Coronavirus Lockdown: Worst is Over, Barred From Vaccine Trials, and More!

More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government.

The pandemic is not going to last forever which is why some are urging the government to make an exit plan.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/27/22/ph-govt-urged-to-begin-pandemic-exit-plan

Some experts have called on the Philippine government to come up with a pandemic exit strategy that would relax restrictions in the country.

Presidential adviser for entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion and OCTA Research fellow Fr. Nicanor Austriaco urged the government's pandemic task force to take initial steps in taking the Philippines out of a "pandemic mindset."

"It is time for the national government to transition our people from a pandemic to an endemic mindset," they said in a letter issued Jan. 26.

Opening up the country to the world by easing and simplifying travel restrictions will redound to many downstream benefits to the economy, they said.

To date, only the Philippines, Myanmar, and Japan have the strictest travel restrictions, Concepcion said. 

“The rest have either lifted curfews and stay-at-home orders, opened their borders to non-citizens and non-residents, and have allowed all or most commercial flights to the country," he added.

Concepcion said the country’s travel restrictions could be further relaxed without compromising safety by scrapping facility-based quarantines and instead requiring only home quarantines.

“The next few months will be critical in how the country will move on from the pandemic,” Concepcion said. 

“I believe the government should set an example and start opening the country to the world. This will instill confidence in the vaccines and encourage more of our countrymen to take them.”

For the government there is only one way out of the pandemic, vaccination.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1166460

Vaccination is the key to the exit of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. an official of the National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 said Wednesday night.

Head of the NTF Strategic Communications sub-task group on current operations, Assistant Secretary Wilben Mayor, urged anew unvaccinated Filipinos to avail of Covid-19 jabs to get enough protection against the dreaded disease.

"(Once again, the government is encouraging you, the vaccine is the answer so we can fight and get out – exit this pandemic)," Mayor said shortly after the arrival of 1,023,750 doses of Pfizer vaccine at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 via an Air Hong Kong cargo flight.

The government has urged those with complete shots to avail of booster shots for added protection.

Mayor likewise reiterated that all Covid-19 vaccines are safe and effective against severe and critical symptoms of the disease and help prevent the hospitalization of coronavirus patients.

If the vaccines do not prevent infection but only negate the effects of the virus then how exactly is this an exit plan when it seems they have a zero-COVID policy?

So, the economy is booming which means the Philippines has been resilient during the pandemic.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1166486

Malacañang sees the growth of the Philippine economy as proof of the country's strength and resilience amid facing various challenges, acting presidential spokesperson, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, said Thursday.

The latest data from Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed the Philippine economy expanded by 5.6 percent after recording 7.7 percent growth in the fourth quarter, despite struggling with the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic and natural disasters such as typhoons.

"We commend our Economic Team for deftly managing the economy through these turbulent times, and thank our people for their sacrifices, hard work, and faith in the leadership of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during this challenging period," Nograles said in a statement.

Based on the report, the country's annual performance slightly exceeded the Development Budget Coordination Committee’s target range of 5 percent to 5.5 percent, with a full-year 2021 gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 5.6 percent.

Ok, but how does this growth trickle down? Apparently it doesn't!

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1545616/covids-other-debilitating-impact-whole-families-lose-income

“Whether it is a mild or severe case, the rule in the workforce is that when you are COVID-19 positive, you can’t report for work,” he said.

“It can be mild, but the impact is destructive since the family can’t work,” he added. 

Some workers, who tested positive for COVID, can get paid sick leaves, meaning they can still receive their salaries or benefits despite being unable to work as they isolate for many days or weeks after contracting the disease. 

But some employees—as well as workers like public utility drivers, street vendors, and the like—who rely on day-to-day income or salary and have no paid sick leave, face the specter of income loss as they battle against COVID-19. 

National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa, at a recent briefing, said the employment picture was improving. In October 2021, Mapa said at least 43.83 million Filipinos have jobs. In November 2021, the figure jumped to 45.48 million.

And the vaccines aren't helping this situation at all because the vaccinated can still get infected meaning they will be forced to stay home and lose income. 

Despite the uselessness of vaccines in stopping the spread of the virus vaccine hesitancy has been decreasing.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1166496

The latest survey that showed dropped in Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy means the government's pandemic response is in the "right direction" to restore normalcy, acting presidential spokesperson Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, said Thursday.

The latest data from the OCTA Research Group's Tugon ng Masa national poll conducted on Dec. 7 to 12 last year, showed that only 5 percent of adult Filipinos said they do not want to get vaccinated against Covid-19, down from 22 percent in September 2021.

The OCTA survey also showed that only 2 percent of adult Filipinos have contracted Covid-19 infection after being fully vaccinated.

"This is incontrovertible evidence that Covid-19 vaccines protect us, our loved ones, and our communities from the virus," Nograles said in a statement.

"It also emphasizes that vaccination is a step towards the right direction in our efforts to restore normalcy," he added.

They really know how to twist the meaning of these numbers. How does the vaccine protect anyone for the virus when even the government admits that the vaccines do not prevent infection but only mitigate the symptoms?

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a massive increase in garbage, specifically medical waste. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/29/22/7-kids-who-played-with-used-syringes-positive-for-covid

Seven children in Virac town, Catanduanes who played with medical waste found in the vicinity of their village tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday.  

