Bomb? What bomb?
UPDATES:
Manila Times: Stinky Explosion
Phil. Daily Inquirer: Metro Manila cop chief: ‘Bomb theory hard to sustain’ and Ayala: 'Nothing extraordinary' about G2 basement conditions
GMANews.TV: Ayala Land says PNP theory of methane gas blast unlikely
PDI Editorial: Don’t rush
GMA Photo Gallery: Great Pics Here
(NOTE: Please click on the "Comments" link below to view more and updated details from exchanges with commenters. Some are too long to rewrite here. Thanks - Tongue
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Original Post
Four days after. Nothing conclusive still. No suspects, no arrests. Not even the cause of explosion. They're floating a new spin: Diesel and/or methane probably did it. Aaah...
Diesel or bunker will not ignite, much more explode, without heat and/or high pressure. That is why you don't need to use spark plugs in diesel engines. Diesel engines instead use heaters that raise the air temperature in the combustion chamber. As the injector nozzle sprays atomized fuel into the chamber, the approaching piston increases the pressure in the fast-diminishing free space inside the cylinder. The increasing pressure produces more heat to vaporize the droplets of diesel to mix with the heated air and just as the piston reaches Top Dead Center in the compression stroke, rapid combustion (explosion) takes place in the chamber, the tremendous force pushes the piston down again (power stroke) to rotate the crankshaft one cycle. This are the second and third strokes of your typical four-stroke diesel engine. The other two are the intake and exhaust strokes.
Compression in the manner I described here is very difficult to recreate accidentally. It is a slow process requiring an almost perfectly sealed environment (like the engine's cylinder). That is also why diesel engines are slower than gasoline-fed ones. Compression bears a heavier load on the power components (pistons, rings, rods).
If the diesel tank, which by the way is almost always filled especially in applications such as malls and other establishments frequented by many people, did cause the huge explosion, it should have been blown beyond recognition. Generators used for critical applications such as Glorietta's are typically run with and without load weekly both automatically then manually for about fifteen minutes just to make sure the Genset (engine + alternator/dynamo w/ Auto-start/Auto-shutdown circuits) and the electrical controls (Automatic Transfer Switch, Paralleling Switchgear, etc.) will work in the event a real power interruption (brownout) does occur. It also ensures that the batteries are recharged regularly. Without batteries, generators are worthless. This regular process, called Plant Exercise, makes it imperative that the fuel tank/s are always filled to its upper limits. Meaning very little space for compression and combustion in the tank's upper chamber.
What did the pictures show? A fuel tank standing perfectly by itself, except for a small hole and with a portion of the top cover appearing to me as intentionally pried open. The tank did not appear to have "bloated" or puffed out as it should be if it had exploded from inside. The small hole? It looks to me like it was there all the time. Maybe a vent punched out by maintenance for pressure release. This is necessary especially if the fuel delivery pipes to the engine operate by gravity (think pressurized water tanks vs. gravity tanks).
Or it could have been used as inspection hole to check fuel level either visually or by using a dipstick. Some tanks usually have level indicators using a transparent plastic tubing stretched vertically outside with both ends connected to metal tubes welded at the top and bottom of the tank's side. The level outside is the same inside since liquids seek their own level. But since this type of indication is neither rigid nor durable, at some time maintenance people disable this and use the more reliable dipstick method.
Again, the metal plate that this hole was created in did not look dented in nor puffed out that would have indicated any explosion either coming directly from the top or from the inside, respectively.
I now also remember talking to military officers from the Electronics group called AFPCES some years back who wanted me to design and build diesel tanks thick enough to repel bullets. I was told the NPAs use AFPCES' tanks for target practice (including soldiers climbing their antenna masts) but when I asked how many have died in the explosions, I was told the bullets just punctured the tanks and at worst, it would deprive them of a week's supply of diesel but no explosions. Either I was watching too many cowboy movies at the time or totally ignorant to have asked that.
I need not discuss it if there was fire in the aftermath or if soot or black smoke or blue flame was present because judging from the condition of the tank alone and my discussions regarding diesel combustion, I'm amazed some dorks posing as investigators are still looking at the diesel tank angle.
Those who still are inclined to believe the spin that the blast was caused by diesel or bunker are, well, bonkers!
Now what about the sewage tank angle?
From what little I know about sewage treatment plants (I designed and installed electrical controls including semi-automation modules for, what do you know? A high-rise 5-star Hotel and a mall complex!), the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA)- if your establishment spills a huge volume of effluent towards the Laguna Lake or any of its tributary rivers, or the DENR - if your sewers lead to floodways or esteros flowing to any of the seas in Luzon, sewage treatment plants (STPs) ARE required by either gov't offices before Environmental and Sanitation Permits are issued, thus construction permits are withheld in their absence. A mall the size of Glorietta, or the whole Makati Commercial Complex or Ayala Center as it is now called, IS required to operate a Sewage Treatment Plant.
