GRPundit

We are all trying to use our logical minds, but this is one time that we might as well listen to those who think more with their emotion. Maybe, with our logicality we are not the ones that could give a good picture of what might have transpired. My driver, whom we call Onyok, said a lot of things about Mamasapano which amused me. I am trying here to recall what he has said, and you will see that emo people have better gut-feel. By way of intro, Onyok voted for P-Noy in 2010. He admired his president for not being involved in any scandal until the SC ruling on DAP when for the first time, he said: "Ay, magnanakaw din pala." Onyok was the one who put a yellow ribbon in my car because I could not tell him I was voting for Gibo. There was no point in explaining to him that Gibo had the best resumé and that party affiliation didn't mean a thing in PHL. If he knew I voted for Gibo, he would have deemed me unpatriotic since Gibo was associated with Gloria, who was to him th...

I have a love/ hate relationship with this country.When I'm away, I long for the desolate beaches, the warm climate, the friendly smiles. But when I'm here, I wonder what the hell was I thinking? This potentially beautiful country is turning into an absolute shithole, and nobody seems to care, and thats where I get lost, I cant for the life of me figure it out.Trash strewn about everywhere…polluted waterways…people everywhere burning plastic, polluting the air, complete disregard for your neighbors by allowing dogs to bark and/or music to blast all night, very unhealthy dogs roaming the streets, street kids all over the place, poverty, filthy living conditions, traffic issues, terribly low wages and/or no jobs, age discrimination, overcrowding, this list goes on and on.I tip my hat to the filipino people for being resilient and able to grin and bear it, but when is enough enough?….Which raises the question, why is it like this? Personally I think it is a combination of th...

Freedom sadly doesn't work when a person doesn't know what to do with themselves. Or even if they did, they make no plans or figure out the intelligent decisions from the bad ones. Case in point, not too long ago, a woman who was freed from modern-day slavery thanks to court intervention. In the end, the woman ended up coming back to that slave lifestyle simply because she doesn't know any way of life other than that. Such is the case in the Philippines. ------------------- This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion! http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2015/02/the-philippines-is-too-big-a-country-for-filipinos-to-govern-on-their-own/comment-page-1/#comment-1107897

I believe that Filipinos are in a terrible bind. I used to think that a federal/parliamentary system of government will work well for the Philippines, and I still do, but I now think that no matter what system of government we have, it won't work if the people are not interested in how the government and the country are run. I observed that so many Filipinos don't really want to be vigilant of the government's actions; to them, that's work, and work is tiring. They just want to vote for whoever they think will run the country well (many in fact couldn't care even to do that) and then leave that person to do whatever he wants to do, trusting that he'll have their interests in mind. For many Filipinos, thinking and debating are work and not play (not second nature to us, unlike to the people of many advanced countries), and anything that has to do with those is shunned. It doesn't help that many don't think in terms of what's good for their fello...

How could you implement democracy in the Philippines when the average voter has average or below-average IQ, not to mention that they are uninformed about issues and have no concept, whatsoever, of what democracy means and what influences they have as citizens? It is common knowledge that politicians take advantage of dull minds, buying votes through give-away t-shirts or other trinkets that easily entice the impoverished. It would take massive effort to inform citizens and raise awareness of what democracy means. But if media is powerful enough to bombard its massive viewers with brain-numbing programs, why not use the same medium to bring education and knowledge that would empower and equip citizens to vote intelligently and discriminately? But perhaps those who control media design their programs as such to keep the majority ignorant and numb. Perhaps a grass root level approach would work, and that would require revolutionists. But isn't that what EDSA attempted; and what...

We keep on blaming our politicians but we do not look at ourselves. We are also part of why the Philippines is what it is today after Edsa I. We have all the laws that you can think of, very good laws. The problem is, not just implementation, but our willingness to follow the law. Karamihan sa atin walang disiplina. Sabi nga nila sa Pilipinas "bawal lang pag may nanghuli". We experience this every day. Just look at how Filipinos are on the road. Whether driver or pedestrian. Walang kadisi-disiplina. And take note hindi lang PUVs ang walang disiplina karamihan pa nga private vehicles. Traffic na nga mag counter flow pa di mas lalo nag traffic. May over pass di gagamitin. No parking, magpapark. Also, sa Pilipinas ang umiiral na systema ay ang systema ay ang konsepto ng "who you know and how much you have". Napakadami magaling mag bigay ng opinion sa nangyari sa Pilipinas at kung bakit hanggang ngayon ganito pa din tyo. Pero bakit di natin tanungin muna mga saril...

