Citizen feedback for the new administration

Considering that the new government is encouraging the public to generate feedbacks and possibly participate in building a better future for our country and countrymen, may I contribute the following observations that may need looking into:

1. In our recent visit to the homeland, my wife and I were among those who had continuing flight to Cebu's Mactan International Airport and our baggage were not processed by Customs at NAIA. At MIA, however, there were no Customs representative around other than two Customs policemen who by law are not authorized to routinely inspect incoming goods and levy duties/taxes, if any. If such setup is ongoing, it would present a lucrative loophole to those seeking to evade our laws.

2. Going through the Mactan Domestic Airport on our way to Boracay on July 5, the security screeners got a bleep on their monitor that turned out to be a tiny knife that I failed to notice in my luggage. I know it is not allowed and I thanked the guy for detecting it. However, my request for a receipt was refused. I talked later with the guy's superior C. Bermejo, Jr., and Station Chief Inspector Donatila Sotto who assured me that they will follow up on the matter. Still I was not given a receipt. Is this the SOP regarding such matters? If so, how many apprehensions of disallowed items are confiscated daily and how many of them end up in private possessions?

*********************************************************************************

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









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Politics Filipinos Filipino-Americans Philippine Politics

Inaugural Speech of President Benigno S. Aquino III

His Excellency Jose Ramos Horta, Former President Fidel V. Ramos, Former President Joseph Estrada, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and members of the Senate, House Speaker Prospero Nograles and members of the House, justices of the Supreme Court, members of the foreign delegations,Your Excellencies of the diplomatic corps, fellow colleagues in government, aking mga kababayan.

Ang pagtayo ko dito ngayon ay patunay na kayo ang aking tunay na lakas. Hindi ko inakala na darating tayo sa puntong ito, na ako’y manunumpa sa harap ninyo bilang inyong Pangulo. Hindi ko pinangarap maging tagapagtaguyod ng pag-asa at tagapagmana ng mga suliranin ng ating bayan.

Ang layunin ko sa buhay ay simple lang: maging tapat sa aking mga magulang at sa bayan bilang isang marangal na anak, mabait na kuya, at mabuting mamamayan.

Nilabanan ng aking ama ang diktaturya at ibinuwis niya ang kanyang buhay para tubusin ang ating demokrasya. Inalay ng aking ina ang kanyang buhay upang pangalagaan ang demokrasyang ito. Ilalaan ko ang aking buhay para siguraduhin na ang ating demokrasya ay kapaki-pakinabang sa bawat isa. Namuhunan na kami ng dugo at handang gawin itong muli kung kinakailangan.

Tanyag man ang aking mga magulang at ang kanilang mga nagawa, alam ko rin ang problema ng ordinaryong mamamayan. Alam nating lahat ang pakiramdam na magkaroon ng pamahalaang bulag at bingi. Alam natin ang pakiramdam na mapagkaitan ng hustisya, na mabalewala ng mga taong pinagkatiwalaan at inatasan nating maging ating tagapagtanggol.

Kayo ba ay minsan ring nalimutan ng pamahalaang inyong iniluklok sa puwesto? Ako rin. Kayo ba ay nagtiis na sa trapiko para lamang masingitan ng isang naghahari-hariang de-wangwang sa kalsada? Ako rin. Kayo ba ay sawang-sawa na sa pamahalaang sa halip na magsilbi sa taumbayan ay kailangan pa nila itong pagpasensiyahan at tiisin? Ako rin.

Katulad ninyo ako. Marami na sa atin ang bumoto gamit ang kanilang paa—nilisan na nila ang ating bansa sa kanilang paghahanap ng pagbabago at katahimikan. Tiniis nila ang hirap, sinugod ang panganib sa ibang bansa dahil doon may pag-asa kahit kaunti na dito sa atin ay hindi nila nakikita. Sa iilang sandali na sarili ko lang ang aking inaalala, pati ako ay napag-isip din—talaga bang hindi na mababago ang pamamahala natin dito? Hindi kaya nasa ibang bansa ang katahimikang hinahanap ko? Saan ba nakasulat na kailangang puro pagtitiis ang tadhana ng Pilipino?

