Eksena!

I have nothing against Gloria getting medical treatment for whatever is ailing her today. Whether she gets it in the Philippines or in some other God-forsaken country is beyond me.

What peeves me is the fact that the Arroyos (and all the entourage including that woman called Horn) has the temerity to make a scene (or as Leila de Lima puts it - EKSENA!) in order to gain ground for sympathy among the underdog-loving Pinoys. Their first attempt to leave the country for a supposed medical check-up and treatment in Singapore last Tuesday ended up in a media cavalcade which has become the talk of the town, surpassing the Ramgen murder and Pacquiao fight stories.

For whatever it is worth, let me give my personal opinion as I, an ordinary Filipino citizen, see it:

1. The Arroyo camp insists that Gloria is in pain. You could see from the pictures or the newsfeed that she's wrapped around that thingamagig around her head, neck and body, making her look like little Frankenstein. With that said, I don't think that I would want to travel to Singapore in that contraption via Hong Kong. It would mean that I would have to fly 2 hours to Hong Kong, wait an hour or two at the Chap Lep Kok airport for the next departure from Hong Kong to Singapore which would be a longer route (in terms of both miles traveled and time spent on a cramped airplane - even on Business Class).

Yes. She and husband Mike A. were on a flight to Singapore via Hong Kong that fateful Tuesday night. Watdfuk was that Horn woman talking about when they were drumming up sympathy for Ate Glue! They think that we're all idiots born yesterday! If they needed to go to Singapore, there are direct flights from Manila to the Lion City without having to go through Hong Kong.

There are 4 direct daily flights for Philippine Airlines and Singapore Airlines from Manila to Singapore:
SQ915 departs 0810 and arrives 1145, SQ 917 departs 1415 and arrives 1750, SQ 919 departs 1710 and arrives 2045, and SQ 921 departs 1900 and arrives 2235. PR 0511 departs 0600 and arrives 0930, PR 0503 departs 0720 and arrives 1055, PR 0501 departs 1510 and arrives 1855, and PR 0505 departs 1935 and arrives 2315. Both Philippine Airlines and Singapore have BUSINESS CLASS services on their aircraft.

I did not mention Cebu Pacific because it's a budget airline and has not business class cabin. I don't think the Arroyos (who've been used to flying on chartered planes or on first/business class) are willing to fly a budget airline. For every one's information though, Cebu Pacific flies directly 3 times daily from Manila to Singapore on flights: 801 leaving at 0625 arriving at 0900, 805 leaving 1325 and arriving at 1655, 803 leaving at 2030 and arriving at 1235.

2. The major concern of the senators and some congressmen is that with the defiance of the justice secretary and the President of the Philippines on the TRO (temporary restraining order) of the Supreme Court, a constitutional crisis may emanate. We all know, however, that majority of the sitting justices, including the Chief Justice were all Gloria appointees. And while Renato Corona may be parrying all accusations of bias towards him and the Supreme Court, deciding arbitrarily and quickly for and on behalf of the WLO (hold departure order) for Gloria and hubby, it cannot be denied that justice indeed is not only blind but serves only those whose interests need to get payed back. With so many cases pending in the Supreme Court, what was the rush to address this case? After all, isn't she and her husband getting the "best" of care from the highly touted JCI-accredited center for excellence in health care called St. Luke's Medical Center? And excuse me when I trample the media that Gloria has a rare condition of hypoparathyroidism. Duh?!?! If our endocrinologists in the country can't fix the problem, that's an insult to the hoards of endocrinologists in the Philippines. It is not rare, it is just not common. And there's a difference in this term in medical parlance. The Arroyos, are lucky that they are filthy rich and are already afforded the level of health care matching their life style.

3. Karma is a bitch! That's all I can conclude from this EKSENA! I've always wondered how fondly Ate Glue and company flew in and out without tiring from her trips abroad during her term as president (or did she really steal the presidency and therefore was NOT our legitimate president during her term?). Whatever it was, you could tell how well coiffured she was with matching designer outfits and flying and dining in first class restaurants. There was never a complaint from her nor her doctors about neck pain, was there? During her term as president(?), her annual physical exams were always "perfect"! The stress and pressures of running a country is not an easy one. It behooves me that one year into her more laid back life, she has "suffered" from these unexplainable aches and pains and illnesses. Is is mere drama or is it karma?

4. Joker Arroyo had said that de Lima is ignorant of the law. Talk about big time ignorance. His first name befits him. Once upon a time, his opinions were well respected. But respect is earned. And you can lose respect as easily as you've earned it. For a joker in the midst of the senate, I just lost my respect to this guy. You know that when he opens his mouth now, it's only when his former boss - Ate Glue - is in trouble or that when he has tirades against the current president, PNoy. He's now simply a noise in the gallery. And Miriam - who takes her seriously? She said on TV that she wanted to commit suicide by slashing her wrist! From a woman who has been the humor in the senate, go ahead - make my day! (Now you know why suicide runs in the family and it's no surprise her son took the path of least resistance by committing suicide.) Seriously, while Miriam has a mouthful to say and more often than not makes sense, her tirades are not taken seriously because of mental flipflop. These two make more "eksena" in the senate than anyone else I could imagine. It makes the mental ineptness of Lito Lapid look like a harmless kitty cat.

5. And as all (if not most) lawyers are - it's all about money. You could get the best lawyers if you had the cash and the Arroyos are awash in that. And so they defend their clients to death. After all, they get heftily paid, even if justice looks the other way or is beheaded. It is without doubt that some of the seats that are occupied in Congress by the Arroyo clan are vacant - with Iggy in London for medical care, Gloria on leave for health problems and Mikey - uhmmm, this guy is on tax evasion charges and is leaving for the US for some sort of seminar and talk. I mean gimme a break - Mikey is representing the marginalized sector of security guards! Watdfuk is he going to talk about in the US of A?

As I see it, the Arroyos are all out in their "eksena" to make the Aquino government look bad and gain sympathy to them. While the Aquino government has its faults, seriously, impeachment for not allowing the ex-president to go out of the country for treatment is a bit cockadoodledoodoo even for lawmakers! Come on, gimme a break - she stole the presidency not ONCE, but TWICE! What greater crook was there in history of Philippine politics! All you need is to recall the atrocities and excuses during the Arroyo regime and that in itself would have told you that it's payback time.

As they say in politics - "weather weather lang yan". But take the Pinoys for short-term memory. How easily we even forgot the Marcos atrocities that we even put their families back in the limelight by electing the children and his wife to governmental positions. Susmaryosep! Only in the Philippines!

And like all telenovelas evolving in either Philippine business, politics and showbiz - "eksena" - happens to be the trend of becoming famous after being infamous.

As long as this kind of charade goes on, don't worry about not getting out of the box - we will remain a third world nation and the exodus will continue. After all, the Arroyo drama is as downright pathetic as it gets.

Inefficient

That's the only word to describe the Philippine government and most government workers in the banana republic. While it may not be pervasive only among government workers, government employees who are paid out of taxes from the people must set a better example of efficiency than those in the private sector.

I was reading a front page article in the Philippine Daily Inquirer today, written by a Filipino who is now working for the London Financial Times as editor and who used to be with the PDI. Perhaps because of the nature of her work, she has articulated excellently her travails with getting an exit pass for all would-be OFWs (overseas foreign workers) at the POEA. Amusing and irritating at times, this was a plain mockery of the governmental bureaucracy and crap that Filipinos will have to contend with in their own motherland.

Inefficiency seems to be a trademark of our government. If there is one thing we are consistent with, it's inefficiency among government workers. They will need to find a reason or rhyme in order to be slowwwww. Really really slow. They will declare that there's a backlog of work (and then they take several coffee breaks or check on their text messages while working) or that the person signing the document isn't around - YET - (perhaps at the nearest Starbucks having machiatto with the pimp from last night) or that the agency's computer system is down or slow (and see them keep rebooting or turning the ancient computer systems on and off so that it can restart)...Yes, a million reasons to justify being inefficient. If you find a government agency that is efficient in this country, you will be mesmerized and possibly think that a miracle had just occurred or that you've been transported to never-never land!

Inefficiency does not come naturally to the lowest employee. The lowest form of animal - the lowly employee who probably is least paid and least minded in the echelon of all the work load - can only be inefficient if the upper management is inefficient. That means the boss is a bozo! The boss will depend on his or her employees to get all the menial work done. And if the boss is a lazy bum who prances into his office if and when he wants to and then skips the office if and when he wants to as well, you've got a bureaucracy that spells inefficiency.

I will not go to the sordid details of how this is exemplified in the government offices in this country. I think all my readers will have stories on their own sad experience. I share this thought with my readers because the president of the Philippines has made anti-corruption has his official battle cry when he was sworn into office.

Corruption is a systemic problem seen in every segment of society - whether it is a private corporation or a government agency. Corruption is deeply entangled in an intricate web that seems difficult to untangle. Corruption is borne out of inefficiency.

