Aug 15, 2008
Jul 3, 2008
spot the difference II
jaime and i were watching wanted last night when i first saw the trailer of the dark knight. as soon as i saw heath ledger as the joker, brandon lee as the crow came to mind. here are a couple of videos paying tribute to both actors.
Heath Ledger (1979-2008)
as the Joker in Dark Knight (2008)
Brandon Lee (1965-1993)
as Eric Draven in The Crow (1994)
as the Joker in Dark Knight (2008)
Brandon Lee (1965-1993)
as Eric Draven in The Crow (1994)
Jun 12, 2008
Balik U.P.
I’m almost 30 and I’m proud to say that I’m still a student. Perhaps I should’ve finished my master’s degree a long time ago, and I should be holding a supervisory position by now. Yet I have no shame with the work I have now, and I feel a tingle at the thought of being enrolled right in time for UP’s centennial year celebration.
A lot has changed in the UP Diliman campus since I graduated in my bachelor’s degree in 1999. But young or old, the heart of an authentic UP student doesn’t change. I immediately felt the familiarity when I enrolled last week. From the feel of pretending not to be a little lost while riding the TOKI jeep, to making sense of the unspoken rules in the confusing University of Pila at the new Registrar’s office, the feeling of being a UP student has not really changed.
Proud that I am not only for being a true iskolar ng bayan but also a SOLAIR student, I am hopeful that I could become a worthy labor rights advocate and a valuable contributor to this country’s development.
And so I share this remarkable and haunting text that I found in a comic strip at the back page of the Philippine Collegian (No. 29-30, 14 May 2008).
A lot has changed in the UP Diliman campus since I graduated in my bachelor’s degree in 1999. But young or old, the heart of an authentic UP student doesn’t change. I immediately felt the familiarity when I enrolled last week. From the feel of pretending not to be a little lost while riding the TOKI jeep, to making sense of the unspoken rules in the confusing University of Pila at the new Registrar’s office, the feeling of being a UP student has not really changed.
Proud that I am not only for being a true iskolar ng bayan but also a SOLAIR student, I am hopeful that I could become a worthy labor rights advocate and a valuable contributor to this country’s development.
And so I share this remarkable and haunting text that I found in a comic strip at the back page of the Philippine Collegian (No. 29-30, 14 May 2008).
PA’NO
Pa’no kung biniyayaan ka ng magandang tahanan
Na hindi mo naman kayang alagaan.
At ang paborito mong pasyalan?
Kahit sa’n basta ’di dito sa ’Pinas.
Pa’no kung si John -- na dating si Juan,
Ang idolo’y si Lebron, Superman at si Jackie Chan
Na kundiman ang pinakamadunong na bata’y ang pinakamabait naman!
At may tunay na pangarap: “Ang maging samurai!”
Pa’no kung may dugo ang bawat pagkaing nakahain?
Pa’no kung ngiti na lang ang maisasagot mo sa iyak ng ’yong sikmura?
Pa’no kung nagkakasakit ka na sa kahihithit ng “pag-asa”?
At pa’no kung ang iyong madrasta ay puta ng iba, pati ng iyong tito-tituhan?
Pa’no na?
Pa’no kung ikaw si Oble at dinig mo ang hiyaw ng pagpapatiwakal?
Lalagapak na si John, anong balak mong gawin?
Isang rebulto ka na lang ba na simbulo "lang" o bababa ka sa iyong pedestal at pangangatawanan ang iyong ipinopustura kung kailan ito kailangan?
Ano na?
May 22, 2008
Today is International Day for Biodiversity!
The United Nations proclaimed May 22 the International Day for Biological Diversity to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.
This year’s theme, “Biodiversity and Agriculture,” seeks to highlight the importance of sustainable agriculture not only to preserve biodiversity, but also to ensure that we will be able to feed the world, maintain agricultural livelihoods, and enhance human well being into the 21st century and beyond.
Below are the Key Messages from the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Agriculture is an integral part of every person’s life as it provides us with food, raw materials for goods – such as cotton for clothing, wood for shelter and fuel, roots for medicines – as well as incomes and livelihoods for many. From the earliest examples of the domestication of plants and animals, farmers and their communities have used a rich diversity of wild species to facilitate agriculture and in the process have modified the diversity of domesticated species, landscapes and environments.
Source:
Convention on Biological Diversity
DENR Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau
This year’s theme, “Biodiversity and Agriculture,” seeks to highlight the importance of sustainable agriculture not only to preserve biodiversity, but also to ensure that we will be able to feed the world, maintain agricultural livelihoods, and enhance human well being into the 21st century and beyond.
Below are the Key Messages from the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Biodiversity is the basis of agriculture. Its maintenance is essential for the production of food and other agricultural goods and the benefits these provide humanity, including food security, nutrition and livelihoods.
Biodiversity is the origin of all crops and domesticated livestock and the variety within them. Biodiversity in agricultural and associated landscapes provides and maintains ecosystem services essential to agriculture.
Agriculture contributes to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity but is also a major driver of biodiversity loss. Farmers and agricultural producers are custodians of agricultural biodiversity and possess the knowledge needed to manage and sustain it.
