Drawing the lines between Good and Evil in Batangas: The Tale of 3 candidates: a missed leader, a self-confessed politically-naïve single mom beating the odds of a well-entrenched dynasty and former in-laws, and a persistent knight against a political monster

In the next weeks and months, we will be bombarded with all sorts of political propaganda.  Candidates  will  do  everything to  win our votes, and those with personal  axes  to  grind  will  surely come  up with  all  sorts  of issues  against candidates, while the sycophants will heap empty praises  to their  candidates with an  expectation  to get favors  once their  bets  win. Realistically that is what election seasons bring about - an artificial euphoria of sorts. Then when the elections smoke is gone, we are confronted with the reality that we voted into office idiots, incompetents, corrupt and undeserving people.

As   an independent writer/observer, it is my distinct advantage of being free from any political or personal affiliations with these candidates. I can say what I want, express what I observe and give personal judgement.  Though I have also taken it as my duty as a citizen to share my thoughts. In the first place, I am a graduate of Political Science at the University of Batangas (though I have doubts that it even recognizes me as an alumnus).

Kaya maaga pa po, ibinabahagi ko na  ang sa aking palagay  ay mga  natatanging kandidato na may dalang magandang kinabukasan sa bayan:

Batangas Province

Dodo MANDANAS

Umpisahan  natin  kay dating Gob. Hermilando  “Dodo” I. Mandanas or HIM for short. Hindi Ito Magnanakaw, Hindi Ito Mamamatay-tao, and lalong Hindi Ito Magkakandili ng droga.

Kumakandidatong mag-isa (walang partido at walang bitbit na ibang kandidato), sinabi nya na mas mabuti na ang hindi makasama ng mga may bahid dungis na partido.

Hindi malilimutan ng marami ang kanyang mga programa na pinakinabangan ng libu-libong mag-aaral sa kanyang scholarship program. Maski  sa pribadong kapasidad, matagal na nagsilbi  ang kanyang Batangas Social Development Foundation (BSDF) na nakabase noon sa Aplaya, Bauan.  Dinayo ng marami ang kanyang lumang bahay sa Aplaya, kumita maski maliliit na tindahan sa mga bisita. Sa mismong Aplaya, nagpagawa sya ng mga  silid-aralan, pinakamalaking covered court, ipinaayos ang mga kalsada, nagpagawa ng sea wall, at mga medical missions.

Bilang Gobernador, pinakikinabangan pa ng Lalawigan ang mga programang pangkaunlarang kanyang nasimulan, mga development master plans na patuloy na nagpapatatag sa economic foundation ng Lalawigan. Ang mga pagawaing-bayan na nanatiling nagbibigay ginhawa   sa mga liblib   na lugar, at ang mga hinahanap-hanap na mga serbisyong medikal at panlipunan  na bukas sa lahat ng tao. (Naaalala nyo pa ang People’s Day at the Capitol  tuwing Lunes?) Maraming ang naghahanap ng ganyang pagkalinga mula sa isang puno ng lalawigan – yung lider na personal mong nakakaharap, di man magawang pagbigyan ang lahat ng kahilingan.

Ang campaign  tagline ni Ka  Dodo ay  “Walang Kurap, walang mahirap. Pag ang puno ay kurap, mamamayan maghihirap.”

Pero  marami ang may  mga saloobin laban kay  Ka Dodo, subalit  kung  pakikinggan  mukhang nagmumula sa  mga personal na pabor na hindi  napagbigyan.  Ngunit  tanungin mo, kung  may masama  bang nagawa sa bayan, wala namang maituro. 

Kung  pansarili  ko  lang, pwede ko  na ring  sabihing may  rin sama ako ng loob sa kanya. Hindi dahil may hiningi  akong hindi naibigay,  kungdi  sama   ng loob  na sya ay nagpalaki  at tumulong  sa  mga  taong  walang  utang na loob, kagaya  ni  Rep. Raneo Abu  (wala namang mararating yan kung hindi itinaya  ni Ka Dodo ang  kanyang  pangalan sa kanya). Subalit ngayon nasaan  na si  Abu  at ilang tauhan  ni Ka Dodo? Ang balita  ko pinagpaplanuhan  pang ilaglag  sya sa sariling tinubuang barangay sa Aplaya, Bauan. Bunga  ito  ng pikit  matang  pagsuporta  ni Abu  sa Dinastiyang  Dolor ng Bauan kung saan sya ay manugang sa pamangkin.

