Palace fires uncooperative DepEd undersecretary

re: arroyo’s hold-on-to-the-stolen-power agenda…

reward the acquiescent, punish the stubborn.

retain the compliant, purge the disobedient.

save the favorable, eliminate the hostile.

and so it goes on…and on…and on…

the recent moves that the president have made obviously is intended to rid the government of honest, law abiding personnels to perpetuate her corrupt hold to power. I can discern that the country will again revert to martial law and suppress oppossition to her way of governance at the expense of the people, rich or poor. The people need to show her that she needs to go in any way possible and at any cost .

GMA should be fired for issuing scrupulous post-dated checks.

Sino kaya ang mga scholar’s ni Diaz?? Biba Hot Vabes?

kung sino pa yung matitino yun ang tinatanggal. ang mga bugok na reretain. syempre “birds of the same feather flock together”. ok magsama sama kayong mga mga magnanakaw gaya ni gonzales ayun tigas ang suporta ng malakanyang sa kapwa nya magnanakaw ng pera ng bayan. itong deped official na hinde ma take kawanglanghiyan ni arroyo ayun nangyari sa kanya tanggal. di pwede matino dito sa gobyerno ni arroyo. ang gobyerno ni arroyo ay pugad ng mga ibon na pare pareho ang lipad. sana pagdating ng panahon ang bagsak nyo ay malakas na lagapak. may araw din kayo. GOD IS WATCHING YOU!

The shit hits the fan again.

time is running out for this government..

Let the change begin…Time to act..

Time is now…

We blame GLORIA, the congressmen, senators, but come election time PEOPLE will still vote for them. Same cycle, same situation- same complaints, same move to oust her, same impeachment, etc., etc.

If PING LACSON agreed to run as Vice President with FPJ, they would have won by not less than 1million votes even with MASSIVE cheating by GMA. And HE-Lacson would have been president today with the death of FPJ.

IF ERAP had stood his ground, risking his life and never left Malacanang, he still have been president. But he left afraid he would be killed by the mob. A president who RUNS from a fight shouldnt be in office even for one second.

While i wish GMA would be ousted, i have to hand it to her: SHE DOES HAVE A LOT OF GUTS!

And yes, i voted for ROCO.

wag nyo pansinin si benignO, kulang sa pansin yan. american idol na phycologist na sira ulo

What do we expect? Nabuking sila e…. GMA administration doesn’t need uncooperative employee. Dapat bow lang sila ng bow para di sila mawalan ng work….kasi naman ayaw mag yes ma’am ayan tuloy nasibak. Ay naku! this country is going to the dogs…. Kawawa naman tayo.

Tama si benigno on certain parts but his attempt to change how things are running is a futile one. What we are right now is a result of our culture and how it evolved from the early 1800s. A drastic change on things perceived to be wrong and which is a result of any culture evolution is something next to the impossible. Kaya benigno accept mo na lang kung ano tayong mga pinoy at dahil kasama ka din doon at kung ano ang kinahahantungan mo ngayon ay dahil resulta yan ng iyong culturang pinagdaanan. Kung paano tumatakbo ang pulitika dito, dahil din yan sa kultura natin. Kultura na kahit kailanman walang kasalanan ang mga pinoy. Kahit sinong lider ang ilagay niyo diyan, hindi niya mababago ang takbo ng buhay dito dahil sa kultura na kanyang kinagisnan.

IT IS DE FACTO MARTIAL RULE! A PROSTITUTED PRESIDENCY NEEDS AN IRON FIST TO INSIST LEGITIMACY. HOW LONG WILL THIS LASTS?

BENIGNO, AKO REBOLUSYON. PERO HABANG WALA PA YON, ALL OF THE CHOICES THAT YOU LISTED SHOULD BE ENTERTAINED. THE POINT IS, WE HAD ENOUGH.

[…] PRESIDENT Arroyo cannot sack Juan Miguel Luz as education undersecretary because he is a career executive service officer (CESO) and holds a regular item in the government plantilla. […]

Nene, if this insinuations are true about Luz, then there is no reason for us to make this a hot issue. Mas lalo pa nga tayong magsaya kasi nakunan ng isang taong corrupt ang Deped. Problema nga lang baka ang ipapalit masilaw rin sa pera, lam nyo na mainit ang procurement division. Anyways, hindi naman sinabi na pagreresignin. Pagkakalam ko, i-reasign lang.

luz refused to sign kasi madagdagan kaso nya sa ombudsman.. tama ka nene..

