HOWDY!

I am posting here my columns with REMATE TONIGHT.
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December 7, 2009
HOWDY
By Jaime Pilapil

Human Rights Day

This Thursday, we Filipinos join the entire globe in celebrating the Human Rights Day. Sadly, we have seen how human rights were trampled with impunity as shown by the recent Maguindanao massacre where 57 innocent people, including 31 media workers, were summarily killed including 30 journalists.
Nonetheless, as part of the celebration of Human Rights Day, a coalition of non-government organizations are in the forefront in holding dialogues between communities and government agencies in various areas nationwide.
The Alternative Law Groups (ALG) held meetings among the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), civil society organizations and local communities.
This Wednesday the ALG will conduct a public forum to present the developments in the project, and the results of the past eight dialogue sessions. This project is being implemented in cooperation with the Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. Foundation (BSAF), the Human Rights Affairs Office – PNP (HRAO-PNP), the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil Military Operations–AFP (J7-AFP), and the Human Rights Office-AFP (HRO-AFP), and the Hanns Seidel Foundation of Germany.
The project focuses on the over-all goal of contributing to the improvement of the human rights situation in the country primarily through the enhancement of the relationship between the AFP and PNP, on one hand, and local communities and civil society organizations, on the other hand, in the common effort to promote and protect human rights. Through the project, it is expected that key issues and gaps in human rights promotion and protection will be identified, and concrete recommendations for government and civil society action will be formulated and implemented toward the promotion and protection of human rights.
The forum will be held from 9:30 a.m. to -4:00 p.m. at the Ballroom, Torre Venezia Hotel, 62 Scout Santiago Street cor. Timog Avenue, Quezon City (in front of the St. Paul the Apostle Church, near Quezon Avenue).
The following day, Thursday, the ALG will hold another forum at the same venue from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Dubbed as the “Promotion and Protection of Human Rights Defenders Working on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights or the Defend the Defenders“, the program seeks to protect the country’s defenders of economic, social and cultural rights (ESCR) against threatened or actual abuses and rights violations that they encounter in relation to their advocacy work. The program is a partnership between the ALG and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The Defend the Defenders Program is envisioned to support local strategies for the protection of human rights defenders who become vulnerable to violence, harassments, threats, and actual rights violations, because of their advocacy for ESCR. The program focuses on preventive measures, i.e., those that protect human rights defenders against violence, harassments, threats, or actual abuses, instead of measures that seek to hold accountable the persons or groups responsible for violence, harassments, threats, or abuses that had been committed.
In the Philippines, the issue of involuntary disappearances, abductions, and extra-judicial killings has taken center stage in recent years.
With pressure from the international community, which was highlighted by the visit of United Nations Special Rapporteur Philip Alston, the country is placed at the forefront of the discussion concerning the issue of human rights violations. Indeed, human rights cases will forever hound the Arroyo regime. -30-

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Oct. 23, 2009
SBism of QC

Former Quezon City Mayor Brigido Simon once confided to me that his major political mistake was when he failed to put his name in all infrastructure projects he built during his term.
Unlike the present city chief executive, everywhere you look your eyes will be mesmerized by the well-built edifices, from sidewalk pavement to school buildings and newly built structures inside the city hall compound.
They all have the initials “SB”, meaning Sonny Belmonte, the nickname and family name of the city’s top honcho.
“SB” signs are omnipresent, ubiquitous all over the city, like a name of an Olympus goddess. Let’s hope the sky will not be painted with “SB” or else it could be the end of the world.
If you build a house, you have the right to scribble your name in golden letters because the money spent in building it was yours.
In Quezon City, these “SB” signs were conspicuously placed on projects where city taxpayers’ money is spent. He claims to own what he does not.
Although the elder Belmonte is no longer eligible for reelection as he is just wrapping up his third and last term as city mayor, his influence will not diminish. His daughter Joy is running as tandem of Vice Mayor Herbert “Bistek” Bautista in the 2010 elections.
If plans will not miscarry, the elder Belmonte will attempt to reclaim his post as congressman of the fourth district.
His two nephews are currently in their first terms as councilors. RJ Belmonte represents the first district while Vincent Belmonte represents the fourth district.
Another nephew, Kit, is reportedly eyeing the congressional seat to be vacated by second district Rep. Annie Susano, who intends to run for the mayoral post.
The Quezon City under SB is being depicted as progressive and bursting with accomplishments.
But the truth is — it lags behind Mayor Jojo Binay’s Makati City in terms of services and maybe in terms of credibility.
Poverty is everywhere. Health services are very poor. Patients at QC General Hospital lie and die there. Public school teachers are a bunch of crooked mentors. The mayor’s attention was called about this but he did nothing to stop it. They sell workbooks instead of distributing textbooks. They sell everything including wooden puzzles.
The City Hall, despite huge improvements on physical structures, houses glutton corrupt officials. It is not remote that with these multi-billion infrastructures, a big chunk went to the pockets of corrupt officials.
Most of the employees are vampires. They suck hard-earned money from every transaction placed by city residents.
The city government boasts that it has billions in the bank. Like a father who brags that he has plenty of money but he does not buy food for his hungry kids.
Voters should stand tall and stop the Belmontes do their thing – the SBism of QC.
City residents should act together and reject the Belmontes through the ballots.
Stop Belmonte’s political dynasty.

