Comelec chair: Party-list system a joke

Official Seal of the Commission on Elections (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Well, the idea is good but just trust the Pinoy to always find loopholes in the law and take advantage of it.  Therefore, the Comelec has to do its job in making the idea really work and stand firm in rejecting those groups which seem bogus.  They will be stepping on a lot of powerful toes but if they don't do something about it, the joke's on them and as usual, on us, the poor Filipinos whose taxes go to fund the irrational parties of these bogus congressmen.  I don't think it would need the IQ of a rocket scientist to find out if it's a genuine party list or not.

Comelec chair: Party-list system a joke

Pasaway na Pari

English: Capitol building of the Province of Cebu, located in Cebu City. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Oh well, thanks to this priest, thousands of elephants in Africa have met their deaths because of their tusks.  Maybe because he thinks he's a priest and he comes from a rich family, he does not care anymore about these poor animals. And to top it all, he's a freakin' child molester!  And he never went to jail for it!  He should be charged and sent to jail  and who cares if he's old.  He's still an old asshole!  And why did it take the Vatican more than 30 years to investigate this case?


Vatican sacked Cebu priest months ahead of ivory scandal, says church exec

Expensive Air Travel Tickets in 2003

Big thanks to low cost airlines, travel around Southeast Asia nowadays is fairly cheap and reasonable, even if you are asked to pay the full fare.  


Way back in 2003, I had to pay US$474 for a trip to Bangkok using Kuwait Airways.  The exchange rate then was PhP54.21.  So way back in 2003, a flight to Bangkok would set on back by 25,696 pesos!!  Nowadays, that would be the cost of my trip (with a companion) and if I am smart enough, I could even include hotel expenses with that!

That's why nowadays, everyone can now have the chance to go abroad without spending too much!

Lady judge (and Ace Vergel fan) cited for speedy justice

I wish there are more judges like Judge Emily L. San Gaspar-Gito.  I have never dealt with our local justice system (and I wish I never will) because there are just so many horror stories of justice here being meted at such a snail pace!  Her system is no different from what other efficient people use to streamline their work!  We are all deluged with so many things to do everyday, it is imperative that we color-code what we want done for the day, to get things moving.

Lady judge (and Ace Vergel fan) cited for speedy justice

Philippines new ‘darling’ of global investors

This is indeed good news for us Filipinos since it injects money into our local businesses, which in turn, our local companies can use to expand their business operations here and abroad.  Hopefully, these expansions can create jobs for many Filipinos.  I just really hope all these expansions also include the other parts of the Philippines so that not all business is concentrated here in Metro Manila.

Philippines new ‘darling’ of global investors

Why Didn't They Just Shoot the Marcoses?

I was just 15 years old when the EDSA revolution happened, and growing up in Cebu, which was rabidly anti-Marcos at that time, I watched as fellow Cebuanos rejoiced when the Marcos couple were airlifted out of the Manila.

When Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law, I was just seven months old and it was only when I was in college in UP when I fully learned about what they had done and the activists their military had killed, since we had to study the lives of Lean Alejandro and other very intelligent activists who gave up their lives so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have today.  When I was reading about the lives of these activists, I was really saddened by their youthful yet brutal deaths but at the same time, awed by their bravery during a very dark period in our history, something which I don't think I'd ever do if I were in their shoes.  I think I would've just looked away rather than lose my life but I can never say how I'd react if I witness first hand the injustices that were happening at that time.  Nowadays, kasi, we can always opt to work abroad or immigrate even, if we feel this country can offer us nothing anymore.

In 1989, when the Iron Curtain fell, along with the other Communist-bloc countries in Europe, the Ceaucescu's of Romania, a notorious dictatorial couple like the Marcoses were executed by their countrymen, plain and simple.  Frankly, when that happened, I thought, why didn't they simply just do that to the Marcoses?  Para matapos na lahat - no more trials, paid na ang debts nila to the thousands of martial law victims - and the country can move on.  Tuloy, more than a quarter century after the EDSA Revolution, it's like nothing has happened, and 40 years after martial law, their injustices have gone unpunished - and the worst part is - they're back in power!  Talk about spitting on the graves of the desaparecidos. 

Anyway, this is just idle contemplation and we can't turn back time.  We can only move forward and try to appreciate the legacies of those men and women who suffered during the Marcos dictatorship. 

