Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Ltd. & The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Receive Da Daily Donkey Award!

Readers have been asking about Da Daily Donkey Award for some time now. Why did I stopped? No, I didn’t stop per se. I actually wanted to know how people perceive my Da Daily Donkey Award articles. And judging from the ton of emails I received asking about it, I guess they’re quite popular. So, without further ado, here’s another Da Daily Donkey award friends!

Da DailyDonkey

The latest recipients of Da Daily Donkey Award are Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Ltd. (HHIC), which is building two high-rise “residential condominium” in Subic’s rainforest and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), which issued the Environmental Compliance Certificate.

Now, don’t get me wrong, friends! You know I’m all out for residences, homes, and what-have-you’s! But a condominium smacked inside a rainforest? Come on! You have got to be shitting me! According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI), which came out with the story, the buildings are being constructed as a housing project for Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Ltd.'s expatriate Korean employees and possibly some Filipinos. The PDI news report also stated that the buildings include one 10 stories and another 20 stories tall!

From what I know friends, under the administration of President Corazon Aquino, the Subic The Proclamation, dated 25 June 1992, states that the area, roughly around 10,000 hectares, has been withdrawn from "sale, entry, settlement, exploitation, exploration and other forms of disposition." The proclamation also placed the land under the "executive control and administration" of the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources. watershed forest reserve was declared a protected area via Proclamation No. 926.

Thus, no human occupation is allowed in national parks. The law provides that there should be “no human occupation” within natural parks, except for forest dwellers. Well, not unless the people who will occupy the condominiums are forest dwellers! Guess again! FAT CHANCE, FAT MAN! Ano kayo, ewoks? It ain’t over till the fat lady sings, y’all! The construction specifically opens up the forest to transgressions! And I’m not talking about the condominiums alone! What about the roads leading to the condominiums? Such opens up the door for other transgressions, now and in the future!

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, which issued the Environmental Compliance Certificate, should have encouraged Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Ltd. to put up their housing facility outside of the rainforest. There are so many other alternative places in Subic! Moreover, the Philippines is made up of more than 7,100 islands! Why pick on the rainforest? Such development poses a serious question, i.e., Did Hanjin exploit a loophole in the law allowing the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority to give the clearance even without the approval of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources? Hmmm. A ton of questions begging for a serious inquiry from the higher echelons of the government? And more hmmm.

Now wait, AnitoKid! The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority is an autonomous unit! So what’s the fuss all about? Hold your horses, son! Given that the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority is an autonomous unit, it shouldn't be the case either! The law provides that the Protected Area Management Board, made up of representatives from various sectors, including government and civil society, is the body that should approve such projects, e.g., construction works within natural parks. According to environmental lawyer Maria Paz Luna, the problem in Subic is that the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and its Ecology Center had previously declared that it is also the Protected Area Management Board. A Protected Area Management Board should be a multi-sectoral body that includes all stakeholders in park protection and conservation.

How can the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority allow this type of development, particularly if included in its mandate is protection of Subic’s ecology? Protection is the keyword here. Indeed, Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Ltd. has major investments in the Philippines’ shipbuilding industry - the shipyard in Zambales and another in Misamis Oriental. It is investing around $3.6 billion to put up two shipbuilding and repair facilities, one at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (around $1.6 billion), the other at the Phividec Industrial Estate (around $2 billion), according to Executive Order 701. But these do not excuse Hanjin or the SBMA or other government agencies at all levels to support the said construction! And I kid you not!

"The Anitokid loves the environment!"

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Da Daily Donkey Hits Target With a Bull's Eye!

Da Daily Donkey

A friend of mine from New Jersey, where Jon Bon Jovi currently resides, sent me the link of this interesting story from Star-Telegram.com.

Regan Ritter's mother searched for a video iPod at a rock-bottom price and bought one at a Target store in Fort Worth, TX. Regan was ready to rock and roll when she opened the gift on her 14th birthday. However, there was no iPod inside the box! Just rocks! Not rock music. Rocks!

Someone had apparently taken the iPod, replaced its weight with rocks, and then put shrink wrap around the box to make it look unopened.

Regan and her mother, Melanie Ritter, returned to Target and asked for another iPod. The store took her at her word about what had happened, but the iPod she wanted wasn't in stock. The Fort Worth woman asked for a refund, but because she had paid $350 using a new Target credit card to get a 10% discount, the store would only give her store credit.

Target employees were apologetic but said that was store policy, Ritter recalls. Only customers who paid in cash could receive a cash refund. It didn't matter that Ritter had immediately paid the entire balance on the card. It didn't matter that she hadn't gotten what she paid for. No cash refund! Period.

