Declaring Her Independence

My sister Bam said she’d had enough of managing our family’s farm. She’s declaring her independence on the 4^th of February.  I can’t blame her because her life stopped the moment she took over the farm when my father passed away.  She left her lucrative and high profile job with the Office of the President – Presidential Anti-Graft Commission and even forgot to take care of herself.  That explains why until now she’s unmarried, or laon in Ilonggo.  Yet all these years that she’s toiling the farm, she did not even became rich.  Soil is a blessing but I’m just human, and this is how I see it, soil will hold you and suck all the life in you.

In farming, you’ll only get rich if you’re toiling hundreds of hectares of lands.  That’s why the owners of Hacienda Luisita are rich.  It’s a nice feeling to grow crops but farming is not just about feelings, it’s a hard work.  You’ll have to shell out a lot of money to maintain your crops.  You need to give the plants fertilizers and that it entails a lot of costs.  Since my sister is into sugarcane farming, she’ll only get to harvest once a year.  At the end of the cropping year, and after paying off her debts in the maintenance of the farm, she’ll not even break even.  The problem is that it’s a cycle and you’ll never get out of the cycle.  That’s the reason why I feel for the farmers.  I know exactly what they’re up to and the challenges they’re facing in farming.

She would have endured it but she’s just human.  Even if you’re patient, your patience will be tested and she just gave it all up.  I can’t blame her and I don’t have the right to.  I mean, I was never really involved in farming myself.  I did have an inheritance from my late father but I never get to toil it.  My sister did the toiling for me.  It wasn’t that I’m not interested in it but I’m away most of the time.  That’s why I know why she’d made up her mind. 

What triggered her to blow her top is my younger brother who wants to have it all to himself.  In the past, he did a lot of things that tested my sister’s patience.  My brother has been consumed by greed.  It’s bad because he does not anymore consider the feelings of his family.  He’s already blinded and consumed by greed.  My mother who’s always blinded by her love for her favorite son, right away defended him. 

So, I wasn’t surprised when last week, my sister said that she’d had enough.  I told her that it’s just fair that she walks out from farming.  She’s still young and has a lot of years ahead of her.  I told her that when she leaves, she shouldn’t look back.  It’s not worth it. 

I treat people the same.  For me, it doesn’t matter if you’re a family, a friend or an acquaintance.  If you are a relative or a family, it’s just coincidental and it doesn’t give you the right to treat your family member or relative badly.  It doesn’t give you the right to abuse your relations.  They say that when your house is full of trash and you decide to clean up, you’ll realize that there are things that you don’t really need.  You’ll also realize that you regained space that used to be consumed by the trash.  You’ll realize na guminhawa ang iyong paligid.  It’s the same with friends, relatives and people in general.  If you don’t need them, you walk out on them.  You’ll realize that gumaan ang iyong buhay.  I support you Inday Bam and I will always respect your decision.

Defenders of Justice

1. Justice Serafin Cuevas

Now 83 years old, he served as associate justice of the Supreme Court during the Marcos regime from June 1984 to April 1986. Prior to his appointment to the SC, he was a justice in the Court of Appeals, judge in the Court of First Instance, and fiscal in Manila.

 

A product of the University of the Philippines College of Law, he had four decades of teaching experience not only in the same institution but in other universities as well.

He was also one of the lead defense counsels of deposed President Joseph Estrada during his impeachment trial in 2000.

2. Eduardo de los Angeles

He is a former dean of the Ateneo de Manila University - College of Law and a managing partner at Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & De Los

Angeles Law Office, the third largest law firm in the country. He finished Bachelor of Laws degree from the Ateneo Law School in 1966, and a Master of Laws degree from the Columbia Law School of Columbia University in New York in 1970. He is also a former president of the Philippine Stock Exchange.

3. Prof. Jacinto Jimenez

He is a resident constitutional expert and long-time professor at the Ateneo Law School, and also a partner at top law firm Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc& De Los Angeles. He finished Bachelor of Laws from the Ateneo Law School in 1964 with honors, and placed third in the 1968 Bar with a grade of 86.8 percent.

4. Ramon Esguerra

A former Department of Justice undersecretary, he was tapped to help retired Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. when he faced an impeachment complaint in 2003. He is managing partner in Esguerra & Blanco Law Offices and is also teaching criminal and remedial laws at the UP College of Law where he also graduated in 1979.

5. Dean Jose Roy III

He was former dean of the College of Law and president of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. He is another product of the Ateneo Law School.

