ON CORRUPTION...

The Stench of Corruption
By Rasheed Abou-Alsamh

http://www.rasheedsworld.blogspot.com/

THE testimony this week in Manila by Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada Jr. that former Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos Jr. and the husband of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, first gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, had accepted kickbacks from the Chinese ZTE company after giving it a $329 million contract to build a broadband telecommunications network in the Philippines, is further proof of the extent of the corruption in the Arroyo family.

Lozada had been flown to Hong Kong after his boss, Environment Secretary Lito Atienza, a die-hard Arroyo ally, ordered him to leave to avoid having to testify in front of the Senate. But he flew back to Manila last week and was promptly taken away by plainclothes police officers who refused to tell him who they were or where they were going. According to Lozada, they drove him to a province south of Manila and returned him to the capital only after his wife and several relatives made tearful pleas on the radio for his safe return.

Yesterday, opposition Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, on an inspection visit to Ninoy Aquino International Airport, pointed out the visitor’s logbook at the Dignitaries Lounge showed that members of the Presidential Security Group were in a car that picked up Lozada at the airport and whisked him away.

If President Arroyo, her husband and Abalos are innocent of the corruption charges, why were presidential guards sent to take Lozada away from the airport in such secrecy? Where were they taking him? What would have happened to him if his family had not made such noise in the media? Would he have been killed by “mysterious” assailants? These are all questions worth asking.

According to Lozada, he was still planning not to testify about the NBN deal when he flew back to Manila last week, but that he changed his mind when former presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor promised him that he would get what had been promised him and then handed him an envelope with 50,000 pesos in cash in it.

After an apparent turn of heart, Lozada returned the money and decided to testify in front of the Senate subcommittee that is investigating the NBN deal that President Arroyo canceled last year amid a huge uproar over anomalies in the contract, overpricing and the involvement of Abalos in brokering the deal while he was still Comelec chief.

* * *

The fallout from the whole NBN scandal started last year when Jose de Venecia III told the Senate that his company had lost out in bidding for the NBN contract because of the huge kickbacks being offered by the Chinese ZTE Corp. to get the contract. The negative repercussions for de Venecia III’s father, Jose de Venecia Jr., have been swift. Relations cooled immediately between the elder de Venecia and the president. Just last week, he was voted out of his job as speaker of the House of Representatives, and the wholesale attacks on his integrity have been launched by Arroyo allies in the House. Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte led the attacks by claiming in a privilege speech that de Venecia Jr. was the “father” of all corruption and that he failed to fulfill his duties and obligations as speaker. These charges are laughable as the sudden demonization of the former speaker is all too obvious. One day he was the best ally of President Arroyo and then suddenly, when he was deemed expendable, he became the most vile thing that ever walked the corridors of Congress! What utter nonsense.

* * *

Now the Daily Tribune reports that Palace insiders claim that President Arroyo has allegedly approved plans that would see her removed from office and Vice President Noli de Castro installed as president if the corruption fallout of the NBN deal continues to escalate. Under this deal, Arroyo would not be prosecuted for any crimes committed during her administration and the presidential couple would be allowed to retain any ill-gotten wealth.

That deal does sound a little far-fetched, but the sudden resurfacing of the administration-backed push for charter change this week does make one wonder about the timing of everything. It does look like a panicky Arroyo administration, buffeted again by renewed allegations of massive corruption by government officials and the first gentleman, is grasping at anything to divert public attention from such shenanigans.

What the Philippines needs now are more brave souls as Lozada to step forward and tell the truth about what they know about corruption in the NBN deal. The Catholic Church and the Makati Business Club have already signaled that they support Lozada and that they want the truth to come out.

President Arroyo should thus allow the investigation to continue unimpeded and she should step down if any corruption can be linked directly to her or her husband.

IT IS TIME TO MOVE

An appeal to our Patriotic Countrymen: It is time to move
By Jun Lozada

"Once you achieved your aim of destroying the system you fought against, do not leave a single trace or else the bad habits that were formed during the period of the dysfunctional system and which still remains in the heart and mind of the people, shall nurture this remnant and allow it to come back in a more vicious form." ~ Jose P. Rizal

This is one of the three conditions set forth by our beloved hero, Jose Rizal, this condition captures the framework of action and shall act as the guiding principle in any post game scenario that must be formulated as part of the preparation to undo this brazenly corrupt regime.

But before we consider any action to take, it is a must to first address the concerns and arguments of other individuals and sectors that I believe are critical in creating a broad based support for such an action.

The Arrogant Mindset - first of which are the purveyors of the Perversity issue whose main contention is that taking action may simply result to a more seriously worsened scenario than the present one we are against with. This is typified by remarks such as "any action against the administration will only result to anger and chaos in the street, a situation that can be taken advantage of by ideologically and militarily cohesive groups such as the CPP/NPA or the Right Wing military groups, which will be bad for the economy and will only worsen the already bad situation." Let me warn you to look out for this arrogant mindset, it is arrogant because it is their view that the universe is totally predictable, and that they are capable of knowing ahead all the unforeseen both the intended purpose and unintended consequences of such purposive social action. It is a fact that no person has been endowed with such gift that borders on the Divine.

