Same feather

A friend called me and asked me about the news.
"What news?" I asked.

"That massacre...massacre in Mindanao!"
was his reply.

I was alarmed.
A couple of my kins are based in Mindanao.

Then I saw the news: I thought there was a mistake.
It couldn't happen to a supposed-to-be "free" country like ours.

It appears that these savages are friends of arroyo, the mole.

It took her allies to remind her to skip party alliances
and prosecute, if not condemn the perpetrators of this
horrendous carnage.

46? 46 died?

There's a war out there!

Somebody stop it before senseless killings continue.

It seems that padrino system prevents da mole to condemn the killings.
The savages delivered the numbers the last time da mole made
her own version of killing at the polling booth.

Same people, same ideas;
same league....same dirt.

Same feather?

****

AYOS NA!

The next election is just around the corner.
The filing of candidacy has begun and most nondescript "candidates" who are,
actually all nuisance candidates have filed their COCs the other day.
Golly, most bear "names" only they, or their mothers....can fully understand.



Some people like BF and Dick with a "G"
have refused to be daunted by
other 'big' candidates.

Villar has been using his wife's millions
to establish his name as the one to beat.


The 'mole's' anointed has teamed up with a game-show host.
Erap wants a comeback and wants his term finished.
Ahh...the call of fame and moolah is very hard to resist!

But I want change...so change it must be!
Change for a better Philippines.
Hence, I am throwing my support for the candidacy of Noy Aquino.
Suffice it to say that I am supporting him and his Vice...


but never on those balimbings who want to dance
~at the last minute~ with the winning team.

I hate recto and his balimbing ways.
I don't like him a bit....changing his loyalty as fast as he changed parties!
He vats VAT and now he wants change?
Sanabagan.

Neither do I like this joker who was as "bad" as was his word.
He was a "changed" man in so many ways.
Not the change I want in a man.
But changed his color where money thrives.
Sanabagan.

But I like a candidate who has integrity and goodness in his heart.
Whatever detractors say...
I like Noy A. to take in charge of the country
For the next six years.

AYOS!

Sulat Ni Tatay at Nanay*

Sa aking pagtanda, unawain mo sana ako at pagpasensyahan.

Kapag dala ng kalabuan ng mata ay nakabasag ako ng pinggan o nakatapon ng sabaw sa hapag-kainan, huwag mo sana akong kagagalitan. Maramdamain ang isang matanda. Nag-se-self-pity ako sa tuwing sisgawan mo ako.

Kapag mahina na ang tenga ko at hindi ko maintindihan ang sinasabi mo, huwag mo naman sana akong sabihan ng "Binge!" Pakiulit na lang ang sinabi mo o pakisulat na lang. Pasensiya ka na, Anak, matabnda na talaga ako.

Kapang mahina na ang tuhod ko, pagtiyagaan mo sana akong tulungang tumayo, katulad ng pag-aalalay ko saiyo noong nag-aaral ka pa lamang lumakad.

Pagpasensiyahan mo sana ako kung ako man ang nagiging makulit at paulit-ulti na parang sirang plaka. Basta pakinggan mo na lang ako. Huwag mo sana akong pagtawanan o pagsawaang pakinggan. Natatandaan mo, Anak, noong bata ka pa? Kapag gusto mo ng lobo, paulit-ulit mo 'yong sasabihin, maghapon kang mangungulit hangga't hindi mo akukuha ang gusto mo.

Pagpasensyahan mo na rin sana ang aking amoy. Amoy matanda, amoy lupa. Huwag mo sana akong piliting maligo. Mahina na ang katawan ko. Madaling magkasakit kapag nalalamigan....huwag mo sana akong pandirihan. Natatandaan mo ba nung bata ka pa? Pinagtiyagaan kitang habulin sa ilalim ng kama kapag ayaw mongf maligo. Pagpasensyahan mo sana kung madalas, ako'y masungit....dala na marahil ito ng katandaan. Pagtanda mo, maiintindihan mo rin.

Kapag may konti kang panahaon, magkuwentuhan naman tayo, kahit sandali lang. Inip na inip na ako sa bahay, maghapong nag-iisa. Walang kausap. Alam kong busy ka sa trabaho, subali't nais kong malaman mo na sabik na sabik na akong makakuwentuhan ka, kahit alam kong hindi ka interesado sa mga kuwento ko. Natatandaan mo ba, Anak...noong bata ka pa? pinagtiyagaan kong pakinggan at intindihan ang pautal-utal mong kuwento tungkol sa iyong 'teddy bear'.

At kapag dumating na ako'y magkakasakit at maratay sa banig ng karamdaman, huwag mo sana akong pagsawaang alagaan. Pagpasensyahan mo na sana ako kung ako ay maihi o madumi sa higaan, pagtiyagaan mo sana akong alagaan samga huling sandali ng aking buhay. Tutal, hindi na naman ako magtatagal.

Kapag dumating ang sandali ng aking pagpanaw, hawakan mo sana ang aking kamay at bigayn mo ako ng lakas ng loob na harapin ang kamatayan.

