Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Cock Fighting is Easy Money

Seriously take a look at all the money you could win all for doing nothing but pitting one chicken against another:


Now let's say you win all ten spots. That would be sweet and you'd be getting 65,000 pesos. Pretty good right?

http://www.sabong.net.ph/forum/showthread.php?75457-Cost-in-raising-Gamefarm-in-PI

This guy estimates that it costs 47,500 pesos per month to raise 250 roosters.  That's 570,000 pesos per year.  Which is $11,400 at todays exchange rate.  This estimate is four years old so the cost has probably risen.  Also the less cocks you raise the less money it will cost.

570,000 per year with a one time win of 65,000 pesos is hardly a profit. In fact it's still a loss.  But if you keep at it who knows?  Your cocks will probably become better fighters and you can enter more profitable tournaments.  

You might even make it to the BIG TIME!

World Slasher Cup is also known as the "Olympics of Cockfighting"
The cup is the high end of global cockfighting. To enter a single bird in the competition costs $1,750, more than half a year’s salary for the average Filipino.Wealthy owners often have more than just the money; they have dedicated farms and full-time trainers caring for hundreds of fowl that could sell for well over $1,000 apiece. Vaccines, antibiotics, vitamins, and supplements are all part of the modern game fowl’s life. Traditional methods of revving up your bird for a fight, like slipping cayenne up its anus, have given way to pricey steroids and other powerful drugs.  
http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2014/12/cockfighting_and_chicken_history_the_world_slasher_cup_in_the_philippines.html
With all that potentially easy money no wonder there is a rooster in every yard and tied to every pole. Who would want to miss out on the chance of being able to tell the story of how you rose up through the ranks and won a whole lot of money at the "Olympics of Cockfighting?" 
There are, of course, other stories. There is the young villager who spent all his hard-earned money saved from an overseas job, and the children who suffer from malnutrition while their father’s roosters live a well-fed life. For the millions packed into Manila’s sprawling slums, cockfighting offers a fast way up the socioeconomic ladder or a quick tumble into indigence. And while the birds are famously pampered outside the ring, most end up dead inside it.
Of course, like the Highlander, there can be only one and that one will probably not be you.  So that is 570,000 pesos (or less depending on how many birds you raise) that could feed your family, buy medicine, procure dental care, buy clothes and slippers, pay for schooling, and pay the bills all flushed right down the toilet. 

Or rather, stuffed down some cock's throat.

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Martial Law: "I Don't Need Martial Law"

President Rodrigo Duterte is an absolute madman.  This week he procured 3,000 pistols for the AFP and held an elaborate handing over ceremony. But in a surprise twist he told the soldiers to use the pistols to kill themselves rather than get captured.
Don’t get captured alive. 
President Rodrigo Duterte gave this advice to soldiers on Tuesday as he turned over 3,000 .45 cal. M1911 pistols to the military. 
“I will give you all guns with two magazines in reserve and one deployed. One of those magazines is for you. The other two are for the enemy,” Mr. Duterte said during a ceremony in Malacañang. 
“Don’t surrender while still alive. If you’re cornered, all you have to do is to raise your right hand with a [dirty finger] sign and put the gun in your mouth,” he said, drawing laughter from the soldiers present.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/915078/duterte-to-troops-dont-get-captured-alive
What an inspirational leader. Just the kind of man the Philippines needs during this time of crisis.

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/07/23/1720699/congress-extends-martial-law-until-december-31
While the Supreme Court took a week to hear arguments and give a decision on the validity of martial law the Congress took one session and only 8 hours to decide a 5 month extension was necessary.  What should have been a debate that lasted a few days where testimony was heard from all sides took only one day. That the Congress does not think a serious debate is in order before deciding on this important issue is appalling. Does the constitution allow for an extension beyond 60 days? That is one of the many issues that should have been discussed all week but is now likely to be decided by the Supreme Court again.
http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/22/17/minority-lawmakers-to-file-petition-before-sc-questioning-martial-law-extension
Among the grounds the four lawmakers intend to cite in their petition are: the insufficient factual basis for extension, that the extension should not be more than 60 days, and that the coverage cannot be inferred to the whole of Mindanao.
Who cares though because a 5 month extension is what Duterte wanted and his party, which is now being trained to govern in the ideology of the Communist Party of China, is the majority. While some lawmakers voted in favour whole heartedly and others reservedly there was one lawmaker who suggested that martial law should be extended nationwide.