Sustainable agriculture both promotes and is enhanced by biodiversity. Sustainable agriculture uses water, land and nutrients efficiently, while producing lasting economic and social benefits. Barriers inhibiting its widespread adoption need to be reduced.
Agricultural producers respond to consumer demands and government policies. To ensure food security, adequate nutrition and stable livelihoods for all, now and in the future, we must increase food production while adopting sustainable and efficient agriculture, sustainable consumption, and landscape-level planning that ensure the preservation of biodiversity.
BIODIVERSITY IS THE BASIS OF AGRICULTURE.
Agriculture is an integral part of every person’s life as it provides us with food, raw materials for goods – such as cotton for clothing, wood for shelter and fuel, roots for medicines – as well as incomes and livelihoods for many. From the earliest examples of the domestication of plants and animals, farmers and their communities have used a rich diversity of wild species to facilitate agriculture and in the process have modified the diversity of domesticated species, landscapes and environments.
Source:
Convention on Biological Diversity
DENR Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau
May 19, 2008
my replies to yesterday's denreu blog comments
as far as i'm concerned, blog commenters are a blogger's treasure. and although some avid bloggers might be against inserting a tagboard in blogs, i'm glad i did it in the DENREU blog which i am currently maintaining. this post is lovingly dedicated to those who posted their comments to the DENREU Blog Tagboard. ..
Salamat sa mga nag-message sa Tagboard ng DENREU Blog! Magalang, mapangahas o medyo malakas man ang dating ng inyong mga mensahe, ok lahat yan para sa amin! At dahil masarap sagutin ang inyong mga komento, gusto ko sanang sagutin kayo dito sa blog ko...
dapat pahalagahan ng bawat public servant ang trabaho nila. but the management need not resort to punitive and non-democratic means para mag-attend ng flag ceremony. yung mga incentives ni secretary, yun ay isang magandang paraan ng pag-encourage sa mga empleyado. pero ang mga arbitrary punishments ay hindi nababagay sa isang demokratikong bansa na tulad ng sa Pilipinas.
i 'd like to think that when rhea showed her admiration for the denreu blog, she was referring to the overall presentation/layout and the quality of posts. (she's an avid blogger herself so i think she understands blogging technology) and fyi, hindi misd or denr or private company ang gumawa ng blog na yun. ako ang nag-open ng blog account, ako ang sole contributor at ako ang nagmmaintain nung blog, so i think i could more or less say na ako ang gumawa nung blog. (unless you wanna be technical about it)
Salamat sa mga nag-message sa Tagboard ng DENREU Blog! Magalang, mapangahas o medyo malakas man ang dating ng inyong mga mensahe, ok lahat yan para sa amin! At dahil masarap sagutin ang inyong mga komento, gusto ko sanang sagutin kayo dito sa blog ko...
19 May 08, 15:44hmmm.... nacu-curious ako sa kung sino ang pinatatamaan mong "panginoon." (Lord, sana hindi ako yun!) Naiintindihan ko ang ganyang sentimyento. kasi tulad ng sabi saken ng isang dating professor ko, ang pinaka-karapat-dapat na kumakatawan sa isang manggagawa ay iyong tunay na nakakaintindi ng kanilang hinagpis at damdamin. (ang lalim ano?) tingin ko ang ibig sabihin nun, kapag mataas na ang kondisyon mo sa buhay o kapag mataas ang tingin mo sa sarili mo, hindi mo na naiintindihan ang tunay na pinagdadaanan ng mga ordinaryong manggagawa. sana lahat kaming board na binoto nyo ay hindi naman tumaas masyado ang bilib sa sarili...
carlos ramirez: sana naman yun mga naibuto na board of directors ay magtrabaho para sa union hindi parang mga Panginoon turing sa sarili when dealing with ordinary members, PWEEHHH
yun nga talaga ang punto ng blog ng denreu. maliban sa venue ito para ma-update ang mga members sa mga nangyayari sa unyon, ito rin ay magandang venue para mag-comment ang mga empleyado. meron at merong mga hindi matapang magsalita, pero meron din silang mahalagang masasabi. dito, pwede nyo sabihin ang mga gusto nyong sabihin ng walang takot. (mananalangin na lang kami na sana hindi naman abusuhin ng iba at bastusin lang kami nang hindi nagpapakilala.) thanks sa feedback!19 May 08, 15:42carlos ramirez: nice idea na magkaroon ng ganitong site para ma voice out ng mga members hinaing nila kasi minsan nahihiya or natatakot sila magsalita kagaya ko
uy, magandang idea yan! sige, i-suggest natin na lagyan ng pinoy games or relay games yung mini-olympics! thanks!19 May 08, 15:04nitz: okay ang mini-olympics kaya lang sana ibalik natin ang mga laro nuong araw na talagang pagpapawisan tayo at makakasali ang lahat ng empleyado. tulad ng patintero, relay, etc. para masaya
artista meaning puro pa-cute lang, wala namang gawa? elitista meaning mataas ang tingin sa sarili or pro-management? negosyante as in mas inaatupag ang sideline? o nakikinabang sa pera ng unyon? hmmm... may mabibigat na paratang dyan. sana nga wala sa aming masangkot sa ganyang mga eskandalo. in fairness sa nakaraang board, meron naman sa kanilang maituturing na mabubuting leaders.19 May 08, 08:50phil_eagle: Sana ang bagong leadership ngayon, wag tularan ang nakaraang liderato na ang pakiramdam nila sila ay mga ARTISTA, ELITISTA at NEGOSYANTE na mahirap maabot...