October 16, 2009
By Jaime Pilapil

“BB”, Quezon City dream tandem

Four big storms will hit the country before we cross over to the tumultuous election year. A typhoon is threatening to land towards the end of this month, according to weather bureau chief Prisco Nilo. He said it could be even more devastating than “Ondoy” and “Pepeng”.
However, all these storms will hit southern Luzon, the Visayas and north eastern Mindanao.
In fact as of Wednesday early morning, a Low Pressure Area (LPA) was estimated, based on satellite and surface data at 70 kms Northeast of Borongan, Eastern Samar (12.0°N 126.0°E).
It will be cloudy all over the country over the weekend. Weather forecast said it will be rainy from Laoag and Baguio in the north to Zamboanga and Cagayan de Oro to the south.
Usually 25 typhoons visit the country yearly. Nilo said the country should be prepared for strong typhoons brought about by climate change.
“We could not do anything to correct the climate change,” Nilo said. “We just have to make preparations and make the proper adjustments. The damage to climate change is insurmountable.”
There you have it folks, we just have to try to live with the changes brought about by the abuse we inflicted to mother Earth.
oOo
Typhoons “Ondoy” and “Pepeng” made “pinakbet” and “chopsuey” costly.
oOo
Quezon City dream tandem “BB” is fast shaping up. The double “B” stands for Bautista-Belmonte or Bistek-Belmonte. It’s unbeatable, according to no less than Mayor Sonny Belmonte.
No folks, the Mayor is not running for vice mayor. It’s his daughter Joy.
Vice Mayor Herbert “Bistek” Bautista is busy fortifying his hold on the barangay officials.
On the occasion of the 70th QC Foundation Day Celebration, the city’s top honchos led by the elder Belmonte, recognized recently the barangay best practices aptly called “Serbisyong Bayan Awards.”
Declared champions were Bgy. Pasong Tamo (District 2) for “best barangay lupong tagapamayapa” with Bgy. Pansol (D3) as runner-up; Bgy. Roxas (D4) for best peace and order committee with Bgy. Pansol as runner-up; Bgy. Greater Lagro (D2) as best with solid waste management practice with Bgy. Bagumbayan (D3) as runner up; Bgy. UP Campus (D4) as best council for the protection of children with Bgy. Sta. Lucia (D2) as runner-up; Bgy. UP Campus as best nutrition committee with Bgy. Sangandaan (D2) as runner-up; Bgy. Quirino 2-A (D3) as best anti-drug abuse council with Bgy. Pansol as runner-up; and Bgy. Pansol as best in gender practices and responsive governance with Bgy. Bagbag (D2) as runner-up.
Bautista and Belmonte know fully well that a city could only attain progress when all its barangays are equipped with best practices in village management.

Oct. 9, 2009
The Boss and the 2010 elections

Three presidential aspirants, namely Senator Noynoy Aquino, Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro and Senatgor Chiz Escudero have a common denominator.
That is, Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, who is respectfully and lovingly called as the “Boss” of San Miguel Corporation, the most diversified food and beverage firm in the country today.
Noynoy and Gibo are nephews of Danding, while Chiz is the ever loyal Nationalist People’s Coalition member.
Maybe, history should remind the Filipinos or better the voters that Danding “was” a dummy of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos. In fact, Danding joined the entourage who flew with the Marcos family to Hawaii in 1986.
Danding returned to the country eventually and was lucky enough because the successor of Marcos was the late Cory Aquino, his cousin. The Boss eventually regained the leadership of SMC.
In 1992, he tried to succeed Cory but only placed third next to the winner Fidel V. Ramos and second placer Mirriam Defensor Santiago. However, his tandem, Joseph Ejercito Estrada won the vice presidency.
In 1998, Danding was again drafted as presidential candidate by NPC. However, he withdrew and gave way to Estrada who handily won the contest against Joey de Venecia, the loyal side-kick of FVR.
Why I am making this a big issue?
Danding knows fully well that if he could not get into Malacanang, he would rather be a “King Maker” just so he could protect his business interests.
The prospect of a NPC candidate defeating Noynoy is possible.
And Chiz appears to more viable candidate compared to Senator Loren Legarda at this time based on surveys. The truth is Legarda, like a flower, is now unpopular to bees (read: masses).
Chiz is backed also by Taipan Lucio Tan as his father, Salvador, is a loyal Tan thinker. Remember it was the elder Escudero, during his stint as Agriculture minister during the Marcos tenure that he introduced and distributed “Golden Kuhol” or snail all over the countryside which was expected to kill weeds in rice paddies but ended up eating the “palay” roots instead. The effect was devastating to farmers, more destructive than typhoon “Ondoy”. Maybe it’s the reason why our rice production decreased tremendously, hence our dependence to rice importation.
Indeed, the elder Escudero’s key was the farmers’ malady.
Gibo was a member of NPC before he joined Lakas Kampi CMD Party.
Gibo’s backer is no less than the current occupant of Malacanang, the alleged local unit leaders, who are practically butterflies, and the businessmen presently enjoying the protection of the Arroyo couple.
Noynoy’s game is an uphill battle. He wants a sort of a “people power” to help him catapult to power.
Whether Noynoy wants it or not, many LGU leaders, incumbent and returnees, will once again turn into political butterflies especially when they are not accommodated by the administration party and Senator Manny Villar’s Nationalista Party.
It is interesting to know how businessmen Manny Pangilinan, the Ayalas, SM mogul Henry Sy and other big businesses will put a stake to the presidential derby.
Many politicians spend consideration time in courting the “block votes” of religious groups. The truth is there is no single religious group that could install a presidential candidate to Malacanang. Danding was supported by the Inglesia Ni Cristo but lost.
So, the dream of Jesus Is Lord leader Eddie Villanueva to muster enough votes to win is very remote, as far-off as the second coming of Jesus Christ.
As of July, Comelec has tallied 45,487,634 voters nationwide.
In the 2007 elections, out of the 43,536,028 registered voters, about 35.4 million ballots were cast giving a voter turn-out of 81.4%.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo garnered 39.99% or 12,905,808 votes as against her closest rival Fernando Poe Jr. who got 36.51% or 11,782,232.
A candidate needs at least 13 million votes to win the 2010 presidential derby. Fourteen million votes is a safe estimate.
For sure, campaign kitty will be a big factor. If you multiple 45 million voters to P1.50, the allowed budget per voter, a presidential candidate needs around P7-billion.
Nonetheless, on June 30 next year, regardless who takes Malacanang, it will be an ordinary day for Danding, nothing new — only a few new faces and many old faces.

