Citizen Rodrigo no longer the most feared politician

“When an elephant is in trouble even a frog will kick him.”

—Hindu Proverb

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

WHEN he was in power, even the reptiles and serpents feared former Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

As a citizen Rodrigo, even the frogs and squirrels in congress are not only willing to stand toe to toe against the now powerless former strongman of Davao City; they are also willing to kick him like the elephant in the Hindu Proverb.

They didn’t fear him anymore. They have no reason to shake in their boots when they engage him in a word war since they are in power while citizen Rodrigo is not.

And especially if they didn’t cast the first stone.

Citizen Rodrigo didn’t only cast the first stone; he went south of the border when he decided to pick a fight against the Lower House in an apparent act of retaliation after congress had stripped his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, of hundreds of millions of pesos in confidential funds for next year.

Outraged, daddy citizen Rodrigo didn’t take the sally sitting down. 

Thus, congress now has a casus belli against the Davao kingpin and the tora torabattle wasn’t totally unexpected. 

Calling the Philippine House of Representatives as the “most rotten institution” in the country, citizen Rodrigo said, “there is no limit to their pork barrel.”

 

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He went ballistic after congressmen had stripped several agencies including the Office of the Vice President (OVP) of their confidential funds, transferring P1.23 billion worth of these funds to security agencies amid worsening tensions with China in the West Philippine Sea.

For his part, Speaker Martin Romualdez snapped back in Filipino while presiding over the recent session, “I will stand and fight against anyone who scares us into following what they want. I will – all of us will stand for the welfare of the country.”

“We will also not allow anyone to stop us from accomplishing our mandate for our countrymen,” Romualdez said in his speech. “Nothing personal, just business.”

In slamming the former president, congress showed it wasn’t intimidated with the man who was catapulted into power in 2016 by promising the Filipinos to solve criminalities and eliminate illegal drugs in the Philippine in six months of his administration. 

Even if he will continue to use dirty words and threaten those that he perceived to be standing in the way of his daughter’s bid for the presidency in 2028, it seems citizen Rodrigo is no longer the most feared person in the Philippines.

 

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SAVING OUR PLANET. Let's share water. If we prefer to bathe rather than take a shower, let's think about sharing water in the family--take it in turns to bathe first, and minimize the soap and shampoo we use. A bathful should be plenty for two children or an adult couple to share.

The words "naked" and "nude" are not the same thing. Naked implies unprotected. Nude means unclothed.

ONE MONTH SINCE TERROR. It’s been a month since Hamas launched surprise cross-border raids from Gaza on October 7, killing 1,400 in Israel and kidnapping more than 240 hostages. 

Israel is currently retaliating on Gaza with a constant barrage of airstrikes as it aims to eliminate the militant group. More than 10,000 people have been killed since Israel began its military offensive nearly a month ago, the Hamas-controlled health ministry in the Palestinian enclave said Monday. 

Meanwhile, CNN has reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to allow a ceasefire until Hamas releases all the remaining hostages, which includes civilian men, women and children. So far, Hamas has released just four hostages—two elderly Israeli women and an American mother and daughter—while the IDF last week said troops had rescued an Israeli soldier.

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

It’s impossible to stop newly elected druggies

“If you want to deal with an epidemic - crime or health - the smartest and most effective and cheapest way to deal with it is prevention first.”

—Kamala Harris

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

ILOILO City Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Treñas can’t compel newly elected barangay officials to undergo a drug test since there are no laws that will prevent them from assuming their positions if they refuse the test.

If they are aware that taking the drug test will expose them to shame and embarrassment if the results are positive, no druggie village official will come forward to volunteer for the test.

Self-incrimination is the intentional or unintentional act of providing information that will suggest your involvement in a crime, or expose you to criminal prosecution.

The law provides protection to individuals from being compelled to incriminate themselves.

Also, the efforts to prod them to undergo a drug test should have been done before they filed their certificates of candidacy (COC), not after they have already taken their oath of office.

