"I'm never gonna dance again guilty feet have got no rhythm though it's easy to pretend I know your not a fool." -- WHAM! in "Careless Whisper."
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW JERSEY -- In the past Christmases, George Michael (born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou) "gave us his heart."
We didn't give it away.
But last Christmas 2016, the reclusive British pop icon who once pricked his fans to "wake him up before you go-go", decided to "go-go" for good without waking us up.
He bade farewell on Christmas Day, December 25.
And the world of pop music wasn't saved from tears.
At 53, the Charismatic composer-singer, who serenaded the world as member of the dynamic duo Wham! with the spine-tingling "Careless Whisper" in 1984, succumbed to heart attack in Goring-on-Thames, United Kingdom, doctors said.
In our high school days, Wham! blossomed into a full-scale phenomenon with their 1983 debut album Fantastic, which charged to the top of the charts.
That's my first date with Wham! However, when I first saw Wham's! frame, I thought it was Andrew Ridgeley, George Michael's best friend and partner, who was the lead vocalist.
At that time, another George--Boy George of the Culture Club--was giving Michael and Wham! a run for their money in Great Britain's new pop boom.
ALBUM
According to the British newspaper, theguardian, Wham's! second album, Make It Big (1984), turned them into a global success story, spinning off singles such as Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, Careless Whisper, Freedom and Everything She Wants.
In 1985, Wham! achieved a massive publicity coup by becoming the first western pop group to visit the People’s Republic of China. The visit was filmed by the director Lindsay Anderson as Foreign Skies: Wham! In China (1986).
Like in the cases of other pop stars who died at the height of their popularity, George Michael's death was also shrouded with controversy.
There were reports that several weeks before his death, George, who had open relationships with males, became reclusive and refused to display himself in public "because he did not like his new looks."
Michael was also reportedly engaged in drug offense and was arrested and fined in 2010 drugs offences after admitting driving under the influence of drugs, having crashed his Range Rover into a Snappy Snaps photo store in Hampstead.
OBITUARY
His obituary stated that "in June 2012 Michael released the single White Light to mark the 30th anniversary of Wham Rap!. In March 2014 he released Symphonica, which became his seventh solo album to top the UK chart. This month, it was announced that he was working on a new album with producer and songwriter Naughty Boy. Also in the pipeline was a film, provisionally titled Freedom: George Michael, due to accompany the reissue of his 1990 album Listen Without Prejudice Vol 1. With Michael as narrator, the film would feature stars including Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Liam Gallagher and Mary J Blige as well as the supermodels who had appeared in his Freedom! ’90 video."
The obituary added: "His mother, Lesley, died in 1997. He is survived by his father and his two sisters, Melanie and Yioda. George Michael (Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou), singer and songwriter, born 25 June 1963; died 25 December 2016."
Saturday, December 31, 2016
Happy New Year, Philippines!
From Hillsborough, New Jersey, I greet my countrymen in the Philippines a prosperous New Year 2017.
With its emphasis on romance and indulgence, New Year's Eve might seem like a totally secular celebration.
But underneath all that glitter and sparkle is an ancient holiday with deep spiritual roots. For centuries, and in similar ways, people have been observing the end of one year and the beginning of another, according to beliefnet.
Ancient Romans reportedly celebrated with six days of carousing that would probably be familiar to us today. St. Boniface, a missionary from England who visited Rome in 742, was appalled at how the Romans celebrated Kalends of January, as the New Year was called, with "dancing in the streets, heathenish cries, sacrilegious songs, tables laden with food and women wearing amulets and offering them for sale."
With its emphasis on romance and indulgence, New Year's Eve might seem like a totally secular celebration.
But underneath all that glitter and sparkle is an ancient holiday with deep spiritual roots. For centuries, and in similar ways, people have been observing the end of one year and the beginning of another, according to beliefnet.
Ancient Romans reportedly celebrated with six days of carousing that would probably be familiar to us today. St. Boniface, a missionary from England who visited Rome in 742, was appalled at how the Romans celebrated Kalends of January, as the New Year was called, with "dancing in the streets, heathenish cries, sacrilegious songs, tables laden with food and women wearing amulets and offering them for sale."
Thursday, December 29, 2016
Sealing off police guns a stupid edict
"Elevate those guns a little lower." -- Andrew Jackson
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW JERSEY -- We laud Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronaldo "Bato" Dela Rosa for finally breaking the usual practice of sealing off policemen's guns ahead of the New Year festivities.
