If 49 Pinoys aren’t found, DFA exec should resign

“Anyone who isn't confused really doesn't understand the situation.”

—Edward R. Murrow

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

TWELVE days ago, we criticized Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega after announcing on October 20 that the “Egyptian government has promised to give priority to evacuating Filipinos once the Rafah border crossing opens.”

We thought De Vega’s words were hyperbole and unreliable since Egyptian authorities couldn’t even ensure the crossing to Egypt of many citizens from the United States, Europe, and other Arab countries trapped in Gaza; ergo, why “prioritize” the “very few” Filipinos?

Despite intensive international efforts to secure a window of time for the Rafah crossing to open to foreigners who wanted to exit the Strip, the Egyptian government actually has refused to allow either Gazans or foreign nationals to exit Gaza via the Rafah crossing.

De Vega, speaking over Radyo 630, had said, “Kinausap ko ang ambassador ng Egypt kahapon at sinabi ng kanilang pamahalaan na bibigyan ng priority ang mga Pilipinong lulusot. Pangako niya ‘yan na bibigyan tayo ng priority sa border.”

(I spoke with the Egyptian ambassador yesterday and their government said that they will give priority to Filipinos who will pass through. That’s his promise to give us priority at the border.)

 

-o0o-

 

The following day, or on October 21, the Rafah border finally opened for humanitarian aid, but not a single Filipino national, or Filipino married to Palestinian or Egyptian was allowed to cross.

On October 30, or 10 days after De Vega made the statement, it was reported that the Philippine government “struggled to reach some Filipinos in Gaza, days after Israel began its ground invasion of the besieged enclave.”

A Philippine envoy reportedly confirmed that 49 Filipinos in Gaza were “unreachable.” 

What happened to the “assurance” the Egyptian ambassador had supposedly made to De Vega to “prioritize” the Filipinos who are now “unreachable?”

For his dizzying and untrustworthy statements, De Vega should resign if the 49 “unreachable” Filipinos in Gaza won’t be found.

A Palestinian border official said that Egypt had blocked the crossing gates with concrete blocks. Egypt has stated that Israeli airstrikes also hit the Gaza side of the crossing.

 

-o0o-

 

The lands where the historical Jesus once walked and lived has never found genuine peace. Since time immemorial the bloody conflict between the Arabs and Jews has been intense, enormous, and sustained.

It seems Christianity, Judaism, and Islam have been identified to be the most violent-laden religions in the world. For thousands of years, millions have died violently in the wars involving the three major religions in the world.

Interestingly, Buddhism, which follows a set of guidelines for daily life called the Five Precepts, appears to be the most peaceful religion in the world.

Buddhists don’t harm or kill living things; they do not take things unless they are freely given; they lead a decent life; they do not speak unkindly or tell lies; and they do not abuse drugs or drink alcohol.

Buddhists also adhere to the Three Universal Truths such as:

—Everything in life is impermanent and always changing

—Because nothing is permanent, a life based on possessing things or persons doesn't make you happy; and 

—There is no eternal, unchanging soul and "self" is just a collection of changing characteristics or attributes.

 

-o0o-

 

SAVING OUR PLANET. Clean up with vinegar. Don't clean up our toilets with a mineral-deposits remover as it contains harsh chemicals that harm the environment when flushed down the toilet into the water system. Vinegar is an excellent substitute to scrub off rush and deposits marks.

SAVING OUR PLANET. Let's salt our silver. Silver cleaners can be abrasive and harsh. Let's make our own cleaner for sterling (not plate) silver by mixing 1 pint of water with a teaspoon each of salt and baking powder and adding a strip of aluminum foil. Drop the silver into this mixture, boil for a few minutes, remove with tongs and polish with a soft cloth. Add lemon juice for really grimy silver.

SAVING OUR PLANET: Don't dispose. Whenever we can, let's swap our throw-away, disposable items for reusable versions. We won't have to pay out over and over again plus we will avoid contributing to landfill.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)

Remembering Danny Baby Foz

“Don’t be dismayed by goodbyes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends.” 

—Richard Bach

By Alex P. Vidal

 

MY friendship with the late Iloilo broadcaster, Vicente “Danny Baby” Foz, began in summer 1988 and nearly ended one tragic evening sometime in November 1991 in Manila.  

