Flood in the City

It was probably the worst natural disaster that hit Metro Manila in recent memory. Typhoon “Ondoy”, left the country with a death toll of 200 and still counting. The extent of the damage was greater than what Typhoon “Milenyo” registered in 2006, which also devastated Metro Manila.

Ondoy started to wreck havoc in the evening of Sept. 25, Friday. The following day, I was scheduled to accompany my father and auntie to Heart Center for check-up but the bad weather prevented us from living our house. As it turned out, it was a blessing in disguise because traffic was starting to build up in almost all corners of Metropolis. Several hours later, the biggest amount of rainfall ever poured in the country was felt.

The perennial victims like us here in Malabon momentarily take the back seat as Marikina, Cainta and Pasig City was lured into the spotlight. The roof-deep water we experienced in the past is now happening even to the exclusive villages in the city. My cousin in Novaliches was awakened by a strong flashflood that they failed to rescue even a single cloth. He once told me “Kapag binaha kami, lubog na kayo dyan sa Malabon”. But lo and behold, water failed to infiltrate us (thanks partly to our flood control program), though our car was slightly affected.

The sight of people hanging for dear life, people walking in electric cables, people washed away by strong water current, cars tilted in a matter of seconds, sea-like underpass in Quiapo, Manila and Makati was all over the news the whole day. Just like a modern day version of The Great Flood in Noah’s time.

This catastrophe should serve as a warning that anything can happen even the most unexpected one. Everyone now must take extra precaution and prepare for the worst. If having a “salbabida”or a life jacket in your house will give peace of mind for you, get one now. Sometimes you have to think weird because bizarre things can topple even the most prepared soul.

Let’s pray for those who were badly affected by this calamity. Let’s extend a helping hand, the best way we can.

Bagsik ng Batas Militar (Huling Bahagi)

Setyembre 23, 1972, magkakasabay na operasyon ng pulis at militar ang naganap. Hinuli ang mga pinaghihinalaang kaaway ni Marcos katulad ni Ninoy at Jose Diokno. Ito ay inilihim sa publiko. Sa radyo, wala kang maririnig kundi mga awitin. Tanging mga pamilya lamang ng mga biktima ang nakakaalam ng mga pangyayaring ito. Ipinasara ni Marcos ang Kongreso, mga opisina ng pahayagan, radyo at telebisyon. Isang nagngangalang Lim Seng ang ginamit na halimbawa upang patunayang seryoso ang gobyerno sa kanilang kampanya sa pagsugpo ng mga krimen. Sa utos ni Marcos, si Seng ay binaril sa pamamagitan ng firing squad.

Noong estudyante pa lang si Marcos, sumulat siya ng thesis tungkol sa diktadurya. Ngayon, “the thesis was put into practice”.

Sinasabing bago idineklara ang Martial Law, kumonsulta muna si Marcos kay U.S. President Richard Nixon. Alam niya na ang pamahalaang Amerika ay sumusuporta sa diktador upang mapangalagaan nito ang kanilang sariling interes.

Upang masiguro ang katapatan, binalasa ni Marcos ang hanay ng militar. Pinaboran ang kanyang mga kababayan sa Ilocos, katulad ni Gen. Fabian Ver. Kalalawigan at dati niyang driver, hindi raw matatawaran ang katapatan ni Ver kay Marcos. May biru-biruan na kung patatalunin ni Marcos sa building, sasagutin daw ito ni Ver ng, “from what floor, sir?”

Isa rin sa malapit kay Marcos ay itong si Primitivo Mijares, isang peryodista na naging pangunahing propagandista ng rehimeng militar. Labas masok siya noon sa opisina ni Marcos kahit walang appointment. Nguni’t nakaaway niya ang kapatid ni Imelda na si Kokoy Romualdez. Kumalas siya kay Marcos at tumakas patungong Amerika. Doon niya isinulat ang librong “The Conjugal Dictatorship”. Dito niya inilabas ang baho ni Marcos pati ang pambabae nito, kagaya ng napaulat na relasyon niya kay Dovie Beams. Si Beams ay isang starlet sa Hollywood na gumawa ng pelikula dito sa Pilipinas na pinamagatang “Maharlika”, pelikulang tungkol sa kabayanihan ni Marcos noong panahon ng giyera. Hindi raw binayaran si Beams kaya’t nagpatawag ito ng mga mamamahayag at ipinarinig ang pagniniig daw nila ni Marcos. Hindi nagtagal, nawala nalang bigla si Mijares. Nguni’t mas matindi ang nangyari sa anak niyang si Boyet. May tumawag sa kanya sa telepono at nagsabing buhay ang kanyang ama at gusto siyang makausap. Dalawang linggo ang nakalipas, natagpuan siyang patay. Binunot ang lahat ng kanyang kuko at may 33 saksak ng ice pick sa katawan. Ang malagim na istoryang ito ay hindi lumabas sa media dahil mahigpit ang kontrol dito ni Marcos.

