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Monday, December 22, 2008

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.











Sunday, December 21, 2008

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"?

Thursday, December 11, 2008

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:














Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Revelation

REVELATION PICTURES PERMANENTLY DELETED



Friday, December 5, 2008

Consistent Pleaser


Wednesday, December 3, 2008

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.





Tuesday, December 2, 2008

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.)

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