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CBCP head, Archbishop Soc Villegas, wades into the 2016 political fray

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Do you agree with CBCP’s guidelines for voters?

USE THIS - 2016 Elections UPDATES June 8-15Archbishop Socrates Villegas, president of the Catholic Church governing body, CBCP, has issued 10 points to ponder as the country greets the Election Year.

No. 8 is highly interesting –  A Catholic is not closed to the candidacy of a non-Catholic. It is a dramatic turn-around to the Church position in the 1992 presidential polls when the bishops opposed the candidacy of the  protestant Fidel Ramos.

No. 7 seems to be a warning against electing one of the incumbent presidential candidates who has voiced his support for three of these “vital issues as abortion, euthanasia, the return of the death penalty, divorce and the dilution of the character of Christian marriage.

I have not seen the effect of a “Catholic” vote in this mainly Catholic country, except maybe during the 1986 Edsa People Power. But by issuing these guidelines, the archbishop, who was once seen as the successor of Cardinal Jaime Sin, has entered the rough and tumble of political discourse.

Don’t worry, he’s used to it. – raissa

P.S. Definitely the last post in this old year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!

Wise as Serpents, Innocent as Doves

(Mt.10:16)

A Guide to Catholic Voters

As the rhetoric and the noise traditionally associated with Philippine politics and elections reach higher levels of intensity, we wish to offer some guidelines to our Catholic voters deriving from the moral teachings of the Church.

1.      Reject claims by candidates that they are candidates of the CBCP, or of a diocese, or of a particular bishop.  It has never been the practice of the Catholic Church to hold out a candidate to the faithful as the “chosen” candidate of the Church.  Church doctrine has remained consistent: Partisanship is an arena into which the Church should not venture.

2.      We your bishops commit to desist from any action or statement that may give the appearance of persuading the faithful to vote for a particular candidate.  While bishops, as citizens of the Republic, have the right to make their own choices, our office in the Church as well as our stature, of which we are all unworthy, urge upon us that circumspection that should prevent misunderstanding and confusion among our flock.

3.      The desired qualities of leaders as well as the political options open to the people are proper subjects of the collective discernment of the members of our lay Catholic communities and associations, as long as these take place in the context of prayer, a careful reading of the Scriptures in the light of the Church’s teaching, a sense of fairness and concern for the common good.

4.      The Catholic voter must evaluate candidates according to the model of Christ, who came to serve, not to be served.  They must look for the realization of Gospel values in the lives, words and deeds of those desirous of public office, realizing that there are no perfect candidates. There is a crucial difference between one who has been wrong in the past and is willing to amend his ways, and one who exhibits stubbornness and obstinacy.

5.      Surveys and polls show trends, and they are as limited as the methodology that is used to conduct them.  The Catholic therefore cannot make his or her choice depend on who is topping or trailing in the polls and surveys.  There is a vocation to authenticity: the Spirit-inspired courage and determination to make decisions for ourselves, setting ourselves free from “trends” and “herds”, to do what is right and to choose who is right!

6.      A Catholic cannot support a candidate who vows to wipe out religion from public life.  While we expect every public officer to give life to the constitutional posture of “benevolent neutrality” in respect to the attitude of the State towards religion, the Catholic voter cannot and should not lend his support to any candidate whose ideology binds him or her to make of the Philippines a secular state that has no tolerance for religion in its public life.

7.      Similarly, a Catholic voter cannot, in good conscience, support a candidate whose legislative or executive programs include initiatives diametrically opposed to Church moral teachings on such vital issues as abortion, euthanasia, the return of the death penalty, divorce and the dilution of the character of Christian marriage.

8.      A Catholic is not closed to the candidacy of a non-Catholic.  In fact, there are worthy candidates from other Christian communities and other religions.  Their qualifications and aspirations must be given serious heed by our Catholic voters, their truly helpful plans and visions must be supported.

9.      A candidate who has thus far spent his time demolishing the reputation and tarnishing the good name of fellow candidates must be suspect.  He may have nothing positive to offer, and he debases the level of political discourse by calling attention to the shortcomings of his rivals and competitors, rather than on the programs and projects he or she might have.

10.     We warn against the use of government resources, the power of government offices and instrumentalities and subtler forms of coercion and intimidation to promote the chances of a particular candidate.  It is God’s will to provide his people with shepherds after His merciful heart!

Finally, we appeal to COMELEC to insure that all the security measures mandated by the Automated Election Law be implemented diligently. The credibility of the elections and the stability of our democracy is at risk if the security and sanctity of the every ballot is compromised.
As Christians we will align ourselves not with powers like Herod who trembled at the news that the King had been born.  We shall, like the wise men, choose a different route, guided by intimations of the Gospel, and so do our part, in response to God’s initiative, to make all things new!

See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. (Matthew10:16)

From the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, December 30, 2015

+ SOCRATES B. VILLEGAS
   Archbishop of Lingayen Dagupan
   President, CBCP

Comments

  2. @Raissa,

    Just posted my article:

    Person of the Year, 2015!

    Bit lengthy that may be why it was quarantined.

    Please relese…

    Thanks.

    • Most of your article’s are lenghty….but ”bring it onnnn”

      I have a new mouse already….

      :-)

      Happy new year dear Parekoy…

      • Happy New year too!

        Unfortunately, it is three times lengthy than usual, but I was not able to edit it for I was usually writing on the fly…

    • i am always waiting for your lengthy posts, especially during free time. gooo enjoy clicking your mouse to give us your kilometric informative posts. a healthy year 2016 to you!

  3. Person of the Year 2015!

    This is my personal assessment on who deserves the honor of being the Person of the Year, 2015 for our godforsaken country!

    I’ll be fair and generous for 2015 was a very good year for the Philippines because of these persons!

    The top prize is shared by three:

    Aquino, Napoles, and our Netizens!

    Here are my  reasons why the Trinity deserves the accolade for without each 2015 was just an ordinary disappointing year for it could had been same-o same-o! 

    But lo and behold! With Napoles arrogance and cocksure of herself that indeed she is part of the syndicate which has enormous power, influence, and control of our government and its affairs within and outside, 2015 could had been a dud!

