Living in the City

 Aftermath: The Luneta Hostage Crisis Because I am a religious radio listener, I was naturally tuned in that day. At 10:00  in the morning, the news said that there was a hostage taking incident involving foreign tourists riding a tourist bus. A certain dismissed police officer commandeered the bus from Fort Santiago, a famous tourist spot . At first they said the tourists were  Koreans, which I immediately  posted in my facebook account. But immediately corrected as well, when media said those involved  were Hongkong and Chinese nationals. It was clear from the video shots that the hostage taker was armed with high powered firearms. What went wrong during this crisis? My two cents worth and this I am not saying just now but as early as noon of that fateful day, I thought that the police were ill prepared  to handle hostage  crisis situations media was too eager to broadcast such a very sensitive situation.. hello..as always everyone wanted to out-scoop each other absence o

Marikina, Provident and Ondoy Three words that will forever be etched in my heart. Typhoon Ondoy devastated Provident, the village where we used to live. And Provident is in Marikina. I live. It  A destruction never before seen by anyone. Perhaps, God alone saw this coming.

 Holes in the Screening Process? Like it or not,  PNoy and his men will be in the news for 6 years.  Perhaps on a minute by minute basis. Because everyone is keeping an eye. Friends and family want PNoy  to succeed. Along with the people who voted for him, they want President Noy to perpetuate his parent's legacy -  Service to the People. The new converts, sincerely moved  by his initial actions are also keeping tab. Many want him to do well. By the same token, his enemies too are following the President's every move. Critics observe.  His cabinet men's every word  scrutinized. Actions constantly checked out.   Majority of the Filipinos are full of expectations  for change. Under his command, people look forward to good governance. A corrupt free administration will  be a way of life, hopefully. The underprivileged are counting on PNoy. Gone will be the  grinding days of  daily  survival.  Asia's basket case image will finally be discarded. But what is this?

Exposes on Corruption and Abuse of Power uring PGMA's administration 1. Road Users Tax - billions of income from tax collections unaccounted for (Sen Mirriam gave a preview of this already 2. National Grid Corporation - misuse of government assets (chronic problem from administartion to administration) 3. MWSS - abuse and misuse of government assets 4. NFA - over importation of rice leading to wastage 5. MRT - operating a losing business operation 6. DPWH - midnight approval of 9 or 11 flood rehab related projects ( contracts rescinded but projects will push through subject to review PNoy promised that government funds will be used for the benefit of the people only. Illegal commissions from government projects will be stopped.

A few days before PNoy's SONA: there's water crisis in some parts of Metro Manila the President indicated during his speech at the Philippine Army Change of Leadership rites that he did not authorize the AFP to provide security during the water rationing or "pila balde" PNoy's speech has undergone 5 revisions and still counting the speech is rumored to tell us that the government PNoy inherited is almost bankrupt overheard on the radio: what's with the Aquino's? During Cory's time there was energy crisis, today on Noynoy's Presidency, there seems to be water crisis? overheard Presidential spokesperson Lacierda on radio: PNoy's speech is mostly really his own word Most Filipinos' hope during SONA on Monday, July 26, 2010 -  for him to actually provide the hows in solving the problems  he inherited and prayerfully resolve those problems without new taxes.

 Launching Pad for Presidentiables The reason why so many people are interested in getting the DILG post is because it is a good launching pad for people who has  presidential plans. Maybe, if PNoy can really handle (time wise)  DILG,  on a permanent basis, it would perhaps discourage those who have such ambitions.

Presidential Brother-in-Law James Yap No Show at PNoy Inagural Tsk, tsk, tsk. Just as most everyone  expected. Will he now known as  as an ex? Too bad. Well, perhaps James Yap will be more focused during his game practices.