At huwag kang mag-alala....kapag kaharap ko na ang Diyos na Lumikha, ibubulong ko sa kanya na pagpalain ka sana.....dahil .....

naging mabuti kang Anak sa iyong ama't Ina.


{*Kopyang natanggap mula sa isang kaibigan....}

The Burning of Manila

I HAVE had sleepless nights lately. The nights are hot; days sweltering heat from the usual hot summer this country suffers every year. But no, it isn't the heat.....that is not the only reason why I can't sleep.

A COUPLE of days ago, I watched a docu film on TV made by NHK on its 20 years-anniversary celebration of its BS arm. It was about the rape or was it, properly labeled, The Burning of Manila.


IT SHOWED scenes I have never seen before....scenes that would forever be etched in my memory for as long as I live. I cried at the atrocities perpetrated not by the usual villains in the eyes of people like me who was exposed to american ways and books. It was done by american troops who made it sure that no one stayed alive.

THE VIDEO clips were scenes from the american side of the war. It detailed the surging american troops towards Manila, which they described [ based on records retrieved from the US Archives] as " The Beautiful Downtown", referring tot he south side of Pasig River.

THE DOCUMENTARY featured interviews of retired soldiers who were part of the american contingent at that time, Filipinos who were residents [some still are,] of Intramuros, A Filipino who worked at the PGH, Japanese soldiers, navy men, and Taiwanese recruits of the Japanese Imperial Navy. I must say that all sectors were represented, hence, fair ground for everyone.

DESPITE THE presence of civilians, the american troops were seen bombing no end the city, with Filipino men women and children seen fleeing to safer ground, but nonetheless caught in the web of gunfire, bombardments.
This didn't stopped for hours, nay, days on end. What's more, the american soldiers burned each building, making sure nobody stays alive inside them. Retreating Japanese soldiers, even if they raised their hands in surrender
were fired upon, killing not only the unarmed soldiers, but innocent civilians as well. When asked why they did so, one american ex-soldier replied: "We were ordered to do so!" Another, seeing the havoc that they created, cried,
saying his neighbors do not even know he has killed so many during the war. Another had the audacity to say: "We has endless supplies of ammunitions, so we used them all and killed every moving thing we saw!"

IN THE end, one can see a Manila I have never seen before: reduced to rubbles and decaying bodies of innocent men, women and children piled up; Manila City Hall were in shambles with its clock tower remaining, but the iron
steels visibly seen; the Tourism building and the finance building that has once housed the Japanese troops burned and reduced to rubbles, almost flatttened to the ground. There are more. It brings to mind the scene I once saw
at the Hiroshima Peace Center. The same one ravished by the bomb from the B29 dropped by Enola Gay.
And Nagasaki, too.

I CRIED. I cried for the countless civilians who were sacrificed and innocently died for the war that they cannot
control.

I CRY, even now.....as I recall the other side of war: the long-lasting effects of radiation that the bombs
continuously do inside the bodies of those orphans of war......

I CRY, as the effects of Agent Orange continue to ravage the children of Vietnam, Cambodia and other places
where they were used.....

I WONDER why these atrocities are not dealt with in the textbooks?

I WONDER why these are not taught students at all levels of education?

I WONDER......

IT IS time to wake up.

A Case of Pure Hypocrisy

Calderon, with his shaved eyebrows, looking at his daughter....


*

It's been months since I visited this blog and I simply missed it.
NOW that I'm back at my desk, I can't help but write something about this lest I regret later.

I was at the airport,
somewhere near the group of newsmen waiting for someone to pass by. I thought, perhaps some celebrities were due. I was mistaken: there they were, carrying heavy coats and ignoring local media and stopping by some foreign correspondents to speak. The man responded that he has forgotten how to speak Tagalog, and has since entertained Japanese reporters ONLY!

Geez! The nerve!
I've been here and there all my life, but I have never claimed in all honesty, that I have forgotten the language of the country that has nurtured me and my siblings, not to forget my Father who, despite being a Japanese himself, never stopped talking to us in Tagalog! Funny, he even can talk in Fookien, English and a generous number of Visayan.

In Linguistics, studies have shown that one can never
forget one's mother tongue! This is true in ALL studies conducted and
everyone who has migrated to other countries can attest to that.
It is the height of hypocrisy for the Calderon husband to say
he has forgotten to speak our language.
After only 13 years?


While it is true that the younger generations have adapted the
language of their birth, no one can deny that still, the older ones,
maintain and speak their mother tongue at home:
whether they be in the States, in Canberra, or in London.
Same is true when in Japan, or in Shanghai...even Tainan.
Why? Purely instinct. It is easier to state your emotions,
to explain in the language you know from the heart.
I recall when at the moment when I was so tired and angry,
I burst into Tagalog as I answered Lolo's tantrums.
That is the only way I could express my sentiments without him getting hurt.
But I believe he sensed that, and has since been quite better than before,
....sometimes!


NOW back to that Calderon couple:
They entered Japan some 13 years ago on faked passports.
Then they appeal that they be allowed to stay?
For humaniatrian reasons?
Some guts, huh?