Authorities antigen-tested the children, ages 3 to 11, after they played with used syringes disposed in the coast of Barangay Concepcion.  

A woman who was seen scolding the children for playing with medical waste was also infected. 

Concepcion barangay chief Anthony Arcilla said the children have been isolated, and given vitamins and medicine.  

They are set to undergo RT-PCR testing on Monday.  

The medical waste was first spotted along Concepcion's coast this month. 

According to barangay officials, the laboratory where the waste came from claimed responsibility for the incident and apologized at a village council session. 

So, a laboratory dumped its medical waste along the coast? And all they had to do was apologize? This sounds criminal.

Here is something else that sounds rather suspicious. 

https://www.panaynews.net/calinog-residents-barred-from-vaccine-trials/

The local government of the municipality of Calinog has prohibited its residents from taking part in clinical trials for vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Reports reached the local government that some residents joined clinical trials for Wantai, WestVac and other coronavirus vaccines being developed without proper coordination with it.

According to Mayor Francisco Calvo, Calinog had not received any advisory from any government agency about the clinical trials.

He heard that each participant was promised between P2,500 to P5,000; that at night they were hauled to hospitals in Iloilo City for swabbing then released on their own to go home.

“Allegedly, those monitored by swab tests are just sent home to commute which is a violation of the protocols on swab testing,” according to Calvo.

The mayor also said some of those who participated in the trials became positive for COVID-19.

Residents in one Iloilo municipality are participating in COVID-19 vaccine trials without coordinating with the government. This is not news as the local government urged the matter be looked into last October.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1910127/cebu/local-news/official-seeks-probe-on-clinical-trial-of-westvac-covid-vaccine-in-cebu-city

The south district councilor said he got wind of the clinical trial of the vaccine developed in China after residents inquired with him on the efficacy of the WestVac vaccine.

He said some residents were vaccinated on Oct. 9, and then were given not a vaccination card authorized by the City Government, but a card showing that they were participants in a study or trial for the “recombinant Covid-19 vaccine.”

Among those convinced to participate in the clinical trial were residents living in coastal barangays and including Cogon Pardo and Labangon.

Tumulak, along with the City Council, urged the Department of Health (DOH) as well as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to verify this information, saying Cebu City Government officials were unaware of what the manufacturer of the vaccine had done.

The council also asked the City Health Department to conduct an investigation especially in the city’s coastal barangays.

The City Council through Tumulak also asked Cebu City residents to wait for the DOH and FDA to explain the vaccination allegedly administered by a Chinese Medical Group so the public could be apprised of the safety and risks of the vaccine.

Did anyone care to look into this situation? It seems not. Could that be becasue China is involved and Duterte does not want to upset Xi?

Metro Manila is going back to Alert Level 2 which means the "no tax, no ride" policy will be done away with.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/01/30/2157427/dotr-lift-no-vaccination-no-ride-policy-under-alert-level-2

With Metro Manila reverting back to Alert Level 2 starting February 1, the Department of Transportation said it would also be lifting its controversial and highly-contested "no vaccination, no ride" policy in public transportation starting that same day. 

"Once we de-escalate to Alert Level 2, the no vaxx, no ride policy shall automatically be lifted," Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddes Libiran said in a Viber message to reporters on Sunday afternoon. 

To recall, the DOTr announced the policy in early January "to prevent a repeat of the public transport shut down [and] safeguard those that are most at risk." 

Well, that was short and pointless and caused a lot of useless grief. If this measure is so effective at stopping the spread of the virus and protecting "those that are most at risk" then why scrap it? We are still wearing ineffective face masks after all.

The OCTA says the worst of the pandemic is over.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1547712/worst-is-over-in-most-parts-of-ph-as-covid-19-cases-decline-octa

The “worst is over” in “most” parts of the country with COVID-19 cases having already peaked or is peaking, OCTA Research fellow Guido David said.

“We believe that the worst is over in most parts of the country,” David said during Monday’s Pandesal Forum. 

“We could imagine that the worst is probably over for most of the country because cases have peaked or peaking,” he added. 

“It doesn’t mean of course that it’s all clear, we should still follow health protocols as we go out. There’s still a significant number of cases…We still have to self-isolate if we’re feeling symptoms, we have to wear face masks,” he said.

They are basically admitting that the worse is not over because we still must follow the ineffective health protocols. Harry Roque said last September that he thought the worst was over and the BSP said last November that the worst was over for the economy. And then every thing came crashing down again as strict health protocols were once again enacted in January. So, I do not believe any of these prognostications about the worst being over and neither should you.

More Coronavirus Signs and Situations Again

The Pandemic is winding down which means less bizarre coronavirus signs and situations will be seen in public. Thankfully I have a few leftovers to share with you.

With the vaccination program in full swing one of the most common signs to be seen is one letting customers know all employees are fully vaccinated.

"All-vaxxed to take care of you." Do these people not realize that despite being fully vaccinated and boosted that they can still transmit the virus to me? Maybe the "to take care of you" is a euphemism. But the virus has a 97% survival rate so even if these workers at Greenwich did infect me I'd probably not be "taken care of."

If you are out and about but forgot your cloth face mask then why not take tip from this guy.

Improvise with a plastic bag!

With the new virus comes new fashion. 

