Saturday, December 13, 2008

The Failed Rally Predators are Waiting in the Shade

It seems the interfaith rally at Makati City –an investment haven where Jejomar Binay wanted to paralyze and be downgraded- Friday, did not generate the thousands participation the oppositions were expecting. Jose Velarde, in disgrace, immediately went home -sensing that his 50 thousand audience expectations would not materialized- and attended to his ailing mother as an alibi. The bishops, the priests, the nuns, the deranged civil societies, the communists, the degenerated politicians, the misinformed and paid audience; they are the Somali Pirates camouflage in the sea of crowds. However, their prayers were not heard above and instead sent forth continuous rains in the morning to defeat the rally assemblies.

 

God must have been always on the side of Gloria. As has been said, Manny Pacquiao’s boxing accomplishment outscored Gloria’s economic worries and other misgivings. She has been always saved not by the bell but by nature’s understanding ways. Those who cannot wait until 2010 election wanted to replace her unconstitutionally and therefore chaos and disarray will be immediate results. They are the bishops and their cohorts who want to dictate and be the administrator of the state. They are the doom-makers who are too eager to see the Philippines reeling in disgrace and demeaned in poverty. They are the new breed of politicians who want to lead through the ruins of his constituencies and be president at all cost and impose their draconianisms. And they are all not for the country’s well being but solely for their selves’ aggrandisement.

 

The failed demonstration was not planned for the purpose of opposition to charter change but as a cover to dethrone the president and destroy the duly constituted government. They only failed to muster enough followers to constitute people power as the bishops have been harping on during the past few days. If for true reason they do not want amendments to the constitution, we have many options to reject it in the plebiscite. We are not in Marshall Law as was imposed by the previous dejected regime and we have all the freedom with responsibilities to abide by the legal well of the people.

 

We are the modern civilized people of the Philippines and we welcome beneficial changes in a civilized and legal ways. Hidden and self-serving motives can be injected to unenlightened populace but not to educated citizenship. Enough of power grabs and power greed. Leaders are borne and not made. I love my Philippines and would not let it to be fed to the vultures larking in the shade.

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Friday, December 12, 2008

On My Daughter’s Wedding

I’ve got busy activities in the past few days. I was not able to cope up with my regular posting schedule, not even a post which is full of quotations from unreferenced source. I was preoccupied by wedding preparations of my daughter, Myla, last December 6.

 

We completed all the necessary programs; the St. John Bosco church for the nuptial rites, the Manila Polo Club wedding reception hall, and the 5-star Intercontinental hotel where the bride is to wear her wedding gown. An executive guest room and an adjacent family suite were occupied to accommodate the video taping space, the make-up artists, and number of personnel assisting the bride and her entourages.

 

I was particularly concerned with the Father of the Bride Speech. I searched the internet for the appropriate words and guidelines in preparing my speech. I found so many speeches that somewhat compounded my difficulties for reasons of varied audience and situations. Later, I will post it here and how I delivered my speech which elicited so much praise and criticisms by jealous friends and somewhat offended audience.

 

Soon, I will be narrating this once-in-a-lifetime experience as Father of the Bride and make amend of my post shortcomings.

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Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Proof of Co2 Not Global Warming Cause

(Publish earlier at Warming Sun) No more global warming. It is the regular climate cycle that the earth is normally experiencing now. Alaska is freezing. Alaskan Glaciers grow for the first time in 250 years . The quiet sun has been registering: 2008 is the number three most spotless days. But carbon dioxide emission is continually increasing providing proofs that it cannot cause global warming. Read more on this article...

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Impeachment? Oh, Glory To God!

Congress is just wasting their time in trying to muster the attention of the audience in their theatrical performances replaying the impeachment proceeding four times where they themselves politically benefited. Thinking that they can get the popularity and free publicity from the media -who have the fancy of painting mud on the incumbent president- those congressmen particularly the opposition party list representatives are angry that the latest impeachment process was untimely junk by 42-8 votes of the House Committee on Justice and declared the impeachment complaint “insufficient in substance” or rather kaput.

 

It is not only the opposition congressmen and party list riders who are dying mad into frustrations by the “killing of impeachment” but the Pontius Pilates of the Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines. They are particularly irked by the used of analogy to crucify Gloria by Cebu Rep. Pablo Garcia, Sr. They are mad in the comparrison of the opinion survey to discredit the President as has been used in judging Jesus Christ. (Garcia should have said, “Whom would you prefer, De Venecia or Barabas to be crucified?”) Puerto Princesa Bishop Pedro Arigo in his disapprobation soberly said: “Let’s keep our sense of respect for religious matters,” discounting the fact that they are overstepping on Ceasar’s backyard. They go beyond the limit of their religious diocese and jumping on the matters of the State. They are now campaigning for the President’s ouster by force and out of the bounds of the constitution together with the likes of Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, the CBCP president, and Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz of Lingayen-Dagupan –where the terrorists prosper and burned many buses in his archdiocese.

 

I do not approve the actuations of the Catholic bishops who encroach in the authority of the State. I grew embracing the catholic Christian faith but the way they are herding us to unreligious upbringing, where can I turn-to to fire-up my faith?

 

I believe they cannot unseat Gloria as what we did with Jose Velarde whose accounts kept the oppositions kicking and barking.

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Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Global Warming is Nothing But Money

The global warming business is now on the global money earning stage. Its proponents are now busy extending loan to Asian countries with projects related to climate change and global warming.

After the global warming instigators have taken possession of the United Nations through IPCC and scrambling throughout the world and scaring people of catastrophic effect of unmitigated carbon dioxide emission; they are frantically competing in refinancing high-interest project loans link to mitigation of CO2 and global warming scare. Billions of dollars and euros have been provided to countries with projects related to reforestation, water treatment, renewable energy, and anything which have something to do with clean energy under the red herring of green environment. (Pls. see the original article at Warming Sun.)

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Tuesday, November 25, 2008

10,000 Jobs in Australia & 1,000 Workers for Citigroup

I was quite elated upon hearing 10,000 and one thousand more jobs for Filipino workers needed locally and abroad. This is exciting and stimulating news after a back to back announcement of laid-off and company bankruptcy. Despite of the job cuts being announced worldwide due to financial trouble experienced by labor intensive companies, Filipino workers are being sought and relied upon to man the offices of recuperating economies of the world. And the Philippines is riding out of the crisis.

Sipping a hot and aromatic barako coffee -considered superior to Robusta and Arabica varieties- I glanced with eagerness the early local TV morning program, the “Umagang Kayganda” of ABS-CBN, announcing the 10,000 jobs for Filipino workers in Australia. Interestingly glued to the program, I waited fifteen minutes for the details of the job announcements but it’s just an upbeat statement. I too become optimistic, lingering in my thought that this will be a big boost to overseas job-seekers who are already losing hope to be gainfully employed. Unemployment is a nightmare to workers unable to land a job and a bailout approval of ailing institutions will be a sure job generating cure.

Switching my computer on and searching the internet, I arrived at Pinoy Bloggers Society site. And a glaring article “Citigroup to hire 1,000 workers in Philippines” grabbed and revitalized further my curiosity thereby expounding more on the implication of demand and uniqueness of the Filipino workers. Citigroup will require more Pinoy workers early next year in its call center and financial reporting operations in the Philippines. The Manila Standard Today reported that:

“Citigroup Inc. will have $306 billion of troubled mortgages and toxic assets guaranteed by the US government under a federal plan to stabilize the bank after its stock fell 60 percent last week. Citigroup also will get a $20-billion cash infusion from the Treasury Department, adding to the $25 billion the bank received last month under the Troubled Asset Relief Program.”

With this development the said bank is breathing new life into its system and specifically requires Filipino workers. There are questions as to why Filipinos are being hired and why is it in the Philippines where Citigroup planned to expand its overseas operation. And there are good and unfair comments as to the demand of Filipino workers but as Citigroup's country business manager Mark Jones was quoted as saying: "There's a whole lot of activity moving in the Philippines as we grow our businesses. Citi is moving more equity in the Philippines. If you look at the business, we're repositioning globally."

Despite of the mud being painted by the bunch of opposition groups, the Philippine government is remarkably outpacing its Asian neighbors in overcoming the onslaught of the world economic depression. And I am proud to be a Pinoy!

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Thursday, November 20, 2008

Distress Calls at the Horn of Africa

A Thailand flag flying boat is heading from Oman to Yemen loaded with goods humanity needs. And suddenly, they were being chased by two speedboats. They sent a distress call to Sirichai Fisheries Co., Ltd.; but the message was cut off midway. Mayday! Mayday! . . . A distress call may not have completed, at least three times, to emphasize the urgency of the call. The pirates might have already boarded. As it was, Somali pirates have boarded and seized the vessel and the crew were held hostage at gun point.

