Integrity walks before you, rain or shine.
–
As President Trump refuses to attend ceremonies in the rain and President Duterte can’t wake up to attend important meetings, I am reminded of a woman who puts them both to shame.
This is not rocket science, folks.
Dignity seems to escape so many Filipinos in favor of showmen, braggarts, bitterness and some kind of self punishing vengeance. Stop it. Just stop it. Rise, ye land of happy fools.
Integrity walks before you, rain or shine.
You just have to want it.
The Society of Honor by Joe America 
When one takes many naps, you just give up on your job and let others dictate ” what route do we take?”
#Tulogsapansitan
Here I thought I was lazy when I slept in and missed the 8:00 history class. No, I was power napping. Whoever came up with that is genius. Pardon me, but it seems like a lot of Filipino leaders have been power napping their way through history while poor folk have been working their asses off.
The analogy is that of Duterte (as President) driving a bus (nation), falls asleep at the wheel, and then asks, “what direction do we take?”
Yep.
Putin, the Russian president also attends ceremonies in the rain. Few politicians, not only in the Philippines, are willing to go to such lengths and stand tall whatever the weather.
At least the Philippines is a country that bukod sa “ang Presidente” also has ang “Emperador” at iyon ay laging “nakatayo” (sa mesa) anuman ang panahon…..
Dignity means self-respect. Where people often don’t even believe real decency exists, there is little self-respect and little respect for others. In fact it is hard even to translate integrity and dignity into Filipino, even taking into account the context in which you are mentioning it here.
“Pagpapahalaga sa sarili” = self-esteem, pretty close. Integrity is “katapatang loob” – meaning that one is honest with oneself, which those without integrity are NOT – they cheat themselves.
Duterte is lack of self-respect and self-esteem embodied, also lack of self-reflection which is a prerequisite of integrity. Integrity means walking the talk. Integrity is one of the values of Magdalo – Gary Alejano mentioned it is important for them to live according to their stated principles.
Often, PRETENDING to be something one is not is more important to many Filipinos than BEING.
No sense of guilt or shame about doing something – more “shaim” about being caught doing it, or portrayed as doing it, such as Albayalde recently complaining about “Ang Probinsyano” series.
Dignity in the Philippines often means FAKE dignity, like Senate President Sotto.
This jibes with what LCPL_X once mentioned about the fake Don Quixote culture there.
In Germany, libel is about calling an honest person a bandit – in the Philippines it is perfectly all right to call an honest person a bandit – or a hypocrite, as true honesty is deemed as being impossible. Libel is about calling a bandit a bandit. Even if everybody knows he is.
How hollow are people who want to maintain a false outside image? Rizal’s phrase about “all is vanity” comes to mind. Of course a narcissist as President is that to the extreme. Healthy self-esteem is about developing real substance. Not being a hollow, loud barrel.
“This jibes with what LCPL_X once mentioned about the fake Don Quixote culture there.”
Ireneo,
When I was a buck private, and new to the battalion, I was volunteered to compete in the Marine of the Month, then Marine of the Quarter, etc. etc. platoon to eventual regimental level, I think even farther, competition.
It’s a good blurb for your service records especially early on when it’s empty. Some perks too like your own parking space (if with car), plus your picture plastered in Admin for all the O’s and senior E’s to see (which is good and bad).
You’re competing physically, also knowledge based panel interviews are conducted, covering job proficiency, history knowledge and general orders type questions.
My first panel interview, I was thrown a curb ball, the question was…
“Private_X , when is a Marine allowed to carry an umbrella?”
In my head, I was like ‘what?!’ , we never covered this in bootcamp (or maybe its a Parris Island specific question, ie. it doesn’t rain in San Diego). So after a brief pause, I answered the best I could.
“When it rains, Sgt. Major!!!”
