Word Of The Day: "Pecksniffian"

When standard political mudslinging loses its charm, former PNP Chief turned legislative lexicographer Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson introduced a 19th-century English literature upgrade to parliamentary warfare: "PECKSNIFFIAN."

THE PARLIAMENTARY INSULT EVOLUTION

[ TRADITIONAL SENATE INSULTS ]
• "Bopol / Stupid"
• "Kawatan / Trapo"
• Effective range: Local evening news

[ THE LACSON LITERARY MODEL ]
• "Pecksniffian" (Charles Dickens' *Martin Chuzzlewit*)
• Meaning: Sanctimonious, self-serving, and smugly virtuous
• Effective range: Requires a dictionary and a Senate press briefing

Who Is the Unnamed Target?
While Senator Lacson generously left the recipient unnamed, social media sleuths and legislative watchers didn't need a search warrant to narrow down the suspects.

THE PECKSNIFFIAN PROFILE MATCH

-Target Criteria: A colleague who delivers pious sermons on national television while
defending local pork barrels.

-Prime Suspect: Senator Alan Peter Cayetano (Fresh off budget clashes over Taguig infrastructure projects).

When a politician spends hours projecting moral purity, invoking higher principles, and staging performative righteousness—only to get called out over unverified local public works projects—the label fits like a bespoke barong.

The Anatomy of "Pecksniffian" Virtue

Originating from Seth Pecksniff—a character in Dickens' Martin Chuzzlewit who acts like a paragon of morality while quietly exploiting everyone around him—the word encapsulates modern political theatricality:

[ THE PECKSNIFFIAN OPERATING SYSTEM ]

STAGE A MORAL LECTURE ON CAMERA ──► CLAIM HIGHER ETHICAL GROUND
│
▼
FACED WITH DPWH/BUDGET AUDITS ──► DEPLOY VIRTUE-SIGNALING SHIELD
│
▼
GET CALLED "PECKSNIFFIAN" ──► PAUSE TO LOOK UP THE DICTIONARY

DICTIONARY vs. SENATE TRANSLATION

1. WEBSTER'S DEFINITION
• Affecting moral superiority.
• Pharisaical and hypocritical.
• Oily, self-satisfied fraudulence.

2. SENATE FLOOR REALITY
• Lecturing colleagues on ethics while avoiding flood control questions.
• "Saka na lang pag maayos na Taguig."

The New Gold Standard for Political Shade
By skipping vulgar curses and opting for high-level vocabulary, Ping Lacson achieved the ultimate insult maneuver: he criticized a rival's morality while forcing them to buy a dictionary

THE REVISED LEGISLATIVE STRATEGY

1. Why shout profanities when 19th-century literature hits harder?

2. Calling someone a hypocrite gets an objection; calling them "Pecksniffian" gets them confused.

3. True political shade requires good vocabulary and a solid paper trail.

The takeaway for the Senate floor is clear: if you plan to trade barbs with Ping Lacson, make sure your local project budget is clean—or at least have a copy of Charles Dickens ready on your desk.

Hostile Witness: New Definition

Good evening, ladies, gentlemen, and viewers playing YouTube at 2.0x playback speed just to maintain a normal pulse rate of the impeachment trial.

Welcome to the Senate Impeachment Tribunal, where the definition of a "hostile witness" has officially undergone a complete constitutional transformation.

THE HOSTILE WITNESS PARADOX
A.
[ WHAT THE LAW DICTIONARY SAYS ] [
• Hot-tempered, evasive, aggressive.
• Aggressively refuses to answer questions.
• Direct threat to the cross-examiner. • Incapable of harming a housefly.
B.
[ WHAT WE SEE ON TELEVISION ]
• Speaks at 2 miles per hour.
• Punctuates every single word with "Po" & "Opo."
• Incapable of harming a housefly.

In standard legal terms, a hostile witness is someone hot-headed, belligerent, and ready to pick a fight with the prosecution.

Enter the Office of the Vice President's Special Disbursing Officer (SDO) Gina Acosta.

If her thought process ran any slower, it would require a hazard light and a slow-moving vehicle sign. She answers every question with the speed of a dial-up modem in 1997, heavily punctuated by polite "Po" and "Opo." She looks like she couldn't hurt a fly, yet she is legally classified as "hostile." Quite confusing indeed.

How is she hostile? She is hostile to the viewers' alertness. She isn't attacking the lawyers; she is waging a war of attrition against human consciousness. She put us to sleep by using boredom and tedium as her weapon.

Absolute genius. Whoever thought of this tactic deserves a pat on the shoulder. Forget objection tactics or complex constitutional motions. The new legal strategy is Valium-induced Mass Auditory Sedation.

THE SEDATION STRATEGY FLOW
1. Witness speaks at 0.25x speed with infinite politeness.
2. Senator-Judges begin nodding off in their ergonomic chairs.
3. Viewers change the channel to watch cartoons for higher drama.
4. Trial stalls for three calendar years. Case dismissed because everyone is napping!

