The case of the Alabang Boys (who really aren't boys anymore)

I've been telling my brother to switch channels - listening in to the Congressional Hearing is really frustrating me. It's like watching a telenovela, so much drama!

I don't mean to have my non-Filipino readers at a loss as to what this Alabang Boys case is all about, but I don't want to narrate the entire story here. You can checkout some of the links from this search result: http://results.myhpf.co.uk/framedresults.asp?Keyword=alabang+boys+case

Department of Justice officials, specifically the fiscals/state prosecutors, are taking heat for releasing a Resolution just before Christmas, which was in effect dismissing the case. As it appears in the hearing, the tone and language of the resolution was as if it was taking as fact, and siding with, the position of their respondents. In fact, the resolution looks like a case agains the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. Err?

There a number of irregularities with this case, and I am in no mind to list them all. But had I been sitting in that hearing, here are some questions I would have asked:

• Since Atty. Verano (representing the respondents) claims that he had no prior discussion with Usec. Blancaflor regarding the case, why did he have the Order sent through his office? He had his office messenger bring the document to Blancaflor's office, why not just messenger it straight to the office of the Department Secretary?
• Claiming that he did not want anything to do with the document, why did Blancaflor allow his secretary to take the document to the office of the Secretary of Justice? Would it not be construed that he is endorsing the document? Shouldn't he have just outrightly refused to do anything in behalf of his fraternity brother?
• Why did the office of the chief state prosecutor release the resolution to the public, without clearing it with the DOJ secretary, given that they have a memo circular mandating a review of all cases of this nature that are for dismissal?
• In Fiscal Rasado's case, why didn't he inhibit himself from reviewing the case, when he already knew that the defense lawyer was his law school professor? He is in charge of looking into the merits of the case and recommend it for filing, or for dismissal. At that stage in the case, he was like a judge who must assume impartiality. Although if I was in his place, I wouldn't personally be affected if my college professors were part of a case where I need to make an important discernment, I would think it would still be the better thing to do, in the interest of fairness to both parties, to request that the case be assigned to a different fiscal. KWIM?
• Shouldn't be the DOJ be working in partnership with the PDEA? Shouldn't they be actually helping PDEA build solid, air-tight cases about drug pushers/traffickers? They should be represented in the PDEA team! It appears that they have no measures for coordination here. PDEA does its job, and then DOJ may or may not let the case reach the courts? How does that help the campaign against drugs?

Project 365 - Day 5

Update on Verabear.net

The site is still unavailable. I received an email from support, get this: asking what link was showing the error. Uh hello? Didn't I send a screenshot? Doesn't it show the URL? And to think that he was the same person who emailed back when I encountered this issue before. Shouldn't he already know what to do about it? Ugh. 

Rant over.

Project 365 - Day 5

A few days before saying goodbye to 2008, I found a link from Hummie's World to this cool blog where I found a link to a very very cute desk calendar. I followed the links and downloaded the file.

It took until the morning of the fifth for me to print out a sample. Icut out the printouts as directed, and then set them up like so. Isn't it just the cutest? I had suggested to my mom that she can give some of these away to her officemates so I printed and cut out four sets of these! She actually requested more but I ran out of gsm 220 paper. I really like how it turned out and if I just had space for it on my office desk, I would totally plant one there. 

I printed these out on my Canon Pixma printer. It's amazing how the colored cartridge has shown the prompt for low ink for months but I am still able to get good quality color prints. The colored ink I purchased just before Christmas still sits here unopened. I am not complaining, of course. It's amazing.

I have a day 6 photo, but am too lazy to continue posting. I'd also have to delay sharing Esban's photos. I didn't get much sleep this morning/afternoon because we were tuned in to the Congressional hearing on the case of the Alabang Boys. I've got some thoughts on that issue that I'd like to share too. I'll try tomorrow. Tonight, I sleep. :) 

First Computerized Gov't Elections in the Philippines

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Tuned in to Kids

Sunday night turned out to be kids' night. No, the kids weren't around here. Rather, we spent almost the entire evening watching kids on TV.

