“LA RIGOLOTTE”






         I asked my husband if he was to describe me in just one word. What’s the word that comes first in his mind. And he immediately answered: “LA RIGOLOTTE”. What rigolotte means? Rigoler in French (please don’t pronounce the “R” at the end ) means to laugh. And rigolotte is an adjective for female - who laughs a lot. And I think this description suits me best. Because it’s undeniably true. I am Susie Barbieri, La rigolotte fille!

December 12, 2009

Public Statement in Support of Isabela Governor Grace Padaca - Please pass it on!

Filed under: Current Affairs, On Filipino Issues — laptitemere @ 10:39 pm

Dear friends and fellow Filipinos,

By now, most of you will have known the situation that Isabela Governor Grace Padaca is in.. After beating fiercest opponent, former Gov. Benjamin Dy of the 40-year-old political dynasty, by more than 17,000 votes last 2007, she resumed her job of being Isabela’s chief executive for a second term. Under her leadership, Isabelinos enjoyed more than five years of good governance.

However, early last week, the Commission on Elections Second Division with Commissioners Nicodemo Ferrer, Lucenito Tagle, and Elias Yusoph decided that Gov. Padaca had in fact lost to Dy by a margin of 1,051 votes. They cited electoral fraud as the main reason, something that almost everyone finds hard to believe. Even evidence presented by the Dys is questionable and can still be rebutted by Padaca’s camp.

On Monday, December 14, Gov. Padaca and her lawyers will file a motion for reconsideration at the Comelec office. Normally, the party being ousted can still assume the position he or she is in until the case goes to the Supreme Court and the final decision given. But Benjamin Dy has filed a motion for execution pending appeal, so that even while the case is being heard by the appropriate offices, Padaca needs to vacate the governorship and Dy can immediately assume the position.

The Comelec issued a 12,000-page resolution for Padaca’s case. How much easier would it be to issue a one-page decision approving Dy’s motion for execution pending appeal?

We need to let Commissioners Ferrer, Tagle, and Yusoph know that Filipinos will not tolerate corruption in an institution as significant as the Commission on Elections. They need to know that they cannot just side with anyone, but with the truth. If we make our voices heard, it will give them a chance to think about what they are going to do.

We will be releasing a public statement which anyone who agrees can support and sign. In order to create maximum impact, we are planning to publish the statement together with the names of the supporters in a major newspaper. We will need funds for this, and so we ask for people with good hearts who are willing to contribute any amount towards this cause. We plan to publish the statement below on December 16, giving us only a few days to raise the money. We would appreciate any and all assistance that we can get in ensuring that Gov. Padaca gets a fair decision.

Moreover, we will also be holding a peaceful rally on December 17 in front of the Comelec office, to show the Second Division that Filipinos are watching and standing guard for the truth, and to show support for the embattled Governor Padaca. Assembly time is 6:00 in the morning in front of the Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros, Manila. Further details will be announced as the plans are smoothed out.

Below is the public statement that we need to publish. If you agree and want to sign the statement, kindly email your complete name, place of origin, and contact details to kai.pastores@yahoo.com. If you wish to contribute to have the statement published, you may send your donations to:

BPI Family Savings Bank
SA # 5976 2700 47
Acct Name: Karla Pastores

or

Bank of the Philippine Islands
SA # 3086 3883 46
Acct Name: Harvey Keh

Please fax the deposit slip to 02-4265657 or email a scanned copy to kai.pastores@yahoo.com for proper accounting. Thank you very much and we hope you can help disseminate this!:)

PUBLIC STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR GOVERNOR GRACE PADACA
We, democracy and freedom-loving Filipinos, fully stand by Isabela Governor Grace Padaca who we believe is the legitimate winner of the 2007 gubernatorial elections in the said province amid an unfair ruling by the Commission on Elections Second Division composed of Commissioners Nicodemo Ferrer, Lucenito Tagle and Elias Yusoph.

As fellow Filipinos, we believe that this resolution to unseat Governor Padaca in favor of former Governor Benjamin Dy is highly questionable and the evidence raised forth against Padaca raises significant doubt as to the validity of Dy’s claims of electoral fraud resulting to his loss.

The May 2007 elections saw Governor Padaca win by 17,007 votes over Benjamin Dy. Had Governor Padaca used dishonest means, this kind of margin will be next to impossible to pull off given that Padaca’s resources are scant and her political machinery nonexistent. If there is a candidate with a vast campaign fund and an organized machinery, it would most certainly be the Dy family who have been in power in Isabela for over forty years, until Padaca defeated them in the 2004 elections.

Governor Padaca has shown integrity as the highest government official of the province, not to mention efficiency and strong political will, all without dubious, illegal transactions. Her campaign against illegal logging in the Sierra Madre mountains has so far proven successful especially after Typhoon Pepeng hit Northern Luzon late this year. Her other programs have greatly benefited the people of Isabela, including health, education, good governance and electoral reforms.

In the past five and a half years that Governor Padaca has served as the local chief executive of Isabela, she has encountered numerous unnecessary problems, among them flagrant non-cooperation by some government offices with the provincial government leading to conflicts. These particular offices are not known to support Governor Padaca; however that does not give them an excuse to disregard common courtesy and protocol and fulfill their duties as required by law.

This should not be the case for any government official. Padaca won in 2007 via a clean and honest election and deserves to be treated as such. The Comelec’s resolution ousting Padaca is not the first attempt of her opponents at regaining control of Isabela. However, the people of Isabela themselves have shown that they have chosen Padaca to govern them for another term, and they, along with the rest of the Filipinos who believe in her and in justice, will not rest until the truth prevails.

We call on all supporters of Governor Padaca as well as Filipinos who believe in good governance to fight against corruption and injustice being done to a good Filipino leader. We believe that this issue is not confined solely to the borders of Isabela, but concerns all Filipinos. We cannot let this happen in Isabela inasmuch as we refuse to let it happen in our own provinces, cities, and municipalities. The fight here is between right and wrong, between good governance and corruption, between truth and falsehood. If we let this injustice happen, we will continue to be at the mercy of a corrupt system that seeks to destroy democratic institutions which were established to serve the needs of the people, not the interests of a selfish few. As citizens of the Philippines, we have the duty to preserve the integrity of our democratic institutions and hold accountable officials who fail to uphold the truth.

