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| ON THE OTHER HAND |
| Shame on you, Joe
By Antonio C. Abaya Written Dec. 10, 2006 For the Standard Today, December 12 issue For sheer gall and shameless chutzpah, nothing can beat the Lower House�s maneuver last Tuesday, Dec. 5, when it changed one of its own rules, House Rule no. 15, and replaced it with another that would make it easier to railroad a constituent assembly through the House, without the participation of the Senate. By a vote of 161 to 25, the Lower House struck down House Rule no. 15, which states: �The adoption of resolutions proposing amendments to or revisions of the Constitution shall follow the procedure for the enactment of bills.� Meaning, constitutional amendments or revisions must, like proposed bills, be approved by both Houses of Congress before they are submitted to the President for signature and promulgated into law. In its place, the Lower House rushed the following in the wee hours of the morning: �Proposals to amend or revise the Constitution shall be by a resolution which may be filed at any time by any member.� Such as, for example, voting for a resolution that binds the whole Congress, but without the participation of the Senate. Such as, for example, convening itself into a constituent assembly or Con-Ass, better and more appropriately known as Congressmen�s Asses, which we the citizens of this unfortunate country are expected to kiss without question or complaint.. For all practical purposes, the Senate has ceased to exist, as far as the administration congressmen and women are concerned. The Senate has been made redundant and irrelevant even before it has been officially abolished. �Tonight�s vote is a historic and overwhelming vote for reform,� crowed House Speaker Jose de Venecia, one of the chief architects of a shift to the parliamentary, federal and unicameral form of government, and the Machiavellian genius behind this congressional coup. It was none of the above. It was, rather, a historic and overwhelming vote for naked and brazen self-interest. Shame on you, Joe! There was the self-interest of the rank-and-file trapos, inside and outside Congress, who, without having to spend a peso for re-election, would get an extra five months in power, if the May 2007 elections were postponed to November 2007, or three years, if those elections were done away with completely, in favor of parliamentary elections in May 2010. And, in addition, there would be no term limits to cramp their style. Having failed in their bid to amend the Constitution through a People�s Initiative (which was mercifully shot down by the Supreme Court), the trapos were banking on a constituent assembly or Con-Ass, without the killjoy Senate, to install themselves and their families in power virtually forever. Then there was the self-interest of Jose de Venecia, the quintessential trapo, who wants so terribly, terribly much to become head-of-government, but who knows he has no chance of winning in a presidential election. (In 1998, he got only 17% of the votes, compared to Erap�s winning 39%.) And, finally, there was the self-interest of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who wants to remain in power, as prime minister, beyond 2010, when her presidential term expires.(See my articles Prime Minister Gloria? of May 17, 2005 , and GMA Forever? of March 28, 2006 , both archived in www.tapatt.org). This convergence of self-interests is what the ChaChaCha is all about, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Party politics is a convergence of self-interests as individuals band together to pursue a common political agenda. But when naked self-interest is made to run roughshod over all other considerations, to the point of even re-writing rules just to accommodate that self-interest, then there is something rotten in the state of the Batasan, and it stinks to high heavens. This is the real putrefying ULAP: Umaasang Laging naka-Angkla sa Poder. But, the Con-Asses insist, this was democracy in action. It was approved by a vote of 161 to 25. It was democracy in action in the same sense that elections in communist countries were democracy in action, in which the Communist Party candidates always got 99.5% of the votes, there being little or no opposition brave enough to oppose it. (The latest chapter in this sordid affair is that President Arroyo and Jose de Venecia have retreated on the Con-Ass bid, in the face of outraged opposition to it from a widening swathe of public opinion. Instead JdV has given the Senate a 72-hour ultimatum to come up with a resolution proposing to amend the Constitution via its preferred mode, a Constitutional Convention or Con-Con. (But why a 72-hour ultimatum? Why the fevered rush to ChaCha, even after the failed people�s initiative, after the failed Con-Ass? (Obviously because the clock is ticking away on JdV�s consuming ambition to become prime minister in 2007, and on the equally consuming ambition of GMA to remain in power beyond 2010. Was it Shakespeare or Attila the Hun who said, �Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.�?) . Mike Velarde, the head of the El Shaddai religious sect, a man whom I am not in the habit of showering praises on, is to be congratulated for taking the initiative in publicly denouncing the Senate-less Con-Ass maneuver of JdV and his trapos. Said Mike last Dec. 5: �The people won�t allow it, and I, for one will be openly against it,� as he warned that a Con-Ass without the participation of the Senate would create a constitutional crisis. Velarde wisely warned that JdV and his trapos should leave the task of amending the Constitution to the next Congress to be elected next year. He favors a properly elected constitutional convention or Con-Con as the proper mechanism for constitutional changes.. Velarde�s initiative in denouncing the Con-Asses and their dirty game has started what looks like an avalanche of protest from other groups. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, led by its president, Archbishop Angel Lagdameo; the National Council of Churches in the Philippines, a Protestant umbrella organization; the Bangon Pilipinas and the Jesus is Lord movement of Evangelist Eddie Vilanueva; and other organizations are sharpening their fangs and have signified their intention to join a massive anti-Con-Ass rally in the Luneta on Dec. 17. Even the conservative Makati Business Club has added its voice to the chorus of protests. This looks like People Power Revisited, and President Arroyo and JdV and their band of salivating trapos can ignore it only at their own peril. This promises to be bigger and more sustained than the anti-GMA demos of July 2005 and February 2006, which failed to excite the middle class because they were clearly orchestrated by the trapos of Joseph Estrada and the Communist movement, whom the middle class have neither sympathy with nor affinity for.. If Mike Velarde�s El Shaddai, Archbishop Lagdameo�s CBCP, Villanueva�s JIL, the Protestants� NCCP, and the other participating organizations can keep their protest action essentially non-trapo and non-Communist, the prospects of attracting the middle class to join it would be better than good, and with it the possibility of rejuvenating this demoralized country with a much needed moral and social revolution. ***** A PERSONAL NOTE. Joe de Venecia and I were batch mates in the Ateneo de Manila College of Arts and Sciences, Class of �55. At that time, the Ateneo had two parallel liberal arts program. Those of us who came from the Ateneo High School and thus had had four years of Latin were funneled into the AB program (Bachelor of Arts, also known as Ahente ng Baboy or Ahente ng Babae), where two more years of Latin were required. Our Honors section, of which I was not bright enough to be a member, was also required to do one year of Classical Greek. Those who came from other high schools and thus had no background in Latin � JdV came from La Salle � were enrolled in the BS program (Bachelor of Science, also known, not surprisingly, as Bullshit), which did not require any Latin at all. But we attended common classes in junior and senior years in our chosen fields of specialization, which was Journalism for JdV and I. Half a century ago, JdV was already the glad-handing, back-slapping, smooth-talking, ever effusive politiko that everyone recognizes him to be . His remarkable career has proven at least one thing: you don�t need Latin to become Speaker of the House. Or Prime Minister. But the brazenness of his Con-Ass maneuver took me completely by surprise. As it did everyone else. Perhaps he learned it in La Salle . ***** Reactions to [email protected]. Other articles since 2001 in www.tapatt.org OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO |
| Reactions to �Shame on You, Joe�
Sir, I�m a Filipino living in Chicago and it�s been my habit to read all on- line Philippine newspapers. Your articles/comments are clear as crystal on the events that unfolded for the past few days. Personally, as I�m originally from Naga City, whatever respect I had for Cong Villafuerte is totally gone, and so with Cong Lagman. They don�t deserve to be Bikol Oragons but Bikol SHAME . Carlos A.Cortes Jr., [email protected], Chicago, Illinois, Dec. 12, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww You are right, Tony. Shame on you, JDV and his gang of congressmen. Shame on you, Villar and Gordon and his team of senators, for conducting one-sided hearing on constitutional amendment. The senate invited resource persons were those who can confirm what the senators were in mind. Both houses are bunch of people serving the common good of their interests. Every administration will have this agenda as shown during Ramos, Erap and now GMA. The Filipino people will always have this divisive issue. The only way to bury this and put closure is to submit proposals to the people. Politicians must stop saying that this is not what the people want or this is what the people want. The constitutional experts already admitted that there were some errors or overlooked provisions, why can't we correct? Regards, Rey Corpuz, [email protected], Dec. 12, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Anthony; You, sir, have a pair that clang. Brass. Given that persons of the press who criticize those in power have a way of suddenly dying in your country, I can only express my admiration for your courage. I do hope you have excellent security services... say, something like two fire teams of US Force Recon Marines. John Long, [email protected], Seattle , Washington , Dec. 13, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya, It's with much pain that I try to keep abreast with news about our country's leadership, and I envy you for what I see as an enduring hope in search of a "System" that would work for the Philippines . My continuing faith and hope is simply because it's the only choice to life. But I lived through Con-Cons, Martial Law, the euphoria of change having "reached rock bottom", People power, sacrifices of fine and great men and women...wasted by the "old and new" guards in the palaces/Houses of power in Manila. Sorry, Senate, Congress, Malacanang, joint and/or acting separately seem to be alike. Please don't tire in helping one like me, regain and see signs of hope. Antonio Bacagan, [email protected], Dec 13, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya: I regularly receive your articles. Each time I do, I post them on the Bibaknets which is an emailing group of Igorots worldwide. We discuss issues. Your articles always generate reactions from the members. I just thought today that I should send every reaction to you. I forwarded your �Shame on You, Joe.