Ang DOJ, DBM at BIR

Ang DOJ, DBM at BIR

 

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

 

Nitong huling mga araw kung ilang beses ininterbyu ang pamunuan ng Department of Justice na nagsabing may mga resulta ng imbestigasyon tungkol sa PDAF at nagtuturo sa mga kakutsaba sa loob ng DBM. Ngayon lang nila nalaman? Noon pa man malinaw pa sa sikat ng araw na kung walang kakutsaba sa DBM ay hindi malalaman ng mga NGO at mga mambabatas na meron silang makukurakot na pera ng bayan. DBM lamang ang nakakaalam ng proseso sa pagpalabas ng mga pondo at kung magkano ang maaari nilang magamit sa mga proyekto. Sila rin ang nakakaalam kung paano mapadali ang pagpapalabas, at kung ano pang ahensiya ng gobyerno ang maaaring mag-implementa ng mga proyekto na dati ay diretso, pero ngayon ay idinadaan sa mga NGO.  Kaya siguro natatawa lang si Napoles at mga inaakusahan na mga mambabatas dahil alam nila na mahina ang mga ahensiyang humahawak ng kaso. Kung anu-anong flow chart ang pinapakita sa media para ipaalam marahil na ganoon sila ka-teknikal, pero hindi nila pinansin noon ang DBM na siyang nasa gitna ng lahat ng mga pangyayari. Ngayon nagkukumahog sila sa pagsabi na may kakutsaba sa loob ng DBM, patunay ang mga pekeng SARO na may kaparehong detalye ng mga nasa original na SARO. Simple lang: pag may “SARO” na, pwedeng “bayaran” ng PDAF broker tulad ni Napoles ang mambabatas ng “down payment”, kaya kailangan ang peke para makuha agad ang pera, at pag na-release na ang budget, saka ibibigay ang balance sa mambabatas – in cash. Sa puntong ito mapapalitan na ang pekeng SARO ng original na talagang pirmado na kaya nga nakapag-release na ng pondo. Sino ang pwedeng gumawa nito? EH di ang mga taga-loob ng DBM! At paano nga pala ang ginawa ng DBM na dalawang budget sa iisang SARO? Kaya halos umiyak yong kongresman na taga-Mindanaw (yong palaging nagba-bike pag pumasok sa kamara), dahil ang kakarampot niyang PDAF ay “isinakay” sa SARO ng isang ahensiya na bilyon perang tinutukoy kaya sa kanya na-reflect ang malaking halaga at nakaligtas ang ahensiya. Naghugas kamay ang DBM pagkatapos mabisto ang nangyari. May ginawa ba sa empleyado o mga empleyado na may kagagawan? Wala akong nalaman tungkol dito. Ngayon, sinasabi ng DOJ, may kakutsaba sa DBM…ganoon sila ka-“talino”!

 

Wala talagang binatbat pagdating sa common sense ang mga ahensiya ng gobyerno kaya naubos na ang buhok ng isang tao sa “itaas” sa kakakamot ng kanyang ulo. Tulad ng BIR na kung hindi ba naman pahamak, ay kung bakit itinayming ang kaso ni Pacquiao sa pag-uwi nito galing sa isang matagumpay na laban kay Rios. Inaadhika ni Pacquiao ang pagtulong sa mga nasalanta ng Yolanda, pero ito ang BIR, ini-freeze ang pera ng tao kaya tuloy nagkanda-utang ng perang pambili ng mga ibibigay sa mga biktima ng Yolanda. Dikta ng simpleng analisa at common sense ay kung hindi nagbayad ng tax si Pacquiao  noong dalawang taong tinutukoy ng BIR, hindi na siya dapat nagkaroon ng laban ng sumunod na taon (2010). Istrikto ang Amerika pagdating sa buwis kaya kung hindi  nagbayad si Pacquiao noong 2008 at 2009, dapat nasita na siya ng IRS ng Amerika noong 2010. Bakit pinagpipiltan ngayon ng BIR na hindi nga nagbayad si Pacquiao. May dahilan ba? Nakakawala tuloy ng respeto ang ginagawang ito ng BIR na idinadaan ang lahat sa pagngisi! Ngayon, yong tao sa “itaas” ang napagbubuntunan ng galit ng tao. Kawawa naman….

