Iraq unveils a shoe monument
We can forget Imelda Marcos’ shoes for a while. Iraqis are still elated and angered by the shoe thrown at Pres. George W. Bush and Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki last December 2008 by journalist Muntadhir al-Zaidi. A brown shoe sculpture seems a funny retaliation by a culturally sequestered people who appreciate al-Zaidi and boil mad on the former US president even if they have been liberated from Saddam Hussein's tyrannical rule.
Surely, the Iraqis have strong reasons to be mad. The cost of war is high in places of ethnic strife and tribal clashes. Many human lives have senselessly been lost in the name of freedom. 5.1 million people were displaced and about an equal number of children were left without parents.
To vent their anger and send praises for the jailed shoe-thrower who dreams of getting an asylum status in Switzerland, Iraqis and children from the Tikrit Orphanage helped sculptor Laith al-Amiri make a symbolic shoe monument. A brown footware with a raggedly brown surface was mounted on a white cloth so the people could see and ponder.
Whatever thrill one gets in looking at the oversized shoe, the use of children to make a political point is disturbing. There is negatism and darkness young minds can't miss when they see the controversial shoe. The footware is less likely a symbol of disrespect and misplaced rage, but more a reminder of the derision the Muslims have for USA and Pres. George W. Bush.
Lacking gratitude after being saved from Saddam’s terroristic regime, some Iraqis have taken the low road of the warring militants who succeed in teaching generation(s) of children on selective memory and tough love. The faith-based beliefs against the "infidels" are still the driving force of hatred against the Western civilization. There are those who have become one-track thinkers--- intolerant, violent, self-righteous, and unforgiving in their political views. This is one reason why the culture of violence kills the innocents. And peace is so elusive in that part of the world. (Photo Credit: CNN) 0=
UPDATE: Feb. 1, 2009. Iraqi officials ordered the dismantling of the shoe monument in the Tikrit Orphanage. They say government facilities must not be used as a venue to air political views.
Imminent eruption of Alaska’s Mount Redoubt reminds us of Mayon and Pinatubo
The snow-capped Mt. Redoubt in Anchorage, Alaska is showing signs of restiveness that makes eruption probable. Residents living close to the 10,200 foot volcano are on alert as they set aside gears and provisions for the imminent volcanic eruption. Having seen showers of ash and pyroclastic debris in the past, the people there prepare masks and goggles, the first line of defense to protect their eyesight and breathing.
This isn’t unfamiliar to our kababayans in Bicol where Mt. Mayon displays periodic volcanic activity which forces the evacuation of villagers from its slope and gulleys. The PhilVolcs and government officials coordinate with the community to avoid loss of life and property during such emergency.
Farther north in Luzon Island of the Philippines is Mt. Pinatubo also blows its top with tons of lava and subterranean debris shooting up in the air. Ash deposits and later lahar destroy towns along its path.
In June 1991, the Mount Pinatubo brought hardship and misery in the neighboring provinces of Zambales, Tarlac and Pampanga. The eruption forced indigenous tribesmen, the Aetas, to scamper from their mountain dwellings as volcanic debris rolled and covered lowland settlements, reaching as far as the environs of Manila. Pinatubo’s gigantic eruption destroyed crops and agriculture land, countless homes and villages making it one of the biggest eruptions in memory. (Photo Credits: Blastard; DiffusedPixel; US Geological Survey PD) =0=
Mount Mayon and Mount Pinatubo
==========================================================
In spite of a collapsing financial world, $18.4 billion were spent for greedy bonuses in Wall Street
If there is consolation to American taxpayers damaged by the economic meltdown, Pres. Barack Obama criticized billions of astounding spending. He decried as "shameful" and "irresponsible" the $18.4 billion bonuses distributed during the past year for workers in Wall Street. Yes! In spite of a 44% cut on yearend perks given to the money merchants, the amount clearly shows the extravagance and greed of the people who are partly to blame for the financial crisis. A staggering $18.4 billion was spent as giveaways in spite of the $700 billion bail-out they asked and handed over by the government because of a crumbling economy.
This news doesn’t help the effort to bring back trust in the system. The disclosure speaks of top officials still engaged in reckless spending, some using large amounts of money in the shadows to continue their vice.
Amidst joblessness, home sales slump, and poor stock performance, Obama is facing the challenge of making the public believe. Congress has just approved the $825 billion “stimulus package” which is basically another big spending to mitigate the damaging effects of the financial mess. More enraged Americans fear that unless transparency and ethical practice in business is restored, there is little reason to hope that confidence will come back and the economy will be fixed in due time. (Photo Credits: Epicharmus x 2)=0=
DOH’s plan to spend P90 million for random drug testing
The Department of Health (DOH) plans to spend P90 million on random drug testing for high school and college students. Supposedly, the money is earmarked to develop manpower and laboratory resources for the test which is expected to give teeth to the fight against drugs in the country.
On the basis of trying to find out the prevalence of drug abuse the Commission of Higher Education (CHED,) DOH and its secretary Dr. Francisco Duque believe the testing is justified. They chorused it is needed in setting up strategies in controlling the problem as Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo steps up her campaign against illegal drugs.
According to Inquirer (01/29/09 Pazzibugan, D,) the test will be done in the next 7 to 9 months on 87,000 students from 8,750 high schools and 2,000 colleges nationwide. Based on past random drug testing, about 0.8% of 8,670 high school students and 0.5% of 7,499 college students tested positive for drugs. Notably, those who tested positive (majority use marijuana) aren’t a lot compared to many Filipinos who are sick and in need of urgent medical attention.
Does it mean that the government is willing to spend P1,034.48 for every student in order to track down about 696 students, the 0.8% who are expected to be positive in the test? If they find out who are positive, do the authorities have additional money to “treat & rehabilitate” them? Will the money for drug testing be better used for other serious health problems that involve a larger number of people who may need more medical attention----i.e. tuberculosis, malaria, dengue? Or can funds be used to improve the facilities of schools?
Why is testing being planned for the teachers and not for other professionals? Why doesn’t the government directly run after the drug dealers? How come only the students and teachers are being singled out to undergo the test? Why can’t they not include the regular workers, unemployed, drivers, military personnel etc.? What are the safeguards that medical information culled from the testing will be handled confidentially and not be used or abused for other purpose? Isn’t privacy violated and civil liberties invaded when this testing is done?
