pipe dreams

Some guy from the south of Metro Manila. A self proclaimed (condescending) life coach. Traveler. Sappy writer. Vodka drinker. Scooter driver. Cook.

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The biggest “Huh?” statement related to Election 2016

“I’d rather support a leader who plans to resolve the hardest problems of the country in 3-6 months and realize it can’t be done, than a leader who think it’s impossible and not do anything about it.”

This doesn't make any sense at all. They both did nothing! 

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Mar Roxas still makes sense.

Because he promised to keep the Daang Matuwid platform of governance. It has always been his promise, it has always been his reason for running. Because he believes the programs works. Even his fellow candidates will adapt the programs of the Daang Matuwid for their own governments. All of them are aware that any and all the failures that has been associated with the Daang Matuwid governance was all because of the failure with implementation. Mar Roxas does not intend to have that incompetence in his own government. And that's why he said that he doesn't intend to retain any member of PNoy's cabinet. And by that statement, I'm sure that Mar already has his own team at the ready when he becomes President. A team he's confident with. A team that he trusts will work with him to take the country to the next level of progress. 

The Daang Matuwid platform of governance is what he meant by continuity. And i want to be very clear that Mar Roxas intends to start fresh, he intends to start with a clean slate. With the Daang Matuwid of governace and a great government team who will work with him, Mar Roxas intends to make it work under his watch. He’s made some bad calls in the past and he’s still reeling from it until now. But after all that, no one’s questioned his integrity directly. And I’m always impressed by anybody who stands firm on what he thinks will work for the country, especially when it really does work.

I have said so many times in the past and even now, that I will not vote for a President like Grace Poe who does not have the proper skill set to become one. Someone who has a 20-point action plan which is already being worked on by the current government. Grace Poe is someone who’s piggybacking on her father's name to run as President. Grace Poe who claims to be independent but has one of the shadiest personality in Philippine politics financing her campaign. 

And let me also say that if she doesn't have it, more so her running mate, Francis Escudero. How can this guy, who never had a real job in his whole life help run the country? All I've seen him do is talk. And the guy cannot even argue like a proper statesman! I wouldn't want to see him sitting on the other side of the table when China is on the other end. 

VP Jejomar Binay is not an option, and he never will be. But I will admit that he is the darkhorse (pun intended) in this race. Even if we all say that he's got no chance at all. We can all say "hakot lahat ng tao sa mga rally niya" all we want, but we can't deny he can still bring in the votes to win this (by hook or by the crook that he is) Pun intended? Yes. And that's something we all need to work on not to happen. 

We also have Twitter universe's landslide winner, Miriam "Cancer or No Cancer. Anu ba talaga, ate?" Santiago. 'nuff said. 

And then we have Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. Mayor Duterte is that strong leader. He is that swaggering politician who promise to bring peace and order back because he has the law and order credentials to show for it. But is it the right type of credential? (That's for another discussion). He is the man who will get rid of the drugs and the criminals 6 months into his presidency. Never mind if he failed to mention if he will also go after and get rid of the true criminals in the Philippine political elite bleeding our country dry. 

Supporters say that he is the "only hope" for the Philippines... To prosper as a nation? To help us sleep better at night because we feel safer? To guide us to become better citizens of a country who needs it? Or maybe perhaps we're just frustrated that we took school for granted growing up and now we are at a point that we want something better even if we don't deserve it or perhaps we're so willing to submit to be disciplined because we cannot do it ourselves, or maybe perhaps we just don't try harder to be better at all? 

With all that is said about the good mayor, I also want you to know that I'm sincerely afraid and worried about him when the smoke clears after the election. Because I fear that most of us will just sit back and watch him do his work. Literally and figuratively. Because we have been used to a promise be granted or we give the promise-r hell if he does not. 

Please do not tell me otherwise, because we all know that we ARE guilty of that.