And the whole panel (3 senior enlisted, plus some LT) just laughed, the LT practically lost it. I couldn’t understand if they were laughing at me or with me. but they congratulated me at the end for a common sensical pithy answer to an otherwise seemingly common sensical question, and comically chided , great answer!!! but you’re in the Marines. LOL!
The answer was… When you are accompanying a lady, or escorting some important dignitary.
My point is that admiral walking next to the VP is supposed to have an umbrella for her, but I’m sure the VP told him, no need Admiral. Making that picture more respectable for me. She knows her audience.
I sort of resent the implication that VP Robredo is playing her audience. My guess she knows she is honoring those who gave everything, and a little water is nothing compared to that. In fact, it is rather like tears.
JFK supposedly yelled at some staffer for opening the door for him (implication: he’s weak; truth: he had back problems); FDR did the same for someone who tried helping him stand up (implication: weak ; truth: weakening of legs).
I seriously doubt, VP Robredo just went out there … 1) without that Admiral offering an umbrella and 2) without thinking & weighing the implication (ie. optics) of that decision.
That’s a nice dress she’s wearing, and if I know women, they think of these things , Joe, even non-dignitary women… just women wearing a nice dress, period. So no resentment needed, just facts of life.
As for tears, I’ve always equated rain to God’s pee, no matter the occasion.
Well, the choice of viewing the decision she made as if it were focused on her rather than the people she was honoring rather demeans the Leni Robredo I know, but possibly speaks to your own motivations, if placed in a similar circumstance.
The cartoon and the pee rain rather reinforce this essential cynicism, I think.
She’s not a saint, Joe. She’s a politician. Cynicism applies.
Don’t make saints out of politicians should be the rule here.
But my point, from the beginning, whether viewed as saint (you) or viewed as a sly politician (me) , the above photo op of VP Robredo is still good.
Wasn’t it edgar that said VP Robredo has good diskarte. I’m just echoing that same sentiment, Joe.
She is not a traditional politician (trapo), but works in the field of politics. I think one should strive for truths and respect for individuals and not pigeon-hole people based on trite slogans that well apply to others, but not Leni Robredo. But you are entitled to what I would term your cynicism as I am entitled to what you might term my naivete. If we are both happy with those views, hey, who am I to argue.
*******
The echo is not in the same spirit as the original comment.
*****
+1
I agree.
I just want to insert this bit: I like the back-and-forth between Lance and Joe. There is also that useful word again: diskarte. Which brings up again two words from recent blog articles: idealism and pragmatism.
We cannot really know the thoughts of VP Robredo associated with that picture. But I have kinder thoughts of the VP, if the reader wants to know.
Ha! I’m glad that you are firmly on my side. heh heh I think cynicism is natural these days, and it seems to me there is self-projection going on, where Lance is the devil’s advocate keeping his mind in position to do his bidding, and always striving for advantage, so he might expect any politician to do the same based on the weight of what he has read and seen. My belief is that there is human goodness and a mind attached to compassion, graciousness and old-school values of heroism and pride, and so I project that onto Leni Robredo, based on what I’ve read and seen.
“We cannot really know the thoughts of VP Robredo associated with that picture. But I have kinder thoughts of the VP, if the reader wants to know.”
NH, yeah, that’s the over arching point there.
Of course, I know I could be wrong, sure VP Robredo in nice dress just stepped out of the rain w/out thinking, or that maybe the rain stopped and she walked out then the rain started up again.
I just wanted to add to your “kinder thoughts” that my perspective , albeit skeptical is not necessarily cynical (though these two words have been conflated like immoral and amoral).
I’m not being unkind here, leveling on VP Robredo what we’ve all agreed as good diskarte. I’m saying here that her calculation is a good one; what you guys are saying is that there was no calculation at all, just instinctive goodness.
Regardless whose right, the photo op is still good. That , i’m sure we agree.
“Ha! I’m glad that you are firmly on my side.”
