Off The Beaten Path

Joker and laughter

By Roy Gersalia

As I have been watching the Senate hearing today, I broke out of laughter when ZTE star witness Jun Lozada answered Senator Jinggoy Estrada when the latter asked him if he still admires Senator Joker Arroyo – after all that has happened at the last hearing. Lozada gave him a mysterious smile reminiscent of the La Gioconda and answered “Oho, kasi ho ‘pag bad ka lagot ka,” (Yes, because if you’re bad, you’ll be snapped off.) wittily referring to the senator’s campaign slogan during the last elections.

As everybody knows, Senator Arroyo is a known maverick lawyer, also a Bicolano who, during his day fought vehemently for human rights and led the barricades during the height of the strongman rule of the late president Marcos. He became a national figure for his advocacy and until the Erap plunder investigation where he became famous for his remark, “we won’t let this country run by a thief.”

Now, would he remark the same for Ms. Arroyo? Would he be ready to cut off the bad people in Ms. Arroyo’s regime? Gare pigapapaulok nya man nanggad an mga Bikolano.

Recently, Senator Joker has been the subject of talks and rallies and has gone out of ratings in the popularity survey. Most Bicolano’s including Inquirer columnist Conrado de Quiros is no longer proud of him. As de Quiros pointed out in one of his columns, “If one would have to understand Lozada, it is no other than Senator Arroyo, being his fellow Bicolano,” or words to that effect. But Arroyo seemed not to understand and has gone protecting and or shielding the current palace occupant and her minions.

Ahh, Joker talaga. 

I now think that the Department of Justice is a misnomer. Perhaps it’s the other way around. With all the storms hounding the Arroyo regime, the “retirable” DOJ secretary, seemed a very old man who is not able to hear and see things as they are and seemed unable to recognize the call of the times.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez quipped the other day to my raucous laughter: “People who abandon their friends are traitors. You agree to be the President’s alter ego and then you will leave her?” He said quoted by the media trying to warn government officials who attended the Mass rally at La Salle Greenhills.

Aayy saro man.

* * * * * *

Joke for the day: This was relayed to me through a text message by a student leader in Bulan who styles himself as oppositionist.

GENIE: Dahil pinalaya mo ako mula sa lampara, bibigyan kita ng tatlong kahilingan.

LALAKE: Gawin mo akong…..

1. Super rich pero no tax.
2. Powerful pero wala akong pwesto.
3. Notorious pero walang sabit.

GENIE: Sige, mula ngayon, ikaw na si Guiming ang first gentleman ni mayora.

(Note: Ang magalit, mapikon ….)

Jante’s Law

By Roy Gersalia

Having reviewed the philosophy of Vilfredo Pareto and Gaetano Mosca confirmed that the theories I have drawn in the past of some of the attitudes and characteristics of the “Taga-Bulans” and the thoughts that I have come to arrive were justified. Anyway, this is just one of the prevalent attitudes that I will discuss.

Following Goethe’s saying that “he who cannot draw from three thousand years is living from hand to mouth,” I did some research fueled from what I had observed during the past years on one of the prevalent attitudes –consciously or unconsciously- of the people of Bulan that kept the people to its knees and haunting the present generation.

Some may not like this but this is true. As they say, the truth is often detested. Our town is like the (in) famous town of Jante. At least that is my theory. I invite you to come reflect on it.

During the course of my research, I stumbled upon the Norwegian author Aksel Sandemose who created in one of his novels the fictitious Danish town of Jante that lives in its own commandments, thus, the so-called Law of Jante. The Law of Jante explains Sandemose, is “each little souls struggle for coequality and recognition, never without consciousness that all the others are greater than he.” In other words, if a person strives harder to achieve his goal –especially in wealth, profession or career – his town mates will not like it.

In this line, envy, despite being a Christian sin, is a principle part of Jante’s Law, as the result of breaking this social code means that your neighbors will despise you for your individuality, uniqueness and or an excess show of wealth. By this, people stamp out each other’s chances in life (Moller, 1998 thesis on Law of Jante in Swedish society). And that is what I observed for the past years that shaped the lives of some people in Bulan.

Few of the examples are the following: When one is criticizing –with enough grounds- the personalities in the corridors of power, the “spokesperson” (whatever you call this person) will strike back and oftentimes, resorted to character-assassination of the person who criticizes, sways from the real issue at hand and depicting the picture that when one is crossing their line, it is deemed wrong. In other instance, if the “spokesperson” is unavailable, the subject of the criticism will rely to a hired person (usually a broadcaster) to discuss, answer and defend the issues hurled into the subject.

