Cory: I am ... sorry

I was at Podium on that momentous event. And hearing the words addressed to the Convicted-Plunderer no less than by the Icon-of-Democracy herself, I wished I were at a different place.

I’ve just had a business meeting with one of my suppliers from Holland at Dome Restaurant at the ground floor of Podium. I was at the escalator on way to the second floor to meet my son who was already dining at Banana Leaf. As I reached the second floor and was about to step out of the escalator, I was jolted by the very uncomfortable situation I suddenly found myself in. A throng of people swarmed before me, dozens of cameras clicked and flashed, and I noticed public figures like Senator Ernesto Maceda, former Ambassador to the U.N. Lauro Baja and Senator Franklin Drilon offering handshakes.

Were those offers of handshake for me? Have I suddenly become a celebrity?

I made my one-million-dollar-smile ready for the appreciating crowd and cameras, put extra effort to come up with a twinkle in my eyes, and secretly wiped my hands on the sides of my pants, ready to return and acknowledge the offers of hand. You could hear my thoughts aloud like you’re in a THX moviehouse: Yes, I was a celebrity!

Now there was one last thing to do: I looked around – half of it to confirm that the much undeserved attention was indeed for me and the other half to recognize and show appreciation for the same attention that I was suddenly being showered with.

And then I saw him. Just at my back, one step below me at the escalator was a man dressed in a black suit, his hair meticulously prepped with pompadour – the ousted president, the Convicted-Plunderer himself.

The event turned out to be the launching of Jose de Venetia’s book written by Brett Decker titled “Global Filipino: The Authorized Biography of Jose de Venecia, Jr., the Visionary Five-Time Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines” -- a rather lengthy title for a biography of a relatively short man and which as Erap himself complained, was as kilometric and as nakakasakit ng ulo as JDV’s speeches. It was a star-studded event. I immediately recognized Tita Cory in red dress, Gina de Venecia also in red dress, Sen. Ernesto Maceda, Former Vice-President Teofisto Guingona, Cong. Ronaldo Zamora, Former Sen. Francisco Tatad and former Ambassador to U.N. Lauro Baja. Of course, the subject of the biography, JDV himself, was the picture of a most gracious host dutifully announcing the presence of his guests before the throng of crowd.

“Kiko!” a familiar voice yelled. The voice was from a lawyer-friend, a neighbor in my condominium community. He was, like the other heavyweight guests, in a dark suit.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

“I’m one of Erap’s lawyers,” he proudly declared. “Come, join us,” he said.

And so, I found myself listening to politicians’ speeches, got to elbow and pressed hands with some of them, even got to make beso-beso with one of the missus… and felt tremendously sorry for the nation after.

My take on Tita Cory’s mea culpa:

I can understand she regrets the fact that it was GMA who succeeded Erap but I can never agree with her that we should regret Edsa Dos, too. I can agree that GMA is more corrupt than Erap but that doesn’t mean Erap wasn’t corrupt either. In fact, we see GMA as more corrupt now only because GMA is already on her eighth year as president; Erap only had three years. None of these to mean Erap didn't deserve to be ousted. On the other hand, all of these to mean GMA deserves to be ousted, too. A more corrupt president does not exculpate the sins of another corrupt president.

Did Erap do wrong things to this country? Yes. Did he use the presidency for his personal interests and vices -- the midnight Cabinet, ‘jueteng,’ womanizing, mansions? Yes. Did he deserve to be ousted in Edsa Dos? Definitely yes!

Is GMA corrupt, too? By all accounts, yes. Is she using the presidency for her personal interests – NBN-ZTE deal, Fertilizer scam, Hello Garci, bribery of public officials, attempt on the life of Jun Lozada, etc.? Yes. But does that mean we should now regret Edsa Dos, that we ousted Erap?

Hell, no! That only means we should oust GMA, too! Edsa Dos and ousting Erap was the right thing to do. And so we did. Ousting GMA is now the right thing to do, too. And so we should!

Now let me share with you what I felt during the launching of JDV’s book itself. I was watching JDV and Erap, former bitter presidential rivals, lock arms, almost like lovers. Former Vice-President Tito Guingona who snowballed the impeachment against Erap through his “I accuse” speech was in a jovial banter with Erap himself. Senator Ernesto Maceda was lovey-dovey with former Senator Francisco Tatad. And of course, on top of these, Tita Cory, one of the leaders of Edsa Dos that ousted Erap, was making beso-beso with Erap himself.

My God, I prayed, these people are playing with my country, turning it into a circus for the amusement of the elite. God help the Philippines!

