The Philippine National Police is in hot water after a ‘dramatic’ shootout, as an MSNBC report described it, with robbery suspects in Manila. The news about the shootout was also picked up by CNN and Al-Jazeera. Media reports said that the PNP Chief has apologized for the civilian deaths and blamed the robbers for the ‘collateral damage.’ The Police, however, is also insisting that they made no mistake in killing one of the alleged suspects, a certain Ronaldo Eusebio, despite proof that he is a legitimate employee of a toll company and testimony from the “suspect’s” wife.
Category: Philippines
Filipinos in Australia can now apply for renewal of their passports by post. The move came after a number of complaints from Filipinos outside the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) who were required to apply in person to renew their passports. The Embassy required personal appearance for every passport renewal applicant because of “the need to incorporate biometrics in the passport and due to the highly technical specifications” of the new machine readable Philippine passports. Filipinos who wanted to renew their passports spend between Aus$200 and Aus$1,200 to travel to Canberra because of this initial guideline from the Philippine Embassy in Canberra.
The Philippine Embassy in Canberra claimed in its website that “soon became obvious that the requirement for personal appearance when filing applications can be an expensive and time-consuming process for our kababayans.” It announced that it ‘sought’ the approval of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila to “allow for personal appearance at Philippine Honorary Consulates/Consulates General in state capitals.”
Filipinos meaning to renew their passports will now have to spend between Aus$95 and Aus$200.
Given these facts, one will wonder whatever happened to the need to incorporate biometrics in the passport and due to the highly technical specifications. If they can authorize the personal application at the state capital’s Philippine Honrary Consulates/Consulate Generals, why not authorize the whole process of applying for passport renewal in the Philippine Honorary Consulates/Consulates General?
I’m also wondering how the pricing of services differs from one Philippine Embassy to another. If you renew your passport in Thailand, you would have to pay between THB2,250 (PhP3,063.52) and THB2,700 (PhP3,676.10). Here in Australia you are poised to pay between Aus$65 (PhP2,065.76) and Aus$78 (PhP2,479.02). If you renew your passport in the Philippines, you will have to pay between PhP 500 and PhP 700. Mailing the application back to Manila is not that expensive but I guess with the quality of postal staff we have back home, paying extra is inevitable.
Just when you thought everybody meant well in this time of the world credit crisis, here comes the ‘sad’ truth behind the much touted US bailout of the failing big US companies–the ‘sweeteners’ were insertions that benefit each senator’s constituents.
A Philippine Daily Inquirer editorial yesterday pointed out that the ‘insertions’ in the bailout bill showed that US lawmakers effectively used a global issue to “prove that all politics is local.” In contrast, while the US lawmakers may make an advantage out of any political issue in the house to benefit their stay in the August Hall, Filipino lawmakers are definitely out to make everything happen for a law to be passed–as long as it will benefit them, personally, in the long run. The PDI explained in its editorial:
Instead of insertions in the budget to pander to the businesses and industries of their constituents, our legislators have shown themselves inclined to make insertions along two broad lines. First, for specific infrastructure projects which may redound to their benefit not necessarily in the form of kickbacks, but certainly in the form of real estate improvements. Second, to provide for broad slush funds (lump sums for vaguely-defined purposes) the release of which still require the legislators’ pandering to whoever is chief executive.
In the recent WA election, I saw, in a gist, how most politicians would decide on their affiliation–they almost act like their US counterparts–they put their constituent’s benefit first (well, there’s an ulterior motive to stay in politics probably but it’s the voting public that wins big time). Now, with how lawmakers in the Philippines, is it a cultural thing unique in Southeast Asia or is it ‘only in the Philippines’???
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WA Politics
As most of my Australia-based readers know, Western Australia had its state election last Saturday. After about two hours since the closing of the polls, initial results were already available with neither of the major parties having a hold of the government. It was a ‘hung parliament’ thus, the situation made a kingmaker of National Party Leader Brendon Grylls. There were about seven seats yet to be confirmed as of this writing and regardless of the results, the decision of the Nationals will make or break either of the Party (Liberals and Labor; Labor is the current administration).
