Thursday, April 30, 2009
Because I Believe in MAR
By Michael Lim Ubac
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:37:00 04/30/2009
MANILA, Philippines—Nothing can stop Sen. Manuel Roxas II from running for President in 2010.
“What other meaning can my life have other than that?” Roxas said at a dinner on Tuesday with Philippine Daily Inquirer editors and reporters during which he declared that he would not be deflected from his goal.
“I am ready to serve. I am prepared to make it happen. I think I’m the best qualified, competence-wise, value-wise. And I owe it to my country to try what I can and fix it,” said the 51-year-old senator.
Roxas, a grandson and namesake of the late President Manuel Roxas, said it would be a great disservice to the Filipino people if he would not offer himself as a presidential candidate.
He said people should be given a chance to choose him.
“What higher calling can there be than try to fix your country?”
Roxas is not disheartened by his relatively low ranking in the surveys now—he placed fifth in a presidential preferences survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations last February.
“May 2010,” he said when asked at what point he would throw in the towel and transfer his support to a more “winnable” candidate and trust that the latter would fix the country.
Element of Trust
Roxas, the Liberal Party president, said the single most important element in choosing a President is trust.
“One way of analyzing the ills of the country is [that] there’s no trust—it’s every man for himself. People in fact trust the reverse. They don’t trust that if they fall in line and follow the rules and do what’s right, then they will get ahead,” he said.
"[The thinking is] for me to get ahead, I must make suhol (give bribes), I must make singit [jump the queue] and I must find a different way. That has become the most corrosive, dangerous development—the acceptance that that’s a fact of life here. If you have that, you really have a broken society,” he said.
He said a system abetting corruption and “subterfuges,” and where “having connections is the norm” was not a democracy.
Elite back-scratching each other
“You just have the elite back-scratching each other and protecting each other’s interest. The elite screwed us up over the last four generations,” he said.
He acknowledged that he might be part of the elite in terms of socio-economic status.
“But my record, my father’s record and grandfather’s record speak for themselves. It’s not like at anytime they stole or took advantage of their position, or in any way used their position to enlarge their economic interests,” he said.
The moneyed Araneta-Roxas clan owns the Araneta Center, the vast commercial center in Cubao, Quezon City, and are landowners in Capiz province. Roxas City, the capital of Capiz, was named after the clan’s patriarch, the first President of the post-war Philippine Republic.
“Why is it that Cubao is only doing call centers today when I was the guy who started it? [As trade and industry secretary], I was the one who awarded eco-zone status [to investors], which meant incentives and no taxes,” said Roxas.
No to conflict of interest
When he headed the Department of Trade and Industry in 2000, Roxas also chaired the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, a government agency that promoted the establishment of economic zones for foreign investments. Roxas developed, conceptualized and wrote the PEZA rules for the grant of incentives for information technology locators and businesses.
While he was in the executive department, Cubao was never allowed to apply for eco-zone status with PEZA. Roxas would not allow it so as not to be accused of conflict of interest.
When he saw that office spaces in Metro Manila were virtually empty as a result of the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the then trade secretary harnessed the potential of the country as a global information technology hub.
Make IT Philippines
He launched “Make IT Philippines” and succeeded in convincing ousted President Joseph Estrada to make IT the focus of his first visit to the United States. This led to the biggest global industry names to invest in the country, creating 400,000 jobs for call center agents and Filipino IT workers.
Last year, Roxas helped the private sector raise $3 million to fund a study by the McKinsey & Co. international strategic consultants to take the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry to the next level.
“The industry needed a new strategic plan that was credible ... to pay for a professional business development team that will continue to keep the Philippines present in the international arena,” he said.
Roxas finished economics at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1979. Before returning to the Philippines, he worked as an investment banker for a number of years in the United States.
He began his public service stint in the House of Representatives in 1993. He was appointed trade and industry secretary by ousted President Joseph Estrada and, after Estrada’s fall from power in 2001, was reappointed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
In 2004, he won a Senate seat with a staggering 19.5 million votes, the largest obtained by a candidate in any Philippine election.
Advice from a Cuban
Roxas remembers how he came to decide to return home.
In 1985, he was watching Ted Koppel’s “Nightline” on ABC News when the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos announced the holding of snap elections.
He remembers a Cuban friend, Roberto Gozueta, the then chair of the Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Corp., asking him: “What are you doing here? Marcos has declared elections.”
When Roxas said that he was thinking about it and that it was a risk, the Cuban told him: “I am Cuban. I have no country to go back to. You have a chance to do something for your country.”
Sense of duty
Roxas said that he has been very lucky in his life and for that reason feels a corresponding sense of duty.
He said that if there is one lesson that he learned from his late father, Sen. Gerardo Roxas, it was a “deep sense of duty and responsibility to give back.”
He recalled his father’s metaphor for public service: “You were born with a ladder. So after you climb your ladder, don’t pull it up. You have to leave it there to allow others to come up.”
On his engagement with Korina
It's a reality of my life... If for whatever reason it costs me, well, panalo na ako eh. I'm with Korina... There's no turning back I am getting married.
On what he thinks is Arroyo's greatest mistake
GMA, after the 2004 elections, believed that "Might is Right" versus "I do good, the people will reciprocate"... She gave up on the people.
On his presidency
At the end of the day, it's all about the track record - what have you done with the power that was given to you?
@ 
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Registration Efforts for 2010 Elections
Registration can be fun and exciting says youth groups in wedeservebetter forum
Manila, Philippines - The Youth Vote (Yvote) Philippines, in its commitment of getting the youth involved in the 2010 National Election will be launching the forum entitled “Gusto kong MAGREHISTRO, Gusto kong BUMOTO!” on Thursday, April 30, 2009, from 6:00 to 7:30 PM at AIM Conference Room, Makati City. It will tackle the process of registration and issues related to it.
COMELEC Commissioner Rene Sarmiento will be present to deliver his message to the youth regarding the importance of registering for the national elections in 2010. The forum will also serve as a venue for the COMELEC and the youth to exchange concerns on registration irregularities.
Yvote Philippines will be launching Kabataang Rehistrado: 2010 headshots as part of making its registration campaign exciting yet meaningful for first time voters. The project invites the registrants to send in actual photos of their registration. The ten best photos will then be posted at the Yvote website and blogsite. 10 minutes, 10 friends, 10 flyers for 2010, initiated by the Ayala Young Leaders, will also take flight on May 11, 2009 where youth volunteers will conduct distribution of “How to Register to Vote for 2010” in strategic locations such as MRT and LRT stations, shopping malls, bus stations, offices and schools. The campaign plan is to encourage 10 of your friends to dedicate 10 minutes of their time to distribute 10 flyers.
“Gusto kong MAGREHISTRO, Gusto kong BUMOTO!” forum is part of the We Deserve Better Forum series, spearheaded by the Movement for Good Governance (MGG), a group of ordinary citizens who profess their belief in transparency and accountability in governance.
Yvote Philippines believes in the force of the youth to make a giant leap and swing the votes in the coming 2010 elections. In order to vote, one has to REGISTER first. Youth, BE involved. Know the process and get registered.
For inquiries and reservations, you may send an email to youthvotephilippines@gmail.com or call 02.752.1065. The registration fee is Php 150 for young professionals and Php 50 for students.
Greetings mula sa ARTISTSREVOLUTION!
Magsama-sama tayo sa gabing ito!
365 DAYS TO CHANGE...TODO NA 'TO! MUSIC MUSEUM, 8PM, MONDAY, MAY 11, 2009
Suportahan ang tawag ng mga Artistang Pilipino para sa pagbabago ng mga namumuno sa darating na eleksyon sa May 2010.
Walang magsasalitang pulitiko pero paguusapan ay politikal. Hahamon ng pagbabago at tataya sa PAGBABAGO!
Tataya ang mga mangaawit na sina Jim Paredes, Bituin Escalante, Yeng Constantino, Isay Alvarez, Robert Sena, Leah Navarro at Cruz-Salonga Duet. Ganundin ang mga bandang Radioactive Sago, Datu's Tribe, Kjwan, at Tempestuous Jones. Ang Philippine All Stars Hiphop champions, sax player na si Michael Young, drummer na si Paul Zialcita at rapper na si Miko Pepito ay di rin paawat!
At syempre andun ako bilang Juana Change! Marami kaming pasasabuging mga balita! Abangan....
Para sa mga tiket na nagkakahalaga ng P500, P1k, P2k, P3k, P4.5k, at P6k tawagan sina Chingkel, Aissa, at Menard sa 8982913, 8983221 o 8997691 loc 2222-24
Ito ang konsyertong magpapatindig ng inyong balahibo at magpapaikot ng inyong bituka!
Kapartner ang Movement for Good Governance (MGG,) tangkilikin sana nyo ang inititive na ito para sa ikatataguyod ng malinis at mapayapang halalan!
KITA TAYO!
