Paul says:

The problem with commenting on the President's State of the Nation Address is that you are basically inundated with so many facts and figures that basically do not make sense.

Essentially, one is flooded with so many claims of having done one thing or another that your mind basically shuts down and begin clapping when everyone claps -- unless you want to look like you weren't listening or that you didn't understand what was said. Of course, with the SONA being delivered at the House of Representatives -- the territory of Gloria's minions -- it should be a no-brainer to figure out that almost every thing Gloria uttered would be applauded.

What received the biggest applause was when Gloria told Senator Mar Roxas:

"To those who want to be President, this advice: If you really want something done, just do it. Do it hard, do it well. Don’t pussyfoot. Don’t pander. And don’t say bad words in public."

And Mar Roxas issued his scripted quip: "Bad words in public for bad deeds done in secret."

Then again, Mar could have done better by saying, "She said PUSSY!"

It reminds me of the Chinese tale of killing a chicken to scare away monkeys.

Apart from deciphering that she basically gave Mar a kick in the gut with the passage on the Cheaper Medicines Law, we can also infer that her making brief mention of Poll Automation and Tourism as a non-endorsement of Senator Richard Gordon. Add to this, her mention of the flood control project under MMDA -- which for some reason, failed to work during the heavy downpour on Sunday, the day before the SONA. Then there is some mention of the conflict in Mindanao and perhaps, we can also infer that this is a kind of favorable endorsement of Secretary Gilbert Teodoro's work. Of course, there is also word spreading that she'll be anointing Senator Manny Villar as her candidate but no mention was given about his roles in C-5 as an accomplishment.

It basically says that while she's in power, everyone will still have to DEAL with her. Ergo, those who don't want to tangle with her are not coming out with NEGATIVE COMMENTS on her SONA -- lest she withhold support or worse, go against their plans of succeeding her as President.

Apart from these, most blog posts on the SONA are harping on the absence of any categorical declaration that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will not pursue another term. Which is kind of crazy because it assumes that the President actually has a choice in the matter. Does she?

Your opinion is as good as mine but then again, we have the Constitution which says that the President can only have ONE TERM. The Constitution cannot be changed or altered in anyway except through the concurrence of both houses of congress voting jointly but separately. I think this question can only be answered by ASSERTING our collective sovereign will, when the time comes.

All in all, as with most SONAs, I'd say it was a waste of time and I urge everyone to just move on.

Boldstar says:

In the boiling cauldron cheered by witches in Filipiniana and Mad dogs in Barong Tagalog, the Queen proclaimed all is well in the kingdom. Well, the poor have apparently been fed by her agricultural Carabaos nevermind that the country is importing rice. She claimed that 700,000 families benefited from her Pantawid Pamilya program. Well, excuse me for hurling yesterday's breakfast, but what happened to the rest of the 50 million Filipinos who live off 2 dollars a day? Her effortless hubris of "I did that" "we did it" is fatally clear that all are far from reality. She claimed that she want "the republic to be ready for the first world in 20 years". Well, what happened to the last 10 years? She also added that her revenue raising measures have alleviated the poor and shielded the country from the current global economic crisis. Oh that sounds great and everyone applauded. However, what we haven't been told is the fact that every citizen debt burden have doubled. Obviously she is not going to acknowledge that there are structural and systemic deficiencies that contribute to the country's debt burden and most significantly accumulation. She's done nothing. It's frightening to know that the Philippines consolidated public sector debt burden is now at 80+ percent of GDP (calculated until 2008) fueled by ZTE type debt obligations like the Austrian funded Medical Waste, and the World Bank textbook projects.

The SONA is a testament to her denial of things that are so wrong. Regardless of what I say its moot. Whatever don't even get me started on that Moody Ratings.

Trixie says:

I listened to the SONA while sitting at a McDonald's outside of the Gotesco Mall on Commonwealth. The night before, I received information from various sources that there would be agitators in the crowds. Many friends advised me not to go. Others asked me to be around, just in case the arrests and beatings would begin. The threat of martial law or emergency rule hung in the air.