And now we go back to Mar Roxas, and why to me, Mar Roxas still makes sense. I know he's a hard sell, but his excellent grasp of economics, his extensive background in both local and international business, his confident top-rank fanboys in the different local and international business organizations of the country, his success in reinforcing and revitalizing the SMEs of the country and the biggest success in his career - the 1B plus strong employees of the BPO industry which has so far help improve the lives of so many young Filipino workers and their families, will show that his government has the best chance of making the Philippines a country to be confident about. Again. 

Now why would I say that we need to be confident about our own country again? Because right now, only 1.3M out of the 7M possible OFW voters registered for this election. And that doesn't say much about our kababayan's confidence with the country nowadays. 'nuff said.

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Where will an Independent source their Campaign Funding?

How will a school teacher run a nationwide presidential campaign as an independent candidate?  So pano nga? Pass the hat sa mga opisina? I-prenda ang bisikleta ni kuya? Garage sale? Donations? Pabente-bente, bente mil o bente milyones? Sino naman ang magdo-donate ng ganung halaga? 

Outside funding yan. Sureball yun. Favor-for-Power, my friend.

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And The Latest Survey Results says..

Mar Roxas makes a huge 18 pt jump in the recent SWS survey, from 21% to 39%, cuts Poe's lead to 8 pts (she's currently first at 47% and jumped 5 pts). Binay jumped 1 pt from 34% to 35%.

http://tinyurl.com/pqlufxk

Good morning!!

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Mar Roxas Needs to Restart his Campaign.

A better catch phrase.

The Tuwid na Daan line will always be associated with PNoy and it’s now hurting your campaign. In spite of its relative success, people aren't impressed. But you'd better think of something quick and stick with it. No more "Mr. Palengke", "Mr. Padyak", or "Ramdam ko po kayo" of 2010. 

Now this is my personal opinion - stay away from PNoy. Don't buy the "take the good with the bad" shit he's saying. It's hurting your campaign. You're getting hit negatively even if you don't have anything to do with it. You have to stay away from him. I know you owe him your candidacy, but if you want to win this thing, it has to be all about you. You must showcase your accomplishments as a proven business leader and an accomplished lawmaker who can lead this country towards progress. Here are a few of your trophies that people need to know.

- Filed Senate Bill No. 104. TO AMEND RA 7880; FAIR AND EQUITABLE ACCESS TO EDUCATION ACT.

- Filed Senate Bill No. 103 . AMENDED RA 8424 (National Internal Revenue Code of 1997) EXEMPTING MINIMUM WAGE EARNERS FROM TAXES. 

- Filed Senate Bill No.108. TO STRENGTHEN RA 6977 - The Magna Carta for Small, and Medium Enterprises. 

- Filed Senate Bill No.109. FREE INFORMATION ACT (The Proposed Freedom of Information Act).

- Father of the BPO-IT Industry. 1,300,000 JOBS; 15-20% OF GDP OF THE PHILIPPINES

I wish you can stop talking about the Tuwid na Daan, the people’s already jaded with it.

Please don't get me wrong. You have my support 100%, and I believe this is part of that support because I know you can make it happen for the country and get us out of this rut. 

You have to do something or we will all lose this race.

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Duterte. Of Checks and Balances.

Back in January 28th, I posted something on my FB account. I said then that “I want an iron-fisted despot who's on my side. I'll be his Consigliere.” Of course, in proper context I wanted a strong-willed, no non-sense leader who’s not afraid to go after those who ridicule, humiliate, and dishonor his government by committing crimes against people and country. Back then, I found that leader in Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. But I did have my concerns about how the Mayor can sustain the culture that he will build in the next 6 years if he becomes president. And then, I read somewhere that it took him around 20 years to turn Davao City into what it is today. Medyo nag-alala ako dun. 

6 years may not be enough time for Duterte to execute and accomplish his plan for a better Philippines. 

