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Updated 5/7/16

Ni Marcial Bonifacio

Mga kaibigan at mga kababayan ko, ang layunin po ng lathalang ito ay hindi upang hikayatin kayo na iboto si Sen. Richard Gordon against or over another senatoriable, kahit marahil, that debate can be made. Sa kabilang banda, I wish to persuade you all to add an indispensable man ng talino at makasaysayang mga tagumpay sa inyong talaan ng hinihirang na mga senatoriables. Please allow me to present my case.

1. Siya ang tagapagtaguyod ng laban sa mga tradisyonal na pulitiko at katiwalian.

Unang-una, si Gordon ay isang taong may paninidigan at matibay na paniniwala. Bilang chairman ng Senate Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations (Blue Ribbon), Gordon exercised his power to oppose corruption, as in the P728 million fertilizer fund scam. (He did so by wrapping up the probe and pushing for the filing ng charges ng kasalanang mabigat laban kay former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante para sa misappropriation ng mga laang-gugulin ng pamahalaan.)

Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Gordon interpolates businessman Jaime Paule in the midst of the P728 million fertilizer fund scam.
Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Gordon interpolates businessman Jaime Paule in the midst of the P728 million fertilizer fund scam.

Sa alingasngas ng $329 milyong dolyar ZTE National Broadband, he took measures para sa pag-uusig ng mga pinuno ng pamahalaan sa paglabag ng Anti-Graft at Corrupt Practices Act. At the time when Pres. Gloria Arroyo imposed martial law sa Maguindanao, Gordon opposed it challenging its constitutional validity; such a maverick tendency indicates na hindi siya trapo sapagkat siya ay itinalaga ni Arroyo sa gabinete. Furthermore, a man, such as Gordon, who will impartially uphold justice and follow the rule of law bilang senador ay mahalaga para sa ating bayan which was ranked as one of the most corrupt countries sa Asia noong 2014 sang-ayon sa Corruption Perceptions Index of Transparency International.

In his most recent crusade against corruption, Gordon filed a Petition for Mandamus in the Supreme Court in order to curb voter fraud for the 2016 elections.  As a result, the Comelec was ordered by the high court to enable the printing function of the PCOS machines, which would clearly reveal the chosen candidates of voters on their receipts.

2. Siya ang taong matuwid at maginoo.

Pangalawa, maaring mas may kapakinabangang pampulitiko si Gordon, kung nagsampa siya ng kaso laban kay Sen. Grace Poe upang madiskwalipika ito sa pagtakbo sa senado dahilan sa mga usaping pagkamamamayan at paninirahan, na naging paksa ng agam-agam at pag-aalinlangan sa mga mapanuring mata ng lipunan. That was precisely what his UP college mates (also members of UNA and LP) urged him to do. Subalit, sa halip na pagnasaan ni Gordon ang senatorial seat na mababakante ni Grace Poe kung sakaling mapawawalang saysay ang pagkamamamayan nito at matanggal siya sa pwesto, minabuti niyang bigyang linaw ang usapin.

I believe that the matter of Sen. Poe's qualifications for national office has already been referred to the proper legal venues, and I deem it counter-productive to say anything more about this issue, aside from the statements I have already made.

Karagdagan dito, lubhang pinahahalagahan ni Gordon kagalingang panlahat at katiwasayan ng nakararami, higit sa kanyang pamilya. Sa halip na ipagdiwang ang kapaskuhan sa piling ng kanyang pamilya, pinili niyang ibahagi ang diwa ng Pasko sa buhay ng mga taong higit na nangangailangan, ang mga biktima ng Hurricane Mayon. Isang pagmumulat matang may kaakibat na tanong. Nasaan at ano ang pinagkakaabalahan ng ibang senador sa panahon ng kapaskuhan?

3. Siya ang taong may pananaw.

Pangatlo, Gordon's transformational vision of a prosperous Pilipinas is not one of mere wishful thinking or political rhetoric. Sa kabilang banda, iyon ay pangarap, which has already been partially implemented sa Subic Bay with outstanding success. (I will elaborate later in this blog.) Gordon supports measures which would create domestic jobs and render the Philippine economy less dependent sa mga remittances ng overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). He favors the promotion of the free market system, so that competition would lower energy costs; this would lower production costs and prices for consumer goods. In turn, living standards of all our kababayans would be raised and the destitute would be lifted out of poverty, rendering the culture of government handout dependency obsolete. Sa wakas, Gordon envisions a Third World Philippines ascending into First World status.

4. Siya ay may malawak na karanasan sa serbisyong pampubliko.

Pang-apat, ang limampung taon na makabayang paglilingkod ni Gordon ay patunay ng kanyang wagas na pagsisilbi sa ating bayan. Sa katunayan, he has assumed various positions as Olongapo City mayor, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman, Department of Tourism secretary, at senador ng RP (Republika ng Pilipinas). He has even been a Red Cross volunteer, since he was seventeen years old (48 years ago) and is currently its chairman.

5. Siya ay may kapita-pitagang ulat na natupad.

Panglima, si Gordon ay may pambihirang galing na naitala sa Senado para sa kanyang masigasig na pagsusulong ng mga panukalang batas at pagtatanggol sa Saligang-Batas. Bilang senador, he authored several important laws (e.g., New Automated Elections System Law, University of the Philippines Charter of 2007, Filipino World War II Veterans Pensions and Benefits Act of 2008) and was a member of more than twenty committees (most notably the Blue Ribbon, Economic Affairs, Trade and Commerce, Education, Energy, Foreign Relations, National Defense and Security, and Ways and Means). He also served as chairman of the Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Laws Committee and was the youngest delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention. That makes him an exceptional lawyer and senator, sapagkat he has not only participated sa paghahanda at pagsususog ng mga panukalang batas at resolusyon, lalo’t higit sa pagbalangkas ng kataas-taasang batas ng ating bayan, ang Saligang-Batas. Samakatuwid, si Gordon lamang ang nagtataglay nang labis na kahusayan at kasanayan sa pagpapaliwanag at pagpapatupad ng mga batas sa buong kapuluan.

As the youngest delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention, Gordon swears in.
As the youngest delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention, Gordon swears in.

