| Turning 20
By Antonio C. Abaya Written on Feb. 16, 2009 For the Standard Today, February 17 issue This was intended to be written and published as my first article for 2009, but it was continuously pushed back by more pressing concerns. Now that there seems to be a lull on all fronts, domestic and foreign, I will sneak it in and hope that nothing earth-shaking happens between now and tomorrow that is not in my radar screen. This has to do with everyone's efforts � in particular, my own efforts � to stay alive and healthy in our stressful and polluted environment. For the past 35 years or so, I have been following a daily regimen of morning calisthenics which I formulated myself and which has undergone many changes since. In its present format, my regimen is made up of 13 routines that exercise all - I think - joints and muscle groups, from the shoulders to the ankles. So what turned 20? Well, I used to go through each routine up to the count of 12. But starting in 2002, realizing that I was not getting any younger, I increased the count for each routine by one every year. This means that starting on January 1, 2002, I was doing each routine up to the count of 13; on January 1, 2003 up to the count of 14; on January 1, 2004 up to the count of 15, etc. So starting on January 1, 2009, I have been doing each routine up to the count of 20, and it takes me about 20 to 25 minutes to go through the entire regimen. I figure that by the time I reach 100, which will be 27 years from now, I will be doing each routine up to the count of 47, and it will take me the whole morning to go through the entire regimen, probably with help of a nurse. But, of course, that is the optimistic point of view. I took a test on the Internet that purported to predict how long one can expect to live, . The test asks how old your parents are, or, if one or both has/have died, at what age he or she died. (83 for my father, and 90 for my mother.) Then the test asks about your personal habits, medical history and lifestyle Do you smoke? (Not since age 13.) Your height and weight, which would indicate if you are overweight. (I am not, the test says.) Do you exercise regularly? (Yes.) Do you drink alcoholic beverages? (Yes, beer and wine, but never to the point of stupor or drunkenness.) Is your daily diet mostly pork, beef, chicken or fish? (Mostly fish and chicken.) Do you eat fresh fruits and/or vegetables? (Lots of both.) How do you relax? (45-minute siesta after every lunch. Classical music whenever I can.) How much coffee do you drink every day? (None. I have been a tea-drinker for decades.) Have you ever been diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension, kidney, liver, prostate, heart or lung problems? (No, on most counts.) I did have hepatitis sometime in the early 1970s. I had a heart attack in 1999 and underwent an angioplasty that inserted a stent into one of my arteries. After going through these numbers and data, the Internet test gave its prediction that � barring accident, murder or dread disease � I will likely live up to the age of 92. By that time, I will be doing my daily exercise up to the count of 39 per routine. But don't ask me for the URL of this Internet test, as I did not note it down. I am sure one can google it or something like it. A word about my heart attack in 1999, as it can be a cautionary tale for everyone. Especially after my daughter Carla told me yesterday about two of her acquaintances who had suddenly died only last week as a result of a stroke or a heart attack, one in his/her 30s, the other in his/her 40s. When my late mother was confined in St. Luke's Hospital in 1999, her cardiologist suggested that I undergo a battery of tests to determine the state of my health. Which suggestion I readily acquiesced to.. I went through these tests from 9 in the morning to 4:30 in the afternoon.. I had a complete blood chemistry test and blood count, which showed that my cholesterol, triglyceride, sugar, good cholesterol, BUN, creatinine, SGOT, SGPT, PSA counts were all within normal range, but with a slightly high uric acid count.(I have been having blood chemistry tests and blood counts every six months since then.) I went through all kinds of stress tests, including on treadmills that had increasing angles of incline. I passed every single one of those tests, and the cardiologist gave me a clean bill of health. Thirty five days later, I had my heart attack. What happened? Stress was the culprit. I had my heart attack at the Manila Memorial Park, while we were burying our mother. Previous to the funeral, I had gone without sleep for 48 hours. The combination of emotional stress and physical exhaustion triggered the attack and almost did me in. I was rushed to St. Luke's where the angioplasty was performed. Right after recovering from the attack, I bought a treadmill which I have been using every MWF since 1999, at 6:00 pm, which gives me the chance to watch the evening news on ABS-CBN and see what information the masa are getting from their TV sets.