    Let us review why Napoles is the catalyst and one of the key legs of the three-legged stool!

    When Luy, her relative, thought that he was not getting his fair share in the illegal business of siphoning lawmakers’s pork barrel allocations through their elaborate scheme of organizing and registering shell NGOs, he tried doing a side business and Napoles was tipped off of his disloyalty. Napoles was furious and she kidnapped Luy and placed her under the custody of her favored spiritual advisers housed by her and kept Luy for some kind of rehabilitation for Napoles was kind enough that she does not kill relatives and she was giving Luy another chance. But Luy was able to contact his relatives and shared his plight and panicked that anytime he will be sent to see his maker. His relatives contacted the NBI and the agents felt lucky enough that a lucrative case was handed to them on a silver platter!

    The NBI agents were corrupt and they knew it well that Napoles is a big fish and an unevitable shakedown was an opportunity of a lifetime to let it pass! Thus they rescued Luy and took his statement and some incriminating evidence. The play was to use the evidence and Luy’s abduction as negotiating chips for the shakedown! The NBI agents immediately met Napoles and let their intention of negotiation is on the table and they were not shy asking for thirty million pesos as hush money! At first Napoles was haggling for paying only about a third but in the midst of the negotiations something irked Napoles for she did not like her counterpart’s way of threatening her. She snapped and decided she is not going to pay a dime! She even countered their threat with another threat, claiming that she is well connected and her connections own the government and the blackmailers will be the one paying the price for they don’t ever threaten the Queen of Pork!

    The meeting turned sour and Napoles contacted Sexy, Pogi and Tanda as well as Abad and Drilon for these blackmailers needed to be stopped and be put in their right place! Napoles warned Abad that the NBI is bad business and let De Lima take care of hushing these rogue agents who were extorting her for thirty million pesos!

    The problem was the NBI agents extortionists panicked and contacted the media and presented Luy to spill the beans! The situation went from manageable to worst for everybody involved!

    Napoles panicked too and now warning Abad, Drilon,  Enrile, Estrada, and Revilla to help her contain this mess for Luy has the records and evidence that will incriminate and sink them to the depths of hell!

    Aquino was informed by Abad and warned Aquino that Napoles has the power to bring down his government if they don’t act quickly. De Lima and her NBI agents involved were summoned and facts and history of the quagmire were revisited!

    Aquino was surprised how entrenched and powerful Napoles had become and Abad had no choice but to let Aquino know the scheme crossed partylines and a lot of LP stalwarts were involved and most of the Senate are involved with Napoles. Aquino did not know the extent and how blatant the scheme was but Abad shared with Aquino how it was done and Aquino was appalled that the Senators were getting 40-60% of their Pork Barrel and nothing went to the Filipino People! Aquino knew about corruption but he was surprised by the degree and impunity on how it was done and everything was thru paper signing and voila, the loot was divided among the Senators,Congressmen, DBM (Abad) the Department Secretaries like the favorite Dept. Of Agriculture, Prospero Alcala, LGUs and the lion share went to Napoles!

    The revelation shook Aquino but Ochoa and other advisers assessed the situation and had an all nighter on how to distance Aquino and his allies in this Napoles mess! Then after the geniuses in the President’s circle came up with a solution, they presented their plan to Aquino.

    The plan was brilliant in the history of political crisis management! It went like this. Since the NBI has Luy and his records and computer evidence then they have the upperhand for if they make Luy a state witness then Luy will be in their control as long as Luy keeps his loot too. To deal with Napoles, her husband was given the government’s term. Napoles will be detained but her family will be scot free and whatever assets they already stashed will be theirs as long as they go along with the script! Abad informed Aquino that they will be in trouble with DAP and Jinggoy will screwthem first if they don’t hit Jinggoy. The LP political strategists thought about every angle and concluded that Bong and Enrile should be jailed. The other guilty Senators will not be charged but be put on a leash since they can incriminate them anytime with Luy’s evidence. Abad has all the SAROs and Purisima has the AMLC and with Luy’s evidence and Napoles’ confession the cases against their targets are solid, in their assessment.

    The advisers were so convincing when they presented the plan to Aquino that this adversity could be turned into an opportunity! Enrile will be exposed, shamed and jailed  together with his concubine Gigi; Jinggoy’s ambition of being VP and Erap’s clout will be checked, and the inevitable run for VP of Bong will be shutdown and his hold on the lucrative DPWH and Cavite politics will be greatly diminished! Aquino was convinced and the counterplot was put into operation.

    Napoles, with her Lawyer Kapunan, surrendered to Aquino! Roxas and Purisima made sure that Napoles felt secured with them and the President escorted  her to Camp Crame. Napoles feared for her life for she was a marked woman. Enrile’s tentacles are all over the Military and she feared that by incriminating Enrile she was signing her death sentence! But Aquino assured her that as long as she cooperates then she and her family will be safe!

    The rest is history! And Napoles honored her side of the deal by amending her list! Kapunan knew well and she is vulnerable too for she knows too much for her own good! She eventually resigned as her lawyer for the pressure was unbearable. Napoles resigned her fate to Aquino’s hands and being part of the most powerful Pork Barrel Cartel she is smart enough to know that the Presidency is too powerful to cross, thus it is better to enjoy its protection!

    Napoles indeed is the unwitting catalyst who  accelerated the much needed reforms in our country, with concrete results!

    **

    Aquino as the accidental hero of 2015!

    Aquino surprised us by being the much loved abnormal president! Abnormal   Governance compared to his predecessors that his Presidency is an outlier compared to the failed Presidencies of the past!

    Aquino is obsessed in making a name for himself. His parents shadows are to big and could  eclipse whatever legacy his presidency could achieved but he remains hopeful that he makes a mark for himself!  But how? First he needs to  have justice for the maltreatment of her Sainted Mother by the puny Gloria. Then he needs to hound those who put a bullet in his body, the serial Coup Plotter Enrile, and lastly those who are responsible for his Dad’s assassination!

    Six years is too short for vengeance, but vengeance he must have!

