Political Air is on the Wave!

With the recent formal launching of the United Nationalist Coalition (UNA) as a political party, it is now clear that the ruling Liberal Party (LP) has officially recognize that there is a strong opposition in the political air.

LP now has an opposition party, UNA!

Allow me to share to you my personal point of view about events that may occur NOW and during the ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

There is a strong move going on now to prevent the use of PCOS machines and instead turn back to manual accounting of votes. Many believe that this is an inherit move by the ruling party obviously to imply a plan to rig the result of the election.

On the part of the opposition, this is their biggest setback that need to be resolved. They have to identify people in the COMELEC who could possibly make a fair ground that would allow the free flow of the results to appear that it is honest and credible; and the events in 2004 should not be allowed to get repeated in this time that the whole country is really in need of a leader who can give the cherished share from the growth of the economy, not just a “dilapidated,” “doctored” or blatantly, a hypothetical computation of growth, as many ordinary people believe.

On the other hand, the ruling party would have to be firm and astute in upgrading their “straight path” commitment, and they have to win elections in all levels comes 2016 in order to avoid the aftermath cases that would surely be aimed at their own very noses; obviously, following what they did to the former president.

Of course, the ruling party is gunning for a sweep win obviously believing that the key holder of local government remains in the hands of the Interior Secretary, who at the same time will be the expected standard bearer, and the anointed one of the President. However, the only problem that the ruling party is now apparently encountering is “how to market the unmarketable,” because he belongs to elite class that Filipinos are really aware. Even if he pretends that he belongs to the people, but his several actions in the past would eventually turn him to be “not fit” to the shoes. 

One thing to think about was the unfortunate death of then DILG Secretary Jessie Robredo, and the people behind the sabotage of his plane. A lot of Bicolanos believed that his death was never an accident as the media wants to imply. I believe that there will be recollections of his being a target for assassination because Robredo splendors like a “presidentiable” during his term in the DILG because of his broad influence over the local government units throughout the country. Well, obvious, right?

So there is this scenario of David and Goliath. Whoever is David and whoever is Goliath will depend on how both parties undertake to bring onto the platters what people expect them to promise.

But, I have this premonition that 2016 will be the worst event of the ruling party. I just hope that everything will be fine then when people finally expressed who will be their leader to steer this country move again, I pray.

Political black propaganda roars again!

The year 2016 is one charted as the new era of national governance in the Philippines. I perceived it.

There has been a lot of predictions and speculations to who really are the possible candidates for the many national positions available and up for grabs by the different national parties, big or small, large or miniscule. At this very stage, you can observe in an unusual way that the camps of these parties are now moving out, or let’s say, staging out of their own turfs with the aim of gaining more political grounds to get prepared when in its time to launch their political campaign. Political figures are visiting places to cementing relationships or just attract the eyes of the media to cover them---of course, all expenses paid.

It is also possible that secret negotiations is on-going between prominent parties of this multi-party system of national governance, and of course, “money talks” in every way possible, what else?

I should like to project that the major parties in the Philippines---I’d like not to mention any party at all to keep apolitical in my views---are surely coming up with political plans and strategies, negotiate campaign funds particularly from bigtime businessmen now known as the “kingmakers” who really are noble enough to stand their firm decision to propagate those political figures who can assure security of their businesses. In fact, some of them are already in the main stream of the Philippine politics and are ready to wield whatever power their money can provide to whoever will commit for their own aims and business ambitions.

I believe that these kingmakers are actually serving as the “lubricating oil” of political machineries of the whole political and economic system of Philippine governance; and tracking their moves is apparent in terms of how government officials are taking into account the whole economics, and the behavioral system of the whole political system during enactment of certain laws (by the way, all are in favor of the business tycoons or business environment).  It is not amazing though that average people would have to veer through this track by just saying that they have been abused!

On the other hand, the small parties are now tripping on their own wire and laid it through thicket of hays. They would decide which major party they have to support and what this party can make or unmake their own survival in the political stream. They have to coagulate with specifics and assure that political stands will not be set aside when this major political party wins! Of course, there would be adjustments along the way as major parties takes the hold during the campaign period.

