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Winners and losers

Gloria Arroyo is in a state of delusion. She thinks she is a winner.

If she’s a winner, why is Malacañang barricaded with trucks and barbed wires? Winners are not afraid of the people.

If she’s a winner, why is she gulping brandy every night?

Arroyo was a picture of a flailing drunk when she appeared at the top-level management conference of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas in Baguio City last Thursday.

She was angry at media for not supporting her cheating and lying. She wants media to give up its role of watchdog and act deaf and blind and swallow her press releases hook, line and sinker.

She is furious because despite her having bought congressmen to kill the impeachment complaint against her, people refuse to forget what they heard in the Hello Garci tapes and the many testimonies that supported her instruction to the missing Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano to rig the elections results.

She personifies what the Bible speaks of as one who gained the whole world and lost her own soul

She is riled by people who will not stop at finding out the truth about the 2004 elections. She said, “The coverage of kangaroo courts, lynch mobs and witch hunts affect the peace of mind and the hopes of our people. The public wants winners. I know you know that because you are always looking at ratings. The public wants winners. The economy is the only winner here today amidst these losers who carry no public mandate.”

If the proceedings in the People’s Court being carried out by the Citizens’ Congress for Truth and Accountability is affecting her peace of mind, that’s her problem. That’s what she gets for cheating and thwarting the will of the people.

Media’s role is to support the search for truth and inform the public about it. Contrary to Arroyo’s tirade that “the media are pushing the negative angle…too far,” truth is never negative because it liberates the people from ignorance. Information empowers the citizenry to attain their hopes and dreams.

It’s media’s role to make truth and the people, the winners.

Malacañang reporters said GMA’s tirade at the KBP event was just a reprise of what happened in New York last September when she met them at her hotel suite on the last night of her United Nations visit.

A source said before the reporters were brought to GMA’s room, they had dinner with Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye in a Greek restaurant. That’s where they were told that the session would be off-the-record.

No important information was given them during the meeting with GMA, attended also Mike Arroyo, Culture and Arts Director Cecile Alvarez and Bunye. Instead, she unburdened to them her gripes against media. Just like what she told the KBP last Thursday.

A source said one or two reporters managed to explain their side to her. But she was unstoppable in her media-bashing. Mike Arroyo made matters worse when he butted in, “Baka pwedeng ako naman ang bumanat.” (Can I also take a stab?)

GMA, the source said, gave Mike Arroyo dagger looks. Alvarez then took over from where Arroyo left off in media bashing.

I can imagine how uncomfortable it must have been for the reporters. It was like being summoned for a scolding. I can understand why Malacañang reporters respected Arroyo’s off-the-record imposition. No one would want to be considered a pariah in his beat.

But they should have known that an off-the-record condition is only applicable to information revealed by the source. It does not apply to bad manners and insults.

Published inMalaya

21 Comments

  1. Alitaptap Alitaptap

    Invoking the bible to buttress your position about Gloria is treating Gloria with kid gloves. Gloria is beyond ‘losing her soul’, she has lost all the moral fibers in her psyche. In other places and other times, incumbents held up to pillory like gloria, would have stepped down in a heartbeat. What keeps gloria going, despite her unpopularity, is her hide comparable to an armadillo, impervious to ignominy and undaunted by shame. She has no moral fiber … fibber maybe.

    Alitaptap

  2. Atong Kuliglig Atong Kuliglig

    Aba of course naman, Ellen, aba of course naman,
    Lab na lab ko’ng tunay ang mga mamamayan,
    Look and see ang around nitong ating Malakanyan
    Tigib sa barbed wire at mga sundalong nakaharang.

    Kasi gusto ko pong mabigyan ng protection
    Ang mga mamamayang gustong mag-rebellion;
    Kung wala pong barbed wire na nakasabit doon
    Baka mabaril sila ng mga gwardya kong pikon.

    Kaya ko po itinaas itong mga presyo
    Ng mga panindang gamit na bibilhin ninyo;
    Mga karne, mga baboy, tsaka asin at posporo,
    Ibig ko kasing palawigin ang buhay nyo sa mundo.

    Di ba alam natin ang baboy, karne’t asin
    Ay sa ating katawan, masama po ang dating;
    Alta presyon at diabetes, tsaka pusong masakitin
    Sa atin po ay papatay, kapag ito ang kinain.

    At kung hindi ninyo alam, ang maliit na posporo
    Ay maraming pinsalang nagawa sa mundo;
    Ang apoy na pansaing, ay apoy ding gumuguho
    Sa mga gusaling nasunog. . . kagagawan niya ito.

    Ganyan ako kung magmahal, mga ladies en gentlemen,
    Parang tintang pansulat ng ball at fountain pen;
    Oo nga’t ang dugo ko sa papel ay maitim,
    Maputi po ang hangad ko, honestly, tikhim, tikhim. . .

