In the aftermath of the Massacre in Mindanao, the whole nation has expressed indignation amid cries for justice. The massacre happened even after repeated calls for the government to show its political will on the side of peace and justice. It does not matter whether the lives lost were those of journalists, wives, sisters or lawyers. What matters is whether or not we can truly render obsolete such political killings. We can no longer be contented with our cries, nor stand over the bodies of the Filipinos who have innocently died at such terror without walking away the wiser.
We, the women of Teresa Magbanua (TERESA), call on everyone to go beyond the emotions of shock and outrage, beyond the facebook activism that comfort us with little gain, and beyond the usual finger-pointing at government and law enforcers. We have to admit that violence of this scale exists because there continues to be a space for it. We have marginalized people, made them hungry and jobless, kept our women powerless while we have kept warlords wealthy, goons armed, and promoted politics as largely a game for the rich. It has been said that it is now cheaper for politicians to simply eliminate opponents by any means other than to run against them.
TERESA CALLS FOR MEANINGFUL ELECTIONS AND REAL STRUCTURAL CHANGE. As long as we keep to our habits of voting the most-funded, believing in the handsomest, succumbing to undemocratic rhetoric, and trusting in dynasties of any shade, our fledgling democracy will always be rudely awakened by the violent renditions of these biases.
We have always professed to love democracy but we have sadly fallen short of realizing and promoting democratic ideals of tolerance, fairness, access to equal opportunities, and the universality of human rights. Many still believe that egregious power is the only access to a good quality of life. THE TIME IS NOW TO END THIS DISTORTION. It is time to look beyond the usual and act against the trend and re-write this nation’s destiny.
These coming elections are an opportunity to intervene in the nation's politics. It is up to us as citizens to learn about social justice and who among the candidates are capable of leading us into real societal change. WE NEED TO BE STAKEHOLDERS of every Filipino life, none more valuable than another. Only then are we sincerely advocate democracy and progress.
Tet Gallardo
CPRP
Saturday, December 05, 2009
Friday, December 04, 2009
My Reply to Mr. Ugalde
Mr. Ugalde...our ancestors may be from the same part of Northern Spain - you have a very Basque-sounding surname! I'm inspired because we have a candidate who is waging a war against poverty! Poverty is the root cause of all our nation's ills. Poverty creates the atmosphere for corruption to exist. A lot of cynics will say that they've heard it all before...we've never had a candidate like Manny Villar before! He has the right mix of background, experience and expertise to steer our nation to greater heights. Out of the presidentiables - let's be completely honest; put all our biases aside - who can manage a P350B budget deficit? Honestly, who? Not Noynoy, Not Gibo...Who was able to turn his business from being on the verge of bankruptcy in 1997 due to the Asian Crisis into Vista Land today?
I've always believed that poverty needs to be addressed systematically and aggressively. Not through mere tokenisms and jingoisms like Erap's approach! I'm talking about fostering a whole new paradigm shift in our nation's way of thinking - Entrepreneurship! The poor will no longer remain poor once they become entrepreneurial! Making this actual government policy - taught in schools, supported by government programs, implemented on the barangay level...
I dream..we dream of a Philippines where poverty is on a retreat...where a renaissance of entrepreneurial activity and thinking flourishes and is encouraged...
I've always believed that poverty needs to be addressed systematically and aggressively. Not through mere tokenisms and jingoisms like Erap's approach! I'm talking about fostering a whole new paradigm shift in our nation's way of thinking - Entrepreneurship! The poor will no longer remain poor once they become entrepreneurial! Making this actual government policy - taught in schools, supported by government programs, implemented on the barangay level...
I dream..we dream of a Philippines where poverty is on a retreat...where a renaissance of entrepreneurial activity and thinking flourishes and is encouraged...
