The CJ Corona Impeachment Qoutable Qoutes

A day after the decision for Chief Justice Corona, I finally come to the point thinking "What is the government's next soap opera?" Millions of people observed the trial since day one and now it came to an end. Though I'm going to miss my favorite character Atty. Cuevas, I hope this episode won't happen again to fulfill political ambition. 


And as I am awake more than 24 hours from my work going home to witness history unfold, I can't help but notice several lawyers and senators doze off during Juan Ponce Enrile's speech. 


And I'm proud of what my generation demonstrated the time this chaos has been on going. We're involved! 

As I read over the Senator judges' manuscripts, I came across several lines worth noting: 


The CJ Corona Impeachment Qoutable Qoutes


EDGARDO J. ANGARA

• The law was never intended to be a convenient device for Filipino public officials to conceal their assets.

ALAN PETER CAYETANO

• Gusto ko po na magbago ang ating bansa. Gusto ko po na makita na nakatawa rin ang aking ama. Ngunit mayroon din pong kanser ang ating lipunan. Kanser na ang ibang batas at ang ibang pamantayan o standard sa ating lipunan ay iba para sa mayaman at makapangyarihan at iba para sa mahirap. Kanser ng korupsyon. Kanser na para sa mga mayaman at makapangyarihan na ang simple ay ginagawang komplikado.
• Pati ba naman sa pera may diskriminasyon tayo? Pati ba naman sa sarili nating bansa ay nangingibabaw ang dolyar sa peso?
• Bakit sa mahirap pag nahuli, ang sasabihin sa kanya: sa presinto ka na magpaliwanag? Bakit po kapag mayaman lahat ng lusot, batas, at technicalities available sa kanya?
• Kapag ang isang mahirap, nahulihan ng asawa na may sweet na text sa iba sa kanyang cellphone, ano ang sasabihin niya? “Honey, mis-sent ‘yan,” o kaya ay “Hindi ko cellphone ‘yan”. Kapag ba mayaman kukuha pa ng abogado? Sasabihin mo pa ba, “Honey, hindi ko text ‘yan, text ng iba ‘yan. Nakigamit sa akin. Share kami. In trust ‘yan. Co-mingled text iyan. Kaya hindi sa akin ‘yan.”
• Technicalities should protect the rights of the people. I don’t blame this court for sticking to technicalities because this is supposed to protect the rights of the people. But, somehow in this country, it is being used to protect people who plunder this country.
• to us as a nation, let us pound on the truth, pound on justice. Let us pound on grafters in this country.
• “If your client cannot explain, I cannot abstain.”
• If you did not disclose, we have to depose. If you are not fit, you cannot sit.
• corruption has a direct co-relation to investments, business, jobs, prices, and the quality of services we give our people.
• Kung gusto nating magbago ang bansa, dapat pare-pareho.

PIA CAYETANO

• "Public office is a pubic trust." Once trust is gone, we must step down to preserve integrity of one's office
• In our interpretation of the law, we who hold a position of public trust, must choose the interpretation that will uphold pubic interest over private interest. 
• My fervent hope is that in the future, the pursuit of justice is conducted in a more responsible manner, lest our children are left with the impression that those accused of wrongdoing can be persecuted without respecting their rights.

FRANKLIN DRILON

• A corrupt official will commit corruption, the fruits of corruption will be converted into foreign exchange and the foreign exchange will be deposited in a foreign currency deposit unit.” 
• Those who dispense justice must conform to the highest standards of professional integrity, and personal honesty.

FRANCIS ESCUDERO

• Dalangin ko po na sana agad na magsimula ang paghilum ng pait, sugat at pagkakawatak-watak ng ating bansa. Sana naman, pagkatapos nito ay tama na! Let us move on and move forward. Pag-tuunan na natin ng pansin ang mahahalagang problema sa ating bansa na may kinalaman sa ating ekonomiya at paglagay ng pagkain sa bawat lamesa.

TEOFISTO GUINGONA III

• Ang Saligang Batas ay sagrado. Anumang paglusot sa mga utos nito; anumang pagbaluktot dito ay paglabag at pambabastos sa pinakamataas na Batas ng bansa.

JOSE "JINGOY" ESTRADA

• Corona “virtually hanged himself with that walkout.“It’s practically suicide. Or he’s killing himself slowly….It made life easier for the senator-judges.”

