ANG SARAP MAGING SENADOR!

I’d like to share this forwarded e-mail about the supposed “privileges” and “benefits” of Philippine Senators.  I have not made a thorough verification whether this is 100% true or not.  I tried browsing the Senate’s website but I only found this bit of information.  This may very well be political spin from people who want the Senate abolished chiefly because the institution has been a pain in the neck for Gloria Arroyo since 2001.  Suffice it to say that despite its imperfections, the Senate has through the years, performed its role as the the vanguard of people’s rights and fiscalizer of the incumbent corrupt administration. 

Miriam Defensor Santiago was featured in Correspondents last week.  Maganda rin naman ang naidudulot ng pagiging prangka ni Senador Miriam Defensor-Santiago. Ayon kay Santiago, marami ang tumatak-bong Senador dahil sa laki ng budget na ibinibigay sa kanila kada buwan. 

Lumalabas na P35,000 suweldo nila kada buwan ay pakitang-tao lang sa milyun-milyong budget ng bawat senador. Kada buwan ay may Fixed Monthly Budget ang bawat Senador ng humigit-kumulang P2 Milyon. 

Sa opisina pa lang nila ay humigit-kumulang P500,000 ang budget nila sa Maintenance and Operating Expenses (Rental, Utilities, Supplies at Domestic Travels) at P500,000 para sa Staff at Personal expenses. Kaya para makatipid ang ibang Senador, kaunti lang ang staff na kinukuha nila. Nagtataka ka pa kung bakit mayroong mga Ghost Employee? 

Bukod diyan, may P760,000 allowance pa sila kada buwan para naman sa Foreign Travel. At ang masakit pa nito, hindi na kailngan i-liquidate ang mga resibo ng mga gastusin ‘yan kundi Certification lang ang Requirement. 

Heto pa, lahat sila ay Chairman ng mg Komite sa Senado. Ang Committee Chairman ay tumatanggap din ng budget na sinlaki ng tinatanggap ng mga Senador na humigit-kumulang P1 Milyon din! Hindi sila mawawalan ng Komite dahil 24 lang ang ating mga Senador at 37 naman ang Committee sa Senado. There’s food for everybody ‘ika nga! Lumalabas na doble ang kanilang benepesiyo at kita kapag sila ay nabiyayaan ng Committee Chairmanship. 

Sa P200 milyon na Budget para sa Pork Barrel ng mga Senador bawat taon, awtomatikong may 10% na S.O.P. o kita ng Senador na P20 milyon. Ito ang porsiyento na ibinibigay ng mga kontratista sa mga Senador na nagbibigay sa kanila ng mga Infrastructure at Livelihood Project. 

Bago matapos ang termino ng isang Senador, kumita na siya ng P100 milyon sa Pork Barrel pa lang. Yung ibang Senador mas gahaman, hindi lang 10% kundi 20 – 30% ang komisyon hinihingi sa mga kontratista. 

Pansinin niyo na lang ang pagbabago ng buhay ng ilan sa ating mga Senador simula nang manungkulan sa puwesto. Kung dati ay simple lang ang kanilang pamumuhay ngayon ay nakatira na sila sa mga eksklusibong subdivision, maraming bahay sa Pilipinas at abroad at mahigit lima ang sasakyan. 

Ngayon nagtataka ka pa ba kung bakit gumagastos ng daan-daang milyong piso ang mga Senador sa kampanya para sa isang posisyon na P35,000 lang ang suweldo kada buwan? Bawing-bawi pala ang gastos kapag naupo na! 

ANG SARAP MAGING SENADOR!!! 

Pero mas masarap pa rin maging Presidente.  Ano Gloria?

BOLANTE’S UNDERWEAR and MIRIAM’S WRATH

Yes, it’s true.  Jocjoc Bolante will finally get to change his underwear the moment he sets foot on Philippine soil.  He had only one underwear during the period of his detention in the USA.  Secretary Raul Gonzalez will personally deliver to him the bikini brief he’s been wanting to have and see to it that he will be debriefed of the old one.  You can just imagine the stink coming from the worn-out brief of that elusive fertilizer guy.  That’s all there is to it.  DEBRIEFING.  So what’s all that fuss about changing or having a new underwear?  Please give the man a break.  He deserves it.  Right Ombudsman Guttierez? 

Seriously though, debriefing is usually done to extract information from the individual concerned and to instruct him as to what information can be released to the public and what information is restricted.  I’m pretty sure this is the kind of debriefing Jocjoc Bolante will be subjected to in the hands of the NBI.  Otherwise, he might spill the beans on the fertilizer fund scam. 

Let me divert your thoughts to another hot topic.  Do you know why Miriam was so infuriated about dela Paz’ non-attendance in the Senate hearing yesterday?  It’s because she wanted to know how the guy was able to handcarry out of the country such a huge amount of money.  She might find the information useful later on.  Hehe.. 

Said Miriam:  “Sinasabi niyang I have nothing to hide tapos ngayon bigla na lang. Ano yun, nag-aartista ba siya nahimasmasan na siya?  Remember the rule — he who is innocent is as brave as a lion. E di pumunta ka dito kung wala kang kasalanan. Ano ang tinatago mo na ayaw mong magpakita? Ano ang gusto mong itago?” 