    The master plan to make Gloria pay started when Aquino first sat in his presidential chair. He made sure that the Ombudsman Gutierrez was ousted, and she was an easy weak target. Then next was Corona. Corona is a loyal pitbull of Gloria and being the Chief Justice has great powers that if he knows how to wield it he could be the pain in the ass of the Aquino administration as well as serving his master Gloria. But in reality, the power of the Presidency is immense and the Legislative and the Judiciary are no match for the Philippine power structure is designed and biased towards a very strong Executive!

    Corona did the best that he could do for his master Gloria to give a TRO and let her leave the country. But De Lima was smarter and ignored Corona’s illegal ruling and apprehended Gloria and it was  high drama that our nation was entertained more than the telenovelas. On November 18, 2011, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was arrested and  suffering the wrath that Aquino unleashed to make her pay.

    Then it was Corona’s time to be on the guillotine! The Impeachment trial had begun. 

    Corona put up a good fight but Corona made a blunder by committing a grave mistake of self incrimination in front of the whole nation by admitting that he is a thief but not as greedy as the others, as if that justified his crime by using the peanut butter defense. Corona was laughed at by lawyers for acting as a non-lawyer! There is a rule in the medical field that even if you are a doctor you still need another doctor to perform your needed surgery! And similar to that esteemed profession, the not so honorable profession of law requires the same discipline: Don’t be your own lawyer! Thus Corona’s pride and arrogance buried his reputation and name to infamy!

    With Corona out of the picture, Gloria is assured to languished in prison hospital within Aquino’s presidency. Corona’s ouster also put on notice the SC that there is a new sheriff in town and this one does not think twice pulling out his pistol and pulls the trigger. SC’s Gloria dominated appointees received the memo and a new era of SC’s way of rendering justice is expected to change.

    Aquino likes the sound of Daang Matuwid, which was crafted  by his expensive political consultants. That was an expected propaganda but the twist is that Aquino believes that could be his legacy! Thus the LP corrupt politicians were alarmed when Aquino supported Ombudsman Carpio-Morales giving her enormous powers that may affect the corrupt politicians of LP. But Aquino sticks with the Ombudsman and let Abad, Drilon, Belmonte and their cronies sweat a bit.

    Carpio-Morales knows too well that if she could only do it the American way, the whole government will disappear in one day if she indicts the majority of them! But she is no dummy, she is a pragmatist and prioritizing the opposition will appease the masses and will increase Aquino’s stock as well as hers. But she made sure that Aquino supports her in indicting the other pro-administration politicians too if Aquino wants a legit Daang Matuwid, thus an arranged sacrifices were made but only the less powerful. The indictments poured and the Filipinos are appeased that Daang Matuwid is not a slogan but a policy working for the people. The Filipinos are not naive though, we know that it is selective but transitions are like that, selective but realistically effective!

    Aquino took the opportunity given by Napoles’ quagmire. Aquino gave the Daang Matuwid a life of its own and like any living thing has the instinct to survive on its own.

    **

    Netizens as keepers of flame of Daang Matuwid!

    We were disappointed by our previous governments, we were dismayed by the established media on how they let themselves be used as tools of tyranny, brainwashing and fooling our people. The Fourth State abandoned its  principle and sold us out and killed the soul and conscience of our nation!

    But nature has its mysteries and the rise of the Fifth State is inevitable in our age of Information overabundance and access! The opportunity that the Internet has provided has empowered us to unchaine our voices and ideas to fight for our ideals and rights that were shackled by our natural born evil leaders whose primary goal is  to accumulate immense power and enormous wealth through corruptioon and plunder!

    Filipinos are social creatures and the Internet provided us with vast avenue of places to interact. We started as the texting capital of the world where even the poor has access to cell phones at an affordable text rates that paved the way to instant communications and access to Filipino Humors and Rumors that filled our thirst of being connected to another human being, 24/7!

    Bloggers in the net were naturally hatched. Political bloggers eventually mushroomed and through trial and error were able to communicate. They adopted different styles. Some adopted the shock and awe, some the investigative  kind, some the opinion and columnist  kind, and they lured readers which are like-minded as they are. But Filipino blogging was in the infancy and did not break the threshhold that they could sway public opinion.

    Raissa Robles is among them. This blog was trying to find its purpose and compass.

    When Corona Impeachment burst, a great opportunity was offered. The Filipinos were glued to anything about Corona for it was a scandal that was related to the corruptuon of Gloria and a test for the newly elected Aquino to show his gumption and How big his balls really are! The spotlight was not only  on the accused Corona, nor Gloria, but Aquino too and the Senators who were there showing their hypocrisy judging their true peer for all of them are thieves and criminals only that we chose them as the licensed kleptos! But there was something different with the Corona Trial for our Netizens were really really involved and can’t contain to be just another bystander but instead decided to participate in every way they can.

    Some Netizens were avid commenters and started to criticize the impeachment proceedings, some were not satisfied commenting but eager to contribute in digging anything against Corona! CPM was the most active among the blogsites and Raissa’s investment in providing very well researched  past content was a lure to our fellow Netizens all over the world who would like to partcipate and give back to our godforsaken country.

    Raissa was still in the learning phase too, and it was betrayed by her not-so reliable Corona properties in the USA! Eventhough riddled with holes, the reaction of the avid commenters were unbelievable! They made it a point to search and dig whatever worm they can get to crucify Corona. There was a witch hunt but it was a valid one for Corona was wearing a pointed hat and has forked tongue and evil eyes! The property was a dud but the perception created by the activity of finding connections was  big deal for the Netizens   became active participants in an Impeachment Trial and Filipinos all over the world and locals too frequented this blogsite in record numbers!

    The Netizens’ Revolution has begun and it was because of The Saga of Impeachment of Corona that woke up the sleeping lion in most of us Netizens. When we visited this site there was a sense of purpose, of community! We became a potent force and discovered that we wield more power than we previously known!

    We spent vigil on this site 24/7 and let every reader updated of our findings and our positions since  our visitors knew that we were writing not as paid  journalists nor paid columnists but as Netizens who care and love our country and fed up by the bought established media! We were and are the only game in town who are trusted by our fellow countrymen. They knew that we were learning the ropes as we go along but they trusted our instincts and raw opinions!

    The Senators knew that it is a different environment and they can no longer play and make a fool out of us! Now all eyes were on them and they better do their goddammed job else they will be on trial of the worst kind!

