By Rolo B. Cena
Hushed Poppies
Dumaguete Star Informer
27 November 2011
When Vincent Van Gogh painted “Field with poppies” in 1890, never had he dreamed that years after, he would be best remembered with the masterpiece. When the Ampatuans brushed a stroke of terror in November 23 2009, never had they believed that their creation, the most bizarre of all, would send them to superior Court of Laws, if not inferior as weakened by Men in Robes, or worse, end up their political career, including their cohorts’ who allegedly conspired with them.
They were like poppies in the field that exemplify hope, energy, and life. Bright hopes drove them to the town of Shariff Aguak to file for candidacy for the one they believed would bring new form of governance. Leveled energy propelled them to trek the rugged terrains and treacherous slopes for the one they believed would shower brighter hope for the constituency. Beautiful life dared them to plot against a scion of the most powerful Muslim clan or tyrant. But greed ruthlessly scythed their hopes, energies and lives and torn down their very edifice of nobility; greed mowed their simple hope, active energy and single life in the vehicle of the dirtiest of all political games: election.
They were fifty and eight: one, a journalist, is still missing; thirty-two are journalists and the rests are workers and supporters of the then Vice Mayor of Buluan town now governor of Maguindanao. This poor man, Gov. Mangudadatu, even lost his wife and sisters in what the world called crime of the century.
They worked for Mangudadatu because they believed and hoped in him just as the entire Philippines believed and hoped in P-Noy. Two years after the gruesome carnage, the bereaved families still believe and hope that this man will persecute those annihilators just as the entire Philippines hope and believe that P-Noy will persecute those who stole the money of the people; that Mangudadatu will bring justice to the victims and their bereaved families just as P-Noy will accord the same justice to millions of Filipino people who are victims of crime, grime and slime , not to be specific on plunder and graft, of his predecessors.
As the world calls on Wednesday to end “impunity,” the bereaved families of the “58” still believe and hope that the incident would bring full stop to the extrajudicial killings and killings of journalists in the country, in the world. The call is for the world, the citizens and the government to act now or be doomed, Filipinos and P-Noy included: so urgently now as it endangers each and single life or let alone hell dismiss us all.
Doomed as the devilish Philippines years after EDSA brought new life, new democracy; doomed as the evilest advocacies of the Arroyo’s and their cohorts for their collective sins fueled by greed. It is the same doom that should send shivers not only to the spines of Gloria, but also to the spines of Mike, of Mikey, of Angelo, of Benjamin, of Romulo, of Garcillano, et al.
As we observe the second year of terror in Maguindanao, the “58,” to be exact, should bring us new hope, energy and life: New hope that would bring about pivotal, gigantic, and meaningful change; new energy that would allow us to combat the plaguing graft and corruption; and new life that would renew and strengthen our presence in the world map.
The “58” still hope and believe that justice will be served fairly just as the entire Philippines believe and hope that P-Noy will serve justice fairly in handling the alleged cases against the Arroyos and their cohorts.
In perspective, when Vincent Van Gogh opted to paint the poppies in the field, it was mainly due to lack of funds; when the Ampatuans and their Sponsors opted to shear these beautiful poppies in the field, it was not mainly due to funds but the desire to amass more of them, at the people’s expense.
Putting my non-depleting two cents in, the “58” deserves full military honors for taxing their lives in the hope of bringing forth better governance and cleaner politics. They were not paupers after all; they were killed by this kind of marauders!
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Shivers down the spine
By Rolo B. Cena
Hushed Poppies
Dumaguete Star Informer
20 November 2011
The Tuesday hullabaloo, which was shot on location at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and which Malacanang tagged as “high drama” literally and figuratively sends a different kind of signal: political, if not at all constitutional, chaos!
While Justice Secretary Leila De Lima might have made a very popular and novel decision of denying the Arroyo’s travel access, the fact that a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) was issued by the Supreme Court in the latter’s favor matter-of-factly rendered her decision revocable.
Putting my two cents in, the Aquino administration has itself to blame for these!
Firstly, it’s now more than a year when Pres. Aquino articulated his commitment to hold the Arroyo’s and their cohorts accountable for plunder and electoral sabotage cases charged against them. Unfortunately, not even one has been finally docketed in any of the courts, which consequently slows down in putting his predecessors behind bars, assuming that a court for that matter will act in his favor.
