In praise of Mr. Antonio Calipjo Go

It is summer time. A school year has just finished and a new one is about to begin. But in this ritual of getting an education we may ask what do our young people really learn?

It is possible to go through the motions of going to school without really learning anything- neither good values nor the basic3R skills. And it does not help any if the tools we use for learning turn out to be defective as well.

That is why in my book, Mr. Antonio Calipjo Go, the school supervisor who has made it his mission to expose error riddled and incompetently written textbooks is a hero. Sadly however, he seems to be alone in his crusade while his critics gang up to discredit him and question his motives.

Mr. ACG deserves our full support and appreciation for what he is doing – fighting the idiotication of the Filipinos.

Specimen writing of an idioticated Pinoy?

The following piece from cyberspace is supposed to be funny. But if we Filipinos do not get our act together and by apathy allow substandard books to be used in the education of our young people, then it is not really far fetched to believe that many of us could be writing like this in the future:

We’ ve been friends for a long time ago. We come from the same alma mother. Actually, our paths crossed one time on another. But it’s only now that I gave him a second look. I realized that beauty is in the eyes. The pulpbits of my heart went fast, really fast. Cute pala siya. And then, he came over with me. He said, “I hope you don’t mine. Can I get your number?” Nag-worry ako. What if he doesn’t give it back? He explained naman na it’s so we could keep intact daw. Sabi ko, connect me if i’m wrong but are you asking me ouch? Nabigla siya. Sagot niya, The! Aba! Parang siya pa ang galit! Persona ingrata!!! Ang kapal niya! I cried buckles of tears.

Na-guilty yata siya. Sabi niya, isipin mo na lang na this is a blessing in the sky. Irregardless daw of his feelings, we’ll go ouch na rin. Now, we’re so in love. Mute and epidemic na ang past. Thanks God we swallowed our fried. Kasi, I’m 33 na and I’m running our time. After 2 weeks, he plopped the question. “Will you marriage me?” I’m in a state of shocked. Kasi mantakin mo, when it rains, it’s four! This is true good to be true. So siyempre, I said yes. Love is a many splendor.

Pero nung inaayos ko na ang aming kasal, everything swell to pieces. Nag-di-dinner kami noon nang biglang sa harap ng aming table, may babaeng humirit ng, “Well, well, well. Look do we have here.” What the fuss! The nerd ng babaeng yon! She said they were still on. So I told her, whatever is that, cut me some slacks! I didn’t want this to get our hand kaya I had to sip it in the bud. She accused me of steeling her boyfriend. Ats if! I don’t want to portrait the role of the other woman. Gosh, tell me to the marines! I told her, “please, mine you own business!” Who would believe her anyway?

Dahil it’s not my problem anymore but her problem anymore, tumigil na rin siya ng panggugulo. Everything is coming up daisies. I’m so happy. Even my boyfriend said liketwice. He’s so supportive. Sabi niya, “Look at is this way. She’s our of our lives.”

Kaya advise ko sa inyo - take the risk. You can never can tell. Just burn the bridge when you get there. Life is shorts. If you make a mistake, we’ll just pray for the internal and external repose of your soul. I second emotion.

Justice so near and yet so far...

As in all murders, the kidnapping and killing of publicist to politicians Salvador "Bubby" Dacer and his driver Alex Corbito cry to high heaven for justice no matter how long ago it happened.

Now with the apparent change of heart of suspect former police officer Cesar Mancao and his confession and affidavit implicating his former boss, Sen. Panfilo Lacson to the murder, there is a chance that justice is indeed at hand for Dacer and Corbito.

But in a nation currently governed by a regime on the wrong side history (per US President Obama’s description) and where people are divided between the powerful few who are above the law and the masses who fall below it, there is still that nagging doubt if indeed, justice will truly be served.

In the morality battle of good and evil, there are just two sides. Evil does not fight evil but eventually joins forces to inflict itself against the good, the innocent or the helpless.

