Loving Cory

Cory the builder fish

Cory, a yellow Midas cichlid who joined our family six years ago, passed away last December 5, maybe of old age, or of having pebbles in her belly, or probably a combination of both. In 2010 Cory and other colorful cichlids, plus some goldfish, enlarged the population in the 80-liter aquarium. It takes only a molecular jump of the imagination to connect her vivid yellow coloration to a certain president, although that president was never admired here. The Cory we had learned to love was the fish.

"Ang galing natin, no?" I told Sogo, my assistant/yaya/adviser, "Paano nga ba natin nalamang babae si Cory?" It turned out that after the arbitrary naming, came the assumption that every Cory is certainly a female. Never in her entire existence, from fingerlinghood to adulthood, did Cory reproach us for such an unscientific approach; with neither a word nor an eyeblink did we discern any displeasure on her part. We did not have to offer the excuse that we had been used to determining genders by peeking at rear ends of numerous kittens and puppies that had become part of our large menagerie of mammals and fish, which included us, of course.

We learned one vital thing about raising fish: Cichlids and goldfish do a colorful aquarium make, but certain species are not meant to be together in one place. This fact was driven home when one morning we saw one of the goldfish wagging its tails erratically, because its prominent eyes were gone, just empty, dark sockets left; while in a bottom corner floated the fleshless but intact skeleton of another fish -- the kind we see on cartoon shows on TV, when the cat drops a fish into his tummy and pulls out a skeleton complete with fishhead, ribs, and tail -- mini scenes befitting a Stephen King novel, if the thought crosses his mind to write about terror in 80 liters of water.

The quirk that made Cory memorable as well as adorable was her ability to make a small hill at the right front corner of the aquarium. Whenever the water was changed and after all the fish were returned, Cory right away sucked into her mouth some of the pebbles that served as the surface of the aquarium floor and then disgorged them at her regular corner. Without stop she went to get more pebbles and added to the stack until the floor in the vicinity became clear glass. In her youth, when her coat was full yellow, she was even able to build two mounds, one on each side of her. The first time I saw the high mound she had built, I was so impressed I took several cyber photos of Cory beside her engineering feat. My wife made some video records.

At the beginning of December I happened to look at the aquarium, and I sensed that something was out of place. Then I realized what was wrong: every pebble was in place -- no big mound, no busy Cory sucking and disgorging pebbles! I looked at her preferred corner, and there she was, bigger but paler, and slower. She was just in her corner, just floating in a way that alarmed me. In my school days I also raised goldfish in a smaller fishtank, and I learned that when a fish swimmed in a way that its body pointed vertically rather than horizontally, it was just a matter of days when it would float belly up. And that was how Cory was coping, fins slowly waving while her body tilted upward. I asked Sogo to take pictures of Cory, to remember her by.

On December 5 I heard someone say Cory was no more. Now not only her corner but the entire aquarium seems dark without her coloration and movement, and it doesn't seem foolish to write about a fish who kept building mounds as long as she could, the clicks of the pebbles resonating in my memory.

Cory was interred below the mango tree in the garden, where she joined Rex, the Chow Chow patriarch, and the numerous kittens who died at birth or of illness. They say beloved pets who die go to The Rainbow Bridge, where they romp and play all day. I'm hoping that below that consoling bridge is a lake or river where fishes can swim in delight and find worms or pebbles to put in their mouths.

Cory in happier days

https://www.facebook.com/leena.calso/videos/vb.1004570596/10209696013009477/?type=2&theater

Ode to the Uod

Ang Paraan sa Paglilibing sa Isang Magnanakaw by ISAGANI FUENTES

Isang Peklat na Pahimakas

Aba, ginoong Marcos, ginulat mo kami!
Para kang magnanakaw sa dilim ng gabi --
Diretso sa hukay, kulang sa paalam,
Dagdag-bawas pati iyong pasiyam.

May nagmamarkulyo, di ka raw santo.
Okay lang kay Digong, bato rin ang puso.
Sasamahan ka hanggang impiyerno --
Sabihin kay Imelda, mag-LBC ng yelo.

Paalam, sundalong pulpol,
Tangna nyo, loyalistang ulol.
Kahit na marmol ang iyong puntod,
Lakay, pulutan ka ng uod.

***

Isang baku-bako at tulalang tula na isinilang matapos makita ang painting ni Isagani Fuentes. Salamat, Igan, sa permisong magamit ko ang iyong obra dito.

Simulan na ang piging ng mga uod

Putsa! Nagsisimula pa lang sa DZMM ang MMK kaninang ala-una at inilalatag pa lang ang love story ni Rica Peralejo nang ibinulabog ng newsbreak ang napakawalang-kwentang anunsiyo na nagdesisyon na ang Korte Suprema na ilibing si Marcos sa Libingan ng mga Bayani. Eh di ilibing! Alisin na sa eskaparateng aircon yang berdugong yan at ibaon na sa lupa. Simulan ng ang Piging ng mga Uod.

Ewan ko ba bakit binibigyan ng respeto ang mga putanginang mga hukom ng Korte Suprema ganyang halata namang nasuhulan ang mga impakto (at dalawang impakta). Ngayong November 8 nagkunwang nagbotohan ang mga tarantado, pero kahapon pa ay kalat na ang magiging desisyon, di nga lang sigurado kung walo o siyam ang lihis ang wisyo sa kanila. Ngayon alam nating siyam na nga, at posibleng sampo, kung di maipaliwanag nang mabuti nung isa bakit tumabla at nag-recuse siya. Ang sigurado dito, kumita nang malaki ang ilan sa kanila at inaareglo na nila ang pagtago ng hidden wealth mula sa BIR. Di sila takot na malaman ito ng nga anak-pawis: Tingnan mo, nagwawagayway ang maraming hakot na loyalists, ni hindi nila alam na ang ipinambayad sa kanila ay matagal nang ninakaw sa kanilang ninuno.