We were among those in the media who criticized the move, which was the brainchild of past PNP leadership starting during the time of former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph "Erap" Estrada.
We considered the order as "unnecessary" and "suicidal."
When the guns of our lawmen were sealed off, they could not respond to emergency cases or crimes. They would be like sitting ducks if armed criminals or terrorists attacked them vice versa.
The purpose of sealing off their guns was to prevent them from firing indiscriminately during New Year celebration.
This was on top of the "stern" warning from the PNP hierarchy that they would be dealt with accordingly if they used their guns to celebrate New Year.
PROFESSIONAL
Stern or whatever warning is also not necessary for professional cops or military men. Only scalawags and bad eggs will disobey and ignore lawful orders.
Each year since the order was made, reports showed that many innocent civilians, some of them children, were injured and killed after being hit by stray bullets fired during the New Year's eve.
Either the stray bullets came from the firearms of some rogue cops or undisciplined military personnel who ignored the order from their higher command, or from the guns of trigger-happy civilians.
There are many loose firearms in the hands of drunken maniacs who don't give a hoot if innocent bystanders and children are injured or killed as long as they will fire these guns during the New Year revelry.
DOUBLE
Police should double their efforts to round them up as preventive measure. There should be no ifs and buts for those caught in possession of these unlicensed guns.
There should be no exemptions. No padrino or political considerations. No palakasan. No kumpare or kumare system.
Eliot Spitzer once said: "Yes, people pull the trigger - but guns are the instrument of death. Gun control is necessary, and delay means more death and horror."
In fact, even without a New Year celebration or election gun ban, possession of loose firearms is illegal and punishable by imprisonment.
An ounce of prevention is always better than a pound of cure.
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW JERSEY -- We laud Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronaldo "Bato" Dela Rosa for finally breaking the usual practice of sealing off policemen's guns ahead of the New Year festivities.
We were among those in the media who criticized the move, which was the brainchild of past PNP leadership starting during the time of former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph "Erap" Estrada.
We considered the order as "unnecessary" and "suicidal."
When the guns of our lawmen were sealed off, they could not respond to emergency cases or crimes. They would be like sitting ducks if armed criminals or terrorists attacked them vice versa.
The purpose of sealing off their guns was to prevent them from firing indiscriminately during New Year celebration.
This was on top of the "stern" warning from the PNP hierarchy that they would be dealt with accordingly if they used their guns to celebrate New Year.
PROFESSIONAL
Stern or whatever warning is also not necessary for professional cops or military men. Only scalawags and bad eggs will disobey and ignore lawful orders.
Each year since the order was made, reports showed that many innocent civilians, some of them children, were injured and killed after being hit by stray bullets fired during the New Year's eve.
Either the stray bullets came from the firearms of some rogue cops or undisciplined military personnel who ignored the order from their higher command, or from the guns of trigger-happy civilians.
There are many loose firearms in the hands of drunken maniacs who don't give a hoot if innocent bystanders and children are injured or killed as long as they will fire these guns during the New Year revelry.
DOUBLE
Police should double their efforts to round them up as preventive measure. There should be no ifs and buts for those caught in possession of these unlicensed guns.
There should be no exemptions. No padrino or political considerations. No palakasan. No kumpare or kumare system.
Eliot Spitzer once said: "Yes, people pull the trigger - but guns are the instrument of death. Gun control is necessary, and delay means more death and horror."
In fact, even without a New Year celebration or election gun ban, possession of loose firearms is illegal and punishable by imprisonment.
An ounce of prevention is always better than a pound of cure.
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
Iloilo biggest winner in anti-drugs war; biggest loser in shame campaign
"A good reputation is more valuable than money."
-- Publilius Syrus
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW JERSEY -- In the government-led battle against illegal drugs in the Philippines in 2016, Iloilo City could be the biggest "winner" if the number of murdered and "neutralized" drug lords, small-time traffickers, and drug addicts is used as the barometer.
With a population of 424,619, Iloilo City could also be the biggest "loser" when it comes to the "shame campaign" initiated by President Rodrigo Duterte immediately after he assumed office in July.
Among those slain in the brutal crackdown against drug pushers was the Odicta couple, Melvin and Meriam, of Iloilo City. They were killed by unidentified gunmen in Caticlan Port in Aklan on their way back after "surrendering" to Interior and Local Government Secretary Mike Sueno in Quezon City in August.
The Odictas were the country's biggest names in illegal drug trafficking to fall in 2016. Following their death, some of the couple's top runners were either killed in "encounters" with police or arrested.