The above questions may help in deciding if the controversial drug testing plan is worthwhile to pursue. At this time of economic crisis, wise spending can go a long way in helping the neediest. If a law on drug testing is to be applied fairly, it must cover the entire population and not single out a particular group. Organizations like the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) and the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) have valid reasons to oppose the rationale and legality of this plan. (Photo Credit: Mooosh; Suntoksabwan; Latin Snake) =0=
===========================================================
“Not as a lecturer or as a judge,” EU thinks RP must do more to curb corruption
Many huge corruption charges in the Philippines involve officials in the highest corridors of power, but almost all of them remain as accusations displayed like dirty laundry for the public to bear. At the cost of the country’s credibility, almost no one gets punished. The entire nation keeps a blind eye of the growing list of scandals whose outcomes are often tip in favor of the crime doers.
For a long time, corruption comes like a foul odor ignored by the government and its citizens. The stench is allowed to stay, follow its course, until it dissipates in the wind. That’s the usual course that has incrementally robbed the country of its shame and dignity. The public is tired, perhaps, about to give up on corruption---for even with laws in place, there is little accountability. There is almost no public outcry of protest.
Illegal deals and criminal transactions occur right on the face of a Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo. Circumventing the law is common, perpetrated by criminals in broad daylight without embarrassment. The hideousness of the corrupt practices has prompted foreign entities like the World Bank (WB) and European Union (EU) to sound their alarm; they point to government deals that smell too stinky to brush aside. The latest is the WB disclosure of fraud in its bank-financed projects.
The president’s husband Jose M. Arroyo, just like in the past, has been linked to greedy collusion schemes. The latest is with the E.C. De Luna Construction Corp, one of the contractors named by the World Bank for rigging the bidding process of road projects funded by foreign money. Officials of the foreign bank are dismayed by the scale of corruption that is traced way back in 2007.
Careful not to rub the sense of shame of Filipinos, WB’s corruption charges which point the complicity of Chinese partners, suggest that the international community can’t just watch the dirty way the government is run. Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo continues to play the charade for the nation.
The EU also sounded its concern by offering the Philippines help to fight corruption. Ambassador Alistair MacDonald of the European Commission said in a Commission of Human Rights meeting in Manila that the EU “sees corruption as a symptom of poor governance and lack of transparent, accountable management, and control system. ---Philstar (10/28/09, Clapano, JR)
There it is. MacDonald is right in saying that officials, the civil society and media must work together to fight corruption in government by observing “transparent electoral processes and supporting parliamentary and judicial oversight.” The country can’t live with perversion of integrity that is out in the open and politicalized for everyone to see, but can’t do something against it.
Even if the outside world wants to help the Philippines solve corruption, it is still the people who must first reject and work against it. There is no shortage of anti-corruption laws. They are just waiting to be enforced, not by officials who are themselves corrupt, but by those who are committed to move the country ahead.
The fight against corruption needs ethical leaders to help government officials and business leaders reform their ranks. They need moral rejuvenation and accountability which must be taught and applied in the community. With the nation’s fate at stake, there is deep shame when foreigners remind Filipinos of their freedom, duty for country, and moral responsibilities. (Photo Credits: Almostevil665; wdbphoto) =0=
RELATED BLOG: "Corruption scandals hurting Filipinos under Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo" Posted by mesiamd at 1/29/2009; "On Philippine Corruption And Our Being Inure To It" Posted by myty555 at 12/16/2008
Corruption scandals hurting Filipinos under Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo
“The 2006 World Competitiveness Survey by the Switzerland-based Institute for Management Development ranked the Philippines 60th on bribery and corruption among 61 countries surveyed. In the 2007 report of the Hong Kong-based Political and Economic Risk Consultancy, using a grading system with 10 as the worst possible score, the Philippines got 9.4, worsening sharply from its grade of 7.8 in 2006.
The problem of corruption in the Philippines is getting worse, and it appears that it is not just a problem of perception but an actuality. The corruption cases are increasing not only in number but in the amount of money involved. In the past, the big cases involved tens of millions of pesos; now, the figures run into hundreds of millions and even billions.” ----Inquirer (06/30/08, Editorial, Worsening Corruption)
1. Filipino & Chinese bid-rigging cartel in bank-financed projects exposed by World Bank
2. Jocelyn (JocJoc) Bolante’s P728 Million Fertilizer Fund Scam diverting agricultural funds for the 2004 election campaign of Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo
3. $329 Million Philippine National Broadband Network-Zhong Xing Telecommunications Deal (NBN/ZTE mess)
4. The $2-million IMPSA (Industrias Metalurgicas Pescarmona Sociedad Anonima) alleged bribery case involving Justice secretary Hernando Perez to rehabilitate the 750-megawatt Caliraya-Botocan-Kalayaan (CBK) power complex in Laguna.
5. The allegedly overpriced P1.2-billion Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard Construction
6. Commission on Elections’ P1.3-billion poll computerization program
7. Pres. Joseph Estrada Plunder Conviction and the Controversial Hasty Pardon
8. “Hello Garci” alleged Election fraud of Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo
9. Unexplained Wealth of Government and Military Officials---some of them take tasks of "investigating" corruption
10. Money Laundering Schemes like the “Euro Generals Scandal”
11. Maj. General Carlos Garcia's amassed P143 million wealth in AFP
12. The P500,000 cash-gift distribution (bribe?)in Malacanang Palace in 2007
13. Tax Evasion, Special Purpose Funds & Public Procurement Anomalies
14. Killings, tortures, and disappearances of journalists, plain citizens, and perceived enemies of government
We probably know the brazenness of corruption to a point of surrender. So we either ignore them or we shield ourselves from truth by pretending wrong-doing and perversion will go away. We have our own psychological adaptations that work for sometime just the way we're tempted to run away from moral rectitude and brush aside responsibility.
The brave among us however face reality as it comes. No matter how hard and hurting, we understand the need to correct our errors. We know life is a succession of battles where courage, tenacity, and optimism are required and apathy has no place. We need integrity as a hedge against fraud; honesty is a positive force to renew society. Consider the corruption in the world. What can we do about it? (Photo Credit: Zero Q)=0=
======================================================
RP’s awesome underground river and Bicol’s pollution
The search for “the new seven wonders of the world” is on and the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is attracting more attention. The underground waterway in Palawan is among the leading nominees in the category of forest, national parks, and nature reserves. In fact, it has taken the top lead ahead of the great Amazon Rainforest of South America and the astounding Subdarbans Delta in Bangladesh and India.
