He ate his ice cream with a bun while I had mine in a sugar cone, Ricky, a would-be law enforcer. While I agonized over the dilemma of a choice between langka or macapuno, he asked an innocuous question, “Anong meron?” I struggled over how best to explain what last Sunday’s silent protest was for, and as best I could explained what House Resolution 1109 was about. And while I certainly tried to leave the parliamentary jargon out of my explanation, he was quick to follow what, indeed, the silent protest was for.
Stripped of the technicalities, the way he re-explained the situation was crystal. Here you have an administration, led by a tenacious president, too long in power. Here you have allegations of misdeeds comparable only to the abuses of the yet longest self-serving President Marcos. Here you have a country that has yet to exhibit any meaningful indicators of ‘kaginhawahan,’ was his term. Why, indeed, should we suffer more of the same?
His yellowish eyes were wise beyond his age. He couldn’t have been older than me. His little nephew played near the sorbetero, cocooned in blissful ignorance of our conversation, RockEd’s silent protest, and the infamy of June 2. He said he understood what government was doing, all his life having dreamt of being a law-enforcer. He followed politics when he could. Here he was at an avenue in his life where he had to make a choice of a lifetime. He had just past the exam that made a police officer but could not yet quite make the leap.
I know it would change me, he said. I already have friends in the police force. Do you know they make the newbies collect bribe money? All my life I’ve dreamed of being a policeman, to keep order, to dispense justice. But I’m not stupid, I know what goes on in a precinct. If I refuse to join in the shenanigans, I might endanger my life. But if I do, what would be left of me?
I can’t remember all that he said, but I stood there listening to him recount a slice of his life story. I understood too the agony of wanting something better for the country he would serve, and the compromise of the reality of law enforcement and his ideals. Do you know that I studied by heart a book this thick on human rights, he said. Not every cop graduates a criminologist, do you know that? They don’t know that criminals should be treated fairly as the law provides. If I do choose to become a cop, I would do good by not whacking them over the head.
While we ate our ice cream he kept glancing behind me at the silent protesters. He said he understood what we were fighting for, but why were we so silent? I explained that we all understood what we were there for and so there was no need for speeches or programs. I mentioned the big rally on Wednesday and invited him to go. He said he wasn’t much of a rallyist but he would try. And if he couldn’t make it, he asked if I could go on his behalf.
Early afternoon last Wednesday my friend Luisa texted me to offer apologies for not being able to make it to our dinner date. Her tummy wasn’t feeling so good. I’d completely forgotten of course as I was already headed for the Makati rally. She said she would too if she weren’t so sick. I offered to go on her behalf, this friend of mine with whom I witnessed Edsa Dos all those years ago.
I parked my car in the Fort because I didn’t want to be stuck in the traffic re-routing might cause. I need not have bothered of course, because the roads when I arrived and left the Makati CBD were pretty free. I took a cab from Boni High Street and asked to be dropped off at the end of McKinley. Boy, the meter was running fast. Nearing my drop-off point I quizzed the cabbie about the Makati area, whether he got stuck in traffic because of the rally. He said the roads were clear earlier in the day and asked, what rally? I briefly explained that I was going to said rally and outlined the events of June 2. The mild-mannered cabbie then exploded in a rant liberally peppered with expletives. And while he railed about the injustice of the system, of the kurakot politicians, all the same, I noticed his meter slowed.
Under a scaffolding, I sat with friends, smoked some ciggies and listened to personalities speak on the stage. I didn’t care much what Cory Aquino or Danny Lim had to say. I didn’t care for the senators who were there courting the cameras and the crowd. I didn’t care for the congresspeople who came as well, save Risa Baraquel. I didn’t need them to tell me what I already knew anyway. And so I sat, and picked out which sounds I wanted to hear from the spectacle. Curiously it was someone singing a kundiman-type song I appreciated best. The rest was ambient noise.
As we prepared to leave I was told the Stop Con-Ass Facebook group had garnered twenty-three thousand members. I thought, good.
Popularity: 1% [?]
Sparks, didnt you get the memo? The rallyists were there at the politicians’ beck and call. If you werent answering some pol’s becking and calling, you werent supposed to be there.
In all the times I’ve attended rallies, I never received a so-called “memo” to join. I was there because of my convictions and beliefs.
to Jhay: Yes, you did. It was the invitation to “… be there!” with time and date of the rally.
