Pangandaman denies starting the brawl

The slugfest at the Valley Golf and Country Club in Antipolo between the families of Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman and businessman Delfin dela Paz had a new twist as the Secretary insists in media interviews that his son was attacked first by the 56-year old businessman and his son.

 ”There really was a brawl. They did punch each other, but it was De la Paz who attacked Nasser Jr. by hitting him with an umbrella,” the Agrarian Reform Secretary said. He said his sons will press counter charges of physical injuries against De la Paz, who filed a complaint with the Antipolo police on Friday, the day the incident transpired.

 The Cabinet Secretary, recently appointed to the government peace panel in talks with the MILF, averred that contrary to reports that he was passive during the incident, he was actually the one who pacified both camps. He also denied that their bodyguards intervened in the slugfest, citing a golf course rule against bodyguards on the golf course.

 Meanwhile, the management of Valley Golf has placed Agrarian Reform Secretary Pangandaman, his son Mayor Nasser Jr, and businessman Delfin de la Paz under temporary preventive suspension. Nasser Jr is actually not a member of the club but was there as a dependent of the Secretary. 

 My take on the matter? Don’t ever hit a high-powered mayor on the head with your umbrella. That  can make him, his siblings, and his bodyguards hit you and your son senseless, in the name of course, of self-defense. Come on, Secretary Pangandaman. Is this what you’re in power for? Apologize, make amends, and drop the charges. As a Mindanao leader, you can easily put this behind you. But as a Cabinet Secretary? What you did, rightly or wrongly,and the steps you plan to take to correct it, eventually reflects on your real boss - not just GMA, but us taxpayers as well. This incident is eating up not only your political capital, but hers as well. Humility in life, most especially among people in power, is a virtue. In less than two years, you’ll just be one of us, ordinary mortals. Rise to the occasion by bending real low. 

From Bambi dela Paz’s Blog - First hand account of the Slugfest at the Golf Course

 Please read the blog entry of bambi dela paz about the valley golf incident involving members of her family and mayor nasser pangandaman jr. and his bodyguards. spread the word. the more people know about this, the more shameful it becomes to people in power who have long forgotten about the power of public opinion. thanks!

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2008

Meeting with DoLE

I missed yesterday’s anti-charter change rally. I heard it was a blast! Rallies in Makati are festive affairs with different political tribes showing off their colors, witty placards, and streamers. I heard that yesterday’s inter-faith gathering was a peaceful though high-spirited event, with Senator Mar Roxas punctuating his remarks with a “malutong na mura.” 

While the human tide of discontent was galvanizing strength, I joined several non-government organizations and officials from the Department of Labor and Employment in discussing the results of the recent Global Forum on Migration and Development as well as the impact of the financial crisis on our OFWs.

It was a lengthy, fruitful and frank discussion and I thank Director Ciriaco “Akong” Lagunzad and  Deputy Director LIza Makinano for organizing this event. Special thanks to Assistant Secretary Rey Conferido for sharing his insights as well.

Though the discussion was supposed to center on post-GFMD activities, it inevitably led to what NGOs perceived as operational gaps not just within DoLE but in the entire government machinery as well. Mentioned prominently was the need to strengthen the DoLE’s regional offices and make sure that they are in sync with the initiatives at the national level. Of major concern to all was the more substantive and customer-oriented work of the newly-created National Reintegration Center for OFWs. Most of us in civil society organizations believe that the Center is still conceptually and operationally vague, leading to false or unfulfilled expectations.

The dialogue also tackled the idea of creating a National Migration Coordinating Council (or something to that effect), which was proposed during the inter-agency discussions in relation to the 2008 GFMD  Conference. The NGOs present said that perhaps the government side should look at the objectives for forming such a council, because there is already an existing mechanism for multi-sectoral coordination and consultations that only needs to be reactivated.

I broached the idea of forming technical working groups to formulate or develop immediate and urgent responses to the displacement of workers, victims of human trafficking, and agreements on operational procedures to avoid confusion at the ground level. The DoLE was particularly receptive to the idea of a casual, brainstorming session to draw out ideas for effective partnerships and direct service to workers in anticipation of more difficult times ahead.