Kaugnay sa mga paliwanag ko sa aking naunang blog “Of Scooters, Buses, Jeepneys, and Airplanes: A Simple Case Against Gibo, Noynoy, and Manny Villar for President in 2010," I argue that more than forty years of Gordon’s diverse executive experience sa local at pambansang level ng pamahalaan was his unique advantage over the other presidentiables for being the national executive (the president) ng bayan. I compared him to a skilled driver of a scooter, jeepney, and bus, all of which require different types of perception (namely, distance and depth), maneuvering, and coordination. Halimbawa, a bus driver could not possibly drive in the same manner as he would drive a scooter in which, when turning a bus around, would necessitate wide turns and a keener sense of distance and depth.

Gayunpaman, sa paliwanag na iyan, I argue that such a diversity sa executive experience is also Gordon’s unique advantage for the national legislative branch (Congress) as well as for the national executive branch (the presidency). Using the same metaphor, consider a driver’s perspective as opposed to that of an engineer or blue print maker, who designs motorized vehicles or builds roads. Sa katotohanan, a vehicle transports the driver insofar as its apparatus (mobile design, engine capacity, etc.) and road surface allow. Samakatuwid, a driver’s experience is generally confined exclusively to the mechanics and mobility of the vehicle he drives. Hence, though an engineer may have the ingenuity and creativity to design a vehicle, without actually test-driving and utilizing it fully, the engineer can only speculate on its operation and effectiveness, thereby rendering the driver’s experience and perspective more accurate (for purposes of designing vehicles).

With this in mind, may isang tanong ako na gusto kong unawain ninyong mabuti. Which would you prefer to have as an infrastructural or mechanical engineer para sa inyong bahay o commuting route? The man who only draws blue prints for buses or a skilled driver of a scooter, jeepney, and bus, who also draws blue prints for buses? Sa katotohanan, iyang proverbial multi-vehicle driver at blue print maker ay si Gordon.

In plain language, here is why I also argue that Gordon’s diverse executive experience gives him a unique advantage of being a senator. His experience of private and public policy implementation gives him the hindsight of working with other policy makers as chief executive himself, which subjected him to conflicts of interest, compromise, resolutions, and collaboration with them. Halimbawa, bilang mayor (an executive position) ng Olongapo City, he worked with the sangguniang panglungsod (local legislature) in ratifying or vetoing bills as a local public executive. This gave Gordon the perspective and savvy to craft good laws and pass them effectively through the often long drawn out legislative process and conflicts of interest between the national executive (the president) and the national legislature (Congress). Being mayor has also given him a stricter sense of public accountability, since the small bureaucratic structure of local officials tends to be more transparent (as opposed to the national level), thus making it more difficult for them to conceal their potential violation of the law.

6. Siya ay tagapamahala ng krisis.

Bilang CEO (an executive position) ng Philippine Red Cross, Gordon traveled all over RP, undertaking numerous drastic measures. Bilang crisis manager, he directed many disaster/rescue operations involving aid sa man-made and natural catastrophe victims. Sa kanyang limampung taong mapagkawanggawang paglilingkod, his intervention has saved millions of lives and restored over 133,000 homes ng mga biktima ng Yolanda at ng iba pang malaking mga kapahamakan at kalamidad. (View this video for firsthand accounts, including a successful hostage rescue operation from Abu Sayyaf without ransom.) He has also directed operations that involve prevention and safety in order to better prepare our kababayans for any disaster. Only a crisis manager or executive (not just a legislator) would know precisely what resources and in what quantity need to be allocated to each disaster area, knowledge which is indispensable for a country prone to such disasters.

Red Cross Chairman Gordon provides aid during a rescue operation.
Red Cross Chairman Gordon provides aid during a rescue operation.

7. Siya ay tagapaglikha ng hanapbuhay.

Bilang Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman, Gordon directed a successful effort to convert a desolate, abandoned American naval base (Subic Bay) into a prosperous economic trade zone. Bago pa man ang conversion, Subic Bay was reduced to a heap of ash caused by the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo. After Gordon inspired thousands of volunteers to clean and renovate the area, hundreds of companies (including Acer and FedEx Express) created approximately 40,000 jobs with their US $1billion of foreign investments. The success was such that several world leaders (including Pres. Clinton) hailed it bilang halimbawa para sa pagsulong ng ekonomiya.

President Fidel Ramos considered Subic Bay such a success, he designated it (instead of Manila) as the location for the 1996 APEC summit, in which 18 heads of state met. Among them were Chinese president Jiang Zemin, Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, and US President Bill Clinton (at the far right).
President Fidel Ramos considered Subic Bay such a success, he designated it (instead of Manila) as the location for the 1996 APEC summit, in which 18 heads of state met. Among them were Chinese president Jiang Zemin, Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, and US President Bill Clinton (at the far right).

Another executive position Gordon assumed was that of secretary of the Department of Tourism. At a time of declining tourism, he managed to increase the number of tourists from one million to two million within a single year, thereby creating numerous jobs. Against overwhelming odds, all this occurred in the midst of terrorist threats, civil war in Mindanao, coup attempts, and SARS.

 

Department of Tourism Sec. Gordon’s signature logo for boosting the economy.
Department of Tourism Sec. Gordon’s signature logo for boosting the economy.

Furthermore, mga kaibigan at mga kababayan ko, sana naiintindihan ninyo ang kahalagahan at kapakinabangan ng executive experience as opposed to legislative experience lamang. Maliwanag iyan, knowledge for crafting laws can most accurately be derived from those who constantly manage the daily operation of producing and allocating various resources (e.g., food, manpower, money, capital, rescue supplies). Short of such first hand experience, knowledge remains partial and inaccurate sapagkat iyon ay based sa pangalawang mga pinagkukunan o kaisipan lamang. It would be analogous to an engineer claiming the car he designed will be easy to operate, ride smoothly, and be comfortable to drive without ever having driven it himself.

8. Siya ay dalubhasa sa pakikipagtalastasan.

Pang-anim, bilang radio show host sa Radyo5 92.3 News FM on a program called “Aksyon Solusyon”, Gordon is exposed to people of diverse economic, provincial backgrounds. Such a constant daily inflow of various feedback directly from the people keeps Gordon informed on the state of the nation and provides him with fresh ideas on what can and must be done. Bilang senador, he will be in a better position to accommodate such ideas sa pamamagitan ng pagsasabatas.

