DELICADEZA: The Only Thing Politician’s Money Cannot Buy.

COMELEC’s record show that during the last election held on 2004, among the senatorial candidates, Mar Roxas and Jamby Madrigal are the top two senatorial candidates who spent the most money on commercial advertisements and other election campaign materials. Both spent millions of peso to gain popularity. Alas, it was money worth spending. Both secured sits in the Senate and are now incumbent members of the Chamber.

The same thing is true with regard the other candidates. An analyst from UP said in a TV interview that a candidate for senator would need to spend 200 million to 250 million pesos for campaign expenses. The popular candidate, like a show business personality, would have to spend 50 percent lesser or 100 million pesos which is for me still a substantial amount.

An aspiring public servant entering the service through politics must be filthy rich. A sizeable amount of money ready to be spent in the elections is a condition sine qua non so that the said servant could secure the public position for himself.

How and where will the elected public servant recover his millions spent for the concluded election is another issue. At the moment I want to dwell on the matter of spending and not on recovering.

Gone are the days where the candidates’ campaign strategy is to promote their personal value. I have watched the commercial ads on TV of these politicians aiming for sit in the senate and I was alarmed. All I saw were the singing and dancing but the more important matters needed to be seen from them were kept away from the viewing electorate. These, however are not absolute, there were several advertisements that are worthy to note, like that of Panfilo Lacson to give an example. His slogan HOPE is very promising. His legislative policy on Health, Order, Peace and Education is apt for the plight of the majority of Filipinos.

Nevertheless, Ping is not in my list for the May 2007 ballot. It is a personal conviction. Installing military men or atleast former military men in the Philippine Bureaucracy have its own set backs. It is my political view that stability in the government will only be attained if soldiers are barred from entering the bureaucracy. Soldier’s struggle for dominance and dream for power is the root of all the instability in the government today.

Money can buy everything, so they say. That is correct. It could buy fame and popularity most needed by a candidate. It could buy brute force that could give positive election turn out of votes in favor of a candidate. More over, it could buy votes and tamper the electoral franchise granted to the people.

The right to elect candidate running for elective positions is endowed upon the supreme electorate. The right to choose who to vote involves a process directly connected with the state of mind. The mind in performing this task must be clear of any doubt. It must possess firm conviction on matters relevant to the election of a candidate. Hence, this process must be free from any influence from other being other than the one exercising it. Any exercise of this right manipulated by coercion or money is disfranchisement, a mockery of the democratic process of election.

With so much money inside the pockets of these politicians running for the elections this May I was wondering why they could not buy the most important thing public servants must possess – DELICADEZA. It is such a shame that most of these candidates running for the elective positions on the coming polls are deficient of this personal virtue. They have all the money in the world and yet the simplest virtue of delicadeza seems too expensive for them.

Politicians are shifting from one side to another taking the shifting course with them are their alleged rock hard principles and ideologies. Once staunch oppositionist, who by unlucky turn of events has been omitted from the list of candidates, joined the administration's list. Such are the likes of Mrs. Oreta-Aquino, actor Tito Sotto and Edong Angara. To add more shame to the scenario, the once leaders in deposing the then President Estrada from his sit in Malacañang, Manny Villar and Kiko Pangilinan joined the wagon pulled by the Estrada charisma. You add to this stinking political fracas, the crying senator Loren Legarda is now kissing Estrada’s ass. Yeah, they’re grouse!

Instead to promoting the puke generating SLOGANS, nerve racking dance steps and nuisance jingles why can't these politicians rally the value of delicadeza. Stick with their principles and stand for the cause of the Filipinos minus their personal interests.

Time and again these politicians must be reminded that delicadeza is free. They don’t have to spend so much money for it. Whether they are famous or infamous or funny or freaks, they must be untarnished with shame. A politician dispossessed of this virtue has the foulest words and stinkiest promises. No one must trust his undertakings and pledges because, by his act, honesty is in scarcity. Shame.

