It's simple, really™

World Bank denies link to 'leaked' report on Supreme Court Judicial Reform Support Project

2012-01-16T23:22:00.006+11:00

The World Bank (WB) disassociated itself from a so-called report on the Supreme Court’s Judicial Reform Support Project (JRSP). The report supposedly "leaked" to the media was touted as having contained findings showing the Supreme Court's use of WB loaned funds to deliver the intended reforms being "unsatisfactory". An Inquirer.net “report” went as far as qualifying that rating further as being applicable "under the watch of Chief Justice Renato Corona".

But according to an mb.com.ph report...

Erika Leann Lacson-Esguerra, World Bank program assistant for external relations, said Monday the bank did not release to the media a supposed memo regarding the “unsatisfactory” progress of the high court’s loan.

“This email message did not come from the World Bank. Any official statement from the World Bank will be posted online (www.worldbank.org.ph),” Lacson-Esguerra said.

Furthermore,

Data from the World Bank’s website revealed that the pace of implementation has picked up under Corona's leadership, saying more than $1.3 million was disbursed in the first half of 2011 alone.

While the WB sources revealed that the project was delayed and had to be extended several times, it cited a number of factors that contributed to these delays, including the 2009 Typhoon Ondoy disaster, "coordination issues", "lengthy procurement processes", and "changes in the judiciary leadership". As such there is no hint of any one factor that could be made accountable for the lackluster delivery of the project.

Earlier, “social news network” site Rappler.com published a “report” that interpreted the contents of what now seems to be a bogus report allegedly "leaked" by Malacañang informants. The Rappler.com "report" seems to single out SC spokesperson Jose Midas Marquez who is also head of the Office of the Court Administrator which supposedly accounts for "16 of the ineligible expenditures" outlined in the so-called "leaked" WB report.

House signatories to impeachment vs Chief Justice Corona not allowed to read complaint contents

2011-12-13T20:30:00.004+11:00

Lawmakers who signed an impeachment complaint against Philippine Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona reportedly admitted to doing so without being fully informed about the content of the complaint. According to one of them, they were not allowed to read the document articulating the complaint...

Bayan Muna Representative Teodoro Casiño said the majority of the 188 members who signed the impeachment case were clueless of the eight articles used as the basis to kick out Corona when they entered the majority caucus at 2:30 pm Monday.

Casiño admitted that they were not allowed to read the 57-page document, which they signed on as both complainant and endorser.

The speed at which the complaint was signed up to by the House of Representatives is unprecedented. Many observed that the process with which this was done was "rushed".

Earlier, it was reported that a "furious" Philippine President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III pushed for a "fast" impeachment against Corona. This was after Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte went on record to say that Malacañang was "not privy" to what at the time were plans to launch the impeachment bid.

Fury of Noynoy fast-tracks impeachment vs Corona despite claim Malacañang not privy to it

2011-12-13T12:30:00.007+11:00

Earlier, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte was quoted by ABS-CBN News as saying that the Palace was "not privy to the discussions of the Liberal Party in the House" referring to what at the time were preparations being mounted in the House of Representatives to lodge an impeachment complaint against Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Turns out the impeachment initiative was reportedly an exercise "to appease an angry President Benigno Aquino III"...

Belmonte and another Liberal Party stalwart, Cavite Representative Joseph E.A. Abaya, revealed that a “furious” President Aquino wanted a “fast” impeachment against Corona after he and seven other Arroyo appointees had issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) to block the travel ban against Arroyo.

The Chief Justice is accused of dispensing of his duties in the High Court in a manner allegedly biased towards former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. He is also accused of graft and corruption for allegedly failing to reveal the full value of his personal assets.

Philippine President Noynoy Aquino hints at future call on Filipinos to join him in defying the Supreme Court

2011-12-07T19:26:00.005+11:00

Philippine President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III continues to back an emerging 500-day old tradition of defying and vilifying the Philippine Supreme Court when he issued veiled threats of a "people power" uprising and alluded to some kind of special place in the eyes of God that gives him and his administration a mandate to pursue their goals at all costs -- even, presumably, at the cost of compromising the institutional integrity of the Philippines' governance systems...

Palace officials on Tuesday joined President Benigno Aquino III in stepping up attacks against the Supreme Court, warning magistrates against obstructing a popular reformist agenda and raising the specter of a people power uprising against them.

At the Christmas party for the Liberal Party in Malacañang, Mr. Aquino rallied his troops to help him fulfill his campaign promise to prosecute misdeeds allegedly committed during the previous Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration.

“I’d like to think God is making us instruments of His will and at the end of the day, we have been given an opportunity to really transform so much of our country and especially the lives of our people,” the President said.

Aquino apparently anointed himself and his staff de facto "instruments" of God's "will" and, in the process, further applies a Roman Catholic slant into the governing of what is supposed to be a secular state.

Further to this, Aquino also made a public wish that former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who is currently under arrest on charges of electoral fraud "confess" for her "wrongdoings", a statement that undermines the presumption of innocence prior to proving of guilt that all citizens are entitled to.

Philippine President Noynoy Aquino seems to be embodying everything that is wrong with the Philippines. He consistently exhibits a self-righteous disposition intermeshed with a misguided approach to practicing the Roman Catholic faith and applying it to his manner of serving his role as leader of a secular nation.

Filipino Americans favour re-election of US President Barack Obama because of his perceived racial preferences

2011-11-29T10:08:00.002+11:00

The multi-million body strong Filipino American community is reportedly gearing up for a campaign to re-elect US President Barack Obama on the basis of a "strong" view on the racial composition of America's government offices...

Jason Lagria, national co-chairman of Kaya Filipino Americans for Progress shared his strong opinion of why he chose to work towards the re-election of President Obama.

“Look at his record on diversity – he’s nominated 8 Asian-Americans to federal courts when there were just 7 ever before that. He’s basically doubled the number of Asian Americans in the judiciary and he’s done the same thing in his Cabinet and throughout his administration.”

Filipino-Americans showed strong support for Obama's candidacy in the last US presidential election.

Malacañang PR machine on damage control as 'vindictive' label sticks after Arroyo arrest

2011-11-27T14:46:00.001+11:00

Malacañang deputy spokesperson, Abigail Valte in a recent press statement now makes out the neglect of the Aquino administration to act swiftly to file charges against former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for her allegedly numerous "crimes" as proof of President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III being "not vindictive".

Valte reminded Mr. Aquino’s critics that if his actions against Arroyo were borne out of spite, his administration should have filed a string of charges against her starting from “Day One.”

The irony that flies over Valte's head is in how months of trying to be "not vindictive" (according to her definition) is what ultimately resulted in the rushed effort to charge Arroyo at the eleventh hour, the circumstances around which was what earned Malacañang the charge of being vindictive to begin with...

With the way some people are celebrating her arrest, you would think that the courts have already found GMA guilty. But in fact, the legal proceedings haven’t even begun. The haste with which the arrest warrant was issued already tells us that the case is not a very solid one and not only that, proceedings will be done with the usual circus-like and operatic acts that always appeal to the gullible.

This tells us what kind of mentality some Filipinos have – malicious and vindictive. This despite most having a religious upbringing. Ironically, some people who pass on the said photo are the same people who you will see posting religious or feel good quotes on the said social networking sites. The veneer of “compassion” has been unmasked to reveal the hate in the heart of the “God-fearing” lot as a show of misguided patriotism.

The spectacularly rushed and sloppy way with which Arroyo was dragged from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) under the orders of Justice Secretary Leila De Lima to face charges that haven't been filed yet at the time was also marked by a precedent-setting defiance of the Supreme Court (SC) by De Lima in her desperate effort to thwart what was determined previously by the SC to be a legal bid on Arroyo's part to travel abroad.

The "vindictive" label on the Second Aquino Administration following this circus seems to have stuck since as Malacañang's PR machine starts to crank out damage-control media releases (as is evident in Valte's statement) in the aftermath of similar perceptions found to be harboured by a policy think tank based in Europe...

BRUSSELS – The Aquino administration is being vindictive in its treatment of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo which could result in a damaged democracy, according to an executive of a policy think tank.

“It is a question of vindictiveness. It does not pay really to be vindictive against a previous government,” European Institute for Asian Studies (EIAS) vice chairman Dick Gupwell said when asked recently about his observation of political developments in the Philippines.

The EIAS, an independent and non-profit institution, provides information and expertise to European Union institutions, the academic world and business on EU-Asia relations as well as other developments in Asia.

“Politics is a dirty business. It was never squeaky clean and sometimes people bend the rules. But being really vindictive and really trying to bring (humiliation on) the other fellow... really makes it dirty. I do not think that is good for democracy in the long run,” he said.

It's been observed as well that fixation on efforts to stamp out corruption is distracting the government from more proactive initiatives to grow the economy.

Under SC grilling DOJ Sec Leila De Lima et al stand down from aggressive words used in Arroyo arrest

2011-11-25T07:07:00.004+11:00

Department of Justice officials are now back-pedalling on aggressive and pointed words they had used in describing their recent actions surrounding the arrest of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on charges of "electoral sabotage" allegedly perpetrated in the 2007 senatorial elections...

During [oral arguments on the countersuit filed by Arroyo's legal team], Associate Justice Roberto Abad asked Justice Secretary Leila de Lima in open court to clarify a statement published in the press attributed to her where she apparently vowed that the former president would be behind bars by Christmas.

De Lima claimed the statement was made by Commission on Elections chairman Sixto Brillantes and claimed they “had been misquoted,” a usual excuse being made by public officials, despite the fact that they had indeed uttered such statements, following Aquino’s statement while he was abroad that the cases against the former president will push through by November this year.

The proceedings will continue on Thursday (Dec 1) next week.

World continues to watch a restive Philippine Military in the aftermath of a mad rush to charge GMA for alleged electoral fraud

2011-11-20T19:15:00.001+11:00

Both foreign and local watchers of Philippine politics have their eyes fixed on the military establishment of that country. Last week Zosimo Paredes, spokesman of the Philippines' Department of National Defense (DND), hinted at the possibility that the government of President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III might go down the path of declaring a "revolutionary government" to mitigate the risk of instability and threats to "national security".

Paredes cited this option as the "more convenient" one because unlike Martial Law, it does not require congressional approval.

On the other hand, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin assured the public today that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) showed "no sign of unrest" within its ranks despite former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo having strong ties within the army. Arroyo was recently placed under arrest following an attempt to leave the country to seek medical treatment abroad. The attempt was foiled by an order from Justice Department Secretary Leila De Lima who defied an order issued by the Supreme Court to suspend a travel ban on Arroyo implemented by De Lima.

De Lima's actions invoked the spectre of constitutional crisis as legal experts cautioned all involved in the various precedents being set by Malacañang in what many see to be a rushed eleventh-hour attempt to make good on campaign promises that are yet to be fulfilled despite more than 500 days already having passed since Aquino's ascent to power in 2010.

Revolutionary government can restore order in the Philippines according to top defense official

2011-11-19T11:07:00.003+11:00

According to a Philippine Star report, the threat to national security in the Philippines could be grounds for President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III to set up a "revolutionary government". Going further, Department of National Defense (DND) spokesman Zosimo Paredes said that...

[...] the President is empowered to declare “his own government.”

... when said security and order is "at stake".

Paredes cited this option as the "more convenient" one because unlike Martial Law, it does not require congressional approval.

Talk of extraordinary powers for Aquino's government follows talk of constitutional crises and political instability following Justice Secretary Leila De Lima's defiance of a court order issued by the Philippines' Supreme Court against a travel ban slapped by Malacañang on former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who requested that she be allowed to travel for medical treatment abroad.

De Lima's actions set a precedent that may result in prolonged damage to the check-and-balance dynamics of the Philippines' system of government which is modeled against that of the United States's.

The news site BBC.co.uk describes a situation where a "revolutionary government" may arise as such:

If a government is overthrown by force, the new ruling group is sometimes called a revolutionary government.

According to the same Philippine Star report, further speculation is also rife within the ranks of government and the military as to the loyalties of key military officers despite assurances that the chain of command will be followed.

Constitutional crisis brewing in the Philippines as Aquino Government defies Supreme Court ruling

2011-11-17T12:31:00.003+11:00

Legal expert Fr Joaquin G. Bernas SJ speaks out about the travel ban implemented by the Philippine Government on former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) in a piece dated the 17th Nov 2011:

By this morning, however, it became evident that the nonreception of the official copy of the [temporary restraining order (TRO) against the travel ban] was not the real reason [GMA was not allowed to leave the country]. The justice secretary [Leila De Lima] simply does not want to lift the ban.
[...]
What I seem to be seeing in all these and in some public reaction is that anger and hatred of GMA has taken over and reason seems to be consigned to the sidelines. That this seems to affect even the highest executive authorities is a sad, sad thing.

The Inquirer.net Editor in an article published on the same date, on the other hand, thinks that the fundamental issue is that the Supreme Court is a rigged branch of the Philippine Government...

But it does not help that the Supreme Court, or at least its current configuration, hardly carries the weight of unassailability. It is this less than solid reputation that leads the attentive observer to conclude that the 8-5 vote that produced the TRO merely proved the wisdom of packing the high court with one’s appointees—for that foreseeable future when one is forced to call in favors.

...and that the real aspect to guide the actions of our leaders should be one that is political...

The overweening issue is credibility, or lack thereof, and it’s too bad that the Supreme Court has come up squarely against it in issuing the TRO favoring the Arroyos. A functioning government requires an unassailable arbiter. Certain legal eagles contend that the high court’s action should have estopped De Lima from keeping the couple on the watch list. But the justice secretary, herself no slouch in law, appears bent on pushing the envelope in order to protect the justice department’s power to prosecute crime.

But then as consultant Ben Kritz observes...

The uproar over the uncharged and unconvicted former President Arroyo’s being prevented from leaving the country for medical treatment has finally shaken at least a part of this country out of its torpor to realize there is something very undemocratic and very wrong with the way President Aquino is discharging his office.

... which, like the good Fr Bernas's noise-reduced take on the matter is consistent with what the rest of the world sees as a simple issue:

From CNN; 16 Nov 2011:

Former Philippines President Gloria Arroyo was stopped from boarding a plane at Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport Tuesday, hours after the country's Supreme Court overruled government-imposed restrictions on her travels.

From The New York Times; 15 Nov 2011:

The Philippine government blocked former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her husband from leaving the country on Tuesday despite a Supreme Court order that allowed them to travel abroad for her medical treatment.

From The Washington Post; 15 Nov 2011

But [Philippine Supreme Court] justices voted 8-5 on Tuesday to issue a temporary restraining order [on the travel ban imposed by Malacañang] allowing Arroyo to seek treatment for a bone ailment, court spokesman Midas Marquez said.

“They are free to exercise their constitutional rights,” Marquez said, adding that the government could be cited for contempt.

He said the Arroyos complied with court conditions for travel by posting a bond of 2 million pesos ($46,000) and appointing legal representatives to receive any court summonses. They were also ordered to report to Philippine embassies or consulates in countries they visit.

Not surprisingly a "constitutional crisis" is currently brewing according to a report from The Wall Street Journal...

The Philippines is facing a drama-laden constitutional crisis as former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo attempts to leave the country to seek medical treatment after the Supreme Court allowed her to travel despite the government's claims that the former leader might not return to face a corruption investigation.

The world is watching...

Philippine Media blamed for war mongering over Mindanao conflict

2011-11-01T21:01:00.003+11:00

Confirming much of our more sensible takes (specifically Ilda Pro's and Ben Kritz's) on the role punditry and arms-length news "reporting" play in determining the fate of thousands when it comes to armed conflict, Darwin Wally Wee of the news site China Buzz put much of the blame squarely upon the shoulders of Philippine Media for creating a warlike attitude among the kibitzing Filipino public.

[Philippine] mainstream media has created a situation where “war” is the sole solution to the cycle of conflicts in Mindanao.

A popular evening news channel even conducted a text message poll on October 20, asking the viewers if they would favor an all-out war against the MILF.

It triggered a rally in some Muslim-dominated areas in Mindanao calling for boycott of a major television network for feeding on the grief and anger caused by the 19 soldiers’ deaths.

Philippine Mainstream Media which is dominated by ABS-CBN and the GMA Network have long been criticised for their unique brand of hearsay reporting and "to-be-confirmed" news "reports".

Like everything else in the Philippines, whether it be disastrous flooding, or armed-to-the-teeth warlords, the Philippine Media — that supposed bastion of enlightenment, truth, and (get this), “information”, simply fails to lead the way in helping the public focus on what is important.

Senator Tito Sotto claims that God is on his side in the RH Bill debate

2011-09-12T20:35:00.005+10:00

According to Philippine Senator Vicente "Tito" Sotto of television's Iskul Bukol fame, "name-calling, sarcasm and mockery do not contribute to an informed choice and enlightened debate." In a press statement, Sotto assailed what he perceived to be attacks against his person by persons and groups who are pushing for the passage of the country's Reproductive Health (RH) Bill.

On the other hand, this begs the question of what those who reject the introduction of RH into the legal framework of the country are implying when they make liberal (almost monopolistic) use of the term "life" in the names of their advocacy movements. Groups that go by such names as "Filipinos for Life" and "Pro-Life" seem to be implying something. Is it that those who oppose them are anti-life?

If there is any "demonising" going on in this "debate" it seems the source of this practice is becoming quite obvious.

As in previous assertions and in the usual form that the religious tend to frame the "debate", Sotto makes a unilateral claim to righteousness to describe the motivation behind the position he takes...

“When you are doing something right, expect to be attacked. If God is using you to do something right, expect to be attacked viciously! I am rejoicing!” he added.

Yet in Item 7 in his response to Akbayan Youth chairperson and blogger Leloy Claudio (who earlier challenged Sotto to a debate), Sotto insists that having "differing opinions is part of the territory in a democracy, where ideas are shared, debated and assessed, for an informed citizenry," which is a contradiction of the penchant he had exhibited for claiming a special place in his God's favour with regard to his opposition to the RH Bill.

CBCP plea for Filipino WYD pilgrims not to overstay their visa in Spain

2011-08-31T20:26:00.002+10:00

Filipinos are always quite the liabilities they consistently are -- even to the Roman Catholic Church. The Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines is trying to account for all delegates of the World Youth Day (WYD) pilgrimage recently concluded in Spain. The Spanish government had reportedly relaxed visa issuance requirements for Filipino travelers to Spain in consideration of the event.

The Church is now fearing possible damage to the trust the Spanish government had given it in allowing Filipinos to enter its borders...

If they do not return, one consequence is that it might hurt the local Church’s relations with the Spanish embassy in Manila, [Fr. Conegondo Garganta, executive secretary of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on the Youth] said. “It would be our image that would be damaged,” he added.

During the World Youth Day celebrations held in Germany in 2005 and in Canada in 2002, some Filipino delegates did not return home.

Not surprisingly, Filipinos are generally considered by many governments of wealthy nations to be high-risk temporary visitors. Visa requirements for Filipinos wishing to travel to these countries are often difficult to meet or take a long time to process.