Foz, then 26, left our hotel room past 11 o’clock in the evening sobbing. 

On his way downstairs and outside the hotel, located near Manila’s Luneta Park, he angrily vowed to “avenge” the “cruelty” he got from our colleague, Arsenio “Kamlon” Ang.

“Sa bilog ko nga kabuhi wala pa ako nakatilaw sumbag bisan sa mga utod ko kag ginikanan (Throughout my entire life, no one has laid a hand on me, not even from my brothers and parents),” Foz bewailed. “Naglayas lang ako sa amon sa Romblon pero subong tunlon ko ang pride ko makadto ako sa utod ko nga Navy officer; balikan ko na sia (I was only a stowaway from Romblon but now I will swallow my pride and seek my brother’s help, who is a Navy officer; and I will return).”

I chased Foz and tried to dissuade him from leaving but to no avail. I pleaded not to bring the matter to his brother, or to anyone, and volunteered to help convince Ang to apologize and to keep the incident only for ourselves. He pushed me away and hailed a cab.

I returned upstairs and told our three colleagues—Mario Jara, Louie Vivar, and Ang—that I failed to stop Foz.

 

-o0o-

 

Before he left, a brawl had ensued between Foz and Ang. Vivar and Jara, both broadcasters for the now-defunct DYRP Radyo Agong, did not interfere and allowed Ang to connect at least three punches on Foz’s face. 

I was in front of the two but was a lousy referee; I failed to protect Foz from Ang’s rampage.

Before Ang vandalized Foz’s face, a misunderstanding ensued between Foz and the three, who wanted to drink the Chivas Regal given earlier by the wife of Police General Pedro Sistoza, a former Western Visayas regional police director, at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Foz insisted the whiskey was a “birthday gift” for him. After a heated argument, Ang violently grabbed the bottle from Foz, opened it, and drank a little. 

Vivar and Hara, stunned by the turn of events, did nothing and said nothing as Foz fumed and protested.

As the spirit of Chivas Regal began to raid Ang’s system, he launched a bare-knuckle attack and swarmed over the unprepared Foz.

Meanwhile, while Foz was away, everyone (except me; I don’t drink alcoholic beverages) took turns in molesting that pernicious source of the night’s Armageddon.

 

-o0o-

 

After over an hour, what we had feared the most in that tumultuous moment came: Foz, his older “brother” (the Navy officer), and two other men in civilian clothes, arrived. 

The three of us—myself, Vivar, and Hara—were speechless and looked at each other like we were involved in a silent film and trapped inside a helicopter that was about to crash.

The first thing I did, as the entourage was entering the room, was to literally sit on Ang’s body (he was drunk and lying face down on the floor). I wouldn’t surrender a fallen prey to any wild animal with intention to swallow him whole.

As Foz, now composed and not anymore in chagrin, introduced his brother, the Navy officer, to everyone, he noticed a man on the floor, his tormentor, slightly snoring.

At this juncture, I gave Foz a silent but serious look in both his eyes like a hopeless and condemned person who is about to die by musketry. It read like this: “Please, Dan, I beg you. Don’t point Kamlon Ang to your brother, for the sake of our friendship.”

For the life of me, Foz read the handwriting on my mind. He skipped Ang. That eye-to-eye contact “saved” Ang; it “saved” the group from what could have been a nightmarish night. More than anything else, Foz’s decision to cancel his rage, saved our friendship.

When Foz, 55, died at past 8 o’clock evening on November 1, 2019 at the Don Benito (West Visayas State University) Hospital after several days inside the ICU, the first thing I remembered was that crucial eye-to-eye contact.

For 10 minutes I cried for the loss of a dear friend, who had peace and pureness in his heart. Goodbye, Dan.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo—Ed)

Pinay caregiver who worked during blizzard wins award

“Without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community.” —Anthony J. D'Angelo

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

A FILIPINO caregiver, Eulodia “Tootsie” Ortiz, who is based in Matawan, New Jersey, has been honored as the 2023 Caregiver of the Year by the Home Care Association of America (HCAOA).

This was announced October 23 by Bryan Mawr, PA/ACCESSWIRE/ Visiting Angels, the America’s leading provider of in-home care. 

The prestigious award recognized Eulodia’s “unwavering commitment, exceptional caregiving skills, and dedication to enhancing the lives of her clients.”