At times even our closest of friends, neighbors and former classmates succumb to the Law of Jante unconsciously. They often asked you where have you bought this or that, asked you where you work, what career are you planning, etc., and if you answer them even in all your honesty, they will despise you at the moment you turn your back. Well, in answer, I said “on that, you can put your mind at rest.” Does it ring a bell?

A fellow writer and friend complained to me once that when he tried to rewrite the history of Bulan and when he presented his drafts to the person who is said to be a historian, he said that the person he turns to said that what he wrote was wrong, but at the end of the day changed some and copied it.

I’m not knocking fun with my town mates. I just wrote what I have observed. Anyway, this is all a theory. Makulog?

A source of courage and inspiration

By Roy Gersalia

With intermittent sobs, a feeling of anguish and of indescribable pain, Rodolfo Noel “Jun” Lozada Jr. took the courage to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth at the witness stand before the Senate, Friday and thereby tells his story of the stinking and anomalous transaction of the now-scrapped ZTE-NBN deal that involves a helluva $329 million taxpayers’ money.

The former PhilForest chair and a consultant of the ZTE-NBN deal who called himself “just a probinsyanong intsik” (a Chinese from the province) told the joint session of the blue-ribbon committee, communications and national security, what he knew of the anomalous transaction involving the former Comelec chair Ben Abalos whom he called as siga and the first gentleman Mike Arroyo. He told his tale not only before the Senate, but to the whole world. An act that demands courage for a simple telecommunications engineer.

Courage by the way, is not an absence of fear, rather, it is the presence of fear by which man even haunted by it, does the right thing. That is what Jun Lozada did, and I admire him for that.

Despite the grueling hours of question -and- answer and the grilling of some Senators who appeared to be shielding the truth, particularly Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Juan Ponce Enrile, Lozada gave his answers as candidly as he can and without notes, a proof that what he says is the truth. He promptly answered the questions raised by senators in an effort to bring to light the whole truth of the scandalous deal.

Even with a discrediting tactic disguised as questions by senators Santiago and Enrile, Lozada, a bicolano, gave an answer in one instance that lay flat to the two senator’s face that there are things that he (Lozada) won’t be proud of, but what he says and swore before the Bible in that session is the truth and nothing but the truth.

For his expose, all the president’s men that include Lito Atienza, Raul Gonzalez, Avelino Razon etc. ganged up on him and told the media that what Lozada did tell to the public were all lies. But they were unsuccessful.

I only remember a scene in “The Enemy of the People” by Ibsen that says of Dr. Thomas Stockmann. “The strongest man in the world is the one who stands most alone.” Lozada is alone but he is the strongest man in the world. He is alone (even if Lasallian brothers and nuns supported and protected him all the way) in the sense that Filipinos have a nasty habit of denouncing and even abandoning a person when doing the right thing. I reserve my doubts to the nuns and Lasallian clergy.

I also long for the day to meet a “Jun Lozada” in Bulan, Sorsogon where he/she can put to light the deals undertaken by the local government especially of the controversy-packed terminal which involves a hefty P40 million. But I bet it would not be Sitay Morata. No, on the contrary, I would be very happy if she would be. What she knows is another story.

To Mr. Jun lozada: Thank you for inspiring millions of Filipinos. Oragon ka, Mabuhay ka!

A little manifesto of the Bulan press

By Roy Gersalia

The specter is haunting the Bulan Press. The specter of the then Bulan Press Club.

Let’s learn from history. Perhaps most of us don’t know – or have completely forgotten – that there was once a united organization of the members of the press in Bulan town.

It was organized in the 70’s by the front runners of newspaper publication in the whole province of Sorsogon, all from Bulan except one. And they are from the “Roving Eye” a fortnightly, later the Sorsogon Newsweek, a community newspaper founded in 1972.

It was widely known at the time that they are the first media organization to be united in the province and had a potent force back then in the media industry. They are organized before the Sorsogon Press and Radio club was organized in the capital province.

Until another generation of media members came. And then another. And the front runners had chosen another path. Some of them already retired while others goes into other professions. As it was widely known at the time -and until now- that working in the media especially in the province is a “labor of love”. They have to go where life would lead them to, as a sage once said.