Indeed, officials of the Spanish embassy in Manila already anticipated the risks associated with this act of good faith...

[Garganta] said that even before releasing the delegates’ visas, the Spanish embassy had asked the commission how many it expected would not return.

“How many percent do you think will stay?” Garganta quoted embassy officials as saying.

“Ideally, we do not want to put a number because we promised that this is a Church event (but) based on past experience, one percent,” Garganta said.

Garganta said the embassy gave a bigger estimate.

Many Filipinos who are legitimate travelers have to suffer the inconvenience of draconian visa procedures as a result of their compatriots' long tradition of abuse of trust.

Paris Hilton in Manila, rumored meet with PNoy NOT TRUE - Ruffa

2011-08-15T12:00:00.003+10:00

Celebrity heiress Paris Hilton is in Manila reportedly "purely on business" to check out her new boutique at the SM Megamall and "designing" a Century 21 Properties beach resort in a five-day tour of the capital city of the Philippines. Indeed, the capital of the Philippines it surely is as, already as of this writing, two iPad tablet computers she had with her had gone missing...

The report quoted Edwin Llubrera of the airport’s media relations office as saying that Hilton immediately alerted officers from the Emirates Airlines about the incident after arriving at the airport.

It was however unclear whether the two iPad units were lost while inside the plane or at the airport, the report stated.

Earlier she tweeted “So excited to go to the #Philippines, can't wait to meet you all! Love you”.

Rumours that Hilton will be meeting with top Philippine bachelor President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III were quashed by actress Ruffa Gutierrez who is point person for Century 21 Properties in organising Hilton's itinerary. In her tweet dated the 14th August, Gutierrez clarifies...

“Just got off the phone with Century Properties big boss. So many rumors abt Paris Hilton. 9 out of 10 NOT TRUE. No courtesy call to Malacanang in her schedule…”

Plans to meet with Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao and wife Jinkee reportedly will push through.

No progress on resolution of Mendoza hostage massacre incident; HK group not happy

2011-08-15T11:16:00.003+10:00

After a year of "investigations" the Philippine Government has so far nothing much to show as far as progress in the resolution of the August 23, 2010 Mendoza hostage massacre tragedy. Tse Chi-kin, the older brother of tour guide Masa Tse Ting-chunn who died in the incident, was quoted in The Standard as observing how "It has been almost one year and the Philippine government has done absolutely nothing to settle this case".

Tse along with survivors Joe Chan Kwok-chu and Lee Ying-chuen had earlier requested a meeting with Philippine President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III and also sought legal assistance to sue the Philippine Government.

On that, Philippines deputy presidential spokesman Abigail Valte said: "If and when the families do decide to file suit we will be ready to defend."

Tse described Valte's response as disrespectful to the dead and injured. "Instead of saying they are ready to defend, they should be thinking about how to make it up to those who died in the tragedy," he said.

The Philippine Government has so far made "repeated appeals" to Hong Kong to have a ban on travel to Manila lifted. The ban has been in effect since the hostage incident August, 2010. Hong Kong has so far rejected all of these appeals. The only other country on Hong Kong's black list aside from the Philippines is Syria where 2000 people have reportedly died in the unrest engulfing that country.

Pro-Life Ph's Eric Manalang condemns 'state sponsored and unholy acts' of CCP and Mideo Cruz

2011-08-10T20:03:00.009+10:00

Perspective seems to be in short supply in the Philippines today as "so-called Christian groups" reportedly push plans to rally against the Cultural Center of the Philippines today.

Eric Manalang of Pro-Life Philippines also urged all Catholics and Christian organizations to join the picket rally to condemn the "state sponsored ungodly and unholy acts" against Christians.

Funny how the definition of "ungodly and unholy acts" suddenly and arbitrarily gets applied to an artist and an institution on the basis of what a single man says is so. According to Manalang, "God-fearing people" are "marginalized", which conveniently appeals to the victim mentality Filipinos have for so long been renowned for.

Eric Manalang is the president of the group "Pro-Life Philippines". The group has been known for its militant brand of religious zealotry known to manifest itself in violent and abusive behaviour against those who beg to differ to their views. Manalang himself is reportedly a bigot and refers to his opponents as "Satan" among other things...

What’s worse, he — and other Pro-Life members — asked [supporters of the Philippines' proposed Reproductive Health Bill] to tell their mothers that they should have been aborted.

Manalang also apparently fancies himself an economist and takes liberties to air his views on what is good for the economic health of the Philippines...

No population, no economy because no producers and no consumers. Simple truth. Poor people are the source of growth in an economy, not the wealthy.

He is also spokesman of the political party Ang Kapatiran ("The Brotherhood").

Bank of America biggest casualty in Monday trading in the US

2011-08-09T09:59:00.003+10:00

The value of the United States' biggest bank Bank of America (BofA) fell 15 percent at close of Monday trading (going 20 percent down at its lowest in the course of the day). With a market capitalisation down to USD70 billion, Apple could buy BofA with cash and still have USD6 billion stashed away for a rainy day.

In the aftermath of the Monday's crash, the Dow is down 634 points (or a 5.5% fall) and the Nasdaq is down 175 points (down almost 7%.

The Philippines' Central Bank (Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas or BSP) is monitoring its foreign debt and equities portfolio which is managed by third-party fund managers. Despite an 80 percent ceiling imposed by rules governing BSP investment policy, 99 percent of the portfolio is reportedly exposed to US currency...

A re-assessment of the country’s foreign currency capital invested in long-dated securities will be done eventually, although Tetangco said this is not necessary at this time since Philippine funds invested in the US markets are still safe even after the US government’s credit rating downgrade from Triple A investment instruments to a notch lower “AA-” with a negative outlook.

[...]

The BSP has an ongoing review of its so-called “Reserve Management Framework” that the treasury department, headed by Tetangco, has been crafting since last year with the objective of shifting the country’s foreign currency assets.

The impact of turmoil in world markets in the aftermath of the downgrade of US debt from AAA to AA+ by Standard and Poor on the Philippine national budget is being assessed by the Philippine Government. Senate finance committee chairman Sen. Franklin Drilon has since ordered a review of assumptions used in formulating the budget, giving the committee 60 days to assess the "position" on the “issue”.

USD23.6b in US securities held by PH downgraded from AAA to AA+

2011-08-08T17:32:00.002+10:00

Philippine President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquinos III's "top economic advisers" are monitoring the effects of the downgrade of US debt from AAA to AA+ by rating agency Standard and Poor -- the first time in its history since the rating scheme was introduced. Impact of this on US consumers' disposable income (if interest rates increase as an outcome of the higher risk perception attracted by US debt) presents the obvious possibility that the volume of remittances sent by Filipino-Americans to their relatives in the Philippines will be hit hard.

Strong pressure to create domestic employment in the US, plus downward pressure on salaries and wages as a result of rising employment could also depress the export and outsourcing markets upon which the Philippine economy is also highly dependent on.

Less known is the Philippine government's exposure to US debt instruments which, according to US Treasury data amounts to USD23.6 billion. All of this is now rated AA+ (down from AAA) by S&P with a "negative outlook".

China which holds more than a trillion dollars of US government debt issued a stern warning, in light of its "displeasure" with the S&P downgrade:

'It must be understood that if the US, Europe and other advanced economies fail to shoulder their responsibilities and continue their incessant messing around over selfish interests, this will seriously impede stable development of the global economy,' said a commentary in the People's Daily newspaper, the mouthpiece of China's ruling Communist party.

The US financial market will open today for the first time since the downgrade and it is anybody's guess what will happen.

President Aquino explains omission of the RH Bill from his July 25, 2011 SONA

2011-08-01T00:41:00.003+10:00

In an interview with Jessica Soho of GMA News, Philippine President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III explains the absence of any mention of the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) Bill in his State of the Nation Address delivered to Congress on the 25th July 2011:

"I met with the group of legislators from Congress who are adherents of the RH bill. They tell me that they will be able to get it to a vote if not the third, by the fourth quarter. They’re confident of their numbers that it will pass. So if I mention [the] RH [Bill], what does it actually help?" My mentioning it might further galvanise to action those who are against it and make the process even more divisive. So, will there be a benefit to anyone if either proponents or opponents of the Bill continue to discuss it, when we're already at a stage where the debate has pretty much already been concluded? So [...] the advocates have won, why then do we need to rub it in?

The part in italics was translated from the original transcript published in GMANews.tv (excerpted below)...

Yung mga against it naman lalo kong iga-galvanize into action, to make the process even more divisive. At anong pakinabang ninuman na yung proponents or the antagonist of the bill to discuss it when it’s already, parang we’re almost at the stage na tapos na yung debate. So again beside sa, kunwari pwedeng tignan ng iba, nanalo na yung advocates tapos yung paano ba sa Tagalog na iduduldulan mo pa na talo kayo, paano tatanggap?

Economists weigh in on Noynoy Aquino's July 25, 2011 SONA while Malacañang defends it

2011-07-26T23:35:00.005+10:00

Celebrity economist Winnie Monsod and Ibon Foundation chief researcher Sonny Africa itemised flawed analyses in the recent State of the Nation Address delivered by President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III in a GMA News Online report, highlighting many instances of figures taken "out of context". Most of these instances involved using numbers selectively and neglecting to cite the nuances of these numbers. An example cited by Africa involved how the 1.4 million jobs created (presumably under his watch) were, in reality "more than offset" by the labour force increasing by 1.2 million people.

Ultimately what mattered the most to the ordinary Filipino (considering the whole point of Aquino's use of the Tagalog dialect to deliver the message to the masses more effectively), was missing from the SONA...

"Wala namang direktang kaugnayan ‘yon sa issue ng mga karaniwang mamamayan — trabaho, pagkain," Africa said.

[Translation: "None of this have a direct relevance to the ordinary Filipino whose concerns don't go beyond jobs and food"]

Yet, earlier, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda defended the SONA saying that all these figures were "verifiable"...

Aquino had a lot more important things to say than bash former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her allies, [Lacierda] said, noting the figures Aquino cited in his speech SONA were verifiable.

“We will prove to the naysayers that this administration is going to change society, is going improve the lives of the people, and we are going to deliver on our promises," he added.

Lacierda also dismissed critics who noted that all of what Aquino said in the SONA were "motherhood statements" and that such criticism were all "rehashes" themselves of past criticism.

Philippine Army and police on full alert to guard Noynoy against the voices of his 'Boss'

2011-07-25T16:41:00.002+10:00

Philippine security forces are reportedly on full alert to guard against "untoward" incidents during delivery of President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III's State of the Nation Address (SONA) today. A "no-permit, no-rally" order will be "strictly" enforced according to National Capital Region Police Office chief Alan Purisima...

Mass actions would be allowed only in areas designated by the authorities, Purisima said.

"Our policies under the law are: no permit, no rally and maximum tolerance. That’s basically how we are going to handle the protest rallies," he said during the security preparations being conducted by the Philippine National Police for the SONA.

Purisima also called on the public to stay away from rallies and help convince militant groups not to stage protest actions during the event. He said he is even willing to sit down with militant leaders to discuss things.

From news reports (like this one), the following armed personnel from various state agencies will be deployed:

- 7,000 policemen in the National Capital Region (NCR)
- 1,800 policement from Luzon regions outlying the NCR

Also on "full alert" are police forces in the "sugar baron" regions of the country, the...

- Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office (Noppo)
- Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO)

All this despite the government confirming that "that there are no threats to the security during the President’s Sona."

Earlier a Quezon City court had denied a request from the militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) to hold a protest march to the Batasan Pambansa where Aquino is to deliver the SONA at 4pm today.

Despite this, militants were spotted gathering at "some parts" of Commonwealth Avenue (which leads to the Batasan Pambansa building)...

Groups spotted in the sprawling highway are Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), Makabayan, Anakpawis, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Partido ng Manggagawa (PM), among others.

They carried placards criticizing the government’s policies from labor, human rights and even the slow progress of running after supposed crooks under the nine-year rule of former President and incumbent Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Grievances of these protesters also revolved around a perceived lack of confidence in the ability of the Aquino Government to deliver on promises to implement "social transformation."

President Noynoy Aquino's SONA delivered in Tagalog causes unnecessary hassles

2011-07-25T15:42:00.003+10:00

Despite the reality that the southern Luzon dialect Tagalog is not as widely-spoken across the Philippine archipelago as most Filipinos would like to believe, President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III is pressing on with its use in the delivery of today's State of the Nation Address (SONA) in a joint session of Congress which will include members of the diplomatic corps. Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma took effots to assure non-Tagalog speakers that facilities will be available for them.

Coloma earlier announced P-Noy would deliver an all-Tagalog SONA. For the benefit of non-Tagalog speakers, especially the members of the diplomatic corps, Coloma hastily added, headsets for the English translation of the SONA would be distributed to those attending at the Batasan. He, however, failed to say if English translation would also be provided for those who would just watch the proceedings on TV by way of sub-titles.

Even then, this presents communication inefficiencies that could have been preventable simply by delivering this address in English as had always been the tradition.

Inquirer.net and SunStar.com file conflicting and sketchy reports on pro-Duterte Davao rally

2011-07-08T10:41:00.005+10:00

Davao City residents are increasingly being organised into a show of "support" for the Duterte clan. News outlets Sunstar.com and the Inquirer.net are on the scene to "report" developments there, but the quality of the information they provide seems suspect.

The Davao City Chapter of the Barangay Councilor's League of the Philippines (BCLP) is planning to "stage" a rally today (08 July 2011) according to a SunStar.com report.

A report by the Inquirer.net however indicated that cause-oriented groups over there are apparently balking at coming forward to be seen as being openly responsible for organising any such rally. Furthermore and contrary to the SunStar report, that Inquirer.net report showed the BCLP as no more than a participant in (and not an organiser of) said rally.

The Inquirer.net also "reports" that a certain "local bureaucrat" said that "someone" had "asked" for a rally permit. A "local bureaucrat" and "someone" in effect gave "statements" to that media outlet's "reporter." This begs the question, who exactly declined to name names? Was it the Inquirer reporter (also not named) who filed the report that witheld the names? Or was it the sources themselves who declined to be named?

It seems traditional Media in this instance rather than adding clarity to the information is muddling it further.

Duterte son follows in his father's footsteps: gives One-Finger Salute to journalists

2011-07-06T23:44:00.004+10:00

Councilor Paul Duterte, son of now acting Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, flashed the bird at journalists who sought his reaction to his daddy's position on his sister Davao City Mayor Sara's punching court sheriff Abe Andres as he took steps to execute a court order to demolish illegally built structures in Barangay Kapitan Tomas Monteverde Sr. Suliman, Agdao. This is a son mirroring a father. The elder Duterte, the other day, also gave journalists the finger when asked to comment on the same matter.

"Nia pa oh (Here's more)," he said.

He immediately walked away after flashing the dirty finger.

The Finger is identified as the digitus impudicus (impudent finger) in Ancient Roman writings and reference is made to using the finger in ancient Greek comedy to insult another person. The widespread usage of the finger in many cultures is likely due to the geographical influence of the Roman Empire and Greco-Roman civilization. Another possible origin of this gesture can be found in the first-century Mediterranean world, where extending the digitus impudicus was one of many methods used to divert the ever-present threat of the evil eye offence.

The gesture may also be referred to as the highway salute, the Bronx salute, the one-finger salute, the bird (as in giving, flipping, or flying the bird), flipping off someone, or (in Canada) the Trudeau salute.

[NB: Some parts of this article are lifted from the Wikipedia article Finger (gesture) in a way compliant with the Wikipedia CC-BY-SA 3.0 Unported License terms.]

Rodrigo Duterte threatens to shoot anyone who punches him

2011-07-05T21:54:00.003+10:00

Seems like the elder Duterte can dish it out but cannot himself take it in the chin. Now acting Mayor of Davao City Rodrigo Duterte, in a statement to the Media, encouraged his daughter to continue resorting to violence if in the future she finds herself in a situation similar to the one that got her into trouble with the authorities this week. Then mayor Sara Duterte punched court sheriff Abe Andres in the face as he was about to execute a court order to demolish illegally-built structures in Barangay Kapitan Tomas Monteverde Sr. Suliman, Agdao.

"Pag ginawa ng sheriff ulit yan, upakan mo ulit," [translated: "If the sheriff does it again, beat him up again"] Duterte told his daughter.

The elder Duterte also threatened to shoot anyone who punched him in a hypothetical situation where roles are reversed...

"Barilin kita. Bakit mo ako suntukin? Ako nga ang peacemaker para walang gulo e to prevent bloodshed tapos suntukin ako ["I will have been the peacemaker in such a situation so punching me would be unacceptable"]. I'll shoot you," he said.

Some people, it seems, can't step outside of themselves to evaluate the landscape objectively with a critical mind.

Even his reading of the ethics behind the handling of the squatter problem that Sara Duterte was involved in leaves some room for argument. According to Duterte, people should instead focus on what at the time was the escalating violence just before Sara came into the scene...

In the interview, the vice-mayor said media reports have focused too much on the punching incident and not the violence before the demolition.

"Ang sabi ko nga sa iba, you zero in on the slapping. How about those people who were injured? How about the policeman na tinamaan ng indian pana sa ulo pati sa paa? How about his human rights?" he asked.

He also noted that there is no such thing as a writ of demolition at the expense of lives. "There is no mandate how majestic it is na sheriff, go ahead and demolish whatever the cost even if you have to kill using government people and police," he said.

Villagers were reportedly assaulting the demolition team and their police escorts before then mayor Sara Duterte arrived...

Before she arrived at the demolition site, villagers had already tried driving away the demolition team and the police escorts, throwing stones and sharp objects at them.

Assaulting court officials and police officers is a serious criminal offense.

Davao Mayor Sara Duterte turns violent in defense of illegal squatting

2011-07-01T23:35:00.002+10:00

An imminent riot at a squatter demolition site and TV cameras on the scene. It seemed to be a perfect opportunity for a publicity stunt. Perhaps this was the motivation behind Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte's assault on court sheriff Abe Andres who was acting on orders from his superiors to proceed with a demolition of illegally-built structures that were home to 500 families in Barangay Kapitan Tomas Monteverde Sr. Suliman, Agdao.

Duterte was caught on camera as she launched at Andres fists swinging...

Footage taken by ABS-CBN Davao showed Duterte gesturing to Andres to come closer before punching him repeatedly in the face.

Two men were also seen holding on to Andres while Duterte held on to his collar and talked to him.

In an interview, Andres said Duterte's attack left him with contusions above his eye.

According to Duterte, she "lost her temper" after Andres allegedly expressed his intention to proceed with the demolition despite her request for a 2-hour reprieve.

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo today said that Duterte could be "removed from her post" as a result of her acting on her "loss of control" over her anger at Andres. Before the incident, the illegal residents of the village had already started to attack Andres's demolition and the police officers escorting them by throwing rocks and sharp objects at them. The violent actions of the villagers -- assaulting city officials and police officers -- are, themselves, serious criminal offenses. It can be argued, it seems, that Duterte acted in defense of such illegal behaviour when she punched Andres in the face...

