"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

Sex Predators, Pimps, & Prostitution Ring in the Middle East at Philippine Embassies

Overseas Filipino Workers mostly domestic helpers are easy prey for employers that are sexual predators thus they escape. If they are not caught by the police forcibly retuning them against their will to their employer where they are more likely than ever to be raped, they become runaways. Quite a number end up as runaways and desperate seeking the help of our embassies to repatriate them back home.

Distressed OFWs are those we watched on television and read about in newspapers living in squalid tents, full of hope and dreams for a better life only to end up victimized in untenable working conditions, their contracts violated and becoming prey to all sorts of exploitations. Perhaps it’s the culture that’s foreign to them as some desperately tries to rationalize but rape and outright cruel treatment to fraudulent contract violations is not exactly cultural but criminal. It is bad enough that Filipinos become prey to these greedy inhumane exploitative employers and outright criminal sex predators but to be victimized further by our own people cloaked in authority is the vilest and despicable that one can heap on their very own people.
Cleansing the Source of Philippine Political Wisdom
When Walden Bello an Akbayan party list representative broke the news on sex predators at Philippine embassies regarding some officials having sex with distressed OFWs, pimping, and operating a prostitution ring in return for plane fare tickets for repatriation, the reaction we expect should be that of being scandalized and anger. Unfortunately, instead of being incensed enough to act some are just too numb and dense as if these are normal daily occurrence and that Walden Bello was just grandstanding at the expense of the people he is accusing. Worse one of the accused Mario Antonio, welfare officer of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Jordan in denying his wrong doing, brazenly accused human traffickers and manpower recruitment agencies as those behind the “smear” against his “reputation.” In so declaring, he of course implied if not literally saying that Walden Bello is being used by the human traffickers and recruitment agencies. In effect Antonio is saying that Bello was hoodwinked or is one of them only show the pervasive culture of corruption and criminality afflicting government officials.

Of course that brazen counter accusation against Walden upsets him and probably most people will get upset too. It is understandable and as expected when he threatened Mario Antonio with a libel suit if he continues to blabber nonsense. Mr. Bello is within his rights to file a criminal libel suit against Mario Antonio but it will be better to just ensure that they have all the evidence to pin down all the culprits, enough to land them in prison. He can then file a libel suit after their conviction to add to their sentences and maybe enough to lock them up for good so they can throw away the key.

Anyway, what kind of people takes advantage of an already distressed fellow Filipino becoming so desperate that leaves them with a very limited option to refuse the sexual advances of these embassy sexual predators? They went there to seek greener pastures and they end up victimized further as subject of human trafficking ending in a prostitution ring courtesy of the embassy prostitution ring operator and pimp when they are tasked to assist and help them. OFWs dutifully contributed to OWWA funds so that if they find themselves in a desperate situation that very contribution will at least be their insurance that they can fly back home. Since these plane tickets are covered and paid for by OWWA , these predators are defrauding not just OWWA but the OFW contributors as well while denying distressed OFWs the benefit that rightfully belongs to them. Worst they are scammed and forced to pay through sexual favors or prostituting themselves robbing them of whatever dignity is left of them when they should not be paying in the first place? Now let me ask this question if I may, did the Philippines set up a Mafia prostitution and racketeering front in the Middle East courtesy of the Philippine Embassies?

Unfortunately government people seem to operate and think like they are or in creating their own reality that we normal mortals do not see or understand such as this statement attributed to DFA Secretary Albert Del Rosario as “disconcerting” but still “hearsay.” Although he changed his tone when he spoke to Mr. Bello that defensive attitude only encourages criminals in their outfit to be more brazen. Recalling the named individuals accused of sexual molestations to actually exploiting the weaknesses of the distressed OFWs by having sex ,pimping, and operating a prostitution ring to explain themselves is moving in the right direction. Calling all the Ambassadors in the region to shed light and come up with policies to avoid a repetition of the scandal is also a move in the right direction. Yes, forming a fact-finding body is indeed what they need and it should be applauded. While at it I hope they also realized that the reason we have distressed OFWs ending up victimized further by the sexual maniacs, pimp, and prostitution ring operator predators cloaked in diplomatic immunity is because the pleas of the desperate OFWs fell on deaf ears? Criminal predators are very keen on seizing the opportunity and are only encouraged further when pleas and complaints by OFWs are not attended to making them more desperate enough to fall victim to their exploitation and probably even thanking them just to get out of the hellish situation they are in.

While those moves are in the right direction, they are not enough because we are talking not just about policy breach here but a criminal act. A criminal act of fraud, estafa, sexual molestation or having sex with desperate , pimped and trafficked to prostitution scammed into believing they have no other option but to submit to the pervert's demand using their position and the embassy for their nefarious sick criminal activities. Is it too much to ask that the DoJ should get involved here instead of the jokers at the senate and for them to instruct the NBI to conduct a criminal investigation by gathering evidence since that is their expertise and not some wannabe jokers trying to impress the gullible public? Is it also too much to ask that said "parallel investigation" be conducted by the palace for them to just ensure that investigations by criminal investigators are conducted professionally in a fair and balanced manner in accordance with what is allowed by the law to ensure that if the accused are indeed guilty of the crime, they are not able to escape justice via technicalities?