It was very puzzling why recently, in connection with the Senate investigation on the World Bank Road Project Corruption Scandal Sen. Lacson who bills himself as Mr. Expose and Mr. Clean suddenly absented himself from a very important session where he had a chance to dig dipper into the case and expose the people behind it. Instead he left this task to his colleagues.

Was this a downpayment for a future or secret alliance to a regime that has the goods on him?

We may never know. For as long as this country is divided between those who are above and under the law, ordinary mortals who are under the powerful will never know.

A mosquito thing

We were having a dinner of grilled corn and sandwiches outside our house last night when we noticed that the pesky mosquitos were not attacking us as usual but instead were congregating over a pile of freshly eaten up corn on the cob. This was the reason why we noticed that the mosquitos were not bothering us with their usual ferocity as in other times.

This got me curious and thinking - if I can find out what is in the pile of that corn cobs, then maybe I can use that knowledge to make a new anti mosquito item.

Importing a peacemaker

What was Mrs. GMA thinking when she had the bright idea of drafting Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to help solve the Mindanao Peace Problem just because Mr. Blair happened to stop by the Philippines as part of a world speaking engagement?

That Mrs. GMA has to import foreigners, especially for their “charm and charisma” to help solve the peace problem in the south only horrifyingly shows that she has no idea of what she must do to achieve peace in the south.

Mr. Blair’s and even that of ex UN Sec Gen Kofi Annan’s involvement in Philippine affairs as Malacanang has proposed will not do a thing to move the peace process forward. However, by their association and no matter how little, they might deodorize a government with a questionned legitimacy.

To a regime desperately seeking legitimacy, maybe this will do.

Some favorite maxims

Thinking of a blog entry on a lazy Sunday afternoon, I just thought of sharing some of my favorite maxims some of them collected from my readings, some personally learned through bitter experience:

1. Kung gusto, maraming paraan. Kung ayaw, maraming dahilan.
2. We can not arrive at where we want to go by staying where we are.
3. It is not enough to know. More important is to do.
4. Awards and honors are nothing if one can not use it to benefit others.
5. Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
6. To have the trust of others is a form of wealth.
7. There is no shame in failure. The pity is in not trying.
8. Sincerity is not a substitute for correctness.
9. We transform our country by transforming ourselves.
10.The little things that people do tell what they do with big things.
11. No empire was built overnight, but anyone can start to build one any day.
12. All men are created equal but different.
13. If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail.
14. Passion is the key to not living a mediocre life.
15. There are two kinds of failures: those who thought and never did and those who did but never thought.
16. Ang umaayaw, hindi nagwawagi.

The Rape of Daniel Smith

‘Nicole’, the woman who accused American soldier Daniel Smith of raping her and for which crime Smith was found guilty by a Philippine court has recanted. She has also left the country for a new life in the land of her alleged rapist.

In her affidavit, Nicole admitted that her conscience bothered her and questioned if her behavior at the time she met Smith did not indeed contribute greatly to what has become her ordeal.

If Nicole’s decision was based purely on the dictate of her conscience, then what she did was brave and only proper. She should be supported for doing the right thing in admitting a personal lapse in judgement rather than fearing public opinion and causing the needless suffering of another person.

The only people who will be disappointed at this recantation are those with an agenda separate but riding on this rape case.

But these people are not really supporting Nicole or the cause of justice. For their agenda they are raping Daniel Smith.

View of Malacanang II - The Fall

"View of Malacanang - The Fall"

This picture shows a couple ejected unceremoniously from Malacanang by the combined forces of the people, the military and the church. A hole in the ground under the palace shows a stash of hidden wealth hinting at the reason for the couple's fall.

I like this picture because it is a reminder to our leaders of the fate that can await them if they incur the people's ire. Sadly however, People Power has been a much misunderstood and misused idea that people seem to have lost faith in it.

But I myself have not lost faith in this idea. Even if the first two people power did not achieve its promise beyond replacing faces of our political leaders, I am still waiting for the last People Power that will bring the genuine change that our country and people need.

Free Muntadar al-Zaidi

I add my voice to the clamor for the release of Mr. Muntadar al-Zaidi, the Iraqi journalist sentenced to three years in prison for throwing his shoes at former US President George W. Bush.

