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| ON THE OTHER HAND |
| Son of Oakwood
By Antonio C. Abaya Written on Dec. 03, 2007 For the Standard Today, December 04 issue Or Son of Gringo. It is amazing how Navy Lt. (now Senator) Antonio Trillanes and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim repeated their earlier mistakes, and even compounded them. Are they really stupid, or are they just masochists? We must assume that when rational men, as we like to believe Trillanes and Lim are, embark on a self-appointed mission to overthrow the government, they know what they are doing and have meticulously planned every step along the way. We must assume that Trillanes and Lim believed that they would succeed. No one engages in an enterprise such as this, believing that he or they will fail. We can assume that the series of events that culminated in the Manila Pen stand-off were deliberately planned to achieve the strategic goal of forcing President Arroyo to resign. It was pre-planned that they would walk-out of the court hearings at the Makati Regional Trial Court, where they were being tried for rebellion, Trillanes in connection with the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny, Lim in connection with the 2006 �withdrawal of support� on EDSA and subsequent Fort Bonifacio stand-off. It was pre-planned that they would march from the Makati RTC to the Manila Pen, and it was pre-arranged that their 22-man military escort would not arrest them for doing so It was also pre-arranged that some Magdalo soldiers would join them along the way. Video footages of that walk show at least two men in civilian clothes putting on camouflage uniforms and brandishing high-powered long arms, as they joined the march. The military�s lame excuse that the military escorts were ordered to follow Trillanes and Lim wherever they went is not convincing. If the escorts had arrested and detained the two as they left the court room, as any disciplined military escort anywhere in the world would have, there would have been no �situation� at all. The fact is that military discipline here, as all other forms of social discipline in this country, is lax and permissive, and is always vulnerable to personalistic persuasion by smooth talkers. Many soldiers� loyalty is to the smooth talkers, not to the state. Recall how Gringo Honasan, imprisoned on board a Navy ship in the middle of Manila Bay , escaped with his armed guards in 1990 or 1991. Son of Gringo. Trillanes and Lim also pre-planned to make their stand in Manila Pen. Why Manila Pen? Because it assures them of a continuous supply of (good) food and drinks, as well as toilet facilities, for a long siege. Because it assures them of foreign media coverage. And, most important, because Manila Pen is only five minutes� walk to the Ninoy Aquino statue at the corner of Ayala Ave. and Paseo de Roxas, the traditional focal point of street protests in Makati . When Trillanes and Lim made their exhortations to the public to come out and support their call for the resignation of President Arroyo, they expected the 11 million Filipinos who had voted for Trillanes in May 2007 � or a good portion of them - to eagerly respond and mass at the Pen and at the Ninoy Aquino statue. But, except for a few dozen usiseros � led by perennial Arroyo critic Linda Montayre and the Philippine Consultative Assembly of Two � nobody came. Why? In the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny, Trillanes� and the Magdalos� civilian supporters were actually organized and grouped a few blocks away, ready with pre-fabricated banners and streamers, and led by Erap political lieutenant Boy Morales and Erap rabble rouser Ronald Lumbao, with their Pwet ng Masa, recruited from Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay�s squatter colonies. But the mobs-for-hire were prevented by police from marching on to Oakwood, and so the Magdalos� revolt withered on the vine after a few hours. Son of Oakwood.. In the 2006 faux-EDSA , Gen. Lim�s Scout Rangers and Col. Querubin�s Marines, their idealism having been rented with an P8 million �donation� from Erap�s Saludo sa Kawal Foundation, were supposed to march to EDSA to declare their �withdrawal of support� from President Arroyo, in a street extravaganza organized by the Communist movement and some silly bishops. But at the last minute Brig Gen Lim stretched his luck by talking to then AFP Chief-of-Staff Lt. Gen. Generoso Senga, hoping to recruit him in their �withdrawal of support.� Lim was arrested instead, and Col. Querubin and his Marines were confined to quarters in Fort Bonifacio . An attempt by the Communists and some na�ve civil society types (led by Cory Aquino) to turn Fort Bonifacio into a mini-EDSA also fizzled out. So why were there no civilian crowds, no mobs-for-hire, at Manila Pen in 2007? Where were Binay�s toothless crones and unemployed drug addicts from the squatter colonies? The answer may lie with the arrogant and narcissistic Trillanes. He did not bother to inform Binay and Erap about his plans. (Binay castigated PNP-NCR chief Geary Barias for not having had the courtesy to inform him, Binay, about the goings-on at the Pen). Trillanes apparently wanted to be the sole Hero of the Pen Revolt, - Danny Lim being a useful but unglamorous sidekick - not wanting to share the limelight with Binay and Jinggoy Estrada, who he knows have their own presidential ambitions for 2010. Trillanes wanted to be the chief of the revolutionary junta that would take over the government. Messianic complex invariably segues into megalomania. He obviously felt that his photogenic rebellious persona was enough to inspire middle class types to drop whatever they were doing and to rush to his defense at the Pen. He and Lim apparently planned to hold out at the hotel until the next day, Friday, when two protest rallies were planned, one in Liwasang Bonifacio organized by the Communist movement; the other at Plaza Miranda organized by the three bishops of the Kilusang Makabansang Ekonomiya (KME). If the rallying protesters were to link up with the besieged Magdalos in the Pen, a critical mass could have formed. But as things turned out, the police and the military, after giving Trillanes and Lim one deadline after another � starting at 3 pm - to come out and surrender, finally decided to storm the