Scarier Than A Good Horror Movie!

I am Rian, simple young man and not a member of the civil society of the Philippines. And so is kuya Ernest. Yet, something happened that's maybe worth sharing here in this blog. We're not so sure about this. You can't easily validate something that did not happen...

We were on a big boat with its roof deck accessible to the riding passengers & all. (We can't disclose exact details here for our security reasons.) Kuya, just like me, can't help it: He'd certainly go up there to that deck. He did. What did he see? In the rows of seats, a handful of young (20s to 30s) to mid-age men with the kinds of gestures, position and looks that made him uneasy, very uneasy.

Organized criminals who likely plotted to victimize a group of young stage performers from an elite institution in Metro Manila (we can't say details here or good descriptions). They had guardians, maybe guards too & others with them, some were their guides or so.

Our presence, kuya's greetings to some in the group & his remarks might have help disrupt their plans. We were to take another public transpo vehicle to what they didn't know our common destination city.

Kuya Ernest realized that earlier than that in another public transpo terminal, where passengers would alight from another mode of transportation, a guy, tall, well-built, bald & dominating in his conversations with strangers (where he made it sound & appear he was too), were nudging us either to reveal where we were going & perhaps also to instead take another circuitous route but would have saved us some time if we were (in his curiosity) going to a very far away city. It was totally unnatural for him all of his acts & words. & Kuya detected later that he used choice words to make us trust him.

But we're not ordinary travelers. We know real & impending threats of different levels (to our properties or persons). We knew a goon-type man that to others looked threatening & fearsome but to us would look like our new stranger-friend who mean no harm to us even as we encounter him in a dark & isolated area of a dangerous place VS what should look like you next-door neighbor brother, lanky, without strong body (or muscles) or so but we know that even in a place that rather seem safe & who we encountered during safe daytime hours, in fact is plotting to have us abducted or robbed or so. We know how to tell, almost all of the time.

We helped disrupt the plans of some organized criminals to victimize elite young men from Metro Manila in a place they didn't know very well they could be in greater dangers than they thought maybe (they looked like they knew it was not safe there & they had precautions but underestimated the threats).

We by accident helped secure lives with our humble means when at that time we were in some not-so-good situation too & friends ignored our calls for some simple assistance.

Our deepest sympathies to the families of the victims of the Nov 2015 terror-attack in Paris, the people of France

Our deepest sympathies to the families of the victims of the Nov 2015 terror-attack in Paris, the people of France and the other victims from other countries

We thank the people of France & the French gov't for all the critical, invaluable help that they extended to the victims of Supertyphoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in the Philippines. & for the $50M grant to help the country deal with the effects of global warming in this country where some local officials help foreign entities irresponsibly & illegally forage on our fragile eco-sytems

Ravenous Greed of Some Officials & A Million Children Who Go to Bed Hungry Everynight

Wait, please check our other blog: iDisrupt
PLUS: Who's poisoning the wells? Likely future victims include poor Filipino children
 
(Next Post: Smugglers & big-time traders of rice should be closely monitored as they'll find good opportunities to exploit the market this El Nino year. This election year, these big-time industry players either volunteer to contribute (bribe) or are solicited for big donations by some major political candidates. Each of the more than 3 million very poor Filipino families spend much more for rice in terms of percentage of the family's total income, or received dole outs from a government program, than an average lower-middle class American family spends in total for foods. This contributes to the burdens of these families already suffering from occasional hunger - pinning them further to long-term poverty)

New blog: iKickPoverty
http://ikickpoverty.blogspot.com/

Are we advancing this cause? Are we making progress with this initiative? Yes, definitely. Absence of online activities doesn't mean we're not doing anything to advance this cause. However, limits to our resources & mobility seriously constrain us as to what we're capable of in terms of making progress as to our work for this cause. Ecclesiastes 3:1-12 (There's a time and place for everything under the sun...)

Glass ceiling? Well, how about a glass cage like in our situation? It's not what all it seems...

It's not easy to measure (if at all practical) or even appreciate what we achieve with what we do or whether or not we're making any impact at all as to what we need to help catalyze. But we do. We have our own ways of making things happen even as we struggle to provide for our very selves.

In our other blog: iDisrupt.blogspot.com

Philippine Big Banks Accepted & Protect Billion$ of Dirty Money? 

When Survival of One Group of Human Beings Is Feared As Unwelcome Burden or Even Existential Threat by Others

New Entry: 
President Obama Our D1srupter of the Season for the Landmark Iran Nuclear Deal
As US agencies work to save & rebuild so many Filipino lives – treasonous greed makes as many lives ever more at risk? PLUS: Who's poisoning the wells? Likely future victims include poor Filipino children

Please visit the iDisrupt blog to see the entire photo - click here now

We hate to be threatened as we have an overdose of such already. A few days ago someone made a veiled threat to us and I hated it. But because it is in the context of us doing some work, we took it easy and I thought I'd never mind. But to think why this man, thug or crime group leader, was able to make such (is he a man of a new Mayor?) is something that made me remember it. But just that, what can we do? These men can't be arrogant without having strong connections to officials who protect them.