After learning that the situation had turned violent, Duterte-Carpio rushed to the site, summoned Andres — who was there to serve the court order — and punched him in the face and head as he was approaching.

Robredo said Duterte-Carpio could end up being either reprimanded or dismissed from public office due to her actions.

Presidential Decree No 772 which penalised "squatting and other criminal acts" was repealed by the infamous Republic Act No. 8368 or the "Anti-Squatting Law Repeal Act of 1997." Presidential Decree 772 was the basis for a successful jailing of thousands of squatters under the administration of former President Ferdinand Marcos. Republic Act 8368 limited liability for criminal prosecution to "professional squatters" which, according to RA 7279, refers to...

[...] individuals or groups who occupy lands without the express consent of the landowner and who have sufficient income for legitimate housing. The term shall also apply to persons who have previously been awarded homelots or housing units by the Government but who sold, leased or transferred the same to settle illegally in the same place or in another urban area, and non-bona fide occupants and intruders of lands reserved for socialized housing. The term shall not apply to individuals or groups who simply rent land and housing from professional squatters or squatting syndicates...

Since the repeal of PD 772, the euphemism "informal settler" has been used in "polite" society instead of the more descriptive word squatter. More recently, Occidental Mindoro Rep. Amelita Calimbas-Villarosa is pushing House Bill 2145 which extends the definition of the term "professional squatters" to include...

[...] any person or group of persons who with the use of force, intimidation or threat, or taking advantage of the absence or tolerance of the landowner, [who] succeeds in occupying or possessing the property of the latter against his will, and having received a written demand to either vacate or pay rent from said landowner, [...] refuse[s] to do so within a period of ninety (90) days.

This effectively broadens the scope of the Law to include a bigger portion of what common sense dictates is a squatter.

Noynoy Aquino's KAMAGANAK Inc increasingly being placed under close scrutiny!

2011-06-09T10:25:00.004+10:00

More light is being shed into the rampant cronyism that seems to be going on within the administration of Philippine President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III. The latest snafu to highlight the alleged proliferation of these under-the-table handshakes in Malacañang involves the suspension of Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Virginia Torres over anomalies surrounding a project to computerise LTO operations.

Torres is renowned for being one of Aquino's "shooting buddies" and is reportedly one of the people within his circle of family and friends that the President appointed to various lucrative Philippine Government posts. As such, her re-instatement after the two-month suspension recommended by the Department of Justice is now seen to be suspect.

Recently, Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) Secretary Jose “Ping” de Jesus to whose department the LTO reports was sacked by the President. Ping de Jesus is widely recognised as a highly-competent top-class administrator, one who served President Aquino's mother, former President Corazon "Cory" Aquino.

Only now smelling a rat (despite the stench wafting across the National "Debate" for over a year), Opposition lawmakers are taking action...

Opposition lawmakers are training their guns on the “kakampi, kaklase and kabarilan” of President Benigno Aquino III whom Malacañang has purportedly been coddling.

Speaking on Wednesday at a press conference, House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman announced the filing of a yet unnumbered resolution calling for the investigation of Interior Undersecretary Rico Puno for alleged bribery, Land and Transportation Office (LTO) chief Virginia Torres for alleged illegal meddling, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. for his reported P40-million mansion, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima for the alleged filing of tax charges against political enemies and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Chair Margarita Juico for alleged irregularities in her office, including its transfer from the Quezon Institute to the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).

Remains to be seen, of course. For a quick visual reference on the scope and scale of the crony/clan network of President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, refer to our Map of Kamaganak Inc.

China and the Philippines rattling sabres and playing the PR game over the Spratly Islands

2011-06-08T16:30:00.002+10:00

In the dispute between the Philippines and China over the Spratly Islands, both sides are playing the victim card. According to the Inquirer.net Editor, Philippine President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III pleaded "no contest" to a possible confrontation citing China's "great advantage" over the Philippines in terms of military might.

For its part, Gong Jianhua writing for the China Daily highlighted China's being "not a formidable sea power" and that...

[...] without a formidable navy and sufficient emphasis on maritime interests, China is in an unfavorable position. To become an influential power, China has to transform from a "continental power" to a "maritime power". And the South China Sea dispute is a real test for it to achieve that goal.

Gong also cited how the Philippines along with Vietnam "and some other countries" are taking actions "not conducive to a peaceful settlement of the dispute."

The Philippine government had earlier called attention to several alleged territorial intrusions involving the Spratlys involving Chinese military vessels and aircraft, and contrary to claims made in the China Daily, China is reportedly in the midst of a naval capability build up...

China's development of naval vessels and anti-ship missiles has heightened concerns among the US and regional states with competing territorial claims in the South China Sea, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. At stake is control of energy deposits below the waters that companies such as ExxonMobil, Talisman Energy and Forum Energy have signed deals to explore.

Incidents will likely increase as China boosts the number of maritime surveillance vessels operating in the sea, said Gary Li, an analyst with Exclusive Analysis, a London advisory firm. ''We're very likely to see a much more aggressive patrolling of the area [by China],'' he said.

A specific acquisition reported in by Reuters is the looming launch of China's first aicraft carrier.

For its part, the Philippine military is also set to "beef up" its naval and air capability, presumably to meet the threat...

In the Communication News and Exchage (CNEX) Forum at the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) today, AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr., said that the AFP is planning to acquire an additional two Hamilton thundercats and a radar system to strengthen its military capability.

The AFP recently acquired the US vessel frigate Hamilton, renamed “Ex-Hamilton” during the signing of the certificate of transfer of the vessel to the government of the Philippines from the United States Coast Guard (USCG). The vessel is expected to arrive in the country this September and will be deployed off the shores of Palawan to protect the country’s oil platform and oil exploration activities at the Palawan and Sulu seas.

A frigate is a warship built for speed and manoeuvrability; it is a surface combatant ship and is going to be the 15th ship in the Philippine Navy (PN) inventory.

In the meantime, both parties are claiming to be staunchly advocating peace.

CBCP opens debate to the online mob: launches 'for Life' website CBCPforLife.com

2011-05-25T22:37:00.004+10:00

They've now got a website supposedly to continue their "all-out war" against Philippine Reproductive Health. The new Web site of the Catholic Bishops of the Philippines (CBCP) CBCPforLife.com lacks a commenting system for its articles (perhaps fearing the sort of critical debate the Catholic Church have shunned for the last couple of millenia). But it has a Twitter feed ticker and it displays tweets made at @CBCP4LIFE.

Throw in your two cents and have your tweets -- and your views on the matter of Philippine Reproductive Health -- show up on the Twitter ticker on the CBCPforLife.com website by tweeting at @CBCP4LIFE! Join the search for The Truth about Philippine Reproductive Health.

Spread the word! Share this blog with as many of your friends as you can!

Philippine politicians' vote on the RH Bill: Based on popular will, or on personal conviction?

2011-05-24T12:48:00.005+10:00

Philippine Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri issued a call yesterday for "another survey" to "gauge the true sentiments of the people" on the proposed Reproductive Health (RH) Bill currently being debated in Congress.

“It’s too divisive an issue, and majority of our people would want to stop this fighting. We should rethink our position as legislators. There should be a survey so that we may be guided accordingly,” he said in an interview.

“As national legislators, we should listen to our constituents. We can’t be blind and deaf to what the people are saying,” he added.

While the point about listening to one's consitituents seems to be a valid one, there is also the point around critical debate over the logical and objective merits of the proposed bill. The bill's resonance in the popular public sentiment is a matter separate to its inherent logical sense. Legislators already have a popular mandate to represent their constituents. This was something they gained when they were elected to office. Once in office they then exercise this mandate to represent their constituents the way they see fit using the intellectual faculties they were presumably elected to apply.

Conducting a poll to gauge the popularity of the RH Bill sounds more like an inclination among Philippine politicians to act on the basis of popular sentiment rather than on their own personal convictions.

Church will 'never surrender' - Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma

2011-05-22T19:37:00.003+10:00

The Philippine Roman Catholic Church will "never surrender" even if President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III approves the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) Bill being debated in the Philippine Congress. This is according to Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma.

The Roman Catholic Church of the Philippines is in the middle of an "all-out war" against the RH Bill and some of its officials had recently gone on record to incite acts of civil disobedience and tax boycotts in the event the bill is passed...

“Let [President Aquino] charge all of us bishops, priests, religious, all the faithful with sedition,” he said

“It is better to obey God rather than men and immoral laws,” added [Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes].

To that quaint threat, Palma now makes a reconciliatory statement that exhibits the astounding inconsistency and lack of coherence in the way the Catholic Church communicates with its flock...

Still, he said, in case the bill is approved, Palma underlined that the Church will urge its followers to “live according to their personal convictions and continue to respect the Government.”

Declared the Cebu archbishop, “We will continue to pay our taxes regardless of the bill’s outcome.”

Palma stressed that while churchgoers are given the freedom to discuss their belief and support the bill, they should consider it their sacred duty to take part in making decisions.

Every word the Roman Catholic Church issues on the matter of Philippine Reproductive Health contributes to the progressive erosion of its credibility as far as the liberal license it grants itself to comment on matters of the State.

Economic growth inadequate to compensate for runaway population growth in the Philippines!

2011-05-22T19:11:00.003+10:00

Population Commission acting deputy executive director Rosalindo Marcelino went on record to state a big IF to qualify the notion that robust population growth can "contribute to economic development". According to Marcelino, population growth is a plus "only if your workforce is productive, skilled, educated and competitive."

Furthermore...

She said the availability of jobs for workers also plays a factor in a country's growth, so the country's high unemployment rate of 7.1% in end-2010 is detrimental to its progress.

"If you do not have the capability to provide services and capacitate your population, your rising population numbers will not necessarily result in economic growth," she stressed.

And the fact remains quite stark, a truth that many Filipinos cannot handle...

The Philippines’ main export is millions of its skilled people, fleeing an economy that can’t offer enough jobs and can't provide wages high enough to compete in the world market.

Economic growth is often touted by people opposed to the passing of the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) Bill as the better initiative to focus on compared to controlling population growth. However, it's been pointed out that economic growth alone will not solve chronic impoverishment caused by overpopulation...

Supposing the Philippine government gives 100% ownership to foreign investors tomorrow and the latter came rushing in, how can these investors utilize uneducated and unskilled Filipinos? They can’t. The evidence speaks for itself. The Philippines is left behind not just because of the economic provisions but also because of a lot of factors, which include an uncontrolled population growth, which also results in a weak, spread-thin educational system.

This may sound too far-fetched but there are also some Filipinos who are worried that if we curb the population growth now, we might be faced with a scenario in the future of having a shortage of workers or laborers due to a reduced population. First of all, with a predominantly young population of 100 million (and growing fast), a shortage of labor remains a possibility too far out in the future (or just simply too far-out a scenario, to begin with). And even if, we find ourselves in that unlikely scenario of being in line with the First World’s shortage of skilled workers, then we can simply hire skilled migrants from overseas just like what First World countries are doing now. That scenario will be the sweetest revenge after being labeled OFWs for the longest time. [Full article]

Filipinos have a strong track record of exhibiting little talent for capitalising the wads of cash that have been poured into the country in the form of foreign aid and foreign investment over the last several decades. It puts the question the optimism played up by anti-RH Bill campaigners in what is supposedly the human resource "wealth" of the Philippines' 100-million strong population.

Pacquiao mother decries gay men use of birth control pills to increase size of 'dede'

2011-05-22T12:47:00.003+10:00

Another shot in the foot for the Pacquiao celebrity clan as the Pacquiao motherhood unit "Mommy Dionisia" lets out another bomb of a public statement allegedly containing slurs against the homosexual community. Not only that, she injects a liberal dose of her personal pseudo-science into her pronouncement reportedly made as she dueled with Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago over Philippine Reproductive Health (RH)...

The elder Pacquiao, also known as “Mommy D”, reportedly said: "Tingnan mo, mga bakla, kaiinom ng pills, hindi na bagay inumin ng mga bakla kasi lalake sila. Ginagawa sila ng Diyos na lalake. Umiinom talaga sila ng pills para magsilaki ang dede. Bawal 'yan!"

This is in reference to an admitted use of contraceptive drugs intended for females by transgender males -- many of them aspiring to work as entertainers overseas. Goya Candelario speaking for the Progressive Organization of Gays (ProGay Philippines) defended the practice, saying that the practice should not be considered illegal or immoral and that many of the livelihoods of gay men in the beauty and entertainment industry depend on the effects of these drugs on their appearance.

Bishop Oliveros: Filipino Catholics who support Reproductive Health not 'real Catholics'

2011-05-22T12:27:00.004+10:00

According to Malolos Bishop Jose Oliveros, Filipinos who consider themselves to be of the Roman Catholic faith can no longer be considered "real Catholics" if they support the passing of the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill currently being debated in Congress...

Are they still Catholic if they vote for RH? I don’t think so. They will be Catholics in name only...

To Oliveros, it is inconceivable how "real" Catholics could support the RH Bill. Says Oliveros, "Our popes have been very consistent in saying that using artificial contraception is not in agreement with our faith. We cannot do that. Why can’t they see that?" It seems though that the good Malolos Bishop stops short of any insight on what God actually says.

And therein lies the whole problem with the Roman Catholic Church. It is an organisation of "men" founded on the belief that God speaks "through" them. This belief is now being stretched as the behaviour of its supposedly "humble" officials no longer seems consistent with the spirit of the word of the God they presume to be an authority on.

Low-quality youth: Marauding gangs of 7-12 year-old children terrorize Metro Manila motorists!

2011-05-21T20:50:00.002+10:00

One man's liability is another man's asset. An abundance of wayward street children in Metro Manila is turning into a lucrative human resource for crime syndicates it seems. Marauding gangs of children aged 7 to 12 years now terrorise motorists stuck in Manila's renowned traffic jams...

The children called “batang hamog," are known to attack vehicles stuck in traffic. On Tuesday, Makati police apprehended several children aged 7-12 who are part of the street gang.

They were not jailed. They were instead turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development because there were minors.

The group’s modus operandi consist of sending a member to knock on the window of an unsuspecting driver while another child opens the car door on the other side, according to the report.

The debate on the Philippine Reproductive Health Bill rages on and the kernel of most of the argument is around population -- specifically whether the enormous population of the Philippines is an asset or a liability.

A statement made by former President Fidel V Ramos encapsulates the real nature of the challenge that Filipinos face as far as turning their vast numbers to productive elements of an economy that they hope will grow stronger in the foreseeable future...

I think the philosophy of RH bill is that we must learn to produce quality people in this world instead of producing people who only end up as, say, beggars on the streets, scavengers, or sellers of cheap or prohibited items. This, I think, is the real valid argument in favor of the RH bill [...]

The emergence of a new and younger breed of criminal elements in an already crime-ravaged society is testament to the relevance of Ramos's words. If a society is inherently incapable of developing its vast well of warm bodies into productive citizens, others will seize the opportunity to do so and earn the big bucks.

Meeting of the minds: Pacquiao and PNoy agree to disagree on Reproductive Health

2011-05-21T00:01:00.005+10:00

President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III and Congressman Manny Pacquiao share one thing in common: they are in roles in government that they are barely qualified to fill. Well, that and "an agreement that they are opposed to abortion" made during a meeting between the two men in Malacañang today.

Manny Pacquiao is now held up as the "posterboy" of the anti-RH campaign of the Philippine Roman Catholic Church. The embattled President, for his part, can almost be considered de facto excommunicated along with millions of Filipino Catholics who are for the passing of the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill being debated in Congress. This much one can conclude from the Roman Catholic Church's determined use of its resources and its "holy" sacraments to assert the wrongness of the RH Bill and alienate those among its flock who support it.

None of this comes as much of a surprise as the Roman Catholic Church has an extensive track record of seeing itself and the dogma it dispenses as exempt from critical scrutiny.

Philippine population growth rate declining but Thailand declining FASTER

2011-05-20T22:19:00.009+10:00

Population growth in the Philippines may be declining, but Thailand still beats the Philippines as far as rate of decline is concerned.

Population growth rate
Percentage change of resident population compared to previous year.

Source

The results are not surprising:

Country GDP per capita | population (2008)
Source UNDP:

1 Singapore 34,152 | 4,680,600
2 Brunei 32,501 | 391,450
3 Malaysia 6,146 | 27,544,000
4 Thailand 3,400 | 62,828,706
5 Indonesia 1,824 | 234,693,997
6 Philippines 1,590 | 86,973,000

From East Asian posterboy to East Asian basketcase. Moral of the story is a validation of this simple definition of poverty:

A habitual entering into commitments one is inherently incapable of honouring.

It's simple, really™.

Church continues to abuse Catholic 'sacraments' for its clerics' anti-RH agendas

2011-05-20T14:31:00.002+10:00

They are Church-led initiatives blatantly billed as "protest" actions against a state matter -- Philippine Reproductive Health -- being debated in the halls of the national legislature. Yet in the same vein, religious and some specifically-Catholic terminology is used to describe the scheduled activities; a "prayer" rally, culminating in a "Mass", to be held in Roman Catholic Church property, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral grounds in Malolos is what the report says...

In Bulacan, some 100 parishes and 200 priests are to take part in a prayer rally on June 11 at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral grounds in Malolos. The activity will culminate with a Mass at 6:00 p.m.

That says something about the place in the Philippine Roman Catholic Church that Filipinos who happen to support the Reproductive Health Bill hold. The short of it, thus, is that "pro-RH Bill" Filipinos no longer hold a place in their own Church.

'We must learn to produce quality people' - FVR

2011-05-19T20:08:00.005+10:00

Former President Fidel V Ramos described arguments fielded by Congressman and boxing champ Manny Pacquiao during his "debate" yesterday with House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman on the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill as "fallacious or very weak". Ramos also provided his elegantly succinct take on the essence of the bill...

I think the philosophy of RH bill is that we must learn to produce quality people in this world instead of producing people who only end up as, say, beggars on the streets, scavengers, or sellers of cheap or prohibited items. This, I think, is the real valid argument in favor of the RH bill [...]

The former President lauded Lagman citing his superb handling of the subject and "being able to explain [it] to the laymen."

Breaking news: Osama Bin Laden killed in a Pakistan ground operation

2011-05-02T14:35:00.004+10:00

United States President Barrack Obama went live on TV from the White House this morning and announced that a ground operation conducted last week in the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan resulted in the killing of most wanted terrorist leader Osama Bin Laden. Bin Laden was reportedly holed up in a mansion (some reports say a "compound") when a "small team of Americans" conducted the assault acting on information based on US intelligence. They have taken custody of Bin Laden's remains. Contrary to a report coming from Al Jazeera, Bin Laden was not killed by a drone strike.