Thanks to Manny Pacquiao, Philippine Day in Macau: November 24, 2013

 

Thanks to Manny Pacquiao

Philippine Day in Macau: November 24, 2013

 

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

 

Once again, we Filipinos, proved that we are a people worthy of significant consideration, thanks to Manny Pacquiao. When hecklers thought that Manny Pacquiao is done with his two consecutive defeats, hence, no longer deserving another curious glance, his bout with Rios in Macau on November 24, 2013, proved them wrong. The glitters of the venue in Macau, casino haven of Asia was enhanced by the presence of Pacquiao’s Hollywood fans and well known boxers who etched their own names in the historical records of this sport industry.

 

For the first time in boxing industry, a lone singer sang the national anthems of the two pugilists, one a US citizen, though a Mexican by ancestry, and the other one, a Filipino No less than the equally international singing sensation Jessica Sanchez rendered the two anthems. Incidentally, although, Jessica’ mother is a Filipina she also has a Mexican  blood.

 

Always a gentleman, Pacquiao never minced a single word of hatred against Rios. His statements are replete with his reminder that boxing is just a sport, profuse thanks to God for giving him strength, and heartfelt dedication of his quest to the “families and people who are victims of the typhoon Yolanda”. All these, he spiced with a promise to the victims that he will be with them soonest as he comes home.

 

This time, Pacquiao, though with still utmost humility, said that he considers himself as a blessing by God to the Pilippines and the Filipino people. He is right, with all the honors that he brought home. In all his fights, he always showed to the people that he owes everything to God and he emphasizes that he is proud to be a Filipino. How many Filipino athletes are doing that?

 

In his own way, Pacquiao has welded the Filipinos into one proud Asian race. Though not strongly spoken he is also trying to change the attitude of both the boxers and fans by advocating sportsmanship. How can then, hecklers conceive him as “corny” every time he pray before his fight and in diligently- learned English, express his desire for universal love and understanding?

Tatlong Pag-uusap Tungkol sa Trahedyang Yolanda

Tatlong Pag-uusap Tungkol sa Trahedyang Yolanda

 

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

 

            Sa loob ng isang Global Pinoy (lounge ng mga OFW sa mga SM malls), habang ako’y nagkakape, may tatlong babaeng miyembro ng Global na nag-uusap:

 

#1: “Mars, di ba officer ka sa inyong homeowners association? Tuloy ba party nyo ngayong December? Kami kasi sa subdivision namin, hindi na. Yong mga dapat contribution sana sa party, kokolektahin pa rin pero ibibigay namin sa parish natin, pandagdag sa donation para sa mga biktima ng Yolanda.

 

#2: “Ah, sa amin hindi, pipilitin ko talagang matuloy ang party namin. Sayang naman kung hindi ko maisuot yong high heels  na pinadala ng anak ko sa Singapore, may mga Swarovski stones pa naman, at yong nabili kong dating damit ng isang artista, sa charity ukay-ukay, dapat maisuot ko rin.”

 

#3: “Oo nga naman, once a year lang naman ang party na yan. Kaya sa aming subdivision nag-usap na rin kami, tuloy talaga dahil 4 nga ang dance instructors na inupahan namin at kakanta rin si ____(isang kilalang singer). Ipagdadasal na lang namin ang mga nasalanta. May religious group naman kami para sa ganyan.”

 

#2: “Miyembro din ako ng religious group namin. Sa novena nga namin, idinagdag namin ang mga katagang para sa mga biktima ng Yolanda. Tama na yon. Tuwing biyernes nagsisindi rin ako ng isang bungkos na kandila sa Quiapo.”

 

 

Sumakit ang ulo ko at nahilo ako bigla…dahil siguro sa kape. Lumabas na lang ako.

 

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            Malapit sa Fabella Center, habang hinihintay ko ang kasama kong may sasakyan dahil ilalabas namin ang aming tinulungan upang manganak sa Center, kumain muna ako ng lugaw sa isang pwesto sa bangketa, narinig ko, usapan ng 2 naglalako ng sigarilyo (yong de-kahon na palakad-lakad). Kumain din sila ng lugaw. Usapan nila:

 

#1: “Pare, magdo-donate ka ba maski barya sa simbahan natin para sa mga biktima ng Yolanda? Di ba ginawa na natin yan noong may krisis sa Zamboanga?”

 

#2: “Oo, pare, nag-usap na kami ng misis ko at dalawa kong anak. Lugaw uli kami sa almusal at tanghalian, at sa hapunan na lang ang kanin. Isang lingo tulad ng dati, pangatlong araw na ngayon. Sanay na rin naman kami sa lugaw, timplahan lang ng isang pirasong sibuyas, ilang hiwang luya, dalawang kamatis at magic sarap, ayos na kami. Yong dalawa kong anak, nagsabi sky flakes biscuit na lang muna ang baon nila sa school para ang kita nila sa pamamasura tuwing hapon pag-uwi ay maidagdag sa alkansiya para sa mga biktima”.

