Peace deal reminds me of jazz & gamelan
By Raïssa Robles
A security analyst in the Philippine military told me last year they were worried over two things in the face of the worsening conflict between Beijing and Manila over the South China Sea. These were:
ONE – Chinese control of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) that interconnects the power companies to consumers in Luzon and Visayas islands; and
TWO – Chinese control of the biggest inter-island shipping company, the Super Ferry group, which used to be owned by the Aboitiz family but which has since been sold to the China-Asean Investment Cooperation Fund. This Fund is a private equity company set up in the Netherlands by the Chinese government to buy private companies in Southeast Asia.
JUST IN:
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs has just sent this compilation of reports on the South China Sea conflict that have been published in various foreign outlets. Those from Chinese media are understandably absent:
If plans of privately-owned ZTE Corporation of China had pushed through, the entire Philippine government telecommunications network would also have been another cause for worry for the Philippine government.
But I could not write the story because there was no one I could quote by name on such a sensitive issue. Finally, yesterday I was able to write the story because Rafael Alunan publicly came out about it.
Separately, I was able to verify Alunan’s statements by talking to a senior government source.
Here is a portion of my story which was published in today’s edition of South China Morning Post:
Philippine national grid denies claims China could shut off power
Wednesday, 26 March, 2014, 3:15am
News›Asia
PHILIPPINES
Raissa Robles in ManilaFirm rejects claim that Beijing could use Chinese shareholder to pull plug over maritime disputes
The Philippines’ national electricity supplier has dismissed claims by a former senior official that China has the capability to sabotage the country’s power grid.
Rafael Alunan, a former interior and local government secretary, warned such action was among a range of actions China could take in retaliation for Manila’s move to seek international arbitration of its maritime territorial disputes with Beijing.
Alunan said a government official had told him of the possible threat.
The National Grid Corporation (NGCP) provides the infrastructure for power companies to provide electricity to their customers. State Grid Corporation of China owns 40 per cent of the corporation.
Corporation spokeswoman Cynthia Alabanza denied the network was at risk of being shut down.
“The State Grid Corporation of China does not have control. It does not in any way influence anything beyond the technological aspect of the business,” she said.
But Alunan repeated his claims yesterday.
“Right now, according to my source, we are potentially vulnerable to remotely controlled sabotage. When, depends on China’s calculus,” he said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs declined to comment.
Charles Jose, its new spokesman and former consul general in Shanghai, said: “The Department of Energy is in the best position to explain or comment on the participation of the State Grid of China in the power transmission business in the Philippines.”
But a senior government official told the South China Morning Post the government was “quite concerned” about a Chinese state-owned company controlling the technical aspects of the national grid.
Four senior officials of the State Grid of China sit on the NGCP board.
Alunan declined to identify the senior government official with whom he discussed possible sanctions that Beijing might impose on Manila.
Alunan, a co-convenor of the West Philippine Sea Coalition that has staged protests and boycotts against China over the South China Sea dispute, said the first sanction could be “stopping the flow of raw materials needed by our manufacturers and exporters”.
To read the rest of the story, please click on this link.
Unfortunately, my story got cut due to space constraints. Here is what was cut:
Boo Chanco, Philippine Star newspaper business columnist and a former energy department executive, told The Post:”what we need is an independent analysis of the risks we now carry with the Chinese control of the grid.”
Chanco noted that two years ago, Interior and Local Governments Secretary Mar Roxas disclosed in a news conference that he had transmitted a message to China’s foreign affairs vice minister Fu Ying that Manila was “not comfortable” with having the Chinese in charge of the national grid. Roxas had cited security issues and called on China to abide by the contract to transfer technology and control to Filipino engineers.
The State Grid of China was part of a consortium that was awarded in 2009 the franchise to operate the national grid for 25 years by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
* * *
The Muslim rebel deal, which is about to be signed tomorrow, reminds me of jazz & gamelan.
It is a deal signed with the blood of generations who fought and died for freedom. It is a mixture of realpolitik and of hopeful change.
Like jazz, the deal will still need much improvisation and multiple voices in order to work.
I know that members and leaders of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) are very sad that the deal will replace the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) that they fought so hard and long to put in place. But I also know that many of them, deep in their hearts, want this deal to succeed for as long as they, too, are able to play a meaningful role in its success.
In commemoration of this historic day I would like to share with you all a video I took of one of the musical numbers in “Himigsikan”, a free open air concert at the University of the Philippines by the Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts (OICA). The featured musicians that day were the Ka-Fu (Katutubo Fusion) with Kontra-GaPi.
This particular piece reminded me of the numerous starts and stops, the frequent reversals and progressions in the 18-year peace process between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Has it been THAT long? It’s not over yet. Not by a mile.
Oh, just an addendum. The quickest way to mess this up is to drop the Sabah claim because most of the Tausug are related by blood and marriage to the original claimants. They will conclude their blood rights had been sold out. And they will fight no matter what the odds are.
Victin Luz says
Just a [email protected] CPMers……at present what comprises the majority population of CRIMEA? Did they have a valid referendum whether or not allowed themeselves to be annexed by RUSSIA?
What was the importance of such an annexation by Russia? History will tell that Crimea Region had UNDERGONE with so many annexation in the past . By the Turks, by the Mogols, by Kiev , by the Russians, by the Greeks, by the Romans and so many other empires and nations.
Definitely China’s annexation of Mischief Reefs and a possibilty of wanting of Ayungin Shoal and Scarborough Shoal can not be compared/equated to the Russian’s annexation of Crimea.
We had every legal rights to re claim those islets or atolls but for Russia annexing Crimea if ever there was a valid referendum to support their claims was of different story….