Ngayon, sa araw na ito—dito magwawakas ang pamumunong manhid sa mga daing ng taumbayan. Hindi si Noynoy ang gumawa ng paraan, kayo ang dahilan kung bakit ngayon, magtatapos na ang pagtitiis ng sambayanan. Ito naman ang umpisa ng kalbaryo ko, ngunit kung marami tayong magpapasan ng krus ay kakayanin natin ito, gaano man kabigat.

Sa tulong ng wastong pamamahala sa mga darating na taon, maiibsan din ang marami nating problema. Ang tadhana ng Pilipino ay babalik sa tamang kalagayan, na sa bawat taon pabawas ng pabawas ang problema ng Pinoy na nagsusumikap at may kasiguruhan sila na magiging tuloy-tuloy na ang pagbuti ng kanilang sitwasyon.

Kami ay narito para magsilbi at hindi para maghari. Ang mandato ninyo sa amin ay pagbabago—isang malinaw na utos para ayusin ang gobyerno at lipunan mula sa pamahalaang iilan lamang ang nakikinabang tungo sa isang pamahalaang kabutihan ng mamamayan ang pinangangalagaan.

Ang mandatong ito ay isa kung saan kayo at ang inyong pangulo ay nagkasundo para sa pagbabago—isang paninindigan na ipinangako ko noong kampanya at tinanggap ninyo noong araw ng halalan.

Sigaw natin noong kampanya: “Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap.” Hindi lamang ito pang slogan o pang poster—ito ang mga prinsipyong tinatayuan at nagsisilbing batayan ng ating administrasyon.

Ang ating pangunahing tungkulin ay ang magsikap na maiangat ang bansa mula sa kahirapan, sa pamamagitan ng pagpapairal ng katapatan at mabuting pamamalakad sa pamahalaan.

Ang unang hakbang ay ang pagkakaroon ng tuwid at tapat na hanay ng mga pinuno. Magsisimula ito sa akin. Sisikapin kong maging isang mabuting ehemplo. Hinding hindi ko sasayangin ang tiwalang ipinagkaloob ninyo sa akin. Sisiguraduhin ko na ganito rin ang adhikain ng aking Gabinete at ng mga magiging kasama sa ating pamahalaan.

Naniniwala akong hindi lahat ng nagsisilbi sa gobyerno ay corrupt. Sa katunayan, mas marami sa kanila ay tapat. Pinili nilang maglingkod sa gobyerno upang gumawa ng kabutihan. Ngayon, magkakaroon na sila ng pagkakataong magpakitang-gilas. Inaasahan natin sila sa pagsupil ng korapsyon sa loob mismo ng burukrasya.

Sa mga itinalaga sa paraang labag sa batas, ito ang aking babala: sisimulan natin ang pagbabalik ng tiwala sa pamamagitan ng pag-usisa sa mga “midnight appointments.” Sana ay magsilbi itong babala sa mga nag-iisip na ipagpatuloy ang baluktot na kalakarang nakasanayan na ng marami.

Sa mga kapuspalad nating mga kababayan, ngayon, ang pamahalaan ang inyong kampeon.

Hindi natin ipagpapaliban ang mga pangangailangan ng ating mga estudyante, kaya’t sisikapin nating punan ang kakulangan sa ating mga silid-aralan.

Unti-unti din nating babawasan ang mga kakulangan sa imprastraktura para sa transportasyon, turismo at pangangalakal. Mula ngayon, hindi na puwede ang “puwede na” pagdating sa mga kalye, tulay at gusali dahil magiging responsibilidad ng mga kontratista ang panatilihing nasa mabuting kalagayan ang mga proyekto nila.

Bubuhayin natin ang programang “emergency employment” ng dating pangulong Corazon Aquino sa pagtatayo ng mga bagong imprastraktura na ito. Ito ay magbibigay ng trabaho sa mga local na komunidad at makakatulong sa pagpapalago ng kanila at ng ating ekonomiya.