6. Joel Bodegon

He is managing partner of Bodegon Estorninos Guerzon Borje & Gozos Law Offices. He was also partner in Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Offices from 1982 to 1986. He finished his Bachelor of Laws from the University of the Philippines in 1974 and was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 1975, before joining the Office of the Solicitor General as trial attorney.

7. German Lichauco II

He is from topnotch Siguion-Reyna Montecillo & Ongsiako Law Offices and described as “an intra-corporate dispute litigator whose expertise includes hostile corporate takeover and control.” He had also handled “a wide array of cases that include heinous crimes, medical malpractice, construction and commercial arbitration, personal injuries and business tort or contractual controversies.”

8. Dean Tranquil Salvador III

A partner at top law firm Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & De Los Angeles, he was former Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasay law school dean and UP law professor.

9. Rico Paolo Quicho

A partner in Quicho and Angeles Law Offices, he is an expert in litigation who is also lawyering for embattled Civil Service Commission chair Francisco Duque III in a corruption case involving Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) funds.

10. Karen Jimeno

She graduated cum laude from the UP College of Law before finishing her master’s degree in law at the prestigious Harvard University in the United States.

11. Dennis Manalo

Also from the Siguion-Reyna Montecillo & Ongsiako Law Offices who volunteered for the chief justice’s defense, he is described by the firm as concentrating on “criminal and labor litigation [with] substantial experience in trial work and appellate practice.”

12. Noel Lazaro

He is also partner at Siguion-Reyna Montecillo & Ongsiako Law Offices. He is described by his firm as “a trial and appellate litigator with concentration in commercial, criminal and civil disputes.” He obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from the UP College of Law in 1995.

Hacienda Luisita, Political Ambition and Personal Interest

CJ Renato Corona’s speech earlier today:

“Ako raw ay hadlang – Tama! Malaki akong hadlang sa mga nagnanais na hindi matuloy ang pamamahagi ng lupain sa mga magsasaka ng Hacienda Luisita. Malaki din akong hadlang sa isang nagmamadaling bise-presidente na talo noong 2010," he said.

"At huwag na tayong lumayo, malaki rin akong hadlang sa isang nag-aambisyong maging chief justice.”

“Sila pong tatlo ang nagsasabwatan upang ako ay mapatalsik sa puwesto. At higit sa lahat, isa akong malaking hadlang sa isang diktatura,” he added.

Finally, CJ Renato Corona tells it as it is.  No more niceties. He was direct to the point.  The three people he was saying are Dictator Abnoy, Putang Ina (Mar Roxas) and Associate Justice Carpio.

Dictator Abnoy was the brain child of the impeachment case against CJ Corona.  It’s all because of the decision of the Supreme Court to distribute Hacienda Luisita to the farmers.  It’s not about PGMA or his “Matuwid na Daan”.  It’s all all because and it’s all for HACIENDA LUISITA. 

Putang Ina (Mar Roxas) who lost in the 2012 Vice Presidential race to VP Jejomar Binay has an outstanding protest at the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.  Mar Roxas of course is hoping for an Aquino friendly Supreme Court so that the SC will rule in favor of his protest.  PI’s (Mar Roxas) camp, the LP and Dictator Abnoy’s camp feels that the SC will never rule in their favor.  By removing CJ Corona and the rest of the Associate Justices who they think are not for them, Dictator Abnoy can now appoint SC Justices who will toe their line.  The impeachment case filed against CJ Corona is nothing more than serving the political ambition of Putang Ina (Mar Roxas) who once dreamed of become a President, eventually slide down to Vice Presidency but unfortunately lost to VP Jejomar Binay.  The desperate man resorted to desperate measures.  I mean, there’s still more than 4 years in the term of Office of VP, who could blame Putang Ina (Mar Roxas) if he’s still hoping for miracle. 

If you remember, Mar Roxas was labeled as Putang Ina because he can swear like hell.  Unfortunately for him, people did not forgive him.  That’s the reason why he lost the VP race.  Since P.I. is a member of the Araneta clan, he can buy support so don’t wonder why you’ll often hear demonization of CJ Corona and the Supreme Court.  His family can buy media influence.  So people, be very vigilant.

Hours after CJ Corona was impeached, verified reports from media confirmed that some Leftist members of the House of Representa-THIEVES met at a condominium owned by Associate Justice Carpio.  In fact, it was alleged that some of the accusations written in the Impeachment Complaints were written by Associate Carpio himself.  Carpio is identified with ‘THE FIRM’ and were once the legal consultants of the Arroyo family until their falling out early 2005. Right after that, Carpio’s rulings were all against PGMA administration. 