Radyo5 Gordon

9. Siya ay taong pangmasa.

Sa aking pang wakas, apart from Gordon’s apparent devotion and service sa ating bayan, on the lighter side, he is a man of the masses, which maSiya des him a likable politician with a human face. Halimbawa, ito ang clip upang he performs a song and dance routine with the renowned entertainers ng Moymoy Palaboy.


Sa ibang video, he dances the Harlem Shake with his grandchildren. If that is not enough to persuade you all of his ordinary humanity common to the masses, here he is cooking barbeque. Hindi totoong isang pangkaraniwang faceless, “out of touch” at professional politician si Gordon. Sa katotohanan, isa siyang payak at masayahing tao na may kababaang loob, magandang pag-uugali at mapagpatawa.

Sa aking pagbubuod, ito ang mabait na senatoriable who has served sa Senado, held various executive positions, and has expressed his love para sa ating bayan by serving it for more than fifty years. He was responsible for saving millions of lives and building thousands of homes for the homeless. He has opposed corruption openly and challenged the president (who appointed him sa gabinete) and others, sa batayan ng kanyang pagtatanggol ng Saligang-Batas. He also knows how to do the Harlem Shake. Who would not want all those qualities in a senator?

Gayunpaman, gaya ng sinabi ko kanina, ilan lamang ito sa pamantayan nang matalinong pagpili ng isang kandidato over another. Batid kong, isa itong pagpapasya kung gugustuhin mong magdagdag ng isa pa sa iyong talaan ng mga hinihirang na senatoriables. Subalit iminumungkahi ko, mga kaibigan at mga kababayan ko, if you don’t want the best to be missed, then add Sen. Gordon to your list.

Mabuhay si Sen. Dick Gordon! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

Aksyon Gordon holding young girl

Acknowledgements

Related Reading

Comments

Refoj Lap Tan

Refoj Lap Tan Dahil nakapag alyansa sya sa partido ni peping at binay.sayang dahil hinagaan ko noong 2010, akala ko matinay ang prinsipyo nya.

Ronaldo Tuason

Ronaldo Tuason go go go go

Condesa De Espana

Condesa De Espana WOW!....IT'S GORDON!

Paolo Dela Cruz Lim

Paolo Dela Cruz Lim 1 good reason not to bring him back dahil ibabaon nya sa utang ang mga tao. Kahit gawin pa nya zero interest yung ipapautang ay di parin tama. LOAN Education = Corruption

Chino Fernandez

Chino Fernandez It's just a proposal, don't you want to consider him for other things? Then who will you vote?

Paolo Dela Cruz Lim

Paolo Dela Cruz Lim They can't even answer a simple question why despite the growing economy the country's debt is also growing? Back on January each Filipino share to the national debt is only 55,000 pesos after a moth it became 59,000 pesos. Some of them knows why but they too scared to tell the truth.

Philip Basilio

Philip Basilio He is a good and fair person po, sa mga boboto Kay gordon Hindi po sayang Ang vote nyo. Naglilingkod po sya nang tapat para sa Bayan ...go go. Gordon.

Ferdie J Maglalang

Ferdie J Maglalang One just wonders whatever happens to his Bagumbayan vision? And his historical account of the 9th ray of the sun in the Philippine flag? If they are genuine, they could stand the test of time.

Marcial Bonifacio

Marcial Bonifacio Paolo Dela Cruz Lim, I'll answer your question here as well as in the blog itself. Unang-una, Gordon does not have the silver bullet which will address all of our country's ills. Gayunman, one of his solutions, to address your point of objection to add him to your list, is economic liberalization. As a consequence, more jobs would be created, and more tax revenue would flow to the government and reduce dependence on social welfare programs, thereby reducing the national debt. He already did it sa Subic Bay. Samakatuwid, he can do it for the entire country.

Nga pala, you did not answer Chino Fernandez's question. If you will not add Gordon to your list, whom do you have?

Chino Fernandez

Chino Fernandez ^ Methinks Paolo is thinking of a boycott, because everything we're doing "legally" is a joke for him.

Chino Fernandez

Chino Fernandez Common with believer of the New World Order conspiracy junk.

Marcial Bonifacio

Marcial Bonifacio Marahil tama ka, kaibigan ko. Gayunman, I'm willing to give him a chance to respond logically.

Germi Cruz Sison

Germi Cruz SisonAlthough I hate his hobnobbing with the Estradas and the Enriles I still will vote for him as the most competemnt among the senatoriables.

Marcial Bonifacio

Marcial BonifacioRefoj Lap Tan, unang-una, the instability of RP's multi-party system is such that political expedience demands such measures be taken paminsan-minsan. Even Sun Tzu in the Art of War has stated that forming alliances with opponents against a greater enemy can lead to a successful victory para sa short-term. Then, the long-term can be dealt with afterwards. Talaga, a warrior must think in terms of practical strategy, hindi prinsipyo lamang. Gayunpaman, what principle has he violated? He has not done anything illegal or unconstitutional.

Marcial Bonifacio
Marcial Bonifacio Joel, Isa, Alfred, Paul, Gilbert, Bheng, Figo, Hill, Mary, Dick Gordon Bagumbayan Volunteers, and Gordon BagumbayanCavitevolunteers, a former supporter of Dick Gordon claims that after Yolanda, his face was emblazoned on Red Cross vehicles in order to boost his ratings for his 2013 run sa Senado. Kaya nga she no longer supports him. Do you all know anything about this?

Paul Farol
Paul Farol No idea at all

Marcial Bonifacio
Marcial Bonifacio She claims she saw it reported on the news the day Gordon was there.

Joel Paras
Joel Paras What news? Wheres the vid or article?

