PamagCUSA Blog

BBP Principle #2...Love with Self-Sacrifice!

There is a nagging reality within the Filipino-American community that despite an estimated 2.5 Million Filipinos residing in the USA , it has not achieved any political clout worthy of its potential. I have been a resident of the USA since 1981 and frankly, I am yet to see any worthwhile semblance of such influence or clout and if ever it did, it is still a pittance compared to what we could achieve if only we can get really organized. There appears to be a dearth of notable/credible leadership in the Fil-Am community, especially in the secular sectors, continuously and hopelessly plagued by indifference, bitter envy, jealousy and self-centeredness inevitably resulting in selfish rivalries, factionalism and dissension. It is not unusual to see 2 or 3 organizations representing a common constituency with each so-called leader trying to negate and indeed, discredit whatever good the other competing group is trying to accomplish, resulting in the stunted growth of each one. Perhaps, it is time for our erstwhile community leaders to heed Galatians 5:13-15 which states…"Remember that you are called to live a life of freedom but not a freedom which gives free rein to the flesh. Out of love, place yourselves at one another’s service. For the whole law is fulfilled in this one saying: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you go biting and tearing one another to pieces, I warn you that you will end up in mutual destruction."

One has to wonder what it will take for the Filipino-American community to really get out of its doldrums and be a tangible force to reckon with in the US political and even economic scene. For example, did we ever realize that with so many registered nurses of Filipino descent working in the USA , the US health industry could possibly be crippled if and when they decide to not go to work for a week or two? What if these nurses did make that financial sacrifice and instead of asking for higher wages or better working conditions, they instead demand, for example, the passage of the Filipino Veterans Equity Bill currently still pending with Congress which is still withholding from these hapless veterans the benefits they so rightfully deserve? I bet you that this bill will pass with such an expediency you would not believe possible. This is perhaps wishful thinking at this time but I am always hopeful that the Filipino-American community would readily see that it has so much potential if only we could get our respective acts together. This is the reason why one of the 5 basic principles expounded by Bangon! Bagong Pilipinas (BBP), an advocacy/movement dedicated to the moral, economic and political transformation of the Filipino people, is... "Love with Self Sacrifice".

The Book of Ist John 3:16-18 states…"The way we came to understand what love is that Jesus laid down His life for us. We, too, must lay down our lives for one another. I ask you: How can God’s love survive in a man/woman’s heart who has enough of the world’s goods and yet sees a brother/sister in need and ignores it? My children, let us love not only in words but also in truth and in deed." Presently, Gov. "Among" Ed Panlilio of Pampanga has shown us a prime example of this kind of sacrificial love. Forsaking the comforts and peaceful sanctuary of his priesthood, he decided to enter the political arena fraught with uncertainties, intrigues and political infighting. Like fish out of the water, he is currently struggling against the political Goliaths of his province who recently, are trying to destroy and outmaneuver him with a "recall" initiative. Incidentally, he will be in the Los Angeles area for a dinner fund-raiser ($30/person) on Sept. 6, 2008 starting at 5 PM at the SIPA facility located at 3200 W. Temple Street , Los Angeles , CA . He needs our moral and financial support. Please call (213) 388-9925 for reservations as there are limited seats available.

Needless to say, Filipino-Americans need to realize that this call for "love with self-sacrifice" does not and should not only extend to our own immediate family’s needs and concerns but must filter down to the least fortunate of our beloved countrymen. Indeed, one does not need to be rocket scientist to realize that the impact of the true/sincere practice of sacrificial love in the context of biblical perspectives is quite explosive. Then and only then can the Filipino-Americans, many of whom profess to be Christians anyway, rightfully live up to its noble calling as the "salt of the earth" and "light of the world" thereby, establishing the long-overdue political/economic clout and influence which has eluded our US-based community throughout all these years…Di ba?

Atty. Ramoncito Poblete Ocampo, "Bro. Ramon", a practicing lawyer in CA, currently serves as the President/Stewards’ Servant of BBP and available as a resource speaker. For details, please log on www.globalhello.com/bbp or call (213) 388-9925.