Hmm..He can certainly influence the Supreme Court to create or amend our laws to give it more teeth. Appoint the proper authority to enforce the law. And stick to it. Duterte can certainly give LGUs the freedom to create municipal ordinances that will act upon law and order violations as he did when he was Mayor. He can certainly bring back the death penalty and free up some space in the NBP. It has been overcrowded for the longest time now. And while he’s at it, maybe he can upgrade some crimes up to the death penalty category. I leave it up to you to share what else can he do to put the country back in line and be the next SIngapore (yun sana gusto kon mangyari hehe).

But there’s a possible issue that can come out of this action plan. People may see it as a “dictatorship” of some sort. And yes, we Filipinos can be and have been swayed to believe in things especially if we’re on the receiving end. We may deny it right now, but it can happen when and where power is delegated. Recently, he made a local tourist chew on a cigarette filter because the guy violated Davao City’s anti-smoking policy, a lot of people thought the tourist deserved it. But on the other hand, a lot of people also saw it as a case of grave coercion. This one, a case of a law maker breaking the law. This is a problem that can very well happen under Duterte’s watch. Marami kasing “matalino” sa Pinas and they have a lot to say as well. Yes, it worked and continues to work in Davao City, but it took the good Mayor almost 20 years to change the Davaoeños mindset on the changes he wanted for the city. It may not be the same for the rest of the country, not with 6 years (di kaya kulangin ng panahon si mayor?). 

And if his 6-year action plan does works, there will be the question of continuity. What happens when he leaves the Presidency after 6 years. Who will be his next in line? Who will continue his legacy? It’s something that we need to look at now if we’re going to make Mayor Duterte President next year. I can already see the assholes and trapos emerging from the rocks where they will keep a low profile and return to their usual “business” after Duterte leaves. 

Nakakatakot isipin, diba?

That’s how I see the next 6 years if the good Mayor Duterte makes it as President of my beloved Philippines. I just hope he’s the one system of Checks and Balances we’re all looking for. 

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The TIGLAO-GMA-FPJ-PNOY-MAR Connection

Rigoberto Tiglao is a former Ambassador, Senior vice president and Editor-in-Chief of Inq7.net (now inquirer.net), co-founder of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, President of the Foreign Correspondents’ Association of the Philippines, author and a very close-in ally and aide to Gloria Arroyo. 

I’ve read an article he wrote on September 2nd, REAP THE WHIRLWIND, where he hit Aquino and Roxas for the “alleged” political pressure of forcing the INC to vote for Roxas for President. The “alleged” political pressure was the case of illegal detention submitted by a former INC member and his family to the DOJ via SOJ Leila De Lima, which if proven true, will put the senior leaders of the INC in jail. What I also found on the article, more than the INC issues, was Tiglao targeting Roxas more than Aquino. On the article, Tiglao was a one-man wrecking crew hard at work to destroy Roxas’ reputation. I think its because he can’t do the same to Aquino since he’s just about to exit next year and Roxas was his next in line. 

And then I remembered something. Rigoberto Tiglao was one of the Arroyo closed-in allies who justified the election fraud committed by Gloria Arroyo versus the late Fernando Poe, Jr. in 2004. Rigoberto Tiglao wrote that “the real fraud in the 2004 elections was the attempt itself of a celebrity, FPJ, to be president.” 

http://tinyurl.com/ptv9y2g

Tiglao wrote: 

“Worried that he would spend the rest of his life in prison if Arroyo won, former President Joseph Estrada exploited the postmodern phenomenon of celebrity politics created by movies to subvert democracy by deploying FPJ, for whom people would vote not for his qualifications, but because they confused fantasy with reality, and hallucinated that they were voting for “Panday” even if the ballots would be for Ronald Poe. FPJ could have rejected this conspiracy to cheat democracy by engaging his rivals in a debate, and to be truthful to voters to say that he was not “Panday” but simply a loyal friend who just wanted to see his buddy released from prison. He didn’t.” 

