AS I WRECK THIS CHAIR
by William M. Esposo
from The Philippine Star 

Call it the Law of Karma or a lesson from the Bible on Divine justice. Madame Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA) is now reaping the fruits for nurturing those Ampatuan seeds in Maguindanao for her own selfish political interests. These Ampatuan seeds include Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. and his son, Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr.
The November 23 Maguindanao massacre, allegedly perpetrated by Andal Ampatuan, Jr., transformed Filipino pride from the triumphs of Manny Pacquiao and Efren Penaflorida into Filipino …

PerryScope
by Perry Diaz
The gruesome and barbaric massacre of at least 57 unarmed civilians, including 27 journalists, shocked the world and left people wondering if what happened was an ominous sign of things to come. The bloody carnage in Maguindanao could spark violence that could engulf the entire island of Mindanao into the bloodiest political and clan warfare never before seen in the history of the country. The whole situation could only be described as “extremely volatile” which could cause a total breakdown of law and order and throw the region …

Theres The Rub
by Conrado de Quiros
from Philippine Daily Inquirer

I now believe Arroyo hired her spokespersons so she could have deniability. So she could always disown the thoughts and sentiments they ascribe to her.

Look how Lorelei Fajardo answered last week the question of whether her boss would continue to have anything to do with the Ampatuans. “I don’t think the President’s friendship with the Ampatuans will be severed. Just because they’re in this situation doesn’t mean we will turn our backs on them.” Allowing for some nuances lost or added by …

by Paolo Romero
from The Philippine Star

President Arroyo waves to the public in this file photo taken last Nov. 25 as she graced the Philippine Tourism Congress at the Marriott Hotel in Pasay City. Willy Perez

MANILA, Philippines – Ending speculation about her political plans, President Arroyo declared yesterday that she is running for Congress representing the second district of Pampanga next year.
Speaking over government-run Radyo ng Bayan, Mrs. Arroyo said she realized after “much contemplation” that “I am not ready to step down completely from public service.”
“As you know, the people …

Arroyo to Run for Philippine Congress
by James Hookway
from Wall Street Journal

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo revealed plans Monday to run for the Philippines’ Congress in 2010 — a move that could shake up the country’s political landscape ahead of a national election next year.
Barred by term limits from returning to the presidency in May’s vote, Mrs. Arroyo decided to seek a seat in the country’s legislature – a decision that is reviving speculation that her influential Lakas Kampi CMD Party wants to transform the Philippines into a parliamentary democracy.

AFP/Getty ImagesJournalists …

EDITORIAL
from MALAYA
‘She is shark’s food. Only she doesn’t know it yet.’
Gloria Arroyo should not tempt fate. She and her family have a good chance of getting away with the crimes they have committed against the people in the nine years she has been in power. After she steps down on June 30, she and Mike could go to some haven abroad where they could spend the rest of their lives enjoying the copious fruits of their conjugal mis-governance.
But if she and Mike decide to continue inflicting their hated presence on …

by Secretary Jesus G. Dureza
Monday, 30 November 2009 
(Note from MindaNews ed: The following is an account by Presidential Adviser Jesus Dureza on his recollection of the “four critical days” following the Ampatuan Massacre – referred to by him as “Maguindanao Massacre.” Dureza was a journalist in Davao City before he became a lawyer and politician).
DAY ONE –Nov 23 (Monday)
I was monitoring closely reports about a missing convoy in Maguindanao with media friends. Later in the day, reports of mass murder of the Mangudadatus were confirmed. Allegedly by Datu Unsay Ampatuan …

by Julmunir I. Jannaral
from The Manila Times
The name Ampatuan alone connotes holiness. It comes from two words: “Ampa,” which is also Pah in Tausug dialect, is a Malay term for uncle, and “Tuan” means sir. The two words were actually being used to address a religious teacher and over time were combined as “Ampatuan.” The great grandfather of the Ampatuans was Imam Shariff Aguak, a religious leader who helped propagate the Islamic faith in Maguindanao.
Aguak used to pray in one mosque for the Friday congregational prayer and in another the …

Balitang Kutsero
by Perry Diaz
Folks, it’s election time and it’s time again to dream the “impossible dream.” Why not? To dream the “impossible dream” is better than not to dream at all. But there are also those who made their “impossible dream” come true. Diosdado Macapagal, the poor boy from Lubao, made it… and then screwed it up! Erap Estrada made it… and then blew it! Gloria Macapagal Arroyo made it… and then messed up everything! And there are still some people who wanna be president? They must be gluttons for …

AS I WRECK THIS CHAIR
by William M. Esposo
from The Philippine Star
The Gawad Kalinga success story and other effective social responsibility practice of Good Samaritans working among poor communities show that it is possible to reverse the cycle of poverty in entire communities.
The GK as well as the Focolare Movement’s Bukas Palad communities are anchored on reforming values and bridging the Information and Education Gaps that conspire to keep the poor helplessly locked in a never ending cycle of poverty.
Only the poor can help themselves but not alone is the dictum …