The Return

There must be really nothing permanent in this world.

Especially in the world of Philippine Politics.

Take the case of the "Presidente ng Masa"- Joseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada.

For those few of us who may not know who Erap is, here is Wikipedia's account:

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Joseph Ejercito Estrada

13th President of the Philippines
3rd President of the 5th Republic
In office: June 30, 1998 – January 20, 2001
Born: April 19, 1937 (1937-04-19) (age 71)Tondo, Manila
Political party: Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP)
Spouse: Luisa Pimentel
Occupation: Actor
Religion: Roman Catholic Christianity

José Marcelo Ejército (born on April 19, 1937), better known as Joseph Ejercito Estrada, or Erap, is a film actor in the Philippines and was the 13th President of the Philippines from June 30, 1998 to January 20, 2001. He was peacefully overthrown by the Second People Power Revolution after his aborted impeachment trial in the Senate, where eleven Philippine senators refused to examine the second envelope of the Jose Velarde bank account that would supposedly prove acts of political corruption. On April 4, 2001, the trial of Estrada began as Ombudsman Aniano Desierto filed before the Sandiganbayan, a Philippine anti-graft court, a PHP 4-billion plunder suit and a minor perjury charge for falsely declaring his assets and illegally using the Jose Velarde alias. On September 12, 2007, he became the first Philippine President to be convicted of a crime after the Sandiganbayan found him guilty of plunder, which is punishable by reclusion perpetua. He was detained in his Tanay, Rizal resthouse but then pardoned by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on October 25, 2007.

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Erap must have been one of the most colorful personality in Philippine History. I can just imagine how he became prince to pig and now, seemingly, to prince again in the face of the whole philippine populate.

After arising to become the Philippine President, winning via a V large margin over opponent Joe De Venecia, Erap was accused of Plunder and was overthrown by what we now know as EDSA DOS.

From 2001 to September 2007, his case was heard in Sandiganbayan, until finally he was convicted by the court of Plunder. Finally.

But not yet.

A month after his conviction, he was pardoned by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in what to me as one of the saddest part of the Philippine Judiciary history.

Now, as Gloria Arroyo's filipino trust ratings (amidst the continuous controversies hounding her) surging even below zero, Erap is back on track as the people's favorite political personality.

There are news that Erap threatens to run again for the Presidential Post in 2010 if ever the Opposition people do not unite together. And this time, the rumors are, he is eyeing on Loren Legarda to be his running mate for VP (Loren, by the way, was one of the Senators who is against Erap during the 2000 Senate Impeachment Trial).

In other stories, former President Cory Aquino, apologized to Estrada on her participation of Erap's ouster (EDSA DOS) in 2001.

At the star-studded launch Monday of former Speaker Jose de Venecia’s book that gave accounts of scandals that had hounded President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Aquino asked Estrada for forgiveness for joining the Edsa II uprising that ousted him.

“I am one of those who plead guilty for the 2001 (uprising). Lahat naman tayo nagkakamali. Patawarin mo na lang ako (All of us make mistakes. Forgive me),” Aquino said in her brief but well-received remarks at the Podium mall in Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

So there, it seems, as Erap is now back on track on the political map, many may say that he is actually vindicated from the 2000/2001 Impeachment Accusations.

If we shall review the past eight years that had happened, we can find a lot of "Wind of Change" scenarios:

* Gloria Arroyo who was hailed by the people in Edsa Dos in 2001 is now the most hated personality in the Philippines.

* Tito Guingona became GMA's VP in 2001 for his significant contribution in ousting Erap and installing GMA as President. Tito is now one of the main oppositions fighting against GMA.

* Then House Speaker Manny Villar presided the endorsement of the Impeachment complaint against Erap to the Senate. In 2007, Villar ran again under Erap's Political Party. Now he is closely seen together with Erap in various political gatherings.

* JDV lost to Erap during the 1998 Presidential Elections. In 2008, JDV finally broke away with his ties with GMA and even authored a book exposing the various irregularities of the GMA government.

*The lipat bakods: Revilla, Oreta, Angara, and Sotto were with Erap during 2000. Now they are with GMA. Roxas, Guingona, De Venecia were with GMA during 2000. Now they are with the opposition.

* Loren who was against Estrada in 2000 ran for Senate reelection in 2007 under Estrada's Political Party (and may now become her running mate in 2010?)

* Erap becomes president-then convicted of impeachment-then pardoned-and may get back the top post (again?)

And, indeed, there is nothing permanent in this world.

Especially in the world of Philippine Politics.

White Christmas

Sabi sa kantang White Christmas:


I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write

May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white.


