“The revolution is not an apple that falls when it is ripe. You have to make it fall.”
--Che Guevara
By Alex P. Vidal
AYN Rand would have been amazed by the force and effectiveness of today’s netizens to influence and shape public opinion.
In this generation, they constitute the social media’s New Intellectuals, the most vigilant vanguards of the nation’s social, cultural, and political spectrum via the Internet.
No act of brutality, arrogance, malfeasance and demagoguery in the civilized society can escape the radar of amazing digital world.
A hailstorm of public censure and condemnation awaits those who possess the delusions of putting the law in their hands; those who think they are above the law and reason, owing to their power and influence, pelf and privileges for belonging in society’s higher social and political strata.
Gone are the days when publicly performed criminal acts and other forms of civil disobedience can be kept under wraps and the culprits getting away with impunity.
Today there’s always a big brother and sister watching: CCTVs and mobile phone cameras.
-o0o-
Meanwhile, objectivist Ayn Rand held that abstract ideas are man’s basic means of dealing with practical life.
She stressed that abstract ideas enable man to understand concrete issues, to evaluate them, and to act successfully to deal with them.
Rand further held that the problem with Western civilization was not that it was too intellectual, but that too many of its intellectuals accepted and propagated fundamentally wrong ideas.
Rand believed that what the world needs urgently are New Intellectuals.
As civilization marks this year the official end of the French Revolution on December 15, 1799, we begin the era of fighting graft and corruption, abuse of authority in military and government through a new wave: the social media.
We cannot afford today to give life to a modern Napoleon Bonaparte, the dictator who wanted to overrun Europe had it not been for his Waterloo defeat.
Politicians who want to overrun our treasury via pork barrel and other thinly-veiled acts of plunder and graft and corruption, are the smaller versions of Napoleon.
The specter of graft and corruption in government today is the rallying point of public anger and disgust that transformed into a bloody revolt; the tipping point that brought down the monarchy and cut off King Louis XVI’s and Marie Antoinette’s heads in the revolutionary scaffolds.
-o0o-
Under the mantra of “Liberte, egalite, fraternity” (liberty, equality, fraternity), French society itself underwent a transformation as feudal, aristocratic, and religious privileges disappeared and old ideas about tradition and hierarchy were abruptly overthrown.
Under the mantra of "papatayin ko kayo" (I will really kill you), the President has failed to curb the age-old graft and corruption and illegal drugs.
The rich becomes richer; the poor becomes poorer.
Marie Antoinette wanted to give the French people with empty stomachs cake; our government has been giving us empty promises and empty treasury.
The wealth of the nation has been wasted.
Our leaders have abandoned the spirit that ignited the “Cry of Balintawak” or “Pugad Lawin” of the katipuneros, and the “Cry of Sta. Barbara (Iloilo)”.
We give them our votes and confidence; they gave us shame and scandal via plunder and graft and corruption.
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)
Friday, December 13, 2019
Thursday, December 12, 2019
Is giving of gift mandatory during Christmas?
“God never gives someone a gift they are not capable of receiving. If he gives us the gift of Christmas, it is because we all have the ability to understand and receive it.”
--Pope Francis
By Alex P. Vidal
MANY of us give gifts to promote the reputation that we are nice, generous people; and we usually do it to put pressure on the recipient to reciprocate.
For example, when we take a basket of fruit to a friend in the hospital, it is because we would like him to do the same for us, observed Roger Highfield in The Physics of Christmas.
“Gifts have the power to make or break a relationship, for they are indices of how we interpret the status, power, taste, and emotion of our peers,” he explained.
Gifts are also excellent way of atoning for sins, but they may be rejected if judged as not sufficiently compensatory, Highfield said
Adrian Furnham, a psychologist at University College, London, said gifts reveal how socially aware we are in perceiving others.
It’s not just the issue of whom we choose to give presents to or how much or how little we spend on those presents, but what sort of gifts we select, Furnham said.
And when our motives for giving a particular gift are incorrectly interpreted, our faux pas is on display for all to see.
For example, the gift of a fluorescent fluffy toy might be thought an insult by someone who perceives himself or herself so sophisticated.
“As a channel of communication (a gift) has limited capacity because the range of messages is few and the language not well known,” explained Furnham.
-o0o-
“Perhaps the gift-phobics who discover the exchange of gifts between family and friends do so because they don’t speak the language and agree with Wittgenstein, who so wisely noted: ‘Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent.’”
Whitfield said psychologists have now started to decode the language of gifts in an effort to unwrap this seasonal ritual.
They have studied different gift occasions and assessed the various stages in the gift-giving process, the function of gifts, and the norms that govern who may give what to whom and why certain gifts--for instance, money--are often considered inappropriate.
Men and women behave very differently when it comes to Christmas gift giving, added Highfield.
At the University of Winnipeg in Manitoba, David Cheal had great difficulty interviewing as many men and women for one study of Christmas gift giving.