    Atong

  3. Onin Onin

    Ellen hanga ako sa galing mo at katapangan, our country really needed people like you, sa mga panahon ngayon iilan na lang kayo…lahat corrupted minds, o kung hindi man wala ng pakialam…maski ang ilang mga taga media, nakakalungkot na ang ilan sa kanila kundi man nababayaran, e di naman tinutupad ang tawag ng kanilang tungkulin…May kasabihan nga na “Those who will not remember the history will be condemned to repeat it..” hanggang kailan tayo condemn.. paulit-ulit na lng..Wag kang mapapagod..More power!!!

  4. If she’s a winner, why is she gulping brandy every night?

    Ala e, parang erap na rin si GMA ano? Lashenggo?

  5. Thanks, Onin.

    Wala talagang dapat ireklamo si GMA sa media.There are many members of media who are members of her cheering squad. The Malacañang Press Corps is kind to her. I can imagine that some are intimidated by her.

    Ngayon, gusto niya lahat papalakpak sa kanya. Ilabas niya si Garci at aminin niyang nandaya siya.Tapos magresign siya. Baka purihin ko siya.

  6. Este, er, Ellen, shouldn’t it be upon those who charge her with these improprieties to come forward and PROVE that in fact she has committed these questionable (reprehensible) acts?

    Methinks, the shoe is on the other foot here.

    For another, how do we know, or how can we even come close to “providing reasonable and defensible doubt” that GMA – “hid Garci”…(suspicion based on the perception that she appears to have the motive, is NOT ACCEPTABLE). We have to have something more than that.

    Let me swing around on this one. Why is it, that after all, but the kitchen sink has been thrown at GMA and Figaro, Brother Figaro and even their Figaro Jr…including and not limited to more than a few of her “handpicked” and favored cabinet members and advisers…

    And in spite of every CBCP – liberal-radical-leftleaning-winging militant…including Brother Arms Luistro and his FADs-maker, handpicked PR-handlers, too

    PLUS, Cory Aquino….and her balimbing-na-loyalistang Yellow Ladies…

    And finally, after the overwhelming number of tirades by political opposition to GMA, and their PR-handlers and AC-DC
    media assets…AND THREATS OF MILITARY RESTIVENESS…

    HOW COME…PRESIDENT GMA IS STILL IN OFFICE????

    ===========================

    Is it possible, just even slightly possible that after all is said and done by those who are openly (and covertly even) ANTI GMA…the greater MAJORITY OF PEOPLE are not convinced and do not share their PROPAGANDA?

    BECAUSE, OF THE SIMPLE REASON AND FACT…I STRESS AGAIN…

    NO INDISPUTABLE FACT HAS BEEN PRESENTED INTO EVIDENCE TO JUSTIFY ALL THE SPECULATIVE ALLEGATIONS DENOUNCING HER AND HER FAMILY AND HER CABINET????

    Bakit si Erap, who THE WHOLE OF PHILIPPINE MEDIA heralded as THE MOST POPULAR (sa masa) presidente…sandali lang – ERAP RESIGN….OUT AGAD?

    Obvious ba? Nobody has even come close to SCORE A CLEAR, CLEAN, SOLID – factual expose against GMA…WHY?????

    I do not believe that GMA has a stronger support from media than opposition. What I have discerned is that lately…those who were caustically and openly against her in media, have started to – slow down, or clamp up altogether…why?

    Siguro, they also have come to realize…WALANG TUNAY NA ISTORYA ANG MGA ACCUSATIONS.

    NOTE: I AM NOT SUGGESTING OR HINTING, NA MAGALING, MAHUSAY, MALINIS SI GMA. BUT NEITHER WAS I THEN, NOR AM I NOW PREPARED (CONVINCED) TO JOIN THOSE WHO CONTINUE THE KWENTUTAN TELLING LIES, JUST TO KEEP THE PROPAGANDA AGAINST HER AND HER ADMINISTRATION.

    As a matter of fact, one of the personal reasons, that I have been nurturing that has empowered me to refrain from “joining the bandwagon against GMA and company” is the fact that I have been suspecting, some of the TIRADES were SCRIPTED to BLOW UP, ng walang saysay! Because masyadong SUPERFICIAL, INCREDIBLE, AND SIMPLY CANNOT BE PROVEN, OR LOGICALLY DEMONSTRATED.

    =================

    A case in point is the recent “kapalpakan about putol arrest”. I simply do not believe that the “mistake” happened “stupidly” or because of “stupidity”. I further submit that anybody who takes that “stupid scene” on face value or is so predisposed and inclined to do so, ought to review the circumstances of the arrest, starting from the INSTRUCTION thru the actual physical arrest and pronouncement. Then weigh all of these circumstantial evidences against the track records of the people involved. And examine, objectively, if a “reasonable doubt” may not be raised as to the veracity of the error and stupidity.

    Sino ba ang linoloko ng nanloloko…aba, kadalasan ay yung nagdadala ng “masama at kahiya-hiyang balita”.