(Appalling, but that's for another article.) In my first try on the treadmill, I tried to do 400 meters. But midway through, I felt dizzy and had to stop. The next day, I set it back for 200 meters. I have been increasing the distance almost every other month ever since. This month, I am up to 2.6 kilometers, which I walk in about 32 minutes. Next month, I will increase my distance to 2.7 kilometers, and so on.. By the time I am 92, I will probably be doing 10 kilometers and will be taking the whole afternoon to finish it. Between calisthenics in the morning and the treadmill in the afternoon, I will most likely have no more time for anything else, except lunch and siesta, as I huff and puff into the Great Beyond. ***** Reactions to [email protected]. Other articles in acabaya.blogspot.com. Tony on YouTube in www.tapatt.org. To subscribe, send a blank email with the subject heading Subscribe. To unsubscribe, send a blank email with the subject heading Unsubscribe. . OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Reactions to �Turning 20� Reactions to Ed Tirona More Reactions to �Snubbed Again� More Reactions to �Ang Kapatiran� More Reactions to �What Better Choices?� Tony, With your exercises and diet, without smoking, drinking right [do not average more than 2 drinks a day], taking the siesta, and that your dad died at 83 and your mother at 90, you should well surpass both at 92, unless unforeseen events intervene. Ben Oteyza, (by email), Feb. 20, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony Your diet and exercise regimen are quite enviable ...wish I had the discipline to do something like that.. I am just a lazy slob (couch potato) . anyway I shall make every endeavor to change. Politics here with the stimulus package , bank bailout, mortgage bailout, car manufacturers bailout , etc. etc..is just killing the economy, jobs are disappearing and the American dream is just about gone..(Thanks to Bush's spending spree and Obama's "don't know nothing administration�)....stay healthy and keep writing ..see you soon.. Dominic Tambuatco, (by email), Macon, Georgia, Feb. 20, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony: The way you are taking care of your health--regular aerobic exercise, the right foods, avoiding stress-- you have a very good chance of reaching the good ripe age of 92. I won't at all be surprised if you live 8 years beyond 92, to the century mark! Imagine how many of those incisive, insightful and well-written columns you will have written between now and your 92nd birthday. Keep it up, Tony. Mar Patalinjug, (by email), Yonkers, NY, Feb. 20, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, hi, I am glad you are working and looking forward to reaching the ripe age of 92. Obviously, your readers would be glad to know that you would still be around writing your piece for 19 more years in case GMA and the like could last that long. I am also glad to know (2 days ago) that I'm older than you by 5 days. How is that, you may wonder. Well, I could die anytime with the thought that I'm older than you are, anyway. Seriously now, you have all the reasons to be optimistic for living a healthy lifestyle and having the stamina required to cope with the rigors of exercises and physical activities. Keep it up for the country, for your family and for all your adoring readers like me. It was in 1996 when I first came to know the importance of an ICU to a seriously- ill patient with a heart and lung problems. My second bout with death was on December 22, 2008, the same day Cory publicly apologized to Erap for joining the 2nd EDSA. Since then, I am in what you called huff and puff state of life. Meaning, I live my life everyday, waiting for the imminent eventuality at the departure area, sleeping, eating and walking in leisurely pace or manner.. Obviously, at this stage of the ballgame, you will find me, every Sunday morning, glued to the TV set listening to the wonderful preaching and teachings of outstanding individuals like Bo Sanchez and Bishop Chito Tagle. Taking everything into consideration, I am willing to go as I'd lived long enough to see in 1986 the end of a despot who I thought would never happened in my lifetime; and, witness and hear the testimony of Clarissa Ocampo on December 22, 2001, which testimony electrified the long-suffering nation. I considered these two events as the highlights of my life as a citizen. Am I happy to live long enough, too, to know a living and vibrant media spearheaded by journalists and writers like you in the critical stage of the nation. I could name more outstanding writers, but I would rather not for fear that I might miss a few. So, please allow me to wish you in advance: a happy 73rd year on the eleventh of March, 2009. Tony, take care and God bless you and yours always. Arcy F. Sibal, (by email), Sta. Maria, Bulacan, Feb. 20, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Sir Tony; It�s refreshing to see that you're as normal as everyone else... Hahahaha!! In any case, heart attacks are traitors, as you well know. Same thing happened to a friend of mine - clean bill of health and a week after... kaboom! Fortunately for you [and for us your readers], you're still with us. That friend of mine was not as lucky. He died at the age of 35, first from a massive aneurysm, then a massive attack and no one found him until the following day in his bedroom. I've had several friends "go ahead" also from the same problem. On hindsight, young folk such as ourselves [you included, of course!!] often tell ourselves "it won't happen to us" or that "I don't feel anything" and we go about our daily unhealthy routine until illness comes a-knocking..... and some of us are blest with the opportunity to avoid getting sick or recover 100%. Stress - mental, physical, emotional stress - once it peaks and wins, we lose. No matter how clean our bill of health is, when stress comes, and if we don't know how to handle it, it will take over and we are lost forever. Given the fast pace of life today, with the technology and being connected 24/7 to our cell phones or laptops or both - we forget to take care and look out for number one - OURSELF. We give so much and take so little and we neglect ourselves too much that its really bad enough life's too hard, harder still for those who have less, we should really find a regimen to relax our soul, our minds and our bodies as well. Thank you for sharing your regimen with us, the earlier we start, the better for all of us. And thank you for sharing your insights as well. More power and God Bless you! Respectfully, Jenifer A. Xavier, (by email), Feb. 20, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony: Another excellent piece. As we age, lifestyles and diets must change to give our organs some help. But as age increases our tolerance and patience, we can never accept the distorted values of the corrupt GMA criminal syndicate as anything but abhorrent and worthy of total extermination. Would that their extermination happens sooner rather than later. Tito Osias, (by email), Feb. 20, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, Yes, Stress and Exhaustion can kill. A fatal combination. I am reminded of the change in lifestyle I had since seven years ago in 2002 when my family and I moved to Negros. Our three-year sojourn made me learn how to really relax for the first time in my life. While living in Metro Manila most of my life, I always thought that daily stress was a natural phenomenon that pumps our adrenalin and keeps us going - even without coffee! I often say that our stay in Negros probably saved my life (from possible heart attack) even if I exercised regularly (three times a week) in the gym. At times, I could not work out due to an elevated blood pressure. After Negros, we found a good compromise of living in the province and yet close to Metro Manila. Where we live in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, on the way to Tagaytay is only 33 kms from EDSA via the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). Right now, it takes about an hour or 60 minutes to Makati or Fort Bonifacio. However, once the widening and rehabilitation of the Alabang-Calamba portion of SLEX is finally completed, we are looking at 30 to 45 minutes. In terms of exercise, my wife EJ and I love to walk around our small village where we live. However, the real treat is walking around the Central Park and Greenbelt of nearby Ayala Westgrove Heights with an elevation of 600 to 900 feet that overlooks the Laguna de Bay, Mt. Makiling and the Canlubang estate of the Yulos. Of course, there is gym and other sports facilities at the clubhouse, which are still free for the moment for homeowners and lot-owners like us. I would like to invite you and our other friends for lunch at the Pavillon overlooking the lagoon where our association president Bobby Chan is raising thousands of the Mekong Dory fish (Pangasius specie). Harvest time is in April. The Pavillon is located in the Central Park. I am sure you will enjoy looking at the blue or bluish-green Kingfisher, the yellow Oriole, among others. Bobby and our security people tell me that we still have the Philippine civet roaming around the 400-hectare enclave. Remember the Alamid coffee from the civet probably popularized in the movie "Bucket List" of Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman? Thanks for you article. Now,I i will exercise even more! - and lose weight. Best regards. Rick Ramos, (by email), Santa Rosa, Laguna, Feb. 20, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Guys like you should live longer and beyond age 92. Many other people stand to benefit from your passion for writing. There are of course a number of persons that we prefer to pass on, ASAP ! But only God stamps an expiry date into each livestock on earth. So I guess