Inefficiency drives people to bribe others into expediting things. And the temptation to take what is not rightly theirs is the driver to corruption with inefficiency as its fuel. Once corruption is in place, it is difficult to undo the problem unless the problem of inefficiency is addressed. Addressing the problem of inefficiency therefore, is the first and most formidable step at eradicating corruption.

When it takes the police 1 hour to arrive at a crime scene, even if the crime is committed at a house that is a 5 minute walk from the police station is inefficiency. When it takes a government employee 3 hours to process something that should take 3 minutes because he's taking care of personal business, that is inefficiency. When it takes an ambulance 2 hours to transport a dying patient from the house to the hospital that is only 3 km away because of traffic on the road due to all the Maynilad diggings compounded by potholes on the poor-quality-asphalt-roads-after-the-rain streets of Metro Manila, that is inefficiency. When the "pulis patola" (traffic enforcer) is busy texting on the side street while the whole of Metro Manila is caught in a traffic jam or is busy chasing number coded cars while public utility vehicles load and unload in front of their very eyes in non-loading zones, that is inefficiency (if not downright infuriating).

No amount of drum beating by any president or public official can address the problem of corruption unless the problem of inefficiency is tackled head on.

Only then, can we move forward as a nation and a people - proud of our heritage with heads held up high. Otherwise, we will never see the light at the end of the tunnel if we remain apathetic to the vicious cycle of inefficiency and corruption. God help us!

Of truths, propaganda and the "weather weather lang" phenomenon

We get confusing reports from politicians, which is bad. Of course, every politician will say that half truths and half lies are within the realm of "strictly politics". Whichever administration you're looking at, it's either you're looking at the glass half empty or half full.

So here's the beef. The lack of transparency in any government is hurtful to the people as trust is the hallmark of any political system.

Rep. Anthony Weiner a Democrat congressman in New York was recently in such an imbroglio. There was a lot of flip-flop on the statements the camp of Weiner gave regarding his sending a lewd photo of him to a woman on Twitter. His initial excuse was that his account had been hacked. Then when Andrew Breitbart had exposed more stories, the congressman hurriedly came up with a press conference apologizing for this pervert act, shed a few crocodile tears and refused to resign.

The same thing is observed on a grander political scale. The war and uprising in Libya, Yemen and Syria have baffled the world as to the true picture of what's going on there. Their heads of state refuse to step down saying that insurrection on the part of the people needs to be taken cared of by the government as it is the government's obligation to make sure that it's sovereignty and citizens are protected. But the inconsistencies in the stories coming out of Libya, Yemen and Syria (not to mention Bahrain) have left the kibitzers wondering who's telling the truth and whether NATO allies have the right to invade and meddle in the political affairs of other countries. CNN and BBC show footages of what the governments claim to be insurrection of a few. On the contrary, rebels have shown footages of human rights violations of the government as well. The scenario has NATO excusing themselves for the collateral damage on innocent lives and providing an excuse to the ongoing turmoil. But US and European media have clearly stated that the footages from the governments are merely propaganda from these heads of states in what is explained a justification of violence on its people.

Back home, Edwin Lacierda had initially claimed that the rift at the Department of Transportation and Communication by resigned Ping de Jesus from the Aquino administration was regrettable but the spokespeople in the palace were mum on the real problem of frustration after frustration in the search for decent cabinet members that were not part of the "friends, Inc." of PNoy. It is, after all said, that what PNoy wants PNoy gets. Almost a year in office and the country is till desperately scrambling to fit into the picture of moving forward. While we have to hand over the fact that there's a bit more transparency in the government today, majority of those who had an earnest desire for a great change at the slogan "Kung Walang Corrupt, Walang Mahirap" from the people in the palace. It is said that whoever you put in with the crocodiles will swim like a crocodile eventually. And while the trapos were put aside in the current administration, it is still lacking in complete transparency and defends the wrong of friends very close to home.

Without doubt, the Filipino saying (as echoed repetitively by Kim Atienza on ABS-CBN) that life is "weather-weather lang", fits the kind of government we all have. Corruption creeps to us in various forms. Whether it is "kamag-anak, Inc." (where you have all your relatives in every little nook and cranny of government) to "kaibigan, Inc." (where you have all your buddies in the choicest governmental positions, not necessarily out of talent, but out of friendship) - the ethical and moral dilemma seems to be elusive to people in politics.

Accountability, transparency and trust. Three defining words of a good government official. Sorely lacking. Only when we find someone who will not get swallowed by the system can we truly be a better nation. I have my doubts that we will see a significant change in the Filipino way of life in our lifetime. At the moment, it's every man for himself. Our future, after all, is based on "weather weather lang".

Postscripts from the grave

I received the text message at 840 am that Angelo Reyes had died at 832 am on February 8, 2011.

A former AFP Chief of Staff who held several key positions in government after his stint in the military from Ate Glue, who became embattled in the imbroglio of the AFP scandal, had committed suicide.

During the senate inquiry on the AFP scandal - former comptroller Garcia getting a slap on the hand through a plea-bargaining agreement with the Ombudsman, Rabusa spilling the beans on the alleged malversation of funds and former COA auditor Heidi Mendoza revealing the very bad audit trail and alleged cover-up in the military funds - I could not help but want to share my thoughts as citizen Juan de la Cruz on the matter.

And while I was waiting for the perfect timing to write it all down, the perfect storm happens. Angelo Reyes commits suicide.

HIs death has left more questions from the Filipino people, who probably for the longest time, are tired of the corruption in government.

It is without doubt that the average Juan de la Cruz has suffered tremendously and has perhaps become callous with the way graft and corruption has become a lifestyle for government officials. When Heidi Mendoza points out that not all in government are corrupt and that still those in government who join this institution as public service to the Filipino people, this practice has become the exception rather than the rule.

I do not cast aspersions against Angie Reyes. He had an illustrious career. An officer and the chief of staff of the Philippine Army. While he is known for his bravery and his rise to the ranks, he is also better known as the chief of staff of ousted president Erap. He took a stand to defy his commander in chief for reasons perhaps only he will know and which he takes to his grave. And if this is so much of the bravado that was Angie Reyes, Erap's successor undeniably was ridden with more questionable ethics and moral values when she stole the presidency from the rightful winner of a democratic election. Ironically, he stood by her.

Ate Glue had stayed in office because her generals were well rewarded. That, no one can doubt. It is evident that key governmental posts were provided to the chiefs of staff on a silver platter.

But the graft and corruption that riddled the AFP is no different from the graft and corruption in the Philippine bureaucracy. One does not need to look far to see this. From the BIR to the Bureau of Customs to congressmen and other local government officials who utilize pork barrel funds in order to enrich themselves while in public office, they are a dime a dozen. This apparent lack of transparency has numbed the average Juan de la Cruz. If those who serve public office can steal from the coffers of the government, then why not the average worker? And as long as public officials remain exempt from being dragged to court or are incarcerated for enriching themselves in public office, it will be a lonely battle for PNoy who seeks to change the ethical and moral conduct of those in government.

And this is where I beg the indulgence of the Reyes family. You see, after all the flames have been put away, it cannot be underscored that the money used to enrich those in public office come from hard earned money by the average Juan de la Cruz. For us who strive to make a decent living, who toil each day and probably work several jobs or take an exodus and work in dangerous countries in order to provide a better future for our families, the misuse of public funds will definitely catch the ire of every average Filipino.

You see, it is not only you as a family that grieves for the death of a loved one. There is no heroism in the act of suicide of Reyes. He takes to his grave the quest for justice of Juan de la Cruz.

The fact is, that those who serve in government will never be able to enrich themselves or even provide palatial homes or pay for trips for wives and family around the world, or own multitude of cars and bank accounts with how much they earn. And this is what strikes a chord with every Filipino. Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez is wrong and lying when she says that there is no way you can pin down ex-Maj Gen Carlos Garcia for plunder. His family have lived the good life while 70% of Filipinos live below the poverty line. His SALN do not match what he has in the bank. His wife, unless she is Jackie Onassis or Jinky Pacquiao or his children will never be able to buy a condominium in New York with how much the husband makes.

The media has simmered down and wrote only the good things Angie Reyes had done during his career as a public servant. And those that have come to his defense are colleagues and comrades who are mostly generals as well.

As a family man, there is no doubt that Angie and all the generals have provided well to their families. How well, is apparent in their lifestyles. Where their children are schooled. The kind of houses they live in. And how disproportionate their living conditions are compared to even the average business manager who seems to have to shuffle in between jobs in order to send their children to school, provide a house over their heads and food on the table.

Angie Reyes, a bemedalled soldier had fought the physical battles in his lifetime. It was unusual that the man who led the destruction of Camp Abu Bakkar would be so engulfed with depression when the time came to prove his innocence from a fight with allegations on corruption in the military.