Two possibilities, therefore. Either Glorietta has its own or it pumps its sewage into a central STP operated by Ayala Center. If not, then either LLDA or DENR did not do its job here. Or were bribed. In the late nineties, 2 or 3 malls/condos in the Ortigas-Shaw corridor were issued Cease and Desist Orders by LLDA because they were found pumping sewage straight to the city lines. They were heavily fined and closed temporarily until they constructed their own STPs. At least, that's what the papers said.
What does an STP do?
To simplify, it first screens solids out of the influent waste from the mall, breaks down into "digestible" size large sediments like a giant blender with many agitator blades at the bottom of the tank; then pumps all of it into an aeration tank where air produced by big fan blowers is pumped from under the sludge, making aerobic bacteria digest organic waste. The next tanks would separate liquid from the remaining sludge. Liquid undergoes chlorination before the effluent is released to the city sewers while the remaining sludge repeats the process. This is where methane gas is produced. In large quantities, it may be dangerous as 14% methane mixed with oxygen explodes when ignited. Some large STPs use the gas to heat and dissolve the sludge but in this size (Glorietta's) there is not enough methane produced to install a collector-burner stage. Abroad, it is common in city-size STPs but of the 3 private-owned medium-sized STPs I've worked on in the past, I have not seen one with a methane collector-burner stage, much less one that exploded.
It would be stupid likewise that Glorietta, or Ayala for that matter, would maintain a large septic vault holding raw sewage under one of its public buildings. They employ the finest architectural firms in the world to design their projects, any firm of that caliber would definitely not skip the basic requirements in their designs. So will sanitation and safety engineers, too. Even our houses' pozo negros have vent pipes with which to "breathe" out the gas. Further, Methane does not stay stable for long. It breaks down into Hydrogen Sulfide which is a very toxic gas. We haven't heard anyone die of gas poisoning in Glorietta prior to the incident, have we? Instead, what many witnesses and victims smelled was a gunpowder-like odor. Or in one victim's words, "amoy-paputok", which is characteristic of a C4 blast. A explosion caused by methane could be preceded or followed by flames and we haven't heard of any such thing in Glorietta. Let's take a look at the simplified chemical equation of burning methane in ordinary air:
CH4 + 2(O2 + 3.76N2) = 2H2O + CO2 + 2(3.76N2 + energy
where energy may be all or combination of Sound/Heat/Light/Shockwave
It is standard that explosion relief vents are constructed in STPs, more so one under a Generator room. The Generator Room itself, depending on the size and quantity of gensets, may have several exhaust fans to evacuate the hot air around the engines, the cooling system's radiators (or water pipes to the external cooling towers for large installations), and the exhaust mufflers. I will not accept any excuse that the generator room is a totally contained/enclosed one, meaning a sealed vault where the operators can die from fumes inhalation either from the fuel or the engine exhaust. It is therefore safe to conclude that the generator room was well ventilated. Blast waves and shock waves cannot be produced like that as in Glorietta (blasting through the flooring up to the 4th floor) if it was not a sealed container.
Now, a room that has many vents and openings, doors, windows, vents, etc. should have allowed the smell at least of the foul-odored sewage, or methane gas, or hydrogen sulfide (when methane breaks down) and it would have been detected earlier by Ayala personnel or reported by shoppers. Any reports? Nothing I'm sure.
That being the case, and all the foregoing arguments here from my raw experience and stock knowledge, all debunks either the methane or diesel theory or the combination of both.
Here's one link emailed to me, it used 9,000 liters of methane gas (about to fill up a tanker truck) and totally enclosed. Watching the resulting blast, you can estimate that it wont even be sufficient to rip a hole that large through the thick concrete floor slab and even send shock waves up to the building's ceilings. I doubt there was even that amount ( a tanker truck) of methane concentrated in the Glorietta sewage.
DILG's Marius Corpus rattling out that the mixture of of methane and diesel could have caused it, is of course, another attempt at cover-up.
These liars never stop, don't they. I bet the next day it will be spontaneous combustion!
Labels: Bombing, Cover-ups, Glorietta, Terrorism
Reading Gloria's Statements on the Glorietta Bombing
There had been calls to let the investigators do their job and avoid speculating now. But we know how the PNP Crime Lab works, (remember Jose Pidal's specimen signatures?) I'm not stupid enough to trust them. 18 hrs. into the investigation and they still can't identify the bomb type! It would be difficult to pin it on Muslim rebs because all evidence right now point to C4, a bomb available only to the AFP.
