Flooded with relief (updated)

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Making the rounds online is an entry titled Aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo? (A special report from a volunteer) originally published in ellaganda.com. When I first posted this entry, the site had vanished, but the entry had been preserved in Google’s cache; now the site is back up. Over at the Multiply site of Jenny Epperson you can find the entry reproduced as well.

The entry does not allege that relief goods donated by foreign governments are being pilfered, or have been stolen, or kept in conditions that are destroying the goods. The entry bewails the fact that the DSWD lacks manpower to repack the goods and distribute them. The entry also pointed out imported relief goods remained unopened while volunteers focused on repacking domestically-produced relief goods.

The entry allows the reproduction of photos in the entry so here they are.

First, of goods in the DSWD warehouse:

walangtao

waterjugs

potsandpans-1

kaldero400

sakodelata2

stackedcoleman

closeup

(unopened, and unused foreign bedding)

banig

(domestically-produced banig, or sleeping mats, which were repacked in DSWD relief packs)

kumot

japan

jica

laruan

porkandbeans

spain

Second, what goes into a standard DSWD relief pack:

sardines

Into an aluminum cooking pot goes ten cans of sardines and nine bars of soap (all domestic products);

lamanngkaldero

Plus a towel and a pack of sanitary napkins.

kumot2

Three rolls of bedding and a blue water jug.

repackedgoods

Followed by two banig (sleeping mats).

tinatahi

The whole thing then sewn shut.

According to the entry, in the prescribed manner, the volunteers, in one afternoon, were able to pack 150 sacks of relief goods, which were then dispatched.

do-not-delay

The relief good consisted entirely of domestic goods, while imported relief goods remained untouched. As the goods packed were dispatched, more relief goods arrived at the DSWD warehouse.

delata

But this is a far cry from the assumption many seem to be making, that something criminal has actually taken place. Surveying public opinion on Twitter, people seem upset on the following grounds:

1. The lack of a public call for volunteers.

2. Questions over what happens to relief goods, once the emergency passes.

Media’s being urged to swoop down on the DSWD Warehouse at Chapel Road, Pasay City (at the back of the Air Transportation Office, towards NAIA II) and see what’s actually going on.

The only thing the DSWD can be held to account for, at this point, is tardiness when it comes to distributing aid from overseas. Over on Twitter, there’s a claim that the Palace will be holding a relief-repacking event tomorrow, featuring United Nations workers and volunteers. So the only other criticism might be of politicking by means of turning the repacking of relief goods into a photo-op for the Palace.

4:09 PM The best I have been able to find out from my own sources is the following SMS:

Sir according to Dir. Reynes of PMS that there’s an information about the foreign donations and volunteers but not yet confirm. They will have a meeting today with Usec. Oca regarding the matter.

4:58 PM Update is that 150 United Nations people will be going to the Palace at 7 AM tomorrow, to observe relief operations taking place, and possibly help in repacking relief goods already stored at the ground floor of Kalayaan Hall.

The Palace had a problem in that public mistrust of officialdom led to a lukewarm, at best, response to its appeals for donations from the public. At one point, the relief effort going on at the Ateneo de Manila University had to give relief goods to the Palace so that something could be given the volunteers who showed up (and officials and government workers drafted into relief operations) something to do.

The entry also said the following exchange took place between Philippine News and the DSWD Secretary on October 21:

Kahapon, tinanong ng Philippine News si DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral:

Editor of Philippine News: Why are the relief goods in DSWD warehouses not moving?

DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral: Wala kasing volunteers.

This short interview was done over the phone. Philippine News wanted to hear her side pero ayaw niyang makipag-usap sa press. After four tries, pinasabi na lang niya ang maikling sagot na ito sa secretary niya – “Walang volunteers”.

The entry says a cover story in Philippine News is in the works, so let’s see if it appears. Here is the Philippine News story, October 23: Donated goods sitting in DSWD warehouse.

What the DSWD itself has said (reported on October 19) is this, in DSWD vows ‘politico-proof’ distribution of relief goods:

In a radio interview, DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral said her department will handle the food items from the UN, while its personnel will keep watch over the distribution process.

“Hindi po [mga pulitiko ang magre-repack] ng relief goods. Kami ang humahawak at nandodoon ang mga tauhan namin habang dini-distribute ang mga iyon (We will not allow politicos to repack the UN-donated goods. These will go through us and our personnel will be there while the goods are distributed),” Cabral said on dzBB radio.

An initial 100-ton food shipment from the UN World Food Program (WFP) arrived in the country Sunday for victims of cyclones “Ondoy” (Ketsana) and typhoon “Pepeng” (Parma). [See story on UN flash appeal for relief assistance]

WFP country director Stephen Anderson said another 100 tons of biscuits is scheduled to arrive on Oct. 24.

Cabral noted the UN also gave rice for the cyclone victims. But she said that while the UN-donated rice will be included in food packs for victims, it will be placed with other goods in containers with the UN logo.

“May bigas na binigay ang UN sa atin at ito [ay] isasama sa food pack na iba. Nakalagay ang kanilang tatak sa rice pack (The UN gave some rice and we will include it in our food packs. The packs with UN donations will have the UN logos),” she said.

Believe it or not? It depends on where you are in the current zeitgeist.

Postscript, 2 AM Saturday (updated further 2 PM)

In Blog about ‘rotting’ relief goods at DSWD warehouse sparks cyberspace, the DSWD Secretary answered a non-question:

According to her, it is impossible for relief goods to be rotting inside the warehouse as they do not store perishable items. She said the warehouse — a complex of five buildings — only has rice, clothes, non-food items and canned goods.

“Walang nabubulok. Stocks ‘yun na hindi perishable (Nothing is rotting. Those stocks are non-perishable), ” she said.

Cabral also explained the photos circulated from the blog showing towering boxes of relief goods, saying the stockpile in the warehouse stemmed from the outpouring of donations from various individuals and groups at the height of Ondoy and Pepeng.

Cabral said the relief goods would be used in case Typhoon Ramil, which has been forecast to hit Luzon on Sunday, causes another disaster.

She also said they cannot release the relief goods right away since they need to check on the items and make an inventory.

“This takes two to three hours to do,” she said.

“Over the past 24 days, we have already given out 500,000 family food packs, 300,000 clothing packs and several non-food items like mosquito nets, blankets and water containers. We are now distributing 10,000 packs a day,” Cabral added.

The relief goods, per the entry, were figuratively rotting in the warehouse, not actually rotting; and if you notice the entry never mentioned that there were people busily taking down inventory about the shipments; and the volunteer blogged that all they were able to pack amounted to 150 bags of goods. The blogger, ella, says so herself in her response to the manner in which the networks carried the story:

I know what non-perishable goods are. You see, doon tuloy na-focus ang denial ng DSWD, hindi sa santambak na goods. Kakaiba.

On to the next point. Marami akong nabasang comments, posts at kung ano-ano pa, doubting the veracity of my “allegations”. I was there in the warehouse. I presented the pictures. I think I’ve done my part as a concerned citizen.

To the DSWD officials and Ms. Cabral:

The burden of proof is on you. The donors expect that everything they sent be distributed immediately to the intended recipients and not be stored in some warehouse. As government officials, it is your social responsibility to the people.

The article ends with Sec. Cabral denying -or not remembering, anyway- she talked to Philippine News. Here’s a comment posted on blog ni ella by Beting Dolor, October 23, 10:51 PM:

My name is Beting Dolor and I am a columnist and contributing editor for US-based Philippine News. I have been with this paper since 2002.

I was the one who called DSWD four times to try and get their side. I was told that Sec. Cabral was 1) at a meeting, 2) interviewing applicants, 3) in the comfort room, and 4) about to leave for Pampanga.

It was her office secretary who relayed to me her message that there are not enough volunteers.

I wrote my piece for Philippine News because I was disturbed by the relative inaction of the department. The Philippines is under a state of calamity. As such, action is needed now, not tomorrow.