To the Reyes family - media or the senators or those who casted aspersions against Angelo Reyes did not kill him. An innocent man will always stand and fight for his innocence. I for one would be in a fighting stance if someone maligned my family and my personality. No amount of puny senate inquiry or people who are out to destroy my reputation will succeed in destroying my spirit and resolve to clear my name. There is no doubt that Angelo Reyes earned his medals bravely, but behind his downfall was a more powerful person who had destroyed and besmirched his reputation.

His death was tragic and it left a large void in the hearts of the Filipino people. He took what he knew to his grave.

And justice will remain elusive to the average Juan de la Cruz.

The supporters of PNoy and Juana Change

This 5:30 mins video has had almost 70,000 hits.

It has also had some flak from government officials and the jockstraps, uhmm, supporters of PNoy.

I supported PNoy when he ran for President. My support though was a skeptical one. It was either him or the stoogie of GMA or Erap. The choice was simple. His support from me (and from most of my friends) were based on the platform of change and the fight against greed and corruption. His support stemmed from a legacy of parents who were morally and ethically upright. And let me remind his die-hard supporters, that if we supported the presidency of PNoy then, it was not because he had the brains to be the president. After all, in all PNoy's years in public office, he had nothing to show. Nothing presidentiable. It was because among the candidates, he was the only one with enough moral ascendancy to lead.

I also made the stern resolution that while I supported him, I will also be his number one critic during his term in office.


It's almost one year since he took office. And while I still support his leadership, his "barkada" in the palace need to place themselves in the proper perspective that any criticism against their "boss" is supposed to be a good thing. It's not a hatchet job, but a reminder that he cannot get sidetracked in his vow and aim to clean up the government from scalawags in and out of a uniform. He needs to grab the current situation by the balls and not simply depend on his groupies in the palace to report to him. Visibility in the perimeter is not the only role of the president. He has to act decisively and be on top of the situation.

Nobody said the presidency would be an easy task.

The problem is, since he took up the challenge, he is responsible for living up to the job description.

His amateur groupies in the palace whom he handpicked through a friendship and long-time bonding process are mostly amateurs. Some of their decisions are highly flawed because implementation is through a trial and error method. The criticisms PNoy receives should be taken with a grain of salt and should be a reminder to him and his cabinet on the promise of change.

Government positions is not a call on friendship bonds. True friends will guide you in the right direction. Those that just take advantage of you have no place in your "family" of government officials. At the end of the day, as president of this country, you will be accountable not only to the Gokongweis, Sys, Ayalas, Tans, Robredos, Carandangs, but to every Juan de la Cruz that Juana Change!

Kung kami ang boss mo, yung mga hinayupak mong tsutsu ay dapat ilagay mo sa ayos!

Mislang is not the face of the Filipino people

Mai Mislang was a nobody before her infamous Tweet on the state visit of PNoy in Hanoi recently.

Her sins? Her Tweets - "the wine served during dinner sucked, there are no good looking men in Vietnam, and the motorcycle laden streets of Vietnam being hazardous to life".

Of course, they were her personal opinions. But she is the Assistant Secretary for Communications, working for erstwhile ABS-CBN anchor Ricky Carandang who now heads this new office c/o PNoy. In short, during her official travel to Vietnam, Mislang was tweeting as a government official since she was there as part of the president's entourage. After her tweets, Mislang suddenly shot up to stardom.

And the rest is history.

People from all walks of life (including journalists) began their assault on the misdeeds of Mislang. Whether Malacanan touted her being a cum laude graduate of Mass Communications from UP, nobody cared. That part of the resume should just be burned. If I were her professors in UP, I probably would just cringe and roll over and die from embarrassment. So everyone began to ask for her head on a silver platter. Her demeanor was uncalled for. It was like PNoy had an amateur tag-along in his foreign trip that they needed to spank the baby upon their return to the Philippines.

But this blog is not going to repeat what the other columnists and bloggers have commented on Mislang's tweeting behaviour in Vietnam.

Let's just put some things in perspective.

For one, Mislang is like Kris A, the sister of PNoy. They open their mouths only to recant what they say or say sorry that they were misunderstood and needed to explain what they actually meant when what they said was supposed to mean another thing from what they were going to say. (Did you follow that?) And of course, being more controversial meant being more noticed (which explains why Kris A became so popular even if she had no talent).

Then of course came the various reasons from Malacanan about the tweets of Mislang. That the latter was sorry. That the latter had been reprimanded. That PNoy had full trust and confidence in her and was not going to fire her and that she was keeping her job. I am saddened by the fact that PNoy seems to have no balls in making a simple decision like this. If I were PNoy, I would talk to Carandang and quietly tell him to ask the girl to resign or just get rid of her in the most diplomatic way. And while I campaigned for PNoy for the upcoming elections, I was skeptical because he was practically a newbie and I was afraid that he wouldn't be able to make firmer decisions even on small matter like these. Getting rid of his shooting partner Puno of course is a different story because of Puno's own claim that they are BFF. But Mislang - who in the world is she? She's just one of his many speech writers and some obscure nobody in his back office. He doesn't have to save her hide for the Twitter-ing misdeeds in Hanoi.

Which goes to the final part of this short blog. If Mislang was truly apologetic, she should just resign. An irrevocable resignation. She should not have to bear the torture of having her whole person maligned and denigrated in print media or over the internet. She is not the face of the FIlipino people and I am ashamed at her deeds and actions.

And not all government officials in this country as childish as Mislang and my president. And PNoy should not feel bad about him being criticized as well because he had set expectations at the beginning of his term as president. If he is letting the people down by his incredulous decision-making which is making eyebrows raised all the way to heaven, it is because he had set the tone for this in his inaugural speech shout-out --- KAYO ANG BOSS KO!

Eh ganun naman pala eh. Eh tingnan niyo nga naman, parang asal katulong ko itong si PNoy. Sabi ni boss ganito, tigas ng ulo ni katulong. Ayaw talaga gawin. Akala niya, siya ang amo! Ang kapal talaga ng apog.

Of Millionaires, Billionaires and Tax Evaders - Part I

The title does not mean that I lumped them all together, but if you think you're being alluded to - too bad!

My blog series is a composite of two opinion makers - Tony Lopez and Boo Chanco.

Hence, they are not my writing. I am sharing the facts they pointed out and I'll let the reader judge. I have also taken the liberty to place my own comments on these. What is written in BOLD and ITALICIZED are from the original writer.

I am dividing it into two parts so that you don't get bored with reading these back-to-back articles that I found interesting and revealing.


The Richest Filipinos and the Biggest Taxpayers Are Not the Same
by Tony Lopez

Forbes Magazine's list of richest Filipinos and their respective net worths are:

1. Henry Sy, Sr. - $5B
2. Lucio Tan - $2B
3. John Gokongwei - $1.5B
4. Jaime Zobel de Ayala - $1.2B
5. Andrew Tan - $1.2B
6. Tony Tan Caktiong - $980M
7. Enrique Razon - $975M
8. Beatrice Campos - $840M
9. George SK Ty - $805M
10. Eduardo Cojuangco - $760M

The list goes on to enumerating 40 richest Pinoys (or should I say Chinoys who make up 50% of the richest) with Philip Ang at number 40 at $50M net worth. That's more zeroes than I could ever see in my lifetime.

For the complete list of the Top 500 Taxpayers of 2008, please get your copy of the latest issue of Biz News Asia weekely news magazine at the nearest bookstore or hotel newsstand.

Compare the Top 40 Richest Filipinos based on the Forbes list with the Top 40 Taxpayers of 2008 based on the BIR list...It is a very interesting and revealing honor roll. It is veritably the roster of current heroes of the Philippines. Two conclusions:

1. People who you think are among the country's richest are not in the Top 500 Taxpayers list. So, too, are prominent and fabulously rich people who often rant about the need for good governance and have good corporate social responsibility.

2. The most rewarding jobs are not in business or top management. They are in entertainment, broadcasting and movies.

In serious business, mining is very remunerative. The highest-paid tycoons are miners - Philex CEO Walter Brown with P26.83M (#9) and Rio Tuba Nickel CEO, Atty. Manny Zamora Jr, with P19.96M (#12).

Behind them are owners and CEOs of conglomerates: SMC chair and CEO Danding Cojuangco Jr with P18.98M tax (#13), PLDT chair and Meralco CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan with P18.55M tax (#14), Unionbank chair and CEO Justo Aboitiz Ortiz with P15.2M (#19), and SMC President and Petron CEO Ramon S. Ang with P14.85M tax (#20). Trailing them are ePLDT and TV5 CEO Ray Espinosa, P12.27M tax (#22) and GMA Network and DZBB Broadcaster Mike Enriquez P11.94M tax (#23).

This makes Enriquez the country's highest paid mediaman. He finds it funny, if not ridiculous, that he paid more taxes than the owners of the two largest TV stations. "This means I pay the correct taxes," he notes. His channel 7 colleagues, Mel Tiangco is #45 with P8.9M in income taxes paid. That makes her the highest paid female broadcaster.

