Counting Potatoes

The Philippine Hostage Crisis Aftermath: The Search for Mr. Who Fucked Up...

The Senate is at it again... 'Investigating' yet another scandal that rocked the nation recently.. the surprise here is IF this circus actually goes somewhere.. remember the ZTE scandal investigation? How bout the fertilizer scam investigation? Or the Hello Garci scandal investigation? I remember all the posturing, the righteous anger and the memorable lines... Funny... but for some reason, I cant seem to remember how it all ended.. or even if they actually did something in the end to punish those responsible.. or if they actually found the persons responsible for the scam... O_o which is weird... its like watching American Idol for weeks and the show suddenly stops before the grand final...

In my previous post, i wrote that heads should roll and that those responsible for the bloody fiasco should be weeded out.. The senate investigation however is just plain ridiculous! O_o its like watching a bad movie with several characters vying for the top spot with each senator having his/her own director and script writer.. Do they even want to solve the problem??! Or are they just capitalizing on the scandal for their own political gain??!

Because in a Nutshell.. Here's how I see the problem... We fucked up big time in front of the world particularly Hongkong.. Several people died needlessly and so others are clamoring for justice and reforms..

Anything beyond this is plain politics, mudslinging and emotions running hot..

That said..

1. What the Fuck is the Sense in Asking for our President's resignation?? O_o his ass has barely warmed up his comfy presidential seat for God's sake! And no, Im not even pro noynoy [see my election posts].. And yeah.. He does have an irritating smile.. But resolving a hostage crisis isnt his job for God's sake! Running the country is!

2. Similarly.. What's the sense in asking the presidential spokesperson to resign too??! read his title again.. Presidential... spokesperson.. He speaks for the president! i dont see anything about handling a hostage crisis in his job description??? O_o

oh look.. The house is on fire! Fire the fucking gardener for God's sake! There.. Problem solved!

3. Same goes regarding the DILG secretary.. Why oh why is the senate grilling him like he's supposed to act like fucking Rambo or Bruce Willis or something??

Why didnt you think of the TV inside bus? Why didnt you think about crowd/media control? Why werent you there talking to the hostage taker??

Well senators... That's because he's not a fucking negotiator or a tactical assault commander You Idiots! We have experts trained and being paid to do those tasks! And a senator who expects a DILG secretary to second guess the supposed experts on the ground is plain fucking stupid and doesn't deserve his or her senatorial seat. Senators should know better!

Do they even know what the job description of a DILG secretary is??? As far as the constitution goes, the DILG is in charge of training and equipping the police, supervising fire, prison, public safety and local government unit functions as well as help in the legislation of peace and security matters . These are administrative matters! [and its a pretty long list that doesnt include hostage negotiations or ground command during a hostage crisis... what a surprise].. Or do you guys expect the DILG chief to be there meddling with the experts for every fire and prison outbreak too?? O_o

Tactical command of a hostage situation isnt and shouldnt be a part of a DILG secretary's job! As it should be.. would you rather have a politician bargaining for your life or a skilled hostage negotiator? Would you rather have a politician directing ground forces or someone who actually trained for assaults? See.. Pretty senseless to be asking the DILG sec those tactical questions now right?

The question for the DILG secretary should be.. Why wasnt our police force prepared to handle this kind of situation? Why wasnt the proper equipment available? What happened to the training budget? These are the things that a DILG secretary is actually responsible for remember??!

In that case, would you rather ask that question to the DILG Secretary who has been in office for 2 months (barely) or the DILG Secretary who has just completed more than 6 years sitting in the DILG Secretary's chair and spending its budget? Ex-secretary Puno, please take the stand!

Take out the politics, take out the posturing and machismo bullshit and here are the pertinent questions that should be asked and answered...

On a Tactical Standpoint:

1. Who was in charge of negotiating with the hostage taker? Why did he lose control of the situation?

2. Who was in charge of planning and coordinating the ground assault? Why was it executed so poorly?

3. Who was in charge of the equipment used for the assault? The negotiations lasted for more than 10 hours. Any equipment in any part of the Philippines could be airlifted to Manila in less than an hour.. So where the fuck were the night vision goggles, frame explosives, bulletproof vests, gasmasks, etc???

I know we're a poor country but we're not that poor! O_o

4. Who was the one in charge of crowd and media control? Why did he allow the crowd and the media to run amok??

5. Who the fuck ordered the arrest of the hostage taker's brother - the event which destabilized the whole situation?

6. Who was the overall ground commander at the scene? Why didnt he delegate crowd and media control and equipment procurement??

On an Administrative Standpoint:

1. Why didnt we have a trained SWAT team for this kind of situation?

2. Why oh why is the Standard Operating Procedure for this kind of situation so fucked up?

3. Where did all the equipment needed to do the job right go??

4. What do we need to do to ensure this mess doesnt happen again?

5. How can we be assured that steps are being taken to remedy this situation??

Find the answers to these questions and we'll be more than halfway in solving the problem!

Which brings me back to my point.. Where did we fuck up??

First and foremost, its commendable that the ground commander has said that he takes full responsibility for the fiasco as he should.. More than anything else, the result of the hostage crisis was a tactical failure where the ground commander and the negotiator had full control of..

Considering that the president, the press secretary, the DILG secretary and the PNP chief have just taken over their posts.. Could we really blame them? Fair is fair, walk in their shoes for a mile and see if anyone could've done any differently.. If this happened 2 years from now then its an entirely different story.

Fact is, unless you're gifted with second sight, how will you know that you need to address the country's capability to respond to a hostage situation on top of the gazillion other fuck ups that the present administration has inherited?

and on hindsight.. Can we really expect those guys who stormed the bus to do any better given that they're just a product of a corrupt system where the necessary funds more often than not ends up in the pockets of corrupt politicians??

Politicians that we ourselves voted to office.. because they had the right name.. because they sounded right on television.. Because we just didnt think about our decisions hard enough..

The blame trickles down.. and shameful as it is to admit as we have all been initially blinded by emotions.. Some of it ends up on the front door of each end everyone of us..

Yes, we deserve better.. but to achieve this, WE need to BE BETTER.. better voters.. Better citizens.. Better guardians of our democracy..

Let the buck stop here.. Let us all take stock of our shortcomings as citizens of this country and ask ourselves.. Did we really deserve better on that particular situation?

More importantly...

What can we do to deserve better in the future?

... And oh yeah.. Let's nail every corrupt politician we find to the cross.. Corruption kills and they should pay the full price for their actions..

	The Philippine Hostage Crisis Aftermath: The Search for Mr. Who Fucked Up...

20 Ways to Fuck Up the Quirino Hostage Situation [Manila, Philippines]

1. Spend more than 10 hours sitting on your ass without asking for help from a well equipped, well trained team that could've done infinitely better!

2. Hostage taker opens bus door.. clear shot to at least disable the hostage taker .. sniper doing something else.. nice..

3. No media lockdown whatsoever.. Hostage taker has real time updates of what the police are doing should he use a portable tv, a tv capable phone, a radio or an internet capable phone. wait.. isnt there a TV on the bus too! really great.. hostage taker advantage = 10, police = 0..

talk about fanning the flames! the local media is just as guilty for the deaths of the hostages as the hostage taker in this case.. I hope there's a special place in hell for them..

4. an yeah.. while you're at it, have every tom, dick and harry from the media muddle up the negotiations by allowing them to interview the hostage taker by phone during the crisis!

