The Noodle Bowl Boils Over

Gantimpala

2009-08-14T11:35:00.001+08:00

Nitong nakaraang mga araw ay nabahiran ng kontrobersiya ang National Artist Award dahil sa pagtutol ng ilang mga alagad ng sining sa ilang mga napili ngayong taong ito, partikular na kay Carlo J. Caparas (Visual Arts and Film) at Cecille Guidote-Alvarez (Theater). Ayon sa mga tumututol, na kinabibilangan ng mga National Artists na sina Bienvenido Lumbera, F. Sionil Jose, Virgilio Almario at iba pa, may mga mas karapat-dapat na maging National Artists subalit nawala sa pinal na listahan. Ibinigay nilang halimbawa ang eksperto sa musika na si Dr. Ramon Santos na siyang nakakuha ng maraming boto sa “selection process” pero hindi napili.

Sa kanilang parte, iginiit nila Caparas at Alvarez na karapat-dapat sila sa karangalang iyun. Sinabi pa ni Caparas na mga “elitista” ang mga tumututol sa kanyang pagkakapili bilang National Artist at dapat siyang maging National Artist dahil sa inilapit niya ang sining sa masa sa pamamagitan ng kanyang mga komiks.

Para sa akin, ang ipinupunto naman nina G. Lumbera, et al. ay hindi ang karapatan o ang kakayanan ng mga napili, kundi ang paraan at ang “circumstances” sa likod ng pagkakapili sa kanila. Alam naman ng lahat na sina Caparas at Alvarez ay mga masugid na taga-suporta ng administrasyong Arroyo, at aminin man nila o hindi ay malaki ang papel na ginampanan ng suportang iyon sa pagkakapili sa kanila. Isa pa, bakit may naalis na kandidato para sa parangal na nakakuha naman ng maraming boto? Halatang binigyan sila ng espasyo ng pumipili ng National Artist. Sino nga ba ang namili ng mga pararangalan ngayong taong ito? Hindi ba si GMA?

Hindi ko alam kung matatawa ako o maiinis ako sa banat ni Carlo J. Caparas na elitista raw ang mga may ayaw siyang maging National Artist at karapat-dapat daw siya sa parangal dahil sa kanyang “paglalapit ng sining sa masa”. Una, kung aalamin niya ang buhay ng kanyang dalawang pinaka-mahigpit na kritiko sa usaping ito, hindi naman maituturing na mariwasa o marangya ang pinanggalingan nila. Si G. F. Sionil Jose ay nanggaling sa pamilya ng mga magsasaka sa Pangasinan samantalang si G. Bienvenido Lumbera ay naulilang lubos at inalagaan ng mga kamag-anak. Pangalawa, kung ang pagiging malapit sa masa ang magiging sukatan ng pagiging National Artist, bakit hindi pa National Artist si Dolphy? O kaya si Mars Ravelo, na mas sikat ang mga gawang komiks kaysa sa kanya? Babanat na nga lang, sablay pa. Napapatunayan lang na tama ang mga kritiko niya.

Para naman kay Gng. Alvarez, isyu ito ng delicadeza. Ikaw ang pinuno ng ahensiya ng gobyernong naatasang pag-aralan ang mga kandidato sa parangal, bakit mo ibibigay ang parangal sa sarili mo? Granted na marami po kayong naiambag para sa pagsusulong ng sining sa bansang ito, bakit hindi nyo na lang po hinintay na matapos ang termino ninyo bilang pinuno ng NCCA (National Center for Culture and the Arts) bago po kayo maghangad na maparangalan? Konting nipis lang naman po ng mukha ang hinihingi namin.

Subalit ang higit na nakalulungkot at nakakapagngitngit isipin ay ang katotohanang ang isang parangal na kasing-prestihiyoso ng National Artist Award ay para na lamang isang piraso ng karne sa ilalim ng rehimeng ito–ibinabato bilang pabuya sa mga pinakamasusugid na alagang aso. Hindi na nakuntento sa paggamit ng pera at puwesto sa gobyerno, pati mga parangal ay ginagamit na rin bilang panuhol ng administrasyon. Pero ano pa nga ba ang aasahan mo sa isang gobyernong iniluklok ng pandaraya at binubuhay ng panunuhol at panggigipit?

Kung ayaw nilang ibalik ang parangal na nakuha nila kay Gloria, ayos lang. Hayaan na lang natin silang magsaya sa nakuha nilang gantimpala sa pagpapakatuta at pagpapakaputa sa isang maruming gobyerno.

Iyun lang.

Paalam, Presidente Cory Aquino...

2009-08-06T00:49:00.000+08:00

Habang isinusulat ko ito ay mapayapa nang namamahinga si Presidente Cory Aquino kasama ng kanyang asawa na si Senador Ninoy Aquino sa Manila Memorial Park.

Isang pahabol lamang ito sa mga naisulat ko na (sa ibang blog), dahil naramdaman kong kulang pa iyun noong nakita ko sa telebisyon ang mga tagpo kanina habang inihahatid si Presidente Cory sa kanyang huling hantungan.

Makapanindig-balahibo ang makita ang libu-libong tao na nakapila sa kalsada, hindi iniinda ang ulan, pagod at gutom, makapagbigay lamang ng respeto sa pangulong itinuturing na “Ina ng Demokrasya” at “global democracy icon”.

Nakakataba ng pusong panoorin ang mga taong nagbibigay ng mga payong, tubig, kapote at iba pang bagay sa mga nakapila sa La Salle at Manila Cathedral ng walang anumang kapalit.

Makabagbag-damdamin ang makita ang mga Pilipino mula sa iba’t ibang katayuan sa buhay–mayaman, mahirap, bata, matanda, babae, lalake–na nagsasama-sama para makita sa huling pagkakataon ang inirerespetong idolo.

Kahanga-hangang panoorin ang apat na “honor guards” na hindi pinansin ang ulan at pagod sa pagtupad sa marangal na tungkuling samahan si Tita Cory sa kanyang huling hantungan, kahit na ang ibig sabihin nito ay ang pagtayo ng mahigit 8 oras.

