When you are greeted with silence.

Nang balewalain ka ay naghinanakit ka. Ang ginawa nila ay nagsawalang kibo na lang. What does it mean?

1. Apathy.
Let him go. Hayaan mo bumaba sa tungkulin. Desisyon nya yan. Respetuhin. Kung ayaw na ay ganoon talaga. May mga darating pang ibang mang-aawit. Kaya naman natin na mga natitira. May mas importante pa tayong aasikasuhin. Di siya kawalan sa atin.
2. Guilt.
Manahimik na lang tayo. Huhupa naman ang galit niyan. Tsaka na natin kausapin kung ok na siya. Huwag na natin palalain ang sitwasyon. Wala na magsasalita. Umasa na lang tayo na magkapatawaran sa mga susunod na araw.
3. Shame.
Nahihiya na ako lapitan siya. Nahihiya na ako kausapin siya. Sumbat lang aabutin natin. Pakumbaba na lang tayo. Hintay na lang tayo ng tiyempo na kausapin siya.
4. Anger.
Huwag na pansinin. Hayaan mo maranasan niya ang mag-isa. May kasalanan din kasi siya. Magtiis sya. Walang kakausap dyan hanggang ma-realize niya na hindi pwede ang pag-iinarte niya.
5. Counter-grudge.
Ginawa naman natin ang makakaya natin. Hindi pa ba sapat iyon? Nasaktan din ako. Kung siya nagtatampo ay nagtatampo din ako. Amanos lang kami.
6. Give-up.
Bakit naman siya ganun? Sumuko agad. Unawain na lang natin siya. Sana magbago pa isip niya. Wala na tayo magagawa.
7. Confusion.
I dont understand why these things happen. I am confused. I have nothing to say.
8. Breather.
I need time to think all these things. Leave me alone for quite some time.
9. Hiding something.
I cannot express myself. Hindi ko pwede sabihin. Mas mainam na manahimik na lang. Para sa ikabubuti ng lahat.
10. Authority.
Di ako padadala sa anumang emosyon. Lider ako. I should be on top of things. I cannot be swayed by any misgivings of my people. Ano na lang sasabihin nila kung bibigay ako sa arte nila.

Catholic Defender's Stupidity

Joining the parade of Catholic stupidity, FRANZ LUIGI LUGENA asserts that the Roman Catholic Church was never the state religion in the Philippines during the Spanish times. He says,

“Eh sabi ng referensya, yung 1876 Spanish Constition which makes Catholicism as state religion, was never extended in the Philippines. Nangangahulugan eto na hindi rin extended sa Pilipinas yung rule na Catholicism ang state religion. So base na rin sa argumento mo, lalabas na merong separation of church and state sa Pilipinas sapagkat walang state religion sa Pilipinas.” (FRANZ LUIGI LUGENA-Facebook Comment)

This ridiculous assertion came after he had failed to support his other ridiculous definition of SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE. According to LUGENA,

"Ang separation of church and state eh hindi lang nakatali sa prohibition ng pagtatayo ng state religion. Yung exclusivity at distinction sa duties ng gobyerno at simbahan ay isang porma ng separation of church and state. The fact na ang gobyerno eh walang kapangyarihang magsagawa ng misa at mag administer ng mga sakramento, at ang simbahan na magpasa at magpatupad ng secular laws at mag appriate ng pondo ng gobyerno ay nagpapakita na merong separation between church and state.” (FRANZ LUIGI LUGENA- Facebook comment)

When challenged to apply his stupid definition of concept of Separation of Church and State to countries with union of church and state, he had no choice but to deny that Roman Catholic was not the state religion of Philippines during Spanish times. LUGENA also avoided answering the question whether Spain itself had separation of church and state based on his street-heard definition.

STATE RELIGION

Does being a state religion anchor solely on Constitution? Definitely NOT. More often than not, the constitution only put in writing the previous and existing ruling state policies. In the case of Spanish Constitution of 1876 declaring the ROMAN CATHOLIC as the STATE RELIGION OF SPAIN, this constitution only reiterated the agreements between the POPE and the Queen of Spain. The immediate preceding CONCORDAT in 1851 agreement between the Catholic as a religion and Spain as a state specified that “the Roman Catholic religion was to continue, to the exclusion of every other, to be the only religion of the Spanish nation, and was to be maintained, so far as his Catholic majesty has the power, "in all the rights and prerogatives which it should enjoy according to the law of God and canonical sanction.”

Although the Spanish Constitution of 1876 was not extended to the colonies including the Philippines, the CONCORDAT agreement served as the legal basis of the union of church and state in all its colonial affairs.

Joaquin Bernas, in his essay, DID NOT say that Catholicsm was NOT the state religion. He said that Catholic Church was the established church or the official church on the basis of state protection under the Penal code of 1884 which was in effect in the Philippines. By definition, a state religion is the official and established religion.

The terms of the CONCORDAT of 1851 were really in effect in the Philippines. Reviewing the terms in this agreement between the POPE and the Queen of Spain, one may surely understand why Joaquin Bernas did not discuss this CONCORDAT because of possible complication of exposing the dark realities inside the Catholicism.

CONCORDAT of 1851

There were previous CONCORDATS between Spain and Vatican before 1851. According to Catholic encyclopedia, “the first was dated 13 May, 1418, between Martin V and John II of Castile. The second, between Philip V and Innocent XIII, may be regarded as the forerunner of the agreement made 2 January, 1753, by Benedict XIV and Ferdinand VI, which remained the basis of the union of Church and State in Spain and her colonies until the death of Ferdinand VII in 1833. “ In the subsequent years in Puerto Rico, the state “despoiled the Church of much property and disbanded the only two communities of religious men, the Dominicans and Franciscans, appropriating to the State their convents and properties.” To resolve this conflict, a new CONCORDAT was concluded by the Spain and the Pope in 1851. The Concordat highlighted the greed of the Catholicism.

TERMS of CONCORDAT of 1851

1. Roman Catholic as state religion of Spanish nation.
This is not in consonance to Rizal' statement:

“No one has a monopoly of the true God, nor is there a nation or religion that can claim, or at any rate prove, that it has been given the exclusive right to the Creator or sole knowledge of His Being. “- RIZAL
Annotations to Morga's Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas - translated by Austin Craig

2. Conformance of education to Catholic doctrine.
Rizal portrayed the Catholic Church defective policy on education in Chapter 27 of El Filibusterismo.

3. Rights of Clergy and religious orders for RESPECT and compensation from government.

“They say that prudence is sanctity. But, what sanctity have they shown us? To pray and kneel a lot, kiss the hand of the priests, throw money away on churches, and believe all the friar sees fit to tell us; gossip, callous rubbing of noses.”- RIZAL, To the young women of Malolos.

“Why, then, do the friars now refuse to stir a foot unless paid in advance? And, as if they were starving, they sell scapularies, rosaries, bits, and other things which are nothing but schemes for making money and detriment to the soul; because even if all the rags on earth were converted into scapularies and all the trees in the forest into rosaries, and if the skins of all the beasts were made into belts and if all the priests of the earth mumbled prayers over all this and sprinkled oceans of holy water over it, this would not purify a rogue or condone sin where there is no repentance. Thus, also, through cupidity and love of money, they will, for a price, revoke the numerous prohibitions such as those against eating meat, marrying close relatives, etc. you can do almost anything if you but grease their palms. Why that? Can God be bribed and bought off, and blinded by money, nothing more nor less than a friar”-RIZAL, To the young women of Malolos.