Airine Martinez Abenes
Airine Martinez Abenes tsk paninira para lang sa pansariling interest hindi man lang makita ung malaking nagagawa nung tao para sa komunidad, paanu ba tayu uunlad sa mga ganitong gawainSee Translation

Perci Lozano Piña
Gilbert Menchu
Gilbert Menchu Election time siraan blues na naman iyan.We know the Gordons since we were young.In 1975 with 3 Red Cross nurse in Zambales for Civic Action and were escorted by Phil. Army.There i've seen how dangerous in helping people,so respect even those volounteers.If one don't like to support Gordon,because of his being a workaholic character.He knows peoples need him to moved on.So for so many years in service i can say a man like Richard Gordon and the others you can't find it so easy,even without using the Red Cross helping people he can find it on his way.Like what he did to Olongapo.Here abroad Gordon is popular enough.Red Cross,is so actived than before.Whatever he do its for the good of our people and our country.His mother i will always think as a great woman and Dick is 100x better than her.Working in Red Cross for him a lot of poor people you wanted to helped that most of our politicians kept on ignoring.I've seen only once the role of volounteers specially in Red Cross its not that easy at all.Sweat,blood that others can give in working as Red Cross volounteer.Support Dick Gordon,whatever he does he knows there are a lots of people like him who had the same vision of helping.Helping people sometimes not all can used by money and popularity,just try to saved peoples life in time that matters. My brother because of no money they ignored him in Olongapo Hospital.My mom was so desperate and did asked helped on him.It was 1980's right away he called the US military hospital for helped and they arrived as fast as they can.The next day when i talked to the Doctor after the operation my brother did not survived for its too late to call for helped,the doctor told me not the first time they helped filipino people,things like this he knows our Mayor are so actived in helping the needy one so big support,its not because of money nor popularity,helping poor ones in Zambales with lots of NPA around that time in Zambales,who will have couraged to do that.I only did it once,more than the military couraged you need sometimes in helping others and i said Red Crosser is the hardest job you can get.For me other will support Dick or not he will continue in helping others nor others around him will continue thier worked to saved peoples life nor helped them in hard times.So amazed with Red Cross now,health center and school that others need nor house that others dreamed to have Red Cross can offer.Thanks,more the support of others are worth to continue.And until Dick is working in this organization nothing are impossible.My mom is a Red Cross volounteer before and i'm proud of her.They like people had unity in helping.Some people stay near to Dick for they are the one who need support for they cannot beat this people in working hard and no difference what is day and night,nor time in helping our people.To others support him,as you can its tough but its worth to have a man like Dick.

Edyll Jun Tan
Marcial Bonifacio
Marcial Bonifacio Gilbert, I appreciate your service and that of your nanay's. Salamat para sa kwento mo.

Isa Lan
Isa Lan Sir, as far as I know po, yung mga Red Cross Vehicles po, lalo na yung mga service nila wala po mga nakatatak duon kundi mga Red Cross Emblems. Matagal na po ibinabato yang issue na yan laban sa kanya. Perhaps, it's as well that you brought this up at this point to clear things up.
Number 1, not everyone knows that Chairman Dick Gordon has donated his PDAF while he was Sentaor to the Red Cross. The PDAF was used to purchase ambulances which were distributed to the RC chapters nationwide. Previous to this, the RC only had limitied ambulances. Hindi lahat ng chapters po meron.
Number 2, in this instance, mahirap po atang paghiwalayin o himayin yung role niya bilang Senador mula 2004-2010. Dahil habang Senator po siya, naitalaga din po siyang Chairman ng Red Cross. Di ba po dapat na mas maapreciate natin na ang pinuntahan ng PDAF niya ay may katuturan at mas likas na nakatutulong sa taumbayan?
Number 3, at present, 4 term elected Chairman na siya ng Red Cross. Kung hindi po siya nakakabuti para sa Humanitarian Institute na ito, patuloy ba siyang pagtitiwalaan ng mga naghahalal sa kanya?
Number 4, bilang chairman po ng Red Cross, volunteer pa din po ang status niya. Sa madaling salita po, WALA PO SIYANG SAHOD. Pero dahil nasa puso niya ang likas at tunay na pagseserbisyo sa mga tao at nangangailangan, patuloy niya itong ginagampanan at lalong pinagiibayo.
Number 5, hindi po alam ng lahat ang walang puknat na paghahanda ng Red Cross kapag may mga parating na unos o may nangyayaring trahedya. Kakaunti lang din po ang nakakaalam na HINDI NATUTULOG AT HINDI NA MAKUHANG UMUWI NI CHAIRMAN GORDON dahil siya mismo ang nangangasiwa at nagmomonitor ng mga pangyayari, sitwasyon at mga tawag. Kung baga sa timon, siya ang kapitan ng barko kahit na may mga tauhan siyang gumagampan sa mga gawain.

Buksan po sana ng ating mga kababayan ang kanilang mga mata sa pagkakaiba ng mga pulitkong sumasakay lamamg o nanggagamit ng pagkakataon at pananamantala. Sa palagay ko naman po ay VERY CONSISTENT PO OVER THE YEARS ang mga serbisyo at gawain ni Chairman Dick Gordon. Wala po akong nakikitang dahilan upang siya ay pagdudahan. Sana po ay nakatulong po itong paliwanag ko sa inyo at sa mga may katanungan o duda sa kanilang pagiisip.See Translation

Jocelle Rabulan Corpuz
Jocelle Rabulan Corpuz Kaibigan ... kahit isa ay wala pa akong nakita na ambulance ng red cross na may mukha ni Sir Dick Gordon ...See Translation

Bheng Jonatas
Bheng Jonatas Show pictures. Allegations are nothing without proof.

Edyll Jun Tan
Edyll Jun Tan Bheng Baka naman edited ang labasSee Translation

Teci Pulido
Teci Pulido Hello smile emoticon In fairness, it might be true. Just like the "BF gets it done" posters of Gordon's running mate, Bayani Fernando.
Again in fairness, I'd rather have a productive politician than one who just gets our money and serves himself, right? smile emoticon

Perci Lozano Piña
Perci Lozano Piña Teci Pulido It might be true na ano po?

Teci Pulido
Teci Pulido Perci Lozano Piña yung statement at the start of this thread, yung may face ni Sen Gordon sa Red Cross vehicles.

Bheng Jonatas
Bheng Jonatas Edyll, show their ingenuity and creativity. Bring it on!