Batangas City

Kristine  BALMES

Si Maria Kristine Josefina G. Balmes, dating manugang ng puno ng Dinastiyang Dimacuha, ina ng nag-iisang anak kay Barangay Captain Dondon Dimacuha (dating Mayor at Konsehal, ngayon ay ABC President kaya ex-officio Konsehal ulit dahil patuloy na nirere-recycle ng dinastiya), pagkatapos humiwalay sa kanyang asawa at magising sa sitwasyong panlipunan at pampulitika ng Lungsod, tumakbo at nanalong Konsehal noong 2013 (ikalawang pagbabalik, dahil konsehala din sya noong masungkit ni Dondon).

Nagsisilbing de facto leader ng oposisyon, pinatunayan ang liderato sa pamamagitan ng pagsusulong ng mga pagbabago at pagkiling sa mga usaping maliwanag na taliwas sa lahat ng gusto ng dinastiya, kagaya ng pagtutol sa mga kwestyunableng paglulubog sa utang sa pamahalaang lungsod para umano sa mga proyektong kaduda-duda, mga kontratang malinaw na “disadvantageous” o argabyado  ang mamamayan gaya ng PPP sa terminal sa Balagtas, likong pamamahala (by proxy, maling priorities, may pansariling interes gaya ng EBD cards gamit ay pondo ng gobyerno, atbp), mga karahasang nagaganap sa Lungsod kabilang na ang pagpatay sa mga kalaban at kritiko ng dinastiya (personal na nakiramay at nagsalita si Kristine sa libing ni Mei Magsino, mahigpit na kritiko ni Dimacuha), mga usapin ngn pagkiling sa mga kumpanyang sumisira sa kalikasan at hindi nagbabayad ng buwis gaya ng JG Summit Petrochem at pagtatayo nito ng plantang gagamit ng uling (coal).

Tatakbo bilang Mayor, isang babae, walang masasabing 3G’s (gold, guns and gold), subalit naniniwalang ito na ang PANAHON NG PAGBABAGO.

In the guise of Private-Public Partnership (PPP), it now now turns out to be Punyetang Pamemera sa Pamamahala

Ang plataporma ni Kristine, malinaw na pagtalikod sa nakakasuka nang landas na tinahak ng Lungsod sa loob ng 28 taon – “will center on pursuing political and development reforms through the active participation of our citizen and by establishing inclusive growth. My goal is to create more jobs and offer sustainable livelihood projects for our people, help provide education to all deserving students, establish a universal health care program, more suitable for our constituents, and conceptualize a master plan that will address issues on urban planning and development. I would also like to promote a more transparent, red tape free and God-fearing government that respects the environment, natural resources and our people. Tourism will also be greatly improved. And lastly, restore the discipline, respect for others and care for humanity among our people.”

Bauan, Batangas

Former councilor and vicemayor, opposition  leader Atty. Juan “Johnny”  Magboo will make another attempt to unseat the Dolor  dynasty.

Ang kanyang ibangon ang Bauan upang MAGBOO  ng panibagong bukas sa nalugmok  na dating 1^st class na  bayan ng Bauan ay isang malaking hamon. Hawak ng dinastiyang Dolor ang Bauan sa  mahigit 18 taon, na  inumpisahan ng ama na si ex-Mayor  Hermie Dolor (ngayon  ay ex-officio Bokal bilang Pangulo ng Association of Barangay Councils ng Lalawigan). Kasalukuyang nakaupo ang kanyang  anak na si Ryanh bilang mayor na nasa huling termino na.   Kaya  kagaya  ng gawain  ng alinmang dinastiya,  magre-recycle ulit ng basura, at ngayon muling lalaban   ang dynasty founder na  si  Hermie Dolor, bilang Mayor.