Juana Change
As mentioned in one of my previous posts, the Ayala Young Leaders Alliance will be giving an Information Session on Voter Education today (and every Wednesday of the week) at the office of the Ayala Foundation from 6-8PM.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Lupang Hinirang, Lupang Hinarang: April 27 Update
Malacañang Seeks Huge Partnership for Agricultural Projects in Philippine Lands with the USDespite of the fact that House Resolution (HR) 737—primarily authored by known anti-CARP advocates Speaker Prospero Nograles and Rep. Luis Villafuerte and which seeks to allow foreign ownership of public alienable lands in the country- is still pending deliberations in Congress and even with strong public opposition from the farmers’ group, AR advocates, academe and other people’s organizations, the Philippine government has already started negotiations with no less than the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to explore agribusiness projects in Philippine lands. Ranking officials of the USDA will lead an agribusiness Trade and Investment Mission (TIM) to the Philippines next month according to US Agricultural Counselor Emiko Purdy in a recent Congress held in Pasay City. The US mission seeks opportunities in biofuels, livestock genetics, meat and poultry, dairy, agricultural equipment and fertilizer sectors, among others.
In fact, as of December 2008, the government has already entered into several agreements with foreign states and corporations: with Spain for a US$200M investment with Bionor Transformacion, a top biodiesel firm in Spain to develop 100,000 hectares of land for jathropha in Pila, Laguna and Palawan; with China for a $ 3.84B investment for hybrid corn, hybrid rice and sorghum which would need about one million hectares of land, 20,000 hectares for cassava and sugarcane and construction of bioethanol plants in Palawan, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, and Cagayan; with Coromato Communication for a $100M worth of jatropha plantation in Bukidnon, a prime agricultural province. As of 2008, more than 12,000 hectares of agricultural lands are devoted to oil palm plantations. The Philippines has only four million hectares of rice lands yet it has committed at least 2.2 million for agrofuels.
Under Sec. 2 of the 1987 Constitution, the ownership-in-trust of natural resources (except for ancestral domains) is vested with the State. As owner-in-trust, it may sell, lease, or otherwise alienate the rights to these resources through contracts to Filipinos and Filipino corporations only. However, under HR 737, the State will do away entirely with the restriction on ownership. As it is, the Government already has designated millions of hectares of our lands for the benefit of foreign corporations, without consideration for the farmers, indigenous peoples, and other members of the communities affected by these contracts.
And now, with the threat of enabling foreign corporations and associations to hold, acquire, and be granted the right to possess, own, utilize and develop land in our country, what will be left for the Filipinos? Currently, the agrarian reform program is still underway, and thousands of farmers still await emancipation from the land they have tilled for generations. Over one million hectares of land await distribution. Our government cannot feed its own people, and yet we open up all our resources for non-Filipinos, as if without regard for our constituency.
It is said that if we apply the current ratio of total land area to population in the Philippines, three Filipinos must share one hectare of land. Half of this area is comprised of non-alienable forestlands. Thus, only fifteen million hectares of alienable and disposable agriculture lands are available to answer for the food security of Filipinos. HR 737 does not help improve that situation. HR 737 poses grave danger to our national security and sustainability. It is also unjust, considering that there are millions of Filipino peasants still not owning the lands they have tilled for decades. Moreover, our resources should be used primarily for the benefit of Filipinos, and not those who do not have a stake in domestic development.
We are yet to discuss and vote on the ownership of land by Filipino farmers, with the CARP Extension with Reforms Bill (House Bill 4077 authored by AKBAYAN Rep. Risa Hontiveros and Rep. Edcel Lagman (Albay)), and yet here we are proposing to allow ownership of land by foreign corporations. This stealthy introduction of a major amendment of the Constitution is a direct attack on Agrarian Reform and an affront upon the wisdom of our constitutional framers and the protection afforded by our predecessor-leaders upon Philippine lands.
Farmers from Sumilao, Banasi and Calatagan who stayed in Manila are asking the public to join the CARPER campaign, as national development is founded on solid building blocks like agricultural development. Giving the farmers land to till enhances their opportunities for better income. Increased income for the rural poor results in an improved economy. An improved economy means a better country. Agrarian reform means economic development and food security not just for the farmers but also for all citizens in the country.
The farmers are also asking the public to join them in a March to Congress to bring the citizens’ petition for CARPER bearing 1 Million signatures. The march to Congress is scheduled to be held on April 27, 2009.
If you want to help gather signatures and schedule a screening of Lupang Hinarang, a film made by Ditsi Carolino (the filmmaker who made Bunso and Minsan Lang Sila Bata), please contact the following for details and information:
Kaka Bag-ao: kakabagao@gmail.com
Jane Capacio: cheeryjanee@yahoo.com
Mally Gargar (BALAOD): 09224456384; 09177171879
Reggie Aquino/Junard Devila (KAISAHAN): 4330760
You may also visit the site for updates www.carpernow.multiply.com
CARPER Signature Campaign & Congress Watch
As of today, the farmers were able to gather 65,098 signatures in support of CARP Extension with Reforms and have become more emboldened in their quest for social justice as more and more individual citizens and sectors walk with them in their struggle.
The leadership of Congress (Senate President Enrile and House Speaker Nograles) on separate occasions categorically announced their commitment to enact immediately an agrarian reform extension with reforms law that reinstates compulsory acquisition being the heart and soul of agrarian reform. They have likewise expressed that the law will be enacted before June 2009.
Last March 20, known anti-CARP Representatives Pablo Garcia (Cebu), and Luis Villafuerte (Camarines Sur) also pledged to bring back Compulsory Acquisition (CA) before Senate President Enrile during a special meeting called by the Senator. The said Congresspersons also stated that they are not really against CARP but they merely want to ensure that the law is reformed. Rep. Arthur Defensor (3rd District, Iloilo) also expressed his support for CARP Extension with Reforms but said that crucial reforms should be put in place to ensure justice for all stakeholders of the program, including the landowners.
Representatives Prospero Nograles (Davao), Ma. Amelita Villarosa (Mindoro Occidental), Michael John Duavit (Rizal), Robert Raymund Estrella (ABONO), Alejandro Marañon (Negros Occidental), Conrado Estrella (Pangasinan), Jeffrey Ferrer (Negros Occidental), and Andres Salvacion (Northern Leyte) were present during the lunch meeting with the Bishops on 2 April 2009 where the House Speaker committed to enacting the CARPER Bill before June 6.
The latest additions were present during the meetings at the Senate (Villafuerte, Garcia and Defensor) and the House wherein all the legislators present were unanimous in restoring compulsory acquisition into the CARP.
Together with the commitment of the Senate President to enact CARPER before June 2009, there are now a total of 15 Senators who had given their assurance to the bishops that they will help ensure that a new CARP law will be enacted, with compulsory acquisition restored, and with at least P147 billion budgetary allocation. These are the following:
Senators who Support CARPER| 1. Juan Ponce-Enrile | 10. Richard Gordon |
| 2. Gringo Honasan | 11. Alan Peter Cayetano |
| 3. Kiko Pangilinan | 12. Pong Biazon |
| 4. Jinggoy Estrada | 13. Nene Pimentel |
| 5. Mar Roxas | 14. Juan Miguel Zubiri |
| 6. Chiz Escuder | 15. Ping Lacson |
| 7. Manny Villar | 16. Jamby Madrigal |
| 8. Miriam Defensor-Santiago | 17. Lito Lapid |
| 9. Loren Legarda |
The commitment of the members of the House Panel to support the enactment of CARPER brings the total number to 107 representatives who have signified their support for the cause of the farmers and pushed for the adherence to the Constitutional mandate of undertaking and completion of an effective agrarian reform program in the country.