On Jesus' prayer in the name of Jesus

"Bless the President so she will have forbearance, good health, the tolerance to lead this nation up to 2010, and perhaps, who knows, even beyond," thus prayed Press Secretary Jesus Dureza.

O Christ Jesus, if You can’t listen to me, please DON’T listen to Your tokayo, too. He was just being humorous as he openly admits. Just listen to the hearts of all the Filipinos. Let his president NOT extend a millisecond more in Malacanang. Amen.

Bushisms

As Erap was for the Filipinos, George W. Bush is for the Americans. Erap had his “Eraptions,” Bush has his “Bushisms.” Thus, while large corners of the world are still euphoric over the presidential victory of Obama, there will be some people feeling slightly deflated to see Bush step down as US president. Just as there will always be some Filipinos who would feel aggrieved to see the downfall of the movie star who became the most stupid president of the Philippines, as he is often dubbed by the media and civil society groups, there are also some people -- Americans as well as non-Americans -- who feel aggrieved over the nearing exit of Bush.

Just as Erap has provided us with endless amusement as a result of his faux pas or “Eraptions,” Bush, too, has provided us with his “Bushisms.” You say the Filipinos were crazy and deserved what they got for voting Erap into the highest office in the land? Well, the Americans had Bush. And he got to rule the most powerful nation on earth for eight years.

Here are 25 of my favorite Bushisms:

25. "I want to tell you how proud I am to be the President of a nation that -- in which there's a lot of Philippine-Americans. They love America and they love their heritage. And I reminded the President that I am reminded of the great talent of the -- of our Philippine-Americans when I eat dinner at the White House." --George W. Bush, referring to White House chef Cristeta Comerford while meeting with Filipino President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Washington, D.C., June 24, 2008

24. "I remember meeting a mother of a child who was abducted by the North Koreans right here in the Oval Office." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., June 26, 2008

23. "Your eminence, you're looking good." --George W. Bush to Pope Benedict XVI, using the title for Catholic cardinals, rather than addressing him as "your holiness," Rome, June 13, 2008

22. "Thank you, your Holiness. Awesome speech." --George W. Bush, to Pope Benedict, Washington, D.C., April 15, 2008

21. "I'll be long gone before some smart person ever figures out what happened inside this Oval Office." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., May 12, 2008

20. "So long as I'm the president, my measure of success is victory -- and success." --George W. Bush, on Iraq, Washington, D.C., April 17, 2008

19. "Let me start off by saying that in 2000 I said, 'Vote for me. I'm an agent of change.' In 2004, I said, 'I'm not interested in change --I want to continue as president.' Every candidate has got to say 'change.' That's what the American people expect." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., March 5, 2008

18. "This thaw -- took a while to thaw, it's going to take a while to unthaw." --George W. Bush, on liquidity in the markets, Alexandria, La., Oct. 20, 2008

17. "There's no question about it. Wall Street got drunk -- that's one of the reasons I asked you to turn off the TV cameras -- it got drunk and now it's got a hangover. The question is how long will it sober up and not try to do all these fancy financial instruments." --George W. Bush, speaking at a private fundraiser, Houston, Texas, July 18, 2008

16. "Throughout our history, the words of the Declaration have inspired immigrants from around the world to set sail to our shores. These immigrants have helped transform 13 small colonies into a great and growing nation of more than 300 people." --George W. Bush, Charlottesville, Va., July 4, 2008

15. "I can press when there needs to be pressed; I can hold hands when there needs to be -- hold hands." --George W. Bush, on how he can contribute to the Middle East peace process, Washington, D.C., Jan. 4, 2008

14. “Those who enter the country illegally violate the law." - Nov. 28, 2005

13. "If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator." - Dec. 19, 2000

12. "Well, I think if you say you're going to do something and don't do it, that's trustworthiness." - Aug. 30, 2000

11. "One of the great things about books is sometimes there are some fantastic pictures." - Jan. 3, 2000

10. "I was proud the other day when both Republicans and Democrats stood with me in the Rose Garden to announce their support for a clear statement of purpose: you disarm, or we will." - Oct. 5, 2002

9. "I'm honored to shake the hand of a brave Iraqi citizen who had his hand cut off by Saddam Hussein." - May 25, 2004

8. "I understand small business growth. I was one." - Feb. 19, 2000

7. "I just want you to know that when we talk about war, we're really talking about peace." - June 18, 2002

6. "There's an old saying in Tennessee - I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee - that says, fool me once, shame on - shame on you. Fool me - you can't get fooled again." - Sept. 17, 2002

5. "The truth of that matter is, if you listen carefully, Saddam would still be in power if he were the president of the United States, and the world would be a lot better off." - Oct. 8, 2004

4. “I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully." - Sept. 29, 2000

3. "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." - Aug. 5, 2004

2. "I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family." - Jan. 27, 2000

1. "They misunderestimated me." - Nov. 6, 2000

For more Bushisms, check the Political Humour Website.