In contrast, after being ousted for plunder, former Pres. Estrada was arrested and convicted after three months. Again, this makes Arroyo better off than him: swifter to decide sans the oral argument on the plausibility of the decision made.
The obvious delay and the uncalled-for press releases of Sec. De Lima and Pres. Aquino most often gave the Arroyo’s the tactical mechanism to maneuver around the justice system and to leave the country. As Sen. Ping Lacson puts it, Sec. De Lima did noting but conducts press releases for her works and never comes up with finality. De Lima’s “lame excuses,” and her many attempts to, places her in bad light and thus makes her useless and unworthy to be in the cubicle of the lame man of the Palace. Truly, she has won for her the title of a photographer-friendly cabinet stuff of the century.
Secondly, the “open defiance” of the feisty Sec. De Lima purports a behavior that is totally disgraceful to the legal profession. The issue on travel ban becomes pointless at this juncture as it was overshadowed by the lame intention to disobey the High Tribunal. Sec. De Lima, a Human Rights lawyer and advocate profoundly defied the order of the Court; she brandished the supremacy of her Department over the High Court, which is tantamount to contempt.
Assuming De Lima has reservations on the TRO, as a lawyer she would have dutifully checked with the High Court to find out if indeed a TRO was issued; assuming that she has suspicion on the issued TRO, as the Secretary of Justice she would have dutifully verified with the High Court if indeed the TRO was truly executory, assuming that this is logically coherent. To reason that a motion for reconsideration is yet to be filed by her team is apparently illogical and professionally unreasonable. As far as I know, correct me if I am wrong, a TRO issued by the High Court is executory. And what stops her from acting on it?
Assuming that De Lima and Aquino’s political junctions meet at one point or lay on the same plane of thought on the issue, is this not causing political chaos? Does anyone of them deserve another treat of respect?
A cabinet secretary defying the orders of the High Court is rhetorically sending the shivers down the spine of the Aquino Administration; more excruciating than the shivers to leave the country one hour, one Tuesday to conceivably escape the prosecution; and more throbbing than the shivers down Gloria’s spine!
All hail to a feisty woman but where is the lame man behind the tall orders? Oh boy, what happens to the big mouth?
Hushed Poppies
Dumaguete Star Informer
20 November 2011
The Tuesday hullabaloo, which was shot on location at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and which Malacanang tagged as “high drama” literally and figuratively sends a different kind of signal: political, if not at all constitutional, chaos!
While Justice Secretary Leila De Lima might have made a very popular and novel decision of denying the Arroyo’s travel access, the fact that a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) was issued by the Supreme Court in the latter’s favor matter-of-factly rendered her decision revocable.
Putting my two cents in, the Aquino administration has itself to blame for these!
Firstly, it’s now more than a year when Pres. Aquino articulated his commitment to hold the Arroyo’s and their cohorts accountable for plunder and electoral sabotage cases charged against them. Unfortunately, not even one has been finally docketed in any of the courts, which consequently slows down in putting his predecessors behind bars, assuming that a court for that matter will act in his favor.
In contrast, after being ousted for plunder, former Pres. Estrada was arrested and convicted after three months. Again, this makes Arroyo better off than him: swifter to decide sans the oral argument on the plausibility of the decision made.
The obvious delay and the uncalled-for press releases of Sec. De Lima and Pres. Aquino most often gave the Arroyo’s the tactical mechanism to maneuver around the justice system and to leave the country. As Sen. Ping Lacson puts it, Sec. De Lima did noting but conducts press releases for her works and never comes up with finality. De Lima’s “lame excuses,” and her many attempts to, places her in bad light and thus makes her useless and unworthy to be in the cubicle of the lame man of the Palace. Truly, she has won for her the title of a photographer-friendly cabinet stuff of the century.
Secondly, the “open defiance” of the feisty Sec. De Lima purports a behavior that is totally disgraceful to the legal profession. The issue on travel ban becomes pointless at this juncture as it was overshadowed by the lame intention to disobey the High Tribunal. Sec. De Lima, a Human Rights lawyer and advocate profoundly defied the order of the Court; she brandished the supremacy of her Department over the High Court, which is tantamount to contempt.
Assuming De Lima has reservations on the TRO, as a lawyer she would have dutifully checked with the High Court to find out if indeed a TRO was issued; assuming that she has suspicion on the issued TRO, as the Secretary of Justice she would have dutifully verified with the High Court if indeed the TRO was truly executory, assuming that this is logically coherent. To reason that a motion for reconsideration is yet to be filed by her team is apparently illogical and professionally unreasonable. As far as I know, correct me if I am wrong, a TRO issued by the High Court is executory. And what stops her from acting on it?