The hundreds of thousands of displaced Filipinos need all the help they can get. They cannot wait.

In times like these, I expect the DSWD to work 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The DSWD says there are not enough volunteers. I disagree. There are tens of thousands of Filipinos willing to help. The DSWD should have gone to the schools to ask for volunteers. There are countless employees in the private sector willing to help. The DSWD could have asked the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police to help.

I expect the department to take a more pro-active rather than a reactive stance. I expect the secretary to DEMAND that everyone help out. Lest we forget, human lives are at stake.

The victims are dying by the score everyday. It’s in the news.

As for the rotting of the goods, we all know that it is not only food that can rot. So, too, can clothes, canned goods, biscuits, blankets and everything else that can be found in the DSWD warehouses.

Time is of the essence. The food that the DSWD hands out today will be forgotten tomorrow. Believe it or not, the victims still need to eat every day. Three square meals, if possible.

Finally, the hoarding of the relief goods for future calamities does not make sense. We have just undergone the worst calamity in 40 years. Does the DSWD plan to keep those goods for the next four decades?

Distribute them now, not tomorrow, not next week, not next month.

Agreed, Madame Cabral?

This is “Madame” Cabral’s official statement on the matter, see Statement of Dr. Esperanza Cabral on the issue of relief goods in the DSWD Warehouse:

When typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng hit the country, we received and are continuing to receive donations. Our warehouses are indeed full, inspite of the fact that we have distributed 500,000 food packs and 200,000 clothing packs as well as thousands of sacks of rice, blankets, beddings, and items of personal hygiene in the past almost 4 weeks. That is the reason why when asked if we still have enough goods, my constant reply is yes, so far we do, thanks to the many kind-hearted individuals and organizations as well as countries who responded and are still responding to the plight of the typhoon victims.

There are no rotting relief goods in our warehouses as we do not keep perishables there and the relief goods that are there, save for the donated old clothes are quite new since they have been either recently purchased by us or have been just donated.

Our goods are repacked by volunteers who are there because they want to help. But they are volunteers and report when they have time to help us. Sometimes there are two hundred of them and sometimes there are only a dozen. However many or few they are, we appreciate their presence and their assistance. Weekdays are usually quiet but on Saturdays and Sundays, the students, along with others who work Monday to Friday, including our own employees, are there.

Our staff at the warehouse work round the clock even now, making sure that the requests for relief goods are met in a timely manner. They work hard, they work quietly and they work humbly and I feel bad that they have been subjected to public vilification that they do not deserve.

Around the clock!?

DSWD01

Around 11 PM some friends and I went to the DSWD warehouse, just to take a look-see.

DSWD02

The warehouse is located near the NAIA Centennial Terminal (DSWD National Resource Operation Center, Chapel Road, Pasay City, behind the Air Transport Office).

DSWD03

According to Gang Badoy, DSWD Sec. Cabral had agreed to allow her to organize shifts of volunteers to sort and pack relief goods at the DSWD warehouse from Monday to Friday, 3-11 PM.

DSWD06

So at the time we showed up, I was expecting to see things winding down, the last trucks loading or in the process of departing, or people filing home after a tiring day’s work.

DSWD04

There was a white fluffy dog that was awake, and a guard that was asleep; through the gate I could spot part of the open-sided warehouse in the last picture above. Otherwise, everything was sleepy and quiet.

DSWD07

The guard, when he finally woke up, mumbled something about our being at the wrong gate. We asked whether volunteers were coming in, and he said yes, and when asked what time, replied, all the time, but when pressed further said only until 11. He said a few days previously, 200 students from the Philippine Maritime Institute had shown up; and more recently, 50 volunteers had shown up.

Asked how much got packed and shipped out, he declined to guess. And then said if we wanted to know details about volunteering, to go to the other gate.

Here’s how one of my companions related the conversation that night to blogger Bury Me in This Dress:

friend#1: Gusto namin mag volunteer, san kami pupunta?
guard: Ah, punta kayo sa kabilang gate pero wala ng volunteers ngayon, umalis na at kakaalis lang ng 3 truck dala ang relief goods papuntang region 1 and 2.
friend#2: Marami bang volunteers pumunta dito kanina?
guard: Oo, madami.
friend#2: Ano sila? Puro estudyante?
guard: Oo, mga 200 sila.
friend#2: Ano? Mga elementary students ba to? (feigning ignorance at the kind of volunteers that shows up)
guard: Hindi, mga college students to, mga taga-PMI.
friend#2: Anong oras ba nagsisimula at natatapos?
guard: Sa umaga, tapos natatapos kahit anong oras sa gabi.
friend#2: Kahit anong oras? So bakit sabi mo tapos na ngayon at di na pwede mag volunteer?
guard: Nagsisimula minsan sa umaga tapos hanggang alas-9 or 10 or hanggang 11pm.
friend#2: So san nga kami pupunta kung pwede pala hanggang 11pm?
guard: punta kayo sa kabilang gate

DSWD08

The other gate was a big one covered with rust-colored sheet iron and after knocking on it another guard in a sando said that three military trucks full of goods bound for Regions 1 and 2 had left earlier.

DSWD09

But he kept asking why we were asking questions, if we were doing “coverage,” and that he should get clearance first; he said volunteers could show up at 8 AM, even on weekends, but seemed less certain about what time things were supposed to wind down.

DSWD10

Here’s how one of my companions related the conversation to blogger Bury Me in This Dress:

friend#1: Dito kami tinuro ng guard sa kabilang gate para mag volunteer sa relief operations.
guard: Ha? Anong balak nyong gawin? San kayong grupo?
friend#1: Sa RockEd kame. Gusto namin sana makita ang warehouse para sa volunteer work.
guard: Ah balik na lang kayo bukas, kse sarado na ang warehouse.
friend#1: Bakit di pwede tingnan, sabi sa balita na pwede kami mag volunteer kaya nga nandito kami eh tapos sasabihin mo sarado?
guard: Sarado na kse nag lo loading ngayon dun ng relief goods.
friend#1: Eh bakit sinabi mo sarado kung may loading pala nangyayari dun.
guard: Ano ba balak nyo? Di pwede dito ng coverage. Di pwede tumingin lang, kailangan mag volunteer.
friend#1: Sige, pero gusto namin tingnan para lam namin kung pano magbigay ng instructions sa ibang volunteers pero since ayaw mo lang na tumingin kme, mag vovolunteer na din kami ngayon na.
guard: Magbubuhat kayo ng carton?
friend#1: Hindi, magre repack kami.
guard: Bakit gusto nyo lang tingnan?
friend#1: Sinabi na nga namin mag vo volunteer na nga kami kse ayaw mo na tumingin lang kami eh. Lam mo ba na wala kaming problema na makita ang relief goods sa red cross at sa abs-cbn kahit late na ng gabi? Sikreto ba ang location ng sardinas?
guard: (already pissed off) Bakit paulit-ulit ang sinasabi mo?
friend#1: Bakit nga? Anong problema talga? Talgang sikreto nga ang taguan ng sardinas?
guard: akin na ID mo.
friend#1: eto.
guard: (went away for a few minutes and returned with the ID)
friend#1: So ano?
guard: Balik na lang kayo bukas ng umaga.
friend#1: Anong oras ba talga relief ops dito? Meron ba kanina?
guard: Oo meron, mga 50 lang na estudyante.
friend#2: 50 lang? Pano sila makaka repack ng marami para sa 3 trucks?
guard: (irked again, maybe he was irked of how stupid his answers were.) Bukas na lang kayo bumalik kse walang advise sa amin sa ganitong oras ng pag volunteer.
friend#1: Eh bakit sabi sa amin ng isang guard minsan hanggang 11pm or hanggang gabi talga ang repacking? Anong oras ba talga nagsisimula at natatapos?
guard: basta bukas sa umaga tapos hanggang hapon o gabi.
friend#1: anong pangalan mo?
guard: bukas na lang.
friend#1: Bakit ayaw mo ibigay pangalan mo? Di ba sa gobyerno ka nagtratrabaho? Kinuha mo ID ko, alam mo pangalan ko tapos ayaw mo ibigay pangalan mo sa akin?
guard: (hesitated and stalled) Jay Lou Sadaya
friend#1: Jay Lou Sadaya? Jay Lou Sadaya?
guard: (nodding)
friend#2: sige babalik kami bukas.

