Govt spox in the habit of saying hopefully. - thus the church becomes relevant and useful

It is more fun criticizing

Rizal Philippines

4.21.2021

Hope is eternal in our hearts.

The Christian religion teaches us to have hope in our hearts.

Esperenza....

In the graduate school that I attended, the professor cautioned us to be be in the habit of saying hopefully...or just hope.  We are being trained to act and offer solutions.  Not to hope.

Now with regards to a govt tech agency who was interviewed in the TV a while ago.   He was spicing up his interview.  with . "hopefullies"    And the anchor was wise enough to question how real the statements were.....   Well hopefully

There was much to be explained in terms of concrete implementation -  the 5 Ws and 1H of execution.   

We could have just bowed, kneeled and prayed over our nation's problems.  

In which case the govt becomes irrelevant....The church is ....If we just continue to hope.

Regulation of free community pantries

It is more fun criticizing

Rizal Philippines

4.20.21

                                                             Meron din sa US

CNN - community pantries

Free community food pantries sprout as govt aid is delayed

News just flashed in tv news broadcast that a community pantry is being supervised by barangay staff, that this will be subject to permits according to Usec Dino so that the health of the beneficiaries are supervised, and that proper health protocols are observed.  

What is a community pantry?   It is a spot where residents can take whatever they want and others can donate.  It would seem to be seamless unsupervised social enterprise where residents help one one another.  From one in Quezon City, the phenomenon has inspired about 200 others including one in Boracay, to augment the needs of people who have lost jobs, or simply have nothing to eat. 

Others say, this reflects the lack of initiative and concern by local and national govt to address this need.

So why the regulations?  Why the hullabaloo.?   Who will register if this is just an outpouring of generosity by the community.?

Thats what is hindering our progress -   power play.  The  authorities simply love to throw their weight around and project their power.  

P.S

There are newsfeeds of:

1.   There were pictures of progressive group advancing their agenda  hence the red tagging.

2.    The sponsors of such free community pantries stopping their operations due to the red tagging.

3.    Sec Roque and DILG are ambivalent towards their treatment of such pantries.

4.    There are citizens abusing the free pantries and who appear to be greedy, destroying the spirit of free community pantries -  it is give and take.  Not take and take only,   or free free for me me me only

Hospitals seen by a retired billionaire as banks raking in money

It is more fun criticizing

Rizal Philippines

4.16.2021

Top US non profits rakes in profits and top pay

Hospitals and other health care services have it so good during this pandemic.  It costs millions to be hospitalized these days in private hospitals.   The best services have to be paid for:   PPE, tests, medicines and health care in the midst of rabid infection.   

But they too will have their comeuppance when the pandemic ends, or no one, no govt entity will be available to pay them.   All ready the IOUs of Philhealth to hospitals is at a high P6 billion.   

Reimbursement from Philhealth is delayed.;  hospitals forced to downsize

UST hospital in deep financial trouble

Difficulties with Covid - up close and personal

It is more fun criticizing

Rizal Philippines

4.16.2021

Covid infection /transmission

One really begins to look after the lookdown as a prisoner in your own house being hemmed in by regulations (senior are not allowed to go out)   -  covid patient  recovering a neighbor, a daughter being suspect for having been with the daughter of a covid relative who died. 

I know of a household - 7 are infected simultaneously.  The advice to stay at home should be reviewed if infections are had at homes.

And all of these are happening despite draconian measures -  lockdown and nationwide vaccination... 

Getting used to the new President - Glen Acosta

It is more fun criticizing

Rizal Philippines

4.14.2021

People are getting used to the new TV President -  Acosta;  goodbye ...

Stop ranting vs the current dispensation.  Let us just fantasize and dream about good government.  

He may be elected in 2022 if the current administration and cabinet do not shape up   

Acting President - Glen Acosta

"First Yaya" - a TV series a pleasant escape from harsh reality

It is more fun criticizing

Rizal Philippines

4.14.2021

It would seem corny for an elderly to watch a TV series but at 8:00 o clock with 3 channels showing the same show, you have no choice.

However I got glued to this series because it is a pleasant escape from reality.  The show, a fantasy series depicts the life and relationship of a youngish president (forced by the death of the Pres to become a President.  Not much is depicted regarding how he deals with the country.   This is in contrast to the current reality where the President is old, cantakerous etc.

The dialogues and scenes may seem trite but this merely heightens the intrigue and drama of the series.  

Maybe the large following of the show shows our current aspiration to have a young President who is less embroiled in politics.  It shows that the nation is very much concerned with the current presidency.  How we wish he would lead our country out of our problems, and get rid of the undesireables.   And be less concerned with vested interest and go for a sincere and honest administration, as the handsome and clear countenance of the show President show.  

