"Money and corruption are ruining the land, crooked politicians betray the working man, pocketing the profits and treating us like sheep, and we're tired of hearing promises that we know they'll never keep."
--Ray Davies
By Alex P. Vidal
A FORMER town and provincial official, a good friend of mine, who was lucky to get a juicy position under the Duterte administration, is now super rich.
I know him even before he entered politics. We had the same passion. And he was not rich.
Now, he is a multi-millionaire. No, he didn't win the lotto.
He was neither engaged in the stock market nor in the real estate.
He was a simple man who had a lucky stint in the public service (where he learned the ropes of "how to earn more than what you get in the payroll" without having to work like a slave).
He was a promising "promdi" (from the province) until swallowed by the prevailing system, a common sickness of those given the opportunity to work in the government only to dip their fingers in the cookie jars.
We won't be surprised if he is one of those being investigated by the Presidential Ant-Corruption Commission (PACC) as reported recently.
I personally won't be surprised if one day he will send me another email "to explain my side and to inform you that I am a victim of intrigues and jealousy; and these critics only want to destroy my reputation."
Like what he did when he ran and lost for vice governor.
-o0o-
The decision to close a portion of Boracay's shoreline for a 72-hour clean-up August 14 after a female tourist allowed her child to defecate in its water, was over acting.
Also, the decision of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu to instruct Boracay Inter-agency Task Force (BITF) General Manager Natividad Bernardino to isolate the area for the cleanup, was theatrical.
Authorities could have just cleaned up the mess without necessarily announcing it in the whole world through the mass media after the incident was reportedly caught on video and went viral in the social media.
Their wild reactions only exacerbated the incident's negative effects on Boracay's tourism.
It's like washing their dirty linens in public.
-o0o-
World class beaches are not spared from beachgoers urinating and pooping in their waters especially during the sunset.
This happens every now and then, but authorities tipped off about the incident were careful not to overreact in order not to turn the fire into a conflagration, or not to make a mountain out of a molehill.
There are municipal ordinances that deal with this kind of unsanitary behavior by vacationers. Local authorities can throw the books on violators.
But if they can help minimize the impact of such incident in public which will have negative effects on tourism, it's best if the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the DENR can solve the mess silently and refrain from making a billow out of it in the mass media.
If publicity in the social media is cruel, publicity in the mass media will leave a bad taste in the mouth.
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)
Showing posts with label #Boracay. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #Boracay. Show all posts
Thursday, August 15, 2019
Wednesday, August 8, 2018
Iloilo beaches and Coney Island
“To go out with the setting sun on an empty beach is to truly embrace your solitude.”
--Jeanne Moreau
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- Coney Island is located in the southernmost part of Brooklyn.
From midtown Manhattan, I traveled about 45 minutes taking the Q train to Stillwell Avenue last Sunday afternoon.
For a fare of $2.75, I can also reach Coney Island for about 60 minutes if I take the D, N or F train from Queens, where I stay.I observed that Philippines beaches are far better than Coney Island, a peninsular residential neighborhood beach in Brooklyn, in terms of the color of water and natural sand.
Water in Philippine beaches is more pristine and the sand is white and natural especially in Boracay in Aklan and in other areas in Guimaras and in Sicogon Island in Carles, Iloilo.
On the contrary, sand in Coney Island no longer naturally deposits on the beach, thus it is replenished by the city government in regular beach nourishment projects using dredged sand.
The city government also groomed the public beaches on a regular basis.
When I faced the beach in south I noticed there was no significant obstructions and was in sunlight all day until eight o’clock in the evening.
-o0o-
But unlike in the private beaches in southern and northern Iloilo where beach goers are charged for the use of cottages, the public beaches in Coney Island are open to all without restriction, and beach goers are not charged with any fee.
There are no cottages in Coney Island.
Coney Island’s beach area is divided into "bays", areas of beach delineated by rock groynes, which moderate erosion and the force of ocean waves.
Meanwhile, there’s a sand beach at the west end of Coney Island at Sea Gate which is private and only accessible to residents.
There’s also a broad public sand beach that starts at Sea Gate at West 37th Street, through the central Coney Island area and Brighton Beach, to the beginning of the community of Manhattan Beach, a distance of approximately four kilometers.
The beach is continuous and is served for its entire length by the broad Riegelmann Boardwalk.
A number of amusements are directly accessible from the land-side of the boardwalk, as is the aquarium and a variety of food shops and arcades.
There is a 1,300-foot long public beach further down in the community of Manhattan Beach.
--Jeanne Moreau
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- Coney Island is located in the southernmost part of Brooklyn.
For a fare of $2.75, I can also reach Coney Island for about 60 minutes if I take the D, N or F train from Queens, where I stay.I observed that Philippines beaches are far better than Coney Island, a peninsular residential neighborhood beach in Brooklyn, in terms of the color of water and natural sand.
Water in Philippine beaches is more pristine and the sand is white and natural especially in Boracay in Aklan and in other areas in Guimaras and in Sicogon Island in Carles, Iloilo.
On the contrary, sand in Coney Island no longer naturally deposits on the beach, thus it is replenished by the city government in regular beach nourishment projects using dredged sand.
When I faced the beach in south I noticed there was no significant obstructions and was in sunlight all day until eight o’clock in the evening.
-o0o-
But unlike in the private beaches in southern and northern Iloilo where beach goers are charged for the use of cottages, the public beaches in Coney Island are open to all without restriction, and beach goers are not charged with any fee.
There are no cottages in Coney Island.
Coney Island’s beach area is divided into "bays", areas of beach delineated by rock groynes, which moderate erosion and the force of ocean waves.
Meanwhile, there’s a sand beach at the west end of Coney Island at Sea Gate which is private and only accessible to residents.
The beach is continuous and is served for its entire length by the broad Riegelmann Boardwalk.
A number of amusements are directly accessible from the land-side of the boardwalk, as is the aquarium and a variety of food shops and arcades.