In other words, drug addicts and even drug traffickers who won in the October 30 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) can no longer be stopped from assuming their respective positions since they now have the mandates of the electorate.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has admitted some of the winners in the BSKE were drug users and even suspected drug traffickers based on their background investigation.

The efforts of our authorities are cure not prevention. An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure, so goes the popular saying.

 

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The appointment of Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. finally ended the speculations that the Marcos Jr. administration was trying to win former DILG secretary and 2016 defeated presidential candidate Mar Roxas by offering him the DA portfolio.

The news about President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s alleged attempt to woo Roxas on the administration’s side started to make rounds when the president and the scion of the Roxas political clan in Capiz recently met in Roxas City, Capiz where they were photographed in “sweet” moments recollecting the old days when they were studying together in New York City in the 70s. 

It also sent shivers down the spine of the supporters of former Vice President Leni Robredo, Roxas’ former running mate, who lost to Mr. Marcos Jr. in the 2022 presidential election.

Many supporters of Robredo believe she was “cheated” but their suspicions remained suspicions and were never corroborated by accurate and solid pieces of evidence.

 

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SAVING OUR PLANET. Let's dry ourselves organically. Let's buy organic, unbleached cotton towels to use after our bath, and try to use the smallest towels possible for the job because they will require less laundering. We can do it! This is very possible! I have already tried this several times while staying in California more than 10 years ago.

MYTH: Taking a tiny taste of leftovers from our fridge is an easy way to determine if they're still OK to eat. 

SAVING OUR PLANET: Fiberglass folly. Some bathroom companies still use fiberglass. Let's avoid it whenever possible as a great lot of energy is wasted during fiberglass manufacture. Simple but sensible.

REALITY: Cooked meat or poultry stored longer than four days may begin to spoil--but you may not be able to tell anything is off just by taste. And even a little nibble could make us sick. If we can't remember when we stored it, let's throw it out. (Source: Kitchen Mythbusters)

ECCLESIOPHOBIA is a fear of church. Ecclesiophobics can still pray at home or any place that is not necessarily surrounded by giant statues and other expensive figures normally seen inside the church.

SATANOPHOBIA is a fear of Satan. 

HAMARTOPHOBIA is a fear of committing a sin.

LOVERS in Singapore are the least amorous, having sex just 96 times a year—the only nation to dip below the magic 100 mark.

 

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There are many ways in which a knowledge of biological science can be of great value to all of us. Some of these, according to the High Points of Biology, are as follows:

1. One learns a great deal about health and disease through the study of biology. This knowledge is important to our daily well-being.

2. Biology provides us with a knowledge of plants and animals. On trips, hikes, vacations, and in everyday activities, this information is a source of fun and interest.

3. The breeding and care of plants and animals are profitable and fascinating topics in biology.

4. Biology teaches us to understand how our own bodies work.

5. Gardening and agriculture are based on knowledge of biological principles.

6. The wise and efficient use of our natural resources can be helped through biological study of conservation.

7. Many occupations and professions require a background of biology. Among these are medicine, dentistry, veterinary work, laboratory, hospital, museum and research work, farming, nursing, and pharmacy.

8. Hobbies of all types are often developed as a result of biological work in the classroom. Insect collecting, nature photography, and microscopy are a few examples of these hobbies.

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

Saddened and alarmed

“All murder is a tragedy but when journalists are killed, public debate loses a voice that can provide an important contribution to democracy. It is essential that governments do all they can to ensure safe conditions for journalists to carry out their work.”

—Irina Bokova

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

WE are saddened and alarmed by the recent murder of our colleague from Misamis Occidental, Juan Jumalon, a radio broadcaster known to his listeners as “DJ Johnny Walker.”

We have lost count of the number of denunciations and calls for swift justice in the past for our fallen comrades. 

Jumalon, 57, was reading the greetings of his listeners on-air at around 5:30 a.m. on November 5 when a man wearing a cap walked inside the announcer’s booth, shot him in the mouth and grabbed the victim’s gold necklace before fleeing.

