Pedestrian Observer GB: 3/1/09

"In societies where Robbing Hoods are treated like a celebrity it is but natural to expect political parties to act like a Mafia syndicate" Political Jaywalker "In a nation where corruption is endemic people tend to confuse due process with aiding and abetting criminals" Political Jaywalker "War doesn't determine who is right, war determines who is left" Bertrand Russell "You have just one flash flood of money, you keep your people poor. It's like a time bomb and it's scary" Philippine Lawmaker

Chip Tsao & War at Home Satire, an Opportunity for Philippine Political Cheapies to Jump the Bandwagon

Lu Tong Mancao errrr Macau our resident Pilosopong Tasyo (philosopher) is really frustrated and somewhat angry nowadays over the outrage generated by Chip Tsao’s satire. He claims to be a regular at NBP Resort Bar who also just got out of the pen like pedophile child rapist former tongress errr congress representative Romeo Jalosjos through the grace of pardon. Just like his alleged mentor he is waiting for the perfect political time to negotiate errr plead for executed ooops executive clemency so he can also run for office. He thinks the window of opportunity just opened up for him and flew from the cuckoos nest errr to Hong Kong to pirate Louisa as International Political Consultant for the cabinet member who he thinks is helping him get the executive clemency. I told Lu Tong Macau that he is wasting his time as Louisa is not a real person but he insist she was because why he ask is Senator Pia Cayetano pulling all the strings to find her a new employer.

Lu Tong Macau insist that if Louisa was not real what was all the big fuzz about and of course he says Chip Tsao the writer being a “nationalist” will not put down and ridicule his fellow middle and upper class nationalist countrymen. It seems it will take more than an explanation like a smack behind the head to get Lu Tong Macau to get what satire is all about and just because he states he is a nationalist it does not necessarily mean he is a die hard xenophobe thus he targets others as well. If it was a satire he further argues that is not exactly accurate or factual why are the madaya errr media treating this raging controversy as if it was an official line coming from the Hong Kong government?

Cleansing the Source of Philippine Political Wisdom

Frantic like a poker fiend (not friend) that he is who exclaims in pain “aeiii yahhhh” every time he gets busted with his poorly timed bluff after finally getting it that it was satire now he is wondering why Philippine politicians are so quick to react at “saving” an imaginary over qualified (more qualified than bar flunker Merceditas Gutierrez or any other patronage appointed characters in the Philippine government) maid named Louisa when the “poor” imaginary Filipina only exist in Chip Tsao’s satirical mind.

A smack behind his head somehow worked and now Lu Tong Macau was beyond himself laughing his socks off upon reading an article at ABS-CBN saying Pia Cayetano instead of addressing the issue squarely is adding more fuel to the fire:
Cayetano added that should Tsao make good on his "whimsical threat" to fire her Filipino househelp over the Spratlys dispute, she said she is confident that other employers in Hong Kong, including foreign expatriates and fellow Filipinos, would be more than willing to take her in.

"I'll personally appeal on my Filipino and foreigner friends based in Hong Kong to hire her. I'm sure there are many more enlightened minds out there willing to take her in. Filipino domestic helpers are very much in demand in Hong Kong precisely because of their efficiency and positive ethic at work," she was quoted as saying.

"We should be proud that millions of OFWs are able to serve the world, whether as managers, laborers, caregivers or medical professionals. There's nothing to be ashamed of as long as we're earning an honest living without having to step on the dignity of others," she added.
Aeiiii yahhhhhh shouts Lu Tong Macau as if he is in a torture chamber, how gracious and valiant of your Senator in fighting for the “sake” of an imaginary Louisa. Like the queen of patronage that most politicians are it is just so painfully excruciating how the allure of free sound bytes riding and exploiting popular sentiments makes her really stand out. Well good luck says my poker faced fiend on that one and maybe she can find Louisa in her imaginary mind because the poor exploited Filipina only exist in Chip Tsao’s imagination.

