TRIBUTE TO CORY AQUINO

The death of the most beloved and respected of all presidents of the Philippines, Corazon Aquino has deeply saddened the Filipino people. She was a great loss for us.

Her presidency was a series of example of sincere dedication, unpretentious and self-sacrificing hard work. She was one of a kind. Once she has tasted power and influence and yet it never tainted her motivation in serving the people. She never entertained thoughts remaining in power.She is admirable in a sense that she never used her position to shamefacedly make members of her family become government officials for it would tantamount to a sort of nepotism. She invested no self-interests that would be self-profiting while in power. She is the only president I know who never had dubious transactions aimed at gaining wealth personal wealth. She and the people working with her, worked in unison to restore the lost democracy under Marcos regime. They never attempted to plunder our country and to corrupt the position they hold in an effort to show real service.

Yes, her life was a life of dedication to true service. She is the epitome of purity, dedication and integrity. No one can ever point a finger at her, for if they would, they would only be putting in light their own hidden evil motives.

We the people of the Philippines, may never witness another human being, another leader as pure as she is. We all are grief-stricken. We cry our hearts out. For we not only lost a president but democracy as well.

I take-off my hat to her in honor. I lament her departure. Who is like unto her? The hearts of all Filipino people go out to her and to her family.

JOSE RIZAL OUR HERITAGE

I heard during one seminar that Jose Rizal was not anymore considered the national hero anymore, said the speaker, because of his bourgeois quality and that It is already Andres Bonifacio who is treated as the great National hero.
I think this act is outright presumptuous. It nullifies the sacrifice done by Rizal. It only shows the whimsical attitude of people to just disregard what great values are embodied by this hero of all time.

He was an epitome of intellectual refinement and quiet courage shown during the seemingly insurmountable difficulties during the trying times under Spanish rule. I have nothing against those who had chosen to participate in the arena of war-mongering, but we should take into consideration the especially noteworthy preference of Rizal in choosing the road less-travelled, in that he waged war through the use of a pen. It should be thought provoking that his use of a seemingly harmless pen procures the ire of the mighty.Through his writings, he helped keep alive the ideals of ultimately having an independent nation free from unwanted intruders. It is through his fearless writings that kept the fires of nationalism burning. And wasn't he killed because the thoughts embodied in those writings struck at the very heart of those loathsome conquestadores? He held his peace in a most dignified matter, raising not a hand to strike at the enemy. It only showed the power he weld with the use of the mighty pen as a sword.

Believe it or not Rizal had greatly confounded the enemy without shedding blood. It was not enough to quell him because even in death his words remained to tell the truth.

It was then that the revolutionaries found courage and a common prupose to thwart the oppressive invaders. Upon his death, his writings and his heroism became a candle that lighted the way of the people in those dark and dreary days of the early revolution. Not even fear and hunger could make them stop to sacrifice their lives.

His death served as a catalyst. The revolution suddenly took on an uproarious vehemence which resulted eventually with the obtaining of the most coveted reward which is freedom from the oppressor which we now enjoy. Wouldn't you try to stop and think about it? Even at these times we loathe too much riot and chaos. We want a more intellectual approach in solving the delimma that haunt our country's governance. Rizal had shown us how to fight quietly. He had shown us the other alternative. It is not right therefore to oust Jose Rizal from the honor and let us put him back on the pedestal among great heroes. Let us be proud of him our heritage.

BE HUMBLE

The unrest that the Arroyo administration is now undergoing is due to the resulting ineptness and utter enslavement of our government to the controlling few. The people can see in plain sight how our government is being controlled by the few to serve only their own interests. The scandals that wreak havoc which resulted from sheer greed and opportunistic attempts to get the most from our poor and ailing nation which depended so much from gigantic loans just to keep the economy afloat has greatly, negatively affected the people's trust of our government officials. What a shame! And the blatant lies we hear everyday lauding how the people's livelihood had allegedly improved under her rule when in fact, people's lives have remained stagnant if not even poorer. Crimes have worsened and poverty had risen unprecedentedly. It is too much, way too much to handle. We don't want this.