Our Facebook accounts contain entries that might of interest or relevance:
Ernest Barraquias Jr  or  Rian Igos

Deep-seated beliefs & animosities can easily trigger conflicts

An entry. Please click on the photo or link below to read the texts at Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1573347732941226&set=a.1384033165206018.1073741828.100007980430332&type=1

Or this, our suggestion : 1 method that can work to help drastically curb severe corruption in the Philippines and even in other 3rd World countries
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1602405646702101&set=a.1384033165206018.1073741828.100007980430332&type=1

Help Prevent A Few Unnecessary Deaths Due to Corruption, Doc

We advocate the career advancement, through legitimate & merit-based means, of some promising new aspirants to privileged positions in public offices. // We can't declare names, and even of this lady MD for various reasons. There is very severe, systemic corruption in the Department Of Health and entire health care industry in the Philippines. Oh so many unnecessary, preventable deaths... Everyday!

https://www.causes.com/campaigns/73915-help-samar-leyte-heal-rise-faster-prevent-corruption-now
About us Ernest Barraquias Jr & Rian Igos: Our new blog https://idisrupt.blogspot.com/

We Shivered: News Report on Alleged Group of Assassins 
(We Experienced Terror in the Past)

Allegedly murdered hundreds of suspected petty & serious criminals, this group of police officers, village security officials, former NPA rebels, gang members & ex-convicts have counterparts & cohorts still actively in business or on call especially this presidential election year in the Philippines. This in our severely corrupt country, where many who stole billions worth of development, aid and social services funds go unscathed. We are worried... Yet one member, leader of a civil society group, who can endanger us, dismissed these as non-concerns, even false charges.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/677165/tagum-city-ex-mayor-charged-in-death-squad-slays

The State of National Conscience

https://www.causes.com/campaigns/73915-help-samar-leyte-heal-rise-faster-prevent-corruption-now

Will President Aquino’s success in the pursuit of good governance, fight against corruption & rescue of institutions from total capture by a few top officials outlast his presidency?

Philippine Officials VS ISIL of Syria-Iraq: 
Year 2015 – Theft of At Least $4 Billion VS est $1.7 Billion Funds Raised?*

For its acknowledged unrivaled capability as a non-nation entity (yet), it is reported that it raises at least $5 million every day from illegitimate and allegedly criminal activities on top of the suspected support from foreign governments and private donors.*

Yet at est $1.7 billion (US dollars) – the amount it will raise this year will be eclipsed by the amount of development and other funds that will be stolen this year in the Philippines – a plausible bare minimum of $4-6 billion this 2015, what should be considered an election year here, as the next national and local elections will be in May 2016. 

There is a 100% occurrence of mass vote-buying across all contests in all levels and in all political subdivisions in the country.

More than 70% of the elective posts are captured by political dynasties. I computed a very low estimate of 7% of the roughly $60 billion 2015 national budget. Poverty caused, exacerbated and perpetuated by severe corruption in the Philippines indirectly kill so many thousands every year.

The difference is that ISIL will spend the money for, among others, its causes, for its operations and for the families of their fighters who died. The Philippine officials will pocket the money, dump it to their dummies / dummy companies and launder some of it and use not more than 20% of their loots to buy votes in May 2016.

Severely Corrupt Local Officials Should Be Subtly Reminded Not to Misuse or Steal What Remains of the LCF (Local Calamity Funds) - The National Total is in Billions (Tens of Millions of US Dollars)

Overeating and passive lifestyle kill more people in the western hemisphere than natural disasters do in SouthE Asia every year. But for many corrupt local officials, their cravings, fueled by their insatiable greed for easy money, stolen public funds - the temptation is far more powerful…        They can’t resist it.

 

>>> Bohol got far less international media attention - and far less-in-proportion

        aids and assistance from the international community. Next campaign in our

        Causes.com account: How you can help make a difference in the lives of 

        a few there. By being there (hey, it's where Panglao Island is, why not 

        spend your holiday vacation there?) and sharing a meal with them 

        (a family or so) can help inspire them, and momentarily make them very 

        happy. You are fortunate, spend some loose change in Bohol and spend an

        hour or so with a family in temporary shelters. Thank God for your blessings

        by sharing your time (presence) and some spare amounts (in foods) as you

        give words of wisdom, advice to the children 

        (never ever give up on school, for example). 

        Bohol was similarly devastated (earthquake) just before Samar-Leyte 

        (Typhoon Haiyan, Yolanda) but got far less cash donations... 

The last quarter of the year. After misusing major portions of the Local Calamity Funds, many local officials, 2 years before they again splurge on a frenzy of massive vote-buying, are eager to use low-level natural disasters such as simple flooding more to profit and gain votes than to sincerely help the affected families. Exploiting the misery & helplessness of the poor.

Teenagers, no matter how disciplined, can sometimes barely stand the onslaught, barrage of ads for good and junk foods. But who can claim complete resistance to it all? Life is short. I love to eat too. And indulge even in the rather very unhealthy kinds. But oh it’s different when you are causing long-term hunger, and further vulnerability to crisis situations (family or community) among the already-malnourished thousands in your locality. Corrupt crook ones indulge nevertheless. Yummy… Munch munch munch… 

A Pledge. By PNoys.

(Please Pass/Share Now)

I am PNOy.

I did not steal a single peso to enrich myself as your President. Hindi po ako nag-nakaw kahit piso mula sa kaban ng bayan.

I am PNoy. I took the dangerous political risks to take initiatives to seriously curb severe corruption in the country.

My beloved countrymen, let me be damned due to DAP. Alam po natin ang kalakaran ng pulitika sa ating bansa. Indeed, I am partly taking the cudgel for my hardworking team.

Pero DAPat no matter what hindi maantala at lalong hindi matigil ang mga programang kinakailangang patuloy na umusad sa kapakinabangan ng milyon-milyong mahihirap nating mga kababayan at sa ika-uunlad ng ating mga pamayanan at bansa.

I promised you that you will be my bosses. I remain single to this day. But ever since I became an elected official, I consider myself a family man. When my father’s life was cut short, I became the only man in the family. When you elected me your President, you have become my family.

In the name of my late father and mother, I will never ever steal a single peso to enrich myself. And in the name of family, I will never do anything that should harm and deprive any one of them.

I am PNoy. During my administration, my team helped steered and managed an economy that expanded by more than 1,000,000,000,000 (1 trillion pesos) since 2010, and added more than 100,000,000,000 (100 billion plus) to government programs and projects that directly benefit millions of the poorest families out of the hundreds of billions of additional funds in our national budget (with the biggest percentage for basic social services and direct anti-poverty measures in our nation’s history.)

More than 3 million more poor families will get cash support from the national government, the kind of families that banks will never even consider for a 1,000-peso cash-capital loan. A million more poor Filipinos benefited from the kind of money (billions of pesos) that in a single transaction enriched a few individuals in some past administrations. I did not steal a million pesos.

If you think I have stolen a single peso to enrich myself, if any one of you can reasonably prove it and if you do think you have a better choice, then, let me be impeached that you be governed by someone you think you can trust more. I don’t have money to buy and bribe my detractors, and to silence those who are intent on discrediting me and my administration no matter what.

I re-iterate my pledge: I will not steal a single peso to enrich myself.

Ernest Barraquias Jr.

Rian Igos

We are Pnoys.

(This is for editing)

Shoot to kill? 

The Playing Children?

Are village watchmen, or any one, free to shoot children being suspected of committing a crime? DepEd action and relevant set of guidelines or even new policy essential to prevent another tragedy

Of course there’s no such policy or ordinance anywhere, even in strife-torn Somalia, so-called failed state for so many years. But what about preventive policies or regulations within the schools or the Department of Education. We posted this in our FB accounts too.

I’m writing about this to press the DepEd officials to craft or enforce policies (if there’s any in existence) to prevent any more loss of lives of so young and innocent children like Carlo Torales and Sandro Gonzales. Mistaken for thieves, the two were shot dead by an overzealous village watchman invited by a school to guard its facilities in Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat.

And before it’s all forgotten, I wish to say it’s 2 lives lost too many – due to a preventable tragedy. They weren’t committing theft or burglary, and not stealing billions of development funds.

Working guidelines, practical measures even new policies if necessary should be enforced by the DepEd to prevent another similar tragedy - bound to happen again otherwise. 

Unlike students of La Salle, who have the finest golf courses and sports facilities in the country for their privileged use, not a few of the millions of poor children - especially those in slum areas in cities and poor communities across the nation – sometimes find it irresistible to enjoy the grounds and accessible public facilities as playgrounds and even as parks to idly spend time with friends or playmates after school hours and during non-school days. A stark contrast a rare effective leader and executive that the DepEd Secretary Bro Armin Luistro is certainly very much aware of.

The nation can’t get over with the death of a La Salle student who helplessly died in a hazing rite not so recently – rightly so and for good reasons. But excuse me – the preventable dangers to the lives of poor and innocent children are as worth our attention as other pressing issues hogging the headlines recently. 

Kuya Ernest & I after some basketball games with some locals

Contrasts: The predictable daily sunrise and sunset VS the unpredictable perennial mega-smoke belcher and active Mayon Volcano.

The threat of a low-probability but high-consequence major eruption forced the local provincial government to to be the “most disaster-prepared” in the country. The claim of the local officials is not without merits, as per our own opinions based on our own observations.

But Legazpi City itself, as the regional administrative capital is arguably the seat of atrocious severe corruption in the poor Bicol region in Southern Luzon. And as we will write about in the future, severe corruption in the region brought about greater hardships among a million families and caused deaths far more than Mayon Volcano in the last 50 years...

With ten thousand and one serious violent and or big-time criminals they pro-actively protect or host, we were subjects of misinformation campaign by the rogue elements of the intelligence-agents of a government agency. Spoiling the wonderful experiences we had with kind and loving new acquaintances and friends. And forcing us to leave the place.

This is counter-intuitive – to announce that we’re departing from a place and moving when it’s not a safe thing to do for endangered individuals like us. They have vandalized our published articles too, though we’re not sure about this yet. You idly earn billions-a-year  in combined kickbacks, ‘di na ba kayo naawa sa amin? Nice moves sirs!