The strategy isn't to confuse the tribunal; it's to put the entire nation into a state of purgatory. When Senator Erwin Tulfo lost his patience over the glacial pace of comprehension, he spoke for millions of Filipinos who realized that, at this rate, the 2028 elections would arrive before this direct examination finished.

What was worse was when Manay Gina had the sudden attack of Selective Amnesia.

The real satire is the sudden transformation. During earlier House Good Governance hearings, the very same witness had no problem understanding Tagalog, navigating documents, or following rapid-fire questioning.

Yet, once seated in the Senate, a sudden affliction hits:

Reading glasses suddenly lose focus on screen-projected documents. It must be her newfound bangs on her forehead blocking her vision.

Basic phrasing requires multi-minute processing delays.

The linguistic switch flips to a sudden, selective inability to comprehend context. "Pakiulit nga ng sinabi mo?" she apologizes.

It makes people wonder if the witness suddenly forgot the national language mid-trial!

While the netizen commentary is hilarious, the situation highlights very real dynamics in public trials:

1. Filibustering by Demeanor: Hostility in a courtroom doesn't always look like shouting. Sometimes, weaponized politeness and deliberate slowness serve as effective stonewalling tactics designed to exhaust the opposing side and run out the clock.

2. The Public as the True Court: The reason YouTube soundbites and 2.0x speed edits went viral is that citizens expect efficiency and transparency in governance. When court proceedings stall, public interest shifts from legal technicalities to calling out obvious courtroom antics.

3. Equal Application of Rules: Whether it is calling out a prosecution lawyer or addressing a witness's evasiveness, a fair trial requires the presiding officer to hold every participant to the same standard of speed, clarity, and candor.

New Definition?

For decades, fashion experts, tailors, and parents have been deceiving the nation. We were told that pantalon was derived from the Spanish pantalón, which came from the Italian pantalone, named after a 16th-century commedia dell'arte character.

That entire multi-century etymological history is completely wrong.

Thanks to the rigorous, groundbreaking structural breakdown of everyday Tagalog, the objective truth has finally been revealed: a pantalon is strictly "pan-talon" (meaning "for jumping").

It was never designed for pan-lakad (walking). Wearing denim jeans to a formal dinner or a mall stroll is, quite frankly, a blatant misuse of clothing specifications.

│THE PHILIPPINE GARMENT USAGE MATRIX PANTALON ]

[ PAN-LAKAD ] Morphology: Pan- (for) + Talon (jump)
-Morphology: Pan- (for) + Lakad (walk)
-Official Activity: Trampoline Parks, Official Activity: Malls, Church, Puddle Jumping, Hurdling. Casual Strolling.

If you walk into a high-end restaurant wearing jeans and get turned away by security, do not blame the dress code. Blame linguistics. You showed up in official jumping attire to a walking event.

What Is This Statement Called in the First Place? If you are wondering what kind of linguistic sorcery allows a person to look someone in the eye and say "Hindi pwedeng pan-lakad ang pantalon kasi pan-talon," it falls into a few overlapping categories:

-Tagalog Wordplay / Pun (Tukso o Laro sa Salita): The primary mechanism. It takes advantage of homophony (words sounding the same) and morphological splitting—breaking a single root word (pantalon) into a prefix (pan-) and an entirely unrelated root verb (talon).

-Literalism / Deconstruction Humor: Taking a word that has zero functional connection to jumping and treating its prefix as a literal manufacturing instruction.

-Dad Joke (Tito Joke): The ultimate classification. It is a joke designed to generate a 50/50 split between mild chuckles and instant groan-induced eye-rolls.

│ THE THREE PILLARS OF "PANTALON" HUMOR

-[ MORPHOLOGICAL SPLITTING ] - Separating "pan-" (for) from the root, creating a fake usage rule

-[ HOMOPHONIC SURPRISE ] - linking "pantalon" (pants) to "talon" (to jump)

[ LITERALIST LOGIC ] arguing that the word is based strictly on sound. Definition dictates physics.

Is It a Double Entendre? Not quite! A double entendre typically involves a statement that can be understood in two ways, usually with one meaning being obvious and the other being suggestive, risqué, or ironic.

The pantalon statement is pure punning through morphological reinterpretation. It isn't trying to hide a second risqué meaning; it is forcing a completely absurd literal definition onto an innocent pair of trousers.

Now that this linguistic breakthrough has been established, we must immediately audit the rest of the Filipino dictionary before the retail industry collapses:

[ THE REVISED PHILIPPINE WARDROBE MANUAL ]
1. PANTALON (Pan-talon): • Strictly reserved for pole vaulting, gymnastics, and avoiding floods

2. PANDESAL (Pan-de-sal): • Bread that cannot legally be consumed unless dipped in ocean water.

3. PANTASYA (Pan-tasya): • A mental state exclusively reserved for sharpening pencils.

The next time someone tells you that your logic makes no sense, just hold your ground. Technically, grammatically, and morphologically—he has a point.

New Defnitions: Escaping Means He Choose To Leave and Forthwith Means Maybe Next Year

We are now living in a world where English words are being butchered, spin-doctored, and manipulated to suit one's narrative and capricious whims.
As the country waits for the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte to move forward, we find ourselves back in a familiar loop.