The reason soon become clear: women remain the principal actors in gift transactions.
The annual hunt for that ideal present is overwhelmingly seen as women’s work. Indeed, among couples it is usually the women who maintain the gift economy.
Men tend to give more valuable gifts, less often. Part of the reason is that men generally earn more than women.
But women have been said to dominate Christmas giving perhaps because it is seen as a family festival and women are the “kin keepers,” taking more responsibility for maintaining family and social ties.
-o0o-
One of Cheal’s respondents explained that her reason for giving is “to be a message. You have interest in that person, whatever the message is at the moment.”
Highfield stressed that other studies have shown that we are little different from the Hazda in that gift giving often puts the recipient under an obligation, exploiting a reciprocal instinct that places the act closer to pure barter.
Much of Christmas giving actually reveals a more calculated character, following certain rules and obeying certain taboos.
Carole Burgoyne and Stephen Lea of the University of Exter, England said: “To violate these rules, to give too little, or indeed to give too much, can be insulting.”
One traditional taboo is the gift of money, according to Highfield.
If we hand out checks and cash, he explained, “the materialist underbelly of Christmas is laid bare for all to see. As a result, money is not a universally acceptable medium of exchange.”
Gifts of money also imply a lack of effort and insight on the part of the giver, according to a study of 92 students conducted by Burgoyne and David Routh of Bristol University in England.
Another study by Lea showed that this was particularly so when money was given by a child to a parent, but not when it was a gift from a grandparent or parent to a child.
Highfield stressed that today’s psychologists see gifts as a way of initiating and maintaining relationships--just as we observed in the case of Henry III.
According to Bourgoyne, Christmas tends to differ from other giving rituals, such as birthdays, because it is more likely to involve a simultaneous exchange.
In relationships where reciprocity is expected, there can be serious consequences of the failure to give a gift.
These are more likely to occur in closer relationships, such as between siblings, parents and children, or girlfriend and boyfriend.
“The nonappearance of a gift is likely to lead to broken relationships and family row unless there is a very good explanation for it,” Burgoyne wrote.
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)
--Pope Francis
By Alex P. Vidal
MANY of us give gifts to promote the reputation that we are nice, generous people; and we usually do it to put pressure on the recipient to reciprocate.
For example, when we take a basket of fruit to a friend in the hospital, it is because we would like him to do the same for us, observed Roger Highfield in The Physics of Christmas.
“Gifts have the power to make or break a relationship, for they are indices of how we interpret the status, power, taste, and emotion of our peers,” he explained.
Gifts are also excellent way of atoning for sins, but they may be rejected if judged as not sufficiently compensatory, Highfield said
Adrian Furnham, a psychologist at University College, London, said gifts reveal how socially aware we are in perceiving others.
It’s not just the issue of whom we choose to give presents to or how much or how little we spend on those presents, but what sort of gifts we select, Furnham said.
And when our motives for giving a particular gift are incorrectly interpreted, our faux pas is on display for all to see.
For example, the gift of a fluorescent fluffy toy might be thought an insult by someone who perceives himself or herself so sophisticated.
“As a channel of communication (a gift) has limited capacity because the range of messages is few and the language not well known,” explained Furnham.
-o0o-
“Perhaps the gift-phobics who discover the exchange of gifts between family and friends do so because they don’t speak the language and agree with Wittgenstein, who so wisely noted: ‘Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent.’”
Whitfield said psychologists have now started to decode the language of gifts in an effort to unwrap this seasonal ritual.
They have studied different gift occasions and assessed the various stages in the gift-giving process, the function of gifts, and the norms that govern who may give what to whom and why certain gifts--for instance, money--are often considered inappropriate.
Men and women behave very differently when it comes to Christmas gift giving, added Highfield.
At the University of Winnipeg in Manitoba, David Cheal had great difficulty interviewing as many men and women for one study of Christmas gift giving.
The reason soon become clear: women remain the principal actors in gift transactions.
The annual hunt for that ideal present is overwhelmingly seen as women’s work. Indeed, among couples it is usually the women who maintain the gift economy.
Men tend to give more valuable gifts, less often. Part of the reason is that men generally earn more than women.
But women have been said to dominate Christmas giving perhaps because it is seen as a family festival and women are the “kin keepers,” taking more responsibility for maintaining family and social ties.
-o0o-
One of Cheal’s respondents explained that her reason for giving is “to be a message. You have interest in that person, whatever the message is at the moment.”
Highfield stressed that other studies have shown that we are little different from the Hazda in that gift giving often puts the recipient under an obligation, exploiting a reciprocal instinct that places the act closer to pure barter.
Much of Christmas giving actually reveals a more calculated character, following certain rules and obeying certain taboos.
Carole Burgoyne and Stephen Lea of the University of Exter, England said: “To violate these rules, to give too little, or indeed to give too much, can be insulting.”
One traditional taboo is the gift of money, according to Highfield.