Johnny  MAGBOO

The Dolor dynasty is characterized by  a typical story of political abuse that  should have no place in a modern democracy.  Nakapagtatakang  ito ay  hindi napapansin ng  media gayong napakalapit lamang sa  kabihasnan. Maging mga mamamayan  ay natatakot magsalita, at mangilan-ngilan  lamang ang naglalakas-loob, kabilang  na si Johnny Magboo.

Ilan sa mga usaping matagal  na  nyang tinawag  ang pansin  ng publiko  ay ang mga sumusunod:

• 1.    Ang pag-utang ng Pamahalaang Bayan ng P150 million sa Comnet Management Inc.
• 2.    Ang pagsasanla sa Pamilihang Bayan sa Comnet Management Inc.
• 3.    Ang pagsira sa plaza at pagpayag na gawing commercial building (Bauan Plaza  Hotel)  ang bahagi nito ng Comnet Management Inc.
• 4.    Ang planong gibain ang Bauan East Central School para gawing terminal sa  pamamahala ng Comnet Management Inc.
• 5.    Ang pagbenta ng Bauan Waterworks System sa Aquadata na nagresulta sa mataas na singil
• 6.    Ang pagbenta sa Bauan Electric System sa First Bay Power Corp.
• 7.    Ang 5 taon nang sinirang munisipyo na bagama’t may plano na  raw pasinayaan  (timing sa halalan) ay  kakatwa  sapagkat ang Bauan  na  isang maunlad na bayan ay natatanging walang sariling munisipyo

Bukod pa dyan  ang  maraming samut-saring isyu tulad ng laganap na patayan na halos hindi nababalita, mga alegasyon ng katiwalian sa mga transakyon ng pamahalaang bayan, alegasyon ng pagpapayaman sa sarili  (pagbili  ng rest house, bahay at mamahaling sasakyan) ng pamilya ng namumuno,  at pag-abuso  sa mga  tao  (pananakot,   pagmumura at pagtutungayaw).

Ayon  sa Commission on Audit Report na isinalin  sa wikang Filipino ni G. Chito Mandanas  (dating kaalyado  ng mga Dolor):

“Ang pagkabenta Bauan Waterworks system at lahat ng mga pag-aari nito sa Aquadata Incorporated ay taliwas sa isinasaad ng Section 379 & 380 ng Republic Act 7160, at hindi ito makakabuti sa interes ng Bayan. Habang nakabinbin pa ang patakaran ng COA Head Office sa legalidad ng kontrata ng bentahan ay inerekomenda ng Audit team, na ang Mayor ng Bauan ay dapat hihingi muna ng pagsang-ayon ng COA sa bawat bentahan ng kahit anong pag-aari ng Munisipyo sa mga susunod na pagkakataon para masiguro na hindi agrabyado ang mga mamamayan, manapa'y kapakipakinabang dapat para maprotektahan ang interes at kapakanan ng mga Bauangueño.

Ang kontrata sa kasunduan sa pagitan ng Bayan ng Bauan at Comnet Management Corporation para sa pagpapaupa ng 1,734 metro kuwadrado na lupa na pag-aari ng Bauan ay lumabag sa "Section 198 of the Rules and Regulations on Supply & Property Management in the Local Government" na nakasaad sa ilalim ng "COA Circular No. 92-386" na may petsang Oktubre 20, 1992. Napag-alaman din na ang mga kundisyones na nakasaad sa kasunduan ay hindi naaayon sa interes o' kapakanan ng Bauan kung saan pwedeng may nakaambang pagkawala ng napakahalagang lupa ng Bayan na maaaring magbunga ng katampalasanan sa sambayanang Bauangueño.”

Magboo, like   Kristine, is a symbol of  CHANGE. They are both up  against  well-entrenched, powerful  and at times, violent politicians.  Ka  Dodo, meanwhile  is up against  traditional politics,  where parties  and machineries work to  place their  people  and  own   kind  and  perpetuate  a  political system that makes people powerless,  and enriches  those  in power.

AASA NA LAMANG TAYO NA ANG TAUMBAYAN,  bagama’t saklot ng takot  ay  MANININDIGAN SA BALOTA.

2016 elections in Batangas City slowly turning out to be one big family affair?

A very disturbing political development in Batangas City: the doctor is a political genius! Kristine, how could you??? Details tonight....