Hindi kami magiging sanhi ng inyong pasakit at perwisyo. Palalakasin natin ang koleksyon at pupuksain natin ang korapsyon sa Kawanihan ng Rentas Internas at Bureau of Customs para mapondohan natin ang ating mga hinahangad para sa lahat, tulad ng:

• dekalidad na edukasyon, kabilang ang edukasyong bokasyonal para makapaghanap ng marangal na trabaho ang hindi makapag-kolehiyo;

• serbisyong pangkalusugan, tulad ng Philhealth para sa lahat sa loob ng tatlong taon;

• tirahan sa loob ng mga ligtas na komunidad.

Palalakasin at palalaguin natin ang bilang ng ating kasundaluhan at kapulisan, hindi para tugunan ang interes ng mga naghahari-harian, ngunit para proteksyunan ang mamamayan. Itinataya nila ang kanilang buhay para mayroong pagkakataon sa katahimikan at kapayapaan sa sambayanan. Dumoble na ang populasyong kanilang binabantayan, nanatili naman sila sa bilang. Hindi tama na ang nagmamalasakit ay kinakawawa.

Kung dati ay may fertilizer scam, ngayon ay may kalinga na tunay para sa mga magsasaka. Tutulungan natin sila sa irigasyon, extension services, at sa pagbenta ng kanilang produkto sa pinakamataas na presyong maaari.

Inaatasan natin si papasok na Kalihim Alcala na magtayo ng mga trading centers kung saan diretso na ang magsasaka sa mamimili - lalaktawan natin ang gitna, kasama na ang kotong cop. Sa ganitong paraan, ang dating napupunta sa gitna ay maari nang paghatian ng magsasaka at mamimili.

Gagawin nating kaaya-aya sa negosyante ang ating bansa. We will cut red tape dramatically and implement stable economic policies. We will level the playing field for investors and make government an enabler, not a hindrance, to business. Sa ganitong paraan lamang natin mapupunan ang kakulangan ng trabaho para sa ating mga mamamayan.

Layunin nating paramihin ang trabaho dito sa ating bansa upang hindi na kailanganin ang mangibang-bansa para makahanap ng trabaho. Ngunit habang ito ay hindi pa natin naaabot, inaatasan ko ang mga kawani ng DFA, POEA, OWWA at iba pang mga kinauukulang ahensiya na mas lalo pang paigtingin ang pagtugon sa mga hinaing at pangangailangan ng ating mga overseas Filipino workers.

Papaigtingin namin ang proseso ng konsultasyon at pag-uulat sa taumbayan. Sisikapin naming isakatuparan ang nakasaad sa ating Konstitusyon na kinikilala ang karapatan ng mamamayan na magkaroon ng kaalaman ukol sa mga pampublikong alintana.

Binuhay natin ang diwa ng people power noong kampanya. Ipagpatuloy natin ito tungo sa tuwid at tapat na pamamahala. Ang naniniwala sa people power ay nakatuon sa kapwa at hindi sa sarili.

Sa mga nang-api sa akin, kaya ko kayong patawarin, at pinapatawad ko na kayo. Sa mga nang-api sa sambayanan, wala akong karapatan na limutin ang inyong mga kasalanan.

To those who are talking about reconciliation, if they mean that they would like us to simply forget about the wrongs that they have committed in the past, we have this to say: there can be no reconciliation without justice. Sa paglimot ng pagkakasala, sinisigurado mong mauulit muli ang mga pagkakasalang ito. Secretary de Lima, you have your marching orders. Begin the process of providing true and complete justice for all.

Ikinagagalak din naming ibahagi sa inyo ang pagtanggap ni dating Chief Justice Hilario Davide sa hamon ng pagtatatag at pamumuno sa isang Truth Commission na magbibigay linaw sa maraming kahinahinalang isyu na hanggang ngayon ay walang kasagutan at resolusyon.

Ang sinumang nagkamali ay kailangang humarap sa hustisya. Hindi maaaring patuloy ang kalakaran ng walang pananagutan at tuloy na pang-aapi.

My government will be sincere in dealing with all the peoples of Mindanao. We are committed to a peaceful and just settlement of conflicts, inclusive of the interests of all – may they be Lumads, Bangsamoro or Christian.