DSWD11

One thing’s certain: the place is not a beehive of activity, even in what is an ongoing emergency with areas still needing relief.

If there hadn’t been the blog entry and pictures that provoked so much indignation, the public would never have been alerted to the -apparently- great and pressing need of the DSWD for “volunteers,” something the state media and all media could have amplified if a call had been made.

I asked a senior Red Cross official what their protocols are concerning foreign aid shipments.

My Red Cross source said upon receipt of inventory, the packages are opened, to check their contents, make a preliminary allocation of the contents based on the Red Cross’ protocols for sending relief (there are different stages of relief: the first round, for survival, and subsequent rounds for more sustained relief), the contents are therefore unpacked and resorted and repacked in combination with other items, and then dispatched as requests from various chapters and localities come in.No effort is made to “conserve” one kind of donation in favor of using up another.

An editor I talked to reminded me of past practices in the Visayas some years back when government officials set aside imported canned food, and sent domestic items only as relief, in some cases the domestic items sent were past their shelf life.

At this point I think it’s safe to say that the DSWD was caught:

1. Reacting slowly to an ongoing emergency;

2. Trying to blame the public -the “lack of volunteers”- for not getting its (the DSWD’s) job done (within hours of the story gaining wide readership on the Internet, guess who Tweets an appeal for volunteers);

3. Trying to reassure the public by means of press releases saying they’re “working around the clock” when the only thing awake tonight was a fluffy white dog.

Gang Badoy on her Multiply site lists ways you can help to do the DSWD’s job for it.

Here is the DSWD’s official list of donations received, last updated September 27, 2009. Note that the donations from the Kingdom of Jordan and the US Peace Corps, for example, are classified as “for monetization,” which I guess means they cannot be dispatched until their value has been calculated.

Here is the DSWD’s official list of donations sent out, last updated October 22, 2009.

You’ll notice a lot was sent to the Palace (recall early on it had to ask for relief goods from Ateneo de Manila University to keep operations going):

DSWD Disbursements to Malacanan

For affected personnel of the government or released to specific officials (Secretary Bello, Reps. Puno, Ermita-Buhain, Abayon, Antonino, Arquiza, Crisologo, Pizarro, and Senator Revilla, a certain Atty. Maramba and the Vice-President:

DSWD Disbursements to Officials

And here is a list of institutional donations, including international agencies, foreign governments, and large corporations; the items should be easily cross-referenced with the official list of disbursements; a spot check of some, e.g. bananas and Coca-Cola, suggests most items should be trackable based on donations received and goods sent out.

Institutional Donations to DSWD

You can help correlate the DSWD’s list of items received, with items sent out, by helping with this Google Doc. By correlating the two, we can figure out: What items have been sent out, and to where, and which items have not.

Update Sunday 12:09 AM

From Deviliscious’ Blog, this entry which ties all of the above together, worth quoting extensively:

I just want to share my experience at the DSWD to shed some light into the DSWD controversy because I had enough of the online speculation and just wanted to go there and see it for myself and volunteer to help.

When I got there I looked for Miss Fabian who’s managing the warehouse for DSWD. She informed me that they no longer need volunteers for the weekend because they have too many. So I asked about UNICEF and they exclaimed that I could help there. UNICEF needs volunteers.

So I met with Ensha of UNICEF, some volunteers from Don Bosco and Jordan, a volunteer from Boston. We were about 15. After about an hour, my fellow volunteers from Red Cross, including Geraldine Repollo, who’s managing Rizal chapter, followed and relieved the students from Don Bosco. We were still about 15.

There are 5 (if my memory doesn’t fail me this time) huge warehouses. 1 warehouse housed the goods from UNICEF. The rest housed rice and other food stuff. The UNICEF goods are packed as starter packs for those families who have been relocated due to the floods. A starter pack consists of cooking pot stuffed with towels, bath soap, laundry detergent, water jug stuffed with 4 blankets, 2 plastic mats. These are then picked up by trucks and supposed to be delivered to the relocation centers. The rest of the warehouses pack food and snack packs, as far as I know because I did not actually pack one. Distribution is centralized through DSWD.

Those are the facts as I’ve seen them.

The blog that started it all, after checking the posted pics and what I actually saw, referred to the UNICEF warehouse. Is there corruption? I don’t think there is. At least not at the warehouse packing stages. Ensha and the volunteers seem intent only on the job at hand. (Bless you guys!)Security seems strict and I see no signs of pilferage. I’m not sure what happens after the goods leave the warehouse. I just hope they get to their supposed destinations. Someone needs to check on that.

Is there intentional hoarding? I don’t think there is either.

Goods are just moving slow. I posit 2 reasons:

1. There are not enough volunteers. Ms. Fabian says that on weekdays they only get around 40 volunteers. When I came there, there were not more than 15 working on a Saturday even when I posted on my FB page with my 1800 “FB friends”, several FB groups totaling around 400 members, twittered it, and SMSed to 20 buddies. 15/2000 is not a good ratio. Gang, I hope you are more successful. No volunteers.

2. Limits set by the management. When I was told that DSWD is no longer accepting volunteers for the weekend because there were already a lot of volunteers from UPS. I don’t have the exact count but I saw several hundreds. However, after 2 hours of work, I noticed that the other warehouses were empty. I strongly think the 5 huge warehouses could accomodate and harness at least 1000 per warehouse. When we were repacking at Red Cross Rizal in a 40sqm room, we had 600 volunteers at some points and managed to release 1000-2000 packs per mission and we ran several missions per day. The DSWD warehouses should be able to improve their output. They could run 24/7 on continous shifts when volunteers and managers (from DSWD, UNICEF, or volunteers) running the packing lines. In business, we call this a good problem. It is a scale problem.

My recommendations:

  1. Train more packing line managers from staff and volunteers.
  2. Run the lines as a 24/7 operation with your trained line managers.
  3. Make the schedules public. Use social media, the internet, radio, whatever. (I know of some who volunteered but returned home when they were told they need no more volunteers. If I, myself, [emphasis mine] did not ask for UNICEF, the peeps at the DSWD office wouldn’t have volunteered the info. Clearly, we have communication problem here.)
  4. Get more volunteers.

Those are my recommendations to the people in charge of the warehouses.

From the above then, it’s safe to conclude the following:

1. There isn’t, hasn’t been, and there’s no reason to suspect, will be, pilfering/stealing of relief goods. Most accounts have been careful to avoid any such insinuations; if you go through the documents, as I’ve begun to do, it’s safe to say the government is trying its best to be transparent about what’s received and sent out. One problem is the (necessary) bureaucratic nature of things (having to assign a monetary value to donated goods, for example); another is receiving goods in one kind of quantity (per box) and doling them out in another (per piece): unless, from the very start, a standard unit is assigned from receipt to disbursement, it makes for a messy inventory system. Messy inventory systems do not inspire public confidence, but it’s not proof of anything other than a sloppy system.

2. The DSWD, dependent on volunteers, lacks them. A public fuss led to appeals for volunteers. Sometimes, even those willing to help can’t help because of scheduling/management snafus. This brings up a policy question: the President has the power to compel the attendance of the necessary manpower or hire necessary manpower to get the job done.

3. The goods are moving slowly. This is the main cause of the public fuss.

Final update Sunday 1:31PM

Blogger Delivilicious posts YouTube video of his visit:

Avatar
Manuel L. Quezon III.

