Media afraid of 1017

Afraid of 1017? Read this: http://news.inq7.net/nation/index.php?index=1&story_id=67693

What the heck, here it is in full (apologies for cut-and-paste, Sir Doronilla and INQ7):



ANALYSIS
1017: Press main target

First posted 06:13am (Mla time) Feb 27, 2006
By Amando Doronila
Inquirer



Editor's Note: Published on page A1 of the Feb. 27, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's proclamation of a state of national emergency on Friday has pushed the Philippines into the twilight zone of a failed democracy.

The failure of democracy was starkly highlighted by the swift crackdown on targeted political "enemies of the state" following the announcement of Proclamation No. 1017 on Friday morning.

Before ink of the President's signature on the proclamation had dried, police arrested two on the government's list of at least 10 people alleged to be part of the "tactical alliance" of mainstream opposition politicians, "military adventurers" and communist rebels "engaged in a concerted and systematic conspiracy to bring down the duly constituted government elected in May 2004 and raided the offices of the Tribune newspaper critical of the administration. Those arrested were former Philippine Constabulary chief Ramon Montaño and Representative Crispin Beltran, a leftist congressman representing the Anakpawis party-list group.

police actions left little doubt that the press has become a main target of the crackdown and the raids signaled a direct assault on the freedom of the press guaranteed by the Bill of Rights of the Constitution.

The raids have created apprehension in the media over what media organizations would be raided next, but the proclamation and general orders issued by the President to the national police to implement the proclamation have clearly indicated that press freedom has not been effectively curtailed in a degree not seen since President Ferdinand Marcos shut down newspapers and media networks in a total clampdown of the press following the declaration of martial law in September 1972.

The media should not have any illusion that Proclamation No. 1017 has effectively ended freedom of the press as they have known it.

Although the Marcos clampdown on media was total and sweeping, the Arroyo crackdown, which is being done incrementally, piecemeal and selectively, is no less a fatal body blow to press freedom, the first freedom to go under when a dictatorship is established. With the proclamation, Philippine democracy has lost one of its key underpinnings of political liberty.

More than the politicians and the members of the extreme Right and the extreme Left, the first victim of the crackdown is the media, accused by the administration of allegedly fueling political conspiracies aimed at overthrowing the government.

President Arroyo issued the proclamation in response to what it claimed was a systematic conspiracy of a tactical alliance of opposition politicians, military groups involved in coup plots and of communist rebels to overthrow the government. The thwarting of the plot triggered the proclamation.

The proclamation followed claims by the government that it had uncovered and aborted a plot to topple the government. The foiling of the plot led to the arrest last week of two senior officers – Brigadier General Danilo Lim and Colonel Ariel Querubin, brigade commander in Lanao del Sur.

The government claimed that Lim had planned to announce withdrawal of support of his unit for the government, that he had tried to persuade other military leaders to support the withdrawal, and that the withdrawal would have been the signal for the rebellious military units to join a general uprising together with civilian groups that had been demanding ouster of the Arroyo regime.

In announcing the thwarting of the plot, President Arroyo said, some officers had "tried to break out of the Armed Forces chain of command ... and establish a regime outside of the Constitution." The involvement of the press in the conspiracy, according to the President, is that the claims of "these elements" of the conspiracy as a tactical alliance of the "historical enemies of the democratic Philippine state" have been "recklessly" magnified by certain segments of the media.

To counter this conspiracy, the President invoked constitutional emergency powers that authorize her to call out the Armed Forces "to prevent and suppress rebellion" and authorize her to "temporarily take over or direct operation of any privately owned public utility or business affected with public interests."

The President ordered the Armed Forces "to maintain law and order throughout the Philippines, prevent or suppress all forms of lawless violence as well as any act of insurrection or rebellion, and to enforce obedience to all the laws and to all decrees, orders and regulations promulgated by me personally or upon my direction."

The proclamation gave a blanket authority to the military and national police in the implementation of the proclamation and in compliance of all presidential decrees and orders.

It is on the basis of these instructions that the Philippine National Police carried out the crackdown of the press. General Order No. 5 issued by the President last Friday gave the police and the military powers to carry out "necessary and appropriate actions and measures to suppress and prevent acts of terrorism."

PNP Director General Arturo Lomibao warned on Saturday the PNP would take over any media organization that would not follow "standards set by the government" during the national emergency. The setting up of standards defined by government in effect establishes censorship.

Lomibao said a government team would examine the editorial contents of newspapers and the news or views aired by broadcast stations to see if these conform to these standards. He said, "we will recommend (action) based on our evaluation." He said, "If they (the news groups) do not follow the standards -- and standards are if they would contribute to instability in the government, (or) if they do not subscribe to what is in General Order No. 5 and Presidential Proclamation No. 1017 -- we will recommend (a takeover)".

Violations of standards will be "left to the judgment of the PNP and other agencies that are empowered to implement the order. "Appropriate actions" refer to "actions which are hurting the Philippine state by obstructing government, including hindering the growth of the economy and sabotaging the people's confidence in government, and their faith in the future of this country."

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye has said the government would issue guidelines on stories that "contribute to the exacerbation of the national emergency. So far the guidelines have not been issued, but these would clearly amount to censorship. It was not clear yesterday whether the Tribune would be taken over by the government or whether its editors would be arrested. The presidential chief of staff, Michael Defensor, issued a yet another chilly warning to the media about the risks they faced in publishing stories that might be deemed inflammatory by the government. He said the raid on the Tribune offices was meant to show a "strong presence, to tell media outlets not to connive or do anything that would help the rebels in bringing down government."

The general order and these statements point to the takeover by government of a broad range of discretionary powers in deciding whether to take over media outlets, arresting journalists and stories are offensive to the State. Defensor said, while the government did not want to stifle press freedom, "This is an abnormal situation ... there is a possibility of an armed takeover of the government. A government has a right to protect itself."

The proclamation has forced the press to define how it would operate within these restraints in the exercise of freedom of the press on behalf of the people.


--http://news.inq7.net/nation/index.php?index=1&story_id=67693

Noise in Metro Manila

While the rest of the Philippines was working hard to continue pushing for national unity and development, some in Metro Manila have made noises again. Naman! Why can't they push for change silently yet effectively? Everyone knows their moves. What is this, a pool game? They should play it like chess.

Last Friday and again yesterday (Sunday), ABS-CBN and ANC were the only tv stations making blow-by-blow accounts of the activities of those days. And they were saying many times that media was not sleeping, was watching every move. True, perhaps. But why only them, doing the blow-by-blow? Are they the only ones in media then? Or don't they have any other show in their schedules. Oh, right, Wowowee has stopped airing for some time, so they might really have open time slots. And Sunday? Maybe Korina didn't have any show produced on her Balitang K, a friend of mine speculated. And why no show produced? We wonder.

Were the other media outlets afraid that government will take over their operations, especially that we are under the state of emergency, if they do this type of broadacast? Or are they only doing what is prudent? or right? or do they just don't care? or simply that the events did not merit more that the usual hourly updates and the local evening news broadcasts? You tell me.

The fact that ABS-CBN and ANC were not taken off the air should say something about the state of things, right?

Did anyone get to watch the premier telecast of the new Sharon Cuneta show on ABS-CBN last night? Or was it pre-empted by the "special coverage"? I don't know. I turned off the tv set when the scheduled start of Sharon's show passed, with ABS-CBN not saying anything about it. Perhaps I missed any announcement made. And I missed Shawie's show. Naman!

