by Ashzel Hachero
THE United Opposition (UNO) yesterday said the guilty verdict handed down by the Sandiganbayan on former President Joseph was the last piece in the Arroyo administration’s “illegitimacy puzzle.”
“We knew that Erap was bound to be convicted regardless of the facts of the case, or else GMA’s ascension to the presidency in 2001 cannot be deemed anything else but illegal and contrary to proper procedure. Within that context, they had to find him guilty,” said Makati Mayor and UNO president Jejomar Binay.
He said if this was the “closure” sought and achieved in the Estrada case, it follows that similar closure would have to be attained in the many cases of fraud and corruption under the Arroyo administration.
Binay said the conviction was a clear case of “selective prosecution” of enemies of the Arroyo administration as he questioned government’s seal in prosecuting the Estrada case while dilly-dallying on cases involving Arroyo allies like controversial former election commissioner Virgilio Garcillano and Comelec commissioner Lintang Bedol who were linked to election cheating.
He also cited the P728 million fertilizer scam, the NAIA Terminal 3 project, the overpriced Macapagal Boulevard deal, and the Mega Pacific contract.
“We do not see the same vigor applied to Mrs. Arroyo’s friends and political allies. We should remember that justice applied unevenly is actually injustice. You cannot have one set of rules and laws for yourself and your associates and another set for your political opponents,” he said.
Binay also noted the promulgation was held in the midst of controversy over the alleged anomalous National Broadband Network project entered into by the transportation department with Chinese firm ZTE.
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, who was acquitted, expressed dismay over the alleged “discrepancies” in the anti-graft court’s guilty verdict against his father, saying justices “believed only one polluted source.”
“They (magistrates) succumbed to the pressure of Malacañang,” Jinggoy told reporters.
In a statement released by his office, Jinggoy said the conviction of his father for plunder was meant to justify the revolt that forced the latter to leave Malacañang in January 2001.
He also said with the decision, the former president has suffered from the miscarriage of justice “not once, but twice.”
“I am deeply convinced that our case was decided not on the basis of merits, not on evidence, and certainly not on the canons of law and established jurisprudence, but to justify the unconstitutional and forcible removal of a sitting President duly elected by our people and given the highest majority in the history of presidential elections in our country,” he said.
The group Union of the Masses for Democracy and Justice, which made up the bulk of around 700 protesters at the St. Peter’s Church on Commonwealth avenue in Quezon City, said the guilty verdict was like a never-ending attack on supporters.
Ver Eustaquio, UMDJ chairman, said Estrada is considered the “symbol of our aspirations.”
With the guilty verdict, the Arroyo government should brace for more protest actions by Estrada’s supporters, he said.
“The masses will not put an end to this. We’re the ones who will act now and the government will suffer the consequences (of its actions),” Eustaquio told reporters in Tagalog.
Estrada supporter actor Rez Cortez said the guilty verdict only showed that six years after Estrada’s ouster from Malacañang, “Erap still cannot get justice.”
“This is very sad decision. We’ve always believed he is not guilty. The prosecution did not present any strong evidence. The Sandiganbayan only showed that it is not fair,” he said.
Cortez also warned of more street protests.
Sixty-one-year-old Florentina Fernandez cried upon hearing news on the verdict. She said she joined the protest to show her love for Estrada who she said provided housing for her children in Olongapo City.
Fredesminda Bonifacio, 77, had the same reaction to the news as she said she has always believed in Estrada’s innocence. “We don’t want him to be imprisoned. It would be very hard for us.”
Fifty-seven-year-old Romeo Mago even wore an outfit similar to the trademark attire of his idol when he attended yesterday’s protest.
In a leather jacket, orange wristband, and camouflage pants and with a hairstyle similar to the hairdo of the former president, Mago said that with the “millions of people” who he said still trust Estrada, the guilty verdict showed that “freedom is not given to ordinary citizens.”
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines said the guilty verdict was a warning to everybody, especially those serving in government, to avoid corrupt practices.
In a statement released from the 4th National Pilgrimage in Lipa City, Batangas, CBCP president Archbishop Angel Lagdameo said the ruling of the Sandiganbayan must be viewed as being more than just a verdict on Estrada himself.
“We regard it also as a call to repentance and a call for change or conversion affecting not only the person of President Estrada but also many others in our government. The one who will profit from the good fruit of such a decision or judgment is no less than the country itself which is known to have been suffering from all kinds of graft and corruption and plunder. It is a warning sign,” he said.
Vice President Noli de Castro appealed to both camps to consider pardon as an effort towards reconciliation.
“Let me clarify, however, that we should not equate pardon with the admission of guilt. Huwag po sana nating tingnan ang pagbibigay ng pardon na may ibang kahulugan maliban sa alok na pagkakaisa para sa ating bayan at pagbibigay dignidad sa isang dating pangulo,” he said.
Senators were saddened over the verdict and lauded Estrada for his humility and bravery to submit himself to the judicial process.
Senate President Manny Villar said: “I pray that he gets the justice that he richly deserves. The genius of our justice system works when we bestow faith in it. I am certain given another day in court, President Estrada will get justice.”
Sen. Panfilo Lacson said: While I am saddened, even shocked by the guilty verdict, it is not for a layman like me to judge the Sandiganbayan justices who rendered the decision.”
Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, former head of President Estrada’s political party, said: “Any conviction is a warning to the public that there is a law, there is a court, and there is a system of punishment in the country.”
Sen. Mar Roxas said the case was “highly politically charged at hindi natin malalaman anong bahagi ang papel ng pulitika na pumasok sa isipan ng mga justices.”
Sen. Loren Legarda said: “Hindi pa tapos ang laban, malakas pa ang laban niya… puwedeng magkaroon ng people power to show support, love for Erap pero hindi na violent people power, ayaw din (ni Erap) mangyari yan.”
Sen. Rodolfo Biazon said: “This decision did not end the issue… we may need to examine the possible ramifications of this related to the stability of the country, the question of peace and order.”
Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan said Estrada must be accorded the respect and dignity of a former head of state. “We oppose any move to have the former president incarcerated in Muntinlupa.”