'SHABULIZED'
Aside from naming Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, ranked No. 5 in the 2014 World Mayor, as alleged protector of illegal drugs, Duterte also called the "City of Love" the "most shabulized city" in the country.
The tag, strongly belied and disputed by Mabilog and other local officials, demoralized some Ilonggos, especially those living in other parts of the world who suspected politics behind the "smear" drive.
Duterte also named three other prominent Iloilo mayors as "narco-politicians": Alex Centena of Calinog, Siegfredo Betita of Carles and and Mariano Malones of Maasin.
Like Mabilog, they all cried foul.
Duterte based his accusations on the list provided by his intelligence henchmen who had been tipped off by narcotics agents, some of them were reportedly allies of political rivals of those on the list.
SHAME
The shame campaign, which caught many local chef executives whose names were on the list flat-footed, didn't prove the guilt of the maligned mayors and governors.
Duterte, in fact, had flip-flopped and apologized to some of those he mentioned in the list, underscoring suspicions that he was fed with half-baked if not unverified reports from the field.
Two of them, Mayor Samsudin Dimaukom of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao and Mayor Rolando Espinosa of Albuera, Leyte, however, were killed by police in separate encounters--all related to Duterte's nationwide campaign against illegal drugs.
Some three thousand suspected drug traffickers and drug addicts have been summarily executed since Duterte and his national police director, Chief Supt. Ronaldo "Bato" Dela Rosa launched the "all-out" war against illegal drugs in the country.
RIGHTS
Human rights advocates in the Philippines and abroad have criticized the apparent state-run extra-judicial killings (EJKs) and asked the president to halt the carnage.
They expressed alarm that some of those killed by lawmen in alleged "shootouts" were suspected pushers and young drug addicts and not convicted criminals.
Senator Leila De Lima, a former Commission on Human Rights commissioner, questioned the EJKs saying criminals are presumed innocent until proven by the court.
Duterte, who vowed to wipe out criminality in the country within six months starting in July, responded with derision and called his critics "SOB."
When the president and Dela Rosa could not meet the six-month deadline, Duterte asked for extension.
Killings are feared to escalate anew in 2017.
-- Publilius Syrus
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW JERSEY -- In the government-led battle against illegal drugs in the Philippines in 2016, Iloilo City could be the biggest "winner" if the number of murdered and "neutralized" drug lords, small-time traffickers, and drug addicts is used as the barometer.
With a population of 424,619, Iloilo City could also be the biggest "loser" when it comes to the "shame campaign" initiated by President Rodrigo Duterte immediately after he assumed office in July.
Among those slain in the brutal crackdown against drug pushers was the Odicta couple, Melvin and Meriam, of Iloilo City. They were killed by unidentified gunmen in Caticlan Port in Aklan on their way back after "surrendering" to Interior and Local Government Secretary Mike Sueno in Quezon City in August.
The Odictas were the country's biggest names in illegal drug trafficking to fall in 2016. Following their death, some of the couple's top runners were either killed in "encounters" with police or arrested.
'SHABULIZED'
Aside from naming Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, ranked No. 5 in the 2014 World Mayor, as alleged protector of illegal drugs, Duterte also called the "City of Love" the "most shabulized city" in the country.
The tag, strongly belied and disputed by Mabilog and other local officials, demoralized some Ilonggos, especially those living in other parts of the world who suspected politics behind the "smear" drive.
Duterte also named three other prominent Iloilo mayors as "narco-politicians": Alex Centena of Calinog, Siegfredo Betita of Carles and and Mariano Malones of Maasin.
Like Mabilog, they all cried foul.
Duterte based his accusations on the list provided by his intelligence henchmen who had been tipped off by narcotics agents, some of them were reportedly allies of political rivals of those on the list.
SHAME
The shame campaign, which caught many local chef executives whose names were on the list flat-footed, didn't prove the guilt of the maligned mayors and governors.
Duterte, in fact, had flip-flopped and apologized to some of those he mentioned in the list, underscoring suspicions that he was fed with half-baked if not unverified reports from the field.
Two of them, Mayor Samsudin Dimaukom of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao and Mayor Rolando Espinosa of Albuera, Leyte, however, were killed by police in separate encounters--all related to Duterte's nationwide campaign against illegal drugs.
Some three thousand suspected drug traffickers and drug addicts have been summarily executed since Duterte and his national police director, Chief Supt. Ronaldo "Bato" Dela Rosa launched the "all-out" war against illegal drugs in the country.
