Let’s Learn from the Masters

What is doublespeak? Let us learn from the masters. But beware these masters can be tricky. Obviously, I am not in the same league as these experts. I had a hard time deciding which is which…so confusing. Sometimes, rather most of the time, to me their statements encompass all the attributes of doublespeak, which according to William Lutz are the following:

• misleads (from Inquirer website)

DUREZA: “The Palace was forced to use executive privilege to defend its officials from ridicule and detention during Senate hearings.”

“It is pathetic that some members of the Senate justify their constitutional excess by grandstanding as if they are paragons of truth and transparency. Unfortunately for them, the Supreme Court saw through this and struck them down.”

“Let’s hope they will come around and show respect to thee highest tribunal and submit it its final ruling.”

• distorts reality (from Inquirer website)

DUREZA: “The executive privilege issue was not about transparency.”

“The invocation of executive privilege was not to cover up facts or put a lid to the public disclosure of vital information,” he said.

• pretends to communicate (from Sun Star website)

SUPREME COURT’S VOLTES 9: “No matter how noble the intentions of respondent committees are, they cannot assume the power reposed upon our prosecutorial bodies and courts. The determination of who is/are liable for a crime of illegal activity, the investigation of the role played by each official, the determination of who should be haled to court for prosecution and the task of coming up with conclusions and findings of facts regarding anomalies, especially the determination of criminal guilty, are not functions of the Senate.”

• makes the bad seem good (from ANC website)

APOSTOL: “There is no abuse of executive privilege in this case since the matters involved topics on the economy that could not simply be disclosed. There was no wrong doing in the controversy so it cannot be said that they are hiding something by invoking executive privilege.”

• avoids or shifts responsibility (from Inquirer website)

DUREZA: “May I remind the good senators that it was their palpable abuse of their privilege to call on Cabinet members to appear and subjecting those who voluntarily appeared to public ridicule and even arrest and detention that triggered the availment of that privilege.”

• makes the negative appear positive (from government website)

DUREZA: “The Supreme Court ruling upholding once again the right of a cabinet official to invoke executive privilege reaffirms the time-honored principle of separation of powers of the executive from the legislative, and hence keeps the Senate within its own constitutional boundary without intruding into a co-equal branch of the government.”

“Any intrusion into the other, as what the Senate was poised to do, should, as the SC has just done, be stricken down. Straying beyond such limits is anathema to good public order, and staying within constitutional bounds is as good a rule to the Palace as it is to the Senate. We must perforce submit to this ruling.”

• creates a false verbal map of the world (from Reuters website)

ARROYO: “On our part, we will hold officials accountable, if they are found to be corrupt after due process,”

“Let the chips fall where they may as investigations are concluded and friend and foe alike are brought to account for their actions in the proper courts.”

• limits, conceals, corrupts, and prevents thought (from Sun Star website)

SUPREME COURT’S VOLTES 9: “Considering that the information sought through the three questions subject of this petition involves the President’s dealing with a foreign nation, with more reason, this court is wary of approving the view that Congress may peremptorily inquire into not only official, documented acts of the President but even her confidential and informal discussions with her close advisors on the pretext that said questions serve some vague legislative need.”

• makes the unpleasant appear attractive or tolerable (from Sun Star website)

NERI: “I have always put my trust in the collective wisdom of our Supreme Court. As I have said before, their decision upholds the rule of law and respect for human rights.”

• creates incongruity between reality and what is said or not said (from Herald Tribune website)
  

SALUDO: “The government is committed to curbing corruption and was working with the World Bank to address the issues of transparency in all projects.

“We expect that anti-graft agencies will look into and act on any solid evidence of corruption.”

Announcement

Pangulo "daw" ng Pilipinas

There will be another storytelling-a-lie session at the Batasan on Monday. Story teller is a well-known thick-faced liar. All ass-lickers, sycophants and the like are enjoined to attend and give the mandatory standing ovation and unceasing applause with matching uber amazed look (to practice please watch the faces of the audience in a home TV shopping network). Wait for your cue from the nation’s Senate President and House Speaker so as not to appear too rehearsed. Also, please wear a “unity” dress to give the impression that all is well in her enchanted kingdom.

“The trouble with this country is that there are too many politicians who believe, with a conviction based on experience, that you can fool all of the people all of the time.” —  Franklin P. Adams

Jus Ko ‘Day!

Noli de Castro was interviewed on TV Patrol about price control being a solution to the current inflation problem. His response went something like this:

“Alam mo hindi ganoon kadali ipatupad ang price control. Kung minsan pagnag-price control, eh nagho-hoarding naman sila. Eh di lalong di madali i-control iyon!”

Jus ko day! Is that the best argument he can come up with?

“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt.” – Abraham Lincoln

So Touchy!

Romulo Neri is offended by the skepticism that met his appointment to the SSS. He thinks it’s unfair since his track record is exemplary. Huh?