Too Bad We Didn't Get to Host the FIBA Championships

 

 I've read some articles about how we lost the FIBA Championships bid for 2012.  Apparently, Lebanon got the chance to host it even if our team gave a far more superior presentation.  Not to mention that here, basketball is still the sport that the majority of Filipinos watch!  It would've been a treat to watch Asia's best basketball teams play here!

I am not really a basketball fan but the prospect of seeing many boys from all over Asia is just a yum-yum idea - and we can also cheer to for our local team, di ba?  That rarely happens e, even in basketball.  Oh well, there should be other chances to host the event - so sana kung kelan man yun, matuloy na!

Quezon Avenue- Araneta Avenue Underpass to be Finally Opened This Coming Week

Like many who live near the Quezon Avenue - Araneta Avenue intersection, I have avoided this area for more than a year now because of the terrible traffic the construction has caused.  We usually pass through E. Rodriguez Avenue now to go to Quiapo and I take the Pandacan flyover to go to MOA and the Cultural Center.  

However, that place is closed after ten pm so it's great that the Quezon Avenue underpass is finished already and is set to be inaugurated this coming week!  This could cut out travel time to Divisoria - but unfortunately, Tutuban Mall also burned down a few weeks ago - so I don't know where to park anymore?

Why Isn't Robredo's Wife Running for the Senate?

Frankly, I'm tired of seeing the same old same old faces in our Senate.  They have been there for ages but still, where are we right now?  I wish Robredo's wife could be persuaded to run for Senate. I'm sure her husband has rubbed enough on her on how to move this country forward - and I'm sure there is no shortage of volunteers willing to work for her team - once she gets elected.

Seeing the list of senatorial candidates with the winning ability here gives me a BIG FREAKIN' YAWN!  As a protest vote, I'll put UNKNOWN candidates on my ballot.  I'm just tired of this old faces list........WALA NA BANG IBA DYAN?

Legarda leads latest Pulse Asia survey

Tough To Be A Whistleblower in this Country

It's really tough to be a whistleblower in this country.  We just have NO respect for them.  Anyhow, if this whistleblower's story is true, don't worry dude, it will blow up in the face of the PDEA soon enough.   You have to remember that gamblers NEVER NEVER NEVER stop gambling.  It's a very hard addiction to stop.  So I'm sure, if this woman is really a gambler, the consequences of her being the wife of a PDEA head will lead to serious consequences in the future - especially that her husband is working AGAINST drug lords.  

In the end, the drug lords now have an ace in their hands, IF this whistleblower is indeed telling the truth.....

Boss’ wife at center of raging PDEA row

2.8 million Filipinos jobless; rate unchanged since 2011

Every time I read news about joblessness, I sometimes wonder if these people are also employable - meaning - do they really have the skills to be employable - at this day and age!  The stakes right now are so high since the competition is already global - and any employee who has no world-class skills - will remain jobless and will never find a job - kasi hindi nga siya skilled!  I just really hope our educational system can have incremental improvements to ensure these kids can speak and understand English, or have analytical skills or develop their special talents - otherwise, menial jobs will be the only jobs available for them...

2.8 million Filipinos jobless; rate unchanged since 2011

Cebu school probes death of 2 students in Bataan

Mama was always vigilant with us when we went out swimming in the beach when we were kids.  She told us that she would always stay on the beach side and always count five heads, five heads, all the time.  She told us she would never let us out of our sight since she knew only too well the dangers of drowning.

Now that we're raising kids, I don't think I'd ever allow Laura or Dylan to go on a school trip that would involve swimming of ANY SORT!   Not unless I or Vic is there.  The truth is, one teacher CANNOT possibly watch over 10 or 15 or 20 students, lalo na if they're teenagers.  We were kids once and we know how malikot we are and how we tend NOT to follow what our teachers are telling us.  I just feel the pain of the parents.  Unbearable - and really, no amount of investigation or blaming other people for the incident will EVER bring them back!

Cebu school probes death of 2 students in Bataan

High court orders Makati hotel to pay dead guest’s heirs P52M

If the guy just stayed in an inn that charges 1000 pesos a day, maybe, just maybe, the family would've not bothered to sue, but for a hotel that charges at least US$500 per night, maybe they should've been more vigilant with their hotel security.  Problem here though is this hotel will just pass this 52 million peso bill back to the customers who are planning to stay in this hotel - so who gets the last laugh here!!