GREGORIO HONASAN

• "We have not proven that the defendant is corrupt or malicious... What is clear is that he is not longer fit to preside over the highest court of the land...Doubt is the opposite of faith."
• “Whether it’s in a normal court proceeding or the impeachment trial, I cannot imagine a situation where a witness imposes a condition on the judge and the prosecutors.” 
• “You have to factor in evidence, testimonies, proof. But it’s a political process. Ultimately, you have to factor in what will be good for the country.”

PANFILO LACSON

• I have always been an investigator all my public service life. Modesty aside, I have the uncommon ability to determine if a person is telling the truth or not.
• Chief Justice Renato Corona used to work as a senior officer of the tax and corporate counseling group of the tax division of a prominent accounting firm, Sycip Gorres and Velayo and Company. He also taught commercial law, taxation and corporate law at the Ateneo de Manila University for 17 years. I find it hard to believe his testimony that he does not understand accounting.

MANUEL "LITO" LAPID

• "Hindi ako nagmamarunong, ginagamit ko lang ang aking konsyensya,"

LOREN LEGARDA

• Through it, we, as public officials, earn public trust. Public trust is not simply an administrative entitlement by those in government.
• For public trust is earned through transparent, often voluntary, gestures of honesty by officials in question, and not solely by legal argumentation, no matter how sophisticated.
• In casting my vote, Mr. President, my chief concern is the credibility and trust of our people in the most important institution of our land, whose mandate is to interpret the law and render wise and fair judgment equally to all.
• It was not easy, it is painful, but we must do it.

SERGIO OSMENA III

• Corona had also betrayed public trust because he failed to abide by the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of being a judge which the people must see the judge followed. 
• “Justice must not merely be done but must also be seen to be done

FRANCISCO "KIKO" PANGILINAN

•  “Anong masama na ideklara lahat kung walang itinatago?”
• Kung kaya niyang ipakita ang kawalan ng respeto sa 23 Senador nung siya ay nagtangkang magwalk-out, na sa aking paniwala ay napigil lamang dahil sa mabilis na kilos ng ating mahal na Senate President, ginawa sa harap mismo ng lahat ng media at buong bansa, paano kaya ang pagtrato niya sa maliliit nating mga kababayan na hindi mga Senador na dumudulog sa kanyang tanggapan para sa katarungan? 
• Siya ba ay mapagkakatiwalaan na rumespeto sa maliliit nating mga kababayan sa loob pa ng anim na taon?

AQUILINO "KOKO" PIMENTEL

• When there is “Sufficient Credible Evidence” to prove a constitutionally recognized ground for impeachment, then the impeached high government official must be REMOVED from office.
• There is no law exempting commingled funds from disclosure in the SALN.
• "Minarapat sana ng punong mahistrado na iwasan ang ganitong mga alanganing transaksyong pinansyal"
• "Hindi na nga iniwasan, ginagamit pang kasangkapan upang hindi tumupad sa kanyang tungkuling ilahad ang tunay niyang yaman"
• The duty of a public officer or employee to submit under oath a declaration of SALN is mandated by the Constitution
• An earlier law cannot be interpreted to nullify the purposes of a later law.
• When the law does not distinguish, neither should we distinguish!
• Simple lang, kung ayaw mong ilahad ang tunay mong yaman, huwag kang pumasok sa gobyerno!
• Ang patakarang pinatutupad para sa pangkaraniwang empleyado ng gobierno ay dapat ding ipatupad sa punong mahistrado.
• "Ang batas para kay Juan ay batas din para kay Renato!"

RAMON "BONG" REVILLA JR.

• "It is now time for our people and our nation to move forward. We must now set aside the hurt, our partisanship, and our differences so that we can unite and work together.
• "Ang pulitika, dapat 90 days lang sa nasyunal, at 45 days lang sa lokal. Pagkatapos niyan, wala na munang parti-partido kung ang pinag-uusapan ay ang kapakanan ng bayan. We are one with the campaign against corruption and supportive of government's efforts to uplift the country, but will continue to be watchful and ready to fiscalize.
• "Alang-alang sa pagkakaisa at paghilom ng ating bayan; alang-alang sa pagpapatibay ng mga institusyon ng ating pamahalaan; alang-alang sa mga darating pang henerasyon at ng ating kinabukasan; tayo po ay magkaisa at magtulungan."