Posted by pamagcusa at 08:04 PM | Permalink

Kambilan Ing E Sukat - Anting Makabuklat A Sulat King Kabalen Tamung Presidenti GMA

Save the dying Democratic governance, the fight between Governor Panlilio's lawful governance and its detractors is the test to the success of this movement. Uphold the Rule of Law. Illegal activities and attempts to sabotage the execution and respect of the executive powers of the local government by any political dynasties should be stopped for the sake of the general welfare. It is the duty and obligation of every citizen to stay vigilant and protect the smooth flow of governmental affairs from vested interest groups. Allow Governor Panlilio to utilize the quarry collections for the implementation and materialization of his lawful plans and programs for the people of Pampanga. Father Ed Panlilio should STAY and continue his Good Governance. Public service first before dynasties and trapos. For every citizen sake, join Governor Panlilio and save the people of Pampanga . . . and Save the Philippines. - Makanyan ya pu ing iyapse ning lagda karing Ali-Mangambil King Map At Makabuklat Pamaalan ning Salungsungan a Pun Lalawigan.

I call on our Kabalen Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the sitting Philippine President who is the most frequent Pampanga visitor in the Philippine Presidential History, to show her love and concern for the citizens of her Late Father's Land of Birth, (which she has been using as her bulwark since she started focusing her interest in national elective offices) - to show her effective leadership by admonishing those who display what appears as not only unethical conduct unbecoming of elected public servants adversely affecting the normal functioning of the province by nit-picking the executive branch of the government of Pampanga. Since the Priest who took the sacrifice of being stripped of his priestly duties in order to help his Kabalen in their most dire need of someone most trusted, respected and Qualified to bring the province similar to those times when your own father, elders and leaders to whom Kabalens looked up to for guiidance in law and governance. Now, it is our turn. I have my humblest and minutest part which I now exercise for the sake of our children and grandchildren; through this global medium which Among Ed together with his Kabalen supporters have enabled not only me but millions of overseas Filipinos to do - this duty of pro-actively participating in the affairs that concern us as citizens of the world.

These are really abnormal times, very abnormal times and they reflect a very bad picture of your leadership. It would be such a shame if this so called Recall pushes through. This has never happened before in the History of Pampanga. Kapampangans should never tinker the Philippiine Constitution. I can only recall one event that made a big change in our political life there. That is when the City of Angeles was gerrymandered. When the people of Angeles City were stopped from excerecising their voting right as Kapampangan citizens. An act initiated and accomplished by a provincial leader appointed and then elected during the age of tyranny of Martial Rule. Archbishop Oscar Cruz who was then the highest Catholic Leader should know more about this gerrymadenring act. I am not sure if people then raise their objections loudly but that was done during the Age of The Deafening Silence. The legality was explained but this is another story.

Pampanga has produced a lot of great constitutionalists and justices. Names like Sensing Suarez, Tiburcio and Zoilo Hilario, Amado Yuzon, are some of the few that come to mind. Today we see and proudly think and revere Justices Vitug, Panganiban, Puno and many more who have brought Indung Tibwan to a pedestal she truly deserves. Nobody from Pampanga should make a mockery of Kapampangan governance by mis-using the political procedures provided by the Law. The Law framed such procedures for the common good. What Kapampangans need is the smooth sailing of the government functions. Normalcy could be done if the members of the Provincial Board will do their jobs together with the Governor professionally and independently without influence from anyone, except the general welfare.

Madame President, I believe that this so-called RECALL will become a political suicide for you and your family. No matter how anyone will try proving that you have nothing to do with this Recall or Obstruction Movement ( kambil or kambilan - to obstruct to hinder or to stop from functioning). No part and parcel of the Constitution should be misused nor abused. No one should insult the Kapampangan intelligence by misleading the poor in material and exploit them to become poor in spirit and intellect in a suspicious use of the political tools which the Highest Law of the Land provided. As President of that part of the World, I know that you are avoiding the exploitation of the great numbers of those who are in poverty, who will sign anything to have food on their table even for just one or half meal.

