Who needs a lunch with Kenney? I was invited by the US Embassy for Thanksgiving Lunch. They faxed the invitation last week, but since I was so busy then, never had the chance to browse the invitation.
Benny…whoever, from the Embassy phoned me the other day and asked for a confirmation of my attendance and since I am busy with work, told the good guy if our publisher, Maritess Fernandez could take my place and he said okay, just send over the fax reply and we did.
An hour later, the Embassy phoned our publisher and asked a confirmation. Then a day passed, somebody from the US Embassy called her up again and told her that she cannot attend the lunch because the invitation was for me…gee!
Sad thing here is that our publisher approves stories the articles and photos that go out of the newspaper and our website…too bad she cannot attend the lunch with Ambassador Kristie Kenney even is she is our publisher!
Well, there goes the Embassy. Who needs a lunch with Kenney anyway?
You know covering the Americans in Mindanao is really difficult as a Filipino journalist. They usually discriminate and favor foreign press more than the locals, yet the Filipino journalists – video and photographers and writers – get to do all the dirty jobs.
Americans, military and embassy people, who usually invite local journalists to cover their events whether in Basilan island or far-flung Jolo island, never really feed the boys. Hell with the boys whether they go hungry or nuts, except if you are with the BBC or CNN or Fox News…they get front seats on the dining table with matching service vehicles.
Ask a Filipino journalist in Zamboanga City or Jolo if they had the same experience as their foreign counterparts and they will tell you shit! Local journalists are herded on trucks.
US guys think local journalists can just be taken for granted…many of the local boys write for international news agencies, international newspapers, and Manila broadsheets and tabloids.
What’s good about the local journalists is that they have their strong determination to write the truth just like this piece of mine or piece of shit to others. Funny, US guys and Filipinos working for them, although not all (to be fair), try hard to put their propaganda ahead of us. You write something they don’t like, they curse you like a witch doctor.
In Jolo island, US troops will tell you not to take photos or videos of them, holy cow! The soldiers are in public places and seen by people and they don’t want any pictures…dude, cover your face like a Ku Klux Klan and don’t get out of your shells.
How many local journalists were pursued by US troops while doing their jobs? How many were harassed by US soldiers? How many were threatened with bodily harm by these soldiers right in their own country? How many had their faces in front of a barrel of US soldiers just because journalists were only doing their job?
Showing posts with label Editorial. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Editorial. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Monday, September 17, 2007
Drawing The Line On Foreign Troops: The Manila Times Editorial
MANILA, Philippines - ABS-CBN has reported that the US military approved last week a $6.25-million contract to beef up support services for the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines. The task force serves not only as an advisory group that determines how best to assist the Philippine Armed Forces in its war against Islamic extremists in Mindanao. It also gathers intelligence using unmanned surveillance planes and passes it on to the Philippine military.
The contract was awarded to Global Contingency Services, a company based in Irving, Texas. It is the same outfit that had bagged a six-month, $14.4-million contract to provide “operations support” for the task force in June.
Last month The Times ran an exclusive story about the American military building a host of projects in Jolo, Tawi-Tawi and Maguindanao. Global Contingency Services is very much involved in those projects, The Times learned.
The Times story hinted that the flurry of construction activity points to the growing US military presence in conflict areas in Mindanao. It also suggested that the facilities being built were not temporary camps but the initial stages of permanent bases. If they are structures for bases, then Washington has a lot of explaining to do. The US lost its basing rights in the Philippines almost two decades ago.
A US Embassy official quickly denied the facilities were permanent bases. They were temporary structures for the “medical, logistical and administrative services” of American troops, the official explained.
The ABS-CBN report dovetails with The Times story and, at the same time, injects a new dimension to it. ABS-CBN quotes Adm. Thomas Fargo, former commander of the US Pacific Command, as saying: “The global force posture we seek is about places and not bases.” What Fargo espouses are “rapidly deployable, flexible forces to meet our national defense needs.”
A sizeable portion of those forces would definitely be deployed in Mindanao, which Washington considers as a “frontline” in the global war on terror.