The unique Philippine underground river grabbed the top spot after a successful campaign to gain points on the first round of voting. The contest which drew 261 nominees in 7 categories had been the brainchild of the New 7 Wonders Foundation, a group established by the Swiss-Canadian aviator Bernard Weber. From January 1 to July 7, 2009, the contest’s second voting will select 77 nominees and 21 finalists They will be announced on July 21, 2007 by a panel of jurors to be led by Federico Mayor, a former UNESCO director-general.---- Inquirer (01/27/09, Anda, R)
Obviously, the stunning below-the-ground river system located southwest of the archipelago is a cause of happiness for Filipinos who take pride in their homeland’s beauty----a cluster of 7,100 emerald isles in Asia. The popularity of the tropical underground attraction highlights the need for kababayans to be part of the conservation campaign in order to protect the country’s natural treasures.
Nature preservation is most timely for the Filipino people. In Bicol, because of improper waste disposal, the effects of pollution have reached the coastal towns of Masbate. Shown in Bicol Mail (01/22/09,) are graphic photos of filthy garbage washed to shore. The damage on the towns makes a good argument in favor of environmental protection. Discarded plastics, papers, and human wastes floating at sea have certainly fouled the environment. Garbage poses a huge health hazard to humans and all living things which thrive in the area. =0=
=========================================================
Obama’s popularity plunges from 83% to 68% a few days after assuming presidency
.jpg)
If only to augur the things that are to come, in less than a week Pres. Barack Obama’s approval rating dropped by 15 points. From a sky-high 83%, the new score fell to 68%. The long honeymoon predicted for the widely popular president is challenged by the worsening outlook of the economy. The patience of the American people may not hold in spite of the dramatic changes Obama offers the public. Abandoning some blind credulity, supporters are now looking closely at the programs and plans the administration is selling the nation. Bashing the past administration, there is effort to paint a rosy liberal governance to replace the old. But it seems inadequate in reversing the public's lack of trust.
According to the Gallup poll, the drastic fall of Obama’s support suggests the herculean task and towering expectation the president is facing. His words and actions are under urgent scrutiny as dark clouds threaten to choke the immediate future of the country.
In spite of the media’s commitment to bring the glib president in the best light, there are many Americans who feel wary. They see something corrupt and negligent. For being remiss of their duties, politicians and community leaders aren't as trustworthy as before. And it is causing a toll on Barack Obama.(Photo Credit: Sebastian Niedlick/ Grabthar; Spudart) =0=
============================================================
“Filipinos rated most committed to work”
The “employee engagement” is supposed to be a measure of “commitment” and “drive” of a worker to achieve a company’s goal. It runs high among Filipinos. That’s according to a recent survey conducted on workers of some top corporations in the country by Watson Wyatt, a global consulting agency. At 77%, the employee engagement for the Philippines has improved from by 4% since 2007. The score is good among countries of the Asia-Pacific region!
Beating of China (66%,) India (75%), Indonesia (71%,) Thailand (72%,) and Malaysia (67%,) RP’s laudable score appeared in the Philipine Daily Inquirer (01/27/09, Dumlao, D)--- a business news item entitled “Filipinos rated most committed to work.”
I find the report flattering. Only the workers of top corporations have been included in the poll. The survey outfit admits there are no international standards to determine the socio-political and cultural factors that are unique for each country which may influence the score. Such limitations hardly dispel the doubts of readers.
Whatever this survey is worth, I like to know if there is any difference in the score of workers in the public sector compared to those who are in the government. It would have been better if all in the labor force (not only the corporate employees) were represented in the survey. It would have been more revealing if those in the farms and those employed abroad were included. The result might be more accurate in characterizing the “commitment” of the entire Filipino labor force. (Photo Credit: Bikoy; Neil Alderney 123)=0=
==========================================================
Iceland’s government fails as the economic crisis worsens
After attempts to reverse Iceland's financial crisis since October last year, Reykjavik's government has collapsed amid street protests from citizens who set fires and hold noise barrages with pots and saucepans. Having lost trust in government, angry Icelanders protest a mismanaged economy, worsening joblessness, and rising cost of goods.
Prime Minister Geir Haarde couldn’t quell the public’s disappointment after Iceland’s currency lost its value and banks failed that mirrored the financial troubles in Wall Street and many countries in Europe.
“The IMF announced in November it would pump about $827 million into the Icelandic economy immediately, with another $1.3 billion coming in eight installments. Iceland's Nordic neighbors -- the governments of Finland, Norway, Denmark and Sweden -- announced they would lend Iceland another $2.5 billion.”---CNN.com/europe (01/25/09, Nyeberg, P)
Calling for an earlier election in May, Haarde, who had been afflicted with cancer, resigned and announced he wouldn’t run for another election. Fearing national bankruptcy, he dissolved the coalition government he headed--- formed by the Social Democrat party and Independence party.
With the government’s future uncertain, the island-country’s figurehead President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson said he would consult with Iceland's four main political parties before asking that an interim government is formed.
Similar economic and political troubles are happening in many parts of the world as well. Hard hit are the economies of the United States (USA) and Great Britain which have embarked on their respective financial remedies. The outlook of the crisis at this time is grim even if economic bail-out packages at the expense of taxpayers have been laid out. Nobody seems to know how and when the financial mess will end. Ordinary citizens are left confused and fearful of what next will happen. (Photo Credit: Nele en Jan; Jon Palma)=0=
===========================================================
Happy Chinese New Year!
Happy Chinese New Year!In accordance to the Chinese lunar calendar, on Monday, January 26, 2009, is celebrated as the start of the Year of the Ox. Chinese people all over the world mark the significant day with family gatherings, reunions, parades, fireworks, and food fests as expressions of hope and optimism for prosperity through hard work. The ox is a symbol of strength and prosperity through hard work. (Photo Credits: Ion Buck; Expatriate Games)
UP Ibalon expresses best wishes and good luck for all those who welcome and celebrate the new year!
Kung Hei Fat Choi!
=============================================================
Young Brazilian beauty queen dies of sepsis
The 20 year old Brazilian beauty queen Mariana Bridi da Costa died of the effects of sepsis after weeks of fighting an overwhelming systemic infection caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a gram-negative bacteria.