246 thoughts on “Flooded with relief (updated)

  1. “some people don’t need proof, just money…may mga bayaran na naman ng gobyerno dito.”

    – oo, palagay ko binayaran ka at si ellaganda at ang milyunmilyon pang iba ng mga tao sa gobyerno tulad ni senator estrada, ni senator aquino, ng abs-cbn para sa mga kalokohan na pinagsusulat nyo dito.

    – o, ayan tuloy, i was trying to be unbiased pero ano ba no?!

  2. @courtrule: truly unfortunate, if that is the case, then I wish justice and all who fight for it: good graces. it appears they may have to find another way to steady the minds of your countrymen.

    hopefully justice is served… swiftly… one way or another.

  3. I think everyone has to re-read everything again.

    The blogger’s questions were legitimate, based on personal observations.

    The questions focused on what the blogger perceived was the slow nature of the packing of relief goods. And the blogger wondered if foreign goods were being kept in reserve while domestic goods were packed first.

    At no time did the blogger suggest theft, pilfering, or the diverting of relief goods to places they weren’t supposed to go.

    At the same time, the DSWD Secretary herself has pledged utmost transparency and accountability, and there are documents aplenty online from the DSWD itself.

    Any question about speed, policies in determining which gets used first and which gets used later, are legitimate. There seem to be some discrepancies, but nothing so serious as to be beyond clarification: and that’s what’s going on, now.

    But this isn’t to say that some serious questions may arise should further scrutiny be undertaken.

  4. I also believe in the so-called freedom of speech, but I do not buy stories with malicious intents. Naghahanap ng butas talaga kasi malaking pera ang kapalit. Why do we do these to our own countrymen? I think Ella should have interviewed or asked the beneficiaries, too. Ah, because the beneficiaries do not have access to ellaganda.com, that’s why.

  5. @tom grace – please take time to read my post
    platterofpeaches on Sat, 24th Oct 2009 6:14 pm >>> My comment was awaiting moderation for over an hour…

    I quote: @ peaches: …if the truth is on the side of the DSWD, will the public apologize? will you?

    The question is – who’s telling the truth? THUS, the need for proof. For transparency.

    “will people be as interested? will they follow with bated breath person after person after person, that has castigated the DSWD, and watch as they apologize to these people? will they repay these people for the time that they have had to spend away from work that is truly meaningful, time which was taken away in order for them to answer to these infinite allegations? i hope they do.”

    THAT’s something to look forward to. I suggest you do a bit of reading about PEOPLE POWER. Man, I just hope to see the day when us, PEOPLE, have been wrong. We’ve been wronged time and again. Please, please… READ about our nation and our history, understand, REALLY TRULY UNDERSTAND, before you say anything.

    “its so much more fun posting derogatory remarks under the guise of the web rather than actually having to go out there and find the truth.”

    Have you READ and UNDERSTOOD the context of this blog? At all?

    “the complete, and irrefutable truth.”

    EXACTLY. Have you?

    “i will continue to follow this issue with much anticipation. i feel your DSWD may be the rock from which your country might start is rebuilding. I pray that for your sake, I am right.”

    SO DO I. So do I. And so do ALL THE FILIPINOS who have HOPED and STILL HOPING that our FREEDOM is indeed TRUE in every sense of the word, that every person, “our modern day heroes”, and so on – have DIED for, will not go in vain.

    And thus, and then again I say – WHERE’s THE PROOF? (Proof that THIS is ALL UNTRUE? Proof that the “allegations” are false, Proof that THIS is NOTHING but a waste of time. Including yours.

  6. @Tom Grace on Sat, 24th Oct 2009 7:46 pm

    I quote: @mlq3: well said!!! now there’s a man with his head on straight!

    Geez. Glad you said that. HE (MLQ) is the author of THIS blog that YOU need to READ and UNDERSTAND. And if you need help on translating the conversation with the guard on duty, on how unhelpful, un-accomodating and seemingly acting very suspicious when MLQ and his companions sought to verify the allegations – PLEASE. Ask one of your Pinoy friends to help you out.

    Don’t just focus on the semingly negative, un-called for, not-to-your-liking, DSWD-and-government-bashing BOLD sentiments of the PINOY folks here – FOCUS on the QUEST for TRANSPARENCY and TRUTHFULNESS that “DSWD Secretary herself has pledged utmost transparency and accountability”.

    FYI… our dear blog owner here is a son of a former president.
    Read on – https://www.quezon.ph/resume-for-manuel-l-quezon-iii/

    Why the hell are we here commenting on his blog anyway?

    I’ll speak for myself: I thank God that not EVERYONE in the government is CORRUPT and IMBECILE. I support politicians who are HONEST. and I DETEST politicians who take advantage of us, who steal from us, and who steal from people like YOU (foreigners).

    And guess what? I salute MLQ3 for bringing the balance into journalism.

    You’re in this page. What are you doing here anyway?

  7. @peaches: I agree with your most recent sentiments. But the burden of proof in the quest for truth lies not only on the accused, but the accuser. Something that I hope YOU understand. Again, if you want proof, go get it. Blogging and waiting for the truth to come should never satisfy you. YOU are in a position to find out the truth with your own two eyes. Take a day away from your computer and head to the DSWD yourself. That’s my suggetion anyway.

    I’m sorry if you feel i have no grasp for your history. I’ve heard about PEOPLE POWER, about ESTRADA, about EDSA. But remember, these PEOPLE were elected!!! I concede that they may have cheated but nonetheless, your people still allowed them to take several years away from you.

    Dr. Cabral is in an appointed position. Now answer me this, if you, the good person that you are, were asked by a corrupt official to join the cabinet as a member, would you say no? What if all the good people said no for fear of being associated with corruption. Would change ever happen? What if the person actually being crucified is this person?

    So, will you allow these blogs to go on for years just as these dictatorships have? Why depend on blogs and take other people’s word for it? Dont trust DSWD employee to give you an honest online answer, as I wouldn’t trust Ellaganda.com so easily.

    Again, I apologize if you feel I have not understood the context of this blog, but so have the others who have posted on it. There are people here who have echoed sentiments that have nothing to do with this blog at all. Why dont you tell them off as well? So, lets agree to wait for the truth to come out shall we? And lets hold judgement until the truth is discovered. And if you take my advice perhaps the truth can be discovered and spread… by you.

  8. @Tom Grace

    I quote: There are people here who have echoed sentiments that have nothing to do with this blog at all. Why dont you tell them off as well?

    The difference between you and them is this: THEY ARE FILIPINO CITIZENS who understand the issue, and you’re not.

    I quote: “And lets hold judgement until the truth is discovered.”

    If you’re referring to ANY of my comments that indicated passing judgment to DSWD per se (as I assume, we’re talking along the same context, right?” – show me. There’s a HUGE DIFFERENCE between judgement and OPINION. Opinion, by which – from the last time I checked – is entitled to each Filipino. (Americans, and other democratic countries as well).

    Let’s not talk about semantics here. I’m sure you get the drift.

    I quote: “So, will you allow these blogs to go on for years just as these dictatorships have? Why depend on blogs and take other people’s word for it? Dont trust DSWD employee to give you an honest online answer, as I wouldn’t trust Ellaganda.com so easily.”

    Is this a personal question?

    I quote: “YOU are in a position to find out the truth with your own two eyes. Take a day away from your computer and head to the DSWD yourself. That’s my suggetion anyway.”

    I’d love to. IF ONLY you have the read the blog, the comments… in one of which I mentioned:

    Look for: platterofpeaches on Sat, 24th Oct 2009 12:37 pm
    PS: 34wks4days preggy with twins ako… BUT it won’t stop me from doing my part in vigilantly monitoring THIS issue… It’s the least that I can do.

    SO, dear Tom – there you go. READ before you comment.

    I quote: “And if you take my advice perhaps the truth can be discovered and spread… by you.”

