“To Infinity and Beyond!”

Most people today are either celebrating Valentine’s Day or being a jerk thinking about how pathetic their being single is. Or having a genital wars in some branch of Sogo (So clean, So good). I was suppose to write something about Valentine’s Day today but because of the gloomy weather, nothing special, extraordinary, or Valentine-related stuff happened to me the whole day. And it’s too mainstream. So I decided to write about another significant event of today:

Manong Johnny Enrile’s 88th birthday. Yes, eighty-eight. Double infinity as some would say.

Back when I was a young little kid, I see to it that I always watch the evening news with my parents/ grandparents. Through that, I became familiar with current events and the different personalities from politics, sports, and entertainment. I may have not memorized all of the politician’s names but there is always one who I always remember - Enrile. Juan Ponce Enrile.

As I grow older and into maturity (hopefully), I indulged myself more in the matters of history, politics, society, government, and current events. And  I can still hear Manong Johny Enrile’s name every now and then. He is always there. Or should I say, he must be always there.

Time passed by and as we both grow older - me in my late teenage years and he, in his seemingly emergence into immortality - I got to know him more by reading history and news stuff related to his life. And he became one of my favorite law makers.

Perhaps he is best known to this generation as the Senator who wishes us to be happy. His “Gusto Ko Happy Ka” (I want you to be happy) campaign slogan in the 2010 elections made him won the hearts of the youth and the generation who were not yet born during the dark ages of our history - where he also played an important role.

I have been reading Manong Johnny Enrile-related news items the whole evening on the internet and I came across this article fromInteraksyon.com that summarizes the man’s legacy:

Juan Ponce Enrile has seen, in 88 full years, the highs and lows, the tragedies and triumphs, countless political seasons, of the country. He not only lived through most of them, but also at every turn played a key role. The remarkable journey made his birthday, at the helm of a historic trial, so much more pregnant with meaning. Having been born in on the day of hearts, it seemed fitting he remained, eight decades after, still very much at home in the heart of history.

Eighty-eight years. For some, it is the age of retirement. A time to spend your last remaining years on this planet with your loved ones. And a bonus age for most of us. but Manong Johnny Enrile just keeps on going and it looks like he has no plan to stop as long as he is able to do his duty. He is the perfect example of the Filipino saying about being hrdworking, ‘Kalabaw lang ang tumatanda’.

Eighty-eight years. One is considered an immortal if his works and legacy continue to inspire and move others even after his death. But Manong is still alive and is continuously doing things for the future of this country.

Eighty-eight years. Just like his birthday wish, I wish him stamina to perform his duties well. Will he live until the 2016 elections and be our next leader? What’s wrong with a 92-year old leader?

Isa kang alamat Manong Johnny. Maligayang ika-walumpu’t walong kaarawan! At sa puntong ito, gusto ko, happy ka!

Photo Above: Senate President and presiding officer Juan Ponce Enrile is amused as Senate reporters present him with a cake with a miniature image of the impeachment court on his 88th birthday on Tuesday, before the start of the impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice Renato Corona. (via ABS-CBNnews.com)

Elsewhere:

• “I Sense a Disturbance in The Force” - I always remember Manong Johnny whenever I see this villain from Star Wars. Seriously.


• Manong Johnny Enrile’s Biography - Taken from his official website. This will take us back to the prehistoric times during the age of the dinosaurs. (Kidding!)


• JPE at 88: At Home in the Heart of History

What’s wrong with this photo?

Take a closer look at the photo above. You will see a man wearing a blue polo browsing (and allegedly buying) over a stash of pirated DVDs.

So what's wrong? Almost everyone of us are guilty of this act. I am sure that most of us have visited our suking manong dibidi to look for and buy copies of our favorite TV Shows, movies, concerts, and albums (before the advent of torrents, I presume). Though we all know piracy is the cause of the loss of profit of the music and movie industry, most of us still patronize this cheaper and alternative way of entertainment.

Going back to the photo, take a look again. Do you recognize that man? Just a few months ago, he was at the headlines of broadsheets and news programs after his Mistubishi Montero, then being used by two of his security aides, figured in an accident on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City—and yielded a Czech-made CZ-858 Tactical semiautomatic assault rifle in the ensuing police investigation(source).

The man above is Rolando Llamas, Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs. Yes my dear reader, he is a member of President Noynoy Aquino's Cabinet. The report says that he bought Php 2,000 worth of Pirated DVDs at Circle C Mall in Congressional Avenue, Quezon City, on Monday night.

A government official, who is suppose to lead the people on the campaign against piracy (don't give me an excuse that piracy is not your Department's work), is seen buying pirated stuff. Classic.

I am not saying that Mister Llamas should be condemned for buying pirated DVDs (the law, unfortunately, has no provision to penalize the buyer). And we still have to listen at Mister Llamas' side whether he actually purchased pirated DVDs or not. But I believe in leadership by example, he should have avoided that place - or doing that act - in the first place.

What would Noynoy Aquino do? Will he reprimand, or sack, his political adviser? But Roland Llamas is also one of the shooting buddies of the President.

So much for the daang matuwid.

Read more here: Aquino's Man no Poster Boy for Anti-Piracy Drive

25 Years Later

Yesterday, January 22, 2012, marked the 25th year of the gruesome Mendiola Massacre, an incident that happened in Mendiola on January 22, 1987 in which Government security forces violently dispersed a farmers’ protest march to Malacañan Palace.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="A wounded protester is helped by a peasant activist after the shooting broke out. Ramon Acasio"][/caption]

Pardon me for this late post. Aside from being busy yesterday because of my class, the major broadsheets yesterday did not put the commemoration of the massacre in their front page. Instead, I saw items about the Impeacment Trial, the Roman-Shalai wedding, Chinese New Year, and more impeachment brouhahas.

Or maybe because they are biased for President Noynoy Aquino and they do not want to talk about it. It would be remembered that the incumbent President’s mother, Cory Aquino, was the President during that time. (Well, this is just me with my crazy imagination. I will just leave it there.) Moving on..

Aside from the Maguindanao Massacre, I consider the Mendiola Massacre as an event that should not be forgotten or slip past our consciousness. If we saw slain journalists in Maguindanao, we have helpless peasants and farmers in Mendiola.

Peasants and farmers have a special place in my heart,. I lived with some of them during my formation years in College. And since the advent of my awakening, I have always supported the cause of the poor and the oppressed for justice, freedom, and ownership. You may not see me with a banner or a raised fist in the streets but I believe that there are other ways to support their cause other than protests and rallies.

Landless farmers. Feudalism has long been gone in Europe but it is still practiced in some parts of our country up to this day. The Agrarian Reform programs of the Government appears to be a failure. The problems of the landless farmers still haunt our country and I don’t see a beacon of hope that will signal its end. (Well, the Hacienda Luisita has been granted to the farmers - in a decision and not in reality - but there are still other lands that are yet to be distributed. Hopefully.)

Twenty-five years ago, a massacre happened near Malacañang, a bloody result of the fight of the farmers for land ownership and social justice. And twenty-five years later, justice is still nowhere in sight.

Will it happen on the term of the son of the President during the massacre? Is justice for the landless farmers included in the promised daang matuwid? I don’t know. I think they are still busy hunting the previous administration and her allies.