He was the 199^th member of the press killed since democracy was allegedly restored in 1986 when the family of the current Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr was kicked out of the country in a bloodless EDSA “People Power” Revolution.

While we consider ourselves lucky that we are not among the 199 murder victims in the profession, we can’t help but be increasingly alarmed by the method the assassins used and their style in silencing crusading journalists in the present administration.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) said it would conduct a thorough investigation into Jumalon’s murder, which it described as an “affront to the principles of democracy, freedom of expression, and the sanctity of a free press” even as President Marcos Jr. has condemned the killing and ordered the police “to conduct a thorough investigation to swiftly bring the perpetrators to justice.”

Jumalon’s killing was witnessed in real-time by those listening to his popular Sunday program, “Pahapyod sa Kabuntagon” (Gentle Morning Touch), which was being streamed live on Facebook from his radio station at his home in Barangay Don Bernardo A. Neri, Calamba, Misamis Occidental province.

We demand for a no-nonsense probe on Jumalon’s grisly killing and the immediate arrest of the perpetrators and the mastermind or masterminds.

We aren’t combatants in a democratic country thus the killings of journalist must stop.

 

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Tips to protect ourselves and our family, according to Bank of America.

—Be suspicious of unknown persons calling us. Phone scams aim to heighten our emotional state and create a false sense of urgency—from claiming we owe money to saying w’ve won a prize. Advanced techniques, such as AI technology to impersonate a family member’s voice, have also been used. Hang up and try to make contact directly with the entity or person they claim to be representing. 

—Don’t provide any personal or financial information to scammers.

Research a product before purchasing an item from a social media advertisement.

—See a great deal on vitamins while scrolling through our social media? If it seems too good to be true, there’s a chance it could be a scam. Consider learning more about the company first before buying the item. If we have made a purchase, let’s check our statements for recurring charges.

—Going on a trip? Let’s use trusted travel websites. Scammers will often create false websites to advertise for cheap travel. Let’s use trusted travel agents or diligently research websites when booking travel.

 

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MYTH: Our dishwasher will kill all the germs on our plates, etc. REALITY: Only cycles labeled "sanitizing" must meet requirements for germ killing -- these are generally longer, and also reach hotter rinse temperatures. Consider using sanitizing option if someone in the family has been sick. It's probably not needed for our everyday loads if our dishwasher's doing a fine job on the normal cycle.

MYTH: We should let made-ahead meals cool before we put them in the fridge. REALITY: Large amounts of cooked food should be divided and transferred to shallow containers before refrigerating--and should be chilled immediately. Waiting for the food to cool to room temperature could give bacteria a chance to grow. Today's refrigerators can handle hot foods. (Source: Kitchen Mythbusters)

SAVING OUR PLANET. Let's go electric. As far as energy consumption is concerned, an electric shower (which heats water only as required) is usually a more sounder choice than other water heating systems that heat up more water that we need, thereby wasting precious heat energy. (Source: Esme Floyd)

The longest living cells in the body are brain cells which can live an entire lifetime. 

Cenophobia is a fear of new ideas. Forever ignorant?

Allodoxaphobia is a fear of opinions.

Monophobia is a fear of being alone. 

In 1995, American Gary Kremen secured the rights for the domain sex.com. He sold the rights in 2006 for US$14 million. What a way to become a multi-millionaire.

In 1609, a doctor named Wecker found a corpse in Bologna with two penises. Since then, there have been 80 documented cases of men similarly endowed. 

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

Boy Cabado and Bloody Mary

“History never really says goodbye. History says, 'See you later.'”

—Eduardo Galeano

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

AFTER an “unfortunate” incident at past 10 o’clock in the evening sometime in August 1996 inside the Ihawan Restaurant on corner Delgado-Iznart Streets in Iloilo City, the late former Iloilo Second District Board Member Rodolfo “Boy” Cabado and I haven’t spoken again.

