real true stories

THE PHILIPPINES IS A NATION WITH THE WHEREWITHAL TO BE GREAT

2010-03-06T03:09:00.000-08:00

The civilization in the Philippines emerged by the 5th century AD. There were influences from other countries, primarily the Middle East, India and China. In the 14th century, Islam became firmly entrenched here. The 15th century brought about trade with merchants from the Chinese Ming Dynasty.

In March 1521 to 1898, Spain dominated the Philippines. Other countries wanted a foothold in the Philippines and during the 16th century there were attempts to achieve this goal in part by the English and Dutch.

On December 10, 1898, it was declared that Spain ceded the entire archipelago to the United States for $20 million. Thereafter, the United States started the establishment of U.S. military rule in the Philippines. Then, the Americans colonized the Philippines up to July 4, 1946 when independence was finally granted.

Based on the foregoing, our offspring is now the product of evolving genes over the course of many generations from different foreigners who once upon a time controlled and/or visited the Philippines. Therefore, the Filipinos are superior breed with inheritable traits that will stand out in countless ways. (See: WE ARE THE BEST OF THE NOUGHTIES.)

In assessing a country's growth, we consider its level of civilization/national development before colonization, the nature of colonization, amount of natural resources, amount of its educational reservoir, the patriotism of its citizens, length of sovereignty, population, presence or absence of ethnic diversity, and existence or absence of a dominant culture.

As early as the year 1611, the University of Santo Tomas was established in the Philippines. You see, functional, creative education is the substratum of any national development. With such functional proficient education, it has the capability to realize massive socio-infrastructural development in double quick time.

The Philippines has also a dominant culture—a Catholic Christian belief. Having a dominant culture in a society of 90 million facilitates the forging of a common front, unity of purpose, the creation of national consciousness and patriotism. In this sense, it would have no problem mustering support for the best government/public programs. As a result, the best government policies in the Philippines would usually be supported at the altar of ethnic/primordial sentiments.

It is just unfortunate to think that the Philippines with all its attributes and an unarguably great natural resources is lagging far behind with other countries in Asia when it comes to socio-economic development as a nation.

The Philippines is a nation with the wherewithal to be great. But I took sometime to ponder why it had become adrift and thrown into a perpetual third world country and one of the poorest. It has a population it cannot sustain when it would have been a land of milk and honey. Had our leaders not been greedy to enrich themselves in great measure, the image of the Philippines as one of the most corrupt on the face of the earth would not have been.

What the Filipinos need is good governance. We need a good leader whose concern and love is with humanity more than personal gain. It does not matter if it is somebody that falls from the sky and is able to give you light, good roads and unblemished background and reputation; and not a dictator, liar, and a skulduggery so that we don’t have to be weary of the unmitigated skulduggery of this regime again. Does it really matter who that would be? I don’t care. As a Christian, it’s better to have an infidel as a just ruler than to have an unjust Christian.

TAKE MY BAIT AGAIN…WELL PACKAGE WEB OF LIES

2010-02-23T03:34:00.000-08:00

We all strive to make a living in life whatever they may be. We work hard, really hard but we can hardly get by, living paycheck to paycheck. Despite how novel that endeavor might be, taking up the bulk of our time and effort, but we seem could not bring the endeavor to fruition. We always wanted to live a comfortable life but no matter what job we find, we could never get anywhere close to making enough money to live the life we have always yearned for. We felt discouraged not being able to provide our family the life we always wanted to give them.

A person is a person because of another person. Your whole life consists of relationships and your success ultimately hinges on collaboration with others. The one that can make you reach your goal that are vital to your future and the wellness of your family is your rapport with the public in general. Your ideas, your efforts and hard work, no matter how you get yourself ready, then aim, and fire, all will be put in futility and in vain if it will not appeal to the masses. Study shows that if someone likes you, they will be more willing to help you, listen to you and do things for you than if they didn’t like you. Likability is the absolute crucial factor in becoming successful.

But the irony of it all is that when a person who started from the scratch was still trying to get the support of the masses, he showed them all the nice behavior to woo their friendships through skilled persuasion. Using hypnotic rapport by saying: follow me on my exciting journey as I take YOU along in manifesting our Dreams & Desires. Usually, because the masses can easily be swayed and captivated even by a wisp-of-straw friendliness, then bolstered with a glutton of promises, especially, implanting those kinds of thoughts about their welfare and security, he would be resoundingly pushed over the top from zero to hero by the masses.

But as soon as he got what he wanted with all the riches and fame, the lives of the masses is thrown by the wayside. Is that what you’re going to do for people who catapulted you get where you are now? As it was said in so many words, “If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man”.

Before, he knows where the masses were around like meat and drink; and that the masses are like diamonds that last forever in his heart. But after he crosses the hard road of make-believe to win their compassion and mercy, the masses cannot even get near him, no one can touch him. It’s about time people cultivate wisdom from their experiences of the past and be an enlightened adept against those skilled in the principles of persuasion. It’s been said: “It is a universal rule that there is no need to need after the need has been satisfied”.

The changing of sunlight to moonlight

all our sorrows, sad tomorrows

are the reflections of life

how they filled our lives

it’s time to be wise

the paradoxes of life are the

lessons by which to confront our

abject mistakes head-on.

Let it be said, all that we knew, all that we have possessed and loved all our lives will be left behind when we leave this physical world and if you had helped the people in one way or the other, you will always be loved and appreciated for all that you did to help them. The sun would be quite kind for people you may have left behind but it’s the people like you that the sun is kept turned on.

When you will not be around anymore, the people you had helped will put it in words how wonderful life had been while you were in the world. The love and appreciation they had on you will be expressed and showered to all like the transmitter of the energies or powers that the electric current is carried not only in but also over and around the wired world. We may picture your legacy as--

A wave on the ocean arising from the water and form a line of countless other waves as they move in unison crisscrossing from a million different centers of energy and traveling in longitudinal strip in rhyme and rhythm laden with emotional aura as they roll down to the shoreline in wonderful marvel then splashing and crashing one after another endlessly repeating the sound as if dancing to the tempo of gratefulness and unitization.

So, let us think about this deeply and down to earth. Shall I leave a good or bad legacy? We tremble to look at our earthly possessions, lest we should see them in motion, spreading their wings to fly away! How many are there already who, in talking of their comfort are obliged to go back in their reckoning.

Nothing here on earth is permanent. Everything is perishable. Even “the towering diadem of Caesar has fallen from his head and crumbled into dust; and that kingdom whose scepter once swayed the world betwixt whose colossal stride all nations were glad to creep to find themselves dishonored graves, is now forgotten, or, if its recollection be preserved, its history is emphatically called “The decline and fall.”

Show some gratitude to everyone. Gratitude is going that extra mile to help all people who needed help whether they had helped you during your time of need or not because it is the support of the general public directly or indirectly that made you achieved your success.

You can start small and eventually; those small stones will create a rock-slide!

MAN IS HERE FOR THE SAKE OF OTHER MEN

2010-01-19T02:17:00.000-08:00

Photo from http://www.mtco.com/~adventlc/fellowship.htm

Most common factors that trigger indecision, doubt and fear are the environment and the people around. High-profile scandals and ethical fiascoes from all walks of life surround today's society. Commonplace and at every level are unchecked greed, lack of accountability, cultural indifference, and moral decay. All these could be summed up to the fact that, it seems uncertainty of all kinds is prevalent in our endeavors because what is happening in our surroundings is a survival of the fittest.

Indeed, such facts and circumstances obtaining, there are those who just gave up the idea of a better life, and settled with whatever they have. Everybody is affected, therefore, the rest of us experiences self-diminishing in life that continue to linger in the present and threaten his future. Surrounded by pessimists can easily veer a person away from getting something positive out of life. What an awful feeling it is when we feel all alone.

“Unless someone like you cares a whole, awful lot. Things aren't going to get better, they're not!” -- dr. Seuss, the lorax

“The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care.” Charles Schulz

We are here to add what we can to life, not to get what we can from it. The most important fact is not what you will take when you will be gone because you will take nothing. Instead, exploit your potentials and all the resources around you as much as necessary and before leaving this earth, contribute as much as possible to the world and its future generations.

We humans are social beings. We come into the world as the result of others’ actions. We survive here in dependence on others. Whether we like it or not, there is hardly a moment of our lives when we do not benefit from others’ activities. For this reason it is hardly surprising that most of our happiness arises in the context of our relationships with others. Nor is it so remarkable that our greatest joy should come when we are motivated by concern for others.

We all need help no matter how much we have, no matter how much we have accomplished. In like manner that no matter how little we have, no matter how loaded we are with problems, even without money or a place to sleep, we can give help.

Even if it's just a compliment, you can give that. You never know when you may see someone that appears to have it all. They are waiting on you to give them what they don't have. A different perspective on life, a glimpse at something beautiful, a respite from daily chaos; that only you through a torn world can see.

“There is a destiny that makes us brothers none goes his way alone. All that we send into the lives of others comes back into our own.” Edwin Markham

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. As Martin Luther King, Jr. admonished "We must learn to live together as brothers, or perish together as fools."

President Obama puts it this way: "... no barriers of race, gender or physical infirmity can restrain the human spirit; and ... the truest test of a person's life is what we do for one another."

Remember the story about the “Mouse Trap”? As the story goes, the mouse discovered that the farmer’s house had a mouse trap. So he warned the chicken, the pig and the cow about it. But all of them did not pay attention because it does not concern them but the mouse.

That very night, a sound was heard, something like a mouse was trapped. When the farmer’s wife run to see, the snake which tail was caught by the mouse trap bit her. The wife had a fever, so, the farmer butchered the chicken for soup to cure her fever. But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig. The farmer's wife did not get well; she died. So, many people came for her funeral, the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them.

The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness. So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn't concern you, remember: when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk. We are all involved in this journey called life. We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another. Each of us is a vital thread in another person's tapestry.

THE KEY TO UNLOCK THE DOOR TO YOUR SUCCESS IS TO HANG ON NO MATTER WHAT

2010-01-15T02:02:00.000-08:00

Photo from http://www.rock-climbing-for-life.com/rock-climbing-photography.html

There may be times when you thought you have acted on your plans and feel you have taken a million steps towards working on your dreams, only to find yourself in the same place that you have started. Then you feel discouraged, feel down and despondent. You believe your circumstances can't change, that your life is over, that you will never find happiness, and everything looks dark and bleak. Hopelessness sets in and you just simply want to give up. You believe that your problems will never be solved and you will never succeed at what you attempt to do; you can't see the opportunities, only the failure and disappointments of yesteryears.

At times like this, you must not give up. Look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight. Don’t you know that it is by going down into the abyss that we recover the treasures of life? Where you stumble, there lies your treasure.

Understand that increased difficulty brings you nearer to the truth of how to survive it - and get beyond it. Cross your bridges and meet your challenges. Reach out for your dreams, and bring them closer and closer to your heart.

Have you ever wondered why most people don’t achieve their goals? The reason is they give up too soon. Most people quit after they’ve struck out or got knocked down a few times. They simply don’t have the persistence to hang on when the going gets tough.

You must continue on. Though you may feel lost, bewildered, and alone, continue to believe in yourself. Do not allow discouragement and doubt to blur your vision and wash away your dreams. Visualize your way beyond the detours, standstills, and obstacles.

If you’ve been working on a worthy goal for a while and haven’t produced the results you wanted, keep on trying. You may just be a foot or two from the diamond field. So keep on digging no matter what obstacles you might encounter. Please remember, you’re much stronger than any obstacles life can throw at you.

Whatever the hurt of the moment may be, it will pass. Tomorrow is always a new dawn. Today, you must pause, rest, catch your breath, and then look ahead. Each step will bring you closer to your dreams. The rainbows and the love that you deserve are in sight. Happiness is just around the next turn. To get yourself out of this quagmire of these uncertain times, just remain secure, steadfast, and calm.

No matter in your career or in your life, success will never come automatically. You must never give up if you desire for success. You will need to face many problems and challenges before you reach your target. You see, in life, everything at the beginning is without colors, it is your attitude which paints it brighter or darker.

Success has a price. The price is massive rejection, frustration, and hardwork. You have to pay the price in order to succeed. It is rare to get positive feedback for anything we do or say. People are quick to criticize and slow to compliment.

Sometimes the paths we take are long and hard, but remember: those are always the ones that lead to the most beautiful views. The very best you can do is all that is asked of you. Realize that you are capable of working miracles of your own making. Remember that opportunities have a reason for knocking on your door, and the right ones are there for the taking.

Within you is the strength to meet life's challenges! You are stronger than you think, remember to stand tall. Every challenge in your life helps you to grow. Every problem you encounter strengthens your mind and your soul. Every trouble you overcome increases your understanding of life. When all your troubles weigh heavily on your shoulders, remember that beneath the burden you can stand tall, because you are never given more than you can handle...and you are stronger than you think.

You must persist until you succeed. The prizes of life are at the end of each journey, not near the beginning; and it is not given to you to know how many steps are necessary in order to reach your goal. You may still encounter failure at the thousandth step, yet success hides behind the next bend in the road. Never will you know how close it lies unless you turn the corner.

Each nay you hear will bring you closer to the sound of yes. Each frown you meet only prepares you for the smile to come. Each misfortune you encounter will carry in it the seed of tomorrow's good luck. You must have the night to appreciate the day. You must fail often to succeed only once.

Now, sleep peacefully tonight and enjoy your rest. Awaken tomorrow and continue your quest. There’s always, a new day coming. No one knows the mysteries of life or its ultimate meaning, but for those who are willing to believe in their dreams and in themselves, life is a precious gift in which anything is possible.

THAT’S THE WAY IT IS WITH LIFE

2010-01-11T03:15:00.000-08:00

The Great Barrier Reef

Photo from http://impressive.net/people/gerald/2005/10/31/14-03-59-med.html

We all want to go through life without burden, pain or heartache but it is through those circumstances that we learn the most about life. Everyday can't be a bed of roses but what we should want most is the strength to face these circumstances head on. “I ask not for a lighter burden, but for broader shoulders.”

“Problems call forth our courage and our wisdom; indeed they create our courage and our wisdom. It is only because of problems that we grow mentally and spiritually. It is through the pain of confronting and resolving problems that we learn.”

"Close scrutiny will show that most ‘crisis situations’ are opportunities to either advance, or stay where you are." "View every problem as an opportunity." "Always remember that problems contain values that have improvement potential." April showers bring May flowers. Some unpleasant occurrences bring about better things."

Believe it or not, big problems are a source of great joy, not great suffering. Because every time you resolve a new problem, you get great value. This value is shown as more self-esteem, more courage, wisdom, confidence, self-discipline... Your whole being grows and develops. So, next time when a new problem comes, you are stronger, and you solve it better. Every problem is a challenge that makes you stronger.

Personal growth requires balance as much as it demands passion. The path to happiness should be first drawn with charcoals and then brought to life with oil colours. As we walk, we learn. Mistakes are inescapable as we sometimes take the wrong turn of the road. Nobody possesses the ability to make all the correct choices.

Indeed, don't worry if you have problems. But many insist this is easy to say until you are in the midst of a really big one. I know, but you have to persevere. Think of it deeply, the only people I am aware of who don't have problems or troubles are gathered in little neighborhoods. Most communities have at least one. We call them cemeteries.

Consequently, as long and until you will have your last breath in this world, you will always encounter problems and difficulties because it is a part of our human make up.

They tell the following story about the Great Barrier Reef, stretching some 1,800 miles from New Guinea to Australia. Tour guides regularly take visitors to view the reef. On one tour, the guide was asked an interesting question.

"I notice that the lagoon side of the reef looks pale and lifeless, while the ocean side is vibrant and colorful," a traveler observed. "Why is this?"

The guide gave an interesting answer: "The coral around the lagoon side is in still water. With no challenge for its survival, it dies early. The coral on the ocean side is constantly being tested by wind, waves, storms - surges of power. It has to fight for survival every day of its life. As it is challenged and tested, it changes and adapts. It grows healthy and strong.

Then he added this telling note: That's the way it is with every living organism. That is how it is with people. Challenged and tested, we come alive. Like coral, which are continuously pounded by the sea, we grow.

Physical demands can cause us to grow stronger. Mental and emotional stress can produce tough-mindedness and resiliency. Spiritual testing can produce strength of character and faithfulness. So, you have problems - no problem, just tell yourself, "There I Grow Again."

You need to take the bull by the horns and ride it until you fall off and when you do, don't forget to get back up because the ride isn't over yet. Only when you have made it through the situation with all the bruises will you attain more strength to face whatever else comes your way. So instead of running from the situation face it; it will only make you stronger.

One of the most damaging choices a person can make is to give up too soon when faced with a problem or failure. Let’s have a Code of Honor among ourselves not to give up when we still have something to give. When push comes to shove, we must tell ourselves “Nothing is really over until the moment we stop trying.”

So let’s stick to the fight moreso when we are hardest hit because it's when things seem worst that we mustn't quit.

QUITTERS NEVER WIN AND WINNERS NEVER QUIT

2010-01-07T04:04:00.000-08:00

“We can do anything we want if we stick to it long enough”. You have often heard the saying: “You are closest to your victory when you face the greatest opposition”; Have a never say die attitude; Where there is a will there is a way; “One’s best success comes after their greatest disappointments”. “Most people achieved their greatest successes one step beyond what looked like their greatest failure”. “Through perseverance many people win success out of what seemed destined to be certain failure”. "Thousands of successful people did not achieve success on their first try, but they were not discouraged. They picked themselves up and went back at it with an even stronger, single minded tenacity to achieve their goal."

A young man name Thomas Edison has failed 10, 000 times before he made the electric light. Do not be discouraged if your plans do not succeed the first time. No one learns to walk by taking only one step." "Never, never, never quit!”

When the going gets tough, the tough gets going. When we are faced with overwhelming problems, the key to overcome this thing is not to give up and quit. The main idea is to push oneself harder. It is best to look the problem deeper. Try your best to not be stubborn and think of ways to overcome it. The world meets nobody halfway. When you want something, you have to take it.

The teachings of the past should never be forgotten, since the principles of how to achieve happiness and success are immutable. We don't need to waste resources making mistakes that can easily be avoided if we pay attention to History.

It is best to learn from the past. There is no other way or, even worse, that human beings are unable to learn from someone else's disgrace. You can find man's failure written in history.

Another person tried to make a living out of writing but he didn't succeed. His first book wasn't notice by people. Edgar Allan Poe still persists and become successful when he published a master piece called the raven. Since then he started writing pieces that the world would read.

Another master is Abraham Lincoln that started political career in 1832 but he lost the election when running a party member in General Assembly. He also lost the election as a senator. In 1860, he ran for the highest position in the government. He becomes the 16th president of the United States.

The thing is, we need to push ourselves so hard. The saying "when the going gets tough, the tough gets going" is taken on literal basis. If you are having some personal issues then work hard in order to keep mind off the problem. This is a good idea before you can start tackling and handling the situation.

Look ahead and decide if you like what you see. If you don't, take measures to protect yourself and improve your prospects. Waiting for the world to change is a waste of time. Make sound choices and play your cards wisely. There are plenty of things that you can do to make your future brighter.

Take time and live by the inch instead of by the yard "inch by inch it's a cinch, yard by yard it's too hard" is a great reminder for you.

IF EVERYONE THOUGHT LIKE YOU, NOTHING WOULD EVER CHANGE

2010-01-05T03:43:00.000-08:00

Sometimes reading really good quotes with messages that can teach you about life can change your perspective about your current situation and really help you take the next step towards creating the life you really want.

Some of the greatest minds in history are responsible for the memorable inspiring quotes that we have all heard. When you read these motivational quotes, you will be struck by how relevant the words are in today’s quest for glory.

"A wise man is not for or against anybody, truth is his only concern," wrote Confucius in the year 510 B.C. Learning consists of turning facts into principles for choosing the right course of action. For leaders and entrepreneurs, whose success depends on making many decisions at great speed, principles are essential.

You know most people are contented living within their comfort zone even it will cause them a hand-to-mouth existence. I mean, sure, they would like to get off from that situation, but instead, they continue to cling onto such condition because they're not sure what's going to happen if they get off. They never seem to stop to consider that maybe they would be able to move about and discover some new and exciting options for their lives. Even though it's not comfortable sitting on a nail, it kind of hurts, but at least they know what to expect and they are used to it.

Sadly, they just want to tip toe through life so that they can arrive at the graveyard safely and avoid facing any life challenges that are legendary in scope and have potential of advancing the well being of humanity.

As you can see, Lincoln's story is the story of an incredible human being who started from very meager beginnings and went on to become not only one of the greatest U.S. presidents, but also one of the influential men in history.

He lost eight elections, failed in business many times, and suffered a nervous breakdown. He could have quit many times, but he didn't. Instead, after each defeat he would pick himself up and press forward until he achieved his aspirations.

With so many failures, a lot of people, in Lincoln's position, probably would have given up. But because he was determined and committed to make his political dreams come true, he would get up each time he was knocked down. He knew the only way to gain ground, to move forward, to march on, and to turn his goals into reality, was to learn from his setbacks and failures.

Abraham Lincoln represents the finest example of persistence. Although he faced countless defeats throughout his life -- many that must have seemed insurmountable -- he never gave up on his dreams.

Giving up on our dreams is the easy way out. Hanging in there when life seems hopeless proves much more strength as compared to someone who falls down in defeat. We all face defeat within our lives. I am grateful for my defeats for after every encounter of it I was stronger morally and mentally, and each time it comes it gives me wisdom.

Living through the pain of life is a curse yet a blessing at the same time. Life sometimes hands us thorns but we have the choice to park our mind on the thorn or on the beauty it can eventually transform and produce in us.

Every human being has some cognitive distortions in their thinking. It is just part of his human make up. However, the exciting thing is that once you can learn to embrace mistakes as key to the learning process you can begin to get curious and excited about what lies beyond them.

Each day is an opportunity to increase your knowledge of the world. With each experience there is something to be learned. And that something to be learned is different for everyone.

Mistakes come in all sorts and colours. Learn to view them as stepping-stones leading you to a higher plateau. Accept errors and use them to your advantage. If you go with the flow, there is no limit how far you can row. Abandon perfectionism right now.

MAKE YOURSELF THIS NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION TO LEAVE YOUR MARK IN THE SUN

2009-12-26T18:42:00.000-08:00

http://www.amazon.com/Composition-Photo-Workshop-Blue-Fier/dp/0470114363/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_c

"A life lived with integrity even if it lacks the trappings of fame and fortune is a shining star in whose light others may follow in the years to come."

“There is a transcendent power in example. We reform others unconsciously when we walk uprightly.”

"In other words, when we realize that everything we do matters, that every choice we make has consequences, we see ourselves rightly as stars linked in a constellation of community. We discover what it might mean and what it might take to act with integrity...Be something like a star--whole and radiant and linked to other stars--within the shimmering and glorious contellation of community."

Being an influential person requires staying on your toes all the time. As a person known to the community everyone knows you, so, when you missteps then everyone knows all the details whether they are fact or fiction. A lot of talk will be going around and your actions will determine the end result. Your status as a role model will be affected in good and bad ways. The people who looked up to you will be upset and frustrated when you have not live up to their expectation. Remember, at every word, at every act, a reputation dies.

Being able to share your experiences with others in order to help, encourage, and motivate them is an opportunity, a privilege and honor that few have. Even if it's to one person or many people to guide them in a different direction than they're going right now. To change a persons mind in a way that they don't have to go through the same hardships and struggles you did to learn things the hard way is our greatest gift to others.

You know about life. You know what works and what doesn't. You know the mistakes you've made and what you've learned from them. You have experience. You have skills. Many times, what we take for granted is a big deal to someone else.

Lou Holtz, the famous football coach said, "When I die, my accomplishments will eventually be forgotten. But what I've invested in my players will continue to live on." The best legacy is not what we leave for people. It's what we leave in people. We all have things that we've learned: skills, talents, life experiences, wisdom. You have a wealth of knowledge that God has entrusted you with. You are not supposed to keep that to yourself. You should be passing that on to somebody else. We have a responsibility to transfer what we know to the next generation.