‘ But why few people join these rallies/demos?,’ Frustrated OFW asked.
———-

For the simple reason. People are burnt out. Exhausted kung baga.
How many rallies and demos we’ve had since we are liberated from Marcos clout? Countless. Yet, there is only little change. We are still the same third world country doing the same rally’s and demo’s against presidents.

To add, there is also a psychological explanation to this. People have a lot of outlets to curb frustrations. We have this blog and other medium to say anything against the government. Kasi pag repressed ang tao, tendency nito sasabog na parang volcano. Yon ang nangyari kay Marcos noon. Sa sobrang higpit nya stalling the freedom of expression, ang mga tao nag-alboroto. Like raiding Radio Veritas station( A known anti Marcos Station). Nayari tuloy sya sa People Power.

Ngayon naman, (obserbasyon ko lang ha!) habang dumadami tayo dito sa blog, kumonti naman ang mga tao sa kalye. Last Wednesdays rally, hindi sumipot ang mga big time anti-GMA proponents na si Cory, Si Susan, at iba pa. Siguro, di natin alam, baka emotions nila are rechanneled at that particular moment. Take away this blog and other medium of expressions, di ba susugod lahat ng tao who have no emotional outlets.

Typical example is with the people who wants to commit suicide. Study shows that 90% of people who talks about commiting it, do not really carry the act. Reason for this is that they have already expressed their emotions verbally.

Isa lang ang paraan para magtagumpay ang People Power 3. Pandakekok should repressed all newspapers, radio stations, TV stations and blog sites who are against her. Yon lang mga parekoy!

Another example: Sa mga lalaki kung pupunta tayo sa CR, maggawa ng milagro. Paglabas natin sa toilet,di ba parang na-relieved na yong tensions natin? It applies also sa sitwasyon natin dito ngayon. hehehe (sorry, for the censored statement). Our freedom of expression through this blog is not stalled thats why komonti ang tao sa kalye.

Yes, they are! The right word is not listening. Monitoring. Di natin alam, since PCIJ can be called one of the most famous visited blogs in the Philippines and the bloggers under the guise of pseudonames, we can never know all the political personalities are also here blogging. Parang nakinita ko nga nandito si Lacson, si Luli, Jinggoy, JV, ewan ko kay pandakekok. hehehe.

Gandalf said:

“…Kung paano tumatakbo ang pulitika dito, dahil din yan sa kultura natin…. Kahit sinong lider ang ilagay niyo diyan, hindi niya mababago ang takbo ng buhay dito dahil sa kultura na kanyang kinagisnan.”

Maisingit ko lang sana ang aking munting kurokuro kaibigang Gandalf.

Sa aking palagay walang kinalaman ang kultura sa kasamaan ng pamamalakad ng pamahalaan. Sa umpisa’t umpisa ang mga namuno
sa ating bayan, pati na rin ang mga tao, ay lubos na matuwid ang isipan, matapat, may dignidad at mataas ang dangal. Ikaw na rin ang nagbigay puri sa mga pinuno natin noon pang panahong 1800. Ito’y kapanahunan ni Rizal at iba pa nating mga bayani. Batid mo rin marahil na masagana at matahimik ang Pilipinas hanggang dumating ang panahon na naging Pangulo si Ferdinand Marcos.

Ang ating kultura ay hindi kailanman magbabago. Ito’y dala natin hanggang ngayon. Ang kusang nagbago ay ang ating moralidad na sumisira sa ating dangal. Ito’y nagbago mula sapul ng naging Pangulo si Marcos. Dito nagmulang sumama ang pagkatao ng karamihang Pilipino. Ang nakitang kasamaan ng liderato ni Marcos gaya ng hindi makatwirang pakikitungo sa kapuwa, mga maling pagaasal sa sarili at pagnanasa sa yaman ng iba, hanggang sa pandaraya sa paglilingkod sa pamahalaan ay siyang naging huwaran ng mga tao. Ang lahat ng ito’y mas laganap ngayon. Ito’y hindi kultura na kinagistan ng mga Pilipino ngunit maaaring kinagistan mo kung ikaw ay nilalang sa mundo ng kapanahunan na ni Marcos. Ito’y kasamaang moral na pilit binabago ng nakararaming Pilipino na naghihimagsik ngayon at naghahangad maibalik ang dignidad ng tunay na maka-Dios na Pilipino. Sana’y isa ka na rin doon.