� Fr. Anthony Gomowad, an Anglican priest based in Hawaii has a reaction which I am copying and pasting FYI. Cheryl L. Daytec, [email protected], Dec. 13, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Good Morning, Sir. The nights are longer and colder these days but the burning fume of politics and the warm sentiments against cold-hearted politicians are keeping me awake to watch and listen to ANC. I wonder what Brother Armin Luistro FSC is thinking of JDV, he he he? The beauty of democracy is that the power resides in the voice of the majority of the people. The congress is the representative of the people, this translate to their rights to speak in behalf of their constituency. But do we have a JUST REPRESENTATION? I agree with Mr. Christian Monsod that we must first push for electoral reforms before we can go with any Charter Change... We need to establish credibility in order for the entire population to seek ownership of a new charter. Why the rush? 1) JDV is already nearing the end of his political career and perhaps the failed CON-ASS is already God�s way of telling him to retire? 2) PGMA might lose control of the Lower House after theMmay 2007 election..With the growing sentiments against the MAJORITY congressmen, it is more likely that the MINORITY will get the numbers it needs for an impeachment. 3) About 60 members of congress will not be eligible to run for seats next year, perhaps none of their wives and offspring can take their place as political heir to the throne (POLITICAL DYNASTY at its BEST). PGMA is distributing her clan across the country in order for them to run for congress. This would mean that she will have at least two votes for her from congress. Until now PGMA hasn�t proven her legitimacy! And with the way the surveys are going, it is not far that we will see her entire clan being washed away by the tides of 2007. The middle class is already awakened, the poor of society have always been on their toes, and the Businessmen are already airing their sentiments. The formula for a coup coming from the masses is already in place, it only lacks one ingredient and that is the support of the Military. PGMA made a good investment by putting GEN. ESPERON at the helm of the AFP, this is even strengthened by the fact that the officer corps wants to remain apolitical. In the end we will see the political career of certain congressmen in peril, and we will also see a bigger political threat against the current administration. Our battle cry should be " MAKING THE REAL MEANING OF DEMOCRACY WORK for the Filipinos." The People's sentiments should be heard! The politicians interests should be shelved. Magandang Araw po at Mabuhay po kayo. Vonne Villanueva, [email protected], Dec. 13, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya, Re: your article below, I totally agree with you. However, you spoiled the whole point when you generalized at the end with, "Perhaps he learned it in La Salle ". You should have stopped at your main discourse. Your "history lesson" of who came from where has no place in your discussion. Worse, with just one sentence, you lost your credibility, as well as that of your arguments. Shame on you, Tony! Cristine C. Remollo, [email protected], Dec. 13, 2006 AB, Batch '84 � DLSU, LLB, Batch '88 - AdeMU wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya, I totally agree with what you said in your article entitled " Shame on You, Joe". Keep up the good work. Glo Gerona, [email protected], Dec. 13, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww "Perhaps he learned it at La Salle ." LOL! What a nice way to conclude your article. It sounds like "the playing fields of Eton " or something. Wouldn't need much popular support. :) George Amurao, [email protected], Dec. 13, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hello Tony, I am a nominal La Sallite having gotten my BS Commerce degree from La Salle . And I do not take offense at your allusion that JDV learned his crooked ways at La Salle . However, since he spent a lot of time at the Ateneo, he must have honed it to perfection at your school. Best wishes. Ben Santos, [email protected], Dec. 13, 2006 PS I know your brother Ben MY REPLY. Actually I did not accuse JdV of being crooked. Engineering the Con-Ass was an act of deviousness, not of crookedness.. wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi! I agree with you except for the last sentence of what JdV learned in La Salle . Maybe it should be what he learned in Ateneo since this is where he took his college and where he was influenced to be what he is now. Have you ever asked what Erap has learned in Ateneo? At least La Salle openly took a stand in asking GMA to take the supreme sacrifice. Maybe you should concentrate on writing your article and not on your insecurities. Stay focused my friend! Your reader, Pamela, [email protected], Dec. 13, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, I have written you sometime back about your book, "Europe on a Scooter". After my initial anger and disgust, I feel I should allow you to explain your personal note and what you EXACTLY meant by "Perhaps he learned it in La Salle". Below is a copy of your personal note which I find offensive and self ________. Well you supply the adjective since you are so good in words and you know what I mean.. And I'm sorry if I only took up 2 years of Latin In La Salle. I did not know that the number of years you took Latin in H.S. was the measure of a man with which you seem to be broadly denigrating all La Sallites. Sincerely, Leopoldo B. Cuisia, Dec. 13, 2006 DLSC GS '58 DLSC HS 62 , BLSC BSCHE '67 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Kuya Tony Abaya, Remember my article (Trapo in our Midst) that saw print in our prestigious and envied Tapatt@yahoogroup? That was originally titled: "JDV Exposed!", as my political column published in Regional Examiner. A weekly based in the Dagupan City -- the turf of the non-pareil trapo JDV. Well, JDV and his staff indeed lived up to that billing. They conferred their displeasure of my scathing attack to my publisher. The latter was angry at me because he couldn't collect the Yuletide Ads JDV had on that issue. Sumabay ang banat ko sa nakangiting mukha ni JDV sa diyaryo. As the lone opinion writer who has the nerve to have that no -prisoner- taken attack to the father of patronage politics and kingmaker here, I found it assailable when my Editor asked me to appease the Speaker and my Publisher by writing a favorable article about our 4th District Congressman. Jesus, parang kina-in ko yung upak ko ke JDV. Thus, I told them "Nyet!". I will rather resign and publish my own community paper next week and hire well- meaning media practitioners who will continue to uphold the truth. And if my idol Tony Abaya will allow, I will feature on the said Weekly some of his insightful, well research, and in depth articles at the Tapatt bank of wisdom. O.k lang po ba Kuya Tony? Regards, Mortz Ortigoza, [email protected], Dagupan City , Dec. 13, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya, It's with much pain that I try to keep abreast with news about our country's leadership, and I envy you for what I see as an enduring hope in search of a "System" that would work for the Philippines . My continuing faith and hope is simply because it's the only choice to life. But I lived through Con-Cons, Martial Law, the euphoria of change having "reached rock bottom", People power, sacrifices of fine and great men and women...wasted by the "old and new" guards in the palaces/Houses of power in Manila. Sorry, Senate, Congress, Malacanang, joint and/or acting separately seem to be alike. Please don't tire in helping one like me regain/see signs for hope. Antonio Bacagan, [email protected], Dec. 13, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww It�s time to change........Antonio... The people are suffering. Andy Feria, [email protected], Dec. 13, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww No, Tony, JdV could not have learned it from La Salle because JdV was there when the Christian Brothers were all newly-arrived young Americans in their 20s fired only with the mission of spreading the word of God and teaching the American way of life, the older Brothers having been massacred by the crazed Japanese soldiers during the Liberation of Manila on February 12, 1945. Joe, like Erap and Gloria, could have only learned it at the Philippine bastion of the Jesuits, from which the word "switik" is derived. Oscar Lagman, [email protected], Dec. 13, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Tony! I agree, agree, agree!!!! How do you make sure he reads this and every other article that denounces what they tried to do? Should he be kidnapped, tied to a chair and be made to listen while you guys read aloud to him what you wrote? Can we do the same for Villafuerte, Jaraula, Lagman and the rest of the gang? Can we just abolish Congress and save ourselves not only a lot of money but also a lot of stress? Rina Filart, [email protected], Dec. 13, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Mr. Abaya You don't need anybody to tell you that you have every right to criticize JDV in print regarding his position on ConAss. To be personal about it and even to the extent of taking a "competing" school's name along with your opinion speaks well of your lack of formation and good breeding, not as an Atenean per se (because I have several sincere and well-bred friends from this school), but a poorly educated Atenean. Sayang ka! Ruben Umali, [email protected], DLSC BSC '67, Dec. 13, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony: Great article except the snide remark about La Salle. Mano Alcuaz, [email protected], Dec. 13, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Con-Ass stands for Con artists' Assess. JdV's and his ilk's souls ought to fry in hell. But do they have any? I'll attend the rallies if Maceda, Sotto, Erap's other con artists do not occupy the front seats. Vic de Jesus, [email protected], Dec. 13, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi, Tony. JDV has nothing to be ashamed about. He just did what he thought was good and right for our country. He knew he was up against the formidable and powerful forces of the Senate, media, oligarchs, and some church leaders like Velarde and Villanueva who stand to lose their economic and political power and influence once the