I want to see a new day where there will be no more landless farmers, no more greedy landowners, and no more social injustice brought by land ownership disputes.

And no more state-sponsored killing spree for these individuals.

Yesterday was the 25th anniversary of the Mendiola Massacre. Never forget. Never again.

Elsewhere:

• Mendiola Massacre slide show: 24 frames from 25 years ago - One gunshot sparked two parties to start shooting across Mendiola while rallyists ran for cover on January 22, 1987: the military with their firearms, and the photographers with their cameras. Photographers Ramon Acasio and Luis Liwanag captured these photos from the fateful day that saw 13 lives lost and more injured from the group of farmers and their supporters advocating “genuine land reform.”


• Mendiola Massacre: Survivor recounts horror 25 years later - Shot between the eyes and declared brain dead, Bong Manlulu was not expected to come out alive from the Mendiola Massacre on January 22, 1987.


• 25 years after, justice for Mendiola Massacre victims still nowhere in sight


• Lusisita Farmers commemorate 25th year of Mendiola Massacre today

Do You Still Give a Damn?

This day marks the 26th month of the infamous Ampatuan Massacre, a horrible event in our history where 58 people were killed, 34 of whom were journalists or working for the broadcast industry. But do you still care?



A few days ago, I wrote about the eleventh anniversary of EDSA Dos and why do people seem not to give a damn to throw a celebration. I assumed that people tend to forget it because it was a considered a nightmare, a dark part of of our history that should be forgotten and never be repeated again. It has transformed into a collective repressed memory for the Filipino people.

Repressed memory is a hypothetical concept used to describe a significant memory, usually traumatic ones, that has become unavailable for recall. It is also called motivated forgetting wherein the subject blocks painful or traumatic events in one’s life.

This massacre is undoubtedly one of the most horrible events in our history and democracy. Fifty-eight people were killed in an election-related violence, thirty-four of whom were people working for the broadcast industry in a country where there is supposed to be a freedom of the press.

This is an event so painful and traumatic that it could become a collective repressed memory for the family’s victims and Filipinos. But should it be?

No!

Unlike EDSA Dos where nobody seems to give a damn to throw a celebration and/or memorial every year (for obvious reasons, I believe), this one should be different.

Most of us may have forgotten this horrible event in our history. This issue may have been overshadowed by the recent issues in our country.

But by letting this event just pass us by our consciousness, it will appear that we are condoning the perpetrators of this crime. Or depriving justice to the victims and their families. Or killing the fifty-eight victims repeatedly. Or allowing the culture of impunity in our country.

Impunity. Kawalang pakundangan. It’s like saying “Go ahead, kill everyone who are against your plans! Shoot the story tellers! We allow murder in our country! No one is punished by the way.”

We don’t want it that way, right? So what can we do as an ordinary citizen?

Never forget. Let us always put the Ampatuan massacre into consciousness. One way of doing it is to post something about it every 23rd of the month for everyone to see (on Facebook, Twitter, and in your blogs). This will help those who have forgotten to remember.

Be an educated and wise voter. The Ampatuan massacre is an election-related violence which involves (an alleged) private army. Choose your leaders wisely. Do not be swayed by their goods during the campaign season.

Be vigilant. Stay on guard, be watchful. Let us be our brother’s keeper. And let us keep an eye on the proceedings of the trial (even if it takes 55,000 years, according to Atty. Harry Roque).

Let us offer a minute of silence to remember the victims of the massacre. And ask God - or the Cosmos or some Force, depending on your belief - that this would never happen again.

Justice for the Victims of the Ampatuan Massacre. Never Forget. Never again.

Elsewhere:

On the Maguindanao massacre, impunity and the role of media in a supposed democracy (by ellobofilipino) - Last November, during the second anniversary of the massacre, I asked what if there were no members of the media involved in the massacre, would the impact be the same? This is Sir Kim’s take on the issue.
End Impunity. Remember Ampatuan. - TV-5/Interaksyon.com’s comprehensive page about the Ampatuan Massacre. (Two thumbs up for continuously updating this page.)

EDSA Dos: A Historical Repression

Today is the eleventh anniversary of the conspiracy that ousted Former President Joseph Estrada from Malacañan Palace and put Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the helm of power in January 2001. We commonly know it by the name of EDSA Dos. And no one seems to give a damn to throw a celebration.

 



 

I have been observing the internet (Twitter, Facebook, and news websites) the whole day and no one posted a stuff about the day that changed our Political history. I searched the word “EDSA” on Twitter earlier and I only saw less than 10 tweets (mine included) about EDSA dos (The results are mostly MMDA’s traffic update on EDSA.).

How come nobody commemorated the events that happened eleven years ago at EDSA Shrine? Maybe because we are too busy talking about Chief Justice Renato Corona’s impeachment trial. Maybe because some of us chose to watch the filming of Bourne Legacy in Manila. Or too excited for Katy Perry’s concert. Or too busy watching the season premiere of American Idol and the finale of My Binondo Girl.

Or is it because EDSA Dos is considered a nightmare, a dark part of our history that should be forgotten and should never be repeated again? Maybe yes.

Where were you eleven years ago?

I was eleven years old then, a graduating student in Elementary. The last days of the impeachment trial and the mass protest in EDSA Shrine coincided with our third quarterly exams. Prior to that, whenever I go home early from school, I see to it that I watch the impeachment trial. I can still remember how my classmates and I would horse around, imitating the Chief Justice, the Prosecution, and the Defense Panel. The words Objection your honor, overruled, and sustained became a part of our daily conversation.

I remember watching the controversial voting whether to open the second envelope or not with my father. I can still recall how Senators Pimentel and Drilon hugged each other and in tears, how Senator Legarda wept, how Chief Justice Davide removed his judicial robe, how the Prosecution panel resigned and walked out in disgust, and how the aunt of our current President, Senator Tessie Aquino-Oreta danced a la dougie in jubilation. Minutes after the controversial decision, the streets are filled with protesters, the car owners are blowing their horns, and the members of the crowd in EDSA Shrine, increased in number.

The next day, I remember my father putting up a printout of JOE’S COHORTS in the windshield of our car as a sign of protest. It is a mnemonic of the Senators who opposed the opening of the second envelope - Jaworski, Oreta, Enrile, Santiago, Coseteng, Osemeña, Honasan, Ople, Revilla, Tatad.

Text messaging is a new technology then (There were no unlimited text and calls promos though) and it also helped to spread the message to gather in EDSA Shrine and force the President to step down from office. As expected, ERAP jokes became rampant to taunt President Estrada. The Senators who opposed the opening of the second envelope were also not spared from taunts and heckling. Some of the famous lines then which I can still remember are Tadtarin si Tatad!, Oreta Dancing Queen!, and  Ninoy Aquino’s photo with the lines ‘My sister is not worth dying for’.

The protest to became festive with artists and bands performing at the stage and with the presence of, uhm, some artistas. (The most memorable personality then was President Estrada’s friend, Nora Aunor, who joined the crown on calling him to resign. But if there is one song which I can associate with the protest, it would be Sam the Sham and the Paraoh’s ‘Wooly Bully’ which the protesters sang as ‘Huling-huli! Si Erap! Huling-huli!