Ayon sa grupong Amnesty International, 70,000 ang ikinulong, 34,000 ang tinorture at 3,200 ang pinatay sa ilalim ng rehimeng Marcos.

Noong 1981, nahalal bilang bagong Pangulo ng Estados Unidos si Ronald Reagan. Nakatakda ring bumisita sa Pilipinas si Pope John Paul II. Dahil sa mga kaganapan na ito, napilitan si Marcos na tanggalin ang Martial Law.

Noong Agosto 21, 1983 ay anibersaryo ng Plaza Miranda bombing na naging hudyat ng pagsupil sa demokrasya, ang pagpatay kay Ninoy Aquino sa araw na ito ay naging hudyat naman ng wakas ng diktadurya.

Bagsik ng Batas Militar (Ikalawang Bahagi)

Agosto 21, 1971, pinasabugan ng granada ang rally ng Liberal Party sa Plaza Miranda. Siyam ang nasawi at daang tao ang nasugatan kabilang sina Jovito Salonga at Sergio Osmena III. Papunta pa lang noon si Ninoy Aquino sa rally kaya’t siya’y naakusahang kasabwat ng komunista sa pambobomba. Dahil sa nangyari, sinuspindi ni Marcos ang Writ of Habeas Corpus, ibig sabihin, kahit sino’y puwede ng dakpin at hindi na kailangang ihatid sa korte.

Marami pang pagsabog ang sumunod katulad ng pagbomba sa Joe’s Department Store. Layunin nito’y manakot at hindi pumatay. Naging suspek din sa Plaza Miranda bombing ang New Peoples Army. Ang NPA ay itinatag noong Dec. 26, 1968 ni Jose Maria Sison.

Bukod sa mga pagsabog na ito, namumuo rin ang kaguluhan sa tangkang pag-amyenda ng 1935 Constitution sa pamamagitan ng Constitutional Convention. Sa senaryong ito, habang pinapalitan ang sistema ng gobyerno, ang presidente ang may kontrol sa lehislatibo at ehikutibo, sa madaling salita ay kay Marcos.

Inilantad ni Ninoy Aquino ang detalye ng binabalak ni Marcos na isailalim ang Pilipinas sa kontrol ng militar na tinawag niyang “Oplan Sagittarius”, ang blueprint ng Martial Law. Alam ni Marcos na hindi na siya maaaring tumakbo sa pagka-presidente sa 1973 eleksyon kaya’t mayroon siyang binuong dalawang plano. Ang Plan A ay gawing Parliamentary ang istilo ng gobyerno mula sa Presidential at Plan B, ibaba ang Martial Law.

Sunod kay Marcos, ang kanyang Defense Secretary na si Juan Ponce Enrile ang pinaka- makapangyarihang opisyal ng gobyerno sa panahon ng Batas Militar. Kabilang siya sa 12 opisyal na tumulong kay Marcos sa sikretong pagpaplano nito. Sila ay mas kilala sa tawag na “Rolex 12”, dahil lahat sila’y nabiyayaan ng rolex na relo ni Marcos. Atin silang kilalanin;

1. Juan Ponce Enrile – Defense Secretary
2. Gen. Fabian Ver – Intelligence Chief at pinuno ng Presidential Security
3. Gen. Romeo Espino – Chief of Staff ng AFP
4. Gen. Fidel Ramos – Chief ng Philippine Constabulary
5. Gen. Rafael Zagala – Chief ng Philippine Army
6. Gen. Ignacio Paz – Chief ng Army Intelligence
7. Gen. Jose Rancudo – Chief ng Air Force
8. Gen. Tomas Diaz – miyembro ng Philippine Constabulary
9. Rear Admiral Hilario Ruiz – Chief ng Navy
10. Gen. Alfredo Montoya – Chief ng Metropolitan Command o MetroCom
11. Col. Romeo Gatan – Commander ng Constabulary sa Rizal province
12. Danding Cojuangco – Governor ng Tarlac at pinsan ni Cory Aquino

