RH bill or suffer...

Herd about the news lately about the RH bill??? I haven’t brought up my opinion about this topic before because I thought that were all capable of thinking logically but I was proven wrong, let me break my silence and share what I have in mind. First of all, I am an atheist and I don’t believe in religion. Also before you judge me on what I believe in, I’d like to remind you that we are all sinners and I’m not that much different to you. What I believe in is based on logic and possibilities, not on blind sided faith.
I like to stress out that the RH bill is not promoting abortion as what most of you have heard. It’s not even preventing people to have kids, it merely educating people on family planning. What’s wrong with that? Would you rather have eight kids whom you can’t feed than two you could send to college? Even the pope is not against the use of condoms because he was able to identify a problem that most countries are having right now, especially on third world countries, over population. I fail to see the point of the CBCP on why they are against this law, or rather, they are the ones failing to see what the law is for, what it is about and what would happen.
One priest at Baguio even ordered the people attending the mass to leave the church and stop attending because he believed they all supported the reproductive health bill. Is that how religion works? Should we be like robots and think what they think? Don’t we have freedom to express what we want and believe what is right for us? Even the president was called a bad catholic and his conscience is not well-formed just because of being a pro RH bill. They condemned it as anti-life and anti-family…really? First of, it’s not anti life, why? IT IS NOT ABORTION and most definitely not anti-family since it is pro family planning.
Try to check the news sometimes, the most common problem our country is facing right now is poverty, this can lead to theft, rape, abortion, and all the crimes that you could think of and we can’t blame our government for this. We need to be educated to know what is the right thing to do. It’s better to educate the people ASAP than to wait for them to learn from their mistakes.
They say that if you give a man fish, he will eat for a day. But if you teach him how to fish he will eat for a lifetime. People should be taught how to anticipate and handle their upcoming problems or better, not to commit those mistakes. Speaking about fish, what is the reason why we had the recent fish kill? Climate change and …exactly! Over population! That’s exactly what would happen if we go forth and multiply and multiply, and multiply… do you ever think that when god said those words, literally, that he meant multiply with no limit? There might be no limit but please, give some consideration for our planet, for our children.
What is worst than seeing our children snug fit on a class of 90? Do you think they would ever learn there? No ventilation, no books. 26 million enrolled this month for classes, that is already a quarter of our population and it keeps on counting. Would you rather go forth and multiply the CBCP way and see the next generation suffer or would you rather act now? Think Philippines, think.

The better PCSO

Manoling morato was questioned about a tie up contract worth P50 billion lasting for 50 years for the TMA thermal tickets for PCSO. Manoling explained that the contract was leagal and approved by the NEDA because of the benefits that the government would gain. He added that the contract includes a 50 year term for TMA to produce the thermal tickets for PCSO that would give 20% commission on every ticket they sell abroad and would also build their own P3billion plant here in the Philippines at no cost to PCSO. He also explained further that they chose TMA because they are the leading company to produce the best thermal tickets and that the said prints would last up to a year unlike other thermal paper prints that would only last up to 3 months. Blah blah blah…
Who in the right mind would sign a tie up for 50 years with a printing firm that would worth P50 billion??? There was not even a proper bidding for the contract. 50 years is a long time and I’m sure that if they don’t have any contract with TMA, some other firm will come and offer a better and cheaper product which would make them save a lot. For a piece of paper one would hold on to for a month at most, once the game is over, it goes to trash. So much for the P50 billion they spent for the contract. This is what they did before, and this is what Margie Juico it trying to fix right now.
Juico was able to increase the PCSO earnings of P6.8 billion last year to P7.6 billion and even generated P134.9 million extra earning than the 38.1 million PCSO had previously. The STL, KENO and Lotto also had a tremendous increase on sales since Juico took over. This first quarter alone, PCSO helped 32,824 indigent patients of out-patient charity clinics at QC hall, PCSO office at San Marcelino and Our Lady of Peace Hospital. Juico used these earnings to pay for the deficit of PCSO with the BIR. The said unpaid account was P1.2 billion and they were able to pay P2.9 Billion to cover the debt. She even brought down the advertising expenses to P500 million than of the 1.7 billion last years and was able to cut down their expenses on office rental of P2.4 million down to P1.9 million.
Juico is getting hammered because of these changes. Why? Because if you try to fix the problem, there would be less commission for those taking advantage of the poorly managed system. So much so that they will drag you down and make you look bad to take you out of position. If this wont change, then I guess there is no questioning what will happen next. Were digging our own graves if we won’t act now. If were being lead by these kind of people, we have no chance to recover…

