Third Letter from Cambodia

Third Letter from Cambodia
Dateline Siem Reap
March 12, 2009

Dear  June, Noldy and everyone,

June, we just came from Angkor Wat. I wrote a poem for you while resting there, and I’ll e-mail it tonight.

Noldy, please tell Rev. Tok Su that I have been praying to the Lord about joining Food for the Hungry International Federation (FHIF), and I will let you and him know of my decision when I’m in Kota Kinabalu in April.

Kindly ask him, and inform me, on  what will be my role and responsibility.

Let’s pray to the Lord for wisdom. If you ask me, I want to join. But it is the Lord who will decide on this thing, since we are just His servant-soldiers.

Wharever our Commander-in-Chief  commands us to do, then we follow orders.

I’m here with Mr. Lapus in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

I have contacts in  Vietnam, and in Cambodia already.

We just came from Angkor Wat. This afternoon, I went around Siem Reap by using a bicycle. I enjoyed it. I passed by the Royal Palace of Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk here in Siem Reap.

Cambodia is now a democracy. It has a multi-party system like the Philippines. The dominant party is the Cambodian People’s Party of 1st Prime Minister Hun Sen, followed by the FUNCINPEC PARTY of 2nd Prime Minister Niridith Sihanouk, son of King Norodom. There are other smaller parties like the Saim Rimsy Party and the Freedom Party.

The communists are disgraced after the Cambodian genocide. Their leaders who are still alive are on trial for mass murder and crimes against humanity.

Cambodia is now a free country, It still has many problems like any country for that matter. But the murderous Marxist-Communists are out of power. I doubt well if the Cambodian people will allow them to come back.

The Cambodians are deeply traumatized by the mass atrocities of the Marxists-Communists (Khmer Rouge of Pol Pot). Cambodian Marxist-Communist Chairman Pol Pot is dead. Cambodians spit at his grave.

Let’s pray for our country, that God will deliver the Philippines from godlessness and genocide.

Let’s pray that God will make our AFP-PNP God-fearing and upright so they can defeat the enemy under God’s leadership.

Regards to Sis Arlene. From Cambodia, we will proceed to Thailand, then to Malaysia. From Kuala Lumpur, we will go home to Manila.

I will be going to Kota Kinabalu on April 27 because my wife will graduate from the University of the Philippines in Diliman on April 26 with a Master’s Degree in Architecture. The event will be whole day affair. I don’t want to miss my wife’s graduation exercises in UP.

The following day, April 27, by God’s grace, I will fly to Kota Kinabalu with my family.

Norberto Mercado

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QUESTIONS FOR FILIPINO VOTERS IN 2010

Questions for Filipino voters from Mercado-Alonto team
BY ATTY. BATAS MAURICIO

A self-declared 2010 presidential candidate and his probable running mate have fired the first salvo in turning the forthcoming presidential election an “issue-oriented” political exercise, with their “give-me-five questions” for voters.

Born Again Bishop Norberto Lacierna Mercado and Dr. Zaf Alonto, who announced they will run as president and vice-president respectively in 2010, said the “give-me-five questions” were promulgated by them so that Filipino voters could assess the presidential and vice-presidential candidates on the basis of their answers to the questions.

These are the five questions: One, do you want to abolish the income tax as well as the estate and real estate taxes? Two, do you want a free college education with student allowance for everybody? Three, do you want to remove the expanded value tax on gasoline, electric power, water, food and medicine?

Four, do you want to end our national debt where half of our annual budget is “wasted” to pay it? And, five, do you want more jobs for the Filipino people?

Come to think of it, all of these questions could be traced back to what our Lord Jesus Christ said was the second most important commandment of all: love your neighbor as you love yourself (Leviticus 19: 18; Matthew 19:19; Matthew 22:39; Mark 12:31; Mark 12:33; Luke 10:27; Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14 and James 2:8 of the Bible).

When you abolish income and other taxes and give our people more money to spend, when you give more jobs to them and enable our students to study for free, that is loving our neighbor, for all intents and purposes.

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Muslims Urge Bishop Mercado To Run for President

“This is the first time that I hear a presidential aspirant explain the need for a free college and university education for all Filipinos, and that there is money for this purpose,” Ibrahim Jaafar said after he heard Bishop Norberto Mercado speak on the topic.