You and I have an opportunity to leave a mark that cannot be erased. Yes, eventually we're all going to die, but when you invest in somebody else, you will continue to live on. Your life can have influence for generations to come if you will take time to invest in people.

"Strange is our situation here upon earth. Each of us comes for a short visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to divine a purpose. From the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we do know that man is here for the sake of other men."

MANNY ‘PACMAN’ PACQUIAO HAPPY BIRTHDAY

2009-12-17T20:25:00.000-08:00

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Manny ‘the Pacman’ Pacquiao, a sensational athelete’s fan and the boxing superstar thus far.

Once upon a time, he was a street urchin, he was a goner dressed in filthy rags. But for the natural gift and a fierce dedication to match, Manny Pacquiao has risen to become a modern day icon for the Filipinos in the Philippines and to the entire people world wide.

Prudence at 2 years

and 4 months

Even my youngest child Prudence, at two years and six months, is an avid fan of the ‘Pacman’. He can identify the Pacman in pictures or in television. When the ring announcer declares his name in the ring—Mannnnnyyyyy Pacmaaaaannnnn, Prudence will finish the declaration--- Pacquiiaaaooo. Prudence has his punching bag and he is more than willing to display his punching sequence ala Pacquiao when prodded to.

Yesterday, December 17, 2009, Thursday was Pacquiao’s birthday and he turned thirty one (31) years old as he capped off his landmark year with a grand birthday bash at the KCC Convention Center in General Santos City. The celebration was very elaborate befitting a king. An estimated 2,000 people attended.

Like his past birthdays, there was a Raffle too but this time however, Manny was raffling off something bigger – a brand new unit of TOYOTA VIOS costing almost a million pesos.

Manny Pacquiao has everything now. To say that he has billions of pesos in cash; thousands of hectares of landholdings; commercial buildings, mansions in his hometown in General Santos; another in Laguna Province; and another in Manila, Philippines, are still a understatement.

For him, how beautiful the world is from above. “A sea of flowers as far as the eye could see filled the air with petals and the scent of spring. The skies were tinged with the soft orange of dawn; a cloudless beginning for the day. The single cliff he stood upon was high enough to look at the valley in wonder and feel the chilly, morning breeze that came from below. The sun woke up on the horizon, filling the world slowly with its light and then – later, its warmth. A flying 'V' of ducks crossed the sky overhead, heading home. This and more made such a fantastical image that he had to hold his breath”, whew!!! Surely, such measure of success only existed in fairy tales and wildest dreams for us, but for Manny ‘the Pacman’ Pacquiao, it’s vivid and real. Surely.

A HAIR RAISING STORY THAT STRIKES FEAR IN EVERYONE

2009-12-16T21:30:00.000-08:00

ABS-CBN reporter Anthony Taberna with abdul

This is a story that catches you in the throat like a sob. . It's about time, "old cold time, old sorrow, settling down in layers like silt in a pond".

ABS-CBN News revealed yesterday December 16, 2009, that a man who is currently serving a 15-year prison sentence came forward with "shocking" testimony of mass murders carried out by young boys in the service of the Ampatuan family.

"Abdul" (not his real name) told ABS-CBN News that he was 12 years old when he started assassinating political rivals of the Ampatuans upon orders of Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan. The first one was a councilor for Sultan Kudarat. Abdul said he had been in the family's service since he was 10. The Ampatuans funded his education from 4th grade to 3rd year high school.

“I was allowed to enter the councilor's house. I waited for him to come home. When he came home, that's when I would kill him. But I had companions. I was the only one who entered the house. I was in my school uniform. I would go in and out of places, no one would stop me.” He said.

As a child assassin for the Ampatuans, Abdul said he killed no less than 100 people.

Abdul said he and 30 other young boys had been brought to a training camp in the mountains of South Upi municipality in Maguindanao, around 32 miles southeast of Sultan Kudarat.

Photo from http://ivarfjeld.wordpress.com/2009/08/13/hamas-trained-120-000-children-to-become-islamic-terrorists/

He claimed they were trained by Palestinians and Indonesians in combat tactics.

“We were trained like soldiers. Everything was there, like how to hold a gun, how to aim a gun and how to shoot a person," Abdul said.

From then on, Abdul said, murder became a normal routine. He alleged that he carried out kill orders without question and without knowing whether the victims had done anything wrong. “They would face us all and talk to us. Anyone who would question would be killed," he said.

Abdul, now in his late 20s, is currently in the Sultan Kudarat Provincial Jail on charges of murder. He has been incarcerated for 10 years. He is serving a 15-year sentence. He said he decided to come forward with his story after he "could not sleep since his conscience was bothering him." He was also said to have harbored ill feelings for the Ampatuan family for not helping him resolve the murder charges against him.

Asked who among the Ampatuans gave him orders, Abdul claimed it was ARMM Gov. Ampatuan who was then a mayor of Shariff Aguak town.

“He didn't order me directly. Zaldy's aide would," he said.

The last time he had spoken to the Ampatuans, Abdul told ABS-CBN News, was in 2003. Before that, he claimed the Ampatuans would sometimes break him out of jail to carry out murders.

In one instance, Abdul said he was sneaked out of jail to ambush another group of Ampatuan's political enemies.

Abdul said he shot and killed 3 victims right at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) headquarters in Intramuros, Manila on November 2, 2002. This time, it was Atty. Felix Lidasan and his cousin Armando Macapeges, along with the latter's brother Jamal Macapeges.

“There were 3 of them. I even had to chase them. The two were dead on the spot. The other one died at the hospital," he said.

The assassination incident had been confirmed by police authorities and the Commission on Election (COMELEC) that there was indeed such an incident. Lidasan and Macapages were at the Comelec to follow-up an electoral protest against Matanog mayor Nasser Imam, an in-law of current Shariff Aguak Mayor Anwar Ampatuan.

Abdul claimed Zaldy (ARMM Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan) was present at the time of the murders.

Zaldy, Anwar, family patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr. and his son Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. were recently arrested over the heinous murder of 57 civilians including 2 lawyers and 36 journalists in Ampatuan town.

Among his numerous exploits as a hired assassin, Abdul said he could not forget the massacre of his town mates who refused to give up their land to the Ampatuans. The powerful Ampatuan clan controlled the political and economic powers in Maguindanao and its adjacent areas.

“We would burn their houses. Children and the elderly were not spared. No one could escape. We would do it at night," Abdul said.

In many of the murders, Abdul claimed he was accompanied by a certain "Major Mukamad," who is allegedly Chief Inspector Saudi Mukamad, leader of the 1057th Police Provincial Mobile Group, a police combat group.

Mukamad was now implicated by witnesses as one of the perpetrators of the Ampatuan town massacre, according to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG). He has been relieved from his post. .

There have been many reports of insurgents or terrorist groups using child soldiers in combat. However, the alleged use of child assassins by Philippine warlords came as a surprise to Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR). CHR Chair Leila de Lima, meanwhile, wants a full investigation into the matter.

"If this is true, if it is a reality in that part of the country, then this surely warrants further investigation," she said.

"This is shocking. This is really unbelivable. I mean, the Ampatuan town massacre is already unbelievable. What [Abdul] is revealing is like a movie," de Lima added.

God! What does the Philippines have anymore? The entire new generation is going down. It is impossible the Philippines would improve or return to its former shape and tranquility. Of course, this country is destroyed! We have nothing to see except death, bombs, warplanes, helicopters, dead and wounded bodies, shootings, beheadings etc… It has been nine years since the Arroyo regime started. Therefore, it has been nine years of their governance, seeing all of these things in front of their eyes. It’s been nine years of complete failure of the Filipino politicians to sit down and see how grave the danger surrounding us has become. It has been nine years of concentrating on who gets more, and who prays for God. It’s been nine damned years and all Filipinos could see is nothing but collapse, segregation, hatred, and blast walls surrounding their once opened neighborhoods.

In the Philippines, the danger is deeper and bigger than our illusions. I have lamented the fact that the traditional political leaders had shown and will continue on and on to ignore the crisis situation which is now stratospheric as if like a bubble about to burst. With a society that is "tossed to and fro as the waves on the ocean", our country becomes disturbingly easy to degenerate into something called a lynch mob. Does no one know what kind of country we have now and will soon become if we will not come to our right senses?

AMPATUANS ECLIPSE SOME OF THE WEALTHY PEOPLE IN THE WORLD

2009-12-11T05:07:00.000-08:00

The Province of Maguindanao is one of the poorest provinces in the Philippines. But the Ampatuans who ruled as kings since 2001 have 26 mansions, many businesses and cash of about three (3) billion pesos. Each of these mansions has its own bank vault where money and firearms are stock as they prefer cash than bank accounts.

Their riches are shocking considering that Maguindanao is the third poorest province in the country according to the National Statistics and Coordination Board. It has a collapsed educational system that only 39.7 percent of adults in Maguindanao have six years of basic education. The vast majority of those are impoverished, illiterate people who are battling with what to eat for the day.

In Maguindanao alone, the Ampatuans have seven (7) mansions; in Davao City, fourteen (14) mansions; in Sultan Kudarat, three (3) mansions; and in Manila, two (2) mansions.

We are afraid to make them mad so we temper our words by calling these blatant liars nice polite things as Honourables. Our fear had sunk in deeper like the ocean floor. This time the people must assert and insist for these abusive public officials to cease and desist, effective immediately, from committing acts and assuming powers outside the mandate of the law.

Circumstances showing default of public service by these public officials are in publications- they steal, they lie, they break our will, sold and trampled our rights and freedom, and they manipulate us like a bull, attaching an emotional nose ring on us through fear so they can easily lead us around-- exploit us with the pretext of duty; and he who does not take them into consideration is not erroneous, but mad, metaphysically mad. A concerned citizen, never losing sight of principles, is to be guided by circumstances; and judging contrary to the exigencies of the moment, may ruin his country for ever.

ARMED GROUPS MAINTAINED BY BIG POLITICIANS

2009-12-10T03:32:00.000-08:00

Even if maintaining private armies is cast in stone and barred by the impregnable wall of the Philippine Law and the Constitution, but according to the military report which got into the hands of the abs-cbn news on December 8, 2009, there are seventy three (73) partisan armed groups (PAGs) that are being maintained and under the control of several big politicians throughout the country. Forty two (42) of these are in the Province of Maguindanao: nine (9) are with the Ampatuans’ clan particularly the Patriarch governor of the Province of Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan, Sr., Sarrif Aguak Mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr., and the governor of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan. They have a total of Two Thousand Four Hundred (2,400) active forces.

Gubernatorial candidate and Vice Mayor Ismael Mangudadatu
in a striped shirt, waves to the crowd after filing his certificate
of candidacy for governor. It was his wife and relatives together with 36 journalists who were killed in the Maguindanao Massacre on
November23, 2009. Photo from google image search

ARMM Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan with Pres. Arroyo.

Photo from google image search

The Mangudadatus’ clan, on the other hand, who are the political rival of the Ampatuans and whose wife and relatives, together with the thirty six (36) journalists who were brutally massacred on November 23, 2009 by the Ampatuans, have 250 men.

Sulu Provincial Governor Sakur Tan, on extreme left

Sulu 2nd District Cong Munir Arbison in white polo.
Photo from google image search

Lanao del Sur Balindong
Photo from google image search

Mayor Cherry Lyn Akbar, the widow of slain Congressman
Wahab Akbar, touches her husband's coffin during his
burial at Isabela, the capital of the island province of
Basilan in the southern Philippines

Photo from google image search

Basilan Salapuddin
Photo from google image search

Basilan Hataman
Photo from google image search

In the Province of Sulu, Gov. Sakur Tan have 2,700 active forces in his private armies, while Cong. Munir Erbison have 2,500. In Lanao del Norte, the Dimaporos have also undetermined number of private armies. In Lanao del Sur, the Balindongs also have their own private armies. In Basilan, the widow of Wahar Akbhar, have her private armies also. Likewise, the Salapuddin and the Hataman have also private armies.

All these partisan armed groups (PAGs) have been organized legally as civilian volunteers (CVOs), and civilian armed forces geographical units (CAFGUs) which are supposedly under the command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). This was made possible in July 2006, when President Arroyo issued Executive Order 546, allowing local officials and the PNP to deputize barangay tanods as “force multipliers" in the fight against insurgents. But in reality, the EO 546 allows local officials to convert their private armed armies into legal entities with a fancy name: civilian volunteer organizations (CVOs).

Lanao Del Norte Governor Mohammad Khalid Q Dimaporo and

2nd District Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo. (Exequiel Supera NIB-OPS Photo)

According to University of the Philippines (UP) Political Science Professor Roland Simbulan, where there are insurgency problem in that area, it is where there are armed groups that are being supplied with arms by the government. They are use to fight the insurgents. And the fact is, these armed men are given salaries and allowances by the government with the peoples’ taxes.

However, the reality is that these PAGs are being used by the big politicians as their private armies and the government is playing blind and dumb about this. The AFP admitted that in the case of the Ampatuans, they were supplied CAFGU units to fight the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Department of National Defense and
National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales

Corollarily, on his part, the Secretary of the Department of National Defense and concurrent National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales says, that the estimated number of armed groups throughout the country is now 132, and they are possessing around 1 million unlicensed firearms, most of them in Mindanao.

Indeed, they lost track of it anymore but the bottom line is that, these PAGs are under the command of the AFP, they feed them, let them grow, given salaries and allowances, and cuddled them. With these armed groups sprouting all over the country under the tutelage of the AFP, there’s sufficient reason the people in this country have to be suspicious and wary about.

MARTIAL LAW IN MAGUINDANAO

2009-12-08T05:01:00.000-08:00

Top Photo is the President of the Republic of the Philippines
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and to her left is Vice President
Noli de Castro. Photo from http://www.op.gov.ph/index.php?
option=com_content&task=view&id=27043&Itemid=2

Bottom Photo is the Governor of the Autonomous Region for
Muslim Mindanao Zaldy Ampatuan who is one of the masterminds
of the Maguindanao Massacre. Photo from http://www.allvoices.com/
news/4753757-arms-cache/image/43654184

We all share the outrage of the Maguindanao Massacre. But to set aside the basic and fundamental rights of the citizens there by imposing Martial Law is another story.

Article VII, Section 18 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides:

The President shall be the Commander-in-Chief of all armed forces of the Philippines and whenever it becomes necessary, he may call out such armed forces to prevent or suppress lawless violence, invasion or rebellion. In case of invasion or rebellion, when the public safety requires it, he may, for a period not exceeding sixty days, suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus or place the Philippines or any part thereof under martial law. (Emphasis supplied)

Under Title 3, Chapter One of the Philippine Revised Penal Code, rebellion is classified under Crimes against Public Order. Rebellion is defined under our jurisdiction as:

Art. 134. Rebellion or insurrection; How committed. — The crime of rebellion or insurrection is committed by rising publicly and taking arms against the Government for the purpose of removing from the allegiance to said Government or its laws, the territory of the Philippine Islands or any part thereof, of any body of land, naval or other armed forces, depriving the Chief Executive or the Legislature, wholly or partially, of any of their powers or prerogatives. (Emphasis supplied)

Is there such scenario in Maguindanao? Did the Ampatuans occupied a territory of the Republic of the Philippines through arms? Did the Ampatuans even cause the disruption of the functions of the Chief Executive or the Legislature even of Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanano (ARMM) through armed public uprising? The answer is a resounding NO.

Contrariwise, prior to the commission of the election-related brutal and hideous massacre in Maguindanao on November 23, 2009, where 57 innocent, unarmed and defenseless people including 36 journalists were mercilessly annihilated in an instant, the Ampatuans, who were tagged as the principal suspects, were, had been, and are personally very close to President Gloria M. Arroyo. They are the trusted political ally, and the forceful conduit in helping ensure Madam Arroyo’s victory over the whole of Mindanao, literally, with all the votes going everything for the administration versus practically nothing but mere residues for the opposing candidates.

In return, President Arroyo made the Ampatuans the king of kings and warlords of all gods: quartering them in a pedestal in Maguindanao, literally, with 23 mansions in Maguindanao Province and Davao City, amassing riches and wealth lying idle in their hands as they suffocate the people with all that crisis of suffering and alarm only they had created. You-- entrench it behind a frowning fortification—-surround it with battlements, and lay the Province of Maguindano, far and near, under contribution for the support of this garrison of office-holders. Desolation and oppression are without, while the tenants of the citadel are reveling in luxury and profusion within.

Photos of inside and outside of one of the 23 Mansions
of the Patriarch Governor Andal Ampatuan, Sr.

Firearms cache dug up near the residence of Patriarch Gov. Andal Ampatuan.Photo from http://www.newsflash.org/2004/02/hl/hl109215.htm

Another firearms dug up. Photo from http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20091207-240577/More-arrests-more-raids

Now, with such closeness, a kind of spiritual umbilical cord, how could anyone carelessly ascribe the Ampatuans to rebel against the President?

The high powered firearms, assault rifles, submachine guns, armored vehicles and ammunitions were supplied by the Department of National Defense and the Philippine National Police. Consequently, it is the government itself that should be blamed for it.

And the irony of it all is that it is no less than President Arroyo who uttered it, and made the basis for imposing Martial Law in Maguindanao, the very person who pampered the Ampatuans in a manner likened to that of a magkal (a humungous boa constrictor, which girth is about twice the size as the trunk of a large tree) to his trabungko (a magnificent gem believe to be the source of its immortality) that it carries on its head.

Therefore, the basis for the imposition of Martial Law in Maguindanao, sad to say, did not meet the requirements required under the Philippine Constitution.

THE COURTS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING IN MAGUINDANAO

2009-12-05T22:23:00.000-08:00

My present picture at the age of 58

My pictures when I was with the JAGS (Judge Advocate General's Service)
in 1979 to middle part of 1982

The alleged purpose of Proclamation 1959, declaring the Province of Maguindanao under Martial Law, is the arrest of the Ampatuan family members who are implicated in the November 23 Ampatuan, Maguindanao massacre. The regime justifies the declaration in saying, among others, that civilian institutions, especially the courts, are no longer functioning because judges and court personnel were overcome with fear; and that the dispensation of justice would not be possible.

Likewise, Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera in an interview after the proclamation of Martial Law in Maguindanao Province said, among others, government services ceased due to the presence of heavily armed men. "This complexion is no longer what motivated the Ampatuans commit the massacre and now it's of a different political complexion ... It was a looming and in fact it was already practically an overthrow of government. Even the courts were not functioning in Maguindanao."

In this connection, may I volunteer and apply to the President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for the position as a Judge of the Regional Trial Court for Maguindanao to be the one to hear and decide all cases that were filed and to be filed against the Ampatuans in connection with the Maguindanao massacre on November 23, 2009. I am Abeto A. Salcedo, Jr., and I am the acting Regional Agrarian Reform Adjudicator (RARAD) of the DAR Adjudication Board (DARAB) in CARAGA Region. I have been an Adjudicator of the Department of Agrarian Reform Adjudication Board (DARAB) since 1991, or for almost twenty (20) years now. Hereunder is my biodata:

BIODATA

NAME : ABETO AGCOPRA SALCEDO, JR

AGE : 58 years old

BIRTHDAY : September 30, 1951

BIRTH PLACE : Salay, Misamis Oriental

ADDRESS : #230, Purok 3, River Side, Tablon, Cag. De Oro City

EDUCATION

GRADE SCHOOL : Graduated 1964, Xavier University

HIGH SCHOOL : Graduated 1968, Xavier University

AB-PRE LAW : Graduated 1972, Xavier University

LLB : Graduated 1976, Xavier University

PASSED THE BAR : 1977 in the first taking

EXPERIENCES

PRIVATE PRACTICE – 1977 to 1979, 1982 to 1987, 1988 to 1990

AFP, JAGO (JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL’S OFFICE) – October 29, 1979 to April 1982

4^th ASST CITY FISCAL (CAG. DE ORO) – 1987

Provincial Agrarian Reform Adjudicator (PARAD) – 1991 to 2005

OIC Regional Agrarian Reform Adjudicator (RARAD)- 2005 to the present

PERSONAL

CIVIL STATUS - Married to Corazon B. delos Reyes

CHILDREN - Vanesa 14; Mars, 12; Star, 9; and Prudence, 2

SIBLINGS - Leo, Emilie, Oscar

TRACK RECORD

B-10, Manila Bulletin, Monday October 6, 2008

With my training and experiences as a JAGO officer Philippine Constabulary (now PNP), as an Asst. City Fiscal in Cagayan de Oro, and as a judge/adjudicator in the Department of Agrarian Reform Adjudication Board (DARAB), and with a track record as the consistent number 1 Provincial Adjudicator, and Regional Adjudicator since 2003 to the present, I sincerely believe that I can render impartial justice to the parties with a blind eye and with dispatch if I will be appointed even in a temporary capacity for the duration of the Ampatuans' cases until they are all decided and terminated.

IT IS ALWAYS BEST TO TEST THE WATERS BEFORE COMMITTING TO A NEW COURSE OF ACTION

2009-12-05T17:36:00.000-08:00

Governor Andal Ampatuan, Sr., in long sleeve;
and ARMM Governor Andal 'Zaldy' Ampatuan beside him

Photo from http://www.bulatlat.com/main/2009/12/05/news-in-pictures-groups-slam-proclamation-of-martial-law-in-maguindanao/

The monster warlord Ampatuans are being stripped of their power by the Arroyo government slowly but surely. The government of President Arroyo is now determined to cripple and paralyze the monster warlord it has created.

In the days of the Ampatuans’ high adventure, the grass smelled sweet with the spring wind. Once upon a time, their names echoed with fear all over the nation because they are the king of kings that possess the enigma of invulnerability. Their domains once glittered like the light on a windy sea.

The Ampatuans sudden astronomical rise to power in Maguindanao from 2001 occasioned much disbelief that they of all things should ascend to such a stature. This surprise is, in retrospect, surprising. Popular culture and politics are both in some measure dependent on projecting messages that mass audiences want, and the communications abilities of the Patriach Andal Ampatuan, Sr. and President Gloria M. Arroyo are more similar than either might wish to acknowledge.

But remember, no matter who you are, no matter how invincible you might think you are, there comes a time, when your jewels cease to sparkle, when the glitters of your gold loses its luster, when your throne room becomes a prison, and all that is left are the tears in your eyes as you cry ‘God why have you forsaken me’.

The Ampatuans are now in grief. President Arroyo took back their power: they are now being expelled from the Lakas-Kampi political party of President Arroyo. They are also in the hold departure list as ordered by the Department of Justice; they are under house arrest as their residences in Maguindanao were surrounded by police and military forces that no one can get in and those who are inside cannot get out without the clearance issued by the authorities; their bodyguards and private armies were dismantled and their modern assault firearms and heavy artillery and ammos which could annihilate one army brigade have been located and in possession of the military; the warrants for their arrest will be issued anytime soon; Martial Law have been declared in Maguindanao Province; and that the Ampatuans’ bank accounts had been ordered frozen.

Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera said witnesses had implicated Ampatuan’s father, Maguindanao Gov. Datu Andal Ampatuan, his brother and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan; and relatives Akmad, Saudi Jr., Bahnarian Jr., Sajid Islam, and Akmad Tato in the gruesome massacre. (Manila Standard Today, Saturday-Sunday, November 28-29, 2009.)

It is vivid in the Ampatuans’ memory that once upon a time when Arroyo was in search for somebody for her to become impregnable in politics like a steel, when steel meant more to her than gold or jewels. Yes, you know what it is. It was the Ampatuans who provided her with that steel of invincibility as the votes of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) always spills the difference between victory and defeat for President Arroyo.

Ampatuans, you have come to the turning point of your lives. For who would save you now if not yourselves? You are the well spring, from which you flow. Without you, Gloria Arroyo will have never been. What would your world be, if you cannot do anything to save you and your clan?