4. Right of the church to acquire property
In El Filibusterismo novel, Kabesang Tales lost his land property to greedy Friars.



LUGENA ALIBI

LUGENA insisted with his idiot definition of Separation of Church and State by challenging:

“Kung totoo yang claim mo na walang separation of church and state nung panahon ng Spanish Occupation, dapat sana may mga pari na nagpapalakad ng gobyerno at may mga guadia sibil na nagmimisa.” (LUGENA-Facebook comment)

Accepting his idiotic challenge, there was indeed a time when an archbishop of Manila, Manuel Rojo was appointed as the Governor-General of the Philippines in 1759 during the British Occupation of Manila.

LUGENA replied:

“Ilitaw mo rin na may guardia sibil na nagmimisa. Part yun ng hamon ko sayo. Kung totoo yang haka mo na walang separation of church and state nun, dapat homogenous ang simbahan at estado. Priests do the job of government officials and vice versa. Kaya ilitaw mo rin na merong mga government officials na nagmimisa." -(LUGENA, Facebook comment)

Continuing to accept his idiotic challenge, there are CHAPLAINS assigned in military. These CHAPLAINS are government officials doing the religious functions.

LUGENA further asserted his alibi:

“Military chaplains are priests. Maliwanag yan sa Canon 564. They are capable of celebrating mass because of the fact that they were ordained, not because the state granted them the power/authority to celebrate the mass. Even so, you have yet to show us an instance during the Spanish colonial period that members of the guardia civil can celebrate masses. The fact that until now you failed to show any evidence means that there is simply none. Celebrating masses are exclusive for ordained priests of the church. [Canon 900, par.1] The exclusivity of this duty of the church testifies to the existence of separation of church and state. “ (LUGENA- Facebook Comment)

It is wrong to say that military chaplains are priest because even lay person can be a chaplain. It is irrelevant if a chaplain is a priest or not. The point is a chaplain is a government official being paid by the government to do religious functions.

So, LUGENA insisted that there should be a “guardia sibil” not just any government officials, that can celebrate mass to prove otherwise that there was a separation of church and state.

Since it is very difficult to find this absurd proof, the challenge was returned to LUGENA to prove his definition by showing “guardia sibil” celebrating mass in countries where there is an union of church and state such as SPAIN and VATICAN.

LUGENA avoided to answer the question whether Spain had separation of Church and State because he knew that his definition will not match. It is indeed absurd to let Guardia Sibil to celebrate mass. In the case of Vatican, where there is an obvious union of church and state, are the swiss guards authorized to celebrate Mass? LUGENA replied:

“Dahil yung swiss guard eh under ng Pontifical Commission for Vatican State na pinamumunuan ng mga pari. Kung kaya yung political at religious functions ay parehong ginagawa ng simbahan sa Vatican” (LUGENA-Facebook comment)

Therefore, LUGENA is very stupid to ask for additional proof for “guardia sibil” celebrating mass because the mere fact that Manuel Rojo, an archbishop who can celebrate mass was also appointed as Governor-General of the Philippines of which he has direct control of all guardia sibil.

THIS SHOWS THE STUPIDITY OF CATHOLIC DEFENDERS WHO NEVER USE REASON NOR TEST THEIR REASONING IF VALID OR NOT.

CATHOLIC ABSURDITIES

True to its century-old scheme of desperately keeping their members, the Catholic Church has been known of corrupting education in order to hide the truth and deceive many people. Although Catholic failed once to stop the inclusion of the study on the writings of Rizal in the Philippine Basic Education, Catholic fanatics are still unstoppable with their evil trick of deceiving themselves as well as their ignorant followers with the belief that Rizal was never unfriendly to the Catholic Church.

Just recently, a Catholic defender of unknown educational background ridiculously attempted to show that Rizal considered the Catholic Church as TRUE RELIGION when the famous NOLI ME TANGERE was published. This Catholic defender, by the name FRANZ LUIGI LUGENA says

Ano ba patotoo ni Rizal patungkol sa Simbahang Katoliko? Sa sulat niya kay Blumentritt dated March 05, 1887 patungkol sa NoliMe Tangere, eto ang kanyang sabi:“Inalisan ko ng takip sa mukha ang pagbabanal-banalan, na sa pamamagitan ng relihiyong ginagawang kanlungan, ay nagpahirap at nagpalagay sa aming parang mga hayop. Sinikap kong ipakilala ang pagkakaiba ng tunay na relihiyon sa di-tunay. Itong huli – and di-tunay na relihiyon – ay nagpapausbong ng pamahiin at gumagamit ng mga banal na salita upang maakit ang aming salapi, UPANG MAPAPANIWALA KAMI SA MGA BAGAY NA DI-MAAARING MATANGGAP NG RELIHIYON KATOLIKA KAILANMA’T AABOT SA KANYANG KAALAMAN.” [Ref: Noli Me Tangere 5th Ed., Jose Rizal (isinalin ni Guzman-Laksamana-Guzman)]Textbook yan sa high school. Check it. Ani Rizal, yung di tunay na relihiyon ay nagtuturo ng mga bagay na DI-MAAARING MATANGGAP NG RELIHIYON KATOLIKA KAILANMA’T AABOT SA KANYANG KAALAMAN. Maliwanag na ang Simbahang Katoliko ay HINDI KABAHAGI ng di tunay na relihiyon na binabaka ni Rizal. Kung walang kinalaman ang Simbahan sa di tunay na relihiyon, ano siya? TUNAY NA RELIHIYON. (FACEBOOK COMMENT –Aug 12, 2011)

Obviously, the article does not explicitly says so. LUGENA just made an absurd interpretation out of poor academic scrutiny with invalid assumptions without considering pertinent circumstances.

On the contrary, the letter written by Rizal has a consistent tone of sarcasm that reflects the same sarcastic content of the novel, NOLI ME TANGERE. The letter directly and explicitly describes FALSE RELIGION. A very valid reasonable question: Was there any other religion during Rizal’s time that he described as FALSE RELIGION other than the CATHOLIC CHURCH?

This composition is to assert that LUGENA 1) failed to understand the text 2) failed to check and to validate his interpretation with the factual circumstances during the time when Rizal wrote the letter.

TEXTUAL CRITICISM TO LUGENA BONEHEAD ANALYSIS

None a single statement of a sane mind would say that absurdity is acceptable to anyone. Absurdities are NOT ACCEPTABLE to every sane person only until that person realizes that what he/she has been doing are absurd. In tagalog expression, “wala naman tanga na aamin na tanga siya hangga’t hindi niya napatunayan sa sarili niya na tanga nga talaga siya”. Likewise, “hindi matatanggap ng Katolisismo na may mga katawa-tawang silang pangangatwiran hangga’t hindi niya nalalaman”.

Through the novel, NOLI ME TANGERE, Rizal unmasked the hypocrisy, brutality and absurdities of Catholic Church. Being hypocrite, the Catholicsm would definitely NOT ACCEPT their absurdities IF IT (the Catholicsm) WOULD KNOW THEM (absurdities).

