Pa speaks up for controversial Mai

(source) From Mai's dad:

PLEASE ALLOW me to respond to the many criticisms directed at Mai Mislang.

Yes, I do not deny she made a huge blooper regarding the wine served, Vietnamese gentlemen and the traffic situation in Vietnam. It was a private comment with some members of the delegation. It was not the intention to have the comment blown all over, as what happened. The mistake was she posted her comments via Twitter. She should have known better.

As a parent, I am concerned more with the negative comments it generated, both from media personalities and private bloggers. What pained me was the comment that she was raised wrongly by us, her parents. Before saying this, they should have checked first. Isn’t that the practice in media?

We have three children, a son and two daughters, and are staying in a middle-class village in Quezon City. They grew up properly in a quiet neighborhood, studied in Catholic schools for their primary and secondary education, and college at UP. Mai and her sister are members of the local parish choir that sings during Mass. In UP, she was a member of ICTUS, a religious organization in the campus parish church. She finished her course in tourism with honors.

Mai worked with a five-star hotel in Makati in its communications department. Then she moved over to government at DSWD, with Secretary Corazon Soliman and Secretary Esperanza Cabral for bosses. From there, she joined Sen. Benigno Aquino’s staff in the Senate, and then Malacañang when P-Noy won the presidency. She was a hardworking assistant coming home late nights such that even on weekends, she was out there and had to forsake our weekly family dinners. She also does philanthropy, helping an elementary school in Marikina one way or another. One time, I helped her put in the car some computers to be given away to a school. She also has a band where some evenings the members sing in a bar for the sheer joy of it, not for the money. I would say, despite her busy schedule, Mai appears to enjoy life.

It’s just too bad some members of media, broadcast and print, were too harsh on her. They made it appear that she was a spoiled brat, snooty, lacking in manners, and pointed to us parents as responsible for her lack of breeding. I vehemently deny it. We raised our children the right way. This can be checked with our neighbors; otherwise, they are not what they are today, all professionals!

Who among the media persons can say they never committed a mistake in their line of work, and if they indeed did, were never given a second chance to make up for the wrong? The same can be applied to Mai, can’t it be? Mai committed a mistake and it was all over the place, and everybody comes asking for her head!

Mai has apologized for her faux pas. And the Vietnam government was not affected, saying it was a small matter. So who are we to continue condemning her? Even in law, first offenses are normally forgiven and a second chance is given the offender.

Mai and her siblings are our heroes, no doubt about it. And our trust and love for her never waned a bit.

—ED MISLANG,edmislang2001@yahoo.com

An open letter to Noynoy by F. Sionil José

(Reposted from Chuvaness.com, I just thought to repost to share, I think it's rather important, thanks ate cecile.)

Dear Noynoy,

You are now swamped with suggestions and advice, but just the same, I hope you’ll have time to read what this octogenarian has to say.

You were not my choice in the last election but since our people have spoken, we must now support you and pray that you prevail. But first, I must remind you of the stern reality that your drumbeaters ignore: you have no noble legacy from your forbears. It is now your arduous job to create one yourself in the six years that you will be the single most powerful Filipino. Six years is too short a time — the experience in our part of the world is that it takes at least one generation — 25 years — for a sick nation to recover and prosper. But you can begin that happy process of healing.

Bear in mind that the past weighs heavily on all of us because of the many contradictions in it that we have not resolved, whose resolutions would strengthen us as a nation. This past is now your burden, too. Let us start with the fact that your grandfather collaborated with the Japanese. Your father was deeply aware of this, its stigma, its possibilities. He did not leave any legacy because he did not become president. He was a brilliant and courageous politician. He was an enterprising journalist; he had friends in journalism who can attest to his effulgent vision, who did not profit from his friendship, among them Nestor Mata, Gregorio Brillantes — you may consult them. I cannot say I did not profit — he bought many books from my shop and when he was in Marcos’s prison, your mother brought books from my shop to him.

Forgive me for giving you this unsolicited advice. First, beware of hubris; you are surrounded by panderers who will tell you what is nice to hear. You need to be humble always and heed your conscience. When Caesar was paraded in ancient Rome before the cheering multitudes, there was always a man chanting behind him: “Remember, you are mortal.”

