Rodel E. Dagumampan

In the beginning of the year, I came to know Avelino Razon, thru tv and newspapers, whom many news achors and morning shows addressed as “Mamang Pulis”. Razon changed the image of PNP as friendly, smiley, approachable and trustworthy. After the event where journalists were arested and handcuffed in Manila Peninsula siege, razon becomes even more aggressive in promoting PNP. He was friendly with the media, he even have nice friendster account. That was very nice and impressive.

But Mamang Pulis just proves he is not a good liar, when he was caught lying in his last conversation with anchor Anthony Taverna in a morning show. His latest statements directly contradicts with his previous claims that Lozada and his family asked for police protection. And that he send a formal request to the PNP protection office. Which all later proven lies.

The abduction of Lozada from NAIA is a big blow to the already bad image of PNP that has been tainted with corruption, doubtedness. In the past, we only hear about officers involved in street crimes, extortion and intimidation. This time, its different. Daylight kidnapping, lying to the public, and desperate attempt to cover it up with some forcely signed documents. How can you trust officers whose command chief is guilty of lying.

Just to share with you, in Canada, they have Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), one of the worlds most recognized police force. RCMP maintains an friendly and approachable image which basically how police offices should be. Its pity, Mamang Pulis might have been looking after RCMP but his lapse and judgement and involment in the ZTE controversy made him less trustworthy…

My recent trip to Manila has been unforgettable, not for the reasons that I enjoyed it but for the bad experiences and “suffering” we had waiting for the first flight next day.

Alright it was our fault that we’re late, and this just proves that trip to manila from batangas has always been unpredictable. I know, I should have have just a leave early or checked-in in nearby hotels before my flight to avoid last minute rush. Considering the current construction works at South Luzon Express Way (SLEX), the travel time really take two fold.

How I wish that the frustration of being left behind by the flight can be lesen by comfortable waiting area or at least a baggage care-taker system at the airpoty. I travel alone and this time I have a lot of excess baggage that will not fit the taxi, I cannot leave it with just somebody else so I decided to just wait for my flight next day 5AM. Its 10PM btw, 10hours waiting here in old waiting shed, bitten with mosquitoes, sleeping with the cats. Imagine if you travel alone, you have excess baggage, you have no cash and you have find some ATM machines or buy some food. This is not possible here, unless you found someone trustworthy to look after your things.

There are no ATM machines at domestic airport. I have learned my lesson with my past trips, always bring enough cash enough to pay the price difference just in case you got late, enough so if you decide to sleepover the nearby hotel you have some money to pay it. In my past trip to Davao one time, I really had hard time finding the nearest BDO or BPI branch in the area. Manila Domestic Road has no overpass. I got hungry, I have to buy some food. I have found some fastfood and restaurant across the Cebu Pacific building. But be aware, this road is really an accident prone area. Its like playing patintero just trying to cross the road. A very busy road with no overpass! One miss and you’re really dead here. You have to have strategy like waiting for cars that signals to enter the airport so the following cars will slow down. No not cars, container trucks, trailer trucks and vans too!

As part of my checklist in my recent trip to Manila is an application for new cedula or CTC. Its been quite long time since I get one, as far as i remember that was three years ago when I started working in my first company. I was surprised when I was asked if I am employed, and how much salary I am getting, I got toungue tied and speechless. Then I asked in return why. The cashier then replied the amount i am to pay will be based on my salary. Wth!

Alright, after several minutes thinking, having some people waiting, having prepared for it, considering the recent development efforts in our town, and the corruption happening in our country, I just paid what is due. If i am surprised, the cashier was even more surprised, even her co-cashier in the office. She asked me again if I am sure about it. She asked me again if I am really sure about it. She asked me again before printing the document, the third time. That was the funny part LOL. She said she seldom encounter people pay obove 100 pesos in cedula. Btw, Rosario, my town, is a small town in Batangas where people mostly depends on relatives working abroad or agriculture.

How many Filipino lied about the purpose of getting Community Tax Certificare a.k.a cedula. I can see and I know many people lied on real pupose of document. The current salary if working, the marital status, employment status, and purpose of the document. Applicants planning to use this document told the issuing officer, its for schooling. Some when asked how much is the current salary, says they are not working yet. Professionals earning big bucks says, they only get this x amount which is just quater of actual amount they are getting.

