What more to expect in the Philippine Daily Inquirer

(In response to PDI's Editorial, October 26, 2009)

With the recent declaration of President Joseph “Erap” Estrada’s candidacy in the 2010 presidential elections, and with the Inquirer’s casual return to its tirade machine against the former President, one can’t help but expect which editorials will be published in this daily broadsheet for the next few months.

Initially, we expect the attacks will continue against President Erap’s image as corrupt, a murderer, a thief, and a gambler. The Inquirer proudly branded President Erap these images for the past 12 years. And it was not solely Erap who the paper set an attack dog against; the Inquirer too positioned a bunch of character attacks to the ex-chief executive’s friend, Fernando Poe, Jr. back in 2004.

Next would be the discreet mode of the Inquirer towards the Arroyo government, on which the paper was rumored to have conspired with to help depose President Erap in 2001. President Erap does not avenge as he did what’s best during the advertisement ban on the Inquirer back in 1999. He sat down and talked to each of the editors of the broadsheet. This memory should remain as a reminder for the Inquirer to maintain its fearless views along with fairness, accuracy and balance in the news stories they publish.

But ultimately, we expect more demolition job against our beloved President Erap in the upcoming days. Demolition write-ups, like this editorial, are obviously a series of effort to destroy the already crippled image of the former President. Why did the paper question President Corazon Aguino’s apology to President Erap for participating in the 2001 coup d’etat? It seems like President Erap can do nothing good. Could this be the editors’ way to show they are afraid of President Erap’s comeback in politics? We highly doubt that even all of their writers in PDI are anti-Erap.

Likewise, the huge turnout of the crowd in Tondo manifests how the masses still seek President Erap’s leadership. This, we must say, was another thing the Inquirer disregarded, as they decided to opine in another editorial that President Erap’s declaration was untimely due to the country’s reeling from the effects of the typhoons and that President Erap thinks the coming elections is all about him. Senator Loren Legarda announced her bid for VP also just recently, and yet it was only President Erap who was singled out to be criticized by the Inquirer. Those editorials only continue to prove that the anti-Erap forces are back to pull him down.

Yet why would the Inquirer bother demonizing President Erap if he really has no chance in winning the 2010 presidential elections? Is this a slip from the Inquirer editors that out of their overwhelming opposition against President Erap’s candidacy, emotions gave away in their editorials that they consider the former president a formidable and winnable candidate?

Our only unsolicited advice to the editors of PDI is to let them sit back, relax and observe how President Erap delivers his platforms to the Filipino people. Because maybe through deep reflection, the Inquirer editors someday may recognize President Erap’s good will and plans for our country.

Lloyd Ian Zaragoza, MyERAP National Chairman
Joseph Ginno Jaralve, MyERAP National Spokesperson

A Man Called ERAP

I submit, Joseph Ejercito – Estrada is the best choice for President for 2010 among the crop of aspirants for the presidency.

Erap as he is fondly called is the most experienced of all the probable candidates. Seventeen years as mayor; five years as senator; six years as Vice President and Cabinet member and 2 ½ years as President. This amounts to a total of 30 and half years of executive and legislative experience.

He is the only candidate who had the distinct privilege of serving as President of the Republic. His 2 ½ year stint as President will eliminate the learning curve that comes with those who are new to the job. This would ensure that Erap will be ready as President from Day One together with his Cabinet who are experts in their own field and were never tainted with anomalies.

He continues to retain the trust of his countrymen, as is proven in surveys, and even in elections despite the issues hurled against him. His political endorsement is constantly being sought by various politicians, his wife and sons were elected into different public offices. The level of trust by the people is something that is necessary to get people’s confidence in and cooperation with his administration.

Erap has proven his mantle of leadership. He has displayed his leadership prowess when as Mayor, he transformed the Municipality of San Juan into a buzzing suburban, when as a Senator, he stood his ground and voted against the US Bases in 1991, when as Vice President and Chairman of the Presidential Anti Crime Commission, he restored peace and order with the eradication of kidnapping and criminality and instilled discipline among judges and policemen, when as President, he rejected sovereign guarantees in government dealings.

He has remained transparent to the Filipino people even to the extent of his very private life.

I submit, that the foregoing attest the mantle by a true public servant, a true leader. A man called Erap.

RELOAD HOPE...RESTORE DIGNITY

Acting on an invitation from MyERAP Davao Chapter, I flew to Davao City to attend and witness their MyERAP launching in Davao.

