"Where You Are"

This story was inspired by the song "Where You Are", written by Julius Guevara and Mark Lopez and sung by Hangad Music Ministry (lifted from their album "Pasko Naming Hangad"), and in part by the events that took place in the life of a good friend of mine.

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Shivering in cold, Brian tearfully entered the hollow halls of that white stucco house. It has been years since he last saw that house, a house full of childhood memories that was suddenly turned into sorrow, grief, and anger. As he entered the dining room, those dark images of three years ago continue to haunt him. The cold December air felt even colder inside the house. No Christmas lights, no Christmas tree, no one to share the warmth and joy of the Christmas season.

Failing to brave the sorrows, Bryan turned back and went outside for a walk. Tears started to run down his cheeks. Outside, he can see children playing, smiles painted across their faces. Families walking together. Beautiful voices singing carols straining through the night.

Bryan reached the town plaza and sat on one of the benches. He looked up and saw the multitude of stars. However, a certain star shining very brightly caught his attention. It is giving a strong beam of light that seems to be illuminating something. Bryan’s gaze became fixed that he was already oblivious to the surroundings. Until…

“Why don’t you follow that star?” said a voice.

Bryan looked around but so no one. Again he gazed at the star, then heard the same voice.

“Follow it. It will guide you.”

Without further ado, Bryan got up the bench, raced back home, locked the old stucco house, got into his car and drove to the direction of the star. The drive was seemingly endless, but he was determined to see what that star was all about. He drove and drove until…

He reached the home of his best friend Gino. Gino earlier invited Bryan to their home for Noche Buena but he turned it down.

The light of the star was pointing to the Belen at Gino’s yard. As Gino let him in, Bryan went straight to the Belen. The image of the Christ Child at the center seemed to be smiling at him.

With more tears welling up his eyes, he said to himself, “I was lost deep in the night, but Your bright star led me to where You are, to where I am supposed to be. I lost my family, but You led me to a new one.”

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Sometimes we are fixated in looking for the superficial things that would most complete us. But as we commemorate the Birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, let us remember that back then in that first Christmas, the Bright Star led the three Wise Men to where Jesus is. Let us find our own stars of Bethlehem and let the light of Christ's love lead us to where He is.

Geo's Fruit Pie

Geo's Fruit Pie

Ingredients:

1 500g can of fruit cocktail

2 300g cans of all purpose cream, chilled.

1 300g can of condensed milk, chilled.

6 cups crushed graham crackers

1 225g bar of butter

1/2 cup powdered sugar

3 pcs cherries

Topping: 1 cup crushed almonds or 1/2 cup crushed graham crackers

1. Melt butter in low heat.

2. Place crushed grahams in a large pan; pour in melted butter. (A circular pan is most recommended

3. Place in freezer for 3 hours.

4. Mix all purpose cream and milk. Return to chiller and bring out only when it will be used already.

5. Once graham crust is hardened, top with fruit cocktail.

6. Add in chilled milk-cream mixture until it covers the fruits.

7. Top with crushed almonds or crushed graham crackers.

8. Place in freezer.

SERVE CHILLED.

Potato Casserole with Cream Sauce

Ingredients:

1/2 kg marble potatoes

4 cups water

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp paprika, powdered

1 300g can of all purpose cream

2 onions, finely chopped

1 250g can of mushrooms

1/4 cup butter

2 tsp dried basil

2 tsp dried parsley

half pack of Aji Ginisa

half block of mozzarella cheese, grated.

salt & pepper to taste

1. Place 4 cups water over medium heat until simmering.

2. Add potatoes, dried oregano and paprika. Bring to a boil then drain.

3. Saute onions and mushroom in butter.

4. Reducing heat, pour in all-purpose cream gradually, constantly stirring.

5. Add the remaining oregano and Aji-Ginisa pack. Heat until mixture simmers while constantly stirring.

6. Remove from heat then add salt and pepper, constantly stirring.

7. Arrange potatoes in a large platter. Add in cream mixture.

8. Top with mozzarella cheese, sprinkle with basil and parsley.

9. Microwave for 5 minutes in medium-low setting.

Pineapple Pork with Pineapple & Veggie Tomato Sauce

As I was cooking for lunch earlier, I just tried a dish that I haven't really cooked before. I thought at first it will taste bad but I was surprised that my folks liked it. I'm gonna share the "recipe" with you guys. I even named it already.

