PALABAN and MALABANAN AWARD 3

FIGHTING WINDMILLS

Early this year, when the people of Pampanga were left with choosing between a candidate who has lorded it over the illegal gambling game in the province and a candidate who has made money out of squeezing bribes from the quarry operations, an unlikely politician risked everything, including his life to give the Kapampangans an alternative. While his opponents wallowed in a seemingly bottomless war chest, his penniless campaign relied on the generosity of the people who wanted to see a change in Kapampangan politics. Faced with the goons and guns that his opponents unleashed to ensure victory by all means, he put his faith in the courage of the Kampampangans and their thirst for reforms to ensure his security. Neither guns, goons and gold prevailed over the courage and generosity of the Kapampangans, they wanted a change in the reins of governance so much that most of them were not tempted by the glitter of gold nor were they cowed at the sight of guns and goons.   when the last of the votes were counted, AMONG ED PANLILIO emerged victor over the gambling lord and the quarry lord. David prevailed over the Goliaths.

Two weeks ago, he faced his first test of character as a politician. The neophyte governor and greenhorn politician received a paper bag containing P500,000 in cash in Malakanyang. He was tolf that it was for his province’s barangay projects, but he smelled something else. Faced with the choice between keeping quiet (and keeping the money) or coming out and exposing the scam and flirt with the ire of the highest and the most powerful official of the land, he chose to let the public know. His expose not only made public the attempt to buy the loyalty of local government officials, it exposed to the public’s eyes the practice which everyone else already accepts as NORMAL and NATURAL.

Many will consider his action as quixotic, I consider it worthy of a PALABAN AWARD

 

AMONG ED PANLILIO, Governor of Pampanga

 

 BETRAYING THE SPIRIT OF EDSA 

“National unity, the rule of law, justice with accountability” are what she claims as her reasons for granting pardon to Erap Estrada.  I have  never seen  these words twisted so horrendously to be used to hide the motives behind this Presidential Pardon. A plunderer was exculpated by a muh bigger plunderer. May she face what these words really stand for: may the nation be united and as one enforce the rule of law to exact from her the accountability for her crimes against the Filipino people. May justice prevail.

Meanwhile, I will recognize her for what she is – FULL OF SH!T – deserving of the MALABANAN AWARD

 

GLORIA MACAPAL-ARROYO, Cheating President of the Republic of the Philippines 

Mandarambong Pinalaya ng MAS Mandarambong

“National unity, the rule of law, justice with accountability” were the guideposts President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said she used in deciding to grant pardon to her ousted predecessor, convicted plunderer Joseph Estrada. (Philippine Daily Inquirer 10/26/07)

Nagulat pa ba kayo sa balitang binigyan ng pardon ni Gloria si Erap sa kasong plunder? Sa totoo lang, matagal na akong duda ng ganito nga ang kahinatnan nitong mahigit nang 6 na taong kaso ng plunder ni Erap. subalit nung malaman ko kagabi na finally napardon nga ni Gloria si Erap, medyo malakas pa rin ang tama sa akin kahit na-anticipate ko na ito.

Nung panahon ni Marcos, walang kasong plunder dahil wala pang batas para dito. Subalit dahil sa ating karanasan ng garapalang pangungurakot ng diktadurya ni Marcos, ipinasa natin ang isang batas na nagdefine sa kasong PLUNDER hiwalay pa sa ordinaryong kaso ng grft nd corruption para huwag na maulit ito. At dahil gusto nating ipakita na muhing-muhi tayo sa pangungurakot, ginawa pa nating capital offense ang PLUNDER – ibig sabihin ang kaparusahan ay kamatayan (nitong nakaraang taon naabolish na ang death penalty).

