Last Say on Angelo's Story

As for my final say on Angelo's case, I'm letting Ahmad do the talking...

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Some of you may not agree with me on this.

Perhaps you are all aware of the story of Mang Pandoy. During the 1992 elections, his life was sensationalized by the media. In an instant he became the symbol of poverty in this country, an Inspiration to would be leaders, and of course a symbol of hopes and dreams. In an instant, many politicians used him for publicity stunt (former Pres. Ramos Included), private sectors pittied him, and in that instant many everybody (perhaps even Santa Claus) was giving small donations to him. He was given a house, a small Job in Congress and years after that what happened...... Nothing...... he still is the same Mang Pandoy.....Aside from his house....Nothing much changed he remained poor. Last night he was featured in the news on channel five, the commentators said that Mang Pandoy is the living example that Government is not sincere in its commitment in helping the poor. I agree, but its only half of the story, to me the what I would like to call the "Mang Pandoy Syndrome" is also an example of a disease in our culture, or in the system itself.

Mang Pandoy wasn't the only one, two years ago the was the Bangkang Papel gimmick (which is the worst publicity stunt ever pulled). Three children from poor families, that GMA promised to help, and in an instant they also enjoyed the publicity Mang Pandoy did. And of course you can add Angelo dela Cruz on the list.

Don't get me wrong- I'm happy he made it back home safe and sound. But when he did come home, again it is the same story that we have always seen. Welcomed as a hero, sensationalized by the media, used by many politicians (including GMA) for a publicity stunt. Hell! Carlo Caparas even want's to make a movie about him (what a blood sucking leech!). It really made me very sick when I saw the mayor of mexico pampanga handing over a bundle of money to the family of Angelo dela Cruz, while striking a perfect pose infront of the cameras. Even senator Lito Lapid himself want's to get the lead role in the would-be movie.

What does Mang Pandoy, and the three children of GMA's bangkang papel gimiick have in common? In spite all that has happened nothing really changed in their ways of living. Same scenario, same complaints. Going back to Mang Pandoy, he was onced called by Korina Sanchez as the "Celbriting Dukha" on that I agree all the way. I am sorry to say this and some of you might hate me for it but il say it anyway...... When Mang Pandoy was featured in Last Night's news, I didn't pitty him at all! Let me make it clear though, that I do feel sorry for some of us who becomes poorer and poorer because of the corrupt system that we have, but I do not excatly feel the same way about Mang Pndoy, the kids from payatas, and the likes of them. Ok so maybe politicians and other other rednecks used Mang Pandoy, for their own selfish interest yet forgot him when they got what they wanted! Shame on them! This practice should be condemned. But on the other hand he undeniably benefitted from these people who used him in one way or another. Long before politicians knew him, he was a total nobody, and no one will even care to help him. Not everybody has been given the chance that he had, which cast doubt on my part why his condition did not improve a bit? Did he actually help himself? Another thing that made me sick was when the parents of the three kids from payatas told the media that the livelihood fund given to them by the office of the president is all used up because GMA never gave enough (money). What made me even sicker was the statement of one of the children who said that their neighbors thought that they are already rich, and was angry at GMA for not keeping her promise. In the first place, aside from the livelihood fund, they were also given full scholarship grants untill college. To me that is already a good help that anyone could give. Do the parents of this children educate their children properly. "Give a Man a fish and you feed him for the day; teach him how to fish and you feed him for the rest of his life".

In the case of Angelo dela Cruz, I fear that the real issue again here is masked. The issue of Mang Pandoy, is not of him per se. Its the issue of the governments commitment in helping the people. Just because you help a Mang Pandoy, that never means you help the entire poverty-stricken nation. Now everybody want's a piece of Angelo dela Cruz because he became an International Issue. The real issue here that we should see is that there are other OFW's in the middle east, risking their necks everyday to support their families back home. And in return they help(greatly) save the economy of this country. Has their country done enough to repay their contribution in saving our economy? In the case of Angelo dela Cruz, yes. But if you watch the news, some of them are abused by their employers, some of them die pointlessly, some of the came home without a dime. I will bet my one month salary, that these people who are being so generous to Angelo dela Cruz, wouldn't even be half as generous with the other OFWs who did not make the front page. So I think rather that giving all the amenities (house and lot, cash donations, including a movie offer) to Angelo dela Cruz, we should just be thankful that he made it back home and at the same time think of better ways to protect our "Bagong Bayanis" in foreign terrtitory. After all that is the least we can do for them.

On an interview, Angelo dela Cruz said all the cash donations were spent on the feast that his family had to give when he arrivied. In my opinion, if that money was saved then maybe it could have been used for long-term investments. But then again, thats the filipino culture. Now he is having a problem on how he will make a living back home. But I am still giving Angelo dela Cruz the benefit of the doubt, I just hope his story does not end up like Mang Pandoy. Specially now that Angelo dela Cruz is making a lot of friends.

