Fil-Am novelist and UST alumnus calls award to Mocha Uson ‘an insult’ to alumni

January 22, 2018 http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/pinoyabroad/news/640518

A University of Santo Tomas (UST) alumnus and Filipino-American novelist-poet called the awarding of
the Thomasian Alumni Award for Government Service to Presidential Communications Assistant
Secretary Margaux "Mocha" Uson "an insult" to all alumni of the university. "The recent Thomasian
Alumni Award recognition of Mocha Uson, a known propagandist and “purveyor of fake news” at a time
when Freedom of the Press is under attack in the Philippines is an insult to all UST Alumni who believe in
upholding one of the pillars of strong democracies—VERITAS," US-based Bino A. Realuyo, author of the
novel "The Umbrella Country", said in a statement. Uson was given the award by the University of Santo
Tomas Alumni Association Inc. (USTAAI) on Sunday during the grand alumni homecoming.The University
of Santo Tomas Central Student Council (UST-CSC) on Sunday also condemned the awarding of Uson for
her role in spreading "politically-motivated propaganda against known members of the government's
opposition.""We express dismay over this event as Mocha Uson does not, in any way, embody the ideals
of a real Thomasian, and with all due respect, Ms. Esther Margaux "Mocha" Justiniano Uson does not
deserve an award that was supposed to be meant solely for outstanding alumni," the UST-CSC added.
The USTAAI defended its bestowing the award on Uson, saying the sole criteria for the award is "to be a
graduate of the University of Santo Tomas and in government service." It added that the award "is
envisioned to inspire and challenge the recipients to lead the Thomasian core values of Compassion,
Competence, and Commitment."

In one word !!!! Absolutely !! Correct. This has to be the joke of the month a laughing matter. To honour
a person who's personal integrity it's self is in Question. Can I detect a personal request from the
President to honour his favourite Pet. Well well there are far more worthy candidates who qualify. What
is the attraction I wonder. Limited in knowledge lacking experience one can only come to the conclusion
favouritism being the reason. Awards are given after the achievement not to inspire the person to
perform better. This reasoning diminished all the accomplishments of other awardees in UST’s history.
What a blunder!
Award meant to 'inspire'
Mocha Uson
January 22, 2018 https://www.rappler.com/nation/194199

After coming under fire, the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Alumni Association said the award it gave
Palace Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson was "envisioned to inspire and challenge" her
"to lead the Thomasian core values of Compassion, Competence, and Commitment." Uson, along with
several other government officials, had received the Thomasian Alumni Award for Government Service
on Sunday, January 21. The UST Central Student Council (CSC) and university alumni swiftly denounced
the decision to honor Uson, an entertainer-turned-government official who has been accused of
spreading propaganda and misinformation online. According to the UST Alumni Association, the only
criteria for the award are: 1. to be a UST graduate; 2. to be in government service. "The UST Alumni
Association recognizes that these [awardees] carry the name of the university in all their endeavors, and
the ceremony was initiated as a call for the recipients to live a life of servant leadership anchored in the
Thomasian values," the organization said in a statement late Sunday. It also differentiated the award
given to Uson from The Outstanding Thomasian Alumni Leadership Awards, "which is the highest award
bestowed by the university."

Awards are given to DESERVING people and not to INSPIRE people that proved NOTHING IN THEIR
FIELDS .There are so many, many Thomasians that are more deserving! Or, the question is: how much?
What values? Tells other Thomasians and students that you can be a porn queen, fake blogger and can't
even speak right English and still get and award! That's motivation? Shame on you! With due respect to
the alumni assoc, award is given in recognition of something that "was or has been" achieved (already
done) not prior to achieving it. So if that's the justification (to inspire ? ) for giving her the award, can
you give an award to each alumnus who is in the government service, to inspire them too? 🤔. Pinag
iisipan at pinag aaralan po ang pagbibigay ng award para di questionable sa mga tao let alone sa mga
members, Hindi pino POLITIKA. "The only criteria for the award are to be a UST graduate and to be in
government service." Then give every alumni who's working in the government an award. But that
would be silly, right?
Alvarez threatens 'zero
budget' for provinces of
anti-federalism lawmakers
January 19, 2018 https://www.rappler.com/nation/194012

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez is sticking to his belief that failure to align with the ruling
party’s decisions should – and will – lead to the depletion of budgets.

Alvarez on Thursday, January 18, threatened to give “zero budget” to the provinces of
leaders and politicians who refuse to support the proposed shift to a federal form of
government. He made the assertion during the oath-taking of PDP-Laban members in
Iloilo City.

“Siyempre, 'yung ibang probinsya ayaw nilang makisama, o ‘di zero sa budget. Ayaw ko
rin, hindi ba? Alangan namang kayo kasama, 'yung leaders nila ayaw sumama. Alangan
namang pantay?" he said on Thursday, after rallying Ilonggos to support Charter
change.

(Of course, provinces that refuse to cooperate, will get zero budget. I don’t want it too,
right? It couldn't be that you're with us, then their leaders don't want to join us. Should
there be equal treatment?)