In late December 2008, the young model and family breadwinner who represented her country in international beauty contests was initially suspected to have kidney stones and urinary tract infection (UTI) which worsened and led to septicemia (presence of infection in the bloodstream,) loss of consciousness, and the amputation of both her hands and feet.
Pseudomonas is commonly found in soil and water and can cause a gamut of conditions ranging from mild local skin infections to systemic overwhelming ones which involve deep-seated body organs. In severe cases, like the case of Da Costa, the virulent organism can cause poor blood circulation (hypoperfusion,) shock, and breakdown of tissues leading to organ failure, and eventual death.
A rare cause of UTI, the bacteria can be anti-biotic resistant. It may infect patients with low immunity (immunocompromised,) diabetes, cystic fibrosis, hospitalized patients, and those made vulnerable because of certain debilitating illnesses. Known to be in good health before her illness, Da Costa's infection has baffled her doctors.
The death of the beauty queen on January 24, 2009 sent shock waves to those who admire her. Many concerned individuals who learned about her plight expressed their sympathies and prayers. Her website was overwhelmed by outpouring or support from people all over the world. (Photo Credit: AP)=0=
“To make a man and prepare him as a good citizen” in a Bicol town, circumcision is required
In Camarines Norte, there was laughter during the deliberations of the “Tunay na Ulirang Lalake Ordinance” aka TULI or Real Model of Manhood Ordinance. The piece of legislation was on its second deliberation to make male circumcision in that place mandatory. It was uncertain whether those considering the ordinance were serious or just joking.
According to its author, Provincial Board Member Joeffrey B. Pandi, the circumcision law is important “to enhance the physical well being of a boy or pre-teen, preparing him for early manhood and as a good citizen of his community.”
Really?
There is practically no dissenting opinion against Pandi’s odd proposal. The ready acceptance is a reflection of how we regard circumcision today. Many of us still adhere to the old tribal idea that the surgical removal of the prepuce covering the glans penis is a passage to manhood. Without acrimony, we accept a parochial belief that the uncircumcised deserves to be a butt of jokes, short to being a subject of continual humiliation. In our town, to be uncircumcised is to be identified as “half a man.” As a result, many children grow up in trepidation, believing the myth which their families and friends hand down to them.
Our society to this day still exerts strong pressure against being “supot” (uncircumcised) even if it infringes on our freedom to decide on what to do with our bodies. The TULI ordinance perpetuates myths, indirectly encourages intolerance, and curtails our right of choice even if we fail to see it that way.
How will the law be enforced? What punishments will the lawbreakers get? Who will pay for the procedure? Are we ready for the physical and psychological complications which go with surgery?
There are many conflicting justifications for or against the penile operation. An ordinance to force boys to have the procedure disregards the contrary arguments against it. The minor cutaneous surgery comes not without risks; complications like bleeding, tetanus, infections among others do occur in circumcision. Fortunately, the risks are minor compared to the benefit of keeping genital cleanliness (hygiene,) the usual valid reason for the operation.
It has been argued that circumcision lessens the incidence of HIV, HPV (warts,) and penile cancers. The skin removal is part of the religious traditions of the Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Upon the introduction of the "germ theory" at the turn of the 20th century, the Western World adopted circumcision to keep infections away. Primitive tribes in the Africa and the Pacific, consider it an important cultural milestone towards manhood.
So we know the myriad reasons why most of us agree to circumcision. We consider factors like hygiene, medical reasons, religious beliefs, cultural norms, and individual choice in our decisions. A personal matter which causes no harm on others, the minor tampering of our sexual organs is OK. It goes without saying that going against it is also OK.
But the lawmakers of Camarines Norte might be half-serious. The TULI ordinance unwittingly undercuts our basic liberty to choose. Although it appears, the ordinance gets easy support from the community, I don't think the "funny" ordinance will benefit us in the long haul. Photo Credits: The Passing Strange; Snaphappy4)=0=
===========================================================
Obama reverses "Mexico City Policy" paving for funding for more overseas abortion
On January 23, 2009, a day after the 36th commemoration of the landmark decision of the Supreme Court to legalize abortion in USA and 3 days after his inauguration, Pres. Barack Obama reversed the Mexico City Policy---the ban against funding of international groups performing abortions.
"The Mexico City Policy specifies that federal funds for family planning are made available to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that agree not to perform or promote abortion as a method of family planning in other countries."---http://ww.nchla.org
A setback to pro-lifers who defend the rights of the unborn and promote respect for the human life, USA opens its door to more programs for population control (family planning) and termination of pregnancy (abortion) abroad at the expense of American tax payers. This was the same liberal policy Pres. Bill Clinton followed when he came to the White House in 1993. In support of the unborn, it was reversed by Pres. George Bush when he assumed the presidency in 2001. Obama's reinstitution of Clinton's policy in 2009 is a step towards the enactment of the greater pro-abortion legislation, the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) which will be decided in congress. This is part of the social engineering critics have predicted with the new administration.
Vatican Protests Obama's decision
The Vatican expressed objection to Obama's pro-abortion stance and support of the culture of death. The same objection is expected when the new administration announces its unbridled pursuit for stem cell research---using human embryos which is against Catholic doctrine.
Monsignor Rino Fisichella, who heads the Vatican's Pontifical Academy for Life, asked Obama to listen to all voices in America without "the arrogance of those who, being in power, believe they can decide of life and death."---GMANews (01/24/05) (Photo Credit: Stanley Lansano/ AngkorWatDemon PD) =0=
Depiction of Demon Performing Abortion, Wall of Angkor Wat, Cambodia
==========================================================
"The Mexico City Policy specifies that federal funds for family planning are made available to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that agree not to perform or promote abortion as a method of family planning in other countries."---http://ww.nchla.org
A setback to pro-lifers who defend the rights of the unborn and promote respect for the human life, USA opens its door to more programs for population control (family planning) and termination of pregnancy (abortion) abroad at the expense of American tax payers. This was the same liberal policy Pres. Bill Clinton followed when he came to the White House in 1993. In support of the unborn, it was reversed by Pres. George Bush when he assumed the presidency in 2001. Obama's reinstitution of Clinton's policy in 2009 is a step towards the enactment of the greater pro-abortion legislation, the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) which will be decided in congress. This is part of the social engineering critics have predicted with the new administration.