5. No intel, police have no idea whatsoever how many hostage takers there are and what their firearms and positions are. directional sound recorders? infrared/thermal sights? nope.. too techie for these guys..

6. No Experts: a bus technician would've advised the police about the button that opens the door, the mechanism of the rear door, alternate entries or observation areas inside the cargo compartment, wiring blueprints that could've disabled the TV inside the bus, etc.

7. Shoot the tires of the bus where hostage taker and hostages are making the situation more desperate for the hostage taker without any clear advantage for the police. How do you plan to negotiate with the hostage taker when you've just shown your intentions??!!

8. Bring the hostage taker's brother to the scene to aid the negotiator then proceed to harass him in front of international media and within sight of the bus enraging the hostage taker and destabilizing the situation. So much for negotiations..

and when hostage taker demands that his brother be released or else.. ignore it.. sweating man on the ground is infinitely more important than man with gun and hostages on bus..

9. Make an assault on the bus with media reporting every move like its fucking pinoy big brother.. yeah right.. so much for the element of surprise too..

10. Assault the bus with no clear and concise battle plan beyond opening the door.. Really a winning combination.. let's open the door and shoot down the hostage taker.. greaaat...

11. Dont use tactical mirrors that could've avoided the scene where the cops crouched together liked scared children in front of the bus. A tactical mirror could've let the police see inside the bus without undue risk.

12. On top of that, No one bothers with controlled plastic explosives on this one to breach the bus.. No flashbangs or night vision either which could've given immense advantage to the police.. noopee.. they prefer it ala Chuck Norris style with axes and handguns..

13. Lose the element of surprise further and more valuable time by using an axe to breach the bus' windows and door.. saw a SWAT member with a beer belly trying to squeeze in the bus too.. really inspiring..

The door of a bus is designed to withstand 50Gs of instantaneous force or more. A hammer will do nothing to break it in one hit. There's an emergency lever under the bus that can be used to open the door. Nobody knew about it. Instead, they proceeded to hammer all sides of the fucking bus like it's a pinata.

14. After all the element of surprise is lost beyond all hope, dont think of shining a bright searchlight in front or side of bus to at least shed some light on the situation inside the bus and give police situational advantage because it blinds the hostage taker and lets the police see the situation inside.. but nope.. these guys would rather play pin the tail on the donkey..

15. Realize after 30 minutes that the door can be forced off by using a chain connected to a moving car..

16. Of course if they'd consulted a bus expert, they could've known that a bus door opens more easily when pushed inwards not pulled outwards. In this case, a battering ram could've done much better. as it happened, the rope snapped.. what a surprise..

17. Multiple simultaneous entries: Abandon the bright but frustratingly late idea when rear emergency door is forced open.. Apparently one open door is infinitely better than two for these police.. Two entries could've given the police a positional advantage in a firefight inside the bus but no.. One door is enough..

18. with the police having no situational advantage whatsoever, proceed to give more advantage to the hostage taker by turning on the vicinity lights.. riiiight.. have a marching band play while you're attacking the bus while you're at it too..

19. Think of the tear gas idea after a gazillion minutes of trying to hack down the bus doors with axes.. then proceed to storm bus without gas masks.. tear gas advantage nullified.. nice..

20. Speaking about the element of surprise, assault teams in this kind of situations have to assume that they only have a few seconds or a few minutes at most to take down the hostage taker and secure the place. Why? because the moment from which the hostage taker is made aware that an attack is ongoing to the time he is taken down could be spent shooting his hostages. Total time between initial assault to the death of the hostage taker = more than one hour... it was like watching a worms Armageddon game..


Luckily, some hostages lived through the nightmare.. not because of police competence, but because the hostage taker didnt kill them all even though he was given more than 30 minutes by the police to do so..

Moreover, the hostage taker wasnt asking for a billion dollars and an escape helicopter! He was asking to be given back his job and benefits! If the negotiator and the government at least gave some hope to the hostage taker that his grievances would be listened to, there would've been no dead hostages and all the advantage would switch over to the police and the government AFTER the hostage crisis!

Is this the best our country's police forces can do???!! Are these the people that are supposed to protect us???!! Was this the best plan that our vaunted SWAT team could come up with???!!! I've played harder more well thought out counterstrike games with kids no more than 10 years old!!! Please please please make someone accountable for this bloody fiasco!!



So when its not an ordinary non aircon bus, we're out of luck... o_O


or maybe... this is the real behind the scenes training... o_O

	20 Ways to Fuck Up the Quirino Hostage Situation [Manila, Philippines]

Top 10 Predictions for 2010-2016: Noynoy's Term

1. The practice of siesta will be included in Philippine law..

2. Ragnarok will become the new national sport..

3. Noynoy joke books will become national bestsellers second only to Erap Joke Books..

4. Proof that Noynoy has psychiatric problems will finally surface through credible sources or noynoy himself when faced with first Philippine disaster.. only GMA and ABC network will show news..

5. Philippine solution to Global Warming / Climate change will be yellow ribbon plus praying the rosary with Kris..

6. ABS-CBN + survey companies' mind control tool will be upgraded for next election in 2013. Ako ang Simula will be renamed Ako ang Simula ng Panloloko..

7. Manny Pacquiao will stop thanking the president after winning his fights.. ABS-CBN will retaliate for Noynoy by showing survey result that Filipinos expect manny to lose the next fight..

8. Noynoy will crack from pressure and Mar will become president unless Gloria becomes prime minister first..

9. Shows with Kris Aquino will be increased to 60% of ABS-CBN's shows.. magandang umaga with Kris, magandang tanghali with Kris, magandang meryenda with Kris, magandang pagtae with Kris, etc. 6 years from now, we will know everything about baby james and josh.. Including their favorite toys, food, diapers, milk, etc. Average Filipino IQ will drop 30 points..

10. Nothing whatsoever will change in next 6 years except all of the above..

God Help us All...

	Top 10 Predictions for 2010-2016: Noynoy's Term

Pre-Election Reflections

1. Survey firms denied trying to influence how the people would vote come election day. hmmm...

Well, I have news for you survey people.. [drumroll...] Your survey results ARE influencing the public. Duuuuuuhhhhhhhh!! O_o

You people above all should know that the public is bombarded by survey type advertisements everyday! It's a competitive positioning strategy! Ask those who swtiched to Colgate because 9 out of 10 dentists use this brand or those who switched to Smartbro because of the survey called the Speed Test Challenge or those who started taking Charantiya because 8 out of 10 or something Filipinos have or are at risk for diabetes.

Do they mean to tell us there's someone out there paying P100,000 per question just so we'd KNOW where the presidentiable's stand??? O_o I've heard of some pretty rich guys blowing money away buying drugs and women.. but sponsoring a survey just so we'd KNOW how things are??? O_o

If you guys insist on keeping up this 'public service', at least please let us know the methodologies you used, the accuracy of having 1800 people represent a country of 50M voters and who paid for the survey.

and why is the media playing wide eyed-innocent regarding this matter when they know very well survey results DO influence public opinion?? Hello??? i can still remember the blood and the gore that flew around during the last best TV station survey.. O_o

These blatant lies, hyprocrisies and half-truths are disgusting!

2. Comelec rejects proposal of parallel manual count of votes - says this would muddy the election process and make things a lot more complicated.

