BREAKING

Thursday, November 3, 2016

US Halts Sale of Assault Rifles to the Philippines


Wazzup Pilipinas!
"President Rodrigo Duterte, who has displayed animosity toward the United States (US) because of its criticisms of his brutal war on drugs, dismissed Washington’s reported refusal to sell rifles as a mere scare tactic. 
He is saying that if the US won’t sell assault rifles to the Philippines, the country can still fight criminals with airguns and fists. 
The President shrugged off threats that the United States would stop the sale of assault rifles to the Philippine National Police (PNP), saying there are other sources in the market.
"Yan lang pantakot niya sa akin. Hindi sya magpabili ng armas? eh karaming de bomba dito" the President said. 
Translated in English: “Is that it? What? They are not selling us arms? That’s their only way to scare me? That they won’t sell firearms? We have several air guns here,” Duterte remarked. 
PNP chief Director General Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa also downplayed the US embargo on selling firearms to the Philippine police. Dela Rosa said the PNP would continue its war against illegal drugs and criminality even if it meant coming to blows with drug lords after police have fired their last bullet."
The US State Department halted the sale of the assault rifles citing concern of human rights violations in the Philippines during Duterte’s bloody war on drugs. Duterte reacted calling those behind the decision "fools" and "monkeys" and indicating he might turn to Russia and China instead.
"The U.S. State Department halted the planned sale of some 26,000 assault rifles to the Philippines' national police after Senator Ben Cardin said he would oppose it, Senate aides told Reuters. 
Aides said Cardin, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was reluctant for the United States to provide the weapons given concerns about human rights violations in the Philippines. 
The relationship between the United States and the Philippines, a long-time ally, has been complicated lately by President Rodrigo Duterte's angry reaction to criticism from Washington of his violent battle to rid the country of illegal drugs."
Why are we even buying guns? Guns only provoke further violence and it makes the authorities dependent on the weapons that they also refuse to learn other ways to bring down or capture an opponent or criminal.

Because it is a way to protect ourselves when needed? We cannot fight with arnis, karate or with a fork? It is a symbol for security?

Yeah, maybe. But I do not feel safe and secured when in possession of a gun fearing it might also be the cause of my early demise. If not me, maybe my family, who may accidentally get shot with it while we try to protect ourselves from intruders. They should invent a weapon that would only temporarily paralyze and not kill. My father has one tucked away but easily accessible when needed at one part of our house. There were also several bullets that go with it.

The thought that one will buy guns because others have it gives me the shivers. It will be a never-ending search for security because once the others get possession of better weapons, we would all try to follow to get even. The cycle will never end. The winners here are the gun manufacturers, never the users.

Also, in the middle of a confrontation, once you show up with a gun, and even attempt to use it, you only provoke the others to do the same. Though it maybe stupid to come defenseless, you might be more successful in achieving a truce.

I am sad that the reality we now face is a violent one. Many of us are too greedy or desperate that we would readily kill just so we could get what we do not own. We wouldn't need weapons to protect ourselves if we were contented with what we have.
" I think this is the right moment for Mr. Duterte to more than just consider buying from a national (or local) industrialist instead of going all over the world in search of weapons "systems" that we already have in the country. Not only will the move be a good impetus for this government to support national Filipino industry but it will also have the guarantee of what we call in the defense industry, SECURITY OF SUPPLIES, which is a key factor in weapons acquisition by any country. 
To this end, the Republic has the United Defense Manufacturing Company, which makes NATO-specs assault rifles and 100% Filipino-owned technology. Our government must stand by its mantra that it now refuses "colonial mentality" and should prove that it is prepared to go "local".... 
Time to walk the talk, Mr President and support our own defense manufacturing industry!"

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Filipina Celebrities in their Halloween Costumes


Wazzup Pilipinas!

Halloween is not only for kids since even adults rave about the season when they can show off their creativity in coming up with either a frightful or fancy costume to celebrate the tradition.

We gathered a few photos of the more popular female celebrities in their Halloween costumes so you'll get to somehow see who were creative enough to make an effort to dress up and show the world they practice the Halloween tradition in or out of the Philippines. Yup! Some went out of the Philippines to celebrate Halloween in other countries.

The above photo shows Anne Curtis Smith with her portrayal of Eleven, a young girl with many psychokinetic gifts played by Millie Bobby Brown on the Stranger Things TV Series which will soon be having its 2nd season.

Actress Coleen Garcia and Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach both had an Edward Scissorhands outfit. Who do you think wore it best?

While Angel Locsin and Sarah Lahbati had some body painting to show some scary rendition of zombie scratches and skeleton features respectively.

Meanwhile Arci Munoz, Isabelle Daza, Kim Chiu wore costumes representing iconic characters from pop culture anime and cartoons like Sailor Moon, Captain Planet and Chun Li of Street Fighter.

Now there were also some celebrities like Maxene Magalona and Ruffa Guttierez who wore simple outfits that one could buy from specialty shops.

Manny Pacquiao VS Jessie Vargas Fight: Have Filipinos Lost Interest with the Pambansang Kamao?


Wazzup Pilipinas!


How come very few people are talking about the welterweight title clash between Manny Pacquiao and Jessie Vargas on November 5, 2016 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas?

It's just a few days ago yet the noise created for the event is silently heard.

Nonito Donaire, who reclaimed the WBO super bantamweight title following a unanimous verdict over Cesar Juarez, will also be defending his crown against Jessie Magdaleno. Nonito is also a Filipino favorite as he is among the more popular boxers noticeable in mainstream media, so this should mean a big event. However, I've only seen advertisements about the fight just a few days before the fight as if there's not much publicity being shared throughout the country.

The jr. featherweight champ expects to defeat the young challenger during what will be Nonito's first fight on a card headlined by fellow Filipino Manny. This is the first time the two Filipino superstars will fight on the same card together.

Normally, it will be the fans who create the viral news but the past few weeks was so alarmingly quiet. Has interest with Manny among Filipinos dwindled already.

After running and winning as senator, it was a big disappointment when the boxer turned politician announced another fight for that would mean once again missing time with his obligations in the government. How could Manny devote time for the country if he is too busy training for his fights? Not to mention all the other tasks required of him in coordinating with other people organizing the fights, his job as a senator is obviously divided and it is the Filipinos who are unfairly on the downside. 

But who's saying that the "full-time" senators, or other government officials like congressmen, mayors, etc., are 100% focused on their roles as public servants? There are so many who are also preoccupied with other tasks - and to name them all would just take too much time and space in this blog.

However, it is no excuse for Manny to be spending time with boxing when he is expected to work for the Philippines as its senator. I do not believe that multi-tasking irrelevant matters can be considered excusable. Is it sports tourism? Is it putting the Philippines in the map? I don't think so anymore. Manny has proven himself so many times so I believe it is about time he choose between boxing and politics. He should not be serving two masters.

Is his winnings beneficial to his constituents? Maybe so, maybe people are somehow getting some sort of benefits from all that prize money, but still, it is largely a credible excuse for him to go on with his boxing career. He must chose only one if he really is concerned for the Filipino welfare. We have so many corrupt officials already so we don't need someone who is never around when we need him the most.
Ang Pambansang Blog ng Pilipinas Wazzup Pilipinas and the Umalohokans. Ang Pambansang Blog ng Pilipinas celebrating 10th year of online presence
 
Copyright © 2013 Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events
Design by FBTemplates | BTT