Carpio’s only dream apparently was to become the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.  Unfortunately for him though, PGMA was authorized by the Supreme Court itself to appoint Supreme Court Chief Justice, a month before she stepped down from the Office.  Impeaching CJ Corona is the only way for Carpio’s dream to be realized.         

 

Three people are fighting against CJ Corona to impeach him for different reasons: Hacienda Luisita, Political Ambition and Personal Interest.  Kayo na lang ang bahalang humusga.

It’s still Hacienda Luisita

Dictator Abnoy would not have the Supreme Court Chief Justice Impeached if it weren’t for the Hacienda Luisita decision that the Higher Magistrate made that was unfavorable to the Cojuanco and Aquino Clan that owned the Hacienda Luisita.  Hacienda Luisita made the Cojuanco and Aquino clan powerful and they gained political clout and prominence.  For the Cojuanco and Aquino Clan, losing Hacienda Luisita means, losing everything. 

So, I don’t wonder why Dictator Abnoy was so pissed off with the Higher Magistrate’s decision to distribute Hacienda Luisita.  Dictator Abnoy and his Yellowtards may state that they’re only doing this to eradicate PGMAs influence with the SC.  They may also try saying that the impeachment of the CJ was consistent with the ‘Matuwid na Daan’ but I don’t buy that.  It’s very obvious that Dictator Abnoy just want to protect Hacienda Luisita, period. 

I’m not a lawyer but impeaching a Supreme Court CJ for a collegial decision is absurd.  The CJ is just one vote because the Supreme Court will always favor the majority rule.  The Legal luminaries were right whey they say that the impeachment of the CJ will weaken the Judiciary.  It will because, the Dictatorship of Abnoy will threaten the remaining Justices with impeachment if and when the occupants of Malacanang doesn’t like the decision that they’re rendering.  We’ll have to exclude of course, Carpio who is salivating the position of CJ for the longest time and of course, Sereno who is also a Yellowtard by heart.

Filipinos who are very fond of Teleseryes should not be swayed by the Yellow Media’s demonization of Chief Justice Renato Corona.  They should be very vigilant and listen only to all the evidence that the Defense team is presenting.  They should never be swayed by the Prosecutors of the House of Representa-THIEVES, Lolong’s distant relatives, particularly the hollier than thou Tupaz, whose father was accused of Plunder.  They should not listen to the propaganda of the occupants from Malacanang and the yellowtards.  From what I gather, the prosecution team has no evidence.  Baseless accusations don’t stand.  Rules of Court will prevail and will be used in the Impeachment Court and presentation of evidence is important.  They may demonize PGMA more and CJ Corona even more and it’s not because of ‘Daan Matuwid’ unfortunately.  They’re doing this to regain HACIENDA LUISITA.

More fun??

I think it’s a misprint when they say ‘It’s more fun in the Philippines’.  What they mean I guess is that ‘It’s more FAN’.  Yeah, right.  More fan because we’re in a tropical country, very high humidity and it’s very hot.  Maybe they also mean ‘More Pan’ because we’re pretty much surrounded by bakeries selling bread or ‘PAN’.

The dictatorship of Abnoy is targeting 10 Million tourist arrivals for the year 2012.  That I think is a fairy tale target because currently we only receive about 3.5 million tourists a year.  They include balikbayans so if you do your math correctly, you’ll estimate that there are only about 1.5 million genuine tourists who arrived in our country.

What went wrong? That’s the number one question that the former Ad agency executive who now heads the Tourism Ministry should ask.  First it’s not just about the slogan, logos and promotional materials.  It’s about branding and taking good care of our brand.  How can we establish a good tourism brand when government changes their brand every time there’s a new occupant in Malacanang.  We need to build a brand that we can sustain.  Something that would last that people the world over can recognize. 

Second, we don’t spend much on infrastructures like building good airports, hotels and developing tourist destinations.  In fact, NAIA being named as the World’s Worst Airport does not go well with our target 10 million tourist arrival per year.

A lot of businesses are dependent on the Tourism Industry.  If we can increase the tourist arrivals even by 100% from the previous 3.5 million, it will help our economy a lot in the sense that more jobs will be created as a result of tourism boom.

The only drawback with tourism boom is its ugly side, prostitution and sex tourism.  Yes, you can say that it will support a lot of people too, but flesh trade is a no no.  I don’t want to be hollier than thou but if we can, we should avoid it.  The challenge is how we can balance our national interest over the welfare of our countrymen.

Is it really more fun in the Philippines?