As an international student/temporary resident, I found so many interesting contrasts in the political exercise here and back home in the Philippines. Campaigns are mostly done via the Internet, TV, radio and post boxes. Most of the debates revolve on issues and not on personalities (well, not much). It was very peaceful, not a drop of blood was shed but just ‘diplomatic mudslinging’ but a far cry from how politics is played back home. And then the most surprising of all for me is the sincerity of most of the politicians here. Back home, when one independent or party aligned politician is being courted by another, they are promised hefty amount of money or a juicy position in the government, in short, it is all personal benefit. However, here in WA, probably in the whole of Australia, the common reply of most of the indepent politicians being courted by both parties were ‘I will align with the party who offers the best interest for my constituents.’ You would never/seldom hear that from a politician back home, but then I hope that time comes.
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Not just another tagging game
Well, at one point of this blog, I thought I would only be writing tag chores but thank God I didn’t (it became a pain rather than fun). Anyway, I was tagged again this time but I think this is worth the time and I believe also in this endeavor.
Thanks to Jonas.
Behind the award is a wonderful story of love and survival of a little boy given another chance to live through a heart donor.
Please help raise awareness for Organ Donorship in the Philippines and abroad.
So, now I’m tagging Kengkay, Chuckie, Jun, Lenggai and Badoodles!
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Lack of knowledge
That the Abu Sayyaf kidnapped Prof. Octavio Dinampo together with the journalist Ces Drilon and her crew reflects badly on the bandits—but they are bandits, plain and simple. The initial response of the police to Dinampo’s fate reflects badly on the government too. We hope they can still listen to reason.
Pirates attacked a Philippine Livestock transport ship for about two hours in Indonesian waters, Perthnow.com reported. The ship came from General Santos City and was bound for Broome in Western Australia. None of the 22 Filipino crew were reported hurt. The ship was able to evade four speed boat carrying the pirates and had to return to its port of origin for repairs. The ship was to pick-up a shipment of cattle.
The Philippine Navy said that this was the first time that a pirate attack was reported in the area.
This year, Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Chief-of-Staff Hermogenes Esperon retired from army service but he wasn’t giving up on his government pension, he was ready for another post in the government and was very much ready to fill any job as a ‘civilian public servant.’ While it was expected that most of the retired AFP chief end up in another government post, the Philippine Daily Inquirer editorial team summed up the fishy motive behind the latest move. It was also here that the editorial team suggested that there is more to the quick punishment and reward of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV‘s former colleagues, who were sentenced and in record time were ordered released based on the President’s pardon.
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Optus to have iPhone
A Philippine Mobile Network announced that it is one of the first mobile phone service providers in Asia to bring the most anticipated phone of the decade, the iPhone. According to a report on Inquirer.net, Globe Philippines will exclusively offer iPhone in the country while Optus will carry the smart phone in Australia and Bharti in India. Both Optus and Bharti have yet to confirm the agreement which was said to have been finalized yesterday.
UPDATE: Optus confirmed that it will be bringing iPhone to Australia.
Since I’ve blogged about Inquirer’s Radio online, it has become my most read blogged post ever. It has served the purpose for most of our expats and OFWs who Googled Philippine Radio Stations Online and relieved homesickness, I suppose. However, I’ve been contacted by some of Blogbastic! readers and visitors inquiring about 90.7 Love Radio. The Manila-based radio station is one of the most popular radio stations in the Philippines and appeals to the masses because of its lively programming and witty Disc Jockeys.
I’ve made online searches for any source of online broadcast streaming of Love Radio to no avail. So, I decided to write a person connected with Manila Broadcasting Company , the owner of the station, and inquire if they are broadcast streaming but as of this writing, I have yet to receive a response.
If you are kind enough to lend a hand and you are based in Manila, you might want to contact the station manager of Love Radio and inform them that a number of OFWs and expats are requesting that Love Radio find a way to broadcast online. It might be better if some will be able to ask permission from the station to stream the broadcast of the station online! Hopefully this call will be noticed by someone with close network to the station.
As one of my readers said, kailangan pa bang i-memorize yan?! 🙂
Blogbastic! 