EUROPEAN DESK

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-17T18:35:00.000-08:00

Stirling Moss

2009-08-29T17:04:00.000-07:00

Fun with my friend, Stirling Moss
By Vi Massart
European Desk
29 August 2009

Stirling Moss, British car racing great, has been in the news lately.

I thought of reviving this blog to write something about him, but where to start?

Actually, I've been thinking of writing him a card these last 10 years but haven't gotten down to doing it.

Yes, Stirling and I were good friends decades ago -- or at least I think we were, even if we didn't often meet or see each other. In fact, we would mostly call or write each other cards in the 70s and in the early 80s and that was that. But Stirling is one of those friends who never forgot to send me a card on my birthday and at Christmas for years -- even if I didn't write back -- until I moved out of the Paris addresses that he knew then.

I was having a great time in Paris and was travelling mostly on the Continent. London was just not in my circuit of fun. But when I did visit London, Stirling would always find the time to pick me up at the hotel, invite me to lunch or to a snack, drive me around, even go shopping with me and, generally, to just be a perfectly charming host. Come to think of it, he was with me when I bought my first Jackson5 LP in one of those stalls in Piccadily! I'd also accompanied him when he picked up rent from one of the tenants of a flat that he owned. Once, I mentionned to him that I wanted to buy a Yorkie and would like to go dog shopping. The thought of visiting kennels or dog shops probably didn't appeal to him because he asked a friend of his, Paul (the family name escapes me) who he said was another British motor sports champion, to do it with me.

There were incidents while we drove around in London that were rather amusing. Because his plate number was so recognisable -- SM1 or something like that, cars would overtake us, drivers and passengers would oggle and sometimes, would peer longer at us than necessary. Stirling, understably, got peeved and hurled unmentionnables. Thinking back, I was just a teen-ager then, so perhaps, the sight of a middle-aged British car racing champ in the company of a very young woman was sort of odd that some people became a bit rude.

Stirling isn't very tall; in fact, I towered over him when I wore heels, which was often, and it became a habit to hang my arm around his shoulders when we promenaded about in London. At the time, I hadn't really grasped the enormity of Stirling's British popularity. After all, the peak of his British car racing celebrity status occurred long before I was born, hence I really wasn't conscious of people's glares as he escorted me around. Anyway, he didn't seem to mind and never complained so I too didn't pay attention. In fact, I learned most of what I know now about Stirling's motorsports life and about the British legend after he sent me a signed biography in paperback, "All But My Life" sometime in the early 70s, followed by a copy of "Stirling Moss, My Cars, My Career" which he sent me in 1989. All I knew until then was that he was a British motorsports champion but to me, he was first and foremost, a fun friend.

But what I remember vividly is how it amused me no end to see Stirling's impatience with bad drivers on the road. Sometimes, I just had to remind him to calm down or to take it easy and not to drive too fast. He thought many London drivers were awful and he would mutter under his breath if he felt a driver was bad. Today, when my husband, who happens to be English too, is irate, spewing expletives against a bad driver, I tell him that he's just "as bad as Stirling" behind the wheel.

There was a time when during a parade exercise of the Queens Guards near Buckingham Palace, Stirling stopped the car, jumped out, ordered me to come out and to pose for a picture by the roadside with the Queen's Guards on horseback slowly trotting behind. I obeyed and posed while he clicked away but the whole 'cavalry' suddenly stopped and the commander began yelling at the top of his voice. I was startled. I asked Stirling what the screaming was all about. He gave me a wide grin and said that the commander was barking orders at the Guardmen to stop staring at me -- I felt pleased as punch. I now suspect that Her Majesty's horsemen were actually watching him more than they were watching me.

There were a few other incidents, most of them funny; in a London restaurant for instance, or at a dance at his sister's country home that he had invited me to attend with him, or that time when I visited The Daily Telegraph editorial offices in the City which will be told in another post.

Stirling and I haven't seen nor spoken to each other for a number of years but despite a series of abrupt loss of contact (mainly my fault), I would like to think he hasn't completely forgotten about me because Stirling is not the kind of person who forgets friends. You see, almost 20 years ago, or a few years years after we last had a phone chat, I rang his Mayfair home in London out of the blue to ask if I could come over to see him. I was writing for a French newspaper and had decided to do an article on him. Stirling sounded genuinely pleased to hear from me while 'complaining' that the cards he had been sending me were all returned but agreed to do the interview without any hesitation. We talked excitedly on the phone like long lost friends, asking what each of us had been doing since we last were in touch and then quickly arranged a meeting for the following week in his Mayfair home that also served as his office. I was happy to learn that like me, he had married and that his boy was the same age as mine.

I've been on the move since, but typical Bohemian me just didn't stay in touch. That said, once in a while especially during Christmas season, I promised to write or give Stirling a call, yet somehow, never got around to doing it. Thankfully, he's been getting lots of press lately that it would be quite unforgiveable of me not to make that call or to send him that card that I've been wanting to write all these years, and there's no better time to do it than before 17 September which is his birthday.

Stirling will be turning 80 but press photos show that he's aged very well. I'm glad to see that he's still nicely "on the roll"...

Goodwood Revival: Stirling Moss's happy returns

Goodwood is ready to party with a racing icon, says Andrew Frankel

The surname Moss peppers the Goodwood record books from the opening page, littering them with entries for fastest lap, pole position and, at least 20 times, victory. Sir Stirling Moss’s relationship with Goodwood is extraordinary, eerie even. In 1948, the teenage Moss won his debut race on a proper circuit at the first race meeting ever held at Goodwood, and thereafter the two created motor-racing magic until, 14 years later, the track turned on the driver and nearly killed him. Four years after that, the circuit itself was shut, apparently for good.

Max Soliven passed away today

2006-11-24T00:33:00.000-08:00

Paris, France -- A very close friend rang me early this morning to inform me that my best friend, veritably an older brother to me, has just passed away in Tokyo .

I'm still in shock and don't know what to write. I was just talking to him on the phone a week ago and we had promised to meet up either in Paris or in London where he was planning to spend the end of the year just like he did a couple of years ago.

Max Soliven was a friend through thick and thin, come hell or high water.

Max, my very dear friend, I shall miss you very much. Rest in peace.

"It's important for us to engage Europe", PGMA

2006-11-16T01:05:00.000-08:00

"It's important for us to engage Europe," PGMA
By Vi Massart, Philippine Star chief European correspondent

13 September 2006

BRUSSELS, Belgium – In an interview with Philippine Star bureau in Brussels, the Philippine chief executive declared "It's very important for the Philippines to engage Europe as much as we have been engaging the United States, our ASEAN brothers and OIC countries and the north Asian countries of Japan, China and Korea."

Mrs Arroyo also stressed the importance of being "in touch with the European Union".

"After all, Europe is our third largest trading partner and second largest investor in the Philippines so they matter a lot and I'm proud to hear that I'm the first incumbent president to actually visit the European Union officially. So that's bringing the Philippines a step higher in our relationship with Europe so we have our trade relation with Europe, we have investment relations with Europe, we have our official development assistance from Europe, I hope this visit will give us a higher profile in their consciousness, like I mentioned about Denmark, coming and approaching us to do more in the area of energy. These are important achievements that we can make, not to mention our cultural exchanges."

She also reiterated that measures are being undertaken by the government with regards the streamlining of bureaucratic red tapes which European investors and potential partners have found daunting when doing business with the Philippines.

"We have recognized that and is why I have formed a task force headed by Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila to cut down red tape and with the very active participation and membership of the Export Development Council and the Phil Chamber of Commerce and Industry," Mrs Arroyo said.

"In fact, we're going to have a competitiveness summit at the end of this month and there are five areas which will be addressed at the summit," Mrs Arroyo added.

"One is making food plentiful and affordable to the workers so there would be no great pressure in the wages to keep the wages competitive, the other one is to reduce power costs, then the other one is infrastructure which, now we have money to spend on because of our tax reforms, we'll be able to spend 100 billion pesos a month more from government coffers not to mention our government corporations and private sector interest and local government because they are very dynamic," the President announced.

Arroyo added the fourth is making technology the foundation of the country's development saying, "We are strong in technology related fields, fifthth is red tape. That is recognized, there is a task force working on it and if and when they meet with me on September 28, I will tell them specifically add the cost and length of time of setting up business in the Philippines."

When asked about the spate of extra-judicial killings, Arroyo told the Star, "I'm glad you asked me the question about the human rights issue and extra judicial killings, that's a very grave concern. I want to begin by stating that as far as we are concerned we condemn, these killings, this mode of political retribution has a sad history in our country and in fact that history is a reminder because we are now about to enact into law administration measure compensating human rights victims."

"I believe that such a spate of killing has no room in our democracy or in our government so I have escalated response of the government," Arroyo said.

The President also said, "I've appointed a former Supreme Court Justice , Justice Melo to head a commission with the full powers of my office to investigate and cause the prosecution of cases to the full extent of the law. I told Justice Melo to pursue every path regardless of where it leads. I have also sought taken up this issue with Spain and Finland and with the help fof Spain and Finland, they will help us meet with members of international NGO communities to discuss the killings and the response of our goverment."

"That's why I sought this meeting through our friends in the European Union," she added.

Meanwhile, Inga Verheart, member of the Federal Parliament of Belgium, challenged Mrs Arroyo's government "to be transparent."

"We addressed questions to Mrs Arroyo's government about the treatment of members of Congress this year and we still have to hear from her government," the Belgian parliamentarian said to the Philippine Star.

Mrs Verheart, a Socialist and elected member of the Federal Parliament was referring to a question that was tabled in the Belgian Parliamentary debate in March this year, when she raised the issue of the House arrest iof Mr Crispin Beltran which she said was subsequently endorsed by the Federal of Parliament to the Department Foreign Affairs through the Philippine Embassy.

"We hear of these incidents of killings and we are saddened to hear that Mrs Arroyo does not believe it's worth her while to answer questions by members of the Belgian parliament concerning the situation in the Philippines." Mrs Verheart told the Star.

Mrs Verheart joined the protest rally held last Tuesday in front of the European Commission during the visit of Mrs Arroyo. Speaking before a crowd of fifty protesters in front of the European Commission building on Place Schuman, the Belgian parliamentarian denounced the spate of killings of journalists, activists and labor union leaders in the Philippines.

Later in the afternoon, a group of Filipino, Belgian and Dutch protesters were dispersed by the Brussels police during a mass at the St Michael Cathedral attended by the President and the Filipino community.

President Macapagal is scheduled to leave fthe Belgian capital for Cuba, the third leg of her 12-day trip after lunch time today.

REVOLUTION BY ASSASSINATION? by Max Soliven

2006-09-15T04:47:00.000-07:00

MAX SOLIVEN: REVOLUTION BY ASSASSINATION?
MANILA, February 12, 2004 (STAR)

BY THE WAY By Max V. Soliven - For weeks there’s been a buzz, from interesting sources as well as our usual "underground" contacts (Alikabok included), about a plan to assassinate one of the leading Presidential candidates.

I don’t want to sow alarmist talk, but one contender – the one at whom the conspiracy seems directed – has taken these "tips" seriously enough to take evasive action. One time he was scheduled to make an appearance, but his staff and handlers, aghast that his specific schedule had been aired on the radio and TV and in two newspapers, had to adopt "squid tactics". They spread the word that he wouldn’t be able to make that appointment, since he was stuck down south and had to meet some "very important people".

As it happened, he arrived right on the dot. His plane landed at the Manila airport, he changed right in the hangar, and beat the traffic to his promised rendezvous.

It would be easy to blame his rivals, including the Administration, for anything violent happening to this popular contender, but the indications are that the New People’s Army (the Communist NPA) is the malign group fielding the hit-men – or the Amazons. Joma, Louie, Ka Roger, can this be true? Who would be "blamed" if anything as bizarre as that happened? Not Jolly Roger, or "Peace Talking" Joma (waltzing with Government Peacenik Silvestre "Bebot" Bello in the snows of Oslo), or, heavens to Betsy, the former cleric Father Louie "The Dutchman" Jalandoni.

What if this dastardly deed provokes an explosion of fury and . . . yep, "revolution" by an angry masa and the disgusted, disheartened populace in general? Voila, the "People’s Army", dyed in the Red, gallops, fully armed, to the "rescue". Riding the tide of people’s uprising to power is a Leninist-Maoist (dare I say Jomaist?) specialty.

Beware the Ides of March, as the old soothsayer warned Julius Caesar – reminding him of that prophecy as Caesar strode, toga-a-tilt, confidently towards the Senate where the knives of Brutus, Cassius, and their confederates (noble Senators all) awaited him.

* * *

I recall that when Maj. General Victor Corpus, now Malacañang Civil Relations Chief in charge of the Palace "war room", came to see me in my home in 1976, just before he went in to "surrender" to one of his Philippine Military Academy classmates (he was ordered "arrested" instead and slapped into military prison), Corpus revealed that it had been Joma Sison who had ordered the Plaza Miranda bombing in 1970 – not the Marcos government.

Mind you, Corpus had fought alongside Joma as an NPA Commander for almost six years, following his raid on the PMA armory in Baguio in 1970, when he (1st Lt. Corpus) defected to the Communist rebels, bringing PMA Browning automatic rifles, machineguns, and other weapons with him. Corpus told me he was heartsick and disillusioned with the movement, and the "executions" ordered of high-ranking and loyal NPAs by their own leadership, including Joma himself.