hotel at 6 pm, using an armored personnel carrier to crash through the Pen�s main entrance and firing tear gas into the lobby.. Overkill? Perhaps. But a necessary overkill to prevent the link-up and the critical mass apparently pre-planned for the next day. Was the subsequent curfew, from midnight to 5 am, necessary? Since Trillanes and Lim had announced that they would be joined by other military units from Northern Luzon and Mindanao , any incumbent government of any political stripe would have logically imposed that curfew, to prevent those announced reinforcements from reaching Metro Manila, even after the revolt had been crushed. (With the Pen Revolt crushed by 6 pm, the KME protest rally in Plaza Miranda the next day was cancelled when the bishops themselves � one of them was arrested at the Pen - did not show up, while the Communists� protest rally in Liwasang Bonifacio drew only 3,000 protesters.) Those who criticized the police for imposing that curfew have obviously never managed a government in their lives. (To be concluded). ***** Reactions to [email protected]. Other artricles in www.tapatt.org and in acabaya.blogspot.com OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Reactions to �Son of Oakwood� More Reactions to �Divine Intervention� More Reactions to �The Face of Poverty� More Reactions to �Pauperized by Politicians� More Reactions to �Gender Gaps� More Reactions to �If Pakistan Collapses� �Time for Change� Hello, Mr. Abaya! I was in Makati to meet someone for lunch on the day Senator Trillanes and Gen. Lim were holding out in Manila Peninsula . The cab driver and I were totally clueless. Upon hearing from a friend what was going on, I was jubilant at the fact that people were taking up the cudgels for the silent majority. My lunch appointment was moved to around 1:30pm because the person I was to meet came late. We discussed what should be done if Trillanes and Lim succeeded in what they had set out to do, but then of course, we were just two little candles in the dark. When walking to the MRT station and passing through the catwalk crossing Makati Avenue , I overheard people nudging one another to go closer to Manila Peninsula . "Halika, punta tayo!" And I don't believe they were usiseros. I would like to commend Trillanes, Lim, his escorts, media, Fr. Labayen, Fr. Reyes, former VP Teofisto Guingona and everyone for their bravery and their freedom of expression, however risky it may have been. God bless this country! Kit Soriano, (by email), Dec. 04, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Tony, Well, they're at it again. A few days ago, Sen. Miriam Santiago moved to expel Sen. Trillanes from the Senate. Of course, she cannot muster the numbers as the opposition is the majority in the Upper House. While it is understandable that opposition will support one among them, they turned a blind eye on the implications of what Trillanes did. Therefore, they showed national interest is below political lines and personalities. Then, just in the news, Senate President Manny Villar seems more interested in showbiz issues. I just can't comprehend how he is even willing to sponsor an amicable settlement in the issue between Lolit Solis (GMA-7) and Piolo Pascual and Sam Milby (ABS-CBN). I don't think this showbiz issue is of national interest and urgency that he will take the time to address. 2010 is two years and six months yet (election period). Where do they draw the line? Our Constitution is indeed flawed. If ever there will be Cha-Cha, I think they should also look into the qualifications for public office. This, after all, is one of the main roots of our political immaturity. If employers set qualifications for janitors, messengers and factory workers, then how much more should there be for public servants. People who have pending cases, especially serious ones, should be barred from seeking office, at least while the case is going on, and more so if convicted. That is how Trillanes got to win a Senate seat. That was also how Jalosjos got another term as Congressman. And that goes the same for Party List Representatives. Regional Party Lists (eg An Waray, Biag Iloko(?), etc) should be excluded. What marginalized sector do they represent? Their districts are already represented in the Lower House. These are just a few of our daily political circus, which by the way, is no longer funny. Felipe Rommel Martinez, (by email), Dec. 04, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww TOKS! Remember Tiananmen Square ? About time to "adopt" those methods, sacrificing a few hundred for the good of the almost some 90 M Pinoys-Nays! Until now, no one really knows how many thousands were sacrificed, for the good of the almost 1.5 B Intsek! Look how great the chopsuey nation is now. Remember how "the whole world" was angry?. But now has accepted, and perhaps even admired China for that move. Malas lang ating 'bayang magiliw". Wala pang ikapalit sa mga "pusliteros-teras or pasyaleros-leras >>> sa ating gob ~~~nga nandoon lahat nag junketereeeyaaah sa Espanya! tiger woods! Tony Oposa, MD, (by email), Dec. 04, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony The seige of the Pen would necessarily bring some post seige experts drawing their own conjectures. Politicians hid their heads, like ostrich in the sand on a wait and see mode. Had it succeeded, the crtics would have been echoing a different tune, priasing Trillanes and Lim for their courageous stand . I believed in their idealism. The seige is an overacting drama of the marines trying to be in an Iwo Jima stand in thye slope of the pmanicured landscape perimeer ot the Pen. I hope PGMA send a new expeditionary force to Iraq with General Esperon and teh marines overreacting like the US marines in Iwo Jima . I hope they can behave in similar fasahion in Iraq where they would definitely be decapitated by the ferocious Al Qaeda. The bravery of our soldiers and PNP are admirable when their oppponents are armed less. Vic del Fierro Jr., (by email), Dec. 04, 2007 (Reactors should review their posts for typos, spelling, grammar, etc before they click the Send button. We will not correct your posts for you. ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww The Filipinos are getting sick and tired of what is going on to this country. If you can speak your mind out against the government, you are being branded as communist, leftist or what is absurd adjectives that they would call you. But when you don�t, you just suffer the brunt of it. Anyway, what happened was a wake up call to all Filipinos or otherwise? It seems that no one cares and no one would like to care at all. Rafaella Alma Lozada, (by email), Dec.04, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww As I see it, Senator Trillanes may have been resigned with the fact that he will spend jail time, even though he was elected senator. It was his last hurrah. However, he may be confident with the fact that come 2010, an opposition president with an opposition Senate will SURELY win the elections. He may be banking on that thought, so he went on for his Manila Pen siege. He might get out of jail by that time. Tutal, makukulong din lang naman siya, gawa nalang ako ng event that will have loyalty checks among his military peers. Baka nga ginawa nila yun for Faeldon's and others' release. I don�t think this will be the last. Mike Delgado, (by email), Dec. 04, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, To the credit of NCR Police Chief Geary Barias, he showed the kind of resoluteness (we saw in Gen. Lim in a similar situation in the past), wwe heard the initial diversionary volley before the lobbing of the teargas at 3:40 pm by our wall clock. The 40-minute delay from the 3pm deadline in storming the putsang-inang putchists was likely caused by the unruly media men led by some stariray news readers from ABS-CBN. It could have been a more text-book like precision �surgical� move had the media people been more professional in their conduct. Some even posed for pictures (NAKAKAHIYA!!!) in the hotel corridors with some chattering stupidities for lack of anything intelligent to say while those anchoring in the safety of their studios kept blabbering about the moves, locations and details of the police operation in progress. Tama ba �yun? But I was appalled by the handcuffing of the adventure-seeking media hounds with the use of nylon ties. They should have used real metal handcuffs instead! BTW, this may lead to another scandalous scam. Where the hell were the thousands of metal handcuffs from a controversial importation by then Gen. Ping Lacson during the time of Erap??!! Was it sold by his successors under the GMA regime? Sen. Jamby Madrigal should move for a senate investigation. After all, we have not heard from her for a few days now. Some people were also disappointed that her dramatic historic-making entrance in the caper did not happen. Pray tell sweet mommy-senator, where were you when your sonny-boy needed you most? Arsenio T. Joven, (by email), Ayala Alabang, Dec. 04, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww When you have 11 million people voting for you, a good number of disgruntled soldiers allegedly supporting you, and you are up against a very unpopular president with the worst rated public acceptability how can you lose? This is probably how Trillanes had figured it out to produce a hundred, maybe two hundred thousand warm bodies at the Manila Pen to start people power. How Trillanes could have made a terrible miscalculation despite similar failures in the past demonstrates what a maniacal mind can do. For this bad mistake, Trillanes has only buried himself deeper in trouble and should forget about being set free any time soon to serve in the Senate. Good riddance. Cesar M. de los Reyes, (by email), Dec. 04, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, I agree with you. How stupid can these people be! Tell them to get a life and grow up. I would like to believe that the Filipinos have finally matured and stopped believing in these ambitious leaders whose only aims are just to glorify and enrich themselves at their expense. But that remains to be seen. It is another zarsuela, another soap opera, another tragic-comedy. We cannot afford this kind of entertainment. We need it like we need a hole in the head. When will we ever learn? Virgilio Gonzales, (by email), Connecticut , Dec. 04, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya, Trillanes offered to pay the damages incurred at the Peninsula which runs into millions. Is his salary as a senator enough to pay for it ? Did he settle his debts at Oakwood Hotel, which I presume the damages also run into millions ? And what is a dyed-in-the wool leftist like Dodong Nemenzo, doing there, playing footsies with rightists like Trillanes, Lim and company ? Please clarify. Thank you Sincerely, Auggie Surtida, (by email), Tigbauan, Iloilo , Dec. 05, 2007 (While they�re out trying to get in, the Communists will play footsie with anyone with a foot. But when they�re in and do not want to be kicked out, they�ll cut off everyone�s feet, in a manner of speaking. Tienanmen Square and all that. ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww You wrote: "It is amazing how Navy Lt. (now Senator) Antonio Trillanes and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim repeated their earlier mistakes, and even compounded them. Are they really stupid, or are they just masochists?"- AND wonder of wonders--- they want to lead the country?!?!? I suppose that the ever compassionate and fair-dealing " --give them due process--" Filipinos will allow these self anointed liberating Messiahs to attempt a third try before they are finally declared OUT!!!! Alexander Po, (by email), Dec. 05, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww You are so right to the point. How stupid are Trillanes and Lim to completely go to war without even a simple strategy on how to win. And they are supposed to be a well-trained military/police officers??? God save the country if these two were to lead the country.. What a bunch of morons!!! And where are all the people? I thought that the news coverage were lacking as to not show any of the Filipinos� reactions to the events. They should have assigned some of their reporters to get a reactions of the masses during the unfolding of events, instead of focusing solely on their reporters at the scene. Everything was so frustrating to watch. Not a single report on the pulse of the people off the streets. The report was so one-sided. .It�s all about them and not a single camera or reporter have any decency to ask the regular Pinoy what are their feelings regarding the unfolding