Just last year, it was former Senate President Chiz Escudero performing semantic gymnastics with the word "forthwith."

Now, we have Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano taking the baton and running—not away, mind you, but "choosing to leave"—with the same modus operandi.

In the 1987 Constitution, "forthwith" is a fairly aggressive word. It means "immediately," "without delay," or "right now." It is the verbal equivalent of a parent disciplining her son by counting one to three.

-The Escudero Edit: Under SP Chiz, "forthwith" was redefined as a philosophical concept. It became a mood, a suggestion, a distant destination that we might reach if the stars align and the political winds blow exactly at 15 knots.

-The Cayetano Remix: Now, SP Cayetano is treating "forthwith" like a slow-cooker recipe. He says the Senate will act, but apparently, his "immediately" includes a mandatory 40-day period of fasting, prayer, and waiting for the Majority to finish their dinner with the Remullas.

The peak of this linguistic circus occurred when reporters asked if Senator Bato dela Rosa "escaped" the NBI during that cinematic "Philippine Senate Under Attack."

-The Cayetano Response: "He didn't escape... he chose to leave."

-The Satire: This is a revolutionary breakthrough in criminal justice.

-If a Bato runs out the back door, he isn't a fugitive, not yet. Because the Senate doesn't honor warrants from the ICC."

-If Bato jumps over the Senate fence to skip arrest, he was not resisting arrest; he "opted for an alternative exit strategy."

-If Bato is running up the stairs while NBI agents are shouting his name, he’s not fleeing; he’s just in a sprint mood.

-If Bato disappeared from the Senate at almost 2 AM of Mat 15, he did not escape ... he chose to leave.

Ginagago ba tayo ng mga senador?

The short answer: Yes, but they’re doing it with "Constitutional Fidelity."

Our politicians treat the Filipino public like we’re reading a different dictionary. To them, words are not tools for communication; they are smoke grenades ... otherwise known as euphemisms - the polite way of saying it.

-Corruption becomes "unintentional budget misalignment."

-Betrayal becomes "strategic political realignment."

-A Coup becomes "a divine transition of leadership."

-Hiding in the Senate becomes "seeking institutional sanctuary for the preservation of democratic balance."

Cayetano is using the same playbook as his predecessor Chiz ... because it works.

If you change the definition of "forthwith," you can delay the impeachment trial until 2028, by which time everyone will be so confused by the vocabulary that we’ll forget why we were angry in the first place.

They aren't just protecting a Vice President; they are protecting the right to be "Creatively Truthful."

In this Senate, "Yes" means "Perhaps," "No" means "Not until I check with Davao," and "Accountability" is a word that was accidentally deleted during a software update.

The Senate should probably stop pretending to follow the Constitution and just release a "Cayetano-to-English Dictionary." Example entry would be:

-Word: Accountability (noun)

-Definition: a state of being where a Senator is asked questions and replies with a Bible verse and a ₱125-million-peso shrug.

So when a politician tells you Bato is not "escaping," they are telling you that they think your IQ is lower than the price of a Buy-One-Take-One pizza.

At kung sinasabihan kayo ng senador ninyo na itago ang CCTV—ibig sabihin niya, make sure na walang makakuha.

Kayo talaga ang likot ng pag-iisip ninyo.

Pero teka lang… usually ang mga CCTV ay nakapuwesto sa isang mataas na lugar. Kung may kukuha pa diyan ... tiyak huli ka ... sa dami ba naman ng tao doon?

The Pro Bono Paradox

 Is it just gossip? Is it fake news?

Whether true or not, this teeny weeny but juicy small talk tidbit from the grapevine is making the rounds on the internet stratosphere ... and there's no stopping the rumor mongers from not getting involved, especially when the person in the center of the maelstrom is their favorite political figure.

Why are laptops flying? Do they care about how expensive hardware is ... or was it the spoiled brat again on the loose ... acting prima donna-ish?

Reviewing the latest episode of "As the Impeachment Turns," where the tension in the House of Representatives is so high ... it is not an exaggeration if electronics have started to fly.

The breaking rumor of the day? A certain high-profile figure—affectionately dubbed "Lustay" by the ever-creative netizens—allegedly decided to test the aerodynamic properties of a laptop.

The burning question is: Why the sudden hardware toss?

Was there a technical malfunction ... a system hiccup ... a software bug, or did a certain "pro bono" narrative just crash harder than a corrupted hard drive?

1. The "Pro Bono" Paradox
For weeks, we were led to believe that the "16 Abogados de Campanilla" (high-caliber lawyers) defending the Office of the Vice President were doing it out of the goodness of their hearts.

They were Pro Bono - (short for pro bono publico), defined as a Latin phrase meaning "for the public good," referring to professional services rendered voluntarily and free of charge.

The 16 lawyers portrayed as legal monks, living on air and patriotism, defending "justice" without asking for a single centavo.

Rumor has it the laptop was thrown because someone accidentally opened a file that suggested these 16 legal titans aren't actually working for "thank you" notes and high-fives.

If it turns out that "Pro Bono" actually meant "Pro Bonifacio" (as in, the face on the 1000-peso bill), then the "flying laptop" starts to make sense.