Victin Luz says
[email protected]…..please educate us why USA and most of the members of the UN declared the illegality of the Russians annexing Crimea in comparison of UN justifying Great Britain’s colonizing Falklands against a much nearer Argentina to a thousand miles away United Kingdom?
Falklands wanted UK because they were never abandoned and populated by Briitish nationals , a legal justification for UN members to vote for an affirmative RE: British domination of the island…..But for Crimea with Ukraine’s faltering economy and population dominanated by Russians, why now thw annexation illegal, in fact if i am not mistaken , it was only a RE-ANNEXATION…..thanks sir @Baycas… I am with you but not with the USA this time…
Victin Luz says
Correction please @sir Leona …he he i am always thinking of my idol @sir baycas…
leona says
hehehe…@Victin…in my opn, the detalye of the facts re quite different but the end part the same…USA annexed Hawaii without a referendum;
…Russia’s Crimea annexing it has better favor…most in Crimea speak Russians and are Russian citizens [kuno];
…International law Russia disregarded…it took opportunity of events to take Crimea knowing NATO and US cannot do anything.Who always follow the International Law?
Falkland issue …the island is inhabited by British citizens, 8000 miles from GB. Argentina didn’t follow International law too.
…’Pinas taken over by USA in the past, occupied it ’til 1946. It was a messy set up, no Int’l Law; $20M was used to justify the conquest. ‘Conquest’ under Int’l law, I don’t know much.
Ukraine’s Crimea used to be part of Russia; given to Ukraine by Kruschev. Putin has a different thought. Maybe disorder at Crimea was then taking place, so give it to Ukraine to achieve peace/order. Corruption rules Ukraine includ Crimea. So, disorder again. This time Russia gets interested. History of the few weeks tells us the end.
Now, Pres. Obama tells Pres. Putin, withdraw Russian forces at the border of Ukraine. Meaning, Crimea is de facto part of Russia. Fait Accompli ha! More sanctions on Russia may compel it to move to take the whole of Ukraine easily.
USA not anymore ‘a world policeman’…no money, more politics in-fighting. Tired of wars too. Europe will move only when USA leads the action. Not today.
China will make moves to get Phil islands at Phil Sea, maybe. We can’t do anything. China has about $!T with USA. In case of actual conflict, we don’t know what happens next.
UN needs more ‘teeth’ but just like a legislative body of humans, each has their own personal reasons before other items first. My initial opn. Correct me on the ‘lyrics’ if any [I don’t know, it’s just summertime]
Victin Luz says
He he [email protected] .. Yes its ” summertime and the living is easy ” and Crimea was an easy prey for Russia too.. he he ….International Law it’s not for Meriam Santiago either he he because she can not reciprocate with the Chinese well he he..
leona says
“UNITED NATIONS — In the first barometer of global condemnation of Russia’s annexation of Crimea, Ukraine and its Western backers persuaded a large majority of countries in the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday to dismiss the annexation as illegal, even as Russia sought to rally world support for the idea of self-determination.”
Why not use this style by the Philippines vs China…on a resolution?
“The resolution garnered 100 votes in favor, 11 votes against, with 58 abstentions. The two-page text does not identify Russia by name, but describes the referendum as “having no validity” and calls on countries not to recognize the redrawing of Ukraine’s borders.”
Maybe ‘a referendum’ at those islas won’t do for China! Zero vote!
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/28/world/europe/General-Assembly-Vote-on-Crimea.html?emc=edit_na_20140327&nlid=49716526&_r=0
leona says
…same link above –
“The votes of some nations also reflected their specific grievances. Bolivia, which opposed the resolution, railed against the United States, saying it had used its military and economic power to build “a unipolar world.” St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which abstained, said that while it supported the principles of the United Nations Charter, the United States and the European Union had not applied international law. Georgia, which supported the resolution, said the fate of Crimea was a flashback to Russia’s invasion of Georgia’s territory in 2008. Cyprus, another supporter, said it “suffered from foreign occupation.”
China’s fate will be worst than Russia by the former’s attempt for foreign occupation of Philippine territories as there are ‘no Chino-speaking citizens on those islands being subjected to violence by pinoys!”
The fish, octupuses, sea weeds, Baracudas, sea horses, sharks, atbpa all speak Filipino…and English!
david says
Yes but energy speaks a universal language called “money”
moonie says
david and leona, apparently, emerging patriotism gives a much better high than ill-gotten money. abs-cbnnews.com reported that our civilian ship with reporter chiara sambrano on board managed to break through chinese blockade at ayungin, and resupply our marines holed up there. the chinese told them to go back, but the pinoys insisted and pushed on, 2x they were told to go back, and still the pinoys insisted and did not change course. and when they eventually reached shallow water, the chinese could not pursue them anymore.
parang spannish armada in the time of elizabeth the 1st of england. spain has more ships, better and bigger ships than england, carried more cannons and with good supply of ammunitions on board. england has less ships, they were smaller but more maneuverable and able to outrun the bigger ships. in the end, elizabeth the 1st won the encounter at sea, burned many of the clumsy and bulky spannish ships, and gave the spannish armada such beating, it took a while for spain to recover from the loss, their treasury made poorer.
david says
@moonie,
That was a gutsy move by the civilian ship. The ship’s defiance brought back a mental image of the guy standing in front of the army tank in Tianaman Square years ago.
raissa says
Can you see pls how Philippines voted?
Kalahari says
Raissa, the 11 countries that that voted “No” all belong to Russia’s bloc such as Armenia, Belaruz, Bolivia, Cuba, North Korea, Nicaragua, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Zimbabwe. China probably abstained but the Philippines, being with the US bloc, very likely voted “yes” to the resolution.
