OFW Support Group KGS Arrested & Detained in Saudi Arabia

Saudi police raided the safe house of Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan (KGS or Brotherhood in the Middle East) a member-organization of Migrante-Middle East where distressed and abused OFW runaways seek refuge. Migrante-ME coordinator John Monterona in a press release stated the following developments:

“We confirm that the safe house of KGS, a member organization of Migrante, where distress and run away OFWs are temporarily seeking refuge was raided by the local police last Friday at about 3:00 p.m.,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-ME regional coordinator.

Monterona said KGS was conducting its regular weekly case dialogs and counseling to OFW victims of maltreatment and abuses who ran away from their employers.

Monterona said ten (10) of its officers and member, and 3 service workers have been sent to Bahdiya Police Station in Riyadh for investigation. While the (5) distress OFW women were brought to Malaz Jail.

“KGS Officers and members have been giving advises to run away and distress OFWs before they will be formally endorse to POLO-OWWA as part of its rights and welfare assistance program (RWAP),” Monterona added.

This is very disturbing news indeed when people who cares and acts as support group are treated like criminals for helping their fellow men especially those abused and distressed migrant workers who have no one to turn to in their trying times of despair. Although we cannot ascertain if this is a case of criminalizing good Samaritans I cannot understand why the Saudi authorities have not released all of the "accused" once they learned that they were support groups for distressed and abused migrant workers.

In the latest news reported by Veronica Uy of Inquirer Global nation it appears that the group was arrested on suspicion of violating the kingdom’s “cultural law” prohibiting unmarried men and women from congregating. A quote from Veronica Uy’s report titled OFWs detained for violating Arab culture law:

At the same time, Migrante-Middle East coordinator John Leonard Monterona said three of those detained have already been released to the custody of their employers. They are: Binang Jilhano, a certain Jams, and Eric Jocson, who was arrested with his three-year-old son.

While some have already been freed, the rest continue to be detained without charges being filed against them.

Monterona identified the rest who are still in jail as Mario F. Ben, Mike Garlan, Lito Fedelino, Ronilo Reyes, and Rustico Marcos. He said they are members of Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan (KGS or Brotherhood in the Middle East), a member-organization of Migrante-Middle East.

He identified the distressed or runaway workers who were arrested with the KGS members as: Rey Balagtas, Elvira De Guzman, Clemia Corpus, Sarah Gumansing, Rosa Salazar, and Amauri Meris.

As if the news is not bad enough wherein good Samaritans are criminalized it gets worse when you read the response of ignoramuses whose mindset of divisiveness and hatred blaming the victims just makes you wonder what have become of our people in the Philippines. Instead of sympathy and support they blame those who are arrested blaming them for violating Saudi laws without even knowing all the pertinent details of the case. What a sorry excuse of a human being displaying this kind of behavioral aberration that is really disturbing and yet it does not surprise us anymore because this is clearly a manifestation of a sick society brought about by endemic corruption.

In one of the response which I find troubling and I am hoping against hope that this is not accurate because it really shows the ugly side of some people. Why in the name of gourmet pigging out president will a fellow countryman wish their own people to get in trouble with Saudi Police and the risk of incarceration in Middle East jails where horrific experience awaits them? It appears according to Red7’s response at Global nation that a fellow Filipino reported to the police that a “party” was going on at the safe house. Although there was a Videoke singing going on no alcohol was found at the premise, the women were at another room wearing their abaya’s but just the same they were rounded up and hauled to jail. Whoever reported them ought to know better the consequence of their action but then again there are insensitive people not even thinking simply because they are incapable of using their brains if ever they do have one.

This reminds me of a post here at Pedestrian Onserver GB on Men raping Men which I quote below:

In Jean P. Sasson's book "Princess a true story of life behind the veil in Saudi Arabia", we are able to see a glimpse of perverted mindset in a society living in the past with too much money and idle time. This is a society trapped in time desperately hanging on to the tribal culture of the middle ages in the way they treat their women and the cruelty of men against their women. In it we see a society where men can decide to end the lives of their women that are seen as a possession whose purpose in life is to satisfy and give birth in the propagation of their clan.

There is one particular horrible story that was in the book and this is about the maid of the Princess named Marci a Filipina and her friend Madeline. Inspiring tale of courage and daring shown by Marci and Antoine one of the Princess Filipino driver who risked everything in locating a friend in distress. The risk and danger they took is almost good for a suspense movie script but this is one is real and dangerous. You had that yearning for a good ending but this is real life where the ending is not what one expects in a feel good movie.

They found Madeline alright in a dingy villa owned by a Yemeni who abused and used Madeline as one of her sex reliever to satisfy his dog like sex cravings. A family sex toy for the sons, trapped in a hell hole did her best to escape only to be returned by the villagers to her inhumane pervert “master”. Upon learning of her friend’s plight Marci was frantic did everything she could calling up the consulate only to be rebuffed with indifference and acceptance of helplessness. On her return to the Philippines she tried her best to present the problem of Madeline to their local politicians but no one lifted a finger. The sad part is her friend was not on speaking terms with her when her contract expired thinking she was abandoned by her friend. Why did they not complain to the police, the Princess inquired? Truly sickening when Marci replied that the police never listen to complains of Filipinos and a woman in a society where the words of a man is taken as absolute truth the chances of the victim thrown to jail is more likely to happen.