As if this is not turning into a circus freak side show already in their desperation to exploit and lead the pack like Senate Majority Floor Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri introducing a resolution strongly condemning the "demeaning" Hong Kong magazine article that called the Philippines a "nation of servants" has been filed at the Senate. What's up with that anyway, when they could have used this to rally people towards responsible channeling of the outrage in addressing the problem that forced our people to find greener pastures in foreign lands?

Indeed, there is nothing to be ashamed of because there is dignity in labor but what people ought to be ashamed of is when shameless politicians tries to jump in the bandwagon with pathetic response worthy of a Banana Republic. If Louisa really exists then the politicians are really missing the point, a highly qualified person unable to find suitable job in their country settling for menial job and she says she will pull all the strings she can muster for her to land another domestic help job. Say what! It is sad that presented with an imaginary satirical problem they are failing miserably at not seeing the obvious or are they hopelessly blind? We have a high literacy rate in that part of the globe and yet we cannot provide decent job for them and she would rather perpetuate the sorry plight of our compatriots rather than figure out how to utilize that wasted talent towards nation building.

Then there is Congressman Ruffy Biazon posting a ridiculous and pathetic personal attack at the new found convenient villain like an immature juvenile brat when they have better things to do as in they have a gargantuan task ahead of them.

Malacañang is joining the chorus and has asked the Department of Foreign Affairs to demand an apology, coming from a woman with experience from her own Garci tape scandal on how to apologize without incriminating herself; I wonder what kind of apology is acceptable. Then we have different characters in the senate like Senator Francis Escudero wanting to hire a lawyer in Hong Kong to sue Chip Tsao for damages (translation libel, probably thinking HK has the same ridiculous libel laws) singing the same out of tune take on the imaginary problem but then again this is the Philippines so we expect them to follow the flow and take over in bringing the people down the cliff of frustration.

It is just amazing how our politicians are able to weasel themselves at responsibility finding easy targets to distract the people while projecting themselves as the savior of the downtrodden except this one is imaginary. Which reminds me of one senator at Facebook where I tried to bring up the issue of OFWs in dire situation in facing criminal charges they are remotely responsible. To my dismay and while I don’t think it was actually the Senator who is at Facebook but one of her assistants responding to me to send them a letter so they can act on it. Gee, and here we are making use and taking advantage of technology and they want to receive the information via snail mail. Perhaps, it is better to have an imaginary downtrodden person for instant response than actual downright exploitation suffered by OFWs and undocumented migrant children since all it takes is mere posturing and no action required that will test their leadership.

To console Lu Tong Macau I decided to ease his awkward anxiety over a cup of taho or tofu pudding also called dòufǔhuā not wanting to get him inebriated lest he decides to leave our poker table losing our biggest chip no not Chip Tsao stack contributor with his poor bluffs.

Chip Tsao, Lu Tong Macau concedes is being unfair when he stereotypes people and calling the Philippines a nation of servants but on the other hand he says that satire is all about exaggeration to the point of being ridiculous. Of course with 130,000 Filipino maids in a very small territory it is not exactly the right thing to say when not all Hong Kong people are mature enough to see things intelligently. So when some people react indignantly at the writer treating satire as if it was factual then it backfires and only validates the unintended stereotype.

Lu Tong Macau cannot understand the outrage and so I quoted Confucius since he thinks he descended from Confusion errr Confucius to somewhat soften the blow at the reaction he is witnessing:

If you shoot for the stars and hit the moon, it's OK. But you've got to shoot for something. A lot of people don't even shoot.

Yeah, yeah ahhh as he nodded in feigned agreement due to the nervous tension that is making him paranoid afraid that a lynch mob is about to get him mistaking him for Chip Tsao since he has that uncanny resemblance to the new Philippine villain of the day. The schmuck that Lu Tong Macau is, he retorted with a quote as if he was Albert Einstein with this one:

He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would surely suffice.

Whatever Einstein as I curtly dismiss him off although he seems to have a point knowing how our politicians are quick to exploit controversies . To ease his troubled mind I told him the good news that HK Magazine just issued an apology and this should somehow ease the tension.