Then the first Press Club in the province went defunct. And for a very long time it was unheard of.

But it had a message.

A message which most of media members in Bulan doesn’t heed: The need to have an organized and United Bulan Press Club. Plain and simple.

Today, Bulan town have a long-running newspaper, two radio stations and a cable television which has joined in the fray of delivering news to the public unlike before when the only outlet of information is the newspaper.

Evidently, members of the media from Bulan have augmented. But still they are not united and organized.

The radio stations particularly, has a lot of different news and public affairs programs -all in one objective, to make the public have an informed choice- but it leads to rivalry of news anchors and exchange of harsh words polluting the airwaves. And worse, most of the news anchors here in Bulan aren’t Bulan town residents.

But as Marx said, history will favor the true players.

Recently, media community from Bulan are working very hard to unite once again and reorganize the long-forgotten Bulan Press Club. They had enough already.

They said, “Media members from Bulan unite!

Federal form as alternative

Solis initiates talk for Charter change

By Roy Gersalia

BULAN, Sorsogon – (Philippines) – Saying that the present form of government is not enough to serve the people well, Sorsogon 2nd district representative Jose Guyala Solis is initiating talk with his allies in Congress for the amendment of the Constitution and presented a Presidential-Unicameral-Federal form as an alternative.

Solis said on Thursday, January 17 that there are many loopholes in the present charter that needed to be changed and proposes a system which is patterned after the United States government.

“Our Constitution speaks only of rights and lacking in responsibilities that is supposed to be imposed on every citizen. If the people through plebiscite approved for us to amend the Charter, we will also enumerate there the people’s obligation and responsibilities to the State,” Solis said.

To avoid turncoats in the political system, Solis also said that he would propose a two-party system where a politician is banned to file his/her certificate of candidacy for one year after switching from one party to another.

“There is so much to be changed in our Constitution, If need be, there are certain positions in the government that should be abolished,” Solis said.

Solis, however, did not clarify what are those positions and the structure of government if Charter change is approved.

“Before the end of my term maybe you can say that I have served my country well,” Solis concluded.

DILG pushes for special polls to fill up  vacancies in SK  posts

By Roy Gersalia

BULAN, Sorsogon -(Philippines) – With 18 barangays still have vacancies in Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) councilor post, this town’s Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is pushing for a special election to fill up its vacancies.

Rico Gaurino, DILG chairperson, said that there are 18 out of the 63 barangays here whose SK councilor positions are still waiting to be filled up. He did not, however, mention those 18 barangays.

“Apart from the 18, there are five barangays – Gate, Libertad, San Ramon, A. Bonifacio and Zone 1 – who are without a single SK councilor,” Gaurino said.

He also stressed that with the vacancies, SK officials in some barangays here cannot transact an official business for there is no quorum, a reason why it is needed to be filled up.

“On January 25 we will hold a preliminary conference regarding on the matter at the Sangguniang Bayan session hall,” Gaurino said.

                       PUTIN’S  ATTACK:  WORLD CHESS CHAMPION ON THE DEFENDING SIDE?

By Roy Gersalia

With the parliamentary elections in Russia has recently been concluded and President Vladimir Putin’s party emerged victorious thereby getting the most seats in the parliament called the Duma, the “Other Russia” party led by the legendary World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov seemed not to surrender. They have every reason not to.

After retiring from professional chess, the former world champion entered politics espousing democratic revolution and reform in his government, became the most vocal of Putin’s opponent, pitted for the presidential election and until lately, has been arrested and jailed for five days for leading a rally in Moscow.

Ever since he entered politics, Kasparov has been known to be critical of Putin’s administration. He openly criticized the economic route taken by the government, the position of Putin’s administration in the war in Chechnya, the seemingly untouchable KGB regime of the president, dissenters being bullied, the curtailment of the freedom of the press and much more to enumerate.

Then the murder of Anna Politkovskaya.

Anna Politkovskaya was a crusading journalist and worked as an investigative reporter for the Novaya Gazzetta. She was shot four times at point blank range on October 7, 2006.

Coincidentally (or was it a coincidence?) it was also the birthday of President Putin.

In a special report by Christiane Amanpour on CNN, Politkovskaya she said, was very critical of the war on Chechnya and other “illness” plaguing her country. She blasted the president in her book “Putin’s Russia”. Now that voice was silenced forever.