What is good for the goose is good for the gander.  Can the lady Senator tell that also to Jocjoc Bolante as well as to the officials of the Executive Department who continue to hide under the skirt of Executive Order No. 464?  I highly doubt she would. 

In this part of the world, corruption is both the rule and the exception. 

FOX NEWS, OBAMA and MCCAIN

If there’s one American news channel that really gets my goat these days, it’s none other than FOX NEWS CHANNEL.  Adding up to my high blood pressure was the announcement of our local cable operator that CNN will no longer be in the menu of channels to choose from.  That leaves me with BBC as an alternative whose anchors are as dry and boring as the kind of news stories they deliver.  Imagine sipping a cup of coffee in the morning and wanting to hear the latest reports on the Obama – Mccain presidential tussle, what you get instead are the conservative antics of Sean Hannity and Bill O’reilly who are obviously rooting for the Republicans.  I know there’s no such thing as an absolutely fair and balanced reporting.  We all have biases one way or the other.  But a news organization like FOX NEWS should have the discipline to at least appear to be impartial.  After all, this is what they like to call themselves:  “FAIR and BALANCED”. 

I’m not really familiar with the dynamics of American politics, but judging from the policies the two candidates would like to pursue once they get elected to the presidency, I do not see myself siding with a conservative like John Mccain.  Eight years of George W. Bush was hard enough.  Another four years with Mccain can be dangerous for the American people and also for the world.  While the Republicans project themselves as “experts” in the area of foreign policy and geopolitics, they seem to be a dismal failure in the field of economics. In the twilight of his presidency, President Bush leaves the White House on a sour note — with an economy nearing the brink of collapse and a war that has turned out to be too costly in the long term. 

On the other hand, Barack Obama represents the CHANGE (his battlecry) the Americans have been waiting for.  His tax-the-wealthy-exempt-the-poor strategy is attracting millions of undecided middle-class voters who might yet spell the difference between winning and losing for both Obama and Mccain.

Hey Barack, is that you? 

THE SECRETARY OF INJUSTICE STRIKES AGAIN

Based on what I’ve read in the papers, it seems clear to me that the libel case filed against Archbishop Cruz four years ago did not even reach the courts because the prosecutor assigned to investigate the complaint found no probable cause to hold the Bishop for trial.  But out of the blue, here comes Secretary Raul Gonzalez reversing the findings of his subordinate and ordering the filing of libel charges against one of the most vocal critics of the administration. 

I’m baffled by Gonzalez’ reversal of the Manila prosecutor’s resolution.  I mean why only now after allowing the resolution to hibernate for four years?  Although the Rules allow the Justice Secretary to motu proprio modify or reverse the same, the reversal still smacks of bias and subjectivity.  And why do I say this?  By his public pronouncements, Raul Gonzalez has shown himself to be one of the most rabid attack dogs of President Arroyo.  He’s not concerned with “justice” for its own sake, but imposes the “rule of law” as he sees fit.  If this is not an act of vindictiveness, then the Secretary must be so inept and incompetent not to have acted on a case that has been pending for quite a time.  The only issue he was tasked to resolve was to determine whether there is sufficient ground to engender a well-founded belief that libel has been committed and that the Bishop is probably guilty thereof.  I cannot believe it took him four years to determine the existence of probable cause.  It should not have been a complex issue for a Secretary who projects himself as an all-knowing legal luminary.  This is not the mark of a man who knows his law. 

The Supreme Court has time and again reminded prosecutors to be fair and impartial in the performance of their functions.  In one case, it declared: 

We cannot emphasize too strongly that prosecutors should not allow, and should avoid, giving the impression that their noble office is being used or prostituted, wittingly or unwittingly, for political ends, or other purposes alien to, or subversive of, the basic and fundamental objective of observing the interest of justice evenhandedly, without fear or favor to any and all litigants alike, whether rich or poor, weak or strong, powerless or mighty.  Only by strict adherence to the established procedure may be public’s perception of the impartiality of the prosecutor be enhanced. 

Archbishop Oscar Cruz simply shrugs off the case as an attempt to cow him into silence.  He even said in jest, and quite sarcstically, that the bail for his temporary release is too cheap to be a cause for worry.  However, this is not his point.  He believes this is political harassment disguised as a libel charge.  In one of his blog entries, the fiery Archbishop said: 

Kotong and patong. Ukol and bukol. Hakot and kurakot. Lagay and bigay. Para kay Sir and para kay Ma’m. Para sa akin and para sa kanya. Paano naman ako and paano naman sila? For the boss and for the boys. All these forms of stealing fall under the general phrase of “graft and corrupt practices in government”. Translation: A bunch of big and infamous well placed thieves. A group of public and official daytime bandits. A team of very powerful and influential crooks-all of whom are over and above the laws of the land. 

I understand where Mr. Raul Gonzalez and his boss, Gloria Arroyo, are coming from and why they’re so obssessed at getting back at their critics.  The truth hurts.  Ouch.