Poem Numero Uno
My Asian
Bridgette Bardot
You’ve got my heart
You don’t even know
So sosyal
with your killer smile
So bugnutin
Let’s wait awhile
For you to settle
While I simmer
When I catch a
Glimmer
In the glint of your eye
You make me laugh
You make me cry
With one fell swoop
It’s off with my head
Life without you
I’d rather be dead
Bonnie & Clyde
Day & night
Sun & moon
Summer & monsoon
You & I
We’ll scour the earth
As we wait
For that marvellous birth
Bridgette Bardot
You’ve got my heart
You don’t even know
So sosyal
with your killer smile
So bugnutin
Let’s wait awhile
For you to settle
While I simmer
When I catch a
Glimmer
In the glint of your eye
You make me laugh
You make me cry
With one fell swoop
It’s off with my head
Life without you
I’d rather be dead
Bonnie & Clyde
Day & night
Sun & moon
Summer & monsoon
You & I
We’ll scour the earth
As we wait
For that marvellous birth
These here our different times... Interesting times. It is not 1972; martial law is not about to be declared. It is not 1985 when the dictator called the bluff of a US TV news anchor and called a snap election. As much as we would like to compare GMA to Makoy - the comparisons just do not hold! I grew up in a very political family. Our house in Zamora was the point of communication for messages from Madrid. I woke up in the middle of the night, in 1982, I was 6 years old, with heavily armed military men ransacking my room. They took my father away. We had no idea where he was for 48 hours. Fortunately for us, you just don’t make a prominent stockbroker disappear.
Our family made the sacrifices and we fought to restore freedom and democracy. I love Ninoy for being the catalyst that led to the dismantling of the dictatorship. I love Cory for continuing the legacy and actually doing the hard work during the very tenuous and fragile transition back to true democracy!
It is funny how we Filipinos are such a nostalgic bunch. We even invoke the fight against tyranny as the same fight we should be fighting now. It is not the same fight! The fight is still on but now we have a different foe. We have freedom and democracy now, far from perfect, we have it nonetheless.
I now know that my children will not wake up in the middle of the night with goons in the house. We can now speak out and criticize the hell out of our government.
The fight now is about economic management, environmental protection and sustainability, the eradication of poverty, job creation, education (quality education) for the majority, health care, food, and security. The fight is to bring our country from the depths and lift it into the orbit of emerging economies. This is the fight!
I respect Noynoy Aquino for being the son of Ninoy and Cory. That must be some kind of blood running through his veins! But the fight is not the same - the next President will inherit a country with a huge deficit, a huge infrastructure and technology gap and high unemployment. We need a president who can tackle these problems, and take us to first world status. We don’t just need revolutionary zeal. What we need is revolutionary zeal mixed in with a lot of entrepreneurial spirit.
Let our emotions subside and base our decisions on objectivity and fact. Who is best equipped to lead our nation with the unique set of problems that it will have in 2010? Not 1972. Not 1985.
My apologies to the old guard looking back to the glory days...I’s rather have my eye to the future. Not just People Power but People Empowerment.
Our family made the sacrifices and we fought to restore freedom and democracy. I love Ninoy for being the catalyst that led to the dismantling of the dictatorship. I love Cory for continuing the legacy and actually doing the hard work during the very tenuous and fragile transition back to true democracy!
It is funny how we Filipinos are such a nostalgic bunch. We even invoke the fight against tyranny as the same fight we should be fighting now. It is not the same fight! The fight is still on but now we have a different foe. We have freedom and democracy now, far from perfect, we have it nonetheless.
I now know that my children will not wake up in the middle of the night with goons in the house. We can now speak out and criticize the hell out of our government.
The fight now is about economic management, environmental protection and sustainability, the eradication of poverty, job creation, education (quality education) for the majority, health care, food, and security. The fight is to bring our country from the depths and lift it into the orbit of emerging economies. This is the fight!
I respect Noynoy Aquino for being the son of Ninoy and Cory. That must be some kind of blood running through his veins! But the fight is not the same - the next President will inherit a country with a huge deficit, a huge infrastructure and technology gap and high unemployment. We need a president who can tackle these problems, and take us to first world status. We don’t just need revolutionary zeal. What we need is revolutionary zeal mixed in with a lot of entrepreneurial spirit.
Let our emotions subside and base our decisions on objectivity and fact. Who is best equipped to lead our nation with the unique set of problems that it will have in 2010? Not 1972. Not 1985.