Employees did call other Target stores to find a video iPod for her and found one in Grand Prairie. So on Regan's birthday, her mom drove her to the second Target. Inside, they explained what had happened and asked whether they could open the box before making the purchase. An employee said they would have to buy it first.

So they did, and then Melanie Ritter opened the box in front of Target employees. And guess what? Rocks were in that box, too.

Again, the mother asked for her money back but store employees denied the request. The mother decided to stop arguing because it was her daughter’s birthday. She told her daughter to pick out $350 worth of items around the store to use the credit on.

They left, disappointed. Then the mother contacted The Watchdog.

I contacted Target's media relations office. It took two weeks for Target to get back to me with an answer. "We regret any inconvenience this situation may have caused Ms. Ritter, as it (was) never our intention to disappoint our guests," Target spokesman Amy von Walter told The Watchdog in a written statement. "Our Guest Relations department will contact her directly to discuss the situation." The statement concluded: "Our Investigations team is actively looking into this matter and will partner with local law enforcement as necessary. As this is an active investigation we are unable to provide further comment at this time."

A spokeswoman for Apple, which makes iPods, did not respond to a call and e-mail From The Watchdog.

I called von Walter with further questions. In a series of calls and e-mails, she wouldn't say much about the case. But she wrote me that the store employees who would not give Ritter a cash refund were following store policy. In a second note, she wrote, "In the end, we're pleased she was able to use her store credit in full to make other purchases."

That infuriated Melanie Ritter. "That's not the way to do business," she said. "It wasn't fair that I had to buy stuff that I really didn't want. I thought they didn't handle it properly."

My views. My thoughts.

It is quite a scam, isn’t it? Imagine the expression of the poor kid, Regan! And to think that it was her birthday! If we carefully think about this, no sale was ever consummated in the first place because the mother paid $350 for an iPod, not $350 for rocks. They didn’t receive the product that they intended to purchase! They received rocks! And all that Regan ever wanted was to rock and roll with her iPod on her birthday! I say Target sucks! I’ve heard and read similar store policies, but this is ridiculous! If I were in their shoes, I’d litigate Target and take them for every stone, err, penny, they got and make them realize the true meaning of the values they are supposedly promoting, i.e., responsibility, accountability, and commitment to continuous improvement! And I kid you not!

"Empower the consumers with The AnitoKid."

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The Department of Education and Undersecretary Franklin Sunga are Recipients of Da Daily Donkey Award!

Da Daily Donkey

Da Daily Donkey Award goes to the Philippines' Department of Education (DepEd), which approved error-filled textbooks used in our country's public elementary schools, and to its Undersecretary Franklin Sunga, who sought to downplay the errors uncovered by academician Antonio Calipjo Go. Mr. Go had a full-page ad in the Inquirer's Monday issue listing down the hundreds of errors he found in English and Filipino textbooks.

From Inquirer.net:

• "Those are alleged errors,'' DepEd Undersecretary Franklin Sunga said in reaction to the full-page ad put out by Go in The Inquirer's Monday issue listing down the hundreds of errors he found in English and Pilipino textbooks.
  
  A-Kid: Common sense is not so common after all. Mr. Sunga, an academician such as Antonio Calipjo Go wouldn't put himself out in the open for libel suits (and via a full-page ad in one of the country's popular newspapers) if he didn't know what he was talking about.
  
  
• Sunga said that he did not find the terms "titi'' (penis) and "titatita'' (pimp) used in the ``Hiyas sa Pagbasa,'' a textbook for Grade 5 students, vulgar. "The way they were used wasn't vulgar. If at all, they were designed to boost the skills of the students,'' he said in an interview by phone. He said there was no reason to correct the textbook.
  
  A-Kid: Yeah, right! Defend the author and publisher of "Hiyas sa Pagbasa" for miserably failing to come up with words more appropriate to feed the minds of our young Grade V students.
  
  
• Go, academic supervisor of Marian School of Quezon City who blew the whistle on other error-filled textbooks in the past, said the use of the terms, among others, was "abominable.'' He said that despite the errors, the DepEd had ordered 69,409 copies.
  
  A-Kid: Reminds me of some posts I've read a few days and a few months ago, i.e., End textbook cartel,’ DepEd vets, tutors ask Lapus; DepEd belies allegations of defective textbooks; and DepEd intensifies textbook procurement reforms. Tsk.
  
  
• Sunga said the department could not verify the alleged errors detected by Go in English textbooks for Grades 1 to 6 students in public elementary schools since Go did not mention "specific references.'' "I want to see how they are used,'' he said.
  