Stand down

Here are some words that could probably be meaningful for those who advocate for the destruction of the legitimate governments through viloent means, and those who want to usurp or cling to power as if they have the patent for it. Stand down.

The Way 151
Detachment. How hard it is! Oh, to be fastened by nothing but three nails and to have no more feeling in my flesh than the Cross

On censorship

US court won't review college censorship case
Wednesday, February 22, 2006

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- The Supreme Court declined Tuesday to decide whether university administrators can censor campus newspapers by insisting they be approved before publication.

Read on:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/EDUCATION/02/22/college.newspaper.reut/index.html

Feast of the Chair of St. Peter

Today, we celebrate the Feast of St. Peter.
We pray more fervently to God for the Pope.

Here are some words of St. Josemaria Escriva that we can find useful this day:

The Forge 638

Our Holy Mother the Church, in a magnificent outpouring of love, is scattering the seed of the Gospel throughout the world; from Rome to the outposts of the earth.

As you help in this work of expansion throughout the whole world, bring those in the outposts to the Pope, so that the earth may be one flock and one Shepherd: one apostolate!

Radio Developement

Is it any wonder that they are only for radio?

Here's how VDay is celebrated in Japan

Valentine's Day and White Day in Japan

By: Billy Hammond

The Japanese celebrate St. Valentine's day in a rather unique fashion. Women give the men gifts of chocolate as well as other gifts.

These gifts of chocolate are divided into two types: giri choco (obligatory chocolate) and honmei choco (chocolate for the man the woman is serious about). Giri choco is given by women to their superiors at work as well as to other male co-workers. It is not unusual for a woman to buy 20 to 30 boxes of this type of chocolate for distribution around the office as well as to men that she has regular contact with.

Needless to say, the approach of Valentine's Day is something that department stores and shops look forward to and promote with zeal because of its potential for increased sales. Large displays featuring chocolate usually with heart-shaped displays start to grace the floors of department stores from mid-January or so.

A woman will normally purchase boxes of giri choco in the several hundred yen range and may purchase an expensive box of honmei choco and another gift such as a necktie for her "special someone".

While all of this may seem quite one-sided, confectioners in Japan - never ones to miss an opportunity to sell more - took advantage of the Japanese feelings of obligation and created "White Day" in 1980 to help assuage the guilt feelings of those poor obligated males who received chocolate on Valentine's Day. On March 14th, exactly one month after Valentine's Day, men who were lucky enough to receive gifts of chocolate have the chance to return the favor by giving the women who gave them gifts of chocolate a more expensive box of chocolate or sweets (for some reason or other, these return gifts seem to be priced slightly higher than those the women purchase). Again, the stores provide plenty of reminders of the approach of this day so that even the most forgetful man cannot say that it slipped his mind. The gifts of chocolate that men buy are in white boxes (after all, it is "White Day") and come with separate shopping bags to put them in.

Tiger is the man

Tiger Woods over the weekend officially opened his $25M Tiger Woods Learning Center in Anaheim, California. See, Tiger isn't all golf. He is truly one of the greatest.

Here's a link to SI.com story:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/golf/02/10/tiger.learning.center.ap/index.html

Pictures during the sunset

Pictures I took of various areas of the sky at sunset. Lahug, Cebu City.

Wowowee

We want to find the cause of accident that caused the death of 70 plus before a game show in Manila last Saturday. There cannot be just one to be blamed. The organizers could have not prepared well for crowd control and people themselves were not prepared to form their lines and wait their turn. In the Philippines, I believe we do not have the culture of waiting patiently in line. If we want to be first, we have to line up first. Last Thursday, I was second in the line waiting to have my ticket checked before entering the pre-departure area for Superferry 12 (at Pier 4 terminal), and what do we see? Someone actually wanting to get ahead of me. I could have let it pass, but he looked me in the eye, and he caught my gaze, so he backtracked. It happens many times. Really.

Funny though, some have already concluded that it is the President (GMA) who is a fault. C'mon. Sure, I did not vote for her in 2004, but to put the blame on her for this tragedy is too much. Of course, it is not surprising also that she'd be blamed, for she has also been blamed for the rise of the world market price for crude oil. C'mon. C'mon.

Tiger Tiger

Tiger Woods has so far won 2 out of 2 tournaments he entered. Woods won the Dubai Desert Classic over Ernie Els on Sunday, forcing a one-hole playoff against the defending champion with birdies on the last two holes of regulation.

I was happy that Martina won over Masha (6-3, 6-1) in the semis at Tokyo. Too bad she lost on a rout in the finals by Elena Dementieva's big serves and returns, falling 6-2, 6-0.

The Steelers went on the win SB 40, their fifth SB win.

ACMilan out of the Italian Cup

MILAN BOW OUT OF CUP
1/31/2006 11:03:00 PM

Milan waved goodbye to this season’s Italian Cup following a 3-0 defeat at Palermo. The result sent the Rossoneri out of the competition 3-1 on aggregate and handed new Rosanero coach Giuseppe Papadopulo a debut victory. After almost scoring inside the first eight minutes through Kakà, Milan were undone in an eight-minute goal-spell, as first Nicolas Mariano Gonzalez and then Andrea Caracciolo turned the tie around in the Sicilian side’s favour. A further goal from Gonzalez earlier in the second half left Carlo Ancelotti’s side with a mountain to climb and despite a number of goalscoring chances, home goalkeeper Mariano Andujar was in fine form and the first piece of silverware has gone by the wayside.

--http://www.acmilan.com/index.aspx

Sports update

Tiger. All about Tiger. He wins his first title this year at the Buick Invitational. From seven off the leaderboard going into the last day, he makes a birdie on the 18th (his first on the 18th in four tries), for a play-off with Olazabal and Green. It ended in the 2nd play-off hole.

Fed Express won in four sets over Baghdatis in the Australian Open, after losing the first set. Mauresmo on Saturday won her first Slam against Justine, who retired down 2-0 in the second set. Justine had stomach cramps. She lost the first set 1-6. The press scathing of Justine's retirement in the finals has not let down. One writer called it "disgraceful". Martina Hingis won the Aussie mixed doubles 6-3, 6-3.

Oh, Masha is seeded #1 at the Toray Pan Pacific in Tokyo, where she is defending champion.

Bye Kim

It's bye-bye Kim Clijsters at the Australian Open. She was forced to withdraw because of an ankle injury while down 2-3 in the third set against Amelie Mauresmo. So it's Justine vs. Amelie.

Masha loses

Maria Gruntapova loses to Justine Henin in three sets after taking the first set 6-4. If Kim wins against Amelie in the other semifinal, Australian Open '06 will be the 45th Grand Slam where the two women finalists come from the same nation (in this case Belgium). Win or lose, Kim gets the #1 ranking again.

He says, She says

Former Sen. Sonny Osmeña described Gov. Garcia’s move (meet with barangay captains) as “ilad” (deception) and her trips to the different towns as “paigat-igat.”

Kay kadtong meeting niya kagahapon, ilad kadto kay si Governor Garcia maghisgut man ug projects apan mangutana ko, hasta karon unsa may iyang projects gyud nga matudlo nga iyang nahimo, pulos man lang yaw-yaw, wa man gihimo (That meeting was a sham. She would have kept talking about projects when, to date, she has not done anything).

Wa gyu’y bili. Yawyaw-yawyaw, yawyaw-yawyaw, unya paigat-igat, unya larga. Unya inig larga niya, saad ug mga projects.
Unya unsa ma’y nahitabo? Wala.

But then, Gov. Garcia says:

“I had not realized nga ang akong paigat-igat dunay nasakit nga laing igat. Naanad na man ta nianang iyang outlandish remarks. I will not even dignify the ranting of this lonely man."

