By Rolo B. Cena
The Gulf Files
Dumaguete Star Informer
30 January 2011
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – The Tuesday bus explosion along EDSA in Makati sends us a clear and absolute message: We’re still not safe. It’s really hurting but it’s vividly true.
In the last quarter of 2010, countries like the United States of America, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and others issued stern advisories warning their residents the risk of traveling to the ever-beautiful archipelagic Philippines. Surely, that will still be the advisory.
The Initial investigation revealed that the bomb could have been triggered remotely; the attack was believed to be orchestrated by terrorists.
Maybe;
The terrorists’ behavioral pattern, if it is indeed true, is resoundingly clear: During the early days of any incumbent, civil disturbances like bombings, demonstrations and protests are carried out.
The Tuesday blast is never new; it was a warning! To date, the investigators are running after those perpetrators. To my sound knowledge, I can name at least two: Messrs. Poverty and Injustice.
Poverty set up the bomb and remotely triggered its explosion because it wanted to send the message on line: its fellow citizens have been severed by high prices of commodities, marginalized education, inferior health services, soaring transport fares and petroleum prices. It set up the bomb and remotely triggered its explosion because it has been homeless in its own land for more than six decades now, unemployed in this labor capital of Asia and foodless in the food basket of the Far East.
Injustice set up the bomb and remotely triggered its explosion because it wanted to send the message on line: its fellow citizens have been denied of judicial processes. Injustice set up the bomb and remotely triggered its explosion because it has been the victim of the blatant hoarding of the meat from a domestic animal called pork in a barrel that consumes the major slice of the pie called national budget, thus, sending Injustice back to its tiny house located in the city called deprivation.
When travel advisories were released by these countries, Malacanang sternly quoted that the situation is under control; intelligence reports have been provided to the chief executive. Then why are they not able to contain this when they have been actually, as they claimed, were informed about this?
To date, the bomb explosion claimed lives of five Filipinos named dream, fortitude, perseverance, courage and conviction. Dream perished along with smoke belched within the space of the bus called life; Fortitude died along with the craft’s engine that rocked the power called endurance; perseverance expired along with the passengers’ resolution that dictated the flesh called existence; courage extinguished along with the mob’s motion that stirred the spirit called survival; and conviction passed away along with the passengers’ rejuvenation that boosted the subsistence called willpower. All these five Filipinos died in the blast because they simply wanted to live with their meager-earning jobs.
The surviving fourteen others are related to the families of, either by affinity or consanguinity, rebellion, vengeance, remorse, self-pity and defeat. Yet, undoubtedly, they can be the new breed of perpetrators who will rock legislative or judicial halls and storm dump streets in defense of their brothers Poverty and Injustice.
Maybe not.
The Tuesday blast is never new; it was a warning. Destabilization may only be the motive. And I can pinpoint upfront at least two perpetrators: Their names are discontent and bad governance.
Discontent set up the bomb and remotely triggered its explosion because it wanted to send the message on line: The government has been hitting the cherry with the blindfold. Barangay Executive is divided; its members are working on its own in the effort of making its own cliché in the trash bin of Philippine politics. The Truth Commission was created without taking a deep breath with the truth of its commission.
Discontent set up the bomb and remotely triggered the explosion because it obviously loosely handled critical situations like the August 2010 hostage crisis, plunder, graft and corruption, drug trafficking, car-napping, kidnap for ransom, etc. This etcetera, when drilled down, will in fact give us the drop-down list of eternity.
Bad governance set up the bomb and remotely triggered its explosion because it wanted to send the message on line: There has been inconsistency between and among citizens of Barangays Executive, Legislative and Judiciary that are apparently oppressing the one-hundred-million Filipinos in queue. Bad governance set up the bomb and remotely triggered the explosion because it apparently mishandled good governance thus allowing it to slip through the hands of true democracy.
Do you know why Messrs. Poverty, Injustice, Discontent and Bad Governance set up the bomb and remotely triggered its explosion?
The answer is relatively simple: All of them, all of the people in the government and all of us are paranoid.
Paranoia is contagious; it kills!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Ricochet
By Rolo B. Cena
The Gulf Files
Dumaguete Star Informer
09 January 2011
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – In the last quarter survey of SWS, it was revealed that 93% of the Filipinos tossed to face the year 2011 with the positive outlook. And the President was herding a positive note that “there was a basis” for this.
We Filipinos have been known for our resiliency. When we were tired of the oppression for more than twenty years, we gathered in the street and restored freedom we used to enjoy. In May 2010, we allowed our resiliency to overrule money-controlled ballots ending the modern-day tyrant in the guise of a petite Lady, aborting the resurrection of the pro-poor imaged actor turned politician, trashing the business-propelled team of a real estate magnate, and killing other self-serving political platforms to surface.