This was the statement of Wicharn Sirichaiekawat, manager of the Thai fishing company that operates the “Ekawat Nava 5,” which was the latest ship held hostage by Somali pirates, last Tuesday, base on AFP report. And another, a Hong Kong cargo ship, The Delight, carrying tons of wheat, was also hijacked by Somali Pirates on the same date. And another supertanker, a Ukrainian ship, loaded with heavy weapons and assorted ammunitions that may fall in the hands of terrorists’ organizations . . . and another much heavier supertanker, “the Sirius Star, with a capacity of 2 million barrels of crude oil, was hijacked by Somali pirates Saturday, some 450 miles (725 kilometers) off the Kenyan port of Mombasa”. . . and maybe more!

The hijacking incidents perpetuated by the Somali pirates have gone out of control. How many more ships or cargo vessels will fall in the hands of these modern-day-ransom-hungry pirates before an all-out and final action can be effected? These pirates have inflicted too much harm on sea-plying vessels which resulted too much tragedy the world should not overlook. These ships, transporting goods and services to the needy and doing fair and legal jobs are always intimidated at gun point –helpless to depend her selves. What is the International Maritime Bureau doing? Why can’t the UN Security Council condemned the Somalian criminal activities. Piracy is the thing of the past and in our modern day world, international irritation should not stay long as an ugly misdeed of the few. A concerted international action can be swiftly undertaken to avoid further economic impairment. UN should authorize the use of force against these gangs as they can be considered terrorists and deserve utmost punishment. Somali pirates are only handful criminals victimizing the world’s seafaring nationals and this should not happen as a day-to-day threat in one of the world’s busiest sea lanes. The maritime authorities should act with dispatch to avert a more disastrous event.

I am seriously concerned as I am a Filipino. Majority of the crew victims are Pinoy. There are 134 total numbers of Filipino seafarers currently in Somali pirates’ hands and since the beginning of the year, 39 ships have been hijacked in the Gulf of Aden –in the Somali Peninsula considered as the “Horn of Africa,”- out of 95 attacked according to GMA news. Many of international seafaring lines are manned by Filipinos and more and more families are dependent on maritime industries for a living. If their means of livelihood will be always exposed in grave and imminent danger, what future aspirations will they be in . . . an added burden to society? Or an added number to the poor, patronizing poverty?

Where is the world going? A handful of criminals holding the civilized-spaced-age-world hostage while they maintain their sumptuous lifestyles and a yearly $30m lucrative business! Oh! What a great shame to humanity!

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Monday, November 17, 2008

The October 2008 Temperature NASA-GISS Is Doctoring

Why are the many chances that the NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) tampering of climate data being allowed to pass without even reprimanding those responsible officials? They should be made to explain why they are doing this when the world are always searching for truth. NASA-GISS is being funded by peoples’ tax and they should be made accountable. There must be congressional investigations on these irregularities to prevent people, like James Hansen, from distorting further climate record and corrupting the truth. People are dependent on NASA-GISS for climate data and it is the source where researchers are referencing the information to arrive into a conclusive report. If data to be sourced from said space study center are full of anomalous manipulations, where can we now rely for true and uncorrupted records? If this is being done by only one man, why is he being retained in his post, why not let his head roll on his stupidity and insane thing. Why can’t we petition that Hansen be laid-off from NASA-GISS and be put inside the coal plant chimney where he helped Greenpeace activists to be freed from criminal charges in causing damages to the said Kingsnorth plant in Kent. There, he will realize the global warming concoction he has been profiting for so long a time. According to Meteorologist Art Horn from Icecap, Dr. James Hansen has been doctoring the temperature data between the late 1970s and the late 1990s and eventually reconstructing a new “Hockey Stick” graph to support his global warming legerdemain. See more @ Warming Sun Read more on this article...

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Religion: An Instigator of Unrest

Ranking Catholic Bishops are fond of playing politics with the Philippines government. They are always in the forefront in criticizing the government even if the issue has nothing to do with religion. They are a savvy group equating the unpopular guidelines of the state into a ”social and moral cancer” and hence construed as connected with the Christian faith. They are always instigating the people to rise against the government and it seems they act corroboratively with the visions and aspirations of the radical left.

Only recently, Archbishop Angel N. Lagdameo, Archbishop of Jaro and CBCP President called the people to rise and oust the government of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo anticipating the global financial crisis that may contribute or may fuel the people’s uprising. He further cited that “liberators” are just around the corner and they are ready to support a people power revolt against Gloria Arroyo. Lately, Caloocan bishop Deogracias Iñiguez Jr. was prompting the house representatives to proceed with the impeachment proceeding and appealing to take it seriously to ensure Arroyo’s ouster.

The same with other sect, religious leaders are advocating the immediate downfall of the present government. Bro. Eddie Villanueva, leader of Jesus Is Lord, is also supporting the move of Archbishop Lagdameo to pin down Arroyo. It may be recalled that Villanueva even sought the Philippine presidency when he ran for president in the 2004 election using his religion as his political party or the Bangon Pilipinas Party thinking that he can dislodge President Arroyo.

The separation of religion and the state is no longer recognized by the many bishops and leaders of the religious congregations in this country. There is now a one-way exchange of benefits. The government recognizes the privileges of religions not only in terms of devotion and other activities but of free taxes as well. Religious parties are in all forms business enterprises and their commerce are considered the best and the most expensive today. And they even engaged in the lowest business activity of “Pinoy”, the “Hot Pandesal” business. And all their profits are sent or remitted outside of the state in a form of dollars. It is a significant loss to the state and may be the reason why the Philippines is considered as one of the poorest in Asia today –it is the only Christian country in the region. And religion has an unending demand to the state up to the extent of changing government policy and it basic constitution.

Religion is one of the major sources of the world conflict today. This has been the purpose of Millennium World Peace Summit that was called by the United Nations. And if religion will always transgress or interfere in the ways the government is running the administration of the state; conflicts are here to stay and to the detriment of the Pilipino Nation.

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Wednesday, November 12, 2008

World Bank Provides Funds To Terrorists?

I thought funds contributed to World Bank are for rural developments. The money from the rich countries is to be channeled to the poor. And this is one of the worthwhile purposes of its establishment. But why contribute to terrorists who thrive on kidnapping and murder of innocent civilians?

I was dumbfounded upon getting information from the Philippines’ daily newspapers that the World Bank contributed funds to MILF-Abu Sayyaf terrorists group. I understand that the trust fund from the World Bank and other contributing countries provided funding for the rebuilding of Mindanao and other conflict-affected areas but not to the dreaded head-cutter menaces that were alluded to be funded allegedly by World Bank! Unthinkable! Unsound and unjust! Come to think of it. These rascals and fearsome killers have just raided several towns in Central Mindanao in August, killing more than 60 civilians and innocent children, destroying properties, setting fire countless of houses, and displacing close to 150,000 residents. Are they worthy of support from the world fund body whose primary concern is for the upliftment of the rural populace?

MILF-Abu Sayyaf leaders are wanted and millions of pesos are the prize on their heads –dead or alive. Prominent on the wanted list are: Umbra Kato, Abdullah Macapaar alias Bravo, and Aleem Pangalian. There is a standing suggestion from Senator Richard Gordon to double the prize on the terrorists’ head to ensure that they are taken into custody. Higher prize is hard to resist even by their closest aides and the suggestion is quite convincing and may have reason to be taken into consideration.

If there is actually trust fund –phase 1 was already disbursed by the beneficiaries which was launched in Cotabato City on March 27, 2006, as reported- provided by World Bank and other donor countries, it should be intended to the reconstruction of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and not to Bangsamoro Juridical Entity who is seeking unconstitutionally to be an independent and separate state? MILF and Abu Sayyaf are the armed combatants of the Muslim secessionist party and are often link to al-Qaeda, particularly the Abu Sayyaf. They mix together and hide in their camps to evade pursuing government authority whenever they are being apprehended for numerous crimes committed. By their terroristic activities in Central Mindanao which was later labeled as terrorist by the international community, it is quite surprising to hear that they are aided by the fund from the world financial institution.

Instead of providing funds to millions of victims of malnutrition, food, and shelter to evacuees caught in conflict of wars in Congo, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and other parts of the world and those suffering refugees brought about by natural disasters such as fires, earthquakes, typhoons, flood, and hurricanes throughout the world; World Bank should not be rumored to be funding terrorists group who were reported to be using the funds in buying guns and ammunitions to annihilate the helpless and terrified populace! The Bangsamoro Development Authority is trying to cover up and downgrading the issue saying that “BDA officials didn't lose hope that the issue will linger only for moments and will eventually disappear leaving the agency unscathed by the controversy,"

Be that as it may, lingering doubts as to the motives of participation by the World Bank and other foreign countries cannot be just set aside. Why are they interested in a separate Mindanao State? Is it up for grabs for its rich natural resources? All developed countries are risking lives and the ire of international community in acquiring more territory instead of giving off. Why are Philippine officials letting it off? What a maze and stupid acts, many are those who are not contented with what they have. When will be they satisfied?