    Corona blundered and we rejoiced for his impeachment is our first trophy as Netizens!

    We realized that indeed we have the power in our hands that could chamnge things for the better, for our nation and the plight of our fellow countrymen!

    May 29, 2012 is an important date for we removed Corona from his perch and power as Chief Justice of SC! A beautiful day and portent of good things to appear in our country.

    Then the Napoles scandal was exposed and it was explosive! Wow! Manna from heaven was really sweet!

    We were no longer novice and our Netizens were back with newfound confidence and vengeance. We were divided on the culpability of Aquino’s allies but we were one on digging the bottom of this revelation and put faces on the corruption and the impunity and callousness on how they robbed our coffers. We were satisfied when Napoles confirmed that the same Senators who were judging Corona are dirty themselves and even bigger thieves and greedier than Corona. Corona is correct, he is not greedy compared to his judges Enrile, Jinggoy, Revilla and other Senators!

    We relentlessly focused on this Scandal until Enrile, Jinggoy, Bong and Gigi were indicted by the Ombudsman and Sent to jail and some were lucky enough to feign health issues and granted hospital detention. It seems customary that when the rich and powerful are indicted they are accorded a first class accomodation in airconditioned hospitals at our expense while the  petty thieves are instantly hauled to jails and prisons in filthy conditions and inhuman standard that Binay’s pigs are luckier living and fattening in their world class airconditioned pig pens!

    On April 14, 2015 Napoles was found guilty and sentence to reclusion perpetua (sentence for life imprisonment)! Napoles felt relief that she is in a safer place away from the reach and harm of Enrile, Jinggoy and Bong! She is relieved too that her daughters and sons and her Coup participant husband Jaime are spared!  Napoles indeed will be one of infamous characters in Philippine History whose life will be made into movies.  Napoles indeed is a success story by her own right. A high school graduate and a former carinderia owner became one of the most powerful women and one of the richest in Philippine History! Her achievement could be compared to Pablo Escobar but without the trouble of violence and she lives to tell her tale and most of her loot intact and be enjoyed by her family!

    In 2014, Bong, Jinggoy and Enrile were indicted and for the first time in Philippine History that a former Philippine President and three sitting Senators were languishing in jail under Philippine Democracy!

    Enrile is the wisest and the slimest among them and cashed-out his investments from his SC contacts and secured an illegal bail! He coninues to be a pain in the ass but he somehow outmaneuvered Aquino and plays his cards very well that Aquino does not have the energy to pursue Enrile and bring him back to jail. A truce was reached but Enrile has to toe the line in the Senate lest he will be hauled back to jail and not in the hospital anymore! Enrile’s PR team are successful in containing the news and limiting Enrile’s exposure to lessen the ire of the Filipino People. They know that other scandals will eclipse Enrile’s maneuver and a welcome respite is what they need!

    But, we the Netizens can’t be muffled and has the power and ability to remind our people of unfinished busineses that our leaders had promised. FOI and Anti-Dynasty Bills are to be always inserted in the discussions and we need to remind Aquino of his betrayal by not keeping his promises! We need to remind Belmonte of his promise that FOI will be passed in the 16th Congress lest we hang him! We would like to remind Belmonte that the Netizens never forget and we would really like to hang him for failing to pass FOI. Please don’t take us as fools and spin it as a matter of speech and not to be taken literally! Nope! We really would like to hang Belmonte and make him as an example to our politicians that there are consequences when you toy with the people!

    I am glad that our Netizens participation in the affairs of the state increased a hunded fold! I remember how few the commenters in disqus pages of PDI and Philstar and Rappler in 2014. Wity our pleading to our fella Netizens to be active in debunking the paid columnists and  AC/DC reporters, Within just a year the commenters flooded the disqus pages and our voices heard!

    We have shown that we can sway public opinion against the machinations of the established media when the Mamasapano Debacle happened. Aquino was humbled and no amount of spin can save his pet BBL! The disqus comments were a microcosm of our countrymen’s position on that issue.

    Another case in 2015 that showed our might was the Balikbayan Box Controversy where Lina wanted to extort more money for Campaign Funds and their increased Tara on the backs of our OFWs and kababayans from abroad who just wanted to share their  blessings to their family and kins. Aquino relented on the enormous pressure for his Administration will suffer and his approval may not recover if he continued to defy our heroes, the OFWs!

    Our latest success is when we exposed the Tanim Bala in NAIA! Abaya and Honrado were exposed and Tanim Bala was stopped. But Aquino is Aquino and does not easily give up his men. Honrado and Abaya remain.

    That is why without the Netizens, the Daang Matuwid will never prosper for we are the guardians of that flame! In fact that flame is a torch that is ready to burn literally the corrupt and those who are against our interest!

    You might not be aware how strong and powerful we become but now after reading this, I expect that you feel proud of us. Proud of what we accomplished for the past year alone!

    **

    Now that you know that the power is within you, let us try to use that power responsibly and fairly to achieve our common goals and aspirations.

    Our next challenge for this year is how to guide our electorate to choose wisely who among the candidates.

    Currently, I favor Roxas and Robredo for my assessment that they represent the lesser evil.

    I may not like Poe as President but I don’t like to demonize her either just to bring her down. I feel and logically agree that Poe is Natural Born Filipino Citizen but legally I know it is iffy. What I am sure though is that she did not comply on the ten-year residency requirement and for that alone, I think she messes our electoral process by her willingness to lie for the allure and her great ambition of the Presidency!

    Duterte is a pain in the ass but with his silly pronouncements and made-up policies, he brought up the conciousness that Filipinos are fed-up of criminality and drug menace. Though Duterte seemed to be the wrong person to lead us, he upped the ante on the other candidates to share their positions on those two issues which concerned a lot of Filipinos!

    Binay is still alive and hanging by the thread. Binay is positioning himself to be the recipient of Poe’s and Duterte’s supporters once these two are disqualified. His investments in gaining the perception that Roxas is 100 percent responsible for disqualifying Poe and Duterte, is partially working for now though in reality Binay is the one who was more worried when Poe joined the race and Binay sent out his guys to file DQ cases against Poe. David and Tatad are Binay’s men while Elamparo came from Roxas camp, thus Binay is actually more agressive in DQing Poe.