Sinasabi nila na nabuhay muli ang “Cory magic” at ang “diwa ng EDSA” nitong nakaraang mga araw. Siguro nga, dahil sa dinami-dami ng mga “pinuno” na dumaan sa kasaysayan ng bansang ito, si Presidente Cory lang ang nakitaan ng sinseridad at tunay na pagsasakripisyo para sa bayan.

Subalit hindi dapat dito magtapos ang kung anumang ipinakita natin nitong nakaraang mga araw.

Dapat nga eh gamitin natin ang mga aral na nakuha natin mula kay Tita Cory, gaya ng ginagawa natin sa mga aral na natutunan natin mula sa mga magulang natin. Gamitin natin ang ehemplo niya para tayo maging mas mabuting tao, mas mabuting Pilipino.

Sabi nga ng isang kaibigan ko sa kanyang blog, “Wag sana nating kalimutan ang simbolo ng dilaw na laso para sa ating mga Pilipino. Democracy lost its parents. Now, as children of democracy, we should do whatever it can to pursue the values and the principles our parents left us…”

Sabi ni Presidente Cory, “I thank the Lord for making me a Filipino, and I thank everybody for making me one of you”. Ang masasabi ko naman, I thank the Lord for making you a Filipino. And no, thank you for being one of us, Tita Cory.

Muli, ang aking pakikiramay sa pamilya Aquino at salamat, Tita Cory, sa lahat ng sakripisyo para sa bansa.

Iyun lamang po.

Perjury, Pork and Pacman

2009-04-30T05:27:00.003+08:00

The whistleblower of the NBN-ZTE scandal, Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada, has been arrested for perjury. The complainant is former Cabinet member (but still a GMA lackey) Mike Defensor, who was implicated by Lozada in that botched abduction attempt last year. Defensor said that he "needed to clear his name" and "it was for his family". Defensor also sneaked a blatant low blow on Lozada in his press conference, going "..alam ko Jun (Lozada), may pamilya ka rin, dala-dalawa pa nga eh..." You stay classy, Mike. Wala nang sisirain pa sa pangalan mo kasi matagal nang sira ang pangalan mo bago pa sumingaw ang baho ng ZTE. Kaya nga nangulelat ka sa eleksyon, 'Tol. By the way, where's the outrage over this? Kung may dapat ikulong sa perjury, si Mike Defensor iyun, kasama ng mga gaya niyang tuta, tulad ni Jocjoc Bolante, Ben Abalos, Raul Gonzales, etc. Isama na rin ang amo nilang pinakamalaking sinungaling sa lahat. That is why I am one with those who are calling, "Free Jun Lozada!"

Let's change gears, and go to the biggest sports event this weekend, the Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton match. Meron na namang dahilan ang ating mga mambubutas ng bulsa este mambabatas ng bansa na maglakwatsa at magwaldas ng pork barrel funds este personal funds nila, kesehodang may swine flu sa America at Mexico ngayon. That's why Rep. Edno Joson has filed a resolution prohibiting congressmen from leaving the country while Congress is in session. Para namang may patutunguhan iyan. That's why it's okay for me if these Congressmen want to watch the match in Las Vegas. Ayos lang sa akin ang magkandarapa silang lahat na magpunta sa Las Vegas. Basta ba mahawahan sila ng swine flu doon at hindi na makabalik pa ng Pilipinas.

Iyun lang.

Clarifications and Apologies, but still...

2009-04-15T00:27:00.000+08:00

I would like to clarify some things in my earlier blog about this whole Calderon family soap opera (or dorama, if you fancy the Japanese version), in line of recent events.

First, it seems that the Calderons still know how to speak in Filipino, after all. In an interview with ABS-CBN News, Arlan Calderon found his mother tongue in a plea to the Philippine government to help them go back to Japan in order to be with their daughter Noriko. Mr. Calderon cited that Noriko is still young, and a woman at that, to be able to take care of herself. O-kay, so bakit kinakailangan pa iyung ganung stunt kahapon?

Second, Noriko already knows that she is a Filipino, contrary to what I wrote earlier. Mr. Calderon said in the same interview that they admitted to Noriko that she is a Filipino after Mrs. Sarah Calderon was already busted by the Japanese authorities for overstaying.

I apologize to the Calderon couple (in the off-chance that they can read this), as well as those who have read the previous blog, for whatever inconsistencies that I wrote on my blog. Perhaps it was a product of lack of research. I do not intend to make this an excuse, but it can’t be helped. I also depend on their statements to the Philippine media in order for me to write my opinions about the subject.

However, I would not retract my earlier statements criticizing them for the way they handled the situation with the press when they arrived in the Philippines. I still contend that it was an act of utter disrespect and stupidity. I also will not take back my challenge to them. Magpakatotoo nga sila kung gusto pa nilang maging Pilipino o hindi na. Para tapos na ang usapan.

Iyun lang.

Magpakatotoo nga kayo!

2009-04-14T09:10:00.005+08:00

No, I am not addressing the title of this post to those politicians who keep on harping that they don't care about Charter Change or Cha-cha but those actions speak otherwise (they'll have their own blog post later). I am addressing it to the latest controversial figures to land on Philippine soil, Arlan and Sarah Calderon. The Calderon couple made international headlines recently for their legal battle to keep themselves in Japan for their daughter, Noriko, despite having being busted for immigration charges. It has become a cause celebre in Japan, with supporters contending that Noriko, being a minor (she's 13 years old), needs her parents to guide and care for her. But the Japanese, in keeping with their strict laws, denied the motions for the parents' continuing stay, and poor Noriko chose to stay in Japan, because she was still studying, and owing to the fact that she was born and raised in Japan, knows only Nihongo.

The Calderon couple just arrived last night, and I believe no one expected these to happen: the Calderon couple completely shunned the Philippine media, opting instead to speak only with the Japanese media in Nihongo. It's their choice, but frankly, I was shocked and pissed off at this show of utter disrespect for the Philippines.