The statement of Rizal is no different from a disclosure of conclusion in a case of confrontation. One would say, “Tatapatin na kita. Alam kong di mo matatanggap na isa kang mangmang kung alam mo lang.” Similarly, those brutalities and absurdities of Catholicsm are not naturally NOT AMENABLE to Catholics IF THEY KNOW.

LUGENA failed to understand the adverbial clause, “IF IT WOULD KNOW THEM”. This clause reveals the problem of Catholic Church of NOT ACKNOWLEDGING things happening in their midst. Catholics are indeed hypocrites – believing in things yet doing otherwise.The very purpose of the novel was to tell the truth.

The letter of Rizal dated March 5, 1887 was officially published in 1992 by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines with the following English translation:

I have unmasked hypocrisy that under the cloak of religion has impoverished and brutalized us. I have distinguished the true religion from the false, from the superstitious, from that which capitalizes the holy word in order to extract money, IN ORDER TO MAKE US BELIEVE IN ABSURDITIES OF WHICH CATHOLICISM WOULD BLUSH IF IT WOULD KNOW THEM.

In this official document, it is clear that Rizal did not imply that the Catholic Church is the TRUE RELIGION. On the contrary, he sarcastically described FALSE RELIGION that matched with that of the CATHOLIC CHURCH- the only religion being highlighted in the novel.

It was indeed shameful for Catholic Church when Rizal disclosed their hypocrisy. Moreover, it is even more shameful for Catholics today like LUGENA to consider an insulting sarcasm as a complement.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

When Rizal wrote the novel NOLI ME TANGERE, he was already excommunicated by the Catholic Church because of association of Rizal to MASON. He even wrote other related anti-clerical letter like TO THE YOUNG WOMEN OF MALOLOS. When the novel reached the Philippine shore, the Catholic hierarchy in the Philippines branded Rizal as heretic. Catholic emissaries were even sent to convince Rizal to return to the Catholic fold.
On what reasonable grounds then shall we believe that Rizal considered Catholic Church as the true religion?

It is rather best to check if Catholic Church is the false religion being described by Rizal. Rizal described false religion as brutalizing people under the cloak of religion, superstitious, and capitalizing absurdities in order to collect money.

A. Brutality under cloak of religion. One of the goals of the encomienda system was to Christianize the native people. Yet, under this seemingly holy purpose, abuses was committed by the colonizing Catholic country,Spain and the Catholic church as beneficiary of this crime.

B. Superstition. Rizal mentioned one superstition in the novel . i.e. pagsimba sa UBANDO para mabuntis. Superstition is an unreasonable causality- associating someone’s action to unrelated future events. Philippine customs and traditions are full of superstitions- from birth, to marriage and even to death. Superstitions are related closely to Catholic sacraments and practices.

C. Capitalizing Absurdities in order to extort money. Selling of indulgence and sacramental fees are all-time examples of Catholic extortion. This Catholic practice of selling indulgence is equivalent to payment to the church in order to be saved from purgatory.
Rizal’s strong condemnation of this Catholic practice is very vivid in his letter TO THE YOUNG WOMEN OF MALOLOS:

“Why, then, do the friars now refuse to stir a foot unless paid in advance? And, as if they were starving, they sell scapularies, rosaries, bits, and other things which are nothing but schemes for making money and detriment to the soul; because even if all the rags on earth were converted into scapularies and all the trees in the forest into rosaries, and if the skins of all the beasts were made into belts and if all the priests of the earth mumbled prayers over all this and sprinkled oceans of holy water over it, this would not purify a rogue or condone sin where there is no repentance. Thus, also, through cupidity and love of money, they will, for a price, revoke the numerous prohibitions such as those against eating meat, marrying close relatives, etc. you can do almost anything if you but grease their palms. Why that? Can God be bribed and bought off, and blinded by money, nothing more nor less than a friar? The brigand who has obtained a bull of compromise can live calmly on the proceeds of his robbery, because he will be forgiven. God, then, will at a table where theft provides the viands? Has the omnipotent become pauper that He must assume the role of the excise man or gendarme? If that is the God whom the friar adores, then I turn my back upon that God.” (RIZAL, TO YOUNG WOMEN OF MALOLOS)

LUGENA ALIBIS

When asked “to what False Religion was Rizal referring to?”, LUGENA replied that it was the FALSE CATHOLIC CHURCH headed by the band of PADRE DAMASO. He even said that the true Catholic Church was that of Padre Florentino.

RIZAL said about FALSE RELIGION and not FALSE FRIARS. Padre Damaso and Padre Florentino shared with the same Catholic Church. The novel microcosmically described the prevailing oppresive, brutal, and absurd Catholic leadership in the Philippines. If we accept the ridiculous argument of LUGENA then FALSE religions will just easily disown their erring priests and pastors and still say that they are all TRUE RELIGIONS.

LUGENA also made a diversionary technique of irrelevant communion issue just to get away with the fact that Rizal wrote the NOLI ME TANGERE when he was in MASON- as an excommunicated Catholic. Thus, it was highly unreasonable and unusual for Rizal to conclude that Catholic Church was the true religion.

When presented with the NHI document of the March 5, 1887 letter of Rizal, LUGENA said that “nakakahiya sa katoliko (bilang tunay na relihiyon) ang mga di katanggap-tanggap na aral”. He failed to realize that the word “HIYA” is not befitting to a true religion (if it is indeed true). If Catholic Church is true religion, then the proper word is “remorse” or saying sorry and NOT “blush”. There is a big difference between the following statements:

1. ...absurdities of which Catholicsm would blush if it would know them.

2. ...absurdities of which Catholicsm would feel remorse if it would know them.

LUGENA keeps on saying that the abuses such forced labor under encomienda system were committed by the Spanish government and NOT the Catholic Church. He never acknowledged the reason that being a direct beneficiary of the crime, the Catholic church was equally guilty of crime against humanity. Nowadays, descriptive articles about century-old catholic cathedrals built by POLO Y SERVICIOS never show any feeling of remorse on the human rights abuses. Catholics are even saying that these cathedrals were built out of fervent service to God.

Under CONCORDAT of 1851 agreement between the Spain and Pope, the Catholic Church being the state religion, had primary role in the morals of Spain. As state religion, the church determines the state of moral of the country. Hence, the failure of the Spanish government was the failure of the Catholic Church to instill Christian values.

CATHOLIC ABSURDITIES: THE CANCER OF THE SOCIETY

The letter of Rizal, TO THE YOUNG WOMEN OF MALOLOS was addressed to 20 women as support to their petition to study SPANISH language- the language of higher education. However, this ill-bred Catholic priest Felipe Garcia objected to the petition in order to monopolize education. This selfish catholic policy was also discussed in EL FILIBUSTERISMO Chapter 27 in the conversation between Isagani and Padre Fernandez.

It is not necessary to have similar SPANISH CIVIL WAR to curb this Catholic stupidity. In this age of information, EDUCATION is the best weapon against this social disease.

