Inside Philippine politics & beyond

A Happy Easter to all of us!

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Easter this year has particularly been meaningful for me.

First, I’m inspired to find Filipinos all over the world who continue to be concerned for their Motherland.

It is this discovery that has energized and heartened me,  what my hubby Alan calls “bayanihan in the cyber-age.”

I also think many of those gathering around my website are Filipinos who had left their country by the millions and who now have decided to make their voices heard.

The clueless trolls and goons who try to attack their viewpoint and mine are the ones who need to get real.

Second, I myself have been writing for over a decade mainly for foreign readers , trying to make them understand our country. Last year I decided it was time for me to also find a way to help back home. This blog is my way of coming home and trying to help make a difference.

I believe in new beginnings, having witnessed this dramatically in the life of one nation.

I was staying in the West part of Berlin just months before the wall fell in October 1989. There was a claustrophobic feeling of helpless hopelessness then that the Berlin wall would be there forever and ever.

I have since gone back and found  the unified Berlin to be an even more vibrant and democratically changed city.

I think state corruption is our version of the Berlin wall. I think more Filipinos are more determined to chip away at that wall.

In celebration of Easter Sunday, I would like to share with you all one of my most favorite art works. It is an engraving by Gustave Doré to illustrate Italian poet Dante Alighieri’s “Paradise” in The Divine Comedy.

For Dante, Paradise is a gathering of like-minded souls who of their own free will chose good over evil.

Again, a Happy Easter to all of us in our cyber Plaza Miranda!

:) Raissa

Comments

  1. … Filipinos already judged Corona guilty but most senator-judges do not see the truth the way we do… their influence will go where the buck lies and not on facts… but no matter what happens let’s continue fighting corruption… unless corruption is eradicated or lessened our country will remain at the bottom… what happened at the Scarborough Shoal recently is one proof that we cannot stand up against the bully China and other superior countries if need arises… but as long as Raissa and all CPM are united, nothing and nobody can put us down.

    • i, for one, don’t even want to listen to him anymore. especially since seeing him with the drama at the supreme court, throwing kisses with his hands and what not… so fake. so delusional.

  3. Dennis Zarauz says:
    April 11, 2012 at 11:00 pm

    Totally agree.

    That is why PLAZA MIRANDA is coming in to discuss, dissect and introduce factual evidence to expose both the bright and dark side of the issue including the individuals and in this case UNA and its members.

    With this BINAY move to assemble different political players from more that 3 decades(Marcos era up to Arroyo) at first glance is political addition banking on name recall.

    But if you ask the following questions, it will expose their true color

    1- What were their performance in their former political positions?
    2- Who are their former allies?
    3- Are they linked to corruption?
    4- Are they allied with corrupt Presidents (Marcos, Erap, Arroyo)?
    5- What is their common denominator?

    Most of them become wealthy after joining politics

    PLAZA MIRANDA EXPOSE THEM INCLUDING THOSE IN LP. WE SHOULD NOT BE SELECTIVE IN FIGHTING CORRUPTION

  5. Latest News: Philippine Inquirer: Mitos Magsaysay assailed LP criticism on Binay by LP on his loyalty to PNoy.

    Magsaysay is polishing her “kiss ass” trademark with Binay. Unfortunately, she is on the wrong side again. Or maybe not, if her side is to defend people with questionable sources of wealth, GMA/FG and Binay. Corrupt side?

    Binay wants it both ways. He must answer the question on his loyalty. Time has come up; he could no longer serve two masters.

    The longer he delays his decision the more it will become suspicious he is only taking advantage of PNoy administration by pretending to be his ally.
    Sounds familiar, he he he

    • I Totally agree. Binay’s loyalty is questionable. Binay’s pronouncement regarding his UNA coalition is conflicting, it’s contraicting. I have not heard Binay saying that he supports efforts to remove Corona from office. Binay said that his politics is addition, and from the looks of it, he is even willing to welcome Corona in his coalition. It’s a classic actuation of a genuine Trapo, isn’t it?

      • Politics is addition, this is the essence of partisan politics. Whereas, adding TRAPOs and corrupt defenders into your rank is a very clear sign of decadence and desperate move. More so, a very clear indication of a selfish political opportunism. Nobody in his right mind can trust the Binay-Erap-Arroyo alliance. Tama ka, don’t stop, that’s a classic move of a genuine TRAPO. But the real problem lies on the “masa” vote, dahil ito ang mahirap ma-contained. Patay tayo diyan.