Ha! Maybe in this instance, Joe, but you will never get between the Prostate Bros. no daylight between us in most other issues. 😉
Try to find a paper copy of Yes magazine August 2016. It gives you 34 pages about Leni, Jesse and children….It will show that she is one of the few ”better, honest, decent and sincere politicians” is in the Philippines. Sorry, you can not find it online anymore because the links to subscribe don’t work anymore.
https://www.pep.ph/lifestyle/home/33724/vp-leni-robredo-tells-emyesem-how-husband-jesses-death-changed-her-life
I recall (hoping the recollection is not greatly wrong) that in the months before the 2016 Presidential Election, there was a picture of Jojo Binay “braving” a walk on molded chairs aided by staffs holding his hands rather than walk on a wet or muddy ground.
Now if Binay was the one braving that rain in the wreath laying ceremony, I will definitely subscribe to Lance’s generalization from his observations or readings.
Yes, good point.
He was even in a Boy Scout uniform then NH.
What a boyscout, he was prepared for the mud.
NH,
I judge men of the cloth differently from politicians (traditional or otherwise).
Politicians , I’m skeptical (cynical yes like the obvious, ie. Binay’s plastic chair bridge at a Boy Scout ceremony no less).
Preachers, I’m cynical (yes, there are good ones, but in terms of judging them, cynical first).
I ask first where are they in terms of Matthew 10… entire quote for effect. 😉
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Matthew 10 King James Version (KJV)
10 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
11 And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.
12 And when ye come into an house, salute it.
13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.
42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
______________________________________________
My point is preachers (especially of Jesus) need to be judged based on their lifestyles, ie. if they are going to and fro on private jets/helicopters, pools the shape of jesus, drive armored SUV, mansions, girls in bikinis, etc. etc. then toss ’em if they fall minutely short.
as to politicians (I know there are preacher/politicians too, those I fear most) , judge them based on results, if they can deliver what they promised for during campaign and election.
Ghandi was no politician, he was a preacher; VP Robredo is no preacher (not sure if she’s like Cory Aquino, a pray-oholic), but she is a politician. If she molds a Ghandi-like image, that’s fine, but we’ll judge her based on results.
The preachers we’ll judge based on how closely they keep to Matthew 10.
During the flag raising ceremony, her staff offered an umbrella.In the wreath laying ceremony, the staff were not allowed to be in the formation.
During the ceremony of the wreath laying, our officers may have other protocols while in parade like no umbrellas allowed. I do not understand the skepticism and cynicism.
The US Marines may have that exception ( written or otherwise) to carry an umbrella for a dignitary or a lady, but we may not have that here.
That’s a very good point, karl!
She didn’t have an umbrella, thus walked in the rain, because her staffers weren’t allowed in the ceremony (they had umbrellas). So within NH’s idealism ……………I…. pragmatism scale, brings this whole thing more towards pragmatism (ie. hey, no umbrellas allowed, hence no umbrellas).
I think in this case, my skepticism paid off. It wasn’t so much integrity walking in the rain, just no staffers allowed; as soon as staffers were, integrity’s under the umbrella. nice picture, by the way.
As for the Philippine Marines/Navy not having anything written down as far as rules vis-a-vis umbrellas/ladies-dignitaries , I can see that ( a good question for your dad nonetheless ). I’m sure if you asked other US Marines about this rule, they’d not know (unless they were 8th and I at DC at one point), only that we’re not suppose to use umbrellas in uniform, period.
But it’s a handy rule when it’s raining and you have dignitaries in nice clothes. I think this subject is worthy of a blog, similar to what your dad wrote on GMA’s permanent salute.
@LCPL_X: VP Leni does walk her talk, especially with all her social projects in rural areas and urban poor areas, stuff she has been doing for years. There is skin in the game and that is how she managed to convince people during her campaign that went cross-country.
This is something unusual in a country where generals have soldiers carry them over the water. Where my aunt who is of the same social class as Leni (middle class Bikolana, a judge’s daughter) just around 50 years ago had maids bring her to the jeepney with an umbrella to shield her from too much sun. Where another younger aunt – an left-wing activist – in the early 1970s woke up our maids to have them make her NESCAFE, something my German mother scolded her for, and promptly had the Filipino clan up against her.