When I met Corpus (before his "political prostitute" statement against a lady Senator) at the National Defense College of the Philippines "Roundtable Discussion", last January 27, I asked Vic – in the presence of Commodore Carlos L. Agustin, AFP (retired), President of the Defense College; Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Rodolfo Diaz, Commodore Mariano S. Sontillanosa, AFP (ret.); Rear Admiral Ariston V. de los Reyes, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, and dozens of officers and Defense College participants, whether he stood by his charge that Joma Sison had dispatched the cadre who attacked the Liberal Party’s miting de avance with hand-grenade.

General Corpus replied: "I do."

Corpus – mind you, still an NPA Commander at the time – had asserted that Joma believed an attack on the opposition rally – which resulted in some killed including our Manila Times cameraman, and others like Senator Jovito Salonga, Speaker Ramon Mitra Jr., Senator Sergio Osmeña Jr., Manila Mayoral candidate (subsequently Mayor) Ramon D. Bagatsing, grievously wounded, indeed, some like Jovy maimed for life and near to death – would be blamed on then President Ferdinand Marcos and the Government. Hence, Corpus disclosed, that bold attack. Fortunately, one of the grenades thrown that night proved a dud and failed to explode, otherwise the carnage would have been inestimable.

True enough, Marcos was blamed. And even then Senator Ninoy Aquino who hadn’t arrived at the Plaza Miranda entablado because he was attending a party as ninong (godfather) in the Jai Alai "Keg Room" on Taft Avenue.

After Corpus "came in from the cold", a heroic movie had been made about him – which, by the way, I tho-roughly enjoyed – starring "Daboy", Rudy Fernandez.

At that January 27th meeting in Camp Aguinaldo, after Victor reaffirmed his accusation – which I believe is true – I read aloud the unpublished transcript of a lengthy interview by our Chief European Correspondent and Paris Bureau Chief Vi Gomez Massart with Joma Sison in Utrecht last January 12.

SISON: "I formally deny that I had a hand in the bombing of Plaza Miranda!"

Joma told Massart: "That was done by Marcos. In 1994, the Manila Prosecutor’s Office made a resolution clearing me, that allegations against me were based on speculations. Ariel Armendral, a classmate of Senator Salonga’s son, fed him all these rumors and Senator Salonga ‘bought’ it". (Meaning, Senate President Salonga had believed these allegedly false rumors.)

Sison also cited "a 1998 Department of Justice certification that there are no more pending criminal cases against me."

C’mon, Joma.

In any event, it wasn’t Armendral who first told Jovy Salonga. It was Corpus. What happened was that when Victor came to my home and told me Sison had sent those hit-men to attack the Plaza Miranda rally, I telephoned Jovy and informed him he had, for years, been "wrongly" accusing Marcos. I had no love for Macoy, remember, but truth is truth. After all, I had been arrested along with Ninoy Aquino and hundreds of others and imprisoned in Fort Bonifacio and Camp Crame, when Marcos declared martial law.

I put Corpus on the line to explain Joma’s role to Salonga.

Jovy, when I got back the line, had said he was still a bit skeptical about the Sison angle, but he would inquire into the matter more closely.

A few days ago, former Senator Salonga rang me up on another matter. I told him of the Sison denial and the fact that in the course of his interview with Massart, Sison had even called him names. Jovy just laughed and quipped: "I still say it was Joma Sison. And you were the first to convince me!" Salonga had suffered most among the injured – with his two hands half-crippled and scores of metal shrapnel embedded in his body.

Could the NPAs have hatched a similar plot today – so widespread anger and even an uprising could be enkindled? What do you think?

Incidentally, Sison also denies he’s still Chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines. However, he jestingly told Massart that the CPP Chairman is "Armando Liwanag". If you’ll recall, "Armando Liwanag" was Joma’s nom de guerre (guerrilla code name).

"Are you formally denying that you are Armando Liwanag?" Our STAR correspondent asked him.

"Yes," replied Joma, "and we say so in court. I was long in prison (nine years) and have been out of the country too long." He uttered these words "grinning" as Massart recorded. Sison remarked he had been in jail from his capture in 1977 to his release by former President Corazon Aquino in 1986. He left the Philippines in 1986, after working in the University of the Philippines "for only six months".

He’s been in Holland most of his foreign "exile".

Last week, Massart – almost a phone pal by this time, it seems – rang up Sison again. This time Joma declared (February 6) that "Corpus is really crazy labeling Loren a political prostitute".

* * *

Today, seven members of the Commission on Elections are GMA appointees.

In the Supreme Court, with the designation of Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Minita Chico-Nazario, eight of the High Court’s Justices are GMA appointees. This is more than half of the Court’s membership. Out of the 15 Justices, only seven are not the incumbent President’s appointed.

Interesting. Abangan the High Court’s decision to come.

* * *

THE ROVING EYE . . . Driving around Manila, I notice the worst offender against the ban on sticking handbills on walls and hanging large posters from telephone and electric posts is the President’s K-4 party – with that huge portrait of La Presidenta herself dominating the posters and dikit-bills. Also, to our surprise, the handbills of candidate Senator Panfilo Lacson are on many walls. Who obeys the law these days? . . . I also drove past the US Embassy with my digital camera, but I saw the same PNP or military Humvee, armored, with its .50 caliber gun pointed at me and oncoming traffic right on Roxas boulevard, like a roadblock restricting us to one lane of the road. Why does the US Embassy need a police Tagaligtas armored car to guard it? Shouldn’t our cops be protecting the citizenry elsewhere? And why block a public highway like Roxas boulevard, one of the country’s most traffic congested thoroughfares? If we deign to "lend" them that armored Humvee and our SWAT cops in full battle-gear for their protection, let the Americans get it off our road and put the damn thing either in their driveway, or behind those black iron Embassy gates. Susmariosep. Don’t they know there’s a war on? A war against local crime, and against traffic congestion.

Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2003 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved

PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
Link: http://www.newsflash.org/2003/05/ht/ht004126.htm

Rally greets GMA in Brussels

2006-09-14T09:42:00.000-07:00

Human rights advocates hold a rally in the middle of the European neighborhood in Brussels, Belgium to call for decisive action against the political killings in the Philippines during President Arroyo’s visit to that country last Sept. 12. - Photo By ISABEL MASSART

Headline News
Lawmakers’ P21-B ‘pork’ restored
Happy days are here again for both senators and congressmen. The chairman of the House appropriations committee revealed yesterday that the congressional pork barrel fund — cut drastically two years ago — has been restored to P21.3 billion for all members of Congress. Full Story

OTHER HEADLINES

• Rally greets GMA in Brussels

• Ad-com: Con-con group a farce

• Aussie army chief gets briefing on hunt for JI leaders

Rally greets GMA in Brussels
By Vi Massart Chief Europe Correspondent
The Philippine Star 09/15/2006

BRUSSELS — A street rally protesting the spate of killings of left-leaning activists and journalists in the Philippines greeted President Arroyo upon her arrival in Belgium last Monday on the second leg of her European visit.

About 50 Filipino, Belgian, Dutch and German protesters denounced the killings and accused Mrs. Arroyo of doing little to stop them and bring the killers to justice.

Belgian socialist lawmaker Inga Verheart joined the rally, organized by Belgian non-government organization INTAL, outside the European Commission during Mrs. Arroyo’s talks with European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso.

"We believe that if the spate of killings do not stop, the European Union should impose limited economic sanctions on the Philippines," rally organizer Wim de Ceukelaire said.

The protesters displayed a banner that said "Stop the killings in the Philippines."

Verheart, a member of the Federal Parliament of Belgium, challenged Mrs. Arroyo’s administration "to be transparent" in dealing with the killings.

"We addressed questions to Mrs. Arroyo’s government about the treatment of members of Congress this year and we still have to hear from her government," she told The STAR.

Verheart was referring to Mrs. Arroyo’s crackdown on left-leaning lawmakers, street protests and critical media organizations when she declared a weeklong declaration of national emergency in February to quell a reported coup attempt by renegade military officers in league with communist rebels and their civilian backers.

"We hear of these incidents of killings and we are saddened to hear that Mrs. Arroyo does not believe it’s worth her while to answer questions by members of the Belgian parliament concerning the situation in the Philippines," Verheart said.

The Arroyo administration has come under criticism from leftist and human rights groups following several disappearances of left-leaning activists that they blame on security forces.

Mrs. Arroyo has been criticized for the series of killings, for which she has been blamed for either condoning the attacks or not doing enough to stop them.

She denied that her administration has been cracking down on dissidents and had pledged to bring the killers to justice.

"I believe that such a spate of killings has no room in our democracy or in our government so I have escalated the response of the government," Mrs. Arroyo told The STAR.

She formed an independent commission last month to investigate the killings. Retired Supreme Court justice Jose Melo heads the panel.

A number of Filipino, Belgian and Dutch human rights activists staged a protest rally outside St. Michael Cathedral where Mrs. Arroyo attended Mass and was welcomed warmly by the local Filipino community later in the day but they were dispersed by police.

Mrs. Arroyo also had talks with Belgian Prime Minister Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt in his official residence but there were no street protests because the vicinity was a no-rally zone.

She then paid a visit to Belgian lawmakers and discussed her initiative to amend the Philippine Constitution and replace the country’s present form of government with a parliamentary system with a federal setup.

Mrs. Arroyo told The STAR that it was "very important for the Philippines to engage Europe" as much as Manila does with main ally the United States, China, Japan and other Asian neighbors.

"After all, Europe is our third largest trading partner and second largest investor in the Philippines. And I’m proud to hear that I’m the first incumbent president to actually visit the European Union officially," she said. "So that’s bringing the Philippines a step higher in our relationship with Europe."

After criticizing the administration of creating "a climate of impunity" that led to the deaths of hundreds of journalists and political activists since President Arroyo assumed office in 2001, Amnesty International agreed yesterday to help the government investigate and put an end to the alarming spate of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines.

Mrs. Arroyo met Amnesty International secretary-general Irene Khan shortly after her arrival in London yesterday on the third leg of her trip. They spoke for nearly an hour about the spate of killings in the Philippines.

"Just this morning I asked for a meeting with AI and I’m very happy they will help us to find experienced investigators who will help the independent commission in its investigations," Mrs. Arroyo told a gathering of British and European businessmen in a forum organized by Asia House with Shell Corp. on business process outsourcing (BPO) at the Sheraton Park Lane Hotel.

"I’m saying all these in a BPO conference because a European businessman would look at the entire cultural environment in which he or she is doing business," she said.

"I would like to point out to you that not only are we familiar with Western business processes, we are also very much in synch with you as far as the universal values of democracy and therefore free enterprise are concerned."

Mrs. Arroyo reiterated her condemnation of the killings saying such violence has no place in a democratic society.

After sending monitors on the human rights situation in the Philippines, AI criticized the Arroyo administration for the continued killings.

It said the "methodology of attacks, including prior death threats and surveillance of persons reportedly linked to the security forces, the leftist profile of victims and the climate of impunity, which in practice, shields the perpetrators from retribution."

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said Mrs. Arroyo’s meeting with Amnesty International "reveals her deep concern for human rights and underscores the determination and political will to stop the legacy of this type of retribution once and for all."

"The President sought out AI out of respect for their work and their shared concern for human rights," Bunye said. "She listened intently to their comments and welcomes their recommendation," he said.

Bunye said Mrs. Arroyo also took the opportunity to brief Amnesty International on the abolition of the death penalty and the impending passage of a law compensating human rights victims of the Marcos dictatorship.

Earlier, the European Union commended the Arroyo administration for taking steps to put an end to the killings, including the creation of the Melo commission, but also called for greater transparency in the investigation process.

European Commission president Barroso said the EU would extend assistance to the Philippines on the issue, including grants to strengthen the judiciary.

Spain and Finland have also committed to help in putting together a team of experts to monitor the work of Philippine authorities. — With Paolo Romero

Link: http://www.philstar.com/philstar/News200609150402.htm

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/index20060915.htm

Arroyo Brussels visit to be marked by stop killings protest

2006-09-11T14:12:00.000-07:00

BRIEF: FIL COMMUNITY PREPARES WARM RECEPTION BUT STOP KILLINGS GROUP PROTEST TO MARK PGMA's VISIT IN BRUSSELS

President Gloria Macapagal leaves Helsinki and flies to Brussels for the next leg of her European working visit tonight.

The Filipino community will be on hand to welcome President Arroyo at a mass to be held at the St Michael Cathedral in Brussels. More than 500 Filipino expatriates and OFWs are expected to attend the mass celebration which. A choir composed of more than 50 singers had organized to sing for the occasion.

Ambassador Ortega, Philippine envoy to Belgium and the European Union met with some 50 Filipino community leaders in Brussels who have agreed to perform a certain task each for the welcome celebration. President Gloria Macapagal seems to be very popular among Filipino residents in Belgium, many of whom will be coming from as Antwerp and Louven to meet with President Arroyo.

Mrs Carina Lansang, one of the Filipino community leaders residing in Brussels said, she and members of her group are "quite excited to meet the President."

However, the President's trip will be marked by a demonstration organized by INTAL, a Belgian NGO under the banner of Stop the Killings in the Philippines, Belgium Chapter.

Mr Wim de Ceukelaire, coordinator of the protest said, the demonstration will be held in front of the European Parliament at mid-day while Mrs Arroyo is meeting with Belgium's Prime Minister Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt in his residence near Place Schuman, in Brussels .