  A-Kid: Man! Come on! Are you serious? You can do better than that! Your department approved those error-filled textbooks in the first place! Your department should have copies of each book approved to feed the minds of the future leaders of our country! For @#%^ sake, skim all of them! The man (Go) already did his part in pointing out the errors! Could it be that, maybe, just maybe, now is the time to do your job?
  
  
• All the current English textbooks for public elementary and high school students would be replaced by new ones now being evaluated by the Ateneo de Manila University and the University of the Philippines, according to Sunga. "I hope so,'' he said when asked if the DepEd would circulate the new English textbooks after the completion of the bidding process by the end of the month.
  
  A-Kid: Dapat lang, ser!
  
  
• Sunga said he welcomed Go's proposal to form an independent board of experts to validate his "corrections'' to the errors, and expressed willingness to meet with him. "His suggestion will be seriously considered. We welcome meeting with him at a time and place of his choice so we can thresh out the problem,'' he said.
  
  A-Kid: If it has not yet come to your attention, Mr. Sunga, let me just point it out that Mr. Go and the media have left you and your department no other choice!
  
  
• Go proposed in the ad that volunteers from the academe, clergy, civil society, business and industry conduct a "free and open review'' of all public school textbooks without the threat of being sued by the publishers.
  
  
• "What's important is that the corrections will be validated. I just can't turn the corrections over to the DepEd,'' he said in a phone interview. "If you're making money from these books, you might as well correct them."

From Reign of Error:

• Antonio Calipjo Go had one hell of an ad in this newspaper the other day. Go is the guy who has been indefatigably (his enemies say relentlessly) pointing out the mistakes and inaccuracies that teem in what pass for elementary and high school textbooks in the Philippines. A crusade that has gotten him not a load of praises from grateful countrymen but a load of bull -- and libel suits -- from irate textbook suppliers.
  
  
• I did know about, and applauded, Go’s crusade. But until he published that ad, I didn’t realize the mind-boggling extent of the wrong he was trying to right, or the mistakes he was trying to correct. Young minds are the most impressionable of all, fallow ground for vice and virtue, enlightenment and benightedness.
  
  
• Some of the classic displays of waywardness:
  • “Many Filipino men and women have brains.” That should go with an exclamation point.
  • “You should always address the envelope.”
  • “Kiosk: A structure open at one or more sides and used as a bandstand.”
  • “He seemed to be waiting for someone, not a blood relation, much less a bad blood.”
  • “It is very dangerous to face a bull that has been played with.”
  • “Here’s for you!” the guard said while hitting Basilio. (I guess that’s a transliteration of “Eto’ng sa 'yo!”)
  • “People are not made to float like a bird.”
  • “Galileo invented a magnifying telescope.”
  • “He became the primetaker of his family’s land.”
  • “The lakes widdled down.”
  • “The hen walked coquetly.”
  • “It makes him squirmish.”
  • “The potato pursued a disapproving lip.”
    
    

• Those Eraptions are almost forgivable. What are not are these:
  
  
  • From English Book I: Jose Garcia Villa wrote “The Woman Who Had Two Navels.”
  • You don’t know who did, you shouldn’t have passed high school.
  • From English Book VI: “Fort Santiago was the fortress used by Rajah Soliman as his protection against the Spaniards.”
    
    

• Go says that these are an infinitesimal part of the errors, mistakes, inaccuracies, lacunae and inanities that riot in our textbooks. His own pet peeve is the inclusion of “titi,” defined as the male organ, and “titatita,” defined as pimp, in a Grade V “Hiyas sa Pagbasa” textbook. Though I myself have a high tolerance for these things, I am at pains to see how those words could possibly represent pearls of reading, not to speak of wisdom.
  
  
• Is the theory to improve reading skills by supplying pupils with words that are closest to their cultural environment? Indeed, is the theory to give pupils an understanding that language is not static and that new words are constantly entering the vocabulary? If so, then I can suggest better words than “titi” or “titatita” to give pupils a better grasp of their milieu, while improving their reading capabilities.
  
  Examples: “‘Boto’ (not the Visayan or Bicol variety!): English: vote: The cheapest commodity in the Philippines.” “‘Filipino/Filipina: The number one export of the Philippines.” “‘Peke: English: fake: Filipino nurses, the Filipino president, the 12th Filipino senator in the new Senate.”
  
  

• Or maybe you can retain “titi” and “titatita” and give them new meanings.
  
  Thus: “Titi”: English: Prick: See also congressman.” “Titatita”: Eng. Pimp: See also number one promoter of overseas work.” And so on.