It's more fun in Switzerland

Personally, I don’t see anything wrong with the “WOW PHILIPPINES” campaign that the Department of Tourism launched during the time of the former Tourism Minister Richard Gordon and the then PGMA.  It’s just that the current occupant of Malacanang just don’t want to be associated with the former administration’s program.  "WOW PHILIPPINES” can stand side by side by Malaysia Truly Asia or Incredible India.  It’s also very short, catchy and descriptive.  The problem with the Filipinos is we lack continuity.  That’s probably one of the reasons why we lag behind our Asian neighbors.

Last week, the current Tourism Minister who happens to be a former advertising executive launched the “It’s more fun in the Philippines” slogan.  Moments after it was launched, the cyberspace was bombarded by the copy of Switzerland’s 1950s campaign “It’s more fun in Switzerland”.  People were so disgusted that the government spent more than Php. 5 Million to pay BBDO Guerrero yet the finished product was another plagiarized slogan.  This is the second time that the Tourism was caught red handed.  The first one was when they launched “Pilipinas kay Ganda” with the then Tourism Minister Alberto Lim.  It turned out that the logo was an exact replica of the Polish Tourism Campaign.

The dictatorship of Abnoy should have retained the “WOW Philippines” if it could not come up with a better slogan and campaign.  Plagiarizing something is an insult to Filipino nation.  We’re supposed to be the nation with creative talents.  Why in the world can’t we come up with our very own and unique tourism campaign?  The dictatorship of Abnoy even condemns SC Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo for allegedly plagiarizing his rulings yet he condone to plagiarism committed by the Tourism Ministry.  It’s a classic example of hypocrisy in the highest order.

Even if the current Tourism Minister was caught stealing cookie in the cookie jar, he’s still insisting that what happened was just coincidental.  What could be coincidental when there’s google?  Haven’t BBDO Guerrero googled “It’s more fun..? For sure, they’ll know that Switzerland has already launched that campaign 60 years ago.

The Tourism Minister once said that selling the Philippines is like selling Chicken Joy.  Is this what he means when he say it?  Copying and plagiarizing tourism slogans from other countries and pass it on as original.  The worst thing is, not admitting to mistakes and spending several millions of pesos as a consequence of their mistakes.

Career Change

A former colleague of mine, who’s already in his 50s resigned two months ago from his job as Executive Secretary in the IT Department, moved to a small business unit and again quit his present post.  Today, he sent an email to our HR Manager requesting for a job.  He wanted to join our organization but basing on our salary scale, he’s too expensive.  I doubt that we’ll even grant him an interview.

Our recruitment policy states that we should be transparent in our recruitment process.  We believe in selecting the right man for the right job.  But business realities like the salary budget are often considered in the recruitment process.  In the case of my former colleague, he’s in his 50s and his asking price is beyond the budgeted amount for the skills that he can do.  In fact, for his skills, we only pay half of what he’s currently earning from his present job.  Why would our organization hire him when the money we will be paying him can pay for two staff? 

If his skills are different and specialized, there’s a possibility that he can get more.  If you have specialized skills, the more experienced and mature you are, the higher your pay will be.  If you honed your skills, chances are companies will be looking for you and not the other way around.  Sadly it’s not the case for administrative and clerical professionals.  That’s the reason why if you’re an administrative and clerical professional, you should learn new skills so you’ll be promotable. 

One of the best examples in changing your career path is to enroll in the post graduate degree.  Actually it’s not just the academic qualification but it also pays if you’re well read. 

 Going back to my former colleague, I pity him because he had not realized that his greatest disadvantage is his age and his asking price.  Forgive me for saying this but because he has no specialized skills, no company will be willing to give him his asking price.  The worst scenario is that he’ll file for final exit or accept a job that pays lower than what he’s currently receiving.  From what I’ve heard, he resigned from IT Department because of a little misunderstanding and he resigned from his present job because of workload.  I think the only factor that made him resign from that job was his pride.  He did not consider a lot of things when he made the decision.  He never realized that he’s already old.  If companies have a choice, they’ll bring in a younger employee who’s still trainable, knows the latest technology and has no preconceived notions.

Contractual Relationships

The first time I’ve come across the so called ‘Contractual Relationship’ was when I was still younger and doing part time job in a major fast food chain the Philippines.  They called it contractual since the relationship between the couple starts and ends with their 5 months contract.  I’m not generalizing but there are couples who ended up together forever, as in, getting married and starting their own families.