The Insulting Mindset - Second are the believers of the Futility issue, whose main contention is that any action taken will simply result in the same thing we are fighting against. This is typified by remarks such as "Kahit ano pang gawin natin, kahit sino pang ilagay mo dyan, pareho pareho lang ang mga yan! Ganun pa rin ang kalalagyan natin, mangnanakaw din lang ang papalit dyan!" Filipinos who say these words are insulting our entire race, they are condemning all of us as incapable of patriotism and love for one another. It seems that they are the majority now, they may have the numbers, but they are wrong. I've always believe that real strength does not come with numbers but it comes with commitment.

The Untrustworthy Mindset - Third are the proponents of the jeopardy issue, whose main contention is that any action taken will be too costly for the intended purpose of removing a morally corrupt administration. This is typified by remarks such as "Hintayin na lang natin hanggang 2010, anyway mahigit 2 taon na lang yan. Baka pag ginalaw yan mas lalo pang masaktan ang ekonomiya at maghirap pa tayo lalo." These type of statements are usually observed from people who are willing not to do the right action now for fear that they may not have the courage to do what is right in the future. Watch out for people who thinks like this, for they will be the practitioners of the same corrupt practices that you are now fighting against once they are the ones in power.

What alternative action can we suggest?

Take action together– There seems to be a common agenda from among all sectors to eradicate state sponsored corruption in the country, as practiced by the current and her immediate predecessors. This shared goal will be enough to put together a sober and well thought out post scenario plan that will address the concerns of the first group in a more synergistic and certainly with a more chances of success compared to a number of separately conceptualized plan by different independent groups.

Inaction is going to be more expensive both in short term cost and long term goals – The short term cost of this state sponsored corruption is going to be enormous if measured in total peso cost, our quick estimate just for the current Chinese projects will run into tens of billions of pesos. But the more costly and hidden from the public is the long term damage to the government institutions, which will now have a new standard for public service that is "Corruption pays as long you as steal big, only the small gets to jail". This argument will blow the second and the third groups arguments for not taking action, because it is more costly and it will not be business as usual even if a new group takes over government.

History will vindicate us – The history of our Nation has repeatedly shown that Filipinos do not punish a sitting administration for political and authoritarian misdeeds but rather only upon gross moral transgressions such as exemplified by Rizal's death by the Spaniards, Moises Padilla's death from the hands of a Quirino henchman in Negros, Ninoy's murder from Marcos' thugs and the Tessie Aquino's jig from the unsealed envelope in Erap's Senate. The Filipino people are now being subjected to such gross moral abuse such as the ZTE-NBN deal, the bribery scandal, Garci affair and other outright and blatant lies to the people.

STAND UP TO FACE YOUR...

When your principals will not permit you to be an innocent,
You find out how much power you give to your convictions

With the weight of your convictions on your shoulders you feel
That you must stand up and face your enemy

As you stand up to face your enemy, you feel that you have to act as if
You are invincible so that there is no sacrifice

When you know that you there is no sacrifice you find that your
Strength in your convictions shows through more which allows you
To stand up and face your fears when you need to do what is right

As you stand up you find that the strength of your convictions ensures
That you stand up for those who would be an innocent so that they
Are not sacrificed while facing your enemy

After you have won the day while trying to look like you are invincible
You show those who would be an innocent that you are far from
Invincible by showing, a strength that is faltering from giving it all
That you can in the time of need


With the kind courtesy and permission of Sean Davis
http://seanspoemsandstories.blogspot.com/

WHAT A GREAT SHAME TO THE MORAL VALUES OF RIZAL AND THE IMAGE OF THE COUNTRY!

Sir Cesar,

How dare you write in such a fashion to any Brother Knight in an open e-mail! Have you no respect at all? Do you actually consider it acceptable to refer in such an insulting, public way to Brother Knights and their good friends, while at the same time having no regard whatever for those unfortunates who may well be incarcerated in any such institution, or their family members. Have you no sense of honour or respect whatever left in you. You should be ashamed of yourself Sir and seriously consider your position and attitude.

Yours in Rizal,
Sir Don Brennock KCR

Subject: RE: VICTORIA, THE COWARD!

LOL KA RIN!!! What friends are you talking about. Oh yes, friends from your mental asylum.
TIC, TAC, TIC, TAC. YOUR TIME IS GETTING SHORTER, LOL.

Sir Cesar Alcoba, KCR

Sir Cesar,

You should be ashamed of yourself, sending such a message to any person by open e-mail. If you have no respect for others should you not, at least, have a little respect for yourself and not show yourself in such a childish, pathetic and disgusting light. This is not the language of a gentleman to another and I hardly think that Dr. Rizal would approve of it, do you? This is no way for a Knight to behave, and I would have expected you to know better than to do such a thing. You demean yourself and the Order greatly by such action.

Yours in Rizal,

Sir Don Brennock KCR

Subject: RE: Choy Alcoba Calls for More Anti Corruption Campaigns!

LOL! what support are you talking about, perhaps you mean( SUPOT) like the rest of you.

Sir Cesar Alcoba, KCR

Sir Cesar,

I have no intention of descending to your level of scurrilous words by responding in any detail to your e-mail below.

However, I do have one comment and a question for you. Neither you, nor anyone else, have a single shred of evidence that I "have always been against the decisions and Bye Laws of the Order of the Knights of Rizal". Even where I have believed, very strongly, that they require critical review and revision I have respected and complied with them.

My Question: I now ask you to post a copy of my original e-mail of 5th. September 2006, in its original format, showing its full contents and to whom it was sent and then tell us how you became aware of its contents. Your answer will be most enlightening.

