Poems by Will, shots across the bow . . . and heart
by Wilfredo G. Villanueva
September 2015
[Photo credit: Inquirer]
“Ang basurang itinapon mo ay babalik sa ‘yo,”
I remember that line from a Philippine Charity
Sweepstakes Office infomercial I think, way
back in the 80s, yes, your trash, your seemingly
innocuous actions that disrespect your
surroundings will come back to haunt you,
to turn your life from bearable to unbearable,
witness the floods that rise from the esteros
like Frankenstein’s monster, the creeks that
once romanticized the lives of Rizal when
the Pasig River was not yet the dumping ground
of dead ships, dead things and dead men, witness
Jejomar Binay, the presumptive 16th president
of the republic, the one we see eating with his
bare hands in boodle fights, the one we see
telling brazen lie after brazen lie, the one who
forsakes such difficult concepts as “honesty,”
“public service is a public trust” and
“accountability,” who sends blood pressures
rising by his mere appearance day after day
with his concretized face, frozen in a forced
smile for the cameras, a smile typically seen
in idiots or masks of idiots, a smile from
the pits of hell, telling everyone that he’s
special and untouchable by law and rules of
basic decency, yes, he’s as trash as trash can
get, well, he’s there because Mr. & Mrs. Average
Voter put him there, electing him and his family
substitutes with goo-goo eyes, thinking: what
are they saying stealing? but everyone steals
anyway, he’s a different kind of thief, mind
you, giving us birthday cakes and free movies
and all those things that make us feel special,
yes, voters are voting right where the money is,
throwing their cares to the wind, throwing
intelligence and common sense to the wind,
he may be a crook but he’s our crook, so
the 37 percent will vote for him again and
again, survey after survey, until election day,
and he will be up there in the billboards,
Binay is winning, yes, trash is here, and
trash is here to stay, say the voters as they
lift the believed Great Thief on their shoulders,
boodle fight every day, I tell you, make no
mistake about it, his presidency will be, uhm,
welcome to a country which throws trash
everywhere, knowing it will come back to make
their lives even more miserable, but this is
a trashy place, say the voters, so from trash
he came, and in trash we will all stay.
![-noynoyjejomar manilla coconuts dot co]](https://societyofhonor.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/noynoyjejomar-manilla-coconuts-dot-co.jpg)
[Photo credit: manila.coconuts.co
The Society of Honor by Joe America 
Binay: you croc,you crook,you coward
Nice. Binay — the 3 C’s: croc, crook, coward. May I add another, a Dark Sider (a variant of the phrase used by Raissa in her current Blog — “The dark side of Jejomar Binay.”)
thanks NH. 🙂
oooh, nephew. Nice alliteration. I like the analogy anchor too – better in Tagalog, “buwaya,” reptilian, cold-blooded.
thanks unc.
“Crying crocodile tears” : (displaying fake sadness, comes from the myth that the reptiles weep when eating humans). Apparently they wipe their eyes when feeding, but only because their eyes bubble while eating.
I don’t know whether to laugh or puke. ” . . . their eyes bubble while eating”
*******
So politicians using the Mamasapano incident to further their careers are shedding crocodile tears during and after a boodle fight?
*****
Nice poems Mr. Villanueva.
*******
1. Poetry? Yes, poetry!
2. This must be a first for the Society. I cannot recall ever of poems being the main post… although Popoy’s contributions came close to the literary form.
3. Some obvious observations:
3.1. As to meter, these three poems are free verse.
3.2. As to genre, I guess I would classify these as Protest Poetry.
3.3. As to mood, it’s rage, rage and, yes, rage.
3.3. As to subject matter, it’s about you-know-who.
3.3.1. The first poem does not name him. The second names him twice. And the third also names him twice, although there is a third reference to the family.
3.4. As to voice, the second and third poems are written from the first-person – that is “I” — point of view. The first poem is interesting in that it shifts from the third-person – that is “he” – but ends up using the first-person voice; but the “I” is not the writer… but the subject person.
4. I said the first poem does not name the subject person. In this, it can refer to any crocodilian politician. My favourite line is the Schwarzeneggerian last line.
6. In the second poem, I like the image of “concretized face, frozen in a forced smile…” I have seen a recent picture of the man in a blue shirt, his face exactly frozen in a crocodilian rictus.
7. What strikes me about the third poem is the unexpected metaphor? Reptilian, yes. Trashy, yes. But Cinderella? It’s more than a bit jarring, but the counterpoints of gender and age work for me. And so does the accompanying photo. Is this how the man looked like in his early years before he developed the concretized face? I could not recognize him at first. Accordingly, my favourite line would be, “…so watch out for the cinderella boy.”
8. Kudos to Wilfredo. Keep up the rage.
*****
Is the concretized face the end result of too much dealings with Hilmark$ Construction Company? Sayang, pogi sana nuong bata pa siya.
Thank you, Joe. Thank you, commentators. Rage, rage against the rising of the darkness.
“for I am brown
like him, the rest of us here in
the beloved country, we are brown,
but most of us are copper, kayumanggi,
while he is almost chocolate—first black
President he used to be called until
the scandal broke—setting him apart
from the rest of us, could it be that
he was a cinderella boy when he was
young, orphaned at age nine, he took
care of pigs, must have grown callous,
gifted with drive, he became a lawyer,
a human-rights lawyer in the Marcos
years, and now, as the second most
powerful man in the country, who can
stand up against him, not the mestizos
who denied him a place in Manila Golf
club because of his humble origins,”
Thanks for this, Will.
I didn’t know there was a racial (or ethnic) component to this. Here in the US the racial lines are obvious, that guy’s black, Hispanic, Asian, White, etc. The above reminds me of a not so obvious (invisible) race divide that occurs in Russia with the folks around the St. Petersburg area reigning supreme, and people further south to Moscow, Kiev, Grozny. As you go further south a Russian term ‘black’ is used for those towards the Caucus Mtns, but having the same connotation as ‘nigger’–across the Ural Mtns they had another term (I’ve forgotten both, maybe Ireneo knows) for their indigenous folk.
I’m looking at the photos of would-be Presidential candidates, and they all look ethnically Filipino–Grace Poe would probably come closest to looking European (but she still doesn’t make the cut, far from it). With that said, I have met Filipinos over there who look very European, these Pres. candidates do not. But the description below (to add to the rage) invokes the “Noble Savage”–the opposite of what Thomas Hobbes conceived non-Europeans, non-Christians, but as “solitary, poore, nasty, brutish, and short”.
I think you and MRP should get together and do an epic poem together–a lament of sorts.
yep, I know what the Russians call especially the Caucasus people: chorniye = blacks. Strange that the US term for white people is Caucasians, come to think of it.
The “racial” thing is more of a class and also partly ethnic origin thing in the Philippines. Roxas is nearly the same color as Binay, but many Facebook posts from upper and middle class Filipinos have referred to Binay as being as “corrupt as Mobutu” and as “Nognog” while posts from the working class and OFW people have referred to Roxas as “one of those goddam Spaniards who have always screwed us” – my rough rendering.
Being upper middle class in origin, but having been thrust into a migrant setting due to my biography gives me a somewhat different perspective on this classic Filipino conflict. During my activist days back home, the lower classes, the masa where just there but real interaction with them was not much for me inspite of our collectivist, communist aspirations. Being abroad made me appreciate their perspective a lot more.
Binay definitely plays the “I’m your nigger” card and his popularity may be likened to the popularity of some corrupt Afro-American politicians in the United States, or some gangsta rappers as well. His recent interview excerpted at Raissa’s blog is 100% in that vein.
Aquino and Roxas are well-meaning, but for many “masa”, they are still “talking too white”, to use a term from the US Ebonic vocabulary. Inspite of the elite definitely being darker than they were back in the days of Quezon, and more like the masa than in those days, the rifts in Philippine society are a chasm just as deep as that between black and white in the United States, make no mistake. MRP brings it across very well – I had to learn NOT to talk Filipino like the UP boy that I am, not by studying there but just by growing up on campus, in order not to make OFWs my age shut down their hearts and minds at once. Did help though that I learned some street talk in my activist days, plus some OFW talk from my former yaya and her husband – still there I times I feel a bit like Eminem in 8 mile.
There are many divides in PH. Some of it is based on geography. City/urban (Metro Manila and other big cities) folks are perceived to be better than the “probinsyanong baduy” (country folks living in provinces, small cities and barangays).
There are also linguistic divides based on the many dialects spoken in PH. The English and Tagalog speaking population seem to congregate around big cities and have the upper hand when it comes to economics. There is a demeaning stereotype attached to each and every group of dialect speaking population.
Furthermore, there is income inequality and a whole slew of social inequities that perpetuate the division.
Hey, Juana.
I’m familiar with the country bumpkin sentiments, those are here too. Also the rich/poor divide, also here. Light and dark complexion which usually coincides with the rich/poor divide.
But this brown on brown, black on black divide is interesting. Like in the Sudan, the northerners are called Arabs and the southerners blacks–but they actually look the same. That’s just weird–when the proposed difference is invisible.
Thank you, too, for your appreciation. I’ll be around to do the things we have to do.
@Wilfredo G. Villanueva
x-
Thank you, too, for your appreciation. I’ll be around to do the things we have to do.
-x
——-
Mr. Villanueva,
Can you tell us a bit about yourself as relates to, say, good governance – or things Philippine?
Salamat po.
Tried all political stripes in UP Diliman, 1969-1975. Attended teach-ins in one end and fellowships in my fraternity on the other, was left of center from Day One of my activism but had middle-class longings. Reformed after hedonist leanings in UP, took up clean living and running big-time, married in ’82, jarred in ’83 as a result of the shooting of Ninoy Aquino, became yellow army as a direct result, left advertising job in ’86 to join Office of the Press Secretary under Teddy Benigno ’86-’90, discombobulated by lack of idealism of others in government, rejoined private sector in 1990, served in homeowners’ association, battled with corruption in my level, rearmed in yellow army by Cory Aquino’s death in 2009, campaigned for Noynoy, fighting Binay to the present. Good governance? Good men and women can make a difference. Corruption is not an option. Never was, never will. Fighting gross evil because idealism must not give in to the convenience of power. Things Philippine? Love the country, its people, feels pain like an open wound when bad men in super minority trounce good men and women in overwhelming majority just because they have no means and culture tells them to be non-confrontational. Did I answer your question?
@Wilfredo G. Villanueva
“Did I answer your question?”
——-
Yes, sir; you did. Thank you.
I, for one, don’t mind learning more of you, your dreams, advocacies, …
It is one way of understanding better what you post.
Salamat po.
You’re always welcome, i7sharp!
Wow. Thanks for the background info. Yours is truly a worthwhile saga, from a youth searching for truth and ideals, “jarred by Ninoy’s martyrdom” found those ideals and a niche to be of service to the nation you love, disillusioned for a while thus the return to private life, but continued to serve up to now. As someone who used to be among the silent majority (still am, actually although trying speak thru Joe’s and Raissa’s and occasionally at PDI and rappler), I am an admirer. You managed to hold on to your lofty and principled ideals and not influenced by the propaganda of the moneyed politicians and the loud voices of the noisy critics all around as my cousins are, to my shock and disappointment as they were all highly educated who are so into the GRP group.
You have a gift of words and you are using it for worthy cause, these poems of yours are both inspiring and disturbing, deserving of a springboard for deep discussions and idea sharing.
Thank you for sharing your awesome gift of words and wisdom.
Hi Mary Grace! You mentioned disillusionment. Let me tell you about the time I was assigned to do an article at the time of Cory on Peping Cojuangco, yes the recalcitrant presidential uncle. I had scarcely warmed my seat in his living room when he said, in toto: “Ninoy is no longer relevant.” Can you imagine my consternation? But I never let go of my dream to see a better Philippines, from an ant’s view, in the smallest way possible. See what Peping Cojuangco is doing now? People like you and me, we are unknown, but like grains of sand that build a pyramid to stand for ages we will do our part.
*******
As another poet said, “Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”
*****
Ay, apo. umapalac launay cadacayo. My younger son loves poetry and photography. Puli iti nanang na. 🙂
Philippines is a big pile of trash.
From Babuyan to Jolo
Trash Trash Everywhere
From Palawan to Limasawa
Basura everywhere
Filipinos are standing on Basura anywhere
Toss Basura anywhere everwhere except places where it says “H’wag Tapun Basura dito”
Canada thought Philippines is where they toss their trash.