Nothing ruins a "martyr" narrative faster than a leaked billing statement with too many zeros.

That will trigger again tongue waggers to get their calculators and multiply a six-digit figure by 16 lawyers.

Even Paolo Marcoleta will have a rude awakening that his daily incursions in the HOR are a fruitless endeavor.

Either it will just go down the drain ... go to waste ... or up in smoke.

2. The "Laptop Toss" Theory of Stress Management
Why throw a laptop? In the world of Philippine politics, hardware is often the first victim of a "Truth Leak."

Theory A: The laptop told the truth about the ₱125 million confidential funds, and the truth was so "heavy" the laptop just fell... at high velocity... toward a wall.

Theory B: Lustay was trying to "delete" history manually. Why use a Recycle Bin when you can use the floor, which really comes in handy?

Theory C: It was a "Jumping Jack" moment for electronics. If the President can do calisthenics, why can't a MacBook do a backflip?

3. The "Abogados de Campanilla" vs. The Reality Check
Imagine being one of those 16 lawyers. You’ve spent weeks telling the public you’re a volunteer, only for a "spliced" (or very real) document to hint that your "volunteerism" comes with a luxury-car-sized price tag.

If the news is true, then the "Flying Laptop" wasn't an act of anger—it was an act of Redaction.

You can’t subpoena a laptop if it’s currently in seventeen different pieces across the office floor.

4. Is it Fake News or Just "Early" Truth?
In this administration, the line between "Fake News" and "Breaking News" is about 48 hours.

Day 1: "It’s a lie! No laptop was thrown! The lawyers are saints!"

Day 2: "The laptop was thrown, but it was because of a virus."

Day 3: "The laptop was thrown because the lawyers sent a bill, but the bill is confidential."

Whether the laptop actually flew or this is just a digital campfire story, the irony remains: You can hide a ledger, you can hide a bill, and you can certainly hide a Vice President—but you can’t hide the frustration when the "Free Legal Advice" narrative starts demanding a down payment.

So ... if you’re going to claim your lawyers are working for free, make sure you don't leave the Excel sheet open when you're around people with cameras.

And if you do throw a laptop, make sure it’s a cheap model—those high-end ones are expensive, especially when you’re already paying for 16 "Abogados de Campanilla."

Are You The Modern Bobotante?

Term: Bobotante

Definition: Ikaw ba yon? Yong iba dahil aanga-anga ... gosh hanggang ngayon hindi nila alam na kasama pala sila sa elite group na ito.

They are those voters who forget boring things like "critical thinking," "economic analysis," or "civic responsibility." 

They are those people who enjoy being labelled ... badmouth ... and frowned upon.

These chosen few are the rara avis. Here at the Academy of Civic Incompetence, they prioritize vibes over values and drama over development.

If you want to be the gold standard and become a new recruit, all you need is to follow this simple guide.

1. Research is for the Weak (The "No Read, No Analysis)

Who has time to read a 10-page legislative track record? That’s 10 pages of your life you’ll never get back! If you encounter a document, burn it. If you see a graph, squint until it looks like a painting, then ignore it. Remember: If it’s longer than a TikTok caption, it’s a conspiracy.

2. The Truth is Whatever Your Algorithm Says

Why bother with fact-checking when your Facebook feed already confirms that the Earth is flat, the candidate is a messiah, and the opponent is a space alien? If a video has dramatic music, a low-resolution filter, and a voiceover that sounds like a malfunctioning robot, it is 100% historical fact. Accept it. Share it. Be the algorithm.

3. Personality Over Policy 

Never judge a candidate by their platform. Platforms are boring. Judge them by their dancing skills, their movie cameos, or their ability to crack jokes during a famine. If a candidate can do a funny skit, they can run a national budget. It’s simple math. A good jingle is worth a thousand policy whitepapers.

4. The Church of the Dynasty

Why look for "new leaders" with "fresh ideas" when you can support the same family that has held your province hostage since 1985? Loyalty to a political dynasty is a noble tradition. It’s like supporting a sports team, except instead of a championship trophy, you get decades of systemic poverty and a very nice poster of the clan patriarch taped to your wall.

5. The "Ayuda" Economy 

Why demand long-term infrastructure, healthcare reform, or a stable economy when you can have 500 pesos and a bag of rice right now? That’s what we call "Immediate ROI." Who cares about the next six years when you have groceries for the next three days? It’s the art of trading your child’s future for a pack of instant noodles. It’s efficient!

6. The "Bardagulan" (Social Media Warfare)

Civic discourse is dead; long live the bardagulan! Why argue about the national debt when you can call your opponent’s mother a derogatory name in the comments section? The goal isn't to be right; it's to use enough caps lock to induce a migraine in your enemy. If you win the shouting match, you win the election. Logic is just a fancy word for "losing the argument."

7. Selective Outrage 

This is your most powerful tool. Get absolutely furious when the opposition is five minutes late to a meeting, but be completely silent when your idol gets caught stealing billions. When confronted with this contradiction, just shout "Whataboutism!" or "Move on, move on!" It’s a classic maneuver that makes the facts disappear instantly.

