Topic: Twisted ARMM
Guests: Al Tillah, Former Governor (Tawi-Tawi) and President of Islamic Society of the Philippines and Brigido "Jun" Simon, Former Mayor (Quezon City)
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Invite me at your own risk
YESTERDAY, TODAY & TOMORROW
Linggoy Alcuaz
8/25-27/2011
On the very light side of things, I fell for a fake invitation to a meeting of Tanggulang Demokrasya (TANDEM) set for 2 pm, Tuesday, August 9, at the Greenhills East Association Boardroom. It was a text invitation from an unlisted cellular phone number.
I responded with a template message – “Hu r u pls? U txtd my Sun w a new # nt in any of my directories – Linggoy”. He responded by sending via business card a name, Willy, whom I knew, and his # that was listed in my Sun memory.
And so, I texted the latter about the invitation. He reiterated the invitation. I asked, “Are you authorized to invite me?”
He answered by saying that it was an open meeting. I explained to him that TANDEM invited me to their big and public meetings, but not to their small and private meetings.
Closed-Door Meeting
Anyway, since Willy was on the way and would arrive ahead of me. I became comfortable with the invitation. When the Gate 3 guard did not get my license or ID, I thought that the welcome was complete.
I had arranged with OpinYon’s Kath to send me some complimentary copies as well as blank advertising contracts and subscription forms to the venue of the meeting.
Our messenger and Willy had arrived at the venue of the TANDEM meeting ahead of me. When at last I got there, Willy told me that it was a closed door meeting.
However, he assumed that I could attend because I was known to the TANDEM leadership. I explained to him that I do not gate crash meetings that I was not invited to.
I just requested him to bring a dozen copies of OpinYon isyu # 51 (with the Banner “Blood on their Hands”) to the boardroom in the second floor.
Fake Invite
Before long, a uniformed security guard arrived and wanted to see my gate pass which I did not have.
The guard explained that whoever had let me in without getting my ID and clearing with TANDEM before letting me in would lose his job.
Then, a security supervisor arrived holding a copy of OpinYon.
According to him it was against association rules and regulations to distribute newspapers.
So, I let go curses and invectives at them for suppressing the freedom of the press. That is what happens when one accepts a fake invitation.
Not all fake invitations turn sour. I once faked a GMA invitation and it turned out very sweet for my victim beneficiary.
It was the fifth night of EDSA 3.
By EDSA 1 and 2 standards, the critical mass or tipping point was long overdue.
EDSA 1 was done in four nights. EDSA 2 too, was done in four nights.
It was Sunday, April 29. Rumors were rife that the political opposition’s leadership would be coming out in force and lead the assembled masses wherever.
Malacaňang was a favorite inspirational target.
Popoy & Atong
We had an emergency meeting in Mabini Hall in Malacaňang set for that evening.
Marie Guingona had informed me about it and had issued periodic text reminders.
I had gone to the birthday party of Margarita “Tingting” de los Reyes Cojuangco at Palm Ave, Forbes Park.
As soon as I entered the house, I saw Gen. Popoy Fianza. Popoy had been with GMA even before I joined Kampi in 1997.
However, when GMA was illegally proclaimed (due to his partisan excitement, Davide forgot to prefix the word “acting” before President) by Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr., as the permanent replacement of Erap, they had a little “tampuhan”.
Popoy was supposed to stop Atong Ang’s departure abroad so that he could be pressured to testify against Erap.
Considering that he was helping GMA when she was still a Senator wanting to run for the Presidency, he did not get a good position in the PNP.
He was assigned to a staff position in plans or training. These were the least money-making functions in the PNP.
My instinct when I saw him was to kid him and tell him that GMA was calling for him.
Poor man, he took me very seriously and agreed to go straight to where GMA was.
For that he got GMA’s renewed gratitude and a medal which his peers disputed.
As for me, I got a free ride to Malacaňang and easier entry past the strengthened and stricter PSG checkpoints.
Important Days
The last of the very important dates of August is August 27, 1987.
This is the day of the fifth coup attempt. (That came after the following publicly known failed attempts: 1) The July 4, 1986 Manila Hotel Loyalist attempt to install Vice President Arturo Tolentino; 2) The November 1986 “God Save the Queen” plot that hardly took off; 3) The January 1987 Colonel Canlas takeover of GMA 7, and 4) The Black Saturday incident at the Philippine Army Headquarters in Ft. Bonifacio, Taguig.)
This is the day when Noynoy was ambushed along J. P. Laurel Street.
This is the day that as NTC Commissioner, I had to run around closing down radio and TV stations.
That is what gave me the right to criticize Pinoy’s handling of the Luneta Hostage Massacre,
I almost forgot. Another very important date in August is the 30th.
It is the feast day of my mother, Rosa. She used to celebrate it bigger and grander than her birthday in April. We have an altar cum fireplace in our sala at home. That was the center of the praying and singing that she and her guests did before dinner.
It was also the night in 1969 when my future wife and I realized that we would share the next half century together.
