In anticipation of the seemingly magical year 2010, there are many assumptions that come to play. Not that they are all but pure and simple wishful thinking. The realities on the ground however strongly argue against their realization. But by virtue of the saying that “Hope springs eternal”, there appears to be no cogent reason why such assumptions should not be mentioned at all and even considered – without however the seriousness that they intend to mean and imply.
Among the numerous assumptions related to 2010, there are at present three major ones that merit some attention even if for the sake of curiosity. One: That there would be elections as provided by the Fundamental Law of the Land. Two: That there would be acceptance automation of the elections. Three: That the elections would be honest, orderly, peaceful and credible. Needless to say, the said three key assumptions are thus above enumerated more in the order of time than in the realm of importance.
1st Assumption: That there would be elections as provided by the Fundamental Law of the Land is something that would be hard to take for granted. With the self-added supreme and impressive title as Czar in the addition of the Chief of this and that, it is not hard to assume instead that someone would find it both painful and pitiful to willingly and readily leave behind such august and powerful attributions – not to mention the enormous taxpayers’ money that prop up such formidable appellations. This explains both the surreptitious moves and open resolves to have a Charter Change ultimately for the extension of someone’s occupancy of Malacanang Palace.
2nd Assumption: That there would be acceptable automation of the elections is an agenda that implies billions of pesos and much good will to actualize. Millions of pesos were already wantonly spent before for the same purpose. To this date however, except for the allegation that the supposedly many computer machines stored somewhere, the long proposed election automation remains but simply talks and postures. Furthermore, the mere automations of election
in the actual Philippine political context is far from being readily “acceptable”. There are well known “operators” in the Country who know how and who for the right fees, are ready to spoil even alleged “fail safe” automated election machines.
3rd Assumption: That the elections would be honest, orderly, peaceful and credible is something simply wild to assume and practically insane to believe under the supervision of the present administration. Integrity and probity, truth and credibility – these are virtues that are relevant and applicable even to the political life of the Country, but that are sadly beyond the rightful claim of the ruling administration under whose over-all watch the elections are supposed to be held.
The truth however is not hard to arrive at, viz., even if all the above said assumptions become actualities, with but the 2010 elections, an upright, trustworthy and respectable government will still be a far from reality.
+OVCruz, DD
February 6, 2009
Friday, February 06, 2009
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
death penalty for the unborn
In the objective and ultimate analysis, abortion in essence is nothing less that the deliberate downright death penalty of the unborn although completely defenseless, guiltless and helpless. The latter’s human life is not recognized but completely rejected – in the same way that the human dignity and human rights thereto inherent are not acknowledged but simply ignored as inconsequential and even irrelevant. The unborn child is innocence incarnate but considered a culprit, a shame, an inconvenience. An unborn child is thus meted death penalty without even a semblance of due process, and wherefore killed with gross injustice.
The abominable iniquity or heinous crime of abortion is deeply and strongly anchored on the following detestable factors: The father and/or the mother of the unborn are precisely the ones who are the principal criminals in killing someone of their own flesh and blood. The physicians and/or akin agents are the direct collaborators in extinguishing life when these are precisely supposed to protect and promote it. The pharmaceuticals and vendors who manufacture or sell abortive elements and instruments make money from the murders of the unborn.
It is both an offense to right reason and a disgrace to truth when people hear certain characters shouting loudly and avidly insisting that the unborn – the conceived, the embryo, the fetus – is not human , not a human being, not a human person. Then, what is the unborn from its conception? A blood clot? A piece of meat? A little muscle? Or it is a growing germ, a tiny mammal, a vague being or something? And if so, when does this undefined creature or element become a human being, a human person? Only after one or two or three months of gestation – but not one month, two or three months less? Or does the thing become human only at the very moment of birth – but not immediately before?
Death penalty is already abhorrent when imposed against a despicable criminal, not once by the Regional Court, nor twice by the Court of Appeals but thrice convicted by the Supreme Court, It is then manifestly evident that the terminal penalty of death sentence pronounced on a child yet unborn through abortion is even much more horrendous. How does anyone equate a horrible criminal with still an unborn completely guileless child?
It is for this reason that while a truly repentant murderer of one or more individuals may be given absolution by a Priest through the Sacrament of Confession or Reconciliation, anyone however guilty of even by one abortion by deliberate personal action and/or by active collaboration may be absolved by a Priest only with the expressed faculty or competence formally and specifically given by the Bishop. One abortion is considered as definitely more intrinsically evil than one premeditated killing, one assassination or liquidation and the like.
Woe to anyone – specially those in tenure of power and might –who dare basically tolerate if not actually promote abortion. Such tribulation and misery become reality irrespective of race, color and creed. It would be hard to think of a more atrocious crime than abortion!
+OVCruz, DD
February 4, 2009
The abominable iniquity or heinous crime of abortion is deeply and strongly anchored on the following detestable factors: The father and/or the mother of the unborn are precisely the ones who are the principal criminals in killing someone of their own flesh and blood. The physicians and/or akin agents are the direct collaborators in extinguishing life when these are precisely supposed to protect and promote it. The pharmaceuticals and vendors who manufacture or sell abortive elements and instruments make money from the murders of the unborn.