Pañera Andrea Read My Blog

It is good to know that someone is taking her precious time reading my blog. I received an email this afternoon from a good friend and she told me that she read my published articles. Wow oh wow! am I glad to learn that my effort in doing this blog thing has not gone to sunder.


Andrea Tan, is a brilliant woman. She is very intelligent with cunning thoughts and opinion not to mention having piercing words that go with it. She has a discriminating taste when it comes to reading materials.


Having her as a friend is a great thing but having her read my blog posts is an honor. This is too much for me. She even gave her comments to my posts. Talagang ibang level na ito pañera! Please do keep updated with my recent posts. I hope by this time you already have your blogger account so that we could join forces in indoctrinating Filipinos. I really appreciate you comments. They are very insightful. Thank you!


By the way, give my regards to Her Royal Highness Krizia, who until now have not accepted my request in Friendster.


Until then have fun surfing the net. I hope you had a happy Valentine.

Sweet Dreams are Made of (Ice) Creams

Last Saturday, the 10^th of February 2007, just four days away from Valentine’s Day I had the best date ever. A date with the sweetest thing on earth –ICE CREAMS!

I attended the opening of the ICE CREAM STORE SA BONI, located along Boni Avenue, Mandaluyong City. It’s the coolest thing happening in town folks. The ice creams are SWEET & DELIS! The opening of this sweet-cold kiosk coincides with the warming of the climate and it’s just what we need.

After the ribbon cutting my friends and I joined the motorcade. It was fun traversing the streets of Mandaluyong. With pompous preparations the motorcade lasted for several hours.

At around 11:00 o’clock its ice cream time! Oh boy, I splurged in sweet cold and free treats from the owners, Mr. & Mrs. Calo and Mr. Jun. Its heaven, love the ice cream.

Fellow bloggers, friends, berks and all you lovers and daters treat yourselves and your love ones with ice creams here. I guarantee you'll love it too. Visit this ICE CREAM STORE SA BONI along Boni Ave., near Barangka Drive, Mandaluyong City.

The Country's Tiger City

Every 9^th day of February the City of Mandaluyong is celebrating its Independence and City hood Day. Yesterday, The 9^th of February 2007, the streets of Mandaluyong City are very busy. There was a festive feeling inside the compound of the City Hall. I was even informed that during the night there will even be a fireworks display. Much to my regret though I could not stay and witness the sky of Mandaluyong last night transform into magnificent sky of multi-colored lights.

This city is growing bigger every time in terms of economy. Malls are rising every where in this city. It became a shopping haven in Metro Manila. The infrastructures put up by the local government, i.e. public school buildings, the new Mandaluyong City Medical Center and the new City Hall Building, are commendable. Even the center islands and plant boxes around the Maysilo area is spectacular.

To the City of Mandaluyong, one of the country’s tiger city, I give my congratulations. Mabuhay ang Lungsod ng Mandaluyong! May it become more prosperous.

Heat and Traffic

After that brief spell of freezing weather this country is in for another hot and humid climate. Summer season is just around the corner and as early as yesterday, the 9^th of February 2007, the climate is so hot I could not stay a minute longer outside. The scorching sun is so much revolting it squeezes out all my bodily fluid.

I went home yesterday from work much earlier than the usual days because I did not want to be caught up in traffic. The City Government of Mandaluyong is celebrating its 13^th year of city hood and I heard that there would be again another parade, like the pervious years, in the afternoon. The main thoroughfares of Mandaluyong would then be jammed pack as expected. So that, after I got the nod of my superior, I decided to leave the office early after I finished my day’s workload.

Unfortunately, the streets of Metro Manila are hopeless. The parade is still far from starting but the streets going to Sta. Mesa is already congested. At around 3:00 o’clock in the afternoon yesterday I am caught up in a heavy traffic along Shaw Boulevard and boy it’s hot out there. Gone is the cool breeze of air the past days. It is so terrible! It’s sweaty and very uncomfortable inside the passenger jitney. Every passenger’s faces are gloomy and angry.

Immediately after arriving home I could not resist the cold water flowing down the faucet. Then and there I quenched my exhausted body with a decent bath. Aaaaah! It was great.