Yours in Rizal,

Sir Don Brennock, KCR

TO:
Sir Don Brennock, KCR
Area Commander for U.K. & IRELAND

Bloody hell, Don, this time you really pissed me off. Pls. stop your preaching and pretending like you are a pious and righteous men. How come you never make a comment on the other nasty e-mails being sent to us? That coward, Rizal Victoria that you are defending doesn't deserve any respect from anybody. The members of our Supreme Council in IHQ, whom he is always attacking are all educated, honourable , loved and respected leaders of our country. Does he give any respect to them, NADA. He deserves all the insults that is coming he's way. Is this the type of person you are defending and supporting? All you want is respect from us but never give us back this respect. Remember 'respect begets respect'.

Further more, the biased and un-official 'MINUTES' that you and Sir Francois Ooms issued on our 24th March meeting is totally unacceptable. You clearly showed your disrespect to the host of the meeting and to the other Illustrious Knights who attended. You never mentioned that you were attending and yet we welcomed you.

And may I ask, you have been always against the decisions and by-laws of the OKOR, how come you have accepted your appointment as Area Commander for U.K. & Ireland, but you don't accept the appointment of others. Your e-mail dated 05 September 2006 refers to this. I think that it is you who should be ashamed and consider your position and attitude.

NOM

Sir Cesar Alcoba, KCR
Area Commander for Belgium

FROM HIS MASTER'S VOICE

Dear Cesar Alcoba,

I have now withdrawn the title of Sir from your name as everything you are doing is neither Noble, Chivalrous or worthy of being a member of the Knights of Rizal.

You are picking on anyone who is not a Filipino therefore you have become the most Racist person I have known since the demise of many others who thought along the same frame of mind as yours .. Why you are a Racist is beyond me. You come from a country of wonderful people and you are drawing down the good name of Filipinos everywhere by your wickedness and intolerable behaviour and bad language you are resorting to use.

You did not write to me direct. I had to get your letter second hand from Sir Lucien and you don't even have the decency to write direct.

Let me tell you a few home truths with regard to your letter.

1) I have always wanted to settle in the Philippines because my wife and Children live there who are Filipinos.

2) You stated that I only joined for the honour of being a Knight and that I could not be called Sir anywhere else. Well my friend you do not know about me. THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND, QUEEN ELIZABETH AND HER HUSBAND THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH INVITED ME TO DINE WITH THEM AT A PRIVATE LUNCHEON.This was for my Charity work in Cancer. Do I use the title Sir when in their Royal presence... No the title Sir is a Filipino one and can only be suitably used in the proper context.This was confirmed by the Foreign Office.

3) You have told me that if I don't obey the byelaws I should resign. Let me tell you Cesar Alcoba KCR that you are addressing a KGOR, a Lifetime Member, Medal of Merit holder who does not get told by anyone to resign especially you.

4) You mention in your pathetic letter that Filipinos are doing the work no one else wanted. If you didn't want to demearn yourself doing something you think lowly, No one forced you to go to any other country. It was entirely your own doing. It is also more money than you would have earned in the Philippines, so kindly do not take that attitude. Most Filipinos are able to support their families, educate their siblings and give their parents a better living by being abroad.

5) I would also point out that you have broken every law in the book. You have disrepected the National Hero by trying to cower behind his name as you insult everyone you can. Dr Rizal was a man who was respected by everyone and was classed as the same as Ghandi, Karl Marx, and many other inspirational men of their time. You are not in the same league. You are not a credit to yourself or your family by taking this kind of stand against everyone who is not Filipino.

6) It is not my job to reply insultingly to you but when you bring Racism so blatantly to accost brother members then I am afraid that there is no respect left anywhere for you. You have gone down the road of the lowest of the low where you cannot find anything else to write. I feel sorry for you because you have turned against the law of the Knights of Rizal.

We do not bring RACE COLOUR OR CREED OR RELIGION into our daily lives but unfortunately you have. This means that you are against the decent people who want the best and you are trying like many others before you to bring them down. All I can say to you, the more insults you throw the stronger the others will get and you will be a solitary figure not knowing which way to turn.

Filipinos are very clever and they can see right through your wickedness. They want to live in peace and harmony. It looks to me as you have made a few of the past evil leaders your idols but let me remind you that all of them have perished at the hands of their own people.

I do not wish to write any more to you as I find that to educate the unbeliever is a job for a much higher Power than I could ever hope to be The bible, Dr Rizal and others have always stated even today that the greatest gift man can have is Love each other and always be a friend to all. What has happened to you?

At this point in time, you now owe me an apology for the insulting way you have written and I will expect nothing else than a full written apology by return

Yours in Rizal
Sir Barry Bowman KGOR
Former Regional Commander for Europe
Lifetime Member
Medal of Merit
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Message of 10/04/07 17:30
From : "bhoy2amyalcab alcoba"
Subjet : RE: "number of our European brother knights who are racists" - Alex Mushake

Dear Sir Barry,

Thank you for your e-mail dated 08/04/07. I am happy to know that you are now feeling better and fit to play golf one again which I read from your previous emails. I am sure that you and your wife Lady Ana are enjoying the good weather, hospitality, good food and RESPECT from my country men. In other words and honestly speaking you are treated well as a foreigner in my country, the Philippines.

I have read your e-mail with such interest. It is true that RACISM is now considered a crime against humanity as you have said and that is why some other countries and most especially Europe have been condemned by the U.N and Human-rights Tribunals, right.