As of this writing (midnight in the US) Americans have taken to the streets in front of the White House to celebrate the announcement.

All US embassies around the workd are on full alert against possible reprisals from the Al-Qaeda terrorist organisation that Bin Laden once headed. The US warns that Al Qaeda remains a "viable threat" despite its leader's fall and is issuing travel advisories to all American nationals around the world to take safety precautions.

Development economist William Easterly: 'Holy Grail of prosperity is seven inches of latex: a condom'

2011-05-02T11:50:00.005+10:00

A BusinessWeek.com report gave tentative thumbs up to Noynoy Aquino's management of the economy since his ascent to power in May of 2010. The report by Bloomberg News columnist William Pesek sees the Philippines' junk credit rating as potentially unfair considering progress so far made. He cited "7 percent growth, political stability, healthy banks and a narrower budget deficit" as pluses. Pesek also lauded the re-appointment of Amando Tetangco as Central Bank governor.

Overpopulation, not surprisingly, was highlighted as a key issue; and...

[...] an issue politicians can’t touch thanks to the powerful Catholic Church. Arroyo had legitimacy issues, having taken over when Joseph Estrada, a former movie actor, was ousted amid corruption allegations in 2001. Leadership challenges from Estrada and his supporters had Arroyo turning to the church for support. That meant no discussion of birth control was possible.

But then, the issue of population, if played well, could be the ticket to a lasting and significant historical legacy for the administration of President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III...

Aquino now is risking the Vatican’s wrath with a “responsible parenthood” bill, and good for him. Development economist William Easterly has a point when he says the Holy Grail of prosperity is seven inches of latex: a condom.

It’s entirely possible Aquino will cave in, yet his economy would be better off if he stood firm on the issue. The same goes for stopping bureaucrats from shaking down entrepreneurs who want to create fresh jobs and wealth.

Noynoy Aquino is facing an opportunity that offers a potential bonanza of admiration from the global community and, more importantly, his own countrymen who have been reeling from the crushing economic impact of runaway population growth. It's an opportunity that only a fool would ignore.

National Intelligence report: Philippines at risk of rice crisis

2011-04-12T09:33:00.004+10:00

A rice crisis looms in the Philippines according to a report prepared by the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA). A shortage in worldwide supply of rice along with rising costs of essential commodities in the country are seen to be possible future sources of domestic unrest, according to the report.

The Philippines depends heavily on imported rice to feed its population and is the biggest importer of rice in the world. A shortage in the supply of the national staple back in 2008 resulted in skyrocketing prices, long queues, national rationing, and often military intervention in the distribution of the commodity.

Ironically, the Philippines is home to the International Rice Research Institute and was once a major rice producer. Many scientists from around Asia once came to the Philippines to study ways to improve agricultural yields. Since then, despite government efforts to ramp up domestic production capability, the Philippines has slipped from being a net exporter of rice to a net importer today.

Big Media outlets conspicuously mum on the Willie Revillame flap

2011-03-29T15:22:00.012+11:00

At the centre of the flap around the alleged criminal abuse and humiliation of a six-year-old boy on national television by Filipino star entertainer Willie Revillame is the fledgling (but rapidly rising) challenger to Philippine Big Media, TV-5. TV-5 is the broadcasting arm of Mediaquest, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund. It airs the top-rated (in terms of popularity) program Willing Willie where the alleged crime was committed.

As an up-and-coming media outfit, TV-5 is in the middle of a growth spurt fuelled by a go-get-'em spirit in its management team who are salivating over the size of the prize...

Company officials said that last year, their ad revenues grew by 300 percent compared to 2009. “We expect the same growth rate this year,” they added.

TV5 president Ray Espinosa said that they are also hoping to grab 10 percent of the P30 billion total ad spend in the country in a few years’ time. Ad spend has been growing by five percent every year.

The monumental struggle between goliathine ABS-CBN Network and TV-5 over Revillame made headline news on the Wall Street Journal on the 3rd of March 2011 owing to the sheer size of the Philippine television advertising market, considered to be one of the biggest in the emerging markets of Asia...

With nearly $4 billion in spending last year, the Philippines TV ad market is bigger than India's and on par with Indonesia's, according to Nielsen Co. That's partly because television is the name of the game in this sprawling archipelago of some 7,100 islands. While newspapers take up the bulk of advertising in India, TV eats up about 75% of ad spending in the Philippines and draws buyers from around the world.

Evidently, Willie Revillame is bigger than Jesus Christ Himself in this island nation populated predominantly by Roman Catholics. And whilst Jesus Christ and His "church" do not pay taxes to the Philippine Government, Revillame certainly does -- to the tune of six million pesos quarterly. As such, Willie Revillame is the brightest jewel on Mediaquest's crown...

[...] he is a one-man economic powerhouse. Not only is he capable of single-handedly turning the TV network that was, at best, the distant third among the three largest networks in the Philippines into a force to be reckoned with, this is a guy that pays upwards of six million pesos quarterly in income tax -- and actually did so on live TV once. A person who wishes to voice their displeasure with his latest affront by boycotting the products advertised during his show, something which has been suggested by more than a few netizens, might find himself starving and unwashed for all the commodities honor would dictate that he forswear.

Indeed, for an issue that had set the Philippine blogosphere on fire, the two Mainstream Media big guns are conspicuously silent.

The Inquirer.net mentions Willie Revillame only as reference to some kind of plug for a different bunch of TV shows...

...and The Borg is conspicuously mum on the matter...

Why the deafening silence? That's anybody's guess. As they say, That's Entertainment -- gone bad, that is.

No need to panic over nuclear meltdowns in Japan

2011-03-14T15:42:00.010+11:00

The air is understandably thick with fear, as the on-going crises surrounding the damage sustained by Japanese nuclear power plants resulting from the recent monster earthquake unfolds. The prospect of a catastrophic reactor meltdown and the possible release, as a result, of radioactive material into the atmosphere was described in an early news report as a disaster that could possibly affect a large swath of the Asia-Pacific region. Images of the plight of survivors of nuclear disasters such as the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II and the 1986 Chernobyl disaster tend to come up whenever the word "radiation" is heard or read.

The Chernobyl disaster reportedly resulted in 237 people suffering from acute radiation sickness of which 31 died. These were mostly people who formed part of fire and rescue teams and therefore experienced close direct exposure to lethal doses of radiation. Because of this disaster being so recent there is still no reliable statistics on the incidence of cancer related to the general population affected by the fallout coming from this accident.

However, the survivors of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 66 years ago have been extensively studied. The study revealed that out of an estimated 100,000 survivors of those atomic explosions [known as hibakusha among the Japanese], an estimated 500 died prematurely from cancer directly related to radiation exposure. This translates to a 0.5 percent probability of developing cancer as a result of exposure to radiation. However, in absolute numbers, that statistic is still significant. It puts 4,000 people out of the 800,000 estimated to have been exposed to radiation coming from the Chernobyl disaster as being likely to die from cancer in the coming years.

To put these figures in perspective, consider that 8,000 Americans are killed by skin cancer caused by excessive exposure to the sun's radiation every year. Particulates and other derivative pollutants coming from fossil fuel combustion could also be signficant contributors to hundreds of thousands of deaths every year.

These figures related to the risks of radiation exposure deaths in the event of a catastrophe in Japan though moderately comforting do not take into account effects of radiation on women who happen to be pregnant at the time of exposure...

We also know that many of the children of hibakusha women pregnant at the time they were exposed suffered horrible birth defects. Studies of the atomic bomb survivors have also taught us, however, that there is apparently no generational genetic impact from radiation exposure. Kids born to parents who got pregnant after the exposure, were normal.

Indeed, in the bigger scheme of planetary life, the fact that wildlife is now observed to be thriving in the immediate areas around Chernobyl (which were made off limits to humans since the accident) is a testament to the reality that direct human presence represents a far bigger hazard to nature than nuclear reactor meltdowns.

Hope for Filipinos: Intelligence and cognitive ability CAN be improved!

2011-03-08T10:19:00.006+11:00

Scientists have recently been exploring the possibility that intelligence may be a trait that can be improved through training. Intelligence has always been thought to be a trait one is born with. And some scientific studies even proved that it was genetic and that past efforts to improve inherent intelligence yielded temporary results at best (i.e. the subject's cognitive skills reverted back to their original levels after the effort).

Andrea Kuszewski writing for Scientific American defined intelligence as it is referred to in the findings cited here as one's...

[...] capacity to learn new information, retain it, then use that new knowledge as a foundation to solve the next problem, or learn the next new skill [...]

Considering how the flavour of intelligence defined above describes the fundamental nature of the cognitive challenges Filipinos face both collectively and as individuals when it comes to solving their many problems, these findings should be of profound interest. Filipinos are world-renowned for an ability to:

(1) mis-read otherwise familiar situations that had been history textbook cases for decades;

(2) fail to recognise subtle connections and relationships across events, ideas, and units of knowledge to form robust and systemic solutions; and,

(3) fail to grasp larger contexts as exhibited in their well-documented stunted faculty for foresight.

Kuszewski citing her own experience dealing with children who fall within "the autism spectrum" offers hope for people who suffer from an inability to to live up to their full potential as a result of their low intelligence.

These kids had a range of cognitive disabilities—my job was to train them in any and all areas that were deficient, to get them as close to functioning at the same level of their peers as possible. Therapy utilized a variety of methods, or Multimodal Teaching (using as many modes of input as possible), in order to make this happen.

One of my first clients was a little boy w/ PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Delays-Not Otherwise Specified), a mild form of autism. When we began therapy, his IQ was tested and scored in the low 80s—which is considered borderline mental retardation. After I worked with him for about three years— one on one, teaching in areas such as communication, reading, math, social functioning, play skills, leisure activities—using multimodal techniques [pdf] —he was retested. His IQ score was well over 100 (with 100 considered "average", as compared to the general population). That's a 20 point increase, more than one standard deviation improvement, by a child with an autism spectrum disorder!

Her observation of how "multimodal teaching" promises to yield lasting results was confirmed in a breakthrough insight from a 2008 study published with the title "Improving Fluid Intelligence with Training on Working Memory". The study revealed that it may be possible to increase intelligence through training. Subjects of the study were "trained on an intensive, multimodal (visual and auditory input) working memory task (the dual-n-back) for variable lengths of time, for either one or two weeks, depending on the group." The results were stunning:

Following training of working memory using the dual n-back test, the subjects were indeed able to transfer those gains to a significant improvement in their score on a completely unrelated cognitive task. This was a super-big deal.

Kuszewski highlighted the key takeaways of this research:

1. Fluid intelligence is trainable.

2. The training and subsequent gains are dose-dependent—meaning, the more you train, the more you gain.

3. Anyone can increase their cognitive ability, no matter what your starting point is.

4. The effect can be gained by training on tasks that don’t resemble the test questions.

Bottom line is that anyone given sufficient will can grow smarter -- even Filipinos! All it takes is to remember five key principles that Kuszewski came up with. These principles are listed below along with some realities about the collective character of Filipinos that work against these:

* * *

(1) Seek Novelty.

Filipinos are imprisoned by their society's comfort zones -- their repressive religion, their no-results traditions, and their deferrence to their elders' obsolete ideas.

(2) Challenge Yourself.

Filipinos prefer to measure themselves by their own self-imposed low standards rather than step up to globally-recognised international standards. This is ironic considering that Filipinos have always shown a sad inclination to copy Western lifestyles and standards of living.

(3) Think Creatively.

Filipinos are renowned for their lack of imagination. This is evident in how the Philippine economy remains sorely dependent on low-value labour-added-value industries to thrive.

(4) Do Things The Hard Way.

Filipinos are a people who are used to getting things the easy way. A culture that evolved in a tropical climate with no winter is accustomed to all-year-round abundance. As such pwede-na-yan ("that'll do") is a national philosophy that remains deeply ingrained in the Filipino psyche.

(5) Network.

So far as can be seen, the last six to eight months was a period marked by an alarming rate of degeneration in Filipinos' relationship with a powerful cultural bloc within East Asia -- Greater China.

* * *

There is hope for Filipinos. And this hope lies in science. Filipinos only need overcome its long tradition of mediocrity in the sciences to get around to developing and implementing real solutions.

Philippines sends warplanes to investigate Chinese harassment of Filipino oil explorers

2011-03-03T23:36:00.004+11:00

The Philippine military sent two warplanes to investigate reports of Chinese patrol ships harassing a local oil exploration ship in a region off Palawan near the disputed Spratly Islands known as Reed Bank. According to Philippine officials, Reed Bank is within Philippine territory. The warplanes were scrambled after the passengers and crew of the ship -- a team of oil explorers hired by the Philippine government -- radioed the nearest post of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Western Command. According to field reports, the crew of the Chinese patrol boats had ordered the exploration team to leave. Deployment of the planes was described by Philippine military commander Lt. Gen. Juancho Sabban as a "surveillance" mission.

Sabban said he deployed an OV-10 bomber plane and an Islander light aircraft to the Reed Bank to undertake surveillance after the Philippine ship radioed his command that two suspected Chinese patrol boats approached and ordered it to leave the area.

When the planes reached the area, the foreign vessels have left, he said.

"It's clearly our territory," Sabban told the AP. "If they'll bully us, well, even children will fight back."

Indeed, the fight may be a case of a child versus a kung fu master and the trophy is an area considered to be rich in oil deposits.

The Reed Bank lies between the Philippines' offshore Malampaya gas field and the disputed Spratly archipelago, a South China Sea chain claimed in whole or in part by Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Unfortunately, the Philippines lacks the brawn to defend its claim on these disputed territories. In response to an earlier incident involving the construction of a "lighthouse" on Subi Reef which is an area also claimed by the Philippines but currently occupied by Chinese military personel, Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon had this to say:

"Whatever we will do will have to be backed up by some mobilization of certain diplomatic, political and even military force but do we have any of those?"

In recent months, the Philippines had stumbled through several high-profile diplomatic gaffes that severely undermined its bargaining leverage in matters that involve three key states of "Greater China" -- Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Mainland China. Despite the Philippine government requesting the Chinese Embassy for an explanation, no comment has so far been issued by any embassy official at the time the Associated Press report on the subject was released.

Doom and gloom for Filipinos: unemployable refugee OFWs and rising energy costs

2011-03-03T10:27:00.008+11:00

So much poetry was waxed as Filipinos, harbouring presumptuous paternalistic sentiment, doted upon the supposedly fledgling "people power" revolutionaries making waves in the Middle East. Trouble is, reality crept into the picture beneath the lines-of-sight of the chattering classes. That the livelihoods of a horde of Overseas Foreign Workers (OFWs) deployed there were at risk was an obvious reality that simply flew over the heads of would-be Filipino poets. That reality is now bearing down on the hapless little islands nation of 100 million as it faces the virtually impossible task of absorbing an additional mass of tens of thousands of warm bodies into its flaccid domestic economy.

The other obvious waiting-to-happen whammy that escaped Filipinos' atrophied faculties for foresight is their dependence on Arab oil.

The global energy market is beginning to reel from the effects of both the disruptions in production in Arab kingdoms teetering on the brink of civil war, and the continued spread of this malaise to other desert kingdoms there anticipated by speculators. Already there are doubts that supply shortfalls can be compensated for by other oil producers simply cranking up their production -- and that is a bleak scenario foreseen even while assuming that the spread of "people power" politics across the rest of the Arab world can be averted...

Jeffrey Brown, a Dallas-area petroleum engineer, questions the assumption that the Saudis can meet the world's needs.

He notes that Saudi production has declined in three of the four years since it peaked at middecade – including an 11% plunge in 2009. At the same time, Saudi oil consumption has soared, making it the 15th-biggest petroleum consumer as of 2008, according to U.S. government data.

Brown estimates Saudi consumption will hit 3 million barrels a day this year – up 50% from 2005. Every barrel consumed at home is one the Saudis cannot export to fill booming demand for fuel.

That means the Saudis will have reverse years of decline and, indeed, set new production records just to bring their exports back to levels regularly seen during the good old days of the middle of the past decade.

In order to simply match their 2005 export peak of 9.1 million barrels a day, the Saudis would have to pump 12.1 million barrels a day in 2011. That's almost 10% above the kingdom's highest output for a year.

That is a pretty big order to fill, with no particular sign that the Saudis can fill it. Those numbers seem to point toward higher oil prices, which is not good news for a weak U.S. recovery predicated on strong global growth.

China with its centralised command economy is in the best position to act swiftly. Like it did with its stash of cash during the 2007-2008 global financial meltdown, China has the ability to centrally fix, channel, and secure its energy supply from the perspective of the big picture regarded from the eyes of just a handful of powerful economic architects.

So as supply peaks and demand grows, simple supply-and-demand economics kick in -- prices go up.

Unfortunately Filipinos fail to grasp this simple principle, preferring instead to blame movements in price to "greed"...

Groups like Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) are urging President Benigno Aquino III to “step into the pricing of oil with the goal of reducing prices and moderating the greed of the oil companies.”

KMU said that oil firms in the country were using the political turmoil in North Africa and the Middle East to justify the huge increases in the prices of their products.

“We demand that the government junk the Oil Deregulation Law and control oil prices, as well as remove the value-added tax on oil products,” KMU said in a statement.

Other countries act while others blame. Perhaps this difference in attitude is what separates the men from the boys -- those who prosper from those who habitually fail.

Rising energy prices and increasing warm bodies to employ -- where is the Philippine economy headed? "People power" politics, populist sloganeering, and prayerfulness simply no longer cut it. Filipinos need to consider facing their challenges with modern thinking instead of the traditional primitivist approach to regarding issues they have for so long been comfy with.

Is Opus Dei behind the Ayala Alabang anti-contraceptive ordinance drama?

2011-03-02T12:13:00.008+11:00

Muntinlupa City has given Ayala Alabang Barangay (township) officials a slap on the wrist after their brazen issuance of Ordinance 1 Series of 2011 that in effect condemns on grounds of "morality" the use of artificial contraceptives within its administrative jurisdiction. The offending ordinance also sought to require a doctor's prescription for the purchase of contraceptive substances and devices in pharmacies within the township. A statement coming from the Muntinlupa City Government confirms the over-turning of this bizarre ordinance.

“We do not honor that ordinance,” [Muntinlupa City Mayor Aldrin San Pedro's] spokesman Omar Acosta said.

“They cannot implement it. They [village officials] are still part of the city. They are not a separate republic.”

San Pedro said the members of the Ayala Alabang village council would be charged if even a single complainant came forward to report that the ordinance was being enforced.

For now, Acosta said, the mayor had ordered that the status quo be observed until the village officials had answered the city council’s questions.

Irate township residents are also set to file criminal charges against Ayala Alabang Village Association (AAVA) chairman Alfred Xerez-Burgos who seems "bent on enforcing it despite mounting calls for its suspension". Ayala Alabang is an affluent fortified gated enclave within the City of Muntinlupa in Metro Manila that boasts a "multi-cultural" community owing to a high proportion of expatriate residents consisting mostly of elite business executives and diplomats.

