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!
Showing posts with label Prresident. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prresident. Show all posts
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Terrorism and the President
By Rolo B. Cena
Hushed Poppies
Dumaguete Star Informer
23 October 2011
Early on, Pres. Aquino has always expressed optimism to stop Abu Sayaff’s terroristic activities in the country. Basically founded in the badlands of the south, the left wing of MILF has been considered by the local and international governments as among the most notorious of Islamic factions.
This is according to him!
The President met Abu’s high ranking officer in Japan, a move his colleagues considered novel and tactical. Since the meeting was not made known to everyone nor consultation was made, it came out as a surprise.
Apparently, the nation is still experiencing the wrath of the rebels.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to crush the “communist insurgency, rebellion in the South, and terrorism” by the end of her term in 2010.
This was according to her. Surprisingly, it was during her term that the terroristic activities of this group heightened: kidnappings, bombings, et al. Worse, Abu Sayaff gained confidence and enormous strength after getting international alliances and financial support.
These were according to intelligence report!
When Marcos assumed powers in the Palace, one of his foremost aims was to stop insurgency, rebellion, and terrorism. Sadly though, before his forced exit from the Philippine, not even one stopped.
Cory Aquino was sworn into office after the controversial snap election. A neophyte in politics, she was faced with the same dilemma. Until her dominion expired, terrorism was not resolved. Worse, several military coups were born that further gave birth to a senator.
Ramos, a West Pointer and a military man took over the palace. He vowed the same thing. But he failed and was failed by his own colleagues in the military. The short-lived term of actor Joseph Estrada also did not accomplish what the entire country hoped for.
Shortly before the start of the Ramadan this year, five members of the elite Philippine Marines were beheaded in Sulu. In a clash between the Islamic rebels and the government troops in Basilan in the 18th of October, at least 19 people were slain. The troop was claiming that they lacked pre-loaded magazines and they were outnumbered.
Reading through the statements, it seems that the government is not at all ready to stop the long time insurgency in the south; in ultimately putting a dot to the rhetoric of MILF. With the bloated budget and un-resolved “pabaon” issues in the military, what the “um” are we doing with our emissaries? – sending them off to battlefields without weapons? - And in number lesser than the enemies?
Arguably though, none of them knew what they were talking about; none of them knew what they were working at. At the rate the government is going, there is no way terrorism, insurgency, or rebellion – however we would call it – will ever be stopped. Unless our lawmakers put some teeth on the Anti-terrorism Law, we will never succeed as a nation.
And this ‘teeth” should be something that would express desire for life more than political greed or articulate life more than passion for the animal deduced to “pork in a barrel.”
Let me express my thought here: Unless political greed is reduced to nil, only then can Juan and Pidro claim that the battle against terrorism, insurgency or rebellion has been won. Greed brings about terrorism; terrorism is greed!
Hushed Poppies
Dumaguete Star Informer
23 October 2011
Early on, Pres. Aquino has always expressed optimism to stop Abu Sayaff’s terroristic activities in the country. Basically founded in the badlands of the south, the left wing of MILF has been considered by the local and international governments as among the most notorious of Islamic factions.
This is according to him!
The President met Abu’s high ranking officer in Japan, a move his colleagues considered novel and tactical. Since the meeting was not made known to everyone nor consultation was made, it came out as a surprise.
Apparently, the nation is still experiencing the wrath of the rebels.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to crush the “communist insurgency, rebellion in the South, and terrorism” by the end of her term in 2010.
This was according to her. Surprisingly, it was during her term that the terroristic activities of this group heightened: kidnappings, bombings, et al. Worse, Abu Sayaff gained confidence and enormous strength after getting international alliances and financial support.
These were according to intelligence report!
When Marcos assumed powers in the Palace, one of his foremost aims was to stop insurgency, rebellion, and terrorism. Sadly though, before his forced exit from the Philippine, not even one stopped.
Cory Aquino was sworn into office after the controversial snap election. A neophyte in politics, she was faced with the same dilemma. Until her dominion expired, terrorism was not resolved. Worse, several military coups were born that further gave birth to a senator.
Ramos, a West Pointer and a military man took over the palace. He vowed the same thing. But he failed and was failed by his own colleagues in the military. The short-lived term of actor Joseph Estrada also did not accomplish what the entire country hoped for.
Shortly before the start of the Ramadan this year, five members of the elite Philippine Marines were beheaded in Sulu. In a clash between the Islamic rebels and the government troops in Basilan in the 18th of October, at least 19 people were slain. The troop was claiming that they lacked pre-loaded magazines and they were outnumbered.
Reading through the statements, it seems that the government is not at all ready to stop the long time insurgency in the south; in ultimately putting a dot to the rhetoric of MILF. With the bloated budget and un-resolved “pabaon” issues in the military, what the “um” are we doing with our emissaries? – sending them off to battlefields without weapons? - And in number lesser than the enemies?
Arguably though, none of them knew what they were talking about; none of them knew what they were working at. At the rate the government is going, there is no way terrorism, insurgency, or rebellion – however we would call it – will ever be stopped. Unless our lawmakers put some teeth on the Anti-terrorism Law, we will never succeed as a nation.
And this ‘teeth” should be something that would express desire for life more than political greed or articulate life more than passion for the animal deduced to “pork in a barrel.”
Let me express my thought here: Unless political greed is reduced to nil, only then can Juan and Pidro claim that the battle against terrorism, insurgency or rebellion has been won. Greed brings about terrorism; terrorism is greed!