It was my first time in Davao City.

The Davao experience filled me with much enthusiasm and excitement.

Davao is so nice and clean. Davao City is a testament of true leadership and progress.

I was also surprised to see almost a hundred student leaders declaring support for President Erap for the 2010 Presidential Elections. The outpouring of support for President Erap negates public perception that President Erap is not an acceptable candidate by the youth or students. The student leaders took turns expressing their support for President Erap. Some were in fact crying, while others teary eyed as they narrate their reactions upon viewing the bio-film of President Erap entitled, “Destiny.”

The students narrated that they were inspired by MyERAP and the activities that the group has undertaken since its inception. The students joined MyERAP and vowed to actively promote its cause. They themselves bonded to form MyERAP Davao Chapters in their own respective schools.

The formation of MyERAP Davao Chapters is a refreshing scenario. I am so glad that as a core organizer/founder of MyERAP, I have become an agent in awakening the spirit of the youth to take an active part in nation building.

Long live MyERAP, long live the Filipino youth!

The time has come to RELOAD HOPE and RESTORE DIGNITY!

Now Showing: Transformers

As I watched the movie, Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen during its opening day, I could not help but to notice some catchy quotes and parallelisms in our country today.

The Fallen could be attributed to no less than Gloria Arroyo herself who is surrounded by her own Decepticons, her ever loyal members of the House of Representatives.

To the Fallen and her loyal Decepticons, may you be reminded that Leadership is not found, rather it is earned. Certainly, you have not earned our trust to lead the nation. Your suspicious actions to amend the Constitution have given us enough reason not to put our trust on you to hold the might reigns of power. This goes without mentioning your ascension to the presidency in 2001 by a conspired military coup and your 2004 “victory” which could be attributed to Mr. Garci.

Certainly, the Fallen and the Decepticons will face defeat despite their devious Con-Ass moves as the Filipino people, particularly the youth will continue to fight against their evil ways and continue believing that GMA must never be allowed to stay beyond the end of her term in 2010.

Undoubtedly, GMA and her allies have picked the wrong generation. The transformers are here.

Con-Ass Reps

Below is the list of our Con-Ass Reps.
Now we know whom to vote for in 2010 if elections will push through and the Constitution will not be changed through Con-Ass mode.

According to the blogsite Filipino Voices, the representatives who signed House Resolution 1109 are:

Bienvenido Abante, Manila; Roque Ablan Jr., Ilocos Norte; Victor Aguedo Agbayani, Pangasinan; Manuel Ayago, Kalinga; Rodolfo Albano 3rd, Isabela; Felix Alfelor Jr., Camarines Sur; Thelma Almario, Davao Oriental; Antonio Alvarez, Palawan; Genaro Rafael Alvarez Jr., Negros Occidental; Edelmiro Amante, Agusan del Norte;

Rommel Amatong, Compostela Valley; Ma. Zenaida Angping, Manila; Rodolfo Antonino, Nueva Ecija; Trinidad Apostol, Leyte; Jose Aquino, Agusan del Norte; Ma. Evita Arago, Laguna; A. Munir Arbison, Sulu; Ma. Rachel Arenas, Pangasinan; Diosdado Arroyo, Camarines Sur; Ignacio Arroyo, Negros Occidental; Juan Miguel Arroyo, Pampanga;

Amado Bagatsing, Manila; Pangalian M. Balindong, Lanao del Sur; Elpidio Barzaga Jr., Cavite; Franklin Bautista, Davao del Sur; Vicente Belmonte Jr., Lanao del Norte; Al Francis Bichara, Albay; Ferjenel Biron, Iloilo; Anna York Bondoc, Pampanga; Ma. Theresa Bonoan-David, Manila; Narciso Bravo Jr., Masbate;

Nicanor Briones, Agap party list; Eileen Ermita Buhain, Batangas; Elias Bulut Jr., Apayao; Marc Douglas Cagas 4th, Davao del Sur; Mary Mitzi Cajayon, Caloocan; Roberto Cajes, Bohol; Carmen Cari, Leyte; Fredenil Castro, Capiz; Arthur Celeste, Pangasinan; Antonio Cerilles, Zamboanga del Sur; Edgardo Chatto, Bohol;

