Together Again

the pair on the night of the 'incident'

Rihanna and Chris Brown Back Together

The pair have reunited almost three weeks after Brown, 19, allegedly battered the "Umbrella" singer on Feb. 8, a source tells PEOPLE.

"They're together again. They care for each other," says the source. The on-again couple are currently spending time together at one of Sean "Diddy" Combs's homes, on Miami Beach's Star Island.

Adds the source: "While Chris is reflective and saddened about what happened, he is really happy to be with the woman he loves."

In its latest issue, PEOPLE reports that Brown called Rihanna on her 21st birthday one week ago. "He called to wish her happy birthday," a source told the magazine. "They've reached out to each other. It's been mutual."

Brown was booked by LAPD for making criminal threats but the case has not yet been presented to the District Attorney, who will ultimately determine which charges, if any, will be prosecuted.

-people magazine

Manila Gay Guy Blog

playing with Magnum before going to my birthday party last night

Manila Gay Guy blog.
He's been on my bent culture link list for a while now and the response has been fantastic.
People just LOVE his blog.
MGG blog is hands down my favorite 'bent' blog in cyber space.
I LOVE the guy responsible for it.
So clever.
I can only imagine how much time he devotes to his fabulous blog.
His latest topical entry is titled ,

How do we deal with married gay men? (his options are HILARIOUS)

But it doesn't matter if you're gay or straight, you should check out all sorts of blogs including this one.
The information is excellent and you're bound to learn something.
I LOVE the Manila Gay Guy blog.
Just love it!
Also check out Simply Manila.. another great blog!

ManilaGayGuy
click to link


really enjoying my 39th birthday party last night with GREAT friends, thanks boys!

Plastic

5043 MUST PASS

A good compromise, a good piece of legislation, is like a good sentence; or a good piece of music. Everybody can recognize it. They say, 'Huh. It works. It makes sense.'

Barack Obama


Dear Readers,

Please contribute to my poll on blog left!

Overpopulation is a slow, agonizing death, and the Philippine's should really change its course in order to curb it.
Seeing it happen especially in the country's most distressed areas, with people living in dire conditions, makes it twice as much heart-wrenching.

Children, children and more children.

I'm sure these kids are oblivious to the fact that they don't have ready access to basic services.

They will probably never go to school, or finish if they are lucky enough to be in one. And maybe, they will not eat tonight because their parents are having a difficult time making ends meet.
I'm also sure that, as adults, they are most likely to pass on the problem to their children to solve, and the children of their children, unless something is done to break the never-ending vicious cycle.
Your country needs an effective nationwide population control program.

And for that to happen, you have to pass into law Bill no. 5043.

Poverty has a direct link to overpopulation and that is a fact.

But the trend towards overpopulation can be restrained, if not totally stopped.
That said and yet allowing people to wallow in abject poverty as a result of something which is, otherwise, preventable is a sin.
Not to mention CRUEL, in my humble opinion.

The Catholic Church should really rethink its position on the issue of artificial birth control and contraceptives. As your Senator Biazon said "the Church should touch base with their flock" and see the reality on the ground.

Birth control by "natural means" or even abstinence is not for everyone.

It obviously does not work for everybody.

Either that, or the Church, who continues to advocate this method over and above artificial means, isn't doing its job very well.

Until the Church changes its stand against the use of contraceptives, and remains unaccepting to the idea that birth control by artificial means is a feasible and morally acceptable alternative to natural birth control, then really, I don't see any reason for them to get involved with the dialogue, right?

It is like asking ANONS, who constantly criticize me about my posts or my opinions, but wouldn't (or couldn't?) offer their take on the issue when asked for one, yes?

With so much(?) following and influence, I believe an organization as big as the Catholic Church has MUCH to contribute in order to stop a disaster waiting to happen.
There is, and should always be, a separation of church and state.
But it doesn't mean that one should work against the other.