Meanwhile in Abu Dhabi it appears that they have “five runaway maids” (in one of the email from Curtis of streetwisephilippines3 a yahoo group) every week that the consulate has to convert their garage into make-shift dormitory to accommodate the swelling number of abused Filipinas. The best they can do or hope for is to get the employer to pay the woman's ticket home, never mind pressing charges or their salary. In a highly prejudicial society where woman are treated like commodities what more with “servants” and a woman at that has no chance of being heard in a court of law that is male superiority oriented.

Luckily for the professional OFWs as Curtis further stated has not been affected or victimized unlike those in the labor and domestic jobs, is it because they are easy targets in might is right society? What are we going to do about it? What is the government doing about it? How should we respond to all these barbaric treatment of our countrymen?

These are the fate of some runaway thus the assistance of support groups like KGS is vital when police and townspeople returns abused and stressed OFWs in slave like situation back to their abusive predatory employers. Support groups are very crucial in helping distressed OFWs who can’t trust anyone fearing being sent back or worse accused of trumped up charges by guilty employers to cover up for their misdeeds.

*****************************************************************************
Update: 8/24/09

Dennis Carcamo reports Saudi police drop case vs 18 Filipinos, KGS secretary general Mike Garlan and member Rustico Marcos are expected to be released anytime soon who was in prison for 11 days. Runaway OFWs Clemia Corpuz, Rosa Salazar, Amauri Meriz and Reynaldo Balagtas will all be deported while two of the five detained OFWs -- Sarah Gumansing and Elvira De Guzman -- have already been released to their respective employers.

See also: Our gluttonous, do-nothing leaders and languishing countrymen

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Obama Mania & Delusion Hits the Philippines

Dreaming or was it dreamers seeing the unprecedented rise of Barack Obama to the U.S. presidency has some deluded errr Filipino politicians proclaiming themselves the Filipino version of Barrack Obama. I don’t blame them for the inspiration that Obama brings because who would not get inspired by a man on the road to greatness except of course the usual talangka (small crustacean similar to crab) or the rabid cynics of the single-issue Catholic kind.

If Obama has a clone in the Philippines he will definitely lose in the Philippine fraudulent prone electoral contest. Until the comcollect errr Comelec learns how to count the votes not even Barack Obama himself stands a chance of winning a 50% plus 1 majority vote to clinch the Philippine presidency.

Dan Remoto a candidate in the last election for the LGBT sector offers an insight on the Obama wannabe’s:

But look at the survey numbers of Chiz Escudero. He almost toppled Loren in the senatorial race last year. He is catching up in the surveys for president. He will turn 40 in October of 2009. And if Mayor Binay claims he will do an Obama because they both have dark skin (the dark horse in this election), then Chiz Escudero might also do an Obama: they look alike (same hair, shape of head), both young and bright lawyers, both media-savvy.

But Obama won because he built his formidable machinery by forming a grassroots movement. In short, he turned to the people -- mostly the young -- and built a magnificent machinery never before seen in any election.

That, I believe, is the challenge for all Obama wanna-bes in the forthcoming election. Heart attack or no heart attack.

See how pathetic these politicians are? It is not the looks or resemblance that matters but what Obama is all about. In that vein, do they have anything similar to offer that will capture the imagination of the Filipino voters? Nada, none, zilch and yes I agree and disagree at the same time with Remoto’s contention because the grass roots in the Philippines are actually participating in the electoral process. Unlike in the U.S. where the grass roots are cynical of the process it took an Obama to get them to participate and make a difference while in the Philippines it will take more than a scandal prone Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to discouraged voters from voting. It is not a matter of involving the grass roots because they have been involved all along but a matter of raising their political awareness and preventing religious sex errr sect leaders dictating on their fanatical grass roots followers voting as a bloc.

Mong Palatino posted an entry in search of a Filipino Obama, and I say good luck on that one. Although he himself is not sold on the idea because you cannot just copy what you see as there is no comparison when it comes to a third world country like the Philippines’ aping Democracy where the political playing field is tilted to favor the ruling minority elites.

One thing that is hilarious is the spin on Senator Richard Gordon born to an American Caucasian Father so the blogger believes that qualifies his chicken (as in manok in Filipino lingo in reference to political bet like a cockfight) errr man on the opposite side of the equation.

Dreams are free and no one must deny delusions errr people from dreaming that they can duplicate Obama’s campaign except there is only one tiny problem…… technology. Not that the Filipinos are behind on internet usage, the only problem is grass roots in the Philippines have no access to the Internet. Heck, millions of electorate don’t even have access to basic necessities to survive with another 3 million people recently joining the legions of poverty stricken sector swelling their number to 30million+, access to information is the least of their worries or if that even cross their minds.

While there are quite a number of Filipinos with access to the Internet, some “savvy” users treat this like a corner sari-sari (convenient store) congregation of village gossipers spamming their email list with ridiculous chain letter type nonsense from bogus miracles to baseless conspiracy theories. There are quite a number of gullible people out there and that should explain why the Philippines earned the much “coveted” award as the spam capital of the world.

Alex Magno a GMA consultant who thinks he is an independent columnist opines below:

There is no shortage here of people who seek to win the highest elective post. But there is scarcity, obviously, of real leaders emerging from the margins and challenging the system. Leaders who can inspire and arrest the drift of public cynicism. Leaders who can make us hope again.

Can there be a Filipino Obama rising to the challenge of 2010.