RIGHTS
Human rights advocates in the Philippines and abroad have criticized the apparent state-run extra-judicial killings (EJKs) and asked the president to halt the carnage.
They expressed alarm that some of those killed by lawmen in alleged "shootouts" were suspected pushers and young drug addicts and not convicted criminals.
Senator Leila De Lima, a former Commission on Human Rights commissioner, questioned the EJKs saying criminals are presumed innocent until proven by the court.
Duterte, who vowed to wipe out criminality in the country within six months starting in July, responded with derision and called his critics "SOB."
When the president and Dela Rosa could not meet the six-month deadline, Duterte asked for extension.
Killings are feared to escalate anew in 2017.
Tuesday, December 27, 2016
An over acting speaker
"If you have ten thousand regulations you destroy all respect for the law" -- WINSTON CHURCHILL
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW JERSEY -- I find the call of Philippine House Speaker Pantaleon "Bebot" Alvarez to investigate the alleged plot by former US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg to oust President Rodrigo Duterte not only funny but OA (over acting).
Alvarez's call was prompted by a report on December 27 by the Manila Times that Goldberg has allegedly left a “blueprint” on how and why Duterte should be kicked out or a “recommendation to the US State Department for the removal of the Philippine President from office.”
Alvarez was quoted in the news as saying, “If true, this has serious consequences not only on our country’s political stability but also on the economic and social fabric of our nation. It would also have grave repercussions on our relationship with the United States."
Alvarez added: “In view of this serious allegation I am calling for a congressional investigation to find out if there is basis to this reported ouster plot against President Rodrigo Duterte."
If true, but how true?
SOURCE
In that news, writer Dr. Dante Ang, publisher of Manila Times, quoted only "a source".
In fact, the title of the story already revealed everything: "US ex-envoy plotting Duterte fall – source."
The story did not have direct allusion to any US Embassy official in Manila or Lisbon, Portugal, the news' dateline. No direct quote from any former or concurrent Goldberg subaltern.
No official statement from the US State Department. Only a source. Ang's "source" outlined or summed up Goldberg's alleged "strategic recommendation ostensibly to the State Department for the ultimate removal of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte from office."
News is news. A source can either be credible or sham. A source can either be true or poisonous. It can be a molehill that became a mountain when translated into straight news.
Not everything that is reported in the newspapers though warrant a congressional investigation. If reporters invoke "sources" in their stories, our legislative body can't resort to knee-jerk reaction if it finds the media stories "alarming."
RESOURCE
If Alvarez will call for a House probe on the allegation, who will they call as resource speakers? Not the Americans, of course.
Not Dr. Dante Ang. Not the employees of Manila Times.
Ang can never be compelled to reveal his source or sources. The Supreme Court has ruled that any journalist can't be obligated, compelled, or coerced in any forum to name his sources.
This will shield credible sources "who requested strict anonymity for fear of retribution or retaliation."
The law also protects journalists from self-incrimination just like the ordinary citizens.
If invited by Alvarez's House investigation committee, we doubt if Ang will cooperate.
The Americans, as well as those who have no love lost for President Duterte, will only laugh while over-acting Alvarez, et al waste the people's money in a House investigation that will reveal nothing.
-o0o-
The wisdom of having three branches in a democratic government is to have a check and balance.
This explains why the executive, legislative, and judiciary are co-equal in the government structure.
The president can't execute any major executive fiat without concurrence from congress. The president have the veto powers if it finds the law passed by congress lacking in substance and inefficient.
If the court finds the acts of the executive and legislative branches to be unlawful, it can always interfere by invoking the legal parameters.
The speaker of the House can be a political sympathizer or ally of the president, but he can't use his office to act as mouthpiece of the executive body.
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW JERSEY -- I find the call of Philippine House Speaker Pantaleon "Bebot" Alvarez to investigate the alleged plot by former US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg to oust President Rodrigo Duterte not only funny but OA (over acting).
Alvarez's call was prompted by a report on December 27 by the Manila Times that Goldberg has allegedly left a “blueprint” on how and why Duterte should be kicked out or a “recommendation to the US State Department for the removal of the Philippine President from office.”
Alvarez was quoted in the news as saying, “If true, this has serious consequences not only on our country’s political stability but also on the economic and social fabric of our nation. It would also have grave repercussions on our relationship with the United States."
Alvarez added: “In view of this serious allegation I am calling for a congressional investigation to find out if there is basis to this reported ouster plot against President Rodrigo Duterte."
If true, but how true?
SOURCE
In that news, writer Dr. Dante Ang, publisher of Manila Times, quoted only "a source".