The rains did not deter the rallyists. The cops tried to keep their cool despite their ground commander's very public desire to return to the outlawed Calibrated Preemptive Response. And GMA got a beating in the streets.

But the scenes before me seemed surreal as I listened to GMA cackle that she was triumphant over all her "enemies." Where demonstrators were wet, cold and angry in the streets, she was in the halls of Congress, dressed to the nines, throwing power punches at her detractors and stopping at all the right moments to allow her psychophants to amplify their groveling applause.

It is this moment that best exemplifies what GMA has done. She has presided over a divided nation, gloated over her enemies. But in the end, she was simply masking a fear that the hungry howling in the streets would soon come for her.

Amiel Says:

A long time ago, I told the council that I wasn’t that rapturous about President Barack Obama’s winning the US Presidency. Well true enough, Barack’s popularity has dipped below those of his predecessor George W. Bush at the same point in his White House tenure. By 49 percent, respondents said they disapprove of Obama's handling of the economy, while they disapprove of his health care policy by 50 percent. We live in a global economy and our world has become more pessimistic about how long it will take the economic downturn to end. Nowadays, what can make and break a head of state is the economy…Despite Paul Farol’s qualms about the accuracy of the figures used to arrive at the impressive totals, the economy has in truth improved under GMA in terms of the Gross Domestic Product, the strength of the banking sector, the wise Bangko Sentral (where my Uncle serves as vice-governor) decisions that have made our country better positioned to weather the global economic and financial crisis. The government still has to work hard and turn the Philippines into an economy that produces much more goods, including food, than it is making now. These should be exported as well as consumed locally. Our own domestic demand, consumption and productivity must be made to multiply. Our own GDP increases must become largely domestically generated….

“The message…is clear: We will not make compromises with terrorists,” says Secretary Gilbert Teodoro. On the other hand, Sen. Dick Gordon proposed that the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf be granted amnesty. Let’s hear what Paul Farol and Amiel Aguilar Cabanlig’s opposing points of view are!

PAUL FAROL SAYS:

I am not speaking for Sen. Dick Gordon and this is merely my own take on the much criticized proposal of amnesty for the Abu Sayyaf Group…

I've heard it said before that the reason why the Abu Sayyaf has not been eradicated is that the military has been held back at crucial junctures when it would have been possible to eradicate the Abu Sayyaf (or the MILF or the MNLF or the NPA) completely. Sure, blame it on the Commander in Chief… The phrase "all out war" has been with us since the Marcosian period and we still haven't killed Joma Sison or ended the communist threat -- which, by the way, had been a very good justification for military and other aid from Uncle Sam in the same way that "terrorist" organizations are a justification for having some American "help" thrown our way.

If people have a problem with granting amnesty for the Abu Sayyaf, why don't they have problems granting amnesty to communist rebels who were also accused of masterminding the killing of so many other people? I don't know about you, but Satur Ocampo shouldn't be a congressman and neither should Antonio Trillanes be a senator.
Between the Abu Sayyaf group and all the other groups that have challenged the government, I think that the ASG are more honest for the reasons for their actions as they have consistently asked for money without the rallies, media blitzes, political pronouncements and what not that qualify for indignant protests these days.

I think, one of the chief arguments against granting the Abu Sayyaf amnesty is that such is given to people who committed crimes in pursuit of a political belief…

When a member of the Abu Sayyaf Group puts down his gun and strips off his battle uniform, he looks just like any average person you'd meet in Basilan, Sulu or any of the other ARMM provinces. The average person in ARMM has to make do without the things we in Metro Manila have the luxury of complaining about…

Hunger, lack of education, lack of health care, and lack of development CAN ALL BE POLITICAL CAUSES. The Abu Sayyaf may be inarticulate and that may be because they didn't receive the education that would enable them to be articulate.
Then again, would we really want the Abu Sayyaf to have an ideology? Think about it and then think about it some more. If they start kidnapping or killing people to express their ideology, there will be no way for us to negotiate with them as true terrorists leave no room for negotiations and just commit the atrocity…
It is unfortunate that some of us find it easy to declare that an all out war is needed to rid ourselves of our problems with the Abu Sayyaf. With just an order, some officials of our government can send a hail of bombs and bullets into the hillsides and boondocks of Sulu. But is only when you see bleeding and broken bodies that you realize that bullets and bombs cannot tell the difference between the members and non-members of the Abu Sayyaf…

If people have a problem with granting amnesty, then call it something else... Call it a SAFE CONDUCT PASS.
As for Gibo, I don't like warmongers and as a Presidential candidate, he has already shown his penchant for DIVIDING more than UNITING our people.

