Skewering the pork

As usual, Filipinos resort to humor once again to express their sentiment, coming up with creative suggestions for a new name by which to call the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) a.k.a. pork barrel.  There’s Budgetary Allocation for Collaborative Outreach Nationwide (BACON); Lawmakers Initiative for Emergency, Miscellaneous and Personal Outlay (LIEMPO); Livelihood Empowerment for Countrywide Humanitarian Outlaw Network (LECHON); Barangay Initiatives for New Allocations Granting Oversight On Non-Government Associations Nationwide (BINAGOONGAN).

It would seem the people were not mollified by the President’s earlier announcement about scrapping the pork barrel judging from audacious suggestions like Countrywide Re-distribution of the Inherent Source of Patronage for the Yellow President’s Allies, Toads and Associates (CRISPY PATA), or President’s Overt Revenue Kickback (PORK) which are among the “tamest” of the suggested new PDAF names. In fact, some admitted that the President’s sudden “turnaround” regarding the pork barrel system only served as a catalyst for them to join the anti-pork barrel protest at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta yesterday.

The atmosphere was very reminiscent of the first People Power in 1986, with people from all walks of life – from various sectors, of all ages, regardless of religion or gender preferences – drawn together by shared outrage at a system that many are dubbing the “mother of all corruption.” Not even the intermittent drizzles and the muddy grounds could budge the protesters that also included people on wheelchairs. Many waved flags and posters with witty and colorful slogans to express their disgust and anger. “Entrepreneurs” also made brisk business selling anti-pork T-shirts, foldable fans and other items. Adding to the fiesta atmosphere were celebrities in porcine masks and costumes like comedienne “Juana Change” who came dressed like Sesame Street’s Miss Piggy (shown in photo). 

While yesterday’s protest failed to muster one million marchers, pocket protests were also held in Zamboanga City, Albay, Davao, Baguio, Pampanga, Ilocos Norte and even in some parts of the US, with protesters saying the Aug. 26 rally was just a taste of things to come – something that the President is not about to dismiss judging from the (hastily called) press conference presided over by Palace spokesperson Edwin Lacierda who tried to explain how the proposed “new system” will work to make sure that taxpayer money will not be wasted by bogus NGOs and ghost projects.

Trump University bogus?

Speaking of bogus, American business mogul Donald Trump Sr. is being sued by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman allegedly for running an unlicensed university where students can supposedly learn about real estate investing. According to Schneiderman, the host of the popular reality show “The Apprentice” used his celebrity status to inveigle students to enroll in Trump University, paying as much as $35,000 for an elite, personalized real estate investment course handled by handpicked “instructors” who were in reality bankrupt individuals who failed in their own real estate ventures, the NY Attorney General claimed. 

The suit also alleged that Trump’s investment school defrauded over 5,000 students of $40 million from 2005 to 2011, giving enrollees false promises (like the chance to personally meet Trump but had to settle for a photo op with a life-sized photo of the businessman instead) and causing them financial ruin since many of the students are now facing thousands of dollars in debt after failing to land any significant real estate deal. A spokesperson for Trump (who wrote best selling books like “Art of the Deal, “How to Get Rich” and “Think Like a Billionaire”), however, said over 98 percent of enrollees were satisfied with the program, saying the lawsuit was politically motivated.

Trump University has since changed its name to Trump Entrepreneur Institute after education officials said the institution did not meet requirements for it to be called a university. 

Colorful relief

While many trooped to Luneta to join the anti-pork barrel rally, others opted to donate their time repacking relief packages for victims of Tropical Storm Maring and the heavy monsoon rains.  Disasters really bring out the Filipino spirit of bayanihan, and the gloomy atmosphere in evacuation centers were momentarily enlivened by the colorful bags of relief goods (shown in photo) prepared by the celebrities, athletes, executives and personnel coming from the MVP Group of companies with PLDT chairman Manny Pangilinan himself helping repack the goods at the covered tennis court in the Meralco compound in Ortigas. 

Over 5,000 relief packs containing rice, canned goods, hygiene kits and drinking water were distributed to evacuation centers in Metro Manila, Laguna, Cavite, Pampanga, Bataan and Bulacan.  A combined amount of P1 million was also donated by the Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation and the Philippine Business for Social Progress, both of which are headed by MVP.

Spy tidbit

Former Chief Justice Renato Corona and his family walked from Manila Hotel to the Quirino Grandstand to join the anti-pork rally. Unfortunately, Corona’s presence was welcomed not with cheers but jeers, as irate protesters started booing, hurling a barrage of insults against the impeached chief magistrate. Sources told us that had cooler heads not intervened, there would have been an ugly scuffle, to put it mildly.  The incident reportedly prompted several policemen to “murmur,” saying controversial personalities should avoid showing up to keep the peace. 

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