Bheng Jonatas
Bheng Jonatas After Haiyan, or Yolanda, vehicles acquired are all donations. Donation meaning, Dick Gordon has no hand in telling the donors what to place on them.

Bheng Jonatas
Bheng Jonatas The 2013 election happened May 2013. Yolanda happened November 2013. So where is the logic of boosting his senatorial ratings for 2013?

Perci Lozano Piña
Perci Lozano Piña Teci Pulido kaya nga po you said it might be true pero may evidence na po ba kayong nakita?See Translation

Marcial Bonifacio
Marcial Bonifacio Isa, salamat sa mga punto mo, kaibigan. Marangal si Gordon sa kusang loob niyang paghahandog ng kanyang PDAF. Ideally, more people should know about that dahil iyon ay maliwanag na indicator ng kanyang pagkatao. The same holds true with Gordon's risky, humanitarian service sa Red Cross.

Gilbert Menchu
Gilbert Menchu Ang mga nagtratrabaho sa Red Cross noon very risky lalo na sa mga libliban na lugar lalo na kung ang mentality ng mga tao na walang mga school around.Dahil bawat pumasok na tao na hindi sila kilala is a spy ang tingin nila.Dahil sa lugar at lupain na iniingatan nila na huwag pag interesan ng mga politician.Dahil sa iyon lang ang lupain na minana nila sa magulang kahit walang kasulatan kaya ang ibang NPA iyan daw ang pino protektahan.Pero ang mga Red Cross naman bago pumunta sa isang lugar ina announced muna nila.Itong issue na sinasabi ninyo some years ago may naikakalat din iyong iba na paninira tuwing botohan times lang at nawala din.Nong nasa Gapo si Dick sa SBMA,sabi ng kapatid ko sa akin,ang ugali ni Dick open naman sa mga tao at nakikita nila ang totoo. Sa facebook pa ngayon na mas madaling nakikita ng mga tao ang bawat kilos niya.Matagal na sa service si Dick at alam din niya kung sino ang mga tao na inggit sa kanya,naalala ko some years ago na may nanira na parang ayaw niya na nasa Red Cross si Dick.Mahigpit ang Red Cross organization,di katulad ng ibang organization.Dahil sila ang pinaka nauuna sa kahit anong humanitarian service.We need not to listen sa mga taong walang magawa kundi ma merwisyo na hindi naman nila kayang gawin ang trabaho ni Dick.Isang beses lang akong nag civic action pero nong time na iyon i am glad na na experienced ko.Pero dahil sa very risky ang lugar masarap tumulong but i don't want to risked my life dahil sabi ko i have dreams in my life to fullfil din.Sabi ng mga tao sa lugar na iyon minsan naman ang mga kano ang nag bibigay ng kailangan nila may helicopter na pumupunta pero bawal na bababa sila so ang foods at medicines sa ganiyan sila nag su survived problema iyong maliit na ilog nila ang polluted just to think walang ilaw pa.Doon ako nakakita na mga batang malnourished na parang africa,that was 1975.Dahil sa Pinatubo baka wala na doon ang mga tao.Lets,all be happy na may mga taong nag ca care,gold ang time ni Gordon na every minute of the hour ini spend niya ang time niya sa trabahong matino dahil kulang pa ang time at pera nila sa mga taong dapat tulungan,hindi man nila ma perfect at least ma save nila ang iba dahil limit din ang trabaho nila.Buong Pilipinas,kung saan man may nangangailangan ng tulong always ready sila.See Translation

Marcial Bonifacio
Marcial Bonifacio Tama sina Mary at Bheng tungkol sa paksang Yolanda at 2013 eleksyon. Meron pagsasalungatan sa panahon.

Hill de Roberts
Hill de Roberts Marcial why would you not believe something that was in the mainstream paper ? Do you think it was pure imagination?

Hill de Roberts
Hill de Roberts Did you delete my comments here at the post of Mary Ann?

Hill de Roberts
Hill de Roberts If you deleted my replies to MaryAnn then . Please untag me. I did NOT volunteer to be tagged. Thank you and good bye Marcial Bonifacio

Hill de Roberts
Hill de Roberts What kind of forum is this if other views and opinions are deleted?

Bheng Jonatas
Bheng Jonatas Your posts were not deleted. You posted on another thread of comment.

Dionisio de la Serna
Dionisio de la Serna dick or his staff can clarify this observation

Perci Lozano Piña
Perci Lozano Piña Matagal nang sinisiraan si Dick Gordon, pero ung Mama tuloy lang ang pag tulong at pag volunteer sa Philippine Red Cross, eh! tayo? ano na ba nagagawa natin? bukod sa maniwala sa haka haka ano ba ginawa nung nag claim na yun?? yumaman ba sya? nakatulong ba sya sa mahihirap?See Translation

Marcial Bonifacio
Marcial Bonifacio Tama ka, Perci. I am still waiting for her response sa ibang lugar wherein she has made such an allegation.

Perci Lozano Piña
Perci Lozano Piña Marcial Bonifacio nag aalala lang po ako sa mga Pinoy na madaling maniwala kahit walang basehan..See Translation

Gilbert Menchu
Gilbert Menchu Gordon,is working for a long time in Red Cross,we know how hard he do his job,than others who had nothing to do and just tsismis or siraan ang gawa.

Edyll Jun Tan
Edyll Jun Tan 48 years working as volunteer

Mary Ann Del Mundo
Mary Ann Del Mundo I've searched the web looking for, what she so called, Red Cross vehicle with Sen. Gordon's face emblazoned on it and found none. Even in reality, I never encountered such. If you can challenge her to produce an unedited and unadulterated photo, that would somehow shed light to the discussion.

Her accusation is very subjective and speculative. Election of 2013 happened in May. Typhoon Yolanda wreaked havoc in November. I do not see any reason for Senator Gordon to campaign amidst the destruction because it is way past the election and way too early for the next. Granted that she indeed saw a Red Cross vehicle with Sen. Gordon's face on it, definitely, that was not intentional nor promotional. Who, in a right mental framework, would even thought of such selfish act at the very center of misery and tragedy? That was an urgent response for help, Sen. Gordon would not even bother to choose what vehicle to use. Hill Roberts should think in a broader perspective and objectively. She had focused and dwelt on the minutest detail yet overlooked the most significant ones. Sen. Gordon's great act of heroism and stewardship. He was among the earliest to respond to the disaster and brought relief. No one can contest to that.