"We are expecting Filipinos, Belgians, Duthc and Germans to attend the rally as well as members of the local Belgian media to protest the extra-judicial killings in the Philippines", said Mr de Ceukelaire.

Some 100 Filipinos, Belgians, Dutchs and Germans are expected to join the rally and will include Mrs Inga Verheart, member of the Federal Parliament of Belgium and Mr Eloi Glorieux, member of the Regional Parliament of Flanders. Mr de Ceukelaire said that their group invited local Belgian media to cover the protest as well as members of Philippine media travelling with the president.

According to the organizer of the rally, they will not demonstrate in front of the St Michael Cathedral where the mass-reception ceremony will be held in order not to put off Filipino OFWs or the Filipino community members who prefer to welcome the president warmly. They also cannot demonstrate in front of the residence of the Belgian Prime Minister while Mrs Arroyo is holding a meeting with Prime Minister Verhofstadt because the prime minister's residence is a no rally zone.

Their main objective is to call the attention of European parliamentarians to the spate of killings happening in the Philippines under the Arroyo government.

"We believe that if the spate of killings do not stop, the European Union should impose limited economic sanctions on the Philippines," Mr Wim de Ceukelaire said.

Pres Arroyo's call on Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt at mid-day, will be followed by a meeting with members of the Senate at the Belgian Parliament to discuss federalism, parliamentary mode of government.

Arroyo will meet with Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission later in the afternoon. Human rights and extra-judicial killings in the Philippines are issues expected to be raised during the meeting with Mr Barroso.

Interview with Pres Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in Brussels set

2006-09-10T12:49:00.000-07:00

Press Secretary Bunye rang me today, Sunday to confirm my interview with Pres GMA in Brussels when she visits on 11 - 12 September for The Philippine Star.

President Arroyo who is currently attending the Asia-Europe Summit (ASEM6) in Helsinki will be leaving the Finnish capital tomorrow at 17hoo and is slated to arrive in Brussels the same day. The Philippine delegation will be billeted at the Conrad Hotel in the Belgian capital.

In Brussels, the Philippine chief executive will be meeting with Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt and President José Manuel Barroso of the EU Commission.

The meeting with President Barroso will take place on 12 September at 16h30 at the EU headquarters on Place Schuman in Brussels.

According to Ambassador Cristina Ortega, Philippine envoy to Belgium, PGMA, who is on a working visit, will not be meeting with His Majesty, King Albert II because the Belgian Sovereign is still away on holiday and will not be back until 23 September.

Press Secretary Toting Bunye rang me today following a message by Max Soliven, President and Chairman of the Board, Philippines Star which was coursed through Foreign Affairs Secretary Bert Romulo that I would like to cover PGMA's visit to Brussels as well as have an exclusive interview for the Star.

Max Soliven rang me this afternoon at around 16h00 Brussels time to tell me that Secretary Bunye had been trying to reach me to confirm the interview.

Secretary Bunye said that the Philippine delegation is likely to be billeted at the Conrad Hotel but will call me or leave an SMS message on my mobile phone to tell where the interview will be held and the time of the meeting.

The Press Secretary, whom I have known for some 10 years when I was still working as advisor to the Conseil Regionale Ile de France for Mr Christian Cambon, VP for International Affairs and who know my children cracked that the children should be big now to which I gave him a brief summary of how old and where they are.

We spoke a wee bit on the phone and promised to remain in contact for the meeting in Brussels.

I expect to ask the President for her impressions, expectations and future developments resulting from her meetings with European heads of states at the ASEM summit, as well as the one dark cloud that Philippine critics back home deem should dampen the spirit of what should be a successful Philippine PR tour, namely, human rights violations and extra-judicial killings committed in the Philippines which, frankly, Europeans don't look quite kindly on.

I will also ask her about her future plans as far as boosting cultural, trade and other ties with the rest of Europe is concerned, and the advantages she sees for the Philippines in pursuing continuing and regular ties with Europe.

Of course, I'll make sure that there are photos taken during the interview-meeting with the President from which Tony Katigbak, Managing Editor of the Philippine Star may pick out one for publication just as Max asked me to.

President Arroyo will leave Brussels for London where she will be meeting with the business sector and will proceed to Cuba and Hawaii before flying back to Manila on 17 September.

Links:
http://ec.europa.eu/avservices/photo/photo_planning_en.cfm
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the EC
12/09/2006 at 16:30 REF : P-012386
José Manuel Barroso, President of the EC, receives Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the Philippines

Links:
http://www.ops.gov.ph/septvisits06/
http://ec.europa.eu/comm/external_relations/asem/asem_summits/index_sum.htm
http://www.asem6.fi/
http://ec.europa.eu/avservices/photo/photo_combar_en.cfm

Peace talks to end protracted war — Joma

2006-06-21T03:18:00.000-07:00

Peace talks to end protracted war — Joma

Vi Massart
Paris bureau chief
HEADLINE NEWS, The Philippine Star January 15, 2004

Utrecht, The Netherlands - Exiled Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chairman Jose Ma. "Joma" Sison has said that they are open to peace negotiations to put an end to their decades-long war with the government.

Sison, who is on a self-imposed exile in Utrecht, the Netherlands where this interview was conducted, said "a just and lasting peace is possible" between the government and the members of the CPP.

The communist panel is prepared to forge a final peace agreement with the government panel based on a more modest demand for reforms, he said.

The 65-year-old Sison established the CPP in 1969, originally for the violent overthrow of the government based on the belief that his "hated enemies," American capitalists and imperialists, dictated the government's political and economic doctrines. He envisioned the creation of an egalitarian society presided over by the proletariat.

This peace agreement, however, may not guarantee a cessation of hostilities between government soldiers and communist rebels.

According to observers, questions remain if Sison still has the required clout over the CPP, the New People's Army (NPA) and the National Democratic Front to stop all rebel attacks. The NDF, which functions as the CPP's political arm, represents the rest of the party in the peace negotiations with the government.

Sison has reportedly "mellowed" down since the United States declared him, the CPP and the NPA as foreign terrorists in 2002. This label has prompted the Dutch government to freeze his bank accounts and cut off all social benefits he enjoyed since his arrival in Utrecht in 1998.

The Dutch courts also revised Sison's status as a political refugee and denied his request for asylum.

Since he has been labeled a foreign terrorist, most members of the European Union are also likely to refuse him entry.

Sison cannot yet return to the Philippines, where he has a P10-million bounty on his head. Faced with few options, he appealed the Dutch ruling before the European Court of Human Rights based on humanitarian grounds, which will make it less easy for the Dutch to expel him.

Last Tuesday, President Arroyo said peace talks between the government and the communist rebels are set to resume early next month, possibly in Asia.

CPP spokesman Gregorio Rosal said they may have "better prospects" after the May elections since the Arroyo administration has refused to remove the roadblocks to the talks, among them the government's all-out international campaign to tag the CPP and Sison as terrorists.

Chief negotiator Silvestre Bello III brushed aside Rosal's claims that communist rebels are not interested in talking peace with the Arroyo administration, saying he has no reason to doubt the sincerity of Luis Jalandoni, chairman of the NDF peace panel, in signifying his conformity to resume the peace talks "notwithstanding the occurrence of violent incidents" between the rebels and government troops.

Last Saturday, NPA rebels raided a power plant in Calaca, Batangas and killed four soldiers guarding the plant. Three rebels were later killed in the ensuing firefight.

Interview with Jose Ma. Sison, Utrecht, The Netherlands

2006-06-21T02:51:00.000-07:00

Interview with Jose Ma. Sison, Utrecht, The Netherlands

HEADLINE NEWS, The Philippine Star January 15, 2004

(The following is a transcription of the interview with Sison. — Editors)

STAR (Vi Massart, chief European correspondent, The Philippine Star): Why did you choose Utrecht, instead of say, London or Paris where famous revolutionaries like Ho Chi Minh, Marx among others sojourned? Or Amsterdam?

JOMA: I happened to be here then. The Netherlands was my base for going to some 20 countries so I kept coming back here. The NDF and solidarity organizations here were strong compared to other places. There are several advantages in Utrecht, it's a university town, it's quiet, you can walk around even after midnight, there are no murders, a city of only two hundred fifty thousand.

STAR: Aren't these advantages the very bourgeois niceties that contradict your principle of armed struggle against the capitalist system?

JOMA: Of course. But even when you are a revolutionary, you don't like a life of constant bang, bang, bang. Even the NPA spends less than ten percent of its time fighting, otherwise there'll be offensives all the time. A red fighter would put more time doing some political work among the people, for their social benefit because without the mass work, the NPA won't have a mass base.

The masses are the inexhaustible source of NPA strength. The best sons and daughters of the people are there and of course, if they don't have a cultural activity, that army will die of boredom, it will become dull. For someone like me who is forced to be here, a placent situation is good for reading, research and writing.

STAR: You like your life here?

JOMA: Yes. You have to make the best out of the situation you are in. I'm leading a relatively spartan kind of life.

STAR: How do you subsist?

JOMA: In economic terms, quite insecure, as a consequence of the terrorist listing by the US and European governments. My social benefits for food, clothing, health insurance and housing have been withdrawn by the Dutch more than a year ago. I'm not allowed to work. I have to borrow money in order to subsist. All kinds of tricks have been used to prevent me from getting any grant as a refugee which is inherent to the fact that I have a well grounded fear of persecution.

I'm a de facto refugee but through legal means and hair splitting ways, I am not legally here. Based on Article 3 of the European Convention, the Dutch Government cannot throw me out because my rights against torture, inhuman and degrading treatment would be put at risk. But there is a hair splitting distinction between recognition and admission as a refugee.. These Dutch are crazy! They make these stupid distinctions and because of the US pressure, they are forced to be stupid. Do you know that it is against the Refugee Convention for a signatory government to intervene in another country? But a representative of the Dutch Justice Ministry would appear stupid if he says in court, "A government, other than the Philippine government would take offense if we granted Mr Sison asylum."

STAR: What about the contributions you receive?

JOMA: It doesn't look good to me if I use them. I have 29 lawyers who are all pro-bono but there are basic, unavoidable expenses. I would rather that any money collected by the Defend Sison Campaign went to my legal defense which is administered by a committee headed by Archbishop Joris of Utrecht.

STAR: Why don't you go home now? What is stopping you? Who or what are you afraid of?

JOMA: You know the reasons are compelling but they differ from time to time. Let's talk of 1988 when my passport was cancelled. The military, upon the cancellation of my passport expected me to go home, they would just "receive" me. I don't think I'll be assasinated at the airport but there are sacrifices one should not make. Martyrdom is supposed to be rewarded by going to heaven but no Christian priest will tell you to kill yourself to rush your meeting with God – I can go under other circumstances. I wouldn't like the military or those interested in extra-judicial operations to have an easy. While alive and abroad, I can do certain things.

The next reason is that since becoming the political consultant of the NDF, I cannot return to the Philippines because it would influence the venue. People would say that if you could return to the Philippines so why don't we just talk in the Philippines? NDF has been careful about shifting the venue of the peace negotiations to Asia as well because the Philippines can easily say, well, okay, why not have the talks in China. It's just a few hundred miles away, why not go over there?

One must understand why the NDF would like to have a neutral ground. The Philippine government is quite smart... in 1986, it put friends of people on the NDF side in it's panel like Diokno, Mitra and so on. Diokno, the head of the negotiating panel was sick, so the NDF was accomodating to him and talks were held in Manila but it was so easy for the military intelligence to surveil the talks. When the talks broke down, both Ramos and Ileto boasted of 20% increase in their surveillance tax. There were unhappy consequences... killings of those involved in the peace negotiations. Some said why not in the countryside but there were major deployment of forces on both sides. Held abroad, nobody is armed and even if there is a breakdown in talks, we would all be friendly, happily go to the same restaurant (chuckles), nobody is armed.

Well, after all Rizal stayed abroad for a while... even Lenin stayed abroad for a while. The power of the pen rather than the power of the sword is my specialty. The people's army is the most important focus. It is with reference to seizure of political power but when it comes to having lasting influence at the cerebral, philosophical and cultural level, maybe a song writer would be more potent.

STAR: Why didn't you take advantage of Speaker Joe de Venecia's offer last year for you to join the National Unity Government?

JOMA: I said it was good when it was first announced in the sense it indicated the willingness of the other side to resume the peace negotiations. I was waiting for further developments with regard to the peace negotiations because abroad, a united front was developing against Gloria. She seemed believable when she announced that she would not run in the presidential elections but at the same time there was that hidden aspect that she was simply trying to disarm those who were ready to pounce on her.

STAR: Can you travel today, meaning do you have a passport?

JOMA: It's already invalidated. In 1998, the Philippine government wanted me to go to Manila for the public signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL). The Manila government said I had to get a Philippine passport, that technically, getting a passport did not mean that I would be surrendering to the Philippine government. So I went to the Philippine Embassy with Atty. Romy Capulong and I got the passport.

I was expected to go to the Philippines so I said: "Release all political prisoners; it would be one way of celebrating the signing of the CARHRIHL." They haggled. At the time we were already able to reduce the number of prisoners to 130 or so. Joe de Venecia who was then a presidential candidate said, "Fifty na lang...I will release the rest when I become president." Both Ramos and de Venecia were expecting to capitalize on my return to the Philippines. I was already inclined to agree with the release of only 50 political prisoners although some of the prisoners were saying, "Please don't come. We would rather stay here than for you to take the risk." Anyway, I have relatives in government and would have had security all the way.

