Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer
Date:    03/03/2008

“NOLI”

 In his weekly radio show the other day, Vice President Noli de Castro made a carefully calibrated distinction. Responding to questions about the possibility that he may succeed to the presidency if the current political crisis worsens, he said he was prepared, but not preparing, to take over Malacañang.

“Iba yung naghahanda at handa [There’s a difference between preparing and being prepared].”

His statement was obviously designed to soothe anxiety on both sides of the political divide. When he said that he was not preparing for the possibility, he meant that he shared Malacañang’s upbeat political assessment: President Macapagal-Arroyo will survive this crisis.

On the other hand, when he said that he was “already prepared” to assume the presidency “from Day 1,” he meant that he recognized the reservations of some in the opposition—that he was a political lightweight, and unqualified to assume the presidency.

“From Day 1, I already knew my duties under the Constitution as the elected Vice President. I’m prepared for that,” he said.

For better or for worse, De Castro was elected to the vice presidency in 2004. It is a result which closest rival Sen. Loren Legarda contested, not without reason or evidence; but by virtue of the final decision of the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, it is an election which it is our duty to recognize.

Precisely because of his election, we must also recognize De Castro as someone whom a plurality of voters in 2004 deemed ready to assume the presidency at a moment’s notice. This is no idle notion. In our short history, four vice presidents have succeeded presidents who died in office or abandoned it; Ms Arroyo herself followed that route to power. Untimely succession, in other words, is a very real concern to Filipino voters.

All this maneuvering to keep De Castro from succeeding to the presidency, in the event history calls for it, strikes us therefore as deeply undemocratic. If Ms Arroyo resigns, her successor has already been ordained by the Constitution and chosen by the electorate. Do we simply ignore the will of the people because we think De Castro is unqualified?

The opposition has not done itself any favors with the call of some of its members for a snap election. To use this pre-Edsa option, our post-Edsa polity needs to have both the President and the Vice President resign and an enabling law passed. But why? There is no showing that De Castro is involved in the corruption scandals that have deepened the President’s legitimacy crisis. If the scandals force Ms Arroyo to resign, the succession is already in place.

We should be wary of messengers proclaiming the gospel of snap elections.

Other oppositionists worry that a De Castro presidency, however abbreviated, will derail campaign plans for 2010. As an incumbent President who can run for election in his own right, De Castro may prove to be a much more formidable foe than he is now.

We think their worries may be misplaced. In the first place, having De Castro in Malacañang will be the surest guarantee we can have that the 2010 presidential contest will take place as scheduled. (There will be no more attempts to pull a fast one and change the Constitution.) And if De Castro is as incompetent as some people think he is, then opposition candidates will have even better chances in 2010.

But it must be noted that it is not only leading oppositionists who worry about the De Castro factor. Many in the administration think of him as the President’s best insurance policy; as long as many Filipinos continue to express reservations about his competence, the calls for the President to resign will always be muffled. For them, De Castro’s role is that of the loyal subaltern, a living reminder of the incumbent’s incomparable competence. Thus, even a potentially disruptive statement like De Castro’s “prepared, but not preparing” declaration can discomfit them—it threatens the validity of the insurance policy.

The other week, De Castro became the target, once again, of another round of intrigues. It should be instructive to trace the source. Who wants to keep him exactly where he is?

 

 

Reaction:

I agree to this editorial that the author wanted every one of us to be wary of what is happening in our country, more specifically the political crisis that we are into. Somehow I do agree as well on the points presented by Noli de Castro on the political crisis that our president is in to right now. Vice-President Noli is in fact right in presenting his thoughts on the differences between “preparing and being prepared.” Exactly, he is already prepared in succeeding the presidency in case the administration could no longer stand against these crises. Thus, this statement of Noli does not lowered his respect nor his loyalty to Arroyo but the fact that it is in the Philippine Constitution that in case of presidency’s vacancy by due process he is going to assume the position as one of the primary duties that an elected vice-president must be prepared of.

As mentioned, we are a country governed by law and no one is above the law. What just Vice-President Noli wanted us to realize that in due process, in case Arroyo will be ousted on her position, it is his duty to take over the responsibilities. I just can’t completely grasp why there are still people making issues against this forecasted situation in our country when in fact, Noli is the Vice-President and we should have known that the moment he ought for allegiance to it. What we should set ourselves in focus is to help revealing the truth and discern which is true on these seemingly uncontrollable issues that put our country’s stability in the most negated level.

Published by: INQUIRER.net by Maila Ager
Date Published:  01/21/2008

News Editorial: Farmers’ Day’–Beltran

MANILA, Philippines — To honor the 13 farmers killed during a march on Malacañang 21 years ago, a leftist lawmaker is urging the immediate passage of a measure declaring January 22 “National Farmers’ Day.” The farmers were killed when security forces opened fire on the protest march to demand genuine agrarian reform on January 22, 1987, in what is now known as the Mendiola massacre for the bridge leading to the Palace.