A hat with a face shield looks silly but what do I know? I'm no fashion designer. Too bad face shields are now out of fashion. But with new variants and an overbearing government they could come back at any time.

Remember in 2020 the long lines at every single store? A lot of that was because management was limiting the number of customers. Here is a reminder of that nonsense

It's not like one could "social distance" while shopping. The aisles are narrow and frankly I have never seen any one enforcing social distancing at any store.

Along with the coronavirus came warnings to wash your hands and sanitize everything with alcohol. Cleanliness got a little high tech in some sectors with UV sterilizers being given away with the purchase of a brand new phone.

Believe it or not UV radiation can kill germs including COVID-19. But that is not to say that his particular device is effective at anything except getting to you buy an expensive new phone.

Remember when your neighbors got the COVID and were branded by the local health department for all to see?

Yeah, I don't think that was ever a good idea. All it did was instill fear in the community. Apparently the family being quarantined in this particular house were the subject of rumors regarding their COVID status which is why they hung up this sign shortly after their quarantine period ended:

What news was being spread about these people that they had to resort to hanging up this sign? People do have a tendency to talk and start rumors but that would not have happened if the government had not branded the infected with a huge yellow Star of David, I mean red tarp, for all to see.

Here is one coronavirus sign that is a sign for all seasons. Digital eye strain has been an increasing problem over the years as everyone stares at screens for hours every day.

All of that is very good advice in our computer age.

What is one of the best ways to stop the spread of the coronavirus? Reducing bank hours of course!

In view of the COVID-19 situation, our new banking schedule is as follows

What is the science behind this? There is none! They could stay open for an hour more or less and the virus would still continue to spread.

Most coronavirus signs make sense even if they are silly but this one is beyond me.

Why was this posted? What does it have to do with stopping the spread of the virus? Who the heck would walk around with concealed gasoline?  It makes no sense. Is it even a coronavirus sign? It was posted next to one so I think it is. It's a ridiculous sign nonetheless.

The next picture is just as nonsensical.

This is a coronavirus scene from SM Supermarket. Is infectious waste really going in that trash can? No. Just hand wipes and paper towels. This is not the only SM Supermarket with an "Infectious Waste" trash can.

Here is another!!

So why place the fake label on the can? What's the point? Scaremongering? Well, keeping people afraid is integral to what these coronavirus signs and situations are all about.

Insurgency: It's Insane to Talk Peace

The Army is really going all out to make sure they meet the goal of defeating the CPP-NPA by Duterte leaves office. One official says it will be done before the deadline.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1166033

A top-ranking military official has vowed an intensified drive against insurgency along with his counterparts in the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) in Region 3 (Central Luzon) to finish its mission and objectives "within the time frame".

Maj. Gen. Andrew D. Costelo, commander of the Philippine Army's 7th Infantry Division (7ID), cited the need to intensify efforts in the conduct of collaborative activities with national government agencies and engaging more with the communities to defeat local communist armed conflict.

“We are already in the stage of this campaign that we have to be more aggressive in our efforts because six months from now, President Rodrigo Duterte will step down from presidency and also signals the end of our timeline to defeat and eradicate the local communist armed conflict in our area of responsibility,” he said in a social media post on Friday.

The new AFP Chief has reiterated this same promise. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1166358

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief, Gen. Andres Centino, has directed all military commanders to ensure that the local communist insurgency threat is eliminated before President Rodrigo R. Duterte's term ends in June.

Centino issued the directive during Tuesday's command conference at the AFP headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City attended by all chiefs of major services and unified commands.

“As your Chief of Staff, I am taking the lead in this final push of our campaign. I enjoin everyone to maintain our momentum, sustain our gains, and remain victorious. Let us finish the local armed conflict within the President’s term. As the Armed Forces of the Filipino people, we shall not fail them in their desire of having a peaceful and secure society,” he said in a statement Tuesday night.

Centino also directed all AFP commanders to intensify their operations with a sense of urgency and focus on defeating the remaining local threat groups through intelligence-driven combat operations.

He particularly ordered the redeployment of AFP forces to where the communist group is based, launch decisive engagements aimed at destroying the enemies’ will to fight, cut off their source of funds and logistics support, and hit the enemy leadership, which is considered their center of gravity, hard.

Citing the AFP's accomplishments for 2021, he said the military had neutralized 43 top New People's Army (NPA) leaders and Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Central Committee members.

These are Jorge Madlos, Menandro Villanueva, Pedro Codaste, Eddie Genelsa, and Maria Loida Tuso Magpatoc – all members of the CPP Politburo Committee.

Likewise, 10 CPP-NPA guerilla fronts have been dismantled while more than 3,000 party and underground organization members and supporters have withdrawn their membership from the CPP and the National Democratic Front.

Not only did Centino "direct all AFP commanders to intensify their operations with a sense of urgency" but he also cited some of their recent achievements against the NPA. In Bukidnon the NPA is leaving for greener pastures as more communities have labelled them as persona non grata.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1166125

The Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) said the remaining combatants of the New People's Army (NPA) in Bukidnon province have moved to the borders of Lanao del Sur.

In a statement Saturday, Lt. Gen. Greg T. Almerol, Eastmincom commander, said they noticed the movement after members of the rebel group figured in an encounter with Army soldiers in the towns of Amai Manabilang, Lumba-Bayabao, and Maguing, all in Lanao del Sur.

