By Rolo B. Cena
The Gulf Files
Dumaguete Star Informer
24 July 2011
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – After one year from being sworn to office, President Aquino delivered his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) in a joint session at the House of Representatives last Monday. As in most State-of-the-Nation Addresses, that was by far a high profile presentation of figures and statistics vis-à-vis reality that were suggestive of, to say it conversely, achievements of the administration to date.
Philosophically, allow me set my own parameters in assessing his performance: Good governance, public finance and economy, graft and corruption, education, environment, peace and order, and health. To put things in proper perspective, let us objectively tackle each parameter in order to get through the assessment vividly:
Undoubtedly, the President is an example of honesty, pure and good intentions. While the world feasted on his purchase of a “second hand luxury car” early this year, no one from his detractors realized that his intention was pure and simple: Transparency. His overall drive to eliminate these malignant species from the public service is alone an indicator of good governance. Unconsciously, however, he failed to anticipate the negative behavioral responses of the Arroyo people in the service against the young Aquino administration’s reform programs. When he created the Truth Commission, no truth ever came out because he wasn’t able to contain the Supreme Court, a government body majority ruled by Arroyo appointees.
The P11B savings the government announced in the last quarter last year was achieved because his administration spent lower than the budgeted plan. It was an example of sort but truly insufficient to use as key performance indicator. These savings resulted from a narrowed public spending as his commitment to the people. Moreover, business programs like public-private partnership was a copy-pasted, Adobe edited version of the build-operate transfer program of the previous administration.
Holistically, Aquino’s stern drive against graft and corruption became his selling point from day one. Given 10 being the highest, I could’ve rated him 9. However, the rating gradually declined to below median when the questionable appointment of friends, classmates, drinking and shooting buddies became the qualification of appointing officials to sensitive posts.
Along this line, what is new? Aquino’s predecessors did the same: Arroyo appointed a classmate of her husband to the Ombudsman to protect and preserve her greed; Estrada appointed drinking buddies and gambling mates; Ramos appointed relatives, allies, and friends; Cory appointed political supporters and friends in her journey to the Palace; Marcos appointed his allies, relatives and friends to complete his political sojourn. What else is new in the Philippine political system?
This is cronyism expressed in different tone; it is the same dog with different collar.
In addition, Aquino appointed Human Rights lawyer and advocate Leila de Lima to the Department of Justice. The feisty De Lima commenced her works with full support from the President. However, shortly thereafter, Aquino had for several times weakened or reversed de Lima’s recommendations particularly in cases where friends or political allies are severely involved.
Department of Education’s K1 + 1 scheme could have been fairly a good indicator for an improvement. However, the lack of consultations from all stakeholders not only drew negative criticisms from the academic and public sectors; it at the same time thwarted the program’s implementation. More to this, the reduction in the budget for all state colleges and universities added fuel to the fire. These drastic moves caused his rating to decline in this critical area.
In the area of environment, nothing’s changed: No new environmental-friendly preservation programs and initiatives are instituted. Categorically, the same programs are in place since the time Aquino was installed to power.
The peace and order situation of the country has moderately changed from good to bad. Not to mention the situation in the South brought about the Abu Sayaff phenomenon, in August last year, the world witnessed how senior police officer hijacked a tourist bus and killed at least eight Chinese tourists. Sans his demand for reinstatement, the failure of the government to abort the merciless killing affected the peace and order situation of the country. It even sent us to travel ban advisories from various countries. Categorically, the President failed to correct and address this stigma the world associated with us.
Nothing is significant in the area of health yet. The Reproductive Health Bill could have been an indicator, but eventually, this will only address the growing population concern of the country. Health issues have to be addressed accordingly. What fails him in this respect is the absence of a short-term plan to address the rising protests led by the “Pajero-troubled” Catholic Church.
If I may opine, the President’s overall rating is barely passing. Personal biases that governed my judgment may have ruled my process but the reason is obvious: In most areas, he consistently mismanaged to outwit his “path to righteousness.”
Just expressing my eighth wonder: How does Aquino differ from Arroyo, Estrada, Ramos, and (Cory) Aquino from day one of service? How do you rate the President then?
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
Discriminated!
By Rolo B. Cena
The Gulf Files
Dumaguete Star Informer
24 July 2011
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Travel has always fascinated me. Since I started travelling outside of the country in 1996, I never had done so without making sure my travel documents are ready.
Superstitions have, by certain norms and questionable bases, associated number “13” to bad luck. As I don’t believe in this and have always believed in the providence of God, travelling on the 13th of June 2011 to Jordan was just as normal and ordinary as travel during the April Fools’ Day.
On the instruction of the Management, I, along with my team member, a Jordanian, engaged on a premature seventeen-day business trip to Jordan, one of the countries I dreamed of visiting for three reasons: The Baptism Site of Jesus, the Memorial of Moses and the Dead Sea. It was premature in the sense that as planned by the team, it should have been a week later to make us ready for the activities.
The classy and gigantic Royal Jordanian Airline Airbus A310 took off from Riyadh International Airport twenty minutes past six in the humid evening and touched down the airport of Amman, the Capital City of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan two hours after. Passing through the Immigration officer, I handed my passport, my invitation letter from our subsidiary company in Jordan, certification from the headquarters of the conglomerate, and twenty Jordanian Dinars for my business visa. After examining my papers, he asked me to sit down and wait for his call.
After about ten minutes of frantically waiting, a dark non-English speaking Jordanian ushered me to a small office where I met an Arabic speaking officer. He was asking me for my return ticket. Their order was: fly back to Riyadh for travelling without visa. My heart began to pound and I started to entertain the fear that I had been trying to erase from my mind: denied and banned.
In a scant quantity of Arabic language, I managed to secure the nod of the officer to bring my Jordanian colleague in the same room where I was detained. I prayed and decided to call our Vice President in Riyadh who was himself a Jordanian. He called and negotiated for my visa. After more than two hours of detention, I was granted a one-month visa.