Corruption at its finest

Our everyday news never fail to disgust me, it’s like a never ending list of stories intended to either make you hate and/or curse everyone that it talks about. Headlines usually are murders, theft, accidents, rape and political corruption to name a few. What’s the latest? Murderers walking in and out of prison and the world’s worst media killers pleading not guilty for being accused of murdering 57 political opponents and journalists. For convicts, this country is at top of their list, like a hotel with the best accommodations one could get. That’s how the justice system works here, or rather, there is no justice system here if you can pay. Here is where we have another term for money,” justice”.
They say that money is the root of all evil, if that’s the case then I guess our country must have a very rich soil for harboring corruption. Were having an up growth here and most probably we could have taken care of these political weeds crawling over our nation if we still have our “corrupted” fertilizer funds. Money feeds the Philippine jurisprudence. What is justice, politics and power without money? Ask a Filipino and one would answer “Nothing…” They caught one who went in and out of Bilibid and now one after the other, they keep on finding out that this happened before and it still keeps on happening till today, why? Because money is power thus you have justice by your side and if you have justice by your side, you have freedom to do anything.
The BuCor must mean Bull$#!+ and Corrupt if this case keeps on happening, I don’t see any reason for special treatment inside the correctional facility to take place if its not because of money. Justice system is not "just" if the people’s minds around it is being corrupted and are left to indulge themselves on luxury. That’s why Filipinos are good at criticizing because that’s the only thing that we can do, criticize. Why? Because we can’t do anything on what is about to happen even if we know how it will end up. All we can do is talk and ask about what they’re doing and watch. I’d even bet that the Ampatuan massacre case will be dismissed or the accused found not guilty after a few years. They will always find a way to prolong the case. I’m sure that the Ampatuans are getting well acquainted with delaying tactics and motion for reconsideration as of this moment. Most probably witnesses will be killed and evidences will disappear without a trace. You know how it goes…
What could you expect? Our country has more lawyers that our law and what do they do? They argue, debate and reason out with each other, by all means, the will use every tactic they know to win the case, they will try to mislead and confuse you to get the information they want to hear from your mouth but what happens next? After the case, you will see those two lawyers who battled is out on the court hanging out with each other, playing golf, sipping coffee and all those things. This is what passes for justice in the Philippines, if you don’t have money and power, result is; the victim becomes the guilty and the guilty, the victim. Even if the most obvious of crimes has been committed, it’s easy to play dumb, blind and deaf once you get paid well for it. The best evidence that would surely win a case is money. In the Philippines, this is the law. Money is the law.