indeed, DENR should not tolerate those who violate office rules -- kesyo empleyado o opisyal. kaya nga meron tayong Personnel Division na dapat ay nagmomonitor nito.19 May 08, 08:48phil_eagle: Dapat lang isara ang gate sa mga TAMAD pumasok ng maaga.Lalo ng pag Chief ka ng isang unit/division.DENR Management should not tolerate bunch of BRAT officials and employees.
dapat pahalagahan ng bawat public servant ang trabaho nila. but the management need not resort to punitive and non-democratic means para mag-attend ng flag ceremony. yung mga incentives ni secretary, yun ay isang magandang paraan ng pag-encourage sa mga empleyado. pero ang mga arbitrary punishments ay hindi nababagay sa isang demokratikong bansa na tulad ng sa Pilipinas.
you probably didn't intend to belittle my efforts in maintaining the DENREU blog, pero allow me to clarify. credits to the creator of the blog template is shown at the footer of the blog. at syempre, blogs in general are based on already established technologies. perhaps that was the CMS technology you were referring to. ( i never insinuated na ako ang mismong gumawa ng XML template or widgets na nilagay sa denreu blog. unless the creator requires it, i don't declare credit to every widget to avoid clutter)19 May 08, 08:45phil_eagle: rhea, buit-in ang page nito using CMS technology.Hindi DENREU ang gumawa nito.FYI.
i 'd like to think that when rhea showed her admiration for the denreu blog, she was referring to the overall presentation/layout and the quality of posts. (she's an avid blogger herself so i think she understands blogging technology) and fyi, hindi misd or denr or private company ang gumawa ng blog na yun. ako ang nag-open ng blog account, ako ang sole contributor at ako ang nagmmaintain nung blog, so i think i could more or less say na ako ang gumawa nung blog. (unless you wanna be technical about it)
marami ang interesadong malaman kung makakatanggap tayo ng cna incentive. pinag-aaralan ng ilang board members ang nakaraang budget para makita kung may savings para sa cna incentive na yan. lahat po kami ay atat na ring malaman. babalitaan namin kayo asap19 May 08, 08:43phil_eagle: Magtrabaho kayo para sa kapakanan ng mga myembro!Puro kayo dakdak! Nasan na ang para sa CNA?
May 11, 2008
Zoobic Safari: A Prison by Another Name
Why should animals live like prisoners for their entire lives, just to suit curious humans?
Check out the photos from our office teambuilding in Zoobic Safari. It seems obvious how I and the rest of my co-workers were having so much fun watching the captive wild animals. The monkeys, the ostriches, the goats, the camels, the guinea pigs, the oh-so-amazing tigers were just there for our entertainment pleasure!
debunks these conservation and education justifications in zoos.
The World Wildlife Fund likewise has a Policy Statement on Captive Breeding:
I disabled the flash function in my camera and kept from knocking on glass cages or taunting the wild animals. But so many others did, and nobody from Zoobic Safari cared. Some furiously knocked on the glass cages of snakes and lizards, daring them to strike. Some were whistling and taunting the chained and the caged aggressive monkeys. A co-worker splashed the remaining contents of his bottled water on the catatonic crocs. A few insisted that I use my flash, but I refused to add to the stress of the animals. The tour guide warned us that he’ll lose his job if we insist on reaching out to the crocs and get our hands bitten off. I almost laughed.
The zoo was filled with competing noises from the megaphones of different tour guides, the chatter and gleeful comments from the visitors, the music from the blasting speakers. I got an earful of what I assume is not close to the naturally calming sounds of the wild.
I was awed by the giant tigers. I touched their tails and whispered my “lambing,” daydreaming that I could take one home as a pet. (Til that day, I only wished to own a life-size stuffed tiger.) But then you realize how pathetic their lives must be in those small cages. Tigers are meant to run and hunt in the wild, not get irritated and stressed by onlookers daring them to growl and show their ferocity.
Sadly, Zoobic Safari is obviously profit-oriented.
I initially had the view that I should refuse adding to the profit of such industries by NOT visiting these zoos. Now, I prefer the challenge of learning more about animal cruelty and animals in entertainment, and critically examining our own zoos, aquaria and dolphinaria.
Here are a few great articles for further reading:
Animal Rights Africa -- Animals in Entertainment
Animal Rights Africa -- Zoos: A Prison by Any Other Name
What's Wrong with Zoos?
Are Zoos Cruel?
Zoos: The front line in the battle against extinction
Time Magazine's feature on the dolphin entertainment industry
Me.Find.Home: Why I’m against the Manila Ocean Park (includes PETA statement)
“The saddest thing about zoos is the way they drive animals mad. Much of the behavior we take for granted in zoo animals – repetitive padding up and down, head banging, obsessive paw swinging, or just plain moping – is actually psychotic, the sort of thing humans get driven to when they are kept in solitary confinement.”
