Tidying up before the big push
November 19, 2008 by mlq3
Filed under Daily Dose
(updated)
Today I went to the House of Representatives to watch our Motion for Intervention end up buried by the administration majority in the Committee on Justice. There weren’t many of us bloggers there, but it was comforting to know those among the intervenors unable to be present were thinking of us, as were other bloggers who have expressed their support, most lately including stuart-santiago and The Pelican Spectator.
As co-intervenor Marocharim Experiment blogged yesterday, everyone went into the process with no illusions, but no desire to compromise belief:
Like I said before: it doesn’t matter if GMA has two years or two days left in her Presidency. If she is found to be unfit to rule by virtue of a fair evaluation of evidence – or an admission of guilt – then the law doesn’t say that she doesn’t have to pay the price in the name of “stability†and “progress.†I reiterate: justice, fairness, and freedom are not words or compromises, but are perspectives.
For what actually transpired, {caffeine_sparks} provides the minutes of the proceedings of the Committee on (in)Justice. Here’s a sample, the moment of truth.
And see the coverage of Inquirer.net, of ABS-CBN, and part 1, part 2, and part 3 of GMANews.TV’s coverage. There’s Also the Philippine Star. While some of my reactions have been quoted in reports, I’ll get to that in my column tomorrow.
So let me point you in the direction of co-intervenors blog@AWBHoldings.com and particularly, of Alleba Politics who takes a close look at the Mindanao bloc in the House:
Curiously, South Cotabato Representative Darlene Antonino-Custodio and Bukidnon Representative Teofisto Guingona III who fought for the intervention during yesterday’s hearing was absent today. And I am disappointed. I was counting on Custodio to fight for Mindanao, to declare that an injustice done to Mindanao and its people has repercussions and consequences. Arroyo has used and continues to use Mindanao and it’s issues for her political gain. But this is proof that we are not willing to fight for ourselves. Of the more than 50 representatives for Mindanao, not one, not a single one of them voted to accept the intervention. Not even one of them lobbied for it. Not one of them endorsed it.
Let it be known that these congressmen, supposed representatives of Mindanao and its people stood idly by, while their land, their constituents, their constitution, their country was put in peril and bastardized by Arroyo:
1. Aquino, Jose II S.
2. Amante, Edelmiro A.
3. Plaza, Rodolfo ‘Ompong’ G.
4. Pancrudo, Candido Jr. P.
5. Guingona, Teofisto ‘TG’ III L.
6. Zubiri, Jose Ma. III F.
7. Uy, Rolando A.
8. Rodriguez, Rufus B.
9. Romualdo, Pedro P.
10. Zamora, Manuel ‘Way Kurat’ E.
11. Amatong, Rommel C.
12. Nograles, Prospero C.
13. Garcia, Vincent J.
14. Ungab, Isidro T.
15. Olaño, Arrel R.
16. Lagdameo, Antonio Jr. F.
17. Cagas, Marc Douglas IV C.
18. Bautista, Franklin P.
19. Dayanghirang, Nelson L.
20. Almario, Thelma Z.
21. Belmonte, Vicente Jr. F.
22. Dimaporo, Abdullah D.
23. Dumarpa, Faysah RPM
24. Balindong, Pangalian M.
25. Datumanong, Simeon A.
26. Clarete, Marina P.
27. Ramiro, Herminia M.
28. Emano, Yevgeny Vincente B.
29. Taliño-Mendoza, Emmylou ‘Lala’ J.
30. Piñol, Bernardo Jr. F.
31. Chiongbian, Erwin L.
32. Dilangalen, Didagen P.
33. Antonino-Custodio, Darlene R.
34. Pingoy, Arthur
35. Mangudadatu, Datu Pax S.
36. Go, Arnulfo F.
37. Jikiri, Yusop H.
38. Arbison, Munir M.
39. Matugas, Francisco T.
40. Romarate, Guillermo Jr. A.
41. Pichay, Philip A.
42. Garay, Florencio C.
43. Jaafar, Nur G.
44. Climaco, Maria Isabelle
45. Fabian, Erico Basilio A.
46. Jalosjos-Carreon, Cecilia G.
47. Labadlabad, Rosendo S.
48. Jalosjos, Cesar G.
49. Yu, Victor J.
50. Cerilles, Antonio H.
51. Cabilao, Belma A.
52. Hofer, Ann K.
These are the people who have FAILED to represent and defend their constituents in Mindanao. Let it be known that they refused to recognize and accept the facts, that they have acted contrary to their mandate, their duty to serve their constituents in Mindanao. Let it be known that they stood idly by while Arroyo gave away a piece of their land, created a state within our island, entered an agreement that put our people and our nation in peril. They have failed to serve, failed to do what they are paid to do.
Of course what happened today was preordained.
Yesterday, the administration majority actually wanted to dispense with our Intervention. Please see the summary of what transpired, as recorded by {caffeine_sparks}: there’s also this interview with Rep. Teddy Casino:
Ricky Carandang: Sir, sufficient in form, tomorrow the vote on substance but there was a bit to do about whether or not the intervention filed by number of people would be included in the house. That wasn’t in the complaint… that wasn’t resolved. Was it?
Teddy Casino: No, it wasn’t resolved. In fact, we requested the committee to provide us copies of that intervention so that tomorrow we will have a more informed debate on whether to accept or not this intervention from various complainants.
Ricky Carandang: Okay, but as everybody loves to say in the House, Sir. It’s a numbers game and it doesn’t look like the majority is inclined to allow it in.
Teddy Casino: Well, the committee has to make a decision. What we are against is that it was a unilateral action by the committee chairperson Matt Defensor to consider the intervention as prohibited and to return the same to the complainants. We just want that thorough discussion be made because we think that the complainants also have right to be heard in this committee especially the importance of the issue that they are trying to bring out which the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain.
Ricky Carandang: But what was the argument why they wanted to exclude it? And did they exclude it without hearing the arguments of the intervenors? Or did they vote to exclude it on a mere procedural matter?
Teddy Casino: Well it was a mere procedural matter on the technicality that the first complaint was already referred to the committee and therefore one-year ban was already in place. And the chair of the committee considered the intervention as a new complaint. But as was clarified as the chair of the committee on rules Art Defensor, this is not a new complaint. This is an intervention or more generically an amendment to the first complaint which the Justice committee would have jurisdiction over that.
Ricky Carandang: So you seem to be implying that there’s some inconsistencies here with the application of their rules.
Teddy Casino: Yes, because under the rules of criminal procedure, which is supposed to be supplementary to our rules, you can amend the complaint before arraignment. And the president has not be arraigned yet. We have not reached that stage. So our theory in the minority, is that any complaint can be amended by the Justice committee and there is no prohibition on amendments, interventions or any other matter. It’s just that the committee will have to deliberate and decide on this issue. This is a long established point of the minority, which in the previous impeachment proceedings have always been denied. But we think that it is in keeping with the rules.
Ricky Carandang: Well sir tomorrow then based on what you’re saying I anticipate a lot of discussion again about the rules about whether that intervention can be heeded or not. Just out of curiosity sir… will you…
Teddy Casino: But at the end of the day, it will come to a vote.
So, as one of my co-intervenors, New Philippine Revolution put it, we got to live another day.
I don’t exactly agree with Rep. Casino (I wouldn’t concede “more generically an amendment”) but in view of the challenge we blogger-intervenors issued last week and which I restated in my column last Monday, Walk the talk, congressmen. It was good to hear Casino say what he did and act the way he did; and of course particularly heartening were interventions of Reps. Darlene Custodio and T. Guingona III during the hearing.
The Inquirer.net report summarizes the questions that were meant to be resolved today as follows:
Quezon City Representative Matias Defensor, chairman of the justice committee, had raised the “prejudicial questions” that must be considered before determining whether the complaint would be sufficient in form and in substance would be:
• Which complaint/ complaints must be considered?
• Is the complaint in intervention allowed by the Constitution, the Rules on Impeachment or the Rules on Criminal Procedure in its suppletory character?