Actually, minor parties need to pump-in funds to their coffers to sustain their own agenda, and where would they should get it, well, there’s a lot of power negotiators out there employed by major political parties. Though they are negotiating away from the eyes of the media or even with the media, the only thing that is more important is how to saddle in to the backs of these major parties that they would become more visible to the voting public. Possibly, they could create either a “black” or “white” scenario to catch both these major parties attention. So far, the political tide is quite on white caps.

In the meantime, black propaganda as a very old tool to win elections is now thriving back---left to right, back to center, center to left, right to center. Since the political groundwork has been the very essence of election plethora, paid or unpaid media is now tripping plans and strategies to catch attention from those political figures that they know have “monies” to fuel their own political campaign.

Although there have been perceptions that people are more aware of the political situation today in the Philippines so that money would not be the issue in terms of assuring wins, but the media in its own dimensional strata could not discount the fact that black propaganda, in whatever form it may be, is still a profitable moneybag holder; and what’s in it is the siphoned “monies” that were long kept and hidden just for the purpose of this political exercise.

With the advent of social media, black propaganda is just getting more effectively heinous and contagious. There are unlimited chances of “murdering people without physically killing them” in various forms and substances. It kills the target by surprise and deface a person with terribly insurmountable magnitude and ferocity. The fury of its effect is tremendous, and possibly, just possibly, breaks off the backbone of a strong family or friendship. Thus, the saying that there is no permanent friends and allies in politics is lively observed nowadays.

But anyways, let’s see what else will happen comes 2016. Be there.

Mindanao coned as the land of promise is now the land of poverty, pain and suffering

When you abuse your nature and its environment by satisfying your own immediate needs; one day, the nature and its environment that you raped and abused will turn its back to you, and the prosperity that you first enjoyed will certainly result to a tremendous misery at the last.

This is what happened in Mindanao, more particularly at the places where flash floods have sustained its cruelty to the people who were either responsible for the abuse the environment or are victims of the abuse of a few moneyed people.

As I learned before, during the early days of civilization in Mindanao, the supposed public lands were turned into private properties. And these private individuals who owned private properties are the ones holding now the reigns of government. I can say that ordinary people are as submissive as they should be. They have no choice, neither those already in power.

As deaths have been counted and still increasing, I have come to a reflection, as I was in Mindanao for 16 years. My parents brought me there when I was 1 year old. My family have lived the life of what they commonly called as “loggers”. My father told me the story that Mindanao was known to many people in the 1960s as the “land of promise” because of its vast resources from virgin forests and precious metals, and other natural resources. Employment opportunities were high as long as you can work as a lumberjack or skills in repairing machines. Education then was not a requirement for employment. Thus, people from Luzon and neighboring Visayas regions are flocking in Mindanao with the dream of prosperity brought about by its vast resources.

Most of the companies owned by politicians or relatives take the opportunity to enjoy the richness of nature in Mindanao. Even ordinary people who are prudent, business-like attitude and inclinations, or have its own capital invested in any business would certainly prosper. I learned that laws of the land was far effective as people there were living like the West-like cowboy shows that I’ve seen. You will survive when you have the guts of doing the thing that others have done before you. In fact, when I graduated in college, I planned to go back to Mindanao and test my luck there. But the plan did not come around as I already decided to stay in my home province of Camarines Sur.

I know that typhoons have no place in Mindanao. Before.

Today, as radio and TV reports have piled up documentary shots recording the misery that the people residing in a lot of places in provinces of Davao, Cagayan De Oro City, Surigao del Sur and other provinces in Mindanao ravaged by Typhoon “Pablo” (International name: “Bopha”) tagged as the first super typhoon that hits Mindanao, a lot of surprised communities of people have surprisingly incurred multiple deaths because some of them don’t really have that experience of typhoons. And besides, typhoon in Mindanao was never familiar until just recently. But flash floods were common knowledge for everyone and they know why---the rampant illegal logging operations in spite the fact that there is mandate of “total log ban” imposed by the government throughout the Philippines.

But, what are laws anyway when people framing it, planning for it, and passing it in the Congress are the very people who are engaging in it. I even heard that moneyed people before have engaged in land grabbing more particularly at places known for richness of natural resources like forest and minerals. These rich people used their money to buy rights of the land and even law enforcements were at their grabs.

