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| Myanmar after the 7.7 intensity quake on Friday, March 28. As I personally rejoice on Friday the successful run of young Filipina–Alex Eala, 19, who cemented her professional rank from over 140 to 75, ending this year’s Miami tennis, I was clueless that the people in our neighboring countries Thailand and Myanmar were experiencing a deadly phenomenon. On Friday, March 28, about 12:50 noontime, the people of Myanmar and Thailand were rocked by a 7.7 intensity earthquake. Fortunately, there were no Filipinos reportedly hurt from the tragedy, but sadly for Myanmar the death toll—as of Saturday was said to have reached 1644, according to the Myanmar government. While rescue efforts are still continuing, the number of local people injured have so far ballooned to 3,400, and missing people were accounted for 139 after the quake jolted Mandalay region which is said to be the epicenter in Myanmar. As for Thailand, there were 10 people who were reported to have died from the quake. To everyone, whatever your religion and faith is, let us join together and PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE OF MYANMAR, let us embrace them through prayers they need it badly. |
AN APPEAL FOR PRAYER FOR MYANMAR
TRULY–IT WAS A GOOD FIGHT, ALEX!
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| photo credit to Inquirer |
MY2Cents:
The Philippines tennis sensation Alex Eala may have fallen short of her run in the semifinals of the Miami Open but it was a very, very good fight.
The 19 year old Alexandra Maniego Eala was a pride to watch during that three hour matchup against the world's No 4, American, Jessica Pegula, 31. And it was affirmed by Pegula herself by stating in a live interview shortly after the game that Alex doesn't need anyone to tell her how good she was.
Alex made many beautiful hits during the game despite the ankle injury and sore leg, because even the game annotators could attest to it by saying “Pegula is a local but the crowd here were mostly for Eala.”
Many have prayed for Alex–it was good, and I hope more Filipinos would show support to Alex, as well as to other athletes. But, perhaps this year is not yet for our young lady tennis warrior, anyway Eala is now ranked 75th from her previous 140 record following her victory against the world No 2 Iga Swiatek on Thursday, Manila time. Alex had so much experienced and learnings from this semis that she surely would want to pick up to help improve her skills.
Again, good game to our young tennis hero, Alex Eala!
PH ALEX EALA PULLED IT ANEW
SPORTS HERO ALEX EALA PULLED IT ANEW—TAKES OUT PHILIPPINES MOMENTARILY FROM POLITICAL QUANDARY, EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS TO ANOTHER SPORT’S HISTORY
Congratulations to Philippines' new tennis hero Alex Eala, as well as to her parents, family and tennis team. Indeed, all your hardwork and determination pulled off. Yes, the Miami Open is not yet over, but you have proven yourself time and again that nothing is impossible when you dream and you’re working hard for it. Your impressive victory against the world No.2 Iga Swiatek at the Miami Open was a testament to that.
Because of your relentless drive, Filipinos right now could once more see and wave our flag with pride knowing that the 19 year old Eala is once more making a mark in tennis history ot just for herself but for the country, as well.
And as the first quarter of the 2025 wind up, where political turmoil and scandal is beaming for Filipinos not just locally but also internationally due to the issues of crimes against humanity being charged against ex-president Rodrigo Duterte, and political division as an offshoot of the breakup of Marcos-Duterte’s UniTeam. By the way, the UniTeam was created in 2022 aimed to secure the victory of then presidential and vice presidential candidates Ferdinand Marcos Jr and Sara Duterte. But for some reasons the political team drifted apart throwing allegations versus President Marcos as an addict and incapable, as well as the threat to assassinate the First Couple including House Speaker Martin Romualdez, as well as to dig up the grave of former president Marcos Sr and throw it to the sea.
Meanwhile the Vice President Office's use of intelligence funds has been questioned, VP Sara now is subjected to an impeachment case, while political supporters of the Duterte’s were being linked to various illegal offshore gaming in the country, kidnapping and other crimes. And the most recent development was the detention of ex-president Duterte after he was said to have been state kidnapped as alleged by ex-president Duterte’s children.
And what further stirs the political climate in the country these days as midterm elections are now in full swing is the rampant spread of FAKE NEWS especially in the social media. The pro-DU30 camp are alleging that the arrest of the older Duterte was planned to cover up the detention of the First Lady in the United States following the death of Paolo Tantoco who was part of Mrs. Marcos’ US entourage.
Therefore, Alex Eala’s series of victories in this ongoing Miami Open is truly a big relief not just for our beloved Alex but also to the Filipino community as well, here and abroad. Noting the rift between these two powers has been pulling the Filipinos down, when in truth, there are other more pressing concerns and problems to address, and there are more meaningful and worthy leaders that should be given the seats that these two top leaders have taken over.
REALITY NOW SETTING IN
My Two Cents on FPRRDs Crime Against Humanity Case at the ICC: Is Reality Now Setting In?
As I see things from that unsettling March 11, the realities are now dawning on former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s family and political camp following his detention at the International Criminal Court due to his bloody illegal drugs war.
Duterte was arrested on March 11, upon his return to the country after a short trip to Hong Kong to which he made the remark, “If I’m arrested, if I’m detained, so be it,” as he addressed Filipino supporters at Southorn Stadium in Wan Chai district on March 9. Thus, at exactly 11:03 pm, Manila time of the same day, the private plane onboard the ex-president flew to The Hague, with former executive secretary Atty. Salvador Medialdea and daughter Veronica “Kitty” Duterte, as his escorts together with some members of the Philippine National Police and International Police Organization.
