MEANDERING THOUGHTS

Listening to a woman talk about global politics, I sensed that she was under party political rule and was just mouthing slogans. She was reading her statement and there was no spontaneity in her speech unlike the other women leaders that I have viewed on screen like Angela Merkel and Jacinda Ardern. Considering that Ms. Merkel was born in East Germany and has a background on the communist rule there before it merged with West Germany, I think that her development as a world leader is remarkable. She looks humble and knowledgeable of the problems of her country,  as she is a politician and a scientist as well. 

I think the left has not come up with female leaders that we can look up to. China today is steeped in machismo. I saw a woman scientist and had thought that ahh, maybe she is worthwhile emulating. It turns out that she is part of the laboratory that developed the anti-covid 19 virus that is now wreaking havoc all over the world.

The Taiwanese President Tsai Ing -wen is leading her country in the fight against Covid 19 and Taiwan is now doing well with deaths under ten. Yet her country is being downgraded all the time by the CCP.

Well....

KULUNGAN

SOCIAL DISTANCING AND PRISONERS

On March 8, 2020, I went to the Galas Police Precinct to give a gallon of alkaline water to the women prisoners. They were billeted in a room next to the men's which was nearer the opening door. I could not see how many there were. My heart was pounding when I gave the water and some reading materials as to why March 8 is a significant date for women. I heard the men say "thank you" ahead of the women. They all looked very grateful. 

I just could not imagine how the male prisoners-- there were more than ten of them- how they could act as human beings in a prison cell that is only about ten x ten meters. I could see three or five lying down on pieces of cardboard on the floor and reading, while the others were standing up. 

No, I did not bother to interview nor asked if I could since I know already the response to that request. 

But that scenery gives me a good idea on how to prevent the prisoners from contracting Covid19 at this time. And this could be done to all other prison cells that are packed full.

The PNP must rent a big house with a lawn somewhere which they can secure with twenty police officers or twenty soldiers. The house should have a high wall fence about twenty feet. Then the security of the place can be done with dogs and about five soldiers around, with the fences having a capacity to ring a bell once someone attempts to climb it. 

I am sure with real estate becoming a losing proposition nowadays, the CREBA, or the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders' Associations Inc., the largest Real Estate umbrella organization in the Philippines could be tapped for this purpose. After talking with them about available houses, then the PNP can assign a task force to determine how to use these places;  how many prisoners can be accommodated per house; which ones can be placed there depending on gravity of their cases; how will they be fed; and how much budget will be needed for that purpose; and where it will be sourced. 

In a big house, then the social distancing can be done easily. What do you think, Folks?

EBENEZER SCROOGE, A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Where the people's finances are imperilled, it pays to be like Scrooge in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. 

A Christmas Carol recounts the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an elderly miser who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come. After their visits, Scrooge is transformed into a kinder, gentler man.  

HACKING THE SOCIAL AMELIORATION ASSISTANCE MESS

Monday, April 27, 2020
DSWD

GOOD NEWS: A good intentioned couple returned the Social Amelioration Assistance money because each one of them had been given a good sum so that's a double payout. Another said that he is a US citizen and so does not deserve to receive anything.

However, right now, the Social Amelioration Program, despite its benevolent intentions, is a big mess. Many recipients are calling up media to complain that the money is being asked of them to return it to the government; otherwise, they will be charged in court. Others are complaining because until now they have not received it. Still others are being told to sign forms, submit xerox copies of their senior citizen's card, like mine, but until now have not received anything save foodpacks.

If you count the number of recipients in a barangay of 4000 families, and each will be receiving P8,000, that means P32,000,000.00, is it not?

So when I heard that the DSWD was going to release the social amelioration cash to the DILG LGU, I became nervous. What? Why? Is there a banker in the barangay who knows how to handle P32,000,000?

Why the barangay which is only used to an IRA of P70M every year, and expending it only for personnel, operations, and transportation, and the like? P32,000,000 should be handled by a bank already, not a barangay with people who do not all have a degree in banking and finance. With apologies to barangay captains who have such a degree. 