We shalI defeat the enemy by wielding the tools of justice, social reform, and equitable governance leading to a better life. Sa tamang pamamahala gaganda ang buhay ng lahat, at sa buhay na maganda, sino pa ang gugustuhing bumalik sa panahon ng pang-aapi?

Kung kasama ko kayo, maitataguyod natin ang isang bayan kung saan pantay-pantay ang pagkakataon, dahil pantay-pantay nating ginagampanan ang ating mga pananagutan.

Kamakailan lamang, ang bawat isa sa atin ay nanindigan sa presinto. Bumoto tayo ayon sa ating karapatan at konsensiya. Hindi tayo umatras sa tungkulin nating ipaglaban ang karapatang ito.

Pagkatapos ng bilangan, pinatunayan ninyo na ang tao ang tunay na lakas ng bayan.

Ito ang kahalagahan ng ating demokrasya. Ito ang pundasyon ng ating pagkakaisa. Nangampanya tayo para sa pagbabago. Dahil dito taas-noo muli ang Pilipino. Tayong lahat ay kabilang sa isang bansa kung saan maaari nang mangarap muli.

To our friends and neighbors around the world, we are ready to take our place as a reliable member of the community of nations, a nation serious about its commitments and which harmonizes its national interests with its international responsibilities.

We will be a predictable and consistent place for investment, a nation where everyone will say, “it all works.”

Inaanyayahan ko kayo ngayon na manumpa sa ating mga sarili, sa sambayanan, WALANG MAIIWAN.

Walang pangingibang-bayan at gastusan na walang wastong dahilan. Walang pagtatalikod sa mga salitang binitawan noong kampanya, ngayon at hanggang sa mga susunod pang pagsubok na pagdadaanan sa loob ng anim na taon.

Walang lamangan, walang padrino at walang pagnanakaw. Walang wang-wang, walang counterflow, walang tong. Panahon na upang tayo ay muling magkawang-gawa.

Nandito tayo ngayon dahil sama-sama tayong nanindigan at nagtiwala na may pag-asa.

The people who are behind us dared to dream. Today, the dream starts to become a reality. Sa inyong mga nag-iisip pa kung tutulong kayo sa pagpasan ng ating krus, isa lang ang aking tanong – kung kailan tayo nanalo, saka pa ba kayo susuko?

Kayo ang boss ko, kaya’t hindi maaaring hindi ako makinig sa mga utos ninyo. We will design and implement an interaction and feedback mechanism that can effectively respond to the people’s needs and aspirations.

Kayo ang nagdala sa akin sa puntong ito—ang ating mga volunteers—matanda, bata, celebrity, ordinaryong tao, na umikot sa Pilipinas para ikampanya ang pagbabago; ang aking mga kasambahay, na nag-asikaso ng lahat ng aking mga personal na pangangailangan; ang aking pamilya, kaibigan at katrabaho, na dumamay, nag-alaga at nagbigay ng suporta sa akin; ang ating mga abogado, na nagpuyat para bantayan ang ating mga boto at siguraduhing mabibilang ang bawat isa; ang aking mga kapartido at kaalyado na kasama kong nangahas mangarap; at ang milyun-milyong Pilipinong nagkaisa, nagtiwala at hindi nawalan ng pag-asa—nasa inyo ang aking taus-pusong pasasalamat.

Hindi ko makakayang harapin ang aking mga magulang, at kayong mga nagdala sa akin sa yugto ng buhay kong ito, kung hindi ko maisasakatuparan ang aking mga binitawang salita sa araw na ito.

My parents sought nothing less and died for nothing less than democracy, peace and prosperity. I am blessed by this legacy. I shall carry the torch forward.

Layunin ko na sa pagbaba ko sa katungkulan, masasabi ng lahat na malayo na ang narating natin sa pagtahak ng tuwid na landas at mas maganda na ang kinabukasang ipapamana natin sa susunod na henerasyon. Samahan ninyo ako sa pagtatapos ng laban na ito. Tayo na sa tuwid na landas.

