Panlilio-Padaca 2010

Even if the presidential election is more than a year away, I am already announcing my support for Among Ed Panlilio and Grace Padaca (or whomever they will support in 2010). 

Previously, I have told several of my friends and colleagues that among those who have announced their intention to run for president I am likely to vote for Bayani Fernando. He has very good executive experience and a practical, can-do attitude. It seems then that he is the least among evils. I was likely to vote for him but not support and/or campaign for him.

The news about the possibility that Pampanga Governor Panlilio and Isabela Governor Padaca teaming up in 2010 brought mixed emotions. It raised my hopes up, but I fear for their safety. I imagine the groundswell of support from the grassroots and the possibility of disappointment if they lose. I have anticipated all the criticisms to be launched, character assassinations, mud slinging and all the dirty tricks than any one can think off.

Right now, the traditional political elite are cooking up plans to sabotage their campaign. Expect any or all of the following.
1. Among Ed and/or Grace Padaca have illegitimate children (this is a big issue because Among Ed is a priest while Grace is unmarried)
2. Among Ed and/or Grace Padaca had an affair with someone
3. Among Ed and/or Grace Padaca are secret NPA members or at least supported by the NPA
4. Among Ed and/or Grace Padaca are disabled hence incapable of leading (Among Ed has a skin disorder wile Grace was a polio victim. This criticism sounds stupid, biased and unfair, but their critics have no sens of fairness).
5. Among Ed and/or Grace Padaca are as corrupt as any other politician.

It will be an uphill battle and my stomach will probably turn every time I hear politicians launch any of the attacks against them. Please support them also, but please prepare for the worst.

Real Men and Crying Men

While watching the news last night, I saw two commercials by Colt 45, a strong beer distributed by Asia Brewery Inc. They market the beer as "The STRONG BEER for REAL MEN."

COMMERCIAL 1. A group of "real men" are talking about an approaching girl in a swimsuit. They are generally talking about how sexy she is when one of the "real men" started talking about fashion... how her swimsuit does not match her. This not-real man was crushed by a bottle of Colt 45 with a voice over saying "real men should act like real men."

COMMERCIAL 2. A group of "real men" are watching basketball on TV. One of them receives a call in his cell phone. He promptly goes out to the lobby and tells her girlfriend mushy nothings like "I miss you na." This not-real man was crushed by a bottle of Colt 45 with a voice over saying "real men should act like real men."

I am not really a big fan of stereotypes of what a real man is. And I am definitely not a big fan of liquor (inuming nakalalasing), I can't barely finish a bottle of San Mig Light. However, there is something in the commercial that really ticked me off.

Perhaps it is their idea of what a real man is. What was clearly shown in their commercials clearly is that a real man drinks a strong beer (Colt 45), has huge muscles,  watches basketball games with their buddies and 'appreciate' sexy women wearing swimsuit. What they are implying is that real men do not talk about fashion (at least not in front of other real men) and do not tell their significant others that they miss them (even if he is not in front of other real men). The extreme interpretation of the ad is that real men are not in touch with their emotions.

Whenever I hear stereotypes about real men and men in general, I remember the story by my Sikolohiyang Pilipino teacher. A girl wanted a strong, silent-type guy for a husband. She ended up marrying someone who beats her without even telling her why. It may be a bit extreme, but I don't think any of my friends and colleagues would want a partner or a husband based on Colt 45's concept of a real men.

The other possible reason why the commercials annoyed is the disconnect with the current political and social realities. Women, I believe, appreciate men in touch with their emotions. Nobody takes the most insensitive (and chauvinistic) man in the office seriously. They are often viewed as empty-headed jerks gloating about their imaginary love affairs.

Men crying in public are not seen as weak, but men who are brave enough to show their true emotions. They won admiration for revealing that they are real humans with feelings. A lot of men admitted in public that they cried when Obama won as president. The very long  list included Gen. Colin Powell and Will Smith. I was teary-eyed when I was listening to Obama's Victory Speech.

