CHINA GOT IT RIGHT AGAINST COVID-19

New York is one of the worst hit in the U.S. by the global pandemic. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo appealed on TV for medical teams from other U.S. states to help in the fight against COVID-19. So far only a handful have officially or unofficially began organizing teams to heed the call.

China's central gov't effectively isolated Hubei province's Wuhan City. It sent thousands of doctors and nurses from other parts of China to Wuhan. It poured resources of equipment and manpower into Wuhan, even constructing a massive, well-equipped Leishenshan (Thunder of God) Hospital in a record-breaking 11-days.

China was so successful in fighting COVID-19 because of its centralized response to the crisis. In contrast, U.S. states fought among themselves and fought with its Federal gov't. for much-needed equipment and manpower resources at the expense of a greater no. of human lives. This is one of those countless cases where an authoritarian form of governance, much like Saudi Arabia's, Jordan's, Singapore's and many other nations, has a distinct advantage in resolving more quickly and handling with relatively much success.

HAPPINESS IS A VOYAGE

We convince ourselves that life will be better once we are married, have a baby, then another.  Then we get frustrated because our children are not old enough, and that all will be well when they are older.  Then we get frustrated because they reach adolescence and we must deal with them.  Surely we’ll be happier when they grow out of the teen years.  We tell ourselves our life will be better when our spouse gets his/her act together, when we have a nicer car, when we can take a vacation, when we finally retire.

The truth is that there is no better time to be happy than right now.  If not, then when?  Your life will always be full of challenges.  It is better to admit as much and to decide to be happy in spite of all.

For the longest time, it seemed that life was about to start.  Real life.  But there was always some obstacle along the way, an ordeal to get through, some work to be finished, some time to be given, a bill to be paid.  Then life would start.

I finally came to understand that those obstacles were life.  That point of view helped me to see that there isn’t any road to happiness.  HAPPINESS IS THE ROAD.

So enjoy every moment.  Stop waiting for school to end, for a return to school, to lose ten pounds, to gain ten pounds, for work to begin, to get married, for Friday evening, for Sunday morning, waiting for a new car, for your mortgage to be paid off, for summer, for rainy season, for your song to be played on the radio, to die, to be reborn…before deciding to be happy.

HAPPINESS IS A VOYAGE, NOT A DESTINATION.  There is no better time to be happy than NOW.  Live and enjoy the moment.

- Author unknown

U.S. IMPERIALISM BEHIND BOGUS CHARGES AGAINST VENEZUELA PRES. NICOLAS MADURO

U.S. has recently filed bogus "narco-terrorism" charges against a sovereign country's leader - Venezuelan Pres. Nicolas Maduro - and other known associates, after the U.S. and its European allies-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido failed to get critical mass support for an attempted overthrow of Pres. Maduro. Guaido is not as popular as Pres. Maduro with the Venezuelan people, his image is just propped-up by paid or biased Western mainstream media abroad.

The U.S., with its European cronies, had directly or indirectly overthrown sovereign leaders before - Panama's Manuel Noriega in 1989, Iraq's Saddam Hussein in 2003, Libya's Muammar Khadafy in 2011, among others. The U.S. always comes up with excuses like narco-trafficking, weapons of mass destruction, oppression or what-have-you. All these cases have two things in common - these leaders have become unfriendly to the U.S. and their countries had something very important to U.S. interests. For Pres. Nicolas Maduro's case it is Venezuela's very rich oil reserves (Venezuela has 20% of global oil reserves).

In December 2018 Russia landed 2-long range nuclear bombers (TU-160's) in Venezuela at the invitation of its long-time ally to make a statement. Let's hope that Russia continues to stand up to these constant U.S. aggression against unwilling "allies". Let's hope that Russia and China remains a potent force in helping keep in check U.S. and its European allies' imperialist overtures.

PRRD'S BRILLIANT MOVE ON ABS-CBN: ACCOUNT FOR YOUR WRONGDOINGS!

Pres. Rodrigo Duterte delivered a masterfully-crafted political checkmate move on the Lopezes of ABS-CBN - while Congress hears the franchise of the purportedly arrogant media giant for the next months or even year(s) - a Provisional Certificate to Operate (PCO) practically puts them on notice that you're on probation so better put your act together or else!