    Well, who knows? But the thing is, I am just ONE person, and would NEVER in my life dismiss or diminish the power of the people. WE – the FILIPINO PEOPLE.

    Get it?

  9. @mlq – Sir, thanks for the new updates.

    Kapwa ko mga Pinoy dito – patuloy lang ang pagmamasid. Wag matakot mag-express ng opinyon. Karapatan niyo yan. PERO – wag naman mag-away, OK? Lahat tayo, isa lang naman ang hangarin eh – ang malaman ang katotohanan. Sino ba totoo? IPAKITA MO.

    Si Ella na nagpasimula ng usaping ito, si Gang na nag-volunteer upang lumikom ng mga manggagawa upang tapusin ang gawain sa NROC warehouse, at si MLQ at mga kasamahan niya na patuloy sa paglalahad ng katotohanan, maging eto man ay sa panig ng DSWD pa – SUPORTAHAN NATIN SILA. Sama-sama tayo dito.

    Hanggang sa muli – pahinga muna ako, bawal sa buntis ang magpagod at baka tubuan na ng kamote ang inuupuan ko.

    Sa kaibigan nating mga banyaga at di makabasa ng Filipino, itanong niyo sa sarili niyo: “Why Am I Here?” haha…

    Peace.

  10. @peaches:
    my turn…
    I quote: There are people here who have echoed sentiments that have nothing to do with this blog at all. Why dont you tell them off as well?

    The difference between you and them is this: THEY ARE FILIPINO CITIZENS who understand the issue, and you’re not.

    — so, certain people because of what you believe are exempt from rules. I’m starting to sense your bias

    I quote: “And lets hold judgement until the truth is discovered.”

    If you’re referring to ANY of my comments that indicated passing judgment to DSWD per se (as I assume, we’re talking along the same context, right?” – show me. There’s a HUGE DIFFERENCE between judgement and OPINION. Opinion, by which – from the last time I checked – is entitled to each Filipino. (Americans, and other democratic countries as well).

    — no I’m not referring to your comments specifically but to the the comments of all concerned, unlike you, I don’t descriminate.

    I quote: “So, will you allow these blogs to go on for years just as these dictatorships have? Why depend on blogs and take other people’s word for it? Dont trust DSWD employee to give you an honest online answer, as I wouldn’t trust Ellaganda.com so easily.”

    Is this a personal question?

    — yes it is, can’t you tell the difference? so what’s your answer? or is it biased and not for public consuption?

    I quote: “YOU are in a position to find out the truth with your own two eyes. Take a day away from your computer and head to the DSWD yourself. That’s my suggetion anyway.”

    I’d love to. IF ONLY you have the read the blog, the comments… in one of which I mentioned:

    Look for: platterofpeaches on Sat, 24th Oct 2009 12:37 pm
    PS: 34wks4days preggy with twins ako… BUT it won’t stop me from doing my part in vigilantly monitoring THIS issue… It’s the least that I can do.

    — and soooo… don’t you have a husband? family or friends who believe in getting to the bottom of this? or are you just like the others who have an excuse for everything and hides behind it? 34 weeks? You’ve got at least 4-6 weeks to go. I don’t think a car ride down to the DSWD will be that ‘laborious’ if you catch MY drift.

    SO, dear Tom – there you go. READ before you comment.

    — and so I have…

    I quote: “And if you take my advice perhaps the truth can be discovered and spread… by you.”

    — after reading your latest entry I doubt it.

    Well, who knows? But the thing is, I am just ONE person, and would NEVER in my life dismiss or diminish the power of the people. WE – the FILIPINO PEOPLE.

    Get it?

    — so, if every person just laid back and said I’m just one person, then YOU the FILIPINO PEOPLE would only be YOU the FILIPINO.

    I continue to try to remain polite and ‘impartial’ and avoid trying to slight you in any way but you obviously have no capability to do the same. Your bias has so obviously clouded your judgement. You and others like you deserve exactly the type of government that you get. You hide behind this talk, these challenges that you issue, but back down when you yourself are challenged.

    Si Ella na nagpasimula ng usaping ito, si Gang na nag-volunteer upang lumikom ng mga manggagawa upang tapusin ang gawain sa NROC warehouse, at si MLQ at mga kasamahan niya na patuloy sa paglalahad ng katotohanan, maging eto man ay sa panig ng DSWD pa – SUPORTAHAN NATIN SILA. Sama-sama tayo dito.

    — yes Ella, lets talk about her, have you seen her latest entries? you should check them out before continuing to praise this brazen young lady.

    Hanggang sa muli – pahinga muna ako, bawal sa buntis ang magpagod at baka tubuan na ng kamote ang inuupuan ko.

    — I agree, you should go and rest. Clear your mind, maybe tomorrow you’ll be ready to actually go find the truth instead of your continuing your biased entries

    Sa kaibigan nating mga banyaga at di makabasa ng Filipino, itanong niyo sa sarili niyo: “Why Am I Here?” haha…

    — what makes you think I can’t “read” Filipino? “Why Am I Here?” Because unlike you I actually care for things more important that mere slander. I care more about good people being put down. I care about justice. I care about the truth.

    Get it? Now, go read Ellaganda’s latest entry. The person who started this all. Your credible, sensible journalist whom hundreds of you were so ready to believe. If you still believe in her after reading what kind of rubbish she’s been posting most recently, then no change in people, or in government will ever improve your plight.

  11. oh and peaches, before you write your next reply, please answer and comment on the entirety of my entries previously, not those just convenient for you to answer with your glib replies with poor attempts at humor. smoke and mirrors are hardly necessary. i can see right through you.

  12. All very interesting.

    To Tom Grace, everyone seems to be attacking you since you seem to be too blinded by the good things you and your friends do for the government. My bad side kasi na sana makita mo din. Hindi naman ito pagmamaliit sa iyo o sa mga kakilala mong nasa gobyerno, lalo na sa mga taga DSWD. They’re merely expressing disappointment.

    You just have to admit that just like everyone else, including the blogger, there’s still a lot of things that need to be done. I’m sure you get the point.

    People are stressing the need and the cause for change.

  13. @RMir – Oh i admit it. I know and fully understand that a lot needs to be done. I’m not angered by this well known fact at all. Its the jumping to conclusions and attitude of guilty until innocence is proven that’s upsetting. I’m not the one under attack. Nor do I feel that way. The DSWD is the one being prematurely attacked. If you feel this was not the premise from which Ellaganda had initially posted her blog then undeniably from the people who so eagerly believed her. Perhaps the rest of the government should be attacked, perhaps rightly so, but they are not the topic of this blog are they?

    As I’ve eluded to earlier, there are bad sides to all governments, not just yours. However, failure to recognize the good people in government is unfair and unjust. Slander as payment for hard and honest work? The phrase no good deed goes unpunished comes to mind.

    I maintain, we should stress that people need to change… and change comes from within… that includes not jumping to conclusions… not harrasing anybody who disagrees with you… etc. But more importantly, change means actively getting your, and pardon my french, “ass” of your couch and doing something more productive like actively seeking the truth instead of listening to some childish rambling by a blogger who claims to be an unbiased journalist but choses entries and replies that are allowed to be posted on her site.

    Every accused should be allowed to confront her accuser.

    These next few statements are not aimed at you RMir, unless you feel compelled to reply:

    I challenge Ellaganda to show up at Bagumbayan, expose her true identity and discuss this topic face to face, mano y mano, with Secretary Cabral. Infact, I challenge all of you to go to the DSWD offce to find the truth for yourselves. Why not go to Bagumbayan and DSWD? You demand the truth? You talk of PEOPLE POWER? Well, what are you waiting for?

    And if you’re wondering why I don’t post this challenge on Ella’s site, well for the simple reason that she’s blocked me from accessing her blog. True unbiased journalism indeed.