Nokia Project Gener8

Here is my entry to the Nokia Project Gener8: Pier Roxas Story

***********
WHO IS PIER ROXAS?
Pier Roxas was Martin Sam, a contestant in an “Amazing Race”-kind of of a foreign reality TV show who set foot in the Philippines for their final shoot.
The contestants had a goal of finding the specific clue hidden in the island of Corregidor. From Quezon City as their point of origin, the contestants may choose their route with all the limited resources that they had.
THE CONTEST
The contestants are without any assistant or companion. They carry a GPS-tracked mobile and camera phone through which periodically they need to connect to internet to upload their whereabouts. Every internet connectivity has points being earned for their budget. They also need to shoot ads of sponsors for additional points.
While other contestants chose routes by land (North Expressway Way to Pampanga and Bataan or to down south to Cavite) Martin Sam took the direct route through Manila Bay even with a limited budget.
However, with this chosen route, Martin was able to earn more points and budget by hopping amongst the sponsor-rich places like Mall of Asia, Hotels, the Baywalk area, Rizal Park and many night-life establishments in Manila. Going to these places with all the featured sponsors (credit card, clothing line, money remittance centers, cellphone and computer accessories, etc) would give the contestants more budget on top of the incurred expenses. The money allowance was sent through a credit card or remittance.
The contestants were not allowed to communicate with their family or anyone else via the internet. The handsets had empty phonebook. They were also forbidden to reveal anything about themselves and about the show. The TV production crew may communicate with the contestants for instructions and monitoring. There were also field spies that verify their activities.
Martin stayed in one of the best hotels in Manila. He kept the very first parking ticket at the basement of a famous wellness center near the hotel in order to avail discounts in personal care services offered by this center.
Other contestants had Quezon City for north route and Makati for south route as their “grazing” cities.
After the allotted five days of earning points for their budget, Martin and the rest of the contestant were all set to go to the tourist island of Corregidor.
Martin bought two pairs of formal wear in a well-known clothing line (also a sponsor). He flirted with a beautiful travel agent named Myra who declined his short-notice request for a yacht that would take him to Corregidor. He convinced her instead to be his personal tour guide and translator.
Martin was able to find a small private yacht that would take him to Corregidor. He personally asked Myra to pretend as his girlfriend. Myra assisted him in renting this yacht. The yacht had a small private room and it was manned by two crew.
After sailing for few hours, they reached the island of Corregidor. Martin was unable to proceed with the clue-hunting activity if Myra was around. So he asked her to find a place in the nearby town of Mariveles and the nearest city of Balanga. The yacht docked in the Orion Port.
Martin asked Myra to buy hard-to-find local items and to send it through a courier. While Myra was out and busy, Martin sneaked to go back to Corregidor. They just met late in the evening at the hotel.
After two days, Martin successfully found the hidden clue. He needed to go back to Manila lest other contestants might catch up with him.
When Martin and Myra were about to board the yacht in Orion, Myra kissed the collar of Martin to pretend that they had been together. Martin already showed signs of exhaustion during that time.
It was already late in the evening. Martin asked the yacht crew to stop engine when they were far offshore and no cellular signal was possible. Martin was aware also that other contestants had no way to get back to Manila in the middle of the night. He decided to spend the night on board and wake up early on the following day.
Myra locked herself in the private room while Martin and one of the crew had casual drinks. In order to protect her, Martin asked for the key of the room.
But the cabin crew naughtily hid the key and would be given only if Martin can beat him in a drinking duel. Martin knew that he would lose because he has weak knees on native vodkas. He drank a few shots and insisted for another turn.
Martin was also uneasy because he had spent much that he was almost with empty pocket.
Under the influence of liquor, Martin revealed his true identity to the two crew. He promised that that he would pay the agreed remaining amount after the contest or after winning the prize. Martin asked to start the engine.
The crew were very angry not only because of unsettled payment but also an exposure of their underground operations. One of the cabin crew punched Martin on his face. Martin fell on the floor.
Myra was awoken by the commotion and the sound of the engine. The crew asked Myra if she knew about Martin’s adventures but Myra didn’t say a word.
Myra asked for the room key so she could attend to Martin. Myra locked themselves in the room and she slid the key to Martin’s trouser pocket. Then she heard the first SMS tone from the Nokia N8 of Martin. The message said “Congrats Martin, you are a few miles from your trophy. Take a shot of the MOA Globe when you get here.”
Myra took the wallet of Martin. She also inspected all his belongings. She explored that phone and she found pictures, videos and itinerary memos that she didn’t know when they were together. Myra turned to the cabin crew and asked to drop them at the MOA. But the cabin crew insisted that Martin would disembark only with his clothes and leaving everything else behind.
But Myra warned them that they were already monitored by the TV network through the GPS tracking of the mobile phone.
The cabin crew were puzzled. They manoeuvred towards LUNETA but they received a SMS saying “Why veering away?”
The cabin crew got frightened and they proceeded to the nearest port in Roxas Boulevard. Myra grabbed Martin’s phone and made a gesture of calling the authorities if they would not drop them off safely on nearby port.
The cabin crew had no choice but to let them go. They asked Myra to turn the unit off. Myra removed the sim and she also took the memory card.
They docked on the CCP area. The yacht immediately left the area after dropping off Martin and Myra. The latter was able to secure her personal shoulder bag inside a plastic bag containing rags that are full of vomits.
Myra was hesitant to get the phone of Martin lest she would be GPS-tracked too. She wanted to call the police or ambulance but she was afraid that she would be involved in this case. She decided to just leave the Nokia N8 with a Smart Sim. Turning the unit on would notify the network. So she ran away with Martin’s wallet, and the memory card from cellphone.
When Martin woke up in the morning along the pier, he remembered nothing. He turned on the mobile phone. After few minutes, the phone rang – the TV network was calling. Martin hastily answered the call and asked for help.
Then the TV production team arrived and Martin began to remember things when the team showed him his recorded and tracked itinerary. The attending physician said that Martin had temporary senile dementia.
Then one of the production team asked Martin, “Isnt she beautiful?”. Martin replied, “Who?”
Myra during that time broke into tears in front of her computer staring blankly on screen. The memory card she got was empty.

*************

A conversation with a leftist

Kristoffer Ӎar: Four years ago, REI MON "RAMBO" M. GURAN borrowed a DVD from me. He never returned it. Ambo was murdered on the bus that was to take him to school; he was shot four times, twice in the head, by two unidentified gunmen. Easy prey: he was an activist.

Kristoffer Ӎar: Justice, as in the hundreds of similar cases, is still unserved. And it could continue to be so, with Pres. Aquino in denial: "We cannot say that these abuses are a policy of the state. Many of these are due to personal feud." Please be assured, Mr. President, I wouldn't murder for a lost DVD.

Sean Velchez: habo ko man i like ta morbid masyado.. kaya igdi na lang sa comment box. whew apat na taon na palan na wara sina ambo at si cris sa mga martsa...

Kristoffer Ӎar: eu baga.and yet..

Coleen Robbie: Sorry to hear that, Tope. :-(

Renante Nate: to hell with that DVD. He was an activist. That was it. He was just a pawn in the middle of battlefield between never-ending ideologies.

Kristoffer Ӎar : there's a battlefield all right, and it's fought with words and/or swords. ambo fought with words only. sure he took sides, but he wasn't a pawn - his was an informed choice. what's barbaric is when sword-bearers (of either side) make no di...stinctions between combatants and non-. then all hell breaks loose.
@coleen: thanks.

Renante Nate: This is not a royal war. There is no clear distinction between combatants and non-combatants, sword or pen bearer. Those who participate in this game, be it influencer, logistics provider, propagandists, spies are all bound to this dismal f...ate. Include in the list media, local politics and handlers, activists, businessmen who are supporting, and immediate relatives.
Mag-ingat na lang.