• Less facetiously, Go truly deserves praise for the zeal with which he is advancing his cause, which almost unbelievably seems almost a lonely one. It’s not hard to see why his pleas for the recall and/or correction of the textbooks have fallen on deaf ears at the Department of Education. The late Raul Roco told me when he was still education secretary that during his early months in office the department's parking lot was filled with Mercedes-Benzes. They were owned by people who either had contracts or were seeking contracts with the department for printing and/or supplying textbooks.

• Textbooks are big money. Filipino authors may be impoverished, which include the authors of the textbooks themselves, but the people who sell textbooks to the education department are not. Cheaper for their suppliers to get public officials to forget the three R’s than to hire people who cost more than three G’s to correct them. Or since some of them are near-uncorrectable, to go by Go’s revelations, write new ones in their place.

• Go has every reason to give up on the Dep Ed and plead his case instead before the public. His cause is better served stoking the wrath of the parents of the kids than pricking the conscience of the king, or queen, to whom the Dep of Ed officials report. Malacañang won’t be bothered by benighted textbooks either: It wants only a population that can obtain enough learnings to work abroad and benefit the glorious nation of Gloria. Or a population that is sufficiently kept in the dark the better to be divided and conquered. Ignorance is bliss -- for tyrants.

• Not for the tyrannized. As abundantly taught in show-and-tell lessons about fakeness, reigns of error all too easily turn into reigns of terror.

This is the DepEd's second Da Daily Donkey Award! Aba! Di 'to paramihan! This is not the Oscars!

MAHIYA NAMAN KAYO!

Some quotes to think about and ponder on.

• Remember that our nation's first great leaders were also our first great scholars. - John F. Kennedy
• Education makes a people easy to lead, but difficult to drive; easy to govern, but impossible to enslave. - Lord Brougham
• A man is but the product of his thoughts what he thinks, he becomes. - Mahatma Gandhi
• Gumalaw-galaw naman kayo! Baka kayo ma-i-stroke! And I kid you not! - The AnitoKid
  
  

Corrupt Members of the Philippine Senate and Congress Receive Da Daily Donkey Award!

Da Daily Donkey

More often than not, ignorance about economics results in many believing that when two people or entities exchange goods and/or money, one party wins and the other party loses. Thus, if rich capitalists profit, then the poor and the weak suffer. That's one hell of a myth!

How many times have you paid something, say, Php115 for a Quarter Pounder Meal at McDonalds and after the service crew said, "Thank you," you responded, "Thank you"? A wealth of economics wisdom surounds the double thank-you moment. Why does it happen? Because you want the food more than the buck, and McDonalds wants the buck more than the meal. Both of you win.

Two people (or entities) trade because each wants what the other has more than what he already has. In their respective views, the things traded are unequal in value. Thus, this means each comes out ahead, having given up something one wants less for something one wants more. IT IS just not true that one gains and the other loses - because if that were the case, the loser would not have traded. As economists would say, "It's win-win - positive-sum." This experience happens everytime - each time in that double thank-you moment in a store, restaurant, gasoline station, etc.

It does not matter that one wishes the price of something to be lower. Everybody wants the price of everything to be lower (except the price of what one is selling, e.g., products, services, or labor). And the story does not change if one buys from someone in another city or another province. It does not change even if one buys from somebody in another country.

That is why I worry when, last night, I saw on television - GMA 7's Reporter's Notebook - and hear people say things to the effect of, "I believe in free trade, but it has to be fair trade". That quote I reference to the corrupt members of the Philippine Senate and Congress, recipient of today's "Da Daily Donkey" award. You know who you are! Stand up and be counted! Your failure to pass a bill seeking to considerably bring down the cost of medicines in the Philippines because of the persistent lack of a quorum during the last three session days of the 13th Congress is INEXCUSABLE!

MAHIYA NAMAN KAYO!

Medicine, whether generic or branded, is priced higher in our country compared to most other nations in Asia. Patients are helpless against the situation. One legislative measure, The Cheaper Medicines Bill, remains pending in Congress. Why? I have two words for you: Graft and Corruption. Rumor has it, and this rumor is a very persistent one, that several big pharma companies and associations are spending a fortune - a king's ransom - to derail the passage of the bill and are aligning themselves with some prospective candidates in the 2010 elections to accomplish their evil intentions!

Representatives and lawyers of the big pharmaceutical companies in the country were present during the sessions. One even had the nerve to pass a note to Congressman Teddy Boy Locsin, stating and demanding, "This is geting dangerous! You should act now to stop this! Can you do it?" The note also contained the contact information of the sender.