There is a lesson in the taxicab-meter sub-plot of the blogpost:
..Boy, the meter was running fast…. what rally? … And while he railed about the injustice of the system, of the kurakot politicians, all the same, I noticed his meter slowed.
I volunteer this taxicab driver to be on the opposing team, with his culture of ripping everybody off unless when he gets to know you, he finds you a kabayan.
same old UP n grad at it again.
Nick, do you have a backup for this blog. Some of the posts are literary, literally. Kulang na lang New Yorker cartoon.
So have the latest Pinas rallies been like this?
– did you come for Cory? “NO!” For Erap? “NO!”
– who did you come for? : no one
– who did you come with? : no one, really
– why did you come? to show my
support and solidarityindependence– Why did you go to the rally? GMA
– Why did you not go?
‘I was told the Stop Con-Ass Facebook group had garnered twenty-three thousand members. I thought, good.’
Hhhmmm. Reminiscent of the mobilization via texts in EDSA Dos.
Are you gonna blog the HR1109 supporters to submission? Or you’ll Twitter them to ridicule? :)
i think they are just trying make a guiness record, phil manila.
Mali ka, Atty. Ben, smug as you are.
yes, ding, i could be wrong but i bet my bottom dollar, nothing will come out of it. it’s just a fad, these “twitter” kids of all ages just think it’s “cool” to join the “ocho-ocho fiesta” politics that’s benigno’s pet peeve.
twitter is a fun thing for the younger generation. but the older ones, they may not be able to catch up. :)
well, ben, i share your views. nothing will come out of it if we don’t make a call to action. kailangan minsan na gisingin ng kaunti ang taumbayan at sabihin sa kanila ng diretso ano ang dapat gawin.
That FB Cause group has passed 72,000 joiners as of last night.
The number has crossed the 41,000 mark:
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/293075/33094279?m=761aaed6&ref=nf
Apart from this Page there are at least 5 other anti Con-Ass pages on FB.
Nice post, sparks.
Here is a (slanted) write-up about some of the people who purposefully did not go to any anti-1109 rally:
———————————–
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
FFCCCII supports charter change
The Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) has thrown its support to charter change but only to amend certain economic provisions of the constitution.
“ The Chinese-Filipino community supports the move to amend the Constitution to enhance economic development and prosperity of the country,” FFCCCII president Alfonso Uy declared in a forum today, Wednesday (June 10, 2009) at the Sofitel Plaza Hotel in Pasay City.
Dr. Uy made the declaration in his welcome message at the double celebration of the 8th Filipino Chinese Friendship Day and the 111th Philippine Independence Day at the Sofitel Plaza Hotel.
Uy conveyed their stand on charter change to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who was guest of honor and speaker during the double event.
Citing the need to keep pace with globalization and to enhance economic development, Uy noted that the World Trade Organization regime has brought rapid changes to world trade and opened doors to all goods and services from all countries, “thus there is need to amend the Constitution to improve the country’s competitiveness and economic prospects.”
YEAH….lets all listen to the chinese!!!!!
lets all be slaves once again..not just to the Filipino politicians..but to the chinese as well…tsk tsk tsk
And, of course, those dastardly Americans . . .
Ironically, once upon a time the Chinese were *the* downtrodden of Manila. The Chinese came here as refugees, not invaders.
So, what happened?
My personal opinion since I am married to a Chinese, they are very united and each one is expected to work hard. I see no sense of entitlement and each one is expected to carve their own niche in the world. When one succeeds, they all celebrate, when one succeeds in the Filipino society, the ones who did not make it will say mayabang na siya, the ones who you have surpassed though you were not competing with them will ignore you and will say bagong yaman ka lang, ako ay nag-aral sa exclusive school, o kaya di ba ang trabaho mo noon taga-linis ng kubeta ignoring the fact that for the last 20 years you have held good and rising positions. There are lots of good Filipinos but the few that perpetuate these cliched reactions sometimes makes me appreciate the more achievement and united stand that the Chinese show over and over again.
@rosa
when do filipinos do that, pull other people down? do you have specific experiences about this?
GabbyD:
check out http://bangsamoro.wordpress.com/2007/05/04/filipino-crab-mentality-the-institutionalization-of-mediocracy/
@bong
that link you sent is all kinds of wrong…(head-desk!)
Wasn’t it that many Chinese had backed the election campaign of Ping Lacson? Lacson withdrawal may be indication that many among the Chinese community have shifted their support to Manny Villar or Loren Legarda.
huh? what a foolish proposition. You really don’t know what you’re talking about Up yours, err, UP not grad. They did’nt. These businessmen are not supporting anybody yet. They are busy studying the political terrain.