As to the present , Sen Gordon has the most comprehensive and extensive recovery, restoration and rebuilding programs for Yolanda victims.

Marcial Bonifacio
Marcial Bonifacio Magandang punto, Mary, kaibigan ko. Mukhang improbable ang kanyang allegation, nguni't gusto ko ng kanyang sagot in order to be fair sa kanya.

Isa Lan
Isa Lan Up to the present, the Red Cross efforts of restoration in the Yolanda affected areas are still ongoing. There are some areas which have been finished and turned over already, complete with water filtration systems. Hindi basta basta ang materials na ginamit.

Isa Lan
Isa Lan This is just an example, and not the updated version.

Isa Lan's photo.
Isa Lan
Isa Lan
Isa Lan This is their latest house constructed in the Red Cross Village they turned over.

Isa Lan's photo.
Marcial Bonifacio
Marcial Bonifacio Maganda iyan, Isa! I'd like to post those pics sa aking dingding.

Hill de Roberts
Hill de Roberts Look Mary Ann . I know where you're going on this. I run political sites myself and join other political sites. I am not nit-picking here . However, it was morally wrong for Gordon to promote himself at a time when the calamity was fresh--where tens of thousands died, where tens of thousands lost their homes properties mementos etc, where to this day , tens of thousands are living in abject poverty

Hill de Roberts
Hill de Roberts He showed what a typical Filipino politician he was when he emblazoned and publicized himself in that manner. It shows lack of tact and deeper understanding of a calamitous and dangerous situation.

Hill de Roberts
Hill de Roberts Gordon had shown, that time, that he was capable of promoting himself regardless of what just happened

Hill de Roberts
Hill de Roberts That is unmistakably very typical of a politician

Hill de Roberts
Hill de Roberts And that one thing that he did left a bitter taste in my mouth .

Perci Lozano Piña
Philip Basilio
Philip Basilio Hill Roberts has a big problem to WoWGordon God bless you mam

Hill de Roberts
Hill de Roberts You people like to create a Clique
even when this is something very serious and everyone must be HONEST. Commenters here are afraid to SPEAK THE TRUTH--because as usual , it's better to have "pakikisama" --sorry that's BS in my book

Philip Basilio
Philip Basilio What is your problem with WoWGordon mam Hill Roberts by being negative how do you know him.

Hill de Roberts
Hill de Roberts Why don't you ask Richard Gordon himself? He knows exactly what he did on that day that he went to Tacloban.

Hill de Roberts
Hill de Roberts Philip Basilio, did I say that I know him?

Hill de Roberts
Hill de Roberts Do you know him personally? If so, ask him about the Red Cross vehicles Which he and his staff emblazoned with his face and name .

Hill de Roberts
Hill de Roberts If he says no, then you've got a liar for a candidate because sooner or later, mainstream media and newspapers will show photos of Red Cross vehicles with Gordon advertising himself--like some God who descended from heaven

Philip Basilio
Philip Basilio Dapat po mam post nyo picture as proven of what he did na hindi nyo nagustuhan mamSee Translation

Gilbert Menchu
Gilbert Menchu Who is this Hill Roberts?.What is her problem?.Goodness,she can show the photos if she took it with her cell phone no problems with us.Look for me this is not an issue,what is important a man was there in times of needs.Dick Gordon,showed up in television,almost everytime theres a catastrophe.Kahit saan kang country na tumingin ang mga nagawang tulong ni Dick sa mga tao sa atin you cannot compare it in other countries. Mayor pa siya sa Gapo ganiyan na ang gawa niya.President nga hindi pinapansin ang mga tao sa pangangailangan nila.It looks like this Hill Robert hindi gusto si Gordon baka hindi siya napansin sa Tacloban?.Nasa Swiss na ako dami mong maririnig na nagawang maganda ni Gordon ng Haiyan,bakit tayo pa pa bothered sa taong ito?.I'm crying for 3 nights just looking at the people in Tacloban.Does she knows the difference of time to all Red Cross staff to go there and organized everything?.Look whose talking?.What Hill Roberts doing at that time?.Is she also for humanitarian organization?.What she does in Tacloban during that time?.Dick Gordon is not like some God who descended from Heaven,its only her impression.Frankly speaking,this Hill Roberts need attention.She can show it at that time without waiting for a long time.Nor using this issue for now kind of fishy.Or she can write Dick Gordon about it.

Gilbert Menchu
Gilbert Menchu What happened at that time to go back and get bothered by this Hill Roberts and will tell us sooner or later,media mainstream,and newspaper?.will show photos of vehicles with Gordon they can do that before.Directly,at that time they have tv camera etc..big proffessional camera this Robert Hill on that time she can talked to the media if she want too.What is her purpose in telling this now?.Is she running in politics?.Or she is here because she had nothing to do or say?.

Philip Basilio
Philip Basilio I think this Hill Roberts is sick and full of envy in her heart to #WOWGordon mam wala pong gamot Sa inggit kakamatayan mo po yan God bless you

Bheng Jonatas
Bheng Jonatas Where is the vehicle with his face emblazoned on it?

Mary Ann Del Mundo
Mary Ann Del Mundo @Ms. Hill Roberts, just so you know, no one deletes replies here. This discussion encourages everyone to freely voice out his opinion and make a stand but within the confines of truth and respect. But this does not mean that your allegations will be disrespected. In fact we are trying to shed light to it. Your allegation will remain as such until you show proof.

Here, we deal with issues and not with heresays. Not even emotions. We aim to promote the truth and equip the people with sustainable knowledge and awareness based on facts We don't attack individuals, we simply align their acts and concepts to conform with veracity and accuracy, if we deem necessary.

Sen. Gordon is our leader and our only hope. Whoever disrespects and dishonors him will be on the same hotseat that you're currently in. We aim to impact change in our land, influence the people's voting behaviors by empowering them with the truth. This is for our children and yours too...we just cannot afford that HOPE be dampened with lies, indifference and selfish intentions.