Thanks to political allies in Congress, both in the Lower House and in the Senate, joint resolutions asking or enjoining the National Telecommunications Commision (NTC) to grant ABS-CBN a Provisional Certificate to Operate means that conditions need be met and maintained in order for the same to continue to take effect. Violate these conditions and the PCO may be revoked by the NTC.

Pres. Duterte was at least 5-steps ahead all along - just like a chess grandmaster doing what he does best - for the benefit of the greater good. Pres. Duterte is a strong leader and a master tactician at crushing his political opponents in his pursuit of providing a relatively better, comfortable future for  the greater majority of Filipinos - and they'll be forever grateful for it!

JUST IN: I think that even before a provisional franchise, PRRD intended ABS-CBN to lose so much asset and/or cash because advertisers are pulling out or staying away from the errant network. Then its stocks would come crashing! In a few more weeks closed it may not even be able to get back on its feet. Brilliant!

TRUMP IS UNDEFEATABLE IN 2020

U.S. Pres. Donald Trump will likely have another term in office. U.S. Democrats (Dems) already had an inkling for a long time that this will be the case but as true-blue politicians they're just going through the motions. The impeachment process was dead in the water even before it passed the House of Representatives but the Dems are hoping it'll make a dent in Trump's solid approval rating in time for the 2020 presidential elections. They know it is a far shot but they had to try nonetheless.

Americans aren't going to buy that "misdemeanor" charges that the Dems are trying to sell as amounting to high crimes punishable by removal from office. Americans will still look at how P.O.T.U.S. Trump performed to "make America great again" for the past four years. Many may realize that it wasn't enough even for the "master of the art of the deal" - and another four years might  "do the trick". I have two siblings who are American citizens for a long time and they've been die-hard Trump supporters from the start. They believe that Trump has done more in less than a term than what Obama had accomplished in 8-yrs.

This is the age of strong, decisive leaders. Traditional politicians may have to wait for at least another decade until voters start reconsider letting them at the helm again.

MAYOR LEN-LEN ORETA DID IT AGAIN

One-Stop-Shop (OSS) for Business Permit Renewals worked for Malabon City again. 2-years before Pres. Duterte's first SONA ordering LGUs to make permit renewals fast and easy - Mayor Oreta was already trying to do that. For 2020, renewal payment is in under 3-hrs. thru 7-Windows (could have been 5 if BFP and Cedula payments weren't separate lines) with permit release within the day or the next.

Business Permit renewals should be basically ministerial. Any query or clarification, if direly necessary, should be tackled at the pendency of the business year, NOT DURING the very hectic 2-3 week renewal period at the year start.

I hope that that Mayor Oreta makes this a tradition for others to follow. I'm a proud PRRD supporter but during the recent mid-term elections, I hesitated on a new Mayor - even if she was endorsed by Pres. Duterte, whose Davao City is a model of efficiency and ease of doing business - because a new administrator might not adapt the same OSS.

Guess who I voted for?

ANY TEAM BUT U.P. MUST WIN UAAP

Di ako galing sa Ateneo o' La Salle o' NU o' UST o' FEU pero gusto kong manalo ang team na hindi U.P. Fighting Maroons sa UAAP Finals. Bakit? Kasi noong 2018, nakasali pa nga lang sila - hindi pa nga nagcha-Champion - sobrang ya-yabang na ng mga taga-U.P. Imagine kung manalo pa sila?! Eh di malamang "right in your face" ka pa sila!

At ang Ateneo o' La Salle o' FEU o' NU o' UST, so gracious kapag nagcha-Champion, wala halos ere...

BEIJING WILL NOT INTERVENE IN HK

Beijing will just let these rioters and terrorists run Hong Kong into the ground.

Rioters think that they can provoke Beijing into intervening in Hong Kong by resorting to violence and unabated disruptions. Their first mistake is that they've overestimated their region's importance to Beijing.

Hong Kong isn't the crown jewel that it used to be more than a decade ago - because of the fact that many mainland cities have overtaken it in terms of business potential, stability and actual progress. Amidst the continuing chaos and uncertainty, companies will likely reconsider its future in HK and may find it more sensible to move its businesses to the mainland.