Maraming salamat po at mabuhay ang sambayanang Pilipino!

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Filipinos Filipino-Americans Philippine Politics

Support Gov. 'Among Ed' Panlilio's Re-election bid

If you had 50 pesos to spend, would you spend it on a Cheeseburger? A Cup of Brewed Coffee? Cellphone load?

How about using it to help elect better Leaders for our country?

Bands for Good Governance

Kaya Natin! A national movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership which was co-founded by Padaca, Panlilio and Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo is launching a fund raising campaign entitled, Bands for Good Governance. The main aim of this campaign is to raise enough financial resources for our Kaya Natin! Champions of Good Governance to purchase Baller Bands that they will use for their respective campaigns in the coming elections.

Last 2004, we saw Gov. Grace Padaca, a polio victim, overcome great odds to defeat a 45 year old political dynasty in Isabela. She repeated the feat in 2007 for a 2nd consecutive term as Governor of the 2nd largest province in the country.

In the 2007 polls, we saw Gov. Among Ed Panlilio defeat the closest allies of the current President of the Philippines despite having meager financial resources and no political machinery.

Both Gov. Padaca and Among "Ed" Panlilio were able to achieve these remarkable and inspiring feats because of the support of well-meaning, ordinary Filipinos like you and me who want to see genuine positive change in our country.

This coming 2010 elections, more effective, ethical and empowering leaders like Padaca and Fr. Panlilio can win again if all of us decide to help them.

For those who want to donate and support our Champions of Good Governance, you can choose to donate any of the following amounts:

• 50 pesos = 10 baller bands
• 100 pesos = 20 baller bands
• 200 pesos = 40 baller bands
• 500 pesos = 100 baller bands
• 1,000 pesos = 200 baller bands
• 1,500 pesos = 300 baller bands
• 2,000 pesos = 400 baller bands
  

Donations can be made thru Globe G-Cash, SMART Money, Paypal or through Bank Deposit. For those who would like to donate and support our good leaders, you can contact Kai Pastores at 0919-9575444 or send an email here.

For more information about Kaya Natin, you can visit our website. .

Let us all work together to help elect better leaders for our country!

Please pass this email on to your friends!

Each of us can make a difference in our own small way! Indeed, KAYA NATIN!

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Filipinos Philippine Politics Politics

The Comelec’s Rule By Law?

In the annals of CONTINUING INSTITUTIONALIZED OPPRESSION of the Filipino people, the Comelec’s Second Division has truly created a niche for itself.

A quasi-judicial decision, such as the one issued by the 2nd Division of Comelec, like a decision of a court (a judicial body) should, among others, be clear and concise. This simply means that the decision should be- brief and complete. Brevity, however, could not, in any manner, be a reason not to resolve any legal issue raised before the tribunal. This is why the decision on a case, with complex issues, usually run to several pages despite the requirement for its brevity because between brevity and the resolution of all pertinent issues, the latter prevails as a dictate of fair play and justice. For how could we say that a decision is fair and just when it is incomplete?

In the same manner, when, for the sake of thoroughness, an overly detailed examination of all facts or issues, which are immaterial; or which are simply repetitions of an established fact or settled issue; or are mere corroborative of an established fact or settled issue, are resorted to in making a decision, that decision is as subversive to the dictates of a fair and just decision as an incomplete one. For ultimately, is it fair that the understanding of the resolution of legal questions be unusually burdened with immaterial and unnecessary elements?

Thus, when you hear that a decision in an election protest case consists of 11,000 pages, would you not suddenly feel abnormally uneasy? And when you also hear that this is not the first but the second time around a decision of this kind was promulgated by the SAME division, is it unnatural for one to suspect that something is amiss? Hinde ba libo-libong pahina rin ang bilang ng desision ng Dibisiong ito sa kaso ni Gov. Grace Padaca ng Isabela na inilabas kamakailan lang?

The propensity of this particular collegiate body of the Comelec to come up with decisions running to thousand of pages, is simply beyond logic. Parang Crime Against Humanity ang kanilang binuno dito! In many ways, would you not also be forced to question the benign reasons behind the manner the decision was arrived at? Bakiiiiit ganito?

