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| ON THE OTHER HAND |
| �She is Evil�
By Antonio C. Abaya Written on Feb. 20, 2008 For the Standard Today, February 21 issue �That woman is evil.� Romulo Neri is said to have said that of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, according to his good friend Jun Lozada during the televised hearings on the ZTE scandal before the Senate committees last Feb. 18.. In a subsequent televised Malacanang press conference, Neri said, �I do not remember saying it.� Is this Lozada�s word against Neri�s? It is actually much more than that.. That statement was said to have been uttered by Neri on Dec. 7, 2007 during a presentation Neri made in a restaurant at the Asian Institute of Management in Makati City . Neri�s audience consisted of only three: Lozada plus Sen. Panfilo Lacson and Sen. Jamby Madrigal. According to Lozada, Neri was making a presentation to the two senators on what Jun calls the Ecosystem of Corruption, to show that corruption was endemic in the Philippines up to the highest level of government and that she (GMA) �was actually right in the middle of it.� (Philippine Daily Inquirer, Feb. 19). Of course, Senators Lacson and Madrigal are oppositionists and unabashedly anti-Arroyo. But is Neri ready and willing to face the two senators and Lozada in a public hearing � such as the on-going Senate hearings � and say under oath that he never said those words, while Lozada and the two senators also say under oath that he did? When Lozada was asked by Sen. Lacson during the Feb. 18 hearing how many times Neri had uttered those damning words in his presence, Lozada � who may or may not have been coached by Lacson and/or Lacson�s people � paused for several seconds, fidgeted in his chair, looked at the ceiling, struggled with his inner demons, apparently torn by conflicting loyalties, and finally said, �About ten times.� Play-acting? As Lozada�s detractors have dismissed his other, often weepy, revelations? Perhaps. But is Neri prepared to declare under oath that he never said, �That woman is evil,� while Lozada and the two senators declare, also under oath, that he did? This may be a minor point in the face of the hundreds of millions of dollars and the hundreds of millions of pesos being kicked around in these hearings. But on it rests the unquantifiable element of credibility. If it is determined with finality that one of her top Cabinet ministers had indeed referred to her - �about ten times� - as evil, then all is lost.. Nothing President Arroyo says or does hence can turn the tide for her. These hearings have added some high-decibel sound bytes to our political discourse: �Back off!� �May 200 ka dito, Sec.� �Moderate their greed.� But all pale in comparison to �That woman is evil.� (This must be �Be-Cruel-to-Gloria Week.� A few days after Lozada alleged that Romulo Neri had said of President Arroyo that �that woman is evil,� her other top economic adviser, Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, speaking before a socio-economic forum at the Ateneo de Manila campus in Rockwell, said of his boss: (�She may be a bitch, but she�s the luckiest bitch around.� [Inquirer, Feb. 21}. At least, unlike Neri, Joey did not develop selective amnesia, but in fact publicly apologized for his very public gaffe, which must have caused the assembled economists to raise the country�s GDP � Ginagatasan at Dinadaya ng Pangulo.) These Senate hearings have been derided by the Arroyo apologists as nothing but telenovela. Perhaps, but telenovelas are popular with the masa. The fact that the hearings have been mostly in Pilipino has captured the attention of millions of TV viewers who would otherwise have been turned off � and would have literally turned off their sets - if the principals had rambled on mostly in incomprehensible English. In my household, the maids and the drivers were glued to their TV set, as I was to mine.. In fact, it was one of my drivers who told my daughter � who lives in a part of town not reached by ANC � that my name had been mentioned by Jun Lozada. (But, of course, it was the other Tony Abaya.) It helped that Jun Lozada, though an intellectual and a techno-geek, comes across as a simple person with an honest face, an Everyman caught in a political tsunami churned up by forces much bigger than he is. But instead of helplessly drowning in the swirl of events, he has managed to hold his head up high, buoyed up apparently by a genuine love of country and a lightness of being that comes from his self-realization that he would be hard put to tell a lie. And what a spontaneous and disarming sense of humor. In ANC�s Harapan program ably hosted in Pilipino by Korina Sanchez and Ricky Carandang � and which ANC has played and replayed at least five times � where Lozada was electronically face-to-face (which is what Harapan means) with a rotating phalanx of accusers and tormentors, Lozada jokingly complained, �Ang daya naman. Mag-isa lang ako dito. Sila may substitution.� What viewer in this basketball-crazy country could have missed the import of that apropos one-liner? Fittingly garbed in a humble camisa de chino, the probinsyanong Intsik � as Lozada had famously described himself � wryly noted that his tormentors were all dressed in barong Tagalog or amerikana. Which prompted the arrogant Formoso � assistant secretary of Something, who had earlier admitted that he could not speak Pilipino because he was an Ilokano � to lecture the lowly Bikolano who had no problem speaking Pilipino, that, �my father taught me to dress properly when meeting with other people.� Jesus Christ! Did this guy really think he could win hearts and minds with a put-down like that? No wonder that in the ANC�s feedback meter, which asked �Nagsasabi ba ng totoo si Jun Lozada?� (Is Jun Lozada telling truth?), the Oo or Yes vote climbed from the mid-70s at the start to 92% by program�s end. Jun Lozada has become the Man of the Hour and the Flavor of the Month, to use Korina�s marketing blurb for her program Korina Today. He has awakened the middle classes from their apathy and non-involvement. The �Spirit of EDSA� is being revived. They are singing Bayan Ko again, with the fervor that it awakened in 1986. If we were to hold snap presidential elections in May 2008, as some unthinking trapos and commentators propose, this would not solve anything. We would again be made to choose between one set of predatory trapos versus another set of predatory trapos, perhaps enlivened by the threatened intervention, again, from military mercenaries and Communist rabble rousers who will side again with one or the other set of trapos. And who will supervise these snap elections, less than two months from now? The same stumblebum Comelec that has not adequately accounted for the cheating in 2004, and which has not been able to locate and arrest, in six months, one lowly Comelec factotum who could not explain the disappearance of electoral documents in his custody during the 2007 elections? Are we masochists or what? Ironically, during one of his by now numerous TV interviews, Lozada warned that in 1986 we did not follow the admonition of his hero Jose Rizal, that when we decide to correct the �grievous ills� in our society, and we succeed, we must make sure that no vestige of the old order should be allowed to remain in the new. But this was exactly what was allowed to happen in 1986. We, or our leaders then, did not establish a new order; we and they merely restored the old one, without any substantive changes at all.. In Lozada�s brutally frank words, �We blew it.