Come to think of it, this is just a case of being afraid of the dark. Because if you really review the constitution, it has items there where it could have been done better, which is what Erap wants to do.

But why now? Why in the midst of suspending death penalty, the Cherry Hills tragedy, increasing crime rate and many more bad things that keep happening to the country? Does our good President think he could remedy those with a "constitutional correction"? I think not.

At this point, proper implementation of laws that are in place would suffice for now. Until we could really need the changes, and make "economic" reforms (by the legalization of foreign ownership of land, businesses--the more to tax them with, unless they are Lucio Tan na luciot ng luciot sa tax proceedings).

Grrr!

4/15/98

It's tax season again! Did you pay your taxes, or do you pay taxes?

 Why should we? What's taxes for? To line the pockets of our corrupt/inutile government officials? To pay for the airplane fares of our travelling President(s)? Or for whatever cause the Budget Department would allot?

Via Microsoft Word, I learned that words that could replace tax are BURDEN, DUTY, RESPONSIBILITY. Such strong words, but again, why is this burden placed upon us?

I am probably biased with this as it has become almost second nature for me to suspect the government's judgment in dealing with money. Not because of current events which would back up this idea. Though I think it's not the government actually but more of the people running it.

The BIR claims these taxes are for the people. See the MRT, the flyovers, and the so-called projects of the government, local or national? These, they claim, is where our taxes go. Then how come when we see these "projects" being built, it has a sign that says "this FACILITY is brought to you by the "honorable" government official. YOU should be thankful."? Sounds to me like he's telling us that the money used to make the facility came from his frigging pocket! The nerve!

Or in some cases, the "projects" are substandard (in Filipino: kinupitan o mas cheap na gamit ang nilagay) and would have to be rebuilt again (another source of "kupit").

Ganito na ang tono ko. You may think I'm not into paying taxes anymore. Sorry to disappoint you, pero law-abiding pa rin naman ako pagdating sa buwis. Ipokrita ba? Nde ah. Kse naman it's automatically deducted from my kakarampot salary eh. Kainis nga.

Pero kahit ganito ang tono ko, I am still hoping, HOPING, that somehow the taxes that we pay do return to us in terms of real benefits. Yung walang naaapi, walang agrabyado, walang mahirap.

Ha? E di komunista na pag ganon! Ayoko naman yata. Balita ko parang mas grabe pag komunista. Walang mahirap at walang mayaman. Grabe!

E papaano naman tayo mang-iinggit ng kapwa kung pare-pareho tayo ng estado sa buhay? And what would our reason for striving if things are like that? Nde rin exciting no?

Ugh, whatever.

---------------

3/25/98

I was duped again.

Last Friday, there was a midnight sale at one of those ultra class malls within MegaManila, and once again, as before, I went there and bought stuff.  And what happened to me there?  I was super inis kasi andaming tao, ansikip, antrapik, tapos ang susungit pa ng mga saleslady. 

And I almost forgot about the fact that weeks before the actual sale, these people would increase their prices.  So parang you're buying it at its normal price less the daming tao.  And if ever makahanap ka ng talagang mura ay sus matagal na yung wala noh kse naunahan ka na ng mga saleslady doon.  Tapos pag labas mo at maghahanap la ng taxi pahirapan! Pero that's another matter.

When I got out of the mall I promised myself that I would never indulge into sales like this.  Pero, wait, what's that? Another sale? Bah! Okay ah! I'll be there!  Arrrghh!

---------------

2/28/98

My valentine edition, or the lack of it. Para saan nga ba talaga ang valentines day na yan? Pano sa mga friends kong walang boyfriend/girlfriend? Are they supposed to be mainggit na lang sa mga nagde-date dyan? One good thing here is that we have an excuse to be "loving" and "caring" to our loved ones. Or Not.

Winners of the Philippine Webby Awards are now out. Go check out their site (as I can't--wala lang) and try to rationalize why those who won won. Nde naman ako kasali don noh, pero I think Bobong Pinoy should've been one of the winners, I'm just not sure of the category.

Y2K issue--are you alarmed? You shouldn't be, the worse thing that could happen is that magre-reset lang ang comp mo, considering the this country of ours is not really that connected yet. At marami naman nang pangontra sa Y2K bug na yan.