Yes, to release P32,000,000 needs a degree in banking and finance. The barangay needs to give only the names to the bank and then the bank will be the one to release the funds. The barangay will give the names and publish them all around in every street to insure that no one is being left out.

What are the qualifications of a bank manager, aside from a degree in banking and finance? Banks I suppose seek applicants with "leadership and supervisory experience, a background in community involvement, good knowledge of banking regulations, an understanding of investment and loan products and excellent customer service skills. Budgeting, organizational and training skills are also desired."

Was DSWD aware that it was going to commit a very big mistake of just following the so-called chain-of-command style in government by releasing the money to the LGUs? 

No. The DSWD was caught flat-footed that it had to deal with the release of the funds and so, to wash its hands of any responsibility, has sought to transfer the responsibility to the LGUs.

Not only was it erroneous to release the funds to the LGUs, the DSWD should have sought the help and advice of the Department of Finance, on how to handle the funds, properly. If DWSD could not hack it, then the DOF should offer its services, or advice the DSWD to release the funds to the Landbank, government institution and then ask the barangays to give the names of the recipients to the Landbank. Right now, the DOF is just watching from the sidelines as the mess of complaints pile up. Pathetic indeed.  

Folks, there is government money available for the people but they are being handled by the wrong people, the wrong assignees. 

And DSWD should stop threatening the recipients that they will be charged in court if they do not return the funds mistakenly released to them by the LGU. They committed a big mistake and so must correct themselves and the procedures pronto. In fact, they should be charged in turn of government malpractice. 

I am glad there are media people who have been very open and accommodating of the complaints of the people. But it is time to correct a very big managerial act and that is of releasing the funds for release by the barangay.

Let us be professional about government social services and always see to it that in these Covid 19 times, we need more prudence *

Assigning the banks to handle the release of funds should be made a standard procedure; otherwise, we will be providing too many tempting instances for crimes like thieving, pilfering, fraud and corruption to government personnel as are now happening in the release of the Social Amelioration Cash. .




*Prudence is defined as the act of being careful, often with money. An example of prudence is checking your bank account before you spend money."
\

Posted by orozco.myblog at 12:39 PM

HACKING THE SOCIAL AMELIORATION ASSISTANCE MESS

GOOD NEWS: A good intentioned couple returned the Social Amelioration Assistance money because each one of them had been given a good sum. so that's a double payout. Another said that he is a US citizen and so does not deserve to receive anything.

However, right now, the Social Amelioration Program, despite its benevolent intentions, is a big mess. Many recipients are calling up media to complain that the money is being asked of them to return it to the government; otherwise, they will be charged in court. Others are complaining because until now they have not received it. Still others are being told to sign forms, submit xerox copies of senior citiso zen's card but until now have not received anything save foodpacks.

If you count the number of recipients in a barangay of 4000 families, and each will be receiving P8,000, that means P32,000,000.00, is it not?

So when I heard that the DSWD was going to release the social amelioration cash to the DILG LGU, I became nervous. What? Why? Is there a banker in the barangay who knows how to handle P32,000,000?

Why the barangay which is only used to an IRA of P70M every year, and expending it only for personnel, operations, and transportation, and the like? P32,000,000 should be handled by a bank already, not a barangay with people who do not all have a degree in banking and finance. ld

Yes, to release P32,000,000 needs a degree in banking and finance. The barangay needs to give only the names to the bank and then the bank will be the one to release the funds. The barangay will give the names and publish them all around in every street to insure that no one is being left out.

What are the qualifications of a bank manager, aside from a degree in banking and finance? Banks I suppose seek applicants with "leadership and supervisory experience, a background in community involvement, good knowledge of banking regulations, an understanding of investment and loan products and excellent customer service skills. Budgeting, organizational and training skills are also desired."
Was DSWD aware that it was going to commit a very big mistake of just following the so-called chain-of-command style in government by releasing the money to the LGUs? No. The DSWD was caught flat-footed that it had to deal with the release of the funds and so, to wash its hands of any responsibility, has sought to transfer the responsibility to the LGUs.