Glenn Chong, Biliran; Solomon Chunga-Lao, Ifugao; Marina Clarete, Misamis Occidental; Eufrocino Codilla, Leyte; Mark Cojuangco, Pangasinan; Teodulo Coquilla, Eastern Samar; Vincent Crisologo, Quezon City; Junie Cue, Quirino; Antonio Cuenco, Cebu City; Samuel Dangwa, Benguet; Simeon Datumanong, Maguindanao;

Nelson Dayanghirang, Davao Oriental; Nanette Daza, Quezon City; Paul Daza, Northern Samar; Del de Guzman, Marikina; Arthur Defensor Sr., Iloilo; Matias Defensor Jr., Quezon City; Raul del Mar, Cebu City; Carlo Oliver Diasnes, Batanes; Abdullah Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte; Mauricio Domogan, Baguio; Michael John Duavit, Rizal;

Henry Dueñas Jr., Taguig; Faysah MRP Dumarpa, Lanao del Sur; Thomas Dumpit Jr., La Union; Ramon Durano IV, Cebu; Glenda Ecleo, Dinagat Islands; Yevgeny Vicente Emano, Misamis Oriental; Wilfrifo Mark Enverga, Quezon; Conrado Estrella III, Pangasinan; Robert Raymund Estrella, Abono party list;

Jeffrey Ferrer, Negros Occidental; Florencio Garay, Surigao del Sur; Albert Garcia, Bataan; Pablo John Garcia, Cebu; Pablo Garcia, Cebu; Vincent Garcia, Davao City; Janette Garin, Iloilo; Rexlon Gatchalian, Valenzuela; Angelito Gatlabayan, Antipolo; Arnulfo Go, Sultan Kudarat; Aurelio Gonzales Jr., Pampanga;

Raul Gonzales Jr., Iloilo City; Eduardo Gullas, Cebu; Magtanggol Gunigundo, Valenzuela; Dulce Ann Hofer, Zamboanga Sibugay; Nur Jaafar, Tawi-Tawi; Adam Relson Jala, Bohol; Cesar Jalosjos, Zamboanga del Nrote; Cecilia Jalosjos-Carreon, Zamboanga del Nrote; Yusop Jikiri, Sulu;

Antonio Kho, Masbate; Rosen-do Labadlabad, Zamboanga del Nrote; Jose Carlos Lacson, Negros Occidental; Antonio Lagdameo, Davao del Norte; Jeci Lapus, Tarlac; Carmelo Lazatin, Pam-panga; Reno Lim, Albay; Jaime Lopez, Manila; Eleanora Jesus Madrona, Romblon; Ma. Milagros Magsaysay, Zambales; Oscar Malapitan, Caloocan;

Manuel Mamba, Cagayan; Datu Pakung Mangudadatu, Sultan Kudarat; Alfredo Marano III, Negros Occidental; Francisco Matugas, Surigao del Norte; Mark Leandro Mendoza, Batangas; Roger Mercado, Southern Leyte; Florencio Miraflores, Aklan; Joaquin C. R. Navas, Guimaras; Reylina Nicolas, Bulacan;

Prospero Nograles, Davao City; Arrel Olaños, Davao del Nrote; Emil Ong, Northern Samar; Victor Francisco Ortega, La Union; Ernesto Pablo, APEC party list; Pedro Pancho, Bulacan; Candido Pancrudo, Bukidnon; Philip Pichay, Surigao del Sur; Bernado Piñol Jr., North Cotabato; Roberto Puno, Antipolo;

Herminia Ramiro, Misamis Occidental; Jesus Crispin Remulla, Cavite; Carmelita Reyes, Marinduque; Victoria Reyes, Batangas; Arturo Robes, San Jose del Monte; Adelina Rodriguez-Zaldarriaga, Rizal; Herminia Roman, Bataan; Guillermo Romarate Jr., Surigao del Norte; Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Leyte;

Pedro Romualdo, Camiguin; Roman Romulo, Pasig; Jose Antonio Roxas, Pasay; Benhur Salimbangon, Cebu; Andres Salvacion Jr., Leyte; Edgar San Luis, Laguna; Alvin Sandoval, Malabon-Navotas; Joseph Santiago, Catanduanes; Narciso Santiago III, ARC party list; Rizalina Seachon-Lanete, Masbate; Cecilia Seares-Luna, Abra;