Kristoffer Ӎar: there's actually a yardstick, it's buried in some vault somewhere in geneva. tama, rules are ignored most of the time. but this must be stopped. it would be brazen to lump together all shades of supporters (on either side) - after all, there's a great deal of difference b/w a sympathizer and a partisan. also, whatever happened to the other standard:"beyond reasonable doubt"?

Sean Velchez: mr. nante so anu ang punto mo? na kasalanan pa ni ambo ang pagkakapatay nya?

Renante Nate: my points are:
1) To be killed is part and parcel of being an activist. Hindi rin masasabing kasalanan ng sundalo kung mamatay siya sa giyera.Likewise, di rin kasalanan ng aktibista kung mamatay sa pakikibaka.
2) Just like pieces in chess gam...e, frontliners can be used on both advantage. Both exist because of the other.
3) Limited sympathy from people.

Sean Velchez: polemical points. obviously you're biased against activists and or the movement. can do nothing about that. i rest my case. isa lang ha.mali ang depinisyon mo ng aktibista. hindi sila kasali sa armadong tunggalian. contrary to your assertion, there is a clear line that devides combatants from non-combatants. those who dilute that clear demarcation are the hawkish evil state security forces like palparan who justify killing activists in the name of anti-insurgency. at sa mga sinasabi mo mr. nante qualified ka na sa palparan club.

Renante Nate: Well, so be it. If you qualify me prematurely to Palparan club, then what moral courage do you still have to gain sympathy from people? How can you invite discussion if you are already asking " whose side are you on?"
It appears from your implied definition that activists are not "armed". I dont agree with your definition. They are armed NOT with guns but influence to incite others to use guns. They may use pen that is mighter than the sword or its poisonous tongue (James 3:8)

Renante Nate: Our "movement" (so to speak) is to have a united community of our own. We are nation of God's people amidst a nation of men. We do not entangle ourselves much on the affairs of this world. We find peace within us wherever and whatever ruling state governance we are in.
We just serve as light of this world.

Kristoffer Ӎar: btw renante, nice making tambay here. long, long time no see. anyway, let's hope that when we use the term "armed activist", we are clear that the intent is metaphorical. otherwise, the killings continue. activists do not incite people to u...se guns. (not a new idea, this one. no less than the constitution guarantees the people's right to revolt, if it's their sovereign will.) it's ok, there still can be discussions even if it's clear the participants belong to this or that side; no thinking person could claim a tabula rasa anyway. i'm sorry i cannot follow the leap from the secular to the divine.

Sean Velchez: wag kang tumakbo sa relihiyon mo para makaiwas sa debate. at wag mong ikukumpara ang relihiyon mo sa kilusan. milya milya ang layo im telling you. kung ikaw din lang ang natitirang tao sa mundo na kailangang i organisa at mulatin, wag na. m...ag lalie low na lang ako. it didnt occured to me even once to beg for your symphaty.because simulat sapul pa antagonistic ka naman talaga sa anumang gawaing politikal lalo pa radikal.

nakakalungkot lang na nagbigay ka pa ng sitas ng bibliya para i justify ang murder ng isang aktibista. reminds me on how even the devil was able to qoute the scripture.

wag ka nang mag astang nasa gitna dahil kitang kita naman kung saan ka nakakiling. premature? e hinog na hinog ka na nga sa mga linya ni palparan eh. ganyan na ganyan ang sinabi nya kina karen empeno at sherlyn cadapan; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBhAkfnoZOE

and please lang paki review ang lohika ng slaitang armed, wag kang mag dedelve sa mga malalalim na depinisyon, kasi alam kong alam mo na ang tinutukoy kong armed ay literal na nag aarmas. hindi yung kung anu anung hustipikasyon mo.

james 2:26 faith without work is dead.

Verses 15 and 16: " If a brother or sister be naked and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?"

parang ikaw, sa harap ng suliraning kinakaharap ng iyong mga maliliit na kapwa nag kakasya lang na sumamba at magbasa ng pasugo.atleast si ambo sinundan si kristo.. nakipamuhay sa mga magsasaka, sa mga mangingisdang biktima ng mapaminsalang pagmimina, nakimartsa sa mga kabataang inaagawan ng karapatan sa edukasyon. and yes sige na ibabalato ko na sayo. armado sya! armado sya nang nagaapoy na pag ibig sa kapwa at sa bayan.

at dahil dun pinatay sya. at ikaw na nagpapakilalang kristayno, ni hindi naninibugho sa pagkakamatay nya? whew .

Renante Nate : Hindi naman po ako umiiwas sa debate. In fact, I stated my three points you were asking. Unfortunately, you did not raise your contentions on any of those three. You turned to semantics. In a debate, you do not say "mali ang definition mo" You clarify the terms because each of us has own definition and you should deal with it.

Paano ka naman nakapagsabi na "I am justifying a murder"? Basahin mo nga ng paulit-ulit ang mga sinulat ko dito. Paano naman makapagjustify ang James 3:8 sa isang murder?

In a debate, ad hominem attack is a big offense. What do you want to achieve in qualifying me to PALPARAN CLUB? Does it support any of your points here? Or you just want to accuse a person and include me among your enemies?

You should read again the Geneva Convention and review the definition of a combatant. It doesnt exclusively defines it as those who are carrying guns. A combatant is someone who takes a direct part in the hostilities of an armed conflict. If you get caught in a company of those armed men, what humanitarian part you think you have with them? That also includes spies, civilians prepared for an impending battle. Kailangan ko pa bang banggitin ang pangalan ng schoolmate namin ni TOPE na nahuling kasama nila?

Paano ka naman nakapagsabi na "umaasta kami sa gitna"? We do not support any of you two. Dahil hindi yan buhay ng Kristiyano na makipagbaka ukol lamang sa buhay na ito. Kaya nga meron kaming sariling pamamaraan na minamaliit nyo naman. Bakit ano naman ang tingin nyo sa relihiyon?

On a political point of view, ours is like creating a community of our own. We have our own judicial system, there is a membership and unmembership procedure. We call ourselves as KAPATID. Only then you can apply that verse you are citing James 2:15-16. We educate ourselves. None a single member of our community cannot read and write and avail of services of the government. Bawal sa amin ang tamad. Nasa last page ng dictionary namin ang salitang "reklamo".

Kung kayo armado ng pag-ibig sa kapwa at sa bayan, kami higit na armado ng pag-iisip ni Cristo (1 Pt 4:1). Ang pagkakaiba nga lang, kami hindi naniniwala na mapapabuti pa ang mundo. Kayo naman, patuloy na umaasa na mababago nyo ang takbo ng mundo. Ika nga ng bible,

"If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." (1 Cor 15:19). Hindi kami miserable.

Bakit naman ako "maninibugho" sa pagkamatay niya? Wala ako makita sa bibliya na kinainggitan ang pagkamatay ng mga nasa labas.

Ang hindi ko naman maintindihan sa inyo kung ano ang ikinasasama nyo sa akin. Si Tope na rin nagbigay ng hinuha na napatay ang kasamahan nyo na aktibista at hindi dahil sa paghihiram ng DVD. I just picked the plausible answer.