Interestingly enough, there are two schools in and around the sprawling Ayala Alabang township that are run by the Opus Dei affiliated Parents for Education Foundation, Inc (PAREF). This little factoid is the basis of some speculation making the rounds that members of the secretive religious sect Opus Dei form part of a possible behind-the-scenes lobby supporting this anti-contraceptive ordinance. These two schools are Woodrose School in Ayala Alabang, and Southridge School in Hillsborough Subdivision, Muntinlupa City.

Another officer of the Ayala Alabang Village Association, lawyer Luis Sison and his wife Triccie Cepeda Sison are said to be members of the religious organisation Couples for Christ. Sison who is also president of the Philippine National Construction Corp (PNCC) reportedly dared all who opposed the ordinance to challenge the AAVA in court.

“Everyone is free to file a case in court, by all means. It would be better so we will all face each other and argue in court,” lawyer Luis Sison, spokesman of AAVA, told Manila Standard.

[...]

“We made sure we followed the Constitution (which) provides that the state shall protect the lives of the mother and of the unborn child. ‘Unborn child’ means from the moment of fertilization.”

Sison said scientific findings indicate that contraceptives are abortifacients.

The city council of Muntinlupa, he said, did not veto it.

The Opus Dei -- what seems to be the single largest common denominator across the persnalities, groups, and institutions involved in this circus -- is apparently notorious for its autocratic religious zealotry. The organisation Opus Dei Awareness Network (ODAN) which documents much of the activities and belief systems of the Opus Dei from an outsider's perspective cites many repressive tenets within Opus Dei doctrine. Among these is a six-tiered framework for cataloging books based on the required authorisation its members need to seek from the sect's "numeraries" before they can be read. The fifth and sixth tiers of this framework apply the most restrictive rules: Category 5: "Books that are not possible to be read, except with special permission from the advisory (in New York)" and Category 6: "Prohibited reading. In order to read them permission is needed by the Prelate of Opus Dei (in Rome)".

There are 6,892 books with the highest rating of "6." Examples of authors who have some books with a "6" rating are: Woody Allen, Isabel Allende, Karen Armstrong, Margaret Atwood, Judy Blume, Roberto Bolano, Joseph Campbell, Gustav Flaubert, Allen Ginsberg, Mary Gordon, Gunter Grass, Andrew Greeley, Herman Hesse, Adolph Hitler, John Irving, James Joyce, Carl Jung, Eugene Kennedy, Jack Kerouac, Stephen King, Milan Kundera, Hans Kung, Harold Kushner, Henri Lefebvre, Doris Lessing, Sinclair Lewis, Richard P. MacBrien, Mary MacCarthy, Malinowski, Karl Marx, Somerset Maugham, Toni Morrison, Alice Munroe, Vladimir Nabokov, V.S. Naipaul, Pablo Neruda, Nietzcshe, Octavio Paz, Harold Pinter, Marcel Proust, Philip Roth, Bertrand Russell, John Updike, Gore Vidal, Voltaire, Alice Walker, Gary Wills and Tennessee Williams.

Examples of authors who have some books with a "5" rating are: W.S. Burroughs, John Cornwall, Marguerite Duras, William Faulkner, Nadine Gordimer, Eugene Kennedy, Jack Kerouac, Stephen King, Barbara Kingsolver, Doris Lessing, John O'Hara, A.J. Quinnell, Ayn Rand, Salman Rushdie and Kenneth Woodward.

Opus Dei is renowned for its powerful, influential, and affluent members. As such, the possible Opus Dei angle in the bizarre Medieval drama unfolding in one of the richest enclaves in the Philippines is gaining more and more traction. It would be interesting to see how the supposed secularism of the Philippine Government holds up in this conflict.

China film industry: more reliance on internal substance and less dependence on foreign intellectual capital

2011-02-28T11:00:00.005+11:00

The Chinese film industry more than quadrupled in size from being worth $250 million in 2005 to an industry raking in $1.5 billion in revenues in 2010. This has left America's mostly cash-strapped Hollywood gearing up to cash in on the rapidly growing Chinese market. China's central government sees a well-developed film industry as an essential ingredient to building a consumerist society. It has so far invested in serious infrastructure to back that goal opening up to three new theatres everyday. At present there are 6,000 screens across China most of which are equipped with modern digital projection facilities.

Fortune.com reports that much of this awesome feat of industry building was achieved while maintaining a draconian protectionist policy against foreign competition...

China has historically upheld a quota system granting only twenty U.S. films per year access to Chinese markets -- a far more restrictive regime than those of most countries. Even those films that are granted access to China face major difficulties making profits, due to highly restrictive box-office profit sharing agreements.

Avatar, for instance, made $200 million in China last year, but the proportion of the box-office receipts that went to the studio were between 10-15%. In most other countries, around 50% is standard. And China shows no signs of changing, despite a high profile recent WTO decision declaring that China must give equal treatment to foreigners as it does to domestic companies in its film distribution network.

Clearly the Chinese do as they see fit for their national interests. That's because they can. While most developing countries are hopelessly dependent on foreign input to prop up domestic substance, China produces its own content indigenously and works hard to continuously improve quality.

For most of the last decade, Chinese production houses, nearly all of them backed by China Film Group, the country's most influential state-run filmmaking and film distribution enterprise, produced costume dramas about the history of China that generally followed a very specific political line. In the last two years, more diverse films have emerged, such as Aftershock, an earthquake melodrama, and Let the Bullets Fly, a witty Chinese Western, each made over $100 million in local box office sales.

Even the propaganda films have learned from Hollywood and are evolving artistically -- and selling better as a consequence. In 2009, The Founding of the Republic, China's celebration of Chairman Mao that coincided with the 60th anniversary of the Communist revolution, starred nearly 200 of China's best-known actors, including Kung Fu legends like Jackie Chan and Jet Li, and was widely praised for its artistic integrity. Now, the scent of commercial success seems to be fueling more investment and turning Chinese film industry growth into a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The Philippines' key economic aspirations, in contrast, rely on a growth model underpinned primarily by capital infusion coming from foreign direct investment (FDI) and consumption-based commercial activity spurred by unfettered importation of non-durable goods.

Philippines: seventh most vulnerable to impact of climate change!

2011-02-28T00:08:00.006+11:00

The Philippines is seventh in a list of 233 nations ranked according to the most vulnerable to the impact of extreme weather conditions that climate change may bring about by 2015. This is according to a study conducted by World Bank economist David Wheeler. The expected impact takes into account the number of people that is foreseen to be adversely affected by rises in sea levels, agricultural loss, and each country's ability to cope with these on the basis of its population and inherent resilience.

The nations in the top ten most vulnerable (in order of decreasing rank) are China , Djibouti, India, Kenya, Somalia, Mozambique, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Ethiopia.

According to ScientificAmerican.com, such lists are becoming increasingly important as the search for a reliable criteria to be applied in the disbursement of aid coming out of the Green Climate Fund continues.

The new agreement creates “building blocks” for a new global pact and, unexpectedly, gives recognition to the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from industrial countries by 25 to 40 per cent from 1990 levels within the next 10 years.

[...]

The accord establishes a multibillion dollar annual Green Climate Fund to help developing countries cope with climate change, though it doesn't say how the fund's money is to be raised.

It also sets rules for internationally funded forest conservation, and provides for climate-friendly technology to expanding economies.

As far as political will goes, the Philippines holds little promise that significant change will happen when it comes to "greening" the country. Its capital city, Manila, is the only major southeast Asian city rated "below average" in the recently-published Asian Green City Index. The Philippines is also rated by Conversation International as one of the world's top ten destroyers of forests, and its society has an extensive track record of focusing on irrelevant matters even as weather disturbances devastate its cities.

Indeed, in the aftermath of the recently-concluded 25th Anniversary celebration of the 1986 "People Power" EDSA "revolution" that many Filipinos see as their finest moment in time, Manila looked filthier than its usual filthy.

The EcoWaste Coalition, citing information from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), said six six-wheeler dump trucks were used to haul trash from the area yesterday morning.

“We’re very disappointed to see assorted garbage scattered around the People Power Monument and adjacent spots as the historic occasion is commemorated,” EcoWaste president Roy Alvarez said. “The garbage-strewn stretch of EDSA, particularly from Corinthian Gardens to Gate 5 of Camp Aguinaldo, is a stark reminder of the country’s chronic problem with littering that simply has to go.”

The group said plastic bags, polystyrene food containers, plastic cups and bottles, cigarette butts and discarded advertising materials from real estate, telecommunication and other commercial entities comprised most of the litter left behind.

It is indeed a monumental challenge for a people with a strong tradition of tolerance for filth to look to the future with a real grasp of what survival -- more so progress -- entails.

Ayala Alabang Village Ordinance Number 1 Series of 2011 condemns use of artificial contraceptives

2011-02-24T20:25:00.006+11:00

You'd think the affluence of the residents of tony Ayala Alabang Village (AAV) would count them among the most enlightened amongst us -- hard-working, prosperous, and secular. Conventional thinking has it that as a society prospers the less its people's minds are imprisoned by superstition and dogma. But in a recent ordinance (Ordinance No. 1 Series of 2011) issued by the Barangay (township) of Ayala Alabang, City of Muntinlupa in Metro Manila, the clout of the Catholic Church over the cream of the Philippine elite was demonstrated yet again.

The ordinance which supposedly provides "for the safety and protection of the unborn child" in effect condemns the sale and use of artificial contraceptives such as condoms within this wealthy gated community. It however does not effect an absolute ban on these products.

What is remarkable about the ordinance, however, is a preamble within it which provides the position on the matter of reproductive health taken by the officers of the township. This preamble unabashedly stipulates a moral judgement on the good people of this secular state who engage in sexual activity or choose to raise their offspring outside of marriage (note text below in boldface applied by the author of this article).

[Section] D. The BARANGAY as well (a) endorses the view that contraceptive pills and hormonal contraceptives and the IUD may kill children and injure the health of women who use them; (b) condemns the irresponsible and indiscriminate use of contraceptives as they undermine the solidarity of families by promoting premarital sex, giving rise to more fatherless children, more single mothers, more poverty, and more abortions when the contraceptives fail to prevent conception, and by causing a decline of legitimate marriages, and, (c) denounces the use of condoms as far as they promote and sanction immoral sexual congresses among the unmarried and especially among the young, thereby contradicting the Constitutional injunction that the State “shall promote and protect … the physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being” of the youth [...]

The ordinance does not specifically ban all contraceptives but specifies as a "prohibited act" the sale and distribution (for charity or profit) of abortifacients (devices such as IUDs and hormonal contraceptives that may result in termination of a pregnancy). It however requires pharmacists to treat all contraceptive devices and substances as prescription only dispensations. Thus the sale and distribution of contraceptives such as condoms are classified as a "regulated act" under the ordinance.

Ayala Alabang Village is noted for its magnificent Catholic church building -- the edificially-complex St James Parish Church.

Though the land on which this church is constructed was donated to the Catholic Church, it is not readily accessible to the public as Ayala Alabang Village imposes strict entry requirements on non-resident visitors and has minimal public transport within the vast area inside its fortified perimeter.

Taiwan had always been a Filipino livelihood disaster waiting to happen

2011-02-22T16:38:00.005+11:00

Just right after high-fives are exchanged by Philippine President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III and Vice President Jejomar Binay over the stay on the execution granted by Beijing on three convicted Filipino drug mules, the jobs of more than 80,000 law-abiding Filipinos in Taiwan suddenly come under an even darker shadow cast by an axe. Taiwan is reportedly stonewalling on a demand for an apology from the Philippine Government after 14 Taiwanese nationals were deported to Mainland China.

"Taiwan's government and people are strongly angered," President Ma Ying-jeou said through an interpreter while meeting in Taipei with Manuel Roxas, an unofficial envoy of Philippine President Benigno Aquino III.

Ma reiterated Taiwan's demand that the Philippines "take responsibility for its mistakes" and apologise, local television footage showed.

Roxas, who arrived on Monday in an attempt to cool the row, has so far only said "we deeply regret" this incident during talks with Ma and Taiwan's foreign minister Timothy Yang, according to the foreign ministry.

His mission was however complicated by comments made in Manila by Aquino's spokesman, who said the Philippines would not apologize for the incident, which saw the 14 suspected fraudsters deported to China against Taipei's wishes.

So far three dominoes have fallen as far as the stability of the Philippines' relationship with key political entities within the Greater China sphere goes -- Hong Kong (on account of the row over the massacre of eight of its nationals in a botched hostage rescue in Manila), China (on account of negotiations over Filipino criminals on death row there), and Taiwan (the subject of this piece). All this because the Philippine Government cannot seem to get its communication act together -- considering too that Communications is something Noynoy did not scrimp on when he cobbled together his Cabinet.

Unfortunately, this is another one of those renowned cases of Filipinos relying on an inherently unsecure source of national livelihood -- the sorts that simply evaporate wholesale in the aftermath of a single catastrophic change in circumstance. Indeed, Taiwan in particular represents a variable way outside of Filipinos' sphere of control as far as their future fortunes go.

The country does not have a diplomatic channel [in Taiwan]. It adheres to the one-China policy, where it recognizes the Beijing government.

Taiwan is considered a renegade province by China.

Besides the 5,000 Filipinos whose contracts have been stalled because of additional requirements, Roxas said there is also an “underlying threat” to 3,000 more whose contracts are about to end.

Taiwan, as is now clearly evident, had always been a livelihood disaster just waiting to happen. How many more such economic bombs lie in the diplomatic minefield that Filipinos have so far proven to be so clumsy at navigating?

Vice President Binay's excellent Beijing adventure - what's in it for Filipinos?

2011-02-22T10:15:00.005+11:00

Philippine Vice President Jejomar Binay gets a big fat media-exposure-building presidential high five for "successfully securing a reprieve for the three Filipinos facing execution in China". This is a pat on the back for an "achievement" that at best hopes that "the Chinese government would eventually grant the appeal that their sentence be commuted to a penalty lesser than death".

China postponed the execution of three Filipinos found guilty of drug smuggling after Binay met with Chinese leaders in Beijing. Binay traveled to Beijing to make a last-ditch plea for the three Filipinos.

Binay said the Supreme People’s Court postponed the execution "within the scope of Chinese law."

Perhaps this is best seen from the perspective of who is the real winner in this latest of songs-and-dances.

Consider:

USD 1000 (Cost of a plane ticket Manila-Beijing-Manila)

Three. (Number of Filipinos "saved")

Convicted criminals (Nature of Filipinos "saved")

50% (Optimistic probability said people will be "saved")

Zero (Number of law-abiding Filipino lives impacted by this issue)

Clearly, the return-on-investment (ROI) on this little Beijing adventure of Vice President Binay isn't there. The overall added-value to Filipinos as a whole may even be in the negative if we consider speculations about what the Philippines brings to the poker table.

CBCP throws in its 2 cents on the brouhaha over Filipino death row drug mules in China

2011-02-19T19:07:00.006+11:00

It was only a short time ago that members of the Roman Catholic Clergy of the Philippines implied that people who support the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill have no right to receive Holy Communion. Then in an outstanding display of inconsistency, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is now calling for a "storm of prayer" to be drummed up by Filipinos in support of three convicted drug mules in China who face the death sentence.

Philippine President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III chimed in as well, hinting that only in prayer will Filipinos find the light to guide their path to fulfilling their hopes and aspirations...

Catholic bishops on Friday said they are praying and hoping for a change of heart among Chinese officials that would allow the reprieve of three Filipinos facing execution for drug trafficking even as President Aquino called on all Filipinos from all religions to unite in prayer for their condemned countrymen.

“I call on all Filipinos, led by our religious leaders of all faiths to unite ourselves in prayer beginning today at sundown, at the pealing of the bell for the Angelus or during the most quiet and meditative times consistent with our respective faiths,” Mr. Aquino said in a statement read for him by deputy spokesperson Abigail Valte.

“All our prayers will soar to the heavens to touch the heart of God, the god who ‘will make a way when there seems to be no way,’” he said.

Denial of Holy Communion to supporters of the RH Bill and "a storm of prayers" to call for divine intervention on behalf of Filipino drug mules on death row in China. It seems the officers of the Roman Catholic Church have their priorities figured out, indeed.

Filipinos have always regarded themselves as "blessed" in the eyes of their Catholic God. This they attribute to the Philippines "special" place as the only predominantly Roman Catholic nation in Asia. Yet, while many Filipinos consider themselves religious, it seems unlikely that Filipinos fully grasp what it means to be spiritual.

Chances are, the average Filipino can describe how religious he or she is at a drop of a hat; in most cases, using a simple measure like how many times he/she goes to mass in a year. But measuring his/her own spirituality? For that matter, does the average Filipino know what it means to be spiritual?

Look around you. How much influence does the Catholic Church exert on Filipino lives outside of the spiritual arena? Of course, we're not a "Christianic" State, but we're by no means a "Knowledge" State either, much less a spiritual people. If you dig deep enough, you will observe these subtle influences on the very psyche of our people: our veneration of political leaders (rather than the attitude of expecting service from them, them being public servants), our attitudes towards sex and women in general, our penchant for self-righteousness, etc. In fact, our Edsa "revolutions" can be considered the modern versions of Crusades and jihads. They are blatant exercises in the use of methods to incite religious (as opposed to spiritual) fervor (which results in the alienation of other Filipino Christian sects) to create a mob psychology to move people to do "wonderous" miracles collectively.

Note that after Edsa I, Cardinal Sin was quick to stamp the seal of our Blessed Mother on the whole affair (to the point of building a huge icon in the middle of that historical site), in the process alienating other Filipinos of other faiths. An example of how the Church continues to assert its dogmatic domination of the Philippine nation.

The latest "statement" issued by the CBCP is just another page in the sad story of its on-going effort to secure its continued relevance in Philippine society.

Was "senator" Antonio Trillanes IV ever a soldier?

2011-02-16T17:29:00.004+11:00

Trillanes is "no longer a soldier", according to Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile who also excused the newbie "senator's" ignorance of Senate "rules" for his appalling behaviour in a Senate "inquiry" that is widely seen to be a factor that contributed to former Secretary and retired General Angelo Reyes's death by suicide on the 8th of February. Enrile also delved into Trillanes's inner anger from which most likely arose his inclination to treat the probe into corruption in the Philippine military as a personal matter...

[...] Trillanes felt strongly about the issue being heard.

"He was incarcerated for 7 years precisely because of the very issue that was in front of him at the time we were hearing the case in the Blue Ribbon Committee: corruption," Enrile said.

Angry kid. That is what "senator" Antonio Trillanes IV apparently is.

But to his former classmates in the venerable Philippine Military Academy (PMA), Trillanes has become a likely candidate for earning the distinction of persona non grata owing to his "uncavalier" behaviour (PMA alumni refer to themselves as "cavaliers"). Unlike many conventional professions, the men and women who serve and have served in the military form a very tight brotherhood -- a world that is often beyond the comprehension of most ordinary civilians. Most soldiers had faced death together in combat and formed bonds under the extreme duress of life-and-death situations.