Vatican Protests Obama's decision
The Vatican expressed objection to Obama's pro-abortion stance and support of the culture of death. The same objection is expected when the new administration announces its unbridled pursuit for stem cell research---using human embryos which is against Catholic doctrine.
Monsignor Rino Fisichella, who heads the Vatican's Pontifical Academy for Life, asked Obama to listen to all voices in America without "the arrogance of those who, being in power, believe they can decide of life and death."---GMANews (01/24/05) (Photo Credit: Stanley Lansano/ AngkorWatDemon PD) =0=
Depiction of Demon Performing Abortion, Wall of Angkor Wat, Cambodia
==========================================================
Abortion issue in Obama’s administration, the pro-life vs. pro-choice controversy, & the 50 million unborn babies killed
January 22, 2009 is the 36th anniversary of the controversial Roe vs. Wade when the Supreme Court ruled against all state and federal abortion laws, making termination of pregnancy legal and leading to the indiscriminate killing of about 50 million unborn babies. Since 1973, pro-life groups have relentlessly campaigned in defense of the unborn with some success:
“Laws have been passed in 46 states that protect the right of conscience for individual health care providers. Laws in 27 states protect the right of conscience for institutions such as Catholic hospitals. The Hyde Amendment restricts federal funding of abortion. The partial birth abortion ban was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2007. “Mexico City Policy” has barred the use of federal tax money to pay for abortions in other countries.” ---St. Gianna Respect for Life Committee, Immaculate Conception Church, Astoria, NY (01/09 Tabone, P)
Yet, with the Obama administration, the fight between pro-lifer and pro-choice may change in favor of abortion supporters. Obama expresses his approval for the pro-choice advocates saying that government need not intrude on private family matters.
“In consultation with a coalition of pro-abortion groups, which submitted a 55-page outline of pro-abortion policies to the Obama transition team, the Obama Administration has an agenda designed to repeal many, if not all, of the pro-life policies in place at the state and federal level.
Through their extreme agenda, the Administration wants to fund organizations that perform and promote abortion; force employer health insurance plans to cover abortion; force hospitals and health care professionals to provide abortions; and enact the so-called "Freedom of Choice Act" – a bill that would invalidate virtually all state and federal laws restricting abortion, including parental notification laws, and which would make partial-birth abortion legal again.” ---www.nrlc.org
With few media outfit willing to cover, a huge crowd of anti-abortion advocates, numbering about 250,000 trooped to Washington DC two days after Obama’s inauguration to oppose the proposed Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) in congress. Obama is a supporter of abortion rights pushed by many liberals in the media and the Democratic party. Pro-lifers have mobilized themselves to fight the new administration's abortion plan which when implemented is expected to increase terminations of unwanted pregnancy and the killing of more innocent unborn babies.
With the loss of 50 million babies since the "Roes" decided they could ignore moral considerations and rule on abortion, society must ponder on how many Albert Einsteins had been expended in clinics around the country. The sheer number had made people thinking what might have been God's plan for America's hapless victims of abortion. =0=
============================================================
A Spate of Rural Bank Closures and a Bad Legacy
A new wave of pessimism and outrage about rural banks and pre-need plans is engulfing the country including Bicol. This came about after the string of rural banks failed and the Legacy pre-need plans group closed shop without approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). And Legacy is controlled by one Celso de los Angeles.
Who is Celso de los Angeles? Currently, he is the mayor of the small town of Sto. Domingo, Albay. But I heard that when he ran last elections the question was why a non-native would be running for mayor. I also heard the rumor that he needs it for "protection".
It seems Celso de los Angeles has a checkered past to say the least. In the mid-80s he was barred by the Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas after three banks under his wing collapsed. The BSP cited him for unsound banking practices.
What the guy next did was to buy Legacy Scholarship Pension Plan and Consolidated Plans in the late 80s. Later the two firms were merged.
He next emerged as the chairman of the National Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation (NHMFC) which is the government's agency tasked in assisting the so-called housing businessmen. Vice-president Noli de Castro, who was Gloria's "housing czar", brought him there.
One will wonder how a banned person could be appointed to such position (It also speaks about Kabayan's capacity to choose people.) And this is after Chavit Singson tagged one "Celso de los Angeles" as a jueteng operator.
He did not last long in NHMFC because malodorous smell immediately leaked. One of his executives got busted for extortion. The agency was immediately politicized--palakasan became the norm and politicians' recommendations (and for sure there are no audits involved in this) became important in transactions. Another two officials were later charged in court in connection with a land-titling scam. Housing NGOs strenously complained and protested against his mismanagement of the government agency.
That's when he metamorphosed into a town mayor. It seems the guy was born in the Year of the Butterfly.
Then 10 apparently disparate and geographically dispersed (in Bicol, Luzon and Visayas) rural banks began to fail one after the other. Those banks were offering "double-your-money schemes" in 5 years. And all were traced to be connected to the Legacy group of Celso de los Angeles, the guy banned by the BSP for unsound banking practices.
Now it appears that Legacy is dipping its hand into the coffers of the banks. A big chunk of the banks chain's fund seems to have been loaned to Legacy. And now Legacy closed shop. If that is not a scam then what is that?
Now the PDIC (Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation) buffer fund is threatened with the need to reimburse all these banks' depositors (to the tune of up to P250,000). These types of rural banks have already learned to split big deposits into P250,000 chunks. So in the end it will be taxpayers who will have to pay for this scam.
At least Bernard Madoff was already arrested and now under custody of the court. And in the US the scammers have almost no way to wiggle out of the judgment of the courts. But here scammers are protected by a wall of lawyers, politician-patrons and TROs (temporary restraining orders).
Yes, the Philippines is a developing country. Developing in the wrong direction.
[Photo credit: Bullit Marquez, AP]
Will History Be Kind to Bush Jnr?
Certainly, Bush jnr. hopes that history will be kind at him. But I don't think so, if one goes by history (pun intended).
He is the one who ended his presidency with the lowest approval rating in history since polls were recorded 70 years ago, at 22%. 73% disapproved of him. Even the much-maligned Lyndon Johnson, hounded by the Vietnam War, finished well ahead of him at 49%.
The figures:
PRESIDENT.....APPROVE...DISAPPROVE
G.W. Bush.......22%........73%
B. Clinton......68%........30%
G.H.W. Bush.....54%........40%
R. Reagan.......68%........26%
J. Carter.......44%........44%
G. Ford.........53%........32%
L. Johnson......49%........37%
D. Eisenhower...60%........27%
H. Truman.......32%........56%
It is just speculation if Bush finished ahead of the pitiful Herbert Hoover who was bashed by the Great Depression. Maybe it is his vice-president Cheney who is in league with Hoover at 13% final approval rating.
