I don’t normally watch Willie Revillame’s Wowowee, or any noontime show for that matter. I had a couple of minutes at lunch today, though.
He caught my attention when he was “preaching” on how a good politician should act. Then claiming he would do the same if he decides to run.
What intrigues me the most is on how they played the game. The game includes different colored boxes. The contestant will choose a colored box that he will open later to know what’s inside the box.
The contestant chose yellow. Then Revillame commented, “Sigurado na kayo? Bahala kayo, kayo naman bahala kung sinong pinuno ang ilalagay nyo”.
To cut the other 10 minutes of “bidding” short — colored yellow box has a candle inside it. The contestant lost the game. Then he went to the box colored orange. Before he opened, he commented, “Kung ito lang sana ang pinili nyo…”, then an evil grin, “ito sana!” P525,000 — the jackpot price.
If you are familiar with Philippine politics and the colors the politicians use, you’ll know that Yellow is Noynoy Aquino and Orange is Manny Villar — his rumored partner in the coming elections.
For the longest time, Filipinos here and around the world are one again. Typhoon Ondoy brought us together through generosity. Churches, NGOs, Media outfits — they all received donations all throughout the country and even from around the world. ABS-CBN, for one reported:
@ANCALERTS: Update on Donations ABS CBN Sagip Kapamilya: P30.2 million cash and P72 million in goods & service
This is just one of the non-government institutions that received and distributed the cash and in-kind donations. I personally gave through Red Cross. Our church collected and gave to VCF Greenhills.
The president, however, delivered this message. Notice how she stresses the words “… sa DSWD”.
I have the impression that the government wants the funds to go through them and not through the NGO. So, when somebody asks you on how and where to give (as a client of mine from the US just asked me), what will you tell them? Are you going to ask them to send your funds to DSWD? Or will you direct them somewhere else?
Let me give my opinion as a citizen of this country under the administration of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo: I will NEVER ask people to give to DSWD for these reasons:
1. Effectiveness – as shown in the past days after the tragedy, the non-government instritutions – Red Cross, media, the church – they are all way more effective in delivering the services and the good to the shelters than the government. They are more organized and have more volunteers. In fact, it even looked like these institutions are our government these past few days!
2. Corruption – no need to explain here. But I can’t help it, can I just say some more? Remember the “Calamity fund” that’s supposed to be used for — well, as the name implies — calamity? It’s been used up for GMA’s travel abroad. This is a verifiable fact. This issue was discussed over and over even before the Saturday flood. You used up the calamity fund now you want to horde the donations to the government? I just wouldn’t trust my money on corrupt hands. I’d rather give my donations to some place where I’m sure it will be directly given to where it is intended to be.
Someone at Facebook has been asking to repost this message:
URGENT REPOST from Monica Payumo: IF ANYONE HAS A MOTORIZED RUBBER BOAT it is needed for ongoing rescue operations led by Red Cross Rizal Chapter. They need to go to Cainta and Manggahan, Pasig, Asap! People are reportedly dying in some areas. The water has not gone down at all. Please contact Cielo @ 0918-8824356
I know it’s wrong to impose. But in times of desperation, you just need to.
Here’s my challenge to Willie Revillame and people like him who have means to be used for rescue mission like this. You see, I highly suspect that his advertised generosity towards the needy is just confined in the 4 corners of his TV show. Then a friend of mine commented:
baka pweding may tumawag kay willie r. i remember meron yung speed boats at yate at helicopters na bagong bili at nang mabinyagan.
I’d like to be proven wrong even humiliated for my wrong perception of him. Show us your advertised generosity and love to the needy. Lend your expensive boats to the rescue teams.
nag-donate daw 1M si willie, sabi ni gina lopez sa wowowee kanina
That’s great! Sure, we need all the financial help. I guess I have to qualify, though. This challenge is for him to lend his motorized boat(s) as it is what is needed for the rescue and is very scarce. Not to discount financial donations — very important — but if you have millions, you’ve got to give something that will hurt you to really exercise generosity. I maybe asking too much, but hey, this is my way to help.
Today, Sen. Mar Roxas has officially accepted the challenge of being Noynoy Aquino’s running mate. A very interesting tandem, they are going to be the team to beat. While I still am undecided on who to vote, I have to admit that Sen. Roxas has won my heart for the sacrifices he made for the sake, well, at least the Liberal Party. Bu then, even in a smaller think such as that, you can see character.
Here’s the acceptance speech he delivered.
Maraming maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat. Magandang tanghali po. Happy Holidays to our Muslim brothers.
Salamat, Noynoy, sa tiwalang ipinagkaloob mo sa akin. Salamat sa karangalang maging kasama mo sa paglilingkod sa bayan. Thank you for this opportunity to work with you as we raise the banner of reform. Thank you for the privilege of joining you and all our kababayans in the fight for decency and integrity in public service, and for a government that puts the people’s interest first.
Taos-puso ko pong tinatanggap ang hamon na isulong ang tunay na reporma sa ating bansa.
Taos-puso ko pong tinatanggap ang responsibilidad na maging kabalikat ni Noynoy sa kanyang laban para sa pagbabago.