My apologies to the old guard looking back to the glory days...I’s rather have my eye to the future. Not just People Power but People Empowerment.
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Hello Philippines! Hello World!
La Reyna would be very proud of me. She is sleeping. Early start at a call center tomorrow morning. Training the troops. Shaping them up to become seasoned Telephone Sales Professionals!
La Reyna this is for you. For believing. For supporting. For encouraging. Unwavering.
Angry Andrepreneur was born today on the 3rd day of December, 2009. 3-12-09. I believe in the power of threes. The Holy Trinity. Three times a charm. Third time lucky. Good luck (and bad for that matter) always comes in threes. In Chinese numerology, 3 is the symbol of life.
Angry Andrepreneur is about many things. Entreprenuership. Politics. Art. Writing the great Filipino Novel. Business. Life. Being and staying positive in a jaded and cynical world.
I'll share my experiences in business. My thoughts and activities in the poltical front. My comments on the state of the world. My love for art. La Reyna. My boys. My successes. My inadequacies.
Self-censorship goes out the window. My heart will be literally on my sleeve. On your computer screen.
Bear with me. Share so that I may learn too. We don't have to agree but I'd love to have a chat.
Angry Andrepreneur is about a paradigm shift that needs to happen in this great nation of ours. The great shift in thinking starts with one mind. I plan to aid with this shift.
Who wants to open a meditation school?
La Reyna this is for you. For believing. For supporting. For encouraging. Unwavering.
Angry Andrepreneur was born today on the 3rd day of December, 2009. 3-12-09. I believe in the power of threes. The Holy Trinity. Three times a charm. Third time lucky. Good luck (and bad for that matter) always comes in threes. In Chinese numerology, 3 is the symbol of life.
Angry Andrepreneur is about many things. Entreprenuership. Politics. Art. Writing the great Filipino Novel. Business. Life. Being and staying positive in a jaded and cynical world.
I'll share my experiences in business. My thoughts and activities in the poltical front. My comments on the state of the world. My love for art. La Reyna. My boys. My successes. My inadequacies.
Self-censorship goes out the window. My heart will be literally on my sleeve. On your computer screen.
Bear with me. Share so that I may learn too. We don't have to agree but I'd love to have a chat.
Angry Andrepreneur is about a paradigm shift that needs to happen in this great nation of ours. The great shift in thinking starts with one mind. I plan to aid with this shift.
Who wants to open a meditation school?
Conrado de Quiros - this one's for you!
The lunacy of De Quiros' articles and the extent of his attacks on Manny Villar really infuriates me to the high heavens! Here we have a candidate who wants - "to achieve the goal of a revolution against poverty" - this should appeal to De Quiros' leftist leanings? Right? Apparently not. He has the audacity to pose this question - asking his readers to ask their candidates - "What kind of changes are you going to make? Do you understand the poor people's needs? " He should ask this of his candidate! They keep talking about 'Change' - what change? The needs of the poor? Manny came from their ranks - what about Noynoy? At least, we don't shoot them when they demand what is rightfully theirs!
Mr. de Quiros has obvious issues with money. If he refers to Timothy 1:1 - "The love of money is the root of all evil." Not money per se, which is the commonly held belief. He views it as evil; it's evil to have lots of it. Hung-over from his Christian-Marxist poit of view if you ask me! He makes the assumption that all wealthy people have amassed it through evil means. Money is amoral, Mr. de Quiros. It is neither good nor evil. The difference lies in its use. Ask your boys - scions of two of the wealthiest families in the Philippines.
What does Noynoy stand for? Aside from the contrived 'Good Vs. Evil' storyline. A plot you are so passionately ramming down the collective throats of the Filipino people! Magpakatotoo na tayo!
How can you help the poor if you cannot help yourself? Why can't we dream of a wealthy Philippines? Empowered. Responsible for its own financial freedom and security. You've even coined 'Political Entrepreneurship' in one of your previous articles - its exact meaning escapes me. You attempt to sully entrepreneurship by associating it with the dirty world of politics. Manny does not espouse Rich Vs. Poor dynamics - what he espouses is something greater! A paradigm shift we are asking our country to make!