First up: Pinoy Dream Academy's Little Dreamers.

By golly, those kids have got oodles of talent. Really. I love watching them and I truly believe there is more talent in them than their teen/adult scholar counterparts.

Cristina was named this week's Outstanding Little Dreamer, and she deserves the award. She's always very energetic in her performances. You could check out a video of her performance here. Hers was the last number in the video in that post. Check out the Archives for performances of the other little dreamers. You will be WOWed by their talents.

Later in the evening, ABS-CBN had a feature story on the two faces of malnutrition in the Philippines. On the one hand, there's the more common scene of skin and bones children who, because of poverty, and/or neglect, do not eat enough. On the other, obese children who give off a false front of being healthy but are actually are at high risk for heart disease and diabetes.

The Health and Social Welfare bureaus have programs to address the growing problem, but I know they are barely scratching the surface. Development groups and NGOs are also there with their own feeding programs and health programs for moms and their children. But how can we really save more children from dying of hunger or obesity?

With the food crisis hanging over the air, many of this kids are even more compromised than ever. But really, it's not just the poor who can't afford the enough healthy food for the entire family who's in danger. In fact, I have a nephew who the doctor said was malnourished. It is sad. He has an enormous appetite and I've never really seen him be picky with his food. But I guess he's not eating healthy.

And the overweight/over-indulged kids featured in the story have become too big for their age because their diets weren't carefully planned by the adults caring for them. So it's not just money needed to ensure that kids are healthy and grow up to become adults themselves.

It wasn't mentioned anywhere in the feature, but this got me to thinking about how the pending law on Reproductive Health is being vehemently opposed by the Catholic Church here. I mean really, I am all for educating parents-to-be before they bring more children in the world, that's a long term solution. But we've come to a desperate point already and government has the responsibility to at least make available various options to allow couples to choose the best family planning method for themselves. I just don't see what's so wrong about that. I don't think the law endorses abortion, does it? I mean, c'mon!

Ces Drilon has been freed

*If you don't like the music, please scroll down to my Juday post and click on the Stop button to turn it off. I can't make myself take out the embedded music player altogether. hihi.

Broadcast journalist Ces Oreña-Drilon, her camera man Jimmy Encarnacion, and Professor Octavio Dinampo have been freed by the armed group that held them hostage for 9 days. Another member of their crew was released a few days ago. Read the story from Drilon's network, the ABS-CBN news website.

I heard the radio interview with Senator Loren Legarda, herself a former ABS-CBN broadcaster, as soon as I arrived home at past 12 midnight.

My dad's work takes him to Mindanao (Davao and Cotabato specifically) and he works with NGOs and peace advocates in the area. He mentioned that he has met the Professor who was with Ces Drilon.

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I don't have any other interesting news today, other than I really pigged out and ordered a full meal, plus a side order of Mashed Potatoes (which turned out to be a full serving) and 2 free buttermilk pancakes. I ate at my boss' station while he was out, and one of my colleagues had the same idea so we shared the booth. I shared my mashed taters with him too. As it were, I didn't eat the meal (Eggs Popeye) because I was already full. I brought it home with me and it's in the fridge. I'll heat it for brunch later.

Edit.

What am I saying? No interesting news? But there is!

Just at the stroke of midnight for June 18, I booked 3 roundtrip tickets for Manila-Tagbilaran, Bohol. Yes, we are finally going on the Bohol trip that we thought would never happen. Sadly though, there seems to just three of us going, instead of the 5 that we originally planned for.

The trip was supposed to be this June but we couldn't afford the airfare. Or we could, but then there would be no money left for food, accommodations, and the land trip. My friend casually mentioned Cebu Pacific's low fare promo that was ending at midnight (yes I had to beat it) so I logged on and checked for available flights and coordinated with our friends for their availability.

