By Rolo B. Cena
Hushed Poppies
Dumaguete Star Informer
30 October 2011
After the series of atrocities carried out by members of the Abu Sayaff against government troops, reports claiming demoralization in the military is top-billing political hullabaloos these days. As advised by Malacanang, demoralization is an exaggeration. In an earlier report, government troops seized rebel camp that is hosting about 100 outlaws.
Sen. Marcos hits Pres. Aquino over the alleged demoralization. Sen. Trillanes affirms that coup plot maybe possible due to alleged demoralization.
The world, the Islamic world, is watching them! Apparently, the country experiences two wars lately: Abu Sayaff and political bifurcation. The entire Philippines watches them, too!
The war, to put it globally generic, the rebel troops is executing is classic. To put it more universal, it is classified as terrorism. Since time and opportunity created rebellion, terrorism has long been plaguing the country, the government, and the people. Additionally, it has forged business deals between and among powers, super or inferior, in the guise of stopping it. Powers, whether in the suit of nations or politicians, have amassed wealth, in the guise of political programs. Undoubtedly, the fire is still burning.
Indisputably, you can’t put out the fire unless the will outwits lethargy; you can’t put out the fire unless the will outdoes greed, be it political or personal. Since this tumor has grown to be malignant, there is no way to stop it. The government cannot stop terrorism!
Marcos hitting Aquino maybe biased. For one, the country’s top executive announces that there will be no military burial for the former dictator. This was condemned by the Marcoses themselves, and the loyalists. Ironically, Vice Pres. Binay who meddles for the burial of the strongman is still waiting for his most opportune time to laugh and cry as in the olden days.
Look at the sky outside. Sometimes it is azure, significant of a good weather; sometimes, dark, significant of a coming storm. When the late dictator ruled the country, no military burial or honor was conferred to the older Aquino. Look who’s talking now?
It would be a novel idea to keep the cadaver in its frozen state until Bongbong Marcos becomes president or vice president. At the side, yes, he is capable. With Binay planning to run for president, I strongly believe Bongbong is a perfect veepee! Not only Ilocos but the entire nation watches over this. Just you wait!
Perfectly, what comes around goes around; what goes around comes around!
Just as the way they were, the Aquino administration is on its way to persecute, or prosecute the Arroyos and their cohorts by hook or by crook. About close to forty other personalities, other than the couple, are summoned to attend the joint DOJ-Comelec preliminary hearing slated Nov. 3, 2011 for two cases: electoral sabotage and electoral fraud.
Will somebody be convicted? Will the Aquino engines towards “tuwid na daan” ever be effective?
Let’s keep our fingers crossed. Political crimes gave birth to clemency; clemency paved the way for pardon. To date, several personalities were pardoned: The actor-turned politician for plunder and Trillanes and his cohorts for military uprisings.
Putting my two cents in, the waterloo of the Philippine justice system is the vicious cycle of prosecute and pardon in the sense that offenders are put on trial, convicted and eventually pardoned.
Scratch my back and I will scratch yours! A classic story of time and tide, hit and run, and hate and love is in the offing, once again!
And this cycle will never cease, and will continue to be, even beyond the grave of the last man of the Palace unless honesty and pure service precede politics!
Thursday, October 27, 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!
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Tic-tac-toe
By Rolo B. Cena
Hushed Poppies
Dumaguete Star Informer
16 October 2011
Last Wednesday, President Benigno Aquino III announced that charges would be filed against former President now Pampanga Second District Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo next month amidst report that the latter would seek medical treatment in Germany due to a life-threatening and very “rare disease.”
On the other hand, Justice Sec. Leila de Lima pronounced that the cases are going on through the process and that her team is yet to finish before December. In addition, she does not give any commitment as to the date of filing these charges. In relation to the former president’s ailment, her husband disclosed that she is suffering from hyperparathyroidism, a non-life-threatening disease, contrary to the announcement made by Arroyo’s spokesperson.
Surely, the optimism of Pres. Aquino is just hard to suppress, one that his mother Cory had exhibited and executed against her predecessor, Ferdinand Marcos and his cohorts. Very fortunately though, the Marcoses are still free and continue to enjoy the same freedom victims of Martial Law enjoy; worse, they still enjoy the fruits of their plunder, if at all it was the most plausible, or to say the least, the decided case against them.