Co-Authors of CARP Extension with Reforms Bill (House Bill 4077)
| 9. Hontiveros-Baraquel, Ana Theresia “Risa” (AKBAYAN) | 25. Gullas, Eduardo R. (1st District, Cebu) |
| 10. Hataman, Mujiv S. (AMIN) | 26. Chatto, Edgar M. (1st District, Bohol) |
| 11. Valdez, Edgar L. (APEC) | 27. Fua, Orlando B. (Lone District, Siquijor) |
| 12. Velarde, Rene M. (BUHAY) | 28. Ong, Emil L. (2nd District, Northern Samar) |
| 13. Chavez, Leonila V. (BUTIL) | 29. Cari, Carmen L. (5th District, Northern Leyte) |
| 14. Cua, Guillermo/2nd Nominee (COOP NATCO) | 30. Rodriguez, Rufus B. (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro) |
| 15. Singson, Ronald V. (1st District, Ilocos Sur) | 31. Ungab, Isidro T. (3rd District, Davao City) |
| 16. Celeste, Arthur F. (1st District, Pangasinan) | 32. Cagas, Marc Douglas IV C. (1st District, Davao Sur) |
| 17. Padilla, Carlos M. (Lone District, Nueva Vizcaya) | 33. Mangudadatu, Datu Pax S. (1st District, Sultan Kudarat) |
| 18. Cua, Junie E. (Lone District, Quirino) | 34. Go, Arnulfo F. (2nd District, Sultan Kudarat) |
| 19. Garcia, Albert S. (Bataan, 2nd District) | 35. Matugas, Francisco T. (1st District, Surigao Norte) |
| 20. Diaz, Antonio M. (2nd District, Zambales) | 36. Pichay, Philip A. (1st District, Surigao Sur) |
| 21. Joson, Eduardo Nonato N. (1st District, Nueva Ecija) | 37. Garay, Florencio C. (2nd District, Surigao Sur) |
| 22. Antonino, Rodolfo W. (4th District, Nueva Ecija) | 38. Bulut, Elias Jr. C. (Lone District, Apayao) |
| 23. Silverio, Lorna C. (3rd District, Bulacan) | 39. Agyao, Manuel S. (Lone District, Kalinga) |
| 24. Abaya, Joseph Emilio A. (1st District, Cavite) | 40. Dumarpa, Faysah RPM (1st District, Lanao Sur) |
| 25. Enverga, Wilfrido Mark M. (1st District, Quezon Province) | 41. Balindong, Pangalian M. (2nd District, Lanao Sur) |
| 26. Suarez, Danilo E. (3rd District, Quezon Province) | 42. Jikiri, Yusop H. (1st District, Sulu) |
| 27. Tañada, Lorenzo III R. (4th District, Quezon Province) | 43. Teodoro, Marcelino (1st District, Marikina) |
| 28. Mitra, Abraham Kahlil B. (2nd District, Palawan) | 44. De Guzman, Del R. (2nd District, Marikina) |
| 29. Vinzons-Chato, Liwayway (Lone District, Camarines Norte) | 45. Romulo, Roman T. (Lone District, Pasig) |
| 30. Lagman, Edcel C. (1st District, Albay) | 46. Villar, Cynthia A. (Lone District, Las Piñas) |
| 31. Lim, Reno G. (3rd District, Albay) | 47. Abante, Bienvinido Jr. M. (6th District, Manila) |
| 32. Escudero, Salvador III H. (1st District, Sorsogon) | 48. Gunigundo, Magtanggol T. (2nd District, Valenzuela) |
Identified as Supporters of CARPER:
| 1. Ablan, Roque (1st District, Ilocos Norte) | 25. Hofer, Ann (2nd District, Zambo Sibugay) |
| 2. Singson, Eric (2nd District, Ilocos Sur) | 26. Emano, Yevgeny Vincente (2nd District, Misamis Oriental) |
| 3. Agbayani, Victor (2nd District,Pangasinan) | 27. Guingona, Teofisto (2nd District, Bukidnon) |
| 4. De Venecia, Jose (4rd District, Pangasinan) | 28. Romualdo, Pedro (Lone District, Camiguin) |
| 5. Diasnes, Carlo Oliver (Lone District, Batanes) | 29. Olano, Arrel (1st District, Davao Norte) |
| 6. Vargas, Florencio (2nd District, Cagayan) | 30. Bautista, Franklin (2nd District, Davao Sur) |
| 7. Mamba, Manuel (3rd District, Cagayan) | 31. Antonino-Custodio, Darlene (1st District, South Cotabato) |
| 8. Uy, Edwin (2nd District,Isabela) | 32. Pingoy, Arthur (2nd District, South Cotabato) |
| 9. Aggabao, Giorgidi (4th District, Isabela) | 33. Romarate, Guillermo (2nd District, Surigao Norte) |
| 10. Bondoc, Anna York (4th District, Pampanga) | 34. Seares-Luna, Cecilia (Lone District, Abra) |
| 11. Sy-Alvarado, Ma. Victoria (1st District, Bulacan) | 35. Chungalao, Solomon (Lone District, Ifugao) |
| 12. Pancho, Pedro (1st District, Bulacan) | 36. Jaafar, Nur (Lone District, Tawi-Tawi) |
| 13. Nicolas, Reylina (4th District, Bulacan) | 37. Cayetano, Ma. Laarni (1st District, Pateros-Taguig) |
| 14. Robes, Arturo (Lone District ,San Jose de Monte) | 38. Zamora, Ronaldo (Lone District, San Juan) |
| 15. Chipeco, Justin (2nd District, Laguna) | 39. Locsin, Teodoro (1st District, Makati) |
| 16. Arago, Maria Evita (3rd District, Laguna) | 40. Binay, Mar-len Abigail (2nd District, Makati) |
| 17. San Luis, Edgar (4th District, Laguna) | 41. Golez, Roilo (2nd District, Paranaque) |
| 18. Alcala, Proceso (2nd District, Quezon) | 42. Asilo, Benjamin (1st District, Manila) |
| 19. Seachon-Lanete, Rizalina (3rd District, Masbate) | 43. Lopez, Jaime (2nd District, Manila) |
| 20. Javier, Exequiel (Lone District, Antique) | 44. Sandoval, Alvin (Lone District, Malabon/Navotas) |
| 21. Tupas, Niel (5th District, Iloilo) | 45. Biazon, Ruffy (Lone District, Muntinlupa) |
| 22. Chong, Glenn (Lone District, Biliran) | 46. Teng, Irwin (BUHAY) |
| 23. Cabilao, Belma (1st District, Zambo Sibugay) | 47. Villanueva, Joel (CIBAC) |
| 24. Fernandez, Danilo Ramon S. (1st District, Laguna) | 48. Pancrudo, Candido Jr. (1st District, Bukidnon) |
Representatives who were present during the House Panel Meeting with the Senate and the House Dialogue with the Bishops and the Farmers who concurred with the commitment of Senate President Enrile and Speaker Nograles to enact CARPER before June 2009
| 1. Defensor, Arthur Sr. (3rd District, Iloilo) | 7. Estrella, Robert Raymund Estrella (ABONO) |
| 2. Nograles, Prospero (Davao) | 8. Marañon, Alejandro (Negros Occidental) |
| 3. Villarosa, Ma. Amelita Villarosa (Mindoro Occidental) | 9. Estrella, Conrado (Pangasinan) |
| 4. Duavit, Michael John (Rizal) | 10. Garcia, Pablo (Cebu) |
| 5. Salvacion, Andres (Northern Leyte) | 11. Villafuerte, Luis (Camarines Sur) |
| 6. Ferrer Jeffrey (Negros Occidental) |
Monday, April 27, 2009
Job Search Boot Camp '09
BAGONG GRADUATE KA BA SA METRO MANILA?Looking for the right job?
April 28, 2009
Registration starts at 7am.
Sessions from 8AM-12nn.
For info or pre-register, text 09151999689.
Text "METRO MANILA [NAME] [College/Univ where you graduated]"
GET THAT COMPETITIVE EDGE!
Learn to write a CV, do better in job interviews, etc.
Have your CVs viewed by 10000 potential employers!
Get a certificate signed by Senator Mar Roxas!
SEMINAR IS FREE FOR ALL! OPEN FOR ALL GRADUATES FROM ALL SCHOOLS!
Job Search Boot Camp ‘09
1. Participation
1.1 Job Search ’09 is open to all new (and older) graduates interested in finding jobs.
1.2 There are no fees for participation. But all participants must take care of their own meals and snacks.
1.3 Participants must attend the one-day camp to qualify for a certificate of participation.
1.4 Participants are encouraged to pre-register because only 1000 slots are available per camp. To pre-register: text City or Place of training
Globe 0915-199-9689
Smart 0919-851-8416
Sun 0922-554-1246
Examples: University belt
Or email: kristina@brand-channel.com
2. Registration
2.1 Registration per camp opens at 7:00 a.m. on the assigned date per venue. To enter the campus, a participant must use their own school ID or some other identification.
2.2 To register, participants will fill out a registration card/class card.
2.3 Participants will each be given a kit they will need for the two days.
2.3.1 Camp folder (for materials to be distributed in each class)
2.3.2 General instructions sheet
2.3.3 Classroom and topics list
2.3.4 Class card
2.3.5 Other MAR materials
3. Learn
3.1 The three (3) topics will be run in every time slot to allow all participants to attend each at least once during the two days.
3.2 Classroom lists will be posted with the name of the topic and the instructor/lecturer.
3.3 Attendance in all classes are on a first-come-first-served basis. Once a class of 45 is filled (i.e. all seats taken), the door will be closed by the camp volunteer assigned to the class. Participants will have to look for the topic of their choice in another assigned classroom.
3.4 Participants can attend all three topics in any order during the whole day. Topics are not sequential.
3.5 A bell will ring to signify the end and the beginning of each class. Participants have from 15 minutes to choose a class and to move from one classroom to another. Participants can also opt to stay in the same class for a repeat of the topic if they so choose.
BOOT CAMP DAY
7:00 – 8:00 Registration
8:00 – 8:30 Opening plenary
8:30 – 9:30 Slot 1
9:30– 9:45 Break
9:45 – 10:45 Slot 2
10:45-11:00 Break
11:00-12:00 Slot 3
NOTE: Certificates of participation will be mailed directly to participants upon receipt of an online CV.
4. Be guided
4.1 At the start of each class, participants should fill in the name of the topic and classroom number on their class cards and have these initialed by the camp volunteer assigned to the class.
