CORRUPTION- When will it ever cease?

it’s like wishing for the impossible…

Benjamin Abalos – Chairman of the Commission on Elections.
The designation is pretty clear, isn’t it?
It doesn’t say anything like “government projects broker” or Dept. of Telecommunications Representative for foreign investments. But what’s the buzz about his being a part of this overpriced ZTE broadband project deal? And what’s with Gloria and the rest of the gang approving this deal without going through the normal “bidding” process? How much money is leaking out from another government “LOAN” that the Filipino people will be paying for and suffering from in the next few years? What’s with the strong “not backing out from the deal” statement? Could it be that they have already invested the money that they stole from this project and can’t return them just in case the Chinese company asks for it the moment the deal gets canceled??

What’s up with hiding the whole deal from the Filipino people?

*Sigh* Erap just got convicted for plunder. When will these guys ever learn their lessons?

ERAP conviction – fair or not?

I stayed up late since I didn’t go to work. I don’t really watch that much TV, but since my bro was doing his project I had to let him take over the pc. So I grabbed something to eat and turned on the TV. ERAP trial was all over the news. Finally, it’s over. The verdict? “Guilty” for the Plunder case and “Not Guilty” for perjury.

What i don’t understand about the sentence though is, Erap’s being asked to return only 500M+ of the money that he was accused of plundering. Aren’t we supposed to be talking about billions here? Another thing is, he was sentenced “Reclusion Perpetua” or 40 years of being imprisoned, guilty beyond reasonable doubt. Meaning he’s labeled a “criminal” and yet allowed to serve this sentence in his comfortable “resort” in Tanay, Rizal instead of the criminal’s haven in “Munti”. At his age, that’s simply like being placed in an old-age home which is even more comfortable and luxurious. The reason? “because of the position he held prior to conviction”. Isn’t it unfair? I thought no one should be above the law and there should be no exceptions.

Erap was simply sentenced to take a vacation in his resort for life! whew!

Remembering Luijoe

Jokes about Erap are so classic, they still crack the hell outta me every time. I found these jokes in a place where I least expected to find them. Before I tell you the story.. here are the jokes:

US Doctor: Mr. President, you have a brain tumor.

Erap: hahahahaha
US Doctor: Why are you laughing?
Erap: I’m laughing because in the Philippines I have no brain but here, I have 2 more!

Erap buys a ballpen:

Erap: Miss, do you have a ballpen?
Clerk: Sorry, sir we don’t have any ballpens
Erap (angry): Why did you name your store “Penshoppe”?

(Personally, I don’t think Erap was a dumb person. He was mayor of San Juan for the longest time. His only biggest mistake was becoming President and having the wrong people around him.)

…So back to the real’ story. I was browsing through the web reading people’s blog about what makes them proud to be pinoy(I just drafted my own list), until I bumped into a page with a comment “Proud to be a Filipino » Touched by an Angel »”. Out of curiosity I clicked on the links and was brought to http://angel-luijoe.net/. As i went through the pages, i started to realize that i was reading a tribute page for a kid who died of drowning at the age of 6, Luijoe. The boy reminded me of someone, they have this very strong resemblance.

The woman’s(mother of luijoe) photo caught my attention. She looked so familiar as well, I’ve tried to recall if and where I’ve actually seen her before. It came to me that this woman is Mrs. Noemi Lardizabal-Dado, Mom of Lauren(laurganism). And the boy… Lauren’s brother…

I read Lauren’s blog.. but it’s just lately, I like the way Lauren writes and how she’s so transparent. She speaks her mind freely. I accidentally bumped into her blog just a few days ago because of a hate comment. Since then i’ve placed her link in the “i take time to visit” section, so i can easily access her blog anytime. Something about her just remind me of… I’m not sure what…

No, i don’t really know these people personally… but… now I understand.
May 2000, Maribago Bluewaters Beach Resort in Mactan Island, Cebu, Philippines.

I was there. (what a coincidence)

This world is big, yet too small.

To Luijoe. I’m sure you’re wearing a crown in our father’s house.