In our conversation wit the immigration officer, I requested my colleague to ask why my entry to Jordan was almost denied when tourists are welcome in the Kingdom. Translated, I come to know that airport visas are not allowed to Indonesians, Pakistanis, Sri-Lankans, Bangladeshis, Yemenis, Hindis (Indians), and Filipinos, among other nationalities mentioned. Specifically for us Filipinos, the reason is: terrorism.
Further the officer made mention of the popular engagement of our Muslim factionalists in the south and the world-watched August hostage taking that claimed lives of Chinese tourists.
What a way to discriminate Filipinos in this area where we used to be favored in the human capital exchange market? What exactitude of reference to this malignant social stigma that has been plaguing the country?
Can we blame them?
Rationally, no! We cannot blame them for placing us parallel with these nationalities. Just as we cannot blame employers in the Middle East and/or Gulf Countries for discriminating Filipinos in terms of compensation packages, workloads and social treatment when most of the overseas Filipino workers abused their positions, the privileges and the responsibilities assigned to them. But still surely, we are far different from them.
But what is it in us?
Undoubtedly, we are world class workers; we are world premier performers. Indisputably though, that favorable review about our race has gone down the drain. It was wasted when the Graham couples were kidnapped and tortured in Mindanao; when the protectors of the country attempted to dethrone a government made by people; when the friendly image of the country was stained by one false move of one officer in August last year; when a lot of Filipinos jump-shipped or toured countries and never come back.
Can we blame them?
Rationally, no! We have been promoting the country as a peaceful country and yet all branches of the government are in trouble with each other; one is trying to out-best the other; one is trying to superimpose over the other. Who shall believe us when our lawmakers are law breakers themselves?
Can we blame them?
Rationally, no! We cannot blame them to believe that we are socially well when one of our congressmen has been in drug mess in the neighboring Hong Kong state. We cannot blame them when the country is still listed in the travel bans of most countries.
And surely, we cannot blame them to enlist us in the roster of terrorists when terrorism and related activities are apparent in our home front.
For as long as we maintain the same perspective in our socio-economic and political life as a nation, we will still become victims of racism or discrimination.
The Gulf Files
Dumaguete Star Informer
24 July 2011
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Travel has always fascinated me. Since I started travelling outside of the country in 1996, I never had done so without making sure my travel documents are ready.
Superstitions have, by certain norms and questionable bases, associated number “13” to bad luck. As I don’t believe in this and have always believed in the providence of God, travelling on the 13th of June 2011 to Jordan was just as normal and ordinary as travel during the April Fools’ Day.
On the instruction of the Management, I, along with my team member, a Jordanian, engaged on a premature seventeen-day business trip to Jordan, one of the countries I dreamed of visiting for three reasons: The Baptism Site of Jesus, the Memorial of Moses and the Dead Sea. It was premature in the sense that as planned by the team, it should have been a week later to make us ready for the activities.
The classy and gigantic Royal Jordanian Airline Airbus A310 took off from Riyadh International Airport twenty minutes past six in the humid evening and touched down the airport of Amman, the Capital City of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan two hours after. Passing through the Immigration officer, I handed my passport, my invitation letter from our subsidiary company in Jordan, certification from the headquarters of the conglomerate, and twenty Jordanian Dinars for my business visa. After examining my papers, he asked me to sit down and wait for his call.
After about ten minutes of frantically waiting, a dark non-English speaking Jordanian ushered me to a small office where I met an Arabic speaking officer. He was asking me for my return ticket. Their order was: fly back to Riyadh for travelling without visa. My heart began to pound and I started to entertain the fear that I had been trying to erase from my mind: denied and banned.
In a scant quantity of Arabic language, I managed to secure the nod of the officer to bring my Jordanian colleague in the same room where I was detained. I prayed and decided to call our Vice President in Riyadh who was himself a Jordanian. He called and negotiated for my visa. After more than two hours of detention, I was granted a one-month visa.
In our conversation wit the immigration officer, I requested my colleague to ask why my entry to Jordan was almost denied when tourists are welcome in the Kingdom. Translated, I come to know that airport visas are not allowed to Indonesians, Pakistanis, Sri-Lankans, Bangladeshis, Yemenis, Hindis (Indians), and Filipinos, among other nationalities mentioned. Specifically for us Filipinos, the reason is: terrorism.
Further the officer made mention of the popular engagement of our Muslim factionalists in the south and the world-watched August hostage taking that claimed lives of Chinese tourists.
What a way to discriminate Filipinos in this area where we used to be favored in the human capital exchange market? What exactitude of reference to this malignant social stigma that has been plaguing the country?
Can we blame them?
Rationally, no! We cannot blame them for placing us parallel with these nationalities. Just as we cannot blame employers in the Middle East and/or Gulf Countries for discriminating Filipinos in terms of compensation packages, workloads and social treatment when most of the overseas Filipino workers abused their positions, the privileges and the responsibilities assigned to them. But still surely, we are far different from them.
But what is it in us?
Undoubtedly, we are world class workers; we are world premier performers. Indisputably though, that favorable review about our race has gone down the drain. It was wasted when the Graham couples were kidnapped and tortured in Mindanao; when the protectors of the country attempted to dethrone a government made by people; when the friendly image of the country was stained by one false move of one officer in August last year; when a lot of Filipinos jump-shipped or toured countries and never come back.
Can we blame them?
Rationally, no! We have been promoting the country as a peaceful country and yet all branches of the government are in trouble with each other; one is trying to out-best the other; one is trying to superimpose over the other. Who shall believe us when our lawmakers are law breakers themselves?
Can we blame them?
Rationally, no! We cannot blame them to believe that we are socially well when one of our congressmen has been in drug mess in the neighboring Hong Kong state. We cannot blame them when the country is still listed in the travel bans of most countries.
And surely, we cannot blame them to enlist us in the roster of terrorists when terrorism and related activities are apparent in our home front.
