Donald Trump's Comeuppance: $453 Million Penalty in New York

Volume 5, Issue No. 26

OPINION/COMMENTARY

/ News That Fears None, Views That Favor Nobody /

. . . . . A community service of Romar Media Canada, The Filipino Web Channel (TheFilipinoWebChannel@gmail.com) and the Philippine Village Voice (PhilVoiceNews@gmail.com) for the information and understanding of Filipinos and the diverse communities in North America . . . . . .

 

Our latest as of Monday, February 19, 2024 

~ Citizen Trump, yes that's the Donald, got his comeuppance in New York on Friday, Feb. 16, following the decision by Judge Arthur Engoron to fine him $453 million for fraud. The judge quoted the three-monkeys proverb to highlight the brazenness of the former US president to disrespect law and authority. He also decided to bar Trump from doing business in New York for three years. His two sons, Don Jr. and Eric, were likewise prohibited from doing the same for two years.  

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SEE NO EVIL, HEAR NO EVIL, SPEAK NO EVIL

Evidence Belies Trump's Three-Monkeys Posture

New York Judge Slaps Him With a $453 Million Fine

By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ 

Editor, The Filipino Web Channel

"Evil people rely on the acquiescence of naive good people to allow them to continue with their evil." - Stuart Aken 

TORONTO - "Donald Trump is not Bernard Madoff. Yet, defendants are incapable of admitting the error of their ways. Instead, they adopt a 'See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil' posture that the evidence belies".

That's Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron handing out a scathing decision ordering the former US president to pay $453 million in New York civil trial that found him and his eponymous company liable for fraud. Trump is also barred from doing business in New York for three years.

What Engoron called "posture" is actually a reference to the Japanese proverb - exemplified by monkeys Mizaru who covers his eyes, Kikazaru covering his ears, and Iwazaru covering his mouth (see collage). 

It's the perfect metaphor to illustrate Trump's abuses and blatant disregard and disrespect for the laws. 

The dictionary defines it to mean "to ignore or turn a blind eye to evil without taking against it". Further, "the proverb and the image are often used to refer to a lack of moral responsibility on the part of people to acknowledge impropriety, looking the other way or feigning ignorance."

"Engoron," according to the Associated Press, "frequently peppers his rulings with song lyrics, movie quotes and the occasional New York City history lesson." So, it's not totally surprising that he will turn to the maxim to prove his point.

I marvel at the way he laces his decision with such imagery as the three wise monkeys of lore. I've used the same visual, a photo of a sculpture I bought years ago, in several articles I've written to convey images my words could not capture. (See blog at: Lies, Deceptions by The Philippine Reporter Exposed). 

In fact, I made use of it in at least six occasions to highlight indifference and wrongdoings in The Philippine Reporter, its editors, and their enablers in the National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada (thrice); the Taste of Manila (once) which stole my video footage to promote the festival; and the Filipino Centre Toronto (twice) for its so-called transparency. 

Some organizations in the Filipino community are glued to the proverb without knowing it, perhaps. Leaders of dubious standing and background shamelessly relish being able to dodge scrutiny by adopting it too.

In that context, the three-monkeys principle maybe the easiest and readily-understood way of outlining the state of affairs in the community starting from the driver-turned-self-declared-founder of Taste of Manila and his cohorts, to the tabloid that houses fabulists and gossipers who had the gall to stiff two writers.

By now, we should be familiar with the money-rich Filipino Centre Toronto and what seems to be its efforts to tighten control of the flow of information about its wealth and how it is being spent.

And then there's this questionable group promoted by another tabloid supposedly campaigning against scammers. What has happened to it since the launching of its "crusade"?

Taken together, these organizations would come under the umbrella of the three monkeys. See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. With these, ours would be the perfect community, beyond reach by evil. Only if it's true! (Copyright 2024. All Rights Reserved).

Notes on Valentine's Day: "Love Lasts, Lust Cloys"

Canada and the Philippines are among the nine countries, at least, where the 14th of February is celebrated as Valentine's Day, which is basically a day for lovers and romance, a day for friendship and kinship, and a day of remembrance and affection.