Then again:

“It takes one (igat) to know one. Ang mga tawo ang pasulti-a, dili siya.”

Tennis updates

Unseeded seed-killer Marcos Baghdatis continues on to the semis against David Nalbandian.

No. 1 seed Lindsay Davenport lost to Justine Henin-Hardenne in three sets at the Australian Open. This loss could jeopardize her #1 ranking. Justine goes up against grunt-queen Masha in the first semifinals match (Maria won in two sets -- 1st set tie-break -- against Petrova).

Swiss miss Martina Hingis plays Kim Clijsters and Patty Schnyder goes up against Amelie Mauresmo today. Kim and Amelie may get the number one ranking if they win this tournament.

In my book she's a hero, but a little weird. They ought to change the way they do things.

Texas Firefighter Gives Birth, Takes Exam

By PAM EASTON, Associated Press Writer Tue Jan 17, 11:05 PM ET

HOUSTON - A firefighter took a promotion exam just 12 hours after giving birth because of a state law requiring all promotion candidates to be tested at once.
Beda Kent gave birth Jan. 10, slept for a little more than two hours and popped some painkillers before taking the exam. She scored 104 out of 110 and expects to return from maternity leave in March as a captain with a $6,000 raise.
"I wanted that promotion," Kent said of the job she had sought for two years. "I feel I was overdue for this promotion."
When she was six months' pregnant, Kent learned the test would be given on Jan. 11 — just four days after her due date.
She asked if a proctor could administer the exam at the hospital if necessary, but was told there could be no exceptions, except for firefighters on active military duty.
Kent's doctor tried to induce labor on Jan. 4, but discovered doing so could cause complications and force a Caesarean birth, with a longer recovery that would take away from Kent's time to study.
After her daughter was born, Kent left the infant named Brina Sue at the hospital within hours. Houston Fire Chief Phil Boriskie had an ambulance on standby at the test site in case Kent needed it, she said. "After a while, it did get to be uncomfortable, and thank God they did give us 2 1/2 hours to take the test because I had to readjust and refocus," Kent said.
After the exam, Kent's insurance did not allow her to be readmitted to the hospital so she and her husband returned every four to five hours to nurse the new baby. "We made the best of it for the next 36 hours," Kent said.
"It was tough." Houston Fire Capt. Gilbert Bennett said the rules are intended to ensure that firefighters don't gain an unfair advantage by learning about the exam from test-takers, then taking it later.
But Bennett said the fire department would likely evaluate the regulation. "By all means, we want what is best for the child and the mom," he said.
Terese Floren, executive director of Women in the Fire Service Inc., acknowledged that the fire department was probably powerless because of the law, but said women shouldn't be forced to choose between having a family and a career.
Kent, who has worked for the Houston Fire Department for 12 years, opted to take the test because missing it would have meant waiting at least two years before the next promotion exam. But, she said, the department should accommodate those with legitimate medical excuses.
"The law said that they didn't have to, but they could have sent a proctor," Kent said. "The test is in a sealed envelope. It shouldn't have been a problem."

--http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060118/ap_on_re_us/firefighter_childbirth

Hurray Petra Schneider!

Craig Neff in "Inside Olympic Sports" at SI.com says:

"... former East German swimmer Petra Schneider, an Olympic champion in 1980, recently told a German TV network that she wants her national record in the 400-meter individual medley nullified because it was aided by doping. How about some applause for Schneider for a show of integrity?

--http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/craig_neff/01/16/hot.list/index.html

Golf update

Last week, Stuart Appleby went to win his third straight victory in the Mercedes Championships, this time around in a play-off with still-putting disaster Vijay Singh (he actually led one shot going into the last three holes). Tiger Woods did not play.

Michelle Wie shot a 79 at the first round of the Sony Open, happening in Hawaii, leaving her with very little hope of making the cut in his 4th attempt in the PGA. If she misses the cut, then she'll have more time to prepare for her first LPGA tournament in 2006, the Kraft Nabisco, which will be played March 30-April 2 at Mission Hills Country Club. Morgan Pressel gets to play too.

Only in the Philippines: A New President, by personal acclaim

AMID persistent reports of coup plots to oust President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, a retired general proclaimed himself president of a transition government shortly before midnight on Tuesday.

General Fortunato Abat described his action as peaceful takeover, even as he called on police and military forces to withdraw support from President Arroyo and "protect the sovereign right of the people."

The 80-year-old retired general made the announcement before an audience of about 300 people at the Club Filipino in the municipality of San Juan, in Metro Manila.

Arroyo, attending a summit of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Kuala Lumpur, has been haunted by a monthslong drive to remove her from power, and coup rumors rose to a new crescendo in the days before her departure Sunday.

Addressing a news conference in Kuala Lumpur, the President declined to comment on the reported coup plot.

But security officials in Manila dismissed the supposed military takeover as "blind rumors" even as Philippine police chief General Arturo Lomibao on Tuesday placed police forces on a full alert status, convened the crisis committee, and directed the intelligence services to validate the reports.

Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Generoso Senga said the soldiers remained loyal to the Constitution and the chain of command.

Abat, a former Army chief and defense secretary, is convener of the right-wing Coalition for National Solidarity which has been calling on Arroyo to step down.

When the wiretaps scandal broke out in June, Abat called for the establishment of a civilian-military junta and offered himself to head it.

The 117,000-strong military has a history of unrest and played key roles in the ouster of dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986 and jailed former president Joseph Estrada in January 2001.

Two years ago, about 300 soldiers, led by young officers, occupied the ritzy Oakwood Hotel and a nearby shopping mall in the capital's financial district and rigged the area with bombs. They surrendered peacefully after about 20 hours.

The coup rumors have been swirling since June, when vote-rigging allegations against Arroyo prompted several cabinet members to resign and key political allies and left-wing groups to call for her resignation.

She survived an impeachment attempt in September when her majority allies in the House of Representatives junked three impeachment bids on a technicality. Opponents continue to call for her resignation and hold occasional small street protests.

--http://news.inq7.net/breaking/index.php?index=2&story_id=59883

One more for the family (Stan Van Gundy)

Stan Van Gundy resigned as Miami Heat coach. The "legendary Pat Riley" will coach the Heat again. But what is amazing is Van Gundy's reason to "go home." Great!

from SI.com

Van Gundy has always professed to being a family-first man, someone who abhors road trips and the idea of spending holidays away from his wife and four children. He said that because of travel, games and practices, he would have seen his children at home only 49 days out of 170 this season.

"That's just not enough any more for me. It's just not enough," Van Gundy said. "I mean, it's been like that for my kids' entire lives. I've got a 14-year-old daughter and it started to hit me when I started thinking about her birthday, which was last month. I've got four more years left with her. Four. And then she'll be off to college and I'm just not willing to sacrifice any more of those four more years."

Van Gundy said he began wrestling with the balance between job and family during the preseason, and told Riley after the regular-season opener at Memphis that they needed to talk about the future.

"I can't believe people have that big a problem actually believing that someone would actually want to spend time with their family," Van Gundy said. "I don't know why that's so hard for people to buy into."

Watt's wrong?

Watt's wrong?

Tiger wins his 7th PGA POY

Tiger wins his 7th PGA Player of the Year award. Go Tiger!

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/golf/12/06/bc.glf.woods.award.ap/index.html

SI's Alan Shipnuck says it well

Alan Shipnuck says it well.