PROVINCIAL BUS BAN: FOR THE GREATER GOOD

There is no news like controversy. On the issue of provincial buses' ban in Metro Manila (MM), mainstream media have been airing the side of provincial bus stakeholders much more than MM buses' passengers, operators and private motorists - its intended beneficiaries. Who are the greater majority?

Provincial buses and terminals were okay in MM 30-40yrs.ago when there were much less vehicles on EDSA. Now, they should use the common terminals at PITX and Valenzuela. Overdue change for the greater good isn't usually outright easy and there is bound to be birth pains. It's a small political capital worth investing and the very popular, well-loved Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte has a lot of it.

NEW PHILIPPINE COINS AREN'T AS EASY TO DISTINGUISH APART (UNLIKE THEIR PREDECESSORS)

The new Philippine coins are more difficult to tell apart from each other. At night or indoors, I have to stare at them for a couple of seconds more than if I were holding their predecessors. With the older coins, you can tell the P10 apart from the P5 or the P1-denominations. Their shape, color and weight readily gives you an idea.

How did the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas come up with these designs? What kind of geniuses came up with this idea? With the older coins, I can pick out the P5 from the P1 easily and quickly even in poorly lit conditions. With the new batch, I have to scrutinize the P5s and P1s before getting them figured out.

WE NEED UNHRC TO INSULT BACK THOSE WHO INSULT US

Sec. Locsin has a point. I take back what I said about withdrawing from UNHRC. We won't have a venue to insult back those who insult us.

Okay, what's your plan, Sec. Locsin? How do we insult back Iceland using the UNHRC?

Also, if we have diplomatic relations with Iceland can we just cut ties with them? We can insult them back at the UNHRC venue without having ties with them, right?

UNHRC RESO: A FAVORITE TOOL FOR POLITICAL BLACKMAIL AND BULLYING

In Sec. Teddy Locsin's very powerful words, "This resolution was not universally adopted. Therefore, its validity is highly questionable. It does not represent the will of the Council, much less that of the developing countries who are always the target of such resolutions. Western countries pushed for this resolution in the confidence that the world has forgotten what they did and what should have been done to them had there been a Human Rights Council. It was pushed with the arrogance that developing countries must not stand up to them even if we can and as we hereby do. There will be consequences."

A great majority of Filipinos agree with Pres. Duterte's strong leadership, this is a fact. The Western countries who supported this minority resolution think they can bully the Philippines and its sovereign people. UNHRC tried to do this to Israel at least 5-times, nothing happened because Israel is no push-over. They think Filipinos are. They're very wrong and there will be consequences.

SSS PAYMENT CENTER LOCATIONS GETTING FEWER

Why is SSS payment contribution locations getting scarcer? SSS should be making contribution payments more easy, not more difficult. Pag-ibig Fund has ONLINE PAYMENT now, much to my delightful surprise, for just 6% transaction fee! Why can't SSS do this?

Going to SSS contributions payment locations have become difficult over the past year(s). I used to pay our Voluntary contributions thru SM Payment Center but over a year ago they stopped. So I turned to China Bank but last year, they also ceased accepting them. I turned to BPI nearby but a few months ago they also stopped so I turned to UnionBank.

Lo and behold, upon my second quarterly-mode payment, UnionBank staff informed me that next time I'll have to get one queue no. for myself, then only AFTER my turn can I get ANOTHER no. for my wife's. It took me 40-mins. for one queue no. to get to my turn so it means I may have to spend an add'l 40-mins. for my next turn.

Seemed like UnionBank is discouraging SSS members to use them as a contribution payment destination. Aren't they getting enough out of doing it?

ERWIN TULFO CROSSED THE LINE BETWEEN PERSONAL AND PUBLIC SERVICE INTERESTS

There’s a line between personal gratification and public service. Erwin Tulfo crossed that line after he felt slighted when retired Army Lt. Gen. Rolando Bautista (now Dept. of Social Welfare and Dev’t. Secretary) was unavailable and had his subordinate speak in his stead at that time Tulfo called him. Pwede naman na busy lang si Gen. Bautista at that particular time, right?