In most cities and municipalities, this is just bounded by trust. Trust on the words of the applicant on questions asked by the municipality treasurer. In some cases, the cashier ask for some support documents like previous ITR and business registration documents.

Community Tax Certificate (CTC) a.k.a as cedula is a document prepared, issued, and paid in barangay, city, or municipal office. It is a documentary requirements when filing an income tax return, registering a new business. In some cases, this also serve as an identification document if no available ID at the time like caught in traffic violation.

From Inquirer:“A person is required to present a cedula when he or she acknowledges a document before a notary public; takes an oath of office upon election or appointment to a government position; receives a license, certificate or permit from a public authority; pays a tax or fee; receives money from a public fund; transacts official business; or receives salary from a person or corporation.

Exempted are diplomatic and consular representatives, and visitors staying in the Philippines for less than three months. They can still get a cedula voluntarily for P1.”

When was the last time you get a community tax certificate. How much did you pay?

My door mate sent me a very inspiring speech transcript of JG’s boss from his 20th Ad Congress Speech. Its quite a long email.

I googled around and I found the transcript was also posted at URC’s official website. Read the full transcript here.

In less than 30 minutes, I was able to install and configure my Linksys Broadband Router powered by Smart Bro!

The other day I managed to convinced my doormate to share with us his internet. It was really funny because we are four living in this floor, 4 doors in this house and we have separate internet connection each. Mine before is Bayantel, the other two serviced by Smart Bro. But i cut off my line, since my office is just few blocks away here, its not smart I have to pay 1k+ every month. Then Dra. Masol asked if Smart Bro, she planned to subscribed to their new offer, the one with 40hrs free. No no way, better get a fixed line.

Having wi-fi at home has several benefits. It saves me a lot of time. I can browse news, read blogs, watch some clips in the morning while having breakfast and coffee. This way when I arrived the office I am already focused and can start right away with work items for the day. Ussualy, if you dont have internet or wi-fi at home, you waste minutes and hours browsing and blog-hopping. Then you will reaized, its almost 12PM, time for lunch.

But now I’m up again.  I could save at least 1k pesos every month with this also.

Time to relax, time to spend time with the family. Time to go somewhere we never been and visit places with friends and family. But will I? or shall we? Answer: Partly.

With almost 20 work related items to do this Christmas vacation in preparation of our company’s plan in 2008, I would still be busy I think. From employee development plan, product development plan and technical documentation and requirements gathering for our product, to designing official logo and writing content for our official website. 2009 will be the year will everything will go full blast. Hiring more developers, testers and offering internship program to students.

I am looking for a place to stay in Baguio City where I can spend several days and use wi-fi for long time. Know some? Please contact me.

Karambola ni lolo ito!

If you are an avid reader of GMANews.tv; the official website GMA News and Public Affairs, you may have noticed the the trail of TV ratings report on prime time and datime programs of two gian tv networks. A regularly updated survey as resut of AGB Nielsen Media Research.

This week ABS-CBN TV Network filed a lawsuit against giant media research firm AGB Nielsen for what it described as a well coordinated manipulation of TV ratings. Not less that a day GMA Network released a press statement stating their interest on getting the bottom of the issue. GMA Network has not been accused yet nor mentioned in tv news or broadsheets. Later AGB admitted there has been isolated cases of tampering in provincial areas but insist its is just isolated cases and does not affect the overall result. GMA denied any wrongdoing and insist they play fair and but have promotional initiatives in metro manila provincial areas.

FYI, GMA Network goes public with a celebrated Initial Public Offering (IPO) programme. In just few days, the firm’s folded multiple times. I have been monitoring the performance of GMA while I am researching how-to’s and ideas on investing on stock market. Since year 2000 GMA Network’s performace s very impressive, evident by their market position as the No1. TV Network in the Philippines.

AGB Nielsen is I think is the defacto name in tv survey. This is a major case that may compromized the integrity of their job. I can imagine how demoralizing is this to all their employees and how stressful it is their media relation officers and directors. The issuance of Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) to cease AGB from further conducting tv ratings survey in 20 days is another headache. The advertisers holding-up their subscriptions and potential loss of customers.

While AGB said this is just an isolated case, still the value and intergrity of their reports has been compromized already. Whether you still 1000,00 or 100,00, the point is you still steal and you are marked.