Let us not allow evil to triumph and together let us take a stand for the truth, for justice, and for good governance. The fight of Isabela is a fight of the entire Philippines

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December 10, 2009

Statement Condemning Comelec Decision on Governor Grace Padaca

Filed under: On Filipino Issues — laptitemere @ 10:17 pm
Kaya Natin! Statement Condemning Comelec Decision on Governor Grace Padaca

We, the leaders of Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership strongly condemn the recent Commission on Elections (Comelec) decision to unseat Kaya Natin co-founder and duly-elected governor of Isabela, Grace Padaca.

We believe that this ruling is a travesty of justice and is a willful act by the current administration to tarnish the reputation of not only Governor Padaca, but other leaders of the opposition, particularly members of the Liberal Party. We believe that Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer of Comelec’s Second Division has gravely abused his power and position to twist the truth and demoralize the people of Isabela by favoring Benjamin Dy despite significant evidence to the contrary.

Governor Padaca has shown excellent, competent, and ethical leadership for the past six years in Isabela, using her powers as governor for the benefit of the people. Her integrity is unquestionable and the mere suggestion of electoral fraud against her is downright preposterous.

In the 2007 gubernatorial elections, Governor Padaca ran with only a tiny fraction of the financial resources that Dy had at his disposal. Having entered politics only in 2004, she did not as well have the political machinery that the 40-year-old Dy dynasty enjoys. It is therefore highly unlikely and ridiculous to conclude that Padaca used fraud to win by more than 17,000 votes over Dy, something that will entail money and machinery that Padaca does not have.

These facts as well as other substantial evidence supporting Padaca’s victory should have been more than enough to declare her the legitimate winner of the 2007 elections, but with this recent ruling, the people of Isabela cannot expect the Comelec to be fair and just in future elections particularly in 2010.

Likewise, we are also expecting that the same Comelec division led by Commissioner Ferrer will also rule against priest-turned-governor and fellow Kaya Natin! Co-founder Pampanga Governor Eddie “Among Ed” Panlilio who, through the concerted efforts of ordinary citizens of Pampanga, was able to defeat known GMA ally, former Board Member Lilia Pineda.

We are therefore calling for the immediate resignation or impeachment of Commissioner Ferrer who has shown incompetence as the presiding officer of the Second Division by subscribing not to the laws of the land, but to lawless hands.

We likewise enjoin all Filipinos who still believe in good governance and ethical leadership in our country to support Governor Padaca in her struggle against the Dys, Commissioner Ferrer, and the Arroyo administration. We believe that this issue extends beyond the province of Isabela and concerns all Filipinos who value our hard-earned democracy.

Governor Padaca is only one among many good leaders that the Arroyo administration is trying to take down in order to serve their allies’ self interests at the expense of usurping the true mandate of the people.
We implore concerned Filipinos to sign our online petition at www.ipetitions.com/petition/oustferrernow or email their names and email addresses to oustferrernow@gmail.com for the removal of Commissioner Ferrer and in support of Governor Padaca , Governor Panlilio, and other effective and ethical leaders.

Let us not take this blatant insult to our intelligence sitting down and let us show Arroyo and her allies that we will not tolerate corruption. This is a fight of the Filipinos on the side of the good to let the truth and the whole truth prevail.

Signed,

HON. JESSE ROBREDO, Mayor, Naga City

HON. TEODORO BAGUILAT, JR., Governor, Province of Ifugao

HON. SONIA LORENZO, Mayor, San Isidro, Nueva Ecija

HON. NEREUS ACOSTA, Former Representative, Province of Bukidnon

HON. TEOFISTO GUINGONA III, Representative, Province of Bukidnon

HON. JORGE BANAL, JR., Councilor, Quezon City

HON. FERMIN MABULO, Mayor, San Fernando, Camarines Sur

HON. MABEL SUNGA ACOSTA, Councilor, Davao City

HON. ROQUE VERZOSA, JR., Mayor, Tagudin, Ilocos Sur

HON. MARIVIC BELENA, Mayor, San Jose City, Nueva Ecija

HON. GLORIA CRESPO CONGCO, Former Mayor, Cabiao, Nueva Ecija

HON. FLORANTE GERDAN, Mayor, Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya

HON. VALENTE YAP, Vice Mayor, Bindoy, Negros Oriental

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December 7, 2009

What I want for Christmas

Filed under: Family, My Personal Journey — laptitemere @ 10:20 pm
Being with the family is the one that I want most for Christmas.
 
Back home and when I was young, we never had any gift giving. We were very poor. I think I was the only one who would get a gift because December 24 happened to be my birthday. And the gift would come from my godmother. Usually it’s a fabric and my mom would make a dress for me. I would then wear it for the school’s commencement exercises because I was a constant honor student.
 
However, what I remember was my mother would cook for us good food like “pansit bihon” my favorite, dinuguan or pinapaitan and she would bake “nilatian”, that sweet sticky rice with a coconut topping patiently baked with charcoal on top.
 
I think the only difference in addition with our meal is that we had an apple and an orange each. My father would buy us those fruits and if were lucky, we could have some grapes too.
 
The six siblings would be around and there’s a big noise in the household and my father would start cracking jokes and it would be filled with laughters. 
 
He would start playing his violin and my brothers would accompany him with their guitar and their ukelele and we would sing altogether. That was fun!
 
We didn’t own anything. Nothing. We didn’t even have electiricity at home. But as I look back, we were happy. We didn’t ask anything.
 
Our parents and one of the siblings are gone. We are all scattered everywhere. Getting united among us is such a challenge. Each sibling has his / her own life and family. But the memory of being together as family has always been hewn in my heart and that I could never trade that to anything else.
 
Now, I have a family of my own. All I want is to be with my husband and children in that special day. Days have changed. We can afford to offer gifts to every member of the family.
 