Subalit, alam natin na hindi napigilan ng batas na ito ang plunder. Kahit alam na alam ni Erap ang batas na iyon dahil isa sya ay senador nung pinasa ang batas na yun. Marahil dala ng pagtitiwala sa kanyang kapangyarihan bilang Pangulo ng Pilipinas, di niya inisip na sya ay mahuhuli. Mahigit kalahating bilyong piso ang sinamsam ni Erap. Subalit nabuko ng kanyang pagdadarambong nung pumiyok ang kanyang kasabwat na si Chavit Singson at kinanta ang kanilang pagnanakaw sa bayan.

The rest is history. Erap becam the first Filipino President to face the impeachment proceedings. Although his allies in the Senate successfully won the vote to suppress the presentation of the contents of the “second envelop,” the people did not let them get away with it. With the impeachment bid good as dead in the Senate, the people went out to the streets and we had Edsa 2. Erap was forced to leave Malakanyang, and Gloria assumed as President.

Di ba ang taumbayan ang nagtaya para patalsikin si Erap sa Malakanyang dahil sa kasong pandarambong? Di ba nagkagulo tayo noong dinakip si Erap noong May 1, 2001 at nagkaroon ng EDSA 3? Di ba nahati pa ang bayan sa isyung ito? Di ba hinintay natin ang 6 na mahahabang taon para makita ang resolusyon ng kasong ito?

Bakit biglang nagkaroon ng pardon? Ni hindi umaaamin si Erap sa mga akusasyon laban sa kanya. Di ba tagilid naman na talaga ang depensa ni Erap sa kaso? Di ba TAMA lang naman na parusahan sya sa kanyang krimen? Halos lahat tayo sigurado na matatalo na si Erap kahit sa Supreme Court.

Muntik nang makuha ng taumbayan ang hustisya…. konting tulak na lang sana makakamit na ang hustisya. Subalit umeksena itong si Gloria. Nasusukol na sa kaliwa’t-kanang akusasyon at expose ng pandarambong… mga pandarambong na di hamak mas malaki pa sa ginawa ni Erap. Nasusukol na si Gloria dahil nabibiyak na ang koalisyon nila ni JDV at delikado na sya sa impeachment.

Gloria was catapulted into power by People Power. She has betrayed the spirit of People Power by cheating in the 2004 Elections (remember Hello Garci?). She violated the spirit of People Power when she began outdoing Erap in the Plunder game. Di hamak na mas malaki ang ninanakaw ni Gloria sa bayan kesa kay Erap. Mas malaki syang magnanakaw kaysa kay Erap. Nananganganib na kapangyarihan ni Gloria, alam nya yon.

Alam ni Gloria balang araw, haharap din sya sa hinaharap ngayon ni Erap. Haharapin din nya ang hatol ng bayan. Balang araw kakailanganin din nya ang PARDON na tulad nito.

Nagtataka pa ba kayo at naguguluhan bakit pinatawad ang mandarambong ng mas higit pang mandarambong? No matter how hard I try to stretch my imagination, I cannot see how “National unity, the rule of law, justice with accountability” have anything to do with this pardon.

Sa November 1, kapag nagsindi tayo ng kandila at nagdasal para sa namatay nating mga mahal sa buhay… magsindi na rin tayo ng kandila para sa DIWA ng People Power at EDSA.

Lousy Whitewash: Buko na Humihirit pa

Natawa ako sa article na ito sa GMANews.TV ngayong umaga. Kung di nyo pa nakakalimutan pumutok ang issue ng pamimigay ng pera sa Malakanyang dalawang linggo na ang nakaraan. Nangyari ito sa oathtaking diumano ng Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) na ginawa sa Heroes Hall ng Malakanyang. Para sa mga hindi masyadong nakasubaybay, ang ULAP ay assosasyon ng mga elected local government officials.

 

Matatandaang nagkaroon ng iskandalo noong inihayag ni Pampanga Governor Among Ed Panlilio na binigyan sya ng paper na nung tiningnan nya later on ay naglalaman ng kalahating milyong piso (PhP500,000). Sabi ni Gov. Panlilio ang bag ay binigay sa kanya ni Bulacan Governor Jonjon Mendoza. Sinabi rin ni Gov. Mendoza na ang paper bag na ito ay pinakiusap lang sa kanyang ibigay kay Gov. Panlilio at sya rin ay mayroong natanggap ng kaparehong paper bag na naglalaman din ng Php 500,000.