you just have to be on equal footing in so far as guessing about longevity is concerned. Keep up with the exercise, though. you may not live to a hundred, but the remaining years you have would be of great quality if you remain physically fit for each day! Victor Ma�alac, (by email), Feb. 21, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, Thank you for allowing us to glance through the window of your life and sharing a few things about you. In a few weeks' time I know you will also celebrate your seventy third birthday. The strict regimen you follow obviously helps achieve another milestone. I find it interesting why you took up the strict regimen after your heart attack in 1999. I had one two years prior to yours with a single bypass. From that experience I learned to change my diet and took simple exercises too. I will be 73 too in October. With the mental shock and physical trauma of the heart attack, I came face to face with my life's epiphany. I remember from that experience I came away with two most important things I wanted to do with my life going forward. That is to live my life fully with my wife, children and precious grandchildren and to be much in closer terms with my Maker. Looking back now, a month prior to the unexpected trauma, my wife and I had booked (to start in October 1997) a 20-day cruise to the Mediterranean visiting Italy, Athens, Rhodes, Kusadasi, Egypt, Tunisia, Israel and Barcelona, Spain. While recuperating, I had made up my mind to go whether I was fully recovered or not and whether or not my doctor approves my trip. Fortunately two months were all I needed to recover. I made the trip alright. Interestingly, I love to revisit all the photos taken during the cruise. I had never looked thin and lean since I was in my teens. Arriving home from our long cruise, I was all prepared for my most important Journey home to Jesus Christ. I knew I have been very fortunate to be afforded a second chance to make up for all the years God was not the center of my life. I was focused more on professional achievements, raising our children, acquiring power and money, ensuring a viable place in society, fully engrossing in consumerism and engaging in full scale materialism. I am now simply a good man. My Journey home has brought God front and center in our lives. I am at peace and have been happy since I retired ten years ago with my wonderful high school sweetheart-wife of 47 years, a son and a daughter and there spouses and five beautiful grandchildren who are the centers of our lives. We love them. Finally, I want to share with you something personally special. Last May 2008, after 52 years I made sure I paid homage to our Black Nazarene in Quiapo before returning home. It was a nostalgic feeling to open the memory box of my youth in once upon a place I have always loved. My friends asked, why was it so important to you? I smiled and thanked them for taking me there. Have a wonderful birthday, Tony. God bless. Buen de Aranjuez. Oscar Apostol, (by email), Rocklin, CA, Feb. 22, 2009 (Thank you, Ogee. Tony) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony Good idea, I guess, to keep fit. On the Age Calculator, a classmate (J P Cecil) gave this to me last year (attached), and luckily I filed it in my Health & Medicine folder. Here is Peter Russell�s site: http://www.peterrussell.com/Odds/VirtualAge.php If you get an ERROR message go to Peter Russell�s homepage and look for the Age Calculator. Chuck/Carlos L. Agustin, (by email), Camp Aguinaldo, QC, Feb.23, 2009 President, National Defense College of the Philippines wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Reactions to Ed Tirona Dear Mr. Abaya, Here's a response to Ed Tirona. Mr. Tirona wrote: "Those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad." �Opinion makers even of the kind who actually delude themselves as "world shakers" are not exempted from being objective and tolerant of views contrary to theirs. These arrogant self-styled 'intellectuals' are soon unmasked for what they simply are - bigots. The problem of this world is, basically, the abuse of freedom or mis-use of our God-given intellect or 'free will'. Woe to those who are so consumed by the bias, prejudice and hate that they peddle. Those who, failing in their lofty ambitions or to be recognized while in their "last 2 minutes" in this planet, still have not found peace or made peace around them. They have started to decompose even before their demise. Like walking carcasses offering themselves to vultures. Beyto-beyto say leyngit . . . (to whom it may concern). Ed J. Tirona, [email protected], Paranaque City, Feb. 15, 2009 My response: I cannot speak for Mr. Abaya. I can only speak for myself: Ed, I cannot remain neutral to matters of life, suffering, and death. I like to believe that you are not an arrogant self-styled intellectual, an abuser of freedom, a bigot, or a peddler of hate yourself. I like to believe that like many of our