Ewan ko ba kung bakit nga naman sa kanta eh talagang may portrayal na masaya ang White Christmas (kaya nga pinapangarap nung composer/singer na may White Christmas). Nagiging picture kasi sa imagination natin na para bang ang sarap maglaro ng yelo (kaya tinawag na white christmas dahil umuulan ng ice flakes). Magbabatuhan ng yelo, bubuo ng snow man, mag i ski.

Pero may nakapagsabi sa amin na hindi naman talaga masaya ang White Christmas. Kapag nagkukwentuhan kami sa labas ng bahay tuwing gabi kapag kapaskuhan, ramdam na ramdam namin ang sobrang lamig na simoy ng hangin (dahil taga-probinsya kami). Kung minsan, masarap, pero kadalasan ay tonsilitis o sipon at ubo ang aabutin mo pagkatapos.

Kumento ng ibang kamag-anak na naka-base sa Canada at London, hirap na hirap sila kapag snow season. Mahirap lumabas ng bahay, dapat naka-ilang patong na jacket ka, kung minsan ay hindi ka makapasok sa trabaho dahil puno ng yelo ang kalsada at kailangan mo pang palahin ang mga yelong humaharang sa garahe ng kotse mo. Kaya sabi nila, hindi talaga masaya kapag may snow.

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Kanina lang ay nadaan ako sa may kahabaan ng Kalayaan Avenue sa may Kamias, Quezon City. Hindi lang yata limang pamilya ang nakakalat doon ngayon. Pamilyang may kani-kanyang karitong puno ng kung anu-anong basura. May mga matatandang nag uumpok at nagkukwentuhan habang nagtatanggal ng wires sa mga sirang appliances na pwede nilang ibenta sa junk shop.

Sa paligid ay mamamangha ka rin sa mga bata-nag uumpok at nag aagawan sa tatlong pirasong sausage at ilang platong bahaw na kanin.


Kung minsan, iniisip ko-paano at bakit pa sila nagdadagdag ng anak, gayong wala na nga silang maisip ipakain sa sarili nila. Pero patuloy ka ring bibilib dahil normal nang makakita ka ng mga buntis na babaeng nandoon at nakasakay din sa karitong kahoy.

Sa patuloy na dumadaming populasyon ng mga pamilyang naninirahan sa kariton at nakakalat sa kabuuang maynila, mapag iisip ka- Nagpapasko pa kaya sila? Paano ang mga batang anak nila? Alam ba nila ang sayang nararamdaman ng mga ordinaryong bata kapag kapaskuhan? O lilipas at lilipas na lamang ang pasko nang ni hindi nila ito naranasan?

Kung marunong kumanta ang mga batang kariton na ito, kumakanta rin kaya sila ng White Christmas? Nasasabi rin kaya nila ang "may your days be merry and bright, and may all your christmases be white"?

Hiwaga ni Jollibee

(Pauna: Hindi tungkol kay Jollibee ang blog na ito)

Hindi ko alam kung ano nga ba ang hiwagang bumabalot sa katauhan ni Jollibee.

Pag tinanong mo kasi yung karamihan ng mga bata, mas prefer nila si Jabee kaysa kay Mcdo. Kanina lang, dumalaw sa opisina yung anak ng officemate ko at tinanong namin kung saan nya gustong kumain-sagot agad nung bata-Jollibee (with matching kembot pa)!!!

Kahit man kasi yung mga pamangkin ko noong maliliit pa sila, mas gusto nilang kumain sa Jollibee. Actually, one time, biglang umiyak yung pamangkin ko nung nakita nya si Ronald Mc Donald.

Somehow, totoo namang mas approachable sa bata si Jollibee. Hindi ko alam, pero para nga naman kasing nakakatakot minsan yung hitsura ni Mc Do.

Parang clown na multo na ewan.

Somehow, malaki rin ang epekto ng internet kung bakit mas palagay ang loob ng mga bata kay Jollibee kaysa kay Ronald Mc Donald.

And while the internet, via Wikipedia, disclosed that:

“ The smile known around the world," Ronald McDonald is second only to Santa Claus in terms of recognition."

(Although pupusta ako na kapag dito ginawa ang survey eh baka mahigitan pa ni Jabee si Santa)

hindi pa rin maikakaila na maraming nakakalat na pictures sa internet na against kay kawawang Ronald. And somehow, kapag nakita na ng mga bata, eh medyo nare retain sa memory nila na bad si Ronald.

Katulad na lang nito:

Isipin mo, bata pa lang, ganyan na hitsura (Ang anak ni Janice.......)