 

Naging controversial ang bigayan ng pera na yon. Una sinasabing ang perang ito daw ay para sa mga barangay projects ng mga Goberbadores pero nung deny naman ang Malakanyang na sa kanila galing ang pera. In fact, Gloria even asked the Presidential Anti-Graft and Commission to investigate the incident. Deny to death din ang DILG di rin daw galing sa kanila ang pera. Naging misteryoso ang pinanggagalingan ng pera dahil walang umaamin. Marami tuloy mga haka-haka na lumabas kung para saan ang pera at ang pinakamatunog ay yung ito ay nabulilyasong attempt na suhulan ang mga gobernadores para maging loyal sa Malakanyang.

 

Dalawang linggo na ang nakaraan, maraming kwento na ang lumabas, marami-rami na ring paramdam ang umabot kina Gov. Panlilio at Mendoza. Subalit nababalot pa rin ng misteryo ang bigayan ng pera at marami pa ring tanong ang di nasagot. Ngayong umaga nasa GMANews.TV ang kasagutan. Para sa buong istorya i-click itong link: Amid ‘cash gifts’ row, League will give other execs P500K.

 

Ayan na mga kapatid, inamin na ng League of Provinces na si Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone, ang kanilang Secretary General, na sa kanila nanggaling ang perang pinamigay. Katunayan nga daw ay magbibigay pa sila ng ganung pera sa iba pang mga gobernador.

Eto ang mga excerpts ng pahayag ni Gov. Evardone:

“May ibibigay kami sa susunod na linggo tig-P500,000 (We’ll still distribute P500,000 each to governors in the coming weeks),” Evardone said in an interview on dzBB radio.

He did not name the governors, but noted the league has 81 members representing all 81 provinces of the country.

Evardone said the fund for the governors would reach up to P20 million.

Also, he insisted the money mainly came from “annual membership dues” but indicated the dues ranged from P60,000 to P200,000. He did not explain the discrepancy in dues. Evardone said the league accepts funds from “donor agencies and financial institutions,” which he also did not name.

“Normally check ‘yan. Biglaan kasi ang nangyari sa Malacañang dahil nagkataon nandoon si Gov. Panlilio at Mendoza. Ang secretariat gumawa ng paraan para bigyan sa kanila (Normally we give out the money in checks. But the meeting at Malacañang was hastily called and Panlilio and Mendoza happened to be there. The secretariat found a way to give the money to them),” he said.

“Dapat mag-submit sila ng resibo at liquidation report… Yan ang problema sa secretariat namin, di napa-receive sa dalawang governors. Baka ngayon o bukas magbigay ng acknowledgment (The two governors should submit receipts and liquidation reports. That is the problem with our secretariat, they did not ask for a receipt from the two. Perhaps today or tomorrow we’ll ask them to acknowledge the money),” Evardone said.

Ayan malinaw na ha, wala nang duda. Ang pera daw ay sadyang ibibigay sa mga gobernador ng League of Provinces. Ang pinaggagalingan daw ng pera ay yung pondo ng League na galing sa membership dues ng mga miyembro at mga donor agencies. Bakit cash ang binigay kina Panlilio at Mendoza? Kasi daw nandun na sila eh, ginawan na lang ng paraan para mabigyan sila kaagad at dahil wala ng oras ay cash na lang at hindi check. At ang perang ito daw ay pasa sa “capacity building” ng mga bagong gobernador tulad ng 2.

Well said Gob. Malinaw na malinaw po Gob. May phoned-in questions lang po ako Gob, pwede?