For as long as we maintain the same perspective in our socio-economic and political life as a nation, we will still become victims of racism or discrimination.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Commitment: a pre-natal analysis
By Rolo B. Cena
Project Team Lead, HCM
Shaheen News October 2011 Issue
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Commitment can be defined as the strong belief of the people in the basic philosophy and precepts of an organization and how faithfully are these carried out with genuine spirit and drive to achieve business objectives. It is an interaction governed by obligations, which maybe mutual, self-imposed, explicit or implied.
When members of the Core Team were brought to Riyadh on the 15th of May 2010, they were not technologists; they were business scientists who were dedicated to map out the Companies’ business processes for the technology called SAP.
And mapping these processes, considering the apparent diversity of AIG was not an easy task. True to its form, this exercise gave birth to the Business Blue Print that became the sole and major basis in developing the system for the Group.
The roadmap of Shaheen, no matter how plain and simple it appeared on paper, has always been very difficult. For one, the Core Team has struggled for a year now trying to make both ends meet, apart from grasping the wisdom SAP Technology offers vis-à-vis the actual business processes our respective companies have.
During those times, the overwhelming sense of pessimism or frustrations was just hard to suppress. These events paved the way for various approaches of disengagements, or attempts to, but the message was resoundingly clear: that while others leave or most become skeptical, the plan to proceed with the project remains relatively unscathed.
And it pays! The benefits may not be fully clearly visible now but soonest the team would be able to realize them. Truly, what Selman Al-Fares enunciated in the meeting made sense: “It always takes nine months for a woman to deliver a child.”
Conversely, one year of unsteady but relatively manageable pace has shown a great deal of commitment from both sides: the Core Team aggressively pursues for the prime demands and basic requirements to complete the project while the management strongly supports the Team at all cost.
Definitely, we are going to wear the suit of SAP.
Valuing the benefits now, ultimately SAP could further usher AIG to strategic locations elsewhere and may bring about another strategic change or repositioning especially in the global market scene. While major industry players have been in existence for decades now, the business conquest the group is tracking can precisely determine the passion to create the art-of-war strategy that can conquer uncharted islands in the long run.
Project Team Lead, HCM
Shaheen News October 2011 Issue
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Commitment can be defined as the strong belief of the people in the basic philosophy and precepts of an organization and how faithfully are these carried out with genuine spirit and drive to achieve business objectives. It is an interaction governed by obligations, which maybe mutual, self-imposed, explicit or implied.
When members of the Core Team were brought to Riyadh on the 15th of May 2010, they were not technologists; they were business scientists who were dedicated to map out the Companies’ business processes for the technology called SAP.
And mapping these processes, considering the apparent diversity of AIG was not an easy task. True to its form, this exercise gave birth to the Business Blue Print that became the sole and major basis in developing the system for the Group.
The roadmap of Shaheen, no matter how plain and simple it appeared on paper, has always been very difficult. For one, the Core Team has struggled for a year now trying to make both ends meet, apart from grasping the wisdom SAP Technology offers vis-à-vis the actual business processes our respective companies have.
During those times, the overwhelming sense of pessimism or frustrations was just hard to suppress. These events paved the way for various approaches of disengagements, or attempts to, but the message was resoundingly clear: that while others leave or most become skeptical, the plan to proceed with the project remains relatively unscathed.
And it pays! The benefits may not be fully clearly visible now but soonest the team would be able to realize them. Truly, what Selman Al-Fares enunciated in the meeting made sense: “It always takes nine months for a woman to deliver a child.”
Conversely, one year of unsteady but relatively manageable pace has shown a great deal of commitment from both sides: the Core Team aggressively pursues for the prime demands and basic requirements to complete the project while the management strongly supports the Team at all cost.
Definitely, we are going to wear the suit of SAP.
Valuing the benefits now, ultimately SAP could further usher AIG to strategic locations elsewhere and may bring about another strategic change or repositioning especially in the global market scene. While major industry players have been in existence for decades now, the business conquest the group is tracking can precisely determine the passion to create the art-of-war strategy that can conquer uncharted islands in the long run.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Post facto
By Rolo B. Cena
The Gulf Files
Dumaguete Star Informer
27 February 2011
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Putting my two cents in, it takes a lot of effort these days to recall the thrill that surged through the world when EDSA 1 was staged out of one simple call. It was not only because the dictator that controlled the land was ousted out of the greed-seized Malacanang; it was also because the first lady president, a plain and simple housewife, ruled the Republic.
After the popular revolt that catapulted her to power and the country to world recognition, the late and former President Corazon Aquino championed democracy; and then there was democracy.
Former President Fidel V. Ramos, Marcos’ close ally, confidante and Chief-of-Staff, casually followed suit after he was elected president despite electoral protest from contender now Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago. To most Filipinos, it was the hottest and the most contested election the Philippines has ever had for one fundamental truth: there was electoral fraud.
And so the spirit of EDSA was for the first time abused and put to waste.
After a term, pro-poor-superhero packaged movie actor was mandated by the democratic eighty-million Filipinos to occupy the graft-stricken Malacanang Palace by the dirt-covered Pasig River. To the poorest of poors, deposed former President Erap Estrada was their knight in shining armor ready salve them from criminals and violators of law in a square one-on-one hand-fight. To the intellectuals, Erap Estrada is just another actor emulating the character in the “Wakasan” classics of rags-to-riches plots.
But the twists and turns did not conclude in a fairy tale saga. Never had the “masa” projected that their savior would later emerge the villain in the political story; a convict of the major crime and violation ever recorded in the pages of Philippine politics. Thereafter, EDSA 2 rolled out and out of the crowd, came a child who witnessed the then Vice President Gloria arroyo sworn into office as the President. Thanks to the envelope and the senate’s dancing queen; thanks to this child.
The EDSA spirit was not just revived; it was revitalized and synergized in the process. Or, maybe so.
The petite lady of the Imperial Manila sought the second term which she claimed was not; it was her first. Out of this new version of democracy, she continued to rule the land despite electoral protests. To many on the left, former President now Pampanga Representative lost the contest to the late and King of Philippine Movies Fernando Poe, Jr.