Tim McAloon, owner of the Visiting Angels Matawan, said, “Eulodia represents the best of Visiting Angels. Guided by her faith, personal experiences, and a dedication to the dignity of each client she serves, many of whom are military veterans, she performs her duties from the heart.”

He added: “Eulodia is irreplaceable to her clients and their families. She spreads kindness and compassion in every home she enters.”

Having transitioned from a career as a pharmacist in the Philippines, Eulodia’s journey into caregiving was a leap of faith. Her dedication and hard work have not only made a significant impact on her clients but also set a benchmark for caregiving standards at Visiting Angels.

During a winter blizzard, caregivers were calling out sick because they couldn't get to their cars. Eulodia, up at 4:30 in the morning to dig her car out, received a list of bed-bound clients and those who absolutely needed a visit, and she not only completed visits for all of her own clients over the next two days, but also went to the clients of other caregivers to be sure that all clients who were most desperately in need of personal care received the care they needed, according to her profile as a finalist.

 

-o0o-

 

“She truly is worthy of this recognition. Eulodia’s exceptional dedication, especially during challenging times like blizzards, showcases her commitment,” added Kim Trzanowski, Visiting Angels Matawan director of operations. “She not only ensures her own clients receive care but also steps in for others, ensuring all our clients in need receive the assistance they deserve.”

Eulodia’s employers said her approach to caregiving reportedly went beyond just fulfilling her professional responsibilities. She reportedly took it upon herself to ensure the well-being and happiness of her clients, often going the extra mile, whether it’s ensuring a client has a flashlight during a power outage or celebrating a birthday with a client who has no family.

“It is a dream to be chosen from 500 finalists. I love my job. I approach it as if I am taking care of my parents, my grandparents,” said Ortiz. “Caregiving is a calling, and each day I have the privilege to provide love, care, and support to all the clients I help.”

The recognition was a testament to Visiting Angels’ commitment to excellence in caregiving, McAloon said.

The company, he said, believes in nurturing and recognizing the efforts of its caregivers, who play a pivotal role in upholding the brand’s reputation for compassionate and high-quality care.

 

-o0o-

 

TABOO MOVES THAT DRIVE MEN LOCO WITH LUST: 1. Try a bit of bondage 2. Give him a peep show 3. Handle his package 4. Have stranger sex 5. Test-drive twisty 6. Plan a sneak attack 7. ONE TIP: "Do it in various parts of your house, since it will force you to accommodate your positions to different obstacles." (Source: Cosmo Web Poll)

GELIOPHOBIA is a fear of laughter.

NOSOPHOBIA is a fear of becoming ill.

PARASKAVEDEKATRIAP is a fear of Friday the 13^th.

SAVING OUR PLANET. Let's refresh naturally. Instead of chemical plug-in air refreshers, let's place a few slices of citrus fruit such as lemon or orange in a saucepan, together with a few cloves. Simmer the mixture gently for an hour or so to refresh the smell of our house.

SAVING OUR PLANET. Let's make our own polish. Most mass-produced polishes contain solvents that are harmful to the environment. Many of them come in aerosol sprays, which are wasteful and contain harmful gases.

SAVING OUR PLANET: Bake off stains. for hard-to-beat, stubborn stains on our kitchen surfaces, let's dampen a sponge and apply baking powder, then wipe cleans as normal. The abrasive powder will get rid of most stains, but if the mark remains, let's try re-soaking the stain with a solution of baking powder instead.

SAVING OUR PLANET: Club stains away. To keep fresh stains from sinking deep into clothes, immediately apply a little carbonated water bubbles up the stain and the salts keep the color from sticking. Then wash as normal.

—Cosmopolitan has uncovered some surprisingly sensitive parts of the body; touching them will get us both insanely turned on. And no, none rhyme with shmenis or shmagina: Sweet Spot 1. The Ultrasensitive Border Around the Lips 2. That Sexy Dip Where Neck Meets Chest 3. The Erotic Pathways on the Sides of the Torso 4. The Pleasure Mound on the Lower Back 5. The Teasing Trail on the Thighs

According to a survey of sex shop owners, cherry is the most popular flavor of edible underwear.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

 

Heroes and villains

“A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.”

