Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin

The writings on the wall are there. It can no longer be ignored. It is just a question of when, and I am fearful of how it will happen. And what will happen afterward.

I wasn't allowed to go to EDSA 1. My grandfather thought (correctly) that I was too young and geographically-challenged to join the people massed up there.

EDSA 2 saw me recording the first few hours of it in a small notebook. A minute-by-minute account of what happened. I worked as dispassionately as I could in the newsroom by day, then joined the throng in EDSA as a citizen at night. It was an exhausting week.

I guess not a lot of people really liked GMA then. It was just that she was the second in line, and the rules had to be followed to allow a semblance of order amid the chaos. But the placards were there. "GMA, we will be watching you. Very closely."

I resent The Erap, deeply, for squandering a golden opportunity not every leader enjoys. He had a massive base support. He could have implemented the most unpopular but necessary laws to move the country forward. He slept on it. Literally and figuratively. What president goes to work in the throes of hangover at three in the afternoon?

Now this. A president whose mandate is in doubt. That's putting it kindly. Some pundits say she should be president of Cebu, because that is where she clearly won. And even some quarters question that.

In the past, our president who behaved like a gangster but surrounded himself with PHD-bearing people. Now, we have a president with a PHD who behaves like gangster.

The writings are on the wall. Sadly, it is not just for the president in Malacanang. It is meant for a nation that keeps repeating its mistakes.

My Take

Sure. She tried to look contrite. She tried to look humble. The props were good. A picture of her grandchildren behind her. Nothing to remind us of the husband nor the son, who recently reeked of easy money, and you can smell it on newspaper headlines. The president tried to look like a sinner wanting redemption. It was like a funeral.

But why the heck did she hit me as arrogant? That it's all an act. The plot is lousy, the script is bad, and the actress needs prepping. She looked drugged and dragged into saying "mea culpa."

She calls it a lapse in judgment. She made it look like she just made one phone call. But which one is she admitting as authentic? There were 15 calls. In one, she asked if she will still lead by a million votes. Garci's reply? "Pipilitin ho natin iyan." (We will try) An election official promising to deliver a one million vote margin to a candidate.

In one conversation, Garci told her "Sa Basilan, alam niyo naman ang military doon eh hindi kasi sila masyadong marunong gumawa."

Was the call (or calls) meant to just "protect" her votes? It doesn't look like it to me. The scent of fraud is there.

Malacanang sources told PCIJ that 12 cabinet members advised the president to face the issue. There was hint they will walk away from her if she continues to stonewall. There were eight cabinet members who wanted her to ignore the issue. But faced with an en masse cabinet resignation, she chose to speak. Lesson in history: cabinet resignations sealed the doom of the unlamented dodo now hibernating luxuriously with his mistresses in a villa in Tanay.

The mea culpa will not end the issue. More to follow. I give her until the end of the year. And I'm being generous in my forecast.

GMA's Apology

Here is the full text of President Arroyo's statement last night:

Mga minamahal kong kababayan.

For the last several weeks, the issue of the tape recordings has spun out of control. Tonight, I want to set the record straight. You deserve an explanation from me, because you are the people I was elected to serve.

As you recall, the election canvassing process was unnecessarily slow even after the election results were already in and the votes had been counted.

I was anxious to protect my votes and during that time had conversations with many people, including a Comelec official. My intent was not to influence the outcome of the election, and it did not. As I mentioned, the election has already been decided and the votes counted. And as you remember, the outcome had been predicted by every major public opinion poll, and adjudged free, fair and decisive by international election observers, and our own Namfrel.

That said, let me tell you how I personally feel. I recognize that making any such call was a lapse in judgment. I am sorry. I also regret taking so long to speak before you on this matter. I take full responsibility for my actions and to you and to all those good citizens who may have had their faith shaken by these events. I want to assure you that I have redoubled my efforts to serve the nation and earn your trust.