  14. very well said
    and now kasasabi lang sa tv 24 hrs daw ang relief operation nila
    talk about lying

  15. Puede naman pala daw mag-volunteer sa DSWD eh.. kaya di nadi-distribute dahil walang magre-repack.

    EH BAKIT DI TUMULONG ANG ABS-CBN NA MAGREPACK? SA ABS-CBN KAILANGAN PA NILANG I-SCHEDULE ANG VOLUNTEERS PARA MA-ACCOMMODATE SILANG LAHAT. MASMAGANDA SIGURONG GAWIN NILA, GUMAWA SILA NG OPERATION O DRIVE O KUNG ANO PA PUEDENG ITAWAG NA I-DIVERT YUNG MGA VOLUNTEERS SA DSWD.

    Sa author ng blog, kung talagang concern tayo at willing tumulong.. bakit gabi tayo pupunta? Mas maaga mas maganda di ba? Mas maganda siguro wag na tayo magsilipan. Let’s do our part.

  16. It’s very interesting to note that we have many compassionate and smart people commenting on this issue, but why is it that we cannot seem to pull ourselves up together for the betterment of our country? Where is this energy of hate and distrust coming from? HAve we lost hope with ouor country? Whatever the government does, it would always be flooded with criticisms. Why not be a help to the government? Let us keep the hope burning that we can be a help to the government, and not just merely spectators to a circus.

  17. @ANNA

    Exactly. Everyone wants to be the watchdog.. to stay vigilant..

    If lack of volunteers is the problem, why can’t we stop being the watchful eye and be the working hands?

  18. @Tom Grace on Sat, 24th Oct 2009 8:55 pm

    First off, I seem to be not the only one who’s noticed your smart comments… After all, this blog is not about you, Tom Grace. It’s not about me, either. It’s not about Ella, and it’s definitely not about an issue on “BIASES”.

    Let me address your question, as you wish –
    I quote: “So, will you allow these blogs to go on for years just as these dictatorships have? Why depend on blogs and take other people’s word for it? Dont trust DSWD employee to give you an honest online answer, as I wouldn’t trust Ellaganda.com so easily.”

    MY REPLY: Why am I even bothering to express my opinion when I have other important things to do? What makes you think that I’m depending on blogs? Whose? Ella’s? READ the thread, again. I’ve contributed to this blog by providing links from the source – DSWD. I care enough to READ outside the blogs and refer to the resources available (READ: DSWD). Whose word am I taking – Cabral’s? DSWD employee? Ella’s? or YOURS? Because I care. I have nothing to prove to you. You’re NOT going to benefit from the things that I care about. Short of sounding disrespectful: you are of no consequence to me, at the moment. I don’t know you from Adam, you don’t know me – and you don’t know ANY of us who has given his/her opinion. So any of your “personal” comments (i.e. my being pregnant and son on…) c’mon! At your age and experience working for UN – where is your SENSE OF DECORUM?! At least I don’t brag about anything, except that I am one with the sentiments of my fellow men.

    What did you tell us when you first made a comment here”

    ***Tom Grace on Sat, 24th Oct 2009 5:58 pm****
    i think you people need to get a life. i can’t believe how gullible and easily impressionable some of you guys are. its so obvious that you’re all so blinded by your own previous experiences and can’t even see past the fact that the DSWD is probably your last bastion in good government. if you feel you can do better, why don’t you just go down to the distribution center and work instead of wasting everyone’s time with your whining. you want your donations to go where you want them to go? go ahead and do it yourselves… ******

    We respect your opinion – but who do you think you are to judge us? When you say, “you people” – you mean US – the people who voiced out their reactions, opinions.

    You said – why don’t you just go down to the distribution center and work instead of wasting everyone’s time with your whining – HELLO!?!! Man! Frankly – DO YOU REALLY UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE HERE? Or are you merely reacting to HOW WE ARE REACTING?

    I quote: “– what makes you think I can’t “read” Filipino? “Why Am I Here?” Because unlike you I actually care for things more important that mere slander. I care more about good people being put down. I care about justice. I care about the truth.”

    If you care (and you think I don’t) about important things than slander, why don’t you talk to your friends (who are these good people you care about? Your friends in the government like Cabral?) – and find justice and truth – ON YOUR OWN.

    Please don’t meddle into other people’s discussion, just to tell us “to get a life”. Discuss your opinions elsewhere. You are NOT God to tell us that we deserve the kind of government we have. Who died and made you OUR JUDGE?

    You get a life. A life where people can STILL respect you.

  19. So akala ni Cabral perishable items lang ang nabubulok…pwede namang sabihin na BULOK ang STYLE nila o BULOK ang GOBYERNONG ito, no wonder walang amor ang publiko na magvolunteer para sa kanila. This is a wakeup call to foreign and private donors to ensure that the first batches of their donations are distributed to the victims before sending another donations. Cabral is wasting time answering non-issues and cannot comprehend that those donations are for Ondoy and Pepeng victims not for Ramil’s. I also hope that those imported beans and branded sleeping bags wont end up in the houses of DSWD officials or any public officials…otherwise dapat may maBULOK sa BILANGGUAN. Thanks Ella, Gang and Manolo.

  20. @ Tom Grace

    I quote: “I challenge Ellaganda to show up at Bagumbayan, expose her true identity and discuss this topic face to face, mano y mano, with Secretary Cabral. Infact, I challenge all of you to go to the DSWD offce to find the truth for yourselves. Why not go to Bagumbayan and DSWD? You demand the truth? You talk of PEOPLE POWER? Well, what are you waiting for?”

    Again – WHO MADE YOU OUR JUDGE? If you were Cabral or anyone from the alleged lot DEMAND like you just did, we’ll be up for the challenge. You want to see PEOPLE POWER? Geez. I knew it. You’re just a spectator. 🙁

    By the way – did you see the Flash Report a while ago? GMA 7 was able to take footage inside the warehouse. And guess what? It looks soooo familiar. Just like the photos posted on this blog, Ella’s and others. (Note: ALL repost from the original Ellaganda blog). It didn’t surprise me though… After all, THAT was PROOF.

  21. Ahh… spoken like a true woman scorned…

    First off, I seem to be not the only one who’s noticed your smart comments… After all, this blog is not about you, Tom Grace. It’s not about me, either. It’s not about Ella, and it’s definitely not about an issue on “BIASES”.

    — yes thank you for admitting my comments are smart. And no this blog is not about me. Neither is it about you. You’ll get no argument from me about that. but your prejudice despite your adamance of is abscence is obvious.

    Let me address your question, as you wish –
    I quote: “So, will you allow these blogs to go on for years just as these dictatorships have? Why depend on blogs and take other people’s word for it? Dont trust DSWD employee to give you an honest online answer, as I wouldn’t trust Ellaganda.com so easily.”

    MY REPLY: Why am I even bothering to express my opinion when I have other important things to do?
    — I don’t know, you tell me? Because you cant stand it when someone else has the last word?

    What makes you think that I’m depending on blogs? Whose?
    — What makes me think this? Haven’t we been talking about this for the past few hours? Hello?

    Ella’s? READ the thread, again. I’ve contributed to this blog by providing links from the source – DSWD. I care enough to READ outside the blogs and refer to the resources available (READ: DSWD). Whose word am I taking – Cabral’s? DSWD employee? Ella’s? or YOURS?
    — Where have I shown taking sides? I’ve only expressed opinions that I’ve made clear as such. No where in my replies have I written anything that I have claimed as fact.

    Because I care. I have nothing to prove to you. You’re NOT going to benefit from the things that I care about. Short of sounding disrespectful: you are of no consequence to me, at the moment. I don’t know you from Adam, you don’t know me – and you don’t know ANY of us who has given his/her opinion. So any of your “personal” comments (i.e. my being pregnant and son on…) c’mon! At your age and experience working for UN – where is your SENSE OF DECORUM?! At least I don’t brag about anything, except that I am one with the sentiments of my fellow men.
    — now, did you just read what you wrote here? you descriminated against me for being a foreigner just a few entries back! All all that you’ve said in this statement? The very same can be said of you as well my dear.

