Jan 22nd 10
Posted by Arnold in Blogs, etc.
In the midst of the Ondoy rush last year, one blogger made it to the lime light: Ella delos Reyes a.k.a “Ella Ganda” as her blog is named.
Philippine Daily Inquirer reports:
(DSWD Sec.) Cabral asked the NBI last year to investigate the identity of the blogger after reading a blog entry entitled “Aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo (What good is help that comes if it is too late),” posted on ‘Blog ni Ella’ on Oct. 21, 2009.
The former social welfare secretary claimed the blog entry contained “malicious imputations against her, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and its employees.”
“The article alluded that she and the DSWD employees are corrupt, having diverted donated goods for personal gain at the expense of the typhoon victims and downright incompetent,” the NBI said in its referral.
A few things:
- I saw the blog during its height. There’s nothing libelous about it. The blogger stood with nothing to gain — other than the unsolicited fame the blog resulted from. If there was anything Ella was about during that time, she was sincerely bothered by the fact that people were hungry and homeless and without clothes and the government doesn’t seem to care.
- Sec. Cabral has an onion skin. As the saying goes, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen”
- This sends a chilling effect on bloggers. Blogging — and social networks — as we now know, is the future of media. It may not be as formal as the print or even TV, but I will argue that it’s the fastest and even more accurate source of information nowadays. Just take a look, for instance, on this report from PDI. It says, “It also checked with the hosting company of the domain name www.ellaganda.com and found out that the hosting contract with “Ella Rose delos Santos” or “Ellaganda” has been terminated since December 2008″ Duh? If it was “terminated” since Dec. 2008, why has www.ellaganda.com able to post the alleged libelous blog last Oct. 2009? So who has the accurate information now?
As a blogger, I feel for her. Do you think freedom of speech can still be exercised in this country — even in a free platform such as blogging?
Bloggers, unite! Make some noise. Defend your rights.
Aug 2nd 09
Posted by Arnold in Politics
By now, we already know that the Filipinos are mourning with the death of our former President Cory Aquino. Let me add my thoughts on top of the thousand bloggers that already expressed theirs.
Let’s talk about legacy, shall we.
Legacy, in my opinion, is so powerful it can affect the lives of others even after we die. And legacy is something that we normally don’t plan. For most people, legacy is not a one shot deal, it’s not created by a single event in their life. A lasting legacy is created by the kind of life you live. It is the series of decisions we made, right or wrong, that form part of our legacy.
Good or bad, our legacy affects our love ones, our community, or even a whole generation. Think about Jose Rizal and Hitler and Billy Graham (still alive) and Michael Jackson. Each of them left (or will leave) a legacy that has affected us.
President Cory was not the best president that we had. She’s not extra ordinary. Not a brilliant economist or a strong military leader.
Rather, she is known for her love for peace, her passion for democracy.
We did not become a tiger economy during her term, but because of her determination and right choices, we were able to grow the economy from being at its worse after the dictatorship.
She was known to be the “least corrupt” president. No hidden bank accounts, no AMARI scandals, no jueteng scandals, no ZTE scandals. Money maybe important, but it wasn’t her god.
She was honest. She know where she stands. She knows her weaknesses and admits it.
She was humble and didn’t even know it. I hate to make this blog a political one, but I can’t help but compare her to our sitting president. Yesterday, I watched her last SONA on YouTube and there was some very significant differences with GMA’s “last”. Let me share some:
Cory: “I accept the criticisms poured on me painful as they are as part and parcel of the hazards of public service.”
GMA (current president): “To my critics… don’t pussy foot”
Cory: “Next year, I will step down… Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat, at paalam”
GMA: “After I step down from this platform, I’M STILL THE PRESIDENT” (As if we don’t know that!)
Legacy. What will be Cory’s? What will be Gloria’s? What will be yours?
The kind of legacy that we will leave when we die is the choice that we can make while we’re still alive.
May 22nd 09
Posted by Arnold in Blogs, etc.
Ok, I’m sorry to have disappointed you. I’m obviously just riding on some Google juice. I don’t have the link to that famous sex scandal that you’re looking for. Sorry. But now that you’re here, can you click on some of my other blog posts? :D
And, also, let me just say, too, that while is really cool to download that video, in the long run it won’t help you. I know that, because I’m a man myself. I know how our minds work. The images will play in our heads and it will mess you up.
I know people are angry at Hayden Kho for this stupid thing that he did. You can show your anger by not downloading the video of this freak.
Ako Mismo… hindi i-dadownload ang sex video nila Katrina Halili at Hayden Kho.
May 5th 09
Posted by Arnold in Politics
Over the weekend, we saw a very interesting newspaper center fold ad about an advocacy. “Ako Mismo” features very interesting personalities promoting it. Ely Buendia, Angel Locsin, Chris Tiu among others. I sincerely appreciate its cause. It makes everyone think about doing something and not just “saying something” for the country.