Well, it seems that Lu Tong Macau has regained his composure but of course he has to point out the circus errr our dysfunctional politics and the source of Philippine political wisdom to see how I react………. at that point I decided to head to this post Chip Tsao satire sparking a controversy and see how our angry netizen are coping with the controversy. Proceed to Chip Tsao Apologized, What Now?

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Politics

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A New Political Party Emerges with a New Leader

In a historic move Tuesday, March 24, unprecedented in post-Marcos politics, a new political party - the Democratic Party of the Philippines (DPP) – emerges with the submission of its Constitution and By-Laws to the COMELEC. With it comes a new leader, Ernesto G. Ramos, a native of Binalonan, Pangasinan and UST alumnus.

The DPP’s Preamble requires party-members to commit themselves ”.. to establish a morally upright just humane, democratic and peaceful Philippine society based on the unrelenting respect for life, liberty, property and human dignity that shall build and sustain a GOD-centered, people-empowered, prosperous and harmonious national community; and who swear to undertake this task with honesty, integrity, courage, generosity and charity.

It also seeks to: 1) decentralize political power through devolution, de-concentration and local autonomy for cultural communities; 2) ensure that politics promotes the national interests, thus transforming the politics of patronage and personalities into one of service as an ideology; and 3) help establish a responsible, accountable and transparent system of government.

“I know we’ve finally found the right person for the right task,” remarked Atty. Oswald Lorenzo, the DPP’s secretary-general, a law professor and reviewer. “He’ll bring a fresh and courageous vision for a nation and its form of government in need of radical change from the bottoms-up. We’re assured our agenda and platform of government he expounded in our Blueprint for Stewardship are geared towards a new kind of leadership.”

The new leader left the Philippines in 1970 armed with a scholarship for post-graduate studies at Loyola University of Chicago, and served as professor with the Chicago Consortium of Colleges and Universities. He was soon awarded the prestigious National Fellowship with the Rockefeller Foundation’s Institute of Social Sciences, the first and only Filipino thus far to be so honored, under the auspices of the Rev. Fr. Ted Hesburgh, the Foundation’s Board Chairman and former President of the University of Notre Dame. After that stint, he worked as consultant with the U.S. Dept of Education and the U.S. office of Civil Rights in Washington, D.C.

His more that 24-year apprenticeship as legislative adviser and speechwriter to then-Senator Carrie P. Meek, Senate President Pro-Tempore of the Florida State Legislature since 1984—and subsequently following her to the U.S. Congress in 1992—has amply prepared him for the intricacies of government service. His role as Chief Deputy to U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, upon the retirement of the latter's mother in 2002, further honed his expertise in the more intricate challenges of converging the role of the legislative with the executive branch of government. He’s currently helping Mr. Meek become Florida’s U.S. Senator during the 2010 elections.

“My walking the corridors of power in the Congress through all those years—complemented by my visits to the White House under the successful 8-year Clinton presidency to fellow up on pending legislations and resolutions on behalf of the people of the Florida and America—gives me the jumpstart in tackling the awesome task of service-governance on behalf of the Filipino people ,” Mr. Ramos exudes. “ I’m prepared to face the odds, and I have no illusion that this is an easy task; however I’m confident that team I’m putting together is up to the challenge of building a new nation spearheaded by ethically upright, honest and courageous servant-leaders.”

He also crafted the enabling language for 3 major laws that are now in the U.S. Congressional Records—the 1997 Nicaraguan & Central American Refugee Act (NACARA), the 1998 Haitian Refugee Fairness Act (HRIFA) and the 2000 Violence Against Women’s Act (VAWA) - on behalf of refugees and women abused by their husbands.

A known maverick of a leader. Mr. Ramos chaired the National Federation of FilAm Association of America (NaFFAA) for the Southern Region comprising the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina and Tennessee. He currently chairs Florida’s FilAm Political Alliance, Inc., the only registered political action committee (PAC) that funds and endorses candidates for elected offices. His was the lead group that created the coalition between Florida’s Asian-American Pacific Islanders (AAPI) and the Democratic National Committee (DNC), paving the way for Barack Obama’s historic march into the White House by winning Florida, a key battleground state last year’s elections.