The skirmish came after concerned citizens reported the presence of some 30 armed men to the troops on January 20, under the 403rd Brigade's 1st Special Forces Battalion (1SFBn), who have been pursuing the remnants of North Central Mindanao Regional Committee’s (NCMRC) Sub-Regional Committee 4 (SRC4) and SRC5 in the area.

"These clashes send a strong manifestation that the people are already fed up with the CTG's (communist terrorist group) continued atrocities in their communities, therefore making them more participative in the military's campaign to end the communist insurgency by reporting suspicious armed groups and activities," he said.

Almirola said the NPA rebels in Bukidnon have been running away from the government forces toward unfamiliar terrain such as in Lanao del Sur as communities in their former mass bases have already declared them persona-non-grata.

"Although their remnants are still on the run, lack of familiarity in the new terrain and support from communities made them easier to be pursued and engaged by our troops," he said.

In fact the AFP says the NPA in Bukidnon is losing its footing.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/01/25/npas-losing-foothold-in-bukidnon-another-rebel-leader-killed-in-clash/

As top the leadership of the communist rebels in Mindanao fell one by one, the military claimed that communist rebels are apparently losing foothold in Bukidnon as the rebels are believed to be seeking refuge in the neighboring Lanao del Sur province.

Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Eastern Mindanao Command chief Lt.Gen. Greg Almerol described the rebel group like “running like a headless monster” with the recent death of yet another alleged ranking rebel leader.

“We are seeing a snowball of surrender in the coming days with the successful neutralization of another CTG head. This is possible as the operational balance of the CTG continues to crumble while the morale of their followers depletes after a series of engagements with our troops,” Almerol added. 

Meanwhile in Luzon the AFP says the NPA is crumbling.

https://www.kalinawnews.com/communist-insurgency-crumbling-in-northern-luzon-following-the-surrender-of-3-ctg-members/

“Communist Insurgency is crumbling in Northern Luzon,” said Maj. Gen. Andrew Costelo, Acting Commander of the Northern Luzon Command, following the surrender of three (3) Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) members with their firearms to the troops of the 86th Infantry Battalion of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Tala at Sitio Jet, Barangay Rizal, San Guillermo, Isabela on January 22, 2022.

Maj. Gen. Costelo disclosed that “In a report submitted by the Joint Task Group (JTG) Liberator Commander, Brig. Gen. Danilo Benavides, the surrendered personalities were members of the Regional Sentro de Gravidad (RSDG) and are residents of Barangay Villagracia, Maddela, Quirino. Their names are being withheld for the meantime pending results of their initial debriefing.”

“With their willingness to yield to the government and chose the path for peace, they also brought alongside with them two (2) m16 rifles with two (2) short magazines, three (3) long magazine and 26 live 5.56 ammunition which manifests their complete abandonment of the armed movement of the communist terrorists,” Maj. Gen. Costelo said.

“It will only be a matter of time before Communist Insurgency will be totally decimated in this part of the country, ” said Maj. Gen. Mina.

“If the trend of those CTG members going back to the folds of the law complemented by our successes in the civil-military cooperation continue, there is no doubt that we attain to end the local communist armed conflict by the end of President Duterte’s term,” Maj. Gen Costelo added.

In the Visayas the AFP says the NPA is becoming increasingly irrelevant.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1166643

The Visayas Command (Viscom) on Saturday said communist rebels in the regions are fast becoming irrelevant due to dwindling support from the residents, sustained community engagement of soldiers, and the Barangay Development Program (BDP) of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

In a statement, Lt. Gen. Robert Dauz, Viscom commander, said the Community Support Program (CSP) has amplified the direct engagement of the government forces to the communities which led the people to detach from the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA).

CSP, a flagship program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), is being credited for the many successful clearing of the presence of NPA in the communities.

“With our sustained community engagements, the people in the region started to break free from the clutches of the communist terrorists while embracing an active role in the government’s peace and development initiatives,” Dauz said.

The evidence is pretty clear. The NPA is on the run and is close to being defeated. The AFP claims that the job will be done by the end of Duterte's term which is June 2022. So, why are the Presidential candidates discussing reviving peace talks?

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1544541/nica-chief-its-insane-to-talk-peace-again-with-reds

The head of the government’s intelligence agency criticized as “insanity” the recent remarks by four presidential candidates expressing their intention to pursue peace negotiations with communist rebels.

National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (Nica) Director General Alex Paul Monteagudo said reviving the talks with the rebels would only fail as it did in the past.

With their stance to resume the talks, he said, Vice President Leni Robredo, Senators Panfilo Lacson and Manny Pacquiao and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso were just trying to “gain votes… [s]o that they would seem like statesmen.”

Monteagudo was reacting to remarks made by these candidates in broadcast journalist Jessica Soho’s “Presidential Interviews” which aired on GMA 7 on Saturday.

“Mr. Albert Einstein, the genius, said, ‘Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is insanity,’” Monteagudo said at Monday’s online press briefing by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac).

He added: “How many times have we had peace talks with the rebels? All administrations since 1986 held peace talks with the CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines)-NPA (New People’s Army)-National Democratic Front of the Philippines, speaking with the same persons.”