Datapwat kailangang magingat din ang tao sapagkat may mga huwad na nagsusulong para sa pagbabago ngunit may kubling hangarin upang itaguyod ang sariling hindi mabuting maka-taong hangarin.

Salamat Gandalf.

camille, quid pro quo kasi yon. bayad kay diaz ang pondong yon. scholaship kuno. granted na pang-scholarship, bakit si diaz lang ang meron when everyone should be entitled? kamutin mo ang likod ko at ako'[y liliyad…

are u sure tsquare, why don’t you check the request for payment unless it has been pulled out when the issue of sacking Luz exploded.

of course no bidding needed when the services are probono please don’t insult my intelligence.

ok tsquare if that was not an insult, explanation accepted. but as a taxpayer it’s your right to verify what I stated, how else? by going to DepED. don’t forget to check on also on the campaigns and grey transaction when the past textbook counts were being promoted, check how this advertising firm was chosen. that is if you only want to. because taxpayers should know where their money goes, am doing more checking myself.

t-square, can you please eleborate further about the locsin architects contracts and what is it all about? and maybe how was it made pro-bono?

jr_lad,

diaz probably requested for funds for his scholarship program and since scholarship is part of GMA’s 10-pt agenda, it was granted. did you know that diaz requested DepEd to transmit funds to the respective schools?

what is so wrong with assigning DepEd as the implementing agency? DSWD was the implementing agency for the scholarship of several deserving students at Payatas and we didn’t hear any malicious insinuations from them.

Frustrated OFW said,
September 24, 2005 @ 11:07 pm

… But why few people join these rallies/demos? Are they afraid or what? I think it’s only talk. I am so frustrated that I want to cry when I read the news and yet I can’t do anything because I’m far from home working in the difficult Middle East helping this corrupt government with my remittances. When I went on short leave recently I’ve been waiting for some rallies to join, but none happened. I hope those who are so frustrated should act now and no more talk. Thank you all.

—–

I like the article of Ms. Ma. Ceres P. Doyo on Malcolm Gladwell’s bestseller “Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference.”
http://news.inq7.net/opinion/index.php?index=2&story_id=50253&col=82
http://news.inq7.net/opinion/index.php?index=2&story_id=50960&col=82

“TIPPING POINT” means a significant change in the balance from one tip to another. It proposes that social change shares three traits of epidemics: it is contagious, that little things can lead to large and unforeseen outcomes and that once the change takes hold it occurs suddenly. Gladwell summed up the “tipping point” into three rules:

1. The Law of the Few states that a few people – the right few people in each instance – have the power to influence a great number of others. The few’s currency is word-of-mouth.

Gladwell breaks these few into three categories, “Connectors,” those who know and are able to spread the word to a large number of others; “Mavens” who are looked to by others for advice; and “Salesmen,” who are capable of persuading others to take some action.

2. The Stickiness Factor. This rule suggests that something people hear or learn must be extra memorable; it must be “sticky.”

3. The Power of Context. It says the current social environment has to be ripe to embrace a specific principle or concept.

AS REGARDS our political quagmire: despite the ever-growing anti-Arroyo sentiments and surveys of Arroyo’s unpopularity, why isn’t it tipping to the anti-Arroyo’s side?

The Law of the Few.
The few (branded “destabilizers” by the government) are divided into four. First are the “few” who sowed disgust to the present Malacañang occupant but were once objects of disgust themselves during their heyday. They remained few in number as their cause would not spread due to their dubious character and their ardent desire to regain power. Second are the left-leaning forces. Obviously, no one in his right mind would get involved with them.