We the immigrants (specially Filipinos) here in Europe don't get the same treatment as you are now having in the Philippines. Some of us are professionals but because of RACIAL DISCRIMINATION, WE ARE OBLIGED TO TAKE THE MEANEST JOBS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US as domestics, drivers (as mentioned by Sir Lucien Spittael in his e-mail) etc. etc. Its is also true that Filipino nurses are welcomed and loved by their patients because of their sincerety in caring for them. The truth is they are well praised because nobody in your country wants to do the job anymore and in other words, WE ARE DOING THE DIRTY JOB FOR YOU.

May I now ask, why in the first place did you want to become a member of our prestigeous Order of the Knights of Rizal? I'll tell you why. 1) Because being a member of the Order you become noble and called "Sir" in which you can never obtain in your country. 2) Being a member of the Order gives you prestige and honor. 3) Being a member Order gives you access and respect in all aspects. 4) Being a member of the Order gives you knowledge on the Ideals and teachings of our hero Dr. Jose Rizal that makes you a better man. But some people who become members only wanted this for their own advantage. An advantage for their businesses and their own personal hidden agendas.

It is also true that there are a lot of honest and good man in the Order and I salute them and respect them. Our Supreme Council members and Elders, this are the honest, good man, well-educated and respected people in our country and should also be respected by everyone.

If you can not abide and obey the by-laws and the decisions of the Order of the Knights of Rizal, why stay? why don't you just resign and leave us in peace.

And finally, all that we are asking is to be respected, we respect you so give us back this respect. Give us the chance to prove ourselfs. You have done your time, let us do our time in peace. Let us reconcile and be true brothers in the spirit and memory of our great national hero Dr. Jose Rizal. Is this difficult for you to do?

"LET THE TRUTH SPEAK FOR ITSELF"

NOM

Sir Cesar Alcoba, KCR

QUO VADIS

Is this the beginning of the end; in other words the fall of the Knights of Rizal?

Dr. Rizal wrote about the social cancer. It is happening right now, right here. Our precious Order is indeed sick, very sick and it will suffer to an even larger extent if we do not act.

Becoming a member in 1997 was a good feeling of brotherhood of man, a quest for helping, for doing good things together with my international brothers for the communities in both our own country and abroad; no taking over command, or questioning who is the boss; just a simple group of international, mutually respectful members. Those Knights were the noble, silent heroes; Knights whose hearts were in the right place.

Suddenly there was a change, a desire for power by a few individuals. Let’s call these the “rotten core”; a small group, they were very smart and planted the cancer in the Order, especially in Europe.

Regardless of the warnings send by the noble Knights to the Supreme Council they were ignored and neglected. There was a belief that the noble Knights were rebels; the minds of the upper echelons were already poisoned and manipulated by the rotten core, based on lies and misinformation.

Who to belief was the question, their own or the others?

They believed the core, with their nicely written letters, their false résumés, the good works they falsely claimed they had done and all other stuff they wrote, without checking the facts.

The core is dangerous; just for their own glory they use their own people, by brainwashing them that the noble Knights are rebels and power-seeking racists, and they call themselves nationalists and true Pilipino.

How many times they told me and my friends that we should be grateful to be allowed to be Members of the Order, because we are only affiliates and have no right to be Members.

They easily forgot that we are all dedicated and committed internationalists who believe in and follow the way of Dr. Rizal.

Do we have to tolerate more accusations that we are racists and not fit to be Members ? I don’t think so. I say this must stop NOW, for the future of the Order. Let us unite as true Brothers and make an end of this madness.

After all, most of us are married with a Filipino spouse and I’m proud of the fact that through this marriage I feel like a Pilipino, a true internationalist, so please, don’t call me and the noble Knights racists.

Too many good and noble men have resigned from the Order in the recent past because their belief in the OKOR was destroyed. Those who have remained are still fighting for their belief that there is actually still hope for the future; but only if we stand up and shout long and loud enough in the name of Dr. Jose Rizal. This is not only for ourselves but for our children and the next generation of noble Knights all over the globe.

Let us all pray that justice will be done, that all involved come to their right mind and start thinking over the distressed last several years and let us hope this will never happened again.

I really don’t mind what reaction I receive from writing this letter. Those who know me will know that it comes from my heart. This is my view and I strongly belief that I am not alone in this.

God bless you all,
NOM
Sir Francois Ooms
Member of the Knights of Rizal

STRESS MANAGEMENT

A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked, "How heavy is this glass of water?"

Answers called out ranged from 8oz. to 20oz.

The lecturer replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance."

"In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."

He continued, "And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on."

"As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden."

"So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work/life down. Don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow."

"Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can. Relax; pick them up later after you've rested. Life is short. Enjoy! "

And then he shared some ways of dealing with the burdens of life:

1* Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue.

2* Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.

3* Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.

4* Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be recalled by their Maker.

5* If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

6* If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

7* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.

8* Never buy a car you can't push.

9* Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.

10* Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.

11* Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.

12* The second mouse gets the cheese.

13* When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

14* Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.

15* You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.

16* Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.

17* We could learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.

18* A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

IN SEARCH OF THE TRUTH...

In pursuit of TRUTH, REFORM, and ACCOUNTABILITY...! The SHAME must End!

As KNIGHTS OF DR JOSE RIZAL, we should be Ashamed of CORRUPT Practices, ANYWHERE! In or outside the KOR!!!