When Socialism and Capitalism Tie the Knot

There can be marriage between socialism and capitalism after all. China, since the early '90s, showed it can be done. Today, amid setbacks in grappling the melamine menace, the world slowly comes to grips with the realization that socialism may just be the shot in the arm that capitalism desperately needs.

Herewith is an article bannered today by different media organizations around the world including Einnews, Channel News Asia, Canadian News, Today Online and our own Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Comrades, the current challenge is how to consummate this marriage in the Philippine political landscape. Read on and ponder.


Communist giant may save capitalism

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:53:00 10/10/2008

SYDNEY—A cartoon on the front page of Australia’s national newspaper on Thursday neatly illustrates an irony admitted even by two of America’s staunch allies, Australia and the Philippines—that communist China could save capitalism.

The cartoon shows a Chinese man in a Superman outfit telling exactly that to a bankrupt, cigar-smoking Wall Street tycoon covering his nakedness in a barrel.

“Oh, you’re just loving this, aren’t you,” the fallen high-flyer replies in the cartoon in The Australian.

Amid turmoil in the world financial sector, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicted China’s economy would grow at more than 9.0 percent next year while much of the West faced recession.

That’s good news for Australia and also for the Philippines.

“China is now a major influence in the world economy and it’s significant that the IMF doesn’t downgrade its growth prospects,” Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner said.

“So we are well positioned to continue to sell an awful lot of exports to China and we believe that that’s one of the important factors that’s protecting Australia, to some extent, from the influences of the US financial crisis,” Tanner said.

Australia’s own economic boom has been driven for years by China’s insatiable demand for mineral resources, such as iron ore for steelmaking and coal to fire up its industries.

Tanner’s remarks followed those of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd who said: “China has a huge impact on the economies of the east Asia region, as well as the global economy.”

“My understanding is that China will continue to drive strong economic growth for its own national purposes, but that’s also good for countries like Australia because China is such a major trading partner of ours,” Rudd added.

The Australian officials’ comments found echo in the Philippines.

RP in good shape

Speaking in Manila, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Thursday said the Philippines had found new export partners mainly for its agricultural produce, helping cushion the impact of the US financial crisis on the Philippine economy.

Ms Arroyo said the leading destination of Philippine exports was now China. Also atop the list is Japan, she said.

“The US is no longer our top export market,” Ms Arroyo said in a speech at the “Agri-Link, Food-Link, and Aqua-Link” exhibition at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

Ms Arroyo said any slowdown or even recession in the United States would not be good for the global economy.

“That said, the Philippines appears in relatively good shape,” she said.

Time to broaden markets

Ms Arroyo said the potential exposure of the Philippine banking sector to the asset deflation triggered by the subprime mortgage losses in the United States accounted for less than 1 percent of the total system assets in the Philippines.

“Our banks are well capitalized and the innate conservatism of our bankers is matched by the prudence of our regulators,” she said.

Ms Arroyo said this was the time for agri-business to exploit the financial liquidity of the country’s banking sector to expand its role in its niche markets.

She was particularly elated by the availability of “nonmainstream” products, such as mangosteen and papaya pastes, yogurt, civet coffee, goat’s milk soaps, the “Dory” fish, black tiger prawns, low-fat salad dressings, palm sugar and indigenous plants.

“All of these will appeal to different segments of local and foreign markets,” Ms Arroyo said.

She also said the Middle East could be a top destination for Philippine exports.

Reports from Christian V. Esguerra and AFP

Erap's Masa

This piece was written in 1998, just a few days after the presidential elections which catapulted Erap to the Palace-by-the-River. I am reprinting it for the same reasons that moved me to write it a decade ago. Obviously, Erap is still Erap - the Sandiganbayan's verdict finding him guilty of plunder notwithstanding.

THE MASSES: A PEEK INTO ERAP’S LEGIONS

“‘What is your name?’ Jesus asked (the demoniac). ‘My name is Legion,’ he answered,‘for there are many of us.’”