Madame President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, your are one of the Luckiest Women on Earth, waste this not by not being a part of the downfall of the Democratic Government of Pampanga; which God forbids, eventually will result to the casting of the whole Philippine Archipelago to the dogs. We owe it to our descendants to protect the government established by our nunus and heroes. Stopping this misguided move of a few should be an act of redemption for your administration and a chance to become a good president. You willl be the one to choose on how history will judge you.

WE know the many unsolved problems that beset the Mother Land, that in Pampanga now is a simple one to solve. It only takes a political will. If this so called obstructionism will stop and allow Among Governor to excercise the mandate that the Kapampangan voters gave him, history will recognize your excercise of moral political prowess.

Thank you and May God Bless and Guide you always.

Posted by pamagcusa at 08:22 PM | Permalink

Yeng Guiao’s DNA

By Joselito Basilio

I once remarked in the defunct Among Ed website that “Yeng Guiao is the
only Guiao who is not Bren”, an obvious rip-off of one martial law
truism “Rafael Recto is the only Recto who is not Claro” criticizing the
younger Recto’s collaboration with Marcos. The late Rafael Recto is of
course the son of nationalist Claro M. Recto and the father-in-law of
Gov. Vilma Santos. Why is it it’s not “like father like son” in the case
of Tatang Bren and Yeng? Perhaps the good genes of a father are not
always transmissible to the son. It is patently evident that Yeng Guiao
did not inherit the good genes of his great father Bren whose principle
as a freedom fighter was comparable to that of other Kapampangan great
leaders like Ninoy Aquino and Jose Lingad.

Look at Yeng now. He is the exact opposite of his illustrious Dad whom
I admired as one of my childhood heroes during the Martial Law days. He
seems to have mortgaged his life to serving the selfish interest of
his political masters because of huge political debts he can never repay.
Try to observe him. He plays the role of a silent apologist and
henchman of those who raises money by selling slip of paper. He shrugs off
whatever Among Ed utters just to delight and wow his political lords.
Whenever Among Ed executes a clean shot on good governance, Yeng, the hard
court master tactician, “elbows” the governor publicly and pooh-poohs
his pronouncements. The recent support demonstrated by the Provincial
Board on the recall move may lend credence to my belief that Yeng is
profoundly involved in the master game plan to depose the incumbent
governor at all cost, a diabolical plot never tried to the two previous
governors whose castle in Porac was built from quarry sand.

Poor Yeng! He’s on the wrong side of history. He would certainly be
assured of a place in Kapampangan history if he had not been gulp down by
corruption and patronage. He possesses leadership potential and might
become a future governor if he did not take the wrong path to greatness.
I hope this bright UP alumnus would come to his sense of history while
there is time, otherwise his father’s former Provincial Administrator
might assume in near future the position he dearly covets.

Posted by pamagcusa at 08:19 PM | Permalink

Pampangan Crusaders USA (PamagCUSA) expresses its solidarity with the
statements released by Kapampangan Marangal, Inc, Kaya Natin!, Kasaup and the Filipino United Network expressing their disagreement with the recall initiated against Governor Ed Panlilio.

We believe that the recall initiative is an attempt to thwart the gains
on good governance and responsible citizenship that Governor Ed Panlilio
has achieved in his incumbency.

While Governor Ed Panlilio's administration maybe imperfect as he
himself admits, we believe that the shortcomings are not worthy of a
recall initiative.

PamagCUSA will continue traversing the path of critical collaboration
with civil society groups in Pampanga and the Office of the Governor in
advancing responsible citizenship among the Kapampangan citizenry.

Posted by pamagcusa at 11:30 PM | Permalink

The Price of Among Ed’s Recall

By Joselito Basilio

A recall is a process which begins with the gathering of the
signatures, and then proceeds to the filing of a recall petition with the
COMELEC, the verification of such petition, the fixing of the date of the
recall election, and the holding of the election on the date scheduled by
the COMELEC.