I had also wanted to keep an open mind, but I cannot think of any other group that would have benefited the most from it (the bombing) except Gloriaetta herself and her minions. Jemaah Islamiya bombers target only Westerners and their interests. The MILF is seating comfortably in the peace negotiation tables. Abu Sayyaf, they move only when the AFP allows them to. The reds do not have C4. Military adventurists? Of course not. Their enemy is well into the process of disintegration already, why alter the scenario? Only one suspect left.
No single person in the country today has innards built the way Gloriaetta’s are. What’s another 8 dead Pinoys today when we average 140 a year? The year’s almost over and we’ve not even hit a hundred? Has she lost her touch?
Ellen has posted it, that part of Gloria’s message, and the link to the full message, too, which part I repeat here:
“I warn those who seek to destabilize our government not to exploit this incident for their selfish political motives.”
Read between the lines. The message was explicit against her opponents in politics but was silent against the perpetrators of this dastardly act. READ AGAIN! This time follow the link for the full speech. Did she ever condemn the supposed bombers? But she did warn her political enemies, didn’t she?
The subconscious mind gave her away again. She cannot denounce the bombers because they belong to her cabal.
Tongue in, anew!
(Photos courtesy of ABS-CBN Interactive)
Labels: Bombing, Glorietta, GMA's speech, Terrorism
Did Fr. Panlilio Do The Right Thing?
If I were Pampanga Governor Fr. Ed Panlilio, I would have done the same. Accept it, I mean.
I would not return the money. What for, so Malacañang can buy a more willing official? Or an innocent one? His revelation has been corroborated by Gov. Mendoza already, which makes it even more imperative to secure the moolah as hard evidence for future use.
What is P500,000, anyway. There's a lot more where it came from. Always available to spread this government's ugly disease to those who entered Congress with pure intentions, like those idealist neophyte congressmen and well-meaning party-list reps. One less enemy to do us damage, one small victory achieved, isn't it to our advantage?
Among Ed in my book did the most strategic act that had achieved more than if he had outright rejected it. First, he let those involved make fools of themselves for their insolence, lying out of their teeth in media, making their bribery accusers subject of ridicule. And just as the reckless bunch thought they had everything under wraps, here comes Among Ed making them look silly by speaking out and exposed the naked truth, more liars were unmasked, and their earlier denials had put them in an ugly and compromising situation. Now, who had the last laugh?
Secondly, he has now gotten the upper hand, he dictates the tempo of the game. The enemy is at best guessing his next moves so he must plan and play his best attack line at this time the opponents' defenses are weak. I would go with the suggestion to display it in a venue accessible to the public. I'd probably ask the foreign press to witness the unveiling. I would even go further by erecting a small monument that would remind all present and future generations of Filipinos (and the world) how one brazen attempt by a favored province mate and her ilk to conceal the truth, including a foolhardy scheme to buy the soul of a servant of God so that she survives the deafening angry calls for accountability and reforms. A few bundles of money which value is worth a hundredfold and adds more value over time if it were handled in a cleverly controlled manner. I'll bet you my noisy neighbor this effort will merit worldwide attention.
This is one opportunity I would not let pass. The beauty of this move is that the awareness of those who seek change for the right reasons have one standard by which to base their future actions on or it could influence others to become more creative when dealing with this beast called corruption and the beast's masters. We can encourage more honesty in our officials because they wouldn't know what we, prospective bribe receivers. have under our sleeves.
I may be overrating Panlilio, but in the wake of what he did, he has opened some minds and sprung some ideas out into the fore. For that alone, I don't regret being vocal about my support for the Governor.
Now, we envy Pampangeños even more.
Labels: Bribery, Fr. Ed Panlilio, Governor, Malacañang
Desperate Fil-Ams
Last Oct. 8, 2007, Ms. Ellen Tordesillas, a journalist from Malaya and Abante, who also writes regularly in ABS-CBN's online edition (she also visits this blog), published a letter-sender's message in her blog with the title "Offended". That was in reaction to her Oct. 5, 2007 column in Malaya entitled "Convenient Diversion".
I am copying the letter, by one (obviously) Fil-Am named Noel de la Fuente:
Dear Ms. Tordesillas:
Thank you for understanding the outrage of Filipino-Americans over the racist remarks of Teri Hatcher in the TV show Desperate Housewives. For those who are not yet aware of this, here are the offensive remarks:
“. . . Mayer (Teri Hatcher) asked for the credentials of the gynecologist who examined
her . . . She said, `Can I check those diplomas ‘coz I just want to make sure they’re
not from some med school in the Philippines.’”
These remarks must be condemned by all Filipinos. Its clear implication is that Filipinos are cheaters and must not be trusted. It is demeaning to all Filipino doctors who are all highly qualified to practice their profession in the United States as well as in other countries. Granting for the sake of argument that there are Filipinos practicing medicine in the United States who are not qualified. Logic demands that some of the blame must also be attached
to the U.S. systems and procedures for hiring doctors from the Philippines.