Not only was it erroneous to release the funds to the LGUs, the DSWD should have sought the help of the Department of Finance, should have sought its advice as to how to handle the funds, properly. If DWSD could not hack it, then the DOF should offer its services, or advice the DSWD to release the funds to the Landbank, government institution and then ask the barangays to give the names of the recipients to the Landbank.

Folks, there is government money available for the people but they are being handled by the wrong people.

And DSWD should stop threatening the recipients that they will be charged in court if they do not return the funds mistakenly released to them by the LGU. They committed a big mistake and so must correct themselves and the procedures pronto.

I am grateful to all the media people who have been very open and accommodating of the complaints of the people. But it is time to correct a very big managerial act and that is of releasing the funds for release by the barangay.

Let us be professional about government social services and always see to it that in these Covid 19 times, we need more prudence *

Assigning the banks to handle the release of funds should be made a standard procedure; otherwise, we will be providing too many tempting instances for crimes like thieving, pilfering, fraud and corruption to government personnel which is now happening in the release of the Social Amelioration Cash. .




*Prudence is defined as the act of being careful, often with money. An example of prudence is checking your bank account before you spend money."

I WANNA BE FREE TO DANCE; GIVE ME SPACE!

IF MARX COULD SPEAK NOW

I did not preach the use of biowarfare to kill humanity. The virologist who made it is the greatest aberration of all ideologies. 

Keep wearing a mask, comrades.

LIBERTE

COVID 19 IN NEW YORK:

TOTAL CASES: 268,581

the highest in the USA

DEATHS: 20,861

https://www.worldometers.info/

WHEN SCHOOLS CLOSE

MUSIC HEALS

UNLOCKING THE LOCKDOWN PROBLEM

In Asia, we can find a lot of quotations that help us in living our lives on earth. Mahatma Gandhi* of India said something that is very important for us today: "It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver."

Covid 19 is pressing us to revert to the real aim in life -- to have a long life, to take care of our bodies, emotions and minds and to pursue a spiritual life, one that is morally upright. 

As we look at our existence in the Philippines, we will find that the development we have pursued has made us very vulnerable to this crisis that Covid 19 has brought to us. How have we shaped our farms, towns and cities? 

The style of development of our cities and other areas is geared more to an individualistic pursuit, and not communal. Residences are subdivided into lots, and if the owners are wealthy, they build up tall fences to prevent thieves and UZIs or snoops into their lives. 

What is the style of Covid 19?

1. Covid is invisible. It attacks a person, a group of people which could display or not display symptoms at all. And so as we walk along the streets or hallways, we never know who is already infected with Covid 19; and 

2. Covid 19 cure is expensive. It requires tracing, testing and then curing.  Since it came at this time, we are caught flat-footed on how to deal with it. It is really something new whose origins are still being debated upon -- whether Wuhan lab-grown or something developed in one laboratory in the United States. 

We as ordinary citizens are agog because we really need to depend on scientists and medical doctors for treatment. It is not an ordinary headache which we could ease through taking a simple tablet. 

Covid 19 requires a highly scientific approach for curing. 

What are the effects of Covid 19?

1. We are now under lockdown. Our movements are limited, in fact frozen, as we now have to stay at home to prevent infecting others or getting infected from individuals, who may or may not be known to us;



How funny that Hippocrates, Greek physician in Classical Greece aptly said: "If someone wishes for good health, one must first ask oneself if he is ready to do away with the reasons for his illness. Only then is it possible to help him." 