http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/22/17/tausug-lawmaker-calls-for-nationwide-martial-law
"Kusug Tausug Party-list suggests that this august body extend martial law not just in Mindanao but all throughout the entire country," Tan said, beaming as she cast her vote. 
Tan's remark earned both laughter and applause from the legislative body that convened jointly to vote on Duterte's request to extend his martial law declaration and suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus for 150 more days.
HAHAHAHA! Oh, it's so funny. Martial law nationwide! JOKE LANG!  Look how everyone is smiling and laughing in that picture. Ah, so funny! After a few shots of Tanduay I bet Shernee Abubakar Tan is a real laugh riot. The idea of nationwide martial law is funny because it will never happen. It's like suggesting a billionaire real estate mogul turned reality star would ever be president of the USA. 
http://www.rappler.com/nation/176362-no-plan-nationwide-martial-law-lorenzana
On what basis can Lorezna even say this?  During the campaign Duterte said he would not declare martial law because there is no more rebellion.  But what happened in May?  He declared martial law because of a rebellion. And he said he would extend it to Luzon and the Visayas if he saw the need. Never say never when it comes to Duterte.  He has allocated all authority to himself.  In January Duterte said, I will declare martial law if I want to and nobody can stop me.” 

Despite the Defense Secretary's assertion that martial law will never be extended nationwide the situation in the Philippines is shaping up for that very event to happen. Will Congress be laughing then?
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/618938/duterte-to-cpp-no-more-talk-let-us-fight/story/
In response to martial law the NPA is ramping up attacks across the country. Attacks in the Visayas and other places could well be the catalyst that sparks nationwide martial law.  The NPA is not limited to Mindanao. Now that the phoney peace talks have finally collapsed Duterte is calling for all out war against the NPA. He is even using his sexy propagandist, Mocha Uson, to the get people prepared.


All out war with the NPA would mean nationwide martial law and nationwide war. But HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! JOKE LANG!!! Because there is no chance nationwide martial law will EVER happen.

Equally funny hahaha is Duterte's former running mate Cayetano saying he supports an indefinite extension of martial law in Mindanao for the very same unconstitutional reason of developing infrastructure as does Speaker of the House Alvarez when the Duterte administration distanced itself from Alvarez for making those remarks.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/915523/cayetano-supports-martial-law-extension-to-rehabilitate-mindanao
Development and rehabilitation in Mindanao, he said, would be hampered unless the peace and order problem is addressed first. 
“Yung Mindanao railway system, how would the Muslims in Mindanao feel if kumpletuhin mo yun ng wala sila di ba. So kailangan nating ayusin yun bago mag-develop ang Mindanao (We need to address those problems first before we develop Mindanao),” Cayetano, who became Duterte’s running mate in the 2016 elections, further said 
“The length is speculative. Ayaw naman ni Presidente sabihin na 60 days tapos hindi (pala) tapos. So parang it’s just so logical, bigyan muna kami hanggang end of the year (The President would not want just 60days and eventually it still lacks the time to finish it. It is just logical that we give it until the end of the year),” Cayetano added. 
Cayetano noted that the country was “under threat,” citing the ongoing crisis in Marawi City in Lanao del Sur that prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to declare martial law in the entire region of Mindanao last May 23. 
“In fact, many of the ambassadors have been telling me, they’ve been worried for the last 10 years that people are coming in, not the fighters but yung nagra-radicalize, yung nagpa-plan are here and they pointed to areas.”
Notice how he throws in so casually that the country is under threat.  He is not so subtly giving hints that nationwide martial law is coming.  He should know. He is part of Duterte's inner circle.