4.2 Topic materials will be distributed during the class by the lecturer.
4.3 At the end of Day 1, class cards will be surrendered to the secretariat/registration tables. Participants will be given an instruction sheet on how to participate in the on-line job fair and receive a token from the program.
5. After the Camp
5.1 Within seven (7) days after the camp, participants must prepare a CV and submit this online to jobs@jobstart.ph. Participants can also fill in the on-line template at www.jobstart.ph.
5.2 www.jobstart.ph is an on-line data-base managed by JobsDB.com, a global job search company with over 10,000 clients in the Philippines who use the service to look for potential employees. All CVs received online will be shared with over 10,000 large, medium and small companies in the Philippines,
5.2 If a participant does not have access to a computer or the internet, they can go to the STI College or Education Center in their city to use their facilities for free. Participants must show the camp token to STI to gain access to their facilities.
6. Submit the CV online…Receive the certificate of participation
6.1 Once a participant’s CV is received and loaded on to www.jobstart.ph, they will receive a tracking number for follow-up purposes.
6.2 Once loaded on to the data-base, the program will mail a Certificate of Participation to the participant.
GOOD LUCK TO ALL IN YOUR JOB SEARCH.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Lupang Hinirang, Lupang Hinarang: April 21 Update
Farmers Marched Against HR 737 to Protect the Rights of Filipino Farmers to Own LandsFarmers from Sumilao, Banasi and Calatagan marched from Welcome Rotonda in Quezon City to the Batasan to protest the Congress’ deliberation of House Resolution (HR) 737 which seeks to allow the acquisition by foreign corporations and associations, and the transfer and conveyance, of alienable public and private lands. Instead, the farmers reiterated their demand to Congress to immediately deliberate CARP Extension with Reforms (House Bill 4077) and enact the same before its adjournment.
The 26 farmers walked with the message “PASS CARPER NOW” painted on their bodies, and staged a short program before the DAR and Congress together with other farmers from PAKISAMA, PKSK and PARAGOS. They also made a symbolic “burying” of anti-CARPER solons including Iggy Arroyo, Mikey and Datu Arroyo, Luis Villafuerte, Pablo Garcia, Alfredo Marañon, Crispin Remulla, Jeffrey Ferrer, Jose Lacson, Mark Cojuangco, Ebbie Apostol, Eufrocino Codilla, Sr., Jack Duavit, Pryde Teves and Bernard Piñol. DAR Secretary Pangandaman, who has failed to defend the farmers’ rights as agrarian reform secretary, was also buried with the anti-CARPER solons.
Incidentally, these anti-CARPER solons including Speaker Prospero Nograles are also the main proponents of HR 737. Last April 2, Speaker Nograles publicly expressed to prioritize the deliberation and enactment of CARPER before adjournment. House Bill 4077 has not yet been deliberated in the House since its resumption on April 13, yet, House Resolution 737 has been proceeding swiftly before the House. Sumilao Farmer Yoyong Merida laments, “Bakit uunahin ng pamahalaan ang pagbibigay ng lupa sa mga dayuhan samantalang karamihan sa ating mga magsasaka ay wala pang lupa? Dapat iprayoridad ng kongreso ang pagpasa ng CARPER para maipamahagi sa ating mga Pilipinong magsasaka ang lupa at hindi para sa mga dayuhan.”
Further, the farmers insist that HR 737 is based on inaccurate grounds. HR 737 alleged that allowing foreign ownership will usher in foreign investments. Based on studies, however, foreign investors in the Philippines are not actually asking for ownership of land. Rather, they merely need to be ensured of stability of rules so they know what rules govern their businesses and that there are actually mechanisms that will help protect their capital. Moreover, contrary to beliefs that foreign corporations could usher in increase agricultural productivity and efficiency, studies prove that smaller farms are more efficient in producing food crops. In addition, in the country labor is an important concern. Mechanization will not be efficient in the context because of a massive labor force.
This Constitutional restriction on foreign ownership of land obviously involves a national security issue. Considering that there is no cap to the total area allowable for foreign ownership, there might come a time that we will run out of agricultural lands which serve as food sources. This, specially considering that foreign corporations cannot be dictated what type of crop (food instead of cash crop) will be planted therein. Also, many of the produce of commercial farms—likely to multiply upon grant of ownership of lands to foreigners-are targeted for export and the output is intended for other countries. This will be problematic for food security in the country. In such a situation, there is a possibility that the retention limit for ownership of agricultural lands will be increased by legislation, as foreigners will not accept coverage of their lands under the CARP. As such, there will also be stronger resistance from Filipino landowners.
Farmers from Sumilao, Banasi and Calatagan who stayed in Manila are asking the public to join the CARPER campaign, as national development is founded on solid building blocks like agricultural development. Giving the farmers land to till enhances their opportunities for better income. Increased income for the rural poor results in an improved economy. An improved economy means a better country. Agrarian reform means economic development and food security not just for the farmers but also for all citizens in the country.
The farmers are also asking the public to join them in a March to Congress to bring the citizens’ petition for CARPER bearing 1 Million signatures. The march to Congress is scheduled to be held on April 27, 2009.
If you want to help gather signatures and schedule a screening of Lupang Hinarang, a film made by Ditsi Carolino (the filmmaker who made Bunso and Minsan Lang Sila Bata), please contact the following for details and information:
Kaka Bag-ao: kakabagao@gmail.com
Jane Capacio: cheeryjanee@yahoo.com
Mally Gargar (BALAOD): 09224456384; 09177171879
Reggie Aquino/Junard Devila (KAISAHAN): 4330760
You may also visit the site for updates www.carpernow.multiply.com
CARPER Signature Campaign & Congress Watch
As of today, the farmers were able to gather 65,098 signatures in support of CARP Extension with Reforms and have become more emboldened in their quest for social justice as more and more individual citizens and sectors walk with them in their struggle.
The leadership of Congress (Senate President Enrile and House Speaker Nograles) on separate occasions categorically announced their commitment to enact immediately an agrarian reform extension with reforms law that reinstates compulsory acquisition being the heart and soul of agrarian reform. They have likewise expressed that the law will be enacted before June 2009.
Last March 20, known anti-CARP Representatives Pablo Garcia (Cebu), and Luis Villafuerte (Camarines Sur) also pledged to bring back Compulsory Acquisition (CA) before Senate President Enrile during a special meeting called by the Senator. The said Congresspersons also stated that they are not really against CARP but they merely want to ensure that the law is reformed. Rep. Arthur Defensor (3rd District, Iloilo) also expressed his support for CARP Extension with Reforms but said that crucial reforms should be put in place to ensure justice for all stakeholders of the program, including the landowners.
Representatives Prospero Nograles (Davao), Ma. Amelita Villarosa (Mindoro Occidental), Michael John Duavit (Rizal), Robert Raymund Estrella (ABONO), Alejandro Marañon (Negros Occidental), Conrado Estrella (Pangasinan), Jeffrey Ferrer (Negros Occidental), and Andres Salvacion (Northern Leyte) were present during the lunch meeting with the Bishops on 2 April 2009 where the House Speaker committed to enacting the CARPER Bill before June 6.
The latest additions were present during the meetings at the Senate (Villafuerte, Garcia and Defensor) and the House wherein all the legislators present were unanimous in restoring compulsory acquisition into the CARP.
Together with the commitment of the Senate President to enact CARPER before June 2009, there are now a total of 15 Senators who had given their assurance to the bishops that they will help ensure that a new CARP law will be enacted, with compulsory acquisition restored, and with at least P147 billion budgetary allocation. These are the following:
Senators who Support CARPER
| 1. Juan Ponce-Enrile | 9. Richard Gordon |
| 2. Gringo Honasan | 10. Alan Peter Cayetano |
| 3. Kiko Pangilinan | 11. Pong Biazon |
| 4. Jinggoy Estrada | 12. Nene Pimentel |
| 5. Mar Roxas | 13. Juan Miguel Zubiri |
| 6. Chiz Escuder | 14. Ping Lacson |
| 7. Manny Villar | 15. Loren Legarda |
| 8. Miriam Defensor-Santiago |
The commitment of the members of the House Panel to support the enactment of CARPER brings the total number to 107 representatives who have signified their support for the cause of the farmers and pushed for the adherence to the Constitutional mandate of undertaking and completion of an effective agrarian reform program in the country.