Taos-puso ko pong tinatanggap ang maging katambal ni Noynoy Aquino.
But this fight is not just about Noynoy and me. It’s bigger than the two of us, it is bigger than the Liberal Party. It is about our collective thirst for change.
It is about our thirst for change finally overcoming those who want to continue the tayu-tayo system, the horse-trading, the greed, the self-interest, the transactional politics that has been the biggest roadblock to progress and prosperity for all.
Tungkol ito sa matuwid laban sa baluktot. Tungkol ito sa tapat laban sa tiwali. Tungkol ito sa tama laban sa mali.
Noy, you have raised the banner. Ito ang bandila ng reporma at pag-asa. Ito ang maglalagay ng pagkain sa mesa, dahil hindi na nanakawin ang pondo ng mga magsasaka. Ito ang magbibigay ng trabaho sa taumbayan, dahil hindi na kokotangan ang mga namumuhunan. Ito ang magpapaabot-kaya sa presyo ng gamot, dahil hindi na makikipagsabwatan sa mga abusadong pharmaceutical companies.
My friends, this is going to be a tough battle. We should not be lulled into complacency. We are up against forces who will fight tooth and nail, fair and unfair, legal and illegal, against us. Sa kanila yata, tuloy ang ligaya; sa atin naman, tuloy ang laban.
Kailangan nating isulong ang bandila ni Noy at ng reporma. Mahirap ang laban na ito, pero nasa kamay natin ang ating kapalaran.
Kung bawat araw, ang bawat isa sa atin ay makahimok ng isa pang kasangga natin, tiyak ang ating tagumpay.
Our opponents will exhaust all avenues in order to win. They have been robbing us for so long, and they want to continue robbing us. Pero hindi tayo papayag na manakaw din nila ang ating pag-asa.
Taglay ni Noynoy ang susi ng pagbabago: matapat na puso, malasakit sa kapwa, at pinakamahalaga, pagmamahal sa bayan. Buong-loob kong isinusulong si Noynoy Aquino. I am honored to join him in this field of battle.
To all of us here in this hall and all across this great nation, who are fighting alongside him, make no mistake about it: We will not back down from this fight, not now, not ever.
The fog of cynicism has already lifted from our hearts. Ngayon, puwede na muling mangarap.
Sama-sama tayo. Hindi namin kayo pababayaan. Lalaban tayo!
We have an old joke back in our dormitory. One day, a kotong cop apprehended a clueless, moneyless motorist, and asking for “lagay”.
“Sir, wala po talaga eh,” he said. “Sige 200 nalang.”
“Wala po talaga, eh.”
“100.”
“Boss, pasensya na po, wala talaga.”
“50?”
“Sorry po talaga.”
“SIGE NA NGA, PAPITIK NALANG SA TENGA!”
* * *
Election time is nearing. And each prospective president declares battle against corruption. Well and good. But before we prevent the ZTE Broadband kind of corruption, why don’t we take a look the very basic problem of corruption in our society — kotong cops/MMDA/MAPSA/whatever-their-municality-calls-them. This problem is a reflection of who we are as a people. A people that is willing to feed the corrupt, intimidated by the corrupt, and is willing to be corrupted for a whooping P100 bill. That’s sick.
One of my most famous blog post is “Swerving is NOT a violation, and other petty MMDA abuses”. It’s so popular that after I shared my experience with MMDA operatives, a bunch of other people shared theirs. And they found this entry through the search engines. People are looking for ways to vent their ugly emotions against this simple yet profound act of corruption in the government and its people.
Take for instance this poster’s experience:
I just changed lane, and i’m very sure of that. An officer apprehended me… swerving daw. After minutes of discussion, we ended up “kotong”. The worst is… ang sabi sa akin ng officer, ma’am wag po dito… escortan kita hanggang dun sa chino roces, marami kasing nakatingin dito, dun mo iabot, ibalot mo sa tissue”. Wow, grabe… kapalmuks.
That was in south superhighway buendia. Nagkalat ang mga talamak na officers dun.
Whenever I see MMDAs on the street, I would jokingly tell my wife, “I want to run these people off”. I know that’s wrong. WWJD, eh! But hey, mine is angst towards the very simple corruption in our society. And because I am frequent in the streets, I can feel the pain every single day.
You can help fight corruption in the streets.
1. Know your rights. Don’t let MMDA/Cops/MAPSA intimidate you
2. Don’t bribe. Even if it’s really tempting. (I’m preaching to myself).
3. I know this may be wrong, but I have decided not to give my license to them especially if I know I am right. I noticed that your driver’s license has become their “bargaining tool”. If they have your license, the next question would be “Pano natin aayusin to, Sir.” Defend your right with dignity and grace. Don’t give in.
And finally, rejoice! Bayani Fernando’s day is nearing to an end. (On the side note, I wonder why Bayani Fernando keeps pushing himself to run for president. Eh, yung mga bata nya hindi nya masuheto. Pano pa yung mga Chinese ZTE officials pag naging presidente sya?)