In the Kingdom of the Sands, having  a contractual relationships are very common.  People entered into relationships and end it when one of them decides to exit for good.  Like the rest there are exceptions  like there are couples who last longer than expected.  But most of the couples in the Kingdom of the Sands are fake couples posing as real married couples.  Some of my coworker from my previous workplace are involved in this kind of relationships.  Some of them go to the extent of getting fake marriage licenses just so the Mutawa “Religious Police” would not catch them for immorality.  In the Kingdom of the Sands, it is forbidden for men and women to go out in public together.  If caught, you’ll be subjected to severe punishment like imprisonment and eventualy deportation.  Some are into live in arrangements and even go to family events together.  I know of another case where both of the couple have their own family back home, yet they decided to start a family here.  I wonder what arrangement they’ll make once their children grows up or if they’re availing their annual vacation.

I don’t want to judge people but I see how my friend, an engineer, lived a kahabag habag existence.  Like, he’s an engineer but he constantly runs out of money.  Who wouldn’t when he’s supporting two families, one in the Philippines and another one here. 

… and the reason for all these, loneliness which I don’t buy.  Most of us OFWs by the way left our country for the purpose of giving better life for our families.  Betraying our love ones by entering into a relationship with another person, because we’re lonely, is not acceptable.  It destroys the real purpose and the reason why we left in the first place.  I think another reason for the betrayal is the macho image of the Filipino male species.  We don’t mind this kind of relationships because it’s cool.  That’s the reason why illicit affairs like these are tolerated here.

I also think that being away from your family you gained the freedom that you don’t avail back home.  If you’re lucky in the Kingdom of the Sands, you’ll end up in a place where nobody really knows you or recognize you.  No former classmates, no friends, no neighbors which means, walang mga mata ni Angelita.  The freedom of being unnoticed is dangerous because it will make you try things.  In the case of Filipinos in the Kingdom of the Sands, it’s having an affair and being engage into a contractual relationships.

Wanted: Michael Quiliza, Dammam Carnap King

Dammam Carnap King
Michael Quiliza

In my 2 December 2011 post, Victimized (http://braggito.blogspot.com/2011/12/victimized.html).  I referred to Jong, the nephew of my friend who was victimized by an ill meaning kabayan.  We finally identified him as MICHAEL QUILIZA.  We were also able to get his passport details and his two his latest pictures. 

Here’s his passport details:

Name: MICHAEL QUILIZA

Passport No.: KK452107 / 11 NOV 2002 / Issued in Legazpi City
Date of Birth: 14 September 1969
Place of Birth:  Angeles City

Michael Quiliza
Dammam Carnap King

Per the records of the Saudi Arabia passport office, his iqama is expired.  His passport as you’ll notice has also expired.  He’s technically a run away.

Details of the car carnapped by Michael Quiliza:

Rent A Car Office Name:        Bin Naif

Telephone No.:                        0503878156
Car Model:                              Hyundai Accent (Colored Blue)
Plate No.:                                3906 UVA



If you have any information concerning the said person or the carnapped car, you may contact Jeralo (Jong) at 0542235398 or the Bin Naif Rent a Car at 05003878156.

Death of an actor

Tyron Perez

Nakapanghininayang.  That’s the first word that I said when I heard the sad news that the young actor Tyron Perez killed himself.  He’s young, handsome, and has all the potentials of being a good actor.  If he hadn’t killed himself, he could have made it big in the entertainment industry.

 Nakakapanghihinayang.  I believe that life is a gift.  God gave us life and He’s the only one who could take it.  I don’t condemn him from killing himself, nobody should, nobody has the right to, but he wasted his life.  There are people who pray to God to extend their lives.  Some go to the extent of going through extensive treatments and surgeries just so they could live longer.  When I went through near death experience last year, I thanked God for giving me a new lease of life.  I don’t condemn Tyron but I pity him.  I’ll pray for the eternal repose of his soul.

Nakakapanghihinayang.  I couldn’t believe that he killed himself because of the mistakes that he made.  We all commit mistakes.  We all hurt our love ones.  In his case, he may have betrayed his wife by selling their belongings.  Money can be earned back but a life lost is lost forever.  I think his wife would still give him a second chance, that is, if she truly loves him.

The death of Tyron should be a lesson to us all.  We commit mistakes and betrayals.  We forgive, be forgiven and mistakes forgotten.  We’re just human and we don’t have the right to end our own lives.  When we marry and decide to love someone, we bind ourselves to accept the person for who he/she is.  We don’t change him/her but accept her for her past, present and future mistakes.  I think that’s what you call love.

To Tyron, may your soul rest in peace.