What's really insane is that NICA Chief Monteagudo did not mention any of the accomplishments of the AFP. He did not say that the defeat of the NPA is imminent therefore peace talks are impertinent. Does he not believe that sentiment is true? It seems the Palace does not believe the NPA will be defeated by the end of Duterte's term either. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1166338

Malacañang hopes the next administration will sustain the gains of the government against the communist insurgency, through the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

Executive Order 70 signed in December 2018 created the NTF-ELCAC that institutionalizes a whole-of-nation approach in obtaining exclusive and sustainable peace, giving the government an effective solution against communist terrorists.

"(We hope the next President, whoever that is, will continue the successful accomplishments of the) NTF-ELCAC," acting presidential spokesperson, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, said in a Palace briefing on Tuesday.

Again, there is no mention of the AFP's successes against the CPP-NPA. There is no hope that the insurgency will be over by June. It seems they think the NPA will still be operating after Duterte is gone. But who knows? Maybe the AFP will finally succeed in ending the insurgency within the next four months.

Did Cory Aquino Really Have Lunch with Tom Cruise in 1989?

Did Cory Aquino really have lunch with Tom Cruise when he was in the Philippines filming Born on the Fourth of July back in 1989? Why even ask? Because this event is used by Marcos revisionists to paint Marcos as a saint who wished to give 90% of his wealth to the Filipino people and Cory as an evil woman who spurned that offer. Let's take a look at this strange tale.

This story originates in former Vice President under Cory Aquino Salvador Laurel's book Neither Trumpets nor Drums. Laurel was summoned by Marcos to visit him in Hawaii on February 3-4 1989. During that visit Marcos had a confidential message he wanted given to President Aquino.

“Please tell Mrs. Aquino to stop sending her relatives to me," he continued. "They are proposing  so many things. I have already established a foundation and I am turning over 90% of all my worldly possessions to the Filipino people. Enrique Zobel has all the papers. He and the Papal Nuncio, Msgr. Torpigliani, will sit in the Board to see to it that 90% of all that I have are properly distributed to our people. That is much better than what Mrs' Aquino's relatives have been proposing. I am leaving only 10% for my family."

p. 108 

Upon his return to the Philippines Doy went to visit Cory in order to relay the message but she refused to see him. He notes that she "allotted an hour to Tom Cruise."

I hurried back to Manila to transmit Marcos' message to President Aquino. I asked for an appointment but Cory would not see me. Here I was, her own Vice President, asking only for three minutes of her time to convey a very important message from her predecessor, and she would not see me. I was told she was busy. Later I was told that she allotted an hour to Tom Cruise, the American movie actor.

p. 108

Laurel then wrote Cory a letter imploring her to receive Marcos' message.

"I hope you will find time to listen to the highly confidential message of Mr. Marcos considering its serious import and far-reaching consequences upon your administration and the nation as a whole"

Cory replied:

"I have since Friday, February 3rd, received a copy of the letter of Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. As to the highly confidential message from Ferdinand E. Marcos, I feel that in the light of your representation of its 'serious import and far-reaching consequences upon your (my) administration and the nation as a whole, such a message should be disclosed to the public rather than kept confidential. This is in accordance with my announced policy of utmost transparency in the management of the affairs of the country."

p. 108-109

He writes a reply hoping she will change her mind and receive the message directly from him but she refuses. He then assesses this situation calling her refusal to receive the message "her biggest mistake."

Cory's refusal to receive Marcos' message was perhaps her biggest mistake. Had she received the message openmindedly, and studied it carefully, she might have obtained enough money to pay off half of our foreign debt and only 20 percent of the budget would have to be set aside for debt service. The other 20 percent would have freed billions of pesos for infrastructure, roads, peace and order, education, etc.

p. 110

He then cites an unnamed commentator who had this to say about Cory's refusal to receive Marcos' message.

"With the decision of the Hawaii court that victims of the Marcos' martial law atrocities, brutalities and inhumanities are entitled to payment 

"How much would 90 percent of Marcos' money be? If he had squirreled away $10 billion, the top figure mentioned by those who speculated on Marcos' wealth, the government would have received $9 billion. 

"How much shoring up of a faltering government could have been done? Unless Marcos had specified as condition that the money he was returning would be for specific purposes like paying the foreign debt, it is possible that Cory would have channeled most of it to her favorite projects  like the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). She would probably not have turned the money to the treasury to be appropriated by the Congress. Perhaps, unless Marcos has specified the uses of his money, it might have been dissipated in other favorite projects of Cory.

"But if the $9 billion would have been utilized properly, the country would have been lifted from its status as a beggar nation. With wise planning and honest spending, the Philippines might have had a chance to become one of the tigers of Southeast Asia.

"There is nothing sadder than what might have been. It is even sadder than being the basket case of Asia-Pacific. To have had $9 billion on hand and squandered it on favorite projects, the tragedy would have been double. So, the way things actually turned out might have been better than becoming  suddenly a rich nation that did not know how to make its riches permanent. Under Cory, there would have been very little chance that matters would have materially improved.

"The biggest error of the Cory administration was to spurn Doy and the message he carried from Honolulu."

p. 111

Whoever wrote that commentary is a real piece of work. He starts off saying so much good could have been done had Cory received the message and the money from Marcos. Then he says Cory would have wasted it anyway so its probably better the money was not received. Then he finishes by saying her biggest error was to spurn Doy and his message and thus not receive the money. Pick a scenario please! Either Cory would have wasted the money or she would not have wasted the money. If it was her biggest mistake to not receive the message and money then that assumes she would not have wasted it. 

