Nasty Me

Layering & MO in Immigration Consultancy

2012-01-01T02:56:00.000-08:00

Canadian Immigration Consultancy isprobably one of the most ubiquitous agencies for migration in the country todaywith their red maple leaf logo seen in almost every city and major areas in thecountry today.

Their offices advertise photos of aboutfive to twenty successful clients with their families. Unknown to the public isthe fact that there are hundreds or probably thousands aspiring to become oneof CIC (as the office is popularly known) successful aspirants in a matter of2-4 months. But what is least notable about CIC with a website domain address go2canada.comis that their official receipts and contracts with clients who pay startingfrom P45,000.00 or more, indicates another company or corporate name asAmerican Oriental Immigration Consultancy, Inc. In addition, upon processing ofapplication, the representing office of Canada called Federal Skilled WorkerCentralized Intake Office with postal address P.O. Box 7500, Sydney, NSB1P0A9 willemail the applicant through “John Weisdorf of United Brokers, Inc.” with office address at 21^stfloor, Washington Tower, Pacific Avenue , Asia World, Paranaque. Here, it can be observedthat there are already three layers of agencies involved, or that CIC is only asmokescreen.

In an actual case, applicant and her familywere requested to immediately submit together with their application forms forimmigration payment for processing fee to the Canadian Embassy in case theimmigration pushed through. They were also asked by the staff of the agency toprovide bank certificate indicating at least a million pesos worth of cashdeposit to an accredited / commercial bank as “show money”. Since manyaspirants may not have said amount lying in any local bank, the agency is alsokind enough to endorse applicants to a “lending” agency which shall chargeapplicant monthly interest from the start of “loan” until such time that theapplicant will be able to pass immigration requirements and finally secureflight tickets. If the applicant is lucky, he may only be paying monthly duesfor 18 months. Another applicant who have not been lucky said that “Naubos ang ipon ko dito sa Taiwan diyan saCIC na ‘yan! At hanggang ngayon, nasa Pilipinas pa ang pamilya ko!” (All mysavings working here in Taiwan were absorbed by CIC! And until now, my familyis still there in the Philippines!)

In reality, applicants are only required toprovide for bank certificates prior to their flight, which means that afterthey are already scheduled to leave the Philippines. CIC staff would insistthat the bank statement is a requirement which the applicants need to completeprior to submission of their filled up forms to the Canadian Embassy. Onlythose who are insistent and discerning enough are spared of this ordeal.

An applicant who failed to meet immigrationrequirement was emailed by the FSW office with email address (FSW-Centralized-Intake-Office@cic.gc.ca)that refund check of processing fee shall arrived in 12 to 18 weeks. Manyapplicants at CIC have been complaining about the delay of which CIC will onlyreply “Wait,” or “None yet.” The resourceful may finally find a way to write tothe postal address indicated in that email.

After a few months, the FSW office informsthe applicant that the refund check has been forwarded but the office sends an “Undertakingof Indemnity” for the applicant to fill-up and sign in order to testify thatapplicant did not received such check.

The applicant will again wait tens of weeksmore after that action. And lucky if they will ever hear from the agency again.One 2008 applicant received an email from Michelle Milanie R. Ramos with emailaddress mramos@doxinternational.com. In this instance, the observant applicantwill become aware of another business entity DOX International Services, Incorporated.

Based on the papers and communications, all these front business organizations are owned and operated by one Atty Erwin John Weisdorf of the Law Society of Upper Canada, Toronto Ontario with passport JG162934. So, there are at least five business names/ organizations involved in the process not to include the FSW CIO.

The email from Michelle Milanie Ramosindicates that the check(s) have been redeemed, and apparently, “they” willwait information from the CIO (FSW) for clarification. However, the contact atCIO in this case, emailed a copy of the encashed check, at Bank of thePhilippine Islands and that this same check had been mailed to United Brokers. What is appalling is that thesignature of payee/endorsement had erasures or mistakes.

There are several questionable mattersabout this modus operandi of CIC/United Brokers/American Oriental Immigration Consultancy, Inc.First, they do not appear in their websites go2canada.com and doxinternational.com. Second, United Brokers does not appear in the contract with their clients. Third, they have a very obscure refund system which meant that if they have been in the service for decades, could have made them more systematic and prepared to handle such delays.

List below obtained by this blogger from CIC/go2canada.com / United Brokers indicate a batch of complainants / victims. Check because your friends or relatives might be one of them: inform them that they are not alone. However, this is a shocking reality that has not yet been brought to proper authorities to be checked and investigated on.

Images and names were blurred to protect the sources of this information. These are posted so that the public may know.

Fourth: Their length of operation in the industry have established a "link" at the centralized intake office and that losing checks must already be random, if not the actual business operation being undertaken. Fifth, do they really ever refund checks at all?

And how about the victims of "bank certificates" and show moneys?

Who will protect us from white collared gangsters like them?

Is the Canadian government aware of this?

Be warned. To connect with others who shall be filing case/s against this layered organization, please contact this blogger.

Abusive Former Mayor Floro Tadena

2011-12-19T04:16:00.000-08:00

The municipal dumpsite of Sto. Domingo, Ilocos Sur is a sad story of abuse and indifference by the elected leaders of the town and barangay. It was a case of a bad deal.

In July 2001 after elected on his first term as mayor of Sto. Domingo, Floro Tadena requested the punong barangay of probably the smallest-voting barangay but which election results showed highest percentage of support to Tadena - Sto. Tomas a favor: a temporary dumpsite for the mounting market garbage. The punong barangay out of genuine goodwill offered a land portion he possessed.

But probably due to kapalmuks (traditional politicos are generally afflicted with it), Floro kept dumping until November 2004 when the people no longer could stand the threat to their groundwater and health. 100% of the households use natural groundwater for their use and drinks. Then of course, there is the health hazard brought naturally by garbage - air, land and water pollution / contamination.

Floro went as far as dumping for free, despite the RA 9003 provision (that is the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 law) under Chapter 4 section 45 that: "(5) Incentives to Host LGUs - who host waste management facilities shall be entitled to incentives", the abusive mayor only shrugged his shoulders despite the annual savings they posted. In addition, the people at barangay Sto. Tomas have their own backyard pits to throw their wastes so that they hardly used the dumpsite for their own. Today, several metro poblacion barangays benefit from it aside from the public market and various LGU facilities. On the other end, Sto. Tomas never benefited a single centavo nor any thing at all for the risks and hazards they had to endure.

In November 2004, the people of Barangay Sto. Tomas submitted their Petition for the Closure of the dumpsite for the various reasons stated above. In mid-2005, Floro went to the Barangay for a dialogue promising to abide by the prescribed RA 9003 operation of dumpsites.

He failed to act on his verbal promises leading to the death of a six-year old who freely strayed at the hazardous dumpsite together with his friends to fetch a ball floating on top of the 25-30 feet deep garbage pit (above photo). When sent a reminder about the petition, Floro acted as if nothing happened. In Friday, December 15, 2011, the petitioners through their spokesperson filed a case against Floro Tadena and the current Municipal Solid Waste Management Chairman (it cannot be avoided although the latter, Floro's own brother, maybe innocent at most) at the Ombudsman which was subscribed by lawyer Alex Ramos. The petitioners hope that their case will be judiciously considered.

In the Philippines where democracy is for the people with money, by the people with money, and of the people with money, this is of course wishful thinking, but we can wait for the mean time.

Unpaid (Yaaaay!)

2011-10-20T05:40:00.000-07:00

Media Hysteria Against Paedophiles: Barking at the Wrong Tree

Social policy andlegal measures to perfect society remain inadequate where critics and educatedobservers such as Jennifer Kitzinger are not elected or assigned to legislativeor government posts that help shape laws and policies. Where people like herare assigned to such posts, other political issues and bureaucratic impedimentswill become known to people like her and probably to a public that will begiven the chance to know the information. In most instances, the link to theexposure of information maybe the media or the press.

This highlightsthe role of the media or the press in public debate, legislation and policy.How truly important matters in the lives of the majority of people in a givensociety are obscured by sensationalism in the media is a major issue, too, notonly amongst authorities, policy-makers and legislators, but also to someenlightened members of the masses, the media, various non-governmentorganisations, as well as the business sector. In the “Ultimate Neighbour FromHell” (Kitzinger, 1999), this issue about the media and societal perception ishighlighted slanting towards “the paedophile” where the convicted areostracised and even committed grave errors such as the burning of their homesincluding the children living with them, or the innocent with them sharing intheir burdens. By arguing that media sensationalism and hysterical societalreaction against “the paedophile” obscures legislation, Kitzinger becomes apart of the sensationalist movement that tries to transfer blame instead offinding solution. Whatsociety needs is an aggressive implementation of laws to protect the innocent,from children to elderly, and excuses such as lack of resources andbureaucratic incompetence should be properly addressed.

Kitzinger (1999)repeatedly pointed out that “the government and ‘the professionals’ rapidly lostcontrol of the news agenda and information distribution” (135), “policy makershad to reconsider legislation, policy, and practice,” (135), “the ‘big story’ for the media, but the major headachefor policy makers, became not government initiatives, but public fear andanger,” (136), “Some papers assumed the role of guardians of public safety”(138), “proof of their failure to match rationality and objectivity of thepolicy makers” (140), “policy makers and the professionals losing control ofthe agenda,” (140) referring to inadequacy in governance.

This inadequacy onthe part of government officials or legislators is seen on conflictinggovernment policies such as when 1996 Home Secretary Michael Howard made publicabout a policy to monitor sex offenders (136), as “Routine communitynotification and the automatic right of public access to the sex offender’register is opposed by chief constables, chief probation officers and theNSPCC,” (139). Already, the problem is of flawed legislation and policy. Whereoffenders are monitored and made public, it should not be limited to sexoffenders but also to indicted officials on bribery and corruption cases,owners of disastrous business enterprises that endangered the public such asthe recent oil spill by BP p. l.c. (Goldenberg, 2011), and other law violatorswho committed offence against one or many individuals.

Here, it wasalready obvious there was a bias on picking which is “evil”, and which arelegally right or wrong. The cases against the harassed “paedophiles” andsuspected ones enumerated by Kitzinger (1999) definitely are themselvesviolations of existing laws and should have been properly acted upon but Kitzingerfailed to mention whether such cases had been actually legally acted upon ornot. This is important to vindicate the law enforcers and the policy makers.However, it will remain falling short of the expectation for fairness andequality. Through media and societal hysteria against paedophiles, a crisis wasidentified, but it was not enough that focus was on the “evil”. It could havebeen a stepping stone towards identifying policy flaws which is in thelimitation of monitoring on sex offenders, instead of “all offenders” as asweeping policy will divide media attention with the possibility of focusing onwhat really matters most.

As Kitzingeracceded, “It is not sufficient to focus on media coverage.” However, she may bein for another bigger disappointment to suggest that “It is important toconsider the motives of source organisations who seek out media publicity” asobservable and fact-based motives may be conflicting. In fact, influence isalso another major factor where media is concerned as these are businessentities that may not actually be the “fourth state” but beholden to theirmajor stakeholders (Sullivan, 2005) as much as policy makers are (Mancuso,1995).

The laws of theland are based on the common perception of human rights, fairness, equality,and freedom. Where these are violated, a common ground to sanction, monitor,and control offenders should be enacted in a manner that is equitable to allconcerned with prevention of recurrence and protection of the innocent majorityas major goals.

For the meantime,it should be apparent by now to critics, observers, individuals andorganisations to understand that media entities, although appear or claim to bethe voice of the people, are business enterprises that are answerable to theirmajor stakeholders. Members of the media have reasons and have the right to bebiased and obscure. Government officials on the other hand are beholden to thepublic and have surrendered their rights to be biased, and ultimately have noright to be obscure. They should be competent and accountable, and the publichave the right to demand for it.

Reference:

Goldenberg,S. (2011). BP and partners face $45m in fines over Gulf oil spill. TheGuardian, October 13. Accessed from http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/oct/13/bp-fines-gulf-oil-spill

Kitzinger,J. (1999). The Ultimate Neighbour from Hell: Stranger Danger and the MediaFraming of Paedophilia. Critical Readings: Moral Panics and the Media.

Mancuso,M. (1995). The Ethical World of British MPs. McGill-Queen’s University Press.

Sullivan,M. (2005). Media Bias is Real, Finds UCLA Political Scientist. UCLA Newsroom,December 14. Accessed from http://www.newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/Media-Bias-Is-Real-Finds-UCLA-6664.aspx?RelNum=6664

.....ugh.... post of a prostitute writer... for botched order.... hate it... about not being paid for cheap writing services.

Ka-Cheapan sa DepEd

2011-09-20T19:45:00.000-07:00

It’s not every day that the public haveanything against DepEd – the venerable Department of Education. But for its ownteachers, it might not be the case. For more than a decade now, they arerequired to buy cheap polyester (that is recycled plastic turned into fabric)from whoever is the untouchable over there for their set of uniforms, yearly.

Cheap, and recycled polyester, a betterversion of the “gina” fabric used for bag or gown lining, which technology wasskilfully mastered in Japan, is basically used for payong, or Rihanna’s umberrrrella, shower curtains, bags,rug, and many others. Technically, it is harmful to be used as human clothing especiallywhen you have to be in it for two hours or more. It is used as disposable orone-time costume or sports uniforms, but as I said, if you have to endure onlythe un-breathable fabric for a limited few hours in a tropical climate likeours where majority of the year, people get sweaty even with 24-hour electricfans.

It is a given that public school classroomshardly are equipped with electric fans. So, what do you expect when ourunderpaid teachers are made to wear polyester year-round? OK, 10 months a year?Fortunately, the geniuses at DepEd have an answer: a roving tuberculosis clinicthat checks-up the teachers also, yearly. To whom payments are made or how much the payments are worth, is of course another matter of contention. But theheck, there must be a budget that needs to be consumed, yearly.

Anyway, so, yes, I have been pissed off bythis “polyester uniform” of our teachers, as I said, for more than a decade now.But recently, the last strand of the frayed straw gave in. It must be thedressmaker, or the cheapanggas ofDepEd have gone way, too low they are now technically spitting the Filipinotaxpayer on the face. These photos will tell you.

But if you are from DepEd and you don’t getit, then, you now qualify as a DepEd genius. Seriously? They took the troubleto include a design on these umbrellas with a map of the Philippines, insideout. It must be the dress maker. Darn.But she’s been my dressmaker for more than a decade, now, too.

Celebrating Our New Heroes

2011-06-08T20:22:00.000-07:00

Former AFP Budget Officer George Rabusa, now our New Hero (Source: Inquirer)

It is not every decade or probably a rarer phenomenon still, to see and hear actual heroes. Even while there are no substantial evidence (for government officials who have never tried to catch a thief from the government offices, substantial evidence meant a sworn statement that the accused is guilty, or probably something more exonerating) yet, we are now, in our own humble corner, declaring retired Lt. Col. Rabusa our modern Filipino hero circa Noynoy Aquino.
For me and others who may, he is one in 80 million. A rare gem.
To read part of his heroism, please click here. More here. What he did, file case of plunder against former and current AFP and PNP officers is like touting the Mafia, or China's ruling party for a game of Russian roulette. It is literally like what the dead Angelo Reyes did.
But atheists that we are, we now seek powers that are to protect Rabusa. He have to finish his job. It's not about being a budget officer. It is about being a new hero.

