Change of Engagement

by MrsPartyGirl

But to forgive a plunderer? How ever which way I look at it, there's nothing divine about that.

I've offered prayers to the victims of the recent explosion in Glorieta. I do not discount nor wish to trivialize the horror of this unfortunate incident in any way. However, this blast, if it were indeed a deliberate attack on the country as some people see it, doesn't begin to compare to the kind of attack PGMA has waged against her own people.

Erap stole from the people. He was overthrown by a "second People Power". He was judged guilty for this by the Sandiganbayan in a costly courtroom drama spread over six years. His Php142 million Boracay Mansion, evidently a product of the proceeds he gained from supporting illicit gambling activities, has been seized by the QC government - one of many mansions he built on money better spent on our impoverished countrymen.

My question is, why pardon him?? Why??

Perhaps, by applying for pardon, Erap ultimately acknowledged PGMA as the legitimate President of the country. Honestly, was PGMA trying to settle this issue once and for all? Nonsense. Erap, by virtue of being a criminal could no longer hold office anyway. For all intents and purposes, PGMA's presidency is secured.

Was PGMA trying to project an image of benevolence? Well, she definitely needs to change a lot of things about her image after all the graft and corruption charges being brought up against her and her husband. Given the myriad of evidence piling up against her, I won't be surprised if she lands behind bars to take Erap's place in Bilibid. Had she wanted to project benevolence, hundreds of prisoners have been serving life sentences for crimes they might not have committed - why not pardon these innocent guys instead?

Was PGMA paid to do this by Erap's camp? Seeing how both camps operate, I can't say its not a possibility.

Was it a show of respect for a former President of the country? That ex-President milked our country's coffers for what its worth. He never respected his position, his country, his people - why should we respect him back? He never earned it.

Erap would return all of his ill-gotten wealth? If so, then indeed money makes the world go round.

Divine forgiveness? More like short-term memory, if you ask me. Or a queen taking a pawn in a shrewd mind game.

So what is it really? Is there no justice in our country anymore?

All I know is we, the Filipino people, have been screwed.

We are now the ultimate Erap joke.

by kpj

(first published in Mang Oca's Razor, 19 Oct 2007)

Kawawa naman ang mga kababayan ko. Kinaplog na naman ng mga terorista. Di ko masabi kung napigilan sanang nangyari ‘to, o wala talagang kawalan. Kasi sabi nung isang report, isang delivery van daw ang nagpasok ng bomba kaya ang direksyon ng pagsabog, mula baba pataas, dahil galing siguro sa basement yung bomba. Kaso pwede rin namang isa-isang pinuslit yung components ng bomba. Eh susko, ang dali-dali gawin yun.

Ilang beses na ba akong dumadaan sa mall security na di man lang binubuklat ang bag ko? Como ba nakabihis ka ng maayos at babae ka, di ka na dapat kapkapan? Yung minsan naman na nabubuklat ang bag ko, ni hindi man lang sipatin ng maayos ang laman, pinapakayod-kayod lang nung guard yung stick na hawak niya, eh akala mo naman may mata yung stick na pwedeng tumingin para sa kanya!

Kung gusto mo naman, itaas pa natin, kung sana di na lang outsourced ang security ng malls sa security agencies. Kung in-house staff na lang at pinapasahod ng maayos, eh di mas may malasakit sila para mag-inspect ng maayos? Kaya? Di mo rin talaga masabi eh. Kasi, kung di man nangyari sa Glorietta yan, pwede rin naman sa Podium o sa Megamall dahil major business district din naman ang Ortigas.

Bottomline, gago yung mga gumawa nun. Kahit sino pa sila, mereseng mga destabilizers ni Gloria, o mga abu sayad (oo, sinadya kong wrong spelling yan dahil malaki sayad nung mga yun sa utak!) Sana sila na lang yung sumabog.

by kpj

(first published in Mang Oca's Razor, 7 Oct 2007)

Woohoo!!! Nanalo na naman si Pacquiao! Alam ko mababaw pero nung tinanong ko yang title na yan sa sarili ko, bakit nga naman hindi? Alam ko rin nadagdagan na naman milyones niya, pero ano ngayon? Wala naman akong pakelam sa pera niya eh, pinaghirapan niya yun. Nagkandabasag-basag ang panga at ilong niya para kumita ng ganon. Pano ka di hahanga sa tao na ’to, lagi niyang hinahangad manalo dahil alam niya dadagdag yun sa ikatataba ng pusong Pinoy. Ewan kung press release yung sinasabi niya, pero tingin ko hindi. Napaka-simpleng tao nito eh. Bakas talaga sa mukha niya na gusto niyang manalo dahil gusto niyang may maipagmalaki ang Pilipino. Alam niya, madalas tayo daragin ng ibang bansa, eh mano man lang makilala tayo sa larangan ng palakasan? At bawat tapos ng laban, kita mo kung Sino ang una niyang pinasasalamatan di ba? Kaya ganon na lang ang paghanga sa kanya ng Pinoy eh. Subukan mo maglakad sa mga kalye, sa Maynila halimbawa, itaon mo na may laban si Pacquiao. Tingnan mo kung may masasakyan kang jeep o tricycle. Walang pinipili yan ha? Mapa-babae o lalaki, matanda man o bata, nakatutok yan sa TV. Wag mo na ring balaking bumili sa tindahan, istorbo ka lang eh, baka mamura ka pa ng tindera. Ayaw ka maniwala? Hintayin mo yung susunod na laban ni Pacquiao. Tapos, ipagtanong mo na rin kung bakit namatay si FPJ (sumalangit nawa).