Kalahari says
Latest from CNN online shows, among others, that US officials believe, from intel sources, that Moscow may invade eastern and southern Ukraine to establish a land bridge into Crimea, pressing west to Transdniestria (Moldova) and also seek land grabs in the Baltics (Lithuania,etc)
The Russian troops on the border with Ukraine, exceeding 30,000, include large numbers of “motorized” units that can quickly move. Additional special forces, airborne troops, air transport and other units that would be needed appear to be at a higher state of mobilization. Such scenario was last seen when Russia invaded Chechnya and Georgia in early 1999.
For Putin’s military misadventures, the Russian economy will surely suffer and public discontent may unseat him from power sooner than expected. The capital flight has already exceeded $200 billions excluding the effects of western economic sanctions.
Victin Luz says
@kalahari……iyan ang hindi ko maintindihan WHY sanction Russia with a 200B$ …..komo ba kakampi nila ang UKRAINE dapat patawan na nila o natin ng economic sanction?
Kalahari says
It was not sanction but investors’ withdrawal of their investments in Russia due to uncertainty.
Victin Luz says
Kaya mga trough the influence of USA favoring Ukraine not to lost Crimea to Russia..ganoon ba… UNCERTAINTY on the economy of Russia can be accepted but due to Crimea’s willingness to be annexed by Russia ,,parang malabo ata @kalahari…Will it be reasonable ?
Martial Bonifacio says
The result 100 in favour to 11 against, with 58 abstentions:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=47443&Cr=ukraine&Cr1=#.UzT0jvmcK2U
Philippines voted in favor though the information came from wiki. China voted to abstain.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_General_Assembly_resolution_68/39
parengtony says
“… China voted to abstain.”
Magulang talaga.
vander anievas says
@p.tony,
may araw din ang kagulangan ng mga iyan…
Kalahari says
I’m apprehensive about their local Maoist agents, many of them in position of of influence as well as full control of vital industries.
Something must be done by us soonest – the Chinese bullies are slowly controlling our western territories like what they did to mischief reef in 1994.
Stop the rhetorics and act now, Mr. President
leona says
From this link the UN chart on the voting shows Philippines voted in favor of Ukraine’s resolution…a green plus sign [+] means ‘YES’ for Philippines
http://www.voanews.com/content/un-general-assembly-declares-crimean-vote-to-join-russia-invalid/1880715.html
parengtony says
“One hundred countries voted in favor of the resolution, which was introduced by Canada, Costa Rica, Germany, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine. Reuters reports that Western diplomats sent a message highlighting Russia’s political isolation. The 11 nations that voted against the resolution, however, aren’t necessarily against political isolation from the West. These 11, whose leaders have been critical of the United States and other Western nations, are:
Armenia
Belarus
Bolivia
Cuba
North Korea
Nicaragua
Russia
Sudan
Syria
Venezuela
Zimbabwe”
Kamison says
Crimea Declared Independence, Rejoins Mother Russia
United Nations General Assembly on the Ukrainian resolution declaring Crimea’s vote on March 16 in favor of seceding from Ukraine as having “no validity” passed with 100 votes in favor, 11 against and 58 abstentions. Another 24 U.N. member states did not cast votes.
Indifference to Russia’s plight
SOURCE: Paul Craig Roberts – The Greatest Crisis In Mankind’s History, http://kingworldnews.com/kingworldnews/KWN_DailyWeb/Entries/2014/3/26_Paul_Craig_Roberts_-_The_Greatest_Crisis_In_Mankinds_History.html
—
– The Danger of False Narrative By Robert Parry, http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Danger-of-False-Narrat-by-Robert-Parry-False-Accusations-Of-Terrorism_False-News-Reports_Hypocrisy_Neocons-140327-144.html
– “… Russia’s forcible annexation of the Crimean peninsula.” WRONG
– Click for more Updates on Ukraine.
Kamison says
Ukraine National Elections scheduled on May 25, 2014
Aspiring Presidentiables.
– http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304418404579465094137434568
On or before Nat’l Elections
– Russia warns of intimidation against Ukrainians, http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/03/29/356405/russia-warns-of-intimidating-ukrainians/
– Obama Urges Russia To Pull Troops Back From Ukraine Border In Call With Putin, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/28/obama-putin-call_n_5052012.html
– McCain and Graham: US must send lethal arms to Ukraine counter Russian move, http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/03/28/356383/us-should-send-lethal-arms-to-ukraine/
When Russo-Ukrainians are harassed, assaulted, maimed or killed in Ukraine – Russia is left no choice but to cross its border & invade its neighbor to protect its Russian brethren from ultra-nationalists and neo-nazis. A civil war could ensue, it may divide Ukraine into two regions – West (pro EU) and East (pro Russia).
If NATO and the US gets involved militarily, get acquainted with The DEFCON Warning System (http://defconwarningsystem.com/). You may flick your middle finger to WW .
—
Additional Reads from Paul Craig Roberts:
– Pushing Toward The Final War, http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2014/03/28/pushing-toward-final-war-paul-craig-roberts/
– How Much War Does Washington Want?, http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2014/03/26/much-war-washington-want-paul-craig-roberts/
Kamison says
News You Don’t Read In The Mainstream After The Crimea Secession
After Crimea seceded from Ukraine and declared their independence – Crimea voted overwhelming to rejoin mother Russia.
NOW other eastern cities of Ukraine such as Donetsk, Lugansk and Kharkov are also following the same movement for independence and federalization of Ukraine.