Co-Authors of CARP Extension with Reforms Bill (House Bill 4077)
| 9. Hontiveros-Baraquel, Ana Theresia “Risa” (AKBAYAN) | 25. Gullas, Eduardo R. (1st District, Cebu) |
| 10. Hataman, Mujiv S. (AMIN) | 26. Chatto, Edgar M. (1st District, Bohol) |
| 11. Valdez, Edgar L. (APEC) | 27. Fua, Orlando B. (Lone District, Siquijor) |
| 12. Velarde, Rene M. (BUHAY) | 28. Ong, Emil L. (2nd District, Northern Samar) |
| 13. Chavez, Leonila V. (BUTIL) | 29. Cari, Carmen L. (5th District, Northern Leyte) |
| 14. Cua, Guillermo/2nd Nominee (COOP NATCO) | 30. Rodriguez, Rufus B. (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro) |
| 15. Singson, Ronald V. (1st District, Ilocos Sur) | 31. Ungab, Isidro T. (3rd District, Davao City) |
| 16. Celeste, Arthur F. (1st District, Pangasinan) | 32. Cagas, Marc Douglas IV C. (1st District, Davao Sur) |
| 17. Padilla, Carlos M. (Lone District, Nueva Vizcaya) | 33. Mangudadatu, Datu Pax S. (1st District, Sultan Kudarat) |
| 18. Cua, Junie E. (Lone District, Quirino) | 34. Go, Arnulfo F. (2nd District, Sultan Kudarat) |
| 19. Garcia, Albert S. (Bataan, 2nd District) | 35. Matugas, Francisco T. (1st District, Surigao Norte) |
| 20. Diaz, Antonio M. (2nd District, Zambales) | 36. Pichay, Philip A. (1st District, Surigao Sur) |
| 21. Joson, Eduardo Nonato N. (1st District, Nueva Ecija) | 37. Garay, Florencio C. (2nd District, Surigao Sur) |
| 22. Antonino, Rodolfo W. (4th District, Nueva Ecija) | 38. Bulut, Elias Jr. C. (Lone District, Apayao) |
| 23. Silverio, Lorna C. (3rd District, Bulacan) | 39. Agyao, Manuel S. (Lone District, Kalinga) |
| 24. Abaya, Joseph Emilio A. (1st District, Cavite) | 40. Dumarpa, Faysah RPM (1st District, Lanao Sur) |
| 25. Enverga, Wilfrido Mark M. (1st District, Quezon Province) | 41. Balindong, Pangalian M. (2nd District, Lanao Sur) |
| 26. Suarez, Danilo E. (3rd District, Quezon Province) | 42. Jikiri, Yusop H. (1st District, Sulu) |
| 27. Tañada, Lorenzo III R. (4th District, Quezon Province) | 43. Teodoro, Marcelino (1st District, Marikina) |
| 28. Mitra, Abraham Kahlil B. (2nd District, Palawan) | 44. De Guzman, Del R. (2nd District, Marikina) |
| 29. Vinzons-Chato, Liwayway (Lone District, Camarines Norte) | 45. Romulo, Roman T. (Lone District, Pasig) |
| 30. Lagman, Edcel C. (1st District, Albay) | 46. Villar, Cynthia A. (Lone District, Las Piñas) |
| 31. Lim, Reno G. (3rd District, Albay) | 47. Abante, Bienvinido Jr. M. (6th District, Manila) |
| 32. Escudero, Salvador III H. (1st District, Sorsogon) | 48. Gunigundo, Magtanggol T. (2nd District, Valenzuela) |
Identified as Supporters of CARPER:
| 1. Ablan, Roque (1st District, Ilocos Norte) | 25. Hofer, Ann (2nd District, Zambo Sibugay) |
| 2. Singson, Eric (2nd District, Ilocos Sur) | 26. Emano, Yevgeny Vincente (2nd District, Misamis Oriental) |
| 3. Agbayani, Victor (2nd District,Pangasinan) | 27. Guingona, Teofisto (2nd District, Bukidnon) |
| 4. De Venecia, Jose (4rd District, Pangasinan) | 28. Romualdo, Pedro (Lone District, Camiguin) |
| 5. Diasnes, Carlo Oliver (Lone District, Batanes) | 29. Olano, Arrel (1st District, Davao Norte) |
| 6. Vargas, Florencio (2nd District, Cagayan) | 30. Bautista, Franklin (2nd District, Davao Sur) |
| 7. Mamba, Manuel (3rd District, Cagayan) | 31. Antonino-Custodio, Darlene (1st District, South Cotabato) |
| 8. Uy, Edwin (2nd District,Isabela) | 32. Pingoy, Arthur (2nd District, South Cotabato) |
| 9. Aggabao, Giorgidi (4th District, Isabela) | 33. Romarate, Guillermo (2nd District, Surigao Norte) |
| 10. Bondoc, Anna York (4th District, Pampanga) | 34. Seares-Luna, Cecilia (Lone District, Abra) |
| 11. Sy-Alvarado, Ma. Victoria (1st District, Bulacan) | 35. Chungalao, Solomon (Lone District, Ifugao) |
| 12. Pancho, Pedro (1st District, Bulacan) | 36. Jaafar, Nur (Lone District, Tawi-Tawi) |
| 13. Nicolas, Reylina (4th District, Bulacan) | 37. Cayetano, Ma. Laarni (1st District, Pateros-Taguig) |
| 14. Robes, Arturo (Lone District ,San Jose de Monte) | 38. Zamora, Ronaldo (Lone District, San Juan) |
| 15. Chipeco, Justin (2nd District, Laguna) | 39. Locsin, Teodoro (1st District, Makati) |
| 16. Arago, Maria Evita (3rd District, Laguna) | 40. Binay, Mar-len Abigail (2nd District, Makati) |
| 17. San Luis, Edgar (4th District, Laguna) | 41. Golez, Roilo (2nd District, Paranaque) |
| 18. Alcala, Proceso (2nd District, Quezon) | 42. Asilo, Benjamin (1st District, Manila) |
| 19. Seachon-Lanete, Rizalina (3rd District, Masbate) | 43. Lopez, Jaime (2nd District, Manila) |
| 20. Javier, Exequiel (Lone District, Antique) | 44. Sandoval, Alvin (Lone District, Malabon/Navotas) |
| 21. Tupas, Niel (5th District, Iloilo) | 45. Biazon, Ruffy (Lone District, Muntinlupa) |
| 22. Chong, Glenn (Lone District, Biliran) | 46. Teng, Irwin (BUHAY) |
| 23. Cabilao, Belma (1st District, Zambo Sibugay) | 47. Villanueva, Joel (CIBAC) |
| 24. Fernandez, Danilo Ramon S. (1st District, Laguna) | 48. Pancrudo, Candido Jr. (1st District, Bukidnon) |
Representatives who were present during the House Panel Meeting with the Senate and the House Dialogue with the Bishops and the Farmers who concurred with the commitment of Senate President Enrile and Speaker Nograles to enact CARPER before June 2009
| 1. Defensor, Arthur Sr. (3rd District, Iloilo) | 7. Estrella, Robert Raymund Estrella (ABONO) |
| 2. Nograles, Prospero (Davao) | 8. Marañon, Alejandro (Negros Occidental) |
| 3. Villarosa, Ma. Amelita Villarosa (Mindoro Occidental) | 9. Estrella, Conrado (Pangasinan) |
| 4. Duavit, Michael John (Rizal) | 10. Garcia, Pablo (Cebu) |
| 5. Salvacion, Andres (Northern Leyte) | 11. Villafuerte, Luis (Camarines Sur) |
| 6. Ferrer Jeffrey (Negros Occidental) |
Some Things You Should Know
According to the Social Weather Stations (SWS), self-rated poverty has fallen from 52% to 47%.
Forty-seven percent or about 8.7 million of Filipino families consider themselves as Mahirap or Poor, 27% put themselves on the Borderline, and 26% consider themselves as Hindi Mahirap or Not Poor, according to the First Quarter 2009 Social Weather Survey, fielded over February 20-23, 2009.
Self-Rated Poverty has been on a generally downward trend since mid-2008, declining from 59% in June 2008, 52% in September, 52% in December, to 47% in February 2009 [Chart 1, Table 1].
The February 2009 survey also found that 36% of Filipino families (est. 6.7 million) consider themselves as Food-Poor, 34% put themselves on the Food-Borderline, and 30% consider themselves as Not Food-Poor [Chart 2, Table 2].
Self-Rated Food Poverty has been volatile but also declining since it went from 49% in June 2008, to 38% in September, 42% in December, to 36% in February 2009.
[via SWS.org.ph]
Should we start thanking Malacanang? LOL.
The Supreme Court has increased the Congress seats for party-list groups to 55.
The decision, in effect, paved the way for the representation of 19 more party-list groups by 32 additional House representatives from the present 17 party-list groups with 23 representatives.
The additional party-list groups include FPJPM, Uni-Mad, ABS, Kakusa, Kabataan, Aba-ako, Alif, Senior Citizens, AT, Veterans’ Federation of the Philippines, Anad, Banat, Ang Kasangga, Bantay, Abakada, 1-Utak and the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines.
Others that would have additional one seat from their lone representation at this time are A-Teacher, Alagad, Coop-Natcco, Butil, Batas, ARC, Anakpawis, Abono, Anak Mindanao, Agap and Anwaray.
[via Business Mirror]
Will this finally derail the cha-cha efforts in Congress?.
Speaking of cha-cha: Aside from ensuring that any orchestration towards term extension and consolidation of power is stopped, we should also block this revision of so-called "economic provisions". Giving land-owning rights to foreigners is like ceding our nation to colonial masters (but aren't we already?).
