Daniel Romualdez, brother of Leyte Cong. Ferdinand Martin

Ferdinand Martin Romualdez found his voice today after days of silence. Romualdez now denies that he paid the US$ 20,000 bill which he and the Arroyo entourage of about twenty people at Le Cirque restaurant in New York. Romualdez tagged his brother Daniel, a successful Filipino architect/decorator and socialite in New York as the one who paid the bill. Obviously, this differed from the OFFICIAL VERSION of the palace, which Cerge Remonde, Presidential mouth….piece told the media the day the story broke out.

My, my, my, Romualdez wants to extricate himself out of the rut, only to find himself in total and deeper SHIT.If that is true, then, it does not ABSOLVE him nor his brother Daniel from LIABILITY. His statement further enflamed public sentiment and interest about this issue and unwittingly dragged his socialite brother in this scandal. Why you say?

Daniel should not have footed the bill because it was downright UNLAWFUL to treat a head of state or any government official. The Code of Ethics for Public Officials and laws against graft and corruption explicitly prohibits and penalizes this.

First, any one from the official entourage is prohibited from BEING TREATED BY THIRD PARTIES SINCE BEING TREATED TO A MEAL IS TANTAMOUNT TO A GIFT WHICH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE PROHIBITED BY LAW TO RECEIVE. Malacanang, of course, would say that it was a PERSONAL invitation from New York architect Daniel Romualdez who happens to be part of New York’s creme de la creme.

WHETHER its PERSONAL OR NOT, the LAW is VERY CLEAR—NO GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL IS ALLOWED TO RECEIVE GIFTS FROM 3RD PARTIES. That trip was an OFFICIAL WORKING VISIT according to Malacanang. Hence, even if Mrs. Arroyo already finished her meeting with Barack Obama, that dinner was still part of the OFFICIAL itinerary.

(A brief background about Daniel Romualdez. According to Panache Privee, Daniel Romualdez is a noted architect and interior decorator. He got his bachelor’s degree at Yale University and a master’s degree from Columbia University School of Architecture. He’s the namesake of former Speaker Daniel Romualdez. He climbed his way to the top by working for renowned architects Thierry Despont and Robert A.M. Stern before starting his own firm in 1983. Past clients include: Tory Burch, Diane von Furstenberg, Paul Goldberger, and Marina Rust.)

Now, I don’t know if Martin realizes it, but dragging Daniel into this scandalous controversy is WRONG. Cong. Romualdez will realize this in the next few days.

Ops, baka mahulog

People here in the Philippines are anxious about the future. A few days from now, Mrs. Arroyo will be giving her last State of the Nation Address (SONA). Many people say, her speech would not be the last. In fact, that would be the start of formal political hostilities among various groups here. Former speaker Joe de Venecia Jr. thinks she’ll still do some nasty and machiavellian tactics to stay in power. Others hint she may be using even the anti-drugs issue to force militarization in the Philippines.

Three days after her SONA, Mrs. Arroyo would be preparing for her visit in the States, which is neither a state nor a working visit. What it is, is well, the White House is wont to say. Surely, Mrs. Arroyo would use the SONA to present a rosy picture of what’s happening here. If she thinks she can fool Barack Obama, she may be in for a surprise. Recently, CIA Chief Leon Panetta had a briefing with his counterparts here and his colleagues at the US embassy.

Opposition groups are preparing for their biggest showing in Philippine history. Since yesterday, countless rallies and demonstrations have been waged. That’s why, authorities are worried. National Capital Region Police Chief Director Roberto Rosales, who is being groomed to replace PNP Chief Jesus Verzosa, is fielding 12,000 cops to “repulse” anti-Arroyo groups. Overkill right? People really don’t know why cops would secure such a place as Congress against the people. And what it is about Arroyo’s speech that is so incendiary or so sensitive that Arroyo needs almost half of the entire NCRPO police force to secure? Takot ba sila that people might rise in revolt because Mrs. Arroyo would again be lying about the state of affairs here in the Philippines.

Why Mr. Obama? Why?

The US Embassy just announced that US President Barack Obama has invited Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the White House. Arroyo will be the first Southeast Asian leader to formally visit Obama at the White House. The visit will be three days after Arroyo’s last State of the Nation Address in July 27.

CIA Chief Leon Panetta mentioned the invitation to Mrs. Arroyo personally. Panetta made a brief stop-over in the country today to discuss security and counter-terrorism matters with Mrs. Arroyo. He leaves tonight, after meeting Mrs. Arroyo this afternoon.

The White House statement that announced the invitation said the two leaders will be “an opportunity to discuss ways to enhance US-Philippine cooperation on critical global issues including counter-terrorism and climate change, as well as further the traditionally strong alliance and bond between our nations.”