• Is the chairman on the committee on justice correct in returning the Lozano complaint based on the precedent as approved by the committee on justice in the case of the Tamano/ Pulido complaint?
The four complaints submitted before the committee were from:
• Jose de Venecia III, et. al. submitted on October 13;
• Attorney Guillermo Sotto submitted October 23;
• Manuel Quezon III et al submitted on November 12; and
• Lawyer Oliver Lozano submitted directly to the committee on justice and received by the committee secretary on November 17.
In the end, those from the minority who were present did take up the cudgels, not just for the impeachment, but our intervention, today. IWe were, however, never able to argue our case, which I present for the record (my thanks to the lawyers helping us on this):
1. The intervention is not a separate complaint involving a distinct cause of action but is just another aspect of the original cause of action upon which the de Venecia impeachment complaint rests, which is GMA’s culpable violation of the Constitution and breach of her oath as President of the Philippines.
2. The primary objective of the remedy of intervention is to avoid multiplicity of suits by allowing all related causes of action and issues to be resolved in one proceeding. As long as intervention has been properly and timely made and the intervention would not cause any injustice to anyone, it should not be denied. In fact the ends of justice would be better served by granting the intervention, as public interest should predominate over technical or procedural considerations.
3. Intervention should be granted if the intervenor(s) can show that they have a legal interest in the matter in litigation. As citizens and taxpayers, it cannot be denied that intervenors have a legal right to ensure that the laws of the land are upheld, especially if the violator is a public official. Impeachment is a process of national inquest into the conduct of public officials and the bringing of charges against them for misconduct in office.
4. The intervention is based on judicial findings which were not yet made or in existence at the time of the filing of the original complaint. Hence, it may be argued that an “intervening cause” , i.e. the ruling on the unconstitutionality of the BJE MOA (which was not appealed by the government), justifies the inclusion of the said subject matter as one of the grounds for impeachment.
In other news, there has been much tsk-tsking about Secretary Jesus Dureza’s opening prayer at the opening of yesterday’s Cabinet meeting.
Freudian slip? Trial balloon? Sneaky sabotage?
It has been more than two years since the President began chanting her mantra of “attaining first world status by 2020,” and began classifying our country as a “Second World country,” and by now, the phrase has become yet another tired presidential propaganda line, except, of course, for the very real possibility that the Palace believes its own propaganda.
And that it can be quite methodical and deliberate about achieving what it wants, in a manner calculated to reassure its loyalists, and those hoping against hope the current regime has an expiration date, and not unduly arouse the citizenry. Victory is so close, the Palace functionaries can almost taste it. Even as RG Cruz cautioned for the public to keep its eyes “on the ball,” it seems some factotums couldn’t resist a little gloating.
As Ding Gagelonia blogging At Midfield recounts,
This writer recalls that just weeks ago a commenter over at FilipinoVoices.com who claimed to be a ranking lawyer with direct links to the Palace revealed that they “wanted a 10-year term extension for GMA beyond 2010.â€
This year -or next- as the Year of Political Rapture just came closer; aside from the usual suspects getting the ball rolling on further packing the Supreme Court, it was interesting to see Speaker Nograles in the space of eight months going from “amendments after 2010″ in February to “maybe some amendments, let’s see” in May, to “amendments are nigh!” Saying on the news, tonight, that he was tickled pink by Juan Ponce Enrile’s election as Senate President and pointing to the trial balloon he started floating back in February, a Constitutional Convention instead of the more politically nerve-wracking method of using the Supreme Court as a blunt instrument against the Senate. (To my mind, this is where Enrile would be useful: he could smoothly navigate a Constitutional Convention law through the Senate, calling the bluff of Senators who said the only kind of Charter Change they’d support is thru a Convention).
Anyway, seems after gauging public opinion, people have either tuned out, or have proven themselves so tractable and manageable, that the administration thinks now is the time because all those saying they will “wait until 2010″ are bluffing and will actually roll over and play dead if and when the President’s term extension by whatever means is achieved.
The prospects, if not for her, then for those surrounding her, are glittering indeed. As I mentioned in my 2007 column Quackery, if she’s in office come 2020, she would only be one year shy of matching Ferdinand Marcos’s grip on power.
But let me close with these reassuring words from the President’s ally, Rep. Danilo Suarez, explaining why initial reports of a 40-strong House delegation to accompany the President to Peru (subsequently reduced to 5) was no big deal:
Asked why such a huge group wants to join Mrs. Arroyo to Peru despite the economic crisis, Suarez said, “We have problems, but we don’t have a crisis.â€
This reminds me of a conversation I had last Saturday, when I ran into Prospero Pichay of all people in Greenbelt. I asked him about our Chess team and then talk drifted to what seems to have been uppermost in his mind.
“You know this is a time not for politics but getting down to work,” he said, and proceeded to of course pat himself on the back as the new irrigation chief. I told him I’d been hearing of downsizing in some BPO’s, and that there didn’t seem to be much in the way of the administration (which he so loyally serves) doing much by way of revealing whether it has a game plan -starting with enumerating the challenges ahead.
He sort of snorted and said, “they’re clueless,” and proceeded to say some rather uncomplimentary things about people in the Cabinet like Angelo Reyes, who he basically described as a know-nothing as far as his portfolio was concerned.
So I responded by asking why Lakas-CMD didn’t unveil a plan, since, after all, political life for people like him goes beyond the term of the President. He smiled and said some non-committal things. Then paused, and said, “even she doesn’t listen to me, every time I make a suggestion, well, you know how taray she can be.”
And then, after some more pleasantries (he is, after all, a pleasant person) we parted ways.
Onward to First World status by 2020!
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AdB on Wed, 19th Nov 2008 7:03 am
Re: “We have problems, but we don’t have a crisis.— — Danny Suarez
Hahahah!
He actually meant, “The fundamentals of the economy are strong.” Trust that corrupt defence equipment dealer, broker, lobbyist to be the eternal optimist.
Could you ask him, “What’s in it for you?”
BrianB on Wed, 19th Nov 2008 10:22 am
With no industry to speak of, these people are dreaming. It must be a curious sight, a First World country propped by overseas domestics and laborers.
anthony scalia on Wed, 19th Nov 2008 10:57 am
the committee vote is nothing. what matters is the plenary vote.
if the committee dismisses the complaint, a 1/3 vote of reversal in the plenary will still result in impeachment.
so the anti-gloria school better lobby for that 1/3 now.
anthony scalia on Wed, 19th Nov 2008 11:00 am
“Onward to First World status by 2020!”
oh yes!
care to join us in the trip?
KG on Wed, 19th Nov 2008 11:23 am
Re: the additional complaints
so natapos na ang botohan dun, I will wait for q3s update or comment.
sa one complaint per year pa din bumagsak..
on Justice scalia’s points.
well kahit pano mo baliktarin may puntos si athony Scalia sa one third lobbying ;as to the trip to the first world anong klaseng trip yan ,linawin mo baka may magsabing marijuana session yan.
KG on Wed, 19th Nov 2008 11:33 am
anthony, joke lang ha!
of course sinong ayaw mag first world tayo.
since di pa din naman nating matatwag na industrialized country tayo, we shoulkd not give up on agriculture kahit na di tayo nakdikit sa mga mekong neighbors natin.
diaspora, is not the solution pero nandyan na yan eh.
we must just make do and make most of what we have.
if bpo imaybe down,but we should not abandon it,dahil mukhang kaya naman natin mag adjust.
pero habang wala pa tayo sa taas.
mabuti na din yun, because mas mahirap bumagsak galing sa taas.
mas nasa baba ka parating soft landing.at nadadapa ka lang di ka nahuhulog.
