Ecclesiastes 3:20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
How Shall Freedom Be Defended?
In these critical times, I often reread the words of the American poet Archibald Macleish: "How shall freedom be defended? By arms when it is attacked by arms; by truth when it is attacked by lies; by democratic faith when it is attacked by authoritarian dogma. Always and in the final act, by determination and faith."
"Evil Often Triumphs But Never Conquers!" Gloria Arroyo is the most unpopular Philippine President since democracy was restored in the country in 1986.
Gloria's apologists have questioned the accuracy of the SWS survey that showed the President’s public approval rating plunging to a record low of negative 38 percent in June when, they said, she has done so much for Filipinos, including crisscrossing the country to oversee antipoverty projects and typhoon relief and rehabilitation.
“Of course people have to wonder why after the many things that she is doing for the well-being of our citizens that should still be the perception",the Gloria apologists declared.
In order to understand why Gloria Macapagal Arroyo doesn't get it, you have to take several strands of common “Big Ego” ("I, Me and Myself") attitude, then add an impressive degree of class-based obliviousness.
What you end up with is a woman who sees herself as a perfectly good President -- and who is genuinely disconnected from the impact of her decisions on people.
On the few “photo ops” occasions when GMA does directly encounter the down-and-out, she seems to show genuine concern.But then, in what is becoming a recurring, almost nightmare-type scenario, the minute she is caught off guard in interviews, she makes very callous statements.
When the SWS hunger stats were announced, Gloria threw a tantrum. She thought it was some malign opposition plot to make here look bad :The SWS Report on Hunger: “After a short-lived decline for one quarter, the national percentage of families experiencing involuntary hunger in the past three months rose to a new high of 21.5% in the new Social Weather Survey of September 2-5, 2007, surpassing the previous record of 19.0% in November 2006 and February 2007.
Gloria's Response:“Kasi iyun naman ang question ng hunger, do you miss one meal during the last three months? Pati naman ako, I’ve missed one meal in the last three months,” Gloria Arroyo said in an interview after a roundtable discussion on education and social services.
Sometimes she even goes to the extreme of self -deception, by publicly stating policies that are completely the opposite of what’s really happening in the Philippines:The United Nations rapporteur on human rights (Prof. Philip Alston) recently reported: “The Armed Forces of the Philippines remains in a state of almost total denial (as its official response to the Melo Report amply demonstrates) of its need to respond effectively and authentically to the significant number of killings which have been convincingly attributed to them. The President needs to persuade the military that its reputation and effectiveness will be considerably enhanced, rather than undermined, by acknowledging the facts and taking genuine steps to investigate. "
Compare this UN report to her UN General Assembly speech in September 2007:"The Philippines is the most democratic country in our region. We have no tolerance for human rights violations at home or abroad.”President Gloria Arroyo’s Speech at the Sixty-Second Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, 28 September 2007, New York
So what manner of monster is behind this disconnect? She is neither mean nor stupid. What we have here is a woman with a complex character, BIG EGO DRIVE and strong personal ambitions, combined with huge blinkers of class.
Her official biography in her website opens with a simple but revealing statement :“ Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, holds many records.It appears that every life event to her is an opportunity to satisfy a personal ambition.Like an Olympic athlete ,her life is all about keeping a scorecard and breaking records at all costs."
When it comes to dealing with those less privileged, Gloria’s real problem is not deception, but self-deception.
"You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time."Abraham Lincoln
It remains to be seen whether John McCain will put ex-rival Mitt Romney's financial know-how to use by picking him as his running mate.
Now, Romney is hinting that he wouldn't mind joining a McCain ticket. And McCain is lagging so badly in the fundraising department that getting the Romney imprimatur in the mile-high elite is more important than nursing the grudges of recent history.
EQ POLL:In your opinion,Which Democratic Team is going to be strongest versus McCain/Romney?
This will be my second to the last State Of The Nation Address before my term legally ends in 2010.
I have 710 days left in office.
Help me be a good president during the remainder of my term.
I am announcing my seven-point agenda in the remaining 710 days.
1) I am declaring a national policy of AUSTERITY.I will not go on expensive foreign trips during the remainder of my term. No more costly junkets! If ever I need to travel,I promise not to bring the retinue of 59 congressmen who accompanied me to the recent US trip.
2) I will appoint men and women of probity to important government positions.I am delighted that the general public welcomed the appointment of General Alexander Yano as AFP chief and Leila de Lima as Commission on Human Rights head.
3) I promise a policy of non-interference with the Supreme Court in spite of the fact I have a majority of nine Gloria loyalists in the SC bench.I will allow the Great Dissenter,Chief Justice Reynato Puno to exercise the rightful independence of the highest court.
4) I promise a more objective handling of our foreign affairs with China.There will be no more scandalous ZTE deals!
5)I promise not to initiate a hasty Charter Change move just to find a way to legally extend my term beyond 2010.No more Cha-Chas! No More Con -Ass!