Next are the rightists who couldn’t muster their strength because most of them are now either “inactive” or are abroad sacrificing to earn their keep. These are the same people, together with some of the leftists, who installed GMA to power and are now re-thinking their position first before they move to oust her. Most of the “inactive” ones are the “segurista” types – they will only come out if the rallyists will swell to a People Power proportion (“segurista” much like the men in uniform who will only move to oust GMA when people will back them up, remembering their bitter lesson from the Oakwood miscalculation). Some of the “inactives” are also now apathetic to the situation, minding their own struggle through the hard times besetting the nation.

In addition, the majority of these rightists are sick and tired of corruption in government. They are now working or living overseas (contrary to what some people are saying that we have already a “People Power fatigue.” It’s just that there are no more People for the Power.). Last, and probably the least of the lot, are (pardon my saying) the “has-beens.” Few in number and certainly with unbelievable agenda.

The “few” couldn’t pull their acts together mainly because of their diverse personalities. Simply spreading the word is not going to work because the message is not clear. In fact, oneness of purpose (to get rid of GMA) is overcome by the multiple methods with which it is to be carried out (resign, impeach or oust). In short, words (not just a word) are being spread by the anti-Arroyos causing confusion to the general public. They also lack unity in coming up with a much better alternative. The question of a “viable option,” which the spin doctors of the government have inculcated in ordinary minds, works triumphantly for GMA. The unenthusiastic “seguristas” also contribute to the disunity – “Yes, we are not for GMA but give us first the assurance that there will be a deliverer in her place. Only then we will participate in the cause.”

Therefore, the Law of the Few would not apply to our setting for the “few” will remain “the divided few” even in months to come. “Mavens” we have…but our situation begs for the existence of the “connectors” and “salesmen.”

The Stickiness Factor.
Actually, the factor that will stick to one’s mind is the fact that GMA cheated her way to the presidency, destroying our valued institutions (Comelec, AFP and PNP, Namfrel, etc.) in the process. This can be gathered from the “Hello, Garci” Tapes. Hence, one will think that GMA is not the rightful occupant of the Office of the President and thus, she has no right to wield the power bestowed on it.

This rallying point, I believe, is the most detestable of all the “-gates” that came about the Arroyo government (juetenggate, gloriagate, lobbygate) because the sanctity of one’s vote is violated. GMA admitted it’s her voice in the tapes and her lawyer tongue-slipped that it’s Garcillano she was talking with in the tapes. A lot of the politicians cheated, even the bishops said so, but who got caught red-handed? It was the highest official in the land and certainly this should not be tolerated.

Unfortunately, it never entered the minds of the general public that each one of us is obliged to really take time to listen to the tapes. This is partly due to the Malacañang cover-up (Bunye’s blunder, Doble’s sudden turnaround, and conspiracy among NBI and ISAFP personnels), threat to prosecute those who are in possession of the tapes, “experts” questioning the authenticity of the tapes (one funny guy even retorted that it’s really her voice but she’s not the one actually talking), and twisting of the truth. Another reason is that the Gloriagate “lies” are being peddled by the equally dubious “destabilizers” themselves. Majority, I think, only rely on TV, radio and newspaper reports/commentaries (considering that they lack the equipment to listen to the tapes or are just too busy to bother with it). Then, you will only believe whom you choose to believe. Political leanings of an individual will come into play. (I wonder why the surveys don’t ask how many of us listened to the tapes. I wonder why the surveys don’t ask how many listened and believed its contents.)

This factor will never stick to our minds if we won’t listen to the tapes. We will never understand the gravity of GMA’s wrong deed if we won’t hear how she abetted a crime. We will never learn how repulsive her behavior was during the time she lusted for power. We will never know how ruthless she has become just to obtain her presidency. We will also never comprehend why she is strongly hanging on to power now, no matter what the cost is.

Sad to say, what sank into the minds of the general public – those who weren’t able to listen to the tapes and those who listened but nonetheless not convinced – is that the “Hello, Garci” recording is worthless evidence because it was illegally-sourced and it needs further authentication. And as events unfolded, the “mavens” and the “salesmen” in the guise of our bishops (note that they are not “connectors,” they are charismatic but they are spreading a message inimical to the cause) halted the furtherance of the cause. The truth was buried six feet under when they chose to participate in Gloria’s game of “Rule of Law.” The truth will continue to rot deeper underground as days, weeks, possibly years will pass, to the consternation of many but to the delight of the few officials in government.