For Filipinos to start thinking like ENTREPRENEURS! Efren Penaflorida is entrepreneurship, Social Entrepreneurship, in action! On the contrary, Mr. de Quiros, he has not remained poor as you would like to believe. He is far richer than all of us. I'll suggest some reading materials for you to peruse so you'll be enlightened on the subject.
This is the salve to soothe the open sores of poverty! Entrepreneurial activity, thinking and development will drive our people and this nation to greater heights!
You are a perfect example of someone stuck in the 20th century - even if you read books using your kindle - in the Philippine context - you talk about 20th century concepts - Martial Law, Good Vs. Evil, Rich Vs. Poor (Class Struggles), Money (Both the abundance and lack of it) - we live in the 21st Century, last time I looked at a calendar, and we have 21st century problems. Poverty, poor education, little or no employment opportunites, environmental degradation, an inefficient bureaucracy, crumbling infrastructure...the list goes on. Noynoy, I'm sorry to say this, does not have the experience nor the capability to tackle this!
We were blessed with Cory the firs time round; we may not be so lucky the second time! To paraphrase marx, whom you've quoted as well - "History has a way of appearing twice, first as tragedy and second as farce."
Nothing personal. I owe it to the Filipino People. I need to inform them about the candidates in next year's elections. I cannot sit back and watch a media creation become president. Mr. de Quiros, Mr. Quezon, Mr. Esposo, take notice - I intend to provide the alternative to the blatant pro-Noynoy stance you have in your opinion pieces.
Mr. de Quiros has obvious issues with money. If he refers to Timothy 1:1 - "The love of money is the root of all evil." Not money per se, which is the commonly held belief. He views it as evil; it's evil to have lots of it. Hung-over from his Christian-Marxist poit of view if you ask me! He makes the assumption that all wealthy people have amassed it through evil means. Money is amoral, Mr. de Quiros. It is neither good nor evil. The difference lies in its use. Ask your boys - scions of two of the wealthiest families in the Philippines.
What does Noynoy stand for? Aside from the contrived 'Good Vs. Evil' storyline. A plot you are so passionately ramming down the collective throats of the Filipino people! Magpakatotoo na tayo!
How can you help the poor if you cannot help yourself? Why can't we dream of a wealthy Philippines? Empowered. Responsible for its own financial freedom and security. You've even coined 'Political Entrepreneurship' in one of your previous articles - its exact meaning escapes me. You attempt to sully entrepreneurship by associating it with the dirty world of politics. Manny does not espouse Rich Vs. Poor dynamics - what he espouses is something greater! A paradigm shift we are asking our country to make!
For Filipinos to start thinking like ENTREPRENEURS! Efren Penaflorida is entrepreneurship, Social Entrepreneurship, in action! On the contrary, Mr. de Quiros, he has not remained poor as you would like to believe. He is far richer than all of us. I'll suggest some reading materials for you to peruse so you'll be enlightened on the subject.
This is the salve to soothe the open sores of poverty! Entrepreneurial activity, thinking and development will drive our people and this nation to greater heights!
You are a perfect example of someone stuck in the 20th century - even if you read books using your kindle - in the Philippine context - you talk about 20th century concepts - Martial Law, Good Vs. Evil, Rich Vs. Poor (Class Struggles), Money (Both the abundance and lack of it) - we live in the 21st Century, last time I looked at a calendar, and we have 21st century problems. Poverty, poor education, little or no employment opportunites, environmental degradation, an inefficient bureaucracy, crumbling infrastructure...the list goes on. Noynoy, I'm sorry to say this, does not have the experience nor the capability to tackle this!
We were blessed with Cory the firs time round; we may not be so lucky the second time! To paraphrase marx, whom you've quoted as well - "History has a way of appearing twice, first as tragedy and second as farce."
Nothing personal. I owe it to the Filipino People. I need to inform them about the candidates in next year's elections. I cannot sit back and watch a media creation become president. Mr. de Quiros, Mr. Quezon, Mr. Esposo, take notice - I intend to provide the alternative to the blatant pro-Noynoy stance you have in your opinion pieces.
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