Missing Doing Blog

http://issuu.com/jess_fernando/docs/volume_2_baliwag_history_may_2014?e=8471401/8017948

 

For the past weeks of May, I hit a snag in posting a 500-words blog. The weeks previous, I was on target, until I get occupied with my relatively bigger project, the 2nd installment of Baliwag History Magazine, the May Issue.I felt guilty missing one of my self-proclaimed goals of posting supposedly a weekly blog. Now that it was done, I realized I bitten off more than I can chew.

This was how I envision the project: I would encapsulate the five centuries of events to 3000 words, the center of which is the Baliwag St. Augustine Church. My premise was that the Baliwag St. Augustine Church is an indelible enduring landmark that defines the existence of Baliwag as a town, forever. It deserved a spot in the annals of Baliwag History. Historian can devote one whole book just for the history of the Baliwag St. Augustine Church alone, starting from its conception during the Spanish time, how it survived the American and Japanese War, and up to the present. However, as I intent it to be one chapter of Baliwag History, how in the world would I fit the four periods of history on my limit of 3000 words with smooth transition.

My challenge became real when I started resourcing materials. The materials that I found were so vast and humongous. Which events from those materials I would pick and choose that would represent each period, and if stitched together would weave a complete story line with a beginning, middle, and an end?

It’s a feat that I have done it, and completely satisfied with the results. Although, of course, I had to give in something in the exchange. The experience served me well. I enjoyed the process.

Shady Deals do not always stay In the Dark

Sen. Bong Revilla, said, of his impending arrest: “Kung ikukulong kami, now na. Sobra na ang sakit na nararamdaman ko, ng pamilya ko. Kung gagawin man nila iyon, I’m ready. Sinabi ko na noon pa na pinaubaya ko na ito sa Panginoon”. He addressed this plea to P’Noy or to the Malacanang. The denouement is coming and until now, it hasn’t sunk in yet to Bong’s brain. Political persecution is not the issue. Plunder is. Bong should address his plea to the Ombudsman, not to P’Noy or Malacanang.

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, on the other hand is making his last ditch effort up to the 12th hour. He requested the Supreme Court to compel the Ombudsman to furnish him copies of the affidavits of the witnesses Ruby Tuazon and Dennis Cunanan. Jinggoy has one week to reply. He should have requested that when he submitted his motion for reconsideration after the Ombudsman found probable cause to elevate his plunder case to the Court of the Sandigan Bayan. One wonders. Why just the affidavits of Ruby Tuazon and Dennis Cunanan? Why not the truckload of evidence that the Ombudsman has? Would this mean that up to this time, he’s hoping against hope that if Napoles List would come out before his impending arrest, some dramatic change would occur… chances that some of his colleagues in the Senate whose hands are as dirty as well, would go down with him in hell? It would be gratifying for him that not just the three of them would get sucked up by the quicksand of shame. Alternatively, since Napoles List has three versions now, apparently with fluctuating contents for each, this would muddle the issue to bottle up the process up to 2016 when P’Noy finish his term.

Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile (JPE) is really one of a kind. He is cool as a cucumber. He has been quiet. It seems he accept his fate gracefully. And why not? The worst he could get as punishment for his plunder case would be hospital arrest. Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, JPE’s staunch critic lobbied, that because of JPE’s age, he is 95 years old, he must be placed in a facility that would take care of his medical needs. Now, never mind his legacy, if it went down the drain, so be it! Bad luck this time around, gets the best shot of him. One must beware, however, just like what Sen. Miriam Santiago says, “tong si Tanda” me asim pa yan”. He could be behind the notorious unsigned Napoles List.

On the motion for consideration filed by the three musketeers of the PDAF Scam, Bong and Jinggoy did not tackle the issue of their relationship with Napoles. They just repeated the denials stated in their counter-affidavits mixed up with inconsistencies. Only JPE among the three made mention of Napoles in his motion for reconsideration, but it has inconsistencies as well.

Shady deals do not always stay in the dark. Once the light spot on them, the deals themselves would hunt them down.