No, there will never be a Filipino Barack Obama because its all about the moolah that flows come election time. There is no dearth of good oratorical speakers it is leaders with impecabble integrity that we sorely lack. Until there is a level political playing field and the organized superstition errr religion stop meddling in politics like the Iglesia ni Kristo (Church of Christ) sect and others exploiting patronage politics for their own vested interest a Filipino Barack Obama is just a delusion.

I say the Philippines as it stands now has more in common with the McCain/Palin type of Republicans and their “base” than the Barack Obama led Democrats and ideals. If we look at the number of noisy Filipino American supporters of the McCain/Palin camp spamming their email list with black propaganda that are mostly lacking in substance (as if that is something new, lol) attacking Barack Obama on a personal level and some shamelessly being racist as if they are whiter than white shows they can make a lot of noise. The tone and level of the campaign is a very familiar environment for some Filipinos and this is how politics is conducted in the Philippines so having an intellectual like a no-drama Obama will surely not resonate in an electoral process so used to shallow personality politics.

Let us see come January according to Alvin D. C. Lopez of the Pelican Spectator a demarcation line will be drawn separating Old America (a promised country) and the New America (a fulfilled country) in his entry Obama: mending the wounds of history......... Now, how will a wannabe Obama of the Philippines do that or even come close to being fulfilled when there was no promise in the first place.......... except perhaps the usual broken promises from Filipino politicians?

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Filipino veterans' bill: The worst enemy is from within our ranks

Mga Kababayan,

With its lopsided passage in the U.S. Senate recently, it may be said that the long sought Filipino veterans' benefits bill has once again managed to progress beyond initial obstacles laid across its path. To this initial milestone we have the principal sponsors of the bill, ardent supporters, veterans organizations and other well-intentioned individuals and groups to thank to high heavens.

For sure the hurdles that await the House version of SB 1315 are no less formidable. And while the entire process should have been a matter of conscience on what's fair and just on the part of our legislators and, subsequently, the president, the fact is that this is not a perfect world. We, too, have to continue doing our part.

Needless to state, what lies ahead require that we not be detracted from our usual involvement and vigilance if only to impart on the minds of our representatives that this issue is the heart and soul of our advocacy. We should not fail also to make known our gratitude to those who have been with us in this.

That being said, we must also be aware of forces that seek to negate what has already been accomplished. To this end we should not be surprised or disheartened by disinformations that seek to disparage or belittle the cause of our long suffering veterans. The bad-mouthing as contained in the message kindly forwarded by Mr. Yapit should not be allowed to poison the wellspring of goodwill that the veterans' cause has generated so far. And while certainly spiteful and negatively affects our cause, the worse opponent we have to face are those from among our very own ranks. Below is the latest update from Atty. Rodis, which is heart rending indeed.

At this point I suggest that these issues be urgently discussed with the end of hopefully bridging the schism among us. Time is of the essence. We have to act now if only to avoid the possibility of disappointing once again our fast dwindling number of World War II veterans, relegating them in a cliffhanger of uncertainty as they had been in the past.

D. Grava

In a message dated 5/24/2008 12:53:32 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
Rodel50@aol.com writes:
Telltale Signs/ FILVETS HOUSE VOTE POSTPONED

Rodel E. Rodis, May 24, 2008

It was an emotional roller coaster ride for the Filipino WW II veterans this past week as they rode high hopes that the House version of S.1315 - which incorporated the Filipino veterans' equity bill approved by the US Senate - would come for a floor vote in the House on May 21. The timing would have been perfect coming the week just before Memorial Day when Americans traditionally remember and honor veterans.

The Speaker's plan, as they were told, was to present the House version of S.1315 for a floor vote under a Suspension of the Rules call which requires 290 House votes (2/3rds of 435 total members) to get the bill considered without killer amendments that would only delay if not defeat the bill. This would also ensure that the bill would be veto-proof.

As the veterans huddled in the halls of the Capitol anxiously waiting for the vote, they heard the news from Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office that there would no vote on the veterans' bill on that day. The veterans wondered what could have caused the vote to be postponed.

Was Speaker Pelosi worried that there were not enough Republicans willing to support the bill? Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista CA) and Ben Gilman, the former Republican chair of the House International Relations Committee and currently a Philippine government lobbyist for the Filvets bill, had assured Pelosi that there were 74 House Republicans who would vote for the bill. The American Coalition for Filipino Veterans (ACFV) confirmed earlier the solid commitment of 27 Republicans.

Was Speaker Pelosi worried that she and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland) did not have all 230 House Democrats in lock step behind the bill especially among the 51-member conservative Blue Dog Caucus whose members have echoed Republican concerns about "giving money to foreigners"?

Just the day before on May 20, Speaker Pelosi had addressed Democratic House members to firm up support for the bill telling them "I'm very committed to it because it is the right thing to do and we do not want any more time to pass by."

But was there another reason for the delay perhaps? Could a letter from San Francisco Veterans Affairs Commissioner Regalado Baldonado to Speaker Pelosi denouncing S.1315 have played a role in the vote delay?

The Baldonado letter urged the introduction of a House companion bill that would provide "full recognition and benefits to Filipino WW II veterans residing in and outside the United States." It declared S.1315 to be "woefully insufficient" as it would provide the 14,000 Filvets in the Philippines with $300 a month pension while the 6,000 Filvets in the US would be entitled to $900 a month.

"We cannot waiver in our position or tolerate any deviation from equal treatment for all of our Filipino WW II veterans," the Baldonado letter asserted.