If we hand out checks and cash, he explained, “the materialist underbelly of Christmas is laid bare for all to see. As a result, money is not a universally acceptable medium of exchange.”
Gifts of money also imply a lack of effort and insight on the part of the giver, according to a study of 92 students conducted by Burgoyne and David Routh of Bristol University in England.
Another study by Lea showed that this was particularly so when money was given by a child to a parent, but not when it was a gift from a grandparent or parent to a child.
Highfield stressed that today’s psychologists see gifts as a way of initiating and maintaining relationships--just as we observed in the case of Henry III.
According to Bourgoyne, Christmas tends to differ from other giving rituals, such as birthdays, because it is more likely to involve a simultaneous exchange.
In relationships where reciprocity is expected, there can be serious consequences of the failure to give a gift.
These are more likely to occur in closer relationships, such as between siblings, parents and children, or girlfriend and boyfriend.
“The nonappearance of a gift is likely to lead to broken relationships and family row unless there is a very good explanation for it,” Burgoyne wrote.
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)
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Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Santa Claus' timely visit to City Hall
"No sane local official who has hung up an empty stocking over the municipal fireplace, is going to shoot Santa Claus just before a hard Christmas."
--Al Smith
By Alex P. Vidal
SANTA Claus came to Iloilo City Hall just in time.
The check worth P134,927,522.63 personally delivered by Panay Electric Company (PECO) Public Engagement and Government Affairs office boss Marcelo Cacho to Iloilo City Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Treñas and City Treasurer Jinny Hermano for its real property tax arrears on December 9 can be best described as "Merry Christmas payment."
The gargantuan amount was timely as it could help cover up so many expenses to be incurred by the city government in the Yuletide season, including the Christmas bonuses of employees, among other year-end financial obligations.
If Santa Claus did not come to the City Hall on time, Santa Claus and his family would have lost some multi-million pesos worth of properties the city government had been preparing to auction off.
It was but a right move in the right circumstance at the right time.
-o0o-
As a quid pro quo, the auction had been called off and everyone was happy, to say the least.
The decision to settle PECO's "long-overdue" (it reportedly accumulated since the past two administrations) real property tax arrears certainly wasn't made overnight.
The Cacho family and Mayor Treñas, a long-time family friend and once-upon-a-time PECO's legal counsel, probably had a "heart-to-heart" talk prior to Santa Claus' dramatic show up in the City Hall on Monday.
Thus I don't see any point why City Hall will continue to sustain its animosity with the controversial power firm now that the tax arrears have been settled.
Mayor Treñas, however, has to be fair to both the MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) and the PECO, and will never interfere in the ongoing legal battle between the two firms.
If Ilonggos know how to read between the lines and the city mayor's body language, they can't make any absolute conclusion yet that the city mayor is hell-bent to abscond from its past relationship with the PECO.
-o0o-
ASIDE from the cash windfall Ilonggo athletes who won gold, silver, and bronze medals in the recent 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) hosted by the Philippines will get from the national government, the city and provincial government of Iloilo should also chip in and set aside special funds for these sports heroes in time for the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
We suggest that a gold medalist be given P200,000; P100,000 for a silver medalist; and P50,000 for a bronze medalist.
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) will reportedly give P600,000 for a gold medalist; P400,000 for a silver medalist; and P200,000 for a bronze medalist.
The athletes have sacrificed so much to give our country honor, thus it is but proper that the national and local governments acknowledge their efforts and heroic performances by showering them with financial incentives.
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)
--Al Smith
By Alex P. Vidal
SANTA Claus came to Iloilo City Hall just in time.
The check worth P134,927,522.63 personally delivered by Panay Electric Company (PECO) Public Engagement and Government Affairs office boss Marcelo Cacho to Iloilo City Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Treñas and City Treasurer Jinny Hermano for its real property tax arrears on December 9 can be best described as "Merry Christmas payment."
The gargantuan amount was timely as it could help cover up so many expenses to be incurred by the city government in the Yuletide season, including the Christmas bonuses of employees, among other year-end financial obligations.
If Santa Claus did not come to the City Hall on time, Santa Claus and his family would have lost some multi-million pesos worth of properties the city government had been preparing to auction off.
It was but a right move in the right circumstance at the right time.
-o0o-
As a quid pro quo, the auction had been called off and everyone was happy, to say the least.
The decision to settle PECO's "long-overdue" (it reportedly accumulated since the past two administrations) real property tax arrears certainly wasn't made overnight.
The Cacho family and Mayor Treñas, a long-time family friend and once-upon-a-time PECO's legal counsel, probably had a "heart-to-heart" talk prior to Santa Claus' dramatic show up in the City Hall on Monday.
Thus I don't see any point why City Hall will continue to sustain its animosity with the controversial power firm now that the tax arrears have been settled.
Mayor Treñas, however, has to be fair to both the MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) and the PECO, and will never interfere in the ongoing legal battle between the two firms.