What the f*** are they thinking? I mean WHAT THE F***? Why the hell would they do something as disrespectful as that? Is it a desperate, last-ditch ploy to shore up support for them from the Japanese media and the Japanese public? Is it a manifestation of where they feel they belong? Or is it just a way of communicating with Noriko?

Either way, what they did was tasteless, disrespectful and downright pathetic. They could have at least given the Philippine media the time to air their side, kahit hindi na sa wikang Filipino, just to have the Filipino public know their feelings about this whole thing. Or they could have, as one of my friends said, ignored everybody and went straight to the car or whatever transportation that was waiting for them. But no, they decided to give the Filipino media, and in effect the Filipino public, the finger (figuratively). Kung hindi nila kayang bigyan ng respeto ang bansang Pilipinas, binigyan na lang sana nila ng respeto ang mga sarili nila. For them to keep passing themselves off as Japanese when it has been proven that they are not, is a complete slap at the face of their motherland. It also made them complete fools. Bakayaroo, in Nihongo.

Why am I so worked up about this? Simple. I am, in some respects, a Japanophile. I love watching anime, I am interested in Japanese customs and traditions. I am also dreaming of going to Japan on vacation, to learn more about their culture and their way of life. I am also a member of an online community of Filipinos who love Japanese things. Some of the members live in Japan, and some have Japanese blood in them. But when this issue came up, many felt the same way as I did towards the Calderon couple. One of the administrators of the website, who goes by the screen name "Maneki Neko" (which is Japanese for "good luck cat"), said this; "That was very arrogant on their part. Tama si jen-san (a fellow member)...i-deny daw ba ang nationality?? Sino ba ang susuporta sa kanila dito kundi kapwa Pinoy din naman. Pano nila kakausapin ang mga yun...in Nihongo?? Nakatapak lang sa Japan ng matagal...naging Nihonjin na?? Wrong!" At least we know where our real loyalties lie. Kahit na interesado kami sa kulturang banyaga, at the end of the day, Pilipino pa rin kami.

Noriko will have to learn sooner or later that based on the laws that guide both the Philippines and Japan, she is not a Japanese but a Filipino. I doubt that her parents will admit that little piece of fact. Hopefully, she will trace back her lineage to her biological homeland. On the other hand, hindi naman natin dapat pilitin maging Pilipino ang ayaw maging Pilipino.

And so it is.

Chip Shot from an April Fool

2009-04-01T04:23:00.002+08:00

(Blogger's Note: Ah, I'm finally back to writing for this blog, and it took a moron from Hong Kong to get me off my "creative stupor". Anyway, I felt compelled to write my piece, and what coincidence it is to fall on April Fools' Day--Chip Tsao's favorite day. Enjoy.)

There has been a huge controversy about the article below, written by a certain Chip Tsao. "The War at Home", as it is titled, states that the Philippines, as a "nation of servants", have no right to claim the Spratly Islands., among other things. Of course, it sparked a firestorm from Filipinos everywhere. (I did not bother to put Chip Tsao's picture, it'll just spoil the days of everyone who takes a peek in this humble blog)

The war at home

by Chip Tsao
HK Magazine

The Russians sank a Hong Kong freighter last month, killing the seven Chinese seamen on board. We can live with that—Lenin and Stalin were once the ideological mentors of all Chinese people. The Japanese planted a flag on Diàoyú Island. That’s no big problem—we Hong Kong Chinese love Japanese cartoons, Hello Kitty, and shopping in Shinjuku, let alone our round-the-clock obsession with karaoke.

But hold on—even the Filipinos? Manila has just claimed sovereignty over the scattered rocks in the South China Sea called the Spratly Islands, complete with a blatant threat from its congress to send gunboats to the South China Sea to defend the islands from China if necessary. This is beyond reproach. The reason: there are more than 130,000 Filipina maids working as $3,580-a-month cheap labor in Hong Kong. As a nation of servants, you don’t flex your muscles at your master, from whom you earn most of your bread and butter.
As a patriotic Chinese man, the news has made my blood boil. I summoned Louisa, my domestic assistant who holds a degree in international politics from the University of Manila, hung a map on the wall, and gave her a harsh lecture. I sternly warned her that if she wants her wages increased next year, she had better tell every one of her compatriots in Statue Square on Sunday that the entirety of the Spratly Islands belongs to China.

I summoned Louisa, my domestic assistant who holds a degree in international politics from the University of Manila, hung a map on the wall, and gave her a harsh lecture. I sternly warned her that if she wants her wages increased next year, she had better tell every one of her compatriots in Statue Square on Sunday that the entirety of the Spratly Islands belongs to China.

Oh yes. The government of the Philippines would certainly be wrong if they think we Chinese are prepared to swallow their insult and sit back and lose a Falkland Islands War in the Far East. They may have Barack Obama and the hawkish American military behind them, but we have a hostage in each of our homes in the Mid-Levels or higher. Some of my friends told me they have already declared a state of emergency at home. Their maids have been made to shout “China, Madam/Sir” loudly whenever they hear the word “Spratly.” They say the indoctrination is working as wonderfully as when we used to shout, “Long live Chairman Mao!” at the sight of a portrait of our Great Leader during the Cultural Revolution. I’m not sure if that’s going a bit too far, at least for the time being.

Of course, there are some "cooler heads" who have been saying that we Filipinos should not be at the very least affected of this article, namely because a) "totoo naman ang sinasabi niya about us being a "nation of servants", and b) it's just a satire, him being known in Hong Kong as a satirist.

I could say that they are the proverbial "cooler heads", not because they counsel restraint, but because of the lack of live grey matter in their skulls. Eh ano kung totoong marami sa ating mga kababayan ang nagtatrabaho bilang katulong, hindi lang sa Hong Kong, kundi sa ibang bansa? It doesn't give him the right to even think about using our countrymen as pawns. Satire? Well, reading the column, it was not even a poor copy of a real satire. It was chest-thumping against a smaller neighbor, coupled by a naked challenge to an economically shattered and militarily stretched America to oppose Chinese designs in the Western Pacific. But that's another subject matter.