� Did President Cory Aquino and her official family then, who are now some of Lozada�s most ardent supporters, hear and understand this? This is consistent with Neri-Jun�s 10th �Afraid,� that the people may opt for regime change without realizing that �it is not bringing Arroyo down that is difficult, it is establishing a new order that it is the difficult task�.� To defeat Evil, it is not enough that one is Good. One must build strong institutions, awaken social consciousness, and enforce laws strictly and equitably, to prevent Evil from resurrecting itself. We should have learned that from the failed �revolution� of 1986, but apparently we haven�t.. ***** Reactions to [email protected]. Other articles in www.tapatt.org and in acabaya.blogspot.com. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Reactions to �She is Evil� Hi, Mr Abaya I admire your courage and persistence in exposing GMA. I am sure GMA's corrupt conspirators are planning to silence you, one way or another. Take care and be careful. The country needs people like you. Ernie Aquino, (by email), Las Vegas , Nevada , Feb. 18, 2008 (Thank you for your concern. ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, I have tried to stop reading about corruptions in the Philippine government. I don't know what to believe or whom to believe. I'd rather believe Groucho Marx. It's a shame on us as a nation. We are the only Christian nation in the Far East , and yet we are the most corrupt. Centuries of Catholic indoctrinations by the Friars, Dominicans and Jesuits have done nothing to our national character. Are we at heart a corrupt people? Senator Jose Avelino once said: What are we in power for? The answer is, as we have seen in the procession of our corrupt leaders, is amassing wealth while in power. Everybody is doing it, why not me? If I don't do it, I'm gago, People will laugh at me.. Corruption starts at the very top. All our presidents were corrupt with the possible exception of Magsaysay who died too early in his term. We don't know how he would turn out. Perhaps, we should start at the bottom, not at the top -- improving the lot of the poor because the poor are hardworking and honest. The rich want to get richer while the poor just want to have a decent life. They are the salt and light of the world. Give them the opportunity to work and earn decent wages to support their families. As for our leaders, let them destroy each other. Let them go to hell. Dona nobis pacem. Virgilio Gonzales, (by email), California , Feb. 22, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww "The fact that the hearings have been mostly in Pilipino has captured the attention of millions of TV viewers who would otherwise have been turned off � and would have literally turned off their sets - if the principals had rambled on mostly in incomprehensible English." - Abaya Asked what he would do first if called upon to rule a country, Confucious said: "To correct language. If language is not correct, what is said is not what is meant; if what is said is not what is meant, then what ought to be done remains undone; if this remains undone, morals and art will deteriorate and justice will go astray; if justice goes astray, the people will stand about in hopeless confusion. Hence, there must be no arbitrariness to what is said. This matters above everything." I'm glad the shift to Pilipino is happening now. Let us hope Justice that has gone astray will find the right path again. Bobby Manasan, (by email), Burke , Virginia , Feb. 22,2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Very patriotic article, Mr. Abaya, Thank you. Having said all these, how do we start a" new order"? Do you have a specific line up of a "morally responsible decent" disciple or would-be disciple of governance? There was a cry in the wilderness. Still the woods will be silent. Do you consider Noli as a lesser "evil". The pulse of Filipinos are always unpredictable. Sure bringing the "evil" down is just a tip of the iceberg. In our heart of hearts, we keep trying and hoping. We are being hostage by systemic greed that became second nature since Marcos regime. Can you provide us a rubric we can use to save this country for once. Salamat Po, Marilyn D, [email protected], Georgia , Feb. 22, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww . Sir Abaya, One thing is for sure, the Pinoy Nation, at least a minority portion of it up to now, is really desperate to find a persona, a �hero�, that will manifest their anger and hate to this government. Whether all the allegations, presumptions and insinuations is backed by evidence or not, it doesn�t matter in this current state of their mentality. It�s just too revolting to observe the spiraling degeneration of moral fibers down to the sewerage level of the Pinoy human brain when one hear accusations, charges and counter charges, narrations and essays on every word this newly ordained angel of truth is pronouncing. So sad to think that any instability that will result from this brouhaha will have more significant effect at the lowest level of the society more than anybody else, which by the way has no hand whatsoever how the turn of events should be swayed (except when somebody tells them to go to the streets and face the bullets). Everything that is happening and would be happening is the result of the craftsmanship of people who in one way or another have some kind of status in the present social structure. Their motive? One, is to at least maintain their present status level (I guess the patriotic fund should do it) and if they get lucky jumpstart it up to the top in turbo speed. I don�t remember my teachers in grade school ever mentioned that our national heroes had �life insurance� before they eat the bullets to save our country. Even this new found hero is not even in the middle class or the common �tao�. What with his top of the line vehicles, his connections, his wielding power (though still limited, is still work in progress), his �golfing� lifestyle, etc. Yet his and others� portrayal