—Lao Tzu

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

THERE are only two types of leaders that will emerge after the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) in the Philippines on Oct. 30: future heroes and villains.

Most national leaders with strong moral and spiritual values were first elected in the BSKE and became heroes, or saviors of democracy and doyens of good governance. 

Because of their high-yielding foundations, proper training and education, they become epitomes of decency and good manners and right conduct (GMRC) in public service.

Many of them are still holding positions in different elective and appointive government offices today, which means not all government officials who have tasted the prestige and grandeur of power are serpents in paradise and snakes in the forest.

Some of the most despicable and reprehensible public officials today, on the other hand, also traced their origin in the BSKE. For whatever odd reason, they chose the wrong path—to be notorious plunderers and recipients of multiple charges of graft and malversation of public funds.

The future of the Philippines rests on the decision every voter will make during the BSKE polls.

Either they will vote for the future heroes or future villains.

 

-o0o-

   

The Theory of the Four Humors was introduced by the father of medicine, Hippocrates, thousands of years ago–before Christianity, Judaism, and Islam became dominant monotheistic religions.

The Greek doctor, best remembered for his so-called “Hippocratic Oath”, believed that the secret of health lay in the proper mixture of four body fluids, blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. 

If the wrong mixture was present, disease resulted.

That during the Middle Ages, disease was attributed to devils which were supposed to have entered the body and which could be forced to leave by spells and incantations.

Earlier, in 100 B.C., immunity from disease was already being practiced. 

King Mithridates tried to protect his body against certain poisons by taking increasing doses of them over a period of time. 

In China and India, children were clothed in the shirts, or slept in the bed, of smallpox sufferers. 

Although dangerous, this often produced very mild attacks of the disease and prevented future occurrence of more severe cases.

In the 14th century, more than 25 million people died of bubonic plague in Europe. 

In the 18th century, smallpox killed 60 million people throughout the world. Statistics reveals that even today over 100 million people a year have malaria in India and that about one million die of it annually.

 

-o0o-

 

Just as physical hygiene attempts to promote physical health, so does the newer science of mental hygiene attempt to promote mental health.

Here’s for those who carry the world on their shoulders; Atlas Shrugged, in the book of Ayn Rand. 

Most authorities agree that among the chief causes of mental disease are worry, fear, unhappiness, and envy (Facebook and other social network users, take note).

They point out that all of us are subject to these emotions, but that some people are so sensitive to one or more of these that their entire outlook on life is thrown out of focus.

Therefore, the most effective way of preventing mental illness is to remove causes of worry and tension, to explain the effects of such emotions to people who suffer from them, and to educate people in general to accept themselves and their lives as they are.

Mental disease often shows itself as an unreasoning fear of certain situations, or an involuntary “compulsion” to perform certain acts. (Phobia, neurosis, and psychosis are some of the terms used to name these conditions, according to Alexander A. Fried of the Department of Biological Sciences, Christopher Columbus High School in New York).

These abnormal reactions may be so mild as to cause very little inconvenience to the individual or may be so violent as to make the person dangerous to himself or others and require commitment to an institution for special care.

Mysterious relationships exist between the mind and the body, according to some medical experts. 

It is now known that mental illness can produce symptoms of physical disease in many organs of the body, when actually the organ affected is healthy and sound.

Headaches, upset stomachs, fever, vague pains, rashes, etc., may be signs of a known disease, or may be the effect of mental upset, doctors say. 

 

-o0o-

 

They add that in the second case, where the symptoms are brought about by the mind, it is called a psychosomatic illness.

Many phobias and neurotic conditions have been traced to forgotten incidents in childhood, which continue to influence behavior even though the sufferer has no recollection of the event.

Methods of treatment aim at finding these causes in the patient’s “subconscious” and revealing them to him; usually the condition disappears once the patient understands its cause. 

Various types of psychiatric treatment (analysis) have been proposed and used by different psychiatrists; these different methods have the same general goal of finding and removing the cause from the patient’s mind.

The following rules are useful in keeping mentally healthy, according to Fried:

1. Get plenty of rest, relaxation, fresh air, and good food.

2. Avoid worrying excessively. Most things that people worry about seldom happen.

3. Face your problems squarely, realistically. Be ready to make changes and adjustments in your plans to meet new situations that arise.