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Monday, November 10, 2008

Obama: A Dream Fulfilled And A Victory Of The People Of The World

America’s exciting possibilities, anything can happen in the so-called land of the free. These are the words emitting from his mouth right on the night when he fulfilled the dream, a dream of change in scores of centuries ago is an impossible dream. Today he is the President, yesterday he was not allowed to vote.

Barack Hussein Obama did not only have encashed the check, he now heads the bank of justice. This is the vision of Martin Luther King, Jr., when he declared in his speech, “I Have a Dream,” as follows:

“This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." . . .But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.”

Today you can be satisfied that Negro cannot only vote in Mississippi but voted as President of the Land of Promise -the United States of America. Today “the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners” will be sitting down at the same table and at the same podium shouting together the brotherhood of all nations and together will clear and traverse –and sleep in the same hotel without the signs “For the Whites Only”- on the road to greatness no matter how insurmountable. Today, right there in “Alabama little black boys and black girls” are now joining hands with “little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers” in enjoying internet games and playing in the same playground or Internet Café and together growing up in the pursuit of change Obama is dreaming of.

Let it not be a reminder of jealousy everytime you will feel the presence of Obama and his family in the White House. For so long the Negro was issued a bouncing check, now he is the one signing it.

And finally, let the victory of Obama be the enlightening memento of change not only in the so-called land of the free but in the whole world where everyone is free to roam in the pursuit of his stead and contentment.

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Tuesday, November 4, 2008

It’s Barack Obama In American Presidency

It is done. Barack Obama is the elected President of the United States of America. A new American history was unfolded. Obama is the first black African-American elected president.

I congratulate Obama for his outstanding accomplishment. He has opened a new beginning, a new perspective of American politics. He has shown the true color of the American people –it is the spirit and not the skin.

I, too, appreciate the way John McCain conceded defeat with high esteem to the winning opponent. And I regard McCain with greatest respect when he said with a sense of humility: “All candidates make mistakes and I share a part of it.” He further added: “The failure is mine not yours.” With these statements of McCain, I am also saying … Sorry for everything I wrote which might have offended him. It’s just politics and I’ll be contributing in my little way in healing the divide I too have shared with.

To those with the winning bet. . . go down and collect!

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The American Presidency Is Just A Ball Away

‘Just like to be updated what is in today. I have been watching the American Election development and trend -the unfolding event in an American history, right on our naked eye.

I’m sharing to you some of my observations on both protagonists in the presidency. These persist in my mind and just don’t like to fade away before the contest is done.

John McCain’s 26 years in American Congress provide him a decaying judgment. In his long years of service in the government, he has learned so many tricks. Like a “Mahjong Player” he threw old and less reliable tiles and drew unknown and luck-like tile. (See, he cannot stretch his arms straight just like holding mahjong tiles on a worn-out table.) This can be reflected by his choice of Sarah Palin who lacks the experience and it appears that she is viewed as unfit for the position of Vice President –a clear successor if anything happens to an aging President.

And this is my bias notes for the other candidate:

Cafe BarakObama is like a billiard player. Always pointing his stick on a weak-placed ball and managed to slick in a crowded corner. He prefers a long shot on a freshly furnished table in what he called a shot for change. And looks like a presidency ball is already in his table’s pocket.

In a few hours, Barack Obama will be the change. The Change America has been looking for. Wanna change your bet?

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Monday, November 3, 2008

Trip To Memorial Park: A Sacrifice For The Living

Traffic is worst when I thought it’s less. Thinking November 2, “All Souls Day” is the appropriate time to go to cemetery, I preferred the said date to visit our dead dearest ones. But to my disappointment and as if all the wrath of purgatory showered to every motorist on the road, my timing was the worst I may never forget.

Few days before “All Saints’ Day”, I was already planning how I will visit our beloved departed. We are from Laguna, Philippines, south of Manila Memorial Park which is located in Paranaque City. My plan was to go on Sunday, November 2, and not on the first day of November to avoid traffic and crowded cemetery site. Friday and Monday sandwiching the Halloween days were regular working days and were not declared holiday as has been usually pronounced years ago by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and we have not anticipated those days as others did. We prepared candles, flowers, chairs, and temporary tent for shelter on hot day or in case it rains as the weather’s Intertropical Convergence Zone is threatening the area during the week. For food we prepared “Pansit” noddle and loaf bread as substitute to the traditional food we have in the barrio or countryside such as “Suman Sa Ibos”, Biko or rice cake, and “Kalamay.” All these are traditionally done by Filipino families in remembering their dead love ones on “All Saints’ Day.”

Came Saturday, November 1st, in the morning the weather was uncooperative. It was raining as has been forecasted by the weather bureau and many failed to make it in the cemetery. Few tried in the afternoon when the rain stopped as was broadcasted over the radio and television’s news. During the night, cemetery visitors were quite heavy as those who were unable to proceed in the morning decided to come in the evening. And these I thought would have lessened the volume of traffic for the following day.

Then, came Sunday as we have prepared with all we need and also, I saw to it that our car is road worthy to avoid any inconveniences while on travel. But the night before, my son, Ivan unexpectedly called from Singapore that he will be leaving by midnight through Philippine Airline and will be arriving by 4:00 A.M. Sunday. He requested that we fetch him from NAIA airport. So we moved again our schedule to afternoon cemetery meeting.

On our way to Manila Memorial Park, right after the exit toll gate and highway overpass at Sucat, Paranaque City, we were crawling like a turtle in the dense road. Vehicles coming from different directions converged in the only road to cemetery site. There were those who stopped on the roadside to buy candles, flowers, etc. from road peddlers, flower shops, and food vendors. All these compounded the road pandemonium. As we got near the gate of the memorial park, the more snail-paced movement we got entangled with. We reached our destination site already very, very late to the consternation of our relatives.

That short distance, we negotiated from highway junction to the park gate, took us two hours –a one and a half kilometre stretch- to enable us to get in.

I chose not to relate what happened next inside the memorial park. I’m still profusely exasperated. You too might have experienced the same –the worse sacrifice for the living!

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Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Methane and Nitrogen Triflouride: The Greenhouse Ghosts

Man-made greenhouse is the big haunted house that scares its creator. Greenhouse for gardening system was built to confuse and then evolve to greenhouse effect to keep humans in its unending worries of existence. Although the terms “greenhouse” and “greenhouse effect” operate on different mechanism, it has a similar function of heat trapping through infrared absorbing gases. And with the greenhouse gases present in the atmosphere, it keep hounding humans instead of providing a life-giving shield to all living things.

We have been warned of the hazards of man-made carbon dioxide emission as a component of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The proponents of man-made global warming were able to infuse in the minds of horrified populace that unhampered carbon dioxide emission is the main cause of warming they themselves had created. However, sensing that carbon dioxide emission will not forever hold as the causative effect of the concocted global warming hypothesis, the alarmist are now looking for scapegoats to lay the blame and to sustain their warming scare.

Methane and Nitrogen Triflouride are being eyed as the next man-made global warming culprits. Both are greenhouse gases with global warming potential (GWP) much greater than carbon dioxide. Methane has a GWP of 23 when compared to carbon over a 100 year period while Nitrogen Triflouride has a GWP of 17,200 more times greater than CO2 which has only 1 GWP. However, carbon dioxide remains an important gas in view of its higher level of presence and growth in the atmosphere. As more and more scientists have been doubting and challenging the anthropogenic global warming brought about by the increase CO2 emission, it is just appropriate for the advocates of carbon trading to lay another card. And they may be banking on the release of a research of Scripps Institution of Oceanography/UC San Diego which will be published Oct. 31 in Geophysical Research Letters, a journal of the American Geophysical Union (AGU).

Solar Panel, the provider of clean source of energy from the sun, is now being targeted as the next contaminant emitting more nitrogen triflouride in the atmosphere after painting mud and nearly demolishing the source of fossil fuel oil. It is worthwhile to mention that the said gas is used for cleaning in the manufacture of liquid crystal display of television and computer monitors and for the thin-film solar panels. According to the research, ”Nitrogen trifluoride levels in the air — measured in parts per trillion — have quadrupled in the last decade and increased 30-fold since 1978.” And in as much as it is one of the more potent gases, thousands of times stronger at trapping heat than carbon dioxide, Solar Panel, as wattsupwiththat put it, will be for naught. “There’s a new boogeyman in the world of global warming: Nitrogen Trifluoride.” With the rising popularity of Solar Panel, others will take advantage and envious to pull it down unless given a share –a slice of the pie.

Not to be ignored is the information that may be obtained from greenleft.org about Methane. The more potent gas than CO2, it is being considered as the future worry for global warming. The same research put the levels of methane gas in the atmosphere as higher than normal. This natural gas which is formed when organic matter decayed under water in marshes, swamps, and in the shallow waters of Arctic Ocean is the subject of investigation of the proponent of global warming. With the assumptions that billions of tons of methane were laid frozen in permafrost wetlands and in the ocean floor, worse warming will be a serious concern when freed as the Arctic begins to warm.