Filipinos are angry. Canada bewildered
“We thought Philippines is trash!”
Filipinos says, “it is trash alright, at least, it is our trash”
@Mariano Renato Pacifico
x-
Philippines is a big pile of trash.
From Babuyan to Jolo
…
-x
——-
From Babuyan to Jolo – from the “north” to the “south.”
Tama ba ‘to?:
(I had to “undelete” all four sites just now.
Replace “….” with “http:”
1 Northernmost municipality:
Itbayat, Batanes
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RP-BBNIT99/
2 Easternmost municipality:
Caraga, Davao Oriental
….//groups.yahoo.com/group/RP-BDOCR99/
3 Southernmost municipality:
Sitangkay, Tawi-Tawi
….//groups.yahoo.com/group/RP-BTTSK99/
4 Westernmost municipality:
Balabac, Palawan
….//groups.yahoo.com/group/RP-BPLBB99/
Salamat.
Were those evidences enough to prove that he is a crook? Knowing our justice system, can I compare it when we traversed Edsa during peak?
Its a challenge to everyone to become united come may 2016!
Lawrence
If you were able to watch the live telecast of the Senate Blue Ribbon Sub-Committee hearings , read the Rappler and PDI investigative reports, you will doubtless believe. Those things which were exposed could not be just figments of imagination of Mercado and Bondal the military property mentioned in Comembo, Makati is there existing for all our eyes to see, the Chongs are existing, they were not residents of Makati at that time but they were able to buy the said8,000 sqm property in excess of the 300 sqm specifically for Makati residents, and the Chongs are currently linked to corporations where the Binays are stockholders, too. Those corporations cornered all the business in Makati, they got awarded those questionable bidding year after year for janitorial, security, catering and other services for all Makati government buildings. Why are Limlingan and Baloloy not appearing in the hearings, health issues as exuse just don’t fly, what do the AMLC figures prove? If that is not rent seeking, and use of influence and power to enrich themselves I don’t really know what are.
Stories of relatives who spent the night in stranded buses in the 1990s are still fresh in my mind. This is 2015 with more cars in roads that stayed the same even with MRT and LRT.
With continuity as our goal and with economic progress hovering (it’s already here, actually) in our horizon and effective and serious checks on corruption, we can improve our infrastructure, improve mass transit, we can lick this perennial traffic and flooding that has hound us for decades.
It truly is a challenge to be united in May 2016, let’s focus on our goal, continuity of the good versus the return to the evil ways.
Here, you can start reading, then monitor the court’s progress. As of today, 4 plunder cases are already filed at the Ombudsman.
http://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/investigative/87076-binay-dummy-makati-property
Plus, we all know how the wheels of justice barely turn,( sooooooo slow like our traffic during torrential rains, serious karambola vehicular accidents or INC rallies and medical and charitable missions – why they are doing this in major thoroughfares, I can’t comprehend), purposely delayed by the cunning defense lawyers of the crooks, if most doubting Thomases will decide to vote for Binay in the absence of such court decisions which probably will reach the SC for more years of delaying tactics, Binay, if elected by those who opted to wait, would have finished his term and the next 2 terms after him (aaaaargh). In the meantime, he gets to appoint 11 associate justices in the SC who will get to decide favorably on those cases against him, much like what is happening now with those Arroyo appointed associated justices.
Do we want that scenario? I hope the majority will not.
Filipinos love laws
They have laws in Latin, Tagalog and English.
They have prima facie, pablum escrotum
plagiarized from Spain and America.
They love laws
But cannot know how to apply law to Jejo Binay
They cannot know law from justice
Law is deliverance to justice
Justice is end product of law
But cannot seem to know what law is
Will unlawful justice be forever?
Will this be a promotion of unlawful justice?
I do not know.
But this is what Filipinos wanted.
UNLAWFUL JUSTICE.
Tell that to UP, eh the marines pala ☺
I grew up in UP Campus, LCPL_X is from the Marines. So MRP can take his pick. 🙂
Mariano, you be fine ☺
Pavement blood
hell tide awash
in a land of a Christ baroque
naked rape profane
******
So short… and yet so pointed.
*****
1.
https://www.google.com/search?q=%22Christ+Baroque%22&tbm=isch
2.
by Peter Paul Rubens?
Salamat.
WARNING:(disclaimer borrowed from scott adams)
This reply is written for a rational audience that likes to have fun wrestling with unique or controversial points of view. It is written in a style that can easily be confused as advocacy or opinion. It is not intended to change anyone s beliefs or actions. If you quote from this post or link to it, which you are welcome to do, please take responsibility for whatever happens if you mismatch the audience and the content.
Okay, let me tell(or retell) you a story about Cannibal Holocaust by Ruguerro Deodato. This is a story of a group of primadonna hippies who cares about making documentary (secretly wanting free sex, voyeurism and adventure)and kind of being ruined by their own indulgences that caught them in the maze owning by the Minotaur of their own confused worldly desires. They all got killed in a grotesque and justifying manner. (Like saying, you guys did that, serves you right.)
There are 3 words that haunted in my head like a prayer chant: Profitable, Advantageous and Beneficial. I have few hypotheses why we are corrupt. Excluding a little emotion to Darwinian principles of course.
Here are my few points why corruption here in PH exist:
I We got fractured culture
This is F. Sionil Jose’s brilliant answer on Why We Are Poor book. Read it. He explains it exactly why.
II Us being poor is profitable
I read a case study (Reprivate of Manila) on a Spanish student taking a Phd that he noticed the volume of people in our malls are surprising. Mall Could it be that mall owners themselves piss, spit and throw garbage on our streets to make us go to malls? I think it is a side effect but how can i be really be sure?
The ones causing traffic and messes are the ones largely benefiting or competing with the foot traffic because, yeah, options are good when the other sides have less right?
III We are in a colonial rule.
(Oh, yeah.. so what?) Colonialism is 90% a matter of perception. This biggest example came from the wisest country and wisest people on earth: Switzerland. The country that survived and thrived by manipulating, resisting and playing Monte-Carlo math on the minds of super powers. I enjoyed reading their history and rich strategies that countries can appreciate even in our multiple lifetime. We can start with Euler. No Tuileries joke please, it’s a fake accompli if a historian is drunk to answer.
We are dwarfed and conditioned to believe we are trash, we are garbage, we are nothing compared to others. We’re all doomed like fastfood competing with Michelin star restaurants. I kind of point the proliferation of crap media, who keep performing fellatio on our minds for ratings. I am TV-clean for 3 years.
I treat watching TV for 15 minutes a week if I think my web crawlers take a break to be clowns for hours, showing inconsistencies. While other countries care about colonialism, national security and sustainability, we care about loveteams, marketability strengths, betting horses on revenue dicks and being “one” and all.
My sample experiment for you is try not to have TV and Radio for a month, see how your common-sense and conscience fangs will grow.
Now the consequence is that we are all like Deodato’s talents. We are all trapped in the Venn Diagram of Money, Attention and Self Expression. Add that with fractals of cognitive biases and excitement to “live life” advocacy and you have horse tranquilizer injected minds of masses. Many are getting laaazier and laazier, why? Because they or whoever they it is, can.
IV We don’t have concrete strength and muscle in foreign reserves.
I got a diploma in Finance. What saddens me is that, after deep research on BSP, however incomplete my analyses are is that we don’t OWN what we have. Why? Because majority of money is digital.
Back when I was job-seeking to be a stock broker, I used to get clippings of stock quotes that are displayed for free and to my shock is that PSE’s supreme goal is underselling peso, of course in an algorithmic and combinatorial way, the way you can just “get” in a few years of discernment of facts and pattern matching using greps.
The process made human traffickers saints by comparison.
Ok, not being nerdy about it but consider having a tool that you don’t know where it’s going, where it runs from, where it is stored and where it is managed and being kept silent because it is the way it is and you are instructed to do so.
I can’t blame people supporting someone who has deep investment banking knowledge. But hey, It’s our casino chips babe, make it count.
(I can’t really decide to vote for sure because I get a “feel” that someone else has mirrored my data identity. Like for example: Joel Am in Luzon, Jay Em in Vizayas and Jay Um in Mindanao in multiple locations with the same fingerprint credentials! so I don’t have to physicaly vote because I’m counted before counting, but I’m getting ahead of myself and that’s another thing)
Yeah, you’re an IT expert reading this? You know this, yeah you, many of you. Buut..You have to report to your London boss right? Who cares if you know compilers here are questionable right? Yeah, you’re somewhat right because you can’t do anything anyway especially if you’re busy for your Honda Civic installment and caring for your relative’s ticket for I dunno, Madonna Concert or Torre De Manila down payment?
It’s like me shouting like Rizal in Madrid but it’s okay, you got a printing business and I got stuff to manage in Dapitan.
I later switched discrete math and control theory, business with mobile apps because it is somewhat an “opening” for all the madness. I gave up my phone too, only used it before work and before sleep. Which leads me to…..
V We don’t know or care much about math and science.
This makes our military power soft and pliant. Heck, we don’t even own at least one supercomputers! For traffic and criminal tracking perhaps? But hey, monopolies of bunch get at some point in the way. We live in a digital age where all of us are default international celebrities, our most talented programmers and technologist are hired by lazy frauds abroad for a fraction of a price. Because, why? Because they can.
I’m recently disappointed and shocked that many of our talents here are producing “results” and “portfolio” for lazy graduates abroad, a drunk acquaintance revealed that he and his friends hired 50 Filipinos just to create a results that they can use for promotion.
Programming(if you have free time, syempre, it’s good to have stretch goals!) is really a great way to strike a subtle balance of hitting multiple targets and replacing bad ideas. For example, programming in Lisp offers a lot of opportunities because it is based on math.
And math is about knowing not to suck and not to be wrong. I thought of math as numbers but it is more of an extension of common sense and ride numbers like a chariot in reasoning.
I encourage all of you here to code. To write programs that’s not fancy, not create links that steals people’s money and attention, but just not suck and not break. There are many anti-corruption apps you can start from and browse with.
Btw, I am currently excited by the erupting Startups here with the Philippines which I think our permanent shoe for GDP once we stop wearing BPO socks. Enough with the “golden tongue” innuendos on female CSRs please?
Anyway to close, I dunno, an excuse, time for bedtime!
“V We don’t know or care much about math and science.
This makes our military power soft and pliant.”
Interesting that General Luna – movie about him started in the Philippines today – was a scientist by training, with some additional military training in Belgium, from General Leman. American military, his enemies, called him the ONLY true general the Philippines ever had.
What is striking though is that he had enormous difficulties in enforcing discipline and finally was killed by a group of soldiers he had already thrown out (?) for insubordination.
Might interest LCPL_X: just google “Heneral Luna movie” on Youtube to find the trailer.
He reputedly never won a battle either which makes one wonder about what was meant by his enemies. That was the same problem Andres Bonifacio had in asserting command of the Philippine military insurrection from the challenge Emilio Aguinaldo and his army of Cavitenos posed. Bonifacio was never known for his generalship and his victories in the field of battle. As a result, he and his brother left his powerbase to meet with Aguinaldo and army in Cavite where he was brought before a kangaroo court on trumped up charges and executed. The Philippines had a few genuine military heroes who were also competent military leaders but Bonifacio, Antonio Luna, Aguinaldo were not among them. For the most part, whatever military strategies and tactics they picked up if any were from Spanish influences or straight from the battlefield. Our history books are full of inaccuracies with respect to what happened in that interregnum period between 1897-1903 and it will be no surprise to learn that the first republic was betrayed by the very same trapo, traitrous, and incompetent politicians and generals that we continue to suffer from more than a hundred years later.
“I’m recently disappointed and shocked that many of our talents here are producing “results” and “portfolio” for lazy graduates abroad, a drunk acquaintance revealed that he and his friends hired 50 Filipinos just to create a results that they can use for promotion.”
I’ve just recently read Tim Ferris’ “The 4-Hour Work Week”, so I found the above somewhat humorous. But outsourcing is the name of the game.
My question to you Chivas, is how do you break the cycle you’ve outline above? Comparatively speaking, although it’s crap work, those 50 Filipinos are still getting paid. But say those 50 want to convert their expertise into something more lucrative, are there
Investors over there?
Are there good business models, ideas, over there?
Is the internet backbone, consistent and dependable, over there,
will it stand cyber attacks (from China), will it handle traffic, is it secure?
Is internet based business, possible over there?