To GMA; stop using people for your publicity stunt, and the next time you give a SONA please give the real state of the nation not Vision of the nation (which is basically the same Bull S**t we hear over and over again).

To the media; Angelo is back home, thank god, you got your news, NOW LEAVE HIM ALONE AND STOP SENSATIONALIZING HIM AND PEOPLE LIKE HIM.

To Carlo Caparas; Why don't you just start making fantasy movies again to entertain us and stop sucking the life out of famous personalities. Oh please fire the staff that designs your movie posters cause my dog wouldn't even wipe his @ss with it.

To Sen. Lito Lapid; If you loved acting so much, why did you run for senator? You know what you can do? Learn the Philippine constitution because you would probably be saving another Angelo dela Cruz because of it.

Peace out to the rest of you! -Ahmad

Breakfast News

I woke up this morning with my father complaining on his first breakfast news in years. My dad finally had the chance of having a short vacation here in the Philippines, and guess what- apparently, news in the Philippines turned out to be too much for him. Why am I not surprised? After years of living peacefully in the US, why would anyone want to go back in this dreaded country? (This is one syndrome every Filipino abroad is affected of. I don't know why.)

Tax on texting. Additional taxes on oil products. Oil price hike. These are the things that welcomed my poor dad as he starts his two-week vacation here. The government seems to not notice how the middle-class people are beginning to hate her style of governance. We may had different decisions on voting during the last elections (Mom voted for Eddie Villanueva, Dad voted for Lacson, my brother and I voted for Roco), but we agreed on one thing- not to vote that anti-people bitch.

Indeed, the government has to look for revenues specially now that this poor country is buried in international debts. By imposing tax on texting? What the hell is she thinking? How stupid and selfish can she and her minions get? If their goal is to make Gloria's popularity sink together with that of Tito Sotto, well, they are definitely doing the right job. It is true that this may solve the problem- imagine how much money the government could allocate since it is a known fact that almost for every Filipino, there is one cellphone. And it is also true that most of these revenues would come from the media, business sector and rich people. But how about the ordinary man who needs to text his family everyday? How about the overseas workers who need to check on their families once in a while? This is one of a few simple pleasures left for the poor Filipino to afford having. Impose high tax on these few guilty-pleasures and there's nothing left for the ordinary Filipino to take pleasure from. We're talking about a greatly demoralized Masa here.

Another oil price hike? It is a known fact that this time, this is due to the additional taxes imposed by the government to the big oil companies. And of course, who suffers this but the end-users, the consumers of diesel, gasoline and gas- us. Mysteriously, this time, the transport groups seem not to care anymore. Have they gone numb after having been ignored by the government? Or have they come up now with a good suggestion- that is, build their own gas company that would support public transport finance? I heard they plan on putting gas stations offering low prices on oil products in jeepney and bus terminals. This seems to be a good idea. Or is it just wishful thinking? Goodluck having the government's approval. We all know how the three bully oil companies Shell, Caltex and Petron have the government on it's knees.

Fast fact: The price of oil products now is higher than it was when the Gulf war happened years ago.

Actually, it's not only the big oil companies that have the government bullied around. Remember Angelo dela Cruz? If it wasn't for the media, particularly big TV networks GMA-7 and ABSCBN, would the government even care letting the news out in public? Let Mr. Angelo thank GMA-7 and ABSCBN, for it wasn't for these media networks, he should be dead by now. But even so, there's always been a question in my mind after observing how the government deals with terrorism: Why the news blackout? No, don't give me national security nonesense. It's already out in the public, why attempt keeping a secret that has already been made known to all? Or is there something that's happening behind the scenes, giving a new meaning to how Gloria deals with "negotiations"? Note: Although not still proven, the people are convinced some AFP generals gained much from the Abu Sayyaf negotiations. Wink wink.

Ok. Going back to the issue of tax imposing. People would definitely ask me that after complaining (or whining) about this, have I the ability to suggest solutions? Yes. And regarding this issue, I'd just refer to Jose Rizal's ages-old and simply effective yet severly ignored solution: Effective tax collection. That is, if the government or Gloria herself has the guts to challenge big names in the country to pay their taxes. Big names such as TV networks and oil companies, among many others. There's a big difference in imposing taxes and collecting taxes. And a lot more difference there is in spending these collected taxes (revenues). Note: Does Gloria's husband, allegedly Jose Pidal, pay his taxes? Or does he just spend our taxes? Hmmm.

Dad, don't worry. You'll be back to the land of peace of mind soon.