mongster's nest

- disturbing fantasies, traumatic verses, definitely mongrel thoughts

 

Grand old man

With due respect to Senate President Jovito Salonga, I think it’s time we should recognize Vice President Teofisto Guingona as the ‘grand old man’ of Philippine politics today.

Guingona is almost eighty years old yet his political fortitude remains outstanding. He is the tireless defender of the peoples’ right to seek truth and justice. He has more worthy principles to boast than all of Gloria Arroyo, her Cabinet and her allies combined.

Guingona’s political record is remarkable - he fought the Marcos dictatorship, he opposed the Visiting Forces Agreement, he was one of the pillars of EDSA Dos and he resisted the entry of US troops in the country.

Guingona has been a Senator, Cabinet member, Vice President, diplomat and street parliamentarian.

Now, he is the credible symbol of the Opposition against the illegitimate Arroyo government.

Guingona has proven his consistency and sincerity in demanding substantial reforms in the government. He could have chosen to lead a quiet retirement from politics but it seems impossible to silence a man who battled dictators, traitors, trapos and thieves in the government.

Guingona’s political activities these days are proofs of his continuing important role in Philippine politics. He presided over the Citizens’ Congress for Truth and Accountability, he became the most famous victim of Gloria Arroyo’s calibrated preemptive response policy, he is always the most engaging speaker in big assemblies, and lately, he has volunteered to become negotiator in street rallies to prevent violence.

Guingona is always present in press briefings, candle lighting activities and prayer rallies. For the past few days, the public saw him in EDSA Shrine, Ayala and Fort Bonifacio. He was not just craving for media attention; he was ensuring that peace will be maintained and that people will continue to mobilize for change.

Unlike other self-proclaimed vanguards of the middle class, Guingona does not hide when police forces will disperse a rally. Unlike other elite politicians, Guingona is not a coward. He will stay at the forefront of rallies and he will assert the peoples’ right to air their grievances.

Guingona’s conviction to fight for truth and his admirable commitment to serve as ‘spokesman’ of the Opposition absolve him of his disappointing decisions in 2004 when he supported FPJ in the elections and accepted Arroyo’s offer to become Ambassador to China.

Guingona’s political life can teach the young people that politicians do not have to grow old like Ramos, Enrile or Blas Ople. They can always opt to become a Teofisto Guingona, the Filipino Statesman of our time.

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The Leyte landslide tragedy is the topic of my Tinig column. Thanks also to Ederic for publishing my blogpost about my wife.

posted by: mongpalatino at February 27, 2006 15:07 | link | comments (3) |
nation

The sacred and profane lover

We used to ride the same bus during grade school. She was always neat, prim and prepared for school while I was always late and drowsy. Her brother was the laughable bully in our community church boys’ group.

It was during college that I came to know her again. I was the sensational kid from the mighty campus of Diliman and she was the loudmouth of that old school along Padre Faura.

We exchanged furtive glances during the anti-Estrada rallies in 1999. The most memorable was the mammoth gathering in Ayala in August. I was with visiting Taiwanese students and she was the head of their school delegation. Was it the heavy downpour or something else but it was during that fateful day when I realized that I am smitten with the girl who used to mock me in elementary.

The formal courtship took place in the picketlines of the Grand Boulevard Hotel. I was a lousy suitor (she always reminds me) but then sooner or later she has to confess her true feelings for me.

At first we thought we are a mismatched couple. After all, we have obvious differences in our interests. To cite a few examples, she prefers the rustic mountains; I would always choose the rugged seas. She adores Selena and TLC while I appreciate the songs of Andy Williams. She is a talented artist; I’m more of a filingerong artista.

Our theory about our incompatibility would be disproved by our same passion for the writings of Marx, Lenin, Mao, Stalin and Ed Villegas. The two of us are professional street rallyists, crowd control managers and advocacy experts. We both love pasta, Divisoria and Chinese movies.

But more than our shared fondness for many things, one secret of our enduring relationship is our mutual respect for our distinct interests. She agrees to watch Eat Bulaga, Mr. Bean, Monk and Frasier as long as I also agree to watch Sarah Geronimo on ASAP, the Buzz and Will and Grace. She seldom complains about not eating shrimp and crabmeat because of my skin allergy as long as I can tolerate not eating mongo which she finds unpalatable.