In the coming years we will remember in August: the resignation of Juan Miguel Zubiri on the 3rd, Koko Pimentel’s proclamation by our previous pet peeve, the SET, on the 11th, and Koko’s first day in the Senate Plenary on the 15th.
Linggoy Alcuaz
8/25-27/2011
On the very light side of things, I fell for a fake invitation to a meeting of Tanggulang Demokrasya (TANDEM) set for 2 pm, Tuesday, August 9, at the Greenhills East Association Boardroom. It was a text invitation from an unlisted cellular phone number.
I responded with a template message – “Hu r u pls? U txtd my Sun w a new # nt in any of my directories – Linggoy”. He responded by sending via business card a name, Willy, whom I knew, and his # that was listed in my Sun memory.
And so, I texted the latter about the invitation. He reiterated the invitation. I asked, “Are you authorized to invite me?”
He answered by saying that it was an open meeting. I explained to him that TANDEM invited me to their big and public meetings, but not to their small and private meetings.
Closed-Door Meeting
Anyway, since Willy was on the way and would arrive ahead of me. I became comfortable with the invitation. When the Gate 3 guard did not get my license or ID, I thought that the welcome was complete.
I had arranged with OpinYon’s Kath to send me some complimentary copies as well as blank advertising contracts and subscription forms to the venue of the meeting.
Our messenger and Willy had arrived at the venue of the TANDEM meeting ahead of me. When at last I got there, Willy told me that it was a closed door meeting.
However, he assumed that I could attend because I was known to the TANDEM leadership. I explained to him that I do not gate crash meetings that I was not invited to.
I just requested him to bring a dozen copies of OpinYon isyu # 51 (with the Banner “Blood on their Hands”) to the boardroom in the second floor.
Fake Invite
Before long, a uniformed security guard arrived and wanted to see my gate pass which I did not have.
The guard explained that whoever had let me in without getting my ID and clearing with TANDEM before letting me in would lose his job.
Then, a security supervisor arrived holding a copy of OpinYon.
According to him it was against association rules and regulations to distribute newspapers.
So, I let go curses and invectives at them for suppressing the freedom of the press. That is what happens when one accepts a fake invitation.
Not all fake invitations turn sour. I once faked a GMA invitation and it turned out very sweet for my victim beneficiary.
It was the fifth night of EDSA 3.
By EDSA 1 and 2 standards, the critical mass or tipping point was long overdue.
EDSA 1 was done in four nights. EDSA 2 too, was done in four nights.
It was Sunday, April 29. Rumors were rife that the political opposition’s leadership would be coming out in force and lead the assembled masses wherever.
Malacaňang was a favorite inspirational target.
Popoy & Atong
We had an emergency meeting in Mabini Hall in Malacaňang set for that evening.
Marie Guingona had informed me about it and had issued periodic text reminders.
I had gone to the birthday party of Margarita “Tingting” de los Reyes Cojuangco at Palm Ave, Forbes Park.
As soon as I entered the house, I saw Gen. Popoy Fianza. Popoy had been with GMA even before I joined Kampi in 1997.
However, when GMA was illegally proclaimed (due to his partisan excitement, Davide forgot to prefix the word “acting” before President) by Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr., as the permanent replacement of Erap, they had a little “tampuhan”.
Popoy was supposed to stop Atong Ang’s departure abroad so that he could be pressured to testify against Erap.
Considering that he was helping GMA when she was still a Senator wanting to run for the Presidency, he did not get a good position in the PNP.
He was assigned to a staff position in plans or training. These were the least money-making functions in the PNP.
My instinct when I saw him was to kid him and tell him that GMA was calling for him.
Poor man, he took me very seriously and agreed to go straight to where GMA was.
For that he got GMA’s renewed gratitude and a medal which his peers disputed.
As for me, I got a free ride to Malacaňang and easier entry past the strengthened and stricter PSG checkpoints.
Important Days
The last of the very important dates of August is August 27, 1987.
This is the day of the fifth coup attempt. (That came after the following publicly known failed attempts: 1) The July 4, 1986 Manila Hotel Loyalist attempt to install Vice President Arturo Tolentino; 2) The November 1986 “God Save the Queen” plot that hardly took off; 3) The January 1987 Colonel Canlas takeover of GMA 7, and 4) The Black Saturday incident at the Philippine Army Headquarters in Ft. Bonifacio, Taguig.)
This is the day when Noynoy was ambushed along J. P. Laurel Street.
This is the day that as NTC Commissioner, I had to run around closing down radio and TV stations.
That is what gave me the right to criticize Pinoy’s handling of the Luneta Hostage Massacre,
I almost forgot. Another very important date in August is the 30th.
It is the feast day of my mother, Rosa. She used to celebrate it bigger and grander than her birthday in April. We have an altar cum fireplace in our sala at home. That was the center of the praying and singing that she and her guests did before dinner.
It was also the night in 1969 when my future wife and I realized that we would share the next half century together.
In the coming years we will remember in August: the resignation of Juan Miguel Zubiri on the 3rd, Koko Pimentel’s proclamation by our previous pet peeve, the SET, on the 11th, and Koko’s first day in the Senate Plenary on the 15th.
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