The EDSA spirit was once again tarnished by way of the “Hello Garci” Scandal and the story of a petite lady who most of the time committed mental lapses. To many on the left, it was a serious offense punishable by law. To democracy, it was a grave offense against it fundamentals. EDSA was once again the victim!
Sensibly, the class of democracy the late and former President Cory Aquino institutionalized gradually depreciated with the magnitude of let-downs becoming palpable everywhere. To many on the right, it was better than all the bests in the world; better than the dictatorial rule that paralyzed the country for more than two decades. To many on the left, it was a gateway to a more blatant corruption; it was the final bridge towards the destruction of Philippine government.
For one, this democracy seems to endure spendthrifts who squander billions of pesos on wasteful bureaucracy: These spendthrifts are in the person of senators, congressman, cabinet members, and other elected officials of the land who consume the most controversial red meat called pork in a barrel; this democracy seems to mortgage the future while failing to wrestle against the present. To centrists who backed this democracy, it has been a disappointment in the sense that the latitude it accords to its constituents falls short of its nobler intentions.
The Philippines is now an uncharacteristically uncertain place. For one, President Aquino, the son of world’s icon of democracy and former president of the country, seems to have been incapacitated by the former administration’s supporters in the Supreme Court, Ombudsman and other offices. Two, uncertainty in decision making seems to be cup of tea of the President and his colleagues.
While he is believed to be sincere in his political reforms, Mr. Aquino seems acutely unable to perceive, let alone respond to, the grievances of the majority of his constituents, and has a dangerous habit of dismissing minority voices who disagree with him as enemies or just bitter.
What has EDSA really done to us Filipinos? I am not condemning who and what or insinuating another rebellion in the likes of Egypt and Libya, certainly not. I just feel remorse for EDSA every time Juan de la Cruz suffers from complete political, economic and social deprivation due to greed.
The Filipinos do not like uncertainty. Make EDSA real!
The Gulf Files
Dumaguete Star Informer
27 February 2011
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Putting my two cents in, it takes a lot of effort these days to recall the thrill that surged through the world when EDSA 1 was staged out of one simple call. It was not only because the dictator that controlled the land was ousted out of the greed-seized Malacanang; it was also because the first lady president, a plain and simple housewife, ruled the Republic.
After the popular revolt that catapulted her to power and the country to world recognition, the late and former President Corazon Aquino championed democracy; and then there was democracy.
Former President Fidel V. Ramos, Marcos’ close ally, confidante and Chief-of-Staff, casually followed suit after he was elected president despite electoral protest from contender now Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago. To most Filipinos, it was the hottest and the most contested election the Philippines has ever had for one fundamental truth: there was electoral fraud.
And so the spirit of EDSA was for the first time abused and put to waste.
After a term, pro-poor-superhero packaged movie actor was mandated by the democratic eighty-million Filipinos to occupy the graft-stricken Malacanang Palace by the dirt-covered Pasig River. To the poorest of poors, deposed former President Erap Estrada was their knight in shining armor ready salve them from criminals and violators of law in a square one-on-one hand-fight. To the intellectuals, Erap Estrada is just another actor emulating the character in the “Wakasan” classics of rags-to-riches plots.
But the twists and turns did not conclude in a fairy tale saga. Never had the “masa” projected that their savior would later emerge the villain in the political story; a convict of the major crime and violation ever recorded in the pages of Philippine politics. Thereafter, EDSA 2 rolled out and out of the crowd, came a child who witnessed the then Vice President Gloria arroyo sworn into office as the President. Thanks to the envelope and the senate’s dancing queen; thanks to this child.
The EDSA spirit was not just revived; it was revitalized and synergized in the process. Or, maybe so.
The petite lady of the Imperial Manila sought the second term which she claimed was not; it was her first. Out of this new version of democracy, she continued to rule the land despite electoral protests. To many on the left, former President now Pampanga Representative lost the contest to the late and King of Philippine Movies Fernando Poe, Jr.
The EDSA spirit was once again tarnished by way of the “Hello Garci” Scandal and the story of a petite lady who most of the time committed mental lapses. To many on the left, it was a serious offense punishable by law. To democracy, it was a grave offense against it fundamentals. EDSA was once again the victim!
Sensibly, the class of democracy the late and former President Cory Aquino institutionalized gradually depreciated with the magnitude of let-downs becoming palpable everywhere. To many on the right, it was better than all the bests in the world; better than the dictatorial rule that paralyzed the country for more than two decades. To many on the left, it was a gateway to a more blatant corruption; it was the final bridge towards the destruction of Philippine government.
For one, this democracy seems to endure spendthrifts who squander billions of pesos on wasteful bureaucracy: These spendthrifts are in the person of senators, congressman, cabinet members, and other elected officials of the land who consume the most controversial red meat called pork in a barrel; this democracy seems to mortgage the future while failing to wrestle against the present. To centrists who backed this democracy, it has been a disappointment in the sense that the latitude it accords to its constituents falls short of its nobler intentions.
The Philippines is now an uncharacteristically uncertain place. For one, President Aquino, the son of world’s icon of democracy and former president of the country, seems to have been incapacitated by the former administration’s supporters in the Supreme Court, Ombudsman and other offices. Two, uncertainty in decision making seems to be cup of tea of the President and his colleagues.
While he is believed to be sincere in his political reforms, Mr. Aquino seems acutely unable to perceive, let alone respond to, the grievances of the majority of his constituents, and has a dangerous habit of dismissing minority voices who disagree with him as enemies or just bitter.
What has EDSA really done to us Filipinos? I am not condemning who and what or insinuating another rebellion in the likes of Egypt and Libya, certainly not. I just feel remorse for EDSA every time Juan de la Cruz suffers from complete political, economic and social deprivation due to greed.