Check out the photos from our office teambuilding in Zoobic Safari. It seems obvious how I and the rest of my co-workers were having so much fun watching the captive wild animals. The monkeys, the ostriches, the goats, the camels, the guinea pigs, the oh-so-amazing tigers were just there for our entertainment pleasure!A wild animal confined in a restrictive, artificial zoo environment is a sensitive being condemned for the rest of its life to a deprived existence. Where it sleeps, what it eats and with which other animals, if any, it interacts are all decided for it. Its inherent value is denied and the respectful treatment to which it is entitled, dismissed.In general, the zoo industry has been justified for its conservation efforts for endangered species. This means that the zoos supposedly conduct research, teaches the public about wildlife and environmental conservation, and provides entertainment through the spectacle of captive wild animals. Animal Rights AfricaFrom Animal Rights Africa
The World Wildlife Fund likewise has a Policy Statement on Captive Breeding:
Captive breeding is the process of breeding animals outside of their natural environment in restricted conditions in farms, zoos or other closed facilities. The choice of individual animals that are to be part of a captive breeding population, and the mating partners within that population, are controlled by humans.While I allowed myself to enjoy the company of friends and co-workers in this very entertaining field trip, I kept a silent but watchful eye and ear to the conservation and education efforts of Zoobic Safari. And unfortunately, I was terribly disappointed. I don’t recall our tour guide making any conservation related statement, nor did I see or hear anything that would suggest scientific efforts towards conservation by the owners/operators of Zoobic Safari. He did throw us some interesting trivia, though, like the intelligent guinea pig appearing in the local soap “Super Twins.” f course I wasn’t hanging on to every word that my tour guide was saying because he obviously couldn’t handle the 30+ strong audience that he had.
WWF considers captive breeding of rare, threatened, or endangered species, with the aim of eventual reintroduction to the wild, to be a “last resort” strategy. It is exceedingly difficult and must be part of a scientifically-based management plan for the species, working closely with the range country government authorities. It is also expensive, and should not be seen as a substitute for in-situ efforts, except in rare circumstances.
I disabled the flash function in my camera and kept from knocking on glass cages or taunting the wild animals. But so many others did, and nobody from Zoobic Safari cared. Some furiously knocked on the glass cages of snakes and lizards, daring them to strike. Some were whistling and taunting the chained and the caged aggressive monkeys. A co-worker splashed the remaining contents of his bottled water on the catatonic crocs. A few insisted that I use my flash, but I refused to add to the stress of the animals. The tour guide warned us that he’ll lose his job if we insist on reaching out to the crocs and get our hands bitten off. I almost laughed.
The zoo was filled with competing noises from the megaphones of different tour guides, the chatter and gleeful comments from the visitors, the music from the blasting speakers. I got an earful of what I assume is not close to the naturally calming sounds of the wild.
I was awed by the giant tigers. I touched their tails and whispered my “lambing,” daydreaming that I could take one home as a pet. (Til that day, I only wished to own a life-size stuffed tiger.) But then you realize how pathetic their lives must be in those small cages. Tigers are meant to run and hunt in the wild, not get irritated and stressed by onlookers daring them to growl and show their ferocity.
Sadly, Zoobic Safari is obviously profit-oriented.
By confining and exhibiting animals in a manner designed to entertain, amuse or satisfy curiosity requires that they be trained and/or confined in ways that suppress their natural behavior, drastically limit their living space, deny them the opportunity to choose their mates and companions and make them totally dependant on their “owners”.I do not ask anyone not to visit Zoobic Safari, or the Ocean Adventure or Manila Ocean Park. I simply encourage everyone to take a critical view of such industries.
When, from a young age humans are conditioned to the sight and experience of animals under the total control of humans for trivial purposes, as is the case in zoos, circuses, dolphinaria and aquaria, this contributes to the general human attitude that animals are “here for us”. The integrity and dignity of each animal are totally undermined.
The pleasure people take in viewing animals in zoos and laughing at them in the circus is not good enough reason for keeping the animals there. That this constitutes a flagrant disregard for the rights of the affected animals is of no concern to the “owners” and exhibitors, who exploit the curiosity, indifference and ignorance of the public.
I initially had the view that I should refuse adding to the profit of such industries by NOT visiting these zoos. Now, I prefer the challenge of learning more about animal cruelty and animals in entertainment, and critically examining our own zoos, aquaria and dolphinaria.
Here are a few great articles for further reading:
Animal Rights Africa -- Animals in Entertainment
Animal Rights Africa -- Zoos: A Prison by Any Other Name
What's Wrong with Zoos?
Are Zoos Cruel?
Zoos: The front line in the battle against extinction
Time Magazine's feature on the dolphin entertainment industry
Me.Find.Home: Why I’m against the Manila Ocean Park (includes PETA statement)
May 10, 2008
New Look!
In Pursuit of Sensible Sanity
is now in Blogger Beta!
The new theme is called DFire by Tracy Ou aka Viitoria L.
Thanks to B-Themes for the Blogger template!
is now in Blogger Beta!
The new theme is called DFire by Tracy Ou aka Viitoria L.
Thanks to B-Themes for the Blogger template!