Eto naman ginawa pang killer... caught in the act... (di kaya yan ang ginagawang palaman sa hamburger????)

At dahil caught in the act.....

Ayan.. nahuli na....

Eto naman yung mga 'mas' scandalous:

At kung hindi pa talaga nakuntento sa akbay.....

Ah, itong huli ang pinakamabigat na rason kung bakit takot ang mga bata ke Mcdo:

Revelation

REVELATION PICTURES PERMANENTLY DELETED

Consistent Pleaser

Bob Ong Shirts for Sale

Totoong totoo!

As in si BO nga yung Model ng T-Shirts!

It started with this headless picture of a man wearing a special edition Bob Ong T-shirt:

Apparently, the mystery is being revealed at http://www.officialuse.net/:

For those who are still wondering-



Yes these t-shirts are for Sale (for a limited edition 200 pcs. each design only).



Wanna purchase? Visit the official website.

Good News Naman: Fare Rollback

Pansamantala ko munang kinalimutan yung mga madugong isyu tulad ng Impeachment, Cha-cha, Joc-joc, etc. para bigyang daan ang (medyo) ok (na rin) na balitang kababasa ko lang.

Inquirer.net reports:

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Jeepneys, cabs, buses reduce fare--LTFRB
Temporary rollback effective December 15, 2008

Amid the continuing decrease in oil prices, cab, jeepney, and bus drivers and operators have agreed to a provisional fare reduction nationwide, effective December 15, the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has announced.

In a meeting Wednesday, bus operators, led by the Provincial Bus Operators Association of the Philippines and Integrated Metro Bus Operators Association, agreed to a P0.50 rollback for the first five kilometers of regular buses in Metro Manila or from PP9.50 to P9, and a P0.10 cut for the succeeding kilometer or from PP1.95 to P1.85, the LTFRB said Wednesday.

While airconditioned buses in Metro Manila will retain the P11 fare for first five kilometers, operators agreed to a P0.15 reduction for every succeeding kilometer, or from P2.35 to P2.20.
Airconditioned and regular provincial buses agreed to a P0.05 cut for every kilometer. For airconditioned buses, this will be from PP1.70 to P1.65 and for regular buses, from P1.40 to P1.35, the LTFRB said.

Jeepney groups, led by Piston and Pasang Masda, will cut fare by P0.50 for the first four kilometers and P0.10 for every succeeding kilometer, the LTFRB said.

In Metro Manila, this will mean a return to the P7.50 fare before the series of oil price increases were effected.

The P10 add-on fare for cabs has also been removed, the LTFRB said, adding that the agreement was reached with the Association of Taxi Operators in Metro Manila and the Philippine National Taxi Operators Association.

The removal of the P10 add-on fare stemmed from a petition filed by the National Council for Commuters’ Protection following the continuing decrease in oil prices.

But the LTFRB said the fare reductions would be temporary and would be implemented for at least three months.
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Ok na rin.

Maganda na ring balita lalo na't magpapasko.

Kudos sa lahat nang nakigulo para maisakatuparan ang rollback para sa pasahe.

(Sana magtuloy-tuloy na ang paggulong pababa ng pamasahe. Sana.)

Bob Ong Shirts-Abangan!

Noon At Ngayon

Let me take you back to the Good Ol' Days:

Ganito Sila Noon:

Pero katulad nga ng laging nangyayari, ika nga eh, walang permanente sa mundo, lalo na sa mundo nang pulitika.

Ganito na sila ngayon:

De Venecia: ‘Arroyo bribes total P100M'

Congressman Joe De Venecia (Former House Speaker and Former GMA Ally), accused President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of spending as much as P100 million in bribes in October 2007 to buy herself “legal protection” from moves to impeach her for at least a year.

Further more, concerning the NBN-ZTE Broadband deal, he recalled how the President invited him and his wife to a golf game which turned out to be a meeting with ZTE officials and former Commission on Elections Chair Benjamin Abalos in Shengzhen, China.

“Pray tell me, what is the President of the Philippines doing there? What is the husband of the President doing in the ZTE headquarters, a company that is bidding for a massive project in the Philippines? Pray tell me why the Comelec chair is there?”

-Joe De Venecia

Joe de V lying, says Mike A on ZTE rap

First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo Sunday called former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. “a liar” for claiming in a forthcoming book that he had suggested a formula that led to the awarding of the $329-million National Broadband Network (NBN) project to China’s ZTE Corp.

“I never suggested anything, that JDV is a liar and you can tell him that to his face.”