Ito po ang pauna kong “tickler” o pangiliti. UNA, sinadya ko upang makatawag pansin sa mga kinauukulan. Baka sakali may mag-boluntaryo ng paglilinaw.

PANGALAWA, upang mapulsuhan ko kung may mga interesado sa isyu (marami nga, sa dami ng nagpahayag ng interes, publicly or by private messages or texts).

As it turned out, some people get angry, some were worried, and others are glad someone is watching. Others turn their anger on me.

Ngayon pag-usapan na po  natin, and how I got all the information:

This is supposed to be confidential. But since I am deeply alarmed, I think that as concerned citizens and voters, we have the right to know.

According to my very reliable sources, “an alliance between Kristine and Doc Jun was forged conducted under Fr. Daks' lead.” (Looks like it has the blessing of the Archbishop).

“Di ko alam kung paano tatanggapin ng mga anti dynasty proponents considering na si Danber will run for Congress. Kasama yun sa agreement,” adds my mole.

“The "unity meeting" was between the supposedly opposition politicians & the Berberabe group. It started Aug. 19 followed by 2 other meetings the last one was held last night (Oct. 7),” says another mole.

“Kristine will run for Mayor and Doc Jun as vice… which I find undemocratic”, commented another.

“Doon masama ang loob ko. We could have had the chance to introduce "new politics" if we had stuck to the original plan which is Kristine/Lito tandem. (Now) We're back to trapo set-up,” said another.

“Si Joe T. ang insistent sa alliance using Joey, his son, as his emissary. Kasi ang offer ay tatakbong "bokal" si Joe T. at hindi palalabanan ng mga Berberabe,” texted by another.

I sought Kristine’s comment but she declined because she felt I already prejudged her.

Now my humble take:

WE WANT AN EXPLANATION, from all concerned, and please answer the following questions:

1.     Will Jun Berberabe, under this setup turn his back on his uncle, the Mayor and publicly declare that?

2.     Is his joining forces with the supposedly real opposition because he is also anti-dynasty, or so he will conveniently win the vice mayoralty (again)?

3.     Who stands to benefit from this setup – the anti-dynasty movement or the Berberabes, paving a way for another dynasty?

4.     If the intention is just to ensure the end of the Dimacuha dynasty, Kristine and Carlito Bisa can win hands down. So why the alliance? What for? Who brokered it?

5.     Did practical reasons prevail over the ideal, because idealism has no more room in this modern time? This should be for the broker clergy to explain.

I challenge you all to provide us with answers and we will not hesitate to support you. As politicians and leaders, you are not immune from public scrutiny. So please bear with me, and all of us who believe that under a democracy, WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW!

Age copes up with two Batangas dynasties: WINDS OF CHANGE BLOWING

Batangas City's Eduardo Dimacuha or EBD is the most pitiful political dynast today

Seriously sick, physically and mentally frail, he had no choice but to keep holding on to power for his own and his family's sake he may leave behind anytime. My friend told me "kailangan nya protektahan ang mga maiiwan nya - sa daming kalokohang ginawa sigurado kaliwa't kanang kaso ang aabutin."

Same thing with the ageing Hermie Dolor of Bauan. His "manufactured politician" son proved to be a disaster as Mayor. With practically NO ACCOMPLISHMENT to show, but more of highly questionable contracts that have caused the people a lot of difficulties, including paying high costs of electricity and water

DUSA NG TAGA BAUAN (credits to photo owner)

bills. And the legal complexities seem to have been "cured" with the collaboration of nephew-in-law Rep. Raneo Abu by filing bills in Congress that will protect and empower the dynasty. Even more appalling, Bauan has had no municipal building for 5 years because the mayor had the old one demolished, defaced the plaza, and plans to sell the historical Bauan Central School. 

And unless the case of the dastardly assassination of journalist Mei Magsino is resolved before May 2016 elections, it will haunt these dynasties because they were thought to be her worst enemies.

WHO CAN FORGET WHAT THEY DID TO HER
ON APRIL 13, 2015 IN BROAD DAYLIGHT?