Pineapple Pork with Pineapple & Veggie Tomato Sauce

You need:

1.5 kilo of pork liempo,thinly sliced and cut into three

1 can pineapple tidbits

1/8 cup Worcestershire sauce

1 sayote, julienne cut

1 can mushrooms

2 small/1 big potato, julienne cut

1 carrot, julienne cut

1 bell pepper, red, julienne cut

1 onion, cut into quarters and each layer separated

1 garlic, finely chopped

1 500g pack tomato sauce

1 small pack Aji-Ginisa

1/2 cup honey

1 cup water

1/4 cup red wine (optional)

1.5 cups flour

cooking oil

salt & pepper to taste

1. Separate the pineapple tidbits from its juice/syrup

2. Marinate pork in the pineapple syrup, Worcestershire sauce, and half of the AjiGinisa pack; add a pinch of salt and pepper. Set aside for a while.

while the pork is set aside, make the sauce.

3. In a sauce pan, saute garlic, onions, sayote, carrot, and potato.

4. Add bell pepper, mushrooms, and pineapple tidbits.

5. Add tomato sauce.

6. Add some salt and pepper and the remainder of the AjiGinisa pack.

7. Add the water. Cover the mixture until it simmers.

8. Add wine and honey. Cover again until it simmers. Set aside.

After making the sauce,

9. Coat the pieces of pork in flour and fry until golden brown.

10. Serve with sauce on the side.

Sample:

There is no available liempo that's why I used adobo cut. You can actually use any meat for this one.

30-Something and All that Jazz

1. As of this writing, I haven't entered a cinema/movie house for more than a year now.

2. I always wanted to go to Tibet.

3. Blue as my favorite color has got nothing to do with my political affiliation.

4. I don't like to be the mean. I always wanted to be the extreme event.

5. I enjoy watching Broadway.

6. If I was an algorithm, I have the tendency to put myself in an infinite loop.

7. I talk much.

8. One thing the President and I have in common - a sister. [You'll get my drift]

9. Speaking of drifts, I always wanted to learn how to drift [automotive sport].

10. I was asthmatic.

11. I am fascinated about Latin American culture.

12. I learned how to use a computer at age 4.

13. Everyday for me is filled with music.

14. I play mahjong.

15. Whether the seating is arranged alphabetically or by height, I'm always seated at or near the back.

16. I always wished Diana and Charles had a daughter.

17. You may call me weird.

18. I so love the 80s and the 90s.

19. I know how to make cheesecake.

20. But I still wanna learn how to bake.

21. I can understand a few French and Spanish words.

22. I'm a social networking addict. [Ain't it obvious?]

23. I'm eclectic, borderline eccentric.

24. My dream job has something to do with the building on the 20-peso bill.

25. Sometimes I feel I'm schizo.

26. If I'm asked to play a villainous role in a movie, I'd play Judas Iscariot in Jesus Christ Superstar. His "villainy" was essential to the salvation of mankind.

27. My folks had problems feeding me when I was a child: the problem of how to make me stop eating.

28. I'm adventurous.

29. I wanted to be a street racer so freakin' bad!

30. ♫ I'll let the pain bring all the rain ♫. In other words, I often get LSS.

Butterfly Insights

A marvelous lesson appeared for me just now as I was exiting thru the garage, to come to this little playplace they call an office.

As I opened the garage door, I startled a large moth, which, upon spreading it's wings, displayed a bright red "tail" hidden by the motley brown wings, more a "butterfly" than a moth.

It flew immediately to its perceived escape, the circle-topped window where it frantically tried to exit thru the invisible wall of closed glass.

I raised the third-car garage door in hopes of aiding it's escape. That caused it to fly higher and higher and become entangled in a spider web. Fearful that it would remain entangled in the web, I selected a long-handled broom to assist him escaping the tangled threads.

At this, he returned to furiously pumping his wings and banging into the glass, which was, in his perspective, the pathway of escape, but remained his cage.

By simply turning his focus to one side, he would have easily exited his prison. Rather, due to his intent on one direction, he remained confined, captive.

Some thoughts on the barangay and SK elections

Today we, as one nation, trooped for the second time this year to our respective polling places and voted for our village (barangay) officials. We chose the people who will lead our communities.

The barangay is the basic unit of governance. The most basic of services should be delivered first and foremost by this unit. The barangay is also the governmental unit closest to home since it encompasses the community. Hence, the barangay elections were perceived by the authors of the Local Government Code to be as non-partisan as possible.

However, the barangay of today is not what it should be. Barangay councils start to lack credibility, transparency, and accountability. the barangay chairperson uses facilities such as the barangay patrol car for his/her personal use. Even the Sangguniang Kabataan, which is supposed to be the voice of the youth in the community, has now become a breeding ground for trapos or traditional politicians. And the positions are very much "to die for", explaining the culture of violence that marred past barangay elections, including this one.

The electoral process we have witnessed today is no different from the elections of the past. Perennial problems - missing names in voters list, blatant violation of the Omnibus Election Code, delayed delivery of election paraphernalia, and long lines - still exist. And as I have mentioned, several incidences of violence nationwide have rocked this electoral process.

Everyone is dismayed with the lack of preparation for today's electoral process. We still have a long way to go in terms of reforming our process.