Those were epiphanies to stalemates so far; we are in our best moves again! Sadly though, we are the pawns in this political match, matter we Filipinos refuse to realize.
Shortly before the New Year’s Eve, the President announced that we had a surplus of P500 million last November when a deficit of P6 billion was expected. It the reports fed to the President was correct, he was then right in claiming that there was indeed a strong basis for Filipinos to face 2011 with merriment.
In his Executive Order 18, the president scrapped agencies created by the former president that includes Luzon Urban Beltway, the office of the North Luzon Growth Quadrangle Area, Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group, Mindanao Economic Development Council, Minerals Development Council, Office of the Presidential Adviser on New Government Center, Bicol River Basin Watershed Management Project, Office of External Affairs and Office of the Presidential Adviser on Global Warming and Climate Change.
EO 18 may sound positive to his colleagues but to the majority, it was a twist expected of him. His mother got rid of those rags that seemed to sanitize political trash bin of the Palace; he’s his mother’s son.
Moreover, scrapping these agencies sounds political than economic by orientation – we all know that. When he announced we had a surplus, he knows we can have more if he scraps firmly all the Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) including thirty-six government-owned-and-controlled-corporations (GOCCs) that cost more than half a billion pesos in annual subsidy. Congressmen must give up personal gains by penning bills seeking their closure; these companies unfortunately consume material slice of public funds that primarily comes from the taxes of the impoverished working class and remittances of the OFWs.
When he announced there was a surplus, he knows more than creating the Truth Commission without re-thinking the merit it has in the Arroyo-controlled Supreme Court; more than the inactivity of the graft cases docketed against her and her cohorts in the Ombudsman; more than the reverberation consequential to her imprudence.
When he announced the surplus, he knows we can have more if he streamlines the executive branch sans fear of criticisms: scrap redundant departments, forge departments with overlapping roles and functions, trash agencies that do not perform and deliver. If he does, the whole country and even the world, would praise him for being a leader, not a politician. The leader goes selflessly well along with his team; the politician goes selfishly well ahead of his team.
Certainly, the Filipino community wants a leader, not a politician.
When the President announced he has a surplus, he knows more than this because he is an economist. Yet, there is one thing concealed behind the surplus: Filipinos are homeless in their own land, jobless despite publicly announced job opportunities; behind this surplus shows a canvass of pastel-coated reality, reality that Filipinos suffer, undoubtedly. The President and his Team should take it from reality, not from the numbers produced by paid-by-and-intended-for-whom surveys. Numbers don’t work; reality does!
If the President is serious in re-building the ailing Republic, he should forget future political plans and alliances. Yes, he should forget quenching the thirst of his political allies in order to slake the dehydration and tick mark the agenda of the Filipino people effective immediately.
Cory prosecuted the Marcoses; Erap planned to prosecute Fidel. Gloria prosecuted Erap; Noynoy wants to prosecute Gloria. The pattern is a definition by itself: ricochet!
Noynoy should make the iron hot by striking. If Aquino fails the people, he should expect one after the cycle!
The Gulf Files
Dumaguete Star Informer
09 January 2011
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – In the last quarter survey of SWS, it was revealed that 93% of the Filipinos tossed to face the year 2011 with the positive outlook. And the President was herding a positive note that “there was a basis” for this.
We Filipinos have been known for our resiliency. When we were tired of the oppression for more than twenty years, we gathered in the street and restored freedom we used to enjoy. In May 2010, we allowed our resiliency to overrule money-controlled ballots ending the modern-day tyrant in the guise of a petite Lady, aborting the resurrection of the pro-poor imaged actor turned politician, trashing the business-propelled team of a real estate magnate, and killing other self-serving political platforms to surface.
Those were epiphanies to stalemates so far; we are in our best moves again! Sadly though, we are the pawns in this political match, matter we Filipinos refuse to realize.
Shortly before the New Year’s Eve, the President announced that we had a surplus of P500 million last November when a deficit of P6 billion was expected. It the reports fed to the President was correct, he was then right in claiming that there was indeed a strong basis for Filipinos to face 2011 with merriment.
In his Executive Order 18, the president scrapped agencies created by the former president that includes Luzon Urban Beltway, the office of the North Luzon Growth Quadrangle Area, Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group, Mindanao Economic Development Council, Minerals Development Council, Office of the Presidential Adviser on New Government Center, Bicol River Basin Watershed Management Project, Office of External Affairs and Office of the Presidential Adviser on Global Warming and Climate Change.
EO 18 may sound positive to his colleagues but to the majority, it was a twist expected of him. His mother got rid of those rags that seemed to sanitize political trash bin of the Palace; he’s his mother’s son.