The construction projects can only mean that US troops are in the Philippines for the long haul. But for how long? There is no definite timetable, although Ernesto Carolina, defense undersecretary for Philippines Defense Reform, told ABS-CBN American troops could be here at least until 2014. That is when the 10-year Philippine Defense Reform program ends. The program aims to improve the capabilities of the AFP with guidance and financing from the US.
The growing American military presence must be viewed against the backdrop of today’s realities. Terrorism knows no borders, as 9/11and the subsequent attacks in Bali, Madrid and London painfully illustrated. Defeating it calls for coordinated action, nations closing ranks and working as a tight-knit force. The Philippines needs all the help it can get, and US assistance is most welcome. But the line must be clearly drawn.
The contract was awarded to Global Contingency Services, a company based in Irving, Texas. It is the same outfit that had bagged a six-month, $14.4-million contract to provide “operations support” for the task force in June.
Last month The Times ran an exclusive story about the American military building a host of projects in Jolo, Tawi-Tawi and Maguindanao. Global Contingency Services is very much involved in those projects, The Times learned.
The Times story hinted that the flurry of construction activity points to the growing US military presence in conflict areas in Mindanao. It also suggested that the facilities being built were not temporary camps but the initial stages of permanent bases. If they are structures for bases, then Washington has a lot of explaining to do. The US lost its basing rights in the Philippines almost two decades ago.
A US Embassy official quickly denied the facilities were permanent bases. They were temporary structures for the “medical, logistical and administrative services” of American troops, the official explained.
The ABS-CBN report dovetails with The Times story and, at the same time, injects a new dimension to it. ABS-CBN quotes Adm. Thomas Fargo, former commander of the US Pacific Command, as saying: “The global force posture we seek is about places and not bases.” What Fargo espouses are “rapidly deployable, flexible forces to meet our national defense needs.”
A sizeable portion of those forces would definitely be deployed in Mindanao, which Washington considers as a “frontline” in the global war on terror.
The construction projects can only mean that US troops are in the Philippines for the long haul. But for how long? There is no definite timetable, although Ernesto Carolina, defense undersecretary for Philippines Defense Reform, told ABS-CBN American troops could be here at least until 2014. That is when the 10-year Philippine Defense Reform program ends. The program aims to improve the capabilities of the AFP with guidance and financing from the US.
The growing American military presence must be viewed against the backdrop of today’s realities. Terrorism knows no borders, as 9/11and the subsequent attacks in Bali, Madrid and London painfully illustrated. Defeating it calls for coordinated action, nations closing ranks and working as a tight-knit force. The Philippines needs all the help it can get, and US assistance is most welcome. But the line must be clearly drawn.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
OPINION
THAT DAMN OPINION! By Al Jacinto
Manny Pacquiao finalmente decidía lanzar su sombrero en la arena política local - en ciudad de General Santos.
Manny está intentando ganar la raza del Congreso! Realmente no puedo leer cuál está en el jefe de Pacquiao. Primero, él dijo que él funcionaría para las elecciones en General Santos del alcalde; y entonces él cambió de puesto su foco a Manila; y entonces como candidato del Congreso en Cotabato del sur; y entonces endosa el Atienzas en Manila otra vez; y entonces endosa a Luis Singson, su ídolo! Y entonces endosa el grupo PBA de la lista del partido.
Mi pregunta quién endosa la voluntad Manny después.
Manny se parece ser confundido en lo que él realmente desea hacer; hay a muchos cocineros en la cocina; hay demasiada gente que dice a Manny lo que él debe hacer. Cuál es siguiente para Manny? Quizá como presidente de las Filipinas, quién sabe?
Manny guarda en decir que él necesita funcionar para el Congreso y ganar e introducir los leyes que ayudarán a elevar el estándar la vida de millones de Filipinos pobres - - cubierta, la salud y la educación - ésas ser lo que los sueños de Manny de alcanzar cuando él finalmente gana uno de su batalla importante en vida - el Congreso!
Con dinero, diez de millones en sus cajas, Manny puede ayudar seguramente a los pobres aunque que él es un ciudadano privado. Él ha estado dando el dinero a los pobres en General Santos bien, pero hay otras maneras de ayudar al menos afortunado - las escuelas, los centros de la salud y los complejos de viviendas - si él es realmente sincero.