My Sportsman Choice: Jack Nicklaus

By Alan Shipnuck

In 1980, Jack Nicklaus was honored by SI as Sportsman of the Year. The then-40-year-old Bear had just completed a season during which he won the U.S. Open and PGA Championship, quieting talk that his epic career was entering its twilight. That Sportsman was a celebration of his golf. Now Nicklaus deserves the award again, and it has nothing to do with birdies and bogies. In the past year no athlete has displayed more grace or humanity. Nicklaus has long been known not only as golf's greatest champion, but also its most dignified loser. As Jack has said his goodbyes this year it has been a reminder of how much he has meant to golf, and how much he will be missed.

Nicklaus's game may have rendered him a ceremonial golfer, but he can still command the spotlight. This year he stole the show at two of sports' grandest stages, Augusta National and the Old Course. His final Masters was particularly wrenching because only five weeks earlier Nicklaus's grandson Jake had drowned in a hot tub. Most athletes come into view during their youthful prime and then disappear before they fade away. But generations have grown up watching Nicklaus as he has evolved from overpowering prodigy to doting father to middle aged warrior to dignified elder statesman. We are in an era in which the game's best player has built a fortress around his inner-self, but throughout his life and career Nicklaus always let the public in. When he teared up striding his final fairway at the Masters, a nation cried along with him.

His final British Open was no less emotional. The putt of the year in golf may have been Nicklaus's birdie on his last hole at the Old Course, which was witnessed by dozens of players who ringed the green in a showing of appreciation and respect. You may not root for any of them, but Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els all have class, a precious commodity in pro sports. It's no accident that all of them grew up idolizing Nicklaus and have been mentored by him throughout their careers.

The true measure of Nicklaus is not his unprecedented 18 major championships, but his relevance in a sport that he has been shaping since 1960. In September, at the Presidents Cup, a U.S. team that has long been ripped for its apathy played its collective heart out for Capt. Jack, bringing him a victory that he claimed was the most satisfying moment of his career. A second Sportsman would be a nice way to end this momentous year. Only one other person has won two Sportsmans, and for a change wouldn't it be nice to see Jack tying one of Tiger's records, and not the other way around?

Impending storm

Rain was about to come. It poured a few minutes after these shots were taken. But it was short-lived.

Sunset at Bantayan Island

I was waiting for the Manila Bay sunset type all week. It came on Friday, but I was so far out into the water that I had no time to take a shot. I settled for these shots on other days.

Back again

Came back from Kota Beach, Sta. Fe, Bantayan. Took charge of a seminar. It was work. The sun and sand were too good to pass. I had my tan (burns, actually!)

Tiger's 2005 golf year

Here's SI's Chris Lewis in Inside Golf ... The Year In Review: The Tour season's over, so time to hand out awards. He gives Tiger Woods 6 "awards" in 20 categories.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Annika Sorenstam and Tiger Woods (tie)
There's no arguing with two majors in a single year, but in 2005 two players got it done. Annika had three more total victories (9 vs. 6), but Tiger balanced the scales by virtue of the resurgence factor, bouncing back from his worst-ever season.

MOST MEMORABLE SHOT OF THE YEAR: Surprise! Tiger's chip-in at the 16th at Augusta
My favorite thing about the videotape is how the picture shudders after the ball drops in. Folks, that camera was fixed to the ground. The usually reserved Augusta patrons went so bonkers that the earth actually moved.

HAIRDO OF THE YEAR: Tiger's Presidents Cup leopard spots
Which leads directly to another category -- Unasked Question of the Year: Tiger, if you lost that bet, who won it?

UNSHAKEN LEGACY OF THE YEAR: Tiger's 2000
Watching how hard Woods had to work to earn two majors this year made the idea of winning three virtually inconceivable -- and therefore made his 2000 season even more mind-boggling. Woods hates it when we compare him to his old self, but he shouldn't blame us -- he's a victim of the magic he made five years ago.

FREAK OCCURRENCE OF THE YEAR: Notah Begay and Tom Pernice throttle friends (and playing partners) Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh at the Funai Classic
It was like Robin beating up Batman twice in the same comic book.

TOURNAMENT OF THE YEAR: The Masters
It wasn't just the pairing of the game's best player (Woods) and the only guy who rivals him in the category of Refusal to Give Up (DiMarco). It was the depths they rose from --Tiger putting off the 15th green on Thursday, and DiMarco finishing his third round on Sunday morning with a slew of bogeys. But most of all, it was the way it ended, with Tiger's tearful dedication of the victory to his ailing father. It was the most emotional we may ever see Woods, and retroactively seated the entire event in a more profound, almost mythic context.

Keeping our fingers crossed

Experts: 12% VAT to unleash bull run, P52:$1

First posted 01:21am (Mla time) Nov 10, 2005
By Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.
Inquirer News Service

Editor's Note: Published on page A1 of the Nov. 10, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

RAISING the value-added tax (VAT) rate from 10 percent to 12 percent by January next year will ignite a three-month rally of the peso and the stocks, according to market experts.

"Raising the VAT to 12 percent will solidify investors' view that this government is committed to putting its fiscal house in order and erase lingering doubts about the President's political resolve," said Jose Arnulfo "Wick" Veloso, treasurer of HSBC Philippines.

The British banking giant is the world's fifth largest in terms of assets.

"It will unleash a bull run across the board for at least three months," he said.

In the three-month burst of investor exuberance, Veloso expects the peso to hit the 52 to the dollar mark and interest rates on T-bills to go down by as much as one percentage point, or equivalent to P25 billion.

The VAT law, the centerpiece of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's economic reform program, contains a provision empowering the President to raise the tax rate to 12 percent by Jan. 1 should the VAT collections as a percentage of the previous year's gross domestic product (GDP) exceed 2.8 percent or the national government deficit as a percentage of GDP exceed 1.5 percent.

Finance Secretary Margarito Teves had said that based on current performance, it was inevitable that Ms Arroyo would increase the tax rate. The tax is aimed at reducing the government's massive budget deficit.

'Flood of funds'

At the stock market, raising the VAT to 12 percent would jack up the Phisix, the key Philippine stock market barometer, by at least 25 percent to the 2,600 level or back to the bourse's peak in 1999, according to former Philippine Stock Exchange chair Wilson Sy.

"The move will unleash a flood of funds from portfolio managers hungry for a recovery play in the region. Investors will look at the Philippines in a different light," Sy said.

Largely because of the implementation of the expanded VAT on Nov. 1, Philippine stocks are now back on portfolio managers' radar screen after six years, according to Sy.

The stock market yesterday hit its highest level in eight months because of heavy foreign buying.

The imposition of the VAT on fuel and power and the increase in corporate income tax from 32 percent to 35 percent have buoyed up Swiss banking giant UBS' outlook on the Philippines.

It projects the peso to hit 54 by the end of the year and 53 by the end of the next. It also expects interest rates on Philippine foreign debt to drop nearly 2 percentage points.

Long ride on bull's back

The market euphoria could extend beyond three months, according to Veloso.

"After three months, investors would know by then whether the 12 percent VAT has translated to higher revenue collections. If it has, then the Philippines will be up for a very, very long ride on the back of the bulls."

Veloso said the market's exuberance could peak in the first full year of implementation of the 12 percent VAT when investors would have confirmed whether the tax was indeed the panacea for the government's chronic budget deficit.

"We expect a significant change in the market outlook, an inevitable upgrade in the country's credit rating," he said.

