PIG-HEADED A thumbs down sign morphs into a pig’s head, one of the many artworks that netizens use to call for the abolition of the much-abused pork barrel. FACEBOOK PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Rage and LOL—that is, laugh out loud.
If the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) is to be renamed, what should it be called?
Never short of ideas, a number of Internet users yesterday proposed new names for the controversial “pork barrel” fund.
Former journalist Carlos Conde, who uses the name @carloshconde, suggested it be called Holistic Lawmaking for Development of All Filipinos (Holdaf).
“National Account for Countrywide Administrative Welfare,” or Nacaw, Twitter user @SamYunono said.
Why not just simply Napoles—after the fugitive Janet Lim-Napoles, alleged “mother” of the scam?
Netizen @corazonangeles said Napoles stands for “National Assistance Program of Lawmakers Engaged in Swindling.
Or why not Badaf—meaning, Benigno Aquino Development Assistance Fund? That was the text message that circulated after President Aquino yesterday said he favored abolishing the PDAF.
Creativity, humor
Whether their messages are printed on T-shirts, posters or memes, Filipinos are preparing for Monday’s Million People March with creativity and humor.
“Makibaka, wag magbaboy!” (Fight, abolish pork) has become some sort of a battle cry of groups demanding the scrapping of the fund.
That is actually a throwback to the ‘‘Makibaka, Hwag Matakot!” (Fight, Do not Fear) slogan of student activists who battled President Ferdinand Marcos and the military in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
As the antipork passion mounted, social media and technology added a new flavor to the protest.
Other alternative names
Facebook user Karlos Yzagani listed down several alternative names to replace the PDAF, claiming Malacañang really had no plans to abolish the pork.
“They can just choose from this menu,” Yzagani said:
1. Budgetary Allocation for Collaborative Outreach Nationwide (Bacon);
2. Lawmakers Initiative for Emergency, Miscellaneous and Personal Outlay (Liempo);
3. Livelihood Empowerment for Countrywide Humanitarian Outlaw Network (Lechon);
Pig or Cupit?
4. Pinagandang Iligal na Gastusin (Pig);
5. Countrywide Universal Priority Initiatives Treasury (Cupit) Fund;
6. Totally New Government PDAF Audited to Satisfaction (Tongpats);
7. Selective Enforcement of Budgetary Outlays (Sebo);
8. Government Outlay Line-itemized and Appropriated Yearly (Golay);
Fish? Beef?
9. Fund Integration for Social Housing (Fish);
10. Bridges, Excavations & Elevated Roads Fund (Beef);
11. Countrywide Allocations With Accountability and Transparency (Cawat);
12. National Allotment for Countryside Amelioration and Welfare (Nacaw);
13. P-Noy’s Initiative for Good Governance Countrywide (Piggy);
14. Countrywide Assistance for Special and Important Matters (Casim);
Coraf for corrupt?
15. Budget for Allies for Continuation of Party Dominance (Bacon-PD);
16. Hearty Allocation of Money (Ham);
17. Countrywide Outreach and Rehabilitation Assistance Fund (Coraf);
18. BSA’s Awesome Budget for Outstanding Allies of the Year (Baboy);
19. Horrifyingly Unlimited Money for Belmonte, Aquino and Allies (Humba);
20. President Aquino’s Nationwide Outlay for Transparency (Panot); and
21. President Aquino’s Political Action and Initiative for Total Allocation of National Budget (Papaitan). Compiled by Inquirer.net and Inquirer Research
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Holdaf, Nacaw, Badaf? Netizens rename PDAF