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran, principal author of House Bill 1725, said the bill should be passed because the farmers’ present struggle for genuine reform has assumed a “historical dimension and social significance similar to Andres Bonifacio’s struggle for independence against our colonial masters.”“The Mendiola massacre is a hallmark of that struggle, so it is just fitting that we honor that moment in our history in the same manner that we have honored Andres Bonifacio and the struggle for genuine freedom and democracy,” Beltran said in a statement on Monday.

Declaring January 22 National Farmers’ Day, the lawmaker said, would serve as a reminder that the struggle for genuine reform and social justice remains an “unfinished business of our social nation.”Besides its historical significance, Beltran said it has become a tradition for farmers to march to Mendiola every January 22, not only to demand justice for the 13 victims of the 1987 massacre, but also to advance their call for genuine agrarian reform.

In relation to this, the Anakpawis solon criticized what he described as the military and police’s “overkill preparation” for the protest action to be spearheaded by militant farmers on Tuesday, 21st anniversary of the Mendiola massacre. Authorities have declared a red alert over Metro Manila and are expected to deploy as many as 10,000 soldiers and policemen, claiming that a destabilization plot is set to be mounted in time with the leftist protests.

But Beltran said likened this preparation to rubbing salt on the wounds of the dead farmers and the survivors of the Mendiola Massacre. “While farmers are demanding justice and solutions to their perennial demands, this government is responding with terror tactics and violence,” he said.

Reaction:

I agree to the making of January 22 as National Farmers’ Day. I think as of the moment this is the least that the government can do. But then, I don’t believe it will suffice to give justice to all those farmers who died during that Mendiola massacre. Declaring a certain date a holiday could never bring back those lives taken by the pit of prejudices in our country. The government should provide the solution as a full response to their long lived wish for a full implementation of the agrarian reform. To which government agency, Department of Agrarian Reform, should be able to lead in the implementation of agrarian reform & sustainable development in the country through land tenure improvement and the provision of integrated development services to landless farmers, farm workers and small-landowners-cultivators & the delivery of agrarian justice as key to long lasting peace and development of the countryside.

Reflection: New Year’s Eve Sacrifice

Women’s rights around the world are an important indicator of understanding global well-being. Many may think that women’s rights are only an issue in countries where religion is law, such as many Muslim countries. Or even worse, some may think this is no longer an issue at all.

But, Hsiang Lin’s wife is a picture of a pitiful woman, discriminated, and a woman who doesn’t have an identity of her own. She’s a picture of a woman who no one ever cares if she does exist in this world. Upon reading the selection on New Year’s Eve where it relates the life story of Hsiang Lin’s wife, my heart can’t just stop beating fast controlling my emotions thinking that I can’t do anything to defend her from such oppression and from such humiliation. It is very much humiliating that even she, herself couldn’t have that right to decide on her own. Issues such as forcefully offered as wife to other men in exchange for cash, good or we may coin it as wealth. Women’s dignity I believe is not worth anything in this world and it can not be bought by any wealth in this world.

Lu Hsun’s “New Year’s Eve Sacrifice” for me is a masterpiece. It is a masterpiece because it presents to the whole world the issues about women that has to be taken care of and needed much of our attention. I am just so grateful that nowadays especially in Philippines, this kind of practice to which Hsiang Lin’s wife suffered does no longer apply. There are already a lot of institutions who played the role of women defenders against all prejudices of women. I, myself would stand firm as well, to protect my fellow women, my self to which we are safe and far from what life has brought to Hsiang Lin’s wife.

Publisher: Philippine Daily Inquirer

Date Published: 12/01/2007

EDITORIAL:

Ways of the Gestapo

MANILA, Philippines — As Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV prepared to turn himself in to arresting officers, after realizing that his second attempt to topple President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had failed, he whined that what had transpired only showed to what great lengths the President would go to hang on to power. “You have been witnesses and victims of the kind of ruthlessness that this government has been giving (sic) to the people,” said the former Navy lieutenant who also led the failed Oakwood mutiny in July 2003. He was, of course, referring to the overpowering force the administration unleashed against his group of about 30 soldiers and a few dozen civilian supporters.

Not very many people would agree that the government used excessive force to quash the rebellion. But very few would disagree that the way the police handled — or more accurately, manhandled — the members of the media who were covering the event bordered on ruthlessness.

As soon as Trillanes et al. signaled surrender, the police moved in to arrest everyone in sight, regardless of whether they were Magdalo soldiers or sympathizers or media people going about their business of reporting what was obviously a significant event. Then they tied up everyone with plastic tie wraps (except for a few feisty female reporters who refused to be subjected to such indignity) and herded them into buses that would later bring them to Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City. Some media men who stuck their hands out of the window to show to television cameras were hit with sticks. A few said the police pointed their guns at them.

What was their crime? None, police and civilian officials declared. Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno explained that there were reports that some Magdalo members or sympathizers had disguised themselves as members of the media and the police wanted to make sure they didn’t get away. So, he said, everyone was being taken to Bicutan for “processing” so that the authorities could determine if those who claimed they were from the media were indeed what they claimed to be.