The Power of Context.
The “great social change” is now pitted against “the great debate” on the Charter Change.

The tip to a social change without GMA at the nation’s helm almost happened in July 8. The concept is that GMA lied, cheated, and stole from the people; then adding insult to injury, covered them all up. This brings to the message, which is plain and simple, that she must let go of her power. That was the prevailing atmosphere then. But I don’t think it was ripe for the taking during that very, very long day because a lot of people were waiting for the CBCP statement (as if it was manna from heaven). The almost mature situation was inopportunely picked at that time. This gave the government time to regroup and assert its dominion over the populace despite growing anti-Arroyo feeling. The circumstance of extinguishing the power of the president by forcing her to resign died down (most especially when the CBCP took a lukewarm stance) and was replaced by the need for her to be impeached this time.

The situation wasn’t ripe for the taking and since the impeachment process was dismissed even before it prospered it continues to decay up to the present. Much to the dismay of everyone disagreeable to the Arroyo government, GMA still holds her power and she holds it very strongly now.

The “great social change” is now persistently waning whereas the “great debate” on Cha-Cha is in the offing. The current high in the public’s mind today is on charter change with the appointments of the expensive Arroyo Constitutional “Commission” (with emphasis on the quotation marks). This has supplanted the social environment then; the message was not embraced by the general public. As a consequence, the Context lost its Power instead of the Malacañang occupant.

HAVING SAID all that, I still would like to quote Mr. Ernie Adaya:

“Why isn’t it tipping? The answer is very simple: ‘Because (President Arroyo) is tipping’ and tipping generously for survival. In the Philippines, politicians, the influence peddlers, etc. are always on the lookout for the tipping point, because, like the waiters and waitresses in restaurants, they know that at the tipping point, the ‘tips’ will start flowing generously.

“Gladwell fails to realize that in the Philippines, there is a fourth rule of the Tipping Point, that is the Power of the ‘tip’ or the ‘TIPPING’ FACTOR.”

koj,

Luz had seen a project the architects had designed for a private foundation doing work in the area of literacy. Given the known shortage of good reading sources in many areas all over the country, he then convinced the architects — waiving any professional fees — to design a modest modular/standardized prototype distribution center that could be repeatedly built as adaptable renovations of older buildings or from scratch from which supplementary books, reading material, and electronic info could be organized, classified, and lent to schoolteachers to support the regular curriculum in schools nationwide. The centers were to be run by DepEd.

He also convinced the private literacy foundation to donate a large percentage of quality books for the centers. To make this a reality, he recruited the help of a major energy company to provide support and research tools for these facilities. These contributors to the project responded to Luz’s call wholeheartedly in recognition of the limited resources of the department, the importance of a literate, well-informed citizenry, and a strong sense of civic duty.

To date, only a few of these centers have been built, but those that have report good success. Hopefully, this project and other worthy ones like it survive their conceptualizer.

Haaay naku…. nakakapagod na. Kahit anong panggigigil natin sa pag-papaalis kay pandak wala namang nangyayari. Parang naniniwala na ako kay Benign0 na kultura ang rootcause ng lahat ng ‘to.

Very enlightening, Tsquare. With these accomplishments, and very creative ones at that, I guess we need more of the likes of Mike Luz who can craft cost-efficient solutions to help take every government office out of the shithole they are now in, thanks to the Mighty Mite in Malacañang, and provide the citizenry with quality public service it rightfully deserves.

I can only hope the gallant stand he has taken will be duplicated with equal fortitude by his colleagues in government who are similarly situated. With the other Luz sibling, Bill, contributing his share from the business front, private sector participation in government undertakings is a very potent force in restoring public trust in these dysfunctional government institutions that have been rendered financially and morally bankrupt by the Cheat Execu-thief.