A firm believer in the process of converging “conscientization” by which one must always do what’s right and what’s just for the common good, he has ensured that DPP ”..upholds the value of human life and guarantees full respect for the exercise of the Filipino’s civil, economic, and political rights under a just and dynamic social order.” Central to his belief is the party’s stance to stress the universal ideals of democracy and appreciate the historical contributions of our national identity of Christianity and Islam, along with the country’s indigenous religions and tribal practices.

Such is the mettle of this DPP leader. Known simply as “Manong Ernie” to his supporters from PAX, a nationwide alliance of seminary alumni and priests, and from former FVR Support Groups and other coalitions, he manifests easy confidence in expounding the complexity of crafting the enabling language of legislation. A Dual citizen, he has already filed his voter’s registration with his hometown’s COMELEC office, as he gears himself up for the rough and tumble of Filipino-style campaign politics.

“The vision and brand of leadership that Manong Ernie gives us is timely and crucial for our country, “confides Arsen Menor, a PAX leader. “We’re confident his background and expertise will more that qualify him for the challenge ahead.”

An indefatigable bridge-builder, he has tirelessly encouraged his Philippines-based support groups by sharing with them his connecting-the-dot strategy among the Filipino groups in America and various OFW groups in the global Filipino Diaspora . He firmly contends that as a key component of our nation’s stakeholders, Filipinos from abroad must be given the basic assistance to enable them to fully participate in the forthcoming Elections.

A proud son of a WW II veteran/POW, he took up the cudgels in 2006 to lead NaFFAA’s FilVets Committee and spearheaded the passage of the WW II Filipino Veterans Act in the U.S. Congress. The bill had languished there for 62 years since the passage of the anomalous 1946 Rescission Act that obliterated Filipino veterans’ benefits. Bound by his conviction that America must right this wrong against our veterans, he led an intrepid band of FilAm leaders by literally badgering members of Congress with e-mails, phone calls and visits. Thanks to Hawaii U.S. Senators Dan Inouye and Daniel Akaka and California U.S. Rep. Bob Filner and the National Federation for Veterans Equity (NAFVE), the bill was signed into law by President Barack Obama last January 29, 2009.

Having learned from the best statesmen and productive leaders during his time in the U.S. Congress, he’s ready to right the wrongs plaguing Philippine politics, its governance and its delivery mechanisms towards serving the people, shying away from the penchant for wasting precious time and discarding magnificent opportunities for advancing the nation’s common good.

The quest for full and aggressive partnership with those called upon to serve the people’s needs is validated by do-able goals and objectives – along with expected outcomes – in his Blueprint for Stewardship, charting a common-sense approach towards nation-building defined by moral courage and the political will to radically change the direction of government.

“The core values our Movement espouses and the principles upon which our Democratic Party is founded symbolize the heart and character of the Filipino people… the core values of honesty and simple justice, responsibility and caring for the less fortunate among us, “says Donato Flordeliza, the lead convenor of the Save Our Nation Movement. “We intend to speak with one clear voice, and shape a comprehensive national agenda – and move our nation in a caring, compassionate, and responsible direction on behalf of our people, long shortchanged by the duplicity and dislocated by the arrogance of power of current politicians and bureaucrats.”

Prior to his returning to Manila to address the PAX Convention to be held at Christ The King Seminary in Quezon City on April 24-26, 2009, the DPP leader is spearheading a summit meeting in Tampa, Florida on April 3-5 with Filipino-Americans and OFW leaders from some 32 states alongside America’s eastern seaboard to map out strategies for enabling Dual citizens and other Filipinos to fully participate in the May 2010 Elections.

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Chip Tsao satire sparking a controversy

Looks like the War at Home satire of Chip Tsao of HK Magazine has put him in the center of a raging controversy. We are posting the article in its entirety so you can see for yourself and be the judge:

The War At Home

March 27th, 2009

The Russians sank a Hong Kong freighter last month, killing the seven Chinese seamen on board. 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 $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 every one 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.