4. Use up some of your excess energy and strength in interesting hobbies, sports, and other types of recreation.

5. Do not magnify unimportant happenings into major events. Example: The fact that your friend didn’t smile and wave at you when he passed by was probably because he didn’t see you, not because he was angry at you.

6. Seek satisfaction from those things you do well, and from those natural advantages which you possess (we all have some). Do not yearn for things that are possible only in daydreams. Do not envy others who seem to have more than you; they are probably envying you from “their side of the fence.”

7. Set yourself a goal–certainly! But make sure that it is a realistic one–one that is within the reach of your abilities.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

Graft charges destroy Filipino public officials

“Corruption is worse than prostitution.The latter might endanger the morals of an individual, the former invariably endangers the morals of the entire country.”

—Karl Kraus 

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

GRAFT charges are the most embarrassing court cases among public officials in the Philippines. They are 10 times more humiliating than a murder case. 

Even if they would be found innocent, the accused were already damaged.

Many Filipino public officials charged with graft or Violation of Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act were never the same again even if some of them managed to wiggle out from the murky mess.

There’s no distinction between VIPs in government and ordinary public servants when reputations are shredded like ribbons by allegations of dishonesty and malversation of public funds.

The chagrin and anguish extend to their family members who assimilate in the mainstream or go to their schools, offices, and organizations every day. 

It’s not always okay to have a relative in government facing cases in the Office of the Ombudsman. 

“No case filed” is always better than “sue me so I can clear my name in the proper forum.” 

The most “proper” and best “forum” is when our names are untarnished after a retirement from public offices. A “forum” ceases to be “proper” if it will only expose us to indignity and disgrace.

 

-o0o-

“Your father/mother or sister/brother or aunt/uncle has been accused of killing someone” is less painful than “Your father/mother or sister/brother or aunt/uncle has been accused of stealing the people’s money.” 

Filipinos have no sympathies for people in government accused of stealing their taxes—technically or otherwise.

Filipinos can tolerate neurotic leaders who love to insult others and slander their adversaries, but not thieves who enrich themselves after occupying elective or appointive portfolios in civil service.

Filipinos can forgive leaders who are womanizers and man-nizers, but not plunderers. 

A thief is a thief; and their wrongdoings can’t be camouflaged or rebranded just because they have family names or political clans to protect.

We aren’t concluding that all those facing graft charges are guilty. What we are saying is once a public official has been indicted for graft, his goose is cooked in as far as his political future and public reputation are concerned.

 

 -o0o-

 

SAVING OUR PLANET. Let's disinfect naturally. Not only do disinfectants contain harsh chemicals that are damaging to the environment, they smell strong, too. Let's make our own natural disinfectant by infusing leaves of rosemary, eucalyptus, lavender, sage, and thyme in water.

THE THREE THINGS WE MUST DO. According to The Nature Conservancy, there are three things we can do to save our planet.

—Produce More Food on Less Land. Problem: Today’s version of large-scale agriculture is the biggest source of land conversion, drives deforestation that worsens climate change, uses 70 percent of the world’s freshwater supply and relies on fertilizer practices that pollute our waters. As the need to feed a billion more people increases, agricultural expansion could devastate habitats, release even more carbon into the atmosphere, and dry up rivers.

How to fix it: Produce food where it’s most likely to thrive, which will use less water and less land.

How we’re taking action right now: We’re analyzing satellite images and local yield potential to pinpoint where soy farming and cattle ranching can expand without destroying nature. This approach is especially vital in Brazil’s Cerrado region, where half of all natural habitat has already been converted to cropland and pasture. Cooperating with farmers on sustainable practices can help save what’s left of the Cerrado’s rich savanna.

—Eliminate Overfishing.Problem: Overfishing and poor fisheries management is not only devastating to the fish species being pushed to the brink of collapse. It endangers food webs and ocean ecosystems by disrupting the balance of all sea life. And it threatens billions of people who rely on seafood as an important source of livelihood and animal protein. Without serious changes, 84% of the world’s fish stocks will be in peril in our lifetime.

How to fix it: Refine our fishing methods to only take what the fish populations can tolerate now, so our oceans can be more abundant and healthier in the future.

How we’re taking action right now: We’re making it fast, easy and affordable for fishers to use data to manage their catches more sustainably. Like image recognition software, FishFace technology we’re pioneering in Indonesia uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to identify fish species and track their numbers so fishers can avoid catching too many or the wrong kind.