More so if we consider that decisions of this nature by this Comelec body are only true in cases where the administration is seen as highly partisan against the losing party but in favor of the winning party.

Is this a matter of coincidence or is it simply a declaration of impunity by those who are in power under the present dispensation?

Dahil ba walang nagawa ang bayan sa kahudasan nina Commissioner Abalos, Garcillano o Lintang Bedol, kaya ang Comelec sa ngayon ay ang bagong SIGA-SIGA ng bayan? Is the Comelec Second Division the new political liquidation squad of the current administration during these critical times?

Without going into the merits of the case, which I suspect would be like opening a septic tank breeming with maggots, are we now being made to bear witness to what could be a graphic display of another form of oppression disguised as the rule law?

Kung, unnecessarily, padadaanin ang mamayan sa butas ng karayum para makamtan lang ang timyas ng katarungan, ano kaya ang katuturan pa ng tinatawag na "subatantive rights" ng isang tao sa harap ng batas sa Pinas? At sa mga mahihirap, tulad ng mga nakakarami sa atin, may karapatan pa ba tayong dapat pagusapan pa kung ang makalaban nila ay ang may lakas , “ connection “ o kayay may kaya sa ating lipunan?

May pagkakaiba pa ba ito sa Ampatuan Massacre? Kung sa bagay, doon sa Ampatuan case, mga buhay ang inutas, dito kay Among Ed case, PAGASA ng tao sa isang MATINONG PAMUMUNO ang ginilitan ng leeg. At kung wala ng pag-asa , ano pa ang kasaysayan ng buhay sa mundo?

Indeed, we shall all sleep in the bed we have prepared for ourselves!



Fidel Umaga, MFP NJ
AMDG et Philippinensis

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Politics corruption scandals Filipinos Filipino-Americans Philippine Politics

Gov. Ed ‘Among Ed’ Panlilio Ousted by the Comelec 3 Stooges’

Only in Pampanga the Jueteng Capital of the Philippines where miracles do happen, no not the biblical one, but courtesy of the 3 stooges’ of the Comelec 2nd division. The jokers unseated a man of the cloth Ed Among Ed Panlilio as Pampanga Governor for cheating.

The Comelec Second Division, yes the very same people who discriminated against Ang Ladlad like a Neo-Con/Talibani extremist headed by Comelec Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer with members Comelec Commissioners Lucenito Tagle and Elias Yusoph found sufficient ‘merit’ in Lilia Pineda’s electoral protest.

Once again just like the ruling they handed against Isabela Governor Grace Padaca the 3 stooges’ handed down their ridiculous 11,000 pages decision that in effect branded the man of god of cheating and harassment of voters. What kind of a decision will take11,000 pages is just beyond comprehension, thanks and no thanks to the digital world they have found a new tool to make life miserable for people out of favor or opposing the administratong.

Well, as proven in Isabela Governor Grace Padaca’s ouster where their ruling was literally lifted or should we say copy pasted from the petitioners lawyers documentation that took thousand of pages requiring volunteers to go through the documents full of inconsistencies, errors and worse page duplication. I suspect it will be the same scenario with these 11,000 pages, a ploy to discourage filing of a motion to reconsider because of time constraint which they the stooges’ errr 2nd division alone can decide if they will give them a 2 to 5 days extension. Of course Ferrer acting as if they are stickler for rules and procedures has already voiced out that they will deny the request because they are “bound” by the rules of procedure.

Lilia Pineda the wife of alleged Jueteng Lord Bong Pineda of all things accused Among Ed a man of the cloth of cheating and harassing the voters. How exactly did he harass the voters if I may ask? Did Among Ed shove the bible in their faces and told them they will burn in hell if they vote for former Buko (coconut) vendor turned politician “philanthropist’ as in doling out crumbs to the poor people of Pampanga courtesy of her husband the alleged Jueteng Lord Bong Pineda’s thriving “business.” Did the supporters of former buko vendor and his armed bodyguards cower and trembling hysterically in fear like little baby girls at the site of Among Ed thinking they will be condemned in hell?