Bishop Mercado told his audience composed of youth leaders from Muslim and Christian backgrounds that one of the best ways for people to get out from the vicious cycle of poverty is to have a college or university degree which will help him land in a job, as well as expand opportunities for economic improvement for  his family.

“Many Muslim young people who are hopeless about the future because their parents can’t send them to college anymore due to poverty join the rebels , or even criminal groups. But if they will have the opportunity to go to college, I doubt whether they will still join those groups. We urge Bishop Mercado to run for President even if he is not popular as the other candidates. We will campaign for him among Muslims because we feel that he is concerned about our future, “ Jaafar said.

Saida Alonto, a Muslim student leader also said: “Bishop Mercado has a deep sympathy for the Muslim youth. When he said that he wants to implement a free college and university program for all Filipino youth if he becomes President, whether Christians and Muslims, my heart became excited. That’s the dream of young Muslims like myself. So we want him to run for President. He gives us hope, and so we are going to support him.”

Intan Sadak, a fresh college graduate, said, “Only a few Muslims are able to get a college education. What Mercado is proposing makes us excited, because many Muslims are poor and they can’t go to college. We want Mercado to run for President in 2010. We will ask our fellow Muslims to campaign for him even if he is not as popular and moneyed as the other traditional candidates.”

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BAKIT AKO TATAKBO SA 2010?

BAKIT AKO TATAKBO SA 2010?

Extemporaneous Message of Dr. Zaf Alonto, 2010 Vice Presidential Aspirant

Mga kababayan, ako ay hindi pulitiko at lalo naman hindi ako sinungaling! May pagka-bulgar lamang ang aking estilo kaya pagpasensyahan na lang ninyo ako. Pilosopya ko kasi ang MAGING TOTOO sa lahat ng bagay DAHIL AYAW KONG MA-IMPYERNO!

Dahil sa mga pangyayari sa ating ‘Lupang Hinirang’ na ngayo’y LUPAYPAY na sa kahirapan at korapsyon, ako’y pumayag na sumabak sa darating na halalan ngayong 2010, bagay na taimtim kong inaayawan! Gulat kayo, ano!

Sabi pa ng iba, sino ba itong engot at totoy na sasabak sa eleksyon, eh, wala naman karanasan sa pulitika?! At wala pang pangalan?!

Heto naman ang sagot ko at makinig kayong mabuti, ano! Tama sila! Wala nga akong karanasan; KARANASAN na siyang NAGPALUBOG at NAGPALUGMOK sa ating bansa mula ‘Bansang Marangya’ hanggang sa naging ‘Bansang Nabokya’ kaya nagkadenggoy-denggoy ang Pilipinas ngayon!. Kung di ba ito totoo , bakit galit ang karamihan ng Pinoy sa mga pulitiko! Di ba totoo?!

At tama rin sila, dahil wala nga akong karanasan magsinungaling sa bayan o magnakaw sa kaban gobyerno na dapat napunta sa mga naghihirap na masang Pilipino!

At totoo wala nga akong pangalan tulad ng ibang mga pulitiko na SUMIKAT DAHIL SA PAMBUBOLA sa atin!

Sabi naman ng iba riyan, kung ako naman ay palarin na manalo sa halalan at maluloklok sa puwesto, eh magiging sinungaling at magnanakaw na rin ako tulad ng karamihang pulitiko!

Heto naman and sagot ko sa kanila. AYAW KO PONG MA-IMPYERNO, ANO! 53 years old na ako at ilang taon na lang ang natitira sa aking buhay. Hindi na matagal at magiging lupa na rin ako! Ang pinaka-ambisyon ko ay MAPUNTA SA LANGIT at alam na alam ko na ang pagnanakaw at pagsisinungaling ay magdadala sa akin sa kapahamakan! Di ba totoo iyon?!

Kaya mungkahi ko sa mga pulitiko ngayon. Tigilan na po ninyo ang pagsisinungaling, panguguyo at pagnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan. NAPAKA-INIT PO NG IMPYERNO at ito’y WALANG KATAPUSANG PARUSA! Hindi ba kayo natatakot niyan?! Para sa akin, TAKOT AKO! Kung ayaw ninyong magbago, bahala kayo sa kabilang-buhay! Kayo rin!