As I saw the gruesome deaths that a lot of people in the communities have suffered just recently, I have only two things to think about blaming---greed and poverty.

Greed because a lot of moneyed people in Mindanao still sustain what was left by their ancestors who came to Mindanao for such opportunities. Politicians who were not original in the place are the ones in control of government. These politicians are maintaining private armies and use them during election times. There are a lot crimes, cases of deaths and missing, that are not actually recorded in the books of events in some places, because the family of the victims refuse to report it to authorities for fear of reprisal.

Poverty because people from other places flocked to Mindanao with the belief that their lives will prosper but then, they were lured in to join on certain groups that justifies criminalities as a way of life. I believe that the perspective in the 1960s is all the same as in the modern day today. But, the only difference is that education and employment opportunities outside the country have uplifted some people who gallantly ventured in taking education as their first choice to survive. However, some who've taken the ways of education prefer not to stay in those places where poverty has been the sustaining event of their lives. They would choose to venture to Manila or Cebu to find while collar jobs, in the office or anywhere else they could find.

What the government can do for those victimized by the typhoon?

I believe nothing. For as long as politicians holding power in the government offices remain engaged in their unscrupulous activities of raping the environment and cut trees for their own profits, the small people would have to stay dependent upon them. These ordinary people will be forced to work at the risk of environmental reprisal, because they believe that these are the only ways and means for them to survive or even send their children to schools and colleges.

I’m thankful that we survived such onslaught of nature revenge. Now that I’m away from Mindanao which was coned as the “land of promise”, I still have this desire to come back there one day to witness again the “dog eat dog” situation believed to have sustained by people in power. But some of my classmates in high school would say that the situation in Mindanao is quite different from when I’ve known before. People are now educated and are aware of the effects of abusing nature and its environment. However, to a few places only. There are other places that remained infested by rebels and private armies. Though government have a strong stand against these, who can stay on with such situation when people who are imposing the law and the very ones violating it because of political dynasty and patronage.

Finally, I would say that Mindanao still remains as the land of promise when people try to reflect what they have done to nature and its environment; and of course, the government is really serious in imposing the laws of the land. If this would be so, there is still hope, else, deaths come rushing through their homes and villages to exact what is due.

Today, these are just disturbing stories of nightmares.

MY CYBERCOUNTRY IS JAILED WITH ME.

Dear Fellow Netizens,

I am also a citizen of a cyber-country called INTERNET.

This a free country for all the citizens of the world. We call ourselves "Netizens", short of "Internet Citizens". I love it. In my own simple thoughts and ideas, I could share to the whole world what is happening around me, and of course, my craggy thoughts and idea earned from my own poverty.

I feel that we are now at the very dark age of our FREEDOM OF THOUGHTS, SPEECH AND SPIRIT.

We are now deprived of our very own fundamental rights granted by the Freedom Constitution---the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines---sculpted by the sacrifice of one NINOY AQUINO, the father of my president, NOYNOY AQUINO.

We were FREE then.

But today, in the Philippines more particularly, the many netizens is under attack of E-MARTIAL LAW and the authors are the majority of the Senators except one TG. I believe these Senators betrayed us by inserting into the Cybercrime Prevention Law of 2012 a provision about e-libel. There was no public consultations made from us. It was I believe a result of a “swift insertion” and gerrymandering. These Senators also fleet a disguise as a countermeasure to lay underground their sinister plan of passing the Cybercrime law using the issue on the "dreaded RH Bill". As far as I learned it all started there!

It all started with a "crying Senator" who felt sorry about the death of his child. But later, one netizen discovered that some of the contents of his privilege speech were all "plagiarized"; and when some of the netizens call his attentions to take notice of such wrong-doing, he invoked his "parliamentary privilege," to which all of the senators except one, just let it run his way. He even downplayed that netizen by saying, "just a blogger." Well, it was an unfortunate statement from an elected Senator of the Republic of the Philippines, mandated to make and uphold the law!

There was that time that this Senator gained a lot of critiques and criticisms with blunt disregard of the "blogger's intellectual rights" and even stand firm in his conviction by saying, "everybody is doing it in the Philippines." What a short-minded statement it was. So, unfortunate indeed.