“Finally Malacañang should realize that, unless it faces squarely the issues of extrajudicial killings, JocJoc Bolante’s fertilizer scam and other controversies in its last three years in office, this conviction casts a very long and dark shadow on the Arroyo administration,” he added.
Sen. Francis Escudero questioned how the Sandiganbayan was able to issue a split decision on the plunder charges filed against Estrada, his son Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and lawyer Eduardo Serapio.
He explained that the charges against the three stemmed from allegedly conspiring to commit an illegal act, but the graft court acquitted Serapio and Jinggoy.
Militant congressmen said the conviction does not legitimize Arroyo’s “illegal hold on the presidency.”
“The Sandigan’s verdict, while against Estrada, neither deflects nor buries the truth that his successor Macapagal-Arroyo has committed worse plunder and corruption, not to mention more vicious attacks against the civil, political and human rights of Filipinos,” said Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran.
He said the conviction has set a legal precedent for the filing of similar plunder charges against Arroyo as soon as her term ends in 2010.
Administration congressmen said the anti-graft court’s decision was not surprising, given the strong evidence against the deposed President.
Davao Rep. Prospero Nograles said the “weight of evidence during the trial leaned heavily on direct positive evidence as against personal denials of wrongdoings.”
“It was purely a question of evidence beyond reasonable doubt and not because of surveys, personal feelings or even political angles like the legitimacy of the present government,” he said.
Speaker Jose de Venecia said: “The Sandiganbayan verdict inches the Estrada trial toward a final conclusion. But the inevitable appeal to the Supreme Court will mean months of political tension that our nation can ill-afford.”
“I appeal to our people to let the law take its course and stay away from any precipitate political action that could do more harm than good to the national interest,” he added.
Majority leader Arthur Defensor said majority of the staff could not come to work because of the heavy security in the nearby Sandiganbayan which was surrounded by the police.
Sources, however, said many administration congressmen immediately trooped to Malacañang to “congratulate” the President and celebrate. – With Reinir Padua, Gerard Naval, JP Lopez and Wendell Vigilia
“Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, former head of President Estrada’s political party, said: “Any conviction is a warning to the public that there is a law, there is a court, and there is a system of punishment in the country.”
Sure! Jail Enrile for crimes he committed during martial law!
Funny among all the people who made a statement following the Sandigan verdict, it seems a woman is the only one who has the balls to speak of people power – “Hindi pa tapos ang laban, malakas pa ang laban niya… puwedeng magkaroon ng people power to show support, love for Erap pero hindi na violent people power, ayaw din (ni Erap) mangyari yan.”
But if it’s “people power” to show sympathy for Erap, waste of time – better to use people power either allow the incarcerated officers to escape so we can all topple Gloria in a more successful people power 4…
This is how I understand our judicial “hierarchy” of way back when..From top to bottom..highest court Supreme Court, then there is the Court of Appeals before that..then the Court of First Instance before that, and the Municipal Court.. In other words..kung talo ka sa Municipal Court you can go up to the Court of First Instance (provincial level) kung matalo ka makakapunta ka sa Court of Appeals..(national level) kung matalo ka you go to the Supreme Court. Where does this Sandigan Bayan come in?
Wasn’t Imelda Marcos guilty also of Plunder ?
Watch out for these sitting Sandigan Justices some of whom are to be promoted. One would be appointed to the Supreme Court.
How could they then make a fair and honest decision when they are under the control of Malacanang? As for Enrile’s statement, he’s an ass hole. The best thing a former Erap ally could have done was to keep quiet and make no comment. Wasn’t he being arrested together with Santiago after that failed Edsa 3 uprising? Kung talagang mga dati nang kaaway ni Erap ang mag-komento, puwede pa. Pero sa mga nakinabang ng husto tulad ni Enrile, hindi dapat magdada. Respecting the court decision is one, but causing further insult to injury is another. More than ever, Erap needs the sympathy of everyone especially those who benefited from him. Enrile’s behavior is the highest of hypocrisy. GMA is reported to be ecstatic of the verdict. Kaya ecstatic eh tumitira ng ecstacy.
..re the call of Bishop Lagdameo on repentance..Your Grace-should we call for repentance after the sin is committed..or should we repent while we are still sinning, stop committing the sin and be born again..die of the sin and be born again..make a turn. convert and sin no more..can Cardinal Rosales ask Gloria and her company to do this? Yes, your Grace (or should I say Your Excellency?) this is a warning sign. Can you address this to GMA? why us? We, the poor people suffered long enough. Can you ask her and her Chief of Staff Esperon why the officers (accused of conduct unbecoming of an officer and gentleman are still detained. Via this blog, thanks to Ellen we saw what they are going through..thanks to Military wife, Marine Wife, and Gokusen we heard the other side of the story..real stories from real people..have you heard this Your Grace? Maybe not because you have no time to listen to the real feelings and real stories of real people..but I am sure you have been told and you listened to the fantasies of GMA..You are the Shepherd and we are your flock..and the sheep listen to the voice of the shepherd..yes I am catholic..yes I believe in the catholic church..yes you may be the leader of the flock in the Phil. but I know you are not the church..the church is a community of people, the church is an institution with all the hierarchy, the church is not the building or the structure of a cathedral..you are the shepherd..and didn’t Jesus say this to Peter..”feed my sheep”. Yes, your Excellency..feed us with the words of Christ..what is said in the Bible…Words written and inspired by God..alive and active..are we expecting too much?
An article caught my attention over on the web of The Daily Tribune (09/13/2007): “Gloria gloats over guilty verdict, throws party” by Sherwin C. Olaes:
Gloating over a guilty verdict marked the day in Malacañang yesterday with President Arroyo and her allies on a “high” over the Sandiganbayan Special Division’s conviction of deposed President Joseph Estrada.
Mrs. Arroyo yesterday was so elated by the guilty verdict on Estrada that she threw a victory party in Malaca-ñang with a few trusted allies from the House of Representatives whom she had invited to gloat along with her, immediately after the anti-graft court convicted the deposed leader.
There were loud shouts of victory and laughter heard in the Palace where Mrs. Arroyo was with her aides and allies.