This is most perplexing, since a few days back, Obama decided not to visit Kenya, the country of his father, due to its alleged human rights record and increasing repression against its citizens. Obama even gave a speech entitled ” A New Moment of Promise”, a veritable rebuke of repressive regimes and laying the predicate for America’s supposed role in upholding human rights. Now, Obama wants to be visited by Southeast Asia’s most vilified and most hated head of State? Why?

What is so important to discuss? Is Obama so concerned with the rising human rights violations in the Philippines that he needs to hear it first from Arroyo, the main promoter of chaos and disorder in this country? What are the things that Obama needs to personally hear from Arroyo? Her commitment to stop bombing her own people and just fade away from the political scene after June 30,2010? Is he thinking that he can still work his magic around Arroyo and convince her to “stand down” and honor political commitments for the elections?

Or, there’s something very worrisome in the Mindanao area that they need to discuss? Why is it so urgent and so sudden? Was it to personally send to Mrs. Arroyo Washington’s concern with the worsening peace and order situation in the volatile Bangsamoro region? Or the possibility of again, opening talks for the formalization of forward bases in the South in the Western Mindanao command and an assurance from Arroyo that the Philippines will respect the security pact between the two countries?

Personally, I am totally disappointed, nay, disgusted by the decision of Obama. Is Obama doing a Richard Nixon in this one, giving his blessing for the perpetuation of another dictatorship? This is nuts. Honestly, Mrs. Arroyo is just 11 months away from retirement. There’s nothing to gain anymore from meeting Arroyo. After the SONA, Mrs. Arroyo’s role is just act as a transition leader. Meeting her would amount to nothing, except if the US wants to maintain a looming presence in peace talks between the MILF and the government?

And the Obama kids just chose a dog and named him (or her) “Bo”. What “bo”? As in Bo Derek? Is that dog sexy or what-have-you?

By the way, Angelina should seriously do a movie here in the Philippines. That is better than just adopting a Filipino child. If she does a movie here, she’ll revive the movie industry. Hundreds will have jobs. And with the publicity, tourism will again rise here and again, that creates thousands if not millions of jobs. Think about it. For just one Brangelina, we’ll be able to at least put some life into the dying movie industry.

” He should brush up with his Seven habits of effective people, ” says Mike half-jokingly as we chatted briefly before he faced columnists and media people in that forum. One of the secrets, says Mike, of his being able to stand before crowds and maintaining a healthy disposition is what he learned from Reedley International School–that of what he described as “lifeskills”.

I asked him, what is this “lifeskills” since this is the first time that I heard about it. Mike says that Reedley is the only school that teaches this course to their students. An 80 hour per week course, lifeskills teaches students how to be effective communicators. Lifeskills course inculcates into them the needed tools to survive the rigors of life. And what are those tools?

Leadership, character strengthening and conflict resolution skills are tools which enable students, and kids, to survive the world. For Emil Ong, director of Reedley International School, lifeskills as a course is very important especially nowadays that kids are forgetting their traditional values.

” We are the only school that teaches lifeskills to students”, says Emil who accompanied Mike to the media forum. ” We notice that the school has a responsibility to make their students not just academically competent; rather we must see our students become successful leaders and having a great time with their parents and their peers precisely because of their character than just their excellent grades.”

For Mike and Emil, that is the secret to success in life—learning early on the right character and practical skills that a person needs. Success, like what Obama achieved, lies on having very strong relationships with people and having the right attitude. Parents should teach these to their kids. But, because parents right now are too busy, it is now the responsibility of the school to guide their students well on these lifeskills. Maybe, just maybe, someday, we see Mike Cruz become a Filipino Obama?

What’s the meaning of all these? What Obama is trying to say is this—he wants to clean up the government, save the people some money and send a message to the world that the Obama presidency is respectful of human rights. That’s the right way to start his 100 days.

Obama expects a series of meetings with Congressional leaders on how to pass and implement the 820 billion dollar stimulus package that is expected to create 3million jobs. Though the stock markets continue to plunge, Obama and his economic advisers hope that the infusion of new money into the economy will reinvigorate the markets and production starts humming again.

Let’s just hope that this works. Sectors say Obama is just being given at least 100 days by the American technocrats and power-shakers. It’s unfair. Yet, in American politics, that is all the patience these tradpols allow to a sassy neophyte like Obama.

We all have reason to cheer. Being alive is one (Yet, for some, this is a curse rather than a blessing). And being able to still do something for others is something to be happy about.

Come to think about it–the reason why God allows us to still live is God needs us to do something for others still. We live to serve others. And we need to realize that.

By the way, for those who want to help others, you can join me in my Cause.