The Filipinos do not like uncertainty. Make EDSA real!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Hushed puppies
By Rolo B. Cena
The Gulf files
Dumaguete Star Informer
20 February 2011
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Since the death of the former AFP Chief-of-Staff and DILG Secretary Angelo Reyes and after George Rabusa and Heidi Mendoza sung their classical music in the halls of the Senate, some contenders keep on playing their own hullabaloos on air attempting to steal a sixty-minute spotlight. Some do it for information and wisdom; others for publicity; and still some for camouflage.
Such was the case of Senator Panfilo Lacson who recently remained at large for nearly one year to avoid arrest for the alleged murder of PR Strategist Bobby Dacer and his driver. In his press release lately, he recommended to widen the Senate investigation on the alleged corruption in the Armed Forces to cover the Philippine National Police where he once served as chief.
Now, look who’s talking!
People opine that Reyes was guilty. Which is why, he took his own life in an attempt to silence all these hum-drums that disturbed his state of mind. People say that it was heroic of him to abort his life which is why he was buried in the “Libingan ng mga Bayani.”
Putting my two-cents in, it was more heroic of him to stay alive, reveal the truth who’s behind him and Garcia, lead the persecution of The One and stop these hullabaloos at once. And how does Reyes differ from the greatest dictator and former president Ferdinand Marcos if they were saying that Reyes was guilty? Doesn’t Marcos deserve the same 19-gun salute ceremony and burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani?
Flipping the other side of the coin, it was not Reyes who killed himself; neither was it corruption. It was the system that has been plaguing the entire republic. Reyes was believed to be genuine in his program to eradicate corruption in the armed forces. However, when he was failing to do so, he danced the way the Romans do instead. And because there was no longer escaping from reality, he chose to end his life.
Reyes may have been corrupted in which case he is corruption by itself. Reyes maybe the Truth for he can be the truth that he buried along with him in his grave.
People accused Lacson, the ardent ally and supporter of the then deposed President Estrada, of murder and other consequential criminalities along with it. During the height of the investigations, several whistleblowers risked their lives in an attempt to support the claim and contradict Lacson’s episode of truth. In his hiding until the order from the appropriate Court, the truth was buried in his silence.
In his press release, he challenged the media to wait until he document and reveal his own side of the story in due time. And when this time comes, will The One be ever ready to face the move? Stated differently, will Lacson be ever ready to defend himself from the twists and turns of political chess game?
Ombudsman Gutierrez was just another story to anticipate. Her long attachment to the former president now Pampanga Representative Gloria Arroyo has been drawing ire; it even sparked demands for impeachment. The decision of the Supreme Court approving impeachment proceedings may eventually lead to another basket of truth. As defiant as she used to be, will she ever submit herself to detail more of what she knows?
Will Gutierrez herself become another truth? Will she pave the way to the persecution of The One?
With the kind of political entertainment that we have, would these bits and pieces of hullabaloos and classical music, after being briefly read and beautifully rendered in regaled assemblies of the chosen few, be able to capture the public trust again? For decades now, Filipino people are victims of injustice: Injustice from unfair treatment of witnesses of truth, from biased disposition of truth, and from bad governance.
Injustice from unfair treatment of witnesses of truth because our politics has only aged; it has not matured. People in politics and in the government still struggle to manage the truth and the owners of these truth; from biased disposition of truth because the legendary Denarius that killed the Savior still controls the insatiable needs of people and in which case contaminates the truth; and from bad governance because to date, our government has only aged; it has not grown by wisdom accordingly.
From the way the truth is laid down on the table, Lacson, Reyes,and Gutierrez are all silenced by the powers of their respective Political Masters who controlled their greed for money, desperate desire for power and fame, and unimaginable want for stature and symbol. They, along with their Masters, have superimposed greed over their human being and gradually ushered themselves to the path of perdition called corruption; the same path that would eventually bring them eternal damnation.
They are hushed puppies caged at the backyard of personal insecurity that only their masters can dispose of or tame.
Long before, the Catholic Church disallows euthanasia; the society does!
The Gulf files
Dumaguete Star Informer
20 February 2011
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Since the death of the former AFP Chief-of-Staff and DILG Secretary Angelo Reyes and after George Rabusa and Heidi Mendoza sung their classical music in the halls of the Senate, some contenders keep on playing their own hullabaloos on air attempting to steal a sixty-minute spotlight. Some do it for information and wisdom; others for publicity; and still some for camouflage.
Such was the case of Senator Panfilo Lacson who recently remained at large for nearly one year to avoid arrest for the alleged murder of PR Strategist Bobby Dacer and his driver. In his press release lately, he recommended to widen the Senate investigation on the alleged corruption in the Armed Forces to cover the Philippine National Police where he once served as chief.
Now, look who’s talking!
People opine that Reyes was guilty. Which is why, he took his own life in an attempt to silence all these hum-drums that disturbed his state of mind. People say that it was heroic of him to abort his life which is why he was buried in the “Libingan ng mga Bayani.”
Putting my two-cents in, it was more heroic of him to stay alive, reveal the truth who’s behind him and Garcia, lead the persecution of The One and stop these hullabaloos at once. And how does Reyes differ from the greatest dictator and former president Ferdinand Marcos if they were saying that Reyes was guilty? Doesn’t Marcos deserve the same 19-gun salute ceremony and burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani?
Flipping the other side of the coin, it was not Reyes who killed himself; neither was it corruption. It was the system that has been plaguing the entire republic. Reyes was believed to be genuine in his program to eradicate corruption in the armed forces. However, when he was failing to do so, he danced the way the Romans do instead. And because there was no longer escaping from reality, he chose to end his life.
Reyes may have been corrupted in which case he is corruption by itself. Reyes maybe the Truth for he can be the truth that he buried along with him in his grave.
People accused Lacson, the ardent ally and supporter of the then deposed President Estrada, of murder and other consequential criminalities along with it. During the height of the investigations, several whistleblowers risked their lives in an attempt to support the claim and contradict Lacson’s episode of truth. In his hiding until the order from the appropriate Court, the truth was buried in his silence.
