The Presidential Tweet-er

Tweeting Aquino aide apologizes

(Front Page, Philippine Daily Inquirer Sunday, October 31, 2010)

[President Aquino’s speechwriter has apologized for the disparaging comments she made about the wine served by Mr. Aquino’s Vietnamese hosts on Twitter]

What I say is:


The world of social networking sites has come full circle. They virtually enabled a stranger to hook up, stalk, and comment to anything and anyone online. Evidently, they have become as staple as pandesal and coffee for us. The most popular ones are Friendster, Facebook and now Twitter. Twitter, in particular, has completely blurred the demarcation line between what is public and private. The most recent and buzz-worthy is Ms. Carmen Mislang, Pnoy’s speechwriter and aide who was one of his entourage in the recent trip to Vietnam. She unwittingly posted “disparaging” comments about her disappointing experience with the wine served and how unforgiving the roads in Hanoi (capital city) were. She tweeted: “the wine sucks”


Straight on, I would say, it’s normal and completely fine. She’s just like any ordinary cyber denizen who tweets, posts and comments, worse is, she’s no ordinary! Considering her position and how close she is with the President makes it all important and controversial. Whoever works around the President will be his reflection hence they must behave and observe caution and diplomacy like the VIP they're serving and representing. 


I had the same horrible experience with social networking sites, when I recently posted something about the movie Eat, Pray, Love. Days prior to the movie, I received several invitations to watch the Julia-starrer, and as usual, the schedule overlapped and I was caught confused in between. I ended up offending a dear friend who dutifully checked the movie schedule for the two of us without any hint that I’ve seen the movie with somebody. I think she felt betrayed, that’s why I took it upon myself to apologize.

We are far worse than the wine in Vietnam, we SUCK! A little lesson to learn from this experience, social networking sites may be so transparent that anyone can freely say whatever it is in mind; caution and restraint will be the user’s call. Whatever is posted online will be subject to someone’s contempt and scrutiny. So, next time you logged in, "triple-think" its consequences!

We are not BIRDS, so Tweet less!

kakaSuKa!

SK ‘corrupting influence’ on youth- bishop

(2nd Front Page, Philippine Daily Inquirer Sunday, October 31, 2010)


[What has happened to us as a people? Mincing no words, Legazpi Bishop Joel Baylon and his clergy have condemned the “rampant” vote-buying in Albay during the recent barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections, particularly among young voters.]






What I say is:


The creation of Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) is a reflection of the country’s serious take on the youth (kabataan), specifically for their empowerment and to give them the rightful representation in nation-building. However, over the past years, it has veered away from the intended purpose of giving the youth sector a crack at government service, as it has transformed itself into a thriving breeding ground for corruption. True to the old-age adage “ anumang ginagawa ng matanda ay syang ginagawa ng bata”. Naïve and tender youngsters in the company of corrupt trapos and you’ll get SK.


SK is now a miniature version of what kind of political landscape we have: rotten and shameful! Vote-buying, bribery are just few condemnable acts the country have seen from last Monday’s election. Seasoned politicians who are expected to take charge in training and molding the youngsters to be the noble serviceman (public servant) the country sees them to be,  rather polluted them. What’s the fuss? How can they impart on the youth something they don’t have and never practiced in the first place? They are just passing on what they’ve been doing all these sorry years; sack up the government’s coffers, buy voters and enrich themselves. How pitiful it is!


The massive call for its abolition might be the lesser of two evils. In the current state of our country, we can’t afford to breed future political monsters who will lead us to sorry-land; hence nipping it on the bud must be the immediate response to assuage the imminent disaster. With respect and regard accorded to our forebears who,  some years early,  visualized an active youth participation in government and acknowledge the youth's indispensable role in nation-building, I say that It was a patriotic and praise-worthy act! Tragically, we have employed a bunch of ill-witted personnel to carry on the job. It's more like a ingenuously-written screenplay for a big-budgeted film with lackluster actors playing the roles..................... doomed!

Kids, it's about time to go back to playing cards and toys........

Hinay-hinay Mr. Binay!










He's innocent,
I think!?!!!

 Solons chastise Binay for ‘clearing’ bar blast suspect

[Several lawmakers on Thursday criticized Vice President Jejomar Binay for making statements clearing the suspect in the blast outside De La Salle University in Manila last September 26. The explosion injured 47 people] Philippine Daily Inquirer Friday, October 29, 2010

What I say is:



Let him have his day in court. No one is above the law, not even a newly-installed VP of the land who manned the most opulent and glitzy city in the metro. Of course, there is a presumption of innocence however, pre-empting the course of the law is utterly un-called for. Indulge me for this retrospection, when i started enjoying "patintero" I witnessed how a teammate can blindly defend one from the opposing team's attack.