AMIEL AGUILAR CABANLIG SAYS:

In the book entitled “The Philippine Navy” (1898-1996, p.337), it talks about the possibility of a long and lasting peace by way of proper leadership. I was lucky to experience the entire peace process when my dad was Commander of task force Sulbatz (now task force Comet). The 2^nd Marine Brigade under his command was able to safely release kidnap victim (the very first) Hanz Kunzli without paying a SINGLE centavo. Their unit undertook a number of pacification campaigns such as the amicable settlement of warring factions, facilitated the activities of the Regional Consultative Committee and Peace Commission in Sulu and the activation of the Jolo Internal Defense Command (much like the NCRDC).

So you ask me, can it be done? I say YES... As long as we eradicate the Abu Sayaf criminal gangster!

I agree with Sen. Rodolfo Biazon denouncing the proposal of Dick Gordon, saying it was tantamount to an admission that the Arroyo administration was helpless in fighting criminality. Former kidnap victim Octavio Dinampo, a University Professor who chairs the Bantay Ceasefire in Sulu, said he was surprised by Gordon’s proposal.” Has the government turned 360 degrees over national policy, do they know that the ASG is not a political group?” Dinampo said. “Is kidnapping for ransom now a political crime?”

I remember when our Editor, Rain Barnido wanted to go to Jolo with Gawad Kalinga to help out the organization. I vehemently warned him of the dangers of going there without proper security. To make the long story short, Rain ended up not going. Even Gov. Sakur Tan of Sulu has said that “Many good things are happening here. Housing units were given, school buildings, farm implements, irrigation and many others to address the social issues here, but it is the Abu Sayyaf and their kidnappings that are being given attention, so it is just right that this group is finished.”

Gilbert Teodoro is also right to seize the golden opportunity while the enemy is weak. Any military strategist would apply Sun-Tzu’s basic principle... Gibo says “Granting them amnesty will send the wrong signal that we are not able to deal with the severe demonstrations of criminality and terrorism. We might as well give amnesty to bank robbers, drug dealers and other common criminals. There is no distinction anymore. This CRIMINAL GROUP should be stopped at all costs. Just last week, 14 Marines that were killed in efforts to rescue Father Bossi were beheaded. Our soldiers and the civilians of Sulu may feel slighted or may even feel angry if an amnesty may be granted to the Abu Sayyaf. They are not a political group. They are ruthless bandits that must be STOPPED at ANY COST!

Sometimes, it becomes necessary to give credit where credit is due and the emerging modernization of the Philippine National Railways is something that really ought to be given some praise.

For the moment, I'll forget everything that has been said about corruption in the Arroyo Administration and focus on this one ray of hope that things will change for the better in Metro Manila.

I first learned of plans to revitalize and modernize the Philippine National Railways in 2002. Back then, I was surprised to find out that modernizing the PNR was not really an engineering problem but a housing problem as well as a political conundrum which only true political will can resolve.

Since the latter years of the Marcos regime, people had begun squatting on the easements on either side of the PNR tracks. With the fall of the Marcoses and after around twenty years of being a rich source of votes for the Mayors of Caloocan, Manila, and Makati, the number of squatters grew to millions.

Having lived most of my life just a few blocks away from the PNR Line in Sampaloc, Manila, I have seen politicians (national and local) by the truckload campaign in the squatter colonies that mushroomed alongside the PNR tracks every election year. This basically gave the squatters a lot of clout with local government officials and even some Senators, who at the onset of any attempt to clear the easements of squatters were threatened with a loss of votes.