Moreover, scrapping these agencies sounds political than economic by orientation – we all know that. When he announced we had a surplus, he knows we can have more if he scraps firmly all the Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) including thirty-six government-owned-and-controlled-corporations (GOCCs) that cost more than half a billion pesos in annual subsidy. Congressmen must give up personal gains by penning bills seeking their closure; these companies unfortunately consume material slice of public funds that primarily comes from the taxes of the impoverished working class and remittances of the OFWs.
When he announced there was a surplus, he knows more than creating the Truth Commission without re-thinking the merit it has in the Arroyo-controlled Supreme Court; more than the inactivity of the graft cases docketed against her and her cohorts in the Ombudsman; more than the reverberation consequential to her imprudence.
When he announced the surplus, he knows we can have more if he streamlines the executive branch sans fear of criticisms: scrap redundant departments, forge departments with overlapping roles and functions, trash agencies that do not perform and deliver. If he does, the whole country and even the world, would praise him for being a leader, not a politician. The leader goes selflessly well along with his team; the politician goes selfishly well ahead of his team.
Certainly, the Filipino community wants a leader, not a politician.
When the President announced he has a surplus, he knows more than this because he is an economist. Yet, there is one thing concealed behind the surplus: Filipinos are homeless in their own land, jobless despite publicly announced job opportunities; behind this surplus shows a canvass of pastel-coated reality, reality that Filipinos suffer, undoubtedly. The President and his Team should take it from reality, not from the numbers produced by paid-by-and-intended-for-whom surveys. Numbers don’t work; reality does!
If the President is serious in re-building the ailing Republic, he should forget future political plans and alliances. Yes, he should forget quenching the thirst of his political allies in order to slake the dehydration and tick mark the agenda of the Filipino people effective immediately.
Cory prosecuted the Marcoses; Erap planned to prosecute Fidel. Gloria prosecuted Erap; Noynoy wants to prosecute Gloria. The pattern is a definition by itself: ricochet!
Noynoy should make the iron hot by striking. If Aquino fails the people, he should expect one after the cycle!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Ricochet
By Rolo B. Cena
The Gulf Files
Dumaguete Star Informer
09 January 2011
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – In the last quarter survey of SWS, it was revealed that 93% of the Filipinos tossed to face the year 2011 with the positive outlook. And the President was herding a positive note that “there was a basis” for this.
We Filipinos have been known for our resiliency. When we were tired of the oppression for more than twenty years, we gathered in the street and restored freedom we used to enjoy. In May 2010, we allowed our resiliency to overrule money-controlled ballots ending the modern-day tyrant in the guise of a petite Lady, aborting the resurrection of the pro-poor imaged actor turned politician, trashing the business-propelled team of a real estate magnate, and killing other self-serving political platforms to surface.
Those were epiphanies to stalemates so far; we are in our best moves again! Sadly though, we are the pawns in this political match, matter we Filipinos refuse to realize.
Shortly before the New Year’s Eve, the President announced that we had a surplus of P500 million last November when a deficit of P6 billion was expected. It the reports fed to the President was correct, he was then right in claiming that there was indeed a strong basis for Filipinos to face 2011 with merriment.
In his Executive Order 18, the president scrapped agencies created by the former president that includes Luzon Urban Beltway, the office of the North Luzon Growth Quadrangle Area, Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group, Mindanao Economic Development Council, Minerals Development Council, Office of the Presidential Adviser on New Government Center, Bicol River Basin Watershed Management Project, Office of External Affairs and Office of the Presidential Adviser on Global Warming and Climate Change.
EO 18 may sound positive to his colleagues but to the majority, it was a twist expected of him. His mother got rid of those rags that seemed to sanitize political trash bin of the Palace; he’s his mother’s son.
Moreover, scrapping these agencies sounds political than economic by orientation – we all know that. When he announced we had a surplus, he knows we can have more if he scraps firmly all the Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) including thirty-six government-owned-and-controlled-corporations (GOCCs) that cost more than half a billion pesos in annual subsidy. Congressmen must give up personal gains by penning bills seeking their closure; these companies unfortunately consume material slice of public funds that primarily comes from the taxes of the impoverished working class and remittances of the OFWs.
When he announced there was a surplus, he knows more than creating the Truth Commission without re-thinking the merit it has in the Arroyo-controlled Supreme Court; more than the inactivity of the graft cases docketed against her and her cohorts in the Ombudsman; more than the reverberation consequential to her imprudence.
When he announced the surplus, he knows we can have more if he streamlines the executive branch sans fear of criticisms: scrap redundant departments, forge departments with overlapping roles and functions, trash agencies that do not perform and deliver. If he does, the whole country and even the world, would praise him for being a leader, not a politician. The leader goes selflessly well along with his team; the politician goes selfishly well ahead of his team.