Arguably, De Lima wouldn’t prematurely announce any development her investigating team has raked in; an accuracy she needs to calculate precisely in defense of the Palace. While the President marks the first square based on the mark indicated by the investigating Team, the last square in a row cannot be marked until December comes in.
On the other hand, Arroyo and his cohorts are more ready than Leila de Lima, et al. Whether or not the ailment is “life-threatening,” their defenses are tactically calculative of their state; supporters are playing their own hullabaloos in counterstrike. With the number of cases under the chair of de Lima still undecided, the target of filing plunder charges next month against the petite lady, et al is“water under the bridge.” It is me-and-my-big-mouth syndrome plaguing the Palace Court once again.
At the rate our system is going, any offender can go loosely unnoticed even before the search operation begins. This is a very classic phenomenon in the country especially when political power converges with the colors of the money the offender has in his vault.
Synchronicity is one hell of a game; most cases fail because witnesses and statements are not in synch with each other; worse, people and events, if ever glossily fabricated, are not coordinated according to the flow.
Tact is another.
Clearly, we can see the game played by two players who alternately mark squares in a grid with X’s , with one of them trying to capture the last square in a row they both know cannot be drawn with final “oops.”
When Speaker Belmonte granted Congressman Arroyo with three travel authorities, the former deliberately marks the first square in the latter’s favor. When she finally leaves for Germany for medical treatment, the government, in the guise of the Speaker, marks the second square, again, in her favor. Unless the administration bars the next square, then the game is over.
Tic-tac-toe: Arroyo in self-exile and political asylum! And what could her defense be? – Politically motivated!
Plunder cases are nonbailable; the same are not covered in the Extradition treaty we signed with several countries, including Germany where Arroyo is seeking medical treatment. Loosely, this is one matter the government has to look into without giving them the benefit of the doubt.
Series of inconsistencies from Aquino and his team are clearly happening from day one. Ronaldo Llamas, Presidential Adviser for Political affairs, has recently captured the sixty-second spotlight. His rhetoric: self-defense. Aquino has advocated a “wang-wang-less” administration as one of the engines of “tuwid na daan.” But what surprises the public now is the introduction of a more complicated and edgy program: the bang-bang!
Tic-tac-toe, give me my last square, else: Doesn’t’ “history repeat itself?”
Hushed Poppies
Dumaguete Star Informer
16 October 2011
Last Wednesday, President Benigno Aquino III announced that charges would be filed against former President now Pampanga Second District Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo next month amidst report that the latter would seek medical treatment in Germany due to a life-threatening and very “rare disease.”
On the other hand, Justice Sec. Leila de Lima pronounced that the cases are going on through the process and that her team is yet to finish before December. In addition, she does not give any commitment as to the date of filing these charges. In relation to the former president’s ailment, her husband disclosed that she is suffering from hyperparathyroidism, a non-life-threatening disease, contrary to the announcement made by Arroyo’s spokesperson.
Surely, the optimism of Pres. Aquino is just hard to suppress, one that his mother Cory had exhibited and executed against her predecessor, Ferdinand Marcos and his cohorts. Very fortunately though, the Marcoses are still free and continue to enjoy the same freedom victims of Martial Law enjoy; worse, they still enjoy the fruits of their plunder, if at all it was the most plausible, or to say the least, the decided case against them.
Arguably, De Lima wouldn’t prematurely announce any development her investigating team has raked in; an accuracy she needs to calculate precisely in defense of the Palace. While the President marks the first square based on the mark indicated by the investigating Team, the last square in a row cannot be marked until December comes in.
On the other hand, Arroyo and his cohorts are more ready than Leila de Lima, et al. Whether or not the ailment is “life-threatening,” their defenses are tactically calculative of their state; supporters are playing their own hullabaloos in counterstrike. With the number of cases under the chair of de Lima still undecided, the target of filing plunder charges next month against the petite lady, et al is“water under the bridge.” It is me-and-my-big-mouth syndrome plaguing the Palace Court once again.
At the rate our system is going, any offender can go loosely unnoticed even before the search operation begins. This is a very classic phenomenon in the country especially when political power converges with the colors of the money the offender has in his vault.