—Increase Clean Energy. Problem: Climate change is the single most serious threat facing our planet today. We must reduce carbon emissions to, or below, levels agreed to in the Paris Climate Agreement to prevent catastrophic harm. And with global energy demand expected to increase 56 percent over the next couple decades, it will be impossible to meet those emissions targets if we stick primarily with traditional fossil fuels.

How to fix it: Shift 85 percent of the world’s energy supply to non-fossil fuel sources and invest in strategies like reforestation that capture carbon dioxide.

How we’re taking action right now: We’re championing regulations that allow former mining lands to be repurposed for solar and wind energy. Tens of thousands of acres of degraded mine sites in Nevada’s Great Basin are now available for renewable energy development. By targeting already-disturbed land, new turbines and solar panels won’t need to destroy more natural habitat.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)

What happened to ‘America’s Miriam’?

“It isn't a disgrace not to reach the stars, but it is a disgrace to have no stars to reach for.”

— Benjamin E. Mays

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

THE Iloilo-based senior male lawyer who once used the social media to defend controversial female American lawyer Sidney Powell from accusations she was “unhinged” and “an avid believer of conspiracy theory,” must be quivering in embarrassment now that Powell has pleaded guilty to six misdemeanor charges over efforts to overturn Georgia’s election results won by President Joe Biden in 2020.

The Iloilo lawyer had lashed at Powell’s Filipino critics, including this writer, and called the 68-year-old flamboyant lawyer from North Carolina as “a genius” and “one of the most credible and bravest female lawyers in America.”

“Atty. Powell is the Miriam Defensor-Santiago of America,” wrote the Iloilo lawyer, who once served as the legal adviser of a nationally known Ilonggo female politician. “It’s easy for her bashers, especially those who don’t belong in the legal profession, to sully her reputation because they don’t have her talent.”

Powell was one of 18 people indicted alongside former President Donald Trump and is the second person to reach a deal with prosecutors. Powell’s two other co-accused also pleaded guilty as of this writing.

The senior Iloilo lawyer, who was once suspended by the Supreme Court for a domestic problem that went awry, is a look-alike of the late singer James Ingram, who popularized the 1981 hit, “Just Once.”

 

-o0o-

 

Powell is also believed to be one of the six co-conspirators listed in the Justice Department’s indictment of Mr. Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

According to POLITICO, Powell is a former federal prosecutor. She was raised in North Carolina and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill early, entering the university’s law school at 19.

After graduating, she worked as an assistant U.S. attorney in the western district district of Texas for nearly a decade, prosecuting cases along the border. 

In 1991, Powell became a private federal appellate lawyer; she represented some of the executives at Enron, which at the time was being sued by the Justice Department. 

From that experience, Powell became convinced that prosecutorial misconduct was a widespread problem, POLITICO reported in a 2020 profile.

According to Associated Press, Powell also engaged with the conspiracy theory QAnon. She was suspended from X, formerly known as Twitter, in Jan. 2021 for spreading QAnon content, and her legal defense fund accepted money from a conference featuring far-right speakers and organized by a QAnon supporter.

 

-o0o-

 

The following rules are useful in keeping us mentally healthy:

1. Get plenty of rest, relaxation, fresh air, and good food.

2. Avoid worrying excessively. Most things that people worry about seldom happen.

3. Face your problems squarely, realistically. Be ready to make changes and adjustments in your plans to meet new situations that arise.

4. Use up some of your excess energy and strength in interesting hobbies, sports, and other types of recreation.

5. Do not magnify unimportant happenings into major events. Example: The fact that your friend didn’t smile and wave at you when he passed by was probably because he didn’t see you, not because he was angry at you.

6. Seek satisfaction from those things you do well, and from those natural advantages which you possess (we all have some). Do not yearn for things that are possible only in daydreams. Do not envy others who seem to have more than you; they are probably envying you from “their side of the fence.”

7. Set yourself a goal–certainly! But make sure that it is a realistic one–one that is within the reach of your abilities.(Source: Rules For Mental Health)

 

-o0o-

 

SAVING OUR PLANET. Don't dispose. Instead of disposable dishcloths that have to be thrown away and replaced every few weeks, let's choose cotton cloths. They will stand the test of time and can be washed and reused for many months.