I say to you, remember, the poor — some of them in your own hacienda — will be your ultimate judge.

From your comfortable and privileged cocoon, you know so little of our country and people. Seek the help of the best — and the best do not normally want to work in government and neither will they approach you. You have to seek them.

Be the revolutionary your father wanted to be and don’t be scared or wary of the word “revolution.” It need not be always bloody. EDSA I was not. Your father wanted to destroy the most formidable obstacle to our progress — the Oligarchy to which you and your family belong. To succeed, you have to betray your class. If you cannot smash the oligarchy, at least strive to have their wealth develop this country, that they bring back the billions they stashed abroad. You cannot do this in six years, but you can begin.

Prosecute the crooks. It is difficult, thankless and even dangerous to do this. Your mother did not do it — she did not jail Imelda who was the partner in that conjugal dictatorship that plundered this nation. Watch her children — they were much too young to have participated in that looting but they are heirs to the billions which their parents stashed abroad. Now the Marcoses are on the high road to power, gloating, snickering at our credulity and despicable amnesia.

You know the biggest crooks in and out of government, those powerful smugglers, thieves, tax cheats — all you really need is guts to clobber them. Your father had lots of it — I hope he passed on to you most of it.

And most of all, now that you have the muscle to do it, go after your father’s killers. Blood and duty compel you to do so. Cory was only his wife — you are the anointed and only son. Your regime will be measured by how you resolve this most blatant crime that robbed us of a true leader.

And, finally, your mother. We loved her — she united us in ousting an abominable dictator. But she, too, did not leave a shining legacy for her presidency was a disaster. She announced a revolutionary government but did nothing revolutionary. She promised land reform but did not do it. And most grievous of all — she transformed the EDSA I revolution into a restoration of the oligarchy.

She became president only because her husband was murdered and you became president elect only because your mother died. Still, you are your father’s son and may you now — for the good of this country and people — scale the heights he and your mother never reached.

I am 85 and how I despair over how three generations of our leaders failed! Before I go, please let me see this unhappy country begin to be a much better place than the garbage dump our leaders and people have made it. You can be this long awaited messiah but only if you are brave enough and wise enough to redeem your father’s aborted promise.

Hopefully yours,

F. Sionil Jose

Via Philippine Star

BOBOto ako!

http://www.comelec.gov.ph/precinctfinder/precinctfinder.aspx

Boboto ako!

How ironic that the first four letters would mean "stupid" in the local vernacular. Though I really wouldn't be able to go into my country's defense if such a term be branded to us. History can be such a jeering evidence to our misguided decision making... as to whom to give captainship to our sinking boat.

But I'll reserve that topic to my pol-sci/ anthro/ journ blogger friends. Discussing politics is such a tedious task for me.

But now, I would just like put focus on my own town... down south Manila, the city of Paranaque.

Almost a couple of decades back when I transferred from a private school to the local science high school, our campus was situated along with the local municipal school. Books then were on a 1:5 ratio for the usual students, 1:1 for the DOST and the ParSci ones. That was when the actor-turned politician was still Mayor. Walis tingting scandals and some corruption rumors after, my town was then ran by a seemingly nice politician. You'll see much "city beautification" and unecessary stop lights (that a month after ceased working) in the city. During college, I was getting a 10K sem-scholarship that stopped when I got a 2.0 grade in UP. Years later I was told my name was still in the roster, but whoever gets my 10K stipend... was definitely not me.

Almost two decades after HS, I went back to inquire for my brother's enrollment.

Nothing changed. Or morelikely, things must've gotten worse.

So please... Paranaque, no more of the actor turned politician. No more of those excessive spending ones. magisip na tayo pls.

Importanteng Bilog

Matagal na ito pero dahil malapit na ang eleksyon... kelangan malaman ng kababayan ko. Kaya eto, panuorin nyo ang napaka importanteng instruction para sa nalalapit na eleksyon.



So ngayon alam nyo na ang dapat gawin sa bilog, kahit sumayaw pa kayo sa voting precint. Diba? achieve na achieve ang lintek na instruction video na to? Bakit ba ngayon ko lang nakita to? Pfft!