Mr. Zaidi is an admirable patriot of his country and an upright citizen of the world. By his action, he showed all of us what courage and love for truth and justice is all about.

That he is in jail and not the object of his abomination - the man who lied to ruin his country and brought grief and misery to his people - tells us of the enormity of the task yet to be done to achieve a more just and better world.

Ombudsman on the wrong side of history

For failing to act promptly and creditably on scandalous anomalies such as the COMELEC Mega Pacific deal, the World Bank Road Project Collusion Reportl, the Fertilizer Fund Scam, the alleged money extortion by former Justice Secretary Hernando Perez from Mark Jimenez, the Euro General dollar smuggling case and for grave abuse of power in the suspension of local government officials, specifically Iloilo Gov. Neil Tupas and Bataan Gov. Enrique Garcia, Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez became a subject of an impeachment complaint filed last Monday by former Senate President Jovito Salonga and 30 others.

Her retort:

- Salonga is just being used to add “fanfare” to the impeachment complaint. Under his term as head of the PCGG, most of the cases filed by his Office against Marcos et al were dismissed. Salonga must answer for the loss of vital documents pertaining to graft cases against the ousted dictator and company

- Former cabinet member Dinky Soliman should just concentrate on coloring her hair instead of supporting the impeachment against her.

- Party list representative Riza Hontiveros Baraquiel has plans to run for the Senate and is just using the impeachment case to promote herself

- Former Bukidnon Rep. Nereus Acosta is just trying to get back at her for the graft charges the Office of the Ombudsman filed against him last week.

With these kind of answers, what more evidence does the public need to be convinced that the Ombudsman has transformed from a defender of the people to the "coddler of the powerful and corrupt"?

Obviously, this woman is on the wrong side of history.

Kabuhayan Versa-Grill

One time while looking for an aptech (appropriate technology) project in the internet, I found a step by step guide for making a garden barbecue grill made from a 55 gallon drum.

The project required a lot of welding work. Fortunately a cousin in law happened to have trained in this particular vocation. Together with my brother in law and a nephew, we pooled resources to execute our first drum grill :

In photo: JRS at work on first grill

Then we tried out how the grill would work on several occassions, cooking different foods…

In Photo: (above) one of the testing sessions, sponsored by Uncle E and Kuya C

(below) foods tried on the grill - pork, chicken, fish, corn

The grill exceeded our expectations and so from just one we decided to make several more….

And a business is born. Maybe...

Potent Anti Depressant

Some people believe that children can help cure depression and I tend to agree with them. There is something in the innocence and laughter of children that can sweep your cares and problems away.

That is why as a depressive, I try to be with children as often as I can. One time when I was again feeling low, I gathered some children of Burmese boat people that washed up on our shore and treated them to an outing at the Manila Oceanarium. See photo below:



I am joking of course! Kids in pics are my nieces and nephews and I love them like crazy.

Liham kay Atty. Leila de Lima

Dear Atty. De Lima,

Sa malalim na kadiliman ng usaping Karapatang Pantao na bumabalot sa ating bansa ngayon, itinuturing ko po na ang pagkakatalaga ninyo bilang Chairperson ng Commission on Human Rights na isang putok ng liwanag na may hatid na pag-asa. Pag-asa na nawa’y sa inyong paninilbihan at pagbabantay, ang karapatang pantao sa ating bayan ay hindi na tuluyang maglalaho, bagkus ito ay mapapagtibay lalo at mapapayabong na muli.

Kung baga, para sa akin kayo po ay si Darna ng Karapatang Pantao.

Kaya po mula sa aking hamak na kalagayan bilang isang karaniwan at di kilalang mamamayan, ako ay nagkalakas ng loob na sumulat sa inyo sa buong paniniwala na ang liham ko ay malugod ninyong tatanggapin, babasahin at ang sinasabi ko ay bukas isip ninyong titimbangin.

Kung hindi man ninyo gawin ito ay ok lang po. E kasi, sino ba naman ho ako?