I’m not really superstitious but when we celebrate a special day in our relationship, something ominous or enormous occurs in the political life of the country. When Chavit made his expose against Erap in 2000, we are on vacation in the Hundred Islands of Alaminos. When we celebrated our first anniversary, that was the week when Erap was arrested in his San Juan residence. When Magdalo soldiers attempted a coup in 2003, that was when I proposed marriage to her. During the Valentine’s Day bombing last year, my wife was in labor at the PGH.

Marriage brings so much pleasant complexities in a relationship. It is the most satisfying stressful phenomenon in life. No more of those mushy love letters, phone conversations till dawn and text quotes every hour promising supreme happiness when you spend the rest of your life with the woman of your dreams. It will be replaced by bills from utility firms, phone conversations about getting home before 9pm (or else!), text reminders of diapers and vitamins to buy and a candid realization that you are stuck with this one person for the rest of your mortal life. And I believe this is what makes marriage exciting and enjoyable.

In the past week, my wife and I had arguments and shouting matches about who will baby-sit, who will cook, who will clean the bathroom, how the money was spent, where are the keys, where is the remote control, etc. But at the end of the day, we will resolve our petty quarrels. We can’t sleep harboring bitterness against each other.

We have our own ways of expressing regret for something offensive which was said or done. On my part, I always offer a soothing back massage, ginger tea and the initiative to wash the dishes and mop the floor.

While the world continues to be more violent, unforgiving and depressing, I have already found my happiness in life. I am comforted by the thought that another soul is dependent on mine in order to survive this wicked land.

Perhaps what inspires me to be a better person is to prove that I deserve to be blessed with a wife who tolerates my perverted humor, eccentric behavior and demented beliefs. I deserve a wife who irritates me everyday with her complaints; I deserve a wife who is affectionate, beautiful, intelligent and kind. The prospect of spending the rest of my life with this one person is always the source of my contentment, pride and delight.

I tease, argue, fight, reconcile, serve, ridicule, adore, ignore, fear, loathe, respect, venerate and honor my wife everyday. Some would say this is the regression to the boring domesticity called marriage. I say it is love. And love has a name: Frances.

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I uploaded more pictures taken during my December visit in HK. Click here.

posted by: mongpalatino at February 19, 2006 02:01 | link | comments (4) |
mong exposed

The network to beat

Don’t underestimate ABS-CBN. It is the TV network which was closed during martial law but that did not prevent it from dominating the broadcast industry for the past two decades. If there is a media company which can survive a tragedy like the Wowowee stampede, it is ABS-CBN.

After all, ABS-CBN has been perfecting the art of ‘damage control’ for the past four years. In 2002, Meralco, which is another Lopez-owned company, was found guilty of overpricing its customers. Many people were not satisfied with how the ABS-CBN news team handled the sensitive issue. Then, Susan Roces accused the TV network of unfair reporting in 2004. Perhaps what is most detrimental to ABS-CBN is the plausible claim of GMA-7 that it is already the most popular and profitable media company in the country.

Yet, ABS-CBN remains the most influential and powerful cultural icon in this part of the world. It is still watched by the most number of people in the provinces; it has a strong following in the Metropolis and enjoys an almost exclusive support of overseas Filipinos. It is highly respected for its education programs like the Knowledge Channel and its news channel, ANC.

What the Wowowee tragedy revealed, among other things, is the almost unrecognized fact that ABS-CBN has always been successful in luring the masa crowd to watch its programs. The 30,000-50,000 desperate Wowowee fans outside Ultra will not be forgotten by everyone, but most especially, the corporate sponsors. From now on, these companies can be easily enticed to promote their products in the TV shows of ABS-CBN. The latter only has to boast that it commands the patronage of the poor and the middle class (Pinoy Big Brother fans).

Wowowee may be a perennial loser in the ratings war but it has proven its capability to attract a large crowd which its rival Eat Bulaga failed to accomplish when it held a show also in Ultra last year.

Therefore, TV ratings should not be peddled anymore as the sole indicator of a TV program’s success. Aside from Wowowee, Pinoy Big Brother was another phenomenal hit among the public yet it was an inconsistent top rating program. In retrospect, it is impossible to remember that PBB was not the number one primetime show despite its obvious popularity among the people.