The Daily Tribune 10/06/2007 editorial, The truth hurts, asked, “Why would that remark even be made if there was never a hint of some cheating in the Philippine nursing exams?”
Asking this question is bad timing as well as in poor taste. First, this has the effect of confirming that it is justifiable to attack the honesty, integrity and the professional qualifications of Filipino doctors because a few nursing school graduates cheated on their board exams. This is an example of condemning the whole for the transgression of a few. Furthermore, no Filipino doctors cheated on that exam. Let me remind everyone that Filipino doctors undergo rigorous testing and continuing education to be able to practice medicine in the United States. Secondly, we must unite against anyone who attack Filipinos. Any manifestation of disunity among Filipinos is used by others to attack us. It is very much easier to attack any race who is not united and, therefore, can be treated as helpless weaklings who can be ridiculed, demeaned, disrespected, discriminated against with impunity and not be able to fight back.
If we are outraged by racial slurs and attacks impugning the honesty and integrity of the Filipinos by other nationalities, we must be equally outraged when the attack comes from another Filipino. I am referring to the remarks of your regular blog discussant, Anna, about this, as follows:
“. . . . our friends in the US (sic) to do the same thing about the NBN corruption deal –
I wanna see them in the same fighting mood! Then I believe they are patriots, otherwise,
no dice! (They’re merely feeling slighted coz their li’l amor propio has been a li’l bruised
. . .)”
First of all, Anna is not our friend. She has no right to insult and judge Filipino-Americans.
We don’t care if she does not believe our motivation for expressing our outrage against Teri Hatcher’s remarks. But, I can not let this pass. Not challenging her reprehensible remarks can cause further dissension among Filipinos. She is perpetrating the colonial mentality of dividing the Filipinos. In fact, she must be a Filipino hater. And I am inclined to believe that she was manifesting her self-loathing. This was just her way of attempting to validate herself at the expense of Filipino-Americans. She failed miserably. What did Anna do for the Filipinos that made her a patriot?
Filipino-Americans opted for the individual solution when they came to the United States.
By force of necessity, we sought for better educational and economic opportunities in the United States. These were not available to many of us in the Philippines If we stayed there,
we would most probably be unemployed, poor, hungry and unable to help anyone. For some people, this move made us unpatriotic. All Filipinos should know that this is not true. We continue to help our relatives and friends in the Philippines. We continue to be concerned about what is happening in the Philippines. There are Filipino men and women here in their late sixties and mid-seventies who are working as janitors to support and help their relatives in the Philippines. Although an honest way to make a living, it is hard work specially when they have to work 16 hours a day to be able to send money to the Philippines. These Filipinos are glad to be able to work despite the difficulties. They said it is better here because they are able to help Filipinos there. And they are assured of a pension and health care when they eventually retire.
Filipino-Americans send money and consumer goods to the Philippines continuously. Our proof is the proliferation of money changers and freight forwarders serving the Filipino community in the U.S. LBC is one of the biggest. PERA (Philippine Express Remittance
and Allied Services) is another. Through them, we send Balikbayan boxes full of food and other consumer goods to the Philippines. Through them, we also send money to pay
for expenses such as costs of education (tuition, books, lab fees, uniforms etc.), medicines (even anti-rabies vaccines), hospital confinements, burials, down-payment on a house, home and vehicle repairs, capital to start a small business, to pay existing debts, etc. There is a great value to this for the recipients and for the Philippine economy. This also provides employment and income on both ends — here and in the Philippines.
I must mention also that many Filipino-American doctors go back to the Philippines to provide medical treatment free of charge. One of these doctors is my heart surgeon,
Dr. Alexander Yap. He goes to the Philippines accompanied by American doctors to treat patients there. Dr. Yap is an excellent and highly regarded heart surgeon in the U.S. and in the Philippines. It was reported that he was called as a consulting surgeon when First Gentleman Miguel Arroyo had open heart surgery. Some people who are against Mike Arroyo might criticize Dr. Yap. Everyone must bear in mind that Dr. Yap and all doctors are devoted to treating the sick and saving lives. This is the first and foremost priority of Dr. Yap and all doctors rather than politics.
Filipino-Americans protest and express their dissent against anomalies and injustice here, including those that are happening in the Philippines. Anyone who says we don’t is ignorant and a liar.
Not now and not in any other time it is right to unjustly attack Filipino-Americans. There
is no sense to it. It will only alienate us. And for what? For our enemies to succeed in further dividing us so they can continue to exploit and treat us badly? Let us follow the
examples of other nationalities who recognize and appreciate the help they receive from those who immigrated to other countries such as the Jewish-Americans, Japanese-Americans, Korean-Americans, Chinese-Americans and other nationalities. Therein lies their continuing unity and strength in fighting a common enemy. This also assures them of continuing help and support from their expatriates. Can Filipinos not do that?