On this day, we recall a favourite poem, Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Sonnet 43, popularly known as How Do I love Thee? - 

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. 

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height 

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight 

For the ends of being and ideal grace. 

I love thee to the level of every day’s 

Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. 

I love thee freely, as men strive for right. 

I love thee purely, as they turn from praise. 

I love thee with the passion put to use 

In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith. 

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose 

With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath, 

Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose, 

I shall but love thee better after death.

But there's more. Like this quote from Shakespeare's Hamlet -

Doubt thou the stars are fire;
Doubt that the sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar;
But never doubt I love.

In his book The Seven Deadly Sins, Simon Blackburn differentiates between love and lust. 

"Love pursues the good of the other, with self-control, concern, reason, and patience," he writes. Whereas "lust pursues its own gratification, headlong, impatient of any control, immune to reason".

He continues: 

"Love thrives on candlelight and conversations. Lust is equally happy in a doorway or a taxi, and its conversation is made of animal grunts and cries.

"Love is individual: there is only the unique Other, the one doted upon, the single star around whom the lover revolves. Lust takes what comes.

"Love grows with knowledge and time, courtship, trust, and truth. Lust is a trail of clothing in the hallway, the collision of two football packs.

"Love lasts, lust cloys".

Those love lines in Blackburn's book find significance in what artist Michelle Chermaine Ramos wrote some time ago, thus:

"Long after youth’s fires of passion have faded, there needs to be mutual trust, respect, appreciation, affection and understanding on the emotional, intellectual and spiritual levels for love to last through life’s ups and downs".

Today is a good day to revisit her Love Takes Flight and rediscover the fire and passion of romantic love whose essence she tries to capture in her own painting.

Full story at: Valentine's Day Feature: Love Takes Flight

Valentine's Day Feature: Love Takes Flight Volume 4, Issue No. 46 OPINION/COMMENTARY / News That Fears None, Views That Favor Nobod y / . . . . . A communi...

Happy Valentine's Day to all.

Romy Márquez 

Editor

Brief Jury Duty Scuttles Long-Time Dream

Volume 5, Issue No. 25

OPINION/COMMENTARY

/ News That Fears None, Views That Favor Nobody /

. . . . . A community service of Romar Media Canada, The Filipino Web Channel (TheFilipinoWebChannel@gmail.com) and the Philippine Village Voice (PhilVoiceNews@gmail.com) for the information and understanding of Filipinos and the diverse communities in North America . . . . . .

 

Our latest as of Thursday, February 1, 2024 

~ Serving on a jury is a dream come true for me. Almost. Yesterday, the thought of being a juror deciding on a case before a court of law seemed to be on grasp. Fifty-seven citizens, including this writer, answered the call to do an important civic duty. We were briefed via a pre-recorded video. Then 10 minutes later, a staffer said: "thank you for your service, you're free to go". That was how my jury duty came to an end - brief, dull, unchallenging. 

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A DREAM COME TRUE, ALMOST

Serving On Jury An Important Civic Duty

It Was Brief and Unchallenging For This Writer

By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ 

Editor, The Filipino Web Channel

"Some people try to get out of  jury duty by lying. You don't have to lie. Tell the judge the truth. Tell him you'd make a terrific juror because you can spot guilty people". - George Carlin 

TORONTO - From watching movies and reading books, I thought I had a pretty good understanding of how a jury works.

So when a Summons from the Sheriff's Office of the Ministry of the Attorney General came by mail weeks ago, I was enthusiastic I would be among those chosen to serve on a jury. It's a big honour.

For me, it's a dream come true. I had long wanted to participate in jury deliberations. As a journalist I've covered many court cases in the Philippines, the US and here in Canada, but being on the other side of the fence, meaning as a juror, is entirely new.

"You are being summoned for the purpose of jury selection in accordance with section 17 of the Juries Act," the Summons stated, and directed me to report to the Superior Court of Justice at 361 University Ave. on Wednesday, January 31 at 8:30 a.m.