I’ve been following your comparisons to Magsaysay of VP Robredo, Ireneo.
I’m just pushing back on this whole saint vs. demon dichotomy penchant by Filipinos (which Joe seems to have happily taken up). My skepticism of politicians is simply about the grey area (between not saint, and not demon, just results). IMHO, VP Robredo would be better served by those loyal to her if they don’t make a nun or saint out of her.
I remember your comparisons of Bikol chavacanos and Zamboanga chavacanos. I know they’re very proud of their Spanish ancestry in Zamboanga , like Elizabeth Warren. So long as VP Robredo isn’t sleeping with drivers or other servants (D5) , I’ll simply focus on results. I don’t put too much stock on photo ops. Nor should anyone in the Philippines.
Photo ops are the dialogue of the day and one can choose to communicate in those terms or use words and not be read. The main meaning of the post is that dignity is an option that exists for Filipinos. It resonates, which is a glimpse of hope for those who value due process, civility, sovereignty, and democratic ideals. The FB post is now north of 4,200 likes, 2,100 shares, and has attracted the Marcos troll brigade’s pushback. A blog on the topic might reach 200 likes and 30 shares. Although I agree with your moral judgment that photo ops are not meaningfully rich or anywhere close to the whole truth, the photo does convey important meanings well.
Thanks karl for the added info on the “walking in the rain” conundrum. Thanks, too, “Prostrate Brod” for the additional note, including the Christian Bible quote; take care. [Sorry, Joe, can’t help it. 🙂 ]
Also, Irineo, I am glad you brought up that “picture” of the general riding on the back of the soldier. Quite relevant to our discussion here.
Joe,
I truly see what you’re trying to do here, I’m just pushing back. Pragmatism balancing idealism.
NH, LCX
Looking again at the picture I posted, I now see a floating umbrella, unless the officer saluting during the flag raising is holding it.
Forget it, the main theme picture is not about umbrellas, though umbrellas are used rain or shine.
LCX,
If it is results you are after, I remember you discussing with us about her projects, you seemed interested then, but we are not here to convince you, it is your call if you disagree.
karl,
Here’s the same pic of the flag raising from a different angle, so not floating after all but held by some female (officer?).
karl,
My point is simply photo op = integrity , and questioning this proposition. So if DU30 braves the rain, gets drenched and salutes the flag, that too should be celebrated?
The point is not the rain or the umbrella, but dignity and civility. Many people are yearning for a dignified Philippines, which means intelligent, compassionate, law abiding, and earnest. Things that VP Robredo is, but President Duterte is not, even if both stand in the rain. Robredo is not known for sleeping at conferences (which was the Duterte reference in the post), but in hosting the esteemed Magsaysay awards. I was impressed with the response to the post. It says dignity is still in play.
In other words, Filipinos get the point of the post even if you choose to divert and argue different issues.
“The point is not the rain or the umbrella, but dignity and civility”
Any picture, or photo op, would’ve done then , Joe if not about rain or umbrella. It is about some perceived hardship about standing in the rain w/out an umbrella , is it not?
There’s something about rain and umbrellas that impassions people, why I have no idea. What is being idealized here? That people who prefer walking in the rain have more integrity?
You are being argumentative and dense. How can so many Filipinos attach to the innate dignity of Leni Robredo and you are oblivious? Sure other photos could probably have worked. This one was poignant. What is being appreciated is Filipino dignity amidst the killings, swearings, and foolish manipulations going on here. I suggest you not join the manipulators because I think we have quite enough of them, and they are a pox on integrity.
It is fascinating to me the way language shades things based on usage, and omits other things. The words reflect the thoughts and emotions of a culture given a time stamp. When western ideas about cheating are a way of survival for the disenfranchised, then words say so. Integrity is a bias, I suppose, not an absolute truth.