PCSO on turmoil

I watched the interview of Gil Santos, Editorial Board of VSPAN.asia online with Manoling Morato and I asked my self, weren’t these questions answered a week ago? Same questions being asked over and over again, same accusations that are still not been proven, made up issues being thrown at… Mr Gil Santos, a good friend of Manoling didn’t even had a good interview, he just listened to what ever Manoling has to say. Always agreeing on those words said by the ex-chair. Obviously, it would be a biased opinion that you will hear from him. He also said at the start of the segment that they want to get behind the story, the REAL story. C’mon Mr. Santos. And you call watching the television and listening to the radio a mere idiotization? Even Manoling himself got most of his information from newspapers and television,(a couple from rumors), So I guess you’re also accusing him of being idiotized as well? tsk…
Manoling stated that he’s fought pornography when he was with MTRCB, well I agree on that but how about his personal pornographic life? I know I have no right to dwell on this topic but again, I’d like to stress out that this interview is biased. They only say what is good for them and tend to break those who come across their path. I pity you Mr. Morato, your tongue comes to life every time you’ve been proven wrong. You say word unnecessary to the issue to persuade the minds of the public. But enough of these, lets just go back to the interview, to what has been uttered by the tongue that has its own life.
Again he has a lot to say about the transfer of PCSO to the new location, and also about the shuffling of employees, and those who are cut out of employment, mostly those who are contractual and not really qualified for the job. A lot of you may be asking why but let me tell you, and educate those who are not on the know that the building being used by the PCSO at QI is not at good condition at all, the building was reported to crumble once an earthquake occurs, also the main reason why Juico terminated the plan to purchase the QI building. Manoling said he is taking it personal when Margie a member of his board when he was chairman, who also signed the transfer to QI now decided to vacate the place even though the contract states that there is a 50 year lease agreement with an option to purchase. This past week alone, there have been news that parts of the country has been hit by magnitude 5 earthquakes, enough to bring the QI to dust. Thankfully it’s pretty far from the location. Also, there is no plan to sell the property, no evidence that Margie and her husband was ever looking for a buyer of the property. Manoling only read the tabloids saying that the QI was being sold to Ayala land but on further investigation, Ayala said they had no contact with what so ever regarding the QI grounds.
Now about the transfer and the termination of employees, well, obviously, all of them have been transferred to PICC, so I guess there’s really no need to complain against that since everyone was affected. I doubt if there would be someone still willing to work at the QI grounds. And for those provincial transfers, the accusations was based on rumors and made up stories. Those who have been transferred to a new location were also near their residence, not that of what Morato was saying and for those who have been cut were at most ghost employees and under qualified contractual employees that has been given position by the previous chairperson. Why dispense them? Well, getting rid of those unnecessary people that the PCSO are paying and bringing in qualified workers to the proper position like degree holders and civil service holders is indeed a good move. Well justified as I see it.
The interview also had a run through the issue of Margie not wanting to help the stage 4 cancer patients at all. This is one of the worst accusations Manoling had ever thrown to Margie. Calling her a murderer is beyond forgiving. People, please be educated that a stage 4 cancer patient has a very small chance of survival and potentially a very short time to live, its not true that Margie never wanted to help them rather, they undergo the usual process first of getting qualified for the program that would undergo checkups and assessments first before being approved for a guaranteed letter for the surgery or any other medical procedure. Cancer and other serious ailments may exceed the P20,000 cap limit per person that could reach up to a million since it is a serious case. Yes, stage 4 cancer is curable but if findings would show that there is no chance for the patient that doesn’t mean that they wont give any rather they will still give assistance only to prolong the lives of the cancer victim.
If Margie killed those cancer patients then how many have you killed when you were still the chairman Manoling?
Manoling said that what he’s doing is a personal commitment, and that the present PCSO is causing irreparable damage that could make or break the administration. Again his tongue spoke for itself when he said that the PCSO and Margie Juico has no heart for the poor and that he never saw her empathize with the poor people. If that’s the case Morato, who does? You? I always believe in the saying “if you’re not part of the solution, most definitely you are part of the problem”. I know that this is not the end of this issue, no one is letting their guards down but this is what I’m sure of, the truth will surely prevail.

Betting for charity

There’s nothing more fulfilling that giving to those who are in need, even when there’s only little to give. The reason most probably is our thriving culture, the way we were brought up and at most, if not all, our religious beliefs. It is astonishing to see that even the poor gives whatever little they can to help others. Students would even give donations from a portion of their lunch money, even I am guilty here, I can’t stand not giving those street children anything at all. Even if I know that their parents would take the money and use it for something else. We always have this kind of generosity for others, a willingness to help the underprivileged, a bond that keeps us together. This is the Filipino way.
This most probably is the reason why our country is called the most charitable in Asia because for as long as someone is in need, there will always be someone who will give. Or it could be the other way around: for as long as someone is willing to give, there will always be someone who is ready to ask, for what ever the reason they may have. They say that there is nothing more addictive and fulfilling than giving without expecting anything in return, but what if there is something that you could expect for? What if you can help others and get something back from it? Better right?
There is as such, we just tend to forget every time we bet and play the LOTTO, there is a portion of it that will be used to help others who are in need. PCSO can generate huge amount of funds that can support treatments for the needy. That is also one of the reasons why the PCSO chairmanship is one of the most-coveted government posts nowadays. There is just too much money made in this office that even Manoling Morato himself still wants to get involved on issues he shouldn’t be involved at. Even if you transfer the PCSO to some other rented out location, it continues to make money wherever it may be. betting in lotto has become a habit for many.one would know when the jackpot already reached hundreds of millions, its when people are starting to line up on betting stations at every street corner. thats the LOTTO effect… we think that were just playing the raffle draw but infact PCSO is alloting a part of it for charity.At this very moment, someone is receiving charity.who ever it may come from, I am certain that help will come in whatever form when the need arises. Generally, we are a good people. This goodness, whether innate or indoctrinated, is what drives our altruism...

