Not a joke

Former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante is seeking political asylum in the United States allegedly because of the threats to his life by the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).

He believes that being a target of the CPP-NPA, although Ka Roger already said he is not, entitles him political asylum.

I don’t know who gave him the idea that a man accused of plunder is entitled to political asylum when in fact those in Malacanang seems to be protecting him, rather than going after him.

As far as I know, political asylum is granted only by a government to a person or persons who belong to the political opposition of another country for his own protection from the established government.

Obviously, Bolante is not a member of the political opposition.
He was a government official. In fact, he still remains very close to First Gentleman Mike Arroyo.

Surely, the government will never kill or harass or do something to that effect against somebody like Bolante who seem to have learned to become invisible.

The only asylum he deserves is one where lots of people like him belong – behind bars.

The accusation against this man is not a joke. The P728 million fertilizer fund mess is no joke.

Depriving the poor farmers of government subsidy like seeds and farm inputs is like depriving them of bread and butter.

SONA

I don't know why I felt insulted at the way President Arroyo smiled on national television while addressing lawmakers during her 6th State of the Nation Address (SONA) in congress.

Is it because the promises she made were too incredible or is it because I heard it from a president who had seem to lost the trust and confidence of the people?

As a Filipino who wants to hear something good from my president, I would have been jumping in joy after the SONA for her promise of a better life for the Filipino people in the future, even though she didn't actually delivered a state of the nation address that every Filipino ought to hear from their chief executive.

I didn't hear her deliver the state of the nation, at least compared, to its Asian neighbors in terms of economic growth and development; in terms of political stability, or instability for that matter; or in terms of trade & industry and job creation.

Maybe because what I really want to hear from her are the good news. Real ones, like the Filipino people are no longer suffering from extreme poverty and hunger; that they now have access to safe drinking water, sanitation, proper nutrition and health care.

I want to hear that my fellow Filipinos in the rural areas are no longer landless, or those who live in the urban areas have a home of their own.

Hopefully, if not from Mrs Arroyo, I will hear it from the next president who will deliver the SONA after her term.

The thrills of KE post activities

WHENEVER there's an activity, Kappa Epsilon fraternity and sorority never fails to satisfy, if not give the participants the chill. But what is more thrilling is that after every activity, we always get together, talk over countless bottles of beer, exchange ideas and strengthen our bond called brotherhood.
Just last July 19, after our Medical Mission at Barangay Barangka - Ibaba in Mandaluyong City, where some two hundred residents were provided with free medical and dental services by a crew of doctors, dentists and health workers of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), we get together at a small videoke bar and relaxed.
Sarap talaga maging Kappa Epsilonian!
The activity was in partnership with the Kappa Epsilon Alumni Association of North America whose president and family showed up during the early-morning event to show support to the cause.
Our president, Allan Aglipay vowed to hold similar undertakings in the future, and plans to hold such activity, plus an outreach project in Botolan, Zambales for the benefit of our less-fortunate Aeta brothers and sisters who were displaced by -- and continue to suffer from - the eruption of the Mt. Pinatubo more than 15 years ago.

Environment and Natural Resources

During an exposure trip inside an open pit mining of a Canadian firm in Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte. The company boasts that it has nothing to hide because they ensure environmental protection while exploring and developing the country's mineral resources, particularly gold and silver. Operating cost is P.5 million and at the end of the day, they produce gold and silver worth P6 million. they haul 8,000 tons of ore every day, digging from the 15-hectare pit which they identified as rich in gold and silver. For every 1 hectare of forest land, 16,000 tress must be cut down.

One of mining engineers hand over to Ambassador Nurtherland and Sec. Angelo Reyes a bar of mixed silver and gold during an exposure trip inside the Zambo plant of the Canadian-based mining company, TVI

The indigenous people, the royalty of the Subanon tribe in Siocon, or at least one group claiming to represent a tribe with 1,200 families, gets 1% of the mine's earning or P60,000 every day. They want more.

Indigenous People in Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte talk to Canadian envoy Peter Sutherland about what they want and what they need from their new Canadian friends for them to do mining activities in their ancestral lands.

During a dialogue, I heard one elder asking for a personal computer. One asks for more schools and teachers and to help build another school for secondary level. One leader asks for more money. One leader asks to visit Canada to see how mining is done. Nobody asked for agreen card, thank God!

Occidental Mindoro

Occidental Mindoro, home to the Mangyans, is one of the country's food baskets. It contributes P1 billion to the National Food Authority's (NFA) palay stocks and was once host to the country's largest cattle industry. However, its vast potential of increasing its annual agricultural production has been hampered by lack of proper irrigation. Its rice fields are also vulnerable to the Tungro virus. People here are basically farmers. Even workers, traders, employees, teachers, firemen, policemen, streetsweepers, even government officials are farmers, if not fishermen.

San Jose, Occidental Mindoro is the country's top palay-producing town. Here's the seat of power of San Jose

Fishing is a way of life for most of the people in this island province. Either you go into farming or chose the sea as a way of life...

Like most Filipinos, the people of San Jose value the country's heroes as demonstrated by this shrine for Gen. antonio Luna, one of the many shrines erected along the path going towards the town hall.

A Philippine flag stands still at a balsa near White Island in San Jose, 15 minutes away via motorized banca from the town's bay area. We conquered the small isladn twice in between our advocacy work in the area.

A poster of Occidental Mindoro's finest places to go is posted at the Sikatuna Beach Resort where we stayed for two nights and three days

NPC Fellowship Night

At the National Press Club grounds, 21 April 2006, members of the media... and some pretending to be gathered as political pot boils with the proclamation or sort of the Press Freedom Party. There were plenty of beer and bar chow for both the candidates and voters, supporters or not.