Of course, greed for power will always outweigh the need for progress and plans to relocate the squatters always took a backseat -- a political hot potato no one wanted to touch.

Moreover, a piece of legislation eventually made it very costly to do so (think billions of pesos) and this has become the bane of urban planners nationwide, it's called the Stupid Lina Law or Republic Act 7279. The Lina Law basically disallows the removal of squatters anywhere in the country, if the owner of the land on which people are squatting on hasn't provided a suitable relocation site for them.

Anyway, when I learned about plans to revitalize and modernize the PNR, I was working as a writer at the Public Affairs and Information Office of the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund) whose Chairman then was then Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Chairman Mike Defensor.

Prior to learning about the plans for the PNR, I had just read and heard about the idea. I don't know if Cory Aquino was actually serious about solving the squatting problem along the PNR Line, but I think there were some moves related to making the life of squatters along the riles better. The only thing I can remember about Fidel Ramos' action on the PNR squatting problem was that he had Regis Romero II build condos along the riles which were supposed to go to the squatters but ended up being owned by government employees in Makati. And of course, it was during Ramos' term that the Stupid Lina Law came into effect. Joseph Estrada was elected on the strength of Erap para sa Mahirap, which eventually came to naught.

When Gloria took hold of power, the revitalization of the PNR was given some mention but was hardly given credence as many thought that it would be another pipe dream. After all, three Presidents before her failed.

As a government worker then, I mouthed the line but thought believed things to the contrary – an attempt to practice the tricky Double-Think prescribed by Orwell's dystopsian novel 1984.

As a writer of the Pag-IBIG Fund’s PAIO, there were a number of occasions when I was assigned to cover then Secretary Defensor. It was during one of his dialogs with the squatters at the PNR compound in Caloocan City that I first heard him explain why the revitalization of the PNR line was closely related to the problem of housing and urban development.

Riding with him in his Starex Van, Mike explained to me that getting the PNR online would first entail getting all of the squatters out from the easements. The task would mean finding relocation sites for all of the squatters and after that, somehow, convince the squatters to relocate -- and stay relocated. He said that some had already voluntarily relocated but others clung to their claim on the PNR easements using court cases and even less legal means.

Back then, I had to admire Mike for his bravery. The squatter colonies along the PNR tracks are not known for their peaceful and law abiding citizens. Merely proposing that they move out of their homes along the “riles” or railroad tracks might be considered a death wish of sorts.

When we arrived at the PNR Caloocan Station, Mike gave a short speech and in that speech he said something like, "Kung ayaw niyong i-relocate kayo ng gobyerno, okay lang. Aaspaltohan na lang kayo dito."

Being naturally afraid of getting killed, I slowly slinked away from the basketball court where Mike was delivering his speech.

I was only able to breathe out a sigh of relief when the remark was greeted with laughter, instead of a hail of home-made arrows and darts. Needless to say, we walked away from the dialog unscathed but I thought nothing would come of it.

However, just last year, I began to notice that the squatter colonies along the PNR tracks in Makati began to grow thinner before finally disappearing. Then, months later, I saw the same thing happening on the PNR line from Espana to G Tuazon in my part of Sampaloc and then, one day, was surprised to find that most of the squatters there had vanished.

I didn’t call the police or go the Presinto 4 to ask what was happening to them. Neither did I raise an alarm believing that they had become an endangered species and called the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (yes, I think most Filipinos are a natural resource – most of them are made using the Natural Family Planning method a.k.a. ‘hugot na dudong’ method.)

Anyway, being a Batang Sampaloc whose parents had bought their land from the Legardas (when they used to own most of Manila), I had grown accustomed to the sight of the houses along the riles. Now that they are gone, I can’t say I miss seeing it. (I only wish that the PNR revitalization project also includes creating parks along the easement. That would be GREAT!)

The revitalization of the PNR line actually solves a number of problems related to urban planning.

The primary problem of urban planning is that even before urban planning can begin, you have to contend with the problem of urban congestion which basically boils down to the problem of having too many people living in a certain area.

Metro Manila is a nightmare for any urban planner.