———————————————————————————————————
“Might interest LCPL_X: just google “Heneral Luna movie” on Youtube to find the trailer.”
Thanks, Ireneo. In Googling Luna, this I found interesting, and would love to know how they operated and tactics used, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luna_Sharpshooters
Field officer ranks don’t really impress me (neither should it others), it’s what they did on the ground that’s worth studying. Many field grade officers get promoted having done absolutely nothing, most of these are in the Air Force.
I agree with caliphman look into the tactics level to see their true worth, ie. Gen. Patton may have kicked ass during WWII as general, but it was his work on mechanize warfare right after WWI that proves his importance.
The Luna Sharpshooters looks like something that should carry weight (like Alamo Scouts with Gen. Ileto over there), but hard to research now.
Hard to really say more about the Luna sharpshooters. Luna’s knowledge about military matters was gained from a Belgian general whom he went to study with. That he immediately became “General” had to do with his ilustrado family background.
Also, everything he put up including the trench system – and he did win a few battles against the US in the beginning, which is why the Americans respected him – he did within one year with the theoretical knowledge he had, plus the practical knowledge of Filipinos who had served under Spanish command. What is also hardly reported due to nationalist bias is Spanish soldiers who joined the Katipunan. We knew a Colonel whose father was one of those, a Spaniard married to a Filipina who chose to fight for his wife’s country.
Caliphman is partly right regarding those who played Revolution and Republic – they were all amateurs drunk on their first successes. Bonifacio was a warehouse manager of a German firm near the port who used his contraband connections to organize weapons for the Katipunan, with some ideas copied from Rizal, a self-educated person due to economic hardship, MRP-style in his resentments against the educated. Aguinaldo was a local politician from Cavite, late 19th century the Spaniards allowed the first local elections who got heady from being “President” after killing his Manila rival Bonifacio. So basically provincial politicians/businessmen (Magdalo) went after Manila smugglers (Magdiwang).
Luna was a brillant but arrogant mestizo educated in Europe who did not get along with Aguinaldo and was killed by some of his Cavite boys in the end, who were never charged.
The filmmaker of Heneral Luna is planning a trilogy, Gregorio del Pilar is next – held out against Texas Rangers with 60 people at Tirad Pass, they were so impressed that they came back to give him a burial with military honors after capturing President Aguinaldo. Then you have Quezon, aide-de-camp of Aguinaldo originally who advanced to become first Senate President, then Commonwealth President under American tutelage – one who had the patience to learn from the pros, inspite of also being arrogant and impetous.
http://www.filipiknow.net/facts-about-antonio-luna/ “13 Facts That Prove Antonio Luna Was An All-Around Badass”
“they were so impressed that they came back to give him a burial with military honors after capturing President Aguinaldo.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregorio_del_Pilar#Death I think this burial was more a courtesy than actual military honors, Ireneo. They were probably cleaning up bodies, and one in officer’s uniform was found and was afforded a separate burial by some boot LT.
I’d like to learn more on their guerrilla tactics (especially those learned from that Belgian general, ie. did this general see action in the Congo, or met others who were in the Congo).
But my reading of these Filipino “generals” is that they simply attempted to mimic Western military thought and tactics, and a lot of things were lost in translation when word was past down to their rank and file, so they lost badly and quickly. Instead of coming up with something organic.
I’ll definitely watch this movie trilogy, but my interest has always been post-Philippine-American War with the Pulahanes & the Moros. Now those guys kept on fighting, who were their leaders? Was it just amulets and running amok, or did they actually employ tactics?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%A9rard_Leman – nope, the Belgian general was not in the Congo, he was in the military academy after serving in the Belgian observation corps during the Franco-German war. His biggest feats were in 1914, AFTER teaching Luna.
Macario Sakay who was caught and executed as a bandit in 1907 was basically one of the original Tondo boys of Bonifacio, so I guess his tactics were more instinctive ones. Simeon Ola, the last “general” to surrender to the US in 1903, was a former colonial cop.
http://www.asj.upd.edu.ph/mediabox/archive/ASJ-05-01-1967/guerrero-column-uprisings-1924-1931.pdf – the “colorums” were also called Pulahans and had their roots in Spanish times, but sources do not indicate much tactics – more fanatical, suicidal desperation from landless peasants. The Sakdalista movement that followed in the 1930s had a little more of an ideology but it seems not much organization either. Could be that the later Stalinist Hukbalahap under Taruc had their roots or inspiration from these predecessors, now these guys and the subsequent (Maoist) NPA of course had tactics inspired by those among their leaders who were in Russia and China, respectively. Now I wonder if there are any studies of the history of Filipino warrior and military tactics, even at PMA…
“Now I wonder if there are any studies of the history of Filipino warrior and military tactics, even at PMA…”
myself, karl and sonny were talking about this awhile back. Most of what they had was WWII, Korean and Vietnam generation.
re tactics, I’m more interested in Commanche and Apache type guerilla warfare, leaderless stuff. I thought it would be in the Pulahanes movement, but I think you’re right, just peasant/farmer convulsions. Same with the Moros, though their numbers made up for it.
I’m still very interested in the Macabebe/Aztec connection, I also wonder how far the PMA (or even the PNPA) go into these martial studies. The Israelis have this down pat, they know every terrain and history of warfare that took place in every nook and cranny of their tiny nation.
It behooves the Philippines to do the same. Not just as safeguard from China, but also to get a feel for the land and to appreciate it, so stuff like this don’t happen,
As much as wikipedia will usually give information almost on any topic, its content is not known for its reliability, completeness, and being up-to-date which is not surprising as contributions are voluntary and anonymous.The US military effort in suppressing armed and violent resistance in the Philippines during the turn of the twentieth century was relatively mind boggling involving an expeditionary force of more than a hundred thousand soldiers. There are some after action reports which may still be available in US military archives if one wants to do serious research and there are texts I read in my youth with interesting military snippets from this’d, most notably Little Brown Brothers. The latter is strongly anti-American which is perhaps justifiably so as the US pacification playbook adapted heavily from the murderous successes at Wounded Knee but made the latter and the the My Lai massacre seem like a picnic.
Lance Corporal, if you wish to read up on the US-Moro wars, try this article for starters and see if any of its references are available at large public or campus libraries.
Click to access byler.pdf
Personally, that story about Luna,s sharpshooter platoon from Wikipedia might be a bit sketchy. If anything is known about the Filipino infantry then, they were equipped primarily with bladed weapons, rifles and ammo were really scarce, and US military accounts invariably describe their lack of fire discipline and that their aim was always poor and high. It is no coincidence that during the 4 year war, US casualties were just over a 1,000 dead. And that was without chopper medevac for the Wounded and injured.
Thanks, caliphman.
I’ve been neck deep with COIN (and PC-COIN) books. But thanks for the link, I’ll take a look. These days I’m more interested in tactics used. That Luna’s Sharpshooters looks like its something I’d be interested in, ie. small units, not just lack of marksmanship skills but I’m sure lack of ammo, would’ve have necessitated skills in weapons and hand combat–how did they deploy, 3 man teams, etc. There was a company of Macabebes sent by the Spaniards to support the French in IndoChina (Vietnam) in the 1850s, how did they go toe to toe against the Vietnamese, tactics–that sort of stuff. So if you come across more tactics in SE Asia shoot it my way. thanks.
As for wiki, it’s a good start, for generating leads. But you’re right it’s crowd source, so always suspect.
Lance, the Macabebe scouts became famous when they became instrumental in Federic Funston’s tracking and finally capturing General Aguinaldo in who fled Manila and Caloocan after losing major battles there. If you google this capture, which broke the back of organized military resistance to the new American regime, there should be many links to the role of the Macabebes as mercernaries not unlike the Hessians who served both the Spanish, Americans and by some accounts even the Japanese. They had a well-earned reputation as scouts and proud fierce warriors and like the Moros considered themselves politically independent and their primary loyalty was to their commanders and the units they were attached to. I have not come across that particular account of them being employed by the Spaniards overseas so I will do a little digging when I find some spare time.
In my readings on the American-Moro wars, the COIN applications to modern day conflicts involving Muslim populations is not so much at the tactical unit level but how regional and clan-level alliances can be very important in a successful political-military strategy. This is of course is no big news since that was what the Awakening in Iraq was all about but we are talking of very different settings, times, and circumstances here. Perhaps a military study has already analyzed and abstracted the key COIN strategies necessary in successfully implementing it elsewhere. Kindly let me know if you find a link to any such study. Hey, one might even be able to make a commercial board or massively multiplayer online game out of it like Risk or Game of War…hehehe
@ caliphman
Would appreciate your narrative on how Macabebes became what they became, i.e. against Philippine interests, hence the epithet “traydor.”
@Chivas
x-
I encourage all of you here to code. To write programs that’s not fancy, not create links that steals people’s money and attention, but just not suck and not break. There are many anti-corruption apps you can start from and browse with.
Btw, I am currently excited by the erupting Startups here with the Philippines which I think our permanent shoe for GDP once we stop wearing BPO socks….
-x
——-
Believe it or not, I had, beside me, a copy of the
Bloomberg Businessweek,
Special Double Issue of June 15 – June 28, 2015,
when I came across your comment.
Let me share these two sans comments (for now):
1. http://j.mp/i7-code
2. http://j.mp/i7-yaas
Salamat.
Consider this a comment, for now, for item 1
(see my previous posting):
Salamat.
“My sample experiment for you is try not to have TV and Radio for a month, see how your common-sense and conscience fangs will grow.”
What, and forego the remaining 2 weeks of Nathaniel, not to see how it will end?
Joe, you will not get to follow the live coverage of the SBRSC hearings, shame, shame, that hearings trump a telenovela anyday IMHO, except that it’s all off the air, all done by the time I get home from the office, and that leaves me Nathaniel and blogging, and free cell when I encounter a truly irritating commenter.
PNOY suggests something that makes sense, why not switch channels to sitcoms when newscasters turn opinion makers? To avoid HB, that is. Problem is the master of the house is the controller of the remote. haha… Aircon time is still 9:00 PM so there’s no escaping to the bedroom yet.. haha ulet.
One month with my ipad during nights and weekends… and books for reading while charging it.
Anything so my common sense and conscience will grow – without the fangs.
OK.
http://www.lambingan.ru/
site good until taken down by abs cbn
a cat and mouse game they are playing
update your anti virus regularly if not set to auto update. don’t download anything just click play.and those annoying pop ups …forget it they might be phishing.
phishing sites empty your bank accounts,id thefts,etc.
oh, yes…thanks for the caveat. karl, can you contribute an article again, this time re id thefts, electronic banking thefts…. my bank encourages me to do electronic banking, as I am shamefully inadequate in computer and electronic anything, I prefer to visit the bank personally and transact my business through the friendly teller. My cousin who did e-banking through his I phone was robbed electronically of some 50K US dollars.
I remember seeing a replay of a movie (on HBO) re identity theft, the lead girl’s a techie one and was successful in claiming back her identity and stop the government from running after her as her identity was replaced electronically with a wanted personality. Another movie starring Harrison Ford involving hundreds of millions of bank transferred to terrorist groups.
There are Many IT experts here who could do a much better article.
What I can do for you is to give you a movie list. 🙂
http://geeknation.com/10-best-movies-about-identity-theft/
Thanks, karl….i’ve seen 1 out of 10…the one starring Sandra Bullock…that I described first, above.
Out of topic but worth a heads up. September 11 is the preliminary hearing of the Senate Electoral Tribunal where supposedly they will resolve all issues (mmhmm really?) relating to Rizalito David’s challenge of Poe’s qualifications for the senate seat she occupies and her responding motions to have the challenge summarily dismissed. Why is this important to know? Unless the challenge is dismissed at this hearing, it is estimated that the final resolution of the case will take about 90 days, meaning that Poe may have to file her certificate of candidacy with this case still unsettled and whatever doubt that creates among her prospective political and financial backers. The grounds for dismissal include forum shopping, submitting the citizenship and residency challenges past tribunal deadlines, laches, etc. Without delving into the legalese of these terms, the strongest grounds for dismissal is that David filed for all intents and purposes an identical case against Poe with the Comelec virtually at the same time. This is considered forum shopping and what is worse is that David submitted a certificate to the SET attesting that he had not engaged in forum shopping when he gave the tribunal his challenge. If the SET rules that filing the Comelec case was forum shopping, the challenge is dismissed and so is the case at the Comelec and Poe passes a major legal,political and personal hurdle in her quest for the presidency if that remains her goal. The SET outcome may also have significant repercussions on the AP and SWS surveys which are now and will continue to be ongoing which I believe will be a huge factor in her and her backers decisions on how or whether to pursue the presidency once they are released. Its a shame not enough analysis of the stakes and prospects of this SET hearing has been done by the usual legal and judicial pundits, who are more acknowledge to really know what they are talking about.