Television is a big moneymaker.

Four of the country's 10 biggest taxpayers work in TV entertainment. Willie Revillame leads the pack at #2 with P58.6M tax followed by Piolo Pascual at #3 with P55.8M tax, Kris Aquino at #8 with P25.44M tax, and Michael V at #10 with P22.26M tax.

Boxing's Manny Pacquiao is the Philippines' number 1 taxpayer with P125M in tax payments. In June 2009, Forbes magazine estimated the Filipino boxing great's income at $40M or P1778B.

He paid P7 of tax for every P100 of income, a tax rate of 7%. Revillame had a higher tax rate, P58.6M out of P365M estimated gross for a 16% tax rate.

To be sure, 2008 was a crisis year for Philippine business. It was the year the world went into the deepest recession in 80 years.


Undeniably, this information has struck a nerve among the average tax payers - like you and I.

The opinion here is these billionaire moguls can hide behind all that corporate blah blah blah and even wash down the dough they're making under some other charge (including their pet's haircut) only to run away from having to pay more in taxes or afford high profile accountants to hid all that moolah they've accumulated so far. So the richest are actually not the richest considering that they really don't TOTALLY own the companies they claim to own - lock, stock, and barrel! Considering individual gross and net income as well as taxes paid, I agree with Tony that the entertainment and media industry is the most enticing. It is not wonder that every Juan de la Cruz is willing to shed their clothes and their shame in order to hit stardom. I mean, let's face it, even the ugly ones or those that don't even have talent at all have gotten a break!

If PNoy actually wants to make the BIR work their butts off and is serious in his campaign on tax evaders, he does not need to go far and wide to look for them. Just pick up the Forbes List and see if there's a match in the richest Pinoys and the biggest taxpayers.

In my next blog, I will take you to a simple arithmetic look at tax evaders and tax evasion in part II of this series.

In the meantime, click on the video below and enjoy the music. I so love the music and lyrics - it's dedicated to all the billionaires and wannabe billionaires...

Saradong Katoliko

It's a Sunday here in San Francisco where I'm attending the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition at the Moscone Center.

While the pediatricians from Manila, Philippines seem to be packing the meeting (they ran out of badges for international delegates, which means that I got one that said that I'm American), I've been reading up on the newsfeed on FaceBook during the break periods.

So here I am, blogging in the meeting of one of the sessions, on a raging difference of opinion between the Reproductive Health Bill of the government and the opposition of the Catholic Church in Manila, Philippines regarding this.

Which goes to the reason why the title of this blog is "Saradong Katoliko", or in English - Closed Catholic.

CLOSED CATHOLIC.

I shudder at the fact that there are still "closed catholics". I thought that fanaticism died a long time ago. I didn't realize even if this is already the 21st century - where information is at our finger tips and we derive more reliable sources faster than the speed of light, where mobile phones are now used not just for texting or calling but for surfing information and getting emails, and where people are more endeared to work on saving the environment and are trying to help their fellowmen through programs at community service or discovering "heroes of the year" - some people who preach from the pulpit refuse to accept change in relevant views that will impact on the future of society together with the times.

I will not go into a lengthy debate on the raging sides that people have taken regarding the issue of passing the reproductive health bill. This is something I am more than willing to do on LIVE MEDIA COVERAGE. What peeves me are those who refuse to listen to the side of reason because of beliefs. Using "beliefs" as a reason for not bending to change is not one that is based on rational logic. They are called fanatics. These are the "closed catholics".

There is a difference between a believer and a fanatic. That difference is a matter of defiance. And it is the perfect ingredient for misunderstanding, disagreement, and unfortunately, violent outcomes.

Many have died and sacrificed and have been punished or ostracized in the name of beliefs. For example, homosexuality was condemned by the church several centuries ago. While the church still condemns the practice of homosexuality, they have changed their stance - they do not condemn homosexuals, but only the acts between them. DUH? Meron bang virgin na bading? Eh kung sila sila nga eh naiipit sa eskandalong ito, sino sila para humusga sa kapwa? I am trying to understand - did these people of the cloak put some laxity on their stand because some of their members performed gay lascivious acts on the young altar boys? But it took centuries for them to change their stand on the issue of homosexuality. While still a limited stand, a change in the stand nevertheless.

On a public health level, the reproductive health bill of the government is receiving a lot of flak from the Catholic Church. The latter has threatened possible excommunication of public officials in the government (especially the president) to the large Catholic population in the Philippines. It has pushed the citizens of this Banana Republic to embrace one side - the church or the government.

Excommunication is not a threat one is afraid to face any more. It is irrelevant as religion has not served to lead the majority of the Filipinos to the promised land. It is also irrelevant as most of the men in cloak have not actually created programs palpable for the poorer Filipino community. This palpably lacking guidance of the men in cloak to the poor have been the major reason for the rise in Renewed Christian movements.

Which means that the income generated by the various Catholic Churches all over the country have reached a significant low. It's funny how all the masses end with a second collection - for the wayfarers, for the Pondo ng Pinoy, for the missionaries in Africa (what ever happened to missionaries in Tawi Tawi or Maguindanao?), and so on and so forth. The Renewed Christian movements have actually eaten up the financial contributions of the country to Rome. Had it not been for the significant Opus Dei movement in this country, there would be more financial retribution in the Philippines. But the Opus Dei group is limited to those that belong to the upper 5th quintile of society. The exclusive group (deemed snobbish by non-members) has yet to see an ordinary Juan de la Cruz admitted to it's BY INVITATION ONLY membership program. Only the who's who in society are invited to this society.

But facts will remain facts.

The population of the Philippines has tipped over 90M to date. In a few years, we will hit the 100M mark and this is a disproportionate rise. The number of deaths due to abortion and due to infant and child mortality has NOT changed in this country. In 1990, 1 out of 8 children in the country less than 5 years old DO NOT REACH the age of 5. So the mother is able to give birth. What kind of environment do the children in this country have? Many of the children are abused in homes not suitable for growing up and turn out to be decrepit members of society, who pay back society with criminal acts during their older years because they grew up in conditions not suitable to quality lives. Majority of the poor do not understand anything about sexuality. For some, it is part of being subservient to abusive husbands. To others, it becomes a way of life - a way out of the proverbial poverty they are all mired in. And the church is also opposed to sex education in school, especially public schools. They think that by introducing sex education, they will make overnight whores out of these young children. Who takes care of them? Each time government attempts to provide a solution to the problem the officials of the church are up in arms and call these programs immoral and not in cognizance with the teaching of the church. And these pompous idiots who preach from the pulpit, do just that - PREACH. It is wrong to do this. It is wrong to do that.

So what's their solution?

To them, that is is not their problem anymore but the government's problem. I thought that we're in this together. One cannot ask the government to just simply change the game plan only for them to interfere again later on because of their beliefs. They need to change their paradigm in this ever changing world. I am not saying that they should change the Holy Bible. There has got to be a middle ground. The church will need to play a new and active role and not just leave it all to the government to implement these much needed changes.

The flock has gone astray NOT because some evil spirit has come our way. The flock has gone astray NOT because of the evil that men do.

It is because the shepherd was nowhere to be found.

Ganid!

...is the Filipino word for GREEDY. I like the Filipino version word as it emphatically points out a deeper meaning for the word greed. If a Pinoy calls you "ganid", it actually means that he is insulting you, cursing you for a greed beyond compare!

Yesterday, the newspapers published the data from the Commission on Audit regarding the highest paid government officials in the Philippines in 2009. I will not round up the whole list, but I will give you the top 20 alone:

1. Arreza, Armand (SBMA) - 26,865,923.20
2. Ricafort, Benigno (CDC) - 14,506,455.74
3. Garcia, Edgardo F (DBP) - 12,718,942.61
4. Tetangco, Amando Jr (BSP) - 10,772,830.14
5. Bitonio, Benedicto Ernesto Jr (DBP) - 9,309,042.75
6. Geronimo, Rolando (DBP) - 9,080,633.12
7. Abaya, Narciso L (BCDA) - 7,654,597.14
8. Templo, Horacio T (SSS) - 7,073,488.92
9. Samia, Armando O (DBP) - 6,983,533.14
10. Quirino, Ma. Therese (DBP) - 6,753,136.41
11. Puno, Isaac III S (BCDA) - 6,010,701.40
12. Guevarra, Jesus II (DBP) - 5,672.395.45
13. Suratos, Armando L (BSP) - 5,525,347.73
14. Maldia, Wilfredo C (LBP) - 5,473,755.94
15. Sarmiento, Andres C (LBP) - 5,406,907.99
16. Garcia, Oscar O (MWSS-CO) - 5,401,391.22
17. Tejada, Benilda (DBP) - 5,216,276.46
18. Allado, Diosdao Jose M (MWSS-CO) - 4,969,239.59
19. Selispara, Crescencio R (LBP) - 4,917,216.99
20. Guinigundo, Diwa C (SSS) - 4,889,136.21

SBMA (Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority), CDC (Clark Development Corp), DBP (Development Bank of the Philippines), SSS (Social Security System), LBP (Land Bank of the Philippines), MWSS-CO (Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System), SSP (Social Security System), BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas)


Amazingly astounding! It makes you want to puke! The total of the 41 people listed on the COA amounted to over 2 BILLION pesos!