MIRIAM DEFENSOR SANTIAGO

• "The executive and legislative branches are political in nature but the judicial branch is nonpolitical. If the chief justice is removed for political reasons, then that would be a signal that even the judicial branch has also become political. That would be the end of our democracy as we know it today."
• The defendant used his own name in all his questioned transactions. He could have done otherwise, if his purpose was invisibility. Why would a suspected criminal leave his calling cards at the scene of the crime?

FERDINAND "BONGBONG" MARCOS

• If there had been any violations of the law by the Chief Justice, these violations do not rise to the level of an impeachable offense.
• The lady justice wears a blindfold for a reason. She is to render judgment based on law and evidence, without regard to the circumstances and personalities of the parties involved --- however controversial they may be. She is to dispense justice without fear or favor

VICENTE "TITO" SOTTO

• Ang taumbayan ay naghahalal ng mga Senador mula sa iba't-ibang propesyon at estado ng lipunan, upang sila'y katawanin at bumigkas ng kanilang saloobin. Ang tunay na hukom sa paglilitis na ito ay ang taong bayan. Nadinig nila ang dalawang panig. Tulad namin, hindi sila lahat abogado. Ngunit ang kapangyarihan ng demokrasya ay nasa kanilang mga kamay. In my conscience I have heard their decision.

The Unevitable

A bad news, always a bad news no matter how simple or emphatic you really mean. Still a bad news.


Couple of weeks ago, a friend from elementary and high school, two years younger than me, passed away. He's too young but no days were never added to his life.


He was one of my colleagues in high school who had the patience to teach me the art of arnis.


Earlier at the office, one of my friends received a text message saying "to all friends of my brother, he passed away".


Wouldn't you be shocked once you be given such news? Well, every news about someone passing away is always shocking unless his life is exactly lived to the very minute that he won't draw a last breath.


He was a friend who recently resigned. Jolly, friendly and talkative. I remember confiding to him and he never fails to make me smile. I remember being hungry one time and he has all his grocery stuff inside his locker. Easy food access.


"While we are mourning for the loss of our friend, others are rejoicing to meet him beyond the veil." -John Taylor-


Rest in peace Rommel Plamio and Carl Michael Catacutan. Though the end of your journey is unforeseen, I know in one way or another you've touched lives along the way. Say hi to mom and dad for me. 


"A human life is a story told by God." 
- Hans Christian Andersen

A Truth Universally Acknowledged...

I am putting this into writing since I feel that the latter part of my previous post was rather inappropriate. I was about to edit it, such that the final episode be another blog posted but I was late. I was able to publish it and soon after, comments and suggestions flooding my email. whew..

Going back, to the boys from my high school, let me start with the first lines from -Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice-

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. "

Though men portrayed from those works of fiction reveals men who in their own approach pursues a lady who has a character that will hold them off.

However, it's fiction.

Well, "those guys" , who remained single up to this point dated plenty, had long-term girlfriends… most tended to start out with cute flirting and a bit of shyness (on both sides) before developing into a deeper feeling of connection. You may deny it but it's true.

Instances are, since there are plenty of everything, sometimes one grows tired of it.

Or maybe not.. We may have overlooked someone too.

In all seriousness, I was able to come across a photo online which gives us a rather insensitive truth.



Funny thing, I remember a quote from twitter that goes exactly like this, "Ang mga gwapo naman hindi ginawa para sa mga magaganda. Dahil ang gwapo ginawa para sa gwapo din."

Guys, is it true?
I do hope not.

It doesn't have to be so hurtful, but what's the rush?
What's your status again?

*** its complicated ***

I like!!

Stay happy guys.

Back to Saint Louis High School Philex

It has been more than a decade when we stepped out of high school. Most of us would agree that this is the best part of being a teenager. In college, I was one of the students who's very vocal about missing the part of my life when I was in high school. Most of us are. Especially, after the most awaited march, we talked about plans in college, what school and course to take.

This is the part of life where memories flood. Bullies, friends, competitors, jokers, crushes, snobs, cleaners, late comers, love life, cheaters, red marks, reports, intramurals, cheering, parades, sports fest, etc. You name it.

My high school teachers are the people I look up to the most. They taught me a lot of things, inspire me, help me to excel and impart that life has a lot to offer if you could maximize your skills.

Thanks to social networking.. Friendster, Yahoo personals, Multiply, Linked, Tagged, Google Plus, Myspace, and now the famous Facebook.

