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Sharp increase in rice prices spark anxieties across Asia

From GMA News Online:

by Associated Press

Philippine activists warn about possible riots. Aid agencies across Asia worry how they will feed the hungry. Governments dig deeper every day to fund subsidies.

A sharp rise in the price of rice is hitting consumer pocketbooks and raising fears of public turmoil in the many parts of Asia where rice is a staple.

Part of a surge in global food costs, rice prices on world markets have jumped 50 percent in the past two months and at least doubled since 2004. Experts blame rising fuel and fertilizer expenses as well as crops curtailed by disease, pests and climate change. There are concerns prices could rise a further 40 percent in coming months.

The higher prices have already sparked protests in the Philippines, where a government official has asked the public to save leftover rice. In Cambodia, Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered a ban on rice exports Wednesday to curb rising prices at home. Vietnamese exporters and farmers are stockpiling rice in expectation of further price increases.

Prestoline Suyat of the May One Labor Movement, a left-wing workers group, warned that “hunger and poverty may eventually lead to riots.”

The neediest are hit hardest.

Rodolfo de Lima, a 42-year-old parking lot attendant in Manila, said “my family will go hungry” if prices continue to rise.

“If your family misses a meal, you really don’t know what you can do, but I won’t do anything bad,” said de Lima, whose right foot was amputated after he was shot during a 1985 gang war.

Others might not be so restrained, said Domingo Casarte, 41, a street vendor.

“There are people who are hotheaded,” he said. “When people get trapped, I can’t say what they will do.”

The US Department of Agriculture forecasts global rice stocks for 2007-08 at 72 million tons, the lowest since 1983-84 and about half of the peak in 2000-01.

The higher prices are stretching the budgets of aid agencies providing rice to North Korea and other countries, particularly with donations already falling.

Jack Dunford, head of a consortium in Thailand helping more than 140,000 refugees from military-ruled Myanmar, said soaring rice prices and a slumping US dollar are forcing cuts in already meager food aid.

“This rice price is just killing us,” he said. “This is a very vulnerable group of people under threat.”

China is among several countries in the region that subsidize rice prices, an increasingly expensive proposition.

Rice prices have almost doubled in Bangladesh in just a year, sparking resentment but no unrest yet. Repeated floods and a severe cyclone last year have cut production, forcing the government to increase imports.

In Vietnam, a major rice exporter, the crop has been hit by a virus called tungro and infestations of the brown planthopper insect.

Farmers there say they are not benefiting from the higher prices.

“The rice price has gone up 50 percent over the past three months, but I’m not making any more money because I have to pay double for fertilizer, insecticides and labor costs,” said Nguyen Thi Thu, 46, a farmer in Ha Tay province, just outside Hanoi.

Another farmer, Cao Thi Thuy, 37, in Nam Dinh province, 75 miles south of Hanoi, said exporters have actually been paying less for rice over the last week.

“If the world prices are going up still, then Vietnamese rice-exporting companies are benefiting, not us,” she said. “They tell us that now weather is better, and rice can grow more easily, so we should not expect higher prices.”

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, worried about anything that could spark a “people power” revolt against her, is assuring the public that rice won’t run out or skyrocket in price during the traditionally lean months of July to September.

This week, she arranged the purchase of up to 1.5 million tons from Vietnam. She also has ordered a crackdown on price manipulation, hoarding and profiteering on subsidized rice, and will hold a food summit April 4.

Things are so tight that Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap has asked people not to throw away leftover rice and urged fast-food restaurants, which normally give customers a cup of rice with meals, to offer a half-cup option to cut waste.

The Philippines is facing “a perfect storm,” said Sen. Mar Roxas, president of the Liberal Party. Problems coping with rising rice prices are compounded by higher oil prices and a US economic downturn, which could reduce the money sent home to families by Filipinos working in the United States. Such remittances underpin the economy.

Philippine farmers say the country, which has become the world’s largest importer of rice after being an exporter in the early 1970s, has shot itself in the foot by developing some former rice paddies for housing and golf courses and planting more lucrative crops on others.

One Asian country, Japan, is encouraging cuts in rice production. Rice prices there have been falling in recent months as people eat less rice and more bread. – AP

Published inPolitics

73 Comments

  1. Ellen: Japan, is encouraging cuts in rice production. Rice prices there have been falling in recent months

    *****
    The price of the brand of rice I buy in fact have not changed that much as a matter of fact these past two years. At least, it is still affordable unlike in the Philippines where it is being used even for bribing wannabe supporters of the graft and corruption being institutionalized by Gloria Dorobo.

  2. Eggplant Eggplant

    So it’s time now for Philippines to import rice from Japan. That is not bad considering that Japanese rice is good for my sashimi. Paging secretary Yap, let us buy rice from Japan.

  3. Etnad Etnad

    Elibs na ako talaga sa mga Think Tank ni Glorya. Kumagat lahat sa isyu na rice shortage para mabaling ng attention ng mga tao sa isyung NBN-ZTE deal. Magaling talaga silang magpa-ikot. Kaya magtiis na lang tayo habang buhay dahil hindi bababa si Glorya sa kanyang puwesto sa 2010. Mag Chacha na tayo kaysa puro dada. INIIIIIIIS!!!!!!!!

  4. Eggplant Eggplant

    2010 Etnad? Baka lampas pa diyan kasama. Huwag naman po sana. May mga nagtatanong na nga kung may magagawang paraan daw ang mga Harry Potter diyan sa Siquijor to end her term. A, ewan.

  5. Etnad Etnad

    Nawalan na ako ng pag-asa na ma-alis at makasuhan ang mag-asawang Arroyo kasamang Eggplant. Mukhang etong mga tumutuligsa sa kanya ay mukhang naghihintay lang ng grasya at sila’y tatahimik na. Ako ang naa-awa kay Lozada, buong pamilya niya ang itinaya niya para lang tuluyang malaman ng buong Bansa kung gaano kagahaman itong mga Arroyo at mga tuta niya. Pero mukhang ginagamit lang naman yata siya ng mga anti-administration daw para maambunan din sila. Pare-parehas lang ang mga Politikong yan ma-oposisyon man o ma-administrasyon. Tayong mga madlang pipol ang kawawa. Alam ng mga Politiko na weder-weder lang.

  6. Another 20 years pa ang kailangan para daw matupad ni Dorobo ang pangarap niyang gawing kingdom ang Pilipinas. Hindi bababa iyan. Hindi naman lihim iyan. Isinasampal na nga sa mukha ng mga pilipino iyan kung bakit patuloy pa rin na nagpapasampal ang mga pilipino sa dorobong iyan?

    Ang nakakabuwisit iyong pupuslit na lang sa ibang bansa dahil mahirap daw ang buhay sa Pilipinas without taking into consideration iyong perhuwisyong ibinibigay nila sa mga mamamayan ng mga bansang ginugulo nila demanding rights to stay daw even when they violate the laws of the land they slip into. Kaya kung higpitan ang mga pilipino kahit saan kasalanan din nila.

    They should make their demands for better life to the idiots and kurakots they allow to cheat to get where they are now like the Dorobo who profits in shooing Filipinos out of their own country. Nakakainis? You bet!

