Yolanda, The Strongest Typhoon Ever

Well, we all know what happened and we all know what is happening. During the first night, when it when all the electricity and communication lines were out – we had no idea what was going on. 

We knew it was a big one and warnings were relatively early. The president made a public announcement warning the country. 

However, no one have imagined how extreme the effect of Yolanda (aka Haiyan) would have been.

For days, I have been tuning into the news and have been treated to more and more horrible pictures, videos and coverage. Just when you think you already got it, how bad it is and everything, more sad news comes along.

There are criticism, there are complaints. People are angry. People are desperate. There are a lot of things that are said, can be said and that people keep on saying... 

It’s such a large typhoon, the greatest one ever, that spanned from east to west. It is not just 1 province that was vastly damaged, the typhoon covered 2/3 of the country. Tacloban, though it is so famous now, is not the only place that has been hit. In hard hit areas there are: No electricity. No communication. No access.

So, it is what it is. It is a catastrophic natural disaster. It is a tragedy. It is a crisis. It was just that bad. That is the point. 

It has been said that the first responders themselves are victims hence there isn’t even enough people to restore order.

I heard on the news that out of the 290 policemen of Tacloban only 22 showed up for work – where the others are (are they dead or looking for their loved ones?), who knows? I also heard that the leader of the soldier group stationed at the airport was also washed away to sea and was found miles away, after being at sea for 6 hours.

It is a mess. It is a bad situation.  

So, people should just stop saying things and doing things that are really not relevant and not particularly helpful.

And, just go out and help!

I am glad that the country is having all this international news coverage. There now seems to be an outpour of help coming from around the world. The fact that there are so many notable CNN correspondents that are in the country right now alone (I heard Anderson Cooper is here somewhere) has given the country so much airtime and this is good.  

Still, watching all the coverage has been very sad and depressing. Yet I still watch. 

I have been told by friends, who are not particularly the dramatic kind, that they actually cried while watching the news. People are saying that they feel traumatized just by watching the TV, thinking that as a Filipino, this has happened and is still happening to other Filipinos. 

All the tragedy, just gives you pause to think about issues of humanity, tragedy and survival, I suppose. 

After all, it was one crisis and tragedy after another - the Zambo incident, the Bohol earthquake, the Napoles issue.... and the list goes on. 

On this note...  Filipinos has always been thought of a resilient and happy group of people...

As sentiments like these around the net has been said... 

Let us all put our chins up and hope for more positive things to come.

Here's hoping for more bayanihan and less of these people who are exploiting a bad situation for their own gain...

(I am not talking about those victims who stole food for survival. I am talking about alleged rebel groups who shot at relief convoys and hi jacked the supplies and about those who looted items only to them sell them at high prices).

#StrongerPH

Napoles Senate Probe

I wasn’t expecting much. This idea has been preempted by TV guests. She was kept away for so long from the senate probes and then it was said not to expect too much from her. So, ok… I wasn't expecting anything and what we really got was... well, nothing. 

Pulis ba ako? Hindi ko alam... Wala pong scam...

Watching the hearing, I was just wondering about what the strategy was of either side – of the Napoles’ camp and of the senators who were questioning her. I can only guess but who will confirm my guesses anyway?

Well, Miriam obviously stole the show.  You can always count on her for entertainment, theatrics and some loud revelations. She never fails to keep it interesting. 

The thing is, obviously, Napoles knew of these things that she was asked about but she kept saying she didn't. What is the whole point of her oath, if she will just blatantly lie? I don't know what the plan there was but she certainly didn't endear herself to anyone. As you know, Filipinos do like to sympathize with underdog or whoever is seemingly being bullied, even if they are the "bad people". Image-wise though, she didn't look the least bit pitiful the way she presented herself out there. Just saying... 

AND... the big message of the day was Enrile’s DNA revelation: He is the evil mastermind after all…!?

What?! But I am innocent.... 

Ok, old guy... whatever you say. 

Meanwhile....

Somewhere in another part of the world... Jinggoy allegedly is having some medical checkup. 

And so... Abangan na lamang ang susunod na kabanata... 

I hope Napoles and the NGO scam issue will not be forgotten amidst the aftermath of typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan. 

Word to the Wise, Clichés, Self Help and Other Words of Wisdom

1. What I have learned (and unfortunately have forgotten) and have relearned recently is this:

Most people who keep on trying to put you down and make you feel bad about yourself, are usually people who are projecting their own insecurities and issues on you.