Lorna Silverio, Bulacan; Eric Singson, Ilocos Sur; Ronald Singson, Ilocos Sur; Jose Solis, Sorsogon; Nerissa Corazon Soon-Ruiz, Cebu; Danilo Suarez, Quezon; Mary Ann Susano, Quezon City; Ma. Victoria Sy-Alvarado, Bulacan; Judy Syjuco, Iloilo; Emmylou Talino-Mendoza; Sharee Ann Tan, Samar;

Marcelino Teodoro, Marikina; Monica Louise Teodoro, Tarlac; Pryde Henry Teves, Negros Oriental; Neil Tupas, Iloilo; Isidro Ungab, Davao City; Edwin Uy, Isabela; Reynaldo Uy, Samar; Rolando Uy, Cagayan de Oro; Edgar Valdez, APEC party list; Rodolfo Valencia, Oriental Mindoro; Florencio Vargas, Oriental Mindoro;

Florencio Vargas, Cagayan; Luis Villafuerte, Camarines Sur; Ma. Amelita Villarosa, Occidental Mindoro; Joseph Gilbert Violago, Nueva Ecija; Jose Yap, Tarlac; Victor Yu, Zamboanga del Sur; Manuel Zamora, Compostela Valley; and Eduardo Zialcita, Parañaque.

Goodbye Gloria

Barely a year from now, Filipinos are expected to vote for the next President of the Republic of the Philippines to succeed Gloria Macapagal – Arroyo. Despite this however, efforts to amend the Consitution and possibly extend President Arroyo’s term still persist in the House of Representatives.

The Charter Change initiatives keep me wondering, will GMA really step down? Will elections be held in 2010? Will we ever bid goodbye Gloria?

With this in mind, a youth group called Movement of the Youth for Empowerment, Reform, Advocacy and Progress recently launched a website to watch over the Arroyo administration and ensure that it will step down next year. The website can be accessed at http://www.goodbyegloria.com/.

www.goodbyegloria.com is a timely effort for us members of the youth to actively take part in ensuring change and influence policy change especially on issues related to good governance and youth welfare. This will set a good example of youth involvement in making a peaceful democratic transition by ensuring that the 2010 elections will be held and the present administration will step down next year.

Let us all take part in goodbyegloria.com. Visit the website. Join its online social network in Facebook and be counted together with the growing number of supporters of the GOODBYEGLORIA cause.

Goodbye Gloria in 2010.


Related Link:

http://www.goodbyegloria.com/
https://abs-cbnnews.com/video/05/13/09/groups-launch-countdowns-end-arroyos-term
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz9LD_mGZ-8
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tribune.net.ph%2Fheadlines%2F20090512hed6.html&h=3eb1529ea3f945b3a873bf6d7a34b8ef

Media Handlers in Play

The Pacquiao-Hatton fight was indeed a big hit! The fight not only drew millions of Filipino viewers but also politicians and their media handlers.

Anticipating the high density of viewers, the delayed broadcast in local television was frequented by advertisements of various products and kinds. Though quite distracting, the practice of flooding the airwaves is understandable given the commercial orientation of the media outfits broadcasting the highly anticipated event.

More distracting and annoying however is the “infomercials” of numerous government officials and government offices and agencies in an attempt to look good and acceptable to the Filipino electorate. Some even took the opportunity to launch their respective candidacies for national office. The timing is indeed a confirmation that election is drawing near and that media handlers are now again back in business and in play.

Equally disturbing is the question of funding for these infomercials both at its initial or preparatory stage and on its airing stage. I just hope that the funds did not come again from taxpayers’ money.

Congratulations to Manny Pacquiao in his victory. Congratulations too to the media outfits and handlers who both made enormous profits in the airing and conceptualization of these advertisements. Shame on the politicians who scrambled for media mileage to promote and/or launch their candidacies at the expense of taxpayers’ money.

Baka Makalusot

Try and try until you succeed.

This seems to be the underlying motto of the allies of President Arroyo in the House of Representatives in pushing for Charter Change. After the Villafuerte resolution failed to muster the threshold number to bypass the Senate into convening Congress as a Constituent Assembly, the loyal Arroyo foot soldiers in the House of Representatives led by House Speaker Prospero Nograles filed another resolution seeking to amend the Constitution in a manner in which an ordinary law is being passed.

The Nograles resolution is but a confirmation of the Arroyo allies’ desperation to keep President Gloria Arroyo in power even beyond 2010. The charter change move appears like the desperate dance of deviants who do not know their left from their right foot the way they don’t know their Constitution and could not feel the pulse of the people.

