Truth, Prometheus, and Lozada

In mythology, Greek demi-god Prometheus, son of Titan, and brother of Atlas, stole fire from heaven and brought it down to earth benefiting the whole human race.

For this, super-god Zeus punished him by chaining him to a rock in a mountain and everyday an eagle came to feed on his liver but which was restored every night.

Because of this Prometheus is pictured as one running carrying a torch. But writers of old took this as Prometheus actually looking for an honest man. Some years ago, our naughty columnist said, Prometheus came to the Philippines looking for an honest man.

He only did not fail in his mission. A sticky-fingered government official stole his torch. When Prometheus pleaded for its return, he refused unless paid. Prometheus refused. That's how the Philippines is punished, cursed to suffer the fate of a corrupt country.

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I want to liken whistle blower Rodolfo Noel Lozada, Jr. to Prometheus. He came down from HongKong carrying the torch of enlightenment, a desire to reveal the story of the ZTE-NBN deal. PSG and PNP people tried to see to it Lozada could not testify in the Senate, equivalent to taking the torch away from him. But media and the religious group secured him.

Lozada is better than Prometheus. He saved his torch, Prometheus did not. Let us support Lozada. He might be the one to take us out of the curse.

Lozada, his movements limited, is also like Prometheus chained to a rock and some sticky-fingered eagles feeding on his liver. But, the people's support restore what part of the liver is lost.

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Saturday night, over ANC, Lozada in sleeveless T-shirt alone faced an array of government officials in a face-off, they with their lawyers, in coat in tie and with documents while Lozada had none.

The score the public gave was 93 percent believe Lozada. Only 7 percent did not.

Truth is a very beautiful virtue. In the Bible it is God's law. It is Christ Himself. It is the Holy Spirit. It is God's Word.

The effects of truth: It makes us free. It sanctifies. It purifies. It makes us brave. It makes us charitable. We become a better man.

Truth is justice. Justice is the product of truth. So, let truth prevail though the Heavens fall.

And we see a very beautiful development. In the 2010 election expect election issues to be concentrated on who of the candidates is the most corrupt.

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More of these later. And now it's Feedback time. I always recognize readers whose reactions are worth publishing. Many asked not to publish their comments.

I would like to thank my very close friend, Toti Ramos. He texted me I was wrong in saying Benjamin “Bipoy” Gomez ran for the governorship in 1967.

The candidate was Felix Amante. Toti was the chairman of Liberal Party for Bacolod at that time. By the way, Toti who is a former chairman of the board of accountancy, is the youngest councilor Bacolod ever elected. He was an outstanding councilor and he is among the very few public officials the Negros Press Club gave an award.

Another friend Alex Espino is also happy his two libel cases filed against TESDA Director General Augusto “Boboy” Syjuco, the prosecutor's office found a probable cause.

Boboy filed an extortion rap against Alex in Iloilo but the provincial prosecutor's office dismissed it. Then Alex fought back.

No hatred can be so intense after a falling out of two very close friends. The two were very close during college days in U.E. until Boboy's congressional candidacy in Iloilo . But somewhere the relationship soured.

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My other friend Raming Esteban from abroad wrote he might be over-exposed with my constantly writing about him. Yes, there are complaints, Raming but you are a friend and a good copy.

He sort of raised his eyebrows when I wrote, “I find my friemd quite amusing.” “Am I entertaining?” he asked. Yes, both. He promised to amuse me further with “tales of pre-war La Carlota like it was in the frontier days.”

He wrote I was “prematurely concluding that his advice is not welcomed by Cong. Ferrer.” I am not concluding. It's a fact, you said it so. He asked if Ferrer, being my friend told me. No, had we met I would have told him to listen to you for whatever its worth.

Your letter to him? No, I will not publish that. That's private communication.

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From Robert Leonard Strause a complaint that in some TV programs, there are disclaimers of “not suited for young audiences. Parental guidance is adviced.” He asked is the program that bad that young people are not allowed to see it?

No, I even feel it's reversed psychology, feeding on curiosity. That makes young people see it because it is prohibited.

Thanks for saying my Valentine piece is exceptionally good.

From Dave and Nelly Duckett they would rather have a domestic airport in the south. I look forward to bringing Duckett to Mayor Bing.

While about through with this piece, my historian friend Modi Saonoy called up to correct me also. The Capitol was built by Gov. Jose Locsin in 1927 and finished in 1935. The roads were started to be built by Governor Gil Montilla who later became Speaker.*

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