Of course, the police cannot be expected to know each and every reporter, photographer or cameraman working for scores of media organizations based in Metro Manila. But unless someone does not watch the news on TV at all, he would surely know that Ces Drilon and Pinky Webb work for ABS-CBN Broadcasting and Sandra Aguinaldo for GMA Network. Their faces are their IDs, so why did the police have to confirm their identities in Bicutan? And why was it not good enough for the police that top station officials would vouch for the identities of the people assigned to cover the event?

If all that the police wanted was to check the media people’s identity, they could have done that right at the hotel by asking for everyone’s ID and calling the newsrooms to verify. But no, the police had to humiliate the media people and force them to go through the ordeal of being handcuffed and transported to Bicutan. Only to find out that their information about infiltration was wrong, since they found not a single impostor among the media people they had brought in for questioning.

But Puno himself hinted that there was a dark reason for the arrests other than identity checks, when he accused the media people of “wittingly or unwittingly, all of them, obstructing justice.” In other words, the administration suspected the journalists who covered the event of being part of the plot to topple Ms Arroyo. In fact, Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Avelino Razon is now threatening to charge the journalists present at the Manila Peninsula with obstruction of justice if they would file any charges against the policemen who hauled them off to Bicutan.

The media should call Razon’s bluff. Let’s see if he can find a friendly judge who will declare it a crime to cover breaking news. If the media will blink in the face of such intimidation, the Gestapos in the PNP and in Malacañang will continue to march in triumph, crushing under their heels everyone’s political rights and civil liberties.

Reaction:

I’m no longer surprise how Filipinos are becoming wild just because of power. With regards to the failing attempt of  Sen. Trillanes, well he deserves it. He called up for revolution without even giving the people a clear grasp of why do such thing. These people, who happened to have power, money, authority and everything that poor Filipinos doesn’t have, really are just wasting all their resources. Pres.GMA is not going and will never step down from her position. And who did they think deserves to become the president of this very poor country whose leaders aim only for one goal and that is to quench their thirst for political power and all their selfish agenda? This chaos which recently transpired in Makati is just a very clear indication how worst this country is becoming to be. Unfortunately, the people residing in this country are making it worse than ever.

I got three minor subjects on my last semester in College namely: World Literature, Political Science and Rizal. Hhmmm….Rizal? Is there still a need? OMG! In my surprise, there is a big need. It surprised me because there is actually a law for it stating that no one is allowed to finish his course unless he has taken Rizal lessons and that law is under Republic Act 1425. I thought I got enough in my high school days but I was wrong. There are a lot more of what Rizal course is.

First is to understand the ordinary and extraordinary individual, the human person immortalized in our memory. It also aims to create an impression among Filipinos that Rizal’s life is worth emulating. It most have considered to rekindle the spirit of nationalism among Filipinos especially the youth for the greater glory of the country.

His works are said to reflect not because we’re forced to do it as a duty but it is relevant to our present time and place. Recognizing his ideals and thoughts, teachings and life values. (Don’t we have enough on our theology classes?!?tsk..tsk..tsk…). I still can’t grasp the point of studying it over and over again when as I observe my professor don’t even have that energy and interest to show off what Rizal’s story has. It’s totally a boredom class and I think of a better training to prepare us, much better than this subject can offer. Well, we can’t control everything we’ve wanted, same goes with the subjects we are ought to take.

Games UpLate Live is a late night game show of ABS-CBN co-produced with Endemol which airs after ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs.  The show is hosted by Jaymee Joaquin, it showcases various interactive games such as word games, anagrams, puzzles as well as math problem in order to win. It also features live chat services.Contestants are picked from the audience who downloaded products from ABS-CBN Interactive.

No offense to this giant network who produced this game show but for me it is deceptive. I stay awake very late until dawn while doing my projects and having my television on. For the past few months, I enjoyed watching this show but then for so long I came up with a reaction according to my firsthand observations. I consider Games UpLate Live deceptive to its viewers. We’ll get them deceived by easy games with prizes ranging from 1,000 to 30,000 or even more at times.  But consider the process: Per download will cost you 10 pesos and I’m pretty sure there are a lot of downloaders out there staying uplate to push their luck on this game. With all the tempting prizes, it requires nothing less but your day to day encounters on something or any vocabulary for example. With 10 chances to win and guess the word  in the game, only a few (2 or 3 ) will make it.  There are so many  ways for them to change the word behind the board  so the  contestant being called up won’t make it. And one more thing, for  an hour and a half, why only 2 to 5 people are being called? I guess Pinoys should take a little more caution to this deceptive people doing their best just to push through on their own selfish agenda. I don’t intend to convince any of my readers but I really feel good sharing my sentiments, my reactions, my opinions toward something especially if it is really something ought to be said and shared. For Games UpLate Live, if you really are not deceiving your viewers try to be more transparent. I’m part of this society and social awareness is much needed.