Loyal soldiers as they are, the allies of President Arroyo are pulling all strings and inventing all schemes to justify the unjustifiable, knowing fully well that in 2010 will ring the death knell that sounds their political doom.

But as we all say, “there is no harm in trying,” maybe our supposed representatives are hopeful “baka makalusot.”

Police on the Loose

Have our policemen gone mad?

This seems to be a fitting question in the light of the police’s decision to arrest Ted Failon, his in-laws and househelps for alleged obstruction of justice brought about by the tragedy of the shooting of Mr. Failon’s wife.

The police stormed the Failon’s residence and the hospital where his wife was being treated in an attempt to arrest him and other persons related to him. While the police’s swift action to investigate the alleged shooting is commendable, the action the police has resorted to is however despicable. The arrests conducted by the police were made with blatant disregard for the rights of the victim’s families, relatives and friends.

The police chose to ignore the pleas of the lawyers of the personalities involved that their legal rights ought to be respected. Instead, the police proceeded to effect the arrests without any warrants. Worst, the police arrested the relatives of Ted Failon’s wife at a time when the family was needed most by their dying kin.

A little act of mercy and respect should have been shown by the police as a gesture to commiserate with the plight of the family. Or perhaps, the police may have thought to get even with Ted Failon for his hard hitting stance against the police, the Arroyo administration, and his possible inclusion in the opposition senatorial ticket for the 2010 elections?

Whatever may have been their motivations, I hope that our police are reminded that ours is a government of laws and not of men. Respect for the rule of law must prevail, which necessarily includes respect for the rights of the accused.

Related Link:
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/feedback/04/19/09/police-loose-ted-failon-case

Katarungan at Katotohanan

Magkapatid ang katarungan at katotohan. Nakabatay ang ating pananaw sa kung ano ang makatarungan sa kung ano ang ating alam na totoo ukol sa isang sitwasyon. Sa kaso ng pamilya ni Ted Failon, ayon sa mga direktang pahayag nila sa midya, malinaw na ang isang bagay: para sa kanila, hindi na usapin ang katarungan para sa kanilang pumanaw na ina. Para sa kanila, malinaw na ang katotohanan sa sinapit ni Trina.

Ang usapin na ngayon para sa pamilya Failon ay ang katarungan para sa buong pamilya at para sa kanilang mga kasambahay bunsod ng di-makataong trato sa kanila ng mga dapat tinuturing pa naman na alagad ng batas at katarungan — ang ating mga pulis.

Kailanman, di makukuha at mapapalago ang katotohanan sa pamamahitan ng dahas at kawalan ng puso’t damdamin. Kung nais ng mga pulis na makuha ang katotohanan at katarungan mula sa sanlibo’t isang nakabinbin na mga kaso sa ating lipunan, ituwid nila ang kanilang mga sarili! Sa ginawa nilang pambabastos at pandarahas sa pamilya Failon at sa pinakita nilang kawalan ng puso sa isang pamilyang nagdadalamhati, pinalago lamang nila ang kawalan ng katarungan.

Bilang bahagi ng kabataan, nakikiisa ako sa panawagan ng anak ng pamilya Failon. Nais ko rin ng katotohanan sa usaping ito subalit hindi sa ngalan ng pagmamalabis at pandarahas. Dapat turuan ang mga pulis na ito. Ipatanggal sila sa puwesto!

Erap the Opposition Unifier

Over the past few days, President Erap has been quoted to have indicated his preference to have a single candidate running for President from the opposition side. Likewise, President Erap has remarked his willingness to help unite the opposition presidentiables to come up with a single candidate.

The effort of President Erap to unite the opposition for the 2010 elections is very laudable and deserves support from all sectors of society especially the 65% of our compatriots who has grown tired of the Arroyo administration.

I just hope that the presidential aspirants from the opposition will look beyond their own personal ambitions and find a common ground, that is, ensure an opposition victory in the 2010 elections, restore the Filipino people’s hope and dignity by putting an end to Gloria Arroyo’s “mis-governance”.

Indubitably, President Erap remains an essential figure in the formation of a strong and vibrant opposition for the 2010 elections. The former president who still holds a strong electoral command as reflected in various nationwide surveys and as validated in the 2007 elections in which his is much acknowledged leading figure of the Genuine Opposition during the 2007 Senatorial Elections. President Erap’s along with President Cory’s endorsement contributed in clobbering Arroyo’s anointed candidates for the Senate.