 

#1: “Kami naman pare, hindi na muna bibili ng pandugtong na trapal para sa titnutulugan naming kariton. Yong 250pesos para sa trapal itinabi namin para sa mga biktima, ihuhulog namin ni misis sa buslo sa simbahan natin sa Linggo. Mabuti na lang may napulot si misis na malaking payong sa tambakan, inayos niya. Yong pambili ng damit ni baby sa pasko, idadagdag namin sa ihuhulog.”

 

#2: “Pare, may nagbigay sa akin ng tarpaulin yong ginamit sa eleksyon ng barangay, malaki yon, iyo na lang.”

 

#1: “Salamat pare, pamasko mo na sa amin yon. Sa bisperas pala ng pasko, sa luneta uli tayo, magluluto uli kami ng laing.”

 

#3: “Dating gawi. Magdadala naman kami ng sinigang na buto-buto para may sabaw tayo. Paano, pare…mauna na ako, kita tayo sa Isetan mamayang hapon. Sabay uli tayong umuwi. Kinausap ako ng kaibigan nating nagtitinda ng saging sa Arranque, bibigyan daw uli tayo ng mga lagas na reject at yong mga sobrang hinog na, panglaman tiyan din. ”

 

Noong nagkanya-kanya sila ng bayad, matiyaga nilang binilang ang mga barya para iabot sa tindera.

 

 

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Sa isang jeep na sinakyan ko pauwi sa amin, may mag-iina – isang nanay, kasama dalawang anak, isang lalaki at isang babae. Ang babae ang nakakabata, mga 4 na taong gulang, ang lalaki, tantiya ko 6 na taong gulang naman.

 

4 na taong bata: “Ma, yong alkansiya ko i-dodonate ko para sa mga biktima ng bagyo. Nakita ko sa tv kagabi, may bata nagdala ng alkansiya sa …saan ba yon kuya?

 

6 na taong bata: “Sa istasyon na may balita, yong nagbabalitang lalaki, di ba malaki ang ilong?”

 

Nanay: “Dalhin na lang natin sa simbahan bukas, Linggo, sisimba tayo. Malayo yong nasa tv.”

 

4 na taong bata: “Ma, sisirain ko ba ang alkansiya? Maganda kasi, bigay ni ninang.”

 

6 na taong bata: “Susungkitin ko na lang. Ako ang bahala.”

 

Nanay: “Hindi. Ako na lang. Bubutasin ko at tatapalan na lang uli ang butas.”

 

4 na taong bata: “Sige para mag-ipon uli ako, pamigay uli.

 

Katahimikan muna….

 

4 na taong bata: “Kuya, may natira ba sa pera mo ngayon?”

 

6 na taong bata: “Bakit? Hihingin mo?”

 

4 na taong bata: “Oo. Idagdag natin sa pera ko, pambigay bukas.”

 

6 na taong bata: “Ito o…”

 

4 na taong bata: “Salamat kuya…”

 

Sa pakikinig ko sa usapan nila lumampas ako sa dapat kong babaan.

 

 

 

Sa Gitna ng Kalamidad, Lahat ng Tao ay Pantay-pantay

Sa Gitna ng Kalamidad
Lahat ng Tao ay Pantay-Pantay

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Napatunayan na ng maraming pagkakataon na sa gitna ng matinding kalamidad, lahat ng tao ay pantay-pantay. Kung may naimbak man na pagkain at tubig ang ilan, hindi ito tumatagal. Kung nasa lugar na inaakalang ligtas, hindi pa rin normal ang pamumuhay. May natira mang karampot na pagkakaiba ang mga nagdurusa, ito ay unti-unti ring nawawala. Lahat ay bumabalik sa payak na pagkatao na may parehong pangangailangan – tubig, pagkain, gamot, damit, bubong, ilaw.

Aanhin ang kumikinang na mga alahas, buntun-bunton na pera sa bangko, mga magagarang sasakyan, mga mala-palasyong bahay, kung lubog sa baha ang kapaligiran, walang bukas na bangko at palengke, sira ang mga shopping centers, walang kuryente at ang mga kalsada ay hindi madaanan dahil sa nakatambak na mga iba’t ibang bagay?