But what about water vapor? No mention has ever made with water vapors which are abundantly crowding the atmosphere. It is the major component of what they called “greenhouse gases.” If the above-mentioned gases are really the great contributor of global warming, what more of water vapor that absorbed more heat and deflect the infrared radiation back to earth to sustain life.

But these are all suppositions and conjectures, a crumbled hypothesis of man-made global warming advocacy. Human has the propensity to adapt with the natural environment of the Earth. And as the nature is always here to guide us, shall we always be haunted by greenhouse ghosts?

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Tuesday, October 28, 2008

The Money Washing Machine

It is not unusual in the police and military officers that we find from them millionaires or even billionaires after their retirement from the service. They accumulate wealth from behind the scene and concealed sources while portraying a picture of honest and incorruptible officials. In their retirement, they maintain the power and financial gains to influence subordinate officials and a ready capital either for luxurious living or for the pursuit of elective and more lucrative position in the government.

I smell a mode of systematic scheme of money laundering in the actuations of senior officers of the Philippines National Police implicated in a mess that media termed as “euro generals.” From what I know of money laundering scheme, it is a system wherein a financial transaction is buried in a haystack of legal and illegal means to elude the paper trails, its source and identity , and where the money is to be kept. Its complex network of origin is hard to detect and when the layering stage –this refers, as what Wikipedia describes, to obscure the link between the initial entry point and the end of the laundering cycle- is completed it will return to a legitimate form and its integration to the country’s financial system.

Former Philippine National Police (PNP) comptroller Eliseo dela Paz –as his retirement took effect while on travel- together with his wife were held at the Moscow airport last October 11 for possessing an undeclared amount of money as much as 105,000 Euros equivalent to P6.9 million and exceeding the allowable limit of $10,000 or roughly 8,000 Euros or P495,000. PNP officials immediately declared that the money is a contingency fund for emergency purposes and originated from authorized “cash advance” of PD Dela Paz. Upon his return to Manila, the statement was changed and that the money is from PNP Intelligence Fund to buy security equipment. With these statements, there is already an attempt to obscure the money trail with the use of word “security” and therefore its fund origin cannot be divulged for security reasons. However, the recent investigation showed that the Philippine peso was converted to Euro through a small money changer by an intermediary and in smaller transaction to avoid scrutiny and suspicion. I am convinced that this may be a form of smurfing –a term also associated with money laundering- wherein a large financial transaction is being parceled to a smaller one to conceal where it came from and to avoid detection by regulators or law enforcement agencies.

Through the persistent demand of the Philippine Senate to investigate the “Euro generals”, the PNP Chief Director General Jesus Verzosa, as stated from GMA News, ordered the filing of criminal and administrative charges to former comptroller Eliseo dela Paz and three other PNP senior officers for “committing irregularities in the funding, release and disbursement of the P6.9 million worth of cash advances dela Paz carried for the Interpol delegation in Russia.” But Dela Paz did not appear in the Senate Investigation Committee despite a subpoena issued to him.

I smell something fishy. Al Capone has been flying his kite, “Capital Flight,” and he used the term “laundromats” to hide ill-gotten wealth through placement in the money washing machine. Do I sound something unusual and fishy? Ha...Ha-Ha!

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Sunday, October 26, 2008

The Flawed Statesmanship

I do not buy the political flaunting of former House Speaker Jose de Venecia. Although his intention is to save his face from being ousted in his former post in the house of Congress, losing the leadership of their party, and that of his Joey de Venecia III who ignored delicadeza in joining and out-bided in ZTE national broadband network deal; he should not have done the endorsement of impeachment complaint of President Gloria Arroyo in the house o f Congress filed by his son.

De Venecia’s timing is ill-advised. Granting that GMA will be mudded with unfair accusations in front of the leaders of Asian and European nations on a Seventh Asia –Europe Meeting in Beijing, China, such an action is uncalled for for it is not only GMA who will be put in shame but the entire Philippines which will suffer the heavier burden of laughing stock and mockery. De Venecia should not have done this. He himself being an statesman knows the feelings and repercussions of being humiliated and be subjected to embarrassment in front of his peers during an official or international undertakings and gatherings. If an uneducated Pinoy did this in front of your guests in a certain gatherings, you may say it is unethical and unbecoming of a group member. But if a respected and well-educated official committed such an improper act, but beneficial to the purpose of opposing groups, you may also say it’s fair and just. This is the uncivilized way the opposition and the discredited society groups handled their strategy of power grabbing. They will insist whatever the cost. They are always on the guard looking for an opportune time. That is when the poor people are put in a helpless situation and hopeless of being underprivileged or seemed to be in perpetual poverty looking for someone to rescue them from hunger, it’s an easy sailing for a jealous group to seize an opportunity to grab power and lead.

They should have instead focused their actions on how they can be of help in addressing the negative effects of global financial crisis. Or they should have just remained silent instead of being an important contributory factor in the sufferings and deprivations in life of the Filipino people. With our crab mentality, where will the Filipino version of “Joe the Plumber” be in search of his rightful identity?

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Friday, October 24, 2008

Imported Cheap Cars from China

The Philippine government planned to import cheap cars from China. With this development, it is expected that the Metro Manila thoroughfares will be flooded of vehicles with perennially broke down parts. Towing business will flourish to the amazement of patrollers engaging on an easy-fast-cash scheme. And more sources of graft and bribery will prosper in every corners and darks side of the road.

Chinese cars are discredited and considered being made up of weak and easily-broken parts. Parts supplies are often termed as fake replica of genuine parts and unreliable in a prolonged and long distance travel. Trouble-free operations are less guaranteed and often met road trouble before your destination is reached. Even lately China-made replacement parts are easily worn out and do not last long compared to other car parts made locally or from other foreign source. I personally experienced having trouble and broiled with a dilemma of fake auto parts resulting to my inconveniences and failed important commitments.

I do not understand the fondness of this administration in making preferential project undertakings with the country of less dependable goods. I understand that their goods and services are low-priced; however, they are of inferior quality. Or they are superior in offering commissions and dole-outs that they easily out-bidded other good contractors. There are many projects involving this foreign establishment that are discredited and failed. But the government always insist in concluding business agreement in almost all aspect of economic trade with this foreign entity.

By March, 2009, importation of cheap cars will be arriving from China via Port Irene in Cagayan province. The use of the port which was suspected as the landing site of smuggled goods is something to browse upon. Is this the best port for business opportunity or the bargaining point for any hidden purpose?

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Thursday, October 23, 2008

Cooling Trends Continue

The following article is another proof of continuing cooling period. The graph which was cited from reliable and well respected institutions will not lie unlike the manipulated “hockey stick” graph to coincide with the planned global warming the alarmists have been concocting. Please spend a little time to read for your information and greater understanding of climate change.

Global Cooling Continues

By Roger Helmer, Straight Talking

This graph shows average global temperature records for the last five years from two of the world�s most respected meteorological institutes, the UK’s Hadley Centre, and the University of Alabama in the US. Both show a clear downward trend, and the graph contrasts that trend explicitly with the rising trend of atmospheric CO2. So we have two conclusions: first of all, Al Gore’s alarmist predictions of rapidly accelerating temperatures, run-away warming and imminent Armageddon are just plain wrong, with each year that passes adding more nails to the coffin of his disaster movie. Second, the supposed correlation between atmospheric CO2 levels and temperature just does not exist. For years, temperatures have been falling while CO2 levels have risen.

The alarmists will try to explain this by calling on short-term effects which temporarily disrupt a long-term cooling trend. But some scientists who accept the alarmist position are now suggesting that these “short-term effects” could continue for another ten years. How many decades have to pass before they recognise that they got it wrong, and that our climate mitigation policies represent a worse economic disaster than the current financial crisis?

Roger Helmer is a Conservative Member of the European parliament, and is also Honorary Chairman of The Freedom Association. He was first elected to the European parliament in 1999, and has been kept very busy ever since representing the interests of his 4.1 million constituents from in the East Midlands.In June 2004 he was re-elected for a second term, and currently sits on three committees: Environment, Unemployment and Petitions. See Roger’s web site here.

 

Source

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Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Economic Crisis and Pestering Impeachment

Pinoy’s penchant for politics never fade. In spite of economic turmoil and impending global recession, the instigator of chaos and provoker of anarchism never stop and seem to mind no economic upheavals but pursue their political ambitions whatever the cost. And their attitude of “come what may” persist as long as their personal objectives are not put in jeopardy whether the direct results are detrimental to the helpless populace.