I am still hoping that Joy would be available on the dates we picked (it's still in September) and that the promo is extended even for just one day so we can get her cheap fare too. Vanette can't come because she won't be able to go on a 2-day straight leave. I was kinda hoping we could work that out too...

Still, we are so psyched about it though it's just me, Alfred, and our friend Tengkie.

This will be my third visit to the province but the first that will be strictly recreational and on my own tab.

We have these, and more, to look forward too (the images are linked to where I got them on the web).

Team Number One

Wow, the week just went by in a snap.

I had a really good week at work, seriously. Yesterday, I spent half the day filing my coaching forms on each agent folder. It was tedious because I had allowed a whole month's worth of documentation to accumulate for all eleven of them. But it was light, easy work.

My team has been having a phenomenal performance in the last 3 weeks. I am very proud of them. To think that 60% of them are newbies to the account and yet we're number one. That is truly a remarkable achievement. Even if things don't work out as well for the fourth week (but I'm crossing my fingers that it still does) it would still have been a magnificent run.

This tears my heart really.

You see, I have a chance to go back and do what I've always loved doing. This whole year that I've been a team manager, I've found myself looking at training classes and wish I was the one teaching them. I've looked at trainers and have been silently critical of them. Often I catch myself thinking if I was ever like this or that as a trainer. Was I slow to react? Was I full of crap?

Don't get me wrong, I have adjusted to my TM duties well and I love what I do. But I guess that training has always been my first love and you know what they say about that.

Nothing has been decided anyway. At the very last minute, I turned in my application for the training post that was opened, but I'm still giving myself a lot of room to think things through and weigh my choices. I am just greatful that I work with people and am in an environment that allows me these liberties to do what I really want to do.

On an entirely different matter...

Ka Bel was in the news again today (or was it yesterday's paper?). He was refused welcome and blessing in Roman Catholic churches in his hometown in Legazpi, Albay. Their reason? He was in the Aglipayan Cathedral in Manila for a few days. They claimed that that was a sign that he was of a different religion and they have nothing to do with funerals for people of a different belief. One - Ka Bel is Catholic. In fact, he and his wife renewed their marriage vows for their 50th wedding anniversary at a Catholic Church. Two - Ka Bel's funeral was held at the Aglipay church because that church is known to be supportive of the labor leader's causes. Three - How medieval of that bishop in charge there. Ugh.

On TV right now is Charisse Pempengco's new song and music video. It isn't bad. I think it's an original this time and not a cover of an older woman's song. Good for her. I didn't see the title though. I'm guessing it's "It could only get better."

On a more personal topic this time...

I calculated my expenses for the week and found out that I have spent WAY TOO MUCH than I should have. Seriously. Even without Zune's doctor fees, it's still way over budget. Talk about living beyond one's means. Major ugh.

Oh, have you seen the latest Indiana Jones flick? I don't think I'll be seeing it in the cinema. What with all the cost cutting I need to do. I'd probably wait to see it on DVD. Bummer.

RIP Ka Bel

Rest in Peace Ka Crispin Beltran.

He is gone, but his spirit, his fight lives on.

Ka Bel died in a freak accident but I would not go as far as to say it was a senseless death. At 6 in the morning, he was up on his roof doing his job as the man of the house - checking on the roof that is supposed to protect his family from the coming rains. He is a Congressman, a Party List representative. Seated in Congress in behalf of the many workers, laborers and marginalized Filipino. Yet he has no qualms about going up the roof (with no safety equipment) to tend to what needs fixing.

What does that tell you about this man? How many Congressmen do you know who would do that (without cameras following them, that is)?

Since he first walked the halls of Congress as a lawmaker years ago, he's been tagged the poorest solon. That did not change until his death.

He may not have died alongside his comrades during a rally; he may not have been shot dead; he did not have to suffer in a prison cell in the last days of his life, yet his death is just as meaningful.

We surely can learn a lot from this old man's life, and the public officials specifically, can learn a lot from his death.