I don't think MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando is emotionally equipped to come to terms with the fact that no matter how many U-turns and pink fences you put all over Metro Manila, the traffic that goes through Metro Manila's streets will still be unruly.

With the PNR fully operational and servicing the outlying provinces near Metro Manila, it will be possible to work in the National Capital Region but live in rural areas or as some Stateside cousins of mine might say, the Suburbs.

Without the pressure of having to live in Metro Manila to earn a living, I’d expect a fair number of people currently living in slums all around the city to move to the provinces – either with some prodding or perhaps even without inducement. If that happens, perhaps there’ll be less people in Metro Manila and therefore less of the many things associated with having to support such a huge population – including thousands of jeeps, public AUVs, and buses.

Then again, we’ll still have to wait and see if this theory actually bears itself out in reality.

But no matter how things turn out, I’d probably credit Mike Defensor for getting the PNR back online. Not really for thinking it up, but for actually doing the work of making the PNR’s revitalization possible. Because when it comes right down to it, POLITICAL WILL are just two words you can substitute for two other words that are indispensible to making the impossible possible – HARD WORK. You have to give that to Mike.

"He who comes to court must come with clean HANDS."

PEP UPDATE: A check with the Philippine National Police, Civil Security Group, Firearms and Explosives Division, showed that, indeed, Epy Quizon has no gun registered under his name. Richard Rama Gutierrez has three: a MPSTL 9MM INGRM, a PISTL 40 STI, and a PISTL 4O GLCK M23. According to Witness No. 1, what he saw being taken from behind the seat of Richard’s car was a “silver 9MM.” At the time the witness mentioned the type of gun, none of us had any idea what an inquiry with the PNP’s Firearms and Explosives Division would yield. Richard has Permits to Carry (PTC) these weapons. But while the license of Richard’s 40 STI is valid until January 21, 2010, and the 40 GLOCK M23 license valid until January 21, 2011, the 9MM is a different story. Its license expired on January 21, 2009 and, if the description of Witness No. 1 of the kind of gun he saw is accurate, then at the time the gun was spotted in the parking lot of Oceana, on March 29, it had not been renewed.

BY: Boldstar

Last October 17, Richard Gutierrez and Aljur Abrenica had a confrontation at the Fiamma Bar on Jupiter Street in Makati City. PEP reported “according to the stunned customer, he distinctly saw Richard giving Aljur's head a short, quick slap.” A similar incident was again reported by PEP- a scuffle happened between him and Michael Flores. Richard went on to sue PEP - Atty. T. Angelica Y. Santiago, legal counsel for Richard told the media that Richard Gutierrez is seeking P25 million in damages.

When Richard Gutierrez filed a libel case against Joann Maglipon and others (PEP staffer) obviously with the urging of his mother and supported by his sister, I was delirious with contempt. The aforementioned article was uploaded and pulled within 3 hours. For that, the Gutierrez family wanted 25 million pesos. Based on his claim, malice existed on the article with the words “gun toting” creating an implied notion that a “deadly weapon” was used.

Well, first of all a lot of men carry guns in the Philippines. Even the guards of Pizza Hut in SM Cebu had a revolver and a shotgun. Ditto most of the politicians. Secondly, how can one deduce that gun toting is understood by many as “use of a deadly weapon”?

It’s really a case of creating mountains out of a molehill. This is an actor or an entertainment personality who courts the media at every opportunity. To be precise, the family begs the public to watch their movies, short of being a chickenhead in the ghetto.

Lucky for him the article allegedly false was not about him kissing a man. My gash what would that do to his alleged macho reputation? Qui horror!

To save you the legalese, the DOJ dismissed the claim on two grounds. As you might recall Victorina’s post on libel, authored by Atty Trixie, stated that the existence of probable cause depends on satisfying all 4 elements of libel.

a) Imputation of a discreditable act or condition to another

b) Publication of Imputation

c) Identity of the person detained

d) Existence of Malice

Elements A and D according to the DOJ were not sufficiently established. Anyway no one would have known about it if not for the ex Mrs Yilmaz Bektas blabbing to all and sundry of the Philippines through her Ruffa and Ai Show and SNN. Maybe he should sue his own sister for being a blithering blabber mouth. To think that Annabelle hides behind freedom of speech whenever caught with her vitriol towards people who disagrees with her or people she cannot bamboozle.