Activists declare Donetsk republic after capturing regional administration in Eastern Ukraine, http://rt.com/news/donetsk-republic-protestukraine-841/
(Published time: April 07, 2014 10:07, Edited time: April 07, 2014 10:58)
Related articles:
– https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimean_status_referendum,_2014
– http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26598832
– http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/17/crimea-referendum-final-results_n_4977250.html
Victin Luz says
TECHNICAL ASPECT of our Sub- Station and Transmission Facilities ( NGCP ) were never been controlled by CHINESE engrs. or by Mainland China.. And it can not be done by the 40% Chinese Mainland Group alone without the conivance of LOCAL NGCP employees/mangers manning every Sub- Stations and Transmission Facilities..especially if they want to sabotage the SYSTEM…
vander anievas says
our great power saboteurs are the npa’s…
those people who love mao and mao’s ideas.
i may be wrong…
are our upper and lower houses greater?
macspeed says
Technically, there maybe an RTU (Remote Terminal Unit) in Beijing for operation of Power grip in Philippine…BUT THAT IS NOT A GOOD ENGINEERING AND GOOD BUSINESS…
IF EVER THERE IS, STILL NO WORRIES, JUST A TWIST OF A KNOB CALLED “LOC-REM” (Local-Remote selector switch) in MAIN CONTROL ROOM, then everything will be local operation…he he he he
SO NO WORRIES GENTS AND LADIES…FILIPINO ENGINEERS ARE MUCH MUCH BETTER THAN ANY ENGINEER IN NASA, HE HE HE HE INSTRUMENTATION AND CONTROL SYSTEM IS WHERE I AM EARNING MONEY, THE RULE FOR INSTRUMENTATION ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD IS “SAFETY” !!! WITHOUT IT ACCIDENT MAY HAPPEN, TO AVOID THAT, A LOC-REM IS REQUIRED….
THE BANGSA MORO AND PNOY GOVERNMENT AGREEMENT IS ONE OF THE BEST POLITICAL PHENOMENOM IN PHILIPPINE POLITICS…JUST WATCH AFTER A DECADE SKY SCRAPERS ASCENDING in those BANGSA MORO AREA, perhaps a disneyland he he he whatever success, it will benefit FILIPINOS….BRAVO PNOY….
macspeed says
Technically, there maybe an RTU (Remote Terminal Unit) in Beijing for operation of Power GRID in Philippine…
moonie says
it’s highly possible, mac, too highly possible.
Victin Luz says
[email protected]…that ( remote thermal unit at Main Control Room ) at the NGCP are all manned/manage by ex-NAPOCOR engineers re -hired by TRANSCO and absorbed by NGCP…..Chinese Engineers presence in the Philippines it was because 33 and 1/3 % ownership of NGCP ( 40% na pala ngayon ) …INSTRUMENTATION’s and other Departments at NGCP are also RUN/MANAGE by ex-NAPOCOR engrs. TO DATE….
LOAD DISPATCH center is located near or beside/at the back of the present NAPOCOR and NGCP buildings at AGHAM ROAD ( BIR road ) quezon city…..
REMOTE THERMAL UNIT in BEJING….it can not be and there is none…even at CONTROL ROOMs on every NGCP Sub -Stations are manage by Filipino Engrs. from Switch Board OPERATORs to DATA ENCODERs at the switchyards are Filipino’s……if they are thinking of hiding programed chip’s/diagram’s intended to control the LOAD DISPATCH in BEJINg,,,,puputok agad iyan noon pa sana ,,,and beside Computer EXPERTs at SOD ( System Operation Department of NGCP ) are mostly Filipinos if not ALL… Taga tayuman at tanaun lang ang mga INTSIK doon…
vander anievas says
gentlemen, pardon me…
kung ang senate at congress wala pang 5% ang intsik na-sabotahe ang pdaf.
un pang 40% ang hindi makapagkontol ng isang sistema.
wala naman yan sa control/instrument.ation system.
tao ang nagpapagana ng control. pera for short.
kahit pa mayroong fail safe system na sinasabi. hindi yun ang masasaabotahe.
pera-pera yan.
jln was in control sa pdaf scam dahil sa pera. si jln ba mas makapangyarihan pa kaysa sa 3 bugok? hindi. pero may sop. may pakinabang ang 3. presto, may scam na.
at ang ngcp ay money business. katulad ng bigas. ng ilegal na meth/eph crystals.
katulad ng karburo at ayungin shoals. may pera yan
sa kailaliman niyan ay trilyong dolyar ang nakahiga.
at kung sino ang may control sa pera, siyang may control sa ekonomiya.
Victin Luz says
[email protected]….perapera lang iyan hehe…
letlet says
According to NGCP Cynthia Alabanza, SGCC ( who owns 40 % control of NGCP) does not have control. It does not have influence anything beyond the technological aspect of the business.
Is C. Alabanza sure of what she is saying? Is she saying SGCC is a lame duck on NGCP? For all that matter an investor, with a promise of technology transfer, owning 40% of the corporation has still great influence by virtue of a shareholder’s agreement.
If SGCC hasn’t fulfilled its technology transfer, then it has breached the contract and be subjected to some kind of penalty.