Below are the 10 simple things we can do to help protect the Earth, according to the National Ocean Service:

—Reduce, reuse, and recycle. Cut down on what you throw away. Follow the three "R's" to conserve natural resources and landfill space.

—Volunteer. Volunteer for cleanups in your community. You can get involved in protecting your watershed, too.

Educate. When you further your own education, you can help others understand the importance and value of our natural resources.

—Conserve water. The less water you use, the less runoff and wastewater that eventually end up in the ocean.

—Choose sustainable. Learn how to make smart seafood choices. 

—Shop wisely. Buy less plastic and bring a reusable shopping bag.

—Use long-lasting light bulbs. Energy efficient light bulbs reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Also flip the light switch off when you leave the room!

—Plant a tree. Trees provide food and oxygen. They help save energy, clean the air, and help combat climate change.

—Don't send chemicals into our waterways. Choose non-toxic chemicals in the home and office.

—Bike more. Drive less.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)

Treñas’ P18-M intelligence fund

“Rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men.”

—Harry Day

 

By Alex P. Vidal 

 

WE expect the Sangguniang Panlungsod to approve the P18 million worth of intelligence fund Iloilo City Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Treñas is asking for 2024.

Unlike other local chief executives, the Iloilo City mayor was frank and transparent about the fund saying he needs the money to boost the police campaign against criminalities in the metropolis and its environs.   

Justified or not, nobody would dare question the amount in the local legislature. 

Nobody would oppose it. 

The Sangguniang Panlugnsod is packed with Treñas’ partymates and political allies who will never give the city mayor a headache. 

Many of these allies owe him a political debt of gratitude.

Some of them, with aspirations for higher offices in the future, aren’t yet ready to antagonize him. 

The symbiotic relationship is too iron-clad to be inveigled with a morsel of defiance.

Treñas is one of the only few city mayors in history of Iloilo City whose incumbency does not have a strong opposition. This became possible after his political party romped off with a resounding victory in the previous local election.

 

-o0o-

 

The Treñas administration is also seeking a budget of P3.6 billion in 2024, or 21 percent higher than the P2.953 billion in 2023. 

For purposes of check and balance, it won’t hurt if the local legislature will scrutinize the proposed 2024 budget. 

Scrutiny isn’t opposition or disruption. It’s not hampering the normal flow of public service. 

It’s the local legislature’s inherent duty and obligation as a separate or coequal branch of government and is healthy for democracy. 

It’s better to peruse something in the name of transparency and accountability without prejudice to political alliances than to collectively chant “yes sir” and be accused of being a rubber stamp.    

Again, Treñas, the new kingmaker, is expected to breeze his way and rally behind the support of the Sangguniang Panlungsod to pass the proposed 2024 city budget sans any carping and cavil from the obedient aldermen.  

 

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US SUPPORTS THE PHILIPPINES. The Office of the Spokesperson of the US Department of State said the United States “stands with our Philippine allies in the face of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) Coast Guard and maritime militia’s dangerous and unlawful actions obstructing an October 22 Philippine resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea.”

“By conducting dangerous maneuvers that caused collisions with Philippine resupply and Coast Guard ships, the PRC Coast Guard and maritime militia violated international law by intentionally interfering with the Philippine vessels’ exercise of high seas freedom of navigation.

PRC conduct jeopardized Filipino crew members’ safety and impeded critically needed supplies from reaching service members stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre. 

“Obstructing supply lines to this longstanding outpost and interfering with lawful Philippine maritime operations undermines regional stability.

“Second Thomas Shoal is a feature well within the Philippine exclusive economic zone and on the Philippine continental shelf. An international tribunal’s July 2016 decision – legally binding on both the Philippines and PRC – made clear that ‘there exists no legal basis for any entitlement by China to maritime zones in the area of Second Thomas Shoal.’

“The same ruling affirmed that Second Thomas Shoal is a low-tide elevation outside the territorial sea of another high tide feature – as such, the PRC’s territorial claims to it are unfounded.

“The unsafe maneuvers on October 22 and the PRC water cannoning of a Philippines’ vessel on August 5 are the latest examples of provocative PRC measures in the South China Sea to enforce its expansive and unlawful maritime claims, reflecting disregard for other states lawfully operating in the region.