Since arriving from Koronadal, South Cotabato where he allegedly “witnessed” the rumble inside a KTV bar on March 18, 1993 that resulted in the murder of popular Asin band vocalist Cesar “Saro” Bañares Jr., BoyCab, a friend of almost every Ilonggo, would always invite me for a few drinks in Ihawan after my editing tasks in Sun Star Iloilo Daily. 

The “unfortunate” incident happened in our table when he had one drink too many. 

BoyCab, a very humble person and one of the best congressmen Iloilo never had, apologized to me. I accepted the apology but that was the last time we sat together in a beer session. Ihawan was never the same again after a drunken customer was shot dead in the nights that followed.

He became a member of the 9th Sanggunian Panlalawigan in Iloilo years later and subsequently chief of staff of then Iloilo Governor Arthur “Art” Defensor Sr. We never met again. 

When the social media beckoned in the later part of the new millennium, we became “friends” this time in the Facebook, but I was already based outside the Philippines.

 

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He broke the ice with a private message on February 27, 2014, a “lecture” actually about the original Bloody Mary in history.

A brilliant historian-lawyer and lecturer in the Central Philippine University (CPU) College of Law, BoyCab said he was an avid reader of my newspaper columns, thus my “error” in one subject matter I wrote about Bloody Mary didn’t escape his scrutiny.

“Pangga Alex, gin PM ko ini sa imo kay indi ko gusto makita sang iban sa timeline mo- kag basi masiling sila nga strict ako nga history teacher nga la-on! You made reference in your "Tweety" blog about "bloody Mary" being Mary, Queen of Scots (widow of the French King and imprisoned and later allowed to be executed by the then reigning Queen Elizabeth I (daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn). Not quite right. The real "bloody Mary" was Queen Mary I (daughter of Henry VIII with his first queen Katerina, or Catherine, of Aragon, Spain, widow of his deceased elder brother to whose throne he succeeded as king). Mary I was the elder half-sister of Elizabeth I, who reigned after the death of the sickly Edward VI (son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour). Elizabeth I succeeded to the English throne after the death of that real "bloody Mary." 

 

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Again on June 24, 2016, the great BoyCab sent me another private message:

Hi Alex! I remember reading in one of your articles that you had some difficulty finding a copy of Volume 3 of The Story of Civilization dealing with "Caesar and Christ". I happen to have a complete ebook set of the entire 11-volume life work of Will and Ariel Durant (in .epub format) and I'd like to share it with you (unless you have it already). 

Problem is, Facebook has a limited allowance for attachments (25 MB I guess), so I couldn't share it with you via PM. Please give me your email address so I can send it to you pronto. All the best and God bless!

October 27, 2017: Pangga Alex, I was just wondering if you received the complete 12-volume Story of Civilization by Will Durant I sent to you some time ago (after I stole it somewhere). Hehe! Please let me know so I can send it again if you didn't. All the best always!

He made another follow up:

It's 3:00 AM here. Just let me know when you're home and we'll drink ourselves silly, like in the old days. Thanks and God bless!

Yes, I bid you goodnight already. But an inveterate pirate like me is also obsessive-compulsive. I had the complete hardbound set of Copleston when I was studying Philosophy for my pre-law degree. But that was burned in the Capitol fire in 1998. I bought another set (paperbound this time) from Amazon, but that was also lost during the flood of typhoon Frank. Fortunately, I was able to find second-hand paperbacks from different stores here in Iloilo City to complete my third set over a period of time. I put the set on the highest level of my bookshelf - where it's gathering dust and cobwebs. But I'm sending you the complete set below in .pdf format -accessible from Google Drive via the link below. I hope the files are ok. From one bookworm to another. Enjoy!

I learned that he went home to his Creator on November 3, 2023 at 70. Farewell, Atty. BoyCab, my very kind friend and history lecturer. ‘Till we meet again—in another table afterlife.