-FG Mike Arroyo

But perhaps, the best conclusion for this fiasco came out of our notable senator Miriam Defensor Santiago during the Senate Hearing in 2007:

“Now, I want to place on record as a senator with the principal duty of passing good laws, to promote the national interest even long after I'm gone from the Senate, I resent being made part into this squabble. Pinag-aawayan niyo lang ang kickback ninyo. Inaaksaya nyo ang panahon ng Senado"

-Miriam

Need I elaborate more?

Mukhang Guilty

(Naalala ko dati, umentra din sa showbiz si Mikey. Ewan lang kung bakit hindi na nag-progress ang career nya. Anyway.....)


Inquirer.net's Nancy Carvajal reports a simple and casual encounter with the Arroyos in an interview at the St. Luke's Medical Center where FG Mike Arroyo has had an overnight stay for some treatments due to diarrhea.

FG, who is being interviewed on his reactions on JDV's statements about the business meetings in China concerning the ZTE deal, then said, "Enough with Politics".


Mikey, who was standing to the right of his father, bent over, suddenly grabbed Nancy Carvajal's (Inquirer reporter) right arm and with eyes glaring yelled: “Tama na, tama na! (Enough, enough!)”

Dato, who was standing to the left of his father, signaled to his older brother to stop. The First Gentleman appeared unaware of what Mikey was doing, continuing to answer questions by other reporters about his illness.

>>>>> So to speak, FG Mike Arroyo accused former speaker (and former GMA ally) Joe De Venecia of lying.

So sino sa kanila ang mukhang guilty?

A. De Venecia
B. the Arroyos
C. All of the Above

Sa Pula, Sa Puti

I thought I've had enough of political comedy for the week.

Hindi pa pala.

Just when I thought the Dureza Prayer will make it to the top of my favorites this week, biglang umentra naman sa eksena si Leon Guerrero.

Here's Inquirer.net's hot issue preceeding the coup in the Senate which brought down Manny Villar and installed Juan Ponce Enrile to the Senate Presidency.

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Lapid confused by Senate coup
He’s neither here nor there

Perhaps he thought he was responding to the roll call?

Sen. Lito Lapid, a known ally of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, appears to be quite confused by the sudden change in leadership and the subsequent alliances in the Senate.

In the four days since the coup that saw Manuel Villar being replaced by Juan Ponce Enrile as Senate president, Lapid had not only shifted sides but also managed to confuse his fellow senators.

At press time Thursday, both the majority and minority camps were claiming him as their own.

Lapid was not among the 12 senators who signed on Monday a resolution backing Enrile as Villar’s replacement. But the former action star surprised everyone, including the 12 senators who supported the coup, when he voted for Enrile on the floor.

Some reporters said they saw Lapid raising his hand in a thumbs-up sign when his name was called during the voting for Enrile.

On Tuesday, Lapid said on radio that he had not intended to vote for Enrile, but that he had not bothered anymore to correct the outcome.

He then declared that he wanted to join the minority with Villar.

Thursday, both Enrile and Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said Lapid was now with the majority.

“I thought Senator Lapid was going to join us, but I understand he changed his mind,” Pimentel, who is likely to be named minority leader, told reporters at the weekly Senate forum.

“Better check with him so there will be no confusion,” Pimentel said.

Enrile said Lapid voted for him when he was nominated Senate president. He said he had been told that Lapid wanted to join the majority, and that he had not convinced the latter to do so.

“When I talked to [Lapid], I said, ‘You’re welcome. Everybody is welcome to join the majority.’ If they want to join us, why not? Who am I to say no?” Enrile told reporters.

Asked whether Lapid would then retain the chairmanship of the committee on games, amusement and sports, Enrile replied in the affirmative with a chuckle:

“Yes, he wants to play games. I’ll give him the games and amusement [committee] … He wants to be amused.”

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Para tuloy kapag ganito na yung mga nakikita o nababasa ko, minsan, iniisip ko, ba't di na lang kaya i-abolish ang Senado?

I Say A Little Prayer

The moment I wake up
Before I put on my makeup
I say a little prayer for you
While combing my hair, now,
And wondering what dress to wear, now,
I say a little prayer for you.....




Let's take a little comedy out of our favorite topic politics.



During an opening prayer at the Cabinet meeting held at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room in Malacañang, Press Secretary Jesus G. Dureza asked that the President be given the strength to lead until 2010 or even beyond.

"Bless the President so we will have forbearance, good health, the tolerance to lead this nation up to 2010, and perhaps, who knows, even beyond "









Photographers then simultaneously took photos of the President who appeared uneasy as the prayer ended.