I first heard about Ka Bel and his struggles as a child. Though I did not have the privilege of meeting and working with him, I too mourn his passing.

Others have written about knowing and working with him, and remembering his legacy. If you want more, choose from a collection of links.

Myanmar and China need aid

I am working on the pictures from yesterday, I've decided to scrap them rather than simply posting the photos up here.

All night I've been tuned to CNN and getting updated on the crisis in Burma, and now also in China. We have had our fair share of disasters here in the Philippines, and I sure pray that we won't be next. Summer is almost over and we do have occasional torrential rains, still I pray that no big disaster comes our way anytime soon.

There's a page in CNN that has a collection of links to charity organizations that have the capacity to give aid in Myanmar. Please do consider visiting any of their web sites and make a donation.

From there I found a link to the diary of Save the Children's director in Burma. In the beginning when the cyclone just hit, it didn't sound as if there's much to worry about. But soon enough, his posts talk of his personal experience putting together teams to assess the situation, and eventually, the relief efforts. Save the Children also has a page with children's voices in the wake of disaster.

It is sad that in the face of disaster, where tens of thousands of people have perished and more in danger, Myanmar's military junta refuses to let aid in.

China has just been hit by a massive earthquake and an estimated 9000 people have already died. There's news of two chemical factories going down - that in itself could be a different disaster too. There was also a school where they estimate about 900 students are trapped; 50 bodies have been recovered from there. China is no stranger to earthquakes but we don't know how prepared China is to respond to a disaster of this magnitude. I pray that they are quicker and more capable to bring aid where it's needed and accept international help, unlike the Burma junta.

Chika, Chismis, Kwento. GOSSIP!

I have spent the last 5 or 6 hours cruising through two blogs: Brian Gorrell's and Chikatime.
Yup, I've been reading posts between the two blogs and have been introduced to juicy gossip and intrigues involving Manila's 'high society.'

Personally, I do think that anyone born into privilege should take the initiative to do good for those who are less fortunate than them. Simply because they have the means, and at times, the clout. So, anytime I see, read or hear about brats who throw money away or who have no care at all about the world around them, I get mad.

I remember back in college, I heard these rich kids talk about not getting 1.0 and the condo unit the dad would give her after graduation. Or was it a car? Okay, I don't remember anything else about how that conversation went about but I do remember thinking how trivial their concerns were. There were so many other things happening around them.

At some point though, I realized that I shouldn't trivialize what they consider their problems. Sure, there are more people out there confronting graver issues in their lives, but if they think a 1.25 grade is a big deal, then they are entitled to that too. Each person has his/her own shit to worry about right?

Still when you read about society's It girls and boys (and gays) indulging in so many excesses and how they have never known a day of real hard work, it still irks something in you. Something in me wants to bash their heads on a wall just to get them to look at things at a different perspective: they could use their status and influence for something more - much more.

But if they really are wasting their lives in drugs - then they must really have big issues. They need help. I wish they get that real soon.

Rice Shortage

Rice shortage in a country that should be largely agricultural just doesn't make sense.

In the news today, we saw long lines at the market with people waiting on the NFA (government)-subsidized rice. Some of them waited 3 hours before they could go home with 1 kilo - supply that will probably last them only today.

We usually buy commercial rice and today, my dad came home saying that the usual rice we get is now pegged at 40 pesos when last week it was only at 33. We're not worried for ourselves because we don't consume that much rice as we used to. Besides, when my grandpa harvests rice from his fields, he will give us our 1 sack ration.

But we are affected by all of this talk of shortage. The Agricultural Department keep on saying we have enough stocks and there's a 58-day buffer stored somewhere. But they've got to see that with the skyrocketing prices of commercial rice is driving people to opt for the cheaper NFA rice. That's why it's so hard to get a-hold of any.