Now, we go to answering that article...

1. Chip Tsao says, "As a nation of servants, you don’t flex your muscles at your master, from whom you earn most of your bread and butter..."

What? We might be a "nation of servants", but China ain't our master. Oh, by the way, if that's how you see it, you shouldn't be also flexing your muscles at America, since you have Chinese people who work there. So then.

2. Chip Tsao says, "I summoned Louisa, my domestic assistant who holds a degree in international politics from the University of Manila, hung a map on the wall, and gave her a harsh lecture. I sternly warned her that if she wants her wages increased next year, she had better tell every one of her compatriots in Statue Square on Sunday that the entirety of the Spratly Islands belongs to China..."

Pathetic. You're threatening your father's Filipina "domestic assistant" (Note: News reports say that "Louisa" is working for Chip Tsao's father. So we see another Chip Tsao fallacy.--mami_noodles) with withholding a wage increase just to say that Spratlys belong to China? Truly pathetic. If you really hung a map on the wall and still able to say that the Spratlys does not belong to the Philippines, then you should a) have your glasses fixed, and b) read up on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It's very clear.

3. Chip Tsao says, "Grimly, I told her that if war breaks out between the Philippines and China, I would have to end her employment and send her straight home, because I would not risk the crime of treason for sponsoring an enemy of the state by paying her to wash my toilet and clean my windows 16 hours a day. With that money, she would pay taxes to her government, and they would fund a navy to invade our motherland and deeply hurt my feelings..."

Wait, did I just read about the Philippines invading China? Hahaha. The only invasion that is happening is his country's invasion of our territory. And we are entitled as a sovereign nation to defend our land (or waters), right? So, Chip, you don't have to worry about us hurting your feelings because we would not invade China. We'll just build a navy to shoo away "invaders", just like a person might get a flyswatter to shoo away flies on his dinner.

4. Chip Tsao says, "Oh yes. The government of the Philippines would certainly be wrong if they think we Chinese are prepared to swallow their insult and sit back and lose a Falkland Islands War in the Far East. They may have Barack Obama and the hawkish American military behind them, but we have a hostage in each of our homes in the Mid-Levels or higher..."

Do you also think that we'll just sit back and let you do that? No f-ing way. Despite the best efforts of the impostor posing as our President to give your country a pass (of course, in exchange for "loans" that has no oversight, just like what your government does in Sudan and North Korea) by having her lackeys in our Congress pass a really stupid baselines bill, you still won't have it your way. By the way, be careful with what you wish for, Chip, you just might get it and Barack Obama might just have the "hawkish American military" kick your country's a** back to common sense (or to the Ming dynasty, whichever is farther).

As a parting shot, Chip, the last time a Chinese tried to invade these islands, he failed and squirreled away using a tunnel to the sea. Just ask Limahong.

It's your day today, Chip. Happy April Fools.

Yes to Choice!

2008-10-14T15:03:00.004+08:00

Blogger's Note: I have been meaning to write this for a really long time, but I have been too saddled with personal and professional stress to even start. I think it's still not too late to write about this.

At long last, the debates about House Bill 5043, also known as the Reproductive Health Bill, have started at the plenary of the House of Representatives. This bill, authored by Representatives Edcel Lagman, Janette Garin, Narciso Santiago III, Rissa Hontiveros-Baraquel, Mark Mendoza and Jesus Madrona, aims to promote and support reproductive health care services to the public, especially the poor who cannot afford those kinds of services. The bill also seeks to guarantee the freedom of informed choice of couples, as well as to provide information and education about different family planning methods. Of course, the bill has faced stiff opposition from the Catholic Church, who has not held back in pressuring lawmakers to oppose or withdraw their support for the bill. Some, those who have been cowed, have withdrawn their support.

I support the Reproductive Health Bill because we have to realize that our population needs to be managed in order for our country to have some sort of progress. It is foolish to think that we can just allow our population to grow faster than what our social infrastructure can handle. Those who insinuate otherwise need to reconsider whatever crap they are saying. Hindi yata sila nakakaranas na sumakay ng MRT kapag rush hour. In relation to that, we are still lacking thousands of classrooms, thousands of hospital beds and thousands of health centers, and yet, the population is still growing. Where in the world would we get the billions of pesos that we need to overcome the existing deficit and provide for the new needs?

That leads me to my second point. Opponents of the bill say that corruption is the real problem of this country, not overpopulation. They contend that we should just turn our sights on fighting corruption. That makes my head ache. News flash: Overpopulation is as much a problem as corruption. If our politicians do not have the political will to tackle something like overpopulation, how would they ever have the balls to fight corruption?

My third point is that the bill "will just promote abortion", as its opponents say. Look, I've read the bill and there's nothing there that promotes abortion. In fact, Section 3 (m) states that "...as abortion remains a crime and is punishable,...". Which part of that don't they understand? Opponents of the bill also say that it will just promote "immorality and infidelity". Hay naku, kesehodang nagco-condom si lalaki o hindi, kesehodang nagpi-pills si babae o hindi, kapag gustong mangaliwa ng isang tao, gagawin at gagawin niya pa rin iyun.

My fourth point is that if we do not manage our population, Nature would, and in methods we might see as catastrophic. As many of our towns lie in "geo-hazard zones", as a recent study by the DENR's Mines and Geosciences Bureau showed, more of our people are in danger of being caught in flashfloods, landslides and the like.

My fifth point is that these people think that a large population will save our economy by converting our people to be OFW's. Proof of this is a 2007 report by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) that featured a statement by Arroyo's presidential consultant on family affairs Jose Sandejas. He said, “Even if you are not able to educate them as well you would like, in the end their capability to quickly learn skills in the health services, in construction, as seamen, is going to save the Philippines”. Wala akong masamang tinapay sa mga OFW, pero ano ba, OFW na si Tatay sa Saudi, DH si Nanay sa Hong Kong, nasa Canada naman si Ate at nasa States si Kuya, pati si Bunso at ang apo, gagawing alila sa ibang bansa? Hindi man lang ba sisikapin ng mga gagong ito sa gobyerno na bigyan ang mga Pilipino ng trabaho sa sarili nating bansa? Ito na ba ang ipinagmamalaki nilang "economic policy"?