Palace insiders told the Tribune that the President was “very, very happy” and had been often heard laughing while talking to a few law-makers and allies.
The Palace source however, refused to name the congressmen present, who are believed to number more than 20.
“She (Mrs. Arroyo) was so happy over the verdict that her laughter was heard the loudest on top of others among the crowd (of lawmakers) who visited her,” a Palace official who requested not to be identified said.
The Chief Executive was wearing her “powder blue coat dress, her lucky color,” the source added.
http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20070913hed2.html
Hahahah! I posted an elated picture of Gloria in my blog, quite by chance alongside Erap’s pic being mugshot and all – tama pala ang gut feeling ko.
Ooops, “picture of elated and victorious gloria” (and not elated picture – ayan sa pagmamadali, puro baligtad ang na type ko)
..Your Grace Bishop Lagdameo, Cardinal Rosales..Bishop Villegas…we have heard that GMA donated big sums of money for you to feed the hungry..money from corruption? money from gambling? If so, you are feeding the poor with food bought with money from corruption (and yet you say we should not be corrupt?) from gambling, jueteng (yet we are told that gambling is bad?) yes, you told us to be poor in spirit.. wala na nga kaming makakain at wala pa kaming maaasahan.. and if I remember right..didn’t Jesus say in Matt.Final Judgment..and Jesus was asked “Lord, when did we see you hungry…” and didn’t he respond “when you did that
to the least of my brothers you did that to me”. You are the leaders of the catholic church.. can we rely not only in your teachings but in what you do? Right now, all I can do is pray the prayer that the Lord taught us..”Our Father..” and ask the Blessed Mother with this poem I learned as a kid..”Lovely Lady, dressed in blue..teach me how to pray..tell me what to do..” P/S I addressed them with Your Grace/Your Excellency because it is the protocol of the church…
Extraordinary this foxy political street fighter – didn’t she realize that partying to gloat over the conviction of the man she toppled is in bad taste?
Talagang punggok sa edukasyon itong moral punggok na ito!
And this is the president of the Philippines? Ugh! (Give me Bush anytime na lang!)
Happy? Vic-toh-rius? This is not only an insult! it is an affront! the last laugh could be ours and for her the party will be over. How we can throw a party to throw her out. Nothing came out of the Sen. Triallanes movement..what sayest thou?
Rose, what I heard (unverified though) is that Cardinal Rosales received 10M Pesos from Gloria for Pondo Pinoy in exchange supporting Erap Guilty Verdict.
Chabs,
10M pesos? Is that all he got? Wow! If true cheap naman – he should have gone for at least half of the pondo she got from the ZTE upfront money.
If he’s gonna be re-playing the Judas Iscariot drama, i.e., selling his soul to the devil, might as well extract more…
Mahina naman iton si Rosales pala!
Sabi nga ni Sampot, mas matangkad pa daw iyong listahan ng crimes at scandals ni Gloria – dapat matangkad din na amount ang hingi Rosales. 10M pesos – ganong kataas yan? Maliit pa yan kay Gloria.
My personal note to GMA is for her to enjoy the party while it lasts.
This could be her despedida.
I don’t think the shocked masses will just take it sitting down.
They’ve done it on their own in the past, they will do it again. But this time, the middle class might join in, [maybe] not necessarily to free Erap but surely to remove the Sticky Slimy Glue.
And the military?
Your guess is as good as mine.
Sampot,
If it were up to me, I’d be surgical – won’t even allow her to have a drink in the party, strike her hard and fast before she starts laughing again.
Bakit 10 million pesos lang ang para kay Judas Cardinal Rosales? Baka kinupit ni Remedios Poblador ang iba? Busabos sa pera ang kanyang pamangkin.
If I’m not mistaken, most of us here are Catholics. I’m amazed to see many of our members now strongly criticizing these bishops and the church. Time to leave the church? Time to join other groups that are less political and corrupt? Time to listen to the genuine words of God taught by those who truly practice what they preach? Time to get rid of those false and erroneous teachings? I don’t know about you…but I’m contemplating of leaving the Catholic Church where I was born, raised and have practiced for decades. Para sa iba, hindi daw mahalaga ang relihiyon o iyon mga nagtuturo o namumuno. Some even argue that it’s not these bishops and the church that would save their souls. But to me, there’s no use staying in a church that sides with evil and listening to these false preachers. True faith is the most important and when we speak of truth, we must make sure these are not the kind of bishops who continue to sleep with the devil. Sawang-sawa na talaga ako. They even have the balls (wala nga eh) to call for prayer and grace…peace and warn people not to protest in the streets. I apologize for my outburst…but God knows how I feel.
P10M lang ang presyo ni Hudas cardinal Rosales? Ang baba naman ng price niya! Magkano kaya si Hudas Soc?
Chi, P10M is just for one day. Multiply that by 30 days and you get the total. Puwede na iyan. May parte pa nga kay Medy Poblador. Si Soc? Noon pa may nagsabing mas grabe iyan kay Cardinal Sin. Soc was Sin’s adviser. Ang mga kapalpakan ni Sin(RIP) lalo na sa pagpatalsik kay Erap at pagkampi kay GMA ay si Soc din ang may pakana. And why do you think he was assigned in Bataan? Bataan is among the provinces where jueteng proliferates. At bataan iyan ni Rosales.
Penchanco,
Leave the Church? And allow them to win without us putting up a fight? Nope, I think if ever, let them display their turds in public – these men are just like you and me, capable of being good and being bad, the bottom line is they are not THE CHURCH… we are not criticizing the Catholic Church, we are criticising the men in robes who are stooping so low to kiss Gloria’s backside.
Whatever, I’m leaving the church. The church is composed of members and these leaders. If you can bear the evil surrounding the church, then go ahead. You or no one need follow me. And I’m not even calling people to boycott the church. The church will remain. Why more and more are leaving is something to ponder, though. It’s not they lack faith or what. Pero paano ka naman makikinig sa sermon at turo ng mga walang hiyang Obispo na iyan?
Re: Gloria gloats over guilty verdict, throws party
Well, enjoy your bourbon-whiskey drinks until to the last drop. Sooner or later while your soul will be toasted in hell, Satan can only offer benzene as your drink. Enjoy!