6)I will review the possiblity of reducing the VAT on oil .
7) I promise a a policy of national reconciliation with all my political enemies.I swear I have no more Presidential ambitions beyond 2010!
During Gloria Arroyo's first State of The Nation Address( SONA ) in 2001, there were three kids from the Payatas dumpsite invited as her special guests.
The Payatas dumpsite in Quezon City is the main terminal for the solid waste collected in Greater Manila. There are a lot of "garbage scavenger" families who live nearby and who earn their living through the waste they get there.
Gloria in her 2001 SONA speech said that the three poor kids from Payatas dumpsite wrote her a letter , folded and made it into a paper boat and floated it in the Pasig river.The paper boat reached Malacanang Palace.
Jomar Pabalan,ten years old , wrote "pls give a permanent job to my father who is jobless."
Jason Vonn Banogan,ten years old,wrote " I hope you can give me a job when I finish my studies."
The youngest, Erwin Dolera ,eight years old, wrote "please close the stinking Payatas dumpsite! Give us a small piece of land for the family!"
Gloria said "These Children of Payatas have very simple needs :Education, Jobs, Housing. And I may add, Food in the table during each meal! Simple but basic needs of the masses."
Gloria promised in her first State of the Nation Address in 2001:"WE NEED EVERY OUNCE OF RESOURCE TO WAGE THIS WAR ON POVERTY. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE ANYTHING TO WASTE OR GRAFT AND CORRUPTION."
SONA 2008
On the last Monday of July, Gloria will deliver her 8th SONA address.
The three children of Payatas are much older now. Jomar and Jason are now seventeen years old and Erwin is fifteen years old.
Where are they now?
Payatas dumpsite is still there!
The people in Payatas still make a living by recycling garbage. They gather the thrown away plastic, papers, and whatever they can find, including food, that could still be recycled. They sell the papers and plastics to the factories and the recovered food items, usually half-eaten meat ,are re-cooked and served to their own families!
MANILA, Philippines—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's public support rating plunged last month to a record low, making her the country's most unpopular president since democracy was restored in 1986, a survey showed Friday.
The independent Social Weather Stations survey found that three out of every five adult Filipinos, or 60 percent, were dissatisfied with the President's performance, while only 22 percent were satisfied.
The net satisfaction rating—the difference between those satisfied and dissatisfied—plunged to negative 38 points from negative 26 in March. The rating was the lowest for any Philippine president since 1986, when Corazon Aquino restored democracy after leading a popular "people power" revolt that toppled longtime dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
God Answers The Ten Questions I Would Like To Ask God About The Philippines:
* Why are we so unfortunate to have corrupt presidents like Marcos, Estrada and Arroyo?
God answers:I didn't elect those leaders.The people did.Your elections have been virtual popularity contests."Goons ,Guns and Gold" decided your elections with a little help from your Commission on Elections.
* Why are Filipinos so forgiving and forgetful about the high crimes of their corrupt leaders (past and present)?
God answers: The Filipino people have a short memory.
* Why is there is no oil in this country?
God answers: You will discover oil at the proper time. Seriously,do you want this administration to find the oil NOW?
* Why is the Catholic Church in this country so conservative and backward- looking (like being 100% against population control)?
God answers:They take very literally the "Go forth and multiply" adage without realizing that your land space has not increased even an inch since the earth's creation.
* Why is there an obvious lack of patriotism among high public officials?
God answers:Love of Money! It's their personal god! Your leaders are a selfish bunch! In their corrupt minds,there is no such thing as love of country!
* When will the Filipino diaspora ( 8 million out of 80 million abroad) ever end? God answers:The world will be your home.
* Will there ever be justice for the thousands of human rights victims?
God answers: Divine Justice will prevail in your country! Your justice system is corrupt.
* Will we ever have real economic progress?
God answers: Yes.But not when you have corrupt leaders! * Why are there so many corrupt “men of God”? God answers: Don't trust men in skirts !But don't lose hope. There are still many good and honest people in and out of the Church who are truly the men and women of God. * Will we ever have an honest, sincere and patriotic President?
God answers:Yes! But not in the mold of your traditional politicians.
"Everybody brings something here, some by coming,some by leaving" The EQualizer
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WHAT WE'RE ABOUT
BRAVERY,like cowardice, is contagious!
What We're Fighting For:
*Press Freedom *The Global Pinoy *Democratic Space *Equality *Respect of Human Rights *Protection of the Environment
What We're Fighting Against: *Corrupt Establishment *Incompetent Establishment *Authoritarian Agenda *Political Spins *Terrorism of any kind,of any group... including State-sponsored terrorism!
1. Each degree you turn down the heat saves 3 percent of heating costs, while each degree you raise the temperature of your air conditioner saves 3-4 percent of cooling costs. By changing the temperature by 2 degrees all year, you can save about 2,000 pounds of C02 a year.