 

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BANK OF AMERICA warned me in an e-mail dated November 3, 2023 to “be aware of these 4 common scams:

— "I thought it was someone from the bank!" Scammers are professional imposters. They'll pretend to be a relative, a utility company or even Bank of America.

— "They said I had an overdue bill." Scammers want to make you panic and overreact without thinking. A loved one in trouble, a late bill or an amazing deal are all tactics to throw you off.

— "She needed my account info right away."Scammers will want your money fast. They'll tell you to send funds immediately, often via wire transfer or payment apps, where the money is unlikely to be recovered.

— "He was so friendly." Scammers often use social media to deceive. The bank alerted me that scammers will “try to befriend you, strike up a relationship, then hit you with exclusive ‘insider’ deals and get-rich-quick schemes.

It also warned me of the following:

—Scammers will steal your information, your money and even your identity. Don't let them!

—Don't disclose security codes, account info, or passwords/PINs to anyone. We won't text or call you asking for these and only you should enter codes if prompted.

—Don't click links in unsolicited email or text messages.

—Verify requests for money by contacting companies.

—Independently research sellers and deals found on social media before you make a purchase. 

Thank for the tips, Bank of America.

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

 

No journalist killed in BSKE

“The curse of a journalist is that he always has more questions than answers.”

—Bill Keller

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

WE are relieved that no Filipino journalist was killed in the just concluded Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in the Philippines, even as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) finished canvassing ballots in all 42,001 barangays nationwide on November 1.

We thought about the working press and the conditions of our colleagues in the Philippines after new data from the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has revealed a worrying rise in violence against journalists during election periods, and usually at the hands of law enforcement agents.

The United Nations reported November 2, 2023 that between January 2019 and June 2022, UNESCO documented 759 individual attacks against journalists, including five killings, during 89 elections in 70 countries.

Most of these attacks–which included beating and arbitrary arrest—were reportedly committed by police and security forces.

The findings come in a report published in tandem with the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, observed annually on November 2.

It examines the role of law enforcement agents, in ensuring the safety of journalists during public demonstrations and elections. 

From January 2015 to August 2021, UNESCO registered incidents in at least 101 countries where journalists were attacked while covering protests, public demonstrations and riots. 

At least 13 were reportedly killed in such contexts. 

 

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UN said journalists were injured by police firing non-lethal ammunition, such as rubber bullets or pepper balls. Many others were arrested, beaten and in a few cases humiliated. 

“At the same time, a significant number of physical and verbal attacks were perpetrated by demonstrators and people attending the protests,” the report said.

In his message for the Day, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres underlined the risks journalists face in fulfilling their vital role in both upholding and enabling democracy and holding power to account.

“Today and every day, we are grateful to the journalists and all media professionals who risk their health and lives to keep us informed, and to keep the truth alive,” he said.

Citing UNESCO, he said at least 88 journalists were killed in the line of duty in 2022, marking a sharp increase over preceding years.

“The current conflict in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory is taking a horrific toll on journalists,” he added.

Furthermore, he noted that the majority of journalists killed are not war reporters. In fact, they are working in countries that are at peace, investigating issues such as corruption, trafficking, human rights violations, and environmental issues. 

“I am deeply alarmed by these figures, and by the rise in threats of all kinds against journalists,” he said.

“Detention of journalists is at an all-time high. Online harassment of journalists, particularly women, is being used as a tool to silence them.  We need better safeguards to defend the journalists who are keeping us informed.”

 

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The Secretary-General called on all States to prevent violence against journalists, to provide a safe environment for them to do their jobs, to bring to justice those who commit crimes against them, and to ensure support for victims and survivors.

UNESCO has long been advocating for the safety and protection of journalists and all who work in media, and the report contains a number of recommendations for law enforcement agents/agencies (LEAs) and media outlets covering public assemblies.

For example, the sides are encouraged to cultivate “a good and professional relationship” beforehand so that they have clear understanding about their respective roles, responsibilities, potential issues and response.   