ENGLISH is best for global external application, but internally, FILIPINO, in a fragmented archipelago just like ours, aims to unite our people. The Philippines is not only Manila or Cebu or Davao alone for one. A National Language is a socio-cultural, historical thing. It's our IDENTITY as a people! Language, more than anything, is a tool of communication. It's suppose to be The TIE THAT BINDS…a Nation! UNITY through Language, that promotes Understanding and Cooperation, is PROGRESS! Chairman Mao, ideology aside, will have a hard time unifying an immensely huge country like China if not for unifying power of their language! Japan and Korea patronize their own more than others because they are united by their own language. You see, it really is cultural! I totally agree with the statement that "…knowing how to speak English fluently has always been the strong point of Filipinos and is one of the things that has helped us keep up with the global community." It...

The Philippines is already massively disadvantaged by protectionist trade policies that prevent modern technology from reaching the people who need it. If nobody can speak (or read) English properly, they're also cut off from knowledge about that technology, so the Philippines can't even develop local equivalents. Assuming they could be bothered. And assuming there were anyone smart and educated enough to do so. Thus the Philippines will wallow forever in the stone age. Of course, that might be precisely what the politicians intend. People who are uneducated have no means to learn anything about the outside world are more likely to be contented with their country's "racket programme". ------------------ This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion! http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2015/02/language-tools-of-the-trade/comment-page-1/#comment-1105514

During the Roman time, English wasn't originally spoken in the British Isles. The British Isles were originally settled by Celts: Gaelic, Welsh and Pictish speakers and Latin by the Roman Conquerors. The Germanic speakers who would go on to speak English were still in Germania–a land of "Grimm Walds" (pun intended), where the Romans dare not venture–the memory of the lost legions, victims of "der schlact im Teutoburger Wald" was still fresh. During the twilight years of the Roman Empire, the Germanic tribes started running roughshod over the empire: Ostrogoths, Visigoths and Vandals terrorized the continental Roman Empire. Northern tribes, Angles, Saxons, Jutes and Frisians on the other hand, left the Germanic homeland in search of some lebensraum on the backwater Roman colony on the British Isles. The subsequent conflict between the Celts and the Germanic tribes are best dramatized in the 2004 film, King Arthur. Old English was pretty intelligible with th...

Many Filipinos see nothing wrong with joining the US military, swearing allegiance to the US flag ( yes, a foreign country) and then telling everybody how proud they are to be Filipinos. There is no equivalent anywhere in the world to this kind of "pride". How can you be proud of being a Filipino when the US oath includes oath of renunciation done on the Bible in which you swear that you reject your old country? Then when they rise in the ranks, Philippine newspapers publish articles about them also celebrating their success and that they are "Filipinos". In most other countries the act of swearing allegiance to and serving in the armed forces of another state is seen as treason. A proud Filipino should be serving in his own armed forces defending the country against the Chinese and/or Mindanao rebels. -------------------- This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion! http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2015/02/putting-pride-in-the-right-plac...

We are aware that the SAF in the highway attempted to help. We are aware that Espina called Guerrero directly by 6am. Guerrero called Pangilinan who tried to help. That is camaraderie in uniform in action. But when there is an alledged command from the very top to stand down, what can you do? You are soldiers who see the unit, the company, but not the over-all, what can you do? And that is the question being directed to the top that they are refusing to reply to. And that is why we are angry because we too have friends and relatives in uniform. ------------------- This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion! http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2015/02/pnoys-lack-of-leadership-exposed-following-the-mamasapano-massacre/comment-page-1/#comment-1102539

Since Oplan Marwan, this President has been acting strangely. First, he goes to Zamboanga without advising the Malacañang Press Corp 24 hours prior to the trip as they are wont to do. Cotabato City Hall, a six-hour drive from Zamboanga, because of prior notice, waits for him whole afternoon. He does not show up in Cotabato City in the meantime that news start filtering out of 44 SAF operatives are killed in the operation. News, or rumors, are leaked that he either froze, or worse, commanded the reinforcing troops to stand down to save a questionable peace treaty called BBL instead of saving the 44. Instead of directly answering the news, he makes his pubic appearances as sparse as possible. Instead of directly confronting the damning allegations, he allows as many investigating bodies as possible. Now that all these investigating bodies are all being perceived as attempts at whitewash or cover-up, we are being fed with the hashtag #PNoyPaRin? You all must be baliw, a thousand more ...