Don't these guys get it?? O_o This is not about the efficiency or simplicity of the election process for god's sake! It's a manifestation of the public mistrust of you COMELEC guys plain and simple! we've seen how you guys fucked up just about everything related to the elections what with the overpriced materials, faulty equipment and messed up ballots and we'd like to have at least a semblance of partial control over things just so the new election system doesnt buy the farm during your watch!

3. Arent we the most fucked up electorates this world has ever seen? I mean, we make the international news what with our very inspiring people powers and a few years later, we welcome back the very people we ousted or their descendants with open arms! O_o

Erap... Jinggoy... Bongbong Marcos..

Is our water supply being laced with amnesia inducing substances?? Are we really that forgetful or are we just plain STUPID?? O_o next thing you'd know, Gloria is back in power and Marcos is being hailed as the best president we ever had.. Maybe that's why our country is down in the dumps.. As soon as we do something right, we promptly forget about it and make the same mistakes again!

4. Why do our election system encourage the splurging of huge amounts of money by the candidates? I mean, can you imagine someone winning the presidency without the customary printing of a gazillion posters, streamers, flyers, stickers, and shirts? Can you imagine someone winning only through the sheer brilliance of his or her platform? the strength of character? Or the greatness of his or her track record?

By forcing our candidates to raise and gamble huge amounts of money in order to win, arent we compromising their integrity even before they step into power? Arent we forcing these future public servants into a tight corner where he will have to turn a blind eye to some illegal transactions in the future and not prioritize the people in his or her decisions as president just so he or she can repay a debt of gratitude to someone who donated for his or her previous campaign? Isnt the very structure of the election system itself a foundation for future corruption?

5. Every year, this country wails about corruption, poverty, lack of opportunities and the inneficiency of our government. Every 3 years or so, each and every one of us holds the power to change where we are heading as a nation. Each and every one of us are given the right to decide our country's future hand in hand with the responsibility of choosing those leaders well.. Every 3 years or so, the possibility of change comes... and goes...

If the recent surveys are any indication, the top 18 senators in the polls are precisely those we've already had for the past six years..

The top presidentiable in the polls.. well, if his past performance will (and should) be used as a basis.. it seems that we have to tighten our belts for yet another 6 years of stagnation..

Do you have children in school for the next six years? Are you hoping for a more competitive education, better teachers and better books for them?

Do you have a sibling about to brave distant shores in order to have a future? Are you hoping those opportunities would come here instead so nobody would have to leave home?

Are you hoping for lower utility bills? Peace and order in the country? A better justice system? A better standard of living?

Well Filipinos..

We are about to make our beds..

Let's hope we do not find it wanting when we lie down on it...

	Pre-Election Reflections

Against the Flow

Noynoy says that should he lose the elections, there will be a massive people power movement to protest the results.

Lets not go ahead with the elections then as its a noynoy or nothing choice. Let's just crown him king of the Philippines and be done with it.

On a related note.. Noynoy vehemently denied having any problems up THERE in his coconut shell.. Out of all the presidentiables however, noynoy was the only one who didnt want to undergo a mental exam before the elections.. O_o that's freakin' weird..

Come to think of it, IF noynoy is the best qualified person to lead our country out of this shithole.. Shouldnt he already have distinguished himself in his past jobs? Shouldnt his supposed 'greatness' and 'heroism' already have manifested itself waaay before his mother died, his popularity rating hit 60% and before he decided to run for president??? O_o

We know Gordon lifted Ologanpo out of its post pinatubo and post american occupation doldrums and received a host of international awards because of it.. We know bayani transformed marikina from a 3rd class/rape capital city to one of the best in the Philippines.. We know binay reaped rewards and recognition for what he did for makati city.. We hear of Mar Roxas playing a part in the Cheaper Medicines Act.. even Erap has the law making the Carabao as our national animal under his belt.. What of Noynoy? O_o what of his laws?... His awards?.. his achievements?.... take out all the hoopla about him being the son of Cory and Ninoy and what do you have? O_o

We at least take the time to interview yayas and see what their qualifications are before we entrust them with our children.. Do we entrust our children's future, the quality and cost of their education, the availability of jobs for them when they graduate, the peace and security of their future homes to someone who just happens to have the right set of parents but hasnt done anything in the past to show that he WILL BE capable of handling the highest office in our country??

We at least take the time to read up and learn about the features, specifications and good points of expensive products like cellphones, laptops, cars, homes, etc.. before we buy them.. well, our country's next 6 years is definitely more important than all of the gadgets above. Do we entrust the office of the President to someone who has: 1. authored 0 read ZERO laws while he was a senator, 2. received 0 read ZERO awards for all positions held previously and more importantly 3. 0 read ZERO experience in handling or making prosperous a region, city or even a BARRANGAY.

People are saying however that HE is the man for the job because he has a name to live up to, because he is the son of ninoy and cory. It's as if the presidency of Cory was the Golden Era of our country - as if the country was corruption free during those years.. as if the country's progress skyrocketed after the EDSA revolution..

If the eradication of corruption is his primary platform, why are there many corrupt trapos in his party? If our votes are decided by the probability of someone not becoming a corrupt president as opposed to someone who has the ability of leading us as a nation into the future, then a kuhol (snail) should've ran for president.. I'll vote for it.. Probability wise, a snail has a lower probability of becoming corrupt than him.

Think back really really carefully and ask yourself if post- EDSA revolution were better days.. if that's the measuring stick that noynoy plans of living up to then we might as well slit our throats now for things are gonna get really really worse..

[ps: if you happen to be a noynoy supporter and you disagree with this post, please dont use foul language, noynoy sob stories or any other drama laden lines in reacting to this post, there are already many forums and social networks for those fluff.. instead, please enlighten us non noynoy supporters with FACTS - achievements and awards he may have that we're not aware of, qualifications, experience, etc - proof that he can handle the job. Who knows, you just might convince me to give him my vote]

	Against the Flow

Razzle Dazzle Circus

It's that time of our lives once again. Time when we get to do our little bit for democracy and get our fingers stained. Who wouldn't notice when we get a hefty dose of political ads wherever we go? In fact, it's gotten so worse that I'm already singing along most of the political jingles being aired nowadays - from jingles of presidentiables to those running for city kagawad.. O_o

Just like before though - It's mostly fluff.. razzle dazzle.. designed to embed a politician's name so deeply in our brains that we cant help but mark out their special circle on the ballots come elections.. this is especially true for senatoriables where we just HAVE (although not required to) to shade out 12 choices.

On the surface, these political ads may seem irritating or just plain stupid.. scratch the surface though and you'll see the genius behind them.. those advertising/marketing people do know how to get around our defenses using the same principles they employ in making ordinary commercials.



1. Name Recall: One of the basic rules of advertising. You have build name recall for the products to actually sell. Dolphy - Dolphenal.. Asim - Simeco.. Erap - Mahirap.. Get the Drift?


2. Branding: Failing to have a name that rhymes easily with good election words, politicians can try branding themselves according to a stand, a sob story or a demographic. Joy Ultra and Tide caters to people who are money conscious (product still works extraordinarily great when extraordinarily diluted).. Colgate to those after quality (or 99.99% germ free mouths).. Motolite for those after convenience (although why wait for the car battery to bring your pregnant wife to the hospital when you can take a taxi?:D)..

On the same line of thought.. since 80% of the population are supposedly poor, then a presidentiable could not go wrong to brand himself as pro poor - marcos did it, erap did it as well so it must work. Thus the cheesy padyak padyak ads as well as the singing poor kids asking if we have ever swam in a sea of garbage or slept on the streets. ( well no but have they ever tried finishing 12 years of basic education which is free without impregnating someone or dropping out because of sheer laziness?)

Some may go for established brands.. After all, why reinvent the wheel when the old one works just fine. Thus the yellow ribbons, the childhood stories about the parents, the old photographs, etc. One even uses a variation of his old campaign branding even though he was kicked out of office a few years after.. same as the senatoriable who claims he is against corruption when his father is labeled the biggest thief in history by the Guinness book of records. O_o

Branding aside though, do we take the time to check out the list of ingredients or nutritional value of the products that we buy because of these commercials? What percentage of the polls show votes backed by emotional reasons rather than logical ones. Sad truth is, branding effectiveness is almost all about optimizing emotional response and to swing the electorate because of emotional reasons is precisely the goal. That's why we smile when kids want to eat in jolibee, feel safe when we choose Sony and feel healthy when we eat and drink 'organic' food and drinks.



3. Song - Every brand has its unique song to make it memorable and to evoke emotional response. remember the kanlungan song in McDo's commercial a few years back? How bout the rejoice song and dance commercials? Or the makulay ang buhay pag may sinabawang gulay song and dance routine? no wonder most everyone got hooked on the song.. 'di bawal mangarap ang mahirap' even those who were not poor.. thank God the kids didnt dance.. Noynoy has a weird song though.. couldnt understand the lyrics of the song.. all i could understand was... mumble mumble rap rap... noynoy!... mumble muble rap rap... noynoy! O_o



4. Advertising Frequency: they say it takes 9 impressions to make a sale.. they also say its better to make 9 impressions to 10% of the target market than just 3 impressions to 90% of the market. So its not enough for people to see your ads, they also have to see it frequently enough for it to be retained in their minds.

That's why you see the 'di bawal manganrap ang mahirap' song mostly during wowowee and primetime teleseryes.. Target market poor: wowowee - crying and laughing poor people + teleserye - the poor man's opium = mind control. He he

5. Story: We all love a great or funny story. Remember the Wais si Lumen commercial series? How bout the 'palagi na lang ako' kid? And the recent one about safeguard where the wife always finds a way to ruin his husband's day?

Just like the songs that embed themselves in our minds, great story lines are a good way to build brand recall or in this case name recall for a politician. Thus the lines about a presidentiable's sibling dying because the had no money to buy medicines (meds for leukemia though? O_o) or how they used to live in a shack where the roof leaks. Another story goes about how a presidentiable's parents sacrificed their lives for our country (and how he would like to do the same? O_o ).

The cake however goes to the presidentiable who claims that things were going great during his short lived term in office (I joined the march in EDSA dos to impeach you Mr. Ex president and a president who can make a very lazy, home hermit me to do that sure as hell doesnt deserve a second chance).

Yes, its all razzle dazzle where billions and billions of pesos are being poured into great campaign machines to churn out TV ads, posters, stickers, shirts, bathroom tissues? O_o (would you like to wipe your ass with trapos?), balloons, etc, etc, etc, etc... all designed to turn the country's electorate into the proverbial sheep being lead to the slaughter... sing our songs now.. bleed later..

Meanwhile, worthwhile election tasks designed to help us vote wisely like debates are being ignored..

who cares?.. we got them stories and songs anyways..

So sing your hearts out and join the millions marching to our country's funeral song...

' Hindi bawal mangarap ang mahirap! '

	Razzle Dazzle Circus

Wasted Vote

Life is unfair.. and sometimes the sheer injustice of it can make you cry..

It's two months away from elections and this year we got 2 of the 3 political people I admire the most running for the 2 highest seats in the government.. Dick Gordon and Bayani Fernando for President and Vice President respectively.. For the longest time, I've been saying that should these 2 tandem up, we Filipinos, who are so pessimistic about our country, will find it easy to believe in our leaders again.

Like those from Olongapo and Marikina, I grew up in a city where people believe in their leaders. Where stories of improving economic conditions are not just on the papers and in the news, in political rallies and radio ads during elections but tangible all around the city. Everyone here has literally seen the city transform from a sleepy little 3rd class town to a first class city with malls, airport, first class hotels and national food chains. Everyone here has literally heard the wheels of progress turn as more schools, more banks, more businesses and more opportunities came to build their roots in our place. Contrary to what the other political critics here are saying, this phenomenal growth is not normal, you just have to go outside the city limits to see towns and nearby cities still stuck in their 1980's version. As such, Naguenos are one of the few groups of people in the country that not only constantly wishes for better political leaders but has seen the effect of having one.

Our mayor - Jesse Robredo though isnt the one running for president or even vice president, it's Dick Gordon and Bayani Fernando. Two political leaders that have also transformed their cities into something the people are fiercely proud of.

Dick Gordon was the Mayor of Olongapo city when the Americans left Subic Naval base. Add this to the fact that Mt pinatubo erupted not long after and covered the city unders meters of volcanic dust and you can imagine the devastation and desperation the people of this city crawled out of. With nothing behind him but the support of his people and a vision, Dick Gordon, against all odds, was able not just to put the city and its people back to their feet but to make the city one of the richest and best cities in the country. How many political leaders do we have that can lay claim to this kind of success using only the meager resources that was available?

Bayani Fernando inherited a city that was considered the rape capital of Manila. In the years that he has been a leader of this city, he has transformed it to one of the most business friendly and peaceful cities in the country. In fact, Marikina today competes neck to neck with Makati and Cebu for the top spot. He became the MMDA chairman of Manila sometime after I began college in Diliman. Some critics may claim that Bayani hasnt done much to alleviate the traffic condition in Manila. I beg to disagree, I was there. I saw how much the traffic was improved and of all the people who handled MMDA, he was the only one I saw that had tangible projects to handle the traffic - barricades, one way streets, U-turns, overpasses, sidewalk widening, etc. The thing I admire most about him is his dogged determination to do his job no matter what the cost - even his popularity. When he saw that sidewalk vendors were one of the main causes of traffic and road accidents, he undertook a manila wide campaign to demolish them. You can be rich or poor he wouldnt care, if your business or house encroaches upon what was lawfully the easement of the city's streets, it will be demolished. While other politikos were so busy running around gaining pogi points while essentially doing nothing, he was doing his job.

Here are two political leaders that have tangible proof that they can lead their people out of the muck. Two leaders that have tangible proof that they have the vision to build and make prosperous a place. Two leaders that care more about getting their jobs done rather than getting additional pogi points from the people. Two political leaders who let their considerable achievements speak for themselves rather than resort to the same old emotional tactics to gain points.

Sadly, the Filipino people couldnt care less.. These two proven leaders are lagging way behind the polls. We couldnt care less that these leaders could get things done and have proven it countless of times already - we care more about one politician's story about being dirt poor in the past coupled with the nice jingle about how the poor will be given houses, jobs and education. We couldnt care less that politicians who had no tangible track records and proven achievements almost always make terrible presidents. We care more for excellent sob stories and dramatic shots showing how much this politician's family suffered for our country in the past - never mind the fact that he has passed 0 laws or has not received any awards / distinguished himself in any way in all his years in the government.

Maybe we deserve to be a poor country..

Maybe we deserve to rot in this Godforsaken place and watch presidents after presidents bleed our country dry. Maybe we deserve to watch our children grow up to the same shithole that we find ourselves in.. Maybe the poor deserves to remain poor and the politically jaded remain jaded..

Maybe we deserve it all.. seeing as we put as much effort in choosing our next presidents as choosing TV channels or movies to watch..

They say voting for someone who's lagging behind the polls is a waste of a perfectly good vote..

I say its voting for someone you dont really know much about or really believe in in the first place that's the wasted vote.

	Wasted Vote

Controversial Views in Philippine Politics: What's All the Fuss About??

There was a lot of hoopla, flag waving, speeches and celebration today all over the nation. I ask.. What's the fuss about?

Government officials caught with their hands stuck in our cookie jar are not being brought to justice. One of them is even planning to run again for president next year. Moreover, convicted murderers, rapists, assasins, etc are being granted presidential pardon. Is it just me, or is something glaringly wrong with justice in this place? Without justice, are we really free?

The government is spending less and less on education. Opting instead on spending more and more on our national defense. Hoping the militant student groups would just shut up so it can go ahead and privatize even our country's education. No wonder everyone is asking themselves if our country is really moving forward despite the government's indignant insistence. Uhhh.. this train's not moving madam president.. a carabao pulling a cart just overtook us. Without education, how can there be freedom from poverty, ignorance and crime? Without brains, would arms bring about progress? Without education, are we really free?

Those who can turn this country around though are fleeing this land as fast as they can - like rats jumping overboard a sinking ship. The brain drain.. makes those of us left behind feel like we're missing something important.. it's like everyones running away from a bomb, and we're happily munching on potato chips - headphones stuck on our ears, looking at the scrabbling people with a big question mark on top of our heads. Without viable options for our future right here, how can we say we've gained independence? By being forced to leave behind the familiar, our families and our country, how can we say we are free?

Petron, our government owned oil company, sold and the spoils divided among local crocodiles. Meralco, government owned electric company, sold to the highest bidder and the cash promptly swallowed by government blackhole. PNB, Philippine Airlines, Maynilad, NAPOCOR and the list goes on.. Let me ask then... Is there any income earning government owned utility left? And.. How exactly do you fuck up a utility company that has the whole country as its customer base and is enjoying complete monopoly??! O_o Without any safeguards from cartels, rampant inflation and non existent price controls, can we still say we are free?

The nations money handed out in paperbags during a government meeting, our hard earned money traded and deposited under the table in other countries during international conventions, our land (spratleys) sold so that our honorable government officials can dip their fingers through gigantic loans (such as the ZTE deal) now and let us pay later. I ask, without any protection from glaringly corrupt government officials, are we really enjoying freedom? Without any will to vote and choose our next leaders wisely, are we really free?

EDSA shrine, the place that served as the fulcrum of our country's history, now off limits to rallies and demonstrations. Our own police force and military, undergoing urban warfare and crowd suppresion training. Rallyists being beaten to death. Journalists gunned down in cold blood. Outspoken government dissidents hunted like animals. Without real freedom of speech, without meaningful ways of protesting against the government, do we have liberty? Are we free?

And the apex of all hypocrisies regarding our supposed freedom, the constitutional change through the con ass, where congressmen are brought one by one like cheap goods in a flea market. Where congressmen are made to decide our country's fate in direct contradiction to the people's voice. Where our honorable congressmen are joined under one banner to stamp down our basic freedom.. Our freedom to vote.. To choose our next leader.. To choose change..

They say a frog will willingly submit itself to death if the water is boiled in slow increments. We laugh at the frog's stupidity while we submit ourselves to the same fate, being slowly boiled to serfdom through terrorist threats, sex scandals and boxing matches.

So if you, by chance, took part in today's hypocrisy.. waved little flags, sang our national anthem, set off fireworks..

Ask yourself...

What the fuck were you celebrating? O_o

	Controversial Views in Philippine Politics: What's All the Fuss About??

Controversial Views in Philippine Economics: The 7 Habits of Highly Defective Juans

A lot of talk is being tossed around about teaching the average Juan how to fish. Just now, the government is spending dough to encourage out of work OCWs to go start any small business and the rural poor to raise pigs; local governments are busy teaching the local Juans to become Johns, the friendly customer reps.

Talk about the mythical finger in the dike. Maybe the basic problem with teaching Juans how to fish is that he just doesnt like to wade into the water. There's some really serious crap going inside the average Juan's head that needs to be eradicated before the government can hope to see the Juans earning their keep.

Just recently, I've been involved in some 'teach juan to fish' experiment. Sort of a supposed to be sustainable neo-activist project wherein the capital of the middle class will be combined with the labor surplus of the rural poor to produce what we call a win-win deal. The middle class gets to have a stronger investment vehicle (15% or more per month) rooted in easily scalable and short-term liquid investments like livestock and farm produce, while the rural poor partner gets to have a profit share in a high-potential venture.

The business model works - at least 2 batches of hogs have proven it. What didnt work however was the basic difference in ethical and financial values between the two social classes. As mentioned in my Tatsulok blog, what brought the whole thing down was not the lack of potential, capital or profits, it was the crap the was going on inside the average Juan's head, the most notable of which are listed below:


1. Pera Lang Yan (its only money) Hypocrisy


Juans like to pretend that money isn't as important as its supposed to be. The important thing, they say, is that their family is together - starving and miserable, yes, but together.

Well and good, the Church will say. There's one thing that they don't consider, however; it is the fact that this statement almost always crops up during drinking sessions among out-of-work men who are too lazy to go out there and find some productive employment. In reality, the statement actually means "working hard for the family isn't as important as its supposed to be. "

Parallel corollaries then are:

- When they need money (or rice, beer, or chocnut) you should fall all over yourself to lend them some. After all, money isn't supposed to be important to you, too, and you should be grateful for this golden opportunity to prove that you are not at all materialistic .

- They will not pay their debts - and you should not expect them to, because money is just money and helping others (by others, they mean themselves specifically) is just the right thing to do.

- Since money is not that important (even when their family is subsisting on one meal a day), therefore working hard is likewise unimportant. When they come to you for money, just give them what they want and shut the hell up.


2. Brawns over Brains

Since all the contribution they get to see from you is the start-up capital and your weekly visits, and they feel they are doing all the sweating and hauling, they get this weird notion that they deserve more than the share that they are getting - this after they have already agreed and after you have already poured in your time and effort to get the business off the ground.

This is why you hear laborers complaining about low standard wages and hear wistful thoughts about how the company's profits should be divided among the rank and file.

One thing they don't give enough time to think about, though, is where the capital came from in the first place. Certainly, WE didn't get it from slacking off in school or our jobs; WE did not get it from sitting on our asses under a coconut tree guzzling tuba while watching the carabao munch grass all day long.

Well, the 'capital' they are muttering about is a product of more than 15 years of investment in education and several more years of busting our asses off. Let them try sitting in front of our computer to see if they can earn P20 doing our work in a day. Let them try make our business show a profit and see if its the brain that is exploiting the brawn or if it is the brawn that is being exploited in the business that the brain has germinated. After that, they should choose which among the following they prefer: the brain splitting migraines, the gut-wrenching agony and the perpetual insecurity that come with any start-up business or the body aches that they've grown accustomed to.

3. The Right to Help Mentality

Blame the church and the movies for messing around with the Juans' minds. Now the Juans think that all they need in life is a sob story, a pitiful voice and an empty can for your charity.

No, I'm not talking about the old men and women who are too weak to work or even that crippled guy in the wheelchair. I'm talking about the kids that should be in school but who are too lazy to do so (or whose parents are too lazy to force the school issue), the able-bodied men who have time enough on their hands to play basketball in the afternoon and play hooky with their tropa, and women who look far stronger than us yet expect to be given alms just because they need the money. Go find some freakin' work or sell your organs for crying out loud! That way you'll either be productive or dead!

This is the problem in a nutshell:

WE have to work our asses off to bring home the bread.

However, these Juans only have to work on our psyche, bringing out to the fore our misplaced guilt about the supposedly good life we're leading, in order to bring home the bacon.

I think help should only be for those who not only want it but are doing something to help themselves. It should not be for those who want to spend their entire life making US feel guilty for something we have worked so dang hard to achieve.

4. The Hope in Redistribution of Wealth

This is a recurring lament of most poor people in this country. In fact, this is something I've heard often while drinking with Juans and riding in Taxicabs driven by some more Juans.

The redistribution of wealth - a noble cause especially if the wealth we're talking about is the one gotten through unfair means and the people to whom we are distributing the wealth are willing to take responsibility for that wealth. Unfortunately, while the "unfair means" part was satisfied, the "responsibility" part was mostly left unfulfilled.

Case in point: the agrarian reform program. Tracts of land were given to Juans so that they can finally have their own land to till. Government gave them free fertilizer and free seedlings, to boot. What happened?

I'll tell you what happened. Most of the Juans mismanaged their farm. They preferred drinking to farming or finding alternative ways to earn more money. They were reluctant to learn new economical farming practices (they did not see the sense in attending seminars). Thus, they ended up selling their tracts. What has become of them after that? They're back working for the original landowner, that's what, and they're back to lamenting about how good life would be if only they had their own land to farm. I say, "HUH!"

The following are more instances where the Juans have failed to take advantage of the opportunities given them:

Sow Distribution Program.
Government gave out free female piglets that can be grown and bred - the only condition being that Juan give back one female piglet to sustain the program - i.e. to be given to another poor family. Some Juans collected the maximum number of family members who could qualify for the program. Why? So that they could get more than just one sow, of course. They then promptly sold them all as soon as the government's back was turned. They spent the money on Jollibee and McDonalds, beer and gin, clothes, appliances like a TV and a DVD player, bets in Jueteng and lotto, or home furnishings like Orocan, etc.

When the money ran out, these Juans congregated under the mango tree to guzzle beer or gin, munch on peanuts or chicharon and complain about how the government just can't do anything right. After all, their Sow Distribution Program was an utter failure and the poor folks like them still had no livelihood to speak of. I say, double "HUH!!"

Government Housing Project.
UP bliss is a good example here. Government made housing units (2-3 rooms each ) for the poor people near UP Diliman. Poor people were very happy, but they were apprently happier going back to the slums. Why do I say this? Well, some Juans promptly sold off their new properties to the members of the upper and middle classes for paltry sums (which seemed inordinately large to them) who then proceeded to rent out the bedrooms or the units themselves to UP students and faculty members.

The result? The new owners made a killing: they made around P12,000/month from this arrangement. In other words, the new owners got high, residual income in return for their willingness to suffer a cash shortage now for future gain, while the poor Juans went back to living like they did in the good ole days - grumbling about lack of money and government support and lamenting about the fact that they do not have their own home. I say, triple "HUH!!!"

Need I go on? Ayn Rand knew what she was talking about when she said, "Money will not serve the mind who cannot match it."

The only thing that will result from redistributing your wealth to these kinds of Juans (I'm not complaining about all the Juans, mind you), is the creation of more parasites that will bleed our country dry. Oh and by the way, this is probably not bound to happen anyway.

5. Jackpot / One Time Big Time Mentality

Jueteng, Lotto, Sabong, Pera o Bayong, Deal or no Deal, Wheel of Fortune, and of course Yamashita Treasure…

For most Juans, the one-time, big-time deal is the only deal there is in getting out of the hellhole of life. Everything for nothing.

This is the reason why you see Juans furiously betting on lotto or Jueteng while their families go hungry and their children stop schooling.

This is the reason why you see Juans on TV trying to stretch the rules of probability just because there is still a million pesos somewhere in those cases; as expected, these Juans end up going home with less than the cost of their fare in their pockets.

This is the reason why you see Juans digging their hearts out (and incidentally a grave for their hopes), hoping for that stack of gold bars the Japanese have supposedly hidden in our country more than half a century ago.

And this is the reason why you can still see a lot of poor Juans in our country today. We spend so much time, money and effort in low-probability bets that, before we know it, we have squandered away our means of getting out of the slums.

Imagine Juans spending their extra money on raising a piglet instead of buying a Jueteng or lotto ticket. A piglet will yield a mediocre return for their money (definitely not the rate of return on 10 pesos becoming millions of pesos in a lotto jackpot) and it will require 5 months of investment, too - but the fact remains that winning the jackpot in lotto is improbable while 9 out of 10 Juans who try hog raising are going to get a definite (and definite is the key) profit out of it. In jueteng, if one wants definite winnings, he will have to spend P1,170 to bet on 90% of the combinations (so he can get the same 90% chance) and get a measly return of P900.

Imagine Juans working like crazy, not for gold bars but working on all possible jobs so their children could have a college education. The probability of return on Yamashita Treasure hunts = probably less than 1% of 1%n – is more or less the same as the probability of a gold brick falling out of the sky and landing on your forehead or the probability of your wife suddenly laying golden eggs. On the other hand, what is the probability that a college educated child will be able to help his parents and alleviate their standard of living ? He he he, I don't have the numbers but I bet you it is much, much better than 1% of 1%n.

Two families of our two previous hired helps can attest to this. The members of one family spent most of their lives working on treasure hunts and odd jobs. The children stopped schooling mid-high school so they could be hired out for income, and the starting income for the children of this family is P1,500 monthly.

The members of the other family spent all of their time and resources on the children's education. The mother of the family approached the management of a private, Catholic school and volunteered to be the school's CR cleaner. All day, she is on her hands and knees scrubbing the many toilets in the campus. She does not get paid for this work, however. Oh, the sisters give her a hundred pesos now and then when they realize she no longer has money to buy rice. However, that money is incidental. What she's after is a future, not temporrary relief from hunger pangs. In return for her labor, all of her children can be enrolled in that school (elementary to high school) free of tuition. Right now, three of her children are enjoying free, private schooling and the rest of her brood will follow when they become old enough to go to school.

Of course, she and her husband will have to work all their life until all their children finish college. Their children are not earning money while in school. However, they know they are on the right path and are determined to stay on it. After all, her firstborn - a lovely daughter - went to college on a scholarship. She has recently graduated as an educ major. She now has a job offer. Her starting income? At least P10,000. It will be much more if she makes it to US as she plans. Right, it has taken this family more than 18 years to achieve this feat, but is it worth it? Oh yeah, and let's not forget that the laws of probability are on their side.

6. The End Justifies the Means

In line with the misguided notion that those better off have a responsibility to help them, some Juans feel that cheating their employers is just fine. After all, he’s already got loads of money hidden somewhere so he’ll probably not notice the difference.

There's one thing that they fail to consider, however. They don't realize that compromising the growth of the business will hurt him a lot more than his employer. Why?

If they were trustworthy:

a. the business could’ve expanded and their relatives could have benefited from the job.
b. they could have been entrusted with more responsibilities and thus given more pay; more cash than the occasional pilfered cash, certainly.

As things stand, if worse comes to worst and the business folds or they are caught, they would be out on the streets again competing with the masses for the same jobs.

The same thing applies to the Juans who get caught snatching cellphones or breaking into homes. Does need justify their action? Poverty does not give them the right to steal from others. After all, the fact that they can run like crazy and climb over walls means that they're strong enough to work. Regardless of their sob story, they just don't want to work, period.

7. The Poor Man's Inverted Law of Supply and Demand

A Juan working for us said that in their place, most people do not have jobs or have enough to eat.

"How do they live?" I asked him.

"Well, they depend on those who work," he said.

"Aren't there available jobs in town?" I asked

"Yeah, more than enough" he said. "There are lots of openings for busboys, waitresses, salesladies, etc." he replied.

"Why don’t they apply then?" I asked.

"They said the pay was too low," he replied.

WTF??!!

"Are they waiting for the wages to go up then?" O_o, I asked.

He just shrugged and laughed.

Law of supply and demand: The higher the supply in a constant demand market, the lower the prices will be.

How many Juans out there can manage a bank? Not many, that’s why bank managers are paid a lot of money.

How many Juans out there can hold a conversation in straight English? Hmmm, more than those who can manage a bank but definitely a lot less than those who can man a carenderia. Surveys reveal that only 6% of the applicants get accepted into entry level positions. This is the reason why the pay for call center agents is also nice (but not great).

Last question: How many Juans out there can serve in a carenderia, raise pigs, haul palay, or man a store?

Right! F*cking millions upon millions of them!

Now, how many does the country need? Not much.

Why then do these people act as if they are are soooo indispensable or soooo in demand??!! (manay jing, lala and mae please insert comment on top of KETCHEN WERE, he he he)

Get fired from your job and around 3 other persons will be willing to get hired for less than what you were getting; of course, there would be another 3 that will be content to stay at home and suck their working siblings dry.

That’s why the pay sucks and always will Juan...

That’s why the average Juan will always vote for trapos...

That’s why the average Juan will die chained to the land...

That’s why the average Juan will always be poor...

It is not because of corrupt politicians, not because of lack of national unity or pity, lack of employment and educational opportunities...

It is because of the lack of sound principles and values that have made other countries great.

	Controversial Views in Philippine Economics: The 7 Habits of Highly Defective Juans

Controversial Views on Philipine Politics: Tatsulok

A song by Buklod goes, several presidents have already come and gone but Juan is still homeless, dirtpoor and landless. Another Buklod song - tatsulok (triangle), made popular by bamboo recently, speaks of the struggle not between socialist and capitalist ideals, not between race or nationality but between the poor masses and the rich few.

Back in our college activist days, in the heyday of raging hormones, pristine ideals and naive ideas, such lines were enough to transform otherwise peaceful and slightly naughty college students into testosterone driven, rage fueled social zealots. Everything then, it seemed was the government's fault.

5 years later, with the idealism of youth tempered by the harsh realities of life outside college, with the dreams of the liberated masses buried under the heaps of monthly bills, grocery receipts and taxes, and the cry of the oppressed drowned by the cry of our wailing children, we realize..

Damn! Juan has been getting the better end of the deal all along! That bastard! He he

There you are working your ass off day in and day out to pay for your children's education, for the roof over your head and its utility bills, kissing everyone's bottom for that coveted promotion and saving like crazy for future medical expenses, and to top it all, being taxed heavily by the government for its pro-poor programs..

Juan, all the while, is getting free education (which he usually dismisses as useless), free or ultra-low cost housing and land, free medicines, free groceries,
free surgeries, etc, etc, etc...

Juan does not finish his schooling because he finds it too hard, yet gripes about the minimum wage he receives from his labor intensive job.

Spends like crazy on fiestas and birthdays and drinks with his buddies 5 days out of the 7 in a week and yet complains about the lack of government help for education, health and housing and gets teary eyed whenever he thinks about the family he just can't seem to support.

Sits on his ass all day long waiting for those damn community workers who were supposed to bring xmas groceries, or those nursing students who usually give out free food as a graduation requirement, all the while muttering why these people never seem to bring enough.

Impregnates his wife yearly, scoffs at condoms and contraception, brags to his friends about his sexual conquests and cries on TV about the fact that he can't feed or send his kids to school.

Rails against the injustice of the rich and the middle class having more money than them, and yet cringes from the very things that's needed to achieve the same level of success - education, financial wisdom and hard work. Relying instead on the government and corrupt politicians to give it to them on a silver platter.

Some Juans have grown quite comfortable living off the fruits of our Christian guilt, scratching on glass windows to be given scraps of fastfood, scratching car paints when rebuffed, stealing mobile phones then relying on sob stories to explain the fact why he did it when caught, asks for compassion from those well off and hates poorer neighbors who begs for the same from him.

Our government may have its own share of faults for the state our country is in and the rich may indeed be getting richer while the poor becomes poorer, but this does not negate the fact that there are also Juans out there who have overcome such roadblocks to success given the same odds. The maker of baguio kropek, buko juice brand, the founder of SM, and countless other Filipino workers abroad can testify to this.

For most of you reading this blog, dig deep enough and you'll find an ancestor who decided to work with what he had, who took that leap of faith just to change his lot in life, who created his own luck by believing in educating his children, who saved something out of his daily earnings, who learned how to manage money and to take risks. Who saw a way out amidst the dreariness of his life.

He lived in the same hovels as the other Juans back then, had the same meager education, did the same crappy jobs and had the same corrupt government.. And yet, he was different and he made a difference by breaking the chains that held generations of his family in financial bondage. More than joining the cry for change of those Juans around him, he changed himself.

It's not material wealth that draws the line between the rich and the poor not just in our country and everywhere else but wealth in mindset, drive and character.

	Controversial Views on Philipine Politics: Tatsulok

Controversial Views on Philippine Politics: The Real Stand of Pinoys on Corruption

Damn the politicians and corruption..

If there's one thing that most Filipinos agree on, it's the statement or variations of the statement above. It sounds right, feels right when you say it and gives you that warm feeling of goodness when used as an expletive or opinion during appropriate moments.

But take out the machismo, take out the bark, take out the cool indignation and self righteousness such statements accompanies and what do you have? Dig a little deeper beneath the words spoken and what do most pinoys really feel about corruption and dirty politicians?

1. A poor family amidst a poor rural neighborhood found their lives improving through hard work and integrity. They've earned enough to construct a sturdy house and buy a scooter through installment. Moreover, their integrity earned them a tricycle from their former employer and a position as a business partner from their new one. On all accounts, their lives are definitely improving.

This story however is not about them, it is about their neighbors who have suddenly grown cold and have started gossiping about them behind their backs. Success of this family suddenly became an outcome of pure simple luck and no work, integrity misinterpreted as pride and helping other less fortunate a responsibility not a matter of choice in their neighbors' minds.

These neighbors gripe about the lack of luck in their own lives without realizing the integrity it requires. They mutter about the sturdy house, scooter and tricycle as if they deserve it more all the while sitting all day on their asses, working sloppily on their jobs and filching the first thing they could get away with.