Outraged, Congressman Teddy Locsin approached the area of the gallery where the note supposedly came from. Seated in the area were representatives and lawyers of major phamarceutical companies and associations. Locsin told them to get out or he himself will personally see to it that they be removed from the session. Locsin and others remarked, "Iba yung usapang graft and corruption eh! Kabastusan na ito!" (Graft and corruption is one thing! But this is an absolute lack of respect for the Republic, the Philippine Congress and its members!)

The Pharmaceutical and HealthCare Assocation of the Philippines remains mum of the issue. Well, on TV, that is.

According to Inquirer.Net:

• The problem was not just with quorums, said House Representatives Janette Garin and Ferjenel Biron of Iloilo, two vocal proponents of the proposed Cheaper Medicines Act of 2007, or House Bill 6035. The two said that the senators, particularly Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, were against the House bill which they said would dismantle the supposed “drug cartel” in the country.
• They said Roxas had come up with a seemingly populist bill that actually protected the interests of the giant pharmaceutical companies. “If he wants to be President, he should pay the price,” Biron told a press conference.
• Roxas countered that the Senate “cannot be made a scapegoat for any failure to pass this bill because we have been simply waiting since Monday for the House version to be passed on third reading.” “Right now, the bill on affordable medicines is comatose and only immense political will emanating from the House of Representatives can bring it to life,” he said.
• “It’s not true that the quorum is the only problem, the Senate doesn’t want the House bill,” said Garin. The Senate earlier passed the Roxas-authored Senate Bill 2263, but the House preferred to come up with its own supposedly “stronger” version. Thus, HB 6035 which incorporated key provisions from HB 3830, an earlier bill that never got past the committee level. The bill needs to pass the House on third reading so it can be consolidated with the Senate version.
• But it failed to pass the bill on Monday for lack of quorum, and again on Tuesday and Wednesday.
• Groups lobbying for the passage of HB 6035, including senior citizens in the gallery, were hoping that the lower chamber could still do the job Thursday, but the session is supposed to be for the launching of the House centennial celebrations.
• Garin described Roxas’ bill as “useless,” as it would cover only five percent of the drug market. An amendment to the patent law, the Roxas bill provides for the parallel importation by government of cheaper brands of medicines that are exorbitantly priced in the Philippines.
• In contrast, the House version would allow importation of these medicines by the private sector, forcing big pharmaceutical companies into an open-market competition, said Garin.
• A key provision of the bill requires equal display of drugs imported by the old players and those entering the country through parallel importation. By allowing parallel importation for both private and public sectors, the bill would cover 85 to 90 percent of the drug market, said Garin.
• Garin projects a price reduction of at least 60% if the House bill passes.
  
  

And a different take from ABS-CBN Interactive:

• Senator Mar Roxas on Saturday said he has refiled a bill in the Senate seeking to provide affordable medicines in the country.
• "This time around, I fervently hope we muster enough political will so as not to deprive our countrymen of more affordable quality medicines," Roxas said.
• The bill is being backed by international organizations, e.g., the World Health Organization and Oxfam as well as the Philippine Chamber of Pharmaceutical Industry.
  "The present high cost of medicines is debilitating. It is an added burden to our people who are faced with enough challenges to meet the cost of living," the Liberal Party member said.
• Roxas's proposed amendments would also allow generic drug manufacturers to begin testing, production and registration on patented drugs or medicines even prior to the expiration of their patent so that generic versions can be made immediately available to the public once the patent expires.
• Roxas also said that the proposed measure will bar patent owners from extending patents on the basis of a "new use" for existing substances.
• "I am extremely disappointed that this was not passed into law during the 13th Congress. However, hope springs eternal and I am happy to say that this measure enjoys the full backing not only of my party mates in the Liberal Party, but even more legislators and stakeholders as well," Roxas said.
  
  

At this early stage, are the health and welfare of the Filipino people being fought on grounds of the elections in 2010? Whose views are right? Whose thoughts count? What is legit? What is not? What is fair? What isn't? Who is speaking the truth? Who is lying? Who is scheming? And who has the heart to go the distance and see to it that this bill becomes a law? Not because the media or the AnitoKid have shown a ton of interest in it, but because IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO!

"Fair trade" is protectionism disguised as retaliation against people, organizations, companies, and countries that may or may not practice protectionism, and IT IS a bad sign when politicians talk about or imply "fair" rather than "free" trade. More often than not, when they do, it always ends up in graft and corruption. We should practice free trade no matter what others do. And why? Because freedom is good in itself. In reality, there are no imports and exports concerns here. It is all about "What I make and what everyone else makes." Few people would want to live just on what they themselves could make. Once we choose trade over self-sufficiency, politicians would just be arguing about how big the free-trade zone pie should be. Since trade is always mutually beneficial, it is just logical that the bigger the free-trade zone the better. Thus, worldwide is best of all. And I kid you not!