They are just so busy convincing themselves, and you, that they are better than you. Do not allow them to do so. Do not allow them to make you believe there is something wrong with you, when there is none.

2. People have different definitions of success, happiness and making it. 

People should stop making other people feel bad about themselves just because what they want out of life is different from theirs.

“To each his own” as they say.

3. Respect – is another word these people need to learn to live by. 

4. More listening, less judging, please.

5. People who can’t handle looking at other people should just stop looking.

Stop the envy, the jealousy, and the bitterness. Most of all (again), stop projecting your own insecurity or whatever it is you are dealing with to others.

Growing up, I’ve had relatives and classmates who always felt that they should be better than me. Whatever I had or did, or was, they had to be better or they had to beat it.

Half of the time I fought back, simply because they were annoying. Like what is up with these people who can’t even give you anything? They had to always have it all, don’t they?

Half of the time, I just wanted them to stop. Like, leave it be, please. Can’t I just do things without these people hovering and thinking of ways on how they can beat me out of whatever it is? Seriously, I just want to exist on my own, in peace, and not be some mark that these people have to measure themselves against on all the time. 

I’ve always thought these people will never "win" because there will always be someone who is better at something in everything and so they won’t stop and won’t ever be truly happy.

However, I still wish that these people would learn to just leave you alone. You don’t want to be their yardstick. You never volunteered. It's not like you knowingly and willingly engaged in these competitions against them.  

Or, if they want to keep using you as their yardstick, can they just please do this in silence, alone, without bothering you? No sabotaging, no backbiting, no back stabbing, no putting you down, no bad vibes…  

If they can be bitter in silence, far away… Ok then, they can do that. It’s a free world.

6. People should learn to be happy for others.

Simply: I’ve always wished that more people would learn to truly be happy for others despite the status of their lives.

   

7.  More Words:

Schadenfreude is pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others. 

The Buddist concept of mudita "sympathetic joy" or "happiness in another's good fortune," is cited as an example of the opposite of schadenfreude

Alternatively, envy, which is unhappiness in another's good fortune, could be considered the counterpart of schadenfreude.

Completing the quartet is "unhappiness at another's misfortune"—which can be called sympathy, pity, or compassion. 

8. Stop wearing the victim shirt.

There was a time in my life when things were down and I would always say: I refuse to be a victim. Sometime a few years ago, due to various reasons, I forgot I was the same person.

My friend was telling me about this self help book that she was reading and one of the steps told her to stop wearing the victim shirt.

I agree, this is true. People should stop wearing the victim shirt.

Though the book talked about various types of victims. One of them is the valid victim that refused to let things go.  In any case, valid of a victim you may be, you will continue to be one if are unable to let go. And so you have to.  

9. Learn to embrace yourself. Learn to love yourself.

Cliché as this statement might be, all I am saying that if I am able to completely embrace and love myself, I think, there (would have been, and ) will be a world of difference. 

10. Well... 

I suppose,  it is a person's choice if he/she decides to be successfully miserable in life.  

Explosive, Not So Explosive: Jinggoy, Miriam, and the Blind Item

 So today, it all went like this: 

But seriously, I have to agree with Miriam Santiago here. This is what we get when we elect actors to the senate! Literally, we get a court of jesters creating drama here, there and everywhere. They give us quite a soap opera, don’t they?

Jinggoy’s speech wasn’t particularly explosive, actually. It was hyped to be one, but really what was that? A lame attempt to confuse people and make all this a he said she said scenario?

AND, in case any one has forgotten Jinggoy Estrada, along with his friends Revilla and Enrile voted guilty during the Corona impeachment trial. 

So, I don’t know… If Jinggoy's accusation is true then he accepted this bribe? - or appeal or incentive or whatever it is they want to call it?! So he took it then? (If so, then isn't he self incriminating himself for selling his own vote?)

And, I could also believe Miriam when she said that Enrile is behind Jinggoy’s speech and the strategy that goes with it.

BUT the bigger explosion of the day is Miriam’s blind item.

And, if it’s true that it was Enrile who funded the Zambo rebellion.

Well, wow… What a man we have here.  

People were: Hostaged. Killed. Raped. Starved. Displaced. Terrorized…

All that, so he can pretend to have high blood and hide inside a hospital? So he can hold on to more power in his remaining years?