There is a 1,300-foot long public beach further down in the community of Manhattan Beach.
-o0o-
Before going back to Queens, I dropped by at the world-famous Luna Park located across the beach and to watch several rides, I saw only in the movies, for a few hours.
There was an extreme thrill special feature, Coney Island Cyclone, the “Mother of American roller coaster culture” and the “Big Momma” of Coney Island, the Cyclone tops everyone’s list of things to do in New York City.
Another extreme thrills were Zenobio and Sling Shot, which I consider to be the most bizarre of all the rides I will never attempt to take.
There were also the high thrills: Coney Clipper, Astro Tower, and Steeplechase; moderate thrills: Circus Coaster, Coney Island Hang Glider, and Coney Island Sound; and the mild thrills for kids: Cozmo Jet, Speed Boat, and Mermaid Parade.
Before going back to Queens, I dropped by at the world-famous Luna Park located across the beach and to watch several rides, I saw only in the movies, for a few hours.
Another extreme thrills were Zenobio and Sling Shot, which I consider to be the most bizarre of all the rides I will never attempt to take.
Friday, April 27, 2018
Alan loses credibility
“A constructive approach to diplomacy doesn't mean relinquishing one's rights. It means engaging with one's counterparts, on the basis of equal footing and mutual respect, to address shared concerns and achieve shared objectives.”
--Hassan Rouhani
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- If he still has a delicadeza left in him, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano should have resigned immediately when news broke out that the Kuwaiti Government has expelled Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Renato Pedro Villa.
Villa has been declared as persona non grata after Kuwait learned that several distressed Filipino OFWs were rescued from their employers with the help of the Philippine Embassy.
Kuwait’s harsh decision against Villa came after Cayetano, a politician before becoming a diplomat, apologized to Kuwaiti Ambassador Saleh Ahmad Althwaikh that the Philippine government had to take action upon receiving requests for help from distressed Filipino workers.
Villa was ordered kicked out after the Kuwaiti ambassador had a meeting with President Rodrigo R. Duterte in Davao City on April 22.
-o0o-
In other words, Kuwait did not accept Cayetano’s lullaby.
The tiny but oil-rich Middle East country didn’t take the Philippines’ foreign affairs boss seriously.
If a sincere apology from a foreign affairs chief of one nation over a sensitive matter has been ignored and bypassed, either that foreign affairs chief has no credibility or he is a lousy chief diplomat.
Since the issue was widely reported all over the world, it gave Cayetano a king-sized embarrassment in the diplomatic community which is a big blow to his credibility.
-o0o-
As expected, no serious troublemaker made a scene when Boracay was shut down on April 26.
There was no untoward incident related to the closure order.
Which made the presence of combat-ready members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) unnecessary as we wrote earlier.
Until the 11th hour, PNP and AFP bigwigs continued to downplay criticism that the presence of soldiers and cops was tantamount to a case of “overkill.”
Since the purpose of Boracay’s temporary closure for six months was “rehabilitation” or “cleaning up operation”, there was no need to militarize the hitherto most preferred tourist destination in the Philippines.
-o0o-
When time beckoned for Boracay’s sunset, there was no sighting of NPA or Muslim rebels or members of cause-oriented groups sympathetic to establishment owners and local folks using ferry or speed boats from Caticlan wharf to the main island to instigate insurrection or create mayhem.
There were no armed goons hired by disgruntled resort owners and irate residents to block government representatives from implementing the presidential closure fiat.
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- If he still has a delicadeza left in him, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano should have resigned immediately when news broke out that the Kuwaiti Government has expelled Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Renato Pedro Villa.
Villa has been declared as persona non grata after Kuwait learned that several distressed Filipino OFWs were rescued from their employers with the help of the Philippine Embassy.
Kuwait’s harsh decision against Villa came after Cayetano, a politician before becoming a diplomat, apologized to Kuwaiti Ambassador Saleh Ahmad Althwaikh that the Philippine government had to take action upon receiving requests for help from distressed Filipino workers.
Villa was ordered kicked out after the Kuwaiti ambassador had a meeting with President Rodrigo R. Duterte in Davao City on April 22.
-o0o-
In other words, Kuwait did not accept Cayetano’s lullaby.
The tiny but oil-rich Middle East country didn’t take the Philippines’ foreign affairs boss seriously.
If a sincere apology from a foreign affairs chief of one nation over a sensitive matter has been ignored and bypassed, either that foreign affairs chief has no credibility or he is a lousy chief diplomat.
Since the issue was widely reported all over the world, it gave Cayetano a king-sized embarrassment in the diplomatic community which is a big blow to his credibility.
-o0o-
As expected, no serious troublemaker made a scene when Boracay was shut down on April 26.
There was no untoward incident related to the closure order.
Which made the presence of combat-ready members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) unnecessary as we wrote earlier.
Until the 11th hour, PNP and AFP bigwigs continued to downplay criticism that the presence of soldiers and cops was tantamount to a case of “overkill.”
Since the purpose of Boracay’s temporary closure for six months was “rehabilitation” or “cleaning up operation”, there was no need to militarize the hitherto most preferred tourist destination in the Philippines.
-o0o-
When time beckoned for Boracay’s sunset, there was no sighting of NPA or Muslim rebels or members of cause-oriented groups sympathetic to establishment owners and local folks using ferry or speed boats from Caticlan wharf to the main island to instigate insurrection or create mayhem.
There were no armed goons hired by disgruntled resort owners and irate residents to block government representatives from implementing the presidential closure fiat.
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
We’ll wake you up in October
“The thing about tourism is that the reality of a place is quite different from the mythology of it.”
-- Martin Parr
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- Good night, Boracay.
Sleep well starting April 26, 2018 and allow efforts by the national government to deodorize, purify, and clean you up.
You will undergo a massive rehabilitation and a little face-lifting for six months, as promised by the Duterte administration.