Chip Tsao is a best-selling author and columnist. A former reporter for the BBC, his columns have also appeared in Apple Daily, Next Magazine and CUP Magazine, among others.

Now, now Mr. Tsao I hope you realize that you may have started a war of “attrition” which you may end up losing. First off, while Louisa moonlights as your international politics consultant (unpaid of course) you have to make sure that the food she serves you does not taste a little strange.

The word gets around really fast and in Hong Kong Filipinos are not just confined in the households but they are also found in restaurants and eateries serving you food, again you may wonder why your food taste funny.

Chip worries about the threat from the Philippine Congress but it is probably greater from within because gunboats may strain the pork barrel allocation of congress people and besides they are busy trying to figure out how to sneak in charter change. If ever the gunboats materialize it probably will come in the form of Kumpit (a small motorized fishing boat normally used by smugglers and Abu Sayaf kidnappers) after it goes through the red tape and bidding collusion and of course cuts straight to the pockets of several politicians and bureaucrats.

Consider this also, HK people are now so used to having their maids and nannies who are mostly highly educated and don’t be surprised when your children’s grades went downhill because of the controversy that you started. So you see Chip, you actually will have to be nice and urge your fellow HK Middle and upper class nationalist to give their domestic help salary increase or eat funny tasting food and children’s failing grades.

On another note it seems Chip Tsao has the uncanny ability to attract controversy that incites errr provokes not just Filipinos but western men or the Caucasians as well. To his credit his racial brand of sarcastic humor does not target any particular race but his own as well, which is more politically incorrect than anything else. Hong Kong is where you find people of diverse origin or race and yet there is no racial tension and thus he can get away with jokes that are deemed offensive by those who felt to be at the receiving end of a bad joke.

Proceed to this updated article Chip Tsao & War at Home Satire, an Opportunity for Philippine Political Cheapies to Jump the Bandwagon or Chip Tsao Apologized, What Now?

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Fil-Canadian Balikbayan killed over property dispute?

What a tragic vacation for Fil-Canadian Ricardo Espinosa, 41, of Canoe Road, Coquitam, British Columbia in the Philippines beaten up and killed allegedly by his relatives over a property dispute.

This is so troubling and disturbing, on how this kind of incident has gone out of hand defies any logical explanation. It was reported that the victim Ricardo Espinosa wanted to sell his house located in Kamuning, Quezon City but his relatives who were staying in the property for 5 years without paying rent opposed it. The incident as reported by Nancy C. Carvajal of Inq7:

On Saturday night, a group of men knocked on the gate of the house.

When the victim asked them what they wanted, the men told him that they were there to help his relatives pack up their things in preparation for moving out of the house.

Victim mauled

However, when he opened the gate, they ganged up on him and beat him up.

A few seconds later, a gunshot rang out.

Mario said that after his brother was shot, none of their relatives came out of the house to help them.

“No one among my relatives helped us. Some of them even left [the house] immediately,” he added.

Mabanag said investigators would question the 19 relatives who were inside the house when the shooting took place.

The victims’ brother Mario Espinosa stated that he was five meters from his brother saw their relative Salito Espinosa shoot the victim 5 times in the neck and chest. Salito who was arrested at his residence in Guadalupe, Makati denies he shot the victim as he has no ill feeling or motive to kill the victim.

Nothing new here, this is a problem faced mostly by those with properties back in the old country but getting beaten up and killed is an indication of where the Philippines is headed. Non-payment of rent by relatives has always been a sore point between relatives and most of the time this is never discussed or avoided since it is a problem that embarrasses or a stain to the family name.

Most of the time Filipinos who migrated to the west are faced with this kind of problem on non-payment of rent especially when the renters, relatives or not knew that the owner of the property is out of the country. For one who will bother take them to a snail paced court system where it will cost more money in terms of loss income from the time spent trying to collect on delinquent renters? The obvious solution is to sell the property but it seems it is a high risk proposition so what recourse should absentee owners take to resolve their problem?

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Angelino ‘Boyet’ Fajardo’s ‘Creative Outburst’ an Artist Temperament?

