The corridors of power are busy this Sunday in fulfilling both their religious and political obligations, and as is often the case the combination of both. Religious in a sense that they attend mass and pray that they may get a good shot of this another Photo ops stint. Political, because for sure they are actually up into something else other than praying. Ah, for the benefit of the doubt, they might be really praying hard. Praying for a miracle or some divine intervention on a most unfavorable scenario for them, that of another EDSA uprising which might commence tomorrow.
Here’s Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her new Speaker of the House of Representatives, Congressman Prospero Nograles in a picture depicting the deep religiosity of our politicians, praying together in a mass held inside the palace. Here are the two persons in Philippine politics who share a common illusion of being chosen by God. Not so long ago, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said on being President, “I believe that I am here because that is the plan of God for me and for us.” Just recently on a similar note, Nograles just minutes after being proclaimed Speaker of the House said, “It’s God’s will. It’s probably my destiny.”
Now another political storm is heading their way, both Gloria and Nograles need all the favors they can get from their God.
Meanwhile, in the land of ordinary mortals, my family especially our little princess Maia, enjoyed a swimming party of her cousin Rafael James “RJ” Gaerlan’s 2nd Birthday at Dream Land Resort in Caloocan. It was only Maia’s second time to swim on a pool since she was less than a year old, yet she showed no fear only much enthusiasm.
Click here to go to Bambit’s blog for more story and photos of our Sunday.
In the next few days, events will unfold which might lead into yet another conjuncture in the Philippine political history. These critical set of circumstances is brought about by the NBN-ZTE scandal which once again implicates the GMA administration.
On Monday, rallies calling for GMA’s ouster/resignation will be held simultaenously in various locations in Metro Manila. GMA’s minions will also mount similar activities by promising to mobilize a million warm bodies in Metro Manila to demonstrate support for GMA.
Many are already cynical to EDSA-like Regime change, but there are still those who believe that such exercises are the ultimate expression of democracy.
I am one of those who believe that our two EDSA revolutions did not accomplish the desired change for the betterment of our people. This gives me enough reason to be disgusted about EDSA 1 and 2. However, I do not subscribe to the idea nor advocate the call that people should stop exercising EDSA-like revolutions. On the contrary, I advocate EDSA-like uprisings.
If there is one great lesson that our EDSA experience had taught us, it is that an uprising is a potent weapon that people can utilize in changing governments. Only that next time when an upheaval is in the offing, let’s make sure that the ones leading it are the masses, and not the vacilating Middle Class, the Church, the traditional politicians, and not even the extreme left. History had shown us that these groups were the ones who sacrificed the gains of EDSA for their selfish interests.
I will join this “new and improved EDSA” on Monday, if only to express my disgust and condemnation over the present regime. I would still join more EDSA’s to come in the future until finally the Filipino People would realize that in order to effect real change, it should change not only the leadership of government, but the whole socio-economic and political system of our country.
Until then, let’s make a hundred EDSAs bloom!
During the recent Senate hearing of the NBN-ZTE deal, star witness, Jun Lozada said that Secretary Neri mentioned that GMA is EVIL, – “She is Evil”. Amidst affirmations of this “She is Evil” description made by Neri to GMA by more than four persons, Secretary Neri was quick to deny with a wimpy excuse that he couln’t remember saying it.
I know most of us need no extra evidence just to prove how Evil this Government is. But just for kicks, I tried a test to see how evil GMA can be, and this is what I get:
You Are 86% Evil
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You’re the most evil person you know.
The devil is even a little scared of you!
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Well, its okay for Neri to refute the result of this test. He can try it for himself.
Last night I was in the gallery of the Plenary hall of the House of Representatives to watch the season ending of the soap opera, “The House that JDV Built” (billed in Pilipino as, “Bakit ngayon ka lang”) and the premiere showing of the new season series of “How to win a House and Lot”, locally billed as “Tumakbo kang Hubad sa Mundong Ibabaw.” The plenary hall’s gallery was jampacked by a crowd of people of various persuasions and interests; the media, political pressure groups, business contractors, business contractors and business contractors. All eagerly waiting for an outcome that will lead for the betterment or end of their respective agenda in the House.