You have never prayed before like now. But you have no tongue for it. No one, not even you, will remember if you were good even for once. You will be remembered as the evilest of evil. Why you should not fight but only wait to die? All that matters is that it is now your entire family who would now stand against the many. You are now fighting for your life. You can come back from the darkness. Back from the pit of hell to fight all of them if you decide to fight, not with guns and armies, but the secret you know about the election in 2004 and 2007.

And if you do not listen, then to HELL with you! It is you who know why they fear the night.

Oh, I change my mind, forget it. Please do not expose the ‘secret’ anymore, please. Otherwise, if you do, the President might declare Martial Law not only in Maguindanao, but to the entire country. That’s for sure. You see, the declaration of Martial Law in Maguindanao is testing the waters how the people will react. You see, it is always best to evaluate before committing to a new course of action.

HATE BEGETS HATE

2009-12-02T02:56:00.000-08:00

Photo from http://balatucan.wordpress.com/2008/02/25/i-am-sorry-2-the-nbn-scandal/

Luis ‘Chavit’ Singson, a political kingpin and warlord in Ilocos Sur Province and had served as Governor for twenty-eight (28) years, became a very close personal friend and trusted political ally when Joseph Ejercito ‘Erap’ Estrada became President of the Republic of the Philippines in 1998. But their friendship suddenly turned into sour and Governor Singson was hearing warnings from their common friends that President Estrada was going to have him ambushed and assassinated by military men under his orders.

On October 16, 2000, as Singson was on his way home at about twelve (12:00) o’clock midnight, a vehicle of the Presidential Security Group suddenly block his way. He did not come out when ordered and called his friends through his cellphone to rescue him. His friends immediately responded and came over with policemen and media men. Then and there, he proclaimed to the media he was subjected to assassination attempt because he knew too much about the involvement of President Estrada in the illegal numbers game called Jueting. His expose’ spread like wildfire. This started the historical privilege speech of former Senator Teopisto Guingona in the Senate hall leading to the impeachment proceeding against former President Estrada that resulted to his force resignation from his Presidency through the massive protest rallies by the Filipino people throughout the country.

This time, due to the gruesome Massacre of 57 people in Maguindanao Province including 36 journalists where Mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr. was positively identified as the mastermind, the father, Governor Andal Ampatuan, Sr., also the political kingpin and warlord of the Maguindanao Province who is personally very close to President Gloria M. Arroyo and the trusted political ally, together with his children and relatives are now being expelled from the Lakas-Kampi political party of President Arroyo. They are also in the hold departure list as ordered by the Department of Justice; their residences in Maguindanao were surrounded by police and military forces that no one can get out and enter without the clearance issued by authorities; their bodyguards and private armies were dismantled and their firearms are being located for confiscation because what they surrendered were vintage firearms; they are also implicated to the massacre and they believe they are being pinned down; and that they are now crying against the supposed ‘cruel injustice’ done against them.

However, like former Gov. Singson, the Ampatuans have also ace cards against Pres. Arroyo that they keep very close to their chest which could also topple her from power. They were the ones responsible for insuring the victory of President Arroyo in the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in 2004 presidential election where her closest rival, the late Fernando Poe, Jr. got zero in most precincts, which was perceived as statistically improbable, if not impossible. Also in the 2007 Senatorial Election, the Ampatuans had delivered a 12-0 victory in favor of the administration candidates with a highly improbable, if not, impossible margin.

How did they do it; who ordered them what to do; and finally, who were the people that executed the fraud and the cheating, are the ace cards like the Pandora’s box they could now open to unearth the holy grail which the people of this nation have been painstakingly waiting to be revealed at any time.

If the Ampatuans cannot contain anymore their perceived innumerable suppression, cruelty and oppression which they are subjected and they cannot bear them anymore, they may have no other choice but to spill the beans like what Governor Luis ‘Chavit’ Singson did to former President Estrada.

Naturally, if you are already pushed to the wall and there seems to be no way out, you have to fight back against the one in charge of those forces (the President) causing you the pest with your formidable weapon—squeal everything you knew against her. If she is pestering you, you might as well fight back. It takes two to play the game.

THE MAGUINDANAO—THIS IS WHERE IT ALL STARTED

2009-11-28T18:35:00.000-08:00

If you do something for me that I cannot do for myself, I will do something for you that you cannot do for yourself. You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours. This mutual covenant between the President of the Philippines Gloria M. Arroyo and the Ampatuans had started what the Ampatuans have now become—the Maguindanao’s law of the jungle. And whosoever shall keep it may prosper, but whosoever that shall break shall die. For the strength of one is the other and vice versa.

President Arroyo needed somebody to control the votes in Mindanao, and Governor Andal Ampatuan, Sr., with his four wives and over 30 children, and intermarriages with other political clans, the President instinctively knew he must be the right pick as the chosen one to make her political future in the entire Mindanao secure.

Governor Andal Ampatuan, Sr., in long sleeve;
and ARMM Governor Andal 'Zaldy' Ampatuan beside him

The Ampatuans begun to rise from nobody to over everybody as soon as Madam Gloria M. Arroyo became President in 2001. Then and there, the family members and relatives started to hold over key government positions, elective and appointive, in the national and local level. This early, the Maguindanao residents know that only one family wields real power in Maguindanao: the Ampatuans, led by its acknowledged patriarch, Governor Andal Ampatuan, Sr.

In 2005, one of the elder son Andal ‘Zaldy’ Ampatuan, at 38 years old, became the governor of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the youngest ever to head the regional government. He took more than 90 percent of the votes among several candidates. But nevertheless his election was subject to questions of impropriety as was believed to be less than credible and honest raising quizzical eyebrows.

With guns and the blessings of President Arroyo, the Ampatuans seem to be digging in for the long haul.

To tighten their grip on power, President Arroyo made it legal for the Ampatuans to have hundreds of armed men and women under their employ who as thralldoms, will ready to die for the Ampatuans.

But the 1987 Constitution bans private armed groups. No problem, in the Philippines Madam Arroyo is the law, thus, in July 2006, the Arroyo administration issued Executive Order 546, allowing local officials and the PNP to deputize barangay tanods as “force multipliers" in the fight against insurgents. In practice, the EO allows local officials to convert their private armed groups into legal entities with a fancy name: civilian volunteer organizations (CVOs).

And whenever the Ampatuans travels about a hundred bodyguards board the back of spiffy pickups that are staples of Ampatuan convoys; and these CVO members typically lug long automatic assault firearms. The convoys of 20 vehicles or more always begin and end with pickups mounted with big machine guns. With the Ampatuans chronic show of force, the residents would rather not do anything to stand in the way of the Ampatuans.

To return the favor President Arroyo has been extending to them, every election the Ampatuans became the forceful conduit in helping ensure Madam Arroyo’s victory over the whole of Mindanao, literally with all the votes going everything for the administration versus nothing but mere splatters for the opposing candidates.

THE Maguindanao capitol [photo by Jaileen Jimeno]

AMPATUAN house [photo by Jaileen Jimeno]

But inspite of their influence and money, inspite of their mansions that dot the landscape, inspite of their towering stature as the gods and the law, the Maguindanao sank into economic doldrums and poverty and is the third poorest province in the country. It has a collapsed educational system that only 39.7 percent of adults in Maguindanao have six years of basic education. The vast majority of those are impoverished, illiterate people who are battling with what to eat for the day.

Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., the principal suspect of the hideously gruesome massacre in Maguindanao Province where on November 23, 2009, fifty seven (57) people, including thirty six (36) journalists were killed instantly in one setting.

Photo from http://en-gb.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=9874744&id=340049295593

With the Maguindanao massacre on November 23, 2009, the government could not believe how a single clan managed to build up that army, whose firepower is just now being exposed to public scrutiny. This clearly illustrates the failure of the national government to enforce the law in the autonomous region. Military forces now deployed throughout the ARMM following the declaration of a state of emergency have found armored vehicles, each mounted with two .50 caliber machine guns, that do not belong to either the military or police. Authorities said the vehicles appeared to have been locally assembled. How can an armored vehicle assembly plant operate under the radar of the government? If those vehicles were not locally manufactured, how were they brought in? Were the Ampatuans authorized to obtain armored vehicles from abroad?

Authorities reported disarming over 300 members of the Ampatuans’ private army, but the weapons confiscated were government-issued, most of them reportedly very old. How many unlicensed weapons, including machine guns and the M60 submachine guns reportedly used in the massacre, are in the Ampatuan arsenal?

If you rationalize carefully, President Arroyo with her government are just too careful in handling the case of the Ampatuan family. The saying “best friends can be worst enemy” is the sword of Damocles ready to fall on them at any time.

But for me, it is just a matter of time and the scenario will be a repeat to that of former President Joseph Estrada and Governor Luis ‘Chavit’ Singson. For the benefit of my friends in foreign countries who are following my blog, Governor Singson and former President Estrada were very close friends also. Governor Singson has become the man Friday of former President Estrada to whom the latter share even his most intimate and most kept secrets. As the normal course of events would have it, their closeness turned from harmonious to sour.

In October 2000, Governor Singson laid down everything he knew about former President Estrada for the two years of their closeness, particularly the fact that he gave the former President 400 million pesos as payoff from illegal gambling profits. In a matter of two (2) months after the expose’, the latter was ousted from the Presidency by the Filipinos through protest rallies.

THE MAGUINDANAO MASSACRE—COULD THIS BE THE LAST STRAW FOR THE ARROYO REGIME?

2009-11-26T19:29:00.000-08:00

Photo from GMANews

This is the picture of Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., the principal suspect of the hideously gruesome massacre in Maguindanao Province where fifty seven (57) people, including thirty six (36) journalists, the wife and pregnant daughter, relatives, and supporters of Ismael "Toto" Mangudadatu, a governatorial candidate in Maguindanao, were unconscionably and mercilessly riddled with automatic assault rifles by this man and his more than one hundred (100) thralldoms.

The Ampatuan family are the political warlords and considered as the gods and the law in Maguindanao Province because they are umbilically or literally very close to the Philippine President. The principal suspect is the incumbent Mayor of the Municipality of Datu Unsay; his brother Andal “Zaldy” Ampatuan, is the incumbent Governor of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM); and their father Andal Ampatuan, Sr., is the incumbent Governor of Maguindanao Province. These people always delivered a landslide votes in favor of President Arroyo and her party every election in the Philippines, the reason she owes them immeasurable debt of gratitude then and now.

Proof to that, even the Ampatuan family had been cursedly denounced by the whole world on account of the massacre, the Philippine President through her spokesperson refused to distant herself but even shamelessly came out in radio and television that no matter how they are presently looked upon by the people in the world, they and the President of the Philippines remain as close friends and allies as ever. No wonder that the Ampatuans have been getting a kid glove treatment.

Here’s the kid glove treatment: The prime suspect was treated as VIP in the sense that the government spent millions of pesos just to show his kind of stature. Trucks and luxury cars loaded with high ranking government officials and soldiers came to the house of the Ampatuans to fetch the suspect. But he chose no other but a helicopter to ride, so, he was fetched by a helicopter yesterday, November 26, 2009 at 11:00 o’clock in the morning. He was not handcuffed, as what other suspects even in petty crimes are seen when apprehended.

Also, the weapons of the Amputuans military forces comprising eight hundred (800) were allegedly confiscated but the guns and rifles that were surrendered were old/antique weapons (Garand rifles used in WWII), rusty and dilapidated. Witnesses say they were not the kind of weapons used by the killers. Please see the photo. Photo from http://www.etaiwannews.com/gallery.php?highlight_id=3214834&category=34

The suspect’s brother Andal “Zaldy” Ampatuan, the incumbent Governor of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM); and their father Andal Ampatuan, Sr., the incumbent Governor of Maguindanao Province, were not apprehended, or at least, just invited for questioning as they are also allegedly in conspiracy, directly or indirectly, to the suspect. Remember, it was incumbent Governor Andal Ampatuan, Sr. who threatened Ismael "Toto" Mangudadatu not to file his candidacy for governor; and that the backhoe excavator used to dig and cover the cadavers of the victims and their vehicles was owned by the Maguindanao Province with the name of Governor Andal Ampatuan, Sr. scribbled in it. Likewise, the two high ranking Police Officials who were allegedly present at the scene of the crime and the militia forces who fired at the victims were under Andal “Zaldy” Ampatuan, the incumbent Governor of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

So, what is happening here, are we that fool enough to believe what the government is doing? The government’s handling of the Ampatuan case is too appalling that to take it sitting down will be perceived by the whole world how the Filipinos are so stupid and twat that we are. In that case, we deserve the kind of government we have, in that, our President is only such for those people whom she has mutual political interest. In fact, she has cultivated a culture of impunity among them.

The government official speaking in behalf of the President, when asked a question whether the Ampatuans are untouchable, said: “No, they are not, nobody is untouchable, and I mean nobody. With the highest heinous crime they have committed, I don’t see why there are people who could still say that they are untouchable.” Do you not jeer with such an answer?

Governor Andal Ampatuan, Sr. and ARMM Governor Andal 'Zaldy' Ampatuan to the left and right of President Gloria M. Arroyo

THE ARROYO REGIME HAS CREATED A MONSTER AND IS NOW TERRIFIED OF IT

2009-11-24T18:46:00.001-08:00

We all fully realize that crime exists in all countries of the world. No one country is exempt from, or above being afflicted by, criminals who behave in appalling fashion that all should consider to be unacceptable in the society in which we live.

But what happened in the Province of Maguindanao, Philippines on November 23, 2009, Monday, was extraordinarily evil, indecipherably outrageous, and the worst grotesque nightmare in the history of election related death-killing crimes in the Philippines, if not, in the whole world in time of peace not war. Undoubtedly, this incident will always be fresh in everyone’s mind, leaving us with a variety of emotions that cannot easily be shaken. Paranoia, uncertainties about the unknown and the future, and a number of other feelings will continue to persist forever and ever.

The news stated that Buluan vice mayor Ismael "Toto" Mangudadatu, a muslim, who has decided to run as Governor of Maguindanao got the ire of the incumbent Governor Andal ‘Zaldy’ Ampatuan, another muslim, and warned the former not to file his candidacy, or else.

To evade the threat, at about 9:00 o’clock in the morning of November 23, 2009, Ismael "Toto" Mangudadatu asks his wife, Jenalyn, his sister, and some relatives and supporters, and accompanied by about thirty-five (35) men and women media people that would supposedly cover the most awaited event, and two lady lawyers. As they were on their way in a five convoy vehicles to file the certificate of candidacy in behalf of "Toto" Mangudadatu at the Office of the local Commission on Election (COMELEC) in Maguindanao Province, Philippines, when a group of about 100 fully armed men with high powered conventional automatic modern weapons abducted them at gunpoint.

The five convoy vehicles were stopped and led to a secluded area about a hundred meters away from the national highway. Then the occupants of the five vehicles were ordered to disembark/alight. But even some of them had barely begun to come out, a boo of staccato gunfire ensued…firing at the victims causing them scampering and rushing in all directions. As the victims were running everywhere, bullets of high powered automatic weapons were catching after them and sprawling their targets scattered to the grassy ground.

At least fifty two (52) people including thirty-six (36) media men and women were brutally fired upon point-blank range and killed in a single incident. This was the highest level of violence, brutal as it can be the worst in the annals of the crime history in the Philippines. Their heads were the ones that had been targeted, thus, exploded beyond recognition. They were shot in their faces. Some were buried still gasping to be alive into a shallow hole dug beforehand by a backhoe excavator owned by the Provincial government, indicating clearly who were the culprits; and that the massacre was premeditated.

It seems to me more than obvious that the Philippines, has a bigger problem than it seems.Think about that for a minute… imagine at least 50 innocent people unarmed and defenseless from your town/city being buried alive, and bashed to death--murdered in just a wink of an eye – what would you do about it?

How do you deal with that sort of hate? – with the mentality of a society where this is permitted to continue day after day virtually unabated?

If we can’t deal with this violence how then are we in any way qualified to tell others how they must live in a ‘democracy’ like ours?
Our government can and should be doing more to resolve this internal problems. Maybe then our country could start becoming a better place for all to live peacefully in.

“DO AS I SAY AND NOT DO AS I DO” has never been a good policy in this government.

The Arroyo government must go beyond declaring Maguindanao in a state of emergency and act swiftly and decisively in giving justice to the hapless victims of the massacre in Maguindanao.

Three (3) days have already passed after the gruesome incident but the government still hesitated to apprehend even a single individual despite the overwhelming evidence who they really are responsible as gathered by its own teams of investigators-- the Philippine National Police, the National Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Justice.

Then I step back and wonder... is this ever going to get solved?

Pictures from http://wawam.wordpress.com/2009/11/25/maguindanao-massacre-photos-we-grieve-we-are-ashamed-we-must-not-let-this-pass/

WHEN WILL WE EVER LEARN?

2009-11-22T22:27:00.000-08:00

Countless of senseless killing incidents have occurred due to a road rage. These road-rage incidents are usually triggered by drivers who themselves are speeding and get into ego matches with other speeders.

One of the most sensationalized incidents of road rage was that involving Rolito Go who was convicted of shooting to death Eldon Maguan in 1991. Now, on November 19, 2009, another incident that has stunned the public where Renato Victor Ebarle, Jr., son of Usec. Renato Ebarle assigned in Malacanang Palace, was allegedly shot to death by Jason Ivler, the step son of British senior economist Stephen Pollard of the Asian Development Bank and a Filipina named Marlene Aguilar.

There is a Chinese proverb which says: “If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow.”

Anger is an inherent feeling provided by nature to react in a given situation which needs correction. But at the same time it is also true that during such reaction, the reasoning power is marred. It is because of this, it is said that one should hold his reactions till he justifies them with reasons. If the person has got that ability to do so, then No Problem, if Not, Yes he may have to REGRET it for ever.

There is a line of a couplet which says "Centuries had to pay for the mistakes committed by a few Moments.” When you realize this, drastic change of your evil ways is in order before it is already too late.

Anger is like a double edged sword; if mishandled, it can cause great harm to yourself and others. One must learn to control anger and direct it for positive ends. It’s true that without anger, you can't fight the injustices and exploitation around you. Your personality will be highly subdued without anger. But a mix of all qualities is a must for right development of character and personality.

It is often said that Experience is the best teacher; but this is true only when we gain by the experience of others. In the case of the sufferer, Experience is not the best teacher; because experience charges more for its instruction than it is worth. Like for instance in the case of Jason Ivler, it does him no good anymore to learn and realize how he ought to have conducted and managed his anger after he had already shot somebody due to his uncontrolled rage.

Now, the lesson that Jason’s parents had taught him time and time again to hold his temper and stay away from trouble all the time even he has realized this as really true, would be of no use anymore after he has already gotten into such a big trouble.

I know the parents of the suspect Jason Ivler were not remised in their duties to discipline him. But Jason was just complacent and hard headed. Now, he has to face the consequences which he has only himself to blame.

The elders were the icons of dignity and respect. They exercise their authority in a meaningful way crafting healthy and cheerful environments. The child starts growing under the immense love and affection of parents, especially the mother.

It is also a fact that the nature of a human being is clean and on the right path since birth. However, the environments both external and internal influences have profound effects. The culmination of personality effectively reflects its influence, which categorized as 'good or bad'. The journey which begins with delight and happiness initially progressed on a rising tide. When environments are conducive, then the magnitude of wave length of the life cycle will be smooth. On the other hand, reverse will take its shape when negativity influences its personality. Then, it ends on a disastrous note leaving trails of misery and ill feelings. It breaks down families and deposits horrifying images on young and old and society as well.

Your parents’ warnings are the voice of God. It does not point out every danger, but it shows the safe path. Its wisdom reaches far into the future; for though it does not tell you what is wrong with your automobile--such engines then being unknown--it tells you how to drive in security.

MANNY PACQUIAO—THE WAY OF THE PACMAN

2009-11-19T02:13:00.000-08:00

Manny `Pacman’ Pacquiao has defied all odds: the mystery of number 7; weight class; history; traditional wisdom; human nature, and the way of life here on earth.

1. In the mystery of number seven, it is said that you may have all kinds of luck in the world and win each and every big challenge that you face, but on the seventh encounter, expect that the trend must change into the opposite. But Pacquiao has defied the mystery of number 7 not only once but twice already.

The record says that he won all his eleven consecutive fights including the recent one against Miguel Cotto; and that the championship belt of Cotto was the seventh that Pacquiao was gunning to become the first and only boxer on earth to accomplish the great historical feat. He defied the change of trend of the mystery of number 7.

2. It is also the realities of life that no small fighter can beat a big opponent in the level of boxing. But in the case of Pacquiao, he rose from his natural weight four (4) times, if I am not mistaken, intentionally adding at least ten to fifteen pounds to his normal weight form of 130 lbs. in order to fight four champions in different weight divisions and won all of them successively and wrested four championship belts in the process.

3. The history of the boxing world has proven that no man could ever achieve seven titles in seven different weight divisions. But Pacquiao defied this odd to become the first man to accomplish the impossible—defeating opponents bigger than his size and weight. This was only heard very long time ago in the Bible story of David and Goliath.

4. Traditional wisdom, had taught all humans that “It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.” But as to Pacquiao, even weeks before he fought the champion Miguel Cotto, he and his wife Jinky had been in disarray when the latter came to know that her husband had spent the fare and hotel accommodation to his rumored additional girlfriend-- a 20 year old, beautiful innocent looking, sexy actress and a writer in “ for men’s only ” magazine, a counterpart of playboy magazine in the US, and her entire family members to Las Vegas to watch the Pacquiao-Cotto fight; and more than that, Pacquiao had given Php1 million equivalent to 20,000$ for shopping.

The family trouble between him and his wife Jinky could have been a sufficient reason for Pacquiao to be worried and distracted as to lose focus for the fight which could cause his defeat. But in spite of it, Pacquiao still stood victorious.

5. The presence of Pacquiao’s recent girlfriend is likewise sufficient enough to weaken his strength and stamina and could result to his defeat against Cotto as he was in fact seen every now and then coming out of her room a number of times before the fight. Who wouldn’t be after spending millions of pesos on her? But all these odds had been defied by Pacquiao and came out still maintaining his speed and strength and won—wresting the championship belt of Cotto and became the only man on this planet to hold seven titles in seven different weight divisions in Boxing.

What it takes to be great? Research now shows that the lack of formal education and natural talent is irrelevant to great success. The secret? Painful and demanding practice and hard work.What makes Manny Pacquiao, the only man on planet earth to achieve and hold seven (7) titles in seven different weight divisions? We think we know: Each great men was born as ordinary and natural who came into the world with a gift for doing exactly what he ended up doing. You've got it - or you don't.

Well, it's not so simple. For one thing, you do not possess a natural gift for a certain job, because targeted natural gifts don't exist. You will achieve greatness only through an enormous amount of hard work over many years. And not just any hard work, but work of a particular type that's demanding and painful. Manny Pacquiao did nothing throughout his life except boxing and to win every fight he faces.

"Most human beings can access or sense inside of themselves their spirit. This is our true Self. It generates values and brings them into expression through our Body, Speech and Mind. When we encounter the world, we also encounter the resistance to our Divine Expression. Those that buckle under the weight of that resistance betray their spirit. Those that muscle up and work against the perceived resistance, develop not only physical muscle, they develop the spiritual muscles that make them UNBEATABLE. Sometimes, we can be assisted from enemies like doubt by inspirational stories of those that have met the challenge of life. Sometimes, this inspiration gives us a booster rocket to our own efforts or can awaken in us new efforts.” The feat Manny `Pacman’ Pacquiao in person is such an inspiration. Knowing his history can awaken that same inspiring energy within us and if that energy is already awake give the boost of it.

“During your existence on earth, exploit your potentials and all the resources around you as much as necessary, and before leaving this life, contribute as much as possible to the world, and its future generations. The most important fact is not what you will take when you will be gone, because you will take almost nothing, but what you will leave behind.”