At ang oposisyon? Ha ha ha! Tingnan mo si Colmenares, kukumbinsihin daw niya si Duterte na bumaligtad sa pagbigay ng dangal sa kapwa berdugong pangulo. Hay naku, yan ang bayad ni Digong sa mga Marcos para dun sa solid na boto ng mga panggalatok sa kanya nung election. Ginamit lang front si Miriam para humatak ng boto para kay Bongbong. Ano pa ang sabi ni Colmanares? Magmo-motion for reconsideration pa raw! Anong akala niya, isosoli ng mga ganid na hukom yung ibinayad sa kanila? Itong kay Digong talagang napaka-voluntary ng bayad niya sa mga among Marcos -- sa patay na Marcos, sa matronang Marcos, sa mga anak ng Marcos na ewan lang ba't magkadikit ang itaas at ibabang mga ngipin kung magsalita. Himod-Marcos itong ating loyalist na panggulo ng bayan. Pero itong mga ganid at dupang na mga hukom, laging gutom ang mga bank account ng mga pinsang-buo ni Satanas na mga yan. Respect the rule of law daw. Pwepwepwepweh!

Speaking of the devil, pag ililibing na ang Marcos na yan, di ba aalisin na sa kanyang estante? Di ba mainit sa labas kung wala nang aircon? At di ba mas mainit du'n sa pupuntahan niyan? Anyway, bago sa final and sizzling destination niya ay pararangalan muna siya ni Digong -- military honor bilang dating presidenteng pinagnakawan ang mga kababayan na ang karamiha'y pati mga sira-ulong anak at apo ay pumapalakpak pa; at bilang dating sundalo nung World War II, na pinaghahanap ng mga Pilipinong gerilya para bitayin dahil kasabwat pala ng mga Hapon. (Nasa record na pinatay ng mga gerilya ang kanyang tatay noon dahil tauhan ito ng mga Hapon.) May 21-gun salute pang pa-bon voyage sa kanya, sa halip na bala ng firing squad ng mga gerilya noon. Anyway, kahit gaano pakintabin ni Duterte ang seremonya, bandang huli ay ibabaon din ang Marcos na yan sa lupa -- wala nang preservatives, wala nang eskaparate, wala nang freon -- kung saan naghihintay ang mga barkadang uod para gawing pulutan si Mr. Maharlika.

Pero pupunta nga ba ang kaluluwa nito sa impiyerno? Assuming na hindi halang ang nabanggit na kaluluwa at pumalaot nga sa Super Sauna sa Ibaba, marahil ay dapat kumapit nang mahigpit itong si Bad Boy Lucifer sa kanyang trono at baka isang nagliliyab na umaga ay magising siyang iba na ang hari ng Hell 1081. Ang lakas pa namang mag-power extension ng mamang iyan, kuwidaw ang octopus outlet.

Natatawa ako minsan sa mga Marcos, kay Digong, kay Estelito at mga kalaro niyang mga hukom, sa mga nagtitilamsikang mga loyalists -- nagplano, nagpondo, nakipagbulungan, nag-buy and sell ng ilang kaluluwa, para makarating sa araw na ito, na sabihing puwede nang itulos sa hahalayin nilang libingan ang labi ng isang kung di lang engot ay dapat kampante na sa 24/7 na air conditioned Funko Pop case niya. Doon ay mananatiling buo pa sana ang kanyang katawang lupa at nakapustura pa. Pero ngayon, kahit magpumiglas ka, dedong Marcos, mag-uusap ang iyong junior, at iyong airhead na asawa, at iba pang alipores, para itakda kung kailan ka i-e-evict diyan, at pababayaan ka nang maagnas, at maging lamang-tiyan ng mga bulate. Weather-weather lang, ika nga: nung bata ka may bulate ka sa tiyan; ngayon, ikaw ang nasa tiyan ng bulate.

Sinong may sabing walang hustisya sa lupa?

Cohen's Dark Hallelujah

Cohen's book of poetry

"Kilala mo si Leonard Cohen?" Ako, nagtatanong.

"Hinde. Evicted sa PBB?" Si Jojo, kaibigan, reality show aficionado.

"Aguy! Sikat siya sa US, at hindi tulad mong bopol!"

"The Biggest Loser? The Apprentice? Survivor? Clue naman huh."

"Sikat siyang songwriter. Patay na."

"Hindi survivor. Anong kanta niya ang alam ko?"

"Rubber Ducky. Kinanta ni Ernie sa Sesame Street."

"Oows? ♪ Rubber ducky, you're the one, you make bath time lots of fun. ♫ Goyo na ito. Ano talaga?"

"Superhit niya ang Hallelujah..."

"Kay Bamboo yan eh."

"Iba yung kay Bamboo. Madalas kantahin sa X-Factor at American Idol ang kay Cohen."

"Ahaha! ♫ I've heard there was a secret chord, that David played and it pleased the Lord, but you don't really care for music, do ya. Hallelujahhh...♫"

"O sige na, sige na. Tigil na ang atungal. Whoo! Sakit sa tenga."

"Masterpiece song yan, 'tol, yun bang magkahalong banal at Mike Hammer, yun bang kalahating anghel at kalahating Duterte."