 

The proponents of political destabilization are eking out, along with economic confusions, the filing of impeachment proceeding and embroiling Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to a mess they themselves created. The cancelled national broadband network deal with ZTE, which is the proposed constructions of telecommunication/computerization of government offices, are again being revived by those individuals who were failed bidders in the contract and who themselves should not participate in the first place in view of conflict of interest since the main proponent is a son of the Speaker of the House of Congress –this is similar to the case of a son of the Secretary-General of the United Nations who was involved in the “Oil-for-Food” programme deal with Iraqi Government. Instead of helping the government find solutions to economically survive the global financial mayhem, that may result to more sufferings not only locally but to the Filipinos working abroad, they continue to burden the administration with their stinking motives of power grabbing. They keep on feeding the people and the media of false information to sow hatred in a duly constituted government. There are so many issues that they can be of help to ease the miseries of poverty laden families of overseas Filipino workers. One way of helping them, for example, is to force Meralco to return the fees collected for meter deposits with its true interests instead of the money being given to corrupt court judges and government officials. They can provide assistance in lowering electric bills and lessen the losses being charged to electric consumers. The selfish intention of these power-obsessed oppositions did not diminished even in times of crisis. They insists with greater effort to frustrate hope and force hardship, from behind the scene, so that they will be looked upon to lead in the end – the same with the decaying style of communist agitators.

 

The economic hardship has been eroding the faith of the people to overcome the difficulties of day to day living. The impending recession is lurking just beneath the walls of harsh competition. Yet politicians are pestering and elbowing one another to be in the front line influence and power. They are unmindful of the seriousness and vulnerability of the poor to overcome the global financial crisis. The hard-hit populace are already struggling to earn a living. The prices of commodities and energy are skyrocketing. Food shortage have not yet been provided with lasting solution.

 

Overseas workers are losing jobs and are exerting more effort of finding work in every corners of the world. Their remittances –the hard dollars they earned and the lifeblood of our economy- are depleting and may soon be inadequate to support their children’s education and family subsistence. They are always in the losing end whenever there is worldwide financial crisis. As what have been said, “a Filipino house-help was put in the receiving end of bad mode whenever their employer lost money in the stock market.” They are often in the disappointing bargaining end when they are forced to swallow low pay or lost his job.

 

There must be applicable things to be done. Every Pinoys are duty-bound to find solution and to have total commitment for common good. There are times for politics. This is the time for economic patriotism. We have to get involve. Each has their own part to be performed to save mankind.

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Friday, October 10, 2008

Oil Production Off Palawan Island

The Philippines enters the list of oil producing country. With its first oil extracts off Palawan Island, the country is geared towards energy self-sufficiency in the near future. The oil produce will signal more oil exploration in the Philippines and a renewed interest in the adjacent Spratly areas.

 

The Galoc oilfields in Palawan started producing oil with “light medium crude oil with a potential high yield of light ends such as gasoline” as announced over the radio by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita at around 11:00 A.M., Thursday. GMA 7 continuously flashed the oil extract report with gleaming hope of economic upliftment in terms of energy requirement. The Galoc oilfield was discovered with the drilling of Galoc-1 in April 1981 by the Philippines Cities Service Company, but site developments were done only in 2005 when Galoc Production Company WLL farmed the area with its partners: the Otto Energy, Philodrill Corp. and Nido Petroleum Ltd. Galoc-2 was drilled by Occidental Petroleum Company in 1983.

 

In addition to Galoc oil we also produced liquified petroleum gas in the Malampaya well located 80 kilometers off the coast of Palawan Island. Oil at Malampaya well can also be produced as evidenced by the extraction of 1.88 million barrels of oil during the extended well test with a maximum oil production rate of 25,100 barrels per day. Executive Order No. 473 was issued by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on November 29, 2005, to develop oil from Camago-Malampaya reservoir which prompted the Department of Energy to coordinate with the contracting party in the safe development of oil and gas projects. As Ermita said from Inquirer.net: “The President is optimistic that this new development will positively impact on the administration’s efforts to reduce the country’s annual oil importation of $6 billion, and in turn will also contain the increasing cost of food and other commodities.” However, the Galoc oil missed the all-time record high of $147.27 per barrel price of July 11 which the operator had been anticipating and catch up with all-time low of $78 per barrel.

 

With the oil development in the offshore of Palawan Island, more oil exploration will be encouraged in the area particularly the Spratly group of islands. It is worthwhile to mention that Spratly Islands are being claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, China, Malaysia, and Brunei. It is believed that the continental shelf of Spratly is a reservoir of billions of tons of oil reserve and gas deposits. The Philippines, with its failure to pass a law relative to the archipelagic baseline requirement of the United Nation Convention on Laws of the Sea which is to expire on May 13, 2009, may lost our right on the portion of Spratly which is within our continental backyard.

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Thursday, October 9, 2008

Money Moves No Border

The hardship being experienced by the people of Mindanao seems to be endless. The residents are pestered by fear that anytime terrorists will swoop down their villages, burn their properties, and/or be the usual casualties between the raging battle of the military and the separatist group. The government is facing enormous problems in containing the peace and order in the troubled land. No solution is in sight in the pursuit of unscrupulous and outlawed fanatics being cradled by the foreign-aided separatist groups.

 

The suggestion of Senator Richard Gordon to increase the reward for anyone who can give information that would lead to the capture of terrorist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) commanders is a reasonable solution that will result greater possibility of apprehending the wanted culprits. The three hunted MILF commanders namely: Ameril Ombra Kato, Abdullah Macapaar, and Aleem Sulaiman Pangalian; have 25 million pesos bounty. Increasing the reward to 60 million or 20 million pesos each will send the rogue commanders sleepless nights and limited movements in their hiding places. Jealousy and perceived temptations within their groups may lead them to surrender. As Gordon said “people are going to report on them. They will not be able to sleep just anywhere.”

 

The suggested rewards sound tempting. Anyone in the troubled area, knowing the harsh reality of surviving and supporting a decent family living, will not hesitate to gamble. Money moves a mountain and speaks no border.

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Sunday, October 5, 2008

Pacquiao and De la Hoya: Who is Who in a Boxing Mismatch

Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, one of the world’s boxing sensations, has developed self-confidence bigger than his head. He will now fight in the level good only to a heavier boxer. He is a forklift being paired-off to a crane truck. And not of ordinary fighter building a name in boxing world but of the same power and wealth as Pacman.

 

The fight division Pacquiao is being drawn may be too much in his class. This is the level where a lightweight boxer is shifting to a welterweight division not for the reason of a boxer’s skills or unusual ability but in view of his uncontrolled weight, social standing, and age slowing movements. The limit of Pacquiao’s skills is in the lightweight division and his handlers maybe underestimating the strength of the upper level boxers. Pacman is being fitted to Oscar de la Hoya in his next fighting assignment on December 6, 2008, at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is a 12-round and non-title fight at 147-pound welterweight limit.

 

Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao, his real name, is a certified pound for pound boxer and a southpaw –Floyd Mayweather is the number one pound for pound boxer but due to his retirement the title was relegated to Pacquiao. Pacquiao, an awardee of the prestigious Ring Magazine as “Fighter of the Year,” had gone a long way in boxing. He has outgrown his class and successfully won the championship title of four boxing divisions, i.e. flyweight, super bantamweight, super featherweight, and lightweight. Now he is aiming for a welterweight limit (147 lbs.) and will be fighting a boxer with a super slugging calibre where both fighters are noted for. His opponent has been in the middleweight division (160 lbs.) going down to the welterweight fight limit. Both were on the same level of prominence and have built the same reputations they are competing and that is to be the “who is who in boxing.”

 

Oscar “Golden Boy” De la Hoya, a Mexican origin and American fighter, is a big name in boxing sports. He has outfought well-known boxers and champion of seven weight title divisions. The prizes he earned brought him fortunes as well as Pacquiao is savouring now. Both fighters are accumulating wealth out of their boxing profits. These only show that both are not only good boxers but commercial entrepreneurs as well. And the fight they are engaging now is presumed not for their fighting skills but for the promotion of boxing industry and the build up of power and wealth –De la Hoya is the founder of Golden Boy Promotions Handling their fight with Top Rank Inc., while Pacquiao is being politicized who ran and lost in the Philippine Congress election and is now being groomed by a big political party for a big post in 2010 election.

 

The fight, being considered as a mismatch, has the similarities with the failed campaign of another Filipino boxing champion in the person of Gabriel “Flash” Elorde. He also outgrowth his rank as a super featherweight champion and aimed for a lightweight division. His opponent was Carlos Ortiz, a Puerto Rican American champion who rose to the level of Jr. welterweight champion and went back to lightweight level to fight for Elorde. The fight proved too much for Elorde and led to the downfall of his boxing career.

 

I don’t want the fate of Elorde to happen with Pacquiao, our admired boxing hero.

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Wednesday, October 1, 2008

US Bailout Plan in Quandary

It’s a pity that the financial crisis hit America today. Weeks from now are Election Day and any solution that shall be programmed by the republican administration might be understood as politically motivated. But solution is to be made to arrest the declining confidence of the world financial market and the economic stability of the United States.