This is reminiscent of Mr. VP's shameful exoneration of his brod.

 From a simple mouth-fest whether it's line "in" or "out"  to a more physical collision of bodies and finger-pointing who-pushed-who, one can feel a sense of teamwork and brotherhood. If your "brod" was hurt there's an automatic reaction  which may come in physical retaliation or just plain word war  worse is, parents acting childishly join the riot. 



Brotherhood; defined!

 

One of Alpha Phi Omega's  Cardinal Principles professes "Brotherhood is the spirit of friendship. It implies respect, honesty and dependability http://www.apo.org.ph/mode=default&cmd=get&id=22#principles)." Is this  the sense of "brotherhood" they're talking about? How brotherly Mr. Binay can be to his comrade and grossly insensitive to the innocent victims of the blast? This is typical of a frat brod coming to a rescue for an erring comrade. It sends an awful picture to the public how fraternities thrive. No wonder most parents safeguard their kids in joining such groups. I was never wrong when I skipped his name last May. After his inauguration, he  insinuated that he's nobody's "spare tire" (correct Mr. Veep) you are NOT because you're far worse than a flat tire!

Mr. Binay hinay! (hold your horns!)

Spanish Class for Education Secretary

Luistro’s Chavacano gets lost in translation

I was cutting classes during
my Spanish 101 class

[Education Secretary Armin Luistro found himself into a pit of embarrassment at the end of a brief program at Zamboanga National High School West here on Monday when he called the students “ muchachos y muchachas” ]

Philippine Daily Inquirer Thursday, October 14, 2010

What I say is:

Our beloved country has one of the most numbers of languages in the world. Matter-of-factly, almost every island in the Philippines has their own local tongue. Some even have borrowed languages (Spanish, English etc.) I was all giggly when I read the news because it is reminiscent of the Miss U 2010 pageant when our pride, the lovely Venus Raj “popularized the now viral “major, major” answer. Some say what she meant was “bonggang bongga” hence the repeated word. Just like Sec. Luistro who corrected himself and claimed that it was an honest mistake. According to Fr/ Angel Calvo , a Spaniard himself “ muchachos y muchachas” also mean “adolescent boy and girl”


Even a Secretary of EDUcation, can be mis-EDUcated, at times.

Who’s the BOSS?

De Lima told: Quit or shut up.

Philippine Daily Inquirer Thursday, October 14, 2010





Pressure and displeasure?



[Senators yesterday called on Justice Leila de Lima to resign is she did not agree with the decision of President Aquino to “water down” her recommendations in the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) on last month’s bugled hostage rescue]



I am the BOSS!



What I say is:

I’m not against the President’s legal team who reviewed the committee’s report; it’s just that Sec. de Lima is a bit unhappy with the result. We have to take into consideration the effort and determination displayed by the committee (not just de Lima) to come up with a report to serve justice to the aggrieved and punish the offenders. But, being the President’s alter-ego and serving at his pleasure, she has to defer to him. She may argue but she can never superimpose herself to the boss. Anyway, the report might come out as a softer version of the IIRC’s report but this is not a direct and personal blow on de Lima. She put up a good job; as a matter of fact Senator Osmena mentioned that she’s one of the best appointees of the President to the Cabinet.

Serving at the pleasure of the President, at times might be a displeasure to you.

Look who’s TALKING



LOL (laugh out loud)



GMA hits P21-B cash transfer program (CCT)

Philippine Daily Inquirer Thursday, October 14, 2010

[Ex- President and now Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo lamented “ I’m not against increasing the CCT beneficiaries , but a sudden and massive increase by more than double its previous number seems both ambitious and untimely” ]

GMA (Great Meeting
 her Again as
Congressman)

What I say is:


She’s (really) not against the proposed budget for the CCT rather the proponents: DSWD Chair Dinky Soliman her former ally who withdrew support at the height of the ” Hello Garci” scandal and her new boss P-Noy, who’s her staunch critic. In politics there are no permanent allies only enemies. How revengeful it is! To give the former president the benefit of the doubt since she can mask her comments as  “call of duty” being a lawmaker who is tasked to scrutinize the National Budget, but from an average- thinking person's view who doesn’t care about politics, “how can you believe a person who holds a lot of grudges and plots vengeance to her enemies?” Lastly, she called it ambitious and untimely.. Talk about being ambitious, who stole the presidency twice, who wants to remain in power and ran for a lower position as congressman. The word “untimely” sounds familiar in recent history. Can you guess who is responsible for the shameful “midnight appointments.

Now it’s GMA’s turn……. Turn to throw stones and be the critic!