Here are some of the scenes

Toneth Marquez of Remate is all smile as this photographer wannabe takes a snapshot of his drinking buddy... alak pa!

CAMANAVA Beauty. Rose Tamayo of Pilipino Star Ngayon, Mary Sapico and Merly Iral, both of Tanod newspaper.

Feeling Pogi. Ric Roldan, formerly of Remate and now Police Files with Willie Catapat of Manila Bulletin.

Action Stars? Rommel Panizal of Ang Bagong Tiktik with Orly Barcala of Balita, my former partner in crime at the CAMANAVA beat for a time

Willie Catapat and me after downing a dozen or more of those intoxicating liquid substance inside those little brown bottles of Boss Danding

Man's best friend

'ASKIE'

Here's my pet dog. Askie, short for asong kalye, is a Belgian Shepherd.
Actually, I already gave this dog to my brother-in-law who takes care of her now.
I used to have a pet dog named mutley, named after a character dog in the cartoons which I have vague recollection of. It died of food poisoning.
My second pet dog was named chongqui - a coloquial or street name for Marijuana - grass. His first master who gave it to me, was obviously a drug addict who cares for him - giving him away instead of making stew out of the poor animal.
I love dogs. I love them especially when they are well done. He he he.
Seriously, dogs have fine meat. It tastes good. My Ilocano friends cook good bar chow out of asong kalye.
But since the law prohibits slaughtering dogs for human consumption, I stopped eating dog stew. Pusa na lang? He he he.
Dogs are man's best friend.

Good Friday

Every Good Friday, I remember myself walking from Caloocan City, 4th Avenue, Grace Park to be exact to the Grotto in Novaliches, Quezon City.
Along with some friends, we go there on bare foot and try "enjoying" the long walk. Of course, water was not a problem as we get to refill our water and sometimes, are lucky enough to fill it with instant juice drink some kind-hearted souls offer the pilgrim.
We start at 11 or 12 o 'clock Thursday night and usually arrive in our destination at 7 to 8 a.m.
It's a long walk. We bring a guitar man, and a tangero who brings along a bottle or two of our favorite brandy, a water jug and two pairs of plastic cups.
We sing youthful songs and try to keep our voice down even as we start to feel groggy and hot inside with those seemingly endless shots of brandy being handed over by our tanggero.
Regardless of what my parents would say, I enjoy the company of my friends who do not take the penitence seriously. At least we did our best.
We were young… what can I say?
I wonder where are they now?

New York, New York

Reacting to a New York Times' editorial expressing alarm over the situation in the Philippines, press Secretary Ignacio Bunye's statement hitting the opposition for allegedly painting a wrong picture of the Philippines is expected from him.
I would not not be surprised if the intelligence community would soon link the New York Times to destabilizers; the same way Malacanang accused some members of the Philippine media as "irresponsible" and "agent of destabilization."
While saying that the Philippine media have always been free and vibrant, Mr. Bunye obviously avoided touching the issue of the controversial Presidential Proclamation 1017, which Malacanang used to intimidate and harass some people who are critical of the Arroyo administration.
The members of the media are indeed vibrant and free, and they paint and put colors to highlight what's really happening in this country of ours.
Otherwise, the white paint that Malacanang has applied using its own political machinery would make it hard for the world to see what's really going on.

Another day in the field

6 April 2006

9:07 p.m.

Office

I just arrived from a day's work in the field for my 'other job'. It was quite a long journey from Manila to Magalang, Pampanga then to Camiling, Tarlac to interview some people who are into plant and animal tissue culture. The ride was bumpy, although the service vehicle was quite comfortable.

I tried to sleep while on the road and let the driver do the driving. My companions were reading and talking. For a time, I enjoyed the conversation but because it was a long ride, all of us ran out of something to say so we finally decided to simply enjoy the ride going back home.

In the office, I tried to finish the task I left last night. Bored, I decided to do something more interesting... update my blog...

Pusang Gala

I travel a lot these days. I wonder when will these feet of mine stop walking? Tomorrow, I'll be back in Nueva Ecija, somewhere there. I've just been to the Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija a few days back. Before that, I went to San Fernando, La Union.

Not less than a month ago, I was at Taal Vista Hotel in Tagaytay. I've been to Baguio and Benguet, too. Over these past few weeks, I'm no different from what I used to be when I was in college - a nomad endlessly wandering around... exploring. It's a good thing I am working when going to those places, otherwise, I would have found a kingdom that I've been searching for all these years.

Boring Day

4:12 P.M.

April 5, 2006

Office

Walang magawa. I wonder what my colleagues are doing? I've been sitting in front of my personal computer browsing the internet for hours. I know I have to write reports but it seems there's nonthing to write about right now so here's me, writing and trying to communicate to let people know I'm dead bored..

Sana laging maraming trabaho. It's a lot better when you have plenty of things to do than nothing at all.

Killing time isn't very exciting when you have to spend it in front of a lousy computer.

Haaaaayyyyyy! Buhay nga naman.

NBKEC

Nothing Beats Kappa Epsilon Company!

March 31, 2006

Sta. Ana Park, Manila

It was a night of laughs as the University of the East Kappa Epsilon Sorority celebrates its 30th Founding Anniversary.

The University of the East Kappa Epsilon Alumni Association also held its annual election of officers.

In Kappa Epsilon, we are equal. While we think and act differently and the color of our skin are not the same. We breath the same air. We eat the same food. We talk the same language. We see through the same eyes. We aspire for the same goal.

We strive to be perfect in spirit, unyielding in soul and humble in triumph.