ARE YOU AT PEACE WITH YOUR MORTALITY?

The cyclone in Myanmar left more than 60,000 people dead.  In the China quake, 12,000.  These are initial figures which will increase dramatically in the coming days as rescue workers dig deeper into the rubble.  That’s how fragile human lives are — alive and kicking today, dead and stiff tomorrow.  Myanmar and China today.  It could be Metro Manila or Cebu or Mindanao tomorrow.  God forbid.

But man is also threatened by disease, hunger, war and man-made disasters.  It is the cycle of life that we are going to die at some future time.  This is an event that is certain to happen.  We just do not know when unless you yourself choose to end it by committing harakiri.  We sometimes postpone our date with death, i.e. prolong our lives with medication, but no matter how we try to avoid the inevitable, it will soon catch up on us at the appointed time. 

Some live their lives as if there’s no tomorrow.  They amass so much wealth without thinking that all they need is a few square meters of lot in the cemetery.  They abuse their bodies only to discover that even the most skillful doctor is unable to reverse the trend.  They abuse their power and destroy other people’s lives, unmindful of the possibility that their children or their children’s children might bear the brunt of their indiscretions.  When Hades comes knocking at their doorsteps, they suddenly realize that it’s too late and that there’s nothing that could prevent their journey to another dimension. 

After undergoing four major operations in this borrowed time of 33 years, 4 months and 4 days, I can say I have long been at peace with my mortality.  I’ve accepted that all that I am and all that I have could be gone at the wink of an eye.  Nope, I’m not going to die anytime soon because of some disease or whatever.  This is just a reflection and a sort of reminder that death comes to us all.  Nobody is exempted. 

How about you?  Have you come to terms with your mortality?

ESPERON’S LEGACY

The dictionary defines “legacy” as something that is handed down or something that remains from a previous generation or time. But General Hermogenes Esperon, Chief of Staff, retires today leaving behind a legacy of controversies that has transformed the AFP from being the protector of the people to being the protector of Gloria Arroyo. 

In 2004, if I remember it right, he was among those mentioned in the “Hello Garci” tapes, as one of four generals who allegedly facilitated the rigging of the results of the elections to favor President Arroyo.  He showed his loyalty when he refused to join Brig. Gen. Danny Lim and company in the February 2006 plot to withdraw support to the present administration.  This unwavering loyalty later earned him the highest post in the AFP heirarchy, second only to the Commander-in-Chief. 

The AFP under Esperon boasts that it has reduced the CPP-NPA into a negligible force.  This claim is self-serving to say the least, as it is quite impossible to actually verify on the ground whether such report is true.  What the AFP has accomplished so far was point its guns to people perceived to be supportive of the Left, resulting in the extra-legal killings of almost a thousand activists and human rights advocates. 

Esperon’s legacy?  The 28 detained officers led by Former Marine Commandant Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda hit the nail right on its head with this statement: 

“Mister Esperon likes to fashion himself as the great “stabilizer.” He claims this to be his biggest accomplishment and legacy. But he conveniently forgets that the very cause of destabilization is he, himself. Before he points an accusing finger at anybody else, Mister Esperon should be made to realize that by prostituting the AFP, that by engaging in partisan politics and that by his canine subservience to a criminal gang, he had single-handedly fanned the flames of dissent.” 

A politicized and divided armed forces.  That is his legacy. 

On a related note, see how the Arroyo-Esperon tandem plays “god” to the confused 9 Magdalo junior officers.

Ermita appeals to the youth not to turn a blind eye on the many good things the gov’t has done.

Nope, this is not a headline from the Inquirer nor from any leading TV station or media organization.  I read it from the Philippine government website as one of its banner stories.  The headline suddenly caused shivers down my spine.  How in the world was Ermita able to arrive at the conclusion that this government has done many good things to the Filipino people?  Of course, this is understandable, coming from an Executive Secretary no less.  But how was he able to muster enough nerve to say it to the youth, particularly to the PUP graduates?  When lies are repeated over and over again for a long period of time, they become gospel truth to the person who utters them.  This, I think, may be the reason why Ermita has mouthed words that are plainly opposite to the real state of the nation. 

Ermita said:  “Whatever has been said by those who oppose it, we have a government and a leader in President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who tries everything that she can to make a better life for our people.” 

Come again, Mr. ES?  On the contrary, the past seven years under President Arroyo has been one HELL of a ride.  If I were to rate Arroyo’s performance on a scale of 0 to 10 (with 0 as the lowest and 10 as the highest), the result is quite obvious:   

JUSTICE and HUMAN RIGHTS — ZERO.  Where is Jonas Burgos?

FOOD and AGRICULTURE — ZERO.  More rice please.

ENVIRONMENT and NATURAL RESOURCES — ZERO.  ECCs for sale?

LABOR and SOCIAL WELFARE — ZERO.  Prices are up.  Wages remain the same.

ENERGY and ECONOMY — ZERO.  Thanks to our OFWs.  The have kept the sinking boat afloat. 

EDUCATION and MORALITY — ZERO.  Lying, cheating and stealing.  These have become normal practices for people in government. 