Apr 6, 2008
MATANGLAWIN Review
MATANGLAWINMapagmasid, Mapagmatyag, Mapangahas!
Showtime: Mondays at 11:30 PM on ABS-CBN 2
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars!!!
It was during a lazy sunday afternoon when i chanced upon Kuya Kim on the ANC channel doing a "Croc Huner", pinoy style. Biodiversity conservation advocate that I am, I watched the show with a careful and critical eye. (I think what I saw was a replay of the show that aired on March 24 @ ABS-CBN.)
And i was impressed. VERY impressed.
The show featured the deadly wildlife in Mindoro... and then some. Kuya Kim Atienza flooded me with trivia that I've probably heard and read before, yet he gives a flavor that I'm sure will appeal to a large audience.
I have so much positive feedback for this show, I don't even know where to begin... You need not worry that the show will be a case of information overload. The production not only provides a very clear and effective script, but also showcases animation effects that demonstrate complicated processes (such as how a Northern Spitting Cobra is able to target it's venom to a victim 5 feet away, or how a Freshwater Crocodile twists and turns its victim’s body underwater to crack its bones).
Kuya Kim likewise deserves applause for his very realistic encounters with both people and animals. Watching kuya kim is like watching a truly inquisitive traveler hungry for knowledge from locals and experts alike. He jumps into every learning opportunity like many of our respected DENR fieldmen. And he willingly shares this knowledge to everyone without the viewer feeling stupid nor overwhelmed.And did I mention that they are able to cover so many topics and organize them effectively? I have listened to many biodiversity and wildlife experts, yet no one has taught me so much in such a short time.
It’s unfortunate, though, how some simply view the show as a copycat to GMA’s Born to Be Wild. I was delighted when I found out that GMA is has a show featuring the wildlife, but I don’t think their hosts have the Steve Irwin flair that Kuya Kim has. And if I remember correctly, they featured the animals in Zoobic Safari – wildlife in captivity used for entertainment purposes (I’ll feature my “thing” against entertainment parks like Zoobic Safari and the Manila Ocean Park later).
Bygones... What I’m saying is this: copycat or not, shows that advocate awareness of our wildlife and biodiversity should be a welcome treat. And I hope they continue to provide quality entertainment so that people will ACTUALLY watch them and learn from them.
Kudos to the people behind Matanglawin! Kuya Kim, sana ikaw na lang ang naging DENR Secretary. Hahaha!
LINKS:
PEP: Kim Atienza’s TV show "Matanglawin" premieres March 24
ABS-CBN News: Kuya Kim's 'Matang Lawin' premieres Monday night
Feb 18, 2008
Ian McEwan on Atheism
Atonement author Ian McEwan on atheism:
"It is important that people with no religious beliefs speak up and speak for what they value... It is crucial that people who do not have a sky god and don't have a set of supernatural beliefs assert their belief in moral values and in love and in the transcendence that they might experience in landscape or art or music or sculpture or whatever. Since they do not believe in the afterlife, it gives them more valence to life itself. The little spark that we do have becomes all the more valuable when you can't be trading off any moments for eternity."
what Neri is afraid to say and why
a co-worker emailed me a statement explaining what Neri is afraid to say and why regarding the zte-nbn scandal. of course i can't verify the correctness of these statements, but with the kind of governance our president has shown, i can't say i'm surpised.
i've read so many hasty, self-righteous and irresponsible anti-administration-but-not-necessarily-pro-opposition opinions on several national issues. but regardless of the truth in the allegations, this statement gives a considerably justified take on the issue and raises valid concerns on the fate of the filipino people as it questions the sincerity and patriotism of both the administration and the opposition.
read on...
(all emphases are mine)
================================================================
Here's the secret testimony of Jun Lozada on what Neri is afraid to tell the public. Lozada wrote this in Oct. 2007 and gave a co-IT Engr. Vicente Romano III leaving it to Romano when to divulge as he deems right.
For Immediate Release
Contact: Vicente R. Romano III, 0920.9615610
Leah Navarro, 0917.898.1957
Dear Friends,
Here's a short write-up that Jun Lozada wrote sometime in October. He wanted me to disseminate it without attribution. I believe he was motivated both by his genuine concern for a beleaguered friend who was being maligned no end, and his desire, even then, for the truth to somehow surface. He left it up to me as to how and when to disseminate it.
I did not find any compelling reason to get it out then. But now that Jun has told it all, and Neri is being invited back to testify, I believe the public deserves to know what was (and maybe still is) in the mind of Neri –- at least from the point of view of a friend. I'm sure Jun will not mind.
Let's get this out in the open.
God bless,
Enteng
What Is Neri Afraid to Say and Why
Many speculations have been made as to what Neri knows about the ZTE-NBN most particularly the direct involvement of Pres. Gloria Arroyo in this abominable affair. After his damaging "Sec. May 200 ka dito" demolition of Abalos, the discredited former Comelec Chairman, many were left disappointed when Neri suddenly clamped up when the Senators started asking him about the nature of his conversation with Arroyo, no amount of coaxing, cajoling and threats was enough to break his Code of Omerta. The question on many people's mind was, What was Neri trying to protect when he repeatedly invoked "Executive Priviledge" during that gruelling 12 hour Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on live television?