Of course these scenarios rest on the assumption that Marcos would actually have given 90% of his wealth or $9 billion to the Philippines. But did you know that there is more to the story? Imelda Marcos was dead set against the idea.

Anyway. Doy Laurel was approaching the core of his conversation with Ferdinand Marcos. The dying ex-president chose his words carefully: "I have decided to donate to the Philippine government and the Filipino people 90 percent of the Marcos wealth. We the Marcos family will get only 10 percent and no more. I want that to be very clear. I want you to communicate that to President Aquino. We will take care of the details later." Laurel was dumbfounded. The amount of wealth was not mentioned but the estimate at that time was about 10 to 15 billion US dollars. In any language – fantabulous! 

But right there and then in the hospital, Laurel realized the whole thing, the proffered donation, what seemed to be the last will of the dying ex-dictator, wouldn’t work. Imelda, according to Laurel, heard the whole conversation. And she told Doy as he left Marcos’ bed – this according to Doy – that they, the Marcoses, particularly she, Imelda, would only agree to 70 to 75 percent going to the government, while they would retain 25 to 30 percent. "Ten percent is out of the question," she said. Imelda held dominion and that was that. The empress dowager had spoken. 

https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2001/12/05/142497/doy-macoy-yorac-corner

Why did Laurel not include his exchange with Imelda in his book? Her refusal sheds more light on this situation. Knowing that Laurel knew this offer would not work reveals that there was nothing for Cory to refuse in the first place because Imelda would not have let it happen. So, why paint a picture of him pleading with Cory to a receive a message which he knew would ultimately be fruitless?

But did Marcos actually say he would give 90% of his wealth to the government? No. He did not say that. Here is his message:

I have already established a foundation and I am turning over 90% of all my worldly possessions to the Filipino people. Enrique Zobel has all the papers. He and the Papal Nuncio, Msgr. Torpigliani, will sit in the Board to see to it that 90% of all that I have are properly distributed to our people.

Marcos said he had ALREADY established a foundation and he said, "I AM TURNING OVER 90% OF ALL MY WORLDLY POSSESSIONS TO THE FILIPINO PEOPLE." There is no offer here. There is nothing contingent about his turning over 90% of his wealth. This is a pledge. Marcos said he had already set up a foundation to distribute his wealth.  The Papal Nuncio and Filipino businessman Erinque Zobel were appointed to the Board to oversee this distribution. There is nothing said about giving a one time lump sum to the government. From the sound of it the foundation would have distributed the money to the people directly. 

The real issue in this situation is not that Cory refused the message and thus the money. The real issue is that Marcos did not follow through on his promise to set up a foundation through which he would distribute his money directly to the Filipino people. Doy and the commentator are both wrong in their assessment of this event. Even Wikipedia gets this story wrong referring to Marcos' pledge as an offer.

During the meeting with Laurel, Marcos offered to return 90% of his ill-gotten wealth to the Filipino people in exchange for being buried back in the Philippines beside his mother, an offer also disclosed to Enrique Zobel. However, Marcos's offer was rebuffed by the Aquino government and by Imelda Marcos.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_Marcos#Death_and_burial

At least this article mentions Imelda's refusal to go along with her husband's plan. 

What happened to the foundation Marcos claimed he had already established? The roots of this pledge extend back to the end of 1969. On December 31, 1969 Marcos wrote in his diary that he had planned to set up a foundation to distribute all his worldly goods to the Filipino people.

https://philippinediaryproject.wordpress.com/1970/01/01/january-1-1970/

I have today given away by general instrument of transfer all my worldly possessions to the Filipino people through a foundation to be organized known as the Marcos Foundation. 

Moved by the strongest desire and the purest will to set the example of self-denial and self-sacrifice for all our people, I have today decided to give away all my worldly possessions so that they may serve the greater needs of the greater number of our people.

It is my wish that these properties will be used in advancing education, science, technology and the arts. 

This act I undertake of my own free will, knowing that my need of material possessions will, having always been a simple man, my needs will always be lesser that those of many of our people, who have given me the highest honor within their gift, an honor unshared by any one of my predecessors and not likely to be shared by any one else in the future no other Filipino leader.

Since about a year ago, I have asked my closest some of very my closest confidants to study the mechanics of this decision. Today studies have been completed, and a foundation will be formed to administer these properties and all funds that may be generated therefrom.

My wife, Imelda, is in agreement with this decision. Provisions will be made for my children, so that they shall be assured of satisfactory education and be prepared to meet their lifetime duties and endeavors. 

For the moment, my most sincere hope is that this humble act shall set the example and move to greater deeds of unselfishness and compassion, many of our countrymen whose position in society gives them a stronger duty to minister to the needs of our less fortunate brothers and countrymen.

It seems that he never did establish the foundation he had dreamt of in 1969 as it was Enrique Zobel who in 1989 suggested that he establish a foundation to distribute his wealth.

From Zobel's deposition before a Blue Ribbon Committee in Hawaii on October 27, 1999 we read the following about the genesis of this foundation:

THE  CHAIRMAN.  All right.  You also indicated in  the  same affidavit,   paragraph  10,  that you  suggested  to   him   the establishment  of a foundation for the interest of  the Filipino people. Can you tell this Committee what his  reaction to  that suggestion?