Assuming that De Lima and Aquino’s political junctions meet at one point or lay on the same plane of thought on the issue, is this not causing political chaos? Does anyone of them deserve another treat of respect?
A cabinet secretary defying the orders of the High Court is rhetorically sending the shivers down the spine of the Aquino Administration; more excruciating than the shivers to leave the country one hour, one Tuesday to conceivably escape the prosecution; and more throbbing than the shivers down Gloria’s spine!
All hail to a feisty woman but where is the lame man behind the tall orders? Oh boy, what happens to the big mouth?
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Truth or dare
By Rolo B. Cena
Hushed Poppies
Dumaguete Star Informer
13 November 2011
Arguably though, it seems that the Arroyos and her cohorts are in the hook of the new administration these days. As the cases are progressing, the most riveting saga of the century starts unfolding.
As bannered in one of the national dailies, Pres. Noynoy Aquino supports the decision of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to deny permission to former president now Pampanga 1st District Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to seek medical treatment abroad. The paper added that the President decided to fly in medical experts to attend to Arroyo’s medical condition on the government’s expense.
Sounds great! Sec. de Lima didn’t just make the right decision in the line of duty; she made the utmost decision of protecting the national interest at the same time. In addition, the decision of Pres. Aquino to fly in medical experts from Germany where the former president wishes to seek medical attention did not just embolden Sec. De Lima; it at the same time buoys up the decision itself.
First off, the cases filed against the former president are matters of national interest. Electoral fraud in connection with 2004 presidential election, for instance, where actor Poe has allegedly won the race, has not been resolved. While the dramatis personae of the “Hello Garci” chronicle vis-à-vis “mental lapses” account of the petite lady may no longer be plausible inside the court for the reason that the former election commissioner negated his first testimonies, substantial and unequivocal pressure of witnesses, once again, can be employed to eventually lead to the closure of the case. After all, if Aquino made this brilliant idea, he could be creative and innovative in wooing the principal witness to the case as well.
Undoubtedly, had Sec. de Lima made a decision on the contrary, she would have placed the entire community of Filipino people at the losing end. The illegitimate queenship of the petite lady, that is as despicable as the illegitimacy of the Marcosian Kingship, if not as grotesque and barbaric as the devils in the Grecian “sea of death” would always be the howling and lamentations of the subjects who installed them in the dirt-controlled Palace by the commercially ill and grimy river.
Second off, allowing the former president to seek medical treatment to a country without extradition treaty with the Philippines runs the risk of losing the physical presence of the former president. While the former president, through her spokesperson, announced and kept on announcing, that she will return after the medical treatment, a pronouncement that is as vile Sodom Gomorrah, her promise not to run in the later days of 2004 was a hoax. This is the prize for crying wolf several times.
Technically, there is no “trial in absentia” for nonbailable cases such as plunder. As such, the cases filed against her will not move and consequently, no closure can be made. Again, what is the use of doing all these activities if at all these cases would die a natural death? Will the Aquino administration, or the President for that matter, ever be as credible as his mother, assuming that former President Cory Aquino wears no dishonorable robe?
Third off, the decision was merely to ensure just and speedy resolution of the cases. While she is sick and constitutionally has the right to seek medical attention elsewhere, the decision of bringing into the country medical experts for her condition is enough proof that the administration does not prevent her from exercising her right to live a good and healthy life. In fact, her immediate recovery from her alleged life-threatening illness, assuming that this is true despite negation from government doctors, is also the concern of the administration as this may, in the long run, derail the proceedings of the cases.
Truth or dare: Will the predecessor object the decision of the successor to bring home medical experts for her purpose? With this new development, will Arroyo bring forward new twists and turns that will tickle millions of Filipino viewers of this prime time melo-dramatic soap dish?
Look out for it, Philippines!
Hushed Poppies
Dumaguete Star Informer
13 November 2011
Arguably though, it seems that the Arroyos and her cohorts are in the hook of the new administration these days. As the cases are progressing, the most riveting saga of the century starts unfolding.
As bannered in one of the national dailies, Pres. Noynoy Aquino supports the decision of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to deny permission to former president now Pampanga 1st District Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to seek medical treatment abroad. The paper added that the President decided to fly in medical experts to attend to Arroyo’s medical condition on the government’s expense.
