Inside Philippine politics & beyond

Hi guys, I’m just taking a short break

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Sorry I wasn’t able to post this note earlier.

I had too many deadlines and had to prepare for my trip.

My hubby gave me his air miles which I was supposed to use last year but didn’t because so many things  happened – the Corona impeachment trial followed by the uproar over ther cybercrime law. I just couldn’t go.

But recently, Alan told me his air miles were expiring this December and if  I didn’t use it, he would.

So I decided – just before the pork barrel scam became very big news – to go to Europe. The place I will be staying in for the longest time is Berlin, followed by Rome.

I will be gone for a month only. Right now, I’m typing this in a convent in Rome near the Vatican. On an Italian keyboard that’s driving me batty.

The trip is partly also to think about my life and what I’d like to do with this website.

I will try to update you as best as I can.

I have drafts of stories which I will post when I get back.

And best of all, I will see our politics with new eyes.

I’d also like to apologize for the “comments under moderation.” I dont know why Akismet does that. But I cant remove akismet because then I would be putting the entire site at risk of hacking and viruses.

Please watch out for the following

Just before I left, I noticed a report about an alleged new group in the military that was restive about corruption.

Closely watch and wait.

The coming weeks and months will be the most dangerous period for this administration because it is making too many political enemies who could all band together for a common cause.

The wild card here is the growing watchfulness of the middle class that flexed its political muscle during the recent rally in anti-pork rally in Luneta.

***

Today I went inside the Catacomb of San Callisto in Rome which the early Christians used for burial.

It made me think how our lives are merely seconds in the history of mankind. But oh how we scratch and scramble and fight for what we desire.

Arriverderla.

 

 

Comments

  1. Excerpts from the President’s speech yesterday, Oct 2 at the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals’ Grand Breakfast (English translation) :

    “You can be assured: even if I receive daily threats, even if criticism and malicious accusations rain down on me every day, I will never turn my back on the chance to bring about positive change. There are times when I can only shake my head in dismay. Think about it: I have removed opportunities for corruption; I did this of my own volition, according to my mandate, with no one pressuring me; we are stricter on matters of spending, we stopped the reenactment of the budget, insertions, the misuse of lump sum funds, misuse of the Malampaya Fund, as well as the overimportation of rice. All the powers at my disposal to gain funds and dole them out where I wanted, I have consistently reduced. Yet despite all this, I have been called the Pork Barrel King. I leave it up to you to judge the reasoning of those who accuse me of this—they who seem to be so addicted to pork.

    I went into this line of work fully aware that there will always be those who will do their best to derail the change we are working to bring about. There is also no shortage of threats or dangers because of those we are coming up against—of course, this will not stop when I step down from the presidency; perhaps then, I will find myself in even greater danger. I am not surprised, because I know we are disrupting the schemes of some people. I am not Superman; I am vulnerable to the effects of bullets, poison, or knife wounds—but I am past this kind of thinking. We have crossed our Rubicon; we have already chosen: we can allow ourselves to be defeated by fear, or fight for what is right. We can turn a blind eye to wrongdoing, or fulfill the mandate given me by my Bosses. I will do what is right: this is not personal, and to those affected by our efforts who should not be—to the children of the corrupt, who have no stake in this apart from the actions of their parents, or to the others with no fault dragged into this—I offer my apologies; that was not my intention.

    Today, we find ourselves at a time where we are cleaning up and strengthening our systems and processes; at a time when we once more face a crossroads—if we choose what is right and what is straight, this is the path that will bring us to true and meaningful change in society. It is my hope that, as a people, we will see today’s destruction of the culture of corruption as part of our goal to achieve inclusive growth. It is true: I can accomplish little working alone compared to what we can accomplish working as one people. If we continue to work and to do our part, I promise that we will be able to achieve our collective aspirations: not merely fleeting reform, but true transformation that we can leave as a legacy for succeeding generations.”

    • Both MDS and Joker Arroyo didn’t take the challenge to impeach PNoy.

      Because, the alternative waiting on the wing is far worst!

      Someone (CPMer) suggested THAT Noynoy should run as VP when he finishes his term.

  2. ayon kay karen d ngayon sa pasada 630 dzmm, may kinse mil daw na ipinangako kada rebelde sa pag-salakay sa zamboanga. pero nagkabukulan daw.
    may katotohanan kaya ito?
    nagko-corroborate kaya ito sa pasabog ni MDS na ayon sa kanya(mds) ito ay pinondohan ng P40M at nadadagdagan pa.

    • Specifically on government loans, let us encourage citizens to have a stand and a say. National and local officials (with the local govt code) can enter into loans which the constituents don’t know and they pay for these and are not benefited directly. The government provides guarantees for private debts. These commitments made for our children and grandchildren has to stop.

  4. The case of JLN’s jailed “kasambahay/yaya” could have been repeated with Ben Hur Luy if he is not a relative of JLN. Apparently , the “kasambahay/yaya” knows a lot about JLN;s day-to-day activities being a close-in alalay of JLN that’s why she was “contained”. Kawawa naman, Sana ito na iyong sagot sa kanyang mga dalangin – na napuna na ng no-less than Sen Poe ang kanyang kaso at ang posibilidad na pagiging isa sa mga susi sa kaso ng PDAF/Malampaya SCAM.

  5. …at last the now retired Banco de Oro branch manager is now being invited by the blue ribbon committee to shed some more light into the investigation. Today’s hearing, having answered most of the concerns brought out in yesterday’s hearing, is worth the day.

  6. About the Corona Guilty Verdict

    So apparently Estrada was approached by ‘somebody’ about delivering a guilty verdict for Corona (although not promised a reward) . But he would rather keep to himself the identity of this ‘somebody’ since he was not swayed by the person.

    So why bring it up, for goodness sake! Where’s the bombshell in that? Man up, Mr. Senator. Stop shooting blanks. (Or is that all you’re good for now?)

    But since he brought the matter up, why don’t we go back to how he and 6 of his other colleagues (together dubbed the Magnificent 7) actually came up with their verdict. Check out Inquirer article posted on May 30, 2012 : Enrile Bloc Sealed Corona’s Fate Sunday.

    It is said in this report that Enrile, Estrada, Sotto, Honasan, Revilla, Legarda and Villar met the Sunday before the promulgation hearing to ‘ponder’ Corona’s guilt or innocence.

    It also said that, “All seven senator-judges decided to convict Corona, Senator Loren Legarda told the Philippine Daily Inquirer Wednesday” and that “The meeting in a posh subdivision in Makati City was called on the initiative of Estrada and Legarda”. 

    So, Senator Estrada who really approached whom and who really swayed you into giving a guilty verdict then ha? 

    • Vibora@46

      I think it is a hoax.

      The garbage was originally thrown by Crisostomo Ibarra and then laundered by John Shinn III.

      But I hope I am wrong and I pray that it is not false so that the Philippine government can take the money later on.

      • @Rene,
        I also think it’s a hoax as the present Secretary of Treasury always sign documents as Jacob J. Lew and not as plain Jack Lew.

    • …the action of the US Treasury could be a connected to the on-going AMLC investigation. Next will probably be the Napoles’ US properties.