Kristoffer Ӎar: i think it's fairly well established that our schoolmate was actually a combatant, by geneva definitions. if i remember right, ang complaint ng pamilya nya ay she was hors de combat, and there' something in the conventions that protects them. pero ambo was not a combatant. he was a student, for god's sake. if anybody had a beef against him, they should have gone to court, or to school authorities even.

Renante Nate: I also took CAT and ROTC when I was student.

Sean Velchez : may sarling justice system? weird, one of your "kapatid" had his stint as justice secretary back when erap was at the helm. sige na relihiyon mo na ang magaling at maganda. yung kristo na ninyo ang mahusay.at oo kayo na, kayo kayo lang ang ...malinis at ligtas.

Idinidiin mo na combatant si ambo.You absolve his murderers by qualifying ambo as a combatant. kasi alam mo.. wala kaming ingay kung mapapatay si ambo kung talagang combatant sya o kabahagi sya sa armadong labanan. pero hindi eh, hindi sya kabahagi ng armadong labanan so why are you insisting on your wrong notion. isinasalampak kita kasama ni palparan kasi yan mismo ang sinasabi nya.

Alam mo hanggat hindi bumaba si kristo sa lupa at tumira sa sentral ninyo, ang absoluto mong pag ka panatiko sa relihiyon mo ay mananatiling subjective at relativo. at may gana ka pang angkinin ang bibliya at ang sitas nito? akala ko ba sumusunod ka sa obhetibong pakikipag debate.

sabi nga ni dato arroyo: "kebs ko" sa panatisismo mo sa relihiyon mo. ang usapin dito si ambo pinatay. politikal ang motobasyon at inosente sya. kung kaya mong sikmurahin yun dahil sa una hindi mo sya kamananampalataya, at pangalawa liko liko ang depinsiyon mo ng kumbatant. nasa sayo na yun. pero ako sasagutin kita at hindi kita uurungan sa mga kalikuan mong ipinapangalat. tungkulin ko yun bilang kristyano at bilang isang kaibigan ni ambo.

Kristoffer Ӎar: good thing rotc cadets are not considered combatants, despite the obvious far-right orientation

Renante Nate : May sarili kaming justice system (Matt 18:15-17). For your info, kami lang ang nakakasunod sa utos na yan. Pero hanggang expulsion lang kami (1 Cor 5:13). At kami din lang ang nakasusunod dyan. Hindi naman kasi kami katulad ng ibang samahan na lifetime membership and death and execution are the only unmembership procedure left especially for erring members.

May binabanggit ba ako dito na combatant ang ambo na iyon na di ko naman kilala? Ano naman ang karapatan kong magdeklara kung combatant siya o hindi? Ang hirap sa inyo, you put words on other's mouth. This happens to those blinded by hatred.

Hindi mo ba naiintindihan ang point ko? THIS IS NOT A ROYAL WAR. There is no distinction between combatants and non-combatants. Isama nyo na dyan ang mga sinusunog na mga Cellsites at mga lupang pag-aari na pinakikialaman. Tope already said that "Rules are ignored most of the time" that must be stopped. Kung tanggap nyo ang nakalulungkot na katotohanang ito ay tatanggapin nyo ang first point ko na "To be killed is part and parcel of being an activist". Ang hirap naman sa inyo, you are branding and labelling persons that do not conform with you. Pagkatapos, isasali sa kalaban nyo. That's FALSE DICHOTOMY.

Basing on Geneva definition, AN ACTIVIST CAN QUALIFY TO BE A COMBATANT. Binigay ko ngang example ang schoolmate namin ni TOPE. As activists, you MAY OPT NOT to be a combatant, but you CAN be a combatant. I hope you get the point.

Kung sinasabi nyo na aktibista LANG siya at hindi combatant, I DO NOT AGREE with you. Kung sasabihin nyo namang aktibista siya na hindi combatant, I may agree with you. SANA gets nyo ang pagkakaiba.

If you keep on saying that your friend is not an combatant, then tell it to the marines. Malay ko.

Your defenses are weak. The probable cause is there. Bakit nyo pa babanggitin na naging aktibista siya?

Tope, my point is: It's weak to reason out that your friend was NOT a combatant because he was a student. Ganun ba ang ibig mong sabihin? Di ko connect.

Kristoffer Ӎar: di naman, he wasn't a combatant by geneva definitions. or in your words, aktibista na hindi combatant. our schoolmate and ambo are very different cases. i'll even grant that the point of ambo's being a combatant or not is arguable. pero that's exactly the problem: the lack of argumentation. he wasn't allowed to defend himself in open court (or even in a military tribunal, kung yun ang gusto). it was an extrajudicial killing.

Renante Nate: Well, wala na ko masasabi ukol dyan. Pero kung personal na karanasan din lang naman ang pag-uusapan, sanay kahit kapirasong lupa ng 9 hectares na lupa ng aking mga ninuno ang masaka namin sana kung di nakikialam ang mga nasa bundok. Extrajudicial arrangement din.

Kristoffer Ӎar: ok. wala din akong masasabi tungkol jan. dai ko maiconnect kay ambo.

Sean Velchez : bitterka pala kaya ka nagkakaganyan. well wala na rin kaming magagawa dyan. umiilaw ung anti-left blinker sa noo mo oh. sa mga sinasabi mo pa lang at mga insinuwasyon mo kita kita ang bias mo against the left. nakakahiya. trying to be objec...tive pero di mapigilan ang sarili na kumiling sa kanan.

wala akong laban kung patuloy kang mag koqoute ng bibliya. for all you know hindi ako naniniwala sa bibliya. mas mahina ang defense mo kung panatisismo ang ipagduduldulan mo sa usaping ito.

Wala ka na ba talagang konsepto ng hustisya at karapatang pantao? kasi kahit sino magagalit sa pamamaslang. ikaw hindi eh, nakikipalakpak ka pa. kahit anung sabihin mo dahil sa palpak mong definition ng kumbatant at ng aktibista binibigyan mong ng katwiran ang pamamaslang, kasama na ang pag paslang kay ambo. epal ka pala eh, hindi mo pala sya kilala pero para bagang kung mangatwiran ka ukol sa pagpatay sa kanya.. katonong katono mo si palparan.besides bat naman kami ang bibigyan ng burden to tell something to the marines. ikaw na lang kakampi mo naman sila. hehehe

sinabi ko na nung last post ko diba.. OO na nga. kayo na nga lang ang mahusay at magaling. kayo nga ang tanging kawan diba. kayo lang ang maliligtas at hinirang. wala na ako dun. kaya wag mo nang i impose pa samin ang relihiyon mo kasi nagbabasa naman ako ng pasugo. baka awitan pa kita ng doxolohiya jan eh. besides usapin ito ng human rights at extra judicial killings. sa human rights diba sabi mo hindi naman kayo nakikisawsaw. sabi mo pa keber nyo sa pagkamatay ng mga taga"labas".

sa extrajudicial naman, ayaw mo din kasi keber mo din sa judicial at extra judicial "we have our own justice system" dagdag mo pa. e para san pa at nakikipag debate pa. ikaw na mismo ang nag patalo sa sarili mo. putting words into peoples mouth daw. ...