Sounds great! Sec. de Lima didn’t just make the right decision in the line of duty; she made the utmost decision of protecting the national interest at the same time. In addition, the decision of Pres. Aquino to fly in medical experts from Germany where the former president wishes to seek medical attention did not just embolden Sec. De Lima; it at the same time buoys up the decision itself.
First off, the cases filed against the former president are matters of national interest. Electoral fraud in connection with 2004 presidential election, for instance, where actor Poe has allegedly won the race, has not been resolved. While the dramatis personae of the “Hello Garci” chronicle vis-à-vis “mental lapses” account of the petite lady may no longer be plausible inside the court for the reason that the former election commissioner negated his first testimonies, substantial and unequivocal pressure of witnesses, once again, can be employed to eventually lead to the closure of the case. After all, if Aquino made this brilliant idea, he could be creative and innovative in wooing the principal witness to the case as well.
Undoubtedly, had Sec. de Lima made a decision on the contrary, she would have placed the entire community of Filipino people at the losing end. The illegitimate queenship of the petite lady, that is as despicable as the illegitimacy of the Marcosian Kingship, if not as grotesque and barbaric as the devils in the Grecian “sea of death” would always be the howling and lamentations of the subjects who installed them in the dirt-controlled Palace by the commercially ill and grimy river.
Second off, allowing the former president to seek medical treatment to a country without extradition treaty with the Philippines runs the risk of losing the physical presence of the former president. While the former president, through her spokesperson, announced and kept on announcing, that she will return after the medical treatment, a pronouncement that is as vile Sodom Gomorrah, her promise not to run in the later days of 2004 was a hoax. This is the prize for crying wolf several times.
Technically, there is no “trial in absentia” for nonbailable cases such as plunder. As such, the cases filed against her will not move and consequently, no closure can be made. Again, what is the use of doing all these activities if at all these cases would die a natural death? Will the Aquino administration, or the President for that matter, ever be as credible as his mother, assuming that former President Cory Aquino wears no dishonorable robe?
Third off, the decision was merely to ensure just and speedy resolution of the cases. While she is sick and constitutionally has the right to seek medical attention elsewhere, the decision of bringing into the country medical experts for her condition is enough proof that the administration does not prevent her from exercising her right to live a good and healthy life. In fact, her immediate recovery from her alleged life-threatening illness, assuming that this is true despite negation from government doctors, is also the concern of the administration as this may, in the long run, derail the proceedings of the cases.
Truth or dare: Will the predecessor object the decision of the successor to bring home medical experts for her purpose? With this new development, will Arroyo bring forward new twists and turns that will tickle millions of Filipino viewers of this prime time melo-dramatic soap dish?
Look out for it, Philippines!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
City without traffic lights
By Rolo B. Cena
Hushed Poppies
Dumaguete Star Informer
06 November 2011
Imagine a city without traffic lights, and here’s the plan: It will have two sets of roads. The roads in one set will be parallel to each other and perpendicular to the roads in the other set. All roads will be one way. The direction of traffic on each road will be opposite to that on the adjacent roads. There will be a simple flyover at each intersection.
To assure motorists of no intrusions from the sides, all roads will be fenced. Each block will have an internal ring road that will be connected to each of the four roads forming the block and to the internal roads in the block. Stopping and parking of vehicles on main roads will be prohibited; it will be permitted only inside a block. Pedestrian, cyclists and bicyclists will have their own independent network on similar lines that will be interwoven with this network and flyover wherever they cross each other.
And this how I wished Dumaguete would have been.
It was in December of 1991 when I first stepped in the soils of Dumaguete to fulfill the promise: to have our wedding at St. Augustine Cathedral in Bacong. I fell in love with the place: pristine environment, laidback culture, unassuming corporate behavior, and organized traffic.
In May 2003, my wife and I finally decided to leave Imperial Manila and settle here; worked for about four years and most recently, re-settled in Saudi Arabia in the last three years.
Vertigo may have attacked my senses but truly though, in the first day of my homecoming, I was amazed to see how the traffic converged from one road to the other. For instance, the Daro Highway from the airport was moderate to heavy between five and six o’clock in the evening. The inner roads, Perdices, Real and Boulevard in particular were frantically heavy.