Enrique L Flores, Jr., Arbiter

2010-03-09T20:19:00.000-08:00

This is a warning to all illegally dismissed employees filing for damages with the Department of Labor and Employment.

I filed a case of illegal dismissal for lack of due process against an employer NGO which milks money from US private citizens for their "urban poor" clients, a project of which is the Tuberculosis program. I was dismissed after informing the regional manager of the said agency about "non-delivery of tuberculosis medicines" which I stumbled upon.

The NGO instead fired me, and made up a fraud case instead, without any prior written notice of commission of any violation.

The decision made by Flores states, "As told, no first notice was given to the complainant that her dismissal is sought which is clear violation of her right to due process...judgment is hereby rendered DISMISSING the complaint for lack of merit. However, respondent ... is ordered to pay complainant the amount ... as indemnify / nominal charges."

During our hearing at the DOLE office, my lawyer (a newbie) met a colleague who asked our arbiter and my lawyer replied "Flores."

The DOLE veteran lawyer replied, "Naku, nababayaran 'yan."

I was stymied. And today, the incident is recalled, with lots of dismay and disappointment for a chance to ever benefit from Philippine government service.

Haay Flores. Haay Bayan ko.
ULKPI TB

Smart Hi-Jacking Continues

2010-02-26T22:25:00.000-08:00

Whatever happened to "Manong Johnny's" campaign against giant mobile service providers - Smart and Globe - which continue hijacking cellphone loads from consumers?
Manong Johnny, now that many of your fellow tradpols admit EDSA was already diminished to a level that make Cory and Ninoy cringe in their graves endless, does not mean you can leave us taxpayers alone. What happened? (We don't expect the De Venecias could actually do something either but for the sake of our Payless taxes, do speak and stand up). Many consumers have maintained their silence for several big business passes now... well, for all we know, inyo-inyo rin naman ang karamihan ng big businesses (toinks sa ating mga Pinoy)

I have minimized loading up due to internet connectivity but recent Smart e-loads which allows me to send only 10 messages for a P20 load without activating their ALLTX20COMBO (by texting C20 to 2827) promo has grown monstrous. Thing is, we don't actually pay only P20 for these tingi loads but P22. I also noticed how my P30 e-load sends only about the same number of SMS. These voracious institutions who already makes loads of millions per day want everything and will get away with everything they can hi-jack as long as nobody raises hell.
Their monopoly of major media advertisements make them almost untouchables but the heck.

Hey Smart people what is going on? To default your e-load products to your promo is un-called for.

Sure you have no respect to your customers for a long time now since you've been making mega-bucks daily, but why drag us to go berserk? (Actually, am a peaceful person, I can only lash with this keyboard.)

Family

2010-01-25T16:01:00.000-08:00

I am not voting nor endorsing to family, friends and people I encounter Noynoy Aquino nor Gibo Teodoro, if only for their commonality: their middle name Cojuangco. While their respective PR agents will emphasize their being on the opposite side of the fences of politics since the Marcos regime, this does not remove the fact that ruling families have ransacked this country to its current squalid state and continue doing so until now. We should not forget the massacre of farmers at Hacienda Luisita, the continuing plight of these victims' families in the said hacienda owned by the Cojuangcos, and the lot of other farmers in massive lands owned by the Cojuangcos elsewhere, the immoral and continued defiance of law by being the beneficiaries of coco levy supposedly serving the poor coconut farmers in the south, and we should not forget that while Noynoy insists he will not steal, does not guarantee his family and clan won't, when even now, they do. In fact, I will not vote for Noynoy not because of the overtly sensational, scandalous but sometimes funny Kris Aquino. It was his middle name why.

Smart Update

2010-01-14T16:27:00.000-08:00

Here's the email of Smart:

Dear ....:
Thank you for writing us.
We understand where your sentiments are coming from. However, we regret to inform you that we could not validate the details of your usage anymore, as we could only check the last 7 days transactions of your account. However, we were able to retrieve the reloading history.

Previous records show that aside from the pre-loaded value of P100 last Nov 21 (the date of your activation), you have made another reload of P300 last Nov. 23. This was the reason why Mr. Deon Hidalgo of *1888 informed you that you have P400 total accumulated amount on your account at the time of call. Further, you have reloaded P300 last Jan. 10 after you have spoken with the agent which made your account have a total loaded amount of P700.

Regarding the concern of your sister-in-law with PLDT budget card, we would suggest to seek assistance from PLDT Customer Service for appropriate handling.

We hope this clarified your concern, Ms. Cruz. Should you require our assistance again, please do not hesitate to inform us. You may also communicate with us via twitter@Smartcares.
Sincerely,
Interactive Social Media Services

Smart Communications

Take note of the email addy: customercare@smart.com.ph.My response:

Assuming I only loaded P400, then, it should amount to 20 hours usage time. I only had a total of 13 hours and 17 minutes the time I talked with Mr. Hidalgo. Where is my 7 hours?

But I can recall I loaded another P300 before December 22, as I have said, it was hubby who bought the card at Novaliches (Bayan). Immediately after, I loaded it. I was not shortchanged, was I?

Now, this is getting really interesting.

My warning to all card load users, keep your cards or record your confirmation /reference numbers from 1510. It's the only weapon we've got against the giant corporations' shockies (shock absorbers- I sympathize fellow commoners, I sincerely do).

And I hate to admit this, but I pity every customer service representative each time a shortchanged customer had to vent their anger regarding products/services. I wish the tax we paid through all these consumption would work for us, but we have worthless government agencies, 99% of the time. Wawang Pinoy.

Smart Customer Service Update

2010-01-14T00:16:00.001-08:00

Smart contacted me through this blog and here's their email address:

ISMS@smart.com.ph

Now, let us see if it's working... The blog notification landed in my spam but fortunately, I check my spam mails once done with my inbox to see what's up with the Zongo (btw, zongo in ilocano means monkey) and Burkina Faso guys, so, I was able to capture this one fast.

If you guys have problems with *1881, then this is the email addy to send your whines, rants and barfs... at the end of the day, we still hope to get value for our hard work (money). Will keep you posted.

Hi-Smart-Jacking

2010-01-10T20:12:00.000-08:00

Sure SmartJack is threatening mobile phone service providers. Thank you for the agitation this device is causing them, it is about time, but how they will converge and continue fooling us remains to be seen.

Now, back to Smart. I have always used Smart - even when it was still a struggling subsidy of PLDT. I like its user-friendly features of not needing to encode a lot of numbers when requesting for services, unlike Globe. I have an aberration to reading and writing numbers. So that when we have been done (or been made) using broadband of leading landline telecoms, I'd end up using and recommending SmartBro. In fact, while currently using PLDT's broadband/dsl (bundled with the landline), I have turned to Smartbro plug-it for emergency purposes such as when our neighbors chop up some wires of PLDT for recycling and economic purposes (like in my 2 months in our current residence, we have two weeks without service, although I'd really like to work out how PLDT will be notified about billing deductions, because it takes like 1 hour to 2 hours to get through their 171 hotline - that HOT).

The SIM has its initial 100-peso load, explained earlier in the Smart-wireless SM North Edsa center to last about 10 hours. Then, I bought a P300 load at the dome in the garden in the sky (SM-NE). The load expired in about 4 days. It left me wondering - it could be because my sister used a laptop (slowmo). So, hubby bought another P300 load. While there was again a PLDT dsl interruption going on threatening my livelihood, and it's the wee hours, I was earlier thankful I had my Smartbro plugit. I became hysterical, however, as I see my total consumption here to be 13 hours plus only and I could no longer connect to the net:
I was thinking the "total time" indicates for the last card I loaded, but no, it wasn't. Had I realized that earlier, I could have raised more hell against *1881's CSR Deon Hidalgo I was talking with! Because he insisted I only had 1 peso load left!

I told him they are doing the consumer another highway robbery and nobody seems to be raising an alarm! Would these major media companies do? I doubt it when these companies are virtually the bread and butter of these local media companies. So, its up to us netizens to become vigilant and warn our fellow consumers / victims.

Next time that you load, take note of your reference number in case you delete the message from 1510. Or keep your cards. It will serve as reference when you start waging war with the Smart CSR (Customer Service Representative or company shock absorber). Because what got me during my convo with *1888's Deon Hidalgo was he kept insisting I only loaded a total of P400 when in reality, I already loaded a total of P700. And even if I only loaded a total of P400, I would still need to consume a total of 20 hours! Now, how do we raise more hell?

Here's another: my sister-in-law is trying to call up her mom in Canada, and she bought the P100 PLDT budget card charging only P1.50 cents per minute. That's hoot against the operator-assisted P200/ per minute. But while the phone machine acknolwedges the card still has P36 pesos left, she can no longer connect. Hello? PLDT and Smart? What's up with your hi-jacking card loads?

Prayers & Thanks

2009-11-24T03:08:00.000-08:00

For the victims of the Maguindanao atrocities and their families, my prayers (in a cruel and utterly unfair world, our only hope is a God some call an opium).

Now back to business...
I am one of those relieved and jubilant after Chiz Escudero finally learned to say, "Hello, planet Earth?" and nobody answered.

What's with the Senator?
First off, he got lucky. And he's got the charisma to send for the members of media each time there is an issue wherein a noise is needed. But checking on his background, all you have is an empty drum. Classic trapo in the making.

Many had been anticipating Mr. Escudero would run for vice presidency. I was a bit shocked (but not that much) when I learned today he had been eyeing the presidency. He was that bloated? lol. Behind the scene, with fellow media folks, here are discussions about Mr. Escudero:

"Si Chiz? Kahit nga mga empleyado niya, di siya ibo-boto e! (Not even his employees will vote for him!)"

" Napaka-showbiz nun ano? Pagkatapos niyang magsalita sa harap ng camera, wala nang kilala! (He is very showbiz. After an interview and the camera has stopped focus on him, he knows nobody!)"

In reality, Mr. Escudero is one of those who knew how to use the media, unluckily, the media should know when to inform and protect their sworn public. IMO, his decision to back-out was probably for finding out after going to his campaign sorties how in reality he is not really that popular. His media friends that provided him rah-rah-rah earlier might have already learned his true colors. He is what we'd call "press release". Thank you Mr. Escudero for reducing the trapos in this election.

Contract Farming in the Philippines

2009-10-20T17:49:00.000-07:00

From the Ibon newsletter:

AMID THREAT TO FOOD SECURITY
GOV’T OPENS MORE FARM LAND FOR FOREIGN AGRIBUSINESS FIRMS

The recent typhoons highlighted land and crop use conversion as a factor in worsening the effects of disasters on food production and the need to ensure adequate land for food production. However amid all these, government has reserved more agricultural land for export crops and use of foreign agro-corporations.

More than 1.5 million hectares of land have been developed for agribusiness since 2005,
according to the Philippine Agricultural Development and Commercial Corporation, most of which are for planting high value commercial crops to be exported to other countries.
Government has also approved 3 million hectares for foreign agro-corporations, which includes 60,000 hectares to Pacific Bio-Fields Corp. of Japan.

More worrying is the recent announcement of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) that over 20 agribusiness firms will meet with nearly 200 Philippine companies to form partnerships and joint ventures in fisheries, biofuels, processed goods, meat and poultry, dairy products, etc. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) also granted 375,091 hectares of land to be used exclusively for jatropha production, and opened 30 more hectares for public auction.

According to IBON, data from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) of approved converted land area of 46,000 recorded over the span of 27 years is too small and does not include yet the areas lost to massive land grabbing, illegal conversions, and land speculation for industrial, financial and agribusiness ventures in the country.

While the disaster will likely affect food production, IBON said that this would have been mitigated if agricultural lands were maintained and harnessed for food production. The impact of land use and crop conversion on the production of staple crops has been evident in the last decades. Since the 1990s, farm area planted to palay fell by more than 87,000 hectares while that of corn was reduced by almost 300,000 hectares. Such decrease in the farm area spelled the massive displacement of Filipino farmers.

With the worsening economic crisis and as the country becomes more vulnerable to disasters, government should address the threat of food insecurity by ensuring that the country has sufficient land for food production, as well as adequate support for producers, to meet the food needs of Filipinos—rather than allowing the large-scale conversion of agricultural lands.

(end)

Farming in the Philippines is a conducive enterprise. This is most especially in the valleys of Davao where rain fall is year long and mild. In the north, certain crops are favorable to cultivate: peanuts, tobacco, mongo, and others that do not require much rain. Some portions that are irrigated could harvest rice twice, or 3 times annually if lucky enough. Typhoons make the north a risky business when it comes to crops.

Throughout the years, however, several threats to farming have emerged:

depletion of the soil's natural nutrients due to excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides
land-grabbing (incidentally, my father was accused as such, went under investigation, and luckily came out clean... and no, we are not moneyed nor strategically connected in Philippine politics --- his maternal side of clan does not believe him, though). BTW, landgrabbing dates back to Spanish period when Europe's (Spain) sent out their representatives to own whatever land they could title... so until today, so much like Native Americans, Native Filipinos lord it over to the Ayalas, Ortigases, the mestizo Chinese Cojuangcos, Florentinos (in the north) and other sophisticated-sounding names who are also landlords and kingmakers if not kings in their own 'doms (governors, congressmen, mayors, oligarchs, and trapos)
derailing of noble-purposed agriculture projects into pockets of trapos (from barangay officials up to the first gents and mesdames)... example: organic farming
then, there's the above.

To describe it in a first-hand basis (yes, I came from a farming family), those contractual farming methods run like this based on Uncle Chavit's tomato plant in Santa, Ilocos Sur:

contractors (tomato plant representatives) approach a small-scale farmer (with a few hundred square meter land area) or the other way around for tomato planting
the contractor provides the seeds for planting and provides an "advance money" for the farmer to cover labor, and other incidental expenses - diesel for water, transport, etc. The contractor will also provide for fertilizer and pesticides which costs will be added to the total cost of deductions payable to farmer in contract.
Upon harvest, the farmer will sell a kilo of tomatoes for P3 or US$.06 cents to the contractor if he is lucky. Most of the time, the farmer will end up owing the contractor because the price may also get lower as insisted by the contractor because many accepted contract growing and there is overproduction of tomatoes. Instead of earning, he loses money and that he will need to accept another contract to pay his debts off.

This is crazy, you'd say. This is contract-farming, otherwise noted by Ibon as "partnerships and joint ventures" above. This is reality 101 in Philippine farming. Thank you for reading.