And, the Zamboanga siege is still on going and the lives of the people who would survive would forever be changed. (And this is no drama, this is reality.)

We have not even talked about the rebels who were recruited under false pretense. Those who were promised money/jobs/other items or told that they will only do minor task and not actually participate in the violence. These people who are now branded as rebels didn’t even believe in the so called cause their rebellion was allegedly for.

There are no words that can be said for commanding a senseless rebellion, knowingly sending innocent and even not so innocent men into their deaths, just because you can and just because it serves your purpose.

No words, perhaps, but karma.

-

On a side note:

-         -  Funny, how the mega star reacted via tweet as expected, quite outrageously and defensively.

-         - And, the man who refuses to fade away with dignity takes the opportunity to make another appearance in the media: Mr. Corona says that Jinggoy has vindicated him. Ok dude, whatever. 

Tanda, Sexy and Pogi

How funny these code names are not even clever or inconspicuous. They read like a gossip rag blind item alias. Just classy, isn’t it?

Anyway... What is there to say? I’m not surprised these three are in cahoots with Napoles. What is there to be surprised about? I never saw them as saints.

15 boxes of evidence on the PDAF case and on the 3 senators, pic from inquirer

Tanda 

Oh JPE, you and your clever mind and yet still we find you here. I still stand by the idea that there is a gap (though perhaps smaller than it should be considering his age) on his understanding of the youth and the modern times. Somewhere I feel that there is a generation gap with his understanding of today’s political landscape that he keeps insisting on pulling all these stunts (The same applies to all other trapos out there.)   

JPE, aka Tanda, you should have quit while you were ahead. Sometime after the Corona trial when your good name was restored, I thought you were looking to leave a good impression. Somehow I thought maybe you were looking to leave an image of good legacy. You should have stopped there.

And, now look where we are? I shake my head from side to side.

And, allegedly he’s sick now. How very trapo of you, Mr. JPE.

Sexy

Jinggoy, aka Sexy - To be fair, I was starting to really respect you as a legislator for the sheer reason that you were starting to make sense in these senate probes. I mean, I don’t particularly like you but at least I didn’t think of you as an airhead the way I think of other senators as airheads.

But, hey, how can I or anyone ignore the huge amount that you're involve with, with Napoles? Ironic that your dad was impeached because of plunder charges and here we are now.

Pogi

Bong, aka Pogi -  Obviously, I never respected you. And, yes, you are one of those that I think of as an airhead. Not one of the things I’ve heard you say in the senate floor was of actual substance and very prominent in my mind was the memory of your ridiculous diatribe during that so called inquisition on that Hayden Kho bruhahaha (which, incidentally, is just ironic since it's been said that you have lot of extra marital affairs).

And, seriously though, I’ve a beef with senators being such airheads on the senate floor. You’d think you get elected and you stay there for a few years, you could at least read up and have intelligent opinions and statements about things – about anything remotely substantial (And NOT, decide to make a big splash over sex tapes). At least people like Jinggoy and even Trillanes make an effort. This dude, he thinks he can just be “pogi” and it’s all set. 

To be honest though, I don’t even see it. I don’t find him “pogi” at all.

A friend of mine recently told me “grabe talaga itong si Bong Revilla, he’s just the epitome of trapo, actor version.” That is, he is a trapo politically, yes, but on camera he is also the equivalent of a trapo because he keeps on doing the same old lame cheesy movies (assumed to be targeted for the masses.)

And really, his whole existence, down to his code name is all just downright cheesy and everything about him is typical of trapos, so sleazy and so epal.  

And, here we find him at the top of Napoles’ list. He’s the number 1 politician to benefit from Napoles’ scheme. As if he needs any more evidence that he is the winner of all trapo behavior. 

Binay & Zamboanga

Binay

The moment I heard of a vague notion that VP Binay wanted to be included in the Zamboanga issue, I thought: Eto nanaman... And visions of him riding an amphibian vehicle, going around the flooded streets of Makati, flashed before me.

Binay and son on the streets of flooded Makati, photo from dzmm

Suddenly, pictures of Binay’s relief goods wrapped in “office of the vice president” bags appeared online. (I was going to post them here but when I was looking for the link – Lo and Behold – they disappeared!!!)