Undeniably, no pro-DU30 allies accepted the arrest calmly. There were allegations of conspiracy, cover up, and state kidnapping. And from the state kidnapping allegation of Vice President Sarah Duterte in an ambush interview at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, to realizations?
Four days after the arrest, the VP claimed she doesn’t harbor any ill feelings towards anyone, including that of National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano, who also served as former Interior and Local Government chief to the “Punisher”.
“Honestly, I don’t feel anything at all. I’m not angry, I’m not disappointed. Nothing at all — because it’s pointless to harbor any feelings about what happened. It can’t be undone. President Duterte can no longer be brought back to the Philippines,” the Vice President said. She likewise added,
“So what we should do as a country is move on from what happened. The question is, what will we do moving forward as a nation and as a people? Whether we get angry or not, our anger will lead us nowhere,” she said.
And as week two of the detention, the VP is on a different tune, while the Congress discovered more food names without birth certificate records on the used of the Office of the Vice President’s intelligence fund receipts to add to the likes of previous record like Mary Grace Piattos, Chippy McDonald, Fernando Tempura, and Carlos Oishi. Recently, there were Jay Kamote and Miggy Mango while other invoice bore names with a series of “Dodong” recipients such as Dodong Alcala, Dodong Bina, Dodong Bunal, Dodong Darong, and Dodong S. Barok.
On the other hand, Malacanang maintains its stand that there was no political hand in the arrest of the former president, noting the ICCs investigation came way ahead of Marcos Jr becoming a president. President Bongbong stressed the Punisher’s anti drug drive was initiated during his incumbency as mayor of Davao in 2016. He likewise clarified that Malacanang only honored its commitment to Interpol. But while the national government maintained that it will continue the anti-drug war minus the killings, the VP is now using the European crowd associating the fate of the late national hero, former senator Benigno Aquino Sr. to what she claimed could also be the fate of DU30, to be assassinated.
On Monday, March 24, fake news surrounding the return of Duterte to the country on March 26, following the decision of ICC President Judge Tomoko Akane to dismiss Duterte’s crime against humanity made rounds in various social media platforms.
My two cents, the inconsistencies on the statements that one with the “I don't harbor ill feelings to the assassination threat on the life of Duterte, obviously, there’s an attempt to once more hype the situation, as if agitation is needed from the pro-DU30 supporters, to put further pressure to the government to act for the release of the ex-president. Why? Because everything went out of hand.
PHILIPPINES: The Pearlof the Orient Seas
As the Philippine history is being written anew due to the recent developments in the country’s political landscape following the breakup of Team Unity of the Marcoses and the Dutertes, the Southeast Asia’s “Pearl of the Orient Seas” once more is into the international scene after the national government agreed to honor its commitment to the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) on the arrest order of former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte (FPRRD).
On March 11, 2025, at exactly 11:03pm, Manila time, onboard a private plane, FPRRD together with his ex-executive secretary Salvador Medialdea and youngest daughter, Kitty Duterte left the country escorted by the elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and members of the Interpol and delivered to International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague, Netherlands for the crimes against humanity being alleged to Duterte following his anti-drug war that stemmed from 2011 to 2019 during his stint as Davao City Mayor until his regime in Malacanang.
While the families of the 30,000 victims of alleged extrajudicial killings, including former senator Leila Delima, priests, nuns, and human rights groups claimed the arrest of Duterte is only part of the initial due process that the families of the victims can look forward to, Duterte’s camp including the country’s Vice President Sarah Duterte, older daughter of the former president, labeled her father’s arrest as oppression and persecution noting the national government masterminded what she said as “state kidnapping” to be able to carry out the arrest.
As for the Pre-Trial Chamber of the ICC on Friday, March 14, Duterte’s confirmation of charges hearing was set on Sept. 23, 2025, after the latter’s identity was verified.
As for my two cents, the arrest of ICC—the court of last resort to FPRRD could signal to any powerful leader that is also being charged by their respective people that a day of reckoning would one day come. Therefore, it is important to carry out their rules and policies humanely and ensure that there is justice and fairness to all.
DAY OF RECKONING
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| photo credit to Philippine Daily Inquirer |
Manila, Philippines--At about 11:03pm, Tuesday, March 11, 2025 the plane carrying the former president Rodrigo Duterte left bound for the Hague.
Earlier that day an arrest order was issued against Duterte for crimes against humanity. It can be recalled that 12,000 to 30,000 were killed in Duterte’s war against illegal drugs during his term.
And to quote FPRRD in January 2018 one his marching orders delivered in Davao City, “That’s our deal. When I said that you go and destroy the drug industry, destroying means destroying, including human life.”
Suddenly, the tables have turned—the pro-Duterte people including ex-Malacanang spokesman Harry Roque who have been in hiding for months now are speaking, calling on people for Duterte because he was arrested by the International Criminal Court for the death of thousands of Filipino people in his drug war.
For me, it’s these kinds of people that are mocking the Philippine Constitution and the country’s justice system—suddenly talking about due process, sovereignty, illegal arrest, and justice only because they felt the process was unfair for them? But what about those 30,000 people and their families that were stripped off their rights, granting they were addicts or drug peddlers, they too have a right to live and to be heard.
May this recent development involving the former president serves as a lesson to all that "WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND", so better be careful.
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| photo credit to Veritas 846 |
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