Leave the Church? No! Go to church and bring the rest of the family and encourage the neighbors too. There is a lot of ways to bring the powerful church and teach them a good lessons.
Lesson no.1– Don’t drop any penny during collection time.
No.2———-Everyone must take communions.
No.3———-Don’t take shower and no deodorant.
No.4———-During sermon everyone create conversation.
The most important to do is lesson no.1,if no one contribute the priest won’t have any compensation and they are force to look for another profession.
“Boycott contributions”
Pag wala silang collection ay wala silang pambili ng oystia sa panaderia,baka ang mga pari mismo ang mag-boboycott ng misa dahil wala silang delihensya.
That’s a better comment from you, Cocoy. But you know what? The church doesn’t really need the collection during mass. Donation coming from Malacanang ang gambling lords are more than enough to sustain their lifestyle.
Pechanco;
In Rizal writting the Noli Mi and El Fili,I came to understand that Noli teaches one to hate the friars and by extension the Catholic Church. That’s not patriotism. The Fili teaches one how to create chaos and fail in revolution. That’s a good lesson but still not patriotism. This is all but natural, since Rizal did not write the Noli and the Fili to teach love of country – he wrote them to awaken the consciousness of the Filipinos on nationhood by describing what was happening to them in their own country: They had allowed themselves to become not only physical but more so intellectual and spiritual slaves. In the Noli, the solution was get education In the Fili, the solution was revolution.
Noli Mi Tangere—Touch Me Not. The Untouchables. If you touch the Filipinang Maria Clara the wrong way, you will suffer an unmentionable indignity. Some of these Catholic priest read Rizal’s novel but,they don’t understand the message. Mahilig siyang mag-touch sa masilan na parte ng babae.Katulad noon gustong magka-anak na nagsasayaw sa Ubando….Hehehehe! Nandoon noon si Pader Damaso na mahilig sumuso!
“There were loud shouts of victory and laughter heard in the Palace where Mrs. Arroyo was with her aides and allies.
Palace insiders told the Tribune that the President was ?very, very happy? and had been often heard laughing while talking to a few law-makers and allies. As reported in todays Daily Tribune.
But I didn’t see any dancing in the streets – did you?
Gloria can laugh as loud as she wants but she’s still ugly and most evil, and the loneliest person on earth when alone in bed!
“She (Mrs. Arroyo) was so happy over the verdict that her laughter was heard the loudest on top of others among the crowd (of lawmakers) who visited her,”
Parang napi-picture ko ang mga demonyo na nagdidiwang sa pagtatagumpay ng kanilang kabulastugan. At ang tawa ni Gloria ay halakhak ng isang Reyna ng mga demonyo. May katapusan ang kasamaan. The devil can never triumph over good. Mas masahol ang kanilang kahihinatnan!
Frankly, the court that convicted Erap did not prove anything except that Gloria and her husband plus their cohorts are in control. So what do Filipinos do? Just sit there and hope that a miracle will happen, and the unano gets convicted, too?
Siguro, pagputi ng uwak! Puro tiis na lang ba?
Just look at the timing. The verdict was given after the idiots passed their inhumane security act so Filipinos would be frightened to go to the street and rally against the verdict of the kangaroo court.
Now, we’ll see what the Moslems will do with the confiscation of Erap’s foundation for them. Alam ko hindi sila madaling matakot!
Pechanco,
As for me, matagal na akong umalis sa Catholic Church. Not only because of the hypocrisy of some priests but also because of some false teachings that are not in the bible. I now go to a bible-based evangelical church. But I still admire some noble and really godly priests like Fr. Orbos, Fr. Oscar Cruz at Fr. Sonny Ramirez (nagtataka nga ako bakit di siya napo-promote, siguro dahil hindi siya the same kind nina Villegas at Rosales).
Sabi nga sa Bible, Luz, “For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.” (Eccl.7:6)
May araw din iyan. Sabi nga, hindi puedeng magtagumpay ang mga kasamaan! “The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.” (Prov.10:3)
pechanco: I understand why you feel that way..at totoo na marami nang umalis sa catholic church dahil sa mga leaders na kaya nila. Pinaglihi ata ng nanay nila kay Fr.Damaso.
They may be leaders but they are not the church..We are the church..Tama ka Cocoy: don’t tithe..let GMA give the money. Kung kahit kalahati man lang ng catolico sa Pilipinas ay hindi magbigay it will have a big impact..hayaan na lang natin na si GMA ang magbigay..ang gustong magtirik ng candle..light the candles but don’t drop your payment..magdasal na lang at pagkatapos ng misa umalis..don’t even join any activities lalo na sa fund raising, or help in the church..kahit sa paglinis..hayaan mo sila ang maglinis..boycott..
Yong 10m ba na ibinigay kay Rosales ay net..after the share of Villegas and all? Para lang sa bulsa niya..at kulang pa. Pero kahit one peso lang..hindi pa rin tama..kahit pang sabihin niya na it was his consultation..kahit sabihin pa na balato sa kanya pagpanalo niya noong 2004 election..but if it was true..napaka cheap naman niya! Sana nagparuffle na lang siya na ang premio ay Land Rover..top of the line at siya ang nanalo..
Dapat si Loren, et al, niyaya ang mga supporters nila and rallied in front of the Sandiganbayan to show their distaste and disgust at the Kangaroo Court that tried Erap. Hindi iyong puro sila dada. Buti pa nga si Gambi!
I would have no objection proving Erap’s guilt for bribery. Iyan ang alam kong weakness niya, not plunder! Maraming sabit diyan sa totoo lang kaya siguro sinosolo na lang niya.
Pero dapat iyong Singson na ‘kinana dapat makulong din.
Just a footnote: Diocesan priests don’t have a vow of poverty..religious priests (like Dominicans, Jesuits, etc)yes..communal ang funds nila. If the policy of dioceses in the Phil. is just like here in the Archdiocese of Newark..wala silang vow of poverty..they can own cars, they can have houses (for their retirement) and they can make a lot of money..e.g.financial gifts on birthdays, Christmas and other occasions..walang communal kaya marami tayong naririnig na kwento na may mga pari na nagdispalko ng pera..