events. The media failed in this regards so miserably!!! And to Trillanes and Lim...GO BACK TO BASIC TRAINING!!!!! [email protected], Hawaii , Dec. 05, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, On your first question, the answer is both Trillanes and Lim are simply stupid. That is why 11 million voters are more stupid. So are the three bishops who followed Trillanes like disciples following Jesus. If Hitler were a Filipino, it would not have been the Jews that would be victims of the holocaust but 11,000,005 Filipinos. I cannot imagine how a thirty-five year old Navy Lt. could con millions of Filipinos into voting for him in the last senatorial elections with only a failed mutiny as credential. I can understand, however, why the Philippines is where it is right now. You get what you vote for. This latest Trillanes and Lim caper should serve as a lesson to military authorities. You cannot treat these mis-adventurers with kid gloves. Decisive action should be taken against those who participated with the guilty, stripped of their uniforms and ranks and pension as the lightest punishment. The civilian participants should be put in jail as a warning to future supporters of other Trillaneses and Lims. The military guards who allowed the march to Manila Pen should likewise be booted out of the service. The GMA administration has many flaws, but the economic gains it has achieved should not be left to go down the drain by some stupid actions of a few stupid people. Can't we all just wait for 2010? [email protected], Dec. 05, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Sir, With all the impossibility of events surrounding the Manila Pen seige, Trillanes himself may not really have believed that he can overthrow the government, unless he has gone mad. But if he believed so, thinking that people would come flocking in support of him, then he got a rude awakening. It must have something more to do with the attention he gets from it. The last time he attracted attention was when he accused PGMA of being behind the Glorietta Mall explosion. With a person like him who is in a state of delusion of grandeur, he must have solely missed that adrenalin surge and that self-important feeling he got during the Oakwood mutiny and after the national election when all the TV cameras and reporters were focused on him. But we have learned something from that event, even the most learned individuals like Guingona, Bishops Labayen and Tobias and Fr. Reyes can be made like a fool. Allan Baguingan, (by email), Dec. 05, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Tony: You did it again!!! Your clear description and analysis of what happened in the Peninsula Hotel in Makati is very valuable to us here in the States. We depend on unbiased news and analysis of proven objective journalists like you. My question is: Why 11 million Filipinos voted Trillanes to be senator when he was under indictment for the Oakwood/Magdalo putsch? Some years back, the same thing happened to Gregorio Honasan who was accused for the multiple coup de etats and yet was voted senator. Are Filipino voters stupid or masochists? I have noticed a trend here: Adventurist military officers engaged in pseudo-takeover, jailed, escaped and ran for senator and won. Who will the next military man to follow Trillanes? The only way to stop this crazy military adventurism is for the armed forces to arrest, charge and tried in a Court Martial within six months and, if convicted, shot by a firing squad as a traitor. I don't believe it will happen because our president and her generals have no guts. It is a BIG JOKE!!! Martin C. Celemin, (by email), Las Vegas , Nevada , Dec. 06, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Don't dismiss Trillanes right away... he must have other plans. Besides, he could easily get re-elected anyway, Son of Oakwood. Serafin Dudeo, (by email), California , Dec. 06, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Shameful, humiliating, and morally insulting.. These people (Trillanes esp. Guingona whom I admired so much) never even realized that they hostaged 87 million Filipinos' respect and reputation in the global world. With one stupid cowardly and selfish act of treason, my visit to Germany through an invitation of my son (US Army) became a nightmare. I almost dropped in my seat while visiting Dr. Jose Rizal's monument in Wilhelmsfeld and Heidelberg next to my German friend as we watched Manila Pen's fiasco unfolding before our eyes. And this is the man who was elected by 11 million Filipinos as steward of the Philippine. Constitution...Why?...Where to now? ........ Salamat Po, Marilyn Doromal, (by email), Dec. 06, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, I guessed Filipinos have gotten tired of mutinies led by the military. Fatigue has set in after EDSA I and II. However, some military men and politicians are still obsessed of taking matters in their own hands in the hope that they will be joined by many. That is a pipe dream. The 11 million votes garnered by Trillanes do not represent people's trust on Trillanes cause or agenda, but rather an expression of protest against the incumbent party's candidates. Politicians are often deceived into believing that they have been designated by the people to lead them to the promised land. They are wrong. Dead wrong. Dr, Nestor P. Baylan, (by email), New York City , Dec. 06, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Mr. Abaya, Well said. Please continue to fight the wrong and defend what is right. Keep up the balanced views. Mabuhay! Miko Magsaysay, (by email), Dec. 07, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, The paintings are very clear on the walls, People are tired of the EDSA type People Power to change people in government. That is why they did not come to the call of Trillanes. And one thing more, It is a good sign that people now believe in the legitimate process of changing people in government, and that is, thru our legitimate electoral process. This is also the very reason why people elected Trillanes to the one of the highest position in government, the Senate. It is time therefore for Trillanes to focus serving the people who elected him, and not the few elitist, rich financiers and military adventurists would like change to be which is always self-serving. Instead of initiating