At dahil busy-busyhan pa talaga ako, wala nanamang ka effort effort ang post na ito. Gusto ko nanaman ng bagong template at banner. Puti naman ngayon (ulit). Sino ulit gustong tumulong sakin? hahaha ang non-techie person ko talaga. haha.

Nagpaparamdam lang, buhay pa po ako.

Upuan by Gloc 9 feat Zelle

Kayo po na naka upo,
Subukan nyo namang tumayo
At baka matanaw, at baka matanaw na nyo
Ang tunay na kalagayan ko

Ganito kasi yan eh...

Verse 1:

Tao po, nandyan po ba kayo sa loob ng
Malaking bahay at malawak na bakuran
Mataas na pader pinapaligiran
At naka pilang mga mamahaling sasakyan
Mga bantay na laging bulong ng bulong
Wala namang kasal pero marami ang naka barong
Lumakas man ang ulan ay walang butas ang bubong
Mga plato't kutsara na hindi kilala ang tutong
At ang kanin ay simputi ng gatas na nasa kahon
At kahit na hindi pasko sa lamesa ay may hamon
Ang sarap sigurong manirahan sa bahay na ganyan
Sabi pa nila ay dito mo rin matatagpuan
Ang tao na nagmamay-ari ng isang upuan
Na pag may pagkakatao'y pinag-aagawan
Kaya naman hindi niya pinakakawalan
Kung makikita ko lamang siya ay aking sisigawan

Chorus:

Kayo po na naka upo,
Subukan nyo namang tumayo,
Baka matanaw, at baka matanaw na nyo
Ang tunay na kalagayan ko

Verse 2:

Mawalang galang na po
Sa taong naka upo,
Alam niyo bang pantakal ng bigas namin ay di puno
Ang ding-ding ng bahay namin ay pinagtagpi-tagping yero
Sa gabi ay sobrang init na tumutunaw ng yelo
Na di kayang bilhin upang ilagay sa inumin
Pinakulong tubig sa lumang takuring uling-uling
Gamit lang panggatong na inanod lamang sa istero
Na nagsisilbing kusina sa umaga'y aming banyo
Ang aking inay na may kayamanan isang kaldero
Na nagagamit kapag ang aking ama ay sumweldo
Pero kulang na kulang parin,
Ulam na tuyo't asin
Ang singkwenta pesos sa maghapo'y pagkakasyahin
Di ko alam kung talagang maraming harang
O mataas lang ang bakod
O nagbubulag-bulagan lamang po kayo
Kahit sa dami ng pero niyo
Walang doktor na makapag papalinaw ng mata niyo
Kaya...

Wag kang masyadong halata
Bato-bato sa langit
Ang matamaay wag magalit
O bato-bato bato sa langit
Ang matamaan ay
Wag masyadong halata
Wag kang masyadong halata
Hehey, (Wag kang masyadong halata)
(Wag kang masyadong halata)
Yeahhey...

On the other side of the bill… the medicine price reduction (re) act

I am for the quick and inexpensive procurement of medicine for our people. To borrow from the late Sen. Ted Kennedy who just died the other day, I believe that “health” (and access to its improvement, healing) should be a RIGHT and not a PRIVILEGE. I envy other countries that have made this possible already.

My previous boss and college dean was part of those who supported such an endeavour for our kababayan. I was part of a research by the DOH assessing “Drug Security in the Philippines” which described the process which our people would have to go through before procurement of their most valued medications.

But there’s something WEIRD about these recently implemented drug price reductions.

I can’t help but feel that it was drafted poorly, almost as if it was hurried to achieve a different PURPOSE.

Don’t get me wrong, I laud those who drafted the said bill (specially the Cheaper Medicine Act), but pardon me for suspiciously trying to dissect the implementation of its partnered directive paving way to the Medicine Price Regulation.

To those who know more of this than me, please DO SHED SOME LIGHT. Educate me please. But for now, allow me to release some of my childish cynicisms, if proven wrong, I apologize in advance. But please do hear me out.