You know what? Some Estrada people were inside the Ramos government like former National Security Adviser Aguirre who delayed things. He didn't communicate with Foreign Affairs Secretary Siazon so that when Siazon got hold of the notification that the Dutch government should be requested to grant me the return visum – because I wanted the option of returning – there were delays. The plan for me to go to the Philippines in 1998 was practially sabotaged.

STAR: You know that there is no longer any border control in mainland Europe...

JOMA: Yes, but my lawyer told me to be careful. I'm still in "prison".... On one hand, the Dutch state tells me, "We don't want you. You are just a tolerated alien, you are recognized as a refugee, but we don't admit you as a refugee." At the same time, it would prevent me from going to another country. But as a consequence of the US terrorist listing, an order was given to border and customs police to be on the lookout for me. This is the problem in this regime of creeping fascism in Europe. If I cross the border I might be charged with going against those regulations on terrorism.

Once upon a time, I felt very secure moving across the border because if you were not wanted on a criminal charge, the Interpol would not issue a warrant of arrest because some member states of the Interpol would not allow it to be used for political purposes. But with this mongrel of a charge...

STAR: But your running battle is against the Americans?

JOMA: Yes it is actually the powerful force. The Philippine government is not that influential in Holland. In 1995, I won a favorable decision from the Dutch government to stay. Perhaps because they didn't want to embarass Ramos who came here, we were even allowed to hold a press conference at the Dutch Parliament. That was when the Ducth government was very happy with the Philippine government because of the Malampaya pipeline. It's supposed to be a purely 500-million dollar investment by the Dutch. It turned out that it is actually a 45-45 % US-Dutch investment, 10% Philippine government. That's the tie up between the US and the Dutch. The US is very powerful and has a stong influence on the Dutch government which is the most pro-US government in mainland Europe.

The Dutch govt. is a free rider in South East Asia. They do not have a big military so they ride on the US force. Although the US got a beating in the Indochina, they US made a big killing in Indonesia using Suharto; they wiped out the Communists but what economic interests prevailed there? US and Dutch oil interests. What I am trying to point out is the combination of the two. But the Dutch people have a good side, they are hospitable, friendly, they drink but they don't look for trouble.

STAR: Let"s talk about your capture. Who turned you in leading to your arrest in 1977?

JOMA: I don't know who turned me in. In the course of criticism and sub criticism someone possibly feared that he might be investigated so ran away and went to Camp Olivas, HQ of then Philippine Constabulary.

STAR: How were you captured?

JOMA: In July 1977, I was in the mountanous border area of Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac and Pampanga attending the Central Luzon Regional Conference of the Communist Party. From their informant, the military must have gotten the idea that I always went back to my home region. They laid a dragnet there for months. My tactical error on the night of my capture was when I started from Pangasinan at11 PM, which was a violation of the rules I had set for myself - no movement after 10 PM. I rode on a motorcycle in tandem and was carrying a bag which attracted attention.

I was spotted eventually passing through two gasoline stations between Bawang Town and Naguillan Road. The surveillance team must have radioed my location and while I was looking for the house to go to down the road, I noticed a van was coming up. I didnt know that the van was the enemy. The people in the van thought that I recognized the van because it had been confiscated in Manila although I didn't know anything about it.

At exactly 5 minutes after midnight when we were in the house already, I looked out from the window and saw the same van stopped at the curb. I noticed a guy looking at me. After we were arrested and on the way to Manila, they said that they were only guessing that it could be me but became sure when I looked out of the window - that's how I was definitely recognized.

STAR: Was there a gun battle?

JOMA: There was no gun battle because we were deeply asleep when at around 2:15 AM there was rapping on the walls, they were already moving to the door, kicking it, so I had no chance besides, I had no gun. If I had had a gun, I would have fought it out naturally. When I came out of the bedroom I even tried to take control of the situation by asking "Are you policemen?" They only smirked. Actually, when they were kicking the door, I yelled "magnanakaw" thinking that the coming of the police could offset the situation. Major Rodrigo who was obviously the head of the raiding team pointed a gun at me "a la FBI" saying "You shut up or I'll shoot you between the eyes".

You know, I was surprised because they didn't take away the money from my bag. They only took my driver's license and you know what my name was in it? Miguel Ramos Edralin. I was that confident because if stopped only by a policeman, I could speak to him in Ilocano.

STAR: Your release was ordered by Pres. Cory Aquino with whom you had an amiable start. Why didn't that fluorish?

JOMA: Aquino ordered me released on March 5, 1986. I was the last one of the last four to be released, one week after the fall of Marcos. Relations on the personal level were never destroyed. She was pressured by military officials headed by Ramos and seconded by the media at the time to cancel my passport thinking that if my passport was cancelled, I would be forced to return. They didn't like what I was saying in my lectures abroad. Aquino succumbed to the pressure and the PNP trumped up a charge of subversion against me. You see, all the charges raised by Marcos against me had been wiped out based on the fact that the military tribunals were in themselves invalidated. A new subversion charge was made on Sept. 14, 1988.

That was my reason for applying for asylum. It frustrated the military's hope to catch me at the airport.

But by some discreet line, Aquino sent word to me asking me to have patience. She would ask Congressman Jose Yap if he still was still in touch with "our friends". So Yap came here in August 1990 to offer peace negotiations. There was some preliminary meetings in mid-1989 or early part of 1990 while Aquino and I were having a word war. Dr Enson, a member of the Pampanga provincial board was sent by Gov. Ben Guiao who was close to the Aquinos. Cory was compelled to send Yap at the risk of making the offer open because she was already in a fix - her policies were a social catastrophe. So she felt the need to revive the peace negotiations.

From August to December 1990, I think Yap made three trips here but Ramos, who was the Defense Secretary then was always fouling up the approach. Ramos is "balat sibuyas" (onion skinned), "pikon" (sensitive). He set conditions like "There is only one goverment and one army; goodwill measures like releasing political prisoners will not include the NPA fighters." Naturally, when those conditions were set, talks would be difficult to start. Also, Aquino got frightened because of the Noble mutiny so the approach did not proceed until the end of her term. But when Ramos became president in 1992, he sent Yap as his emissary officially. He was not afraid maybe because he was a military man. He also sent people I knew like Buscayno and Fortuna, the journalist. I think Yap came here for a preliminary meeting so that by Sept. 1, 1992 it was possible to sign the declaration.

Yap came with his aide-de-camp who became Chief of the Armed Forces, Gen. Benjie Defensor... I cannot forget an incident when we were talking about the prospects of 1992 and of his sister Miriam, who was a former friend of mine although several years my junior. Somebody said that Miriam could be a presidential candidate but Benjie said, "That sister of mine is crazy", probably a sibling joke but we had a good laugh.

STAR: What is your connection with the current NPA?

JOMA: No connection. My function is that of Chief Political Consultant for the NDF particularly in connection with the peace negotiations.

STAR: So do you still wield enough influence on the NPA to perhaps cease all hostilities at least in relation to ongoing peace negotiations ?

JOMA: Let's put it this way. All these forces, elements in the NDFP, the NPA, the roots of all conflicts must be adressed. There might be a way to move in towards a just and lasting peace. I don't expect overnight solution. As matter of fact, a very modest term has been used - reform. We now have a Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Right and International Humanitarian Law. Next for discussion and agreement is social and economic reform.

STAR: If the roots of the armed conflict are addressed, you say that there will be just and lasting peace but before that can happen you have to come to the negotiating table...

JOMA: You know the Philippine Peace Center made a study; it found that it was GRP that has been more responsible for the breakdown (of talks). Not once has NDF called for collapse or set a suspension or termination. In 1994, Howard Dee, Panel Chair then was the one that declared the collapse of the talks and he did not even consult Ramos who got mad at him. That practically cost the talks one year. Then political prisoners who had safety and immunity guarantees were arrested and it was DND Sec. de Villa this time who was blocking their release.

It was reported in the press that I was the cause and was responsible for the collapse because of the the fracas over the VFA (Visiting Forces Agreement).

No! The NDF had reason to terminate but did not declare termination. It was Estrada who made the order to terminate the joint agreement on safety and immunity guarantee on May 29, 1999 although he signed the CARHRIHL in August. But he had second thoughts and in October, sent Senator Drilon here to push for a suplementary agreement which would require the NDF to capitulate because they were afraid that certain provisions would equalize the two (GRP and NDF) so we said no.

Not once did the NDF declare collapse, suspension or termination, not even an indefinite recess. It's all on the side of the GRP.

The delay became an indefinite suspension even under Gloria Macapagal. In June 2001 something dramatic happened. While we were eating, the report on the killing of Congressman Aguinaldo came. I was asked if I thought the killing would upset the talks? I said I didn't think so. Fidel Agcaoili (NDF Spokesman), Panel Chair Silvestre Bello and Chito Gaston, a member of the panel were talking happily. Chito said "It's high time...". There were people who were happy because during the time of Marcos, Aguinaldo was one of the most notorious human rights violators.

A version says that Bello was trying to show that he was protective of the interests of the State but eventually, Gloria Macpagal would say, "There is no ceasefire agreement, this sort of thing happens."

That's why I told Bello who was a human rights lawyer, "It's rather unfortunate for you that you invoked the name of a son of a gun." Another version is that a call came from Malacanang... I think it was on June 12 when Aguinaldo was killed.

We had a happy night together with the Norweigians. It was only in the morning when we noticed a change in their attitude. Bello and Yap came up to me and Hernani Braganza saying "We are going to declare a recess to show that we don't agree with the killing".. I said, "There is no ceasefire so why don't you just protest?" But they said, "No, we'll have recess, we got word from Manila." They wanted an assurance from me that there would be no word war in the press. We gave our word but Press Undersecretary Remonte was hyperactive. He started it, so up went the word war.

STAR: I called Secretary Lina of DILG on Jan. 2 and asked him about the latest murder charges against you. He said that they are suspended because of the ongoing peace negotiations.

JOMA: Actually, they cannot go beyond the preliminary stages. They will foul up their case because they have made arrests connected to the killing of Congressman Aguinaldo. If they try to inject a conspiracy where I am involved, they will destroy their case against those arrested.
In legal terms, pointing to a mastermind and proving that he is the mastermind is very difficult. More so if the one you accuse has actually nothing to do with it. A good lawyer would puncture the testimony of anyone who would say, "Mr Sison wrote me a letter or called me on the phone or that he came to the Philippines secretly." If they claim to have caught people who had something to do directly with the killing, then they will ruin their case. The one caught will be very happy if they try to prove a conspiracy and it can't be proven.

STAR: Who ordered Colonel Aguinaldo killed?

JOMA: I deny vehemently that I had anything to do with the killing. The NPA did it and I vehemently deny that I have anything to do with the NPA. The NPA is a full grown entity and it can make its own decisions independent of someone, who from 1969-77 had something to do with the NPA. I would even be proud that Aguinaldo was killed but I had nothing to do with it.

STAR: Why did the NPA hit Congressman Aguinaldo precisely when the peace talks were actually ongoing? What was the motive? To imperil the peace talks?

JOMA: I don't think so. The opportunity just presented itself. Cagayan is relatively far. It took sometime for those who did the assault to prepare and it was probably the judgement of the team that it was the best time.

STAR: Who is the Chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines now?

JOMA: Well, it's Armando Liwanag... (chuckling)

STAR: And you are Liwanag!

JOMA: No (laughing)! The only title I have agreed to having is founding chairperson.

STAR: Are you formally denying that you are Armando Liwanag?

JOMA: Yes. And we say so in court. I was long in prison and have been out of the country too long (grinning).

STAR: If I were to write what I see now, it would go like this, "When a reporter asked JOMA Sison if he was Armando Liwanag, his face broke into a wide grin. He visibly was not going to tell the reporter the truth....."

JOMA: (chuckling...) You see, how long was I in prison? From '77 to '86, nearly 9 years! I stayed in the Philippines when I got employed by UP for only 6 months Then I went out of the country so I've been out of the country from '86 to present.

STAR: The AFP believes that you are Armando Liwanag, so by virtue of being Armando Liwanag, you are therefore the CPP Chairman and have a direct hand in the operations of the NPA?

JOMA: The CPP and the NPA are very collective organizations, their leadership is very collective.

STAR: Going back to the Estrada regime, the toppling of Estrada....you claim that the NDF and the CPP indirectly or directly had a hand in toppling Estrada when they joined the EDSA II revolution. You also are virulently anti-American. In June 2000, it was reported that a a US Undersecretary of Defense had bragged in a meeting with high level officials (in the West) the imminent collapse of the Estrada Administration and was reported to have said: "WHEN Estrada is impeached, we will go back (to the Philippines)..." he did not say "IF" so isn't it ironical that you and your avowed enemies might just have worked together?

JOMA: It is indeed ironical and if that happened but at the same time CPP and other forces not necessarily very close to CPP or even in contradiction with CPP could have had a convergence of intentions and even plans. Even Marcos, who was more clever than Estrada, was a factor against himself. Before the Bayan conference in Baguio City in December 1998, I said - to the great laughter of Bayan - that "El Bobo will be like El Loco". The latter was a former town mayor, a well-known womanizer who could sing on stage like Estrada and who became Ecuador President for only 60 days.