    What did you tell us when you first made a comment here”

    ***Tom Grace on Sat, 24th Oct 2009 5:58 pm****
    i think you people need to get a life. i can’t believe how gullible and easily impressionable some of you guys are. its so obvious that you’re all so blinded by your own previous experiences and can’t even see past the fact that the DSWD is probably your last bastion in good government. if you feel you can do better, why don’t you just go down to the distribution center and work instead of wasting everyone’s time with your whining. you want your donations to go where you want them to go? go ahead and do it yourselves… ******

    We respect your opinion – but who do you think you are to judge us? When you say, “you people” – you mean US – the people who voiced out their reactions, opinions.
    — isn’t this what this entire issue has been about, people judging people without knowing all the facts? How dare you or any other people feel slighted by this type of behavior when you yourselves are guilty of the same!!!

    You said – why don’t you just go down to the distribution center and work instead of wasting everyone’s time with your whining – HELLO!?!! Man! Frankly – DO YOU REALLY UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE HERE?
    — and whats wrong with what I said? If you really want to help, STOP YOUR WHINING AND DO SO!

    Or are you merely reacting to HOW WE ARE REACTING?
    — what do you expect? for me not to react?

    I quote: “– what makes you think I can’t “read” Filipino? “Why Am I Here?” Because unlike you I actually care for things more important that mere slander. I care more about good people being put down. I care about justice. I care about the truth.”

    If you care (and you think I don’t)
    — i never said you didnt care, in fact in previous entries i eluded that you did!

    about important things than slander, why don’t you talk to your friends (who are these good people you care about? Your friends in the government like Cabral?) – and find justice and truth – ON YOUR OWN.
    — childish, just childish… can’t stand the heat? get out of the kitchen

    Please don’t meddle into other people’s discussion, just to tell us “to get a life”. Discuss your opinions elsewhere. You are NOT God to tell us that we deserve the kind of government we have. Who died and made you OUR JUDGE?
    – this isn’t YOUR discussion, its OWR discussion. Freedom of speech remember? Or does this only apply to you and your kind? I never said I was god. But I like you am certainly entitled to my own opinion.

    You get a life. A life where people can STILL respect you.
    – Again…spoken like a true woman scorned…

  22. @mlq – You can help correlate the DSWD’s list of items received, with items sent out, by helping with this Google Doc. By correlating the two, we can figure out: What items have been sent out, and to where, and which items have not.

    THIS IS WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT! 🙂 Again, kudos to you (tawagin na din kitang Manolo, ha?) and your group. Keep the updates coming!

  23. @ Dennis Bernal: I implore you to read the more recent entries of Ella’s site before you continue singing praises for this person. Otherwise, your entry will be just as meaningless as these other emotional but exceedingly uneducated blabber.

  24. @ Tom Grace

    Hmmm… you’re quickly catching up and adapting to my style, eh? I hate to deflate your ego here (the “foreigner”), but really, you can bring your arguments / opinion / feedback / smart-A retorts, elsewhere.

    “Again…spoken like a true woman scorned…” Hahahaha.. I like that! 🙂 Thanks for putting the spotlight on me. You’re now dismissed. Have a pleasant evening.

  25. @ peaches: what no glib response? what about more illogical or rhetorical banter? giving up so quickly… tsk tsk. I have all day…

    and so this ends with YOUR dismissal… have a pleasant day.

  26. Obviously nag alibi na naman sila. Makarma na sana sila at magkasakit ng walang lunas…pacensia na po BRO kakainis kasi.

    I no longer trust our government hell with them!!!

  27. @Tom Grace on Sat, 24th Oct 2009 10:31 pm

    See what I mean? A spectator. A mere spectator. Mahiya ka naman sa mga kapwe expats mo dito sa Pinas. Retired ka na ba? Nkapag-asawa ng Pinay para mkapagsimula ng negosyo? AYUN. Baka nga.O nag-ampon ng anak mula sa aming bansa? Lumantad ka na kasi. 🙂

    Nah… Masyado ka ng ma-epal dito, bok. Matulog ka na.

  28. @ Bricksand: so you don’t trust government workers too? where exactly do you draw the line when you say you don’t trust the government? how about the cleaning lady at your government hospital? don’t trust them either? doctors? public school teachers? how about the honest people in government, who i’m sure there are a few… maybe more than a few but thats besides the point… are they included in your blanket I no longer trust the government statement? should these people go to hell just as you wished? its thoughts like these, from people who feel the government is one singular entity devoid of all that is good that leads to so many biased and uneducated opinions.

  29. @ peaches:
    See what I mean? A spectator. A mere spectator. Mahiya ka naman sa mga kapwe expats mo dito sa Pinas. Retired ka na ba? Nkapag-asawa ng Pinay para mkapagsimula ng negosyo? AYUN. Baka nga.O nag-ampon ng anak mula sa aming bansa? Lumantad ka na kasi. 🙂

    — i feel bad for you… you’ve run out of educated means of arguing. i can see your vocabulary is very limited, your mastery of both English and Filipino leaves much to be desired.
    So, what have you got against my marrying a Filipina?
    What’s wrong with that?
    Are you jealous?
    Did you have to settle?
    And no I didn’t adopt any children from the Philippines. I’m very happy with my kids and am too old to care for more. Although if I could adopt children from your country I would, to spare them from being as blinded and as narrow minded as you. Or perhaps even just to improve their mastery of English, so they wont have to flip flop between two languages for inability to find the right words.

    Nah… Masyado ka ng ma-epal dito, bok. Matulog ka na.
    Like I said, I have all day…

  30. so who died and made this tom guy the comments moderator? some people seem to just revel in being contrary.

    @ peaches – wala ka nang mapapala diyan kaya pagbigyan na lang natin. he can say what he wants, and so can we. but the more you let him goad you into this redundant sparring, the more he gets a voice. and i for one would really like him to shut up, but hey, it’s a free [web]. 😉

  31. @pamela: no, mlq is alive and well… he just happens to understand what free speech is about. the funniest thing about your post is that you were able to contradict yourself and put down peaches without needing a rebuttal from me:

    But for the benefit of the people who might misunderstand, read:so who died and made this tom guy the comments moderator? some people seem to just revel in being contrary.

    ala ka nang mapapala diyan kaya pagbigyan na lang natin. he can say what he wants, and so can we. but the more you let him goad you into this redundant sparring, the more he gets a voice. and i for one would really like him to shut up, but hey, it’s a free [web].
    — another one bites the dust.

  32. @pamela – SORE GUY. haha. (Let’s see. This guy’s gonna take the bait and comment back. Wanna bet?)

  33. @ pamela and peaches: are you playing games with me? i think your buts are sore from the ass-whuppin’ this old guy just gave you.
    — wanna bet either one or both of you will reply? kiss my…

  34. Ah – here’s the article I saw earlier about the caravan in my comment earlier – No reply from DSWD employee yet. Anyone from Regions 1 & 2 here?

    [platterofpeaches on Sat, 24th Oct 2009 7:00 pm]
    >> DSWD pre-positions relief goods for typhoon Ramil – Sunday, 18 October 2009
    (http://www.asianjournal.com/dateline-philippines/headlines/3262-dswd-pre-positions-relief-goods-for-typhoon-ramil-.html)

    I quote: “The caravan would have included a hundred truckloads of relief goods to be distributed to some 500,000 families in 19 provinces in the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)”

    DSWD kicks of relief caravan to Northern Luzon on Oct. 19
    http://newsbreak.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6963&Itemid=88889376

  35. nakakawalang gana naman tumulong,, sagaran na nga ang paghihirap dito sa ibang bansa para may maidonate naman kahit paano sa mga kababayan nating nasalanta,, SAYANG lang pala ang donation.