Nagagambala ako. Maliwanag na may kakulangan sa wastong pagpapasya ang nangyaring pagtawag sa telepono. Pinagsisisihan ko ito nang lubos. Pinananagutan ko nang lubusan ang aking ginawa, at humihingi ako ng tawad sa inyo, sa lahat ng mga butihing mamamayan na nabawasan ng tiwala dahil sa mga pangyayaring ito. Ibig kong tiyakin sa inyo na lalo pa akong magsisikap upang maglingkod sa bayan at matamo inyong tiwala.

I took office with a mandate to carry out a plan for the nation. Since that time, I have focused on making the tough but necessary decisions to make up for years of economic neglect. We passed a comprehensive, fiscally responsible national budget; raised new and necessary revenues to invest in the people; and implemented new anti-corruption measures that have led to the highest collection of taxes in history.

Nothing should stand in the way of this work, or the next phase of my reform agenda, which includes new investments in education and social services with our new revenues; and an expansion of our successful, anti-corruption and lifestyle checks.

That is why I want to close this chapter and move on with the business of governing. I ask each and everyone of you to join hands with me in a show of unity, to help forge one Philippines, where everyone is equal under the law, and everybody has the opportunity to use their God-given talents to make a better life.

Our nation is strong and getting stronger. The progress is steady and I ask you to walk with me on this journey to rebuild our great nation. I remain your humble servant and promise you that I will fulfill my constitutional oath of office to serve the people to the best of my ability.

God bless the Philippines.

That #@*!? Lawyer

Raul Gonzales, the palace's chief justice, deserves to be disbarred if only to save the reputation of other lawyers, be they brilliant or dimwitted. This guy has been an example of how lawyers try to fashion the law to suit their arguments. In Gonzales's case, his shallow arguments.

Consider these:
"You can't play those tapes, those are from illegal wiretaps!" (Where are your complainants? )
"You can't play those tapes, but you can memorize its contents and quote from it."

This is the same guy who ran for a congressional seat in Zambales, his wife being the former lawmaker. He lost. What does he do? Run in Iloilo.

I really think he ought to be disbarred. No investigations necessary. When know he's not a bright bulb. A probe might prove it beyond reasonable doubt. That's adding insult to injury.

Speak Now, Or Forever There Will Be No Peace

Malacanang is still silent. The president's sycophants present arguments from the most inane to the most harebrained to the most ridiculous. Meantime, the office of the president of the republic is bleeding from the most degrading attacks from a public that demands answers. While I have little respect for its occupants, past or present, I believe the highest office in the land should be protected at all cost. The office should not be demeaned.

The current crop of officials are doing the office a disservice since day one. It admitted the president was wiretapped, and that there are two tapes. Days later, the president's spokesman backtracks. Then silence.

The president's refusal to face the issue head on contributes to the brewing public fury. Silence can buy one a little time. Evasion, if prolonged, will bleed the office dry of what little credibility it still has.

This is not a wedding. This is a matter of national interest. This is a public angered by tapes of conversations that show high-level impropriety at best, and a conspiracy to commit crime at worst.

Speak now, or forever there will be no peace.

Magpaliwanag Kayo

Taxpayer ako. Hindi pa sumasayad sa kamay ko ang suweldo ko, nakaltas na ng gobyerno ang sampung porsiento ng pinaghirapan ko.
Hindi ako nagnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan.
Hindi ako pabigat sa gobyerno. Nagtatrabaho ako.
Sinisikap kong magkaroon ng silbi sa ibang tao.
Sa mga dahilang ito, karapatan kong magtanong, at makatanggap ng sagot.

GMA: Hanggang kailan ka mananahimik? Halos dalawang linggo na. Harapin at liwanagin ang isyu. Bilang lider, tungkulin mong ipaliwanag ito sa lahat. Nandaya ka ba? Ilang milyong boto ang idinagdag sa totoong botong nakuha mo? Hinayaan mo bang makidnap o pag-usapan ang pangingidnap ng isang tao, matiyak lang ang iyong panalo? Magkano/ano ang ibinayad mo kay Garci? Sinu-sino pa sa Comelec ang sangkot dito?Magkano/ano ang ibinayad mo sa kanila? Paano mo matatapos ang iyong termino gayong hungkag na sa kredibilidad ang iyong pananatili sa puwesto?