But who gives a damn about large crowds today? What matters is that ABS-CBN stocks are down. Politicians (GMA allies?) are harassing the TV station. The general public and surprisingly the media people are angry at ABS-CBN. So, is this the end for the Lopez-controlled firm?

I don’t think so. The Wowowee tragedy is the latest in the series of misfortunes which has plagued the TV giant. But ABS-CBN can always find a way to turn disaster into fortune. It managed to become a winner in the ratings last weekend. It should learn to sustain this brief victory. Maybe the ABS-CBN management will also use the Ultra stampede as an excuse to lay-off more workers, talents and rationalize operations thus saving money.

What is certain is that ABS-CBN will bounce back. People forget so easily. Every teenager has no problem drinking Pepsi despite the 349 scandal. Meralco did not lose its customers despite the PPA. Enrile is regarded as an elderly statesman despite being a former Marcos boy, coup plotter and electoral cheat. People still patronize airlines and shipping companies known for being regular transporters of people to the underworld. And so people will still watch ABS-CBN despite Wowowee, despite the Ultra stampede and despite the 74 dead.

Very soon, as the election season is nearing, ABS-CBN and its owners will have its revenge. Watch out, GMA!

posted by: mongpalatino at February 11, 2006 00:21 | link | comments (6) |
television

Hello Garci and Dovie Beams

We all know about the Hello Garci scandal so let’s proceed to Dovie Beams.

In late 1970, Dovie Beams, an American actress who made a movie in the Philippines (Maharlika) held a press conference before leaving the country. She delighted the press and public by playing erotic tape recordings involving her and ‘Fredy’, no other than the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos.

Beams hid the tape recorder under a bed while making love with the former President. According to her, she was forced to publicize her ‘love affair’ with Marcos as a ‘protection’ since there were many threats to her life.

The Dovie Beams tape became the “most intense public and private turmoil” for Marcos. His aides likened it to the Watergate scandal. Some believed Marcos declared martial law a little too early in order to silence the opposition which was still using the Dovie Beams tape in 1972. They said Imelda, the dutiful wife and charming First Lady became more aggressive and uncontrollable in the Marcos government after the scandalous affair.

More than thirty years later, an audio recording also undermined the Philippine presidency: the Hello Garci CD.

But the Dovie Beams tape is more entertaining. If it was exposed today, it would sell more copies than the Hello Garci CD. The people would be more intrigued to hear Marcos singing Ilocano love songs or moaning in ecstasy while in bed with a blond American actress than suffer listening to the boring conversations between Ma’am and Garci.

Marcos’ supporters tried to besmirch the credibility of Dovie Beams by questioning her sanity. They published a series of articles in the Marcos-controlled Republic Weekly to destroy the reputation of Beams. They even managed to persuade a former maid of Beams to testify that she helped in forging the infamous tapes.

Gloria’s henchmen learned so much from Marcos. Until now, there are news articles questioning the veracity of the Hello Garci recordings. All the witnesses in the Gloriagate scandal have also been severely maligned.

Marcos ordered the arrest of all editors of Graphic which published the sensational Dovie Beams recordings. Would Gloria do the same to all media outfits which published the transcript of the Hello Garci CD?

The Dovie Beams tape was about a husband screwing his wife. Hello Garci is about a leader screwing the people. The former is entertainment and moral crime, the latter a tragedy and heinous crime.

The Dovie Beams tape was an embarrassment for ‘Fredy’ Marcos but did not lead to his ouster. Would the Hello Garci CD continue to be a source of embarrassment for Ma’am Arroyo but would also not lead to her ouster?

Well, we are not yet finished with that part of the story yet.

posted by: mongpalatino at February 05, 2006 17:33 | link | comments (2) |
nation

Displacement

Araw-araw tayong kalahok at saksi sa mga ganitong eksena….

Nagbabangayang drayber at pasahero dahil sobra kung maningil ang una at barat naman ang huli.

Inaaway ang drayber ng bus dahil matagal kung mag-abang ng sasakay sa bawat kanto; inaaway naman ng konduktor ang mga pasaway na pasahero dahil nagsisiksikan sa pintuan ng sasakyan.

Sigawan sa mall sa pagitan ng metikulosong kustomer at supladang saleslady.

Sigawan sa palengke sa pagitan ng tindera at mamimiling tawad ng tawad.