It wasn’t cheating, Tiglao said, because it was meant to combat “the real fraud” – the fielding of “Ang Panday” action movie hero Fernando Poe Jr. as the presidential candidate by the political opposition. This, says Tiglao, was the real “conspiracy to cheat democracy.” The Hello Garci tapes was proof of the massive election fraud instigated by Tiglao and other Arroyo allies. He was even asked what the tapes were about and his reply was, “Do you want Fernando Poe Jr. to be President?” 

Ngayon naiintindihan ko na kung bakit mainit ang dugo ni Tiglao kay Aquino at kay Roxas. Mainit ang dugo ni Tiglao dahil hindi nila maiayos ang antas ng sitwasyon ng malapit nyang kaibigan at ka-tropa sa politika. Tablado pa din yung mga appeal ng mga Arroyo, lalo na yung appeal nila for house arrest. He’s on a mission to make life hard for Aquino, Roxas and De Lima at the expense of the INC and anybody who he thinks was and will be “oppressed” by Aquino’s or anybody else’s government in the name of his ally and friend Gloria Arroyo who remains on the receiving end of the current administration. 

Mr. Tiglao is a former Ambassador, turned attack dog that has been trained to effectively use the sentiments and opinion of other people or groups for his personal, and political agenda. 

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The INC, Grace Poe, Jejomar Binay and Philippine Politics.

The ongoing rally of the INC in the streets of Metro Manila has exposed the true opportunists named Grace Poe and Jejomar Binay. Poe playing the sympathy and religion card and Binay leaning hard on the “alleged” actions of the government to quash the INC member’s rights. Their actions just show their desperation to earn the favor of this organization. It’s such a sad and obvious truth that this is how Philippine politics played it for the longest time. 

We need to move away from the awful Utang-Na-Loob mentality. It has “paralyzed” so many people; even generations of families. We also need to get rid of the Favor-For-Power culture that has cursed us as a nation for the longest time. Poe and Binay’s recent statements and actions on the rallies are excellent examples of that curse. 

And to the INC, please know that I only wish you well. I pray that your actions are not because of blind obedience or a wrong sense of entitlement. You are an organization that I believe has only the best of intentions for your members and the community around you. And I’m sure that your organization can rise from this most unfortunate event and show that you can be better. 

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Bureau Of Customs. ICYMI.

Bureau Of Customs Commissioner Alberto D. Lina, In Case You Missed It, alamin nyo yung mga taong higit pa sa 1-3 beses magpadala ng balikbayan box(es) sa isang taon at may profile na kayo nung mga nagpapasok ng pang negosyo. 

Box nila ang bulatlatin nyo at habulin sa hindi pagbayad ng buwis. Huwag nyong gamitin ang autoridad nyo para manira at kuhain ang mga bagay na pinaghirapan ng mga OFW para ipadala sa kanilang pamilya. Huwag nyong itago sa rasong “random check” ang ginagawa nyo. Kaya tigilan nyo na yang random checks. Alam namin na kaya nyong ma-identify yung mga taong dinadaan sa balikbayan box ang pagpasok ng kontrabando para pang negosyo nila.

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Grace Poe’s predicament

When Grace Poe started playing with the idea of running for higher office in 2016, a lot of people saw it as the country’s ticket to have a fresh start with government and for a better future for all Filipinos. I was one of them. In spite of her being new in the game, she’s got a lot of smarts for a newbie senator, and her work ethics showed a glimpse of what our future leaders can be with the right attitude. She was the knight (a girl knight) in shining armor the country seems to be hoping for. 

The Mamasapano Senate inquiry. I was so excited to see what we’ll get out of it with her at the helm. Boy, was I wrong! It wasn’t a fact finding inquiry, it was a fault finding inquiry. I also didn’t appreciate that as the progressed from days to weeks, she became oblivious to what she was doing. I think she went in there with the best of intentions to understand the issue and provide guidance and suggestions for resolution, but left the room leaving the government looking weak and the entire country in moral panic. And because she, as lead for the inquiry, was not able to find closure and clarity on the issue, Binay is using that incident as leverage for his campaign, and as case against the government and whoever else was in the room when the orders were given on that fateful day.