Presently, we have an IHQ "leadership(?)" that has BETRAYED its Illustrious Being as well as its MEMBERS!

In this Illustrious KOR, leadership is mandated to run the organization "like a good father of a family."

When this same leadership twists facts (where is IHQ's "Legal Department"?!), threatens its own (ordering Sir Carmelo to not give information we long to see for purposes of TRANSPARENCY!) members and, worst of all, blatantly engages in corrupt practicies at many levels of the bureaucracy, it loses its right to demand the RESPECT of its General Membership!

It is CORRUPT practice

1. for a member of the Supreme Council (Sir Jose Lina?) to cover-up, hide, erase any matter (like the CASE of the Blank Checks/Vouchers!) from the Minutes of the Council of Elders' Meeting!

2. for a member of the Council of Elders (Sir Rogelio Quiambao?) to even just give a "hint" or SUPPORT for any cover-up, like the CASE of the Blank Checks/Vouchers!

3. for the Supreme Council or Council of Elders to EXALT Knights to KGORs without showing PROOF of VALID REASON for such and refuse to give info, when a member requests to see the documents (CASEs of Sir Boy Alcoba, Sir Nollas, Sir Guansing! and the Sir Lino Paras designation to European "commander").

4. for the Council of Elders to ORDER one (who is passing info from IHQ) from giving IHQ info!

"Nowadays the youth is in desperate need of role models that they can emulate and learn from... "

"The intellectual should constantly disturb, should bear witness to the misery of the world, should be provocative by being independent, should rebel against all hidden and open pressures and manipulation. This role is very important, for we are the ones who will bare the truth, open people to new ideas and push them along new heights."

- Nobel laureate Aung San Su Kyi, Burma or Myanmar, talking about Vaclav Havel
(quoted by Dr. Honey Carandang, noted family psychologist
(from "Raising honest, truthful kids" By Cathy S. Babao-Guballa, Philippine
Daily Inquirer, First Posted 02:24am (Mla time) 02/17/2008)

THEREFORE, Let info from IHQ flow easily to the members asking for such/them! This is the age of electronic e-mails, paperless communications, speedy data transmission!

In pursuit of TRUTH, REFORM, and ACCOUNTABILITY, anyone hindering (anybody from the General Membership) others from obtaining a bit of REQUESTED INFO, is not for TRUTH, REFORM, and ACCOUNTABILITY!

Sir Jose Lina (he used the word "hiya" or something very close to SHAME!) asked to erase or hide this CASE of the Blank Checks/Vouchers from the Council of Elders' Minutes of Meeting. If he is UPRIGHT, he should NEVER EVER make such a suggestion, or even merely MENTION such a corrupt thing!

Sir Rogelio Quiambao mentioned about coming elections (or something in this direction!). If he is UPRIGHT, he should TALK STRAIGHT and NEVER EVER hint at something else, or favoring a suggestion to DELETE or ERASE the CASE of the Blank Checks/Vouchers from the tape recorded Minutes of the Meeting!

By going in the direction of DELETE or ERASE the part of the Minutes of the Meeting talking about the Blank Checks/Vouchers, Sir Jose Lina and Sir Rogelio Quiambao, both show COMPLETE disregard for TRUTH, REFORM, and ACCOUNTABILITY!

By DELETING and HIDING TRUTH, in support of an illegal act of Sir Ver Esguerra and two others from IHQ who used Blank Checks/Vouchers, Sir Jose Lina and Sir Rogelio Quiambao ACT CONTRARY to the CHARACTER of Dr Jose Rizal! Is such ACT not SHAMEFUL?

How can we EXPECT to Raise honest and truthful kids, when our IHQ of the KNIGHTS OF Dr JOSE RIZAL leadership do these SHAMEFUL things??? (If the kitchen gets too hot, PLEASE LEAVE or RESIGN!!!)


Question/s:

1. Is Sir Jose Lina (he asked worldwide chapters/members to submit Changes to the By-Laws, but submissions were not even included in the SUBMITTED version given for General Membership ratification!) one Council of Elders Member who approved the Exaltations favoring Sir Lino Paras, Sir Boy Alcoba, Sir Rudy Nollas, Sir Guansing to KGOR?

2. Does the decision/s or propsals of Sir Rogelio Quiambao CARRY the MOST WEIGHT among all the IHQ officials?

Yes or NO! WHY? For Rizalian considerations (clean, above-board!) or those of Padre Damaso? (dirty or corrupt!)

3. Is Sir Ver Esguerra a WEAK or STRONG leader? Why the VERY QUICK Dismissal of Ms Loren Guevarra? And the VERY SLOW (delaying tactics?) EXPULSION of Sir Lino Paras?

4. Why did Sir Lamberto Nanquil ORDER Sir Carmelo Gempesaw to refrain from passing some info that members (I am one) requested from Sir Carmelo? Is it because Sir Ver does not WANT his WRONGDOINGS exposed???

5. Sir Lamberto, are you please for TRUTH, REFORMS and ACCOUNTABILITY? If YES, that will PROPEL THE KOR to unknown heights, and the KOR can take off! That will also PROVE STRONG LEADERSHIP on your part!!! ...and SHOW us (General Membership), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT STUFF to be called a TRUE (Dr Jose) Rizalist!!!

However, if NO, there's no REASON to ask illustrious members like Sir Dr Fritz Hack-Ullmer and Sir Ernst Marian Blumentritt to EVER reconsider their decisions to WALK AWAY from the KOR!

