Ninoy Aquino Assasination: An Unsolved Crime

Thought I'll share this editorial I read about the Presidential clemency GMA gave to the remaining soldiers convicted of assasinating Ninoy Aquino and Rolando Galman. Please share your thoughts on this issue. Is this fair? Has justice been served? How can Filipino pursue reconciliation with Ninoy's murders?

Pardon is granted to a convict who has admitted his crime, shown remorse and appears to be fully rehabilitated and ready to become a responsible citizen. In the case of the soldiers convicted of assassinating Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and then finishing off Rolando Galman, all continue to maintain their innocence and pointing to Galman as Aquino’s assassin — the same story given to the nation by the Marcos dictatorship. In the absence of an admission of guilt, there is also no remorse.

The slain senator’s heirs, led by former President Corazon Aquino, believe two crimes were committed on Sept. 21, 1983: the murders of two men, and the cover-up that followed. Both crimes remain unsolved, with the mastermind of the first felony still unidentified, and the second one a continuing offense, according to the family.

The views of Ninoy Aquino’s heirs are worth noting as two more of the convicts in the twin murders regained their freedom. Last week Felizardo Taran Jr. and Rolando de Guzman walked out of the New Bilibid Prisons after President Arroyo commuted their sentence. Their release followed that of M/Sgt. Pablo Martinez in November 2007. The releases have raised the hopes for freedom of the 10 more soldiers serving double life terms for the Aquino-Galman murders.

Taran and De Guzman are reportedly ailing and were freed for humanitarian reasons. Ninoy Aquino’s son and namesake, who is now a senator, countered that if the release was on humanitarian grounds, then a convict serving time for stealing a coconut should have been freed first. Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III pointed out that none of those convicted of assassinating his father and Galman has admitted guilt, shown remorse or apologized for their crime.

The absence of those factors in a presidential decision to free convicts is not new. President Arroyo also pardoned her predecessor, Joseph Estrada, as soon as he was convicted of plunder, ensuring that he would never set foot in a prison cell, even if to this day he maintains his innocence.

Unless otherwise stipulated in the sentence, convicts are entitled to presidential clemency and credits for good behavior while in prison. They can be freed any time after they have served their minimum sentence. But the sentiments of the heirs of Ninoy Aquino about this crime cannot be ignored. As far as they are concerned, justice in this case has not been served.

(Source: The Philippines Star, February 11, 2009)

Gambling Filipino

Umabot pala ng more than $100 million ang jackpot sa lotto recently. Sigurado akong humaba na naman yung pila sa mga lotto stations sa Pilipinas.

Whether you agree with me ot not, lottery is a form of gambling at napakalaki ng impluwensya ng sugal sa buhay ng mga Pilipino. Linggo-lingo makikita mo ang dami ng taong bumibili ng lotto tickets. Bukod dito meron ding organized gambling activities (illegal or legal) na popular sa mga Pinoy tulad ng jueteng, casino, sabong, karera, at iba pa. Siguro nga dahil sa kahirapan ng buhay kaya malakas ang sugal at tumataya na lang ang ilang Pilipino sa suwerte. Ang mga TV gameshows tulad ng Wowowee at Eat Bulaga ay sugal din. Milyong-milyong piso ang pinamimigay araw-araw at kapansin pansin na tinatarget nila ang mga mahihirap. Maganda ang kanilang intensyon, but good intensions doesn't always mean a good idea.

Ano bang ang Christian perspective sa gambling o sa Wowowee? I hope hindi ito lumabas na legalistic or parang nanghuhusga pero bilang mamamayan, dapat di tayo pabor sa gambling dahil sa problema na dulot nito sa bayan tulad ng corruption, poverty, broken family at krimen.

Oppose din tayo dahil it promotes poor work ethics. Mas maraming tao ang mas gustong tumaya o sumali sa gameshows kaysa sa magtrabaho, mag-aral o mag-ipon. Naghahangad ng instant gratification na hindi naman realistic o healthy lalo na sa mga mahihirap.

Kailangan mas maging demanding tayo sa ating mga lawmakers to make tighter limits on gambling and be tougher to those who promote and abuse illegal gambling.

More importantly, we should also oppose gambling because it encourages people to substitute faith in God’s provision with the illusion that trusting in luck is the surest route to wealth and happiness.