The gesture of DoLE to reach out to civil society organizations was a good one. But it cannot be just a one-shot deal. Government must appreciate the role of NGOs in promoting development and filling in service gaps. But like I said during the meeting, NGOs like ours (the Blas F. Ople Policy Center) rely mainly on government to assist OFWs and their families who come to us for aid. If the policies and programs of government are not clear, specific, and functional - then we can only reflect that as NGOs. The devil is really in the details.

I am glad that thousands of Filipinos joined the anti-cha-cha rally yesterday. But I am just as enormously satisfied that the NGOs and DoLE executives are also keeping their eye on the ball on the matter of OFW protection, jobs preservation, and quick response strategies in anticipation of more challenging times ahead. 

The Saga of Manny Pacquiao

This man from Gen San is now officially and perpetually a boxing legend.

 Having conquered Oscar dela Hoya, Manny Pacquiao has really nothing more to prove. His opponent had the longer reach and a more natural heft but not even he could withstand the Pacman’s speedy punches. 

 Pacquiao has really become the people’s champion - a symbol of David against all the Goliaths one can imagine. 

 I only wish that he avoids the siren call of politics in favor of the more meaningful title of a people’s champ. He belongs to the whole country, not just to a single district - no matter how many square inches his campaign headquarters would end up having. 

 He has climbed up the professional boxing ladder using his own skills, talent and experience. Politics is a different arena. I’d rather that Pacquiao become a champion of sports activities for the youth. 

At a time when so many Filipinos have become sedentary and obese, the charismatic and much-admired Pacquiao can certainly be a model for young Filipinos on the values of physical fitness, sportsmanship, and sheer determination to succeed.

Pacquiao the politician will just be another voice chirping in the wilderness. Pacquiao the Filipino sports icon serving as the life coach of out-of-school youths will be unique and timeless.

The first is the road to mediocrity; the second is the path to authentic and selfless leadership.

Whatever road he takes, Manny Pacquiao has done his share in uniting the people and reducing crime, even for just the duration of his slugfests. 

Four Divas

Last night, Fort and I went to watch Divas 4 Divas at a jam-packed Araneta Coliseum. This is the first concert that features Kuh Ledesma, Pops Fernandez, Zsa-Zsa Padilla and Regine Velasquez on one stage. We had front row seats which was a blessing for a short-sighted person like me. Up close, the four were at the top of their svelte forms with voices that have defined Philippine music for the past several years. 

Through costume changes and in between girl-talk, the four carried themselves well, projecting an aura of friendship and ordinariness, thus letting their songs and performances speak volumes about their talents. I like Kuh Ledesma’s voice best of all while the best entertainer of the night surely goes to Regine Velasquez with her masa appeal and birit-voice. Pops was indeed drop-dead gorgeous and clearly the sexiest of them all. Zsa-Zsa Padilla was impressive when she sang solo but her voice gets easily drowned out by Regine’s and Kuh’s vocal power.

 I only wished they sang more local songs. The best part of the show for me was when Kuh led the quartet in singing - and I am not sure about the title - “Sa Duyan ni Nanay”. Or something like that. I was waiting for Kuh to sing her famous “Dito Ba” anthem but she chose to sing “Somewhere” in her solo act. Regine shed a few tears while singing a love song in her solo act. Oggie was in the audience and was made the butt of jokes by the four, “Asan si Oggie? Tumayo ka nga!” It would be easy to attribute Regine’s emotional state during that song number to Oggie’s presence, but I somehow think she was offering the love song to her father and to God as well.

As to Pops, when she held her own as a dancing queen and dominated the stage during her solo act. I am not familiar with the songs she sang - but her voice was not powerful enough to carry them off. Rihanna, she was not. But she entertained the crowd and can be relied upon to bring life to the conversations among the four divas when they start to drag. Joemari was in the crowd beside Richard Gomez to root for Pops, Oggie was there to cheer Regine on, and Dolphy was present, as he always is, as Zsa-Zsa’s man. Kuh had her pretty daughter, Isabela, with her. 

 The concert was worth it, and it showed the four Divas as friends and performers worth cheering for.