LEAs are urged to facilitate the work of journalists, such as identifying a press area or “defined media perimeter” that provides a safe vantage point for them, though understanding that journalists are not obliged to remain there. 

Particular attention should also be given to the specific threats and risks women journalists face, “and it is important to take a gender-sensitive approach when considering measures to address the safety of journalists, especially online.”  

“Regular training for senior LEA management in working with media organizations, notably during elections periods, and for officers working on the ground during public assemblies, notably in facilitating safe media coverage, should be regularly conducted,” the report said.

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

 

 

 

2 Pinoy doctors and DFA’s melodrama

“Conflict is drama, and how people deal with conflict shows you the kind of people they are.”

—Stephen Moyer

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has treated the case of two Filipino doctors who recently crossed the Rafah border from war-torn Gaza Strip to Egypt like a movie script.

And the two doctors—Darwin dela Cruz and Regidor Esguerra—appeared to be willing participants in the melodramatic portrayal by the DFA of a simple crossing in the Gaza-Egypt border by a group of Doctors Without Borders or Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF), which is not actually earthshaking.

Let’s make this clear and put everything in proper perspective.

Dela Cruz and Esguerra are not OFWs or Filipinos based in Palestine who were trapped when Israel started the rocket and brutal ground assaults in Gaza to eviscerate terrorist Hamas.

They were members of MSF international staff permitted to leave Gaza for being international aid workers.

In other words, the crossing of two Pinoy doctors, along with other MSF International staff from other countries, was really expected.

It was not supposed to be exploited and used as shindig by any DFA official to tantalize us that our foreign affairs officials “did something” to rescue trapped Philippine nationals in Gaza.

They can’t smokescreen the exaggeration and aggrandizement.

 

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In fact, the DFA ostensibly violated MSF’s request to “respect the privacy and wellbeing” of all MSF staff when DFA Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega used the MSF staff crossing as a major event owing to the presence in the group of two Filipino doctors. 

By using the occasion for a publicity stunt leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

The two Pinoy doctors, who were supposed to perform their sworn duties and obligations as medical aid workers without any hurly-burly publicity gimmick, were equally liable for exploiting the normal crossing to score pogi points (did they announce their “freedom” in the social media?). They should not. They must not. 

International aid workers are supposed to be reticent who shun publicity.

The MSF had clearly stated the team that crossed the Rafah border recently included 22 MSF staff, where the two Pinoy doctors belonged. “Although some names have been circulated on social media, we ask for their privacy and wellbeing to be respected,” appealed the MSF.

“A new team of international MSF staff, including a specialized medical team, has already been identified and is ready to enter Gaza as soon as the situation allows, to support the humanitarian and medical response.”

DFA, as well as the Philippine Embassy in Israel, is not yet off the hook. Some 134 Filipinos are still in danger of being killed under shelling if they could not be evacuated or allowed to cross from Gaza to Egypt.

These are the warm bodies that need to be evacuated and rescued. 

This is the true state of the Philippine nationals caught in the middle of violence and war between Israel and Hamas.

The DFA should stop the dramatization of the two Pinoy doctors’ crossing—unless they are doing it to hide their incompetence and failures.

 

-o0o-

 

I RECEIVED another email from New York Governor Cathy Hochul which she also sent to other New Yorkers on November 1:

Alex, I know many New Yorkers are hurting right now.

Since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, brutally killing women and children and kidnapping hundreds — including Americans — tension has risen in communities across New York. For Jewish and Muslim New Yorkers alike, the pain is deep, as they fear not just for the safety of their loved ones in harm's way, but increasingly, for their own safety here at home.

As governor, my number one priority is protecting New Yorkers.

I’ve met with Jewish and Muslim communities.

I’ve heard about the fear they’re feeling.