High court orders Makati hotel to pay dead guest’s heirs P52M

70 Filipinos get $1M for speaking Tagalog

Wow!  Finally, we get the respect we deserve!  And kudos to these 70 nurses who stood up for their rights!  About time they respect our unique culture and our right to speak our language if we are just speaking with each other - or at least, to patients who can speak Filipino.  

70 Filipinos get $1M for speaking Tagalog

PH Azkals blank Singapore Lions, 2-0

Aren't you just proud of these guys?  It's just a bonus that they're goodlooking and all, but to come out with results like this - just shows that their hearts are in the right places - whether half Pinoy man sila or whatever....makes you really think we might have a fighting chance against the best football teams in Asia if we can progress in this game very quickly....

PH Azkals blank Singapore Lions, 2-0

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‘Saying it in Pilipino is still plagiarism’—Santiago

Sotto should just fire all the members of his writing team.  They're setting him up like he's a real0life buffoon.  I'm glad Senator Santiago has urged her colleagues to just stop all the dilatory attacks kasi wala naman ding hahantungan  puro naman kopya ang mga ideas - walang original ideas!  And just like her, I'll accept whatever vote the Senate gives - whether it's a pro or anti vote.

‘Saying it in Pilipino is still plagiarism’—Santiago

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‘Kotong’ cop still active after 7 cases

Nakakahiya itong pulis na ito!  Sana tuluyan na siyang mahuli para matigil na ang kanyang kasamaan, once and for all!  Finally, may nameet din siyang katapat niya - ogag talaga!

‘Kotong’ cop still active after 7 cases

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Is Metro Manila Prepared for Another Earthquake?

I'm sure about half of you here in Facebook have experienced the 1990 earthquake, which by itself, was a very strong one! We had to sleep on the ground floor that night because Mama said if there were aftershocks, we could get out of the house immediately. Mama herself is already a veteran of earthquakes. She was a young lady when the Ruby Towers was destroyed in an earthquake and she also mentioned an earthquake and a tsunami in Mindanao when we were still very young and I remember both she and Papa would talk about it.  The possibility of another earthquake here in Manila is not farfetched, after all 1990 is almost three decades ago already.  Frankly, I don't really know if we're ready for another one. 

What if 7.6 quake hit Metro Manila?

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PH competitiveness ranking up by 10 notches

This is really a step in the right direction for us!  Of course, I very well know how competitive we are since in my own business, all of our clients are from abroad, and we have been serving the well for a decade now, so I know we're really up there among the world's best.  Problem is our government officials are so mired in corruption that it's not been very easy to change that perception in the world community.  I hope the Aquino government can continue to work towards that goal of fighting corruption and improving our infrastructure.  

PH competitiveness ranking up by 10 notches

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7 SC justices acting like a*****es

I guess these 7 justices haven't read the Bible, "The first will be the last and the last will be the first" - tapos kunwari nagsisimba tapos maraming rebulto ni Sto. Nino and Virgin Mary sa bahay. Kunwari Kristiyano pero peke naman.  Walk the talk justices like Jesus did. Humble yourselves - you're just freakin' lawyers you know - you did not discover the cure for cancer!!  Humility is really a virtue many of us have refused to learn - clinging to our foolish pride.  Kung ako si Sereno - mainggit na lang kayo - eat this oldies!!!

7 SC justices ‘snub’ Sereno

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Some Advice from Manny Villar

I voted for Manny Villar in the last presidential elections because I wanted a businessman to run our country.  However, he was beset with some corruption allegations which he never could answer very well - at least that's how the public saw it - and lost the race.

Anyhow, I was reading an article today about him in the Philippine Star and I was hit by the tips he gave to success.  I admit I have been a bit complacent already especially that I have achieved a bit of success in my chosen business.  But now that my brother has decided to go full throttle with the magazine, it's time for me to heed Villar's advice - which went like this -

"Be persistent. (I need this. I don't have this. I have to be a bit more makulit so that I can get what I want - without being obnoxious, of course.)"

"Continue improving what you're doing. (Another good advice that I have to heed.  I have been tweaking my business a bit these past few months and the results have started to show.  I should continue to be on top of things to make sure the gains continue through the next few months.  It's never freakin' easy!!)

"Focus" (This I have done already as I have cut out the activities that have crowded out my time!)

"Work hard" (Well, no need to remind me about this.  I think Vic and I are the hardest working people I know.)

"Overcome crisis with guts and determination." (This one I have done several times already.  Not easy but something you have to pull through if you want your business to survive!). 

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