Speculation about the role of the Baldonado letter in postponing the vote caused a number of veterans in Washington DC to call fellow WW II veteran Baldonado in San Francisco and to ask him about his letter. The DC veterans pointed out to Baldonado that the Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP), which represents the 14,000 Filvets in the Philippines, fully backs S.1315 which would provide $375 a month pension to Philippine based veterans who have dependents, $300 a month to those without dependents and $200 a month to their widows.

Baldonado explained to his comrades that he did not write the letter, that it was prepared for him to sign by leaders of the Filipino Veterans Equity Center in San Francisco and by an activist group called Students Action for Veterans Equity (SAVE). He said he did not know that Rep. Filner had abandoned his HR 760 in favor of S.1315.

Delfin Lorenzana, head of the Veterans Affairs Office of the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC, was among those who spoke with Baldonado. "The danger here is that if his letter has been widely circulated," he told the other veterans, "it may have influenced the decision of Pelosi to postpone the vote on S.1315 yesterday, despite the fact that there are more than enough Republican support, because of the conflicting signals she is getting from the Fil-Am community especially in her home district."

As the veterans were gathered in Washington DC to ponder the fate of the veterans' bill, on May 21 over 100 community leaders in San Francisco gathered at the Philippine Consulate to hear former President Fidel V. Ramos urge the community to support S.1315 as the best chance to get the Filipino Veterans Equity Bill to pass the US Congress.

In the Open Forum that followed his speech that was moderated by Ben Menor, Atty. Lourdes Tancinco, chair of the Veterans Equity Center (VEC), informed Pres. Ramos that her group did not support S.1315 because, she said, it did not cover all the veterans and at the level they should be entitled to.

Pres. Ramos replied that we cannot get everything we want from the US Congress, not even Pres. George W. Bush can do that, and that we have to be realistic about what is possible and take what we can get. He said we should build on the momentum of 96-1 vote in the US Senate for S.1315 to get a House version passed.

But Jaymee Sagisi of the Students Action for Veterans Equity (SAVE) voiced her disagreement with the position of Pres. Ramos asking him "How can you advocate that Filipino veterans in the Philippines should receive only one third of what US veterans get?" Ramos reiterated his position that we have to be realistic about what can be expected from the US Congress.

"Filipino veterans in the Philippines getting $300 a month, and another $200 a month in widows' benefits, that realistically will happen under S.1315 is better than a $900 a month dream that will never come," commented veteran Lucio Dimaano.

In the discussions that occurred among members of the audience, it was explained that Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), the principal sponsor of the Filipino Veterans Equity Bill in the Senate, recognized that the Filvets bill could not pass if it went out on its own, as the anti-immigrant sentiment in the Republican Party was too strong. The only chance of passage was to fold it into an omnibus Veterans' Benefits Enhancement Bill which would affect several veterans programs, including disability compensation, housing, pension, burial, life insurance, and readjustment benefits.

Akaka's advocacy for the Filvets stand alone bill was met with vociferous opposition from Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho), Sen. Richard Burr (R-North Carolina) and Sen. David Vitter (R-Alabama). They opposed offering benefits to non-US citizen veterans who, Craig said, "are taking money away from our veterans. That is the 'Robin Hood in reverse' effect. At least Robin Hood, when he took money, left it in Nottingham. He spread it out amongst his own. Here we are taking money from our own and sending it all the way to the Philippines."

Filipino veterans expressed concern that if Baldonado and his group succeed in stalling passage of the veterans' benefits enhancement bill, the other non-Filipino veterans groups may likely junk the Filipino veterans’ equity provision in the bill and move on with their omnibus bill.

Filipino veterans groups are hoping that the Filipino community, including Commissioner Baldonado, will unite to support passage of the House version of S.1315 if and when it comes for a vote probably on June 3.

Members of the Filipino community are urged to email Speaker Nancy Pelosi and their representatives in Congress to express support for S.1315 by logging on to the website: www.house.gov.

Please send comments to Rodel50@aol.com or log on to rodel50.blogspot.com or write to Law Offices of Rodel Rodis at 2429 Ocean Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94127, or call (415) 334-7800.

In a message dated 5/23/2008 9:08:43 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
felicianoyapit@msn.com writes:
From: MRGRG-MS@yahoogroups.com [mailto:MRGRG-MS@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Jean D. Beard
Sent: Friday, May 23, 2008 4:22 PM

To: Military Retiree Grass R; lonestargrp; MRGRG-MS-TALK; VVB-Forum; Undisclosed

Subject: [MRGRG-MS] Fw: U.S. House of Representatives to Debate a $1 Billion Cut in Wartime Elderly, Poor, Disabled Veterans' Benefits

I have not read this whole thing, trying to catch up on mail.

Excerpt: The United States House of Representatives will soon be debating, and voting on S. 1315, as amended, a bill that will cut nearly a billion dollars in pension benefits for wartime, elderly, poor, severely disabled or house-bound American veterans to in part fund unprecedented benefits for World War II Filipino veterans.

Have a great evening,

Jean D. Beard

Surviving Spouse of: Wiley M. Beard USAF (Ret.)

----- Original Message -----

From: Veteran News from Ranking Member Buyer
To: PRESS_RELEASES-VR00@LS1.HOUSE.GOV
Sent: Friday, May 23, 2008 11:20 AM

Subject: U.S. House of Representatives to Debate a $1 Billion Cut in Wartime Elderly, Poor, Disabled Veterans' Benefits

IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jon Clark

Friday May 23, 2008 (202) 225-3527

This mailing was prepared, published, and mailed at taxpayer expense. You have received this email because you signed up for current news from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs Republican Office. If you no longer wish to receive this information, please click here.