KG on Wed, 19th Nov 2008 11:35 am
pasensya na naman ha, ang gulo ng post ko.
magnonote pad na kaya ako bago magpost.
anthony scalia on Wed, 19th Nov 2008 11:53 am
Kevin Garnett,
“anthony, joke lang ha!”
no problem mi amigo
“of course sinong ayaw mag first world tayo.”
madami sila – most of them ex-Pinoys na and soon-to-be ex-Pinoys
“since di pa din naman nating matatwag na industrialized country tayo, we shoulkd not give up on agriculture kahit na di tayo nakdikit sa mga mekong neighbors natin.”
korek
“diaspora, is not the solution pero nandyan na yan eh.
we must just make do and make most of what we have.”
tama
“if bpo imaybe down,but we should not abandon it,dahil mukhang kaya naman natin mag adjust.”
true
“pero habang wala pa tayo sa taas.
mabuti na din yun, because mas mahirap bumagsak galing sa taas.
mas nasa baba ka parating soft landing.at nadadapa ka lang di ka nahuhulog.”
ang ‘tate ngayon, galing sa taas, bumabagsak na (kaso damay buong mundo!)
Jon on Wed, 19th Nov 2008 12:42 pm
ni walang reaksion sa publiko…talagang wala na yatang pakialam ang mga pinoy. Siguro pag wala nang makain saka lang uli mag aala-bonifacio.
Geo on Wed, 19th Nov 2008 2:09 pm
BriabB,
You wrote: “With no industry to speak of, these people are dreaming. It must be a curious sight, a First World country propped by overseas domestics and laborers.”
Nice attitude. That ought to help move the country forward.
Fortunately, your opinion seems to ignore some facts.
You overlook for, instance, the country’s exports.
Meanwhile, the tsunami of outsourced white collar work (BPO) continues unabated and the Philippines continues to be seen as the main benefactor now and in the future.
Furthermore, tourism and mining are grossly underdevoped, yet are considered to be some of the richest untapped locations in the world. Think like a businessman — we have here extensive resources that are dwindling in supply most everywhere else. Law of supply and demand…..
Lastly, certain segments are so inefficient (especially agriculture), that incremental improvements in areas like infrastructure can have exponentially positive effects.
But first…the government’s improved fiscal situation must be solidified (or at least protected during this global downturn) and, secondly, the 3 branches of government need to spend much more time doing their jobs and much less time at war with each other.
The opportunities for this country are clear…and golden. What’s needed is some teamwork and unified direction. FVR was right before and he’s still right now.
KG on Wed, 19th Nov 2008 2:16 pm
MLQ3, here is an exerpt from an article about your reaction to the impeachment proceedings.
It says you will contemplate if you will question the ruling at the SC,was that atty. Lacierda’s initial advise???
You have mentioned many points above,and I saw that some of them were discussed, will you fortify those points so it could be expedited by the SC?
Quezon: ‘Assassination’ of impeachment
By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 11:58:00 11/19/2008
“That’s their strategy, they need to kill the smaller complaints first before killing the big one. Any other way, this is assassination,” said Manuel Quezon III, Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist, INQUIRER.net blogger, and television host, after the committee on justice voted Wednesday against the motion.
Quezon, who represents the group of bloggers who filed the intervention, said they would decide whether to question the ruling by the justice committee before the Supreme Court.
He said the decision showed that administration allies would block all moves that would fortify the impeachment case against the President.
anthony scalia on Wed, 19th Nov 2008 2:55 pm
“What’s needed is some teamwork and unified direction. ”
something we can’t expect from that bumbling stupid group called ‘united opposition’
anthony scalia on Wed, 19th Nov 2008 3:10 pm
The Philippine Collegian spoofed the campaign slogan of Marcos in the 1986 snap elections:
“SUBOK NG SUBOK KRISIS PA RIN”
some changes and it speaks of the ‘united opposition’:
“SUBOK NG SUBOK PATALSIKIN, NAKAUPO PA RIN SI GLORIA!”
kung tinuon na lang sana ang resources nila sa ekonomiya….
mlq3 on Wed, 19th Nov 2008 3:57 pm
let’s not go into FVR’s opinion then, as it’s developed since 2005.
Or into the resources diverted from the economy by the one who controls the instrumentalities of the state.
KG, SC is an option though personally I’m inclined to wait until plenary has voted. There are two legitimate points the wily majority can raise: first, that even if you concede intervention, its fate is tied to the main impeachment, therefore its fate rests on whether the complaint prospers or dies; second, that in an intervention you make an appeal but the authority you appeal to is under no obligation to do what you ask.
Also, the most fruitful possible case is the one pending in the SC questioning the Francisco doctrine, which the SC refuses to act upon. The Francisco doctrine is the main reason impeachment has mutated into a race to file charges and which has stood the impeachment process on its head.
KG on Wed, 19th Nov 2008 4:11 pm
Many thanks Mlq3!
anthony scalia on Wed, 19th Nov 2008 4:25 pm
Kevin Garnett,
not to toot my own horn, but please visit the thread
“Intervention for the Prosecution: Why the BJE-MOA is an impeachable offense”
and please read my post
on November 14th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Blackshama on Wed, 19th Nov 2008 4:32 pm
Nonetheless MLQ3 and your co-intervenors have made history. While in other countries bloggers are jailed, this time you want the Big Boss in jail! (at least kicked off her throne)
Dureza prayer: It is just a case of sucking it up.
Geo on Wed, 19th Nov 2008 4:44 pm
mlq3,
You wrote: “…the resources diverted from the economy by the one who controls the instrumentalities of the state.”
Here we go again. “The Truth”.
The “cheating” portion is a failed accusation (though most screechers don’t even know that and still yell about “illegitimacy”), but the “stealing” part is still strong…since we all know the facts are clear in such cases such as Fertilizer Scam, North and South Rail, ZTE, JMSU, the baseline of the country’s boundaries, and even Jueteng.
Anyway, the opportunities for this country are valid and within reach…regardless of the politically charged accusations. That’s hard to argue against.
Problem is; It’s those politically-charged, but never substantiated, accusations which slow our economic development to a crawl. That is debatable, I admit. But at least one must assume it doesn’t help or speed things up.
The accusations, if I understand the accusers correctly, are made seperate from any considersation about economic progress or the pace thereof. Oh, and the progress that has been made is actually a sleight-of-hand and only benefits a few at the top.
Politics first (the destructive type), economy (For The PEOPLE!!!, by the way) later.
That’s crazy. Especially when the world is entering a massive downturn and when the country has a legitimate chance to reverse its decades-long downward spiral.
KG on Wed, 19th Nov 2008 5:03 pm
Justice Scalia,
nabasa ko na: TY, nabasa ko na din dati pero scan lang .
http://www.quezon.ph/2021/intervention-for-the-prosecution-why-the-bje-moa-is-an-impeachable-offense/#comment-989697
binasa ko na din yung francisco vs. house of representatives.
di ko na tinapos nasummarize mo na at ni mlq3 eh.
allow me to paste your comment in full:
quezon the 3rd,
THE BRIGHT SIDE TO THE “COMPLAINT-IN INTERVENTIONâ€
if you bring its denial to the Supreme Court, there’s now an opportunity for the SC to review its doctrine on Francisco vs. House of Representatives (the Davide impeachment case), and possibly reverse it.
the doctrine that “initiated’ means the mere filing of a complaint should be abandoned and given a new meaning – that ‘initiated’ should mean an impeachment complaint duly transmitted to and received by the Senate.
because as we all know now, if ‘initiated’ means mere filing, then an impeachable official can escape impeachment by just causing the timely filing of a weak impeachment complaint, which will bar any later impeachment complaints (hintay na lang next year)
jcc on Wed, 19th Nov 2008 6:48 pm
MLQ3,
Great efforts there MLQ3. Now you can relate your experience with mine. That we toiled long hours to plead our case only to brush it aside with a minute resolution. In your case only with few second of foul verbal rebuff.
Trashiing it even without reading it.. Sounds familiar if you read my case.
Tyrants are everywhere. But we can count ourselves among the few who tried to lift our fingers to fight against it.
“No one can terrorize a whole nation, unless we are all his accomplices”. (Ed Murrow , U.S Journalist and Newscaster).
jcc on Wed, 19th Nov 2008 7:03 pm
mlq3,
btw, i was not after the merit of your case. i was after the procedure by which your intervention was treated. it was tyrannical for congress to trash it.
you know very well my position on this impeachment issue and our disparate positions are rooted differently. please allow me some digital space to repost my FV comment:
“I at look the possibiity of impeaching GMA from economics point of view and therefore would consider it counter-productive.