Gather all your old newspapers and white papers. Donate all these things and let’s gve it to a charitable institution for the Aged (Home for the Aged is one). For every kilo of your old newspapers, you’ll have donated 5 pesos while for white papers, you’ll be able to give 6 pesos per kilo.

You can reach me thru my handphone number at 09063286207. I’ll be collecting your stuff anywhere you want it picked up. As proof of your contribution, I will give you a certificate that you want to donate the money from your old newspapers to the Home for the Aged.

I’m heading on a new experience. I’ve been working hard trying to make other people rich. Now, it is time for me to head on a new direction and become an entrepreneur.

Yes, I’m trying to raise money for a water refilling business. Sounds weird right? After spending most of my life on communications-related jobs, I, now, am looking forward to a business which some might think as unfamiliar territory.

Well, for me, it’s not anymore. I’ve researched all about it and found that, a water refilling station can very well sustain somebody’s family. My family ( I have a 6 month old baby, plus one pesky little boy and one girl) needs at least 60k per month to sustain ourselves. That’s huge. Yes. I just entered the army of the “PMAers” and despite what people say that I love, in fact, I love to hate actually.

Anyway, I hope some of my friends would understand that I’ll not be selling just water. I’ll be selling something very clean, very refreshing, lovely, pure and absolutely thirst-quenching. Yes. Thirst-quenching.

But, I am thinking of not just selling those 5-gallon types. No. I want to puncture the beverage category (eventually). For now, I’ll appreciate my friends to give me some contact numbers of companies who may need 5-gallons. Or maybe 1-liter, 500ml or 250ml types.

Eventually, I may venture into the iced tea category and find more revenues there.

For now, these are just dreams. My loan application has not been approved as yet. And I’m waiting for some money from my previous engagement.

That’s a problem here. In other countries, banks and loan agencies are very lenient in giving out loans, especially those for businesses. The credit market here is very tight. How can you help in reviving the local economy if banks and loan agencies will not help you out?

Like those Americans who are very lucky to have a Change Agent as their New Leader, I want to follow what Obama urged people to do—make a change, help the economy, be an entrepreneur.

I’m planning to do just that, to prove to myself if this paradigm would really,really work.

I hope Jon Limjap is reading this–do we still have hope that people like me who wants to be an entrepreneur be helped by government or banks for that startup funds?

Or, anyone out there who’ll give me advise?

Truly, that speech was more than presidential. It was the most ideal speech ever to be made by a U.S. president. Faced with crises and threats of monumental proportions, Barack Obama said the right things at the right time–change can only happen, if Americans unite behind government.

” Two hundred twenty one years ago,” says Obama, “…we Americans build this country, brick by brick with out callous hands….Let us build it again.”

For those words alone, Obama earned the respect and admiration of those who still doubt whether all those honey-coated words could really turn reality. For a brief moment, Americans felt hope, that, things would really turn from worst to something really good.

Hope is what Americans really need at this point. Hope that their lives would turn around.

As I was listening to Obama, I was thinking of our own situation. If Obama succeeds in uniting and shepherding his country towards economic relief, what about us? If America can produce such a fine young leader with the integrity and vision, why can’t we?

Maybe we’re looking in the wrong places. Maybe we are hoping for something which does’nt suit us. Nine years ago, we hoped that an economist could do a miracle and save us from a inept administration, only to be frustrated when the new government provided not leadership nor hope, but utter dismay and disillusionment. 

We succeeded in launching two revolts, hoping that things would change, only to realize later that massing all those millions is not enough to put our house in order. Maybe popular revolts is not the way for us. Maybe we just need someone who’ll provide us the vision, the direction, and the map to do it. And maybe, just maybe what we need is someone who’ll distill all these disparate voices we hear from different groups among us and put it as one voice. One voice, one nation. 

Americans are lucky. Because in less than two centuries they have produced a fine, young leader who’s willing to take the cudgels of bringing their country together to face its challenges, and threats. Yes, America is facing war and destruction in almost all fronts. Yet, they have the spark of inspiration to rally behind a leader who promises to make that change happen.

Obama’s message is as clear as the summer’s day–hope and change rest in every American. It’s a message of hope, I think, not just for Americans, but also for Filipinos.

That, when faced with extreme challenges, hope springs from unity and not from individuality.

I have always been an Obamanatic, eversince I saw the young maverick Senator commenting about the loss of Vice President Gore. Four years ago, I have thought that this young man could very well become president. Little did I know that that CNN interview was just the start of a series which culminated to what I described as “Obama fever”. Quite expectedly, Americans got his message. Here was a young man with a vision and possibly the right prescription to end American financial miseries. But, will he really do it within 4 years?