U.S. House of Representatives to Debate a $1 Billion Cut in Wartime Elderly, Poor, Disabled Veterans' Benefits

The United States House of Representatives will soon be debating, and voting on S. 1315, as amended, a bill that will cut nearly a billion dollars in pension benefits for wartime, elderly, poor, severely disabled or house-bound American veterans to in part fund unprecedented benefits for World War II Filipino veterans. Please let me know what you think of this cut of nearly $1 billion in benefits from veterans who most need our support by calling (202) 225-3527.

Background: The language in S. 1315 is similar to a bill in the House of Representatives, H.R. 760, as amended, the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007. The amended bill would eliminate special monthly pensions for many severely disabled veterans over 65 who are also receiving pensions for wartime service. It would use $156 million of the funds saved by this unprecedented cut in veterans' benefits eligibility to provide budgetary offsets to fund oversized pensions for non-citizen, non-resident World War II Filipino veterans.

In 2006, the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (the Court) overturned a Department of Veterans Affairs decision that denied an 86-year-old, legally blind World War II veteran, Robert A. Hartness, a VA benefit called "special monthly pension" (SMP). SMP provides an additional payment of up to $2,200 per year to the most severely disabled veterans who are eligible and who apply.

The Court reversed VA's denial of benefits to Mr. Hartness and required VA to begin paying him SMP benefits. The Court held that U.S. law requires an award of SMP to a veteran eligible for VA non-service-connected disability pension if, in addition to being at least 65 years old, he or she has a minimum disability rating of 60 percent or more, or is considered permanently housebound. VA had determined Mr. Hartness to be 70 percent disabled due to loss of vision. According to VA, more than 20,000 veterans could be affected by this unprecedented cut in benefits.

The pension that the Filipino veterans would receive would be an increased pension for wartime veterans that is means tested in the United States to a maximum level of $11,181 for veterans without dependents.

Adding insult to injury for those elderly, poor, disabled U.S. veterans whose benefits would be cut, the average Filipino WWII veteran's payment under S. 1315, as amended, will put their average annual income 1400% above of the poverty rate in the Philippines. American veterans who currently receive this pension, annual income is only raised to 10% above the poverty rates due to the income disparity between the two countries. Sending this over-generous benefit to non-American citizens is not the best use of American taxpayer dollars in this time of economic downturn.

The valor and courage of the Philippine Army, which fought alongside U.S. forces to defeat Imperial Japan in World War II, has been demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt. However, despite claims to the contrary, no U.S. official during or immediately after the war was authorized to promise benefits to members of this army or to so obligate the U.S. government. When the Philippines became an independent, sovereign nation after the war, the Philippine Army became the responsibility of the new government.

The use of the Hartness offset in S. 1315, as amended, is opposed by the American Legion, AMVETS, and the National Association for the Uniformed Services and other veteran service organizations. In their letter of April 25, 2008 opposing the legislation the American Legion stated, "The American Legion believes the sacrifice of these heroes warrants relief. Balancing the books on the backs of the very patriots that protected and defended this nation is unconscionable. Don't make a grave mistake in the name of fairness, equality, or even fiscal responsibility. Do what is right!"

Ranking Member Buyer whole hardily agrees. Congress has an obligation to protect the benefits that Americans have gratefully provided to our veterans. There are better ways to fund new entitlements than to cut benefits for aging veterans who need us most, violating the principle of honor that defined their service and our obligation to both them and the nation they served.

For more information, please go to: http://republicans.veterans.house.gov/.

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Outrageous Callousness of GMA Angers FilAms

Filipino Americans actively lobbying for the Filipino Veterans (FilVets) equity bill's legislative victory celebration spoiled by the outrageous callousness of Gloria M. Arroyo’s reported impending sale of Veterans Memorial Medical Center.

Ernie Gange, co founder of NaFFA and NAFVE member is asking Senators Dick Gordon, Nene Pimentel and fellow countrymen if there is indeed a CA$H SUNDUAN (shady deal) or if the sale of VMMC to private developers is a done deal, to quote:

We read Neal Cruz of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, and it appears that it is true.

Defense Undersecretary Ernesto Carolina did not deny it.

The visiting delegation to the USA, members of the Committee on National Defense of the Philippine Congress led by Chairman Antonio Magsaysay Diaz, Rozzano Biazon and Roman Romulo, they admitted that they did not know that the sale of VMMC is going on.

Congressman Tony Magsaysay Diaz will resign if the sale of the Veterans Memorial Hospital is consummated.

Where does Dick (Sen Richard Gordon) and Nene (Sen. Aquilino Pimentel) stand on this?

Who will get the commission?

And how much is the CA$H $UNDUAN?

Is it true that VMMC was a gift from the people of the United States to the people of the Philippines?

What was the condition?

Can the Philippines sell it without the consent of the donors?

What are you going to do with the sick veterans?

Will both of you agree to sell the Veterans Memorial Hospital?

We want to hear your side of this CA$H $UNDUAN. Please comment.

Luis Ramos in an email to Ernie Gange has dug deeper into the outrageous arrangement that has the makings of a shady deal through his sources reported:

From a very reliable source, the "sale" of the Veterans Memorial Hospital at Quezon City is all done and over except for the signing of the Agreements and/or relevant Presidential Proclamation. The source added that the "sale" of the VMH property is part of the grand design to commercial the entire area of 250 hectares (VMH included). VMH property is a prime area situated in the vicinity of SM Mall and the Trinoma Mall (Ayala Group). This "sale" is concocted by the QC Mayor Sonny Belmonte, Vice-President Noli De Castro (representing Malacañang/NHA) and very likely, the Veterans Federation of the Philippines. The VFP should very well know this because there could never be a "sale" without their approval.