As if praising his boss was not enough, the former military man sounded like an economist when he said:  “Barring all the unforeseen, we intend to keep our sights on a similar surge in our gross domestic product (GDP) which grew by 7.3 percent last year, exceeding all market expectations and the strongest growth registered since 1976, after 31 years.” 

Granting for the sake of argument that our economy is on the upswing, the same has not trickled down to benefit the common man.  The poor are getting poorer while the rich are getting richer.  People lining up by the hundreds to avail of cheaper rice should be a cause for embarrassment to a President who boasts of economics as her field of expertise. 

Nothing will happen to this country so long as there are leaders who continue to enrich themselves at the people’s expense.  And to all those who continue to support this bogus and corrupt administration, you deserve the kind of government you have.

BACK FROM A FORCED HIATUS

After we moved out and transferred to another location, I was informed by Globelines that they could no longer provide broadband service in the area where we are now staying.  The place has so many internet users that their primary (the main installation line) is already stuffed up.  Thus, I’m back to using internet prepaid cards with a speed of only 33.6 Kbps!  I have to wait for several minutes before being able to browse from one blog to another.  This turtle-paced travel in cyberspace really pisses me off!  But I can’t do anything except to wait until someone from within this area gives up his or her internet connection so that it can then be assigned to me. 

I missed so many issues that I could have blogged about during my almost two-month absence — the SC Ruling on the Neri petition, the rice shortage crisis, the proposal of Senator Pimentel to establish a federal government and a host of other topics that arouse my curiousity.  One thing though hasn’t changed.  Gloria Arroyo is still very much around despite being hounded left and right by scandal after scandal.  To borrow the words of Albay Governor Joey Salceda, she is indeed the luckiest bitch in the Philippines. 

The rice shortage crisis has done wonders for Malacañang.  Since almost everybody in Manila has come to believe that the crisis is for real, politics has taken a backseat.  The ZTE scandal, which was the hottest issue prior to the rice crisis, has practically been archived not only in the Senate but also in the minds of the people.  It seems that everytime a political scandal crops up, someone or something usually saves the day for Arroyo and her cabal. 

This, however, should not stop us from voicing out our opinion on matters that offend our collective consciousness.  As I’ve always said, the job of a citizen is to keep his mouth open. 

MEET CHONA MAE

 

The following are some of the hilarious entries in the blog of Chona Mae Banaag, a household helper who worked for a rich family residing somewhere in Valle Verde Subdivision, Pasig City in the year 2004.  She calls her employers mam Tess and sir Arnold.  Not much is known about Chona Mae whose last entry after a 2-year hiatus was a two-word title called “May Himala”.

Her narration of her day-to-day experiences with the use of “carabao” English has attracted 310, 289 visitors as of this writing. 

But make no mistake about it.  She has the qualities of a good writer, qualities that are wanting in most of the blogs (and that includes mine) proliferating in the blogosphere.  The innocence  that flows from her entries is the magic ingredient that keeps you coming back for more. 

Step aside Ms. Janina San Miguel.  Pave the way for the ultimate star of the show.

I HATE MAM TESS 

“Hay naku, chona mae! puro ka lakwatsa! mamamasyal ka lang! kaya nga tinuruan kitang mag-internet di ba? pwede mo silang sulatan sa e-mail! matulog ka na at maaga pako bukas! puro kayo sakit ng ulo!”I cry and cry last night until i sleep. pano ko naman sila susulatan sa internet e wala naman kaming PC (personal computer) sa romblon. hindi nga marunong magmakinilya sina mama at papa e. nami-missed ko na talaga sila. sabi ko nga kay mam tess, kung gusto niya, ihahatid na lang ako ng driver nila na si ambet para siguradong uuwi ako kagad lalo namang nagalit. hindi muna ako hihiling ng kahit ano kay ate kasi baka lalong magalit. balak ko po namang umadbans sa sweldo sa katapusan kasi gusto kong bumili ng bgagong cell. sira na kasi yung 5110i ko e. nahulog sa washing mashing. haaay naku. ang sungit talaga ni ate pag minsan. siguro menopos na. sabi nga nung katipan ni sir jeff pag kaaway niya yung kaibigan nilang si marinel, betch! betch ka talaga mam tess. sungit mo! i’m hate you!

__________ 

BLACK CHONA

i try to discover who is R yesterday. last saturday night i make a plan to catch R. my plan is that i wake up very early at 2AM and clean all the household chores that aling choleng the betch assigned to me coz you know, we are like school here in the house. we have homework to do and we also have class officers. mam tess is like the president and aling choleng is the vice president. me and myrna are the members. sir arnold is like the teacher coz he is the big boss so since mam tess (the president) is in abroad, the vice president or aling choleng (betch!) is the manager in cleaning the household chores today but for sir arnold, i am the vice president coz every night, sir arnold ask mam tess to bring beer and give him foot spa or massage sometimes but when mam tess is in the abroad, i bring beer to the room of sir arnold and i give him foot spa. so for mam tess, aling choleng is the vide president but for sir arnold i am. is like teacher’s pets coz sir arnold is like the teacher. 