And the writings on the wall are - these dynasties are doomed. Nalalapit na ang katapusan ng paghahari nila.
But I don't want EBD to die just yet. That will upgrade his nephew, Vice Mayor Doc Jun Berberabe. And becoming a sudden Mayor will make it difficult for Kristine Balmes to defeat him. Unlike her erstwhile in-laws which will remake Kristine a giant slayer like David. Because the general sentiment now is ANYBODY BUT DIMACUHA.

Kristine CAN BE Batangas City's New Hope - she will hopefully represent what many of us have been craving for - CHANGE because the past 28 years is just horrible. We need a breath of fresh air, someone who has shown the world that she can stand on her own - even standing against her former in-laws and his family, including resisting the maneuverings of the Berberabes.

Exciting days ahead indeed, but at a bloody cost.

Is Gokongwei's Petrochem, a benchmark of its proposed coal power plant in Batangas Bay?

(The author could have conveniently avoided getting involved with this issue because he was JGSPC’s Community Relations staff from Sept. 1998 to July 2000. But a conscientious citizen cannot just abrogate his duties to country and community just because he was a former employee. Notwithstanding the fact that JGSPC has never paid his earned/pro-rated 13^th month pay for Jan-July 2000 plus last pay until  now, despite the fact that he had no liabilities or unsettled obligations with the company when he resigned).

How can you trust mega billionaire Gokongwei  to do business  in our community?

Facebook Photo

When I joined JG Summit Petrochemical Corp. (JGSPC) Simlong Plant in 1998 (same year it started commercial operations) until I left in mid-2000, I can say that I had no remorse because my work with them at the time and the company’s efforts to reach out to the communities was fairly a good practice of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Back then, there was no law mandating it to undertake community development, but it did just the same, providing Barangay Simlong with infrastructure and social services (barangay hall, ambulance, medical missions, livelihood projects, etc.) Some of these assistance extended to the barangays along the road from the last concrete part then (near Shell Tabangao)  leading to Simlong, including the Pinamucans (Ibaba and Proper).

At the time, consulting with local leaders was a regular activity with my immediate superior, Rene Casas (something that is missing now, so I heard).  Among the major contributions it did was paving for the electrification of Simlong and the coming of telephone landlines (Digetel).  Our participation to City events was something the LGU looked  forward to. On Christmas holidays, I would deliver boxes of Universal Robina Corp. products (Jack & Jill, Nova, etc) and wines to public officials. As much as we could, we avoided giving money as gifts (except for certain situations, which is a highly management prerogative).

Unfortunately, however, the good practices seemed to have dwindled, if not vanished slowly over the next years to the point that JGSPC seemed to have become oblivious of the growing negative sentiments of its communities. Broken promises such as compensating for damaged tress and crops in the course of its clearing operations were just simply forgotten or ignored. The company officers have gone confident of their stable standing in the community, neglecting the very core of community relations.

JG Summit Complex includes the beach (google photo)

 Years after, it levelled a portion of the hill at the back of its plant (if you are going to Simlong or Pagkilatan, there is a steep downward road (now Batangas-Tabangao-Lobo Road) after this area, and going back to the city for ordinary vehicles is a nightmare because you are literally climbing an almost 45 degrees slope as if this was deliberately designed to make traveling difficult). This alternate road is in exchange for its right to close the coastline opposite its complex, having exclusive access to the shoreline covered by its 100-ha exclusive economic zone (depriving the public access to the coastline). Now it actually operates on a 250-hectare petrochemical manufacturing complex, expanded to accommodate a naphtha cracker facility.

According to its website, JG Summit Petrochemical Corporation (JGSPC) is the pre-eminent world-class manufacturer and supplier of polyolefin products in the Philippines. It is the first and only integrated Polyethylene and Polypropylene resin manufacturer in the country, producing the Evaleneâ brand of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) and Polypropylene (PP).

Kristine Balmes FB photo

The Company is a core subsidiary of JG Summit Holdings, Inc. (JGSHI), one of the largest business conglomerates listed in the Philippine Stock Exchange. JGSHI has substantial interests in property development, hotel management, textiles, banking and financial services, telecommunications, petrochemicals, air transportation and power generation. In addition, JGSHI has significant interests in other sectors, including printing, and packaging.