The uncurable filipino disease

President Benigno Aquino III went to Thailand with his 52-men delegation with an allocated fund of P4.5 million. It was said that this would cover most of the expenses such as air fare, hotel accommodations, food, transportation, and telecommunications and equipment requirements and the purpose of the visit to Thailand is to seek, strengthen and to fortify the bilateral relations of our country with Thailand, as well as with the rest of our neighbors in the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Again people are reacting, P4.5 million is a huge amount. To think that the travel is pretty near our country, a lot would think that it is too much and would he really need to bring his 52-men delegation? Another add-on to the expenses…
Ok now, I think I see some trend here, remember when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her US entourage's had their said “lavish dinner” at Le Cirque and Bobby Van’s stake house? She had her cabinet secretaries and 27 congressmen who joined her in her US trip but they were merely invited guests in the two dinners, and that, as president, she is entitled to amenities befitting a head of state but somebody said that Mrs. Arroyo could be guilty of indirect bribery for letting private citizens pay for the expensive dinners. She may also be liable for unethical conduct since the code of ethics for public officials says they should “lead simple lives”. C’mon! How do you think a president could ever live a “NORMAL” life? Ok, now did I just state that they were invited? In fact, Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez is one of those who paid for the alleged $20,000 (around P1 million) dinner at the fancy Le Cirque restaurant.
Also, we can’t forget the so called luxury car of president Noynoy, It’s a Porsche! And it’s worth 4.5 million! (Also not a normal spending for a car) He bought this at the time of the oil price hike. A lot were irked with the thought of a president getting a luxury car when most people are living below the poverty line but did they know that it was a 3rd hand car and he had it in exchange to his BMW? No! Nobody knew at first, they thought that he used the government’s money for it but he didn’t. I don’t see anything wrong about selling an old car and getting a car loan for a better one, even if it’s a Porsche worth 4.5 million. Now would you rather see the head of our nation ride a Jeepney everyday to work?
There are and will be a lot of scandals that will be spread out with a malicious intent, hopefully these will educate the people but the problem is when people would easily believe on this rumors and gossips. They would just simply let others to think for themselves. As they say, “if you can’t beat them, Join them” or rather,” if you don’t know what the truth is, join the bigger group”. It’s really ironic that we see and react to other peoples action but fail to see our own mistakes. We quickly judge others but look at what were doing, were pulling others down. A scandal may be nothing more than a rumor that many of us try to believe without further knowledge of what’s really happening. Our country doesn’t need this kind of mentality. We are looking for ways to dishonor others by first dishonoring ourselves, this so called "crab mentality" is like a Filipino disease. we need cure, and we need it fast.

Jail + Money = Freedom!!!

Diokno is non- stop at pointing (middle?) fingers, if he’d be Edward scissor hands, I’m sure somebody’s cut already. He said he shouldn’t be the one to blame for the Leviste f*** up. that his office is not even near the prison gates, and also not the one who monitors the prisoners. Obviously Diokno, that’s why you sit behind a desk, you run the place and use your position to get someone to work for you. He keeps on washing his hands but the stench is still there. Point at one or two people and the whole country if you would but still it points back at you, Diokno.
Now here comes tita Miriam Defensor, as usual, “defending what she thinks is right” but this time I think she’s going too far. She approves of the pay to stay program. She said it would be a good help to rehabilitate and renovate the Bilibid prison. It would take P500 to P1000 to stay out of the congested area, in layman’s term, “outside prison”. Also accommodations would include a beautiful view of the lake, updated news papers, good food and bed, and also a mobile phone. “Doesn’t sound much of a prisoner to me” but if you really want to push it to its extent, you could get internet access and air-conditioning as well, of course for a higher price. Pretty much like what the Ampatuans availing right now.
The Commission on Human Right is against pay to stay. Who wouldn’t be? Why would you give the Ampatuan, Leviste and Jalosjos to name a few minimum security? Let’s cite one good example, Frank Chua “ real name Tsai Jung Shui” a convicted Taiwanese drug lord escaped the New Bilibid Prisons since 2004. it was said that before the escape, he was able to slip out of jail twice already, first was 1990 and second was at 2003, what’s funny is, no body noticed that Chua had escaped Bilibid for years now. His term carries a lifetime imprisonment but where is Chua? Dealing drugs again most probably and at the same time laughing at us, at how easy it is to get out of Bilibid. And even if he could not get out, the pay to stay program would provide him a mobile phone and internet access, enough to continue and manage his drug dealing empire.
Do we need this Pay to stay program? Would it be Just and Fair? While you guys are still pondering on this issue, frankly, I’d say NO. This wouldn’t help cut down crime rates, I guess the only time that would happened is when there’s a Pacquiao fight but think of it this way, money would never pay for the sins committed by those convicts. They should all be equally treated and most of all, no one should be above the law. What say you?