There is less than 2 years to go. The divisiveness and the sanguine political partisanship that the impeachent proceedings will bring to the nation as pointed out by BenCard is not worth this adventure. And there is no assurance too that the impeachment will prosper because Congress as pointed out by Leytenian is controlled by GMA allies.
Politicians who support the move to oust GMA are mostly those people who have presidential ambitions, or politicians who would love to hitch in this political tempest for mileage and soundbytes.
2010 elections will bring some momentary benefits to the people as politicians distribute the largesse they have amassed during their past tenure… Politicians would not care anyway for the welfare of the people once they assumed their office and elections is only the proper time for people to exact sweet revenge on thier politicians”.
US Election On Best Political Blogs » Blog Archive » Tidying up before the big push on Wed, 19th Nov 2008 7:45 pm
[...] Tidying up before the big push There won’t be many of us bloggers there, but … Impeachment is a process of national inquest … tickled pink by Juan Ponce Enrile’s… [...]
BrianB on Wed, 19th Nov 2008 7:45 pm
GEO,
Point is instead of wishful thinking why doesn’t she provide the foundations for industries? Also, the private sectors should be forced to be independent of OFW remittances. One way is to provide incentives for manufacturing, like tax holidays and employee tax exemptions.
BrianB on Wed, 19th Nov 2008 7:47 pm
and Geo,
Mining and tourism never made a country rich. Spain has always had a great tourist industry (i.e. there are more tourists in Spain annually than there are Spanish citizens) but it’s the most backward country in Eastern Europe
The EQualizer on Wed, 19th Nov 2008 7:50 pm
Should Politicians Wear Their Religion On Their Sleeve?
One clear example is Gloria Arroyo.She encourages her photographers to take pictures of her when she is in deep prayer.
When I think of all the scandals and scams associated with her administration,I start wondering whether politics and religion can really mix in Malacanang.
saxnviolins on Wed, 19th Nov 2008 8:18 pm
mlq3:
Should you ever decide to question Francisco before the Supreme Court, I hope you will MYLP (make your Lolo proud) and appear pro se .
Constitutional law is just plain English. I would like to see that bulldog Devanadera vanquished by a non-lawyer, to prove the fact that she is a lightweight who does not deserve the seat she seeks.
mindanaoan on Wed, 19th Nov 2008 8:27 pm
it’s ridiculous to connect the mindanao congressmen not lobbying for the intervention, and ” … stood idly by, while their land, their constituents, their constitution, their country was put in peril and bastardized by Arroyo”.
with logic like that, how far can you go?
Bert on Wed, 19th Nov 2008 8:30 pm
“”Onward to First World status by 2020!—
oh yes!
care to join us in the trip?”-anthony
anthony,
I’m definitely for First World Status, who is not?
I think you did not get the joke though so let me clarify it to you if I may.
The joke was that our president Gloria (yes, herself) plan to get the Philippines attain First World Status by 2020 at a time when she has barely three years in office, hehehe.
Now gets na?
anthony scalia on Wed, 19th Nov 2008 10:10 pm
Kevin Garnett,
thanks for quoting it
anthony scalia on Wed, 19th Nov 2008 10:24 pm
Bert,
“I’m definitely for First World Status, who is not?”
if you really are, then ‘patalsikin na now na’ just takes you away from that goal.
“I think you did not get the joke though so let me clarify it to you if I may.”
ay, may joke pala yun. that says a lot
for every Pinoy who consider it a joke there are hundreds of thousands who take that goal seriously and work for it
“The joke was that our president Gloria (yes, herself) plan to get the Philippines attain First World Status by 2020 at a time when she has barely three years in office, hehehe.”
ows, talaga? again that says a lot
mahirap na goal na nga, guguluhin nyo pa. mahirap na ngang umusad, guguluhin nyo pa
“Now gets na?”
ang alin? what’s the joke there?
you just revealed your priorities my friend. sayang. pero may time pa para magbago.
sama ka na sa amin kabayan
kaminaman on Wed, 19th Nov 2008 10:58 pm
I think the nation is now divided into three differing points of view. BERT t and his group who always trace the Philippine misery to the continued stay of GMA in Malacanang, the group ANTONIO SCALLA Scalla and his group who is so sore to the opposition and equate them with anything but efficiency and love of country.
AND THE THIRD GROUP WHO WHO PROBABLY THINKS LIKE THIS.
SAWANG SAWA NA KAMI SA DALAWANG GRUPO NINYO.
GUSTO LANG NAMIN AY DISENTENG TRABAHO, MALINIS NA GOBYERNO AT MALIWANAG NA PLATAPORMA.
HINDI YUNG MGA MAPAGIKOT NG MGA SALITA MAIPAGTANGGOL LAMANG ANG KANILANG MGA IDOLO AT ADHIKAIN.
SI BERT PARA SA SA PAGPAPAALIS KAY GLORIA AT SI ANTHONY SCALLA SA PANGANTYAW SAS OPOSISYON.
HINDI KAYO ANG KAILANGAN NG BAYAN.
mindanaoan on Wed, 19th Nov 2008 11:06 pm
there’s now an anti-anti-anti.
anthony scalia on Wed, 19th Nov 2008 11:07 pm
BrianB,
“One way is to provide incentives for manufacturing, like tax holidays and employee tax exemptions.”
tax holidays are already available from the BOI and the PEZA for some forms of manufacturing
“Mining and tourism never made a country rich”
tourism put Thailand where it is now. Thailand may not be rich, but its way ahead of the Philippines, thanks to tourism.
the Phils is said to have close to US$900B in minerals waiting to be tapped.
Business MIrror columnist John Mangun described the potential of the mining industry here, if fully harnessed properly – mining is the malls, call centers are sari sari stores
so will tourism and mining make the country rich? maybe not, but the country can certainly use a few more billions of dollars
“Spain has always had a great tourist industry (i.e. there are more tourists in Spain annually than there are Spanish citizens) but it’s the most backward country in Eastern Europe”
Spain is in Southern Europe
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Europe
and Spain is among the Top 10 biggest economies in the world. hardly backward
and im curious what could 60 million tourists see in a backward country
anthony scalia on Wed, 19th Nov 2008 11:24 pm
kaminaman,
naku aking kababayan, marami ka pang kakaining bigas.
halatang di mo pa nababasa ang lahat ng mga komento ko dito.
kaya sorry na lang kung sasabihin kong napakasablay ng iyong tingin sa akin
you can start with comment no. 4 in this thread, and my replies to other posts in this thread
next, check the very very first comment in the thread
“Intervention for the Prosecution: Why the BJE-MOA is an impeachable offense” and see where my politics is
and kindly read my discussions with justice league in that thread so you can know why i am so affectionate towards the ‘united opposition’
“GUSTO LANG NAMIN AY DISENTENG TRABAHO, MALINIS NA GOBYERNO AT MALIWANAG NA PLATAPORMA.”
talaga? gusto mo ng trabaho? ako din gusto kitang bigyan nun.
halatang di mo pa nga nababasa ang mga comments ko. dahil one thing i admire in the ‘united opposition’ is its uncanny ability to set back the steps towards a healthy economy.
ever since i started commenting here, im always advocating that the country can step towards progress even if gloria is still in Malacañang. at mas importante pa ang job creation kaysa pagpapatalsik kay gloria
“HINDI KAYO ANG KAILANGAN NG BAYAN.”
tama ka dyan. ay talagang hindi ako ang kailangan ng bayan. trabaho ang kailangan ng bayan.
di bale, baguhan ka pa lang dito. palalampasin ko na lang yang sablay na obserbasyon mo noy ha?
kung sinisipag ka, paki google “anthony scalia” and “manuel quezon III” together so you can see links to all my previous comments in this blog through the years
then, to quote a favorite word in the TV programs of Bro. Eli Soriano
“BASA!”