"Ako naman, hindi namimilit. Kung ayaw 'nyong sumama, okay. Ginagalang ko ‘yun,
karapatan 'nyo 'yun, pero ang sabi ko nga, igalang 'nyo rin ang karapatan ko para ma-
zero kayo sa budget, ‘di ba?”

(I won’t force you. If you don’t want to join us, okay. I’ll respect that because it’s your
right, but like I said, you should also respect my right to give you zero budgets, right?)

Alvarez, who represents the 1st District of Davao del Norte, cited a concrete, fresh
example to show that he meant it.

“Kanya-kanyang karapatan lang ‘yan. Anong sasabihin ng mga kasama ko? Ay pareho
lang pala kung sasama tayo o oposisyon, pareho lang pala….Ay, hindi naman patas
'yan, di ba? Kaya, magkaintindihan na rin tayo di ba?” he added.
(We all have our respective rights. But what would my allies say? Oh, it’s the same if I
join you or join the opposition. That wouldn’t be fair, right? So we understand each
other, right?)

Alvarez was referring to the controversial decision to slash the district budgetsof House
members – both from independent blocs and the supermajority – who have been voices
of opposition in the House.

The PDP-Laban Secretary General defended that controversial move, saying cutting an
opposition lawmaker’s budget was the "essence of democracy."

Someone needs to remind him that the budget that he is talking about comes
from the people and not from his own pockets. I look forward to the day he'll
be humbled and be slapped on the face with karma. This kind of person is the
main reason why federalism is not good for the country right now !!! Political
dynasty at dictator will make people suffer in a federal form of government!
ano yun Mr. Speaker?...this is the fundamental law of the law...we should
allow a more intelligent approach and more intelligent public discourse of the
issue... everybody has a stake here, whether they support or not... the House
should have a very compelling reason and provide little doubt of interpretation
why we really change the constitution in the first place... i for one is amenable
to amend it but it should go to a process that will establish the strong
foundation why we are going to amend it. Just to remind u Mr. Alvarez that
you do not own these budget that comes from the tax payers! Your political
interest is not everybody’s interest. Rude ruler!
Ex-DA chief breaks
silence, denies being part
of P15.78-M car loan mess
https://www.rappler.com/nation/194196 January 22, 2018
Former agriculture secretary and incumbent Bohol Third District Representative Arthur
Yap denied involvement in the alleged P15.78-million car loan scheme availed of by
employees of the Philippine Rice Research Institue (PhilRice).

The loan had been questioned at the Office of the Ombudsman and the anti-graft court
Sandiganbayan.

“Why am I being held liable for a car policy I did not vote on, let alone approve?” Yap
said in a statement emailed to this reporter. He was reacting to another case filed
against him.

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The former DA secretary is also facing a string of graft and corruption complaints over
his alleged involvement in the multi-million-peso pork barrel scam allegedly facilitated by
businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles and several lawmakers in the country.

Yap was chairman of PhilRice’s Board of Trustees (BOT) who allegedly approved a car
loan scheme that violated Sections 3 (e) and 3 (g) of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-
Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

While Section 3 (e) deals with any acts that would cause “undue injury to any party,
including the Government, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits,
advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial
functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence,”
Section 3 (g) prohibits government officials from “entering, on behalf of the Government,
into any contract or transaction manifestly and grossly disadvantageous to the same,
whether or not the public officer profited or will profit thereby.”

Yap, however, admitted that on November 5, 2008, as chairman of the PhilRice BOTs,
he did attend the 52nd meeting of the Board of Trustees (BOT) “where the possibility of
setting up a car plan to be utilized by qualified and deserving Philrice employees – but
subject to guidelines most advantageous to the government – was discussed.”

He claimed that on January 30, 2009, the PhilRice director issued a Car Plan
Administrative Order.

But Yap clarified: “I had no participation in the formulation of the said Order.”

“Neither did I at any time consent, approve, or acquiesce to the rules and guidelines
covering this car plan,” said Yap, who is ending his third and final term as member of
the House of Representatives.

Recently, Yap’s name was floated as a potential contender in the race for governor of
Bohol in the 2019 mid-term elections.

Yap further revealed that on June 19, 2009, a 54th PhilRice BOT meeting was held,
“where the Car Plan Guidelines were discussed and allegedly approved.”

“However, I was not present during that 54th meeting. Let me say again: I was not at
the Board Meeting,” Yap said, stressing, “Neither did I avail of any car because of this
car plan. Why am I being held liable?”
It is a lame excuse that Arthur Yap says he was not present at the 54th Board
meeting. As chairman of PhilRice’s Board of Trustees (BOT), Mr Yap how
could you not be present at its 54th Board meeting? How could the Board
meet without its chairman? The issue was discussed in the 52nd Board
meeting so you are aware of the proposal! Did it not occur to you to follow up
on the result of the proposal? Did it not occur to you to make sure the scheme
was not anomalous? Either you are lying or you are incompetent. Arthur Yap
does not deserve to be in government service. Big time corruption cases are
surfacing like nobody business