  7. ebvmart ebvmart

    To feed the ballooning population the farmers are stretch out to produce more but they are the least to get the attention of the government. In India alone about 80,000 committed suicide last year,It happens in India and I believe it is also happening here and the farmers children are equally shocking they are undernourished,Farmers are trap in a dire poverty with no access to basic health care and clean water,With no agricultural extension services like affordable credit line from the government,little public investment in irrigation,infrastructure like farm to market roads and access to modern technology they are doomed.However many countries where agriculture is given priorities there is a sharp reduction of poverty like China or Vietnam even Thailand,surprisingly we produce more rice than Thailand,This pattern shows that if agriculture is prioritize by our government we will also experience a significant decrease of poverty as well.

  8. ebvmart ebvmart

    Err: ..In India alone about 80,000 farmers committed suicide…….

  9. If you are searching for the villain raising prices in the Asian Rice market, look in the mirror. Our official panic buying from Asian rice producers is creating the tight supplies globally — panic buying at panic prices. Pinoys caused the inflated buying prices.

  10. Kasalanan ng Gobyerno ni Arroyo kung bakit nagkakaroon tayo ng Krisis sa bigas.Hindi niya binigyan ng prioridad at tulong pag kaunlaran ang mga magsasaka at ibang proyekto ang inatupag niya ang ipinapatupad kung saan ang may kick-back.Ito naman si Yap ano ang ginagawa niya.Panakip butas lang ba o dekorasyon ng Agriculture.

    Hindi ang pag-aankat ng bigas sa ibang bansa ang lunas dahil mauuubusan din sila ng bigas.

    Ang halimbawa niya ay parang dalawang magsasaka na parehong may bukid.Ang isa ay nagsaka at ang isa naman ay iniwanan ang bukid at namasyal o nakuntento na sa nautang at hindi na nagsaka.Sino ang may kasalanan ngayon sa shortage ng supply na bigas.Iyung magsasaka ba dahil kakaunti ang naani o iyung mismong hindi nagsaka.Natural kung hindi nagsaka ay mamimili ng bigas sa inani ng nagsaka at kakagat ka sa presyong gusto nila dahil kailangan mo.Iyong pinirmahan ng agreement ng Vietnam at gobyerno natin na bibili ng ilang milyon metric ton na bigas ay papel pa lamang iyun at hindi pa naaani ang palay ibilad at ipakiskis ng mga Vietnamese kaya mahirap asahan iyun.Kung mayroon man ay ikakarga sa barko papuntang Pilipinas.E kung lumubog ang barko na pinagkargahan ng bigas ano ang kakainin ng mga Kapwa natin Pilipino.Sige nga!

    Mahirap ang umasa sa iba lalo na kung pagkain ang pag-uusapan.

  11. Iyang krisis ay hindi lang sa Pilipinas kundi pandaigdigang problema.Dito nga sa California ay matagal ng krisis.Mataas ng ang mga bilihin.Iyung kinakainan kung Pinoy Turo-Turo dati ang dalawang ulam at dalawang tasang kanin ay $5.50 at $1.25 ang isang latang coke,Ngayon ay naging $7.50 at $1.75 ang coke.Di ba Krisis sa bulsa iyan.Ang gasolina $3.75 isang gallon at aabot na ng mahigit $4 next month.Maraming bahay na dito under repossesion.Kawawa nga iyung iba na mahigit na ng sampung taon na naghuhulog tapos mga 4 months na hindi nahulugan ay kukunin na ng bamgko at balewala na kung magkano na ang nihulog.Di ba krisis din iyan?—Hard-times-could-begin-next-month.Yan ang posti ko sa blog.

  12. neonate, guys, you won’t believe where these stocks are going to.

    If I grind 50g of rice to make 1 pancit canton pack, my material unit cost of noodle would be = (P18 per 1000g NFA rice)divide by (1000g/50g pack) = P0.90

    Ninety centavos is the cost of the noodles alone inside one instant pancit or mami pack. Every kilo of the P18 NFA rice in the manufacturers warehouse means he is about to make double. P36.00 plus.

    Here’s how: P0.90 + cost of the flavoring + packaging, distribution and other marketing costs, the total landed cost I am told is something like P3.00 per pack, P3.50 tops. These are being sold at P6.00 – 8.00 ea. About a full 100% margin, and over!

    Instant noodles has replaced rice in many urban poor homes, believe me. You have soup, meat and vegetable flavors, and vitamins all in one pack.

    Now, where do you think the middleman/viajero would sell his rice stocks? Who could afford to pay him the right price? Who stands to lose more when the rice stocks run dry? Who do you think is stocking up now?

  13. Golberg Golberg

    Noon, may slogan si Gloria na “Pagkain sa bawat hapagkainan.”
    Ngayon, marami ang nawalan ng pagkain pati tirahan yata nawalan din. Ang nagkaroon lang ng pagkain ay yung mga buwaya, bwitre, pating at baboy. Tumaas pa ang presyo ng bigas, lalong maraming nawalan ng pagkain.
    Balibhasa’y illigitimate na pangulo kaya ganito ang nangyayari.
    Si Yano (yung susunod na AFP cheat o shit) katulad ni Mayuga, ang legitimacy daw ni Gloria ay hindi issue, bagkus perception lang daw.

  14. A global food catastrophe that will reach further and be more crippling than anything the world has ever seen.The credit crunch and the reverberations of soaring oil prices around the world will pale in comparison to what is about to transpire.

    The sharp rise in raw food prices in the past year will intensify in the next few years amid increased demand for meat and dairy products from the growing middle classes of countries such as China and India as well as heavy demand from the biofuels industry.

    The greatest challenge to the world is not oil, it’s getting enough food so that the new middle class can eat the way our middle class does, and that means we’ve got to expand food output dramatically.The impact of tighter food supply is already evident in raw food prices, which have risen in the past year.

  15. Tongue;
    Hehehehe!Mas lalong kakapal ang Fog kasi mag-iihaw ang mga Pinoy ng mais kung wala ng bigas na maisaing.Tumaas na ng mahigit $2 ang 15 lbs na Milagrosa dito sa California.Maraming teacher sa public school ang mawawalan ng trabaho.Manipis na ang mga tao sa mall.Ang malakas kumita dito ay si Pader kasi naging palasimba na ang mga Pilipino simula ng nawalan na silang extra overtime at mga iba ay cut hours.