Synchronicity is one hell of a game; most cases fail because witnesses and statements are not in synch with each other; worse, people and events, if ever glossily fabricated, are not coordinated according to the flow.
Tact is another.
Clearly, we can see the game played by two players who alternately mark squares in a grid with X’s , with one of them trying to capture the last square in a row they both know cannot be drawn with final “oops.”
When Speaker Belmonte granted Congressman Arroyo with three travel authorities, the former deliberately marks the first square in the latter’s favor. When she finally leaves for Germany for medical treatment, the government, in the guise of the Speaker, marks the second square, again, in her favor. Unless the administration bars the next square, then the game is over.
Tic-tac-toe: Arroyo in self-exile and political asylum! And what could her defense be? – Politically motivated!
Plunder cases are nonbailable; the same are not covered in the Extradition treaty we signed with several countries, including Germany where Arroyo is seeking medical treatment. Loosely, this is one matter the government has to look into without giving them the benefit of the doubt.
Series of inconsistencies from Aquino and his team are clearly happening from day one. Ronaldo Llamas, Presidential Adviser for Political affairs, has recently captured the sixty-second spotlight. His rhetoric: self-defense. Aquino has advocated a “wang-wang-less” administration as one of the engines of “tuwid na daan.” But what surprises the public now is the introduction of a more complicated and edgy program: the bang-bang!
Tic-tac-toe, give me my last square, else: Doesn’t’ “history repeat itself?”
Thursday, September 29, 2011
60
By Rolo B. Cena
The Gulf Files
Dumaguete Star Informer
02 October 2011
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Surely, taking a business class-seat flight from Riyadh to Manila with a scant two-hour stopover at Hong Kong was just fair enough after three years of being barred from vacation due to massive workloads and pressing project timelines and deliverables. Other than feeling peculiarly different while seated in this classy cabin, the stress associated with traveling has been completely toned down to my advantage.
And I thought it was at all comforting. Welcomed by the melancholic storm rains, the Cathay Pacific Airbus touched down at the tarmac of NAIA 2 at about 5:00 p.m. From the window of the aircraft, I can visibly see the flooded lanes where this steel aviary was taxiing, evident of the storms. When my nephew picked me up at about 6:00 p.m., I knew the perks I enjoyed in the trip have been infringed.
Driving our way out from NAIA 2 to Magallanes Inter-Change was as tactically mazy as proving the most heinous of crimes of the century – the Maguindanao Massacre, or in convicting these annihilators. While all traffic lights are technically working, the humps and bumps along the troubled thoroughfares en route to EDSA are as obvious and dubious as the turns and twists the Ampatuans and their colleagues are crafting, ultimately, to the advantage of the One.
Finding the best way out to Fairview for my overnight accommodation was as horrendous as proving the 2004 electoral fraud lodged against the former petite lady of the Palace now Pampanga Representative. While most of the roads are technically passable, the rain waters deposited in the sewers of the Metropolitan Manila are as dreadful and atmospherically horrible as the twists and turns the first family and its camp are crafting for their advantage.
Plying the historic EDSA was rather suffocating than breathtaking: the billboards donning “skins” of showbiz personalities in the guise of endorsing commercial products sans the metaphoric invites of the flesh trade, massive skyscrapers in the guise of building “homes” sans the rhetoric lures of quick-and-easy life, the metropolitan rails plying the spreads of highways in the guise of economic solution to traffic sans the allegoric invites of corruption in government contracts, and all, and all.
If at all these are the proposed solutions to social stigma at hand, then I hold no qualm against them. While it is true that unprecedented rise of commercialism has gradually eradicated authentic Filipino industry, creativity and value, it has somehow, literally and figuratively, benefited its recipients, if it would be sacrilegious to call them prey. However, I do have one to the plaguing traffic problem in the metropolis because for the same score, the situation has never improved; worse, after a brief period, it has worsen.
Sans the hullabaloos from critics, the government has imposed the “60kph” speed limit in major thoroughfares. For one, discipline has to be imposed to erring motorists; two, lives of the motorists have to be protected.
The sterling question is: For how long can the government sustain to do this?