In fact, the title of the story already revealed everything: "US ex-envoy plotting Duterte fall – source."
The story did not have direct allusion to any US Embassy official in Manila or Lisbon, Portugal, the news' dateline. No direct quote from any former or concurrent Goldberg subaltern.
No official statement from the US State Department. Only a source. Ang's "source" outlined or summed up Goldberg's alleged "strategic recommendation ostensibly to the State Department for the ultimate removal of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte from office."
News is news. A source can either be credible or sham. A source can either be true or poisonous. It can be a molehill that became a mountain when translated into straight news.
Not everything that is reported in the newspapers though warrant a congressional investigation. If reporters invoke "sources" in their stories, our legislative body can't resort to knee-jerk reaction if it finds the media stories "alarming."
RESOURCE
If Alvarez will call for a House probe on the allegation, who will they call as resource speakers? Not the Americans, of course.
Not Dr. Dante Ang. Not the employees of Manila Times.
Ang can never be compelled to reveal his source or sources. The Supreme Court has ruled that any journalist can't be obligated, compelled, or coerced in any forum to name his sources.
This will shield credible sources "who requested strict anonymity for fear of retribution or retaliation."
The law also protects journalists from self-incrimination just like the ordinary citizens.
If invited by Alvarez's House investigation committee, we doubt if Ang will cooperate.
The Americans, as well as those who have no love lost for President Duterte, will only laugh while over-acting Alvarez, et al waste the people's money in a House investigation that will reveal nothing.
-o0o-
The wisdom of having three branches in a democratic government is to have a check and balance.
This explains why the executive, legislative, and judiciary are co-equal in the government structure.
The president can't execute any major executive fiat without concurrence from congress. The president have the veto powers if it finds the law passed by congress lacking in substance and inefficient.
If the court finds the acts of the executive and legislative branches to be unlawful, it can always interfere by invoking the legal parameters.
The speaker of the House can be a political sympathizer or ally of the president, but he can't use his office to act as mouthpiece of the executive body.
Monday, December 26, 2016
Alex P. Vidal Quotes (Respect, Kindness)
Treat everyone with respect and kindness. Period. No exceptions.
-- KIANA TOM :
Kindness should have no expiration date, no timeline, no recess, no selection process. We must be kind even to those who don't respect us. Respect, however, is only for those who deserve it, not for those who demand for it. Being kind is a virtue; being respectful is a judgement.
-- ALEX P. VIDAL
-- KIANA TOM :
Kindness should have no expiration date, no timeline, no recess, no selection process. We must be kind even to those who don't respect us. Respect, however, is only for those who deserve it, not for those who demand for it. Being kind is a virtue; being respectful is a judgement.
-- ALEX P. VIDAL
Sunday, December 25, 2016
Merry Christmas!
Portuguese - Feliz Natal!
French - Joyeux Noël
Italian - Buon Natale!
Arabic - I'd Miilad said oua sana saida
Chinese - (Mandarin) Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan
Croatian - Sretan Bozic
Danish - Glædelig Jul
Dutch - Vrolijk Kerstfeest
Filipino - Maligayang Pasko
Finnish - Hyvaa joulua
German - Fröhliche Weihnachten
Greek: Kala Christouyenna!
Indonesian - Selamat Hari Natal
Irish - Nollaig Shona Dhuit
Japanese - Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto
Korean - Sung Tan Chuk Ha
Maltese: IL-Milied It-tajjeb
Russian - Pozdravlyenie s Rozjdyestvom i s Novym Godom!
Swedish - God Jul
Samoan: La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou
Urdu - Naya Saal Mubarak Ho
Welsh - Nadolig Llawentworthy
French - Joyeux Noël
Italian - Buon Natale!
Arabic - I'd Miilad said oua sana saida
Chinese - (Mandarin) Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan
Croatian - Sretan Bozic
Danish - Glædelig Jul
Dutch - Vrolijk Kerstfeest
Filipino - Maligayang Pasko
Finnish - Hyvaa joulua
German - Fröhliche Weihnachten
Greek: Kala Christouyenna!
Indonesian - Selamat Hari Natal
Irish - Nollaig Shona Dhuit
Japanese - Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto
Korean - Sung Tan Chuk Ha
Maltese: IL-Milied It-tajjeb
Russian - Pozdravlyenie s Rozjdyestvom i s Novym Godom!
Swedish - God Jul
Samoan: La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou
Urdu - Naya Saal Mubarak Ho
Welsh - Nadolig Llawentworthy
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)