Hello BDO: A Short Story based on Facts

2009-10-05T04:06:00.000-07:00

A few months back, like, May 18, my wallet was snatched

(the customer service representative from SM Hypermart The Block corrected me: "Na-snatch-an po kayo? Baka na-pick-pocket?" And I acquiesced, retorting coyly, "Ay, oo nga pala..." out of short-circuit, biglang bumagal ang memory ko... my original byte coud have produced this retort: E miss, di naman sa bulsa dinukot, at dinaan lang sa bilis ng kamay..." I hate it!
)

and with it are IDs and a BDO-issued credit card. I reported it immediately, inside the store.
The next or a couple of days later, a CSR called me up requesting me to fax billing address evidence. I did immediately as asked. Every 2 weeks after, I called the BDO hotline 6318000 to follow-up and until the second week of August, I was informed it (the card!) was already ready for release.Two or 3 weeks later, I received a billing statement for the credit card which has not arrived! I immediately called to learn the card was not informed that it should have been released and should have started walking to its intended master. All hell and its neighboring holes broke loose.

A couple of days later, I received the card.

It has sit idle on my phone table a few weeks now, I was waiting for it to make up its mind and learn I was not gonna smooth my fingers on it to turn it into a genie... I am waiting for the cancellation of service fees charged on me days before I even met the card I was being charged with. And the notification I requested that I already canceled my order for a replacement.

I hate BDO, especially the one in West Avenue cor Del Monte. It has monster clerks. Especially the fat bully who terrorizes not only clients or customers but the senior officers in there, I kept wondering what's keeping her on her job. She's Ursula from The Little mermaid... I had a series of nightmarish experiences in there, with Ursula.

And then, there's the "pick-pocket" experience at The Block, and this credit card experience... Everyday, Customer Service to me takes mutilated meanings and forms that make each encounter a release of evil thoughts... Hmmm, they (CSRs) are useful, afterall.

Postal Importer

2009-07-21T18:36:00.000-07:00

So, now, I am a certified small-time importer because the Bureau of Customs has finally taxed me for buying $62 worth of items online! (been cursing non-stop since yesterday afternoon, if you want to know the truth).
There's duty tax, value added tax, shipping tax, commission and brokerage fee, cost of containers, amount of royalties, value of resale, loading and handling, and cost of insurance-so that for a $62 woth of purchase cost me some P1,725. To say the least, I was shocked. Sabi ko sa manong who issued me a receipt: Nakakawindang lang po kasi mga puncher lang binili ko! All the while akala ko, WTO was doing me good for reducing imported tariff and all that!" Naloka talaga ako!

Sabi nung isang staff, "kasi pag more than $50 na purchase value, me tax po." And I retorted, "So, pag mga $49 lang, wala? Next time pala, $49 lang ipapalagay kong value sa vendor ko." Di na siya umimik.

Sabi nung manong na taga-post office, buti nga hindi inilagay sa bigtime importing yong items ko, kasi daw, ang amount, more than P2,500. Hello? Pang San Miguel Corporation na nga lang daw 'yong mga ganung taxes.

Shocks, I owe the manong post officer one! Salamat po!

Nymphet Video and Presidential Implants

2009-07-08T17:40:00.000-07:00

About a month back, half of the male Pinoy population were titillated to learn it's out (yeah, 80% of the entire tv-viewing pop had been anticipating it), the Katrina Halili sex video. What was new, actually, was the partner and the doctora involved.
Then, a few days back, our attention is switched to President GMA's breast implant news.

The two reflects the Philippne machismo at its best. Incidentally, both females are products of the wonders of cosmetic surgey. I still vividly recall when GMA the tv network first featured Halili in bikinis at the series Darna with ogrish lines in her belly as if the Philippines has ran out of sexy women (gosh, I'm blushing, the Philippines never will ran out of sexy women!).

The first: much-anticipated, the second:much anticipated tragedy.

IMO, the Halili issue pales in comparison of worth, lasciviousness, and shame against the presidential augmentation, or implant, or however one may call it. I've seen all the faces of those politicians on television and NOBODY looked sincere about their comments that it was entirely a personal thing, blah blah... with their lascivious and obscene grins pasted on their faces. And I mean all of them (including the priest, I am sorry forgive me father, blah blah blah). Well, actually, the mention of Mr. Enrile's comment dismissing Ms. Arroyo's breast implant as entirely "her own business" is a big joke and so are the rest of those old men who made it appear it was not their business to comment. Gaaaad! with a capital G. If I were a sexist, I'd die laughing of puke.

Sexism is grown on me (how do you explain a sexist father?) and right on their faces shouting (those politico freaks) I've read this: Ang gaga, akala niya me iaasim pa siya.

I really don't know if I'd get a presidential pardon for "libel" here but it's the truth, people, so stop pretending.

Dealing with a Philipine Government Agency from Scratch

2009-07-05T00:00:00.001-07:00

In my lifetime, I have continuously been dealing with government agencies with or without a connection. In most cases, 90% were failures. And in some cases, I succeed. In the 10% case I succeeded, here are some tips I learned:

1. Visit or call office branch /agency.
2. Try asking from their own personnel whom to address (OIC) your formal letter. In this case, be patient (warned). Many are hired without a hint of what they are or what their role is in that office, in most probability they will not know what you are talking about and will pass you to an average of 3-7 other personnel before getting the correct answer.
3. Get the complete name, position, office address, and contact number of the OIC.
4. Make a formal letter introducing your organization, purpose, and rationale.
5. Submit the letter to the above mentioned office, with your own copy. Let the receiver print his/her name, signature, date received, and contact number. Inform him/her that you shall be making a follow-up.
6. In case the personnel directs you to the OIC, then go ahead and give your letter. Answer his/her inquiry honestly, emphasizing the "good favor" they will be doing.
7. In case of an "un-sure" or for follow-up answer, get his direct line or name of secretary and the date / time it would be best to follow-up.
8. Make your follow-up on the agreed date and time. In case you won't be able to talk to the OIC, get the name and position of the one who answered your call and leave a message about your purpose as well as your intention to call again to GET the answer - explicitly request or command the ijeet to take down your message and give it to the officer. Make your voice as if you are a taxpayer and providing for their salaries, because you are a tax payer and providing the salaries of the president down to the first gentleman (darn!).
8. Since it is a government agency, you are expected to make the follow-up (repeatedly) until your patience ran out. If it has ran (or is it run?) out, you have the right to raise your voice and demand for the ijeets you listed down whom you gave your message to. Harass them.
9. In the instance your proposal / request was turned down, shout invectives and cuss. Its the least way to get even.
10. Last warning: in the BIR hotline, most of the above does not work. Cuss them instantly!

Cha-cha

2009-06-14T17:07:00.000-07:00

I am not really against constitutional amendment if it is gonna adopt an absolute
1. ban on uneducated (I'd probably suggest at least a master's level and minimum 5-year management experience) candidates from mayoral to the president
2.nepotism up to the fourth degree in all government offices
3. ban on extension of term after 3 years to include all first and second degree relatives in said positions
4. capital punishment for all corrupt officials with proven misalligned and misappropriated budgets starting at P10,000.00

Ewan ko lang kung me qualified at willing pang tatakbo. (cuss, cuss and cuss). It is a shame that until now, majority of Filipinos cling to the popularity method of voting. Nakakahiya ang katamaran ng nakakarami sa atin. It is our duty to at least research a little bit and use a little of our common sense when voting. Let us ask ourselves: what have this dork done in the past that makes him/her deserving of my vote?

But since I was brought out of this world with an already very questionable form of governance, I have maintained an anarchic stance since: I don't effing vote. In fact, the only time I really liked a presidentiable, I did not vote, because I knew my effort would go for naught. I was right.

Snatcher at SM The Block

2009-05-25T02:03:00.000-07:00

I have been shopping groceries and other supplies at SM, considering that it is just a few minutes ride (by jeepney) away from our current home. If 3 "Loyalty" or Rewards Cards were the basis, then, I am one loyal customer (of both BDO and SM, but hey, it's about time-saving and accessibility nowadays).

One Monday (Note that it's not rush hour nor peak day)--- May 18 2009 to be exact, the whole family hit the mall for a stroll, pizza at Pizza Hut, then headed to Hypermarket at the Block. While inside the Hypermarket, I noticed my bag zipper was open, but did not made a fuss about it because I was with 3 kids (aged 9, 7, and 4 respectively) so, I proceeded filling up the grocery cart after closing the zipper. When we got to the checkout counter, I was shocked to find my zipper bag open again! And my wallet with all our IDs, ATM and credit card no longer inside it!

While it was unfortunate for the thug to get only about P70 cash, it was very disappointng on our part to be had inside the supposedly biggest mall of the Philippines (yes, you're wrong about the Mall of Asia!). We were expecting something high-tech, such as replaying security video captures or footages to identify suspected thugs prowling in their state-of-the-art shopping center... (I had a really nagging and nasty feeling when one of their sales staff entertained me as if I was buying a 24-karat diamond when in fact I was just buying a barbecue thong!)

But no... We were faced with a junior secret agent, quite embarassed as well as edgy about his work he would not even get my identity if I had not informed him he needed to, in case my wallet is found strewn in their vast property. In fact, it had to be me to contact their other security officers in adjacent buildings to assure me that in case something like my suspicion happens, my IDs and wallet be returned. I mean, hello? What if I had gunned down people like a madman using a silencer, won't they use their hi-tech equipment to warn their comrades at all? Shees, of course, I am exaggerating (and just wondering)! It only happened once at SM!

It was like very typical day in a government office --- at least, inside a government office, the staff pretend to be the boss and yell at the taxpayer even if they sound (and look) stupid. Like it should be a positive comparison at all, eh?

Well, since I no longer have to save "credit points" as all my loyalty cards are lost, I have started to shop at nearby Trinoma - Landmark. The better of which is not to encounter government clerk /officer clones. The end is near.

Baldwin and the Mail Order Bride

2009-05-22T18:35:00.000-07:00

In the news just recently...

NEW YORK – Alec Baldwin is apologizing for making a joke about getting a Filipino mail-order bride that provoked a sharp response in the Philippines.

The Emmy-winning actor quipped during a May 12 interview on "The Late Show with David Letterman" that he would love to have more children and that he was "thinking about getting a Filipino mail-order bride at this point ... or a Russian one."

On Wednesday, Baldwin posted on The Huffington Post that he was apologizing "to anyone who took offense."

He said, "I believe that most people understood that this was a joke and took it as such."

Philippine Sen. Ramon Revilla said Monday that Baldwin's comment was "insensitive and uncalled for." He threatened him with a beating and said the "30 Rock" star is apparently unaware that the Philippines has a law against mail-order brides.

And I wonder what the senator fusses about? He should have instead corrected Baldwin it's no longer the mail-order-bride thing going but online services for love match/pairing and an entire industry of "networking" sites.

Mr. Senator, wake up. Start reading your Yahoo News! In reality: Whoever is the chief-of-staff of Bong Revilla, update your boss! darnit! there's nothing more annoying than a news that is outdated!

Haaaay, GMA

2009-01-28T05:40:00.000-08:00

For several years now, the whole family have been "loyal" viewers of GMA, until the network kept recycling Carlo J. Caparas' creations as if there's a dearth of creative writers in the 80 million or so populace...

It started with Asero, when recycling became such a despicable practice... OK, when will they implement Intellectual Property Rights eh? Then, Mel and Joey and the rest of the morning shows became infomercials, pushing and enticing every viewer to join America's new religion, as if economic salvation actually depended on it...

Anyway, I noticed only one actor who has kept Lalola viewable: Keempee de Leon. There has been a lot of improvement in Keempee's acting, whose more subtle take on the "bakla" role has given a better version of Joey's previous gay roles. Otherwise, I really wonder what production designers do, with Lola's disco outfits in corporate meetings, but then again, we've seen the same in much better telenovelas --- over-sexy clads of office or regularly paid working characters.

Why can't they learn from those Korean telenovelas? It's not the outrageous outfits or costumes, nor the hyped "stars". It is the quality of the show, credibility of plot and scenarios. While magical themes are the consistent favorites, magic woven to reality is what makes a fiction appealing.

Incapacitating Frontliners

2009-01-13T19:13:00.000-08:00

There was a time when Customer Service is the end-all of customer woes (as long as the product or service is returned... and refunded...most probably if you're lucky). You go to the counter where a sign reads "customer service" and vent bad air as much or as long as you can handle the wit (or lack of it) of the person (probably a clone, a puppet, or something more idiotically similar) before you. Anyway, in most instances, all you really want is justice be given to you... although in the deep recesses of your mind, you're aware you've been had big time... lost time and effort, dampened and crushed or crushed then flooded expectations, lost hope, time wastage, crumbling opportunities, the end of the world...

I am exaggerating but when you're a micro-small-time-true-to-form-TQM-not-here-for-the-money-only entrepreneur like me, this bleak doomsday scenario happens a lot of times. (I've been dead a lot of times, too, I keep wondering what's this zombie doin' here!)

So yes, I am just having another survival-day with the bank (again, again) and it's not doing me good. I received more than a month ago this
bluffing me about being a "valued member" (my ***) and all that bs... but now that I call on my bank branch - Banco de Oro -West Avenue-Del Monte - (I don't have the temerity and strength to face their frontliners whom my sister who works with another bank suggested I could have fired especially now that there's retrenchment, if only I'd want to) - they send me to their magical, centralized Customer Service System 631-8000. You get lucky if you get a ring, luckier if you get connected to a working "key" or extension number, luckier still to be able to talk to a CSR who can answer your queries and blessed if you are able to get sense and results out of the dialogue. That's streamlining and centralization working for the depositor nowadays. Talk about technology, speed and the power of the fingertips.

Honestly, I want the most remote ways of customer service - you talk to a person in the branch where product or service is availed, she finds the right person to talk to, then settle your problem. After all, they said they find ways, and all those taglines to catch fancy... It's time to work, fellas. Instead of centralizing, educate your frontliners so they can advance their knowledge and skills, satisfy your walk-in (and existing) customers, and attract more customers by word-of-mouth. One workshop every 6 months won't hurt the ROIs as much as a Lehman Brothers did... (perhaps I should venture into business consultation career instead?). It's also time big and medium businesses learn their lessons.

If I Were A Customer Service Representative

2008-10-10T23:05:00.000-07:00

Not that I am sour-graping because I failed in the "reading" examination given by Teleperformance ages ago... but that I am so mean to CSRs, I regret each time I was forced to. So, to balance matters, I also do some reflective thinking and wonder:

How would I say the following if I were a CSR and had to handle a person like me:

* I don't use this brand. I am only trying to answer complaints in a nice way.
* Use the competitor brand.
* Stop bickering, it was your fault.
* You've been had big time.
* Did you read it was "made in China"?
* Fuck you!

If I had been hired, I'd probably speak fiction:

Ma'am, that model was pulled out of the shelves a few months back. (It's really defective.)
Sir, you must have a very charming smile... (I have no answer).
I am glad to inform you that our company already agreed to pull out of Beijing because of your complaint (Throw it, it's useless).
Our research department will go through your case right now and we will get back to you as soon as you can call again (Get lucky).
I have only been using this product as a Chrsitmas give-away (I'm not as dumb as you to buy this one).
I just dispatched our emergency team to attend to your request (Cut it off!)