And what about Alvarez?  How is he holding up now that martial law has only been extended for 5 months instead of 5 years?

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/916220/speaker-alvarez-sad-martial-law-not-extended-for-5-more-years
Alvarez said there would be no need for Congress to monitor the human rights situation in Mindanao under martial law, especially with the media constantly documenting the situation on the ground. 
Asked on the adverse impact of the martial rule on the economy, particularly tourism in Mindanao, Alvarez said Filipinos would have to make sacrifices.
Alvarez is truly a wonder to behold. How does he keep forgetting the party line? Doesn't he know that the Duterte administration hates the press and considers media reports nothing but unreliable hearsay? The media has reported human rights abuses already and AFP Chief Eduardo Año has dismissed those reports as baseless. Why is he talking about the human rights situation at all when Cayetano has assured everyone that there are no abuses under martial law? Doesn't he know that the Duterte administration has said martial law will cause no negative impact on tourism or the economy? There are no sacrifices to be made because everything will stay the same.  In fact business leaders in Mindanao are confident that martial law will boost investor confidence! Martial law, they say, is great for the economy and tourism because it ensures a peaceful climate for both tourists and investors. Who doesn't want to go on holiday to an island with armed military forces patrolling the streets?  You are guaranteed to not be robbed, raped, murdered, or kidnapped and subsequently beheaded by Muslim terrorists. It's more fun (and much safer) in the Philippines.

http://www.rappler.com/nation/170876-tourism-trade-chiefs-downplay-martial-law
Never one to be outdone the funniest hahaha moment comes from the Comic-in-Chief himself, President Duterte. The Commission on Human Rights, Duterte's mortal foe, issued a statement saying that a martial law extension is not necessary to handle the crisis in Marawi and Mindanao.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/916172/chr-marawi-crisis-can-be-addressed-without-martial-law-extension
“The government has the full capacity and ability to address any extremist threat and lawless violence within established powers and authorities of our security forces and chain of command, without the necessity of further exercising the martial law powers,” the CHR Public Afairs Office, headed by lawyer Jacqueline de Guia, said in a statement issued on Saturday. 
The CHR said it had confidence that the military could “effectively quell terrorism” spread by Islamic State-inspired armed groups in Marawi City and “restore law and order in the whole of Mindanao even without martial law.”
And Duterte agreed!
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/916083/duterte-i-can-operate-with-or-without-martial-law
The President said he could proceed with his administration’s fight against enemies of the state even without a martial law. 
“Ako, I can operate with or without martial law. So, I have to do the — Sabi ko, I’ll just have to do my duty. It’s in my oath of office. I don’t need martial law,” he said.
HAHAHAHAHA!! Joke lang! What a funny guy. He doesn't need martial law at all. That's why he asked for an extension until December 31st. It's sarcasm just like his latest rape jokes.

Maybe he does not need martial law.  But now that he has 5 more months of it he will be taking his sweet time in the fight to secure Marawi.  From "This will be over in about 3 more days," to:

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/916250/president-tells-military-wait-dont-rush-things
“I said we have to wait it out. I said do not attack. You can fire shots, but if you launch an assault, they’re going to behead people there,” the President said. 
The lives of the hostages are equally important, Mr. Duterte added. “It’s not important to me if they’re Moro, Christian or Vietnamese. (What’s) important is we do not want to kill people.” 
It was the government’s “moral duty” to make sure the hostages were alive, even if the war drags on for a year, Mr. Duterte said. 
“So, even if it’s expensive … if you see someone running, you can open fire. But no assault. That’s 300 lives. If you have to wait there for one year, let us wait for one year,” the President said. 
The military should also allow food to reach the hostages. “Not bullets. Only food,” Mr. Duterte said. “It’s our moral duty to see to it that they live and that they are fed,” he added.
The government's moral duty?  Moral duty??  When did the man whose constant refrain to criminals has been, "I will kill you," and who has consistently berated human rights organisations for questioning his policies become a moralist and a humanitarian??