If Ilonggos know how to read between the lines and the city mayor's body language, they can't make any absolute conclusion yet that the city mayor is hell-bent to abscond from its past relationship with the PECO.
-o0o-
ASIDE from the cash windfall Ilonggo athletes who won gold, silver, and bronze medals in the recent 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) hosted by the Philippines will get from the national government, the city and provincial government of Iloilo should also chip in and set aside special funds for these sports heroes in time for the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
We suggest that a gold medalist be given P200,000; P100,000 for a silver medalist; and P50,000 for a bronze medalist.
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) will reportedly give P600,000 for a gold medalist; P400,000 for a silver medalist; and P200,000 for a bronze medalist.
The athletes have sacrificed so much to give our country honor, thus it is but proper that the national and local governments acknowledge their efforts and heroic performances by showering them with financial incentives.
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)
Monday, December 9, 2019
PECO's 'humility'; my advice to Bacolod aldermen
"Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility."
--Saint Augustine
By Alex P. Vidal
THE humility shown by the Panay Electric Company (PECO) when it settled its real property tax arrears amounting to more than P134 million with the Iloilo City government on December 9, has eclipsed all the negative stories appended to the power firm's name by its detractors these past months.
It also stunned PECO's enemies who have been composing its obituary these past 11 months.
No less than PECO Public Engagement and Government Affairs office boss Marcelo Cacho personally delivered a check for P134,927,522.63 to the City Hall received by Iloilo City Mayor Geronimo "Jerry" Treñas and City Treasurer Jinny Hermano.
Cacho's classic move beat to the draw the threat of the city government to auction the multi-million worth of PECO properties included in the tax arrears.
The payment covered the value of PECO properties covered by two tax assessments.
-o0o-
PECO showed to all and sundry it's not yet a dead horse or a Zeppelin Hindenburg that is about to burst into flames contrary to what its critics have been portraying PECO.
No giant company under threat of extinction can hammer out such brilliant move just when everyone thought it was ready to be nailed in the coffin.
How can the City Hall now adopt an indifferent attitude toward a productive and "responsible" tax payer?
City Hall can't kill the goose that lays the golden egg.
It would be estoppel if the city government will cease to transact business with PECO now that it has wiped out all its outstanding tax liabilities.
PECO's latest action can certainly help boost its case against MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power), which has been granted a franchise to operate as power distributor in Iloilo City when PECO's 24-year franchise expired in January 2019.
-o0o-
The Bacolod City Council will look and sound ridiculous if it goes on with its threat to declare Manil-based broadcaster Ben Tulfo as "persona non grata" or an unacceptable or unwelcome person.
The city aldermen's beef against Tulfo came from the broadcaster's criticism and "embarrassing" attack against Bacolod City Mayor Bing Leonardia "and (for) putting the city of Bacolod in a bad light in his YouTube program without first verifying the claims of a certain Norma."
“Norma” supposedly sought Tulfo's help alleging she was not paid for a basketball tournament she organized in Bacolod City last October during the Masskara Festival.
Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and city councilors sympathetic to Leonardia claimed the Masskara Festival had nothing to do with "Norma's" basketball event.
They vouched for the city mayor who claimed innocence on the issue and who himself begrudged Tulfo's tirades.
What will the Bacolod City Council or the Bacolod City government in general get if Tulfo has been declared as persona non grata? Nothing except a waste of time and a waste of tax payers' money.
Tulfo is "only" a broadcast journalist and will remain as such even if all the city councils in the Philippines will declare him as persona non grata. He has no supernatural power; he isn't the court and doesn't have any legal personality.
His job is to bark at inept and corrupt public officials and men in uniform and make them angry. When they are mad, that's when the likes of Tulfo become successful.
Making people in government and military men blow their top is mission accomplished for crusading journalists.
-o0o-
The persona non grata tag won't stop Tulfo from his role as watchdog and "fiscalizer" of the government's three branches: executive, legislative, judiciary.
Tulfo, or any journalist for that matter, doesn't fear such threat from any legislative branch of the government. It will even embolden Tulfo to further scrutinize and lambast corrupt and inept public officials.
My advice to the Bacolod City Council is this: Belie Tulfo's accusations and unmask Norma in the same platform: public forum or the bar of public opinion; and call a press conference and/or issue a press statement airing Leonardia's side.
The people aren't stupid not to distinguish who's telling the truth.
--Saint Augustine
By Alex P. Vidal
THE humility shown by the Panay Electric Company (PECO) when it settled its real property tax arrears amounting to more than P134 million with the Iloilo City government on December 9, has eclipsed all the negative stories appended to the power firm's name by its detractors these past months.
It also stunned PECO's enemies who have been composing its obituary these past 11 months.
No less than PECO Public Engagement and Government Affairs office boss Marcelo Cacho personally delivered a check for P134,927,522.63 to the City Hall received by Iloilo City Mayor Geronimo "Jerry" Treñas and City Treasurer Jinny Hermano.