"There will be 72 drugs that will be subjected to 50 percent voluntary price reduction starting August 15 given the fast voluntary compliance of drug companies to the government appeal that they reduce their product prices," said Duque.

Let me raise some points:

50% ???????? – Seriously? I really am curious on how this figure came out, was this calculated by intellectual scientific mathematic untainted methods?
I understand that this is for those drugs that is not covered anymore by patent, those with generic counterparts, but is this a little bit too high?

From the pharmaceutical companies and the HONEST businessmen’s point of view, 50% is too much of an overkill. Let us say, 10% of our retail prices were increased due to taxes, 5-10% for overhead fees (employees’ payout), another 10% for infrastructure, travel, and other logistic costs. This doesn’t even include import taxes. From the manufacturers (10% tax), to the distributors (10% tax), to the retail stores (another 10% tax), if such mark down will be implemented, who do you think will cover for a 50% downprice? I bet it will be the workers, the clerks, the drivers, etc.

15% is acceptable. 20% would be almost maximum. But 50%?

Voluntary – yeah right! Possibly for our local drug companies that didn’t have anything to do with the research and development of such drugs, this would not be much of a problem. Their compliance on this will prompt all others to lower the price. It is not “voluntary” it is just the mere effect of competition. You’d loose buyers if your price is still ridiculously higher than the counterpart.

August 15 implementation – Isn’t this a bit too hurried?

I just came from a provincial hospital this morning doing my usual monitoring activities when I got wind that a big chunk of the specialists’ purchased drugs are being lobbied to be returned to the distributor before the 15 September deadline for small scale businesses. Why do you think this is being done? If you buy a 30 pesos worth of drug, and by 15 August/ September, you’d have to sell it at 15 pesos, where do you think the other 15 pesos will go? People, help me out here. Please! I just soooo hate math!

Drug companies – even with the changing of BFAD’s name to FDA (just like US FDA), do you think we are equipped to actually pinpoint those drug companies that sell substandard drug products? How many testing centers do you think we have? One from BFAD, others maybe from schools. At this point let me praise Sen. Pia Cayetano for authoring a bill that would strengthen PH FDA (BFAD) by increasing the number of testing centers all over the Philippines. But when do you think this will be approved and implemented? Again, timing people!

I wouldn’t be sounding like a whining little brat (that I already am), if I see that this regulation is being implemented with some “help” parameters.

Why not take away a percentage of government tax? This way you would really decrease the prices by so much. Do not place the burden of lowering the prices on the businessmen, small and big. Are you afraid you’d loose your own budget?

Why not give the businesses time to sell out those bought at their original price before implementing the big price markdown? Why not give them ample time? Parang FIFO, first in first out for drugs first bought to those that will be affected by the price decrease.

Possible Long term effects

Currently, a lot of pharmaceutical companies have been cutting down on their expenses. And with the recent events, it is probable that some of them might close operations in the Philippines.

I was in Cebu the other day and was surprised that another sales representative (med-rep) of a certain company is bidding his doctors good bye. I was told that this time, they were 78-80 of them. And that’s just the second batch. The first I think were 30 (an increasing trend?), and the next batch will be this December. And I’m only talking about one company.

Another has seized issuing cars to their med-reps and have to cut down on working hours and have been strict on overtimes to cut down costs.

I’m thinking that with this kind of trend, there will be international pharmaceutical companies that will close down operations here and will just leave drug retail to distributors such as Zuellig. Why would they need sales representative with that kind of competition with the generics? They could just have these sold within market and distributed amongst hospitals without the aid of these sales and marketing arm.

My company for one have closed (imagine how many employees are that) last January of this year owing to their change in “business model.” Which basically means that since most of their drugs lost patent already and can be manufactured by the generic companies (and are already household names), they wouldn’t need the sales and marketing arm much and would have to wait for the new drugs in their pipeline to get registered and marketed to have the need to make another sales and marketing arm in this country.

With this kind of trend, sure, our own local companies will have thrived wonderfully, but on whose expense? We will have lost a lot of jobs for many and you really couldn’t expect all these local companies to take in all those who have been laid off. Plus, a number of these local companies still have yet to prove quality to their products. Hello? We are after all the piracy country of Asia if not the world! Even medications are being pirated nowadays.