form of government is changed into parliamentary. I salute JDV for his vision, courage and leadership. Best regards. Bobby Tordesillas, [email protected], Dec. 13, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww It is shame on you, Joe de V, and shamest most of all on his boss from where he gets his cues.The rally on Sunday should be a rally against the root cause of it all, instead of just on the tongressmen, who only mimic what their boss tells them. Jose Luis Yulo Jr., [email protected], , Dec. 13, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony: Your Personal Note re JDV of Tuesday, 12th, was hilarious! Carpe` diem and more power! Manny Valdehuesa, [email protected], Cagayan de Oro City, Dec. 13, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Ain�t that the truth�Love the last sentence. Ramy Lopez, [email protected], Dec. 14, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Thanks, sir, for the article. You should come out with more of this to enlighten the people who are still not aware of the personal interest of these politicians in the guise of saving democracy Robert Wagtingan, [email protected], , Dec. 14, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya,. Shame on you for dragging La Salle 's name on your tirade against JdV. Anong pakialam ng La Salle kay JDV? Didn't he study at Ateneo during his college days? TSk..tsk..Didn't you know? Nelson Cruz, [email protected], Dec. 14, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Truth which is the foundation of every virtue has never been a criterion in the governance of this immoral and illegitimate presidency of Gloria Arroyo. The latest ,of course, besides the Cha-Cha episode, is the excuse given for the postponement of the Asean Summit. It is just abhorring that this government makes pretense of its concern on typhoon Seniang when it did little to avert a disaster on the onslaught of typhoon Reming. Gloria Arroyo knew that Bicol would be directly hit and the areas around Mayon Volcano are in danger of mudslides. Why then did she not deploy equipment from DPWH and Army Engineers? Had she sent soldiers and medical personnel to assist in evacuation and rescue operations, those buried by mud could have been extricated and given medical assistance quicker, thereby saving more lives. Gloria Arroyo was so busy plotting her moves on how to keep herself in power that everything else has to be placed on the sideline. Even her puppet congressmen from Bicol, Luis Villafuerte and Edcel Lagman were nowhere to be seen in their constituencies as they were engrossed in the plot, together with De Venecia, Nograles, Espinosa, Pichay, Singson, Jaraula, Cagas, Defensor etc etc, afraid of losing the immense power they exercise, the huge wealth they have and the big influence they wield once their master is out of office. I pray that these people will heed the advice of Archbishop Cruz to live an upright life, to make good moral judgments and exercise public office according to what ethics say and what morals dictate. Narciso Ner, [email protected], Dec. 13, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Is it really the Catholics or just CBCP ? Is it really the members of El Shaddai or just Mike Velarde ? (I won�t bother with Eddie Villanueva since we already saw all he�s got during his failed presidential bid. And I already know your stand on the communists.) I doubt whether any consultations were ever made by these Church leaders. I myself, a serious Catholic, protest the CBCP�s indulgence in politics. There are more important housekeeping matters that the CBCP should attend to. The attendees in Sunday masses are dwindling. With us Catholics being more than 85% in this country, I can say that the performance of the CBCP, being our moral guardians, can be measured from the state of morality in this country. Unfortunately, it�s difficult to give the CBCP a passing mark. And look at Cory Aquino, a person I admired and fought for before. She seems to forget that she alone chose the members of her Constitutional Commission in the absence of any widespread consultation; and her supposed 50 wise men seemed to have missed a lot in their work, hence all our problems now. For one, the incompatibility of the current multi-party system will always result to a minority president often forced to compromise to buy political peace & stability. I recall your suggestion before of run-off which I agree is a good solution to this problem. But I really prefer a shift to a parliamentary form and to eventually transform our politics from personality oriented to party based � party politics being a battle of platforms of government. I want to vote for a political party (by voting for its candidates) whose programs I believe in. Let�s put an end to a system where government leaders and legislators are elected based on personal popularity alone. Simply having the heart for the �Masang Pilipino� as credentials is bullshit. Instead, I dream of a political party whose members have moral courage and conviction, a party with an inspiring vision, and a party of intelligent and forward looking members who are able to deliver on government programs effectively and efficiently. The lawyers and us non-lawyers can debate the whole day about the constitutionality or legality of the latest action taken by the House. But at the end of the day, we should just all wait for and abide with whatever the Supreme Court decision is. This should be how a civilized country and an intelligent population should behave � instead of being emotional