You will take a unique forced “vacation leave” and will temporarily be dislodged from the radar of the world’s most preferred tourist destinations this summer.
Since business will come to a screeching halt albeit temporarily, the island’s economy will go slow, too, and is expected to have a domino effects in the Local Government Unit of Malay, Aklan and its environs.
-o0o-
-- Martin Parr
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- Good night, Boracay.
Sleep well starting April 26, 2018 and allow efforts by the national government to deodorize, purify, and clean you up.
You will undergo a massive rehabilitation and a little face-lifting for six months, as promised by the Duterte administration.
You will take a unique forced “vacation leave” and will temporarily be dislodged from the radar of the world’s most preferred tourist destinations this summer.
Since business will come to a screeching halt albeit temporarily, the island’s economy will go slow, too, and is expected to have a domino effects in the Local Government Unit of Malay, Aklan and its environs.
-o0o-
Activities and work forces in resorts, hotels, and restaurants will have to be dispersed for a brief moment, and the idyllic beach will be free from contamination of human wastes and sewage from commercial establishments for the time being.
Filipinos will be waiting with bated breath as the combined forces of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Tourism (DoT), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), provincial government of Aklan, municipal government of Malay, the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) do their Herculean tasks.
Boracay, we promise to wake you up in October.
-o0o-
Robert Bly’s “Waking from Sleep” can be best dedicated to Boracay’s temporary slumber:
Inside the veins there are navies setting forth,
Tiny explosions at the waterlines,
And seagulls weaving in the wind of the salty blood.
It is the morning. The country has slept the whole winter.
Window seats were covered with fur skins, the yard was full of stiff dogs, and hands that clumsily held heavy books.
Now we wake, and rise from bed, and eat breakfast!
Shouts rise from the harbor of the blood,
Mist, and masts rising, the knock of wooden tackle in the sunlight.
Now we sing, and do tiny dances on the kitchen floor.
Our whole body is like a harbor at dawn;
We know that our master has left us for the day.
Filipinos will be waiting with bated breath as the combined forces of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Tourism (DoT), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), provincial government of Aklan, municipal government of Malay, the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) do their Herculean tasks.
Boracay, we promise to wake you up in October.
-o0o-
Robert Bly’s “Waking from Sleep” can be best dedicated to Boracay’s temporary slumber:
Inside the veins there are navies setting forth,
Tiny explosions at the waterlines,
And seagulls weaving in the wind of the salty blood.
It is the morning. The country has slept the whole winter.
Window seats were covered with fur skins, the yard was full of stiff dogs, and hands that clumsily held heavy books.
Now we wake, and rise from bed, and eat breakfast!
Shouts rise from the harbor of the blood,
Mist, and masts rising, the knock of wooden tackle in the sunlight.
Now we sing, and do tiny dances on the kitchen floor.
Our whole body is like a harbor at dawn;
We know that our master has left us for the day.
Tuesday, April 24, 2018
‘AIDS of environment’ worse than ‘cesspool’
“We don't have to sacrifice a strong economy for a healthy environment.”
-- Dennis Weaver
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- When tourists fled from Guimaras’ popular beach resorts as a result of the worst oil spill in the Philippines when the oil tanker Solar I went down off Guimaras Island in August 2006, Nagarao Beach, among other resorts within the coastal area, suffered worse than what is about to happen to Boracay in Malay, Aklan which closes down for six months starting April 26, 2018.
While President Rodrigo R. Duterte tagged Boracay as “cesspool”, the tragedy that hit Guimaras resorts was called as the “AIDS of environment.”
A “cesspool” beach can be rehabilitated with total support from government, while a famous tourist destination with location in the vicinity of an “AIDS environment” might not be able to spring back to life.
Even if those affected by the oil spill sued the oil refiner Petron Corporation for millions of damages, resort owners failed to attract back tourists who used to flock the island’s beautiful resorts and beaches even after the rehabilitation.
-o0o-
Martin Stummer, owner of Nagarao Beach, had warned: "The ill effects on the health of the residents will be felt until ten years and even beyond."
Although still popular among the tourists who used to visit the island for snorkeling and diving--especially those with links to Stummer’s European networks--the 10-hectare Nagarao Beach, located off the coast of Sibunag town, was never the same again.
The coastal areas of Nueva Valencia, Sibunag and San Lorenzo towns were among the areas worst hit by the oil spill from the 998-ton tanker MT Solar 1 that sunk on Aug. 11, 2006 while transporting about two million liters of bunker fuel oil from Limay, Bataan.
The oil slick had reached Concepcion and Ajuy towns in Iloilo province.
-o0o-
If the dumped sewage will be rehabilitated, Boracay can be back to business in October or even earlier, according to government officials.
In 2017, Boracay had 500 tourism-related businesses, which had a combined revenue of P56 billion.
The president lashed at the island’s hotels, restaurants and other businesses, accusing them of dumping sewage directly into the sea and turning it into a “cesspool” in February this year.
Boracay’s drainage system was being used to send the untreated sewage into its surrounding turquoise waters, reported the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Some 195 businesses, along with more than 4,000 residential customers, were not connected to sewer lines, the DENR further discovered.
-- Dennis Weaver
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- When tourists fled from Guimaras’ popular beach resorts as a result of the worst oil spill in the Philippines when the oil tanker Solar I went down off Guimaras Island in August 2006, Nagarao Beach, among other resorts within the coastal area, suffered worse than what is about to happen to Boracay in Malay, Aklan which closes down for six months starting April 26, 2018.
While President Rodrigo R. Duterte tagged Boracay as “cesspool”, the tragedy that hit Guimaras resorts was called as the “AIDS of environment.”
A “cesspool” beach can be rehabilitated with total support from government, while a famous tourist destination with location in the vicinity of an “AIDS environment” might not be able to spring back to life.