UP n grad on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 12:43 am
anti-anti-anti hilong talilong.
UP n grad on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 12:44 am
anti-anti anti {===} hilong talilong
d0d0ng on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 12:47 am
“Of the more than 50 representatives for Mindanao, not one, not a single one of them voted to accept the intervention. Not even one of them lobbied for it. Not one of them endorsed it. Let it be known that these congressmen, supposed representatives of Mindanao and its people stood idly by, while their land, their constituents, their constitution, their country was put in peril and bastardized by Arroyo”.
The reps are so predictable, they might also be rips. When MILFs started the miniwar, they were the loudest against ancestral domain. Yet amazing how they stuck with the architect herself, GMA. The reps as we know are proverbial leeches. GMA can always dangle carrots and they can wag well like puppies.
Constituencies are meaningful only during election. The rest of the term, the reps are taking every opportunity to cash in and serve only themselves.
Bolante’s testimony is describing our reps. Everybody gets something from agrarian fund and keep quiet including a non-farming areas like Metro Manila. No evidence but the bottom line the P23 billion pesos Marcos loot-Agrarian fund was gone during 2004 election as reported by DBM.
Philippines is plenty of people like Prospero Pichay, each to his own game.
d0d0ng on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 1:44 am
Geo on, “It’s those politically-charged, but never substantiated, accusations which slow our economic development to a crawl.”
This is a typical erroneous conclusion blaming people who are not in-charge of the economy.
Even the statement of “economic development to a crawl” is wrong. Economic growth in terms of GDP averaged 5% under Arroyo (2001-2008) compared to Aquino’s 3.8, Ramos 3.7% and Estrada’s 2.8%.
Budget has passed, Arroyo’s policies and programs are operating regardless of activities at the house/senate.
d0d0ng on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 2:07 am
“and im curious what could 60 million tourists see in a backward country”
Spain is rich in history, architectural structures, dances, heritage, etc with modern convenience. Tourism is not one dimensional thing – beach. Also, there is not a fear of being rip-off like in the Philippines.
Pilipinoparin on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 2:08 am
“The reps are so predictable, they might also be rips. When MILFs started the miniwar, they were the loudest against ancestral domain. Yet amazing how they stuck with the architect herself, GMA. The reps as we know are proverbial leeches. GMA can always dangle carrots and they can wag well like puppies.
Constituencies are meaningful only during election. The rest of the term, the reps are taking every opportunity to cash in and serve only themselves.
Bolante’s testimony is describing our reps. Everybody gets something from agrarian fund and keep quiet including a non-farming areas like Metro Manila. No evidence but the bottom line the P23 billion pesos Marcos loot-Agrarian fund was gone during 2004 election as reported by DBM.”…dodong
That’s why for so long I was advocating the abolition of the Reps house if ever there would be a con-con. Low er house is the root of most evils afflicting RP politics. the reps are really useless, national affairs can be done by senators while the local affairs can be done more efficiently at provincial and city level. so what’s the use of the reps? Nada, they are useless.
Phil Manila on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 2:34 am
“Also, there is not a fear of being rip-off like in the Philippines.’ – d0d0ng
Don’t ever get the idea that ripping off tourists is a monopoly of the Philippines.
Remember that American Express advertisement of a couple having their camera stolen? Pray tell me, didn’t it depict Spain or Italy.
supremo on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 2:46 am
Compare the economy of the Philippines to Malaysia and you will know the status of GMA’s First World status by 2020.
supremo on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 2:50 am
‘Remember that American Express advertisement of a couple having their camera stolen? Pray tell me, didn’t it depict Spain or Italy.’
American Express is probably avoiding a protest from the Filipinos. Desperate Housewives is an example.
d0d0ng on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 3:06 am
I can certainly agree with you on that, Pilipinoparin. The house rips are simply rubber stamp of the Palace. There are 238 rips in the 14th congress and only 109 have current porks from the Palace. The large number best cultivate “sipsip” to get piece of the pie. Arroyo recognized and used that well to her advantage.
The best fiscalizer is the senate due to its small number. But it has issue of representation since a senator is elected nationally. Representation can be fixed if the constitution is amended to elect a senator by region.
d0d0ng on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 3:24 am
Phil Manila on, “Don’t ever get the idea that ripping off tourists is a monopoly of the Philippines.”
I heard you, and the surprising thing Filipinos are even proud of screwing up others like equating smart to taking advantage of others.
In September 2008, a Canadian family learned this the hard way. They were charged $2,600 for 2 pizzas from Pizza Hut and cut short of their vacation.
http://www.canada.com/story.html?id=66d92db6-38a7-4959-be1b-ee72395960bb
BrianB on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 3:55 am
Scalia:
no mention of tourism here at the 90s Spanish boom:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Spain
Must have more to do with the opening of the economy to the EU.
And didn’t we learn anything from the sugar and the logging industry. Did we get rich there? Now mining (yecht) and tourism?
I imagine we can get ten million Chinese to visit us annually for English lessons. But for sex and beach tourism, don’t be too giddy about their potential.
BrianB on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 4:02 am
And yes, the Spanish beaches draw millions of Europeans annually.
taxj on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 4:44 am
dOdOng, election of Senators by region would only be good on paper. Do you know how many Senators Bicol has? Does that make it better off than any other region?
kaminaman, I share your frustrations. Early exit by Gloria… then what? United opposition… what for? ‘Wag ka gaya anthony scallia. Kain bigas. Wala sustansiya. Gaya ng mga sinusulat niya.
Pilipinoparin, “…local affairs can be done more efficiently at provincial and city level.” You may have a very good point here, considering the threat of federalism. Please elaborate. Any links?
d0d0ng on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 6:03 am
“dOdOng, election of Senators by region would only be good on paper. Do you know how many Senators Bicol has? Does that make it better off than any other region?”
Regional representation in the Senate is needed. We are already in the 14th Congress. Since the beginning there is only one senator from Mindanao that made it to the Senate. Mindanao is always behind in terms of economic development.
hvrds on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 6:52 am
Congratulations to MLQ3 and his band of merry man who filed that intervention. Apart from having this wonderful blog which I might add has sometimes more news than the mainstream media you guys have drawn the line and come out and fought.
Although the majority of blogs are similar to some primordial amoebic substance together with a large number of pundits yours truly stands out as a new standard in this new world of multi-media.
Your actions do have an effect and does give the other side pause. Thanks to the wonderful world of the 24 hour news cycle that is truly global in scope.
anthony scalia on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 8:15 am
B,
“no mention of tourism here at the 90s Spanish boom:”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Spain”
correct! i did not mention it either.
i mentioned the role of tourism in the economy only in relation to Thailand only
my statement “and im curious what could 60 million tourists see in a backward country” is more on what does a backward country have to attract that many number of tourists yearly.
i never mentioned anything about the money brought in by the 60 million tourists in Spain and how the money helps its economy.
“Must have more to do with the opening of the economy to the EU.”
probably. but one of the top 10 economies in the world is hardly backward
“And didn’t we learn anything from the sugar and the logging industry.”
oops. new topic. i don’t know what should be the lessons learned from sugar and logging.
“Did we get rich there?”
just from those two? no. but some of the richest Pinoys are into sugar and logging (of the legal kind)
“Now mining (yecht) and tourism?”
oh yes
“I imagine we can get ten million Chinese to visit us annually for English lessons. But for sex and beach tourism, don’t be too giddy about their potential.”
you said it – 10M coming for English lessons. with that number alone, who needs “sex and beach tourism”?
The emperor’s new tailors « Seven Million Golden Fish on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 8:35 am
[...] intervention, Joaquin Bernas The impeachment bloggers seem to be all up in arms over the dismissal of their complaint. Well, what did they really expect [...]
anthony scalia on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 8:58 am
supremo,
“Compare the economy of the Philippines to Malaysia and you will know the status of GMA’s First World status by 2020.”
wow, sablay na sablay, my dear ex-kababayan.
the road to First World status is not up to gloria.