To be honest, I am writing this because I am sick and tired of all the lies, the innuendoes and the propaganda being thrown against this bill. Nakakabuwisit na ang mga kaipokrituhan ng mga "alagad ng Diyos" para lang harangin ang batas na ito. Kelangan natin itong batas na ito, hindi lang para sa atin, kundi para sa kapwa natin Pilipino at sa bansa natin. Masama na bang maghangad ng mabuti para sa ating bansa? Masama na bang maghangad ng mabuti para sa kapwa natin Pilipino? Hindi raw bibigyan ng Komunyon ang mga kongresistang susuporta sa batas na ito. Ibig sabihin ba, ayos lang bigyan ng Komunyon ang mga magnanakaw, ang mga mandaraya at ang mga corrupt, basta hindi susuportahan ang HB 5043? Pardon my language, but that is total bullshit. No wonder the Catholic Church is already losing its flock. Not only by continuing to support the hopelessly corrupt and illegitimate Arroyo regime, they are opposing a bill that could do so much good for our country.

To cap this blog, since the opponents of HB 5043 are continuing to cite religious and moral grounds to junk it, let me give the moral and religious ground of supporting this bill. Life is sacred, right? That is why we should, more than ever, support this bill. It will allow couples to plan their families, which will empower them to raise children who would live productive and well-rounded lives, just as God intended us to live being His children, made out of His own image. A life with dignity is not only a choice, it is a human right. Now I want to ask the opponents of HB 5043, nasaan ang dignidad ng taong kinakailangang maghalungkat sa basurahan para lang may makain? Nasaan ang dignidad ng taong kinakailangang magnakaw at magbenta ng sariling parte ng katawan para lang mabuhay? Isipin nyo nga iyan bago nyo sabihing imoral ang Reproductive Health Bill.

Iyun lang.

I missed writing...sigh

2008-10-14T15:00:00.002+08:00

I finally had the time to visit my blog after a long time...

So much has happened, particularly with my life, that I was not able to face the task of blogging here.

Now that everything is bound to change, I hope that I could continue this gig on a regular basis (meaning no more 5-month layoffs or stuff like that).

One Extra-Large Serving from the Noodle Bowl...

2008-05-22T11:32:00.007+08:00

Well, I am deeply sorry again for not being able to "re-fill" the Noodle Bowl for a long time...so, para makabawi, I am having this extra-large serving of my thoughts about the different issues that have come since I was away....

The Rice Crisis

For heaven's sakes, they really think that the policy of importing rice is the only way out of it, and it has resulted in epic failure. Instead of spending billions on importing rice, why not channel it on irrigation, seeds and fertilizer, as well as micro-finacing for farmers for them to be able to buy machines and other tools that could help them increase yields? Another thing, the government should amend the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program to require recipient farmers to plant rice at least once per crop season and that the land should not be left unused, otherwise it would be reverted to the government. And lastly, please lang, wala nang kurakot. Pero sa gobyerno ni Gloria, suntok sa buwan iyun.

Oil Price Hikes

Ngayon, nakikita na natin ang importansiya ng Spratlys sa atin. The JMSU should really be rescinded since the oil that we should be using has a chance of going to China instead at tayo ang pupulutin sa kangkungan. Another thing, now is the time to go full-throttle in exploring alternative energy and fuel sources. Maglakad na lang tayo o mag-commute kung malapit lang naman ang pupuntahan natin. Konting sakripisyo naman.

The Swine Scandal

Isang iskandalo na namang ibinaon sa libingan, sa tulong ni Winston Garcia. Whatever happened to the officials of Quedancor and the Department of Agriculture who are involved in this? Puro kababuyan na lang talaga ang idinudulot sa atin ng gobyernong ito.

The Cabuyao and Calamba Massacres

I have always been for the reimposition of the death penalty because first, it was just abolished by Gloria and her allies to pander to the whims of the bishops at para magpaganda ng imahe kay Pope Benedict XVI. Second, although I believe that human life is sacred, hindi na taong maituturing ang mga gumawa ng mga krimeng ito. Mga demonyo lang ang gumagawa ng karumal-dumal na krimeng gaya nito. Same goes to those who kill journalists, activists, unarmed soldiers, ordinary people who are accused of being either spies of the government or the rebels, etc. And although napatay na ng mga pulis ang mga suspect, this issue will still be going on until 2010.

Gun Control

This issue also came up after the bloody Laguna massacres, with Nandy Pacheco of Gunless Society leading the call. Mr. Pacheco, guns don't kill people, people kill other people. Do you think that if a gun could think and speak, it will agree to kill innocent people? If guns are banned, we might as well ban other things that could be used to harm or kill people, and that is about everything. Kung gusto ka talagang gawan ng masama, it doesn't matter if he has a gun or a knife or even a piece of wood. We should not deprive responsible citizens their right to defend themselves against thugs and murderers.

Cyclone Nargis

What in the world are the Burmese generals thinking? What they are doing is pure and premeditated murder. That is why I like the idea of having the US or the UN or any coalition of nations invade Burma and militarily overthrowing the junta on humanitarian grounds. Trouble is, George Bush won't invade because Burma doesn't have oil, the UN insists on diplomatic pressure, and the rest of the world won't budge until either the US or the UN does something.

Fare Hikes

Actually, it's now just fine for me (as opposed in the past, when I would violently react) to have a fare increase, but as I was going to Cubao this morning, a passenger complained that he was overcharged by P2.00, when the increase was only P0.50 on the minimum fare. I wonder, who would protect the passengers from this kind of practice? Kanino tatakbo ang mga pasaherong pinagkakasya na parang sardinas, na hindi sinusuklian ng tama? Some leaders of transport groups speak and think as if sila lang ang nahihirapan sa buhay. Paano naman ang mga mahihirap na pasahero nila? Tama ba namang magbulag-bulagan sila sa mga kabulastugan ng mga miyembro nila? That is why the LTFRB should withold their decision on the P1.50 fare increase until there is an assurance from the transport groups that they will deal with these kinds of shenanigans.