But when asked, these same people would rail against corruption as if its the prime cause behind their poverty.. Acting as if they could do better with their crab mentality attitude given the same political position.

2. A poor baranggay was lucky enough to be chosen as the location for a college's annual outreach program. Rather than use the help as a stepping stone to a better life however, the people have grown quite accustomed to the free food, medication and groceries that the students bring yearly.

In fact, these people have even developed an outlook that its their God given right to be helped to the point of becoming angry at students who forgot to bring along freebies. After such activities, these same people would then proceed to spend the alms they receive through drinking, gambling and merry making, going broke just in time for the next outreach program to begin.

Sometimes you'll even see some of these people crying on TV, raging against the injustice and the corruption in our system. Pitiful they might be but how can justice be justice and how can there be an end to corruption if they expect to live through the efforts of others and achieve success without lifting a finger?

3. A taxi driver is complaining about the graft and corruption in our government and how these are keeping poor people poor in our country. He rages against the scandals, missing funds and convoluted bureaucracy red tape everywhere in our government.

When asked how he renewed his taxi franchise and driver's license this year, he replies that it was easily done through a fixer. Why does he complain about a system that he himself feeds?Why complain about corrupt politicians when he himself contributes to making them so?

4. A barrangay captain candidate makes up his mind not to give dole outs and money during the campaign. Relying instead on his integrity and desire to really help to win the position. Lost against a contender who was giving out money left and right.

In another barrangay, people were flocking to a candidate giving out goods that were supposed to be relief goods for typhoon victims a year ago. And yet, in another one, whole families were making their pilgrimage towards a politician's house because of a rumor that the candidate was actively buying votes.

Why do we sell our votes for pennies then complain about the lack of principled politicians? Why complain about the lack of jobs, education, government support, opportunities and other things when we vote based on cinema appeal, amount of dole outs and popularity instead of the things that matter? Why fight for our rights when we cant even make good on our responsibility to vote wisely?

5. Government employee rails against the low wages, delayed payments and corruption going on at the highest levels of her department. Spits the word corruption as if it is the most despicable thing on earth.

Huddles with office mates around newly delivered office supplies. Takes home a rim of coupon bond, a set of pencils, permanent markers and other things the children can use at school.harmless?

These little things are precisely what make bigger corruption possible. A sack of fertilizer here, an illegal electrical connection there or some detergents from the office restroom make us just as guilty as the most corrupt of them.

6. Parent cries against the lack of government subsidy and the increase of college tuition fees. Parent is mad against the rampant corruption in the department of education, the overpriced computer units, the substandard textbooks, etc.And yet, same parent doesn't hesitate to use contacts, relatives and padrinos in government offices to secure a position for her son or daughter after graduation.

We rail against corruption when it doesn't work for us and yet we're proud of ourselves whenever we're able to use the system to our advantage. Our president promises to eradicate it and we laugh at her, our senators grandstand and make flowery speeches against it and we scoff at them. We should scoff at ourselves and answer honestly if we are really willing to pay the price for the complete eradication of corruption..

Are we willing to stand in line and wait our turn? Are we willing to take our chances along with the rest when it comes to job applications? No shortcuts, no cheats?Are we ready to give up the perks of getting away easily when caught violating traffic rules? Are we ready for discipline and transparency?

Our right for corrupt free governance comes with a hefty responsibility. To look beyond the superficial and immediate benefits when choosing our politicians. To forgo shortcuts and cheats when it comes to following procedures, rules and regulations. To earn our keep instead of relying on freebies the government cannot really afford.

If you think about it, if you interpret the deeds instead of just listening to mere words, most pinoys dont want corruption gone,they just want a bigger slice of it. Shame on us pinoys for being hypocrites.

	Controversial Views on Philippine Politics: The Real Stand of Pinoys on Corruption

Pacquiao vs De La Hoya ( Reading Behind the Rounds )

Once again, Pinoy's huddled, cuddled and cheered the whole day away. Beer bottles were out while the BBQ roasted on the grill. For the less unfortunate brothers, there is always the ever present Sugo nuts and coffee.

Never mind the unfortunate souls stranded on the streets freezing their butts off in the cold weather. Never mind the schedules and meetings to keep or go to. for now and for at least the past three hours (1 hour for the fight and two hours for the commercials)time stood still for all pinoys and consequences be dammed.

By the way, if you're still reading this far hoping for a blow by blow account of how the fight went, you're in the wrong blog (go to Bhenki's blog for an unofficial account). This post isn't about the rounds that happened inside the ring but is instead about those that went on or is going to happen relatively unnoticed behind it. He he

Here they are:

Round 1: Manny's mother as usual spent the day "praying," all the while seeming to whisper secret incantations to weaken dela hoya (noticed dela hoya's drugged expression and slower than usual reflexes during the fight?). As usual (again) she theatrically faints for the cameras as soon as the results were out; must be from thinking about the new car her son will buy her if he wins the fight (don't mind me, I'm just sour graping; I drive a second-hand Kia without a spare tire and a shock problem)

Round 2: Madam president (as usual) is very proud of Manny. Ever noticed that Manny's fights always coincide with intense political issues? If the adage "there's no smoke without fire," Gloria should be roasting now. I mean, come on! We're fairly choking here! This time, Pacquiao's fight happened while the constitution change/impeachment controversy is heating up. Manny wins fight. Controversy is temporarily diffused. Madam president saved by the bell. (again)he he

Round 3: ABS-CBN acts as official spoiler for the GMA telecast. Announces Manny's victory waay before the fight began in the other channel.

Round 4: Governor Darlene (as usual) is proud of Manny's historic victory and role as Pambansang Kamao. Although looking back, she wasn't as proud of the same attributes when Manny was running against her in the past election. At least Manny can box. How was she supposed to earn her millions if Manny encroached on her ring? He he

Round 5: Scores of government officials are also proclaiming their adulation for the Pambansang Kamao. Rubbing their hands together, peeing in their pants thinking of how to make Manny's victory/prize tax disappear unnoticed from the nation's coffers.

Round 6: Manny's neighbors, relatives and scores of other people must be already jostling for space in the long long long line of balato/cut petitioners that will form in front of Manny's house as soon as he gets home.

Round 7: Commercials (as usual) were much much longer than the actual show. I'll bet there are millions of pinoys walking around right now with commercial versions of last song syndrome in their heads. Many will sleep tonight disturbed by reruns of LBC commercials, nation paint, smart, vulca seal and of course the "O-ha!" breathe in- breathe out odorless paint commercial. He he

Round 8: Even the electric company was considerate (or scared) enough not to schedule their daily unannounced blackouts during Manny's fight. Hhmmm.. Perhaps they know how big the people's outrage will be should they pull the plug during the fight, hehe. So, on a rare show of competence, they managed to supply power to most of the Philippines for at least a few straight hours... then pulled the plug a few minutes after the fight (at least where I was).

Round 9: Its back to our dreary old, underpaid, overtaxed and overworked lives. For the next few days, many people will focus and talk more about Manny's millions of dollars from the fight instead of the usual social issues. Once more, Gloria will be busy shoring up her political defenses grateful for the reprieve or should I say, distraction.

Oh well.. Until Manny's fight with Hatton then. He he

	Pacquiao vs De La Hoya ( Reading Behind the Rounds )