Christmas Holidays In The Philippines
Its in our culture that Filipinos celebrate Christmas season the longest. Why? Because we are family oriented, we have close family ties not with our immediate family but to all our relatives. December is usually hectic on attending Christmas parties with relatives, friends, office mates, classmates, organizations… you name it. Some even travel from provinces to Manila or the other way around just to be with their loved ones.
This year 2008 will be a long Christmas vacation. Good news, isn’t it? I usually looked like a zombie with dark circles under my eyes during December. Its annoying but seeing the people I love is giving me the happiness. Who cares about the eye bags?
December 1 -November 30 is a Sunday, Bonifacio Day. December 1 is the nearest Monday. Although it is not considered a Christmas holiday, the celebration fall on December. Better use the day wisely on Christmas shopping.
December 25 – Christmas Day 2008 is Thursday. Its common that the day before Christmas is half day to most of the businesses. Some employees will be needing more time to travel in the province to go home in time for Noche Buena.
December 26 – (Friday) It was declared special non-working holiday.
December 29 – (Monday) Also declared special non-working holiday.
December 30 – (Tuesday) Rizal Day
December 31 – (Wednesday) Happy New Year!
My kids Christmas party is on December 19 (Friday) and will be back for school on January 5. I doubt if I have plenty of time to catch some sleep after Christmas. Maligayang Pasko!
Report Kotong Via SMS
Let’s face the fact that kotong (extortion) of some PNP officers is terrible especially during Christmas season. A kotong news is not pleasing to anybody’s ears, these abusive cops should face the consequences they deserve. I myself became a victim, not once but twice.
At first, I’m hesitant to report the kotong incident, I admit I got scared. I have my family to protect, I guess this is the primary reason that some didn’t report kotong cops. Its hard to gamble but always remember that we always have choices.
I’m glad that Quezon City PNP encourage the people to report kotong cops via SMS or text messaging. I doubt if the authorities are making the moves against kotong cops. I’ve tried reporting via SMS few months ago. What happened? Our Chief of Police was transferred to other municipality, the bad thing was… the former PNP Chief is back again. He maybe have a good reputation in our place especially our Mayor believe in him but he is a protector of kotong cops. How I wish I live in Quezon City.
I guess, the program against kotong cops also depends on municipality and PNP Chief of Police. I’ve mentioned from my other kotong articles that reshuffle of these cops is NOT the solution. They are still cops and they are rotten eggs wherever they go. In other words, anay sila na sumisira pa lalo sa imahe ng ibang matitinong kapulisan. Would you blame anybody if some didn’t ask help from police if they are in trouble?
Giving the benefit of the doubt, to report kotong incident send SMS to 2920 with this format: PNP(space)message. This is the new number to report kotong, the old number 09275151515 is still active but removed from PNP official website. I hope PNP Director General Jesus Verzosa strictly keep his eyes on this otherwise, kotong cops will win over mamang pulis.
How about envelope stamped “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year” given by law enforcers?
Categories: Social Issues Tags: Kotong
Bolante Cleared PGMA And Named Zialcita
I guess, everybody are watching the live Senate investigation on Fertilizer fund scam on TV and some are hearing each event on radio. I’m watching now Senator Jinggoy Estrada’s turn. There are topics that stick on my mind.
- Jocelyn “Joc Joc” Bolante denied that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo knows anything on the scam.
- Paranaque Congressman Eduardo (EDZA) Zialcita was one of the three that asked and received fertilizer fund from Bolante.
I am disappointed that the Senate investigation will be just wasting their time if Bolante is not telling the truth.
Mr. Bolante, naghihikahos na po ang bansa natin, kung patuloy pa po natin pagtatakpan ang mga dapat managot, paano na po ang kinabukasan ng Pilipinas?
Tongpats Of Kotong Cops
I don’t know what should I call this new modus operandi… tongpats (slang word of filipino word patong, means padding in accounting) or kotong (extortion)? Judge it yourself.
This is the current problem of small night establishments in Paranaque. Last week, almost every night, a group of cops headed by an intelligence agent talked to each of these small establishments encouraging them that they should get the liquor supply from them (cops). A case of San Miguel beer costs php372, price per case they offer is php420.
No normal businessman would get his merchandise at a higher price, that means more expenses and less income. Of course, nobody want to get their supplies from them and this team manipulated everything. They talked to all possible beer dealers and asked them to make a markup of php48 if any of these establishments buy their supplies from them. They said they would know if any of these small establishments get their beer to other dealers at normal price, they will be raid. Knowing their old system, it will be a frame up raid. Please read Buwaya sa Dilim to have an idea of how it will be done.
According to this “intel” (short of intelligence), “utos ng nasa itaas” (means it was ordered by their superior). Who are their superior? To where the markup goes? I don’t know. My concern is the effects of this wrong doing of these supposed to be protector of the nation.
I thought the new PNP Director General Jesus Verzosa will continue the PNP programs. He already made a new memorandum on human rights and still revising it as of this writing after earning negative feedback from media. I hope after doing the new memorandum, he will take care of all kotong cops and their superiors accordingly soon. Kotong cops are additional burden to small establishments especially now that Philippines is affected by global crisis.
Categories: EntrePinoy Tags: Kotong
Glitchline Reloaded!
Why reloaded? I admit, from the time I started this blog, this is supposed to be my personal blog… well, sort of. I still want to keep some things about me in private. I blog about the things I experienced, places I went, informations worth to blog like exposé, current events and me personal opinions on every issues that catch my attention. I will never stop blogging about the topics closest to my heart, the proud pinoys. My articles about proud pinoys are mostly the achievements of Filipinos in various fileds and walk of life from the Philippines to anywhere in the world. I love blogging my kababayans, somehow to let them know that in my personal blog they are appreciated and deserve a space here.
Even if I blog many things in here, they were written from my heart, from my mind, my soul speaks in this blog… from the eyes of a typical masang pinoy. My blog reflects my personality. I did criticized and reacted to things that heppened in the Philippines, not because I want to spread out the negative impression but to let the “people in power” that they should do something to resolve the current issues. That my blog would serve as my voice and hoping that my voice will be heard in the blogosphere. Rest assured that my blog is NOT a hate blog to something or somone.
There were times that I didn’t update my blog not because that I’m busy with my private life but my mood doesn’t allow me. As much as possible, I want to blog the beautiful and positive things but am I to blame if I saw and experienced negative things in my environment? WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) or should I say “what you read is what you get” in my blog. I’m just being honest to my blog and to myself. This is my blog… I did and will write how I see things. Sorry to those who see things in different perspective.