Not all diocesan priests do this..those who do are more the exceptions than the rule..temptation is much greater for them to do it when they hold positions..politics in the church.
Kahit walang mag-drop ng penny sa basket during offertory, my special collection naman ang simbahan galing kay Glue, Pineda, at sa mga businessman and wealthy members of the Church. May alam akong pari na sagot ng isang negosyante ang kanyang gasolina, groceries at mga appliances. Kung gusto ninyo na yumaman na hindi kayo politiko, magpari kayo.
Alam ba ninyo na may mga pari na agawan din ng parokya? Agawan sa parokyang mayaman, dahil malaki ang collection. Agawan as in nag-aaway at sipsipan sa obispo o archbishop. Palagay ko may lagayan din sa mga pari.
Wala akong narinig na comment ni Mike Velarde..was he not a supporter of Erap? At ang mga Iglesia ni Cristo..were they not supporters of Erap as well? The winds changed directions at si GMA na ngayon? Nabubulag na ba? Nabibingi na ba? at napipipi na ba? (may bayad ang CR remember?) Si FVR kaya hindi makasalita because his mouth is full and he is still eating..so he can not talk when his mouth is full otherwise baka macharge pa siya for conduct unbecoming of a gentleman.
Nope, Rose, matagal nang bumaligtad ang mga iyan. Siyempre doon sila sa malakas maglagay!
As for FVR, isa iyan sa dapat na makulong. Ang daming monopoly ng taong iyan sa totoo lang. Iyon ngang kapatid, during his time, kontrolado ang labor market sa Taiwan. Diyan sila nagkakamal ng pera.
I bet you, iyong unano may monopoly na rin iyan. Gustung kunin ang monopoly in fact ng caregiving labor market sa Japan at US kaya madalas na pumunta ng Japan. Kaso, gusto pang gawin opisyal, o di hindi siya mapagbigyan. Kaya postpone na naman ang balak na pumunta dito noong una July, tapos naging September, tapos naging October hanggang sa indefinite na raw!
Don’t believe the lies of these crooks when they flatter the OFWs. Isa iyan sa pinagkakakitahan nila ng personal! Believe you me!
Someone said..”say a daring prayer and a miracle may happen”
Let this then be my prayer..Dear Lord, while GMA & Co. are celebrating their vic-toh-ry please make Malacanang be the epicenter of a big quake and shake them all and remove all their sins of corruption, stealing, killing, cheating and all forms of corruption from the smallest to the biggest..open up the earth and let the palace be swallowed along with them and all their sins..and let this be a lesson for all to know and see that sins committed are to be punished..send forth a big quake of the largest magnitude and intensity for the earth in that center of the party to open and the entire palace to be swallowed and disappear. .gory as it may seem to be but for the good of the country we say gloria go…and soon be it.
Cocoy: “balikbayan boycott” I will go with that..how?..not going home while GMA is still around? ok. not sending balikbayan boxes which I think is a big business and probably may cut siya..ok..not sending money remittances..I am not affected with that but kawawa naman ang familia ng marami..anything else..ok para sa akin..
Sorry Cocoy, the Catholic Church income from collections at Mass is picayunish small change, and the priest just smirks. Urging devotees to attend Mass is to keep them on a lease for the big ticket events: Baptism, Marriage and Funerals, and inflation has infected the cost of belief in the Sacraments. After Baptism I strayed from Church dogma as priest after priest exhibited more lay and less spiritual behavior. Now, whoever claims he/she speaks God’s Word, in any denomination, is a charlatan in my mind. So, when Ate Glue claims of connections to the Trinity, you know what I think of her.
oops000 leash not lease
Martina: I know that. I worked for three years in a small Italian Church with only about 250 registered parishioners..pero they survive..because the church was built by the hands of those who came in 1885..next door is the Polish church na ganoon din established in 1884..walang problema sa pera..ang problema nila ngayon ay gustong ibenta ng archdiocese ang entire block of property which they own. It is s Gold coast area..at malaking pera..
a parishioner, the last in their family, who died three years ago, left the church more than a quarter of a million..ang tuwa ng archbishop kasi bayad ang pinautang nila sa simbahan..how do I know? Until a year ago, I was the accountant. Just this afternoon after I left the chapel the former sexton told me that somebody who was buried this morning left the church about $50,000 ata..Matatanda na sila at maraming walang familia..at talagang mahal nila ang simbahan..ang sabi ko sa kanila if and when you leave something for the church in your will put restrictions..like for the repair of the church, etc.
at hindi magalaw ng archdiocese..kung hindi automatically 6
Rose;
Ang “Balikbayan Boycott” na sinasabi ko ay iyong wala munang uwian ang mga pinoy na residence at mga citizen ng bansa kung saan man sila naroroon hanggang nasa poder pa si punggok at titignan natin kung hindi mag-aalburuto ang mga customs at immigration officers sa NAIA.Wala na silang delihensya sa pambayad ng mga kotse at mga mansion nila.Bibitaw na rin si Lucio Tan kay pandak kung malulugi ang PAL niya.Magpapadala pa rin ng pera para sa pamilya at lalo na ang ‘Balikbayan boxes” para naman nakakasiguro ang mga pamilya sa Pinas na genwayn ang Spam , Colgate at Dove nila.Gusto mo bang magkaroon sila ng kurikom dahil sa fake na sabon galing ng Tsina na ipinalusot ng mga buwaya sa custom?
Matagal ng uso iyang “Balikbayan Boycott” sa America ang mga TNT ang nagsimula niyan.Binoykot talaga nila ang PAL,pati na rin mga asawa nila na naiwan sa Pinas ay binoykot at idiniborsyo na nila ng nagpunta sila sa Vegas at naghulog sa slot-machine ng nanalo sa korte ng Vegas agad pumila at nagsampa ng divorce.Mga Ulol!