Troubled Employee in the Judiciary

Whew! Im thinking of formulating a good time management strategy now. It seems to me that I'm loosing so much time in work that I have no more time for myself. Its not like that I have a family of my own who needs my time, attention and devotion though, but, hey! I'm human too and I need a break. I cannot spend my entire life serving this institution sucking up all my energy and exhausting my prime strength.

I was wondering if I could apply for a flexible time schedule with the Office of the Court Administrator in the Supreme Court. However, I was in a quandary if my reason for applying would be justifiable and acceptable. I should tell the truth and that would be, in effect, stating therein that I am working in another job, because I was offered to take a second job in a University as an instructor for Political Science subjects.

With my present job in the judiciary, the impending teaching job in a university and my schooling in law school, I believe that 24 hours in a day would be insufficient for me. That is a limitation none mortal being could breach. So now, what shall I do? Hell! I don't know. Maybe, I quit law school, huh? This time I really need a reasonable time management scheme.

My work in the trial court is not that bad though. My exposure in law practice is rather very advantageous on my part. I could grasps easily the lessons thought in law school and I believe that I have a slight edge ahead of my other classmates who have little or no exposure at all in court hearings.

The salary I receive from the judiciary is not luxurious but, that, notwithstanding, I enjoy the privilege I secure in my present job.

As a Court Interpreter for some time now, my repertoire has expanded. It made me more confident in expressing my thoughts. I am now more vocal and assertive in telling people what i think. Such that when I am being asks for an opinion I can readily give lecture on the subject matter without wasting a single sweat. No kidding.

The down side of this story is that court employees like me are not well compensated. The judiciary although able to renumerate its employees more than that of the standard salaries of the government employees is barred by law to do the same. The present Government Employee Standardization Law prevents the Supreme Court from giving its beloved employees more that what the law says. Indeed, dura lex sid lex, the law maybe harsh, but that is the law.

To add more gloom to our plight in the lower court, we have just received the information this morning that the additional benefit that the court employees will receive this month has a substantive discrepancy between the eployees of the Supreme Court and that of the lower courts. The SC Circular, authorizing its disbursement, states that employees of the lower courts will receive substantially lower amount. "Hay buhay!" I commented. No one dares to question that Circular anyway. Where would we file our grievance? Before the Supreme Court? That is foolish. Who dares question a resolution where the forum to file the very questioned resolution is before the body who at the first place issued the said resolution.

Troubled employee, indeed we are. That is no matter to me though because at the end of the day, what matter to me most is that I am instrumental in the process of despensing justice in this country, however underpaid I may be. It is enough that in my own little way, I take part and gives a competent hand in making the justice system in this country credible. My personal wants become subordinate to the noble duty of rendering my country men genuine justice. It is an investment I hope someday will give me good returns.

Political Dynasty

Section 26, Article II of the Declaration of Principles and State Policies of the Constitution provides that “The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.”

The last part of the afore-quoted provision prohibits the establishment of political dynasties, however, it left the two words, “political” “dynasties”, undefined. The Constitution gave to the Congress the duty to enact the statute that will define political dynasty which is now a very significant issue.

The matter was put to the public’s scrutiny when former Senator Francisco “Kit” Tatad, staunch supporter of the deposed President Joseph Estrada, estranged his ties with the United Opposition, known as UNO, formed by the oppositionist parties and other key persons known to be critical of the present government and formed for the purpose of countering the senatorial slate of the LAKAS, KAMPI and NPC coalition party of the administration. The severance from UNO was made known by the former senator in a public letter published in a prominent newspaper. His separation from the party was grounded on the alleged moral issue of political dynasty being forged by the political families within their own ranks and within UNO itself, i.e. Estrada, Pimentel and Cayetano in the Senate. If political dynasty is permitted to be established, according to the former senator, protectionism of political interests and denial of political opportunities to others shall dominate political environment in the Senate.