Fortunately, I am not a customer service representative.

Balance

2008-09-23T16:01:00.001-07:00

In one of my YahooGroups, a recent email / post message was:

hi all,
i found six young kittens by the road the other day, and their eyes and ears are still closed so i couldn't just leave them out near the garbage.
i've kittens of my own, and could not take them in anymore. if someone could please adopt them until they start eating solids.
most shelters like PAWS would take them in as long as they can eat solids already.
please help. they're really cute and seem healthy enough (they got really powerful lungs on them). there are
home-made kitten formulas from the net, so no need to buy the expensive ones. they just need to be fed as often as possible, and be tidied up if they do their business.
if someone could adopt them in 2s or 3s, it would be much appreciated.
best if pick-up is done in san juan because i can't bring them to the office for meet-ups.
for interested parties, please reply to my personal mail so we could coordinate.
thanks much!

One (or the only) reply went:

If there are no takers you might consider taking them to Luneta Park in Manila. The homeless there consume cat meat for food.

Then, chaos followed, many of which protested the reply was uncalled for. Old that I was, I remained a distant spectator, waiting for sense and sensibility (AW! )

Then, the underdog retorted:

We are into recycling garbage, right? Let us be clear about our goals and priorities here. By Ms. ___'s own account, the circumstances behind the misfortune of the six unwanted animals point to one single fact - they were garbage. As such, we recycle them. Sorry but I could not think of a better way to do it other than to use them to feed people who are in dire need of protein-rich sustenance. It's like hitting two birds with one stone - recycling and feeding the hungry.

And to the genius who called me an idiot, I'm sure you share Ms. ___ "garbage" mentality, treating unwashed and unwanted living things "by the roadside" as trash.

The "basureros" (garbage collectors) and the "patay-gutoms" (now, this is challenge--- dying of hunger? lol) should avoid crossing your path lest you might think of "recycling" them, robbing them the modicum of dignity to live and die like the rest of us.

It was some kind of an amusement for a nasty elder like me...

But if I were to rant and side anybody, I prefer the latter, making use of kittens to pacify some grumbling stomachs. What's the difference between a kitten and chicks (one day old, anyone?) anyway? There were arguments like "making this world a better place for "living and the non-living" and all that.

But I guess, civil society has gone so far as misplaced its priorities. Balance is side swept with "niceties" that just don't make sense.

How about "...if someone could please shoulder this child's education until such time he can can compete living in this civil world?"

How about "...it's only about $7 a month to make this vagabond kid stay at school and away from trouble... and you don't need an internet to help..."

We have a lot choices, that is probably the problem... but we all should pause sometimes, and care a little. It won't cost us much and you won't even notice...

Against indifference, I quote Dante:

The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who in times of great moral crisis maintain their neutrality. - ~ Dante Alighieri

F Sionil Jose Walked Out of L Kasilag's Necro

2008-09-04T19:14:00.000-07:00

I got this forwarded from Elmer Gatchalian, a Palance awardee:

Why Sionil Jose walked out of the CCP during King's necrology.

Why would National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jose walk out of the CCP during its tribute to the late National Artist for Music Lucrecia Kasilag whom he dearly loved and respected?

This letter written by Jose last Aug. 22 and send to Emely Abrera,
chairperson of the CCP (cc: Nestor Jardin, President and Chris Millado, Performing Arts Department Head)

Permit me to tell you my regret and anger the day when I was at the CCP for King Kasilag's necrology. Before the start of the service, I was ushered to the backstage- a departure from the usual manner by which we honored our departed National Artist. After I offered my bouquet to King, I walked to my assigned seat and was surprised to see Imelda Marcos before me. Had I known that she would be there, I would not have attended the necrology anymore. But in deference to King, who I loved dearly, I decided to suffer my presence. Then she mounted the podium and started bragging about herself, how Chairman Mao welcomed her in China. That was too much, so I decided to leave.

I have known King since 1948, when she was the piano teacher of the girl I married. I regret that I had to leave her last presence with us.

Enclosed is the article I wrote years ago on Imelda (for Philippine Star). I hope that you will remember. May I beg of you this one I favor. In the future, please do not honor Imelda in any of the CCP activities. In ostracizing her and denying her honor, you honor the memory of Ninoy Aquino and the thousands upon thousands who were unjustly jailed, tortured, killed or salvaged by the Marcos dictatorship.

In honoring the plunderers of this nation and letting them easy without any punishment (like Erap) we not only condone their infamy; other rapist of this nation will also feel redeemed, convinced, that they did no wrong. Then, they pave the way for future criminals to do the same, sure that, like Imelda and her gang, they will no be punished and that after their foul deeds, they can even preen in the limelight before a people without memory.

The Marcoses were in power for more than 20 years... they gave patronage with the people's money to many. There recipients, of their patronage are grateful. I can very well understand that, but keep in mind that the evil that they did far outweighs the miniscule good that they achieved, the CCP is one and the appointment of King is another.

The CCP and King helped deodorize a little a murderous dictatorship. And don't you ever forget, it was your money, my money, OUR money that built the CCP - not Imelda's.

Sincerely yours,
F. Sionil Jose

The Philippine Star
August 31, 2008 edition
Sunday Lifestyle, Page H-1

Banco de Oro

2008-09-03T14:44:00.000-07:00

In December 2007, Banco de Oro had a hostile takeover on Equitable-PCI Bank. Previously, the bank was just that - PCI Bank, one of the better and more reliable commercial banks in the Philippines at par with BPI and Metrobank. It was still reeling from the Equitable merger at that time, but PCI was as graceful as the lady who defied a president in the only big fish corruption case ever resolved in this country.

There are a lot of lapses in the service of BDO since then. Among them are the following:
- ATM branches are always offline from morning 'til the next banking day
- One cannot withdraw over-the-counter inter-branch. One BDO manager at Urdaneta City Manolito Novida tried in vain to fool me it was not true by calling his counterpart in Del Monte-West Avenue and discuss that such was such.
- Some of their ATM features such as "money transfer" was a joke, a posse, a fraud, as one of the West Ave-Del Monte branch clerk confirmed with me when I inquired some couple of months ago. I was transferring my account from Carmen to that branch and inquired about its money transfer feature as it would do me no good if I made a little mistake considering my almost idiotic disability with numbers...but the clerk said it was only placed there without really any function.
I told the clerk it was quite strange as BPI's money transfer has been working more than a decade back.
- And now, the most recent discovery I found is their online blah. Just yesterday, I had a credit card approved with them, but in order to use it online, I need to register online. The site is problematic. So, as much as I never want to talk to a customer service representative over the phone again as long as I live, I was left without a choice, as I told Angel the CSR I talked with at 631-8000. She told me to apply with the nearest branch. There, I found out one could apply for Internet Banking, Phonebanking, etc. But it seems it will end only with the form. The teller / clerk / staff at BDO West Ave-Del Monte branch told me their site is working. She even had the nerve to ask me where I access the net (at home or in the office?). I was tempted to say via internet cafe. But then again, sarcasm does not apply with ignorance. I told the truth that even my mobile phone won't left me alone offline with the features of yahoo chat. Poor me. Because even dial-up connection today is far more efficient than a million-dollar deal with ZTE. As long as it's not peak season, else, one is reminded of the old EDSA traffic prior to its massive rape and deconstruction.
In short, BDO people in case you'd ever come upon this blog, I hope I don't need to spell it out that your services suck. But I already did, so, thank me.

Online Nasty, Not Me

2008-07-23T02:10:00.000-07:00

So you'd know I pale in kindness compared to these online hustlers of which could be helpful to real humans like ... us.

Send him a reservation here for an eternity of fire and gnashing of teeth (if he's not using dentures). In fact, you may want to save a space for yourself, too.

Then, there are these too, honest cards it could really help release pent-up emotions... Well, currently, the supplier run out of stock or something, but so you'll have an idea...

Then, some people really would need some help (another form of release, in case you love to hate and getting even) although it's not really such a bad idea if you wanna try it yourself, for $1.85.

You're welcome, always!

Codename: Asero Tips from the Kamikaze Warrior

2008-07-17T18:24:00.000-07:00

(Source: iGMA.tv)
I didn't mind television thrash so much, except for some witty ads like that Bioessence or something shampoo commercial of un-photoshopped man and his hair.

And the Robin Padilla/Angel Locsin tandem Asian Treasures has become forgivable because of this initial mediocrity.

It's not the celebrity talents. There are simply a lot of misguided elements lifted or taken from a lot of spy movies (or tv series--- The A Team --- to be specific) as well as characterization that makes it sablay to the ultimatum.

Of course I am exaggerating. Neither am I an expert on espionage, but I was a spy-kamikaze in my other life, so, I am not here to argue. Just an assassin out to liquidate whatever comes my way on the Asero blah.

The opening. The establishing into using disierto and Arabs is downright stupid and discriminatory. A preview of those made-in-China scorpion toys. Spies NEVER stand out wherever they are. They blend with the sand in the desert, even assuming poisonous arachnids or camels if need be. Get producers?

Sure we've had loads of Hollywood terrorist movies predicting 9-1-1 and even the impending US vs. Iran war (which even obscenely high paid Homeland Security - US of course - observers base their analysis) involving as always our Muslim brothers, but people, we're never really sure who's behind these paid suicide bombers, or if Osama bin Laden is actually an Arab. Because back here in the Philippines, fellow writers, we also have suicide assassins who will kill vocal journalists for only five thousand pesos (yeah, that cheap you need not go far for character).

Then, that tube. We've seen that elsewhere, bummer. It was in a Jacky Chan movie.

Even Janno Gibbs who's a natural dork has become uncomfortable in his role I can't believe I'd see a trace of embarrassment on his face when finally joined by Grecko (Richard Gutierrez' character) in that intro.

Then Bitoy. We all like Bitoy. But not this time. Is he being depicted as a cross between the oldie in Back to the Future and a modern-day IT geek?

He should have been better packaged as the clean-cut, goggles-wearing, old, plain, real-life Beethoven Bunagan. Because formerly, we had inventors and scientists who hermit themselves in their laboratories, while our present-day ITs splurge on the wonders that technology brings them, including food, vanity sets, and all the materialism they could put their fingers into (even just by hacking).

What I am trying to say is that production involves research and espionage is about blending and never having to be obvious. The first episode blasted of "glaringly obvious" if there ever was a phrase. It was simply a crime.

Customer Service

2008-06-21T00:14:00.002-07:00

Customer Service, in its early inception was a brilliant offshoot of TQM with customer satisfaction as the goal. This makes prices of products and services go a notch higher than the usual. Then, customer satisfaction has evolved to after-sales services that have the poor consumer bombarded with unsolicited letters, calls and emails asking, probing, and forcing them to go and waste more money about their products. Through this line, CSR or customer service representatives were created. They run the gamut of sales representatives to technical experts that tells you where the letter "Q" in your keyboard is and that you need to plug in an electrical outlet a gadget before its "on" button lights up, or anything to that effect... and yeah, the spammers... they are also called CSR.

Owing to its acceptance and popularity, this customer service line has created a whole new spectrum of service and poured in billions of dollars in low-labor-cost, English-speaking third world countries like India and the Philippines. In fact, an agent is screened by having her or him say a couple of lines in English. If you happen to pronounce the words correctly, you're hired and would start to get paid with about $235 monthly. Provincial rates are lower, though, if they ever get paid regularly at all. So, in reality, it does not really matter if the dork hired was a dean's lister or a dumb pa-sosi (social climber in Philippine lingo) as long as the words were pronounced properly, or convincingly.

In the Philippines, job turn-over is fast in call centers as these CSRs burn out. It is because half of customers calling were either totally innocent about the product or service they have bought, or too smart to accept they have been duped. Both kind of customers could take the sanity away from the CSR in a matter of minutes. But behind those perfect-sounding English, the customer gets:

- wrong answer (99% of the time based on personal experience)
- imperfect grammar, if ever discernible at all.
- scripted message
- scripted message repeated again and again until the customer gets the hint and slams the phone to smithereens
- a nervous wreck (both ends - the CSR and the customer)
- a relay message "Yes ma'am/sir I will inform the people concerned about this."
- a message informing the customer to visit the nearest CSR in the area (after being told to call the CSR hotline)
- worsened headache
- madness.

So, if one studies closely the chain, there only is an added layer between the customer and their "concerned" manufacturer/ service provider: a buffer, a shock absorber, a barf bag.

The better of which one screws more, faster, then probably disappear...
-end-

Sorry to pester you once again about Customer Service. I have just called this (632)-8542100 CSR hotline and it's Air 21 who answered when I had a shipment placed through a DHL outlet. I was expecting the LBC-24 hours delivery type which the CSR (sales clerk) assured me... Only to find out I was given the 2-working days type of delivery, which means that the one I shipped around 9 AM in June 19 Thursday shall be delivered either on Monday or Tuesday. So much for express delivery.

2008-06-21T00:14:00.001-07:00

Monkeys

2008-06-15T22:52:00.000-07:00

there are some interesting lines in here... i like most about monkeys paying other monkeys to listen to them... and monkeys giving a hoot about trophies and accolades... or giving a hoot about Nietzsche (did I ever spell it right the first time???) when he's just another monkey...and drawing imaginary lines and numbers... i hate numbers.

Beer at McDonald's

2008-05-30T00:21:00.000-07:00

If it had been a lone experience, I would not have bothered and simply sacrificed a few bucks for the foul-tasting Del Monte pineapple juice that McDonald's serve. It is not exactly foul. Just it does not taste like Del Monte's canned pineapple juices as well as other pineapple juices one drinks at any other fast food chain. It tastes like beer. Fermented.

So that when the second time I was served in another outlet where I tasted it the second time, I approached one of their store managers and asked whether they were checking how their juice tastes. "Because your pineapple juice tastes like beer," I said.

The manager, of course, as I expected, apologized and asked to serve me another drink. So, there, I took iced tea. It tasted fine with me.

I pro'bbly won't have returned the beer-tasting pineapple juice if it had occurred about a decade ago... when I was a beer connoisseur-wannabe. Sort of. I simply want to have a belly back then. I was so slim I could eat a pail of trans-fat and carbo-loaded food for weeks without effect on my body built and weight. And the passion to get "stout" had me sought various kinds of beer brands, and hang out at Brew Bros (now defunct, of the Padis Group) and pouring on beer books authored by the likes of Alan Eames (I had a signed book as well as authentic written articles from the Indiana Jones of beer), Michael Jackson, among others... still to no avail.

Anyway, while trying to enjoy the meal, the manager approached me and explained their pineapple juice tastes fine (meaning I was mistaken). I smiled a lazy, wicked grin and said, "Wanna bet?" and went on, "Let's go out and buy a Del Monte pineapple and beer over at 7-11 and let us compare their tastes...on me..."

It must have been my wicked, nasty grin which made him back-out amicably. He let out a little laugh and said it was not necessary. I suggested they settle the matter with Del Monte. Because today, what replaced my beer is pineapple juice. I have to stop my belly from exploding...