I say enough of the madness and call for the impeachment of these rouges out to sabotage the will of the people.

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Politics corruption scandals Filipinos Filipino-Americans Philippine Politics

Ano ang aking pamasko?

ni: Among Ed Panlilio

Sadyang napakalaki ng gastos ng mga trapo sa Paskong ito bilang paghahanda nila sa dara­ting na halalan sa Mayo 2010. Pinapatawag nila ang mga kapitan, barangay tanod, barangay health workers, senior citizens, konsehal at mga mayor at binibigyan nila ng pera, bigas o hamon.
Tuwang tuwa naman ang ating mga kababayan sa kanilang tinanggap na pamasko. Kahit papaano mayroon silang pang noche buena o pantustos sa marami nilang gastusin.?Nakakatakot nga lang ang sitwasyon na kung maupo ang mga trapong ito pagkatapos ng eleksiyon. Mas tiyak pa sa pagsikat ng araw kinaumagahan, ang lahat ng mga ito ay babawiin sa yaman ng bayan.?Mayroon pa nga silang dahilan na maging tiwali sapagkat ganyan naman daw talaga ang kalakaran sa ating bansa sa larangan ng pulitika.

Nagkakaroon ako tuloy ng pag-iisip. Sabi nga nila, kaya mo lang ibigay kung ano ang nasasaiyo. Hindi ka nga naman makapagbibigay ng isang bagay na wala ka. Bilang lingkod po ng aming probinsiya at sapagkat hindi naman ako mayaman, wala akong pamaskong pera, bigas at hamon para sa aming mga kababayan. Kaya, ano naman ang aking pamasko sa Pampanga?

Ang aking handog sa mga Kapampangan sa Paskong ito ay ang halos dalawa at kalahating taong paninilbihan sa probinsiya. Ito po ay paninilbihan ng buong katapatan, na may kaayusan, kahusayan at kalinisan. Ibinalik natin sa kapitolyo ang marangal na panunungkulan. Inalis natin ang katiwalian sa pangongolekta ng kita sa quarry, tinanggal ang komisyon sa paggawa ng mga inprastraktura at bi nura natin ang SOP sa pambili o procurement sa mga iba’t ibang kagamitan.

Sa pamamagitan nito, mas dumami ang serbisyo na ating naipaaabot sa ating mga kababayan tulad ng mga kalsadang napagawa, napaganda ang sampung ospital ng probinsiya, napagara natin ang Arnedo Park sa tapat ng kapitolyo, mas malimit at marami ang mga maralitang kababayan ang napaabutan ng tulong galing sa liblib na barangay, mas napahusay natin ang suporta sa marami nating maliliit na negosyante. Nabigyan ng pansin at pagkalinga ang ating mga kababayan na katutubo, mga taong may kapansanan, mga batang nagdurusa sa malnutrisyon, senior citizens, kababaihan at kabataan.

Sa isang salita, ang aking naging pamasko ay hindi isahan o panandalian.

Naging tuluy-tuloy at mas makahulugan pala ito. Ito rin po ay naging sama-samang pagkilos. Sa pamamagitan ng aming, pinagkaisang sipag at direksiyon ng paglilingkod, mas naging epektibo at mabunga ang aming ginawa. Mas higit pa sa mga materyal na pinagkaloob, nakapag-alay kami ng pag lilingkod na galing sa puso at sa kalooban.

Ito pong nagampanan namin sa kapitolyo ng Pampanga ay malapit sa naging pamasko ng ating Panginoon na si Hesus. Wala po siyang kayamanang pinagkaloob. Ngunit ang handog niya ay ang kanyang sarili na punung-puno ng pagmamahal.

Siya nawa ang inyong pagpapala sa Paskong ito.

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Filipinos Philippine Politics Politics

Who wants Megalomaniac Gloria Arroyo in the house?

Its official Gloria Arroyo of the Garci Lady fame is ruining, yes ruining the electoral process in her bid to demote herself to be Pampanga’s representative in the house of thieves’ oooops I meant Congress.