    ==============

    BTW…ang brandy is “sipped”, hindi “gini-gulp”. And the comparison between GMA and Erap sa larangan ng inuman is superfluous. Si Erap is, by definition (by the AA, alcoholic anonymous) – was a “wet tank” alcoholic…could not function without alcohol, or is drug (alcohol) dependent. Whether he simply “just loved to drink because he enjoyed it” is immaterial. He was considered an “alcoholic” by this definition.

    If the rumors about GMA are true…that she cannot function or perform his daily tasks WITHOUT IMBIBING…it does not matter if it is a SIP or a GULP…she would still qualify as an “alki”.

    Are we prepared to accept this rumor and go this route with GMA? With Erap, it was rather well known. And he never denied it…so there were no legal consequences to be concerned about.

    In the case of GMA, I am not sure. One thing I have noticed, however, she has become a lot more “FORWARD” in showing her disenchantment with the media. And the president of the Philippines, does have some very effective (if plenipotentiary) and powerful rights to proper and effective governance “in aid of upholding and defending democracy and the Constitution.”

    Last note: A new US Ambassador to the Philippines has been recommended by GWB. The first female US ambassador to be appointed to the Philippines – Kristie Anne Kenney (Brownfield)- She has been relieve from her latest assignment from “troubled” Ecuador – which saw a (coup) change in administration last April 2005 (from Gutierrez to Palacio). Husband of Kenney is still the US Ambassador to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, another “hot spot” in Latin America. Portents of things to come…maybe?

    Pepeton

  7. andrea andrea

    Pepeton, that’s a very inteligent insight
    I can’t even figure it out to make it like a “tula”.

  8. Atong Kuliglig Atong Kuliglig

    Kapag ang talkies ay hindi ko maarok
    Paano ko malalamang “intelligent” ang pasok;
    Kasi itong monay kahit na matambok
    Ay di mo rin piho kung puro hangin ang loob.

    Agree ako sa ‘yo, Binibining Andrea
    Ang talkies ni Pepeton di ko rin maitula
    Kaya ang gagawin, tayo ay kumanta
    Sa tonong “Pen Pen De Sarapen” mey lyrics na maganda:

    Si Andrea at Pepeton
    Sumakay sa kareton
    How how ang kalabaw
    Walang pantalon.

    Ilong nilagyan ng sipit
    Ebak namumulaklak
    Sa tabi ng dagat!

    Sorry na lang po kung hindi ninyo alam ang tono ng Pen Pen De Sarapen.

    Atong

  9. Amusing, when novel. When the style gets old, it’s time to junk it, and move on to better and newer things…otherwise…borrrrrringggg!

    Pepeton

  10. bfronquillo bfronquillo

    Hindi madali ang tumula, hindi lahat makagagawa
    Kaya ang ginagawa ng iba ay ngawa na lang ng ngawa;
    Hindi rin madaling maging pangulo ng bansang magulo,
    Pero mas mahirap kung ikaw mismo ang me dala ng gulo.

    Kelan matatapos ang problema ng mga inaabang Pilipino,
    Saan nga kaya tayo dadalhin ng mga marurunong daw kuno?
    Eh nakupo! nasa pusalian na tayo at umaamoy sa buong mundo,
    Nguni’t heto ang “marunong” nagsasabing for take-off na tayo?

    Sino ba ang paniniwalaan mo? Sila bang mga inglesero?
    O, ang mga mangmang na tulad ng maraming mga Pilipino?
    Sino ba ang mga tunay na tao kundi ang karaniwang tao?
    Na hindi kailanman papayagan, bagkus pipigilan maging Pangulo!

  11. >Sino ba ang paniniwalaan mo? Sila bang mga inglesero?
    >O, ang mga mangmang na tulad ng maraming mga Pilipino?
    >Sino ba ang mga tunay na tao kundi ang karaniwang tao?
    >Na hindi kailanman papayagan, bagkus pipigilan maging >Pangulo!>

    Mali ang tanong mo, Ronquillo. Dapat ANO ang paniniwalaan mo. Ang pagpapatakbo ng gobyerno ay hindi dapat ibase sa PERSONAL…kung hindi sa SISTEMA.

    Anong klaseng pilosofia ang pinaiiral mo dito? Ang karaniwang tao ang tunay na tao????? Saan mo natutuhan ito?

    Ordinary as in common tao, as in mahihirap, are the only real people? Ito ba ang gusto mong sabihin?

    Pakipaliwanag mo lang ano ang ibig mong sabihin sa salitang “ang mga mamang na tulad ng maraming Pilipino”? Mangmang as in INOCENTE? Or mangmang as in IGNORANTE?
    ==================

    Hindi ka naman pinipilit na maniwala sa lahat ng sinisiwalat sa media….at hindi ka talaga dapat maniwala sa lahat ng sinasabi sa media…FOR OR AGAINST.

    Pag natutuhan mo ng tangapin ang katotohanang yan…malapit mo ng maintindihan ang prinsipiyo ng “self rule” at “self-governance” sa demokrasya.

    Ganoon kadali intindihin, sa totoo lang…pero dahil sa PRIDE, napakahirap tanggapin. Syenawa.

    PJA

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