(From the Gerasene Demoniac, Mk. 5:9-10)


The election of Joseph “Erap” Ejercito Estrada to the presidency highlights the emergence of a “new” ruling class -- the masses. Credit – or blame – is being lavished on them. If Corazon “Cory” Aquino was catapulted to the presidency by People Power and Fidel V. Ramos by the anointment and popularity of Cory Aquino (and some say by “Dagdag-bawas”), Erap is brought to the Palace-by-the-River by the “Eraption” of votes courtesy of the masses.

The masses, the legions, the hoi polloi, the masa, the bakya crowd in the GenX jargon, the “herd” according to the father of Existentialism Soren Kierkegaard, and, as many will argue, the Proletariat -- who are they?

In survey-speak, class A and class B are the elite, class C are those from the middle class, class D are the poor, and class E are the very poor or the destitute. In the Social Weather Stations (SWS) exit poll conducted just a few days before the May 11 elections, Erap got 52 percent from among the combined class DE which compose the majority of voters, and 18 percent from the A, B, and C classes. These evidently, are Erap’s masa.

Who are the Erap masa?

1. From the ranks of the poor. The Erap masa, first and foremost, belong to the ranks of the poor -- 52 percent from class DE and 18 percent from class ABC. The SWS national survey of April 1997 revealed that 58 percent of families classified themselves as poor. This is about 7.75 million families. It is further estimated that there are at least 2.3 million families of self-rated poor in class E, 5.2 million families in class D and 250,000 families in the A, B, and C classes.

Erap knew this and in fact exploited this. He seized a populist theme – “Erap para sa mahirap” – and bannered pro-poor slogans like “Kontra sa pagtaas ng presyo!” and “Trabaho para sa Pilipino!” He projected himself and created the illusion of himself as pro-poor and approachable, riding on the image of Pinoy jeepney (“Jeep ni Erap”) to create the image of a “Maka-Pinoy,” employing pro-poor and pro-people rhetoric although he did not offer any concrete program for alleviation of poverty or redistribution of wealth and although his records as Mayor of San Juan and Senator and Vice-President of the republic attest that he foisted the worst anti-people and anti-poor policies on the people.

Erap himself is not from the ranks of the poor. His social background shows he belongs to the elite affluent class. He was an Ateneo dropout and was never a part nor acquainted with the ways of the great unwashed or toiling proletariat

And yet Erap created the illusion that he was from the ranks of the poor and is pro-poor, not only because the poor are numerous but also because of the power of bread and circus over a poor man’s brain. If there is anything that Erap has proved, it is the fact that with a little entertainment, plus a little amount, one can easily seduce a poor man’s sanity. You think Erap will try to alleviate the condition of the masses? That’s like putting them out of trance into the world of reality, much like putting Alice out of wonderland. Erap can bless them instead and wish that their tribe increase.

2. From the ranks of the less educated. Secondly, the Erap masa came from those who had less education. In the SWS January 1998 poll, Erap had only 9 percent of followers from among college graduates while he had 37 percent from among those who were at most elementary school graduates.

Erap again knew this and easily identified himself as their hero. Of course he didn’t have to project himself as an intellectual pygmy to be able to identify himself with the less educated. He simply had to be himself and bring this personal ineptitude to his advantage by supporting the publication of “Erap Jokes.”

But how will Erap solve the problem of education – or the lack of it? “Nemo dat quod non habet,” says a Latin dictum. No one can give what he does not have.

3. From those who have reasons to resent. Thirdly, the Erap masa are those who have been waiting too long to have a larger share of the benefits of economic growth since the late 1960’s up until today. They are the people who were bypassed by the different successive administrations for the sake and in the name of the benefits of development enjoyed by the rich and the middle class. They are the people who have been most greatly victimized by the world-record-holder thievery and self-serving cronyism of the Marcos dictatorship, by the greed of Kamag-anak Incorporated and ineptitude of the Aquino administration, the people who were left behind by the growth-accented economic policy of the Ramos administration, the very people who were neglected in their striving to get past their impoverishment.

Erap exploited this strong undercurrent of resentment by the poor to his own advantage. He captured their disgruntlement and portrayed himself as one who echoed the frustrated aspirations of the underclasses who in turn, perhaps because of their utter desperation, responded to the demagogic appeals of a populist politician molded over the years by the silver screen as the champion of the poor and defender of the underdog. Erap tapped these frustrations even though his themes were ambiguous and were not amplified by concrete programs.

It is in this sense, and only in this sense, that one can advance the theory of a “protest vote” during the May 11 elections. The Erap masa were tired of politicians and politicking, they sought for a messiah. For people whose visions have been blurred by hunger and empty promises of food, for people who could no longer see the divide between reel and real life, Erap, portrayed as the defender of the underdog by the silver screen, was the very clear answer – the knight in shining armor, the modern-day Moses, the Christ. Erap was the answer to their protests, ergo, their votes went to Erap.