Actually, we had good relations with Estrada before he became president. His representative, Ronnie Zamora came over here and made a commitment that peace negotiations would proceed and indeed in August 1998, Estrada signed the agreement. Luis Jalandoni would be met by Estrada in his house. My letter to Estrada carried by Fidel Agcaoili was answered by Estrada. But Erap was like a little boy when the word war started. He would say, "They come to my house, I feed them...", parang bata. I knew his weakness. The Marcos burial issue was the first one that riled us. We also got irritated by the Drilon mission pushing a supplement to this CAHRHIL so by December, we were already ready to fight Estrada. We had a quarrel with Estrada over the question of releasing political prisoners.

Despite that quarrel, in February 1999, Sen. Loren Legarda and Bishop Varela came over here. They talked to Estrada who was adamant about doing the release procedures because of Angelo Reyes, who before Chavit Singson was the pahamak. The Philippines had been advised by the IMF not to go beyond a certain level in the deficit spending. But when the attack was made on Camp Abu Bhakar, 20 billion pesos more had to be spent. Reyes made "pahamak" of Estrada to IMF and also made pahamak of him to the Muslim population because they ate baboy and drunk alcohol in Abu Bhakar.

STAR: Just goes to show that at some point, you cannot continue fighting the Establishment ...

JOMA: Not even if you are president... not even the CPP, either way?

STAR: Yes!

JOMA: Well, the CPP and the MILF are two tough fighters. The big loss for Estrada when he fought the CPP is this: he wanted to be seen as man of the masses, the defender of the poor but when he fought the CPP, he was told that he was not really for the poor so his pretext for the poor got lost.. Estrada is also a taray. If somebody criticizes him, he will say "Mag-presidente ka muna." Ano 'yon? It's insulting...When Estrada was already in trouble, he was persuaded to send Mike Romero to arrange a resumption of talks but it was too late.

STAR: Let's talk about Victor Corpuz, now a Major General... how did you recruit him?

JOMA: (laughing) He defected in 1970 and reached the highest position in the NPA Command as Head of the Training Department. We had two sources of leaders - you will be surprised - one was through a student cultural association which we established in UP. We started with 25 leaders and planned to penetrate government to change the system. We did not know so much about Marxism then. Many went high up in the Marcos regime and in every succeeding regime, there was somebody from that group. KM (Kabataang Makabayan), during the time of Marcos, came from the same group too. I was in the Communist Party. Nur Misuari was in the Moro National Liberation Front. Heherson Alvarez who became Senator was working with Manglapuz under Marcos. Jimmy Laya became Central Bank Governor. The Education Secretary and the Chief Economic adviser of Marcos all came from our group.

After the establishment of KM in 1964, we made it a point to recruit from the young people wishing to enter the military academy and we followed them up in the PMA. We came to know Victor Corpuz because Major Simbulan, who was in charge of the Social Science Dept. of the PMA was my friend. Corpuz was a very religious person. In 1965-66, he would bring the Bible and started as a Christian Socialist. I personally took care of his education. They had a big fight in the PMA because some cadets wanted to join the KM conference in Manila but the PMA Superintendent would not allow it. Ramos went to the PMA and was fried by cadets who were members of the KM.

We became best friends because the girl he was running after was a neighbor of mine so he would pass by my place and would go together to the place of the girl he was courting but eventually, he married someone else who also belonged to the Student Cultural Association of UP. I don't think Corpuz was a penetrator, I believe he was sincere. A classmate of mine who was president of a mining corporation wanted to get him as a VP for personnel. I was impressed with Corpuz because he told me, "I don't want to take the job because he only wants to use me in areas where the NPA is."

STAR: How did you raid the PMA armory with Gen. Corpuz?

JOMA: Okay...The story runs this way... I wasn't there during the raid but an NPA squad was already inside the barracks of the PMA. Corpuz was already disgusted with the corruption inside the PMA. Gen. Ugarte, then PMA Superintendent didn't like what Corpuz was teaching and assigned him to the kitchen. There he came directly upon the corruption - the officers were cheating the cadets! As a way out of the military, he wanted to run for the Constitutional Convention.

He was already a First Lieutenant. He consulted me so I told him that either we took the arms in the armory right then or he stayed put until he became a general so we could take more. Corpuz, a classic militarist then was very apprehensive, worried about how we would take out all those arms and ammos. I simply told him, "We will time it when you are the Officer of the Day so you can give orders and nobody will ask questions or suspect."

The raid on the PMA armory was a very well-timed operation because the NPA really got a big blow in 1970 when the military came upon a force of 60 NPA men and all the 60 rifles were lost so we needed new arms.

Incidentally, Marcos, who was on his way to Baguio, had already been informed of the raid. He was met by the poor, unsuspecting PMA Superintendent. When Marcos asked him how it was at the PMA, he said, "Everything alright Sir!." In fact, the custodians of the Armory were begging to be tied very tightly so they wouldn't be suspected of collaborating.

From Pinkian Road, the arms were brought all the way to Isabela. People were "mad" at the NPA for not bringing out the canons as well. They were very heavy and useless to the guerillas. The story that we brought out armalites is wrong. We only had 43 Browning automatic rifles, some machine guns, a few bazookas because the vehicles were not big enough.

STAR: What did Corpuz do once in Isabela?

JOMA: He had to go to school again (laughter). He came from La Salle and only had a very scholastic type of training in philosophy. He had a particular problem with Mao on contradictions.

STAR: In line with hard line Marxist-Mao, Communist dogma, isn't Victor Corpuz considered a traitor to the "cause" and could be meted the extreme punishment?

JOMA: I knew you would ask that question. Should I respond to that in a figurative way or in a legalistic way. It's not for me to judge Corpuz, that's all I can say.

To simplify things, Vic put himself in a situation so he could surrender although at the same time, they pounced on him. He was in prison up to the fall of Marcos. The military really worked on him made many concessions to the children who were living in the military intelligence compound. They were brought to school at Don Bosco every day.

Ramos himself tried to court him and offered him colonel's rank because his classmates were already in that position and Ramos wanted to use him for propaganda in the Civil Relations Service. We told him to accept the colonel rank but should ask to be assigned back to PMA, however Ramos counter-offered captain's rank but Corpuz didn't like it.

He received some money his classmates in La Salle and used it to build an extension to the house of the parents... I think his wife had a quarrel with his mother and wanted to get out of his parents' house but the fees he received from the movie producers on his life were not enough because he did not get expert advice - he only received some half a million pesos for the right, so was in dire need. The movie producer offered a big amount to change the story rights and the conclusion. Ramos told him to say something against me with regards to Plaza Miranda, that he would be taken back (by the military) and would receive a house and lot in Alabang Hills.

STAR: How do you feel about Corpuz today?

JOMA: He was arrested in 1976 or one year before I was arrested. I don't hold any grudges against him because he really contributed something to the movement. But I don't know whether he has offended other people.

At the time I left Manila, I had good relations with him. He got into trouble and had to make choices. The military really worked on him when he was detained but I don't think he turned me in.

Some people say that he placed himself in an ambiguous situation. His wife was detained and there was no reason why his wife should be detained any longer so he asked his classmates to take his wife to his parents' house. But he was kind. One day, Louie (Jalandoni) went to visit an NPA member in the custody of ISAFP and Vic was nice to Louie, very gentlemanly. I heard he has been talking against me but I really don't care about those so long as there are no physical...

STAR: Do you think Corpuz contributed hugely to NPA setbacks in the country when he came back to government service? He had been after all NPA Chief of Training so the military could have used his broad knowledge of the NPA.

JOMA: Not much because he was already driven out of certain parts of Cagayan Valley. His morale was going down. When he was in Nueva Vizcaya, he fell and for a long while he thought his leg was broken but it wasn't, it was psychosomatic. When he recovered, hierarchy prevailed so he was allowed to take away a full platoon from Aurora to Nueva Ecija. There was a decision to place him in the Mountain Province but those in charge said no, so it was decided to send him to Mindanao but it was far from his wife whom he loved very much. All I could say is that there are proper organs of the NPA that could deal with any problem arising from that.

STAR: So what is the sentiment of the CPP vis-a-vis Corpuz today?

JOMA: You know, Victor Corpuz faces charges not only from the movement but also from his fellow "tribesmen", the military officers, i..e., the July 28, which I call a protest action and not a mutiny, accusing Corpuz and Angie Reyes of doing the terrorist bombings in Mindanao. Some people ask me why I don't do anything about Corpuz but you see I don't call the shots (laughing). I no longer have direct personal knowledge of Corpuz after I left Manila.

STAR: This has been on my mind, why didn't Marcos have you killed, why were you kept alive?

JOMA: Actually, it was debated whether I should be killed or not. But a certain Colonel Lopez opined that I should be kept alive as a kind of trophy and that was also my estimate before I was captured because Marcos had shown it in many cases - he would rather keep his opponents alive.

STAR: In other words, you are saying that Marcos was not a blood-thirsty dicatator after all...

JOMA: He was a blood-thirsty dictator! Marcos was also afraid... You know, it's more dangerous when a sergeant catches you. He may improvise but when it's commissioned officers, they have had some form of training. They may torture you, beat you but to use their own words, they are professionals. You don't kill someone whom you have already disabled in a fighting. So when you are president and someone is arrested and officers of different types are looking into the arrest, someone might come back and blow the whistle if you play loosely with the rules. When an officer comes from PMA he usually knows what constitutes a professional.

STAR: But Marcos was not from the PMA...

JOMA: Well, Marcos pretended that he also was a soldier. There might be another aspect. Marcos came from the same region as I did. You see as children in Ilocos, boys played opponents' games and we used to mark a demarcation line with our "pee" to denote the limit...

STAR: Did you attempt to escape?

JOMA: I thought of it when I was captured. The two officers seemed to be sleepy and I could have made a split-second grab of the driver and jump out but I was deterred from doing that because I had other companions and it wasn't just a question of my life if I had made a bad judgement call to escape then. Also, I estimated too that Marcos would keep me alive because he liked to put forward trophies.

STAR: You a trophy? It doesn't make sense because he kept you incommunicado anyway so nobody knew whether you were really dead or alive?

JOMA: Oh yes but he had already talked to me, people knew that he had seen me. Actually, I am the only witness linking Marcos to torture.

STAR: By the way, what happened to your appeal for damages against the Marcos estate?

JOMA: I won. On paper I won a little more than a million dollars but how to collect is a problem.

I won in the Court of Appeals in the 9th Circuit in the US. The problem is I have to get the compensation from the Marcos Estate in Manila. As an individual plaintiff, the award to me was far bigger than the class plaintiffs. Imagine, taking the interest into account and compensation for the disappearance of my brother, that's more than one million dollars in compensations altogether! It was reported that I had already gotten the money but it's not true, I suffer further injustice.

STAR: How do you expect to get paid compensation? You realize that the Marcos money from Switzerland is purported to have been released to the Philippines, money which Judge Real of Hawaii ruled should be used to pay compensation to the Marcos torture victims.

JOMA: I am pessimistic. When the money goes to the General Funds, then it's practically bye-bye. Right now, what Congress should do is to make a one-page amendatory to amend the CARP law so that all the money recovered from Marcos and his cronies could go to CARP. But there are so many of provisions.

The Marcoses, their lawyers and the powers that be are clever because they say that Aquino, Ramos also committed human rights violations so they say money should go to everyone supposedly as victims of human rights violations and not only under the Marcos regime but the problem is how would you decide? In the US, it is the judge who decides. But I don't think I will get anything in my lifetime, my heirs probably.

STAR: Isn't it paradoxical that the US State Department tags you a terrorist while the US Justice Court recognizes you as a human rights violations victim?

JOMA: It's a repeat paradox of history. In the colony, someone like Rizal would be killed right away but if he went to Spain, he would enjoy some freedom. A rebel in Malaya might get freedom in England.

The US judge declared that "Whoever talked in this court against the plaintiffs as being communists will be thrown out of this court because a whatever a person is, whether he is Communist or not should not be tortured."

The issue was all about human rights violations and not affiliations.

STAR: Are you defending the American justice system?

JOMA: (laughs) In a way, the American system is better than the system in the Philippines. Has there been any officer beyond the rank of Sergeant taken into account by the Philippine justice system for violations of human rights? None! But in the US, no less than Marcos was charged.

STAR: Talking of human rights, the NPA has been committed scores of violations of human rights... thanks to victims who have come out in the open, the public now knows of its purges.

JOMA: The precise expression is that elements in the NPA and the CPP committed human rights violations which was the subject of a six-part series in a Manila broadsheet but the entity as a whole has nothing more to do with those elements and as a matter of fact, those that committed the most grievous crimes and those that are most unremorseful have now fled.

There has been a rectification movement as an education movement to root out those elements since 1992.

STAR: And the human rights violations committed by the NPA outside its ranks?

JOMA: In war, there is a tendency to treat badly those that are considered spies or informers. But definitely, there must be an attempt to test evidence against anyone anyway. Of course you may consider that there have been human rights violations because even spies are entitled to due process but in war, the process is shorter.

STAR: But during the Christmas ceasefire, the NPA killed a military man and his family in Samar...

JOMA: We don't know whether that was really an NPA assault whether there were actually two feuding families involved. Anyway, one might say that there could have been a violation of the ceasefire but we don't know. If there's only that one, then you may say that the ceasefire has held in general.

STAR: Senator Loren Legarda declared in a press statement that you have been good friends since your UP days and that she could never hate you. For her to be effective or have reasonable clout in future talks, she must be the VP to a winning running mate which is FPJ. What exactly do you expect from her in the event the tandem wins?