Wala man nagtatanong sa akin, nais ko lang po na mag comment sa problema ng ating kapulisan at militar ngayon.

Bagamat ang mga kapulisan ay may tungkulin na panatiliin at pangalagaan ang kaayusan sa kapaligiran at ang mga sundalo ay may tungkulin na ipagtanggol ang bansa sa mga kalaban nito, parang may kritikal na pagkukulang sa training at orientation ng ating mga pulis at sundalo na madalas magresulta sa kabaligtaran ng dapat nilang magawa at nauuwi lamang sa kapahamakan lalo na ng mga mamayang dapat nilang pinangangalagaan.

Sa aking palagay, ang kakulangan pong ito ay ang kabiguang ipaunawa sa ating mga pulis at militar ang konsepto ng Paghahari ng Batas (o sa ingles Rule of Law) - na kung paglilingkuran man nila tayo at pag-aalayan ng kanilang buhay, ito ay hindi lamang basta sa pakikipaglaban ng buong tapang sa mga tinag-uriang kaaway ng bayan – maging sila man ay mga kriminal, rebelde, terorista o maging ng mga magnanakaw ng eleksyon – kundi ito ay sa pamamagitan ng pagtatanggol at pangangalaga nila ng ating Batas.

Bilang mamamayan sa isang constitutional republic, tayong lahat – walang pwera pwera- ay nasa ilalim ng Paghahari ng Batas . At ang sinumang ayaw pumailalim dito ay maituturing na rin na kaaway ng bayan - maging pulis o sundalo pa man sila na rumaratrat ng mabangis na carnapper, nanggulpi ng astig na drug pusher, o nanortyur ng mga pasaway na rebelde.

Pagkat kung wala tayong Batas na nakabatay sa Katotohanan at Katarungan wala tayong maangkin na Pambansang Dangal (National Honor). Wala tayong matatawag na Wastong Tungkulin (Proper Duty) para sa ating mga kapulisan at Hukbong Sandatahan. Wala rin tayong matatamong tunay na kaayusan at kapayapaan at lalong hindi magiging posible ang tunay na kalayaan at demokrasya na pinakamamahal daw yata natin.

Ito ang hindi yata gaano nauunawaan ng mga pulis at militar natin. Biruin ninyo hanggang ngayon bumebenta pa ang baluktot na argumento na mas concerned pa raw ang publiko o media sa mga human rights ng mga suspect kesa sa killing rights ng mga pulis o militar. Sana po kapag meron po nagsabi ng ganito sa inyo, hambalusin ninyo ng nirolyong dyaryo sa noo sabay sabi ng “Bobo!”

Ang sinuman lumabag ng ating batas para lamang tayo ipagtanggol at pagsilbihan ay tumatawid na sa panig ng labag sa batas at nagiging kaaway na rin ng mga mamamayan. Ang hindi ho maka gets nito ay walang karapatan na maging pulis o militar at lalong walang karapatan paghawakin ng baril.

Siguro kung maipapaunawa ho ninyong maigi sa ating kapulisan ang ideya ng Rule of Law, Proper Duty at National Honor mababawasan na rin ang kahiya-hiyang agricultural practise sa ating bansa na kung tawagin ay planting of evidence. At sana rin ay matigil na ang pagkarinyo brutal sa mga pinaghihinalaang criminal, rebelde o terorista ng ating mga alagad ng batas. Mga short cut ho ito para makuha ng may kapangyarihan ang kanilang gusto, pero sa huli, wala hong nagagawa ito para maging mas maayos ang ating bayan. Nasasala-ula lang tayong lahat. Para kasing nanood lang tayo ng sabong ng dalawang manok na pareho namang lawbreaker.

Kung may idealistang militar po tayo na galit sa katiwalian sa ating pamahalaan, sana po ay maging kasing galit din sila sa mga hindi nagpapasaklaw sa batas, maging ka mistah o kakosa man nila sila.

Hinahangad ko po ang matagumpay na training na gagawin ninyo sa ating kapulisan.

All the best and more power!

Maraming salamat po.

Fidel g.