surveys and consultations with soldiers, he must focus on the plight of the people in the slum areas, the farmers, the laborers, the poorest of the poor who voted for him. If am the adviser of Trillanes, I would advise him to allocate all of his pork-barrel and his salary to improve the lives of people who supported and voted for him, even if he is in jail and can not campaign. As the saying, goes, luck is not always on his side! ONE IS ENOUGH, TWO IS TOO MUCH, THREE IS A POISON THAT WILL KILL A PERSON! "SOBRA NA AT TAMA" NA! ALSO APPLIES WITH ANY OTHER PERSON, even with Trillanes. Rodolfo Cada, (by email), Dec. 14, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww More Reactions to �Divine Intervention� (Nov. 29, 2007) Dear Mr. Abaya, Given the national prerogative and bureaucratization, there is another option which is a more difficult one but possible. We need a determined visionary and no-nonsense provincial leader who will commit his or her life for this task of city-state building no matter what. The less difficult option that cuts through all the national red tape is a temporary take-over by elderly military leaders with their younger followers. Particularly, ethical, tested, experienced, and most of all--military leaders who can command respect, authority, and discipline and who can say in all honesty and without reservation, �mission accomplished!� Efren Padilla, (by email), Hayward , CA , Dec. 09, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww REACTION TO FR. REUTER'S "THE ONLY HOPE FOR THE PHILIPPINES " PRAYER BLOCKER. Hindi patas ang pagkukumpara ni Fr. Reuter sa ibang bansa na umunlad dahil nanalangin sila sa Dios. Ang hindi alam ni father ang mga bansang nabanggit ay hindi talamak ang "idolatry" (Exekiel 23:49) or image worshipping. "We will bear the consequence of our sins of idolatry". The counsel of God is to flee from idolatry (1Cor 10:14). Tayong Pinoy hindi lumalayo sa idolatry. Sa ating bansang Pilipinas talamak at hayagan ang pagsuway ng karamihan sa utos na ito ng Dios: na huwag luluhod sa anumang uri ng rebulto (Exodus 20:4-5). Hindi mangyayari ang Divine Intervention para makaahon tayo economically. Kung bakit dahil malinaw na sinabi ito ng Dios sa Isaiah 59:2. Hangga't hindi nawawala ang pagsamba ng katulad sa pagsamba sa Queen of Heavens (Novena) (Jeremiah 7:16-19 ) na kinasusuklaman at kapoot-poot sa Dios wag tayong umasa ng Divine Intervention. Sana alam ni Fr. Reuter ang mga salitang ito ng Dios. Sana makatulong siya na makita ng sambayanang Pilipino ang ugat at dahilan ng pagtalikod sa atin ng Dios at kung bakit hindi Niya sinasagot ang ating mga panalangin kahit pa magpakasipag tayo at pagpawisan ng dugo. Idol worshipping is to God a "wicked way" in which we Filipinos do not turn away. We even justify and fight for it if somebody rebukes us. We do not open our hearts and minds to the Word of God. He is a jealous God. As long as Filipinos keep on their wicked way of idolatry (the number of "imahen" all over the land is increasing yearly), the fact will remain: He will not hear our prayers, He will not heal our land, either we believe it or not. Yong mga naglalakihang imahen na yan they just attract more natural and man-made disasters to our country. Buddy Villas, (by email), Dec. 09, 2007 (Maybe we should all convert to Islam. Islam absolutely forbids any and all forms of imagery and idolatry. ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, I have been receiving and enjoying your "Reactions" articles but do not receive your Manila Standard Articles. Please put me back on your mailing list. I often wondered how Little Chris would have turned out if her Mother Cory WASN'T praying for her? An admirer from Baguio , Jack Gesner, (by email), Baguio City , Dec. 10, 2007 (We don�t know why you are receiving the Reactions but not the MST article, Jack. We use the same distribution list for both. Perhaps your server treats the articles as spam. We suggest you access acabaya.blogspot.com and/or www.tapatt.org whenever you miss one or the other. ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, The forum you have created is pure magic. As a long-time resident foreigner, it is a joy to read so many disparate views of so many Filipinos whom I trust will forgive me for sometimes injecting my own. Regarding the resurrection of the American bases issue, I followed this with great interest. Perhaps being a foreigner and not being infected with the nationalistic fervor of the time, my own perceptions of the issue were perhaps less clouded with emotion than some of your writers. As history is written, the Filipinos �kicked� out the Americans from their bases. I am not an American, and quite frankly, I am not an admirer of their global political stance or diplomatic skills. However, in the case of the bases, I was amazed at the cleverness they displayed. The facts were that their bases in the Philippines , though being invaluable during the Vietnam conflict, were surplus to their needs of the times. The costs of maintaining them were enormously high, and they had, and still retain, major bases in Japan . Adding to this was the fact that the British, a few years earlier, with their successful retaking of the Falkland Islands , had proven that military action could be undertaken in any part of the globe without the need for local bases. The problem faced by the Americans was that if they themselves had wanted to close the bases, the Philippines , quite rightly, would have demanded substantial compensation. To get the Philippines to not ratify a lease extension would be less expensive, but how to do that when the polls taken at the time indicated that a majority of the Filipino people wanted the bases to remain? In spite of the noise of politicians, the negotiations were proceeding in a manner that indicated an agreement for retention would be reached. It was then the Americans, through their negotiator whose name I can no longer recall (Richard Armitage. ACA), made a brilliant diplomatic gaffe. Upon exiting from a session, this gentleman stated to the press that he was having to deal with �cash-box diplomacy,� an insult that ensured rejection by the senate. Talk about divine intervention. In this case God came down firmly on the American side by popping off Mt. Pinatubo . During the period of debate, the Rotary Club of which I