Good point, that it would be interesting for someone with talent to examine the SET process and rules. Thanks for the update.
We are no Artemio Panganiban nor Oscar Tan, but between Allan West , myself and a few others we probably have enough legal firepower io keep the blog updated on the most important and current issues without lawyering up 🙂
Well, keep up the good work. We are but putty for the molding. 🙂
While the 3 poems dealt with VP Binay, are there also poems related to Grace Poe? And talking about this off-topic Grace Poe and Rizalito David item, is there some Phiippine constitutional provision that handles the legality of having the First Lady or First Gentlemen to occupy Malacanang if she or he is not a natural born Filipino. That’s assuming Grace passes thru her true and legal citizenship in the first place.
That has yet to be sorted out, cj. I don’t think there is a formal way, but it becomes a significant hurdle for Grace Poe to overcome, because I think the unsettled feelings about that are just starting to rise up. So, like Binay and his apparent plundering ways, if the Philippine institutions don’t block things, the Philippine voters will decide on that at the ballot box.
I am aware of no prohibition in the Philippine or US constitutions on who the president can be married or not be married to or they can or cannot date, which is probably good news to Pinoy who was dating that Korean-born newscaster. This inspite of fears being fanned in the other blogsite that Grace Poe’s husband Neil and her children may be US citizens and pose security risks or and split her allegiance to the Philippines if she is elected president. In Britain, Henry VIII was prohibited by the Catholic Church from breaking his union with Catherinevof Aragon and marrying Anne Boleyn. To get around this, he caused the Church of England to be founded. Later on, King Edward abdicated the British throne becsuse his choice of consort was an American divorcee and commoner. His abdication was prompted not by British law but by the strong tradition governing the behaviour of English monarchs. The Tudor monarchs including the reigning Queen Elizabeth adhered to the tradition of not marrying commoners which made Diana a poor and unwelcome choice for Charles. His mum married Prince Philipp who was not only a cousin but a member of Greek and Belgian royalty!
As long as I am at it, as reprehensible to these same critics as Grace Poe’s renunciation of her Philippine citizenship in order to become an American citizen like the rest of her family, there is nothing in the Philippine constitution that says that because of this renunciation, they are ineligible to become president. As long as they recover their natural born citizenship status and satisfy the residency requirements set forth in the constitution.
I’m noodling on this, for a possible blog, and break the matter down into three parts: (1) parentage, (2) citizenship and legal requirements, and (3) allegiance to the Philippines. The first is irrelevant, as it is her deeds that count. The second can be decided by competent authorities. I think the third is what will influence her success, or lack thereof, as a candidate for president, based on how people emotionally feel about someone who gave up allegiance at one time to get to something better, then gave it up a second time to come back to the Philippines for something better. For herself, not the nations she was moving to. Is this person “Filipino enough” in terms of giving of heart and soul to the nation, or is it a connivance for personal glory and gain. I have not sorted out for myself how to come down on this issue, because I see two sides of it. One being that just about EVERYONE in the Philippines has nation below self, family or clan, and – for some – church.
I have a few posts on Point 3) in Raissa’s blog. In fact the main question IMHO is “allegiance to what?” – many OFWs and migrants who change citizenship love the country but do not like the groups that run it – what Mariano calls the UP crooks, what I call elites. Republic comes from Latin “res publica” = public matter. Now how can people who never really had a say in public matters, hardly have opportunities for education back home, that means none of the opportunities and participation a “civitas” must give, be loyal to it?
Of course Poe is another matter altogether than my former yaya, who inspite of her night courses in business management constantly was reminded of her “color”, to quote LCPL_X, not only back home but among overseas Filipinos, of having been “only a maid”. She is a German citizen now, her daughter speaks several languages and is studying, something which might not have been her lot in the Philippines where it matters a lot what your parents are and which school you go to. What should she (or MRP) be loyal to?
Excellent, excellent question. Thank you for asking it. What, exactly, should Grace Poe be loyal to? The people who are loyal to her, I suppose. But that means everyone else is just a tool for self-service and service of the friends.
Rather the way it has always been.
I didn’t mean Grace Poe, I meant people like my former yaya who are typical masa OFWs.
Those in higher positions have the luxury of being able to be loyal to the country.
They are the ones who have to start, and lead by the others by example.
My original stand was to go for someone who has the best chance of beating Binay, but I had given my word to Joe and I’m bound to stick by it.
One word of caution though. This incessant clobbering of Grace Poe by the partisan crowd is a double-edge sword imho. It may create a negative impression on her to some undecided, or, it might produce a tsunami of sympathy for her that may inundate what ever gain Mar Roxas gets on the road to election time. So be warned.
I like to thank Caliphman for the historical background related to First Partner issue that may affect or not affect Grace Poe just in case she wins. BTW, that Korean-born newscaster is another Grace (Lee). Both of them are fine ladies, I may add.
I have mentioned elsewhere ex-Sen Saguisag thinks Sen Grace IS a natural-born Filipino. I defer to him being an expert human rights lawyer.
I’m sure David knew he was forum shopping. Assuming he understands the repercussion, the question then is why did he then do it?
*******
The word specious comes to mind again.
Assuming the premises are true, the conclusion can only be that this is a knight move to save the queen. The black knight and the black queen.
It’s like the yearly pre-emptive moves to impeach GMA.
*****
David is actually for Poe, then.
You give too much credit to David, Edgar. The challenge was just poorly planned, crafted and executed. The dismissal of his SET and Comelec filings will not deter a new disqualification petition probably at the Comelec after Poe files a presidential qualification. The most likely intent as I stated in my original post was to cast uncertainty during Poe’s filing of her CoC and the start of her campaign early next year as the hearings do not wind up until almost the close of February. He was in such a rush he overlooked he did not have the money to file the challenge before the set. The clerk who returned his petition probably advised him he would have to include a certificate of non-forum shopping signed by him the implications of which he did not research. Otherwise, there is no rationality that can be presumed that would result in the summary dismissal of the challenge and land him in jail.
*******
Thanks, Caliphman. I am at times a conspiracy theory buff.
What about the people behind David who provided the funds for the legal fees? Would they have a longer vision of the chess moves required to keep the Queen in play?
No need to answer… as the Queen may just have removed herself — self-sacrificed — from the board. I am just speculating… and thinking of the possible irony triggered by chempo’s question. Another possible case of poe-tic justice.
*****
He is not a lawyer, he apparently could not afford a good one, Rep. Erice denied helping David including lending him the SET filing fee but pointed to another partymate who also denied putting David up to it. This is the worst technicality to suffer a dismissal on because it is a criminal offense.
This is not forum shopping because the nature of the case I filed before the Comelec is different in nature. In the Comelec, it’s election offense arising from misrepresentation of materials. Misrepresentation, so election offense. This one [before the SET] is a challenge to [Poe] to justify whether she should stay as a senator on the basis of her lack of qualification. – Rizalito David
http://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2016/105500-set-decision-disqualification-case-november
Thank for the link ìm Mary. I have not seen the Comelec filing and it seems neither has Poblador, Poe’s lawyer, who accused David of forum-shopping.
Inibig ko ang Pilipinas
Sisikapin kong maging isang tunay na Pilipino sa isip, sa salita, at sa gawa
(I will be a true Filipino in thought, in word, and in deed)
I wonder what “thought” “word” and “deed” means to Pilipinos.
What do those words mean to you, MRP?
What does it take to be a “true Filipino?”
I think we need a new breed of Filipinos who could retain the good/positive values, norms and customs while eschewing the bad/negative ones. Walang patawad sa mga pasaway.
A “true Filipino” is a corrupt thieving Filipino.
A person living in the Philippines who is honest and non-thieving is NOT A TRUE FILIPINO.
Thieving and corruption. Peeing and tossing trash anywhere everwhere is a TRUE DEFINITION of FILIPINO.
Let us stop being a FILIPINO. Even one of the juror of Bloggy is ashamed to admit he is a Filipino. (Check “About” in Bloggy)
I agree, totally. Step up. Be for the nation.
We’re mixing it up and the change of pace and style is refreshing. Thank you, Will.
I have three unfinished articles. Just can’t get into the writing “zone” these days. Too distracted with the many entries on my to do list…
The recent LP survey where Mar finally trounced Jejomon met with a lot of flak and cynicism.
Here is another one done by the Tagalog tabloid, Abante, where Mar and Duterte soared to the skies and Jejomon hurtled to the earth’s core:
http://www.abante.com.ph/news/nat/34200/roxas-una-sa-survey-duterte-sayang.html
Will the upcoming SWS and Pulse Asia surveys validate what seems to be a change in voters’ perception of who will be elected as President in 2016?
With Duterte out of the game, will the result validate his prediction that Binay will get the votes meant for him?
When are the plunder cases against Jejomon going to be filed in court by the Ombudsman’s office? If there’s “strong evidence” warranting Junjun’s suspension, why can’t Jejomon be hauled to face the court already? Are they waiting for him to quit the VP office to file for his 2016 candidacy because of immunity issue or is the “strong evidence” questionable?
The evidence on the garage has got to be strong. Watching the architect and Hillmarc’s officials sweat and evade and bluster and finally own up to the fact that the building was neither world class nor green nor had special foundations was classic. Plus the rigged bidding. Plus the appraisal for the building coming in at less than P900 million, when it cost taxpayers P2.3 billion. Plus whatever AMLC has that inspired them to close some 400 accounts. Plus the disappearance of key witnesses. I’m not a lawyer, so the laws protecting the crooks may provide loopholes, but to me, there is no doubt what happened. Throw in a hacienda and all the other stuff and it is amazing the Binay is not already in jail. I consider his continuing candidacy to illustrate that something illogical is deeply ingrained in the Philippine way, and some checks and balances are missing.
Blame it on the immunity being claimed by Binay who says he can only be removed from office by impeachment. The sad reality is that the members of Congress are not interested in impeaching him despite the strong evidences exposed in the SBRSC hearings. Maybe some of them are of the opinion that those alleged crimes were done while still a mayor of Makati City and not while a VP. PNOY should have consulted the SOLGEN and had a caucus to discuss what should be done about the problem of Binay but knowing that the little president in Malacanang belong to the NOYBI faction, the matter was not even considered until it is too late, campaign season is here, these HR are more concerned about their own political careers. The Senate is another stumbling block if impeachment is the considered option, it’s a numbers game again and time is of the essence, and it seems it is too late in the day.
So impeachment is out, then, is the VP immune from suit?
Atty. Mel Sta. Maria does not think so and here are some excerpts from his article, Why a President is immune from suit and a Vice President is not
“How about the Vice President? There is nothing in the Constitution explicitly delineating his specific functions. He is not the public officer who “must make the most sensitive and far-reaching decisions entrusted to any official under our constitutional system.” However, Section 3 of Article 7 provides that “the vice president may be appointed as a member of the cabinet.” The word “may” emphasizes that his appointment is not mandatory. He can even refuse any appointment. And even if the Vice President accepts, his retention is at the pleasure of the president. Should the Vice President be criminally charged, the president can relieve him from his cabinet duties. In such case, the Vice President, though still in office as such, has essentially nothing else to do. Unlike the President, the Vice President will have time defending the cases filed against him without prejudice to the affairs of the country.
Indeed, if not appointed as a cabinet member, a vice president virtually sits on a sinecure just waiting for the happening of a fortuitous event – the sudden incapability of the president so that he can assume the presidency. The famous Will Rogers once joked: “The man with the best job in the country is the Vice President. All he has to do is get up in the morning and say ‘How is the President?'”
Thus, the very nature of the position of a vice president, though important, does not justify any claim of immunity from suit while in office.
The fact that the Vice President is directly elected by the people will not help such claim either. Being elected as vice president does not automatically entail being engrossed in vital decision-making for the country. Senators, also nationally and directly voted by the people, may even be busier than the vice-president and yet they are vulnerable to criminal and civil suits. They can even be arrested, for example, for the crime of plunder which is punishable by life imprisonment, even if the Senate is in session.