so i wake up at 2AM yesterday and i do everything that aling choleng asked me to do so i will finish early. i finish at 3:30 AM. after my work, i go to the garage and hide at the back of the car of sir arnold so that i will see who will doorbell and leave me the secret letter. i wait and wait and wait. i get hungry coz it is already 10AM and no one is still doorbell and i also get very scared coz sir arnold catch me at the back of the car. i get shocking when someone try to open the door. 

sir arnold: o? chona? anong ginagawa mo dyan?

chona mae: naglilinis po.

sir arnold: e bakit nakasara lahat ng pinto at bintana? tingnan mo nga pawis na pawis ka.

chona mae: ang hirap po kasing linisin ng kotse nyo e. sinara ko na lang po para di na mapasukan ng alikabok. aalis na po ba tayo? san po tayo pupunta?

sir arnold: ano? di ka kasama. ako lang ang aalis. buksan mo na ang gate.

chona mae: pwede po bang kayo na lang magbukas? di ko po kasi ako pwdeng lumapit sa gate hangga’t walang nagdo-doorbell e. masisira po ang plano.

sir arnold: anong plano? chona, ang aga aga e pinapainit mo ulo ko. gusto mo bang pauwiin na kita ng romblon?

chona mae: pwede po?

sir arnold: oo at hindi ka na babalik dito kahit kailan. gusto mo ba yun?

chona mae: ay, ayoko po.

sir arnold: pwes, buksan mo na ang gate. nagmamadali ako.

chona mae: opo sige po. wait lang sir. nagmamadali din po ako.

i open the gate but before i open it big, i look right and left just like when i am crossing the street to see if there is anyone there waiting but there is none so i open it big. the car is leave and so is sir arnold. sir arnold dont have driver on sunday coz it is ambet’s day-off on weekends. that is why sometimes i want to study driving so that i will be a driver also with day off. that is why i imagine that i am driving the car if i am using the floor polisher to shine the floor coz i think driving the floor polisher and the car is the same. 

i close the gate after the car is leave the house. i cannot find a place to hide myself coz the car is not there anymore. i hide in the plants in the inside garden so that they are not see me from the outside. is very difficult coz the sun is hot coz it is already 10:00AM. i am very wet again with sweat all over me. i did not eat breakfast and lunch coz i don’t want to miss the passing by of R. i wait and wait and wait coz they say that a good motto in life is wait and wait until you are succeed. thats why i wait and wait so i will be a success. 

i did not watch ASAP Mania and ASAP fanatic coz i am still waiting in the garden. is very tired but i also feel nice coz i feel that i am like proncess gonzales of the eagles in basta’t kasama kita. i wait and wait and when it is already 4pm, i see someone riding a bike. he has a fat body and he stops near the gate. i try to see from the leaves. i move the leaves of the plants to see the face of the person. i think it is really R and then he goes down from his bike and doorbelled and i see that he is slide the letter below the gate but i was very shocking coz i see that R is rowena the lady guard of the village. rowena is tomboy and she is love me. i get scared and nervious coz i dont like it. i see that rowena is go away already so i walk near the gate using my hands and my knees very slowly and i see that she is give me again a rose, three judge bubble gums and one box of curly tops with a letter. i get the letter fast and run to my room. i read the letter and it say to me that: 

dear chona, 

mahal na mahal kita pero alam kong ayaw mo sa akin. wag kang mag-alala, hinding hindi na kita aabalahin. ito na ang huling regalo ko sayo. 

lovelots, 

Rowena

is very angry coz she is tell me also her name in the letter. i wait all day and my skin is now very black because of the sun. before i am light black but now i am black. sayang lang paghihintay ko sasabihin din naman pala. muntik pa akong mahuli ni sir arnold. hmp! 

p.s.
ang hapdi ng mukha ko. =( 

__________

I’M BACK

thanks god coz mam tess is not very angry on me anymore. is very sorry to all of you coz i am not write hear to you for long coz mam tess is ground me for 1 week coz she is say that i am a bad girl. but is ok now coz she is now let me use the PC (personal computer) again. i want to thank all of you for greeting me a happy birthday even if my birthday is not very happy coz mam tess is angry on me. your greeting give me more power. all of you touched me very much. even if mam tess is no longer ground me, i am still sad a little bit. i cry and cry for many days and more.

on my birthday, mam tess is very nice and happy to me. mam tess is not ask me to clean the household chores coz she is say that it is my birthday. sir arnold also touched me coz he is greet me a happy birthday and he is give me 50 pesos as birthday gift. after the lunch, mam tess is ask me to go shopping with her in makati. 

mam tess: hoy, birthday girl! magbihis ka at sumam ka sakin. punta tayo sa mall. wag ka nang mag-uniform . suot mo yung bigay ko sayong damit. mag dress ka at birthday mo naman. 

i was very exciting coz i want to go to the mall and buy some shopping for me. i shower and dress up. at first, i am confused what to wear coz mam tess is give me many of her old dress and clothes. i choose the class dress that mam tess is give me last year. is very pretty. the dress is have lace and starovski crystals. the starovski crystals are like stars in the dress like jewels. mam tess is wear this when she is ninang to the wedding of the child of her amiga many months ago. i am also wear my step-in sandals. i feel very pretty and special. i go out of my room and wait in the sala for mam tess. when mam tess is go out of her room she is very shocking to me.