The Catholic Church should devote its resources (read:wealth) into contributing more positively, rather than undermining the efforts of the state, may it be through the pulpit, or through prayer rallies and marches.
Because, in the end, church and state belong to one society.
OURS.

The Catholic Church is not infallible as many believe it to be.

Did it not fail myself and other sexually abused children who lost their innocence at the hands of sexual predators in robes? Were it not for myself... telling, Father Ghurka (my EVIL abuser) would have been reassigned to another parish, ready to prey on your precious children........
(this is an ongoing Vatican policy, the manual of which was enforced by the current Pope who as you know, I can't stand!)

What about saving souls and teaching morals?
I think they also failed miserably on this, right Gucci Gang?

What about allowances from gambling money?
Isn't gambling a vice?
I don't get it.
I'm sure this is where the Tim Yap gets the idea to justify poker week at Embassy... for charity.

If the clergy can condone it, so why couldn't Tim Yap, right?

And what about misinforming the faithful that the HIV virus can pass through condoms because there are small 'holes' on condoms?
Huh?
I mean, they are willing to sacrifice public health and safety, just so they can justify their stand against using contraceptives?
EVIL!

I'm sure there are lot more, but let's not dwell on those.

Let's focus on the issue at hand and ask, will the Catholic Church fail its faithful once again?"

Another BIG Stink Down Under

my super gay tabo is even pinker if you can believe it, but my tabo is in the shower of course.
I LOVE toilet paper I'm afraid.
Lots and lots of it.

Dear Readers,

Our gorgeous Australian based Filipina reporter Gigi Grande has just filed this report from down under.
You might remember Gigi was the reporter who came to my farm in Australia for the first interview I gave at the beginning of the saga.
Classic Gigi Grande!!!
I loved her because she so thoughtfully brought me a basket of organic fruits and breads which I devoured. Her male assistant was also very sweet.
I was in shock because she was so genuine and sensitive to my feelings. Not at all exploitative. I'll never forget it.
The fruit was incredible and so was Gigi.
*************************************
OFW in toilet habit mess in Australia faces new problem

An overseas Filipino worker who got fired for his “un-Australian” toilet habits and later rehired is now planning to file a complaint against his employer.

Amadeo “Buddy” Bernabe claims that he’s a victim of harassment because paint thinner was poured over his toilet paper or "baby wipes" causing him injury.

Last January, Bernabe was fired because he used water instead of tissue paper to clean himself after bowel movements.

After the union backed his case, he was asked to return to work. His company, Townsville Engineering Industries (TEI) in Australia, had promised to sponsor his family and guarantee him a job in the next four years.

"Ang hiningi lang nila sa akin is, I will not use water anymore to wash my ass. Instead su-supply-an nila ako ng wet tissue or baby wipes," Bernabe said.

However, Bernabe, along with six other OFWs in the company, were fired a week later allegedly due to the company’s weakening business brought about by the global economic crisis.

Days before their contracts were set to end, Bernabe claimed he was a victim of harassment in the workplace. He said the toilet wipes he kept in his toolbox were doused with paint thinner.

"Yong dapat kung gawin, ginawa ko na. After that magpupunas na ako ng puwet ko, kumuha ako ng wipes. After pagkuha ko ng wipes deretsong punas siya, biglang nag-iinit. Parang nasusunog ‘yong balat ko sa puwet. ‘Nung naano ko, biglang umalingasaw yung amoy. It's thinner. Paint thinner. Which is napaka-delikado sa balat natin," Bernabe said.

His claim was confirmed by a Townsville doctor. He immediately filed a police report.

The Townsville police is set to investigate TEI to determine who was behind the incident. Bernabe is also set to file two other cases of assault against the company.

Now, Bernabe is asking the Philippine government to assist him.