The constitutional provision on impeachment cannot also be invoked to justify a vice president’s immunity. Impeachment and a criminal case do not have the same objective. Impeachment aims to remove a public official from office for specific offenses only, while conviction of a crime in a criminal case is designed to punish the public official for the commission of any crime by jailing him and/or ordering him to pay fines or damages.
Even in the United States, vice presidents are not exempt from criminal prosecution while holding office. For example, under the United States Constitution, the vice president is also directly elected by the people and is removable by impeachment, and yet Spiro Agnew, while still the vice president of President Richard Nixon, was criminally indicted in court for evasion of taxes and receiving some pay-offs. He eventually pleaded guilty after plea bargaining, meted out a lighter sentence subject to parole on condition that he resigns from the office. In Argentina, criminal charges were also filed against Vice President Amado Boudou for alleged bribery.
In the final analysis, the President and the Vice President do not fundamentally have the same responsibilities. Generally, the president works, while the vice president waits – a difference that does not justify the grant of the same kind of immunity. ”
the link:
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/111307/mel-sta-maria–why-a-president-is-immune-from-suit-and–a-vice-president-is-not
I suppose when the legal mechanisms fall short, what has to occur is that people say, simply, “no, he’s not for me”, and shun him. That seems to be the case with anybody of significance. His pack of loyalists is shrinking, and Harry Roque’s flight from UNA is a perfect case in point. That he has to go to the bottom of the barrel and consider Marcos as VP, is testament to his shrinking world.
The more it shrinks, the more shrill he gets trying to demean good people.
I agree, Mary.
There’s no such thing as an airtight case. Lawyers are paid to find loopholes and technicalities to get their clients off the hook. Please, let’s get THIS show in the court!
I agree.
Paging the SC, Ombudsman, the Sandiganbayan, the lower and higher courts, please don’t entertain the delaying and manipulative tactics to be used by the VP thru his lawyers (as he did previously, see yvonne’s article contribution) on cases brought before you, be patriotic for once in your life and fast tack this cases against Binay and the alleged plunderer senators! Do you want Binay to appoint 11 associate justices in the Supreme Court who will decide in his favor re this numerous cases already filed at the Ombudsman? Will it take four or more years before these cases are decided?
In the US technicality is part of jurisprudence. After court battle they plug in the holes. In the Philippines Sereno outdates Aguinaldo in the middle of the battle.
That is why I cannot blame the tourists not wanting to go to the Philippines (Philippines has the lowest tourist count in ASEA surpassed by Burma and Laos per capita) because they are just witness and affidavits away from jail.
I also cannot blame direct investors. They prefer Vietnam and Thailand over fanatically religious Roman Catholic Philippines despite Philippines have University of the Philippines.
Regents of American public universities protect the reputation of their colleges to be not involved in shenanigans…In the Philippines students of U.P. protect their alma mater despite multitudes of crooks of their graduates.
Right minded Filipinos are glad I am here to out the UP. crooks.
That is why U.P. crooks never get to spend a night in jail because UP graduates protect their own.
NO WONDER.
Hey, Benedict benignzer0 graduated with a degree in Industrial Engineering from UP.
doxing, a BIG no no. I will refrain from repeating this. I learned a lot today.
Like that Karl, some people do doxing to appear scholarly, my FOOT. Great smokescreen for being originality challenged.
With a lot of effort I might understand the legal difficulties as the laws were written mostly by people that had some illegal income too, but what I do not understand is how others do not see this strong evidence, the cardinal inviting him, the president shaking hands, the media showing him at every occasion eating with his hands… all as if nothing is going on, as if he is just an ordinary law abiding citizen, confusing.
The canonization of hooligans is what I think most media do so well, or ‘the voodoo they do do’.
Mary, the US differs from the Philippines in that the Vice President is not separately elected by the voters. Whether Vice President Binay is immune from prosecution is a grey area in the constitution. The Ombudsman has the power to investigate him and there are OMB panels in the process of doing so. But any attempt to suspend him by the OMB would probably be responded to by his lawyers asking the CA to issue a TRO to stop the suspension on yhe basis that the OMB has exceeded its jurisdiction because an official who can only be removed by impeachment is involved. To have Binay indicted for plunder requires the go ahead of 4 courts, the OMB, the CA, the Sandigangbayan, and the Supreme Court! Right now, the OMB is still awaiting the SC’s ruling on it case against the CA interfering with its investigation of Mayor Junjun Binay and the use of condonation as a defence by reelected officials. The ruling has been delayed a while now and its easy to see why the OMB is in no rush to have another couple of huge cases on its plate that would probably be decided after the election is over.
He knows that he is in deep doo-doo. His favorite quote, “Politics is addition” is working against him now-a-days. The Filipino political butterflies’ migration has started and they are flying away from UNA and the VP.
The link below pretty much sums up the unfeasibility of his 2016 dream. His delusion of grandeur is the only thing that fuels his continuing candidacy:
http://www.rappler.com/thought-leaders/105244-dilemmas-binay-poe-roxas
Pls. don’t be fooled; he’s still has those 600 sisters cities that enabled her daughter win a senate seat. The fight must go on to impeach him.
that’s a typical Pinoy boo=boo that, her for his, proof that I am not a foundling but a real Pinay ☺
Nice summary of the condition of the conditions for the three top candidates by Philip Lustre. Thanks. The Poe candidacy and Binay candidacy are both troubled. The Roxas may be superficially so, but has no problems of core qualification.
Some kind of POETIC JUSTICE, eh?
*******
🙂
*****
@LCpl_X – The tenets of outsourcing is as old as Pharaohs hiring tribes from remote jungles to work being couriers in pyramids in exchange for clay tablets.
We did that too, our Illustrados, outsourced Chinese people to build structures for our baranggay instead of Filipinos doing it.(But look today, the roles are reversed.)
Nothing wrong about doing professional work and getting paid. Instead of breaking the cycle, we can “work” with it, playing with the advantages and accommodating the gaps.
@Mary Grace – There exist a possibility that you can pay someone for $30-100 to do the downloading, extracting and compiling all of Nathaniel episodes for you, you can watch it anywhere, anytime and at your own pace.
@i7sharp – Thanks for pointing about the code process. It’s an uphill path though, for us having 5kbps as a normal thing.
***When you can measure what you are speaking about, and
express it in numbers, you know something about it; but when
you cannot measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers,
your knowledge is a meager and unsatisfactory kind; it may be
the beginning of knowledge, but you have scarcely, in your
thoughts, advanced to the state of science.
—William Thomson, Lord Kelvin, 1883***
What is striking in this blog is that the Society knows and appreciate math.
The Society’s got a friend Sal who knows how to count and play about probabilities. (On who’s going to win the elections)
Since doing math exposes you to logical implications(if X belongs to Y then all the properties of Y belongs to X) you’re more appreciative to be right because you don’t want to repeat being wrong.
You also have intimate familiarity and fine-grained measure on when or where you will be hitting the right place at the right time… because you know math.
So there, you got a candidate who knows how to read spreadsheets and a candidate who resemble the face of a branded washroom deodorizer.
Instead of mud-slinging, how about being Napoleonic about all these?
For every 1 problem they see, propose at least 3 solutions and work on getting real on at least one. (Provided with the muscle, clout and resources of course.)
@Chivas
x-
Thanks for pointing about the code process.
-x
——-
Chivas,
Frankly, I dabble only in programming; I have no formal training in it.
In this blog site, I often use shortcuts (which are themselves codes) that I hope others will find useful – if not now, eventually.
You wrote:
x–
For every 1 problem they see, propose at least 3 solutions and work on getting real on at least one
–x
Your comment is addressed to all, I presume.
Let me give you my response,fwiw:
1.
Unless God is involved, all proposed solutions would not last.
You quoted Lord Kelvin.
Lord Kelvin – and many other scientists – would agree.
http://www.icr.org/article/bible-believing-scientists-past/
2.
Lord Kelvin would be dismayed, I think, to discern here that only very few take the Bible seriously.
And that the nation’s “Churches” (the RCC, the Iglesia Ni Cristo, etc.) are even averse to using the King James.
I googled for “lord kelvin king james bible” and the first of many results eventually led to this:
http://j.mp/i7-kjv1
“The Book of Books …”
This is interesting, i7sharp, thanks. The thing that confuses me about “intelligent design” and/or “creationist”, is folks sticking in the “God did it” piece of gem anywhere in the process being discussed (and that’s fine, from a scientific process angle, probability will sometimes have to favor the unknown–and someone should be free to stick whatever hypothesis he/she wants), but
not describing which God or gods they are ascribing said process to (‘God did it’) is problematic. If the scientist is Muslim, or Hindu, or a Native-American (say Navajo), or ancient Greek, etc. their creation myths will play a role in their hypothesis (‘God did it’), so why not come clean and elaborate on the ‘God did it’ portion of their hypothesis?
As for the list of “Bible Believing Scientists”, that’s kinda unfair to label those scientists before the works of Alfred Wallace and Charles Darwin, since they had no luxury to weigh their transmutation ideas over Biblical narrative. But most importantly, a scientist who believes the Bible is not by default a creationist–that article assumes so.
Belief in the Bible and Creationism (re branded these days as Intelligent Design) are not synonymous. Unless the Bible Believing scientist provides his/her predisposition clearly towards the Biblical narrative, re creation, we have to take pause. We can’t just slap ’em all on a list and offer said list as some sort of evidence–ie. since they believed creation, we should to, that’s anathema to the Scientific Process.
The whole point of the Scientific Process is to counter group think.
Do we have some sort of statement made by Lord Kelvin that in fact he favours Creationism over Wallace’s/Darwin’s Transmutation? What of the other scientists on that list? (by favour, I mean a substantive rebuttal pro or against transmutation)
Lists like this (as evidence), though interesting because it takes me to another realm of thinking, as you’ve already known are problematic to me.
At the end of the day, aside from the age old “God did it”, what in the form of process does Creationism provide?
I’ll leave you with this, http://w.astro.berkeley.edu/~gmarcy/thermal/tpteacher/jokes/hell.html
“And that the nation’s “Churches” (the RCC, the Iglesia Ni Cristo, etc.) are even averse to using the King James.”
Did John Locke use the King James Bible, if not which Bible did he use (prefer)?
LCpl_X,
The King James was published in 1611,
21 years before John Locke was born (in 1632).
I do not know which bible Locke used. The King James? The Geneva?
Would he have imagined the hundreds of “more accurate” versions we now have?
Boo Chanco quoted recently from a “Berean” bible? I had not known of such a bible until I came upon his article.
To keep it simple,
IMO, we need only pick a bible that one (such as you) thinks is better or more accurate than the King James.
And then do simple comparisons.
I hope someone here would name that “better” bible.
Salamat.
I agree with you, the King James Bible is the most accurate (though accurate connotes having the original to compare all others with, which we don’t have), or poetic would probably be a better word.
So long as there are no red letters and quotation marks. The red letters and quotation marks screw everything up, ie. with John 3:16.
So the KJB is the “better” Bible for me. With the other new Americanized versions, there’s no sense of antiquity or mystery, it reads too much like The Book of Mormon.
Here’s a letter to John Locke,
http://www.newtonproject.sussex.ac.uk/view/texts/normalized/THEM00261
x-
Here’s a letter to John Locke,
…
-x
Thanks, LCpl_X.
Here is a simple way to deal with “1 John 5:7,”
the “Johannine Comma.”
It has been hundreds of years now since that “error” was found in the King James.
Today, we have the NIV which is said to be the most popular.
Does the NIV *finally* have it right?
Try checking here:
http://biblehub.com/1_john/5-7.htm
Which of the bibles has it right?
Beware of subtleties.
Salamat.
The Peshitta take on things actually looks the best in that line up you’ve provided.
What does the Peshitta say (in English)?
Who here – or anywhere else – is using the Peshitta?
What legacy, if any, has it left?
Speaking of legacy, …
Appropriate to re-visit this?:
http://j.mp/ja-legacy
“Majestic Legacy”
Salamat.
http://biblehub.com/aramaic-plain-english/1_john/5.htm
7. And The Spirit testifies because The Spirit is the truth. 8. And there are three testifying: The Spirit and the water and the blood, and the three of them are in one.
Here’s more,
http://www.exploringcreation.info/scripture/comma.htm
@LCpl_X
I am curious what the Peshitta says (in English) in
2 Chronicles 4:5 or in
2 Chronicles 22:2 (42 years? 22 years?), …
The postings here have “Peshitta” in the Subject line:
http://j.mp/wv-peshitta
You might need to register; I am not sure.