In a television interview, made by Anthony Taberna in ABS CBN channel 2 morning program, Congressman Allan Peter Cayetano counters the allegations of former senator Kit Tatad by stating that in the same provision of the Constitution states that the State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities to public service, hence, bolsters his ambitions to serve his countrymen in the other chamber of Congress, the Philippine Senate, where his sister Pia Cayetano is an incumbent Senator. He insists that the matter is beyond moral issue and that the issue should be focused on the rendition of genuine public service to the Filipinos beyond personal interest.

The contentions of both parties are meritorious to my own view. Nonetheless, I could not close my eyes and ears on the matter pertaining to the moral aspect of the present issue. I am not a moralist nor am I a righteous man equipped with authority to talk on this subject. Being a citizen of this country and as a part of its body politic, I hereby deemed myself to have acquired locus standi to give opinion on this relevant issue of political dynasty, surreptitiously being formed in the country’s political arena.

Although, Congressman Cayetano may have been correct in his contention that he could not be denied of the equal opportunity to public service as a senator if elected because it is his right to become as such and that nowhere in the Constitution and any existing law is he prohibited to run for senate, I strongly believe that his qualifications must not merely be of legal basis but likewise be of moral and ethical bases. Therefore, in gauging his qualifications one must look past the letters of the law but from the spirit of the law that bring fourth its enactment. That is the moral standard from which the enactment of the law was based. After all, one which is legal must be moral.

The constitution in section 3, article VI, enumerates the legal qualifications of a person who must become a senator, to wit: (1) a natural-born citizen of the Philippines; (2) at least thirty-five years of age; (3) able to read and write; (4) a registered voter; and (5) a resident of the Philippines for not less than two years immediately preceding the day of the election. Further, the Constitution also provides prohibitions such as; (1) no senator shall hold public office and (2) no senator shall appear as counsel in any court of law, tribunal or any quasi judicial or administrative bodies. Thus, to become a senator one must possess all the qualifications and none of the disqualifications provided by law.

I post the question, “how about the moral disqualifications?” One who wishes to become a senator or any other public official, in this case, must likewise review his moral and ethical credentials. These are the standards from whence the legal qualifications are based. It may not be legally enforceable but surely they are useful weighing tolls in gauging ones ability to render genuine public service free from the constraint of outside pressure and from the evil forces in the politics.

A senator or any public official must not be in possession of any moral disqualifications. Moral ascendancy, which issue was so popular during the impeachment of the then President Estrada, is not new to Congressman Cayetano and the other aspiring politicians of his situation. To join working with your husband, wife, father, mother, brother, sister or cousins in one chamber or branch of the government is highly unethical. Personal interest is not far from being pointed to as the compelling reason for having relatives working together in one agency. Graft and corruption is not far from happening. That is a motive, a very enticing one. Having your family, friends and cohorts managing the key positions and functions in the government is a dynasty at work. Therefore, if the present administration could not divest itself of this practice why should the fiscalizing opposition party do the same? Where is then the alternative politics they’re offering to the public? Here, is a group of people claiming to redeem the Filipinos from their bondage of the corrupt and evil government but of the same face hiding beneath the mask and cloak of alternative governance. That is bullshit.

Indeed, if congressman Cayetano, Mayor JV Ejercito, etc. have the genuine intent to serve Filipinos they can do the same whatever position and wherever chamber or agency they may be into. In the proper forum with credible, factual and substantive issues and evidence, they could check and even prosecute an erring public official, even the President of the Republic, for that matter. After all, that is what keeping Congressman Cayetano very busy the past few months. The rendition of service if it be the real purpose in joining the government service and in engaging in politics is possible in a million ways. That purpose is beyond the position one is holding or the branch of government one belongs to.

These families of politicians holding key elective positions in the government cannot justify themselves by the principle written in latin which say vox pupolae, vox dei which means that the voice of the people is the voice of God. Congressman Cayetano, giving the same authority claims that, if he will be chosen by the electorate, whatever moral issues posted questioning him from holding such office will become moot and academic. Paraphrasing his statement he claims that when the people have spoken the conflict is settled because the supreme electoral judges have rendered their decision. This is folly. That is a misplaced invocation of that principle. The voice referred to here is the welfare of the people. When the populace speaks of its welfare that voice coming from them is a resonance of that of God. Hence, their welfare comes ahead of anything else. Now, having been enlightened with the said principle it is very hard to equate welfare with electing or voting.