I'm not so into international news anymore and I am so wrapped up in my own non-political world sometimes. I had to ask my dad what's causing this so called shortage. Apparently the economic boom in India and China have tipped the balance of rice (food) consumption while the supply from rice exporting countries have not really changed. Countries like Thailand and Vietnam, I hear, are also putting limits on their exports to ensure they do not lose local supply. Good for them. But going back to the Philippines, how come we are only 90-98% self-sufficient for our own rice supply? Didn't we use to export rice ourselves?

And didn't Thailand and Vietnam used to send their experts here to learn from us when it comes to rice? Oh well.

Some say land conversion from agricultural to industrial has also contributed to this problem. There are lesser and lesser land devoted to agriculture and farming. Add to that the farmers' woes of where to get the funds for the next planting season. It isn't also uncommon to find farmers' children aspiring for lives away from the fields. No, I don't think it is wrong for them to dream and work at achieving those dreams. But who's to say who would be left tilling the fields? Why is farming still a poor man's job? Why haven't we got the technology that will allow farmers to stay in the fields but also live comfortably? Oh well...

There are efforts by some restaurateurs to make half-servings of rice available for patrons. This is in response to the fact that kilos and kilos of rice is wasted everyday because of customers who don't actually eat all of what they order. This is actually a good move. I mean, if they wanted more, they could just order another serving. I wonder how Tokyo Tokyo all you can eat rice will be impacted by this?

Anyway, I think the pantry in the office has also joined in the efforts to reduce rice wastage. I hear the cups are getting smaller. :)

Remembering EDSA I

My parents were at EDSA I; they were in the middle of events leading up to it too, and in the revolution led years before. It's been no secret that my parents were both in the militant movement in their younger days - up until they had us. Both of them were political prisoners at different times - my dad first for a couple of years when my brother was a young boy; my mom for a few months while I was still an infant. EDSA I was the time when the people's rage reached boiling point, it was the result of many years of toil. After EDSA, my parents were involved in various development efforts and they were still doing their fair share in effecting change. They no longer moved in the underground but were out in the open.

It is sad that today, at the commemoration 'rally' at EDSA, there were more military and police personnel than there were civilians. It is sad that today, 22 years later, we are in need of another EDSA.

I am disappointed that Erap is free to be interviewed on the Al Jazeerah channel and say that Gloria is an illegitimate president. Why? Definitely not because I support Gloria and her administration, but because Erap himself was the subject of an EDSA Revolution, one that I was proud to have participated in. His freedom now speaks of the failure of EDSAs past.

As a people, we are proud of the spirit of EDSA, and yet we elect the wrong people to office time and again. The ZTE-NBN deal is but one of many deals that reeked of corruption. Anyone actually involved in government projects would know that there are many ways that a politician or a government employee can pocket the people's money. Perhaps not everyone is in on it, perhaps you have some who strive to effect change within the system. But how can it really be done?

If we get rid of Gloria today, how can we be assured that those who remain in office won't carry on with the culture they have already so ingrained? Is it enough to replace the head? Come on, graft and corruption happens across the board, and it cuts across all the colors of the political spectrum. Who can we trust not to let us down yet again?

*edit*

So a Justice Department official was quoted to have said that Erap may be put back in jail if he doesn't stop questioning the legitimacy of Arroyo's presidency. Heck, he's been doing that since a week or so after he was pardoned. He is clearly getting away with not honoring his end of the terms of the pardon!

Senate inquiry - ZTE

Since I arrived home about 3 or 4 hours ago, I've been listening to the Senate hearing on the anomalous ZTE NBN Deal. Jun Lozada who was a technical consultant for the project is now up on what can be likened to a witness stand.

I'll say a silent prayer for his safety, though I know he has nuns and priests guarding and supporting him since his ordeal started a couple of weeks ago, he's probably in greater danger now that he's spoken to the Senate, and it's televised live on national cable TV.

A lot of people are caught up in that big mess and the subsequent efforts to cover it up. I believe that he really must be in grave danger. More so than JDV.