Is she truly a natural-born Filipino? Right now there are very serious and very legitimate questions on her nationality. And it has been one of the hottest topic in your neighborhood barberya, and beauty parlor. It looks like she’s now on the same boat her dad, FPJ, was when his very own nationality was questioned. Although it was decided by the SC that he was Filipino, there was a still a lot of questions left unanswered. By the way, the SC approved of FPJ’s candidacy 2 months before the polls in 2004. Makes you wonder, eh. Well I just hope she gets resolved so that she can move on with her plans. 

Now, Grace Poe has always kept her distance from the Binay corruption issue ever since it came out. Bakit nga kaya? I read somewhere that it was because Binay was a close family friend and that he ran FPJ’s campaign in 2004. Someone also told me that Binay is Godfather to one her kids. I do hope she didn’t listen and buy-in to whatever he promised her if he wins the election. Binay has a knack of not following through with promises. Ask his former Vice Mayor. I also never heard her say anything (please correct me if I’m wrong) against the 3 senators facing graft and plunder charges. For someone who also advocates good government and not call this out smells like a cutout traditional politician to me.

Pabor, pabor? Utang na loob? Playing safe? Inangkupo! 

Grace Poe’s starting to lose the luster and shine of her armor. The dents, nicks, scratches and rust are starting show. Her silence concerning alleged corruption happening in government and being vocal on another is just killing her credibility as someone who values transparency. Her integrity? Your guess is as good as mine.

If she still decides to run, it’s all going to be name recall and name dropping and nothing else. So let’s get the artistas ready for some singing and dancing. La Di Dah! 

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Mar Roxas makes a lot of sense.

Yes, the guy was born rich. Old money. His family was and must still be one of the richest in the country. I’m sure there will be no money problems for this guy any time soon. And yes, the guy went to the best schools here and abroad. He must have grown up with friends moneyed as he is. Parties, girls, cars, and travel must have been a regular thing for him while growing up. And what about Political Influence, does the guy have it? Well just look at his impressive political lineage. The guy's Grandfather was the first President of the Republic and his father and brother were both distinguished Congressmen from Capiz.

Fast forward to today and you see photos of the guy repairing a chair, falling off a motorcycle in the middle of a muddy mountain road, talking with tinderos and tinderas in the palengke, assessing the damages of war and natural disasters. People say that it's all propaganda to make him look more "masa". Photos that will somehow make this rich dude look a little like most of us common folk.

Now, I asked myself, what if he did all that because he wanted to help? Even if some of the time, he makes a fool of himself doing it.

Honestly, the guy doesn't look like he can handle a hammer, or ride a motorcycle through muddy road. And I read somewhere that the guy didn’t go to any palengke (the guy's rich, he has people to do that) only until when it became his job to go there. And what does he know about damage assessment? But if you look at the big picture, you'll know that he was trying to repair the chair and make it useful again so that a kid can use it in school. He fell off the motorcycle trying to reach more people hit by Typhoon Ruby when the only way to reach them then was through the muddy mountain roads. He was talking with the vendors because he wanted to know and understand how the palengke can be developed because, as a businessman at heart, he believed in the SME sector as drivers of the economy. Damage assessment? He did that, too. You don't need to be a veteran politiko, or a war tested General to see that people need shelter, food, and protection. The guy saw just that and acted on it. 

And if you think about it, that was all he's been doing the whole time he was working for the government. He was there to help. 

He was also on ground zero when Yolanda hit Tacloban, during the recent Zamboanga and the Mamasapano seige. He bridged the local and national government and resolve the problems at hand. 

The guy was there to help.

Integrity. The guy served 3 Presidents, as DTI, DOE and DILG Secretary, and there was never a time that he was accused of pocketing some change for himself in spite of being the head of these agencies where gravy can flow rather easily. "Dapat lang kasi mayaman na siya!" some would say, but I'd like for you to think about that and the other dati-ng-mayaman politikos who are facing graft and corruption charges right this minute.