Singapore

I'll be in Singapore for two weeks beginning tomorrow. Let's see if I can spend time to do some blog while there. Training/workshop. Killer schedule

Updates

It's been a long time. Been busy with trips and other stuff that made blogging very difficult.
So what's up?
The Rossoneri: 6th (quotient) in Serie A (1-1); 3-1 win over Fenerbahce in their Champions League group stage opening game. They have new shirt designs this season.
Tiger is still number 1. That's for sure.
Masha lost to KimC at the semis of the US Open, who eventually won her first grand slam event against Mary Pierce. Davenport is still number 1, I think.
The US got back the Solheim.

PGMA sneeked past her impeachment complaint (158-51).

THAT SOMETHING EXTRA

from acmilan.com

THAT SOMETHING EXTRA

8/23/2005 9:12:00 AM

Everyone involved with the Rossoneri will remember the letter received from UEFA after the Champions League final. It thanked Milan for the part they played in the competition and in a way was an acknowledgment of a moral victory on that cruel night in the Ataturk against Liverpool where from neutral eyes both sides deserved merit for the quality of play. Milan have been awarded in type in the 21 nominations for the UEFA Champions League Awards 2004-05, with three defenders, two midfielders and an attacker which works out at least 30 per cent of the shortlist. Naturally, there is Kaka and Andriy Shevchenko, the former the star of the first half in Istanbul, the later having what looked like a good goal disallowed in the second. Significantly, two great veterans of the game, Paolo Maldini and Cafu are amongst the candidates as is Alessandro Nesta in defence. Then there is Andrea Pirlo in midfield and of course, Nelson Dida, who made a major impression throughout the competition, vying for the goalkeeper position. Each one of Milan’s candidates at the Montecarlo gala event will be looking ahead to the 2005-06 Champions League season and will be giving it their all to reach Paris and lay Istanbul to rest.

UEFA CLUB FOOTBALL AWARDS

8/23/2005 9:06:00 AM

MONTECARLO - Here are shortlists of the nominations:

GOALKEEPERS: Buffon (Juventus), Cech (Chelsea), Dudek (Liverpool).

DEFENDERS: Cafu, Nesta and Maldini (Milan), Carragher and Hyppia (Liverpool), Terry (Chelsea).

MIDFIELDERS: Ballack (Bayern), Gerrard (Liverpool), Kakà and Pirlo (Milan), Juninho (Lione), Lampard (Chelsea), Van Bommel (Psv).

STRIKERS: Adriano (Inter), Eto’o and Ronaldinho (Barcellona), Park (Psv), Shevchenko (Milan).

What Madonna and I have in common

... a broken collarbone

from CNN

NEW YORK (AP) -- Madonna's 47th birthday celebration was marred when she suffered several broken bones in a horse riding accident at her country home outside London, her publicist told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

The superstar was hospitalized with three cracked ribs, a broken collarbone and a broken hand, according to Liz Rosenberg, her spokeswoman based in New York.

The accident occurred Tuesday at Ashcombe house, her estate outside of London.

Madonna and an assistant were riding horses, when Madonna, on a new horse she wasn't accustomed to riding, took a tumble. Her children, Rocco and Lourdes, were at the home but were not with their mother at the time, Rosenberg said.

"The whole family was out in the country, celebrating her birthday," Rosenberg said.

Her husband, director Guy Ritchie, took Madonna to an undisclosed hospital, where she was treated. Rosenberg said the entertainer was expected to be released later in the evening.

ACM beats Juventus

from acmilan.com

MILAN DOWN JUVENTUS

8/14/2005 10:56:00 PM

Milan came from a goal down to lift the 15th edition of the Luigi Berlusconi Trophy at the San Siro on Sunday evening, thanks to second-half goals from Kaka and Serginho. Juventus took the lead on 20 minutes when Patrick Vieira latched on to a through-ball before lifting his shot over the advancing Dida. Milan came back into the game and Kaka went close on two occasions. However, the Rossoneri took control after the break and the equaliser was finely executed as Clarence Seedorf slipped the ball wide on the right for Andriy Shevchenko who checked back before rolling a pass to Kaka who finished precisely with a low first-time shot. Rui Costa was then only denied a spectacular goal by the inside of the post as the Portuguese playmaker received a chipped pass from Andrea Pirlo and fired a thunderous shot off the woodwork. And it was Rui Costa who set up the Rossoneri winner, with a diagonal ball over the top of the defence for Serginho to run on to and the Brazilian finished with a crisp left-footed shot into the corner of the net to round off a convincing performance from Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

First woman hired as White House head chef

CNN reports that the White House has a new head chef . . .

... Cristeta Comerford -- the first woman to take the top spot in the executive kitchen.

Comerford has been an assistant chef at the White House for 10 years, working under former executive chef Walter Scheib III, who resigned in February.

Mrs. Bush has been trying out applicants for the job in recent months, asking them to prepare test meals at special functions and private meals at the residence.

Comerford developed the menu for last month's honorary dinner for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The 134 dinner guests dined on chilled asparagus soup and lemon creme; pan-roasted halibut, ginger-carrot butter, basmati rice with pistachio nuts and currants and herbed summer vegetables; and salad of Bibb lettuces and citrus vinaigrette.

"I am delighted that Cris Comerford has accepted the position of White House Executive Chef," Mrs. Bush said in a statement. "Her passion for cooking can be tasted in every bite of her delicious creations."

A naturalized U.S. citizen from the Phillipines, Comerford has a bachelor's degree in Food Technology from the University of the Philippines. She has worked at Le Ciel in Vienna, Austria and at restaurants in two Washington hotels -- the Westin and the ANA.

CNN misspelled Philippines!

Cool Lizard

Liz was cooling off. Stayed on for about an hour as my family was in a get-together (CdO).

Adidas buys Reebok

Adidas is set to buy Reebok. The two companies will retain their brands however. Your original Reeboks will not be collector's items yet.

Here's from SI.com . . .


Adidas to buy Reebok in deal worth $3.8 billion

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) -- By combining Adidas' popularity in Europe among soccer and athletics fans with Reebok's appeal to U.S. fans of basketball and football, the architects of the $3.8 billion sportswear and athletic gear deal hope to create a more muscular rival to world leader Nike.

Adidas-Salomon AG said Wednesday it has agreed to buy Reebok International Ltd. for $59 a share that combines two major brands with links to both athletics and lifestyle. That was a healthy 34 percent premium over Reebok's closing price Tuesday.

...

PedXing and Skywalk

Perhaps . . . Cebu City's most disregarded traffic sign . . .

More than 50% say PGMA is acceptable

PULSE ASIA NATIONWIDE SURVEY
Nearly 1 in 2 say Arroyo 'unacceptable' person to lead RP
26% say De Castro 'best person to lead' RP

By Joel Francis Guinto
INQ7.net

NEARLY one in two Filipinos (47 percent) consider Arroyo as being an "unacceptable" person to lead the country now while one in three believe her resignation and impeachment to pave the way for snap elections is the "best" way out of the political crisis, according to an independent survey released Thursday.

While only 17 percent of the 1,200 respondents nationwide favor the constitutional succession of Vice President Noli de Castro once Arroyo resigns or is impeached, 26 percent believe the ex-television broadcaster is the "best person to lead the country now," Pulse Asia Inc. said in its Ulat ng Bayan (Report of the Nation) survey conducted from July 2 to 14.

The study covered the period after Arroyo apologized for improperly calling up an elections officer during the canvass and after influential personalities and groups joined calls for her resignation. It had a margin of error of +/-3 percent at a confidence level of 95 percent.

It was done before Arroyo's State of the Nation Address, where she made a big push for a shift to a federal-parliamentary form of government.