But to me, being surrounded with the family is the one that I appreciate more. There’s nothing more important than being with them and we could share love with one another. Isn’t it this is what Christmas is all about? 
 
 
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November 29, 2009

I Look At The Window to See My House - by Toto Causing

Filed under: On Filipino Issues — laptitemere @ 2:59 am
This is poignant and I recommend everyone to read and then they try to examine ourselves and find something the best we can do for others and for ourselves!
Susie
I LOOK OUT THE WINDOW TO SEE MY HOUSE – A must-read for all Pinoys

BY TOTO CAUSING
Auditor & Legal Consultant,
National Press Club

I am glad that there are still Filipinos who care for and hope for their leaders.

At least, we have a common ground: we all love RP. The differences start when each of us begins to express and exercise beliefs in political leaders who, most often, ended up consumed by greed, and when each begins to insist what everyone of us believes to be what should be given us–even without working for it.

Then we have seen groups of Filipinos who cannot be contented with what they have and who would blame other Filipinos for their miseries, which blame is partly true and partly false.

All our woes have run to the extent that I have come to the point of saying there is no change that we can believe in that would ever happen in this nation once called “the banana republic.”

I blame this on ourselves–and myself–in the first place and on our leaders who craftily played on our unwillingness to respond accordingly to preserve what is correct and what is right, morally, politically and economically. We have exhibited our hesitance at a chance for patriotism in dozens of occasions. I call it a disillusion that has gripped me and most of us.

Obviously amongst us, there are two major forces that control the action of each: (1) personal attitude; and (2) exploitation by leaders. There may be other factors, but these are the two prominent figures in my mind at this time of writing.

As is true in Christian communities, the bigger mass of Muslim Filipinos are gripped by their attitude on how to react and behave toward their Christian kababayans and this provided a perfect scenario for their leaders to play with them.

We can easily see the formation of attitude in each Muslim Pinoy largely depend on what one learns since childhood. If a Muslim child learns hatred against Christians at a very young age it will linger till eternity; if he learns the values of reading, writing, good behavior and critical thinking it will reign in him in his lifetime. This hatred is taught by the actions and conversations of their parents in the domestic homes. Unfortunately, many Muslim parents now have not gone to school to learn reading non-Arabic letters and figures and the culture of Filipinos who don’t pray like them. This is the reason any Muslim Filipino would readily embrace an idea if one is proposed for them to break away from the Philippines with the punctuation line of discrimination.

We can also see the lack of learning among the Christian communities. Ask any Christian in the Visayas or Luzon and many of them do not even know places in Mindanao made popular by Yoyoy Villame. Perhaps, the most that would come to mind to many a non-Mindanaoan are provinces such as Cotabato owing to the song of Asin, Davao, Lanao, Zamboanga, Jolo and Basilan owing to the news headlines. One of our biggest mistakes is the failure to include in the elementary curricula subjects and researches about Muslim Filipinos to promote better understanding of their life and culture–and to teach Christian Filipinos a lifetime lesson that they are not the only Filipinos.

Due to this “sin of ignorance” that we all commit because each of us has done not enough, we can readily see Christian Filipinos’ stereotypes at the sight of a Muslim counterpart. In the same manner a Christian Filipino would be discriminated against when he happens to stray in Lanao, Maguindanao or Sulu islands. This should not happen.

Nevertheless, we are thankful that, at least, the corrupt and corrupted system of public education has lifted a sign of hope that at least there is that little understanding that is observable; although the deep-seated hatred and bias against each other is still there. This little progress has seen the rise of Maranao traders now found in almost every town or city across Philippines. Of all Muslim tribes here, it is this Lake People who are most prone to adjust to Christian traditions; I credit this to the success of my alma mater, the Mindanao State University in Marawi and Iligan. MSU has served as a good melting pot for intelligent Muslims and Christians who must have reechoed to their respective homes what they learned from this great institution founded in 1961 by professors and academicians from the UP; the throng was led by Dr. Antonio Isidro. That gambit has proved as an excellent formula for the promotion of understanding between Islam and Christianity, two holy concepts that are seemingly a world apart from each other. And I write this piece in partial payment for the full scholarship it granted me to graduate with a BS Civil Engineering course despite my parents’ indigence.

Apparently, education is the only sure solution to create a big potential for a lasting and more permanent peace and prosperity in Muslim Mindanao and in any Christian community.

So that I have harbored a Filipino Dream which I see can only happen in every Pinoy if he or she is given a chance at a good public education system. And the only way to achieve this dream is for us to start this in our kids while they are young. So why not start ’em young?

A matter of education is for a country to do because it is beyond the capacity of any citizen, who can contribute the most by compelling or inspiring their young to go to school, making sure these kids study at home before giving stuff toys or a play station a time, working to give them food so that they would not study with empty stomach, and teach them some supplemental lessons.

This I urge in the belief that it is not enough to ask “what you can do to your country” but to answer readily when asked “what your country can do to you.”

Despite this glaring picture of ignorance which is too big to stay unnoticed, our local leaders have not seen that the only solution is a “good public education,” one that teaches not only how to read, write and compute but one that also teaches a child to think critically at a young age of seven and opens his mind to the cultures of people who don’t look like him and who don’t worship like him. This kind of knowledge is far better than the “current events” that show a President saying “I am sorry” over the “Hello Garci Fraud”, a Comelec official dangling “Sec, may 200 (million) ka dito”, a President who is in prison, thereafter convicted and later pardoned, a “Joc-Joc Bolante making a joke out of fertilizer funds”, Court of Appeals justices who would quarrel over one ordinary case, and many others.

If we could only turn back the hands of time and if I would have my way, I would have dangled more than half of the country’s wealth in a massive high-standard public education in elementary and secondary levels free for all the kids and would leave them fight for their way to college. This I would do because I believe that the success in admission tests for UP and other excellent schools depend on how much a child learns in his or her lower level education. I also believe that it is enough that our people will be informed, intelligent and critical-thinking high school graduates for them to serve as a very potent force to drive our economy to prosperity and our community to tranquility.