El boxeo es diferente de hacer leyes. Y tenemos muchos políticos que no sepan nada, solamente elecciones ganadas debido a renombre, dinero sucio, el engaño y mil más razones! Espero que Manny componga su mente y no funcione en las elecciones de Mayo.
Saturday, February 17, 2007
EDITORIAL: LISTEN UP!
A FILIPINO LAWMAKER is held at the Manila international airport Friday night after his bag yielded 20 pieces of .38-caliber bullets. Laguna Rep. Danton Bueser was on his way to San Francisco, reports say.
The 57-year old politician denies any knowledge of the ammunition and phones Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr., now running as one of President Gloria Arroyo’s senatorial candidate.
After the phone call, police free Bueser Saturday morning. Wow!
In a country like the Banana Republic, where influence is more powerful than the rule of law, nothing is impossible, especially if you have allies like politicians and the wealthy. Laws are disrespected.
What if civilian travelers are caught with just a single bullet, or say an Arab man was intercepted carrying two rusty bullets? Philippine authorities are sure to tag them as members of the Abu Sayyaf, perhaps Jemaah Islamiya or even al-Qaeda terrorists and present them to reporters, of course with new t-shirts marked “detainee” and a news conference follows!
This is what the Banana Republic is all about!
Elections in the Philippines are nearing and it’s good that there are many thieves running for public office. Oh! I mean honorable politicians not thieves, pardon me.
And foreign governments are again watching the outcome of the May elections. Again, there will be a lot of cheating, since many politicians are naturally cheaters!
Elections watchdogs should field more people in Jolo and Basilan islands and in the Muslim autonomous region in Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula and Cebu, of course! And also in Ilocos region and central Tagalog because these areas are traditionally worst every elections.
In the past elections, Jolo and Basilan islands were prominent because of accusations of massive cheating. Some people tasked of protecting the sanctity of ballots and politicians were themselves involved in cheating – they used gold, guns and goons – just like in Maguindanao!
Responsible Filipinos should stay vigilant and guard the ballots!
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
EDITORYAL: Ang Simula ng Pangangampanya!
NAGSIMULA NA ANG KAMPANYA ng mga pulitiko para sa halalan sa Mayo. Katakut-takot na pambobola ang maririnig mula sa mga taong ito at siguradong babaha ng salapi upang makumbinsi ang maraming Pilipino na sila’y ihalal.
Ngunit malamang na itodo ng mga pulitiko ang pamumudmod ng pera kung malapit na ang eleksyon – hindi lamang sa mga botante, kundi sa mga opisyal ng barangay, ng lunsod, bayan at lalawigan na kung saan ay may mga kaalyado ito – para masigurong makuha nila ang boto!
Isang damakmak na pangako sa mga Pilipino ang maririnig at kung anu-anong pambobola at kasinungalingan ang siguradong ilalabas ng mga herodes. Kawawang Pinoy at marami na naman ang maloloko.
And matindi ngayon ay ang inaasahang kaguluhan at pandaraya sa pagitan ng mga magkakatungaling pulitiko – administrasyon man o oposisyon, kaliwa o kanan!
Sa Mindanao ay talamak ang dayaan nuong halalan ng 2004, pero giit pa rin ng Malakanyang na malinis at may mga dayuhang observers pa. Eh, ang tanong ay nasaan ba ang mga observers na iyan? Nagpunta ba sila sa Maguindanao o Lanao, nagtungo ba ang kanilang grupo sa Sulu o Tawi-Tawi o kaya ay sa Basilan?
Grabe! Ang masasabi ko lang ay sobrang bulok ang naging halalan at talamak sa pandaraya, mula sa botohan hanggang sa bilangan! Sa Sulu lamang na kung saan ako ay na-assign upang mag-cover ng halalan nuong 2004 ay halos hindi ako nakatulog dahil sa aking mga nasaksihan.
Sa bayan ng Maimbung ako noon naglagi at doon ay saksi ako sa bilihan ng boto, sa palitan ng mga election IDs, sa pagpayag ng mga bantay na maka-boto ang menor-de-edad at ang lantarang kawalang-hiyaan ng mga may hawak ng balota.