When asked what the "most beneficial or constructive political scenario" is, the top response was Arroyo's resignation or impeachment and the holding of snap elections (34 percent), followed by Arroyo's resignation and impeachment and De Castro's succession to her post (17 percent), Arroyo's finishing her term until 2010 (16 percent), Arroyo's resignation and the establishment of a junta (15 percent), Arroyo's serving as a transition leader who will oversee charter change (10 percent), and Arroyo's removal from office through whatever means, constitutional or extra-constitutional (7 percent).

When asked what is the "most inimical or destructive political scenario" is, the leading answer was Arroyo's finishing her term until 2010 (22 percent), followed by a military takeover (19 percent), foreign government intervention (17 percent), snap elections (16 percent), the military installing a group of politicians into power after a coup (14 percent), and De Castro's succession to the presidency (11 percent).

Placing second to De Castro in the list for "best person to lead the country now" is Senator Panfilo Lacson (21 percent), followed by former president Joseph Estrada (11 percent), the late Fernando Poe Jr.'s widow, Susan Roces (10 percent), Arroyo (7 percent), Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. (4 percent), former president Fidel Ramos (3 percent), evangelist Brother Eddie Villanueva (2 percent), Senator Rodolfo Biazon (2 percent) and former defense secretary Fortunato Abat (0.03 percent).

In second position in the list of "persons not acceptable to lead the country" following Arroyo is Villanueva (28 percent), Ramos (25 percent), Abat (21 percent), Roces (20 percent), Estrada (20 percent), Lacson (20 percent), Davide (18 percent), Biazon (12 percent), and De Castro (12 percent).

When asked who is the "best person" to lead the country, the respondents were allowed one response. On the question of "unacceptable" persons to lead the country, the respondents were allowed three answers.

If only the first of the three answers to the "unacceptable" leader question were ranked, Abat will top the list with 21 percent, followed by Arroyo (14 percent), Estrada (12 percent), Davide (12 percent), De Castro (9 percent), Biazon (8 percent), Lacson (8 percent), Villanueva (3 percent), Roces (3 percent), and Ramos (3 percent).

Additional buzzwords some here in RP like to use ... very often

"moral ascendancy" and "credible leadership"

Estrada asks court to grant him bail

Estrada asks court to grant him bail. My, my, what will it be next time?

Pres. GMA State of the Nation Address

Every year, we meet on this day in this great hall to celebrate democracy and take stock of the nation: the country and its condition; the government and its performance; the people and their well-being.

Ours is a country divided; the story of our nation is a tale of two Philippines; almost, as it were, two countries under the same name.

One is the Philippines whose economy, after long years of cumulative national endeavor, is now poised for take off. The other is the Philippines whose political system, after equally long years of degeneration, has become a hindrance to progress.

As a country on the verge of take-off, our storyline would surprise many at home and abroad. The story includes an economy that grew more than 6 percent last year and that has continued to work in the teeth of the biggest oil price hikes in history, while generating four million jobs in the last four years.

The story includes marked improvements in tax collections, infrastructure housing construction, shelter, security for the urban poor and indigenous peoples, and rice productivity.

The story includes 69 million beneficiaries of health care insurance, including 30 million indigents, whose re-enrollment started early this year and is still ongoing.

That same story, over four years, saw the drug menace cut in half, the rash of kidnappings become a thing of the past, and insurgency in the South abated.

This story should work itself out as one about an economy as resilient and full of potential as its people are patient and hardworking, guided by a government--with the executive and the legislative hand-in-hand--that is able to pass a no-nonsense budget and make the tough decisions to put our fiscal house in order.

I specially refer to our recent titanic struggle to enact the three laws that comprised the biggest fiscal package in our history, the biggest revenue increase in a generation that will break the vicious cycle of financing development by borrowing and having to borrow again just to service those loans. This is the one reform that will snap the chain that has bound our future to a profligate past and the debt-burdened present. The Filipino's strong sense of family has given Congress a stronger resolve not to pass on today's debt, and bankrupt our children and grandchildren tomorrow. That struggle has done the House and the Senate great honor. Congratulations.

Abroad, the story continues. We’ve worked long and hard to restore our country to the prominent place it once held as co-founder of the United Nations and the Free World's first line of defense in the East. We won a seat in the UN Security Council, where we presided over the landmark resolution calling for democracy in Iraq. The Philippines chaired the historic conference on interfaith cooperation for peace at the UN, the fruit of a bold and creative initiative by your Speaker of the House.

We head the APEC anti-terrorism task force. Our victories in the war on terror have been acknowledged by no less than president Bush before the US National Defense University. The Jemaah Islamiyah and the Abu Sayyaf can only pick up the pieces of its broken backbone in Mindanao.

We’ve worked with the Organization of the Islamic Conference to forge peace with our Muslim brothers. Eighty percent of our peace talks with them have been completed. Permanent peace in Mindanao is within reach.

Indeed, our story as a country on the verge of take off is real. Analysts need only to look at our stock market, and even the peso-dollar exchange rate, to sense the strong anticipation of significant improvements, if only we would overcome the tendency to be our own worst enemy.

Thus, with investors both here and abroad in mind, I invite you all to join me in sending them a strong message from this great hall: We will not waver in our commitment to economic reform and fiscal discipline, whatever the political cost.

The other message to send is that we will address the burden that the other Philippine story imposes on our anticipated take-off. I refer to the story of how our political system has now become a hindrance to our national progress.

Over the years, our political system has degenerated to the extent that it is difficult for anyone to make any headway yet keep his hands clean. To be sure, the system is still capable of achieving great reforms. But, by and large, our political system has betrayed its promise to each new generation of Filipinos, not a few of whom are voting with their feet, going abroad and leaving that system behind.

Perhaps we politicians have done our best; But maybe our best is not enough, given the present system. Perhaps we have strained the present political system to its final limit.

It is time to turn to the people, bring them into government -- and change the way that government is done.

The people want government that works for them at every level. They want good government that begins at their doorstep in the barangay [village-ed], and does not end before the closed door of a bureaucrat in Metro Manila.

The system clearly needs fundamental change, and the sooner the better. It's time to start the great debate on charter change.

We must address such questions as how much more government is needed for the greater safety and economic security of our people, and how much less government is more conducive to free enterprise and economic progress.

The mode of Charter change is the exclusive prerogative of Congress. But a constituent assembly may well give our people the quickest reforms.

I shall work with Congress, civil society groups and local government executives who are convinced that Charter changes are needed to enable the country to surmount the unprecedented challenges of the 21st century.

I take this opportunity to acknowledge the local government executives who have brought about an LGU power revolution through transformative leadership.

The economic progress and social stability of the provinces, along with the increasing self-reliance and efficiency of political developments and public services there, make a compelling case for federalism.

Perhaps it's time to take the power from the center to the countryside that feeds it.

I recognize that our form of government will be the decision of the body constituted to undertake Charter change. But we should consider that legislation could be quickened and laws made more responsive to the people under a parliamentary system, similar to that of our progressive neighbors in the region.

But even as we make a serious start in Charter change, I hope we can still work together on other initiatives to the lasting benefit of our people.

In the area of education, we've spent our increased resources on better trained teachers in more classrooms, teaching students in more effective ways. We’ve laid a strong foundation by building almost 30,000 classrooms in the past four years, providing computer access to more than 3,000 high schools, and beginning a "healthy start" breakfast program for our young school children.

I ask Congress to pass the Pre-Need Code to rehabilitate, reform and regulate the pre-need educational programs that worked so well in the past as a major vehicle for youth education entitlement.