I found the life of Manny `Pacman’ Pacquiao to be a road map to pursuing goals and dreams with the confidence, desire and focus that lead to victory. Manny `Pacman’ Pacquiao, the only kind in the world of boxing has shared his riveting personal story with such emotion, passion and mental images that all human beings can feel with him every moment-- facing each obstacle and challenge, internal and external. This is a profound and thought-provoking life where the end becomes the beginning, and where you discover the true identity of The Unbeatable Man.

atty. abeto a. salcedo, jr.

MANNY PACQUIAO-- SO IT SHALL BE WRITTEN, SO IT SHALL BE DONE

2009-11-12T18:04:00.000-08:00

I cannot blame the boxing world in predicting that Manny Pacquiao will win the fight against Miguel Cotto on November 14, 2009 (November 15, in the Philippines). But in life, you don’t win all the time. On the contrary, we humans fail all the time and it is only seldom that we achieved tremendous financial success and popularity.

Manny Pacquiao is among the handful of people on earth who are showered with tremendous and extraordinary luck that the world can ever imagine. These people who have this unusual kind of consistent luck in their lives—like Bill Gates, Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, President Barack Obama, Muhammad Ali, just to name a few, has no other explanation but because they are influenced by the mystery of number 7.

Pacquiao is sporting an insignia of “no fear”, which is a check sign. If you look at it very clearly, said check sign is actually a number 7 lying down. With it, Pacquiao cannot be hit because no one who is standing can hit any object which is lying down flat on the surface.

But in this fight Manny Pacquiao is gunning the seventh title in seven different divisions, and the fight is on November 14, 2009, which date is divisible by number 7. Manny Pacquiao is now fighting the mystery of number 7, something that he has no chance to win. Nobody wins against one which is considered a mystery. Thus, Pacquiao will succumb to defeat this time, and he will be knocked out in the seventh round with a time where number 7 is present.

Even God had showed us how He puts so much significance of the number 7. He finished His creation of the Universe in 6 days, so He can rest on the 7th day; He only placed seven colors in the rainbow; He saw to it there were only 7 days in a week; He only made 7 continents in the world; and so on, and so forth.

I feel very sorry to make this prediction because I am a Filipino, and I also want Pacquiao to win his 7th title. Pacquiao brings and has brought so many honors to the Philippines in a positive way. But this is just what life is all about. You just can’t win all the time, especially if the event is marked by the mystery of number 7.

To counter this phenomenon, I want Pacquiao to do what I say, and he must be informed immediately with only two (2) days to go. Whatever he wears inside the ring should be written the number 7 inside a circle and a check sign on center top of it. Some more, all in his team whose family name has 7 letters, and his father, Mr. Pacquiao, must not see the fight even in Television at all cost. They bring bad luck to this fight.

IT HAS BEEN WRITTEN, SO IT SHALL BE DONE.

THE PROVEN APPROACH AND TECHNIQUE

2009-11-11T03:13:00.000-08:00

Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings, so that you shall gain easily what others have labored hard for. Socrates

When you're wanting to learn new things it is very important to surround yourself with successful people who are leading the life you desire to live. By standing in the shadow of successful people you are often able to learn the technique and secrets of what they are doing. They have already made the mistakes, learnt the tips and tricks so why re-invent the wheel when you don't need to. What’s better than learning from someone else’s experiences and replicating all the things that would benefit you?

I have a friend who worked as a store errand in hardware for building construction owned by a Chinese. After many years he is now an owner of the biggest hardware establishment in our place. Another friend of mine who worked in a big time cow-fattening business as caretaker of cows. After sometime, he was able to put up his own kind of business and is now richer than his former employer. When I was still in my grade school, I always go with my father who was a lawyer wherever he goes—at his office and in court hearings. Now, I am a lawyer.

Draw a sharp picture of your future and that vision will provide you with a clear sense of direction. Only consistent, rational ambitions sustain the long-term motivation that allows individuals to reach the highest levels of success.

Lacking a sense of direction is equivalent to trusting luck for raising your personal level of satisfaction. Clarity of purpose gives an individual a target to achieve and a path to follow. For however a person thinks is how they will eventually become. Your focus determines your reality. It's no use to have a favorable wind if you don't know which way to turn the steering oar.

"All who have accomplished great things have had a great aim have fixed their gaze on a goal which was high, one which sometimes seemed impossible". "Action to be effective must be directed to clearly conceived ends." “If you know what you’re aiming at, it greatly improves your odds of hitting your target.” Better still, “if you want to hit the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target”.

Whatever your present situation, achieving a better future is going to involve substantial work. Most people are able to motivate themselves for a short while, but they are quick to give up when they meet the first difficulties. “The self-seeking man who is looking after personal comforts and leading a lazy life, there is no room for him even in hell.” “One must raise oneself by one's own exertions.” “It is better to wear out than to rust out.”

Remember consistency is important. If plants are soaked in large amounts of water only once a week or once a month, they will soon die. They take in water consistently. “A person with half volition goes backwards and forwards, but makes no progress on even the smoothest of roads.” Steps taken with the right destination in mind are likely to improve the quality of your experiences, at least in the long term. You can't grow in every direction. You just can't become an expert in every field.

Life sometimes hands us thorns but we have the choice to park our mind on the thorn or on the lesson it can eventually produce in us if we learn from our experience. “The secret of life is not enjoyment, but education through experience.” “Experience is the only source of knowledge.”

EVIL WAYS CAN CAUSE A THOUSAND YEARS OF REGRET

2009-11-09T03:12:00.000-08:00

Proverb is a statement or phrase quoted from wise men who possessed intellectual virtues derived from personal experiences throughout their lives for a good span of time out of their encounters with different kinds of situations, things and people where they had been pleasantly or unpleasantly surprised by things they weren’t aware of, they had made mistakes, had time to reflect upon their mistakes and the mistakes of their friends, associates, and family, and they had come to learn and understand that they knew very little when they thought they knew a lot, and so they knew something about human limitations, understand something about human nature and human frailty, and they are able to give advice and teach values and principles on whom we ought to be careful of, whom we can trust, what to expect in the future.

Without embracing certain basic ideas and values, it is impossible to correctly understand the unevenness, inequality, and diversity that exist among mankind. These inequalities among human beings cannot and could not be attributed to blind chance or pure accident.

According to Buddhism, this inequality is due not only to heredity, environment, "nature and nurture", but also to Karma. In other words, it is the result of our own past actions and our own present doings. We ourselves are responsible for our own happiness and misery. We create our own Heaven. We create our own Hell. We are the architects of our own fate.

There is a proverb which says: “One step in the wrong direction will cause you a thousand years of regret.”

You may not believe what I am saying here and “No iron chain, or outward force of any kind, can ever compel the soul of a person to believe or to disbelieve.”

Consider this: the normal life span for men is only seventy-five years old; and for women is seven-eight years old. But why is it that the proverb says, it will cause you a thousand years of regret if you misstep in the wrong direction? There can be no other interpretation but that, if you knew that what you are doing was wrong and you still continue to do it, you are already flaunting the laws of nature, and because of this, you are not the only one who will pay for the wrong you have flagrantly committed but also your family, your grandchildren, and the children of your grandchildren.

Yes, those people caught in the grip of avarice to the extent of ignoring the inner moral compass in favor of amassing more and more wealth will find themselves paying their worse than they ever thought, as their family, grandchildren, and the children of their grandchildren will continue to pay for them.

You sow not only for your exclusive benefit but for your family as well, right? Your family knows what you are doing because they can see sense and observe. Whatever you harvest from what you planted, either evil or good, will always redound to the detriment or benefit of your family.

The law of Sowing and Reaping suggests not only we will all reap what we've sown; it also suggests that we'll reap multifold. Therefore, if you sow evil, you and your family will reap much more evil, up to one thousand years. As Alex Haley puts it, “In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future.” Therefore, you and your descendants at large will unavoidably mourn the worst form of wallowing pain to an unimaginable extent even after your exit from earth.

If you are still stubborn and hardheaded that you will insist to continue to refuse and give up your evil ways, even if it warrants your own misfortunes as well as your descendants, then, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming to all of you. How foolish humans are, hopelessly beckoned into destruction like a firefly being seduced by the burning light of fire.

ONLY YOU WILL MAKE YOU WHO YOU WANT TO BE

2009-11-06T04:00:00.000-08:00

In this era of discovery and conquest with all the inventions of high technology at an ever-accelerating pace, things, situations and circumstances are transformed like magic consistent with the common cliché-- now you see it, now you don’t. With the present technology, the long process became short; the slow became fast; the span of waiting was shortened; the natural look of things and appearance can become attractive and sophisticated; etcetera, etcetera. That is why; the prestidigitation going on around the globe has been on a distinct rise. Resultantly, everybody and everyone are jockeying to grasp everything in a hurry for a piece from the big chunk but end up a failure.

New things have to be learned, have to be introduced and worked out, but is not to be done by sweeping away all that is old, just because it is old. The best way for you to achieve anything that will give you fulfillment and ensure your daily bread is that, just stick to one thing that you are passionate about and put your whole soul into it to the exclusion of all else.

I remember when I was still eleven (11) years old and in grade seven at the time, I had a classmate at the Ateneo de Cagayan (now Xavier University), in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines. His family had a trucking business for building construction and hauling of logs. So, both he and his elder brother were trained by their father to repair their trucks and heavy equipments. He had not finished college and he spent most of his life a mechanic for their family’s business. Since he became a master in the repairs of trucks and heavy equipments, now, he has his own hauling business using trucks and pay loaders to haul sand and gravel for developers of subdivisions.

Efren `Bata’ Reyes, the Filipino Billiard Legend, had spent most of his time playing billiard. He knows nothing except billiard, now, he is a billiard sensation throughout the world.

I also knew somebody who took a course which is foreign to everyone at the time- -Botany major in plant disease. We laugh at him for choosing such course which we thought was never heard and lucrative. Now, he is a millionaire because his clients are not individuals but government of countries. Being a doctor of plants-botanist is rare in the world, and with this climate change phenomenon, he is always hired by other countries to lecture and conduct experiments for them.

If you want to be rich and famous, do not believe on what people call `Jack of all trades’. Specialize in only one area and become one of the few masters and the best at it.

Believe me, your humdrum everyday experiences, combined with the wisdom of immortals, can help you appreciate and maybe even learn the nitty-grity of going slowly but surely masterly discovery.

Do not believe what other people say on how things are to be done. Nobody who became successful in any field of endeavor has been so helpful to hold an open sesame to his secret. There is ample opportunity to use wealth in this world but no one is too frank to admit he has so much of it that he is interested in putting himself at a disadvantage by sharing his secret. This would only cast his 'edge' into oblivion and return him to being mere mortal who struggle for his daily bread. Man cannot live by bread alone, but it helps, if others don't bake it using your recipe".

WHILE WE ARE HERE DO IT HERE

2009-11-04T17:41:00.000-08:00

This story has set me on fire about what I always wanted to do.

One day, the pig complained to the cow that people always talk about the latter’s friendliness even what it can give is only milk. “But people get much more from me, like ham, bacon and lard, and they even cook my feet”. “Yet, no one likes me, why is that?”

The cow thought it over a bit and then said: 'Perhaps it's because I give while I am still alive!'"

God wants us to always be thankful, be kind, be loving, and show our appreciation to people who have done nice things for us or showed us that they care. While we are still on earth, let’s do it now. Let us do good unto all men. Let our hearts be opened first, and all else will follow of itself. Even the least work done for others awakens the power within.

They say, when you truly love, you should care. And when you care, you should share. "Joy increases as you give it, and diminishes as you try to keep it for yourself. In giving it, you will accumulate a deposit of joy greater than you ever believed possible”.

"There is an especially good feeling about giving. Helping others makes them and us all feel great”. But there is an underlying principle to all this ‘giving out’ that we need not worry about or consider at all as any concern. What we give out will come back in some form or other, maybe not from the same place and not immediately. But it will come back when we need it most.

We could regard ‘giving’ as not reducing our wealth, but relocating it for a while. It will be returned as “what you give is what you received”. We don’t need to worry about this. It’s the law of attraction. So smile and give, and think not of return, but how great it is to share. Our turn will come when we most need it and how great that will be”. “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give”. “They who gave have all things; they who withhold have nothing”.

Show some gratitude to everyone. Gratitude is going that extra mile to help all people who needed help whether they had helped you during your time of need or not because it is the support of the general public directly or indirectly that will make you achieve your success. You can start small and eventually; those small stones will create a rock-slide!

TIME IS EVERYTHING

2009-11-01T19:15:00.000-08:00

Time passes quickly. Time that passes can never return, nor can it be compensated for, for time is irretrievable. Time is the most precious thing that man possesses. In fact, wasting time is much more dangerous than squandering property, because unlike property, time cannot be compensated. Man has not yet invented a device for setting back time. If we waste time, if we abuse it, then we waste and abuse our lives.

Accepting that your days are limited is a precondition for making the best use of your time. Gaining understanding of the fact that each passing day is irrecoverable, that the fundamental truth is that time moves in only one direction, therefore, do one thing at a time and while doing it put your whole soul into it with integrity and honesty to the exclusion of all else.

Learn how to organize your time, and make a realistic plan for your worldly needs without any of them overlapping the other. One should always bear in mind that every time has its own task that suits it. Doing tasks in their due times brings about peace of mind and comfort. That is to say that one should know how to arrange his priorities: the most important and the most urgent comes first, and carried out according to schedule. Organizing time also includes leaving a place for relaxation and entertainment, for 'all work and no play make Jack a dull boy.' Free time is a blessing that is overlooked, and not wholly appreciated by many people.

Treasure every moment that you have! And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time ... and remember that time waits for no one. Yesterday is history, tomorrow a mystery, today is a gift, that's why it's called the present!

The law of cause and effect governs the world. Nothing escapes its reach; no one can circumvent its application. What you do today determines the level of tomorrow's pay.

Wise are the words of the one who said ... "I expect to pass through this world but once; any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again."

Life will be always fraught with distress and difficulties. Don't you ever let them bring you down because you still have the time to turn your life around. Look at the world with a fresh spirit, choose your path, and move on.
Another year has passed; minutes move into hours, into days, into weeks, into months, into years - seemingly faster than ever; yet every moment is a precious component of life and every moment counts.

Opportunity is something which like a shooting star, is quick to vanish and late to return. With this, when you are the anvil, Bear, when you are the hammer, Strike.

If you're ever distressed, cast your eyes to the summer sky when the stars are strung across the velvety night, and when a shooting star streaks through the blackness turning night into day, make a wish and think of me. Make your life spectacular. (Jack film)

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

2009-10-30T19:25:00.000-07:00

In commemoration for the All Souls' Day, what our death will communicate and mean to our survivors will be determined, in part, by what we express as our intent and purpose (for living as well as for dying). Accepting that your days are limited is a precondition for making the best use of your time. Gaining understanding of the fact that each passing day is irrecoverable, that the fundamental truth is that time moves in only one direction, therefore, do one thing at a time and while doing it put your whole soul into it with integrity and honesty to the exclusion of all else.

All successful people have a sense of integrity. They know that they would lose whatever they have earned if they engage into fraud, illegal and illegitimate practices. We have seen a lot of people who have originally succeeded and then brought down in disgrace by the illegitimate practices.

" Billy Graham was quoted to have said, "Integrity is the glue that holds our way of life together. We must constantly strive to keep our integrity intact. "

“All the strength is in you, have faith in it”. “If you are pure, if you are strong, you, one man, is equal to the whole world.” “Believing in yourself is an endless destination, believing you have failed, is the end of your journey”. “Stand up to your obstacles and do something about them. You’ll find that they haven’t half the strength you think they have”. “Recognize that you have the courage within you to fulfill the purpose of your birth. Summon forth the power of your inner courage, and live the life of your dreams”. “Life’s battles do not always go to the stronger and faster man, but to one who thinks he can”. You must believe in yourself and then you will believe in God.

We all want to go through life without burden, pain or heartache but it is through those circumstances that we learn the most about life. Everyday can't be a bed of roses but what we should want most is the strength to face these circumstances head on.

You need to take the bull by the horns and ride it until you fall off and when you do, don't forget to get back up because the ride isn't over yet. Only when you have made it through the situation with all the bruises will you attain more strength to face whatever else comes your way. So instead of running from the situation face it; it will only make you stronger.

Indeed, reading really good quotes with messages that can teach you about life can change your perspective about your current situation and really help you take the next step towards creating the life you really want.

Source:
Ezine Articles

IT SHOULD NOW BE THEIR TURN TO BE AFRAID

2009-10-27T21:19:00.000-07:00

In the Philippine government, we want that our political and public officials must live by good example upon which our children’s character is formed, strength of mind is increased, the intellect is expanded, and by which one can look up to and be proud of. They must have excellence in an era of mediocrity; of originality in a time of faddishness and strained outrageousness — a genuine instance of honesty at a time of envy and greed.

I know you're out there afraid... afraid of the public officials because of all the powers they have over us. You're afraid of change. With the corrupt regime, I don't know the future. I didn't come here to tell you how this is going to end. I came here to tell how it's going to begin. I'm going to show you what you don't want to hear and what you don’t want to see. I'm going to show you a nation without rules or controls, borders or boundaries-- a nation where anything is possible. Where we go from here is a choice I leave to you.

These public officials have invaded and trampled our sovereignty, our rights, dignity, pulverized our economy, and bankrupt the government treasury. Like a Velociraptors, they are out in force today. They use coordinated attack patterns. They slash at us here and there with their claws like a razor, with unrelenting and in continuous fashion. And the worse is, we are alive when they start to eat us. Even then, we still remain meek. They assimilate every facets of government with corruption, and we fall back. Not again. We will not sacrifice our country. We've made too many compromises already. Too many retreats. The line must be drawn here. This far no farther. And we will make them pay for what they've done.

Let’s remember, the fear of suffer is worse than the suffering itself. And no heart has ever suffered while chasing its own dreams—to have leaders whose love is for the country and the people-- a true and real patriot.

Sometimes the things we want most are the hardest to get. That means you need to be even more determined to succeed. That's what it takes to be a winner. You have to want it bad enough to stick with it no matter how tough things get.

"The blue sky is infinitely high, crystal clear...that's what the world should be, a world of infinite possibilities, laid before us, crystal clear". -Kentatsu

The citizen who thinks he sees that the government is peopled with mediocrity, worn out, abusive, and basking with the aura of invulnerability to violate any law, and yet holds his peace and does not agitate for a new government, is disloyal, he is a traitor.

"My kind of loyalty was loyalty to one's country, not to its institutions or its officeholders. The country is the real thing, the substantial thing, the eternal thing; it is the thing to watch over, and care for, and be loyal to; institutions are extraneous, they are its mere clothing, and clothing can wear out, become ragged, cease to be comfortable, cease to protect the body from winter, disease, and death". (Mark Twain)

We will never negotiate. We will no longer tolerate and will no longer be afraid. It should be their turn to be afraid.

We might as well stand and fight because if we run, we will only die tired. Never mind if your contribution is only a mite, your help only a little. Remember this, take this to heart, live by it: that blades of grass united into a rope will hold in confinement the maddest of elephants. It is through the many that we reach the one. Even the least work done for others awakens the power within.

There is a saying, a very old saying: when the pupil is ready the master will appear.

If any one of you believes what I am espousing is inciting to something, like violence, I will be sorry. I will only be too glad if I can excite in you the power of critical thinking for yourselves of what is happening in and around the corridors of power. Oooh! Ahhh! That's how it always starts. Then later there's running and screaming.

THE FALLACIOUS REASONING OF THE DSWD SECRETARY

2009-10-26T04:07:00.000-07:00

Over the BLOG NI ELLA, that purportedly showed a DSWD warehouse full of relief goods that have yet to be distributed to hundreds of victims of Typhoons Ketsana and Parma, DSWD Secretary Cabral answered: Just because the warehouse is full does not mean there is hoarding; that We have to have calibrated release, in the sense, that only when we receive requests from the regional office or evacuation center or local government unit, then we release goods to them; and that We need to keep some resources for emergency release, otherwise, when another comes, there will be no more donations coming in.

To believe such a tale is a demolition of all our sense of rationality. No man in his right mind would sacrifice the lives of thousands of people in favor of those who are still to be victimized by events in the future which may or may not happen.

Regrettably, the argument displays vagueness of expression and want of logical thought that it may be described as bearing a trance-like character. The argument assumes a fact the existence of which still remains to be proved and continues to be enveloped in the mists of the realm of uncertainties, which fact may lead to the disputed claim of the Honorable Secretary dependent on future event which may or may not come. Therefore, such conclusive pronouncement was inappropriately posited. (See: OUR LAST LINE OF DEFENSE IS NONE OTHER THAN COURAGE AND SELF-ESTEEM.)

In fact, the existence of an ulterior motive and a grand design on DSWD personnel to deliberately perpetrate injustice upon the disaster victims cannot be gainsaid as it is as clear as day. The Secretary’s argument is just an afterthought and pure dialectics and conclusions that to believe them is an insult to common sense.

Madam, against any reason, you must understand that the first class imported relief goods that were donated by different foreign countries are not for you for your family’s consumption that you will save some of them for the rainy season as what the old saying goes. You have no discretion whatsoever when to give them and to whom you will give them. The irreducible primary is that the donors want the said relief goods receive by the victims as soon as possible. Your only role is to see to it that every victim will have an equal share of the relief goods. Do not wait for somebody to beg. You work, you monitor, you check, you go to the flooded areas and see the actual conditions of the victims so that you will be assured that the relief goods will be received or have been received by the right people to whom the same were intended.

In connection with your duty as the Secretary of the DSWD, do not hide behind such superficialities as whether you should or should not give the relief goods to a victim. That is not the issue. The issue is whether you do or do not have the right to be the DSWD Secretary without giving the victims those relief goods. The issue is whether you must keep and withhold those relief goods, piles and volumes of them in the four (4) warehouses as long as you want from the victims who are dying and desperately waiting for them. The issue is whether the need of the victims is the first mortgage of your duty and obligation and the moral purpose of your position as the DSWD Secretary. The issue is whether YOU are to be regarded as a sacrificial animal. Any man of self-esteem will answer: “No.” Altruism says: “Yes.”

From the Secretary’s disquisition, it would seem that she is obsessed in the future rather than of the present. Madam Secretary, thinking and planning about the future is not a bad thought. But we live in the present and live by each and every day of it. Why do you prepare for the disaster victims in the future when you already have hundreds of thousands of victims that are now and have been suffering and dying everyday from hunger and disease due to lack of food, water, clothes, cook wares and medicine because your Department are hoarding them.

The DSWD officials either did not know, did not understand, or refused to understand how devastating the disaster to the lives of the victims was. These people need our help and our thoughts and prayers. Of course Madam Secretary, you have the right to say what you think, but people like you really are just irrational. (See: SUFFERING IS ALL AROUND IN OUR COUNTRY.)

There will come a time Madam Secretary your entire world is destroyed and you have to start over along with 4.35 million others, many of whom have lost family members, then you will remember the word “Karma”. If what goes around comes around, it will come around to you, Madam Secretary. (See: ACTS EXECUTED AGAINST THE LAW.)

The fallacious argument of the DSWD Secretary has taken the wind out of her sails, so to speak, and by her inveigling, she must now limp to shore as best she can.

I don’t want the sun to go down if Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral is still there. (See: THE LAST DEJECTED EFFORT OFTEN BECOMES THE WINNING STROKE.)

NO QUESTION, THEY ARE THE RARE ONES

2009-10-24T20:23:00.000-07:00

Oh my God, Holy Smokes! Where should I begin? What is really happening with the public officials of the Philippine government? Do they have a conscience? Are they humans? Do they have any common sense? Indeed, the disaster victims are suffering to death because of the sick mentality of our public officials. Their stupidity is deadly and contagious (THE UNWIELDY BUREAUCRATS IN OUR GOVERNMENT SUFFER FROM INERTIA).