8. Tribalism

Your candidate is not a public servant; they are a deity. If they steal, they were "sharing the blessings." If they lie, they were "protecting the narrative." If they are incompetent, they were "sabotaged by the elites." Never question them. If you question your leader, you are a traitor to the tribe. Remember: It is better to drown with your idol than to swim to safety with the "enemy."

Being a Bobotante is the ultimate form of political self-sabotage, and frankly, we need you. Without you, the political machines would actually have to do work, come up with plans, and show results. You make it so much easier for them to just do whatever they want while you fight over who has the better hashtag.

Keep ignoring the news, keep selling your vote for the price of a fancy lunch, and keep worshipping personalities over principles. As long as you’re willing to stay "Tatangatanga," the political dynasty’s bank account will remain "Matatag." At masasandalan!

Definition: Whataboutism

Word: Whataboutism

Definition: (noun): A rhetorical smoke bomb thrown by someone who has been caught red-handed. It is the act of defending a mistake by citing a different, completely unrelated mistake.

A whataboutism is a suggestion that a wrong isn't wrong because of another wrong. This is a type of fallacy that often begins with the words "what about ..."

Whataboutism suggests that two wrongs make a right. If we accept whataboutism arguments, then nothing can be deemed wrong, as long as we can think of examples of things that are worse.

Whataboutism is when you justify doing something wrong because of some other supposed wrong.

Essay and Examples:

 Welcome to the digital age’s favorite sport. Forget basketball or billiards; the national pastime of the Philippines is now Whataboutism. 

It is the magical art of never having to say you’re sorry—or even that you’re wrong—by simply pointing a finger at someone else who is also, coincidentally, a disaster.

Whataboutism (or whataboutery) is an informal logical fallacy and propaganda technique that deflects criticism or accusations by raising counter accusations of different, often irrelevant issues.

Instead of defending against an accusation, it shifts the focus by using "but what about...?" to dodge accountability, distract from the subject, or imply hypocrisy.

Examples are often seen in the podcast of Christian Esguerra, Ronald Llamas, or Chris Tan. 

While knee-deep discussing a very important political issue ... ang mga DDS kung naiipit na uses this ploy para makaiwas sa discussion and accountability by saying: "Kayo na ang maging presidente ..."

Or they can say:"Eh di ikaw na ang matalino?" 

Example:

Imagine, if you will, a heated discussion about the crime statistics in Davao City.

Person A: "I’m a bit concerned. Statistics show that Davao City has a surprisingly high number of reported crimes, including theft and physical injuries. 

I thought it was the safest city in the solar system?" 

The whataboutist suddenly sprang up from nowhere: "Oh, so now you’re an expert on Davao? WHAT ABOUT Quezon City? 

Have you seen the snatching there? It’s basically an Olympic sport! 

And WHAT ABOUT the 1980s? Manila was basically a live-action zombie movie back then!

Why are you talking about the crimes in Davao when WHAT ABOUT the time your cousin forgot to pay the money he owed? Ha! Checkmate"

Check this scenario:

Loyalist: Your idol is a Tsina-dor ... I almost die laughing with his phony Tsekwa accent.

DDS: What about your idol  ... he is also a Chinador. They are always rude to our Chinese visitors. If they get mad ... they will invade us ... thanks to your Chinadors, their rhetoric has successfully encouraged them to come even more.

The Hierarchy of Whataboutist Responses

When You Are Caught...	The Whataboutist Escape Route
Stealing Government Funds	"What about the Yolanda funds? Isali natin sa usapan!"
When impeachment was dragged & delayed	"What about the Chiz?" He misunderstood forthwith
Being involved in ghost projects	"What about the other ghost!" Ghost employees ... ghost students ... Ghost beneficiaries
Ignoring Maritime Laws	"What about the Fish in the ocean? Are they following the law?"

---

The Beauty of the Fallacy

The genius of Whataboutism is that it requires zero brain cells but maximum lung capacity. 

You don't need to study law, geography, or ethics. You just need to keep a mental Rolodex of every bad thing that has ever happened in human history.

Are you being accused of a crime today? 

Just bring up a pirate attack from the 17th century. 

Are people questioning your "Confidential Funds"? Just ask them WHAT ABOUT the hidden treasure of Limahong.

In the world of Whataboutism, no one is ever guilty, because everyone is always "what-about-ing" someone else into oblivion.

Word Of The Day: Diatribe

In the world of politics, social media, blogging, entertainment, or even in everyday life, we sometimes encounter individuals who lash out with invectives and launch fierce, angry verbal attacks.

A person who always makes a diatribe (a bitter, sharply abusive denunciation or criticism) might be called a critic, fault-finder, or contentious or argumentative person. 

These angry attacks can take any form: a condemnation, perhaps, a criticism, an accusation, character assassination, insults, blame, censure, disparagement, or castigation.

Here are a few words that could describe such a person, depending on the specific context and tone:

-Haranguer: Someone who delivers a lengthy and aggressive speech (a harangue).

-Tirade Spinner: A person who frequently launches into a long, angry, and critical speech (a tirade)

-Fault- Finder: A person who obsessively finds faults in others and criticizes them, often complaining and judging harshly.