They were so eager to get this situation over with at first. How many deadlines did the AFP set and miss all the while remaining confident that victory was only a few days away? And now Duterte is worried about the safety of hostages and says take your time even if it means a whole year? Why should anyone believe he honestly cares about the safety of hostages when he told the AFP, "Do not hesitate to kill just because there are civilians there." The longer the siege in Marawi lasts the more critical the situation will become. And this is exactly what Duterte wants. He is slowing down the war so that the crisis will build to a breaking point and then martial law will be called for nationwide. He is waiting for the NPA or Abu Sayyaf or MILF or MNLF or BIFF or escaped and regrouped Maute fighters to launch a deadly and audacious attack which will then be his justification to declare nationwide martial law.

Now that Duterte has been given 5 more months of martial law we will see the real Duterte unleashed. There is nothing to hold him back.  There is nothing to prevent him from implementing the bloody dictatorship he said he would establish if he was president. He said he would do it and anyone who does not believe him is a fool.

http://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2016/110679-duterte-contradictions-dictatorship
“It’s going to be a dictatorship,” he added. “It’s the police and the military who will be the backbone. If they agree with you – if the right-thinking policemen and military men agree with you – then after 6 years, there will be a new set-up: maybe a federal type, less corruption, and a fresh air for the next generation.” 
“I’m telling the Filipino people, huwag ako. It’s going to be bloody,” he said. “Because I will not sit there as President and just like any other regime, sabihin ko, iyan lang ang kaya ko … pero pag nilagay ninyo ako, do not fuck with me.”

Sunday, July 23, 2017

Booksale


Booksale is one of the more enjoyable places to go in Philippines.  Every mall has one. This store is sells used books of all kinds.  It can be a real treat to walk in and find something unexpected.  Here are a few gems I have found.




The gold book is an out-of-print Book of Mormon with a gold foil cover replica of the golden plates Joseph Smith translated the basis of the Book of Mormon.  

Prices are usually between 130 - 25 pesos.  A real deal especially if you find something out of the ordinary.

Digging through the junk to find the treasure.  Now that's living in the Philippines.

Saturday, July 22, 2017

Not(chos) Again!

The mall across town has an area where people can sell their homemade snacks and items.  I am not sure how this works and there does not seem to be any sort of oversight as far as cleanliness goes. Literally people bake their snacks at home and bring them to the mall to sell.  Some of them actually do cook and prepare the food at their table.  Today there was a lady selling nachos.  They looked good so I bought a large order to take home.  

Topped with meat, cheese, diced cumbers and tomatoes

Much better than Nachos Galore from Zark's Burgers.  Everything was crunchy and tasty.

Right next to the lady selling nachos was a group selling popcorn chicken.  So I bought a large order to go with the nachos. Covered in honey sriracha sauce. Very delicious.


Take a look at their logos. That's the Lion King on the top of the table and C-3PO and R2D2 on the banner.  Just a little borrowing from Disney to sell their products. This is a common practice in the Philippines and other third world nations. Take a popular brand logo and turn it on its head. No one will know and it's all in good fun no harm done. Right?

Take this restaurant for example:

Driveway...Eat Fresh!
Do they have 5 dollar foot longs or are they selling regular Filipino food like barbecue pork and chicken??  

And yes there are several Subway locations in the Philippines.  

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Duterte the Communist

Remember when during the presidential campaign Duterte was accused of wanting to impose martial law? He denied it.  
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/04/24/1576491/duterte-says-no-martial-law
The tough-talking mayor, however, said that martial law is not possible under his presidency since the rebellion is no longer extensive.
We all know how this turned out. Martial Law was declared in Mindanao on May 23, 2017 because of a "rebellion."

Do you remember during the presidential campaign when Duterte was accused of being a communist? He also denied that.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/779984/duterte-im-a-socialist-not-a-communist-last-card
Care to guess how this turned out?