Truman finished next worse to Bush jnr but his 32% is significantly ahead. He was bogged by the Korean War and other foreign troubles. And to think that when he left office the US economy then has no great competitor.
Carter is next worse at 44%. He was dogged by the American hostage crisis in Iran and by perceived incompetence (same as Bush jnr). But that Iran crisis pales in comparison to Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo. And Carter left no real crisis.
So what are the lessons of history? One, bad foreign entanglements are not liked by the American public, whatever the rationale (Nobody said then that getting into Korea was wrong; it was just Truman was drawn into a stalemate). Two, don't bequeth them with crisis. And Bush jnr left generous portions of these to his citizenry. Even his rationale for getting into Iraq and Afghanistan doesn't wash well with the American public. Is he now praying on his knees for a miracle?
Hoover was shunned by Washington, D.C. and by its politicians long after he retired. It is thought nobody wants to be besmirched by his legacy of crisis. Until Truman called him up to advice him on German rehabilitation, which is Truman's expertise before. But, in general, he is not remembered well up to this day.
Except for Kennedy nobody paid much attention to Truman after he left office. His reputation only recently got refurbishing when it was realized he helped won the Cold War. Is Bush jnr praying for this salvation?
I don't think the US will win its so-called war on terror by utilizing Bush's ways. And I don't think any future president will be calling on him for advice. At least Truman had solid credentials in rehabilitation.
Will he be forgotten soon like Hoover and Truman? Well, like it or not, probably no. He was born with practically a political silver spoon in the mold of Preston Bush and George snr. This political dynasty will surely work overtime to try to burnish Bush jnr's soiled legacy. But again, I say, history is not on his side. And, anyway, the American public and political establishment are not that gullible either.
[Image credit:CBS news]
Caroline Kennedy backs out from New York US Senate race
Time’s article on Caroline Kennedy (The Quest for Camelot II) was somewhat prophetic when the author Karen Tumulty ended her piece in the magazine's January 12 issue saying "The Kennedy name was Caroline’s birthright, but it may be that a seat to the US Senate is something she has to earn on her own." Tumulty’s opinion was based on the observation that Caroline, the only survivor of Pres. John F. Kennedy's children “doesn’t appear to have given much thought to what she would try to accomplish once in office.”
Before NY governor David Patterson could decide who’d take the junior senatorial seat vacated by Sen. Hillary Clinton, Caroline pulled the plug of her candidacy. She couldn’t continue her bid for the position on account of "personal reasons"--- This possibly includes Sen. Edward (Ted) Kennedy, her uncle, who suffered brain cancer-related seizure during the Obama inauguration celebration. Ironically, it was Ted who liked her to assume the post and carry the family's political flame.
The pressure on families with loved ones suffering from life-threatening medical condition is incalculable and therefore Caroline has the reason to withdraw. But political decisions are usually made on account of other considerations. It’s probable the sheltered Kennedy heiress understood the demands of the job. With little experience than the other candidates, she could have known the truth of what she said before--- She needed to work “doubly-hard” to represent New York in Washington. Undoubtedly strong in political influence, perhaps, her supporters and Gov. Patterson knew this all along. (Photo Credit: http://Arnow.com)=0=
RELATED BLOG:: "Caroline Kennedy & Sarah Palin: a “class” difference in media treatment?" Posted by mesiamd at 1/10/2009
UPDATE: There are speculations as to the cause of Caroline Kennedy's sudden withdrawal from her bid to become a junior NY senator. Vetting issues which involve tax, nanny, and marital problems have been reported in TV and newspapers.
=============================================================
Fewer local jobs, rising numbers of OFW’s & fishermen plucked from stormy sea
35,000
As a consequence of the fall of the electronic industry, this is the number workers who lost their job in the major economic zone in Laguna according to reports that reached the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP.) The huge lay-offs put the pressure on workers to leave the country and seek employment abroad. It is consistent with the National Statistics Office (NSO) data showing that Philippine exports fell 11.9 percent to $3.49 billion in November, the second straight month of double-digit loss following a downward slide by 14.8 percent in October.
It is said the country lost $1.18 billion in exports, mostly from electronics ($960 million) in October to November 2008.
In a related development, the closing of Intel's Philippine testing and assembly plant in Cavite this year will displace an additional 1,800 workers (cut down from 3,000 in November 2008) after 20 years of operation.
1,376,823
According to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, the number of overseas Filipino workers (OFW’s) employed abroad totaled to 1,376,823 last year. The number exceeded the 2007 number by about 300,000. Employment abroad has steadily increased from from 867,969 in 2003, 933,588 in 2004, 1,077,623 in 2007 and 1,376,823 in 2008. This indicates the continuing dependence of RP for jobs abroad to provide employment to its citizens.
21
The number of fishermen rescued in the stormy seas of Sabina Shoal in Kalayaan Group of Islands in January 16, 2009. All crew members of M/B Lester, they were safely brought to Puerto Princesa, Palawan after being marooned in turbulent waters for 10 hours.
P330 billion
With the goal of creating 3 million jobs and build infrastructures this year, Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo signed an additional 10% in the stimulus package bringing the budget to P330,000. The 3 million jobs represent a fourth of the 12 million presently unemployed in the country. It is doubtful if this amount is enough to offset the impact of the economic downturn. A 2009 national budget of P1.415 trillion was ratified by the congress.
34
This is number of evacuees from Gaza who arrived in Manila on January 21, 2009. Another 20 is about to arrive after they crossed the Gaza-Israel border on their way to Amman, Jordan. Earlier 16 Filipinos returned to escape the bloody strife between the Israelis and Palestinians which killed more than 1,000 people in three weeks. (Photo Credit: Ian Riley; Diong)=0=
===========================================================
Three kidnapped Red Cross workers still missing in Mindanao
A week after 3 members of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) were kidnapped in Patikul, Sulu by heavily armed unidentified men on motorcycles, there had been little news on their whereabouts. Swiss Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipina Mary Jean Lacaba were snatched in Southern Philippines on January 15, 2009 during their field inspection of a water sanitation project in Sulu Provincial Jail in Southern Philippines.