No wonder people want to be appointed in positions in government controlled corporations. My God - their salaries are not only "competitive with the private sector", but shocking by government standards. The perks are gargantuan and what is sickening about the whole situation is that government service is PUBLIC service. You cannot go on claiming that the "best and the brightest" work for the government and need to get compensated in this manner. Gimme a break man! If you think the pay grade is too low, don't join the government. I am sure that there are those who have their hearts and mind to serve the public in a capacity where there is no vested interest at all. And the names that appeared? I don't even know them. They're nobody! Their names don't even ring a bell.

Take Arreza for example. His basic annual salary is only P1.57M. But he received P18.16M in extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses, P6.832M for "others", P145,880 in bonus and incentives and P100,800 in representation and transportation allowances.

Guess what? Under the 2009 budget, the extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses can include all the following: meetings, seminars, conferences, official entertainment, public relations, educational and cultural activities, contributions to charitable institutions, membership in government associations, subscription to professional technical journals, office equipment and supplies, and other similar expenses NOT SUPPORTED BY THE REGULAR BUDGET ALLOCATION.

But how do these people get away with it? Well, they simply sit en banc as board directors, pat themselves in the back and say "we need to approve the following perks and bonuses and extra money and give more incentives to ourselves" and then it is cascaded down to the lowly government employee. Then everybody is happy! And everybody keeps quiet. It's alright their bosses get quintiple or hextuple the pay grade as long as they get the same bonuses (according to how much their salary grade is, of course).

No wonder people in government fight tooth and nail in order to stay in position. Sanamagan this banana republic. It peeves me, because this is not their money to start off with. This is public funds! They're from our sweat, blood, and tears. We work harder than them in order for them to splurge?

Greedy is a light term for these people. Ganid! Sana gisahin kayo sa sarili ninyong mantika.

Basyang, PAGASA and the third world country

I will interrupt the completion of my vacation blog with a word from our sponsor.

I will take this opportunity, to bash at a government agency. One of my favorite past time.

PAGASA - otherwise known as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration, is a part of the Department of Science and Technology services in the Philippines. Since I can recall, I have to say that the weather bureau in this country has been the worst I have seen in the world. As a matter of fact, ever since I could read and write, I had already doubted the accuracy of weather prediction from PAGASA.

I remember that when I was still in Grade School (which was gazillion years ago), each time the weather bureau would declare signal number 1, I knew that the sun would be out and that it was another day off from school. As I grew older, these beliefs were reaffirmed every typhoon season. Seriously, the weather bureau in the banana republic cannot be relied upon.

If there is anything, at the very least this God-forsaken country should have invested on in the last 9 years at the very least of Ate Glue's administration, was the brains to at least upgrade our weather tracking system. So we were able to automate the election - big deal? The usage of the PCOS machine comes once in every 3 or 6 years (depending on usage). Accurately detecting the weather in the country - especially when predicting when, where, and how - the next storm's path is, is without a doubt a more reasonable investment on the part of the government. But knowing how the government officials think and work - that there would be no long-term kickbacks nor vested interest in the political playing field in that graft and corruption would be minimized because each local government unit would be more disaster prepared - upgrading the weather detection system in the Philippines is not within the scope called immediate need.

To the shrewd and imbecile politician - the misery of a calamity will always be beneficial to him or her. From all the rubbles of mud, flood, dirt, and death is the money to earn from rebuilding and politicking their way around the gullible Pinoys in this country. What better way to show how third world we are, than to make a mockery of even our simple way of predicting where the next storm will hit.

The latest fiasco on how accurate (or not) PAGASA was in predicting the path of typhoon Basyang simply confirms my hypothesis on how lame and pathetic this agency is at predicting the weather systems that affect the country.

On July 13, I knew that a storm was approaching the Philippines. I heard it on CNN at 10am. The weather person was saying that it was expected to hit Luzon. She said that it was taking an erratic route and would either veer north a little bit or change directions and move near Metro Manila.

Of course, PAGASA had a different story. In the afternoon, they declared signal no. 1. This sent the children (even those that were almost 5'10" but were still in grade school) scampering to the malls with their parent(s) in tow! Why was that? What were these parents doing at the mall? There was an oncoming storm.

Outside, the wind was still and the sky was cloudy. The weather was humid and warm.

Before I went to bed that night, I was watching the news on ANC (ABS-CBN News Channel) and the newscaster assured the people of the Philippines that yes the storm was on track for Nueva Ecija, according to weather experts in PAGASA.

A little past midnight on July 14, I woke up because of the blackout. Then the winds began to howl and the windows began clattering. I told my mom that this was a big storm. Imagine that Metro Manila is only under signal number 1 and we could feel the wrath of the storm. Poor people in Nueva Ecija. This meant that the province would have been eliminated from the face of the earth or the Philippine map by tomorrow. If what we were feeling in Metro Manila was only 1/8th of what the Novo Ecijanos were feeling, good luck to them. But the howling and lashing of the wind and rain didn't stop until almost 5am. For almost 4-5 hours, you could literally feel the battering of the storm against the concrete walls of our home.

At 6am, the storm had left. But not after shutting down power in Luzon for 24 hours. To this writing, only about 50% of Luzon has had it's power back. Many places are still without electricity. To this writing, I now know that the storm did not take the path PAGASA predicted. Typhoon Basyang had a brain higher than that of Prisco Nilo from PAGASA. It made a fool out of the latter by taking the path less traveled by most storms - into the heart of Metro Manila.

The following day after the wrath of Basyang on Metro Manila, President Aquino had confronted PAGASA on the inaccurate prediction. Of course, PAGASA was left with no recourse but to admit that its equipments allowed them to release a forecast only every 6 hours and that they were very very old (short of saying antiquated) storm tracking devices. They also admitted that their best meteorologists had migrated to other countries of greener and verdant pastures. It was like saying and confirming to P-Noy that this the best that PAGASA can do.

As for P-Noy, this is his first test of a disaster. The problem is, will he do something about this or change the image of the Philippines and defuse all political interests for the interest of the Filipino public? It is up to the government to change the image of the Philippines or keep it embedded in the hearts and minds of all the world that the Philippines will always be a third world country - in heart, in mind, and in spirit!

Vice

This is not about deadly vices - alcohol, smoking, drugs, gambling, sex.

It's about the once upon a time, presidential wannabes, who through some stroke of fate, have settled to run as vice-president of the republic.

There are simply four to contend with - Mar Roxas (runnning with Noynoy Aquino), Loren Legarda (running with Manny Villar), Jojo Binay (running with Erap Estrada), and Bayani Fernando (running with Dick Gordon). If there is anyone else running for this position, he or she is as inconsequential as a cockroach.

Not really much to choose from, considering that they all at one time or another wanted to become president but had to settle for something of a lesser position, yet a greater chance for winning.

Mar Roxas looks like the boy wonder and superhero among the four. Of course, his penultimate sacrifice of scooting over the side for and on behalf of Noynoy Aquino, did wonders for his survey. He now leads commandingly over the others, as others see "Mr Palengke" as the champion of good. Practicality came into the picture. Why throw away millions of pesos to a losing position? After all, what is important is that he wins in the upcoming election a governmental position and what better strategy that to be the consummate martyr at this point? Whether Noynoy wins or loses this election, Mar seems to have his fate sealed for him already. This is what great strategy is all about.

Loren Legarda has been called all names after her switching from camp to camp. Well, let's just quote some other people that have said that she is akin to a prostitute who moves from one man to another. In 2004, she was the running mate of erstwhile President, Joseph Estrada. The Estrada camp found a more loyal ally in Jojo Binay and she was in much need of a party to belong to. And after hanging on the ledge for months, she ends up with a nod from the Villar camp. She trails a distant second in the polls to Mar Roxas.

Jojo Binay once wanted to be called the Philippine version of Barack Obama. Fine. Whatever! But no Obama is he. This is a guy who has the people of Makati at the palm of his hands. His family's dynasty has ruled Makati City since the late Cory Aquino made him Mayor after the EDSA Revolution. Since then, his life has never been the same again. He ran for mayor for 3 terms, then gave up the position for his wife (because of a political ban on running for 3 consecutive terms), and after his wife's term, ran again for Mayor. A position he has held to this very day. His potential votes come from the Erap and Aquino group. While Erap is his running mate in the upcoming May 10 elections, he is very close to the family of the late Cory Aquino. At this point, you can judge that not all the people that Cory kept close company with, were actually trustworthy.