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/158865/pdp-laban-learn-ideology-communist-party-china
President Rodrigo Duterte’s political party is enlisting the help of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to train its members. 
The ruling Partido Demokratiko ng Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) is in talks with CPC for a partnership, including having members of Mr. Duterte’s party learn the ways and ideology of China’s sole governing party.
Not content with selling the country to China via debt bondage through borrowing loans to fund the disastrous economic program known as Dutertenomics, the party of Duterte is now wanting its members to be trained in the totalitarian communist ideology of China so they can better govern the Philippines. Imagine the Philippines adopting Communist Chinese ideology and governing practices.

One party rule.

No free speech.

One child policy.

No freedom of religion.

What is REALLY happening in Malacañang?  What is really going on in Duterte's head?  He said his presidency would be a bloody dictatorship.  Now that martial law is in place and ready to be extended nationwide he needs the bureaucratic and ideological structures in place to govern the way he wants.

What else has he said that we should all be concerned about?  Where is this leading?


http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/716664/duterte-eyes-revolutionary-government

Should he win the presidency in May 2016, the tough-talking Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte wants to set up a revolutionary government to pave the way for federalism. 
“I have to stop criminality and corruption. I have to fix this government. I won’t do it if you want to place me there with the solemn pledge to stick to the rules,” he said. 
“What will I do with power? For what. If I become the President, I want to get out with a new bureaucracy, a new government,” the 70-year-old Duterte said. 
“I will close Congress. Do you know why? I will use the money to improve the (performance of) guys in government,” he said, noting that with his plans, under the present system, he would be constantly threatened with impeachment. 
Duterte said that “only a (President Ferdinand) Marcos could change the system.” He, however, qualified his statement, saying even the late President Cory Aquino had to shut down Congress. 
“In my second year, I will call a constitutional convention (Con-con) [to draft a Constitution]. I will guarantee you that there will be no compromises,” he said.

Duterte has now entered on his second year.  So far he has done many of the things he said he would.  Why should we doubt him on this promise?

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Zark's Nachos Galore Are Not so Galore-ious

I was at the mall the other day paying my internet bill and doing a little shopping when I happened to walk past Zark's Burgers. They were advertising a new taco burger which sounded interesting. But then I saw they had nachos too.  So I ordered some nachos. Nachos Galore they were labelled on the menu. Take out.  

Just look at these delicious nachos!

https://www.facebook.com/ZarksBurgersPH/photos/a.10150147684117216.339806.125052717215/10155404048832216/?type=3&theater
Those are some really tasty looking nachos! Real corn nacho chips and not fried siomai wrappers cut into triangles. Real nachos with real nacho toppings. No mayonnaise or cabbage or any of that junk that they foul up their nachos with in the Philippines. Filipino nachos and tacos are disgusting. They literally use ketchup, mayonnaise, and cabbage as toppings!! Yuck!

I was so excited to get home and eat some delicious nachos for lunch. I hurriedly opened the bag as soon as I got home.


What the heck is this?  Where are the nachos?  There is a foil bag and sauce cups.  This does not look like Nachos Galore to me.




You have got to be kidding me. Seriously what the heck!? I ordered Nachos Galore and this is most definitely not Nachos Galore. This is just a pile of nachos with some dipping sauces. Nachos aren't for dipping! 

This does not look anything like the picture on Zark's menu or on their Facebook page. This is just sad. Why didn't they put the nachos in a little cardboard tray and pour all the sauces over them?  And why is the sour cream basically empty??

This looks like Mojos Supreme from Shaky's Pizza rather than Nachos Galore from Zark's Burgers.


I have ordered take out burgers from Zark's before and guess what??  They didn't give me an empty bun, a meat patty, and toppings in separate containers. They gave me a fully put together burger. I didn't have to construct my own burger. So why couldn't they put the nachos together?  What is so hard about that?

Very disappointing.

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Martial Law: The Theatre of War

Speaker of the House Alvarez has been causing quite the commotion by telling the press that he backs a 5 year plan of martial law in Mindanao in order to fast track infrastructure projects and to finally put an end to terrorism in the region and that he will be pushing for said plan in Congress. It seems as if the Duterte administration is not so keen on that plan.