In his press release, he challenged the media to wait until he document and reveal his own side of the story in due time. And when this time comes, will The One be ever ready to face the move? Stated differently, will Lacson be ever ready to defend himself from the twists and turns of political chess game?
Ombudsman Gutierrez was just another story to anticipate. Her long attachment to the former president now Pampanga Representative Gloria Arroyo has been drawing ire; it even sparked demands for impeachment. The decision of the Supreme Court approving impeachment proceedings may eventually lead to another basket of truth. As defiant as she used to be, will she ever submit herself to detail more of what she knows?
Will Gutierrez herself become another truth? Will she pave the way to the persecution of The One?
With the kind of political entertainment that we have, would these bits and pieces of hullabaloos and classical music, after being briefly read and beautifully rendered in regaled assemblies of the chosen few, be able to capture the public trust again? For decades now, Filipino people are victims of injustice: Injustice from unfair treatment of witnesses of truth, from biased disposition of truth, and from bad governance.
Injustice from unfair treatment of witnesses of truth because our politics has only aged; it has not matured. People in politics and in the government still struggle to manage the truth and the owners of these truth; from biased disposition of truth because the legendary Denarius that killed the Savior still controls the insatiable needs of people and in which case contaminates the truth; and from bad governance because to date, our government has only aged; it has not grown by wisdom accordingly.
From the way the truth is laid down on the table, Lacson, Reyes,and Gutierrez are all silenced by the powers of their respective Political Masters who controlled their greed for money, desperate desire for power and fame, and unimaginable want for stature and symbol. They, along with their Masters, have superimposed greed over their human being and gradually ushered themselves to the path of perdition called corruption; the same path that would eventually bring them eternal damnation.
They are hushed puppies caged at the backyard of personal insecurity that only their masters can dispose of or tame.
Long before, the Catholic Church disallows euthanasia; the society does!
Obituaries
By Rolo B. Cena
The Gulf Files
Dumaguete Star Informer
13 February 2011
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – The entire archipelagic Philippines is grieving for the death of Angelo Reyes. Surely, not everybody knows that apart from Reyes’, two more lives were lost: Messrs. Truth and Justice’.
Mr. Reyes, who had served the military for more than four decades, shoot himself in front of his mother’s grave while his son and an aide were watching him from the distance. He was accused of plunder.
Mr. Truth, who had served not just the country but the entire humanity as well, was shot during the same day and time while Mr. Reyes was suffering from temporary incongruence between truth and lies. Mr. Truth died sans the opportunity to articulate and be heard.
Mr. Justice, who had served the country with all his noble intentions, was gunned down during the same day and time while Mr. Reyes was having a hard time integrating right and wrong, moral and immoral. Mr. Justice vanished sans the opportunity to enjoy freedom from all sort of deprivation.
The country is mourning for the loss of a statesman whose integrity was heightened when, as AFP Chief of Staff of President Estrada, has worked towards the vision of a post-EDSA modern Armed Forces that is “fully mission-effective, progressively-efficient, technology-driven, versatile, responsive to change and composed of soldiers who are visible role models to the Filipino People.” During moment of mourning, people would be able to realize whether or not Mr. Reyes has accomplished his mission via the genuine employment of his AFP ideals, whether or not about receipt of sendoff money in millions of pesos from the Filipino community.
The country is mourning for the loss of a statesman who has played an instrumental role in leading the entire Armed Forces in a collective effort to side with the Filipino People’s call for a genuine reform in society and governance through the second EDSA that led to a peaceful transition of national leadership, a transition that was dreamed to usher new hope for truth, honor and decency in public service. During this moment of mourning, EDSA would have re-defined itself had it known that the quest for new hope for truth, honor and decency would yield a tragic casualty.
The country is grieving for the loss of another statesman, Mr. Truth, whom most of us deny his existence. Mr. Truth is what Mr. George Rabusa proclaimed when he alleged that multi-million pesos were pocketed by Reyes; that he himself personally handed the check. He is the same Mr. Truth that Heidi Mendoza purported and corroborated in the same house of the nobles that was hearing the case of their cohorts. He was the same Mr. Truth that would have been revealed by Reyes himself that was thwarted by mental dysfunction. He was the same Mr. Truth that would have been revealed by Reyes aborted by moderated greed in the guise of the former chief executive and their cohorts. Reyes could have been Mr. Truth had he not terminated his cause, revelation, or life.
The country is grieving for the loss of another statesman, Mr. Justice, whom most Filipinos ignore his existence. Mr. Justice is what George Rabusa revealed that the UN Mission Funds were used for personal advantage. He is the same Mr. Justice that Heidi Mendoza examined using applicable standards. He was the same Mr. Justice that the entire Filipino people wanted and still wants to gain after all these executive, legislative, judicial, and much more, military graft and corruption hum-drums.
The country is mourning for the loss of a statesman, who being the 27th Chief of Staff of the AFP, was believed to have imbibed a culture of excellence in his department and transformed it into a unit responsive to the challenges of rapidly changing security establishment amidst the rising trend in global terrorism and was instrumental in crafting the National Internal Security Plan which is now being implemented by the government in addressing the root causes of insurgency through poverty alleviation, delivery of basic services and empowerment of the local government.
With due respect to his grave, I believe the entire Filipino human race would opine the same: he failed in creating a culture of excellence in his department; he failed to transform the armed forces into an establishment truly responsive to the challenges of the changing times. He was transformed by the system plaguing the AFP; he was changed, if he was completely different at all before elevated to the high post, by the peculiar and self-serving demonic system.
Apparently, he failed; otherwise, this staple would not be served today in our tables.
These condolences are meant to the bereaved families of Messrs. Reyes, Truth and Justice. But more than this, all these obituaries should be dedicated to the families of EDSA Spirit whom these troubled statesmen in the likes of Reyes, Garcia, Arroyo and their cohorts betrayed.
