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January 26, 2014 FOOTSTEPS AND FINGERPRINTS
Whistleblowers Galore
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helicopter pilot, who shuttles over Ayala Alabang says: A landmark that he uses is the house of embattled Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla. Now, another mansion twice the size of the current one, is rising. “Can anyone shed light on this matter?”, the blogger asked. You mean the new partially completed mansion on 114 Saranggani street in Muntinlupa shielded by blue tarpulin? “Revilla is constructing a new one across his present home”, the investigative “Rapple” wrote. Ayala Alabang residents estimate the new four-storey house plus basement, costs almost triple the present P35 million one... The lot price tag is another P35 million. Senator Jinggoy Estrada, like Revilla, is enmeshed in the pork barrel scam. He, too,is building a mansion at high-end Wack-Wack Village “The 3,084-square-meter digs is estimated at P120 million.” Rappler asserted..His reported net worth in 2012, when he started building, was P193,580,509.. Asked why his 2012 SALN does not include the Wack-Wack house, he replied, “Ano? Hello? (What? Hello?)” And the line was disconnected. Text messages were unanswered. Both Revilla and Estrada, like Juan Ponce Enrile and 24 other (E-mail: officials, twist in corruption charges due to “whistler blowers” juanlmercado@gmail.com ) That’s a phrase coined by US. activist Ralph Nader in the 1970s, referring to those who exposed sleaze. Inquirer picked seven whistleblowers as allotted for “Kuya” and “Sexy.” “Pogi” is used “Filipinos of the Year”. They’ve made the big- for Revilla Jr.. Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, 89, is gest positive impact on the life of the nation in dubbed “Tanda” (old man). Till now, whistleblowers had a rough ride. the year just past.”. Meet BenhurLuy MaryAriene Baltazar, Merlina Suñas, Gertrudes Luy, Marina Primitivo Mijares was one of Ferdinand Marcos’ Sula and Simonette Briones. They were on the chief propagandists. He wrote the book “Conjugal front page in Witness Protection Program bul- Dictatorship” and testified against the dictatorship. Mijares disappeared in 1977 and his 15-year-old let-proof vests. Revilla funneled P503.6 million of his pork to son was later found murdered. “Cruel,” says 83-year eight questionable NGOs, the COA audit shows. Two old Imelda Marcos of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s of these NGOs were managed by the scam’s main hospital detention. Shanghaied by government agents, Rodolfo whistleblower, Benhur Luy. So did his father before “Jun” Lozada testified before the Senate how a him, Luy asserts. Revilla hired a handwriting expert to de- ZTE broadband loan, for $132 million, ballooned bunk charges. .”Senator Revilla says that it is to $329 million.. Still guarded by Catholic nuns fake?” asked COA chair Grace Pulido-Tan.” But today, Lozada is harassed by charges. Marlene Garcia-Esperat reported fertilzer he confirmed authenticity of the signatures — scams in the Department of Agriculture in Central in writing.” Whistleblower notebooks reveal deals by de- Mindanao “Good evening Ma’am said the visitor tained Janet Lim-Napoles count), from 2012 up to before he shot her dead. The accomplices testified August 2013, They list cash doles, properties, over that they were hired by two officials. A Cebu court meted out life imprisonment to three who who ad400 bank accounts – and code names. “Kuya” and “Sexy” are the handles for Sen. mitted they were hired for P120,000 to kill Esperat. Jinggoy Estrada. An entry says P20 million was To page 14
JOHNNY MERCADO
A JOURNEY THROUGH CANCER
Can You Be a Light?
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ne night, the writer noticed the wick of the lamp that has served her quietly for many nights. So she thanked the wick for the light. The wick humbly told her that it was not the source of the light but simply mediates from the oil of the cistern MUFFET DOLAR and the fire that it gives. Without VILLEGAS the oil and the one who trims the e-mail: useless edge, the wick ceases to blue_bell57@yahoo.com serve its purpose, but it would continue to burn as they teach us. long as the one who supLike the wick that needs plies the oil would never its oil, we also need a congrow tired. supply of everything Lamps and candles are stantwe need from God who rare these days, unless there is that us, especially a spira brownout or a special evening made dinner that we feel more roman- itual nourishment that susour journey in life. We tic to share it with someone. But tains be in a desert of spirthese old and sometimes for- can gotten vessels of light can still itual dryness in the midst light our paths by the lesson Turn to page 14
NC JAN 19,2013.pmd
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Growing in intimacy with God
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HAT’S right. We need to grow in intimacy with God. Let’s banish the fear that such aspiration is impossible, or that we are just engaging in some wishful thinking, pursuing an illusion that will never come true. Let’s remember that God is our Creator who not only gives us existence but also keeps us in it. We cannot exist and we cannot keep on existing without him. Ergo, he is very much in us. As the Psalm says: “If I ascend into heaven, you are there. If I descend into hell, you are present. If I take my wings early in the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there also shall your hand lead me...” (139,8-9) To be sure, his presence in us is never passive nor sim-
FR. ROY CIMAGALA Email: roycimagala@gmail.com
ply formal. His presence is ever active and marked always by how he is, that is, with love, wisdom, mercy, justice, etc. As St. Paul says: “It is God who of his good pleasure works in you both the will and the performance.” (Phil 2,14) And again in the Psalms, are told the following: “Lord, you have proved me and known me. You know my sitting down and Turn to page 14
The Key is Developing Habits
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y, how time flies! It is the end of January 2014 already! Time to take a look at the New Year’s Resolutions/Revolutions that we made at the beginning of this month. One writer has said that resolutions are made to be broken, but that habits can stay with us for a lifetime. How true, how true! One good example is our annual resolve that after all the Christmas and New Year’s celebratory feasting, we must, we are going to lose weight, to exercise more, to eat less, and to get enough sleep. However, the first week’s momentum has slowed down and
NANCY RUSSELL CATAN now, the ending week of January, seems to have gotten lost somewhere. So we vow that next year we will do better! Sad to say, this happens every year! Developing our resolutions, our revolutions into habits is the key. By narrowing down our grand To page 13
Limits to growth he economy grew at about seven percent last year and is expected to grow again at around the same figure next year, what with election spending and the release of public funds hidden in the kitty by a frugal administration. This announcement was greeted with extreme jubilation by the government which promises more of the same in the years to come. The upgrade by international financial monitors who have predicted a further uptick to investment grade classification has added to the euphoria. Indeed, the growth indicator is nothing to sneeze at, trumpeted as the best in the ASEAN and second only in the continent suffering from a world economy hit by the European economic distress. These are the economies that depend
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AMB. JOSE V. ROMERO, JR., PH.D. largely on exports like Singapore. Despite the apparent impressive performance, the economy, however, given that this country is endowed with rich natural resources with a mining industry alone which is calculated to have a potential revenue of a trillion dollars or more; a coastline that is among the longest in the To page 16
EVERY DAY HEROES YOU MIGHT BE…
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his is just for laughs. (with apologies to Jeff Foxworthy.) You might be a Filipino if……. ·…you can drive without lights but not without a horn. ·…the name on your jewelry container is Luihllier. ·…you have a huge wooden spoon and fork on the kitchen wall. JAMES “KOJAK” HUGHS ·…you do not know the defiU.S. Army, Cpt (ret) nition of “traffic lane”. ·…you think foreigners smell bad but balut smells tomer service is unlimited rice. good. ·…you have a revolving ·…calling the mayor “little chicken” is alright. door on the jail. ·…you have the best gov- ·…you have the most beautiful skin in the world and ernment money can buy. ·…raising your voice is bad you still want to change it. but having a loud motorcy- ·…you want spaghetti sauce on your sugar. cle is good. ·…as a mall security guard ·…you think America is you check for bombs but great and Americans do not know what to do should go there. when you find one. To page 14 ·…you think good cus-
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