Gen. Bautista did not deserve the outburst Tulfo made after that incident. Di pa naman nasangkot si Gen. Rolando Bautista sa ganung katiwalian, di ba? GEN. BAUTISTA IS ALSO ONE OF THE HEROES OF MARAWI SIEGE! 

Gawin mo ‘yung outburst na ganyan sa tulad ni DOTr Ex-Sec. Abaya dahil sa umano’y katiwalian sa MRT na nagdulot ng sobrang pahirap sa daang libong pasahero noon at sa mahabang panahon pa, o’ di kaya sa kagaya ni Budget Ex-Sec. Abad na umano’y singkatutak na katiwalian sa kabang-bayan ang kinasankutan. Na-offend ka lang sa umano’y parang pang-“snub” sa napaka-importanteng tao na gaya mo?!

I’m an avid supporter of PRRD and it was PRRD who sought Lt. Gen. Bautista's help by appointing him to DSWD. I’m a big fan of Bitag and I understand how “brusko” and oppressive public and private individuals or groups need that “brusko”-back-to-you treatment that the Tulfos are known for. Gen. Rolando Bautista wasn’t one of those who deserved that. Over-reaction ang ginawa mo, Mr. Tulfo.

WHO SHOULD WE VOTE FOR MALABON CITY MAYOR?

In fairness to incumbent Mayor Len Oreta, he's been trying to setup the One-Stop-Shop for business permit renewals two years before Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivered his first SONA instructing Local Gov't Units (LGUs) to implement the scheme. Less better versions of what we have now in Malabon City, that is.

But since Jan. 2018, he had nearly perfected it - a business permit renewal can only take 2-3 hrs. (issuance of claim stub for actual permit)! For small business owners who have to do the legwork themselves, this is no insignificant feat of accomplishment.

We want to vote Vice-Mayor Jeannie Sandoval for the mayoral post because PRRD strongly endorsed her - but we're scared that she might bring in an administrator who'll make things difficult and inefficient again, just like before 2015. Can VM Jeannie Sandoval continue to carry out PRRD's governance style of efficiency and easier, quicker gov't licenses renewal for Malabon City?

LRT SHOULD OPERATE UNTIL 12 MIDNIGHT EVEN IF WITH ADD’L P15 AS “PREMIUM FARE”

I’ve ridden the LRT after 9PM from Vito Cruz station at least thrice this past year and the coach is fairly packed with passengers. DOTr acknowledges that passenger volume after 10PM have increased in the past years.

I understand that LRT tried to extend its operating hours 3-years ago but discontinued it after an assessment in its level of efficiency. Of course, lesser passenger volume may likely result in lower returns for the same costs, but LRT isn’t just a business venture, isn’t it? It is also a public service facility!

Why not add P10 or P15 to the regular fare after 10PM? Call it “premium fare” for the extended hours. I’m sure that this would be viewed as reasonable enough considering that we don’t want to operate the train system at a loss but we also want to provide a safer and quicker means for our loved ones who are coming home from work or from school.

RETURN OF BALANGIGA BELLS A RESULT OF DUTERTE-TRUMP STRONG LEADERSHIP COMBINATION

It would've taken back-channel efforts by Filipino and American groups at least another 1-1/2 decades to make progress on the return of the infamous Balangiga Bells hadn't the combination of Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Pres. Donald Trump happened. The supposed lobbying being done by them in the U.S. since the time of Pres. Ramos couldn't have even made a dent on the powerful U.S. War Veterans' lobbying to let them remain in U.S. hands.

Only Pres. Duterte and Pres. Trump, both known for their no-nonsense and strong leadership could have made such a remarkably difficult feat possible. Even Presidents Ramos, Estrada, Arroyo, and Aquino couldn't have possibly overcome the influential U.S. War Veterans' efforts in any of the previous U.S. administrations - Clinton, Bush and Obama.

GEN. JOVITO PALPARAN: WE SHOULDN'T LEAVE A MAN BEHIND

Gen. Palparan may be accused of many things but he was also credited with keeping in check the NPA banditry wherever he was assigned. He was recognized to have done his designated missions very effectively, whether as a young Gold Cross Medal-decorated Lieutenant in Sulu or as a passionate anti-communist commanding General.