  6. How do we now start from what I have just said – change of heart. Well, understand that you yourself can not change it on your own way. No way Pidro… you can not. Then how… Just humble yourself before God… just tell Him, “Lord Jesus, be my Lord… I believe you died for me to pay the debt i could not pay… and you rose from the dead that I may live the life worthy of you… teach me how I may honor you in all my ways.” That’s all? Yes… but then you now have to start reading the Bible where you will hear from Him. The Holy Spirit will teach you and make it clear with you the things God would like you to do. This is not a new religion. This is about getting yourself relate to the Lord and King as your Father and Friend. If truly He is your Lord, then get acquainted with Him. Kung ikaw ay isang magulang, you would want that your newly born child will be close to you and learn from you until your baby becomes an adult where you can now let him live his own life. God would like us to learn from Him in all His ways… Pag ang bata hindi natututo sa kanyang mabuting magulang, hindi kasalanan ng magulang, kasalanan ng bata kasi ayaw niyang matuto sa ways ng mabubuting magulang. This is not religion… it is a relationship that God, our Loving Father wants to establish in each and everyone of us – that we may also become a loving son or daughter that can now love even the unlovable.

  7. LATEST NEWS FROM ABS CBN by Nadia Trinidad ABS CBN North American Bureau:
    It seemed the reporter visited the home of Charina Corona and tried to interview her which was refused. according to the reporter Charina bought a “starter house” which is not lavish costing $ 269,500. She also said that Charina as a physical terapist earning no less than $79,000 a year could afford with her salary. She also said that it was common for California couple to sign Interspousal Grant Deed. She also cited Raissa blog as source of the report on this property
    It seems this reporter though telling the truth on this CA property did not fully comprehend what she read on Raissa blog the reason on exposing the two properties.

    The capacity of Charina to buy one property in US was not the question. The inquiry was how Charina was able to buy two properties within a span of 11 days without showing proof on how she paid the Mckinley property costing more than $130,000 upon showing an SPA for the first time to Megaworld.

    Raissa blog and commenters already stated the true facts on this CA property reported by this reporter except she is implying that the criticism of Charina’s ability to buy her home was unfair.The ABS CBN reprter would have served better the cause of ABSCBN newsworthy reporting if she tried to investigate if Charina is “still paying for the mortgage or the home is fully paid now”. Had Ms Trinidad reported such, that would be a better scoop for ABSCBN. The other scoop would be to have asked her source, the realtor Norberto Reyes, if he knows the statistics on how common Filipinos sign interspousal grant deed. Otherwise the only substantial news was it was a starter house,which is fair, but the implication of the entire report is misleading on citing Raissa blog. The reporter could have done a better job.

    The question remains:
    What was Charina capabilty to afford buying two properties within 11 days costing her at least $150,000? Show the proof based on her IRS ITRs. Coronas could volunteer to produce these documents easily.

    • Precisely. I have the same reaction when I read it. The reporter did not understand Raissa’s blog as well as the CPMer’s stand. Thank you for clarifying.

    • @Johnny Lin

      The report that a physical therapist earn no less than $79,000.00 annually is false.
      The caption in the video says “mean annual wage”, meaning average or median – not minimum – annual salary.

      Considering that Charina got her license only on December 8, 2008, it would be highly improbable, if not impossible, for her to generate on her own the money needed to pay her real property obligations starting July 2006 to August 2008.

      The issue is really how Charina was able to earn in a span of about 2 years a big amount of at least $150,000.00 to pay both the down payment for the Roseville property and full payment for the Mckinley lot.

      Remember that within those 2 years Charina was not yet a licensed physical therapist in the US.

      • right, only her actual work history and earnings are applicable. that was just a substandard report.

      • @Rene-Ipil @JohnnyLin

        Well said. The best defense for them is to show the people Charina’s IRS/ITR. If not, then why refused to be interviewed?

    • Charina earns dollars, but her expenses are also in dollars. Assuming that she did earn $79,000 annually, how much would be her expenses annually?

  8. Ma iba po ng kunti tayo.

    Re: GMA

    “She wanted to face squarely the charges against her and get the trial going,”

    PM, doesn’t she sound like someone currently facing an impeachment?