We have known the Truth all along as one of the few people that Neri confided his predicament during those fateful days of April 2006, and how he wanted to resign his post of NEDA Director General and Secretary for Socio-Economic Planning over this incident where he lost all his moral respect for Pres. Gloria Arroyo.
We are doing this document to give the public an understanding of this predicament.
What is Neri afraid to tell the public? He is afraid to tell the public that after he reported the Abalos P200 million peso bribe offer, Arroyo casually told him to ignore it and work for its recommendation for approval anyway. That when he protested that it is too controversial and may attract the wrong kind of attention from media, Arroyo retorted back "Pakulo lang ni Joey yan and his father". When he tried to reason that it may not be accommodated in the Chinese ODA package because it has been filled up with a list of projects already, Arroyo again ordered him to remove the low cost housing project and some water project to accommodate the ZTE-NBN deal in the ODA loan. That when he attempted to reason that it may not be approved in time for the Boao Forum which was only two days to go from that fateful April day, Arroyo with raised voice told him to include the ZTE-NBN project in the agenda of the following day's meeting of a combined NEDA Board and Cabinet Committee, who as expected promptly approved the project paving the way for the contract signing between ZTE and DOTC in China the next day. Neri is afraid to tell the public that this conversation took place between him and Arroyo because it might spark another impeachment complaint against Arroyo.
Why is Neri afraid to tell the public about this conversation with Arroyo? He is afraid that another impeachment will simply result to more expenses of public funds similar to the Hyatt 10 impeachment crisis, because as DBM Secretary who replaced Boncodin, he was entrusted with the large scale DBM payola operation of Arroyo to Congressmen, Senators and Governors not quite similar to the crude Panlilio incident that the public is witnessing now. He is afraid with a more partisan Andaya at the helm of DBM, more public funds will be spent to buy the silence and favour of these greedy legislators and local executives.
He is afraid that with Arroyo's firm control of public funds she can buy all the necessary support from most sectors of society to keep her in power.
He is afraid that even if the opposition knows about this conversation with Arroyo, he is afraid that the opposition will not pursue a serious impeachment proceedings against Arroyo, because it is not to their political interest that Noli de Castro becomes President in case Arroyo is impeached and becomes a more formidable political opponent in 2010. This insincere and unpatriotic goal of the opposition is already being manifested by the malicious speed that the Erap pardon is being cooked by Ronnie Puno together with the Erap camp to hastily put a united front of "Birds of the same corrupt feather" coalition against the emerging JDV led political opposition.
He is afraid that even if the Church knows the truth about Arroyo's direct involvement in the ZTE-NBN deal, the Church will still not call for her resignation due to the closeness of Arroyo's trusted lady liason to the Cardinal of Manila who was very effective during the "Hello Garci" crisis. That Arroyo's Religious Affairs Operators have the Bishops firmly in their "donation" graces, as again manifested by the quick rebuttal of the Mindanao Bishops' of the call of their fellow bishops in Luzon who where calling for the resignation of Arroyo just after Arroyo gave them a visit in Mindanao.
He is afraid that even if the military knows the truth about Arroyo's direct involvement in the fraudulent ZTE-NBN deal, the AFP brass is much too indebted to Arroyo for their position and the perks that goes with their position, that they have demonstrated this twisted loyalty with their willingness to detain, remove from the service and even shoot their own men for voicing out their legitimate concerns regarding the corruption and moral authority of their Commander in Chief. It is a sad spectacle to see the respected warriors of the Marines & Special Forces rot in jail with their ideals, while their men are dying even without receiving the measly P150 per day combat pay that was promised to them by Arroyo due to lack of funds & generals get a gift bag similar to those given to the governors and congressmen just for having dinner with Arroyo the day after that infamous breakfast & lunch meeting where bribe money flowed scandalously free.
He is afraid that even if the Media knows the truth about Arroyo's direct involvement in the ZTE-NBN scam, Media will simply wither in the torrents of cash and favors similar to how the Hyatt 10, Hello Garci crisis were killed in the media headlines and Radio& TV coverages. Although he believes in the integrity of a handful of Journalist, he believes that a handful of these mavericks cannot withstand the hordes of paid lackeys of Malacanang. Especially that the Arroyo crisis team is now being handled by the best mercenary money can buy, from Ramos Sulo Operation, Erap's DILG and now Arroyo's troubleshooter, Ronnie Puno. Ably supported by the Media and PR money from PAGCOR being handled by Cerge Remonte to buy positive airtime, headlines and editorials.
He is afraid that even if the Business Sector knows about the truth of Arroyo's direct involvement to defraud the coffers of the taxes they are paying, the businessmen will be reluctant to rock the boat of the current economic uptrend, especially with the very close personal and business relationship of the so called leaders of the big business like Ricky Razon of ICTSI, Donald Dee of PCCI and Francis Chua of the Filipino-Chinese Federation to Arroyo herself. He is afraid that the hard earned remittances of Filipino OFWs that is keeping the economy booming and that can keep the economy afloat even under any administration is being wasted under this unholy alliance of Arroyo and her favoured businessmen.