Whether or not he is guilty of the charges filed against him in the course of trying to fulfill his missions – government should have afforded him the best lawyers for his defense. Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte should see to it now considering that Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo failed to do so then. It is the least a grateful nation can do. It just isn’t right to leave a fallen soldier behind.

PRES. DUTERTE ON RED OCTOBER AND EJK REMARKS

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte admitted in at least two of his speeches that he likes "shaking the tree" once in a while to see what falls out. His revelation on the Red October plot and his remarks on Extra-Judicial Killings may just be aimed at doing that. Ex-Pres. Arroyo confirmed that the President receives intelligence report that no one else gets. We know that he probably meant that while he has been accused of EJK, no one can point a finger on him for corruption and political persecution. His opponents just pounced on the statement literally because it suits their agenda.

The New York Times, in their article titled "Becoming Duterte: The Making of a Philippine Strongman", wrote: "He has alienated many with outrageous comments and irrational behavior, yet remains wildly popular. His gangland approach to

INTERNATIONAL PEOPLE'S TRIBUNAL (IPT): A KANGAROO COURT FOR SHAM VERDICTS

The so-called International People's Tribunal (IPT) came out with a verdict that Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is guilty of various crimes. IPT can come out with other absurb verdicts as much as it wants, it means nothing in practical jurisprudence.

IPT has no teeth and is powerless because major nations like the U.S., Russia, China, Israel and other world powers do not recognize its so-called rulings or verdicts. And that's the simple truth. It is no different from the so-called "people's court" held during political rallies by militants and leftists in the Philippines.

HIGHLY POLITICIZED ICC: MAJOR NATIONS DON’T RECOGNIZE ITS AUTHORITY

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is a highly-politicized body that is not recognized as a judicial authority by major nations like the U.S., China, Russia, Israel and many others. Just today, the U.S. threatened the ICC with sanctions if its judges or prosecutors make a move against the U.S., Israel or any of its allies (https://ph.yahoo.com/news/us-threatens-arrest-icc-judges-probe-war-crimes-174349613.html). The fact is, the ICC prosecutors and judges can only go after weak and vulnerable nations in its supposed “pursuit of justice” for human rights abuse victims. If you’re powerful enough, the ICC can’t go after you.

And like in the United Nations (UN), politics play a major part of how it operates. Israel had refused to be a party to the ICC because it has concerns that political pressure on the Court would lead it to reinterpret international law or to "invent new crimes".

PEOPLE POWER ONLY HAPPENS EVERY 15-YEARS: 1986, 2001 and 2016

Yes, 2016. People Power by the ballot happened on that fateful year. Political experts and veteran politicians didn’t see it coming and neither did most of the over 16-million Filipinos who overwhelmingly voted to catapult an unassuming Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte to the highest government position of the land. Davao City’s loss was the nation’s gain.

Scholars will probably be studying what happened for a long time. A humble Pres. Duterte dismisses it as an act of fate because he himself didn’t aspire for it or plan for it like most of his rivals did, but for many Filipinos – it was a deliverance from the decades of traditional politics that hound our unsteady system of government. Populism may be a recent global

THESE GALLANT MEN AND WOMEN DESERVED THEIR HOLY LAND TRIP AND MUCH, MUCH MORE.

A grateful nation salutes our valiant men and women of the Armed Forces who have sacrificed so much and ask for so little. These gallant men and women deserved their Holy Land trip and much, much more. Thank you, Pres. Duterte, for your compassion and appreciation for them.

Watch Asec. Mocha Uson's video coverage of wounded-in-action (disabled) AFP personnel who joined Pres. Duterte's state visits to Israel and Jordan: https://www.facebook.com/Mochablogger/videos/885053348366931/?t=13

ISRAEL TRIP: A GRATEFUL NATION KNOWS HOW TO THANK ITS MEN IN UNIFORM

A grateful nation owes these men-in-uniform much more. PRRD is right to bring them along. This is no gov't junket wherein an official has been in and out of the country 10 or so times in a year coz these men are retiring after serving our country well.