Clear and imminent danger

Flaring by day

Then early last year, 2014, the people of Batangas were surprised by a media announcement that JGSPC is going to build a 300-MW coal-fired power plant in barangay Pinamucan. This raised a lot of concerns particularly from the Church and civil society organizations, considering the globally acknowledged ill effects to health and the environment of coal.

Coal accounts for 40% of the world’s electricity supply, but the trend is now veering away from coal and towards more environmentally-sound technologies such as biomass, natural gas, solar, wind and other forms of energy.

The reason: JG Summit Olefins, a JGSPC sister company owns the country’s first naphtha cracker facility in the same JGSPC complex in Simlong and needs power, and by building a coal-fired power plant worth $800 million, it will be able to sustain the operations of its naphtha cracker plant to primarily produce polymer grade ethylene and propylene, which will be feedstock for the polyolefins plant.

Economically speaking, this will concentrate the entire process in one complex, with less importation expenses and greatly boost the Gowkongwei plastics business. They will no longer need to import their feedstock or rely to suppliers in Bataan,

This explains why, that among the many businesses of John Gokongwei, the Batangas-based business is slowly becoming a flagship. Gokongwei is listed as the world’s 254^th richest man, and 2^nd in the Philippines this year by the Forbes Magazine. His net worth is US $5.5-B or roughly 254 Billion Pesos.

 Business track record

However, a series of reputation damaging incidents occurred, including being cited by the DENR-Environment Management Bureau for violating environmental standards, leading to the release of foul odor and black smoke that affected nearby villages. (Rappler.com)

A Notice of Violation was issued and EMB is supposed to conduct an in-depth investigation that would include requiring the explanation of JGSPC.

Facebook Meme

Black smoke and noisy glaring flare was seen from its stack and EMB admitted that “when the smoke is black, it's bad because anything black is unburnt. The combustion process was not completed. This means a release of hazardous compounds that may have a long-term impact on people.”

This can be seen as far as the communities in Verde Island, just opposite the mainland.

Aside from noise, nauseating odor caused people to experience dizziness and stomach pains. Some complain of lingering cough.

But the woes of the Gokongwei business is not limited to Batangas. In Negros Oriental,  environment authorities suspended the operations of an ethanol plant of Universal Robina Sugar Milling Corp. (URSMC) after finding that its untreated wastewater caused fishkill that economically dislocated 200 fishing families in Bais City and Manjuyod. As a matter of fact, it was fined P350,000.00for violating its environment compliance certificate (ECC).

A minimum of P 50,000.00 is usually imposed by MGB for each ECC violation, but people would ask, if that is enough for the trouble these plants create. Although, alternatively, because social acceptability is now a mandatory pre-requisite, affected communities can petition to either shut down or relocate the plant operations. 

MY LETTER TO MAR ROXAS - Pls be the Man Ninoy prayed for‏

Pls be the Man Ninoy prayed for

Bong Macalalad

11:25 AM

To: mar@marroxas.com

Dear Sec. Mar,

I have always quietly admired you. Many years ago  when you were still a Senator, you even replied  to one  of my blogs on GMA's Mindanao autonomy proposal (almost similar to  PNoy's BBL). 

Just to let you know  that I  am very active in the social media, following the murder of my friend, Journalist Mei  Magsino. And I  have been vocal about  the case  believing the Dimacuha  dynasty  in Batangas City may have something to do with it. In the  same manner that it has something to  do with the threats on my own  life. https://cpj.org/blog/2015/07/justice-delayed-is-justice-denied-in-philippines-m.php / http://bongmacalalad.blogspot.com

Recently, talks  are ripe in Batangas that you are going to  field the Dimacuhas under Liberal Party. This is revolting to the core, if  true. And while  I sympathize  with you,  I must  apologize that if you take the 28-year old Dimacuha dynasty to your fold, I, together with my friends and all the facebook pages I manage and inherited from Mei Magsino will campaign against you.

Thank you Sir, and I hope for your understanding. If you live by the Tuwid na Daan precepts, and refuse to tolerate tyrannical and corrupt politicians, then this early, I congratulate you and hope that you become the President and the MAN Ninoy prayed for in his eulogy to your late father, Sen. Gerry: 

God give us a man a time like this demands:
Strong mind, great heart,
True faith and ready hands.
A man whom the lust of office does not kill.
A man whom the spoils of office cannot buy.
A man who possesses a principle and a will.
A man who will not lie.