Visibly embarrassed, Mrs. Arroyo, who was in good mood when she entered the room, immediately blurted out "Oh my God!" and covered her face with her hands.



Putting on a smile, the President told the media covering the meeting not to publish or air the prayer, an order that drew laughs and murmurs from those in the room.


"That prayer was off the record... So why don’t we [Cabinet] get everybody seated. Please tama na, tama na [enough, enough]," she said.


After the media were asked to leave the meeting area, the Press Secretary reportedly asked TV cameramen not to release the video files containing the opening prayer

In a press conference after the Cabinet meeting, Mr. Dureza clarified he referred to the President’s capability of serving the nation "in her personal and private capacity."

He added the prayer was spontaneous as he left the text he had prepared.

"I’d like to do a light prayer... I’m sure the Lord also has a lot of sense of humor and my prayer was in that context. I said something about the hope that the President would have the tolerance to serve the nation even beyond 2010," he said.

"What was grounded off was my statement that she will perform beyond 2010 in her personal and private capacity. Everybody thought it was a slip on my part but it was intentional in a sense it was a light prayer... but some people did not get it right maybe they did not have that much sense of humor."

He denied that the President is interested in a term extension.

When asked if he was reprimanded by Mrs. Arroyo, Mr. Dureza said:

"No, I was not... She had a good laugh after."

source: GMANews.TV



Forever, forever, you'll stay in my heart
and I will love you
Forever, forever we never will part
Oh, how I'll love you
Together, together, that's how it must be
To live without you
Would only be heartbreak for me.

(na-missed ko tuloy bigla si Secretary Bunye)

Villar Out; Enrile In

On Monday, November 17, Senator Manny Villar formally tendered his resignation as Senate President of the Philippines.


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“The tenure of the Senate president, as everyone knows, depends on the number of members that supports him or her. I've been informed this afternoon that I no longer have the support of the majority members. I now, therefore tender my resignation.”

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Inquirer.net reports:

The plot to oust Villar, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said, had been “a work in progress since the C-5 controversy,” was said to have been hatched over the weekend and was finalized at noon Monday, with 13 senators signing a resolution to oust Villar.

The C-5 controversy refers to Lacson’s accusation that Villar had initiated the double entry in the national budget for the extension of the C-5 road in the cities of Parañaque and Las Piñas.
Villar has been accused of benefiting from the C-5 extension project as this passed through property owned by his real estate firms.




Immediately after Villar's speech, Lacson moved to declare the top senate post vacant and nominated Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, who garnered 14 votes to become the next Senate President. Senator Gregorio Honasan stood up and swore Enrile into his new office.


[I find it noteworthy to say that Enrile was one of Ferdinand Marcos' allies when Marcos declared the Martial in 1972. Thereafter, Enrile became one of the leaders of a military revolt in 1986 that led to the Edsa People Power Revolution and the ouster of Marcos. During the revolt, Enrile gathered much support from Honasan, then a young military officer.]


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“With sincere gratitude and in all humility, I accept the responsibility and trust that the majority of you, my peers, has entrusted and reposed upon me today.




Allow me this opportunity to ask you, my colleagues, to forgive my shortcomings.


I am an old man who has acquired some bad habits of sometimes being arrogant, rude, harsh with my words, insensitive and impatient.



Yet, you have so kindly overlooked these shortcomings, and generously chose me to be your leader.”

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The rumors behind Villar's ouster (and Enrile's rose to the top post) and other stories:

1. Bayad-utang?
JPE’s rise to senate presidency 'reward' for Transco 'sale'

2. Para sa 2010?
Estrada hand in coup seen


3. Parang artista lang pag sumagot. "We're just friends, you know."
Villar on ouster: It's purely politics

4. Sabagay, yung mga mas matatanda ang nakaka-appreciate sa cha-cha.
Enrile says he won't use post to amend Charter

Teachers' Board Exam Results: November 2008

Congratulations!

We've got a whole new fresh batch of licensed teachers!

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) has announced today that 17,816 elementary teachers out of 58,471 examinees and 18,801 secondary teachers out of 53,195 examinees have successfully passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers given by the Board of Professional Teachers last September 2008.

Please click on the links below to view the successful examinees who made it:

Elementary Teachers' Exam Result (17,816 board passers)

Secondary Teachers' Exam Result (18,801 board passers)

/////source: Philippine Daily Inquirer/////

May God invest in you the power to educate the Filipino youth who are the hope of our Fatherland.

Mabuhay, and again, Congratulations to our newly licensed Elementary and Secondary Teachers!!!!