MR.  ZOBEL.    He said, that was an excellent idea  and,  in fact, he has--if I do this, would you please be the chairman.   I said,  Mr. President, if I am the chairman, I will be sued  right and  left  by the people in Manila for envy, so please why  don't you  choose  someone  Filipinos will not sue.  Then he  asked  me who?   I said, well, the Vatican.   So, he said, excellent  idea. Could you please arrange to talk to Papal  Nuncio in Manila,  who was Torpigliani then.

The foundation was ultimately not put into force.

THE  CHAIRMAN.  All right.   Now, let's pursue the  question of  the  establishment  of  a  foundation.   Can  you  tell  this Committee whether or not the foundation was, in fact, formed?

MR.  ZOBEL.   It was not formed.   The Papal Nuncio,  I  was able to talk to him through Father Alarcon who brought me to  his residence  in front of La Salle, and he went to Rome.   He  first came, talked to the President and the President made a confession with  him but he can't tell to the priest.  But he went  to  Rome and  he  got the foundation  but instead of the Vatican,  it  was Torpigliani, which was the--he had the title changed in Rome.  It should  be  the trust of the Vatican.  That was the  only  thing. Otherwise, everything was in order.

Zobel had set everything up with a lawyer.

THE CHAIRMAN.  It will have more weight. Now,  regarding  the formation of this foundation,  did  you have to employ the services of a lawyer?

MR.  ZOBEL.   Yes.   I  employed the services  of  Mr.  Mike Garcia, who is a lawyer in Honolulu.  In fact, he charged me  the bill because Marcos died so I have to pay the bill which is 4,000 dollar.  I have the receipt here.

Zobel then testified that Marcos was unable to sign any documents because the local doctor would not allow him to since he was not mentally competent. Two Filipino doctors were summoned to certify Marcos' lucidity but they were barred by the Bureau of Immigration from leaving the country.

THE CHAIRMAN.  All right.   Now, regarding your meeting with Vice  President Laurel, can you tell this Committee what was  the tenor of your conversation with him?

MR.  ZOBEL.   Yes.   There  were two  things--two  important things  came  about.  One was to send two doctors, I  forgot  the names,   and  I  have the record of their flight, everything was arranged.   To check if Marcos could really talk or not,  because the  doctor here said, he could not and so we could not establish the  foundation.    But  at the airport,  then  health  secretary Bengzon stopped them at Immigration, didn't allow them to  board, upon orders of Cory.

Zobel testified that Vice President Laurel told him that the two doctors summoned to certify Marcos' lucidity to sign the documents establishing the foundation were prevented from leaving the country on the orders of Cory. 

Why does Salvador Laurel not mention this fact in his book Neither Trumpets nor Drums? He mentions that Marcos said he set up a foundation but he neglects to tell us that he was not lucid enough to actually sign any legal documents and needed two Filipino doctors to give the ok and that they were prevented from leaving the country on orders of Cory Aquino. Why? That is very pertinent information which makes his analysis that Cory's biggest mistake was her refusal to receive Marcos' message just plain wrong. By February 1989 Marcos was in no state to be setting up a foundation or making any decision about what to do with his wealth. It also raises the question of why these doctors were prevented from leaving. Did Cory know that they were going to certify Marcos as being lucid so he could sign documents establishing a foundation? But that would mean she knew the content of Marcos' secret message before Laurel returned from Hawaii and asked for an audience. Something is missing here.

The deposition continues: 

SEN.  FLAVIER.  I see.   In sum, the foundation never really got born, so to speak?

MR. ZOBEL.   Because the doctors  did not allow him to sign. But  you see that foundation of his gold was revocable until  the government had agreed on the two conditions, that would  be  come automatically irrevocable.

SEN.  FLAVIER.    I see. And so it was that illness  that prevented the final signing of the foundation papers?

MR.  ZOBEL.    No.   His health, the local doctor would  not certify....They would certify that he was capable of  knowing  he was signing.

SEN.  FLAVIER.   I see. It was the certification that he was lucid and able to sign that document?

MR. ZOBEL.  Correct.

SEN.  FLAVIER.  Those two doctors I happened to  know,  then Dr. Sawit  and Dr. Alano were notallowed to come?

MR.  ZOBEL.   Were not allowed to leave Manila Airport  when they had the tickets on hand.

SEN. FLAVIER.  Did you get an inkling of why?

MR.  ZOBEL.    Well, according to Doy, he told me  that  the doctors were stopped by an order to Immigration from Secretary of Health which was Bengzon.   Bengzon ba? 

SEN. FLAVIER.  Yes.

MR.  ZOBEL.   Bengzon.  That's what the Vice President told me.

Zobel says that the foundation was revocable until the two conditions, being buried in the Philippines and his family protected from government prosecution, were met which gives weight to this being an offer and not a mere pledge. But coupled with Marcos' exact words to Doy Laurel and his desire in 1969 to set up a foundation to transfer his wealth to the Filipino people it would seem that it was more of a pledge than an offer. If Marcos had signed the documents it would be hard to imagine him suddenly revoking the whole thing because two conditions were not met. At least if he were serious about helping out his countrymen it would seem unlikely he would revoke the foundation. 