The trend right now for international companies, if you have noticed is to get a nutritional arm such as wyett or meadjohnsons to somehow support their operations since the nutritionals are still not affected by all these activities.

Why?

Why the urgency, I ask myself. Sure, all these will be favourable to us consumers. But can we stop for a while and look at the greater picture? How can we be able to protect our people from losing jobs?

Is it because of the upcoming elections? Knowing that by doing so, ones’ popularity would have increased? Can’t we hold all these off till we have a more concrete plan AFTER elections?

This is one opinion I have to which I wish I could be wrong and would want more clarifications. Such directive just seems so beautiful that most of our people would’ve been blinded by it. But I urge you, isn’t all these too good to be true?

Why the hurry? I ask, why?

Transcript of PGMA's SONA

Hmmmm... still digesting all of these. Hmmm any opinion in all this sh@#!?

Ay sorry...

For the Transcript of PGMA's SONA click here.

Excerpt:

" But the story of the Philippines in 2008 is that the country weathered a succession of global crises in fuel, in food, then in finance and finally the economy in a global recession, never losing focus and with economic fundamentals intact."

"In the face of attempted coups, I issued emergency proclamations just in case. But I was able to resolve these military crises with the ordinary powers of my office. My critics call it dictatorship. I call it determination. We know it as strong government."

"But I never declared martial law, though they are running scared as if I did. In truth, what they are really afraid of is their weakness in the face of this self-imagined threat."

In sum:
1. We have a strong economy in a strong fiscal position to withstand political shocks.
2. We built new modern infrastructure and completed unfinished ones.
3. The economy is more fair to the poor than ever before.
4. We are building a sound base for the next generation.
5. International authorities have taken notice that we are safer from environmental degradation and man-made disasters.

So... ano na?

Politics your ass!

I cringe at the “sound” of politics. Though I can probably give you my 2 cents worth of opinion, or maybe not, since I don’t read the news anymore, and haven’t really been in front of the tube for the past few freaking uhhhm… can’t even remember, I’m contented already with my DVDs.

Probably because I had too much of it during college… over as a member of the student council, activist groups, socio-political organizations, and even those pa-sosyal organizations. You can’t really escape them, even when you start working.

Not that I don’t care… I really do. I just got tired of debating the unsolvable. Plus such a topic is like lullaby to my ears. I get Lethargic. But don’t get me wrong, I’m not entirely apathetic. With government politics, I do get to do my obligations.

My piece of shit to those who complain much about the government? If they are already at the right age, I ask, “Did you vote at the last election?”

If you say no, I tell you, don’t complain in front of me. You’ve got no freaking right.

If you did vote, by all means, complain. Be my guest. You did your part. Now you may start blabbering!

Kinda like if you’re always complaining about how slow the road constructions are taking, I ask, “Are you paying your taxes?”

Stop whining if you don’t. You leech! And don’t even give me that crap about the government being corrupt. You still have to give Ceasar his salad if the salad is for Ceasar, give to Ceasar what is due to Ceasar kung baga (ano daw? Putek ang corny ko, pataying nyo nako!!!). Then let God’s wrath strike Ceasar when he doesn’t give to his people what is due for his people. That and the Ombudsman (if you deem them effective).

REGISTER. VOTE. TRANSFORM.

So now, to all those kids out there who are now eligible to vote, do register. Then let’s discuss freaking politics you assholes!

Visit www.comelec.com.ph or email ftv.project@gmail.com for more details.

*Disclaimer: To all my friends who are weirded out with my use of “shit”, “freaking” and other words that you don’t really hear me use, please forgive me. I’m still at the last phase of my topak (crazy) moments. I’ll get back to my old self soon. I’m just posting this one unedited. Lazy lazy fucking me. (sorry sorry!!!!!!!!!!, di kaya ako ma MTRCB nito, apologies to my sponsors, weh! As if meron! Putek bset! Adik nanaman!).

*Thank you to my blockmate Carmi for the above picture from her multiply account.