History reveals that a recall election may take place within a short
span of time or take longer than almost year from the date of its
initiation. In the case of Caloocan City Mayor Rey Malonzo, the recall
election was held on 14 December 1996 or barely 5 months from the gathering of
the required signatures. The recall of Mayor Jovito Claudio of Pasay
City was initiated on 19 May 1999 and the recall election was held on 15
April 2000. On 2 July 2002, the people of Puerto Princesa City
initiated the recall of Mayor Dennis Socrates and the COMELEC set the recall
election on 14 August 2002.

I foresee that the recall of Among Ed would pass the same route as that
of Mayor Claudio. It’s going to be a long protracted legal battle.
Among Ed’s legal eagles would surely file opposition to the recall
petition before the COMELEC citing Lilia Pineda’s pending election protest as
a prejudicial question which must first be resolved before the petition
for recall could be given due course. The form and substance of the
petition would also be expected to be questioned by his lawyers. Even if
the COMELEC would eventually give due course to the recall petition,
the legal battle does not end there. The Supreme Court would finally
decide whether the recall election shall take place.

The whole recall process is a very expensive exercise. The proponents
of the recall of Among Ed would spend millions to buy signatures and
more millions to buy votes during the recall election. These exclude the
enormous amounts to be spent on election campaign, PR and lawyer’s fee.
Among Ed himself would not be spared from the burden of incurring cost
involved in a recall. He would certainly need millions to get
reelected.

It has been said that an initiative to recall an official is always
resisted with stronger vim and venom. The reason is obvious. The incumbent
would not like to lose power just recently won. The challenger, often
a loser in the previous election, would not want to lose a second time.
It foments divisive, wasteful and bloody politics where lives are
often lost. Moreover, a recall election would undermine the delivery of
basic services to the public. The running of the local government units
would slow down as our elected officials would be preoccupied with the
recall election campaign. This all augurs ill for the future of Pampanga.

Posted by pamagcusa at 10:21 PM | Permalink

The Fox and the Grapes

By Joselito Basilio

The English idiom “sour grapes” is derived from the fable “The Fox and
the Grapes” where the protagonist fox fails to reach some grapes
hanging high up on a vine, retreats, and rationalizes that the grapes are
probably not ripe anyway. The fable’s moral story is that it is easy to
despise what you cannot get. The idiom had later been misused by those
who do not know the original story and is now taken to mean “bitterness”
or “resentment”.

There is a towering personality in the civil society who may be likened
to the proverbial fox. He did not get what he wanted. He’s bitter
about Dabu’s denial of his desire to have his proposed program implemented.
He continues to be resentful at the way he was treated by Dabu and, by
extension, Among Ed.

I am of course alluding to top businessman Renato Romero who’s calling
not only for Dabu’s resignation but for Among Ed’s. He went to the
point of expressing his support for the recall bid against Among Ed. Not
contended, he is now resorting to ad hominem arguments describing, among
others, Among Ed as a thief who stole the advocacy for good governance.

I was right all along. First impression really lasts. With due respect
to the good businessman, I doubted his sincerity when I first saw him
during the campaign. Our support for Among Ed was supposed to be
unequivocal, no string attached. No division of the spoils of war. Obviously
he harbors a different agenda.

Mr. Romero’s new found advocacy (if you can call it that way) -
resignation or recall of Among Ed - merits no attention. He wants us to return
to traditional politics from which he may have benefited in the past.
Will the so-called civil society allow that to happen?

Posted by pamagcusa at 10:20 PM | Permalink

Demonizing Dabu

By Joselito Basilio

The curious cat that I am, I visited the blog site calling for the
ouster of Atty. Vivian Dabu, Among Ed’s controversial administrator. I was
glued to it for a long time reading and analyzing the articles posted
by the anonymous blogger and the raves the site has been getting mostly
from anti-Dabu forces.

The anonymous blogger uses vile language in describing Dabu. There, she
is being depicted as an obnoxious, an ugly and a dim-witted character.
If the stinging, bitter and acerbic comments on Dabu were to be
translated into punches Dabu would be knocked down instantly and die of
internal hemorrhage.

I would like to believe that the creator of the blog site is a lawyer
like Dabu because he (or she?) employs words frequently used by lawyers
like “putative” and ably cited a jurisprudence (Supreme Court decision)
to justify his portrayal of Dabu as an unintelligent lawyer. Whoever
this blogger may be, his call for Dabu’s resignation will not gain
ground for a simple reason that he is attacking Dabu’s person and character
rather than presenting a reasonable argument that would persuade people
to support the ouster call. At the end of the day, I believe the Dabu
will earn more sympathy than those who want him fired.

Honestly I do not know or have met Dabu. We all know she is not
perfect. No one is. I agree that she has her own negative qualities like
everybody else. Nonetheless, I believe she is a good and an honest
administrator. She displays a political ill never seen in the previous
administrators, a rare character needed to rid the corruption-prone capitol of
graft and corruption. Like Among Ed, she’s not been tainted with
corruption up to now which I find remarkable. This is much more important than
her perceived bad management style other segments of civil society are
complaining about.

Assuming, for the sake of argument, that Dabu is fired by Among Ed.
What then? Would her ouster placate the Provincial Board and the Mayor’s
League? Would it mollify the civil society? I do not think so. The
aftermath is going to be a vicious cycle as when Cory fired Executive
Secretary Joker Arroyo in compliance to civil society’s pressure. Believe me.

Posted by pamagcusa at 07:40 PM | Permalink

Uncivil Society?
By Joselito Basilio

In Kapampangan context, civil society is an unusual concept in that it
always seems to require being defined before it is discussed. In part
this is because the concept was rarely used in Kapampangan discourse
before Among Ed ran for governor in the May 2007 elections and many people
are therefore unfamiliar with it.

Arguably, civil society only gained legitimate recognition in Pampanga
during the May 2007 elections. Many new civil society groups, notable
of which are KMI, KCI and ADCL, facilitated better awareness and a more
informed citizenry, who made better voting choice for governor. In
fact credit should be given to civil society for Among Ed’s electoral
victory.

But what happens when the some members of the same civil society groups
are pulling a direction different from that of the person who helped
them elected governor. How it is going to be decided which direction in
which to go and whether it is the right one as circumstances continue
to change over time? Will they leave the decision to Among Ed or
pressure him to adopt what they want?

I have raised these questions because I am deeply saddened by the
recent turn of events in Pampanga which involves a segment of the civil
society.

I’m particularly disturbed by the juvenile behavior of a civil society
prominent actor who is now calling for Among Ed’s resignation and even
indicated his support for the latter’s recall because this is the only
way to get rid of Among Ed’s most trusted assistant who previously
turned down the actor’s proposal on public policy. This is tragic. When a
civil society conceals its real intentions beneath a sheep’s clothing it
has no more reason to exist.

What is wrong with Dabu at the helm of power? Among Ed put her there.
She enjoys the trust and confidence of no less than the governor himself
apart from the enormous powers she yield as mandated by law. Every
decision she makes is presumed to be the order of the governor. Among Ed
delegated most of his powers to Dabu so that she can effectively deal
with influence-peddlers and favor-seekers, and get rid of graft and
corruption in the capitol. This is how Among Ed manages the affairs of the
office of the governor. Can’t the civil society respect Among Ed’s
management style?

If some people are displeased over how the capitol is being run, that
is part of Kapampangan human nature. We Kampanpangan have this incurable
tendency to envy people who are closer to someone we love. I feel this
is the reason why some members of the civil society have deserted
Among Ed. They want all equal access to the governor’s office. They cannot
accept Among Ed’s regimental management style where decisions are made
through the office of the administrator.

Civil society is supposed to build social capital, trust and shared
values, which are transferred into the political sphere. We have the right
to express our views to influence the governor’s decisions but it is
not right to desert the governor when what we want is unheeded. That’s
uncivil.

Posted by pamagcusa at 05:34 PM | Permalink

Dear Fellow Filipinos,
Good day to all of you! :)
Last week, an initiative to recall Gov. Eddie Panlilio of Pampanga was started by people closely affiliated with Lilia Pineda, the gubernatorial candidate that Gov. Panlilio defeated and wife of alleged jueteng lord Bong Pineda. Their main aim is to be able to gather at least 100,000 signatures from registered voters in Pampanga so that they can remove Gov. Panlilio from his position through a recall election before 2010. If you will recall, just last month, Gov. Panlilio courageously filed plunder charges against Bong Pineda for his alleged involvement in jueteng operations and payoffs in Pampanga. If they succeed in doing this, we can expect that Pampanga will once again go back to the dark ages of patronage politics that has led to the propagation of graft and corruption and illegal gambling activities. More importantly, this will be a huge step backward for our country as a whole since all of us were witnesses to how people power prevailed over traditional politicians in Pampanga during the last May 2007 elections.
We cannot just sit back, relax and allow a good and upright Filipino leader to fail. We cannot allow evil to ultimately prevail. We cannot allow Gov. Eddie Panlilio to be recalled. We cannot allow politicians with vested interests to once again rule in Pampanga. Gov. Panlilio needs us now! Support Gov. Panlilio and Good Governance in Pampanga by signing up at: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/supportgovpanlilio/
Please forward this email to all your friends who believe in fighting for Good Governance in our country and who want to join us in supporting well-meaning Filipino Leaders!
Below is the formal statement of Kaya Natin! on the Recall Movement of Gov. Panlilio. If you would like to join Kaya Natin! Please feel free to get in touch with us at (02) 426-5657 or you can send an email to us at kayanatin@yahoo.com
Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Harvey S. Keh

Posted by pamagcusa at 05:33 PM | Permalink

Kaya Natin! Statement on the Recall Movement of Gov. Eddie Panlilio (Pampanga)
We, the founding members of Kaya Natin! A Movement for Genuine Change and Ethical Leadership strongly oppose the move to recall Governor Eddie Panlilio of Pampanga. We believe that this attempt to recall him is politically motivated and would only serve to benefit the vested interests of a few politicians in Pampanga.

While we are aware that there are escalating problems in Pampanga such as the continuing conflict between Gov. Panlilio and the Provincial Board, the unresolved issue on the striking BALAS Quarry Workers and the calls for the resignation of the current Provincial Administrator, among others, we believe that a genuine effort to resolve them will be more beneficial to the Kapampangans than a political exercise the will further polarize and divide the community. We also recognize that there are members of the civil society, church groups, business organizations and supporters of Gov. Panlilio that have expressed disappointment with his performance during the past year. Thus, while we continue to support Gov. Panlilio's crusade to promote good governance in his province, we also believe that he should listen to the voices of these groups and work at immediately addressing and resolving these growing concerns in order for him to become a more effective governor.

As current local government leaders, we believe that all these issues arise as a result of the changes and reforms being implemented in the province. Reforms do not come easy. It requires continuing engagements between the provincial leadership and the other stakeholders in the locality. We do believe that given time, Governor Panlilio's initiatives will ultimately result to better delivery of basic services to his constituents.

In light of all these, we urge the people of Pampanga not to support the recall initiative. We ask the Kapampangans to give Governor Panlilio a chance to fully serve his term and continue the reforms that he has began. Moreover, we ask all Kapampangans to be patient with Governor Panlilio because we believe that despite the current situation, he is at the moment still the best person who can govern the province in an effective and ethical manner. Should there be a need, the members of Kaya Natin are willing to help organize and/or facilitate a dialogue between Governor Panlilio and disgruntled members of the civil society, business groups, people's organizations and his former supporters in Pampanga.

Finally, we sincerely hope that this movement to recall Gov. Panlilio will be put to rest at the soonest possible time so that we can unite towards working for a better Pampanga and ultimately, a better Philippines.

Signed:


(Sgd.) HON. GRACE PADACA (Sgd.) HON. JESSE ROBREDO
Governor Mayor
Isabela Naga City


(Sgd.) HON. TEDDY BAGUILAT, JR. (Sgd.) HON. SONIA LORENZO
Governor Mayor
Ifugao San Isidro, Nueva Ecija

Posted by pamagcusa at 05:31 PM | Permalink