FG: Pati ba naman kidnapping, di ka narimarim na isiping gawin? Ano ang karapatan mong makialam sa gawain ng mga tao sa gobyerno, di ka naman opisyal ng pamahalaan? Ano ang naging pakinabang mo sa pag-upo ng misis mo sa Malacanang?

GARCI: Magpakita ka na at harapin ang mga paratang. Ano pang pagtataksil sa mga botante ang naganap noong eleksion? Sinu-sino pa ang sangkot? Ano ang ibinayad sa iyo/inyo? Sinu-sino ang tunay na nanalo at nanakawan ng boto? Magkano ang kinita mo?
ELLEN: Nasaan ka? Lumitaw ka na at ihayag ang nalalaman. Magkano ang kabuuang halaga na nakolekta ng amo mo na personal mong alam? Sinu-sino ang naghati? Paano ang hatian? Kailan pa nauso ang ganitong serbisyo mo sa Comelec?

Walang katulad ang paglapastangan niyo sa hirap, pawis at sakripisyo ng mga botante at nagbabayad ng buwis. Nawa'y huwag makalimutan ng kasaysayan ang inyong pangalan. Maisulat sana ito sa mga libro, at mabasa ng mga susunod pang henerasyon. Doon man lang, makabawi sana kami.

Missing Ka Boni

Boni Gillego was every journalist's guide to every story where his experience and knowledge can be tapped.

Ka Boni ("Ka" being of red hue, (read:communist) should tell one he was really something else.)

"A people oppressed has the right to overthrow an oppressive regime," he once told me. He was a soldier, and that line is not expected from one, but he said it nevertheless. He was really something else.

He did spadework and wrote to reveal how his commander in chief wore fake medals.

These days remind me of him.

He told us how he often drank himself to sleep during election time, not having enough money to spread around. A PNB source always informed him how much money his opponent withdrew from the bank. He knew it was being used to buy votes. He drank some more. He admitted that an unlikely source gave him half a million pesos as "last minute help" to spread (thinly) to voters on the night before the elections were to be held. He drank again. How can half a million pesos buy you a reelection? He related it not with pride, but as a reminder to us that he too, had to make compromises.

I believe those compromises were few and far in between. He survived politics nevertheless. Amazingly, he was a former soldier who was supported by even the reds in his district.

Why do I miss him now?

He was always honest with us, providing us with a yardstick with which to measure sources.

Honesty is so absent in government these days.

Yes, good people are missed, even if they don't make it to the presidency.

The sad thing is, people like Ka Boni never make it to the presidency. Maybe because they can't compromise that much to make it there.

Barbers's Tape

thanks to pcij

Barbers: Commissioner…

Garcillano: Ah?

Barbers: Si Senator Barbers.

Garcillano: Senator.

Barbers: Meron daw order na ipalipat sa Manila yung canvassing sa Cotabato?

Garcilano: Wala akong alam doon, Senator. Sabi May 29. Wala naman akong napirmahan ngayong araw. Wala naman kaming pinipirmahan. Kaya vine-verify ko. Pero si Attorney Vidol, yung ating tao doon hindi ma-contact.

***

Barbers: Padre, maraming lumalapit sa amin na mga tao daw niyo diyan sa Comelec humihingi ng…binebenta ang boto. Ano bang gagawin natin diyan?

Garcillano: Sino sa kanila?

Barbers: Hindi ko alam kung sino pero merong dalawa na naglapit sa amin.

Garcillano: Kaya kaya?

Barbers: Ha?

Garcillano: Kaya kaya?

Barbers: Humingi ng masyadong malaki, pare… mga milyon ang hinihingi

Garcillano: Magkano?

Barbers: Limang milyon daw

Garcillano: Ha??

Barbers: Limang milyon.

Garcillano: Putragis na yan

Barbers: Di bale kung rasonable pwede naman tayong magdagdag.

Garcillano: Kung manalo ka, magbibigay ka naman…Sige na, ay kuwanin mo makikiano ka muna at titignan ko kung sino. Kunwari lang ano ka… pasok ang tao mo para malaman.

