1,000,000 to Zero Kilometer

Have you seen the little piggies? ...from interaksyon.com

It would seem that by now, we're all aware of what's happening to the country and the sad state of its affairs. We're still reeling from the shock of the Priority Development Assistance Fund ( or more commonly pork-barrel ) scam when the 1-2 blows of Maring ( international name:Trami ) and Habagat ( southwest monsoon ) came at us, displacing, once again, thousands of Filipinos into cramped classrooms, wet covered courts, tiny barangay halls and makeshift evac centers. And, as any decent person would think, we all say, sayang, dito na lang sana napunta ung perang pinaguusapan nila. And the number is quite staggering, 10 billion PHP, the estimated pocketed figure, is not a figure to scoff at. 

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What 10B PHP could buy

More on what 10B could be spent on

Sometimes, I wonder if 10B nga lang or if the real figure is much more astronomical. The thing with 10B is that with that much money, the ripples it can generate could affect a broader spectrum of society. Imagine what the outcome would be if that amount was put to good use. Yes, it's 10B spread in several years but it's still a ton of money. Is it really so much easier to pocket that kind of money than invest it in something that could have been really worthwhile?

from blackbeltbartending.com 

I am reminded of an image of the iceberg where what we could see is just the tip and the larger body is still hidden under water. Kung etong issue e lumabas na ngaun, what other schemes and scams are being swept under the rug? Is this just another power-play, another jockeying of positions for those that are holding the strings? Or maybe a smokescreen of some even bigger heist in the works? Nakakainis naman isipin na it could just simply be a case of greed, a quick fix for the pockets. Who's behind it all? Who's set to benefit from all these coming out now? Just reading all the articles that I could get my hands on to makes my brain hurt. All these "facts" coming out, all the exposes, whistle-blowers, affidavits, counter-affidavits, round tables, jokes, sound bites, grandstanding, senate feuds, pics, newsreels, interviews, videos, memes, handwriting experts, speeches, and all the lot...you just don't know who or what to believe in anymore.

All that we could rely on really is our own bits of common sense. Just take a look around. Take a look at any public elementary, high school or college, each time you ask somebody why they don't have enough books for the kids or enough seats even, the usual answer is "Walang budget", "Kulang budget" o kaya "Di pa naa-approve and budget". Now, I would admit that I'm biased in favor of these schools because my wife works in one. Even so, something has to be said about how teachers spend their very own money so that they could just provide their rooms with decent brooms, cabinets, erasers, books, markers and even chalks (!). There's something wrong with that, you just know it instinctively. Malalaki nga mga buildings proclaiming this school was built by Congressman So-so or Mataas na Paaralan ni Governor Ganyan-ganyan...But it's all a facade, once you enter these these schools, you'll immediately sense the lack of facilities. Our future is growing up lacking the most basic of necessities.

Simple lang.

Take a look at our very own MRT (Metro-rail Transit ). I used to commute everyday along with thousands, just minding our own, hoping to catch the train to work, just to get through the day. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit hanggang ngaun wala pa ding nagbibigay pansin sa pasakit na dinadanas ng mga kababayan naten para lang makaiwas sa EDSA traffic. Hindi ba pwedeng palakihin ng kaunti ang North terminal? Hindi ba pwedeng lagyan man lang ng bubong ung mga side streets para sa mga pumipilang pasahero? Hindi ba pwedeng dagdagan ng maluluwag na pasukan para sa mga tao? Hindi ba pwedeng wag sumingit pag nakita mo na sobrang haba na ng pila ( that's another story )..  I haven't voted in a while, my last vote was cast for Miriam when she was showing much promise then ( pre - "I lied" and crazy period ) pero eto dinedeclare ko...Iboboto ko ung taong magaayos ng North EDSA MRT terminal ( and every terminal for that matter ) just to give a bit of ease for all the workers who, everyday, just want to go peacefully and safely to work. Bakit hindi ito magawa? Dahil "walang budget"? There's no money to go around that the only solution that the powers that be can think of is to raise the damn ticket fares. 

Common sense.

Meron sa amin magpapatayo na lang ng covered court, lalagay pa ung pangalan nya. As if sobrang beholden ka sa kanya...I understand that man, in his nature, has a deep need to leave something behind, pero to put your cartoonish mustaches on the sidewalk or placing your initials in every lamppost is just too much. Reminds me of dogs/cats who mark their territories. "Epal" was the term coined for these people. "Kupal" is more appropriate, methinks. Para naman mas nakakahiya.

remember...remember..the anti-planking act of september...err...

Mga kalyeng di madaanan, mga esterong palaging nababarahan. Mga lawa na napapabayaan, mga presyong nagtataasan. Mga ilog na nadudumihan, mga punong pinapabayaan... look around.

CONCRETE SOLUTIONS LANG!

Simple lang naman di ba? Over-simplification maybe, but for most of us, un lang naman talaga gusto naten. Simpleng buhay. Mamuhay lang ng marangal. A decent life and a fair shake, is all.

Sige, pahirapan nyo na kami araw araw sa MRT. Sige, we'll take whatever we can buy to eat. Sige, papapasukin naten mga bata with substandard books and facilities. Sige, hayaan na naten yang traffic na yan. Sige, tiisin na lang naten yang mga baha, mga bagyo at mga landslide. Sige lang...

Pero, wag nyo naman na kami nanakawan!!!

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Here we go again

Another media scandal

another government row

Doesn't it make you furl your brow?

Too many questions

Go unanswered in the din

As the people shiver in their houses

The thieves wear huge grins

Living like billionaires

In their designer jeans and clothes

While the Filipino worker strive

To keep their families afloat

It's all happened before

But now it's just too much

Look out below a storm is coming

Let this be your final warning

We don't ask for too much

All we want is some decency

When will there ever be 

a change in the bloody scenery??

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On August 26, Monday, National Heroes' Day, a march is set for the people to voice out their indignation over this scam that has rocked the psyche of the country. Read on for more and make up your own minds:

The Inquirer and all things Napoles

A million for a cause

Tara sa Luneta!