PRAISE, PRAISE UNTO TO THE PERIPATETIC ILOKANO WRITER AND TEACHER

     Praise, praise to the peripatetic Ilokano writer and teacher of the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He is on sabbatical leave but he has been lecturing on things that matter and discovering his fellow tribal "bayanggudaw" in Mindanao and soon be writing about them.

     The blogger says that no mannurat will come after Dr. Aurelio Solver Agcaoili with the brilliance and illumination he makes of his many worlds of beauty and ugliness and sorrow and pain.

Thte teacher, seated, and the blogger at the Mandarin restaurant
 in San Fernando City, La Union, Philippines

A CASE OF FAMILY-BASED CORRUPTION IN THE PHILIPPINES?

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   Sen. Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada maintains he is innocent of the crime in connection with the illegal use of his pork barrel. (He earlier claimed he did not personally know Janet Napoles, the alleged mastermind of the P10-B scam involving senators and other government officials.But there were photos that showed Jinggoy attended parties and other events hosted by Napoles.)

     As a blogger-journalist, we are constrained to ask the questions:

     1. What is the P30-million project under the name of Jinggoy that was supposed to have been funded by his pork barrel? If it was  implemented, where is the project?
     2. What is the P71-million project allegedly under the name of her mother, then Sen. Loi Ejercito? If it was implemented, where is the project?
     3. What is the P10-million project allegedly under the name of Mrs. Ejercito? If it was implemented, where is the project?

     Years ago, the father of the senator, President Joseph Estrada, was convicted of economic plunder by the country's Supreme Court.
 

FACES OF POVERTY

EYES WIDE OPEN

PETER LA. JULIAN
 

     At a crossing near the Cultural Center of the Philippines building in Manila, a frail elderly man approaches our car, and stretched his hand for alms. He was holding a child with a 100-peso bill clasped tightly on her hands.
     A family of five takes a bath at the murky and smelly waters of Manila Bay near Roxas boulevard.
     A man takes a dip in the waters, and lingers for some minutes. He takes off his tattered shirt, washes it, twists the water off the cloth, then puts it on his thin body as he comes out of the bay toward land.

Begging for alms in Baguio City, near SM mall