The truth is right there in plain sight. Lies could not cover the truth up. It's like a volcano where the lava is slowly creeping out of it's mouth. It could not be covered up. It will eventually come out.

We can wait for the 2010 election and why not? What we don't like is the pretentious smugness which you deliberately try to project as if you have done nothing downright evil. I think no one can stay a saint in such a powerful position, ever. Anyone would surely be tempted to use power to serve her own interests. Yes we can understand that. It's the nature of man.

But, please show us some humility. Just admit the reality. Don't flaunt us with fantasies and lies. It makes our skin crawl with goosebumps. Ask forgiveness and make amends. It would be better than pretending you are righteous and have done nothing bad. At least it would silence our clamor for your blood. If you really want us to be quiet and leave you there till your bow out of office, be humble. Don't let people fight and hate each other as they rally for you and against you. Please don't stir the people's ire some more for your own good.

The Filipinos have soft hearts. And they love simplicity and humility done in sincerity. It's a sacrifice you can do for all. We are not stripping you of power and wealth. You got enough so be contented. Don't overdo it. You can sail on to 2010.

As others say, "moderate your greed". Moderate indeed! I guess that's the point. And no more lies. Better say nothing than tell another lie. Enough is enough.

LIKE A PACK OF WOLVES

The corruption in the Philippine government is allegedly caused by the oligarch who are there at the seat of the government. I believe that it is true. It is so sad to realize how dirty and how pathetic this government has become. I think that it is there to serve only the few and it is no more concerned with the welfare of the people. They have common will and purpose, that is to gain wealth while they are in office. That's why when something leaks out in the media, they are ready to defend and give out reasons to make the people calm down. They do their best to discredit the one who tries to "blow the whistle". And why would they do that? Because they have obviously benefited from that administration. They have gained so much, all of them. Rumor has it that they are allegedly given money just to have to vote for something which the president wish to be voted upon. They act as a group, a very united group, like a pack of wolves for example, in order to survive the game of corruption, plunder and in fiercely clinging to precious power.

I saw a National Geographic video about the life of the wolves that live in the forest. It is interesting to know about their life in a pack. Their leader is called an Alpha male. He is the most dominant and the most aggressive among the group. The member wolves in effect follow his lead throughout. Another interesting member of the pack is the one called the Omega male. It is the lowest in the pecking order. He always has to keep himself last for if he tries to make himself threateningly visible to the Alpha male, he will be disciplined and be made to wait before everyone else. That is the life they portray as they are being observed in a controlled captivity. They act as one when they try catch a prey. When they decided on a prey, woe to that creature. It's his end. And they they protect their own. They are an interesting creature indeed.

The Philippine government which is at the seat of Malacañang Palace is sadly comparable to a pack of wolves. While we are now in turmoil because of the the ZTE scandal, her croonies can be seen defending her government. They show themselves unperturbed and continue unashamedly on as if nothing is happening. You can see how much they take care of each other in these times of accounting. Different officials from different branches in the government give testimonies and support for her. It is easy to note that she had been generous with them so that they would be willing to burn with her in hell. Their livelihood had been greatly improved under her care. The whistle blower Jun Lozada is being discredited so the people would not believe him. This is Philippine politics, rotten to the core! The president promptly announced that her family did not make business out of the government. Wow, as if the people don't already know! Maybe they didn't make business, they just plundered our treasury.

Since they are like a pack of wolves, what happens to us who don't run with them. We don't get our livelihoods improved. We have not benefited in this administration at all. Our wages have almost not increased at all in relation to the recent hike of vehicle fares, prime commodities and all other commodities in the market. We are left behind swimming in the mire of poverty. Many have no work at all. If not because of the dollars the OFW's send back home our economy would not stay afloat, practically speaking. What happens if the dollar weakens some more. It will be disaster.

There is much unrest and discontent among the people. I don't know where this is heading. The situation is volatile. It could become worse. But I still wish for a peaceful means nevertheless. I think it's always the best. But I really would like to have the government be cleansed. How can this happen? It will only be possible if the people who are there be replaced by new ones who are not under the claws of the oligarch. There will be no true reform if the president is under the mercy of the oligarch. we need to start afresh.