JOMA: When you are VP and you don't like the policies being pursued by the President, you can have your own way and you have all the time to campaign for what you think are the right policies. So I would say that she will find it easy to support the peace negotiations.

Fernando Poe is seen by his rivals as the king, a stand in for Estrada, the Marcoses but I am aware that he would be willing to do a good turn for Erap but not as far as ruining himself. In other words, he can learn lessons from the experience of Estrada. I don't know if it's true but I heard that he is a friend who doesn't ask for anything, who doesn't impose himself. FPJ has his own means so long as he has enough beer.... (laughs).

STAR: Do you think FPJ will make a good president?

JOMA: Ah that's another question. You know he may not be so brilliant personally but he might have enough intelligence to listen to other people speak. It didn't work out well with Estrada.

Some people in his cabinet were disappointed because he didn't pay much attention to them.

Fernando Poe would learn from the experience of Estrada but his lifestyle could be a problem like keeping away from public functions... I don't really know how well he keeps his beer (laughs).

STAR: There's a five-way presidential campaign going on and analysts are saying that if the opposition is split, Macapagal will definitely win...

JOMA: Macapagal appears strong because her propaganda machine is over-confident and can cut down Fernando Poe but Roco is the most intelligent or the most cultivated among them, he being a lawyer. By tradition there have been more lawyers as president. But Roco's problem is how much money he has.

STAR: And Ping Lacson?

JOMA: He is dangerous, a fascist!

STAR: Brother Villanueva?

JOMA: I know the guy. I know nothing about him that is offensive. As a matter of fact, he came to visit me here claiming to be KM when he was a student at the Philippine College of Commerce and blessed me at the office (laughs). He has been helpful to the mass organization when the Flor Contemplacion case came up, he went all out in her support.

STAR: So who will the CPP "proletariat class" vote for?

JOMA: Well, as Louis (Jalandoni) said we have no hope for the candidates at the national level even on the senatorial. Maybe the progressives can gain more seats on the Congressional level through party lists and the local executive offices.

STAR: What do you have to say about the NPA's so-called revolutionary tax or permit to campaign fees, which to me is plain extortion...

JOMA: The press is clever in asking about that (laughs). The movement which is really serious in relating to politicians would rather talk about how to help people. It is best that the candidates talk to the movement – they might be able to help the people and they might also want to ensure the safety of their campaigning.

They must set a common understanding with the NPA because they should not bring around people in uniform or plainclothes men with guns. I don't speak for the NPA but money is not the first thing to talk about. They should not allow themselves to be baited into talking about money first.

The NPA is a political force that asks how politicians could help the people and does not announce how much money they would take from the politicians.

STAR: Why should people be required to pay "double taxation" in their own country?

JOMA: The power of taxation belongs to government and there's a people's democratic government to finance health, social services ... But number one is how to serve the people. Politicians compete for support and the NPA is not just a coercive force. They can do the mass organizing. There is a mass base and there are votes there. Politicians also approach the NPA for other favors and don't just give money or whatever away! I don't think they just act out of fear...
STAR: When will the peace negotiations resume?

JOMA: Resumption of formal talks is set for the last week of January or first week of February.

STAR: No more backchanelling?

JOMA: The NDF will no longer go for further backchanelling because the difference remaining now is so small and is about some phrase regarding compensation for the victims of the human rights violations. More difficult provisions have been resolved so why not this one?

STAR: What about that requirement of yours that you and the CPP should be stricken out of the US list of designated terrorists first before any final peace agreement could be signed?

JOMA: That's not true. The Manila government keeps on saying that it has no power to push for the delisting. At least the GMA administration and the NDF can start singing the same song together according to the agreement signed by the two - for as long as the GRP acclaims together with the NDF the part that national sovereignity has something to do with jurisdiction. The US has no business claiming jurisdiction over me or over any charges against me concerning events in the Philippines.

The Philippine government must be dignified or self-respecting enough not to deliver one it claims to be its own citizen – I'm using GRP's own legal language here because you know, there's a people's government I am more impressed with.

Anyway, that's in the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees. One actively involved in the peace negotiations should not be bothered by whatever charges, i.e., if a man doesn't do anything visible, one cannot charge him with rebellion while the negotiations are going on.

Then there's the political offense doctrine or the Hernandez Political Doctrine, from the Anglo-Saxon jurisprudence: A political offender can be charged at most with rebellion which is not a capital offense, a bailable offense not subject to the death penalty. You cannot chop up events under rebellion, charge you with so many offenses like you are guilty of so many arsons, of so many murders, of so many rapes, etc. It should be a simple case of rebellion.

All that the Philippine government has to do is to uphold that. I challenge the GMA regime to resume the peace negotiations in accordance with the Hague joint declaration and for us to avail of the little time left in her regime - to do as much as we can before the end of her administration's term.

STAR: Are you implying that GMA might not win?

JOMA: It is better that people know that she is still interested in the peace negotiations because it can become an issue against her so it would be good if the talks are resumed.

STAR: Would it be better for the peace negotiations if Macapagal were elected?

JOMA: Let's see how much can be achieved in the peace negotiations before the elections and we will see whether more can be done if Gloria is to be elected. Gloria has the resources to wage a good campaign but it will all depend on the wares that she will offer to the people.

STAR: Which people and what wares?

JOMA: To workers and peasants. Wares in terms of land reforms, social justice and developments.

Are GMA's blue dresses,boyish hairdo also an issue?

2006-06-21T02:43:00.000-07:00

Postscript/PhilSTAR/Aug. 4, 2005/Thursday

Are GMA's blue dresses,boyish hairdo also an issue?

By Federico D. Pascual Jr.

SHADOW PLAY: My Tuesday column on the media blitz, also referred to at times as the “charm offensive,” of a repackaged President Gloria Arroyo elicited from some readers comments that normally I would not allow to see print.

There is always the danger that the messenger, ang inyong abang lingkod, would be mistaken for the message.

But on second thought, it might be best that President Arroyo herself gets to know how her new emerging persona as molded by her handlers is impacting on people-watchers.

We are dealing here with mirrors, images and reflection. We are not in direct contact with the real person hidden beneath the PR layers heaped on the subject, so most of us see only the shadow of the moving object. Sorry about that.

* * *

WHAT'S WITH BLUE?: From faraway Paris comes this email from Vi Massart, PhilSTAR chief correspondents in that part of the world:

“Frankly, if I were Gloria's wardrobe ‘mistress,' advisor, charm offensive operator, PR consultant or all of those put together, I would start by advising her against her color preference.

“Apparently, the short-sized, almost thick-set looking President has a preference for all shades of blue, but blue nonetheless, as it is her ‘lucky' color.

“Often, we see her wearing suits or ensemble in a shade of turquoise blue. The color is absolutely unbecoming on her. She is short, quite thick-set looking, dark haired and round-faced. Furthermore, her suits or ensemble often have wide lapels tapered to a V-shape neck.”

* * *

FIT THE FIGURE: Ate Vi explains: “First of all, turquoise blue, especially the lighter shade, is not a color that goes well with her hair color.

“Second, she looks pale (an odd shade between healthy ‘white' and the Filipina tan) and turquoise blue is chic and glamorous on either blonde and/or golden tan-skinned women or simply on milk-white skinned women of which she is neither.

“Thirdly, turquoise blue looks elegant on tall and shapely women and not on pudgy-looking tiny women.

“Lastly, her choice of suits with wide lapel is unbecoming on a diminutive frame (she should opt for more simple narrow lapel to make her look less -- and sorry to say this -- of a 'pugilist').

Couple that with turquoise blue, it cannot serve as a lucky color for her because the combination will only give her an overall appearance or an image which is absolutely the opposite of what the Malacanang PR doctors wish to achieve: non-charm.

“So, my advice to the wardrobe consultant and to her PR people: if charm offensive is the aim, start by changing the color of her favorite clothes in her wardrobe!”

* * *

NOW THE HAIRDO: Another female reader -- the womenfolk seem to be endlessly eyeing one another -- aims a bit higher, zeroing in on Ate Glo's hairdo this time.

Silbee Melissa emailing from a yahoo address says: “If you get to see Gloria, kindly tell her to let her hair grow a little longer. I don't want my President strutting around like a tomboy. Her manly looks upsets many of us women-watchers.

“I remember during the early days of her term she wore her hair longer. That was more becoming on her. She looked more pleasant, more feminine, and even the menfolk, I guess, liked that.

“I don't know who is doing her hair now, but if she is serviced by gay hair stylists infatuated with a masculine look, she better drop them. Sure, she wants to project herself as a strong leader, but there is nothing stronger that feminine charm.”

Yes, ma'am, I agree with that last sentence!

* * *

PARTING SHOTS: As expected, chargé d'affaires Joseph Mussomeli of the US embassy got the usual drubbing from the usual observers from the left for his frank remarks on political goings-on in the country.

To many sensitive observers, his freely commenting on internal affairs was “meddling,” including his saying that President Arroyo could still recover from her setbacks “if she does the difficult decisions, reaches out to the right groups and forms coalitions (to move the country) forward.”

Actually, Mussomeli, who leaves on Saturday for a new post, was jocular in his opening remarks before the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines forum last Monday at the Manila Hotel: “This is my last chance to say things that I shouldn't, I guess.”

Well, he did, used as he is to saying what he feels like saying, never mind what the natives think.
* * *
CUE FOR CHANGE: There is nothing like going to the text or transcript of his opening remarks and his responses in the Q&A part of that valedictory exchange with the press.

This was how he said some of those delicate portions: “The last few months have not been easy for the Philippines. As a friend of the Filipino people, my government is concerned -- and I am personally concerned that the current political scandals risk distracting politicians and the public alike from the real challenges facing this nation.

“As I have said before, the focus ought not to be on either retaining or attaining power, but rather on the Filipino people and their welfare.

“As I have also often said, the Philippines remains on that threshold of greatness where I last saw it, way back in 1986. It has not moved forward from that threshold and if it is ever to take its rightful place among the dynamic economies of Asia, it will need to see and seize the current political controversy as an opportunity for change.”

* * *

NO QUICK FIXES: “Crises can be a good thing,” the No. 2 man of the US embassy continued. “Controversies can bring out the best in individuals. We know that in our everyday life, and it is true of individuals and it is true of a people.”

“And there is good cause to be optimistic about the current controversy. Cooler heads have prevailed and the rule of law has been followed. No one on any side has rushed to take extra-constitutional measures -- no military coup, no martial law, no people power -- which ultimately, we believe, would weaken institutions and impede democracy in the Philippines.

“Certainly all democracies are messy, but history teaches us over and over again that there are no quick fixes in life. People need not get so breathless about each turn of events, and certainly the media can do as much to assuage concerns as fan the flames of controversy.”

* * *

ZERO COUP RISK: Mussomeli's remarks that the possibility of a coup d'etat taking place being near zero went like this (in response to a question in the Q&A portion):

“The response of the Armed Forces of the Philippines has been remarkable. It is really one of the real silver linings of this whole problem so far. They have come out -- from Secretary Cruz to General Abu, to General Senga, all the way down the line -- that they are going to remain neutral, strictly neutral, supporting the institutions and the Constitution.

“This is remarkably wonderful. This shows that the Philippines has come a long way. Even from 2001, certainly from 1986, and with the military not standing on the sidelines so much, but standing in a way to say they're going to insure that the constitutional process is not interfered with -- whether it's by people power or by imposition of martial law or by military coup.

“They allow the political process to continue, in a healthy, messy, boisterous, but eventually very successful way. Let the politicians scream and yell all they want, let them work out a modus vivendi with each other, and we can move forward. That the military is staying out of this is good.

“This whole nonsense about ghosts -- that at lower levels there is disgruntlement -- there is always disgruntlement in every military. It's part of the whole culture of any military, including the US military. But I do not believe there's any risk right now of a military coup.”

* * *

WHY ZERO?: Somebody made a follow up, to make sure.

Question: Would you put it at zero -- the risk?

Mussomeli: I'd put it close to zero.

Q: What is the basis of your assessment of close to zero?

M: My assessment is based on several things. One is that the entire hierarchy of the military, including the secretary of national defense, is against it. It also comes from our discussions with officers, non-coms, and other Philippine military personnel at all other levels. And it's also my personal instinctive sense that the Filipino people would not tolerate it. They still remember martial law under Marcos, they still remember all the military coup attempts in the late 80's, and I think they're fed up with both.

* * *

http://www.manilamail.com/archive/aug2005/05aug04.htm

THOSE EUROPEAN ENVOYS SHOULD NOT TRY TO BULLY US IN OUR OWN COUNTRY!

2006-06-21T02:35:00.000-07:00

THOSE EUROPEAN ENVOYS SHOULD NOT TRY TO BULLY US IN OUR OWN COUNTRY!

MANILA, January 16, 2004

(THE PHILIPPINE STAR)

BY THE WAY By Max V. Soliven - There’s no spectacle more reprehensible than that of several European Ambassadors trooping to Bilibid Prison, then lecturing to our government, and literally calling us barbarians for insisting on implementing the death penalty. There was this guy named Voornis whose language was particularly offensive. Send that boor named Voornis packing, for heaven’s sake.

I’m glad that for once, President GMA and her Spokesperson, Ignacio "Toting" Bunye, stood firm on declaring the government will push through with the executions scheduled.