Cacho's classic move beat to the draw the threat of the city government to auction the multi-million worth of PECO properties included in the tax arrears.
The payment covered the value of PECO properties covered by two tax assessments.
-o0o-
PECO showed to all and sundry it's not yet a dead horse or a Zeppelin Hindenburg that is about to burst into flames contrary to what its critics have been portraying PECO.
No giant company under threat of extinction can hammer out such brilliant move just when everyone thought it was ready to be nailed in the coffin.
How can the City Hall now adopt an indifferent attitude toward a productive and "responsible" tax payer?
City Hall can't kill the goose that lays the golden egg.
It would be estoppel if the city government will cease to transact business with PECO now that it has wiped out all its outstanding tax liabilities.
PECO's latest action can certainly help boost its case against MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power), which has been granted a franchise to operate as power distributor in Iloilo City when PECO's 24-year franchise expired in January 2019.
-o0o-
The Bacolod City Council will look and sound ridiculous if it goes on with its threat to declare Manil-based broadcaster Ben Tulfo as "persona non grata" or an unacceptable or unwelcome person.
The city aldermen's beef against Tulfo came from the broadcaster's criticism and "embarrassing" attack against Bacolod City Mayor Bing Leonardia "and (for) putting the city of Bacolod in a bad light in his YouTube program without first verifying the claims of a certain Norma."
“Norma” supposedly sought Tulfo's help alleging she was not paid for a basketball tournament she organized in Bacolod City last October during the Masskara Festival.
Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and city councilors sympathetic to Leonardia claimed the Masskara Festival had nothing to do with "Norma's" basketball event.
They vouched for the city mayor who claimed innocence on the issue and who himself begrudged Tulfo's tirades.
What will the Bacolod City Council or the Bacolod City government in general get if Tulfo has been declared as persona non grata? Nothing except a waste of time and a waste of tax payers' money.
Tulfo is "only" a broadcast journalist and will remain as such even if all the city councils in the Philippines will declare him as persona non grata. He has no supernatural power; he isn't the court and doesn't have any legal personality.
His job is to bark at inept and corrupt public officials and men in uniform and make them angry. When they are mad, that's when the likes of Tulfo become successful.
Making people in government and military men blow their top is mission accomplished for crusading journalists.
-o0o-
The persona non grata tag won't stop Tulfo from his role as watchdog and "fiscalizer" of the government's three branches: executive, legislative, judiciary.
Tulfo, or any journalist for that matter, doesn't fear such threat from any legislative branch of the government. It will even embolden Tulfo to further scrutinize and lambast corrupt and inept public officials.
My advice to the Bacolod City Council is this: Belie Tulfo's accusations and unmask Norma in the same platform: public forum or the bar of public opinion; and call a press conference and/or issue a press statement airing Leonardia's side.
The people aren't stupid not to distinguish who's telling the truth.
That's how democracy works.
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)
Saturday, December 7, 2019
A laudable city ordinance
“We are not victims of aging, sickness and death. These are part of scenery, not the seer, who is immune to any form of change. This seer is the spirit, the expression of eternal being.”
--Deepak Chopra
By Alex P. Vidal
SOMETHING good came out from the Iloilo City Council before the end of 2019.
This was the unanimous passage of an ordinance amending Ordinance 2017-053 which honors Iloilo City-based Centenarians, granting them additional cash incentives of P10,000 upon reaching the age of 80 and P20,000 upon reaching the age of 90 years old and P50,000 cash incentives for elderly who reach 100 years old.
We laud Councilor Irene Ong, proponent of the ordinance, who confirmed in a report that an Ilonggo elderly will receive a total of P80,000 worth of cash incentives from the city government at the age of 100 years old.
Senior citizens in Iloilo City will have something to expect once they reach 80, 90, and even 100 because of the ordinance filed by Councilor Ong.
The amount may not be too big given the current economic reality in the Philippines, but the gesture of the city government will certainly enliven the hearts of many Ilonggos who have parents and grandparents qualified to avail of the cash incentives.
Because of this really impressive ordinance, Ilonggo households with elderly members will never forget Councilor Ong especially if he will run for a higher office in the future.
Ilonggos know how remember and even pay back “utang nga kabalaslan” or debt of gratitude.
-o0o-
Many people laughed when Kingdom of Jesus Christ boss Pastor Apollo Quiboloy boasted “he stopped” the recent earthquake in Mindanao.
They also “hoped” Quiboloy would stop typhoon “Tisoy” and laughed once more when he “did not.”
We all know that his allegations were hogwash yet many Filipinos believed in what he has been saying hook, line, and sinker.
If Quiboloy were a candidate for senator, he would surely win.
This is the kind of personality that Filipinos actually want and need nowadays.
We don’t take seriously our defective electoral process; we continued to elect into office personalities who should be either in jail, in the elementary schools, in mental institutions, or in the fiesta and public plaza circus.
The reason is simple: many Filipinos are tired of serious and intelligent candidates with sterling academic and professional background who will only impoverish our country.