of his persona is being tailored fit for a �hero� suit. Of course, no amount of counter charges and manifestations can change these crafters frame of mind. As I have said, they all waited for this persona for a long time, and now is the time, and no amount of logical, legal or even biblical reasoning can change that. One doesn�t believe in �God�, an angel messenger for this matter and asked questions. May God, not the bishops, priests and nuns deliver this nation to salvation. Amen. Ador Ramoso, (by email), Atlanta , Georgia , Feb. 22, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, ANC's feedback meter actually started lower in the mid-60s - 65%, I think - in favor of Jun Lozada, to a high of 92%! Yes, DoTC Asst Sec. Formoso was truly heavy with hubris in his appearance in "HARAPAN." But his arrogance was matched only by his IGNORANCE, which he later showed in relation to Official Development Assistance (ODA) being given by foreign governments. It happened when Jun Lozada revealed that there are Filipinos who are "Taksil ng Bayan (Traiors of the country)" because they are the ones who teach the foreigners to impose conditionalities on their loans just to ensure that their patrons get the project. Lozada added that it should be the country (like the Philippines ) getting the loan that should say what the project they need and how to spend the money being lent. However, the arrogant ASEC Formoso insisted that the Philippines cannot dictate the terms of the loan on a superpower like China . The English-speaking Ilocano bureaucrat further added an analogy that when you get a loan, it is the bank that sets the interest rate and the terms. But what the pathetic DoTC official did not say of course is that the applicant of a loan can always refuse to avail of the credit facility. Anyway, Jun Lozada remarked that if there is one country who became progressive and prosperous using foreign loans, it is CHINA because they exactly know what projects they need that requires financing. If the creditors do not agree, China will not avail of the loan being offered. That simple. Tony, our friend Ely Ouano, who worked with ADB, told me of the same thing. China is smart because they really know what they need the loans for. If ADB does not agree with China , then they do not borrow from the multilateral financing institution (MFI).That was his experience with China when he was with ADB. Rick Ramos, (by email), Santa Rosa , Laguna, Feb. 22, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, There is only one restaurant that I know at AIM. It is a nice, cozy and small resto. I like their black colored pasta there. My wife and I got introduced to that recipe in 2001 by former Flag Officer of the PN, Luisito "Louie" Fernandez (AFP, Ret.)Unfortunately, I forgot the name of the food. Next time we are at the campus, we will try it if they are still serving it. While many loved the food, it blackens your teeth and you must bring your toothbrush to insure that you have something to use after dining. Regards and God bless. Jerry Quibilan, (by email), Feb. 23, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww And then there is that well-known truth and I quote - " Evil overcomes good when good people stand by and do nothing." Cayo Marschner, (by email), Moraga , CA , Feb. 23, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww I am not (nor would I attempt) to be a PGMA Apologist. I am just a Filipino Senior Citizen watching TV at home and frequenting Internet fora . But for whatever it is worth, I now share my own personal point-of-view - leaving out my Family. Candidly, I find the "Jun Lozada NBN-ZTE Expose" and his narration of his "disappearance story" both believable. And, I am agasht at Malacanang's maneuverings to avoid Senate investigation with the subtle use-of-force depriving Jun of his freedom-of- movement (and nearly, of his life) - shortly upon his arrival at the NAIA. As the "Jun Lozada Story" is only the latest of the many PGMA administration's anomalies brought out into the open, I consider GMA having lost the "moral authority" to lead our nation impoverished by greed-for-money. Granting PGMA credit for a resurging Philippine economy does not justify moral bankruptcy. While our kind of democracy has made ours a "country-of-laws" (where public issues ought to be decided in the heirarchy of our courts), a collective judgement of a fully-informed citizenry (by a vibrant free press) in the court-of-public opinion does carry a strong moral value. On the other hand, I believe: (1st) That People Power I & II have not brought about a "Better Philippines". I consider "Graft & Corruption,et.al" as an Ethical Problem which have not (and could not) be remedied by street-mandated Political Solutions - i.e. People Power Change-of-Presidents; (2nd) That the Church (visibly represented by the Religious Priest & Nuns in the Streets, in Congress, in the Courts) have failed in its Pastoral Work of enlightening and encouraging Political Leaders to move away from the evil of Greed-for-Money - thus necessitating "Graft & Corruption". Nevertheless, given all of the above, I contend that it would be good for our countrymen to allow PGMA to serve-out her term until Yr2010 - but only if, she takes the lead for all in Public Office in a "Moral Crusade for Good Government". She (together with all who would follow her example) could redeem herself/themselves in the Public Eye and erase all doubts about "Hidden Wealth" by a public demonstration of giving-up 90% of their respective Family's Private Wealth accumulated during their entire Political Career. I liken this "Moral Crusade" to a "National Cleansing" following the Korean Example not too long ago - a prelude to Korea 's Economic Miracle. I pray that PGMA & JDV would have the fortitude and humility to convert their broken "Political Coalition" into a credible "Moral Crusade" by voluntarily denying themselves Material Wealth - all for the true Love-of-Country. In so doing, I do believe that the entire Filipino People would then be unified for the Common Good. Ernesto C. del Castillo, (by email), Feb. 23, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Your articles have added life to our moral crusade to fight graft and corruption in our motherland, the Philippines . We may be naturalized American citizens from Virginia , USA , yet our love for our birth country grows stronger as we mature. Was it Mother Theresa who said that it is more important to fight evil with faithfulness than success (which connotes arrogance?) Please visit our www.filipinoUNITEDnetwork.com Marilyn Ranada-Donato, (by email) Virginia , Feb. 23, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya, This sentence is a strong word, including the "she is a bitch" portion I believe that no person is that evil