Dynasty on their minds. Not dynamism. Political dynasty - Da Daily Donkey

Da Daily Donkey award goes to the

political dynasties in the Philippines

Just saw a post on political dynasties, which got me thinking about some of the country's top political clans. Some of the firsts that came to mind include:

• The Macapagals
• The Marcoses
• The Ejercitos/Estradas
• The Cojuangcos
• The Osmenas
  
• The Cayetanos

Ever since I can remember, political dynasties have plague the Philippine political landscape like a dreaded disease. And they are still very much around! It is a possibility that in the next Senate, the Filipinos will have a father and son tandem in the persons of Nene and Koko Pimentel. It kind of reminds you of the song-and-dance number by mother and son Loi and Jinggoy Estrada, who sat side by side during deliberations on important legislations that will influence the fate of millions of our kababayans (countrymen). What is ironic is the fact that Nene Pimental authored "The Anti-Dynasty Bill," which is currently pending in the Philippine Senate. Tsk.

From PCIJ.org:

• "There is at least one political family in almost every province. Nearly 80% of the members of the 13th Congress are from political families, according to a GMA Network News Research study. That the Anti-Dynasty Bill has been stuck in a rut for this long is most probably due to the fact that 166 district representatives — or 8 out of 10 — are not about to pass legislation that would go against their interest."

And from Halalan07:

• Of all the issues Koko Pimentel was asked to comment on in his podcast interview, there was one he dismissed as a “non-issue” —- political dynasty. According to him, the political dynasty provision in the 1987 Constitution is stated this way: “The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.” Since there is no law defining what a political dynasty is and also no law prohibiting relatives of incumbent officials from running for public office, it is unfair to single him out, he said in a news release from his website dated January 25.
  
  So what is fair, Koko? It just so happens that it was your father, Nene Pimentel, who unsuccessfully sponsored the bill. AnitoKid
  
  

• “Since the second part of the provision is not yet effective, isn’t the first part applicable to me?” he said.
  
  A novel pro-active approach to political dynasties, if I ever saw one. Indeed, this is a new one. This kid is smart. But little does he know that we have stopped talking about the legal issues and moved on to the social aspects. Tsk. AnitoKid
  
  
  

• But if he was to get elected and an anti-dynasty bill was filed in the Senate, he said that he will propose to limit its effectivity to the presidency because it is the most powerful position in the entire government bureaucracy.
  
  Wait, didn't you just whined about being singled out? With your proposal, you will leave the others (that includes you, your family and everybody else) untouchable. Something is not right with your views. AnitoKid
  
  

• “What is the evil sought to be prevented by an anti-dynasty provision? It is the unfair advantage of the vast resources of a government office. And in the Office of the President, there are billions of pesos to be spent at the discretion of the president,” he explained.
  
  You forgot to mention the millions of resources allocated to Senators. AnitoKid
  
  

• Senator Nene Pimentel seems to agree. “I believe that the dynasty issue may not accurately depict the situation in our case,” he said in the news release. “In the ultimate analysis, it is the people who will determine and decide whether it is right for Koko to get elected to the Senate.”
  
  Yeah, we, the Filipino people, are always at the losing end whenever it comes to times like these. AnitoKid
  
  
  
  
• The senator may be right. But the people will also be left wondering if Koko will be saying the same thing when his own son, Aquilino Pimentel VI, runs for senator."

How can Filipinos expect credibility from members of the Philippine Senate to convince the rest of the nation that this bill, The Anti-Dynasty Bill, should be passed when they themselves are violating the practice of such. Ang gagaling ninyo! Jan kayo mahusay!

When one's seat is so sacred, so safe, that the "Honorable Official" is not concerned about perception, a number of things happen:

• one becomes too wedded to Malacañang;
• one loses touch with their constituency;
• and one loses touch with their real purpose.

Is corruption a family value? Is it a tradition?
These are my views. What are your thoughts?
What do you think, thinker?

Department of Education Secretary Jesli Lapus - Da Dailiy Donkey

Da Daily Donkey award goes to Department of Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, who claimed that there were no shortages on the first day of school.

So what the hell is this, Sec. Lapus? - click here - Just an interesting read?