Do you know Boyet Fajardo? If not then be careful or you may find yourself at the receiving end of a not so pleasant encounter complete with kneeling in front of his 'majesty' in exchange for not getting bitch slapped.

Rude Outburst a post by Jon Mariano at OFW Living in HK on fashion designer Angelino ‘Boyet’ Fajardo at the Duty Free Shop (DFS) in the Philippines got me wondering Hudas (Judas) errr who does this gay errr guy think he is having a shameless scandalous tantrum in public.

On Friday the 13th Boyet Fajardo allegedly berated DFS cashiers and managers over an unsigned credit card for his purchase when asked to present an identification card. Here is his choice of words that Ricky Rivera his spokesperson says was due to ‘creative outburst’ in berating on top his lungs the employees of DFS (Duty Free Shop):

Mga leche kayo! Hindi niyo ako kilala? Ako si Boyet Fajardo! At itong p...ina na babaeng ito (pointing to a lady officer) at ang baklang ito (pointing to the cashier) ay walang kwentang mga tao! I want them fired!!!

Here is the PJ’s not so accurate translation:

You are all milk! (ooops, wait it should have said Damn all of you!) Don’t you know who I am! And this woman with a whore (or you can substitute mother f…ker but it is not accurate) for a mother (fingering the lady officer, oh wait it should be pointing) plus this gay guy (pointing his finger at the cashier as if she is the queen of Sheba) are all worthless low life people!

Not content with his ‘creative outburst’ he went on to intimidate and threaten the employees that he will report them to a politician who is also in the fashion industry. I just don’t know what a fashionista foolitician will do but if he has connection to small town Masiu Mayor Nasser Pangandaman, Jr., that should really intimidate people. It seems that was enough though without dropping the name of brawling politicians for the cashier a casual employee to actually kneel in front of this Fascist errr fashion designer brought about by his tirade of invectives that he will only be satisfied if the cashier kneels in front of him and bitch slap the poor chap. This guy is out of control and no amount of excuse or rationalization will undo his uncouth behavior and aside from bad mouthing ordinary mortals this is how he presents his identification card:

Susan Gonzales, one of two employees who filed a complaint, said Fajardo threw his passport on the face of cashier Marvin Fernandez.

Being the store manager, Gonzales said she intervened to try to appease Fajardo, but he also allegedly vented his ire on her. Fajardo allegedly cussed at her and called her fat.

So who is this guy anyway? Honestly I have never heard of this braggart so I did some research and there he was featured in an article by Isah V. Red titled “Darna faces more ferocious enemies... again?” no, he is not Darna (Filipino version of Wonder Woman), he was just part of the article. On the other hand the way he conducts himself in public he may as well be the insane villainess of the TV soap box action drama. Ok, seriously he has been in the fashion business for 20 years and he designs RTW (ready to wear) clothes for people like Malu Fernandez as in large women. Just so you know his RTW is under the labels “Boyet Fajardo,” “Initials,” and “Substance” that are carried by major shopping malls. What a pity that some people just can’t handle success especially if it bloats ones’ ego and treat ordinary mortals as sub-humans.

Is this guy on the path of self-destruction? Judging from the bloggers reaction he maybe on his way out and no amount of rationalization will appease the public especially when one continuously insults peoples’ intelligence with remorseless behavior after the scandalous incident.

It seems that Boyet Fajardo has apologized but Pinay Pie reacts with ULOL (she probably meant fool and not uncontrollably laughing out loud) and not buying it upset over his dehumanizing treatment for having the cashier kneel in front of him.

Another blogger Pinoy Ambisyoso is also demanding for a boycott of Boyet Fajardo’s clothing line where you can access the youtube and the petition Please Boycott Boyet Fajardo RTW Labels that as of this writing has garnered 1879 signatures. You can also watch this youtube video that shows an arrogant remorseless Boyet Fajardo in his lame attempt to rationalize his tantrum.