(image from The Philippine Star)

Kapuso, Kapamilya, KaBlog

Here's my first Kapuso, Kapamilya, KaBlog post that will feature snippets of selected blog posts that caught my attention this week. Visit, read and post your comments.

Filipino Voices blog posted some good thought provoking questions about the 2010 presidential elections that will serve as a good reminder for us to examine all aspiring candidates for experience, truthfulness and integrity. Will anyone tell me who should lead this country next so that any form of corruption can - no longer rear its ugly head?

Some good news from Good News Pilipinas about Filipino ingenuity and the transformation of former landfill Payatas, Quezon City: A Philippine social enterprise won the Grand Prize in the international leg of the Business in Development Challenge, an online business plan competition, presented in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Rags2Riches, whose bags are produced by women from Payatas, stole the spotlight from 32 other entries, no less than the best and the brightest after a series of rigorous elimination rounds done in nine BiD satellite countries worldwide.

Just when we thought we've seen the last Rocky movie, here goes a new tsismis of Rocky 7 on the planning table. It will of course feature grandpa Sylvester Stallone and no other than our very own Pambansang Kamao Manny Pacquioa. Click here for a blog post on it and share your joy or dismay.

Christian Books by Local Filipino Authors

As a book and product marketer for BreakPoint and Chuck Colson, I get free books in the mail all the time either as a gift or for review. Some are worth reading but most sits on my desk collecting dust mainly because the theme doesn’t interest me – these books will end up in a balikbayan box to be sent to my pastor friend in Manila. The US has so many Christian resources for everyone, books, DVDs, curriculum, etc. and my hope is that Americans will not take these for granted and realize how blessed they are to have tons of choices on church and Christian resources.

One thing I don’t like living overseas is my limited access to books written and published by Filipino authors. Especially now that Christian book publishing by Filipinos has grown a lot since I left the Philippines many years ago. How I wish I can easily drive to a National Bookstore or Power Books and browse new titles from our very own authors. That’s why I am happy to see this list (thanks Kevin!) of the best selling Christian books of 2008 by CSM publishing. This is a good way to support our authors. Aside from purchasing their books we can help by spreading the word about their published work. I haven’t read any of the books on the list, but from the information I got from the website, one or two on the list interest me. Please just check the website for the description of each book I have no time write them all down:

Top 10 Best Sellers by CSM Publishing:
#1 A 2 Z Creative Teaching Methods, by Lizette Knight and Sonia Silbor
#2 Till Debt Do Us Part, by Chinkee Tan
#3 Called To Excel, by Rex Resurreccion
#4 Yes! I’m a Pastor’s Wife 2nd Edition, by Leah Marasigan Darwin
#5 Basta Lovelife, by Kevin Sanders
#6 Asian Adventure, by Various Authors
#7 Young Women on the Journey, by Various Authors
#8 Walking On: The Best of Women on the Journey, by Various Authors
#9 True Love Waits Student’s Workbook, by Various Authors
#10 A New Breed: Call for a New Generation of Pastoral Leaders by Philip Flores


By the way, if you have any book recommendation by local authors (Christian or non-Christian) or if you know other sources of Filipino books or local publishers that I can browse online, please let me know. I'll share my book recommendations next time.

Pinoy's Journey to the Super Bowl

Here’s a clip of Journey’s performance during last Sunday’s Super Bowl pre-game show. For those who aren’t aware the Super Bowl is America’s football championship game and considered the biggest TV event of the year, drawing millions of American glued to their TV screens – parang PBA championship o laban ni Pacquiao sa Pilipinas. Our very own Arnel Pineda did an excellent job in showing off his talent; once again proving Filipinos are gifted musicians and can achieve anything. What a good inspiration to Filipinos.

Journey happens to be one of my favorite karaoke tunes, but the tune seem not to like me or my vocal capacity... more practice na lang muna.

Ang Katotohanan ay Yaong Sang-ayon sa Sinasabi ng Diyos

Ang paniniwala ay ang pagtitiwala sa katotohanan ng isang bagay, may katibayan man ito o wala. Ang isang paniniwala na batay sa katotohanan ay makapagdudulot ng benepisyo samantalang ang isang paniniwala na batay lamang sa haka-haka ay maaaring mauwi sa kapahamakan. Halimbawa, ang taong naniniwala sa suwerte ay madalas tumataya sa lotto, sa sabong o sa jueteng maski magkaubos-ubos man ang kanyang pera. At kapag mayroong mabuting bagay na nangyayari sa kanyang buhay sasabihin niya na siya ay sinusuwerte.