Mahirap ipaliwanag, subalit hindi ko maubos-maisip kung bakit naganap ang ganoong mga bagay. Sa Islam ay ipinagbabawal ang masama, ngunit bakit nanaig ito sa Sulu, sa Mindanao? Sa mga nakita kong balota sa Maimbung ay nakasulat na ang mga pangalan ng ibat-ibang pulitiko.
Dalawang-daang piso naman ang bayad sa bawat Badjao na bumuto sa isang kandidato – wow! Eh, daan-daang mga Badjao na hindi marunong sumulat ang nag-unahan sa paglalagay ng kanilang thumbmarks kahit hindi alam kung ano ang mga pinagbabasa, basta ang mahalaga ay makuha ang salaping maipambibili ng 10 kilong bigas at isda.
Minsan naisip ko tuloy na huminto na lamang sa pagsusulat dahil sa mga kabuktutan ng lipunan aking ginagalawan, ngunit mamamatay naman sa gutom ang aking pamilya at hindi makakapag-aral ang aking mga anak. At kung mangyayari ito ay baka mapabilang na rin kaming lahat sa kabulukan nitong lipunan.
Hanggang kailan kaya ang ganitong uri ng lipunan, ang ganitong uri ng gawain. Mabuti na lamang at isa akong ateyista, walang kinikilalang panginoon o diyos at kung hindi ay malamang naitakwil ko na ang lahat ng mga santong kilala sa mundo!
Hanggang kailan magtitiis ang mga mamamayan upang makamit ang tunay na pagbabago...hanggang kailan? (Al Jacinto)
Ngunit malamang na itodo ng mga pulitiko ang pamumudmod ng pera kung malapit na ang eleksyon – hindi lamang sa mga botante, kundi sa mga opisyal ng barangay, ng lunsod, bayan at lalawigan na kung saan ay may mga kaalyado ito – para masigurong makuha nila ang boto!
Isang damakmak na pangako sa mga Pilipino ang maririnig at kung anu-anong pambobola at kasinungalingan ang siguradong ilalabas ng mga herodes. Kawawang Pinoy at marami na naman ang maloloko.
And matindi ngayon ay ang inaasahang kaguluhan at pandaraya sa pagitan ng mga magkakatungaling pulitiko – administrasyon man o oposisyon, kaliwa o kanan!
Sa Mindanao ay talamak ang dayaan nuong halalan ng 2004, pero giit pa rin ng Malakanyang na malinis at may mga dayuhang observers pa. Eh, ang tanong ay nasaan ba ang mga observers na iyan? Nagpunta ba sila sa Maguindanao o Lanao, nagtungo ba ang kanilang grupo sa Sulu o Tawi-Tawi o kaya ay sa Basilan?
Grabe! Ang masasabi ko lang ay sobrang bulok ang naging halalan at talamak sa pandaraya, mula sa botohan hanggang sa bilangan! Sa Sulu lamang na kung saan ako ay na-assign upang mag-cover ng halalan nuong 2004 ay halos hindi ako nakatulog dahil sa aking mga nasaksihan.
Sa bayan ng Maimbung ako noon naglagi at doon ay saksi ako sa bilihan ng boto, sa palitan ng mga election IDs, sa pagpayag ng mga bantay na maka-boto ang menor-de-edad at ang lantarang kawalang-hiyaan ng mga may hawak ng balota.
Mahirap ipaliwanag, subalit hindi ko maubos-maisip kung bakit naganap ang ganoong mga bagay. Sa Islam ay ipinagbabawal ang masama, ngunit bakit nanaig ito sa Sulu, sa Mindanao? Sa mga nakita kong balota sa Maimbung ay nakasulat na ang mga pangalan ng ibat-ibang pulitiko.
Dalawang-daang piso naman ang bayad sa bawat Badjao na bumuto sa isang kandidato – wow! Eh, daan-daang mga Badjao na hindi marunong sumulat ang nag-unahan sa paglalagay ng kanilang thumbmarks kahit hindi alam kung ano ang mga pinagbabasa, basta ang mahalaga ay makuha ang salaping maipambibili ng 10 kilong bigas at isda.
Minsan naisip ko tuloy na huminto na lamang sa pagsusulat dahil sa mga kabuktutan ng lipunan aking ginagalawan, ngunit mamamatay naman sa gutom ang aking pamilya at hindi makakapag-aral ang aking mga anak. At kung mangyayari ito ay baka mapabilang na rin kaming lahat sa kabulukan nitong lipunan.
Hanggang kailan kaya ang ganitong uri ng lipunan, ang ganitong uri ng gawain. Mabuti na lamang at isa akong ateyista, walang kinikilalang panginoon o diyos at kung hindi ay malamang naitakwil ko na ang lahat ng mga santong kilala sa mundo!
Hanggang kailan magtitiis ang mga mamamayan upang makamit ang tunay na pagbabago...hanggang kailan? (Al Jacinto)
Friday, October 27, 2006
EDITORIAL: Zamboanga: De la ciudad latina de Asia a la ciudad del crimen de Asia?
La ciudad de Zamboanga, apenas calificada recientemente como ciudad latina de Asia, ahora es el convertirse rápido como ciudad del crimen de Asia. Con las matanzas casi diarias, quién desea venir a Zamboanga?
Las embajadas en Manila han advertido a sus ciudadanos que no viajen a la ciudad de Zamboanga debido a la serie de matanzas de civiles inocentes y los problemas de levantamiento de la criminalidad y las amenazas planteados por el grupo al-Qaeda-ligado de Abu Sayyaf y su afiliado el Jemaah Islamiya.
Los políticos en la ciudad de Zamboanga son rápidos culpar al policía por las matanzas. Dicen a policía no podido para poner terminantemente la interdicción en las armas ilegales y la carencia en ejecución de los bloques y de los puntos de comprobación del camino.
Los muchos de la culpa de los políticos de gente, pero no se culpan por todos estos apuros. Están siempre ocupados promoviéndose. Los periódicos locales son el convertirse como los boletines de noticias y los diarios de políticos - con sus fotos y porciones de sacudidas de la mano y blah, blah!
Incluso no ahorran a los periodistas. Sobornan algunos y corrompen algunos. Pero, el dinero que recibieron no es bastante uniforme comprarlos una buena cena, y todo el éstos a cambio de su dignidad.
Las carteleras de los políticos que promueven éstos y ésos también se exhiben prominente en áreas ocupadas en Zamboanga.Incluso el departamento y los almacenes de la tienda de comestibles no se ahorran - por supuesto todo el éstos están en guised de decir a la gente sobre sus proyectos y programas! Ululación, pueden encontrar siempre una manera. (Mindanao Examiner)
Las embajadas en Manila han advertido a sus ciudadanos que no viajen a la ciudad de Zamboanga debido a la serie de matanzas de civiles inocentes y los problemas de levantamiento de la criminalidad y las amenazas planteados por el grupo al-Qaeda-ligado de Abu Sayyaf y su afiliado el Jemaah Islamiya.
Los políticos en la ciudad de Zamboanga son rápidos culpar al policía por las matanzas. Dicen a policía no podido para poner terminantemente la interdicción en las armas ilegales y la carencia en ejecución de los bloques y de los puntos de comprobación del camino.
Los muchos de la culpa de los políticos de gente, pero no se culpan por todos estos apuros. Están siempre ocupados promoviéndose. Los periódicos locales son el convertirse como los boletines de noticias y los diarios de políticos - con sus fotos y porciones de sacudidas de la mano y blah, blah!
Incluso no ahorran a los periodistas. Sobornan algunos y corrompen algunos. Pero, el dinero que recibieron no es bastante uniforme comprarlos una buena cena, y todo el éstos a cambio de su dignidad.
Las carteleras de los políticos que promueven éstos y ésos también se exhiben prominente en áreas ocupadas en Zamboanga.Incluso el departamento y los almacenes de la tienda de comestibles no se ahorran - por supuesto todo el éstos están en guised de decir a la gente sobre sus proyectos y programas! Ululación, pueden encontrar siempre una manera. (Mindanao Examiner)
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