Good luck Sir!

JN BONG Macalalad

My Tribute to Mei Magsino: The Big Mistake of Killing a Journalist

“Mei’s murder not only highlights the fact that leaving journalism is no guarantee of safety from the perils of the profession — especially not from those with long memories and deadly intent — it also underscores the depths to which the culture of impunity has become entrenched in our country and society, courtesy of a government that has shown only the most cursory regard for human rights.”

-excerpts from the official statement of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP, condemning the murder of Mei Magsino, April 14, 2015. (Note: I was the founding chairman of NUJP Batangas Chapter).

Active or not, killing a journalist like Mei Magsino, must be a big mistake for the presumably angry politicians in Batangas. It has brought the attention of the nation to the economically progressive, yet politically repressed communities.

Batangas City has been under the clutches of the Dimacuha dynasty for almost 30 years now, while the first class town of Bauan, for over 20 years now under the Dolor dynasty.

 Mei and  I and have been friends since around 1995. But we became closer since 2010 because we shared so many common advocacies, against the tyranny of political dynasties. While we seldom met in person, we communicated regularly through social media and private messages (chat, emails, or SMS/texts). It is even unfortunate that while we were both overjoyed to meet again in person last March 25, 2015 at the birthday celebration of ex-Governor Dodo Mandanas at Monte Maria in Pagkilatan, Batangas City, I never thought it would be the last. We sat together with Benjie (her boyfriend)  in the middle, in the entire duration of the mass, then again after lunch until we parted ways.

We were giggling, laughing and exchanging jokes, and among those we laughed at were the death threats on her. I even jokingly asked Benjie if he was not afraid to drive for Mei since his car is not bulletproof, to which Mei interjected that she is not worried since those who attempt to kill her, die! (I know she was referring as well to ex-Governor Armando Sanchez, who, as publicly known, reportedly made attempts on Mei’s life in 2005 that she had to go to Thailand to cool down).

Mei and I had a lot in common. We are both separated from our legal spouses, formerly worked as journalists, and both simply cannot close our eyes to the maladies of societies. We both suffered in the hands of our media colleagues – she for some sort of discrimination and indifference; and me for my past misfortune of being into a controversy which many local media person sensationalized beyond imagination, except for Manong Beting Mauhay, a radio commentator who was most fair to me.

In our last meeting, she turned to me and said, “did you also think I was crazy and call me Sisa like those local media ‘friends’ of ours?” I said, “do you think I would do that to you?”  She smiled and said, “No!”

Well you can call Mei crazy for being a “woman with balls” as she could really be very acerbic to her enemies. But if you know her like I do, she is such a wonderful, jolly and witty person. Her write-ups do not necessarily say much about the real person that she is.

Going back to our “status” as ex-journalists turned bloggers and citizen journalists, Mei and I simply could not content ourselves to watch how things unfold before our eyes. Utilizing the social media, we keep our readers and publics informed, sometimes entertained by our perspectives of current issues. We stand by our beliefs that by exposing the evils in society, our people will be motivated to act and demand for reforms, including kicking out from office overstaying dynasties who rule more for personal rather than societal gains.

And the thankless (and income-less) job earns the ire and wrath of our subject politicians. Death and other threats are inevitable. But when we speak of them, we look like fools to the eyes of many.  Mei was even blocked and banned from a facebook page of supposed allies (Reject RPT20 Movement) on suspicion that she was the real author of an account that warned the leaders of that movement that they are target of a liquidation operation courtesy of the relatives of the incumbent whom they are opposing.

So personally, I would seldom talk about death threats on me, and only very intimately. However I am surprised that news came out that a friend of Mei’s revealed what we already heard of – bounty on our heads by the powerful dynasty. (Should I be thankful this came out o they better behave otherwise, they are easy suspect? But are they stoppable?) - Ex-PDI reporter spokeof threat to her life 2 years ago, says friend

What distinguishes Mei and me is on the approach. I must admit that I am not sure which is more effective. She really makes hard-hitting, acerbic, almost foul language to make her point, and make fun of her subject, calling them directly as “magnanakaw, sira ulo, walang utak, pangit, etc.  But she has had more than a million views on one of her blogs, and I only have about 90 thousand.