    Miriam, god bless her soul,  is a nuisance and a comic relief and can’t wait to make us laugh this year with her diatribes and ‘Stupid is Forever’ Jokes!

    So fella Netizens, congratulations for being one of the Persons of the Year of 2015! 

    You deserve it and if you keep it up, you’ll get my vote this year too!

    Parekoy
    01-05-2016

    • bravo!
      as always, parekoy, i can’t help but strike my palms together many times!
      i will not say you are bibong-bibo, o yeah, i want to say you are virtuoso!
      from my heart iyan..:)

      • @vanderful,

        Salamat…

        Napag muni-muni ko lang na kung sino-sino ang dahilan kung bakit maraming magandang kaganapan noong nakaraang taon…

        In 2016, manalo ma DQd si Poe ay isang personalidad na magbibigay kulay sa ating politika. Ngayon pa lang nag-Team Up na sila ni Enrile at ni Cayetanon para buksan ulit ang Mamasapano para pang counter kay Aquino. Malay natin effective din yang plot na yan para malusutan ni Poe ang knyang mga kaso?

        Kungpinaanak ni Trillanes yung kaso ni Binay eh parehong strategy ang gagamitin nila sa Mamasapano para naman bigyan ng konting nerbyos si Aquino.

        Abangan dahil ang January at February eh critical na mga buwan dahil everybody is fighting for their survival!

        :)

        • on the opening of the mamasamamo,
          ang sabi ni gpl, “dapat talaga tinuluyan ko na ‘yang panot na iyan!”
          ang sabi ni wan hu, “lintik lang ang walang ganti!”
          tama ka @parekoy, jan & feb, madugo ang balitaktakan.
          survival to the fittest.
          pero katulad nang nauna, malulupig sila sa gilas ng karambola ni pnoy!
          iyan ang talisman ng bala sa hips at neck.
          ang tanong: papayag ba ang mabubuting mamamayan na manaig ang mga imbi?
          hehehe..

  4. Happy New Year to everyone especially to Raissa and Alan!

    I would like to ask these hypothetical questions.

    In the eventuality that the Supreme Court finds Grace Poe not qualified as a Presidential candidate, does this mean the following:

    1. She is also not qualified as Senator?
    2. If she is not qualified as a Senator, then should she be stripped of her Senatorial seat?
    3. If she is stripped of her Senatorial seat, does this mean that Dick Gordon who placed 13th automatically gets her seat? or
    4. Does this mean that in the 2016 Senatorial elections, 13 would be declared winners instead of 12?
    5. In case either 4 or 5 materializes, would the winner have to sit for 3 years or 6 years as Senator?

    My beef, the disqualification case of Grace Poe would not only benefit some Presidential candidates, it also benefits either Dick Gordon or any of the Senatorial aspirants in the tail end of the rankings.

    • If the SC rules that Poe is a natural-born Filipino citizen, but rules that she does not meet the 10-year residency requirement for the Presidency, her Certificate of Candidacy for the Presidency is cancelled but she retains her seat at the Senate. If the SC rules that she is not a natural-born Filipino citizen she loses her Senate seat as well as well as her Presidential candidacy.

      • If I may add, clearly Poe meets the residency requirement for Senator in the 2013 election. So only the SC ruling that Poe is not a NBFC will invalidate her Senate seat and her COC for the Presidency. If Poe comes out with a positive DNA giving proof of her being a NBFC before the SC ruling, only the 10-year residency issue becomes material in her quest for the Presidency.

      • ballistic bullies rule the earth! mga ligaw na bala all ricocheting – from grace bully digging up the long dead in guimaras, to comele bullies trying to stop grace bully from running the show in malakanyang, and the biggest bully of all, SC, to stop all the bullies. phew, 2016 is year of . . . I’m lost for words. too much excitement. I need a drink, still got a half a bottle of cointreau left.

        • Ano ba puedeng sabihin ni GPL na may mapupulot tayo na may halaga?

          Nuong mabasa ko ang title ng article ay iniwasan ko na basahin pa ang text. Para ano pa. Kaya ganyan din ang tanong ko sa sarili.

          “anong level kaya ang pinagsasasabi ng babaeng iyan?”

          Meron dito sa Raissa’s blog na ganun din ang treatment ko. Kapag nakita ko na yung handle or name ay red flagged na agad at skipped ko na completely ang text. Dahil walang halaga para sa akin ang pinagsasasabi. Although sabi ng iba ay “entertaining.” Ang tawag sa amin sa taong ganito ay “napupuri” kaya bibong bibo.

        • O Rene, maiinit na naman ang ulo mo?

          Hayaan mo at iimbitahin ko ulit si @caliphman para naman sumaya ang bagong taon mo!

          :))

        • vander, did you look at her hands? dyos na mahabagin, parang kamay ng chimera ang mga kamay niya! claw-like, the veins are all sticking out, and the skin is turgid. my goodness, grace needs a gallon of moisturizer. I hope it’s only bad light.

        • claw-like?
          dito sa amin may kasabihan.
          pag claw-like daw ang kamay ay swapang o makasarili.
          pero parang mali naman.
          si wowowie ay kilalang mapagbigay kahit ung kamay nya ay claw-like..:)

        • Vander, alam ko ang ibig mong sabihin…”itik” iyan ang code name namin sa mga Pana at mga Paki sa Middle East. ma-epal, di marunong magsalita ng we at palaging “I” ang alam, magaling mambola sa mga Boss na bobo.

    • mindsetting ang ginagawa ng kampo ni Poe in the hope na matinag at makuha nila ang simpatya ng SC justices We’ll see what their pronouncements would be once the decision comes out not in their favor. Makakapagpasalamat pa kya sila?

      • yes, dapat magpasalamat si grace kahit labag man sa luob niya. she has to show professionalism at pasalamatan ang mga natirang huwes sa SC lalo na ngayong na-inhibit yong tatlo. favorable man of hindi ang decisions, grace has to show common courtesy and thank the justices.

        if grace hopes to stay in philippine politics, she has to respect the supreme court. she’ll be meeting the same justices in the future, might as well be nice to them.