Its up to all of us who chose to remain Pinoys
anthony scalia on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 9:30 am
dodong,
—————————————————————————–
“I heard you, and the surprising thing Filipinos are even proud of screwing up others like equating smart to taking advantage of others.
In September 2008, a Canadian family learned this the hard way. They were charged $2,600 for 2 pizzas from Pizza Hut and cut short of their vacation.
http://www.canada.com/story.html?id=66d92db6-38a7-4959-be1b-ee72395960bb”
—————————————————————————
how can that story be a proof that Pinoys are ‘proud of screwing up others like equating smart to taking advantage of others’? that story does not say something to that effect!
how could you attribute that faux pas by Pizza Hut and/or MasterCard to the country? i don’t read them complaining to the Philippine embassy.
***sigh***
BrianB on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 9:32 am
Scalia, I’ve mentioned this English tourism before. Don’t you think this is something our government should pursue? Unlike beach tourism, which only ruins our environment in the long run, English tourism will even improve our educational system.
I need for someone to mention this in a newspaper or something.
As for the Spanish being backward, just ask anyone in Western Europe, and may I direct you to this amazing movie:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0479230/
14 pesetas is eye opening in that it revealed to me how Filipino Spaniards are
KG on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 9:38 am
Justice,
No problemo!
taxj on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 9:54 am
dOdOng, “Mindanao is always behind in terms of economic development.” How would representation in the Senate address this problem? Did any Congressman from Mindanao back the bloggers’ suit?
Federalists have the idea, but, MLQ3 says federalism is messy. Obviously, now is not the time for us to mess around. Devolution w/ due fiscal federalism is the answer. The challenge is how to make lawmakers do it. It will help if federalists get out of the way, at least for now.
Ricky Santos on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 10:33 am
Nakakainis naman itong mga mambabatas natin. “Yung kay Bolante iniimbestigahan na nga sa Senado, iniimbestigahan din pa rin sa Kongreso. Sa meryenda lang ng mga kongresman at senador na nag-iimbestiga eh malaki na ang nagagastos. Eh iyung mga inimbita pa nila. Gagamit pa sila ng koryente at aircondition. Naku! Ang laki ng gastos!
Samantalang pwede naman dalhin sa korte ang kaso na iyan. “Dib a nga nakasama na sa Ombudsman ang kaso eh bakit patuloy pa rin ang magkahiwalay na imbestigasyon sa senado at kongreso. Mind you, inimbestigahan na rin iyang alleged fertilizer scam noong nakaraang Kongreso at si dating Senator Magsaysay ay nagrekomenda na kasuhan si Jocjoc. Kahit na nga “in aid of legislation†eh wala namang panukalang batas na ginawa.
Sa panaonngayon na marmaing pamilyang Pilipino ang nagugutom, dapat pati ang kongreso at senado ay magtipid. “Wag sila pasaway!
RICKY SANTOS
Ricky.s208@gmail.com
Jemas Undag on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 10:37 am
Dapat kasi tumutok na lang ang mga senador sa pagbabalangkas ng batas imbis na ituon nila ang atensyon sa pagiimbistiga sa kaso ni Bolante, una merun namn tayong korte upang humusga diyan. Nasasayang lang ang panahon natin.
At sa mababang kapulungan ng bansa ang kongreso dapat lang na ibasura na nila ang impeachment dahil wla naman itong patutunguhan una, alam naman ng lahat na hindi matibay ang mga paratang at ebensya sa impeachment.
bakit hindi na lang sila magantay ng 2010 election
anthony scalia on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 11:10 am
B,
“I’ve mentioned this English tourism before. Don’t you think this is something our government should pursue?”
yes the govt should
“Unlike beach tourism, which only ruins our environment in the long run…”
but the solution there is not doing away with ‘beach tourism’ totally
“…English tourism will even improve our educational system.”
yes
“As for the Spanish being backward, just ask anyone in Western Europe, ”
now im curious how the Spanish can be backward
“and may I direct you to this amazing movie:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0479230/
14 pesetas is eye opening in that it revealed to me how Filipino Spaniards are ”
maybe it should be how Spaniard Pinoys are
mindanaoan on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 11:15 am
taxj, devolution is your hope of suppressing the aspirations of regional autonomy embodied in the federal system, to preserve the advantage enjoyed by manila and it’s environs.
Joven Pineda on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 11:32 am
Nagkalat lang si Sen. Jinggoy Estrada noong inimbestigahan si Jocjoc Bolante. Bakit ‘ka mo? Eh biruin mo naman kung magtanong parang sanggano at parang nakikipag-usap lang sa kapwa niya siga. Para siyang hindi senador, para siyang lasing kung makipag-usap. Wala naming kwenta iyung mga tinanong niya. Isang nakakatawang tanong niya eh noong tinanong niya ang isa sa mga taong nasa likod ni Bolante. Sumagot iyung lalaki na “I’m Attorney……†Biruin mo, bigla ba naming nagfollow-up question si Sen. Jinggoy na “Are you a lawyer?†Attorney nga eh siyempre lawyer ‘yun! Nakakataas talaga itong si Sen. Jinggoy oo. Kawawa naman ‘yung mga bumoto sa kanya.
Ipinakikita lamang ni Sen. Jinggoy na wala siyang malay sa kanyang trabaho. Bilang senador, dapat magpakita siya ng katalinuhan at kagandahang asal dahil sa maraming mga kabataan ang tumitingala sa kanya bilang isang halal na opisyal ng bansa. Tsk tsk tsk!
Mabuti pa iyung tatay niya na si former President Erap Estrada. Kahit medyo mahina ang ulo sa larangan ng lehistratura eh nagpakita naman ito ng modo noong senador siya (kasi hindi naman sumasali si Erap sa mga usapan, tahimik lang ito lagi ‘di natin malaman kung naiintindihan niya ang mga tinatalakay).
BrianB on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 11:32 am
NEWS: U.S. automotive industry may go bunkrupt. US Congress has strong dislike for the big three.
PhilwoSpEditor on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 11:43 am
MLQ3,
I was intially shocked and at right now, fuming how that intervention got shot down, wherein it was not a different complaint, rather a supplement. [Heck, I'm not even a law student and I deducted that much.]
Second, it was also shocking, but not surprising that those 50 did not help in getting the intervention done.
Since the intervention did not push through, we just have to be vigilant now more than ever since Enrile has the Senate Helm, the Congress is 90% likely to shoot down the JDV Impeachment Complaint, 2 years is the race marker to ‘gather’ more resources, and lastly Gloria seems to hold on tooth and nail to the presidency and is likely to hold it all the more, because of Charter Change…
Jemas Undag,
Hindi pwedeng hintayin ang 2010 elections, dahil…
1. Malaki ang posibilidad na palitan ang constitution bago mag 2010. = Gloria bilang pinuno ng bayan.
2. Hanga’t gumagawa sya ng mga kilos na magwawatak sa bayan natin, o lalong humakot sa kaban ng bayan, hindi tayo pwedeng umupo lang.
3. Baka magising ka na lang isang araw, wala nang Middle-Class Filipinos, dahil lalo tayong nabaon sa utang dahil kay Gloria.
mlq3 on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 12:56 pm
d0d0ng since the beginning of what? mindanao senators were the rule from the start of nationally-electing the senate (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_general_election,_1941), it’s only in recent years that it’s become hardly balanced, geographically. more in one of my previous columns, http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20080410-129399/Senate-the-victim-of-a-design-flaw . i also have a column on the moros elected to the senate over the years but can’t find it right now.
mlq3 on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 12:57 pm
mindanaoan, under your view of a federal structure, would there be a national capital and what would the role of that capital be? in the federal systems you prefer, do they have national capitals and what is the role of the capital in those existing systems?
Bert on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 1:14 pm
“the road to First World status is not up to gloria.”
you planning to flip side, anthony? welcome to our club, you will find it’s not as degrading and as embarrasing as the other side.
hvrds on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 1:46 pm
“mindanaoan, under your view of a federal structure, would there be a national capital and what would the role of that capital be? in the federal systems you prefer, do they have national capitals and what is the role of the capital in those existing systems?”