At least publicly the Duterte administration is against a 5 year extension of martial law. Alvarez had better watch his back. He is opening his mouth and letting all the secrets spill out. 5 years of martial law to fast track infrastructure projects! We all know Duterte would not be adverse to such a reality. But to have it spoken from the lips of this despicable man to a public totally unprepared for what is coming?  It's too much. It's too revelatory. Alvarez does not know how to play the game of politics.

The Senate minority leader also made a statement distancing the Senate from Alvarez's ambitious plan to extend martial law for 5 years.


“Theoretically Congress can approve five years but...I don’t think any senator in his right mind will agree to five years,” he added. 
Drilon said the House Speaker’s proposal contradicts President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement on Tuesday that he only needs 10 to 15 more days to end the crisis in Marawi City.
Drilion is not thinking ahead at all. What happens after the crisis in Marawi ends? The AFP admitted almost 300 Maute Group members were able to get away. Abu Sayyaf, NPA, BIFF, MNLF, and MILF are all still very active and pose a threat to the area. You free Marawi and then what? Maybe right now no Senator in his right mind would agree to 5 years of martial law but then again no US Senator in his right mind would have approved the PATRIOT Act before 9/11.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/913070/duterte-marawi-siege-may-end-soon-but-is-threat-will-persist
Despite Malacañang's public remarks distancing the Duterte administration from Alvarez's plans Duterte recognises the threat posed by ISIS is very real.  He knows the whole of Mindanao is apt to blow at any moment. He also knows that this poses a threat to all the infrastructure projects being financed by the Chinese. Duterte has made no secret of his desire to use martial law to end the problems in the Philippines. He has made no secret that his presidency will be a bloody dictatorship. But people have short memories and he can't very well have Filipinos thinking he really does want to extend martial law for 5 years over the entire country. They love him too much. They also love martial law.  But not for the whole country.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/913472/pinoys-back-martial-law-in-mindanao-but-not-elsewhere
Not without the right cause anyway. And with all the discontented terrorist groups in Mindanao the cause is just waiting to happen.

http://www.msn.com/en-ph/news/national/npa-planning-to-attack-davao-before-sona-–-pnp-chief/ar-BBEzihM
Unlike Año, Bato acknowledged the threat posed by Abu Sayyaf in Bohol. He also admitted that the government had prior knowledge of the Marawi attack. He seems to be reliable. Surely if the NPA, whom Duterte is holding peace talks with at this very moment, attacks Davao that would generate even more support for martial law in Mindanao and the entire country since the NPA is a group that is nationwide. This is the kind of thing Drillion is simply not taking into consideration. This is exactly the sort of event which would cause a Senator to back 5 years of martial law. One day you are a peacenik who values freedom and the next day you are screeching war hawk who wants to put restrictions on freedom in the name of securing peace. This is what happened on December 7th, 1941 and on September 11th, 2001.

http://www.philstar.com/nation/2017/07/16/1720146/experts-worry-marawi-siege-can-negatively-affect-new-bbl
Let's not forget about the BBL. If the BBL does go into effect that means a portion of Mindanao will become a de facto Islamic State and the Philippines can expect more terrorism throughout the country which means more martial law. But not to fear. Filipinos can absolutely trust government forces if martial law extends.
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/07/11/1718563/lorenzana-filipinos-can-trust-govt-forces-if-martial-law-extends
"They can trust their Armed Forces to protect them and advance the people's best interest," Lorenzana said in a statement. 
This statement comes after the remarks of House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez that he wants to extend the declaration until 2022.
So they distance themselves from Alvarez's crazy plan but then tell the public that if said crazy plan happens it will be ok because they can trust the AFP to keep them safe.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/617839/2-soldiers-killed-11-hurt-in-another-marawi-friendly-fire-incident/story/
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/913466/afp-how-do-you-recover-p105m-from-dead-pensioners
Not only has the AFP allowed nearly 300 Maute soldiers to escape Marawi but they continue to have deadly friendy fire incidents and somehow the AFP is missing P105 million which was wrongfully paid out to dead beneficiaries. And that is from an initial amount of P232 million!  The AFP blames an "ineffective monitoring system" but who knows if that is the case since plunder and graft are fairly common in the Philippines. That someone was skimming off the top is not unlikely. On top of all that it should never be forgotten that in April 2017 AFP Chief Eduardo Año declared he saw no threat in Bohol despite the fact that the AFP was monitoring Abu Sayyaf as they sailed to Bohol to look for potential victims to kidnap. The AFP has proven time and again they are not very adept but are rather inept when it comes to keeping the people safe.