Sonnie Bhoy Trinidad
Sonnie Bhoy Trinidad mam bheng just provide me the plate number hahanapin ko

Bheng Jonatas
Bheng Jonatas Kuya Sonnie, hinihingi ko rin yung info nung sinasabi na vehicle eh. Mali maling information ang feed. If that person volunteered for Yolanda, I would know especially sa early part kung NCR based.

Kuya Sonnie pm me your number.

Marcial Bonifacio
Marcial Bonifacio Hill, salamat sa sagot mo. As one who cares deeply about the welfare of our country, I work painstakingly to vet our public servants. Kung totoo ang iyong paninindigan, meron kapintasan sa aking kahusayan sa paghatol. Kaya nga I seek to clarify things. Samakatuwid, kaibigan ko, please answer the following questions para sa akin at para sa ating bayan:

1. Why is the Net devoid of such a controversial news story or photograph?

2. How can the inconsistency in the time of Yolanda (November) and the 2013 election (May) be reconciled as Jonatas and Mundo have pointed out?

3. Kung tama ka, is it possible that such an alleged emblazoning was done without Gordon's order, which many may have mistakenly viewed as self-promotion?

Mary Ann Del Mundo
Mary Ann Del Mundo @Ms. Isa Lan's comment. Thank you. This is an eye opener. So much has been published and said about Sen. Gordon's unprecedented accomplishments. But what you shared is so important. Your personal revelation and testimony of Sen. Gordon's selfless giving of his time and resources, to the extent of embracing self sacrifices, is truly remarkable. Very noble indeed!

Gilbert Menchu
Gilbert Menchu His a noble person Dick Gordon you said it right.When i was young na nakita ko sila na ang nanay niya nagtatalumpati sa harap ng mga tao.Andoon ang mga artista na si Vilma Santos at Gloria Romero as thier guest malapit sa bahay nila or tapat ng Restaurant nila.Bata pa si Dick pero my impression he will be a great and noble man.Still some day i do hope na maging President siya ng Pilipinas.Kailangan ng support ng mga tao.Ayaw lang niyang gumastos ng malaki sa campaign pero siguro kung maaga pa sasabihin niya mga tao maaaring tulungan din siya.Kasi sayang ang mga ideas niya sa Bansa natin at sa mga tao kung di niya gagamitin.At maraming matutulungan at ma sa saved siyang tao lalo na iyong mga nasa bundok or liblib na lugar.Maintenance na gamot ng matatanda etc...Save life at magandang example ang tinuturo niya sa mga kabataan.Mahirap pasukan ang politics pero mahirap din kung walang matinong politician.We all need Dick Gordon,kasi siya lang ang talagang Filipino na maka tao at maka bayan.Priceless ang ginagawa nilang mga volounteers.Sila pang mga walang sweldo na mas marami ang trabaho.So respect...all what they need.See Translation

Edyll Jun Tan
Edyll Jun Tan To add from Isa's comment, Dick Gordon was also elected to International Red Cross organization.

Joel Paras
Joel Paras IFRC SECRETARY GENERAL, ELHADJ AS SY
Remarks at the welcoming dinner
Manila Conference on Migration
12 May 2015

"We are here tonight to pay tribute to the Philippines. To you volunteers, to you staff of the Philippines Red Cross who make us so proud. You cannot imagine how many times I go to meetings and get congratulated for the work that was done in Haiyan. I had not joined the Red Cross at that time. But I am still reaping the benefit of being congratulated. You cannot imagine how many times, when the next Typhoon season came, and because of preparedness we did not have the same catastrophic situation that we had before, I was still the one being congratulated for the wonderful work the Red Cross is doing, without ever having been in the Philippines myself.

Tonight let me tell to you, to you who deserve all the thanks and congratulations for which so many of us are being thanked and congratulated for: to say thank you, and to say congratulations for the wonderful work you are doing.

And we are here also to pay tribute to leadership. To your leadership, Chairman Gordon, I would say, Governor Gordon because to me you are a member of our board, you are known to be the Chairman of the Philippines Red Cross, and I have nothing to tell you about that you know that much better than I do. But I can tell you something about Governor Gordon on the Board of the IFRC.

The same voice of reason, the voice of compassion, the voice of commitment that reminds us that we should not be complacent, we have to be angry when we have to be, we have to be sad when we have to be, we have to shout when we have to, but also, you have to share love, solidarity, hope, and remind ourselves that we are not helpless in the face of the many challenges that we have.

So, sir you are a son of the Philippines but you no longer belong to the Philippines alone, because of the message you carry which is a universal message, a universal message, the message of the Red Cross. So let me salute you and thank you for your leadership. Thank you, Sir.

https://www.facebook.com/richarddickgordon/photos/a.205415200659.173315.52384820659/10153155733665660/?type=3&theater

Richard J. Gordon's photo.
Richard J. Gordon

IFRC SECRETARY GENERAL, ELHADJ AS SY
Remarks at the welcoming dinner
Manila Conference on Migration
12 May 2015