We are very much concerned and distressed over the newspaper accounts of killings, graft and corruption, exploitation of Filipino workers in their own country and other anomalies in the Philippines. The hope that we see towards the eradication of these anomalies is the
bravery and militancy of the Filipino journalists who exposed them. I have expressed my support for them and my concern for their personal safety. I wrote to you, Ms. Tordesillas, about this. I also wrote to your fellow journalist: Lito Banayo, JB Baylon, Dahli Aspillera, Ronald Roy and Rod Kapunan.
I hope that this letter helps in promoting unity among Filipinos everywhere and in
condemning anyone who attacks and divides us. All Filipinos must be united, wherever they are. If we remain divided, other people will continue to discount and exploit Filipinos.
I would like to request that you publish this letter in full, either in your column or as a letter to the Editor of Malaya.
Sincerely,
Noel de la Fuente
I've had it with this over-reaction to the supposed "racial slur"; they've made their point, ABC had apologized. What more do they want, send Teri Hatcher to the firing squad? Itchy little Tongue here has had enough and though I had wanted to stay out of it, because I genuinely believe it's just the result of some egos getting pricked, I had to say my piece. Now, I had been "conveniently diverted" into this, to me, a non-issue. I didn't want to participate in any thread relating to this earlier, but the foolish pride has to be stopped. Not just because a blog partner, AdeBrux or Anna (who blogs here, too), was slighted.
How can we, who are frothing at some unkind remark, underscore our much-vaunted professionalism when we cannot even take criticism, okay, sarcasm? I don't think REAL professionals get affected by wide swipes directed at a very particular group or profession. Much more call these "racial". I remember George, the Brit senior analyst who trained us in Asset Management who said, "Intelligent professionals hit their opponents above the head, up there beyond the reach of the other guy's brains".
Secondly, we weren't reading the full context of the comment and had to substitute our own interpretation of such an innocent attempt at humor. It was clear, the uppity character was in denial after finding herself at the door of menopause. Asking for credentials is a wise practice especially if you know there exists unqualifed people in that field of service. Especially, too, if you know exactly which school produces incompetent graduates. How did she know that? From the news, where else? If it was in the news, it must be true! Reality bites?
With George in mind, I tried to "hit above the head" and responded in the blog with this:
OK, so let’s write what they want to read:
Mr. De la Fuente,
Naaawa ako sa kalagayan ng mga DOKTOR diyan sa Amerika. Huwag kang mag-alala para sa pagkakaisa ng mga Pilipino, itutuloy ko dito yang petition laban sa Desperate Housewives.
Pipilitin kong papirmahin ang lahat ng APAT NA MILYONG ISKWATER sa Metro Manila, para sa ikabubuti ng mga Pilipinong Doktor diyan sa Amerika na napahiya dahil sa pang-aapi ng isang karakter na ginawang katawa-tawa ang mga manggagawa sa kalusugan ng mga Amerikano diyan. Mahirap man kumbinsihin dahil sila mismo ay kasalukuyang inaapi, pinagsasamantalahan, pinagnanakawan at pinapapatay ng isang karakter sa Malakanyang.
Hindi ko ubos-maisip, paano na ang buhay sa Pilipinas ng mga kamag-anak ng mga doktor, kung tuluyang matitigil ang pagpapadala ng de lata, toothpaste, sabon pati vitamins at gamot. Mga damit at laruan ng mga bata. Kawawa rin ang pamilya nila, hindi ba?
Hindi na bale kami, pabayaan ninyo na lang na ibinabaon kami ng buhay dito sa bilyon bilyong utang ng mga letseng mga lider namin. Siguro, pag-uwi ninyo sa pag-reretiro, Mr. de la fuente, bayad na namin ang lahat ng iyon. Wala na kayong problema.
Ang mahalaga, kailangang ipakita nating LAHAT ang galit natin. Huwag tayong papayag na laitin nila lalo na ang mga Doktor!
Hindi baleng tinawag tayong mga bugaw ng mga anak natin ni Jay Leno, hindi naman Doktor ang gumagawa noon, yung mahihirap lang. Hindi na bale kung babuyin nila ang isang simbolo ng bansa gaya ni Presidente Cory, tutal si Cory lang iyon. Hindi naman kayo maaapektuhan nun. Mandaraya ba tayong talaga, pero hindi natin pinansin nung sinabi ni Howard Stern na lahing mandaraya tayo dahil pati yung Little League, nagpasok tayo ng mga overage kaya tinanggalan tayo ng tropeo, diyan mismo sa Amerika. Matagal na iyon. Ang bagu-bago pa lang ay iyong mga nandaya sa nursing board nung 2006. Kalimutan na dapat iyan diba, dahil alam naman ng lahat, kung sino ang malaking singil na review center, yun ang dinadayo dahil yun ang maraming leakage, hindi ba? Kahit pa itanong mo sa mga doktor diyan sa Amerika. Noong araw pa iyan, pero itong kay Teri Hatcher ay bago. Dito tayo dapat magalit.
Tama ka, Mr. De la Fuente, dapat tayong magkaisa dahil ang mga doktor natin ang nag-aalaga sa kanilang mga Kano. Kahit iniwan nila dito yung mga kababayan nilang walang ipantustos sa paggamot sa sarili, aba, KAWAWA rin yata ang buhay-doktor sa Pilipinas. Maliit lang kasi ang kita. Kulang ipambili ng malaking bahay na may swimming pool, magagarang kotse, ipambiyahe sa labas ng bansa, na ngayon ay nagagawa nila sa Amerika. Dapat silang kaawaan, ipagtanggol, magkaisang tulungan dahil kung hindi, baka magsara na yang LBC, Forex, PERA, Wells Fargo, at Western Union.
Itong braadband, cyber-ed, kung anu-ano pang kurakot sa Pilipinas, wala ito, kaya na namin ito, babayaran namn ito ng mga anak at apo namin. Huwag na ninyo kaming problemahin dito, Mr. De la Fuente. Pagbutihin nyo na lang ang pagtrabaho diyan para mapadalhan at makaipon na naman ng tigwa-one dollar ang mga bata dito sa Pasko.
Size 7 po ang paa ko sa Adidas, 6-1/2 sa Nike. Merry Christmas.
The letter-sender in a new post writes about being ("framed" I guess what he meant was "stereotyped"), and delved into history, among other things. Now, I get even more irritated, "What's with these people? Don't know when to quit?" The more these people explain, the more they get lost. The more they try to achieve depth the more they end shallow. Carry this further, and we end up losing whatever "victory" that was achieved. We might just end up proving Teri Hatcher was right:
we are incompetent.
I had to stich the ends and put it to a close. I wrote this final message:
Mr. de la Fuente and others,
When we are promoting nationalism, patriotism, or whatever Pro-Pinoy ism, we examine from the top. A general perpective over the full landscape. Instead of being hysterical (later historical) let us understand where our audience are coming from. Then we can expect they can understand where we're from. I'm sure we are headed in the same direction the problem is how we take everyone on the same route.
I know Mr. de la Fuente you are reading this. We can see clearly through your intentions. Noble as they are, may we stress it further that we, the Filipinos left behind in the mother country, are in the thick of a fight to save this friggin divided country from the claws of a monstrous cabal that seeks to destroy it.
Sure, we can feel the anger against Teri Hatcher ourselves but we can only do so much. We do not want to lose focus, sidetracked into nitpicking on some petty verbal abuse. We are trying hard to survive here in the major league of abuses that this, YOUR country for six years has been subjected to.
Don't get me wrong, Mr. de la Fuente, I admire your efforts directed at bringing this issue and your unity advocacy to fruition. You and your associates there are doing the country mighty proud. But as your idealism urges you, unite your efforts with us, as of late count, 82% of Filipinos who want Gloria out of Malacañang today.
Let us save NOW, with the help of all our medical professionals worldwide, the country from its inevitable death in the hands of a usurping, cheating, lying, murderous few. We cannot do it by ourselves. Yes, you are right all along, unity is the key!
More than ever, our countrymen now need leaders, like yourselves, who can mobilize a significant force from among the digitally-connected Fil-Ams and put in action this 82% overwhelming majority who cannot even go beyond skipping their jobs to do so.
You, who have the financial stability to carry on in case of a prolonged confrontation many of our compatriots are scared of.
You, who touch base with the significant people who can influence the events as they happen.
You, who are blessed with the experience and education.
But most of all you, who I'm sure, are still hoping to come home to a land of peace and prosperity, strengthened by the pillars of honesty, integrity, unity, compassion and respect.
Then, we can all raise hell when any insensitive individual attempts to humiliate this mighty proud brown race.
Peace. Out.
Labels: Desperate Housewives Slur, Fil-Ams, Petition
More Businessmen Getting Involved
And just as I said in the last thread, businessmen ARE angry. BusinessWorld Online came out yesterday with its headline: China Prodded on Transparency.
Beijing’s assurances welcomed given Arroyo administration’s recalcitrance
BUSINESS AND CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS, dismayed by the Philippine government’s lack of transparency regarding a controversial telecommunications deal with China, are now pinning their hopes on action from Beijing.
In a September 21 letter to the Chinese Embassy, the Makati Business Club (MBC), Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines, Bishops-Businessmen’s Conference, Foundation for Economic Freedom, and the Action for Economic Reforms said they were backing Chinese government moves to ensure "transparency of the transaction."
The Del Rosarios, Alberto - who heads MAP, and Ramon, Jr. - who is MBC chair, together with the leaders of FINEX, and the NGOs wrote the Chinese Embassy, located in plush Dasma Village in Makati City, to express their confidence over China's Finance Minister Liu Jien Chao’s statement "that the Chinese government takes allegations of corruption seriously." They knew, of course, that their concerns would not have been addressed adequately had they made the same representation with the Palace.
This also proves my theory that the businessmen are taking matters into their own hands as legislative actions have been met by government with legalistic excuses at every twist and turn. Del Rosario, Jr. stressed, "The letter was done in the spirit of preserving our ties with China. This will enhance the relationship in the long run if
contracts like this are not allowed."
The businessmen's action, finally showing some of their muscle, I think implicitly reminded the Chinese that they will be much around long after this regime's characters either all end up in jail, or are old, or are dead. Such notes, however innocent or benevolent, coming from industry moguls, always deliver a strong message.
This may just be the beginning, a preview of the upcoming war in the horizon. The first battle has been won, it is safe to assume that this direct act by big business for self-preservation DID affect the decision to scrap the NBN deal, whether initiated by the Chinese or the Phiillipine government. Whether they admit it or not. She, who says she "chases bullies", blinked first.
Do you still remember what the Sergeant in the 80's TV series "'Nam" tells his men before every delicate mission?
"Lock and load, let's rock and roll!"
Now, Big Business is Gearing Up for War
Gloria is definitely taking her cues from big business. Makati- and Ortigas-based businessmen, for a change, were the first to call for Abalos' impeachment. The ever-Gloria-bootlickers in the financial markets surprisingly delivered that strong message Gloria never thought they would say.
If there is any group that could influence her (aside, of course, from the virtual junta that is already holding her hostage), it is big business that she fears most. Sad to say, despite what many bloggers have been espousing, a million warm bodies, hell, even the whole Metro population, in the streets would not make her give an inch. A few truckloads of battle-ready soldiers behind a phalanx of truncheon-swinging maniacs from the PNP flanked by a pair of fire trucks on an early offensive could easily quell whatever mammoth rally the opposition could assemble in every street. If these forces were not enough, she has Ricky Razon to provide her a whole terminal of container vans to fortify her position.
Not even the church, whose leaders stand to lose their payola from the Patroness of Jueteng, are willing to risk confrontation. A few good men? Nah, too few.
I read the signs very early on in this ZTE controversy when the bourse lurkers in the Ayala Triangle-based half of the PSE got the shivers when Joey DV confirmed to media what they have been ignoring all along - Jarius Bondoc's exposé - on what appeared to be stealing a legit, almost-done deal, by powerful crony-friends (the Golf-playing Mafia) from an aspiring entrepreneur (JDV3) in an industry (ICT) that has spearheaded Gloria's much-vaunted, but equally-doubted, economic growth. It is this group that is standing on Billions of Pesos who are ready and capable of financing a full-scale military action when push comes to shove, like they did in the past.
Listen, even the securities traders are asking for Abalos' head. Makati Business Club, as expected, did the same, but look who beat them to the draw! It was Gloria's cherubims and seraphims in black ties and suits who stopped in the middle of their hallelujahs and chorused, "Foul!"
Kirstie Kenney's first letter leaked to media weeks ago didn't generate as much noise, but when she repeated it the other Friday, the many biz chamber bigwigs, trade org leaders, and ordinary businessmen in their usual weekender booze parties later that night were all concerned of the potential disaster this new scandal could generate and how the audacity of a select, domineering few who are favored by their alliance (or are in cahoots) with the conjugal manipulators could affect their very own businesses. Joey De Venecia's announcement over the weekend to name the "Mystery Man" in the forthcoming Senate hearing whipped-up even greater intrigue that by Monday, practically ALL corporate boardrooms holding regular Monday ManCom meetings in Ayala, Ortigas, and elsewhere were discussing the same topic. The businessmen were getting nervous and panicky because many of their staff were talking of the same things, the scandal has cut accross national awareness at an alarming rate.
The gov't intel networks must have been bustling with activity monitoring text messages about who they guessed the "mystery man" was or listening in on their bugging devices of key people in politics, business, media, academe and others discussing conspiracy theories and courses of action. Thus, "mystery man" and co-conspirators had to take the first flight out.
Meanwhile, Neri is generally seen by business as sympathetic to its cause in regard to monopolies, level playing fields, free market, and "regulatory capture". Now that word is widespread that his transfer to an office outside of his field was due to his stepping on the turf of the Golf-playing Mafia, many businessmen have began to examine their own alliances, some, maybe, were enlightened that those whom they have been supporting for some time has actually sold out on them. Some are taking the view over the long haul on what effects such horseplay have on their own agenda. I'm sure many switched sides, many are now vocal about it.