Even if those affected by the oil spill sued the oil refiner Petron Corporation for millions of damages, resort owners failed to attract back tourists who used to flock the island’s beautiful resorts and beaches even after the rehabilitation.
-o0o-
Martin Stummer, owner of Nagarao Beach, had warned: "The ill effects on the health of the residents will be felt until ten years and even beyond."
Although still popular among the tourists who used to visit the island for snorkeling and diving--especially those with links to Stummer’s European networks--the 10-hectare Nagarao Beach, located off the coast of Sibunag town, was never the same again.
The coastal areas of Nueva Valencia, Sibunag and San Lorenzo towns were among the areas worst hit by the oil spill from the 998-ton tanker MT Solar 1 that sunk on Aug. 11, 2006 while transporting about two million liters of bunker fuel oil from Limay, Bataan.
The oil slick had reached Concepcion and Ajuy towns in Iloilo province.
-o0o-
If the dumped sewage will be rehabilitated, Boracay can be back to business in October or even earlier, according to government officials.
In 2017, Boracay had 500 tourism-related businesses, which had a combined revenue of P56 billion.
The president lashed at the island’s hotels, restaurants and other businesses, accusing them of dumping sewage directly into the sea and turning it into a “cesspool” in February this year.
Boracay’s drainage system was being used to send the untreated sewage into its surrounding turquoise waters, reported the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Some 195 businesses, along with more than 4,000 residential customers, were not connected to sewer lines, the DENR further discovered.
Tuesday, April 10, 2018
Boracay isn’t a Marawi
“I think toilets are more important than temples. No matter how many temples we go to, we are not going to get salvation. We need to give priority to toilets and cleanliness.”
--Jairam Ramesh
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- The plan to deploy hundreds of cops and military personnel for the six-month “rehabilitation” of the Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan starting on April 26, 2018, is not only unnecessary but overacting, to say the least.
If the island will be closed down to pave the way for cleanliness and overhaul program, the government should dispatch more civilian workers to rev up the manpower of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Tourism (DoT), and the provincial government of Aklan, not military.
Sending out 610 policemen and a still undetermined number of soldiers to a premier tourist spot “to maintain peace and order in the island” during rehabilitation is like deploying scuba divers to guard the deep water’s abyssal zone while garbage is being removed from the Pasig river.
-o0o-
Boracay is not a Marawi.
No terrorists in their right minds will invade the island and kidnap those busy putting away heaps of trash and demolishing illegal structures.
There are no Plaza Miranda, Mendiola bridge, and Quirino Grandstand in Boracay.
No disgruntled resort owner will hire a private army to harass those who carry brooms and other cleaning tools.
The Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 reportedly fears that some affected agencies and residents might put up a resistance when rehabilitation commences.
The Philippine Army also reportedly finds it necessary to deploy soldiers from the 301st Infantry Brigade to deal with members of cause oriented groups that might join the fray.
-o0o-
If we will use logic and common sense, cause oriented groups can’t occupy speed boats or motor vessels from Caticlan port just to intrude the island and disrupt the cleanliness program.
If security is tight, authorities can deal with them adequately right there in the mainland.
As for would-be recalcitrant residents and business owners, local police can easily nip them in the bud if they misbehave, which is a remote possibility after they have been thoroughly given proper information and orientation on the government’s plan for the island before hand.
If government representatives were able to explain that the rehabilitation will last only for six months, no Boracay resident and businessman with a normal frame of mind will defy lawful orders and risk being kicked out permanently from the island if not land in jail.
--Jairam Ramesh
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- The plan to deploy hundreds of cops and military personnel for the six-month “rehabilitation” of the Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan starting on April 26, 2018, is not only unnecessary but overacting, to say the least.
If the island will be closed down to pave the way for cleanliness and overhaul program, the government should dispatch more civilian workers to rev up the manpower of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Tourism (DoT), and the provincial government of Aklan, not military.
Sending out 610 policemen and a still undetermined number of soldiers to a premier tourist spot “to maintain peace and order in the island” during rehabilitation is like deploying scuba divers to guard the deep water’s abyssal zone while garbage is being removed from the Pasig river.
-o0o-
Boracay is not a Marawi.
No terrorists in their right minds will invade the island and kidnap those busy putting away heaps of trash and demolishing illegal structures.
There are no Plaza Miranda, Mendiola bridge, and Quirino Grandstand in Boracay.
No disgruntled resort owner will hire a private army to harass those who carry brooms and other cleaning tools.
The Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 reportedly fears that some affected agencies and residents might put up a resistance when rehabilitation commences.
The Philippine Army also reportedly finds it necessary to deploy soldiers from the 301st Infantry Brigade to deal with members of cause oriented groups that might join the fray.
-o0o-
If we will use logic and common sense, cause oriented groups can’t occupy speed boats or motor vessels from Caticlan port just to intrude the island and disrupt the cleanliness program.
If security is tight, authorities can deal with them adequately right there in the mainland.
As for would-be recalcitrant residents and business owners, local police can easily nip them in the bud if they misbehave, which is a remote possibility after they have been thoroughly given proper information and orientation on the government’s plan for the island before hand.
If government representatives were able to explain that the rehabilitation will last only for six months, no Boracay resident and businessman with a normal frame of mind will defy lawful orders and risk being kicked out permanently from the island if not land in jail.
Sunday, April 8, 2018
Never-ending ‘cleansing’ appeal
“The police are not here to create disorder, they're here to preserve disorder.”
--Richard J. Daley
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- When will the final cleansing in the Philippine National Police (PNP) end?
In the first place, is there an ongoing and protracted cleansing process?
Every time a PNP director general will retire and a new successor will take over, the battle cry of incoming PNP chief has always been, “We will cleanse the PNP with scalawags and bad eggs”; “We will reform the PNP”; “We will dismiss the rotten apples”, etcetera.