College education is the great Filipino dream. But in a world of rapid technological change, getting a job or keeping it depends as much on how well one reasons as how well one uses his hands. I have issued E.O. 358 so that hours spent in vocational training can be credited towards a college degree. That will combine job readiness with the dream of a college education while increasing the competitiveness of our nation.

But our competitiveness is greatly endangered today by the global oil crisis. I call on Congress to pass legislation encouraging renewable and indigenous energy.

In the area of national security, I urge the swift passage of an anti-terrorism law that will protect rather than subvert, enhance rather than weaken, the rights and liberties that terrorism precisely threatens with extinction.

These examples serve to highlight that there is much work to be done.

Now is not the time for divisiveness, and while there's no avoiding partisan politics, there can be a determined effort by all sides to limit the collateral damage on a country poised for take-off.

Let’s call on the Lord. Let us ask Him for the grace to make us worthy of His healing our land.

Alam kong tayong lahat ay naghahangad ng isang makabuluhang pagbabago para sa ating bayan. Tayong lahat ay nagsisikap para matamo ang kapayapaan at kaunlaran. Kung kaya't ako'y nakikiusap na tulungan ninyo ako, para sa kapakanan ng taong bayan.

We may disagree among ourselves but let us never lose sight of that greater battle for one people, one country, one Philippines.

Not the country of this or that president but the Philippines of our shared and passionate affections.

Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat.

Forza!

THE POWER OF THREE

Milan made their debut in the 2005 World Series of Football in front of a passionate American crowd. The first friendly against Chelsea in Boston did not end as expected for the Rossoneri who were edged out by Jose Mourinho’s Blues thanks to Arjen Robben’s strike on 13 minutes. The game, however, offered plenty of emotion for the 25,000 fans gathered in the Gillette Stadium and also gave Carlo Ancelotti the occasion to test the three-man defence in the second half, which gave positive signs for the future. There were an array of stars on show, with Hernan Crespo coming up against Bobo Vieri - Milan’s attacking past against the present. Kakhaber Kaladze played from the first minute, while the playmaking pairing of Manuel Rui Costa and Serginho were called up to support Vieri. The first half produced the most spectacular and open football although tiredness from the early pre-season camp took over in the final stages. Coach Ancelotti was satisfied with his men's display despite the outcome, and said: 'I'm happy, we are testing new solutions and I saw an excellent organisation on the flanks in the first half.' Manuel Rui Costa was on the same wavelength: 'The opponents were ahead of us in the preparation, bue we were able to do what the coach claimed from us, as long as our legs stood. We did well with ball possession and just lacked in speeding up the tempo.' The next game is at Chicago Fire on Wednesday, July 27.

Four-star attack

Andriy Shevchenko, Pippo Inzaghi, Christian Vieri, Alberto Gilardino. This is the sweet reality of the Milan attack, the dream come true. The Golden Ball winner, the 252-goalscorer chasing Alfredo di Stefano's record in Europe, the left-footed striker so-much missed after Mark Hateley, the promising young talent. This is the new Milan attack: complete and totally prestigious. Even Carlo Ancelotti admitted: 'Yes, on paper it is stronger than last season.'

Typo error?

Calling Ed!

What's eating him?

Can you tell me which one is not like the other?

The fastest way to peace

One of the most important management concepts I have learned and live is: the worst decision is not to make a decision. Many have spoken in the present state of affairs in the Philippines, all giving us the solution to the problem. Many have said that the fastest way out of this stalemate is that the President resign. I think the fastest way to peace is to stop all the talk, and we all go about doing our share for the good of this country. I believe that asking our President to resign will take time, a lot of time. And if she does, putting us back on track will take even longer.
Better, let us shut up and go about our business.
I do not think this is the same as not making a decision.
Sadly, many times, shutting our mouth takes longer.

Golf

Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods became the first player to go over $50 million in career earnings, which led British golf announcer Peter Aliss to say, "Money isn't everything, but it's right up there with oxygen and food."


Michelle Wie

It's been 60 years since a woman made the cut in a PGA event, but Michelle Wie is out to change that. Wie, 15, carded a 1-under 70 in Thursday's first round of John Deere Classic.

President Arroyo's radio message July 7, 2005

Full text of Arroyo radio address

Mga minamahal kong kababayan:

When I was young and my late father Diosdado Macapagal was president of our country, I thought of him as the “good guy” and his political opponents on the other side were the “bad guys”.

Because of my father’s influence, I had always thought of myself as on the side of good,. Thus, it is very painful for me to know that among many of our countrymen today, I have been demonized as the ‘bad guy’. This is unfair, but is a cross that God in his wisdom has given me to bear, so I will bear it. I have never questioned God’s ways before and I will not do so now.

When I first entered politics in 1992, little did I know that within a decade, I would become president of our country, and little did I expect that within another five years, there would be calls from a civil society for my resignation from my office or for the formation of a ‘truth commission’ regarding some of my political actuations.

When I spoke before the nation some two weeks ago, I did so against the advice of my legal counsel. But I thought that speaking before you, the Filipino people, was the right thing to do. Shameless people have peddled the lie that I confessed to cheating. What I disclosed was that I talked to an election official, but that this had taken place after the certificates of canvass had already been used to proclaim the winning senators, and it was those same certificates of canvass that showed that I won by around a million votes. That is the truth.

Indeed, it is right for our country to confront the truth, but if we do so, let’s confront the biggest, most painful political truth. The big truth that we are aware of deep in our hearts, but that we collectively sweep under the rug. The big truth whose debilitating effects on our country, year after year, decade after decade, have developed into feelings of disgust, hopeless and even despair among large segments of our society.

The truth that I discovered from my beginnings as a neophyte politician in 1992, rising to become a veteran politician through the years, is this: over the years, our political system has degenerated to such an extent that it is very difficult to live within the system with hand son totally untainted. That is the truth. In addition, our system has degenerated to such an extent that more often than not, it is political agenda first and national interest last. For example with endless investigations and scandals in aid of politics and media projections, rather than in aid of legislation or executive action. That is the truth. Because of this system of politics, our country has been left behind by other countries in the region and our best and brightest, the cream of our youth are voting with their feet to leave the country. That is the truth.

I did not blame any individual or political block for this sad state of affairs it is simply the truth that the political system that I am part of has degenerated to the point that it needs fundamental change. We are collectively to blame, so we must collectively be the solution. Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone. To those who feel that they cannot cast the first stone, I invite you to help in the solution.

My proposed approach to reform our system of politics and governance is something that I had wanted to bring forth during the upcoming state of the nation address. However, because our country is hungry for a resolution to the political uncertainties that have plagued us these past few weeks, I will bring it up now.

First of all, I am not resigning my office. To do so under circumstances that connote an Edsa 3 would condemn any successor to the possibility of and edsa 4, then an edsa 5,and so on, unless sour political system were first reformed to make it more responsive to the people’s will, such that changes in leadership come about in an orderly and stable manner.

The world embraced Edsa 1 in 1986. The world tolerated Edsa 2 in 2001. the world will not forgive and Edsa 3 in 2005, but would instead condemn the Philippines as a country whose political system is hopelessly unstable and the Filipinos as among the finest people in the world, but who always shoot themselves in the foot. Under those circumstances, who would invest money in the Philippines? How would we weather the difficulties arising from the price of crude oil being at its highest in history?

What I intend to do is work with legislators and civil groups who believe that changes in the fundamental law of the land are necessary in order to confront such basic issues as federalism, the character of our legislative process, reducing red tape in government processes, running for public office under a two-party system and with less need to raise campaign funds, modernizing the economic provisions of our Constitution, and so forth.