was then a member, invited one of the most anti-renewal politicians of that time, Congresswoman Lorna Yap. Although a very attractive lady, Ms. Yap was a fierce opponent in any debate � so much so that my fellow Rotarians were very cautious when it came to question time. After being nominated to pose questions, admittedly with legs trembling, I asked her as to why she was so vehemently opposed to the retention of the bases when not only were the majority of Filipinos for it, but every body was aware of the major economic problems this would cause in their areas of location. Her first answer was pathetic because she compared the majority to those who called for the crucifixion of Jesus, and thus the majority were not always right. As swords were already drawn, I pointed out that if she believed it was God�s will that Jesus be crucified, then, in this case, the majority were right. Congresswoman Yap then gave an answer we all could thoroughly understand. She said that for over 400 years the Filipinos had been touching their forelock to foreigners. First the Spanish, then the Americans with a short period of the Japanese. (actually mainly Korean, but that is another story). She well understood that closing the bases would cause economic hardship for a while, but unless the Filipino learned to stop touching his forelock, stand up and accept personal responsibility, then the country would never progress. Unfortunately, she was not able to put a time scale on her prediction. Alan C. Atkins, (by email), Paranaque City , Dec. 10, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, I just remembered the words of a nice poster i once saw. It said" I believe in Luck. The Harder I Work, the Luckier I Become!" So let us all start working to something to help our beloved country and its people. Rick B. Ramos, (by email), Santa Rosa , Laguna, Dec. 10, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Reading through the reaction mail to your column/s, I now realize that we have a very large pool of Filipino thinkers, analysts, critics, theoreticians and advocates. I hope somebody will soon organize/sponsor a "Tony Abaya Forum on the Philippines : What Are Going Right, What Are Going Wrong? Who Will Provide the Answers? and Who Will Carry Out Solutions?" What I'm saying is that perhaps we need more people who can act. What advocates and analysts are important in any society, it is the action men and women who can build the nation. Rolly Metin, (by email), Dec. 12, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Tony! Thanks so much for compiling all the comments. It really is nice hearing what others have to say. We have been talking about finding someone who can lead the country- someone who will be honest and not corrupt. Question is, Will we ever find one in our lifetime? With the system we have? When only those with money can win? And when there is no alternative for them to win re-election unless they get back what they spent in preparation for the next? Do you think good performance without money will propel a qualified person to win? A presidential candidate needs 5-7 billion pesos to launch a nationwide campaign and hopefully win. How can any honest person afford that? Even if he is a billionaire, he will need to fund his next campaign. Do you think he will spend all his fortune just to win? A candidate for mayor will need not less than P20-50M (in a provincial city) to be able to put up a good fight. In Metro Manila a barangay captain needs not less than 50-100M to win in his barangay. And that is only a barangay! The system of vote buying (some people don't even consider that as such and say these are "standard" elections expenses by candidates for food, transportation, etc during elections). So what do we do? Any suggestions from your readers? Gerry Delgado, (by email), Changmai , Thailand , Dec. 14, 2007 (In previous columns, I have suggested that ALL political ads should be banned from print and electronic media. Instead, government-owned Channels 4, 9 and 13 and their radio networks should be turned over � during an election campaign period - to a constitutional body which will schedule radio-TV interviews and debates for all registered candidates and parties FOR FREE. In our political system, radio and TV ads constitute an estimated 40-50% of all campaign expenses. Banning them would constitute a major reduction in campaign expenses and would give even under-funded candidates an even chance of being heard and elected. ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Time for Change There is a strong notion that people power alone will not succeed to remove the national leadership and change the system of governance without military support. Edsa 1 influenced this thinking that without military support people power alone will not succeed. What happened at that time was that the call for the people to protect the Enrile-Ramos rebellion sucked the whole military establishment to tip the balance against the Marcos regime. That event institutionalized the protector clause of the military in the 1987 Constitution, and that clause was used in Edsa 2 by the military in support of the move of the sovereign people to withdraw its authority for President Estrada to farther govern the nation in accordance with Section 1, Article II of the Constitution. But I, for one, believe that a united, solid, peaceful mass movement of people bound by a common cause and unrestrained by organizational or personal persuasions � political, social, economic, ethnic, religious, ideological � moving and carrying only one flag (not the red, white, yellow flags), the Philippine Flag to show a real people movement to effectively confront and topple a misgoverning and corrupt national authority without the support of the military that is firmly holding on to its neutral position, in the likes of the non-military supported �colored� rebellions of the peoples of Czechoslovakia, Georgia, and Ukraine. However, attempts to rally people against the incumbent administration has so far failed. Military showdowns started with a show of boldness but whimpered in the end. Same with people�s rallies and demonstrations of different colors and agenda, they fizzled out from police bludgeoning and cannonading The opposition is in limbo. True to the Filipino tayo tayo culture, those who oppose cannot