In Saudi Arabia, CCTV cameras are installed in four areas of the traffic posts. In the absence of traffic lights, AUVs are parked along conspicuous portion of the roads or highways with CCTV cameras installed in them. These CCTVs are controlled by central monitors in the respective police stations, which are then connected to the system network that integrates all agencies of the government. Once a violation is detected, the system automatically captures and records the offense, transmits warning notice to the all concerned including but not limited to the Immigration (for the expatriates), Interiors (for the Driving License and Car registration), the motorist (via SMS) and the bank for automatic deduction from the account of the erring motorist. In the event that the motorist does not have bank account, upon renewal of National ID or Iqama, the system shall automatically retrieve the offense and thus penalize the offenders.
In contrast, speed violation in the Country is detected by a traffic officer who operates manually the speed reader. He then informs another traffic officer who shall apprehend the offender. Once this happens, a traffic violation ticket is issued and the offender has to settle with the Land Transportation Office.
What is the difference between the two systems? Saudi Arabia’s is systematic, effective and less prone to corruption. In contrast, ours is manual, less effective and absolutely a fertile ground for corruption.
And why should Saudi Arabia be any different? Is it because they have money? Is it because they have imposed National ID system?
The answers to these preceding questions are denominated to a big “NO!” Saudi Arabia made it happened because for one, its government has the political will; two, Saudi Arabia maximizes its money; and three, Saudi Arabia has maximized its existing system.
If our government can only define prudent spending or re-tame this animal deduced to“pork in a barrel” in its truest form and meaning, only then novel projects like this can be implemented, or, succeed!
Take it from the petite lady!
The Gulf Files
Dumaguete Star Informer
02 October 2011
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Surely, taking a business class-seat flight from Riyadh to Manila with a scant two-hour stopover at Hong Kong was just fair enough after three years of being barred from vacation due to massive workloads and pressing project timelines and deliverables. Other than feeling peculiarly different while seated in this classy cabin, the stress associated with traveling has been completely toned down to my advantage.
And I thought it was at all comforting. Welcomed by the melancholic storm rains, the Cathay Pacific Airbus touched down at the tarmac of NAIA 2 at about 5:00 p.m. From the window of the aircraft, I can visibly see the flooded lanes where this steel aviary was taxiing, evident of the storms. When my nephew picked me up at about 6:00 p.m., I knew the perks I enjoyed in the trip have been infringed.
Driving our way out from NAIA 2 to Magallanes Inter-Change was as tactically mazy as proving the most heinous of crimes of the century – the Maguindanao Massacre, or in convicting these annihilators. While all traffic lights are technically working, the humps and bumps along the troubled thoroughfares en route to EDSA are as obvious and dubious as the turns and twists the Ampatuans and their colleagues are crafting, ultimately, to the advantage of the One.
Finding the best way out to Fairview for my overnight accommodation was as horrendous as proving the 2004 electoral fraud lodged against the former petite lady of the Palace now Pampanga Representative. While most of the roads are technically passable, the rain waters deposited in the sewers of the Metropolitan Manila are as dreadful and atmospherically horrible as the twists and turns the first family and its camp are crafting for their advantage.
Plying the historic EDSA was rather suffocating than breathtaking: the billboards donning “skins” of showbiz personalities in the guise of endorsing commercial products sans the metaphoric invites of the flesh trade, massive skyscrapers in the guise of building “homes” sans the rhetoric lures of quick-and-easy life, the metropolitan rails plying the spreads of highways in the guise of economic solution to traffic sans the allegoric invites of corruption in government contracts, and all, and all.
If at all these are the proposed solutions to social stigma at hand, then I hold no qualm against them. While it is true that unprecedented rise of commercialism has gradually eradicated authentic Filipino industry, creativity and value, it has somehow, literally and figuratively, benefited its recipients, if it would be sacrilegious to call them prey. However, I do have one to the plaguing traffic problem in the metropolis because for the same score, the situation has never improved; worse, after a brief period, it has worsen.
Sans the hullabaloos from critics, the government has imposed the “60kph” speed limit in major thoroughfares. For one, discipline has to be imposed to erring motorists; two, lives of the motorists have to be protected.
The sterling question is: For how long can the government sustain to do this?