GabbyD,
When newspapers feature an accused Americann rapist on the front pages for three years and ascribe to other Americans that we are rapists and have “humiliated” the Philippines by the way “we” crafted the VFA, and the VFA is the reason for abuse of women in the Philippines, and on an on ad regurgitatum . . .
The US is a good friend of the Philippines, but you seldom see that view stated. You see lots of condemnations. Warmonger, colonialist, arrogant. Some of the descriptions are accurate, pertaining to certain situations. But to paint the entire country with a Smith brush is blatantly biased.
Joe
Tons. Not just to me but to a lot of other successful Filipinos I talk to.
GabbyD:
I beg to disagree. :lol:
i wish i could discuss it futher (why its all kinds of wrong)… maybe next time…
FFCCCII does not and dont have the right to represent entire Filipino-Chinese community, it is only an organization within the community, they have the right to say what pleases GMA, but they dont speak in behalf of the community.
“IBAGSAK TRAPONG PAGHAHARI”
bwahahahahahahahahahahaha ang lupit ng mga katagang ito!!!! ipupusta ko ang buhay ko, kung sino man ang gumawa ng banner na to…ang binoto at iboboto at iniidolo nya ay isa ding trapo bwahahahahahaha
rally ng pagbabago??????????? eh ang mga kasama sa rally, at nangnguna ay puro din kurakot na tulad ni GMA at mga alipores nya…WALANG PAGKAKAIBA, MGA POLITIKONG KURAKOT AT PAHIRAP SA TAONG BAYAN!!!!
puro salita!!!!! kahit karamihan sa mga tao dito sa FV, matatalino naman daw sila..pero susmusuporta pa din sa POLITIKO!!!! mga POLITIKONG PUMAPATAY SA BAYAN AT TAONG BAYAN!!!! matalino sana pero di makaintindi na ANG POLITIKO ANG PUMPATAY SA TAONG BAYAN….PUMAPATAY SA KINABUKASAN NG MAMAYANG PILIPINO!!!
true, juwad, true.
This is a parable explanation of the situation:
You hired a KATULONG (GMA and her cahoots).
1. Inuto ka, at Inonse ka parang makuha ang pwesto na KATULONG
sa bahay mo.
2. Ninanakawan Ka. Pinagsasamantalahan ang bahay mo.
3. Gusto niyang makuha ang pamamahay mo. At gusto niyang maging
AMO mo. Thru the CHA CHA at CON ASS.
4. Anong gagawin mo?
PALAYSIN MO SIYA!
Anyway, she lost in the first two rounds. She is there licking her
beatings and wounds. If she wants the third round. WE ARE READY!
Hindi lang bugbug ang aabutin niya. KNOCK OUT PUNCH ng mga FILIPINO
People. ALA PACQUIAO. Ano GMA and cahoots. Another round?
Bago mo palayasin ang iyong katulong, maghanap ka muna ng kapalit. Baka masahol pa sa kanya ang makuha mo.
Kay FM ang ipinalit natin ay isang tagatimpla ng kape. Ibinalik daw niya ang demokrasiya. Democracy ba o autocracy? Ibinasura ang Bataan Nuclear Plant. Nagkaron tuloy tayo ng power shortage.
Kay ERAP naman… ang pumalit ay siyang gusto nating palitan ngayon.
eh sino naman ang ipapalit mo? kung ang lahat ng nakapila jan para pumalit ay katulad din o mas masahol pa dun sa katulong mo?????
ang dami jan na pwedeng maging kapalit pero bakit ayaw nilang pumalit?
ang mga gustong pumalit ay yung mga matagal ng kurakot at magnanakaw!!!
the foregoing is a classic example of “vacuity”.
Yes, We have the “nuclear weapon” at our disposal called WIND
OF CHANGE. it targets Dictators and would be Dictators like her
and her cahoots. It is very effective, I assure you….
you mean one-megaton utot?
You are sharp today.
J
You saw the results of our first two battles. Those are just
preliminaries. We have not yet unleashed our Fatal Blows.
So, I an warning Gloria Arroyo and her cahoots. Do not underestimate
the Filipino People and us. For your own good.
We mean what we say. Usapang lalaki, ito!
LOL… spontaneuosly humorous. great blog for Friday. it’s naturally funny and it so filipino. its a good thing. :)
what’s so funny about cheating? that’s the problem. most pinoys treat dishonesty as a laughing matter.
leytenian: say again? That it’s a good thing? sparks got ripped off, and it’s a good thing?