Saddening as it may seem, the grain is separated from the chaff but only to be thrown away.

koj,

i used to be wary of pro-bono arrangements too…as they say, nothing comes for free. but last july, I had the chance to attend a great event where some of the country’s top corporations rolled out some of the most innovative projects they were supporting in an effort to provide business solutions to social problems. Some businesses do well, and therefore they have the resources to do good…it’s called corporate social responsibility. That’s probably what groups like the Locsin Architectural firm are doing for this literacy project — giving back to the country in their own creative way. It’s a neat arrangement and the best part of it all is that millions of public school children will benefit.

Given his private and public sector service experience, Mike Luz has the strategic savvy to bring together the best of both worlds and make this result in highly innovative and creative programs and projects that benefit no one else but our otherwise ailing public school system.

koj,

…And that is the tragedy in this country, is it not? The kind of “transactional” practice you refer to — between those in government and their collusionists in the private sector — has become so widespread that it has rendered any legitimate and earnest efforts questionable and utterly unbelievable to the general public at large. Justifiably, ordinary pinoys have become so jaded and cynical that they can’t bring themselves to believe that anybody would actually heed JFK’s mantra “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”. It is disheartening to note that the the forces in favor of this transactional practices constantly seem to be winning the cultural battle for legitimacy — and we continue to help the their cause and shoot ourselves in the foot by repeatedly voting these characters into public office once the floodgates of cash, favor, patronage, and fear-mongering are released come election time. It’s no wonder really that the best and brightest — and the most principled — stay away from government: Those who have the stomach to give it at go get crucified for trying to do the right thing or playing it straight. The folks with integrity are offered up on the sacrificial altar of the many who favor and legitimize this type of transactional governance. One doesn’t have to venture very far at all in recent years to see this. Tragically, it appears Luz is one of these casualties.

But bilbuh has it the nail on the head. Fortunately, there remain a stubborn few who insist on trying to make a difference. Among these are people and orgs who make a serious attempt at giving back and moving the referential goalposts. Businesses which are involved in initiatives for corporate social responsibility do precisely that. And it is to their credit that they spend much less of their time, resources, and expertise beating their chest about it or putting a “spin” on their work than channelling it toward the programs themselves. The eternal hope is that these efforts result in a more enlightened citizenry, capable of making better choices on a more level playing field within a meritocracy. Bottom line: the benefits can’t simply be measured in money or personal gain — it’s good for our culture, it’s good for the soul, it’s good for our countrymen, it’s good for governance, it’s good for business, and it’s good for your children.

Sounds like a pipedream? Well at this point, it is. The question really is, what will you do personally to make this a reality? As insurmountable as the objective seems, others have started it in small and seemingly unassuming ways — often to the derision of the cynics and so-called macro-realists. But that’s how great things get started. Change individually, think globally, act locally. Most critically: make choices based on your ideals, not your calculations.

Apologies for the sermon. Got a bit carried away there. Going back to your comment, pro bono stuff is indeed unusual and rare at this time in this country. But there is wisdom in not following the lemmings over the cliff — rare is good, and one may well sleep more soundly.

scholarship funds is good for college students, but in high school, we knew that we have a free high school education in the philippines, in the case of cong diaz case regarding post dated checks, that financial process in unusual, it is violating the government accounting system, and beside there is no clear recipients of list of beneficiaries of that funds, how can deped liquidate if the division office made cash advances, could deped force cong diaz to liquidate. im just confuse really

[…] Luz received his notice of transfer to the Labor department on October 4, 2005. He was fired as undersecretary on September 13, 2005 with a letter from Ermita thanking him for his services as undersecretary.   […]

[…] Malacanang sacked Luz on Sept. 13 after he refused to accept three postdated checks (P15 million in all) the Palace had issued for the scholarship program of Zambales Rep. Antonio Diaz. DepEd said this violated auditing rules and accounting procedure. […]

[…] It cited the unjust termination of Education Undersecretary Juan Miguel Luz and former Pag-IBIG Fund president and chief executive officer Manuel Crisostomo, both career bureaucrats, and the appointment of non-civil service eligible officials. These, the CESB said “have resulted in growing apprehension and demoralization” in the civil service and threatened to “further erode the institutional foundations of a professional bureaucracy.” […]

[…] We Pinoys have a tendency to slaughter those who dare to speak truth to power, and while Borra may have been lucky to escape the bullets and bombs reserved for his kind, only Congress will show if his lucky streak holds. […]