I just went there to see for myself how a House supposedly composed of men and women having the title of Honorable affixed to their names, divide their own house along the lines of, well what else but their own selfish interests. Once again, the event last night in Congress affirmed the old adage, that in Politics there are no permanent friends or enemies only permanent interests. Amidst all the rethorics of change, reform, what have you, one can simplify what every Congressman/woman was saying…“goodbye joe, dito muna ako sa bagong majority para steady maligaya funds ko from the palace”…“dapat iretain si joe, paano na lang ang Chairmanship ko sa Committees.” You see, when one votes Yes for the ouster of JDV and that vote won (which it did), one automatically becomes a member of the Majority…and the perks for being with the Majority are aplenty.
Read more…
There’s this fuss about the seemingly inevitable change in the House leadership. JDV’s position as Speaker of the House is now being challenged by no less than his allies in the house under the pro-administration rainbow alliance dominated by the LAKAS-NUCD-CMD and the KAMPI.
In the frontline to oust JDV are the two Presidential sons, Honorables Mikey and Dato, acting like Mafia bambinos out to settle a score for a family’s trampled honor. It can be remembered that just recently JDV’s son, Joey, opened a can of worms that exposed once again how rotten the first family is, especially its patre de famiglia.
Thats how politics work in the Philippines. Everybody knows that it has become one big family business. Today’s Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Editorial, aptly describes the present brouhaha:
“To be sure, politics, like any occupation, will result in bruised egos and grudges. This shouldn’t prevent the public, though, from recognizing that at the heart of the ongoing quarrel over the leadership of the House is a mafia mentality that seems to have possessed the First Family and the inability of a Speaker—who is more willing to sacrifice his son for personal political gain—to match rhetoric with action.”
Even if Congressmen change the Speaker of the House as fast as they change their loyalties, cars or bimbos, whats in it for the people, would it effect change in their lives? Like our Presidents, a new Speaker of the House will only be as good as the last one – or worst.
It’s a tweedledum and tweedledee.
(JDV Photo taken from Yahoo Images)
Mga mahal kong mambabasa,
Medyo bakasyon muna ako sa blog ngayon dahil putol na po internet connection namin sa bahay…hehehe. Babalik din ako kapag nanalo na kami sa Eleksyon….
In the meantime… political ad muna;
On May 14, 2007
VOTE
AMIN (Anak Mindanao) PARTY LIST!!
Hanggang sa muli…….
Nagmamahal,
– Samuel Bilibit
Kung napanood nyo sa news sa TV kung paano sinalakay ng PNP ang Provincial Capitol ng Ilo-ilo para lang paalisin si Gov. Tupas, tyak mapapamura kayo. Kung sa kalagitnaan na ng video footage ang naabutan mo aakalain mong ang nireraid ng mga PNP ay Kampo ng Al Qaida o di kaya’y mansion ni Tony Montana.
Malinaw na hindi crowd dispersal operation ang ikinasa. Naka-full battle gear, puro mahahaba ang dalang armas, naka CQB formation, trigger ready, galit, sumisigaw, nanlilisik ang mga mata at parang kakain ng tao ang asta ng mga magigiting na pulis.
At sinong mga kasagupa nila? Mga sibilyang walang dalang armas ni kahit nail cutter man lang. Meron pang isa na kahit may entry point na sila ay sige pa rin ang hataw sa walang kalaban-labang glass wall. Tsk, imbes na nagpapogi si kupal para animo magilas na war machine, nagmukha tuloy siyang kasapi ng demolition team ng MMDA…bwahahahaha!
Siyempre pa, ang komento ni Secretary Puno ng DILG hinggil rito ay, makatuwiran lang ang ginawa ng PNP at ika nya, "The policemen … should not be condemned. They should even be commended". Palakpakan. Hala sige, lusob!
Ano kaya magiging statement ni Puno kung sakaling biglang tinopak ang raiding team at naisipang paulanan ng bala ang mga sibilyan sa Kapitolyo!
Paumpisa na nga ang eleksyon…at ang nangyari sa Iloilo ay tila patikim pa lang. Nakikinita na natin kung paano magiging maaksyon ang darating na eleksyon.
(photo taken from Inquirer.net)