The condition of the disaster victims are the ugliest of beings-- hungry and starving to death like dogs waiting to be feed with leftovers. On the other hand, in the warehouse of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), you can see mountain piles of varieties of different relief goods which have been withheld and not distributed but stocked for unknown purposes, if not, sheer stupidity. (See for actual view-- FLOODED WITH RELIEF (UPDATED): MANUEL L. QUEZON III: THE DAILY DOSE.)

These rice, clothing, canned goods, blankets, rag dolls, medicines, soap, sanitary napkins, water jugs, sleeping mats, kettles, etceteras, are worth millions of pesos, and most of them are imported goods from different foreign countries that were donated to the Philippines exclusively for the victims of the disasters caused by tropical storms `Ondoy’ and `Peping’.

It doesn’t need a genius to notice the Sun, does it? Not only have they each made billions and billions of pesos for themselves, but lately they've also looked up and noticed that weird luminescent orb in the sky. What's more, they've each figured out what to do with these imported goods to make money. Their kaleidoscopic minds are unconscionable. (See: OUR LAST LINE OF DEFENSE IS NONE OTHER THAN COURAGE AND SELF-ESTEEM.)

Now, I may not be as smart as these guys are but I do have a few ideas in my head. And here's one of 'em: I suggest we come together as a nation and do what we can to crane our necks across the aisle and over the shoulders of these officials and report immediately to the media or the internet whatever kind of shenanigan they have committed. Like what BLOG NI ELLA had done.

The public officials bare all to the world, giving us a glimpse of how appalling and absurd they became such at the helm of the government. To be honest, it isn't very common that these kinds of public officials would let us into their secret mental disposition the way they do. No question, they are the “rare ones”.

If you want to see a “unique kind” of Cabinet members, Under Secretaries and Assistant Secretaries down to the Regional Directors who are irresponsible, lazy, skullduggeries, hollow men with headpieces stuffed with straw, tag as poster children of moral irresponsibility and social pariah, look no further! It’s right here only in the Philippines. Truthfully, it makes you wonder how the mechanism of their ideas was like at a time that calls for clear-eyed thinking. IT WOULD CHOKE YOU UP! Well, I don't need to continue, do I?

THEY WILL BE HOISTED BY THEIR OWN PETARD

2009-10-23T05:46:00.000-07:00

The creed for existence in the Philippines nowadays, is mine, mine, mine, who cares if there is still left for others to survive. I don’t give a damn even if it costs your life. In the words of Robert Browning, “Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp/or what’s a heaven for?” Thus, you have to protect yourself every step of the way and applying all the time the age-old principle-- “do not trust, not even your shadow.” Bear in mind that everyone acts out of his own self-interest. It is a mindset based on a mantra to “own everything” if given a chance. Therefore, if you accept others for what you believe them to be; you set yourself up for disappointment, regret and frustration.

We all know this trend for survival has been going on for a long time and getting worse. We are all living out the same dramas of do or die attitude; that in order to survive, you save yourself and your family and forget about the rest. It is incomprehensible why we are doing it all when in fact we know deep in our hearts that it shouldn’t be the case especially in a country where Catholic Christian belief is a dominant culture.

During these very hard trying economic times, we are constantly searching for trust and honesty as that is what we have learnt during our school days. We always believe and emulate the good guy, but in this world we live in set up by the wrong doers, the honest guy is now ostracized. This is because of corruption and dishonesty going on in every nook and corner of society. If you live your life according to the rules, you will be branded as the villain by everybody who is different but appears to be the heroes because of their numbers. This is an endless, vicious cycle, guaranteed to generate bigoted progeny.

Money is your means of survival, that we all accept, and thus, that is given. But as succinctly put by Ayn Rand, “the verdict you pronounce upon the source of your livelihood is the verdict you pronounce upon your life. So, if the source of your wealth is fraudulent and illegal, then your money will not give you a moment’s or a penny’s worth of joy. Then all the things you buy will become not a tribute to you, but a reproach; not an achievement, but a reminder of shame.”

“Wealth is the product of man’s capacity to think.” In the Philippine society though, through the typical examples shown by our political and government officials, wealth is the product of your ingenuity on how to pull a fast one on everyone in every crack and gulch here or there. So, if you’re slow, you will be beaten to the draw. (See: MEMES SPREAD BY THE BEHAVIORS THAT THEY GENERATE IN THEIR HOSTS.)

But the irony of it all is that although these political and government officials who are accumulating tremendous amount of riches without let up to protect them in the future, will find themselves hoisted by their own petard as their hoarded loot would now be the graphic account of their unexplained wealth. What they thought would save them, will be the ones that would pin them down. The corruptors’ end will be worse than they ever thought.

By then they would realize that there is a great deal of difference between enjoying with pride of what we acquired through sweat and hard work as contradistinguish with living extravagantly on what we have obtained dishonorably from others.

SUFFERING IS ALL AROUND IN OUR COUNTRY

2009-10-21T05:09:00.000-07:00

We often read beautiful and motivational phrases, quotes and maxims every now and then, and we are deeply drawn to them that we figure out how we can really integrate them into our daily lives. We all use maxims to guide us in achieving what we want in life; and to help us arrive at the right decisions.

We embrace and hold dear the Proverbs because they were designed by wise men who acquired knowledge and wisdom and so they understand something about human nature and human frailty, and they are able to give us advice on how we live our lives here on earth.

“Nobody stays on the top forever. And nobody oppresses people forever. Sometimes you are on the top, and some day you will go down”. This maxim should serve as a reminder to the Leaders of the Philippine government who have no feelings at all, no pity and compassion, just nothing of what is happening to their impoverish countrymen who are struggling to stay afloat.

Suffering is all around in our country. Unmet needs are everywhere. Different kinds of crisis are overflowing in our midst and people are dying of hunger, disease, and disasters caused by irresponsible government officials. (See: IT IS THE DUAL ACT OF NATURE AND ACT OF MAN.)

This is the time that our political and government officials must recognize their responsibility as Christians and as decent humans, to demonstrate and grow in compassion to the people whom they have sworn to serve and protect. When they do nothing, but could, they send a message, loud and clear, that they do not care about the sufferer. (See: THE LEADERS IN POWER ARE NO LONGER HUMANS.)

Study shows that if a child had not developed a conscience or the capacity to feel and show real warmth before the age of 12, there was no hope for remediation to occur, no matter what technique was used. I hope our political and government officials had no historical background such as this. But even if this was their upbringing, there is still hope they will change. Sometimes even hardened criminals have been miraculously changed. (See: ACTS EXECUTED AGAINST THE LAW.)

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS REGIME AND THE DICTATORS

2009-10-20T03:12:00.000-07:00

It has been shown from various researches on the life of some of the most ruthless dictators, men like Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Joseph Stalin, Francisco Franco, Mao, Fidel Castro, Kim Il Sung, and many others, that they have many things in common. They were Megalomania, Psychopathic, Personality cult, Paranoia, disregard for and violation of others rights and intimidation of opponents.

While in Europe and Asia (Stalin, Mao or Kim IL Sung) the dictators were in the pursuit of global dominance, power and prestige and were mostly ideology driven. In the Philippines, our Leaders are driven by ineptitude, greed and corruption.

Dictators usually dominate in countries which are very poor and there are fewer spoils to go around. They told their subjects to tighten their belts while they loosen theirs. The meager revenue collected from taxes goes straight to the dictator who takes a lion’s share and distributes the leftover to the government institutions where his Cabinets/ministers skim it further.

Dictators have an inverted frame of mind, in the sense, that when they are hurting the people, they thought they are healing, when they are destroying their lives, they believe they are building. Rivals are branded as traitors and the destabilizers, or agents of the enemy of the state or the revolution. Opponents are constantly harassed and intimidated. Legislative and judiciary branches of the state are rendered powerless or rubber stamps. The enemy number one is the independent media, opposition parties’ leaders/individuals and those who tell the truth.

When it comes to the appointments and promotions of the key positions in government, dictators handpicked their protégés not because of their brilliance and experience but because of their loyalty to the dictator and they start showering him with praise. In return, these appointees order the masses to hang his pictures everywhere. They compete for his attention like children and they always tell him what they think he likes to hear but not the reality in the country.

Dictator changes the constitution so he can stay in power indefinitely. That is the mental state of dictators and how those who surround him think and manipulate the masses.

'Does that ring a bell with you?" significa más o menos: ¿Te suena?

The difference between this regime and other dictators is that dictators like Stalin and Mao although they condemned thousands to death they contributed the development of their countries. They both took their countries from backward feudal states to nuclear power states. In the Philippines our Leaders oppressed thousands to death and they bankrupt and destroy our Country.

I wonder why the Filipinos are shedding tears when they are being impoverished by these Leaders. But they are the ones who keep on repeating the same mistake all over again and again when it comes to choosing their Leaders: either they sold their votes during elections, or they choose someone whose looks they idolize and admire, instead of the greatness of his vision, his views on the issues of the day, and what he stood for. (See: WHAT WE HAVE IN THE PHILIPPINES ARE POLITICAL LEADERS THAT COULD EVENTUALLY DARKEN AND DEVOUR OUR NATION.)

Today, the game is crystal clear; this regime has tested us and found us impotent. It is time for the Filipinos to draw the line on the sand. If this injustice and tyranny is not stopped today, we will be heading to a costly disaster, one that we have never imagined before. Clearly the current system in our government is not working and the Philippines is descending into oblivion, It is time for a regime change. (See: EVERYTHING DESCRIBED HERE IS POSSIBLE TO HAPPEN.)

The Philippines at the moment, it so happens, is not an equal place at all. It is divided into oppressor and oppressed. The citizens are the oppressed; the Leaders of this government are the oppressors. The citizens do not fight back out of some abstract moral duty to "do the right thing." They fight because they are facing an enemy who is determined to crush and exterminate them--one who terrorizes, and who would seek to turn their society into a dictatorship through savage political repression. (See: DUE TO OUR LEADERS’ IRRESPONSIBILITY AND LAZINESS….)

If the Leaders continue their suicidal path they will meet a violent end.

THE PHILIPPINES IS A NATION WITH THE WHEREWITHAL TO BE GREAT

2009-10-19T04:00:00.000-07:00

THE BEST WAY TO BRING ABOUT AN EFFECTIVE CHANGE

2009-10-18T01:53:00.000-07:00

For the past decade, the Leaders in the Philippine government have been devoted to corrupting and overloading our society with social ills of every description; poverty, the energy crisis, our nation’s economy, insurgency, terrorism, and issues of graft and corruption. There just seems to be no shortage of hopeless situations around that every Filipinos are increasingly losing hope. In light of so many things going wrong in our nation, hopelessness has struck deep into the core of both young and old, and the world looks dark and bleak for all of us.

As a nation we have been asleep for years. Our Leaders are lulled by affluence and self-indulgent apathy, our collective awareness has grown dim. This has created an opening for every possible serious danger that could ultimately cause the breakdown of our civil society. This is the truth and what we do, or don't do, will determine the consequences, for better or worse. It is time to decide.

Our Leaders are still troubled, still craving for everything more, still striving to hold on to power and to be all powerful like God. This is where the problem lies in every human being. When one has the power over his fellow men and nobody opposes him anymore, he tends to forget the nature of his being—the mortality of man. He saw himself as a hero, a savior, perhaps even something like a god He isn’t God and never will be. It is when one tries to be God that he ends up most like Satan, who desired the same thing. To the rest of the people, it seemed like an apocalyptic effort to take down a sort of Lucifer-type figure - a madman who believed himself superior to everyone and everything.

Our Leaders must accept the reality that everything in this world has its ending, and that all dictators, liars, and skulduggery had met the same fate. The sooner our leaders realize this, the better as they would not wait for that time when they will be judged by history and their countrymen.

The makers of history forget that the wheels of history grind slowly, but surely grind small. The final destination of every ruler is the grave, irrespective of his or her expectations. Out of all these facts of history there has emerged a saying that pride goeth before fall. It happened in the case of Hitler, it happened in the case of Musolini, it has happened and it will continue to happen in the case of every ruler turned dictator. The main difference between a ruler and a dictator is that a ruler is benevolent, he rules according to laws framed by the nation, while the dictator is free of all restrictions, his word is law.

Our errant Leaders don't want to admit that they're creatures and not in charge. It is the oldest temptation: "You'll be like God!"" Satan promised Adam and Eve. The desire to have complete control is the cause of so much stress in our lives. The greed of power and money of our Leaders in the Philippines today is merely a graphic, if not, tragic example of the wider struggle between the creator and his creation. Without a strong leader there is anarchy. Everyone doing what is right in their own eyes. Life is a struggle, but what most people don't realize is that our struggle, like Jacob's, is really a struggle with God! We want to be God, and there's no way we are going to win that struggle.

Many are unwilling to surrender their lives to God because they misunderstand the process. What does it mean to surrender to God? “Your attitude should be the same as Christ Jesus.”

Surrendering is best demonstrated in obedience. You say "yes, Lord" to whatever he asks of you. To say "no, Lord" is a contradiction. You can say “no” or “Lord” but not in the same sentence - and expect to get away with it. You can't call Jesus your Lord and refuse to obey him. After a night of failed fishing, Peter modeled surrender when Jesus told him to try again: "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." (See: THE LEADERS IN POWER ARE NO LONGER HUMANS.)

THE LEADERS IN POWER ARE NO LONGER HUMANS

2009-10-16T05:52:00.000-07:00

Treating the citizens in a manner that is against traditional values and virtues, or even common sense, and social standards, leaving them in endless pains, the Leaders in power are no longer humans...humans have various emotions and desires, and live for emotion. During the course of their assumption as wielders of power, they had gradually taken these things more lightly and gradually letting go of them until they completely discarded them. The truth is, they’re no longer one of the ordinary human beings, and they couldn't even go back anymore, they really can't. The difference between them and ordinary people had been downright lost. (See: THE UNWIELDY BUREAUCRATS IN OUR GOVERNMENT SUFFER FROM INERTIA)

Everything that these people at the helm of government ever want is to be in power in order to loot. The others want to be near them as it is the guarantee that they will be anywhere near the leftover and residues. (See: THE POWERS THAT BE or TPTB)

The vast majority of impoverished, illiterate people who are battling with what to eat for the day are so totally ignorant of the fact that the government and governance is meant for them, that the treasury is their own. They are totally oblivious of this fact. It should have been the responsibility of you and I to make them know, but you and I are so selfish and so self-centered. So, we are part of the problem because we are beneficiaries of the problems in the first place.

The media are part of the problem because they are being very, very economical with the truth. The media are being very, very sentimental with the lives of people of this country. We must be able to write and tell the truth because we can all be victims, whether you are part of the problem or not. That is the truth. (See: NOW IT CAN BE TOLD WHAT CAUSED THE MASSIVE FLOODS… WE ARE OPPRESSED BECAUSE WE HAVE ALLOWED IT TO BE)

Nobody wants to fight because those that are supposed to fight or are supposed to enlighten the masses are beneficiaries of the situation. This is what has overtaken our country and everybody is paying for it. I say this country is easy to govern because most Filipinos are very obedient group of people. It is the leadership that is lacking.

Filipinos are suffering from a very serious inferiority complex. Every time our country suffers catastrophe we beg on bended knees, looking for pittance. So, it is a problem of inferiority complex; they don’t believe in themselves. They don’t even see the country as theirs.

The people are so degenerated to the extent that they don’t even know what to do. They have become so disillusioned; they don’t even know where to go or who to go along with. People like us are just at the wayside today because we don’t even know who to go along with. Nobody wants to face it. But what I am saying is we are all paying for it.

For God’s sake, what is wrong with us? We can say no more, that’s enough and it will be stop. But the people are gripped in fear and do not charge forward. Maybe, the people will just take everything until they get worn out and take no more. (See: FILIPINOS NEED TO STOP BOWING DOWN NOW)

In the meantime, these errant politicians can now plunder as much as they want, they can steal as much as they can from the coffers of government. Indeed, they can now do anything under the sun. The sovereignty of this country has been lost to thieves. I don't think we would all fit under the rock we would be hiding under like ostriches when civil society breaks down. (See: EVERYTHING DESCRIBED HERE IS POSSIBLE TO HAPPEN)

FILIPINOS NEED TO STOP BOWING DOWN NOW

2009-10-15T04:38:00.000-07:00

Why does our Philippine Government have to crouch and beg for donations from the United Nations and other foreign countries? The whole thing is a smokescreen but what is certain is that our government is bankrupt as a result of mismanagement and massive graft and corruption. So, every time we have a catastrophe, our government keeps groping in the dark.

This corrupt regime has betrayed the trust of this nation that the development the people are really yearning for is still a pipe dream. Our country is now in a state of collapse because of these corrupt Leaders. Let’s sort this country out. Let’s stop these robbers from stealing our money. (See: THEY BOW AND VOW TO BIND THEMSELVES TOGETHER FOR LIFE AND DEATH.)

The right to information is not strictly enforced in our country that is why we are living in a sea of ignorance and poverty; and that the government can easily fool us. We need to start a new tradition, a culture to build in our system of governance. That information is a right to every person, the right to know is the right to live.

Our Country is so deeply ruined with the entire crisis we are facing. Today, it is difficult to imagine our country returning to its once immaculate condition. It will never again be the same again. The genie is out of the glass. There is blood everywhere and on everybody’s hand.

Most people, including the militants, the activists, and the NGOs and private citizens and others directs their anger and venomous arrows at the corrupt regime and its handlers. Rightly and justifiably so! A more critical analysis of the Leaders’ palaver will also take into account the country’s historical heritage. What is often left out is the duplicitous and leecherous role of the elites and those in the corridors of power. (See: WE ARE THE BEST OF THE NOUGHTIES.)

To my fellow countrymen the time has long gone for us to hold our various public officials and elites responsible for always shitting on us, of the atrocities and injustices in our country. Without exception, every public official in power was criminal and delinquent.

Billions and billions of Pesos have been allocated, yet, there is nothing on the ground, nothing that positively impacts the lives of the people in terms of real development (basic need, humanitarian development or the fundamentals of development) save for iconic and various other meaningless projects. Where is our money?

How come our country happened to be ruled by a succession of the third-rate is mind boggling? In the absence of the first-rate, we have the pretenders, the dream peddlers, the sadists and the intellectually impaired. (See: A BITTER LESSON FOR HAVING WEAK LEADERS.)

I'm not going to write out any lists of how much these officials have stolen from the public funds or make any lists of names; we see it enough in the newspapers and on TV. Thieves that steal that much money usually end up in prison. These bastards have brought it on themselves and we shouldn't let them get away with it. The wicked will not go unpunished as long as there is heaven and earth.

Spread the word people, this is your chance to get our country back to normal. We need to stop bowing down to these upper-class bureaucratic scoundrels who ruin our everyday lives and make a stand. Now is the time!! Does this country only have men that can only talk & shout but no action?

Every thief is a coward. Yes, anybody that oppresses has no head and he is a coward. So, you can fight and defeat him. If we Filipinos can just rise up for once against these robbers governing, we would soon discover that they are cowards. We are really sitting on top on a keg of gunpowder. May God help us as a nation? Remember only cowards pray and do nothing. (See: EVERYTHING DESCRIBED HERE IS POSSIBLE TO HAPPEN.)

A BITTER LESSON FOR HAVING WEAK LEADERS

2009-10-14T04:45:00.000-07:00

I watched President Arroyo’s news conference on Television last night, announcing she was creating a special commission for the infrastructure rehabilitation to receive donations from other Countries as she leads the Philippines out of its current quagmire of problems. This panhandling for donations had taught us a bitter lesson for having weak Leaders and is bound to meet a wretched lot of a ruined nation as miserable as a dog in a house of death. This can surely heralded as a trademark to our country’s reputation and will surely tarnish and mar the foundations of our dignity and pride. Are we always on our knees gasping for air?

Tropical storms `Ondoy’ and `Peping’ have ravaged the Mega Cities of Metro Manila and Northern Luzon. Lives were lost; damages to homes, infrastructure, the interruption to normal life and commerce compel us to stress the need for immediate and dramatic measures to ensure reconstruction and rehabilitation. What has been on offer to the region so far is woefully inadequate.

Our country received double hits. First there was storm `Ondoy’ that struck on 26^th of September leaving hundreds without food, water, homes and power. Then came storm `Peping’ only days later, further exacerbating the problems.

Madame President,

Our Country has always experienced all kinds of storms or typhoons since a minimum of at least 20 of them visits every year. It behooves us therefore to understand the phenomenon that we are facing including its connection - if any – to climate change that low lying states have been warning about. These facts also demand that our own Country should better plan for the eventualities that we know have been and are going to continue to be part of our lives. We cannot let lack of planning be a possible cause of the undermining of our sovereignty in this way. The world is soon wary and weary; the phenomenon of donor fatigue sets in. We lose our dignity if we cannot be seen to help ourselves.

Madame President,

You must get rid of any or all people who aren’t doing their jobs. Waiting another time and keep procrastinating is not the answer. And, if you don’t find a faster, more efficient, way of getting rid of the bad apples, then the only alternative for the people is to just stop sending the government money! Believe me, if the taxpayers stopped paying, these JERKS would leave like rats off a sinking ship. (See: LATENESS IN DECIDING HAS CAUSED MANY GOVERNMENTS BEING OVERTHROWN.)

Madame President,

Listen and hear-- tick tack tick tack, TIME just keeps running. Do not let it steal a precious moment of you and the people. Protect everyone from its treacherous fingers which will not spare those who disregard it. Stand firm and accurately come out with higher thinking. Remember a pilot knows what to do when the gear box on a plane fails. What about you, what will you do when you reach the crossroads? And be mindful of TIME running.

For those people who sympathized, whose hearts bleed for those who died from drowning, and their houses and properties were all damaged and gone; for those who died from landslides by the government’s intentional release of volumes of water from the Angat, San Roque, the Pantabangan, and the Arayat Water Dams without notice, The time is NOW to translate our political resistance into action–stimulating change that disrupts and alters the political landscape. Simply put, we must flip this house now! ( See: MADAME PRESIDENT-- EVERYTHING IS IN YOUR HANDS TO REBUILD OUR NATION, THE PHILIPPINES.)

LATENESS IN DECIDING HAS CAUSED MANY GOVERNMENTS BEING OVERTHROWN

2009-10-13T03:28:00.000-07:00

The world is a happening place that it has become impossible for a Leader of a Country, or everyone for that matter, to know everything that needs to be known about all the Current Affairs that rocks the nation at every going moment with every ticker of the clock. Current Affairs are those happenings that have a deep impact over the masses. So, in the final analysis, a Leader has to find the right people for the right problems — and then trust them to take the right actions. If the President of the Republic of the Philippines is surrounding herself with people who are losers, lazy and irresponsible, she will be brought down to their level. (see: DUE TO OUR LEADERS’ IRRESPONSIBILITY AND LAZINESS….).

Predictably, our Country’s Leaders had finally hit the snafu as when through its officials suddenly and devastatingly released waters from the Water Dams without warning which caused widespread flooding and landslides that drowned frightened malleable populace reaching a death toll of more than 337 while 250 perished from landslides. An estimated total damage is at P5.08 billion, including P3.99 billion to agriculture and private property and P1.09 billion to infrastructure. The incident captured all the pathos of the victims’ fate.

Our Country is now smoldering at the edge of chaos, becoming the most despised evil government, and just generally doing what leaders do before their government collapse. Thus, the idiom, “Pride comes before a fall” takes on its full signification when it comes to arrogance of power.

MADAME PRESIDENT, losers mess up your entire mindset and hold you back from success. Look, many of the people surrounding you have been paid only for appearing at their office but are sleeping in their jobs. These people have been with you for at least more than three (3) years already and you still continue to hold on to them. They have already proven they cannot change their poor habits, are you willing to sacrifice the entire population of this Country for a few of them? (See: IT IS THE DUAL ACT OF NATURE AND ACT OF MAN)

The people know that you Madame President have already known for a long time what’s wrong with our government. Now, it is incomprehensible that you still retain the people surrounding you even when instead of helping you they hold you back from steering our country to progress. What is worse, they have already brought you down to their level of corruption with the boldness and confidence to violate any law with the fantasy of invulnerability.