Here in the Philippines, ZTE whistle-blower Jun Lozada cried in public while talking about the pains he and his family suffered when he exposed an anomalous government contract. (Lozada's former-sidekick-turned-accuser also cried in public while trying to convince people that Lozada is also a crook, he was largely dismissed.)

Crying men also won praise (and votes). Obama cried in public when he talked about the death of his grandmother. Biden choked up while talking about the accident that killed his wife and daughter and almost killed his two sons. In the Philippines, former Senator Franklin Drilon cried when the Senate voted to prevent the opening of the second envelope during Erap's impeachment trial. He was soundly re-elected.

The next time I see that Colt 45 ad, I'll probably just dismiss it (together with the other ads based on stereotypes). It is highly unlikely that I'll buy their product to show people that I am a real man. I don't have to prove anything.

One of the greatest advices I received in life was this "Boys don't cry, real men do."
 

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Chicken-Pork Adobo in Jollibee Hong Kong

After two days of eating 'real' Chinese and Western food, we suddenly missed Filipino food. And when accidentally found Jollibee Hong Kong near the Central MTR Station (near exit C), we made sure that we will eat there the following day.

To my surprise, they serve Chicken-Pork Adobo there. Not as good as what you can buy from a Jollijeep in Makati but good enough for our craving for authentic Filipino food. Of course, they serve Chickenjoy. Most Filipinos in Hong Kong order a two-piece Chickenjoy, and when the cashier was serving a freshly cooked piece, she quipped "ang bango talaga ng manok!" 

The best thing about Chickenjoy is that it is served with gravy. We ate at Mc Donald's and they do not serve gravy, only a sweet and sour sauce that they call Thai sauce. Mc Do HK also serves Mc Shaker Fries with either seaweed or salt and pepper.

Throughout our trip, we met a lot of Filipinos. Their stories were really interesting and meeting them makes you proud of being a Filipino. It also helps that I really look like a Filipino (Carol was often mistaken as a Chinese), that fellow Filipinos reply to me in Tagalog. Filipinos in Hong Kong and Macau were very helpful, they find it a pleasure to help other Filipinos who were lost or in need of assistance. Here are some of our/their stories.

1. We were searching for the St. Joseph's Church, it is near the Peak Terminal and the St. John's Cathedral w/c is an Anglican Church. We were already five minutes late for the mass and we were lost. We asked two Filipinas who walked past us and they replied, "Magsisimba din ba kayo? Dun kami papunta." Thank God. About 90% of churchgoers in that church are Filipinos, the priest and the choir are also Filipinos. One thing about Filipinos, we never lose our faith.

2. Our hotel booking did not include breakfast. When we saw that our hotel serves breakfast for only HK$22 (around PhP150), I thought it was a bargain since a budgeted HK$50 for every meal. At the dining room, we were greeted by a group of Filipino tourist. They informed us that whatever we see on the buffet table was already everything. The picture was really deceiving. Pinoy Guy 1 told us that they have been eating the same food for the past three days. The food is really disappointing. They serve spaghetti with pork and beans (straight from the can) and bread straight from packaging.

Pinoy Guy 1 said that since they are leaving early the following morning and breakfast is not served until 8 am, they are giving us their breakfast stubs. We hesitated a bit (Pinoy nga naman, kunyari sa una nahihiya, tatangi), but we eventually took it (mas nakakahiya na tanggihan). Sayang nga naman ung breakfast (SAYANG: the great Filipino word without a direct English counterpart). To our surprise one more, breakfasts on a Sunday are different... there are more and better choices (but still served straight from the can, bottle or whatever packaging they come with). It is twice more expensive if you pay for it but we got for free, thank God once more.  Another thing about Filipinos, we are generous givers and we always value scarce resources (Sinusulit ang mga libreng bagay).

3. Jollibee Hong Kong is more than just a Filipino restaurant. It is a comfort zone for Pinoys, a networking and socializing area, a place to find job openings or vacant bed spaces, a place for Filipinos to feel at home right at the heart of Hong Kong. Right next to Jollibee HK is Little Quiapo, next to it is a remittance center were we found the best exchange rate (US$1 = HK$7.65), near that is Banco de Oro, and at the street next to all of it is the place where Balikbayan boxes to and from the Philippines are delivered/ picked-up. 

Most of the crew in Jollibee HK are Pinoys, including the aforementioned cashier, the store manager and the janitress who were scolding other Pinays for spilling Pepsi (they serve Pepsi instead of Coke). Later, I found her talking to some Pinays about her family in the Philippines. The place was full and it was very difficult to find and reserve seats... it was, of course a Sunday (day-off).

Right across us were two Pinays talking about their families they left behind. One of them was saying how her sister attended all her son's important occasions (graduation, birthdays, swearing in as a registered nurse). She wished that she could go home more often and so on and so forth. It was a bit surprising to find out that it was their first meeting and they started talking after one agreed to save their seats while the other orders food for both of them. Instant bonding. I do not know how to describe this Filipino trait.

4. When we were at The Venetian - Macau, Carol called my attention that the song playing in Duty Free Americas is in Tagalog. We went in and was greeted by a Filipino sales clerk. It was a Jimmy Bondoc song and he said it was his cellphone used as an MP3 player for the store's music. He told us that while Venetian Casino is still making money, other affiliated casinos are already losing money. He also said that a lot of Filipinos who were employed by casinos and hotels were already sent home. He said he is lucky that he is still there but his contract is up for renewal within the next few months and he is really unsure about the future. But still, he is upbeat that everything will be alright, he said while laughing a bit. He already learned how to speak some Chinese (probably Cantonese), which will make him slightly recession proof (he is now trilingual). Several Filipino traits all the same time...

5. Finally, we were going around Macau's city center, visiting World Heritage sites. We were approached by two Filipinas, they were looking for "Putol na Simbahan." You can surf the internet all day, read all the travel guides and maps, ask all the tourist information people and you will not find Putol na Simbahan in Macau. What they have is the Ruins of St. Paul's Cathedral. Only the facade of the church was left making it 'putol'. And hence, I marvel at the creativity of Filipinos.

Of course, we met so many Filipinos along the way. In Macau, we met a Filipina, we'll call her Cinderella, she's been to Macau for only three months, she was lost after boarding the wrong bus, she stayed out too late and must get back to her place before midnight but before that she must buy something from the red market. You'll easily hear Tagalog spoken in MTRs and other tourist areas, on Sundays you'll here other Filipino dialects.

And just like Adobo in Hong Kong, Filipinos will always find their way, cope and survive . with a mix of sour, sweet, salty and spicy experiences along the way.

When untouchables clash with the corrupt and the inept

"F*ck you, B*tch!" This is allegedly what one of the agents of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said while beating up Richard Brodett, one of the Alabang Boys.

This is in the latest episode of the exciting saga: The Alabang Boys. The story involves rich kids (who initially denied that they are really rich) who were allegedly caught in an alleged buy-bust operation for allegedly selling ecstasy. I want to complete the background story but it will all be filled with allegedly given the clashing statements of the parties involved.

Who are involved:
Alabang Boys (Brodett with Jorge Joseph and Joseph Tecson)
Relatives of Alabang Boys
Lawyers of Alabang Boys
Government Prosecutors
Department of Justice Secretary
PDEA Agents
PDEA Administration
House of Representatives
The Anti-Drug Czar aka the President of the Philippines
extras (IBP, Anti-Money laundering Council, Special Government Panel, etc)

What makes the story interesting o frustrating (depending upon your perspective) is that it highlights how we should NOT treat the government as one entity. The story involves all branches of the government (Judicial, Executive and Legislative). Within the executive, there is a clash between the PDEA, the prosecutors and Dept. of Justice Secretary.

The story also has all the elements of a telenovela: drugs, youth, family conflict, surprise witnesses, unusual twists, a lot of sub plots (the opening of bank accounts for money laundering, the disbarment of the Alabang Boys lawyers for drafting a release order using official DOJ stationary), police brutality, inept government officials, and a lot more.

It has comedy (is 3M a pizza, 3 manok or 3 million pesos), drama (Brodett vs Brodett), action (buy bust operation leads to a car chase) and a love story (none so far, but I am sure it will come up).

This early, I am sure that all the parties are at fault. Everybody are doing what they thought they should be doing and thought that there was nothing wrong with what they were doing. The rich thinking that they are untouchables. The prosecutors that dismiss cases when the price is right. The PDEA who needs big fishes to push the career of a former senator hoping for a comeback. And then suddenly by some twist of fate, their careers and lives crashed, highlighting how big in a mess, the Philippines is.

With all the lies and the  cover ups, we now hear stupid and incredulous comments from all the people involved. Here is one of the examples:

“At 25 years old, to be a supplier? It’s hard to believe they’re hardened criminals. It’s impossible for their age,” said Jacqueline Verano, one of the lawyers of the Alabang Boys.

“Is it possible that at these ages, they would already have a network of buyers and be able to influence the drug market? Highly unlikely,” Verano said in an e-mail.

Note: There are young entrepreneurs who can develop a wide network for a successful business. If they can use their skills for productive endeavours, sadly, they can also use it to sell drugs.

My favorite is the quote above. Brodett mentioned that during his testimony at the House of Representatives. After listening to Christina Bale and ex-Illinois Governmbor Rod Blagojevich, I am now familiar on how this curse words are used. But it is a bit far fetched that our own PDEA agents will be using the same curse words.

In his testimony, Brodett said that other curse words were used such as P*t*ng In* Mo!, G*go, and T*rantado. But F*ck You, B*tch... he must be high that time!

Slumdog Piracy

There is Honor among Thieves.


On the Back Cover of a pirated dvd of Slumdog Millionaire.

Only in Quiapo. Only in the Philippines.

What a Slumdog Millionaire can buy?

A one bed-room condo unit!

If Jamal Malik, the lead protagonist in "Slumdog Millionaire" will use all the  20 million rupee grand prize to buy a flat in Mumbai, then he can only buy around 45 square meters, good enough for a one-bed room condominium unit.

Residential apartment prices in Mumbai range from INR400,000 to INR630,000 per sq. m. Using today's exchange range, that is about PhP386,222 - PhP608,300 or US$8,170 - US$12,870. That is very expensive. Imagine this, converted to peso Jamal's prize is around 19.3 million Philippine pesos, with that money you can definitely afford a 3BR luxury unit in Rockwell, Makati or Fort Bonifacio.

Mumbai's formal residential market is so expensive, it is among the top ten most expensive real estate markets in the world. The other cities in the top 10 are glitzy, economic and financial centers such as Monaco, Moscow, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, New York, London, Paris, Singapore and Rome.

Mumbai is probably the only country in the world where your multi-million dollar condominium is right next a slum area. Dharavi, the slum in 'Slumdog' where Jamil grew and lives, is home to more than one million people. It is one of the biggest urban slums in the world. The ridiculously expensive properties in Mumbai are due to several factors including archaic laws, inefficient land registration systems, lack of planning, lack of infrastructure, bureaucratic inefficiency and corruption, overpopulation and very rapid urbanization.

Slumdog Millionaire portrays India and Mumbai at a very bad light. Aside from showing elements of extreme poverty and inequality, it also shows hero worship of celebrities, child labor, child abuse, child exploitation, religious conflict, petty crime, grand crime, gangsterism, beggar syndicates, police brutality, torture, human rights abuse, corruption, prostitution, and discrimination based on work (and caste). It shows the triumph of the human spirit (and love) over  these challenges. (There is also Bollywood dancing during credits.)

This movie will also make you think again before visiting India... Incredible India as their tourism campaign claims. It shows tourists victimized, robbed and swindled. People visiting Taj Mahal may likely think twice before leaving their shoes or slippers outside the temple.

Anyway, the move is great and is highly recommended. It is a documentary masquerading as a love story. It also explains why game shows are very popular in the Philippines and other developing countries.

Most Filipinos can probably relate to it. I can actually imagine a Filipino version of it... how about...  Ang Haciendero ng Payatas.