The Gulf Files
Dumaguete Star Informer
13 February 2011
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – The entire archipelagic Philippines is grieving for the death of Angelo Reyes. Surely, not everybody knows that apart from Reyes’, two more lives were lost: Messrs. Truth and Justice’.
Mr. Reyes, who had served the military for more than four decades, shoot himself in front of his mother’s grave while his son and an aide were watching him from the distance. He was accused of plunder.
Mr. Truth, who had served not just the country but the entire humanity as well, was shot during the same day and time while Mr. Reyes was suffering from temporary incongruence between truth and lies. Mr. Truth died sans the opportunity to articulate and be heard.
Mr. Justice, who had served the country with all his noble intentions, was gunned down during the same day and time while Mr. Reyes was having a hard time integrating right and wrong, moral and immoral. Mr. Justice vanished sans the opportunity to enjoy freedom from all sort of deprivation.
The country is mourning for the loss of a statesman whose integrity was heightened when, as AFP Chief of Staff of President Estrada, has worked towards the vision of a post-EDSA modern Armed Forces that is “fully mission-effective, progressively-efficient, technology-driven, versatile, responsive to change and composed of soldiers who are visible role models to the Filipino People.” During moment of mourning, people would be able to realize whether or not Mr. Reyes has accomplished his mission via the genuine employment of his AFP ideals, whether or not about receipt of sendoff money in millions of pesos from the Filipino community.
The country is mourning for the loss of a statesman who has played an instrumental role in leading the entire Armed Forces in a collective effort to side with the Filipino People’s call for a genuine reform in society and governance through the second EDSA that led to a peaceful transition of national leadership, a transition that was dreamed to usher new hope for truth, honor and decency in public service. During this moment of mourning, EDSA would have re-defined itself had it known that the quest for new hope for truth, honor and decency would yield a tragic casualty.
The country is grieving for the loss of another statesman, Mr. Truth, whom most of us deny his existence. Mr. Truth is what Mr. George Rabusa proclaimed when he alleged that multi-million pesos were pocketed by Reyes; that he himself personally handed the check. He is the same Mr. Truth that Heidi Mendoza purported and corroborated in the same house of the nobles that was hearing the case of their cohorts. He was the same Mr. Truth that would have been revealed by Reyes himself that was thwarted by mental dysfunction. He was the same Mr. Truth that would have been revealed by Reyes aborted by moderated greed in the guise of the former chief executive and their cohorts. Reyes could have been Mr. Truth had he not terminated his cause, revelation, or life.
The country is grieving for the loss of another statesman, Mr. Justice, whom most Filipinos ignore his existence. Mr. Justice is what George Rabusa revealed that the UN Mission Funds were used for personal advantage. He is the same Mr. Justice that Heidi Mendoza examined using applicable standards. He was the same Mr. Justice that the entire Filipino people wanted and still wants to gain after all these executive, legislative, judicial, and much more, military graft and corruption hum-drums.
The country is mourning for the loss of a statesman, who being the 27th Chief of Staff of the AFP, was believed to have imbibed a culture of excellence in his department and transformed it into a unit responsive to the challenges of rapidly changing security establishment amidst the rising trend in global terrorism and was instrumental in crafting the National Internal Security Plan which is now being implemented by the government in addressing the root causes of insurgency through poverty alleviation, delivery of basic services and empowerment of the local government.
With due respect to his grave, I believe the entire Filipino human race would opine the same: he failed in creating a culture of excellence in his department; he failed to transform the armed forces into an establishment truly responsive to the challenges of the changing times. He was transformed by the system plaguing the AFP; he was changed, if he was completely different at all before elevated to the high post, by the peculiar and self-serving demonic system.
Apparently, he failed; otherwise, this staple would not be served today in our tables.
These condolences are meant to the bereaved families of Messrs. Reyes, Truth and Justice. But more than this, all these obituaries should be dedicated to the families of EDSA Spirit whom these troubled statesmen in the likes of Reyes, Garcia, Arroyo and their cohorts betrayed.
Chess
By Rolo B. Cena
The Gulf Files
Dumaguete Star Informer
06 February 2011
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – He was the robust horseman and she the classic bishop. His role was to deliver according to the pace his position was designed for; her role to safeguard the Royal Palace according to the mandate her appointment was called for in the public exercise.
And when push came to shove, the robust horseman had to take a stronger crossover deviating from the norms horses have to, this time like any pawn pushed across the line; the influential bishop had to validate the moves the robust horseman initiated, even to the extent of persecuting all the king’s men.
The beans have been spilled and people who heard the hullabaloos from each drop compose their own modern-day music that so timely serenaded the new Royal Palace; others who saw the spillage write their own literary masterpieces that stirred the senses of the lawmakers, the Levites and even the ill-fated subjects. While commissioning the truth sans the defunct truth commission of sort, these masterpieces were read and re-read in all areas and the music played in the legislative and judicial halls.
Such was the classical cotillion of political roses and candles; such was the art of war in the classic board game.
At the end of the cobblestone-paved political highways, commuters often ignore the existence of a blind spot; oftentimes as it surely does happen, pedestrians do observe its existence. Such are the cases of Reyes and Garcia; of George Rabusa and Heidi Mendoza. And Trillanes would have been an exemption to the rule until he does what the Romans do. Even the smartest of robbers this kingdom of corruptions ever produced miss some points: the king missed the murder of a lawmaker in the tarmac orchestrated by his wife and the queen missed the corruptions and scams wilfully designed by her husband.
“Only the wicked gamble at the wicked.” What one Saint articulated, bunch of sinners executed. Who will be the lesser evil of them all? Let the iron-fist lawmakers roll the dice squarely, or else, let the commons re-think what the nobles do. EDSA is just a stone’s throw from our stead, after all.
Rabusa’s literary piece may have been a classical one as validated by his lyrical allegation that such military infidelities are mostly genetics and hereditary: genetics because it runs in the blood, it runs in the system; hereditary because the predecessors, if this society does not call them forefathers, ran this exercise and handed down to their heirs and successors.