"Pa'no namang lumiko sa pulitika itong hallelujah? Ba't satanic na naman si Digong?"

"Itinulak niyang mailibing si Marcos, at inaprub ng Supreme Court."

"Masama ba yun? Akala ko ba'y idol mo si Leni dahil maganda ang legs niya. (Sagwa ng political criteria mo, bro!) Pero yun nga, pag inilibing si Bongbong mawawala na ang election protest sa pagka-VP ni Leni."

"Hanep ang update mo sa current events, 'tol, galing pa rin sa Spidey comics. Si lakay Marcos ang ibabaon sa Libingan ng mga Bayani, hindi si junior, kaya nag-aalsa na naman ang mga activists -- Teka, di ka galit sa nangyayari?"

"Ba't ako magalit eh matatanggal na at last sa display case ang bwisit na yun. Alam mo bang ninakaw na pera ng mga bobotante ang pinambabayad sa unlimited aircon doon sa musoleo? May bandera pa ng Pilipinas, may seal pa ng president, tapos sinasamba pa rin sa halip na ibaon sa limot, may guwardiya pa 'kala mo bayani talagang put--"

"Ah, basta mawala lang sa balat ng lupa kahit saan ay puwede?"

"Oo naman. Kahit isama pa ang asawa't mga anak sa hukay mas maigi pa. Hindi ang desisyon ng mga bayarang mga impakto at impakta ng Supreme Court ang may timbang sa ganitong usapin."

"Gano'n? Eh ba't nagpuputok ang butsi ng mga aktibista at diyarista?"

"Ganyan naman lagi pag may TV kamera, laging may nagmamartsa, sumisigaw ng slogan, taas-kamao at kapit-bisig, habang ang mga talagang may kinalaman sa issue ay mahinahong nagmamasid at nag-iisip ng posibleng lunas sa latest na virus ng lipunan. Kung di tatanungin, di magtatawag nang pansin. Satur Ocampo. Bonifacio Ilagan. Pete Lacaba..."

"Kaya pala tahimik sina Cabinet secretary Jun Evasco, DSWD secretary Judy Taguiwalo, DAR secretary Rafael Mariano, NAPC chairperson Liza Maza at Labor Usec Joel Maglungsod--"

"Hep! Hep! Ibang kulay ang mga yan at malayo sa tulad nina Edjop, Eman, Lean, Tonyhil, at iba pa. Ang mga Liza Maza ng pesteng bayan na ito ay maingay at laging nagmamartsa noon, yun pala iba ang landas na tinatahak nila at ginagamit lang ang mga anak-pawis para makarating sa -- dyaran! -- mataas na puwestong may mataas na suweldo. At pinagsisilbihan pa sila ngayon nang sangkatutak na mababang paygrade na empleyado."

"Pisting yawa! Karmahin sana ang mga chameleon na yan! Ibig mong sabihin itong generation ng mga nagsusulat sa mga leaflets, diyaryo, campus papers -- yung we protest/condemn in the highest terms the libing-libing and hero-hero -- ay nakasilip ang isang mata sa Malakanyakanyang Palace?!"

"Tulad ng anumang sector ng sangkatauhan, ganyan ang majority -- body and soul for sale. Ang iilang tapat, matalino, at tunay na makabayan ay hindi dumaraan sa matinding tukso ng ginto at posisyon, dahil sila ang unang nadededo sa pakikibaka, at ang natitira ay ang mahihina at tuso."

"Tindi mo namang humusga, 'tol. Wala ka nang nakitang positive--"

"Sige nga, magturo ka ng tapat, matalino at tunay sa mga Pinoy sa panahon na ito."

"Eh di si PNoy, por eksampol."

"Hindi lang masamang presidente si Noynoy, masama ring tao -- walang malasakit, tamad, bobo, madakdak, kunsintidor sa pagnanakaw ng mga kabarkada, trapo, oligarch at pikon tulad ng ina, palpak, panot. Ang dami kong kilalang mas pangit sa kanya, pero may asawa sila, minsan may kabit pa. Ba't parang pinandidirihan ng babae yan?"

"Teka ha, punasan ko lang itong pawis ko sa batok, masyadong chili flavor ang banat mo kay Noynoy. Skip na natin si Erap, Gloria, at si Digong ha, mapupuno tayo ng synonyms at antonyms nito."

"Sige. Siguro naman narinig mo na yung sinabi ni Digong -- on live TV pa ha -- na sa Cabinet meeting daw ay tinitingnan niya ang legs ni Leni. May karibal ka na hehe!"

"Ay tanginang go to hell pakyu na Duterte yan ha, pasalamat siya at nasa Malaysia ang lintiang maotog na singkit na tigbalang na yan. Putsang-- "

"Relax, bro, joke na naman daw. O, ito pang isang panyo. Alam mo, bumabalandra sa isip ko yang si Digong kung naririnig ko itong kanta ni Cohen, itong part na ito:
♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫
Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you to a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Halleluja
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah..." 
 ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫

"Thank you, tol. Alam mo, pag naririnig ko ang pagkanta mo, lumiliwanag ang pag-iisip ko at nakikita kong kahit malupit si Duterte hindi pa rin siya ang pinakamasama, kahit idagdag mo pa si Donald Trump, hindi pa rin."

"Eh sino?"

"Ang boses mo, 'tol, siya ang salarin. Halika ka na at magtanim na lang tayo ng bala doon sa libingan. Dagdagan natin ng shabu."

Harinawa, Pareng Jojo Mejia...