Terrorism and the President
By Rolo B. Cena
Hushed Poppies
Dumaguete Star Informer
23 October 2011
Early on, Pres. Aquino has always expressed optimism to stop Abu Sayaff’s terroristic activities in the country. Basically founded in the badlands of the south, the left wing of MILF has been considered by the local and international governments as among the most notorious of Islamic factions.
This is according to him!
The President met Abu’s high ranking officer in Japan, a move his colleagues considered novel and tactical. Since the meeting was not made known to everyone nor consultation was made, it came out as a surprise.
Apparently, the nation is still experiencing the wrath of the rebels.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to crush the “communist insurgency, rebellion in the South, and terrorism” by the end of her term in 2010.
This was according to her. Surprisingly, it was during her term that the terroristic activities of this group heightened: kidnappings, bombings, et al. Worse, Abu Sayaff gained confidence and enormous strength after getting international alliances and financial support.
These were according to intelligence report!
When Marcos assumed powers in the Palace, one of his foremost aims was to stop insurgency, rebellion, and terrorism. Sadly though, before his forced exit from the Philippine, not even one stopped.
Cory Aquino was sworn into office after the controversial snap election. A neophyte in politics, she was faced with the same dilemma. Until her dominion expired, terrorism was not resolved. Worse, several military coups were born that further gave birth to a senator.
Ramos, a West Pointer and a military man took over the palace. He vowed the same thing. But he failed and was failed by his own colleagues in the military. The short-lived term of actor Joseph Estrada also did not accomplish what the entire country hoped for.
Shortly before the start of the Ramadan this year, five members of the elite Philippine Marines were beheaded in Sulu. In a clash between the Islamic rebels and the government troops in Basilan in the 18th of October, at least 19 people were slain. The troop was claiming that they lacked pre-loaded magazines and they were outnumbered.
Reading through the statements, it seems that the government is not at all ready to stop the long time insurgency in the south; in ultimately putting a dot to the rhetoric of MILF. With the bloated budget and un-resolved “pabaon” issues in the military, what the “um” are we doing with our emissaries? – sending them off to battlefields without weapons? - And in number lesser than the enemies?
Arguably though, none of them knew what they were talking about; none of them knew what they were working at. At the rate the government is going, there is no way terrorism, insurgency, or rebellion – however we would call it – will ever be stopped. Unless our lawmakers put some teeth on the Anti-terrorism Law, we will never succeed as a nation.
And this ‘teeth” should be something that would express desire for life more than political greed or articulate life more than passion for the animal deduced to “pork in a barrel.”
Let me express my thought here: Unless political greed is reduced to nil, only then can Juan and Pidro claim that the battle against terrorism, insurgency or rebellion has been won. Greed brings about terrorism; terrorism is greed!
Hushed Poppies
Dumaguete Star Informer
23 October 2011
Early on, Pres. Aquino has always expressed optimism to stop Abu Sayaff’s terroristic activities in the country. Basically founded in the badlands of the south, the left wing of MILF has been considered by the local and international governments as among the most notorious of Islamic factions.
This is according to him!
The President met Abu’s high ranking officer in Japan, a move his colleagues considered novel and tactical. Since the meeting was not made known to everyone nor consultation was made, it came out as a surprise.
Apparently, the nation is still experiencing the wrath of the rebels.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to crush the “communist insurgency, rebellion in the South, and terrorism” by the end of her term in 2010.
This was according to her. Surprisingly, it was during her term that the terroristic activities of this group heightened: kidnappings, bombings, et al. Worse, Abu Sayaff gained confidence and enormous strength after getting international alliances and financial support.
These were according to intelligence report!
When Marcos assumed powers in the Palace, one of his foremost aims was to stop insurgency, rebellion, and terrorism. Sadly though, before his forced exit from the Philippine, not even one stopped.
Cory Aquino was sworn into office after the controversial snap election. A neophyte in politics, she was faced with the same dilemma. Until her dominion expired, terrorism was not resolved. Worse, several military coups were born that further gave birth to a senator.
Ramos, a West Pointer and a military man took over the palace. He vowed the same thing. But he failed and was failed by his own colleagues in the military. The short-lived term of actor Joseph Estrada also did not accomplish what the entire country hoped for.
Shortly before the start of the Ramadan this year, five members of the elite Philippine Marines were beheaded in Sulu. In a clash between the Islamic rebels and the government troops in Basilan in the 18th of October, at least 19 people were slain. The troop was claiming that they lacked pre-loaded magazines and they were outnumbered.
Reading through the statements, it seems that the government is not at all ready to stop the long time insurgency in the south; in ultimately putting a dot to the rhetoric of MILF. With the bloated budget and un-resolved “pabaon” issues in the military, what the “um” are we doing with our emissaries? – sending them off to battlefields without weapons? - And in number lesser than the enemies?
Arguably though, none of them knew what they were talking about; none of them knew what they were working at. At the rate the government is going, there is no way terrorism, insurgency, or rebellion – however we would call it – will ever be stopped. Unless our lawmakers put some teeth on the Anti-terrorism Law, we will never succeed as a nation.
And this ‘teeth” should be something that would express desire for life more than political greed or articulate life more than passion for the animal deduced to “pork in a barrel.”
Let me express my thought here: Unless political greed is reduced to nil, only then can Juan and Pidro claim that the battle against terrorism, insurgency or rebellion has been won. Greed brings about terrorism; terrorism is greed!
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