Here is how the foundation would have worked:

THE CHAIRMAN.    All right.  I think we can resume.Mr.  Zobel,  will  you  kindly tell this  Committee  if  you remember the terms of  that--the term of sharing of the wealth of Mr. Marcos as put into the foundation agreement?

MR. ZOBEL. It's in the Vatican trust.  But if I recall right, 10 percent would go to the Marcos family, the wife and children. 

THE CHAIRMAN. Ten percent. 

MR.  ZOBEL. Ten percent would go to the Vatican  for  the poor people and in the missions. 

THE CHAIRMAN.   And in the... 

MR.  ZOBEL.   In the missions for the Vatican to dispose of. One percent to the people in Hawaii that were loyal to him. And then I don't know. But the rest would go to the foundation to be used specifically or schools, hospitals and infrastructure and agriculture.

This set-up would leave only 79% for the Filipino people which is less than the amount Marcos promised to Laurel. Note that none of that money is going to the government coffers generally but is specified to be used in certain sectors. It is not clear that the money would even be distributed through government agencies though that is likely.

Even if Cory had agreed to what Marcos had planned the foundation would never have been a reality. In the first place Marcos was in no state to legally consent to such a plan as he was bedridden in the ICU and he could not even talk due to a tracheotomy. Local doctors would not approve of his signing any legal documents so Zobel was reduced to hiring two Filipino doctors travel to Hawaii so they could clear Marcos. Even if they had been allowed to travel by the BI their decision to clear Marcos as being lucid would have been highly unethical and likely have been challenged successfully in court if anyone cared to do so. Second of all Imelda was dead set against this idea as she told Doy Laurel she wanted to keep 30% of the wealth. With these very real factors considered (Marcos' incapacity due to poor health and Imelda's resistance) one cannot blame Cory Aquino for keeping Marcos from distributing his wealth to the Filipino people by "rejecting his offer." Marcos had ample time to set up the foundation he had first proposed back in 1969. Marcos would remain in the ICU until his death on September 28th, 1989. 

These facts do not even take into account the question of just how much wealth Marcos had and how much of it was his lawfully. If Zobel's testimony is to be believed Marcos had amassed much more than $10 billion dollars.

THE  CHAIRMAN.  So,  are you telling  the  Committee,  Mr. Zobel,  that  there is basis for this figure  of  the  amount  of Marcos wealth running to several billions of U.S. dollars?

MR.  ZOBEL.  Yes. I would take gold, assets and  dollars over  all comments  even  bank certificates,  I  would  say 100 billion.

That is Zobel's estimate of the value of Marcos' fortune. Truly a mind-boggling sum in every way.

Several foundations were set-up by Marcos but none of them were for the purpose of transferring his wealth to the Filipino people. They were all used to hide his assets. These include the Xandy Foundation, the Trinidad Foundation, the Azizo Foundation, the Rosayls Foundation, the Charis Foundation, and the Rayby Foundation. See more at this link.

But what about Tom Cruise? Did Cory meet him? From Doy's account it would appear she met with him for an hour. The South China Morning Post greatly expands on this story.

Actually, Doy was the last Filipino politician to talk to Marcos before he died in Hawaii. Marcos gave him a final message to deliver to his nemesis, Cory Aquino, but when Doy arrived at Malacanang Palace to see Cory he was told that she was unable to see him because of a pressing engagement (which turned out to be lunch with Hollywood star Tom Cruise).

https://www.scmp.com/article/43566/coy-doy-stays-quiet-reasons-visit

Lunch with Tom Cruise sounds pretty awesome. But did it really happen? No. The appointed visit was scheduled a few days before Doy Laurel returned from Hawaii. Tom was late and Cory did not want to wait around for him.

https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/01/31/Quirks-in-the-News/6774602226000/

Despite pleas from her daughter to wait for a 'chance of a lifetime' meeting with actor Tom Cruise, President Corazon Aquino went home Monday when the Hollywood star failed to appear on time.

'Hey, Kris, I waited for them.

Just tell them I waited,' Aquino told her daughter before departing the presidential palace. Aquino is known for her punctuality -- a trait uncommon among Filipinos.

'Please mom, it's a chance of a lifetime,' said Kris, an aspiring actress who will turn 18on Valentine's Day.

Presidential palace aides said Aquino was as excited as her daughter in meeting Cruise.

Kris Aquino had invited Cruise to the presidential palace before his departure for the United States after filming the Vietnam War film 'Fourth of July' in the Philippines.

Cruise, accompanied by his wife, Mimi Rogers, strolled into the palace wearing a black air force cap, printed polo shirt over blue denims and rubber shoes long after the president had left.

'I am sorry you missed my mom,' said Kris to Cruise.

A later article says Cruise was 5 minutes late so Cory left.

How do we reconcile this with Doy's account? It's not very hard. Doy was told by someone else that Cory had allotted an hour to meet with Tom Cruise. He never says Cory actually met with Tom Cruise. But the way the book is written it appears that Cory would not meet with Doy BECAUSE she was meeting with Tom Cruise. That is exactly how the SCMP frames the event. In fact they even expand the narrative calling it a lunch. Only Kris Aquino knows for sure what happened but I do not have the privilege of being able to ask her. I bet she has pictures.