Wasn’t it three years ago a Filipino scholar was kicked out of Annapolis (US Naval Academy) for shoplifting at a local store ? (I think he changed the price-tags on some merchandise) Wash DC Philippine embassy officials could not do anything about the expulsion.
LOL :)
you both are even funnier.
Facts:
“I took a cab from Boni High Street and asked to be dropped off at the end of McKinley. Boy, the meter was running fast. ” then keyword: the meter slowed
sparks was about to get ripped off. If not for her quizzed, she could have been ripped off. she was smart to share what was going on.
Of course, drivers can be dishonest but they can also change to become honest. The point is , people can change. The potential is there.
But my interpretation was funny. To me, it was a LOL. what can you do about it? Don’t you guys have a sense of humor?
UP n grad,
What would you have expected the Naval Academy to do upon action from the Philippine Embassy? Cheating is a violation of the code of honor. For a military acadamy, that is the highest code. Countless cadets have been booted for violations of honor. Many many cadets have been booted (cheating on exams and the like. This code of honor is 180 degrees of separation from the code of corruption. I like it better.
Joe
leytenean, you know what they do to people laughing fiendishly at anything? they are put away in cuckoos’ place.
A bit confused about the alleged or intended rip-off, so maybe a little clarification will suffice.
There is a way, like a hidden switch, to unscrupulously manipulate taxi meters on a moving taxi?
Except for the amount on flagdown, aren’t taxi meters calibrated based on distance traveled? The meter moving faster when the taxi is running at a faster clip and slower on stop and go traffic?
If so maybe the blogger was simply being flippant about the taxi meter slowing down on account of the cabbie’s rant? Or giving the cabbie too much credit, in his uncanny abilities to control the meter’s speed?
I suppose if meters were tampered, then they should so operate as recalibrated.
please read the post, UP not grad. It says, ” the meter slowed down”, meaning, caffeine sparks was not ripped off, probably as initially planned by the cab driver.
“I noticed his meter slowed.”
Hhhmmm. Could it be just the perception of Ms. Sparks that the taxi meter was running fast at the beginning and slowed as the political views of the driver and passenger kinda converged. :)
BrianB commented, this blog piece is somewhat literary. :)
A tampered-with meter has to be switchable to operate “normal” just in case a policeman rides the cab. Crooked cab drivers are smart that way.
i like ice cream in a bun! thats a great invention, that an entrepreneurial scientist would profit from!
“it’s just a fad, these “twitter” kids of all ages just think it’s “cool” to join the “ocho-ocho fiesta” politics that’s benigno’s pet peeve.”
I hate to restate it but your chaaterization does not only insult. It validates how you yourself are indifferent.
Beyond your boxed view have you even pored over the various blog ang stories holding the contrary perspective that he so cavalierly dismiss?
You’ve really been away to long di’ nyo na ramdam ang pulso ng mga itinuturing ninyo kababayan.
Puti na ba ang mga balat niyo at matatangos na ang inyong mga ilong?
Effective nga ba ang metathione?
I agree Ding. Bencard posts ooze with smugness and insulting. I want to skip reading his posts since I gain nothing from it.
how can you know my posts “ooze with smugness and insulting” if you “skip” reading them?
Give Manoy a chance, Ding. Like Benny, he doesnt seem to get the concept of cyberspace. People dont go to the EDSA shrine in droves anymore to express indignation. They go to the internet. This is why I predict the State will clamp down on this space as well.
Oh I do, Jeg.
But his ‘track record’ of indifference, blind and misplaced admiration for the little moled girl by the Pasig, and practice of browbeating and talking down to those he considers of lesser, non-lawyer intellect, has gone on for eons.
The day is nigh…
to Jeg:
One suffers more inconvenience (summer heat, traffic, crooked taxi drivers) so ( in my opinion ) one Sparks at the Makati rally or one student holding a candle at the Davao rally gets more points than a hundred of the twitter-ers.
You can denounce her, but GMA attending to a government meeting with folks in Cotabato gets points. You can denounce him, but CJ Puno by burning calories and real money gets more points than Mar Roxas non-rally for Independence Day.
Pinas expression — “talk is cheap.”
Now, remember, DingG and Rosa and Jeg, it is not only benign0 and bencard expressing their disagreement with the leaders you support.
There also is Juwan_D:
ang mga gustong pumalit ay yung mga matagal ng kurakot at magnanakaw!!!