kababayans you do not wish ill for our people but you wish them with all your heart to be treated with respect, decency, and dignity regardless of their stations in life. Is it madness to expose the systematic abuse of those whom we entrusted with power? Is it madness to bring to light the organized corruption of our leaders? Is it madness to limit their unquenchable thirst for raw and unbridled power? Is it madness to stop the institutional injustice they inflict upon our people? Is it madness to seek a possible alternative of governance that is more just, transparent, and accountable? If this is madness for you, then consider me as one whom your gods wish to destroy. Sincerely, Efren N. Padilla, Ph.D., (by email) Hayward, CA, Feb. 23, 2009 Professor of Sociology and Urban Planning California State University at East Bay wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww It is typical for these Arroyo stooges to attack without thinking, just like Arcy Sibal of Sta. Maria, Bulacan. This statement of Arcy Sibal, " Sayang, Barack Obama should be advised of Gloria's noble intention in her insistence of meeting him inspite of her own country's numerous problems in corruption and wayward administration " negates his argument when he wrote: "The truth of the matter is Barack Obama was unaware of what he would gain in meeting with the lady with a doctorate degree in economics. She is just dying to help the neophyte president in solving the U.S. and its allies' economic problems stemming from the wall street financial meltdown." Hindi nga niya maayos ang sangkatutak na problema natin manghihimasok pa? Also, what " Gloria's noble intention" is he talking about? Can he read her mind? What gave this guy away was this part, " Wala nang iba, iyun lang talaga. Peks man. " With regards to the reaction of Evelyn Opillas, we Filipinos have a strong sense of pride that is why most of us condemn Gloria Arroyo for embarassing the Filipino nation with her lowering the dignity of the office of the president of a sovereign nation and I totally agree with Mr. Abaya that " Many Filipinos, this one included, do not consider Obama�s snub of GMA as a snub on the entire Filipino nation, for the simple reason that we no longer consider her as our representative and leader." As far as Ed J. Tirona's comments, this guy is probably one of Arroyo's operators and if he thinks he's cute with his provocations, let him waste his time and energy. Lastly, wait till the idealists and patriots in the Military and Police make their move and we will see that majority of the Filipinos are not tired of a worthy and needed People Power. They know how evil this woman is that she will not hesitate to order her praetorian guards to shoot and kill as what happened in Edsa 3. Narciso Ner, (by email), Davao City, Feb. 25, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hello Tony, You are doing great, in fact, more than great. Any reply to this Mr Tirona will only fulfill his obvious desire to be noticed. I am familiar with the type. I would write more power, but your columns are simply powerful enough. Cheers! Rex/Navy Capt. (Ret.) Rex Robles, (by email), March 03, 2009. wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww More Reactions to �Snubbed Again� (Feb. 11, 2009) Dear Tony: It is not only President Obama who is deliberately snubbing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for reasons that need not be brought up here. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton recently went on an Asian tour, her very first sally outside the U.S. in her new job. She visited Japan. China, South Korea and Indonesia. It was all too obvious that she avoided the Philippines, a country of 92 million people, the only Christian nation in Asia, once a ward of the United States, and supposedly an ally of the United States in the "war on terror." This, I say, was a deliberate snub! Mariano Patalinjug, (by email), Yonkers, NY, Feb. 25, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Right on, and with you, Tony. How can anyone think that snubbing a non-President be equivalent to snubbing the people she claims to represent? But PGMA seems to succeed in making others think, as she always claims, that she is the state and she is the nation. Not even the legitimate and duly elected Presidents have the gall to claim the same. Aurora Riel Grimes, (by email), Murfreesbooro, North Carolina, Feb. 27. 