2. Cook with a slow cooker or a toaster oven (or even a solar oven!) to reduce electrical use from kitchen appliances. For a meal that requires one hour to cook in an electric oven, and which uses 2.7 pounds of C02, a crockpot uses 0.9 pounds of C02 for seven hours, a toaster oven takes 1.3 pounds of C02 for 50 minutes, and a microwave only 0.5 pounds of C02 for 15 minutes of cooking. A solar cooker requires NO C02!
3. Switch to a laptop instead of using a desktop computer and cut three-quarters off your electrical use. Turn off the laptop at the end of the day.
4. Switch to cold water washing and save 80 percent on energy used for laundry and save an estimated $60 a year. Hang dry your clothes instead of using the dryer and save 700 pounds of C02 a year.
5. Plug anything that can be powered by a remote control or that has a power cube transformer (little black box) into a power strip, and turn it off, and/or unplug, when not in use. (Power cubes are 60-80 percent inefficient.)
6. Turn off the lights when you aren’t using them and reduce your direct lighting energy use by 45 percent. Stop using heat-producing halogen lamps (they can also be fire hazards). Install occupancy or motion sensors on outdoor lights.
7. Switch to compact fluorescent from regular incandescent bulbs and use 60 percent less energy per bulb and save 300 pounds of C02 a year.
8. Wrap your water heater in an insulation blanket and save 1,000 pounds of C02 a year. Insulate your hot water pipes.
9. Use public transportation whenever possible, carpool, shop locally, and ideally switch to a hybrid or energy-efficient car (if you haven’t already).
10. Keep your tires inflated to improve gas mileage by 3 percent. Every gallon you save also saves 20 pounds of C02 emissions.
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Be Grateful for all of God's Blessings
Cold Rock Ice Cream
G‘day and welcome to Cold Rock Ice Creamery. The ultimate ice cream experience! Choose it, Mix it, Enjoy it.(In Ayala Greenbelt,Trinoma and The Fort)
Let's storm Heaven with our prayers for Cory Aquino.Democracy's icon of the Philippines
History will be kind to Cory Aquino .She will be long remembered for her historic role BEFORE and AFTER her presidency in the protection of the fragile democracy in the Philippines against the authoritarian agendas of her successors.
In your opinion,what is Gloria Arroyo's legacy after 7 years in office?Is GMA ...
NO to Gloria's Charter Change!
Charter Change?
"Charter change under an extremely unpopular president can only feed the political crisis–it will lead to a political conflict that may strain the democratic system itself. It will also effectively set aside the 2010 presidential elections. At this point in time, any such move will require neutralizing all political opposition." Mon Casiple http://moncasiple.wordpress.com/
Silly Comments
Senator Chiz Escudero said politicians and political parties have their attention trained at the 2010 presidential elections and they are more comfortable that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would finish her term.
"We have already suffered and sacrificed for seven years, what is two years?" he said of Arroyo's administration.
Unpopular According to the Social Weather Stations, only 22% of Filipinos
were satisfied with President Arroyo’s performance. The news did not come as
a su...
The New York Times politics blog reports on a panel duscussion at Netroots
Nation. July 18, 2008, 7:37 pm Easing Off Online Obscenities By KATHARINE Q.
SEE...
"Evil Often Triumphs But Never Conquers!"
Gloria Arroyo is the most unpopular Philippine President since democracy was
restored in the country in 1986.
G...
it’s obscene that the arroyo government is gleefully rolling in cash when
everyone else is not, lalo na’t the source of all that cash is the onerous
VAT th...
The results of a Social Weather Stations (SWS) June 27-30, 2008 national
survey released today, Friday, showed that Mrs. Arroyo had a net
satisfaction rati...
The Filipino Diaspora
"Babalik Ka Rin"
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Ninoy Aquino...Assassinated on August 21,1983
"The Filipino Is Worth Dying For"
Mabuhay!The EQ World Visitors (Live Traffic)
Gloria Arroyo's China ZTE SCANDAL
"Manage the Greed!"
ZTE SCANDAL
Boycott China Olympics! Please don't buy "Made in China" products!
Are you willing to join the Boycott China action (Not buy "Made in China "products)in protest against ZTE ?
"Pagkaraan ng pitong taon ramdam nila ang pag asenso!" Sabi ng mga TV ads ng GMA administration ay ramdam na ramdam daw ang pag-asenso ng ating mga kababayan. Agree or disagree? Kayo - ramdam ba ninyo ang pag-asenso?
Are you in favor of Gloria's Charter Change(Cha-Cha)Again?
It's Time for Cold Rock Ice Cream!The Ultimate Ice Cream Experience!
COLD ROCK Ice Creamery
G‘day and welcome to Cold Rock Ice Creamery. The ultimate ice cream experience! Choose it, Mix it, Enjoy it.
When it comes to dealing with those less privileged, Gloria’s real problem is not deception, but self-deception.