(blow out naman jan :D)

Miniminimaynimu

In less than two months, we are entering into 2009 and as I have tackled in a previous blog, the Presidential race fiasco is becoming a hit on the news lately.

The latest SWS Survey , conducted on September 2008, puts VP Noli De Castro ahead of the pack at 29% while Senators Manny Villar (28%), and Loren Legarda (26%) closely followed.

Malacañang palace issued a statement recently enumerating their choices for the 2010 elections-which includes- De Castro, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Senator Richard Gordon, Chairman Bayani Fernando of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte.

Earlier, Villar and Fernando signified their intention to run for the Top post. Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay also recently informed the media that he is also eyeing for the post. (Now, wouldn't that be a match?- Binay vs. BF in another arena).

With a lot to choose from, and a lot more days to go before the 2010, we will yet to see a lot more changes on who will finally submit their Certificates of Candidacy for the Presidential race (needless to say, there will also be a lot more ober-da-bakods in play).

However, there is this post from Cocoy in Filipino Voices.com which actually struck my attention:

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Paano Kung Wala?
Written on Tuesday, October 21st, 2008 at 7:29 pm by cocoy

Filipino Voices is asking, Who are YOU Supporting for 2010?

Oh yeah, you should go there and cast.

I’ll wait. Done?

Great!

As I was saying, what if… we hold an election and nobody came? Or everyone did but everyone abstained for lack of choices? I mean, seriously.

It isn’t like we have a huge pool to make a choice from. Do we choose the lesser evil of the bunch– like we have the last 20 years or so? Do we make a stand here and now and say, you want us to vote— give us better choices. We don’t want plain vanilla. we don’t want chocolate! we want coffee mint walnut ice cream!

Are we prepared to draw a line in the sand and say— we want better?

What do you think?
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I must admit I am an advocate of exercising the right to suffrage-encouraging a lot of the people, especially the young, to register and vote, however, the question is still bugging my mind: Am I prepared to draw the line and say I want a better choice?

Do I vote and choose the "lesser evil" among those vying for the post?
Or do I stand and say: "I don't want any of those. I want better."?

Now, I'm thinking.

Eraserheads: I Just Can't Get Enough

Today is October 30, 2008

.

Ok. So it is now exactly 2 months since the Eraserheads Concert. And seems I still just can't get enough of the 'reunion' gaga. Actually, I have had two separate blogs about the eheads, however, I will need to give another one just not to let this interesting fact i've just read from the ULRAELECTROMAGNETICNIGHT blogspot.

My first blog specifically tackles the issue on the sponsorship controversy and how this reunion concert came to a reality.

Well, the concert almost didn't make it because of this controversy, and then there was the tragic death of Ely Buendia's mother days before the concert. But the concert did push through-so the second blog gives an account of some of the highlights and some insights gained on the concert.

However, a lot of the fans are 'bitin' because right after the first set, Ely Buendia was rushed to the hospital due to a heart failure.

So many people wondered-how would it have been if the concert came to Set Second? What would be the next songs? What would be the finale? Will they ever treat the fans with the 'Group Hug' that the fans were chanting?

This Interesting Blog says it all:

We were all supposed to dance the Huling El Bimbo with a fantastic fireworks display. It was going to be the perfect song to end a perfect concert.

I know because my sister said so. She was one of the band's PAs (guess which one!) and was there during the production meetings. On Sunday morning, as we gathered for our family lunch, she told us what was supposed to go down during the Eheads concert.

The first set went exactly as planned, except of course for Ely's collapse. To refresh your memory, these are the songs we heard:1) Alapaap 2) Ligaya 3) Sembreak 4) Hey Jay 5) Harana 6) Fruitcake 7) Toyang 8) Kama Supra 9) Kailan 10) Wag Kang Matakot 11) Kaliwete 12) With A Smile 13) Shake Yer Head 14) Wag Mo Nang Itanong 15) Lightyears

During the second set, the band was to sing ten more songs, in this order:1) Maskara 2) Poor Man's Grave 3) Torpedo 4) Trip to Jerusalem 5) Back To Me 6) walang Nagbago 7) Maling Akala 8) Tikman 9) Spoliarium 10) Magasin

When Magasin was to be played, the screen behind them would have montages of various news and magazine clippings of them. It would flash alternately with shots of the band and audience until the song reached the coda where Ely sings "...ay centerfold ka naaaa...woo hoo-hoo, haaa-haaa" part of the song. Then there would be fire works and a fountain of sparks, going on til the last note of the song. Then the hydraulic stage would be lowered and the band would make a "fake ending".