Since the PNP was formed on January 29, 1991, Chief Supt. Cesar P. Nazareno, the first PNP big boss since the Integrated National Police and the Philippine Constabulary were merged pursuant to Republic Act 6975 of 1990, was already parroting “reforms” and promising to kick out from service undesirable policemen.
-o0o-
“My first instruction to incoming PNP chief Oscar Albayalde is to go after PNP personnel who are a disgrace to their uniform, especially those who are AWOL, sleeping, non-performing, and drinking on the job. All of them should be dismissed from the service,” Interior and Local Government officer-in-charge Eduardo Año said over the weekend.
After 27 years, the PNP wasn’t yet reformed?
Scoundrels in uniform weren’t yet terminated?
Año added: “I told General Albayalde to cleanse the police ranks of bad eggs in order to make the DILG the best department in government. The PNP leadership should conduct more of the surprise inspections so that we can weed out the non-performing police officer.”
It seems the PNP is the only organization in the world permanently embroiled in a long-lasting appeal for “internal cleansing” and “reforms.”
-o0o-
Tourism officials in nearby provinces should come up with master plans to promote their respective tourist destinations and take advantage of the six-month closure order imposed by President Duterte on Boracay Island in Caticlan, Aklan effective April 26.
Some tourists who have canceled their reservations in Boracay might be interested to explore in neighboring Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros where there are prestine beaches, waterfalls, and world class resorts like Boracay, aside from their magnificent parks and islands, especially this summer.
Now is the right time to mobilize their resources and show to the world that Boracay is not the end-all and be-all of tourism wonders in Panay Island.
They may take a cue from the recent announcement of Iloilo Governor Arthur “Art” Defensor Sr. to establish a Northern Iloilo Tourism Authority (NITA).
Defensor probably intends to attract those who have been tantalized by Boracay’s beauty to take a closer look at Sicogon Island in Carles, among other beaches with potentials in world tourism in the coastal territories of northern Iloilo.
--Richard J. Daley
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- When will the final cleansing in the Philippine National Police (PNP) end?
In the first place, is there an ongoing and protracted cleansing process?
Every time a PNP director general will retire and a new successor will take over, the battle cry of incoming PNP chief has always been, “We will cleanse the PNP with scalawags and bad eggs”; “We will reform the PNP”; “We will dismiss the rotten apples”, etcetera.
Since the PNP was formed on January 29, 1991, Chief Supt. Cesar P. Nazareno, the first PNP big boss since the Integrated National Police and the Philippine Constabulary were merged pursuant to Republic Act 6975 of 1990, was already parroting “reforms” and promising to kick out from service undesirable policemen.
-o0o-
“My first instruction to incoming PNP chief Oscar Albayalde is to go after PNP personnel who are a disgrace to their uniform, especially those who are AWOL, sleeping, non-performing, and drinking on the job. All of them should be dismissed from the service,” Interior and Local Government officer-in-charge Eduardo Año said over the weekend.
After 27 years, the PNP wasn’t yet reformed?
Scoundrels in uniform weren’t yet terminated?
Año added: “I told General Albayalde to cleanse the police ranks of bad eggs in order to make the DILG the best department in government. The PNP leadership should conduct more of the surprise inspections so that we can weed out the non-performing police officer.”
It seems the PNP is the only organization in the world permanently embroiled in a long-lasting appeal for “internal cleansing” and “reforms.”
-o0o-
Tourism officials in nearby provinces should come up with master plans to promote their respective tourist destinations and take advantage of the six-month closure order imposed by President Duterte on Boracay Island in Caticlan, Aklan effective April 26.
Some tourists who have canceled their reservations in Boracay might be interested to explore in neighboring Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros where there are prestine beaches, waterfalls, and world class resorts like Boracay, aside from their magnificent parks and islands, especially this summer.
Now is the right time to mobilize their resources and show to the world that Boracay is not the end-all and be-all of tourism wonders in Panay Island.
They may take a cue from the recent announcement of Iloilo Governor Arthur “Art” Defensor Sr. to establish a Northern Iloilo Tourism Authority (NITA).
Defensor probably intends to attract those who have been tantalized by Boracay’s beauty to take a closer look at Sicogon Island in Carles, among other beaches with potentials in world tourism in the coastal territories of northern Iloilo.
-o0o-
Was President Duterte wrong to fire Undersecretary Maia Chiara Halmen Valdez of the Office of the Cabinet Secretary exactly a year ago?
Valdez was fired because she was supposedly seeking to overturn the denial of rice importation. National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator Jason Aquino had been pushing for more rice imports.
The President has ordered Aquino to proceed with rice importation amid the dwindling supply of government-subsidized grain, exactly a year after giving Valdez the boot.
Was President Duterte wrong to fire Undersecretary Maia Chiara Halmen Valdez of the Office of the Cabinet Secretary exactly a year ago?
Valdez was fired because she was supposedly seeking to overturn the denial of rice importation. National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator Jason Aquino had been pushing for more rice imports.
The President has ordered Aquino to proceed with rice importation amid the dwindling supply of government-subsidized grain, exactly a year after giving Valdez the boot.
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Why Pacquiao doesn’t own Boracay West Cove
“Criticism is a misconception: we must read not to understand others but to understand ourselves.”
--Emile M. Cioran
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- In the past seven years, I have been hearing a lot of people claiming--and insisting--that Sen. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao “owns” a resort in Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan in the Philippines.
Most of them pointed to the controversial Boracay West Cove resort in Barangay Balabag.
There were instances when I corrected the misconception or misinformation, telling some of them that the resort was owned by Crisostomo “Kris” Aquino, Pacquiao’s friend (or former friend?) who used to wave the Philippine flag in the ring during Pacquiao’s world title bouts mostly in Las Vegas.
Kris’ closeness with the former WBC-IBF-WBO crownholder didn’t sit well with other jealous and envious “VIPs” (very important persons) who mostly had their own ulterior moves.