Salamat.
That link you’ve provided doesn’t have an Aramaic OT, so I don’t know (Why?). But thought this was interesting,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peshitta#Syriac_Old_Testament
It’s more about reading Beautiful Security book published by Oreilly, on Beautiful Security Metrics excerpt by Elizabeth A. Nichols.
Hey, Chivas, can you post links on stuff available online about this? What are the best resources available, w/out having to buy these books. Thanks.
For programming to improve existing skill or completely from scratch, a strong resource can be found here: http://goo.gl/1UWCy
@Chivas, others
Just for fun.
7-character codes.
Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” KJV
If Genesis 1:1 is coded
Gen0101
how would
Psalm 119:176 – “I have gone astray like a lost sheep …” KJV
be coded using 7 characters only (allowing “Psa” for Psalm)?
Salamat.
*******
Use a higher base number… like base 16.
Psalm 119:176 would be Psa77B0.
Limitation: For modulo-16, the maximum number of chapters/verses would be 255/255 which converts to FF/FF.
Psalms seems to have the most number of chapters at 150, and also the highest number of verses within a chapter at 176. This is chapter 119.
Note that the bible was not originally demarcated by chapter and verse.
*****
“Note that the bible was not originally demarcated by chapter and verse.”
Exactly! No quotation marks, no punctuation marks, certainly no red letters. No spaces even. http://greek-language.com/grklinguist/?p=657 I have no idea what these numbering stuff you guys are talking about, is it number sequence?
I don’t know if pertinent to this thread, LC. They are talking about counting systems that would accommodate arithmetic and alphanumeric text coding, e.g. binary, octal, hexadecimal. (bibles talking to computers) true?
Sonny, LCpl_X, et al:
Let us try to get back to poems
(after all the blog is titled as such)
before this becomes confusing with such discussion as on how to code Psalm 119:176
Try this,
https://www.google.com/search?&q=poems%20in%20the%20king%20james%20bible
or read an excerpt from this,
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8234015/The-King-James-Bible-400-years-of-potent-poetry.html
x-
It was as if James was bringing forth something that would be the last word in those arguments, but would also put a stamp on his reign. And what emerged was a work that drew on the age of literary elegance and brilliance that he inherited, the England of Marlowe, Spenser and Shakespeare himself.
You walk through these corridors, gaze across the long slow bend of the Thames where the Palace lies, and you are back in a time when it seemed that English had reached a glorious peak. It’s on every page.
“The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures;
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul.”
Following the story to the places where the scholars got to work, like the Bodleian library in Oxford, is to feel a touch of the excitement that those men must have felt as they turned to their task. I sat in the library one day and saw in front of me a copy of a Bible from the 1530s that had been used by one of the translators as a source. His handwriting was in the margin; scribbles in English, Latin and Greek. He had been playing with some of the verses, trying to turn them into something memorable: producing an accurate version from the biblical stories, but cocking an ear to the poetry too. And there in front of me, in the clear writing of some early 17th-century scribe, I saw taking shape the words I had known since childhood. “And in those days there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed…”
He had written something that 400 years later would still ring in the ears of people around the world. Archaic though much of the language seems now – indeed some of it seemed that way in the translators’ own time – and although there have been many translations since, the King James Bible became, to use a biblical phrase, the last word.
Sitting for a few minutes in Stationers’ Hall, I tried to hear those voices, reading verse by verse, interrupting when they thought a word was out of place or a cadence mistimed. It was easy, because they left us a legacy that hasn’t faded with time.
-x
Salamat.
“It’s an uphill path though, for us having 5kbps as a normal thing.”
Chivas,
What’s being done about this? What are the 3 solutions? Which 1 is the most viable? Who are the people pushing for this solution or solutions?
(Provided with the muscle, clout and resources of course.)
telcos removed unlimited surfing per order of the regulator NTC just recently. and slow became slower not only in globe but smart as well.
http://doj.gov.ph/news.html?title=DOJ to telcos: ‘Unlimited’ means unlimited&newsid=331
doj to the recue
Thanks, karl,
I wonder if edgar will know more about this. For the internet to improve over there, do new cables and routing have to be created?
Most of the popular connections are via modems and cell phone transmission towers. If cable can take some of the load off that, then it might help Metro Manila, but outlying areas don’t always have even telephone lines. I’ve got a case study in how the telco’s simply are not working for the consumers, but for their shareholders. To make improvement, that has to change. If they are not taking care of demand . . . as a critical utility . . . they ought not be operating in the private sector.
Maybe it’s an infrastructure issue, ie. if you guys are working with dirt roads, while the rest are mag-lev’ing thru the info network, hard to really blame the tiny telcoms over there, will need bigger guys to lay out wider roads for information, no (just not the Chinese)?
Well, we get stuck in a bind. The private companies do put profit over service (I will provide an example), but public agencies are notoriously bound by favor and incompetence, and don’t have much drive for citizen service, either. It has been four years since DOTC took up the charter of resolving the future of Philippine air traffic, particularly service to Manila, and nothing has been proposed. It all gets tied up in vested interests that DOTC appears powerless to resolve. Internet services is also tied up with bedfellows wrestling and petting each other, and the consumer carrying the short stick every day.
*******
Yes. Per my other post, Oz is currently installing fiber-optic cables which was supposed to give us speeds of 100Mbps by 2021.
In the US, Google is installing Google fibre to-the-premises.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Fiber
*****
Munich has fiber optics with 100Mbps throughout the city, they finished everything in the city core years ago and are now working on covering everything within the “Mittlerer Ring”, the EDSA-like ring around town with a lot of flyovers and tunnels.
The advantage here is that the company doing it, M-Net, is owned by Stadtwerke München, the municipal-owned company that takes care of electricity, water, heating, public transport and even municipal pools – the latter being a spin-off of public heating. Meaning the fiber-optic cables just use the same routes in the ground that are already there for water pipes and electrical cables, trunk lines are usually in subway tunnels.
One could say that this one company takes care of the city’s “operating system”.
*******
Since the country is an archipelago, I imagine internet would be a combination of land lines and satellite transmission. An option would be to have undersea cables connecting the islands. I do not know if any such inter-island undersea cables exists.
Cable is more efficient than satellite.
o Fiber-optic cable speeds range from 20 – 100Mbps.
o Satellite internet is slower with ranges from 1 – 15Mbps.
Cable speed is affected by delays called latency (25 – 500ms) and bandwidth sharing with neighbors especially during peak times.
Satellite speed is affected by greater latency (1000-2000ms). Surfing should be alright, but downloading/uploading of large files would be a problem.
*****
For a Silicon Valley-type city, or town, to develop over there, you have no choice but cable, right? I like that Google fiber link, it seems too that they are focusing on small towns, maybe something similar over there focusing on individual islands (Joe’s should get first dibs).
What’s your take on these drones and balloons for internet connection, edgar?
*******
Every bit helps. I imagine drone and balloons would be beneficial only for certain terrain that are isolated and remote. However, I imagine the drones and balloons would be subject to weather conditions, unnecessary movement or drift, and short durability.
*****
Drones can stay up for years if the movie Interstellar is to be believed.
Above weather patterns, solar powered. http://www.cnet.com/news/facebooks-solar-powered-drones-to-take-flight-this-summer/
Go Facebook! Send a few over the Visayas, please.
In Germany, the state-owned Telekom was very slow at making broadband available – it still is a problem in rural areas. What saved the day for big cities is that municipal utilities firms went ahead with their own internet projects, especially in cities with corporate sites.
That’s an interesting profile of DOJ’s “portfolio” of engagements. Much more in the civil arena than I had imagined. Not just fighting overt theft and plunder and murder.. I didn’t find the telco action though.
sorry the link had a problem linking.
“OFFICE FOR COMPETITION
ADVISORY OPINION NO. 02 (Series of 2014)
ADVISORY ON
“UNLIMITED” INTERNET OFFERS
INTRODUCTION
This Advisory is issued for the benefit of the internet users, especially those who subscribe to unlimited internet connection, as well as for the guidance of the network providers in their practice of setting a cap on data services. This Advisory is also for the guidance of the regulatory agencies in their efficient supervision of the market and for the continued advancement of consumer welfare.
The use of unlimited internet service gained popularity with the growth of the digital community. Internet service-providers (ISPs) offer unlimited data promos that cater to the needs of consumers for internet connection. Millions of Filipinos use the internet for communication, business, and entertainment.
Unlimited data is offered both on fixed and mobile broadband connection. Usually, a consumer can subscribe to an “unlimited” data service for about PhP999.00 per month. Under this, customers are supposedly given an unlimited access to the internet within the prescribed subscription period. However, end users report low satisfaction on the quality of the service.
Recently, telecommunication companies began imposing fair usage policy (FUP) on all their internet packages including unlimited internet promos. In effect, the internet connection is throttled when usage reaches a certain volume of data bits.
APPLICABLE LAW
It is the goal of the State to protect consumers from trade malpractices as well as from substandard or hazardous products and services. In a situation where a subscriber is at the mercy of the network providers, it becomes imperative for the State to ensure that their power in setting the price and speed of their network services will not be subject to abuse.
Republic Act No. 7394, series of 1992, known as the Consumer Act of the Phihppines (“Consumer Act”), advances the “protection against deceptive, unfair and unconscionable sales acts and practices” as well as promotes the “provision of information and education to facilitate sound choice and the proper exercise of rights by the consumer.”
Article 50 considers an act or practice deceptive “whenever the producer, manufacturer, supplier or seller, through concealment, false representation of fraudulent manipulation, induces a consumer to enter into a sales or lease transaction of any consumer product or service.”
More particularly, a trade practice by a seller or supplier shall be deemed deceptive when it represents that:
a) a consumer product or service has the sponsorship, pproval, performance, characteristics, ingredients, accessories, uses, or benefits it does not have;
b) a consumer product or service is of a particular standard, quality, grade, style, or model when in fact it is not;
c) a consumer product or service is available to the consumer for a reason that is different from the fact;
d) a consumer product or service can he suppUed in a quantity greater than the supplier intends.
This means that an internet service promoted as unlimited at a certain speed should be delivered uninterrupted at the stated speed. Take for instance a consumer who subscribes to a HomeBRO 2Mbps unlimited internet promo at PhP999.00 per month. The telco PLDT should provide said subscriber with a consistent 2 Mbps internet access for 30 days. However. FUP renders the unlimited promo deceptive or misleading since with throttled data access, the service fails to deliver performance, quality, and value.
Article 74 of the Consumer Act obliges compulsory labeling and fair packaging among suppliers and producers. Fair packaging is when a product or service is promoted in a way that enables consumers to obtain accurate information about the nature, quality and quantity of its contents. With data throttling, ‘unli’ (short for unlimited) data promo becomes inconsistent with their presentations of its packaging, hence, unfair and misleading. Capping of an unlimited data subscription becomes more problematic if the service is a shared amenity. This is uncontrollable especially since broadband routers and devices are designed for internet sharing.
A household, for instance, subscribes to only one data plan which is intended for sharing by the family members. This implies that if a household simultaneously connects five (5) gadgets to the internet, the data connection will be apportioned to each of the device. It follows that the data cap will also be shared measly by the household members. More so, because many share the connection, the data cap is possibly reached faster during the subscription period. In such case, FUP takes effect and the internet connection will be throttled for the rest of the subscription period. As a result, subscribers complain because the data throttling period is even longer than the extent the unlimited service is enjoyed.
By way of illustration, consider Globe Communications, Inc.’s FUP. Said service provider sets a data cap of 1GB daily or accumulated usage of 3GB per month, whichever comes first. Upon reaching the cap, the subscriber’s internet connection is slowed down to a 2G speed-about 90 percent reduction from the promised speed. Such policy would be logical if the subscriber limits his data consumption to only 99MB per day. Since the usage is within the daily and monthly data limit, said subscriber will be enjoying good connection for the entire subscription period.
However, problem arises if the subscriber’s daily data consumption is, say, 500MB. Although the daily usage does not exceed the 1GB data cap per day, good internet connection speed is expected to last for only six (6) days since by then the accumulated data consumption will be 3000MB or 3GB. Consequently, the subscriber will have to deal with a throttled data connection for 24 remaining days. Explicitly, customer expectations are not met.