Certainly, the Filipino community wants a leader, not a politician.
When the President announced he has a surplus, he knows more than this because he is an economist. Yet, there is one thing concealed behind the surplus: Filipinos are homeless in their own land, jobless despite publicly announced job opportunities; behind this surplus shows a canvass of pastel-coated reality, reality that Filipinos suffer, undoubtedly. The President and his Team should take it from reality, not from the numbers produced by paid-by-and-intended-for-whom surveys. Numbers don’t work; reality does!
If the President is serious in re-building the ailing Republic, he should forget future political plans and alliances. Yes, he should forget quenching the thirst of his political allies in order to slake the dehydration and tick mark the agenda of the Filipino people effective immediately.
Cory prosecuted the Marcoses; Erap planned to prosecute Fidel. Gloria prosecuted Erap; Noynoy wants to prosecute Gloria. The pattern is a definition by itself: ricochet!
Noynoy should make the iron hot by striking. If Aquino fails the people, he should expect one after the cycle!
The Gulf Files
Dumaguete Star Informer
09 January 2011
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – In the last quarter survey of SWS, it was revealed that 93% of the Filipinos tossed to face the year 2011 with the positive outlook. And the President was herding a positive note that “there was a basis” for this.
We Filipinos have been known for our resiliency. When we were tired of the oppression for more than twenty years, we gathered in the street and restored freedom we used to enjoy. In May 2010, we allowed our resiliency to overrule money-controlled ballots ending the modern-day tyrant in the guise of a petite Lady, aborting the resurrection of the pro-poor imaged actor turned politician, trashing the business-propelled team of a real estate magnate, and killing other self-serving political platforms to surface.
Those were epiphanies to stalemates so far; we are in our best moves again! Sadly though, we are the pawns in this political match, matter we Filipinos refuse to realize.
Shortly before the New Year’s Eve, the President announced that we had a surplus of P500 million last November when a deficit of P6 billion was expected. It the reports fed to the President was correct, he was then right in claiming that there was indeed a strong basis for Filipinos to face 2011 with merriment.
In his Executive Order 18, the president scrapped agencies created by the former president that includes Luzon Urban Beltway, the office of the North Luzon Growth Quadrangle Area, Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group, Mindanao Economic Development Council, Minerals Development Council, Office of the Presidential Adviser on New Government Center, Bicol River Basin Watershed Management Project, Office of External Affairs and Office of the Presidential Adviser on Global Warming and Climate Change.
EO 18 may sound positive to his colleagues but to the majority, it was a twist expected of him. His mother got rid of those rags that seemed to sanitize political trash bin of the Palace; he’s his mother’s son.
Moreover, scrapping these agencies sounds political than economic by orientation – we all know that. When he announced we had a surplus, he knows we can have more if he scraps firmly all the Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) including thirty-six government-owned-and-controlled-corporations (GOCCs) that cost more than half a billion pesos in annual subsidy. Congressmen must give up personal gains by penning bills seeking their closure; these companies unfortunately consume material slice of public funds that primarily comes from the taxes of the impoverished working class and remittances of the OFWs.
When he announced there was a surplus, he knows more than creating the Truth Commission without re-thinking the merit it has in the Arroyo-controlled Supreme Court; more than the inactivity of the graft cases docketed against her and her cohorts in the Ombudsman; more than the reverberation consequential to her imprudence.
When he announced the surplus, he knows we can have more if he streamlines the executive branch sans fear of criticisms: scrap redundant departments, forge departments with overlapping roles and functions, trash agencies that do not perform and deliver. If he does, the whole country and even the world, would praise him for being a leader, not a politician. The leader goes selflessly well along with his team; the politician goes selfishly well ahead of his team.
Certainly, the Filipino community wants a leader, not a politician.
When the President announced he has a surplus, he knows more than this because he is an economist. Yet, there is one thing concealed behind the surplus: Filipinos are homeless in their own land, jobless despite publicly announced job opportunities; behind this surplus shows a canvass of pastel-coated reality, reality that Filipinos suffer, undoubtedly. The President and his Team should take it from reality, not from the numbers produced by paid-by-and-intended-for-whom surveys. Numbers don’t work; reality does!
If the President is serious in re-building the ailing Republic, he should forget future political plans and alliances. Yes, he should forget quenching the thirst of his political allies in order to slake the dehydration and tick mark the agenda of the Filipino people effective immediately.
Cory prosecuted the Marcoses; Erap planned to prosecute Fidel. Gloria prosecuted Erap; Noynoy wants to prosecute Gloria. The pattern is a definition by itself: ricochet!
Noynoy should make the iron hot by striking. If Aquino fails the people, he should expect one after the cycle!
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