Mendoza’s discourse may have been a rational one as validated by her examinations that such twists and turns are truly scientific and philosophical: scientific because it was made according to generally accepted auditing and accounting standards; philosophical because it upholds logic. Such was the case of Clarissa Ocampo who was instrumental in the ovrthrow of the former king of lust that briefly ruled the land.
Science proves that the heirs of the criminal are genetically pre-disposed to follow suit: such is the case of these stars-decorated men in uniform; such is the case of General Angelo Reyes. Garcia is by far no exception to this! Not even the troubled Hong Kong drug trafficking suspect Singson who faces disqualification from the house of the commons.
There’s one gray area that is so obviously noticeable along the line: the lines of the queen of corruptions and scams were deleted from the lyrics of the modern-day music. Damning the damned seemed not to be the plot of these new-born singers. What is going on?
During the war, provisions and military supports are transported at night; upgrading ranks and releasing their appointments usually happened on the eleventh hour, normally before midnight falls. Strategically, nobles do this before leaving the grounds of the Palace to ensure loyalty. Such was the case of the executive orders and instructions from the Palace that defied the meaning of sovereign power.
Literally and figuratively, all members of the Royal Palace reports to the king; they pay tribute to the king and queen. Even the lowest in ranks, the pawns, do the same. Exactly as perfectly that it works: command responsibility. After all, the early Thursday morning paper bags at the grounds of the Royal Palace proved the practice.
One, ten, fifty, one hundred, or more millions of pesos - figures don’t matter; the act does. “Am I greedy?” is not the question, after all. Moderating greed is not even the cup of tea of the post-modern EDSA democratic king who inherited the crown under the suit of true democracy.
While it may be true that Rabuusa and Mendoza are credible witnesses for and in behalf of the Palace, what stops money, political power and greed to silence them. In this square box of political game, only one thing is sure to happen: Stalemate
And stalemate means the stronger troop eludes persecution. Such was the case of Lauro Vizconde and Jessica Alfaro.
The Gulf Files
Dumaguete Star Informer
06 February 2011
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – He was the robust horseman and she the classic bishop. His role was to deliver according to the pace his position was designed for; her role to safeguard the Royal Palace according to the mandate her appointment was called for in the public exercise.
And when push came to shove, the robust horseman had to take a stronger crossover deviating from the norms horses have to, this time like any pawn pushed across the line; the influential bishop had to validate the moves the robust horseman initiated, even to the extent of persecuting all the king’s men.
The beans have been spilled and people who heard the hullabaloos from each drop compose their own modern-day music that so timely serenaded the new Royal Palace; others who saw the spillage write their own literary masterpieces that stirred the senses of the lawmakers, the Levites and even the ill-fated subjects. While commissioning the truth sans the defunct truth commission of sort, these masterpieces were read and re-read in all areas and the music played in the legislative and judicial halls.
Such was the classical cotillion of political roses and candles; such was the art of war in the classic board game.
At the end of the cobblestone-paved political highways, commuters often ignore the existence of a blind spot; oftentimes as it surely does happen, pedestrians do observe its existence. Such are the cases of Reyes and Garcia; of George Rabusa and Heidi Mendoza. And Trillanes would have been an exemption to the rule until he does what the Romans do. Even the smartest of robbers this kingdom of corruptions ever produced miss some points: the king missed the murder of a lawmaker in the tarmac orchestrated by his wife and the queen missed the corruptions and scams wilfully designed by her husband.
“Only the wicked gamble at the wicked.” What one Saint articulated, bunch of sinners executed. Who will be the lesser evil of them all? Let the iron-fist lawmakers roll the dice squarely, or else, let the commons re-think what the nobles do. EDSA is just a stone’s throw from our stead, after all.
Rabusa’s literary piece may have been a classical one as validated by his lyrical allegation that such military infidelities are mostly genetics and hereditary: genetics because it runs in the blood, it runs in the system; hereditary because the predecessors, if this society does not call them forefathers, ran this exercise and handed down to their heirs and successors.
Mendoza’s discourse may have been a rational one as validated by her examinations that such twists and turns are truly scientific and philosophical: scientific because it was made according to generally accepted auditing and accounting standards; philosophical because it upholds logic. Such was the case of Clarissa Ocampo who was instrumental in the ovrthrow of the former king of lust that briefly ruled the land.
Science proves that the heirs of the criminal are genetically pre-disposed to follow suit: such is the case of these stars-decorated men in uniform; such is the case of General Angelo Reyes. Garcia is by far no exception to this! Not even the troubled Hong Kong drug trafficking suspect Singson who faces disqualification from the house of the commons.
There’s one gray area that is so obviously noticeable along the line: the lines of the queen of corruptions and scams were deleted from the lyrics of the modern-day music. Damning the damned seemed not to be the plot of these new-born singers. What is going on?
During the war, provisions and military supports are transported at night; upgrading ranks and releasing their appointments usually happened on the eleventh hour, normally before midnight falls. Strategically, nobles do this before leaving the grounds of the Palace to ensure loyalty. Such was the case of the executive orders and instructions from the Palace that defied the meaning of sovereign power.
Literally and figuratively, all members of the Royal Palace reports to the king; they pay tribute to the king and queen. Even the lowest in ranks, the pawns, do the same. Exactly as perfectly that it works: command responsibility. After all, the early Thursday morning paper bags at the grounds of the Royal Palace proved the practice.
One, ten, fifty, one hundred, or more millions of pesos - figures don’t matter; the act does. “Am I greedy?” is not the question, after all. Moderating greed is not even the cup of tea of the post-modern EDSA democratic king who inherited the crown under the suit of true democracy.
While it may be true that Rabuusa and Mendoza are credible witnesses for and in behalf of the Palace, what stops money, political power and greed to silence them. In this square box of political game, only one thing is sure to happen: Stalemate
And stalemate means the stronger troop eludes persecution. Such was the case of Lauro Vizconde and Jessica Alfaro.
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