and resorting to mob rule. However, it is unfortunate that Joe had to surrender too early to the perceived �popular opinion� instead of courageously fighting for something he believes to be right (assuming he truly & strongly believes in his cause); thus depriving us all of a healthy debate at the SC and a final resolution to the constitutional issues. On the side, are SWS and Pulse Asia survey results really reflective of public opinion? Are respondents truly randomly chosen or chosen to reflect the biases of those undertaking the surveys? Surveys may wittingly or unwittingly create a bandwagon for positions espoused. I hope somebody undertakes an honest academic study of how respondents are chosen and how interviews are conducted (Forget about margins of errors; we can easily go to our textbooks for the derivations of the formulas used. For as the saying goes, �garbage-in-garbage-out�). In this country which spends more time debating, quarreling, and speculating instead of taking action to move forward, I support what the House did and I really believe it is time to immediately start the process of amending or revising our defective Constitution. Perhaps, this country needs more pragmatic and action-oriented La Sallites rather than those who merely engage in endless debates and plain mental masturbation. By the way, I doubt whether what will happen on Sunday will be anywhere close to people power. People power has always been spontaneous. Pachelo Lao, [email protected], Dec. 13, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Thanks, Tony, As a La Salleite, I take exception to your last statement about JDV. JDV did not need any school to do what he has done to stay in power. His guiding light was a hope that someday it would reward him with the Presidency. Jaime L. Calero, [email protected], Sydney , Australia , Dec. 13, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww This Mickey Mouse look-alike is as filthy, scheming, nasty, wickedly evil, dirty rat as (or rather ASS****) can be! And by the looks of it, everything is going according to his hideous diabolical plan. Whatever it is, Con-ASS****, Con-Con, Peep-hole's initiative, or whatever it may and can be, he comes out the winner... whatever is the out-come, Cha-Cha is in the bag! Has anyone ever and truly asked whether WE, THE SOVEREIGN FILIPINO PEOPLE, want our Sacred and Most Revered Constitution be trampled upon and changed according to the whims of a certain devil in disguise? And even if most of the SOVEREIGN FILIPINO PEOPLE wanted to amend the Constitution, has anyone among those whom we voted to UPHOLD AND PROTECT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES to which they swore allegiance asked what should be changed? If there is something that should go, it is first and foremost the incompetent nincompoops and their (un)honorable gangster. MICKEY MOUSE and THUMBELLINA being the first. And as for us, Cha-Cha seems inevitable because these creatures from beyond are ramming their craziness down our throats. Even now that we are still under the Presidential system, the House of Immorality is proving to be insensitive and tyrannical. How much more if we turn Parliamentary? This dastardly Political Bastard wants nothing more than being the Supreme Leader. But he knows he can never win in a presidential election. Even Erap blasted him in the '98 elections. The only way he can achieve his selfish dream is through the Parliament where he is a shoe-in (the mouth). If what Mickey Mouse is claiming is true, that the only way we can achieve economic stability is through Parliamentary system, then either he or Thumbellina is bluffing. The president is claiming we are already on the verge of economic stability and on the way to First World status, and we are in the Presidential system. If the President is correct in her claims, then what the hell is Mickey Mouse talking about? Well, the reality is far from the truth. Neither one of them is right! I don't have to go through statistics to prove my point, it is visibly glaring even in the dark. Stop fooling us, you hypocritical creeps!!! Go and tell that to the Marines. Felipe Rommel Martinez, [email protected], Dec. 13, 2006 Sorry to the real beloved Mickey and Thumbelina, but the weirdos being referred to are living in their own fantasy world... a-la GMA telefantasya! wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Those who dislike Pres. Gloria Arroyo found a reason in the shameless maneuvering of the Lower House to take to the streets again; another opportunity to sound off Gloria Alis Dyan. The thundering chorus is one of maligning Gloria Arroyo for her selfish interest in wanting to stay in power. Joe de Venecia not excluded. Those who hate PGMA agree without thinking and easily join the bandwagon. But the other side of the coin is just as frustrating. Immediately after Velarde and the CBCP flexed their muscles, PGMA cowered and backtracked on the CHACHA. Is this the kind of leader that we Filipinos desire? A President said and feared for being so powerful, and yet bends at the slightest pressure from those groups that carry the big votes? What happened affirmed Gloria's justification for changing to the Parliamentary form of government. When are we ever going to solve our population problem if the President of the Philippines does not have the political will to do it for fear of the Catholic Church? God knows what other problems can't be solved in this country because the President has to kowtow to more pressure groups who also have their