ANG usapan nilang mag-asawa, kapag may isang nagkasakit nang malubha, hindi na pahahabain pa ang paghihirap niya.

May tawag kami diyan dito: “DNR” o “do not rescuscitate” o “allow for natural death.”

Joke lang po. Ang totoo po, hindi po angkop ang waiver na iyan sa ikukuwento ko sa inyo.

Halos naman siguro ng mga mag-asawa dumating sa ganitong usapan, lalo na kung hindi naman mayaman. Isa sa mga pangunahing dahilan kung bakit ayaw nating maratay nang matagal sa banig ng karamdaman: Ayaw nating pahirapan ang mga mahal natin sa buhay; mentally, emotionally, physically — at higit sa lahat — financially.

Hirap kasing isipin na mawawala ka sa mundo at iiwanan mo pa nang sandamukal na problema at mga utang ang mga mahal mo sa buhay. Hindi ba naman, ‘yan ang madalas na kinakatakutan natin?
Uulitin ko, ganoon nga ang naging usapan nina Pareng Jojo at Mareng Nette.

Noong nakaraang Huwebes (Oktubre 13), nagulat kami ni misis sa Facebook post ni Mareng Nette. Inatake si Pareng Jojo. Naitakbo pa siya ospital pero hindi na umabot nang buhay.

“Bigla, wala man lang signos,” kuwento ni mare kay misis nang mag-usap sila sa voice call ng messenger.

Pumanaw si Pareng Jojo isang araw bago magdiwang ng kanyang kaarawan ang kanyang maybahay. Ang sakit ‘di ba? Kung tayo ang nasa katayuan ni mare, kakayanin kaya natin ito?

Sa aming mga Katoliko, sagrado ang pagiging magkumpare. Bagama’t hindi naman talaga kami ganoon kadikit, mayroon kaming matibay na hugpong. Una na nga, ‘yung inaanak namin sa kanilang mag-asawa. Pangalawa, bilang magka-opisina, magka-trabaho, magkabaro sa industriya ng pamamahayag.

Prudencio Mejia ang tunay na pangalan ni pare. (Basta Jojo, Jun o Junior ang palayaw, asahan mo na medyo sinauna ang tunay na pangalan niyan).

Nakilala siya sa byline na Jojo Mejia. Matagal kaming nagkasama sa People’s Tonight. Nagkaroon siya ng kolum sa diaryo namin noon na kinagiliwan ng marami. Mahusay na manunulat, may sense of humor at may malasakit sa mga tao, sa lipunan at sa bayan.

Halos kailan lang, nagpapalitan kami ng like sa FB. Pinupuri niya ako ‘pag may nagustuhan siya sa mga isinulat ko, at ganoon din naman ako sa kanya. Noong minsan, sa tuwa niya sa isang FB post ko, binansagan niyang Abnerism ang aking sense of humor.

Kaming mga diyarista o mamamahayag, hindi palaging nagkakasundo sa aming mga paniniwala. Pero nitong kamakailan, dikit na dikit ang mga opinyon namin sa mga kaganapan sa bayan natin. Kasama ang isa pa naming kumpare, si William “Pogi” Chua na beterano rin ng People’s Tonight (at aaminin kong pinakamahusay sa aming tatlo) kapit-bisig at “kapit-pluma” kami.

Saklap! Nabawasan kami. Malungkot. Pero siyempre tuloy ang laban.
Iniisip ko, siguro masaya naman si Pareng Jojo kung saan man siya naroon ngayon. Hindi niya naabala ang pamilya niya. Hindi sila naiwanan ng utang sa gamot, doktor at ospital. Hindi sila nahirapan na makita siyang nahihirapan. Ganoon ‘yun, di ba?

Harinawa, maging maalwan ang paglalakbay ni Pareng Jojo patungo sa kung saan man ang hantungan ng buhay.


*Ang mga pananaw sa artikulong ito ay sa sumulat.  Maaring hindi ito ang opisyal na posisyon ng Beyond Deadlines.

Author: Abner GalinoThe author is a poet and a writer. He was a cultural worker before he became a reporter for Tinig ng Masa and Malaya Midday Edition during the Marcos regime. He later became a reporter of People's Tonight shortly after 1986 EDSA Revolution. He went on to become its Chief of Reporters, City Editor and News Editor. He retired after 15 years in the Journal Group of Publications. He now writes for Weekend Balita and the US Asian Post (USAP), weekly Filipino-American newspapers based in Los Angeles, California.

Evil time, evil men

Cayetano said tourism is down because media is always reporting the killings triggered by the De Lima Senate inquiry on extrajudicial killings. Now she is demoted, but I think media will still report every significant events every day. If the killings continue, so will the reports.

Any sensible tourist will choose Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam, Hong Kong, China if they want relief from stress and have a good time. In the Philippines, a tourist has a good chance of seeing a riding-in-tandem execution even in broad daylight, or a procession of policemen going house to house as part of Operation Tokhang, or during a nighttime stroll see vigilantes pulling a suspect out of his house and pumping several bullets into his head and body. An early morning stroll can offer a surprise in the form of cadavers wrapped in packing tape, hands tied, and a cardboard signs beside the corpses, and the tourist will say, "Wow! Only in the Philippines!" or "Honey, take a picture of this blood spatter on my arm."