isa pa ha. wag mo ipagkakalito ang aktibista at kombatant utang na loob! sa pilipinas pag aktibista ka, hindi ka kombatant. kasi ang tawag sa kombatant gerilya, nakabasa ka na ba ng npa na tinawag na activists? kaya nga activist eh... active in the system. iniengage pa yung systema. nag babalangkas pa ng reform. yung mga gerilya. inooverthrow na ang system sa pamamaraan ng armed combat. kaya combatant. kasi base sa mga palipad hangin mo, pati yung mga myembro ng save the dolphins at world wide fund eh pwedeng paputukin na lang ang bungo because activist sila.

base sa thread ng usapang ito sinusumada ko ang tindig mo:

Sa usaping pagpatay kay ambo at sa iba pang pambansa-demokratikong aktibista, walang may kasalanan. pinili ni ambo ang maging aktibista at marapat lamang na patayin sya ng militar dahil "baka" hindi lang sya simpelng aktibista, besides hindi naman sya iglesia ni cristo kaya keber.

lahat ng nakikipag laban para sa interes ng mahihirap, para sa womens rights, para sa environmental protection, kahit red cross volunteers, mga kasapi ng UN at kahit na sinong gusto lang eh mas mabuting mundo para sa buong humanity at iba pang nilalang ay pwedeng patayin nalamang dahil" baka hindi lang sialng ordinaryong aktibista" who knows. its called dichotomoy. besides mga tanga sila to dream for a better world. sabi sa pasugo. gugunawin ang mundo kaya why make it a better world pa diba. besides ulit. hindi naman sila members ng iglesia.. mga "taga-labas" kaya keber ulit.

Renante Nate :
TO YOU MR/MS VELCHEZ,

At least malinaw na hindi ka nga naniniwala sa bible. So be it.
But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. (1 Cor 14:38)

...The word "activism" is used synonymously with protest or dissent, but activism can stem from any number of political orientations and take a wide range of forms from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing businesses, rallies, street marches, strikes, both work stoppages and hunger strikes, or even GUERILLA TACTICS. (WIKIPEDIA, Uppercase mine)

Siguro ikaw na lang TOPE ang sumagot, iyong schoolmate ba natin guerilla na maituturing o aktibista? Baka mali ang dinig ko sa balita. Kelan pa siya naging ganoon? Ang aktibista ba nagiging guerilla or vice versa or both? Paano naman malalaman?

Naalala mo ba noong High School sa Padunungan sa AMEC BCCM? Iyong lecture ba ng UP ****** bago ang contest ay lecture ng aktibista? Paano kung ang nasabing lecture ay de-baril na ang audience? Aktibista pa ba ang turing?

There are many legitimate social organizations but they dont fit in the above definitions. Pero may alam ako na kabilang sa mga ito na front lang para itago ang tunay nilang kulay. Grado-grado lang naman yan ika nga. You cannot just overthrow a government without distributing your people in all walks of life.

Kristoffer Ӎar: ah. our schoolmate was a guerilla. personally, i believe this fact was established kaito pa. iyo, rumdom ko ang lecture. garo rumdom ko man pati kung sisay itong nag-lecture. i knew him personally sa diliman. sa obserbasyon ko, bako sya aktibista (garo ngani mas aktibista pa ako, sa palagay ko lng). kung tama pa ang pagkarumdom ko, the lecture was about nationalization of industries. that's not a very leftie issue to me, though mga aktibista lng ang ngbabanggit kaini usually.

Sean Velchez :
ayan na mas tumingkad na ang blinker mo sa noo mr/ms nante.nag effort ka talaga sa wikipedia. yung school mate nyo wag mo nang idamay kasi labas naman sya s ausapan. patay na nga eh. yung pinupunto natin dito yung bali baliko mong argumento... at depinisyon plus yung kawalan mo nang konsepto ng tama, wasto at naayon, isama na natin yung kawala mo ng konsepto ng simpatya sa biktima. plus syempre yung mas matingkad mong paggamit ng relihiyon to justofy the killings. hindi yung lecture yung magbabago ng depinisyon kundi yung usapin kung may baril at walang baril. pag walang baril di yun kombatant. pag may baril na kumbatant na.

glaring na ang pagka anti-left mo gusto mo magsulat ka pa ng diagram ng mga ccp-npa-ndf front organization. meron nun sa afp website at sa blog nina palparan at alcover. lagyan mo din ng sitas ng bibliya para may spiritual justification.

ikaw ang ignorante dahil inilalako mo ay barbarikong konsepto na pagpaslang kahit inosente dahil lamang" baka hindi lang sya aktibista". sa puntong ito mlainaw na nakikiapid ka kina palparan et al. ewww

Renante Nate :
So TOPE, if she was a guerilla, then she was not once an activist. Tama? So let everyone know.
You mean, "him"? Parang iba yata tayo ng lecturer. Kasama sa naglecture sa amin iyong pretty schoolmate din natin na two years ahead sa akin. You ...know her? Siguro sa inyo nationalization of industries, sa amin naman ay anti-privatization. You remember how we make fun pronouncing "Bourgeoisie". We were overlooking an "imperial land of Legazpi City" at the same time we discuss imperialism.
But you still dont answer the question. What if those lectures were taught in gun-carrying youths? Was it still an activism?

Kristoffer Ӎar: she was once an activist all right. and if this is what you're driving at: yes, some activists are known to take up arms, and they become guerillas (or terrorists, depends on your vantage point). there's no denying that. pwedeng magkaiba kitang lecturer,we were divided into several groups.

Renante Nate: Well, I believe, I have delivered my points with all honesty,tactfulness and wisdom. If you dont mind, I make a copy of this entire exchange of thoughts for future reference.
Thanks.

Kristoffer Ӎar: no problem. this is public domain naman.

Renante Nate: But this is not seachable by any engine. I intend to post this in a blog.

Kristoffer Ӎar oh. i give my consent. im counting on your honesty, tact, and wisdom naman. also, the other "characters" must also give their consent, or you won't use their names na lang.

Renante Nate It is up to the search engine if their names are tagged.

Sean Velchez wag ka namang maging masyadong mabait sa sarili mo renante, oa naman na purihin mo pa sarili mo.

eto ha, kung feeling mo exonerated ka dahil sinabi ni tope na dating aktibista yung schoolmate mo at naging gerilya mali ka.

kaya nga inimbento ...ang salitang DATI.FORMER.EX. para mag pagtatangi sa nakaraan at sa ngayon o sa darating pa. wala kang puntos dun tol im telling you. parang yung ibang katoliko na lumipat sainyo. DATI silang katoliko na naging iglesia. pero yung pinag aaralan sa katoliko na bibliya pinag aaralan din sa inyo. diba. elementary analogy sir... tsk tsk. and oh i am not giving my consent that you post this to any other blog. ipasa mo pa sa isafp.. . may sarili ding justice system sila eh.. gaya ninyo.


Renante Nate I save this on a blog because this would be a permanent record on how someone behaves and conducts himself with his choice of words, the faculty of reason, integrity and faith.


Sean Velchez if that is a threat, bring it on. let us know naman where you posted it, so we can visit naman.

anway, renante, personal sa aking ang pagkakapatay kay ambo dahil kaibigan ko sya. kaya pinipersonal ko ang pakikipag batuhan sayo ng kuro kuro d...ahil gusto kong pangalagaan ang alala ng kaibigan ko. higit pa riyan gusto ko pa ring makamit nya ang hustisya.