President Erap is indeed in the best position to take an active lead in the unification effort of the opposition. He has earned the moral authority to lead in the restoration of the Filipinos dignity and hope.

Related Link:

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=455699&publicationSubCategoryId=63

Lesson from Chip Tsao's Nation of Servants: A New Perspective

If there is one thing that Filipinos can pick up from Chip Tsao's article (The War at Home), I hope it would be Chip Tsao’s assertion of his country’s national pride.

Clearly, this is what is lacking in our country. We are content to proclaim Manny Pacquiao as our national pride every time he beats his opponents, or to praise Charice Pempengco’s sterling performances abroad. We need more than those! We need to do away with our superficial assertion of our country’s national pride.

Perhaps we need to take a cue from Chip Tsao himself -- let us start turning this country as a nation of servants - for good. There a lot of things we can do to serve this nation. But where do we begin? Maybe we can start by taking our role as citizens seriously. Young and old, we all have to do our share in the community.
We need not do grandiose things in order to serve our nation. In our own little yet meaningful ways we can do our nation a BIG favor.

Simple yet relevant ways such as demanding an official receipt when purchasing goods, gas, etc. in order to ensure that businesses will pay correct taxes and make necessary reports with the Bureau of Internal Revenue. Another is by registering and voting during elections. We can even go to the extent of helping put integrity in our election process by ensuring that our votes are not for sale and that they are counted and canvassed correctly.

Following simple traffic rules would help ease our already congested roads which in turn will generate savings in our fuel consumption. Standing still and singing the national anthem correctly and passionately whenever played even before the start of a film in a moviehouse is likewise a practical way of expressing our love for our nation. Above all, simply paying reverence to our national flag, historical landmarks, and other national symbols that shape our identity as Filipinos could help cultivate our national pride.

These are just some simple and relevant ways to show our service to the nation. For sure, we can think and do more for we rightfully deserve to be called FILIPINOS. – and we can proudly raise our heads among the nations of the world!

Indeed, this is the time to serve our nation. Now is the time to serve our nation right!


http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/feedback/04/02/09/lesson-chip-tsao

Nation of Servants

Below is the reprint of the controversial article that appeared in HongKong Magazine that drew the ire of many Filipinos.


The War at Home
By Chip Tsao

The Russians sank a Hong Kong freighter last month, killing the seven Chinese seamen onboard. We can live with that-—Lenin and Stalin were once the ideological mentors of all Chinese people. The Japanese planted a flag on Diàoyú Island. That's no big problem-—we Hong Kong Chinese love Japanese cartoons, Hello Kitty, and shopping in Shinjuku, let alone our round-the-clock obsession with karaoke. But hold on-—even the Filipinos? Manila has just claimed sovereignty over the scattered rocks in the South China Sea called the Spratly Islands, complete with a blatant threat from its congress to send gunboats to the South China Sea to defend the islands from China if necessary. This is beyond reproach. The reason: There are more than 130,000 Filipina maids working as HK$3,580-a-month cheap labor in Hong Kong. As a nation of servants, you don't flex your muscles at your master, from whom you earn most of your bread and butter.

As a patriotic Chinese man, the news has made my blood boil. I summoned Louisa, my domestic assistant who holds a degree in international politics from the University of Manila, hung a map on the wall, and gave her a harsh lecture. I sternly warned her that if she wants her wages increased next year, she had better tell everyone of her compatriots in Statue Square on Sunday that the entirety of the Spratly Islands belongs to China.

Grimly, I told her that if war breaks out between the Philippines and China, I would have to end her employment and send her straight home, because I would not risk the crime of treason for sponsoring an enemy of the state by paying her to wash my toilet and clean my windows 16 hours a day. With that money, she would pay taxes to her Government, and they would fund a navy to invade our motherland and deeply hurt my feelings.

Oh yes. The Government of the Philippines would certainly be wrong if they think we Chinese are prepared to swallow their insult and sit back and lose a Falkland Islands War in the Far East. They may have Barack Obama and the hawkish American military behind them, but we have a hostage in each of our homes in the Mid-Levels or higher. Some of my friends told me they have already declared a state of emergency at home. Their maids have been made to shout 'China, Madam/Sir' loudly whenever they hear the word "Spratly". They say the indoctrination is working as wonderfully as when we used to shout, "Long live Chairman Mao!" at the sight of a portrait of our Great Leader during the Cultural Revolution. I’m not sure if that's going a bit too far, at least for the time being.