Being shot at or stabbed at by another human being you hardly know but is nonetheless intent on killing you is an experience most civilians won't ever face in their lifetimes. Likewise having to kill another human being you also hardly know sometimes while staring him or her in the eye is an extreme experience that changes people. Relationships forged in such situations are in a class by itself.

Consider then Enrile's words:

Having been granted amnesty for coup plotting and now already covered by parliamentary immunity, neophyte Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV cannot be censured by anybody, according to Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

“He’s now covered by a different rule. As a senator of the Republic, he can’t be questioned on any speech or debate done by him inside the confines of the Senate as a senator,” said Enrile.

It gives a more profound meaning around the words "no longer a soldier". Perhaps Enrile has it only half-right and we should go one step further and ask:

Was "senator" Antonio Trillanes IV, ever a soldier?

That this "senator" as a member of (but not necessarily a soldier in) the Armed Forces of the Philippines showed consistency as a serial offender as far as breaking ranks and thumbing his nose at the chain of command will have already answered this question back in 2007. The way he treated Angelo Reyes -- a senior soldier -- in an otherwise pointless Congressional exercise further crystallises what our answer to that question might be.

To real soldiers, the answer is most likely a no brainer...

Senator Antonio Trillanes 4th, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1995, faces punishment from his fellow PMA graduates for humiliating a senior officer—late former Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Angelo “Angie” Reyes—during a recent Senate inquiry.

“Even some of his [Trillanes] classmates did not like what he did to Angie Reyes,” they will go with punishing the senator, another former military chief of staff—Gen. Dionisio Santiago—told editors and reporters of The Manila Times during an exclusive roundtable on Monday.

It was not clear, though, what the punishment would be.

According to Santiago, many of the cavaliers or PMA alumni would shy away from Trillanes as a sign of protest to the alleged arrogance he displayed against Reyes, a member of PMA Class of 1966, when the former Armed Forces chief appeared on January 27 before the Senate blue ribbon committee.

Suffice to say, Trillanes's high-profile rampage supposedly against corruption in the Philippine military is starting to become a lonely one. For now he enjoys the support of the Senate President himself who had gone out on a limb to defend the boy-"senator". But this is politics. At some point, propping up a political liability simply becomes senseless.

The President and the Senate now seem to be distancing themselves from Antonio Trillanes

2011-02-15T10:52:00.009+11:00

With every day that passes, mutineer-turned-"senator" Antonio Trillanes IV exposes his true character and real lack of substance. More senior members of the Senate which Trillanes had only recently joined as a conditionally free man seem to be on to him. Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan are now pressing Trillanes to substantiate all of his insinuations about some sort of knowledge about corruption at the top most echelons of the military, specifically a shadowy figure supposedly behind ex-military comptroller Carlos Garcia whose unexplained wealth is the main subject of an on-going Senate "inquiry".

Trillanes had earlier claimed to have shared this "knowledge" with Malacanang, thereby involving the Executive branch in the burden of providing proof to back any further names that might be made public.

Obviously stung by the death of former Secretary and retired General Angelo Reyes, widely seen to be a result of what is perceived to be Trillanes's reckless behaviour during a Senate session that Reyes attended, the Senate seems to be distancing itself from Trillanes. "Senator" Trillanes has also shown a lack of understanding of the real point behind such Congressional inquiries which aim to aid in legislation and are not, as Trillanes seems to believe, meant for "catching" people (the job of the police, the prosecutors, and the Justice system).

President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III too seems to have started distancing himself from the mutineer-"senator" and has denied through his mouthpieces ever having discussed any such shadowy figures with Trillanes...

The President said he did not get the information from Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, who earlier indicated that he knew Garcia’s protector.

“I haven’t had any opportunity to talk to Sonny Trillanes,” Mr. Aquino told reporters.

The President said that his communication with Trillanes over the years had only been through letters, including one that was sent after the senator, who was on trial for attempting a power grab in 2003, was released from jail late last year when he was granted amnesty.

The President said the letter did not discuss “that topic” in reference to retired Navy Commodore Rex Robles’ claim that Trillanes had told Mr. Aquino that Angelo Reyes, former Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff, was not Garcia’s protector.

And even on the matter of Trillanes now saying that Reyes was "not Garcia's protector", the Inquirer.net noted this as a "flip flop" on his part as well, referring back to a previous report where Trillanes fingered Reyes as the man behind Garcia's alleged criminal activity...

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV Monday tried to wriggle out of his previous claim that the late former Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes was the “powerful” person behind former military comptroller Carlos Garcia, but the Inquirer stood firm on the accuracy of its report.

[...]

On Feb. 2, the Inquirer carried a story in which Trillanes, in an interview with Senate reporters, identified Reyes as the powerful figure behind Garcia.

“I am naming him (Reyes),” Trillanes said in that media interview. That interview was taped.

Trillanes gave that answer when he was asked about a previous television interview in which he said that someone powerful—whom he did not identify then—was fronting for Garcia.

After all that and after a man accused under the less-than-ideal circumstances inherent in a Senate "inquiry" now lies dead and buried, Trillanes changes his mind...

After Reyes—who denied involvement in military corruption—committed suicide last week, Trillanes made a turnabout: He said that Reyes was not the “powerful” figure behind Garcia.

The Inquirer bannered Trillanes’ denial under the headline “Trillanes: It ain’t Reyes” [link added but not originally included in source].

In an interview on ANC network Monday, Trillanes said the Inquirer “got it wrong.”

Talking with Senate reporters after his ANC interview, Trillanes was categorically asked if he was denying that he had previously said that the former defense secretary and Armed Forces chief of staff was the powerful figure behind Garcia.

Trillanes avoided giving a direct answer, saying: “It will muddle everything again.”

Indeed, even as he balked at naming names following his grandstanding about his knowledge of the who's-whos of big-time Philippine military corruption, Trillanes went on to insinuate the involvement of former President and now House Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA) in this nasty business.

[...] when pressed by reporters if the purported corruption in the military would reach the level of then President and now Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, he said: “It’s not far-fetched. We’ll go wherever this will lead us.”

And now he is being pressed to present proof of that claim as well...

Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo yesterday challenged Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV to present evidence that former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo could be behind massive corruption in the Armed Forces.

“They (senators) are in the process of investigating this issue. Why don’t they just proceed with their investigation and see where it leads,” Arroyo said in a statement.

“If he (Trillanes) has suspicions which he could substantiate with concrete evidences, he should air that at the Senate investigation which, lest it be forgotten, is in aid of legislation,” he said.

Arroyo also asked Trillanes not to use his mother to gain media mileage.

“He (Trillanes) should not use the media as a launching pad for baseless statements. I would like to remind the good senator that the great power of parliamentary immunity comes with parliamentary courtesy,” he said.

Denials denials. Trillanes is becoming good at it now that he's painted himself into a corner (perhaps jail is now starting to look like a comfier option for him nowadays!). The mutineer-turned-"senator" is now blaming the media for "feeding" him the idea of GMA's involvement in this mess...

Trillanes said Arroyo's name was only fed to him by the media.

“Everybody heard that. I never named anybody. It was fed to me,” he told reporters on Monday.

What a guy.

Whatever the truth is on this matter, one thing's for sure: Trillanes is not a reliable custodian on any such information nor is he an appropriate channel for its dissemination. All the public has to gain from this "senator" is a bit of Wowowee style entertainment.

MMDA budget slashed even as Metro Manila rated "below average" in EIU study

2011-02-14T20:17:00.003+11:00

Metro Manila is the only major Southeast Asian city to be rated "below average" in the recently-published Asian Green City Index. The study was conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit to measure environmental sustainability across 22 Asian cities and was commissioned by Siemens.

City-state Singapore rated "well above average" while former peers of Manila in Southeast Asia Jakarta, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur rated an "average" in the index. Manila counted itself in the "below average" bucket among the likes of Hanoi, Mumbai, and Kolkata. The only city faring worse is Karachi garnering a "well below average" rating.

All this is a timely revelation considering that the budget of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) had recently been slashed from Php2.76 billion to just Php981 million by the Department of Budget and Management. The MMDA is now forced to rely on the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for research work on solutions to "traffic, flood, solid waste, and transport" issues.

Chairman Francis Tolentino requested Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo to develop cost-efficient speed radar guns, solar traffic lights, solar pump gauges, wind generators to power street lights, bio-radiation to treat wastes on waterways, high technology asphalt, rescue sensors for collapsed buildings and even mobile Doppler radars for weather forecasting.

DoST spokesperson Raymund Liboro said at the MMDA’s weekly radio program that Secretary Mario Montejo welcomed Tolentino’s “wish list.”

“MMDA will identify the problems, while DoST will work on the solutions and come up with the prototypes,” Liboro told the Manila Standard.

Metro Manila is the political, cultural, and financial capital of the Philippines. As such, it is supposed to be the showcase of all three aspects that make up the character of the Philippines.

Fresh out of prison mutineer Antonio Trillanes fails to understand his job as Senator of the Republic

2011-02-12T19:23:00.005+11:00

It turns out mutineer-turned-"senator" Antonio Trillanes does not really understand what Senate "inquiries" are really for. As he lashed out at what he described as the "black propaganda" supposedly being mounted by elements associated with the "past administration" Trillanes revealed his deeply-flawed regard for the true purpose of investigations conducted by legislators...

[In the aftermath of the suicide death of Ret. Gen. Angelo Reyes] Trilanes [sic] said that he and the Senate won’t “back down.” “No, that will not happen.. We'll keep on digging into this thing until we catch those who stole from the nation’s coffers,” he said.

Trillanes wants to "catch" people. But catching people is the job of the police, and prosecuting them is the job of the Department of Justice. Legislators on the other hand make Laws. And as such, it is quite apparent that Trillanes fails to grasp the point of such exercises, articulated spot-on by a PinoyExchange.com Netizen in his post dated the 10th Feb 2011...

Parang OGAG. Doesn't even know that they are investigating in aid of legislation, not to catch thieves. That's the work of the PNP and the NBI.

[Boldface added for emphasis]

Trillanes's vicious and disrespectful treatment of Reyes in a cross examination as part of a Senate inquiry into corruption in the Philippine military is widely seen to be a factor that led to the suicide death of Reyes on the 8th of February.

As has been observed many times before, members of Congress are there not by any qualification other than the popular vote. As such, they merely reflect the character and quality of their constituencies.

General Angelo Reyes's wake - Senator Antonio Trillanes conspicuously absent

2011-02-11T23:23:00.007+11:00

Conspicuously absent from the wake today of former Secretary and retired General Angelo Reyes was none other than mutineer-turned-"senator" Antonio Trillanes IV. Trillanes viciously interrogated Reyes in a Senate "inquiry" into corruption in the Philippine military and made use of uncalled-for disrespectful words leading to speculation that the humiliation suffered by Reyes under what may ultimately be a pointless grandstanding exercise triggered his suicide.

Reyes is scheduled to be buried with full military honours on Sunday the 13th of February. His wake was reported to have been well-attended by both high officials of the military and government and ordinary people, friends, and family whose lives he had touched in life.

As AFP officials, enlisted and civilian personnel, and those from the police and other agencies once led by the late general such as the Defense Department, the Interior and Local Government, Environment and Natural Resources, Energy, and ordinary civilians joined the queue to have a last glimpse of Reyes, retired Col. Eduardo Batac, [Department of National Defense (DND)] spokesman said: “Napapansin po naman natin na napakadaming tao na dumadagsa dito. A lot of people have been touched by the late, the former chief of staff and the former secretary of national defense.”

Notable of all were the visits to Reyes's wake of President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III and former President Joseph "Erap" Estrada, both of whom set aside the politics that would have complicated their presence there.

Estrada hinted the possibility that his son Senator Jinggoy Estrada may follow suit and pay his respects as well. Earlier, the younger Estrada had expressed what could be possibly regarded as regret for the way Reyes was treated in the Senate inquiry...

But Estrada—whose eyes were conspicuously red with dark circles around them—indicated that he should have been more circumspect during the blue ribbon hearings.

“I’m practicing to gag myself first. I don’t want to say anything while the family of Secretary Reyes is still in mourning,” he told reporters.

[...]

Estrada said he would rather that Reyes’ wife Teresita be spared from the hearing.

In contrast to the renewed gentlemanly conduct of the Estradas and President Aquino, Trillanes has adhered to his being quite clear about not being sorry about Reyes's death:

When asked further if he felt sorry for the death of Reyes, an upper classman in the Phil. Military Academy, Trillanes said: “No. Kasi sabi ko nga, I’m the kind of person who learns from lessons of life. And we would have wished or preferred that things were ended on a more pleasant note. That’s just how life was meant to be for all of us.

Trillanes also believed that "that was how life was meant to be for Secretary Reyes".

Antonio Trillanes or Angelo Reyes - who between them really is the disgraced soldier?

2011-02-11T11:56:00.003+11:00

Filipinos are in the midst of an effort to come to grips with the death of an accomplished senior soldier, Retired General Angelo Reyes, said to have resulted from a pointless grilling he received from publicity-hungry senators. Eyes are now being turned to the conduct of the people who grilled him, mutineer-turned-"senator" Antonio Trillanes IV in particular whose heavy-handed Pit Bull attack on Reyes was described by the Inquirer.net Editor as a "sophomoric put-down" and one marked by "disdain and disrespect".

Another report by the Inquirer.net included a short account of Trillanes's attack on Reyes...

During the Senate hearing last week, emotions ran high when Reyes tried to respond to accusations that he skimmed off military funds when he was AFP chief of staff and received P50 million on his retirement, charges he indirectly denied.

“I’m just trying to protect my reputation here,” Reyes then said. “I have served this government for 48 years.”

“No, no, no, you don’t have any reputation to protect,” Trillanes said. “I believe this is the time of reckoning. ... You better find very good lawyers.”

[My boldface for emphasis.]

Trillanes who is just out of a seven-year prison stint is a beneficiary of an amnesty grant -- one given despite his own case still pending legal closure before due process was supplanted by the politics of President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III.

As a Navy lieutenant, Trillanes led a short-lived mutiny in 2003, seizing the posh Oakwood apartment hotel in Makati City, calling on then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to step aside for corruption before surrendering. He was jailed for over seven years but was provisionally freed in December last year. He later applied for amnesty.

This is something worth highlighting when one considers the viciousness in the way he pounced upon Reyes in the Senate hearing. Perhaps it could be a case of professional jealousy. Whereas Trillanes's flaccid uprising fizzled out, Reyes's move was well-timed and executed...

As AFP chief of staff, Reyes in a crucial moment in the move to oust then President Joseph Estrada in 2001, also on corruption allegations, withdrew support from his Commander in Chief in what he later said was an attempt to preserve the divided military.

The four stars on the shoulder pads of Reyes shine even brighter in his death, leaving a legacy of honor and courage that may be difficult for men and women in uniform to emulate, [Maj. Gen. Leopoldo Maligalig, a former superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA)] said.

Indeed, seen from this light, between Trillanes and Reyes it becomes quite obvious who the disgraced soldier really is.

Taiwan top attaché recalled as Philippine Government continues to dither on diplomatic row

2011-02-10T10:40:00.004+11:00

As the diplomatic row with Taiwan over the deportation of 14 Taiwanese and 10 Chinese nationals in December to Mainland China worsens, opening of any high-level communication channels between the Philippine and Taiwanese governments is yet to be seen. The deportees are all accused of being involved in a scam to swindle mainlanders out of millions of dollars. According to an Inquirer.net report, the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), which represents the Philippines in Taiwan -- a country whose independence the Philippine Government does not recognise -- said that "[the] Taiwanese were deported to China because the victims were Chinese".

Donald C. T. Lee, who represents MECO's counterpart in the Philippines, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO), had been recalled by the Taiwanese government to protest the action.

Lee said the Philippines’ One-China policy, which was used by Philippine authorities as basis for the deportation to China, is “purely a political policy” and not law, as it chastised the Philippine government for intervening in Taiwan Strait affairs when it deported 14 Taiwanese nationals to the mainland early this month.

[...] the Taiwanese should have been deported to the island “based on the principle of nationality in jurisdiction in international law, and through a mechanism established between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, Beijing and Taipei.”

“When Filipinos go to Taiwan, they need to apply for visas through our office, TECO, not through the PROC embassy in the Philippines; and the overseas Filipino workers in Taiwan earn New Taiwan dollar currency, not renminbi,” he said

How important is Taiwan to the Philippines? Very important.

There are more than 80,000 Filipinos who work in Taiwan who have families residing in the Philippines, as is the usual case, desperately dependent on their remittances. Taiwan is also a major source of capital inflow into the pathetically capital-impoverished Philippine Republic with the value of investments in 2009 topping more than USD100 million. The company Ancku Taichung Corp alone which accounted for more than half of that capital inflow had, as of the writing of the Taipei Times report, expressed an interest in investing another USD100 million in the Philippines for 2010 -- effectively single-handedly doubling total Taiwanese investment in the Philippines for that year. Also, an estimated 100,000 Taiwan nationals visited the Philippines in the first 10 months of 2010, and at the time that this statistic was issued it was reported that Taiwan had eased visa restrictions on Filipinos wanting to visit the country.

Thus, in the aftermath of a single snafu and as the Philippine Government continues to cower under the shadow of the all-important "One-China Policy", all of that much-needed source of income for the average Filipino schmoe is now at risk.

Taiwan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Timothy Yang said yesterday that Taiwan recognised the "goodwill" and "regret" in the statements issued by MECO but that the incident "had damaged relations with Taiwan because of its handling of the case".

The fact that the Philippines did not offer Taiwan direct communications channels to relevant government agencies, such as the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs and Department of Justice, throughout the incident was “unacceptable,” Yang said.

“All we could do was to communicate through the MECO, and that was not enough,” he said.

Yang said Philippine authorities refused to grant Taiwanese officials access to a meeting on Tuesday last week to discuss the deportation issue, and failed to inform the Taiwanese side of the results of another closed-door meeting until the afternoon of Wednesday last week, when the Taiwanese suspects had already been deported.

Suffice to say, that does not seem like a really nice way of treating a country that expressed so much confidence on a renowned regional basketcase.

Kris Aquino weighs in on President Noynoy Aquino's Porsche

2011-02-08T10:22:00.003+11:00

Presidential sister actress Kris Aquino weighed in her awesome media muscle to defend her brother Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III against critics who continue to highlight issues surrounding his purchase of a Porsche for personal use. The actress laid out a litany of justifications in her appeal to the public that they simply make the issue go away.

"No. 1, he is single and this is his joy. Pangalawa, it's not like he never had a car before all of this happened. Pangatlo, hindi naman siya nagdo-droga, hindi siya nagsusugal, hindi siya naglalasing gabi-gabi. Hindi naman kaliwa't kanan ang babaeng nali-link sa kanya," she said.