Bayani Fernando also wanted to be President. Aside from Metro Manila, however, no one else visibly knew him. He was not popular in other provinces except for Metro Manila in general, and Marikina in particular. Like Binay, the family of Fernando has ruled Marikina for the longest time as well. Unlike Binay, however, Fernando ruled with a golden fist and insisted on discipline in Marikina and in the Metro Manila Development Authority. While Fernando may not be liked by the majority of the Filipino poor, the middle class and elite seem to support him.

Of all the four that are potential vice-presidentiables, Bayani Fernando is actually the most practical person that should be the successor to the throne of Noli de Castro. He is an action man. He practices what he preaches and his policies actually make sense. He is not interested in doing work so that he can get media mileage. He does his work because he is a civil servant.

Oh yeah, there is this guy called Edu Manzano who's supposed to be running with Gibo Teodoro. I don't know why he was even picked by the Lakas Kampi party, but duh?!?!?!?!?!? Why him? What in God's name did he ever do to even deserve the nomination to be Vice President of the Philippines? What are we - a big game show? Gibo would have been more assured of a vice-presidential candidate had Vice Ganda been his running mate. With the latter, win or lose - Vice pa din siya!!!

Bitching 101 - Of idiots and morons

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) junked disqualification cases against Sen. Manuel "Lito" Lapid and world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, whose candidacies in the May elections were questions for lack of academic credentials.


This was the front page of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

The disqualification case was filed by erstwhile disqualified presidential aspirant and lawyer, Ely Pamatong. In his arguments, Pamatong claimed that reelectionist Lapid was "hardly educated" and knew little about lawmaking, while congressional aspirant Pacquiao was "mentally very poor and not prepared to step into the ring of legislation".

While some may lament that Pamatong himself may be a nuisance candidate, he actually has lucid intervals such as these. For these points made, I agree with him. And while the Comelec insists that there is actually no justifiably solid case to prove that Lapid and Pacquiao are not "qualified" candidates, they further rebut by saying that "a high IQ is never a gauge of good public service." The Comelec added that "a candidate's high educational attainment has never been held as qualification for public office. To be sure, the quality of public service which an elected official can render is not measured by the level of his intelligence."

So much for the Galing at Talino campaign of Gibo.

While I have no interest with Ely Pamatong and his bewildered quest to become a presidential aspirant, I have to agree with him on this matter.

And disagree with the Comelec.

Lapid has served as a nuisance senator over the past 6 years. He sits there in the senate, with an iota of contribution to whatsoever transpired in the senate halls. It is a waste of resources of the public, particularly hard earned money by taxpayers like me. While he may have been elected by the jologs of Philippine society, I am willing to bet that majority of his votes come from the freebie groupies. They are the ones who do not even pay taxes - the jobless, the mendicants, the flying voters - the one's who I have time and again said, have no right to vote.

And I am solid on this take. People who do not pay taxes should not be allowed to vote. It is shameful that the politicians use our hard earned taxes to pay for idiots and morons who do nothing but sleep on the job.

Which goes to the point of improving and setting a minimum level of academic achievement for those running for specific public offices. While it is true that you do not need to have a high IQ to be a good public servant, the thin line for discriminating who is qualified to run for public office should be at least one that is respectable. If we were to follow the argument of the Comelec, does that mean that I can include a Down's Syndrome and Autism party list, with candidates who have both Down's and Autism as their party representatives?

Even entry into pre-school, grade school, high school and colleges have a minimum criteria. Qualifications matter. Even when one works, one must have minimum entry criteria otherwise we'd be getting call center agents with terrible accents, front desk officers that finished grade school, chefs that can only cook fried rice and fried eggs...What more those that enter the political arena?

Pamatong was actually disqualified and declared a nuisance because of scant financial support. He may have the greatest wish to annex the Philippines as the 52nd state of the United States, but what is so wrong in giving up the sovereignty of a country on the verge of extinction because of massive graft and corruption?

Which means that the Comelec is actually accepting candidates not on the background of who is qualified but who has the means. #!?! sanamagan country!

And we blame our public officials for all the problems that our governmental system is laden with. Like our children that grow, we need to be nurtured by right parenting and the models must be good ones. If the Comelec has such an idiotic and moronic line of thinking, where do you think we will be 10 years from today? I have never, ever, ever, in my lifetime been so critical against public people in office as this line of thinking as our local Comelec.

The Comelec is right. You do not need people with high IQ to be in government. Look at the people in Comelec alone!

The health of our nation

Last Saturday, Dr. Emmanuel Johann Obana, was interviewed in the Mindanao Agenda.

The latter is an investigative TV program of GMA network in Davao City. Dr. Obana is one of a handful of idealistic doctors in the Philippine government's "Doctors to the Barrio" program.

In the interview, Reporter John Paul Saniel showed how Doc Eman tried to divide a bottle of paracetamol among several kids or how he used one overly used thermometer for practically all patients, or how difficult it was in grabbing a banca (water boat) to see patients that were difficult to reach.

It was in Doc Eman that I flashbacks on my days as training officer for pediatrics of a government hospital (Ospital ng Maynila) and a private hospital (UST Hospital).

My years in training the residents in pediatrics was blood, sweat and tears. It was not the measly pay that the local government provided (P2,400/month and you were required 8 visits a months), or the fact that you had to wait 3 months to get paid (or 6 months on some occasions), or being castigated by some hot shot councilor because the patient's parents were complaining about why we were asking them to buy medicines (answer - because the hospital does not carry it stupid!)...

Yup. Those were the years when I shared my teaching skills with my residents and took the time, patience and sighhhh....even money. But it was hard for some government big time assholes to see the light at the end of the tunnel. To them, even the plight of health care in the Philippines was (and should I say - IS) just a show. The media frenzy is the their big turn on. These shit heads have crap on their shoulders. I hated them - not for their guts, but for their brainless behavior.

I once interviewed a prospective candidate applying for residency in pediatrics. I asked her why she wanted to pursue pediatric training, considering that she is a city health officer (in one of the big cities in Metro Manila) already. She said that the Lina Law on the devolution of the local government had made her mayor lose significant IQ points. In short, he turned from dumb to dumbest overnight. (He's a public official - it was a curse he was to inherit.) He told the local health officials that their pay would be scaled down because NO ONE can get a pay more than his pay! Sounds logical right? Wrong! It's stupid.

We are not mayors. We are doctors.

We cure people and we work more hours toiling to see patients get better.

In our professional practice, we do not steal.

I was appointed to head the pharmacy of the government hospital. On my first day on the job, I was told that there was going to be good news. I am being given P3M to purchase drugs for the 400 bed capacity hospital.

Then the bad news. I will need to spend that money for the purchase of drugs for the whole fiscal year. Watdfuk!?!?!

I did my math. It meant P250,000 in medicines per month. Assuming that there will only be 400 patients for the whole month, (which is the thinking of Councilor Stupid), this would mean P625.00 for medicines for each patient. Presuming that he will be admitted for the whole month, that would mean medicines worth P20.83 per day. Sanamagan!?!?!?! Only in the Philippines!!!

That same year, they repainted the whole hospital, changed the glass panes of the windows (which were still quite new), bought new air conditioners for some offices, painted lines in the parking slots, upgraded the medical directors office - all to the tune of P50M.

The following year, I resigned from my position in the Pharmacy and as residency training officer and as consultant in pediatrics. I needed to keep my sanity and did not want to die an angry man early in life because some asshole politician forgot to clean his sh*t! And I'm not going to clean it for him.

In the report of poor flung to the barrios doctor in Caraga, the reporter noted that Caraga Mayor Alice Mori had several stacks of government-issued medicine supplies in her possession. And nope, it was not located in the health center nor the municipalities. It was in her house. When interviewed, Mayor Mori claimed that the medicines in her house will be used for medical missions. (The election is near and it is time to hoard for political campaigns?) The mayor refused the reporter's request for video footage on the drugs because she said that it might be used as propaganda by the political opposition (well, I guess this is the opposition's opportunity to bash the mayor).

As reported by Carlos Isagani T. Zarate in the Daily Inquirer, "before the TV program on the interview of Doc Eman was over, the good doctor had already said a mouthful that not only described his frustrations but even aptly indicted the skewed priorities of the government's health program. Doc Eman is one of only two 'doctors to the barrios' assigned in far-flung areas of Southern Mindanao..." Doc Eman hails from a poor family in Cavite.

It's people like him that actually go back to basic grass roots of trying to pass goodness forward.

"Unfortunately, last Wednesday - before Mindanao Agenda was shown on local TV - Doc Eman was pulled out by the Department of Health from Caraga, Davao Oriental. He received death threats via text messages on his mobile phone two days after Saniel did an interview on him and Mayor Mori."

In a country so much in dire need not only of spiritual healing, even those who tend to the living bodies are not spared by the politics of desperation and greed. There is no remedy to this. Even in death...