• Up to 100 students had to cram into one classroom in an elementary school in Quezon City;
• dzEC radio reported that the Batasan Hills Elementary School had an average of 85 students per classroom, way over the 45 students-per-classroom ratio set by DepEd;
• a section in the Grade II classes even had as many as 100 students crammed into it, according to the dzEC report;
• classes had to be broken up into three shifts just to accommodate the students, most of whom came from poor families in the area;
• aside from the shortage in classrooms, up to six students had to share one textbook in the school (DepEd had claimed it is working on a ratio of one student per textbook).

Lapus, you might as well quit. Claiming something that isn't true is covering up one's shortcomings. There are two facets of claims, i.e., it's either you're part of the problem or you're part of the solution. I know problems plague the country's education system, and such always crop up at the start of each school year. Everybody knows! So, why go out and claim things that aren't true in the first place? Why not learn something from it and from the experience of past secretaries?

Do you honestly believe that the budget for education is enough? Maybe? Ho-hum! No? You're a bright kid, Lapus! Yes? Then you are a fool, Mr. Secretary! The quality of education in the Philippines is in near chaos! It has declined over the years, and this my friend, will have serious effects on our national competitiveness and productivity. It will touch all aspects of national life as we know it, e.g,. from losing to competition in the employment market, to the way we elect our government officials. So why aren't you doing something about it?

But AnitoKid, the government is doing everything it can to solve the education crisis, you say. Well, believe you me, it is one hell of a pathetic effort! Simply put, IT IS INADEQUATE! The class size has been regulated to 45 students, yet we have rooms where 80-100 students cram like sardines! And to top it off, class hours are still too short with two shifts per day! There are even public schools that hold classes in three shifts to accommodate the huge student population. And we haven't yet tackled the shortage of textbooks in the public education system and students' lack of access to computers.

• Saan naman lulugar ang mga bata? Hindi porke nakatapos na kayo at lahat, at nakaupo na jan e ganyan na lang! Sa totoo lang! Kung kaya lang pag-aralin ni AnitoKid silang lahat e aakuin na niya ang obligasyon!

One thing is clear, i.e., the government's response to the education crisis is pathetic. It is inadequate! Thus, don't just visit two schools and say that there is no shortage! Mr. Secretary, officials, and staff at DepEd, we need to address the problem quickly and come up with innovative solutions, both short- and long-term solutions. The media, i.e., TV, radio, print, and online, are your friends! They are there for a reason! it takes two to speak the truth, i.e., one to speak, and another to hear. Knowing is not enough. We have to apply! Have pity on our raped country. Still, show mercy and compassion towards our children, whose future depends on their education. And I kid you not!

Manny Pacquiao's campaigners win Da Daily Donkey award

Da Daily Donkey

- to have the courage of one's conviction -

Da Daily Donkey Award goes to the campaigners of the People's Champion, Manny Pacquiao, who "deserted him at the last minute" in his bid for South Cotabato’s first district congressional seat.

From GMANews.TV's Pacquiao on poll knockout: My men deserted me:

• In an article by Manny Piñol posted Sunday on philboxing.com, the author bared Pacquiao had admitted the boxing superstar trusted too many people around him and did not know some of them would turn into Benedict Arnolds.
  
  
• "They (campaigners) deserted me at the last minute," Piñol quoted Pacquiao as saying.
  
  
• Piñol, a former sports journalist, a boxing critic, and winner in the vice-gubernatorial post of North Cotabato, said: "Just as the elections neared, these DPOs (deep penetration operators) stabbed Manny in the back and ran off with his campaign funds leaving the campaign apparatus crumbling."
  
  
• Piñol said that Pacquiao's defeat in politics is welcome news to many boxing fans. He said they "are actually relieved that at least for now, the boxing icon can really concentrate on where he is best -- boxing."
  
  
• "With a few years remaining before he turns 30, Manny must now pick quality fights, save his money and prepare for retirement. The squandering of money on gambling must stop," the author said.
  
  
• Pacquiao, who spoke on radio before the proclamation, welcomed the results of the elections. He urged the winning candidates to keep their campaign promises and work hard to help alleviate the poor conditions of local residents.
  
  

Rumors have it that Manny spent at least Php100 million pesos in his campaign. A painful lesson for Manny? Yes, it is. A blow to one's pride? Maybe. A fall from grace? No. The Anitokid sincerely believes that the People's Champion was in his right mind when he decided to run for Congress. He declared his principles openly, regardless of the danger to himself, his family, or to his reputation. All he wanted to do was to help the people, and he honestly felt he could do that more effectively and efficiently as a member of the Philippine Congress. The AnitoKid admires him for having the courage of one's conviction. And like it or not, Manny is generous to a fault; Manny's love for the people is so great that there will always be snakes (with all their kissy-kissy affection) around him waiting for that opportune moment to take advantage of him. And I kid you not!