"So kung talagang sasakyan lang ang release niya or ang pinagtutuunan niya ng pansin na nagbibigay ng konting kaligayahan at stress relief [ako ang pinagdadasal ko mapagbigyan siya]," she added.

The "Queen of all Media" stressed that PNoy's personal money was used in purchasing the P4.5-million white Porsche. She said he did not steal the money from government's coffer.

"I can swear to the fact na hindi niya ninakaw ang perang pinambili doon and hindi naman niya siguro sisirain ang pangalan namin dahil lang sa isang Porsche," she said.

In the language of the civilised, this is the case she presented in her pitch to excuse the Philippine President's very public personal indulgence:

(1) He is single.

(2) Cars are his "joy".

(3) He does not do drugs.

(4) He does not gamble.

(5) He does not drink -- every night.

(6) He does not do women left and right.

Apparently, Kris Aquino misses the point.

The Point can be summarised in a single question:

What does President Noynoy Aquino actually do?

Strange how a voice such as that of Kris Aquino that can hold its own and stand out even amongst the noisy chatter of Philippine showbiz, suddenly shrinks in stature when backdropped by the silence of Malacañang.

[...] the Barkadahan administration seems to be nowhere in sight. Even the usually breathtakingly clueless deputy spokesperson has not been heard from for days.

The last time we heard anything from the three-headed communications group was when the dapper Secretary Ricky Carandang, arrogant as ever, reacted to the latest video of Mae Paner (featuring the President’s purchase of a P4.5 million Porsche) with typically catty remarks: “I cannot speculate on her mental state. I have not seen it and I don’t care.”

Maybe the President simply does not care either.

Has Noynoy Aquino been bullied by the Church into de-prioritising the RH Bill?

2011-02-07T23:22:00.008+11:00

Less than a week ago on February 1, the House of Representatives committee on population and family relations approved a consolidated version of several House Bills -- 96, 101, 513, 1160, 1520 and 3387 -- related to Reproductive Health which it named "An Act Providing for a Comprehensive Policy on Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health and Population Development and for Other Purposes". Almost immediately, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) incited the faithful to "consider mass action amid efforts in Congress to fast-track a family planning measure" in a "pastoral letter" it issued.

By Feb. 3, a memo was issued to all Catholic Church leaders to read the pastoral letter on the next Sunday mass, Feb. 6. According to the official Philippine Government press release on that date...

The pastoral letter enjoined the faithful to choose life and reject the RH Bill, as it implicates moral corruption, which the CBCP considers the root of all corruptions.

As stated thereat, CBCP stands on the two core principles that is; human life as the most sacred physical gift by which placing an artificial obstacles to prevent human life being formed and being born contradicts this fundamental truth of human life and the principle that it is parents who have the right and responsibility to nurture, care and educate their children that they may grow as mature according to God’s will.

The letter argues on advocate assertion that RH Bill is necessary to stop overpopulation and extreme poverty, it thus reasons out that there is no overpopulation in the country only over-concentration of population in a number cities.

Further, it enumerates the real causes of poverty which lies on flawed philosophies of development, misguided economic policies, greed, corruption, social inequities, lack of access to education, poor economic and social services, poor infrastructures and others.

Six areas of concern cover the call of CBCP: call for fundamental transformation of lay’s behavior towards human life, call upon legislators to consider the RH Bill in the light of the God-given dignity and worth of human life, call for lay people to join the advocacy to defend and promote the common shared ideals and aspirations, call on the government to address the real causes of poverty, call for the establishment of more hospitals and access to health services and call upon all people who share the same conviction over the many threats to human life.

The CBCP even crowed about how some bishops urged people to resort to "civil disobedience" once the RH bill is enacted into law...

“We will have a civil disobedience. Those laws that are immoral, we will tell the people not to obey," Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes said in an interview on Church-run Radio Veritas.

Bastes said the bishops will be not be cowed by any penalties under the law, saying it is their duty to promote morality.

“We bishops, are willing to be imprisoned, together with our priests, and protest the immoral things there (RH bill). To be firm with our teachings, let them imprison us," said Bastes.

The following day, Feb. 7, the Inquirer.net reports that Malacañang Palace retreats on RH bill, won’t include it in list of priority measures...

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said on Monday that the Palace has not yet completed its dialog with Catholic bishops on the responsible parenthood bill it has been drafting and has decided not to present the measure yet to congressional leaders in the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council meeting scheduled for February 28.

Lacierda said the Palace and Catholic bishops would meet at the end of the month on the issue.

He said that the bill could be introduced in Congress within the year but it would not be certified as urgent anymore.

Lacierda denied that the decision to drop the RP bill was due to Church pressure.

The Roman Catholic Church seems hell-bent on ensuring that its flock in the Philippines remain the highly productive factory of baby Catholics it has been for the last several decades. And not even President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III is up to the job of standing in its way.

How China is making globalisation REALLY work to its advantage

2011-02-07T17:23:00.008+11:00

Consider China's approach to development. It takes a long-term view -- a strategy that aims to effect a sustainable outcome. The cornerstone of this strategy is a concept that goes by the term "indigenous innovation". In the report "China's Drive for 'Indigenous Innovation': A Web of Industrial Policies" commissioned by the United States Chamber of Commerce, the scope and extent of industrial policies being formulated and rolled out by the Chinese Government to both fast-track and secure its rise as the dominant global economic and industrial powerhouse of the future is assessed.

Indigenous innovation is a massive and complicated plan to turn the Chinese economy into a technology powerhouse by 2020 and a global leader by 2050. The landmark document that launched the campaign carries the bureaucratic title "The National Medium- and Long-Term Plan for the Development of Science and Technology (2006-2020)" (now known in the West as the MLP). Bland as the title may be, the MLP describes itself as the "grand blueprint of science and technology development" to bring about the "great renaissance of the Chinese nation."

The MLP preamble calls for the Chinese people to "seize the opportunities and meet the challenges brought by the new science and technology revolution" ... because ... "despite the size of our economy, our country is not an economic power, primarily because of our weak innovative capacity."

This flies in the face of other "development models" that gloss over the need for too-hard measures to ensure a sustainable approach such as, in the case of the Philippines, mitigating the reality of a cultural character of ineptitude at creating capital indigenously and making optimal use of resources and capital once these are acquired.

In the report's Executive Summary, the impression China makes on its American observers is quite evident, invoking both awe...

The result is an indigenous innovation political and economic campaign that amounts to an all-hands-on-deck call to action for the Chinese nation to roll up its sleeves and complete the mission of catching up and even surpassing the West in science and technology that began 200 years ago when foreigners with modern weaponry and transportation technology came calling as the Chinese dynastic system was dissipating.

The campaign is focused on employing China’s fast-growing domestic market and powerful regulatory regime to decrease reliance on foreign technology and develop indigenous technologies that will enable China to solve its massive environmental, infrastructure and social problems, and as a result enhance both its economy and national security.

... and fear...

[...] the plan is considered by many international technology companies to be a blueprint for technology theft on a scale the world has never seen before.

The Wall Street Journal similarly reports angst coming from US industry as they behold the sheer weight of Chinese bargaining leverage, sharpness and singularity of its focus on results, and vast scale of its planning horizon.

To hear U.S. business executives describe it, Beijing's mammoth new industrial policy is like the Borg in "Star Trek"—an enormous organic machine assimilating everything in its path, in this case the inventions of other nations. Notably, China's road map, which is enshrined in the "National Medium- and Long-Term Plan for the Development of Science and Technology (2006-2020)," talks in those terms. China will build its dominance by "enhancing original innovation through co-innovation and re-innovation based on the assimilation of imported technologies."

"It's a huge, long-term strategic issue," says a top executive at a U.S. technology firm operating in China. "It isn't just the crisis of the day for U.S. business. It's the crisis."

So it is that Mr. Obama, fresh from wrangling with Chinese President Hu Jintao over these issues, made U.S. innovation—China-beating innovation—a centerpiece of his State of the Union speech. China and India are "investing in research and new technologies," he warned. "We need to out-innovate, out-educate and out-build the rest of the world."

China seems to be effectively beating the West with the very one-sided rules of the "globalisation" game it played with less-savvy parts of the Third World. While many developing countries lapped up the idea of assuming the spreadeagle position to welcome the entry of foreign capital and, along with it, a flood of colourful consumer goods manufactured in immense surplus by the First World's awesome industrial machine, China is using its vast consumer market as part of an offer the West simply cannot refuse.

And indeed, it seems to be a win-win arrangement shaping between America's elite industrialists and the Chinese "Borg" -- with the average American schmoe left with the short end of the stick. China provides an opportunity to leave the American worker outside the winning equation. Blogging for The Huffington Post, Robert Kuttner takes stock of how Business Doesn't Need American Workers...

Once again, the job numbers are dismal. In January, the U.S. economy created just 36,000 domestic jobs, far below the roughly 145,000 that economists had forecast. The unemployment rate fell, to 9 percent, but only because more and more discouraged workers are giving up and leaving the workforce.

[...]

Meanwhile, corporate profits continue to set records. Profits in the third quarter of 2010 were 1.659 trillion, about 28 percent higher than a year before, and the highest year-to-year increase on record.

What's going on? Very simply, America's corporations no longer need America's workers.

Americans may already be paying for what is now clearly an unreasonable sense of entitlement to getting things faster, cheaper, and better.

Unlike the rest of the Third World who are quite happy to prostitute themselves in the name of the "Foreign Direct Investment", China applies its renowned business acumen at a grand macro scale that only a society like China could pull off...

Companies are made to take on Chinese partners, to transfer sensitive proprietary technology, and to shift their production and R&D to China. In exchange, they get government subsidies and docile workers. Eventually, much of their production is displaced by their Chinese partners, but in the meantime they make a lot of money.

In the past two decades, company after company concluded that the U.S. government didn't really care if we lost our manufacturing base. The Chinese government was making them an offer they couldn't refuse, so one by one they made a separate peace with Beijing.

At the latest U.S.-China summit, there was clucking about its overvalued currency, though last week the Treasury, out of solicitude for the feelings of Beijing's leaders, once again declined to name China as a currency manipulator.

Perhaps, on that note, the question of how sovereign a nation the United States really is becomes a relevant discussion point today. And with the strong role the government of China takes in management of the country's economy serving as a context for the debate surrounding this question, maybe it is also about time we put the power of big corporations to shape and impact ordinary people's lives under closer scrutiny.

Flooding karma: Philippines among world's biggest forest destroyers

2011-02-04T11:14:00.003+11:00

The Philippines is one among the top ten "at risk" forest areas in the world according to a statement issued by Conservation International. Other "at risk" areas include Indo-Burma, New Zealand, Sundaland, Atlantic Forest, Mountains of Southwest China, Cape Floristic Province, Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa, Madagascar and Indian Ocean Islands and Eastern Afromontane.

Forests, which now cover only 30 percent of the planet’s surface, are home to 80 percent of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity. About 1.6 billion people directly depend on healthy forests for livelihood.

In the article Tourist industry of last resort I cited studies that put the loss of forest cover from 1990 to 2005 alone at no less than 3.4 million hectares. "Primary forest cover now accounts for just 2.8% of total land area" in the Philippines.

All this information comes tragically relevant as flood waters now engulf most of the southern Caraga region of the Philippines, home to what were once among the most majestic topical hardwood forests of the country.

President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III -- remaining true to our long tradition of excellent breakdown maintenance -- issued Executive Order (EO) No. 23 on the 1st of February 2011 declaring a "moratorium" on cutting and harvesting timber and mandating the creation of an "anti-illegal logging task force".

As local officials in southern Mindanao rightly pointed out an EO is just a piece of paper. Political will is what will get the rubber to hit the pavement.

Mati Mayor Michelle Rabat said issuing an executive order is however not enough. She said the President must also order a crackdown on the corrupt officials who are in cahoots with illegal loggers.

"After issuing the EO he should also crack down on the corrupt DENR officials, generals, governors, mayors and congressmen. Political will," Rabat said.

That, of course, depends on how many relatives of Noynoy's are among them.

Creeping disaster in the Philippines not newsworthy enough for fiesta-happy Filipinos

2011-02-03T11:53:00.003+11:00

Butuan City was declared as "in a state of calamity" as five days of heavy rains inundated the Caraga Region of the Philippines killing two people and displacing 300,000. Science Undersecretary Graciano Yumul said that the Philippines is facing a "creeping disaster" as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) revealed data indicating the looming adverse effects of the La Niña weather phenomenon on the Philippines.

In January alone, 46 of the 51 stations of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in the country recorded unusually high rainfall readings. Some reached levels of more than 1,000 millimeters.

Yumul said more than 11 typhoons were expected to hit the country and warned that these would be intense.

Particularly alarming is the effect of these disasters -- much of which is exacerbated by Filipinos' cancer-like degradation of their environment -- on agricultural output.

"Vast farmlands were still under water and lots of roads and bridges were destroyed," Gobenciong said. She said the extent of damage to crops and properties had not yet been ascertained yet but they expect it to be "very high."

Last month, millions of pesos in properties and agricultural crops were also damaged when floodwaters—blamed on relentless logging activities—inundated the Caraga provinces.

The Philippines, with its enormous population of impoverished people, physically disjoint geography, and weak infrastructure is a humanitarian disaster waiting to happen -- and acts of Filipinos' much-venerated God can accelerate our meeting up with this bleak future. The Philippines is dependent on imported rice to augment a domestic harvest of its national staple that both cannot keep up with demand and can only make its way to market at great cost owing to a severely stunted logistics infrastructure.

A supply shortfall and the resulting price bubble created by panicked Filipinos and shrewd businessmen in 2008 provided a dress rehearsal for such flow-on disasters that may come from any number of natural, geopolitical, or global finance tightwire acts tipping over the edge.

An unprecedented cold snap as well as pests and diseases affecting crops in China and South East Asia have had an immediate impact on rice availability, as has recent flooding in the Philippines and Vietnam. Increasing urbanisation, changing land use and shifting patterns of agriculture, including the growing of crops for bio-fuels, are among the underlying reasons for shortages of staples such as rice. Rising prices also have their own dynamic, leading to speculation and the hoarding of rice supplies in the hope of future windfall profits.

Some of the largest rice exporters have limited sales. Vietnam has recently decided to reduce exports by almost a quarter and Cambodia has announced a two-month ban on rice exports. The world’s leading exporter, Thailand, has also begun to control foreign rice sales. India has raised the minimum export price by more than 50 percent and China has begun to import rice.

As the world’s largest importer of rice, the Philippines has been among the hardest hit. Rising prices for rice, along with other food items and oil, led to a sharp jump in the official inflation rate from 2.6 percent in March 2007 to 6.4 percent in March this year. Radio Australia reported late last month that "rice prices in Manila have soared to as high as $1.15 a kilo from as low as 50 cents a kilo a week ago."

Death and property destruction happening outside of Manila hardly make headline news in a nation of starstruck ignoramuses. But what is happening in Filipinos' own backyard is certainly more relevant than some "people power" "revolution" happening half a world away in one of those US-allied desert kingdoms.

Ronald Singson: a case study in swift and non-political Hong Kong justice

2011-02-02T17:23:00.002+11:00

Congressman Ronald Singson faces life in prison, a USD 644,000 fine, and expulsion from the Philippines' House of Representatives after admitting to being a cocaine and amphetamines user and being in possession of $2000 worth of cocaine as he passed through Hong Kong airport. Trouble is, Singson tested negative for drug use -- which then sheds doubt on his claim that the drugs in his possession were for "personal use".

Whatever.

Recounted in a PhilStar report...

Singson was apprehended last July 11 at the customs arrival hall of the Hong Kong International Airport for trafficking in 14.8 grams of powder containing 6.67 grams of cocaine, and 2 tablets of nitrazepam.

Two plastic bags of 1.51 grams of powder containing 0.65 grams of cocaine, and two tablets of nitrazepam were found in his checkbook. Another plastic bag containing traces of cocaine was found in his wallet.

After body search, a plastic bag of 12.26 grams of powder with 5.58 grams of cocaine; a glass bottle with 1.02 grams of powder containing 0.44 grams of cocaine; and a plastic spoon containing 0.01 grams of powder containing cocaine were found in Singson’s underpants.

In its summary of facts, the prosecutor said the cocaine seized from Singson had a retail value of approximately HK$ 15,791.60 or P89,634.28.

The point is, the process was quick. The way things are sprinting along in über-efficient Hong Kong, Singson will be behind bars there way before any sort of resolution will be seen on the question of his continued membership in the Philippines' House of Representatives.

Since day one of the controversy, the House leadership has hemmed and hawed about what to do with the Singson case. Granted that legislative courtesy would require that the leadership should give him the benefit of the doubt, still the ethics committee should at least have initiated an inquiry into the matter in order to disabuse the public of the suspicion that the chamber has been protecting one of its own.

Singson leaves an Ilocos Sur dynasty that counts his daddy, Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson, and a brother Vigan City Vice Mayor Ryan Singson pining for his troubles to "end soon". Unfortunately for the Singsons, the power to make things "go away" with the wave of a hand does not extend to the Hong Kong criminal justice system.

God needs to deal with Noynoy's attitude and not his lack of fortitude

2011-02-01T10:19:00.003+11:00

The Prayerful One offered a prayer during the K4 Philippines Intercessors' Convergence (whatever...) held at the Pasay City World Trade Center. President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III prayed for "more strength to face the challenges of running a country and fortitude in dealing with criticisms". Perhaps by having this prayer reported by the Philippine Media, Noynoy would then have it on public record that God is responsible for his acquiring said fortitude.

He added that with the Lord's guidance, the Filipino's hope of reaching true peace and prosperity was becoming a reality.

However, he lamented, there were those who still stand in the country's path of growth and continue to test our strength as a nation.

Give us the strength and fortitude to face these challenges, the President said.

Recall, however, that in a separate report, we find Noynoy referring to these challenges as his life's "kabuwisitan"s ("pain-in-the-ass" in the Queen's English).

"So 'pag ako po ay hinaharap ng kaliwa't kanang problema at kaliwa't kanang kabuwisitan, parati hong bumabalik, nanay ko pumasok sa trabahong ito kumbaga walang blueprint," Noynoy said.

(So when I'm assailed left and right by problems and headaches, I always recall that my mother assumed this same task with no blueprint as it were.)

So perhaps the real issue here that God needs to deal with is Noynoy's attitude and not his lack of "fortitude".

"Religiosity gene" key to survival of God in modern civilisation

2011-01-31T13:31:00.005+11:00

Ultimately nature wins. According to a study conducted by Robert Rowthorn, emeritus professor of economics at Cambridge University, the 'religiosity gene' will dominate society. According to a model developed in that study, high fertility rates among the religious and low fertility rates among the non-religious will see "genetic components that predispose a person toward religion [...] 'hitchhiking' on the back of the religious cultural practice of high fertility rates".

A possible future where the number of people pre-disposed to religiousness dwarfs the numbers of the non-religious is hinged on a "fertility differential between religious and secular people". The bigger this differential, the faster the ranks of the religious swell relative to the non-religious.