I took notice of a side note in capital letters: "If you do not attend on the required date, you will be liable to the penalties provided by the Juries Act". Well, I thought this reminder was not needed insofar as it concerned me, I was going in good or foul weather. 

The excitement was overwhelming. Though I had gone to bed at the usual time, I could not manage a sleep; my mind was in the jury. In fact my preparation started as early 4:30 a.m., a good four hours before the appointed time.

I was at the subway station at 7 a.m. just as the rush hour had begun. Every train that passed the subway station was in full capacity. There was very little space to squeeze in. Anyway, the commute took nearly an hour. 

Somebody had previously told me selecting jurors was like a waiting game, so be prepared to hang on. Okay, so I brought a book and a notebook instead of the usual backpack containing three cameras, batteries, and notepad.

If being punctual was a virtue, not  everyone believed in it, obviously. The selection process was not the place to show it either. 

At 8:45, or 15 minutes past the designated time, the room on the fifth floor started to fill with potential jurors. Those already inside had eyes and ears glued to their phones and laptops. 

At 9, or half an hour into the waiting, a staff member broke the somber silence and turned on the huge computer monitor to show a pre-recorded video about the jury, which was mostly general information on what those selected should do if they were picked.

"Serving on the jury is one of the most important civic duties as citizens (18 years and older)," the video pitch stated. "The jury is the foundation of the legal system".

All 57 of us who got the Summons were intently watching and listening. It was creating awareness of the significant role juries play in administering justice.

About 800,000 people receive Summons each year to determine if they are eligible for jury duty, according to the Ontario jury website. Being summoned, however, does not mean one will be selected.

Well, lucky me, I thought. Imagine being one of those 800,000 to be handpicked to serve the community in a way I only dreamed about. In my youth, I wanted to be a lawyer, so being in a jury is about as close as I can get.

"Offenders are tried under fair circumstances," the video continued. "And jurors based their verdict on evidence".

With that final word, the 10-minute informational video ended. Seconds later, a staff came out to tell us that in the next two years, we would be spared the trouble of coming back again.

She explained that we will play no part in the 10 court trials scheduled for the year as members of the jury panel have been selected. That means we're released from such duty.

"On behalf of the Attorney General, we thank you very much," she said. "You're all free to go". Everybody gasped, surprised their anticipated duty had been that quick.

And there goes my dream service. Brief, not even to the more challenging, substantive part of being a juror. My excitement flew out of the window.

A little disappointed, I just walked to Eaton Centre to do some window shopping. An hour later, I strolled down Dundas St. to Chinatown for lunch. The meal was good, so good it took my mind off the aborted jury duty. (Copyright 2024. All Rights Reserved).

Portrait of An Artist in the Eyes of Another Artist

Volume 5, Issue No. 24

OPINION/COMMENTARY

/ News That Fears None, Views That Favor Nobody /

. . . . . A community service of Romar Media Canada, The Filipino Web Channel (TheFilipinoWebChannel@gmail.com) and the Philippine Village Voice (PhilVoiceNews@gmail.com) for the information and understanding of Filipinos and the diverse communities in North America . . . . . .

 

Our latest as of Monday, January 29, 2024 

~ On every issue of a local tabloid, the name Mogi Mogado appears in the staff box as associate editor. Writing is just one of his many talents. He's also into sculpture, currently the art form that has established himself as a serious artist. Another artist, Michelle Chermaine Ramos, has taken notice, and did us well by featuring him in a lengthy article in the January 2024 publication of Atin Ito, the oldest Filipino newspaper in the Greater Toronto Area. 

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SPOTLIGHT ON IGNACIO 'MOGI' MOGADO

A Michelangelo in Our Midst

Artist Michelle Ramos's Homage to Another Artist 

By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ 

Editor, The Filipino Web Channel

"Strength doesn't come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn't". - Rikki Rogers 

TORONTO - Rare is the occasion when an artist writes about a fellow artist. Rarer still when the write-up focuses on an accomplishment unmatched for its audacity and sublimeness but scantily noticed for what it makes of the Filipinos in Canada.