1. Bakit po inabot ng kulang-kulang dalawang linggo bago kayo lumabas at aminin na sa League nyo galing ang pera? Ganun po ba kahaba ang panahon na kinailangan ng inyong mga abugado para makapag-isip ng paraan para maclear ang Malakanyang at ang DILG?
2. Pepwede na po ba ang cash talaga ang ibibigay ninyo? Paano po ba ang documentation ng fund releases ng League of Provinces? Pwede na po ba clippings ng news articles na inamin nina Gov. Panlilio at Mendoza ang magiging supporting documents ng fund release? Wala po kasi kahit acknowledgment receipt man lang kahit nakasulat sa table napkin eh.
3. Sadya po bang malayo ang mga probinsya nina Gob Panlilio at Pineda odi sila madaling hanapin at kinailangang sa okasyon na yun talaga ibibigay ang pera at di na makapaghintay ng pormal, normal at legal na process ng fund release? Nagtitipid po ba kayo sa pagbabayad ng bank charges at kinailangang i-abot ang pera sa loob ng supot?

Sana po mabigyan nyo pa ng konting linaw ang mga katanungang ito. At sa inyo pong pagsagot isa-isip nyo po itong ilang karadagang tanong:

1. Wala na po bang mas matibay-tibay na palusot na inyong maisip?
2. Bakit po kayo pumayag maging fall guy? o iipitin nyo lang yung members ng secretariat nyo?
3. Ano po ba ang palagay nyo sa amin? Tanga?
4. Tatanggapin nyo po ba ang Malabanan Award kung sakaling kayo ang mananalo this week?

RELATEDSTORY: ‘Cash gifts came from us’–league of governors

A Call for Overseas Filipinos

I was doing my routine of blog-hopping around my friends’ blogs leaving my paw-prints in each of them when I read Kengkay’s post about Harvey Keh’s email to OFW’s. His name rings a bell and I remembered that this is the guy who became popular (or controversial) because of another email a few months back. I got the help of the ever dependable Mr./Ms. Google in doing some backtracking that led me to this February 28, 2007 article in the Inquirer: Youth leader to leave RP if 7 things happen. The youth leader being referred to is Mr. Harvey Keh and the 7 things that would make him leave the country were as follows:

 

1. If former Election Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano of “Hello Garci” infamy wins in his announced bid to become congressman of Bukidnon province.
2. If “Dancing Queen” Tessie Aquino-Oreta reclaims her Senate seat.
3. If actor and comedian Richard Gomez is elected senator.
4. If former senator Gregorio Honasan wins a Senate seat.
5. If Manny Pacquiao becomes congressman of General Santos City.
6. If Sen. Lito Lapid is elected mayor of Makati City.
7. If Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson, who has long been linked to illegal gambling, is elected.

Naging “controversial” ang laman ng email nyang ito hindi dahil sa 7 scenarios na sinabi nya kungdi dahil sa sinabi nyang lilisanin nya na ang Pilipinas kung mangyayari ang mga ito. Kung tama ang pagkakaalala ko dito nag-react ang marami. Kahit naman ako agree akong si dapat mangyari ang alinman sa 7 kaya lang medyo di ako sang-ayon na ang paglisan ang tamang hakbang kapag nangyari nga ang mga ito. Well, dahil siguro ang #4 lang ang nangyari sa 7, andito pa rin si Harvey Keh at ngayon ay may panibagong e-mail na pinapa-ikot.

 

Wasting People’s Money

I was surfing the net looking for updates on the Glorietta 2 blast when two articles caught my attention because they are both about reports of the Commission on Audit (CoA) on two major government offices. The first one is an audit report on the Office of the President:

COA: Palace misused charity funds, has unbooked loans, huge advances

This CoA Report stated that the Office of the President:

• Failed to settle cash advances worth P615 million made to officers and employees, local government units and government corporations;

• Granted P269 million in loans out of the President’s Social Fund “without supporting documents and disbursement vouchers;”

• Diverted P8.8 million in donations for calamity areas, including P900,000 to spruce up the Malacanang Golf Course, P3 million for hotel and conference expenses, and P4 million as “donation” to an unnamed foundation;