Pres. Duterte knows how to show his gratitude for men-in-uniform who has served their country with honor and patriotism. I’d like to think that this is part of his style for successfully managing Davao City. Uniformed men and women who served with

METRO MANILA LGUs SHOULD PAY MMDA FOR DOING LGUs’ JOB

True, it is unrealistic to expect LGUs to keep their sidewalks and streets clear of obstruction less they ignore the risk of losing votes come next election. To a lot of their constituents, doing this may be like “biting the hand that feeds you”. That is why MMDA should expand their street and sidewalk clearing operations task force to cover more ground and operate with more frequency. And since this is the LGUs’ job that they’re doing for them – the LGUs should pay for the costs equitably.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER: SHOW OF BRAZEN ARROGANCE

Show of brazen arrogance by a motorist (claim to 15-minutes of infamy dubbed "5-minute girl"). She deserves more than just a ticket for hitting the MMDA enforcer's motorbike and refusing to produce her license for a very long time. I'm so disappointed that Col. Nebrija let her and her husband get away with just a ticket. Shameless couple.

I remember Pres. Duterte said that once when he was still mayor of Davao that he told a Davao judge to move his illegally-parked vehicle OR ELSE. The message was - you can't do anything you want just coz you're a gov't official. The message got through to this judge and every Davao City gov't officer after that incident. I hope that PRRD teaches this couple a lesson in a

DESTINED TO BE AN AVENGING ANGEL?

The “Avenging Angel" is seen by David to stand "between the earth and the heaven, with a drawn sword in his hand stretched out against Israel's enemies.” There has never been, and there will never be, another president like Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. Nobody had, or will ever have, the courage to go against criminals, big business interests and the oligarchy – like Duterte has. The 1% elite, backed by the upper middle class who dream of membership into the club, have always had their way - before The Punisher came and ruffled their neatly-pressed feathers.

Let’s hope that the institutions and policies that he’ll establish during his term will be carried on by someone or by a party who believes the same ideals that he sought to promote.

PRESIDENT RODRIGO DUTERTE ONCE OFFERED ME HIS HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE

“Rodrigo Roa Duterte is officially the country’s 16th president. But for what it’s worth, allow me to recall an experience with the man a few years ago that convinced me he should be the one to hold the top government post of the land.”

To say the guy’s reputation preceded him is an understatement. Back then, he was already popular for bringing back order to the once-chaotic Davao City. Whether his policies were appropriate is still subject for debate, but they were effective.

Tourism Malaysia officials accompanied us on this trip, and they requested me for some photos of Digong visiting the Sepang Circuit for promotional use. No problem, I reckoned. Plus, I supposed I would have the chance to meet one of the most colorful

SEN. DICK GORDON TO LASCAÑAS: FOOL ME ONCE, SHAME ON YOU; FOOL ME TWICE, SHAME ON ME!

It was apt that Sen. Richard Gordon refused to re-open the Senate inquiry on alleged Extrajudicial Killings (EJKs) on account of a witness’ “recantation” – because SPO2 Arthur Lascañas has shown that he has 0% credibility. His 180-deg. turn from his previous testimony, after being under the wings of the Catholic church - known staunch critics of Pres. Duterte’s war on drugs, casts shadow on his motivations.

Sen. Ping Lacson may not have a choice if the committee on peace and order that he chairs opens an inquiry on the matter. Liberal Party senators will likely see to that. It’s all about media mileage, although it is highly doubtful that they can muster

DENR SEC. GINA LOPEZ’S LEGACY: A TRUE-BLUE CRUSADE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND FOR OUR FUTURE

Sec. Gina Lopez of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, a renowned crusader herself even before being tapped by Pres. Duterte to head the agency, has taken “baby steps” to help ensure that local mining operations are kept in check by closing down or suspending operations of several big mining outfits after an initial audit. Now the more difficult work begins – ensuring that these mining firms comply to strict environmental laws and high-end mining operational standards before they can even resume operations. If they comply and resume operation, strict monitoring should be in place to ensure

TWO SENATORS ALLEGE THAT “FAKE NEWS” THREATEN NAT’L SECURITY AND WANT THE ISSUE PROBED: ARE THEY JUST “SOUR GRAPING”?

