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As 2008 quickly fades away, I’d like to pause and remember to thank those to those who made my year great.

Now is the time to say my thanks. (more…)

As TXTPower president, I am issuing the following statement regarding the suspension of “unlimited” promos during the holidays:

Network abuse!

The National Telecommunications Commission has chosen to side with Smart and Globe in the pathetic attempt to justify the suspension of “unlimited” texting and calling during the holidays. In so doing, the NTC is ensuring that only the telcos are merry this Christmas and happy this New Year.

For consumers, this is a classic case of network abuse – abuse by the network themselves – and abetted by what should have been the government regulator.

What is clear is that the NTC and the telcos denied the public last Christmas and will again deny this New Year’s Day the opportunity to avail of the cheapest call and text rates especially during the most joyful holiday dates. Lest we forget, this is the first time that “unlimited” services were suspended during the holidays.

On the other hand, the telcos cash in on the exchange of holiday greetings that are paid for using the regular and more expensive rates. (more…)

Nasser Pangandaman Sr. and Nasser Pangandaman Jr. must apologize to the persons they and their minions beat up last Dec. 26 at a golf course in Antipolo City.

The elder Pangandaman is an alter-ego of President Arroyo as the secretary of agrarian reform, while his son and namesake is mayor of Masiu City, Lanao del Sur. Common decency demands that they respect others. Laws meanwhile demand that, as public officials, they should not use their position and personnel to exploit, harass and oppress the people they are sworn to serve.

Here’s a picture of Secretary Pangandaman, courtesy of USM:

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This 2008, I have three Christmas wishes for my loved ones, friends and you dear readers:

1. To receive the gift of holiday cheer

2. To spread the light to others

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Just got this now via email from the NDFP International Office:

CPP 40th anniversary statement

Or if you prefer to read it now: (more…)

Dec. 26 this year will be a red-letter day 40 times over as communists, socialists, national democrats and their sympathizers mark the 40th anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

One thing that cannot be denied about the CPP is that it offers a comprehensive program on how it wishes to bring changes to the country. Perhaps if we remove several blinders and biases about all things Red (or even pink), we may at least understand, if not accept, why the CPP’s national democratic revolution continued to inspire people from all walks of life — the common folk of laborers and farmers, youth, professionals and the entrepreneurs — and why they still look up to the CPP as their party.

Some tried to destroy it from within — and they almost succeeded. Now, these same persons who once called themselves the “avante garde” are almost always nowhere to be found and if we see them, they are in the warm embrace of the leaders of same Establishment all genuine progressives and revolutionaries hope to punish and banish.

It is highly doubt that CPP members for the past 40 years just allowed themselves to be hoodwinked or terrorized into submission and fealty to the party.  Lest we forget, the best and the brightest of an whole generation knowingly and consciously joined it — some even continue to lead it, as far as we all know.  I mean, diatribes and mindless anti-leftism aside, there must really be something more, something infinitely greater than the sum total of all the lives given up for the revolution.  For in the final analysis, we cannot just say “the CPP and communism are passe”.  Some folks have been saying so for the longest time but people continue to join this party and wittingly risk their careers and their lives on the line.

Which now brings us to the following message of CPP founding chair Jose Ma.  Sison:

Greetings To The Communist Party of The Philippines on the Occasion of its Fortieth Founding Anniversary

As founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), I convey warmest greetings of comradeship to all CPP cadres and members on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the founding of the CPP. I share your joy in celebrating all the struggles waged and all the victories won by the CPP and the Filipino people in the last four decades of the new democratic revolution. (more…)

To those who doubt about the Filipino’s capacity to produce great TV ads, here is your answer: (more…)

To my online and offline friends and to everyone: May you all have a very merry Christmas!

Christmas is a happy time indeed. While we are taught that Easter is the greatest Christian feast, for many Filipinos, Christmas is the happiest and we mark it through song. Together, let us celebrate our boundless hope and unflinching determination to not just survive and to succeed.

Here are some more of our favorite Christmas songs: (more…)

Here’s a reminder of the unpopularity of outgoing US President George W. Bush:

A report says that “in Iraqi culture, throwing shoes at someone is a sign of contempt”. (more…)

Everyone’s invited to tomorrow’s rally versus the Charter Change Redux of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo!

Here is the invitation from organizers:

Dear Friends and Concerned Citizens,

Greetings of peace in these turbulent and uncertain times!

Recent moves in the House of Representatives by no less than Speaker Prospero Nograles and other administration allies to railroad their discredited bid to change the Philippine Charter (Chacha) by convening Congress into a Constituent Assembly (Con‐Ass) has raised the alarm among many concerned sectors of our society. (more…)

On Dec. 12, let’s take a stand against Charter Change — because some types of change will only make matters worse and we can’t allow that to happen.

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Manny Pacquiao won over Oscar de la Hoya, scoring a TKO in the ninth round in their “dream match”.

How  did the media report it? (more…)

The “dream match” between Oscar de la Hoya and Manny Pacquiao unravels today at the MGM Grand Garden Arena — and we’re all looking for commentary, predictions and live coverage!

If you’re looking for a roundup of some compelling articles and predictions as well as a tip on how to get live coverage, this is a good place to start. (more…)

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines is inviting media professionals to a forum on Dec. 8, 9:00 am to 12:00 noon at the UP College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman. Topic will be the bills on the “right to reply” bill passed by the Senate on third reading. (more…)

The fourth impeachment complaint has been killed by President Arroyo’s hordes in the House of Representatives and they delighted in doing it. They even went so far as to invent something perverse in the process of protecting their principal, according to lawyer’s group NUPL.

With the impeachment complaint buried, pro-Arroyo diehards appear to be preparing for a dance extravaganza that will trample harder on our rights and liberties. The dance, as we all know it by now, is called Chacha or charter change.

Thus, the Christmas season will be marked with Holiday protests on Dec. 12. Whether this signals something big happening by the first quarter, we can only hope, nay, work for it ourselves. (more…)

Last Saturday, the online newsmagazine Pinoy Weekly and several other groups convened the Pinoy Citizen Journalism Seminar at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.

Here is the presentation I shared with the participants:

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