Ang tanong ay ito: Paano mo malalaman kung ano ang totoo?

Sa Genesis 2, nasasalaysay ang ginawang pagsuway ni Eba’t Adan sa kaisa-isang utos ng Diyos. Sinabi ng Diyos kay Adan na puwede siyang kumain ng bunga ng kahit anumang puno sa Hardin ng Eden maliban sa puno ng kaalamanan ng mabuti at masama. Binalaan siya ng Diyos na kung siya ay kakain ng bunga nito, siya ay tiyak na mamamatay. Ang sinabing ito ng Diyos ay pinabulaanan ng ahas sa hardin. Sinabi ng ahas kay Eba na hindi siya mamamatay maski kumain siya noong prutas na iyon.

Ang totoo ay yaong sang-ayon sa salita ng Diyos. Ang kasinungalingan naman ay ang kontra sa Kanyang salita tulad nang pagsasalungat na ginawa ng diablo. Sinabi ni Cristo sa Juan 8:44 na ang diablo ang ama ng kasinungalingan. Namatay nga si Eba’t Adan nang sila ay kumain ng bunga ng puno ng kaalaman ng mabuti at masama. Tinamo nila agad-agad ang kamatayang espirituwal (ang paghihiwalay ng Espiritu ng Diyos sa tao) at namatay din ang kanilang katawang lupa matapos ang maraming taon.

Minsan napag-usapan sa aming klase ang tungkol sa pagbabayad ng buwis. Noong mga panahong iyon, ang tawag sa BIR ay Bigay Ikaw Regalo. Balita ang pagiging corrupt ng maraming tax examiners. Balita rin na ang mga yumayaman sa lagay ay malaking magbigay sa simbahan. Naniniwala kasi sila na nababayaran ang kanilang mga kasalanang kapag sila ay nagbibigay sa simbahan o namumudmod sa mga mahihirap. Ang pagyaman sa ganitong iligal na paraan ay naging bahagi na ng kulturang Pinoy. Tinatawag natin ngayon ang nakapag-amas ng ill-gotten wealth na “ma-abilidad.” At ang ating maling katuwiran ay, “Eh, bakit pa tayo nasa puwesto?”

Sa Exodo 23:8, pinag-utos ng Diyos sa Kanyang bayan ang ganito: "Huwag kayong tatanggap ng lagay, sapagkat ang lagay ay nambubulag at nagbabaliko ng salita ng katarungan.” Sinasabi naman sa Proverbs 17:23 na, “Ang isang masamang tao ay tumatanggap ng lagay sa ilalim ng mesa upang patirin ang takbo ng katarungan.” (sulat ni Conrado Tolosa, Lambat - posted with permission)

"Short Time" Only?

I didn't know that there's a ban on "short time" (quick sex) admissions at Metro Manila motels until I read this article. The Supreme Court decided the ban is unconstitutional and a violation of personal freedom.

Although the proponents of the ban have good intentions - prevent the use of motels in illicit sex, prostitution and illegal drugs, they could have been more strategic and wiser in executing their goals.

Could the ban really curb the growing problems of illicit sex and drugs in the Philippines? I agree with the court's ruling on what they think is best to solve the problem,

“The behavior which the ordinance seeks to curtail is in fact already prohibited and could in fact be diminished simply by applying existing laws. Less intrusive measures such as curbing the proliferation of prostitutes and drug dealers through active police work would be more effective in easing the situation.”

Aside from implementing existing laws on illegal sex and drugs, whats more important and effective are more programs that strengthens healthy family values, promote good moral character and teach Biblical principles on relationships, sex and social responsiblity to all Filipinos.

Filipinos deserve better than weak and temporary answers to our social problems. Filipinos need strong, realistic and long-lasting solutions... Bawal ang "short-time!"

Do you agree?

(image from The Philippine Star)

The Kindness of Mang Mel

Good citizens help each other in special times of need. Here's one touching story that caught my attention that demonstrate that truth. I basically spent my growing up years in UP Diliman that's why the story of retired UP janitor, Mang Mel interest me a lot. Naaalala ko tuloy yung mga janitor at maintenance staff sa UP College of Engineering kung saan teacher ang tatay ko na naging mabait sa akin at parang naging tatay-tatayan din habang nasa trabaho ang tatay ko. Ang daming oras ko din yata sa spend sa UPEng since pre-kinder hanggang last day ng tatay nang mag-retire sya nung 1996, thats 16 years.

As Inquirer.net reported, a story posted on social networking website Multiply grabs the attention of the alumni of the University of the Philippines. It is about the plight of Meliton Zamora, the university's janitor who was unable to get his retirement package due to some "miscalculations" in his leave credits. In this interview with INQUIRER.net multimedia reporter Anna Valmero (see above), Garcia recounts how he became a loan guarantor to UP students and his call to resolve issues on his retirement pay.

The Fight is On Between Manny Pacquiao & Ricky Hatton

Pacland, a website dedicated to Manny Pacquiao confirmed the fight between the Pacman and Ricky Hatton is set on May 2. Read what Manny has to say about the fight,

…natapos na rin ang negosasyon para sa laban namin ni Ricky Hatton ng England at sa lalong madaling panahon ay opisyal na naming ia-announce ang laban na gaganapin sa May 2, sa Las Vegas, Nevada.

Itong huling linggong nagdaan ay naging isang malaking pagsubok sa mga miyembro ng aking koponan at marami akong natutunan sa mga taong nakapaligid sa akin at sa aking career.

Hindi rin natin masisisi ang ilang mga tao kung bakit kulang pa rin ang pagbibigay nila ng respeto at pagkilala sa akin, sa mga naipundar at naibigay kong tulong sa sport, bilang isa sa mga mandirigmang nagbibigay ng excitement at aksyon sa larangang ito ng palakasan.

Nasabi ko ito dahil sa gitna ng lahat ng negosasyon, ang namamahala sa Golden Boy Promotions na si Richard Schafer, ang CEO ng kumpanya na pinamumunuan at ipinundar ni Oscar "Golden Boy" Dela Hoya, ay pilit na ibinababa ang aking mga nagawang resulta sa labanan. Minsan, naging personal ang kanyang galit at dinadala niya ito sa gitna ng negosasyon, isang bagay na hindi dapat humantong sa ganoong mga usapin.

Hindi rin natin siya masisisi. Dalawang beses kong tinalo si Marco Antonio Barrera, tinalo ko rin si Juan Manuel Marquez at nakuha ang World Boxing Council super featherweight title mula sa kanya. At higit sa lahat, si Dela Hoya ay natalo natin noong isang taon sa isang laban na mahirap makalimutan ng mga boxing fans sa maraming taon na lilipas.

Lahat ng mga boxer na nabanggit ay ang mga pinakamagagaling na talento ng Golden Boy Promotions kaya siguro hindi maalis ni Schafer na gawing personal ang natapos na negosasyon.

Gusto ko na ring tapusin ang hidwaan na iyan dahil walang maidudulot na mabuti ang pag-aalitan. Ngayong medyo kuntento na ako sa mga kasunduan at mga pinag-usapang mga detalye ng kontrata, gusto ko nang magsimulang maghanda para sa susunod na laban…

Go Manny! Continue to strive for excellence in your sport both in and outside the ring. Excellence is what God called us to do in everything we do. Make Filipinos proud again.

(image from http://www.mannypacquiao.ph/)

Si Obama at ang Biblia

Nakita natin nung Martes (Jan. 20) ang pormal na pagtaguyod kay Barrack Obama bilang ika-44 na Presidente ng America. Kabilang sa seremonya ay ang kanyang panunumpa sa harap mga tao at sa Diyos na sinisimbolo ng paglapat ng kanyang kamay sa Biblia. Ginamit ni Obama ang orihinal na Biblia ni Abraham Lincoln na isa sa mga nakaraang Presidente ng Amerika na bukas sa publiko ang paniniwala sa salita ng Diyos. God bless at mabuhay ka Barrack Obama.

Ang tanong ko lang, sa paggamit ni Obama ng Biblia sa harap ng milyon-milyong tao sa buong mundo sa kanyang inagurasyon, paano o gaano kaimpluwensya kaya ang ito sa kanyang gagawing mga desisyon at dadalhing pagbabago sa Amerika lalo na sa mga isyung kritikal tulad ng moralidad, abortion at traditonal marraige? Sana naman gamitin nya ito ng husto.

(image from The London Standard)