Have “fake news” and “trolls” made such an alarming impact on swaying people’s hearts and minds that the two senators are now making a fuss over it? How is the issue any different from a candidate who’s waging psy-ops to defeat an opponent on the election campaign trail? How can it amount into a so-called “national security” concern? During the EDSA Revolt, former Pres. Ramos made announcements or “fake news” on defections of military units who haven’t actually turned on the Marcoses in order to encourage other units to follow suit – and we were quick to dismissed it as a valid means of waging psychological warfare.

Battles for the people’s hearts and minds have been fought over and over again for a long time – only the methods have changed due to today’s interconnected world. Information gets around faster and wider. Those who take better advantage of it

NOW THAT PHILIPPINES IS COZYING UP TO RUSSIA AND CHINA, U.S. ASSETS AND ALLIES WILL TRY TO OUST PRES. DUTERTE BY DISCREDITING HIM LOCALLY AND ABROAD

It won’t be a surprise if the article of The Guardian in UK that claimed Pres. Duterte is out of control in his drug war is a U.S. asset-instigated attempt to oust him by discrediting him abroad. Since the crusading Philippine leader started cozying up to long-time U.S. adversaries Russia and China, even “expelling” U.S. troops from the Philippines by terminating their joint military exercises – the U.S. has been trying to discredit his leadership locally and internationally. It is not about human rights or Pres. Duterte’s drug war – because the U.S. is the no. 1 human rights violator, they’re just good at disguising their wars as righteous crusades – it is all about protecting their interests in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia.

The U.S. invaded Iraq on the pretense of seizing WMDs (Weapons of Mass Destruction) but none was ever found and proof of its non-existence was known by the U.S. even before the invasion. The U.S. even claimed that Pres. Saddam Hussein committed genocide by gassing his opponents – no proof of mass murder at the scale they alleged was ever established.

PROs AND CONs OF DOING BUSINESS IN MALABON CITY: SPEEDY “ONE-STOP-SHOP” PERMIT RENEWAL BUT 2017 FEES HIKED BY UP TO A WHOPPING 40%

It is not the renowned pancit or the seasonal flooding. It is that Malabon City has become one of the most expensive places to do business in a drastic and prohibitive move for 2017 by Mayor Len-Len Oreta. Compared to Makati City, where a business grossing P120K/yr. pays only P6,000, Malabon City’s skyrocketed from P9,000 in 2016 to a whopping P13,500 for the 2017 renewal for the same grossed amount and business type! Many small and medium-sized business owners were surprised (and shocked) and were questioning the sudden and enormous increase.

This unprecedented and unreasonable move by Mayor Len-Len Oreta and his administrators overshadowed Malabon City’s more-improved, speedier “one-stop-shop” system that gives business owners a chance to renew business permits within a

P23.3 BILLION IN UNCHANGED OLD BILLS: BSP MUST DEFER TIMELINE BY ANOTHER 1-2 YEARS OR NOT DEMONETIZED AT ALL

Did you know that the U.S. doesn’t demonetize their old bills even if the new ones have more security features? There is even a law in the US prohibiting demonetization http://www.philstar.com/business/2015/12/13/1532033/demonetization-demonization). Then why is it that the Philippines’ Central Bank (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas or BSP) is demonetizing Philippine currency given its findings that up to date, Dec. 28, 2016, over P23.3 BILLION is still in circulation or hasn’t been replaced?

In retrospect, BSP launched its information drive to demonetize the previous design in 2014, wherein it was announced that 2015 will be the last year that it will be a legal tender and 2016 will be the year banks can change them. It seemed that it was

FIGHT TOBACCO LOBBYING: GOV’T SHOULD QUADRUPLE OR MORE “SIN TAXES” ON CIGARETTES

Smoking tobacco (or cigarette) kills – this is a fact. Worse, it doesn’t affect just the smoker but those who inhale the unfiltered, “second-hand” smoke, too. So why haven’t governments, specifically ours, banned its use?

One reason may be that some in government are already addicted to smoking and have sympathies with the vice. Another is the powerful lobbying by big tobacco manufacturers, sellers and growers (lobbying can take many forms such as persuasion,