-Scold: A person who is constantly finding fault and reprimanding others.

-Cynic: While not directly related to giving diatribes, these terms describe someone with a generally negative and critical view of humanity or the world.

-Polemicist: Someone who engages in a polemic, which is a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something. 

In some cases, the behavior may be linked to personality traits such as being:

-Dogmatic: Resolutely adhering to a set of beliefs and often insisting they are right.

-Truculent: Eager or quick to argue or fight; aggressively defiant.

-Self-Righteous: Having a strong belief that one's own actions and opinions are right and others' are wrong.

The appropriate term depends on whether the person is engaging in a formal, albeit emotional, attack or simply has a negative, critical personality.

Definition

There is a new buzzword in the flood project scams of DPWH in the Philippines.

BID RIGGING in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the Philippines is a form of collusion among contractors to manipulate the outcome of a public bidding for a project. 

Instead of competing, contractors secretly conspire to fix prices, share contracts, or limit competition, resulting in higher costs for the government and taxpayers.

This practice undermines the goal of achieving the best value for public money, often leading to higher project costs, lower quality outcomes, and the misuse of taxpayer funds.

What is an example of bid rigging?

For example, if one member of the bidding ring is designated to win a particular contract, that bidder's conspirators could avoid winning by not bidding ("bid suppression") or by submitting a high bid ("cover bidding").

• Definition: Bid rigging occurs when competitors secretly agree to manipulate a bidding process rather than compete fairly.
• Impact: It undermines the purpose of public bidding, which is to get the best value for money.
• Consequences: This can lead to higher project costs, lower quality of goods and services, and the misuse of taxpayer money.
• Illegality: It is illegal under the Philippine Competition Act (Republic Act No. 10667) and carries severe penalties, including imprisonment and significant fines.
• How it happens: Competitors may agree on who will win the bid and that others will submit higher, non-competitive bids, or they might agree to submit "dummy bids".

Ghostly and Ghastly

It is All Souls' Day - can you blame us if we talk about GHOST STORIES ... not necessarily the paranormal or the supernatural kind ... but with the corruption being given a 24/7 coverage ... the kind of money wasted and the lives ruined and squandered gives unsuspecting Pinoys a reaction like they HAVE SEEN A GHOST?

With the insatiable thirst of our politicians and people working in the government for money and more dough ... their righteous indignation (that leads one prominent politician to say, "Kadiri kayo." You're disgusting! Pero hindi niya nakita ang sarili niya kasama na pala siya sa akusado) ... elected officials who can look at you in the eye, invoking religion and Supreme Power na siya ay kapitag-pitagan, walang kasing linis at hindi makabasag pinggan. Tapos akusahan ninyo lang na corrupt?

Marami sa kanila walang delicadeza. may  mga nag-planta ng whistle-blowers and false witnesses ,.. may mga nag-doctor ng kanilang mga SALN making them the poorest elected officials in town pero galante kung magbigay ng regalo ... may mga nagtatalak at regular ang mga commentaries about corruption ... pero sino ka ... sila ang poster model ng pagnanakaw ... may amnesia ba sila?

Hindi kaya ayaw magpaawat si Mother Nature na magpadala ng sunod-sunod na bagyo, ulan, baha, landslides, earthquakes at mga  nagaalburotong mga bulkan dahil hindi na siya makatiis at naabot na niya ang pisi ng kanyang pasensiya?

The last time we saw her, she was as PALE AS A GHOST sa sobrang galit. Her Sphymomanometric reading had reached an all-time high. Not even a powerful tandem of Hydrochlorothiazide and Amlopidine can appease her nanggagalaiting bllod pressure.

Kaya tuloy ang mga ecological disasters and natural disasters kahit nagmistulang GHOST TOWN na ang apektadong mga lugar at nagmistulang na itong dagat-dagatan at malapit na rin angkinin ng mga Tsekwa. 

Tuloy ang Divine Intervention ... kasi kahit nahuhuli na ang mga salarin patuloy pa rin ang kanilang denial at rebuttal.  Can you imagine nandito sila para magsilbi sa taong bayan ... teka nga pagsisilbi ba yong pinagnanakawan mo sila?

Other GHOST PHRASES and terms na nagiging viral lately:

1. GHOST  PROJECT: A form of corruption where the government project is declared finished and paid for, even though it is incomplete or non-existent.

2. GHOST OMBUDSMAN: Isang kaibigan defined it as an ombudsman na napakatahimik ang kanyang watch - walang anomalies, puno ng acquittal at walang conviction. Some others define them as a non-working government official.

3. GHOST EMPLOYEE/GHOST SOLDIER/GHOST STUDENT - Non-existent individuals who are on the official payroll ... often a part of a fraudulent scheme to siphon funds.

4. GHOST FROM THE PAST - Someone or skeletons in their closet that have just risen from the grave. It can be something dreadful or someone unwanted that is haunting the person in his sleep ... now they are exhumed to make their final return.

5. GHOST TOWN - A town or province wrecked by floods or typhoons. They have a substantial population, but with the advent of rains and floods, it is giving us the impression that the place will soon be deserted.