that there is nothing good in him/her. I also believe that a person even if he/she is good don't have a tendency to do evil in him or her. For me this is a statement of being judgmental. Do we really know the person through and through? Isn't it that all of us have secrets of our own which even our loved ones do not know. It may not be what we have done but it might be what we think. I for one, do not condemned, as Jesus did not come to condemn. Our enemy here is not one person but a system. I agree with you that if we have a snap election and change the president, are we really sure that this kind of situation will not repeat itself? I really think we forgot the message of EDSA of 1986. It was not a people power but it was God's power manifested in answer to prayers of helplessness. God knows better than we do. He knows who is really telling the truth and He will manifest His power at the right time. But first, let us examine ourselves. Granting that we can oust Gloria Arroyo which you said is not difficult, my question is: Who is that person who will stand and say that he or she is sure that he/she will not be tempted to do what previous presidents had done? Who is holy and perfect enough to think first of others before his own self? Who can be powerful enough that he can appont advisers or cabinet members who are really and truly humanitarian that will not think of their own selves? Who is that man who can solve all our society's ills and bring our country to greatness? Even a superhero in a movie or teleseryecannot do that. Even Jesus, the Son of God did not do that. It needs our concerted effort to change our nation. Before we can change a nation, let us change ourselves first. Ma. Eleanor Lerio, (by email), Feb. 23, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww It is very easy to attach the word "evil" to any person but is there any use for this in the issues at hand? This and other one-liners form part of the reason why many other people do not fully believe and are wont to act this time. As for Salceda, it is obvious that he is playing the crowd and does not necessarily have the opinion that the President is indeed a bitch. It is only by the mass media that they use the sound-byte to mean that even PGMA's allies are saying nasty things about her (as proof that she is evil). Of course, we know that mass media is playing on the masa. Even Jun Lozada is playing on the masa ("may substitution"). Doesn't that tell anyone anything? Serafin Dudeo, (by email), California , Feb. 23, 2008 (It tells the world that even Gloria�s top lieutenants do not respect her. ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, Where will our people get "The Unexpurgated Truth" without you around? Thank you, Great Sir, for who you are. We would not have you any other way, any other time! Lead on and we, the abused, the victims of all the calumny of this "Evil one" will continue to rally behind you. We. the citizens of this forsaken Nation-State, wish to tell you that we are beginning to understand the significance of "Citizenship" and perhaps could find it in ourselves to play our respective roles even if belatedly. We don't have the abilities to express or manifest our concerns the way you do them. So, we rally and support you. We, the simple citizens, are here and waiting for your cue. With great respect, I am Very respectfully yours, Jose I. Regino, (by email), Zamboanga City , Feb. 23, 2008 (Thank you. ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, As a former DOTC undersecretary I would have suggested some changes in the collective statement of former secretaries and undersecretaries that exhorted the current members of GMA's cabinet and sub-cabinet to tell the truth, reveal what they know of corrupt dealings in government, then cut clean and go. However, I no longer reside in the Philippines and I had not been aware, until too late, that signatures were being gathered from former cabinet and sub-cabinet officials for this statement. I would have wanted to point out that the statement should have instead called on all the good people in government service to STAY ON , rather than to cut clean and go. It is the corrupt and incompetent who should be excised (or exorcised) from government service. I would like to believe, as I have good reason to believe, that there are more honest, sincere and competent people in government than not. They should put their collective foot down on corruption and incompetence but above all they should stay on and keep the wheels of government in motion even as the defective cogs are removed and replaced. One will be amazed at the number of people within the higher levels of bureaucracy who possess postgraduate degrees. It is unfortunate that this cadre of technocrats and bureaucrats are led by political appointees of lesser mettle and integrity, not to mention qualification. These "babies" should not be thrown out with the dirty water. I would also like to caution my former colleagues in government who are now among the more impassioned movers for change, that they need to craft a plan for the new order that they seek, and to go so deep into planning as to include the names and resumes of the people who will replace those who are to be deposed. They will need to assure the people of the Philippines that beneath all the noise and clamor for change are well crafted plans and structured programs for governance and government, complete with studied sources of sustainable funding, to be implemented by people of unquestionable integrity and tested performance. Above all, they should take these proposed plans, programs and roster of nominated new leaders to a national referendum for popular ratification. Oh, and by the way, Tony, if the outraged elements of civil society and academe will also call on the tango partners in private sector of corrupt government officials to likewise divulge what they know about the corruption and abuses of the present (why not the past as well) administration and to heed the CBCP's call for personal conversion (a la Lozada) the country will no doubt be treated to an unparalleled view of the real depth, breadth and extent of corruption in government deals, past and present. We need whistle blowers from among the businessmen who have made the corrupt deals in government possible. An equal opportunity for cleansing of conscience and moral reform should be given to private sector's "bad boys" sa well. La Salle has already produced an effective and credible whistle blower from government (Lozada). Perhaps Ateneo, U.P., UST and other universities can now contribute one each from private sector. Just thinking out loud, Tony. Best wishes. Charlie Borromeo, (by email), San Francisco, CA, Feb. 23, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, You hit the nail on