Barbers: Pero, pare. Willing naman kami magdagdag kung kinakailangan.

Garcillano: O, sige.

Barbers: Siguruhin lang ha

Garcillano: Sige lang, siguro para mabantayan ko

Barbers: O, sige, sige.

***

Barbers: Padre, yung kausap namin eh atras-abante. Umatras na naman.

Garcillano: Huwag na lang. Huwag na lang. Pipilitin ko baka kanilang labas yun…

Barbers: Kung ano lang, kung ano na lang kailangan, pare.

Garcillano: Pipilitin ko.

***

Woman: Sir, eh delikado

Garcillano: Delikado po? Oo, pero tignan natin. Huwag ka na lang maingay diyan.

Woman: Opo, opo, opo.

Garcillano: Tingnan natin baka sakali

Woman: Sir, tumawag sa akin si Presidente. Kasi apparently nagkausap sila ni Chairman Abalos diyan

***

Barbers: (garbled) sa Basilan wala ng nagbabantay, pare, pinabayaan na ng mga tao (garbled) di ina-acknowledge si Rey sa Basilan.

Garcillano: May petition kasi for annulment doon.

Barbers: Ah ganoon?

Garcillano: Sumobra masyado.

Barbers: Baka pwedeng ikarga mo naman yung 70,000, pare? Kaya ko naman yata

(garbled)

Barbers: Sa Basilan pala puede pa at sa Isabela. Pero sitenta na lang ang kailangan, pare.

Garcillano: Oo.

Barbers: (garbled) 70,000 na lang ang kailangan. Hati-hatiin mo na lang, kokonti lang iyan.

Garcillano: Ah…

Barbers: Pare, patotohanin mo na. Wala nang pag-asa yan pag ganyan.

Garcillano: Oo, nga.

Barbers: Patotohanin mo na lang, pare. Kung anong konsiderasyon, sabihin mo na lang sa akin. Kung ano pang additional.

Garcillano: Ah, okay.

Barbers: Pare, pakisuyo lang para matapos na. (garbled) Marami pang natitira, puede pang idagdag eh, 70,000 lang ang kailangan, pare.

***

Barbers: Padre, pag nakumpleto mo, proclaim mo na kaagad na para tapos na.

Garcillano: Oo, naka-ready na ha.

Barbers: Sige, sige, timbre mo sa akin kung kailan ko dadalhin yung requirement.

Garcillano: Oo, ngayon, hanggang bukas kailangan mayari.

Barbers: Sige, basta sabihin mo lang kung magka…

Garcillano: Magkano? …(garbled) kung humingi sila. Sinasabi ko lang kung dadagdagan natin siguro, baka manghingi eh.

Barbers: Okay lang, pare.

Garcillano: Okay, sige.

Barbers: Okay lang, okay lang.

Garcillano: O, sige.

Barbers: O, kailan ko dadalhin? Malalaman ko na bukas. Basta i-proclaim mo na, kung magkano kailangan, sabihin mo lang sa akin.

Garcillano: O, sige.

***

Barbers: Padre.

Garcillano: Mag-ready ka…

Barbers: Oo, naka-ready pa rin. Basta sabihin mo lang ayos na padadala ko na.

Garcillano: (garbled) papuntang Baguio pero kung maaari magpkuwan kang magkano kung anong kaya. Kahit magkano?

Barbers: Oo, sabihin mo. Ikaw ang masunod. Mamamaya magbigay tayo ng mali

Garcillano: One-five to two.

Barbers: O, sige.

Garcillano: May tao diyan sa opisina ko, si Mrs. Peralta na siyang hahawak. Hindi naman ibibigay kung hindi naman maka-deliver e.

Barbers: Oo.

Garcillano: Pero babalik rin ako bukas, either bukas ng hapon o tanghali.

Barbers: Saan dadalhin ang pera?

Garcillano: Kay Mrs. Ellen Peralta.

Barbers: Ellen Peralta.

Garcillano: Ah, oo siya ang executive secretary ko.

Barbers: Hanggang anong oras?