mam tess: o? sigurado ka bang yan ang isusuot mo?

chona mae: opo. mam sige na. birthday ko naman po e saka matagal ko na pong gustong isuot ito. dream come true po ito for me..

mam tess: sige na nga. tara na.

we are go to the mall. i bring all my savings coz i want to buy shopping also. i want to gift myself but mam tess is not buy shopping pala. mam tess is only go to the parlor. we are go to 6750 for mam tess parlor. mam tess is have haircut and manicure and pedicure. i nwait in the sofa near the door.

bakla: mam parang bihis na bihis ang inyong helper a.

mam tess: oo nga e. hayaan mo na birthday kasi.

i get boring and i am also gelous of the other girls who are have their haircut. i ask mam tess if i can have my haircut also.

chona mae: mam pwede po ba akong magpagupit?

mam tess: mahal dito. may pera ka ba? di ako magbabayad ng pampagupit mo ha.

chona mae: mam may pera po ako. dala ko po ipon ko. pwede po?

mam tess: sige. bahala ka. basta ikaw magbabayad nyan ha.

chona mae: opo. promise.

the bakla is give me haircut. first the assistant is shampoo me.

assistant: mam, shampoo po muna tayo.

chona mae: wow. mam daw.

the assistant is show me the way where to shampoo.

chona mae: wala ba kayong banyo? bakit lababo lang? baka masilipan ako dito.

assistant: mam hindi po tayo maliligo. shampoo lang po natin yung ulo nyo.

chona mae: a ganun ba?

assistant: opo.

the assistant is shampoo my hair and then she is return me to the chair. the bakla is come back and is give me hair cut. i ask the bakla to give me bangs so that i look like my idol claudine.

bakla: mas maganda to kung kulayan natin para sosyal ka.

chona mae: sige! gusto ko blondie.

bakla: blondie? sige pwede pero mas maganda kung highlights lang. ano? game ka?

chona mae: sige. game na!

is very exciting for my new hair with bangs and color. mam tess is still getting massage and manicure and pedicure. mam tess is also hot oil.

the bakla is finish my color and is very pretty. i am very happy. i wait for mam tess to finish in the sofa near the door. mam tess is go out and is very shocking again.

mam tess: naku dyos ko, chona ano naman at nagpakulay ka pa? sabi ko na nga ba. nagpapaganda ka kay reynante ano?

chona mae: dah. di mam no. pangit kaya ni reynante. maganda po ba?

mam tess: ok lang. maganda na rin para maiba naman. nagbayad ka na ba?

chona mae: di pa po.

mam tess: o halika na sabayan mo nako pagbabayad dito. tumayo ka na dyan para makauwi na tayo. bilis.

mam tess is get her bill and i get mine. i get shocking and nervious coz my bill is 2,700. my money is only 700. i want to cry and i get wet of sweat.

mam tess: o? ano? nabayaran mo na?

chona mae: kulang po e. 2,700 po e 700 lang po pera ko.

mam tess is get very angry and she is shout at me in the parlor.

mam tess: aba! ano ka sinisuwerte? chona! pagbabayarin mo ako ng dalawang libo para sa kalandian mo? may mga bangs at kulay ka pang nalalaman. dapat tinanong mo muna kung magkano bago ka nagpakulay!

chona mae: tinanong lang po kasi nung bakla kung gusto ko. kala ko po kasama na sa bayad ng gupit. kala ko po combo na yun.

mam tess: naku. sinisira mo araw ko. babayaran ko to pero sinasabi ko sayo, di ka na makakaulit sa akin! ibabawas ko to sweldo mo!

i start crying and everyone in the parlor is look at me. some are laugh. some are not. they are just look.

chona mae: mam sorry na po. di na po uulit.

mam tess: sige na sige na. grounded ka. di ka pwedeng lumabas ng bahay.

chona mae: di naman po talaga ako lumalabas ng bahay kasi ayaw nyo di ba?

mam tess: sumasagot ka ba?

chona mae: hindi po.

mam tess: bawal ka ring mag-computer. di ka rin pwedeng gumamit ng telepono.

chona mae: po? pano po pag tumawag si sir jeff?

mam tess: si myrna ang sasagot bakit?

chona mae: mam. sorry na po. di napo ako uulit. papatanggal ko na lang po yung kulay.

mam tess: sira! di pwedeng tanggalin yan! tara na! humanda ka pagdating sa bahay!

i cry and i cry until i go home. mam tess is not stop at shouting at me even in the car but she is only repeat everything that she is say to me.

but is a little bit ok now coz i am use the computer again and i am still happy for my hair coz it is have bangs and i am blondie just like the girls i see in hbo but i am not very blondie coz it is only highlights so i am half blondie and half black. =) 

__________ 

PASALUBONG

sorry is been many days since i last write hear coz is been very busy coz mam tess is comeback from abroad last saturday and there are many things to do. mam tess is bring many shopping materials with her from the abroad. mam tess say that she is go to many places. i am very exciting for the stories of mam tess coz i also want to go to the abroad but i dont know how and i dont have money.

