Alleba Politics

I have kept my mouth shut on the Israel - Hezbollah war because I felt like what I know about it is not enough to make a significant opinion about it.

But after learning that Israel bombed a UN Office which killed four UN Observers, I started getting more involved in the issue. I might not know much about Israel, their wars, their intentions, or anything about the Hezbollah, the Lebanon political situation… but this I know, killing innocents is never right, and can never be justified. And for that, Israel should be made to face the consequences of their actions.

Bert M. Drona in his blog, The Filipino Mind, outlines and explains the roots of the on-going battle between Christians and Muslims. He begins with the Crusades and ends with terrorism and the current power struggle to control land.

There’s a more truthful, accurate alternative version of the SONA 2006.

Here are some notable parts of the So Sorry SONA:

I am putting into high priority the change in the form of government, so that the obstructionist Senate will be forever eradicated. This will also empower the true representatives of the people, which are derogatively designated as members of the Lower House. I commend the House for its efficiency in passing laws. The House has passed a total of 100 bills out of 1000000 bills filed, and I congratulate the House leadership for expediting the passage of crucial bills, such as the increase in taxes to fund pork barrel allocations and renaming streets, schools, and airports using names of my family members.

I will not tackle issues regarding education and health, since there are no fundamental problems in these areas.

We will continue to develop our primary export - our citizens as cheap labor. I am ordering the concerned agencies to research on the labor needs of foreign countries, and train our citizens so that we can export them to these countries. I am proud of our OFWs, those who work as caregivers, domestic helpers, and the like.

Now that’s the real state of the nation, don’t you think so?

As if there weren’t enough incompetent, corrupt and unqualified legislators, MLQ3 reported that controversial Virgilio Garcillano might be field by the administration to run against Rep. Nereus Acosta (of the Liberal Party) to be the Congressman of the 1st district of Bukidnon.

In my opinion, Acosta is one of the more hard-working, accomplished and honorable members of the House of Representatives. Among the causes he advocates and actively supports and works for are the environment and the financing of SMEs. He was the principal author of the Clean Air Act of 1999. He is the with an NGO which focuses on microcredit and livelihood assistance for the poor women of Bukidnon.

And who exactly is Garcillano? He was a formerly virtually unknown and unremarkable COMELEC Commissioner who was thrust into the national consciousness because of his alleged role in the controversial “Hello Garci” tapes. He was missing for a long time, then resurfaced but refuses to cooperate in the investigations on the “Hello Garci” tapes. And the now the administration is thinking to making him run against Acosta?!

THE GALL!!!

Among other things, I was really iffed by Arroyo’s ommission of Davao as one of the emerging tourist destinations in the country. And I was more pissed off when she only mentioned Northern Mindanao as the tourist destination in Mindanao.

Needless to say, Arroyo is ignorant about the very successful and very much commended ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) which was held here in Davao City last January. Davao City carried the torch of responsibility for hosting and entertaining thousands of tourists and tourism investors from all over the world.

Arroyo, and the DOT, as well, has time and time again ignored the potential of the Davao region as a tourist destination. I expected from her SONA 2006 at least a mere acknowledgment of Davao’s triumph as the host of ATF 2006. But she didn’t even mention it.

In fact she only mentioned Davao a grand total of two: to cite the improvement of the Agusan-Davao, and to give appreciation to Mayor Duterte and to her ardent defender Rep. Nograles.

Perhaps amidst all the lies and grand fantasies, she forgot to put in some of the real triumphs of the nation.

Botante Kami! is a site dedicated to improving the electoral process, by disseminating valuable information for voters. Voters may join to post their comments, concerns and ideas. Be informed, be an active citizen, by joining Botante Kami!

This post part of the Alleba Politics voters’ education series, Election 2007, on the upcoming 2007 Elections. However, Alleba Politics is not officially affiliated with the Botante Kami! site.

I thought I was watching a cheering competition. That was what it sounded, and felt like. The gallery was full of pro-Arroyo, pro-administration politicians who were drunk with ecstasy and self-congratulations that I thought they were already on the brink of delusion.