Nobody begrudges the poor old mother of one of those slated for the lethal chamber her heart-broken tears – in the eyes of those who love them, especially their mothers, even the foulest of heinous criminals can do no wrong. Of course, the law makes mistakes, but not to implement the law would be the worst mistake of all.

We’re such a weak-kneed society, it’s no wonder we’re descending in anarchy. Just consider how candidates jump back and forth from one so-called political party to another, without bothering to even put forward the flimsiest of excuses. To those kapalmuks opportunists and self-seekers, one cynical phrase is the end-all and be-all of their selfish existence: "Winning isn’t everything, winning is the only thing!"

I can only say, Sanamagan! Dante in his Inferno would have consigned them to the lowest rung of hell.

As for our gullible electorate? Sad to say, many of those No Goods will probably get elected.
We have a Commission on Elections in shambles. We have on the Administration and Opposition senatorial lists the names of aspirants who belong to the reformatory, the penitentiary, or, at least, the Old Folks Home, a.k.a. the Geriatrics Club.

The most sensible decision seen lately was that of Imee Marcos, who opted to withdraw from the senatorial race, and will make a bid instead for her third and final term in the House of Representatives in Ilocos Norte. Ilocoslovakia remains "Marcos country", while the rest of the nation may not be that eager to forgive the iron-clad years of dictatorship of Imee’s dad, Ferdinand E. Marcos. It’s unfortunate that the sins of the fathers (and mothers) have to be visited on their children, however innocent. But in this nation of dynasties, the dynastic children must be ready to inherit the bad with the good.

The interesting thought, once more thanks to our national amnesia, is that Imee might have won a place in the Magic 12, but her candidacy would also have pulled down the prospects of her presidential bet, FPJ, who’s already weighed down with so many barnacles clinging to his breeches. (Imee couldn’t resist, though, frontpaging a photo of herself, with FPJ raising her hand in "proclamation".) Panday is, alas, beginning to look less like the earnest fighting "blacksmith", and more like the eager-to-please politician. It’s true, that Ronnie Poe continues to top the surveys – and is cheered everywhere he ventures – but he must have a care. I’m not comparing Ronnie, mind you, to Jesus Christ (and certainly not predicting his final crucifixion) but when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on an ass, he was hailed by adoring crowds, and flowers thrown under His feet that jubilant Palm Sunday. Less than a week later, the same demonstrators were calling for His blood. Beware the fickleness of the mob.

Poe must remember he’s looked upon by the masa and many in the middle class (even a surprising number of businessmen and the elite) as a savior. But when he offers the nation a slate of the same TRAPOS and looters who infested earlier regimes, what kind of salvation is that? Better the devil we know (not calling GMA a devil, excuse me), the people might finally conclude.

Coming back to those meddling European Union envoys, let them remember they’re diplomats, not preachers, or noisy agents of foreign NGOs. Let them go home and fix what’s wrong with their own nations, indeed, what’s going very wrong with the European Union. Haven’t you noticed, the member-states over there now angrily squaring off against each other on everything from farm subsidies, voting clout, taxation, their proposed new Constitution, and who gets to run Brussels. Terrible scandals are plaguing the finances, spending, and actuations of the EU’s gray bureaucracy. Perhaps they ought, just a polite thought, re-introduce the death penalty in their own countries.

In the meantime, we must say to them:

Let us alone, as a sovereign state, to manage our own affairs. We are not a colony of those former colonial powers.

The real tragedy of our condition is that "capital punishment", as the law dictates, has never been consistently implemented. Our government has been so urong-sulong over punishing convicts, assailed by TROs, lawyers, and torrents of tears, that the so-called "death penalty" has become a joke. Let us implement it now, without fear or favor. The pity of it is that nobody’s crying for the victims, who are dead, buried, or cremated, and forgotten.

True, it’s one of God’s Ten Commandments: "Thou shall not kill." The death penalty is the only way to remind the killers of that eternal law.

Dura lex sed lex! We have to prove, once and for all, that crime does not pay. Alas, the general conclusion (witness the most recent headline-grabbing scandals) is that it pays very handsomely.

* * *

In the haze of politics (not so different from the storied "haze of battle"), one of the memorable interviews of the year was lost in the headline shuffle. Yesterday, on the front page, The STAR ran the candid interview of our Chief European Correspondent and Paris Bureau Chief, Vi Gomez Massart, under a lame headline. You had to read the fine print in the question-and-answer segment, which at least was faithfully published to occupy all of Page 6 to get the gist of what the founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines really said.

Now, I’m not happy with giving the propaganda rantings of that faded old Bolshevik-Maoist, Joma, such big publicity bonanza. But a newspaper’s duty is to publish what’s news and newsworthy.

With the New People’s Army (NPA), which Joma founded as well, ratcheting up its violent operations, and blackmailing candidates as well as escalating its attacks on military and civilian targets, even Sison’s bleatings out of Utrecht, Holland, cannot be ignored. Moreover, here was direct word from Sison about the never-ending "peace talks". Joma is, after all, the Chief Political Consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, the umbrella organization for 17 Leftwing associations which include Bayan, a party-list member of Congress.

And Bayan already has two congressmen in our House of Representatives, thanks to the Party-List backdoor – i.e., Rep. Saturnino Ocampo (an "ex" rebel) and Crispin Beltran.

Joma, 65, cordially agreed to be interviewed by our Paris-Brussels based Bureau Chief, and she flew to Utrecht, the small university city in which Sison has been hunkered down in "exile," while claiming to direct Communist operations in the Philippines from this safe haven.

Massart found him "courteous to a fault", and described him as a "bespectacled, grey-haired man, clad in a nicely-cut pair of sports trousers and a dark-colored pullover". Her impression was that he "had the obvious trappings of a classic, respectable petty bourgeois having an afternoon chat with a couple of friends over coffee."

Sison is besieged by many troubles lately. When the United States Department of State declared him an "international terrorist", the Dutch government – which had heeded our own Philippine government’s complaints – finally froze his bank accounts and cut off all social benefits he had enjoyed since he arrived in the Netherlands on a "self-imposed exile" in 1988. Imagine that: The Dutch government had even given this "revolutionary" a pension.

The Bank of England, in response to his inclusion in the US official list of Foreign Terrorists, put his name, too, on its own Foreign Terrorist list of prohibitions. The European Union disseminated his name under the official terrorist tag to all its members while hundreds of other countries friendly to the US around the world added Joma’s name to its own foreign terrorist rosters.

The Dutch courts revised his status as a former "political refugee" to terrorist and denied his request for asylum. Technically, Massart informed me after examining the record, "Sison has become eligible for expulsion anytime from the Netherlands".

Most members of the European Union are unlikely to grant him entry either. So where’s Joma to go? This is why those "peace talks" may be his only hope. Thus, you’ve got to put the pending "talks" in proper perspective, armed with this information.

Can Sison come "home"? Let’s see what’s in store for him here. The armed forces has Sison on its Wanted List, with a P10 million price tag on his head. Faced with few other options, Sison has now appealed the Dutch Court ruling to the European Court of Human Rights based "on humanitarian grounds". If he wins a reprieve from this "court", it will make it less easy for the Dutch to expel him.

By the way, like many troublemakers, Joma Sison is a fellow Saluyot. (Like his erstwhile "comrade" Victor Corpus, who hails from Vigan, and Yours Truly from nearby Sto. Domingo.)
Sison was born on February 8, 1939, in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, into an old and very rich family which traces his Spanish-Chinese roots to the 16th century. In her covering note to me, Vi Massart (who’s lived and worked in Western Europe for many years and speaks fluent French) remarked that by "social and economic status", Joma should actually belong to "the upper bourgeoisie class" – an allusion which, surely, he abhors.

Joma in fact (like Erap) attended high school at the Ateneo de Manila. When asked by Massart why he turned against his own class, Sison’s reply was that he is a "patriot".

Sison says, Vi added, that "although it was his Grade 4 teacher, an Aglipayan, who first kindled in him the anti-colonial spirit, it was the Ateneo that challenged him intellectually to pursue his Socialist ideology. He recalls that his first brush with socialism was when an American priest in Ateneo told his class that "Andres Bonifacio, his hero, was a simple thug from Tondo and Senator Claro Recto, his idol, was nothing but a vulgar communist".

Oh, well. Who knows which anecdote is true, and which is cant? It actually could have happened. Joma, of course, went to college in the University of the Philippines, graduating in 1959 with a BA in Literature. Wouldn't you say, then, he was more "prepared" for leadership than Fernando Poe, Jr.?

Everyone knows what murder and terror Joma’s armed revolution unleashed on the land. As for the Plaza Miranda bombing of 1970, he denied to Vi Massart that he had ordered the attack.

He blamed Marcos! Why, he even claimed that Victor Corpus, who had exposed him as the man who mandated that cruel assault on the Liberal Party rally, which killed and maimed so many, had been misquoted.

There’s more to the Massart interview that still hasn’t been published. It will be in the week to come.

Joma sings own poems on CD album to be released August

2006-06-21T00:14:00.000-07:00

Joma sings own poems on CD album to be released August

By Vi Massart, STAR chief European correspondent

The Philippine Star

06/20/2006

PARIS — Communist leader Jose Ma. Sison has gone solo — in releasing a music album, that is.

Two years after Sison and his friends released a CD compilation of revolutionary songs, the poetry of the self-exiled chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) that he has himself rendered into song will come out in CD format this August.

Entitled "Joma Sison Sings His Poems," the communist leader describes the 15-song CD as having a "lyrical and art form."

Sison told The STAR in a phone interview last Friday that he has just finished the tracks for the album.

A poet since his college years at the University of the Philippines, Sison, 67, said the first cut was recorded live in a 2004 concert with friends - "Pag-Ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa" (Love for the Motherland), the same title of a poem by national hero Andres Bonifacio.

"But this one is a solo," Sison proudly pointed out, adding that professional musicians worked on the album.

An avid videoke singer, Sison said he has always loved singing apart from being a afficionado of the cha-cha and ballroom dancing in Filipino-Dutch circles in Utrecht, the Netherlands where he has been exiled since 1987.

The communist movement, through its armed wing the New People’s Army (NPA), has been fighting the government for 37 years — Asia’s longest-running insurgency.

President Arroyo earlier ordered that P1 billion be set aside in funds to finance combat operations aimed at wiping out the NPA, which has been tagged by the United States and the European Union as a terrorist organization along with the CPP for the bloody campaign it has waged against the government.

Sison scoffed anew at Mrs. Arroyo’s threat to file charges against him for murder before the courts in Utrecht, insisting there is no extradition treaty between the Netherlands and the Philippines.

"Besides, the Dutch government has no jurisdiction over affairs that involve or which happened between Filipinos in the Philippines," he added.

"What is the legal basis of the Philippine government filing a case against me in Utrecht?" he asked.

Sison declared his team of lawyers headed by Romeo Capulong of the Public Interest Law Center would have the case thrown out for lack of legal merit in the Philippines.

He said that Capulong will be assisted by five women lawyers headed by Rachel Pastores. Calling them "my five angels," Sison noted: "Not only are they brilliant but they are also pretty."

Asked how he survives in the Netherlands without a regular income since the Dutch government withdrew subsidies for the exiled leader after he was tagged by the US State Department as a terrorist, Sison quipped that he is now largely dependent on his wife, Juliet de Lima.

Sison’s two adult children possess Dutch citizenship and by virtue of their legal status as European nationals, the Philippines will find it extremely difficult to have their parents expelled from the Netherlands where they are considered refugees on European soil.

When reminded that, at least on paper, he is a millionaire based on a US judge’s decision to award him compensation in a civil suit he filed against former President Ferdinand Marcos whose dictatorial rule the CPP-NPA fought, Sison said the Philippines is unlikely to pay him any compensation during his lifetime, or while he is still included on the US official terrorist list.

He reckoned his heirs would eventually benefit from the money.

Sison stands to receive $1 million from funds originally earmarked for the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, a part of which has been set aside for compensation to human rights victims under the Marcos regime.

"That’s because the lower and the upper chambers (the Senate and House of Representatives) cannot argue on the exact amount to give to CARP… I don’t think even my wife, Julie, who is one of the official beneficiaries of the 9,500 Marcos human rights victims would receive anything at all from this government," Sison said.

Sison also "categorically denies" ordering the executions of communist leaders Romulo Kintanar and Arturo Tabara as claimed by their widows.

He branded their testimonies as false and without factual basis.

"They have no direct knowledge of my connection with the respective deaths of their husbands," he stressed. "I met these women some 30 or more years ago and the last time I met their husbands was almost two decades ago."

Kintanar, former NPA chief, and Tabara, former member of the CPP military commission and political bureau, were assassinated on Jan. 23, 2003 and Sept. 26, 2004, respectively.

Sison said that while he is the "political consultant" of the CPP’s political wing, the National Democratic Front, he is "in no position to single out any person nor have the power to give orders to the NPA to liquidate anybody."

When asked if Armando Liwanag, the CPP chairman and the nom de guerre attributed to Sison, could have issued the order for the killings of Kintanar and Tabara, Sison asserted that "the CPP has a central committee, which decides collectively."

"And besides, it is a matter of public knowledge that the central command has admitted to the killings as these two were facing charges for being involved directly in the anti-informer campaign," he pointed out.

‘No treaty in the works’

Sison doesn’t believe that an extradition treaty between the Philippines and the Netherlands is in the works.