The purported "sale" has the smack of raising funds for the 2010 presidential election. The administration party may very likely put up the tandem of Sonny Belmonte-Noli De Castro tandem for the presidency and vice-presidency position or vice-verza.

Although the deal is practically done and over but the signing, we could still stop the "sale" by vigorous lobby efforts ie going to the press and continued pressures from NaFFAA or all other groups there in the US, especially the Filipino veterans, The VMH must not be sold because its historical value and it's part of Filipino heritage which must be beyond the commerce of man. Emphasize that why you're doing your utmost best and fighting to the hilt just to have the bill passed in the US Congress, here comes the present dispensation selling the VMH. The "sale" would definitely have a chilling and negative effect on the passage of the bill at the US Lower House.
I suggest that you do this ASAP.

Indeed, it does have a chilling and negative effect on the lobby effort especially when the effort is now focused in the US Congress which is bigger in scale in terms of the number of representatives the lobbyist has to win over for the FilVets cause. Ernie Gange says it will be a tougher fight in the US House because of the need to get 281 votes, which represent 2/3rds majority of the 435-Member US House of Representatives.

This is just as sick as it can get, imagine the aging veterans in their 80’s and 90’s treated with utter disrespect by their very own president together with her minions while FilAms are at their wits end trying to improve their lot is literally being sabotaged by greed and callousness. To quote Ernie Ramos Co-Chair of NaFFA, NAFVE member and a proud son of WWII Filipino Veteran:

"Vigilance is the price of victory" so they say. So -- let's not allow another travesty of injustice sully the dignity of our remaining WW II veterans!

And let's be counseled by the words of the British poet Edmund Burke: "For evil to triumph, it's for good men (and women) to do nothing."

Luis Ramos believes that the “sweetheart” deal is not possible without the VFP knowing about it and further questioned whether there was collusion on those involved. Meanwhile Ernie Ramos calls it a stab at the back of the veterans and concurred with Neal Cruz in the purported construction of a new Veterans Hospital elsewhere is subjecting the Bataan Death March veterans to yet another round of death march……. How ironic and pathetic indeed seeing the president and her minions as the modern counterpart of Kempetai in their atrocious cruelty towards the aging veterans in the twilight of their years treated with unspeakable disrespect out of pure greed. An outrageous elder abuse I should say but what can we expect from a president with questionable mandate anyway?

It is definitely an uphill legislative battle and instead of supporting the cause of the veterans this administration only serves as an extra baggage that may derail the lobby effort, an added strain to the lobbyist they don’t need at this crucial point in time. It is up to us if we are going to allow evil to prevail............. now is the time to act, we cannot allow this travesty to our WWII FilVets. Here are some email contact info on some members of the Philippine Senate who are Chairman of different committes, Senators Rodolfo Biazon, National Defense & Security committee, Pia Cayetano, Health & Demography and Alan Peter Cayetano, Blue Ribbon in preventing the illegal and anomalous sale of property that belongs to the Filipino Veterans.

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Filipino WWII Veterans Win Senate Vote

Filipino Veterans of WWII who fought alongside American Forces against the Japanese may soon get their due in terms of benefits in a historic vote of 96 to 1 approval of S1315. A long hard fought battle 63 long years and counting to restore their honor, dignity and status as veterans is nearing victory.

The Senate has paved the way for all the veterans that include Filipino Veterans of WWII and the House of Congress is planning a similar bill that hopefully gets the same nod of the representatives.

While the prospect looks good it still faces an uncertain fate as the Bush administration expressed concern about the cost of expanding the benefits to Filipino veterans living in the Philippines.

The provision for Filipino Veterans creates about US$250 million in new benefits over 10 years with $84 million going to the 6,000 FilVets already in the US while $166 million would pay pension benefits for the 12,000 in the Philippines.

According to Associated Press published at LA Times, the Democrats pushing the legislation want to give 18,000 Filipino veterans of that war who live abroad a roughly $300-a-month pension. A big boost to the veterans whose numbers are dwindling who are in their 80’s and 90’s some of whom may not even be around for another 10 years.

$300 (P12,300 at P41 to $1) a month is not exactly winning a lotto but Philippine President Gloria Arroyo seems to think so and wanted her “balato” (share) by selling Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) to private developers.

While the FilVets and their supporters are lobbying hard in this long drawn legislative battle Gloria Arroyo’s greed only serves to validate the Republican Senators argument against giving Filipino WWII veterans their benefits. The Republicans pointed out that the U.S. has invested heavily in the Philippines and in case Gloria Arroyo seems to "forget" one of those was the Veterans Memorial Medical Center built by the U.S. government and donated to the Filipino veterans with a provision that it cannot be sold or alienated.

There is a long road ahead for the FilVets and their supporters and it will help if every Filipino American will do their share of lobbying but all these will be for naught if Gloria Arroyo is allowed to sabotage the gains of the lobbying effort. That is if we allow Gloria Arroyo in her illegal abuse of her executive powers in including VMMC in her development plans that will serve as an excuse to sell a property that belongs to the Filipino Veterans not the government to dispose off as they please. Leave it to the president with questionable mandate to spoil everything what could have been the most important legislative victory for the FilVets. Like a typical destructive and vindictive person afflicted with crab mentality will pull down the FilVets because they are $300 a month richer. Denying them hospital care at the twilight of their years is just plain cruel and as sick as it can get.