In Saudi Arabia, CCTV cameras are installed in four areas of the traffic posts. In the absence of traffic lights, AUVs are parked along conspicuous portion of the roads or highways with CCTV cameras installed in them. These CCTVs are controlled by central monitors in the respective police stations, which are then connected to the system network that integrates all agencies of the government. Once a violation is detected, the system automatically captures and records the offense, transmits warning notice to the all concerned including but not limited to the Immigration (for the expatriates), Interiors (for the Driving License and Car registration), the motorist (via SMS) and the bank for automatic deduction from the account of the erring motorist. In the event that the motorist does not have bank account, upon renewal of National ID or Iqama, the system shall automatically retrieve the offense and thus penalize the offenders.
In contrast, speed violation in the Country is detected by a traffic officer who operates manually the speed reader. He then informs another traffic officer who shall apprehend the offender. Once this happens, a traffic violation ticket is issued and the offender has to settle with the Land Transportation Office.
What is the difference between the two systems? Saudi Arabia’s is systematic, effective and less prone to corruption. In contrast, ours is manual, less effective and absolutely a fertile ground for corruption.
And why should Saudi Arabia be any different? Is it because they have money? Is it because they have imposed National ID system?
The answers to these preceding questions are denominated to a big “NO!” Saudi Arabia made it happened because for one, its government has the political will; two, Saudi Arabia maximizes its money; and three, Saudi Arabia has maximized its existing system.
If our government can only define prudent spending or re-tame this animal deduced to“pork in a barrel” in its truest form and meaning, only then novel projects like this can be implemented, or, succeed!
Take it from the petite lady!
Thursday, September 22, 2011
21st of September
By Rolo B. Cena
The Gulf Files
Dumaguete Star Informer
25 September 2011
Riyadh,Saudi Arabia – There are two major significance this odd number accords the world and the Filipino people: The “International Peace One Day” and the declaration of Martial Law thirty-nine (39) years ago. The former is an advocacy that calls for all citizens of the world to take on peace and cause to be its agent; the latter is a self-serving interest conceptualized to create a stress-contained serenity narrative of dictatorial dominion and brutal rule of the Palace.
The 21st of September reminds us of the belief that we are one community, one citizen and one spirit: a community with the belief that instilling peace within the inner recesses of the hearts and minds creates an asylum of healthy disposition; a citizen with familial objective of advocating and maintaining peace builds an edifice of genuine people’s supremacy and good governance; and a spirit with contagious resolve fashions a sanctuary of immortal tranquility and peaceful community of Filipino people.
The 21st day of September reminds us of the freedom promulgated in the portico of Aguinaldo’s shrine in Cavite; the freedom that gave us the privilege to enjoy democracy in its truest form and meaning, with the absolute application of the rule of the people and the rule of law.
It brings us back to the memoirs of EDSA, where one trumpet was sounded off by one humble Cardinal that gave birth to the People Power that toppled a regime that abused lives, controlled the economy, and fabricated history. The 21st of September equates with the 25th of February that catapulted the rise of true democracy and eventually indisputable peace.
In contrast however, the 21st of September reminds us of the “Marcos Law,” a partisan belief that the Palace is the Law, the Palace is the Rule, and that the Palace is the Force: the law that revealed someone is above the law; the rule that revealed supremacy over its subjects; and the force that controls the community of believed-to-be idiots.
It reminds us of the Martial Law, the Romualdez-Marcos conjugal dictatorship that re-defined freedom, re-orchestrated peace, and re-created atrocities: freedom re-defined in the guise of cronyism and false application of bureaucracy, peace re-orchestrated in the guise of the New Society, and atrocities re-created in the manifestations of New People’s Army, Moro-Islamic Liberation Front, et al. This later gave unprecedented birth of Abu Sayaff propelled by the subsequent demonic Laws of Man that controlled the palace.
The 21st of September reminds us of the 21st century Filipino idolatries: crime, grime and slime. These three, in all aspects, are powered by greed and voracity. It reminds us of the most heinous of all politically-propelled crimes in Maguindanao; it reminds us of the most popular grime concocted by the wittiest of minds: the Poe-arroyo Presidential race; and it reminds us of the most horrendous slime ever actuated: ZTE-NBN deal, the fertilizer scam, etc.
Surely, the two scenarios vividly define contrasting epitomes of peace in one plane of thought: two extremes that demand both harmony and greed: The former being the end product of genuine peace, the latter being the consequence of a fabricated and highly malicious one. But then again, both lie on the same plane of thought.