I think this is someone, in his own words — in Tagalog — complaining about the vacuous Pinas voters:
http://filipinovoices.com/on-its-1l1th-birthday-a-nation-divided/comment-page-1#comment-68098
PURO PA DIN TAYO MGA UTUSAN, UTO-UTO AT ALIPORES NGA MGA LINTEK NA POLITIKO…MGA POLITIKONG MAGNANAKAW, KURAKOT AT SYANG PUMAPATAY SA ATING LAHAT!!!!!
“blind and misplaced admiration”, ding? unlike most of her detractors, almost every time i say anything favorable about the president of OUR country, i back it up with reason, rather than emotion.
btw, as i have said often, i come to this blog not as a lawyer but as a filipino with an opinion, like most everybody else. i just happened to be a lawyer by profession, and while i am not ashamed nor apologetic for it, i am NOT smug about it.
Evolution, UPn, ‘ika nga ni benign0, evolution. The internets make information travel faster. Protest actions, whatever form they take, can now be decentralized, and even globalized. People can meet in cyberspace, but sure, it is in real space that we act.
(GMA attending to a government meeting in Cotabato does get points. It’s because she often brings goodies in the form of moolah from you and I.)
“You’ve really been away to long di’ nyo na ramdam ang pulso ng mga itinuturing ninyo kababayan.”
Come to think of it, Bencard has been doing this kind of prediction now since the Garci Scandal rallies pa when I met him in Manolo Quezons blog. He has been proven right at wala naman talagang nangyari with those rallies.
On the other hand, you and your ilk has been predicting the down fall of Gloria through “pulso ng bayan” by the same time period too. And it was you who have been proven wrong after all this time.
Rego,
To be proven wrong would be ok so long as the government of the day becomes transparent, honest and accountable for its actions.
I was talking about your use of “pulso ng ng bayan”as basis on judging people outside the country.
it a false claim actually
Rego,
Why are you defending someone who can take care of their issues. You are a ” tsismoso pinoy. If two people are having arguments, you have no right to interfere and personally attack the other unless you can moderate the tone by providing a better opinion. The way you come here and go , is a typical pinoy with no manner whatsover. You are a good example of vacuous.
“Puti na ba ang mga balat niyo at matatangos na ang inyong mga ilong?
Effective nga ba ang metathione?
Ano ba namang klaseng mga tanong eto. So childish. Are you sure you are not the one who is doing the insulting?
Sorry na lang kasi hindi kami mga pikon at balat sibuyas na katulad nyo dyan.
rego,
Have we ever engaged? You feel referred to?
basahin mo uli ang comment mo and take note of the words “mga” and “nyo”.
You are suppose to be the writer here…
“pulso ng bayan” as in the surveys?
You are among the “nyo”?
You mean you are abroad? Tell me have I ever commented on any of YOUR comments on past threads that you consider me tangling with you.
I tangle with Benny and Atty. Ben.
Effective nga ba ang metathione?
————————–
Above comments, to my mind (evidenced by the comments not mentioning 1109, elections, GMA, VFA, Abu Sayyaf, USA, poverty, UP Diliman, etcetera) are covered by the FilipinoVoice Comment Policy:
We reserve the right to delete or moderate comments that:
1. Seek to defame or malign the writer of the post, or other commenters who responded to the post.
2. Interrupt the discussion with abusive, offensive, or profane comments directed at writers and other commenters.
3. The comment is off-topic, and includes ad-hominem attacks.
4. Is spam, contains advertisements, or is commercial in nature.
We will always consider comments as a form of free speech, and as such we will exercise due caution in moderating all comments. Individuals that continually use excessive profanity, abusive language, and ad hominem attacks may be banned from commenting in the future.
==================
But similarly to how they referee the NBA basketball games, “covered by” does not mean to automatically eject players or such stuff.
Play on!!!
upn,
Nick is free. This is HIS site.
Whoever manages the site is active. Blog comments have disappeared.
But “too active”, in my opinion. What I mean is that some of the deleted blog comments had content — another person’s point of view. I did not see any expletives or such sort, too. The point of view may have been contra to benign0′s or to Juwan_D’s, but they seemd to be a point of view that probably reflects a few other people’s point of view.
I know an entire thread disappeared. If I remember, Mar Roxas was to do some interview with Filipino Voice and people began posting the questions they wanted to ask from the presidentiable. [And there was a "nice-to-see-you-again" exchange between cvj and bencard which I thought was hilarious.]