Mahal

2008-05-29T01:40:00.001-07:00

An insignia, or replica, or however you may call it, of our flag (Red white & blue, stars over you...) over imposed with the words "Pilipinas kong Mahal" and the word "mahal" underlined" is scattered all over the metro. Some suspect it has got to do with june 12. Am not really sure what June 12 is. I don't express my nationalism and pride in terms of remembering celebrations like national flag day, or whatever-national day.

I find it double-entendre... If it's from government offices, whoever had it approved for printing is a genius. He had his message sent. If it was from protest groups, they must be well-oiled, if y'know-wat-eye-meen.

A couple of months back, I uttered the words, blogged about it as we attempt to take the first steps to get out of this country...

I love this country and its people. Except its government system and the people in it... It's as simple as that. I wrote it once and I will do it again: If I had a choice, I don't want to leave. In fact, I have chosen not to, even if I am not a moneyed elite who could start a business with a click of a finger to survive in this garbage jungle, even if I have no politician for a back-up for whatever ambition I might be aspiring (have you tasted your own barf?) (Wow, I must be a hero...lol). The way its going, we who are left in the country have become heroes in our own right...

Reminds me more than a decade back when visiting at Fort Santiago, classmate-officemate barkada Eynah asked me where (or how?) might I have been have I dwelt during the Spanish era. She had the romantic Kapitan Tiago feasts in her mind... like this...

But I answered, pointing at the tunnels, "I would be there... probably a prisoner."

And she retorted with a laugh, "How consistent!"

I still don't know why Ninoy Aquino said it... "The Filipino is worth dying for..." but I'd take him for national hero any time if only for those words.

And Another...

2008-05-24T05:26:00.000-07:00

Each time I feel so low and defeated, so much like millions of disillusioned (youth? am not, anymore), I turn to what's left... only ally...

Cause I Hate'Em So

2008-05-24T05:14:00.000-07:00

BIR & Their Magicians

2008-05-22T23:32:00.000-07:00

Still reeling from the tax deduction which was highest in my history of being a Filipino citizen (some $135 only per month!!!), I received a call informing I had another BIR violation for a micro-mini venture in Pangasinan. The District is Urdaneta. I was penalized earlier for a violation I was not even informed about (talk about integrity, competence, etc), of which I am not allowed to contest (so, when it comes to BIR, THEY are the law, paging Judge Dredd) --- where are my effing rights???

Reason: Failure to register my business with the BIR 1 month after the SEC registration. I answered it was because I WAS NOT INFORMED. Hello? Is it now our sworn duty to memorize when and how to avoid penalties from BIR?

Did BIR exerted any effort to become EFFICIENT & COMPETENT as they claim in a large tarpaulin inside their office? Don't we the constituents have the right to be informed? Is there DUE PROCESS OF LAW here? p'a, matindi pa sila sa mga kakilala ko sa pier ah!

Aside from this, the Municipality advised me to register with them on the January of the year I am going to operate. Di ka rin naman bibigyan ng chance ng BIR na mag register without Mayor's Permit. Kaso mo, MUELTA ka day!

An'lupit 'no? OK lang naman 'yon ate kung di ini-offer ni Mrs. Soriano na siya na daw magpapa-register ng business ko with BIR. Nagkataon lang namang Revenue Officer siya sa Villasis. January ako nag-file, last week ng March niya ni-release. Pagpunta ko ng 1st week ng April sa BIR-Distrrict Office to formalize everything, sabi ni Eden Cerafica, penalty daw ako... One thousand lang naman ma'am e. sabi niya.

Sa isip ko, tugon ko: Oo nga e. Di bale, akin naman ang Central Bank e.

Hello? Kaya po kami nagbi-business kasi po you cannot provide us enough jobs para we can live properly. Hindi po para kotongan niyo!

Yan. So, dahil wala po akong budget, kelangan ulit kumayod para mabayaran ang penalty. E di delay na naman. April 28, natapos ko rin. Pati libro, journals at iba pa, sabi ko, lahatin na para wala nang problema.

Inorder ko na lahat kay Elmer, the registration officer.

May 14, eto na ang call ko. Me penalty na naman. Ang charges, wala daw akong books saka resibo according to Marylou Tan, another magician, este, collection officer ata.

Sabi ko, kasalanan kong delayed ang order ko kay Elmer? Ni hindi na nga ako humingi ng resibo for the printing saka books na worth P1,500 e. Dapat si Elmer ang kasuhan nila. Ang charge:

- accepting payment w/o issuing official receipts with BIR seal.

Isa pa lang 'yon. Nagpapakababaw palang ako Elmer. Pano, sabi ng kasama ko, pinagpipilitan niyo daw na May 14 ako nag-file. Sorry friend, pero nandito ako sa Quezon City on that date. And the last time I saw your friggin' faces is April 28. Damay-damay na 'to.

Kung di kayo makuha sa pakiusap, tabla-tabla na.

Intro pa lang 'to. Kalkalin niyo na record ko. Nakasuhan na ako ng P30,000,000 libel case (criminal pa). pauna pa lang 'yan...

My Taxes, Your Taxes (sa kinain nating Nissin's Seafoods Instant Mami), went here! Nagpapaniwala naman kayo ke Kongresman na sa kanila galing ang pondo? Hindi po! Mula po sa pinaghati-hati nating pitong-pisong napakuluang mami!

Sa ngayon po, pinag-aaralan ko po ang kagalingan ni Howard Hughes, na bukod sa isang henyo at guwaping, naiwasan niya ang kabuyaan ng mga tax collectors to think that he was a multi-bilionnaire. All tips and advice, welcome.

Greed & a Nation

2008-05-22T14:43:00.000-07:00

Throughout history, we have encountered the demise of nations due to greed of a select few...

In the Philippines, although I did not like Martial Law because I was always restrained by my mother when asking questions, I still respect the deposed, late Ferdinand Marcos. In his time, Manila was top ten of the most popular cities of the world... probably top ten destination, although Beatles did not agree...

And I could not blame them... and I side with them.

Here's why...

Jewelries are beautiful... But if the spark of diamond measures a woman's greed and insecurity, I would prefer nothing on. And I'd like to believe that she's one of the greediest and most insecure woman this earth has ever seen.

Until today, millions of Filipinos are reeling...

ps

I wonder where these loots are now... is PCGG still active? If it's gone, then, the loot could have also disappeared by now.

PLDT Hotline

2008-05-14T22:19:00.000-07:00

I called up that effing hotline the Customer Service representative from SM North EDSA told me about.

The automated message says: "...Please visit your nearest PLDT Customer Service..."

Hey, Mr. Dan Ibarra, whatsup?

PLDT Landline Plus Prepaid, a Hoax???

2008-05-13T04:17:00.000-07:00

QUESTION: What is worse than calling a Customer Service Hotline and talking to a CS Representative?

In late March or early April, I bought a PLDT Landline Plus Prepaid SIM for P100 in Urdaneta. I thought it was s steal because "...All you need to do is just insert the SIM in any PLDT handset or suitable device and you already have an instant PLDT landline!" according to Dan C. Ibarra, Retail Business group head. "Suitable device" here means any "open line" mobile phone (Nokia, Samsung, Sony-Ericsson, etc).

Also says here that it has a P50 free (p 14) so much like your new SIM, Smart, Globe or whatever... with a load of freebies... as OPTION 1. THIS WAS NEVER AVAILED!!! There's a catch, of course. Among them, a regular (Smart e-load of minimum P300 monthly or P600 monthly -- as plans). After I inserted it in an open Nokia cell phone, I received a message saying I need to reload. Whereas it is not yet registered.

Days passed and as I was a working class hero, hardly had the luxury of visiting PLDT's customer service. I found time to insert a visit though, in another location, which was SM North EDSA. The Customer Service representatives received the same "automated answer."

The CSR said, I need to go back to the PLDT Customer Service-Urdaneta. So, I asked the CSR a big favor to please give me the phone number of their PLDT office in Urdaneta. And she was so sorry because it will take a long time before she can retrieve the information (and this is the age of interconnectivity, hello PLDT? Yeah, wrong number.)

So, I asked instead that she give me her number so I could call her some other time to get the number of PLDT Urdaneta. After mumbling and fumbling for excuses, the imaginary bulb on top of her head light up, and she beamed, "You may call their hotline: 101-328 using a PLDT phone!"

Now, the answer to my question: Personally lining up to talk with a CSR who will instruct you to call a CSR on phone.

Thank you.

But anyway, why the hell won't it work Mr. Dan Ibarra?

I'd speculate (which means I am just guessing and accepts any mistake about my guess):
1. It is a perishable good. Expires --- say 5 days --- after purchase.
2. The P50 option in page 5 of User Guide was a MISTAKE.
3. It is a hoax. This is (supposedly) usable in any mobile phone unit which may cost between P800 to P2500 and still portable, whereas the PLDT handset that comes with its twin P600 plan is P2,500. PLDT made a mistake of releasing it.

BTW, my boss from the US during his visit in April 25 shared that his family of 5 children had an unlimited SMS subscription of US$10/month. I wonder which of our giant networks could bring that rate here in the SMS capital of the world.
SOS SMART, GLOBE OR SUN!!!

Deviants & Young Turks

2008-05-08T22:16:00.000-07:00

My interest was recently pricked with the 24 Oras feature on the so-called young turks. Years before, the "pogi" congressmen (with a couple successfully jumping to the senate) filled us with enough "pogi points" agenda that propelled them to higher position. There was, of course, a dearth of relevance, if any at all.

It seemed, to remain "ideal" today has the youths divided: deviants or politically correct. Or inclined. And we've heard of "so young and so corrupt" once and never will forget as this is lived up through their effing end.

So, there, I'd remain a deviant. Effing deviant. The sad part is that, I am poor. Or I could have successfully launched a massive campaign against freakin' elitism that plagued all that made-it and making it previously "idealist" effing youths.

The problem has always been a separation. Deviants fill the streets during protests, massive or otherwise. They have become a joke which I find NOT funny at all. They are our only remaining hope, and wish upon the deepest (blah blah) they are untainted.

Who could NOT be untainted? They learn something, the political factions pick 'em up and add up "pogi" points for themselves as a projection to the masses that they support the cause (of the masses). Of course, this is effing bull. I knew of a classmate who was said to have led the LFS in UP demonstrations during college days, who became a Sangguniang Kabataan chairman, scaled up the ranks, and ended up as Sangguniang Panlalawigan member under a puppet republic (ei, we had a republic, hehe).

So we'd always wonder what the rest who are a little bit flabby (or swelling to burst) and whom we call honorables actually deserve. I'd say lechon frying?

Honorable in this country has turned into a big, bad joke, and they are effing ignorant about it. And the youth who could effect change are aiming to run as "public servants". Pathetic. Honorables and public servants are the same. Much like lechon, they were made of thick, hideous, cancerous, fat while breathing.

Pinoy Idol

2008-05-03T04:13:00.000-07:00

Pwedeng magmura?

First off, I was never a fan (nor audience) of American Idol. It seemed its audience and fans need a lot of sarcasm in this world (had enough of it, nyehehe). So, when Pinoy Idol started airing, I was amused at first, and curious how Ogie Alcasid (he's a very nice guy, am tellin' you) would hack it. About Wyngard Tracy, I have never really met him to exchange a line or two to get a glimpse of his personality, and the ladies they pick to complete the trio of judges (ei, hubby's violently reacting about Jolina Magdangal, hehe, he's asking if she had any hit single? coz I'd get Manilyn Reynes any time)...

Ei, we're they reading sarcastic scripts? lol!

LET'S GET DOWN TO BUSINESS:
MISTAKE # 1. The recruiters DID NOT INFORM THEIR AUDIENCE & aspirants that LOOKS matter.
MISTAKE # 2. As already blogged elsewhere, the show dooms originality. Most hits banked on original melody, recall, and listener impact, not on being able to "creatively" (AAAAARGH!) imitate or reenact somebody else's hit... well, sure it pays to cover (plakado) here as showbands, or do remakes Nina-fashion.

Pinoy Idol, for fooling their participants in part or in full could be considered a hoax.

ps

For the record, backstage host Raymond Gutierrez just awhile ago announced the importance of "overall appeal" for all participants...

It is just disheartening (yeah, I have it!) to see the hopefuls' dreams crumble before hundreds of thousands of peoples eyes... but I won't mind if senators and congressmen were the participants...

Siesta

2008-04-15T23:53:00.000-07:00

Despite the unsightly collage of poverty is the peace it brings and a solitary fire that keep them going...

A Slap on the ZTE Victims

2008-03-17T15:33:00.001-07:00

I hate to say this, but yes, a student from Cebu finally told ZTE top victim Ike Lozada that the joke was on him (aired at 24 Oras, GMA news). The student asked Lozada why does he allow himself to be used by the senate gag show when everything they (the ZTE victims) were fighting for are non-legal issues useless at all courts... except the basketball court where you could pass a bouncing ball for a shot... and actually score... for a rahrahrah.

The one who is actually gaining here is the old, the old, and the old honorable Joe de Venecia, as if he or his children losing bidders were such an underdog in a world of looters. The real issue here is that let the leader of the gang lead!

Start acting as professional members of the gang and stop sulking, you bidders! Bidding is the biggest joke in Philippine governance and it will remain so until looters still occupy up to 99 percent of the agency.

The 7m Santo Tomas Bridge

2008-03-16T17:49:00.000-07:00

I didn't take a photo. My blood evaporated. I've written about the Santo Tomas bridge before... being it costing about 3 million pesos (or some US$73,000). I went home recently at the wake of my uncle Ago (Santiago Palpallatoc), husband of Auntie Lita (my dad's eldest sister).

On the way home, we passed by the bridge, my first. We were on my brod Clau's bike, at about midnight, with Ivong (yes, on the above photo) sandwiched between us. "So, this is your 3m bridge?" I asked...

"7m," he corrected. "And it is a provincial bridge."

Barely a few months old, and already useless. OK, sorry. Bikes could pass through. Apparently, the rip-rapping beneath it gave way to river waters during the rainy season. So, there goes the $171,000 bridge of Santo Tomas. Being it rendered semi-useful, the barangay folks had to relocate another road, along the Barcena area (well, although one of my close relatives refused and actually protested to have me --- and maybe the others --- use clannish terms when referring to people in our barangay, it cannot be avoided. I am clannish!). At around 9 am that day, I saw a 6-wheel truckload of construction workers/laborers passing by.

"What's that?" I asked Tess, and yes, she's a Barcena, being married to one.

"The bridge workers," she replied.

If I have had resources, I could have checked on the contractor of the bridge. I might also have checked on who's project was it under, probably, under the RA 7171 (part of Erap's demise, and the milking goat of the looters of Chavit Republic) ...

So, now, I'd rather post some other infrastructure (above) which shows the solar drier, the 2-storey building of the Day Care classroom and barangay council office. At least, the project amount won't make your blood boil. BTW, in the Philippines, most projetcs take the form of infrastructure. According to one of my favorite columnists, it is where funds easily get waylaid. It seems nobody questions the amount of infra projects, as long as you're on the loot gang official list, er, on top of the situation.