Good evening.
Colleagues, friends, distinguished guests, our young volunteers, volunteers of the Red Cross.
We are here tonight again as a beautiful rainbow community, united by our shared humanity. Because that is what we are about. We as the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement: always there, on the side of the communities in need, to accompany them to respond to their needs, wherever those needs are.
And that is exactly what is taking us in the homes of the elderly. That is what is taking us on the streets among young people. That is what is taking us in the most dangerous places where we confront armed conflict. That is what is taking us when we witness an outbreak of an epidemic.
At times when everybody runs away, we run in, because we are the Red Cross and the Red Crescent.
We are almost there and almost everywhere, in 189 countries all over the world. We are always there and in almost every community, where we live, where we work, and where we belong to. We are 17 million volunteers. And it is such a privilege to be a part of this Movement.
And every time we witness such a hardship, it is always the young volunteers who come forward and make a very simple but profound statement: “If we don’t do it, who is going to do it?”
Now when we met young volunteers in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, when people died of Ebola and then they had been abandoned in mortuaries, they came forward and asked: “If we don’t bury them, who will?”
When Homs became ruins, and we already lost more than 42 volunteers of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, it was again a young volunteer who came forward: “We have to be here because if we don’t do it, who will?”
When we witnessed the Typhoon of Haiyan in this country of the Philippines, it was you here who came forward with a simple plain statement: “If we don’t do it, who will?”
When Nepal is, today, affected by an earthquake is not over, because there was another shock registered today, who was there first: that was again our volunteers.
I was so thrilled to meet just outside to meet the Filipino team who was there. Motivated and moved by the same slogan: “If it is not us, who will?”
And for the same reason today, when people ask us “Why are you working on migration?” I can give the same, simple answer: “If we don’t do it who will?” We do it because it is not about migration. We do it simply because it is about people. It is about people that remind us our shared humanity. It is about people like you and me: about fathers and mothers and daughters and sons, who put themselves on the move in the search of a better life to care for their families, care for their children.
Where they are coming from, the many countries they travel through, until their point of destination, in each of those places there is a Red Cross, there is a Red Crescent society. So we are better placed than everybody, then, to prepare them, to accompany them, and to welcome them to where they are.
So if we don’t do it, then who will?
I think that is what is uniting us here today, to show that humanity, to show that universality. Again: it is no matter where it is happening. Whatever touches on one part of our fellow human being touches us all, no matter where. And we are here to show that unity, to show that commitment, to show that we care, to show that compassion. And then to show that we have the knowledge, we have the expertise, we have the resources, we have the means to do that, because we are this formidable Movement that is anchored in the values of our Principles, but also in the values of the community, the societies where we live and where we work.
But we are here today to pay tribute to partnership. This conference is not the first one, it will not be the last. It started already in many other places like in Doha. The issues have been discussed in many other forums like in our Governing Board, in many other meetings where our technical people never stop drawing attention to this issue, never stop also searching for solutions to respond to the needs of the people.
But we are also here tonight to pay tribute to the Philippines. To you volunteers, to you staff of the Philippines Red Cross who make us so proud. You cannot imagine how many times I go to meetings and get congratulated for the work that was done in Haiyan. I had not joined the Red Cross at that time. But I am still reaping the benefit of being congratulated. You cannot imagine how many times, when the next Typhoon season came, and because of preparedness we did not have the same catastrophic situation that we had before, I was still the one being congratulated for the wonderful work the Red Cross is doing, without ever having been in the Philippines myself.
Tonight let me tell to you, to you who deserve all the thanks and congratulations for which so many of us are being thanked and congratulated for: to say thank you, and to say congratulations for the wonderful work you are doing.
And we are here also to pay tribute to leadership. To your leadership, Chairman Gordon, I would say, Governor Gordon because to me you are a member of our board, you are known to be the Chairman of the Philippines Red Cross, and I have nothing to tell you about that you know that much better than I do. But I can tell you something about Governor Gordon on the Board of the IFRC. The same voice of reason, the voice of compassion, the voice of commitment that reminds us that we should not be complacent, we have to be angry when we have to be, we have to be sad when we have to be, we have to shout when we have to, but also, you have to share love, solidarity, hope, and remind ourselves that we are not helpless in the face of the many challenges that we have.
So, sir you are a son of the Philippines but you no longer belong to the Philippines alone, because of the message you carry which is a universal message, a universal message, the message of the Red Cross. So let me salute you and thank you for your leadership. Thank you, Sir.
Indeed many of us come here today to say: let’s for one moment try to give back a little bit to you who give so much, travelling across oceans on the other side of the world. So then if you call, and maybe if the small just return that we travel the way back to be together with you.
When we talk about this issue of course, we can see the best in human beings as we can see the worst in human beings. We see stigma, we see discrimination, we see xenophobia, we see abuse, we see racism, and we cannot deny that, because so many of our fellow human beings suffer from that. On the other hand, we can also see the best in human beings. Care, compassion, respect, trust. What is more trustful than taking your own family and entrusting them to a so-called domestic worker to care for your children, to care for your sick mother, and then to take care of your full house when no one is around. What is also more about care and compassion than to have a domestic worker to love a child more than her own child who she left behind in her home country. To care for an elderly woman like she would care for her own mother. And if we do not see there a lesson for humanity, if we do not see there a message of the best in us, then we are missing something.
We are the Red Cross and Red Crescent. We are here to fight the worst and we are here to support the best. And we are so glad and privileged to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem. And that is what commitment and leadership is about at the end of the day, leadership is nothing if it is not leading to the solution. And to you, many of the leaders coming here joining Chairman Gordon on that same journey, and to you the young people who are taking us through a leadership journey into the future, for leaders, and let me assure you that as an IFRC; we will always be on your side to accompany you to that journey of humanity.
Thank you.

Oscar Saddul
Oscar Saddul LET US ALL PUT OUR APPRECIATION OF PNR CHAIRMAN DICK GORDON INTO ACTION by putting him NO. 1 / numero UNO in our senator voting list. .

Oscar Saddul
Marcial Bonifacio
Marcial Bonifacio Bakit 2014 ang larawan, Oscar?

Oscar Saddul
Oscar Saddul Oscar Saddul LET US ALL PUT OUR APPRECIATION OF PNR CHAIRMAN DICK GORDON INTO ACTION by putting him NO. 1 / numero UNO in our voting list. / Dr OAS MD.
Contribute a better translation

Hill de Roberts
Hill de Roberts Marcial Bonifacio, please untag me now. Thank you.

Mary Ann Del Mundo
Mary Ann Del Mundo @Ms. Hill Roberts, just so you know, no one deletes replies here. This discussion encourages everyone to freely voice out his opinion and make a stand but within the confines of truth and respect. But this does not mean that your allegations will be disrespected. In fact we are trying to shed light to it. Your allegation will remain as such until you show proof.

Here, we deal with issues and not with heresays. Not even emotions. We aim to promote the truth and equip the people with sustainable knowledge and awareness based on facts. We don't attack individuals, we simply align their acts and concepts to conform with veracity and accuracy, if we deem necessary.

Sen. Gordon is our leader and our only hope. Whoever disrespects and dishonors him will be on the same hotseat that you're currently in. We aim to impact change in our land, influence the people's voting behaviors by empowering them with the truth. This is for our children and yours too...we just cannot afford that HOPE be dampened with lies, indifference and selfish intentions.