own vested interests. Not even one among the most promising presidentiables in the Senate will ever be good for President of this country, because whether they like it or not, they have to woo these pressure groups in order to win. And we're back to the vicious cycle of give and take. Meanwhile the country is as stuck as ever and sinks deeper in all its ills. I hope for once Filipinos can stop and ponder what we really want for the country. The senators all want the Filipinos to vote, that's why they don't like CHACHA before the election. But my goodness, with senatoriables who have their personal agendas as their platform and who'd get elected because of popularity... Next thing we know, this country will have a President of exactly the same make. Again, the civil society, the leftists, the rightists, etc. will march on the streets because they don't like again the President. I wish...I hope.. I pray...God have mercy on this country. Angie Diaz, [email protected], Dec. 14, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, Thanks for all your efforts in letting us know what's going on in the Philippines . I appreciate your kind of journalism that's not afraid to tell it like it is. Sometimes I cannot help but cry for the appalling situation in the country. This is not the country that I love. The people have to do something to correct the situation they are in, otherwise it will continue to deteriorate, thanks to these so-called trapos. Mulloy, [email protected], Dec. 15, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww (Unedited) Your comments are full of emotions of a child, my friend. On the first place there is really an urgent need to change, revise, amend the present Constitution, it been long overdue.In fairiness, to te lower house of conress, they are just doing their job, which the upper house should have participted as mandated by law. they disobeyed and opted not too, because like you, their heads are run by emotions and they know they would be outnumbered. they should have participted in the Great debate to see what alternative they got in their heds, not just to oppose. Con-ass, Con-con, it doesnt matter what, after all we have experienced those kind of change. And who's afraid of change, no one but cowards! The whole process they said is self serving? I can say it is just for a very short time. Look at those copngressmen, they are old, and all of them will be dead sooner or later. Congress will be replaced by the young ones ,ore courages to face more challenging changes, and can make amendmenets afterwards. Still they say the whole process does not conform with due process, and they change rules,but why not? Every rules could be subjected to change and it shouldnot be absolute! We should have let it go! And the people should have actively participated and used the opportunity of turning the weapons of change against those trapos! there is nothing to ebate about, Federalism and the Parliament, this system were been proven effective. People should have participated and turned around the event into their own advantage, and rally what should been change.Once again people were "gyped" by the "sweet tounge" devils. People should have a chance to participate in government by making electoral reforms. A People's Party is a must, where Candidates from the Urban Poor, the fisherman, the Farmers, all sectors at the lower level of the society couild Campaign and expense should be shoulderd by government giving each candidate equal exposures in air, time, etc.. From the very start of the History of man, who cares most and really benifit from the Constitution? None but the politicians and the elite. We all know that! It a means of protecting them. The people are needed to work for them all they lives like slaves only in a differrent form-without whips but crave for money, money and money to buy my and your thing! There should be order to prpetuate the arragnement so the Constitution. If ther would be participation from the lower and middle level of our socity things would be differrent. we missed the chance of the going into a bargain, or we again missed the train! our mids were obsucured and carried away by the sense of emotions of the Senate people who's background is as dim as their shrewd strategy. many of them and those of the lower house were Smart Guys of the Marcos Regime. they have changed the way people think and makes play their own game. Man makes rule and it is not rules that makes Man! Here in the Philippines , it should be the poor ones, but they opted to follow, not to lead, and .. Many are afraid of the Dark my friend. But why? You are already in the midst of it! Rodolfo Cada, [email protected], Dec. 15, 2006 MY REPLY. I thought you wanted revolution, my friend. Do you really think Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Jose de Venecia are revolutionaries, just because they want to change the Constitution, just so they can stay in power forever? They are in fact the worst reactionaries. wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww I might be persuaded that JdV learned the beginnings of a trapo in La Salle , but I have this sinking feeling that he learned the finer points of wheeling and dealing in Ateneo. This is where Erap probably learned womanizing and petty acting together with his top notch lawyer. It must also be in this institution where you learned the ultimate liberal attitude, in the center of everything, sure of everything, but going nowhere. So where do you think we are going, Sir, after the con ass fiasco of