He is afraid that even if the Civil Society knows the truth about Arroyo's direct involvement in the ZTE-NBN deal, that the Civil Society is now tired of mass actions after witnessing two failed EDSA revolutions, that Civil Society is now afflicted with a "Rally Fatigue" and cannot muster enough public outrage to denounce Arroyo's "corruption with impunity". He is afraid that the middle class is now indifferent to the corruption that goes around them, not realising that the middle class are the ones mainly carrying the burden of the loan payments for these corrupt deals. He is afraid that the middle class are more interested to become an OFW & to leave this country leaving their family and children behind, and may not care anymore about the crimes being committed against their country by its own President.
He is afraid that even if the Masa, the students, the workers knows the truth about Arroyo's direct involvement in the ZTE-NBN deal to steal precious resources from public funds, that they are now too poor and impoverished to be able to afford the time to join mass actions against the abuses of the Arroyo administration, that these former vanguards of mass actions in the country are now completely dependent on financial resources of professional organizers and have turned themselves into a "Rally for hire" groups rather than a true and genuine political gathering shouting for reforms.
He is afraid that the public may not know the extent of corruption in this country and may wrongly believe that they can cure corruption by simply replacing Arroyo with another person. He is afraid that the public may overlook the systemic and institutionalized nature of the source of corruption in this country, he is afraid that the people will again opt for a regime change without concern or a plan to correct the root causes of corruption in the country. He is afraid that people may not realize that it is not bringing Arroyo down that is difficult, it is establishing a new order that is the difficult task.
This is the predicament of Neri which I want people to realize especially to those who are asking Neri to tell the truth.
================================================================
cross-posted at ynseng.multiply.com
i've read so many hasty, self-righteous and irresponsible anti-administration-but-not-necessarily-pro-opposition opinions on several national issues. but regardless of the truth in the allegations, this statement gives a considerably justified take on the issue and raises valid concerns on the fate of the filipino people as it questions the sincerity and patriotism of both the administration and the opposition.
read on...
(all emphases are mine)
================================================================
Here's the secret testimony of Jun Lozada on what Neri is afraid to tell the public. Lozada wrote this in Oct. 2007 and gave a co-IT Engr. Vicente Romano III leaving it to Romano when to divulge as he deems right.
For Immediate Release
Contact: Vicente R. Romano III, 0920.9615610
Leah Navarro, 0917.898.1957
Dear Friends,
Here's a short write-up that Jun Lozada wrote sometime in October. He wanted me to disseminate it without attribution. I believe he was motivated both by his genuine concern for a beleaguered friend who was being maligned no end, and his desire, even then, for the truth to somehow surface. He left it up to me as to how and when to disseminate it.
I did not find any compelling reason to get it out then. But now that Jun has told it all, and Neri is being invited back to testify, I believe the public deserves to know what was (and maybe still is) in the mind of Neri –- at least from the point of view of a friend. I'm sure Jun will not mind.
Let's get this out in the open.
God bless,
Enteng
What Is Neri Afraid to Say and Why
Many speculations have been made as to what Neri knows about the ZTE-NBN most particularly the direct involvement of Pres. Gloria Arroyo in this abominable affair. After his damaging "Sec. May 200 ka dito" demolition of Abalos, the discredited former Comelec Chairman, many were left disappointed when Neri suddenly clamped up when the Senators started asking him about the nature of his conversation with Arroyo, no amount of coaxing, cajoling and threats was enough to break his Code of Omerta. The question on many people's mind was, What was Neri trying to protect when he repeatedly invoked "Executive Priviledge" during that gruelling 12 hour Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on live television?
We have known the Truth all along as one of the few people that Neri confided his predicament during those fateful days of April 2006, and how he wanted to resign his post of NEDA Director General and Secretary for Socio-Economic Planning over this incident where he lost all his moral respect for Pres. Gloria Arroyo.
We are doing this document to give the public an understanding of this predicament.
What is Neri afraid to tell the public? He is afraid to tell the public that after he reported the Abalos P200 million peso bribe offer, Arroyo casually told him to ignore it and work for its recommendation for approval anyway. That when he protested that it is too controversial and may attract the wrong kind of attention from media, Arroyo retorted back "Pakulo lang ni Joey yan and his father". When he tried to reason that it may not be accommodated in the Chinese ODA package because it has been filled up with a list of projects already, Arroyo again ordered him to remove the low cost housing project and some water project to accommodate the ZTE-NBN deal in the ODA loan. That when he attempted to reason that it may not be approved in time for the Boao Forum which was only two days to go from that fateful April day, Arroyo with raised voice told him to include the ZTE-NBN project in the agenda of the following day's meeting of a combined NEDA Board and Cabinet Committee, who as expected promptly approved the project paving the way for the contract signing between ZTE and DOTC in China the next day. Neri is afraid to tell the public that this conversation took place between him and Arroyo because it might spark another impeachment complaint against Arroyo.