Though I was not present with the protesters during that time, for obvious reasons, I made myself updated by constantly tuning in to news programs on television. And some of the memories were still vivid because when I was in high School, my tambayan is our library and I have repeatedly read this coffee table book:

 



 

The President was ousted eleven years ago today and his Vice President succeeded him - with the help of the high-ranking military officials, political and business elites, and the Catholic Church led by Jaime Cardinal Sin. Conspiracy, as they say, to oust the President extra-constitutionally, a de facto coup that led to the  proclamation of Gloria Arroyo.

In the later months and years, Erap would be arrested, EDSA tres would happen, Erap would come out saying he was forced to sign a resignation paper during the height of EDSA Dos, and Gloria Arroyo would become the infamous President that we know today.

Is EDSA Dos a historical success? No. Did it play an important part in history? Maybe, but what we learned more are lessons for the future of our country.

A contemporary Filipino writer who goes by the pen name Bob Ong, wrote something about EDSA Dos in his book Stainless Longganisa. He compared the protest in EDSA to drinking antibiotics to cure a disease.

He wrote that it is wrong to immediately go to the street to call for the resignation of a leader - or to immediately drink antibiotic without first consulting the doctor. Time will come that the bacteria would become immune to antibiotics and it would be more difficult to cure the disease. Just like the cancer of our society, the more we use the usual way of cure, that is, to march in the streets and call for change, time might come that the usual way will no longer work for us. And worse, during the time when we really need change.

Many of the prominent personas involved during the EDSA Dos have already expressed their regret on being a part of that event. And maybe, most of the participants in EDSA and in key cities of the country who helped, in a way, put Gloria Arroyo into power in 2001 did the same.

It is said that we cannot change history, and that there are no ifs in it. But we can always carve the future of our country. May the lessons of the events of yesteryears be a guide on making a better future for our country.

Today is the eleventh anniversary of EDSA Dos. Did it already become a repressed memory? Do you still give a damn about it?

Today is the eleventh anniversary of the EDSA Dos. And no one seems to gives a damn to throw a celebration. And I don’t think the woman who replaced Joseph Estrada, who is now detained at the Presidential Suite of Veteran’s Memorial Medical Center, is celebrating either.

Elsewhere:

• When Last the Military Withrew Support (2006) - Dean Jorge Bocobo’s (and Amando Doronilla’s) commentary and chronology of events of the EDSA Dos. Some of the details here are unknown to me until now. This is a must read.


• The Stupidity of EDSA 2 People Power Gulbles Relived (2008)


• ‘Never Again’, says girl holding Bible at Arroyo oath-taking - Remember the girl who held the Bible during Arroyo’s oath-taking in 2001? (This is a thread of comments. Please refer to the post of ‘dokdok’.)

The Battle for Renato’s Corona

Today, we make history.

After former President Joseph Estrada’s impeachment trial in 2000-2001 and the it’s-almost-an-impeachment-trial for (Former) Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez last year, another impeachable official is set to be impeach.

This time, in the person of the highest official of the Judiciary Department - the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Renato Corona. This is a battle whether he will keep his corona as the country’s Chief Justice or not. This is the battle for Renato’s crown.

As an impeachment primer, I watched last night’s Cheche Lazaro Presents: Impeachment on ABS-CBN. In that documentary, it featured the history of impeachment trial from former president Joseph Estrada up to the cases against Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Estrada was not impeached. Instead, he was forced to step down from the office. Merceditas Gutierrez resigned as Ombudsman before the trial started. And, if things go as planned, this is the first time when we will witness afull impeachment trial.

One of the things that left me a huge question mark on the Chief Justice’s - and probably the whole Supreme Court’s - credibility was when Maritess Vitug, author of the controversial book Shadow of Doubt: Probing the Supreme Court, divulged items about the dark, hidden parts (and proceedings) in the Supreme Court. (I seriously want a copy of that book but I can’t find any here in the Laguna-Batangas area.)

After watching Cheche Lazaro’s documentary last night, I know only of one thing: It’s possible. Chief Justice Renato Corona may be guilty of the offense hurled against him.

From the flip-flop decisions of the Supreme Court, the seemingly alliance andspecial favor for Former President Gloria Arroyo, the alleged unexplained wealth, to his controversial last-minute appointment, he has a lot to explain.

I am not saying that he is guilty of the crime. There’s a proper venue to prove (or disprove) that, thanks to our democracy and Constitution - the impeachment court.

Today, we make history. Today is the first day of Chief Justice Renato Corona’s impeachment trial. And these are my personal opinion on the historical trial:

• I hope the Senate and the Senators will be fair enough on this trial. Not only for the filipino people. Not only for Renato corona. But for the truth to come out.


• Unlike the Estrada impeachment trial where Chief Justice Hilario Davide acted as the judge, this time, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile will be the one. It’s gonna be Manong Johnny “Gusto ko Hapy Ka” Enrile! In times like this, we really need an elder, an ancient, a veteran to help us find the truth. I just hope that he will not look like Palpatine/Darth Sidious when he got mad at the hearing for I will surely laugh my ass out (“The Dark Side of The force is strong with you!”).


• During the Estrada trial, one of the most memorable line was Emma Lim’s “Uminom po. Hindi po kinakain yung iced tea” to Estelito Mendoza. I am looking forward to some “light moments” during the trial.


• I am excited for Senator Lito Lapid on the impeachment trial. ‘Nuff said.


• Is it just me or there is really a resemblance between Atty. Estelito Mendoza and former Associate Justice Serafin Cuevas? Is it their forehead? Their hair line? (Not only physically but intelectually. Estelito Mendoza was the brightest defender of Estrada during his trial. and, it may appear that serafin cuevas is Corona’s mightiest super hero on today’s trial.)


• I admire Corona’s coolness earlier at the senate. Despite Prosecutor Niel Tupas’ statement against him, he remain calm. And poker face.


• During the first impeachment trial in the country, Senator Enrile was there. today, he is still here. Will he still be on the third trial if ever?


• If you were aware enough back in 2001 to watch the Estrada trial, you may notice that some of the Senator Judges are still on their seat as a Senator. Or, in some cases, their sons or daughter are present. (Destiny or dynasty?)


• I learned last night that the other term for the Justices of the Supreme Court are the “Gods of Padre Faura”. (If that’s the case, wow! I have a God brod.)

The impeachment trial has started. And there’s more to come.as what I’ve said on Twitter, this is just the season 1 episode 1 of the Corona Drama.

And in the event that the Chief Justice is impeached - or steps down from the office - let us all keep an eye on our President on who he will pick as the next Chief Justice. We do not want an administration who has a sole power/ influence on the Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary Departments.

After all, this is for the people of our country.

Let the truth and justice prevail on this impeachment trial.

Viva Filipinas! Vaya con Dios! Padayon!

P.S. I chose the front page of the Philippine Daily Inquirer because the image includes all of the ingredients on today’s historical trial - The Senator Judges, Chief Justice Renato Corona, the Prosecution Team, and the Defense Team.

Elsewhere:

• Chief Justice on Trial - ABS-CBNnews.com’s page about CJ Corona’s impeachment trial. It includes interactive page on the fast facts, the timeline that lead to the impeachment, and slideshows.