 

A number of big and reliable American banks are in peril of bankruptcy. Stock markets are continually losing steam -although Asian and European market gained certain percentage of recovery with the latest news that US Senate may vote in favor of the bailout package. Recently, Dow Jones’ blue chip index suffered the record drop of points far greater than what it incurred after 9/11 upheaval. Wall Street, Europe, and other international market almost experienced the same fate after the news of Monday bailout plan bogged down.

 

Representatives of the people, particularly the majority of the republican, sensing the unpopularity and economic failures of the Bush administration and to shore up their reelection bid, delivered the negative votes on the bailout bill. The anticipated political campaign credits earlier claimed by McCain in convincing the majority congressmen for a bailout votes turned out to be a disastrous defeat and consequently added more points to Obama campaign credits.

 

People believe that any program or bailout plan may only serves as temporary cure and may not work in an economic situation where the numbers of days of the Bush leadership are counted before an election day. And they foresaw the futility of the economic solutions -granting the bill was approved in congress- considering the change of administration as a result of the election. The bailout system can be undertaken by a new president who will surely have a mandate to institute new economic policies.

 

In the meantime, nervousness in the financial crisis will continue to deteriorate in spite of the slight recovery brought about by the news of expected Senate bailout votes. But the diarrhetic stock market may soon be dehydrated and the economic internal bleeding may take a hard time to recuperate.

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Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Tropical Storm "Pablo" (Higos) Now in Bicol Region

Published herewith is the latest weather bulletin from PAGASA where the tropical storm “Pablo” is heading . It is worthwhile to note that it is passing the central Philippines and the necessary precautions are hereby advised:

 

http://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/ TROPICAL STORM "PABLO" Tropical Cyclone Archive | Tropical Cyclone Warning for Shipping

 

PAGASA Track as of 8 p.m., 30 September 2008 Satellite Picture at 10 p.m., 30 September 2008

 

Severe Weather Bulletin Number SIX Tropical Cyclone Warning: Tropical Storm "PABLO" (HIGOS) Issued at 11:00 p.m., Tuesday 30 September 2008 Tropical Storm "PABLO" has made landfall over Eastern Samar and is now crossing Bicol Region.

 

Location of Center: (as of 10:00 p.m.) in the vicinity of Legaspi City or 170 km Southeast of Daet, Camarines Norte Coordinates: 13.2°N, 123.9°E Strength: Maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph Movement: Northwest at 19 kph Forecast Positions/Outlook: Wednesday evening: in the vicinity of Cabanatuan City Thursday evening: 310 kms Northwest of Dagupan City Friday evening: 620 kms West of Basco, Batanes or 200 kms Southeast of Hongkong

 

Areas Having Public Storm Warning Signal PSWS # Luzon Visayas Mindanao

 

Signal No. 2 (60-100 kph winds) Catanduanes Sorsogon Albay Masbate Ticao Island Burias Island Camarines Sur Camarines Norte Marinduque Southern Quezon Northern Samar None

 

Signal No. 1 (30-60 kph winds) Romblon Oriental Mindoro Occidental Mindoro Northern Quezon Polillo Island Aurora Batangas Laguna Cavite Rizal Bulacan Metro Manila Eastern Samar Western Samar Northern Leyte Northern Cebu Biliran Capiz Northern Iloilo Northern Antique Aklan None

 

Public Storm Warning Signal elsewhere is now lowered.

 

Residents in low-lying areas and near mountain slopes are advised to take all the necessary precautions against possible flashfloods and landslides. Likewise, those living in coastal areas under public storm warning signal number two are alerted against big waves and storm surges generated by this Tropical Cyclone.

 

The public and the disaster coordinating councils concerned are advised to take appropriate actions and watch for the next bulletin to be issued at 5 a.m. tomorrow.

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Thursday, September 25, 2008

The Debate and Bailout Plan

The move of John McCain, suspending the presidential debate on Friday with Barack Obama is only a political maneuvering to avoid further erosion of support in his bungling campaign. He knew he cannot parry the issues that may be raised by Obama regarding the economic and more particularly the financial crisis being blamed with the republican administration. President George Bush is seeking a 700 Billion tax dollar bailout with congress and this is the reason McCain is using to evade political debate.

 

Bush further invited McCain and Obama for a joint meeting with congressional leaders to conform to McCain’s debate suspension move. With such arrangement, any suspicion that McCain is diverting the issues of campaign shortcomings will be covered by what they think a more pressing concerted actions which are needed to be implemented immediately. However, this costly bailout plan is not pleasing with the concerned American taxpayers. In the first place, why are they being made to suffer of the consequences of the mess created by these private financial giants after they have profited from the flawed operation favoring only the few? But Bush is duty-bound to act with dispatch which will cost the jobs of millions of the Americans if not treated with the right solutions. And this is the most applicable justification to save McCain’s candidacy from the harms that maybe inflicted by the republican’s faulty economic programs.

 

McCain and Obama, however, cannot do anything with the financial crisis congressional meeting. Any move or suggestions coming from them will be interpreted as political grandstanding. The financial crisis solution can be taken up in the debate involving both the presidential protagonists and whatever bright ideas that may be brought up can be included in the bailout plan that may be approved by congress. And the debate, if can be pushed through, will be both beneficial to the crisis solution and the candidates; and the voters, as well, will be provided an intelligent choice of the candidates’ economic and leadership perceptions.

 

Hence, McCain’s postponement of the debate will not be construed as evading or running out of the direct confrontation regarding their respective platform of governance. He can distance himself from Bush’s busted economic and performance images.

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Sunday, September 21, 2008

Losing Spratly on May 13, 2009

House Bill 3216 otherwise known as “An Act Defining the Archipelagic Baselines of the Philippine Archipelago, Amending for the Purpose Republic Act 3046, as Amended by Republic Act 5446” is still pending in the house of congress. Time is of the essence as the United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS) requires every archipelagic nation to establish its archipelagic baseline by May, 2009, is fast approaching.

 

But the senate is not discussing the details of the baseline law. They are instead on the disagreement who will head the technical working group. Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago which head the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations as Chairman designated Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita as Head of the Senate Technical Working Group on the baseline bill. Detained opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes questioned the legality and impropriety of the participation of Secretary Ermita being an executive officer violating the doctrine of separation of powers with the legislative branch. Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. likewise deplored Senator Santiago’s move.

 

With the “undue and unusual interest” the administration senator and the executive branch are exhibiting in altering the lower house version of the baseline bill, there is no assurance that the Philippines can catch up with the ten year deadline. And it will be an international shame on our part considering that the Philippines is one of the important contributor in establishing UNCLOS. With barely eight months left before May l3, 2009, deadline we will become again the international laughing stock and will be subjected to mockery being the only State which has the strong basis of ownership of the backyard reefs but unrecognized due to its faltering policy as an archipelagic state.

 

We have been distracted by economic crisis, the Muslim secessionist movement, and the present political posturing relative to 2010 national election; and the executive branch seems to be not in a hurry passing the baseline bill. What will be the outcome if we fail to come up with the UNCLOS requirements? This is a quintillion dollars question of tomorrow. I hope our government officials will be ready to answer for the consequences of their late actions. And the future generation will be hurling the blame to their forebears’ incompetence, stupidity, and worthlessness.

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Thursday, September 18, 2008

Living In the Climate Of Fear

Fear monger is still the best way to convince people. It is always associated with the man-made global warming alarmist to instil the scenario of doom to force their campaign for carbon trading and related industries. This is an ordinary sales strategy that creates human sense of duty before asking why.

 

And this is the trademark of professionals connected with James Hansen, Chief of Goddard Institute of Space Studies (NASA’s primary climate monitoring agency), specialising in the climate of fear and scare factor and responsible in predicting climate catastrophe. One of his Filipino disciple, NASA physicist Dr. Josefino Cosimo, is studying the effects of man-made global warming in the Philippines. He is working on a climate project that will be funded by the Philippine government. He has issued a warning in a conference of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration with Hansen’s standard that “sea levels could rise 23 feet and high ocean temperatures could deplete fish stocks and several species of plants and animals.” He further added that “the Philippines is among countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.” With this scenario of fear, He has caught the attention of Malacanang –the country’s main set of power- which, however, branded his warning as a “doomsday scenario” that will lead to the flooding of Manila City and destruction of aquatic resources.

 

Climate of fear was started by Hansen in 1970 and was given prominence in 1980 when he submitted a report “announcing that the planet was getting noticeably warmer and ‘for the first time the greenhouse effect made page one of the New York Times’.” This led further to the formation of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in Villach, Austria, with the participation of then US vice president Al Gore, author of “The Inconvenient Truth.” With their partnership, they developed a well-planned man-made global warming by tuning climate temperature records, i.e. “hockey stick” suited to the conclusion that there indeed is man-made warming through carbon dioxide fossil fuel emission. The “hockey stick” graph was extensively used by IPCC in its sponsored global warming guidelines but was found erroneous by McIntyre-McKitrick in the examination of proxy data used in the temperature estimate from 1400 to 1980. They concluded that the said graph contains “four categories of error: collation errors, unjustified truncation and extrapolation, use of obsolete data, and calculation mistakes. Correcting for these error, they found that temperature for the early 15th century was actually higher than the 20th century.” And Hansen was dumb-muted with these findings.