  6. Are You BAD-yet in  2016

    3.002 Trillion Pesos approved for the 2016 Philippines budget!

    For BAD-yet 101 lecture, Let us dissect the appropriations for the  usual Kleptos.

    1. Congress of the Philippines – P 13.542 Billion aka Crocodile feeds

    2. Office of the President – P2.759 Billion aka PS-4, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii an Wii-U, and other videogames budget; dating and presents for Miss Universe and other Bomba Stars!

    3. Office of the Vice President -P 500 Million aka Binay’s World Class Pocket Money courtesy of Tanda Enrile

    4. Dept.of Agrarian Reform – P9.6 Billion aka Hush money for the leftist

    5. Dept. Of Agriculture – P48.577 Billion aka Fertilizer and Bulate projects 2.0 by Alcala aka Paborito ng mga PDAF and DAP allocators

    6. Dept. Of Budget and Management – P1.385 Billion aka Pordaboys of DMB Staff but the big money is in the automatic 10% release fee approx. P250 Billion!

    7. Dept. Of Education – P411.896 Billion aka Expensive outdated and error ridden textbooks and pittance salaries of overburdened teachers

    8. State Universities and Colleges – P37.635 Billion aka Subsidies for the rich and financially capable students who are the majority of population of the State Universities

    9. Dept. Of Energy – P775.856 Billion aka Annual gift to the Power Cartel and other Ramos cronies

    10. Dept. Of Environment and Natural Resources – P20.086 Billion aka Security and Patrol expenses to protect the Illegal loggers and miners and to keep away protesters and journalists from prying into  denudation of our mountains and polluting our rivers and watersheds

    11.  Dept. Of Finance – P19.265 Billion aka Purr-rrisima’s kitty! Greasing the money machine that favors the rich

    12. Dept. Of Foreign Affairs – P 20.703 Billion aka Rental cost for posh mansions of the Consuls and junket and vacation budget for esteemed Ambassadors and their families and cronies while promoting ‘Its more fun inda Pilipins!’

    13. Dept. Of Health – P124.767 Billion aka Placebo drugs and medicine budget for the legit drug cartels.

    14. Dept. Of Interior and Local Government – P124.266 Billion aka Basic Campaign Fund of ruling political party aka Ro-Ro Campaign Fund

    15. Dept.of Justice – P12.972 Billion aka Demolition Fund and Selective Justice Fund aka formerly known as Shawl and Screw Driver Funds

    16. Dept. Of Labor and Employment – P18.04 Billion aka Labor Union Officials’ anti-strike money

    17. Dept. Of National Defense – P126.641 Billion  aka Anti-Coup d’etat Tong money

    18. Dept. Of Public Works and Highways – P382.419 aka Pot not-the-weed kind but the holes-kind Money for our ampao roads and highways and as additional Campaign Funds at the LGU level

    19. Dept. Of Science and Technology – P19.151 Billion aka Sayang-tiis and Tech-No-Logic Delitante Money

    20. Dept. Of Social Welfare and Development – P107.22 Billion aka Gatasan gamit ang mga mahihirap approx take of P35 Billion aka P3 Billion hairstyle budget for Dinky Kong alone!

    21. Dept.of Tourism – P3.629 Billion aka Fund for overpriced plagiarized    Promotions and Advertisements

    22. Dept. Of Trade and Industry – P4.692 Billion aka Favored well connected Businesses lobby fund 

    23. Dept. Of Transportation and Communications – P42.682 Billion aka Ballsy Aquino and Abaya slush funds for cornering MRT contracts ad Telecon contracts unfavorable to our government

    24. NEDA – P61.99 Billion aka Oligarchy fund to tailor the country’s economic plan to their advantage

    25. Presidential Communications Operations Office – P1.201 Billion aka Propaganda and Spin Meisters’ Fund aka Joseph Goebbels’ school of Communications fund

    26. Other Executive Office and Office of the President – P14.268 Billion aka Paquito Ochoa’s wines and spirits fund and Binay’s Protection Fund , note that the real money is within the control ofthe gates of influence which is more than the budget of this office thru influence peddling.

    27. Autonomous Region for  Muslim Mindanao – P28.492 Billion aka Favored Muslim Mindanao Cronies Funds and MILF appeasement fund

    28. Joint Legislative-Executive Council -P2.883 Million The Lapdogs Training and Obedience Fund note the budget is pittance but the influnce peddling is lucrative

    29. The Judiciary – P26.024 Billion aka The Hoodlums in Robes insufficient operating budget that is why they sell TROs to augment their loot

    30. Special Purpose Funds – P410.073 aka Not for Special Kids but the President’s enormous pay-off funds to furhter his interest for his special interests aka Aquino’s War Chest or Carrots and Sticks Fund

    31. Allocations for LGUs – P57.291 Billion aka Warlord allocations

    32. Contingent Fund – P3 Billion aka Extra Pocket Money

    33. Misc. Personnel Benefits Fund – P96.261 Billion aka Govt. workers rice and noodles money

    34. National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund – P38.895 Billion aka May Malaking Pera sa Bagyo at Baha at sa kamalasan ng mga mamamayan Fund

    35. Pension and Gratuity Fund – P109.973 aka kahit patay na pero buhay pa sa records eh kubra pa rin ang mga pension aka Guiness Book of World Records for longest living pensioners

    BAD-der than before,

    Parekoy
    01-03-2016

    PS 

    Happy New Year!

    My wines and spirits Christmas Presents for my unreliable sources are really  appreciated for they shared with me more interesting stuffs!

    Abangan!

    • http://filipinogerman.blogsport.eu/forces-of-change/comment-page-1/#comment-2030 – this article of mine mentions the patronage system, and the comment I have made is in response to your posting which I have fully reposted as a question to my readers… the book I mention shows how the patronage system has strangled Philippine progress, as opposed to progress in other Asian neighboring countries which was unleashed because similar systems were effectively dismantled… this book is a reality check!