This is not a walk in the park so to speak, hopefully an honest to goodness serious anti-corruption measure is instituted by the administration of Gloria Arroyo. Unfortunately this is a wish that has a bigger chance of this cyber jaywalking pedestrian getting hit by lightning while jaywalking the smog polluted streets of Manila than seeing the TraPos (traditional politicians of the Philippine kind) pursue good governance. Not exactly a bright prospect in an administration that is defined by rampant scandalous corruption that has institutionalized corruption at the very top. Hopefully Congress and the Bush administration is not in any way influenced by these realities in the Philippines and then we also have this not so encouraging news, “Fraud costs military health program $100 million-plus” and another one titled “Judge orders Philippines company to pay $100M for fraud.” While the fraud is not in any way connected to the WWII Filipino Veterans the need to intensify the lobbying effort is needed to counter these discouraging developments.

Our gratitude and heartfelt appreciation goes to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senators Daniel Akaka, Daniel Inouye, Ted Stevens for their consistent championing of Filipino veterans equity without them we would not have reached this far and to the rest of the Senate members who voted in favor of the measure

Maybe it will help if we contact some members of the Philippine Senate like the Chairman of different committes such as Senators Rodolfo Biazon, National Defense & Security committee, Pia Cayetano, Health & Demography and Alan Peter Cayetano, Blue Ribbon in preventing the illegal and anomalous sale of property that belongs to the Filipino Veterans.

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Crab Mentality, Self-Flagellation & Pacquiao

Why I support and not support, oh wait that is contradictory isn’t it, but yes that is what it is on Bong Austero’s contention regarding the much maligned Crab Mentality some people delude themselves as one “monopoly” we truly excel.

I should say that Bong Austero did raise a “valid” point on the so-called call for investigation on the possible “game fixing” in Manny Pacquiao’s close almost losing win errr split decision. How dare the anti-Gloria people even suggest such horrible investigation? I am with Bong Austero on this and if they decide to take this to the street just to discourage the investigation I will be there behind Austero not to protest but hide in shame. lol.

I am referring to the article by Bong Austero titled “Nitpicking after the victory” that was posted at E-lagda Forum where I recently joined and some Pro-Gloria people were like a chorus singing hallelujahs under the baton of Choirmaster Austero. It was obvious that the Christian pagan ritual of self-flagellation was over but the Pro-Gloria people seems vent on whipping our “Filipinoness” all because the Filipinos failed to give the Kamao ng Bayan (Nations’ Fist) their undying loyalty and support to Pacman the symbol of Filipino “greatness”, to quote Austero in all his eloquence:

Pacquiao's stellar status as a crowd drawer is not disputed. That game fixing happens is also a fact of life. But why should it automatically be presumed that the two are related, particularly in that last fight? What kind of a person automatically presumes that any person with an opinion contrary to his is simply a paid hack? Why can't people just agree to disagree and leave it at that? Better still, why can't people just express their personal reservations in a diplomatic and tactful way, while conceding that it is also possible that he or she may be wrong?

But then again, I suppose there's no fun in that. And many among us do think of ourselves as infallible. When we disagree, we do so with the sole objective of proving the other person wrong. We don't want to debate, we want to annihilate. We don't want to listen, we just want to be listened to. Those who disagree with us are simply wrong.

I hear you man, bad idea indeed don’t this people know any better? Well Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao the People’s Champ and now the world is identified with Gloria Arroyo and we know that Gloria takes care of those belonging to her camp. Manny Pacquiao was obviously hurt at the prospect of getting investigated by the Senate or maybe the lower Tongress but fear not Pacman you know what happens in those investigations….. nothing, nada, zilch, zip. So here is the deal, Gloria and the Injustice Department of SiRAULO GOONzales has this perverted sense of justice and if we go by their tract record as in Acsa Ramirez, Jun Lozada etc. where the whistleblowers are paraded on national TV as the principal suspect everything is stacked in your favor. Now, unless they come up with those pesky “wiretapped” conversations out of nowhere and if you have some skeletons in your closet that’s one risk we need to consider.

Let’s assume that an investigation is conducted and judging from their refutation the ones at risk are Juan Manuel Marquez who may get arrested or raided by the NBI, oh wait they can’t go to Mexico right, so let’s scratch that. But then again, there’s this minor problem I believe that your trainer Freddie Roach is at risk because he is an honest man who tells the truth. And for saying you were good at the gym but did the opposite on the actual fight and was not sure you will win before the decision came out. You know how La Gloria hates the truth like a plague and anyone who adheres to it are at risk. So just for that I support the Pro-Gloria in stopping this silly investigation, but there is also an advantage and disadvantage at the same time…… you get SiRAULO Goonzales and his Band of Bozos to act as your lawyer as they do with la Gloria and her minions…….. that is the advantage. The disadvantage is you have bozos for lawyers and if you are charged with let say just jaywalking, the judge might sentence you for life for having such Bozos representing you. Now this is the part of Austero’s article below where I really digress:

I am not even trumping yet the patriotism bit because I think that is a discussion minefield that is best left alone for the moment. I know that we shouldn't take anyone's side simply because of a shared citizenship, but then again, what does it make of us if we can't watch out for our own kind? And even if we can't support our own because of personal or professional conviction, do we really have to be crabby about it and pull everyone else down?