Victin Luz says
@letlet…Technological Aspect like every manufacturers/suppliers of ordered/delivered equiptments , because of GUARANTEEs, WARRANTIEs , we can say ” may pakialam o nakialam o makikialam sila dyan, diba ” . Now , if we go now on the INSTALLATION of such an equiptments , although on this PHASE of WORK it will be undertaken by Filipino Engrs and skilled technicians WITHIN/ HIRED permanebt by NGCP OR OR ,it can be SUB- CONTRACTED outside NGCP , Chinese Engrs,/ INSPECTORs are present definitely to supervise and SEE TO IT that all the procedures as called for on the pertinent SPECIFICATIONs on every equiptment being INSTALLED….( all diagramns/plans/specification’s are TURNED OVER to NGCP Sub-Stations and Transmission Offices/Filipino Managers for future purposes like during repair and maintenace )
AFTERWARDs…during the OPERATION PHASE of the SYSTEM ( Sub-Station up to the Transmission Lines that ends to a particular ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE distribution lines ) mga NGCP Filipino halos lahat na iyan ang nagawa kasi…. EXPERTISE natin ito since NAPOCOR days to date……papasok uli MAYBE kung kailngan pa sya ng Filipino technicians/mangers pag may ABIERTAS to an installed equiptments before , if with all those papers mandated by every suppliers/manufacturers to LEAVE to NGCP offices , ay may gusto pang linawin sa plano o dili kaya aasarin nya ang Chinese counterparts nila at nasa isipnila ay, tutal mas malaki ang sahod nila na taga tayuman o tanawan kaysa sa kanila,, During the REPAIRS and MAINTENANCE ay nabalik sila……..HERE on my explanations very clear it was all TECHNICAL ASPECTs……
TECHNOLOGICAL ASPECTs…..computer programings, programmed CHIPs for such an equiptments WHAT are they going to transfer to us? teaching us ? Palagay kung mayroon man silang dapat ibahagi sa atin ,will be an IOTA of knowledge that can or already acquired by our Filipino Managers/Egineers during their compulsury trainings/seminars before an equiptment will be delivered and installed or EXPERIENCED acquired by them during their NAPOCOR days wherein USA and EUROPEAN equiptments were delivered and installed..
Also i agree with [email protected] sa mangement aspects of NGCP at40% ownership may SAY SILA …dagdag ko ha LALONG LALO na that 33 and 1/3 % was owned by HENRY SY , and the remaining % of ownership was also owned by TSINOYs including SY again,,, kakampi ba natin mga Filipino Intsik na mga ito? Ito ang dapat nating tanungin at alamin…
letlet says
I wonder if Henry Sy is paying the right taxes to the government. I read BIR Chief Henares is selective of whom she is going after to know if they were paying the right taxes.
Victin Luz says
Malamang hindi nga nagbabayad @letlet ng tamang TAXES,,,and until now sales girls/ladies of SM are being terminated every few ( 6 ) months at most , in order for SM management to save milion of pesos that are intended for their benefits. MAGULANG ang intsik he he…
baycas says
The terms “china,” “ngcp,” and “arroyo” in one page…
More here: http://www.philstar.com/opinion/446536/arroyo-cronies-flock-energy
raissa says
Jarius IS reliable.
leona says
Right ‘you cpmer’ …they won’t lift the secrecy of bank deposits! But from Spkr Belmonte’s statement, some guidelines can be work out…:
1) only lawmkers’ and other public officials [elected/appointed] bank deposits will be ‘opened’…
2) for others…private parties, a need for a court order after due hearing, can the bank deposits be opened.
…capital flights on scuttling the bank secrecy law will be only done by those in No. 1 above;
…on No. 1 above, THEY REALLY FEAR on it.
…No, it is not all citizens’ privacy rights to be violated but only on No. 1 above.
…BIR can suggest ‘specifics’ for those in No. 1 above, as suggested by Rep. Romero Quimbo [Marikina].He’s agreeable for ‘a certain degree of determination’…let’s say at 55% degree and above, anything lower no can do!
…for No. 1 above, a ‘chilling effect?’…I doubt they can be chilled unless 55% at least shows he/she has to open up the bank deposits.
…for Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo says the BSL [secrecy law] should not be disturbed at this time…WHEN? ’til kingdom COME?
Congress will relent…BIR get ready for specifics guidelines etc.!
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/03/27/1305488/house-wont-lift-secrecy-bank-deposits
Martial Bonifacio says
@Raissa @Kalahari 1st posted this so our fellow CPMers can check the NGCP personalities and their past occupation/background (serving Chinese Communist Party Controlled Companies).
Link: https://www.ngcp.ph/corporate.asp?id=40
Before i was a supporter of Cha-Cha so that our constitution will be flexible in managing governments budget since the biggest recipient if i understand it correctly is for education, though we need defense budget due to increase of assertiveness of China.
But after hearing Cong. Belmonte that his priority in Cha-Cha is the 60-40% ownership of land and companies, i decided not to support it anymore because China have the purchasing power and funds to purchase some important companies, infrastructure, industries (Ex: NGCP, telcos etc.) which they might use to manipulate other sectors and industries in our country if we go against Beijing’s will.
One more thing Raissa do you have any idea how many shares of stock these people from China have in NGCP? Since i cant find any link to find out who have the majority stake in NGCP. Some sectors of communication in the Philippines have been infiltrated by Huawei.
Martial Bonifacio says
Regarding the GPH-MILF deal. I guess the 1st spoilers run…… and they run very fast as shown in the video since the Makabayan bloc disrupted the Moro peoples prayers reading the koran.
Wrong timing ang mga militante, talo pa si Andres Bonifacio. abilis atakbo hahahahaha :)
Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/metro-manila/03/27/14/activists-muslims-face-mendiola
Kalahari says
NGCP is a joint venture of the State Grid of China (40%), Metro Oro Grid Resources Corp. of the Phl, and Calaca High Power Corp. (wikipedia)
The owners of Metro Oro and Calaca are not named but very likely the Henry Sy family has interest in Metro Oro.
Whatever, the ownership of a major infrastructure owned by our enemy, including its technology still in their hands, is a major concern in the future in the face of chinese insistence on the dubious 9-dash line backed by its military might,
FVR’s legacy was privatizing Petron that deprived the govt of bargaining power over increases in fuel, while gma’s sale of NGCP to chinese groups raises concern about our power infrastructure in the hands of the enemy.
PNoy could leave a lasting legacy if he can nationalize the NGCP during his term. I’ll support his candidates if he can muster enough guts to re-acquire the power transmission grid.