But anyway, humor me and just imagine it… VP Binay going to Zamboanga with his son the Mayor of Makati (for that matter, what business does he, the Makati mayor, have there I wonder?), giving out relief goods in the VP's very own epal packaging… (The seal of office of the VP was printed and his full name was also printed) Then, also, insisting on being a negotiator because he says he used to be Nur Misuari's school seatmate.

First, re the epal bags: Huli ka na sa balita Mr.VP. Luma na yan. Nag trend na ang anti-epal campaign. Madami na napaso. Pero, talaga lang, gagawin mo pa din? 

I don’t know. Maybe you’d like to be a little more discreet? Print like a smaller print of your name or something on those bags, why don’t you? (Oh, how I wish I had those pictures) Really, how efficient of your team to have these bags ready, printed and available, or do you have stocks of these bags just cause you never know when tragedy might strike?

And, as for that botched ceasefire announcement… What was that?!

What’s worse than inserting yourself in a negotiation that you were not originally in, effectively undermining the people who were supposed to be legitimately doing the task --- is to insert yourself, publicly annouce a ceasefire when there was none, effectively botching it completely. 

People were confused. News outfits reported the ceasefire. The Zamboanga people had a ray of hope…. 

And then, apparently, there really was no ceasefire. What was that?!

Mr. Binay: Epic Fail.

Zamboanga

I don’t know about you but I find the timing of this very suspicious.

While it is true that these groups have long had their grievances and have been feeling left out and what not…This is all old news.

I am not saying their claims and rants are baseless or unimportant (to be honest, I am not that informed to make a remotely knowledgeable comment on this), all I am saying is: Why now? What triggered this sudden attack?

And, what do they really want?

It seems to me their refusal to even give a sense of what they really want, what their demands are, and their continued insistence on shooting innocent people and keeping them hostage just indicates that they are out to simply make noise and make a mess of things, all while claiming to do it for religion or independence (or whatever else they claim this is about). 

I am just saying, I will not be surprised if this was instigated by all these people who are or about to be implicated in the pork barrel case. It has been reported that the captured rebels said they were promised P10-15K if they joined in on the fight. (So wow, they are even getting paid for this.)

Is it a distraction or a means to destabilize the current government or something along the lines of these conspiracies? I will not be surprised if this is really the case - if only because I cannot see what the point is of all this? 

I don't see the point. Lives lost. Neighborhoods displaced. The poor just gets poorer. And for what? 

#MillionPeopleMarch

I will admit to it, I want to wear white and at the very least drop by the march but I am otherwise occupied so I sadly can’t be there.

I support what the march stands for. It is not about anarchy, it is about citizens voicing out their cry against the pork barrel and everything it stands for.

I am just glad I have a few hours to tune into the media coverage of the march before I have to be busy again. I support the cause in spirit and will be tuning in via the internet for news and updates.

One thing to note though, apparently, a certain Mr. and Mrs. Corona were spotted trying to attend the march and was heckled, booed and driven away!

Well, HELLOOOOO what do you expect?! Mr. Corona, were you expecting everyone to open their arms and suddenly hug you since you wore white?! (Maybe he just can’t resist a themed t-shirt day? Remember he kept asking his cohorts to wear different color shirts back then?)

Unfortunately, white apparently isn’t his color. Everyone kept commenting on his man boobs. Just. Simply. Hilarious.

I still cannot believe his nerve. Seriously. 

Also, it has been said that the opposition are trying to ride on this event and make it an anti-Pnoy thing. I would like to believe that our democracy is relatively evolved than those of, say, the Arab Spring countries where opposing forces keep trying to angle for a power struggle amidst the fray and chaos. (On this note, the discussion of new democracies, the Arab Spring and it’s growing pains, should be also be discussed another day).

Let us be clear with this though: TODAY is a cry against the pork barrel and everything it represents. It is a cry for the government to do something about all of this.

TODAY is NOT a rally to bring the current administration.

The nerve of these opposition people but, I suppose, such people never sleep. I wouldn’t expect them to anyway.  

In a country where often the hot new issue makes everyone forget about the previous week's hot issue... and last week we were hit by the year's Habagat among the many major things that happened last week (and so many they were).... I'm sure the culprits are crossing their fingers and hoping we've all forgotten everything.

BUT let today's march be a reminder to you Janet Napoles: We have not forgetten you!

Let the games begin: Where in the world is Janet Napoles?