 

Hansen even predicted that “signs of man-made climate change would not be detectable until around 2000.” But to date global cooling is instead being felt as manifested by the delayed solar cycle 24. The less activity of the sun, as no sunspot and solar flare are noticeable per NASA records, solar physicists are one in stating that everytime the sun is spotless, the colder the earth will experience.

 

With the same climate of fear warning the Filipino physicist is expounding , inspite of the fact that US, China, and India were neglecting, where will the third-world countries would be in their understanding of man-made global warming. Their failure to challenge the onslaught of a highly profitable carbon trading and the high price of switching to other renewable source of energy will dump them deeper into the quagmire of hunger and poverty.

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Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Global Warming Excuses Vandals

What if the court rules in favor of the wrong doers? What if the crime was done to stop the victim from preventing the sun to shine? And the criminal is freed after doing you harm. This is the verdict of the UK court that cleared the group of Greenpeace leftists of criminal damages they have inflicted to a power station. See more at Warming Sun Read more on this article...

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Man-made Global Warming Concoction Being Refrigerated

The man-made global warming bridge leading to carbon trading is now going to nowhere. Sign of freezing and cooling are being exhibited and felt by this generation so glaringly that keen observer of climate change cannot deny but chilled with approbation. You do not have to show facts. It is actually what is being felt and undeniably being observed.

Global warming cycle, based from the observation of the World Meteorological Organization –which organized the first World Climate Conference in 1979 leading to the establishment of UN-IPCC- had already ended in the year 2000 and that “satellite data indicate that a period of global cooling may have begun in 2005” said Victor Manuel Velasco Herrera, a researcher at the Institute of Geophysics at Mexico’s National Autonomous University. It was further revealed that the first half of 2008 was the coolest (http://www.newsmax.com/headlines/global_cooling/2008/09/08/128749.html) in the last five years which means since 2002. While geologist Don J. Easterbrook, a professor emeritus at Western Washington University, stated that the global warming that has taken place during the past 30 years is over. This only means that global warming is a natural cycle; that there is no crisis of natural calamity; and that humans need not have to fear of. (Pls. follow the complete post at Warming Sun, my new global warming site.) Read more on this article...

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Sarah Failin' on Bristol Parenting

Proper growth and development are the fundamental requisites of family values. The upbringing of the child is defined by the method of childhood education learned from the family’s moral ethics. The acts exhibited in other place may be mirrored by the practices and behavioral activities at home. And the family aiming the Whitehouse seems to show they need more to be polished and be attuned to the standard to be looked upon as the American family model.

 

But such standard may not be met as Sarah herself, from the start, broke the tradition of marriage.

From her open book of life as a public servant, it appears she eloped with his boyfriend. The “caribou hunter” preferred to run away. She avoided the “reading of the banns” as the usual practice of marriage –the announcement made by the priest of the names of couple to be married in three Sundays’ Mass prior to the wedding ceremony- and instead marched through the clichéd ladder leading from her bedroom. They were married in a civil ceremony on August 29, 1988, and gave birth to a son named Track in April 1989. Did I say one month ahead from their civil marriage?

 

And here came their daughter Bristol, l7 year old, pregnant and unmarried. Sarah Barracuda announced on September 1, 2008, that her daughter Bristol was five months pregnant and intended to keep the baby and marry the father of her child. And here came to my mind the reader’s comment on blog Politico, something like …what if by chance one of Barack Obama’s daughters happened to be l7, unmarried and pregnant, displayed on the same stage with his boyfriend.. Would it be commendable of the kind of family values the Americans wanted it to be? But this is the family value the republicans are made to understand and they were all clapping their hands. No, it will be outrageous! But Sarah did this to preempt any rumor that may affect her VP campaign in the coming weeks.

 

There is another instant that made me focus on the republican convention at CNN channel. Did you notice what the young Piper, the 7 year-old daughter of “Hockey Mom”, did with her young brother Trig, the Down syndrome afflicted toddler? Right there in the stage of Republican National Convention while Sarah was delivering her acceptance speech, Piper tongued the whole length of her palm hand and pasted her juice to the hair of Trig! I fall on the bench laughing hysterically… and gasping for breath! (That video will earn the CNN camera men a precious fortune shot.)

 

With the upbringing of their children, would their practice of family values worth emulating?

 

But the admiration of Sarah Palin kept on pouring. The desperate McCain made her an instant political celebrity. She will continue to be the main attraction on the revitalized republican stage.

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Tuesday, September 2, 2008

I Too For Barack Obama

Barack Obama is the man to beat. With just a mention of his name, I cannot avoid to ask who he is and what make his name a music to my ears. The name itself suggests the change in the American political preferences. In the previous list of names for presidential nominees, a black sounding name is seldom included. And how Obama reach the level of prominence in the political arena only show that racial factor is no longer a hindrance to achieve top political stead.

 

An African-American being nominated in a major political party is an uncommon line in the political chapter of US history. Obama’s nomination displayed the political maturity of the American people. This is the place which was once an oasis of freedom and justice which only the whites enjoy the unrestricted mobility. The days of the fifties and sixties are over and the seeds sown by Martin Luther King, Georgia Powers, and Rosa Park are now bearing fruits and Obama is now harvesting. I believe Obama is destined to set foot in the Whitehouse to make the necessary “change” and fulfill the famous “I Have A Dream” obsession. Obama is the image of Martin Luther King who have come back “to cash his check” in a society where the blacks are issued a bouncing check before.

 

And dealing deeper to Obama’s political career, it seems he has the upperhand. The enthusiasm, not only the supporters and party aides are showing, are now reverberating throughout the world where US has influence. Many are inclined to listen in his speech not only to hear his views but to make observations and confirmations of what they heard about him. And as the campaign unwind the true quality and competency of the candidates; voters now have a clear view of whom to chose. People of America may have already learned and have allowed freedom to ring with the nomination of Obama. I too believe in the sincerity and the promise of democracy which America is proud of. Let me quote the words of Martin Luther King in his speech: “Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice.” And maybe now is the time America has to change, the new American facing the challenge of changing time.

 

Whatever John McCain of the Grand Old Party do –like the choice of his VP in the person of Sarah Palin, a neophyte Governor of Alaska- in his desperate attempt to sway American interest on his side and create a talking point in his vet processes including his hastiness that his followers admired, he cannot get media publicity that has been favorably accorded to Obama. Although McCain has his own brand of principles and philosophies consistent with what his supporters fashionably adhered to, Obama’s popularity kept on soaring on the bright days of national awakening. Obama is destined to be the change in the great hall. Whatever the outcome on November, he has already made his point. And I too will vote for Obama… but I’m a Filipino!

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Thursday, August 28, 2008

Spratly: Time is Running Out

With the problem of MILF secessionist taking the headlines, the issue of Spratly and the Baseline Bill are now gathering dust in the shelves of congress. Time is running out. House Bill 3216 otherwise known as “An Act Defining the Archipelagic Baselines of the Philippine Archipelago, Amending for the Purpose Republic Act 3046, as Amended by Republic Act 5446” should now be passed or discussed in congress.

 

The United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS) requires every archipelagic nations to establish its archipelagic baseline by May 2009 or else the exclusive economic zone shall become an international waters or be owned by the neighboring countries claiming such territorial boundaries. Spratly group of islands are being claimed by China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan; and the way Philippine officials are conducting themselves dragging the baseline law in the sidelines of “kangkongan” so many years overdue, it won’t be far that we will be left again eating the dust in the “pancitan.” It has been almost ten years now since UNCLOS gave the time limit on May 13, 1999, and we have only eight months left to fast-track the Baseline Law or we will be knocking our heads on the wall in disgrace.

 

The Baseline Bill was on the third and final reading in the lower house of Congress when the Department of Foreign Affairs lobbied to stop it for reason that it has international complications. The house scheduled the said bill for final approval sometime in April, this year, but Palace officials intervened saying that it should be returned to the originating committee for further deliberations. Malacañang asked the House leadership to reconsider its version of the baselines bill, which, it said would provoke the country into war with fellow Spratlys-claimant and military giant, China. The Secretary of Justice, in parrying the thrust of accusations hurled against them in giving away Spratly by shelving the baseline bill, raised the scenario of war with alarming catastrophic effect –this a common tactics of sowing fears to win an arguments. But his tail is not wagging, hidden under his belly instead. Senator Asshole is of no difference. Fearing international repercussions, they threw the towel inside the ring ...without even a fight... and warding off with a treatise of non-existing provisions on the laws of the sea. A bunch of cowards are guarding the sovereignty of our territory. Why was Malaysia did not fear in incorporating our Sabah? Why was Formosa did not fear in separating from China? Why was China did not fear in making a law claiming the whole China Sea and all the islands within it? All these States did not go to war to acquire their domain on the land and sea they claimed. All can be done in the negotiating table. We have to assert our right and declare our strongest position through the baseline bill. The world today does not thrive through barbaric or primitive ways. Great men and women recognize reasons in the face of all adversaries.