All that money could have been used to buy weapons but now its gone.  Thankfully the Chinese continue to step in and fill the gap.

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/158759/duterte-more-arms-coming-from-china-but-no-military-alliance
For some reason Duterte thinks Russia will also offer assistance but so far they have not.

“Expect Russia to help us in due time. China has sent it. There’ll be another shipment of arms on September,” Duterte said.
Could it be that Putin does not care at all about Duterte?  Could it be that he knows Duterte lied to his face when he said the Americans cancelled an arms deal and then asked to borrow some money to buy arms when in fact it was Duterte who cancelled the arms deal?  Does Duterte think Putin does not know he lied to his face?  And why is China going to ship more arms in September?? I thought martial law was going to be over as soon as Marawi is cleared which will happened any day now. Duterte is pretty much giving away his plan of extending martial law. 

The theatre of war. Who hasn't heard that term?  It simply means the area where the war is actually taking place. But in the Philippines it means so much more. Not content with pushing for 5 more years of martial law House Speaker Alvarez decided to up the ante and channel his best Crazy Jack Nicholson for the public by threatening to tear any order from the Supreme Court telling Congress to convene to discuss the validity of martial law. Not everyone enjoyed his performance though.
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/07/15/1719823/alvarez-threat-tear-sc-order-unstatesmanlike-says-ex-solon
Everyone's a critic! She just can't handle the truth.

Even the City of Marawi is giving it's own special performance.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/912746/marawi-city-hall-reopens-for-business
Gandamra said City Hall would be open for business only on Mondays and Wednesdays. 
“Despite the threat, we have to operate even on a limited basis. It’s not every day but as much as possible, we will be holding office Mondays and Wednesdays so that we can make resolutions in support to our humanitarian efforts,” he said.
Sadly, Marawi City Hall's performance is only being played twice a week but surely as the days go by they will be adding new dates and times.

Probably the greatest performance of the Marawi theater belongs to the comedic duo of Duterte and the AFP. Kind of like Abbot and Costello meet the Wolfman only the Wolfman happens to be ISIS. Who is funding Maute. That's what I want to know! It is a little confusing at times to tell who is the funny man and who is the straight man since both Duterte and the AFP switch roles often.

Duterte declares martial law and sends in the troops but the news that follows is so disheartening that he disappears for almost a week and has to watch cartoons to get over his sadness. After emerging from his cocoon the public is treated last week to pictures of COOLEST PRESIDENT wearing cammo and being surrounded by AFP leadership while taking a tour of some area which wasn't Marawi since he was not able to visit Marawi due to bad weather and fear of ISIS machine guns.
http://www.newsweek.com/duterte-blames-fears-isis-machine-guns-and-bad-weather-failure-visit-marawi-635124
Is this guy for real? I thought Duterte was some kind of badass who is always packing heat and is ready to shoot a terrorist on sight. Fear of machine guns and bad weather is not stopping the AFP from assaulting the city. Nor is it stopping the many journalists who are camped out in the area. Duterte claims as mayor he rode around on a motorcycle looking for criminals to kill so as to set an example for others. Where is his leading by example now? Why did he have to go into Marawi on a plane?  Why not land farther away and take an overland convoy if he is so dead set on visiting Marawi before the fighting is over? Because he is giving the performance of his life. With the AFP assisting. And the public is eating it up!  This time it looks like he got a little stage fright. Somebody ought to tell him to get out there and break a leg because the show must go on.