This case is an effective break of promise, a form of misrepresentation; the internet promo is packaged as unlimited in the first place. It is only logical for subscribers to assume that telecommunication companies deliver a connection that is consistent with the promoted speed and reliability for the entire duration of the subscription period. Likewise, it is understood that the consumers subscribed to an unlimited internet service and not for a certain volume of data usage only. If it will only be constrained to a certain limit or cap, the service should have been promoted as a consumable package and not as an unlimited plan. This way, subscribers are not led to think they will enjoy an unrestricted limitless service.
It is also important to point out that customers subscribe to an unlimited internet service presumably because their need for internet access is larger than just 99MB per day. Unlimited internet package prompts unlimited use, hence, customers are encouraged to access the net more. This naturally leads to higher bandwidth consumption.
Intuitively, FUP creates a misnomer out of unlimited internet service, thereby a misleading or deceptive conduct. This kind of deceptive business practice is punishable with a fine amounting to at least five hundred pesos (P500.00) but not more than ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) or imprisonment of at least five (5) months to at most one (1) year or both.
Non-compliance with the requisites of fair packaging is likewise subject to criminal penalties which may be a fine of not less than five hundred pesos (P500.00) but not more than twenty thousand pesos (P20,ooo.oo) or imprisonment of not less than three (3) months but not more than two (2) years or both.
“The imposition of data throttling on unlimited internet could also be regarded as a violation of the provisions prohibiting false, misleading or deceptive advertisements, hence, deemed punishable in accordance with law.”
All violations concerning the Consumer Act are subject to administrative charges including but not limited to “the imposition of administrative fines in such amount as deemed reasonable by the Secretary, which shall in no case be less than Five Hundred Pesos (P500.00) nor more than Three Hundred Thousand Pesos (P300,000.00) depending on the gravity of the offense, and an additional fine of not more than One Thousand Pesos (P1,000.00) for each day of continuing violation.”
Article 164.c of the Consumer Act further provides that act of restitution may be imposed upon the non-compliant service provider. In such case, the public telecommunications entity (PTE) shall be ordered to refund or compensate their subscribers. From the foregoing, the following points are stated:
ADVISORY
From the foregoing, the following points are stated:
1. ISPs MUST NOT ADVERTISE UNLIMITED lNTERNET PROMOS BUT SUBJECT THE SERVICE TO A FAIR USAGE POLICY. AS ADVERTISED, THE PLAN IS EITHER UNLIMITED OR NOT.
The contention here is simple: ‘unlimited’ means unlimited. The same argument was raised by the United States Federal Trade Commission (US-FTC) when it filed a federal court complaint against AT&T Mobility, LLC, accusing the company of deceiving millions of its subscribers by charging them for unlimited data plans while throttling their data speeds, to some extent by nearly 90 percent. Further, US-FTC asserted that the company failed to deliver on its promise of ‘unlimited’ data.
Following the same reasoning, the imposition of FUP on unlimited internet service by the local ISPs can be regarded as a form of misleading or unfair business practice. In the first place, these service providers should not have offered a service that they cannot support. Essentially, it is expected that an unlimited internet promo must deliver a service that is consistent with the representations of the package – that is, unlimited access with the promised speed and service reliability. Capping of unlimited internet subscription is tantamount to charging subscribers with an unlimited data service for a consumable package.
2. THE ISPs SHOULD UTILIZE NETWORK MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES THAT OPTIMIZE DATA USAGE RATHER THAN RESTRICT IT.
Not all internet subscribers are heavy internet users. As a matter of fact, Globe claims that only about three (3) percent of their total subscribers are categorized as heavy users. The operator argues that FUP is its way to regulate the heavy usage of these users. Still, if these top 3% paid for an unlimited data service, it is not fair to deny them of the service they paid for.
While capping of data usage is not strictly disallowed, the principle of net neutrality operates to promote open access and transparency. It is understood that ISPs, due to traffic engineering, necessitate overseeing and managing the facility. Nonetheless, operators should use a network management scheme that advances optimal utilization of the internet.
Verizon Wireless, for instance, employs network optimization practice instead of data throttling. Under this mechanism, the connection speed of the top 5% data users with 3G devices on unlimited plan is reduced but only when connected to a cell site that is experiencing high network traffic. By the time the subscriber is no longer connected to such site, data speed returns back to normal.
The local operators, in the same way, can adopt such practice. In so doing, users do not have to suffer with very slow data connection for the rest of the billing cycle. To make this work, ISPs must be clear on the sites/areas with high data traffic, at what times, for how long, as well as the data and speed limit. By disclosing these relevant information, consumers are properly guided with their data consumption.
3. ISPs HAVE TO OFFER INTERNET PACKAGES BASED ON DATA USAGE, SUBSCRIPTION PERIOD, AND/OR SOFTWARE APPLICATION USAGE.
If the objective is to manage the network, ISPs can focus on the usage on these applications instead of the general bandwidth consumption of subscribers. As such, ISPs may offer internet packages specific for a certain or combination of software applications. For instance, a promo may be designed for unlimited YouTube browsing, twitter and/or Facebook. Consumable packages may also be offered specific for applications that consume large bandwidth such as torrent or online gaming.
If consumers have the option to pick an internet package that is tailored to their lifestyle and needs, the utilization of internet service will be optimized for the benefit of all including the telcos.
4. INTERNET USERS MUST BE RESPONSIBLE AND LIMIT LARGE DATA TRANSFERS DURING PEAK HOURS.
A responsible internet user is one who respects the rights and privileges of other end-users. During peak hours, it must be expected that a significant percentage of subscribers are using the network, hence, data speeds are relatively slower. Thus, to avoid congesting the network further, subscribers must be conscious to limit their internet usage to priority or important purposes. All other heavy, unnecessary, and leisurely usage of the internet such as torrent downloading must be done during off-peak hours.
When not in use, broadband devices or gadgets must be switched off to ease up the network. A running broadband device or gadget remains connected to the network and, at some point, continues to consume data bandwidth. Turning off data access of devices or gadgets will not only offload the network but will also reduce energy consumption.
5. REGULATORY AGENCIES MUST REVIEW DILIGENTLY THE PROMOTIONS AND CONDITIONS SET BY THE LECOMMUNICATION COMPANIES.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) must carefully check the approval of sales and promotions of telecommunication companies. The terms and conditions proposed must not be in conflict with the labeling and packaging of the consumer product or service.
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) must see to it that the conditions or policies being imposed by the service providers must conform to the prescribed service performance standards and are not abusive.
In case of non-compliance with the provisions of the Consumer Act and other relevant laws, the regulators should dutifully enforce penalties as prescribed.
Consumers must also remain vigilant and proactive in protecting their welfare and rights. In the event of inconsistency or inconformity with the provisions of the Consumer Act and other issuances, the subscribers and the public are encouraged to provide their feedback or file their complaints to the respective service provider as well as the appropriate government agencies such as the NTC through its Consumer Welfare and Protection Desk at (02) 924-3771 or DTI through its Consumer Welfare Desk at 811-8231 (Metro Manila) or (02) 751-3330 (outside Metro Manila).
This Advisory is issued by the DOJ-OFC in line with its mandate to protect consumers from abusive, fraudulent, or harmful corrupt business practices as well as to promote transparency and accountability in markets. All are hereby enjoined to disseminate and faithfully observe this Advisory.
(Sgd) LEILA M. DE LIMA
Secretary
– See more at: http://doj.gov.ph/news.html?title=DOJ to telcos: ‘Unlimited’ means unlimited&newsid=331#sthash.0cPdKC8S.dpuf
That reflects a clear awareness of the connivance by telcos. What they have done in response is to make unlimited plans limited by disclosing policies that permit the telcos to limit. They call the plans “promos” which gives them the latitude to jerk consumers around however they wish. Until the Philippines has an aggressive consumer watchdog litigator, it will be hard to put walk to DOJ’s talk. Only when Telcos are compelled to provide service through financial punishments will they actually be forthright about doing something material. The gloriously happy Smart ads drive me nuts, because they are just propaganda and abuse.
What we lovingly call a “circle jerk”.
yeah, they even said that in smartbro you can share with friends. oh no you could not. full of CRAP ad.
on another note. the whistle blower of the zte nationalbroadband network anomaly’s account on the need for a broadband network.
http://technology.inquirer.net/43881/lack-of-broadband-network-slows-internet
circle jerk- apt.
http://www.rappler.com/technology/news/57037-average-philippine-internet-speed
slowest in the region
*******
1. My speed test results this morning using two different channels:
o Download: 22.65 – 23.34Mbps
o Upload: 1.43 – 2.92Mbps
2. The plans to upgrade internet speed in Oz is a political football. The Labor government started to roll out a pure fiber-optic (FTTP) cable that would see us enjoy 100Mbps by 2021. But the stupid Liberal government, which won the last election, has decreed that 25Mbps is sufficient and has compromised the pure fiber-optic plan to a fiber-optic cum copper-node plan. This means that the “last mile” to each premise would use the current telephone copper wire.
3. The Philippines, US and USSR do not have a monopoly of dysfunctional government officials.
*****
at least we still get to converge here at Joe’s.
Unfortunately,Joe will always say that the next blog’s posting will depend on the iousy internet service.
For Binay to win he has to do these:
1. Play the underdog
2. Play the race card: “I am nog-nog which one are you?”
3. Educate the Filipinos how justice should be done: Duterte-style under the guise of justice or justice that is humane and dignified
4. Attack his alma mater: Very few Filipinos get to study in government funded University of the Philippines
5. Use Filipino’s penchant for eng-get: Eng-get on UP graduates that gets plum government jobs; b) play the eng-get on looks tisoys versus nognogs, wealthy versus poor
6. Eat with his hands
For Grace to win she has to do these:
1. Play the underdog
2. Play she was a teacher. A teacher is already an underdog. They are mostly spinster. No time for love. And they are heroes, too, along with OFWs
3. Gave up her green card and citizenship to serve the Filipinos
4. Gave up milk and honey to serve the Filipinos
5. A foundling. Then cry in public. How difficult it is not to be tossed like garbage, found and raised by parents not her biological own.
6. Clumsily eat with her hands.
Grace should know better. Filipinos do not vote on issues unlike Americans. Filipinos vote on bucket of tears that made the son of political dynasty benigno aquino became president
For Mar to win he has to do these:
DO ALL OF THE ABOVE except the foundling part and come clean with Korina Sanchez. Then castigate her in public. FILIPINOS WILL LOVE THIS. Even before election Mar will already be a winner.
Definitely, you have a career ahead of you as a campaign strategist, should you so choose. But Mar definitely ought not do the bucket of tears. He needs to deploy swagger and in-your-face directness, but it can’t be contrived. I’d suggest he blow his stack at Binay and treat Poe as if she did not exist.
I have a dream … I have a dream that one day BEAUTY WILL NOT BE JUDGED BY THE COLOR OF THE SKIN
I have a dream … One day Philippines will not be importing half-bred half-white English-speaking beauty queens from Alemania, Francia and America to represent the brown skin Filipinos
I have a dream … Intelligence will not judged by the fluency of English or perfection of written English but by its content and message.
That one day, Filipinos will not be embarassed when they speak English like Indians, Hispanics, Chinese and other minorities from English-challenged countries
I have a dream … The Church do not meddle in politics like they do not government to meddle in their Church. That they would fast track annulment, divorce and acceptance of gay marriage. Make abortion a right for quality of life.
I have a dream … The Church will allow free contraceptives to sexually active couples.
I have a dream … Duterte, Grace Poe and Mar Roxas to work together in a coalition party for the betterment of the country.
I have a dream … that my dream may come true so all OFWs and illegal immigrants abroad come home to be with their families again.
Let us have this dream in our hearts and in our mind. To make this dream a reality, STOP FUNDING UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES AND PHILIPPINE MILITARY ACADEMY. DIVERT FUNDS TO PHILIPPINE SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL !!!! Enough UP Crooks Already.
Lets consider the most major pluses of your prescription for making your Dream come true. If it was followed after World War II, then maybe would not have a President Marcos and his martial law and no likelihood of a President Binay in 2016!! Ahaha MRP, you may have a point there.