Delicadeza & Cha-Cha

They are at it again.

After savoring their sweet victory in leading the pack of Arroyo allies in the Lower House in stripping Jose de Venecia of the Speakership portfolio, the President’s sons – Representatives Mikey and Dato Arroyo are now again leading the charge for the revision of the 1987 Constitution through a Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass).

The duo has been actively soliciting from fellow congressmen of their signatures for a resolution specifically calling for a Con-Ass. The House Resolution is said to be 20 signatures shy of reaching the perceived threshold to initiate Con-Ass without the Senate’s participation. One could only wonder what carrot tricks were dangled by the President’s sons to prompt our supposed “people’s representatives” to affix their signatures in the Resolution.

The Arroyos together with their allies have once again displayed their arrogance of power by their political maneuverings to suit their own personal interests – political survival. Indubitably, they have lost their sense of delicadeza.

As the biggest beneficiary if the Charter Change efforts will push through, the President has kept mum on the posturing of her sons. She has not taken efforts to remind her sons of the propriety of their actions. By her silence and inaction, she has effectively condoned their actions and confirmed speculations that she is really bent on having her term extended.

Perhaps, this lack of delicadeza runs deep in the family. No wonder they are insensitive to the plight of the Filipino people – they don’t want Arroyo any longer.

Ethical Journalism

I write this piece as I lament media’s handling of the Nicole rape case controversy. As media organizations broke the news that Nicole executed an affidavit expressing doubts on her own recollection of the incident involving Daniel Smith and her eventual decision to leave the country, one particular media organization opted to do it more sensationally than the others.

I refer to a known major broadsheet that unmasked Nicole by publishing her photo without any regard for her privacy and security. I do not want to impute any ill motives on the part of the publishers of said broadsheet for their distasteful decision to publish Nicole’s photo, the publication was simply a clear show of journalistic arrogance. While there may be nothing that compels media to “hide” alleged rape victims behind aliases or by digitally covering or altering their pictures, basic human sensitivity should remind us that the Philippines is a country where the stigma of being a rape victim forever haunts the reputation of the victim, especially a woman.

Many may have felt disheartened with Nicole’s abrupt pronouncements of her recollection of the traumatic incident, but it is not a justification to trample upon a person’s cherished dignity and privacy, especially that of the supposed victim. Nicole may or may not be a victim of rape, depending on how our judicial system will adjudge her at the end of the legal process that examined her case. But one thing is now certain, she is the victim of irresponsible journalism.

Whatever reservations we have regarding the motives and decisions of Nicole to leave the country and abandon her crusade, we ought to give her the benefit of the doubt. For after all, she is still a woman, a human being, a Filipino, to whom we must give our respect for the choices she has made – rightly or wrongly, for we live in a democracy where individual freedom reigns within the bounds of the law.

Welcome to Lloyd's Kaleidoscope

Let me start by posting the lyrics of Kaleidoscope World as a tribute to the late master rapper, Francis Magalona. A nationalist music icon that inspired and moved the youth thru his brand of music.

Kaleidoscope World

So many faces, so many races
Different voices, different choices
Some are mad, while others laugh
Some live alone with no better half
Others grieve while others curse
And others mourn behind a big black hearse
Some are pure and some half-bred
Some are sober and some are wasted
Some are rich because of fate and
Some are poor with no food on their plate
Some stand out while others blend
Some are fat and stout while some are thin
Some are friends and some are foes
Some have some while some have most

Every color and every hue
Is represented by me and you
Take a slide in the slope
Take a look in the kaleidoscope
Spinnin' round, make it twirl
In this kaleidoscope world

Some are great and some are few
Others lie while some tell the truth
Some say poems and some do sing
Others sing through their guitar strings
Some know it all while some act dumb
Let the bassline strum to the bang of the drum
Some can swim while some will sink
And some will find their minds and think
Others walk while others run
You can't talk peace and have a gun
Some are hurt and start to cry
Don't ask me how don't ask me why
Some are friends and some are foes
Some have some while some have most

Every color and every hue
Is represented by me and you
Take a slide in the slope
Take a look in the kaleidoscope
Spinnin' round, make it twirl
In this kaleidoscope world