• “Improperly recorded” P112 million in fund transfers to local government units, government corporations and nongovernmental organizations;

• “Erroneously recorded in the books of the Office of the President” the P48.9 million balance of a trust account under the name “President’s Social Fund-Livelihood Assistance Program” deposited with the Land Bank of the Philippines;

• Failed to reconcile booked and physical inventory office supplies, property, plant and equipment, worth P70 million in all;

• Understated the accumulated depreciation and depreciation expense accounts of property, plant and equipment worth P950 million;

Sowing Terror

Kahapon ng tanghali ginulangtang tayong lahat ng balita : Bomba sumabog sa Glorietta 2 sa Makati, 9 ang patay, mahigit 100 ang sugatan. Sa totoo lang, kahapon pa ako gustong sumulat about the Glorietta blast, kaya lang I have this numb feeling na di ko masimulan ang pagsusulat. Di ko matukoy kung bakit ganun ang pakiramdam ko. It was just plainly shocking.

Buong maghapon sinasabi ng mga pulis na malamang ito ay pagsabog na bunga ng gas leak, may LPG gas tank daw na sumabog sa Yuen Luk Restaurant. Noong makita ko ang mga pictures ‘di ko maimagine bakit gas leak pa rin ang teorya nila halata namang hindi dahil sa laki ng pagsabog, umabot ang debris sa rooftop ng 3-floors na mall, nawasak ang wall ng mall at tinamaan ng pagsabog ang mga sasakyan sa labas. Halata naman hindi LPG ang dahilan ng pagsabog. Ewan ko ba kung nagtatanga-tangahan ang mga pulis or they are just overly cautious that they sounded stupid.

 

To view the GMANews.TV PHOTESSAY ON THE MAKATI BOMBING click this link: http://www.gmanews.tv/htmfiles/photoessays/makatibombing/

Marami na ang speculations as to who is responsible for the bomb attack. Sasabihin ka na ang obvious – na ito ay bomb attack – tutal di naman ako PNP. To my untrained eyes and based on the pictures and news reports, the bomb was not intended just to scare nor for mere sabotage. The bomb was clearly MEANT TO KILL – sa laki ng pagsabog, sa lugar kung saan ito pinasabog. Di na kinakailangang mag-isip pa ng malalim. Halatang-halata na ang nagpsabog ng bomba ay may intensyong pumatay. At di lang simpleng pumatay…. may intensyon talagang PUMATAY ng mga INOSENTENG CIVILIANS. Kung mapapasabog ka ng bomba sa mall, sa may escalator, sa may restaurant, di na kailangan ang malalim na imbestigasyon para alamin sino ang target mo. Target mo talagang pumatay ng civilian.

Para sa akin yan ang kasuklam-suklam, ito at gawain ng mga DUWAG. Di ko sukat maintindihan bakit magtatarget ng inosente at mga civilians na walang kapasidad na depensahan ang sarili at walang kapasidad na gumanti. Who would have the heart to kill and maim defenseless and unarmed civilians but the COWARDS.

Dito rin nahubaran ang pinasang batas to fight terrorism kuno – the Human Security Act. O ano mga kups napigilan ba ng Human Security Act nyo ang pagsabog? Nasan na yung mga pinapangalandakan ninyong ito ay para sa seguridad ng mga tao laban sa terorismo? Kung paniniwalaan mo ang mga awtoridad, ni wala daw sila intelligence reports that points to a possible attack.

I know I have to fight this numb and hollow feeling, lest the perpetrators of this cowardly act succeed. I know that I have to find strength and courage somewhere to fight this feeling of hopelessness and helplessness. Condemning this cowardly bombing is a first step. And I pray for the victims and their families – para sa mga namatay at na-ulila, para sa mga nag-aagaw-buhay at iba pang nasugatan.

