Section 34, Chapter I of R.A. 8491 (the same statute cited for the "transgression" of Nievera) deals with the various prohibitions on the use of the national flag, and sub-section e) thereof states: "e) To wear the flag in whole or in part as a costume or uniform."

The Pacman entered the ring wearing a robe of red, white and blue that definitely resembled the national emblem. Is he or is he not guilty of something? If he is, I hope we are not overlooking his "transgression" simply because he is the "pambansang kamao." No one is above the law, remember?

***

US Ambassador Kristie Kenney, she who played a key role in the near-dismemberment of the Republic through the aborted MOA on the creation of a Bangsamoro Juridical Entity in southern Mindanao, said of Pacquiao’s victory:

"He fights in America and he trained in the US so we share a little bit in this story. We feel entitled to be proud. I was thrilled. I was excited. I thought it was decisive."

That sounded to me like she was sucking up to the Filipino people. I wonder how her British colleague, who represents America’s former colonial masters, must feel. Hatton is from England.

***

Ms. Gloria Arroyo returned to Manila with the usual glowing reports about her "achievements" during her latest junket to Egypt and Syria.

First, she was supposed to have received a proposal from an Egyptian firm to set up an "aviation city" (what is that?) at the Clark Economic Zone to the tune of $1.2 billion. Since it is a mere proposal, it may take years of negotiations before it can become a reality, if at all.

Second, she brought home three agreements with Syria: bilateral consultations, cultural exchanges and exemption from visa for official and diplomatic passport holders. All three are ambassadorial-level agreements that certainly did not require her presence in Damascus.

Third, she was supposed to have secured the commitments of Egypt and Syria to support the Philippine bid for observer status in the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC).

As far as I know, the two countries have no problem with our being an OIC observer. Moreover, their supposed commitments to support our bid lose significance when we consider the fact that as long as the MNLF sits as an observer in the OIC, it is unlikely we will get in.

Also, Pakistan has previously proposed rules for the admission of members or observers into the OIC. I am not aware if those rules have been adopted or not. If not, the organization will not decide on pending applications, including ours, until they are approved

If the Pakistani-drafted rules (which are designed specifically to block India’s application for admission as member or observer) have been adopted, our entry as an observer becomes even more remote. One of the provisions in the draft rules is that no country with an outstanding dispute with any member may be admitted as a member or observer. With our claim over Sabah still unresolved, one may be sure that Malaysia would invoke that rule once adopted. Also, Pakistan has never really been a true friend. Lest we forget, Pakistan was one of the countries known to have trained and harbored secessionist rebels like Nur Misuari in the past.

And to say that the two countries’ commitments led to Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo being invited to attend the OIC’s next ministerial meeting in Damascus is stretching it a bit too far.

Unless there is an assurance that our application for observer status will be approved at the meeting, I believe Romulo should not go. I don’t think he would want a repeat of the experience he had the last time he attended such a meeting. He came home empty-handed. As a rule, guests are not even entitled to address the conference. If that rule is applied to Romulo, it certainly would not be an appropriate way to treat the foreign secretary of a sovereign state.

If Romulo wants to go, nobody can stop him except, of course, Ms. Arroyo. But then, she might not. It seems to me she is not getting the proper briefing from Romulo himself and/or those directly dealing with OIC matters.

***

It is bad enough that we have been getting a raw deal from the US on the VFA, but when the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) itself tries to defend it by issuing a Fact Sheet citing its "virtues," that truly grates the senses.

Aside from the perceived intangible benefits we are supposed to be getting from the VFA like it is indispensable "to the nation’s security", to "building a strong Philippines and maintaining a stable Asia-Pacific," to helping "ensure that the AFP kept abreast of new military strategies and technologies, as well as best practices of the US military", the Fact Sheet also enumerates the following financial gains we derive from it: $30 million in annual foreign military financing (only US weapons and materiel, please); $40 million annual share in the expenses for the implementation of the Joint Defense Assessment; and $5 million and $9.5 million in 2006 and 2007, respectively, in proceeds from the replenishment of supplies and logistics. It also states that the VFA facilitates RP-US cooperation by "eliminating the scourge of terrorism" and "in rebuilding in times of disaster."

That’s it? Geez, how cheap can we get? That doesn’t even come up to $90 million annually. Compared to what Pakistan will be getting from the US for its cooperation in "eliminating the scourge of terrorism" alone, that’s not even peanuts. That’s an insult!

Pakistan will be getting $1.5 billion (that’s one thousand five hundred million dollars) annually over the next five years. That is on top of what Pakistan supposedly got in the wake of 9/11 –- $3 billion plus the lifting of the embargo imposed by the US on Pakistani products after it exploded its first nuclear device.

But I don’t blame the Americans. I blame our so-called leaders for being stupid or being cowed by the Americans.

***

If you ever happen to have the need to transact official business or need the assistance of either the Philippine Mission to the United Nations or the Philippine Consulate General in New York, be prepared to carry with you a bucketful of patience.

When you dial the number of either establishment, you get to listen to a recording machine that gives you all kinds of instructions from dialing the local number of the party you are calling, to asking you to press some other button on the phone or to telling you to stay on the line. Invariably, you wind up waiting interminably on the line and the machine finally telling you that "that mailbox is full" and curtly bidding you goodbye! It is not only frustrating… it is infuriating!

I spoke to the consul general about this and she said she is aware of the problem. I told her that no matter how good they are in doing their job, their efforts will all go in vain unless the problem is resolved. She said the problem stems solely from lack of personnel and that she has not been remiss in apprising the Home Office of the situation. Unfortunately, there has been no favorable response to her recommendation so far.

It is highly probable that the same problem exists in the other consulates general in the US, e.g., Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

***

Last March 27, Samuel Arcamo IV <samuel_arcamoiv@yahoo.com.ph> wrote the GSIS to inquire about the status of the death benefits of his father Samuel G. Arcamo Jr. (GSIS No. 51042802178) who died 5 November 2008. His mother filed the death claim in January 2009 at the GSIS Cebu Branch.

After several follow-ups, Arcamo IV finally received the following reply from GSIS <crmdbooth9@gsis.gov.ph> on April 21:

"Please be advised that the upgrading of our systems and hardware will take more time due to data recovery activities.

"Loans and claims processing will still be on hold until further notice.

"We will notify you as soon as the upgrading has been completed. We apologize for the inconvenience."

Following was Mr. Arcamo’s reaction:

"Upgrading? Is this all you have to say?! To let us wait until further notice? I’ve been hearing about your system upgrades since last year! Or even more!

"It’s been a month now since my first e-mail and that system is not yet fixed? God! No wonder a lot of people are dying before they could receive their hard earned benefit!

"I am sure I am not the only one complaining. There are millions of complainants out there! And we will not cease complaining until this system will be solved!"

My heart bleeds for your mother, Mr. Arcamo. I hope GSIS head Winston Garcia’s does too.

***

There are 415 days left before the end on 30 June 2010 of Ms. Arroyo’s stolen presidency, courtesy of "Garci", et al.

***

Today is the 14th day of the third year of Jonas Burgos’ disappearance.

I ask again, what is the reason the Supreme Court is taking so long to decide on the petition of Jonas’ mother, Edita, for a Writ of Amparo which was denied earlier by the Court of Appeals?