When the hearing was suspended for lunch, the Cabinet members and Malacanang personnel came out on a press conference, explaining/rebutting Lozada's statements. It's high time that deals like these are exposed because I am sure everyone knows this isn't the only deal that's padded with bribe money. It happens in small scale projects as well.

It's just taking so long for this Senate inquiry to get to the point. Each senator has his/her own set of questions. So they are each piecing the puzzles together, but in segments. I wish they prepared better as a group so they can have a common strategy. Then maybe it wouldn't take the whole day to finally get into specifics of the deal that I think should be the focus.

No, I don't mean to criticize how the senators are doing their jobs. I just pity Lozada for having to endure the endless questions, sometimes he is asked the same question by another person. And though he now looks comfortable sitting in the middle of the hall, I'm sure he is anxious too.

I wonder if something will really come out of this?

House of Representatives

Last night, my parents were tuned to the live coverage of the plenary session of the lower house of the Philippine Congress. A motion was filed to declare the seat of the Speaker of the House vacant. We caught part of JDV's privileged speech. As well as the tailend of the voting.

JDV sounded so, understandably, wounded. Betrayed. Because he was being ousted, his emotions got the better of him, and he gave the whole country some sort of confirmation, or inside information, on the anomalies that the administration (and the first family) were involved in. One can't help but question his credibility, and his character. He knew of all those things as they were happening, yet he remained silent. Doesn't that make him an accomplice? I'm sure he has reasons for being mum about it, just as he has his reasons for speaking out just now. But that's it, he's a little too late to be the hero.

But I won't judge JDV. What they are doing to him is just what politics is about. It doesn't really matter that it's wrong.

We shouldn't look at this for what it is: a personal attack on JDV, a war between him and the family who lives in Malacanang. I actually think that events like this should be the topic of discussions on Political Science or Governance classes. It's a perfect example of how democracy has failed us.

Don't get me wrong, I am for democracy - a government for the people, of the people and by the people (or something). But just like families can be dysfunctional, so has our government.

One, the Legislative branch is supposed to be separate from the Executive. Yet, it is clearly the hand of Malacanang at work here. Two, when given a chance to explain their votes, the congressmen/women cited that because of differences in principles, they were not granted funds to support projects in their localities. That's bull. If not all congressional districts have a right to funds for infrastructure projects or social services, then why allocate such funds in the first place? Such funds should just be channeled straight to local governments and not to the lawmakers. JDV apparently, failed to look at and treat all representatives the same way.

The happenings last night should teach voters a lesson: choose a rep that can author the laws that matter to you. Road improvement is not the top priority project of legislator, it's to amend laws and make new ones. Leave local projects to the Mayor's office.

When will we ever survive and truly start to rebuild a genuine government for the people? We seem to be farther and farther from it.

Digital Piracy

Digital piracy seems to be the modern day crime. It is definitely a multi-million dollar underground industry that no doubts fuels economies, and probably even feeds as much families as it deprives.

In this country alone, there are regular police raids at known places where pirated CDs and DVDs are sold and yet, they continue to thrive. They are still everywhere. In a country like ours, I think that what keeps the pirates alive is the fact that original DVDs still cost a fortune. Even the record companies' claims that the original lasts longer than the copies don't discourage people from buying. They can buy 4 copies of pirated CDs in the original's life span, and it would still only be at a fraction of the original price.

The real and more lasting solution, is not just to penalize piracy, but to provide better alternatives for the common man. If they can afford to buy the original, of course they would prefer to buy those. That's just my take on it.

I know there are some Pinoys who don't buy pirated local records or movies, they get those original, in support of the local entertainment industry. But for movies out of Hollywood, and music from foreign acts, you can bet that every household probably own a CD or two.

As a beginning digital scrapbooker (perpetual beginner), I know that piracy is one big issue for the community too. With oodles of generosity from freebie designers, there should be no need for anyone to pirate their beautiful work.

Anyhow, I came across this video from Heidi's blog and that's what got me thinkin:

I hope you enjoyed the video :)