Under the precepts of true order, where all the elements in the universe are in harmonious adjunct with its other, harmony and greed do not and cannot meet even when peace becomes the focal or central point of order, or in it its truest form and meaning, is enforced. Harmony and greed do not blend; neither does peace with martial law.
But contrast oftentimes provide colors that sooth, pictures that link, and messages that command: soothing colors that clearly demystify the good, the better and the best; linking pictures that exemplify the bad, the worse, and the worst; and commanding messages that magnify the good, the bad and the ugly.
Demystifying the good, the better and the best gives us the full picture of the Aquino administration, a replica of his mother’s, the icon of democracy, where transparency and good governance are two of his most important spices in re-cooking Philippine government. Linking pictures that exemplify the bad, the worse and the worst personifies the administration of the petite lady, now Pampanga Representative, where her greed and voracity ranks second to the former dictator. Magnifying the good, the bad and the ugly reminds us that once the Country was chosen by the good, ruled by the bad, and led to perdition by the ugliest of political souls.
21st of September should remind us of one thing: never do that again! What ever calls for it, be still!
The Gulf Files
Dumaguete Star Informer
25 September 2011
Riyadh,Saudi Arabia – There are two major significance this odd number accords the world and the Filipino people: The “International Peace One Day” and the declaration of Martial Law thirty-nine (39) years ago. The former is an advocacy that calls for all citizens of the world to take on peace and cause to be its agent; the latter is a self-serving interest conceptualized to create a stress-contained serenity narrative of dictatorial dominion and brutal rule of the Palace.
The 21st of September reminds us of the belief that we are one community, one citizen and one spirit: a community with the belief that instilling peace within the inner recesses of the hearts and minds creates an asylum of healthy disposition; a citizen with familial objective of advocating and maintaining peace builds an edifice of genuine people’s supremacy and good governance; and a spirit with contagious resolve fashions a sanctuary of immortal tranquility and peaceful community of Filipino people.
The 21st day of September reminds us of the freedom promulgated in the portico of Aguinaldo’s shrine in Cavite; the freedom that gave us the privilege to enjoy democracy in its truest form and meaning, with the absolute application of the rule of the people and the rule of law.
It brings us back to the memoirs of EDSA, where one trumpet was sounded off by one humble Cardinal that gave birth to the People Power that toppled a regime that abused lives, controlled the economy, and fabricated history. The 21st of September equates with the 25th of February that catapulted the rise of true democracy and eventually indisputable peace.
In contrast however, the 21st of September reminds us of the “Marcos Law,” a partisan belief that the Palace is the Law, the Palace is the Rule, and that the Palace is the Force: the law that revealed someone is above the law; the rule that revealed supremacy over its subjects; and the force that controls the community of believed-to-be idiots.
It reminds us of the Martial Law, the Romualdez-Marcos conjugal dictatorship that re-defined freedom, re-orchestrated peace, and re-created atrocities: freedom re-defined in the guise of cronyism and false application of bureaucracy, peace re-orchestrated in the guise of the New Society, and atrocities re-created in the manifestations of New People’s Army, Moro-Islamic Liberation Front, et al. This later gave unprecedented birth of Abu Sayaff propelled by the subsequent demonic Laws of Man that controlled the palace.
The 21st of September reminds us of the 21st century Filipino idolatries: crime, grime and slime. These three, in all aspects, are powered by greed and voracity. It reminds us of the most heinous of all politically-propelled crimes in Maguindanao; it reminds us of the most popular grime concocted by the wittiest of minds: the Poe-arroyo Presidential race; and it reminds us of the most horrendous slime ever actuated: ZTE-NBN deal, the fertilizer scam, etc.
Surely, the two scenarios vividly define contrasting epitomes of peace in one plane of thought: two extremes that demand both harmony and greed: The former being the end product of genuine peace, the latter being the consequence of a fabricated and highly malicious one. But then again, both lie on the same plane of thought.
Under the precepts of true order, where all the elements in the universe are in harmonious adjunct with its other, harmony and greed do not and cannot meet even when peace becomes the focal or central point of order, or in it its truest form and meaning, is enforced. Harmony and greed do not blend; neither does peace with martial law.