Alam mo may bad expierence ako d’yan sa NAIA noong huling uwi namin.Si Kumander at iyong tatlo kong anak.12 ang pinoy samsonite naming lahat liban pa iyong mga 2 pirasong hand carry bawat isa sa amin.Ang sa akin ay iyong Golf clubs ko.Nahihirapan na nga kaming magtulak ng kargada pagdating sa counter check ay hihihingan ako ng tig-sasampung berde bawat kahon para wala na raw bukasan at hihiwain na lang daw niya ang tali.Ang tanong ko sa kanya,kung bubuksan niya ang mga kahon ay gaano kami katagal maghintay,sabi niya matagal daw at isa pa ay marami raw ang nakasunod sa akin kaya para raw madali ay ganoon na lang at iipit ko na lang daw sa passport.Ano ka ba,kako sa kanya,sinusuwerti? Kung ayaw mong buksan dahil hindi kita bibigyan ng berde ay sa iyo na lang ang mga iyan at iki-claim ko na lang sa airline na lost baggages dahil nakainsured naman ang mga iyan.Tinanong sa akin kung ano ang laman ng kahon.Ang sabi ko sa kanya,bakit hindi mo buksan ng malaman mo.Alam mo binigyan ko siya ng $10 take it or leave it ang sabi ko sa kanya.Ayun pumayag,siguro minura ako ng husto ng examiner na iyon.Ang ibibigay ko sa kanya ay ipasalubong ko na lang sa mga tao sa amin kasi pag uutusan ko silang akyatin ang puno ng niyog ay ikukuha nila ako ng buko.
Napag-usapan din lang ang abuluyan sa simbahan…Actually, a small portion of parishioners regularly and religiously give monetary contributions. Only a few rich ones give. That’s why if these rich ones leave the parish church, this church sometimes goes bankrupt. Dapat lahat magbigay dahil iyan ang utos ng Diyos. May nagmungkahi na huwag nang magbigay sa simbahan. I can’t blame some people for suggesting it given the corruption within the church. What’s needed is proper accounting and transparency. Unfortunately, I don’t see that in the Catholic Church.
Cocoy,
Hah! ” Kung ayaw mong buksan dahil hindi kita bibigyan ng berde ay sa iyo na lang ang mga iyan at iki-claim ko na lang sa airline na lost baggages dahil nakainsured naman ang mga iyan.”
That’s a jolly good technique – heh! Tama!
Neonate;
Baptism, Marriage and Funerals; Agree ako sa iyo d’yan.That’s the sacrament in church teaching before the sinner’s clan of Adam and Eve enter heaven according to Father of St.Michael na kainuman ko ng San Miguel beer.
It is really a big responsibilities to raise a child. Baptism and Marriage ay may bayad sa simbahan iyan,liban pa iyong handaan at pulutan,iyong musiko pa!
Funerals ay pinagkakuartahan din iyan ng mga saklaan.May mga class category pa iyan sa simbahan kung bibindisyunan ni Pader.Pag buong bayan ang makipaglibing ay pinakamalakas ang kalembang,full throttle, libuhan ang bayad.Pag marami at hindi ang boung bayan ang makipaglibing normal ang kalembang,half throttle, mga ilang daan lang ang bayad, pag kakaunti ang makipaglibing tunog lang ng sorbetes at close throttle at sensilyo lang ang bayad kay pader.Pag maraming tao,marami ang abuloy,kaya kailangan may musiko na tutugtog ng Cha-Cha pang attract ng masa. Ano ka ba? Hehehehe!
Maarte: I don’t know which church you go..but at Holy Rosary Church, Jersey City, from Jan. 1,2004 till Sept. 30, 2006 all collections at all masses are recorded and records are kept. In our bulletin, collection for each week is mentioned. If you want to know how much cash was received and how much checks was received it is itemized. Donations of $50 from each donor is mentioned. Thank you letters are sent. In other words a financial report of receipts and disbursement was shown. Bequests are also published..how transparent could you get. How do I know this? Because I did that during that period of time. When I volunteered to do the accounting for the parish, I told the pastor that there should be transparency and we did. In my parish which by the way was not Holy Rosary, they do the same..and the accountant is also a Filipina..yes maybe not all catholic churches but there are some. You may not see it in your catholic church…but parishioners should question and demand transparency..
With regard to sacraments..here in the diocese of Newark
mass donations are $10 per mass which is the priest’s stipend. Funerals ..at Holy Rosary it is $200. weddings is $100 for the use of the church that would cover electricity, cleaning, etc. Baptism, First Communion and Confirmation, there is no charge. It depends on how much the family would like to give…anointing of the sick has no charge…and all of these are reported in the Financial Statement..The envelopes given to the priest at Christmas is between the giver and the recipient..pero hindi yan sakop ng income ng simbahan..nasa discretion ng pare.. I just don’t know kung may ganyan sa Phil..
Bakit maraming Filipino priests na pumunta sa US? The archdiocese would sponsor them and they get their green card. Bakit gusto nila mag ka kotse kaagad? Many Filipinos requests for private masses at home, birthdays, etc. at may inaabot sa kanila. kaya kung may kotse ka sa isang lingo puede kang mag private mass. Many other nationalities, Italians, Irish, etc. hindi mahilig sa private masses at home. On special occasions..they request for a special private mass pero sa simbahan hindi sa bahay. Pagkatapos ng misa they go to a restaurant..at kung gusto nila magdonate it is all up to them..dito may policy na there should be no special mass at the funeral parlor during the wake…no anticipated mass should be said at a private home..at malamang kung may gumagawa man patago at Pilipino. I am only talking about policies in the Archdiocese of Newark…hindi ko alam sa iba..and those who may read this na taga rito will most likely know who I am, and since I blog here..they know why..
And yes..there is politics in the Catholic church and how..palakasan din ang special privileges.
Sinabi po Cocoy..ang Irish weddings, funerals may bagpipe music..ang Italians ibang klase ang music..minsan nagulat ako..funeral and the band played ala Dixieland of New Orleans…”On when the Saints go marching in”. Nagsimba tuloy ako and the rectory was temporarily closed..gusto ko kasi ang music..
Cocoy: Ok yong huwag munang umuwi..I was supposed to go home last May, pero natakot ako sa election..kasi nastranded na kasi ako minsan dahil kay Honasan..then I rescheduled for June pero ang mahal ng pamasahe..pero aatanyin ko na lang ang pawala si GMA..marami din akong nakita na may similar experience sa iyo..lalo na pagpasko.