Pramis, Peksman, Hope to die

My apologies to my foreign readers who do not speak Filipino or Tagalog or Taglish (our local version of Tagalog and English). I am blogging this in the local language, hopefully, to get the message across, and praying that it get circulated on a national scale. If you have Filipino friends, you may want them to translate it for you.

Mga kababayan, tatagalugin ko ito (este, may Taglish din ang ibang kataga). Sa mga hindi marunong magtagalog (sabi ni Fortun hindi daw nakakintindi ng tagalog ang mga Ampatuan), paumanhin po. Itong huling blog na ito sa huling araw ng Enero ng taong ito ang araw na ilalahad ko kung sino ang aking iboboto sa darating na halalan.

Alam ko na walang pakialam yung iba diyan kung sino man ang magiging manok ko sa darating na halalan. Eh wala din naman akong pakialam kung sino ang inyong iboto.

Sa dinami dami ng mga "jingle" ngayon at mga pulitikong nagsipagsulputan bigla sa Facebook, hindi naging madali ang aking pagpili kung sino sa mga tatakbo ang aking ini-endorso sa darating na halalan. Halos dalawang buwan ko din itong inisip...at pakiwari ko, panahon na, para mangampanya na din ako.

Malapit na ang eleksyon. Batuhan na ng tae ang iba't ibang kampo na tumatakbo bilang pangulo ng kaawa awa nating Pinas.

Kung ang pagbabasehan natin kung mas matalino na ang botanteng Pinoy ngayon ayon sa mga nakikitang mga "advertisement" sa media (TV at radyo) - ang sagot diyan ay HINDI!

Nakakapanindig balahibo ang ibang mga "advertisement" at "jingle" at "theme songs" o "background music" (at may kasama pang Silent Night) ng iba!

Susmaryosep! Bakit ba pinaglalandakan ng iba diyan na galing sila sa mahirap? May mahirap daw at may tunay na mahirap (sabi ni Dolphy, meron daw...kaya siguro yung iba pekeng mahirap?!?!?). Magbobote, laking Tondo, nagtutulak ng kariton, nagbibigay ng libreng tulong (kasama na ang ataol), gamot, pabahay, "Medical Missions" (parang dumami ang doctor na libre ang singil pagdating ng eleksyon na kasama sa hakot ng pulitiko), tulong sa mga OFW, tumutulong sa mga nasalanta ng pagputok ng bulkan...pasiklaban, payabangan na ng mga nagawa. Pati yang mga gusgusing yagit, sinama na din sa pagkanta ng isang sugo na aahon sa bansang ito sa kahirapan.

Kakaibang hayop talaga magisip ng gimik na papatok ang mga political advisers ng mga ito. Pangmasa ang dating. Ginawang eng-eng ang mga Pinoy! Pakanta kanta, pasayaw sayaw. Ika nga ng isang commercial - basta happy tayo! Sanamagan na halalan ito!

Wala naman akong away sa mga ito. Oks na oks naman sa akin na mangarap tayo ng mas mabuting buhay para sa sarili at para sa ating pamilya. Sipag at tiyaga and tunay na solusyon diyan. Paminsan minsan, may kikislap na bituin (o kulog at kidlat), at tatama ka sa Lotto!!! Yan ang jackpot! Yan ang tinamaan ng suwerte talaga!!

Tunay na pangarap at hindi yun nangangarap na gising. Hindi panaginip na magiging isang bangungot sa mamamayan. Sawa na tayo diyan. Bawat pulitiko eh pulos pangako naman na iaahon tayo sa hirap. Asan na tayo ngayon? Andito pa din. Kaya dumami ang OFW natin sa mga huling taon (at yang ang bida ni Ate Glu) ay dahil di na nila maatim ang paghihirap at di pagtupad sa mga napakong pangarap ng mga pulitiko sa Pinas. Sa ibang bansa nangangarap ang ating mga kababayan. Kaawa awa talaga ang Pinoy.

Kaya nga bentang benta ang "concept" ng mga mahihirap na may isang sugo na aahon sa atin sa kahirapan. Diyan ako nasuka. Sayang. Magaling pa naman yung ibang kandidato. Walang masama mangarap at magbigay ng pagasa, pero tama din naman si Gibo, na hindi lamang "jingle" ang dadala sa isang bansa para maging mas maunlad at matatag. At kaya natin lumipad patungo sa ating mga pangarap kung magaling ang piloto natin.

Kung ang pagpapatayo ng bahay at paaralan, pagbigay ng tulong sa mga OFW o sa mga mahihirap, o pagpapaunlad ng sariling pamunuan ang magiging basehan natin sa pagpili ng pangulo, "I am sorry to say", hindi yan ang dapat maging basehan. Ang mga pinaglalandakan ninyong mga nagawa o "achievements" na yan ay isang DAPAT LAMANG na ginagawa ninyo. Walang dapat itanaw na utang na loob ang mamamayan sa inyo po! Dapat lamang gawin ninyo ito. Susmaryosep. Aba, lumalabas pa na dahil ginawa ninyo ito eh karapat dapat lang kayong maging pangulo?!?!?! Sanamagan. Eh pawis at dugo namin na binabayad sa mga patong patong na buwis ng lecheng pamahalaan na ito ang pinanggagalingan ng inyong "pork barrel" funds! Pawis at dugo ng buwis sa mga nagtratrabaho, na kinakaltas ninyo buwan buwan. Yang mga patay gutom at istambay at iskwater at mga Juan Tamad ang nakikinabang. Kung ako ang masusunod, eh ang mga nagbabayad ng buwis lamang ang may karapatan bumoto! Saling pusa lang kayo.

Ito lang ang masasabi ko, wala kayong karapatan angkinin na may nagawa kayo sa pera ng taong bayan, dahil ang sagot diyan ay DAPAT LANG!

Ang daming tatakbong sugo ngayong halalan. May sugo ang Diyos daw. Noong nakaraang halalan, nakalimutan ng Diyos yung sugo niya. Kung tunay na sugo siya, dapat parang isang propeta sa bibliya sana siyang pumupunta sa Malacanang at itaas ang kanyang batuta at sabihin na may mga sumpa na darating sa palasyo ng duwende kung hindi nito pakakawalan ang mga Pinoy sa kahirapan. Yung huling sumpa eh kukunin ang panganay niyang anak na congressman din. May nangyari bang ganito? Walang himala...kahit na ang simbahan eh tiklop. Nung namatay nga ang palaban na si Cardinal Sin, ang ibang mga kaparian natin eh parang maamong tupa. Utos siguro ng Roma na huwag makialam.

Para sa akin, huwag ng mag asam na maging pangulo ang sugo ng Diyos. Walang himala! Napanood na kaya nito ang pelikula ni Ate Guy? Sayang ang pera na nauubos sa pangangampanya para sa isang himala. Maraming nagugutom. Maraming puedeng pagbigyan nito. Hindi niyo ba napapansin ang simbahan kung makahingi ng abuloy linggo linggo eh may pangalawang koleksyon pa?!?!?! Ang pangalawa ay abuloy kung saang saang proyekto - sa Haiti, sa mga kaparian, sa nasunugan, sa nasalanta ng bagyo...kulang na lang sa pagkain ng mga malnourished tulad ni Kim Chiu. Kahit di Katoliko si Eddie V, kung talagang may malasakit siya sa mga Pinoy, eh tutulong siya, kahit na anong relihyon ka!

Sayang din naman ang ibang kandidato natin na may kakayahan. Madaming nagawa sa kanilang sariling pamunuan. Maunlad na maunlad na ang kanilang pamunuan, pero ang tanong, paano nila nagawa ito? Hindi sa sipag at tiyaga mga 'tol! Ang tawag dito - nepotism! Syete mga 'tol. Isipin ninyo na hindi sila nagkakalayo sa mga Ampatuan. Sa totoo lang, karamihan sa mga pulitiko ay hindi malayo sa mga Ampatuan. Ilan ang kilala ninyong Mayor at Congressman sa lokal ninyong pamunuan mula ng matalsik sa puwesto si Marcos? Sa Makati lang, eh pulos Binay ang pangalan. Paslit pa ang anak ni Binay nung naging mayor si Jojo. Pumalit sa kanya nung matapos siya maging mayor ng ilang termino ay ang misis niyang doktora. Tapos bumalik siya sa puwesto. Habang lumalaki si JunJun. Ngayon tapos na sa pag aaral at may mga anak na din si JunJun, eh panahon na bumaba ang ama. Kaya si JunJun na ang tatakbong mayor ng Makati. Parang walang katapusan ang DYNASTY nila duon. At parang ang tanga tanga ng mga tao sa Makati. Iisa lamang ang kanilang kilalang pinuno? Ano siya, Hari? Eh di dapat mayor ang tawag duon kundi Datu o Hari! Huwag ng mag eleksyon pa sa Makati o sa Marikina o sa Olongapo o saan man sa Pilipinas.