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww More Reactions to �Ang Karapatan� (Feb. 12, 2009) Tony, In a RATIONALIZATION, it is EASY and CONVENIENT to pick on a fall guy. In the Philippines' dilemma, the press and supposedly intellectuals pick on the Catholic Church, which in its PIETY, will not raise DEFENSE. So, What happens? The country ends in the same RUT -- FRUSTRATIONS and ANGUISH. We need a Cardinal Sin to inflame BELIEF, and even the late prelate had his detractors, using separation of Church and State, as the lame excuse. There should be separation but this does not mean disenfranchisement! "Give to Caesar what is Ceasar's, AND to God what is GOD's!" So many may be called Catholics, but do not have the FAITH and TRUST. That is the significant problem. We need another charismatic leader like Cardinal. Sin. Could it be Fr. Among Pacheco? If he triumphed among voters of Pampanga over the jueteng machine, he MAY be able, given the opportunity, to rally the whole country over the entrenched dynasties, the corrupt leaders and trapos FOR the salvation of the PHILIPPINES. When I refer to the Cathoilc Church, with its 85% sleeping church-goers, this should also apply to every decent believers in Iglesia, Aglipay, etc who are all CHRISTIANS, to UNITE for what is BEST for OUR NATIVE LAND. EVEN the MUSLIMS, if they want PEACE, may be PARTAKERS. HAVE FAITH and TRUST. BELIEVE, then go out and PROVE it -- in hearts and minds. IN DEEDS. Ben Oteyza, (by email), March 02, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Ang Kapatiran as a national party failed to gain popular acceptability. It succeeded in electing only one councilor in the 2007 elections. Now it has focused its effort at electing more councilors in the LGUs. This could be their strategy to regain that missing popular acceptability or support of the majority ordinary Filipinos. It should field candidates for national positions come 2010. Otherwise, it would be a Big Joke of a national party. Roman Guerrero, (by email), March 04, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww At the outset let me thank all those who have reacted favorably or unfavorably to the comment of my dear friend Tony Abaya about Ang Kapatiran and my reply thereto. I hope Tony will be kind again to give enough space to my summary rejoinder �Ang Kapatiran�s yardstick is faithfulness not success.� I do not apologize for that statement nor do I intend to recant it. I made the statement to underscore the point that our party and our candidates will do everything that is fair in order to win, but not at the expense of our consciences and moral principles. The end does not justify the means. The trapo�s thoughts are not Ang Kapatiran�s thoughts; the trapo�s ways are not Ang Kapatiran�s ways. Ang Kapatiran will seek to change this country not by fighting existing reality, but by building a new model that will make the existing model obsolete. On revolution, this is the choice before us: either try to revolutionize the Philippines and break under it or revolutionize ourselves and remake the country. Ang Kapatiran has found universal acceptance because it is the only political party that has something to offer. People may agree or disagree with it, but Ang Kapatiran is the only party that promotes a platform with clear and specific policy objectives � all aimed at enhancing the common good and promotes the politics of virtue and of duty, transparency and public accountability, stewardship and good citizenship. With platform-based politics, people begin to realize that to make things happen they have to look for a party with a platform that embodies their aspirations and to vote for all the candidates of that party who are bound to implement the objectives stated in the platform. Ang Kapatiran Party is a perfect example. This is the reason why it has found universal acceptance. Nandy Pacheco, (by email), Pasig City, March 05, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww More Reactions to �What Better Choices� (Jan. 30, 2009) Why not Bongbong or Imee? The Marcos magic might still be incipient. The family (name) haven't lost a plunder case or single centavo to the government. They might have the secret to bring back the glory days of Bagong Lipunan and smiling martial law. Probably deep in their hearts, they might try to atone for whatever "mistakes" done by their forebears and make the Philippines unwittingly a better place to live in. Probably people are wary about Jay Lo rising from the ashes of a former sleazy government operator to a whistle blower with panache and potential "new breed of leader." One Senator Enrile I guess is enough, turning against his benefactor, the great Apo, to become a hero of EDSA, though a confessed cheater in a legit elections and the one who staged the fake ambush to justify martial law. For those who suffered through the martial law days I can only commiserate with. Sir Johnny never paid for his "crimes", probably he will die, remembered as a hero of Edsa, senate president, without an iota of even just a slap in the hand. Saan nga ba ang hustisya at kabutihan sa ilalim ng isang Diyos na makapangyarihan? Felix Zamar, (by email), Feb. 27, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Reactions to [email protected]. To subscribe, send a blank email with the subject heading Subscribe. To unsubscribe, send a blank email with the subject heading Unsubscribe. |
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| ON THE OTHER HAND |