Victin Luz says
Tama ka dyan @kalahari,,,we must acquire again TRANSCO and retain NPC remaining Power Plants like Angat Hydro Electric Power Plant , Agus Hydro Electric Power Plant and to increase their efficiency ratings and Build New plants , a counter action for an steady supply of electricity demands and a lower price per kilowatts in the event IPPs conspire with NGCP in declaring an artificial low supply of electricity and beg for higher price per KW…
raissa says
you have a point.
sykes says
40% chinese, 30% henry sy group and the other 30% owned by another chinoy
huawei is the supplier of pocket wifis for both smart and globe. not sure how foolproof the system is but i once scanned a pocket wifi and there was an iffy file/program in it. could be just fallse alarm though. not sure if the new models can be hacked but the older ones were easy to hack. i bet the mobile telcos didn’t like that one bit. ;)
moonie says
sykes, I think, the program there is placed for a reason, ignore it at your own peril. the program is like a spyware that will report back to mother company all of your activities done on pocket wifi. it will then be easy to find out your marketing preferences and may even be sending you spams and other solicitations. you will then be included in mailing lists which can be passed on exponentially to others whether you like it or not. the same thing could also happen to all your contacts, you may have inadvertently given a 3rd party to access to them as well.
sykes says
deleted it moonie when it automatically installed in my laptop. not sure if it was one of the measures done to prevent people from..ahem….hacking the pocket wifi…;)
sykes says
we just have to trust that for huawei, the company’s bottomline is their bottomline because spywares or malwares in their products would surely destroy their reputation
vander anievas says
all in the web is hackable.
no exemption.
the 1st world technologies aren’t spared.
tzaineeze wizards hack all…
sykes says
this is not the web vander though you are right with that…the “questionable” file was in the pocket wifi though i was a tad flummoxed when at first glance the filename wasn’t in the pocket wifi…i’m generally wary of files that tend to be hidden
moonie says
good guys dont usually hide, the bad ones do. good guys ask permission and give you option: to download or not, to continue or not, and to cancel.
companies like huawei give 99% product guarantee, it’s the 1% that cannot be guaranteed that we have to be worried about.
leona says
Now, we are all into summertime…
…sing the song, the lyrics here –
Summertime,
And the livin’ is easy
Fish are jumpin’
And the cotton is high
Your daddy’s rich
And your mamma’s good lookin’
So hush little baby
Don’t you cry
One of these mornings
You’re going to rise up singing
Then you’ll spread your wings
And you’ll take to the sky
But till that morning
There’s a’nothing can harm you
With daddy and mamma standing by
Summertime,
And the livin’ is easy
Fish are jumpin’
And the cotton is high
Your daddy’s rich
And your mamma’s good lookin’
So hush little baby
Don’t you cry
…don’t ‘we’ cry…just sweat it out! Make it your Ringtone to your Mobile –
http://www.stlyrics.com/songs/g/georgegershwin8836/summertime299720.html
Joe America says
Ah, yes, I roam around the house singing the first two stanzas, as I can’t remember the rest. It is a great good night song for the little ones, sung softly, even if it is a pack of lies. As it was for slaves on the plantation, but we can all dream . . . and give comfort to the vulnerable . . . I listen to the version by Billie Holiday (Lady Sings the Blues: the Best of Billie Holiday). It is the scratchy, tinny 78 RPM version (you youngsters probably don’t even know what that means), and considering what a conflicted soul Billie Holiday was, it falls into the category of poignant. Billie died of drugs . . . rather like Elvis and Judy Garland and Michael, so there is gender and racial equality in all things I suppose. Except Michael might have been negligently murdered by his doctor . . .
But I ramble . . .
raissa says
:)
leona says
yeah!…but my voice strings are always snap-ken!…
macspeed says
i did have 45 rpm which is smaller than 78 size records, you just made me blue @Joe Am he he he but very subtle feeling, such as remembering those high school friend while the noise of pouring rain rhyming with the melody of yester years he he he
Joe America says
ah, a a poet masquerading as a blogger, eh? Fine recollection . . . and now I’m blue . . . :)
pelang says
@macspeed, just a few days ago, I accidentally heard on the internet as it interrupted my surfing activities with advertisements, a song that just popped-up without warning and this song has a familiar melody but i never got to know the lyrics or who the singer was- Back then, when this song hit on the airwaves, there was no internet yet which unlike now, you could google and learn the melody with the lyricsin youtube) .I just knew some familiar stanzas which goes, “maybe the old songs will bring back the old times….. and so fort. I at once googled this song. Ah! I said to myself. it’s a song of David Pomeranz and the title is “The Old songs”. In it were some lyrics which said, “..and if all these plans are made to melt the lady’s heart., I’ll put on the OLD FORTY-FIVES.”
and i wondered, will the young ones ever know what old forty-fives mean?
Sigh! How I loved these songs and how meaningful they were to me then.
macspeed says
@pelang
he he he he these kids will not care about the old times he he he
they have USB, bluetooth & internet he he he whenever i played
2014 songs from USB, my youngest one immediately say, please next song, next one and so on until she hears what she like he he he
new songs with meaningful lyrics are just the same with the old songs, once
you heard them, you may like playing it again and again…but just the same, they will become classic in just one week time he he he
baycas says
Thanks, @leona.
What a breather…just remembered my CDs ‘in the attic’…especially of Ella and Louis…
http://youtu.be/AUVVGZ7AIqk
♩ ♪ ♫ ♬
“Summertime”
♬ ♪ ♫ ♩
leona says
‘Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong?”…beautiful!
hahaha… O.K.
leona says
…very nice link! Thanks @baycas.