Interesting observations. Nick should be able to reply. He has the keys to the CP.
Our apologies, we rarely ever moderate comments, except in cases of ad hominem attacks and/or excessive flooding of comments and/or consistent off topic comments.
We take pride that those who comment can come from all walks of life, all points of view, and all political ideologies.
Rest assured, comments that remain on topic, that are not profanity laden, nor those which contain personal attacks of other commenters and/or the writer, will always be allowed and that we never ever block comments on the basis of political ideologies.
please use the contact form if you ever have a comment that you feel has been wrongfully moderated or blocked.
Please, also take note, that we use an automatic system that is not failure-proof, to detect spam and can sometimes be caught in the spam folder.
Of course, “deleting of comments” is a commentary, too. It is like hanging up the phone on someone.
But disappearing comments remind me that:
(1) there are desaparecidos — missing;
(2) there is censorship;
(3) there is self-censorship because of fear of censorship.
I understand, and rest assured, if we focus on contributing on-topic, and do not flood comment threads, then there should be no worry.
Again, no censorship, just moderation of off topic and ad hominem comments.
We must be given such freedom, if not, then you will see once again 10-20 one line comments, that veer the discussion wildly off course, that are off-topic, ad hominems, and mere attacks.
We must promote a civil and yet heated comment thread. And if you will observe, our moderation of comments is very much lax.
FV has one great and overarching goal, to inform our readers, to spur on debate and discussion, and contribute to a greater understanding of the issues. We want to make a difference.
And also, rest assured, we hold the comments in high regards, just as much as the articles themselves.
one thing that I notice here is that one commenter accuses or complains about another commenter being a smug but also in a smug way….
parang merger yan ng partidong palaka sa politika…tulad ng PArtidong LAkas at KAmpi
with the quality of discussions we have here, i can only understand why ROM and DJB left. :)
There are limits. It is nigh, jcc.
BTW, I hope all is well with you.
the quality can be good, sometimes…
Gabby,
Dapat magkape na tayo. Si jcc din sana, kaya lang he has no plans yata to visit soon.
Add to the quality then and stop carping about what those with initiative write.
Take RESPONSIBILITY.
Have a nice day whilst you are about it.
Joe
Not to be passive about it, but shouldn’t we allow the Process to move according to existing rules:
Let It Be:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oZYqAeIdYk
If majority of Filipinos is not be happy with the Product, then:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Imb4tYOk8GE&feature=related
“…!come to this blog not as a lawyer but as a filipino with an opinion, like most everybody else. i just happened to be a lawyer by profession, and while i am not ashamed nor apologetic for it, i am NOT smug about it.”
I will take this as your statement of faith, Atty. Ben.
“it’s just a fad, these “twitter” kids of all ages just think it’s “cool” to join the “ocho-ocho fiesta” politics that’s benigno’s pet peeve.”
This one recent example among quite several instants whem we engaged I will sonsign to memory and pass.
i don’t understand twitter myself.
its useful sometimes, and for celebrities, but for me? my twitter feed is like:
10 am. just woke up, reading on the computer
….
2pm… just had lunch, reading on the computer..
…
10pm still reading… but very sleepy…
Gabe,
The push vs ConAss is FaceBook.
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/293075/33094279?m=38c177f8&ref=nf
not to prolong this matter, ding, but if you read again my post, you will see that i made a bet and then i explained my reason for making it. it was not for the purpose of “insulting” anyone any more than if i bet on pacquiao over hatton because i thought pacquiao was the better and stronger fighter. did i insult hatton by doing that?
I am generally temperate, Atty, Ben.
But when there is belittling of the efforts of people who are driven by the injustice they see in their society, I most certainly take exception.
But as I say above, I take your assertion as an article of faith and will proceed from there.
Boxing ‘bets’ are different :)
BTW, the online push vs ConAss is on FaceBook, not Twitter.
pulso ng bayan” as in the surveys?
You are among the “nyo”?
You mean you are abroad? Tell me have I ever commented on any of YOUR comments on past threads that you consider me tangling with you.
I tangle with Benny and Atty. Ben.
———————————————————————
Ding wasn’t you the one you mention pulso ng bayan in your original comment. I was just taking it from there.
Being a veteran blogger, you should know that what ever article or comment you posted in any forum or blog is open for public consumption. So everybody is free to comment on it. ano ka ba? parang ang cluelss mo sa ganitong systema.?
Kung gusto mong si bencard lang ang kausap mo what the use of posting you mesage in an public forum like this. You should just have emailed each other privately. Di walang sisingit makaksisngit sa usapan nyo. geez…
Anyways balik tayo doon sa post. when you use the term “ang MGA ilong NYO” are’nt you not referring to one person only ? I take it as you are referring to people in US or in any white dominated country that agrees with bencard. thats the reason why I butted in.
Nag tatanong ka pa kung nasa labas ako ng bansa. Eh di ba obvious?
you did reply to my post before about that pangandaman-de la paz conflict. after that I did not read any of your article so you did not see me commenting on any of your article.
Ganyan lang naman ako eh, pag di ko gusto eh di ko binabasa at di ako nag rereact by commenting on it. I just skip it.
Di ko nga maintidihan ang mag iringan dito like Primer VS Benigz. If you dont agree with each and you dont want to engage with that person eh di wag mo ng pagaksasayan ng oras.
And if you dont like me to engage with you, thats just fine I wont engage with you too. So far I have two person that I feel I dont want to engage to and they dont want to engage with me. Yung isa sumisinggit singit pa in some of my engagement with others. Well he can always do that basta ako naman talgang I just dont react at all to what ever he is saying. Para ano pa eh namimersonal na sya eh o I feel a public forum like this is not the proper place to settle that differences.
I’d like to interact, but only speak English and 200 useful Visayan words, like:
“Gahi ulo” muttered at anyone who will not accept my view
“Iho!” usually shrieked when a fin arises in the water
“kaon bula” useful in volleyball when someone eats a spike
and a few others
Joe
You are free to to make your own judgment, rego. Hindi minamasama and reaction mo. Ang ipinaliliwanag ko sa iyo, yung sundot ko ay paungkol skanila.
Malaki ang aking paggalang sa mga Pilipino na nasa labas ng bansa nguni’t ang puso ay narito. Ang di ko tanggap ay yung mga iilan na para di na ramdam ang hirap o panganib na suya naming nilalabAnan.
Sana’y maunawaan mo ito.
Walang dahilan para ika’y tuligsain.
i really loved sorbetes in a bun in exchange of few empty bottles of soy sauce and vinegar…i remember those days and will not regret it…eating that makes me happy specially after I got bullied by my elder brother…mababaw ang kaligayahan ko noon ika nga…I never fail to go to my mother’s dirty kitchen everyday to see if there are new empty bottles…now i am a father of three…my children dont do that kind of trading with sorbetero…pera pera na…and of course they eat sorbetes in a bun too…kanino ba naman sila magmamana.
i came back from cayman islands, and its good to be back here once again, after three long years of non-existence…the noise and the smogs of the streets…the foul odor of Pasig river…heavy traffic at Ortigas and C-5…protest and rallies…my wife and my children hugs & kisses…welcomed me…now i am home. To those who love this country, i admire you all, to those who want the charter change to proceed…go to hell! hehehe (joke)…
ei Atty Camano…how’s things? i hope you are fine and cool over there…tc.
i am fine nosi and thank you. i am glad you were back in the arms of your loved ones. you’ll find FV an entirely new experience. but just like our PCIJ experience, nothing is so rosy in here either.
from cayman to pasig river i can just imagine the suffocation. i glad you were not smothered.
no not really…i was just overwhelmed. thanks.
i hope FV maybe a little different, anyway we cannot choose the crowd.
yes, here there is an infinite variety. :)
Yes Bencard, indeed, what is so funny about cheating?
Have you asked your Amo?
she is your “amo” as well as mine, even though you treat him like dirt. have you proven that she cheated at any time, wise one?
Bencard, Gloria Arroyo is dirtier than dirt : she’s a cheating, scheming, thieving, malevolent social carcinogen that needs to be flushed out by chemotherapy.
she has not been proven guilty yet but investigated many times during her administration.
According to the United Nations Investigation, since 2001 when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo began her term in office over 800 people have been victims of extra – judicial killings.
On the fifth annual Worldwide Press Freedom Index released by the international press freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has ranked the Philippines among the worst-ranked countries for 2006 at 142nd place. It indicates the continuing murders of journalists and increased legal harassment in the form of libel suits as part of the problem in the Philippines. Between 1986 to 2005, 52 journalists have been murdered.
Amnesty International states that the more than 860 confirmed murders are clearly political in nature because of “the methodology of the attacks, including prior death threats and patterns of surveillance by persons reportedly linked to the security forces, the leftist profile of the victims and climate of impunity which, in practice, shields the perpetrators from prosecution.