But while I am more restrained, they say that my write-ups cut like a sword, and make my subject really mad. But depending on the issue, I must admit to have also used very strong words to drive my point.

But there is a deep mutual respect between me and Mei. We seem to agree on a lot of issues, trust each other’s judgment and treatment of them, and share information a lot of times.

You know, we journalists (ex or active) have no money or power. But we enjoy certain advantage of being part of the fourth state. Not so sure where bloggers like me and Mei fit in, but since we were ex-journo, we can claim to have some sort of link to that status. Touch us, someone gets back to you by exposing you to the larger society. Kill us, many will follow our footsteps, even take on our unfinished jobs.

They succeeded at killing my friend Mei, but trust me, her soul will haunt her killers and their benefactors. It will be a long shot, but there will be retribution. You will never stay there on top, soon you will suffer ignominy  for the wrong you have done.#

New Revolution to get rid of a Dictator - IHAW IHAW sa Batangas City

Almost a year since I stopped blogging, here I am again with my favorite topic – the tyrants of Batangas City… and so I also reposted the otherwise removed posts during the elections of 2013 in my pages (kindly scroll down to see).

There is a brewing new kind of people struggle in the capital city of Batangas, cradle of noble heroes, and bedrock of nationalism in the not so distant past.

For about 26 years, this city is ruled by one family – the Dimacuhas, led by patriarch Eduardo, who was temporarily replaced by son Dondon at the end of his first term limit of 9 succeeding years, and then him again, then the wife. After controversially winning in the last elections, and now reportedly seriously ill with Alzheimer’s and has very limited lucid moments, Eduardo runs the city hall by proxy – son Reginald, infamously called “RD.”

Look closely and see if he is indeed in control

Because the elder Dimacuha could no longer perform his duties, his son and minions run the city hall’s affairs with distaste to what people expect from public officers. They play deaf and dumb to more pressing concerns of governance such as attending o the suffering populace because of a destroyed Calumpang Bridge that connects the city center to its eastern communities, which happened to be the center of commerce as well. Batangas suffered a great toll from typhoon Glenda.

Instead of listening to the pleas of the people, RD has priorities of his own – market development (does he own business there as well, or is he favoring some landowners)? The cost of the market building in barangay Cuta is P200 million, more than enough to construct a bridge.

The middle class started to feel the pinch of the dynasty when it arrogantly adopted by way of the majority of its minions in the city council, a whopping 20% increase in real property tax. People started to raise howl and verbal protests. But the elder Dimacuha could no longer understand that. Legal questions have been raised, and the Department of Justice (DOJ) sided with the petitioner, losing mayoral bet Jose Tolentino, that the tax ordinance is illegal and void.

But that will not stop the family from insisting on what they want, as they are used to. An appeal was raised to the Court seeking to overturn the DOJ’s decision.

Now the middle sector realizes that the City is indeed going down the drain, with the dynast entrenched in power. But can they wait until 2016?

Today, a few brave men and women have started the unthinkable under a Dimacuha dictatorship – gathering like they will just have some chats, but in style.

 At Plaza Mabini, Tolentino, businessman Noli Atienza and estranged daughter-in-law and City Councilor Kristine Balmes led the RED SHIRTS (people wearing red shirts) to show defiance to the dynasty. And they say this is just the beginning. The battle cry is simple – TAYO’Y MAGBANGE – a Batangas slang for grilling party. But they don’t grill pork or fish, but certainly they are grilling, rather slowly the Dimacuhas.

The "Bange Movement" actually started in social media about the election period of 2013. And so far, it has multiplied into many forms, including the precursor of Red Shirts - the Reject RPT Movement - which is a call to reject Ordinance No. 20 seeking to onerously increase the real property taxes in Batangas City. Of the  many social media accounts that mushroomed, many prefer to hide their identities for fear of reprisal. Some who are brave enough get contented by creating lampoons or memes of the father and son, and mother too, dynasty.