Everyone will get well if we don't associate physically with each other, the first reason why the authorities caution us to be socially distant due to Covid 19. So those who cannot live without being close to another being, whether intimate or not, will not get well; 

2. Our economic pursuits are crippled as important services and goods are inaccessible; Simple marketing is a tedious effort. Worse, unscrupulous vendors jack up the prices of their products;

3. The way we relate to each other- by social distancing - is really out of this world. This is really something that strikes at the very root of what being human or humane is -- which is relating to people. Our communicating with others is highly guarded already. Handshaking and  besobeso are a no-no. Spontaneity is no longer appreciated;

4. Then Covid 19 patients are separated from relatives, isolated; even should they be in the throes of death, relatives cannot come any nearer. This is resolved by some hospitals which offer E-dalaw as in PGH, or relatives communicating with their patient-relatives through video calls and the like. Only after being cremated are they united again with them. Ridiculous;

5. Our social life is truly upside down. We have to be cautious about meeting people, talking to them, and even expressing our feelings for them;

6. Our schools are also locked down. What knowledge are the children missing? What skills? What talents are going to waste from disuse? How will they plan their future?

7. Economically, our workers and professionals are losing their salaries; their lifelines. They are not able to save for the future because their companies have closed;

And so many more. 

Greatest of all effects is that the government is forced to spend billions of pesos in order to finance the people's needs.

In other words, the structures we have built in our society are not able to respond to the horrific effects of the crisis in such a way that we could still live in the usual normal way - normal means our being able to move about and relate to people and things the usual way, spontaneous and not as the need arises. 

This should make us rethink how to structure our landscape. Instead of big cities with partitions which only spawn fragmented lives, we must go towards building clusters of villages, where everybody knows each other; where the place is self-contained; where everyone is helpful of one another, where it would be easy to contain diseases, and so much more. The place is also a provider of work, rest and recreation, unlike now where we have to travel or move to another place either to market, or to a mall to find recreation. 

Village: More Meaningful Place for Living

Some definitions are in order:  

"A village may be a place in a city or a rural area where residents know each other;  or feel socially connected."

It is environmentally clean, with sustainable land, and where residents feel responsible in maintaining it. 

It has the schools for the children, local shops, parks, utility services, and all other activities can be had and enjoyed. It promotes the health and well-being of everyone. Government services are available. 

Absent this social structure, or maybe they exist in some enclaves, how do we deal now with our present problem? 

Whatever we do now, we should insure that they are things which will be useful for us after Covid 19. All the activities that are being promoted now like hand-washing are acts that need to be ingrained in our lifestyle. Not shaking hands, or not kissing and hugging, or not spitting just anywhere, or covering our mouths and nose when sneezing or coughing, and the like are acts that are worthwhile keeping or maybe the first three are worthwhile resuming when the disease is truly controllable already. 

Meanwhile, how should the lockdown be transformed? First we must consider that where people congregate is where  Covid 19 is bound to be. So we should stop that. 

How? 

On Dealing with the Malls 

Malls could be difficult to open because transmission could be very easy here due to airconditioning. If a mall has five floors, then, people milling around could catch the disease everywhere. It is unfortunate that this is the place most favored by the young and old for whiling away their time. Yet despite their containing essential services that everybody needs whether from high or low income, it is imperative to stick by our rules for containing the virus. 

Moviehouses are also difficult to open because here, the people gather together for two hours to finish watching a movie.  Coughing and sneezing are prevalent here, and so could produce a very unhealthy atmosphere. 

Renting out video movies or watching through youtube would be the best answer to movie bugs. 

LOITERING OR MILLING AROUND INSIDE MALLS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED. THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO DO THAT. 

Other Parts of the Malls that Can be Opened

As malls also have some important stores like celfone repair and sales, then customers may be allowed in Iin limited number. The customers may ask the watcher at the mall gate to contact the store and inform them of their entry. Then numbers shall be assigned them for entry at a designated time or when convenience warrants.  

Ordering from Restaurants

Restaurants must not have dining customers. Instead, customers may order online and bring these home. This is to prevent socializing while eating. In China, it was found that Covid 19 was transmitted at restaurants where families had dined. 

