OPINION
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
4
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July 22-July 29, 2011
THE PHILIPPINES’s 1st & ONLY FREE BROADSHEET NEWSPAPER
The Metro Express is published Weekly by SANZIBAR INC. with office address at Unit 2410 Cityland 10 Tower 1 Condominium, H.V. Dela Costa St., Salcedo Village, Makati City with telefax no. (02)470-3762. For press and photo releases as well as advertising inquiries, text or call PR and Marketing Manager Eugene Labadan tru mobiles 0908-9874708 and 09175437729 or Hotlines Globe 0915-5517486 and Smart 0919-5794784. Email: esns03@yahoo.com.
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Much ado about nothing (to gain again) Like what former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo retorted to the working media upon her arrival recently from Europe with husband Mike Arroyo…”Talk to my lawyers…” What does it mean? Why the snappy reply? The curt, one-liner was in direct reference to what everyone knows now as the latest pot-boiler of another gigantic diversionary tactic from youknow-who that would surely gain the nation nothing but rich, nutritous media fodder. More air, more trial by publicity. Whoever had the idea of unearthing old cases of electoral fraud, massive electoral fraud in the 2004 elections very well knew there’s nothing the whole nation will gain from it aside from more hatred, more divisiveness and more about… nothing. Losing vice presidential candidate of that electoral exercise in Sen. Loren Legarda took it (the issue) right through the heart. “It (2004 elections) was the darkest moment of my life. I and my running-mate (FPJ) were convinced we did win in that election. And we didn’t. But I’ve learned to move on,” she said. Why can’t the Bright Boys of Malacanang take the cue from her? We are not pro-GMA nor anti-Aquino, nor anti-GMA or pro-Aquino. We are just trying to point out here that there is a myriad of better things to put our focus on, something that will gain the whole nation. It is our stand. What can we get from Lintang Bedol? What can we get from the Ampatuans? After they testify or affirm the alleged massive poll fraud that favored GMA in the 2004 elections, what? Will that give the losers a chance to serve their un-served political mandates?Never. Sen. Legarda only knows so much that at this point of our lives, or, in an instance that cheating would indeed be proven, she can no longer serve as vice president unless we can reset the calendar back to where she is supposed to serve out the vice presidency, and so with the rest. So, given that there was/were indeed massive poll cheating in the 2004 and 2007 elections, why don’t we investigate similar allegations of poll fraud way, way back since the time of Ferdinand Marcos up to the latest national elections of 2010. Sen. Mar Roxas, now DOTC Sec., would, I think, be the happiest if that would be the case. And, that, we freely feel, is the most doable/realistic thing that we can do to our lives at this point. The 2010 presidential polls, however automated as it was, questions and protests were raised and until now remain unanswered. So why just the 2004 and 2007 elections do we need to investigate? Why don’t we just investigate the Commissions on Elections people? It’s their province anyway.
EDITORIAL
EDITOR’S NOTE: All commentaries and or opinions submitted by columnists and herein published shall remain as personal opinion of any of Metro Express’ column writers. As such, these cannot and never be construed nor considered as similar to that of this publication (Metro Express)’s stand on issues discussed. Be that as it may, Metro Express shall not be held liable on any legal issues related/pertaining to, or any column/commentaries that may appear herein.
CALL IT FILIPINO ADAPTABILITY. WHEN THE GOING GETS FLOODED, ERR, TOUGH, THE TOUGH GETS GOING. BUT WHY THOSE KIDS?
from the eMAIL... by Father James Reuter, S.J. By her own admission, GMA ( Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, former President and now Pampanga Rep.) rightfully assessed that over the last decades; our republic has become one of the weakest, steadily left behind by its more progressive neighbors.’ Forty years ago, we were only second to Japan in economic stature, and way ahead of Singapore , Hong Kong , Malaysia , and Thailand. Today, at our present growth rate, it will take us 30 years to get to where Thailand is (Please take note dear P-Noy Boys). 1. A population of 160 Million; 2. Of those, 70 to 90 million (equivalent to our current population) will live below the poverty line; 3. Our national debt is estimated to be at US$200B (compared to US$28B when Marcos fled, and US$53B today); 4. We will be competing, not against Thailand or even Vietnam , but against B angladesh ; 5. We will be the most corrupt nation in Asia, if not in the world (we’re already ranked 11th most corrupt nation by Transparency International) ... The signs are clear. Our nation is headed towards an irreversible path of economic decline and moral decadence. It is not for lack of effort. We’ve seen many men and women of integrity in and out of government, NGOs, church groups & people’s organization devote themselves to the task of nation-building, often times against insurmountable odds. But not even two people’s revolutions, bloodless as they may be, have made a dent in re-
‘Just sharing TO ALL OF YOU’
versing this trend. At best, we have moved one step forward, but three steps backward.
moral reformation necessarily follows. And this, in turn, will lead to general prosperity. YES, we believe prayer can make a difference. It’s our only hope. Today, we launch this email brigade, to inform Filipinos from all over the world to pray, as a people, for the economic recovery and moral reformation of our nation. We do not ask for much. We only ask for 5 minutes of your time in a day, to fwd this email to your close friends and relatives. This is the kind of unity which can make a big difference. Of course, if you feel strongly, as I do, about the power of prayer, you can be more involved by starting your own prayer group or prayer center. We have tried people power twice; in both cases, it fell short. Maybe it’s time to try prayer power. GOD never fails. Is there hope? YES! We can rely on God’s promise, but we have to do our part. If we humble ourselves and pray as a people, GOD will heal our land. By GOD’s grace, we may yet see a better future for our children.
‘It’s time to try prayer power...’ We need a force far greater than our collective efforts, as a people, can ever hope to muster. It is time to move the battle to the spiritual realm.. It’s time to claim GOD’s promise of healing of the land for His people. It’s time to gather GOD’s people on its knees to pray for the economic recovery and moral reformation of our nation. Is prayer really the answer? Before you dismiss this as just another rambling of a religious fanatic, I’d like you to consider some lessons we can glean from history. England ‘s ascendancy to world power was preceded by the Reformation, a spiritual revival fueled by intense prayers. The early American settlers built the foundation that would make it the most powerful nation today - a strong faith in GOD and a disciplined prayer life. Throughout its history, and especially at its major turning points, waves of revival and prayer movement swept across the land. In recent times, we see Korea as a nation experiencing revival and in the process producing the largest Christian church in the world today, led by Rev. Paul Yongi Cho. No wonder it has emerged as a strong nation when other economies around it are faltering. Even from a purely secular viewpoint, it makes a lot of sense. For here there is genuine humbling & seeking of GOD through prayer,
‘If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sins, and will heal their land.’(2 Chronicles 7:14). If you care for your children and grandchildren, PLEASE pass this on. .. ...
Let’s not just abandon the Philippines ….
Priorities in life We should know our priorities in life, and then we should treasure it. Ano ba talaga ang pagpapahalaga at bakit ito masasabing dapat inuuna? Kapag ang isang bagay ay napakahalaga o importante sa atin, inuuna natin itong gawin at binibigyan ng pansin. Ito ang simpleng paliwanag para sa mga ito. Bagay, hayop, lugar, pangyayari, pagkain, nararamdaman maging tao pa yan at kung anu-ano pa na pinapahalagahan ng isang tao ay masasabing binibigyan ito ng prioridad na unahin. Sumisimbolo ito sa mga pinapahalagahan natin at kahit ano pang dahilan bakit napiling pagahalagahan kung para sa iba ay di tama o di natural dito nasusukat ang personalidad ng tao kung saan kayang manindigan at magpakita na ipakitang kayang ipaglalaban ang mahalaga sa kanya, kung saan natutunan din natin na magbigay halaga sa mga bagay bagay na nakapaligid sa atin. Sarili ang pinakapinahahalagahan bago ang iba upang matutunan natin bigyang halaga ang iba. Maipapakita ito sa pagmamahal sa sarili at pagsunod sa anumang kagustuhan natin. Masasabi ng iba na hindi tama ito, bakit? Dahil alam nila sa kanilang
mga sarili na sila ang maaapektuhan, pero tama lang na alamin din ang mararamdaman ng iba pero maipapakita mo ba ang pagmamahal mo sa sarili kapag iba ang inuuna? Simple lang ang sagot diyan, bago mo bigyan ng importansya ang iba sa mga kagustuhan nila na pwedeng hindi mo gusto, ay gawin mo muna ang kagustuhan mo para masabi mo sa sarili mo na mahal ko ang sarili ko at mas pinapahalagahan ko ang buhay ko, matapos mong makita ang epekto sa iba nito sa iba. Malalaman mo kung ito ay positibo, ipagpapatuloy mo ang mga kagustuhan mo, kapag ito’y negatibo, magbigay daan ka sa kahit papaanong paraan, para masabi mo rin sa sarili mo na “pinapahalagahan ko din sila.” Maging sa akin masasabi ko at napatunayan ko na dapat ay pinahahalagahan mo muna ang sarili mo dahil dito mo lang masasabi na masaya ka at nakuntento ka. May mga taong masasaktan at maapektuhan dahil di ka lang mag-isa sa mundo, kaya naman binigyan kong daan ang mga pwedeng makaintindi at makatulong sa akin. Doon ko palang nalaman ang mga karapat dapat kong pahalagahan mga taong nadyan para sa akin, mga taong nagmamahal sa akin at mga taong makakatanggap sa akin. Pagpap-
LIVE WITH IT
ARIELLE NIAMBI DR. AMIGO ahalaga sa iba ang pinakamagaan sa pakiramdam dahil mapapasaya sila at natutulungan pa. Pamilya ko ang pinahahalagahan ko, dahil sila ang mapaghuhugutan ko ng lakas at makakaintindi sa akin. Pagmamahal ang bumubuklod sa amin dahil ito ang paraan ko ng pagpapakita ng pagpapahalaga sa kanila, na kahit anong mangyari kami pa rin ang magkakasama hanggang huli. Our family is the most important thing that matters most and should be prioritized.