The model’s assumptions are based on data from previous research. Studies have shown that, even controlling for income and education, people who are more religious have more children, on average, than people who are secular (defined here as having a religious indifference). According to the World Values Survey for 82 countries, adults attending religious services more than once per week averaged 2.5 children, those attending once per month averaged 2.01 children, and those never attending averaged 1.67 children. The more orthodox the religious sect, the higher the fertility rate, with sects such as the Amish, the Hutterites, and Haredi having up to four times as many children as the secular average.

This is not to say, people with the "religiosity gene" will necessarily be religious in practice...

If both parents have the religiosity allele, their children are also more likely to have the religiosity allele than if one or both parents did not have it. However, children born to religious parents may have the nonreligiosity allele, while children born to secular parents may have the religiosity allele. Having the religiosity allele does not make a person religious, but it makes a person more likely to have characteristics that make them religiously inclined; the converse is also true.

The study coincides with information making headline news in recent days highlighting an on-going boom in the world's Muslim population...

[...] in Europe, [researchers at the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life] predicts the Muslim population will grow by nearly a third in 20 years, from 44.1 million people, or six per cent of the region's inhabitants in 2010, to 58.2 million or eight per cent of the projected total population by 2030.

Some European Union (EU) countries will see double-digit percentages of Muslims in their population by 2030: Belgium's Muslim population is projected to rise from six per cent to 10.2 per cent over the next 20 years, while France's is expected to hit 10.3 per cent in 2030, up from 7.5 per cent today.

In Sweden, Pew predicts Muslims will comprise nearly 10 per cent of the population compared to less than five per cent today.

Britain's Muslim population is predicted to rise from 4.6 per cent to 8.2 per cent by 2030, and 9.3 per cent of the population of Austria is forecast to be Muslim by then, compared to less than six per cent of residents of the alpine country now.

There you go.

Malaysian research institute releases dengue-fighting mosquitoes into forest

2011-01-29T18:05:00.005+11:00

In an experiment aimed at finding a solution to the ravages of dengue fever, the Institute for Medical Research, a facility run by the Malaysian government, released into a forest 6,000 genetically-engineered mosquitoes. These were all male mosquitoes that would mate with female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and either prevent them from having offspring or spawn shorter-lived offspring.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said last year the project was an "innovative" way to fight dengue after a lack of success in campaigns urging Malaysians to keep neighborhoods free of stagnant water where mosquitoes can breed.

The number of dengue-linked deaths in Malaysia increased 52 percent last year from 88 in 2009. The total dengue infections rose 11 percent from 2009 to more than 46,000 cases last year.

Scientists argue that such experiments present unknowable risks to the ecosystem as the effects of completely eradicating a species or introducing a mutant variety are difficult to predict. The Malaysian government assured the public that the experiment was a success, that "all the mosquitoes were killed with insecticide", and that no further experiments will be initiated until results of this one are analysed.

Egypt: the trouble with being too geeky about protest movements

2011-01-28T19:51:00.005+11:00

A brewing protest movement in Egypt was reportedly "fueled by blogs and social media sites like Twitter and Facebook". Apparently, a perceived dependence on these sites to disseminate information vital to the cause -- and presumably underwrite its success -- is what is behind social media chatter expressing "indignation" over the shutting of the Net out of Egypt. Indeed, social media geeks make it sound like the shut down of the Internet in Egypt is such a rotten development for the brewing anti-government movement there.

Reported on Renesys...

Approximately 3,500 individual BGP routes were withdrawn, leaving no valid paths by which the rest of the world could continue to exchange Internet traffic with Egypt’s service providers. Virtually all of Egypt’s Internet addresses are now unreachable, worldwide.

We forget that whereas a phenomenally successful ouster of a tyrant -- the 1986 Edsa "Revolution" that saw the downfall of strongman Ferdinand Marcos -- was effected without the Internet, without mobile phones and, therefore, without text messaging even, more technologically-enabled "movements" to depose presidents that followed it in the Philippines pathetically failed. Indeed, the 1986 Edsa "Revolution" was the real deal in the sense that it was unprecedented, unforeseen, spontaneous, and utterly uncontrived.

Nowadays we seem to be so beholden to and blinkered by the "power" of the Net that we forget that in the Third World, devices that have the most widespread and deepest penetration into the population are humble early 20th-century-technology powered devices -- radio and television. Indeed, the most crucial battles fought in mid- to late-1980's Philippine revolutions were for television and radio stations.

Sketchy reports are trickling out of Egypt, but a key question (specially now, as the Net goes dark over there) is whether protest leaders had taken the continued availability of the Net as a communication tool for granted and missed opportunities to include in their plans the securing of the lower-tech, but equally if not vastly more effective radio-based mass communication installations of their country.

Philippine Intelligence: an oxymoron defended by President Aquino

2011-01-26T21:17:00.005+11:00

Philippine President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III is on the defensive. He insisted on an interview that the recent bus bombings were not covered by the travel advisories issued late last year by several governments warning of risks of terror activities in the country. Noynoy cited how buses were not included in the list of at-risk sites in the Philippines which included malls, airports, and conference centres among others.

"The basis for the travel advisory was a raw report, they were quoting an imminent attack on a mall. If I remember correctly, when they were passing it there wasn't a high confidence a level as to the veracity of the information given. But they give it in the oft chance na lest they be accused of not sharing pertinent information," Aquino said.

He added: "'Yung noon ho ang sinasabi, kung maalala ko, ang binabanggit nila ang target ay mall. 'Yung bus at 'yung mall malaki ho ang difference sa pagiging softer… But in the buses, ang layo 'nung pagiging softer. This was not identified in the previous reports."

[Latter paragraph translated: If I recall right, they mentioned a mall. There is a big difference between a mall and a bus...]

To be fair the US advisory posted on the US Embassy-Manila website (key excerpts of which I highlight in a previous article) did not mention buses...

Targeted sites may be public gathering places that are frequented by expatriates and foreign travelers, including American citizens. Such sites could include, but are not limited to, airports, shopping malls, conference centers and other public venues.

But Mr President misses the point. A list of possible targets does NOT, by any stretch of the imagination of any decent intelligence officer, define the scope of any countermeasures that are necessitated when a threat is identified. In other words, just because buses were not included in the travel advisory does not mean threats against public transport vehicles are necessarily to be ruled out.

And besides:

Is it only on the basis of travel advisories issued by foreign governments that Philippine intelligence services initiate their countermeasures?

Nice try, Mr President. With every word you issue to the public, you merely further reveal the extent of the incompetence of our government.

Year 2011 opens with an explosion of violent criminality in the Philippines

2011-01-25T23:02:00.001+11:00

According to Metro Manila police chief Director Nicanor Bartolome, at least four died and 14 more injured when an explosion ripped through a public bus plying EDSA in the City of Makati. The explosion was described to be something that may have been caused by a "big bomb" although investigators could not yet be sure whether or not this incident could be considered a terrorist attack.

The explosion occurred around 2 p.m. while the bus was approaching the loading bay near MRT Buendia railway station on Edsa's northbound lane, said Ed Garcia, radio operator at the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) metrobase.

A photo provided by the MMDA showed a shattered windshield and side windows of the ill-fated bus (plate number TXJ 710). The bomb was apparently placed on the sixth row from the driver seat.

Bartolome has placed the entire Metro Manila police force on full alert status.

Earlier, in October 2010, nine people were killed and 30 injured in the province of North Cotabato when a bomb planted in an overhead compartment of a bus traveling through the town of Matalam exploded. The regional police director there, Gil Meneses was reported to have stated at the time that "Extortion was a possible motive for the attack".

Bus companies serving the Cotabato-Cagayan highway have received extortion threats from various groups, the state-run Philippine News Agency said. There have been previous attacks on buses, killing or injuring dozens. The groups Abu Sofia and the Al-Khobar, both linked to the separatist Muslim group Abu Sayyaf, were blamed for the previous attacks.

North Cotabato is near Maguindanao where the worst politically-motivated massacre of civilians occurred in November of 2009 when 57 people were gunned down in cold blood allegedly by local warlord Andal Ampatuan Jr and his men.

President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III had earlier dismissed as "not based on firm intelligence" travel advisories coming from the US, Australian, British, Canadian, French and New Zealand governments stating that terrorist attacks were likely in the Philippines. The advisory of the US Government issued the 2nd of November 2010 is still on line at its Manila Embassy website and states:

The State Department warns U.S. citizens of the risks of terrorist activity in the Philippines, particularly in the southern Philippine islands of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago. Terrorist attacks could be indiscriminate and could occur not only in the southern islands but also in other areas, to include Manila. Targeted sites may be public gathering places that are frequented by expatriates and foreign travelers, including American citizens. Such sites could include, but are not limited to, airports, shopping malls, conference centers and other public venues. This Travel Warning replaces the Travel Warning dated April 2, 2010, to reflect continuing threats due to terrorist and insurgent activities.

Beyond terrorists, the US advisory also takes note of the activity of criminal elements that seem to be operating with impunity all over the archipelago...

Kidnap-for-ransom gangs are active throughout the Philippines and have targeted foreigners. U.S. Government employees must seek special permission for travel to Mindanao or the Sulu Archipelago. Travelers to these areas should remain vigilant and avoid congregating in public areas. Some foreigners who reside in or visit Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago hire their own security.

All this comes as two high profile kidnap-carjack-murder incidents in Manila and the murder of a radio anchorman in Palawan continue to make headline news.

President Aquino's statement on the recent Edsa bus explosion in Makati (translated to English from Tagalog for enhanced clarity) below:

First of all we'd like to express our condolences for those who died in this tragedy -- the explosion of a bus along EDSA -- and to those who were injured as well.

At present, we've called on all government agencies to extend assistance to all the injured. These are now taking action and are also involved in the investigation of this incident. Included among these are the police, in cooperation with our local government unit in Makati, as well as the MMDA (Metro Manila Development Authority). Our intelligence services are also at work and putting priority into solving this crime.

Rest assured, this crime will be solved like other incidents such as the bombing of the bar exams. Our government agencies are closely overseeing all measures to ensure the safety of the public.

In line with all this, the PNP and AFP intelligence services have been directed to review all threat assessments "with the end in view of hardening all of the areas that are considered under threat". Efforts have been on-going even before this incident such as the taking stock of all AFP and PNP equipment, specially considering incidents that involved the use of C4. Control over these consumables is being tightened.

I'd like to reiterate that your Government will not relent in its efforts to hunt down the perpetrators of this heinous crime -- one that targeted random victims and was obviously meant to strike terror in the hearts of the public. We will not allow such a frightening situation to continue.

Violent crime seems to be exploding in a society renowned for the banality of its culture of crime. Criminals, terrorists, and rebels can smell a weak Manila government a thousand miles away. It does not help that the Philippine Police smiled before the cameras as they went on to execute the most inept hostage rescue operation the world had ever seen back in August of 2010.

Chicken-and-egg: the challenge of weaning Filipinos off OFW remittances

2011-01-25T12:31:00.001+11:00

Reports of another "boom year in remittances" are circulating. Estimates of the value of remittances from Filipino Overseas Foreign Workers (OFWs) expected for 2011 range from $18.7 billion to $19 billion. The proportion of the economy measured by the GDP traditionally hovered around the 10% mark -- a dependence that costs Philippine society according to a report from The National...

Remittances contribute about 10 per cent to the South East Asian nation's GDP, making it the second-largest source of foreign capital behind local value-added exports such as electronic components.

Much of the money that is sent back goes into consumption such as buying cars, homes and mobile phones in a country where the World Bank estimates one out of four people live on less than $1.25 a day.

Remittances have become the major source for consumption in the Philippines because little is saved or spent on building small businesses.

Economic Planning Secretary Cayetano Paderanga "admitted that remittances would continue to be the main source for consumption in the foreseeable future" but was hopeful that more Filipinos "would consider putting extra money into savings or investments".

The National also presents figures showing how the Philippines' dependence on OFW remittances to the tune of 10% of the value of its economy dwarfs China's 0.9% dependency figure even though the latter leads the world in the value of its workers' remittances.

Economists have warned that by letting the best and brightest leave the country it holds back real economic growth and makes it difficult for new industries to attract investors because the country lacks skilled workers.

Chicken-and-egg situation. Sheds a bit of doubt on the traditional agenda-driven solutioneering that pervades the Philippine National "Debate".

"Brown is beautiful" simply does not fly among white-skin-obssessed Filipinos

2011-01-24T19:24:00.001+11:00

In the wake of yet another "Filipino" victory overseas -- the winning of "mocha-skinned" Danica Flores Magpantay' in the 2011 Ford Supermodel of the World contest -- highlighted yet again is how concepts of beauty and talent hardly recognised and often ignored in the Philippines are what turn out to be the biggest assets of our compatriots in other countries. Pride swells when success is achieved, but appreciation for the active ingredients are gained after the fact.

"So to my dear Filipinas - take a look. Venus Raj, Danica Magpantay. Beautiful, dusky, exotic. STOP with the whitening creams already," [Model and former VJ Sarah Meier-Albano] tweeted.

Filipinos tend to turn to whitening products in an effort to achieve a complexion as fair as most commercial models and Hollywood stars.

Vice President Jejomar Binay earlier noted that a number of skin care companies are distorting the concept of beauty by pushing the use of cosmetics that make a person's complexion lighter.

"Cosmetic firms have been selling their products by subliminally promoting distaste for our natural brown complexion," Binay said in an interview.

Trouble with Pinoys: we are too busy copying to appreciate and develop what is indigenously inherent. Preference and adulation is instead showered on the tall and grotesquely fair-skinned but pathetically mediocre local celebrities.

Looks like governments are the same all over the world - big crybabies

2011-01-24T13:46:00.001+11:00

Singapore political blog site The Online Citizen (TOC) had its wings clipped by the Singapore government after being reclassified ("gazetted") as a "political website" and therefore subject to "rules that govern other (normal) political organisations—like parties". The Economist reports in its AsiaView blog site.

Under the Political Donations Act, TOC will be subject to a cap of 5,000 Singapore dollars ($3,900) in accepting anonymous donations and banned outright from receiving funds from foreign donors. The government’s registry of political donations has already asked TOC to identify clearly all its owners, journalists and anyone else associated with the site. It was given two weeks to comply. And this is but one of the new rules to which the site will be subject. No specific reasons have been given for why the government wants to take this action, and at this particular moment in time. All the government has said, through its registry of political donations, is that “As a website that provides coverage and analysis of political issues, TOC has the potential to influence the opinions of their readership and shape political outcomes in Singapore. It has been gazetted to ensure that it is not funded by foreign elements or sources.”

Though often critical of the Singapore Government, TOC owners claim that they do not engage in "partisan politics" and merely tries to live up to encouragement coming from the Government that Singaporeans be more "unconventional" and "spontaneous".

Change Charter one provision at a time - Neal Cruz

2011-01-24T10:03:00.001+11:00

Back to the issue of the question of the business case surrounding seeing Constitutional Reform as one grand all-in-one-go initiative, Neal Cruz puts forth his thoughts on how there are cheaper alternatives that yield the same results...

The Philippines has already amended the Constitution singly in the past: when Congress was changed from a unicameral to a bicameral assembly; and when Parity was passed to allow foreigners to own property in the Philippines. We’ve done it before, we can do it again. Best of all, it would be cheaper. Congress can discuss and pass the proposed amendment during its regular session and submit it to the people for ratification at the same time as the regular elections. The same thing can be done for other amendments.

A constituent assembly to change the whole Constitution is dangerous, what with the quality, or lack of it, of the present members of Congress. The same legislators will pass the proposed amendments on the piecemeal basis I propose, true, but then the debates would be closely watched by the people.

A constitutional convention would be expensive. We would have to elect delegates to the convention, each of whom would have an office and staff, and the convention itself can go on and on, having no time limit.

In the question whether we (1) Do Nothing or (2) Mount a sweeping Constituional Reform initiative, the earlier -- Do Nothing -- still has options within it; initiatives that are less likely be turned into a circus and can proceed in an environment of sobriety, mature engagement of the public, and a focus on ideas rather than on people.

Philippine car theft rate statistically down compared to previous years

2011-01-24T09:11:00.001+11:00

Unfortunately, nobodies don't make headline news. According to a report submitted to Malacanang by Chief Supt. Leonardo Espina, head of the Highway Patrol Group, car theft incidence in 2010 is down compared to previous years. Yet today, car theft is high on everyone's list of things to fear thanks to Media coverage of high-profile carjacking-murder cases.

“A combined 1,739 MVs and MCs were reported stolen in 2010, while from 2000-2009, the yearly average recorded was 2,134,” Espina said in his report.

He also said vehicle robbery incidents last year were 18.5 percent lower than the reported annual average of stolen vehicles during the period 2000 to 2009.

An average of 1,186 motor vehicles was reported stolen yearly during the period 2000 to 2009, compared to 761 stolen motor vehicles in 2010, Espina said.

This meant that car robbery cases last year were 37.6 percent lower than the yearly average for the past nine years.

It seems awareness about crimes increase when the victims are big VIPs -- cases which Media sniff out for their ability to catch the attention of a population of idle minds -- and not because of an actual change in their rate of incidence. Crimes wherein victims are nobodies -- that's where the statistics are.

Too easy: Evangelista, Sensil, Lozano murders "solved"!

2011-01-23T10:48:00.001+11:00

Sounds too easy. According to Central Luzon police director Chief Supt. Alan Purisima, the murder of car dealer Venson Evangelista, and of car dealer Emerson Lozano and companion Ernane Sensil are "solved". Picked up as evidence so far are an assortment of artifacts that practically fit the testimonies of suspects Alfred Mendiola and Ferdinand “Batibot” Parulan who "surrendered" to police recently.

Evidence so far collected include (as reported on the Inquirer.net) firearms and ammunition, a half-burnt license of one of the victims, empty kerosene cans, and vehicles supposedly used to block the victims' vehicles from escaping.

Like Purisima, [PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Agrimero] Cruz said Evangelista’s case was considered solved with the arrest of Mendiola and Parulan and the raid on the apartment in San Fernando.

Cruz said the apartment had yielded other pieces of evidence linking the Dominguez group to the killing of Evangelista, the most vital being the latter’s partially burned driver’s license.

He said two vehicles were found at the apartment—a Ford Expedition painted gold and a Mitsubishi Pajero painted green.

The Pajero was purportedly used to block Evangelista’s Land Cruiser before his abduction.

So far so good, but perhaps consider a couple of possibilities in light of how easy the "solving" of this crime had come across so far:

(1) The Police had tolerated and maybe even profited from these criminal operations the whole while;

(2) When the proverbial brown stuff hit the fan, fall guys and a high profile arrest needed to be produced for show; and,

(3) A statement needed to be issued to reassure an increasingly restless public.

All, as soon as possible. After all, someone's political capital is being rapidly eroded as all this transpires.