get together on who and what kind of alternative to support a change. Recourse to snap election is pass�, and so with impeachment and other constitutional processes that only perpetuate the traditional politics that has brought the country down the drain. Meanwhile, the incumbent remains strong, thanks to a disunited opposition, and the failed military-related standoffs and people�s demonstrations. But destabilization will continue unabated, and that could explode into a blood-bath, if the recourse for the truth of the incumbent�s legitimacy and manner of governance remains impeded by the abuse of power to the detriment of the national interest. Only justice can save the country from a blood-bath. To delay justice to the people is to consent to a bloody revolution. It is, therefore, for the court of last resort, the Supreme Court, to act and do justice to the people�s cause. This is an option for non-violent action, an irresistible alternative to violent struggle for the people to accept the Supreme Court as the only morally organized alternative to serve as an already organized caretaker government without losing its judicial responsibility. While it is politically tainted by virtue of appointments, it is in form and substance the most moral and independent branch of government being the country�s court of last resort. It is the only branch of government that is constituted by non-politically-elected officials. As an already organized transition caretaker government, it can function as a corporate entity with the members of the court constituted as the Board of Directors and the Chief Justice as Chairman and CEO, the Cabinet as the corporation officers with its Head (non-politician) as COO, and the LGUs organized as GOCCs and subsidiaries except that LGU elected officials related within the 3rd civil degree of consanguinity or affinity and serving within the same political constituency be considered resigned and replaced as the Transition Government may direct. How is this going to happen? I believe that in the midst of the 85 million Filipinos, there are still the idealists in the ranks of the military, police, and the civil society that are untainted by the ills of the present political system that can draw and rally even the tainted ones in a unified and peaceful movement and call on the Chief Justice to lead the transition from a dysfunctional, abusive, deceitful and corrupt national authority to a new constitutional system of governance. This stands squarely and firmly on the right of the people to change a government that misuses its powers to the detriment of the national interest and replace it with one that will effect their safety and happiness pursuant to Section 1, Article II of the Constitution that defines the sovereignty of the people from whom the authority of government to govern emanate. It�s about time that we take a peaceful but bold step to regenerate our society by reforming not only our institutions but also our manner of behaving and thinking. Let us banish the fears that our long colonial experience has developed in ourselves � fear of our neighbors, fear of the powers across the Pacific and the China Sea , and especially fear of change. Let us not be afraid to design our system of governance that will suit the culture and temperament of our people. Fortunato U. Abat, (by email), Dec. 14, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. More Reactions to �The Face of Poverty� (Nov. 13, 2007) Mr. Tony C. Abaya, Good pm. Indeed, this article has initiated so much outrage against the Government, specifically the GMA administration. Unfortunately for many readers like me, the descriptions of media is an overkill and certainly media highlights an anthill wherein human emotions are flushed and makes the news VERY readable, hence very MABILI! The investigations of the Davao administrators last week revealed such an overkill. Even the parents of the girl had been insulted because of media's irresponsible reporting. And media calls this FREEDOM OF THE PRESS and certainly their JOB to REPORT !! I am not at all favoring anybody, but please, MEDIA should be HONEST and RESPONSIBLE in reporting events. We all know that MEDIA is indeed VERY influential; they can make or break people, personalities, and entities. Hopefully, in due time, all Media Practitioners should be more HONEST and RESPONSIBLE like YOU. and they should also acknowledge their ACCOUNTABILITY to the people like us. Could you also please write an article on the PERKS OF SENATORS, which I think could be much more interesting, and mind-bungling than those of the Congressmen. Best regards to you and your family! Carry on, and more power to you! Avelino Lagman, Jr., (by email), Dec. 03, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww More Reactions to �Pauperized by Politicians� (Nov. 22, 2007) I wholeheartedly agree with the position. Indeed it is so sad also to realize that many of us out there and here realize the realities of the statement. Nevertheless, it seems that not enough political will to do something about it to effect a positive change is much happening. When will our sadness and or exasperation be turned to positive action for the benefit of the greater majority? This sentiment is slowly creeping for some of us. The government is reflective of its people. My mirror tells me that. I pray that we collectively wake up someday and start changing ourselves for a better future for the next generation Lina Melecio Tan, (by email), Dagupan City , Dec. 05, 2007. wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Sir: Ricardo de Leon reacts to your article about our pauperized country by stating that Pinoys "are making babies for reasons other than the church prohibition on birth control" (which is actually contradictory). He did not elaborate on his theory, so I wonder if he is implying that ours is a stupid race because we breed mindlessly like rabbits. It brings to mind the old Marcos slogan during martial law, "Disiplina ang kailangan." When males and females don't restrain their sexual impulses or don't have the means to get birth control devices, rampant over-population occurs. It also reminds me of a program Fidel Ramos once proposed of providing electricity to the archipelago's remote barrios so people could have TV to keep them occupied --- in other words, to take