This is like the rats abandoning a sinking ship with the captain herself scrambling to bail out ahead of everyone of a tattered ship of their own undoing. If there is anyone that surely gets taken for a ride, it is no other than Bigo Teodoro getting the short end of the stick when Arroyo cunningly handed the chairmanship of their political party Palaka. I suspect Bigo’s running mate Edu Manzano may have to sell his house again to fund their campaign since La Gloria will require a big chunk of the fund to buy errrr get her elected. The only consolation for Edu Manzano is that he can’t see China from his backyard anyway unlike his counterpart Sarah Palin’s where she sees Russia, so it will not be difficult to let go of his house the second time around.

Pampanga being the Jueteng capital of the Philippines you expect her godson Pampanga Mayors league president Dennis Pineda the anak ng Jueteng (son of illegal numbers game Jueteng) lord Bong Pineda to lead the flock in handing over a resolution signed by 20 mayors asking her to “heed the clamor of her constituency to run as congresswoman.” Sweet, Jueteng inspired clamor backed by cobramen and women is enough for her to heed the demotion, after all cheating errr seating in the house of ill refute errr lower house will serve as her jumping board like a toad toward a house speaker position. A powerful position in a house so used to the mob numbers game in their bid to pass off a parliamentary type of governance so she can once again be the top honcho as the prime sinister errr minister. That is if they don’t get walloped and find herself in the minority. Should she find herself in that eventuality, all is not lost after all she can always stay in tongress for 3 terms with the kind of election and voters Pampanga has, she definitely gets a free jail pass.

Of course the big kahuna of Jueteng endorses her telling a story telling a lie that she is needed in Pampanga because of her wide and extensive connections. I wonder what that meant. Was it connection to ensure Pampanga stays the capital of Jueteng but what Pineda don’t realize is Gloria’s propensity to grab power and he might end up getting demoted back to being a cabo with Lady Gaga este Gloria Arroyo taking the helm of the Jueteng empire. Ok, maybe it is silly to think along that line but when Joseph ‘Erap’ Estrada nationalized Jueteng he was deposed and the incoming La Presidenta did not have a problem when the national operation was transferred in her hometown so guess what she maybe capable of doing.

Is Pampanga a hopeless case and a basket case that the Kapampangans will allow this delusional people to turn the election into a circus freak show to prevail? Not that it is not already a circus with ex-convicts and known criminals running for public office, what is sad is it is getting worse. Poor Governor Ed ‘Among Ed’ Panlilio, now he has to contend with not just the thugs of the Jueteng kind and Lahar Quarry thieves dominating the local government cheats errr seats but a plunderer friend, patron of warlords, and their paid hacks of alipunga (athlete’s foot) errr alipures (running dogs) ganging up on him, and they say this election is not a battle of good versus evil? Tough luck for her propagandist trying desperately to fool the people into thinking that this election is supposed to be one conducted on platform and not on personality. Yeah right, with her entry it definitely becomes a battle of good vs. evil as she definitely represents everything that is evil in personality and patronage politics.

We can’t blame Randy David from backing out realizing that he is up against a woman so drunk with power who will not relinquish her presidential position in running for a lower position. But then again it is not just about winning; because we always know that it is a long shot winning in a patronage politics in their own game. It is first and foremost about standing up against a woman that epitomizes everything that is so wrong in this nation. If we don’t step up the plate and counter the shady clamor of the dregs of society we will be at the mercy of trapos in their Mafiosi type of governance. If there is a real clamor for Randy David to run there is no reason he will not change his mind and with firm resolve coming from people longing for change to prove to ourselves for the sake of our sanity that we are indeed hungry and ready for new politics.

So who wants megalomaniac Gloria Arroyo in the house? Seriously if you are into Jueteng, plunder, warlord, patronage, corruption and all that is wrong in the Philippines then you have no problem seeing her in the lower house and do nothing. But then again her win will prove only one thing..... decent law abiding Filipinos are the minority dying breed and overrun by misfits. If you want to help out you can start by joining I Support RANDY DAVID Candidacy Against GMA and Randy David for Congressman cause at FaceBook and be counted in this epic battle of a David against a dwarf errr giant.

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