He also reiterated he has been "challenging the Dutch to file charges against me in connection with the US terrorist listing."

Sison recalled the first hearing in Luxembourg was held last May 30. "The European courts upheld my petition — that I am considered a refugee even if the Netherlands does not officially recognize me as one and I cannot be expelled to the Philippines because I run the enormous risk of being tortured or killed by Philippine authorities."

Sison alleged that Mrs. Arroyo’s motive for the murder charges was merely to ride on the "anti-terrorism bandwagon" of US President George W. Bush.

"Gloria will do anything that will allow her and her henchmen composed of (Executive Secretary Eduardo) Ermita, (Presidential Chief of Staff Michael) Defensor, (National Security Adviser) Norberto Gonzales, (Justice Secretary) Raul Gonzalez, (Armed Forces chief Generoso) Senga and (Philippine National Police) chief Arturo Lomibao to capitalize on the US anti-terrorism bandwagon," Sison said.

"Look, she even had one of her closest friends arrested on some old rebellion charge," he noted.

When asked which friend he meant, Sison spoke of the long-standing friendship between Mrs. Arroyo and Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, one of the "Batasan Five" congressmen who were accused of rebellion.

Sison said Mrs. Arroyo and Ocampo, a left-leaning lawmaker, have known each other since the ’70s and are quite close.

"They have a history of close association that stemmed from their membership days in APCU (Association of Philippine-Chinese Understanding)," Sison said.

Just fight, fight, fight – no more talk! BY THE WAY by Max V. Soliven

2006-06-20T23:47:00.000-07:00

Just fight, fight, fight – no more talk!

BY THE WAY

By Max V. Soliven

The Philippine Star 06/19/2006

The President assured me there will be no more peace talks or attempts to compromise with the Communist New People’s Army or any parleys with the radical Leftists in our midst. We had a private dinner Friday night with only three present in the home of a mutual friend in Makati shortly after she returned from Isabela. The only other person present as a participant was our STAR colleague, Mr. Babe Romualdez. Our host asked not to be identified.

Although a number of matters were discussed at our meeting, almost everything said was "off the record" – particularly those concerning appointments to the diplomatic corps, the Cabinet, etc.

While we were meeting, I received an overseas call from our STAR European Bureau Chief V. Gomez Massart in Brussels. She had just spoken with Communist Party and NPA "Supremo" Jose Ma Sison who’s been the Communist insurgency from his safe bolthole in Utrecht, Holland – thousands of miles away from the Philippine battlefront.

Correspondent Massart, who operates out of Paris and Brussels, got Joma Sison’s "instant" reaction to what President GMA had stated earlier in Manila, and even her remarks in Kauayan, Isabela (talk about Sison having spies and informers in the field here). The Communist-NDF Chieftain had snarled on the phone that GMA was only utilizing him as a hate-object and attacking the NPA to distract public attention from her own sins and "corruption."

Vi was surprised to learn that I happened to be with the President at that moment. With GMA’s consent I handed the cellphone to her and I guess Massart briefed her personally on the "reaction" in Europe.

In any event, La Presidenta is right. No more temporizing with the likes of Joma and his murderous NPA terrorists who’ve cost the lives of thousands, including a majority of innocent civilians, and been bloodsucking hundreds of millions of pesos from people and corporations under the guise of "progressive" or "revolutionary" taxes. It’s blackmail, coercion, extortion – and assassination. That’s all they did while pretending to talk "peace" here and haughtily snubbing our over-eager panelists in Oslo. Enough time, and enough lives wasted. Our government ought to just go – get them!

* * *

That P1 billion GMA boasted she had given the military to boost their capability is just a drop in the bucket.

What the Commander-in-Chief added, however, made some sense. She told me that Friday night that she’d like to give more, and in increasing allocations, but she had to observe the military’s ability "to absorb" each sum, without their wasting it or squandering the new funds away on the wrong "priorities" or procurements.

I’m still for that one-time, immediately allotted P100 billion budget so our armed forces can re-equip, recruit and retrain. Then, with the armed forces in tiptop condition, let’s unleash them on the insurgents and crush rebellion once and for all. Not in two years, or three as so often "promised."

The President responded that she’s trying to mobilize such a sum, but her first priority still must be Education. I couldn’t disagree. Education is a must – and we’ve fallen far behind.

"Back to English" she pointed out is still her goal, she noted. Then, wistfully enough, she added she wished we could also "go back to Spanish."

I informed her that Spanish Ambassador Ignacio Sagaz had said to me just the other week that he had "the funds" to underwrite Spanish teaching in the Philippines. He only wanted to make sure that they are properly applied. To which GMA replied: "Let him get Spain to send us the teachers," immediately proposing that she would get the appropriate support from our government to bring such a program into operation.

Sad to say, we don’t have any Spanish-speaking teachers available here. Okay, we have a few which can be counted on the fingers of four or five hands. Spanish teachers? We’re woefully short of English-speaking teachers. Just give our supervisors, principals and teachers in the public school system a test. Betcha you’d be surprised how many would flunk English 1.

* * *

It’s interesting to note that United States President George W. Bush’s approval ratings have bounced upwards, from their all-time low of 31 percent last May to – sanamagan – 36 percent this weekend. Not only that, a Fox News poll showed a "rebound" in Republican Party support. In short, Bush is up in support within his own party from 71 percent last month to 82 percent this month. And, by golly, even on Iraq: A Wall Street Journal survey reported a big jump in confidence that US involvement in battered Iraq would be successful – up a surprising 11 percent in just a week to 54 percent.

A week of good news had made a difference of 6 to 8 points, declared Stephen Ross, a presidential scholar at the Brookings Institution exclaimed. "I have been surprised at how much wiggle room there is in public opinion on Iraq!"

In sum, Bush simply hunkered down and rode out the bad spell in his ratings. His improved poll numbers, of course, owes a great deal to the killing of Iraq’s most dreaded murderer, bomb-disperser and scalawag, the Jordanian-born scumbug Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi, whose location US planes pinpointed enabling them to attack and bomb the gutter rat into Terrorist Paradise. Bush has apparently reacquired a spring in his step, and his almost shattered poise. It may be a small victory, but small victories are a quantum jump when you’re in the dumps.

La Gloria might take a leaf from her friend, Mr. Bush – who seems to like her a lot despite her abandoning him in Iraq over the threatened beheading of OFW Angelo de la Cruz. Don’t try to please everybody. Just do your best, and God will do the rest.

GMA continues to believe that Divine Providence helps and protects her. She reiterated that thought last Friday during a relaxed moment in our discussions. Yes, God helps – but here on earth we must do our part. Often, the painful part.

* * *

There is an urgent need as I’ve said too often, for one thing: for Filipinos to learn to love one another. We continue to be a nation in the process of fragmentation.

Fortunately, Filipinos gripe more than they really "fragment." Look around you – we’re still a happy people.

But gee whiz! Another "impeachment case?" Have our lawyers got nothing more productive to do? Being a person of limited vision, I tend to confine my judgments to what I personally observe. I observe that we have lost a great many of our Middle Class (that so-called ‘backbone of the nation’) who are now waving their much sought-after Green Cards in the United States of America or are rampantly T.N.T. (tago ng tago) in Canada, or being harassed (unless they’re nurses) by the British Home Office in the United Kingdom.

It’s a "Green Card" no longer. The new "alien" registration cards are white, with a blue stripe in front and a lot of computer numbers at the back. This is because of the many fake Green Cards which have been manufactured by clever forgers in Mexico.

We have lost – at least temporarily – a significant proportion of our Working Class who are toiling away in that magic land collectively known as "Saudi" (which is mostly desert but oozing with Petrodollars). No less than 4 million Filipinos are sweating it out in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, Libya, Iraq and Iran and sundry unpronounceable barrens of the Middle East – plus Nigeria and other countries of Black Africa – so as to be able to send home approximately $16 billion (by bank or blackmarket) to their struggling families in the urban or rural barrios.

We have not, of course, completely lost our Upper Class. But these "fortunates" belong to that wealthy breed rich enough to hedge their bets: they maintain residences or apartments in both the Philippines and some foreign destination within convenient reach of their Swiss bank accounts, their safety deposit boxes in Liechtenstein and Hong Kong, or their tax havens in the Bahamas, not to mention a number of very visible investments in Taipei. They are the First Class commuters on every outbound jetliner, if they do not own executive jet aircraft of their own, ready for fast refueling and a fast get-away. We have even lost an appreciable segment of our Peasant Class.

Many of our farmers attracted by the proverbial bright lights of the Big City, have abandoned the plow and streamed into Metro Manila, hoping to find the streets paved with gold only to discover festering slums, squatter shanty-towns, and a descending spiral of poverty and despair. They end up too proud or too broke to return to the provinces of their origin.

Yet, we are "better off" than most nations on the spinning surface of this perplexed globe, caught in the vise of terrorism, or fear of terrorism and an energy crunch. But this is because God gave us good green earth, abundant rainfall and sunlight, seven-thousand islands teeming with untapped resources, and an archipelago without Winter or the threat of warlike neighbors right smack against our borders. The tragedy is that we have squandered the gifts of this paradise and the native born talents of our people. What is lacking, I submit, is not opportunity, but love.

I must confess to being old-fashioned. Positively ante-deluvian in many of my beliefs – but I hope not obsolete. In our computer age which worships the "new", I feel there is a pressing need to reaffirm our faith in old values – such as those outmoded and unfashionable concepts of honor, truth and loyalty which appear to have been shoved aside by man’s shining, modern technology. (This technology which so awes us because it advances at an ever-accelerating and dizzying pace.)

Faster and faster we go. Today’s generation of computers, we know, will be superseded by tomorrow’s as surely as night follows day. Our children learn the difference between "hardware" and "software" with their mother’s milk. The British used to assert that "the battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton." (A reference to how the Duke of Wellington and his corps of officers were trained as young men in the skills and discipline that defeated Napoleon.) Tomorrow’s battles are being fought by the kids of this day on the fields of iPOD, Apple etc.

Let us bring our children back to earth. To home and the heartland. To the love of this country which Jose Rizal prophetically called "our Eden lost."

What shall we try to teach them?

There used to be an honorable word, "patriotism," which was demeaned during the early Macapagal era by the triumphant Liberals anxious to recruit Nacionalistas to their ranks by decking "turncoatism" out in the bright and gleaming armor of this term. The Nacionalistas, in their turn, destroyed the meaning of "gentleman’s agreement" (which is, after all, only the clumsy English outgrowth of palabra de honor or "word of honor"). A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and gentlemen’s agreements fall flat on their face when one of those involved in the pact is not a gentleman.

Then there is another Spanish term, so familiar to our fathers, which is no longer in use. This is "delicadeza" which defies precise translation but means a "sense of propriety" or a respect for what is right and proper. (Something like that bit about the need for Caesar’s wife not only to be virtuous, but to appear virtuous.

Caesars’ wives nowadays are mainly concerned, it seems, in appearing powerful and rich).

Another idea which has seen better days is "nationalism." The extremists and radicals have stolen it and claimed monopoly of ownership on it so as to proclaim, falsely and unfairly, that everything "native" is good and every thing "foreign" or "alien" is bad. Truth, for instance, belongs to all mankind. Justice is indivisible. Freedom is not negotiable. While "color" is simply an accident of genes and skin pigmentation. And what is the color of the human soul?

Having said this, it only remains to declare that our salvation as a people lies in bringing our children up to cherish those virtues that we seem to have discarded along with our old hand cranked gramophones and our women’s panuelos of pina and sinamay cloth honor, loyalty, patriotism, nationalism – and love of neighbor.

I’ve quoted that philosopher of the paradox G.K. Chesterton ad nauseam, so I might as well be consistent. He put it well:

"They twisted even decent sin to shapes not to be named;

Men were ashamed of honour; but we were not ashamed."

I pray that we Filipinos will stand up to be counted among the "we" who are not ashamed of honor, and not "they" who twist things beyond decent shape.

I don’t mean to insult those fleeing to America, Europe, or Australia to seek a "better" life. I do not mean to decry those who have left, and those who have plans of leaving. But how shall we progress if, year after year, we lose so many of our best and brightest to the "developed" world where our engineers become auto mechanics, our teachers become chamber-maids, our graduates of commerce or literature become waiters and dishwashers, and our lawyers become insurance salesmen? Who can blame them? The pay is good. If they remain in the Philippines, they are not even paid in the coin of gratitude.

And yet, perhaps that is what patriotism, and love of country, and a sense of nationhood are all about. Among other things we are called on to sacrifice today’s profit as an investment in tomorrow’s aspirations.

In mid-November many years ago while in London, we heard Mass one Sunday in a charming little church just old Oxford street and Edgeware road, the Church of the Anunciation. By coincidence it was England’s Memorial Day in which the British commemorate their dead, those fallen in all their wars. The altar was awash in Bishops and vicars and deacons – there were almost as many people beyond the communion rail as in the congregation. At half-time, the Bishop mounted the pulpit and began his brief but eloquent sermon with a quotation from the Roman poet Horace. "It is noble and fitting that a man should die for his country."

As America’s tragic President, John F. Kennedy (a far cry from Teddy) pointed out in his bestselling book, "Profiles in Courage", it is equally noble and fitting – and even more difficult – for a man to live for his country. Dying in battle, JFK wisely asserted, takes the courage of a moment. Living for one’s country, coping with the challenge and temptations that spring forth to beset and bedevil you from day to day, requires a continuing and persistent courage.