sir arnold is ask me to go with him to get mam tess from the airport so that she is come home to us.

sir arnold: chona, maligo ka.

chona mae: naku sir wag po. 

i get surprising and i cover my body with my hands coz i get scared. coz they say in TV that if the sir of the helper ask the helper to take a bath, he is rape her. 

sir arnold: ano ba nangyayari sayo? tumigil ka nga dyan. maligo ka na at magbihis ka at sasama ka sakin. aalis tayo. susunduin natin si mam tess mo sa airport. bilisan mo at baka ma-late tayo. 

chona mae: ay. ganun po ba. kala ko kasi.

sir arnold: kala mo ano?

chona mae: wala po. joke lang po. ano po isusuot ko?

sir arnold: tinatanong pa ba yun? mag-gown ka. naku chona.

chona mae: ay, formal po. wala po akong make-up e. di po ako makakasama. kayo na lang po. 

sir arnold: syempre uniform. ung white. nasisira araw ko syo. ang aga-aga e. sige na maligo ka na tapos magbihis ka tapos buksan mo yung gate.

chona mae: tapos?

sir arnold: aalis tayo. bakit?

chona mae: wala po. sige po. maliligo na po ako.

i am always exciting everytime mam tess and sir arnold are ask me to go with them coz i get very boring here in the house and i dont want to see aling choleng and myrna. mam tess and sir arnold are always ask me to go out with them coz aling choleng is the manager of the house and she cannot leave the house and she is always dizzy when she rides the car. suka ng suka. kadiri. myrna also cannot go coz if she is leave, aling choleng should go with her also thats why i am always the one who is go with sir and mam.

i take bath very quick coz sir arnold dont like to wait and he always in time. i wear my pants uniform. i am also very exciting for the pasalubong. i wish that mam tess is buy me chocolates. 

we leave the house and we are go to the airport. many airplanes fly over and above the car. we wait and we wait and then mam tess is finally come. she has many bags small and big coz she is go to many places. 

chona mae: hi mam! ako na po magdadala nyan. welcome to the philippines po. na-miss ko po kayo.

mam tess: asus. sipsip! wag kang mag-alala, may pasalubong ako sayo. kumusta naman kayo nila myrna sa bahay? malinis ba ang bahay? ayokong makakarinig ng maraming sumbong ha.

chona mae: ako po ok lang ewan ko po sina aling choleng.

we are go to duty free for more shopping. mam tess, sir arnold and me. mam tess are buy more things and then we are go home coz mam tess is already tired from the travel. in the car, i ask mam tess about abroad.

chona mae: mam san po kayo nagpunta?

mam tess: madami. bangkok, vietnam, hongkong, china, japan, singapore. nakakapagod.

chona mae: nag-japan po kayo? di ba masama po yun? bakit nyo po nagawa yun?

mam tess: sira! namasyal lang ako at nag-shopping. arnold, san ba natin nakuha to? parang nagkamali tayo dito a.

sir arnold: sinabi mo pa. wrong move honey. wrong move. ano, chona? soli ka na namin?

chona mae: wherever. 

sir arnold and mam tess are always joke with me that they are return me to romblon but is ok coz i know that it is joke only. 

chona mae: malaki po ba ang abroad

mam tess: chona talaga. oo. malaki.

chona mae: ano pong pasalubong nyo sakin? na-miss nyo po ba ako?

mam tess: marami akong pasalubong sayo mamaya mo na tingnan sa bahay. di ko alam kung na-miss kita kasi puro kunsumisyon dala mo sakin. 

mam tess is the deny queen. i know that she is only deny. i know that she is missed me also. 

we arrive home and we are bring the bags in the house. mam tess is open her bags and she is call aling choleng and myrna to give away the pasalubongs. 

mam tess: o myrna etong sayo. yung kay choleng kasam na dyan, may pangalan yan. 

the bag for choleng and myrna is big. they have imported lotion, important soap, imported shampoo and imported perfume. mam tess is also give aling choleng a sholder bag and some chocolates too also.

mam tess finally gives me my gift pack. many things inside the bag. she is give me one imported t-shirt that is color pink. the front of the t-shirt says: “abercrombie and bench” i think it is same with the t-shirt that the MTV and the MYX BJ wear. mam tess is also buy me kitkat and nestle crunch and kisses also. she is also give me lip glows. lip glows is look like a lipstick but mam mam tess say that lip glows is make the lips shine. is very happy. 

HAPPY EASTER. 

THE QUEEN CAN DO NO WRONG?

 

Okay.  Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo should be made answerable for this and that scandal.  She should be investigated and eventually prosecuted for graft and corruption, bribery or maybe even plunder and for all other laws that she and her cohorts may have violated.  Problem is, we cannot do all that while she is the sitting President.  She is IMMUNE FROM BOTH CIVIL AND CRIMINAL SUITS until June 30, 2010.  And whether we agree or not, her presidency has already been declared legitimate by the Supreme Court in 2001 and by the Abalos-Garci Comelec in 2004.  She will not resign and it looks like the AFP under General Esperon is not about to succumb to the wishes of People Power hopefuls.