I wish we Filipinos can reduce our tendency to indulge in self-flagellation. When things go well, we do tend to sabotage ourselves and shoot ourselves in the foot as if there is some scripting in our national psyche that's says we don't deserve progress, or global renown, or happiness. Maybe it is time for us to believe that we truly deserve to be victorious.

Let me state this very clearly and if you are such a knuckle head I feel sorry for you, but other races that have been subjected to oppression and exploitation has a tendency that is exacerbated by these analogies against other races like natives in other areas, such as Maoris in New Zealand, coastal Indians in Canada and the United States, Chamorros in Guam and even some Blacks to this day grapples with this mentality promoted of course by ignorance and victim mentality.We definitely need to see things with an open mind to discern constructive criticism against pure heckling (I must admit that I am guilty of this at times, ok maybe most of the times, lol) and the ability to take criticism that may point to aspects where improvements are needed that we oftentimes fail to see because of our tendency to look at things emotionally.

Ok, while there are people fitting the description there are those with open mind and willing to listen for one learns a lot just by listening as we see in forums where majority are lurkers and the noisy few does not necessarily reflect the sentiments of the membership. If Austero really wants to take care of our own then one need not look any further as there are 27.6 million Filipinos right in our own backyard earning less than US$1 a day with 1.9 million families or 12.2 million souls starving and Pacquiao can very well take care of himself with all the coterie of supporters and hangers on in the government and business sector he is definitely in good hands. Can we really say we are taking care of our own when we have so many Overseas Filipinos that are in distress, some of whom are victims of white slavery, and other dire and desolate condition victimized even by our own people and foreigners alike? Now, why do people get upset when in a lousy field of boxing Pacquiao who gets the support of the majority of the Filipinos but not getting 100%, people get upset while our Overseas Workers get screwed and instead of supporting them they also get screwed by corrupt government people?

I am sorry but having a Filipino world champion does not make a difference with our "Filipinoness" and thank you for not touching the “patriotism” aspect as it is silly and juvenile to think along that line. Fer cryin’ out loud boxing is a commercial sports enterprise and the winners are definitely not the country but those who earns a living out of it. So what’s wrong when others root for the other boxer? Pray tell me why these “patriots” (thinking they are) go berserk on silly sports but not have the wherewithal or the cajones to stop the plunder and mismanagement by the trapos?

While others are venting and so is Kamao ng Bayan in this Inquirer article Pacquiao hits crab mentality, voices hurt:

Pacquiao later told Malacañang reporters that the President would overcome the latest corruption scandal hounding her.

“If you have faith in God, nothing can destroy you. Just like me, I cannot be defeated because God is with me. He is always at my side. Just like He is with Ma’am,” he said.

Holy crap, now why in the name of Lady Madaya (Lady Cheat) will he invoke god in this, so Marquez is destroyed because god is not on his side? Of all things and “Ma’am” is also in god’s favor, que barbaridad Manny you are a great boxer just stick with it and stay out of god and politics that is not something you can box your way out, OK? Then, Mr. Pidal or maybe the brother of Pidal (Iggy the younger brother was the fallguy who admitted he is Jose Pidal) has this dumb “uniting” thingy and Pacquiao takes it too seriously that I think is one of the reasons why he ventured into the unknown that is way beyond his league….politics:

Also at the Palace to congratulate him was First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo. He said he was thankful that Pacquiao won again. “It’s a good thing what he’s doing for the country. He’s a uniting factor for the country.”

Ayayay, no wonder Alexandre Imperial posted an entry Buwisit at Tinig on Pacquiao's event and I don’t blame him nor do I blame Pacquiao but hopefully his handlers if they are indeed after his welfare will advice him to stay out of politics. After all with this berserk power trippers I don't think he has a choice of staying away as they can make life difficult for someone like him.

Ang Kuwago has a very interesting entry about The Brahmana (priest) and the Prostitute, A lesson on Crab Mentality from an Indian religious perspective which is really about minding your own business.

Jay at Froodee has an entry titled "Hail, Pacman" focused on commentaries by boxing analysis and Pacquiao's lamentation. You can also check out Dita's entry at Mystique titled A Standstill for 12 Rounds.

P. Kenneth Burns takes on crab mentality and black victimhood in Maryland politics just to highlight and prove a point to hopeless ignorant people that Crab Mentality is not the exclusive domain of Filipinos. While Lotus factor blog has Sports and Life Parallel that is a good read on Black sports, athletes and Crab Mentality that goes with it.

The only people that benefits from the false notion that Crab mentality is the exclusive domain of Filipinos are the TraPos and sadly self-flagellation goes hand in hand with this ignorant mindset. Instead of looking at the totality of the problem we tend to put on our blinders and whipped those fellow Filipinos as if they have not been abused and exploited enough. Is it because it is easy and convenient to point the blame on our "Filipinoness" instead of focusing on the Trapos that brought us so much hardship and endemic corruption? Why if they become so good at mastering the nuances of spinning they can even get hired by those numb nuts who will stoop so low just so they distract the people away from them.

Related Articles:

• The Pac-Man gobbles up another Mexican
• Pacquiao vs. De La Hoya Dream Match a Nightmare
• Manny Pacquiao-Oscar De La Hoya Fight Is ON....
• Pacquiao Rules
• Pacquiao on Politicians
• Really Funny Parody at Pacquiao Pacland Forum
• Pacquiao a victim of PADDING!

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