But contrast oftentimes provide colors that sooth, pictures that link, and messages that command: soothing colors that clearly demystify the good, the better and the best; linking pictures that exemplify the bad, the worse, and the worst; and commanding messages that magnify the good, the bad and the ugly.
Demystifying the good, the better and the best gives us the full picture of the Aquino administration, a replica of his mother’s, the icon of democracy, where transparency and good governance are two of his most important spices in re-cooking Philippine government. Linking pictures that exemplify the bad, the worse and the worst personifies the administration of the petite lady, now Pampanga Representative, where her greed and voracity ranks second to the former dictator. Magnifying the good, the bad and the ugly reminds us that once the Country was chosen by the good, ruled by the bad, and led to perdition by the ugliest of political souls.
21st of September should remind us of one thing: never do that again! What ever calls for it, be still!
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Schizophrenic
By Rolo B. Cena
The Gulf Files
Dumaguete Star Informer
18 September 2011
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – In his articulation for several days after NATO and National Transition Council (NTC) claimed victory over Tripoli, Moammar Gadhafi denied reports that he fled to Niger, a southern neighboring Islamic state. With the enunciation made by the Organization requesting neighboring countries to close their borders to the members of the fugitive’s regime, the former Libyan leader, now remaining at large, branded all the activities the allied forces have undertaken as “psychological warfare and lies” after his dominion was diffused.
What a paranoia of sort when the world-declared fugitive with whom the Marcoses, especially the former First Lady now Ilocos Representative Imelda Marcos have intimated and shared their own tricks and notes of greed-based supremacy, brandished his own portfolio of anarchy that almost venerated the near-satanic rites of Hitler.
Such was a blatant display of greed for power that is as enormous as the greed and voracity of the petite lady as evidenced by the worst of crimes as the Arroyo-backed killings or as gargantuan as the greed and voracity of the Ampatuans’.
When Gadhafi called the acts of the allied forces as “psych war and lies,” it’s by default a reflection of his own means of deceiving the entire world that he is still in control, that he is still harboring victories; an absolute lie as profane as the mental lapses of the petite lady on the one-million-vote edge over actor Poe, the only and absolute foe she had during the 2004 presidential elections.
When Gadhafi slammed the rumors that he was heading south of Libya with a strong armada, it was by definition a “psych war and lie” to deceive the entire world that his power still exists in the metropolis of Tripoli, a lie similar to the existence of congressional power of the petite lady to desperately protect herself from prosecution and persecution for greed and voracity she and her court mercilessly deliberated during her two anarchical terms.
Similarly, when the former dictator Ferdinand Marcos was lifted from Malacanang and transported to what was mistaken as Hawai instead of Paoay, all his men – relatives and cronies- fabricated all sorts of made-to-order antics in order to derail the transformation process undertaken by the Aquino administration, an activity that was as sadistic as annihilating the Jews during the second global war by the Nazis.
If I may put my two cents in, most leaders are schizophrenic, a post partum behavioral disorder governed by hunger for superfluous; post partum in the sense that it unveils after leaders get the power: Hitler, Mussolini, Marcos, Fidel Castro, Hosni Mubarak, Ben Ali, Bashar al-Saad, Moammar Gadhafi, Gloria Arroyo, et al.
Hitler and Mussolini’s annihilation of the world in an attempt to control the magnitude of creation, Marcos’ unequalled concoction of power and greed, Castro’s defiance to submit, Hosni Mubarak’s interminable military control behind bars, Ben Ali sibling’s political kleptomaniac, Bashar al-Saad’s do-or-die attachment to power, Moamma Gadhafi’s psychological warfare and lies, Gloria Arroyo’s lapses turned denials, and more. Yes, and many more when drilled down to the last of selections.
These leaders have utterly epitomized the commonest of all political fuel: Greed! Conversely, these leaders have epitomized the commonest of all political behavioral disorder: schizophrenia!
Greed is an overwhelming desire to have more of something. Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder with symptoms of emotional instability, detachment from reality, and withdrawal into self. It is a state of mind characterized by contradictory or conflicting attitudes, behavior or qualities.