UPDATE

They have just released the partial list of casualties and here is the list of those who died:

1. Anthony Arroyo
2. Cesar Niño Vidano
3. Maria Celeste Domingo Cruz
4. Jee Ann De Gracia
5. Lester Allan Peregrina
6. Liza Enriquez
7. Jose Allen de Jesus
8. Janine Marcos
9. Reiner Tan

 

Guilt, Insecurity and Bribery

Late last week, while the ZTE Scandal was mellowing down and the action shifts to the Ombudsman and the House of Representatives, another scandal erupted. This time it is a man-of-the-cloth-turned-Governor Among Ed Panlilio who found himself exposing a controversy. Gov. Panlilio admitted to the media that Malakanyang distributed envelops containing between Php 200,000 to 500,000 after the meeting of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines – ULAP. While he did not say what the money was supposedly for, many in speculated that this is an attempt by Makalanyang to bribe local government officials – governors like Panlilio to ensure their loyalty. Malakanyang continues to vehemently deny Panlilio’as claim despite the corroboration of two more governors.

Ang tanong dito, sino ba ang paniniwalaan mo? Si Among Gob. Panlilio o ang Malakanyang at ang mga alipores nito? Kung ako ang tatanungin walang-kurap kong sasagutingsi Among Ed ang nagsasabi ng totoo. Bakit kamo?

Si Among Ed Panlilio ay isang pari na naging controversial nitong nakaraang eleksyon dahil sa kanyang pagtakbo bilang Gobernador ng Pampang laban kina Jueteng Queen Lilia Pineda at Quarry King Mark Lapid. Laban sa guns, goons and gold ng mga kalaban nya sa pulitika, ang naging puhunan laman ni among Ed ay ang kanyang malinis na pangalan at walang lamat na credibilidad na nag-udyok sa laksa-laksang Kampampangan sa suportahan ang kanyang kandidatura. In a classic David and Goliath (2 Goliaths in fact) fight Among Ed won by a slim margin against his opponents. He was catapulted into the Governorship of Pampangan solely by the overwhelming support of the people which was strong enough to beat the forces of violence and electoral fraud.

Anong kinalaman nito sa kanyang credibilidad ngayon? Malaki. Among Ed Panlilio has the attention of various forces both in the province of Pampanga and nationally focused on him. Yung mga kalaban nya, na parehong nasa kampo ni Gloria, matatimtimang binabantayan ang bawat kilos nya para sa unang pagkakamali ay makabanat agad sa kanya. Malaki din ang expectations ng m

ga constituents nya sa kanya at sa mga pagbabagong ipapatupad nya kanilang probinsya. Sa ganitong kalagayan, hindi kailangan ni Among Ed ang dagdag na kalaban lalo na kung ito ay ang pinakamataas ng opisyal ng bansa – A

ng Presidente (na alyado ng kanyang mga kalaban) at ang mga alipores nito. By going public about the distribution of cash envelops Among Ed courted the ire of Malakanyang, something that he does not need at this point. Wala syang dahilan para magsinungaling.

Maniniwala ba kayong hindi namigay ang Malakanyang ng pera sa mga Gobernador at Kongresista? Ewan ko sa inyo… basta ako di ako tanga na maniniwala sa mga damontres na yan. si Gloria na yata ang pinakamasahol na presidente na nagsamantala sa kahinaan ng ating sistemang pampolitika para sa sariling interes. Dati nang kurakot ang pamahalaan – pero hinigitan ng pangungurakot ni Gloria ang sino mang naging presidente ng bansa. Dati nang may nandadaya sa eleksyon pero hinigitan ni Gloria ang lahat ng pandaraya sa kasaysayan. Dati nang may paglabag sa karapatang pangtao – hinigitan ni Gloria ang human rights abuses kahit ang mga HR violations sa panahon ng Martial Law. Ang tawag dito sa salitang Ingles ay IMPUNITY. Bibilhin nya ang loyalty ng mga opisyales ng gobyerno, papatayin at dudurugin nya ang nasa oposisyon, babaliin nya pati ang batas ng Pilipinas mapananitli lamang sa pwesto at makapagnakaw sa kaban ng bayan.