I never thought I can feel sympathy for someone like De Lima, but evil men can make her appear in a positive light. Duterte and her stamp-pad Senate and House of Representathieves may be able to constrain her, but the truth will struggle out as long as there are decent citizens left. So far, it has been established that a four-year-old girl was gunned down with her father recently. Duterte and General Bato consider her a collateral damage; but it is, legally and morally, murder. This administration, like the Martial Law regime, is recruiting the evil elements in the AFP and PNP to do its savage policy. After Duterte leaves, these killers will be left behind, used to impunity from any system of justice, waiting for Marcos Jr. to resume his father's plunder, tortures, and murders.

There are times when I succumb to the thought of: "If the Filipinos are ignorant enough to enslave themselves under tyrants and thieves, they deserve the fruits of the seeds they sow." Then I hope some intelligent men in government and in the armed services will rise and protect us, but then I realize that I cheered for Duterte just a few months ago, and Aquino in 2009 because he would not steal like Arroyo, and Arroyo in 2001 because she replaced the corrupt Estrada, and Ramos in 1992 because the cronyism of Cory would end, and Cory because I thought she put an end to the Marcos dynasty. 

EDSA 1986 was a sham, though the Marcoses were temporarily dislocated. We cheered Enrile and the RAM boys and other military men, not realizing that they were the executors of Martial Law. Honasan, Kapunan, Matillano, Bibit, even PC Major General Fidel Ramos, and the good Panfilo Lacson were involved in torturing dissidents and making desaparecidos of thousands of young Filipinos still lost in unknown graves.

We saved our torturers and killers from Marcos, and here we are now -- the president is a rabid Marcos loyalist like Estrada, who is mayor of the rich city of Manila, whose son from a mistress (now mayor of San Juan) is a senator like Marcos Jr., whose thieving mother is congresswoman of Ilocos Norte, where his sister is governor. Marcos first cousin ex-President Fidel Ramos, who failed to settle the Mindanao dispute, is now negotiating with China about territorial rights. And Duterte has recently negotiated with terrorists and freed one hostage in exchange for P50 million, which will certainly encourage more abductions in the lucrative trade which the president has revived. Was the Davao night market blasts financed by the ransom money? I hope not. Wait and see.

Last night De Lima was demoted and it made the evening news, but the police killings also were reported. Cayetano thinks when reports of the killings stop, the tourists will flock in. The only way to stop the news reports is to stop the bloodbath, but Duterte's pet project shows no sign of abating. 

I hope there is a heaven, because it follows that there will be hell. And those that made a hell-on-earth of this country will have a certain destination, hot and blood red.

Sophistries and epithets

The president seems to be misleading the public about the killing of innocent victims, including children, in his bloody war against drug lords and pushers. Is it because his messiahiad turn of mind has led him astray too?

Let's see how this president uses reasoning or arguments that sound true but are off the mark. I never thought anyone in this world can make De Lima look good in my eyes, but it takes a Duterte to shatter my misconception. Against my will (and taste), I find myself defending the scarf lady against the imputation that she's the star of the sex scandal tape. Duterte's personal vendetta against the former Justice Secretary, who investigated him for the summary killings in Davao when he was mayor there, went overboard when he used his dumb crony, appointed DOJ Secretary Aguirre, to hurriedly present half-baked evidence against her, and her driver. They are trying to impeach her character, as if facts against the extrajudicial killings will be negated if De Lima and lover were proven guilty of receiving money from the drug lords and making love with each other.

It's as old as the New Testament, this defense of sinners against their accusers and critics, Duterte's retaliation against Obama and UN's Ban Ki Moon's comments about the mass killings: "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her. [John 8:7]" refers not to De Lima (though she is getting on in years) but the woman in the Bible who was caught in adultery (well, maybe it's De Lima), and Duterte certainly is not defending her against himself! If this is confusing it's because Duterte uses arguments that can backfire on him. On one hand, he entreats Obama and the US not to be so righteous; on the other hand he keeps hurling charges (and epithets) against all who does not approve of his murderous campaign. He is the pot calling the kettle black, but he can also be the kettle. We tread a double-edged blade when we accuse any one, or if we are accused. Matthew 7:1 -- Do not judge, or you will be judged.

The main point, after sweeping away all the sophistries, is that even if the United States massacred thousands Filipino rebels and hundreds of Moros in order to take control the Philippines, will that make right the extrajudicial killings happening here every day?

If a dropout says one and one and one is three, will he be considered wrong if a mathematician says the right answer is 3.1416? During Hitler's genocidal campaign against the Jews, hunders of German physicist gathered to prove that Eintein's Theory of Relativity is wrong. Told about this, Einstein said, "If I'm wrong, just one of them is sufficient." Duterte points to the more than 16 million who elected him to office as the source of his mandate, but what about the more then 84 million who still believe that the death penalty is still out of the bounds of our law?

The death penalty was repealed by Duterte's close friend Gloria Arroyo when she became president. This act certainly saved her from the lethal injection for plunder and electoral fraud, all heinous, all acceptable now as long as you are a presidential friend. Even presidential kumpare Peter Lim escaped Duterte's avowal that this Chinese drug lord will be killed the instant he lands in our airport. Instead he was presented on TV, with Duterte casting doubt whether he is indeed the one on the police drug list. What kind of intel was Duterte being fed that thousands were killed without verification and this kumpare is not properly identified? No photos of him was included in the government files? So Peter flew back to China. And when Media asks why only small time druggies were being killed, Duterte says, "Because only the henchmen are operating here. The bosses are in China. Kung gusto mong hulihin sila, pumunta ka sa China." So much for consistency. How long this zarzuela will go on before the Duterte trolls wake up? Well, Marcosian fools are still growling long after 1986. Let me like the Devil, quoting Scriptures: Proverbs 26:4,5 -- Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like to him…

Fanatics

Today, 2016 August 18, President Duterte's 50th day in power, a documentary of his "achievements" airs beyond PTV4. The document starts with his inauguration speech, in which he said, "we have become our worst enemies," and followed that with a statement that he serves no special interest but that of every citizen.