He called the statements of his critiques as "Cyberbullying", while in fact, he could have stated it as "Cyber-bullshitting". Anyway, what happened had already been blown to a tremendous magnitude where silent netizens, enjoying the freedom of his country, come to the cyber streets, rallying against this bullshitted "cybercrime prevention act."

I feel that one day, if this law stays at the very foothold where it is now, a lot of netizens will land in the cold corners of the cyberjails throughout the Philippines’ cyber-archipelago that even a cyber-island would not be enough to accommodate their numbers.

My fellow netizens, I am calling your attention on this Cybercrime Law. My anti-virus is not enough to kill this contagious “sottofect.exe” virus, or the other “enrileffec.exe” worms inside the nerves of own cybersystem. It is killing me!!! I did try to install two of the anti-virus I’ve known, namely: “Trillanes Anti-virus” or “Guingona Anti-virus”, but to no effect at all. I think I have to try what a fellow netizen named, “Jim”, the “Lacson Anti-virus,” but it still in Beta form.

Anyway, this might be my last message to all my fellow netizens, because I need to rest, and gear up my self to the next tremendous task of countering the “cyber-storm” that me come around against me.

Guess what? I'm presently in my cold cyber-jail as you surf this in all of the cyber-streets. In case, I will be arrested and jailed, just remember that I’m always with you. But if you care to visit me then, bring a tiny laptop, hide it in a handkerchief or any just to keep it away from the jail guards. I promise to keep it whatever is the cost. Just let me write my thoughts in this tormented corners of my jailed country---the INTERNET.

Sincerely yours,

Cyber Geo

P.S. Remember the day when we were FREE and HAPPY.

DEMISE OF ROBREDO FOSTERS NEW CHALLENGES IN AQUINO’S ADMINISTRATION

I feel a painful grief and desolate over the untimely death of a gentleman, innovator, governance inventor, and a lowly reformist who fought against traditional politics with courage, bravery and integrity yet ever had in the arena of government service. Truly, government service is a bastion of people’s trust. When a worthy official, like Robredo, who deserve something far greater than who he really is, the whole nation mourns for his lose.

I have this feeling also that the dreaded numbers game---jueteng---will surely resurface in the coming days. Unscrupulous politicians would surely gear up and try to operate this greatly profitable numbers’ game because a lot of our ordinary people still love to bet; and because local government officials allow them to operate.

These local government officials are really getting interested to support it or even finance it because in the next few months, election is in the offing. By that time, sufficient funds for vote-buying and purchase of sacks of rice, noodles, canned goods, and the hoarding of 20 or 50 pesos denominations will still be more easy to gather than during campaign and election days. Of course, the 100s, 500s and 1000s denominations would also be a subject for hoarding as banks now are really busy managing the turnover of cash deposits and withdrawals.

As a banker would say, “Surely, there will be an upsurge of cash, as I have observed, coming from different sources particularly abroad. It wouldn’t take long in the cash chamber as or the recipients depositors would immediately withdraw it and secure it somewhere safe.” Probably true because banks also are targets by holduppers. This is a very amusing thing to note. However, no matter would be the events in the next few days or months, we shall be witnesses to an untimely environment left to us by Sec. Robredo.

The whole nation grieve for his passing but remained thankful and adamant to pursue his ideals and objectives. Ordinary people really are true in terms of relationship whether personal, business or politics. The icon of goodness and integrity are a few remarkable symbols of his presence even in death.

As the body of Sec. Robredo was cremated, the luster of his servant-leader inspiration has remained a symbolic inspiration for all of us; his indefatigable stride to excel in his own pace in managing the whole affairs of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) with less oversight and supervision from President Noynoy Aquino only show us who he really is when he works for the best for all of us---his awards in public service stand as an historic legacy that every Filipino today will remember always.

Indeed, this great man died because he’s been in a zenith where his good deeds will be planted in the hearts of people whom he served well. Farewell, Jesse; your legacy of good government and iconic symbol of a real public servant carry us all to new challenges ahead with strength and will that we can overcome them all.

I just hope and pray that President Aquino indomitably carry on the reforms that Sec. Robredo has done and accomplished; and check upon his own people who really are serious and those are not. I can foresee that the battle against graft and corruption in the government would be an uphill stride.

Goodbye, Jesse. Good luck, Mr. President. We are counting on you.