Wait, there’s more! The guy left his post as DTI Secretary during the EDSA Revolution 2001 as Erap was under fire for alleged corruption in his government. He also made "mura" the Arroyo government during a rally in Makati, castigating her move to amend the Constitution (Cha-Cha) and extend her term as President. He didn't call her out using coño English or tusok-tusok the fishball English. He made mura in Tagalog. Yah! It was so lutong as chicharon! Now that's talking with your heart out your sleeve. Yah.

So he’s running for President in 2016. So what’s he bringing to the table? The guy's going to continue with the Daang Matuwid ideology. Not a bad idea if you ask me. It's seriously something new to politics these days. We've been so used to seeing ongoing government projects put in the back-burners every time there’s a change in the administration in the LGUs and government agencies because the new guy wants his own projects. You'll see the markings on the sidewalks change, the logos on lamp posts change, city "Welcome" markers get torn down and replaced with new ones with their logos in place and even Senior Citizen medical cards change. 

The guys’s not seeking to put his mark on anything. He just wants to help.

The guy's offering continuity. He intends to finish what he and his boss started during his term. And it's all under the Daang Matuwid banner. No names. No affiliations. But we must remember that this Daang Matuwid ideology is not bulletproof. Like any regular daan or road, it has its share of potholes, cracks, collapsed and unpaved muddy sections. We need to work together because the guy can't do it alone. And it's true to the last letter. We can’t let the guy do all the work and just enjoy the fruits of his labor. We can’t call him out kung manunuod lang tayo. We need to work together.

Personally, the last SONA showed me that the Daang Matuwid ideology worked. That same SONA also showed me that the guy pretty much was a part of the reason why it worked. 

Mar Roxas made himself look silly fixing a chair. Even more when he fell off that bike wearing a bright yellow jacket to boot. The rich kid from Capiz was always one of the first responders to a natural disaster, and in times of war in spite having a team of Under Secretaries, Associate Secretaries, and maybe a hundred more people who can do the job for him. He will call a spade a spade (at may mura pa, just to drive home the point). He’s made some bad calls in the past and he’s still reeling from it until now. But after all that, no one’s questioned his integrity. And I’m always impressed by anybody who stands firm on what he thinks will work for the country, especially when it really does work.  So to me, Mar Roxas makes a lot of sense.

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Magnificat. Luke 1: 46-55

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.  

From this day all generations will call me blessed; the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his name.

He has mercy on those who fear him,from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm and has scattered the proud in their conceit, casting down the mighty from their thrones and lifting up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.

He has come to the aid of his servant Israel, to remember his promise of mercy, the promise made to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory Be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

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Looking back, not in anger.

I first spoke to her in '94, over VHF radio. Eventually, we started talking over the phone and it stayed that way for quite a while. And eventually it stopped.

It was All Soul's Day, and I was biking around the Manila Memorial Park when I caught her again over the VHF radio. It was then that we'd first meet.

I was smitten. 

One day, she asked if I'd go with her for a photo-shoot somewhere in the city. Of course I went, who wouldn't? I've gone with her to school, at the mall, to their place outside the city, to so many of her friend's place and celebrate birthdays, regular drinking sessions, etc. And every-time, I was on top of the world. 

I remember her sleeping beside me on the way back to the city. It was the best 2 hours of summer heat and traffic of my life!

It was a night at their place outside the city that almost did it for us. Everybody was at the attic, some were sleeping, some were talking and others were singing. She was lying beside me, trying to get some sleep. Nothing serious or disrespectful was happening. But when her mom saw us, all hell broke loose. It was the longest, most embarrassing night of my life. All of a sudden, people started to avoid me like the plague. The trip back to the city was awkwardly quiet. I wanted to jump out of the van. I wished then that I brought my car and not leave it at a friend's house... 

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hands across the sea

It's sad to think that maybe, there's someone waiting for you to sweep them off their feet and you're here hundreds of miles away across the sea.