Based on the kind of public officials we have electing (especially in the Lower and Upper House of Congress) these past years, we won’t be surprised in the future if most of our senators and congressmen will act, speak and think like Pastor Quiboloy so we will have more reason to laugh.
-o0o-
Will we die if we run out of sweat?
We are now on the verge of winter season here in the East Coast and we are no longer experiencing any sweat even if we are active physically.
The whole point of sweat is to keep the body cool.
This is pretty vital, according to Popular Science: if our core temperature goes above 104 F (40 C), our body begins to overheat to the point where its proteins denature.
When this happens, “membranes of the tissues lose their integrity, and things leak out,” said Lawrence Spriet.
--Deepak Chopra
By Alex P. Vidal
SOMETHING good came out from the Iloilo City Council before the end of 2019.
This was the unanimous passage of an ordinance amending Ordinance 2017-053 which honors Iloilo City-based Centenarians, granting them additional cash incentives of P10,000 upon reaching the age of 80 and P20,000 upon reaching the age of 90 years old and P50,000 cash incentives for elderly who reach 100 years old.
We laud Councilor Irene Ong, proponent of the ordinance, who confirmed in a report that an Ilonggo elderly will receive a total of P80,000 worth of cash incentives from the city government at the age of 100 years old.
Senior citizens in Iloilo City will have something to expect once they reach 80, 90, and even 100 because of the ordinance filed by Councilor Ong.
The amount may not be too big given the current economic reality in the Philippines, but the gesture of the city government will certainly enliven the hearts of many Ilonggos who have parents and grandparents qualified to avail of the cash incentives.
Because of this really impressive ordinance, Ilonggo households with elderly members will never forget Councilor Ong especially if he will run for a higher office in the future.
Ilonggos know how remember and even pay back “utang nga kabalaslan” or debt of gratitude.
-o0o-
Many people laughed when Kingdom of Jesus Christ boss Pastor Apollo Quiboloy boasted “he stopped” the recent earthquake in Mindanao.
They also “hoped” Quiboloy would stop typhoon “Tisoy” and laughed once more when he “did not.”
We all know that his allegations were hogwash yet many Filipinos believed in what he has been saying hook, line, and sinker.
If Quiboloy were a candidate for senator, he would surely win.
This is the kind of personality that Filipinos actually want and need nowadays.
We don’t take seriously our defective electoral process; we continued to elect into office personalities who should be either in jail, in the elementary schools, in mental institutions, or in the fiesta and public plaza circus.
The reason is simple: many Filipinos are tired of serious and intelligent candidates with sterling academic and professional background who will only impoverish our country.
Based on the kind of public officials we have electing (especially in the Lower and Upper House of Congress) these past years, we won’t be surprised in the future if most of our senators and congressmen will act, speak and think like Pastor Quiboloy so we will have more reason to laugh.
-o0o-
Will we die if we run out of sweat?
We are now on the verge of winter season here in the East Coast and we are no longer experiencing any sweat even if we are active physically.
The whole point of sweat is to keep the body cool.
This is pretty vital, according to Popular Science: if our core temperature goes above 104 F (40 C), our body begins to overheat to the point where its proteins denature.
When this happens, “membranes of the tissues lose their integrity, and things leak out,” said Lawrence Spriet.
The intestines can discharge bacteria into the bloodstream, and the body goes into shock.
By then we would probably be unconscious, possibly even in a coma.
But while people do in fact die of overheating, it’s reportedly very unlike to be due to a sweat shortage.
As pointed out by Lawrence Armstrong, even in extreme cases it’s impossible to sweat out all the water in our bodies.
“People don’t shrivel up until they are dead,” he said.
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)
By then we would probably be unconscious, possibly even in a coma.
But while people do in fact die of overheating, it’s reportedly very unlike to be due to a sweat shortage.
As pointed out by Lawrence Armstrong, even in extreme cases it’s impossible to sweat out all the water in our bodies.
“People don’t shrivel up until they are dead,” he said.
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)
Thursday, December 5, 2019
It's not yet over 'til the fat lady sings
“True, it's not over till it's over. And even when it's over, it just begins again.”
― Kate McGahan
By Alex P. Vidal
THE final hymn wasn't played yet.
But it looks like MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) will close the year 2019 with a major edge over its rival, Panay Electric Company (PECO), with its recent victory in the Supreme Court that halted the implementation of the ruling of the Mandaluyong City Regional Trial Court (RTC) declaring two sections of MORE Power’s franchise law void and unconstitutional.
Ilonggos saw MORE Power and PECO spend the 2019 in bloody legal skirmishes.
PECO, for sure, still have several aces up its sleeves and isn't in the mood yet of throwing in the white towel.
After this latest major setback in the SC, PECO is expected to go back to the drawing board and prepare for the next showdown with the MORE Power when they start the 2020 next month.
The more PECO is wounded, the more it is emboldened to assemble a larger army for a bigger battle.
