Pala-isip

March 28, 2011 MR. MANNY V. PANGILINAN Chairman ABC Development Corporation Dear Mr. Pangilinan: This is with regard to the 12 March 2011 episode of your show “Willing Willie”, which was brought to my attention by several concerned citizens and groups. In the said episode, a six year-old boy named Jan-Jan Estrada was made to repeatedly perform dance moves usually done by adult dancers in indecent shows. The poor child was in tears and looked scared the entire time, as show host Willie Revillame poked fun at him and the audience laughed and cheered. Under Republic Act No.7610, also known as “Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act”, the term “child abuse” includes the following acts: “psychological and physical abuse, neglect, cruelty, sexual abuse and emotional maltreatment,” and “any act by deeds or words which debases, degrades or demeans the intrinsic worth and dignity of the child as a human being.” Given that definition, it is unmistakable...

DSWD...DSWD...DSWD...

I just love the Internet, don't you? The power of instant communication has led to immediate action and fact checking my individuals instead of waiting for the news organization to report on it. Take the issue of Ella's blog titled Aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo ? (A special report from a volunteer). Then the Dr. Esperanza Cabral of the DSWD immediately issued a statement . Then some volunteers went to DSWD to check on the matter and volunteer and wasn't let in by the guard even though the DSWD said there was a lack of volunteers and were told that repacking operations can last up to 11pm. None of that is happening. I'm not saying they're stealing the goods, but the lack of coordination and expediency of the relief operation is pretty disturbing to the donors. Here is Manuel L. Quezon III's blog about the whole incident. Here is the Bayanihan Online's timeline of events . Again, the issue is not whether the goods are being stolen or r...

With regards to the blog post of Ella that I reposted . Here is a statement from Dr. Esperaza Cabral of the DSWD. I may be cynical about the Philippine government, but I believe in fair and balanced news. I just hope that what Dr. Esperanza Cabral said is true. ===================== Statement of Dr. Esperanza Cabral on the issue of relief goods in the DSWD Warehouse October 23, 2009 The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) manages the National Relief Operations Center (NROC) which is the facility for processing and storage of relief goods that are purchased by the Department or donated to us by generous individuals both here and abroad. The relief goods are released to our Regional Offices or directly to evacuation centers or to the local government units as they are needed and requested by these entities. They are delivered in trucks, many of which were lent to us by private companies or by military vehicles. Some of the goods are shipped by air from nearby Vil...

This is unconfirmed, but this is from Blog Ni Ella at http://www.ellaganda.com/ . Which is now down. I am reposting this from Jenniepperson.com who was able to copy Ella's blog before it went down. Again, this is unconfirmed. I am reposting in the hopes someone in the know can clarify the situation. ================ Aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo? (A special report from a volunteer) Oct 21st, 2009 by ella Dear friends, I’m asking your help to spread the word. Tulungan po ninyo akong ikalat ito. Beyond this, we should also demand action. I disabled a plugin so you can copy the photos of relief goods rotting in DSWD warehouses. You can link this post to your blogs, facebook, websites etc. You can also email the photos. Philippine News (US based Philippine newspaper) will use this as its front page story this week. Every Filipino has the right to know where the tons of donations from the UN and other counties go. Kahit po nakakahiya sa mg...

Here's the latest directive of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo regarding donations, remittances and relief goods coming from abroad. First, they've set up a task force to stop and prosecute those who raise prices of medicine unreasonably. Second, they will arrest and punish those who takes advantage and cheats in accepting donations coming through the banks. Third, there will be no taxes nor confiscation of relief goods by the Bureau of Customs coming from abroad as long as it is directed towards DSWD. Fourth, the DFA has given our embassies and consulate the task to speed up the processing of documents for donations coming from abroad as long as it is address to the DSWD. Fifth, they have requested remittance companies to waive their transaction fees for monetary donations if they are directed to the DSWD. Maybe I'm just a cynic, but I can't shake the feeling that some of those monies directed towards the DSWD will be skimmed. Also, what happens to the other donations directed...