The so-called defeat will be a saving grace for the Pacman - an avenue for him to see things in their proper perspective and fine-tune his ability to listen to reason without being influenced by his emotions. And as he welcomes the results and urges the winning candidates to keep their promises, his true character continues to shine - Manny is all heart and is equally gracious in both victory and defeat. Manny is indeed the People's Champion! Mabuhay ka Manny!

Idiomatic expressions (idioms) - Express yourself. Be the devil's advocate!

Found an interesting comment on Da Daily Donkey post:

• "Alam mo ba na ang donkey ay isa katangi-tanging hayop. Sabagay, pwedeng hayop at katangi-tangi ang ginawaran mo ng parangal. My suggestion ako, magnominate tau at pagbotohan natin..... Siyempre, fuel na din ang blog pag bumoto..... Hehehehehe!!!!! Great post! - Anonymous"

Much thanks for the great comment! Simply put, the AnitoKid likes idiomatic expressions (idioms)! No! No! No! He loves them! And here is his spin on the money. Enjoy!

An idiom is a combination of words with a special meaning that cannot be inferred from its separate parts. It is an absorbing interest to both foreign and native speakers of the English language. The English language is rich in idioms, and persons with only a superficial knowledge of English idioms will find themselves, more often than not, at a serious disadvantage in their reading, and even more so when they partake in discussions, friendly banters, and debates.

With regards to the first "Da Daily Donkey" award, let us expound on the donkey itself. Indeed, the donkey is one extraordinary animal! And it puzzles me why the ass has always been correlated with stupidity and foolishness in idiomatic expressions. Why? Why? Why? My guess is as good as yours. Here are some examples:

• to make an ass of oneself - to behave in a ridiculous manner
• as stubborn as a mule - one who is unwilling to yield or make any concessions in a dispute
• as obstinate as a donkey - unwilling to listen to reason or change one's mind
• to talk the hind leg off a donkey - to talk endlessly
• donkey-work - the hard, boring part of a job; that which requires little or no intelligence
• a jackass - a stupid person; a fool.

Our "Da Daily Donkey" award
tries to separate the sheep from the goats,
distinguish the good from the bad, the virtuous from the wicked,
the beauty from the beast, the saints from the sinners,
in a catty, yet meek as a lamb, sort of way.

Express yourself. Be the devil's advocate.
And I kid you not!

Da Daily Donkey - Sandiganbayan

Da Daily Donkey

Da Daily Donkey Award goes to the Sandiganbayan, which issued a resolution releasing Charlie "Atong" Ang, a co-accused in the plunder case against former President Joseph Estrada. The resolution set several conditions on Ang's two-year probation.

• The first condition requires Ang to report monthly to his probation officer;
• That he is not to associate with persons of questionable character;
• That he must look for employment;
• That he plant hardwood trees every two months at the La Mesa dam watershed area or at the Quezon City memorial circle;
• the court also ordered him not to gamble.
  

A co-defendant in the Estrada plunder case, Charlie "Ato" Ang was a former consultant of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp under the Estrada administration. Ang was accused of helping Estrada amass P4.1 billion in ill-gotten wealth by setting up an illegal gambling protection racket and diverting at least P130 million of tobacco excise tax funds earmarked for Ilocos Sur, a province in the northern part of the Philippines.

"Aside from probation, Ang is also seeking release from detention through bail."

You have gotta to be shitting me!

The release of Charlie "Atong" Ang is not the issue here. It's the way the Sandiganbayan set the conditions for his two-year probation, which made me laugh to my heart's content. Come on! Do you honestly expect us, the people, to believe that Ang will follow to the letter the said conditions? Honestly? Di nga? Yung totoo? Di ako magagalit. Promise.

• Ang is not to associate with persons of questionable character.
  Is he not shady enough to you? There's an old adage, "Birds of the same feather flock together."
• That Ang must look for employment.
  Do you honestly expect that the man, who paid back P25 million which he owed up to having pocketed during delivery of tobacco excise funds to the former president, will look for employment?
  And take note: he owed up to - I'll bet you my bottom dollar that the Php25 million he returned is small change to the total amount he pocketed/they amassed.
  
• That Ang plant hardwood trees every two months at the La Mesa dam watershed area or at the Quezon City memorial circle.
  Give me a break! Now, you're being funny Sandigan!
• The court also ordered him not to gamble.
  This one is for the books! I said stop being funny. Please!
  
  

Katapatan. Kapanagutan. Karangalan.
These are your codes, Sandiganbayan.
Live by them! And I kid you not!