And it makes me wanna get that dog tag!
On the other hand, I had some questions in my mind then:
1. Are these artists pro bono, or were they paid to appear in the ad?
2. If they were paid, it definitely sure cost a lot!
3. If it costs a lot, who paid for it? — and we now know it’s Smart Communications.
My doubts are later triggered further with MLQ3’s Twitter update:
Is it possible AkoMismo ads today are trial balloon for possible Manuel V. Pangilinan presidential bid? Who else could afford it?
Today, an email is circulating that supposed to come from Jaime Garchitorena:
To all those that signed up with AKO MISMO!
You are now part of SMART telecoms network for potential campaigns in 2010.
The amount of information they have asked is so detailed that they can track you down to your zip code and contact you any time. In all my years of signing up for information I have never had a site require so much information AS REQUIRED FIELDS.
This makes for a perfect voter mapping database and campaign tool for anyone that wants to pay SMART for the information.
Did you think SMART would pay MILLIONS in production and advertising and talent costs for nothing?
If you refer to their privacy policy that no one ever reads, it states:
AKO MISMO MAY use the personal information you provide to:
• Contact you – either in response to a query or suggestion, or to mail newsletters, documents, publications, etc.
• “Remember” your online profile and preferences;
• Help you quickly find information that is relevant to you based on your interests, and help us create site contents most relevant to you;
In other words the can PUSH information to you which is an important tool in making sure that you can receive even unwanted campaign messages.
• Undertake statistical analysis.
They can use your answers to this PUSH for other mapping and trending purposes.
They also wash their hands of any person “accidentally” cracking the site and getting all your info. If you read privacy policy, again, which no one reads:
AKO MISMO shall not be liable under any circumstances for damages resulting from unauthorized use of information collected from visitors to the site.
AKO MISMO may change this privacy policy to reflect changes in the way we collect visitor information.
As a final warning, their privacy policy claims that you can still access this site even if you do not sign up (again from the privacy policy page):
What if I don’t want to provide personal information?
Providing personal information on the AKO MISMO web site is optional. If you choose not to provide personal information, you can still browse and use the AKO MISMO site, but you will not be able to carry out certain actions.
This is not true. None of the pages are viewable unless you have signed in. This is already a sure sign that their intent is to make you sign up and not just to make you a part of a youth reform activity.
A friendly piece of advice: Go back to the site and change your details please change all the details that pertain to AGE, SEX, and, LOCATION.
Also change your phone number if you like. This is to protect your privacy.
And remember you are still holding on to your pledge of participation in making our country great and they promise not to bar you from accessing the site even if you change your details so you will lose nothing but you will take back your security.
Please pass to all the people you know who may have signed up.
Ingat lang tayo po sa mga ganito.
Salamat!
I’m not insinuating that this campaign is not an authentic, honest way to reach to every Filipino to do something for the country. I just think that there is a lot of questions that needs to be answered.
Apr 30th 09
Posted by Arnold in Politics, Theology
Ricky Carandang will make you all think today:
I imagine today after Jun and Violet Lozada are arraigned for perjury, Jun will go back to his cell in Manila, while Violet returns to their quarters in La Salle Greenhills where she, Jun and their kids have been living for more than a year under the watchful eye of the nuns and the senate sergeant-at-arms.
I imagine at some point in the day both of them asking themselves as they must have asked themselves countless times over the past year, “Is this all worth it?” I imagine Violet asking herself what an uncertain future willl bring for her and her children.
I also imagine that later today, Mike Defensor and his wife and kids will touch down at the San Francisco International airport, check into their hotel and begin an enjoyable vacation. Also today, Ben Abalos will be holding court at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club, enjoying a Ben’s Burjer while waiting for the rain to let up enough so he can enjoy a round of golf.
Romy Neri will go to work at SSS and have a quiet day, while Mike Arroyo will do whatever it is he wants to do.
At some point in the day I imagine they’d have some quiet time in the lull between activity to contemplate.
I imagine Defensor, Abalos, Neri,and Arroyo stopping momentarily during the day and thinking, “Life is good, isn’t it?”
Yes it is, guys. Aren’t you glad you’re in power?
I’m glad we can only live a maximum 100 years, 60 years on the average. I’m glad what we have now is not permanent. I’m glad that our life here is just a rehearsal of the real life for all eternity. I’m glad that the way we live our life now determines our eternal destination. I’m glad that life maybe unfair in this side of eternity, but God is the ultimate judge that will give justice for all. We do not know when, but heck I’m sure it will come. Aren’t you glad this is just temporary?
That goes the same for everyone: Jun Lozada, Neri, Abalos, Defensor and Arroyo. And for all of us.