State capitals or national capitals? European community is a grouping with national capitals with a common market and common currency but not a national currency. Fiscal policy is still in the hands of the different nation states.
The representation by states in Congress of the U.S. and the electoral system of voting for President makes the U.S. federal system a hybrid form of a parliamentary Federal system. Power is diffused.
Equal opportunity pork barrel is a way of life in the U.S. political structure.
Any attempt at centralization will not be sustainable.
Unless the head of state is dependent on the representation of all regions equally and not by the numbers in each region you cannot decentralize.
Only the richer more populous regions will be dominant.
The higher the material base the higher the population.
Economic development in the country was started by outsiders in enclaves and as such the Philippines is highly mal-developed.
You cannot legislate this to correct this imbalance as the people who are making the laws will always protect their own turf.
The initial distribution of factor endowments (colonial period) have created constituencies that will not change or give up their economic dominance which translates into political dominance.
No amount of reforms can work unless that original system is destroyed.
hvrds on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 1:49 pm
I just heard the Dureza is starting his own NGO and this will be called ‘Gloria Save Us Movement’
You will see government PR to come out in the months to come proclaiming GMA as the only one who can save us in this ongoing financial crisis.
mindanaoan on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 2:02 pm
mlq3, manila enjoys advantages not because it is the capital but because central planning tends to concentrate development on one area, the source of power. a federal setup distributes that source of power, and see how development follows accordingly.
mlq3 on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 2:26 pm
i don’t disagree with you on that mindanaoan, i’m just concerned some (not all) federalists think you can have a country, federal, or not, without some sort of national authority over the component parts.
kaminaman on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 3:13 pm
SAWANG SAWA NA KAMI SA DALAWANG GRUPO NINYO. ( bert at anthony scalla)
GUSTO LANG NAMIN AY DISENTENG TRABAHO, MALINIS NA GOBYERNO AT MALIWANAG NA PLATAPORMA.
HINDI YUNG MGA MAPAG-PAIIKOT NG MGA SALITA MAIPAGTANGGOL LAMANG ANG KANILANG MGA IDOLO (GLORIA) AT ADHIKAIN (OPOSISYON).
SI BERT PARA SA SA PAGPAPAALIS KAY GLORIA AT SI ANTHONY SCALLA SA PANGANTYAW SAS OPOSISYON.
HINDI KAYO ANG KAILANGAN NG BAYAN.
Bert on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 3:21 pm
hehehehe.
PhilwoSpEditor on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 3:30 pm
kaminaman,
“desenteng trabaho” is attainable if we pour our resources here and create jobs, leaving the politicians to their comedy/tragedy… (that is of course if the other businesspeople don’t pounce on you first)
“malinis na gobyerno” is a Utopian idea… No government is absolutely squeeky clean. They just function to their own optimal levels. Same thing goes to everyone who relies or complains about them…
“Maliwanag na plataporma”… Do you remember the only senatoriables who submitted platforms if they win? And they lost… Popular democracy is for the popular… Self-reliance is something we have to learn here…
Kailangan natin ang dalawang opinyon dahil kung wala yung dalawang pwersa, hindi posible ang adhikain mo…
To everyone else,
How long do you think the last impeachment would last in a congress full of lapdogs?
kaminaman on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 3:40 pm
bERT
sNEERING IS THE LAST REFUGE OF THOSE WHO…
HA HA HA
anthony scalia, on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 3:41 pm
Bert,
“you planning to flip side, anthony? welcome to our club, you will find it’s not as degrading and as embarrasing as the other side.”
hey wait a minute. excuuuuzzzzzzz meeeee.
puh-leeeeaaaaasssssseeeeee!!!!!
never did i ever say that gloria is the key to economic progress. the key is the people, not her.
kaya there is no need for me to switch sides.
have you been forgetting my posts int he past?
anthony scalia, on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 3:47 pm
to its-our-turn,
to borrow Bert’s soon to be immortal words,
hehehehe
kaminaman on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 5:28 pm
antonio scalla
ha ha ha.
wala talaga kayong pinagkaiba ni Bert.
istambay_sakalye on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 6:19 pm
HOHOHO….pasko na!
istambay_sakalye on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 6:31 pm
there will be an election of somekind in 2010, but not presidential…i just can’t imagine gma giving up her clout and power and subject herself to civil/criminal litigations after ( if ever) she steps down as president.
she needs to stay in power forever for self preservation. 2 years is long time to plot something! i’ve been watching the news today and everyone was saying that there is no time left to change the constitution because 2010 is only 2 years away! who said that only through charter change gma can stay in power past 2010?
it is same mentality before marcos declared martial law. politicians were saying marcos would not dare declare martial law. and the rest are history and we still have not learned from it!
actions speaks louder than words. we are not children anymore that we believe everything malacanang says! but i guess this is a democratic process and we have long long long way to go!
istambay_sakalye on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 6:45 pm
with johnny running the senate…who knows…there might be another attempt on his life in wack wack…while eating a hamborgeer that only abalos makes! then gma can declare martial law with all her past and new appointees in SC having the majority saying it is constitutional! ( same as neri not telling the truth as a matter of national security).
then next logical step is to abolish senate and have a unicameral (rubber stamp), batasan pambansa! all in the name of progress…sounds similar? the new society! it’s the economy stupid! maybe we will have the benidictos back, the cojuancos (danding) and too bad the lopezes are on the wrong side of fence again!
we can be china! run by tyranny but an economic giant of the world. not that bad huh. unless the government thinks you not with the program and takes you away from your family for re-education and never to seen or heard again. wait a minute, that has been going on with palparan and getting commended during gma’s sona!
i am hoping and praying that i will be proven wrong! but as the bible says “God help those who help themselves”.
grd on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 8:56 pm
istambay, that will not happen if you ask tongue.
teka, teka, sino ba ang nagloklok diyan kay johnny sa puwesto niya ngayon?
Geo on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 11:16 pm
The sky is falling!!!
Bert on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 11:21 pm
“to borrow Bert’s soon to be immortal words,
hehehehe”-anthony
pasensya na anthony, hehehe lang alam ko, hindi ko alam maglagay ng smiley (imoticon ba iyon?). alam mo naman laki ako sa pinaka-liblib na lugar ng Pinas kaya hindi sanay sa pc, keyboard lang…tuldok system pa. inggit nga ako kay UP n, kung ano-anong smiley nalalagay niya.
hindi naman ’sneer ‘ang hehehehe ko, ang ibig sabihin lang noon natutuwa ako, kasi naman nakakatuwa talaga ang iba dito sa blog ni manolo, heheh.
ok na sa akin ang hehehe kumpara sa imoticon, generic tsaka original Pinoy.
istambay_sakalye on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 11:22 pm
the arroyos are on the move!
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20081120-173418/Arroyo-son-leads-Charter-change-move
Bert on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 11:24 pm
“The sky is falling!!!”
I disagree!!!!!!
istambay_sakalye on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 11:24 pm
“The sky is falling!!!”
HOHOHO!
Jologs For Jesus on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 11:27 pm
The impeachment failed because it was not the way of Christ.
Could you imagine Jesus impeaching the Ceasars of Rome? Not gonna happen.
What Jesus would do:
You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” (Matthew 5:38-42, NIV)
Jologs For Jesus on Thu, 20th Nov 2008 11:28 pm
Also:
“But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,” “Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. *And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also*. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” (Luke 6:28-31. King James Version)
grd on Fri, 21st Nov 2008 12:01 am
“The joke was that our president Gloria (yes, herself) plan to get the Philippines attain First World Status by 2020 at a time when she has barely three years in office, hehehe.
Now gets na?†bert
Bert,
are you saying that when the present admin says, it aims for the country to attain first world status by 2020, it follows that the sitting president has to stay in power to fullfill that plan? your interpretation is too shallow and literal. why, can the next president not pursue that vision?
gumagawa ka talaga ng sariling multo. i have said it before, it seems you are the one who cannot let go of gloria.