Renante Nate Mr Velchez,
Who told you that I should ask consent from anybody to post this conversation on blogs? THis is a public domain. Sana naman may konti ka ng kahihiyan sa sarili. Basahin mo nga ang mga naunang sinulat mo. Who initiated this discourse? Sinong una at laging nang-aakusa? Di ba ikaw?

Tapos ngayon sasabihin mong "pinepersonal mo ang batuhan ng kuro kuro" dahil sa iyong apat na taon ng yumaong kaibigan. Sino na ngayon ang lumalabas na walang bait sa sarili? Pwede ba naman iyon? You face a battle unprepared and overwhelmed by personal things. Paano kung may pasyente na kailangang gamutin, baka iba ang maibigay na gamot dahil naglalayag ang isip.

Wala naman kaming subject na psychology o kaya kahit psychiatric nursing sa Engineering pero alam namin na kapag nangingibabaw ang emosyon tulad ng poot, nawawala ang kakayahang mag-isip.

Bakit, hindi ba ito magandang subject case study for behavioral analysis?

Hustisya ba kamo? Sana alam mo na si Cristo pinatay din dahil sa mga walang kuwentang AKUSASYON. Sana manalamin na lang muna.

The Three Sides of the Box

February 16, 2010 - The fateful date when the State Energy Secretary announced on national television that ALSTOM and San Miguel Energy Corp had signed an agreement to resume the commercial operation of Bataan Combined Cycle Power Plant. For electricity end users, this news might have just brought a sigh of relief, after weeks of fear of looming brownouts in the Luzon grid but for ALSTOM Philippines community, the signing of the new contract culminates the months of uncertainties and trials that were surmounted with perseverance and collective efforts.

In August 2009, it came to us by surprise that the plant was finally sold by the government after a couple of unsuccessful bids in previous years. Moreover, the negotiated sale price (which most of us believed was a bargain) made us uneasy. Indeed, how can we put our best foot forward having such meager value for the owner to start with? There were press releases about the plans, projects and expansion, which went as far as conversion of the plant to gas firing; but nothing in these press releases made certain that ALSTOM would remain as the business partner of the new owner.

The Alstom Contract Capture Team had a series of meetings with the new owner continuously until the end of the year. On our part, we could not deny the fact that most of us kept on asking “What will happen to us come January 18, 2010?”. Those who count years in the company probably thought of separation pays while others considered career changes and going through job hunts. We remained optimistic however, that the new owner will extend the contract.

When the contract was about to expire, the plant was shutdown to standstill on instructions of the previous owner who still had the decision until it was turned over. We managed to squeeze in the preservation of the HRSG (Boiler) systems but not that of the main rotary machines.
The contract negotiations yielded no clear results. Hence, the demobilization plan was issued.

DEMOBILIZATION

Demobilization was the very remarkable experience that everyone went through. It was not just moving out with a large piece of ubiquitous “balikbayan” box; demobilization was moving everything out – personal things, company assets, organization and work functions. In one month of stand-down, everyone has mastered the art and science of systematically packing things. Not only did it give ample time to review and count every piece of document, every minute bolt and screw, each fragile glassware but it also affirmed the value of every employee of the company.

On the other hand, the demobilization undeniably dampened our spirit and each passing day had anxiety to bear. It was ironic that the “balikbayan” boxes contained, not gifts and valuable presents just like what overseas Filipino workers stuffed into these boxes, but old worn out documents and mementoes of 17 years of running Limay. These boxes were seemingly bidding us goodbye. For sure there were also sleepless nights, extended discussions at the coffee machine and longer queues at the Clinic for health concerns.

There were also unsolicited job application papers and offers roaming around the plant (sent out at the behest of the new owner, who initially considered doing the O&M) and even at our doorsteps. Everyone knew that accepting these offers was too risky and unwise. During those times, we could not help but to stick together and keep the integrity of the team.

LAST THREADS OF HOPE
The days grew hotter, the hydro plants output dipped and the country’s Gas supply infrastructure went on an outage planned five years ago. As expected, the Luzon Grid was hit with a power shortage, commencing January 25, catching national attention. We started to hear news that the only solution was to bring back the “de-activated” Limay Combined Cycle Power Plant. Hope in us abounded. To be honest, we strangely wished for brownouts as we thought this was the only way to justify and put the business back on its feet.

The demobilization activity still continued but this time, the gloominess was replaced with feelings of expectations. The balikbayan boxes became a display, ostensibly as risk for the owner of possibly irreversibly losing the services of Alstom. Labels on the boxes simply wished to say “you will be losing time and money to get me back again”. We hang on inside the plant, ready to leave but unwilling up to the last hour.

TURNING POINT
A few days before the scheduled date of complete demobilization, extended brownouts beset the country again. News reports mentioned the unavailability of the plant and the related service contract issue between ALSTOM and SMEC. Government and industry pressures brought the issue to light. The new owner SMEC understood that they were at a crossroad; in the end they decided to place country above profits at the back of a governmental assurance of fair compensation.

The Limay Team, all the while, was preparing for an eventual resumption of operation and have written out a master plan to carry out plant restoration to within half the time that was committed to the Owner. Fifteen hours from the issuance of the Notice to Proceed, the first GT went on line. Twenty five hours later, the Plant at full base load capacity. Even from deep slumber, willing and inspired hearts doubled their efforts to achieve the target. We also knew that the eyes of the nation were upon us. On this matter, we must not fail. And we did not fail. Our owner would later say that “It was fortuitous that Limay was resurrected on Ash Wednesday”.

THE BEST SIDE OF THE BOX
What else could be better than opening the boxes again with a delightful smile? The boxes finally became gifts of new beginnings.
Now that we have a new contract with a new business partner, we just hope that we shall remain as intact as the box.

KAKAGAT KA BA

I am the one who had posted the video question that was picked by Gilberto Teodoro in GMA’s Forum : ISANG TANONG. I am sad that only a few if not nobody picks up my point.

Isang Tanong : Papayag ka ba na sa buong panahon ng iyong panunungkulan, lahat ng iyong ari-arian at mga tinatangkilik maging ng iyong mahal sa buhay ay mananatiling frozen ? ..(some parts of the questions are edited by GMA7)Your financial growth should be proportional to the economic performance of the country. Ano, kakagat ka ba ?

The question is intended to be catchy. I expect those with high level of thinking can sense the underlying questions from the seemingly unrealistic question. Indeed, it is unfair to just freeze someone’s assets. But why asking such question ?

UNDERLYING QUESTIONS


By how much is expected for a President to inflate his/her assets while in service? What are the clear-cut prohibitions for any public official to deal with government transactions? Is it ethical for a President to enrich him/herself more than that of what the national economy pegs during his/her term? How do you assure that the wealth and business interests of the President are transparent? How do the business interests of the President influence his/her projects, decisions and projections?

Mr Gilberto Teodoro is intelligent enough to infer that the question is directed to transparency issue and motivations of a public servant amidst the current national economic performance. But still, the question on disclosure of public servants’ assets and liabilities has been a persistent problem.

If I answer my own question, I would say : YES. My assets and business interests(kung meron man) can be frozen and can be even utilized and managed by a commission PROVIDED that the state would guarantee a decent financial return based on the over-all economic performance at the end of my term. In short, I will perform my duty as full time President but you need to pay those missed earnings had I pursue my private life. Isn’t it fair?

Here is the link of the GMA's Forum for Gibo Teodoro
Here is the link of my original video post.