William Penn>

Never give out while there is hope; but hope not beyond reason, for that shows more desire than judgment.

"Kumain ka na ng siopao na may palamang pusa o maglakad sa bubog nang nakayapak, pero wag na wag kang susubok mag-drugs. Kung hindi mo kayang umiwas, humingi ka ng tulong sa mga magulang mo dahil alam nila kung saan ang mga murang supplier at hindi ka nila iisahan."

"Wag magmadali sa pag-aasawa. Tatlo, lima , sampung taon sa hinaharap, mag-iiba pa ang pamantayan mo at maiisip mong di pala tamang pumili ng kapareha dahil lang sa kaboses niya si Debbie Gibson o magaling mag-breakdance. Totoong mas importante ang kalooban ng tao higit anuman. Sa paglipas ng panahon, maging ang mga crush ng bayan sa eskwelahan e nagmumukha ring pandesal. Maniwala ka."

"Masama akong tao, tulad mo, sa parehong paraan na mabuti kang tao, tulad ko."

"Iba ang walang ginagawa sa gumagawa ng wala."

"Mangarap ka at abutin mo. Wag mong sisihin ang sira mong pamilya, palpak mong syota, pilay mong tuta, o mga lumilipad na ipis. Kung may pagkukulang sa'yo mga magulang mo, pwde kang manisi at maging rebelde. Tumigil ka sa pag-aaral, mag-asawa ka, mag-drugs ka, magpakulay ka ng buhok sa kili-kili. Sa banding huli, ikaw din ang biktima. Rebeldeng walang napatunayan at bait sa sarili."

"Tuparin ang mga pangarap. Obligasyon mo yan sa sarili mo. Kung gusto mo mang kumain ng balde-baldeng lupa para malagay ka sa Guinness Book of World Records at maipagmalaki ng bansa natin, sige lang. Nosi balasi. wag mong pansinin ang sasabihin ng mga taong susubok humarang sa'yo. Kung hindi nagsumikap ang mga scientist noon, hindi pa rin tayo dapat nakatira sa jupiter ngayon. Pero hindi pa rin naman talaga tayo nakatira sa jupiter dahil nga hindi nagsumikap ang mga scientist noon. Kita mo yung moral lesson?"

"Obligasyon kong maglayag, karapatan kong pumunta sa kung saan ko gusto, responsibilidad ko ang buhay ko." 

"Ayokong nasasanay sa mga bagay na pwede namang wala sa buhay ko."

"Mas mabuting mabigo sa paggawa ng isang bagay kesa magtagumpay sa paggawa ng wala."

"Hindi dahil sa hindi mo naiintindihan ang isang bagay ay kasinungalingan na ito. At hindi lahat ng kaya mong intindihin ay katotohanan."

"Sabi nila, sa kahit ano raw problema, isang tao lang ang makakatulong sa'yo - ang sarili mo. Tama sila. Isinuplong ako ng sarili ko. Kaya siguro namigay ng konsyensya ang Diyos, alam niyang hindi sa lahat ng oras e gumagana ang utak ng tao."

Many baseless accusations have been thrown against me these past years. I choose to remain silent, but I have come to realize that the more I remain silent, the more vicious the accusations have become.

My family and I had to endure the hardships and the humiliations attendant to these accusations. Now that I am back, I shall assure you that I will answer any and all accusations of the proper forum.

But first, I shall seek medical check up and treatment, due mainly to the mental and physical stress and ailment brought about due to my detention at the United states.

I had no intention of snobbing the Senate hearings and I had made known to the Senate in writing the reasons for my non-appearance that I had made prior commitments abroad which were set long before the Senate’s scheduled hearings.

In truth and in fact, I committed through counsel in writing to appear before the Senate during the last week of January 2006.

I left the Philippines on December 11, 2005. Shortly thereafter, the Senate issued a warrant for my arrest. My visa issued by the U.S. was then cancelled leading to my arrest and detention in the United States. This concerned my belief that forces from many fronts were out to get me—either in prison or six feet under the ground.

That is the main reason why I sought for asylum in the United States. It was not for me to escape from liability from the so-called fertilizer anomaly. It was for my safety and the life of my family who had been unduly dragged into this whole controversy.

But that is behind me now. Now that I am back, I shall now fulfill my promise of saying my peace, giving my side of the story. I am ready to face the issues and all the malicious accusations against me.

And so Jocelyn Bolante and others involved in the fertilizer fund diversion scam of 2003 still managed to be relieved of the graft charges filed by the late Marlene Esperat. R-e-a-l-l-y, now… The only malicious matter in this entire case and its dismissal is how low constitutional equity in this country can evidently get in favor of power and money usurpation.  Well, in essence, the case’s dismissal is not completely surprising: Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, who made the decision [more like indecision], is reported to have personal ties with First Gentleman Mike Arroyo. Tsk, tsk.

As for Bolante’s reference to his [actually dubious] supposedly stress-induced medical conditions to delay testifying before the Senate on its fertilizer fund scam investigation, which in my opinion is a sensationalized appeal to pity [grrr!], Health Alliance for Democracy Secretary General Geneve Rivera gave the perfect summation: “Truth-telling is therapeutic.” [Haha. Nice one, doc.]

Am crossing my fingers that the Senate’s impending investigation would truly be in aid of legislation.

   Genuine alternative politicians (GUAPOs in Pinoy pop society) are pitted against traditional politicians through their proactive and nationalist approach to governance. Although the Philippine government is filled with established personas and dynasties, GUAPOs are not necessarily underdogs. In a country like ours where personalistic politics prevails and almost always triumphs over effective and efficient leadership, it may be acknowledged that the fact that GUAPOs are virtually unfamiliar to the public forces them to be boxed as underdogs, but their underdog status stops at popularity and does not affect their competency: their know-how and experience in public service and civic action may even be classified rich and/or surpass the know-how and experience of formal politicians in both quantitative and qualitative terms, hence negating the impression that they are ill-equipped for shaping policies and administrating programs that are along the lines of developmental management. Haay, if the society would just loosen up on postmodern politics much faster.

Gia Marie Carangi