Garcillano: Tatawagan ko na siya ngayon kasi paalis na ako. Okay, basta ready. Makuwan siguro yan (garbled)

Barbers: Paano ko padadala ang pera? Paano ko padadala, manong?

Garcillano: Padala na ngayon para habang kuwan..

Barbers: Basta hanggang six o clock nandoon. (garbled) walang pangalan, padadala ko lang

Garcillano: Ha? Ipadala mo na.

Barbers: Ipadala ko na. O magkano? one more time.

Garcillano: 1.5.

Barbers: O, ikaw.

Garcillano: Anyway, kung hindi magamit, di, ibalik.

Barbers: O, sige, sige…Peralta ha? Ellen Peralta?

Caught on Tape

For those who want to see the transcription of the tapes, please refer to http://www.pcij.org/blog/

Inq7.net has an MP3 downloadable version.

Interesting portions:

Conversation between Gary and PGMA on 10 1340H June 04

Gary: Hello

Gary: Mam good afternoon

GMA: Ano kinausap na kayo ni Abalos?

Gary: Oo Mam. Papasyal lang muna daw ho sya sa Mindanao. Kwan lang. Kaya nga ho kung ano man ho ang mga problema natin tawagan lang ho ninyo ako.

GMA: May problema sa Southwood East pero local kasi iba-iba raw ang ipin-roclaim ng Comelec doon

Gary: Sino ba atin doon

GMA: Ay naku ang importante na hindi madamay yung sa itaas.

Conversation between Gary and PGMA on 28 0943H 2004

GMA: Hello

Gary: Hello Mam good morning ulit

GMA: Oo, oo

Gary: Ok Mam sa Quick Count namin mas mataas ho siya pero mag-compensate ho sa Lanao yun.

GMA: So will still lead by more than 1M?

Gary: More or less…that advantage Mam. Parang ganun din ang lalabas.

GMA: It could not be less than 1M?

Gary: Oho. Total na namin yan pero as of the other day its 982.

GMA: kaya nga e.

Gary: Kung maganda ang result ng Lanao.

GMA: Hindi pa ba tapos?

Gary: Hindi pa ho. Meron pang kina-canvass darating na 7 municipalities.

Tale of the Tape

The voice is unmistakable. It can't be one of those actresses/actors playing the role of the woman in Malacanang. The conversations are full of tiny details no gag writer can come up with. This one, as they say, is stranger than fiction.

So many things in this third world country has made me angry. This one pains me. The country is hurting, more deeply than previously known, more than we will want to acknowledge.

A president in the middle of vote counting saying she wants a 1M margin. Her husband asking for help for a senator-friend in the middle of losing. A president saying she doesn't want the results of a local election reexamined, because it may hurt the candidates at the top. A president micro-managing the shady details of an election.

There will be debates about what was really meant. There will be efforts to downplay its meaning. There will be efforts to redirect the issue to something less evil and dishonest. There will be warnings of destabilization. There will be calls for unity. There will be efforts to sweep this one under the rug, like so many other shady deals that come to light.

But this one has no positive spin to it.

Russel Crowe and a Telephone

By PAT MILTON

The Associated Press
Monday, June 6, 2005; 6:17 PM

NEW YORK -- Russell Crowe was arrested and charged Monday for allegedly throwing a telephone at an employee of the Manhattan hotel where he was staying.

Crowe, 41, who plays a boxer in his latest film, "Cinderella Man," allegedly threw the phone at the concierge at the Mercer Hotel in SoHo, "hitting him in the face and causing a laceration and substantial pain," according to the complaint.

The Australian movie star was arraigned on charges of second-degree assault and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon _ the telephone _ before Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Martin Murphy. The assault charge is punishable by seven years in prison.

"This arose because he was trying to get his wife on the phone in Australia," his lawyer, Gerald Lefcourt, told reporters earlier outside the police precinct where Crowe was booked. "He was in his room. He couldn't get a line and there was a disagreement."