It is both an offense to right reason and a disgrace to truth when people hear certain characters shouting loudly and avidly insisting that the unborn – the conceived, the embryo, the fetus – is not human , not a human being, not a human person. Then, what is the unborn from its conception? A blood clot? A piece of meat? A little muscle? Or it is a growing germ, a tiny mammal, a vague being or something? And if so, when does this undefined creature or element become a human being, a human person? Only after one or two or three months of gestation – but not one month, two or three months less? Or does the thing become human only at the very moment of birth – but not immediately before?
Death penalty is already abhorrent when imposed against a despicable criminal, not once by the Regional Court, nor twice by the Court of Appeals but thrice convicted by the Supreme Court, It is then manifestly evident that the terminal penalty of death sentence pronounced on a child yet unborn through abortion is even much more horrendous. How does anyone equate a horrible criminal with still an unborn completely guileless child?
It is for this reason that while a truly repentant murderer of one or more individuals may be given absolution by a Priest through the Sacrament of Confession or Reconciliation, anyone however guilty of even by one abortion by deliberate personal action and/or by active collaboration may be absolved by a Priest only with the expressed faculty or competence formally and specifically given by the Bishop. One abortion is considered as definitely more intrinsically evil than one premeditated killing, one assassination or liquidation and the like.
Woe to anyone – specially those in tenure of power and might –who dare basically tolerate if not actually promote abortion. Such tribulation and misery become reality irrespective of race, color and creed. It would be hard to think of a more atrocious crime than abortion!
+OVCruz, DD
February 4, 2009
Monday, February 02, 2009
talking about public works
DPW and construction, constructors and bidding, collusion and corruption – not to mention special patronage sought from and given by individuals related to powerful public officials – are some of the talking points of recent Senate and House inquiries people watch and listen to with some interests but without much surprise. Reason: Courtesy of the present administration, corruption has become the flagship expertise of this Country. It is then unbelievable as a matter of fact, if anyone with a sound mind and some knowledge of Philippine realities would even dare say that the many and expensive local public works funded by the Filipinos or foreigners are altogether planned with integrity and done with honesty.
In other words, pervasive and enormous corruption has already become ingrained in national and local public works. In effect, construction and collusion and corruption are three realities in the Country which are practically synonymous in meaning and consequence. Hence: There are roads as expensive as if they were paved with gold, not to mention much funded roads that remain unfinished, that go nowhere or are simply invisible as infamous “ghost projects”. The same goes with costly bridges big or small, long or short that prove silly in design or/ weak in structure. Blessed are those who do not know this. Theirs are a peaceful existence, a restful life, a blissful ignorance!
In conjunction with corrupt standard practices in the world of public construction specially those done in Northern Luzon, would that the following information furnished by a much disgusted constructor, were but a myth. Assuming that the total construction cost of a given project is Philippine Pesos 100 million, thus are its apportionments usually done – reeking with graft and corrupt practices: 40 million for the politico and friends.10 million for the DPW officials concerned . 3 million license plus 7 million tax. 2 million for the NPA. 7 million bidding expenses. 3 million miscellaneous expenses. 10 million contractor’s profit. 18 million construction proper expenses in terms of materials and labor. Thus it is that only 18 million pesos out of 100 million are spent for a given public construction for materials and labor.
If the above revolting phenomenon in the Country is bad enough, what is worst is that the same repulsive triad of construction-collusion-corruption is foreseen to merrily remain in principle and practice as long as the present administration is in tenure of the governance of the Philippines. This is logical. How could a chief-administrator pronounced as most corrupt possibly eradicate corruption in government? Truth to tell, even before the so called “global crisis” came to fore, poverty, hunger and misery are already realities in the Country. Reason: A government that is corrupt “from top to bottom”.
Standard and standing corruption in public construction? What’s new?
+OVCruz, DD
February 2, 2009
In other words, pervasive and enormous corruption has already become ingrained in national and local public works. In effect, construction and collusion and corruption are three realities in the Country which are practically synonymous in meaning and consequence. Hence: There are roads as expensive as if they were paved with gold, not to mention much funded roads that remain unfinished, that go nowhere or are simply invisible as infamous “ghost projects”. The same goes with costly bridges big or small, long or short that prove silly in design or/ weak in structure. Blessed are those who do not know this. Theirs are a peaceful existence, a restful life, a blissful ignorance!
In conjunction with corrupt standard practices in the world of public construction specially those done in Northern Luzon, would that the following information furnished by a much disgusted constructor, were but a myth. Assuming that the total construction cost of a given project is Philippine Pesos 100 million, thus are its apportionments usually done – reeking with graft and corrupt practices: 40 million for the politico and friends.10 million for the DPW officials concerned . 3 million license plus 7 million tax. 2 million for the NPA. 7 million bidding expenses. 3 million miscellaneous expenses. 10 million contractor’s profit. 18 million construction proper expenses in terms of materials and labor. Thus it is that only 18 million pesos out of 100 million are spent for a given public construction for materials and labor.