Its not The End yet, the finale is about to unveil! Pagulungin ang justisya, durugin ang Gloria!
Rose;
umuwi ka ba noong nagkudeta si Honasan,umuwi din kami ng time na iyon at unang bakasyon ng mga anak ko sa Pilipinas,1990 ata iyon kung tama ang chronological chips ng utak ko,pero 3 days after at iyon ang unang kuwentuhan sa loob ng airport.Kinuwentuhan pa nga kami ng custom inspector habang iniiksamin ang mga bahagi namin.Okey sa akin iyong eksaminer dahil mabait at magalang at hindi nanghihingi pero panay parinig ng Merry Christmas sa akin,binigyan ko ng tip kasi nagtawag siya ng magtutulak ng bagahi namin,tuwang tuwa nga iyong loko at may crush pa yata kay kumander,at mga mukhang artista daw ang mga anak ko.Paglabas namin ay mayroon na namang humahabol sa amin na mga dalaginding, nagulat kami ng ipinatutubos ang mga arrival picture namin.Sir! Ang gaganda ng mga picture ninyo! at ipinakita isa -isa,tig-$10 daw,binili ko na para may souvenir ang mga anak ko,tapos nagpapicture pa iyong dalawa sa amin na parang family portrait para daw may sobinir din sila sa amin,pero libre na.Nagtanong tuloy ang mga anak ko sa akin at ang sabi “Daddy are these people knows us?they are always waving at us”Ang sagot ko sa kanila,Of Course! They all know us and wave back. Kasi nga naman ang daming mga tao sa arrival area.Ayun nag-enjoyed sila at bumalik uli at iyon na nga ang naging bad expierence namin.Iyong huling uwi.Marami ang kuwentong one two three ang nangyari.
Ana, hahhhahhh, “If true cheap naman” (September 13th, 2007 at 12:12 am). That was my initial comments to when I heard the 10M to Cardinal Rosales’ Pondong Pinoy.
I agree with you that Cardinal Rosales “..should have gone for at least half of the pondo she got from the ZTE upfront money.”
Sampot, I agree with you that Gloria should “..enjoy the party while it lasts..This could be her despedida.”
Gloria & her pigs have actually been asking around as to what the reactions of the anti-Gloria will be. They find the silence deafening – come to think of it, it is an uneasy kind of silence.. Anyway, The anti-Gloria groups are not naive anymore to wear their emotions on their sleeves, much less advertise the so-called Plan. Timing is crucial. A war can only be won decisively.
Soon the “Sticky Slimy Glue” will be forced to take a bow.
After Velarde… Pidal next! (pls. pass)
Cocoy, the “balikbayan boycott” na sinasabi ninyo is a very interesting idea. The OFWs yield that power to make an impact. If the OFWs were able to influence the Malu Fernandez brouhaha, I don’t see why they can’t do it against a corrupt official. The OFWs were also the ones who was able to get the world to focus on Glroia’s extra-judical killings & human rights violations.
I’d be surgical – won’t even allow her to have a drink in the party, strike her hard and fast before she starts laughing again.” – AdeBrux
Ang lupit mo naman. Hayaan na muna nating malasap ang kanyang panalo. Pinaghirapan din nya yon, eh.
“They find the silence deafening… – Chabeli
Chabs,
Ito na ang pinakamatinding Rebolusyon na mangyayari sa atin.
Kung sa EDSA1986 ay para tayong nagpicnic, ngayon meron ng kakatayin.
Tapusin ang sinimulan ni Andres Bonifacio na sadyang pinatay ng mga Ilitista! Ipaghiganti ang tutoong lumalaban para sa kapakanan ng Inang Bayan!
Sampot,
Kasi siya, malupit din – that’s the only attitude one can adopt against someone who has proven time and again that she has no soul.
Sampot, maraming ilitista ayaw sa naka upo sa Palasyo. Believe me.
AdeBrux,
Maybe you’re right, ngayon ngayon lang itutuloy pa rin ni Pandak ang ZTE Deal, kahit sinabi ni Neri wala pa namang contract. Kunsabagay, pinalitan na si Neri ng pwedeng magcertify na ang project ay talagang feasible. Ayaw mo ng P200m ha, e di doon ka magyampungad sa DepED.
___________________________________________________________
Chabs,
I hope tama ka. In the first place, the original meaning of Elite is “the intellectuals”… so they should be the first to realize that the solution to our problem is to stop playing God.
Agree with Chabs, “Cocoy, the “balikbayan boycott” na sinasabi ninyo is a very interesting idea.”
In a way, during my last summer holidays, forced by weather factors (and my Mom), boycotted Pinas although I had already scheduled it in my flight plan and instead got my family to join me outside Pinas where we spent the holiday money elsewhere.
This is the second time I boycotted Pinas on my holiday – the first time in 2004 after Gloria’s bogus elections – the purpose of skipping Pinas was really to boycott. Again, my family in Pinas joined my own family elsewhere in Asia.
A wide Balikbayan boycott would mean less tourism revenue but that could have an an adverse effect on our kababayans’ businesses in Pinas.
To make it work, our kababayans must be prepared to sacrifice their familial sentiments – but are we all up to it?
Anna,
I am skipping the Philippines, too, not that I’m afraid to go there.
It is just that I would not want to spend my dollars and/or yen there and benefit the criminal’s government.
In fact, I am not recommending the Philippines to my customers. I’d rather take them to Hawaii or Tahiti. This is one way to show disgust for the thick-faced criminal squatting at the palace by the murky river.
Meanwhile, I do my advocacies even when they may look impossible to get results at first. As they say, “Perseverance is genius in disguise.”
Yuko,
When people I meet ask about vacationing in Pinas for some exotic holiday, eg, skindiving, beach combing, golfing, trekking etc., I tell them to refer to travel advisories. I don’t want to be responsible for having recommended Pinas to them and risk being blamed if things go awry.
Like one time a group of friends of my son’s had come of up with an idea to trek in Asia and also to have fun in some of the wonderful diving spots in the region and of course going to the South in Pinas for the dive (my son is a diver and had spoken of Pinas to them).