 

China has been feeding the Spratly-claimants with soft and long-term loans and providing other Asian leaders of voluminous project assistance funding or behind-the-scene-negotiation to stop further making moves in claiming the disputed islands. This is a one-way of under the table diplomacy to avoid war. And why should we be afraid in asserting our right in our front door island space right on the side of an ocean highway? I suspect that there are personal benefits promised to this administration and this is the reason why they are making it difficult to pass the Baseline Bill.

 

The executive department and its minions are dead in trying to block the bill citing a varied legal treatise –rendered obsolete by the phrase “ all laws or agreements inconsistent with this new law are hereby cancelled or amended” and weakened its impregnability- without definitive bearing on our baseline territory just to appease China whose planned hegemony of all the islands encompassing the China Sea is in the offing. The Treaty of Paris is always being cited as the basis of our claim but this treaty signed on September 3, 1783, in Paris, is only an agreement between Great Britain and the United States of America. It involves the colonies bounded by the Atlantic Ocean. The Philippines is situated between the Pacific Ocean and the China Sea and was not even mentioned. Maybe the treaty being referred to is the Treaty of Peace, signed in Paris on December 10, 1898, between the United State and Spain ceding the Philippines for a mere $20 million and specifying its boundaries. But these treaties have been centuries old and it appearing that these have no bearing and being defied by our neighbouring States. We have to be attuned to changing times and there is an international body administering the present problems of conflicting States as the UNCLOS, in which all nations are signatories.

 

We have to act now. There are many tricks being employed by interested party States to distract our attention in strengthening our claimed Kalayaan Group of Islands (Spratly) which we have Pinoy-brothers-and-sisters-inhabitants to protect. The MILF conflict in Mindanao is one problem our adversaries have created as diversionary tactics to further delay our compliance with the nearing deadline of UNCLOS requirements. We have to be on guard, upright, and clever enough to defend our territories up to the extent of exhausting our last moment of breath or shielding it with our blood.

 

We have lost Las Palmas (Miangas) and North Borneo (Sabah) and Mindanao is being agitated. All these were lost through the fault of conflicting interests of our leaders. Spratly is next in line, are we a bunch of what have said as a people of damaged culture or just simply cowards?

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Monday, August 25, 2008

Giving Off Mindanao: The Negotiators Negotiated

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Sunday, August 24, 2008

Government is not Fed-Up with MILF Acts of Atrocities

The government is having a double talk relative to its position on the problem how to deal with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Recently over the radio interview, government spokesman said that the administration is trying to build a case wherein they can declare that the MILF is a terrorist organization. However government negotiators are continuing behind the scene talks with the separatist group rampaging in Mindanao –killing children, women, and elders; burning houses and destroying crops and other properties- in an act a terrorist is clearly defined.

Why is it that this administration cannot act decisively the way it should be? People are dying and the partnership of MILF secessionists are just talking that they do not sanction the terrorist activities of its leaders. Why is the government kept on trusting this kind of people who cannot discipline their own men? This is just to show the different factions, unlawful purpose and disposition, and wild behaviour of these terrorists groups which the MILF claims to be under their organization of establishing an independent state.

Government negotiators are may be on the wrong side in talking peace agreement with people who cannot be relied upon. It has been told that MILF has been waging a separatist war in Mindanao. This is the notion that the Filipinos are made to believe that the MILF have a justifiable reason to up rise. No, they have been waging terrorist activities for three decades now and the military is in collusions to justify its huge fund for a budget allocations. The Estrada administration almost wiped out these terrorist groups but was revived by the Arroyo administration under the advice of Ramos, her mentor.

The country will be mutilated if our government leaders will continue to regard these terrorist --who are evading criminal cases in the guise of political agenda- with open hand and who are offering a Trojan horse of peace.

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Thursday, August 21, 2008

The Legacy of Erap and the Barbaric Nature of MILF

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Wednesday, August 20, 2008

The New UN-IPOC

I have just posted an article about the impending collapse of man-made global warming legerdemain, yet another environmental scare is looming in the science circle invaded by politicians. Another component of greenhouse gas is being readied to take the place of life sustaining carbon dioxide which was charged and found guilty by Hansen and associates on the crimes against nature. Read more @Warming Sun Read more on this article...

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Man-Made Global Warming Cooking is Cooling

The tower of “Man-Made Global Warming” is now in an impending collapse. A number of unaccounted weights have been overloading the “sound structure” built in a soft and unpiled foundation. The subsequent manifestations cannot be denied as a sign of eroding beliefs in global warming legerdemain. See more @ Warming Sun Read more on this article...

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Men of Academe - Advocating Deceit (MOA-AD)

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Monday, August 11, 2008

The Impending Tearing-Off of the Philippines

The Arroyo administration almost torn-off the Philippines in recognizing the Mindanao Independent State. Without the intercession of the Supreme Court through the issuance of a temporary restraining order, the Memorandum of Agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) relative to Bangsamoro Juridical Entity could have been appropriately stamped “a done deal.” MILF could have shouted aloud and declared into the whole world that “Mindanao was won” and is legally authorized as an independent nation. This may become another case of non-stopping hostilities as being experienced by the Palestinian State in Gaza Strip and areas of the West Bank or the Hezbollah of Lebanon enjoying the status of independent state agitating a neighbouring Israel.

 

Why did GRP negotiating panel led by Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Eduardo Ermita and Presidential Adviser on Special Concerns Norberto Gonzales let the MILF to win substantial portion of Mindanao and gave in to this separatist group much better concession when this group was almost wiped-out and disabled during the capture of Camp Abubakar in July 2000? The position of GRP was now carried by Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Hermogenes Esperon Jr., and the same; they acceded to the demand of the Islamic separatist group in its claim to establish an independent Bangsamoro Republic in the pretext of lasting peace. Can it be called peace when majority of the inhabitants in Mindanao are at stake of being evicted? How did they got the authority to put in their hands the fate of the people of Mindanao and the future of a United Philippines without due consultations and evading constitutional processes? What are the hidden agenda behind this one-sided compromise?

 

What will stop the MILF to annex Davao City or Cebu City or even Manila which was formerly headed by a Muslim Chieftain -Rajah Soliman, the last native ruler of Maynilad, a Muslim Kingdom on the southern delta of the Pasig River and was considered as the "greatest king of Manila" and most important native chief when Martin de Goiti and Juan de Salcedo landed there in 1570. (Cultural Heritage) They have tried to include Davao del Sur but were rejected in ARMM plebiscite. They’ve tried Davao City and any other areas by just pointing those lands and verbally claiming it that those were their ancestral domain. What ancestral domain they are talking about? The whole Philippine Islands is the ancestral domain of the Filipinos and no one shall ever claim or touch it or “repay with death” as the words of Rajah Soliman spread in the Spanish community.

 

We have overcome all the tests to dismember the Philippines except for Sabah on North Borneo. Malaysia has annexed Sabah and they have reason to campaign for a separate Mindanao to lessen the pressure inserted by the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu in reclaiming Sabah or to increase the rate of rent being paid by Malaysia. It maybe deduced that when Mindanao is separated, there is a chance that they can annex it when they are already economically capable to court or entice the poverty burdened Mindanao through the auspices of the Organization of Islamic Conference or of foreign entities.

 

This government should be vigilant in the conduct of negotiation which tends to dismember the Philippines. Many groups will try to organize, particularly the Muslim separatists, to sow hatred, hostilities, and insurgencies to attain their objective of an independent Moro Nation. MILF have gained the support of communist-NDF and has been very cordial to terrorist Abu Sayyaf-Al Qaeda-connection in accommodating them in their camps when the police are chasing them. Nur Missuari, the organizer of the defunct MNLF, was from the University of the Philippines which is believed to be the lair of the local communist party –now evolved to green environmentalist group. It is presumed that he was inspired by the NDF to organize and campaign for a Muslim separate state and it is rumoured that he will be the President of the Bangsamoro Republic. These separatist groups will do everything, promise the moon, and employ treacherous undertakings to win their cause. And there is the reported “undue interest” on the side of the US and their role with the MILF pact as shown by the presence of her ambassador on the scheduled MOA signing in Malaysia. Every Filipinos should be on guard as there are foreign interests lurking on the sidelines ready to swallow when opportunity is at hand.

 

We are still in a primitive class in spite of decades managing our sovereign state. Our subservience to minority rule is still a chain we have not been able to loose. We haven’t been able to free ourselves from the caprice and strangulation of foreign colonizers. We continue to be lame duck majority and unable to overcome the manipulation of the privilege few. We are still afraid to say “No!” They still dictate our existence and impede our development as a prosperous state. When will we ever learn?

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