Salpukan ng mga pulis na humihingi ng permit at mga nagrarali na ginigiit ang karapatang magpahayag sa kalye.

Away sa pagitan ng naiinip na taxpayer at mabagal na kawani sa mga opisina ng pamahalaan.

Suntukan ng mga drayber ng tricycle at dyip dahil sa agawan sa teritoryo.

Away ng magkapitbahay dahil sa nakaimbak na basura, maingay na bata at mga lasing na sintunadong nagkakaraoke.

Bugbugan sa kanto dahil maporma at masama ang tingin ng isang naglalakad na binata.

Eto ang mga away na walang saysay dahil tayong “maliliit na tao” ang kalahok dito samantalang may mga mas makabuluhang laban na dapat pagtuunan ng pansin. Nauubos ang ating lakas sa pagdurog sa ating kapwa imbes na ituon ito sa mga mandarambong sa gobyerno.
Nakikita natin ang kasalanan ng isang indibidwal na nakakasalubong natin sa daan habang nabubulag tayo sa mga krimen ng mga “malalaking tao” sa lipunan.

Pinag-aawayan ng drayber at pasahero ang tamang halaga ng pamasahe samantalang nakakalusot ang mga may kasalanan kung bakit maliit na lang ang kinikita ng mga manggagawa at maging ng drayber.

Nakakalimutan natin ang kawawang kalagayan ng mga saleslady at kawani ng pamahalaan (mababang sahod, mabigat na trabaho) dahil ang iniisip lang natin ang kanilang katamaran, katangahan at kawalan ng dedikasyon.

Imbes na tumbukin ang ugat ng mga problema natin (tulad ng korupsiyon sa gobyerno, pagkagahaman sa tubo ng mga kapitalista, mga batas na dikta ng dayuhan), nabibigyan ng maling sisi ang indibidwal na pananagutan ng bawat isa. Natutukoy ang mga masamang gawi, ugali at pananalita ng mga tao habang napapawalang-sala ang pananagutan ng mga dominanteng grupo (naghaharing-uri ayon sa mga aktibista).

Ang mga magkakampi upang labanan ang kahirapan ay nagrarambulan sa kalye, nagpapatayan, nagsisigawan, bastos sa isa’t isa. Dito napupunta ang ating galit sa kawawang kalagayan ng ating buhay.

Mabuti sana kung ang enerhiyang ito ay nakatuon sa mga elitista na abala sa paglalaro ng golf, pagpapaumbok ng puwet o pagpapalaki ng kanilang mansiyon. Mabuti sana kung naiipon ang galit na ito upang ibagsak ang pamumuno ng magnanakaw sa Malakanyang.

May kanya-kanyang mapait na kuwento ang mga nakakasalubong natin sa labas ng ating bahay. Hindi lahat ay likas na masama na dapat awayin o sindakin. Kung hindi natin uunawain ang kalagayan ng iba, ilan pang karakter ni Bembol Roco sa pelikulang Maynila Sa Kuko Ng Liwanag ang papatayin ng mga tao?

Hindi kaaway ang mga baluga, siga at mangmang sa kalye. Hindi kaaway ang mga katulad nating mahihirap. Ang mga masamang tao ay yung mga bumubuntot sa kasikatan ni Manny Pacquiao.


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Babala: Magdalawang-isip sa paggamit ng Silverswan soy sauce. Ayon sa aking asawa na mananaliksik sa isang labor NGO, may dalawang manggagawa na nahulog daw sa haluan ng kemikal sa pabrika ng Silverswan. Hindi na raw nakuha ang mga bangkay at binayaran na lang ang pamilya para manahimik. Mabuti ng mag-ingat maliban na lamang kung nais ninyong matikman ang toyong pinasarap ng katawan ng tao.

Naalala ninyo pa ba ang balita (o tsismis) noong 1991 na huwag daw kumain ng Purefoods hotdog dahil baka may halo itong putol na daliri? O yung babala na huwag kumain ng Argentina corned beef (o CDO ba?) dahil nagnanana ang kamay ng mga manggagawa dito na hindi gumagamit ng gloves?

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Ngayong lingo ay ginugunita ang ika-35 anibersaryo ng Diliman Commune. May sinulat akong artikulo ukol dito para sa Tinig.

posted by: mongpalatino at February 01, 2006 12:07 | link | comments (1) |
workers