their minds off sex. I wonder if that was ever implemented, or if it didn't work because of the pervasive sexual content of most local and imported TV trash. Obviously, to overcome the hidebound Catholic strictures and conservative attitudes in our country which do not belong in this century, education is key to controlling runaway populations. The fact that the present US administration has cut back on family planning assistance overseas because of its stupid religious scruples hasn't helped either. Renata Lopez, (by e-mail), Dec. 04, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww More Reactions to �Gender Gaps� (Nov. 27, 2007) Dear Tony, That provincialism again! A participant here had a blanket, albeit, prejudicial bigot's assessment of Campampangan's. I was raised in Cavite . For us to see GMA and not to see Fr. Panlilio (and I am sure countless other good ones) is a trap to watch. Even in Pampanga, and specially in Pampanga, and it's true of other provinces, there are MORAL ALTERNATIVES to GMA. We should not allow GMA to manipulate Filipinos, despite the business leaders and elitists' claim that the unmasked DEVIL is better than an Uncertain Replacement. Everytime we elect, there is no guarantee that we will have good officials. That's why we have legal and constitutional means to remove them, which of course GMA had killed with impunity. So, how worse can GMA get? We stand still and even blame those who try to help us to move out of our comfortable box (many remain in their small Comfort Rooms, with their own Scheisse). What are we waiting for, I do not know. We reject Trillanes for giving us a chance to stand up and be counted, a milder call than Bonifacio's, but which call our grandparents heeded, with bolos and powder. GMA cannot get any worse. Only her tactics may change although she has a penchant for persistence and repeats that we have already seen. We should not blame a whole province for ONE or more real bad eggs or bad apples. GMA has nothing to do with Gender Gaps, either. To reject other women alternatives due to GMA and Miriam does not make sense, either. We do not have to look far to see our mothers or sisters, with poise, making moral, competent, and difficult choices and decisions. With a curtsy, GMA claimed she is a good economist but bad politician. Given the rise in peso with corresponding slower exports and lower benefits for those that REMIT and contribute to the rising peso, economics has hit rock bottom by becoming nothing but a political toy and ploy. GMA is really nothing but a political animal that has given POLITICS a new name and has changed its meaning-- from concern for the people to greed and inhumane use of human beings. GMA and her cabinet are not only corrupt but corrupting (as other members like Neri who we thought was incorruptible) and manipulating the people at every turn. Media-phobia is so transparent. She is paranoid of the media reading into her Cha-Cha train to perpetuity. (We thought all along the train says Chugh-Chugh. Maybe the difference is in burnt fuel -- Fossil, petro, ethanol, etc. vs. Peso Bags). Chavez attempted but failed via a referendum. GMA and her minions know alternatives where morality is made irrelevant. Aurora Riel, (by email), Murfreesboro , North Carolina , Dec. 08, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya, Your piece about women doing better than men and the Philippines ranking 6th worldwide, oh well, I doubt that very much. Take for instance myself and my case. I filed a sexual harassment case at the Quezon City prosecutor's office and a constructive dismissal case at the NLRC. Between the two, only the criminal case prospered but sadly the accused died before he could face me in Court. His lawyers succeeded at every step of the way to keep him from being arraigned. His lawyers managed to jump his arrest by having him post bail. While the criminal case was dismissed, the labor case went to the Supreme Court and fell on the hands of a tyrannical division. Imagine, 8 arguments to counter theirs and they didn't see my point. How can we now say, we're doing better? How can we assure ourselves RA 7677 can be able to stand the test when our justice system knows very little about jurisprudence building? Compared to the US where a schoolmate filed a similar case, and hers took only 2 years to resolve, mine has taken 7 years, going 8. Before the criminal case got filed in Court, it took almost 2 years at the prosecutor's level. There ought to be changes and these should begin with how to deal with a justice system that's corrupt. Take it from me. It's as if it were made for the rich and powerful. Very truly yours, Mariquit Soriano, (by email), Dec. 09, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww There is an inner and outer beauty of Filipinas. I am comparing them to girls from other countries. Yes, there's good and bad every- where. But apart from physical appearance I speak here of care, understanding, and an inner-strength to maintain a family and its success. This is asking a lot, but these qualities are in the Filipina. I met my wife fifty-three years ago. She put all cards on the table.when I got serious. If I wanted to have her as my wife I had to come to the Philippines from the States and .meet her parents. Yes, and I got their blessing. I also found the Philippines to be the warmest, friendliest country, of all others I had known, and stayed.. R. Stager,(by email), Quezon City , Dec. 10, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww More Reactions to �If Pakistan Collapses� (Nov. 21, 2007) To Mr. Abaya, and to Mr. Manuel J. Ledesama Jr. Haaay naku, do not expect anything from IBP. They should have been at the forefront of the discussions on the legality of certain acts or actions by our government officials from top to the lowliest ones. They would rather not be disturbed by the already loud protests coming from all fronts. I think they are first, thinking of their careers; 2nd. scared that they might step on some swollen toes of politicians who are mostly lawyers, (baka kawskwela pa nila).I have been watching what the IBP would announce or publish,- nothing at all. Atty. Cita Garcia, (by email), Dec. 02, 2007 (You are reacting to an opinion of Mr. Laserna (not Ledesama) alone, not mine. ACA) OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO |