Better Philippines

Showbiz Na Naman!

I can acknowledge that Kris Aquino served a valuable purpose in the aftermath of tropical storm Ondoy.  As one of the hosts of ABS-CBN’s telethon for calamity victims, Kris coaxed quite a number of corporate entities to contribute part of their resources to the relief effort. In fairness to her, she was really able to put her celebrity to good use that time.

I don’t think I can say the same for the showbiz personalities who showed up for the Tumana River cleanup today.

Someone I know who witnessed the event told me that, instead of helping move the clean up forward, the showbiz personalities’ presence actually delayed the whole operation. I have no way of verifying this but I can imagine how the whole thing could have easily turned into one big showbiz event. I suspect a lot of gawking and showboating took place and very little real work was done while those artistas were there.

Mga ateng at kuyang, kung medyo magulo pa ang sitwasyon huwag na sana muna kayo mag-display display diyan. Baka lalo lang magkagulo dahil sa inyong nakakasilaw na kagandahan at kagwapuhan.

I don’t mean to cast doubt on the sincerity of showbiz personalities. I’m sure many of them really want to help out. But, just the same, I will say that there’s something wrong when a calamity of this magnitude ends up being reduced to a showbiz spectacle.

Admittedly, this is really more of an issue against the bright minds running the TV networks. After all they’re the ones with the crazy marketing ideas. Still, I think our artistas should know better. They do have minds of their own, don’t they?

And speaking of ideas, local media is again giving too much focus on buzzwords. Two of the more popular nowadays are resilience and Bayanihan. Just the other night I even heard one reporter say that resilience is a unique Filipino trait. Unique? Really now. And, what about Bayanihan? Well, let’s just say that raving on and on about it is just annoying especially in light of the fact that this supposedly very Filipino tradition seems to be observed now only during times of calamity.

I have one simple request to the powers that be behind local media. Please don’t contribute to the dumbing down of this nation. Don’t promote the idea — intentionally or otherwise — that being resilient is enough and that our inconsistent practice of bayanihan is something to be proud of.

And, btw, who the hell cares if it was Richard Gutierrez or Ara Mina who rescued Christine Reyes?

Ondoy Highlights Need For Action On Climate Change

If there’s one good thing to come out of the ordeal caused by tropical storm Ondoy it would probably be an increase in awareness among Filipinos of the dangers of climate change and global warming. It would really be such a shame if in spite of what has already happened Filipinos would continue to be ignorant or worse unmindful of the fact that the environment is changing.

It should be clear by now that a lot of adjustments have to be made not only by the government but by ordinary citizens as well to ensure that a similar calamity of this magnitude would not happen again.

First let’s see what we, ordinary citizens, can do. Here’s a list of random ideas.

• practice proper waste segregation
• practice proper waste disposal
• avoid indiscriminate waste disposal
• minimize production of greenhouse gases per household
• switch to compact flourescent light bulbs
• stop the practice of open burning of garbage
• keep waterways clear of trash and other debris
• embrace green technology
• do away with wasteful use of carbon fuels
• avoid using smoke-belching vehicles
• plant more trees
• maintain a garden
• be more aware of environmental issues, porblems and possible solutions
• help organize environment monitoring units in your community
• help organize disaster-risk management units in your community
• teach your children about taking care of the environment
• conserve electricity
• conserve water
• be your own community’s environment advocate
• be your neighbor’s environment guide
• demand meaningful legislation aimed at protecting the environment
• demand serious implementation of environmental laws

This list is by no means complete but it should be enough to show you that there are a lot of  simple things we can do to delay if not reverse the negative changes in the environment.

Now let’s see what the government can do. Again this is just a random list.

• initiate a massive information campaign aimed at educating EVERYONE about pro-environment measures that may be implemented per household
• review existing laws that may have direct or indirect impact on the protection of the environment
• improve the implementation of the Clean Air Act
• formulate better environmental laws
• ensure serious implementation of all laws
• support and promote green technologies
• increase the budget allocation of the Department of Science and Technology to cover research into green technologies
• seriously consider a phaseout of old, dilapidated and smoke belching jeepneys, buses and other public utility vehicles
• promote the use of bicycles
• re-align the budget for useless projects such as the RFID to the procurement of emergency equipment, vehicles, facilities
• initiate a re-engineering of drainage and flood control systems
• relocate communities situated in disaster-prone areas
• initiate massive reforestation

The sooner we see any of these ideas carried out the better. We should learn what we can from this experience and come up with ways to improve how we deal with calamities. That’s the logical thing to do.

The following comment made by a netizen named “makati girl” over at Pinoy Exchange should stress this point.

Nah, Filipinos are to blame. In Katrina it was faulty levees that caused the flooding. In Philippines it was clogged drainage due to garbage. Besides, of course it happens everywhere, but it happens more frequently in Philippines. In New Orleans it may have happened once but they will create measures for it not to happen again. Di tulad ng Pinoy nangyayari at nangyayari pa rin dahil ang Pinoy hindi nagtatanda.

Here are a few video clips of the devastation caused by Ondoy.

Floodwaters have yet to subside in many areas. Many people require assistance. Authorities say there is an urgent need for blankets, clothes, undergarments (preferably new and unused), ready to eat food and medicines. If you care to help please contact any of the following:

(list lifted from Pinoybuzz)

QUEZON CITY

UP College of Arts and Letters
Go to: College of Arts and Letters (CAL)
University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City
Hotline: 09296454102 (Prof. Roselle Pineda)
Look for: Guard on Duty (in UP CAL)
Operations: 24 hours until Wednesday tentatively

You can:
# Donate medicines, clothes, blankets, food to be distributed by Citizens’ Disaster Response Center.

Erica Paredes
Go to: Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City
(Call or text contact number for complete address) Contact #: 09174741930
Look for: Erica Paredes
Operations: Throughout the week tentatively, from 10 am to 6 pm

You can:
# Donate ready-to-eat foods like hard-boiled egg, bread, packed juice, sandwich filling
# Volunteer to prepare sandwiches and distribute goods

NoyMar Relief Operations – QC
Go to: Balay Expo Center, Farmers Market, Cubao or in White Space, Pasong Tamo Ext., Near BMW, Makati
Look for: Clare Amador or Jana Vicente
Hotlines: 09285205508, 09285205499, 0908-6579998, 0939-3633436, 9137122
Operations: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. throughout the week until further notice.
Website: www.marroxas.com

You can:
# Donate drinking water, old medicines, clothing, blankets, canned goods, noodles
# Volunteer to man stations and repack food.

Miriam Quiambao and World Vision Development Foundation
Go to: One Orchard Road Building in Eastwood or at the World Vision office at 389 Quezon Avenue, corner West 6th St., Quezon City
Hotline: 0917-8623209
Look for: The guard in the lobby (on One Orchard Road)
Website: http://www.twitter.com/miriamq, www.worldvision.org.ph
Operations: Until Sept. 28, 2009 (Monday), 24-hour operation

You can:
# Donate goods like clothes, blankets, canned goods, crackers, mattress, hygiene kits, noodles, bottled water, oatmeal, instant coffee, sugar (for relief pack to be distributed by World Vision)
# Volunteer to help repack relief goods for World Vision starting today at 7pm
# Deposit cash donations to World Vision Development Foundation, BPI savings account number 4251002415 and BDO savings account number 270043411

Philippine Army
Go to: Philippine Army Gym inside Fort Bonifacio, Makati or General Head Quarter’s Gym in Camp Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, EDSA, Quezon City
Hotline: 892-3417 (direct line), 845-9555 (trunkline) local. 6464 and 6466
Look for: Any personnel on duty
Operations: Ongoing everyday for 24 hours until further notice

You can:
# Donate relief goods (no cash)
# Call hotline for rescue, evacuation or relief assistance.
# Call to report missing persons

Papemelroti Gifts and Decorative Accessories
Go to: 91 Roces Ave., Corner Scout Tobias, Quezon City or mall branches in Ali Mall Cubao, SM City North EDSA, SM Fairview, SM Megamall, Glorietta 3 in Makati, SM Centerpoint, SM Southmall
Hotline: refer to website for individual branch numbers
Website: www.papemelroti.com
Operations: Mall hours (10am-9pm), ongoing everyday until further notice

You can:
# Donate goods like canned goods, clothings, blanket, cooking utensils and other relief goods EXCEPT cash.

Ateneo de Manila University Disaster Response Group
Go to: Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights , Quezon City, Manuel V. Pangilinan Building Center for Student Leadership Lobby, University Dorm Cervini Hall
Hotlines: 09089977166, 09178952792, 4266001 local 5050
Look for: Gio Tiongson, President, Sanggunian ng mga Mag-aaral
Website: www.ateneosanggu.com
Operations: 24-hour operations for the entire week

You can:
# Donate goods like bottled water, sardines, canned goods, candles, cup noodles.
# Volunteer to help repack relief goods, administer basic first aid.
# Report missing persons.
# Seek evacuation/temporary shelter at University Dorm Cervini Hall.

Citizens Disaster Response Center (CDRC)
Go To: 72-A Times St., West Triangle Homes, Quezon City.
Hotlines: 9299820, 9299822
Operations: 8 a.m. onwards.

You can:
# Donate money, old clothes, blanket, bigas, munggo.
# Volunteer to help distribute goods.

Radio Veritas
Go To: Veritas Tower , West Ave. corner EDSA
Look For: Karla Turingan
Hotlines: 9257931 to 39, 0918VERITAS
Operations: 24-hours, tentatively until Tuesday.

You can:
# Donate old clothes, food, assorted goods, bottled water, cash.

Our Lady of Pentecost Parish
Go to: 12 F. dela Rosa cor. C. Salvador Streets, Loyola Heights , Quezon City
Hotlines: 632 4342397, 63 2 9290665
Operations: 7 a.m. till 10 p.m. Sunday, until further notice.

You Can:
# Donate packed meals, bottled water.

MAKATI/TAGUIG/MUNTINLUPA

Victory Fellowship – Fort Bonifacio
Go to: Victory Fellowship, Every Nation Building , across Market-Market, Fort Bonifacio
Look for: Pastor Bernard Marquez
Hotlines: 813-FORT, 8171212
Operations: Tentatively until 5pm, may may extend hours. Entire week until Friday.
Website: www.twitter.com/VictoryFort

You can:
# Donate canned goods, milk, bottled water, clothes, cash.
# Volunteer to help pack relief goods

Sacred Heart of Jesus Chaplaincy
Go to: Hillsborough Village, Cupang, Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila
Hotline: 8428148, 8079847
Look for: Genelyn Sembrano, Meanne Cuneta
Website: www.sacredheartofjesus-alabang.org
Operations: Tuesday-Sunday (Sept. 29-Oct 4). 8 am to 12 noon, 2 to 6 pm

You can:
# Donate water, blankets, shoes, clothes and other goods
# Donate in cash

PASIG CITY

LUZON RELIEF: Volunteer / Donate / Pray
Go to: Renaissance Fitness Center, 2nd Floor, Bramante Building, Renaissance Towers, Ortigas, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City
Hotline: 0929-8713488
Look for: Warren Habaluyas, co-founder
E-mail: luzonrelief@gmail.com
Operations: Monday to Saturday (Sept. 28-Oct. 3), 9am-7pm

You can:
# Donate non-perishable food items, beddings, pillows, blankets, clothes
# You can donate cash but it is not encouraged

- Compiled by Annalyn Ardoña and Patricia Faustino, GMA NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Palabra de Honor by JDV III

Want to get royally pissed? Listen to this audio clip of Joey De Venecia as he tries his hardest to convince you that he cares about your welfare.

Just like Jun Lozada, JDV III would like us all to believe that he was a victim in that whole ZTE National Broadband Network  deal controversy.

Now before you fall for his crap. Watch and listen closely to this:

Don’t be fooled by JDV III. Don’t forget he was also involved in that deal and this despite the fact that his father is an incumbent government official. Palabra de Honor my a__.

You should read this post in case you find yourself confused. It’s about Lozada but as you will probably realize the same thing applies to Mr. Palabra de Honor here.

Only an idiot or someone in JDV III’s payroll would fall for his shit.

What Winnability?

Should a voter be concerned with a candidate’s winnability? This question has been swimming in my head since yesterday after I got into a discussion with someone who feels that the 2010 presidential elections will be a fight between good and evil.

First off, I disagree that the elections should be viewed as a fight between good and evil. This is nonsense. In the first place, who’s to claim that he or she represents good? Senator Noynoy Aquino? Oh please. Can we please take off our beergoggles and see the elections for what it really is. It’s just a contest among politicians who have it in their heads that they have what it takes to govern the country.

Anyway, the discussion touched briefly on the subject of winnability. The person I was talking to said he will not vote for anyone identified with President Gloria Arroyo. He explained his stand by stressing that voting for a PGMA ally is like voting against the prosecution of PGMA after she steps down. He ended his argument by saying that a PGMA candidate is not winnable at this time and that even if he didn’t have so much hatred for the incumbent he will not waste his vote on such a candidate. He will certainly lose, he said.

I can’t say I agree with his argument. While I’m all for pursuing the appropriate cases that may be filed against PGMA as soon as she loses her immunity, I am of the opinion that this issue should not even be a deciding factor in our choice of president. Should the prosecution of PGMA even be a major thrust of whoever will replace her? Last time I checked, the position of president is not a prosecutory one.

Going back to the issue of winnability. My belief is that, as voters, we should not really bother with whether a candidate stands a chance of winning or not. It is simply not our concern. The only people who should lose sleep over such matters are the candidates themselves and their campaign managers. For me, voters need only concern themselves with a candidate’s character, track record and platform. I would even say that of this three a candidate’s platform should already be enough.

Some may ask, “Won’t I be wasting my vote if I give it to a candidate who has a very slim chance of winning?” The simple answer is no. Who’s to say this or that candidate can’t win anyway? The survey firms? Ignore them and the crap they produce.  Just do due diligence. Examine the platforms of the various candidates and pick the one that you think has the best set of plans for the country.

If you’re not convinced then go ahead and vote for the candidate perceived as being winnable. Just remember winnability is no indicator of future performance nor is it a gauge of anything other than a candidate’s popularity, which is more often than not undeserved.

Debate! Debate! Debate!

Here’s a little something from the brilliant minds over at Idiotic Filipinos. If you would like to see real change in this country you can help. Read on.

A Debater’s Wet Dream

Imagine this

1. all the candidates running for the office of the President of the Republic,
2. on air over free TV and major AM radio stations,
3. live, with no assistants,
4. for three hours and with no commercial breaks;
5. each candidate will have 8-10 minutes to introduce his/her platform,
6. then be interpellated by one randomly picked co-candidate for three minutes on the speech for the platform.
7. Once all candidates have spoken about their platform, an impartial moderator will then ask pertinent questions about the Presidency, and shall give five minutes for each candidate to formulate a response to each question.

Think this is possible in our lifetime? Think we can persuade GMA7 and ABS-CBN to air this for free?

In response to benign0’s blog post about the power of the mass media over the 2010 elections, I am daring the executives of GMA-7, ABS-CBN, Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Philippine Star, SMART Communications, and GLOBE Telecoms- and good-natured Congressmen and Senators, for good measure- to make this dream come true by March 2010.

We need a smarter method of choosing candidates. And mass media, being the major recipient of campaign expenses, SHOULD BE MADE TO OFFSET THE EARNINGS THAT THEY MADE OVER LEGAL BUT HIGHLY QUESTIONABLE POLITICAL AD SPENDING BY THE CANDIDATES.

Repost this on your blog. Post this on facebook, twitter, multiply- hell, even AdultFriendFinder.com. I don’t care if you don’t credit me as the original proponent of this event. I just want this to happen.

Help me make the debater’s wet dream come true.

* I suggested three hours since we’re still not sure about the number of candidates running for President.

Pagbabago ba ika nyo? O heto. Simulan na ang pagbabago.  Simulan na ang debate.

Charges And Countercharges

True to his word, Senator Panfilo Lacson delivered today a privilege speech highlighting what he claims to be former President Joseph Estrada’s involvement in gambling, smuggling and various shady deals. Lacson, who is implicated in the Dacer-Corbito case, also hinted that Estrada may have had a hand in the double murder.

As can be expected, Senator Jinggoy Estrada wasted no time and immediately took to the floor to defend his father. He even threatened to expose what he knows about Lacson.

There is really something wrong with this picture. What we have here are two senators withholding information with serious implications. Lacson didn’t expressly say it but he was obviously accusing the older Estrada of involvement in criminal activities. Now I’m wondering, shouldn’t he have made this expose years ago? Same thing for the younger Estrada. Shouldn’t he have spilled the beans long before? And, why even bother making threats?  As far as I’m concerned, public servants shouldn’t be keeping information from the public especially if it has some bearing on governance.

This is the problem with politicians. They speak of justice — swift justice even — but here they are withholding incriminating information about their colleagues. I’m not a lawyer but I think a law is being violated here. If there’s none then someone ought to formulate one that directly penalizes the practice. Without such a law, cover-ups and collusion will remain part and parcel of governance in this country.

An Appeal To Celebrity Endorsers

One of my idols has called for support for a candidate who has nothing but character (not even the good or bad kind just the popular)  going for him at this time. This particular candidate has been in politics for some time now but has no substantial track record to show for it. More importantly, he doesn’t have  a decent platform yet which people can use to gauge his worthiness for the presidency.

I’m disappointed.

I really don’t care who my idol chooses to support. However, I do care that he seems to have forgotten the adage “with great power comes great responsibility.” As a celebrity, his endorsement — premature as it is — can easily influence many impressionable minds. Considering how sheep-like many Filipino voters are, this is a certainty.

My biggest issue here is that there is not enough basis yet for anyone to make an intelligent decision as to who is worthy for the presidency yet here comes this celebrity rounding up support for a candidate. Sure, we can judge the candidates by their characters; we may even review their past achievements; but, without their platforms, their plans, we will never get a complete idea of how they may fare as our president.

In his blogpost titled “Choosing A Candidate Should Not Be A Risk Assessment”, Ben Kritz wrote this gem of an insight on the importance of platforms:

A platform, by comparison, carries with it certainty. Even if a candidate sought “to hire the best and most creative platform-writer in the business to craft an attractive set of planned actions, principles and visions,” the resulting platform becomes his word, as surely if he wrote it himself; whether he succeeds or fails to follow through on it, there is a clear statement of his intentions with which he can be held to account. It is an objective tool the voter can use to make his choice, whereas ‘character’ and ‘record of accomplishments’ are not. The best anyone can do, given only those inputs, is make a guess, a risk assessment. Sometimes that turns out well. Sometimes it does not.

Does that mean that ‘character’ and ‘past performance’ should be ignored? Well, frankly, yes – if that’s all the candidate is offering.

I’ll say it simply. My idol shouldn’t have come out with his endorsement. There’s no way he can say that he based his decision on a complete assessment of his candidate’s qualifications (character, achievements, platform). The simple fact of the matter is his decision was really based on nothing substantial.

Well, what’s done is done. However, I can still appeal to other celebrities to do the right thing. Please do a thorough assessment of the candidates first. Also, be honest with yourself. If you feel you cannot make an intelligent assessment don’t even dare reveal your choice to the public. Finally, be a little more patriotic; don’t endorse anyone just because they are willing to pay you big money.

Noynoy And The Yellow Platform

It’s official: Destiny’s child is running for president and he’ll be doing it on a platform of yellow.

Senator Noynoy Aquino finally announced his plan today the 40th day since the death of his mother former President Corazon Aquino. He made the announcement at Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan the same place where Mrs. Aquino took her oath in 1986. Clearly, it’s all about symbolic connections.

Now here’s something for the really superstitious. Senator Aquino couldn’t have picked a better date to announce his candidacy. Today is September 9, 2009 or in shorthand 9/9/9. A very auspicious date indeed. But there’s more. Turn the numbers around and what do we get? 6/6/6. What’s the antonym of auspicious?