the head. Precisely, those that propose change never realized the futility of the change they are proposing without the institutional changes needed and the fundamental/moral change in every citizen needed for that change to prosper. Do we change the current leadership radically with people we already know have also hidden agendas in their closet? Are we choosing to change evil with another evil? That's the reason I propose charter change but with all the plugs to the loopholes where the abuses would possibly be made. If the fear is a move to extend the GMA tenure, then disqualify her from the election for new MP's. (But who will disqualify her? The Lower House, the governors, the mayors are all controlled by Kampi. ACA) If term extension because the new constitution is not ratified yet, let the scheduled election for president go through but the term of the new president is transitional until the new charter comes into effect. Let us help also educate the voters before every exercise about the pros and cons of each and every provision that the citizenry have to ratify. By elucidation of these provisions can the people rightfully understand and ratify a credible charter. Let us stop the practice where the candidates that gets to be chosen by the people are limited to the ones sponsored by the traditional "kingmakers with their enormously graft ridden wealth. I hope that these suggestions would benefit my countrymen to improve their lot. Thank you. Sincerely, Edgar S. Tubianosa, (by email), Feb. 23, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, My Ateneo batch-mate Romy (The Blue Chicken) Neri has since modified his answer. He now says: "I never said that Gloria was evil. What I said was - Gloria wears Prada!" Ciao, Billy Esposo, (by email), Feb. 23, 2008 Philippine Star wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww As for me, I think her " evil " level compared to other Philippine leaders are much high. She is the only president that invoked EO 464 that does not allow cabinet people to talk and discuss public documents. WHERE IS THE TRANSPARENCY HERE? Under her leadership, there were pay offs made to congressmen worth 500K each, sa office pa niya ha. Then, the public gets stupid and confusing answers from nincampooops like Bunye. Merun pang Joc Joc's and Garci scams that was never settled. The public can forgive administrative lapses on certain issues. Forgivable naman yun. But kung merun na corruption and dishonesty, merun na intent and malice yun. Erap was evil too. But GMA is way too evil, even for the crocodiles. Then, we see newspaper ads with certain groups that throw their support for GMA. Yun pala, mga bogus groups. Pera na naman ng bayan yung ginamit dun sa ads. Tsk tsk tsk... Mike Delgado, (by email), Feb. 23, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww What should be the objective of our Communal Actions? There are at least two from which we can choose one: (1) Get the truth out on the ZTE-NBN graft and corruption scandal or (2) Remove GMA from office. Which one will have a greater chance of being successful? The first one, for the following reasons. It is unanimous among the people that getting rid of one large-scale graft and corruption scandal is a big win. There is not a single reason why anyone will object to this. It may pave the way to finally starting the ever elusive process of eliminating the cancers which have been devastating the moral fiber of our society. The second objective at this time is not unanimous among the people for several reasons, among them, (a) lack of a successor, some people believe Noli de Castro is not ready for it, (b) suspicions that the communists are behind it, (c) some bishops are not for it, (d) some do not want to upset the relative economic stability, etc. Our Communal Actions should therefore concentrate on the first objective which is to reveal the truth about the ZTE-NBN scandal, and NOT be side-tracked by clamoring to kick GMA out of office. In the process of getting at the truth, GMA can either not interfere with the process or be a party in suppressing the truth. If she elects the first option, history may be kinder to her, even if found to have some involvement directly or indirectly in the crime. The second option will only change the priority and direction of the Communal Actions from the ZTE-NBN scandal to herself. God bless. Bert Peronilla, (by email), Feb. 23, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww This may not be the explanation, Mr Abaya, but underneath it all, I feel this undercurrent of male chauvinism manifesting itself. If PGMA were male... Ethel, [email protected], Feb. 23, 2008 (Like Ferdinand Marcos and Joseph Estrada? They were overthrown and replaced by women, remember? ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww NOTE: Because of limited space, this post may be truncated in acabaya.blogspot.com. But it appears or will appear complete in www.tapatt.org. wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww We totally blew it in 1986. Cory, an ignorant figurehead in terms of national governance was put into a position to replace the immoderately greedy Marcos. We understand that hers is a transitory government, but instead of building new order we merely propagated the trapos in opposition to new positions thus the vicious cycle remain. That is the reason why I and (I suspect) many other Filipinos are cynical about Lozada � or rather the hands that pull his strings. That aside, as part of the contrarian voices - I have an inherent distrust of Lozada because of too much drama that he puts out. His claim that he wants to try and live the life of rich man rings like an increasingly annoying and arrogant man. He peppers his replies with one-liners that are designed to make him out as the underdog but cunningly designed to bait a response from his counterparts. La Salle is not cheap, Php 750,000 for goats, millions worth of contracts awarded to his own corporation and family, membership to Wack Wack, that club is not a poor man�s place unless your role is to caddy for the likes of FG or Abalos. This does not mean that I don�t believe his claim of massive corruption in government. But for anyone to tell me otherwise is like the painful look of contrived surprise on the senator�s faces when Lozada mentioned the standard 20% kick back of project �sponsors�. EVERYONE knows about the system that is propagated in government down to barangay captains. What is ultimately TRUE is that we have checks and balances in government to the point of being redundant. Pages and pages of COA reports is proof of this process. What WE do after getting the report is entirely another matter. Your ending to the piece is brilliant Mr. Abaya � it was indeed, a FAILED revolution in 1986. Dennis Ponce Tagamolila, (by email), Feb. 23, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww "Prayer and helplessness are inseparable. Only the one who is helpless can truly pray. Your helplessness is your best prayer." - Arthur O. Hallesby. I am amazed at what is happening in our country and what I see in the news. Here in one corner, are people who are anti-GMA together with their priest-friends celebrating a Mass in a public rally presenting to God their intention of ousting GMA. On the other hand, there is a news item showing the president in a private Mass in Malacanang, praying in silence.There was a comment by the reporter saying that all of them are praying to God waiting whom will God hear. I, too, have asked myself. Are we having a contest here? As far as I know and have experienced God answers prayers according to His will and not our will. I believe that whatever is God's answer, the parties concerned will be gracious enough to accept His will. He knows best. Ely Lerio, (by email), Feb. 23, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony Abaya, Below is an article I wrote which quoed you in part. Thanks, Raissa Robles, (by email), Hong Kong, Feb. 23, 2008 Senior Manila correspondent, South China Morning Post Witness rattles foundations of 'evil oligarchy' NEWSMAKERS Raissa Robles Feb 23, 2008 Cowering and in tears while testifying at a Senate probe, government consultant Rodolfo Lozada appeared the most unlikely person to shake President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's grip on power. Mrs Arroyo had seemed unstoppable a month ago when her government swept away political opposition by chalking up 7.3 per cent economic growth for last year, the highest in a generation. Analysts predicted the most unloved Philippine president would last until her term ends in 2010. But then came Mr Lozada, a 45-year-old former overseas worker and father of five, who boarded a Cathay Pacific (SEHK: 0293) flight in Hong Kong on the afternoon of February 5. Barely off the plane at Manila 's international airport, he was escorted by four men along the tarmac and into a waiting car. That night his wife, Violet, sobbed on nationwide radio: "Please return my husband, whoever has him. I just want my husband back. I just want my husband back." Mr Lozada, who has since resigned as head of Philippine Forest, a company under the Department of Environment, resurfaced two days later, claiming soldiers and policemen had kidnapped him and would have killed him if not for the media vigilance. He said he was abducted to prevent him revealing to a Senate probe that Mrs Arroyo's husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, was involved in negotiating the government's US$329 million broadband deal with ZTE (SEHK: 0763) Corporation, a Shenzhen company listed in Hong Kong. The deal has since been abandoned. He also claimed the contract was inflated to include at least a US$130 million kickback demanded by Elections Commission chief Benjamin Abalos. Mr Lozada's disappearance touched a nerve in the Filipino psyche. Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, a national hero, had been shot by soldiers on the same tarmac in 1983. When people learned Mr Lozada was missing they assumed the government had erased him. Police chief Avelino Razon said he did not know where he was. A presidential spokesman said: "We have no idea about the whereabouts of Lozada ... the allegations that the Palace is involved are totally baseless." But they swiftly changed their stories. Mr Lozada had asked for police "protective custody", Mr Razon said. Environment secretary Joselito Atienza said he had phoned Mr Razon to say Mr Lozada needed security upon his arrival. Mrs Arroyo's closest aide, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, then assured a sceptical public Mr Lozada was safe and had signed an affidavit. "Mr Lozada will surface in time and ... he will tell the truth about what had happened to him," Mr Ermita said. When Mr Lozada surfaced early on the morning of February 7, he was surrounded by Catholic nuns and looked like a tortured soul. He said that he had been kidnapped and a lawyer hired by the presidential palace had made him sign an affidavit that stated Mr Arroyo was not involved in the ZTE deal. Mr Lozada yesterday filed a criminal complaint of kidnapping and attempted murder against Mr Razon and Mr Atienza, the airport's general manager and officers who grabbed him. His support has swelled to include the long politically apathetic middle class, the core of uprisings that unseated two presidents. "Suddenly the middle classes are stirring," political analyst Antonio Abaya said. "They have finally found a champion around whom they can rally, who is neither a `trapo' [traditional politician] or a communist nor a military mercenary ... a technocrat-bureaucrat with a conscience, a self-effacing intellectual who has a genuine love for his country." Perhaps it is also because Mr Lozada is one of them and has twice experienced what he called "the ugly side of the state". He is the 11th of 13 children whose half-Chinese parents made furniture. Seven years ago, his older brother was mistakenly shot dead by the police in pursuit of kidnappers. He graduated at the top of his class at the esteemed Catholic University of Santo Tomas. He has confessed to sinning by cornering government contracts for his family and has publicly apologised. Mr Lozada has gone further than previous whistle-blowers, who merely squealed on alleged scams. He has unwittingly educated the public on the nature of corruption and how this aggravates poverty. Many became teary eyed as they watched Mr Lozada tell senators what is now known as the tale of the guava tree. Visiting one poverty-stricken upland community, he recalled seeing a guava tree heavy with fruit. He suggested selling these for profit, but one resident told him: "Sir, we leave them there. Those are for the birds." "I was so touched," Mr Lozada said on nationwide TV. Here was a resident with a shirt full of holes, wearing old slippers, caring for the birds, while in Manila he had to "moderate the greed" on the ZTE deal. "I don't feel it is right," he said. The most explosive revelation Mr Lozada gave was probably on Monday when, choking back tears, he quoted his personal friend, former economic planning secretary Romulo Neri, as saying that Mrs Arroyo was "evil" and at the centre of a corrupt political system controlled by oligarchs. This was why, he said, replacing Mrs Arroyo would not remedy the situation because the system would remain. Mr Neri has since said he could not remember saying it.. ***** wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww This one I got from a text message forwarded to me by a doctor-friend (also a graduate of UST-- pre-med and med proper). It is worth meditating