Well, Mr. Neri, nobody is doubting your intelligence. What seems to conveniently escape your comprehension is the fact that people feel that you cannot be trusted anymore! Why? Who was it who hid behind executive privilege when asked about his conversation with the “evil one” (your words not mine)? Who was it who was so disgusted with the immeasurable “greed” (again your word not mine) of the people in administration yet still continue to serve her “evil” majesty? Who was one of those who worked behind the scene in order to help Lozada escape the Senate inquiry on the ZTE? You and only you! And those actions tell us where your priorities lie. So don’t blame us if we are not ecstatic with your appointment.

Since you chose to side with the “evil one” then you need to develop the same thick reptilian hide your “evil” queen and her minions possess. You made your choice, so learn to live with it. Whining is not the way of a man!

Is It Just Me?

I saw yesterday’s press conference of Eduardo Ermita and interview with Raul Gonzalez on TV and I cannot get over the feeling that they seemed to be gloating! They appeared to be taking great malicious pleasure in the misfortune that befell Ces Drilon and her crew. I thought they were more preoccupied in laying the blame on the victims rather than condemning the kidnapping. I even heard Gonzalez utter a joke about “charging what happened to experience” while some of the media around him were smiling (aka fawning). Well, it did not appear right to me.

A while back, a close relative was held hostage and I cannot describe the anguish and hopelessness we felt while negotiations were going on for his release. Seeing those “public officials” making light of the situation is tasteless and insensitive.

I am praying for the safe release of Ces Drilon, Jimmy Encarnacion, Angelo Valderrama and Prof. Octavio Dinampo. This is not the time for finger-pointing. Pleeeaase.

Mark Lapid Appointed Acting PTA Chief

Yes, you got that right! Mark Lapid, the son of our esteemed ~~brimming with sarcasm~~ senator has been appointed the new Acting PTA Chief to replace another stooge. His qualification? Ahh, he has been to other countries as a tourist?

No wonder, our country is in turmoil, our dearest president ~~brimming with more sarcasm~~ keeps on appointing unqualified political allies in government. Why not appoint the former senator Ramon Revilla to the Commission on Population to complete the motley crew.

Heard that the father, Lito Lapid, has been in and out of the hospital for food poisoning since becoming a senator. “Di na kasi nagsalita simula nang mapasok sa Senado kaya laging nakakalunok ng panis na laway!” jowk, jowk, jowk

Her Legacy…BOW!

GMA has been boasting about leaving a legacy to the Filipino people. Well, it does not need a rocket scientist to enumerate the “honors” she has given this country. It is due to the Queen of the Enchanted Kingdom by the Pasig River, that:

• the country has been recognized globally as among the most corrupt governments today;
• public officials no longer feel shame when committing graft and corruption;
• extra-judicial killings and disappearances have become an ordinary everyday occurrence;
• lying, stealing and cheating have been institutionalized;
• “delicadeza” has become extinct;
• government has become the grandmaster in cover-ups and double talk;
• common good is synonymous to crony interest;
• government has adopted the policy that every individual is a commodity with a price tag;
• the judiciary and the legislative branch have been demoted as court jesters;
• terms like military intelligence and honest public official have become an oxymoron; and
• mendicancy has become a way of life.

Thank you dearest queen for the legacy you have given us. Thank you for generously sharing with us the crumbs that fall off your bountiful table.

I will surely honor you by not voting you or any of your relatives to public office, i.e., Prince Mikey and Duke Iggy in the Senate. Although this may not mean much since you still have to appoint several “highly-qualified” guardians of YOUR votes to better ensure that your cohorts will still lead by ONE MILLION in 2010. Hellooo Garci!?!

Helpless in Paradise

Decades ago, a couple settled on the uninhabited Magsaysay Island (now known as Mantigue Island). They had no electricity so they made do with candles or gas lamps. There was no fresh water so they had to get their supply from the main island daily by boat. There were no school, chapel or store on the island.

Today, there are around 42 families residing in the four-hectare island, all descendants of the original couple. They have power generated by solar energy panels in the island. There are several boats that ferry visitors and residents so getting fresh water is no longer a major problem. They have a chapel where a priest holds Mass once a month. They have a small library. They have a school where Roger Saturos teaches his nieces and nephews.

Just Wondering

While reading Manolo Quezon’s Daily Dose blog yesterday, I came across a comment saying that GMA is still in power because the people lack the passion to oust her unlike in Estrada’s case. Why is that when the scams involving her administration are much more obscene, obvious and mind-boggling? Does her much-touted expertise in Economics, convent education and lineage really negate any wrongdoings she may have committed?

What’s Life Like in the Enchanted Kingdom?

She said, “This nation will be great again! No more corruption! No more poverty! No more hunger! No more unemployment! We will be a first world country!”

She forgot to add, “…in your dreams.” Let reality speak:

Simply said: IGNORANCE IS BLISS in the Enchanted Kingdom!