But then again, why keep on whining? We are responsible for building this nation; let us start with our respective barangays.

Use Empowering Words When You Talk to Yourself

got this again on email I need to share this.

Use Empowering Words When You Talk to Yourself

by Bill Greer

How do you talk to yourself?

Do you use the words "can't", "won't", "don't need to", "why try"? Many people do. Do you find that what you say to yourself turns out to be true? Why is this?

You see your brain is like a computer that you feed each day. It doesn't know always know what's real or not unless you tell it.

Example: If someone you love has hurt you, you may tell yourself that all people who love you will probably hurt you too.

Your brain just files this information for reference, it's data, little zeroes and ones and no column that asks "true or not true?" Now your brain thinks, based on what you told it, that everyone you'll ever love will hurt you.

How do you think you will respond the next time you get hurt?

Right!!

Now, what if we instead told our brain:

"Okay this person ripped my heart out - but that's only one person. I'm lovable and have many loving people in my life who are not out to hurt me. I know that the right people are coming into my life all the time. If someone hurts me, I will forgive them and bless them on their way."

Words can be empowering.

I can I love to I want to I will I must I am

We can reach a new level of living, if we feed ourselves empowering words and practice saying them until they become a habit.

I know first hand that it takes time. And I also know that it's worth it. Try it for a week.

Catch yourself saying, "I can't", when you don't really mean it and instead try, "I can", and see how you think and feel about yourself.

Remember, the words you use to empower yourself will have a lasting effect, only if you practice them and they become a habit (an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary).

They say it takes at least 28 days to develop a habit. After a week, you will see that it becomes easier. It's a mindset and you can control your thoughts. Be proactive and not reactive - give yourself some good words.

Dream big and empower yourself! Believe you can and you will.

Just a Little Smile

another email just came in and it's so good. such stories should be shared with everyone.



Just a Little Smile

John W. Schlatter



Mark was walking home from school one day when he noticed the boy ahead of him had tripped and dropped all of the books he was carrying, along with two sweaters, a baseball bat, a glove and a small tape recorder. Mark knelt down and helped the boy pick up the scattered articles. Since they were going the same way, he helped to carry part of the burden. As they walked Mark discovered the boy's name was Bill, that he loved video games, baseball and history, and that he was having lots of trouble with his other subjects and that he had just broken up with his girlfriend.



They arrived at Bill's home first and Mark was invited in for a Coke and to watch some television. The afternoon passed pleasantly with a few laughs and some shared small talk, then Mark went home. They continued to see each other around school, had lunch together once or twice, then both graduated from junior high school. They ended up in the same high school where they had brief contacts over the years. Finally the long awaited senior year came and three weeks before graduation, Bill asked Mark if they could talk.



Bill reminded him of the day years ago when they had first met. "Did you ever wonder why I was carrying so many things home that day?" asked Bill. "You see, I cleaned out my locker because I didn't want to leave a mess for anyone else. I had stored away some of my mother's sleeping pills and I was going home to commit suicide. But after we spent some time together talking and laughing, I realized that if I had killed myself, I would have missed that time and so many others that might follow. So you see, Mark, when you picked up those books that day, you did a lot more. You saved my life."

Just Five More Minutes

I received this story via email from a friend. I was really touched by the story and I thought this was worth reposting.

Just Five More Minutes

Author Unknown, Source Unknown

While at the park one day, a woman sat down next to a man on a bench near a playground. “That’s my son over there,” she said, pointing to a little boy in a red sweater who was gliding down the slide.

"He’s a fine looking boy” the man said. “That’s my daughter on the bike in the white dress.” Then, looking at his watch, he called to his daughter. “What do you say we go, Melissa?”

Melissa pleaded, “Just five more minutes, Dad. Please? Just five more minutes.”

The man nodded and Melissa continued to ride her bike to her heart’s content. Minutes passed and the father stood and called again to his daughter. “Time to go now?” Again Melissa pleaded, “Five more minutes, Dad. Just five more minutes.”

The man smiled and said, “OK.”

“My, you certainly are a patient father,” the woman responded.

The man smiled and then said, “Her older brother Tommy was killed by a drunk driver last year while he was riding his bike near here. I never spent much time with Tommy and now I’d give anything for just five more minutes with him. I’ve vowed not to make the same mistake with Melissa. She thinks she has five more minutes to ride her bike. The truth is, I get five more minutes to watch her play.”

Life is all about making priorities, what are your priorities? Give someone you love 5 more minutes of your time today!

One year after Ondoy, have we really learned our lessons?

Almost a year has passed since the tragic and traumatic events of September 26, 2009 - the day Typhoon Ketsana (Ondoy) ravaged Luzon and brought devastating effects to the lives of millions of Filipinos. With the images of a year before, have we really learned our lesson in disaster preparedness?

