Inside Philippine politics & beyond

Important announcement:
about this week

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Dear everyone,

I will be doing two things this week –

Site maintenance

And contemplation

 Because of the difficulties that many of you have been experiencing going into my site,  I have decided to devote the next few days to trying to solve this problem.

Please bear with me.

There may be times that my site will not be available or that your comments might disappear.

I would suggest backing up your  comments  elsewhere in the next few days. And reposting them, please, next week should they disappear.

Also on Friday, I hope to  do my yearly contemplation on the deeper meaning of life. For this reason, I may not be able to update anything.

I hope to see you all again by the weekend (if the site maintenance is successful) or by Monday.

A Blessed Easter to everyone.

And I’d like to thank you all for our Cyber Plaza Miranda.

Raissa

Comments

  1. LENT – SEASON OF REPENTANCE

    Of all the possible condemned criminals in the Roman world (and there were many).

    Through all the centuries that Rome practiced the cruel punishment of CRUCIFIXION.

    God in His sovereignty placed two criminals side by side… with the SON OF GOD!

    One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at Him “aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

    But the other criminal rebuked him “Don’t you fear God since you are under the same sentence?” “We are sinners and punished justly and getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

    Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

    The Lord’s response: “Truly, I say to you – TODAY you will be WITH ME in paradise.”
    Luke 23:43

    HAVE A MEANINGFUL LENT TO ALL

    • @ Rafael Vidal: A Jehovah Witness leader once knocked on my door and in the course of our discussion challenged me to read a small booklet with their teachings and they will come back and ask me for comments. I told them that I will not be able to finish reading it because I will surely find some errors and when I do, I will stop.
      So, I took up the challenge and read it but after reading two pages wherein you quoted here what Jesus said,”TODAY, you will be with me…”, in their teaching, they omitted the word “TODAY” and that was when I stopped reading. Surprisingly they came back after a few months and I had to argue with them about it but as expected, no matter how wrong it is, they will still cling to their religion and left me taking back their booklet.
      You see friends, in just this one word (TODAY), all the foundations of the Watchtower(JW) will crumble if they will tell the truth. Why? Because they believe that paradise is not yet here and still in the future.

  2. I surmise from the posted comments that Cyber Plaza Miranda faithfuls are comprised of seniors and not-yet seniors of both genders. But, regardless of age category, our Cyber Plaza Miranda has become some sort of an “ikigai” ( reason why we wake up in the morning ) to most of us. Thank you Raissa and Alan. To many of us, you are such a wonderful “find”. A blessed Easter to everyone.

  3. Sa Muling Pagkikita
    Nickey, 040312

    Koronang tinik sa daang matuwid
    Kami’y muntik nang sa iyo’y makinig
    Turan mong katunggali ay may sariling agenda
    Layong proteksyonan ang Hacienda Luisita

    Ngunit may isang madreng lumantad
    Nakatagong baho mo ay siyang inilahad
    Kinamkam ang pag-aari ng buong angkan
    Nitong nakaupo sa mataas na hukuman

    Pati si Raissa Robles ay may isiniwalat
    Mga bahay sa America ay pilit hinalungkat
    Sampu ng tropa sa Plaza Miranda
    Nang dahil sa kanila kami ay mulat na

    Sakim, ganid at sugapa sa kapangyarihan
    Alisin nawa siya sa kanyang luklukan
    Tulad ng dwendeng dating makapanagyarihan
    Dalhin sa ospital, sa mental o sa piitan.

    • @ironickme,

      You have a gift for poetry. And not only because i agree with what you wrote, but the
      technical aspects of it are good- the syllabyles fit, the imagery, the choice of words.

      Keep writing!

      • Thanks andrew lim. It’s good to know there are many filipinos who are passionate about our country. There is still hope after all !!

    • Very nice tagalog poem and rightly on time… salamat at sanay patuloy kang magsulat ng tula mo. Excellent, lalo na at nabanggit mo sina pandak at kapit tukong corona.