MRP,
This article below echoes similar sentiments,
“STOP FUNDING UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES AND PHILIPPINE MILITARY ACADEMY.”
http://www.salon.com/2015/01/05/lets_abolish_west_point_military_academies_serve_no_one_squander_millions_of_tax_dollars/
“[So what’s a better alternative to these if the service academies aren’t? Deep Springs, despite its positive portrayal in the recent movie “Ivory Tower,” isn’t it—I know, I taught there a term. Their students are antisocial and rendered comatose by getting up at 4 a.m. to milk the cows. The top-flight liberal arts colleges aren’t a solution in themselves either—I graduated from Haverford at age 19, after turning down Ivies, because it felt so stifling. I didn’t like the University of Chicago, my first graduate school, which was controlling—only Vanderbilt, where I got my Ph.D., offered me freedom. I wish the academies were the mixture of Athens and Sparta that might solve the problems with today’s academics, the fusion of the Cartesian halves of body and soul. But they aren’t: they’re hollow self-serving grinds where perfectly nice kids suffer.]”
To majority of informed opinion, I think it is difficult to contest the justification of gov’t schools such as the USMA. One is hard-pressed to dismiss the history and tradition of the USMA. The combination of Athens & Sparta, the Cartesian fusion of body & soul will result in institutions such as the USMA, IMO.
http://www.usma.edu/wphistory/SitePages/Home.aspx
Not sure about West Point, sonny. But I knew a Capt. (USMC) who did a teaching gig at the Naval Academy. He was JAG, so the class he thought he’d teach was in the Legal field at the Academy, instead they sent him to RI where they have a special course special for would-be football players for the Academy (13th Grade), teaching US History. So their priorities are skewed.
The Marines, unlike other branches don’t really rely on these military academies for their officers. Most Marine officers come out from college ROTC programs across the nation. Because there’s no majority from any academy, ie. in the Army, this general was so-and-so USMA class, hence some sort of loyalty or clique amongst other USMA graduates, etc. it’s silliness.
That sort of crap doesn’t happen as much in the Marines, because of the variety of officer sourcing from a variety of colleges. So the article actually has merit. Whether or not it’s do-able, I have the same doubts.
I’m sure there are other configurations that can be argued such as the Marine offficer sourcing you mention. I’d rather think BOTH … AND not EITHER … OR. I am agreeable to an ROTC (and Air ROTC and Naval ROTC) nested in small colleges such as Grinnell or Calvin or Harvey Mudd or Pomona Colleges affiliating to military bases in the states, and then reform the M.Acads if needed, and yes even colleges such as Thomas Aquinas College.
The best officers, IMHO, opinion were from small lib. arts colleges (to include religious schools, though probably not Evangelical-types like Wheaton), who majored in the Classics, Philosophy, Anthro, Lit. etc. hell even Music and Fine Arts. I knew a Recon LT who played the French Horn in College.
It becomes either/or because of costs, like base closures you have to weigh what stays or gets tossed out (as per the article). Toss out the academies, just save the best parts about them and transfer them to ROTC programs. VMA & the Citadel, etc. can take the slack just fine, if history & tradition’s really that important.
Personally, I am intrigued by Thomas Aquinas College with an ROTC program. TAC is a resurgent Catholic Lib Arts college. I suspect they will closely examine the lives of the Catholic chaplains who received the Congressional Medal of Honor.
sonny,
Here’s an awesome interview with Gen. McChrystal on this very topic:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-leadership/wp/2015/05/15/gen-stanley-mcchrystal-on-shaking-up-the-military/
Q. Do you think the military’s ability to produce great leaders is in decline?
A. The military does very well taking average people and making them very good leaders. We spend a lot of effort on it, job titles are built around it, efficiency reports focus on it.
Where I think the military is struggling, the same as businesses, is that speed and interconnectedness have changed the basic landscape in which people operate. Just as we look at the decline in military leadership, look at the average tenure of chief executive officers of companies. It’s dropped precipitously. Look at the disdain in which many people hold political leaders now. Leaders who have been stamped out of an outdated mold are going to struggle.
The basic DNA we’ve got to implant in leaders now is adaptability: not to get wedded to the solution to a particular problem, because not only the problem but the solution changes day to day. Creating people who are hardwired for that is going to be our challenge for the future.
Q. What could the Pentagon be doing to bring in people who maybe traditionally haven’t been as interested in military careers but who have skills we need in order to adapt?
A. Unfortunately, in these monolithic professions, not a lot of fresh air blows in through the windows. What I would argue for the military and others is that lateral entry would make a lot of sense.
I think nowadays the essential skills of being a military leader are not to shoot a weapon, they are not even to read a map. They’re to make tough decisions in an uncertain environment and to engage with people and build relations. It’s almost the same as what you’d find in senior leadership in any other realm.
Lateral entry, even at a fairly senior level, into these different businesses would make them stronger. There’s a natural aversion to it, because people in the guild don’t want outsiders coming in and taking slots, but I think it would be very, very healthy for the military and others.
LC, I do defer to your logic because you have an insider’s insights into the inquiry. I can see that both major and minor premises to the syllogism on retention of the current configuration (sorry, am fixated to this term) of MAs are being questioned. Suffice for now to say that “adapt or perish” is seldom passe. 🙂 Very interesting premises, I must say even as the layman.
Nice. MRP goes MLK. Well, I don’t think MLK did a rant about Harvard, but the rest is “sweet”.
UP should be divided into regional universities. There are already regional U.P. campuses, things were much worse when everything REALLY centered around Diliman, no UP system.
UP was founded in 1908 by the Americans to be similar to an American State University, meaning like UCal, UPenn etc., but it became an inbred centralistic Philippine institution.
Growing up on campus was pleasant, but what usually happens is that children of profs become profs also and even those that don’t form a very close-knit circle, typically Filipino, “outsiders” will usually have to be at least Ateneo or recently La Salle to be accepted at all.
Now closing UP after the war would not have prevented Marcos – he finished his Law Degree before the Japanese invasion. Up to the 1950s I am sure 60s I don’t know, the valedictorian and salutatorian of every public high school in the Philippines got an automatic scholarship in UP – meaning that a meritocracy was created up to those days. Now that public high schools in the Philippines are not longer good, none of that anymore.
In fact children of UP professors usually go to UP Integrated School (formerly UP Elementary and UP High School) which is directly connected to UP College of Education, no DepEd supervision at all, so imagine the kind of extreme inbreeding that goes on there. For those who do not know: UP Campus is like a small town in itself with ca. 600 hectares if I am not mistaken, own police and fire brigade, own shopping center – a parallel reality.
And of course professors usually live on campus with their entire families. The noise and the haste of Metro Manila is something one hears but it only partly affect the campus.
Finally, the problem is that UP is too inbred, the country is basically run by UP + Ateneo with La Salle catching up. College fraternities also definitely play a role in politics.
Used to be that UP people went abroad more for masters and doctorates – the early years, now less of that has made the place even more inbred than it already was.
Finally, the roots of a lot of extreme Filipino nationalism can be found at U.P. – because until then 1960s, American deans and “dons” – reputable professors still dominated U.P., until the Filipinos took over. Some of the Americans were really good, some were bullshit artists who would never have become professors in an American community college and were not liked by some of the more excellent UP students. But then again, many of the Filipinos who took over became typical Filipino dictators, only in an academic fashion. Those who rebelled against them and took over at some point often became dictators too – the authoritarian streak of Filipino culture is very strong after all and is HARD to shake.
Being a child of UP made it easy for me to be accepted at Raissa’s blog, familiar lingo etc., but extreme inbreeding is dangerous – there is too little fresh air. In fact even between UP and Ateneo, interchange is the exception even now, the rivalry between the two to large.
What does not help as well is that UP and Ateneo are geographically very close to each other and those from both look down at the grads from Manilas University belt, only those from La Salle come close to being accepted but that is an extremely recent development.
Or parallel surreality, as the case may be.
Sometimes yes. I already wrote once that Santiago type behaviour is nothing unusual in UP, not the norm but you do have profesoras throwing books and binders at professors in faculty meetings, I shit thee not, and faculty meetings that are a mini version of the Senate. The kind of legalistic smart-ass stuff – well not alway smart-ass sometimes really qualified – they discuss at Raissa is TYPICAL UP demeanour and typical UP tone.
Quezon City police are not allowed to enter UP without the approval of the Diliman chancellor – used to be the UP president before UP was federalized. So Marcos’s PC coming in was something awful for all of us during Martial Law, like occupation forces.
On a sidenote: the only place where there was resistance when Martial Law was declared in 1972 was at the INC cathedral near UP. Because of a misunderstanding, PC troops stormed in and INC security fiercely fought back…
I’m almost certain of the valedictorian/salutatorian set-up reaching up to the ’60s, entrance scholars they were called. My mom was one such scholar. The country had chartered provincial high schools. She belonged to the first graduating class of Ilocos Sur Provincial HS (1928) as my dad at La Union Prov HS. She carried her valedictorian credential as entrance scholar to UP Baguio. My dad (17) went to work at the office of Superintendent of Public Schools at Baguio. This belonged to the Bureau of Public Education, US colonial Gov’t. This story was replicated island-wide I suspect. The Gen Superintendent of Public Instruction was David Barrows PhD, Berkeley.
Thanks sonny. My father was at Albay High School and salutatorian, so he got into UP. Apparently it was a nationwide system – it would be interesting to know when it started to deteriorate. Philippine Science was founded in 1964, started at Quezon Memorial Circle.
In fact the changes to postcolonial Filipino institutions would be worthy of an entire book, but I doubt that any Filipino in the Philippines would dare step on so many toes…
Irineo, PSHS was into its 2nd or 3rd yr when I left PH. The quality of PSHS is I believe still distinguished. An eminent product I know is Reinabelle Reyes, PhD, Princeton, Astrophysics. (PSHS, Ateneo, Princeton). There is healthy exchange between Loyola Heights & Diliman. Our top graduate in Chem ended up as UP Chancellor. There is a virtual funnel between Ateneo Pre-Med & UP Med-proper. There has been a healthy, mutual feed of scholars going on to and from all schools in the country. This is something to be proud of I strongly feel.
Yes, PSHS led to a very focused breeding of an elite, there is no question about that.
What I believe was neglected is mass education – which was excellent in the 1950s.
Cayetano had this incredible proposal to extend it beyond the top ten. I have not seen the bill,but I saw the TV ad.
Even when I entered PSHS in 1978, there were only four out 240 who passed the exam who came from a public school – kami iyon, UP Integrated School, all others private…
Public schools in the 1950s were excellent, a joke 1970s, I wonder about now…
against Edgar’s guidelines,but here is the youtube video.
I was wrong not beyond top ten just the top ten.
Edgar leaves plenty of room for “author’s discretion”. Besides, as Tanod, you have the keys to the jail, so that gives you certain . . . ummm . . .latitudes . . . This IS the Philippines, after all.
Note: Dr Barrows was typical caliber of Americans sent to oversee the governance of the Philippines. He was president of the U of California.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Prescott_Barrows
erratum: s/b MA, Berkeley, PhD, Chicago
I have an idea for a Buck-Rogers style sci-fi novel:
An American Thomasite falls asleep in Biliran, 1905. A time warp makes him wake up in 2005. Seeing what the Philippines has become, he decides to become a blogger…
Yesss!! 🙂 Not too farfetched. Remember the tornado that blew over Kansas … ended up in the Leyte Samar island chain? 🙂
Ahahahaha, that is the laugh of the week . . . nay, month . . . 🙂 🙂 🙂
Just an FYI Mariano : Rudyard Kipling’s ideal woman was Burmese; really and truly, Burmese women are stunning, saw them with my own eyes on the border of Myanmar and China, females sans western accoutrements.
You had me at “Poems by…”
🙂
cha,
posts here your muni-munis.
it will rock.
reflections by Cha.
Hi Karl, I’ve been itching to ask this question, and I don’t want to put Giancarlo on the spot. If INC relies on bloc voting for the coming elections, does that mean that their superiors dictate to the members on the candidates that they will support or vote? Does it mean that the members will just follow the decision of their leaders or risk being expelled?
Hi bauwow. Yung uncle ko INC eh. I am Catholic.
He converted before he got married to my aunt.
Remember I told Giancarlo that if my uncle is pro Binay(before) and he is not ,then bloc voting is a myth. Now my uncle is changing his mind and contemplating on Poe.
Sangunian may influence most maybe, but robotic obedience of all, I am doubting that.
Giancarlo is anti Binay based on his posts and his heart, based on that I can tell that bloc voting is a myth. .
My belief is reinforced by their so called unity last rally.
Gian Carlo, please join the discussion.
Hey Karl, thank you!
you are welcome.
Yes, please do, Gian…we are. Missing your input here.