I was listening to RockEd Radio last night, and the discussion revolved around Ondoy. A lot of listeners joined in on the conversation, and, surprisingly, many have declared that Filipinos seemed not to learn from Ondoy. Here are some points raised during the 2-hour radio program:

• Filipinos are still undisciplined with regards to their trash. Also last night, GMA-7 news program 24 Oras aired a report stating that almost 200 Pinoys were apprehended by MMDA "Environmental Police" for littering the streets with candy wrappers, cigarette butts, and even their own spits! Flashback to the images of last year's deluge - the raging floodwaters were full of trash! When trash accumulates, it has the "power" to clog drainage channels, thus can result in floods when strong rains pour down.
• Filipinos still take storm warnings for granted. Despite the fact that weather bureau, PAGASA, is ill-equipped, its meteorologists have not failed to give us warnings on what to do when a storm comes. The following lines are always broadcast on TV and radio: "We advise our fellow citizens to start stocking up on goods." "People living in coastal areas should be vigilant on sudden storm surges; we advise them to seek higher ground." "The waters are already dangerous, especially for small watercraft." However such warnings are taken for granted by many. "Malayo pa naman ang bagyo." and other excuses are commonplace. Then when the storm hits, they blame everything on PAGASA. The failure to make a proactive action and instead rely on reactive measures oftentimes yields undesirable results.
• There is minimal action (at best) with regards to the woes of the nation's chief weather bureau. Since time immemorial, PAGASA has been asking for a modernization on their equipment, but until now everything is either just vocal or in paper. At best, minimal action has been undertaken - such as the installation of several Doppler radars, of which only one is fully operational.
• The important science of meteorology is largely ignored. The Philippines is part of the Pacific typhoon belt, and annual typhoons are a fact of life. The science that understands such weather disturbances is meteorology, and it is sad to note that this science is not promoted in the country.
• We Filipinos still has a lot to learn in taking care of the environment. As pointed out in the first bullet, littering is very much commonplace. Also, logging (mostly illegal) 'flourishes' in the mountains, leading to the destruction of our forests and watersheds. Pollution is all over the place. In this time and age, we should all do our part to minimize the effects of climate change.

While it is true that Ondoy brought out the best in each Filipino, it also brought out the worst in us. But it is not yet late. Though damage to property and infrastructure may be inevitable during a strong typhoon, loss of lives are preventable, or at least can be minimized. If we act now, who knows? Maybe the next storm that will ravage the Filipinos may result to 'zero-casualty'.

Start to be proactive.

Only me. Geo.

Ducks Quack. Eagles Soar.

No one can make you serve customers well. That's because great service is a choice.

Harvey Mackay tells a wonderful story about a cab driver that proved this point.

He was waiting in line for a ride at the airport, when a cab pulled up. The first thing Harvey noticed was that the taxi was polished to a bright shine. Smartly dressed in a white shirt, black tie, and freshly pressed black slacks, the cab driver jumped out and rounded the car to open the back passenger door for Harvey.

He handed Harvey a laminated card and said -'I'm Wally, your driver. While I'm loading your bags in the trunk I'd like you to read my mission statement.' Taken aback, Harvey read the card. It said, "Wally's Mission Statement - To get my customers to their destination in the quickest, safest and cheapest way possible in a friendly environment."

This blew Harvey away. Especially when he noticed that the inside of the cab matched the outside. Spotlessly clean! As he slid behind the wheel, Wally said,' Would you like a cup of coffee? I have a thermos of regular and one of decaf.'

'No, I'd prefer a soft drink.' Said Harvey jokingly

Wally smiled and said, 'No problem. I have a cooler up front with regular and Diet Coke, water and orange juice.' Almost stuttering, Harvey said, 'I'll take a Diet Coke.'

Handing him his drink, Wally said, 'If you'd like something to read, I have The Wall Street Journal, Time, Sports Illustrated and USA Today.'

As they were pulling away, Wally handed my friend another laminated card. 'These are the stations I get and the music they play, if you'd like to listen to the radio.' And as if that weren't enough, Wally told Harvey that he had the air-conditioning on and asked if the temperature was comfortable for him.

Then he advised Harvey of the best route to his destination for that time of day. He also let him know that he'd be happy to chat and tell him about some of the sights or, if Harvey preferred, to leave him with his own thoughts.

'Tell me, Wally,' my amazed friend asked the driver, 'have you always served customers like this?'

Wally smiled into the rear view mirror. 'No not always. In fact, it's only been in the last two years. My first five years driving, I spent most of my time complaining like all the rest of the cabbies do.

Then I heard the personal growth guru, Wayne Dyer, on the radio one day. He had just written a book called 'You'll See It When You Believe It'. Dyer said that if you get up in the morning expecting to have a bad day, you'll rarely disappoint yourself.