That raises the question, what do Filipinos want for themselves going forward from this point?
Thank you for your always exquisite enlightenments, Irineo.
Welcome.. I just found something that fits the topic:
https://www.gaslight.online/articles/beyond-catharsis-a-review-of-respeto
So what is the state of the nation according to the seers of Respeto the movie? As stated above, we are a people reduced to the gutter morality of survival, haunted by the ghosts of our morbid past, and trapped in an endless unforgiving cycle of violence.
If ‘Drix represents the Filipino youth of today, then they are shallow and lost not because they are inherently flawed, but because the world they inhabit is without meaning. They have inherited a soulless world from the failures of the previous generations and this includes the impunity and violence that traces its origins from the Marcos dictatorship to its present form – one of the deft cinematic achievements that the film was able to effortlessly pull off. If they are not being oppressed and exploited by family members that are supposed to take care of them, it is the state and its crooked agents that target them for liquidation or write them off as collateral damage. His life has no future and the film depicts this kind of fate for their entire generation.
This is the same kind of dead-end fate that the elder wise man and poet-in-retirement actually endured after falling victim to the same kind of impunity under the Marcos dictatorship. Culling from accounts of human rights violations during this time, the character “Doc” witnessed his son tortured and murdered by the Philippine Constabulary to force him to squeal against his comrades in the underground movement. His wife, unable to deal with haunting murders killed herself soon after. Come to think of it, if lives and times were reversed, ‘Drix and Doc can actually be the same person in the context of an unchanging political recurrence.
Yes, the soulless world without meaning. Excellent. Perhaps when there is a leader with soul, which is a mix of intelligence, compassion, and charisma, he or she will be able to inspire. To be able to be inspired, one must be able to imagine a future. Way too many people here don’t seem to have that capacity. It has been hammered out of them, I suppose, by life on the ground.
What I found so inspiring about sonny when I met him here was his exuberance. Somehow he sounded like a character from the past, straight out of my father’s high school yearbook. Could be because he left in 1968, before the catastrophe that destroyed all dreams.
Someone called my generation (born in 1965, the “Marcos babies” par excellence who knew nothing but dictatorship) the “generation without dreams”: It is no wonder that there are so many Duterte supporters in my generation.
Popoy in his meandering style somehow captures the sense of dreams once dreamt, grand dreams of one of the first independent nations of Asia. And a sense of their loss. Dreams aborted. Bonifacio’s revolution. Aguinaldo’s Republic. Quezon’s Commonwealth.
Magsaysay’s plane crashing. Marcos’ New Society not living up to what it promised. Cory’s dream of a democratic country gone astray, an attempt at revival with her son, but the belief in the dream quickly faded due to general tiredness. Finally the nightmare of Duterte.
Ninotchka Rosca called the Philippines the Land of Constant Beginnings. Seems that what is started is never properly finished. Is Sisyphus Filipino? But then again, Will with his deep faith has surprised me, the great unbeliever, skeptic and cynic. Belief creates meaning.
Sisyphus Dela Cruz. I keep thinking people will tire of being so uninspired. When I see the photo of Robredo in the rain, it is so easy to attach to her essential goodness and paste a bit of hope onto the picture.
@Irineo,
“Someone called my generation (born in 1965, the ‘Marcos babies’ par excellence who knew nothing but dictatorship) the generation without dreams’: It is no wonder that there are so many Duterte supporters in my generation.”
I would somewhat disagree.
Your generation—the generation of my parents, the generation of the Tibaks-Turned-NGO Consultants, the (first and most ideologically ambitious) generation of coup plotters, the generation that built the post-EDSA order itself—was the last generation that ever dreamnt.
My generation seems…I don’t know if I’m being too hard on generations after EDSA including my generation, but what alternative or what utopia does my generation and the generation of my younger titos, titas and pinsans born in the eighties does my cling to?
I look at the young in America…and I am envious; the youth in America have the same pulsating energy of the sixties.
And I wonder…
If the voices for democracy are just voices in the wilderness…
…
Francis,
I’ve met plenty of your generation at Vegas, pool parties, clubs, etc. And I agree, same types I met in Makati , they like to party , but no real work done.
Plus, these rich Filipinos, parents are doctors, businessmen or politicians over there private schools since pre-school, don’t really have a connection there. Sure they’ll go back to their mansions there, have weddings there, and enjoy nice resorts there, but when you ask them
about the Philippines, it’s crickets (you get answers like, “My Yaya’s from there!“. But the plus I think though is that, some of that American 60s spirit you noted, does or is rubbing off on them (they do it here, since many opt to move here after schooling); but how that translates to the Philippines I have no idea.
Filipino-Americans born here, or whose parents (parents parents) born here, i’d lump them in with your American 60s spirit today. But to be sure, all that energy is only found in cosmopolitan cities in America, you go to say that town that burned up north (Paradise, CA)
and it’s all meth, meth, meth everywhere.
The new definition of power napping: when you sleep on the job and wake up not knowing what direction to take and you lose all your power. 🙂 hi hi hi
#whatdirectiondowetake
*******
1. To me, integrity is the union and harmony of heart (emotion), mind (reason), and beliefs (principles).
2. In popular parlance, it is walking the talk… as we here see VP Robredo.
3. There are a handful of Senate candidates who are cast in the same mold as VP Robredo. They are allied with the lady.
3.1. If you want it, you can have it.
*****
The Umbrella First Lady (UFL) was convicted of graft and plunder involving at least $200 million stashed in Switzerland banks.
Isn’t there a law in the country which states that a plunder of half a million pesos of public funds is a non-bailable crime? Why is she not in prison yet?
Sup has provided information regarding the legal position of Imelda Marcos. Essentially, she is pleading medical infirmities (whilst partying and running for governor). The basic reason she remains free is impunity, that there are double standards for the powerful and rich, especially if they have backed Duterte.
The blossoming of impunity really took off from their conjugal dictatorship. It’s the twisting and bastardization of the rule of law to accommodate their perversions and corruption which until today consumes the whole body politic. If the nation is to cure or arrest this malignancy, it has to start by holding into account the sins of the Marcoses.
The correction couldn’t come from the general public since they too had been perverted and corrupted. It has to come from institutions such as those started by the Sandiganbayan.
*******
Fact: the Sandiganbayan was created by Marcos in 1978. Caught by their own mousetrap.
*****
There was no anti-plunder law yet when she was charged with ten counts of graft.
I was also wondering why he was not guilty of plunder.
NO integrity here….
Marcos attached a medical certificate signed by her neurologist, Dr. Joven Cuanang of St. Luke’s Medical Center, who said the 89-year-old former First Lady is suffering from seven illnesses.
These conditions include Diabetes Mellitus Type 2, Hypertension and Atherosclerotic Cardio Vascular Disease, Static Ministrokes due to cerebral scars from a previous surgery, Moderately Severe Sensorineural Hearing Loss, Chronic Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection, Chronis Recurrent Gastritis and Multiple Colon Polyps, and Recurrent Respiratory Tract Infection.
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/674883/imelda-marcos-cites-health-reasons-for-promulgation-absence/story/?just_in
Butttttttttttt…still attending Imee’s birthday..next miracle….
Seven guilty verdicts, seven illnesses.
Has the mystical seven finally caught up with her?
But fit enough to run for governor..
https://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2019/214404-imee-marcos-senate-seat-imelda-ilocos-norte-governor
Plus her jail cell would be no worse than Senator De Lima’s. She’d be well cared for.
The Sandigan ruling supposedly bars her from holding any public office.
No, only after the Confiction. is final..Can take another 30 years…..