“Walang nagtatanong. Walang tumatawag. Walang kumokontak, as in totally wala. Walang communication sa akin. Hihingi ko sana ng pansin kay [Executive] Secretary [Eduardo] Ermita na kung pwede eh pukpukin ‘yong dapat pukpukin na tao para umalalay sa akin," he said. Report from Gigi Grande, ABS-CBN News, Townsville, Australia.

What do you think readers?

Wonky Eye's Part 2

Gimme NO MO of this crap Twister!

MoTwister is so biased when it come to Vicky Belo.
I mean just listen to him.
He sacrifices so much credibility for this rubbish.
He's practically crawling up Belo's stinky vajayjay on his hands AND knees.
Just fuck her Twister and get it over with, if you already haven't.
How can you look into her eyes without laughing mate?

STOP PROMOTING BELO TWISTER.
IT"S PATHETIC.
You are becoming part of the problem mate.

With eyes like hers, Vicky Belo should NOT be promoting her 'skills' to anyone.
I mean look at her face!
Her eyes are totally fucked up.
FUCKED UP FACE with wonky eyes!

And MoTwister is a big shit stirrer for sure.
Planned questions with planned sound bites to cause hurt for others.
Nothing original or creative here Mo.
Just feeding Filipinos more bullshit and flakiness.
Have they not had enough Twister?
Well?
Is it all about plastic surgery Mo?
Is THIS what the Philippines needs right now?
You talking to Wonky Eyes about plastic surgery and her fucking money grubby toy boys?
PATHETIC!
Good thing you're in the Philippines mate.
You will always have a job there.
Because you know the tricks to maintain your relevancy.
Nothing original and just play along.......
Promote these LOSERS whenever you can... or when you need ratings.
Really Mo?
Belo?
Who's next mate?
Boy?
Is this what constitutes newsworthyness in the Philippines?
ANYONE could do this job!

People sideswiped by a petty FAKE surgeon and her poodle Twister for ratings and shock value.
You actually look like her poodle Mo.
Did Vicky provide you with the questions?
Just wondering........ because they are the most STOOPID questions ever!
A truly weak performance with typical results.

I'm sure you will get great ex deals Twister, when your own face falls apart and you need Belo's help to keep you looking so pretty.

Pathetic lack of principles on Twisters part, for sure.
How does Twister get away with so much shit stirring?
He is a BEST friend of Belo which makes this all the more ridiculous.
Not at all objective.
A complete kiss ass really.
He has her ass fluff in his teeth.
I'm so disappointed.

Maybe Vicky has worked on Twisters face already?!
I'm losing respect for him, slowly.....because he is a side taker for sure.
Too many fingers in too many pies I reckon.
STOP promoting this loser Vicky Belo Twister.
You're becoming as bad as they are really.

Vicky Belo is a giant fraud and you LOVE her, it's so obvious.
MoTwister, you are just like them now!
Mo, you sound like a fucking sycophant!
WHERE is your objectivity mate??????
You have none.
Get out of bed with BELO Twister or you will lose the respect of your fans.
It's pathetic.
You are doing a GREAT disservice to the Philippines when you promote this whore with a scalpel.
It's a shame.
Like Dr(?) Vicky Belo's wonky eye's.

Boy and Belo in a Major TWIST! Part 1

Wow, watch this!
Shit stirring or what?
Cheap and nasty for sure on BOTH their parts.
Belo AND Twister!
Planned cheap and nastiness!
I found it cruel and totally unnecessary.
I actually almost (but not quite) felt for Boy Abunda because it was SUCH a low nasty blow.
PLANNED and executed with little flair or originality I must say.
SO easy Twister.....
Too easy.
Aim higher mate.
All three of you should.

Two Powerful Woman

First Lady Michelle Obama with White House Executive Chef Criseta Comerford


Barack and Michelle Obama at their first official White House dinner for the America's Governors

I LOVE Michelle Obama so much, for a million reasons really.
Not only because she retained Criseta Comerford, the most famous Filipina chef in America to cook for her family, but also because she lets the cameras everywhere, so we can see what's going on inside the most famous house in the world.