1. Agree you now have the crtical mass. The Manila Times survey showing 48% blaming Aquino directly for the SAF 44 is clear majority since the 52% breaks down to small percentages blaming the army, milf, napeñas, the situation, etc. Strike now while iron is hot. 2. Agree with your argument that even if P-Noy's term has one-week to go, he still has to resign if only for symbolism so that never again should anybody run for that office if he/she is a nincompoop or has no solid qualification to show. Palace repeated call that people have to consider that P-Noy has only a year left anyway is sending a totally immoral or unethical message. 3. Please ask the following not to participate: 3.1 Norberto Gonzales (and all the other Cabinet members of Gloria.) They represent a cure worse than the disease. 3.2 Peping and Tingting Cojuangco (and all other personalities that are well-known Trapos) That is not moving forward. They represent retrogression, and worse for these two, they ar...

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The US never fought an internal war of its own the way we do. It involves itself in conflicts, wars, etc. because it not only has interest in many countries but it is a superpower acting as the global police. She fights the wars of others as a means to protect theirs and her interests in the long term. And not only that, the military industrial complex as a money-making enterprise makes war America's business. Network of contracts and flows of money and resources among people and countries is the order of the day, hence, America needs to fight wars and engage in skirmishes and conflicts in order to oil the wheels of the business. We are none of those. We are not in the business of war. We're in the business of peace and justice. Peace with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and justice for those who perished in Mamasapano, an area in Mindanao that is under the control or jurisdiction of the MILF, a group that threatens the state with arms and violence and self-promote...

Maraming Pilipino ang gusto ng pagbabago pero ang problema ng iba, balat sibuyas at hindi makatanggap ng constructive criticism at ang laging bukambibig ay mag good vibes na lang. Pag pinipintasan si Ngoyngoy, maka Binay ka na. Pag bobo ang tingin mo kay Trillanes, si Grace Poe ang manok mo sa 2016. Andaming gago at mabababaw na nabubuhay sa ganitong false logic. Pinalaki kasi sila sa corrupt system na mas mahalaga ang relihiyon at may kinakampihan kesa gumalaw para sa sarili nila. Tinuturuan tayo ng mga magulang natin na maging palaasa at utu uto sa ibang tao at walang tamang disiplina para mabuhay na independent. Ilang Pilipino ang nakatira pa rin sa mga magulang past their 30s? Ilang college graduates ang hanggang ngayon ay hindi makabuo ng basic English sentence at nagkakamali pa rin sa resume? Gaano karaming tao ang mas gusto pang manood ng Korean novela maghapon kesa magtrabaho at baguhin ang buhay nila? Maraming gusto ng pagbabago pero puro hanggang salita lang. --------...

The irritating thing is that people from luzon do not know the true colors of Muslims. As a person who grew up in Mindanao, I am very much against the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). It is very dangerous for us living nearby. At my place, we fear Muslims because they have this hideout place Lanao del Sur where they could hide and retreat everytime they cause you crime or injury. Muslims are untouchable by law, they would be even more after BBL. After BBL, the Christian majority will feel helpless to seek justice if the offender is a muslim. the Muslim minority will be more abusive as they already are. In Mindanao, there is just one rule to remember; never trust Muslims. this phrase vary from place to place, but they all have that same common message. ----------------- This is a GRP Featured Comment. Join the discussion! http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2015/02/sleeping-with-terrorists-why-we-should-abandon-any-further-work-on-the-bangsamoro-basic-law/comment-page-1/#comment-1...

In 1976, there was a treaty (the Tripoli Agreement) negotiated in Libya with MNLF under Nur Misuari; now, there is another proposed treaty, this time around with MILF, scheduled to be signed this year 2015. But PEACE may not be guaranteed to ensue immediately, for there's still another group in the offing — BIFF. I'm sure there's going to be another treaty to be inked with this third group soon. And so, expect more treaties with the fourth, the fifth and perhaps hundreds of other alphabet soup acronyms or abbreviations of Muslim groups that will once again emerge from time to time, claiming to own a territory until the whole island of Mindanao will be ceded — if only to give PEACE a chance to flourish there. So, I think the ultimate (but still hidden) target is, after all, the whole island of Mindanao. Regarding this matter, I refer you to the Official Statement of the MILF by Al Haj Murad Ebrahim on the massacre last 25th January 2015 as follows: http://www.inter...

I'm not sure whether people know this, but in fact our Muslim brothers from some Muslim areas in Lanao staged rallies protesting the BBL. Why? because they very well know that it will be the MILF leadership that will call the shots if and when the BBL passes. Iligan City, for example, which is 30min from marawi city (proposed part of BBL) and a little less from Balo-i (also proposed BBL territory) is home to many Christians, as well as Muslims. They share the place. Now the general sentiment of Iliganons is what will become of them if they stray a little bit into Bangsamoro land? Will they be summarily shot as the policemen from SAF were? Simply because they failed to "coordinate"? With whom exactly? MILF leadership? Why exactly? Are those grounds not Philippine soil, hence, free to every Filipino regardless of religion or ethnicity? I want to remind the government and the people outside of Mindanao, that not all Mindanawans are Muslim. Not all Muslims are MILF. N...