Today, it has become very clear to all, through Duterte's own efforts, that he is the most powerful Marcos loyalist to be elected, to replace the anti-Marcos but inept and moronic Aquino. A few days hence, ex-dictator and plunderer Ferdinand Marcos will be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, because, according to Duterte, Marcos "was a soldier. Period." And, Marcos was a president. Period.

Those two "periods" -- or full stops -- are indicators of what kind of man the new president is; after all, he has repeatedly declared that what he said he will do, he will do. What he did not say, yet is so open to all but to Marcos and Duterte fanatics, is that he will not tolerate opposition to his will, that those who dare to curb his plan will be treated as personal enemies who will be subject to his impulsive and almost immediate retaliation.

Marcos is a soldier. Period. The full stop is there to forestall any argument, that Marcos, during the war, was involved in the black market with the approval of the Japanese administration; that he was hunted by the guerrillas, who had executed his father, Mariano Marcos, for treason, and wanted the same fate for the young Marcos; that after the war he tried to scam the US government by claiming reimbursement for non-existent cattle and equipment he allegedly supplied guerrillas during the war. He also claimed he was in battles where official records proved he was miles away. He faked papers and 32 medals to bolster his delusion as a hero, rather than the cheap crook that he was.

He was a president. Period. Marcos had sworn to obey the constitution and defend the interest of the country, yet he tyranized and looted the country, made his own laws to fit the interests of his thieving wife, relatives (including his mother), and cronies in and out of government. But in Duterte's viewpoint, treason does not undo or besmirch Major Marcos' military record. The high crimes of tyranny, plunder, and murder do not dislodge Marcos, the benefactor of Duterte Sr. and this Duterte, from the pantheon of nonmurdering presidents and true soldiers who had lived and died loyally. Duterte's period is heavy indeed.

A fanatic is not necessarily stupid -- although millions of Marcos and Duterte fanatics are -- but deliberately blind to all facts, reasons, and arguments; the specific purpose, of doing honor to Marcos, supersedes morality. In other matters Duterte can inspire by his unorthodox methods and declarations. But can a president be deliberately deaf to the cries of Martial Law victims and still believe that his conscience still has a voice? -- when that voice is telling him that he has become his own worst enemy, that he is serving not all but only the Marcoses in this matter. Period.

But in real life, morality does not win against injustice, theft, murder, corruption of the soul. Countless criminals, gambling lords, drug lords, kidnappers and carjackers, smugglers, money launderers have lived and died in comfort, at the expense of the peasants, of course. Our movies and TV shows are not so dishonest now: they no longer say Crime does not pay. Who pays for masterminding the murder of Ninoy Aquino? On August 21, twenty days before Duterte lends presidential weight to Marcos' burial, we commemorate Ninoy's 33rd death anniversary. At least Ninoy lies beside his wife Cory at the Manila Cemetery, not at the soon-to-be-desecrated Libingan.

Why oh why is it the people who must always pay for the personnel debts of our politicians? Maybe the politicians know they will always be sheltered and even pushed on by the fanatics, mighty always and mighty ever. 

Albus

This is Albus, a very loving Ragdoll who, like any kitten, loves companionship and play. He is born on Jan. 7 with two siblings. When people took his siblings to their homes to lead better lives, he had at least two younger persian kittens and one stray left to play with. Then one by one his playmates moved to good homes, too, leaving Albus alone. When I see him looking forlorn like this, it breaks my heart. Of course I don't feel so good whenever a kitten moves to other homes, but I have come to term with this fact of life: Leaving is not so bad if the destination is a happier life. Every father learns this at his daughter's wedding day -- that no love is lost and life moves forward.

When I see Albus alone, silent, with no playmates no tumble with, my human problems, no matter how deep, diminish and are replaced with just one wish -- that this lonesome kitten gets a better shot at life's bounties. If there is kismet, I hope someone out there with the capability to make a kitten smile and purr with delight meets Albus. Full of trust, Albus purrs when we hold and stroke him. Certainly I will be sad when Albus leaves this home, but I will be consoled that he will not be alone anymore. I'll be all right if in his memory I'm replaced by a loving companion.

I quote Christina Rossetti about leavetaking, whether it involves human sweethearts or kittens that I love:
"Better by far that you forget and smile,
Than that you remember and be sad."

Duterte's blind side

This must be taught in schools

Very very few people know that my birthday is celebrated every week, and that I believe heavily on gift receiving, even without twisting of arms or shameless reminding.

Popular Bookstore ran out of stock of the Raissa Robles book (1st photo), so I'm looking for it as a weekly birthday present (wink! wink!) to me, which does not mean I'm forking out the cash, after asking wifey to buy the two books shown in Photos 2 and 3. What are reminders for?

So I have two books about Martial Law at hand and I currently lack the Robles book. Meanwhile I'm reading Primitivo Mijares' "The Conjugal Dictatorship of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos", which is being offered free in eBook form online, to refresh the memory of old people like my friends -- who had experienced the censorship, terrors and murders of the New Society -- and to teach millennials, like me, and this generation's dumb voters who voted for all Marcoses last May. Why not read the new books you bought, you may ask, and the answer... umm, it fell to earth I know not where.