Well using ‘creative outburst’ and 'figure of spits errrr speech' will not cut it and a sloppy defense I should say, I suggest that Boyet Fajardo should use temporary lapse of losing sanity for his defense or better yet go check in to a mental institution and get some professional help. People with ton loads of money are treated like god and that is a figure of spits errr speech and should not be taken literally by fools in their cruel outburst. The poor chap who knelt before him was crying uncontrollably and you can just imagine what he was going through rob of his dignity.

Don’t you guys use this "you don’t know him personally" BS because who really wants to know this kind of high strung tantrum prone crazy guy who wants to bitch slap you if you happen to not know who he is. Okay, maybe he is truly an artist possessing an artist temperament but that is clearly not an excuse when you belittle and insult people acting like the Queen of Sheba subjecting them to verbal abuse and worse forced them on their knees as if he is god. There is a consequence for such bad behavior and he has clearly not just crossed the line of common decency but broke the law and for that he should be held accountable and liable for the transgression.

Oh, and next time Boyet if it is true that you are dropping the names of politicians please don’t you dare, but then again we know where their source of political wisdom comes from and if you insist you are not way off in terms of being really close to its source. I guess that is just the way people who delude themselves on their 'entitlement' behave so be that way....... just be careful with what you wish for as in take note on the content of the truck below.......

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Filipinos

Filipino-Americans

Social Issues

Fil-Ams Walker, Dador at Glendale annual awards

Women of courage and excellence will take center stage with the 5^th Annual Jewels of Glendale Awards Luncheon on March 26. This year's awardees are Louise Garside and Dr. Juanita Watts.

CSW Commissioner Grace Walker, left, and Speaker Karen Bass of the California State Assembly

Grace Walker, a commissioner of the host Glendale Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), informs that it would be a milestone event to recognize the two women's outstanding achievements as well as to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the commission.

Commissioner Walker, who co-chairs the event with Commissioner Marie Lernelle, said that there's "a need to exhort more Asians to be active in the community and apply for both elected and appointed positions."

Speaker of the California State Assembly Karen Bass will be keynote speaker of the Thursday morning event at Anoush Banquet Hall, 1320 W. Glenoaks Blvd. Molly Barker, founder of the Girls on the Run International, had also been invited to speak. Denise Dador, health specialist of ABC-7 Eyewitness News, will be the emcee. A silent auction and live entertainment

"We received a number of outstanding nominees every year and truly wish there was a way to recognize all of them," says CSW Chair Paula Devine. "Dr. Juanita Watts and Ms. Louise Garside have demonstrated tremendous leadership in their fields and the commission is honored to recognize their contributions to the well-being and advancement of women and girls in our community."

Ms. Louise Garside is the CEO of LKG-CMC, a consulting management firm. Since 1987, she focused on giving women maximum opportunities in becoming leaders and managers. She has made her firm a place that provided mentorship and enhanced the professional role of women. Her unwavering commitment to enhancing the transportation industry by providing support to local, regional and national organizations and serving the local community has made an impressive impact on viable transportation.

Dr. Juanita Watts is a board-certified Family Practice physician at Kaiser Permanente's Glendale Medical Office in Southern California who has dedicated her career to women's health. Her commitment to improving the lives of women is demonstrated by her tireless effort to increase awareness, eliminate barriers, provide health education, and implement prevention strategies. Her research has led her to study diabetes and hypertension in women.

For more information, sponsorship opportunities, or ticket purchase, please contact Lana Haddad at 818-548-4844 or by email. All funds to be raised will support CSW's free programs, including but not limited to: Hands and Words are Not for Hurting Project, Rosie Goes to Wall Street Program, and more.

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Dionesio C. Grava - Part-time community journalist based in Los Angeles and editorial writer at Forum Asia.

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Filipinos

Filipino-Americans

MRAPs, Obama's Poor Copy Cat in Manila Courtesy of Gloria Arroyo's Trapos

In his inaugural address last January, President Barack Obama made his maiden presidential call to all Americans, whether in public or civilian life, to stand on the plate and face with courage the most challenging crises, confronting America, both at home and abroad.