What I don't know is whether Abalos' impeachment, then resignation has quenched the wildfire or has even stoked the flames. Malacañang seems to appear confident that the controversy has died, of course, we also know how incompetent these fools are in reading people's sentiments. In what may be seen as a ploy to save face by looking resolute and honest in front of the Chinese in one hand, OR as an arrogant move to totally ignore the outcry by Filipinos for cancelation of the deal on the other, Gloria's China trip and Fatso's return from a very. very short "vacation" without the two seeing each other, I believe is merely for show, a public relations stunt concocted to gauge how far up the accountability ladder the public feels this scandal has reached, making it handy for the political think-tank in Malacañang in designing future spins. Three scenarios: first, Gloria alone with the FG in Europe. Second, FG alone with Gloria in China. And third, Gloria and FG together in the country. How the public reacts in each scenario will determine under which combination the public's anger is more flustering, therefore, more dangerous. It may even lead to FG's being banished from the conjugal dictatorship, even if just, again, for show.
We will see how this develops in the coming days.
Razon's Hand in ZTE-NBN Deal
Why is Ricky Razon's name figuring again in the coffee shop talks? What has he got to do with the ZTE-NBN deal? Enrique "Ricky" Razon is every president's crony. He was part of the businessmen's group that formed Ramos' entourage during FVR's many state visits. He was also close to Erap. Now, like Chairman Benjie Abalos, he is FG's buddy and has been ordained Patron Saint of Golf by one who claims to be St. Therese of Avila's descendant. Well, the newly-launched P4.4M Razon Cup is currently the biggest purse in local golf. He is also widely known to have caused Neri's demotion. It was also Razon's jet that was supposed to have spirited Garci to Singapore then Brazil (where ICTSI runs one of the major ports) in 2005.
His company, ICTSI, has virtual monopoly over the country's major ports. ICTSI runs the MICT as it is open secret that he even runs the government's Port Authority. Aside from Asian Terminals, which runs the South Harbor, other smaller Razon firms control other port services, 7R is one of these. He supposedly got irked when Neri planned to open up the port to Regis Romero, another FVR crony, to compete with ICTSI in container and bulk cargo. Romero's Harbour Center runs minor arrastre in North Harbor, I would assume, behind Smokey Mountain where he made billions during Ramos' time. Neri admitted being threatened by Razon in a party in JDV's mom's house; Sen. Pimentel also attributed a text message to one of Neri's staff saying, "If your boss speaks, I will personally break all bones in his body." I thought Pimentel got it right with that line of questioning, but which he failed to pursue. (The first time Razon's name was mentioned in the ZTE-NBN hearings, it was from Joey De Venecia who said that when he unloaded his shares in Multimedia Telephony, Inc. Razon was part of the group that bought it, including the Soriano's Anscor, and Nono Ibazeta, among others.)
Razon would exhaust all means not to attend the Senate hearings, that explains why he joined FG in his "emergency vacation" in Europe. Indika Aboitiz was to follow the two. (Hey, Indika Aboitiz and Ricky Razon, together with Tom Alcantara formed the private group of the NorthRail Mafia, too!) Razon has bad blood between him and Sen. Dick Gordon over a failed port contract in Subic Freeport. He was making noise why Gordon's SBMA was favoring the other global competitor, Australia's Hutchinson Group who bidded the lowest charge per container that would have made Subic more attractive to many businesses in the Northern and Central part of Luzon which at the time were "captives" of Razon in the Port of Manila where his company charges (as Neri echoes many businessmen's complaints) one of the highest container handling fees in the world!
I remember vividly the verbal tussle that Gordon and Razon had in "Debate with Mare and Pare" where Gordon said the lower price of Hutchinson would make Subic competitive with POM leading to its getting much of the business out of Razon-controlled POM. Gordon also asked, "We haven't announced our decision publicly, and except for Malacañang, no one knows. How did you know about our decision? SIno nilalagyan mo sa Malacañang?" Hutchinson which cannot stand the political heat, later on bowed out of the deal and promised never to return to the Philippines.
Razon, indeed, rubs elbows with the powers-that-be, that-were, that-will-be. Last elections, he was financier of the Admin slate, ZTE was the quick fix. He can't wait for either Joey's proposal or even that from Arescom or even his co-owned Multimedia Telephony to get his cut. The bureaucratic process takes months. With ZTE being guaranteed the project with a loan agreement in the works, he can get in advance the commissions! That's why the contract was haphazardly signed, and despite the prohibition by the Election Code. With Neri standing in his way, and noisy Joey DV in Abalos', he needed the muscle only one man could have provided to ease both roadblocks. Razon and FG are temporarily out of the picture, for now.
That is why Abalos is taking all the heat.