The relationship by blood and by affinity, therefore, must be a self limiting condition. Politicians with equal access to opportunities for public service must abstain from running for an office where family and relatives is already an incumbent member. Our officials must rally the high merit of righteousness. They are, by virtue of the power given by the electorate, leaders of the Filipino Nation. What pride can this nation have if its leaders elected in office are all immoral and decadent?

I trust, that if our Congress would be emptied of with elected members coming from the same families and put an end to the practice of families monopolizing the sits in both houses of Congress, with the initiative of doing it coming from them, a law would be passed defining political dynasty thereby implementing the constitutional proscription of establishing political dynasties.

Philippine Weather

So cold yet so brief. The cool weather I felt the previous nights was no longer felt last night. It seems that the warmer days are coming soon. Oh well, after that brief spell of chilling weather, jackets, sweaters and comforters are heading back to the closet.

The newspaper this morning announces that according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services or PAGASA, the wind direction changed from northeasterly, which is blowing from Siberia and China, hence, brings colder temperature, to easterly, where the wind coming from the Pacific Ocean is warmer.

“Haaaay! Paalam malamig na gabi”(farewell cold night). That is all that I can say. Any how, we are living in a tropical climate thus this sudden change is expected. I knew the very first night last January when I felt the freezing weather that it will not last long. Now, that phenomenon is coming. However brief I enjoyed that cold climate I admit it. I had the best sleep for years. The bad side of it though is that I had the hardest time taking a bath and I had the record of the most lates to "time in” in our Daily Time Record in the office (I hope Mildred Adobas will break it).

In the same manner that the Philippine weather is getting warmer is the political climate. Election period is fast approaching and Filipinos will be experiencing the hottest political event in the country. There are numerous indications already being felt or seen of this coming occasion. The television shows from the local networks are occasionally interrupted by paid commercial ads of these filthy and wealthy politicians. There were the “tol”, “angat” and “lumaban ka” campaign ads. Likewise, everybody and everyone are making issue out of every thing and anything, such that, they could be talked to and be published.

Whatever gimmickry we’ll be having and whatever trouble we’ll be experiencing this time around before the polls on May this year let us not forget that our future is forged by this event. However hot the election climate may become let us endure it. Otherwise, if we just brush it aside and become apathetic about it the future in store for us and that of our children will be as cold as the North Pole.

Until then, let us enjoy the remaining cold nights if there are still coldness left in the atmosphere. During these nights take pleasure in viewing your favorite tele-serye in the kapuso or kapamilya channel and enjoy every now and then odd ads of our famous and infamous politicians disrupting your rather emotional moments with your beloved shows.

Farewell Arlene

“Eagerly determined to fulfill my purpose in this world notwithstanding the things that get in the way which are unforeseeable and inevitable. These things are like a map that guides me to wherever I want to be and like a planner where priorities are set-up. Recently, I discovered that what the future holds does not depend on someone else's but in my hands. It’s a choice really. I believe in destiny though. THE BEST IS YET TO COME.” (Arlene Tomas)

My dear friend Arlene passed away at the age of 27. A very sad news. This post, I dedicate to you.

Your purpose has been fulfilled my friend. Your legacy is imprinted in the friendship you established with your friends. The love you gave and the memories you left with your family and love ones are treasures worth keeping.

You are a daughter and a sister. To your parents and siblings, you are an angel descended from heaven and a precious gift from God. You are the bearer of happiness to your family. Now your journey ends from whence you came from- The house of our Lord.

You are a friend. To your pals, companions and comrades, you are an inspiration. You’ve touched our lives and enriched our hearts. Your companionship comforted us.

You are a soldier. To everyone, your journey in your lifetime is a battle. You’ve been a great fighter that overcame all the obstacles that came your way. You've mastered your talents, you've set your priorities and you've trusted God, thus, your hands have reached your dreams.