During the election I rooted for Duterte and cursed Binay and Roxas for trying to impose their incompetence on this unfortunate country, which allowed the birth of Mariano Marcos (shot by guerrillas as a spy of the Japanese invaders), who begat Ferdinand, who with Imelda and cronies plundered our resources. Then they were ousted in 1986 with their begotten gremlins Bongbong, Imee, and Irene. After Duterte won, I began pulling roots, after he declared his fealty for the Marcoses. Part of his priority now is to pay his debt of gratitude to the Marcos clan, whom he said took care of his father and him even while the Marcoses looted the coffers, closed tne media, tortured and killed thousands of activists, and borrowed so much from foreign institutions that we, in this year 2016, are still paying for what the Marcoses, Romualdezes, Benedictos, Tantocos, et al. had hoarded, splurged, and hidden. 

Now I'm preparing for the dire results of Duterte's inconsistensy and contradictions. He has, even before the beginning of his term, started purging the system of its entrenched drug lords and crime kingpins. How he hates drugs. Me too, except my maintenance tablets. He says "Stop it!" to crime. Yey! He will bury Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani. Huh?! Ok, he's not a hero, Duterte concedes, but he was a soldier. Now I want to know Duterte's birthday, so I can give him Mijares' book. That book reveals that Marcos was hunted by guerrillas, who wanted to execute him as a collaborator. Not a soldier at all, the book said, but as a buy-and-sell man during the Japanese Occupation. Possibly a traitor. Ferdinand and Imelda spawned Ferdinand Junior -- or Bongbong, who will certainly try to wrest the vice presidency from the duly elected Leni Robredo. 

Duterte has already instituted a lot of changes. For the first time in Philippine politics, the vice president will be given no tangible post as part of the administration -- because Bongbong's feeling will be hurt. Another first is that the president-elect and the VP-elect will hold their inaugurations separately, because Duterte wants it that way. Maybe he cannot have both Bongbong ang Leni together in the inauguration ball?

Duterte feels he has a debt of obligation to the biggest family of crooks ever, but why oh why, like that fool Noynoy to Purisima, must the country pay for Duterte's debt? We are still paying for the Marcoses' debt! A consolation is that the dumbos who voted for Imelda, Imee, and Bongbong have joined the old timers in paying debts incurred long before they were born. This early we are reaping the fruits of our elected leader's contradictions. When there are two opposing sides, one side will falter in the long run, and Duterte, who purportedly hates criminals who destroy our society, is on the side of the biggest looters of resources and of the killers of thousands of dissenters. What strange bedfellows you have, Mr. President. May fate be kinder to this unfortunate land.

 

Boss Joe

Joe Burgos, mas mainam pa sa mga panggulo ng Pilipinas

Boss, pinili namin ang putanginang Duterte dahil di ko alam na mas mahal niya ang mga Marcos kaysa sa mga tapat na mamamahayag na tulad mo, na sa panahong mapanganib ang isiwalat ang totoong kalagayan ng bansa, sa ilalim ng kamay na bakal, ay sinimulan mo na ang pagbaklas sa tanikalang sumisikil sa kalayaan at disenteng pagka-Pilipino. Ngayon ay nananaig ang paglait sa mga kapatid sa trabaho dahil pikon si Duterte at ginagawang ehemplo ang corrupt nating mga kasamahan para lagyan ng uling ang mga tapat, masigasig, at naghahayag lang ng kabulastugan nitong probinsiyanong lumaki na ang ulo hindi pa man nakaupo sa puwesto.

Pero relax ka lang diyan, Boss, dahil kung ang kaibigang Marcos ni Duterte, na berdugo rin, ay hindi inurungan ng mga tapat na journalists noon, ito pa kayang nagbabadyang bagong diktador. Killer nga pero tiyani bandang huli yan.

Parang di alam ni Duterte na maraming anyo ang corruption: hindi pera-pera lang, na inihahagis niya laban sa media; meron ding corruption ng moralidad -- kawalan nang galang sa magandang asal (buksan mo ang balita sa TV at maririnig ng mga bata sa bahay na nagmumura ang putanginang magiging panggulo ng bayan), kabastusan sa mga babae, pagmura sa pinatay na corrupt journalist (dahil kritiko niya sa Davao) at pinabayaan na lang yung pumatay kahit kilala niya. Hindi lang droga at pangungurakot ang salot sa bayan. Ang pag-unlad nang nga mamamayan sa disenteng lipunan ay ankla ng tunay na pag-ahon, hindi pagbaba sa imburnal ng buwang na Duterte.
Ang ganda ng mga sinasabing gagawin ni Duterte. Talagang hahanga ka pag naniwala kang malakas ang malasakit niya sa mga maralita, sa mga inaagrabyado, sa mga niyuyurak ng pamahalaan. Pero gising na ang ilan sa amin -- parang nakabasa kami ng We Forum sa panahong hanga pa ang karamihan sa pagbabagong pangako nitong Duterte, parang nung hanga pa ang mga magulang sa disiplinang idudulot daw ng Martial Law.