• J4J: Justice for Justice - Interaksyon.com’s special coverage of the impeachment trial.


• Summary of the impeachment complaint versus Chief Justice Corona


• Comic Relief - Know your Senator Judges - Being a Senator. It’s more fun in the Philippines.


• My Twitter Account - I will be posting more impeachment-related stuff here. Please follow me. Yes, I compel you!

Juxtaposition Failure

Awkward. Something is wrong with this photo. Something is not right with the layout of the front page of this broadsheet. And it’s pretty obvious.

Above the headline Why you should go to the Philippines, is the issue’s top news - an Editor from General Santos City was killed. And to make things worse, a photo of a drug raid in a posh village is spread above.

I first saw the photo on my Facebook news feed being shared and discussed by my contacts/friends. It was originally posted by the satirical Mosquito Press.

Perhaps most of us are busy yesterday discussing and spreading the new slogan of the Department of Tourism that the news of another slain journalist has been overshadowed, if not, neglected into consciousness.

Christopher Guarin, an Editor of the daily tabloid Tatak was killed Thursday night by two unidentified man in a motorcycle.

Guarin was the 10th Journalist to be killed under the Aquino Administration and the 150th since the restoration of democracy in the 1986 People Power Revolution.

And we must never forget the horrible event that happened on the 23rd of November 2009 where 58 people were killed in Ampatuan, Maguindanao, 34 of them were journalists.

I do not blame the Editors and lay-out artists for this awkward layout. The stories in the front poage are the day’s top stories. They have to put it there.

But my point is, if we really are serious on marketing our country as a more fun country to visit, then we must live to it. How do we expect foreign tourists to visit our country, who promises more fun, if we cannot resolve, or if possible, prevent these kind of incidents? How do we expect our country to be more fun if our story tellers are killed and justice for them and their family are not served?

I don’t want to see the day where our country is seen not as a fun place to visit but a country with a funny reputation - in a negative way.

Let us make it’s more fun in the Philippines not just a mere Tourism campaign, but a reality. Stop shooting the story tellers. End impunity now. Serve justice to the victims and their family.

Viva Filipinas! Vaya con Dios! Padayon!

Read more here:

• Editor killed in General City (Victim gets out of the car to spare wife, child)


• General Santos City journalist killed for personal reasons, says police

A New Day for the Farmers

“Dalawang uri lang naman ang mayroon sa Pilipinas. Ang mga Panginoong may lupa at mga hampas lupa..”

I remember saying those lines to my mistah back in 2008, when I was still in College. I said it perhaps out of frustration. Or anger. Or my losing of faith to the system. We were then with the Calatagan farmers who were about to attend the Holy Mass and to have an audience with the Archbishop before leaving for their long march to Manila (A move inspired perhaps by the Sumilao farmers from Bukidnon.).

Since the advent of my awakening, I have always supported the cause of the poor and the oppressed for justice, freedom, and ownership. You may not see me with a banner or a raised fist in the streets but I believe that there are other ways to support their cause other than protests and rallies.

I studied Land Reform for one semester in 2005 as a required subject in College. The semester ended with all the discussions, cases, principles, and examples but there is only one thing that I can still remember up to this day.

The different programs for land reform in the Philippines have failed. The farmers are still tilling the lands which are not theirs. And powerful landlords still own vast area of land.

But the dark days for landless farmers may soon be over.

Yesterday, the Supreme Court ordered the distribution of about 5, 000 hectares of Hacienda Luisita.

The court sided with the farmers, Department of Agrarian Reform, and the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council, which said that the stock distribution option was not in accordance with the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

(For the benefit of those who are not watching the news, in stock distribution option, the farmers who will choose that would be just a mere stockholder (shareholder) and not a landowner.)

At last, social justice for the farmers. I hope that the Hacienda Luisita case would be a landmark decision, a jumping point for other cases. The struggle of farmers with their lands is not just a problem of Tarlac but of the whole country.

I want to see a new day where there will be no more landless farmers, no more greedy landowners, and no more social injustice brought by land ownership disputes.

Mabuhay ang mga magsasakang pinagkalooban ng lupa! Mabuhay ang mga magsasakang nakikibaka para sa kanilang lupa! Padayon!

Elsewhere:

• Just how BIG is Hacienda Luisita? How many SM Mall of Asia, Makati City, Plaza Miranda, Araneta Coliseum, and Luneta Park can fit in at the vast lands of the hacienda? Click.


• “My Child, we have won”- Virgiinia “Lola Inyang” Paligutan, 80, traveled to Manila from Tarlac to express her gratitude to the Supreme Court for ordering the distribution of Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac to farmworkers.


• SC orders distribution of Hacienda Luisita land - farmers’ union


• WikiLeaks Cables: Hacienda Luisita case affects other landowners  


• The Hacienda Luisita order as Aquino’s golden chance at greatness by Benjamin Pimentel

Hysterical, Historical Day

Yesterday was not just any ordinary Friday. Well personally, aside from the fact that it was my beloved Nanay’s birthday, I have been waiting for the Supreme Court’s decision and whether Gloria Arroyo would (be allowed to) leave the country or not.

But it turned out to be a series of unfortunate events - for our former President.

It started in the morning when the COMELEC en banc filed Electoral Sabotage charges against Arroyo. I knew then that Gloria Arroyo’s days of freedom are numbered.

But with the Supreme Court’s decision denying the motion for reconsideration seeking to lift the TRO on Arroyo’s hold departure order, I thought that it’s over. She can (and would) leave the country.

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I have been glued on Twitter and on news websites all day, waiting for the developments of the Arroyo Saga. But it turned out to be faster than expected.

All of a sudden, the case was filed at the Pasay RTC and the warrant of arrest was immediately released. Next thing we knew, Gloria Arroyo is being arrested. And with that arrest warrant from the RTC, which is independent from the Supreme Court, her wish to go abroad, even with Supreme Court’s approval, went down to the drain.

In less than twenty-four (24) hours, a case was filed, a warrant of arrest was release, and a former President, arrested.

That was fast.

Of course, the critics of the Aquino administration and the defenders of Gloria Arroyo said that the case was railroaded, even calling it a “moro-moro”.

But in my opinion, what transpired in the past days up to the climax yesterday was a damn if you do, damn if you don’t situation for the Aquino Administration. If they didn’t file a case against Gloria, critics would say that the government is slow on doing their jobs. And if they filed a case against Arroyo, as what happened yesterday, they would say that it was railroaded and it did not undergo a due process.

We (or most of us) have all been seeking answers and justice from the numerous controversies of the previous administration. And yesterday’s event proved that justice is working in our country.

It’s just sad to know that most of our Kababayans who are equally seeking for justice are left with a slow and painful turn of the wheels of justice.

Is Gloria Arroyo guilty of the crime? Let’s just leave that to the courts. And let’s hope that truth and justice will prevail.

I have been always fascinated with front pages and covers of broadsheets, magazines, tabloids, and other publications. I consider it as an exceptional art and as a part of history as well.