Farther south, the intersection where Robinson’s, the caterer of the first major commercialism in the “City of Gentle People” nestles was an instant (and will be a) perpetual irritant. As the flow converges from the south, from the area of Hypermart and Talay, and from two exits points from the City, no motorist could ever take the dilemma of the moment.
It was a classic taste of commercialism, the consequential reaction of embracing development more than naïveté already at hand. But of course, for the City or the province to farther enhance its growth and development, it has to buy-in commercialism being sold out in the market in the guise of development.
And development always has its idiocy and mayhem. The Metropolitan Manila is a classic example; commercialism included.
Lately, it took us more than thirty minutes to reach the city from Bacong. Before Dumaguete adapted commercialistic development, it would only take us ten to fifteen minutes to ply the same route.
As I and other motorists trudge the same paths people in the city and the province travel, the ire brought about by under-studied traffic condition is getting into one’s nerves. Urgently, city planners or officials should wander around and check for themselves the gravity of the situation.
But this is progress. Arguably though, it’s taking its toll in different tone. Moving north of growth or development is not an option; moving south of it, for some peculiar and uncontrollable reason or circumstance, is.
Under the norms or precepts of growth or development, a city without traffic lights becomes a far lesser idea. At the crossroads, it would be better if the city will venture into erecting traffic lights instead of installing traffic officers who hide in the middle of the day or under heavy rains. It’s in fact, a traffic-causing action.
What a spectacle to wander around and ply the city streets sans the hassles of congestions, both of humans and vehicles!
Onward, Dumaguete!
Hushed Poppies
Dumaguete Star Informer
06 November 2011
Imagine a city without traffic lights, and here’s the plan: It will have two sets of roads. The roads in one set will be parallel to each other and perpendicular to the roads in the other set. All roads will be one way. The direction of traffic on each road will be opposite to that on the adjacent roads. There will be a simple flyover at each intersection.
To assure motorists of no intrusions from the sides, all roads will be fenced. Each block will have an internal ring road that will be connected to each of the four roads forming the block and to the internal roads in the block. Stopping and parking of vehicles on main roads will be prohibited; it will be permitted only inside a block. Pedestrian, cyclists and bicyclists will have their own independent network on similar lines that will be interwoven with this network and flyover wherever they cross each other.
And this how I wished Dumaguete would have been.
It was in December of 1991 when I first stepped in the soils of Dumaguete to fulfill the promise: to have our wedding at St. Augustine Cathedral in Bacong. I fell in love with the place: pristine environment, laidback culture, unassuming corporate behavior, and organized traffic.
In May 2003, my wife and I finally decided to leave Imperial Manila and settle here; worked for about four years and most recently, re-settled in Saudi Arabia in the last three years.
Vertigo may have attacked my senses but truly though, in the first day of my homecoming, I was amazed to see how the traffic converged from one road to the other. For instance, the Daro Highway from the airport was moderate to heavy between five and six o’clock in the evening. The inner roads, Perdices, Real and Boulevard in particular were frantically heavy.
Farther south, the intersection where Robinson’s, the caterer of the first major commercialism in the “City of Gentle People” nestles was an instant (and will be a) perpetual irritant. As the flow converges from the south, from the area of Hypermart and Talay, and from two exits points from the City, no motorist could ever take the dilemma of the moment.
It was a classic taste of commercialism, the consequential reaction of embracing development more than naïveté already at hand. But of course, for the City or the province to farther enhance its growth and development, it has to buy-in commercialism being sold out in the market in the guise of development.
And development always has its idiocy and mayhem. The Metropolitan Manila is a classic example; commercialism included.
Lately, it took us more than thirty minutes to reach the city from Bacong. Before Dumaguete adapted commercialistic development, it would only take us ten to fifteen minutes to ply the same route.
As I and other motorists trudge the same paths people in the city and the province travel, the ire brought about by under-studied traffic condition is getting into one’s nerves. Urgently, city planners or officials should wander around and check for themselves the gravity of the situation.
But this is progress. Arguably though, it’s taking its toll in different tone. Moving north of growth or development is not an option; moving south of it, for some peculiar and uncontrollable reason or circumstance, is.
Under the norms or precepts of growth or development, a city without traffic lights becomes a far lesser idea. At the crossroads, it would be better if the city will venture into erecting traffic lights instead of installing traffic officers who hide in the middle of the day or under heavy rains. It’s in fact, a traffic-causing action.
What a spectacle to wander around and ply the city streets sans the hassles of congestions, both of humans and vehicles!
Onward, Dumaguete!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)