From here, wherever we are, I was able to get in touch with people from high school wherever they are in the world. From here, we keep in touch and from here, it has been easier to plan activities and get together.

Our batch, Saint Louis High School Philex '99 is a batch of the most rowdy students. Bullies, that even teachers was not able to escape. I remember several teachers crying because of raucous attitude towards them. Our greatest asset however I can say is our teamwork. You know what I mean.

Though most from our batch are now living their, I say, most sought life, still others stay single. Majority married during their late 20's. Those who got married earlier were, in my own opinion, not able to cope up with quarter life crisis.

Within our groups, I didn't fail to notice a post about being single. Am not being harsh. To tell you honestly, most of the good looking gentleman came from our batch were not yet taken. I can't help but to smile. I can hardly imagine these people being single when they're the "Most sought of Bachelors" from our batch.



As I was reading "A weekend with Mr. Darcy" by Victoria Connelly, I just can't help but wander, Had Mr. Darcy overlooked Elizabeth? Maybe Mr. Bingley never made the effort to fish for Jane's heart. Or maybe Cinderella was never found when she left her slippers after midnight. Perhaps Prince Charming was not aware that Sleeping Beauty was asleep. Probably Snowhite married one of the seven dwarfs after all.

Nonetheless, I just hope for a -happily ever after- ending for all of us..

The famous brickgame

Fifteen years ago, I was one of the guilty kids who craves for this. At that era, who did not?


I remember 1 brick game would cost around 800 pesos to 5,000 pesos depending on how many "games" it has. I'm not so sure if there was a price greater than that but to my knowledge, 5k was the most expensive brickgame I encountered which has 9999 in one print and when I scroll through the list of games it has, I didn't notice much difference except that you can play it upside down. Yup, it's upside down. Instead of breaking bricks downwards towards you, it goes up.. 


There were times when newsflash contains people meeting accidents because of these gadgets.
And if my memory serves me right, Eat Bulaga also had a time when one of their highlights features people who would have the highest score for brickgames.



Gone are those days.


Now, there are several gadgets that we consider fab and famous and lately, I discovered this...

The famous brickgame is now on facebook. With two players up to six and four different variations where you can play with someone you know or settle with an AI (artificial intelligence).


Now, lets play.. Challenge... Anyone????

Can't get over Mr. Darcy

As I finish Sue Grafton's alphabetical novel, I came across my old book by Jane Austen. This book was in my possession since 1996. It was a gift from my dad that I have read million times over and over again.
 To tell you the truth, British English during that age was too difficult to understand. I still can recall, this book took me 8 months to finish it. yup..it took me eight full months to finish the book. 

A gift from Dad, 15 years in my possesion

Now, from the shelf, from the boxes and from it's brittle pages, I find myself engrossed with it. AGAIN.. For the nth time, I just can't get over Mr. Darcy..  


Any body there to get me a new one? hehehe..

Why I hate Religion but I love Jesus

What if I told you Jesus came to abolish religion
What if I told you voting Republican really wasn't His mission?
What if I told you republican doesn't automatically mean Christian
And just because you call some people blind doesn't automatically give you vision

I mean if religion is so great, why has it started so many wars
Why does it build huge churches, but fails to feed the poor
Tells single moms God doesn't love them if they've ever had a divorce
But in the Old Testament, God actually calls religious people whores
Religion might preach grace, but another thing they practice
Tend to ridicule God's people, they did it to John The Baptist
They can't fix their problems, and so they just mask it
Not realizing religion's like spraying perfume on a casket
See the problem with religion, is it never gets to the core
It's just behavior modification, like a long list of chores
Like lets dress up the outside make look nice and neat
But it's funny that's what they use to do to mummies while the corpse rots underneath

Now I ain't judging, I'm just saying quit putting on a fake look
Cause there's a problem if people only know you're a Christian by your Facebook
I mean in every other aspect of life, you know that logic's unworthy
It's like saying you play for the Lakers just because you bought a jersey

You see this was me too, but no one seemed to be on to me
Acting like a church kid, while addicted to pornography
See on Sunday I'd go to church, but Saturday getting faded
Acting if I was simply created just to have sex and get wasted
See I spent my whole life building this facade of neatness
But now that I know Jesus, I boast in my weakness

