings is to get to the original uncut version. Of course no one can come open with that uncut version lest everyone will fall with her. We can only conclude that perhaps all politicians, both in the administration and the opposition, will be heard to have talked to Garci over the same phone in a not very honorable manner.

So now, while everyone is shouting for truth, the poorest still die little by little of hunger. Sadly for them, many other well meaning people who use to think even only of small steps to help got distracted into joining the lively chorus, which could make the weakest among us die faster.

Careful What to Wish For

2008-02-15T09:32:00.002+08:00

With so much noise about corruption in the executive branch, many people now wish for PGMA to resign. Still more would like to see PGMA go, even by force of people power if she would not resign.

I am sure people power alone will not make the President resign. From past examples, we can conclude that a President may be forced to go only when he/she does not anymore have the support of the chain of command of the military. Erap ran when Angelo Reyes and the rest of the military jumped shipped. Marcos went away when his General Ver is not anymore obeyed by anyone.

Is this really what we wish for? Do we really like to go through that process, again, and again? And, do we really like the military establishment be the ultimate judge as to who should or should not go?

Imagine the scenario after PGMA is forced out. Should we let Noli De Castro be President? Shouldn’t he go, too? Or, let us say that Noli became President, does it mean that we succeeded in killing corruption? And in case we got Noli to go too, should Senate President Villar be our President, or Speaker Nograles, or Chief Justice Puno? Do we really want to overhaul the whole government, when surely the same brand of politics will eventually run it?

We have been through this path too much already, and we are not nearer our dream of having a better country. In fact this time, it is really like we are wishing to jump from the pan into the fire. Just look at the people who are waiting in to grab whatever is left of our country, the communists, the jihadists, and worst, the political opportunists.

“But it is the right and only thing to do”, some may argue. “PGMA is corrupt and should resign! We cannot let a President go away with what is wrong. This has got to stop. It is our moral obligation to act!

Oh yeah? Tell me, what have we done to rid our country of corruption? Have you and I not paid that policeman to get away with our petty violation? Have you and I not turned that blind eye to that small time public official who won the elections only by cheating? Haven’t you and I turned that same blind eye to that doctor who wouldn’t issue you a receipt? Have you and I not bought that pirated DVD or that fake shirt from greenhills?

And now that we think that the President is robbing us in a grand scale (we do not even have enough proof that could stand in court), we want our country to turn upside down, hell break loose, come what may?

It is so easy for anyone to be self-righteous when surely one have food to eat tomorrow, not thinking that even the smallest economic step-back we take has deadly consequence to the most vulnerable – the poor. No I am not referring to that Erap type of masa who wait for dole-outs from their favorite politicians, but the really poor who may die tonight from hunger. They are there, old people and children alike, under that bridge which we do not even notice. They could be just a few meters away from Ayala Blvd. for all we know.