The “swift action” by the DFA in forming a fact-finding body is serious business but a little too late because had they listened to earlier pleas of the OFWs this kind of problem would not have escalated into a huge international embarrassing scandal. That is if indeed they are really serious and not just doing the usual damage control since most in government still believe that people are so gullible. The OFWs deserve better, their contribution consistently kept the Philippine economy afloat and is this really how some in the government repay them for their sacrifice to their family and the nation? Oh, and if you are wondering why the US has not removed the Philippines from tier 2 for human trafficking, look no further but to the Philippine embassy people using our embassies as front for prostitution ring exploiting distressed OFWs.

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Flower Series II

Flowers are just amazing gifts of nature and one never get tired admiring its beauty. This one is for all the fathers out there celebrating today's special occasion, its our day to make the most of it ..... All images shot at ISO 100 using a 55 - 200mm Nikon zoom lens.




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Celebrating the 115th Philippine Independence Day in the USA

The problem with celebrating the Philippine Independence Day outside of the Philippines is that the only time it can be celebrated on the 12th of June is if it falls on a weekend. Unlike in the Philippines where it is a holiday, the celebration date is never a problem thus Filipino-American association is in a quandary when competing cities with a sizable Filipino-American are residing when to hold the event.


So there was friction between the two Filipino-Americans in the competing cities of Los Angeles where the Filipino Town an official city designation and the city of Carson in California celebrated the occasion at the same time. It would have been better had there been just one unified celebration considering the distance between the two venues is just a mere 22 miles. But then again a consolidated event even though it creates more impact and the people having the opportunity to appreciate the real meaning of unity is really bad for their ego errrr, I meant having said arrangement will pose serious challenges.


The day of the celebration started well, while it was a bit cold due to the overcast weather it was actually a perfect day for good photography. No harsh sunlight to deal with producing harsh shadows on subjects thus we decided to send our resident “usyusero” or Pedestrian Observer photographer which he think he was but of course we have to settle with what we have at our disposal, LOL.


The Filipino Town event was more interesting and more diversely represented complete with Floats, Dinagyang dancers in their authentic outfits, progressive organizations, Binibining Pilipinas USA, all the way to Ms. Grandmas participating in a 15 block long parade. It was indeed a colorful event showing the vibrant diverse regional Filipino culture but our resident “usyusero” (Pedestrian Observer/photographer) was nowhere to be found. When queried where was his images for the event in the Filipino Town he says he was actually still in the state of snoring off since it was a weekend, and who he asked wakes up at 6:00 am during weekends. Well, so much for having a photographer we definitely missed out on that one but luckily PJ has access to FaceBook where you can find the photos of the Filipino Town event by Carolina Carlos Napuli.


At least our “usyusero” was able to cover the Carson event and of course as soon as he arrives it was almost over, the overcast was gone and the harsh sunlight returned as if with a vengeance. The problem with having a “usyusero” rather than a typical reporter/photojournalist is that they actually don’t cover the event but what’s happening on the sidelines as if looking for a circus freak side show when it was not a circus in the first place. Of course when you have a Pedestrian Observer with ADHD one can’t expect him to focus on what’s happening at the stage especially when they use cheap sound system in a huge wide open space that can really assaults ones sense of hearing to numbness. Really, professionals are willing to sing their heart out in a venue where even a home karaoke system sounds better is just unthinkable?


Anyway what was seen at the sidelines was more interesting, like this improvised tricycle at the parking lot. Seeing this makes one appreciate it more for its uniqueness since it is probably the only one in the US, as against the pesky swarm of road hazard congesting an already “Gates of Hell” like traffic jams of Manila.


Or this one that assures you that you are in a Filipino event seeing people queuing for Balut (fertilized duck egg).
How about this toddler who can’t wait to be part of the body builders group training this early to lift weights?
If this is not fun as she gamely express it in this picture, I don't know what is?


The real joy of attending this event is being able to mingle close-up with Miss Philippines USA candidates. A far greater improvement from the usual beauty contest where parents and their close relatives are peddling tickets/ballots for their “beautiful” daughters. Talk about a face that only a mother could love, hehehe.






For more of the Miss Philippines-USA visit their FaceBook Page or website. Ok, wait a minute here, something is missing here, where is Marian Rivera's picture? Apparently our Pedestrian "usyosero" Observer got bored and left without seeing the performance of a famous Philippine actress much less took her picture.

There's a reason why the adage of patience is a virtue rings true, our usyosero missed the opportunity of witnessing the circus errrr the scramble for position to pose with their idol for their Kodak moment .

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