150k bail…
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1054236/sandiganbayan-allows-imelda-marcos-to-post-p150k-bail
Do we know the significance of SYMBOLISM of our Flag, our national heroes desecrated in favor non-heroes?Did the President promise the people a rose garden like NOT to take naps and missed the essence of international conferences? Did the President promise the voters NOT TO DO the things he is doing now. What did he promise the voters? Make a list : Things Promised and Things NOT Promised. What he Is doing and what he has failed to do is a measure of shame of voters who voted for him.
To be honorable is to do honor, to give DUE RESPECT to SYMBOLS of the qualities of a peoples’ culture and heritage. To disregard these solemn symbols betrays the faulty upbringing and miseducation of citizens. Look at the photo in this piece again and find peace in your heart.
LET ME MAKE A PUBLIC OFFER HERE IN TSOH. If Leni or Trilaness becomes President and I am still around, I will offer my services and knowledge PRO BONO to put a STOP to the simple problem called : The Bureau of Customs and the Bureau of Internal Revenue. How? I will bet one or two contributors MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE THOUGHT OF the simple solution of an UNSOLVABLE problem.
The problem in Customs is solvable with proper automation, I think. Taxes are trickier, but automation would help a lot.
If I may JoeAm, you are dead center, dead wrong there. There may be a thousand solution, ways for AI (artificial intelligence) like automating (automizing?) a doll for a sex partner but not an entire organism (humanly called organization) like the BOC and BIR. Ganito kami noon. Ganito pa rin kami ngayon pero mas grabe kahit meron technology.
I have written and offered here PREAMBLE of solutions for seemingly permanently sticky problems like annual floods (since high school I need to wade in Manila’s annual floods to wash white my Chuck Taylor); also like zero hour traffic (in the late sixties, takes me one hour to drive 12 kms to work in P. Faura).
The case of Lapeña aside from the thing that got him promoted to head TESDA is that he allowed containers to be released manually instead of electronically,and someone complained to the NBI.
The palace just said that he is innocent until proven otherwise.
If I may ask, what solution do you have in mind?
I am sure it is not privatization.
You sound like my wife ahaha. I hope you get hired pro bono and get it done.
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/171161/duterte-china-already-in-possession-of-s-china-sea-wants-no-military-drill-there/amp
Did he just made it official that he gave in to China and he wants the rest of ASEAN to give up their claims?
Whether it be lawfare or warfare, it no longer matters to Duterte.
If I may again (parang sirang plaka) although we belong to the animal kingdom, that we are considered higher animals because we have free will, we are rational animals and gifted with reason to explain our thoughts and actions. It may be easily understood why USA with Japan and South Korea or Australia with New Zealand will hold military exercise (limited war game) in certain locations BUT it calls for rationality and explanation so the people will understand why in such a tiny place in the whole wide world WHY nobody told the Americans DO NOT TEST their atomic bombs in Bikini Atoll?
If anyone gets the drift, then it is easier to think of a solution to a governance problem like the BOC and the BIR.
the DRIFT? The answer to the question of Karl will suffice. Answers could be an indicator of COURAGE.
I do’t get the drift. If it was not the US, someone else could have made the atomic bomb first.
Unlike today it is only war games that may or may not trigger an actual war, during the bomb testing we were already in war.
WHILE ON THE SUBJECT OF INTEGRITY
Two Judges appointed by Trump Admin made rulings — though nuanced — against Trump Admin-related items, and thus showed Integrity [shown lately too, locally but far between, by RTC 148 Judge Soriano]:
* Ruling in favor of Mueller Team against Concord Management, a Russian Company operating in the US, indicted for troll farming associated with the 2016 US Election.
* Reinstatement of CNN’s Acosta “hard pass” in WH briefings;
Mueller have had good batting average — 100% or near 100% if my readings support me — from Judges related to his team’s indictments. These will serve as a dampener to possible Trump moves to derail the investigation and/ or prevent disclosure of the Report from the “oversighting” Democrats and the public come January.