The lack of punishment has become their incentives for corrupt behavior within an institutional framework, creating a kind of vicious circle difficult to break up anymore. They are the kinds of people who make our countrymen miserable. These people are too borne out that the citizens cannot be stirred up anymore to believe that they are good and justifiable by some reasons. In fact, the people have a million of reasons to boot them out. I know, nobody is perfect but I think it's a weakness to let these people who are not only wrong but worse to lead in our government. (See: KEY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TAG AS POSTER CHILDREN OF MORAL IRRESPONSIBILITY…SOCIAL PARIAH.)

IT IS THE DUAL ACT OF NATURE AND ACT OF MAN

2009-10-12T02:59:00.000-07:00

Laxity, complacency and procrastination of government officials handling the state of affairs in providing appropriate funds for the repair of Water Dams which should have been carried out long time ago, had combined with the heavy rainfall to cause the worst widespread floods that were ever recorded in the annals of the history and the memory of many old-timers. Therefore, it is the dual act of nature and the act of man that cast the fathomless gloom and doom that likely to bring about apocalypse, which no human consciousness can illuminate the extent of the endless darkness that hover the Philippine Archipelago. (see: DUE TO OUR LEADERS’ IRRESPONSIBILITY AND LAZINESS….)

Even the Cemetery in Caba, La Union was not spared by the turbulent waters-- uprooting, tossing around, and sweeping the concrete tombs, graves, coffin and caskets of the dead and literally seen speeding through the current as they were swept away.

'Pepeng' and the waters intentionally released from the San Roque, the Pantabangan, and the Arayat Water Dams leaves more than 337 dead, and a number missing. As of 6 a.m. on Sunday, 489,840 families or around 2.2 million people have been affected. According to the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) situation report the estimated total damage is at P5.08 billion, including P3.99 billion to agriculture and private property and P1.09 billion to infrastructure.

With the raging floods still far from subsiding as the water dams continues releasing waters, and the feeling of hopelessness at the helplessness and worthlessness (“à-toa,”) of the government which left the flood victims high and dry, the reports say, residents of some towns in Pangasinan who were hungry, thirsty and sick are looking up at the sky, waiting for divine intervention to lift them from their rooftops. With roads impassable all around them, Divine intervention may be their only hope of quick salvation.

Some 150 people in Barangay Baug remain stranded on the rooftops of their homes. Pangasinan authorities admitted they have no other recourse but to pray also for the flood victims. According to the news from Balolong, rescue efforts have been hampered by having only two rubber boats. Worse, rescuers manning these seacraft are exhausted from rescue operations that began Friday, October 9, 2009.

The situation in Urbiztondo reflects the natural forces and the waters intentionally released from the Water Dams arrayed against poorly equipped government officials struggling to save lives and property ravaged by the widespread floods in northern Luzon. The streets in this province have become turbulent rivers tossing around rescue boats like they were bathtub toys, preventing access to untold numbers waiting to be saved. Flood victims are in dire need of rescue and evacuation.

In Benguet, the death toll from landslides rose to 250 while many others remained missing according to the news at ABS-CBN News TV at 6:00 o’clock this morning, Monday, October 12, 2009. Benguet was the hardest hit and even some rescuers trying to pull bodies out of collapsed houses had died. Besides setting off landslides in the mountains, the rain has swollen rivers and reservoirs, forcing Dams used for hydropower and irrigation to release water and causing more flooding in areas downstream.

The Philippine government officials are gradually getting weakened in their ability to govern or administer. They now find themselves overwhelmed by the Country’s cruel experiences of the widespread flood disasters where lives have been turned upside-down overnight to an already impoverished Nation that proves to be more and closer to the bursting point of collapse. When the situation explodes, a number of other consequences also follow. The traditional law-and-order machinery is no longer able to control and cater to the needs of an ever-growing crisis.

The government officials are in grim despair and awestruck wonder, a sense of helplessness. Public amenities like transport, sanitation, educational institutions and hospitals gradually become dysfunctional, creating a sense of distress and helplessness among those people in places affected by the three (3) typhoons who have to avail themselves of these services(see: DUE TO OUR LEADERS’ IRRESPONSIBILITY AND LAZINESS….). If this state of affairs continues in a few days to come, in the not-too-distant future, it would eventually lead to the collapse of civil society.

The challenges of such reordering are not inconsiderable, but doing nothing on the part of those at the helm of political power are even more dangerous. Something must be done to reverse the trend. The President must IMMEDIATELY GET ON HER TOES by weeding out unfit, disgusting, discombobulating, and useless Cabinet Officials, and their respective Usecs, Assecs, RDs, who are thought to be the forerunners of bad fortune. This is the only way the Philippines will be able to pull back from the precipice of the “tipping point”.

DUE TO OUR LEADERS’ IRRESPONSIBILITY AND LAZINESS….

2009-10-10T05:55:00.000-07:00

Now, the worse scenario of our Country which is in a much greater danger of facing adverse consequences is upon us already. The disaster brought by three (3) typhoons: Ondoy, Peping, Quedan, and then typhoon Peping, which came back and still in the Country, have all caused a disorder that is now one step closer to its tick-- the point at which order gradually gives way to disorder and, eventually, to chaos.

The Mega Cities of Metro Manila remain mostly flooded, the electricity supply is by schedule at alternately six-hour for every area. Resultantly, all businessmen are furious of the situation. The Province of Pangasinan is 90 percent submerged in water, the roads are impassable. For the Province of Pangasinan, ten thousand families with 40,000 individuals in 36 towns are submerging in water. Thirteen Barangays in the Province of Nueva Ecija; seventeen out of twenty-one Barangays in the Province of Tarlac are also submerged in water. The people are trapped in their respective houses with no food, water and medicine. Relief goods cannot reach them. All rice fields were totally destroyed. The intentional release of water from San Roque Dam had combined with the rainfall to cause the worst floods in the memory of many old-timers.

My observation on our country’s cruel experiences about the flood disasters besetting in simultaneous fashion as the flock of doom was a warning that was long overdue. The situation of the Philippines at this very moment is miserably deplorable, and such is the predictable result of the kind of Cabinet members and their respective Under Secretaries and Assistant Secretaries down to their Regional Directors (Usecs, Assecs, RDs) that we are having who are irresponsible and lazy. We have now the untold hardships and problems, the people are forced to endure on a daily basis with no concrete solution in sight. This country, the Philippines, is in for a long night, and only fate knows how many of those deeply affected by the floods would make it when it is morning.

Our taxes paid these government Cabinet officials to take charge of our government in an honest and responsible manner. But they did not. Instead, they lynched the people with suffocating crisis. In the physical world, we create order by staying organized, setting up systems, being efficient, and structuring our day and our physical space so that we have control to everything in our surroundings. Ethically, we bring order by behaving in an ethically predictable way, having systems and steps in place to solve problems, knowing the rules and resources available, and having confidence in who we are. When we add order to our task, we retain control and make a disciplined life easier to achieve. Yet, the public outcry for these government officials to reform and transform remained a taboo in the public domain.

The problems we are faced with are not unsolvable ones. These are problems which could have been dealt with at their roots, if only we had right people in our government. But I am afraid it would drive you crazy to inform you that those who lead us lack the intellectual ability, mental capacity and a well disposed state of mind to face head-on the problems which afflict us. They lack the wherewithal to take on the challenges associated with their respective offices. Their mode of thinking reclines far, far away from the standard; comparable with uneducated, callous minds, bystanders, which account for their low output. We have numskulls who parade themselves with such credentials as PhD, MA, MSc, DSSC, etc, which only make one wonder where they got such credentials from. Who gave it to them?

It is hard to imagine that every-time I wake up, I see the hope of a bright future being dashed away as a result of the reality of the present moment, which is, we don’t have leaders yet. My brothers and sisters, we have a serious problem at hand, and this calls for aggressive, but cautious measures.

Due to our Leaders’ irresponsibility and laziness they had encountered the situation where they had been forced to choose between the lesser of two evils, or perhaps to the situation where they had been given no choice at all. They had to choose whether they will risk that the Angat Dam and the San Roque Dam will collapse, as they thought it could happen, or, to dispel this from happening, they would release 40 million tons of water, at 2,000 cubic meters per second, but will certainly cause devastating floods that would result to indeterminable damages and deaths. They chose the latter.

A country that encounters a minimum of twenty (20) typhoons every year, they could have repaired these water dams from standing in a very precarious situation long time ago if that is what they have honestly believed every time there is a flood.

I have said this before, but I shall say it again and again and again: Everything else becomes secondary when it comes to the matters of life and death. All the other issues should still take a back seat when it comes to the survival of our country and its citizens (NOW IT CAN BE TOLD WHAT CAUSED THE MASSIVE FLOODS… WE ARE OPPRESSED BECAUSE WE HAVE ALLOWED IT TO BE)

KEY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TAG AS POSTER CHILDREN OF MORAL IRRESPONSIBILITY…SOCIAL PARIAH

2009-10-08T05:53:00.000-07:00

Our Philippine government has already a dismal reputation as a social pariah. Every time you pick up a newspaper, you have to read another article blaming the key government officials of the end of the world for the Filipinos. They have been tag as the poster children of moral irresponsibility. They practice a bereft culture of letting their critical official functions be performed and fulfilled by others who serve them. They take things for granted and always like to do as little work as possible, by confining only to signing papers and conducting press conferences with television coverage.

They are making a terrible mistake. Whatever the legal rights and wrongs in their unbridled lust for wealth from their government position, it isn't worth it. For their own futures, these Cabinet members would be better off accepting that they were the primary factor of failed governance - that they need to take sole responsibility for that, and the battle they are engaged in the court of public opinion, holding the battle flag draped over their faces to save their rotten reputation merely postpones the inevitable moment of truth. The sooner they learn, along with many others riding their coattails, to accept their role in the economic crunch with grace and dignity, the sooner it is for the good of our Country.

Very similar to celebrities are the Cabinet government officials. They are rewarded far too much for having done too little (multum in parvo) that surely isn't more satisfying than what is expected by the people, and commensurate to the emoluments and fringe benefits concomitant to their hierarchical government position. Just because they are members of the Cabinet, therefore, close to the President (THE LAST DEJECTED EFFORT OFTEN BECOMES THE WINNING STROKE), they could now flaunt and transgress the “code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees” with impunity. Our undying infatuation and envy of these elite government officials with such poor work ethics is leading this country in the wrong direction. Their utmost responsibility to serve the citizenry is hidden under a blanket of greed, laziness and irresponsibility-- a person caught in the grip of avarice. (MADAME PRESIDENT-- EVERYTHING IS IN YOUR HANDS TO REBUILD OUR NATION, THE PHILIPPINES.)

It is in the government where ethics should reign supreme. Good governance can be achieved only when there is moral responsibility and it requires transparency. Government officials are the lamplighters of transparency and there is a moral dimension to their work that cannot be overlooked: they need to discharge their duties with integrity, honesty, and industry without fear or favor and their only loyalty is to the people.

Ours is a country coping with an epidemic of irresponsibility and laziness in our government officials, and this epidemic has to be halted if our people have to participate more meaningfully and intelligently in checking misfeasance and malfeasance in government. The people are all shareholders in the government; our taxes run the government and it is the people’s right to know that these taxes are spent for the welfare of the citizenry. That duty becomes more sacrosanct at times of economic difficulties, when more and more of our fellow Filipinos are falling below the poverty line. Instead, our elite public officials are treated as Lords in a pedestal as they suffocate the people with all that crisis of suffering now in the tipping point which only they had created (THEY BOW AND VOW TO BIND THEMSELVES TOGETHER FOR LIFE AND DEATH).

Public officials hold the key to the establishment of the kind of government the people erected in our Constitution, a government where a public office is a public trust, a government that is ruled by the people and not a government that misrules the people.

Source:

Speech of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
Reynato S. Puno before the GACPA Delivered
at Century Park Hotel, Manila, July 22, 2009.

THE LAST DEJECTED EFFORT OFTEN BECOMES THE WINNING STROKE

2009-10-07T03:27:00.000-07:00

Our country’s present condition runs up by a fairly narrow layer of rare survival.

The members of the Cabinet’s overspending are one of the major causes of the plunge of our country’s economy. It is natural for a `never heard’ person who suddenly became “big shot” to strive to live up to his new identity and experience what I call an elitist status shock— one who succumbs to the DESTRUCTIVE ideology of “what are we in power for” euphemism that led to the binge wasteful spending and ensuring the nation’s economic crash. They retooled their personae by pandering their subordinates’ vices, catering to their wishes hoping of getting more than what their ability deserve; taking the place of kings where people gather themselves together to crouch down and lick their hands which feed them.

Likewise, along with technology, the rise of policy-making elites has exacerbated the credibility problem. The policy makers and crisis managers, who have combined "the arrogance of power," with "the arrogance of mind" drawn largely from foreign universities and the upper echelons of the bureaucracy, typically and arrogantly believe that only they possess the necessary intellect and skills to manage the nation's current state of affairs. As a result, it is easy for such officials to assume that the ordinary citizen is not equipped to understand complex issues of our country. From such an attitude, it is but a short step to justify misleading the public.

Within the Executive Branch itself, the arrogance of mind has had an insidious effect, for in time, they begin to believe their own misplaced brilliance. The deception designed for the public in the end becomes self-deception. To read the performance and disposition of these Cabinet members in detail at a time that calls for clear-eyed thinking is to perceive a group of men at the highest level of the government marching in lockstep toward certain disaster. In fact, how many times where the President Herself had been dragged and electrocuted with her Cabinet’s mental decadence. They had begun to believe their own arrogant mind’s "options," and "scenarios"; for them, reality had become the reflection in the fun-house mirror.

I know, the circumstances of our country are not left in vain if YOU, Madame President, will do something unprecedented (MADAME PRESIDENT-- EVERYTHING IS IN YOUR HANDS TO REBUILD OUR NATION, THE PHILIPPINES). There is a quote from W.J. Cameron which I sincerely believe could be the driving force for our transformation—“The last dejected effort often becomes the winning stroke”.

We each have gifts, talents and past experiences that allow us to reach out and touch others in ways that will be meaningful to them. It often doesn't cost us more than a cup of coffee to do so. Some people have the experiences or passions that would make this country back on track that are perfectly suited to help YOU Madame President. Tap their special values and talents and see what they can do. I also believe that God doesn't ask YOU to do anything that He hasn't already prepared YOU for.

What could be the last dejected effort to change YOUR Official Family could be the promises to lead the pendulum swing away from an ostensibly brilliant people to awareness that in practice, this full of rhetoric turns out to be scraps of metal whose rightful place is in a junk shop. What seemed at first blush to be “knowledge creation” was more accurately “brain decay”.

MADAME PRESIDENT-- EVERYTHING IS IN YOUR HANDS TO REBUILD OUR NATION, THE PHILIPPINES

2009-10-06T03:06:00.000-07:00

Our Country is now at all kinds of crisis. Statistical surveys from different private entities have always been in consensus to the effect that the people no longer believe this government or the President. They no longer believe because they have come to understand that this government is always engaged in deception, slow as sloth, incompetent, and cannot do anything else about the volatile situation of our country. Many Filipinos have lost their faith like a lonely hunter that hunts on a lonely hill.

According to the ancient tribal wisdom of the Dakota Indians, passed on from generation to generation, “When you discover you're riding a dead horse, your best move is to dismount.” This is an old idiom but the impact is still illuminating even by the passing of time. However, many of the Filipinos are still hanging on with this government and complacent to acknowledge that this government’s plan and strategies aren't working. Madame President: The existing bureaucrats are stuck in a rut and just can’t get on with what they want or need to do better than the paranoid, brain-dead as robot, immoral and elitist bunch they've become.

YOU are the President and the Mother of this nation; it is in YOUR hands to turn our Nation from down under to the top. YOU must bring new ones to man the agencies in the government. YOU have to stop associating with the loser-brigade, those dull excuse-makers who end up dragging YOU down to their level of complacency and incompetence. Fly with the eagles instead of scratching with the chooks. THE UNWIELDY BUREAUCRATS IN OUR GOVERNMENT SUFFER FROM INERTIA

Madame President, there are two main forces controlling YOUR actions as to whether to hang on with YOUR Cabinet members, or let go some, if not, all of them. Firstly, YOU don’t know what lies ahead. Secondly, it is a risky and dangerous journey because these people might turn against YOU. YOU are now at this very moment like a trapeze artist swinging high above the arena. YOU see the next bar coming toward YOU and YOU know YOU must reach out and 'claim it' - but YOU can't see clearly enough yet. YOU are afraid to fully reach out and grab the bar. So YOU continue to swing back and forth waiting for the right time. YOU are waiting for more confidence, waiting to be more prepared, waiting until YOU can build more trust.

When is the right time? Will YOU ever be prepared enough? How much confidence will it take? What would happen if YOU just let go of the bar YOU are holding and 'go for the other waiting to be grabbed'? Sometimes as frightening as it may seem, YOU must close one door in order for the next to open. Does this take courage? Yes, the courage to trust. Trust that YOU are never alone. Trust that everything that happens is in YOUR best interest. Trust that this desire for more/different would not be presenting itself, if YOU weren't ready. Trust that there's an element of risk in letting go 'the known', by acknowledging YOU will never get to second base if YOU don't take YOUR foot off first.

First base could be the Cabinet members YOU just lost and YOU are faced with seeing this loss as the bleakest day of YOUR life or the beginning of a new and fabulous opportunity by checking out what second base looks like. The aphorism, "No pain, no gain." takes on its full signification when it comes to great achievements. The effort required to turn a dream into reality is directly proportional to the scope of the dream. Wishful thinking never accomplished anything.

Madame President, we, YOUR people, loves YOU, we always understand YOU, and we accept YOUR special value as a person. The end of YOUR term is fast approaching, and what kind of legacy would YOU pass on to the future generation, and also what kind of memories YOU want to be remembered? But, if YOU fail, our children will inherit a country dominated by the dark angels of our time. If YOU fail, our progeny will be doomed to a life surrounded by fear, suspicion, hatred and death. YOU cannot end YOUR term sharing the same Cabinet members YOU have now. YOU can have another set and must be better than them. We must evolve into a society with leaders whose concern and love is with humanity more than personal gain. Our children’s future depends upon it.

With enough determination, no mountain is too high and no dragon is too fierce. It is the human element that no force can resist.

My source: Judy Irving, Ezine Articles

THE CITIZENRY FOUND A TREASURE TROVE OF HORRORS THAT THEIR METAMORPHOSIS WAS RAPID

2009-10-03T06:22:00.000-07:00

The people of this country, the Philippines, are the most generous and well-meaning in the world, whatever their political and social orientations. And they don't all agree on political matters anymore. The reason: the political strong men of both parties are full of nefarious half truths and predictions. The people are not any other crapass hellhole of intellectual miniatures. They just don’t care anymore because all the politicians say is unhelpful. Bleed me dry inside making my soul hard and numb. I cannot feel the pain of which you speak; this anger is so strange and so great. It’s making me run berserk.

Those whose wealth came at the cost of others' suffering, the envy and rancor of the multitude against them are universal and restrained only by fear or necessity. The Governments exist to protect the rights of minorities. But here in the Philippines the poor are invisible. They are not simply neglected and forgotten; what is much worse, they are not seen. We can never comprehend the reason why the politicians should live in silver platter while we have no food on our tables. Please see THEY BOW AND VOW TO BIND THEMSELVES TOGETHER FOR LIFE AND DEATH. Maybe it makes me a dyed-in-the-wool Librul, but I find it very hard to see much anger that gets couched in “WHAT ARE WE IN POWER FOR"?

Every society indoctrinates its citizens from their earliest age to respect, believe, and be loyal to the government. Before they understand the meanings of the words in their pledge to the flag or the national anthem, they have learned them by rote and repeat them regularly. As they grow older their loyalty is reinforced through the church, the media, at work, and even in their families. Proudly backing a county's leader becomes natural for the loyal, patriotic citizen who will not be swayed, particularly during stressful periods like Calamities, disasters and wars. Many brainwashed people have done it, still do it, and many more will continue to do it!

It is extremely difficult to overcome inculcated biases that have built up over the years. But many found in our present corrupt Philippine government a treasure trove of horrors --the unrelenting corrupt practices of our government officials and more looting of public funds, and/or pulverizing yet some more of our already impoverished and devastated nation that their metamorphosis was rapid.

Supposedly honest and capable leaders have been proven to be liars and incompetents. What goes through the minds of the loyal citizens when each lie that brought our country now close to chaos is disclosed? What goes through the minds of the patriots when promises and predictions of investments from abroad -- "cakewalk," "mission accomplished," "welcomed with flowers" -- never occur? Does each lie and each bad prediction chip their loyalty armor?

The warriors on the front lines against the insurgents, terrorists and criminals are discovering that their government has very little regard for them and the burdens they must carry. Is the John Wayne enthusiasm wearing thin? How long will they remain loyal and patriotic? Signs that the chipping process has affected the perceptions of the citizenry may be inferred by their increasing skepticism of the administration's version of news that the media outlets had been disseminating.

Although the chipping has now hit the airwaves and shown in different performance surveys, it is doubtful that the corruptors will modify its devil-may-care tactics. Their urgent desire to achieve their nefarious objectives, which can never be revealed, compels them to continue with more lies and ridiculous predictions.

I suspect that more exposed lies and unfulfilled predictions will continue and conditions will deteriorate further until a sufficient mass of discontent will cause a major eruption. What happens next -- your guess is as good as mine -- but I think the consequences will cause this present government to join the list of ex-public officials.

THE UNWIELDY BUREAUCRATS IN OUR GOVERNMENT SUFFER FROM INERTIA

2009-10-02T04:33:00.000-07:00

The condition of the flood victims are the ugliest of beings. Their girth slumps over their belt, their hairs are in disarray, their eyes are bloodshot, and they hardly move due to sloth. None worries about them. These poor abandoned victims keep living and dying in huge pain, sometimes even wounded and bleeding with hundreds of maggot eating their bodies. Imagine for a while how it feels to be living in excruciating pain, physically, emotionally and psychologically. They are suffering because of the sick mentality of our public officials. Their stupidity is deadly and contagious. IT IS TIME TO OUST OUR DESPOTIC RULERS

Imagine, the government through the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) offered a calamity loan for government employees victims of tropical storm `Ondoy’. But when they came to the GSIS, they were being required to wait in congestion outside of the building for half day with no one telling them what to do; they were required to pay a service fee of 600 pesos; and the maximum loan amount of Php 20 thousand pesos will be deducted the balance of their previous loans. Is this not again foolishness? Our government officials have always been oscillating, if not fickle minded, always moves slowly and in an uncoordinated manner every time important public decision is required. THE HONOURABLE MEN

The government is lost all the time. As its high administrative officials steer through the economic crisis along a perilous, unfamiliar highway, their destination remains unknown. How will they ever find their way back on track? It’s a question many are asking of any number of the government agencies, at a time that calls for clear-eyed thinking. The direct impact of the tropical storm `Ondoy’ and the psychological blow that would ripple through the economy could be far more devastating if the government agency concerned would not get to address their structural issues. THEY BOW AND VOW TO BIND THEMSELVES TOGETHER FOR LIFE AND DEATH

Some critics argue that the government got itself into this mess every time there is a tragic event of national proportion because like all corrupt regime in the world, the administrative officials/bureaucrats suffer from inertia, and the people who run them can become so isolated they don’t know and they don’t care what is happening in their own backyard. They are a bunch of folderols.