your classmate JdV? Now that the useless Senate got a deodorizing from the clowns of congress, do you see hope in these claque of ogres, i.e. Ping Lackson, dDa. Ejercito of the psychiatric ward, Cub Estrada, cheating survivor Enrile, barangay captain Bong R, the two aging generals, lets Doh it, the former UP president very close to Erap, the other Arroyo of Tita Cory, the double crossers: of Erap and that of GMA who hails from Iloilo, the one who's got a brother in congress who also wants to be a senator, the one whose cousin got an arsenal of guns and explosives in his condo, the vertically challenged former mayor, the husbands of Vilma and Sharon, Mr. Palingkero? Do you think the middle class can find solace in this kind of upper legislative body whose members reek of malice, prejudice, self-interest, unabashed ambition to be the head honcho of the land? I like your liberalism, Sir, nakakahawa ka. Felix Zamar, [email protected], Dec. 15, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, After reading the Dec. 12, 2006 , issue of your column in the newspaper, Manila Standard Today, a letter of a colleague, Mr. Leopoldo Cuisia, appeared in our exclusive site in the internet. My friend took exception of what you wrote in the un-edited version of "Shame on you, Joe". This was the version you supposedly sent to "undisclosed receipients" via e-mail. Upon comparison, I realized Mr. Cuisia's copy contained an added section entitled, "A Personal Note". It is what was written in that particular section that moved me to write this letter. I understand your disgust about J.D.Venecia's role in the Con-Ass issue. I agree as you've written: "it was a historic and overwhelming vote for naked and brazen self-interest." However up to this writing, I still can't imagine how a man of your background could insinuate that J. D. Venecia may have learned the brazeness displayed in the Con-Ass maneuver at La Salle . If you indeed wrote what appeared in the "Personal Note", I consider it as an irresponsible, uneducated remark. I must say I am offended. I take it as a slur against La Sallites. Granted for the sake of arguendo that "perhaps" JDV learned the brazeness of his Con-Ass maneuver from La Salle ; where then may I ask did Rep. Prospero Nograles learn his equally brazen participation in the Con-Ass maneuver? Was he merely exercising a personal choice? Or, maybe Congressman Nograles, an Atenean, was marching behind the steps of JDV because of the perception that the former La Sallite was doing things rightly? What do you say Mr. Abaya? Do you say "perhaps" Rep. Nograles learned it from "ATENEO"? Oops, careful now with your reply! You may find yourself in hot water. Our friends from Ateneo who are worthy of respect, may be listening in. I forgive you for what I consider a grave error on your part. But, can you forgive yourself for having written that way? Take my advice. Next time don't shoot from the hip you may just shoot your foot. Others just love to put their foot where it doesn't belong. So here's to your lost readership... Sonny Martinez , [email protected], Dec. 16, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. Dear Mr. Abaya: My uncle emailed me your article written on December 10, 2006 for the Standard Today with the title, "Shame on you, Joe!" I do agree with your article regarding the issue on Charter Change and the move done by the House of Representatives with Speaker Jose de Venecia pushing for it. I just want to react to what you wrote as, "But the brazenness of his Con-Ass maneuver took me completely by surprise. As it did everyone else. Perhaps he learned it in La Salle ." Nalulungkot lang po ako sa comment na ito, kase po ang mga kapatid ko po'y nagtapos sa La Salle Greenhills at Dela Salle University . Maganda po ang naging training ng La Salle sa aking mga kapatid. Sa palagay ko po ay nasa tao po iyon at hindi po sa kung saan siya nagtapos na paaralan. I hope you do understand my point of view. God bless. Ivy C. Almirol, [email protected], Dec. 16, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Antonio, Have you been out here on the island of Guam ? About 30-35% of the population here (est. 2005, 152,000) are of Filipino descent/immigrants. The Filipino Community of Guam loosely leads about 65+ Filipino organizations, hardly political org. at all, but definitely involved with the goings-on in the Philippines , and spring up each time calamities strike the Phiippines.which is often year round. Reason I am asking, if you're not connected with any of the articulate leadership, I would like to give your email and introduce you to one of the younger active members. Thank you. Tony Gomowad, [email protected], Dec. 16, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww I totally agree with you about Joma Sison and his terrorist CPP/NPAs. but after reading some of your articles about charter change, we parted ways. I am very much in support of amending our constitution to make our lives here in the Philippines better not bitter. Jose de Venecia might be a trapo (I didn�t vote for him during his presidential run-which I regretted later) but you have to give this gentleman a second look. Believe me, he's got something to uplift the country to greater heights. Darius Garcia, [email protected], Dec. 17, 2006 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww "Perhaps he learned it in La Salle . *****" I am also an Atenean, but this looks like a cheap shot. Victor Lim, [email protected], Dec. 17, 2006 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO |