An ad for a dating site proudly announces "Marry a USA Man" and "Live your dream life in the USA... Filipina girls Join FREE!!" and displays a photo of an American guy, who, by the way, looks like he should be in a coffin. I won't mention the name of the site anymore. Many would have noticed this or similar ads, which are rampant in the internet, particularly in sites frequented by Filipinos--giving offense to many of my countrymen.
I have no bone against those who view marriage as a way to improve their economic status. But as a Filipino, a woman and a professional, I find this site and similar sites utterly degrading. It goes beyond being a social networking site to portraying Filipino women as eager to grasp at any American guy just for the chance of living in the U.S. It is also degrading to American men who are portrayed as targets for fortune-hunters.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Monday, March 3, 2008
A stand for sobriety
I am satisfied with San Beda's stand in regard to the present political circus. Unlike the officials of other schools who dragged the names of their schools into the fray (regardless of those of their constituents who may not agree with their views), San Beda College-Mendiola seems to have taken a sober view of the proceedings in the Senate, refusing to call for the resignation of the president, although it does not prohibit those of its constituents who may have a differing opinion from joining in protest rallies.
Meanwhile, the plot thickens with the release in the internet of 12 recordings supposed to be wiretaps of conversations between Joey de Venecia and Jun Lozada and others. A group calling itself Patriots4truth posted the recordings in their blogspot. The same are also available in youtube. The recordings paint a very different picture from what the administration's antagonists are alleging in the Senate and in the streets. Of course, these recordings are inadmissible as evidence in any proceeding. It would, however, be hypocrisy for critics of the administration to claim that these are doctored, while at the same time claiming that the "Hello Garci" recordings are genuine. Joey de Venecia has admitted that it is his voice that is in the recordings, though he claims the wiretaps were spliced.
Curiously, the revelation of these recordings does not, by far, seem to receive as much attention from the media as does Lozada's testimony in the Senate.
***
In response to a friend's query, it is possible that there are indeed anomalies in the NBN-ZTE deal. But to speak of anomalies does not necessarily imply malice or bad faith on the part of the president. Bad faith must first be proven, and in the proper forum, which the Senate certainly is not. If there are allegations of bribery against former Comelec Chairman Abalos and against the first gentleman, the proper recourse would be to take these allegations to court. If the president was somehow involved in any anomaly, this will surface in a court proceeding against Abalos and Mike Arroyo.
***
The president's admission that she was told of possible anomalies on the night before she flew to China does not necessarily indicate bad faith. It is quite probable that, not having enough information to confirm her suspicions, she decided to proceed with the scheduled signing the next day, with every intention of canceling the project as soon as her suspicions shall have been confirmed. After all, she has the Philippine-Chinese diplomatic relations to consider, which might be negatively affected by hasty actions being taken in regard to the project.
In a further attempt to impute malice to Arroyo's decision to proceed with the signing, critics of the president allege that she even left her sick husband's bedside to consummate a deal that she supposedly admitted was flawed. In various media reports, this deception is also being proliferated.
Firstly, the president did not categorically say that the NBN-ZTE deal was flawed. In her radio interview, she said that someone told her of possible anomalies the night before she left for China.
Moreover, a closer look will tell us that President Arroyo in fact went to China primarily to attend the Boao Forum for Asia, an annual conference of international leaders, where she was to deliver an important speech. Before she flew back to the Philippines (her visit was in fact cut short because of her husband's medical condition), she witnessed the signing of several agreements, among which was a memorandum of understanding on a supply contract for the NBN-ZTE project. The signing was only step 3 in a rigorous 17-step process, including multi-department reviews, that have to be undergone before the NBN-ZTE contract can be consummated. This is quite contrary to the malicious reports being bandied about in the media, insinuating that her trip to China was a willful assertion of the NBN-ZTE deal, a confirmation of guilt.
President Arroyo's critics also belittle the impact on the diplomatic relations with China, should the president have immediately stopped the project upon hearing of possible anomalies. Now, the Chinese government places a premium on its ability to combat corruption in their government, its zeal in going after and imposing harsh penalties on officials found to be corrupt. The president's immediate cancellation of the project, without even going through a process, may well be taken by China as an offense, a slap on the credibility of its officials. Arroyo's critics here point out that national interest should take precedence over any inconvenience to China in an immediate cancellation. But isn't it in our interest to give the benefit of the doubt to an apparently good broadband project, as well as good diplomatic relations, over uncorroborated claims of anomaly? Friendly relations with China too, on whose economic boom the Philippines hopes to ride.
Meanwhile, the plot thickens with the release in the internet of 12 recordings supposed to be wiretaps of conversations between Joey de Venecia and Jun Lozada and others. A group calling itself Patriots4truth posted the recordings in their blogspot. The same are also available in youtube. The recordings paint a very different picture from what the administration's antagonists are alleging in the Senate and in the streets. Of course, these recordings are inadmissible as evidence in any proceeding. It would, however, be hypocrisy for critics of the administration to claim that these are doctored, while at the same time claiming that the "Hello Garci" recordings are genuine. Joey de Venecia has admitted that it is his voice that is in the recordings, though he claims the wiretaps were spliced.
Curiously, the revelation of these recordings does not, by far, seem to receive as much attention from the media as does Lozada's testimony in the Senate.
***
In response to a friend's query, it is possible that there are indeed anomalies in the NBN-ZTE deal. But to speak of anomalies does not necessarily imply malice or bad faith on the part of the president. Bad faith must first be proven, and in the proper forum, which the Senate certainly is not. If there are allegations of bribery against former Comelec Chairman Abalos and against the first gentleman, the proper recourse would be to take these allegations to court. If the president was somehow involved in any anomaly, this will surface in a court proceeding against Abalos and Mike Arroyo.
***
The president's admission that she was told of possible anomalies on the night before she flew to China does not necessarily indicate bad faith. It is quite probable that, not having enough information to confirm her suspicions, she decided to proceed with the scheduled signing the next day, with every intention of canceling the project as soon as her suspicions shall have been confirmed. After all, she has the Philippine-Chinese diplomatic relations to consider, which might be negatively affected by hasty actions being taken in regard to the project.
In a further attempt to impute malice to Arroyo's decision to proceed with the signing, critics of the president allege that she even left her sick husband's bedside to consummate a deal that she supposedly admitted was flawed. In various media reports, this deception is also being proliferated.
Firstly, the president did not categorically say that the NBN-ZTE deal was flawed. In her radio interview, she said that someone told her of possible anomalies the night before she left for China.
"Galit ang taumbayan sa katiwalian. Ganoon din ako – galit din ako sa katiwalian. Kaya itong proyektong ito, oras na may pag-uusap na may anomalya, ay agad-agad kong kinansel; agad-agad na gumawa ako ng hakbang para kanselahin."Ang isa sa mga hakbang na ito ay kailangan kakausapin muna ang gobyerno ng China dahil sila naman ang ating pinakamalaking market ngayon sa export.
"Kanselado na iyon, matagal na. Oras nga na may sumbong sa akin, tiningnan ko na iyong paraan kung papaano kanselahin.
"Nagsumbong sa akin the night before the signing of the supply contract pero hindi pa naman kasi – that was only one of many signings. So, papaano mo naman maka-cancel the night before, meron kang ibang bansang kausap?"
Moreover, a closer look will tell us that President Arroyo in fact went to China primarily to attend the Boao Forum for Asia, an annual conference of international leaders, where she was to deliver an important speech. Before she flew back to the Philippines (her visit was in fact cut short because of her husband's medical condition), she witnessed the signing of several agreements, among which was a memorandum of understanding on a supply contract for the NBN-ZTE project. The signing was only step 3 in a rigorous 17-step process, including multi-department reviews, that have to be undergone before the NBN-ZTE contract can be consummated. This is quite contrary to the malicious reports being bandied about in the media, insinuating that her trip to China was a willful assertion of the NBN-ZTE deal, a confirmation of guilt.
President Arroyo's critics also belittle the impact on the diplomatic relations with China, should the president have immediately stopped the project upon hearing of possible anomalies. Now, the Chinese government places a premium on its ability to combat corruption in their government, its zeal in going after and imposing harsh penalties on officials found to be corrupt. The president's immediate cancellation of the project, without even going through a process, may well be taken by China as an offense, a slap on the credibility of its officials. Arroyo's critics here point out that national interest should take precedence over any inconvenience to China in an immediate cancellation. But isn't it in our interest to give the benefit of the doubt to an apparently good broadband project, as well as good diplomatic relations, over uncorroborated claims of anomaly? Friendly relations with China too, on whose economic boom the Philippines hopes to ride.
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