  36. adrian, pare, wag ka naman mawalang ng ganang tumulong. alam mo, ganyang ganyan siguro ang iniisip ng mga mabubuting tao na sana gustong tumakbo sa elekson at manilbihan sa inambayan. nakakawalang ganang tumulong, kung di man hintay na mailabas ang katotohanan, tuloy tuloy parin ang pambabatikos sa mga taong maganda ang hangarin. sayang lang ang pawis at pagad sa pagsubok na maging isang loyal civil servant.

  37. To Tom Grace as much as how you look things about the DSWD Warehouses issue, you are beginning to have a potty mouth too. What an attitude and brain, it says all!!!

  38. @mlq – sir, FYI…

    Checked the latest entry on List of Donations (in kind) received by DSWD: http://202.57.48.199/ondoy/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=59&Itemid=71

    Note: No entry made between Oct 17 and 21.

    Got this post from
    http://www.bomboradyo.com/newsdetails1.asp?ID=115180

    ‘Walang nabubulok na relief goods’
    10/24/2009 10:05:33 PM
    Binuksan sa media ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) ang isa sa mga warehouse nito sa lungsod ng Pasay kaninang hapon.

    Ayon kay DSWD Sec. Esperanza Cabral, layunin nitong patunayan sa publiko na mali ang mga alegasyon ng isang blogger na may mga nabubulok na relief goods at hindi naipapamigay sa mga nasalanta ng bagyong Ondoy at Pepeng.

    Ang naturang mga naka-imbak na relief goods umano ay mula sa local at foreign donors na pansamantala lang ini-ipon sa naturang lugar habang hindi pa nahahakot sa mga lugar na naapektuhan ng bagyo.

    Pinakahuli umanong dumating sa mga ito ang halos 42,000 kahon ng cup noodles mula sa bansang Indonesia. (more)

  39. @ Awie:
    To Tom Grace as much as how you look things about the DSWD Warehouses issue, you are beginning to have a potty mouth too. What an attitude and brain, it says all!!!
    — what says it all?? am i the only one who’s not allowed to have, as you say, ” a potty mouth?” it’s never stopped the other people on this blog. why don’t you have them wash their mouths with soap?
    —“as much as how you look things about the DSWD Warehouses issue?”, all i can say to this is “HUH?”
    — good people have a right to defend themselves, this is a war, and words appear to be the weapon of choice. arm yourself well or surrender.

  40. @Awie – hopeless case na yan, yaan mo na. A mere spectator. Mukhang snitch ata ni Cabral, eh. So far, he hasn’t contributed one single VALUABLE input here. Puro criticism. Feeling niya Dios. Tsk tsk.

    @Tom (lack of) Grace: O – hihirit ka pa? Sensya na bok. Parehong linggwahe ang nakasanayan ko. Tunay na Pinoy, kasi. Eh kaw? Kahit mas marami pa Inggles mo kesa sa min, dapat lang noh! Mahiya ka naman kung di ka marunong nun. Hehe…

    OPO na mga kapatid. Tutulog na ko. I don’t have all day. Gabi na eh. LOL

  41. @peaches: is this what you were referring to?
    I quote: “I challenge Ellaganda to show up at Bagumbayan, expose her true identity and discuss this topic face to face, mano y mano, with Secretary Cabral. Infact, I challenge all of you to go to the DSWD offce to find the truth for yourselves. Why not go to Bagumbayan and DSWD? You demand the truth? You talk of PEOPLE POWER? Well, what are you waiting for?”

    Again – WHO MADE YOU OUR JUDGE? If you were Cabral or anyone from the alleged lot DEMAND like you just did, we’ll be up for the challenge. You want to see PEOPLE POWER? Geez. I knew it. You’re just a spectator. 🙁

    By the way – did you see the Flash Report a while ago? GMA 7 was able to take footage inside the warehouse. And guess what? It looks soooo familiar. Just like the photos posted on this blog, Ella’s and others. (Note: ALL repost from the original Ellaganda blog). It didn’t surprise me though… After all, THAT was PROOF.
    — oooooh, i missed this post. the GMA7 footage, so what if it looked like familiar? what’s your point? thats been explained already, it takes time for relief goods to come out from the central warehouse… what? you expect something to be donated, accounted for, cataloged for your inspection, and then blame people for having to store them for the time being?! you my dear are crazy… you misconstrue your misguided ramblings as being nationalistic.

    “I challenge Ellaganda to show up at Bagumbayan, expose her true identity and discuss this topic face to face, mano y mano, with Secretary Cabral. Infact, I challenge all of you to go to the DSWD offce to find the truth for yourselves. Why not go to Bagumbayan and DSWD? You demand the truth? You talk of PEOPLE POWER? Well, what are you waiting for?”

    Again – WHO MADE YOU OUR JUDGE? If you were Cabral or anyone from the alleged lot DEMAND like you just did, we’ll be up for the challenge.
    —Really? So what’s the difference? Dr. Cabral or her good people dont need to stoop to your level. Do you think because you write posts here on MLQ3 you’re special? There are tons of other people more important than you at the moment. They’re called relief victims. And you my dear are trying to waste their time be continuing to respond with jibberish.

    You want to see PEOPLE POWER? Geez. I knew it. You’re just a spectator. 🙁
    —and what do you call yourself? an active participant? lets see… what do you call what you’re doing right now?

    hihirit ka pa? Sensya na bok. Parehong linggwahe ang nakasanayan ko. Tunay na Pinoy, kasi. Eh kaw? Kahit mas marami pa Inggles mo kesa sa min, dapat lang noh! Mahiya ka naman kung di ka marunong nun. Hehe…
    — so my English is better than your English true. But my English is also better than your Filipino.

    OPO na mga kapatid. Tutulog na ko. I don’t have all day. Gabi na eh. LOL
    — yes go to sleep, as you’ve said about 3 or 4 times now on this blog, go to sleep while other people continue on with their search for the truth.

  42. pambihira naman kau kng paniniwalaan nyo pa ang gobyerno(afministration), 94% dyan corrupt talaga…49% lang ang big time na corrupt…d na nakapagtataka yan, sanay na kami, normal na samin un, pag gumawa sila ng mabuti ayon ang himala! Wag magtaka kng maraming nagma-migrate!

  43. Just my 2 cents worth, Tom Grace do have a point, let’s not be too emotional, yes, we filipinos did experience and do continue to experience corruption in all levels of governance, nobody is questioning that, It has been hard, yes, but let us think w/ unclouded minds, It is very clear that there has been lapses, GREAT lapses on the part of DSWD, @Peaches, let me ask you this, If given the helm of the said agency, could you have done better? It is very easy to say YES, and I bet my 2 cents that you would say this, I am not defending Tom Grace, I am just being sensible, I have felt injustice numerous times, but I have never let this cloud my judgement.

  44. by the way, that would be my 1st and last comment on this issue, I won’t waste my time arguing, Good day to all

  45. what do you expect? Look at the millions of pesos worth of expired medicines in the Dept of Heslth that were not used or distributed. sino ang nagimbestiga nun? it’s just a dmall item in the newspaper.

  46. isn’t manolo quezon part of abs cbn?your a journalist right?a fucking autistic looking irresponisible journalist. this story is easily verifiable but i guess you didn’t bother to verify it because it’s in your blog.you are suppose to be impartial because you are part of a media outlet! Is this because DSWD called the attention of your mother fucking mother network because they were soliciting money from donors without the necessary permit from DSWD which is in our laws? or is this because you guys didn’t reach your quota of 1 BILLION that you guys were hoping to raise for the campaign contribution for your presidential candidate….ooops i meant victims of the calamity. or is this one way of covering up your presidential candidate’s blunder in the FOCAP forum where here dropped his guide cards infront of the whole foreign media contigent? you guys are all fuckers! i dont even know why your on tv! it seems you would fit more in a mental hospital!!!!!

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