Why are these officials so dumb that they are not even using their common sense? So, whether you go to the higher officials or the boss of the bosses, you won’t be able to restore value from any of them within any meaningful timeframe. From that angle, there are lots of hopeless cases. Sooner or later everything will go down cold as clear as day. THE POWERS THAT BE or TPTB

The existing bureaucrats cannot turn their own agency around. The government must bring new ones to man the agency. Pick someone with brains: one willing to take some risks and make some changes. You see, when someone fresh, comes in, there are two advantages. One is that he does not have to waste any time upfront apologizing for how things got so bad. He could immediately start and say: This is the way it is, it’s pretty ugly, and we’ll all pull together to get us out of this ditch. The second thing is that in every organization, no matter how troubled, people may be angry, scared, upset, but there is usually a very deep streak of loyalty to the employer they’ve had for a long time. When a government agency brings in someone new, there’s hope that somehow this new person will change things, so let’s rally behind the new person. Many times, people love their company, and if you can just get them pointed in the right direction, they can do OK. NOW IT CAN BE TOLD WHAT CAUSED THE MASSIVE FLOODS… WE ARE OPPRESSED BECAUSE WE HAVE ALLOWED IT TO BE

IT IS ALWAYS THE POOR GETTING THE SHORTEST END OF THE STICK AND KEEP TAKING IT

2009-09-30T18:56:00.001-07:00

The scene of the aftermath of the tropical storm Ondoy was grotesque and terrible (see abs-cbnnews.com). The flood-affected areas were all covered with thick mud, and water pipes are contaminated with e.coli bacteria which could result to diarrhea, worse, to cholera. The electricity has not been restored. The thoroughfares are not yet passable because the thick mud, trunks of trees, and all kinds of garbage are all over. Classes in all levels have been suspended indefinitely. Relief goods are being distributed without proper direction. Those who cannot go to distribution centers because they were trapped in their respective houses are dying of hunger. Sacks of rice distributed to the victims are not fitted for human consumption, therefore, some of them chose not to accept.

In the distribution centers, hungry people are like dogs fighting for a piece of meat. They are pushing against one another trying to get ahead of the queue to be given rations containing assorted canned goods and other ready to cook food. A brief and terrifying dip into that big crowd shows one what it's like to be a piece of meat thrown into a room of starving wolves.

The situation, the condition of the victims, the slow foot action of the government, the system adapted for giving food, and all kinds of inconveniences you can imagine could happen prevailed. In effect, all are a hopeless mess and no one seemed to have much idea what was the government doing with all of these. (Please see the videos at abs-cbnnews.com)

The poorest of the poor in the poverty stricken country, the Philippines, have successfully succeeded in withstanding different kinds of hardships but they could not surely withstand the process of bastardization. This is what the government is doing to us. Please see THEY BOW AND VOW TO BIND THEMSELVES TOGETHER FOR LIFE AND DEATH. We must seek to restore to our country the great importance we used to give to human relations, the high regard to people and their property, and for life in general. These are the essential features of our culture to which we must cling.

It is the poor who are always getting the shortestest end of the stick. It’s the poor who are often the direct objects of exploitation. It’s the poor who are governed by ill-defined restrictive laws while the wealthy flouted with the rules as they can always get away by greasing the right palms. It’s the poor who are oppressed because they are weak. It is the poor who are always shoved around and the least to be noticed and attended to in calamity situation (MULTUM IN PARVO--THERE IS MUCH IN LITTLE).

We have to take upon ourselves the cudgels of the struggle will see us through. We must remove from our vocabulary completely the concept of fear. Truth must ultimately triumph over evil, and this corrupt regime has always nourished their greed on this basic fear that shows itself in our community. Please see IT IS TIME TO OUST OUR DESPOTIC RULERS.

It’s all about the rule of law, and the rule of law means that no-one is above, and no-one is beneath. But the government does both, all the time.

NOW IT CAN BE TOLD WHAT CAUSED THE MASSIVE FLOODS… WE ARE OPPRESSED BECAUSE WE HAVE ALLOWED IT TO BE

2009-09-29T19:00:00.000-07:00

It is sad that it takes a tragic event of national proportions to remind voters and pundits alike of the one issue that hovers over the entire country of the Republic of the Philippines- the fact that we are at all kinds of crisis. It says a great deal about the sorry state of affairs and attention spans that the next President and Commander in Chief will have to inherit an unholy mess nation, while for the last few months, the voting public and pundits have not paid attention to it.

Pundits have to wisen up. The crucial issue in our country is the way our nation is being ruled by the present administration. The economy, welfare of our country, the peace and order situation, and our volatile situation depend on it. We, as voters, owe them that much. Everything else becomes secondary when it comes to the matters of life and death. All the other issues should still take a back seat when it comes to the survival of our country and its citizens.

It can now be told that the tropical storm `Ondoy’ tragedy which has now claimed 300 deaths and still counting, was caused by the water released from the Angat Dam. It was now confirmed by the government itself as the news revealed at DZRH Radio this morning, September 30, 2009, that on Saturday, September 26, 2009, its personnel had released water from the Angat dam in Bulacan to prevent overflow due to the heavey rains. Therefore, it is clear that such act of releasing water from the Angat Dam is definitely the root cause of the massive floods to its neighboring towns and the Mega Cities in Metro Manila. Focus on this: the water from Angat Dam if release can cause massive floods. The water from the Angat Dam was release on Saturday at the height of heavy rains brought by tropical storm `Ondoy’. On Saturday, massive floods occurred in various areas and in Metro Manila, the worse ever in the record history. Therefore, the massive floods were caused by the water from the Angat Dam. This is a simple syllogism.

The tragedy of the tropical storm `Ondoy’ is one of the defining moments of the Philippine government, and I hope whoever calls the shots, whoever it may be, is ready to deal with that.

There won’t be time to ponder the decisions, wait for reports, dig through different suggestions; she, he or they must be able to come with one plan with the ability to make choices of monumental consequences without second guessing, regrets, or time to change their mind. I had a premonition in my blog post OUR LAST LINE OF DEFENSE IS NONE OTHER THAN COURAGE AND SELF-ESTEEM regarding major crisis.

That time has come and it is up for us to wake up through the pundits and the media which we hope they are willing, able, and fully prepared to take that responsibility on their shoulders. This isn’t a criticism of any one, but hopefully a wakeup call to those who need to get their priorities in order.

We can win this impossible war of survival (please see IT IS TIME TO OUST OUR DESPOTIC RULERS) if we will unite and pull our resources together for a single objective—rebuild our Nation. Our country, our flag, and our pride as Filipinos are all at stake. I don't think we would all fit under the rock we would be hiding under like ostriches. We do not need a Commander & Chief who only speaks to the Ground Commanders from a distance and only goes out when the television light flickers. We need a hands-on leader who has a man-to-man monitoring initiative. We need to be led towards action, not just informed. Not just "invited", but led, inspired, empowered. Leaders, who decide to get serious and make a bold stand for our wonderful country, do some butt-kickery, at least on that to those inefficient and unproductive sycophant officials. If not, things would get worse, really fast.

We don’t want leaders whom we can suspect as seeing the occurrence of turmoil as an opportunity to separate us, so we are weak under pressure, then, impose Martial Law to perpetuate power. They would be a precipitating factor were such horror to occur again. We will unite among ourselves and our flag and country. NOT those bozos who hope for some calamities to come us again, and fiddle like Nero, watching Rome burn. I am scared as to what would happen! There is no one to trust anymore.

CHARITABLE FEELINGS--A VALUE SYSTEM THAT NEEDS TO BE PUT INTO ACTION ALL THE TIME

2009-09-28T19:29:00.000-07:00

We all have seen the tragedy that has taken place in our country, the Republic of the Philippines, caused by Tropical Storm `Ondoy’. The pictures we are seeing on TV are horrifying, tragic, and overwhelming. As we watch how the victims themselves struggled to save their own lives it truly makes one think how precious life truly is.

The total number of fatalities from tropical storm “Ondoy" in the Mega Cities of Metro Manila and other neighboring provinces that submerged in mud and water may already be more than 200 as the tally is till awaiting some more reports.

The onslaught of this natural disaster have brought us to the largest mobilization of resources for one single natural disaster in the history of our Country; how the different private companies and establishments voluntarily responded and showed charitable feelings to donate hard earned money to help the people that are in need. In just two days of the donation campaign, it already accumulated over Php 50 million pesos. The notion and belief that we can and will give back to others less fortunate, in pain, sick or grieving is indeed a part of a value system that is witnessed by all of us being put into action. The help you are giving may be very small for you, but for the victims, they are already so much. Please see my blog MULTUM IN PARVO--THERE IS MUCH IN LITTLE

On the other hand, the intended government funding of Php10 million is still being proposed and negotiated through series of conferences by and among our higher leadership echelons. A usual snail’s pace action by the government—typical of too much speaking, not enough acting it when it comes to the welfare and benefit of the public. But when it comes to their own personal purpose and aggrandizement they can always find a way to do it hocus pocus. Please see my blog OUR LAST LINE OF DEFENSE IS NONE OTHER THAN COURAGE AND SELF-ESTEEM

The world keeps spinning regardless how any one person might feel, either our little trip on Planet Earth is a rip-roaring ride or it's the pits. As long as we are breathing we always encounter many obstacles we have to cope with. Suffering is rampant in today's world because of the misconception that we can get something for giving nothing. That is why people are stealing and falling into trouble. Giving and receiving are the both sides of the same coin. You have to give in order to get. This is a simple truth.

Just two weeks ago, I received a text message from my private electrician, Arnulfo, he is the one I call when something is wrong in the house connected with electrical. He wants to borrow Php2,500.00 because his grandchild was hospitalized. Money is hard that the adage; "A penny saved is a penny earned" had to be applied to my family in greater measure. But I cannot afford to totally fail him, so, I gave Php1,000.00 without any qualm if I’ll be paid or not.

Ten (10) days thereafter, I was called by my staff that the laptap computer which I requisitioned three (3) years ago from the Department of Agrarian Reform, a government agency which I work, and I had lost interest already due to its appalling delay, will be delivered the following day. Now I have the laptap with me. My Php1,000.00 was exchanged with the laptap worth Php26,000—a multifold return.

You have to offer something for the fellow human beings and for the world. Think constantly what you can give rather than how you would get? The return is often multiplied on the rebound. This makes me realize how truly the phrase is: They who give have all things; they who withhold have nothing. Likewise, nothing could be further from the truth that when people are on their deathbed they don't ask to see their checkbook ledger one last time to see how well they have done in life. It is what they will be remembered for and what they have left behind. Please see my blog TAKE MY BAIT AGAIN...WELL-PACKAGE WEB OF LIES

Reach out to others and let them know how you feel. Be generous. Generosity means giving freely with no strings attached. If you look for opportunities you will find so many ways to be generous.

After this tragic event brought about by tropical storm `Ondoy’, our most important thing to do is to concentrate on what can be done now to help those most directly affected and to ensure that those who are rendered homeless will be taken cared of by the government even after the national coverage of the flood disaster die down. Please see my blog TRIBUTE TO ERAÑO MANALO AKA KA ERDY, IGLESIA NI KRISTO HEAD

ACTUAL DEATHS COULD HAVE BEEN MORE HAD IT NOT BEEN THE FILIPINO PEOPLE THEMSELVES LENDING A HELPING HAND

2009-09-27T11:21:00.000-07:00

We often have trouble imagining the worst scenario until the terrible event occurs. Only then can we evaluate our emergency response preparations. We cannot predict the exact type of disaster that will occur in the future and the specific problems it will create, but we can develop general principles and guidance for better emergency response.

73 killed, 23 others missing as storm Ondoy whips the Republic of the Philippines. The number of affected families across Luzon has swelled to 69,513 (about 337,216 people). The partial total number of evacuees has also reached 11,967 families (about 59,920 people) who are staying in 118 evacuation centers, National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) data showed.

A good planning principle is to “hope for the best but prepare for the worst.” Planners can use this recent disaster brought by storm Ondoy to improve the quality of services the government can provide under emergency conditions and avoid repeating past mistakes.

Every disaster presents a unique combination of problems. Ondoy disaster, that recently pummeled Metro Manila through flooding, and thousands of people isolated for days without water, food or medical care, can be our greatest lesson.

This analysis is not intended to fault individuals. Rather, it is intended to honestly examine planning failures. We can assume that nearly everybody involved in emergency response sincerely wants to do their best; after all, they and their loved ones may also require emergency services. Many emergency responders make significant personal sacrifices. If we are to make any judgments, it would be against anybody who hides, denies or understates mistakes and so prevents society from learning to avoid such errors in the future.

My Blog space attempts to identify ways to better allow government agencies to help people in National Emergencies since this is the primary job of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC). Various long-term planning errors contributed to the `Ondoy’ disaster: the concentration of Poverty in the Philippines makes the surrounding neighborhoods vulnerable to flooding, The Philippine government may have focused excessively on politics at the expense of natural risks. This is an important issue to explore, and where appropriate, correct. Why does it always take a serious crisis to wake this country to flood disaster that are visible even to bats? It follows a predictable path and provides considerable warning.

The Philippines have no well-established automatic response plans during the evacuation periods. The emergency response of the government agencies are always delayed as ever, extensive emergency response and relief was not immediately provided but only after more than THIRTY HOURS at daybreak on September 27, 2009 from the time the alarm was sounded at 11:00 o’clock in the morning of September 25, 2009, Philippine time. Actual deaths were a fraction of what could have occurred had it not been the Filipino people themselves lending a helping hand to each other and one after another.

As we sit in our home that is not threatened, enjoy our meals with our families and be able to tuck our children into their safe bed at night, we need to stop and think of those hundreds of thousands of people that are notable to do this and may not be able to for months to come. These people can not even get access to the basic necessities in order to survive. This true desperation we are seeing is what will spur us into action to help those that are in need. How can we see those pictures, stories and videos of our fellow Filipinos suffering and not take action?

IT IS TIME TO OUST OUR DESPOTIC RULERS

2009-09-26T18:05:00.000-07:00

This is what our tax money is supposed to go towards. But with just a span of six hours of rain brought by a tropical storm named Ondoy it already caused floods and submerged practically the entire Metro Manila with water, damaging several homes and all the thoroughfares impassable—bringing the Mega City of over ten million people to a virtual standstill. Flood waters were all over, catching people in the streets by surprise and finding themselves splashing, flapping and flipping through raging waters to save dear lives. Main floors of some buildings and houses are buried under water, scrambling inhabitants to the rooftops. There are some homes that are still sitting under four feet of water and some homes that are not going to be livable again. As of now, at least 52 people, including 42 in the province of Rizal, were left dead.

This was the worst-case scenario that I've seen. Flooding continues to plague the Philippines since time immemorial but the present flooding is the worst in the record history. This is attributed to poor drainage system, pollution, and garbage problem that have worsened the effects of the heavy downpour—the result of the failure of the government to catch up with the pace of the modern and ever changing world due to steadily increased commission of corruption. Just in the news this morning, September 26, 2009, a high ranking public official may find himself in hot water following allegations of mismanaging billions of pesos from the Road Users' Tax.

But the corrupt regime doesn’t seem to care mainly because they are not and can never be affected. In spite of the crisis plaguing the country the landscape is dotted with their mansions, their private jets and chartered planes flew instantly for drop-of-the-hat trips anywhere in the world as their random spur of the moment, on frivolous caprices of intermingled lust dictates; and that the people turn tail and run at their omnipotent power, money and invulnerability.

We can win an impossible war of survival even from the ashes of our own destruction. If we will it, it need not be a dream. It would require sacrifice, 100 times harder work than we could ever think if we want a new nation to burst onto the international scene. Then it’s time to start seeing a lusty cry of a newborn infant, yearning to breathe free.

In blood and fire heroes are born, and on a hot anvil is forged a great nation. With unbelievable bravery and heroism the new state survived. In blood sweat and tears is where history is unfolded and were reborn the vibrant character of proud citizens of a free and progressive State.

With stories of burning flesh from the ovens of subjugation embedded deep in our psyches, we must fight with the firm conviction that there is no alternative (ein brera) so that what has been taken from us would be returned to us as the rightful owner.

“There are pearls in each of us, if only we knew how to cultivate them with ardor and persistence”. “Our struggles in life go to the determined, not to the outraged; to the committed, not to those who are merely dramatic”.

OUR LAST LINE OF DEFENSE IS NONE OTHER THAN COURAGE AND SELF-ESTEEM

2009-09-25T17:05:00.000-07:00

The government appears to be living the biblical admonition that says “For he that has, to him shall be given: and he that has not, from him shall be taken even that which he has”.

We Filipinos have had our own share of experiences how corruption had permeated all facets of the government, and how the masses tried to protest by way of vocally stating that enough was enough. But the government failed of what it said it is going to do. This should make us cautious just about everything that they do or say. These leaderships are free to change their minds on practically anything when a better opportunity to deceive and to lie presented them, and this makes them even more difficult to bring their actions into a coherent whole.

There is only one word to explain clearly and objectively the tactics of these leaderships, it is simply demagoguery. That is best explained as a political argument that is constructed on half truths, straw men and logical fallacies. Actually H. L. Mencken, the American author might have said it best when he explained that “a demagogue is one who preaches doctrines that he knows to be untrue to (men) he knows to be idiots”. These errant politicians who pulverized and brought our country to economic doldrums and poverty for their personal gains have been emboldened of doing what they are accustomed to do as the people are gripped in fear and do not charge forward. Maybe, rather than tuck their selfish heads in sand like ostriches, but rather the people will just take everything until they get worn out and take no more.

But when a crucial point is reached, our country God forbids could soon be controlled by lynch mob—groups of people go and attack Malls, stores, and groceries-- get everything they can, killing anybody who stand their way; rich people will be thrown with rocks in their cars or in their homes and hanged; the establishments are closed for fear of being ransacked; the streets are empty with people for fear of being mauled and killed; and the police and the armies are confused and in quandary as the attacks are executed sporadically in simultaneous fashion. This had happened already in post-Civil War Southern American society. The result will be a dog eat dog nation and millions of Filipinos will die. The political leaders who caused the disaster will be fine as they have plenty of money ready in their cash bolts, and all they have to do is to go out the country at the first sign of the fracas.

We do not want that to happen. This is our country, our forefathers had established it through tears, sweat and blood, and we cannot afford to fail them. It is the duty and the obligation of all those of good will to attempt to save this government and that starts with unity and to vote based on what we truly believe to be the "wisest" choice, and not based on looks, idolization and adoration. Let’s stop all the bickering and the blaming. Let’s find good leaders that will not seek short term solutions by papering over seminal and major fault lines.

To borrow the phrases of Qabbani, 67, the highest spiritual authority within the Muslim Sunni community: "If we realize that our strength is in our unity, then why divide?" "If we are aware that the loss of the nation is everybody's loss, then why work on losing it?" We now condition ourselves that the crisis in front of us need not be feared as we have already run out of fear anyway. All that we have as our last line of defense is none other than COURAGE and SELF-ESTEEM though hell may bar the way. We must now think this way: We in the world often need a crisis and a major one for that matter, in order to question and reevaluate the current conditions that have given birth to the present sad state of affairs. In other words, crisis in any field or any country could act as a mechanism to husband resources and seek a meaningful solution to the problem at hand. This has been proven since ancient times up to the present. Thus, this phrase came into existence because of this paradoxical phenomenon: “Necessity is the mother of invention”.

Yes the current crisis could, in theory, force us all to come together and find an accommodation that would benefit everyone. Eventually, from the opposing phenomena: the problem and the solution, will surface a new formula where both will find each other like a screw thread nut fitted into a bolt. Then we will witness how history unfolds.

WHAT WE HAVE IN THE PHILIPPINES ARE POLITICAL LEADERS THAT COULD EVENTUALLY DARKEN AND DEVOUR OUR NATION

2009-09-23T20:07:00.000-07:00

This space has often discussed the kind of government in the Philippines we have been witnessing and experiencing ever since from the Marcos regime up to the present. I have lamented the fact that the traditional political leaders had shown and will continue on and on to ignore the crisis situation which is now stratospheric as if like a bubble about to burst. The Filipino citizens do not seem to have a deep understanding of the root cause of the crisis and so they have in essence shunned ever since their responsibilities in choosing their political leaders. For me, we have to choose our leaders not on the basis of our personal feelings but rather, it should be what we truly believe to be the "wisest" choice. The masses often voted for someone whose looks they idolize and admire, instead of the greatness of his vision, his views on the issues of the day, and what he stood for.

With such slanted way in choosing our leaders, our people, particularly the masses, which constitute the bulk of our country, that resoundingly pushed said politicians to victory did not see the dangers which had been the root cause of the prevalence of corruption committed by these politicians. We have to understand that in a democracy, everyone as a whole must participate actively to make our government work toward progress in order to achieve the goals that are reflective of the sentiments and aspirations of the people. With a society that is "tossed to and fro as the waves on the ocean", that whatever and whoever is idolized and adored, or because it so happens he or she is the flavor sundae will be the gage in choosing our leader, then, our country becomes disturbingly easy to degenerate into something called a lynch mob. Does no one know what kind of country we have now and will soon become if we will not come to our right senses?

We have to stop the vicious cycle which has become a pattern and had formed as stronghold in our system in choosing our political leaders. “Gone are the days when we judged who the next political leaders of our country will be by means of popularity, power and money. Let’s choose them on the basis of the totality of their lives and not the pattern of their words. We should prefer an honest and righteous candidate than TV politicians whose faces are all over TV screens spending millions of pesos in political ads. Those trying to get the support of the masses by showing all their nice behavior to woo their friendships through skilled persuasion; using hypnotic rapport by saying: follow me on my exciting journey as I take YOU along in manifesting our Dreams & Desires. Persuading and captivating them by a wisp-of-straw friendliness as they bolstered it with a glutton of promises, implanting those kinds of thoughts about their welfare and security. Who is like a preacher whose every word is god, god, god, and whose every deed is foul, foul, foul”.

What is required is that each and every one of us must have the ability to know the principles of right living, of good conduct, and what is best for everyone. In that sense; each individual would know his proper place and does not go over or under steps his bounds. By knowing this principle, we will be able to choose the right leader whose concern and love is with humanity more than personal gain. With this knowledge based on the said principle, we can keep a natural balance, and the equilibrium is maintained. “When each person conformed to his or her appropriate roles and discharged responsibilities correctly, virtue and harmony would prevail in the family, community, and state. Even the smallest act in life was seen as a rife which needed to be carried out with care in the established way and with a sense of proper ceremony.”

That deep rooted failure by the Filipino people in choosing the right leader is the major reason why these traditional politicians continue at committing corruption--laughing all the way to the bank because the people do not seem to care, or at least do not do something about it. For me, what has prevented the bubble from being calamitous is only because the people have still something to eat even how scarce and non-nutritious depending on what they can only afford with their low income; and this is the only thin thread that keeps the government hang in the balance. Thus, it is keeping precariously on a 24/7 close watch that it won’t falter.

This cycle of election, followed by the assumption of new political leaders, then, later, the worsening crisis we felt in our country due to corruptions, then rallies and demonstrations, then the rumors of coup d’ėtat, must be broken—or our nation will always be haunted by this vicious cycle of political leaders who keep coming and swarming like a plague of locusts taking turns at devouring and darkening our nation.

As the Irish saying goes, if a rogue deceives me once, shame on him. If he deceives me twice, shame on me.

THE POWERS THAT BE or TPTB

2009-09-22T03:43:00.000-07:00

In this kind of government that we have in the Philippines, we are ready to get rid of our individual self either by submission to new forms of authority or by a compulsive conforming to accepted patterns. From there it is a slippery slope to simply knuckling under, getting on with life, doing whatever our 'benign' leaders want, or simply letting them get on with whatever it is they do; whether it be looking the other away, or better still, bestirred to ride, as it were, on their coattails of their corrupt practices and more looting of public funds, and/or pulverizing yet some more of our already impoverished and devastated nation.

It is a selfish notion that seems to accord with Darwinian evolution, with its dictate of 'survival of the fittest'. It seems to imply that 'might is right'. So it is either you follow blindly those who are in power, or see yourself enduring with empty stomach and be very sorry with your situation. The deal here is that you submit to all their wishes, judgments and governance and remain quiet, obedient and loyal. If you should step out of bounds, you will be earmarked as destabilizer for progress. The implicit bargain would be you will be out of trouble even if trouble troubles you. The `Powers that be’ have the money, they got their weapons, they have the law, they got the judge’s on their side. With that, who would have the courage to face them head-on unless you are a suicide bomber of the al Queda. Thus, if you want to survive and maintain your pampered life-styles, you stay the fittest.