This is a story that made me aware how these surveys were conducted. I don’t know they have to install a channel monitoring device on selected households to monitor their viewing behaviours. I thought this is just a multiple choice form that each household being surveyed asked to fill-up. Like SWS’ and PulseAsia’s.

While we really have no idea what actually happened, let’s give them the benefit of the doubt. Let the truth prevail, everybody deserved to know.

Isang tulog na lang. This will be my last dinner here in Davao, tommorow I’ll be home for christmas. All my backs are packed, the gifts, souvenirs, books and work papers. I’m excited! After three months stay here in Davao City, I will finally meet my friends in Manila and Lipa City again. Inuman todamax. I did not tell my family the exact date of my flight, they’ll be surprise for sure.

I am planning to go to Baguio City after Christmas but I find it hard to find a hotel or transient house that has wifi. I found one which I think is a fine place and very cheap, but too bad they are fully booked. All units were booked for the next few months ha! Not surprising for Innsison transient house in Baguio. Now if you have friends there who have a good place to stay willing to accept transient, buzz me.

Lots of activities for this vacation. I also plan to visit my college benefactor Mr. Tony Zara. I am very excited because after I graduated last 2004, this will be my second time to visit them. I used to visit their beautiful place in Ayala, Alabang during college to show them my class cards and assessment form for the next semester. Very generous couple. I just have to bring them their favorite pinais na tulingan at mga gulay pitas sa aming farm and they are very happy. I just hope we have harvest this season . Christmas present for them, please give me ideas!

I really love visiting their please. It keeps me dreaming and dreaming BIG. Its Ayala Village in Alabang where where success and prosperity speaks for itself.

Reunion time. Two of my classmates arrived from Hong-kong and Dubai. They treated my friends out last month but I was not there, bad timing. There has been two bonding activities that I missed. Its always fun meeting my college classmates again, all of them We shared a lot of things as we live in the same house, same room, same bed, shared notes and computers in college. FYI we lived in one big house for 1 year, the whole duration of your thesis project. Barikang kaina-inaman ito hehe.

I have saved enough for the furnishings of our house. The last two years has been my best years. Last year I blogged about building our house and its almost finished now. There has been a lot of delays because of very expensive materials, high cost of labor and electrical wirings. While its not yet finished my family have to moved last June for the fear that our old house will be blown out my the last typhoons. Thank god, its still there and now serve as storage for our rice, feeds, woods and fertlizers. Still look like a house but blown doors, shattered windows, falling rusty roof and sawaling dingding.

It was very funny because last time I had vacation, July, I asked my mother if we can spend night there. I want feel again our sahig  na kawayan. I want to sleep there again with just banig and kumot. When I was young, all of us lived in this one place. No rooms that separate us, just a dressing area and 1 aparador. I missed that place really, while it back hurts the last time I sleep on it I still love it. I missed the feel of blowing winds from our silong. The tranquility of the soroundings where sounds of kulig-lig, keeps on playing whole night like a chorus in perfect rhtym. The 2:00 o’clock habbit of our chickens. And the visible light of fireflies that conquers the whole dap-dap tree that we can view from the whole of our ding-ding na sawali. At 7:00 PM, Kuya, Taba and I  used to count stars and numbers of fireflies that approaches the dap-dap tree. At 8PM we’re all down. I sleep between my sister and my brother.

While thinking how much would the furninshings will be, I am also thinking this might not be too practical. Only my father and my mother will live thee next year anyway. I am working here in Davao City. My brother works and live in Lipa City. Taba my brother will study in Batangas City and my youngest sister Jennifer will be in Manila for freshman college. I am thinking maybe just fixed our parent’s bedroom so they may experience the most comfortable sleep and living of their life. Enough not to be worry of food to eat next day or fear that their children might not get into school next month. Enough for my mother to raise our pigs to sustain their daily expenses. Enough for my father to just take care of our carabaos and consigned rice field. Enough for my father not be exploited to accept farm plowing for 300 pesos a day no lunch.

This also my first time to pay big bucks for the terminal fee. FYI, recently Davao City International Airport raised their TF by 200%. From the previous 50.00 it became 200 pesos. That’s 15.00 difference, I can buy another pasalubong t-shirt for that.