Surely we’ll miss you and we’ll weep because of your departure. However, we shall not hold you, whilst, we will celebrate. Rejoice! we shall with your union with God. We knew that you did not vanish but has just gone ahead of us.

Your early demise is not a battle lost my friend. It is the end of your journey in this world. THE BEST HAS COME. Your destiny awaits you in the hands of our Lord. In the comfort of the creator’s home you shall dwell for eternity.

Arlene Tomas we love you. Farewell my friend.

Your Honor!

“What the mind can conceive the body can achieve,” says the commercial I used to see every now and then in the television. Our mind is indeed powerful. It defies age and its body host. It can command and put into action a feeble body. The languor physiology of a human does not affect his mind. The body ages and retires but not the mind. It is even said that when the human body dies his mind continues to live. Well, that one is debatable. I for one do not believe this latter statement. It is devoid of factual bases. I think that our brain conceives our thoughts, which make up the entirety of our mind. Therefore, if the brain dies the mind ceases to exist.

That, however, is beside the point I’m trying to make. Most men have their limitations when it comes to physical activity. Miraculously however, mental faculties are unaffected. The mind may even boost the retiring body to action. It has a morphine effect that masked the pain and pushes the body to endure.

So that, often, many civil servants continue to go to work and insist on performing their bounden duty notwithstanding their physical handicap. Resultantly, the delivery of public service diminishes. These old aged public servants believe that they can still render the services they used to give during their younger years. It is their belief that causes the problem. Their minds say that they’re still able and capable, so much so that poor public servants, continue on working until they reach their mandatory retiring age of sixty-five. They could have retired from service earlier and enjoyed the remaining prime years of their lives to relaxation. Who can blame them anyway, with the benefits available from the GSIS after the retirement of the public servants, they’d rather continue receiving their salaries in the active service. Planning your retirement with the GSIS pension and benefit packages is like planning on your early demise. Filing your retirement papers is like buying a casket ahead of time. Employees in the government are the greatest whiners so they say. That is true. A contented person never whines. A sufficient retirement plans and packages put a halt on the whining retiring government employees.

I would like to share to you a short story of an employee in the government service whom despite his age and impaired hearing ability has kept on rendering services to the judiciary because his brilliant mind is still sharp and continues on functioning rather very well.

Inside a courtroom during a hearing a witness took the witness stand, after taking the oath, the prosecutor offered the testimony of the witness as evidence for the prosecution, thereafter, he proceeded to propound his questions to the witness. It is noticeable that the presiding judge has a difficulty listening to the questions asked and the answers of the witness to the same because of his impaired hearing ability. Such that, every time the witness answers the question of the prosecutor the presiding judge taps the attentive court interpreter’s shoulder and asks, “what did he say?” The interpreter repeats the answer of the witness to the almost deaf judge for the latter to jot on his notes.

During the middle of the reception of the testimony of the witness the prosecutor asks the witness, “ while walking along the street at that time was there extraordinary event that transpired, if any?” and the witness replies, “I saw the accused walking towards me.” The presiding judge taps the shoulder of the court interpreter and asks, “what did he say?” The court interpreter repeats again the answer to the judge almost shouting so that the judge could hear it, “I saw the accused walking towards me, your honor!” the judge nodded and say “please continue.”

Then again, the prosecutor asks another question, “While the accused was walking towards you, what happened next?” The witness answers, “he shouted invectives and berated me.” For the nth time the deaf judge taps the shoulder of the court employee and inquires, “what did he say?” The court employee repeats the answer, “he shouted invectives and berated me, your honor!” this time though the interpreter is really shouting the repeated answer quite very loud.

The prosecutor propounded a follow up question, “what exact word did the accused utter to you Mr. Witness?” The witness said, “putang ina mo.” As expected the judge taps again the interpreter’s shoulder and asks, “what did he say?” The interpreter, now a bit agitated, repeats the answer to the judge in a very loud voice, “PUTANG INA MO, your honor!!!”

Had it not been for the hearing impairment of the presiding judge you would take that the court interpreter is berating the honorable judge, or is he?