The lights would then go out.

My sister said the band would wait til the crowd chanted "more". "It would take two beers' worth of chanting "more" she said. Then in the darkness, a very dramatic keyboard solo would be heard, and it would be the opening chords of Para Sa Masa.

The hydraulic stage would rise again and there they would be.After Para Sa Masa, they'd switch into Overdrive. With the crowd pumped within an inch of insanity they were to hit us with Pare Ko. And then we would slow down and reminisce with Minsan.

Finally, they would perform Huling El Bimbo. Again, after the last refrain, at the coda (la la la laaa...) the grand fireworks display would go off, fountains of light surrounding the stage. The next la-la-la parts would see fireworks from behind the general admissions section, and as the song ended there would be a burst of confetti all over the audience.

Then the hydraulic stage would be lowered for the final exit.

Those were the plans for the Ultraelectromagnetic night. It may not have happened as planned but at least we knew they were going to give us a show we would never forget!We asked my sister if the band knew about all these plans and she said they did. In fact they were so excited about all the gimmicks and couldn't wait to party with the audience. "Nag-usap pa nga sila kung may mga kailangang saluhin na kanta just in case (di na kaya ni Ely)," she said.

"And Ely said, hindi, Kakanta ako!"

I'm putting out an order to the Universe that we all get to watch the second set!

--Source unknown

++++++++++

Sana. Sana may susunod pang concert. At kung pwedeng isa pang hirit, sana, magreunite na ang banda.

Talk About Being Dumb

It's one of those dead freaking days when I just don't know what to do in the office (or is it much proper to say- I just don't know what to do other than working these papers out of my sight).

I've been clicking and visiting almost all the 'regular' sites and found nothing worth reading. Inquirer doesn't have any new hot news, as well as GMA; so I'm thinking of one dumb thing to do to pass the hour waiting until 6 so I can hurry off and leave the office. So I said to mayself- why not blog, instead? (Certainly not a good equation; blogging=dumb thing).

Anyway, I have settled to blog about being dumb. Wikipedia defines being dumb as:

"Stupidity, the lack of intelligence. "

I'm gonna need to borrow a few from the list found on Chico Garcia's site to enforce my 'dumb' blog, but of course, I'll have to butt in some of my 'dumb' ideas along the way:



List of the Dumbest Thing You’ve Ever Heard Anyone Say:

(Note: If somehow you've been bored by some, I hope you'll try and reach the last on the list-you'll know why when you get there)

1. - An Eat Bulaga contestant was asked by Joey and Vic: “Ano sa Tagalog ang grasshopper?” Contestant: “Ahmm. . .Huling Hapunan?”
Mycomment: Lipat tayo sa Wowoweeeeeee..........

2. - While watching the news yesterday about a kid killed by a bulldozer, our maid commented: “Kaya ayoko mag-alaga ng aso eh…”
Mycomment: Who let the dogs out???? Who Who Who Who Who????

3. - My cousin at a DRIVE-THRU: “Miss, puwedeng take out?”

4. - Nadia Montenegro promoting her movie: “Please watch ‘The Life Story of Julie Vega’, opening na po on the twenty-twoth of November.”
Mycomment: Paging Cristy Fermin

5. - I was making cookies at home when I ran out of cookie sheets, so I called our maid and said: “Manang bili ka nga ng cookie sheet.” And she replied: “Ano po, solo o litro?” (coke is it)

6. - While watching “Apollo 13″, after she heard the line: “Houston, we have a problem.” My ex-girlfriend asked: “Sino si Houston?”

7. - My aunt was going to the US for the 1st time. She told us: “Nagpapabili ang tita niyo ng ‘autistic’ guitar. Saan ba nakakabili nun?”

8. - In a gameshow. Host: “Ano sa Tagalog ang ‘teeth’?” Contestant: “Utong!”
Mycomment: Two Thumbs up!!!

9. - I had a customer on the line who had a password on his account. I asked for the password but he forgot. I gave him a clue: “It’s a 4-digit number.” He answered, “Uhm…’ROCKY’?”

10. - I overheard a lady place an order at Starbucks: “One cup of chino please.”
Mycomment: Make it two cup of chinos!

11. - I had a meeting with a friend and I noticed that both of us were wearing stripes. He suddenly blurted out: “Uy, stripes din! It’s the color of the day!”
Mycomment: A huh.

12. - My sister said of our neighbor who was our arch enemy: “Mamatay na sana kapitbahay natin!” I told her not to say that, coz it might bounce back to us. Then she said, “Ah ganun ba yun? In that case, mamatay na sana tayo!”
Mycomment: Condolence

13. - When I saw that I got a missed call, I said, “Hey, I got a missed call!” My friend said, “Anong sabi?”
Mycomment: Sikwet....