Maybe in a year's time the actor for the series will be  Presidential timber?   That's how politics work, and GC maybe today is wooing as a character to win the hearts and minds of our troubled nation  

Our enemy is covid19 - the pandemic not our citizens

It is more fun criticizing

Rizal Philippines

4.12.2021

It is unfortunate that some of our efforts to curb covid19  the protocols like the curfew and the ensuing punishment are misguided.  Instead of fighting covid, we make life of people misereable and unbearable.

Some even resulted in death.   (in an arrest made in Cavite)

Darren Penaredondondo died after doing physical exercise as punishment for quarantine violation.

As the papers say, this is an overreach (excessive)  Military minds prevail at IATF.   

Every life we save fighting covid19 is important;  this event does not seem to reflect this importance.  

We should redirect more our efforts?   And be focussed. 

Its impossible to sympathize with every one.

It is more fun criticizing

Rizal Philippines

4.06.2021

Early during the pandemic, one cant help but sympathize with the victims and help those who are in need.

But with the increase in number of patients and victims, we just can't have endless supply of sympathy and or resources to help.

It becomes a question of what is the greatest love of all -  loving oneself.  Protect oneself from covid19 so that you will not be a victim.  

Superb display of diplomacy by Chinese diplomat

It is more fun criticizing

Rizal Philippines

4.06.2021

Senators back Sec Lorenzana for China to end incursions.   

The tv news again repeated the answer of the Chinese embassy to the complaint of Defense Secretary regarding the Chinese vessel incursion at Philippine territory.  That the said territory is really theirs and no one has the right to make the accusations.

Clearly the Chinese govt is staying put on its goals to occupy territories which they think are theirs  ie to add to their territories; to be imperialists as the flag waving cohorts (the Reds in the country) say of US and other European nations.  (Where are they by the way)

With the perceived closeness between Presidents DU30 and Xi and this hard line stance, what do we expect next?

Domination by China or war?

Ano exercise din ay non essential? Sana mag kaisa sila at iklaro mga policia ng ECQ

It is more fun criticizing

Rizal Philippines

4.06.2021

Tayo ba ay "pinamahalaan ng the best at brightest.?"

Bakit noong Linggo hinuli mga biker sa Maynila ng isang nakakataas na opisyal ng police sa WPD, at sinabing non APOR iyong nagbike?

Bakit ngayon sinasabi ng isang Heneral na bawal ang mag exercise dahil ito ay non essential (gaya ng lugaw.  ANG DAMING NAGIGING NON ESSENTIAL.  

Eh ngayon sabi ng DOH at Malacanang (at ito ay dati pa raw na panuntunan) puwedeng mag exercise from 6 - 9.   

Eh paano ang kahihiyan noong mga hinuli - ni sorry wala.   

Ano ba, hindi sila nag uusap or hindi nakikinig ang mga implementor or may sarili silanng batas.

Omnibus Guidelines by IATF from Official Gazette.

   . 

Canada surpasses one million in number of cases; PHL is not alone.

It is more fun criticizing

Rizal Philippines

4.05.2021.

At least one million Canadians test positive for covid19

We should be happy in the Philippines because we still have to hit that landmark figure.   Of this 921K have recovered and 23 K have died.  It is the 23rd country to have surpassed the 1 million mark.   

Younger patients aged 20 to 39 have contributed to the surge.  The variants were reported to contribute to the rise in number of cases 

We hope our kababayan in Canada dont get the virus as much.   

Global news video

Increase of tests positivity

Many unanswered questions about inoculation

It is more fun criticizing

Rizal Philippines

4.05.2021

                                                Not updated;  not true in the Phil.

                                               Canada has a surge.  and so with US

                                        Ontario imposes 4 week lockdown;US experience increase

                                              in number of cases at the NE states

Recently this post got two important bits of information regarding the pandemic:

1.  A video that doubts many aspects of the vaccination;  whether you will still get it, whether you can still infect others, not get the virus entirely.  And the answer seems to be no for all, and the speaker and video asks the need for the vaccines.

2.  An email info from Bloomberg. 

Bloomberg: "Can a vaccinated person still spread still spread the coronavirus

Many concerns answers are still not clear because these were not studied, as manufacturers were rushing to develop the vaccine, and not enough data have been collected to answer the concerns.  

e.g.

     1.   Do vaccines stop infection and transmission?

           A. Some do and some dont.

    2.  Does the vaccine have to stop infection to prevent transmission?

         Not necessarily.   Measures as to hygiene during coughing can prevent transmission.