Ang pagsubok sa pamamagitan ng kalikasan ay itinuturing ng mga naniniwala sa Diyos na isang pitik upang gisingin ang tao at kilalanin ang Kanyang kapangyarihan. Nguni’t sa mga hindi naniniwala sa Kanya, ang mga kalamidad na dulot ng kalikasan ay resulta ng kapabayaan ng tao na bumalik sa kanya, na kung ating wariin ay ganoon pa rin ang tinutumbok – Diyos na siyang may lalang ng lahat. Kung ating pansinin, iisa lang sinasambit ng lahat ng apektado – Diyos. May nananawagan ng tulong, may naninisi at nagtatanong sa Kanya kung bakit hinayaan Niya na mangyari ang mga pinsala. Patunay lamang ito na nasa kaisipan ng tao ang Diyos subalit nakakalimutan hanggang dumating ang pagsubok sa pamamagitan ng kalamidad.

Ang masaklap, paglipas ng mga kalamidad na nagpagising sa lahat, ang iba ay bumabalik sa dating gawi. Kaya palagi na lang may nagtatanong: Kaylan matututo ang tao?

Ang Bata sa MacDo

Ang Bata sa MacDo

(Tulang na-inspire ng blog ni kwentoniblack)

 

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Isang nakakabilib na eksena –

Sa Macdo, isang blogger may nakita

Batang umorder ng spaghetti –

Sa inaasahang sarap, siya’y napapangiti.

 

Nalaman ng blogger na ito

Bata pala’y namalimos, taas-noo

Mabuti pa siya kung ihambing sa iba –

Mga kurakot ng bayan, animo mga linta!

 

May napabilib, umorder para sa bata

Nguni’t tinanggihan, ito daw hindi kanya

Eksena’t mga salitang parang salamin

Nagpapakita ng kamalian ng iba sa atin!

 

No Time for Celebration Yet for Declared Unconstitutionality of Pork Barrel

No Time for Celebration Yet

For Declared Unconstitutionality of Pork Barrel

 

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

So the Supreme Court has declared the unconstitutionality of pork barrel. Fine. It has done its part, for the record. Those who will rejoice here are the corrupt guys in agencies involved in the implementation of projects. Let us not forget that even before the pork barrel took a sophisticated image as a source of seemingly unlimited revenue for the wise NGOs and corrupt lawmakers, there has already been an SOP that greased the palms of agency officials with whom contractors deal to corner projects. With the NGO gone as a conduit, these corrupt agency guys will surely demand bigger SOPs. How about the required bidding? Tell that to the marines! Until now there are cases filed by losing bidder against winning counterparts and agencies involved in rigged biddings. They did not prosper, only exposed. Worse, some exposed questionable contractors are found to still submit bids. And, the agencies involved always find a way to justify their participation.

 

In the meantime, the artistic ingenuity and resourcefulness of the corrupt government officials and lawmakers will be put to use in finding ways so that they will still enjoy the “benefit” in another form. They will find means that will allow lawmakers identify projects. Once this happen, it is hallelujah for them again. There are clear indications that congressmen are against the scrapping of pork barrel, so what will stop them from coming up with another way? As their “sponsorship” will appear in the documents in the form of recommendation or referral or whatever, the corrupt agency guys and the contractors will know whom to give the SOP. This time, instead of the NGO handing over the SOP to the corrupt lawmaker, it will be the contractor…one corner is cut here, that of the NGO.  The SOP will be included in their “packaged” bid in a rigged process. It should be noted that the system of giving SOP by the  contractor to the corrupt officials in the lower echelon of the government is actually a traditional practice, pork barrel or no pork barrel. In other words, the SOP is back to its original turf, the contractor.

 

What is needed now is the continued vigilance of the people in monitoring the projects which later come out as substandard. Even the Freedom of Information Bill, may not be of much help because the agencies concerned will always find a way to remove from their filed records, information that will put them in a bad light. What can help is the paper trail because if a researcher is not satisfied or doubtful about certain documents released by an agency in question, he can still access the other agencies furnished with copies, and if lucky, these documents may still contain the needed information, as these are  “furnished  copies” only, hence, expected to still contain all information.

 

Threat of Investigation, Promised Resignation, and Rhetorics

Threat of Investigation,

Promised Resignation, and Rhetorics

 

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

The heartrending scenes tell us all…communities flattened to the ground, roofless concrete structures, cars and coconut trees piled on top of each other, corpses lying everywhere, coastal villages dragged to the sea by storm surges. In this kind of situation, it is unbecoming for the president himself to utter a remark such as “… conduct an investigation of what really happened”, implying negligence on the local governments of affected regions, with special mention of Tacloban City who happens to be the most devastated, and whose mayor is a nephew of the former First Lady Imelda Marcos.  What is there to investigate, when even the evacuation centers were also devastated? What the victims need at this moment are reliefs – spiritual, emotional, financial and physical.