Setyembre 22, 1972, iniulat sa radio at telebisyon na tinambangan ang kotse ni Enrile. Ito ay ginamit upang bigyang hustisya ang gagawing pagdedeklera ng Batas Militar. Nguni’t ito’y gawa-gawa lamang. Inamin ito mismo ni Enrile, makalipas ang 14 na taon. Nguni’t bago pa siya umamin, ibinunyag na ito ni Primitivo Mijares. Sinabi niyang bago maganap ang pekeng ambush, tinawagan ni Marcos si Enrile at sinabing gawin na ang plano. “Make it look good”, wika ni Marcos. “Baka mas maganda na may masugatan at mamatay”. Nung gabing iyon, habang pauwi si Enrile, tinadtad ng bala ang kanyang sasakyan habang binabagtas ang Wack-Wack Subdivision. Sinabi niyang nakaligtas lamang siya dahil sa kotse ng kanyang bodyguard siya sumakay. Kinabukasan, lumabas si Marcos sa telebisyon at iprinoklama ang Martial Law.

Sa huling bahagi, ating alamin ang nangyari kay Primitivo Mijares at sa kanyang anak. Papasadahan natin ng kaunti si Gen. Fabian Ver at ang kontrobersya sa Hollywood starlet na si Dovie Beams. Huwag bibitiw.

Michael Jordan, Simply the Greatest!

This coming September 11, 2009, Michael Jeffrey Jordan will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame in Springfield Massachusetts together with fellow stars David Robinson and John Stockton. The honour is the ultimate recognition for somebody who revolutionizes the game of basketball and for somebody who collared every individual award any other player dreamed of having.

Michael Jordan was simply the greatest player who ever handle a basketball. Aside from his hardcourt exploits, his marketing value is indisputable. He sold millions of burgers for McDonalds and put Nike on map. His numerous endorsements coupled with a movie, thanks Bugs Bunny, only elevates his status as the most sought athlete of his generation.

Though I love watching Magic Johnson orchestrate Lakers’ showtime style of game, Jordan made me love the game more because of his innate talent and his passion to win. Rarely seen a scoring machine while playing hard nose defense will relatively ease. Another good thing about MJ is that he made his teammates look good, something that most NBA stars failed to do. Although he had some rough times with his teammates like Kukoc, Cartwright etc., it’s just part of his competitive nature to make others play with the same level as he is.

Jordan is also a good copy for sportswriters. He made headlines and was throwing one-liners that mesmerizes other people. When he decided to return to active basketball after months in hiatus, he just simply said, “I’m Back!”.

On the issue of being the greatest player ever, Jordan said, “for me there’s no such thing as the greatest player ever since we played in different eras. I don’t know how I will fare against Jerry West”. But for many, he’s the anointed one. Permit me to borrow the words of another legend Larry Bird, minutes after Jordan exploded for 63 pts. against his Boston Celtics in one of their play-offs duel. “He is God disguised as Michael Jordan”.

Thank you MJ. But most of all, thank you God for letting us witness the legacy that is Michael Jordan.

Bagsik ng Batas Militar (Unang Bahagi)

Taong isanglibo siyam naraan pitumput dalawa. Ano ang naaalala natin nung mga panahon na ito? Ito ang taon na ang unang scientific calculator ay naimbento. Si U.S. swimmer Mark Spitz ay naging unang atleta na nagwagi ng 7 gintong medalya sa Olympics. Sa taon ding ito inaresto si Beatle frontman Paul McCartney at asawang Linda McCartney sa Sweden dahil sa pag-iingat ng droga. At sa panahon ding ito, naitala ang isa sa pinaka madilim na bahagi ng kasaysayan ng Pilipinas, ibinaba ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos ang Batas Militar o ang Martial Law.

Ang bagsik ng Martial Law ay laman ng aklat ng ating kasaysayan. Masarap pakinggan ang mga kwento ng mga matatanda tungkol sa karanasan nila. Ako’y nag-aral at nangalap ng mga importanteng impormasyon patungkol dito. Nguni’t bago natin tahakin at balikan ang landas ng malupit na Batas Militar, atin munang kilalanin ang itinuturong utak nito, si Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos.