We cannot turn back the time, but we can always start anew and take the correct steps, one at a time. But how when it has become an egg-to-chicken-to-egg story for us courtesy of our politicians?

Honestly, I have become desperate. In all government offices graft and corruption has become the rule of the game; so that when they cry out “rule of law” they actually mean “law of rule”. A simple license or permit cannot be obtained without extra fees for the people tasked to perform them. A victim of a crime cannot be assured of justice unless he gives for the law enforcers to move. Nearly every law passed has become a source of income by plenty of public officers who are willing not to implement the law for a price.

A poor man cannot litigate his case even if he has merit. There are countless of obstacles. Before the fiscal’s office alone, good evidence and meritorious arguments and without more are not enough to ensure a victory in any preliminary investigation. In the courts, the big bumps are these: (a) prohibitive filing fees and strict-yet-out-of-touch rules in order to avail of indigent’s privilege to sue; (b) overly technical court procedures that not even intelligent laymen can understand; (c) free legal aids of the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) that are not efficient if a poor client does not give “padulas”; (d) stringent bar prohibiting non-lawyer litigants to sue and defend suit by themselves; and (e) prohibitive requirements put up by the Supreme Court for lawyers to practice, like the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) that consists only of seminars that are not effective in achieving the purpose, which requirements, in effect, force lawyers to spend more for them to be allowed to practice in court, among others.

These, I believe, are still a product of our “sin of ignorance.” We know it but we refuse to learn.

Now, let me ask. How may intelligent Muslim Filipino leaders who have passed

to be genuine to their own constituencies? Can we count Nur Misuari in? Can we count in the dynastic family of Kiram of the Sultanate of Sulu? Can we count in the Dimaporos? Can we count in the Ampatuans in Maguindanao? Can we count in the Tamano clansmen? Can we count in the Pendatuns? Can we count in the Sinsuats? Can we count in the Mangudadatus of Sultan Kudarat province? Can we count in Sultan Kudarat himself?

Though I have high hopes in Adel Tamano, a Harvard fellow and the current president of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila where I obtained my law degree in 2005, I don’t know how to reconcile the riches providing insulting contrasts to the have-nots masses who follow them.

Maguindanaons could have been lucky to have Toto Paglas who succeeded in converting the small town of Buluan into a banana plantation. But the good die young. Allah has just taken him while he was still very young and vibrant. An industrialist like him is what Cotabato needs to power up its wide tract of idle lands.

Now, how many Christian Filipino leaders have passed to genuinely work for their people? They say Magsaysay is one, but the sad truth is that the true good moment is brief because the good die young.

It is these kinds of political leaders that we have that have led me to look out of my window, see the world, and compare where my country lies.

Thus, I enjoy seeing other countries’ good politicians and love criticizing those I see as bad guys. The ones who attracted my attention are American politicians Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, John McCain and Sarah Palin. The good examples they have shown have led me to dream and wake up one day in the Philippines having the likes of them. Then there is this Pakistan’s Musharaff, a dictator that I hated once but now admire more than my President for having the courage to resign when all chips are down. A few weeks back, Japan’s prime minister announced he will voluntarily leave after knowing his leadership failing. In the better end of the view, I saw the rise of a Pakistan named Zadari, a man who, for decades, have lived in the shadows of his wife whose death caused his star to shine in a story similar to Cory Aquino benefiting from her spouse’s death.

In looking out the window, I learned the distinctions between my house and the rest; I learned to discover the defects in my own dwelling and I have come to better learn which column or beam to replace and what kind of foundation should I make in order to make the real strong republic. I also learned that Muslim and Christian children can be joined block by block, brick by brick, to form one sturdy house called “Philippines.”

As I close the window for tomorrow, I dream to see my native land singing: “There is no Muslim Filipino, there is no Christian Filipino, there is no mountain Filipino, there is only ONE FILIPINO.”

Tags: Education, Filipino, Moro, One, problem

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November 27, 2009

Please Sign Petition for the Amputuan Massacre in Mindanao

Filed under: On Filipino Issues — laptitemere @ 11:49 pm

HELLO TO ALL

PLEASE CLICK THE LINK AND SIGN THE PETITION FOR THE AMPUTUAN MASSACRE IN MINDANAO

http://www.petitiononline.com/Ampatuan/petition.html

 

Thank you. We count on you.

Susie

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Please sign the petition online. Re: Ampatuan Massacre. Enough is Enough!

Filed under: On Filipino Issues — laptitemere @ 9:47 am

To:  Filipino PeopleSTRIKE AGAINST IMPUNITY, STRIKE FOR PEACE AND DEMOCRACY

Today we say, “Enough.”

The massacre of 57 people in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao goes beyond a rido or clan war. The sheer scope of barbarity, the brazenness of the murders betrays the perpetrators’ belief in being beyond the reach of the law.

Women, lawyers and journalists – no one escaped the butchers’ wrath. Fifty-seven people killed in broad daylight. The murderers had planned the deed, down to the mass burial of victims. That is the mark of the untouchable.

The Ampatuan massacre not only highlights the capacity for abuse by a political clan that has acted as ruler, judge, jury and executioner in its feudal turf; it is the graphic proof that State forces actually abet crime and protect criminals who provide favors for government officials.

Amid the outrage, even as President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo placed Maguindanao in a state of emergency, the government tried to downplay the role of the Ampatuan clan in the massacre.

Filipinos have been jailed, tortured and killed for petty crimes and for exercising their right to peaceful dissent. Yet PNP officials displayed an abject reluctance to even name the Ampatuans as suspects. President Arroyo even issued a public reaffirmation of her friendship with the Ampatuans. And for good reason.

The Ampatuans, feudal rulers of Maguindanao, gifted President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo with unbelievable margins of victory in the 2004 polls. They delivered the same service for her allies in 2007 election. They provide food and money for the military and para-military forces. They command a proxy army in the fight against secessionist rebels.