This also fueled Kasparov to show more resistance to the autocratic leadership of Putin. He organized rallies and presented an alternative government to the people who seemed not to hear. With every move by the former champion, “they are being harrassed every step of the way,” Kasparov said.

A week ago when he was jailed, his long time rival for the chess throne, Anatoly Karpov tried to visit him but was prevented by the authorities.

But Kasparov is still hoping. He predicted that Putin’s regime will soon collapse. And this seemed to be coming.

Some months back, a column from the Washington Post said, “if any ordinary person predicted the regime’s collapse, you might say that he ought to have his head examined. But if the head happened to contain one of the most formidable brains in our era, you might at least listen to the argument.

And as we all know, Kasparov possesses such a brain.

In an interview with CNN’s Amanpour, Kasparov said, “Either we have to leave this country or stay on and fight. Right now there is a threat. Our king can be mated.”

(The author has a candidate master title in Philippine Chess with a rating of 1984.)

Apathy to History

By Roy Gersalia

Former president Joseph Estrada’s verdict at the Sandiganbayan got mixed reactions from the people here in Sorsogon.

To people who have some sense of history, they patiently waited and listened to radio run by batteries as the whole province experienced “news blackout,” courtesy of the Napocor and the Soreco. Others, waited for the story in the major dailies the next morning, but one is lucky enough to have an extra copy especially in Bulan town which have only one dealer of newspapers.

Still, there are people who prefer to let the day go by oblivious to what is unfolding in recent history.

This is precisely called “apathy to history”. Apathy because it is unfeeling or lack of interest especially to events that unfolds which may directly or indirectly affect us, as Filipino people.

We may be very far from the capital city, but the decisions and policies in the national government (especially in a repressive one) which always involve us, is just like we are a table near with our so-called national leaders.

Was this the effect of poverty? of low quality of education? Of corrupt bearers of information? Of leaders wrongly voted into office? Come to thnk of it.

When Jose “Joey” de Venecia III testified before the Senate and named First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo as the “mystery man” in the NBN project, do we all of us know that there is a $130 million kickbacks and advances in that shady deal, courtesy of us, taxpayers?

I bet even Ambeth Ocampo’s pieces in one of the major dailies weren’t even read by some college students – who are history majors- here.

Remember that we will never know who we are until we know who we were.

The Unsettled (or Settled?) Issue of Jueteng in Sorsogon 

By Roy A. Gersalia

SORSOGON CITY - (Philippines)- When Sorsogon City Mayor Leovic Dioneda of Bacon District won convincingly over Bobet Lee (son of then city Mayor Sally Lee and Governor Raul Lee) in the last elections, he vowed in his campaign that he will totally stamp out the illegal numbers game – jueteng in this city.

He did so. After only a few weeks of assuming office, Dioneda have successfully stamped out jueteng in his jurisdiction. And Sorsogon City became jueteng-free. A feat never before made by any elected official preceding him in this city.

While Sorsogon City is now jueteng-free, concerned residents of other towns here in the province are struggling to fight the said illegal numbers game. They did so, but unsuccessfully.

A sociologist warned that if  jueteng continue to operate with impunity here, it would slowly become a part of every Sorsoganon’s culture.

But despite this warning and pressures from NGO’s (Non-Government Organizations), calls went unheeded as politicians and law enforcement agencies are rumored to be benifitting from this illegal numbers game. They either control the operation or receive payola (jueteng money), a common picture here in the country as they said.

Except that of Mayor Dioneda, jueteng seemed an impossible task to other local chief executives in other towns here. People do not wonder why. Jueteng operates right under their noses.

If in a few years back jueteng had been temporarily stopped, and continue its operation later , with a vengeance, of a guerilla-type fashion, now, operators as well as “kubradors” (collectors) are doing their transactions overtly. A gospel truth in the eyes of the people.

“Kubradors” as well “kabos” (chief collector) can be seen everywhere collecting and enticing people to bet. A growing culture so to speak.

As every local knows that jueteng here are operating with impunity, if you happen to ask one, “jueteng is here to stay” and “we can do nothing about it,” were the common replies.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer in its report sometime back have named all the jueteng operators in the country. It mentioned the name Leoncio Lim (or Mang Leony) as the chief operator in the province of Sorsogon. But this person have not been investigated or even charged in court.

Why? Your guess is as good as mine.

Settled or unsettled, here in our province, the jueteng issue doesn’t mean a thing.