Today, more than ever, the Philippines and the Filipinos look for ROLE MODELS that will help to move the country FORWARD!

I ask everyone to HELP where you can! We need more men like Dr Jose Rizal, Engr Rodolfo Luzada, Jr and Joey de Venecia III.

In pursuit of TRUTH, REFORM, and ACCOUNTABILITY...! The SHAME (and CORRUPTION) must End!

For Country and People!

:)
Lazir
Rizal Victoria
Wilhelmsfeld-Heidelberg Chapter

WHERE'S THE TRUTH?

Dear Sir Zane, answer to your question on Sir Lino Paras

Gentlemen,

Subject: Plagiarism

I once and for all want to put a final point on the plagiarism on the book “Born to be a hero” published by Sir Lino. I am in possession of a complete copy of the book. I also bought the biography: “Jose Rizal, Filipino Doctor and Patriot” edited by Teodoro M. Locsin and published by Manuel L. Morato.

This book “Born to be a hero” has been without doubt published by Sir Lino. In the preface to it, written by Sir Rudy Nollas, are personal family details which could, in fact, only come Sir Lino himself. Sir Nollas has confirmed that it was written by Sir Lino.

Sir Nollas writes that Sir Lino found unedited documents in archives of Belgium, France, Czech Republic and Spain.

My question to Sir Lino and Sir Nollas is simple and direct, please provide us with the proof for this statement. Be careful! I have performed research on Dr. Rizal and was successful and did find unedited documents. Do not take my discoveries for his discoveries. So, what were his discoveries in the above mentioned countries and when exactly did they occur? No answer to my question will be taken as a denial to the statement that he “found unedited documents”.

If Sir Lino denies having written “Born to be a hero” I only can say that this is simply not true! I even know who typed this “Born to be a hero”.

NHI can only say that “Born to be a hero” is, in fact, a copy of “Jose Rizal, Filipino Doctor and Patriot”.

I am also in possession of the two volumes of “Mi ultimo adios in foreign languages and local translations” published by NHI.

In Annex I add the “Pahimakas” by Andres Bonifacio and Sir Lino’s “Huling Paalam ni Dr. Jose Rizal (by Sir Lino Paras, KGOR) as it can be found in his “Born to be a hero”. This is just a copy of “Pahimakas”.

In Annex also a part of “Jose Rizal, Filipino Doctor and patriot” compared to Sir Lino’s “Born to be a hero”. This is self-explanatory and need no further comment.

It is unacceptable that Sir Lino continuous to deny that “Born to be a hero” is his work. Sir Rudy wrote that it came from Sir Lino.

We in Belgium took care of Sir Rogelio Quiambao when he visited Belgium after the first European assembly in London, and when he came to Brussels and attended the second European assembly. He was a passenger in our cars when we brought him to Heidelberg and Wilhelmsfeld. I am personally thankful to Sir Rogelio Quimbao for what he did for my wife and I when we were in Manila and he brought us around to visit many Rizalian places. When I mentioned something about Anti-Polo, he took his car and drove us to Anti-Polo where he showed us the original statue of the Holy Mary. I will never ever forget his generosity. I really feel pity for him because of the way some people brought him in an uncomfortable position.
Subject: Report from Sir Lino to IHQ

On the occasion of the chartering of the Freiburg chapter, Germany, Sir Lino was passenger in my car from Brussels to Freiburg. The chartering was prepared by Sir Hans Schoof. The procedure mentioned in the Manuel was performed by Sir Hans Schoof, Sir Klaus Hartung, Sir Dr. Hack and myself in the German language. On our way back to Belgium we visited the Rizal statue in Wilhelmsfeld. In Belgium Sir Pros and Sir Jacobs organized some visits and a dinner for Sir Hans Schoof.

Sir Lino’s report to the IHQ on these events mentioned that he assisted Sir Hans Schoof in setting up of the Freiburg Chapter and dubs of new members! About the visit to Wilhelmsfeld he wrote that he made research about Rizal’s life in Heidelberg and Wilhelmsfeld with me!

On the visits of Sir Hans he wrote that he organized everything.

This report of Sir Lino to IHQ must be on file in the HQ.

Elections in El Filibusterismo chapter 2003.

The problem with Sir Lino in Belgium started with the elections. The procedures were handed out to everybody present and shown on a slide. The procedure was not followed as prescribed and a complained was filed within 24 pours. The council met very soon after this and decided that the complaint was accepted and new elections were set for on another date.

Sir Lino, who was neither on the elections nor on the council meeting decided that no new elections would take place and the first, invalid, had to be accepted. When the council opposed this, Sir Lino chartered a new chapter a few days later and took all Filipino members and some Belgian members in his new “Rizal Brussels” chapter.

At that moment Sir Lino was Area Commander Belgium and had absolutely no right to do this! I have been accused several times for being a racist.

I have been chapter commander of El Filibusterismo chapter. One of the first things I did was writing letters to the members who never showed up at any of the events organized by the chapter and who had not paid their chapter fees for several years.

After having written three letters to those 16 members I informed the IHQ and asked that those individuals should be dismissed (4 of them were Belgian nights). One of those Belgium Knights only became a member in order to be able to sell KOR winter uniforms! My predecessor chapter commanders had taken no action about these members. It looks better to have a lot of Knights in the chapters, the rest they did not care.