The Cebu Canister Scandal

The current punishment for those involved is not enough for me. They should be suspended or stripped of their licenses and pay compensation to "Danilo". Meron namang kumukunsinti sa mga doktor. Hindi na ba sila nahiya sa ginawa nila?

Hermogenes Esperon's Retirement

(cue music) Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na, hey, hey, goodbye! 'Nuff said.

Jun Lozada and Dante Madriaga's Security and the new ZTE Evidence

They say a picture paints a thousand words, but for me, the new photographic evidence that surfaced just paints three words: Guilty si Gloria.

Juan Ponce Enrile yapping about the P2 million being spent for Jun Lozada and Dante Madriaga's safety but keeping silent about the taxpayers shouldering P16 billion for the anomalous ZTE deal? Mag-retiro ka na, Senator. Kung ayaw mo naman, uninom ka na lang ng Sustagen Premium. Nagkakaroon ka ata ng memory gap.

The Meralco-GSIS Saga

Well, this government seems to have a knack for trying or actually getting what is not theirs. Their latest victim is Lopez-owned Meralco, under the guise of lowering power rates. They think that they will get three things from this naked power grab by Gloria stooge Winston Garcia; they can pressure the Lopezes into forcing ABS-CBN to tone down on the anti-Gloria rhetoric, they can have another big piece of meat to throw to their cronies (the Aboitizes, the Razons, and Winston's own family, among others) after Transco and some of the privatized parts of Napocor, and they can shore up Gloria's really stinking popularity numbers. However, it seems that the villain (the Lopezes) has now become a hero, and the other villain (Gloria and Co.), well, still a villain.

I just checked my March electric bill (since that's the latest I could find) and although Meralco also has a fault on the high cost of electricity (my charge for Systems Loss was 8.8%, which translated to P132.43--imagine that!), the Generation part was a whopping 53.1% of my bill, which translated to P794.29, the Transmission cost was P162.72 or 10.9% of the bill, and Government Taxes took up 10.4% or P155.76. In contrast, the Distribution cost was 15.1% or P225.33.

What does that mean? Well, for me, that means that everybody has a hand in the high prices of power; Napocor, Transco, Meralco, us (the consumer). Walang puwedeng magmalinis. However, there are those who are more responsible than others, and they are the ones yapping all about it. And that throws doubt into the real reason why Gloria's dogs are after Meralco and Meralco alone.

If I forgot something, please let me know about it.

While I was Away...

2008-04-14T16:18:00.002+08:00

Ahh...I'm back after a month or so of job-hunting/vacation/reflection/gathering more "ingredients" for the Noodle Bowl. I really missed writing here.

So many has happened while I was "off-line", and yet so little has changed, much of it for the worse. The Evil One is still in Malacanang, the Supreme Court (or at least 9 of them) has effectively connived with The Evil One in hiding her crimes, and we are facing a rice crisis. During that time too, Jun Lozada has visited my "hometown", Dagupan City, but not without incident.

As of now, the country is waiting for the end of the rice crisis, as well as the hearing on the Senate's Motion for Reconsideration on the Neri ruling.

Abangan ang susunod na kabanata.

The Trojan Horse has Arrived...

2008-03-11T20:18:00.005+08:00

I was watching the testimony of Leo San Miguel, the "surprise witness" for the latest installment of the ZTE-NBN hearings, and I can only summarize his "performance" in two words: Trojan Horse.

Tama, hindi si Dante Madriaga ang "Trojan Horse". Si Leo San Miguel ang "Trojan Horse" na matagal nang pinaghahanap. Pakawala, sa madaling salita.

Why did I come to that conclusion? Well, based from what I saw on TV, almost half of his replies were "I don't know" or "I don't remember". He was not able to remember his flights to Hong Kong a few months back, yet he can remember that he met Gen. Quirino Dela Torre 30 years ago, and they had a business 15 years ago. Selective amnesia? I don't know.

Another thing, he admitted that the e-mail address used in sending the "Tongpats" spreadsheet to Dante Madriaga was his. But he would not admit that he knows something about the payoffs. What the heck was that? Is he trying to say that somebody else used his email and sent that file? If that's the case, then he sucks for a "technical guy".

He also continues to deny that he is not a part of the "Greedy Group", but all three witnesses (Madriaga, Joey DV and Jun Lozada) put him on one way or the other with Ben Abalos and Co. Sinasabi ba niyang pinagtutulungan siya?

That is why I consider him as the planted witness of Malacanang to scuttle the ongoing probe. He is in too deep to be let go. However, for that same reason, I also believe that he could still be coaxed to spill the beans.

It's up to the Senate to make him sing the correct tunes.

"Jun Ban" Lifted, But With Conditions

2008-03-07T12:58:00.003+08:00

Yesterday, I also wrote about the DepEd directive to ban Jun Lozada and Ben "Borjer" Abalos from their respective school tours (Ben-borjer is still on the planning stage, J-Lozada is like the real J-Lo, having his tours all raging hits). Today, DepEd secretary Jesli Lapus has lifted the ban, but with conditions for Lozada. (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/83722/DepEd-chief-says-Lozada-may-now-speak-at-schools-but-)

He said that "pwede sa graduation, kung di siya mag-incite or mag-create ng controversy. Alam natin pakay niya mag-incite ng ano. Ang paghahanap ng katotohanan di tayo nakakasiguro sino totoo sino hindi."

What?

How can Secretary Lapus be sure that Jun Lozada wants to incite something and create controversy? Does something like seeking and fighting for the truth need incitement? Is seeking and fighting for the truth a cause for controversy? For heaven's sakes, that is something that we should be doing naturally as citizens of this country. It does not need incitement. It should not be a source of controversy, instead it should be a source of pride and honor.

In a nation governed by lies and deceit, the truth is a revolutionary idea that is a cause for controversy.

MC 108 Gets The Boot Too, But...