Obviously, one important aspect of fighting corruption is enforcement of the law, and actual punishment for the individuals involved. How well – and how even handedly – the Philippine government is doing at enforcing the country’s laws and holding both leadership and individuals accountable? The likelihood of the government to enforce the law and punish the perpetrators is very low because most, if not all of them, are the ones doing it. That is why they always get away with such transgressions and flouting the country’s laws. Corruption in most countries is not easy to spot. Well, in the Philippines, it is very simply done—it is just an ordinary conversation anywhere they want unconcerned even in public view.

Think of the economy. Corruption is strongly tied to negative investment rates. Most of you would agree that one of the biggest problems facing businesses today is the lack of investment capital. IMF data shows that the investment rate in corrupt countries is almost five percent less than in relatively corruption-free countries. This is an important figure in countries like the Philippines, which seek foreign direct investment.

Once corruption is associated with a certain person, company, government, or country, it is difficult to shed the stigma. Would you invest in a company or a country that is rumored or known to be corrupt? Would you knowingly associate yourself with a person tainted by corruption? If I were a businessman, I would not and I suspect you would not. Protecting our investment is too important to risk.

Still inclined to support its agenda to extend its sphere of activity? If so, we deserve all we get. Time and again, most of the political leaders both from the administration and opposition did not do anything but kept supporting this government either directly or indirectly, while it sucked at the public teat. If the government had not taken their advice against the prevalence of corruption, why were they not principled enough, this paragon of the green virtues, to resign en masse? When they sneer now that this government is a world leader in hollow rhetoric and accuse it of hypocrisy, do they not see the irony of that?

I have very high regard and sympathy with very few honest people who made attempts to expose massive corruption in the government and now facing fabricated charges. But this government is ostentatiously in control throughout, claiming the right to intrude into the minutiae of our lives and to wag the finger of righteousness in our faces. The fact is that the leadership’s response to their corruption issue was to intimidate and smear honest people seeking the truth and then to cover up. If they did not know they were behaving badly, they would never have tried to conceal it.

As a rule of thumb, I never trust anyone in the government hierarchy who mention their doctorates, and British or American accent in their English speaking. They are usually on the make and/or trying to command a respect they know they don't deserve.

These people in power are no better than models of mediocrity who protect their kind even how grave the corruption offense they have committed, but will not hesitate to trash honest but lowly ordinary public officials who are not their minions for comparatively minor "sleaze" of which they knew and could have been expected to know nothing. Indeed, as they treated themselves as one family, family feelings are designed to help their genes replicate themselves. You can read between the lives of these people as to how they are so at ease and comfortable in committing corruption that it has now become a habit for them to do. Surely, only someone with an ingrained, unthinking habit of doing so could have allowed himself to do something so disgusting. Their frame of mind is that they only consider as in accordance with law and justice whatever favors and benefits them and as contrary to law and justice whatever does not accord with their views.

SIRS and MADAMES: you live in utmost luxuries and satiation while the stomachs of the people whom you sworn to serve and protect are empty and are wrapped up with all kinds of sufferings and insecurities. They are in tears because of you whose hearts are burned as with a heated iron. You will fall down, whether you like it or not. What kind of legacy would you leave to the Filipino people, your constituents and your family? Here is a poem for you:

NEVER BE TOO LATE

Are you proud for what you have?

They’re the result of what you stole and robbed.

The Filipinos were disillusioned with what you did,

that left them practically nothing to eat. So, many had

painfully suffered and now they are done and gone that

in their deaths their eyes are open in hunger and thirst,

oh god this isn’t fair. Your heart does not bleed, and your

conscience smeared with greed. You have been too hard

and you have the worse habitual traits any person can possibly

have. But the money you love, and the wealth you crave they won’t

save you and you leave this planet earth with a multitude of mistakes.

Your fate will inevitably meet you as you

fall and you will have to regret and be enveloped

with fear and despair. You will finally believe what

you had always known that sorrows and regrets always

come after and it’s too late. You will have to blame yourself

why you did not heed the warning that your conscience

had dictated that you better make more use of the analogous

thinking based on an extension of the Golden Rule. Now you have

no right to be sorry for yourself for a misfortune that strikes everyone.

When judgment comes, it is time you ask

where your friends are, your families, and the power

you wield with the arrogance and the pride you displayed?

They are all gone and none that you could find, leaving you

alone forsaken and totally abandoned. Had you only listened

to the moaning and cries of the Filipino people, had you been

so fair and clear, knew when to share and how to care you could

have been saved from the eternal flame called hell. It’s now too late

to fix everything that they did wrong who made their country crumble.

When a government like ours

establishes criminals-by-right

and looters-by-law, who use

power to seize the wealth of

the Filipinos, then money

becomes its creator’s fantasy.

MEMES SPREAD BY THE BEHAVIORS THAT THEY GENERATE IN THEIR HOSTS

2009-09-19T18:05:00.001-07:00

Money is incredibly important because aside from the fact that it is necessary for you and your family to survive, it implies having all the basic or extravagant comforts necessary to live life. It will take you wherever you wish. It will give you the means for the satisfaction of everything you desire. However, money is the scourge of the men who attempt to reverse the law of causality, the men who seek to replace the mind by seizing the products of the mind.

I do not envy the man who has wealth. His wealth is his and I would have done no better with it. What I jeer about is when the man sells his soul for a nickel, when he makes a mockery of his values as when the source of his wealth is corrupt, fraudulent, by pandering to men’s vices or men’s stupidity, by catering to fools, in the hope of getting more than his ability deserves, by lowering his standards, by doing acts of criminalities he despised for purchasers he scorned.

In that case, then your money will not give you a moment’s or a penny’s worth of joy. Then all the things you buy will become, not a tribute to you, but a reproach; not an achievement, but a reminder of shame. Then that is where money is destructive. Destructive, because it would not pinch-hit for your self-respect. Destructive because it would not let you enjoy your depravity, therefore, you have damned your own existence.

People have never been surprised to find that many irresponsible, delinquent, drug-addicted, or otherwise troubled children have been raised from rich parents whose wealth came from fraudulent source. This relationship between the "sick" home and the "sick" child has been known for centuries. It is entirely reasonable to expect, and repeated experience has confirmed, that children feed and raised with stolen money by parents who are morally defective, scoundrel, indolent, irresponsible, incompetent, or criminal should turn "bad." ("Like father, like son.")

We may infer safely that in such families the parents set a poor example, failed to teach proper ethical standards and paid insufficient attention to the child's physical and emotional needs due to deceitfully misplaced ambition. We may even suspect that such parents did not really want or love their children. Common sense tells us that "problem children" should arise within such a family context. This has occurred so regularly throughout the period of man's recorded history that it has become part of our folklore. Numerous novels and stage plays center around a prominent person whose son becomes the town's ne'er-do-well or the socialites' daughter who becomes the town harlot.

Whoever you are who fits out the description here and who thought you are honest because you have not been caught, don’t take great pride of your false belief as a smart alec. You still have your children and grandchildren, who will carry the weight of your depravity, and they will be the ones, individually, who will reap what you sow. If you will not believe this, then, you don’t really care about your children and you will be cursed by them. Don’t you see they are already showing signs of becoming like you—-a politician? They will also buy votes to win the election, and then use their political position to amass enormous wealth like you by corruption. This time, they will not be able to escape but will surely be handcuffed. That is what is called TRADITION. This pattern is what has been spread over them by your `memes’ and transmitted unfailingly to your descendants.

“The Children cannot walk away from getting their father’s horrible past thrown in their faces. It’s a life time sentence for them. They are doomed to continue the cycle of untrustworthiness that so many go by. It's really a shame, and the stigma is attached to the children who suffer the after effects by force of circumstances.” (realtruestories.blogspot.com –posted August 20, 2009.)

WE ARE THE BEST OF THE NOUGHTIES

2009-09-17T17:00:00.000-07:00

Experience is the only source of knowledge. We have experienced how our Philippine government has been marred by all kinds of scandals all throughout as far as our memory serve us— from shady deals and fraudulent contracts, smugglings of foreign cars, crude oil, rice, meat, chicken, human, cigarettes, unlimited spending with people’s money, and other shenanigans, you name it, and we have it.

Our political leaders ever since I reached the age of reason up to now, the moment they are sweep to power, they unusually and quickly retreat from their promises, their threats suddenly become empty, and the enthusiasm they showed to give everybody better living turns into betrayal. They had been and until now failed us for a long time— they smear failures, glibbing a lie and lies enough to play the fool like a host of faults. They are the faces who thought they can fool all the people all the time, officious, vicious and suspicious, and as useless as a mongo to a drongo. Heartless leaders who stand outside discipline and false values that the experts subordinate judgment to toe the line. They are the people who used their government positions to amass tremendous wealth at the expense of the weak whom they sworn to serve and protect. But we do not give up anything, and when we do, things will give us up too.

We had rebuffed different foreign dominations—Spain, Americans, and Japanese. We have weathered the storm despite all their advantages in all kinds of everything. Our offspring is now the product of evolving genes over the course of many generations from different foreigners who once upon a time controlled and/or visited the Philippines. Therefore, a superior breed with inheritable traits that will stand out in countless ways. With that, and coupled with the fact that we had reflected on our mistakes in choosing our leaders and we find wisdom in our experiences, we are the best of the noughties.

During this period of great national exhaustion and severe austerity in our country, the Philippines, the mere act of launching upon so glorious, so fateful an enterprise, will, of necessity, create at this propitious hour the receptivity which will enable a swiftly marching, stout-hearted, virile citizens now standing on the brink of blow out, to attract a fresh measure of celestial potency adequate to our growing needs. This whole lot ardour to liberate the citizens when in dome, even under such adverse circumstances, cannot but augur well for our success as a turning point infinitely more meritorious, of far greater promise, and endowed with vastly superior spiritual potentialities.

We the citizens of this nation, laden with the test of the times must again summoned to brace ourselves for another exertion, so fate-laden in its consequences, stands too near the structure we are now rearing to visualise the dimensions of our task, appraise our values, and appreciate our future glory. Alive in our inherent capacity, conscious of our high responsibility, aware of the sacredness of our mission, emboldened by our sacred exploits, trusting fully in that reinforcing Power that guided and sustained us unfailingly in the past.

We can do no better than to gird up afresh our loins, turn our backs upon the clamour of the age, our fears, confusion and strife, step resolutely forward on our chosen path, unshakably confident that with every step we take, should it remained undeflected in our purpose and undimmed in our vision, a fresh outpouring of Divine grace will reinforce and guide our march on the highroad of our destiny.

The unavoidable truth is that our political leaders must abide by the Law and stop their altruism by stating oxymorons, or the Citizens who have been jeering at their big mouths, big egos, and big troubles will have the last word in setting things “right.”

ACTS EXECUTED AGAINST THE LAW

2009-09-15T05:23:00.000-07:00

The opening words of the Preamble of the Philippine Constitution are, “We, the sovereign Filipino people…” What do these words signify? These words mean that the ultimate authority of the government emanates from the people in whom sovereignty resides. People exercise authority through the representatives elected by them. These representatives conduct the functions of the government in accordance with the wishes of the people. The essence of government itself was to provide security and welfare for its citizenry-- to make life easy for the people and ensure that they were adequately protected and provided with good things of life.

But it was indeed paradoxical that the vast majority of the populace was unable to afford even the basic necessities of life, which are food, water and shelter. The irony is that the public officials holding the reigns of government are living in utmost luxuries—owning several expensive cars, hopping from one mansion to another, from condominium to condominium whichever pleases them at any moment, spending money left and right in classy hotels and restaurants toasting champagnes here and abroad. A grossly-out feeling when you think they are wasting people’s money. Indeed, when it comes to power excesses in government, the public officials are free to do as they please, and they usually emulate each other.

They have everything in their finger tips while the people have nothing even in their thoughts. The 80% of the Philippine population of 80 million are living in marginalized poverty that don't eat at all, or can't eat as often. Homes are constructed of impermanent materials and have neither piped water nor sanitation. The combination of malnutrition, illiteracy, disease, underemployment and low income closes off the avenues of escape.

To the Honourables, your true vile colors shine...you only profess as millionaires by means of thievery and try to look better by stepping on people who are paying you and whom you sworn to serve and protect. Maybe you should focus on the good and kindness to all your victims who are suffering because of your insatiable greed. If you think the idea that it's okay to intentionally and illegally abuse, be cruel, pitiless, and take pleasure in the misfortune of others, you better think again. So, though you cannot be turned back now from your unbridled desires, yet, when your iniquity will be at the fall, fate will meet with you.

In the game of life, you throw the boomerang daily, in the form of actions and behaviors that you send out into the world, and that will return to you at some later date — often multiplied on the rebound. You’ll never know where the return will be coming from — or when it will arrive — but it always comes. You will be cursed at by all and given no chance to explain yourself whatsoever. And the most troubling is that when it rains it pours and not only you will get soaked but also the ones you are always together with. It’s your choice to believe or not but nobody is going to hit as hard as life. Those who will not listen will have to face the inevitable and it will be too late for amends but only regret. If you want to go to hell, you continue with what you are doing.

EVERYTHING DESCRIBED HERE IS POSSIBLE TO HAPPEN

2009-09-13T01:48:00.000-07:00

There is a great and peculiar charm about Philippine politics especially everybody is seeing different personalities stumping the country to seek political position of their choice in the 2010 elections. Such is a gravamen of indecorum as the formal election campaign is still far away. Our old public functionary is a great deal too squeamish. Nevertheless, reading news-scraps on a subject which concerns our country’s future, that no political office is guaranteed anyone through birthright or pedigree, and where the position of the president is up for grabs —there is that charm that always goes with the mysterious and the uncertain. You can never be absolutely sure with the outcome of anything in such circumstances; you are chasing an alert and gamy riddle all the time, and the baffling turns and dodges of the prey make the life of the hunt.

Deciding immediately who you vote would spoil it. Praises and criticisms for or against all the possible candidates will cast a veil of dreamy and golden uncertainty over them, and leave steeped in a haunting and adorable mystery an incident which had been vulgar and commonplace but for that benefaction. Would you be wise to draw a conclusion out of those innuendos? Or, would you be properly grateful they had popped out? My sympathy can only be extended for those who were personally scorned. There is no suffering comparable with that which a person feels when he is pilloried in media. The heat of the election fever is still looming and it’s too soon their Eureka moment spatters. They should never lose their "faculty stripes."

We have been careless in choosing our political leaders, and the continued economic plunge in our country speaks for itself. It’s imperative to grab attention and to encourage creative discussion so I embarked into this topic in all earnestness, because our country has been pummeled, continuously, by forces that are leading progressively to its degradation. The electorate is supposed to control the government through its elected representatives, but these elected officials have taken control of the power and now control the people.

Our country is fond of artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents... The artificial aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government. This time we shall always show irreverence for royalties and titled creatures born into privilege, and all that class which take their title from anything but merit. Now is the time we should look ahead and not behind, we should welcome new ideas without rigid reactions, we should look for someone who cares about the welfare of the people -- their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their political rights, and their civil liberties -- someone who has stood before the gates of all the storms of sufferings and who has realized that he could never want to be as certain about anything as were the people of our nation.

Gone are the days when we judged who the next political leaders of our country will be by means of popularity, power and money. Let’s choose them on the basis of the totality of their lives and not the pattern of their words. We should prefer an honest and righteous candidate than a TV politician who is like a preacher whose every word is God, God, God, and whose every deed is foul, foul, foul. "It does not require many words to speak the truth."“You can bend it and twist it, You can misuse and abuse it, but even God cannot change the Truth.”

A well-package web of lies had raked the whole country and the result had been that we are daily overfed and suffer a surfeit. By habit we stow this much every day, but we come by and by to take no vital interest in it -- indeed, we almost get tired of it. Until we give up and resign we can expect a change against all kinds of fraud that is taking shape in our country. Then, our intellectual curiosity - our appetite or desire for real news, sadly, no longer seem important to us. Opinion - especially coming from pundits - seems to be more important today. We just laugh when another scandal of fraud against the political leaders and it is quite embarrassing to hear how these leaders’ attempts to make us believe the brainwashing they regurgitate. We aren’t to take anything anymore. We sighed into exasperation why, when you come to think of it, who cares what becomes of those people? And to our mind, one relative or neighbor mixed up in a scandal is more interesting than a whole Sodom and Gomorrah of outlanders gone rotten. It’s much better we will just take care of ourselves and solve our own problems.

Let us recognize and distinguish who are the brilliant candidates that could put us on to progress, or the imbeciles who have all the tendencies to lead us to degradation and who are really capable of doing it. "Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.” Shrewd politicians will invent cheap lies, and every man will be glad of those conscience-soothing falsities, and will diligently follow them, and refuse to examine any refutations of them; and thus he will by and by convince himself that the sufferings of our country is unavoidable, and will seek refuge to God for the better sleep he enjoys after this process of grotesque self-deception.

We are now personally acquainted with hundreds of journalists, and the opinion of the majority of them on how they build up candidates would not be worth tuppence, but when they speak in print it is the newspaper that is talking, the pygmy or scribe is not visible, and then their utterances shake the community like the thunders of prophecy. It has become a sarcastic proverb that a thing must be true if you saw it in a newspaper. That is the opinion intelligent people have of that lying vehicle in a nutshell. But the trouble is that the poor people--who constitute the grand overwhelming majority in our country, do believe and are moulded and convinced by what they get out of a newspaper, and there is where the harm lies.

One step in the wrong direction again will cause us a thousand years of regret. How much miseries will there be? We Filipinos have been in terrible suffering, called the tribulation, for decades because our political leaders, since the time of our forefathers until the present, had been deaf about the CHANGE the Filipino people voted for. They are willing to destroy the ONE PLAN we have to create a solution for their own mysterious, selfish, power-hungry reasons. They seem unconcerned about the country’s economy, suggesting we wait for better solutions. They are spewing lies, muddying the waters, and playing the WORST POLITICS imaginable with people's lives and livelihoods.

Until we make a firm stand, then our country is doomed. The economy will begin to spiral down further, and as more jobs are lost the business climate will crumble more. The government will lose its balance and then the worst will happen. The final political bubble will burst. The treasury will lose its ability to raise money and the Philippine economy will CRASH! The IMF and the rest of the world holding over 3 trillion Pesos in Philippine debt will have only one course of action: buy our country piece by piece. Unless we Filipinos change our ways in choosing good political leaders we will surely end up where we are headed. If we cannot reverse the ship of state on its collision course with disaster, then we – the ordinary citizens - are doomed to CRASH! Most of us will suffer, and the middle-class will be destroyed for good. We will be powerless.

The political leaders which caused the disaster will be fine. Remember, the rich always get richer. They'll make their money anyway possible - as they always do - while Filipinos slowly heals over decades from its deep wound. Once crashed, the causable political leaders will probably return to power, and do what they've always wanted to do. The result will be a dog eat dog nation again. Charity will be left to the poverty stricken mass sector, and millions of people will die. Only the strongest will survive. They are trying to return us to that very dark and ugly state, and they may succeed if we can't stop them. They got us to this point by spending us into oblivion, and now they're trying to say we can't be allowed to fix it but them.

I'm sorry to be so negative, but despite our "glass half full" national personality, everything described here is possible. Our only hope is that ordinary Filipinos who happen to be extremely affected by the down turn economy figure it out before it's too late. Our tomorrows will depend on what we do today. You don’t stay the course on a horse that’s going the wrong way!

These political leaders will aspire for an elective position of their choice in 2010 Elections. It runs on very strong and easy-to-find fuel - greed, money and power. They will do their best to lie, cheat and steal until we stop them. They will also continue to soak us in their own crap. When you think about it, it's the only way they can live with themselves. So, they and their ilk will continue to run amok unless we can stop them. We need to fight hard to shut down their access to greed, money and power. Slowing access to the fuel that feeds is always a good solution.

THEY BOW AND VOW TO BIND THEMSELVES TOGETHER FOR LIFE AND DEATH

2009-09-10T03:08:00.000-07:00

In this period of great distress we have to take note at this moment that the disease of our country is the ungracious attitude of both the appointive and elective high ranking public officials. Our country is in the condition of a human body in a state of suspended animation—the heart still beats—the principle of vitality is unextinguished—but the active functions of life are suspended. We the people is the government and we must breathe the breath of confidence into it that it will be at once resuscitated.

This is an urgent call that the people is placed and should be the pressing and paramount object to which the attention of every patriotic citizen ought to be directed. Government officials are paid by the people obtained through taxes which in a practical sense, as additional premium of whatever is worn, drank or eaten. The people do not pay these public officials to use their position to commit corruption, oppression, money laundering, over-spending of public funds, exploitation for personal gain, etc.

This is a state of things which the people do not wish to see perpetuated. It is contrary to the genius and fundamental principles of our Republican system. Of all schemes of policy we can conceive, that which proposes a permanent distinction between the public officials and the people in their pecuniary interests—one acting like a King, and the other, the people treated without any respect as if a slave—such a system of discrimination is, to our mind, of all others, the most injurious and revolting in principle, the most heartless in character, and the most despotic in its tendencies.

It is like quartering the public officials as Lords in a pedestal on the heart of our country possessing a large sum of money lying idle in their hands as they suffocate the people with all that crisis of suffering and alarm only they had created. You-entrench it behind a frowning fortification—surround it with battlements, and lay the country, far and near, under contribution for the support of this garrison of office-holders. Desolation and oppression are without, while the tenants of the citadel are reveling in luxury and profusion within.

We are not willing, for one, to see the government which we formed and established placed in this anti-social, if not belligerent, attitude towards the sovereign people. We are not willing that these abusive public officials should exhibit such a spectacle of inequality and oppression on us, their master, and they, the servants, not the other way around as their corrupted and sin-blinded minds are leading us to confusion. It is about time we anchor their tragic souls firmly in their right places. We are afraid to make them mad so we temper our words by calling these blatant liars nice polite things as Honourables. This time the people must assert and insist for these abusive public officials to cease and desist, effective immediately, from committing acts and assuming powers outside the mandate of the law.

It actually has deep-rooted sociological underpinnings that many public officials lust for power because it is the passport to the land flowing with milk and honey; that whatever they desire, all that is needed is just say the magic word “open sesame” and all the earthly comfort and riches will be spreading abundantly in an instant over them. That is why; they cannot see their life without it.

They must cling to it though hell should bar the way. They have begun this way so they must never try to live any other way. They bow and vow to bind themselves together for life and death that everything in turquoise green, greener than the deepest sea they had widely scooped over time, manifesting their bestial taste, must never fly away.

Since we do not resist, the urge of these public officials to abuse power had reduced us into hobbists and the ability to resist becomes exceedingly difficult. We are only waiting for this moment to arrive, it’s now or never that we must rely and count on ourselves to stand up and assert our sovereignty. They got their weapons, they have the law, they got the judge’s on their side, but we got the might and we are right.

And as the light of dawn always comes right after the deepest darkness, one glorious day we will reign and get back everything they got. Until we steer our destiny with glory to save ourselves, these senseless glutton will continue to imprison us, destroying anyone who speaks against their ambitions.

Whether we are not, in time, to have here a swarm of official locusts yet, that will bear a corresponding proportion that could eventually darken and devour our nation, may depend upon the action taken now and then. This sentiment being expressed is but the grain of mustard seed, the least of all seeds, but when it is grown, it will be a large tree, overspreading the land with its boughs, so that the fowls of the air, the birds of prey, will come and lodge in the branches thereof.

We and our families deserve a great life. This may be the time to take action and do something for our future by taking either baby steps or giant steps. But no matter what size steps we take, the important thing is to perspicaciously start taking action. Nothing happens until something moves. Let’s made up our minds, that if it was to be, it was up for us to see. A system that promotes leaders quickly as necessary and destroys leaders who retain power for power's sake is what I want.