      The cushy connivance that Rizal described in the Noli seems to still have been there in many parts of the country in 2009 when the book I refer to was published… main reason I have preferred to remain abroad because I do not want to end up like Ibarra due to idealism – or become like Simoun out of necessity…

      • Political Booms: Local Money and Power in Taiwan, East China, Thailand, and the Philippines

        Lynn T. White
        World Scientific, 2009 – Political Science – 727 pages

        Philippines has long remained stagnant both economically and politically? Do booms abet democracy? Does the rise of middle “classes” promise future liberalization? Why has Philippine democracy brought no boom and barely served the Filipino people?

        This book, unlike previous books, shows that both the roots and results of growth are largely political, not just economic. Specifically, it pays attention to local, not just national, power networks that caused or prevented growth in the aforementioned countries.

        Violence has been common in these politics, along with money. Elections have contributed to socio-political problems that are also obvious in Leninist or junta regimes, because elections are surprisingly easy to buy with corrupt money from government contracts.

        Liberals should pay more serious theoretical attention to the effects of money on justice, and Western political science should focus more clearly on the ways non-state local power affects elections.

        By considering the role of local money and power (above all, from small- and medium-sized firms that emerged after agrarian reforms) on elections and justice, this book asks democrats squarely to face the extent to which electoral procedures have failed to help ordinary citizens. Students and scholars of Asia will all need this book — as will students of the West whose methods have become parochial.

      • Thank you for sharing my satire in your blog!

        Some readers are bored with clinical approach, satire makes them laugh but the message and lessons are retained.

    • ‘ . . . The fable of the crocodile king acknowledged that, without a leader, unbridled individualism can block a community’s progress and prosperity. But submitting to a leader without regard for individual autonomy risked the loss of rights and lives. . . .’

      A. Under FM Martial Law many losts their rights and lives.

      B. Under Pres. Cory unbridled individualism floated and blocked the society’s progress and prosperity.

      Digong, Allan Peter and their supporters can chose ‘A.’

      I choose ‘B.’ Objectively, ‘LIVES’ are have no comparison and substitute. To be UNBRIDLED is freedom to roam the hills, mountains and waters.

      Choose ‘A,’ many will become BISCUITS for ‘food’ by the dictator in the long run. See Soylent Green movie btw.

      :-)

      • Biscuit making lands one at the top of the taxpayers list in 2014.

        Future biscuit tycoon, following the example in “Soylent Green,” will have a movie entitled “Silent Greed.” Human flesh and bone secretly made into vetsin that will be used as main ingredient in biscuits. Takes care of the constant supply of scarce raw materials just as long as the dictatorship or marcosian style of leadership continues the purge of ‘society’s ills.’

        Soon, exhumation and re-burial will no longer be done.

        • . . . a prophecy to come true – on real facts: Scarcity of food, raw materials, etc.

          . . . semi-living ZOMBIES to RAID the cemeteries to EAT the dead. Then no more dead at cemeteries. . . let’s GO OUT into the streets to bite and EAT THEM ALIVE!

          Today, it’s only a movie (?) . . . tomorrow it’s a REALITY.

          Cremation na lang. Or when the time comes, always bring a gallon of gasoline to torch yourself before being EATEN alive. he he

          :-)

      • I heard rumours that Cayetano was party to spreading the malicious info about Aquino’s mental health, which I think was an awful trick. However, since I didn’t get a concrete proof to substantiate that, I let it slide. At some point, he impressed me when he tackled the Binays.

        I cannot fathom how Cayetano could forge this partnership with Duterte who is an icon for uncouth behaviour and a self-confessed killer. The only reason I can think of is that perhaps, as Duterte himself stated, he might not live through his term, or he can go to jail–which will then give Cayetano the chance for that presidential chair.

        I find it complicated to have official and unofficial armed forces. I’d like to ask who is funding the operations of the vigilantes. If he becomes the president, would it be possible that the taxpayers money will be used to support his unlawful and dark forces? Just asking.

        One wonders though…if Duterte thinks he controls his vigilante team, wouldn’t it be possible for the Vigilante team to have control over him? Those men are not stupid. They could easily blackmail him. After all, the only thing they have to do is to “sing” and link Duterte to their activities and off he goes to gaol.

        • Escobar dreamt of becoming Colombia’s president.

          He tried to use narco-politics. Money and terror he employed to attain his ambition.

          ‘Robinhoodism’ he greatly mastered and carried out.

          To no avail…he didn’t get his wish to be president…

          For he was merely a robin hoodlum of his time.

        • Are there really vigilantes? If so, did President Aquino, DILG Sec. Roxas and PNP chief approve or at least tolerate vigilantes? If yes, why? If not, why can’t they stop the vigilantes?

        • According to reports, HRC noted some extra judicial killings in Davao. It seems to be a well-oiled machine that eludes the authorities. I heard that De Lima was working on it. If one were to think of life imitating art, is it possible that the vigilantes could be some misguided authorities themselves? That’s just in the movies, eh! I’d rather count on the integrity of Davao’s men and women in uniform and not suggest anything that may tarnish their reputation.

          However, on another note, in an interview clip which was aired not too long ago, Duterte himself acknowledged that at least he had killed three persons. He said that a crime was committed in the presence of an authority (Duterte), so that justified his killing of that person (rapist) himself. I wonder if there was any police report on that account. Does anyone have an access to Davao’s police reports that will indicate that Duterte shot/killed someone? If there were no appropriate reports, should we think that Duterte was lying or was that the vigilante team itself so there was report for that incident? I would imagine that he must be with other police personnel at that time. Do we in the Philippines have a protocol that when someone was shot by a cop, a special investigation is conducted to review the circumstances, to ensure that there was no abuse of authority or no undue action or police brutality took place.

          I also read that Duterte was challenged to name or give the particulars of those cases..or was he all air, just tough bum talk which many of our fellow Filipinos believe hook line and sinker. So far, it seems like he has to respond to that challenge yet. In due time…maybe.

        • That the vigilantes eluded President Aquino, Secretary Roxas and the Chief PNP is totally unacceptable and demonstrates their height of incompetence. If I were the Chief PNP and had the blessings of President Aquino and Secretary Roxas, I would deploy a SAF Battalion and 100 CIDG operatives in Davao City to stop, if not arrest, the vigilantes. President Aquino could also put another battalion of Marines and 100 ISAFP operatives to help the Government save face and avoid international condemnation from the alleged extra-judicial killings done by the vigilantes.