I am posting this front page of the Philippine Daily Inquirer in commemoration of yesterday’s hysterical and historical series of events. And because we may not be able to see Gloria Arroyo’s mugshot. As of writing, Attorney Ferdinand Topacio requested the media not to release Gloria Arroyo’s mugshot because she is, er, a woman.

Gloria Arroyo is now under arrest. Let the truth come out and justice, served.Viva Filipinas! Padayon!

Elsewhere:

• Gloria Arroyo now under arrest - Sa wakas!


• Timeline: Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s arrest - the sequence of events of the dramatic and tension-filled day that led to Gloria Arroyo’s arrest.


• Rushed - Professor Winnie Monsod’s take on yesterday’s events.


• Fingerprints, mugshot of Arroyo to be taken today (PNP) - I wonder how her mugshot would look like with her Minerva vest on.

Seventh Year

A few weeks ago, a viral video of the alleged lies and crimes by the Aquino Family spread like wildfire on various forms of social media. Those who were amazed by the amazing videography and presentation of the details (for the record, I did not say facts) immediately believed and shared the video. While those who were discriminating enough, did their research, double-checked the details, and consulted other historians about the veracity of the video as a whole.

While some of the video’s details may not be a verified fact (i.e. the Antonio Luna and Ysidra Cojuangco love affair), one cannot deny the fact that some of the events really happened. And one of the crimes shown on the video that was a proven, actual event, was the infamous Hacienda Luisita Massacre.

Seven years ago today, twelve (12) picketing farmers and two (2) children were allegedly killed by the police and the military in a violent dispersal at the Gate 1 of the Hacienda Luisita.

And up to this day, no one was charged for that crime.

The recent circus brought by the opposing sides of the Executive and the Judicial Departments, Gloria Arroyo’s airport drama and Leila De Lima’s defiance of the Supreme Court order, the controversies of Pacquiao’s win and the New 7 Wonders of Nature, and Attorney Ferdinand topacio’s sacrificial bayag may have overshadowed today’s memorial of the event.

But by letting this event just pass us by our consciousness, we seem to be condoning the perpetrators of this crime. Or depriving justice to the victims and their families. Or allowing the culture of impunity in our country.

He who does not punish evil commands it to be done.

Justice for the victims of the Hacienda Luisita Massacre! Never forget. Never again.

Disappointing

Once again, a group of superheroes more powerful than the Justice Leagueand The Avengers rescued the Arroyos from destruction and persecution. And I am talking about the highest court in the land, the Supreme Court.

The celebration of the opposing side was short-lived. Just a few weeks ago, the Department of Justice rejected the petition of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to travel abroad.

Personally, I was not surprised by the Supreme Court’s decision to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the travel ban. Law experts have warned a few days ago that the arguments for not allowing Gloria Arroyo to travel abroad are weak. And based on their previous decisions, I know that the Supreme Court will always save the witch’s ass.

Voting 8-5 on the decision, the Justices who voted to allow Arroyo to leave were: Chief Justice Renato Corona, and Associate Justices Diosdado Peralta, Presbitero Velasco, Lucas Bersamin, Roberto Abad, Martin Villarama, Jose Perez, and Arturo Brion.

Those who voted against were Associate Justices Estela Perlas-Bernabe, Maria Lourdes Sereno, Antonio Carpio, Bienvenido Reyes, and Jose Catral Mendoza.

The two Justices who did not vote were Teresita Leonarde de Castro and Mariano del Castillo, who are both on leave.

Words cannot describe my dismay for the Supreme Court’s decision. So I will just let this cereal guy meme that I did do it for me.

Elsewhere:

• SC allows Arroyo to travel abroad - Official (Inquirer.net)


• SC stops implementation of of watch list orders vs Arroyos (GMANews.tv)


• High Court OKs Arroyo travel: Source (ABS-CBNnews.com)


• Supreme Court issues TRO vs GMA travel ban (Interaksyon.net)

Nowhere to Hide

The news did not come as a surprise. It is somehow expected on the Administration who repeatedly bashed and blamed the previous Administration on the situation of our country today. Most of us who want the Arroyos prosecuted (and somehow persecuted) were relieved to know that Secretary Leila De Lima of the Department of Justice rejected the petition of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to seek medical treatment abroad. Citing Gloria Arroyo’s condition as “not life threatening”, De Lima announced her decision earlier this afternoon.

As expected, Gloria Arroyo’s fat knight in shining armor, her husband Attorney Mike Arroyo, came to the rescue. He separately filed a petition to the Supreme Court to declare De Lima’s orders unconstitutional.

He cited the Article III Section 6 of the 1987 Constitution guaranteeing the “liberty of travel”. But De Lima said that “An individual’s right to travel is not absolute, taken against the interest of the state that the process will be derailed because of the sudden absence of a respondent in a criminal case”.

Attached to the petition filed at the Supreme court are the photos above showing the former President’s condition wearing a 3-kilo collar brace (above) and a minerva vest (below).

With all these drama and circus about Gloria Arroyo, let me share with you my thoughts and other stuff.

• As much as I pity the former President on her condition (provided that is is real), I cannot blame the Aquino Administration for not allowing her to leave the country. She must face the court (and the consequences of her actions). You cannot just leave the country (Plus the face that some of her destination countries have no extradition treaty with the Philippines. We cannot allow another Ramona Bautista here. And her cases are far worst than Ramona’s.)


• Speaking of, I have this feeling that Gloria Arroyo envies Ramona Bautista. Or her critic Panfilo Lacson who also left the country to hide (even before the charges were filed against him).


• Look closely at the second photo, can you feel the agony and sincerity in her eyes? Or is it deceiving?


• Our country has transformed into a nation who love photoshopped memes. First, there was the DPWHere. Then the Hollywood-like sign at Taal Volcano. And now, the Gloria Arroyo creepy memes. Welcome to the Philippines!


• As much as most of us hate her, let us all hope and continue to pray that our former President recover soon. We need her alive! 

Photo Source: TV-5’s Jove Francisco’s Facebook Account

Stop watching fabricated facts on YouTube. Read the news here:

• DOJ to GMA: “No, you can’t go” (Interaksyon.net)


• Ex-President Arroyo, husband, ask SC to declare DOJ watch list order unconstitutional (Inquirer.net)


• Arroyo: Not knowing what ails me is killing me (Manila Standard)

One Month to Two Years

Today, October 23, 2011, is the 23rd month of the infamous Ampatuan Massacre.

Most of us may have forgotten this horrible event in our history. This issue may have been overshadowed by the recent issues in our country and abroad like the deaths of Steve Jobs and Muammar Gadaffi, the proposed Hollywood-like sign on Taal Volcano, and our ambushed soldiers in Basilan and Zamboanga Sibugay (and the apparent lack of balls of our President to respond on the situation).

But by letting this event just pass us by our consciousness, we seem to be condoning the perpetrators of this crime. Or depriving justice to the victims and their families. Or allowing the culture of impunity in our country.

He who does not punish evil commands it to be done.

Justice for the victims of the Ampatuan Massacre. Never forget. Never again.

Photo courtesy of chili-icecream.deviantart.com

"Noynoying"

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Nine days after the onslaught of Typhoons “Pedring” and “Quiel,” President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday finally saw for himself flood-devastated areas in three provinces."][/caption]

We live in the age of internet and social media. This is the age when new words and terms spread faster than a new strain of flu and memes are as ordinary as the everyday traffic situation at EDSA.