Meetings in Europe

I herewith add my e-mail which I sent the Sir Lino:

Dear Sir Lucien Spittael, KGOR

Please refer to my answer to the organizer "Sir Peter Plueckebaum" of this so called European Consultative meeting in Schriesheim, Germany.

VERY IMPORTANT:
------------------------

In the future, I appreciate receiving your communication by post mail

Thank you so much.

Sir Lino Paras, KGOR
Regional Commander Europe


Lucien SPITTAEL wrote:

Dear Sir Lino, here's the text of my Msg which ended up in your trash box. A Msg can be read even if it ended up in the "trash box." It can even be transfrerred to the "in box".

I also send this Msg cc to the CC addressees in case they also should have had troubles with my e-mail.

May I take the opportunity to ask you a profound question? Can you let me know the original source(s) to the "last words of Rizal" which were "Consummatum est”

Thanks for your help.

IHQ, Please pass this Msg to the acting Supreme Commander

Dear Regional Commander for Europe,

As you already know, having received both e-mail and mail notifications, all Knights and Chapters in Europe have received an invitation to a meeting in Schrießheim, Germany, on 16&17 February, organized by Sir Peter Plückebaum and Sir Rainer Weber. I fully support such an event, which unfortunately did not come from your initiative, although the matter of a general meeting (“assembly'”) of all European Knights was discussed with you last October in Bonn and you gave the impression that you were in favour of such an event.

Unfortunately, you are not able to attend this important event for the KOR in Europe. I really do hope and expect that you have exhorted all our Belgian KGOR’s to attend and that you will urge all Chapters to send at least one or two representatives to attend this utmost valuable meeting in Schrießheim. This would display considerable leadership and solidarity within the European Region! In case many of the Chapters do not send a representative, I will ask the organizers to postpone the meeting to a later (more appropriate?) date so that a majority of the European Chapters can attend and take positive and pro-active part in this important meeting for the European Knights. (A quick look at the agenda should be enough to find a reason to attend!)

Non omnis moriar,
Sir Lucien Spittael, KGOR

Few members attended this meeting. I contacted a chapter and received the answer they were not informed about this meeting. This is a proof that the Regional Commander for Europe did not take the proper actions to inform the chapters who were initially not invited because of the lack of information of their addresses. Although his answer to the organizers was: “GO”

Meanwhile I found out that Sir Lino has a meeting with his chapter next weekend (23-24 February in Brussels). Why he did not take the initiative to ask the organizers to change their date and location?

I still can write more of what is happening in the European Area of which Sir Lino is the Area commander but I think this is more than enough for your information, Sir Zane. If you need more information, do not hesitate to contact me on my e-mail address.

Sir Lucien Spittael,
KGOR

THE INTERVIEW

For those that don't know him, Major General Peter Cosgrove is an 'Australian treasure!' General Cosgrove was interviewed on the radio recently. You'll love his reply to the lady who interviewed him concerning guns and children. Regardless of how you feel about gun laws you have to love this! This is one of the best comeback lines of all time. It is a portion of an ABC interview between a female broadcaster and General Cosgrove who was about to sponsor a Boy Scout Troop visiting his military headquarters.

FEMALE INTERVIEWER:
So, General Cosgrove, what things are you going to teach these young boys when they visit your base?

GENERAL COSGROVE:
We're going to teach them climbing, canoeing, archery and shooting.

FEMALE INTERVIEWER:
Shooting! That's a bit irresponsible, isn't it?

GENERAL COSGROVE:
I don't see why, they'll be properly supervised on the rifle range.

FEMALE INTERVIEWER:
Don't you admit that this is a terribly dangerous activity to be teaching children?

GENERAL COSGROVE:
I don't see how. We will be teaching them proper rifle discipline before they even touch a firearm.

FEMALE INTERVIEWER:
But you're equipping them to become violent killers.

GENERAL COSGROVE:
Well, Ma'am, you're equipped to be a prostitute, but you're not one, are you?
The radio went silent and the interview ended.

Editor's Note. In the tales of the Knights of the Round Table, Guinevere has been portrayed as everything from a weak and opportunistic traitor to a fatally flawed but noble and virtuous gentlewoman (Wikipedia). On the contrary, however, her modern counterpart could be a rather naive and plain-looking country girl who is too wise but sly, only to get by hook or by crook whatever she has bargained for through her charm. This doesn't put her in the category as a prostitute but as a strategist or an astute businesswoman like the president, isn't she Attorney? LOL!

HAPPY VALENTINE!

CROSSING THE LOCK

Esna, Egypt - 10 January 2008

Two barrage bridges straddle the Nile at this point: one built by the British in 1906, and the "Electricity Bridge" built in the 1990s. Navigation – particularly, Nile cruisers ferrying tourists from Luxor to Aswan, 155 km further upstream – can be held up for hours while vessels negotiate their way through the lock system.

The two main points of interest in Esna are its lively tourist-oriented souk, which fills a couple of streets leading inland from the corniche. The other is the temple of Esna. The temple, which has only been partially excavated, is about 200 meters from the river and some 9 meters below street level.

A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways. The distinguishing feature of a lock is a fixed chamber whose water level can be varied; whereas in a caisson lock, a boat lift, or on a canal inclined plane, it is the chamber itself (usually then called a caisson) that rises and falls.

Locks are used to make a river more easily navigable, or to allow a canal to take a reasonably direct line across country that is not level.

