“No matter how corrupt, greedy, and heartless our government, our corporations, our media, and our religious & charitable institutions may become, the music will still be wonderful.”
―Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without a Country
By Alex P. Vidal
ONLY the small frogs—at least two of them as of this writing—have returned the loot they funneled off as kickbacks from flood control projects.
The Komodo dragons—the congressmen and senators, including the DPWH heavy animals—haven’t turned over a single centavo yet.
We doubt if the mammoth beasts will follow what the two small frogs did.
If they can at least return one fourth of the total pillage, many Filipinos will be able to heave a sigh of temporary relief.
So far, the government was able to recoup P150 million from former DPWH engineer Henry Alcantara (he initially turned over P110 million in cash to the government in November 2025, as part of a larger commitment to return a total of P300 million from kickbacks in anomalous flood control projects, with more to follow in tranches while he's detained) and former DPWH National Capital Region (NCR) engineer Gerard Opulencia who formally turned over P40 million in cash to the Department of Justice (DOJ) on December 16).
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The amount partly fulfilled Opulencia’s commitment to give back a total of P150 million skimmed off funds meant for DPWH projects during his watch as NCR director.
The flood control project criminals have also committed embezzlement, or an act by our government officials of using their positions for their own benefit, such as diverting funds.
They also committed a financial fraud, and a form of corruption may have occurred when the small frogs and Komodo dragons entrusted with the taxpayers’ money or property stole it.
All the dirty tricks and fraudulent means were present when the flood control project criminals embezzled the taxpayers’ money in the DPWH projects.
Examples of embezzlement include falsifying financial records, creating fake invoices, or diverting money to personal accounts. It is considered a serious crime in many countries and jurisdictions and can result in criminal charges and severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment.
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It is only through the simple act of restitution like what the two DPWH small frogs did that the taxpayers are able to more or less recover something from the embezzlers.
It is actually a court-ordered payment from a convicted offender to a crime victim, aiming to restore the victim financially by covering losses like medical bills, lost wages, or damaged property, rather than punishing the offender.
It ensures victims are made whole for direct financial harm, existing as a civil judgment that can be collected through various means like wage garnishment or liens, even after the offender's release. Restitution also applies in contract law, aiming to return parties to their pre-contract positions when damages aren't enough.
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Q: Can we send an e-mail thank you (for the Christmas gifts), or do we have to use snail mail? A: An e-mailed thank you is simply not as warm and personal as a note. If we have a casual relationship with the gift giver and we regularly correspond via e-mail and Facebook, and electronic thank-you may be OK. But for most people, a written note is the best way to offer an expression of genuine thanks.
COMMON SENSE: Q: Should I send Christmas cards to non-Christian friends? A: It's more considerate to go with cards that offer the message "Season's Greetings" -- with no religious figures, messages, or symbols -- when we aren't sure of a friend's religious preference.
NOT GUILTY. That's the verdict on fertility drugs and the possibility that they increase woman's chances of developing ovarian cancer. Doctors had long worried that there might be such a link. But now Danish researchers have analyzed records of 54,362 women and found, over an average 16-yr follow up, that those who took fertility drugs faced no greater risk of cancer.
SEXSOMNIA is the term US scientists use for people who perform sexual activities unconsciously during sleep. The spectrum ranges from masturbation to sexual intercourse - in the event that that the sexsomnia patient comes across a partner. (Journal of Clinical Forensic Medicine).
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IF WE'RE LOW ON SILVER POLISH, LET'S USE TOOTHPASTE: Plain, non-gel toothpaste (without additives like whiteners) can rid small silver pieces of light tarnish without damaging the surface. Moisten the silver piece; apply a bit of toothpaste to our finger. Rub gentlyand rinse, then buff with a soft cloth. (Source: goodhousekeeping)
NO DISHWASHING LIQUID? Let's grab the laundry detergent. A teaspoonful of liquid laundry detergent in a basin of hot water will cut grease on dirty dishes equally well (though we may want to wear gloves, as detergent can be drying to hands).
HER NOSE AND HIS NOSE: Men may hope their cologne will mask underarm odor, but women aren't fooled, research from the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia found. While 6 of 32 scents tested disguised the smell of male BO from other men, none of the fragrances worked for women. To the showers, guys! (And don't forget the deodorant.)
TO MY FELLOW GROCERY HABITUÉS: While reusable shopping bags are best, plastic bags are recyclable. Most large grocers and retailers now have recycling bins. The plastic is made into fences, decks, and new bags. (Source: Kathleen Huddy, GHRI textiles, paper & plastics director.)
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed)
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