  16. Eggplant Eggplant

    Kasamang Etnad, mukhang pumamatak ang isang linya sa isa sa mga awitin ni Freddie Aguilar sa mga nangyayari sa atin ngayon sa Pilipinas. Kapag wala ka nang maaasahan pa sa gobierno, mga pulitiko opposition man o administration, sa simbahan at maging ang mga people’s organization, di ba agkop dito ang linya ng kanta: “TULONGAN MO ANG IYONG SARILI…” Kahit papaano kailangan pa rin natin ang isat-isa upang ipagtanggol ang interest ng bayan. Ito ang panahon na hindi natin kailangang magkawatak-watak. Ito ang panahon na kailangang higitan pa ang pagtutok sa mga isyu. Kapag “help yourself” na lang lagi, nagiging makasarili na tayo, lahat ng mga prinsipyong ipinaglalaban ay mawawalan ng kabulohan. Ang tamang pagkilos upang itama ang dapat itama (para na rin sa kinabukasan ng ating mga anak) ay ngayon. Hindi bukas, ngayon. Ewan ko kung angkop din dito ang kasabihan, “if the cat is away the mouse will play..” Kapag nawalan na ng interest ang mga mamamayan sa pagtutuk sa mga isyu, at nawalan na ri ng ganang ipagtanggol ang hustisya at katotohanan, balik na naman ang kurakotan baka mas masahol pa. Natabunan na ba ng kamahalan at kakulangan ng bigas ang mga isyu ngayon ng kurapsion? ‘Wawa naman tayo.

  17. Filipino’s find themselves in persistent poverty and widening economic inequalities due to the neglect of agriculture,
    Improving agricultural productivity would have a profound impact on poverty.”

  18. norpil norpil

    pinas was once an exporter of rice, but that was when we were only about 60 million probably even less. now we are about 80 million, in addition the land that is being tilled for rice production was not increased but reduced due to projects not necessarily productive. i agree with etnad that now is the time to unite instead of being makasarili lang, but it is our leaders who must show that they are not sakim at makasarili lang. otherwise i agree with cocoy too that it is agricultural productivity that haw more impact on fighting poverty.

  19. Mrivera Mrivera

    mga kasama,

    sa aking palagay ay iniisahan na naman tayo ni panda queen upang malihis muli ang ating atensiyon sa pagtutok sa shelved ZTE broad band deal at territorial claim natin sa spratly group of islands.

    sa gitna ng sabay sabay na namang labolabo ay biglang bigla ay may pinalabas (na naman) ang NEDA, balita kaninang umaga sa morning is da byutipul nina edu mansanitas, na 2 trilyong halaga ng impaktastraktyur prodyeks ni gloria na isang katakatakatakatak na namang debelopment insayd da kitsen op da debil.

    unang tanong – saan na naman kumuha ng pondo para dito?

    pangalawa – dumaan ba ang (mga) impaktastraktyur prodyeks na ito sa tama at isinapublikong biding?

    pangatlo – sino ang magpapatupad o gagawa ng (mga) impaktastraktyur prodyeks na ito?

    pang-apat – malinis kaya ang kamay ng hindi mapagtitiwalaang mga katiwala ni panda queen?

    panglima – ano kaya ito, gatasang baka o maputlang elepante?

  20. Mrivera Mrivera

    goldberg,

    ang islogan na ‘yan ay ginamit ni panda queen noong una siyang tumakbo bilang senador na nang mahalal ay biglang nagkaroon ng matinding sakit ng pagkalimot bunga ng paggaya niya noon kay nora awnor na katulad niya ay may bangaw sa mukha kaya nga daw sila’y magkamukha!

  21. Tongue:

    Tama ka. Bihon is made from rice. Noong pask, wala nang masyadong namimili sa mall maski doon sa lugar ng nanay ko. Maraming saradong tindahan. Pero sabi ng CNN malakas pa rin ang Costco.

    Dito, I buy my rice at Costco Japan, too. 2,900 yen iyong binili ko noong isang buwan na 10 kgs. na bigas. The rate now is 95 yen to a dollar. Mas mahal pa iyong bigas na binili ko noong Pasko sa Costco sa Fremont.

  22. Etnad Etnad

    Wala na ang ZTE at si Lozada sa news. Glorya en Co. ay masaya. Iwas pusoy na naman sila. Naa-awa lang ako sa mga Lozada family, walang saysay ang kanilang ipinaglaban. Nagamit na naman sila ng mga Politiko. Noon ko pa sinasabi na pare-parehas lang ang mga bituka ng mga Politiko. Pinagparte-partehan na nila ang yaman ng ating Bansa sama na diyan ang mga Arsobispo at mga Bishops. Gaya rin yan ng mga military, mga General lang ang yumayaman. Magkalabo-labo man sa Bansa natin, takbo lang sila sa yo-as-ah. Sinong kawawa … mga madlang pipol. Sinong makikinabang …. ang mga Intsik.

  23. After being hit by their critics sabi ng mga sinungaling, wala raw rice shortage, rice crisis lang! Tapos mag-i-import daw ng bigas from some country willing to export rice to the Philippines. (I doubt if Japan will especially when Japan does not want to be caught lacking in rice ever again as it did a few years back when we had to import rice from Thailand, etc.)

    Sinungaling talaga! Bakit may naniniwala pa sa ungas na dorobo na iyan? Taragis iyong mga publicity with those lolas receiving rice limos na akala mo pera niya ang ginagamit in the distribution o fthose rice packages. Taxpayers’ money iyan, di ba nila alam? Dapat binabatikos ang pangungurakot na iyan.

  24. Toney Cuevas Toney Cuevas

    Bring back Joc Joc Bulate, maybe he can explain the rice shortage and the mismanagement of billions of pesos, supposedly to be used for fertilizers. Is Joc Bulate still in jail in USA, does anybody here know? What really amazes me the most is how evil bitch Gloria never have to explain to the people all the crimes she was accused of. Ain’t amazing? That whore Gloria as the numero head, as she love to be called, never once call for any press conference or got on live TV broadcast to let the people what she knew, such as, Spratly deal, ZTE-NBN, et al. Surely, whore Gloria has the responsibility to the people, instead of using her pigs to do the spinning for all her crimes. I never thought or I’ll admit that whore Gloria is above the law. I was wrong all along, whore Gloria is above the law, 8 years of corruption, lying and stealing in office illegaly surely should convince me or anyone. Whore Gloria has broken all the written laws of the land, yet the bitch still in Malacanang. You gotta give that shithead credit for making the 8 years, not even a bit of a scratch. Is whore Gloria really that rich that she can pay off everyone or the people just doesn’t care?

  25. eddfajardo eddfajardo

    Dito mo na ngayon makikita kung gaano ka defective itong government ni Gloria. Biruin mo ba naman ilagay sa puwesto as Agriculture Secretary itong totoy na favorito niya na si Arthur Yap na hindi pa yata marunong magsaing ng bigas? Kung matalino man ito, dapat ipakita man lamang niya na mayroon siya foresight sa mga problema na katulad nitong rice crisis. Ito ang producto ng patronized politics na typical sa style ng good governance ni Gloria. Of course, sisisihin nila na worldwide crisis ito at walang magagawa ang Pilipinas. Papaano na ang ating mga mahirap na kapwa?

  26. Message To The Filipino People:

    Mga Kababayan:

    On April 5 2008, I will be celebrating my 61st Birthday.My birthday wish is for national unity, prosperity and investments for the future of our young people .

    As I said in my last birthday when I officially joined the ranks of “senior citizens” ,we have to invest in the future and in the young people; it’s really time to turn over the country to them or to prepare the country for them.

    It is on this new personal milestone in my life that I announce the following seven (7) initiatives dedicated to the future of the young people of this country:

    1) We will continue to foster excellent relations with Church.I know the CBCP is not divided at all .There are only five bishops who are against the Arroyo administration. But five against the other 100-plus members of the CBCP is not a division.