Why is Neri afraid to tell the public about this conversation with Arroyo? He is afraid that another impeachment will simply result to more expenses of public funds similar to the Hyatt 10 impeachment crisis, because as DBM Secretary who replaced Boncodin, he was entrusted with the large scale DBM payola operation of Arroyo to Congressmen, Senators and Governors not quite similar to the crude Panlilio incident that the public is witnessing now. He is afraid with a more partisan Andaya at the helm of DBM, more public funds will be spent to buy the silence and favour of these greedy legislators and local executives.
He is afraid that with Arroyo's firm control of public funds she can buy all the necessary support from most sectors of society to keep her in power.
He is afraid that even if the opposition knows about this conversation with Arroyo, he is afraid that the opposition will not pursue a serious impeachment proceedings against Arroyo, because it is not to their political interest that Noli de Castro becomes President in case Arroyo is impeached and becomes a more formidable political opponent in 2010. This insincere and unpatriotic goal of the opposition is already being manifested by the malicious speed that the Erap pardon is being cooked by Ronnie Puno together with the Erap camp to hastily put a united front of "Birds of the same corrupt feather" coalition against the emerging JDV led political opposition.
He is afraid that even if the Church knows the truth about Arroyo's direct involvement in the ZTE-NBN deal, the Church will still not call for her resignation due to the closeness of Arroyo's trusted lady liason to the Cardinal of Manila who was very effective during the "Hello Garci" crisis. That Arroyo's Religious Affairs Operators have the Bishops firmly in their "donation" graces, as again manifested by the quick rebuttal of the Mindanao Bishops' of the call of their fellow bishops in Luzon who where calling for the resignation of Arroyo just after Arroyo gave them a visit in Mindanao.
He is afraid that even if the military knows the truth about Arroyo's direct involvement in the fraudulent ZTE-NBN deal, the AFP brass is much too indebted to Arroyo for their position and the perks that goes with their position, that they have demonstrated this twisted loyalty with their willingness to detain, remove from the service and even shoot their own men for voicing out their legitimate concerns regarding the corruption and moral authority of their Commander in Chief. It is a sad spectacle to see the respected warriors of the Marines & Special Forces rot in jail with their ideals, while their men are dying even without receiving the measly P150 per day combat pay that was promised to them by Arroyo due to lack of funds & generals get a gift bag similar to those given to the governors and congressmen just for having dinner with Arroyo the day after that infamous breakfast & lunch meeting where bribe money flowed scandalously free.
He is afraid that even if the Media knows the truth about Arroyo's direct involvement in the ZTE-NBN scam, Media will simply wither in the torrents of cash and favors similar to how the Hyatt 10, Hello Garci crisis were killed in the media headlines and Radio& TV coverages. Although he believes in the integrity of a handful of Journalist, he believes that a handful of these mavericks cannot withstand the hordes of paid lackeys of Malacanang. Especially that the Arroyo crisis team is now being handled by the best mercenary money can buy, from Ramos Sulo Operation, Erap's DILG and now Arroyo's troubleshooter, Ronnie Puno. Ably supported by the Media and PR money from PAGCOR being handled by Cerge Remonte to buy positive airtime, headlines and editorials.
He is afraid that even if the Business Sector knows about the truth of Arroyo's direct involvement to defraud the coffers of the taxes they are paying, the businessmen will be reluctant to rock the boat of the current economic uptrend, especially with the very close personal and business relationship of the so called leaders of the big business like Ricky Razon of ICTSI, Donald Dee of PCCI and Francis Chua of the Filipino-Chinese Federation to Arroyo herself. He is afraid that the hard earned remittances of Filipino OFWs that is keeping the economy booming and that can keep the economy afloat even under any administration is being wasted under this unholy alliance of Arroyo and her favoured businessmen.
He is afraid that even if the Civil Society knows the truth about Arroyo's direct involvement in the ZTE-NBN deal, that the Civil Society is now tired of mass actions after witnessing two failed EDSA revolutions, that Civil Society is now afflicted with a "Rally Fatigue" and cannot muster enough public outrage to denounce Arroyo's "corruption with impunity". He is afraid that the middle class is now indifferent to the corruption that goes around them, not realising that the middle class are the ones mainly carrying the burden of the loan payments for these corrupt deals. He is afraid that the middle class are more interested to become an OFW & to leave this country leaving their family and children behind, and may not care anymore about the crimes being committed against their country by its own President.
He is afraid that even if the Masa, the students, the workers knows the truth about Arroyo's direct involvement in the ZTE-NBN deal to steal precious resources from public funds, that they are now too poor and impoverished to be able to afford the time to join mass actions against the abuses of the Arroyo administration, that these former vanguards of mass actions in the country are now completely dependent on financial resources of professional organizers and have turned themselves into a "Rally for hire" groups rather than a true and genuine political gathering shouting for reforms.
He is afraid that the public may not know the extent of corruption in this country and may wrongly believe that they can cure corruption by simply replacing Arroyo with another person. He is afraid that the public may overlook the systemic and institutionalized nature of the source of corruption in this country, he is afraid that the people will again opt for a regime change without concern or a plan to correct the root causes of corruption in the country. He is afraid that people may not realize that it is not bringing Arroyo down that is difficult, it is establishing a new order that is the difficult task.
This is the predicament of Neri which I want people to realize especially to those who are asking Neri to tell the truth.
================================================================
cross-posted at ynseng.multiply.com
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