Abu Sayyaf, the extremist Islamic group under Albade Parad with Al Qaeda ties had been suspected to be behind the abduction. On Monday, January 19, the kidnapped ICRC workers placed a phone call to their office asking that the military rescue operation be suspended.
Gen. Alexander Yano of the Armed Forces of the Philippines heads the search and rescue operation which show no progress. The military officer keeps a controversial news blackout which he believes is needed so as not to compromise the life of the kidnapped victims.
“Thursday's abduction was the most high-profile kidnapping of foreigners since 2001, when Abu Sayyaf gunmen snatched nearly two dozen tourists from a resort, including three Americans. One of the Americans was beheaded, a second was killed during a military rescue operation and the third was rescued. The incident prompted Washington to deploy troops in the south starting in 2002, but they are barred from combat.” ---Yahoo News / AP (01/17/09, Teves, O)
“Alain Aeschlimann, head of the ICRC’s operations for Asia Pacific in Geneva, said their main concern is to ensure that they continue to be unharmed and that they are let go, without any conditions, as quickly as possible." ---Malaya (01/20/09, Reyes, V)
There is increasing clamor to step up the search. Conflicting rumors heighten the anxiety and feeling of helplessness of hostages’ relatives. With no progress in finding the missing workers, the US Embassy in Manila has offered help to the Philippine authorities. If mishandled, this crisis can quickly degenerate into another round of ransom-giving, then body injuries, and even deaths. Unintended results bring back the old questions on the competence and integrity of the military authorities in solving this kind of dilemma. (Photo Credit: AFP/ ICRC file; Charles Saceda) =0=
UPDATE: As of April 18, 2009 two ICRC humanitarian workers namely Mary Jean Lacaba and Andreas Notter were freed by the Abu Sayyaf bandits. Only Eugenio Vagni had been left with the terrorists in the forested jungle of Jolo, Sulu. The military had been working to secure the freedom of Vagni.
============================================================
Barack Obama takes oath as the 44th US president
"On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord."---Pres. Barack Obama, 44th US President (01/20/09, Inaugural Speech, Washington,DC)
CONGRATULATIONS MR. PRESIDENT!
We salute and wish you good luck. May God bless you always.
---UP Ibalon and Friends
President Barack Obama's inaugural address on Tuesday, January 20, 2009
My fellow citizens. I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I
thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.
Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we the people have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears, and true to our founding documents.
So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.
These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land — a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.
Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America — they will be met.
On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.
On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.
We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.
In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.
For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.
For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.
For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.
Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions — that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.
For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act — not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. All this we will do.
Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions — who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.
What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them — that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works — whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. Those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account — to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day — because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.
Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control — and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart — not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.
As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our founding fathers ... our found fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all the other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.
Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.
We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort — even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.
For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.
To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.
To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to the suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.
As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment — a moment that will define a generation — it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.
For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.
Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends — hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism — these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.
This is the price and the promise of citizenship.
This is the source of our confidence — the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.
This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed — why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent Mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.
So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:
"Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet (it)."
America, in the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.
Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America.
Source: AP/ Yahoo.News (Photo Credits: Reuters/ Jason Reed; Reuters/ Jim Bourg; AP/ Jason de Crow; AP/ Carolyn Kaster ; AP/ Nick Ut; Traqair57;____; Reuters/ Tannen Maury)=0=
==============================================================
Charles Dickens' Artful Dodger comes to life in Barbara Ricafrente’s short story
“Despite his poverty, Awil had a happy disposition. He had neither expectations nor goals. He did not bother to get employment anywhere, join his peasant neighbors reap palay for local landowners during the harvest season, weave weed baskets for local middlemen in the lean months like his neighbors did, or sell rice biscuits or puto in nearby cities for extra income. He simply lived each day as it came.”---Manuel (01/20/09, Ricafrente, B)The colorful sketch of Manuel’s life (Awil) by Ibalon’s Bambi Ricafrente resurrected my memory of Artful Dodger, the smart petty robber in Charles Dicken’s moving story of Oliver Twist (1838). The clever pubescent Dodger introduced gullible Oliver into the world of stealing headed by the old merry patron Fagin in the dark dingy slums of London.
Yet, the similarity of Manuel’s life to the pickpockets in the squalid backstreets of the 19th century England abruptly ends. I learn there is more to Awil’s thievery than what meets the eye. Bambi describes an extended and complex life that is curiously worth learning from.
In an ill-descript Bicol town, Awil has to wrestle with fate and intergenerational circumstantial snags that shape adaptation and dampen acrimony against the changes of the seasons. His life and that of Artful Dodger and Oliver Twist seem intertwined. In all of them, the antagonism between good and evil must really be fought relentlessly until the last.
If one stands on Awil’s shoe, the forbearance to survive pulsates at a rate and vibrancy of a baby’s racy heart. His story tells of the struggles of ordinary people---those who are fallen and redeemed. Awil's imperfect life isn't far from what the Catholic preacher Rev. Fulton Sheen often referred to: a "life that is worth living." (Photo Credits: George Cruikshank; Bohirab) =0=
RELATED BLOG: "Manuel" Posted by Bambi Ricafrente at 1/20/2009
Oliver Twist
by Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens (1812-1870) and page illustrations by George Cruikshank for his work in 1838 which mirrors society's paradoxical influences in the lives of ordinary people. The story of Oliver Twist portrays wholesome dignity and antithetical sordidness in a world where good and evil exist and are in constant debacle. The popular English author of Victorian vintage had A Tale of Two Cities, David Copperfield, Great Expectations, Bleak House, Nicholas Nickleby, The Pickwick Papers, and A Christmas Carol among his great works. (Photo Credit: Charles Dickens PD; George Cruikshank x 2 PD)
============================================================
Manuel
by barbara barquez ricafrente
He was always Awil to those who knew him since he was a boy who ran around in his birthday suit, his face often caked with mûrit from dirt, dried-up tears, and a breakfast diet of rice coffee that his mother did not bother to wipe off his cheeks. The eldest of ten children, he only went as far as the second grade, and this is the reason he has always had a hard time with math, could not read, and could hardly write – save for his name.