      • Salamat sa komento AngLagay. Personally I don’t think there is any job in this world that is worth dying for as he puts it. He subjected himself to public scrutiny and put his family in trauma only to save his job. Makes me wonder what else don’t we know about this guy.

  4. The words in today’s Gospel

    24 The Son of man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”
    25 Judas, who betrayed him, said, “Is it I, Master?” He said to him, “You have said so.”

  5. Ms. Raissa i’m one of thousands following your blog i’ve even told my relatives in the US about your blog nag request ako sa fb na maging friends kita kaya lang up to now my request had no answer yet i guess you’re still busy anyway happy easter to you and your family yours,wilfredo lansangan

  7. Hi Raissa!

    Konnichiwa! Can I make a suggestion? I’m sure many will agree with me, friendship has bloosomed among the commenters of our plaza miranda. Baka puede magdagdag ng isang tab which will serve as our lounge where we can post anything?

    • You know Hanz,
      this is what I’m doing right now.

      I’m trying to get as many of you to post automatically.

      No moderation.

      Many are able to do that now.

      the others, like you, I’m trying to see why you can’t.

      chotto matte kudasai.

      • @Raissa

        Before I don’t need moderation but now meron na. Just recently lang yan.

  8. that’s what it is- i found kindred spirits reading your blog and the comments. have become addicting too to your site, cannot open my computer without going to your site. thank you for creating this “marketplace of ideas” for filipinos all over the world who remain interested and concerned about the philippines, and willing to be involved in the work of nationbuilding. a blessed easter to you and all your commenters.

  11. It’s good you’ll take a break & spend time w/ the Lord. Lenten season is a very good season for us to have spiritual check-up whether we are ready to face Jesus if He returns today. The bible repeatedly commanded us to seek the Lord w/ all our hearts; for he who seeks the Lord w/ all his heart will surely find Him (Jeremiah 29:13; You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.)
    Proverbs 8:35-36 says, “For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD. But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”
    while II Chronicles 12:13-14 says, “King Rehoboam established himself firmly in Jerusalem and continued as king. He was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel in which to put his Name. His mother’s name was Naamah; she was an Ammonite. He did EVIL because he had not SET his heart on SEEKING the LORD.”
    The above verses are crystal clear that we are obligated to seek the Lord w/ all our hearts. And I pray Raissa that the Father will reveal Jesus unto you amazingly during this Lenten break (John 6:44; .No one can come to me (Jesus) unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.)
    May the LORD bless you and keep you; may the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; and may the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
    God bless u & more power!!!

  13. Hi,

    I need a favor from one of you guys.

    I need someone to write out in a word file a manuscript that’s in a non-searchable PDF file.

    It’s a very interesting document.

    And when I put it up,I’d like to acknowledge the person who will covert it into a word file.

    It’s around six closely written pages.

    to the person (s) interested, pls e-mail me.

    Thanks.
    Raissa

        • If the original file format is in pdf, open it then go to to File menu, Export – choose a file format. Text is fine, then open it up in M Word. File Open, choose the directory you saved the Text file, select file format to open as Text. Then waahh este walaaa.

          Too cumbersome in text or html conversion formats?

          Another way is Open same pdf file, then Choose Print.

          In the Print combo box, choose either the Microsoft XPS Document Writer or Send to OneNote. You are not printing a hard copy of the pdf file in the procedure. Just print it to another file format.

          Ayos ba?

          Retyping it in requires Proof Reading too.

    • If I read it correctly, you need a data entry processor and (word) processed it in M Word, right?

      Then you may have to send the manuscript (hand written?) by parcel.

      If the ‘information’ you want processed is scribbled in an image file, then that requires typing it in alphanumerics to be saved in M Word.

      The ‘convert’ diction is not in synch with your specs.

      I convert, follow this link. Convert Pdf to M Word This maybe complicated or not 100% conversion if the original pdf file has tables and images that appear as texts.