Tama nga si Ate Glu. Dapat palitan ang ating Konstitusyon. Hindi karapat dapat ang klaseng pamahalaan natin ngayon. Pero mali din siya at si Tabako king (Former President Fidel VR) na dapat parliamentary ang pamahalaan natin. Maniwala kayo't hindi, mas papatok ang monarchial government sa atin. Lahat gusto maging hari at reyna. Walang gustong bumaba sa puwesto. Gusto ng lahat maging sugo --- FOR LIFE!!!!

Kung si Ate Glu ang ating pagbabasehan, ay talagang hindi mananalo si Gibo. Sa mga fanatikong mga taga La Salle lamang siya patok na patok. Sa totoo lang, magaling magsalita si Gibo. Napapahanga ang mga kabataan sa mga katagang nilalabas niya sa bibig niya tuwing sumasagot siya sa mga napupukol na mahihirap na tanong. Tulad ng kanyang amo ngayon, matalino din si Gibo. Pero hanggang duon lang. Maabilidad. Magaling magsalita. Ano ang pinamalas ni Gibo at puede natin siyang maging pangulo kundi sa likas ng galing sa pananalita? Habang buhay siyang magkakaroon ng utang na loob sa isang taong naging ganid at sinungaling. Habang buhay niyang papasanin ang pagtatakip sa mga kasalanan nito. Kung makukumbinsi niya na hindi tumakbo si Ate Glu bilang congresista sa Pampanga sa darating na halalan, may pagasa pa siyang manalo. Mapapaloob ang mamamayan na mawawala na ang duwende sa pulitika. At kahit na magkaroon ng pagpapalit ng ating konstitusyon, di na maaring bumalik pa sa pulitika ang duwende! Kahit na sa puwesto bilang baranggay tanod! Kung magawa ito ni Gibo ngayon, maaraing manalo siya sa darating na eleksyon.

Ang ibang tumatakbo ay isang masaming panaginip lamang. Inutil naman ang ating Comelec. Basta gustong tumakbo, hala sige, takbo! Alam naman natin na isang malaking kabaliwan ang ibang kandidato. Umaasa pa sila. Pero sa totoo lang, may following ang mga yan. Ang tawag sa followers nila, fanatiko! Parang si Jason Ivler. May following sa Facebook. Kahit na mali, ay tama para sa kanila. Yang mga fanatikong yan ay mga walang pangarap sa buhay. Baliktarin mo man ang mundo, para sa kanila, mamamatay at papatay sila para sa idol nila! Puede dito mag-recruit ang Al Queda. Mga fanatiko ito. Sabi nga sa ingles, "no reason, no rhyme"! Sanamagan talaga. Dapat patok na patok ang specialidad ng Psychiatry sa Pinas sa dami ng may kulang na turnilyo sa tuktok. Isama mo na ang dakilang sugo ng mga yan. Ang tawag sa sugo nila, ilusyonado. Pero bebenta yan. Alam mo naman ang Pinoy, showbiz na showbiz ang dating. Tamang tama ang huling kataga ng kanta ng pambansang awit natin - ang mamatay ng dahil sa iyo!

At dito magtatapos ang aking dalawang buwang pag-iisip kung sino ang aking pipiliin maging pangulo. Pagkatapos sumakit ang ulo sa pakikinig sa GMA, ABS-CBN, ANC, sa mga debate sa paaralan, sa mga internet websites, sa SWS at Pulse Asia ay lalo akong nalito sa mga pasiklablan nila. Eto tayo sa huling punto ng aking pagpili ng susunod na pangulo ng bansang ito.

Tama ang mga batikos kay Noynoy. Wala nga siyang masyadong kakayahan.

Kakayahan lamang ba ang magiging basehan natin sa pagpili ng pangulo? Pustahan tayo na mahigit 75% ay nag-eendorso ng manok nila, hindi dahil sa kakayahan, kundi dahil sa isang tanog - WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME? Sampalin ninyo sarili ninyo pag nagsinungaling kayo sa sagot na ito! Pustahan tayo na marami sa atin eh may pangarap maging sikat! Sikat sa pulitika. May kilala sa pamahalaan. May kilala na senador, kongresista, mayor, baranggay kaptain, tanod at sino man pipitsugin na kinaugalian natin i-name drop!

Sabi ng iba, galing si Noy sa pamilya na sikat kaya nadadala lang siya ng agos ng eleksyon. Hindi nga siya si Ninoy at hindi din siya si Cory. Sa dugo lang niya at ng pamilya niya lumalatay ang isang tunay na dahilan kung bakit dapat tayo mamili ng tama sa darating na halalan - ang pagmamahal sa ating lupang hinirang!

Ang mga magulang lang ni Noy ang nagpakita ng tunay na pagmamahal sa ating bayan. Isang bayan na kahit na wala ng pag-asa ay binalikan ni Ninoy para mapakita sa isang dikdatura na walang takot siyang mamamatay para sa demokrasya. Isang bayan na kahit na walang patutunguhan ay itinaya ni Cory ang kanyang mga huling sandali sa pagdarasal at paglalaban sa tama.

Isang bansa, na sa darating na halalan ay mabibigyan ng isang pagasa uli bumangon at ipakita sa mata ng mundo at mata ng lipunan na may pinagyayabangan tayo bilang isang lahi! Tayo'y Pinoy! Sa salita, sa diwa at higit sa lahat, sa puso! Kung mahal natin ang ating bansa, ito na ang huling El Bimbo natin. Ito na ang pagkakataon na maiahon natin ang ating bansa sa tunay na kahirapan. At taas noo natin masasabi sa buong mundo na AKO AY PILIPINO!

Ang simula ay dapat galing sa puso natin. Hindi sa kung ano ang makukuha natin sa mga pangako ng tumatakbo bilang pangulo. Hindi pangako ang kelangan natin kundi isang pinuno na may integridad.

Bayaan na ninyo yung katagang - may takot sa Diyos. Nabenta na yang katagang yan at walang nagsabi ng totoo. Kung makakasagot lang ang Diyos, eh sasabihin niya na natatakot siya sa mga Pinoy sa dami ng sumumpa at gumamit sa pangalan niya para lamang maging kampon ni Satanas.

Simulan na ang laban.

Sino man ang manalo sa darating na halalan, kung ano man ang inyong naging Pramis at nag Cross your heart and Peksman pa kayo...kung hindi ninyo matupad itong mga pangako na ito pagkatapos ng inyong pamunuan, eh sana matupad ang huli...hope you die!

Bitching 101 - The Looney Bin: Bow!

Neurotic, psychotic, schizophrenic, autistic...you name it, we've got it!

Marlene Aguilar-Pollard: "Briton is informant, gunman" - Dang this woman! She is the mother of suspected murderer Jason Ivler and the sister of rockista Freddie Aguilar. She's got this conspiracy theory that Renato Ebarle Jr was killed by her British bodyguard Mark Hauser to frame her son on orders of people who don't like what she's been writing in her "book". Well definitely, she's no Tom Clancy or John Grisham, but wow! Fantastic! With the assault weapons her son's got and the footage on his shootout with the local National Bureau of Investigation, this has got to be one of those fantasmagoric tales that only a cookie would probably conjure. Not that she's unbelievable, but hey, you gotta hand it to her. Her story is one for the books. CIA, conspiracy, who'd believe the mother and son tandem? The media should stop printing her stories. Darn. It's getting to be a headache and puhlizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, can we get their family to see a shrink?

Manny Villar: They're playing politics. Okay, so they're dirty. So what? It's the political ballgame dude. You gotta face the music if you wanna be president! The continuing saga of Manny V's efforts to ditch the ethics and misconduct charges are akin to GMA ditching her efforts at accusations of graft and corruption. And he's not even president yet. You gotta hand it to him. He's using all that moolah of his to get people singing the tune of "...si Manny Villar and aahon sa atin sa kahirapan" (Manny V is the one who will lift us from poverty). Sanamagan. You use these mendicants to sing the song and air it on prime time and on the radio, it might just work! I am saddened though that there are respectable personalities that believe this crap! Manny had taken this complaint to the Supreme Court already to file for a temporary restraining order and a permanent injunction to stop the senate committee from continuing its investigation. But time and again, his complaints have been foiled. Now he's using his moolah and fanatics (or should I say his insignificant followers including the once credible Gilbert Remulla) to move his current residence to Malacanang. Face the music first Manny. Unbelievable! The guy is so much like GMA. Deja vu? Jamais vu?

Jamby Madrigal: Doesn't believe in surveys but her own. Even if she's trailing at the bottom 0.2%, she thinks she'll still make it. Her reason? The SWS and Pulse Asia surveys didn't even think she'd make it as Senator in the last election. But she placed 4th among the winners! In your face SWS and Pulse Asia!!! But then again, she's got the Ladlad Party and the other gay groups in the senate and congress and wherever to bring this cookie to the palace. Who knows, she may be right? After all, she's in good company with the rest of them.

And the only place these people should be is actually the nut house! Philippine Politics is pathetic. We're nearing the presidential election and we've got loonies in our midst. Bow!