His father Domingo was the local bully in his younger years. Despite his muscular physique, Domingo had a certain disdain for manual labor. Instead, he would position himself at a corner of the main street in his barangay and demand peso coins from passersby. For this, he earned the alias Ibŭg, which in the local dialect meant thick-faced or shameless. As he began to grow white hair and acquire a stoop, however, Domingo somehow got hold of an old violin which he trained himself to play. He eventually formed a string quartet of self-taught musicians, with him playing the violin, two others playing the guitar, and the fourth member playing the base guitar. He composed his own music and had his own repertoire of songs for a group of young girls he organized into a dance troupe that became known as his pastoras. These girls, his neighbors’ daughters, were usually clad in a screaming red dress with raffles and a matching red hat and sash. The girls, whose thickly made-up faces made them look like they had fallen right smack into a mound of rice flour, performed at selected homes in town and were given “cash donations” by pleased homeowners during the Christmas season. They even joined competitions among similar groups in other parts of Bicol.
Awil’s mother was a laundrywoman who, even in the ‘60s, already skipped meals trying to feed her large brood. Thus, Awil learned early on that he needed to develop some skills in order to get by in this world. By the time he reached his teens, he had become a highly skilled pickpocket. He was a keen reader of body language, and knew right away when someone had money on him. He also polished the art of distraction to perfection. Sometimes he went with a partner, usually one of his younger brothers whom many likened to Jesus Christ for his long flowing hair and gentle face, but operated mostly on his own. His victims never noticed their missing purse, wallet, or bundle of cash tucked in the front pockets of their trousers or jeans until they had to take it out to pay for something. He was always on target and never missed a beat, something that earned him the grudging respect of the town’s older and less-talented thieves.
To spare his family from potentially embarrassing situations, however, he deemed it prudent to change venues by picking other people’s pockets in the more prosperous neighboring towns of Polangui and Ligao. Sometimes he went further south to Legazpi City, or went the other way to the bustling town of Nabua in Camarines Sur and the latter’s cities of Iriga and Naga. However, this got him into trouble with the other fellows of the local underworld in those areas and they took turns beating him up. Awil somehow survived these episodes and, owing to his pleasant manners and harmless stance, he was eventually able to befriend the gang leaders. Although he was never caught red-handed, he earned quite a reputation in these places that got him thrown in jail a number of times. These stints sometimes lasted months, his family not having the slightest idea where he had gone off to. He got out of jail only when one of his friends from the underworld bailed him out, or when his jailors had become too friendly with him, or when the jail warden was running out of funds for the detainees’ meals.
At the age of twenty, Awil fell for the charms of a woman who worked as a housemaid in one of the bigger houses in his barangay. She bore him eight children whose names he sometimes forgot or interchanged. When the going was good, Awil was very generous with his earnings. He gave almost all of it to his woman and told her to buy whatever she needed. This, however, was the exception rather than the rule. More often than not, he could hardly scrape together enough money to buy even his own meal.
Despite his poverty, Awil had a happy disposition. He had neither expectations nor goals. He did not bother to get employment anywhere, join his peasant neighbors reap palay for local landowners during the harvest season, weave weed baskets for local middlemen in the lean months like his neighbors did, or sell rice biscuits or puto in nearby cities for extra income. He simply lived each day as it came. He drank some to please his peers, but had very low tolerance for alcohol. Neither did he smoke, unlike his father who reeked of tobacco. His children grew up on their own, like wild plants that shoot up any which way toward the sunlight. He hardly noticed them, did not know what their preferences were, and had no idea what went through their minds. By the time his third child, a boy, hit sixteen, the kid came into the company of armed rebels who frequented the more remote fringes of the barangay. It did not take long before the boy joined them in the mountains. Awil never saw him again.
Fed up with being poor, his wife landed a job as a domestic help in one of those South Pacific islands. She wrote to Awil one day, several years since she had left her family for that far-flung country, to tell him she wasn’t coming back and that she had found another man, a local, with whom she wanted to spend the rest of her life. Awil, of course, did not know what to make of the letter. Making excuses about the state of his eyesight, he asked a neighbor to read the letter for him instead and apprise him of its contents. Upon learning of his wife’s decision, Awil felt sad and went home to sleep.
It only took a week before he decided it was time to move on. As he did have a thing for housemaids, Awil flirted openly with some of the younger ones employed in his neighborhood. He brought them on dates either at the old Bichara Theater in Ligao or the newer one in Polangui, where they watched back-to-back Tagalog action films usually featuring FPJ, Lito Lapid, and Rudy Fernandez, and had lunch or merienda at nearby eateries. Sometimes when Awil did not have enough cash for a movie and a meal for two, he and his date just listened to a movie broadcast by way of loudspeakers over an adjoining wet-and-dry market in Polangui as they sat on grimy benches at a halo-halo stall that was teeming with fat flies and crawling with stray cats and dogs. The girls always seemed quite taken by him, as Awil gifted them with cheap little things such as a pink comb or a gaudy purse and always made them feel like a princess.
He also developed an interest in cockfighting. He tagged along with cockfighting enthusiasts or the para-bulang among his neighbors and enthusiastically placed bets on their cocks. He even bought his own roosters and tried to train them into becoming prize fighters, but his attempts were all in vain for Awil had no understanding of the scientific approach. His cocks always ended up on someone else’s dining table. After some time, he decided to give up this distraction.
Mid-life crisis hit him at age fifty. Awil did not know what to do with his life, and sought the advice of a neighbor whom he considered a friend. But he was not making himself clear by mumbling, sighing, and giving only bits of what was on his mind. Pressed for an explanation, he finally blurted out that he felt so useless after his peers in the underworld had teased him about why he was still a pickpocket when the rest of them had elevated their game to pushing marijuana and shabu, the so-called poor man’s cocaine. The neighbor warned him of the dangers of drug pushing, telling him it could land him in jail for the rest of his life or get him killed. Awil gave it a lot of thought and, after sometime, decided he would only deal in marijuana just to show his peers he was no wimp.
His modest earnings from this trade allowed him to buy his own pedal-powered tricycle, known locally as the padyak. After some years, Awil deemed it best to clean up his act altogether by becoming a full-time padyak driver. But as he had never done manual labor in his life, he soon grew tired of the physical exertion the job required and went off to Bulacan to stay with the family of one of his daughters. Today, he seems happier trying his hand at playing grandfather to his children’s children, and flirting with housemaids whenever the opportunity presents itself. He has no expectations that life has anything better to offer, and is perfectly at ease with where he is. That is, until his peers come out of the woodwork once again to tease him about his lack of progress.
* * *
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