TonGuE-tWisTeD on Fri, 21st Nov 2008 2:08 am
are you saying that when the present admin says, it aims for the country to attain first world status by 2020, it follows that the sitting president has to stay in power to fullfill that plan?
Either you were abroad in prior to 2004, or never passed any of the PNP/AFP camps in EDSA, and Taguig.
After Gloria’s historical announcement at Rizal’s grave, the camps displayed banners at the gates which said “Strong Philippines 2010″.
So is “First World Status by 2020″ another prophecy? By soldiers and cops?
TonGuE-tWisTeD on Fri, 21st Nov 2008 2:27 am
grd :
“istambay, that will not happen if you ask tongue”
I’m still amused why many anti-Gloria groups still consider the senate coup as a Malacañang plot. I keep repeating that the senate majority under Villar was not an opposition Senate, it had ALL the admin senators in it. Chiz, Jinggoy and Alan were the outsiders.
Also by those who believe that Pimentel should have been the anointed one as Enrile is pro-chacha.
But I found this on Pimentel’s website:
Read the whole article here.
And this one, which the same website published just this Nov. 2:
The whole article is here.
Looks like their fears may be unfounded and are treading on dangerous ground.
UP n grad on Fri, 21st Nov 2008 2:30 am
Jologs for Jesus: X’mas 2008 will not be happy for a number of Filipinos, especially those without OFW-relatives in Santa-claus outfit.
TonGuE-tWisTeD on Fri, 21st Nov 2008 2:31 am
ooops, I forgot the closing tag for the first article:
http://www.nenepimentel.org/news/20030614_Federalism.asp
UP n grad on Fri, 21st Nov 2008 2:40 am
actually, that clause about OFW’s not relevant.
Some Filipinos will have a good X’mas 2008… some Filipinos will have a dismail X’mas 2008.
And it looks like end-year-2008 won’t be good for a number of Chinese, too as their government leaders take action.
China, like Pinas, hqw lousy social security system. “No jobs means no food.” Politburo understands that job creation and economic growth in China are considered crucial to maintaining the Communist Party’s hold on power. With factory workers losing their jobs and taking to the streets in protest, the government has moved quickly this fall to quell dissent, in some cases handing out cash to laid-off workers to keep the demonstrations from growing.
very recently, Minister of Human Resources and Social Security Yin Wenmin warned of a rise in the number of newly jobless workers as the latest in a series of indications that China’s economy is not immune from the broader global downturn. And earlier this week, China announced that it will shelve a plan that it had trumpeted just two months ago to raise the minimum wage. A lower minimum wage would at least theoretically relieve stress on struggling companies, allowing them to keep more people employed overall.
“We have to first worry about whether workers have a job — then worry about how much they’re getting paid later,” Hu said.
UP n grad on Fri, 21st Nov 2008 2:51 am
to TongueTwisted: I know Con-con/Con-ass has not happened yet, but I can just see the Philippines and its lawmakers cowered by the CBCP and unable to enact a commonsense-law — divorce.
Phil Manila on Fri, 21st Nov 2008 2:55 am
A purely Political Revolution will not change things significantly. Not EDSA III nor IV etc. We’ve seen the failed hopes and promises of the past two upheavals.
The Philippine Society is sick to the core. The social moral fiber needs re-weaving. Not at all healed by the opportunistic government and organs of the State, nor by the confused/confusing Catholic Church, nor by the dysfunctional family (made so by the OFW phenomenon), and the destructive forces of a globalized world.
The Philippines will survive and will not be a failed state. But as to industrialized status, I have strong doubts.
grd on Fri, 21st Nov 2008 3:00 am
“After Gloria’s historical announcement at Rizal’s grave, the camps displayed banners at the gates which said “Strong Philippines 2010″.
So is “First World Status by 2020″ another prophecy? By soldiers and cops? ” tongue
so what if they have banners about “Strong Philippines 2010″? what have they achieved so far?
what’s the connection with the phils “First World Status by 2020″?
what prophesy? isn’t gloria’s terms up to 2010?
grd on Fri, 21st Nov 2008 3:15 am
i mean gloria’s term…
BrianB on Fri, 21st Nov 2008 5:55 am
Off Topic:
MLQ is mentioned in Miguel Syjuco’s interview. Syjuco won this year’s Asia Man,
http://mbstudentsandcampuses.blog.friendster.com/2008/09/the-%E2%80%98ilustrado%E2%80%99-in-miguel-syjuco/
Very little coverage of this writer locally though he also won the Novel category for the Palanca.
anthony scalia on Fri, 21st Nov 2008 6:02 am
Bert,
“inggit nga ako kay UP n, kung ano-anong smiley nalalagay niya.”
ako din
anthony scalia on Fri, 21st Nov 2008 6:07 am
istambay,
wala sa bibliya ang “God help those who help themselvesâ€.
anthony scalia on Fri, 21st Nov 2008 6:13 am
kaminanman – HA HA HA
Bert and Anthony – HE HE HE
Istambay – HOHOHO
Yano – HI HI HI
nation on the ‘united opposition’ – HU HU HU
nash on Fri, 21st Nov 2008 7:46 am
“Meanwhile, the tsunami of outsourced white collar work (BPO) continues unabated and the Philippines continues to be seen as the main benefactor now and in the future.”
Fota, INDUSTRY ba iyang BPO na iyan???? Zomg.
istambay_sakalye on Fri, 21st Nov 2008 7:53 am
“nation on the ‘united opposition’ – HU HU HU”
HOHOHO!!!
istambay_sakalye on Fri, 21st Nov 2008 7:54 am
“wala sa bibliya ang “God help those who help themselvesâ€.
-ano klaseng bibliya ang hawak mo? baka galing sa DECS yan!
istambay_sakalye on Fri, 21st Nov 2008 8:00 am
“wala sa bibliya ang “God help those who help themselvesâ€.
–my mistake. hohoho. acutally ben franklin uttered these words! mea culpa!
cvj on Fri, 21st Nov 2008 8:06 am
grd (at 3am), the banners were there before the 2004 elections.
KG on Fri, 21st Nov 2008 9:50 am
“Fota, INDUSTRY ba iyang BPO na iyan???? Zomg.”
Kahit showbiz industry.
hvrds on Fri, 21st Nov 2008 9:50 am
It is time for Big Mike and GMA to make their final push to remain on top.
Marcos did it during a time of another financial crisis.
A similar but more serious one has left the station and is gathering steam.
Gloria the Savior to the Rescue.
When a fast moving object hits a stationary object you will have a release of energy.
They might just unite the opposition on this obvious well thought out last push.
istambay_sakalye on Fri, 21st Nov 2008 10:05 am
“wala sa bibliya ang “God help those who help themselvesâ€.
i am sorry as it was a lapse of judgment and also i promise to step down after the 2010 election (nothing about presidential), as i made good on my word the last time i promised not to run in the 2004 presidential election. also, i will face all civil and criminal charges against me in philippine and international courts. i will be vindicated as i am the truth, the way and chosen by God to lead the filipino people to 2020 first world status.
hello garci? yes ma’am.
mlq3 on Fri, 21st Nov 2008 11:03 am
Brian, I think the local literati are stunned over Miguel’s spreading his wings and taking off abroad.
Bert on Fri, 21st Nov 2008 11:11 am
“so what if they have banners about “Strong Philippines 2010″? what have they achieved so far?
what’s the connection with the phils “First World Status by 2020″?”
haaaaaaaay!
grd on Fri, 21st Nov 2008 11:17 am
“grd (at 3am), the banners were there before the 2004 elections.†Cvj
cvj, so? she’s allowed to run in 2004, right? you voted for her remember?
grd on Fri, 21st Nov 2008 11:18 am
Haaaaaa din!
BrianB on Fri, 21st Nov 2008 4:00 pm
Manolo
I’m stunned my work in progress didn’t make it to the long list.
Still I think his first novel only proves he’s still a protege of hagedorn.
grd on Sat, 22nd Nov 2008 1:07 am
so tongue, what exactly did you mean with your post below?