“The United States reaffirms that Article IV of the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, and aircraft – including those of its Coast Guard – anywhere in the South China Sea.”

 

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SAVING THE PLANET. Cleaning at home, instead of disposable dishcloths that have to be thrown away and replaced every few weeks, we must choose cotton cloths. They'll stand the test of time and can be washed or reused for many months.

SAVING OUR PLANET. Dust the bulbs. Let's not stop dusting our mantelpieces and shelves--keeping our light bulbs dust free could help save energy as it will increase output, making them more efficient.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

Hosed, chased, ‘bumped,’ shooting next?

“You can't be against bullying without actually doing something about it.”

—Randi Weingarten

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

THE Philippine Navy boats have been hosed, chased, and were recently “bumped” by aggressive China Coast Guard (CCG) ships in the disputed sea and all the Philippine Government could do was to “file diplomatic protests” aside from condemning the harassments at sea these past months.

Even if we file hundreds or even thousands of diplomatic protests, China will not give a damn. Chine fears no condemnation and even probably “pledges of support” to the tiny Philippines from foreign countries. 

Bullies are bullies and will continue to show their supremacy and force to send a curt message whoever gets sideswiped.  

If Chinese ships guarding the disputed sea spot our vessels—or vessels from other countries—they will continue to do what they think should be the right thing to do, according to their own law or interpretation of law. 

They are heavier, more sophisticated and numerically superior, so why not use their brute force to neutralize all those they consider as threats to their sovereignty and security? 

They have thrown everything at our ships but the kitchen sink and except to shoot the ships. Are they going to fire live bullets next to show who’s the boss in the middle of the sea?

According to the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), our boats went for rotation and resupply (Rore) missions to Filipino troops stationed on Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.

NTF-WPS has condemned the incidents, which were the latest in a series of maritime tensions between China and the Philippines, calling the acts of the CCG and the Chines maritime militias as “dangerous, irresponsible and illegal actions.”

In a statement, the NTF-WPS said: “(These are) in violation of Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction and in utter blatant disregard of the United Nations Charter, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos), Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea and relevant international maritime conventions, and the 2016 Arbitral Award.”

 

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LITTLE WAY TO SAVE THE PLANET: Get a collection. If we live in an area where recycling is not picked up and our reluctant to make frequent trips to the bottle bank or recycling center ourselves, let's find out if there's a local recycling program we can join. They may be able to collect all our recycling once a week.

LITTLE WAY TO SAVE THE PLANET : Recycling for wildlife will help slow down the rate at which wild places are cut down, burned, and mined. The result is more habitat and food for wildlife and endangered species.

SAVING THE PLANET -- BREAST IS BEST! If we have young babies, the most environmentally friendly to feed them is to breastfeed because it's energetically sound and doesn't require any external processes. There's no heating or sterilizing, and it's always available when needed!

SAVING THE PLANET. Let's speak out! Let's take a standby letting brands and manufacturers who consistently over-package their goods know that's the reason we've stopped supporting them. There's nothing like purchasing power to force changes.

SAVING OUR PLANET: Panel in warmth. We must choose wood paneling for our bathroom to help keep in heat and reduce air pollution. But we have to make sure we wax rather than varnish it--varnish releases fumes when it gets warm. Wooden floors are a good choice, too. (1001 little ways to save the planet)

 

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LOLLYPOP. Some of our greatest words go back to the mother country, and lollypop is one such example. Even in some parts of England today, lolly is the word used for tongue. Take a piece of candy that pops in and out of your mouth (as in the case with Americanized sucker) and you've got lollypop! (It just sounds more proper than our word, don't you think?)

WHITE AND BLACKMAIL. If there's such a thing as blackmail, is there a whitemail? Yes! Scottish farmers in the mid-16th century paid their landlords by either silver (known as whitemail) or produce (blackmail). The latter was the least preferred, so it was often abused. When greedy landlords forced cashless tenants to pay far more in goods than they would've paid in silver, blackmail took on its negative connotation.

GOD BLESS YOU. Why would we have "God bless you" after a sneeze? In much the same way that it was believed man could part body and spirit and be beside himself, the ancients believed a good sneeze could literally blast your soul right out of your body! To ensure that no bad spirits moved into the vacancy, "God bless you" was said to clear the way so soul and body could reunite. 

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)