Some people “can’t handle the truth “, to borrow a famous line of Jack Nicholson in the military film drama “ A Few Good Men “. I’m referring to some community personalities who have gone to the extent of employing dirty tactics to suppress the truth.
In the first week of March, bundles of community newspapers among them Mon Datol’s Philippine Courier were snatched from several Filipino-run establishments along the Wilson and Bathurst area, known bailiwick and melting pot area of Filipino-Canadians.
Two witnesses reported this incident to us but we will withhold their identities at the moment. And mind you, these persons are respected
personalities in the community , one being an entrepreneur and the other
a well known fixture in community gatherings.
Thus, they are very credible.
Incidentally, the Philippine courier’s edition that was stolen contained the column of Mon Datol’s stinging rebuttal against a Filipino consulate official and a community publisher.
Were the perpetrators of this petty but disturbing crime afraid that what was written in those newspapers would expose the truth and damage their reputation?
Earlier also, we received reports that a certain publisher allegedly ordered Mr. Joe Damasco, who handles the shipping out of several community newspapers, not to deliver copies of the Philippine Courier. Mr.Damasco refused.
Manipulating, distorting and preventing information that seeks to tell what is perceived as the truth has long been a tool of tyrants, dictators and criminals of history to hide their dark secrets and nefarious activities. And most of the time, victims of these hideous acts are members of the media.
The gruesome Maguindanao massacre was one dastardly attempt to hide or cover-up the culture of rampant corruption, violence and impunity pervading
in that part of Mindanao.
We certainly hope and pray that the mastermind or the masterminds of this deliberate act in the Wilson and Bathurst area are not related to the Ampatuans, alleged perpetrators of the killings of some 58 innocent victims among them journalists .God forbid.
You cannot hide the truth. “ Lalabas at lalabas din ang baho
ninyo “.
*****
PACMAN COULD BE GEN-SAN’S TUNA SAVIOR: World boxing’s idol
Manny Pacquiao avers he entered politics because he wanted to help people .
If that’s the case, then Manny doesn’t need to run again as congressman after losing badly in his turf of General Santos. With his money, he could do many things without being a politician .
Manny is now eyeing a second run for congress in Sarangani, home province of his wife Jinky.
Instead of spending again millions for his campaign, Manny could use that money to help thousands of his co-province mates displaced by the two-year ban on tuna fishing.
Directly affected by this United Nations ban, of which the Philippines is a signatory are General Santos, Sarangani and other Mindanao areas engaged in large scale tuna fishing and canning and allied
businesses.
If Manny were to spend say, P150 million for his congressional run, he could instead use that sum to put up livelihood projects or business endeavours that will employ displaced tuna workers. That alone will make him some sort of a savior for these thousands of soon to be unemployed workers.
The boxing champ has invested in some businesses in General Santos and also in Sarangani. Putting up some more investments to help his province mates would eventually be a greater achievement than being a lawmaker.
When he unsuccessfully ran for congress the first time in General Santos,
He spent a similar sum of money that many said was never used in his campaign but was allegedly pocketed by some people.
This year alone, some 150,000 jobs will be eliminated in General Santos as its fishing industry will be hard-hit by the ban, according to the Socsargen Fishing Federation and Allied Industries Inc.(SFFAII).
The tuna industry which includes some 200 mother fishing boats, super seiners and canning generates some P50 Billion or about US$1.08 Billion worth to the country’s GDP (Gross Domestic product).
Presently, some 50,000 families are now being affected by the tuna ban that is mostly dependent on tuna fishing and canning industry.
The two-year moratorium on tuna fishing in the Pacific Ocean took effect last January 1, 2010 under the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commisson
(WCPFC) to halt the depletion of yellow fin and big eye tuna catch.
Coupled with the massive power shortage now being felt in Mindanao, the loss of jobs from the industry could further hurt the economy of Mindanao as a whole, according to some experts.
*******
Filipino-American boxing champ Ana Julaton lost a gallant fight against a more experienced fighter ,Canadian Lisa “Bad News “ Brown in their
March 27 bout at Casino Rama.
Alan Tremblay of Orion Sports promotions, under whose aegis the fight was held, has been supporting big fights involving Filipino prizefighters.
Still young at age 29, there is still room for Ana to gain much-needed ring experience and savvy given that she’s under the tutelage of mentor Nonito Donaire Sr. father of another Filipino ring champ, Nonito Donaire Jr.
Tremblay has big plans to seek out outstanding Filipino boxers when he travels to the Philippines soon.
Tremblay, a former airline executive is paving the way for the renaissance of
big time boxing in hockey-crazed Canada.