And I want to let you know directly what your state government is doing to protect all New Yorkers from discrimination and violence. New York State is:

—Committing $50 million to help local law enforcement agencies prevent and solve crime, including hate crimes 

—Supporting communities at risk of hate crimes, with $25 million to help vulnerable organizations boost security  

—Conducting a third-party review of CUNY’s antisemitism and anti-discrimination policies  

—Expanding State Police's Social Media Analysis Unit to monitor threats on school and college campuses 

—Launching in-person, community specific community circles through the Division of Human Rights to bring New Yorkers together

—Every single New Yorker has a right to feel safe and to be safe as they go about their daily lives — we must accept nothing less.

We will not allow hate and intimidation to become normalized. We will not risk losing our identity as a place that has been long admired, a place known for acceptance. We are New Yorkers, and we will continue to set an example for the rest of the country and the world.

Ever upward, Gov. Kathy Hochul

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

Adding insult to injury

“Never insult an alligator until after you have crossed the river.”

—Cordell Hull

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

THE social media again became the nerve center of both the winners and losers in the just-concluded October 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Elections (BSKE) in the Philippines.

Many protagonists reinstated their enmity and grudges in the social media even after the winners and losers have been known. 

The itch to swap insults and barbs didn’t end with the results of the election.

Friends and sympathizers added insult to many injuries by not only “liking” the social media posts that ridiculed the losers, but also by making incendiary and provocative comments.  

“Paano indi mapierdi kay asta paryente ya gani wala nag boto sa iya.” 

(No wonder he lost because even his relatives didn’t cast their votes for him),” screamed one comment. 

Money has always played a major role in any election. Without it, it’s impossible to woo and win the support of the voters. 

In their X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, and even TikTok posts, many losers—especially in the race for village chief—blamed “lack of funds” to be the major reason for their defeat. 

 

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“Lack of funds” could be misconstrued for “lack of money to buy votes” or “lack of money to pay poll watchers and poll campaigners.”

“Vote-buying was rampant in our barangay. I knew I wouldn’t make it because I didn’t have the money; I didn’t want to buy votes,” a frustrated punong barangay in San Miguel, Iloilo moaned in his X post.

Others pointed to “black propaganda” as the main culprit for their loss. “My opponents used lies and other forms of black propaganda to paint me as a bad person and many voters believed them,” a punong barangay in Mandurriao district who lost for reelection, lamented in her Facebook post.

Like in any other competitions there are always winners and losers. That’s why we have been exhorted to “be magnanimous in victory” or be very kind to a person or persons we just conquered in competitions.

After all, a magnanimous person has a generous spirit.

We have been told also to “be humble in defeat” or “humble in victory, gracious in defeat”. It’s showcasing a high character no matter the result, because others are watching and will recognize it.  

 

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IF I were a United Nations (UN) representative, I would vote for a “ceasefire” or in support of any resolution that calls for a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas in Gaza Strip and its surroundings.

The Philippines “abstained” from voting on the recent UN General Assembly resolution calling for a truce between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Abstention is a sign of cowardice or lack of principle. Dante said the hottest spot in hell is reserved for those who refuse to make a stand in moments of moral crisis. 

What prompted the Philippines to abstain, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), was the lack of “factual information” on the October 7 attack in Israel that massacred 1,400 civilians and a “condemnation” of Hamas’ atrocities in the UN resolution.

Any call for a ceasefire should have no condition or strings attached. 

 

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I support Israel’s rights to defend itself in as much as I also support the rights of innocent Palestinians, especially children, women, and elderly, to live and be protected from violence and terrorism since they have nothing to do whatsoever with the hatred and animosity that triggered the clash between the Jews and the terrorist Hamas.

I am for ceasefire because more children are being killed—and continued to be killed in non-stop rocket and ground attacks—as long as Bibi Netanyahu wouldn’t call to stop the Israel ground assault and carnage in Gaza.

I am for ceasefire because I believe in the saying that violence begets violence.

I am for ceasefire because I hate war—a protracted war that benefits no one but the merchants of violence and mayhem.

I am for ceasefire because, basically, I am a Christian who advocates for peace and love for mankind.  

Most of all, I love life like most Jews, Palestinians, and all the races and religions in the world. 

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