    We will honor the “Separation of the Church and State” but we will also continue to pursue “critical collaboration” with CBCP by supporting the bishops in their “social amelioration programs for the poor” with PAGCOR/PCSO funds.(applause)

    2) We will continue to strengthen the Judiciary. We vow to abide with the Supreme Court decision on executive privilege legal issue and pledge to heed the calls for government’s commitment to the truth and transparency.(applause)

    We will continue to appoint men and women of probity to the Supreme Court to support the gallant nine justices who supported the majority view on the executive issue.

    Like my recent appointment of Associate Justice Arturo Brion ,I will continue the practice of appointing legal experts from my Cabinet and personal staff with a strong reputation for independence to the Supreme Court in the coming months. (applause)

    3) We will continue to uphold civilian supremacy over the military.For the remainder of my term until I step down in 2010, the best thing we can do is encourage the military to stay focused on providing peace, order and stability.We will encourage retired military men to take out the uniforms upon their mandated retirement.I consider my four cabinet members …Secretaries Ermita, Mendoza, Ebdane and Reyes as the classic examples of ex -military men who honor civilian authority even after their retirement from the military.I will follow this great tradition with General Espaldon upon his retirement in May.(applause)

    4) We will reach out to the opposition and to the independent Senate. Being a former Senator myself,I know fully well that there are “23 independent republics”in the Senate,each with its own personal agenda.

    As a key process in the national reconciliation process ,I promise to reach out to the 23 senators.(applause) For example:

    -I am appointing Cristina Ponce-Enrile as our Ambassador to Vatican.

    -I am fully supporting the quest of Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago to be a vigorous member of the International Court of Justice.

    -I am fully supporting the President of the Public Safety College,President Tingting Cojuangco in initiating much needed reforms for the College.

    -I will ensure that Senator Miguel Zubiri will have a prominent leadership role in the new super party (Lakas-Kampi).

    -I will listen to the party on the possibility of welcoming back Senator Legarda to the folds of Lakas-Kampi

    -I will be open to the possibility of of supporting the vice presidential ambitions of Senator Bong Revilla, a very popular senator from Cavite.

    -Being a senior citizen myself ,I will vigorously support Senator Ed Angara in all his “senior citizen” programs. I will also continue to support his program to strengthen relations with Spain,our former mother country.

    -I will support Senate President Manny Villar in his “Sipag Tiyaga” programs particularly in the road building programs in his ” Las Pinas/Alabang/Cavite triangle” of development.

    -I am openly supporting the “Palengkenomics”program and the “Cheaper Medicines” Bill of Senator Mar Roxas, my former Trade and Industry Secretary.

    5) We will support the leadership of Speaker Nograles. With the upcoming merger of the Lakas and Kampi parties,we expect stronger support of the House of Representatives in pushing for the quick passage of vital national legislative programs for the poor,the national budget and the much needed constitutional reforms.(applause)

    6) We will support the computerization programs of the Comelec to definitely avoid a repeat of the electoral frauds that reportedly happened in the last Presidential election.(applause)

    7) We will avert a possible rice crisis in the coming months. I have instructed Secretary Arthur Yap to have better “public visibility” of all roving NFA rice trucks to assure our people that there is ample supply of rice.

    Once more ,thank you very much for all your expected birthday wishes!

    I look forward to many more years of dedicated and honest public service for the good of our young people.

    Help me remain a “Force for Good”!(applause)

    Mabuhay!

    Gloria P.

  27. rose rose

    Tidbits: Eddfajardo: hindi naman kailangan matuto si Yap magsaing ng bigas..mayroon nang Rice Cooker…made in China;
    ..does this not sound familiar? Hillary Clinton: “I made a mistake, I am human.” Gloria Arroyo: “I am sorry, I had lapse of judgment”. what is different? Hillary said she is human but did not say she is sorry”..Gloria didn’t say she is human, but she said she is sorry..is Gloria made of steel? or steal?

  28. rose rose

    As Jug posted here “Don’t Quit” I don’t think Lozada is quitting..and we all should not..Tiyaga at Sipain..is what we should aim to do..And for us who physically may not be able to be there with you..our prayers are united with you for truth and justice…

  29. Here’s the good news from Inquirer Online:

    NOISE BARRAGE. Around 20 protesters from different militant groups held a noise barrage in front of the National Food Authority (NFA) Warehouse at the corner of Visayas Avenue and Elliptical Road in Quezon City on Friday. to protest the continuous increase in rice prices, the alleged shortage, and the country’s importation of rice from other Asian countries. Video taken by INQUIRER.net multimedia editorial assistant Abigail Kwok

    Frankly, this is the kind of news I want to read and expect Filipinos to do at this time. Wala nang let-up dapat. Tuloy-tuloy na.

    I doubt if the Dorobo would want to risk being criticized by foreign debtors if she declares “Martial Rule.” Diyan siya masisira as a matter of fact especially with her lobbyists overseas getting the cold treatment now in fact according to people I have talked about it despite the big amount of money paid to them.

    BTW, we invite Filipinos in Japan to join us during a rally at the Philippine Chancery in Roppongi on March 30 (4-6 pm) and also at the Philippine Embassy in Kudanshita on April 6 (3-6pm) re planned disposal of the Philippine patrimonies in Japan sans a national referendum.

  30. hawaiianguy hawaiianguy

    The Equalizer: “Help me remain a “Force for Good”!(applause). Mabuhay! Gloria P.”

    Huwag naman, baka magkatotoo.

  31. bitchevil bitchevil

    Over in the US, it’s being floated that State Sec. Rice might be picked to be Mccain’s running mate. To me, that’s a good idea if Obama wins the Democrat nomination. If it’s Hilary, Rice’s contribution would not be as great. If it’s Obama, the Republicans could pit another Black (Rice) against Obama. This may not only split the Black votes but Rice is a strong candidate against any of the Vice President the Democrat would
    pick. Obama-Clinton’s rivalry for nomination is getting hot to the advantage of Mccain who only needs to watch them fight.

  32. Valdemar Valdemar

    CARP is the culprit of it all. We have more than enough lands going below 18% grade. Its the people’s culture that freak out our rice supply. They want land, but they sell or laze away. They go on AWOL and rally everywhere. Time lost on the fields is rice lost for the hungry. And, here are the smart guys taking advantage. Many are in the government. Why think of Spratly whose oil if there is wont feed us anyway. Why not think of Sabah.
    Sabah can be distributed to those farmers rallying at the DAR and others primarily all those that were deported by Malaysia from that place to increase our rice production. Japan went to war just to get more turf for her food. Esperon is flexing his muscle for the defense of the Spratly, why not show his mettle to get Sabah. Thats our land in any language. Diplomacy is already a thing of the past for the Philippines with this kind of administration. Instead of the impending riots we’ll lets divert it to a better goal. Time to use brute force rather than kill ourselves of hunger and idiocy standing.

  33. chi chi

    If all Asian leaders will keep their rice for their peoples and Gloria the bitch can’t find rice even if she begs, the Kapinuyan is destined go hungry even more.