We’ve seen a lot. From the way jejemons type their messages to the new poses such as planking, owling, batmaning, and bakling. And now, inspired by our President’s alleged management style, there’s a new term that is about to spread (if successful) in the internet.

Noynoying.

I was drunk browsing cyber stuff last night when I came across a screen cap of a Facebook conversation supposedly coming from Overheard at UP Facebook page. According to it, noynoying is defined as a term for that idle moment na walang ginagawa pero dapat ay mayroon na.

For example, Dapat nagre-review pero noynoying muna.

Procrastination has a new name. And it was inspired by our President.

Critics have been accusing Aquino of being lax on his duty as President and having poor management skills. Recently, the Opposition slammed Aquino for not being present during the onslaught of Typhoons Pedring and Quiel.

This is not the first time that Aquino was criticized for not being present during the time of crisis. During the height of the Quirino Grandstand hostage crisis, the President was also criticized for not being present at the situation. During the height of the tragedy.

If that would always be the case, we should have picked a superhero instead as our leader. Like Bayani Fernando.

Is Noynoy Aquino really lax or not? Are you satisfied with the way the Administration deal with tragedies and calamities? (Okay, this sounds like a Teevee Patrol text poll).

Maybe. But I believe that one is immortalized when his name is used as an adjective. And a verb. Like Noynoying. Or numo-Noynoy.

Keep calm. And stop noynoying.

Be productive Pilipinas! Padayon!

Other related reads:

• Why Aquino didn’t visit flood victims sooner Read the Administration’s ‘defense’ here. It’s kinda convincing. Sort of.


• Christmas in jail for Arroyos seen Sa wakas! Mailalagay na sa kalaboso ang mga mandurugas! Merry Christmas Pilipinas! (I love the the way words rhyme.)

Batas Militar: Mga Kuwentong may Kuwenta

"As of the 21st of this month, I signed proclamation number 1081 placing the entire Philippines under Martial Law.."




1972 noon. Iyan ang mga katagang binitawan ni Apo sa pagde-deklara ng Batas Militar. Hindi pa ako buhay noon. Hindi pa magkakilala ang mga magulang ko at hindi pa nila ako ginagawa noon. Tanging mga kuwento lang ng aking mga guro, tatay, at ilang mga miron sa kanto ang "karanasan" ko sa Martial Law.

__________

Una akong namulat sa mga kuwento noong ako ay Grade 3. High School noon ang ate ko. At gumagawa siya ng report para sa kanyang project sa History tungkol sa Martial Law. Kailangan niyang kapanayamin ang mga taong may karanasan sa Martial Law.

Ang natatandaan kong kuwento ay ang karanasan ng aming kapitbahay na isang guro. Buntis daw siya noon at nandito sa may crossing sa may Junction (Los Baños). Sapilitan daw pinadapa ang lahat ng mga sundalo ang lahat ng mga nandoon sa Petron (Jollibee na ngayon) para arestuhin ang mga nagpo-protesta. Pero dahil siya daw ay buntis, pinakawalan daw siya ng mga sundalo.

_________

Medyo "light" naman ang kuwento ng Tatay at ng Lolo ko. Hindi naman daw nila masyadong ramdam ang presensya ng mga sundalo. Ang pinagkaiba lang, ang mga curfew na ipinapatupad noon.

Kung nabuhay siguro ako noong mga panahong iyon, malamang, ilang beses na akong inaresto ng mga PC at ng mga sundalo. Pero punyeta, mambabasag muna ako ng bote ng beer sa ulo ng isa sa kanila bago nila ako maaresto.

__________

Isa pang medyo nakakatuwang kuwento na narinig ko ay tungkol kay Ariel Ureta, isang artista at TV host noong mga panahong iyon.

Medy binaboy (teka, 'biniro' na lang, baka magalit sa akin ang mga baboy) daw ni Ureta ang  Bagong Lipunan na inilunsad ni Macoy at Imelda. Iyong "Sa ikauunlad ng bayan, dissplina ang kailangan", naging "Sa ikauunlad ng bayan! Bisikleta ang kailangan!". Kaya hayun, pinag-bisikleta daw si mokong sa Camp Crame hanggang sa lumaylay ang dila.

Alam kong medyo pamilyar ka sa mga linyang iyan dahil isa yan sa mga awitin ng Radioactive Sago Project na ang bokalista at ang Propeta ng makabagong panahon at idol ng mga kids, si Lourd Ernest Hanopol-De Veyra.

__________

Ilan lamang iyon sa mga natatandaan ko noong bata ako. Hindi ko naman kasi binigyan noon ng importansya dahil may sarili akong project na inaatupag. At sa tingin ko noon, ang martial law ay "usapin lamang ng matatanda."

Namulat na lang ako sa ibang mga kuwento nang ako ay tumungtong sa High School at sa Kolehiyo. Nakapanood ako ng mga dokumentaryo at nakapakinig ng iba pang morbid na mga kuwento. At napanood ang pelikulang "Dekada 70" - halaw sa nobela ni Lualhati Bautista.

Pero ang isang hinding-hindi ko makakalimutang kuwento ay kung paanong ang isang kakilala ay naging biktima ng torture noong Batas Militas. Isang bakal (o rod) na hinango sa nagbabagang uling ang pilit umanong ipinasok sa butas ng kanyang ari (o siya, titi na). Halos mamatay na daw siya sa sobrang sakit (Sino ba naman ang hindi?)

__________

Talumpu't siyam (39) na taon na ang nakakalipas mula nang ideklara ni Macoy ang Martial Law at dalwampu't limang (25) taon na mula nang ma-laser sword ang diktaturya ni Marcos. Pero ano na nga ba ang nangyari?

Bukod sa nalaman na natin sa wakas ang kinahinatnan ng magkakapatid na Armostrong, ng Camp Big Falcon, at ni Prince Zardos, ano na kaya ang nangyari sa libu-libong pinatay, pinahirapan, ginahasa, at nawala na parang bula noong panahon ng Batas Militar? Naibigay na ba sa kanila ang hustisya?

Ano na ang nagyari sa mga sapatos ni Iron Butterfly? Nasaan na ang mga diumano'y kinamkam na yaman ng kanilang pamilya? Totoo bang ayon kay Imelda ay naghihirap na ang kanilang pamilya ngayon? Totoo bang napatay si Bongbong Marcos sa Inglatera at ang Bongbong na nakikita natin ngayon ay inampon na lamang bilang kapalit niya?

Naging magkarelasyon ba talaga si Muammar Gadaffi at Imelda? Ewan. Pero ang alam ko, kinikilabutan ako sa sex tape ni Macoy at Dovie Beams habang pinapatugtog ang Pamulinawen (Panis ang Careless Whisper!).

May katotohanan ba ang mga lumulutang na conspiracy videos na magkasabuwat si Ninoy at Macoy? Mas mahusay nga bang Pangulo si Macoy kumpara sa lahat nang pinagsamang iba pang mga naging Pangulo ng ating bansa? Exaggerated nga lang ba ang banta ng Komunismo at ng mga rebeldeng Muslim? Si Mcoy nga ba ang may pakana ng mga pagsabog sa Plaza Miranda at iba pang bahagi ng Maynila?