He said, 'Stop complaining! Differentiate yourself from your competition. Don't be a duck. Be an eagle. Ducks quack and complain. Eagles soar above the crowd.'

'That hit me right between the eyes,' said Wally. 'Dyer was really talking about me. I was always quacking and complaining, so I decided to change my attitude and become an eagle. I looked around at the other cabs and their drivers. The cabs were dirty, the drivers were unfriendly, and the customers were unhappy. So I decided to make some changes. I put in a few at a time. When my customers responded well, I did more.'

'I take it that has paid off for you,' Harvey said.

'It sure has,' Wally replied. 'My first year as an eagle, I doubled my income from the previous year. This year I'll probably quadruple it. You were lucky to get me today. I don't sit at cabstands anymore. My customers call me for appointments on my cell phone or leave a message on my answering machine. If I can't pick them up myself, I get a reliable cabbie friend to do it and I take a piece of the action.'

Wally was phenomenal. He was running a limo service out of a Yellow Cab. I've probably told that story to more than fifty cab drivers over the years, and only two took the idea and ran with it. Whenever I go to their cities, I give them a call. The rest of the drivers quacked like ducks and told me all the reasons they couldn't do any of what I was suggesting. Wally the Cab Driver made a different choice. He decided to stop quacking like ducks and start soaring like eagles.

How about us? Smile, and the whole world smiles with you.

As they say 'The ball is in our hands'!!!!!! So do not sit and complain.....start to fly like an eagle.

This post originally came from a colleague who sent this through email. I just thought it was worth sharing.

Dear Teacheraka, patranslate naman

From a youtube video: pakitranslate daw into Tagalog.

A mom's excuse letter on why her son can't take the exams.

Dear Teacheraka:

Kamustasa kalabasa? Keri ka lang ba? Bet kong ipagsabi sayels na wititit makakajosok sa iskulembang si Junakis ngayonchi. Rarampa kami ngayonchi at bet kong ka-join force si Junakis.

Nag-ispluk si Junakis na may periodical examinelya luli wawaw siya. Sana ay giblaban mo siya ng bonggang-bonggang especialinda examinelyaloo.

Trulibels yours,

Mudaks.

Original video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP9Jn8ZgmbY

Transcript of PNoy's First SONA

State of the Nation Address
of His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino III
President of the Philippines
to the Congress of the Philippines

Session Hall of the House of Representatives
July 26, 2010
Batasan Pambansa Complex, Quezon City

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte; Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile; Vice President Jejomar Binay; Chief Justice Renato Corona; Former Presidents Fidel Valdez Ramos and Joseph Ejercito Estrada; members of the House of Representatives and the Senate; distinguished members of the diplomatic corps; my fellow workers in government;

Mga minamahal kong kababayan:

Sa bawat sandali po ng pamamahala ay nahaharap tayo sa isang sangandaan.

Sa isang banda po ay ang pagpili para sa ikabubuti ng taumbayan. Ang pagtanaw sa interes ng nakakarami; ang pagkapit sa prinsipyo; at ang pagiging tapat sa sinumpaan nating tungkulin bilang lingkod-bayan. Ito po ang tuwid na daan.

Sa kabilang banda ay ang pag-una sa pansariling interes. Ang pagpapaalipin sa pulitikal na konsiderasyon, at pagsasakripisyo ng kapakanan ng taumbayan. Ito po ang baluktot na daan.

Matagal pong naligaw ang pamahalaan sa daang baluktot. Araw-araw po, lalong lumilinaw sa akin ang lawak ng problemang ating namana. Damang-dama ko ang bigat ng aking responsibilidad.

Sa unang tatlong linggo ng aming panunungkulan, marami po kaming natuklasan. Nais ko pong ipahayag sa inyo ang iilan lamang sa mga namana nating suliranin at ang ginagawa naming hakbang para lutasin ang mga ito.

Sulyap lamang po ito; hindi pa ito ang lahat ng problemang haharapin natin. Inilihim at sadyang iniligaw ang sambayanan sa totoong kalagayan ng ating bansa.

Sa unang anim na buwan ng taon, mas malaki ang ginastos ng gobyerno kaysa sa pumasok na kita. Lalong lumaki ang deficit natin, na umakyat na sa 196.7 billion pesos. Sa target na kuleksyon, kinapos tayo ng 23.8 billion pesos; ang tinataya namang gastos, nalagpasan natin ng 45.1 billion pesos.

Ang budget po sa 2010 ay 1.54 trillion pesos.

Nasa isandaang bilyong piso o anim at kalahating porsyento na lang ng kabuuan ang malaya nating magagamit para sa nalalabing anim na buwan ng taong ito.

Halos isang porsyento na lang po ng kabuuang budget ang natitira para sa bawat buwan.

Saan naman po dinala ang pera?

Naglaan ng dalawang bilyong piso na Calamity Fund bilang paghahanda para sa mga kalamidad na hindi pa nangyayari. Napakaliit na nga po ng pondong ito, ngunit kapapasok pa lang natin sa panahon ng baha at bagyo, 1.4 billion pesos o sitenta porsyento na ang nagastos.

Sa kabuuan ng 108 million pesos para sa lalawigan ng Pampanga, 105 million pesos nito ay napunta sa iisang distrito lamang. Samantala, ang lalawigan ng Pangasinan na sinalanta ng Pepeng ay nakatanggap ng limang milyong piso lamang para sa pinsalang idinulot ng bagyong Cosme, na nangyari noong 2008 pa.

Ibinigay po ang pondo ng Pampanga sa buwan ng eleksyon, pitong buwan pagkatapos ng Ondoy at Pepeng. Paano kung bumagyo bukas? Inubos na ang pondo nito para sa bagyong nangyari noong isang taon pa. Pagbabayaran ng kinabukasan ang kasakiman ng nakaraan.

Ganyan din po ang nangyari sa pondo ng MWSS. Kamakailan lamang, pumipila ang mga tao para lang makakuha ng tubig. Sa kabila nito, minabuti pa ng liderato ng MWSS na magbigay ng gantimpala sa sarili kahit hindi pa nababayaran ang pensyon ng mga retiradong empleyado.

Noong 2009, ang buong payroll ng MWSS ay 51.4 million pesos. Pero hindi lang naman po ito ang sahod nila; may mga additional allowances at benefits pa sila na aabot sa 160.1 million pesos. Sa madaling sabi, nakatanggap sila ng 211.5 million pesos noong nakaraang taon. Beinte-kuwatro porsyento lang nito ang normal na sahod, at sitenta’y sais porsyento ang dagdag.

Ang karaniwang manggagawa hanggang 13th month pay plus cash gift lang ang nakukuha. Sa MWSS, aabot sa katumbas ng mahigit sa tatlumpung buwan ang sahod kasama na ang lahat ng mga bonuses at allowances na nakuha nila.

Mas matindi po ang natuklasan natin sa pasahod ng kanilang Board of Trustees. Tingnan po natin ang mga allowances na tinatanggap nila:

Umupo ka lang sa Board of Trustees at Board Committee meeting, katorse mil na. Aabot ng nobenta’y otso mil ito kada buwan. May grocery incentive pa sila na otsenta mil kada taon.

Hindi lang iyon: may mid-year bonus, productivity bonus, anniversary bonus, year-end bonus, at Financial Assistance. May Christmas bonus na, may Additional Christmas Package pa. Kada isa sa mga ito, nobenta’y otso mil.

Sa suma total po, aabot ang lahat ng dalawa’t kalahating milyong piso kada taon sa bawat miyembro ng Board maliban sa pakotse, technical assistance, at pautang. Uulitin ko po. Lahat ng ito ay ibinibigay nila sa kanilang mga sarili habang hindi pa nababayaran ang mga pensyon ng kanilang mga retirees.

Pati po ang La Mesa Watershed ay hindi nila pinatawad. Para magkaroon ng tamang supply ng tubig, kailangang alagaan ang mga watershed. Sa watershed, puno ang kailangan. Pati po iyon na dapat puno ang nakatayo, tinayuan nila ng bahay para sa matataas na opisyal ng MWSS.

Hindi naman sila agad maaalis sa puwesto dahil kabilang sila sa mga Midnight Appointees ni dating Pangulong Arroyo. Iniimbestigahan na natin ang lahat nang ito. Kung mayroon pa silang kahit kaunting hiya na natitira – sana kusa na lang silang magbitiw sa puwesto.

Pag-usapan naman po natin ang pondo para sa imprastruktura. Tumukoy ang DPWH ng dalawandaan apatnapu’t anim na priority safety projects na popondohan ng Motor Vehicle Users Charge. Mangangailangan po ito ng budget na 425 million pesos.

Ang pinondohan po, dalawampu’t walong proyekto lang. Kinalimutan po ang dalawandaan at labing walong proyekto at pinalitan ng pitumpung proyekto na wala naman sa plano. Ang hininging 425 million pesos, naging 480 million pesos pa, lumaki lalo dahil sa mga proyektong sa piling-piling mga benepisyaryo lang napunta.

Mga proyekto po itong walang saysay, hindi pinag-aralan at hindi pinaghandaan, kaya parang kabuteng sumusulpot.

Tapos na po ang panahon para dito. Sa administrasyon po natin, walang kota-kota, walang tongpats, ang pera ng taumbayan ay gagastusin para sa taumbayan lamang.

Meron pa po tayong natuklasan. Limang araw bago matapos ang termino ng nakaraang administrasyon, nagpautos silang maglabas ng 3.5 billion pesos para sa rehabilitasyon ng mga nasalanta nina Ondoy at Pepeng.

Walumpu’t anim na proyekto ang paglalaanan dapat nito na hindi na sana idadaan sa public bidding. Labingsiyam sa mga ito na nagkakahalaga ng 981 million pesos ang muntik nang makalusot. Hindi pa nailalabas ang Special Allotment Release Order ay pirmado na ang mga kontrata.

Buti na lang po ay natuklasan at pinigilan ito ni Secretary Rogelio Singson ng DPWH. Ngayon po ay dadaan na ang kabuuan ng 3.5 billion pesos sa tapat na bidding, at magagamit na ang pondo na ito sa pagbibigay ng lingap sa mga nawalan ng tahanan dahil kina Ondoy at Pepeng.

Pag-usapan naman natin ang nangyari sa NAPOCOR. Noong 2001 hanggang 2004, pinilit ng gobyerno ang NAPOCOR na magbenta ng kuryente nang palugi para hindi tumaas ang presyo. Tila ang dahilan: pinaghahandaan na nila ang eleksyon.

Dahil dito, noong 2004, sumagad ang pagkakabaon sa utang ng NAPOCOR. Napilitan ang pambansang gobyerno na sagutin ang dalawandaang bilyong pisong utang nito.

Ang inakala ng taumbayan na natipid nila sa kuryente ay binabayaran din natin mula sa kaban ng bayan. May gastos na tayo sa kuryente, binabayaran pa natin ang dagdag na pagkakautang ng gobyerno.

Kung naging matino ang pag-utang, sana’y nadagdagan ang ating kasiguruhan sa supply ng kuryente. Pero ang desisyon ay ibinatay sa maling pulitika, at hindi sa pangangailangan ng taumbayan. Ang taumbayan, matapos pinagsakripisyo ay lalo pang pinahirapan.

Ganito rin po ang nangyari sa MRT. Sinubukan na namang bilhin ang ating pagmamahal. Pinilit ang operator na panatilihing mababa ang pamasahe.

Hindi tuloy nagampanan ang garantiyang ibinigay sa operator na mababawi nila ang kanilang puhunan. Dahil dito, inutusan ang Landbank at Development Bank of the Philippines na bilhin ang MRT.

Ang pera ng taumbayan, ipinagpalit sa isang naluluging operasyon.

Dumako naman po tayo sa pondo ng NFA.

Noong 2004: 117,000 metric tons ang pagkukulang ng supply ng Pilipinas. Ang binili nila, 900,000 metric tons. Kahit ulitin mo pa ng mahigit pitong beses ang pagkukulang, sobra pa rin ang binili nila.

Noong 2007: 589,000 metric tons ang pagkukulang ng supply sa Pilipinas. Ang binili nila, 1.827 million metric tons. Kahit ulitin mo pa ng mahigit tatlong beses ang pagkukulang, sobra na naman ang binili nila.

Ang masakit nito, dahil sobra-sobra ang binibili nila taun-taon, nabubulok lang pala sa mga kamalig ang bigas, kagaya ng nangyari noong 2008.

Hindi po ba krimen ito, na hinahayaan nilang mabulok ang bigas, sa kabila ng apat na milyong Pilipinong hindi kumakain ng tatlong beses sa isang araw?

Ang resulta nito, umabot na sa 171.6 billion pesos ang utang ng NFA noong Mayo ng taong ito.

Ang tinapon na ito, halos puwede na sanang pondohan ang mga sumusunod:

Ang budget ng buong Hudikatura, na 12.7 billion pesos sa taong ito.

Ang Conditional Cash Transfers para sa susunod na taon, na nagkakahalaga ng 29.6 billion pesos.

Ang lahat ng classroom na kailangan ng ating bansa, na nagkakahalaga ng 130 billion pesos.

Kasuklam-suklam ang kalakarang ito. Pera na, naging bato pa.

Narinig po ninyo kung paano nilustay ang kaban ng bayan. Ang malinaw po sa ngayon: ang anumang pagbabago ay magmumula sa pagsiguro natin na magwawakas na ang pagiging maluho at pagwawaldas.

Kaya nga po mula ngayon: ititigil na natin ang paglulustay sa salapi ng bayan. Tatanggalin natin ang mga proyektong mali.

Ito po ang punto ng tinatawag nating zero-based approach sa ating budget. Ang naging kalakaran po, taun-taon ay inuulit lamang ang budget na puno ng tagas. Dadagdagan lang nang konti, puwede na.

Sa susunod na buwan ay maghahain tayo ng budget na kumikilala nang tama sa mga problema, at magtutuon din ng pansin sa tamang solusyon.

Ilan lang ito sa mga natuklasan nating problema. Heto naman po ang ilang halimbawa ng mga hakbang na ginagawa natin.