The term airlock was coined for a similar device used to allow persons to pass to and from a location in which a particular atmosphere is maintained, such as underwater, in space, or in a clean room.

A lock is required when a stretch of river is made navigable by bypassing an obstruction such as a rapid, dam, or mill weir — because of the change in river level across the obstacle.

The lowest lock on a navigable river separates the tidal and non-tidal stretches. Sometimes a river is made entirely non-tidal by constructing a sea lock directly into the estuary.

In more advanced river navigations, more locks are required.

Where a longer cut bypasses a circuitous stretch of river, the upstream end of the cut will often be protected by a flood lock.

The longer the cut, the greater the difference in river level between start and end of the cut, so that a very long cut will need additional locks along its length. At this point, the cut is, in effect, a canal.

Early completely artificial canals, across fairly flat countryside, would get round a small hill or depression by simply detouring (contouring) around it. As engineers became more ambitious in the types of country they felt they could overcome, locks became essential to effect the necessary changes in water level without detours that would be completely uneconomic both in building costs and journey time. Later still, as construction techniques improved, engineers became more willing to barge directly through and across obstacles by constructing long tunnels, cuttings, aqueducts or embankments, or to construct even more technical devices such as inclined planes or boat lifts. However, locks continued to be built to supplement these solutions, and are an essential part of even the most modern navigable waterways.

More on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lock_%28water_transport%29

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!

The Rat (Chinese:鼠) was welcomed in ancient times as a protector and bringer of material prosperity. It is the first of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. Rat is associated with aggression, wealth, charm, and order, yet also associated with death, war, the occult, pestilence, and atrocities. The Year of the Rat is associated with the earthly branch symbol 子.

In Chinese, the word 鼠 may refer to either the rat or the mouse. Therefore, in this context, Year of the Mouse and Year of the Rat are interchangeable terms.

Being the first sign of the Chinese zodiacs, rats are leaders, pioneers and conquerors. They are charming, passionate, charismatic, practical and hardworking. Rat people are endowed with great leadership skills and are the most highly organized, meticulous, and systematic of the twelve signs. Intelligent and cunning at the same time, rats are highly ambitious and strong-willed people who are keen and unapologetic promoters of their own agendas, which often include money and power. They are energetic and versatile and can usually find their way around obstacles, and adapt to various environments easily. A rat's natural charm and sharp demeanor make it an appealing friend for almost anyone, but rats are usually highly exclusive and selective when choosing friends and so often have only a few very close friends whom they trust.

Behind the smiles and charm, rats can be terribly obstinate and controlling, insisting on having things their way no matter what the cost. These people tend to have immense control of their emotions, which they may use as a tool to manipulate and exploit others, both emotionally and mentally. Rats are masters of mind games and can be very dangerous, calculative and downright cruel if the need arises. Quick-tempered and aggressive, they will not think twice about exacting revenge on those that hurt them in any way. Rats need to learn to relax sometimes, as they can be quite obsessed with detail, intolerant and strict, demanding order, obedience, and perfection.

Rats consider others before themselves, at least sometimes, and avoid forcing their ideas onto others. Rats are fair in their dealings and expect the same from others in return, and can be deeply affronted if they feel they have been deceived or that their trust has been abused. Sometimes they set their targets too high, whether in relation to their friends or in their career. But as the years pass, they will become more idealistic and tolerant. If they can develop their sense of self and realize it leaves room for others in their life as well, Rats can find true happiness.

According to tradition, Rats often carry heavy karma and at some point in life may face an identity crisis or some kind of feeling of guilt. Rats are said to often have to work very long and hard for everything they may earn or have in life. However, a Rat born during the day is said to have things a bit easier than those who are born at night. Traditionally, Rats born during the night may face extreme hardships and suffering throughout life. Rats in general should guard themselves against hedonism, as it may lead to self-destruction. Gambling, alcohol and drugs tend to be great temptations to Rat natives.

Traditionally, Rats should avoid Horses, but they can usually find their best friends and love interests in Monkeys, Dragons, and Oxen.

Professions include espionage, psychiatry, psychology, writing, politics, law, engineering, accounting, detective work, acting, and pathology.

(Wikipedia; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rat_%28zodiac%29)

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

IMPROVE YOURSELF

Let each man learn to know himself;
To gain that knowledge let him labor
To improve those failings in himself
Which he condemns so in his neighbor.

How lenient our own faults we view,
And conscience's voice adeptly smother;
Yet, oh, how harshly we review
The selfsame failings in another!

And if you meet an erring one
Whose deeds are blamable and thoughtless,
Consider, ere you cast the stone,
If you yourself are pure and faultless.

Oh, list to that small voice within,
Whose whisperings oft make men confounded,
And trumpet not another's sin;
You'd blush deep if your own were sounded.

And in self-judgment if you find
Your deeds to others are superior,
To you has Providence been kind,
As you should be to those inferior.

Example sheds a genial ray
Of light which men are apt to borrow;
So first improve yourself today
And then improve your friends tomorrow.

Author Unknown

DISCOVER YOUR SOUL

In this talk, the Siri Singh Sahib (Yogi Bhajan) talks about meditation as a tool for mental clarity. "If you do not find God within yourself, you do not find God at all." Instead of looking for your "soul mate" he says that when you connect to your own soul, then you understand that "Your very own soul is your soul mate." He also talks about the problem of information overload in the computer age and how to deal with it.

LIFE ON THE RIVERBOAT

Nile, Egypt - January 4 - 11, 2008