She is a true first lady.
So stylish beyond the norm with such a fantastic flare for fashion.
She is perfectly GORGEOUS and the most brilliant intellectual woman to ever live in the White House, and this includes Eleanor Roosevelt I reckon.
A woman like Michelle Obama is something that has sadly been missing for the last eight years in Washington.
America exhales... finally.

#1 Oscar Moment

Tears.
Dustin Lance Black.
He wrote the AMAZING movie 'Milk' and won an academy award.
Listen or read his amazing acceptance speech.
Best one of the night I reckon.
Enjoy.

"Oh my God. This was, um, this was not an easy film to make. First off, I have to thank Cleve Jones and Anne Kronenberg and all the real-life people who shared their stories with me. And, um, Gus Van Sant, Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, James Franco and our entire cast, my producers Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen, everyone at Groundswell and Focus for taking on the challenge of telling this life-saving story.

When I was 13 years old, my beautiful mother and my father moved me from a conservative Mormon home in San Antonio, Texas to California, and I heard the story of Harvey Milk. And it gave me hope. It gave me the hope to live my life. It gave me the hope one day I could live my life openly as who I am and then maybe even I could even fall in love and one day get married.

I wanna thank my mom, who has always loved me for who I am even when there was pressure not to. But most of all, if Harvey had not been taken from us 30 years ago, I think he'd want me to say to all of the gay and lesbian kids out there tonight who have been told that they are less than by their churches, by the government or by their families, that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures of value and that no matter what anyone tells you, God does love you and that very soon, I promise you, you will have equal rights federally, across this great nation of ours.

Thank you. Thank you. And thank you, God, for giving us Harvey Milk".

The Catholic Womb? No Way!

Dear Readers,

This great entry is from Carlos Celdran's Blog, 'Walk This Way' (on my favorites of course) and I want lots of people to read it.

I love how CC writes about Reproductive Health because you can tell that he is quite passionate about it like many other bloggers.
Carlos has been on the RHB case for some time now and I always anticipate and look forward to his entries on the topic.
And even though I keep up with the debate myself, I don't have as much time to devote to it like Carlos does. His passion on this issue is obvious to all who follow his blog.
I like Carlos.
His heart is in the right place and he truly cares about the Philippines,
not just bullshit talk like so many others who claim to care, but they really only care about themselves like the Tim Yaps of Manila...... and the rest.
The ME ME ME ME ME generation.
And you know who you are peeps!

Of course we all have our opinions with regards to the RHB debate, one way or another.
Even myself... surprise, surprise.
I believe that most rational people who truly care about the Philippines WANT to see this bill passed and turned into law. The country really needs to change course.
Quickly.
Over population is killing the Philippines.
A slow agonizing death.

*****************

Coolness! I just read the headlines of the Inquirer today.

It seems that the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines "walked" out of Philippine Senate and REFUSE to take part in any further talks regarding Reproductive Health Bill 5043. They say that the lawmakers had no intentions of ever taking into account what they had to say, so why should they even bother participating. Oh my gosh. What a bunch of brats.

Well. GOOD! The CBCP is finally learning it's place. They never should have had a say regarding this issue to begin with!

So all I can say here is this: "Yo! Bishops. Don't let the door hit your asses on the way out, Ok?You should really start concentrating on other more important things like saving souls, teaching morals, feeding people, weaning yourselves off allowances made through gambling (PAGCOR), and restoring your crumbling heritage churches. Those issues alone should keep you busy for years. You priests should really stop meddling in things you know nothing about: Like SEX."

Sound bite by Senator Biazon:

“This is an affair of the State. The State must respond to the needs of the people,” he said. “If the teachings of the Church are against the use of modern artificial contraception, the Church should touch base with their flock. They should go to the pulpit, and teach. I hope they’re fair when they do this.”