    If Gloria the korap will not find cake to substitute for rice to feed the Kapinuyan, then it’s time for her to run fast without let up to save her butt.

    Kung hindi na-JocJoc ni Gloria ang mga magsasaka, siguradong hindi magugutom ang Pinoy!

    Sabi ni Trillanes “ang mahihirap ay hindi na makakapaghintay pa”.

    Si Gloria ay tiyak na tatagal beyond 2010 pa pero ang mga mahihirap na Pinoy ay magkakamatay na dilat ang mata sa gutom!

  34. parasabayan parasabayan

    Asian countries would rather export their rice to the West because of better prices. Latin American countires are now producing more fruits for the Americans and less rice.

    Asian countries are rice eating countries so rice production should be everyone’s priority.

    Like anything else, if we do not invest on irrigation infrastructures, fertilizers, high yielding grains, our yield will be less.

    I can see a divertionary tactic on this rice issue. It may be that China and Vietnam are both creating this “rice” issue so we will not pay attention to the NBN/ZTE anomaly and the Spratly’s issues.

    But if this “rice” shortage is so real, I welcome the revolt of the people so we can finally change this regime! People have to reach the lowest of low to effect change.

  35. Etnad Etnad

    Itigil na yang rice shortage na yan. Pakawala ni Glorya at ang mga Intsik yang Yap na yan. Kusang itinago ang mga bigas para mapag-usapan at magulo ang mga tao. Ang may control ng bigas ay mga Intsik, itinago lang nila. Magaling talaga ng mga Mafiosi ni Glorya. Nakakabilib. Pati mga media nakisakay na din. Ang talagang problema ay ang ating Gobyerno na pinapamahalaan ngayon ng isang FAKE na Pangulo.

  36. martina martina

    In-laws pala ni Yap ay mga rice traders, eh baka nag la-last hurrah din itong si Yap. Kanya kanyang gimmick na ngayon ang mag tao sa gobyerno, palakiahn ng kanilang last hurrah.

    Maaring tama ka Etnad. They are only beating the rice shortage drum to divert peoples attention from massive corruption deals that already came out.

  37. bitchevil bitchevil

    Sec. Yap used to keep a low profile; one of the most quiet members of Malacanang family until this rice crisis. He now talks a lot in the media. He now lies. Who taught him? There’s one common trait of these Malacanang officials…they are good liars.

  38. Chi: If all Asian leaders will keep their rice for their peoples and Gloria the bitch can’t find rice even if she begs, the Kapinuyan is destined go hungry even more.

    *****

    Sinabi mo pa, Chi. Ellen wrote about rice in Japan in abundance because of the propaganda that eating bread is healthier. This is true but I doubt if Japan is willing to sell our rice to the Philippines although I know that a lot of our surplus go to charity to countries where they are genuinely and legitimately needed to feed the hungry, not for profit as these idiots propagating this rice crisis has intended doing to deviate attention in fact from the ZBN-NTE and other scandals involving the creep and her husband plus their legions, and of course as part of the publicity to boost up the image of the creep that is in fact the main job of that other Gunggonzales.

    Tamaan sana sila ng kidlat! Grrrrrrrrr!

  39. parasabayan parasabayan

    Yun lang naman pala ang palabas ng evil bitch! Kailangan lang ng “loans” na naman galing China para magkaroon tayo ng masaganang bigas. Talagang walang kadala dala ang mga buwayang ito! Gusto na namang “umiscore”! Naudlot ang ZTE kaya kailangang may kapalit, 30 bilyon daw ang kailangang hihiramin sa China! Por Diyos por Santo! Magkano na naman kaya ang gagastusin talaga sa mga proyekto at magkano ang pupunta sa mga bulsa ng mga buwaya? Can there be a way to oversee the flow of the money before it is disbursed? O kasama ito sa sakop ng “executive privilege”? Lahat ng tungkol sa China eh may blanket privilege, dahil sa “diplomatic ties” kuno!

    Dahil sa Supreme Court decision, binigyan ng korte ng baril si evil bitch para lalo lang lumakas ang loob niya para mang”hold-up” sa kaban natin!

  40. Mrivera Mrivera

    Bishops pinulong ni GMA

    (Rose Miranda/Juliet de Loza)

    Sa gitna ng ugong sa umano’y tumitinding oposisyon ng mga lider ng Simbahang Katoliko sa uri ng pamamahala ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ay pinulong kamakalawa ng gabi ng punong ehekutibo ang mga Catholic Bishops sa Mindanao.

    Ayon kay Presidential Management Staff (PMS) chief Sec. Cerge Remonde, dalawang oras ang itinagal ng nasabing pulong sa Almont Inland Resort sa Butuan City at tinalakay ang problema sa corruption, pagmimina, suporta sa agrarian reform communities (ARCs) at banta ng insureksyon.

    Ilan sa mga obispo na nakipagpulong kay Pangu­long Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ay sina Juan de Dios Pueblos ng Butuan, Antonieto Cabahug ng Surigao, Nerio Odchimar ng Tandag, Honesto Pacana ng Malaybalay, Auxilliary Bishop Zacarias Jimenez ng Butuan, Archbishop Antonio Ledesma ng Cagayan de Oro at Archbishop Emeritus Carmelo Morelos.

    http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/mar2908/news03.htm

    he he he he.

    “umulan” siguro habang pinupulong o pagkatapos “lambingin” ni panda queen ang mga pinagpipitagang obi$po.

  41. parasabayan parasabayan

    Kailangang mag-create ng artificial shortage ng bigas para may dahilan na manghiram na naman ng pera sa China! Walang kadala-dala itong evil bitch na ito!

  42. parasabayan parasabayan

    Magno, kanya kanyang delihen$iya din ang mga obi$po. Kanino pa magmamana? Follow the leader $iempre!

  43. The SC (9-6)sustained former Socio-economic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri’s defense that the Senate cannot force him to answer questions covered by executive privilege.

    These conversations were summarized into three questions:

    1) whether the President followed up the NBN-ZTE project with Neri;

    2) whether Neri was dictated by the President to prioritize the NBN-ZTE project;

    3) whether he was told by the President to go ahead with the project after being told of the alleged bribe offer.

    What do you think are the REAL answers to these three questions since Neri is SO AFRAID to answer them?

  44. Equalizer, in Neri’s conversations with Jarius Bondoc and Jun Lozada, he said that answers to those questions might cause the downfall of Gloria Arroyo.

  45. gusa77 gusa77

    Are those “good shepherd”Bishop, are in their 2nd childhood stages or they are in temporary amnesia when they went to meet the EVIL BAKER to provide bread for them, now it seems we have to blame ourself,due we didn’t do anything to eradicate graft and corruption,are these sheperds are Idiots deaf and blind,telling us examine everyone that’s examine ourself.I use to remembered,the qoute from SIN,there nothing wrong taking donations from GOOD OR EVIL form,right there,He’s “DEFYING”,the no.1 “COMMANDMENT,means advocating and encouraging the devil himself to do more evil works,in order to donate more.I do lost my respect to those PREACHING the good news of our LORDS,when among them are the first one to defied,what they are preaching.RESPECT deserved only when they work for it.