Therefore, even if Nograles argues that his proposed amendments are not for PGMA's term extension, we must at all costs stop it from taking flight.
Read more about how this cha-cha is "ensuring the irrelevance of being Filipino" in UP Law Dean Leonen's blog post.
Yesterday, I posted some notes on registering for the 2010 elections. Today, when I checked my e-mail, I received this response from COMELEC when I inquired about my voter's ID:
Sir/Madam
I would like to inform you that we currently have some technical problems with our servers, and verification of the status of printing of your voter's ID would have to be put on hold for the mean time until such problem is resolved. I am very sorry about this.
Thank you!
Epic fail!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Gaano ka ka-sigurado na makakaboto ka sa 2010?
Are you aware that the deadline for COMELEC registration is cut short from December to October this year?
If you are a registered voter but you were not able to vote during the last two elections, how sure are you that you are not one of the millions who were de-listed from the COMELEC voters list?
With the automation of election, is voter’s ID a requirement before you can vote?
If you were married after the 2007 elections and/or you transferred to a new residence, do you know what forms you need to submit to your local COMELEC office?
In 2010, an estimate of 34 million Filipinos will fall within 18-34 years old.This is 54% of the total voting population.This data includes most of us - young professionals, entrepreneurs, students or young couples.How many of us know the answers to the questions above?
Your jobs, business, responsibilities at home or school requirements might be too time consuming on your part. But perhaps these reasons do not deter you from being willing to register and be a voter in the 2010 elections, right?
The Ayala Young Leaders Alliance (AYLA) understands your concerns. This is the reason, why AYLA in partnership with Youth Vote Philippines is organizing a weekly Information Session on Voters Education. On its 2nd leg, the InfoSession will be held at the office of Ayala Foundation, 10F BPI Main Building, Ayala Avenue corner Paseo de Roxas, Makati City on April 22 (Wednesday) from 6-8 in the evening.
This is open to all. Spend some time with us after your office hours. Invite your friends or colleagues. We promise that this won’t be your usual Wednesday night.
We do not want to just let things happen while doing nothing.
In the 2007 elections, 6.4M potential voters were not registered. Of this number, 832,000 were young people.624,000 did not know that they had to register before voting-and that registration could be done anytime.
The Info Session is being run by the Ayala Young Leaders Alliance volunteers. We are open in replicating this campaign in your company, school, organization, church or community. For queries, please contact Ralph C. Morales at (02) 752-1065 or 0917-854-5191 or ralph.morales@ayalayoungleaders.ph.
I registered last April 2007. Unfortunately, up to now, I have yet to get my Voter's ID. I found out in the COMELEC website that voters can check the printing status of their IDs via email. Just send your fullname (first, middle, last), date of birth, and address to voters_id@comelec.gov.ph. I'm not yet sure how well this service works but I guess it's worth a try.
Aside from the COMELEC website, you can also check updates via the COMELEC - Education & Information Department's blog.
Anton pointed out another function of the COMELEC website - the Precinct Finder. The database is based on the submissions of COMELEC field election offices after the 2007 Barangay Elections and 2008 ARMM Elections.
Here's what appeared when I tried searching for name:
Although I found my name in the precinct finder, I was alarmed about the "unreadability" of my biometrics (fingerprints). Since COMELEC is already going for automation, this may pose some problems (i.e. not being allowed to vote since my fingerprints cannot be recognized by the voting machine). I may have to visit the field office soon to get more information on this since e-mailing them may only result to much disappointment on my part.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Just Some Stuff About Me
Working on a campaign team for the 2010 elections is quite tough. But it's very exciting and I'm learning new things everyday. I just hope I can deliver the way I should - more than what is expected.
It's hard commuting to and from work. It's a two-hour commute, one-way. The travel time is hindering me from pursuing the do-it-all lifestyle that I'm used to. It's like I'm back to highschool life (the commute to Manila is also unforgiving) all over again.
When the home of Aldo is ready for me, I'll move in immediately. I need more time in the morning to read my news and some me-time in the evening to watch my favorite shows and to chat with friends.
It's just my third day in the campaign team but I've already gotten a taste of the on-going strategy. I believe that the our team's organizing work is really the right way of doing it. But all this organizing got me thinking - how are other presidentiables doing it?
Aside from Mar-Korina engagement, my favorite "news item" this week is this editorial in PDInquirer yesterday.
'Wang-wang'Call her Jackie S. The “interim first lady” of East Timor, Jacqueline Aquino Siapno, is a Filipina political scientist married to Fernando de Araujo, president of the new country’s National Parliament. She was back in the Philippines recently, for what she called a private visit. It was not the determinedly private nature of her visit that caught the attention of the Philippine Daily Inquirer; it was the resolutely modest way she went a-visiting.
The best way to capture this exemplary modesty is to quote at some length the report written by Inquirer correspondent Gabriel Cardinoza. “After exchanging greetings [at the Manila airport] they [Jackie S. and her mother] took a cab and headed to a bus terminal in Pasay City where they boarded a bus bound for her native Dagupan. The Friday night trip took five hours. At the station, they hailed a tricycle and asked to be taken to their house in Barangay Bonuan Gueset.”
This isn’t merely a charming anecdote: it is an indirect indictment of the way most public officials or political personalities in the Philippines conduct themselves, when travelling. It makes for a good story because it reminds us of the inexhaustibly surprising quality of human nature. But it makes for a front-page story because it offers a contrast to the “wang-wang” culture our political VIPs, both high and petty, take for granted.
Ms Siapno may not know the meaning of “wang-wang”—she has lived abroad for most of her adult life, earning (among other distinctions) a Ph.D. from the University of California in Berkeley—but she should recognize the self-importance her old country’s politicians attach to themselves. Wang-wang is the siren that “very important people” acquire, whether they ride unescorted or as part of a convoy; the sound is a sign that the usual (traffic) rules do not apply to VIPs. They are, obviously, too important.
Already, we can anticipate the objections, the clarifications, that officials who feel alluded to will issue. Her visit, they would say, was a private affair. There is no comparison with their official travel.
Yes, but they would miss the point. Jackie S. could have used or borrowed a private vehicle. That she did not consider herself too good for an ordinary bus or—Que barbaridad!—a rickety tricycle tells us more about the dignity of public office than flashing lights and wailing sirens ever can.
But East Timor is a small, impoverished country, other politicians or their hired spokesmen might say. There is no comparison.
Again, they would miss the point. Substantial government resources are spent every year to provide public officials with the illusion that we are already a rich country. How many hundreds of soldiers, how many thousands of policemen, are assigned to public officials as personal security? How many vehicles must be deployed to ferry a VIP and his security retinue from venue to venue? Does a vice mayor of a second-class municipality really need a close-in bodyguard? Does a congressman back in her district really need a motorcycle escort? Does a Cabinet secretary making the rounds in Metro Manila really need two beige-colored, red-plated AUVs to shadow his gas-guzzling SUV?
You get the point. Or at least we ordinary citizens do. We are not asking our public officials to use public transportation to go to and from work—although that would amount to a moral revolution. We are only asking them to reconsider the sense of entitlement, the sense of inflated dignity they display because of their complicity in the wang-wang culture.
But the “interim first lady” of East Timor is not even an official, nor does she hold a permanent position, still other officials would say. There is no comparison.
They would, again, be missing the point. All public office is temporary. And too many of our own officeholders use their office to aggrandize not only themselves but their families. Who has not seen police bodyguards deployed to secure an official’s child, or a convoy of government vehicles to accompany an official’s spouse?
In her simplicity, in her sure sense of self, Jackie S. reminds us how spoiled, how self-indulgent, how corrupt, many of our high-riding officials have become.
[via Inquirer.net]
Congratulations to Duyan ng Giting for last night's Dialogues@Starbucks featuring One Tama
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
It's Generational
Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno has assembled a team to serve as vanguards of moral force in this country of "moral pariah".
MANILA, Philippines—A Moral Force Movement envisioned by Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno has taken shape and is set to come up with a criteria on who voters should elect in the 2010 balloting—from president down to the local levels.
Court spokesperson Jose Midas Marquez said Puno had chosen highly respected individuals to make up the movement’s core group and has attended its two meetings over the past three weeks.
The group is composed of Henrietta De Villa, chair of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting; Msgr. Gerardo Santos, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission; and Marixi Prieto, chair of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Also in the group are Methodist Bishop Emerito Nacpil; Retired Gen. Jaime Echeverria, president of the Association of Generals and Flag Officers; former Finance Undersecretary Milwida Guevarra; Far Eastern University law dean Andres Bautista; and Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines 2008 awardee Noorain Sabdulla.
[via Inquirer.net]
This is a valiant effort from the Chief Justice. But I have one concern though - why is there only one member of the youth sector? Alas, this is another case of members of an older generation fighting about what needs to be done. I say put more younger ones in the team and give us a legitimate voice in this moral force movement. Please don't make this one another imposition of ideals of an older generation on a new generation that is currently in formation.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Nuances, Anomalies, and Subtleties
As Harold took a bite of Bavarian sugar cookie, he finally felt as if everything was going to be ok.