Political Shorts

Narinig kong pag-uusap ng mga miron:

Miron 1: Gusto talaga ni Sen. Marcoleta na magiging STAR WITNESS ang mga Discaya.

Miron 2: STAR WITNESS? Parang mga STAR kuning-kuning sa ABS CBN (as in Star Circle ... Star Cinema ... Star Patroller ... Star Magic)?

Mga tol ... nasa politika tayo ... hindi sa showbusiness.  Ang pinagusapan sa Blue Ribbon Committee ay STATE WITNESS!

                                        >>>>>>>>>>>

Para maintiendihan natin ang kaibahan ng dalawa ... maganda sigurong i-define natin.

A "STAR WITNESS" is the most crucial and important witness in a legal case whose testimony is vital to the prosecution's or defense's success. This individual's account is considered pivotal to the outcome of a trial or investigation, often because they possess essential information, direct knowledge, or expertise that significantly influences the case.

                                      >>>>>>>>>>>>

Sa kabilang dako ... ang STATE WITNESS (or prosecution witness) is a person, often an accused individual themselves, who has participated in a crime but is discharged by the government or court to testify for the prosecution against co-conspirators in exchange for certain legal benefits, such as immunity from prosecution or inclusion in a witness protection program. Dito papasok si Brice Hernandez at si Alcantara kung ma-apporve.

Key requirements for becoming a state witness usually include the absolute necessity of their testimony, the potential for their testimony to be substantially corroborated by other evidence, and that they appear to be less guilty than their co-accused.

                                     >>>>>>>>>>>>>

So can a STATE WITNESS be a STAR WITNESS?

Yes, a state witness can also be a star witness, as the terms describe different aspects of a witness's role and impact in a legal case. A state witness is specifically a person accused of a crime who receives immunity from prosecution in exchange for their testimony against other offenders, especially if they are the "least guilty" conspirator. 

A star witness, on the other hand, is a witness whose testimony is crucial and highly impactful to the case, often due to their compelling narrative, unique knowledge, or significant credibility.

                                      >>>>>>>>>>>>>

Going back to the Marcoletas and the Discayas of the world ... the public perception was that something was brewing between these two.

One netizen said: "There was a MAR-DIS (Marcoleta - Discaya) deal." Meaning a backdoor deal between the two of them. 

                                      >>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Indeed, public perception between these two is growing increasingly negative.  While reading the comments of netizens, I personally selected the naughty but amusing ones.

-It looked like Marcoleta is the Discaya's lawyer.

-There's something fishy about their unholy alliance.

-Marcoleta insists (almost fighting with Ping Lacson) that everybody should follow the rules. Too bad ... despite all his protests ... he is no longer the chairman.

-Was there bad blood between Lacson and Marcoleta? It looked like the latter resented the former... was that because Ping replaced him as Chairman of the Blue Ribbon?

-Marcoleta is very protective of Curlee and Sara. Maybe Marcoleta has something to hide ... that the Discaya knows.

-Why is Marcoleta lawyering for them? Senator ba siya or abogado nila?

-It is apparent whose side Marcoleta is on.

-One netizen hinted a Marcoleta advocacy: "Nakaw now ... State Witness Later Program

-Marcoleta is obviously hiding something. You can easily tell by looking at his hair.

-Marcoleta is not the senator ng mga Pinoy ... senator siya ng mga Discaya.

-DDS si Marcoleta? - Discaya's Diehard Supporter?

-Marcoleta is worried about the Discaya. Or was he worried para sa kanya o sa mga Duterte?

-Is it okay to steal and become a state witness?

-Mabait si Marcoleta sa mga Discaya despite money evaporating in thin air ... pero galit siya sa ABS CBN na wala namang ginawang pagnanakaw.

-Corrupt daw ang ABS CBN dahil hindi daw ito nagbayad ng mga taxes ... ngayon reversal of roles na siya.  Tagapagtanggol siya ng mga corrupt.

                                 >>>>>>>>>>>>>

Definition

WORD: Cong-tractor

DEFINITION: They are either a congressman or a senator moonlighting as contractors. The word was newly coined to describe a member of Congress who seeks to augment their income by forming partnerships and alliances with the DPWH and their engineers. And contractors.

Another way of supplementing one's earnings is to become a contractor first ... and to broaden their reach ... all they need is to run for office. Preferably the HOR ... or the Senate.

There is a potential goldmine if a congressman and a senator ... consider a second job in addition to their primary role. Like being a contractor for one.  It is like hitting two birds with one stone. 

May masama ba kung gusto mo lang magpayaman at bigyan ng marangyang buhay ang pamilya mo? And who doesn't? One can do multitasking, and they can be ubiquitous, too. Who cares if people think they are omnipresent and can be seen everywhere ... kahit saan-saan na lang? Basta ba naman pagkaperahan.  The fact of the matter ...admirable ang ganyang gawain.

Basta wala kang tinatapakan na tao ... at wala kang peniperwisyo ... go lang ng go. Ano ba ang pakialam nila if one works another job ... or triple jobs outside of normal business hours.