If the above revolting phenomenon in the Country is bad enough, what is worst is that the same repulsive triad of construction-collusion-corruption is foreseen to merrily remain in principle and practice as long as the present administration is in tenure of the governance of the Philippines. This is logical. How could a chief-administrator pronounced as most corrupt possibly eradicate corruption in government? Truth to tell, even before the so called “global crisis” came to fore, poverty, hunger and misery are already realities in the Country. Reason: A government that is corrupt “from top to bottom”.
Standard and standing corruption in public construction? What’s new?
+OVCruz, DD
February 2, 2009
”foot in mouth disease”
It is in the Philippines that the “Foot In Mouth Disease” has its consummate expression and has even acquired its serious nature. More than just a simple malaise, an ordinary illness or a sickness of deleterious standing, the disease is a big disgrace to the individual afflicted with it and a curse as well to everybody else who relates with the same, one way or another. The naked truth about the disease is that the higher in public office someone becomes afflicted by it, the bigger social cost it becomes to the people who repose their public trust on the same. This is also true for those occupying high positions in the hierarchy of business and industry. Although in a relatively lesser degree, they too when affected by the disease, contribute much to the disgust and frustration of people patronizing their produce.
In other words, while the disease is markedly shameful and disgraceful to the characters stricken by it, the latter in turn become really more disgusting than simply funny to all others who have a sample of its reality and implication. Trying too hard to appear credible or honest, talking too much against the dictates of prudence and the boundaries of truth, reeking with patronizing gestures and flattering pronouncements contrary to simple reality and other uncalled for acts and words that in a way “make the stomach turn” – these are some of the main diagnostic features of the disease.
Question: What is the “Foot In Mouth Disease”? The answer to this can be not only profound but also lengthy as well. But in short and plain language, the other name of the disease is none other than “Lying Through One’s Teeth.” Needless to say, this peculiar malady usually manifests itself among those individuals who indulge in graft and corruption as a matter of course, who engage in deceit and falsity as a fact of life, who think they are not merely omniscient but also omnipotent. In short, this is a certain group of persons who do not believe in the saying “You can fool some people of the time, but all the people all the time.”
The most sublime and exemplary manifestation of this disease is the now immortal declaration: “I am sorry!” Done with over-rehearsed and thus likewise overdone face expression, and even accompanied by a too prepared almost funny quibbling voice, the dramatis persona can well have the affliction. More recently, there was also somebody who no less than on the occasion of a supposedly formal prayer, dared to say with a straight face that may someone still hold the already over-held office, even after 2010. And there was even an elderly and supposedly honorable public official who had the strange audacity to compare his boss to the Lord Jesus Who suffered much. Countless are the concrete examples to prove that the “Foot in Mouth Disease” is a relatively common psycho-social infirmity in the Country – specially among those supposedly in position of high public office but so not have trust of the public.
It is however possible that the disease is not really incurable. It may be severe and thus devastating to the good name, integrity and credibility of those afflicted by it. But in all probability, once they are removed from pubic office – either by operation of law, by deliberate option or by plain forcible eviction – the disease would also be gone as a collateral benefit to the people in general.
+OVCruz, DD
January 30, 2009
In other words, while the disease is markedly shameful and disgraceful to the characters stricken by it, the latter in turn become really more disgusting than simply funny to all others who have a sample of its reality and implication. Trying too hard to appear credible or honest, talking too much against the dictates of prudence and the boundaries of truth, reeking with patronizing gestures and flattering pronouncements contrary to simple reality and other uncalled for acts and words that in a way “make the stomach turn” – these are some of the main diagnostic features of the disease.
Question: What is the “Foot In Mouth Disease”? The answer to this can be not only profound but also lengthy as well. But in short and plain language, the other name of the disease is none other than “Lying Through One’s Teeth.” Needless to say, this peculiar malady usually manifests itself among those individuals who indulge in graft and corruption as a matter of course, who engage in deceit and falsity as a fact of life, who think they are not merely omniscient but also omnipotent. In short, this is a certain group of persons who do not believe in the saying “You can fool some people of the time, but all the people all the time.”
The most sublime and exemplary manifestation of this disease is the now immortal declaration: “I am sorry!” Done with over-rehearsed and thus likewise overdone face expression, and even accompanied by a too prepared almost funny quibbling voice, the dramatis persona can well have the affliction. More recently, there was also somebody who no less than on the occasion of a supposedly formal prayer, dared to say with a straight face that may someone still hold the already over-held office, even after 2010. And there was even an elderly and supposedly honorable public official who had the strange audacity to compare his boss to the Lord Jesus Who suffered much. Countless are the concrete examples to prove that the “Foot in Mouth Disease” is a relatively common psycho-social infirmity in the Country – specially among those supposedly in position of high public office but so not have trust of the public.
It is however possible that the disease is not really incurable. It may be severe and thus devastating to the good name, integrity and credibility of those afflicted by it. But in all probability, once they are removed from pubic office – either by operation of law, by deliberate option or by plain forcible eviction – the disease would also be gone as a collateral benefit to the people in general.
+OVCruz, DD
January 30, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)