I was a witness how Aquino struggled to win Pacquiao’s trust and sympathy after engaging merchants of intrigues within the “Team Pacquiao” circle in a torrid and disgusting power play.
-o0o-
In a crack voice, Kris himself once confessed to me in Mandalay Bay and Resort Casino in Las Vegas there were characters trying to isolate him from the 39-year-old boxing celebrity.
After pouring out his emotions, Kris was never seen again in the ring with Pacquiao when the latter squared off versus Joshua Clottey in Texas, Antonio Margarito, Shane Mosley, Brandon Rios, Timothy Bradley Jr (first and second), Floyd Mayweather Jr., Chris Algieri in Macao, Jessie Vargas, and Jeff Horn in Brisbane.
When Kris disappeared from the entourage, his friends could only speculate: Did he fall from Pacquiao’s graces, or Kris himself decided to stay away for good because of tampo (hard feelings).
No one can tell except Kris himself.
-o0o-
There were those who insisted that Aquino “was only Pacquiao’s dummy” and the real owner was really the boxing champion himself.
Their basis was that Pacquiao, even before he was elected as senator in 2016, was always seen in the resort especially when he went back to the Philippines after some of his difficult fights as a former eight-division world boxing title holder in Las Vegas.
Because of Pacquiao’s friendship with then Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Joselito “Lito” Atienza, their belief that the senator owned the resort bolstered.
This was after it was discovered that the resort was able to obtain a 25-year Forest Land Use Agreement for Tourism Purposes (FLAgT) covering the resort’s 998 square meters, which paved the way for the temporary use, occupation and development of any forest land for tourism purposes for a period of 25 years renewable for another 25 years.
-o0o-
The resort’s pact with DENR covers forest lands to be used for bathing, camp sites, ecotourism destinations, hotel sites and other tourism purposes.
The local government of Malay finally closed down the controversial resort on March 14, 2018, weeks after Malacanang had threatened to throw the books on Malay officials who either tolerated or did nothing to stop illegal structures in the white beach.
The closure order came on the heels of Malacanang threats to close down Boracay for 60 days to pave the way for its “rehabilitation.”
If the resort was owned by Pacquiao, who is being groomed by President Duterte to be the next president, do you think it would be closed down?
--Emile M. Cioran
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- In the past seven years, I have been hearing a lot of people claiming--and insisting--that Sen. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao “owns” a resort in Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan in the Philippines.
Most of them pointed to the controversial Boracay West Cove resort in Barangay Balabag.
There were instances when I corrected the misconception or misinformation, telling some of them that the resort was owned by Crisostomo “Kris” Aquino, Pacquiao’s friend (or former friend?) who used to wave the Philippine flag in the ring during Pacquiao’s world title bouts mostly in Las Vegas.
Kris’ closeness with the former WBC-IBF-WBO crownholder didn’t sit well with other jealous and envious “VIPs” (very important persons) who mostly had their own ulterior moves.
I was a witness how Aquino struggled to win Pacquiao’s trust and sympathy after engaging merchants of intrigues within the “Team Pacquiao” circle in a torrid and disgusting power play.
-o0o-
In a crack voice, Kris himself once confessed to me in Mandalay Bay and Resort Casino in Las Vegas there were characters trying to isolate him from the 39-year-old boxing celebrity.
After pouring out his emotions, Kris was never seen again in the ring with Pacquiao when the latter squared off versus Joshua Clottey in Texas, Antonio Margarito, Shane Mosley, Brandon Rios, Timothy Bradley Jr (first and second), Floyd Mayweather Jr., Chris Algieri in Macao, Jessie Vargas, and Jeff Horn in Brisbane.
When Kris disappeared from the entourage, his friends could only speculate: Did he fall from Pacquiao’s graces, or Kris himself decided to stay away for good because of tampo (hard feelings).
No one can tell except Kris himself.
-o0o-
There were those who insisted that Aquino “was only Pacquiao’s dummy” and the real owner was really the boxing champion himself.
Their basis was that Pacquiao, even before he was elected as senator in 2016, was always seen in the resort especially when he went back to the Philippines after some of his difficult fights as a former eight-division world boxing title holder in Las Vegas.
Because of Pacquiao’s friendship with then Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Joselito “Lito” Atienza, their belief that the senator owned the resort bolstered.
This was after it was discovered that the resort was able to obtain a 25-year Forest Land Use Agreement for Tourism Purposes (FLAgT) covering the resort’s 998 square meters, which paved the way for the temporary use, occupation and development of any forest land for tourism purposes for a period of 25 years renewable for another 25 years.
-o0o-
The resort’s pact with DENR covers forest lands to be used for bathing, camp sites, ecotourism destinations, hotel sites and other tourism purposes.
The local government of Malay finally closed down the controversial resort on March 14, 2018, weeks after Malacanang had threatened to throw the books on Malay officials who either tolerated or did nothing to stop illegal structures in the white beach.
The closure order came on the heels of Malacanang threats to close down Boracay for 60 days to pave the way for its “rehabilitation.”
If the resort was owned by Pacquiao, who is being groomed by President Duterte to be the next president, do you think it would be closed down?
Monday, March 5, 2018
Like a Miss Universe with a body odor
“I hate to say this, but I'll repeat it: After death, all we know that you do is stink.”
--Jack Kevorkian
By Alex P. Vidal
NEWARK, New Jersey -- Let’s not be confused by the ongoing furor over Boracay Island, tagged as a “cesspool” by President Duterte, and threatened with a closure after being hounded by an ecological crisis.
--Jack Kevorkian
By Alex P. Vidal
NEWARK, New Jersey -- Let’s not be confused by the ongoing furor over Boracay Island, tagged as a “cesspool” by President Duterte, and threatened with a closure after being hounded by an ecological crisis.
Boracay isn’t doomed yet. It is still pristine as anyone who has been there can imagine.
It hasn’t lost its luster and beauty in the eyes of a true-blue beach goer.