At malls, there are open spaces where dining is allowed in front of small foodstores. I don't really know how safe it would be to use them now. 

Factories, Offices

The DOLE must get a plan from each company or factory that will open and submit it before opening for approval. The plan must contain the placing of workers/employees so that social distancing is observed. Moreover, each worker or employee must be checked before entering the office or building if they do not exhibit those symptoms of sick patients. 

Workers and employees must be ferried by the company to and from their homes or points where they could easily go home. Or transport for going home must be insured for them. They must not be allowed to roam around after work. 

Drivers and conductors of the company buses must be given PPEs to protect them properly. 

Talking inside the bus or chatting in the office should be minimized. 

In other words, this is a serious way of dealing with the crisis.  

Shopping/Ordering for Food

To prevent clustering, let us employ VIRTUAL QUEUING. What is that?

Virtual queuing has been described as a method for not-closing in when purchasing goods and services. For example, in a mall nearby, people need not enter the grocery part of the mall. The mall can instead have a counter near the main entrance where people can submit their orders and allow the workers to gather them from the grocery for them. Then the total purchase will be given them by masked service workers and in turn, they will give the payment to complete the transaction.

WHICH BARANGAYS TO UNLOCK?

Suggested criteria for unlocking a barangay in NCR are:

1. Has no more or at least below five, incidences of Covid 19 cases; 
2. Has strict regulation of social distancing;
3. Has firm control of entrance and exit of residents and visitors to their area; 
4. Has 24-7 watchers over social distancing and quarantining;
5. Each resident is willing to inform when he/she will return, and with whom; 
6. Each resident/visitor may be checked for symptoms upon entrance and exit;
7. Has stocks of food -- fresh and manufactured- available for residents, or nearby. The availability is to insure that the residents need not go out far to purchase their essentials at home;
8. Has an ambulance or transport ready to carry residents who may exhibit symptoms to hospitals; 
9. Has no notorious history of violations of quarantining and social distancing, among others; and
10. Has communication facilities that are A-1, both celfones and landlines.

This should encourage other barangays to observe rules so that they can experience freedom of movement or of being unlocked down. 

We cannot talk of lifting the lockdown by cities because each city has characteristics different from each other. For example, while Quezon City has the highest number of Covid 19 cases, there are barangays here that are free from the virus. And so unlocking could be done by barangay, not by cities. 

The narrower we deal with the problem, the better. 

"In every community, there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every heart, there is the power to do it. – Marianne Williamson

Sa bawa't komunidad, may gawaing dapat gampanan. Sa bawa't bansa, may mga sugat na dapat hilumin. Sa bawa't puso, may kapangyarihang gawin ito. - – Marianne Williamson






*Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (/ˈɡɑːndi, ˈɡændi/; 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethicist, who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful campaign for India's independence from British Rule, and in turn inspire movements for civil rights

PACKAGE OF GOODIES FROM A HIGH OFFICIAL

I would like to thank Mayor Iskho Moreno for having sent me  a pack of goodies in May. I'm so sorry the gratitude has been delayed due to many domestic problems I had had to face. 

The act is very inspiring, knowing that a high official of the city has given recognition of my need for essentials. 

May your tribe increase!

WHEN COVID 19 MEETS ITS MATCH

                              Hey Covid 19, you're no match to a Man like me.                                                                 Just try me. 

WHEN ABE SPEAKS

"You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time. HAVE YOURSELF TESTED FOR COVID 19." 

“Whatever you are, be a good one...STAY HOME." 


With apologies to ABRAHAM LINCOLN

WHEN LIBERTY IS NO LONGER AN OPTION

HIGHEST STATISTICS IN THE US


as of April 21, 2020

State/territory NEW YORK

Confirmed cases 258,361


Deaths 18,821

BABALA: PANGALAGAAN ANG BUHAY NG MGA HEALTH WORKERS!

