Pala-isip

MANILA -Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez on Monday criticized President Aquino and Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas for engaging in partisan politics immediately after super typhoon Yolanda ravaged his city. Romualdez said the national government ignored his request to augment the police force. He, however, confirmed that the Philippine National Police sent Special Action Forces elements to the city. He also said he had “difficulty communicating” with the national government officials because “there were things asked of us.” “They wanted an ordinance immediately for a curfew. And I said: it is difficult to have an ordinance for a curfew because we have no fiscal’s office, no court. If these people violate the curfew and be arrested, how can they post bail? Why don’t we just have checkpoints? And this went on and on, and yet every day. We were meeting every day, every morning. I could not understand why we could not get that support,” he said. He said that in on...

"Nothing is fast enough in a situation like this. The situation is under control." -- DILG Secretary Mar Roxas to CNN Andrew Stevens on Super Typhoon Yolanda's Preparedness & Organized Relief Operations Video from: CNN Philippine secretary: We need medicine Philippine Interior Secretary Mar Roxas tells CNN that what is needed most in Haiyan's wake are medicine and supplies. Philippine official: Nothing fast enough Andrew Stevens speaks with Philippines Interior Minister Mar Roxas about what is being done to get aid to his people.

Jeane Napoles, 23, the younger daughter of Janet Lim-Napoles (was named the person behind an alleged multi-billion-peso pork barrel scam) The controversy put the young lady's lifestyle -- lavish by most standards -- in the spotlight. It is a lifestyle fit for Hollywood. The only question is, whether the money was earned honestly or whether it was taxpayers money.

Nancy Binay has been accused of having no experience when it comes to lawmaking. But now, she has enrolled in a class to help her know the ins and outs of becoming a senator. Jing Castaneda with this report. -- Prime Time, ANC, May 16, 2013

Congratulations to Nancy Binay. God bless the Philippines.

MANILA, Philippines - UNA senatorial candidate Nancy Binay and her father Vice President Jejomar Binay discuss her first foray into politics. A reluctant candidate, Nancy Binay said she decided to enter the race, seeing an opportunity to serve. Her father says the Binay name and brand of public service will be her edge. - Rappler.com What are your thoughts on Nancy Binay running for office?

New Zealand MP Maurice Williamson sums up his views on a gay marriage bill in hilarious fashion. Great way to support gay marriage rights.

Who do you think will win as the Mayor of Metro Manila?

I found this interesting article from the Inquirer regarding the Marcos years leading to the EDSA revolution from the perspective of Roberto V. Ongpin who was Marcos' Minister of Trade and Industry. It's an interesting look at Philippine political history. Here's an excerpt. When the phone rang one day in May 1979, he was not to know that he would be caught in one of the most tumultuous chapters in Philippine history. “Do you know what time it is in London?” Roberto V. Ongpin said, the drowsiness evident in his voice. “It is 4 a.m.” “Bobby, the President wants to talk to you,” said the voice at the other end, half a world away in Malacañang. It was Ruben Ancheta, an aide to President Ferdinand Marcos. “Pare, please, give me two hours,” Ongpin said. “All right. I will tell him,” Ancheta said. Ongpin told the story of how he was conscripted by Marcos in an interview with the Inquirer at his penthouse office in the Alphaland Southgate Tower, a shopping mall an...

Tito Sotto does it again!

Here's the famous speech by Clint Eastwood at the 2012 Republican National Convention talking to an invisible Obama. It's all over the Twitterverse.

It's more fun in the Philippines! From Showbiz Government

I just read this article in the Inquirer about the plagiarism issue of Tito Sotto. Suffice to say, it got my blood boiling. How stupid can these people be? Just because a blogger wrote it doesn't mean it's free for all. Just because someone took a photo doesn't mean someone can use it for free and make money out of it. The worst part is, they said that it's common practice in the Senate so it's ok to copy. Here's what Tito Sotto's chief of staff Hector Villacorta said, “We plagiarized the US Constitution. All the amendments became our Bill of Rights. But do they call us a plagiaristic country? No, because the law is based on precedent,” Sotto’s chief of staff said. “Even our Insurance Code is a plagiarized document. The proposed freedom of information bill is plagiarized. What’s more, the Senate and House (of Representatives) versions of the RH bill are very similar. So who is plagiarizing who?” he added. Villacorta reminded everyone that “the ...

I saw this recently painting on a website recently. It's an oil painting by Liu Yi that was exhibited in New York entitled "Beijing". The painting caused a lot of speculation. The analysis of it is as follows: Right in front, the Asian lady with a tattoo on her back is China. On the left, the lady full of concentration is Japan. Dressed at the top looking sideways is USA. Lying rather seductively is Russia. The little girl standing by the side is Taiwan. China "tripled" the Dong tiles (East Winds, this is a double up). This means that China has arisen with the circumstances (the winds); maybe that is the display of the "East Wind" missiles she possesses now. It looks like China is doing ok, but there is no clue about the other cards (tiles). Meanwhile she is up to no good under the table. USA, appearing confident, is looking at Taiwan with an expression; perhaps to read from the look of Taiwan or to send some message. Russia may ap...

The continuing comedy of the Philippine Senate and the Corona Impeachment trial. Atty. Vitaliano Aguirre - How could you respect a person when that person herself does not show respect? Sen. Miriam Santiago said the prosecutors were "anyayabang, anggagago naman (conceited, stupid)" for saying that they already have a strong case against Corona. "When I heard the news yesterday, I felt like creeping back to bed and adopting a fetal position, which is the normal reaction of any sane person when he's faced with a world that is crumbling around him. I no longer know what universe I'm in because I've spent 5 years of my miserable adult life in trial court day after day after day hearing civil, criminal cases and special proceedings but I've never seen this done to a judge before," she said. ============================ The impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona was momentarily suspended on Wednesday afternoon after Senator Miriam Defens...

I just saw this photo comparing Chief Justice Corona with Ferdinand Marcos waving at a balcony. They make it look like Corona is a dictator.

From the Huffington Post . The impeachment of incumbent Philippine Chief Justice Renato Corona has commenced in the Philippine Senate, with the customary fanfare one would expect in Manila. Consistent with the circus-like atmosphere that has prevailed throughout the course of former President Arroyo's prosecution for alleged corruption and electoral manipulation while she was president, pro- and anti-Arroyo forces were out in force. The proceedings may ultimately become a commentary on whether the Rule of Law is taking substantial root in the Philippine judicial and political process, or whether pretensions to reform remain nothing more than political machinations dressed up in the emperor's new clothes. Depending on one's viewpoint, Corona's impeachment may prove to be the crowning achievement of the so-called 'Davide Watch' -- the eponymous description given to the vision of former Chief Justice of the Philippines Hilario G. Davide Jr. (1998 to 2005) who, ...