Opinion: 'On My Watch' Turns 34 This Week; Filipino Social Media Users Condemn Top PH Officials For Corruption Almost Daily; Associated Press Conducts Descriptive Survey of Biden/Trump By Manuel L Caballero

ON MY WATCH

By MANUEL L. CABALLERO

"ON MY WATCH" TURNS 34 THIS WEEK; FILIPINO SOCIAL MEDIA USERS CONDEMN TOP PH  OFFICIALS FOR CORRUPTION ALMOST DAILY; ASSOCIATED PRESS CONDUCTS DESCRIPTIVE SURVEY OF BIDEN/TRUMP

Our column, "ON MY WATCH," turns 34 this week. The column title "On My Watch" was coined by the late Bert Pelayo, my friend and mentor Publisher & Editor-in-Chief of the then Filipino Reporter of NY. Our column was first published in the Op-ed page of FR on its Sept. 1-7, 1989 issue. (See picture below of my first column and the editorial page).

When FR ceased publication few years ago after 45 years of publication, I decided to continue writing this column weekly in my Facebook for online distribution to hundreds of my FB friends.

My main job all along those years was as corporate officer of a multinational reinsurance company in the Wall St. area.

Recently, this column started to be posted in Lambert Parong  's news web at www.balitangnewyork.com.

Thank you, my dear readers, for your continued support of "On My Watch."

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The PH is in a unique situation. Its Secretary of Agriculture is not an agriculturist, nor has any experience in agriculture.

The country's Secretary of Education is not an educator, nor has experience in administering the nation's educational system.

But, both are experts in asking Congress huge amounts of monies from the taxes paid by taxpayers for the unexplained confidential and intelligence funds. Both funds are not subject to liquidation. Spend and spend without accountability. Or even pocket? Who will know? It is free money!

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If what I am reading in social media almost everyday about thieveries (corruption) of people's monies by legislation in the highest levels of government in the Philippines are true, perhaps, it is true that the top 2 officials of that country were illegitimately elected. 

Considering the vast amounts they ask for confidential/intelligence/office budget funds, maybe they are in a hurry to make "huthot" (hoard) in case they are ousted any time soon.

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A survey was conducted by the Associated Press (AP) by asking survey participants as to how they will describe the two potential candidates for US president in the next presidential elections, President Joe Biden and Former President Donald Trump.

Mr. Biden was described as old and confused.

Mr. Trump, corrupt and dishonest.

No comment. Just one. I know of a guy in the PH who possesses all 4 descriptions.

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I received a copy of "From Sweet Potatoes to French Fries" from its FilAm nurse/author Phoebe Cabotaje Andes, mommy of familiar community person, Pam Andes of Jersey City.

I browsed at the first chapters quickly and found the memoir an interesting read. It is a difficult life struggle that started in the Cordillera mountains in Luzon while the Philippines was invaded byJapan in the 40s and ended successfully in America.(See photo of book cover below).

I told Phoebe that I will write a review after I finish reading. I did not tell her when.

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The 1,500 striking nurses at Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Medical Center, 500 of whom are Filipinos, need support from the community. Two rallies are scheduled. Please see poster below.

Let's join the picket lines as scheduled.

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