Carlo Ople wrote that “bloggers and online communities are very particular with their right to free speech. The moment someone attempts to attack that, they will retaliate – and they will do so without mercy. People who comment in posts and bloggers are not covered by ethical codes of conduct and they will do whatever they want to do – which maybe a good and bad thing. My point here is that Rama and her son are both asking for more pain.”

(BTW, a chickenhead is an African American Hip Hop slang of someone who is fellatio extraordinaire)

By: Mike Loyola

Defense Secretary Gilbert C. Tedoro, Jr. has shown qualities, qualifications and character that separate him from the rest of the aspirants for the presidency in 2010. While he was borne and raised from an affluent family, Gibo, as he is fondly called by relatives and friends, never boasted his social stature but instead manifested humility and kindness to all that have come to know him from childhood to these days.

Gibo gave great importance and value to education, hardwork, self-discipline and respect to others regardless of status as primary yardsticks in measuring his actions all his life.

He graduated Law at the University of the Philippines and eventually topped the Bar Examinations. He went to Harvard University for his Masters of Law and became a legal associate of the best known living lawyer of the land, former Justice Secretary and Solicitor-General Estelito Mendoza, where he had undergone training and honed his skills and knowledge in the intricacies of the legal profession.

He joined public service when he was first elected Congressman of the 1st District of Tarlac in 1998 and served three (3) successive terms for nine (9) years. He was the leader of the so called “Bright Boys of Congress” that included Chiz Escudero and Allan Cayetano now Senators of the land, which was the counterpart of the so called “Spice Boys of Congress” that included Migz Zubiri also a Senator now, Nonoy Andaya the incumbent Budget Secretary and Mike Defensor the notorious nemesis of NBN-ZTE whistle-blower Jun Lozada.

Unlike his colleagues in Congress who flaunted everything they do in the media (including Mike Defensor’s intervention for some suspected pick-girls in Quezon City who were apprehended by the police), Gibo who got high regards even from senior leaders and members of Congress, remained humble and quiet all through his nine (9) years in the House of Representatives. He was not afraid to stand on unpopular issues for as long as he believed them to be right and just such as, going against the impeachment of PGMA and supporting Charter Change that will reform the political system and institutions towards a parliamentary form of government.

Gibo is the youngest ever appointed Secretary of National Defense at forty-three (43) years old in August, 2007. But his youthfulness was never a liability but more of an asset for the Defense Department and the military establishment. He has introduced programs and reforms to address the serious concerns and inherent problems of the institution. He now commands highest respect and regard from the top-ranking officers to the lowliest enlisted man in the AFP.

He is not a hypocrite and ingrate, but instead has shown courage, loyalty and humility to announce that he will only run for President if he is chosen as the administration candidate; meaning, getting the endorsement of the very unpopular GMA which would be a “kiss of death” according to the opposition and many political analysts.

Gibo also showed independence of mind, upheld the importance of delicadeza, and invoked the importance of public service over and above personal, family and poliical interests when he severed ties with his own political party, the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), whose benefactor is his own uncle Eduardo “Danding Cojuangco, Jr. and members include Senators Chiz Escudero and Loren Legarda, both aspiring presidentiables who declared themselves in public as oppositionists despite the fact that the benefactor and other leaders of NPC are known supporters and allies of PGMA, a very absurd and confusing political arrangement that does no benefit to our people at all but only to them.

All his experiences, training and background are more than enough to outclass the other political leaders who aspire for the presidency. But most important of all, Gibo Teodoro has the right character of a leader who can lead this nation into greatness and provide better lives to our people, a dream that never happened under previous administrations and Presidents. Such a dream would again be frustrated if the people commit the grave mistake of choosing someone because of his/her popularity enhanced by media projection and advertising promotions. Among the present presidential wannabes, other than GIBO, I say NOTA (None of the Above) can make our people’s dream a reality!