  46. jose miguel jose miguel

    You are right. The Chinese have been controlling our rice supply all throughout our history.

    Since the 1900s, the Chinese have penetrated the villages of as an example, Pampanga and Manila by enticing Filipinos to buy rice and textiles from them. This caused the abandonment of rice planting and local weaving of many among us.1

    The Chinese formed a nationwide network which controlled the level, period, quality, location, price and type of production from which we buy and sell. They hoarded when the supply is high and prices are low. When the demand becomes high, they release the supply at a very high price. Having virtually trapped us, poor and disunited Filipinos who did not anymore have any access to market or economic resources to feed our family, buy fertilizer, tools, feeds or other inputs for our agricultural operations, we were forced to enter into a negotiation with them. It was agreed that they would lend us money upon transfer of ownership of our lands to them, until we could repurchase it for the same amount of our loan. The value of the land transfer to them is usually 2 to 3 times greater than the amount of loan they granted us. Since the ownership have been transferred to the Chinese lenders who charged us with an excessive rate, we became the temporary tenant or lessee of our own lands. If ever we were able to pay the rent out of the meagre income from the sales of our products, it would usually be at the sacrifice of another basic need of our family. Otherwise, the possibility for us to be able to pay the rent was remote. To be able to raise enough money to payback the loan was even much more remote. Because of this, many of us surrendered our ownership of our lands to the Chinese lenders. Even if some of us were able to raise the amount to payback our loan and invoke the earlier agreement that it will be considered as a repurchase to our land the ownership of which was temporarily transferred to them, they could deny that there was ever an agreement.

    Those among us who did not transfer our lands, were granted loans at a very unrealistically excessive rate and with the condition that we sell our products only to them no matter what the price was. Because their buying price was usually very low, our income if there ever was, from the sale of our products was barely enough for us to be able to raise the amount to pay only the interest. Very often, we were never able to pay the principal. Thus we became permanently indebted to them and had to perpetually pay them the ever increasing interest at agreed regular periods.

    Even if we did not avail of their loan offer, we could not sell our products to anyone else but to their network because they have controlled the market.2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

    This has always been the situation up to the present. Former Vice President Teofisto Guingona exposed this when he was still a senator during the late 1980s but nothing has happened to it.

    You are right. The Chinese can control our rice supply at will. The Greatest Magician of All-time has been collaborating with the Chinese. Her government is a puppet government of the Chinese.

    What does this mean? In other normal and socially well developed nations such as France, Israel, Japan or Vietnam, their people lead by the soldiers who are normally the most nationalistic, would resist and drive out the puppet government to bring back they could regard as their own.

    Ours however is an abnormal nation. Our birth has been corrupted by the invading Americans in the 1900s. It is our mission to have our nation undergo a social therapy. For a start, let us educate our nation by replicating this information to as many Filipinos as we can.

    1. Constantino, Renato: The Philippines: A Past Revisited, p. 57-58
    2. Constantino, Renato. “Sino-American Colony IV”, The Manila Chronicle, 21 January 1971. p. 4
    3. Amyot, Jacques. “The Chinese Community of Manila: A Study of Adaption of Chinese Familism to the Philippine Environment, p. 83.
    4. Henares, Hilarion. “Doña Ysidra,” Philippine Daily Inquirer, 1 December 1987.
    5. Burton, Sandra: “Impossible Dream”, (New York: Warner Books, 1989), p. 54.
    6. Constantino, Renato. “Insight & Foresight” Foundation for Nationalist Studies, 38 Panay Ave., Quezon City, 1977. pp 188-190.
    7. Monte del, Ernie M., “Guingona’s Crusade”, Vox Populi, April 16 – May 15, 1990. pp.8-9
    8. Vox Populi Interview, “On the Binondo Rice Cartel”, Vox Populi, April 16 – May 15, 1990. pp.10-14

  47. zen2 zen2

    magno,

    ayan, dagdag lista sa pagsisinungaling ng mga Obispong naliligaw ng landas; ayaw nilang maki-alam sa pulitika, at pang-ispiritwal na papel lamang daw ang kanilang tungkulin.

    ano, kamo yung sabi ng Presidential Management Staff:
    “… tinalakay ang problema sa corruption, pagmimina, suporta sa agrarian reform communities (ARCs) at banta ng insureksyon…”

    magandang itanong ito sa CBCP, kung nagbago na rin ba ang kahulugan ng ISPIRITWAL at ng TEMPORAL…

  48. zen2 zen2

    (balik sa bigas…,)

    Sec. Art Yap,

    may ilan dito na nagsasabing disente daw kayo at matuwid, kaya ang maikling tanong-liham na ito;

    tama ba na Agri Dept., ang nagbibigay ng lisensya para maka-import ng bigas?

    tama ba na hindi lahat ng tao, puwede mag-import at yaong kilala, at may rekord lamang sa inyo ang nabibigyan ng lisensya?

    tama po ba na meron kayong maximum (or minimum) allocation
    sa importer, kung ilang metriko-tonelada ang puwede maipasok sa bansa?

    tama po ba na ang itinerary pagdating ng bigas, lulan mula sa barko, dapat DIRECHO sa bodega ng NFA or DA, para maiwasan ang pilferage?

    * pilferage- polite term for smuggling

    tama po ba na dapat sinusuri ninyo ang rice-importation allocated quota versus sa aktwal na delivery ng bigas sa inyong bodega?

    ang punto, kung OO, po sagot ninyo sa mga tanong , hindi dapat nagkukulang ang buffer stock ninyo ng bigas.

    at walang dahilan para mag-anunsyu kayo ng emergency rice purchases—-alam ng lahat, ibig sabihin nito mas mataas na presyo sa pagbili gamit ang pera ng bayan.

    at walang dahilan para hindi ninyo malaman kung sino ang
    dapat usigin.

  49. zen2 zen2

    ang allocation para mag-import kung gaano karami (o kaliit) ay galing sa Agri Dept., mula sa existing data ng previous at current rice production forecasts vis-a-vis sa populasyon, previous, and current years expected demand, etc.

    sinasama na ang allowance for negative fortuitous events gaya ng bagyo.

    siyempre, hindi foolproof ito. pero Abril pa lang, dumadaing na si Sec. Yap.

    ibig sabihin nito?, ang mga Importers, HINDI tinutuloy ang delivery sa pondohan at warehouses ng NFA.

    siyempre, nakita nilang puwede naman palang hindi. nakita nila si Gloria, lantaran kung mangulimbat, sila hindi puwede?

    ang diperensya ng presyo, sa minimum, ay 10 Pesos kada kilo, kung ibenta nila ito sa labas, o i-deliver sa NFA.

    paki-tulungan nga po ninyo ako sa pag-compute…?, hundreds of thousands of sacks loaded to a modest-size boat, multiply by 10 pesos/kilo at 50 kgs/sack.

    at 2 shiploads per month…neat, no?

