Something interesting is stirring in Burma.

For the past several days, Buddhist monks are going out of their monasteries to protest, something that lay people are afraid to do. At first, only monks were on the streets, and the monkeys in uniform who heads the military junta paid no attention to them. Ordinary people then began going out, at first just watching, and with courage joined the monks in protest. The monkeys are troubled, and began belching threats. The protests continued, and the monkeys, sensing that their grip on the bananas might slip, began cracking the whip. The monkeys ordered all protests dispersed, several opposition members and monks arrested, and a curfew announced.

I hope the Burmese people will hold on, and I hope they will have their own People Power moment.

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Miriam Santiago said something on yesterday’s Senate hearing on NBN-ZTE deal that, in olden times, might have caused war. He said in effect that China started civilization and corruption. Filipinos of Chinese origin are either offended or too busy watching Ateneo v. La Salle basketball game.

As a Filipino of Chinese descent, I am surprised by my own reaction to Santiago’s comment: NONE. As in nothing. Maybe because despite being half-Chinese, I did not grow up in a home infused with Chinese culture. The only Chinese traditions that I am familiar with is the All Saints Day celebration. We do not celebrate other Chinese festivals. I can’t read, write, nor speak Chinese.

Anyway, her comment must have put a dent at China-Philippine relations. After all, she is the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Her committee would be busy if a new treaty between the two countries was negotiated. Under our Constitution, any treaty entered by the country must be approved by the Senate of the Republic. How would she handle such?

I think her comment is unfair and uncalled for. This kind of talk is best reserved on a private audience. But no. Her comments were broadcast. Her comments form part of the transcript of the hearings. The effects of her comment remains to be seen. China must be peeved.

I am so glad our time is not the olden times. Otherwise, we would be preparing for war now.

Ultra-runner Tim Borland is running 63 marathons in 63 days in order to raise funds and awareness for the A-T Children’s Project in their quest for a cure or life-improving therapies for ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T). A-T is a rare, neurodegenerative disease that affects children, giving them the combined symptoms of cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, and cancer. Children with A-T — born seemingly healthy — are usually dependent upon wheelchairs by the age of 10 and often do not survive their teens.

To run with Tim, join a tailgate party, or make a donation, please visit the A-T CureTour website. There, you can also view the daily video blog produced by filmmakers who are making an independent documentary on the A-T CureTour and enter a contest to Win a Nintendo Wii.

Just a short note, as the Senate hearings on NBN deal is still ongoing.

Romulo Neri did say that Benjamin Abalos offered 200 million pesos in exchange for giving go-signal for the ZTE “contract”. Abalos denied Neri’s claims. Neri then recounted telling Gloria Arroyo about the bribe attempt. He then invoked executive privilege when asked further about their conversation. It seems that the Supreme Court has to enter the picture once again.

Anyway, Neri’s invoking executive privilege is significant – the trail should stop at Abalos, and it should not reach Gloria Arroyo. Also the fact remains that Arroyo told Neri to approve the deal anyway.

Placeholder believes that Neri is the second envelop. Whether the assertion is valid or not remains to be seen, though from the way things are going, this is not to be so.

Abalos’ goose is cooked. He should tell all now before it’s too late.

(If you have not yet voted in the poll, Abalos is one of the nominees to be named in the top of the 2007 AWBHoldings.com’s Wall of Shame. Vote now!)

Amongst the officials of this current dispensation, Romulo Neri, chair of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and formerly director-general of National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) had said something that is close to a confirmation that the NBN-ZTE deal is rotten. In one interview, Neri recounted that Benjamin Abalos approached him, urging him to approve the deal (when he was still NEDA head). Abalos tried to soften him via a 200-million peso bribe. Read the entire story on Newsbreak.

What makes his story credible?

* He was moved to CHED two days after informing Gloria Arroyo of the bribe attempt.
* During the second day of Senate hearings on the deal, almost the entire Arroyo Cabinet was in the Senate; Neri was missing.
* Now, Neri is set to testify this Wednesday, but this early, Arroyo is readying CPR – yes, the much-hated calibrated, preemptive response. Executive Order 464 is not going to be the excuse this time, since Leandro Mendoza et al went to the Senate anyway. CPR is a logical choice. CPR in this case is asking Neri to accompany Arroyo to UN Tuesday night.

All eyes are now on Romulo Neri. Whether he would be the second envelop, or his revelation would lead to Arroyo losing power (Ricky Carandang says this is highly unlikely) – we cannot say. However, based on how the Arroyo regime is reacting, he has some bombs to drop.

Will he blink? Neri seems to be the kind of person who is susceptible to threats – he is a light weight who could be pushed around. At least, when he does blink, the Filipino people would know why. And the Arroyo regime has no one to blame but itself if the Filipino people thinks that way.