The Ampatuans and other warlords across the country have been doing these for a succession of administrations. Philippine leaders like to boast of our democracy. What confront us are images of a failed State, where institutions are unable to exercise mandated functions, and the central government cedes substantial power to warlords who maintain private armies, which include “civilian volunteers.”

The cozy ties between central government and local warlords blanket the Philippine countryside with a climate of fear born of a culture of impunity. While this is a long-standing problem, it has reached monstrous proportions under the Arroyo administration, which has spent the nine years devouring the very bases of public power in its relentless effort to privatize that power as the public monies.

We have had enough.

We demand the arrest and prosecution of all persons involved in the Ampatuan massacre, especially the masterminds. We demand the immediate suspension from office of all persons linked to the crime.

We demand the immediate arrest of all police and military officials who, by commission or omission, allowed the massacre to happen. We demand full punishment for all officers that tried to coddle the perpetrators of this massacre.

We demand the creation of an independent commission, to include media representatives, to probe the massacre and the events that led to it.

We demand that a special court with a presiding judge of impeccable credentials undertake the trial of the suspects in the Ampatuan massacre.

We demand that media access be guaranteed in all stages and processes of the investigation and prosecution.

We demand full and immediate coverage of victims’ families and witnesses in the witness protection program.

We demand the immediate dismantling and disarmament of para-military forces nationwide as they have long been used as private armies of local warlords.

We demand the creation of an independent body composed of impartial persons of the highest integrity to oversee the disarming of para-military forces and the disposition of their arms.

We also demand an overhaul of a justice system that rewards criminals and tramples on the innocent.

We, the undersigned concerned Filipino individuals and organizations vow to hold a national protest to demand meaningful action from this administration. If government is unwilling to govern, IT MUST STEP DOWN. Only when the culture of impunity has been defeated can this nation proceed with the task of building peace and democracy in the Philippines.

(FIRST SIGNATORIES)

Nestor P. Burgos Jr.

Chairman, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP)

Inday Espina-Varona, former chair NUJP; editor in chief Philippine Graphic

Joel Salud, managing editor Philippine Graphic

Alma Anonas, associate editor Philippine Graphic

Malu Cadelina Manar, chapter chair, Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation (NDBC), Kidapawan City

Jimmy Sta. Cruz, NDBC, Kidapawan City

Carlo Agamon, NDBC, Kidapawan City

Benjie Caballero, NDBC, Kidapawan City

Chris Maitem, NDBC, Kidapawan City

Jun Jacolbe, Radyo Natin, Kidapawan City

Ritchie Joy Mamburam, DXDM-FM, Kidapawan City

Jerwin Bayona, DXDM-FM, Kidapawan City

Bernard Jason Pacia, DXDM-FM, Kidapawan City

Williamor Magbanua, GMA7 stringer, Kidapawan City

Jucaldito Laniton, DXDM-FM, Kidapawan City

Felsy Co, Mindanao Press Corps, M’lang, North Cotabato

Bhergil Anima, radio blocktimer, NDBC and Charm Radio, Kidapawan City

Joy Francisco, Southern Voice Journal, Kidapawan City

Ruby Padilla-Sison, radio blocktimer, Charm Radio, Kidapawan City

Geonarri Solmerano, GMA7 stringer, Kidapawan City

Psalmer Bernalte, Metro Kidapawan Tourism Press Corps, Kidapawan City

Benny Queman

Garry Fuerzas

Rodel Torino

Jun Garcesa

Rex Torino

Romeo Varron

Wella dela Cerna

Teofilo Cadungog

EDUARDO VILLANUEVA, Chairman, BAGONG PILIPINAS, BAGONG PILIPINO MOVEMENT

Mila D. Aguilar, Poet

Sylvia Mayuga

Lila Shahani

Trixie Cruz-Angeles

Roby Alampay

Julius Mariveles; Secretary General-Correspondents, Broadcasters, Reporters Association-Action News Service (COBRA-ANS)

Bernie Ponge

Chris B. Salvatierra – ordinary citizen of Quezon City

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

 
 

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November 25, 2009

Why this Obsession of Power?

Filed under: Current Affairs, My Personal Journey, On Filipino Issues — laptitemere @ 8:56 am

 

I can’t put to words the way I feel about the recent massacre made in Mindanao. The first question I asked was, why did it happen? According to the news, there were 46 people killed and beheaded including children and a number of journalists about 18 of them. Forty six innocent people killed for an obvious political motives.

This is abominable and perpetrators should be punished! Helas, I simply doubt that justice be served. Politicians, military and and police officers are involved in this barbaric and hideous act. Who shall we trust now? They are supposed to protect and serve their own citizens.

People don’t care nowadays about the value of life. As long as they can acquire their position, they try to get it in any means…the easy way is to kill.

Will there ever be peace? I doubt. Not unless this obession of power will be put aside….killing continues!

Not unless, Filipino people would unite and for the country’s sake…they would seek for a better government and for better Phlippines.

At this point, I must admit, I am very sad and really cry for my country. I feel so helpless that I could not do much for them.

All I could offer are prayers for the victims’ families, that they will be able to overcome those difficult challenges that they are having right now.

I feel so emotional right now. I have such a heavy heart and how I wish to see the perpetrators be brought to justice and be punished!

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November 22, 2009

Happy Birthday Mom!

Filed under: Uncategorized — laptitemere @ 10:32 pm

 

If my mom is still alive, she would be 89 years old in two days time. She was born November 24, 1920. And I do miss her terribly.

I always have this feeling of loneliness and sadness whenever I come to think about her. She was such a wonderful woman and how I wish she is still around to be beside me and listen to me when I am in need in someone to talk with.

I must admit, I have not always been a good daughter to her. I have my bad character and I just realized now how she tried bearing with me with all my tempers and tantrums. 

Like everyone know that we only appreciate the value of someone when she or he is gone among us. And that is exactly what happened to me.

I must admit, at times, I would just take my mom for granted. How ungrateful I was. 

I have come to realize how is it to be a mom until I became one myself. A very challenging role indeed.  