Why does Duterte need to visit Marawi in the first place?  How will his presence help the AFP?  When Duterte arrives will the troops suddenly have all the high tech modern equipment they lack?  Does he think just the sight of him will inspire confidence in the AFP? When Duterte shows up will the last remaining terrorists throw down their guns and surrender to him? I reckon if Churchill had showed up at Normandy after the beach was stormed he would have been told to go back home and leave it to the Army. This is clearly all theatre. Pictures of Duterte in the battle zone talking to the troops, attending to the wounded, inspecting the rubble, maybe even staring down a captured Maute terrorist and looking him straight in the eye mano y mano and asking, "Why do you want to destroy my country?" would be the biggest propaganda win for this administration. Those pictures would cement Duterte's reputation as a tough leader with a soft heart and the fact that he is a ruthless admitted killer who has said his presidency would be a bloody dictatorship and who is selling out the Philippines to China via debt bondage would vanish down the memory hole. Actually all those facts appear to have already vanished down the memory hole.

Several times the AFP has told the public that the Marawi siege would be ending within only a few days. Independence Day, June 12th. The one year anniversary of Duterte's ascension to the presidency, June 30th. Each self-imposed deadline hilariously come and gone.

Now there is another big day coming. July 24th is the day of Duterte's second State of the Nation address and one which will encompass his first term as president. The SONA is a Big Deal and Duterte needs to be looking good. Naturally the AFP are under pressure to reel it in, kill the remaining terrorists, and show to the Philippines that martial law is not so bad after all and that the AFP is up to the task of handling ISIS.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/913474/military-to-do-its-level-best-to-meet-dutertes-deadline
The military will do its best to finish the Marawi siege in 15 days as declared by President Rodrigo Duterte, a spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines said on Wednesday. 
“The 15 days is a period within which the President hopes the crisis in Marawi to end. The AFP will do its best, as it has been giving its level best, to crush the rebellion of the Maute-Isis group,” Col. Edgard Arevalo, AFP public affairs chief, told reporters in a text message. 
Earlier, top defense and security officials said they were no longer setting deadlines to finish the fighting in Marawi, given that they have missed previous deadlines because of the difficulty posed by the urban warfare. 
But Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana had said that ground commanders were directed to end the conflict before the President gives his second State of the Nation Address on July 24.
Duterte has made it clear to the AFP that they must have it all wrapped up by July 24th. And how do they respond? With a hearty, "Yes Sir?" No. They practically start making lame excuses on the spot by saying they will do their best. Their level best!    

But apparently their level best is just not good enough. Only a few days after telling Duterte they would do their level best the AFP admitted defeat!
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/914073/marawi-siege-to-go-beyond-60-days
The liberation of Marawi is well under way but it cannot be completed by July 22 when the martial law President Duterte declared in Mindanao expires, the military said on Friday. 
Military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said the military is still assessing the security situation even as the Marawi crisis nears its end. 
But Padilla admitted operations, including airstrikes, may continue even beyond July 24, when the President delivers his State of the Nation Address (Sona) before Congress. 
“We are right into the 10 to 15 days of the President,” Padilla said referring to Mr. Duterte’s expressed desire that the military liberate Marawi within that period. 
“But the 10 to 15 days [will go] beyond the Sona, by the way, so don’t expect it before the Sona,” Padilla said, noting the military has yet to clear 600 houses and buildings in Marawi.
With the military clearing 40 to 50 houses a day, Padilla said they might need another 12 days to clear the city of 70 to 80 terrorists who attacked the city on May 23.
This is terrible.  Absolutely terrible.  The AFP has given up trying to liberate Marwai before Duterte's SONA which means we will all be deprived of watching Duterte have his George Dubya "Mission Accomplished" moment. Patience though. Patience. The moment will arrive soon. Maybe it will take a few more weeks. But soon. With a lot of luck it could even happen at the SONA. If it did it might look like this: