March 30th, 2008 at 12:04 am (General, National Politics, Human Rights)
After braving a journey from Bukidnon to Malacañang to reclaim their land, the Sumilao farmers have finally reached a settlement with San Miguel Corporation. 50 hectares will be given to the farmers, while San Miguel will acquire 94 hectares else where.
March 21st, 2008 at 3:20 am (General, International Politics, Religion)
Al Qaeda leader Bin Laden has issued a warning that there will be a “reckoning” as a reaction to the publication of cartoons featuring Mohammad on a Danish newspaper.
March 9th, 2008 at 9:41 pm (General, National Politics)
by Ryan Maboloc
The continuing saga of the ZTE controversy reveals something not so extra-ordinary in Philippine political culture and that is, that the lives of poor Filipinos are controlled by “a few good men”. Sad to say, but this sin against democracy is embedded in our culture, beginning in the early 19th century, with many of its victims now enshrined as national heroes, i.e. Andres Bonifacio, the GOMBURZA, Ninoy Aquino, etc. Democracy is supposed to be about “the governed governing themselves”. Alas, right now it simply is about being governed by the chosen few. There’s a boss, and he has his men. This reminds me of “The Godfather”. Michael, Vito Corleone’s son, after ascending to the throne, is keen about eliminating one savvy enemy in the business. The “family” lawyer, playing it safe, says that it would be very difficult. Michael now turns to the consigliere, who quips, “difficult, but not impossible”. Whatever the boss wishes, he gets!
Filipinos need to grow up. What is happening now is all about “the family”. Whether it’s the most powerful of all nations, the church, a city, or any decent institution - there is a small circle who decides for the governed. A former student of mine, as a feedback to the stuff I have been writing, calls them aptly, “the powers that be”. “The family” is the greatest threat to liberal equality. This is the one and single reason why the poor remains poor, the destitute remains voiceless, and the worker still suffers from a kind of confusion, “whether his life is about his career or whether his career is his life”. Because of the president’s men, he neither has one. As Thomas Nagel says, “we do not live in a just world”.
March 6th, 2008 at 2:22 am (General, National Politics)
The Senate has issued subpoenas to members of the “Greedy Group.” The “Greedy Group” is composed of the alleged brokers of the controversial NBN Deal. The group is composed of COMELEC Chairperson Benjamin Abalos, retired general Quirino “Torch” Dela Torre, Leo San Miguel, and Ruben Reyes.
Abalos, the most prominent or notorious among the group, has been embroiled in countless controversies, scams, and issues as COMELEC Commissioner. Notable of which are his involvement in the “Hello Garci” scandal, and the NBN Deal. And yes, there was an official impeachment complaint against him.
March 5th, 2008 at 6:07 am (General, Davao City)
After his resignation as City Council Floor Leader, Davao City Councilor Bonifacio Militar left some hanging statements which cast doubt on some of his colleagues. Days ago, he finally named Councilor Conrado Baluran as the councilor who campaigned to oust Militar. Militar then accused Baluran of trying to do some favors for his friends while disregarding proper Council rules and procedures.
March 2nd, 2008 at 3:05 am (General, National Politics)
It has been reported that the Justice Department led by Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. is now studying the statements made during last Friday’s inter-faith rally for the possibility of charging speakers of sedition.
Articles 139 of Title 3, Chapter One of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines states…
Art. 139. Sedition; How committed. — The crime of sedition is committed by persons who rise publicly and tumultuously in order to attain by force, intimidation, or by other means outside of legal methods, any of the following objects:1. To prevent the promulgation or execution of any law or the holding of any popular election;
2. To prevent the National Government, or any provincial or municipal government or any public officer thereof from freely exercising its or his functions, or prevent the execution of any administrative order;
3. To inflict any act of hate or revenge upon the person or property of any public officer or employee;
4. To commit, for any political or social end, any act of hate or revenge against private persons or any social class; and
5. To despoil, for any political or social end, any person, municipality or province, or the National Government, of all its property or any part thereof.
If so, I think Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, her husband, and allies are more guilty of numbers 1, 2, and 5 than the Makati rally speakers.
March 2nd, 2008 at 12:38 am (General, Writable Writes)
ZTE and the Youth and what is wrong with the Philippines
by Ryan B. Maboloc
Linkoping, SE
03.01.08
Manila-based Asian Development Bank reports that in 2006, 14% of the Philippines’ 87 million people or 12.18 million live on $1 a day while 30% or 26.1 million are below the poverty line. This
is despite a 20% increase in tax collection between 2002 and 2006, a GDP growth rate between 4.4% to 5.4% from 2002-06, export growth of 16%, and overseas remittances of $12 billion. The country is burdened by $57B in debts and an unemployment rate of 11%. In 2007, the country’s GDP has registered a growth rate of 7.3%, fastest in three decades. But the statistics above perplexes me. Is economic growth bad for Filipinos?
Living in a poor country where hunger is the face of many people’s state of affairs, I have seen the terrible reality of human life which truly makes one doubt whether poverty can vanish from the earth. Inequality is a hard fact of life. About 25 years ago, fish was abundant in my beloved barrio, so they put a fishing port in the 90s. More than a decade has since gone by, and all the fishes have disappeared. They said the port will make the lives of people better, but after all, Fr. Pete Lamata was right in opposing the fish port. (Pipila lang ang midato, kadaghanan nagpait gihapon). I have not understood him then. Right now I do. A lot of people in my barrio live miserable lives.
March 1st, 2008 at 12:47 am (General, National Politics, Religion)
