ARE YOU AN “EPAL “ ?

EPAL does not refer to electronic pen pal nor another techie term like emails or I pad or I phone.
It is a street lingo ,a fast growing byword that refers to a person who is an attention and credit grabber, an obnoxious or annoying personality who butts in, in any conversations or everyday affairs.
Popularly, it’s a slang term for somebody who is “mapapel or pumapapel “. He is a grandstand player, knows everything, has the solutions to almost any problems and the bottom line is…he is a
braggart and all of these negative terms lead us to mean only one universal person…the politician.
Soon, the days of the “epals “ will come to an end if a proposed legislative bill is enacted into law penalizing the “epals “ in the political landscape of the Philippines.
The colorful and acid tongue Philippine senator Miriam is sponsoring a senate bill no.1967 titled “An act prohibiting Public Officers from claiming credit through Signage Announcing a Public works project “ or what is now known as the Anti-Epal bill.
The proposed bill is obviously aimed at politicians or public officers like mayors, councilors, governors and other public officials who have a penchant of emblazing their names and claiming credit on government sponsored and funded projects .
A common sight in every town and province in the Philippines for example are signs or streamers that says “ This project is being undertaken by Mayor Juan de la Cruz “ or even in times of calamities, relief goods such as sacks of rice and canned food contains the words “donated by Governor or mayor :.
“It is prevalent practice among public officers, whether elected or appointed to append their names to public works projects which were either funded or facilitated through their office. This is unnecessary and highly unethical and promotes a culture of political patronage and corruption “said Santiago in explaining the rationale behind her proposal.
If it passes, the bill imposes a jail term of between six months and one year on a public official who would have his or her name or image printed on a “ signage announcing a proposed or ongoing public works project “.
She added “allowing incumbents or appointees to grab undue credit diminishes the importance that the public needs to place on supporting public officials, not because of their popularity, but because of their essential role in policy determination “.
She also said “it diminishes the concept of continuity in good governance in the mind of the public “.
Politicians who are “epals “ deceive the public through credit grabbing as they make it appear that they are doing extraordinary work and spending their own money to initiate projects which is
actually a part of their normal functions and duties.
How do you spot an “Epal “? Here in the Filipino-Canadian community, they’re easy to find. Look at the various community newspapers.
-You’ll find their photos in any events, be it concerts., fund raising or parties or events.
-More often than not, they pose beside a VIP, a movie star, a member of parliament, the mayor, the ambassador, the consul-general. They are always alert in photo ops and know where to position themselves.
-Some of them send photo and press releases of themselves
-you’ll find them in caregivers’ events pretending to be advocates
-somehow, they manage to have themselves elected to various positions in community organizations
-sometimes, they pretend to be a member of the media
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CJ IMPEACHMENT : A LESSON ON LAW 101: The current impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice Renato Corona
is proving to be a learning experience on the rudiments of the law profession. For one, we are treated to the legal wisdom and wizardry of former Justice Serafin Cuevas, the head of the legal defense team of the chief justice.
His mastery of the rules of court and remedial law has turned the senate impeachment court proceedings into an instant “ Cuevas school of law “ because of his long and deep experience as
court lawyer. So many times, he turned the opposing prosecution team into “his students “ by driving home points of objections.
Matter of fact, one of member of the prosecution team was one of his students in remedial law, Cavite congressman Elpidio Barzaga.
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ENRILE’S SHINING MOMENT: SENSE OF FAIR PLAY AND JUSTICE: The star of the impeachment court is surprisingly senate president Juan Ponce Enrile who earned the admiration of both sides of the defense and prosecution and the public for his excellent handling of the proceedings. His sense of fair play and impartiality was displayed when he castigated both the defense and prosecution whenever possible .He kept both sides in check and showed balance in his remarks and comments.
Enrile, unknown to many, is an experienced lawyer, a bar topnotch who graduated Cum Laude from the University of the Philippines college of Law .
Right after law school, he entered Harvard law school as a scholar.
Later, he established and headed the top law firm in the country, known as PECABAR until then senate president and soon to be president Ferdinand Marcos plucked him from his practice to serve as the latter’s legal adviser.