Tinanong ko nga rin si Ka Taning kung sino ang pinapaniwalaan nya eh? Di ko sasabibin ang sagot ni Taning… gusto nyo magtanong? click nyo ang picture nya sa baba at dun kayo magtanong….

One Day Forced Hiatus

Yesterday early morning I woke up at 6am to finish a post that I began writing last Friday. I was shocked to discover that this blog was suspended. Parang sumisid ang puso ko at tumabi sa aking appendix. For a few minutes I just sat down staring at the monitor that says “This blog is either archived or suspended for violating the WordPress Terms of Service” and it went on further to say…. to create a new blog…

Nung nahimasmasan ako konti sinilip ko agad ang aking Yahoo Messenger to see who’s online… patay wala… naka I’m on SMS lang ang mga nasa Blog Friends list ko sa YM. sinubukan kong pumunta sa WordPress Forum para makiusyoso sa ano ang karanasan ng ibang nasuspend. Awww may mga 30-day suspensions, merong di na naibalik ang mga blogs nila. Ang tataray pa sumagot ng mga mods sa forum ngunit suma total ang masasabi lang nila ay mag-email sa WordPress Support. Eh ang karamihan ng mga nagpost dun ang problema nila precisely ay di sila sinasagot ng WordPress Support ng matagal na.

I heaved a sigh of relief nung nag online sina Maru at Jojie. Di ko talaga alam ano ang gagawin at parang gusto ko na nga tumigil na lang or lumipat sa ibang platform or subukan ang self-hosting. Mas gusto ko na ang self-hosted, pero dead-end pala yun sabi ni Maru kasi hahanapan ako ng URL ng blog ko. E suspended nga. Maru and Jojie patiently encouraged me to create a new WordPress blog (kahit temporarilly). That i did, and the most part of yesterday I spent creating my new blog – A Nomad’s Journey. And by sundown yesterday I was done.

Kahit nakakapagod magsimulang muli, the processwas both therapeutic and affirming. It was therapeutic in the sense that it took my attention from feeling low for losing a blog a have developed for three months . While I was adding friends to my blogroll, nabisita ko ang lahat nga mga blogs nila – something that I was not able to do na for quite a while. It felt good to be able to touch base again. Naki-kopya ako sa blogrolls nina Jojie, Azrael, Annie at Maru. Nakapag-iwan din ako ng comments sa maraming napuntahan kong blogs bago ko kinopya ang URLs nila at pinaste sa blogroll ko. That, in itself, was a kind of journey – of going back to all the people I came to know in blogosphere in the past 3 months.

The process was also affirming because every now and then people left comments in my new blog encouraging me on. Naramaman ko ang support ng mga kaibigan ko sa blog – form helping me out sa mga put up ng blog ko, to writing posts announcing my new blog (Jojie and Kath), leaving encouraging comments sa bagong blog ko at sa WPP forum. Lahat yun, kahit maliit at ordinaryong gestures, nakakataba ng puso. Promise. WPP Bloggers really care about fellow bloggers and that I experienced firsthand. Salamat mga Kapatid, maraming maraming maraming salamat.

Nagulat ako pagkagising ko ngayong umaga ng bandang 5:30, excited ang puyat na si Katherine at binalita sa akin na Nomadic Thoughts is up again. Awwwts lifted na nga ang supsension. Ayan may 2 tuloy akong blogs hehehe ano ang gagawin ko? Baka tuluyan akong maging schizophrenic. Well, napag-isipan ko, Nomadic Thoughts will be the platform for my political views and chuvas, A Nomad’s Journey will be dedicated for my blog friends because for me it has become a symbol of my friendship with co-bloggers in WPP at dahil jan doon ko ipopost ang mga personal na mga chuva ko.

Para sa mga kaibigan ko, salamat at itong kanta ni Noel Cabangon ay para sa inyo… ito ang pinaramdam nyo sa akin kahapon…

 

AKBAYAN sues ABALOS on the ZTE Scam

Intent on pursuing former COMELEC Chairman Benjamin Abalos and exacting accountability from him for his involvement in the ZTE Scam, AKBAYAN Partylist Representative Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel filed sued Abalos before the Ombudsman this morning. Abalos was charged for violating the Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Law, Revised Penal Code, and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public Officials and Employees.

Akbayan sues Abalos over NBN deal, asks Ombudsman to inhibit (link)
10/09/2007 | 02:11 PM

Partylist Akbayan filed on Tuesday charges against resigned Commission on Elections (Comelec) Benjamin Abalos before the Ombudsman over his alleged involvement in the controversial $329.48 million national broadband network (NBN) project.

GMA’s Flash Report said Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros charged Abalos for violating the Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Law, Revised Penal Code, and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public Officials and Employees.

The opposition lawmaker said the filing of charges against Abalos was delayed as the Ombudsman failed to immediately issue Abalos’s statement of assets and liabilities, as requested by the group. The group was supposed to file the case on Monday.

The group also formally asked Ombudsman Merciditas Gutierrez to inhibit from the case.

Earlier, Hontiveros cast doubts on the impartiality of Gutierrez on complaints filed against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s allies. She said the Ombudsman is seen to be close to Mrs Arroyo, whose husband had been implicated in the NBN controversy.

Hontiveros also noted that Gutierrez dismissed an earlier case against Abalos and other Comelec commissioners on the Mega-Pacific deal despite a Supreme Court ruling on the accountability of Abalos and other Comelec officials on the anomalous project.

To recall, Hontiveros is one of the four lawmakers that endorsed the impeachment complaint against Abalos which was filed last month. The complaint was later deemed moot and academic by Abalos’s resignation on October 1.

Click these links for the GMA news flash:

Charges Filed vs Abalos before Ombudsman

Akbayan files case vs Abalos before Ombudsman

To view and download the complaint click on the links below:

Complaint vs Abalos

Annex of compalint vs Abalos

 

Abalos thought that by resigning from COMELEC, his involvement in the ZTE Scam will go away. Akala nya pag umalis sya sa COMELEC pagkatapos syang ituro bilang broker sa ZTE deal at nag-offer ng bribe kina Joey de Venecia at Sec. Romy Neri ay mawawala na ang init sa kanya. Ang ginawang ito ng Akbayan ay isang magandang ehemplo ng pagtugis at pagsingil sa isang dapat managot sa mga charges laban sa kanya.

Sana di na hayaan ng mga mamamayan na makawala na naman ang isang tiwaling mataas na opisyal ng gobiyerno. Dapat din wag hayaan na makawala ang mga kakontsaba ni Abalos sa scam na ito.

A view of Mine’s Mind

Gorgeous, sexy, naughty, witty, funny, soulful, insightful, intelligent…. the adjectives and superlatives flow through my mind when I think of a special person. Words aren’t enough to capture her character. I have known her for a little less than a year but it feels as if we have known each other for a lifetime.

It took quite a while and a lot of prodding (sometimes bullying) to convince her to blog. and finally a few days ago she surprised me by asking me to help her create her WordPress blog. Kaya rin medyo ilang araw na rin na di ko na-update ang sarili kong blog. Hexcited ako sa blog nya.

Mine’sView… a blog of special woman who hides in the nickname Mine.

Her blog gives a peek of the poetry of her heart and mind. Mine’s view blog expresses the hues and colors of her life like a prism. Here is how someone I know very well describes Mine:

MINE is simply amazing
her eyes so dazzling
and her beauty, everlasting,
MINE makes my heart sing.

MINE is mind-boggling
she can leave u panting
at times leave u hanging,
MINE keeps my heart racing.

MINE is so warm,
though she means no harm
my heart’s on alarm
My heart’s a victim of her charm.

 

Welcome Mine… and blog on!!!