Fair? Ha. I doubt it. So let's stay vigilant, y'all. We are one step closer to having the bill passed.

It's been a good weekend.
(I'd say it's been a GREAT weekend with this news)

Mickey Rourke LOVES his Dogs

I LOVE any man who loves his dogs as much as Mickey Rourke does.
And Mickey Rourke LOVES his beloved dogs.
His favorite dog Loci (18 years old) died just six days ago but that did not stop her from being there at the Oscars, around his neck.
I LOVED Rourke's brilliant movie The Wrestler.
But I love him even more because he worships his animals.

Slumdog Millionaire

the movies two leads Frieda Pinto and Dev Patel

Slumdog Millionaire

Dear Readers,

I've been to India more than once and I've loved it every time.
I've seen Bombay during the day and during the night, so seeing this movie (finally) really changed my life.
This movie was exactly true to life because it captured perfectly the reality of the slums.
It really is like that.
Shocking but true.

Hands down, Slumdog Millionaire is the best movie I've ever seen.
I sat in the cinema, transfixed by this amazing film from the first second to the last second.
The incredibly beautiful children steal this movie away from their adult contemporaries, however the combination of both really do make the artistically overwhelming journey worth watching more than once.
I will absolutely see this movie again.
The dance sequence during the end credits made me cry.
I was so full of joy when I exited the theater.

I'm so in love with the male lead actor Dev Patel.
I've always fancied Indian men really. So skinny and the brown eyes are a killer for sure. Everyone wants my blue eyes, and I want their brown ones.
We're never happy.
.....and Freida Pinto is so beyond gorgeous, I could not look away from her whenever she was on screen. I mean, I am in love with her.

Tonight is the Academy Awards.
Slumdog Millionaire will 100% walk away with the Oscar for Best Picture.
No question whatsoever.
Go and see this movie.
I felt like a millionaire when I left the theater.
I'm still blown away.


the young Slumdog Millionaire stars arriving at the Oscars

Major Jason Aquino

Maj Jason Aquino

"Failure of Leadership, Failure of Command"

Privilege Speech delivered by Cong. Teofisto “TG” Guingona III of the 2nd District of Bukidnon on February 27, 2008

Jason and Fe Aquino have been happily married for 14 years now. Jason Aquino is a Major of the Philippine Army, assigned at Fort Bonifacio. He is no ordinary soldier, for he is the class baron of Philippine Military Academy Class ’91 and former Operations Chief of the elite Scout Rangers. His wife, Fe, is a housewife who hails from Cagayan de Oro. They are blessed with four daughters; Chen, who is 13 years old, a first year high school student; Chel who is 12 years old, a grade six student; and Chez who is 8 months old. All of them study at the Holy Spirit School at New Manila, Quezon City. Last year, the couple was blessed with another baby girl.

It was a bright, sunny day last February 27, 2006. Jason had already eaten his breakfast; drank his cup of coffee and had finished his Marlboro. He kissed his wife Fe goodbye and off he went to work at Fort Bonifacio. Little did they know that that was the last time they would see each other in a long, long time.

February 24, 2006 was the day that GMA declared a state of emergency. On February 27, Jason did not come home. The next day, Fe was worried sick. She called his office. She called almost everyone whom she thought could help her. Nobody knew where Jason was. She was frantic. She even confronted Col. Bacarro, the AFP spokesman, who said that he did not know the whereabouts of Jason.

My friends, I don’t know if you’ve ever had the experience and agony of having a family member not coming home. The experience is traumatic and the mental anguish is terrible. Your heart beats at the pace of a racehorse, your mind is numb with uncertainty – as if it had been injected with dental anesthesia, your throat dries with tension – like sandpaper, and your chest tightens with anxiety. Can you imagine? Ms. Fe Aquino, all alone in their house, with four daughters? Everyone she calls tells her: I don’t know where your husband is! After three sleepless nights, through the help of Jason’s Mistahs, Fe was finally informed that Jason was imprisoned at the Maximum Security Detention cell at the Intelligence Service Group or ISG compound. She was not allowed to see Jason.