If one plays their cards well ... money will never be a problem.

USING THE WORD IN A STATEMENT: 

There are two types of cong-tractors. The one mentioned above, ay mga congressmen and senators ... doubling as contractors pero walang mga hanky panky, walang TRICKERY at walang TREACHERY. Trabaho lang lahat ... at walang nilalamangan.

The second type ay yong may mga intention talaga magnakaw at mangurakot.

Ito ang mga iniimbestigahan ngayon sa Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, and so far they are slowly but surely trying to name out cong-tractors both from the upper and lower house.

It is just a matter of time.

Definition:

WORD: Grandstanding

The reason why I want to discuss this word is that something amusing just happened.

My friend and I were listening to a blogger in his daily podcast, and he was using the word grandstanding. Wall to wall carpeting kasi ang mga inbestigasyon ng Senado at sa House of Representatives tungkol sa flood project scam ... so tanong ko sa kanya, "alam mo ba ang ibig sabihin ng word na yan?"

Sagot niya: "Gusto kong subukan i-explain ... wala naman masama siguro kung mali ang sagot ko di ba? College drop-out lang naman ako ... so what is there to lose?"

He continued ... "dahil hirap akong e-express ang aking sarili... I will just use it na lang in a sentence para madali mong ma-gets kung naintiendihan ko nga" hamon pa niya.

"Ito na nga: "STANDING room only ang FREEDOM GRANSTAND.. Maraming artista ang dumating at nagperform kaya puno ng tao." Tama ba?" excited niyang tanong.

Ang kaibigan ko talaga oo. May pagkatoso ... kasing toso ng mga involve sa flood project scam. He mixed GRANDSTAND and STANDING ... akala niya yon na ang sagot? What was funny was he thought SRO (or standing room only) and grandstand ang mga root words ... and mixing them together will guide him to understand what it means ... kaya ang pumasok sa isip niya JAMPACKED ng tao ang GRANSTAND?

"Dahil sa sinabi mong yan gagawa tayo ng post sa blog ha", sabi ko.Pag napublish na ... babasahin mo para maintiendihan mo ang word." Ok naman sa kanya.

DEFINITION: Grandstanding is the action where a person behaves in a showy or ostentatious manner in an attempt to attract favorable attention from bystanders (in the case of the DPWH and the contractors), ang target ng mga senators ay ang media, the Senate regulars, or the TV audience at home.

Other words for grandstanding include impressing an audience, showing off, playing to the crowd, showboating, attracting attention, and flaunting one's knowledge.

Grandstanding, as the word implies, comes from the idea of "playing to people in the grandstand" (may punto ng KONTI ang kaibigan ko) or in a stadium ... and is pejorative to describe someone's intent on drawing attention to themselves or hugging the spotlight to their advantage..

USING IT IN A SENTENCE: Here is one example. The congressmen and the senators in their committees (re congressional hearings on flood project scams) did not hesitate to GRANDSTAND in the most bombastic way possible, even if their temper tantrums ... their almost lachrymose tearjerking presentation and display of arrogance alienated and antagonized the audience and the TV viewers.

And while we are at it, since pinagusapan na rin lang natin ang grandstanding ... let me make these side comments.

I have seen all the histrionics and exaggerated behaviors (senators pounding the table, name-calling galore, complete rejection and outright denials ... and senators so emotional ... they are almost on the verge of a heart attack.)

They yell and shout ... all the drama and display of emotions, all seemed like an act ... it is like putting on a little show to highlight and showcase themselves. Or distance themselves from the heat.

The whole exercise doesn't look like the Blue Ribbon investigation anymore - it is all theatrics ... all noise ... with no accountability direction.

Some of the protagonists, whether they admit it or not (in their overt and covert behaviors), look like they are protecting fellow colleagues ... regardless of whether what they did is legal or not.

Like what de Lima said, the investigations are self-serving, and while the rest acted like they were there for the people's hard-earned money, the Filipinos did not feel the sincerity because they had done the same thing in a not-so-distant past.

An independent investigative body has to be formed ... if BBM wants the people's trust.

Impunity Under The Microscope

News Of The Week: The Supreme Court has effectively blocked the impeachment of Inday Sara. It was a unanimous decision ... some say it was based on a PROCEDURAL ground ... still others think it came from some QUESTIONABLE grounds.

The Internet witnessed a mushrooming of reactions from everyone who wants to join the fray ...a free-for-all ... mano-a-mano battle of the minds ... in one hand are the LEGAL luminaries and on the other side of the fence are the ILLEGAL bystanders who just want to air what's on their mind ... and what's on their heart.

Some observers were  NOT SURPRISED at all as they heard leaks and rumors circulating even before the announcement of its unconstitutionality. But others were SURPRISED and they were amazed by how IMPUNITY crawled in ... and stole the thunder from everyone else. 

By the way, impunity to a layman can best be understood as someone getting away with murder (that's an idiomatic expression, dummy), meaning the person manages to dodge public scrutiny, in this case, an impeachment trial.  It is a freedom from punishment when they deserve a penalty and retribution. They broke the law ... and were able to escape censure and public backlash scot-free.