STOP DEATHS OF DOCTORS AND NURSES AND ALL HEALTH WORKERS IN THE PHILIPPINES:

GIVE THEM VISORS, AND ALL PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT SUPPLIES. NO ONE SHOULD ENTER THE HOSPITAL WITHOUT THEM, ALWAYS NEW EVERY DAY.

ANTI COVID 19 POSTERS

"ONE WORLD:TOGETHER AT HOME" AND "WE HEAL AS ONE"

Yesterday, I chanced upon in the Internet the time magazine coverage of  the musical program, ONE WORLD:TOGETHER AT HOME CONCERT to combat Covid 19 and support healthcare workers organized by Lady Gaga. There were plenty of singers, famous and popular, singing familiar and new songs. 

Some observations: 

1. All three hosts were men; Lady Gaga appeared twice singing - in the beginning - explaining briefly what the concert is about and at the end;

2. Zoom conference was the tech used which allowed the singers to be in their own homes, singing and being shot for flashing on screens around the world;

3. No flashy costumes nor outrageous cosmetics;

4. Accompaniments: guitar and piano;

5. Most of the known singers had their pianos at home -- all in tune and looking new;

6. Most singers played the piano, accompanying themselves while singing, thus revealing their studied musical background. I truly envy them because my piano was tampered with  by some unscrupulous harassers. My other instrument was completely destroyed as the notes now play off key;

7. Each singer was introduced with a written caption upon appearance, thus my recognizing their identities right away;

8. Funny how one host introduced Paul McCartney as his favorite composer which I found rather unethical, since there were other singer-composers in the program. Paul M sang a tune about Lady Madonna who has a hard time making both ends meet while Elton John sang, I'm Still Standing which is about a person who separated from a partner and still standing, or being independent, so to speak;

9. One Afro-American sang as if she was chanting and it was really great;

10 Pop tunes that were sung and which were familiar to me were Sunny, What a Wonderful World (orig by Louis Armstrong), Smile, People, and the Prayer, among others; 

11. In between singing were shots around the world of residents at buildings in different countries, clapping, playing a musical instrument, and lining up to cheer, applaud the healthworkers passing by; 

12. Also were interviews with healthworkers who caught the disease and had recovered;

13. Also were the difficulties they had of  being separated from their families in order not to contaminate them; 

14. One poignant scene was when the healthworkers with masks, and in blue uniform, lined up in a hospital hallway to say farewell to a comrade fully covered on a stretcher and being wheeled to his/her last stop; and 

15. The finale song was the Prayer with Andrea Bocelli (Italian); Celine Dion (Canadian); Lady Gaga (American with Italian ancestry and John Legend (American) with Lang Lang as the accompanying pianist. 

Earlier, I watched Heal as One produced by Mr. Ryan Cayabyab with Philippine singers - 

The song is a take-off from the song used in the Southeast Asian Games. A very memorable line is: 

"We serve, we share, we show compassion; We heal as one."

Music was composed by Maestro Ryan Cayabyab; title and lyrics by Floy Quintos; music arrangement and mixing by Jimmy Antiporda; music producer: Eloisa Matias; music video director,and  Frank Lloyd Mamaril.

Singers were; Iñigo Pascual, Julie Anne San Jose, Jed Madela, Pops Fernandez, Mark Bautista, Jamie Rivera, Rita Daniela, Martin Nievera, KZ Tandingan, Aicelle Santos, Isay Alvarez, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Ogie Alcasid, Michael Williams, Robert Seña, Alden Richards, Ken Chan, Christian Bautista, Paolo Valenciano, Sarah Geronimo, Bamboo, Lani Misalucha, Gary Valenciano, Apl de Ap, and Lea Salonga. 

Filipino singers lent their voices in a rewritten and re-arranged version of the song used in the Southeast Asian Games.

Covid 19 brings out the musical abilities of singers from around the world. We hope the singing also stops it in its tracks.

By the way, the US through its IO at the WH recently suspended funding of the World Health Organization or WHO, the recipient of the One World raised funds of US127 M.