But that is not the case now. Look at our honorables (lol!) former speaker Jose de Venecia, or even former police chief Panfilo Lacson raising hell on the ZTE. It ain't scam any more than they are still members of the gang. Some people just can't bear and grin it, as if.

sabotage

2008-03-15T16:25:00.000-07:00

Despite all the hype about the loot gangs' activities in government agencies up high, we Pinoys simply keep on with our daily lives, like what the Champion (detergent bar) girl in the advertisement disclosed: apparently after washing her clothes, she'd use the soap once again to wash dishes. Then, Susan Roces reinforces the detergent bar's practical relevance. Practical? The copy-writer should have considered re-use of the soap for washing kitchen sink, toilet or bathroom, but dishes? Ugh!

Then, over at Eat Bulaga, one of the Itaktak questions was about Banana 1 & Banana 2. Another blooper. B1 & B2 are ABS-CBN mascots. I was wondering if they fired the writer. Tsk tsk. Then, if you've seen the YouTube video upload on Jenina San Miguel, you don't pity the girl. Is 17 allowed in the pageant? You pity the judges who have chosen her despite the irrelevance of her answer to the question. Take a closer look:
Q: What is the role of your family to your participation in the pageant?
A: They are important to me (after yards and yards of preliminary other bloopers. Feel niya talaga e).

With their wisdom and insight, the pageant judges have the potential... to join the gangs up there. Heaven have mercy... on us.

An Invitation: WANTED

2008-02-25T17:48:00.001-08:00

To all bloggers who may chance upon this blog, at least 38 years old and below...

Young,
fearless (yikes),
has a vision,
physically and mentally fit for a challenge,
at least have his or her own source of income and would not need financial support for this endeavor,
Had it enough with the kinakalawang system
Lawyers very much welcome (is this really possible?)
Frustrated secret agents also very much welcome
And willing to have an adventure for a cause.

I want to form a team of young professionals who want to have an adventure with government agencies. Let's play their game. This is not illegal. Although an illegal and underground one is very tempting at the moment. Details are still under development and I would need a lot of input. Leave me a message. I don't know if I am making sense. Or that this will actually lead to something. Maybe yes, maybe no. It does not really matter. I will try. I hope you will.

Asians, & the Filipino

2008-02-25T17:29:00.000-08:00

The Japanese have a propensity to self-destruct when faced with scandals. They commit suicide. Our Chinese neighbors resign from their profession or organization, and apologize. Our Middle East counterparts serve their cause by becoming kamikaze bombers. Last night in the Philippines, the news blasts off about un-ending EDSA revolutions... some thousands, many of them illustrious personalities being used by ZTE bid losers.

And we seem to remain clueless.

There is only one EDSA miracle and that was the only one. In Madam Cory's time. There never was a second. Nor will there be any third.

Until the majority of them are seated in the highest ranks, we will remain a moro-moro nation. Until their wives, mistresses, sons and daughters occupy the next position, or become heir to their kingdoms (yes, they firmly believe the area they represent is their kingdom), we will remain Asia's clown.

The saddest part is that the majority of us let it happen. Until now.

Me

2008-02-21T13:51:00.000-08:00

I blow up when provoked. Bad thing. I shout a lot of murderous stuff in --- here. To hell with reunions. Fucking reunions. It won't make a hungry child full, for a single second. Fuck that sonamabitch goodgirl college classmate. She can have all she want. But I wonder. Hah!

I had fun.

In this world, if you really come down to it, Solomon was not really a wise king. Else, he could have blown away early like the rockstars and Hollywood celebs yesterday. Am not wise either. So I waste my time thinking why am I here?

And I look around at younger (girls?) women around me, thinking "Have they got what they want?" "Are they happy?" "Shit, what makes them happy?" "Darn, why am I here? What am I gonna do? Why can't I fit in?"

Thing is, nobody notices. SO, I get around, plastered with a look that fools everyone else. I just hope.

And I keep wondering what good am I gonna do with --- myself. This is a headache.

Joke

2008-02-17T16:59:00.000-08:00

From the Yahoo News again:

"CIA set up 12 bogus companies mostly in Europe after 9/11: report

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Following the September 11, 2001, attacks, the US Central Intelligence Agency set up 12 bogus companies in Europe and other parts of the world in the hope of penetrating Islamic organizations, The Los Angeles Times reported on its website late Saturday.

But citing current and former CIA officials, the newspaper said the agency had now shut down all but two of them after concluding they were ill-conceived.
The firms were part of an ambitious plan to increase the number of CIA case officers sent overseas under what is known as "nonofficial cover" in order to increase the agency's potential for penetrating Islamic networks, the report said.

According to the paper, the agents posed as employees of investment banks, consulting firms or other fictitious enterprises with no apparent ties to the US government.
But the plan became the source of significant dispute within the agency, The Times noted.

The CIA-run "companies" were located far from Muslim enclaves in Europe and other targets, and their size raised concerns that one mistake would blow the cover of many agents, the report noted.

In addition, because businessmen don't usually come into contact with Al-Qaeda operatives, the cover didn't work, The Times said.

Officials say the CIA's efforts to use corporate disguises have yet to produce a significant penetration of terrorist or weapons proliferation networks, the paper pointed out.

--
Funny. The CIA should set up work-providing companies, online and off, and Pakistani and other nationality Muslims will come in line... But aren't bank owners and investors mostly CIA guys and their counterparts in the underworld?

A few months back, I had the opportunity to research on money laundering and ended up in laughter as I read on its history and how banks offshore or on some islands (and I also read in federal state banks) were set up, utilized and patronized by individuals or groups that are supposed to be after each other's ass. lol.

Well, researchers were pushing on marketing strategies that arms-manufacturing bigwigs have been implementing: corporate social responsibility. lol!

Taunt a little generosity of canned goods and fashion surplusses and the ravages of war and greed are cosmetised effectively. Throw in a Hollywood face and its a done deal.

Hard Sell

2008-02-01T18:31:00.000-08:00

This Yahoo news is gonna be pulled out soon... so, I'm re-publishing it whole in here:

"Iraqi insurgents find female bombers can skirt security"

By Leila Fadel and Hussein Kadhim, McClatchy Newspapers
Fri Feb 1, 11:41 AM ET

BAGHDAD — With U.S. forces imposing tough security measures to thwart car bombings, Iraqi insurgents are increasingly using women and teenagers as suicide bombers, a trend that on Friday led to the worst daily death toll in Baghdad since August.

At least 65 people were killed and nearly 150 were wounded when explosions ripped through two crowded Baghdad pet markets. The attacks, which occurred within 15 minutes of each other, appeared to be the sixth and seventh suicide bombings in Iraq by women or teenagers since Nov. 27 , though there was some uncertainty about whether one of Friday's blasts might have been caused by a roadside bomb.

Witnesses said the bombers were women who'd slipped into the markets without being searched, as Iraqi security forces include few women and men aren't allowed to search women. Iraqi police are trying to recruit more female members.

One Iraqi official who speaks for Qassim al Moussani , the head of the Baghdad security plan, said the women might have been mentally retarded and forced to wear suicide vests that were detonated remotely.

Other police officials expressed skepticism about the claim, saying it was made too quickly for any investigation to have taken place, but Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki seemed to echo that version in his condemnation of the attacks.

"The terrorists' use of a mentally deranged woman has uncovered the lowly ethics of these criminal gangs and their deceit and animosity toward humanity," he said in a statement.

American military officials said that 15 suicide bombers struck throughout Iraq in the first 25 days of January, five more than in the same period a year ago.

U.S. spokesman Navy Rear Adm. Gregory Smith said in an e-mail that the increase in American troops in Iraq had made it harder for Islamic militants to build large vehicle bombs and slip them into markets and neighborhoods, many of which have been encircled by large concrete walls.

"Suicide vests or smaller hand-carried bombs are of course more mobile and easier to transport," he said, and have become the weapons of choice.

There was no doubt that the first bombing, at about 10:15 a.m. at the Ghazil market in central Baghdad , was a suicide attack; police found the head of the suspected bomber, and witnesses recorded its gruesome recovery on their cell phones.

Bombs have struck the Ghazil market, which sits between neighborhoods controlled by rival Sunni and Shiite Muslim factions, three times in the last year.

The U.S. military blamed the last bombing, in November, on the Mahdi Army militia, loyal to Shiite cleric Muqtada al Sadr , and said that attack was intended to shore up support for the militia from the Shiite community.

The American military said Friday's bombing was the work of Islamic militants affiliated with the group al Qaida in Iraq . As is frequently the case in accounts of violence, U.S. officials offered a death toll that was only half that of Iraqi authorities'.

There was some confusion about the perpetrator of the second bombing, at a dove market in the New Baghdad neighborhood in the city's southeast.

Witnesses said that a woman wearing a long traditional robe known as an abaya had triggered the explosion, but a police official told McClatchy that authorities were still investigating whether the explosion might have come from a cage or box.

At least 38 people were killed and 82 wounded in the Ghazil blast. At least 27 were killed and 67 wounded by the explosion at the dove market, where witnesses described nails, bones and pieces of flesh flying through the air. The bloody imprint of a man's body that had been slammed into a metal kiosk was visible on a vendor's stall after the explosion.

A father who'd been walking with his young son panicked when he saw blood pouring from the boy's wounds. He picked him up and started to run, but quickly became exhausted. He dropped to the ground, put his head in his hands and wailed before people came to his aid, loading his son into a car and driving the pair away.

Vendors denounced the attack. "You are ruining a whole society, killing the innocent because of political rivalries," Moayed Kaif , 53, a shop owner, said of the bombers. "If you must kill, go to those whom you have a problem with and settle your differences without killing innocents."

The bombings were a setback for U.S. authorities, who've made securing markets a major goal of the American troop buildup. Concrete barriers surround the Ghazil market to control access, and Iraqi soldiers and Sunni members of a U.S.-paid security force known as concerned local citizens man checkpoints at the market's entrance and exit.

But residents said searches were sporadic and that no one had touched the woman who blew herself up. A male McClatchy correspondent walked into the market after the bombing without being searched.

Friday's death toll also seemed to cement a recent steady increase in the monthly toll of Baghdad bombing deaths. In September, 164 people died from bombings, according to McClatchy statistics. That number reached a low of 76 in November, but rose to 87 in December and 100 in January. With 65 deaths on the first day of the month, February seems likely to witness another increase.

(Kadhim is a McClatchy special correspondent. Special correspondent Jenan Hussein contributed to this report.)"
---

If we are to study closely this report, no authorities were mentioned as to the veracity of women and children doing these suicidal acts. All information are from un-named, un-official "witnesses" who could be anybody. While all information were seemed or made to look like "the terrorists out there" act desperate to even force women and children in their activities, all these reports are unverified. Not that I am questioning the ability or objectivity of reporters and journalists. I still consider myself as one of them. Afterall, they (we as reporters) have to report.

But the careless wording and placement of the headline, as well as the sporadic (yes, let's use the reporters' word) flow of the article should alarm us readers. Let's ask ourselves, "what's going on?"

How could the report, then, highlight that women are used as suicide bombers when in fact, the reporters themselves were able to prove that the security measures are not reliable? Not that I am suggesting tighter, more strict, thereby more US forces in Iraq.

The question is, who are behind these bombings? Are all these bombings from real terrorists? The issue is not that terrorists are desperate. Because the answer to this is best as leave them alone. It is, why would outsiders blew things up out of proportion? What are they after? Iraq has been ravaged after it was found it has no form of weapons of mass destruction (o how I love this phrase). So, what else do you want?

It has happened on Iraq. It is happening in Afghanistan. It might happen in Iran and North Korea. Aren't we getting the clues? Are we just gonna sit and read the news? What if it will happen in your neighborhood?

Fashion Outcast

2008-01-23T00:45:00.000-08:00

"Etiquette are for those without manners, in the same way as fashion is for those without style." - Coco Chanel

Maybe, it's just the end-consumer ideas, but it is not very funny when in an answer to these fashion forum questions:

1. Do you knowingly own any knock-off designer items?
2. Would you purchase knock-off desginer items?
3. Do you think it is morally right to own counterfit items?
4. Do you think it is morally right to sell counterfit itmes?
5. Do you think that knock-off items lower the value/class of authentic designer items?
6. Do you think it is tacky to wear counterfit items?

that is ...

(We're talking about "counterfeit" by the way..."

First off, designs todays are hardly original. But more popular and bully labels want to own everything. So, even if they copy a less popular design, and brand it as their own, you would not know which is the counterfeit, right?

So, I guess, blatant counterfeits would level up the playing field. Hooray for China's low priced items...

--- I'd get

RANTS BELOW:

Has to be the biggest load of s*** I've heard in a while, further proof of the ignorance that contributes to the offshore market and further drives up the prices of originals... Sure hooray for China, just keep that in mind when it's your job, product(s) or industry for that matter.

and another:

Damn....you need to check yourself. Counterfeits are made generally in a sweatshop environment and ruin the market. Maybe you need to go do alittle online research before you get flamed.
--
of which I rant back:

It also only means one thing, you only base your knowledge with HYPE and only those WHO CAN AFFORD IT can hype.

Who does not rely on China when it comes to manufacturing nowadays? learn the "a" in your fashion.

and

Online information and SYSTEMATIC STUDIES aren't the only REAL and TRUE information.

Loads of original designs from lesser known artists were copied since barter was the trade of the day. It only happened that BRANDING and MARKETING is a western expertise and copyright laws followed. But if you check on world history, you'd really say you're lucky you're on the other end of the spectrum...
---------
It's a positive phenomenon that globalisation has brought a lot of things on equal ground... no need to rent a poshy space in a mall, have a marketing or distributor arm, an advertising arm, underpaid sales ladies, and a hell lot of other hype-building arsenal in order to show one prospective consumer your product.

It is, however, be noted that "branding" has taken on a level that traders have relied solely in order to conquer a market, since Procter and Gamble made it. So much so, that even today, while China (and other third-world economies) almost produce everything under the sun, with or without the quality attached to brands, many "brands" own the "copyright" even for stuffs like silk or batik garments produced for centuries are now marked your famous designer labels.

Where do we divide the lines?

There is no line to be divided. Who gets to the International Intellectual Property Rights first (or are capable of doing it) or whatever it is that safeguards copyrights, own all they can patent.

It is like history repeating itself once again. Why do we even need to register to a damned IIPR office we don't even know exist just for doing the things we like and we have been doing since hell was created? Okay, for a cooler head now, traditions are being taken away from the hands of those who had been practicing it for centuries and, we busy ourselves with paperworks, like, intellectual property and copyright laws.

Another one, no one is above the law... and ignorance of the law is not an excuse... blah, blah, blah. Did I hear someone say f*#k the law? Ugh, excuse that dork. I mean, my real problem is, I have been wearing un-labeled, and probably without tariff (yay, don't even know what "t" means, only heard it on a WTO news) India-woven & designed clothes for decades now and these were not actually replicated with mass-produced ones (yet). And later on, I'd see them with --- say a brand, sky-high price, and ... nevermind...

These handcrafted items are definitely on ebay and other Indian fashion sites now with London offices and all that.

Fiesta Islands

2008-01-21T01:20:00.000-08:00

Fiesta coronation nights for popularity contents in the Philippines are becoming like a sidelight for fireworks. Not that your average Pinoy has lost interest in the regalia of royal parade of the Queen and her Court or that the almost magical change of an ordinary look into something comparable to --- uh --- now, this is what I call a blogger's bloc --- teedeeheehehehe... Kate Moss... I like her when she transforms from a bland bag of pale bones into a rainbow-colored magazine cover... there... nah, your average Pinoy will always be fascinated about anything he cannot touch, nor understand. Including the regalia of coronation nights.

It is just that the fireworks have taken over as the crowd-drawer during the royal parade... and coronation of her majesty queen and her princesses. And after the fiesta, every locality is back to its previous state: boring, lacks social or cultural activities except of course for street corner gambling or betting, or street corner basketball...

We have here a culture of tricycle drivers waiting for remittances crowding in many town side-walks... mahjong and tong-it or pusoy-dos tables in neighborhoods, children in front of Korean telenovelas and Japanese animation...

Before and after the once-a-year fiesta, we basically have these scenes all-year round...

Also, I have noticed how every project in LGUs (local government unit/s folks) need to be something constructed. As I blogged earlier, built environment in the Philippines is chaotic and insane (I'd prefer my level of sanity any time), if not cryptic. Or a creep that crawls. Construction of all kinds invade all forms of government projects in the Philippines only contractors and government officers can actually survive.

OK, so, the masses have survived these creeps.

I wonder if I would. Makes me wonder if I could...never ever have to knock on wood... haha... Mighty Mighty Bosstones here. sorry for the intermission...

'Cause it has become creepy nowadays to think about my children's future, in the Fiesta Islands. I can survive the creeps. But my husband thinks otherwise. Will I make it in another country? I mean, be me? Nasty and all that?

I'd keep my blog posted. Hah.

Ethnocentric

2007-12-09T20:36:00.000-08:00

Been chatting with a friend working as designer in the US... and since I've done some researh on "orientalism" east-west divide, global and glocal policies... our chat strayed on race. Here it is:

Marge: me intriga jan a
Kaibigan: di ko alam
Marge: mas less ethnic daw yon 1/4 pinay
Marge: kesa yong south american
Marge: unang na declare yong south american
Marge: then, biglang binawi
Marge: kaya pinili yong 1/4 pinay
Kaibigan: binabasa ko ngayon
Marge: hehe
Kaibigan: half pinay eto
Kaibigan: tiga barstow
Marge: pag sinabi mong tiga tondo, naintindihan ko pa
Kaibigan: haha
Marge: hehe
Kaibigan: panu mo nalamn pinay
Marge: nabasa ko sa yahoo, pero nakalagay 1/4 pinay
Kaibigan: ah
Marge: simula na yan
Kaibigan: ng anu
Marge: ay, male
Marge: sa Hawaii pala,
Marge: kung i-study kc ng mga puti
Marge: diminishing race na sila
Marge: yon dapat ng pag ukulan nila ng pansin
Marge: sooner or later, asians will dominate their population
Marge: ei, hehe, anlayo sa chikahan natin
Kaibigan: haha
Kaibigan: oo nga
Kaibigan: di mabuti para tumalino sila and sumipag
Marge: panay kasi mga policies nagagawa ko lately e
Kaibigan: bobo naman kasi sila
Kaibigan: at mareklamo
Marge: racist!!
Kaibigan: hhaha
Kaibigan: oo
Marge: napansin mo 'yon?
Kaibigan: na?
Kaibigan: plastic sila
Marge: bobo sila saka tamad?
Kaibigan: oo
Marge: isa pa yon, masyado silang "feeling"
Kaibigan: sa mga shops
Kaibigan: then sa kuwento ng mga kaibigan ko
Kaibigan: mga coworkers nila
Kaibigan: typical puti
Marge: o? as in?
Kaibigan: di mo mauutusan \
Kaibigan: oo
Kaibigan: sa office namin
Marge: pano pag superior yong Asian sa work?
Kaibigan: wala kaming puti
Kaibigan: sa baba namin
Kaibigan: meron
Kaibigan: plastic
Kaibigan: feeling sila
Kaibigan: asar
Kaibigan: isasabotahe ka
Marge: racist din pala boss mo!
Kaibigan: di naman siguro la lang oks yung personality
Marge: pano sabotahe?
Kaibigan: then naalala ko
Kaibigan: kasi diba may design review dito sa
Kaibigan: glendale
Kaibigan: pag ibang race yung nagpapagawa ng bahay
Kaibigan: lahat ng neighbors na magrereklamo puti
Marge: ows?
Kaibigan: isang beses may pinapanuod kami
Kaibigan: oks naman project
Kaibigan: sinunod lahat ng requirements
Kaibigan: thenyung isang neighbor
Kaibigan: kunyari mabait na kumokontra
Kaibigan: kesyo di daw bagay sa street
Kaibigan: blah balh
Kaibigan: then sabi ng mga board members
Kaibigan: di nila pwed ireject yung project
Kaibigan: kasi sumunod lahat sa zoning
Kaibigan: code
Kaibigan: and maganda design
Marge: hehe, bayad na
Kaibigan: sabi ba naman
Kaibigan: this will be another rat's nestMarge: ows?
Kaibigan: naging racist
Kaibigan: haha
Kaibigan: daming ganun dito
Kaibigan: inggit kasi sila
Kaibigan: kasi etong glendale
Kaibigan: mas yumayaman na yung mga armenians and filipinos
Kaibigan: and iabng asian
Kaibigan: nauubos na puti dito
Marge: oo nga
Kaibigan: tapos tipong nagiisip sila ng reasons para mareject yung projects ng ibang lahi
Kaibigan: mapapansin mo
Kaibigan: pag nanunuod ka sa tv ng review
Kaibigan: oo nga
Marge: asa pa sila
Kaibigan: tapos sila daw yung mabilang sa sweldo
Kaibigan: na ayaw naman gumalaw
Marge: dami ko kc task now, panay mga issues ng east & west e
Kaibigan: kila kiko puti secretary nila
Kaibigan: tamad daw
Kaibigan: as in pag ayaw niya pumasok di siya papasok
Marge: hehe, malas nila
Kaibigan: di naman yata matanggal
Kaibigan: kasi baka magreklamo
Kaibigan: demanda
Kaibigan: yung isang project namn ng tatay ni antonio
Kaibigan: yung kapitbahay nagreklamo
Kaibigan: kesyo nagkasakit daw siya
Kaibigan: kasi sa construction
Kaibigan: maiingay daw yung mga workers
Kaibigan: nanalo pa

Big Brother quote

2007-12-04T19:45:00.001-08:00

Incidentally, it's not about a dance number of young talents over at ABS-CBN... Broaden your vocabulary...

"In our time, political speech and writing are largely the defense of the indefensible.…Thus political language has to consist largely of euphemism, question-begging and sheer cloudy vagueness. Defenseless villages are bombarded from the air, the inhabitants driven out into the countryside, the cattle machine-gunned, the huts set on fire with incendiary bullets: this is called pacification. Millions of peasants are robbed of their farms and sent trudging along the roads with no more than they can carry: this is called transfer of population or rectification of frontiers. People are imprisoned for years without trial, or shot in the back of the neck … this is called elimination of unreliable elements. Such phraseology is needed if one wants to name things without calling up mental pictures of them."

-George Orwell, "Politics and the
English Language" (1946)

Disierto

2007-11-30T19:41:00.000-08:00

Guess where in the world is this?

Philippine Quality of Life & Health Issues

2007-11-18T02:52:00.000-08:00

I was quite shocked when I read in the Novermber 2007 issue of Reader's Digest (Asia ed., p. 39) that the Philippines is way behind Pakistan when it comes to Environmental Health based on childhood mortality and disease as well as deaths from intestinal infections. So, okay, I am a racist, but in consideration of the Economic Intelligence Unit's (2005) quality of life index where Philipines is on rank 44 while Pakistan is on rank 93, this is quite incredible!

Not that I am putting down Pakistan and all the other countries that beat the Philippines on environmental health such as Sri Lanka (36), China (45), Indonesia (61), Bangladesh (76... right, hello Senators and Congresmen? Do your porks spell hypertension even among kids? Or are pigs' sty causing those infant deaths?), India (77), Mongolia (99), Pakistan (106) and Philippines (115).

Yikes!

Okay, let me tell you guys something.

When it comes to the rural areas and health services delivery, based on my experience in Santo Domingo, the municipality is divided into catchment areas --- these are chosen "center" barangays where rural health workers basically midwives, conduct vaccination. There are about 4-7 depending on the number of health workers and probably, size of the municipality.

In our catchment area of Lussoc, there are Borobor, Santo Tomas, sitio Quillayan and Callautit, and Nagtupacan are serviced, where vaccination occurs or vitamin supplemnts were given once a week. Sometimes, the health worker re-schedules on another day (equivalent to next week).

In their reports to the CEO (your mayor, Darling), the health worker visits the barangays four days a week, and charge from the taxes we pay "pamasahe" to and from the barangay.

Honestly, these health workers RARELY visit the barangays assigned to them, so much like your elected konsehal ng bayan, or any other regular tax beneficiaries who BS us tax collectors... We conducted random checking on the municipal health workers sometime ago, and you may try to do the same to find out...

During those "lucky" catchment days, before an infant is given a vaccine or whatever, every mother GIVES a "donation" which simply is baffling. Donations are for Faith healers, y'know. These donations are NEVER REFLECTED in the municipality "income", no receipt, acknowedgement, whatsoever. A clumsy smile was all I got when I "obliged" to donate to the health worker assigned in that catchment area when I had my baby injected with vaccine.

However, in our "model" barangay Santo Tomas, this of course never happened as the Kapitan Erning Tadeja is the ABC president, and it so happened he knew quite a few about government and finance, uh, including jueteng, my dear.

In other words, it is not just your District Representatives milking flashy "villa" houses and latest 4X4s from us Payless and Lucky Me taxpayers... it's all the way up and down to eternity. Or is it down to hell?

Below is the EIU index:

Our Taxes Enjoyed

2007-11-12T00:34:00.000-08:00

While only contractors and voucher signatories know the reality behind our paid taxes, at least our children enjoy these at public parks, where our taxes become really visible. Well, of course, the excess will remain abstracted on roads and built environments.

Let's just hope they maintain safety. This one at Villasis, Pangasinan already has damaged slides and could fracture or wound children if they are not extra careful...

BTW, the Philippine peso was headlined as "Asia's Best Performer" a few days back. It's the remittance season... And the US dollar dived in deeper... a little bad news for US$ earners...

And let me share that Philippines is fourth to China, Mexico and India in highest overseas workers. But Philippines has the highest average for remittances among the four.

Against the World

2007-10-24T00:48:00.000-07:00

In my other blog, I have written about suicide, about asking non-suicidals to help prevent it. And just today, a friend now based in the US and I had been chatting about suicide of Filipino teens who were uprooted from here and live in the US. About being bullied and being the "other" person elsewhere.

Then, I am confronted about my niece who went to live with her mom and stepdad whom she had grown to hate. Genee had been complaining and telling us stories. Then, here comes her stepdad using her own Yahoo Messenger. It's creepy, like stalking and invading privacy. And white americans were supposed to be the champions and paranoid about privacy. And he had been lecturing me about family and morality! And this is what I told him:

...we do not have a very good relationship with our dad, but it does not mean we destroy ourselves, right? So, I think it's an american thing about blaming others for stupid things that happen to themselves, so why you need shrinks and Iraq, or Afghanistan, but we don't.

I've always avoided being discriminatory, but when it comes to US-related stuffs, I simply can't. But to anybody out there who meets Genee Tano, she's in Pittsburg right now, previously in Virgin Islands: please tell her to go back HOME, the Philippines. I am using the internet because there's no way we can contact her now.

Rico Mambo Cebu

2007-10-19T17:50:00.001-07:00

These videos really overwhelmed me and made me a prouder Filipino...

I will follow him - Sister Act Cebu Version

2007-10-19T17:49:00.001-07:00

Cebu's Biggest Dance Group

2007-10-19T17:45:00.001-07:00

Tip: Lost Receipt, and You Need a Replacement

2007-10-12T20:26:00.000-07:00

Yep, I had my batteries changed to Energizer. Thanks to the staff of DIY-CB Balingit Mall. And here's a tip: if you lost an OR (official receipt) for a defective stuff you'd want to have a replacement, be sure to recall the exact date and time you bought the stuff. Then, put the request down to writing with your name, contact number, signature and address (in not exactly this order). And go through this experience I had...

It was not a walk in the park, as I was asked to produce a declared lost receipt. Why, I buy all batteries from DIY, not because it has a good looking shop as compared to the other Chinese shops proliferating every city and town of the Philippines, but because of trust and reliability. So, as compared to a corner watch repairman who will issue a roughly handwritten hand-torn cigarette box paper receipt, I'd keep the torn cigarette receipt, but not a DIY receipt. Because buying in an established shop is supposed to be the guarantee itself.

Anyway, so, there. After I cannot produce a receipt, I was asked of the date of purchase, about 6 times. And the name of the sales man. Hah! Like, I was supposed to be saying, "Hi, what's your name? Andy? Nice name. I'd like an Energizer Battery, Andy!" But all I said was, "Uhm, pleasing personality, good talker..." and they start laughing. Thanks. I really meant to be funny at that minute.

Then, I was told about the sales report forwarded to the main office, and they no longer have any file copy. And that all I can have is a replaced Camelion battery. Well, I didn't want a Camelion. I mean, one should be doubly suspicious once a spelling of a suspicious character like a chameleon is the brand name of a product. But I did not use my editing sense (okay, okay, common sense) at that time.

Then, a kindly encoder tried to open her computer files and I was asked about other stuffs I bought that day, and of course, having the photographic memory of a manual camera (Pentax, baby), I described the stuffs I bought that day at DIY. And the encoder uttered the total ammount I paid, with an alarming voice that kind of says, "she's a voracious DIY shopper!" or something to that effect. Well, there are now a lot of Japan-home labelled Chinese manufactured items at around $2 at DIY, not necessarily hardware or construction stuff but housewares, in case you haven't noticed.

And the manager said they cannot do anything if a receipt would not be attached to the replacement report they need to submit. Otherwise, i would need a notarized Affidavit of Loss. Uh-oh. Count: Lost office hours, attorney's fees... So, why not print that invoice file, I asked. And the manager stammered about the impossibility of printing a computer file of an invoice. Reminds me of a famous quote about the endless list of excuses to not to do a thing.

But finally, the manager's sense came falling down on her, and made use of the letter I earlier sent through my work-mate for an earlier exchange (which they did not honor, nor entertained). She told her staff to copy the invoice number, place my address and contact number on the letter and all.

And that was it. It took about three to four hours of my productive time, but the heck, it was still a lesson learned...

Aborted Photography

2007-10-12T02:45:00.000-07:00

In my other blog, I am supposed to be posting new photos every now and then. But courtesy of DIY, yes the do-it-yourself hardware, and the salesman who has recommended Camelion battery from China while I was trying to buy Energizer rechargeable AA batteries, my photography career is over...

Remember the brand. And if DIY's not gonna replace this, remember the hardware shop!

Learning & Unlearning

2007-10-11T18:01:00.000-07:00

If it's the US attack, it is just numbers... 9 children. Jesus Christ. If it's Iran or Iraq, or somewhere down south in Mindanao, it's terrorism. I've got my kids in my mind all the time, to feed and to educate. And yet, how can we ordinary people ignore what's going on with the rest of our world? Anytime now, when the US wants it, any point, any corner of a street, CAN BE declared as a terrorist den, and an entire neighborhood is swept.

Haven't you noticed it yet?

Are we just here to read or view the news? Are we here in this world at all?

(Image borrowed from Green Eyed Angel)

Desperate Racists

2007-10-03T19:45:00.000-07:00

Using an entire nation for a punchline on a desperate show is racism in its lowest form. The news reported that: "In the season premiere that aired Sunday on ABC, Teri Hatcher's character, Susan, goes in for a medical checkup and is shocked when the doctor suggests she may be going through menopause.

"Listen, Susan, I know for a lot of women the word `menopause'" has negative connotations. You hear `aging,' `brittle bones,' `loss of sexual desire,'" the gynecologist tells her.

"OK, before we go any further, can I check these diplomas? Just to make sure they aren't, like, from some med school in the Philippines?" Susan fires back."

For update, the ABC folks already apologized to the entire Filipino community, and we're talking of a 10 million workforce scattered globally.

I don't believe Teri Hatcher's character could be aware of the implications the slur inflicted but I am sure somebody from behind, like the desperate script writers, were politically motivated to emhasize that line.

This is political and economic in reason (Wow! I feel like I am gonna run for a 2010 office! eeech!). Quality of Philippine education has been as questionable as our government officials, but it does not mean Americans or Europeans have started doubting the quality of health care Filipinos could provide. They have not, and that will be maintained for as long as Filipinos remain a Christian nation. It's all in the heart, and not in inserting some tasteless smart-ass-tism lines in desperate television shows.

Noontime Show Wars

2007-08-31T01:05:00.000-07:00

Filipinos are identified with the shows they view. ABS-CBN beat GMA network in going international and both vie for ratings among global Pinoys.

ABS-CBN's Wowowee has a wider if not deeper acceptance and following among overseas viewers. The show concept, if there ever has one, has tapped on Filipinos overseas who want to reach out to less fortunate (if the word ever applies to the majority of Filipinos) noontime show audience. Thus, the give-aways to live audience (am not sure they have for home viewers as I rarely watch tv) and game contestants.

The rift between Eat Bulaga and other noontime television shows over ABS-CBN, as I viewed before, was corporate in nature. As we may be aware of, from RPN 9, Eat Bulaga transferred to ABS-CBN. ABS-CBN then was pulled up the rating games on the top of the heap with a little help from Eat Bulaga. And when you're on top o the heap, what the top wants, top gets.

Okay, in another angle, I see it this way: It could be that some bigwigs over ABS-CBN saw the heap Eat Bulaga was gathering, and say to themselves, "Hmmm, interesting." So, the concept for "Sanglinggo nAPO Sila" was born, while contracts have to be renewed. Eat Bulaga was kicked out, enter APO.

But Eat Bulaga, like it or not, is already an institution among viewers, if not the "masa". It has grown on our sense of humour like a natural joke. And APO Hiking Society is not a joke but a music trio, much unlike the Tito/Vic & Joey group. So, APO was replaced with that show "Magandang Tanghali Bayan" where Willie Revillame and Janice de Belen's ex made names. But more so with Willie.

Willie. I met Willie personally in his low period: after his rumoured annulment with Princess Punzalan (heiress of Lovingly Yours Helen---Vela). Willie tries hard to be funny, I immediately sensed in our first phone conversation. And, he sounded to me like he felt he's got an oozzing sex appeal (in other peoples' terms, the "m" word). I was a profile and press release writer back then for musicians and television personalities. In short, Willie struck me as far from smart, intelligent and sensitive artist. Previously, all I knew, he was a talented drummer. Period.

Wowowee.
I have never known a show over ABS-CBN exists at noon until I heard some kids singing "Wawawi sinong di mawiwili!" and saw the show while hubby was channel surfing. He was giving away P500 bucks (about US$10) per recycled and original joke shared by the studio audience). Then, there were kids' contests. And then, the hosts started thanking overseas donors. Donors. This is a highly technical term as against "sponsors". And it's all about taxes and legalities, but I won't indulge on that as I lack accountancy knowledge.

And then the tragedy. About 70 killed at Ultra before a grand show of Wowowee materialized. The whole nation was outraged. I myself have done several rock gigs and met a lot of impositions and warnings about punks. But the worst cases I ever got were a lost leather belt and a gate entry pocketing I still get embarassed when I remember it. The tragedy was the first in Philippine history and yet, ABS-CBN as well as the people of Wowowee got away with it, just like that. Brushing dusts off the biggies' boots. To the tune of "this boots are made for walkin..." Nancy Sinatra baby!

And now, here we are... while the whole nation is being led to think NOBODY's cheating during elections, Wowowee pictured in again. This time, it's about too many freakin' numbers in one box that is supposed to represent only one number. Watch.

Willie's point and response is quite pseudo-dramatic, as Joey de Leon pointed out. Well, yes, pseudo. Crocodile tears. And simply out of the topic. There's a conspiracy going on and Willie is seem to point that he was simply a "host" or a "talent" and...

Okay, over at ABS-CBN, I still am not sure if they already have regular or permanent employees. The thing is, it has remained contractual and floating, non-at-all status for most of their talents, workers, and segment producers for several years (recall the cases and issues about Magandang Gabi, Bayan)... Way back when I had a stint at ABS-CBN, the set-up was that, it was a "family" affair. Not in capitalist way. I am not sure if the set-up has changed. But many of those I had a chance to talk with in hushed voices informed me about the "system" which was quite medieval.

Anyway, it could be that Willie's tackless move on the circular box containing several numbers when it was supposed to be just one number is another "corporate" issue and Willie is just the frontman. So much like the Ultra tragedy... It's just that some has got to pay, or get hanged. And a goat will do.

Un-branded

2007-08-23T19:21:00.001-07:00

Here are several juicy quotes from one Ms. Malu Fernandez which was an article in a glossy.

“…I forgot that the hub was in Dubai and the majority of the OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) were stationed there. The duty-free shop was overrun with Filipino workers selling cellphones and perfume. Meanwhile, I wanted to slash my wrist at the thought of being trapped in a plane with all of them.”

“…While I was on the plane (where the seats were so small I had bruises on my legs), my only consolation was the entertainment on the small flat screen in front of me. But it was busted…” (dumb line, don’t you have an editor? Or you simply want Emirates to make up with you? I’d ban you a thousand kilometres if I were a voice at Emirates). “…dozed off to the sounds of gum chewing and endless yelling of “HOY! Kumusta ka na? At taga saan ka? Domestic helper ka rin ba?”... I thought I had died and God had sent me to my very own private hell.” Uhm, Satan for you must be VERY kind.

"On my way back, I had to bravely take the economy flight once more. (If I could afford to brag about a genuine fake Louis Vuitton from China, I would not have second thoughts of buying me an additional ticket to avoid people that could make me think about slashing my wrist! And I hope reader you get it the first time!) This time I had already resigned myself to being trapped like a sardine can with all these OFWs smelling of AXE and Charlie cologne while my Jo Malone evaporated into thin air."

Ms. Fernandez is a walking advertorial who had it in her head that she has what it takes to flash global brands while working (oh, OK, travelling. as I understand, she is one of the few which, downsizing publishers freeload on). In the article alone (June 2007) she did not waste opportunities as she enumerates Baygon (a brand that means mosquitoes and cockhroaches, eeeech!), Holiday Inn (her minimum travel requirement. sheesh, expensive nga!. my minimum travel requirement is a glass of drinking water!), Adidas (if a company meant fitness, and I was brand manager, I would not be caught being used, much more plugged by a pig), Havaianas (give me Islander any time!), Discovery Shores (Boracay is already over-exploited before Discovery Shores shored in the island! So, what’s with discovery Columbus?), Emirates (my husband is awed how Jahal-requiring carriers let a live pig in their plane!), Ledra Marriott hotel, Louis Vuitton, Ruby Tuesday, Chili's, CNN, Axe, Charlie (she sure knows her local brands, eh! If I had been limited to using Estee Lauders, Calvin Kleins, Paloma Picassos, et al, I would not know what Axe is!), Jo Malone.

If newspaper lifestyle and glossy magazine editors nowadays have to settle to write-ups like this, I now put up my chin for not choosing the local mainstream media to work with.

I have never known Filipino mediapeople could stoop this low, and squalidly crawl like the mad woman in "Yellow Wallpaper" (Charlotte P. Gilman's).

This made me recall of an experience way back in mid 1990s when I had a short gig at ABS-CBN's talent Center and had to write about Star Circle Batch 2. While interviewing Diether Ocampo, I asked what his television appearances were, and he enumerated promptly.

When I asked what specific television station these shows appear, he sneered at me, "Dito ka nagta-trabaho, hindi mo alam?" meaning (ei, as if naga-English lahat ng readers ko ah!) "You work here and you don't have an idea?"

I replied, "I don't watch tv."

What I am trying to point out is that if one person claims to exist in a world she calls HER OWN, then, she should not even have the slightest idea another world exists! OKAY? Ulit: Sa simpleng salita, kung nabuhay kang Jo Malone at mas mahal pa ang pabango mo, would you know what Axe cologne is?

Anyway, I chanced upon the issue on Ms. Fernandez' article via salbahe.net

Mr. Manuel L. Quezon III commented "I’m not for firing people on the basis of what they write."

But the articles (including one that appeared in manila Standard I guess) obviously pointed out how the publishers and the editors were being toyed on by a "cursi" (aaaaaaargh!) Mala Malu (in Mr. Quezon's words). It only means the editors and publishers would rather freeload on a thrash-writing cursi than have a quality contribution from more deserving writers. Advertorials or even attracting advertisements this way is...

Pathetic.

I know of one major local media network (feeling international)who is so fond of freeloading on its own fat (sa Tagalog, nagsarili, o nagluto sa sariling mantika, and freak out, you go figure what I mean!) when in fact, it is following the footsteps of Enron.

And back to Mala Malu, nais kong ipaabot sa mga kapwa ko Pilipino na nasilihan at naantig ng kanyang pakiramdam, we can only speculate. Baka sa ganoong paraan lang nakakakuha ng atensyon si Mala Malu.

Maswerte tayo, di natin kelangang matutong mag-spelling ng mamahaling brand ng bag at magpakahirap magkaroon nung mga brands na gusto niya (o nilang) i-promote. Why, I feel 103 years old, pero laking pasasalamat ko na at me gusto pa ring makipag-date sa 'kin kahit Johnson's baby cologne lang kaya kong bilhin! At para kay Ms. Malu, yebba babe, para sa 'yo talaga 'yang pic ko (sa taas)! Taken a few minutes ago. No brands to brag. No need.

Kung ipagpipilitan mong journalist ka, AYOKO NANG MAGING JOURNALIST!

Ano kamo ulit? You're just being true to yourself? E di sana, naglaslas ka na nga nung time na 'yon... Malay mo, maunahan ka nung mga nag-send sa 'yo ng death threat?

Hay Pinoy When Will We Ever Learn?

2007-08-23T00:37:00.001-07:00

Eto, napakabilis kumalat sa mga e-mail. Kuwentong taglish (pidgin, hiphop, etc) na nilangkapan ng sangkaterbang figurative speech. Sabi ni Derrick, totoo naman daw na napakaraming Pinoy ang mag-Inglisan, kesyo nasa labas ng Pilipinas, e, first language nila ang foreign language.

Sa mga na-o-offend na literally educated mag-English, excuse me po, 'ika nga nilang mga kapwa Pinoy na ayaw lumingon sa kanilang natural na pananalita.

Take a bow, eehe, take a look below.

Pero kung ako ang tatanungin, bilib din ako sa galing sumulat ng kung sino mang pinanggalingn ng 'wentong ito. Ako, napa-husay kong mang-pilipit ng kuwentuhan, pero 'di ko kaya 'to, 'day! Kahit siguro si Ms. Annabel Rama, wlang panama. Inggit ko lang. I can imagine Atty. Maximus seriously speaking "pero okey sya ha? Magaling ang pagkakagawa niya...":

We' ve been friends for a long time ago. We come from the same alma
mother. Actually, our paths crossed one time on another. But it's only
now that I gave him a second look. I realized that beauty is in the
eyes. The pulpbits of my heart went fast, really fast. Cute pala siya.
And then, he came over with me. He said, "I hope you don't mine. Can I
get your number?" Nag-worry ako. What if he doesn't give it back? He
explained naman na it's so we could keep intact daw. Sabi ko, connect
me if i'm wrong but are you asking me ouch? Nabigla siya. Sagot niya,
The! Aba! Parang siya pa ang galit! Persona ingrata!!! Ang kapal niya!
I cried buckles of tears.

Na-guilty yata siya. Sabi niya, isipin mo na lang na this is a
blessing in the sky. Irregardless daw of his feelings, we'll go ouch
na rin. Now, we're so in love. Mute and epidemic na ang past. Thanks
God we swallowed our fried. Kasi, I'm 33 na and I'm running our time.
After 2 weeks, he plopped the question. "Will you marriage me?" I'm in
a state of shocked. Kasi mantakin mo, when it rains, it's four! This
is true good to be true. So siyempre, I said yes. Love is a many
splendor.

Pero nung inaayos ko na ang aming kasal, everything swell to pieces.
Nag-di-dinner kami noon nang biglang sa harap ng aming table, may
babaeng humirit ng, "Well, well, well. Look do we hav e here." What
the fuss! The nerd ng babaeng yon! She said they were still on. So I
told her, whatever is that, cut me some slacks! I didn't want this to
get our hand kaya I had to sip it in the bud. She accused me of
steeling her boyfriend. Ats if! I don't want to portrait the role of
the other woman. Gosh, tell me to the marines! I told her, "please,
mine you own business!" Who would believe her anyway?

Dahil it's not my problem anymore but her problem anymore, tumigil na
rin siya ng panggugulo. Everything is coming up daisies. I'm so happy.
Even my boyfriend said liketwice. He's so supportive. Sabi niya, "Look
at is this way. She's our of our lives."

Kaya advise ko sa inyo - take the risk. You can never can tell. Just
burn the bridge when you get there. Life is shorts. If you make a
mistake, we'll just pray for the internal and external repose of your
soul. I second emotion.