If only I could get back, I would do all the things to make up for my shortcomings. Be a better child to her and give back all the love she had unconditionally showered to me.

She was a great example to me and oh, how I wish, she is still around and I could shower her with much love. And how I regret of not having done much when she was still alive.

Mom, happy birthday! Just to let you know that wherever you are, I think about you always and I am hoping dearly that one day, I could get reunited with you and make up for the lost times.

I love you always!

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“Love Yourself” by Bo Sanchez

Filed under: Spiritual and Uplifting Thoughts — laptitemere @ 10:15 pm

oThsim§Te

Do You Want Happy Relationships? Love Yourself.

Here’s my big message today: You can only have happy relationships if you have happy self-love.

Nope, I’m not talking about narcissism—or extreme selfishness. Here’s why: I believe selfish people don’t really love themselves.

Let me tell you my story.

       Two years ago, I attended my 25th Alumni Homecoming.

It was great catching up with old friends. We were all bigger, balder, and bumpier in various parts of our body.

       But what gave the heebeejeevies was walking through my old school building. I was overwhelmed with a flood of not-so-happy memories. I realized how much I didn’t like school.

You see, I was a very insecure kid.

I was very shy. I was introverted. I had pimples. I was so thin, they called me tipaklong (grasshopper). For Filipinos, my nose was large, so they called it a grand piano hanging on my face.

And some classmates bullied me. They called me names. They pushed me around. They forced me to do errands. And they made me their lifetime supply of pad paper. 

       In youth lingo, I was a Loser with a capital L.

But I felt all my classmates were so confident, so large, so outgoing, and so happy. They loved school. 

And so I asked myself this disturbing question: What is wrong with me?  Hundreds of times a day, I would ask myself this question. And for years, this question was my constant refrain.

What Is Wrong With Me?

25 years later, I know God has healed me because I don’t ask that cynical question as often anymore.

I now love myself.

I’ve grown in confidence.

And I’ve become successful!

       I have a wonderful family and fantastic friends.

       I’ve written bestselling books.

And my pimples are gone.

I’ve grown to my ideal weight.

My face is larger, so my nose isn’t a grand piano anymore. (Now it looks more like a church organ.)

       And thanks to my friend, co-preacher, and couturier, Adrian Panganiban, I dress well. Suits, ties, the works. He makes clothes for showbiz stars and has made it his personal mission to make me look guwapo. I think he has succeeded (Ahem).

But may I be honest with you?

At rare times, I still find myself asking that judgmental question: What is wrong with me?

       It’s amazing how after 25 years, a tiny part of me is still that insecure schoolboy that wanted people to like me.

My problem through all those years? 

I didn’t love myself.

       For decades, my heart was empty of self-love.

       But was my heart really empty? 

Your Heart Filled With Either

Self-Love Or Neediness

Imagine your heart to be an empty bottle.

But it’s not really empty. It’s actually filled with air.

       In the same way, when a human heart doesn’t have self-love, it isn’t empty. It’s filled with neediness.

The air in the bottle is a symbol of neediness.

But if you pour water in it, it pushes air out of the bottle. The more water it has, the less air it has.

       That water is self-love.

I believe the only solution to neediness is self-love.

If you learn to love yourself, you’ll push out neediness from your heart. The more you love yourself, the less neediness you have. The less you love yourself, the more neediness you have.

       Would you know neediness if you saw it?

Do You Have Neediness?

       Neediness, or a lack of self-love, is expressed in so many ways. Here are a few of them…

·        Some, like me, become people-pleasers. They’ll be kind, gentle, and smile at everybody so they’ll be liked. Because their substitute for self-love is to be liked.

·        Some achieve a lot, get good grades, and do great things. Because their substitute for self-love is to be admired.

·        Some rebel, get angry, disobey, and reject everyone. Because they’re substitute to be loved is to receive attention.

·        Some become victims of abuse. (Read my example later.)

As I said, I expressed my neediness in the first way—by becoming a good guy. All these years, people thought I was such a loving person. (I fooled you, didn’t I?)

But in reality, I wasn’t giving love; I was buying love.

I wasn’t giving love; I was giving neediness. Because you can only give what is in your heart.

Boy, was I miserable! 

Because I lacked self-love, it was impossible to have a healthy, happy, relationship with others.

       Let me tell you an extreme example…

The Need To Be Needed

Angela is married to her college sweetheart Marty.

But Marty is an alcoholic.

A few times a month, he comes home very drunk and beats Angela. He gives her a black eye. Slaps on the face. Bruises on the arm. 

When he wakes up, he doesn’t even remember what he did. 

Marty kneels down before a battered Angela and asks for forgiveness. He’s totally repentant and sobs like a baby.

But one or two weeks after, he gets drunk again and beats her up again. This insanity has been going on for seven years.

Many friends have told Angela to leave Marty. And she has. But Marty would find her and beg her to return. And out of love, she would return home—only to be beaten again.

But is it really out of love?

No. It’s neediness.

Specifically, the need to be needed.

Like me, Angela’s heart is filled with neediness, begging for love. Because she can’t find love, she mistakes being needed as love. And she finds it in her sick husband.

Angela’s neediness attracted Marty’s neediness. Two needy people needing each other. It was the perfect recipe for an unhappy marriage. (I’ll talk more about this later.)

I talked to Angela.

I told her the harsh truth, “You don’t really love her husband.”

“How could you say that?” she said, “That’s why I’ve stuck with him…”

“If you really loved him, and not needed him, you would have run away from him a long time ago and never went near him until he stopped drinking for at least 6 to 12 months. He doesn’t need gentle love. He needs tough love. Are you willing to give that?”

She closed her eyes and wept.

The Problem Of The Needy Heart

I’m going to expose my age again.

Remember this song by Basil Valdez? “It’s your smile, your face, your lips that I miss; your sweet little eyes that stare at me and make me say, I’ll be with you through all the way, ‘Cause it’s you, Who fills the emptiness in me…”

Lovely song. But here’s what I learned about relationships: An empty heart can only give emptiness.  And emptiness is another word for neediness.