Pres. Obama predicated the success of his call for national audacity on the return of every American to the spirit of great American traditions that sets a high premium on human dignity and man's inalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; personal character; fair play; justice and the rule of law, to cite a few of these national virtues. He said to the effect that it was precisely because of America’s faithful and constant adherence to these principles that enabled the country to overcome, one after another, her crisis. There is no reason, he concluded, why the same fidelity to these principles would show a different result now. True enough. To date, the problems remain daunting but the American people and country stay the course.

In the Philippines, systemic corruption in public service vested upon the country the crown, as the most corrupt democratic country in this side of the Pacific region. And when it comes to human rights violations, the Philippines, despite the only predominantly Catholic country in the region, is no less worse. If not for the remittance of our OFW, the Philippines would have floundered long ago. Naturally, GMA, like any other leaders in the world, would like to learn a thing or two from the 44th president of the United States of America to solve the national crises confronting her.

Everyone knows that decency and accountability in public office and service are but necessary antidotes to save the Philippines from her current sickness. And there lies the fly in the ointment.

When issues about DECENCY and ACCOUNTABILITY IN PUBLIC OFFICE and SERVICE are called to light, the Filipino people could not help but relate them directly or indirectly with GMA and everyone is immediately overtaken with that numbing feeling of utter helplessness, dejection and anger.

WHY?

The Filipino people could not, would not and should not erase this perception from her persona or on anything or with anybody related to her UNTIL she clarifies with candor those still-unanswered questions as to the circumstances how she obtained her GARCIFIED presidency in 1994 and the anomalies after anomalies, following the wake of her ascendancy to power, that remain unresolved, like pestering pus-filled sores, to this day.

It is in the light of this backdrop that the Filipino people received this news relating to this high sounding, pious executive fiat calling for MORAL RENEWAL ACTION PLANS (MRAPs), directing all government agencies, including state-run and -controlled corporations and financial institutions to draft their own MRAP, which according to Presidential Anti Graft Commission (PAGC), shall be implemented on May 14, 2009!

The news further says that:

The activity is in compliance with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Administrative Order No. 255 “directing the heads of the executive department to lead [in] moral renewal in their agencies,” effectively making the implementation of the Integrity Development Action Plan (IDAP) mandatory.

And that:

The MRAPs shall serve as our bases in monitoring and evaluating the agencies’ compliance with their own anti-graft programs, an implementation strategy consistent with the spirit of AO 255,” Secretary Constancia de Guzman, the PAGC chief, said in a statement.

This call for moral renewal , and necessarily, public accountability in public office, to face the national crises ala Barack Obama, with all its neat acronyms (A.O. 255, MRAP, PAGC, IDAP, which can all be summarized as mental HOLDUP) is simply too transparent to hide its I.D.10.TIC (idiotic) intention to refurbish its tarred source.

First, it is too little too late. After more than 6 years in office, and after anomalies after anomalies, involving allies, friends and relatives in public office, which until now are unresolved or if resolved, were resolved not under the rule of law but by the rule by law, why call only now (on the penultimate year of her term) this moral renewal in public service?

Second, what is GMA’s moral qualification to call for decency and accountability in public service? Is it any less repulsive from Dr. JACK KEVORKIAN (Dr Death), as the principal speaker, extolling everyone in the audience, afflicted with Alzheimer's and Lou Gehrig’s diseases, on the Dignity of Dying a Natural Death?

Third, all these pronouncements from the most powerful public office in the land about moral renewal and accountability in public service are nothing but a TRAPO’S STIMULUS PACKAGE.

Fourth, this call for drafting an MRAP is like a mother, calling her farmer-son to put a double lock on his horses’ stable door after a thief stole several horses from the stable the night before , although the farmer knows it was his mother who was, in fact, the thief!

ENOUGH of this lying, deceit and hypocrisy from the high office!

As long as it is still the same family who officially resides at that most opulent place by Pasig River, although its odious smell is clearly not from the waters that flow by that river, decency and accountability in public office and service would remain selective, favoring political allies, friends and relatives of the sitting power. Let us pray that the innocent in these public offices would not be made escape goats for these favored class of Filipinos. TAMA NA. SOBRA NA. PALITAN NA.