Ang We Forum ang naglatag ng daan para sa pamamahayag na tapat at kontra sa diktaturya, kaya nung pinatay si Ninoy, nag-usbungan ang mga ibang pahayagan -- Mr & Ms Special Edition na sa unang pahina ay lumantad ang litrato ng duguang mukha ni Ninoy. Pumalag din ang Malaya, kapatid ng We Forum; lumakas ang loob ng WHO at Business Day. Sa paglilitis ng 25 sundalong inakusahang pumatay kay Ninoy, inilunsad ng founder ng Mr & Ms Special Edition, Eugenia Apostol (at Editor Letty Magsanoc), ang weekly tabloid na Philippine Inquirer para ituon ang pansin ng mga tao sa pangyayari sa korte. Sa 1986 ang tabloid ay naging Philippine Daily Inquirer, na hanggang ngayon ay kinaasaran ng mga presidenteng gumagawa ng kabulastugan at nahahayag sa pahayagan at balita sa TV channels. Ang mga asar na presidente: Marcos na ipinasara halos lahat ng mga diyaryo at TV stations, puwera sa tatlong crony papers (Daily Express, Philippine Journal ni Kokoy Romualdez, at Manila Bulletin ni Emilio Lim); Cory Aquino, na tulad ng sinto-sintong anak na si Noynoy, ay pikon sa sa masamang balita kahit totoo; Gloria Arroyo; at ngayon, na tila susunod sa yabag ng matalik na kaibigang Marcos, Duterte, berdugo ng mga drug lords (okay lang) at berdugo ng pamamahayag na hindi sipsip sa kanya ngunit totoo.

Hanggang ngayon ay nawawala pa ang anak mong si Jonas, Boss. Dinampot siya ng militar ni Gloria at hanggang ngayon ay kasama sa libo-libong desaperidos ng Martial Law ni Marcos, na pinayagan ni Duterteng ilipat at bangkay sa Libingan ng Bayani. Ang marching order ni Duterte sa mga tauhan niya, tutukan ang kriminalidad at corruption. Gandang pakinggan, pero hindi tugma sa gawa. Gagawin niyang bayani ang isa sa pinakamalaking mamamatay-tao at mandarambong sa kasaysayan ng napakaabang bayan na ito.

Ang daming mabulaklak na pambobola ang iniitsa ni Duterte sa tulog na namang madla, kaya di napapansin, o ipinagtatanggol pa, ang lason ang kanyang mga gawain. At, tulad ng dati, binubugbog ang tagahatid ng masamang balita.

Pero kaya natin ito, Boss. Ano ba naman ang sangganong Duterte sa agos ng kasaysayan at katotohanan? Bullet day, Duterte -- Balang araw...

Panggulong Dodirty

Painting by Fernando Amorsolo

Ang ganda ko, ano? Kinuha akong modelo ng pintor na si Fernando Amorsolo. Una mong mapapansin ay yung dala kong mga manggang hilaw; susunod ay mapansin mo yung dimples sa maamo kong mukha. Pero putangina naman, sino ba yung naka-checkered na matandang ang lakas sumipol pagdaan ko? Ang buwang, hindi sa mangga nakadikit ang tingin. Gilit lang yung maliliit na mata, pero hanep kung hubaran ka sa tingin.

Mabait naman daw, sabi ng isang ale, kung di nakasumpong ang pagkamanyakis at pagkaberdugo. "Bilib it or nut," sabi ng ale, "yan ang susunod na panggulo ng Pilipinas. Dininig ang iyong panalangin, iha, na mawala na sa eksena ang autistic na si Abnoy!"

Mamumura ko ang mga pari at obispo sa diskarteng ito -- aalisin nga ang sinto-sinto, papalitan naman nang mas malala ang topak. Nung panggulo si Gloria inip na inip ako at gusto ko siyang mawalis sa upuan, by coup or by tiris, dahil siguradong wala nang mas grabe sa unanong ito. Kaya tuwang-tuwa ako nang parang sisiw na sumipot si Penoy. Nang nabistong kulang ang palito sa ulo ang buwakanangina, sabi ko, ang lupit ng tadhana sa Pilipins my Pilipins. Pero imposibleng may malala pa sa panot na ito. At -- tsaran! -- nasilip yung sipolpol na Dodirty raw ang pangalan. Change is coming daw! Pero naman naman! Anong klaseng sukli itong dumarating: Di pa nakaupo ang laki na nang ulo, arogante, bastos, bully sa hindi kayang lumaban. Siya ang tanging nilalang na dahil sa kanya nanaisin mong manalo ang mga drug lords para maasar lang siya. Mistulang banal mismo si Satanas kung ihambing sa matulis na ngusong manyakis na yun. Sasabihin ko sanang may problema ang mama kaya laging nakangising aso. Pero ano naman ang kasalanan ng aso para insultuhin ito?

Anyway, laging galit sa mundo itong mama kaya di mapakali, kamot nang kamot; ba't di kasi maligo para at least may masabing malinis sa kanyang nilalang kahit hindi ang utak. Laging hinihimas yung isang pisngi. Minsan parang sinasalo niya at baka malaglag at di na siya makasipol. Malaglag na nga sana!

Lahat ng tao may malalim na lihim, pero sa kilos, ugali, at OCD nito, huwag sanang mapinsalang lubos ang bansa sa halimaw na ito. Sige, pabahain niya ng dugo ng mga drug lords ang ating lupa; sige, magsabog siya ng binhi nang pagkasuklam sa mga ayaw sumunod sa kanya, pag-awayin niya ang mga Pilipino, pero putangina lang ang walang ganti. Kahit major-major na buwang itong uupo, marunong namang magbasa. Minsan, nung may pag-asa pang palitan ang turnilyo ng kukote nito 60 years ago, nabasa niya ang isang aklat -- na laging ring binabasa ng minura niyang si Pope Francis, mga pari, obispo, kasama na ang buong relihiyon na marahil di niya kinagisnan sa tahanan -- ang isang babala: Kung anong itinanim, siyang aanihin.

Harinawa. Putangina naman kung walang sukli.