    Wake up mga Pinoy… it is TIME!! Lets take back our country from the thieves.

    • at this point, she has no choice but to say that. it’s all about propaganda.

      her escape plans so far has been thwarted by the resignation of the ombudsman gutierrez and the heroic act of de lima challenging thief justice corona’s tro allowing her to travel.

      but it’s not all over yet. there’s just too many criminals running the government.

  9. Tonight at abs-cbn TV Patrol

    Corona said that there was a Senator (from Visaya) doing “demolition job” against him to force him to step down.
    ———————————-

    A few months before, Sen. Drilon has challenge him (corona) to name the senator asking him to resign. But, corona decline and did not mention any names.

  10. Corona’s daughter bought a ‘starter house’
    ABS-CBNnews.com
    http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/04/11/12/coronas-daughter-bought-%E2%80%98starter-house%E2%80%99

    Posted at 04/11/2012 5:03 PM | Updated as of 04/11/2012 5:16 PM
    $269,500 house far from luxurious – real estate expert
    MANILA, Philippines – Given her work as a physical therapist, Chief Justice Renato Corona’s daughter Charina can afford to buy a house in Roseville, California where she is now based.
    ======================
    Comments: Where are the documentary evidence; dates of employment and house purchase; subsistence and utilities expenses; etc. without it information from credulous non credible sources are unreliable, and hearsay according to Cuevas..

    • A report from ABS-CBN North America News Bureau showed that the house which blogger-journalist Raissa Robles wrote about is a “starter home” and not a lavish one as some quarters had alleged.
      Based on aboveallhouseplans.com, “a starter home implies the home can be built on a low budget for a first-time home owner. Sometimes they are called ‘cost buster’ meaning a great deal of planning has gone into the design to eliminate waste.”
      ————————–
      “lavish” is a word being put in the mouth of the innocent; designed to mislead the thoughts of readers; a “starter home” does not reduce the price paid for the house; it does not mean dampa; or squatter’s home.
      ———————————-
      Based on the US Labor Department, a physical therapist earns at least $79,830 a year or P3.5 million a year.
      ——————–
      COMMENT: Yes, that’s high salary but HOW HIGH IS THE COST OF LIVING in the states. Some Fil-Ams say KAHIT ANONG LAKI dumadaan lang sa kamay ang malaking pera.
      —————————–
      The house is worth $269,500.
      Charina made a 10% downpayment and she pays the balance every month. The balance is payable in 30 years.
      —————————-
      COMMENT: Bayad na ba? MAGKANO PA ANG BALANCE?
      Got to go to earn my keep. The news piece looks like being written by the defense team.

  12. I always say this in every comment I make regarding the situation of our country… Unless God becomes God and Lord in this nation, we can not see what we have been dreaming to see for our nation. God must be enthroned in His rightful place to be The King and Lord of this nation… that first and foremost, the head of this nation must humble before God – recognizing God as a personal Lord and King and not just religiously. If the President thinks that he can on his own together with his advisers and cabinet secretaries and together with his political supporters can make this nation prosperous – we are mistaken. God only needs people who favors righteousness like many of you here for Him to start working. God is limited by our own doing. We trust so much in what man can do. . . we elect people and demand from them to work hard and be right and clean… but no matter what they will do, they will still fall short of our expectation… Man is so limited… God is not… There is nothing impossible with God. He makes miracles and He is willing to do mighty things. But we as a very religious people never has given Him the right to intervene. With what Maam Raissa has started and your support for her … if you only give God due honor in all things that all of us are thinking and doing, then we are giving Him a place in our hearts to work on. If we dont and if we think that we are doing this to bring change to our country, we will fall short of it and in the end we become tired and we see no change then we stop and we surrender. We want change? Then let us start by allowing God to change our hearts. The heart of the matter is the matter of the heart. We can not have a lasting change without a change of heart. Simulan natin sa ating mga sarili and let us allow God to work from there. So that kung walang mangyari, we can blame God. If we try to change man by our own strength, we can not…. dont blame God because we are not giving Him His rightful place… He is Lord and King. He can do it but He needs a willing heart for Him to start the work… this way, when things are beginning to change, we can not claim any glory from anything that we do… we will give Him all the glory because we know, He all did it through us who are willing to be instruments of His work. Yes, God can and He is willing … the question is are we willing to give Him His rightful place….