According to E San Juan, JR, Right from the beginning, Arroyo’s ascendancy was characterized by rampant human rights violations. Based on the reports of numerous fact-finding missions, Arroyo has presided over an unprecedented series of harassments, warrantless arrests, and assassinations of journalists, lawyers, church people, peasant leaders, legislators, doctors, women activists, youthful students, indigenous leaders, and workers.
Publicly, Arroyo has condemned political killings “in the harshest possible terms” and urged witnesses to come forward but Witness Protection has never been implemented until now. It remains pending and may be forgotten.
consider the source. aw, never mind.
atty ben… it was from wiki.. LOL
but seriously, in my opinion, Gloria cannot fix our problems alone. She has inherited many issues from the past. She does need our support and guidance.
In my visits during her administration, I have seen growth that I have never witnessed before since I’ve been in the US for 20 years. I do think, she can only manage according to what’s manageable. The problem in our country is too chronic.
The way we are discussing issues today, I will consider it close to REAL freedom. We are almost there.
Should we extend Gloria? :)
leytenean, by “source” i meant “amnesty international”. i believe this is a leftist, liberal organization that is usually not too sympathetic with governments in the latter’s dealings with enemies of the state.
i understand atty ben. there were reports that amnesty international supports terrorism.
Bencard,
Re “leftist liberal”. Is that a disparaging set of words, in your mind? That is, anyone who comes from that camp, or accepts that fundamental ideology, is somehow “mentally deformed”? Do you feel the same way on the other extreme, too? “Conservative right”
Joe
joe, i think leytenean has just given you the answer @ 10:18 am.
Bencard,
so you are saying a “leftist liberal” supports terrorism?
Joe
see for yourself, joe. i think leytenean said “there were reports…”
Ben, I’m not inclined to go with hearsay evidence (what Leytenian said someone said), although you are evidently willing to do so. I asked if you believe “leftist liberals” are terrorists and you slipped aside without answering. Perhaps you understand that your position is untenable when you suggest that they are, I dunno.
For myself, I think deranged madmen or grossly disturbed and brainwashed people with no sense of human compassion are terrorists. I don’t believe “leftist liberals” are terrorists, although they may favor the legalization of marijuana, abortions, stem cell research or government taking care of the homeless. I don’t believe “amnesty international” is a terrorist organization, although their beliefs and actions may terrorize many.
I am more afraid of the extreme right, which in effect is what Muslim fanatics are. Indeed, I suppose when you go full circle in either direction, the terrorist left and the terrorist right become one and the same. Which is why you see NPR and Muslim fanatics both fighting the Philippine government and undertaking kidnappings as a matter of “policy”.
Who do you favor, amnesty international or the ruling junta of Myanmar?
Joe
Leyteynian,
Refreshing view re. Gloria and progress. We are so caught up in the beating of ConAss one way or another, and the relentless issues of corruption, that we neglect to look around and say, “Wow, there is a lot going on here. Positive things. New commercial and apartment buildings, new businesses, new Jollibee franchises (heh), new roads, new subdivisions, new malls, a dynamic Subic, etc.
I have argued a couple of times that the distance between ruin and a dynamic, growing Philippines is very short. Ruin if corruption and political pandering runs up the debt and tips the country into financial chaos, or if riots destroy the buildings and appeal the Philippines has to investors; dynamic if government enterprises can be made wholesome and productive.
Stability is soooooo important to investors. It is very important to have a smooth presidential transition in 2010,. It is upsetting to see the House pushing reckless legislation when they could and should be calming the country and building optimism, and it is nerve-wracking watching COMELEC skating on the thinnest ice on the pond.
Joe
Sana ung mga boboto mag isip isip na kasi parang sa akin wala akong pinagkatiwalaan sa kanila kundi sambayanang PILIPINO lang, sori kung may napupusuan na kayo sa kanila, hmmm……, con ass ok lang para sa akin pero hindi ganun na parang magic biglang lilitaw na parang kabuting bukid. Take note, sa europe karamihan parliament asinsado sila hmmm hindi sila gaano kagarapal magurakot eh.
jag
Dear Sirs/Madamme,
I’m sharing with you and to all Filipinos anywhere in the world my videos about PAF CORRUPTION.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uj4W_HiV-V0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j10UJtp7OTk
Maraming salamat po.
Inyong lingkod,
CPT POGOY JOENEL S PAF PMA ’99