WHAT THEN DO WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT A PRESIDENT’S PRIVILEGE OF IMMUNITY FROM SUIT? 

Here are some of the anticipated questions and answers:

1.  What is the historical basis of the doctrine of executive immunity? 

The logical basis for executive immunity from suit was originally founded upon the idea that the “King can do no wrong.”  The concept thrived at the time of absolute monarchies in medieval England when it was generally accepted that the seat of sovereignty and governmental power resides in the throne. During that historical juncture, it was believed that allowing the King to be sued in his court was a contradiction to the sovereignty of the King.  (R.J. Gray, Private Wrongs of Public Servants, 47 CAL. L. REV.. 303, 1959) 

2.  What happened to the medieval concept of the “King can do no wrong” with the advent of democratic thoughts and institutions? 

The Supreme Court said that although the doctrine had lost its moral force, it found its way of surviving in modern political times, retaining both its relevance and vitality. Executive immunity has now become necessary for a variety of reasons.  The doctrine, among others, is rooted in the constitutional tradition of separation of powers (Nixon v. Fitzgerald, 451 U.S. 731, 1982).  The separation of powers principle is viewed as demanding the executive’s independence from the judiciary, so that the President should not be subject to the judiciary’s whim. Moreover, by reason of public convenience, the grant is to assure the exercise of presidential duties and functions free from any hindrance or distraction, considering that the Chief Executive is a job that, aside from requiring all of the office-holder’s time, also demands undivided attention (Soliven v. Makasiar, 167 SCRA 393, 1988). 

3.  How and when did this concept of executive immunity emerge in our jurisdiction? 

The principle first came out in the 1910 case of Forbes, etc. vs. Chuoco tiaco and Crossfield, 16 Phil 534, where the Supreme Court at that time, speaking through Justice Johnson, held that: 

“The principle of nonliability, as herein enunciated, does not mean that the judiciary has no authority to touch the acts of the Governor-General; that he may, under cover of his office, do what he will, unimpeded and unrestrained. Such a construction would mean that tyranny, under the guise of the execution of the law, could walk defiantly abroad, destroying rights of person and of property, wholly free from interference of courts or legislatures. This does not mean, either, that a person injured by the executive authority by an act unjustifiable under the law has no remedy, but must submit in silence. On the contrary, it means, simply, that the Governor-General, like the judges of the courts and the members of the Legislature, may not be personally mulcted in civil damages for the consequences of an act executed in the performance of his official duties.” 

The decision, however, failed to mention whether a chief executive is also immune from criminal prosecution during his incumbency.  It only emphasized the possible consequences that may result if a chief executive is deprived of such immunity, such as:  “action upon important matters of state (will be) delayed; the time and substance of the chief executive spent in wrangling litigation; disrespect (would be) engendered for the person of one of the highest officials of the State and for the office he occupies; (there will be) a tendency to unrest and disorder resulting in a way, in a distrust as to the integrity of government itself.” 

4.  Did the 1935 Constitution contain any specific provision on presidential immunity? 

No. The 1935 Constitution was silent on the matter of executive immunity.  

5.  How about under the 1973 Marcos Constitution?  Was there ever a provision on executive immunity? 

Yes.  In 1981, Article VII, Section 17 was amended in this wise: 

“The President shall be immune from suit during his tenure. Thereafter, no suit whatsoever shall lie for official acts done by him or by others pursuant to his specific orders during his tenure. 

The immunities herein provided shall apply to the incumbent President referred to in Article XVII of this Constitution.” 

The effects of such amendment were that first, the immunity applied to both civil and criminal cases and that second, it covered not only the official acts of the President but also the acts of others who acted upon his specific orders.  The late dictator had probably anticipated a barrage of civil and criminl suits the moment he was no longer in power and true enough, some of those cases are still pending resolution up to this day.  This amendment, if not for his ouster in 1986, would have saved the day for him and Imelda. 

6.  Does the 1987 Constitution have any provision on executive immunity similar to that of the 1973 Constitution? 

No.  The Constitutional Commission created by President Aquino to formulate the draft of the 1987 Constitution did not bother to reenact the provision on executive immunity as found in the 1973 charter.  Fr. Joaquin Bernas, who was one of the commissioners,  saw no need to do so because it is already implicitly recognized in jurisprudence and in the principle of separation of powers that a President, during his tenure, is immune from suit. 

CONCLUSION: 

• A President cannot be prosecuted administratively, civilly and criminally during his tenure except by impeachment under Article XI, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution; 
• The only reason why a President cannot be prosecuted during his tenure is to allow him to perform the duties of his office without having to attend to possible suits that may arise from such performance; and
• The immunity ceases once a President resigns, is removed from office (either intra-constitutionally or extra-constitutionally) or when his term of office expires. 

But do you agree to the proposition of Ex-Senator Jovito Salonga that while President Arroyo may be immune from suit, she is not immune from investigations? 

What do you think? 

(reference:  Estrada vs. Desierto, G.R. Nos. 146710-15. March 2, 2001)