Instead of doing what they did while still in Japanese soil,
they shouls have been more apologetic and asked for forgiveness.
They went to media and appealed thir case to gain support.

I believe Japan has been good to them in the past years.
They have made a terrible mistake in using fake papers when they entered
a foreign country.It is good they weren't imprisoned for the crime.
They have had good opportunities and have earned their keep
while in this country.
I think that's enough.


And they better be good Filipinos, too.
Never deny you have lost your tongue, man!



..baka habulin ka ng aso, Tsong....
mabigla kang sumigaw ng....


"Tulong!"

......
"Takbo!" kaya?

nya-hah-hah!

SANA MAULIT MULI

NAIINGGIT ako kapag nababalita ang tungkol sa mga protesta sa Bangkok.

Para tuloy flashback ng EDSA 1 ang nasa isip ko.

Hindi maiaalis sa isipan ng lahat sa buong mundo ang resultang nagawa ng kulay yellow ni Cory Aquino sa pagpapatalsik sa mag-asawang diktador. Alam ng lahat na inspirado ng EDSA 1 ang nagaganap sa Bangkok ilang taon na ang nakakaraan kagaya ng kaganapan sa kasalukuyan.


Naging matagumpay ang kanilang protesta at nagpalit ang namumuno sa kanilang bayan.
Eto nga at meron na naman silang reklamo kaya naman kapit-kamay ang lahat para mapatalsik ang korap na ministro.

Madalas sa hindi, palaging naririnig ng mga kakilala ko at pati na ni Lolo ang palaging bukambibig ko: 'Ang daming magnanakaw sa Pinas!` 'Kainis!' ad infinitum....


Tanong tuloy ng mga kakilala ko, pati na ni Lolo, "Ano ginagawa ng Pilipinas para patalsikin ang mag-asawang diktador?"

Sagot ko: "Lo`.....matagal na po yun. Buhay pa si Tatay nun."

Sagot ni Lolo: "Hindi yung dorobo na yun. Itong nagsabi ng sori pero ayaw umalis. Yung nang-agaw ng puwesto...."


Teka.....ano nga ba ang ginagawa ng sambayanang Filipino sa hayagang pagnanakaw ng mga "kagalang-galang na public servants?"


SANA lang....MAULIT MULI ang tunay na EDSA uprising noon.


Hindi yung isang EDSA na minani-obra ng mga taong nagplanong paalisin ang isang lehitimong Presidente ng Bansa.

Yung tunay na makakapagpalaya sa Bansa sa kuko ng mga mandaragit ng yaman ng Bayan.

Para hindi na kailangang marinig sa buong kapuluan ang numero unong sinungaling sa pagsasabing:
-----`I..............am...........sorry` ...o kaya nama'y 'Hello, garci...garci!`

AUSTERITY

DURING times of want and uncertainty, people all over the world think of ways to weave their way through hunger and pain. The same is true after WW2 to countries ravaged by war. Japan has risen amidst the ridicule and climbed the long ladder to become the world's number 2 as far as GNP is concerned. People worked hard nad saved much of what they earned.

WHAT I cannot understand is the way some supposedly-leaders in Pinas where most, if not all spend the taxpayers' money as if it's their own. These dorobos spend our money as if there is no tomorrow! These culprits start from the putative president and her minions, including the latest heist of what is now known as the "Euro-generals".

IMAGINE the millions in Euros they brought with them. Imagine how many millions of roads paved, millions of mouths fed, millions of books read by millions in remote barrios and hinterlands. Imagine how many schoolhouses and more teachers hired with those millions brought by these 6 men and their wives {or kabits} as they trumped their way to Moscow. Imagine also how the MIDGET make her way to NY or to SF or to wherever place she wanted to be. That sanabagan!

INSTEAD of spending those money, why not adapt the Austerity Program as envisioned by the predecessor of the MIDGET's 'father'? Carlos P. Garcia espoused Austerity during his term but was quashed by DM later on.

TIPID is the key.

NO to travels outside UNLESS very, very necessary. Grabe ang mga ito sa perang baon, na kung hindi nasabat sa Moscow, hindi pa lalabas ang mga baho ng mga animal na ito.

NO to junkets by all government employees unless they spend their own. Heto na naman at isang buong eroplano bitbit ni MIDGET, kasama pa si perst dyentelman na nagdahilang may sakit {ayaw raw sumama kasi, noh! Baka may ibang agenda, ateng. heh-heh} Yun pala, nag LBM lang,.... aruuu-juice ku!

NO pork barrels. Source lang yan ng mga tong-pats as in kurakot.

NO extra tax. Ano raw? May dagdag buwis na naman? Buwis-it ang may isip nyan.

NO more VAT. Namo-monitor ba kung saaang bulsa napupunta yan, ha? Kayo talaga, oo! Nagkakanya-kanya kayo, ha? Bad yan.......

NO more gloria, enrile, dureza, ermita,et al....Sukang-suka na ang Bayan sa inyo.

NOT even joc-joc....Oh what a joke!

NO, NOT them!

Mas makakatipid kapag walang katulad nila.