Sabi naman ng iba riyan, maging praktikal daw ako dahil wala naman akong pera para itustos sa pangangampanya.

Heto naman ang sagot ko. Kong tayong mga botante ay nadadala sa pera-pera lang, aba, eh, huwag na tayong magreklamo kong ang ating mga namumuno ay mga sinungaling at magnanakaw dahil binuto natin sila! Kaya MAGTIIS TAYO! O, di ba?!

Naala-ala ko tuloy ang mga kuwento tungkol sa aking lolo na kauna-unang Muslim sa Pilipinas na nahalal na senador. Three termer po siya. Bago po siya namatay, siya po ang nagtatahi ng kanyang mga pantalon. At ang kanyang pinakamatandang anak, na naging senador din, wala po siyang sasakyan hanggang siya’y yumao. Nanaghihiram lang po siya sa kanya mga anak!

Tanong pa ng iba–eh–may programa ba kayo na aayos sa napakabigat na suliranin ng bansa? At paano ninyo ito ipaparating sa mga botante, eh, wala nga kayong pera para ikutin ang buong bansa?

Heto naman ang sagot ko: Una, tatanggalin natin ang mga SALOT o KONTRABIDA sa buhay ng mga Pinoy na nagpahirap sa kanila ng husto. Basahin at pag-isipan ninyo itong mabuti.

Aalisin natin ang:

1. Income Tax

2. Real Estate Tax

3. Electric, Water, Oil at iba pang mga taxes na ipinatong sa mga basic needs ng Pinoy.

4. At babawasan natin ang Vatman, eh, e-vat pala, mula 12% sa 7%!

At teka, may masama akong ibabalita at hindi ito tsismis, ano! May balak pa raw taasan ang e-vat sa isang taon para daw ipanlaban sa Gobal Crisis na gawa rin naman ng mga GREEDY PLUS PLUS!

May tanong ang isa–Aba teka, eh paano naman tatakbo ang gobyerno kong aalisin ninyo ang mga taxes na ito?!

Heto naman ang sagot ko at baka magulat kayo sa sasabihin ko! Hindi lang tatakbo ang gobyerno kundi LILIPAD ang pamahalaan KONG TATANGGALIN NATIN ANG MGA SALOT SA BUHAY NG MGA PINOY! At bakit naman?

Hindi ba TATANGGALIN natin ang salot na ito?; at dahil dito, MAGKAKAROON NG PERA ANG MGA PINOY!; at dahil magkakaroon ng pera ang mga Pinoy, MAS MARAMING MABIBILI NILA SA KANILANG MGA PANGANGA-ILANGAN!; at dahil mas maraming mabibili ang mamamayan, UUNLAD NA ANG KASALUKUYANG MATAMLAY NA MGA NEGOSYO; at dahil ang mga negosyo ay uunlad, MAS MALAKI ANG MAIBIBIGAY NILANG CORPORATE TAXES SA GOBYERNO! Eh di may pera na ang mga pinoy, uunlad ang negosyo, may pera pa ang gobyerno!

At dagdag pa rito, dahil MAS MALAKI and ‘DEMAND’, ang mga producers ay MANGANGA-ILANGAN ng MAS MARAMING TRABAHO dahil sino naman ang magpapatakbo ng mga paktorya–mga kabayo?! Tao, di ba!?

Hetong programang ang tinatawag na HAPPY ALL SCENARIO. Walang labis, walang kulang! Ang GALING-GALING ng PANGINOON, ANO!

Pangalawa, para wala kaming sabit at PINAGKAKA-UTANGAN, HINDI KAMI kukuha ng suporta sa kahit kanino mang Drug lord, Wetting lord o kung sino mang lord of the ring kundi kay TOTOONG LORD LANG at sa inyong mga botante!

Pangatlo, pag-iisahin natin ang mga departamento sa executive branch na magkapareho lang ang function. Tulad na lang halimbawa ng DILG at DND.

Gayahin na lang natin ang isang ma-tsismosong blind item column na ‘ALAM BA NINYO?’. Ang sa akin naman ay, ALAM BA NINYO na ang mga nagkapatong-patong na mga departamento sa executive branch ay ginawa para PAMBAYAD sa mga kaalyado ng nahalal na pangulo at ito nama’y naging instrumento ng korupsyon? ALAM DIN BA NINYO na ito’y isang dahilan kung bakit naghihirap ang bansa ngayon?