Sometimes, when we lose ourselves in fear and despair, in routine and constancy, in hopelessness and tragedy, we can thank God for Bavarian sugar cookies. And, fortunately, when there aren't any cookies, we can still find reassurance in a familiar hand on our skin, or a kind and loving gesture, or subtle encouragement, or a loving embrace, or an offer of comfort, not to mention hospital gurneys and nose plugs, an uneaten Danish, soft-spoken secrets, and Fender Stratocasters, and maybe the occasional piece of fiction. And we must remember that all these things, the nuances, the anomalies, the subtleties, which we assume only accessorize our days, are effective for a much larger and nobler cause. They are here to save our lives.
I know the idea seems strange, but I also know that it just so happens to be true.
And, so it was, a wristwatch saved Harold Crick.
-Karen Eiffel, "Stranger than Fiction"
My Final Words on Chip
I'll let Conrado de Quiros do the writing.
Chip on the shoulder
by Conrado de Quiros
I REMEMBER again a column a friend of mine wrote ages ago. It was a satire. He commended the appointment of a moralistic bastard to a government post that would enable him to render judgment on creative works. The commendation was grossly exaggerated and full of praise for the wrong things. He ended by saying that he could think of no one who better deserved the job.
How did the moralistic bastard react? He wrote a letter thanking my friend profusely!
His letter was not satirical. But that just goes to show how satire can be a dangerous thing in this country. Not because it invites reprisal from its target but because it invites misunderstanding from its target audience. I have another friend who got sued for writing a satirical piece by someone who wasn’t her target. Hell, I got sued—or this newspaper was—for a satirical piece by two people I was trying to help!
This was way back in the early 1990s when I was still writing editorials for this paper. A man and woman got fired from their jobs, clerical ones in a provincial court. They had both worked for decades there, but now lost not just their jobs but their retirement benefits. Their crime? They were having an affair. I said they truly deserved to be fired, having clerical jobs was a crime in itself. Of course the judge was a well-known drunk, but being a judge his judgment could never be impaired. And of course the court was known to look the other way in cases involving the rich, but that was courtly prerogative. Or words to this effect. You get the drift.
We got sued—by the man and woman! Of course the provincial court dismissed the suit almost immediately. What can I say? The judge himself must have been tremendously pleased.
I remembered all this when I read Chip Tsao’s article “The War at Home.” That was the article that produced a tempest in our teacup last week. Many Filipinos took umbrage at being depicted as “a nation of servants.” The DFA demanded an apology from the offending Hong Kong publication, and got it. The Bureau of Immigration got into the act and declared Tsao persona non grata, never to set foot in these shores without issuing an apology for the contumely.
Curious at a thing that could drive us to heights of outrage, when we are being openly injured and insulted every day by our government and we just shrug it off as part of being Filipino, I read the article. My reaction? LOL, as the kids say. Or for those who do not understand text language any more than satire, laugh out loud.
The article is funny and witty. What is it saying? Let’s see if we can’t exaggerate it more to drive home the satire:
The Russians are meddling in Spratlys? Fine, the Russians taught the Chinese Marx and Lenin anyway. The Japanese are meddling in Spratlys? Fine, the Chinese can’t do without karaoke anyway. But the Filipinos threatening to go to war over Spratlys? That is an outrage! Being a patriotic Chinese citizen, he (Tsao) means to do his part. He has already told his Filipino maid that if war breaks out between China and the Philippines, he will hold her hostage.
“The government of the Philippines would certainly be wrong if they think we Chinese are prepared to swallow their insult and sit back and lose a Falkland Islands War in the Far East…. Some of my friends told me they have already declared a state of emergency at home. Their maids have been made to shout ‘China, Madam/Sir’ loudly whenever they hear the word ‘Spratly.’ They say the indoctrination is working as wonderfully as when we used to shout, ‘Long live Chairman Mao!’ at the sight of a portrait of our Great Leader during the Cultural Revolution.”
Isn’t that funny? And isn’t the target clearly the Chinese government? The Falkland Islands is a dead giveaway. The Falkland War, which Britain fought with Argentina in 1982, is a reminder of lingering British colonialism. By the same token, the Spratlys is a reminder of ongoing Chinese expansionism. The references to indoctrination and “Long live Chairman Mao” are an even deader giveaway.
Arguably, Tsao could have used another way to satirize the Chinese government, but the use of the Filipino maid is just too tempting. This is not of the order of that joke in “Desperate Housewives” where, upon being told she is menopausal, Teri Hatcher says: “OK, before we go any further, can I check these diplomas? Just to make sure they aren’t, like, from some med school in the Philippines?” That is truly cruel, casting as it does Filipino doctors in a bad light, with not very savory consequences for their practice in the US. It deserved being protested.
Tsao’s “joke” is nothing like that. It even casts Filipinos in a good light, by inference. Surely the Chinese have no love lost for Russia and Japan? The latter particularly—you know, the Rape of Nanking? By objecting to the one country that has not done Hong Kong, or China generally, any harm, it extols its virtues.
Some Filipinos of course have defended Tsao’s article by saying that, true enough, we are a nation of servants. No amount of denying that will make it go away, it’s time we took our licks if we can’t do anything about it. There’s that too. But it misses the point. The point is that the barb isn’t aimed at us, it’s aimed elsewhere.
Frankly, I don’t know how we can fail to understand or appreciate satire. We have a robust tradition of it. Jose Rizal was past master at it, writing slyly, funnily and bitingly about the Spanish rulers, especially the friars. But maybe it’s not just that tradition we’re losing, or have lost, it’s the capacity to read itself. Ultimately that may be the true satirical, ironical and cruel footnote on us:
We haven’t just become a nation of servants, we’ve become a nation of illiterates.
[via Inquirer.net]
Sunday, April 05, 2009
Thoughts on Priesthood
I attended the ordination of six Jesuits yesterday into the priesthood. It was my first time to witness the sacrament of Holy Orders. While in the celebration several thoughts came to mind.
First, it's a long celebration. It was long mainly because of the part wherein the bishop and the other Jesuits get to lay their hands over the priests-to-be. For a lay person like me, I see it as a fitting way of welcoming the new priests into the order. Well, as I've learned in my vocation seminar, Jesuits take a separate vow during a later time of their priesthood (as in very late in their ministry) that would officially make them part of the Society. Nonetheless, being welcomed by your brother priests, some of whom are your mentors, is a great experience, much like being in your own graduation.
On some level, I think the whole sacrament of Holy Orders was not too different from my own experience of graduation. It was an experience of thanksgiving. I thought ordinations were simple and attended by few people. But the Church of the Gesu was jam-packed with family and friends - all came to be with their Jesuit loved one/s whose vocation they've supported in a myriad of ways. At the same time, there were many Jesuits there who are happy to see the ordination of their brothers into the priesthood. I guess the newly ordained priests felt a sense of joy that my scholastic friends described. It was a sense of joy of being with brothers who share this special vocation of ministry. In a way, I also felt the same joy during my own graduation. I felt a sense of solidarity with my friends who graduated with me. At the same time, I also felt grateful for the gift of family and friends who have supported me throughout my years in college and in my lifetime.
Ordination was also about missioning. One of the most exciting parts of the ordination was when Fr. Jojo Magadia SJ (Superior of the Jesuit Philippine Province) announced the assignments of the six newly ordained priests. Most of them were assigned to parishes in the province.
During my graduation, I felt the weight of the challenges of "making myself" and "fulfilling my purpose" on my shoulder. In a way, it was my own missioning. Down to the world go I! Although I do not have the privilege of being directed by a Provincial Superior on what mission to undertake, I feel like my own mentors can help me on my way.
A few days after graduation, the exuberant feeling slowly wears off and is replaced by the feeling of anxiety over an uncertain future. But the first reading in the ordination reminded me that my future lies not only in my hands but on the will of God.
The word of the LORD came to me thus:
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.
"Ah, Lord GOD!" I said, "I know not how to speak; I am too young."
But the LORD answered me, Say not, "I am too young." To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak.
Have no fear before them, because I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD.
Then the LORD extended his hand and touched my mouth, saying, See, I place my words in your mouth!
- Jeremiah 1:5-10
May all of us find strength, comfort, and certainty through the grace of God.
Congratulations to the newly ordained Jesuit priests:
Fr. Javy Alpasa, SJ
Fr. Francis Alvarez, SJ
Fr. Jason Dy, SJ
Fr. Oliver Dy, SJ
Fr. Frank Savadera, SJ
Fr. Robbie Sian, SJ
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Is a Published Memoirist
6-word memoir got published, pleasant surprise.
Hhmm.. What could this possibly say about my life?
I can't remember when and how I contributed to this 6-word memoir project. All I can remember is that I did this online. It's cute that I got published with some famous names like Deepak Chopra and Moby.
Thanks Andrea for this pleasant morning surprise!