2008-03-07T12:32:00.004+08:00

I woke up this morning and I learned through DZMM that Memorandum Circular 108 has also been repealed through the issuance of Memorandum Circular 151. I confirmed this through the ABS-CBN website too (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=111416). MC 151 states that "Executive officials and employees are advised to follow and abide by the constitution, existing laws and jurisprudence including, among others, 'Senate v Ermita, GR no 169777, April 20, 2006,' when they are invited to legislative inquiries in aid of legislation,". In effect, government officials who are being summoned by Congress can no longer invoke them to skip hearings.

Seems like that I should thank GMA, right? After all, I posted just yesterday that MC 108 should be abolished too if ever they want the truth to come out. Okay, for whatever it's worth, thank you, GMA.

However, everyone has seen the previous hearings and everyone will agree with me that these government officials will risk looking like clowns (see Angel Atutubo, Rodolfo Cusi, Paul Mascarinas and Avelino Razon, among others) just to hide something. Besides, who could tell that they will not use a wide range of excuses (like slipping on the bathroom, having a dead fingernail, etc.) just to evade the Senate?

EO 464 and MC 108 might be dead, but we will still be watching.

The evil witch might just summon something again to muzzle the truth.

EO 464 Gets Lifted? So What?

2008-03-06T13:34:00.002+08:00

So GMA has lifted Executive Order 464, in order for government officials to be able to attend legislative hearings. This was done after consultations with religious leaders and her officials.

I don't give a rat's ass about that.

They still have Memorandum Circular 108 (http://www.ops.gov.ph/records/mc_108.htm), which says that all heads of departments must obtain the consent of the President to appear before the House or the Senate. It also states that it covers "conversations and correspondence between the President and other persons on matters of privilege".

If they are really for the truth, then they must also repeal MC 108.

"Jun Ban"

2008-03-06T13:12:00.004+08:00

It was all over the news yesterday. The Department of Education, headed by Secretary Jesli Lapus, reportedly released a directive banning ZTE scandal whistleblower Jun Lozada and former COMELEC Chairman Benjamin Abalos from conducting symposia or fora on public schools. This directive was issued to "insulate" students from politics.

What?

This move just smacks of the growing desperation of the Arroyo administration to fend off the rising movement to force GMA into leaving (her illegally acquired) office. By this directive, they hoped to stem the tide of student participation in mass actions against them. But this is just like plugging a dam's leak with their finger.

This is also the latest move of an increasingly authoritarian regime pretending to be a democratic one. From the "state of rebellion" to EO 464 and MC 108, from Proclamation 1017 to the curfew imposed during the Manila Pen incident and the "no-fly zone" imposed on Makati last February 29, from the one week "gun ban" imposed last week to this latest DepEd directive, it shows that we are slowly being subjected to an "undeclared Martial Law".

Should we wait any further?

Thank God for the Senate

2008-03-05T21:55:00.003+08:00

The Senate junked the so-called "compromise agreement" that was ironed out by the Supreme Court yesterday in order for CHED Chairman Romulo Neri to appear before Senate hearings on the NBN-ZTE deal. The senators reasoned out that the agreement will curtail their power to conduct investigations in aid of legislation.

Oo nga naman.

What kind of a deal was that, anyway? You let Chicke-Neri to appear, but he cannot answer some of the most important questions? I think that was more of a "cover-up agreement". The search for truth is uncensored. It does not compromise nor leave anything untouched.

Good thing that the senators did not bite, buttressing their rising credibility. Meanwhile, the House of Representa-thieves, save for the minority congressmen, are continuing to defend the indefensible.

Thank God for the Senate, and damn the House of Representa-thieves to hell.

Post-Interfaith Rally Report

2008-03-02T11:35:00.003+08:00

I went to the Interfaith Rally last Friday with a fellow member in Ms. Ellen Tordesillas' blog, Kuya Jack Serrano, and we were surprised at the sheer number of people who participated. It clearly dwarfed the one last February 15th. The throng of people reached up to the front of Rustan's on the Ayala Ave. side. Every sector was represented; students, workers, the religious, professionals, the civil society, and ordinary citizens like me. We met Ms. Ellen Tordesillas, who was backstage, but after negotiating a long way around (we were in the side of Ninoy Aquino's monument) due to the huge crowd. Whoever gave the PNP the 15,000 people estimate was either stupid or lying.

We saw a lot of personalities on that rally. Aside from former Presidents Cory Aquino and Joseph Estrada, we also saw Senators Noynoy Aquino and Koko Pimentel (yes, I just called him Senator), Congressmen Crispin Beltran, Satur Ocampo and Roilo Golez, former Vice President Tito Guingona, Iloilo Vice Governor Rolex Suplico, Bro. Armin Luistro, Bishops Oscar Cruz and Ted Bacani, Frs. Robert Reyes and Joe Dizon, as well as Manay Gina de Venecia, Jun Lozada, Joey de Venecia, Armida Siguion-Reyna, Grace Poe-Llamanzares, Pen Medina and Gina Alajar.

While we were there, we received a report that Makati has been declared a no-fly zone. I did not see any Stinger missiles or anti-aircraft guns on the rally site, so what was that for? The only thing that was launched to the skies that day were the green balloons. Was that the "threat" they were talking about? Jeez.

The rally ended peacefully at around 8:30 pm. The event, especially when everybody sang "Bayan Ko" with clenched fists in the air, gave me goosebumps.

Blogswarm: Weak! Lame!

2008-02-27T22:01:00.002+08:00

Last night, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) met for 10 hours, and everybody is hoping that they will issue some kind of strong statement about the current political crisis. So it was a big letdown that the CBCP instead distanced themselves from calling the imposter president Gloria Arroyo to step down, and opting to just ask for the abolition of EO 464, which bars government officials to appear on Senate hearings without Malacanang's consent.

What?

Allow me to belt out my best impersonation of South Park's Eric Cartman in saying that the pastoral letter was "weak!" and "lame!"