about. Arnel de Guzman, (by email), Feb. 23, 2008 At the time the NBN deal kickback being demanded by Abalos equaled P6.5 billion, this is more than half of the entire government budget for the Department of Health (DOH) and more than five times the entire yearly budget of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH). It would have paid for 49,000 open heart surgeries; 325,000 cataract surgeries; and purchase of antibiotics for at least 6,500,000 people. And this is only one anomalous deal. It's no wonder our people are dying without the benefit of healthcare! NO TO GREED! Tama na! Sobra na! Baguhin na natin ang sistema! wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww It seems that in every "situation" where GMA and the FG are concerned, the people surrounding them have proven time and again that they are wayward juveniles who do not know what they are doing. Saying contradictory statements against each other and telling lies to cover another lie. Gad! Edmundo Ledesma, (by email), Feb. 24, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww (Forwarded to Tapatt by Ricardo Taylor) Top Ten Remedies for Gloria's Neck Problem : 10) be sympathetic to those who find you the country's pain in the neck. 9) remove the cause -- get rid of Mike Arroyo 8) pain in the neck is alleviated by not twisting facts 7) let the truth out of your throat 6) call Garci for advice 5) let those without neck problems attend Congressional inquiries 4) look up instead of looking down on Filipinos 3) bed rest -- indefinitely 2) ask China for Tiger Balm NUMBER 1 - bribe somebody ---this always does wonders wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Very good point, Mr. Abaya, Kicking out Arroyo at this point will just mire this country into a deathly spiral of musical chairs of corruption. If we really have honest to goodness visionary reformists, they should be working on methods and processes to check corruption at all levels. Do you know how much corruption goes on in the barangay level? More disgustingly, do you know how much corruption emanates from the board rooms of the country's largest corporations? I am sure many of your readers would recall the tax evasion that they regularly perform in collusion with the so called "prestigious accounting firms." And I am not talking mere tax avoidance but outright deceit. Kicking Gloria out now would merely lull Filipinos into complacency just as it did when it kicked Erap out. Yes, corruption in government is a problem but, please, ask yourself in most occasions, who pays the bribe? Aren't they just as guilty? Were they not guilty in nurturing the culture of corruption they hypocritically criticize. Many times, it is even the large businesses that initiate the corruption, Makati Business Club members included and I challenge them to deny it under oath. I will even help you formulate the questions. I am not suggesting a witch hunt. I would merely like to put this entire corruption issue in perspective in order to arrive at a proper solution. Filipinos have to get out of the habit of taking short cuts which is what the screaming mob out there is advocating. I tend to agree with the stand of the CBCP which is really calling for the faithful to be involve in a total cleansing of this culture of corruption. Gus Cosio, (by email), Feb. 24, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww On the hectic preparations for commemorating the EDSA One episode in our country's unhappy history, may I request the kind reader to revisit the Seventh Chapter of El Filibusterismo wherein our national hero vehemently admonished against being enslaved by a foreign language. The anniversary of the EDSA-One Revolution -- which will be observed tomorrow -- was a very deep cover of a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) ruse to thwart the official RP government move to wiggle out of the USA's "altruistic" enslavement of the Filipino mind and intellect through the benevolent exploitation of imposing the permanency of English as the official language of our country's governance and in the educational system. (What is your proof for this outlandish claim? ACA) EDSA One which was staged twenty-two years ago simply aborted the implementation of a Memorandum by the unlamented President Ferdinand E. Marcos, addressed to the Minister of Education and Culture; and All other members of the Cabinet, which stated -- "You are directed to create the conditions in your respective ministries and other instrumentalites of the Government for the optimal promotion and development of Filipino as a national language. "Further the Minister of the Budget is directed to cooperate with the University of the Philippines in realizing the endowment of a Translation Center for the translation of major literary works into Filipino and other Asian languages as well as translation of classical works into Filipino." The memorandum was dated January 17, 1986. In implementation thereof a seminar on language translation, or Pagsasaling-Wika, was being formally conducted at the Teachers Camp in Baguio City . The seminar was then unceremoniusly scuttled when EDSA One erupted. The participants including this writer were bewildered, and returned disheartened to their respective mother offices in the capital to observe the unfolding drama; and decided to just ride on for their own safety and welfare. I hereby venture to interpret the past events in our country's history. When the USA cheated the revolutionary forces of the First Philippine Republic under General Emilio Aguinaldo, and forcibly annexed the Philippines by means of the obnoxious "benevolent assimilation proclamation" to colonize the struggling infant republic; in the process, Filipino children of school age were rounded up and cajoled by the Yankee soldier-teachers called Thomasites, because they came aboard the US Transport ssThomas, to study and learn English, and strictly prohibited the speaking of their own language in the schools. The more intelligent ones -- Camilo Osias, Conrado Benitez, Carlos Romulo and some others -- were taken in as government pensionados to study in the USA ; and upon return to the home country, they thus became the effective implementors of the Washington government's policy, to insure the permanency of English in the conduct of government and education. This is the ace of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo which ensures her firm hold on her government's leadership! She has repeatedly directed the return of English to the classrooms! I personally observed the late President Ramon Magsaysay during my time as a lowly worker in the Malaca�ang Press Office (Dec. 1, 1954 to June 30, 1976). Each time he (Magsaysay) formally received every newly accredited ambassador as his/her country's envoy to the Philippines , he always delivered his acceptance speech in the native Filipino language. He also directed the translation of the Philippine National Anthem from English (originally in Spanish) to Lupang Hinirang -- the Filipino version. And, he also ordered the translation of the former English military commands into Filipino! . And so, this writer is historically inclined to attribute the cause of "The Guy's" tragic plane crash on March 17, 1957 to his preference for Filipino language in the conduct of his country's government. The tragedy, however, was officially investigated by the US-AID which officially pronounced the cause -- "metal fatigue." Anther incident: Ex-Senator Claro M. Recto, the rabid nationalist, embarked in 1960 on a sentimental journey to Madrid , Spain . He had been so much humbled and disappointed by his stunning defeat in his bid for the Philippine presidency -- the tailender among the four contenders in November 1957, due to CIA machinations as recorded in the book, Portrait of a Cold Warrior by Joseph Burkholder Smith (p. 272, 1976 edition). Recto had complete plans, upon his return from his visit to Madrid , to found an all-Filipino language broadsheet. During his press conference in Rome enroute, a secret report indicated that a powerfully debilitating electronic beam was focused to his breast by means of a camera, which weakened his heart, in the meantime that he was being asked intimidating and infuriating questions. Then and there, he died from heart attack, thus aborting his projected trip to Madrid , and putting to rest his planned all-Filipino newspaper. When President Corazon Aquino certified to the Philippine Congress the urgency of creating a National Language Commission, which was in fact legislated into existence, and she issued Executive Order No. 335 directing government offices to conduct official correspondence in Filipino, Tita Cory was hounded by a succession of coup d'etat threats. A lady representative in Congress from the Visayas dared her to withdraw her executive order, and the CIA gave notice that she might not finish her term. There came about perhaps a secret understanding, because she finished her term nevertheless. But her order was not implemented, and also, the language commission was allocated only 0.06% (six-hundredths percent) of the education department's budget. Andso, until now, the Philippines remains pitifully bogged in the quicksand of the World Bank's policy of insuring the continued supply of cheap labor force, to fill the needs of multinationals all over the globe, by tying down the Filipino mind with the English language! ***** Irineo Goce, (by email), Lipa City , Feb. 24, 2008 (So why are you writing your piece in English? Aren�t you playing into the hands of the CIA and the World Bank? ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, GMA is not an evil person although one is likely to call Gloria a bitch instead. As the captain of the ship she does well in managing the economic affairs of the country (for she has the credentials for that) but the husband on board the ship is rocking the boat. You can draw the parallel between the late Banazir Bhutto and her husband when she ruled Pakistan and the late Ferdinand Marcos who can't rein in Imelda. Dr. Nestor P. Baylan, (by email), New York City , Feb. 25, 2008 (Neri would be the better judge of whether she is �evil� or not, since he has been interacting with her on an almost daily basis for two years or more. ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww You give too much undeserved credit to Lozada that I thought for a while you were Panfilo Lacson or Cayetano. Remember that none of Lozada's allegations has been substantiated with any kind of evidence. I don't think just on his say so, Lozada should be accorded a hero's adulation by the masses no matter how uneducated they might be. As far as the masses love for telenovelas, where do we find the masses now as a result of that love? Still deep in poverty hoping against hope that someone promises them good government so they can again bite the promises hook, line, and sinker. To the masses, Lozada will not save you. He will bury you deeper because if you listen to him and revolt, the government you will get will not be the same as you have now but worse because they deceived you using Lozada. [email protected], Feb. 26, 2008 (According to a public opinion survey conducted by Pulse Asia in Metro Manila from Feb. 21 to 24, 67% do not trust President Arroyo. 65% believe Lozada is credible, 6% believe he is not, 22% are undecided. (If you are going to criticize other people, you should have the courage and the courtesy to give your full name, as most other reactors do. ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Aside from Lacson, Madrigal and Lozada, there were the chiefs-of-staff of the two senators who, incidentally, will be testifying at the Senate on the episode. Lacson, in a very subtle affirmation of Lozada's testimony on the "evil person" declaration of Neri--which has evaded detection by many--said that he was attesting that Lozada had not lied throughout his whole testimony on the Dec. 7 incident. Vicente C. de Jesus, (by email), Feb. 26, 2008 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hello Tony, The way this article is written best exemplifies the dilema of the majority of Filipinos. Many, like you (and myself also) hates GMA and would be very happy to see her go. She has lied many times before, what's the difference now? Because of this grandstanding and posturing of many in the opposition, it will just force GMA to dig in further. She will not resign, otherwise she will be prosecuted. Leave her alone for now and come 2010, throw everything at her. Going to Lozada, you gave him too much credence. Why? As director of an office attached to DENR, what is is business in a telecom deal? I understand he is a friend of Neri, maybe that is why is he "commisoned" (quote intended) by the people who intends to benefit from the deal. So when the money promised failed, he spilled the beans. And where are the supporting evidences? Yes it is not yet a trial but they should show some semblance of proof like the Jose Velarde check and not the Jose Pidal pfff. All Lozada showed are his facial expressions and teary eyed confessions. And the nuns and other anti GMA forces showered her with graces. To the senators like Villar, Ping, Chiz and Cayetano, they hate corruption so much, and yet they did not said anything againts granting clemency to a convicted plunderer. The answer here is obvious and this is why there no wide spread clamor for GMA to resign. People are weary that kicking GMA will only mean replacing her with the same Trapos. Salamat po Marvin Valido, (by email), Feb. 28, 2008 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO |