Stop Voting

Rodriguez, Lacson-Noel, Bondoc, and Gunigundo (not shown is Gomez and Revilla)

OK - just next to the best thing we can do is to STOP voting for disastrous white elephants. For advocating (authoring SHOULD never be the word, these people can write? Then I must be Mark Twain) a bill allowing promotion of commercial infant formula for use of 6 month-old babies - Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and Malabon Rep. Josephine Veronique Lacson-Noel Reps. Anna York Bondoc, Lani Mercado-Revilla, Lucy Torres-Gomez, and Magtanggol Gunigundo. Remember their faces, names, and their stupidity. We are paying people to do stupid, disastrous acts? GAD! with a capital G.

Commercial milk is a questionable food. They had to invent a disease called lactose-intolerance to justify the natural reaction of our stomach for it - and that is to eject. The body automatically ejects poison. Thus, after drinking milk, you go straight to the john. Notice, too, that after a baby drinks commercial infant formula, they burp and throw out about 3/4 of the milk drank. It is the same as throwing up after we eat something awful and poisonous.

There's only one reason why these white elephants are endorsing a pre-paid bill (usually written by their consultants or lobbyists paid by business giants) and I need not post the obvious.

Yeah, Right

Not to deride Gerry Plaza (not that I know him beyond this post) and the More Fun team of the Philippine Government about the "Jason Bourne franchise" for stating:

Push PH as a filmmaking destination
Given the popularity of the Bourne franchise, the new installment is sure to shine the light on the Philippines—certainly for its tourist spots, but also for the rawness and decay of its urban landscape.  And showing international filmmakers both faces of the country may open their eyes to the potential of making their future movies here.
We should make the most out of this fantastic exposure. Government and private businesses should take advantage of all that free publicity from the "The Bourne Legacy" to push the Philippines as a filmmaking destination.
It won't just generate revenue and create jobs, it will also be a priceless learning experience for our actors and film workers.

but  to be excited about something as trivial as having your locality for filming an international movie as popular as the "Jason Bourne franchise" is downright shallow. Thing about us is, we are so into pop culture we are basically setting aside all of our values and things that are really important.

Take for instance our singers who broke into "international stardom". We (prob'bly the media in particular)  hype too much of them as if it is the only way Filipinos could stand out or make a difference.

Jesus Christ.

When we should all be pushing for the second phase of the CJ Corona impeachment - that is - tracking all of the SALN (we ilocanos call it 'sal-iten- our vernacular for fucked-up), bank account and properties of ALL government officials, here we are sucked up in the Jessica Sanchez American Idol snag, and everything else that are downright base.

No amount of EDSA revolt will ever  change our lot if we keep being this way. And I can't believe we in the media are populated with hypocrites that thrive on the mundane. Like, if Plaza had really been into the "Jason Bourne franchise", he should know by now Bourne became popular because he defied the US government's stupid and corrupt officials.

And that is what really is important.

ps
I am sooo into Robert Ludlum books, so, I hate it when just suddenly, something as stupid as this comes out in the media.

Networking Statistics

I have never been a fan of statistics... or maths... or numbers for that matter. So, I am more of a word-of-mouth believer.

Probably because I try most things once to find out the truth behind advertisements, or because I once worked with a marketing award-giving company (I guess it was even listed as a non-profit organization!) but the company gives about 12 awards monthly of which process starts with a congratulatory letter stating that the person, company, product, service, etc topped the survey for a certain category (the company must have a gazillion of categories!) and that they shall be provided an award on a certain date with the signatories and officials, and a (former) celebrity as guest. If the person/company will be willing to accept the plaque, they are required to commit to a sponsorship package (provided by the congratulatory note) and confirm immediately (or after thousands of follow-up calls later).

What is not told to the recipient of the letter is that there were only one respondents in the survey - the marketing person also doing the follow-up call and the category. This is of course a scam. And if DTI will hire me to provide all the evidences they need, I'd take the job for the right fee.

Anyway, back to the numbers and statistics topic - the latest Facebook brouhaha. What went wrong? Because many who join networking sites from the various customer service outsourcing countries of the world are scammers themselves with probably tens of accounts.  They would soon post links to products, virus programs and links to lure members...

So, reality behind numbers is entirely a different matter. And besides, consumption is actually slowing down in many "emerging" economies due to the growing knowledge and wisdom of consumers (oh, and my fingers are crossed!). Not half of their population have credit cards, nor will order online any time soon. No.

A sign of the second dotcom bubble burst?

Probably.

But never rely on numbers. Experience is still the best teacher.

And don't consume too much. Especially on credit. Or better yet, cancel your credit card.

Tulfo & the "Stars": First Version

Mon Tulfo is one journalist who is feared and respected. Or hated by mainly government officers/officials, and some fellow "journalists", probably for his guts.

Having had an experience with "showbiz" folks (I worked as PR for several talents, ghost writer for a columnist, and PR for a major network's department) for more than a decade, I have had sufficient study of the showbiz attitude. And many of them are often bitten by the star complex disease.

Being a "journalist" myself, my own analysis of the the Thrilla at Naia is this:

As already mentioned by Tulfo, his attention was caught by Claudine's "pagtatalak". So, yes, he took the photos (and yes, as already mentioned by sociologists and legal experts, he have all the rights in this world to take it. So, shut up stupid uzis because all your rants will not give a dent on that right).

So Tulfo sneered at Raymart Santiago when Santiago tried to grab or forcibly take his phone-camera.

This took Santiago and the palengkera "star" to the edge. Like, OK, just my opinion but this is what went through their heads or what have been the "first part" that Santiago insists on television interviews:
(Note: this is the script in my head as analysis of what happened based on my own experience and understanding of showbiz attitude.)

Santiago: Putang'nang matanda 'to, akina yan! (Forcibly taking Tulfo's phone).

Tulfo: (Pushes Santiago away which irked the husband and wife and their cohorts even more).

Santiago: Ah, gago 'to ah!  Di mo ba kami kilala??! Akina 'yan! Wala kang karapatang kunan ang asawa ko!

Barretto: Punyeta ka! Sino ka ba? Saan ka nakatira? (This was caught on the viral video, listen carefully).Wala kang karapatang ganyanin ang asawa ko! At ibigay mo yang phone (camera) na 'yan! Wala kang karapatang kunan ako ng picture! Leche ka! Hayop kang matanda ka!

Santiago: (Hits Tulfo but either misses or Tulfo barred his fists and hits which angered the drunk Santiago, the "star" and their friends. Tulfo starts fighting back as self defense and hits Santiago. Now, the second part - the viral video - and melee starts).

Santiago and Barretto cannot believe that an "unknown" lowly old man have the "nerve" to fight them back. And it was already "too late" to retract all and every lie they uttered live on camera once they learned that the man they ganged up on is Mon Tulfo.

Shame on them. Their stories don't hold at all. It is just sad that stupid "fans" are as stupid as the "stars" they look up on. They have the nerve to challenge "other witness" whereas the story is only one and without any other version, and that the video - second part or not - only continues a first portion that is consistent.

Barretto was hit during the melee and not on the "first portion" as they insisted.

And when Tulfo said that if he "had to die protecting or fighting for his right or the right of others, then so be it," I only wished the crimes committed against him by Santiago, Barretto & friends has incarceration as penalty. I'd love to see the "star" couple behind bars.

Copyrighting "Organic" and Avoiding "Certified" at all cost

There was a time when words were freely used. But the commercialization and profiteering of everything has come to a level when copyright, infringement, intellectual property rights, plagiarism, and other forms of restrictive use of words have gone haywire.

Recently, (and probably still ongoing) the slomo Philippine agriculture have started promoting "organic farming" but every information campaign they conduct, they emphasize for the need to "be careful" (warning in other words) in the use of "organic" in labelling. It is short to telling the listeners to AVOID its use at all cost.

This is of course a very obvious protectionist propaganda - from non-organic producers, from the  well-placed "organic" producers, giant pharmaceuticals, and morons of freedom of speech.

Tsk-tsk-tsk. You know, they even start questioning about putting the animal dung directly on the plant stem (or above its roots). This is of course a Pinoy farming tradition prior to imperial commercialism.

Once again, the Filipinos are being had.

How even the use of the word can make a producer a violator of law is inconceivable. But the heck... Here I am to help:

Use instead safe phrases, but the hell, if it is true, use the word organic! Just avoid the fucking "Certified" and who cares about certification if it meant more regulatory / bureaucratic bullshit &  financial losses for poor producers?

Label it instead with:

This ___(product)___ was made using "organic fertilizer". Or  "organic pesticide".

And to hell with your agri technician who insists otherwise. Let him file a case against you in court. NEVER buckle down.

Meanwhile in her barrio: she cowers in fear

Timeline

The Sto. Domingo Municipal Dumpsite

Stupidity & Abuse

July 2001 – Butch Tadena’s first term as mayor. He requested help for the mounting garbage at the public market from Ernesto Tadeja. Tadeja volunteered his possession for temporary dumping to relieve and clean the public market where people from Sto. Tomas also buy.

2002 – Tadeja, through a family member wrote a letter inquiring from the mayor what are the future plans for the dumpsite. No definite reply, too many verbal promises.

November 2004 – The people of Sto. Tomas submitted a Petition for the closure of the Municipal Dumpsite due to a one-sided affair – to the detriment of their groundwater and threat to their health and safety. They proposed an option to continue but provide livelihood to the people of Sto. Tomas by converting biodegradable waste into organic fertilizer. No official acted.

Mid 2005 – a single human barricade finally made the former mayor Butch Tadena to conduct dialogue with the Barangay – with the presence of former vice mayor Bong Tobias, municipal engineer Zaldy Rosario, former MPDC Dario Tacad & barangay officials together with the Petitioner. The former mayor promised to abide by the legally prescribed requirements, probably referring to RA 9003. The LGU only distributed generic drugs for one time, bought a parcel of land in the barangay, and transferred the dumpsite nearer to the river.

-          To compensate for lack of any benefit, the punong barangay accepted hospital waste from the Metro Vigan Cooperative Hospital through Tomtom de Vera’s brother Dr. Jojo de Vera. It was rumoured that Tadeja was paid a monthly rental of P4,000 only. How much was Jojo De Vera earning can only be confirmed by the MVCH.

July 2011 – The Punong Barangay with a little help, started to look for possible ways to lessen the negative impact of the dumpsite to the barangay. He first approached Congressman Ryan Singson who immediately provided a project.  In the project proposal verifiable at the office of Cong Singson states: “The barangay is currently the Municipal dumpsite for more than 12 years now and has neither actual protection nor programs for it. Turning the biodegradable waste into organic fertilizer has been proposed in 2005 but the previous administration failed to act on the proposal. With a new Chief Executive Officer, it is hoped that the proposal will be reconsidered,” referring to the 2004 proposal.

August 2011 – The Punong barangay started verbal negotiation with the current administration for the possible development of the 2004 proposal.  Instead of helping, the LGU delayed the fund released by Cong. Singson in November 2011, issued only a notice to the barangay in 20 January 2012, and required “deed of donation of the forest land or MOA between the Barangay Gov’t & the forest land owner” (attached).

October 2011 – Adrian Madriaga, 6 yo drowned and his body lost for 3 days in the 20-30 feet deep dumpsite pit. All 3 of his companions nearly drowned as well.

November 2011 – The Petitioner reiterated the November 2004 Barangay Petition with a letter to the Mayor and SB. The LGU did not respond nor acknowledged the letter at all.

December 16 2011 – The case regarding the dumpsite against the administration of Sto. Domingo LGU was filed at the Ombudsman and pending decision.

February 2012 – a reliable source relayed a statement from the mayor to the Petitioner, “Ania ti kayat ta _ (Petitioner)? Intono kuwan, siak ti nagkutin,” ("what does she want? Sooner or later, I'd be the one to move..." when the mayor was relaying about the dialogue requested by Board Member Roberto Tudayan. The Petitioner was not convinced Amado Lito Tadena said that. "I found him to be more amicable & civilized than that."

2 March 2012 – A dialogue was conducted with Board Member Tudayan by Tadeja, the Petitioner, newly designated LGU ENRO Alex Dorate, and social worker Sesie de Vera. BM Tudayan was bewildered why there was no action at all by the LGU. De Vera insinuated the mayor doing the barangay a favor by closing the hospital dumpsite. The Petitioner forgot to ask if De Vera was aware how much her brother –in-law Jojo de Vera earned from the deal with the MVCH. (Overheard reliable sources snicker about underhanded monickers like Lee Majors and Limahong & said that they are sure pirates will not be had with any deal.)

23 March 2012 – Dialogue at the dumpsite.

Cowering in Fear,

The Petitioner

Abusive Former Mayor Floro Tadena

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.