The government should set a deadline for the MILF to comply with its demand to capture and surrender those who perpetrated the killings. Failure to comply within the deadline would be an option for the government to mount an operation and accomplish the task required. I know it's very easy for civilians like us to talk about 'war' but the reality is we, the civilians through the president, have the duty to determine the course of such delicate issues. And I say, of all the criticisms the president is getting in running the gov't, these killings will be the acid test of his capability to lead this country. This is big time. Decision to wage war against enemies has always been a standard leaders are measured of. How will PNoy handle the problem will be put under the microscope because this is no longer an ordinary corruption allegation or social bungling or petty mistakes or political gaffe that we ordinary read on this blog and elsewhere. We are talking of people w...

If we piece together what we have in the maintream media, there were 392 SAF operatives, or 49 teams/ squads, i.e., 8 to a squad. The 49 squads were divided into three groups (a) the core group composed of 4 teams, or about 32 men (some media report this as composed of 38 men), directly tasked with extracting, dead or alive, Marwan and Usman, (b) the blocking force composed of 5 teams, or about 40 men (most media report this as composed of 38 men), and (c) the support group composed of 40 teams that stayed in the vehicles parked in the main road. In the cover of darkness of Saturday night, 9 teams entered the field via a delivery truck that normally picked up the corn products in the area. They drove as far as there was a road. Then they started hiking until the river and waded through the river which was about chest deep. Crossing the river, five teams, or the blocking force, stayed around this area as this was the critical point of exit. Four teams proceeded towards the target, a...

Who you like and idolize is a reflection of who you are. I don't know who Marian is so I looked a little closer out of curiosity. One has to wonder, what kind of woman this actress must be that made people so blind. I thought she must have the charisma and kindness of the likes of princess Diana for the people of a country devastated by so much disasters to defend a thoughtless extravagant wedding so passionately. To my astonishment, I discovered this actress is no Princess Diana. She is one mean spirited woman who threatened another actress that with just one text, her fans would kill that actress simply because she was jealous. She has locked another actress in a bathroom. Fought with so many other women . This has been proven and made headlines. Her defense is she is a Cavitena. So she fights. She hits her assistants, yells and just acts entitled and mean. All these are not just hearsay but even caught on videos. At one point she was even named one of the most hated people i...

Here's an enlightening view on the Mindanao problem and the perceived need for the Bangsamoro Basic Law from Philip Asperga, a Muslim who was born and has lived in Mindanao all his life. Please read so we'd all be enlightened about the problem amidst the din of clashing voices regarding the "need to pass the BBL": Ako ay ipinanganak at lumaki sa Mindanao. Ang aking mga anak at apo ay dito din ipinanganak at lumaki.Kung mayron man nakakakilala sa mga MUSLIM kami yon na mga ipinanganak at lumaki dito sa Mindanao at hindi ang mga nasa Luzon o kaya sa Visayas. May mga kamag-anak ako na ang kanilang asawa ay muslim at lahat sila ya nagpaconvert sa Muslim. Ngunit hindi namin pinigilan dahlia sa maliban na karaptan nila yon, wala naman masama sa Reliheyon ng Muslim. Masaya naman ang lahat dahil ang pinaiiral namin ay respito sa isat isa. Marami din ako kaibaigan na muslim. Lahat ng muslim na naghahanapbuhay dito sa bayan namin ay masayang nakikihalabilo sa mga kristyan...

I can define BS Aquino's presidency in five events. First, the Manila hostage taking where a handful of Hong Kong residents were killed. I remember it vividly. As a housewife who is always tuned into the radio, I remember wondering why no one was paying attention to the situation. It started in early in the afternoon and ended at night. Not one of the "smart boys" from the Aquino government gave a hoot. To make matters worse, we found out that BS Aquino was having dinner in some Chinese restaurant nearby. He was excused from this. Second, the Yolanda typhoon where he showed insensitivity and callousness. He had the nerve to talk about being hungry when he's never experienced the pain of going totally hungry because of EXTREME poverty. He showed no compassion for the people that had lost everything. Again, he was excused from this. Third, pork barrel. He welcomed that pork-looking Napoles to Malacanang, To make it worse, he even escorted her to her cell. Then he ...