Si Marcos ay isa sa pinaka-matalinong Pilipino ng kanyang henerasyon. Siya ay estudyante ng Law school at sa edad na 21 ay nasangkot sa isang kontrobersyal na insidente. Ang kanyang ama, si Mariano Marcos ay natalo kay Julio Nalundasan sa eleksyon sa pagka- Kongresista ng Ilocos Norte. Isang gabi matapos ang eleksyon, habang nagsisipilyo sa bintana ng kanyang bahay, si Nalundasan ay binaril at napatay. Ang pangunahing suspek, si Ferdinand Edralin Marcos. Napatunayan siyang pumatay at nahatulang mabilanggo ng 17 taon. Habang nasa kulungan, ipinagpatuloy niya ang kanyang pag-aaral at naging top notcher pa sa Bar Exam. Sa Korte Suprema, ipinagtanggol niya ang kanyang sarili. Si Jose Laurel ang hukom na duminig ng kanyang kaso. Nanghihinayang siya sa talino ni Marcos na hindi pakinabangan ng mga Pilipino kaya’t ito’y kanyang pinawalang sala.

Tatlong-taon nanungkulan si Marcos bilang Kongresista at pagkatapos ay naging numero unong senador. Naging Senate President din siya, posisyong tuntungan para sa mga nangangarap na maging Presidente ng bansa. Noong 1966, si Marcos ay nahalal na Presidente ng Pilipinas. Noong sumunod na taon,sa eleksyon sa pagka senador, lahat ng kandidato ni Marcos ay nagwagi maliban sa isang kandidato ng partidong Liberal, si Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino.

Sa susunod kong post, atin nang babagtasin ang landas ng Martial Law at ipakikilala ang mga taong naging bahagi nito. May sarili pong bersyon ang gobyernong Marcos, nguni’t ito po ang bersyon na aking pinaniniwalaan. Muli po,paalala lang, nasa inyo pa rin ang pinal na paghuhusga!

Inside INC

The death of INC leader Eraño Manalo, reminds me of my experience in becoming a “kapatid”, 13 years ago. Baptism in Iglesia ni Cristo can’t be achieved in a silver platter. A rigorous but interesting 4 months (if I’m not mistaken) awaits everyone. The first step is to attend the “Doktrina” officiated by one of their “ministro”. The doctrine is composed of 25 chapters (again, if I’m not mistaken), 3 were devoted to understand Jesus’ true “form”, God or Human. I remember during this sharing where I literally ask questions about anything that comes out of his mouth. To my surprise, he answered back without batting an eyelash and I felt satisfied about his explanations. I’m the most aggressive among the participants, understandably since I’m the only Catholic in the group. Aside from attending the doctrine, you are also required to attend the worship or “pagsamba” every Thursday and Sunday. I’m attending the doctrine in local of Pasig so if I will go to different local, I need to obtain a copy of “Katibayan ng Pagsamba” as a proof of attending the worship. If my memory serves me right, you need to complete a certain number of “pagsamba” for you to pass this stage. After finishing the doctrine and completing the required number of “pagsamba”, you will be briefed on what to do during the baptism day itself. I experienced to be submerged into cold water in their mini pool which is the culmination of the whole process. It was such a great experience which also opened my mind to a lot of things. Their practice is great to emulate. As a whole, I deeply admire their discipline. There’s no member of INC who doesn’t know their customs and their beliefs. They will have to go through the same process I’ve mentioned earlier so you can expect that every member of INC knew the reason of their existence. During “pagsamba”, they separate men from the ladies to avoid any distractions. Members who failed to attend the “pagsamba” for consecutive times will be visited by the “ministro” assigned on their places. There’s no written reprimand they’ll just want to know the reason why you’re not attending the “pagsamba”. I learned to wear polo and slacks and come on time or else I can’t enter the church. The controversial offering where other sectors claimed that inside INC you are forcibly charge to give a certain amount is not true. But what I’ve noticed is that most of them save a certain amount of money to be given on the month of December, thus the so called “ikapu”.

I will forever treasure my experience becoming one of them. Although I was eradicated (tiniwalag) from the Iglesia after my failed relationship with my ex-girlfriend, which, by the way was the reason why INC was introduced to me, their kindness will forever be remembered. “Opo, Siyanga po”.