Because if grace is water, then the church should be an ocean
It's not a museum for good people, it's a hospital for the broken
Which means I don't have to hide my failure, I don't have to hide my sin
Because it doesn't depend on me it depends on him
See because when I was God's enemy and certainly not a fan
He looked down and said I want, that, man
Which is why Jesus hated religion, and for it he called them fools
Don't you see so much better than just following some rules
Now let me clarify, I love the church, I love the Bible, and yes I believe in sin
But if Jesus came to your church would they actually let him in
See remember he was called a glutton, and a drunkard by religious men
But the son of God never supports self righteousness not now, not then

Now back to the point, one thing is vital to mention
How Jesus and religion are on opposite spectrum
See one's the work of God, but one's a man made invention
See one is the cure, but the other's the infection
See because religion says do, Jesus says done
Religion says slave, Jesus says son
Religion puts you in bondage, while Jesus sets you free
Religion makes you blind, but Jesus makes you see
And that's why religion and Jesus are two different clans

Religion is man searching for God, Christianity is God searching for man
Which is why salvation is freely mine, and forgiveness is my own
Not based on my merits but Jesus's obedience alone
Because he took the crown of thorns, and the blood dripped down his face
He took what we all deserved, I guess that's why you call it grace
And while being murdered he yelled
"Father forgive them they know not what they do."
Because when he was dangling on that cross, he was thinking of you
And he absorbed all of your sin, and buried it in the tomb
Which is why I'm kneeling at the cross, saying come on there's room
So for religion, no I hate it, in fact I literally resent it
Because when Jesus said it is finished, I believe he meant it

Tulfo vs. Raymart and Claudine

The Santiago couple doing press conference and interviews every now and then asking for public sympathy is so tiring. 


The incident happened in a public place where the couple are considered public figure and the other is a journalist. A journalist will write and report something that will catch the public interest which is what exactly is Claudine doing at the airport at that time. 


Reading over twitter, people are not sympathetic with the celebrity couple but more of the journalist. What's there to say? The video  and photos can talk for itself. 


Knowing the Tulfos, they won't just suddenly hit you because you are asking for the cellphone. So lame as I may say. All of them are martial arts expert but during that time, he was the one who got beaten. Maybe because if he fights back, couple of security guards along with Raymart are rushed to the nearest hospital. 

 
The Tulfo brothers were suspended because of what they say over national television. That's understandable. 
But ganging up a 65-year old man? I don't think so. Since it is a public place, and both of them are adults, with kids around, It should have been settled in a diplomatic way.


I never thought Claudine can also be as chaotic as Gretchen.. Well, I guess there's no surprise. They're SIBLINGS. 

I won't last a day without you..

"When there's no getting over that rainbow.. When my smallest of dreams won't come true. I can't take all the madness, the world has to give but I won't last a day without you.."


I still remember me and my mom sing this song in the kitchen. It was when things were so simple and we were trying to sew down our relationship that was broken in the past. I was the time when we were celebrating and starting a life anew with everything that was left of us.. It was a time when problems just swept away with laughter and a song.

My mom's presence was never ignored. She kept doing things that are sometimes unessential but believes to make sense. Me and my brothers won't last a day without asking mama our things. From the start of the day, asking where our uniform is, asking what's for breakfast, asking for "baon" until we left from school. Then again ask what's for lunch, dinner and answers for assignments..


She keeps getting nervous for small little things. She's nervous turning on the computer, nervous opening the cellphone and she's afraid travelling alone. My mom's naive. Funny thing is, I didn't grow up to be like her. 


During the times that she's silent, I'm loud. When she's damsel in distress, I'm her knight in shining armor. My mom hates argument. I love one. 


I don't wonder why my friends, my brother's friends love her. She's so hospitable to treat everyone like her child. I remember several boys running away from home and find theirs in ours. Soon, their parents will come and talk to my mother asking if the boys are safe and if they can stay for a day or two. 


Memories like these are  so vivid that I still can't get them off my mind. 


Similar to that, I also won't be able to forget how her sister tricked her by living inside our own house and claiming it for her own. I still can remember how her other brothers and sisters won't come forward to help her and to get everything straightened out. Only one of her sisters stand out for her. 


She has a lot of friends. And that's how we, me and my brothers survived.


Sometimes I still stop and pause thinking everything should have been easier if she's still alive. 


Happy Mother's Day to all moms out there..