Although I have wanted the Church to stay out of politics since EDSA 2, where they really screwed up, they really chose a bad time to clam up. As far as I know, it is already a moral issue when someone steals and lies about it. It becomes more so if the culprit is pretending to be the president of the country.

I can only remember what the Reverend said in the movie "The Patriot", "It is the shepherd's duty to tend to the flock, and at times, fight off the wolves." Our shepherds, save for some like Bishops Deogracias Iniguez, Oscar Cruz and Ted Bacani, have allowed the wolves to savage the flock.

God save the Philippines.

Blogswarm: The Fish is Caught through its Mouth

2008-02-27T21:38:00.002+08:00

Pardon me if I was not able to post my personal accounts from the February 15th rally in Makati, as well as from the Baclaran Church celebration last Monday, as I was really too immersed into work. But allow me to comment about the admission (because there is no other way to call it) of Gloria Arroyo that there were indeed flaws in the NBN-ZTE contract.

She said in a radio interview that she only learned about the flaws the night before she was to witness the signing in Boao, China last April 21, 2007 and she was not able to do anything since "she did not want to embarrass us in front of the Chinese". What?

There have been many discussions, and as word spread that the DZRH interview was in effect an admission of irregularity, our version of Saddam's "Comical Ali", Toting Bunye, suddenly chimes in and says that she was not saying that there were flaws. What?

I only have some points of mine left, as all other points were already discussed all over the place. First, no one was asking her to cancel the deal outright by that time. She should have at least set aside the NBN-ZTE contract and told the Chinese that it "needs further study". I think they would have understood, being meticulous fellows too. aside from that, instead of embarrassing ourselves, we would have gotten their respect instead as it will show that we are that serious about matters like those.

Of course, it would have not crossed her mind, as well as those other points raised by different people. The only thing that was on her mind by that time was ZTE, and Fan Yang's $30 million "advance payment", if Dante Madriaga is to be believed.

Ang isda nga naman, nahuhuli sa bunganga. Only that this barracuda still struggles to get free.

Tama na. Sobra na. Kumilos na.

Blogswarm: Gloria Resign Now!

2008-02-15T13:12:00.002+08:00

This is in support of the raging call for change in our country. The time has come for Gloria Arroyo and her minions to be accountable for their sins against the country. It is also time for the people to stand up and be counted among those who seek real change.

I will be in Makati today. The greatest good requires sacrifice.

Let the Collapse Begin

2008-02-07T12:50:00.000+08:00

It has been a roller-coaster week so far, beginning with the ouster of ex-Gloria ally Rep. Jose de Venecia as House Speaker by the "slighted" Arroyo brothers and their (paid) allies in Congress. Like what they did in 2004, they declared Davao Rep. Prospero Nograles as the new Speaker sometime past 1 am last Tuesday, proving yet again that they are thieves who do their work in the dark.

It seemed that one "problem" for the Arroyo Mafia has been solved, but as telemarketers say, wait, there's more. The newest witness in the ZTE scandal, Rodolfo Noel "Jun" Lozada, arrived in the country Tuesday afternoon, and was promptly whisked away, well, more like "abducted" by some police personnel. Lozada's family moved fast, going to court to seek his return to them. And finally, after much noise and PNP Chief Avelino Razon looking like a pathetic shell of a liar rather than a respected officer of the law, Jun Lozada surfaced in a press conference this morning at De La Salle Greenhills, giving the nation a taste of what he's going to spill in a future Senate hearing.

It's all starting to fall into place. More and more people are singing like canaries against the excesses and avarice of this illegal regime. JDV is starting to burn his bridges with the family who betrayed him, and he's got more than enough ammunition against them. If only Romy Neri and the others could be man enough and join in the chorus.

It is February, a most auspicious month for Philippine politics. A president who was accused of avarice and corruption was overthrown 22 years ago this month. Perhaps it is time for the current demon to be handed the same fate.

Let the collapse begin.

The Seven-Year Itch

2008-01-22T13:53:00.000+08:00

It has been seven years and two days since the massive slap in democracy's face called EDSA Dos happened, and the truth is slowly coming out that it is indeed nothing but a naked power grab by an ambitious cabal of politicians from a legitimately elected president. Recent newspaper reports have revealed that the late Jaime Cardinal Sin has disobeyed Vatican orders to stay away from politics. The Vatican might have known through direct or hidden channels that the Cardinal is part of a political plot, so they directed him to back off, but the late cardinal proceeded. Too bad he did not live long enough to see first hand what he had wrought upon this country.

Despite of these, there are still people in deep denial that they were just used by the current ruling cabal to destroy democracy. I cannot blame them, for it is human nature to deny that they have been duped. As long as this persists, there will be no closure for this sorry chapter in our nation's history.

The first step to achieve closure for our country is for all those who took part in that sham exercise to apologize to the Filipino people for disregarding their voice and bringing our country to where it is now, and to the President they deprived of his position for doing such act. After the contrition must come the cleansing. Everybody must unite to set things right once more.

The "seven-year itch" pretending to be the President should be scratched at the soonest possible time, so that the healing can begin for our land.

Launch

2008-01-17T22:07:00.000+08:00

This is my first entry in my own blog...I created this blog for my opinions about the different things that are happening around us. I would have opted to write it in my Friendster blog, but some of it might be a little inappropriate for that setting.

Why is this blog titled "The Noodle Bowl Boils Over"? It is a reference to my long-time Net "handle" or screen name, mami_noodles. For a long time, I have opted to merely observe what is happening around me, all the madness and depravity included. If I were to comment, I would just keep it to myself or to a circle of trusted friends. But recently, I have decided that I have to include my voice, no matter how small it is, if I were to hope that things change for the better.

What made the "noodle bowl" boil, so to speak? The "boiling point" came last November 29, during the Manila Pen incident. That event made me realize that it is time to add my voice to those like me, those who are disgusted with the way an unelected ruler is running this country to the ground. It is time to speak, before they take the freedom to do it away.

I timed this blog's first entry seven years to the time where it all started (to the eyes of many Filipinos). This will also be the start of my own journey of dissecting opinions that might be taboo to the eyes of many, yet deserves to be put out.