Oct. 2, 2009
Mayor Lim’s kin and his P10M pot?

We are eight siblings in the family. My father left us even before I reached my school age. Nonetheless, all of us finished college. My mother never remarried. How was she able to feed, house, cloth and send us eight to college?
To start a small business, she sold our lovely clothes. My two elder brothers would wake up early in the morning and rush to the market so they could secure a space where my mother would display goods, including vegetables and fruits.
In short, my mother was a street vendor. Many times she would end up in police stations crying with her stuffs confiscated. With no money to pay for the penalty, she would kneel in front of the mayor begging to release her with her stuff. Then she would start again on borrowed small capitalization from lending sharks.
At age 78, my mother is still in the market. She now rents a space at Sorsogon City Public Market selling food stuff, secured from mulcting or “kotong” cops. She no longer needs to earn but the market is her life.
Why I am narrating this?
Here in Manila, maybe in other towns and cities too, street vending is a multi-million industry particularly when Christmas season sets in.
Take the case of Divisoria. The center island from Abad Santos to Juan Luna will soon be converted into a flee market starting this October 15 to be handled by a relative of Mayor Alfredo Lim and a certain Loika, daughter of a retired colonel and a lover of a barangay official.
Vendors, not less than 200, will be housed in each 4×8 plywood size makeshift stalls or “tent” but not before each of them cough out P30 thousand goodwill money. Daily each stall occupant will pay P500 for rental.
Estimates said the city hall-backed group will earn not less than P10 million until mid January next year.
Each stall occupant will get a corresponding permit from city government which costs a meager P1,500.
Of course, the police will not be left out. The station and district police officials must share the blessings too or else, like my mother, the vendors will soon be hurled in detachment jails and their stuff confiscated.
The Divisoria Sidewalk Vendors Association is planning to hold rallies near the city hall to oppose the group of Mayor Lim’s kin.
Let’s see how Mayor Lim will resolve this.
oOo
Concerned citizens of Mandaluyong City would like to commend Mayor Benhur Abalos for his decisive and prompt action against shenanigans in the city hall. Recently, Mayor Abalos ordered the suspension of some employees assigned at the permit and engineering departments after it was found out that they connived with the management of Nice Hotel which started operating without proper documents.
oOo
The oceanic rain brought by typhoon Ondoy brought incalculable damage to limbs and properties. Not to mention the trauma it caused. Sadly the government, national and local, was not prepared for this type of calamity. It turned out broadcast networks are more prepared. They mobilized at once their relief operations and in many times would help in rescue operations. Both ABS-CBN and GMA 7 were untiringly helping the typhoon victims. With the vast machinery, the government failed to respond immediately. Presidential aspirant and Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro, being the head of the National Coordinating Council, fell short of expectations.
oOo
For two days, Saturday and Sunday, around four choppers were hovering in the sky above the isolated area between Cainta Junction and Rosario Bridge in Pasig City. These helicopters would throw a pittance of relief goods to hapless people gathered on roof tops. Rubber boats were not used to bring in relief goods. A resident said a rubber boat manned by soldiers frequented a submerged house at Riverside Subdivision, saving not people trapped from the house but some goods or appliances. Maybe the house is owned by a VIP.