  50. Etnad Etnad

    Yong Bar Tapnat(isnat)tser ngayon ay graduweyt na naman daw ng Ateneo. Sana hindi na madagdagan pa ng isang Brion ang ating SC balang araw. Sana gamitin niya ang dunong niya sa magandang pamamaraan. Hindi kagaya ng Brion na yan na bigla na lang sumulpot at sabi ay Bar Tapnat(isnat)tser daw at graduweyt sa Otineo.

  51. Etnad Etnad

    Wala daw pong rice shortage sa Central Luzon sabi ng mga local exec’s doon. O di ba gawa-gawa lang nila Glorya ang isyu. Tinuruan talaga nila itong si tsekwa na Yap kung anong sasabihin niya para magmukhang totoo. Kung magsalita na nga lang ay kung titignan mo de numero ang mga sagot. Pinakawalan din nila ang mga hawak nilang mga media pipol para palabasin nila na may problema talaga sa bigas diyan sa Asya. Napa-ikot na naman ang ulo ng ating mga mamamayan. Papano natin mapapa-alis ng tang-nang yan eh puro mukhang wala naman nalalaman ng mga taga-opsisyon o kunyaring anti-Arroyo. Nasa kanila na yata ang mga magagaling na mga Abogago at latak na lang yang mga lumalaban kuno.

  52. gusa77 gusa77

    zen2,to compute any problem on that matters are 1short ton=200sacksx500.00/sack=P100,000.00,If loaded to an MID VESSEL or boat,(CARGO)UP 800 TONS,depend on the ages of the ship,average loads for safety are between 700-730 tons,1 SHIP LOAD contains 146,000 sacks x 500.00=P73,000,000.00xby shiploads.

  53. chi chi

    ” Equalizer, in Neri’s conversations with Jarius Bondoc and Jun Lozada, he said that answers to those questions might cause the downfall of Gloria Arroyo.” – Ellen

    The real answer Equalizer? The downfall of Tomas Eisaguirre! Tangnang selfish coward Neri, he loves only Tom and himself!

  54. ebvmart ebvmart

    Jose Miguel,Long time ago when I was still living in Philippines Im a small rice retailer,I get my rice stocks from chinese traders,In the sack the weight of the rice is marked 50kilos,but evey time I wiegh it, its only 49kilos.I complain many times but it seems like it is an acceptable practice on almost all rice wholeseller in Philippines.So to bloggers I warn you buy rice by the kilo and not by the sack.Well so much for that lets go back way back the spanish era,according to the History In Philippines we were using a silver coins as our currency, But as the coins circulates the spanish notices that the coins are geting smaller in size,the coins were chipped off on their sides,So investigation were conducted and they found out that the chinese traders were the ones chipping the coins off,and they hoard the pieces until they gather enough amount and then trade the silver to china.Now Back in 2007, there was a survey conducted internationally to test how honest the people are and they used the cellphone as the medium,When a cellphone was lost how many percent of the people will return the cellphone to the rightful owners, the Filipinos rank high in the survey with 80%, Incidentally China,Taiwan,singapore, Hong kong and malaysia ranks the lowest worldwide what is common with this countries?your guess is good as mine.

  55. Mrivera Mrivera

    zen,

    ang katotohanan ay nakapaloob sa mga $obreng kaloob ng malakanyang. sinusunog bilang alay sa ewan ng mga ewan din kung paano maituturing na mga banal.

    merong isang obi$po na nagsabing may pananagutan ang taong bayan upang mapalutang ng katotohanan subalit mas pinipili daw na manahimik kaya nangingibabaw pa rin ang katiwalian. ibig sabihin nito, sila rin (mga obi$po) ay kasangkapan ni panda queen upang huwag mahayag o mapagtakpan ang kabikabilang nakasusulasok na kabulukan.

    patunay dito ang mga naunag prayer rally na sa halip na ipanawagan o panigan nila ang mamamayan ay pag-unawa pa’t pagpapasensiya sa mg akawalanghiyaan ni glorilya.

    anong klaseng mga alagad ng simbahan ‘yang nakisawsaw na nga sa pulitika (na pinasimunuan ng yumaong pakialamerong cardinal sin) subalit mas kiling ang pang-amoy sa halimuyak ng salaping galing sa kurakot?

    may kaluluwa pa ba ang mga ito?

  56. zen2 zen2

    gusa 77, many thanks for the effort.

    alam ko na kung sino ang eksperto dito sa Ellenville pagdating sa sasakyang pandagat, he he.

    pag kinurot ng konsensya yung NFA importer, maaring 30~40 % ng kanyang inangkat, ibebenta niya sa gobyerno.

    kung tipo din ito na hindi alam ang ibig sabihin ng moderation, gaya ni Gloria Usurper, swak na swak yung komputasyon ninyo.

  57. jose miguel jose miguel

    If we are really interested to drive away the Greatest Malignant disease in All History from our house, then our house must not be divided. We must not be hostile to any Filipino. If we are not politicians, we must not feel self righteous while all politicians are manipulators. If we are poor, we must not indulge in self pity and regard all rich as oppressors. If we are soldiers, let us not regard our self as having the solutions of society in our hands while civilians are inferior people not capable of solving real problems. If we are like these, we are showing symptoms of early stage of schizophrinia. We have lost our national identity. We cannot identify our self from fellow national.

    This is understandable because after we were born as a nation in the 1900s, the Americans invaded us and destroyed our institutions which made us have a national identity- the filipino national identity. After more than half a million of us Filipinos died in that invasion of the Americans, the latter replaced all our psycho-social structures with a psycho-social virus to program us to be perpetually colonial. We became admirers of everything the Americans represent including any group which they cultivated or encouraged to dominate us, who were the Chinese.

    Among the elements of this virus is our pool of political leaders whom the Americans programmed to replicate the first puppet government of America in the Philippines. For generations up to now, the Americans have been occupying our every system. This includes our defense system. Notice how in the doctrine of the Philippine military, the major description of the enemy is basically a Filipino- an insurgent or a rebel. Have the Filipino soldier among us ever been trained for combat against a foreigner?

    Until now the people who are in power which we consider as the Greatest Malignant disease in All history is a replication of that first puppet government in the Philippines established by the americans.

    We are all Filipinos with only one enemy- the foreign invaders with their collaborating puppet government.

    Let us unite- citizenz and politicians, poor and the rich, civilians and soldiers, to drive away the foreign invaders and their pupet government!

  58. Korek ka dyan, Chi. Malacañang is blackmailing Neri using what they know about Tom.

  59. chi chi

    Ellen,

    With the entire archipelago and possibly majority of pinoys in foreign countries already have a knowledge of who Tom is in Neri’s life, there’s no need for RN to hide him.

    The catch lies on the activities ‘personally’ awarded to TE by RN himself. Hindi pwedeng gumalaw lang basta si Tom ng walang basbas ang partner in life. How can a HS graduate carry himself with confidence among clients without proper authorization from his patron? Pareho silang sabit!

    The decision of Gloria’s 9 butlers in the Supreme Court did not really carry much weight to me. With or without the ruling on Gloria’s privilege, Neri will never abandon his president to compromise the real truth behind his fear. Nagsasayang lang ng panahon ang Senado kay Neri. Dapat ay ang activities ni TE ang kanilang kalkalin and link it to Neri. At least ay pareho na sila ng EK na meron alam.Tingnan ko lang kung hindi sumabog ang sheman.