Sana lang magkaroon siya ng mga matitinong tagapayo. Hindi yung mga tipong hihimok sa kanyang tumakbo sa pulitika. Sumemplang siya don eh. Maraming paraan para makatulong sa mga kababayan mo, di mo kailangang makidawdaw sa napaka-salimuot na mundo ng pulitika. Ipaubaya mo na lang yan dun sa mga taong katulad nung mandurugas na nakaupo sa Malacañang. Sori p’re, di ka talaga nababagay sa mundong ‘yan, lalo na kung nasanay kang lumalaban ng patas.

Sa mga eskaparate sa karamihan ng pampublikong paaralan, kadalasan naka-display ang mga litrato ng mga bayaning Pilipino. Siguro naman, di na nakapagtataka kung balang araw eh itabi dun ang litrato ni Pacquiao, katabi ng litrato ng mga OFW. Siguro naman wala nang kokontra.

by kpj

(first published in Mang Oca's Razor, 10 Oct 2007)

The optimist in me cringed at some predictions I heard some time ago. Apparently, there is no bright future looming for the Philippines. No significant economic improvement in sight. Especially so, because there doesn’t seem to be a political figure with the potential to be a Mahathir or a Lee Kuan Yew, in sight. However, the recent senatorial elections showed a very promising trend. The voting public is becoming more discerning. So discerning, it actually eschewed all of GMA’s known allies and went for the ‘opposite direction’, well save for a fluke, that is so totally obvious. So maybe, in future elections, we could expect more of the same. Kaya?

Okay, I am not going to mince words and pretend I’m this political crackerjack, I just want to think there’s still hope. I know there’s still hope. I’ve been watching him for a year now and I think Senator Francis Escudero has what it takes to be the leader our country needs to go forward. I also know for sure, that I am not alone in thinking this. (That’s why he’s no. 2 in the recent senate polls). I just hope he doesn’t lose sight of his ideals, or his principles derailed. He shows such promise. But lately though, he seems awfully quiet. Hmmm...maybe because he’s still getting his bearings? We’ll see.

by kpj

(first posted in Mang Oca's Razor, 18 Aug 2007)

Never ceases to amaze me how the government can continue to allot pork barrels but not a centavo towards increasing the salary and compensation packages of our soldiers, significantly. Fifteen more marine soldiers died in Basilan recently in a clash with the Abu Sayyaf. (Putres, di ko maintindihan bakit di mamatay-matay yang mga abu na yan.) When you think about it, we rest easy in our beds at night while these soldiers, especially those assigned in Mindanao, sleep in sparse bunks and enjoy little comfort. When some do come back from duty, or are in town on a brief furlough, do you hear any fanfare? Do you see welcome banners or whatnot? Wala lang. They arrive as silently as they left for duty. Kakainis.

Cannot help but compare their situation to that of the armed forces here. People here value their soldiers, one can see that. I remember the overwhelming sense of appreciation depicted by that short video P featured in an old blog. I cannot help but hear the pride and the worry in the voices of parents/relatives interviewed on TV, and even from the news anchors themselves. There’s even this PBS special which included a feature on food scientists hard at work on developing food which could last for months and yet still taste good - targeted specifically for the American soldier in a protracted war. Wow. Whereas our own government cannot even provide a decent arsenal for its soldiers. Hence the ten beheaded soldiers in last July’s Basilan ambush.

Why can’t we do this? Oh c’mon, we DO have the money for this. The government can buy luxury vehicles for the use of its officials and allot millions for Congress’ CDF, why can’t they increase the budget for the Armed Forces? Not just increase the budget but ensure that the money was well spent. Hindi pinambili lang ni general ganito ng isang mansion sa Corinthian Gardens, or pinang-Vegas lang ni colonel ganire. I sincerely hope, Senator Trillanes can make full use of his office and indeed be the hope of the Filipino soldier.

I am not claiming to be knowledgeable about things political but do you need to be, to be concerned for our Sundalo?