Fe wondered why her husband was at the ISG. The ISG is not a custodial facility. It is a facility for interrogation and torture. In fact, this is where the members of the Abu Sayaff group are incarcerated. Jason was put in solitary confinement – in a cell that is hot, dark, and isolated. Jason was arrested and put in solitary confinement without notice to his family, without notice to his lawyers. Worst of all, Major Jason Aquino, a distinguished officer and gentleman, class baron of the Philippine Military Academy Class ’91, was made to suffer solitary confinement without any charge for five months. He was treated worse than a hardened criminal.

It took a whole week before Fe and her daughters could see Jason. They were made to wait an hour before they could actually see him. Upon seeing him, his daughters broke down in tears. He was very thin and haggard. There were deep markings on his face. Chen and Chel broke down in tears. They could not understand what was happening. Fe was warned by an officer that if she filed a case against them, they would not allow her to visit Jason anymore. As this was not enough, her house inside the heavily guarded Camp Aguinaldo was ransacked three (3) times and up to now, the Military Police and CIDG, despite their resources, have yet to arrest a single suspect.

After five months of solitary confinement, Jason Aquino was charged with attempted mutiny in connection with the alleged plan of the Scout Rangers under Bgen. Danilo Lim and the Marines under MGen. Renato Miranda. This was with regard to their alleged withdrawal of support from the administration of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.


Today, I speak to you not only about the plight of Major Jason Aquino, but of the plight of the 28 distinguished Officers of our Armed Forces who are now facing a court martial for their alleged withdrawal of support last February 2006. If you will recall, that was when the people came out in EDSA to protest the legitimacy of the Arroyo administration brought about by the “Hello Garci” scandal. GMA declared a State of Emergency. These distinguished Officers are now being subjected to countless indignities and their constitutional rights have been trampled upon by the Arroyo administration. Let me read some of their names:

Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda, Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, Col. Ariel Querubin, Col. Orlando de Leon, Col. Januario Caringal, Col. Armando Bañez, Lt. Col. Custodio Parcon, Lt. Col. Achilles Segumalian, Lt. Col. Nestor Flordeliza, Lt. Col. Edmundo Malabanjot, Maj.Francisco Domingo Fernandez, Maj. Jason Laureano Aquino, Maj. Jose Leomar Doctolero, Capt. James Sabadan, Capt. Montano Almodovar, Capt. Joey Fontiveros, Capt. Ruben Guinolbay, Capt. Isagani Criste, Capt. William Upano, Capt. Dante Langkit, Capt. Allan C. Aurino, Capt. Frederick Sales, Lt. Belinda Ferrer, Lt. Ervin Divinagracia, Lt. Jacon Cordero, Lt. Homer Estolas, Lt. Sandro Sereno, and Lt. Richiemel Caballes.

Let’s take some indignities. Last February 1, Col. Ariel Querubin, a recipient of the Medal of Valor1, the highest award given by the AFP for gallantry in combat, was forced to attend the court martial proceedings despite having a high fever and dizziness. Ariel was suffering from a combination of bronchitis and urinary tract infection. A military medical doctor who examined him found his fever to be at 38.5 C°. Instead of trying to minister to Ariel’s high fever, the doctor just filled up a medical certificate stating that Ariel was “fit to travel with medical team”. When confronted by Mrs. Pong Querubin, the doctor just replied that he was just following orders.