Sasalubungin natin ang kinabukasan
Nang walang takot at walang pangamba
Tadhana'y merong trip na makapangyarihan
Kung ayaw may dahilan
Kung gusto palaging merong paraan
-Rico Blanco, "Antukin"
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
On the Issue of the 'Sale' of Xavier House
Yesterday, Philippine Daily Inquirer had an article about the sale of Society of Jesus's Xavier House in Sta. Ana to the SM Group.
MANILA, Philippines—Xavier House, a property of the Society of Jesus on Pedro Gil Street in Sta. Ana, Manila, that served as a broadcast hub of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, has been sold to the SM Group.
Fr. James B. Reuter, a living hero of the historic 1986 People Power, said he had been asked by SJ superiors to move out of Xavier House and relocate to either Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City or Xavier School in San Juan City.
A representative of the country’s leading mall developer confirmed the sale Monday.
[via Inquirer.net]
Today, PDI had a new article mentioning that there was merely a "mix-up".
MANILA, Philippines—The SM Group of retail tycoon Henry Sy has acquired a vacant lot near Xavier House in Sta. Ana, Manila, but the mall developer is neither making a deal nor is planning to buy the heritage house owned by the Jesuits where Fr. James Reuter resides.
“We have not discussed with the Jesuits or anyone regarding the residence of Father Reuter,” SM Investments Corp. vice chair Teresita Sy-Coson said Tuesday.
But Sy-Coson said the SM Group had a property one house away from Xavier House. The property, which has a land area of 2,000 to 3,000 square meters, is the one being planned for a supermarket development.
[via Inquirer.net]
Here is the statment of the Jesuit Philippine province on the said "sale" (via Migoy and Ivan Henares).
In its issue of 31 March 2009, the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) ran a front page article on the ‘sale’ of Xavier House that demands some clarifications, not only because of its misstatements of fact but also on account of the innuendoes and implications it fosters.
1. The article falsely claims that a done deal has been made between the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus and the SM Group for the purchase of the Xavier House property. The Provincial and Province Treasurer are quoted as denying this; but a source from the SM Group (conveniently left unnamed) is produced to state the contrary. In no uncertain terms the article adopts the latter as the correct version. This is not true. The Province has had no contact with the SM Group, has not even gotten to the point of putting the Xavier House property up for sale.
2. The PDI article also tends to misrepresent the whole issue as if it were nothing more than a money-making scheme. It brushes aside the reality that the Province is in real financial straits, exacerbated by the ongoing world financial crisis. The rising costs of medical care for our senior and infirm Jesuits and formation for our younger men have taken a toll on province resources. These resources are dedicated to almost a third of Philippine Jesuits who are in formation, and an even bigger group of some 110 who are over 70 years of age, 61 of whom are 80 and above. Along with this, the Province also has to support other works that are not self-sufficient. It is unfortunate that people do not realize that the Province is not Ateneo de Manila or Xavier School, and that funds do not come out of one big pot that is commonly shared.
3. Fr. James Reuter, with whom I spoke this morning, is very much dismayed at and disturbed by the PDI article. He lamented the distortions it presented and the picture of him and of the Jesuits that the article unfairly painted. Father Reuter continues to affirm that the Society of Jesus he entered almost seventy-five years ago has always cared for him and will continue to do so to the end. He well knows that despite all difficulties, the Philippine Province remains committed to make sure that all our Jesuits in our different communities are provided for and attended to.
JOSE C. J. MAGADIA, S.J.
Provincial
It's unfortunate that one of the oldest religious orders in the world is depleting in both numbers and influence. On more than one occasion, I've heard alumni talk about the decline of the Jesuit presence in the Ateneo. They see it as an unfortunate change since much of the history and character of the university.
Before my graduation last Saturday, I went to the Tong's family's graduation lunch for Aldo. With us were two Jesuits - Fr. Kreutz and Fr. Steinbugler. These senior Jesuits had tons of stories to tell, most of them during their years of service in the Ateneo during the 70s and 80s ("Down from the Hill" era). I wish I had a Jesuit mentor of my own. The closest that I've got would be the scholastics from Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan and the Jesuits Vocation Promotion.
Pumasok na kaya ako sa Kapisanan? LOL
Chipping in my Tsao
Much has been written and said about Chip Tsao's "The War At Home" (the original article in the HK Magazine site was removed but copies can be found online). Pundits, politicians, Filipino-Chinese communities, and basically the whole archipelago were outraged by the "racist slur" in Chao's editorial column. I believe this issue outmatches the one in Jimmy Kimmel Live and in Desperate Housewives.
Amidst all the sanctions (public apology, banning from entering the Philippines, resignation) being demanded by outraged Filipinos, there remains the claim that the editorial was merely a political satire and was not meant to be a racial insult.
For some, such as Muntinlupa Congressman Ruffy Biazon (who is the only legislator I know who is active online - see his social network links here), claiming the piece to be a satire is merely an excuse.
In lieu of these, how should we react to Chip Tsao's "The War At Home"? Well regardless of any factual or satirical claims, I believe that reinforcing racial stereotypes and discrimination is wrong. Nonetheless, I think that there are those who are over-reacting to this issue (the way others have over-reacted to the Kimmel and Desperate Housewives issues). There are more pressing matters that demand our energies, anxieties, and resources (i.e. the hostage situation in Sulu).
Finally, I would have to agree with the Pedestrian Observer.
Malacañang is joining the chorus and has asked the Department of Foreign Affairs to demand an apology, coming from a woman with experience from her own Garci tape scandal on how to apologize without incriminating herself; I wonder what kind of apology is acceptable. Then we have different characters in the senate like Senator Francis Escudero wanting to hire a lawyer in Hong Kong to sue Chip Tsao for damages (translation libel, probably thinking HK has the same ridiculous libel laws) singing the same out of tune take on the imaginary problem but then again this is the Philippines so we expect them to follow the flow and take over in bringing the people down the cliff of frustration.
It is just amazing how our politicians are able to weasel themselves at responsibility finding easy targets to distract the people while projecting themselves as the savior of the downtrodden except this one is imaginary.
Btw, "Nation of Servants" should not be translated as "Bayan ng mga Alipin". Technically, an alipin is a slave. A servant on the other hand is a naninilbihan.
This afternoon, I heard Pampanga Vice Governor Yeng Guiao's interview in DZMM's "Dos Por Dos". He was asked by Anthony Taberna and Jerry Baja to give comments on the recent push for Among Ed's candidacy for 2010 as a presidential candidate. I can't help but agree with Guiao's answer. He said that there are many problems left unsolved in their province. If Among Ed cannot solve these local problems, how does he expect to be the head of a whole nation?
According to Guiao, one and a half years are not enough to provide an appropriate assessment of the performance of Among Ed as a public official. In addition, Guiao mentioned that Among Ed is facing complaints (and maybe a law suit or two) from those that funded his election campaign. According to Guiao, these complaints stem from the marked absence of millions of pesos and dollars in election contribution in the report submitted by Among Ed to the COMELEC. If Among Ed fails to explain this alleged non-declaration of contributions, how can he expect voters to support a campaign anchored in integrity and political reform?
Finally, when Anthony and Jerry asked the Vice Governor about an alternative to Panlilio, Guiao mentioned the name of Manny V. Pangilinan who is also from the province of Pampanga. He mentioned that as a self-made man, Pangilinan should be included in the short-list of potential presidentiables for the 2010 elections.
So is the chairman of ADMU’s board of trustees fit to be the new head of state? Hhhhmmm... I think that running a state bureaucracy and managing a multi-million corporation are two different things (or is it?).
Corruption in Roadworks
I just finished watching Reporter’s Notebook’s feature entitled “Anomalya sa kalsada?” It’s an expose on another one of those corrupt MOs in our government.
In 2001, the Road User's Tax started to be collected from motorists who registered their vehicles. Every year, around 7 million pesos was collected by the National Road Board, the agency in charge of maintaining the good condition of Philippine roads. In the past eight years, more than 50 billion pesos was collected making the Road User's Tax the third largest source of revenue in the country.
However, many roads remain in poor shape. In fact, bad roads were said to have contributed to the increase in road accidents in recent years.
Some congressmen say that the Road User's Tax is not spent correctly. They even suspect that the money is being used by unscrupulous public officials.
Where does the money really go?
[via GMANews.tv]
Through R.A. 8794, the government collects this multi-billion peso fund and empowers the Road Board (not the Congress) to allocate the said fund. The respondents in the documentary question the transparency of the said board in its disbursements. One of its questionable acts is to allocate almost 2 billion pesos for bonuses (for one year) of its 70 employees (AIG, anyone?).
The documentary showed several national roads that were either poorly maintained or left unpaved amidst intense. It showed the dusty, unpaved roads of Eastern Samar. I believe that one of the featured roads was trekked by the Sumilao farmers during their march from Bukidnon to Manila. I think Paping (the one documenting their march back then) got an ankle injury because of one of those mud puddles.
Haaaaaay corruption. Though art a pain in the butt.
Siguro kung maging konggresista ako, araw-araw sasakit ang ulo ko sa mga kasama ko roon – puro grandstanding, tsismisan, at lokohan.