After having seized the superior position, MORE Power won't sleep on its victory; instead, it is expected to tighten up its grip in the pivotal SC en banc decision and sustain the juggernaut.
The suspense and thriller movie of the year the Ilonggo electric consumers have started watching in 2019 will have a more intense and complicated continuation in 2020.
-o0o-
POLICE Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) Spokesperson, Lt. Colonel Joem Malong called as "fake news" the report that several school kids in Western Visayas were recently abducted by a group of men from Manila.
A "wrong information" is different from "fake news."
Since the abduction story was false, it's a wrong story or wrong information.
It can only be called as "fake news" if it was announced in the public in the form of a legitimate news item in the media: newspaper, TV, radio, Internet.
But if it came from unreliable and unverified sources and spread only in the coffee shops, barber shops, in casual conversations with no factual basis and not even a raw data, it's a plain and simple "wrong information."
Since the story about the abduction of school children was never processed as a news item (meaning it never met the basic news ingredients of who, what, why, when, and how) it could not be qualified to be in the category of a legitimate news; therefore it shouldn't be called as "fake news."
It maybe called only as a "kotso-kotso" (gossip) or "himu-himu estorya" (fabricated story).
-o0o-
The splendid performances of our athletes in the ongoing 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) being hosted by the Philippines and the pomp and glorious display of excellence by the host country during the opening ceremonies is a different story.
We should be proud of it as Filipinos; we must proclaim it all over the world. No problem with that.
But the alleged corruption in massive scale of the country's sports officials and the accountability of Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano as head of the Philippine Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) is another story.
We shouldn't be too overwhelmed by the success of our athletes and the splendor of the opening programs and parades that we will become deaf, mute, and blind to the major concern: some P6 billion of taxpayers money should be accounted for--only when all the athletes have gone home to their respective countries and the games were over.
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)
― Kate McGahan
By Alex P. Vidal
THE final hymn wasn't played yet.
But it looks like MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) will close the year 2019 with a major edge over its rival, Panay Electric Company (PECO), with its recent victory in the Supreme Court that halted the implementation of the ruling of the Mandaluyong City Regional Trial Court (RTC) declaring two sections of MORE Power’s franchise law void and unconstitutional.
Ilonggos saw MORE Power and PECO spend the 2019 in bloody legal skirmishes.
PECO, for sure, still have several aces up its sleeves and isn't in the mood yet of throwing in the white towel.
After this latest major setback in the SC, PECO is expected to go back to the drawing board and prepare for the next showdown with the MORE Power when they start the 2020 next month.
The more PECO is wounded, the more it is emboldened to assemble a larger army for a bigger battle.
After having seized the superior position, MORE Power won't sleep on its victory; instead, it is expected to tighten up its grip in the pivotal SC en banc decision and sustain the juggernaut.
The suspense and thriller movie of the year the Ilonggo electric consumers have started watching in 2019 will have a more intense and complicated continuation in 2020.
-o0o-
POLICE Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) Spokesperson, Lt. Colonel Joem Malong called as "fake news" the report that several school kids in Western Visayas were recently abducted by a group of men from Manila.
A "wrong information" is different from "fake news."
Since the abduction story was false, it's a wrong story or wrong information.
It can only be called as "fake news" if it was announced in the public in the form of a legitimate news item in the media: newspaper, TV, radio, Internet.
But if it came from unreliable and unverified sources and spread only in the coffee shops, barber shops, in casual conversations with no factual basis and not even a raw data, it's a plain and simple "wrong information."
Since the story about the abduction of school children was never processed as a news item (meaning it never met the basic news ingredients of who, what, why, when, and how) it could not be qualified to be in the category of a legitimate news; therefore it shouldn't be called as "fake news."
It maybe called only as a "kotso-kotso" (gossip) or "himu-himu estorya" (fabricated story).
-o0o-
The splendid performances of our athletes in the ongoing 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) being hosted by the Philippines and the pomp and glorious display of excellence by the host country during the opening ceremonies is a different story.
We should be proud of it as Filipinos; we must proclaim it all over the world. No problem with that.
But the alleged corruption in massive scale of the country's sports officials and the accountability of Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano as head of the Philippine Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) is another story.
We shouldn't be too overwhelmed by the success of our athletes and the splendor of the opening programs and parades that we will become deaf, mute, and blind to the major concern: some P6 billion of taxpayers money should be accounted for--only when all the athletes have gone home to their respective countries and the games were over.
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
Proud Ilonggos
"I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him."
--Abraham Lincoln
By Alex P. Vidal
ASIDE from the excellent performances of Iloilo athletes now competing in the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) hosted by the Philippines, there is another reason why Ilonggos are so proud and should be prouder nowadays.
Iloilo City has been adjudged as the Association of SouthEast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Clean Tourist City Awardee.
The announcement of Iloilo City's winning of the ASEAN Clean Tourist City Award came a week before Ilonggo athletes helped the host country amass gold, silver, and bronze medals in the biennial meet to lead in the medal tally.