14. - From the gameshow “The Weakest Link”. Host Edu Manzano asked: “Anong ‘T’ ang ibinibigay ng konduktor pag nagbayad ka ng pamasahe sa bus?” Ian Veneracion answered: “TUKLI!”
Mycomment: Thank you card?

15. - We were reviewing for an exam and we were already dead tired. A classmate said, “Hala, brownout!” Pagtingin namin, nakapikit pala siya.
Mycomment: Kuyuginnnnnnn!!!!!

16. - A call center agent told a foreign customer regarding the changing of the due date of her credit card: “Ma’am, I already changed your monthly period.”
Mycomment: Sisante

And finally, you've reached the last:

17- During a shower party for my friend, the married women were giving tips on the do’s & dont’s of sexual intercourse, when the bride asked: “Hindi ba kasama yung betlog sa pinapasok?”
Mycomment: Three, no, four thumbs up! By now I think she knows.

++++++++++end++++++++++

Who goes first?

The filing anew of an impeachment complaint last Monday, October 13, 2008 against Gloria Macapagal Arroyo didn't come as a surprise for me at all.

To me, this is the inevitable.

What I am particularly curious about is: will the Opposition find its way to beat coys or nuisances this time around.


In 2005 and 2006, a known Marcos Loyalist, Attorney Oliver Lozano, successively beat Ms Arroyo’s opponents to the draw by filing of impeachment cases against her ahead of any of the Oppositions who have prepared complaints against Arroyo.

The matter of who files first is deemed important because under House rules, lawmakers may entertain only one impeachment complaint against a president within a year.

However, as we all know, none of those impeachment cases filed by Lozano against Ms Arroyo prospered. Many believe that the move from Lozano actually were "brilliant moves" by the administration in order that a somehow weak complaint would be filed and not prosper. And indeed, the plan worked.

In 2007, a new name appeared in the picture. A certain Lawyer, Roel Pulido filed a rather weak-as-Lozano's complaint ahead of the Opposition again. The "sham complaint", opposition leader Roilo Golez said, was meant to frustrate an honest-to-goodness impeachment complaint. Again, as expected, this too, did not prosper.

This 2008, The complainants tried but failed to file the 97-page impeachment complaint late Saturday (October 11, 2008) at the House of Representatives because its secretary general, Marilyn Yap, who receives such complaints, had gone on a foreign trip.

On Monday, De Venecia and Suplico and their supporters arrived at 6:00 a.m. at the north gate of the Batasang Pambansa complex in Quezon City and immediately signed on the log book to show proof that they were the first to make the filing.

The complainants and media personnel stayed at the guard post for several minutes before they were allowed to proceed to the south wing of the Batasang Pambansa building where the House secretary general holds office.

On Friday, Speaker Prospero Nograles hinted that the filing of the impeachment complaint could also be made through registered mail.

Inquirer.net writer Leila Salaverria accounts for this interesting race of "Who goes first" in the
filing of the 2008 Impeachment Case against GMA:

++++++++++
Waking up earlier than usual, a group led by businessman Jose “Joey” de Venecia III filed its impeachment case against Ms Arroyo at the Office of the Secretary General of the House of Representatives at 7:40 a.m.

Lozano wasn’t around yet.

But a copy of Lozano’s own complaint also landed at the House media office. It had a covering letter which bore the stamp of a Quezon City post office indicating the complaint was mailed to the chamber at 8:20 a.m.

A check at 2:30 p.m. Monday showed that the complaint mailed by Lozano and fellow lawyers Elly Pamatong and Evangeline Lozano had not reached the secretary general’s office.

Asked why he chose to mail the complaint instead of going to the House to file it himself—as what the De Venecia group did—Lozano told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone in Filipino: “I wanted to avoid heckling (kantyawan). I don’t want anything like that.”
++++++++++

The battle for "Who goes first" is now over. As lawyer Harry Roque, one of the complainants, implied, "“This impeachment complaint in the House is the real deal unlike the first three. House members have no choice but to accept it or reject it based on merits rather than technicalities as they did in the past years.”

The House secretary general has up to 10 session days to submit the impeachment complaint to Nograles who, in turn, has up to 10 session days to decide whether to forward the complaint to the House committee on justice.

The committee on justice has up to 60 session days to decide whether the complaint was sufficient in form and substance before it could pass it for plenary vote.

What will happen next, we don't know.