Arguably though, these breed of assailants are living between the border of normalcy and schizophrenia, a state of mind where most narcissistic creatures often dismiss as reality sans the sugar coats and glossy superficial pelts of mental distortion; apparently, they need psychiatric overhauls to anchor them to reality and consequently allow them to survive.
Again if I may opine, behaviors like these muggers epitomize don’t deserve to exist, lest re-condition the mindsets of the youths otherwise the value of true democracy will wane beyond reason: a democracy founded on the principle of the people, by the people and for the people.
What more can the constituents do whenever such behavior persists in a state like ours?
The Gulf Files
Dumaguete Star Informer
18 September 2011
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – In his articulation for several days after NATO and National Transition Council (NTC) claimed victory over Tripoli, Moammar Gadhafi denied reports that he fled to Niger, a southern neighboring Islamic state. With the enunciation made by the Organization requesting neighboring countries to close their borders to the members of the fugitive’s regime, the former Libyan leader, now remaining at large, branded all the activities the allied forces have undertaken as “psychological warfare and lies” after his dominion was diffused.
What a paranoia of sort when the world-declared fugitive with whom the Marcoses, especially the former First Lady now Ilocos Representative Imelda Marcos have intimated and shared their own tricks and notes of greed-based supremacy, brandished his own portfolio of anarchy that almost venerated the near-satanic rites of Hitler.
Such was a blatant display of greed for power that is as enormous as the greed and voracity of the petite lady as evidenced by the worst of crimes as the Arroyo-backed killings or as gargantuan as the greed and voracity of the Ampatuans’.
When Gadhafi called the acts of the allied forces as “psych war and lies,” it’s by default a reflection of his own means of deceiving the entire world that he is still in control, that he is still harboring victories; an absolute lie as profane as the mental lapses of the petite lady on the one-million-vote edge over actor Poe, the only and absolute foe she had during the 2004 presidential elections.
When Gadhafi slammed the rumors that he was heading south of Libya with a strong armada, it was by definition a “psych war and lie” to deceive the entire world that his power still exists in the metropolis of Tripoli, a lie similar to the existence of congressional power of the petite lady to desperately protect herself from prosecution and persecution for greed and voracity she and her court mercilessly deliberated during her two anarchical terms.
Similarly, when the former dictator Ferdinand Marcos was lifted from Malacanang and transported to what was mistaken as Hawai instead of Paoay, all his men – relatives and cronies- fabricated all sorts of made-to-order antics in order to derail the transformation process undertaken by the Aquino administration, an activity that was as sadistic as annihilating the Jews during the second global war by the Nazis.
If I may put my two cents in, most leaders are schizophrenic, a post partum behavioral disorder governed by hunger for superfluous; post partum in the sense that it unveils after leaders get the power: Hitler, Mussolini, Marcos, Fidel Castro, Hosni Mubarak, Ben Ali, Bashar al-Saad, Moammar Gadhafi, Gloria Arroyo, et al.
Hitler and Mussolini’s annihilation of the world in an attempt to control the magnitude of creation, Marcos’ unequalled concoction of power and greed, Castro’s defiance to submit, Hosni Mubarak’s interminable military control behind bars, Ben Ali sibling’s political kleptomaniac, Bashar al-Saad’s do-or-die attachment to power, Moamma Gadhafi’s psychological warfare and lies, Gloria Arroyo’s lapses turned denials, and more. Yes, and many more when drilled down to the last of selections.
These leaders have utterly epitomized the commonest of all political fuel: Greed! Conversely, these leaders have epitomized the commonest of all political behavioral disorder: schizophrenia!
Greed is an overwhelming desire to have more of something. Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder with symptoms of emotional instability, detachment from reality, and withdrawal into self. It is a state of mind characterized by contradictory or conflicting attitudes, behavior or qualities.
Arguably though, these breed of assailants are living between the border of normalcy and schizophrenia, a state of mind where most narcissistic creatures often dismiss as reality sans the sugar coats and glossy superficial pelts of mental distortion; apparently, they need psychiatric overhauls to anchor them to reality and consequently allow them to survive.
Again if I may opine, behaviors like these muggers epitomize don’t deserve to exist, lest re-condition the mindsets of the youths otherwise the value of true democracy will wane beyond reason: a democracy founded on the principle of the people, by the people and for the people.
What more can the constituents do whenever such behavior persists in a state like ours?
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