As a matter of fact, statistics show more visitors from all corners of the globe continue to arrive weeks after the presidential dressing down.
Tourists are unfazed by Boracay’s environmental woes and aren’t worried by the danger of swallowing algae in the waters.
There is no doubt that the white beach in Malay, Aklan in the Philippines remains to be one of the best beaches in the world.
In fact, in TripAdvisor's 2018 Traveler's Choice Awards, the island located in the central Philippines ranks second among white beaches in Asia.
-o0o-
The problems on environment and apparent neglect by some municipal officials are matters that Boracay stakeholders and the local government unit (LGU) will have to address seriously if we hope to sustain the beach’s life and reputation.
Just like other tourist spots anywhere in the world, Boracay has its own share of infamy and infirmities.
There is no perfect tourist destination in the world.
Even individual beauties have demerits and foibles.
Not all bodybuilding icons are healthy.
Not all beauty titlists have excellent hygiene.
Boracay’s case can be likened to a Miss Universe with a body odor.
The facade is startling, but underneath the armpits, there’s a stink that even a loving mother can’t tolerate and bear inhaling.
President Duterte and the environment and local government officials are the loving mothers trying to convince the Miss Universe daughter to take a bath and eradicate the unwanted dead rats in spaces between body and arms.
Amid the admonition and cleanliness program, life must go on for the Miss Universe.
In other words, Boracay should still be “business as usual” amid the hullabaloo.
-o0o-
Nothing can now stop the P11.2-billion Jalaur River Multipurpose Phase II (JRMP II) project in Calinog, Iloilo.
Once the project’s actual construction unfolds in June this year, more Ilonggos will be benefited--from vendors to suppliers of construction materials, and job seekers.
More importantly it will solve the perennial problem on flash floods, irrigation of 32,000 hectares of farm lands, supply of water to households and business, and produce some 17,000 local jobs.
Due to its economic costs, social and environmental impacts and potential for environmental disasters it was dubbed as a “mega damn”.
It hasn’t lost its luster and beauty in the eyes of a true-blue beach goer.
As a matter of fact, statistics show more visitors from all corners of the globe continue to arrive weeks after the presidential dressing down.
Tourists are unfazed by Boracay’s environmental woes and aren’t worried by the danger of swallowing algae in the waters.
There is no doubt that the white beach in Malay, Aklan in the Philippines remains to be one of the best beaches in the world.
In fact, in TripAdvisor's 2018 Traveler's Choice Awards, the island located in the central Philippines ranks second among white beaches in Asia.
-o0o-
The problems on environment and apparent neglect by some municipal officials are matters that Boracay stakeholders and the local government unit (LGU) will have to address seriously if we hope to sustain the beach’s life and reputation.
Just like other tourist spots anywhere in the world, Boracay has its own share of infamy and infirmities.
There is no perfect tourist destination in the world.
Even individual beauties have demerits and foibles.
Not all bodybuilding icons are healthy.
Not all beauty titlists have excellent hygiene.
Boracay’s case can be likened to a Miss Universe with a body odor.
The facade is startling, but underneath the armpits, there’s a stink that even a loving mother can’t tolerate and bear inhaling.
President Duterte and the environment and local government officials are the loving mothers trying to convince the Miss Universe daughter to take a bath and eradicate the unwanted dead rats in spaces between body and arms.
Amid the admonition and cleanliness program, life must go on for the Miss Universe.
In other words, Boracay should still be “business as usual” amid the hullabaloo.
-o0o-
Nothing can now stop the P11.2-billion Jalaur River Multipurpose Phase II (JRMP II) project in Calinog, Iloilo.
Once the project’s actual construction unfolds in June this year, more Ilonggos will be benefited--from vendors to suppliers of construction materials, and job seekers.
More importantly it will solve the perennial problem on flash floods, irrigation of 32,000 hectares of farm lands, supply of water to households and business, and produce some 17,000 local jobs.
Due to its economic costs, social and environmental impacts and potential for environmental disasters it was dubbed as a “mega damn”.
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
Media’s fault again?
“Don't find fault, find a remedy.”
-- Henry Ford
By Alex P. Vidal
NEWARK, New Jersey -- The Municipality of Malay, Aklan in the Philippines could be barking at the wrong tree when it blamed the media for depicting a “very dirty” Boracay.
In fact, the “bark” was unnecessary and misplaced, to say the least.
In an official statement released through its website recently, the Malay local government unit (LGU) lamented: “We do accept the constructive criticisms of our President and use it as the fundamental aspect of our improvements.”
“However,” it stressed, “the online news scoops of GMA and ABS-CBN attached a photo of the seasonal algal bloom in Boracay Island in order to increase the magnitude of their articles and hook people into it -- thinking that the waters of Boracay Island are entirely full of algae.”
It added: “This is not the case. We condemn the recycling of photos for the selling of their ‘news’. These news institutions gain profit from their news that ultimately degrades the image of Boracay Island which is highly dependent on the Tourism Industry.”
-o0o-
I don’t think the two giant TV networks mentioned in the official statement had an intention to degrade the image of Boracay when they supposedly used “recycled” photos in their respective websites showing the beach waters full of algae.
But I believe the photos used in the websites were really taken from Boracay and not in other beaches.
In other words, the photos were real, not fake.
If not the latest, the photos were most likely from the websites' news files.
It is not a question, however, whether the photos were current or, to borrow the word of the Malay LGU statement, “recycled.”
Using old photos or file photos isn’t prohibited in newspapers, magazine, and, in this particular case, news websites.
The cutlines of the photos stated that “President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to shut down popular tourist destination Boracay, describing it as a ‘cesspool,’ if the island’s environmental issues will not be addressed. (GMANETWORK.COM)” and “Duterte warned the situation was a looming environmental ‘disaster’ and a ‘tragedy’ that could soon drive visitors away from the island. (NEWS ABS-CBN.COM).”