Madami pang mga katanungan. Pero iisa lang ang sigurado ako. Umamin si Manong Johnny na peke lang ang assassination attempt sa kanya noon.

At Senador pa din siya ngayon. Meynteyn!

__________

E ano naman ngayon kung nagkaroon ng Martial Law noon? Ano naman ang pakialam natin doon? Tapos na iyon. Move on, let go.

Gago!

May mga bagay sa nakaraan na naghuhulma kung ano ang meron sa kasalukuyan. May mga bagay sa nakaraan na siyang nagbibigay sa atin ng mga aral sa kasalukuyan upang ito ay hindi na maulit muli.

Masuwerte tayong mga namuhay sa kasalukuyang henerasyon. Walang curfew. Walang nagre-renda. Walang diktador. Malaya kang mag-Tumblr. Malaya kang mag-inom sa mga bar. Malaya kang mag-drive ng lasing hanggang sa mabangga ka sa barikada ng MMDA.

Kalayaan.

Pero isa din yan sa inaabuso ng karamihan.

Kaya nagkakagulo.

Kaya may karahasan.

Ayoko ng mag-sermon. Ang mahalaga ay ating gunitain ang araw na ito at manalangin na sana ay makamit na ng mga biktima ng pang-aabuso sa ilalim ng Batas Militar ay makamit na ang hustisyang ilang dekada ng inaasam.

At sana ay huwag ng maulit muli.

Amen.

1. Ang larawan sa itaas ay nagmula sa GMAnews.tv
2. Para sa iba pang kuwento tungkol sa Batas Militar, maaaring panoorin ninyo ang dokumentaryong "Batas Militar" sa link na ito. At sa mga estudyante, panoorin niyo yan. Para hindi na kayo magtanong ng assignment.

David and Gloliath on West Philippine Sea

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Hindi mo na kailangan ng military at naval training to spot the difference."][/caption]

When the tension on the West Philippine Sea (formerly South China Sea) escalated brought by the territorial dispute on the Spratlys, our government sent the largest warship of the Philippine Navy - the BRP Raja Humabon.

But being built on 1943, Raja Humabon is older than our parents (or maybe our grandparents) and her equipment are as old as the second world war.

Worry no more fellas. In the next couple of days, our biggest and latest warship, the BRP Gregorio del Pilar (formerly USCGC Hamilton) will arrive in our shores from the United States. Our government has purchased it from the United States for the price of 450 million pesos under the Excess Defense Article Program (EDA) paying the money from the Philippine Malampaya Project.

But on the downside, though not as old as the Raja Humabon, Gregorio del Pilar is also old being built on 1965. Moreso, it was originally designed to carry a 20 mm Phalanx CIWS (Close In Weapons System) designed to shoot down anti-ship missiles and fixed-wing aircraft, but the weapons system was removed by the US and transferred to another US Coast Guard ship. Instead, the US installed additional radar and other electronic equipment as part of the transfer agreement with the Philippines.

But that’s not just our weakness (or handicap) when it comes to naval battle on the West Philippine Sea. Sleeping giant China's aircraft carrier, the Shi Lang, is much bigger and more powerful than our own Gregorio del Pilar.

And the photo above is more than enough proof for you to spot the difference.

This is a modern battle between David and Goliath.

Do we really have a chance against these sleeping giant and chinky-eyed neighbors of ours? Maybe no. In terms of military size and equipment, we are far far behind China.

But how about our ever-loyal friend Uncle Sam? Will he still help us? Please remember that they were always there for us during our troubled times. But will he still help us amidst their failing economy and increasing debt? I will not be surprised if, one day, Uncle Sam will no longer be the world’s super power.

Who will save us? Who will help us? Our Filipino-Chinese countrymen? Henry Sy or Lucio Tan perhaps?

I personally do not know a solution and I am no expert to discuss foreign relations, policies, and diplomacy. But I can do something, I shall pray for peace and hope that vigilance and peaceful agreement prevail over tension and military and naval showdown. And I would start to be more makabayan amidst this tension-filled time for our country. Would you?

World peace, mga pare. Padayon!

Read more here: Philippine’s biggest warship versus China’s first aircraft carrier

Yellow Ribbon (Presidential Mix)

Yellow Ribbon (Presidential Mix)

This song is a remix done by DJ MOD (popularly seen on ABS-CBN’s Showtime) of the original song by Tony Orlando and Dawn entitled “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree”. A yellow ribbon is a sign a released convict or prisoner requested from his wife or lover to indicate that she would welcome him home.

The yellow ribbon became a popular symbol of Cory Aquino as a symbol of opposition during the Martial Law era when her husband, opposition leader Benigno Aquino, Jr., was shot and killed upon his arrival after a 3-year exile in the United States.

I first heard this song on Rock Ed Radio’s “Cory Aquino Episode” shortly after her death on August 1, 2009. Gang Badoy and the rest of the team played songs that from the Cory Aquino-era and songs that would remind the Filipino people of her.

The remix, with its catchy tune and different twist, immediately caught my attention and I immediately searched for it on the net. And let me share with you a little background of this song:

Calling upon the talents of Kix of Saia to sing the song, D-Coy and J.O.L.O. to drop a few bars and Pikaso to co-produce the track.

With a gut feeling friday night (July 31, 2009) DJ MOD felt there was a need of urgency to get the song recorded and finished. DCOY and JOLO got into the recording both at PIKASO’s studio, that very same night and got the vocals to DJ MOD.

Once the song was finished,in the early hours of Saturday Morning, DJ MOD got word our Nation’s greatest president had passed. 

Please keep TITA CORY in your prayers and enjoy the song.

Let us remember Tita Cory on her second death anniversary and may we continue to live and value the democracy that she, together with millions of Filipinos, have fought for us.

And let us also pray that she may guide her son, our President Noynoy Aquino, from up there as he lead our country to the Daang Matuwid. Hopefully.

And yeah, her daughter Kris Aquino included. Please guide (and scold) her Tita Cory.

Maraming-maraming salamat po Tita Cory! Viva Filipinas! Padayon!

Home at Last

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="President Benigno Aquino and Vice President Jejomar Binay witness the arrival at the Villamor Airbase in Fort Bonifacio of the slain seven Marines. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ/INQUIRER"][/caption]

 

Perhaps the whole country is busy dealing with Juaning and Kabayan. Or about the alleged ballot switching at the Batasang Pambansa. Or too occupied praying for Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (whether they pray for her safety and recovery or the opposite, I don’t know). Or still mourning after the loss of the Azkals for their 2014 world cup bid. Or celebrating Eat Bulaga’s 32nd anniversary. Or just doing some other stuff that we failed to notice this another gruesome event at the southern part of our country.

Our marines had an encounter with the Abu Sayaff last Thursday at the jungles of Sulu and five (5) of them were decapitated.

Beheading is not something new for these bandits. Most of us would still remember how they decapitate their kidnapped victims and how they dehumanize our troops by beheading the soldiers they kill in the battle.

Maybe the Abu Sayyaf is making their presence felt. For the past few months, we barely hear a thing about them (or maybe the news agencies are just too busy covering and showing us the other important issues? I don’t know.). This just shows that the violence in the south is far from over and the government has still a lot of work to do to attain the peace in the south.