Another example was the way they manhandled the officers and ridiculed their families when they were transferred from Camp Capinpin in Tanay to the ISAFP Compound in Camp Aguinaldo. On the morning of that day there was a gentleman’s agreement, that the officers would be furnished a written order for their transfer and that they would not be handcuffed. At around 4:30 pm a commotion started. In breach of the previous gentleman’s agreement, the officers were being handcuffed in front of their wives and children. No written order was ever produced. Lt. Col. Custodio Parcon, another Medal of Valor Awardee2, was forcibly handcuffed and carried by eight-men: “parang baboy na binuhat” ang sabi ng isang asawa. The officers were brought to the ISAFP compound at Camp Aguinaldo at 9 in the evening. ISAFP is not a custodial facility. It is a facility for interrogation. Their transfer to ISAFP was for no other purpose but to break their spirit. The cells are very hot, dark, and devoid of ventilation. Their beds are located right beside their waterless toilet bowls. Their families were not informed where they would be transferred. When the wives went to the high steel gates of the ISAFP compound to verify, the guards just mocked them, laughed at them and ridiculed them. Exhausted, hungry, cold, and traumatized by the day’s events, the officers’ wives and their children could only cry in desperation. As Jun Lozada said: “I have seen the ugly side of the state!”

General Esperon has persecuted these Officers and their families. They are not asking for mercy. All they want is justice, to be treated fairly and decently befitting an officer and a gentleman.

They are being forced to face an illegitimate court martial without any proper charges. The basis of the charges are two documents. Ironically, the first document, called the pre-trial investigation report (PTIR), recommended the dismissal of the mutiny charges against all of the accused. This was the result of an investigation by a three-man panel headed by Colonel Al Perreras. The second document, called the Pre-Trial advice, which reverses the PTIR, recommends the filing of charges. This was not signed by Esperon. Had Esperon signed this document, there would be no doubt about the legitimacy of the court martial. It is like a civilian being made to undergo a trial based on an unsigned criminal information sheet. To this date, Esperon has not signed3. The result is an illegitimately constituted court martial. In the absence of a signed pre-trial advice, there is no basis to detain these officers. This is a blatant display of abuse of authority without responsibility. This is a failure of leadership that further divides an already divided Armed Forces.


That is how our present Arroyo administration regards our military. To GMA, the Armed Forces of the Philippines is not the protector of the people. They are being used as tools. Tools to perpetuate her illegitimate and immoral hold on the Office of the President. Tools to suppress and intimidate legitimate opposition and dissent. Tools to extra-judicially kill our countrymen, just because they have progressive ideas. The Arroyo administration will do anything to stay in power. At first they will plead with you, and if you do not agree, then they will try to bribe you. If you do not agree to be bribed, they will threaten you and your family. Professor Randy David, in his column4 eloquently described the Arroyo administration in four phrases – “No Qualms, No Shame, No Conscience, No Limit!”

Aside from the question of legitimacy of the Arroyo administration, there is an apparent failure of leadership in the AFP. As Columnist, Ramon Farolan, a former General and PMA’er puts it5: “The AFP is not the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It is the Armed Forces of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (AFGMA). Every officer who makes it to star rank and who aspires for high position in the military organization must, first and foremost, indicate a sense of personal loyalty to her over and above loyalty to country and people. …what matters most is personal loyalty to her more than efficiency, honesty or even honor.”

As the Philippine Daily Inquirer editorial states6:

“Esperon has shown his Commander-in-Chief utmost fidelity, ……… But overriding loyalty to the Commander- in-Chief is the quality one looks for in a commander of the presidential guard. The AFP Chief of Staff; however, must place both the national interest and the interest of the military as the protector of democracy above that of the President. This is exactly the thing that Esperon has failed to do.

He has not risen above his formative experience as commanding officer of the Palace guard. He has failed……. to de-politicize the military.

In a word, he has acted as a partisan.

Under his term, Esperon has also failed to stop the spree of politically motivated killings that will forever haunt his… legacy.

Consider the legal or political battles over the Mayuga report, over the Jonas Burgos case, over the Peninsula Manila incident -- indeed, over the damaging disclosures in the Hello Garci tapes.”

The track record of Mr. Esperon sends a spine-chilling effect on all of us. If asked by the President to do an illegitimate and non-democratic act, we doubt very much if he will stand up for the nation’s true interest.

Mr. Speaker, I therefore move to refer this speech to the Committee on Human Rights so as to inquire into the conditions of detention and the violation of the constitutional rights of the 28 officers detained at ISAFP compound at Camp Aguinaldo, as well as those detained at the CIDG compound at Camp Crame.

Secondly, I renew my call on Gloria Arroyo, to vacate the Office of the President. She never had any legitimate right to be President. She stole that office in 2004, as revealed by the “Hello Garci” tapes. Having stolen that Office, she is nothing but a usurper. I therefore call upon the usurper, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, to stop the lying, stop the stealing, stop the kidnapping, stop the killing, and vacate the Office of the President of the Philippines!

Lastly, I call on General Hermogenes Esperon to immediately step down for failure of leadership. For failure to institute a credible military justice system. For oppression and persecution. For failure to fulfill the Constitutional mandate that makes the Armed Forces of the Philippines the protector of the people. For using the Armed Forces as a tool for perpetuating a corrupt and illegitimate administration.


Maj Aquino with one of his four daughters

Asian Condom Fatigue

Dear Readers,

I found this article interesting and alarming to say the least.

Please have a read.

HONG KONG — The AIDS virus is spreading rapidly among gay and bisexual men in Asia as younger people shun condoms and authorities fail to increase awareness of the disease, health officials said Friday.

The epidemic will worsen dramatically in coming years unless there is better education and stronger political will to combat the disease, warned Massimo Ghidinelli, the World Health Organization's regional adviser on HIV/AIDS.

His comments came at a news conference after a seminar in Hong Kong at which regional AIDS experts discussed the growing trend.

Asia is believed to have the world's largest number of men who have sex with other men, with a preliminary estimate of 10 million, according to WHO.

While describing the figure as "extraordinary high," Ghidinelli said it still appeared to be conservative because of the stigmatization of male-to-male sex.

WHO said fragmentary information from the region indicated a rapid spread of HIV among gay and bisexual men, but that full data weren't available. The seminar was called to strengthen efforts to study and address the problem, it said.

Ghidinelli said low condom use among younger men in male-to-male relationships was fueling the transmission of HIV.

"Younger men engaging in sex with men are entering into a sexual arena without the same level of awareness and without taking the same level of protection that the older generation was taking," Ghidinelli told a news conference.

Ghidinelli said the AIDS experts agreed at the conference to set up a regional task force to collect information on male-to-male transmission and to strengthen measures to fight the disease.

from Huffington Post

there is still no HIV vaccine but some are behaving as though....

Fake Fake Fake

the Pope, outdated and not helping


Why is the Catholic Church so afraid of condoms.

Dear Readers,

I find these reported HIV figures for the Philippines fascinating.

Total world HIV cases 2009 38,217,530

Thailand 620,000

Cambodia 85,000

Malaysia 98,000

Philippines 8,500 (??????)

The international HIV community is being told that a country (a sexually liberal country like the Philippines), with nearly 97 million people, NO adequate birth control laws to speak of and the most DISASTROUS anti condom policies imaginable, has only 8,000 HIV positive people?

And a Muslim country like Malaysia has 10 times more?
Really?

I find this information so depressing because I feel/know it's false.

Is the Philippine's government and the Catholic church serious with these HIV figures for the Philippines?
Now we all know these figures are NOT true.
They can't be because logic defies them.

HOW can this false HIV reporting continue in the Philippines?
It's been going on for over twenty years already.
It puzzles me and leaves me frustrated that no one discusses it openly.
I'm hoping that more advocates will take this false reporting issue up on their own blogs and start asking questions.

It's a potentially explosive issue that REALLY needs to be looked at much closer.
The Catholic church needs to keep it's grubby fingerprints OFF the Philippines HIV statistics.

Many people who suffer are NOT being counted.
Or cared for.