At the same time, I will restructure and strengthen the cabinet, giving it a free hand to meanwhile reform and manage our day to day governance with as little political interference as possible, even from me.

This is how we will proceed.

First, I am asking my entire cabinet to tender their resignation in order to give the Executive a free hand to reorganize itself. I’ll ask our sectors to give me names of candidates that we can invite to replace those who will not return to the cabinet, or even to help out at other levels of the Executive.

Second, the cabinet will be given a free hand on governance, while I focus on the fundamental changes that we need to put in place.

Third, I will reach out to the political and civil sectors that have an interest in the various advocacies that are relevant to our Constitution. Federalism, for example, is an advocacy that o had espoused long ago.

This is neither a political ploy or gimmick. I believe that this process will quickly lay the foundation for deep reforms in our society, including reforms in our political way of life. This would be a legacy that our generation of politicians and citizens could collectively be proud of. I now have grand children to play with and to help bring up. Like all of you, I want our children to grow up in a better Philippines. I have prayed on this and I hope that I have discerned God’s will properly.

Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat.

Visitor 52

Last Sunday, a couple of friends and I visited an inmate in the jail of a southern city. That wasn't the first time I've been in a jail, but this recent one was a different experience. I was coming from a city one hour and a half away by bus, a friend having invited me to accompany him for the visit. We were met at the bus station by another friend and off we went to the jail.

We were asked to leave anything that could be used by the inmates for anything -- we left cellphones, ballpens, coins, etc in the car. Even our belts were not allowed in -- since I had lost some weight over the past months, my pants were quite loose on me!

I was Visitor 52 (see the picture for my marks!).

The inmate, VL, has been charged with the murder of a neighbor. They say everyone in prison says he is innocent. But VL, a decent man -- truly! -- nearing 70, claims he shot his neighbor with a vintage gun his father had owned, unused for such a long time, kept under lock and key.

It was the result of a land dispute. Turns out the neighbor wanted to move his fence two meters into VL's property (perhaps claiming VL was actually encroaching). And when VL proposed that they get a new survey on their properties, the neighbor refused. This land and his previous employment with a government corporation allowed him to support his wife and their 12 children, and now his pension even helps support children of his widowed daughter.

Later, Mr. Neighbor wants to pick a fight, carries a .45, and brings along his son and two male employees, for persuasive action. A handgun with that caliber, I think carries with it the implicit intent to kill. And with three others, that would be more like coercive action.

VL senses trouble, gets his gun, and ends up shooting Mr. Neighbor. He says he could have fired more, but his gun jammed.

Meanwhile, he surrenders to the police and brought to jail. His case is pending.

The neighbors are off to claim revenge, so VL sends his family to Manila, with Marine escorts from their house to the pier. Not catching up on the family, the neighbors burn VL's house and property. All is lost.

While VL is in jail, facing an unbailable charge of murder, his family is in hiding, and his younger brother and a helper are the only ones helping him out.

He says he is being treated well (he does not really need much) in his cell, by his description, around 3 by 5 meters, shared with about 20 others. He gets to lie on one of the beds. He only has two sets of clothes (everything else got burned). In jail, they are allowed 5 sets maximum. If new a set beyond the 5 is given by relatives or friends, one of the old sets is brought out.

We asked him what he wanted, what we can tell his children (my friend knew some of them) -- tell them to pray for me, he says.

Let's pray for VL too.

Gloria Sevilla

Philippine actress Gloria Sevilla visits my school. She sits in the TESDA Board. TESDA is the government body in-charge of schools offering technical.vocational courses.

She looks kinda angry, noh? But she isn't really.

Prayer for asking graces through the intercession of the Servant of God, The Pope John Paul II

O Blessed Trinity,
We thank you for having graced the Church with Pope John Paul II
and for allowing the tenderness of your Fatherly care,
the glory of the cross of Christ,
and the splendor of the Holy Spirit, to shine through him.

Trusting fully in Your infinite mercy
and in the maternal intercession of Mary,
he has given us a living image of Jesus the Good Shepherd,
and has shown us that holiness is the necessary measure of ordinary Christian life and is
the way of achieving eternal communion with you.

Grant us, by his intercession, and according to Your will,
the graces we implore,
hoping that he will soon be numbered among your saints. Amen.

Pres. Arroyo says sorry -- attagirl!

Full text of Pres. Arroyo message

Mga minamahal kong kababayan.

For the last several weeks, the issue of the tape recordings has spun out of control. Tonight, I want to set the record straight. You deserve an explanation from me, because you are the people I was elected to serve.

As you recall, the election canvassing process was unnecessarily slow even after the election results were already in and the votes had been counted.

I was anxious to protect my votes and during that time had conversations with many people, including a Comelec official. My intent was not to influence the outcome of the election, and it did not. As I mentioned, the election had already been decided and the votes counted. And as you remember, the outcome had been predicted by every major public opinion poll and adjudged free, fair and decisive by international election observers, and our own Namfrel.

That said, let me tell you how I personally feel. I recognize that making any such call was a lapse in judgment. I'm sorry.

I also regret taking so long to speak before you on this matter. I take full responsibility for my actions and to you and to all those good citizens who may have had their faith shaken by these events. I want to assure you that I have redoubled my efforts to serve the nation and earn your trust.

Nagagambala ako. Maliwanag na may kakulangan sa wastong pagpapasya ang nangyaring pagtawag sa telepono. Pinagsisisihan ko ito nang lubos. Pinananagutan ko nang lubusan ang aking mga ginawa, at humihingi ako ng tawad sa inyo, sa lahat ng mga butihing mamamayan na nabawasan ng tiwala dahil sa mga pangyayaring ito. Ibig kong tiyakin sa inyo na lalo pa akong magsisikap upang maglingkod sa bayan at matamo ang inyong tiwala.

I took office with a mandate to carry out a plan for the nation. Since that time, I have focused on making the tough but necessary decisions to make up for years of economic neglect. We passed a comprehensive, fiscally responsible national budget; raised new and necessary revenues to reinvest in the people; and implemented new anticorruption measures that have led to the highest collection of taxes in history.

Nothing should stand in the way of this work, or the next phase of my reform agenda, which includes new investments in education and social services with our new revenues; and an expansion of our successful anticorruption and lifestyle checks.

That is why I want to close this chapter and move on with the business of governing.

I ask each and every one of you to join hands with me in a show of unity, to help forge One Philippines, where everyone is equal under the law, and where everyone has the opportunity to use their God-given talents to make a better life.

Our nation is strong and getting stronger. The progress is steady and I ask you to walk with me on this journey to rebuild our great nation. I remain your humble servant and promise you that I will fulfill my constitutional oath of office to serve the people to the best of my ability.

God Bless the Philippines.

Now. let's really work for this country, okay guys?

Tiger

Tiger Woods claimed the World No. 1 ranking, without doing anything. He goes to Pinehurst this weekend for the US Open.
Annika won her 9th major, and she's halfway to a Grand Slam this year. Some say she's the best golfer ever. Michelle Wie is slowly catching up, placing second to Annika in the LPGA last week.
My Spurs in 2-0 against the Pistons in this year's NBA Finals.
My Rossoneri did not take any championship this year, but they did well. Forza!

I'm Back

After almost a month out-of-town, I am back. It was also good to take a break from my PC and blogging. I was on vacation.
Today, classes start in my school. Traffic to school was bad.
The country, while showing some signs of economic improvement, is facing political bickerings. What else is new.
I'll have some pictures from my vacation uploaded soon.