Rene-Ipil says
On January 15, 2014, Victin Luz wrote in “Power Rates and privatization . . .:”
“maybe we should WATCH the FRANCHISE GIVEN to NGCP,”
I replied:
“[email protected]
You are right. The consortium that won the 25-year concession for NGCP in 2009 comprises of Razon of the aborted ZTE-NBN deal, Coyiuto and the State Grid Corporation of China. Yes, the NGCP franchise took the place of the infamous ZTE-NBN deal which was cancelled by GMA in October 2007 after the investigation conducted by senate blue ribbon chaired by Senator Alan Cayetano. The millions of dollars advanced by ZTE to Mike Arroyo, et. al., were paid back with the award of the 25-year NGCP concession. A generation of Filipino people now bear the burden of paying the amount of bribe pocketed by Mike Arroyo, et. al. in the aborted ZTE-NBN deal.
“According to Joey de Venecia, Mike Arroyo and Razon were closest of friends and the “coach” and “assistant coach” of the ZTE-NBN team, respectively. Indeed, Aboitiz also participated by using his home as meeting place for GMA and former speaker de Venecia to reconcile with de Venecia, Jr.
“It appears that the ZTE-NBN masters are also POWER lords.”
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/65767/news/nation/mike-arroyo-packaged-entire-nbn-zte-deal-de-venecia-iii
Rene-Ipil says
In my post now awaiting moderation I said:
“Yes, the NGCP franchise took the place of the infamous ZTE-NBN deal which was cancelled by GMA in October 2007 after the investigation conducted by senate blue ribbon chaired by Senator Alan Cayetano.”
I included the first link.
I hope this second link will pass.
http://www.inquirer.net/specialreports/nbndeal/view.php?db=1&article=20071026-96818
Victin Luz says
It is not easy for the mainland Chinese Engr’s at NGCP to sabotage their Sub- Stations and Transmission facilities without the cooperation of Filipino and Tsinoy who owned 60% parts of NGCP… Sub-Stations, Transmission Faclities are manned by Filipino engrs. and Managers . So as other departments thereat, like Quality Assurance/Control and Maintenance Department…..Even without the Chinese Engineers , lomg before tthey both TRANSCO , it was already expertly RUN by Filipino NAPOCOR engineers and technicians. Line gangs who routinely patrol the majority lenght of the Transmission Lines are Filipinos….
A CONSPIRACY between the interwined owners of BOTH the NGCP and most IPP- Power Plants ( generating units ) in creating an ARTIFICIAL brown out’s or an ARTIFICIAL transformers/Sub-Station shut-downs is more POSSIBLE..
Victin Luz says
” FIBER OPTICs ” to run a broad band communiction system ZTE NBN are also incorporated to the NPC-TRANSCO and now NGCP transmission lines… Expensive and main parts of a Broad Band system…
Victin Luz says
Correction pls. Bought Transco..
Kalahari says
Victin, I hope you’re right that the transmission lines are operated by Filipino engineers.
However, I have reservation due to Rafael Alunan’s and Mar Roxas’ assertion for the transfer of technology to the locals, which has not been complied with until now.
Victin Luz says
Very SURE ako 100% @kalahari….technical knowhow or expertise in TROUBLE SHOOTINGs of transformers , generators and other equiptments although some were made in CHINA ,,before any units are purchased to the Chineses Manufacturers and also those with an indent order’s at Europeans ,US Company’s ,,, Filipino engrs from NAPOCOR, TRANSCO and now NGCP , part of the contract ,they have to inspect and TRAIN/SEMINARs for the technical knowhow of equiptment’s to be purchased and installed in the Philppines to PREVENT the deliveries of underspecs/less efficiency equiptments and to TROUBLE SHOOT them in case of unwarranted TRIPPINGs of equiptments that will cause brownouts or power interruptions during it’s installation and during operation’s..
Connivance ang malaki nating ptoblema dyan @kalahari…he he alam muna tayong mga Filipino pag nangangailangan kahit sa patalim nakapit….
But i still believe CONSPIRACY between the intertwined owners of BOTH the NGCP and POWER PLANTs owners , ang mas HIGIT NATING BANTAYAN,,, if they wanted a power price increase and will not be given by ERB ,they can manipulate an ARTIFICIAL system losses and brown outs…
Victin Luz says
With regards naman sa mga spare parts of those purchased and installed equiptments coming from CHINA,,,Filipino ingenuity ,proven na ito …basta makakita ng paggagayahan …magagaya natin at ang efficiency could even outran the original one..sakaling China will hold spare parts for actual repairs not a simulated breakdowns…..
Victin Luz says
Transfer of technology from China Engr’s to Filipino Engr’s ……kung mayroon man iyan , in a small percentage maybe and can be OVERCOME by the technology we had inherited from JAPAN, US ,AUSTRALIA and other European Nation’s.. PRACTICALITY ba @kalhari… remember CHINA only borrowed their technology from JAPAN , US diba ang karamihan….
IN FACT…..that TRANSCO now ngcp….HINDI dapat kasama sa privatization ng NAPOCOR kasi…iyan ay malaking malaki kung KUMITA noon at KIKITAIN sana ng NAPOCOR ( WYING CHARGES ) at easy to manage and to maintain ……that is WHY until now RAMOS men were WRONG in including Sub- Stations and Transmission Tower that were privatized….
van says
Thanks for the slideshare, Raissa. Going through it was disheartening (ASEAN disunity), a bit comforting (favorable int’l opinion), but left me infuriated mostly over GMA/MDSantiago’s treasonous nudge that’s left us deeper in this corner (and without consequence to them!).