There are more positive stories about Iloilo and the Ilonggos in sports, entertainment, art, cooking, economy, which make up for the toxic politics and bad weather condition that every now and then threaten to sabotage the happiness and peace of mind of Ilonggos who are mostly proud of their heritage, culture, talents, and achievements.
-o0o-
It was reported that after being evaluated as one of the cleanest urban centers and top tourist destinations not just in the Philippines, but also in the Southeast Asian Region, the "City of Love" recently bagged the highly touted ASEAN Award.
Iloilo City has gone a long way from being slandered as "the most shabulized city in the Philippines" to being recognized for its initiative in the improvement and beautification of public areas and urban spaces, its conservation for the environment and natural attractions, and maintaining the cleanliness and sanitation.
The evaluating team reportedly gave Iloilo City a successful grade after having complied with the ASEAN Clean Tourist City Standard’s seven indicators namely: 1. Environmental management, 2. Cleanliness, 3. Waste Management, 4. Awareness-Building about Environmental Protection and Cleanliness, 5. Green Spaces, 6. Health Safety, Urban Safety, and Security; and 7. Tourism Infrastructure and Facilities.
Reports said the ASEAN Clean Tourist City Award is a recognition to encourage ASEAN nation-members to be competitive in their tourism and marketing sectors to create jobs and push economic growth, granted Iloilo City with a badge of excellence with a validity of three years, from 2020 to 2022.
-o0o-
WHILE the Iloilo City Hall wallowed in the darkeness after the "switch-off" or power black out on November 28, the Iloilo Provincial Capitol glimmered after an official switch-on of colorful LED lights to officially kick off the Christmas season on December 2.
In any modern Christian world, Yuletide season is the season with the most demand for more lights used for Christmas trees, decorations, plazas, arks to welcome visitors and other public places.
If the City Hall doesn't have a problem with the Panay Electric Company (PECO), it may request the power firm for a special assistance to help them keep their steady or uninterrupted electric supply in this important season.
Setting aside a special fund to defray the expenses that may be incurred in maintaining colorful and state-of-the-art lights should be tolerated by any local government unit (LGU) at least only for the spirit of Christmas which will last only until first week of January.
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)
--Abraham Lincoln
By Alex P. Vidal
ASIDE from the excellent performances of Iloilo athletes now competing in the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) hosted by the Philippines, there is another reason why Ilonggos are so proud and should be prouder nowadays.
Iloilo City has been adjudged as the Association of SouthEast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Clean Tourist City Awardee.
The announcement of Iloilo City's winning of the ASEAN Clean Tourist City Award came a week before Ilonggo athletes helped the host country amass gold, silver, and bronze medals in the biennial meet to lead in the medal tally.
There are more positive stories about Iloilo and the Ilonggos in sports, entertainment, art, cooking, economy, which make up for the toxic politics and bad weather condition that every now and then threaten to sabotage the happiness and peace of mind of Ilonggos who are mostly proud of their heritage, culture, talents, and achievements.
-o0o-
It was reported that after being evaluated as one of the cleanest urban centers and top tourist destinations not just in the Philippines, but also in the Southeast Asian Region, the "City of Love" recently bagged the highly touted ASEAN Award.
Iloilo City has gone a long way from being slandered as "the most shabulized city in the Philippines" to being recognized for its initiative in the improvement and beautification of public areas and urban spaces, its conservation for the environment and natural attractions, and maintaining the cleanliness and sanitation.
The evaluating team reportedly gave Iloilo City a successful grade after having complied with the ASEAN Clean Tourist City Standard’s seven indicators namely: 1. Environmental management, 2. Cleanliness, 3. Waste Management, 4. Awareness-Building about Environmental Protection and Cleanliness, 5. Green Spaces, 6. Health Safety, Urban Safety, and Security; and 7. Tourism Infrastructure and Facilities.
Reports said the ASEAN Clean Tourist City Award is a recognition to encourage ASEAN nation-members to be competitive in their tourism and marketing sectors to create jobs and push economic growth, granted Iloilo City with a badge of excellence with a validity of three years, from 2020 to 2022.
-o0o-
WHILE the Iloilo City Hall wallowed in the darkeness after the "switch-off" or power black out on November 28, the Iloilo Provincial Capitol glimmered after an official switch-on of colorful LED lights to officially kick off the Christmas season on December 2.
In any modern Christian world, Yuletide season is the season with the most demand for more lights used for Christmas trees, decorations, plazas, arks to welcome visitors and other public places.
If the City Hall doesn't have a problem with the Panay Electric Company (PECO), it may request the power firm for a special assistance to help them keep their steady or uninterrupted electric supply in this important season.
Setting aside a special fund to defray the expenses that may be incurred in maintaining colorful and state-of-the-art lights should be tolerated by any local government unit (LGU) at least only for the spirit of Christmas which will last only until first week of January.
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)
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