Here’s the transcript of Aquino’s announcement lifted from inquirer.net:

“Tinatanggap ko ang hiling ng sambayanan. Tinatanggap ko ang tagubilin ng aking mga magulang. Tinatanggap ko ang responsibilidad na ituloy ang laban para sa bayan. Tinatanggap ko ang hamon na mamuno sa laban na ito. Tatakbo po ako sa pagka-pangulo sa darating na halalan (I accept the voice of the people. I accept the advice of my parents. I accept the responsibility to continue the fight of the people. I accept the challenge to lead in this fight. I will run in the coming elections).”

“Hiling ng sambayanan” or “voice of the people.” Hmmm. I don’t know if I’m going deaf but I didn’t here anyone from our office, my neighborhood or my favorite barbershop say anything about wanting an Aquino candidacy or presidency. However, I did hear discussions on why Willie Revillame should take his own brand of “Pablik Serbis” to the next level by running for office. Now, I’m really wondering which “sambayanan” or taongbayan was the senator talking about.

“Ituloy ang laban para sa bayan” or “continue the fight of the people.” Now what was he talking about again? What fight exactly? The late Senator Ninoy Aquino fought for democracy but he was killed before he completed his mission. A few years later Cory Aquino took up the challenge and she succeeded in restoring democracy. Last time I checked the Philippines is still a democracy so Noynoy can’t possibly fight for that anymore. I wonder what fight is he  talking about.

Ok  maybe I’m rushing him. The good senator has already proven that he takes time deciding or — as other keen observers say — agonizing even over simple yes-or-no questions. Perhaps he needs more time to formulate a platform that contains all the necessary components to be of real consequence. Well, until he comes out with a decent platform we’ll just have to make do with his wonderful and awesome platform of yellow. Or not.

In the meantime, let’s reflect on the prospect of an Aquino presidency. Here’s a great visual aid by Filo of utakngtilapia.blogspot.com.

(WARNING: Image may cause psychological trauma to very young children. Keep this out of their sight.)

Don’t Board That Ship

It really is disappointing to note that, despite its being an archipelago, the Philippines has no real shipbuilding industry to speak of. Even more disappointing is its maritime safety record.

Just yesterday, two ships sank in the waters off Zamboanga and Eastern Samar. Nine persons died in the sinking of Super Ferry Nine. It could have been worse as the ship was carrying more than 950 passengers. Two ships in one day. Are we gunning for another Guiness World Record? Seriously, the frequency of maritime disasters in this country is already more than just a cause for concern.

I’m pretty sure we have maritime laws. I am also sure these laws mandate some form of regulation by the government and strict compliance by shipping companies with some sort of safety standard. But, at the rate things are going, the Philippine government might as well ban itself from handling maritime concerns while local shipping companies may want to consider shifting to another line of business preferably something that doesn’t involve machinery and any motorized means of conveyance.

Of course, we can all be sure overloading and poor maintenance will come up again as the most likely reasons for these latest sea mishaps. Same old story.

In one of his recent posts, PinoyBuzz wrote that we should all just junk our assumptions that we can travel around the country safely. If we’re talking about boarding a ship that will travel in open waters I’d say forget it.

Noy, Mag-Esep-Esep.

As Senator Noynoy Aquino waits for the sky to open up and bathe him in glorious light it may do him a lot of good to do some honest-to-goodness self assessment. I have a few suggested questions he could ask himself.

1. Am I physically, mentally and psychologically fit to be president?
2. Do I have the sincerest of intentions?
3. Do I have the strength to put the country’s best interest over that of my own?
4. Do I have the courage to take a stand on contentious issues?
5. Do I have the wisdom needed in times of crisis?
6. Do I have an above average grasp of all issues affecting the country?
7. Am I smart enough to come up with long lasting solutions?
8. Do I have foresight?
9. Do I have enough creativity to be able to think up ways to fix what is wrong with our culture?
10. Do I even acknowledge that there’s something wrong with Filipino culture?
11. Will I be able to go against the flow of transactional politics?
12. Can I refuse any and all requests for special favors from my relatives, friends and allies?
13. Can I resist temptation?
14. Do I understand that the position of president entails real work?

This list is by no means comprehensive. Feel free to add your own.

I need to go to the toilet and seek discernment.