  60. bitchevil bitchevil

    Third sex is now accepted in the society. People are now open even in deeply religious countries like the Philippines. Why should Neri be afraid of blackmail if he is one? If he thinks he could get away with it, he’s dead wrong. At least one senator knows about his background and his flirt with Tom and other men. Senator Lacson knows but he’s not the type to get into such controversy. But, Senator Jamby once threatened she would expose Neri’s dark secrets. So, if he appears to the hearing again, how could he invoke “executive privilege” if the subject is about his gender and relationship with same sex? Don’t underestimate Jamby’s guts in asking such very personal questions. That could be one reason why Neri is afraid to appear at the Senate; not because of the three questions about Arroyo but questions about his gender and relationship with men.

  61. chi chi

    Ellen,

    It’s about time that well-meaning senators train their guns on the ‘activities’ of Tom and link them to Romy. If they had read your articles on these couple, yun na ang dapat ay kinuha nilang lead for researchers to unearth. Si Romy na ang tirahin at nang kumanta, and they wouldn’t need the SC’s 9 Gloria puppets reprimanding them on executive privilege.

  62. bitchevil bitchevil

    That’s right. Why not train the guns on Tom and Romy if this is among the cards Malacanang have against Romy Neri? Maybe the secrets and scandals in Neri’s lives are too much for Neri to admit. There could be some video clippings taken from hidden/spy cams. If there are, then let’s show these.

  63. According to NY Times, the global grains market problem is one of pricing not yet shortage. The cash price of corn for example in the futures market is overstated by 55 cents over the actual price (about $3.62) sold in groceries.

    This happens especially if people with money invest in the futures exchange at this time that the NYSE is yet to hit the bottom, speculation in commodity futures unnecessarily raises the prices of traded items artificially.

    Experts are dumbfounded how this can happen. It is not just happening to rice and corn but wheat and soy as well. $700/MT in Vietnam and $735/MT in Thailand, C&F Manila(price with freight included). Easily, P28-30 per kg before profit and taxes.

    But stocks coming from Nueva Ecija and Mindoro are priced like those of Thailand and Vietnam!

    No need to look for hoarders, just arrest the overpricing dealers, stupid!

  64. Valdemar Valdemar

    Zen2,
    In the international trade, ship cargoes are loaded in metric ton that is, 1000 kilograms. Rice in bulk is either sacked or unsacked. The total weight of the cargo is determined at loading port by shipboard displacement calculations and crosschecked with surveyor engaged by shipper. If containerized normally in sacks, the weight is predetermined for the B/L. These documents are transmitted to the customs at the port of destination for the customs duties.

  65. Mrivera Mrivera

    bitchdevil, chi,

    kaya nahihiya si nerissa na ilantad ang kanyang fafa dicky tom ay nag-aalala siyang i-deny nito.

    sino ba ang magkakaroon ng tapang ng hiya na aminin sa publiko na kept man siya ng isang mukhang puwet ng manok?

  66. bitchevil bitchevil

    Well, as I said…Neri could invoke “sexual privilege” to avoid answering questions about gender and sex. If the Senate objects, Neri could bring this to the Supreme Court again.

  67. Mrivera Mrivera

    bitchdevil,

    p’wede nga, ano?

    pero teka, parang take or leave it? same as believe me or not?

    ahahay! talaga naman si atcheng. maraming mapupulot dito ang hitad!

    kayo kasi, eh!

    kaige noong nagsi-sing along ng minus two ang bruha, kung ano anong isinasadyest ninyo. tuloy, hayan. takbo palagi sa korte sobrema.

  68. jose miguel jose miguel

    So what you have experienced ebvmart, as a rice retailer has actually been experienced by us Filipinos all over the country throughout history. Consequent to your experience as written in your post, which Filipino retailers among us have also been experiencing throughout history, it is us the retailers among us who carry the burden of the blame of fellow Filipinos on cheating on the quantity being sold or on selling at overpriced cost.

    These experiences have been replicated in different areas of our economy and what do we hear from fellow Filipinos as a consequence? That it is the Filipinos who are the cheats and the thieves. This reputation has been repeated and replicated for generations until it became our own self-image. We have come to believe that we are indeed cheats and thieves. As a consequence, when a person who has risen to a position of power as a consequence of collaboration with these Chinese as well as with the subtle invading forces of the Americans as I mentioned in my own post, manifests her corruption all over the country, we Filipinos are not anymore resistant to such dysfunctional symptoms. We just accept it as normal as long as it passes the legal process. As a consequence, our country has become famous for corruption. Yes, it passed the legal process!

    But our image is far from the truth as shown in just one proof in the cellphone returning survey you wrote about in your post.

    With what we have discovered, experienced and written, it is time we Filipinos pull our resources together, coordinate and synergize into the objective of reeducating us Filipinos to reclaim our original self-image. One self-image description is that of us Filipinos being honest. This will form part of our psycho-social therapy program to regain our original Filipino national identity.

    I say again as I have been saying this before, we will be shouting and raging against the Greatest Malignant disease in All history till we blow our heads up, but the rest of the dysfunctional society of Filipinos will have no reaction. She will remain embedded in our social cells continuing to corrupt the nation until the whole nation will just bleed to death. Our own soldiers as just an example, are supposed to be our immune system- the defense system of our nation against threat to national integrity and sovereignty. But what is happening, the Filipino soldiers among us provide security: to Americans conducting military exercise and terrain familiarization in our mountains and shore; to Chinese business interest in our provinces; and to a puppet government of our foreign invaders who collaborate with Chinese invasion of our economy and our islands. The Filipino soldiers among us think that since it is constitutional, it is correct to defend the foreign invaders and their puppet government against Filipinos resisting such invasion. This is an auto-immune national disease introduced into our system in the 1900s when half a million of us died in that war against the American invasion of the Philippines and our original resistance was weakened. This had been replicated for generations.

    The saying that the truth will set us free is no more true than now. We now know the truth. Let us replicate this knowledge to all of us Filipino students, journalists, educators, businessmen, farmers, politicians, doctors, sociologists, historians, government employees, diplomats, soldiers and of all sectors.
    Only then can we be free of this infectious virus of deceit and self destruction. Only then can we for a start remove the Greatest Malignant disease in All history! Only then can we start to set ourselves free!

  69. zen2 zen2

    jose m.,

    most young people i know, have either scant knowledge (a pity), or totally ignorant (a disgrace) of fellow Filipinos dying, displaced, and fatally maimed in the early war against the American invaders.

    be that the case, i agree with the emphasis that love of country takes precedence above all else.

  70. zen2 zen2

    val,

    thanks for the erudition.

    having had the experience myself of being a shipper; small-scale though, in-going and out of the country, i can relate, and understand the language, too.

    seriously once thought of doing the grains, after being introduced to one who is in the business, but realized early on i do not have the stomach of fleecing the common tao who barely could afford the price of their own main staple food.

    my commentary on imported rice pilferages is drawn from first-hand knowledge.

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