        • aquino this and aquino that, but prez aquino is not running for president, duterte is and so the shoe is now on the other foot. aquino had faced his highly determined detractors keen to keep him away from malakanyang, now it’s duterte’s turn to fry and sizzle.

          havent the davawenyos been telling the whole world time and again that davao is safest city free of crime and corruption? that duterte’s davao city is toxic low lives, only those with higher morals live there? and that everything in davao is okay? for aquino to send in the troops amidst the peace and order of davao city, nah, aquino is not mad as mad as rene-ipil want him to be.

        • Atty., ganoon ba talaga? So kasalanan pala nila PNoy and Secretary Roxas kaya may vigilantes sa Davao? Sino ba nag organize nung vigilantes sa Davao? So iyon ang solution mo, make PNoy and Roxas accountable for the vigilante issue in Davao? We sometimes work on the problem but not on the solution to the problem. Obvious naman to everyone that you are routing for Duterte. In case you’ve missed it or totally ignoring it, Digong was appointed by PGMA as anti crime czar. In one of his suggestions to PGMA, pag may nahuli daw na kidnapper patayin agad. But Duterte declined the post eventually because in his own admission, pang local lang daw sya at hindi pang national. And why would you send military and police components to Davao just to address the vigilante problem? Akala ko ba safe sa Davao? Go figure.

        • I want a leader whose leadership skills do not include fondling young girls and kissing them on the lips! branding the girls maybe for life, the pic uploaded in the internet to stay there for god knows how long. when those girls finished schools and asked for jobs, the kissing scene with duterte would probably still be in the internet, maybe messing up their chances of landing good jobs.

        • Martial and Moonie, the issue here is about vigilantes wherever they may be.

          I asked before whether there are really vigilantes. Maxima cited HRC report regarding its existence in Davao City. That the vigilantes seemed to elude authorities.

          You understand first the context of the discussion before jumping into the fray.

          I replied to Maxima that being able to elude the authorities headed by President Aquino is totally unacceptable and demonstrates incompetence. Either the government including the President, DILG Secretary, PNP Chief and Mayor tolerate or approve vigilantism, or are simply incompetent.

          Let’s go back to my original query. Are there really vigilantes?

          I believe that there are no vigilantes in the Philippine milieu because President Aquino, Secretary Roxas and the PNP Chief are too decent to tolerate, much less, approve vigilantism. They are also competent to stop vigilantism, if any. I cited how they could do it. But it was exaggerated and I also believe that the trio could leak, any vigilantism, with much less effort.

          It seems that you are seeing too much movies ala-Charles Bronson. I suggest that you improve your knowledge on the various subjects about vigilantes and death squads in the Philippine milieu. It is your responsibility to update your knowledge on the subjects of vigilantes and death squads to avoid dwelling on my personal values and choices. It is none of your business anyway.

          Let’s discuss about the subject. I have been trying hard to avoid being personal but you seem to misunderstand my reluctance to engage you on personal basis as a weakness. Far from it. I have much weapons still in my arsenal to engage you in less important issue such as Rene-Ipil. I would like you to grow up some more. Bigotry has no place in this blog.

          Martial, don’t “Atty.” me. We are strangers. You are not my friend nor an enemy. You don’t know my capabilities and I don’t know yours.

        • sorry po. true I’m immature and drunk at times. cant help it. born that way, kasi.

          I’ll keep commenting though, until raissa says, gerrrrout! begone, berseker!

  11. WELCOME 2016!

    Let the political fireworks begin!

    Let the ashes of the dead arise to resuscitate a dying campaign!

    A preview of my post for next week:
    Why Grace Poe Llamanzares is not qualified to run in this year’s election – a new twist that the legal experts overlooked!

    That, or I will do Meriam.

    :-)

  12. WELCOME 2016!

    Let the political fireworks begin!

    Let the ashes of the dead arise to resuscitate a dying campaign!

    A preview of my post for next week:
    Why Grace Poe Llamanzares is not qualified to run in this year’s election – a new twist that the legal experts overlooked!

    That, or I will do Meriam.

    :-)

    • Hmmm, why did it post twice at the same time stamp? The rise of the machines, or the rise of the living dead? LOL!

      • . . . maybe because the terrible ‘revenants’ have returned after a long absence to exact heavy vengeance on the sinful. Kaya – Post Twice a-like the postman rings twice.

        he he

        • @yvonne,

          I’m pretty sure by now you’ve realized that you’re being monitored by IT experts, both pro or anti to your cause.

          The system accidentally ‘mirrored’ your comment.

          Tracing, of course, is best left to authorities. But ‘higher beings’ also take matters ‘into their own hands.’

          Caiingat lang po…

        • I too “mirror” that concern of @baycas. So take care, yvonne. This is an ultra high stakes game.

        • @Yvonne,
          Tama yung sinabi nila. Doble ingat.
          Lahat tayo gusto na magkaroon ng pagbabago.
          At sama-sama pa din pagkatapos ng election at i-enjoy ang pagbabago na inaasam-asam natin.

    • @baycas, Leona, NHerrera, curveball

      Thanks for the reminder.

      What the pro- and anti-Poe camps might do comes with the territory – but they will not deter me in my pursuit for political transparency. I’m digging in for a return fire from either camp.

    • I hold your views in high esteem. Thus, I trust that your blind item on the famous foundling is well founded
      and absent of hidden agenda. Have a good year!

      • @parengtony,

        Rest assured that the blind will see when the ‘tamang panahon’ comes.

        Have a fire stone!

        ?

    • Matagal nang nabenta sa takilya ang “Iginuhit ng Tadhana.”

      Maibenta naman kaya yung sequel ng “Iginuhit” na ngayon ay “Dakilang Pulot” matapos ang isang henerasyon? A sequel after one generation!!! Iba talaga Pilipino.

        • may codicil yata, pending on exhumation. bet, the script and story line will be rewritten with added twists and turns, and modernized to reflect changing mores.

          dakilang balatkayo coming from whose womb? thy womb! hindi patok, bagsak sa takilya. hay, inday.