4. Mesmerized by the silver screen. Fourthly, the Erap masa are people who were easily hypnotized by the silver screen, people who couldn’t see the divide between reel and real life, who see actors’ roles as an extension of what they are in real life, and what they are in real life as an extension of their roles.

Erap again exploited this and rode on the grand illusion mounted by his movies, capitalizing on the seduction exerted by the silver screen. Image, show biz, popularity -- they are the things that count in our “politics of personality,” they are the things that create the illusion of Erap as the Superman of the Philippines.

Our quotation from the Gerasene Demoniac is relevant in an obvious sense: The Erap masa are possessed by a kind of demon – the evil of illusion. The Erap masa voted for a myth, for an illusion, for a make-believe, for a pale shadow of reality. The immediate need and cure is a kind of exorcism.

How then exorcise the Erap masa?

Erap’s popularity has a lot to do with the “masa’s” dissatisfaction with their own economic lot as well as with their affection for entertainers. He is popular because he exploited the “masa’s” disgruntlement through his own form of circus. Not because he stokes the fires of rebellion among the “masa” - far from it - but because he douses them. A lesson is therefore clear: So long as the divide between the rich and poor remained or grew, so long will the Estradas of the world arise. So long as there are bitter resentments from below, so long will populist leaders arise. In the same manner, so long as we vote a person into public office for being a myth, so long will reforms in our country be an empty myth. Indeed, so long as we think of Philippine politics as one great moviehouse, so long will our leaders not do anything although they may act as though they are doing something. Acting, yes, that will be the word that will best describe our government.

The story of the Gerasene Demoniac proceeded with the demons asking Jesus to “send us to the pigs, let us go into them” (Mk. 5:13). Perhaps there is nothing more apt today than to ask our newly elected – and re-elected – officials: You want to exorcise the Erap masa? Then send the poor the pig.

Or perhaps more succinctly, give them your pork!

The face of Corruption at the Bureau of Customs

I was driving along Edsa last night and was catching GMA 7’s six o’clock news on the teevee monitor installed in my car. I wouldn’t normally watch teevee or video in the car, especially since driving and watching teevee or video aren’t actually like watching teevee and running on a treadmill. Driving in Manila makes it even worse. But it does sometimes provide a balming effect especially when you’re caught in monstrous Manila traffic.

Mike Enriquez was reporting on the new Marina chief. “What else is new?” I thought, giving way to a red Toyota car who I suppose was suddenly forced to cut through my lane because a blue motorcycle with no side mirrors suddenly sped through his car. Then, a reporter announced:

“Pinuslit na petrolyo na nagkakahalaga ng 150 million ay nasagap ng nagsanib na pwersa ng NBI at Bureau of Customs. Narito ang ating panayam kay _____, ang hepe ng _______ opisina ng Bureau of Customs.”

That caught my attention. “Lemme watch this,” I told myself.

A familiar face appeared at the monitor. “Ito po ay isa na namang katuparan ng ating kampanya laban sa smuggling!” he declared.

That shook me, my right foot at an instant flooring the accelerator and my left foot immediately catching the breaks. I almost hit the rear of the red Toyota car up front.

“The gall of that s___ of a ___!” I muttered at the monitor.

I knew the man. As an importer, I’ve been his victim on countless occasions. He’s the chief of an important department at the Bureau of Customs and he uses his position not only to illegally enrich himself but also to harass importers and Customs brokers. He’s not anti-smuggling, he’s in fact in cahoots with the smugglers. He lives in a mansion, owns at least six luxury cars and travels with his mistresses in a private jet. He’s diabetic, I know of that, and his subordinates have always been puzzled on how he handles orgies with the different professional whores hiding behind the titles “actresses” and "starlets" which he has the habit of demanding as gifts from importers and brokers.

He’s one of the most calloused at the BOC in demanding grease money – or oil money if you prefer, or in this case, petroleum money. People at the BOC call it tara. And if he’s not satisfied with the amount given him, he seizes the cargo, declares it smuggled, poses before the camera, bribes the reporters, deodorizes his name through the media, and demands more money from the owner of the cargo for settlement.

Did the reporter say 150 million? Well, since the cargo has already been seized, the owner of the cargo will have no choice but to settle with Chief and his minions. Consider at least 15% of that amount going to their pockets.

If you want to know what corruption is, this Chief is the man, corruption personified himself.

Still wondering why our country is in the pits?