I can still remember a Catholic priest who was assigned in Basilan who told us his first-hand experience with these bandits and their victims. He was the guest speaker on the (Lipa) Clergy’s monthly recollection when I was still in the seminary. He told us his story when he was assigned to bless the mutilated corpses of the 10 soldiers who were slain and beheaded in Basilan in an encounter in 2007. He could not believe how barbaric these bandits were by doing this hideous crime.

After hearing his story, I was moved and I felt that I was also in front those slain heroes. But he also left a challenge in me if I have the courage to be assigned in a far-flung place with all the perils and dangers accompanying the mission.

Courage. I admire these courageous heroes who sacrificed their lives by defending the country. It is just sad to hear these sad tales about our soldiers in the field amidst these controversies involving the high-ranking officials of the military.

To our heroes in the field, to the thousand nameless and ordinary soldiers who fought to defend our country, thank you for a job-well done. You may have gone but your contribution to the country is priceless and may it always be remembered by the generations to come.

I give you my snappy salute.

Mabuhay ang mga sundalong nagtataya ng kanilang buhay para sa bayan. Viva Filipinas! Padayon!

Elsewhere: 5 Marines Beheaded by Abu Sayyaf, Aquino Mad

The Great Switch

This may appear to be too good to be true. Or too perfect a crime to happen on the Philippines wherein most of the heist shown on our movies and teleseryes are too far from the standard of Hollywood syndicates. This is not anItalian Job nor an Ocean’s 11.

This incident happened on the Philippines.

In an expose today on the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Police Senior Supt. Rafael Santiago and his “boys” have come forward to reveal that they stole original election Returns (ERs) then kept at the Batasang Pambansa building (where the canvassing of votes happened) and replaced it with fake ones to make sure that Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would still emerge the winner of 2004 elections in case of a recount.

Santiago told the Inquirer and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima that he acted on the orders of then PNP Director General Hermogenes Ebdane, now a Governor of the province of Zambales, and a close ally of then-president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Santiago said that the election returns were mostly from Mindanao where the election results are disputed.

After reading the whole article, I proceed to the comment box and read the reactions of some of the readers. Some are critical. Others are stupid. Most of them believe that this is a fact. While others argued that exposing this on the media will lead to a sensationalized item and that this expose must be verified first before releasing it on print.

Why not expose this on court and why choose the media instead? In today’s Philippine setting where justice is slow, people opt to expose things on the media for an instant exposure and attention of the people. Let us admit it. The mass media is a powerful tool. Though sometimes, this powerful tool leads to a mass destruction, division, and sensationalism.

Is Gloria Arroyo guilty of this crime? Is she behind this heist to save her neck and keep her on power? Will this add up to the numerous cases filed against her? As much as I trust the mass media on delivering information to the people, I will not instantly believe this expose unless it is proven on court. I will let the court decide whether this is a fact or just another made-up story to divert the attention of the people.

And speaking of the Moled One, she is set to be operated on her cervical spine tomorrow at 7:00AM. this is a dangerous operation but the Doctors from St. Luke’s told the mediamen that there were no mortality on this operation since 1996. Let’s just hope that Gloria Arroyo will not be the first one.

I pray for her safety tomorrowand speedy recovery. Would you?

I hope for truth and justice to be finally out. I wish for history to be corrected.And I pray that those who are gulity be persecuted and incarcerated.

Viva Filipinas! Padayon!

Read more: We switched ERs for Gloria Arroyo

The Curious Case of Lintang Bedol

HE'S LOOKING AT YOU. Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) official Lintang Bedol glances at Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes as he answers questions during a press conference Tuesday, July 19, 2011 at the Comelec office. Bedol, who was allegedly linked to massive election fraud during the 2004 presidential election, surrendered to the authorities on Tuesday. AP

It has come to this. Days after he had an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN Correspondent Anthony "Tonying" Taberna, Lintong Bedol has finally surrendered to authorities and is now, according to him, ready to face the charges against him and to divulge the truth on the rigged 2007 election results.

Now that Attorney Bedol has come out, will the truth be finally out? Will justice be served? Will those who seek the truth be finally able to find it? Will those who betrayed the people, manipulated the results, and blatantly disrespected the electoral process be persecuted and incarcerated? And will history once and for all be corrected?

Four years ago, Lintang Bedol went into hiding after snubbing the Comelec's summonses over allegations of poll fraud. He is now facing a six-month jail term after the poll body convicted him of contempt.

Four years ago, he is perceived by the public as a "fugitive criminal". But with these turn of events, will he be considered a hero? Will the government consider him to be a state witness against irregularities of the 2007 elections and possibly, pointing out the (Moled) One behind this mess?

Is he a Sinner or a Saint? Okay. That sounds like a GMA-7 afternoon teleserye but I knew you got my point.

Most of us would ask Lintang Bedol, why only now? And what are your motives on resurfacing and turning your back against the former administration? And why is it very timely with Zaldy "Kim Idol" Ampatuan's retraction and other expose against the Arroyo administration?

If you have noticed, during the past Senate investigations and other exposes, most of the irregularities and mess of the past government agencies and institutions and the men and women behind it are pointing out, in a way, to our beloved former President, Gloria Arroyo.

But personally, my question is, who is behind all these sudden turn of events? Who is manipulating these numerous exposes, betrayals, and shedding of the light of truth? Or, as impossible as it may appear, is it destiny? Is this the proper time for the truth about the stench of the past administration to finally come out of the open?

I am looking for a Darth Sidious here. I think it is possible that, just like in Star Wars, there is someone responsible on manipulating these events for personal gain of power.

Going back, is Lintang Bedol a messiah of this administration? Or just a part of a whole, complicated game plan of someone? I don't know. Let's just wait and see.

And as for other whatnots and a little comic relief:

• Lintang Bedol, clad in a bulletproof vest, was presented to the media yesterday morning but he did not speak nor tell a word to the mediamen except for his "Hello, kamusta kayo lahat" (How are you all?). Seriously, he reminds me of Kris Aquino's mini-me, her son Bimby. HELLO THERE?!


• DOJ Secretary Leila De Lima asks: why come out only now? She should sing Bakit ngayon ka lang, dumating sa puso ko.. in the videoke. Yahoo!


• I wonder why use "Lintang" as a name. That sounds like a leech or linta. Bagay naman siguro dahil sa mata ng ilan, para siyang linta na nakakapit sa makapangyarihang tao. Pero dahil wala nang masisipsisip, hayun, bumitaw na. Katulad ng isang linta. Bow. (But seriously, especially my friends and readers from Mindanao, please educate me about the meaning of Lintang. Thank you)


• Hello Garci? Nasaan na you? I have this gut feeling that you are next. Or better yet, save this country and speak out whatever you know.

It seems like we have more to watch out on this curious case of Lintang Bedol. Let's just wait and see. And I hope that the truth and justice will finally be out in the Land of Juan.

There's still hope for this country. Viva Filipinas! Padayon!

Read more here: 1. Bedol tags 2 Comelec execs in allleged 2007 poll frauds 2. Lintang Bedol Stirs Suspicions