Captions and cutlines are terms that are often used interchangeably.
There was no mention of the two photos’ specific date, and they were copyrighted.
The cutlines were explicitly telling the readers about President Duterte’s “threat” and “warning,” not the photos' "wild arts."
The cutlines, or the words under the captions, weren’t trite writing-type or the description where the obvious is being pointed out by using such phrases as “looks on,” “is shown” and “pictured above.”
The cutlines did not use descriptive terms that characterize the two photos.
Interestingly, the Malay LGU did not react in the same intensity when President Duterte called Boracay as a “cesspool” which was considered by many observers to be more alarming and damaging.
Was it more a case of over acting?
-- Henry Ford
By Alex P. Vidal
NEWARK, New Jersey -- The Municipality of Malay, Aklan in the Philippines could be barking at the wrong tree when it blamed the media for depicting a “very dirty” Boracay.
In fact, the “bark” was unnecessary and misplaced, to say the least.
In an official statement released through its website recently, the Malay local government unit (LGU) lamented: “We do accept the constructive criticisms of our President and use it as the fundamental aspect of our improvements.”
“However,” it stressed, “the online news scoops of GMA and ABS-CBN attached a photo of the seasonal algal bloom in Boracay Island in order to increase the magnitude of their articles and hook people into it -- thinking that the waters of Boracay Island are entirely full of algae.”
It added: “This is not the case. We condemn the recycling of photos for the selling of their ‘news’. These news institutions gain profit from their news that ultimately degrades the image of Boracay Island which is highly dependent on the Tourism Industry.”
-o0o-
I don’t think the two giant TV networks mentioned in the official statement had an intention to degrade the image of Boracay when they supposedly used “recycled” photos in their respective websites showing the beach waters full of algae.
But I believe the photos used in the websites were really taken from Boracay and not in other beaches.
In other words, the photos were real, not fake.
If not the latest, the photos were most likely from the websites' news files.
It is not a question, however, whether the photos were current or, to borrow the word of the Malay LGU statement, “recycled.”
Using old photos or file photos isn’t prohibited in newspapers, magazine, and, in this particular case, news websites.
The cutlines of the photos stated that “President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to shut down popular tourist destination Boracay, describing it as a ‘cesspool,’ if the island’s environmental issues will not be addressed. (GMANETWORK.COM)” and “Duterte warned the situation was a looming environmental ‘disaster’ and a ‘tragedy’ that could soon drive visitors away from the island. (NEWS ABS-CBN.COM).”
Captions and cutlines are terms that are often used interchangeably.
There was no mention of the two photos’ specific date, and they were copyrighted.
The cutlines were explicitly telling the readers about President Duterte’s “threat” and “warning,” not the photos' "wild arts."
The cutlines, or the words under the captions, weren’t trite writing-type or the description where the obvious is being pointed out by using such phrases as “looks on,” “is shown” and “pictured above.”
The cutlines did not use descriptive terms that characterize the two photos.
Interestingly, the Malay LGU did not react in the same intensity when President Duterte called Boracay as a “cesspool” which was considered by many observers to be more alarming and damaging.
Was it more a case of over acting?
Saturday, January 13, 2018
Close down Boracay
“A true community is not just about being geographically close to someone or part of the same social web network. It's about feeling connected and responsible for what happens. Humanity is our ultimate community, and everyone plays a crucial role.”
-- Yehuda Berg
By Alex P. Vidal
NEWARK, New Jersey -- Political will ba ang kailangan, Sec. Roy Cimatu?
Close down Boracay.
This may have been the most “stupid” and “weird” suggestion, nay solution, ever offered to the island’s gnawing environmental and sanitation problems, but it’s how the much-abused line “political will” should be best illustrated if we are really serious in curving the problem and not merely doing a lip service.
A mere expression of “sadness”, “worry”, and “concern” is no longer viable and effective to assuage the stakeholders, especially the residents of Malay, Aklan.
The Romans will tell us, “Nos postulo moventur eundemque” or we need a concrete move.
After an age-old peroration, there must now be dramatic results.
-o0o-
It was Sec. Cimatu himself who reshuffled the monotonous “political will” line as the supposed solution to arrest the environmental fiasco in the 1,032-hectare premier tourist destination.
Past Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Department of Tourism (DOT) appointees of former presidents have overused and abused those forlorn expressions to the point that they have sounded corny and become phonies in the eyes of the public when nothing has really happened to lift Boracay from the nadir.
So many DENR and DOT officials in the past have performed the same hokey and theatrical show for Boracay’s woes in front of Malay residents since the time of Tita Cory, FVR, Erap, Ate Glo, and P-Noy.
Secretaries Cimatu and Wanda Tulfo-Teo were not the first and last Famas awardees.
We can only hope their twin-department Boracay rendezvous on January 9, 2018, capped by an amazing aerial inspection, dialogue with local officials and investors, and press conference to boot, will not be buried in the statistics of junkets and end up as another case of ningas cogon like what their predecessors did in the past.
-o0o-
Closing Boracay can be done if that is the only way to discipline or punish insensitive resort and hotel owners who violate environmental laws with impunity.
When the island is restricted, profits of greedy and callous investors will nosedive.
Sporadic construction of buildings and houses in beach areas prone to surges of the sea and in mountain slopes that produce pollution and sanitation problems will be regulated if will not come to a screeching halt.
Impact on local economy may be catastrophic, but residents must learn to adapt and become self enterprising for the time being. It won’t be the end of the world.
Business must be accompanied with respect and responsibility, commitment to protect and improve the residents’ health and quality of life, and respect for environmental laws as a paramount concern.
The move will anger a lot of stakeholders and may be sneered at by the municipal and provincial governments, Boracay Foundation Inc. (BFI), and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Boracay as harsh and counter-productive.
As the population in the world-famous island increases, so does the intensity of destruction to environment and rapid decline of the residents’ quality of life.
Political will, isn’t it?
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