I really feel so emotional. After reading your post and and headed towards this old post by ET ->http://www.ellentordesillas.com/2008/03/13/trillanes-statement-on-baseline-bills/
and considering the fellow Pinoy rice smugglers sabotaging our own economy and all the Napoleses and corrupt NBI heads making headlines, #[email protected]^$%^#*&*((@# are there really so few of us who love our country?? I am close to not minding if people took it into their hands to exact some justice against these traitors.
Kalahari says
For reason of national security, PNoy must nationalize the national grid and super ferry operations – otherwise we could find ourselves being part of Hainan without firing a shot..
We all know how the thinking of the Chinese bullies towards our western territories and if push comes to shove, all they have to do is instruct the Chinese engineers operating the transmission lines to sabotage our power supply.
Gma is suffering now and will suffer longer for selling the country to the Chinese expansionists
Kamison says
To buy or pay out foreign investments? Gov’t has limited cash or tight on credit, but has hoards of gold to lease out (apportion), sell or issue gold certificates to trade.
Truth or tale, Google search, use keyword = TALLANO GOLD
moonie says
. . . and if the chinese engineers do sabotage our power grid, they dont even have to be physically in the country to do that. they already have the master key and can operate outside our country with just a push of a button.
chinese enginners will not just hand us tech control of the grid, they’ll say our engineers are not up to it and not good enough. besides, our engineers might dig deeper and found out there are peripherals and hidden attachments attached to the grid that secretly convey classified information to china via satellite.
leona says
‘Roxas had cited security issues and called on China to abide by the contract to transfer technology and control to Filipino engineers.’ Does it have a ‘Time Period” when tech and control are transferred to Filipino engineers?
‘Chinese control of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) that interconnects the power companies to consumers in Luzon and Visayas islands.’ Does ‘Chinese control’ mean 60% of capitalization is owned by them [under Sec. 11 Arti. XII of the Constitution which requires that 60% is owned by Filipino?]
The same question for the Supper Ferry Group formerly owned by the Aboitiz family?
China’s possible threat? If the NGCP and Supper Ferry Group are found in China, obviously we can’t do anything. But since both are here, can’t we do anything if China go ahead to make the threat come true?
If NGCP’s operations are halted thru China’s act, a prelude to an act of war for conquest of the islands, isles claimed by the Philippines…a sabotage is a crime under Philippine law. NGCP is owned and managed by the son of Mr. Henry Sy, the ‘Junior’? [SM Shopping Malls] it used to be National Transmission Corporation [TRANSCO]. I heard Mr. Enrique Razon was the former controlling stocks owner of it.
For me, it is not the threat. It is the possible sabotage that are the problems in NGCP and the Super Ferry entities.
Thanks for this reporting Raissa.
Joe America says
I think if China elects to wreak havoc on the Philippines, that can be done in numerous ways. I am also reminded of how, after Yolanda, we went weeks living in isolation from the outer world. It is disorienting, to say the least.Perhaps the government should be developing contingency plans to nationalize the grid operators and bring in foreign resources to put back together whatever China renders asunder. I tend to think China would not be that destructive in response to the filing of a legal brief. If they are, then Mr. Aquino better get on the phone to his buddy Obama and get some muscle over here mighty quick. If the phone works. Ours did not after Yolanda . . .
leona says
You are right @Joe…like we’ll all be hit by a Panda-landa from/by China!…copy-cat of Yolanda.
moonie says
it’s like in the olden days, joe, when telegraph was still around. the 1st things enemies do is cut off telegraph and power lines so communication cannot go through, and so, keep people in isolation, not knowing anything and unable to receive news , bulletins and updates. nowadays, communication towers are disabled so no transmission is possible.
we might end up going back to the pony express and using smoke signals.
Joe America says
Yes, true. Yolanda excelled at cutting things off, like gasoline and cell phones and banks, not to mention electricity. But our relentless brownouts had us prepared for the electricity outage. I’d bet there are more generators per person in the Philippines than most places. I also think the Chinese COULD make trouble, but they’d suffer a lot of pain as a result. The main problem with China’s strategy is the relentless ego-centered approach which does what China wants without regard to the well-being of other nations.That strategy will eventually turn around, like the snake it is, and bite China in the butt.
leona says
Why is it that our ‘leaders’ always show ‘our weakness’ and ‘enter into slanted agreements’ to our disadvantage? Excessive Money acquisition must be the root.
We are a ‘poor’ country and get’s poorer into very poor agreements!
How deep is the corruption in this country? Sooo deeeep!
leona says
More…’P5-B Pasig River Project anomalous: Aquino’ http://philnews.com/headlines/2014/headline_news_0327ac.htm
“President Aquino cited the project as among those tainted with corruption that was approved during the time of his predecessor, former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo.
“Now, we are making steps to ensure that those who are answerable will be made answerable,” he stressed.”
The President emphasized on ‘big-ticket projects.’
See…sooo deeep is corruption here. Thanks President NoyNoy!
On 2016 pres’l elections…will corruption take place sooo deeep just to get a candidate elected for P and VP? What stop-gaps are thought of for this?
leona says
‘Very disturbing’ …indeed! [like comment from NBI Director Virgilio Mendez]
‘MANILA – Justice Secretary Leila De Lima refuses to comment, for now, on reports that her ex-husband, Atty. Plaridel Bohol, reportedly one of the lawyers of alleged “pork barrel” scam architect Janet Lim Napoles, accompanied Napoles when she met with two top National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) officials prior to her arrest on serious illegal detention charges.’ http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/focus/03/26/14/de-limas-ex-hubby-napoles-lawyer
‘Esmeralda said he was forced to name his two former colleagues after having been suspected of leaking information to Napoles on the progress of the criminal case.’
Forced! It needs force to name names….indeed! Without force, do not name names.
Very disturbing…indeed. Sooo deeep na!