I discouraged them and said that if they really wanted to go to Pinas to dive in the South, fine but they should leave my son out of their loop. Of course they finally skipped Pinas – Perhenthian in Malaysia was the one I recommended instead of the one in Southern Philippines.
Perhenthian was cheaper and posed much lesser security risk – they all loved the place, many have gone back since including my sone who unfortunately I’ve banned for the moment from visiting Pinas and hasn’t visited Pinas for a very long time now (he’s over 18 and therefore of legal age, emancipated so to speak, but good thing is he still listens to me.)
I’m not the only Pinay mother who’s banned her children from going to Pinas – I know many Pinoys in France who have done the same and wouldn’t allow their Europe-born over 18yr old kids to go unless they were with them.
This has been happening since Gloria was born.
Oooops, “This has been happening since Gloria was TOOK OVER POWER”.
Frankly, many Pinoy families I know here may be paying lip service to Gloria when she visits but at the end of the day, they believe the Philippines is so unstable under her regime, that criminality has risen, that troubles abound so they are afraid to expose their children who are European born to the an environment of such instability, in other words, they don’t trust her and her government.
What about Madame Wetness Apostol’s suggestion to jail Estrada in Leyte so that his province will bring in tourists? Barbaric.
Fuck him and his twisted tongue! I give up my right of first refusal to hack Raul Gonzales’ head off. Instead, si Apostol na ang aarborin ko.
Siguro naman, magsisikan-thot na rin itong gagong ito bago magkumento ng ganoon next time.
TonGuE-tWisTeD, I saw & heard that horrible low-life Apostol say that, too, on TV ! Imagine saying that placing Erap in the mountain & saying it would be a tourist attraction !?
Apostol is already a tourist attraction himself – listen to him speak & pronounce his words – it will make a foreinger laugh his head off realizing that the man was speaking English after all ! Wouldn’t he be make a great call center jester ?
What a morbid persona this apostol really is!
What did the interviewer say when this clown said that?
Ana, the video showed on TV was a mixture of a voice over & Apostol speaking. Jeez, If I were the interviewer, I would smashed my tape recorder or microphone in his mouth !
Tongue,
Ok, ibato mo na rito si Gunggong Gonzales.
Si Wetness Apostol ay nagpapabida ng husto, retard naman sa salita at kilos! Sus, itirintas ang mga ulo ng mag-amo at iyong ang gawing tourist attraction sa bundok ng Leyte!
Chabs,
Ang cheap ng gimmick ni Apostol, taga-voice over ni Gloria!
Buti hindi nasira ang eardrums mo!
Cocoy: Yes that was the first time I went home after 20 years..we live in Proj. 4 and we could see the exchange of fire from the window..akala ko naman firecrackers because Christmas was near..and my late sister who was a Forensic chemist in the NYPD told me..let’s all go down and pray I smell gunpowder and it is not from firecrackers..the next day an uncle took us all out from Proj. 4 to go elsewhere..Kaya asar ako kay Honasan..we were supposed to go to Balesin..but my sister was told by a former officemate in the NYPD who was then with the American Embassy not to go by plane..kasi the rebels might mistake us military and the military might mistake us as rebels..kahit na ba si Honasan ay contemporary ng kapatid ko sa DB..when his name is mentioned I just leave..and say don’t speak bad words in front of me.
..on the balikbayan boycott.. how about not buying Made in the Philippines products? here in JC, maraming Filipino stores of course selling Phil. products..I am pretty sure sa ibang lugar din..canned foods, clothes sold at
dept. stores…
..Macasaet in his colum today mentioned at the time of Quirino when his defense secretary Castelo pa ang pangalan was convicted he didn’t life a finger to interfere in the court’s decision..I am not familiar with this.. Quirino became Pres. when Roxas died..he seems to be more of a statesman than a politician..ang sinusundan ko noon during his time was the story of his daughter marrying Gonzales..parang fairy tale sa akin noon.
Ito nga ang masaklap sa atin. Kung ang tawag nila sa supreme court ay bulwark of justice (someone has to check and balance if the actions of this group is really supreme beyond reasonable doubt), and the church is the bulwark of morality, hindi sana tayo nagkakaloko loko ngayon. The then chief justice and his pals at SC did the most heidious act of consenting to corrupt and destroy the constitution from the impeachment trial to the EDSA event. Nababoy ang saligang batas. Kanino ba dapat sila accountable? Kung sila naman ay mai-impeach, malabo din sa klase ng politcs natin. On the other hand, the church connived and pretended to be moralists… Sa totoo lang there is nothing wrong with our Catholic faith. Spiritually enriching ang teachings ng Catholic faith. Sa mga ilan nating namamalakad sa apostolic church diyan tayo may problema. With due respect to them, hanapbuhay din iyan. Dapat sana non-partisan sila dahil hindi na nga sila nagbabayad ng buwis. Bagkus, pag nabigyan pa ng bonus ng gobyerno, nagiging kakampi na ang nagbigay. The eyes of the church get fuzzy. Kaya doon nawawala ang moral ascendancy nila to teach and tender its flocks. Hindi naman siguro ganoon ang ginawa ng Kristo noong araw. Personally, I find peace and solace going to church when there is no mass. Para bang nasa cloud 9 ka at totoo ang pagdadasal. Kaya hindi ako pinayagan ng nanay kung magpari dahil not only that I was the eldest son, baka daw ako madestino sa malayong lugar na walang income at gutom ang abutin ko.
Ooops.. it should be spelled hideous not the other way around. And actions of this group are supreme… not actions of this group is supreme. Kita mo na pati ako nagkakandaloko na rin….
tongue, adebrux,chabeli:
re sergio “wetness” apostol’s blah-blah, don’t be surprised why the man said that. GMA’s administration is like a circus park-cum-zoo-cum-piggery. just look at her alter-egos; they behave like clowns, jesters & idiots while others are like sharks, crocodiles, snakes, piranhas & vultures. in short, an aquarium, terrarium & aviary all in one with a Papa Pig as their caretaker. get what i mean?
they’re experts also in spewing nonsense & inanities so don’t expect them to mouth sensible things.