That's exactly what I found out soon after I got a copy of the January 2024 issue of Atin Ito in one of the stores in Little Manila. 

I browsed the tabloid as soon as I got home. And there on page 3 is the jewel of that particular edition . . . the article by artist Michelle Chermaine Ramos, this time wearing her hat as a multimedia journalist, regaling us with the story of a self-taught maestro - the modest and low profile Ignacio Mogado, popularly known as Mogi or Mogs.

(Related video of Michelle Chermaine Ramos: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8FT2kEZfls).

(Related videos of Mogi Mogado and his Jose Rizal statue in Markham, Ontario:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GU1EUCZ9F0k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ak87ArSXQPk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfjkHrrpaWY).

The community's preoccupation with soirees and fancy celebrations has put a damper on solid achievements that are more fulfilling to us as a people. As these are the kinds of endeavours that take us out of the box as second class citizens, more prominence should be given by the local media.

Ms. Ramos achieves that with her deep dive into Mogado's down-to-earth profile, necessitated by his bronze sculpture of the Philippine national hero Jose Rizal whose likeness in canvas, clay, metal, plaster, stone, and wood is one and the same, be here in Toronto, in the United States, in the Philippines, in Madrid, Spain, (video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYjRO3Z5Xe8) or elsewhere where he is commemorated.

The sculpture stands out for its trademark countenance. Mogado is perceptive enough to portray Rizal in an easily distinguishable light. He makes him sparkle with a permanent beam on his face.

"He is smiling," he told Ms. Ramos, "for many reasons: for being accepted in Canada and given a home in Markham, which was a feat in itself; he reflects the joy and fulfillment every new arrival feels in his heart at being granted a shot at a Canadian dream . . .

"Here, at last, is a place where his advocacies of equality, brotherhood of men, freedom, harmony, respect etc. are norms. Most of all, he is highlighting to fellow Canadians how worthy Filipinos are, that you can expect from them these noble values," he added.

Without meaning to be a harsh critic, as editor, I would have preferred playing up Ms. Ramos's narrative with a big color splash on the front page, then jump to the inside pages with all the extraneous pictures. 

(Full interview at Atin Ito: https://online.fliphtml5.com/ufflc/aelc/#p=3).

As it appeared on page 3, the highlights were the photos from the Christmas party of the Philippine Artists Group, of which the writer and her subject are both members, in effect de-emphasizing Mogado and the life lessons to be learned from his experience.

It's an editorial decision, I suppose. In my view, however, it only reenforces my contention that many among us are engrossed in specious gatherings, e.g. fundraising fiestas, beauty contests, etc. rather than in stimulating undertakings. 

I would have devoted two full pages, preferably the center spread with a teaser on the front page, to Ms. Ramos's account about Mogado simply because it epitomizes the very same struggles many Filipinos face once transplanted to Canada. And how he overcame them is its own success.

I am particularly struck by this passage, and I quote: "The interviewer, seeing my heartbreak at not being admitted (to fine arts study), said these kind words: 'Michelangelo et al did not go to arts school, but they became famous. Hone up your skills . . . who knows!'"

That was like being given a shot of adrenaline, at once both inspirational and a jab at his self-esteem. "That episode (with the CFA interviewer regarding Michelangelo) was seminal for my arts life," Ms. Ramos wrote, quoting Mogado.

Indeed as years past, Mogado, while working a living, sharpened the skills his interviewer knew he possessed. The reference to Michelangelo, the Italian sculptor, painter, architect, and poet famed for Pieta, David, and the Genesis on the Sistine Chapel in Rome, was life changing for his artistry.

Ms. Ramos refers to him as "Markham's self-taught Michelangelo" not out of sheer frivolity but for a well-founded reason. His life-size sculpture of Rizal could be compared with Michelangelo's David, "a masterpiece of Italian Renaissance sculpture". (More info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_(Michelangelo)).

"As we delve into his thoughts," says Ms. Ramos, "I hope a century from now, future generations and historians will understand the artist's soul and his creation straight from the man himself". (Copyright 2024. All Rights Reserved).