--------------------------

2/4/98

Follow up on Echegaray. He has become a national issue. Would you guys believe that over this guy I had a lot of arguments from the pro-life group? I used to be so consumed by it. But heck, he's not worth losing friends over so I kinda shut up on the topic for a while.

But my opinion still stands.

So, nde nga natuloy yung execution niya nung Jan 4, kaya naman nde ako makakibo. Okay lang. Isip ko, matutuloy din naman yun kahit anong mangyari. If not the government, the mob would get him for sure. Pero kung nde na naman sya matuloy tomorrow, ba, ibang usapan na yan.

And it's not just about the rape issue, he also sells drugs and hacks his neighbors you know.

"Ang mikrobyo, nde bine-baby yan --- pinapatay." - Maricel Soriano

Yun lang. Watch out for my valentine edition.

--------------------

12/13/98

I am serious today.

Should the Echegaray execution push through? I know it's Christmas time. I also know that the human rights advocates, the Vatican and the European Union have asked the President to stop it. And Erap courageously declined their request. Indeed his hands are tied. The law has provided for it and if you continually waive/override(?) it's powers, what use it is to the people?

Let us also not forget that this man is convicted of repeatedly raping his stepdaugther. He surely violated the human rights of this girl. He does not even have the guts to admit it to the end. If he really did not do it, what would be the motive of a young girl claiming that she was indeed raped by her stepfather?

I know that the girl he was convicted of raping would never have a normal life ever again. Even if he is executed. But if we do not kill this man, how do we scare other rapists? Besides, if the penalty is only reclusion perpetua, we would still have to pay for these asshole's board and lodging, and food even. And I am certainly not in the mood or will to pay for this man's food, or shelter.

Should the Echegaray execution push through? Of course. The sooner the better. Madami na rin naman siyang nakain sa kulungan noh.

-----------------------
12/5/98

Hmmm...Ver's death, arrival and interment. Without full military honors. All that chu-chu regarding his involvement in the Ninoy-Galman double murder case..that he's one of those guilty and should be brought to justice for it. I think it's all crap. This Cory person (who, to my regret, was once my president) was in power for 6 years. She had all the power to find justice for her husband's death, but did nothing except pestering the Marcoses and their cronies.

Ver died an honorable man. He could've been better off if he was allowed to go back years before so he could air his side about these accusations. Then maybe he could've given us clues on who is really responsible for Ninoy's death.

But the General is now dead.

And probably the means of finding out Ninoy's killers too.

Before I continue, let me first say that I am not a Marcos loyalist, nor a Cory supporter (well, obvious naman sa mga tirada ko sa kanya noh). Ako po'y isang habag na kabataan lang. Hindi ko nakalakhan ang martial law. Pero at my age I believe alam ko na rin ang tama at mali.

Poor Marcoses...they would forever be blamed for everything that's happening to the country now. Kahit nasa kapangyarihan na sila for 12 or so years...ganon ba talaga katindi ang impact ng Marcos Martial Law? So balewala pala yung pagkaka-President ninyo.

E ano na ang mangyayari sa kanila ngayon? Ewan, ang kulit nila eh.

-----------------------

11/19/98

Hate ko ang mga taga-Manila Council People for banning the showing of Claire Danes movies in Manila and for  declaring her persona non grata. Ambababaw nyo! Why don't you get busy wid more pressing issues? Wala na ba talaga kayong magawa? Mga asar talong mga panget! Pikoners Kadiri! 

Ngayon if by chance e nakasakit akong damdamin ng ibang bumabasa nito (pero I doubt it kse naman mga manhid lang ang bibirahin ko todits)...sorry ka na lang. E sa yon ang opinyon ko eh.  At kung talagang naiinis ka sa sinabi ko dito mag a la Kim Atienza ka na todo publicity sa media tungkol sa panlalait ni Claire Danes sa mga Pinoy sa buong mundo.  If Pinoys would be judged on the basis of these honorable men's behavior, malamang ngang the world would agree na "ghastly" tayo noh. 

So if you must complain, see if I care.