Crowe's publicist, Robin Baum, told syndicated TV show "Extra" that "after asking the front desk several times to replace a faulty phone in his room _ and getting only attitude from the clerk on duty _ Crowe brought the phone down to the front desk in an effort to address the situation in person." (End)

Tempers, tempers, tempers. I know where Crowe is coming from. I have a very bad temper, too. I hate it when things and people don't function the way they should. And hell hath no fury like a Miranda (or a Crowe) on a rampage.

But I draw the line on being physical. The minute you pick up something to throw at your opponent, it means you've run out of arguments. The use of tasteful words to express your anger is a skill that requires a lot of creativity. It is fun, and is a hallmark of a quick-thinking, eloquent but foul-tempered individual. I've also discovered that using a low voice is more effective than the higher-than-normal decibel tone.

Here's how it looks like "when I lose it:" I see nothing but blinding white light for a split second. Then words that will make Tyson crawl back to his cave come in rapid succession, like from an assault rifle.

If only "mellowing down" can come in months, not years, I'd be grateful. It's a daily battle.

I find it funny though, that a telephone can be considered a "weapon," and possession of it can be "criminal." Alexander Graham Bell will not be amused. I wonder what he does when he's furious.

Panunumpa sa Watawat

Iniibig ko ang Pilipinas.
Ito and aking lupang sinilangan
Ito ang tahanan ng aking lahi.
Ako'y kanyang kinukupkop at tinutulungan,
upang maging malakas, maligaya, at kapaki-pakinabang.
Bilang ganti, diringgin ko ang payo ng aking mga magulang.
Susundin ko ang mga tuntunin ng aking paaralan.
Tutuparin ko ang mga tungkulin ng isang mamamayang makabayan at masunurin sa batas.
Paglilingkuran ko ang aking bayan nang walang pag-iimbot at nang buong katapatan.
Sisikapin kong maging isang tunay na Pilipino
Sa isip, sa salita, at sa gawa.

Namnamin.

archaic

it's tough living alone. not because you get sad--that's stupid in this day and age--but because the world doesn't understand your set up.

for example, try having your phone or cable fixed. you set a time with the phone or cable guy. they don't arrive on time. you call them and they say the same thing: "ibilin niyo na lang sa kasama niyo sa bahay." when you tell them that you live alone, they don't get it. they just don't f---ing get it. a girl who lives alone. what the f--k!

it happened when i bought my bed and had it delivered. when i bought my computer chair. when i bought my bike. when i bought my aircon. when i bought my tv. when i had my phone installed. when i had cable installed. "ibilin niyo na lang sa kasama niyo sa bahay." (leave the matter to the people who live with you)

in restaurants, single people are relegated to the worst of seats. near the cashier. near the toilet. near the kitchen. like the world conspires to make your life miserable because you are a single diner. once, having had enough of it, i demanded that i sit where i wanted: near the window. and used my deadpan, freezing point voice that will cool hell. the girl got it. i got it.

do i have to body slam all the time for my rights as a single person?

pasalamat nga kayo di ako nag-aasawa at nagpaparami ng gaya ko. for that alone, you owe me. tangnangsyet. nagagalit na talaga ako.

out of the closet

"only clothes should occupy a closet"

someone wise said that. i just forget who. too bad for wise men. we remember what they said, but not their names. maybe because they are often dead when we lesser mortals realize their wisdom.

someone who's still alive is finally out of the closet, and he's not gay. he's 91 and he helped two journalists bring down a president who swore he was not a crook.

hello, mr. w. mark felt, sr. thanks for finally getting the skeleton out. as ben bradlee said, "it's the last secret." for the past 30 years, the washington post's bob woodward and carl bernstein kept their word. every now and then, the question of who deep throat really was hit the headlines. kept the world guessing. washington post remained silent. now it's finally over.

you were right in helping the two journalists. i can only guess it was because nixon was messing up with the fbi, which you loved deeply, being a career official.

i can only hope our country can have someone like you. more importantly, i hope we have journalists like woodward and bernstein, who doggedly sniffed every lead and uncovered the workings of a crook in the white house. and more importantly, i hope we have a system that moves wisely and fairly, when a crook is unmasked.

hay, pilipinas.