Have you heard this song by Barry Manilow? “You know I can’t smile without you, I can’t smile without You, I can’t laugh and I can’t sing, I’m findin’ it hard to do anything…”

I’ll be scared if I have a friend who can’t smile without me.

I’ll be scared if I have kids who can’t smile without me.

I’ll be scared if I have a wife who can’t smile without me.

Or have you heard this one by Mariah Carrey?  “I can’t live if living is without you, I can’t live, I can’t live anymore…”

Beautiful song. But if you’re looking for a spouse, I strongly urge you to look for someone who can actually live without you—but who will choose to live with you—not because he needs you, but because he loves you.

But this isn’t that easy. Again, I must warn you: Neediness attracts neediness. A needy heart is naturally attracted to another needy heart. The reason is obvious. If you can’t get love, might as well get its counterfeit: neediness. 

That’s why some women are jerk magnets. They’re attracted to bad guys because they need to be needed.

The only solution? Replace neediness with self-love.

Because you can only have healthy relationships if you have healthy self-love.

Five Ways Of Filling Your Heart

With Self-Love

      

       Let me share with you the five powerful ways of how to fill your heart with self-love. I’ve tried them. They work marvellously.

       Many relationships are suffering right now because of neediness. When you learn to love yourself, your relationships will be freed from neediness. And your relationships with become so much happier.

But I must warn you: Five is a big number. You won’t remember them all. What I want you to do is choose one thing that you believe God wants you to do today. Just one!

Here they are:

1. Believe in your own worthiness

2. Fulfil your dreams

3. Care for your needs

4. Relate with the right God

5. Relate with the right people

Step 1:

Believe In Your Worthiness

Do this for me.

Place your hands over your chest and say this out loud, “I’m a wonderful human being. I’m a beautiful person. I’m blessed. I’m equipped. I’m anointed. I’m talented.    I’m loved. I’m prosperous. I’m generous. I’m wealthy in every way.”

Do you feel better?

Then say these statements twice a day, once in the morning and once before you sleep at night!

Personally, I had to change my constant question in my mind. Instead of asking, “What’s wrong with me?” I had to start asking, “What’s right about me?”

Get a piece of paper and answer that question. Write whatever comes to mind. The longer the list, the better!

       Second, go to a loved one—and ask her, “What’s right about me? What’s great about me? What’s wonderful about me?”

Write down her answers.

And echo the Psalms when it says, I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

       When you appreciate your worth, it’ll be much easier to appreciate the worth of others. And you’ll find your relationships growing in love.

Step 2:

Fulfil Your Dreams

       This actually saved me.

       I wasn’t very good with Step 1, “Believe In Your Worthiness”.

       But by God’s grace, I learned my mission early. I gave my first talk as a 13-year old boy and it changed my life. I suddenly knew my sacred mission.

       I learned to dream about my ministry a long time ago.

       But I had a hard time dreaming about my dreams—like what house I wanted to live in and how much money I wanted to earn or what car I wanted to drive. Because I felt this would be selfish. Shouldn’t my whole life be for God alone? 

But years later, I learned that to honor those dreams in my heart was to honor God who gave me those dreams.

I began to love myself by working on fulfilling my dreams.

Do yourself a big favor. First, know your dreams. Second, go and reach for your dreams.

Why will this bless your relationships? Because once you honor your dreams, you’ll be able to honor the dreams of others too. You’ll encourage people in your life to grow.

Step 3:

Care For Your Needs

      

       My wife calls me a low-maintenance husband.

       I don’t need much to be happy.

       A part of that is good. But a part of that comes from my past: For years, I felt guilty if I wanted something. Like it was a bad thing. I had to wrestle with that too.

       Later on, I learned to be aware of my needs and meet them generously.

       One of my strongest needs is to be quiet, to be alone, to read a book, to reflect. So I give that to myself as often as I can.

       My other need is to exercise regularly.

       And when I’m exhausted, I get a massage. My wife knows that if I want to feel loved, she’ll give me a foot massage. It beats a delicious casserole anytime.

       And about money. There was a time when I didn’t like spending for myself, just for others. Again, I felt selfish if I did. 

I could spend money as long as it’s for God or for others. But I’ve always had a hard time spending for my own needs.

Hey, perhaps this isn’t your problem. I know others who come from the opposite direction: All they do is spend for themselves and don’t give to God or others. Well, I believe God will pull you towards my direction. And we’ll meet somewhere in the middle!

But slowly, I’m learning. Last month, I bought a nice pair of headphones for myself.  It was the noise-cancelling headphones, great when you want to sleep in airplanes. I still couldn’t buy the expensive brand that costs P5000. So I just bought the cheap brand worth P800. But still, I felt wonderful.

       Being a simple person, I still have very few needs. But those needs, I try to honor whenever I can.

       Go ahead. Write your own needs on a piece of paper. And see how you can honor them too. 

Again, this simple act will bless your relationships because you can now serve people’s needs with a heart full of love, not neediness.

Step 4:

Relate To The Right Image of God

I’ve met people whose God is always angry and condemning. Then I’m sorry, prayer won’t help. Because you’re praying to the wrong god.

Fix your picture of God.

Read books on God’s Love. Talk to spiritual people who have the right image of God. Capture this vision.

And allow that God to love you.

Let Him whisper to your heart that you’re more wonderful than you can ever imagine.

This is one of the goals of the GodWhispersClub. If you’re not yet subscribed, log on at www.GodWhispersClub.com. You’ll get a GodWhispers Email twice a week. It’s free.

       When you change your image of God, your relationships with others will change by leaps and bounds because you become like the God that you worship. If you worship a judgmental god, you’ll be judgmental too. But if you start worshipping a God of great compassion and love, you’ll (slowly) be like Him too.

Step 5:

Relate To The Right People

Remember: Needy people attract needy people.

So be careful with the people who enter into your life.

If you’re not careful, you may end up with an inappropriate number of what many authors call “Emotional Vampires”. These are people who suck out your love and joy. There are many kinds of Emotional Vampires: The Demanding. The arrogant and the self-righteous. The bitter. The unfaithful. The manipulative. Addicts. Parasites. Complainers. Critics.

Imagine your life as a three-seater couch.

Because you only have 24 hours a day, there’s a limit to the people who you can hang out with—in the same way that there are a limited number of people who can sit on that couch.

If the spaces are filled, they’re filled. Your life isn’t like Facebook where you can accommodate 5000 friends.

Here’s my point: If you’re always hanging out with Emotional Vampires who suck out your love, you won’t have time to hang out with great, nourishing, and inspiring people who can give you love.

Look. I’m not saying you should get rid of your toxic spouse or toxic mother. I’m not saying you don’t spend time with needy people. Love them! Remember that Jesus spent time with tax-collectors, prostitutes, and drunkards, reaching out to them in love. That was His main ministry. But He balanced this by spending time with his disciples and with His Father too.

So increase your time with people whose hearts aren’t filled with neediness but love. When you surround yourself with the right people, you fill your heart with love too. So look for mentors, teachers, and coaches who can bless you.

It could even be a virtual mentor. 

For example, by reading my Soulfood Letter each week, you’re “spending time” with me. You’ve made me a virtual mentor. (I’m happy to be of service to you.)

Proverbs 13:20 says, Whoever walks with the wise will become wise; whoever walks with fools will suffer harm.

Choose One Assignment From God

       Now that you’ve read all five actions, pick one.

       Not two, or three, or four, or five.

       Just one assignment from God for today.

1. Believe in your own worthiness

2. Fulfil your dreams

3. Care for your needs

4. Relate with the right God

5. Relate with the right people

       Done?

       Great.

But hey, whatever you chose is still pretty broad.

Write down what one specific action you can do today.

       Love yourself, my friend.

       May your dreams come true,

       Bo Sanchez

PS. Get Your Miracles at the KCon! Our biggest, grandest, most powerful event of the year, the Kerygma Conference 2009, will be on November 28-29. For the first time, it’ll be held simultaneously in Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City and in the Cebu International Convention Center—via “Live Feed”. It’ll be a miracle-filled affair you don’t want to miss. For Manila tickets, go to TicketNet at any SM branch or call (02) 7259999. For Cebu tickets, call (032) 4128142.

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November 18, 2009

Why Am I Doing This?

Filed under: Uncategorized — laptitemere @ 2:04 am

I must admit that since I have learned to use the internet few years back, my life has changed tremendously. I have learned so much and I am continuesly learning more. It’s a constant learning process.

There are so many things that I am so grateful about.

One of them is -  I got connected with people that I have never imagined would be possible. I have found friends, classmates, cousins, old relatives, made new ones and thru this it has defintely made my life richer and made me useful as well.

Of course, it was not always a bed a roses so to speak. I have experienced frustrations, deceptions, and disappointments as well. People that I trusted and thought they were friends were part of it.  But it’s alright. I have learned so much and this is one thing good. I take that as a part of the game.

I would like to talk on my humanitarian causes as it all started thru internet.

Without this medium of communication, I will never be able to realize all the projects  that have been  accomplished in the past.

One of the projects that was truly amazing was the “Silya Sa Patikul” Project in Sulu which was realized.  Donating almost 600 chairs and tables to Patikul National High School.  I worked with people that I never knew personally. I have only met them thru internet and we were able to come up with such a good project.

Of course, I never stop thanking those people, companies, the French school in Seoul, my friends, my family who have supported me in this project.

I went to Mindanao to attend in their turn over ceremony and what a fantastic experience. Getting to Patiku was such an adventure knowing that it was a very sensitive and dangerous place to go. But I came home safe and sound and have won friendship from them.

The Out-of -School -Youths Grants in aid program in Urdaneta City is another project which is ongoing. We have already helped at least 20 kids who have attended the skilled training course and most of them have already jobs. We sponsor three OSYs every three months with a budget of 100$ per session per recipient.

The Pig Dispersal program in Urdaneta in which at this point, we are a bit struggling as 5 piglets out of 13 died due to the recent disaster Pepeng. We hope to replace the lost ones pretty soon.

I am so grateful to Tayjobo who intiated this  project in which about 500 families are benifitting from this all around the Philippines. He is so tireless in monitoring every movement from every area.  Hats off to you Tayjobo.

The Learning Center in Labit National High School - We have helped donate 190 wooden school chairs, install the water system, install the library with books coming from the U.S. and installing computers.

Unfortunately, in one of the schools (Camantiles National high School) where we sent books were all washed out including their computers when they were hit by the typhoon.  The water has reached the ceiling of the school building and nothing has been saved. So back to zero again!

I have others more but I only mentioned few of them.

Those people who would read this and have participated in giving their aids, I would like to let you know that your help is greatly appreciated and you will really see that your donation is not put to waste.

Again, thank you so much!

Why I am doing this? I could just sit down and watch the sun rises and sets. Or go shopping and mind myself and won’t care about others. I can travel and not to worry about anything except myself and my immediate family.

But my litle self says no. This is not really the kind of me. I care for others. I know how it feels to be poor. I know how it feels when you worry about finding the next meal. I know how it feels when people look down at you because you are poor.

Nowadays, I am blessed to have a comfortable life. I don’t need to worry about where to get the next meal. I am blessed to have a hardworking husband who can provide us with what we need essentitally. We have a closely- knit family and that’s all what I need.

I am doing this because I would like to give back what has been given to me. I am not what I am today without people who have contributed in my existence and I am forever grateful.

I am doing this because I care for others. I am doing this because there is a need to share our blessings, it may not be always in the form of “cash” but in the form of talents and reaching out people.

I am doing this because I want to contribute in my small way to see people’s live change for good. If I can see people happy, seeing their smiles, seeing how grateful they are, then…I feel happy and gratified.

And I am really praying and hoping that I could continue doing this until I can afford and manage to do until the rest of my life.

And when I am gone, I would like to leave this legacy to my childrena and grandchildren…the love and serving others is the most essential in life. And I want them to be proud of me.

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