Nguni’t, ALAM DIN BA NINYO na kung pagsama-samahin ang mga nagkapare-parehong departamento, magbibigay ito ng bilyon-bilyong SAVINGS sa gobyerno na magagamit natin sa FREE EDUCATION na isa rin sa ating programa? Aba mag-isip isip na tayo, mga kababayan!

Pang-apat, iibahin o ire-restructure natin ang ating kasalukuyang Debt Servicing Program, o sa madaling salita, ang ating binabayarang utang panglabas (‘Utang’ raw ng ating ina, sabi pa ng iba).

Kung sa una, halos kalahating porsyento ng ating annual budget ang IPINAMBABAYAD sa panglabas na utang, ito’y BABAWASAN natin. TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT, iyan ang sasabihin natin sa mga foreign creditors. At ang ‘slash’ na ito ay GAGAMITIN natin sa FREE EDUCATION at AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT programs! Ang GALING MO, Panginoon ko!

At sa panghuli, imumungkahi ng inyong lingkod na ang mga RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE lamang ang ilagay sa mga strategic position ng pamahalaan! KAYA TAPOS NA ANG MGA MALILIGAYANG PANAHON NINYO, KONG NAGKATAON, kayong mga kurakot!

Paano naman ito mangyayari? Simple lamang! ITAGUYOD NINYO ANG AMING KANDIDATURA at iluklok sa pamahalaan! Kung di ninyo magawa ito, eh di MAGTIIS NA LANG TAYO sa status quo o sa dating gawi na KINAMUMUHIAN NINYO!

Tigilan na natin ang ating PULPOL NA PAG-IISIP na bumuto sa LESSER EVIL! EVIL PA RIN IYON, mga kababayan, kaya nga nakakabit pa rin ang salitang EVIL!

Salamat at pagpalain tayong lahat ng Poong-Maykapal.

Ameen!

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Poetry, The Past, and Nostalgia

June 18, 2008

Dearest June,

The Negros Navigation passenger ship “The Apostle Peter” arrived in Iloilo City from Manila this morning, about 7 AM.

We had a two-hour stop-over.

From Iloilo City, the ship proceeded to Bacolod City.

In between the two islands, I could not help recalling the afternoon of July 4,1977 when I wrote a poem for you titled “Without A Word”.

I could not touch poetry while the ship was cruising the sea from Corregidor to Mindoro yesterday afternoon, for I was engrossed in reading “In The Presence of My Enemies”, the account of  American missionary  to the Philippines Gracia Burnham, who lost her husband in the kidnapping spree in 2001 perpetrated by the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf. The book, sort of autobiographical, touched me so much that I even wanted to e-mail Mrs. Burnham and express to her my sympathy.

I also read “From The Leader’s Heart”, a Biblical account on what it takes to be a leader of men and nations. It’s tough to be a leader, and I’m not courting leadership for myself per se.  But since this is the best way to change this nation and eradicate poverty, then I am resigned to it than just doing the usual things.

Still, this morning, while “The Apostle Peter” was plying the cold, cold sea,  I couldn’t help returning to the kingdom of poetry. Nostalgia has its way of coming into one’s mind and heart.

I recited to myself  the July 4, 1977 poem “Without A Word” from memory…

Without A Word

Even dreams can’t move me now

as I sail

in this vast, immortal sea

separating you from me…

The world

is as cold as the waves

which rush and hurl into the deep…

And here

a thousand miles away from you

the tenderness of the past

comes to my memory…

I experience

the loneliness which stings

and breaks a man…

I praise Him

in tears suppressed

for His Spirit gently eases my mind,

but it’s so different when you’re here

in my arms

to tenderly cheer me up

without a word…

This is the poem I wrote in the afternoon of July 4,1977.  We came from Bacolod City on our way back to Iloilo City, and the passion of poetry urged me to go to the deck in that late afternoon, all by myself, and write the poem on a piece of paper. This is the poem which I had laminated, and it’s on the wall in the house.

I can memorize it.

I still have that poem in my mind and heart, after 31 years…

I love you, and I always will…

Bert

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