 

Since the president, himself, wants to “oversee” the distribution of reliefs, why can’t he just do it with profound sincerity, in low profile, instead of issuing such pronouncement that clearly rings with political undertones? To see him smile at cameras shaking hands with a local politician, and Dinky Soliman, DSW secretary, beside him, to “symbolize” turnover of donated relief goods is like rubbing salt to the wound. Is such ceremony necessary in the midst of haggard, sleepless, and suffering people?

 

As if the picture of helplessness of the national leadership in steering devastated regions towards recovery is not enough, here comes Department of Energy secretary, Jericho Petilla swearing to resign, if by December 24, 2013, all the power lines are not restored, with an “if” (“if that is what they want”). Next scene is the DILG Secretarty, Roxas, with mouthfuls of rhetorics. If Roxas thinks this “opportunity” will help him in his bid for a presidential position, he is wrong, because the more he talks, the more that he is exposing his weak points. He has been further pinned down when his wife, Korina Sanchez did her “heroic” part by contradicting the report of a US-based broadcaster who did his job right where the actions are. How can she ever deny everything when practically all tv and radio stations are broadcasting the scenes described by the American broadcaster? Is she trying to grab the limelight in her own way, just like her husband? Better for her to keep quiet.

 

All that the victims want now are “real” help. Good thing, a TV station showed an interview of a victim who singlehandedly tried to set up a makeshift shelter for his family of four, and who said that, he no longer expects help from the government as so far, all they got were two plastic bags, each containing 2 kilos of rice, 2 sachets of instant noodles and 2 cans of sardines. Short of saying that he no longer relies on the government if he wants to survive. It is a clear message of helplessness and frustration but with a strong desire to recover from loss – on their own.

 

Perhaps, it would be best if the media will stop showing the faces of government officials on TV screens.  Instead, give mileage to the victims who are trying to get in touch with their relatives, the volunteers, the working staff of the different local and foreign agencies. If information is what the media want, they can get them straight from the agencies who are directly involved in all aspects of operations. Corners are cut that way, and honest-to-goodness situations are shown.  

 

 

Holding on to Dear Faith

Holding On to Dear Faith

 

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

Tears may fall in anguish

Hearts may break in sorrow

Dignity may be lost in hunger

But always, despite all these –

Something is left of our faith.

Questions may be mumbled

Doubts may raise eyebrows

Whimpers may lessen the pain

Despair may block our sight

But always, faith gives us light!

Strong Faith in God and Resilience of the Filipino

Strong Faith in God

And Resilience of the Filipino

 

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

 

In the face of adversities the Filipino has always been strong, steely willed and resilient. It is this supple personality that makes him live up to any condition after a catastrophe. His unquestionable faith in God is the vigor that makes him move on and hurdle the rest of hindrances along the way.

 

No man-made or natural catastrophe can ever make the Filipino turn his back from God. For him, all these are just trials to make his faith stronger. He knows that God will never give him a challenge that he cannot muster. He knows that all these are the proverbial litters of stones and thorns along the way of his journey to the waiting arms of the Lord.

 

Life is beautiful. But everything in the universe has its end. To prepare himself for this, the Filipino has even shown greater faith in God by becoming more aware of His presence. Religious movements are on the rise. Humble prayers for mercy have grown louder. The Filipino can be likened to Tobit and  Job, Biblical characters whose lives were full of challenges to test their faith.

 

God manifests his consolations in mysterious and unexpected ways. It could be His way of showing His love to the Filipino as a people. The Filipino is not materially rich compared to others but is considered as among the most beautiful people on the earth and most hardworking, too. His country is splintered into hundreds of islands, but aesthetically endowed. The Filipino easily smiles and has the temerity of converting a scandal into a lighter matter worthy of a good laugh, without losing its serious color.

 

God has chosen a people in the past, as the Bible says. At this time of misfortunes, He must have chosen a new one – the Filipino. This could be his way of showing the world how His creatures should act.

 

 

As Time Moves On…So Does Life

As Time Moves On

       …so Does Life

 

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

 

Life is a never ending cycle

that moves with time

there is no turning back

not even retracing of steps

to where we have been;

whatever time has been wasted

cannot be regained

but there is always the chance

to make amends

for mistakes committed

…as lessons learned.

 

We grow with time 

we can’t be forever young

we have a purpose in life

and this we should fulfill  

hence, live  a sensible life

it should be –

replete with gladness and contentment

not voraciousness for material things

for at the end of our day

such a load is just too heavy

as we embark on our final journey.