As I expected, SONA was full of rhetoric, promises and blabber which does not truly reflect the state of the nation nor the conditions in which it’s citizen have to live with. If I myself was not a witness to the true state of this nation, I would probably believe that the Philippines is no more mired in poverty, instability and poor governance.

If only it would have some effect on Arroyo and her cohorts, I would have walked out from my place in front of the television set. Unfortunately, that would have been in vain.

July 24, 2006 is the day Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will give her State of the Nation Address (SONA). It has definitely been a tumultuous year for Arroyo and the rest of the Philippines.

Let’s review some of the notable events from August 2005 - July 2006:

These are just some of the events and issues that she has to address on Monday. Simply ignoring these will not do. Her ratings are dropping and the country is nowhere near tip-top shape.

After her endless press releases thanking “tax reforms” for the strengthening peso, the exchange rate is now back to PhP52:$1. The public education system is still in shambles, the poor are still poor, the homeless and hungry, still homeless and hungry. The Philippine environment is being peddled to the highest bidder. Graduates are forced to work abroad, be underemployed, or unemployed. Crime is still rampant. Development is still elusive to those who live far from Metro Manila.

That is the real state of the nation.

Erwin Oliva of Inq7.net has written an article about the complaint of a United Kingdom-based firm, represented by some Paul Bowers, that they have been ripped off by a Philippine-based outsourcing company called “Wicked Innovations.” He wrote the article based on his correspondence with Bowers. What he didn’t write was that Bowers was simply dissatisfied with the quality of work and Bowers and Wicked Innovations has already settled the matter.

It is really unfortunate for the Philippine outsourcing industry that Oliva had written such article without even bothering to think of its possible consequences on the industry. Oliva even snarkily implied at the end of his article that it is ironic that Wicked Innovations explains in its website why it is good to outsource in the Philippines. Oliva seems to believe that it is not good to outsource in the Philippines because of this SINGLE incident involving Bowers and Wicked Innovations.

Some blogs, such as Alleba and the PinoyTech Blog, have already talked about the issue, while defending the Philippine outsourcing industry.

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REPUBLIC ACT No. 8189

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A GENERAL REGISTRATION OF VOTERS,
ADOPTING A SYSTEM OF CONTINUING REGISTRATION,
PRESCRIBING THE PROCEDURES THEREOF AND
AUTHORIZING THE APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS THEREFOR

Section 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as “The Voter’s Registration Act of 1996.”

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to systematize the present method of registration in order to establish a clean, complete, permanent and updated list of voters.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act:

a. Registration refers to the act of accomplishing and filing of a sworn application for registration by a qualified voter before the election officer of the city or municipality wherein he resides and including the same in the book of registered voters upon approval by the Election Registration Board;

b. Registration Record refers to an application for registration duly approved by the Election Registration Board;

c. Book of Voters refers to the compilation of all registration records in a precinct;

d. List of Voters refers to an enumeration of names of registered voters in a precinct duly certified by the Election Registration Board for use in the election;

e. Illiterate or Disabled person refers to one who cannot by himself prepare an application for registration because of his physical disability and/or inability to read and write;

f. Commission refers to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC);

g. Election Registration Board refers to the body constituted herein to act on all applications for registration;

h. Voter’s Identification Number (VIN) refers to the number assigned by the Commission on Elections to a registered voter that shall consist of three (3) parts:

1. The current address (city/municipality and province);

2. the current precinct assignment of the voter; and

3. the permanent birth and name code unique to every voter;

i. Political Parties refer to local, regional or national political parties existing and duly registered and accredited by the Commission;

j. Precinct refers to the basic unit of territory established by the Commission for the purpose of voting;

k. Precinct Maps refers to a sketch or drawing of a geographical area stated in terms of streets or street blocks or sitios the residents of which would belong to a particular precinct;

l. Polling place refers to the place where the Board of Election Inspectors conducts its proceeding and where the voters cast their votes;

m. Voting center refers to the building or place where the polling place is located;

n. Election Officer refers to the highest official or authorized representative of the Commission in a city or municipality; and

o. Board of Election Inspectors refers to the body which conducts the election in the polling place of the precinct usually composed of three (3) public school teachers appointed by the Commission.

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