   3.  What have they found?

        Those who got vaccinated 64% did not get positive swabs

   4.  Good news:

       1.  A study released by CDC in March indicated 90% in a study conducted among 4,000 frontline

            workers.

       2.   In Israel, where there are more people vaccinated vs total population reported, that P vaccine 

             was 92% effective in preventing infection

     Conclusion:   vaccines, aside from observing the health measures:   avoid crowd, social distancing

                            wear face mask, is a good bet vs getting infected and forward transmission

                            We still need more data though.  

Pandemic - a blessing to those who are in power; also a cause of headache to the local leaders

It is more fun criticizing

Rizal Philippines

April 4, 2021

While the rest of the country reeled from the suffering and deaths brought about by the pandemic, it is not probably so with those who are in power:

1.  Access and control to large sums of money for their disposal, probably not subject to audit and accountability;

2.  Flexing power and domininion over the population;

3.  Conducting an advanced campaign using the taxpayers money and borrowings.  

Many of the powers were delegated to the barangay lacking in training and manpower, hence the difficulties and challenges we face from the understanding and implementation of the orders are traceable to this.  

However, many complain too:

      1.  Daily changes in policies which leave many frontliners confused;

      2.   Making pronouncement on aid that do not match the limited resources, forms.  

The pandemic also hid and diverted attention from the weaknesses and problems at the govt, /barangay 

Does spraying the streets with disinfectant kill the covid virus?

It is more fun criticizing

Rizal Philippines

April 4, 2021

Spraying public places to kill virus not recommended - WHO

This post noted several posts about barangay staff spraying the  streets again presumably as  deterrent./defenses vs covid19

This post wonders the logic and relevance in this campaign considering that 1.  It was considered since 2020 to be ineffectual,  2.  WHO is if it considered the gold standard vs covid 19 considered it to be harmful.   One doctor, a member of the military, died at Philippine Arena, after being exposed to a misting facility.  

Again covid19 is a drop infection and the virus being just a molecule can not survive outside a human host with moist membrane for a long period of time.

What the military police frontliners must watch for:   are 1.  crowds.  2.  mass gatherings 3.  especially in enclosed or unventilated spaces.

We also seek the barangay officials, police to treat the people as people not as subjects or enemies to be penalized punished for non compliance.   So far all we see is a display of power and might over the populace,.  

We stop the virus.

And there are options aside from lockdown and vaccines whose safety are suspect

1,  Lianhua 

2.  Ivermectin

But these alternatives are enmeshed  in politics bickerings and  difficulties.    We hope the govt helps rather than suppress punish and overpower.  

Populated by the best and the brightest

It is more fun criticizing

Rizal Philippines

4.02.2021

A solemn Good Friday everyone.

Why are we in in state of suffering despite having the best and brightest among the members of the cabinet?

Do not blame them;  blame the top guy.  They may be bright but they may be dominated and intimidated by the leadership style of the top guy.   Since there is always a power struggle, only those who are in the inner circle of the President get the nod, or if they are Yes men.  Hence we are delayed;  we have not explored other option.  The thousand flowers from the brightest do not bloom.

They say that societies who have younger people in dominant position prosper more than the ones led by elder people.  (Hence the mandatory age retirement requirement;  when I was no longer given a teaching assignment in a teaching position I quietly acceded although I know that mind is still sharp and I am full of ideas)

What about censorship from social media?  This post's post have been deleted in social media if the contents are contrary to their "standards"  Well it is easy to argue with the platform on what is the norm of the community.  But the community sees only one point of view, one option.  And in the battle vs covid we may have missed out many if the standard is what WHO says.   

"The purpose of education is replace an empty mind with an open one"

ECQ extended up to April 30, 20; too early opening of the economy not to be blamed?

It is more fun criticizing

Rizal Philippines

4.01.2021

The President has approved the extension of extension of ECQ up to end of April.

One just wonders how come we ended up this way, forfeiting the hard experience we had with previous lockdowns, when our leadership were claimed to be the "best and the brightest""  (Really do we have the best and the brightest?

Why are we back to square one - as severe and as inconvenient, and probably as long?

Why were the new variants able to enter the country (all of them?)  Were the quarantine staff, those guarding our ports of entry doing their job.?   We did not learn the lesson from the initial spread of covid when it started?

While the best are denying that the too early opening of the superspreader places -  malls, schools, restaurants are not responsible for this new wave

All lost:   lost job, lost time, lost billions,  businesses shuttered, lost suffering and lost lives.   

We can do better next time if God allows this?