  14. Something to reflect this Holy Week….

    While walking down the street one day,

    a Philippine senator is

    tragically hit by a truck and dies.

    His soul arrives in heaven and is

    met by St. Peter at the entrance.

    “Welcome to heaven,” says St. Peter.

    “Before you settle in,

    it seems there is a problem.

    We seldom see a high official around

    these parts, you see, so we’re not

    sure what to do with you.”

    “No problem, just let me in,”

    says the senator.

    “Well, I’d like to, but I have orders

    from higher up.

    What we’ll do is have you spend one

    day in hell and

    one in heaven. Then, you can choose

    where to spend eternity.”

    “Really, I’ve made up my mind. I want

    to be in heaven,” says the senator.

    “I’m sorry, but we have our rules.”

    And with that, St. Peter escorts him

    to the elevator and he goes

    down, down, down to hell.

    The doors open and he finds himself

    in the middle of a green golf course.

    In the distance is a clubhouse and

    standing in front of it are all his friends

    and other politicians who had worked with him.

    Everyone is very happy and in evening dress.

    They run to greet him, shake his hand,

    and reminisce about the good times they had

    while getting rich at the expense of the people.

    They play a friendly game of golf,

    and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne.

    Also present is the devil, who really is

    a very friendly guy

    who is having a good time dancing and telling jokes.

    They are all having such a good time that before

    the senator realizes it, it is time to go.

    Everyone gives him a hearty farewell

    and waves while the elevator rises…

    The elevator goes up, up, up and the

    door reopens in heaven where St. Peter is waiting for

    him, “Now it’s time to visit heaven.”

    So, 24 hours pass with the senator

    joining a group of contented souls

    moving from cloud to cloud,

    playing the harp and singing.

    They have a good time and, before he realizes it,

    the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

    “Well, then, you’ve spent a day in hell

    and another in heaven.

    Now choose your eternity.”

    The senator reflects for a minute,

    then he answers: “Well, I would never

    have said it before,

    I mean heaven has been delightful,

    but I think I would be better off in hell.”

    So St. Peter escorts him to the

    elevator and he goes down, down,

    down to hell.

    Now the doors of the elevator open

    and he’s in the middle of a barren land

    covered with waste and garbage.

    He sees all his friends, dressed in

    rags, picking up the trash and putting it

    in black bags as more trash falls from above.

    The devil comes over to him and puts

    his arm around his shoulders.

    “I don’t understand,” stammers the

    senator.

    “Yesterday I was here and there was

    a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster

    and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a

    great time.

    Now, there’s just a

    wasteland full of garbage

    and my friends look miserable.

    “What happened?”

    The devil smiles at him and says,

    “Yesterday we were campaigning

    … Today, you voted.”

  15. Good morning ma’am Raissa. I just happened to read an earlier article of yours and found a an interesting part of it. I was reading your article titled “The day I got the ex-pres into trouble”. There was an excerpt in your interview with ERAP where he predicted what’s going to happen on then President arroyo:

    “Estrada told Morning Post why reconciliation was off his agenda. He predicted Mrs Arroyo would go and he was basing this on his own experience. “I was confident, too,” of not being ousted, he disclosed.

    “In fact, overconfident,” said Estrada, who had erroneously banked on a landslide win to ride out an impeachment trial.

    The brilliant strongman “Ferdinand Marcos left (Malacanang) by plane. I left by boat, “ he said. “She will leave by stroller,” he jokingly alluded to her petite frame.”

    Akalain niyo nga naman, nagkatotoo siya ng hula niya nung subukang TUMAKAS ni gloria sa airport NA NAKA STROLLER!

    I really find this funny and very amusing! :)

    I have stumbled upon it since I was back reading a lot of your articles since you’ll be gone in a few days. Pagkakataon na at makakasabay na ako, ang hirap kasi dati gawin to lalo na kapag sunod sunod ang mga revelations na pinapakawalan mo!

    Anyways, have a blessed and safe holy week ma’am! and may God bless our online plaza miranda!