Nandiyan po ang kaso ng isang may-ari ng sanglaan. Bumili siya ng sasakyang tinatayang nasa dalawampu’t anim na milyong piso ang halaga.

Kung kaya mong bumili ng Lamborghini, bakit hindi mo kayang magbayad ng buwis?

Nasampahan na po ito ng kaso. Sa pangunguna nina Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, BIR Commissioner Kim Henares at Customs Commissioner Lito Alvarez, bawat linggo po ay may bago tayong kasong isinasampa kontra sa mga smuggler at sa mga hindi nagbabayad ng tamang buwis.

Natukoy na rin po ang salarin sa mga kaso nina Francisco Baldomero, Jose Daguio at Miguel Belen, tatlo sa anim na insidente ng extralegal killings mula nang umupo tayo.

Singkuwenta porsyento po ng mga insidente ng extralegal killings ang patungo na sa kanilang resolusyon.

Ang natitira pong kalahati ay hindi natin tatantanan ang pag-usig hanggang makamit ang katarungan.

Pananagutin natin ang mga mamamatay-tao. Pananagutin din natin ang mga corrupt sa gobyerno.

Nagsimula nang mabuo ang ating Truth Commission, sa pangunguna ni dating Chief Justice Hilario Davide. Hahanapin natin ang katotohanan sa mga nangyari diumanong katiwalian noong nakaraang siyam na taon.

Sa loob ng linggong ito, pipirmahan ko ang kauna-unahang Executive Order na nagtatalaga sa pagbuo nitong Truth Commission.

Kung ang sagot sa kawalan ng katarungan ay pananagutan, ang sagot naman sa kakulangan natin sa pondo ay mga makabago at malikhaing paraan para tugunan ang mga pagkatagal-tagal nang problema.

Napakarami po ng ating pangangailangan: mula sa edukasyon, imprastruktura, pangkalusugan, pangangailangan ng militar at kapulisan, at marami pang iba. Hindi kakasya ang pondo para mapunan ang lahat ng ito.

Kahit gaano po kalaki ang kakulangan para mapunan ang mga listahan ng ating pangangailangan, ganado pa rin ako dahil marami nang nagpakita ng panibagong interes at kumpyansa sa Pilipinas.

Ito ang magiging solusyon: mga Public-Private Partnerships. Kahit wala pa pong pirmahang nangyayari dito, masasabi kong maganda ang magiging bunga ng maraming usapin ukol dito.

May mga nagpakita na po ng interes, gustong magtayo ng expressway na mula Maynila, tatahak ng Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, hanggang sa dulo ng Cagayan Valley nang hindi gugugol ang estado kahit na po piso.

Sa larangan ng ating Sandatahang Lakas:

Mayroon po tayong 36,000 nautical miles ng baybayin. Ang mayroon lamang tayo: tatlumpu’t dalawang barko. Itong mga barkong ito, panahon pa ni MacArthur.

May nagmungkahi sa atin, ito ang proposisyon: uupahan po nila ang headquarters ng Navy sa Roxas Boulevard at ang Naval Station sa Fort Bonifacio.

Sagot po nila ang paglipat ng Navy Headquarters sa Camp Aguinaldo. Agaran, bibigyan tayo ng isandaang milyong dolyar. At dagdag pa sa lahat nang iyan, magsusubi pa sila sa atin ng kita mula sa mga negosyong itatayo nila sa uupahan nilang lupa.

Sa madali pong sabi: Makukuha natin ang kailangan natin, hindi tatayo gagastos, kikita pa tayo.

Marami na pong nag-alok at nagmungkahi sa atin, mula lokal hanggang dayuhang negosyante, na magpuno ng iba’t ibang pangangailangan.

Mula sa mga public-private partnerships na ito, lalago ang ating ekonomiya, at bawat Pilipino makikinabang. Napakaraming sektor na matutulungan nito.

Maipapatayo na po ang imprastrukturang kailangan natin para palaguin ang turismo.

Sa agrikultura, makapagtatayo na tayo ng mga grains terminals, refrigeration facilities, maayos na road networks at post-harvest facilities.

Kung maisasaayos natin ang ating food supply chain sa tulong ng pribadong sektor, sa halip na mag-angkat tayo ay maari na sana tayong mangarap na mag-supply sa pandaigdigang merkado.

Kung maitatayo ang minumungkahi sa ating railway system, bababa ang presyo ng bilihin. Mas mura, mas mabilis, mas maginhawa, at makakaiwas pa sa kotong cops at mga kumokotong na rebelde ang mga bumibiyahe.

Paalala lang po: una sa ating plataporma ang paglikha ng mga trabaho, at nanggagaling ang trabaho sa paglago ng industriya. Lalago lamang ang industriya kung gagawin nating mas malinis, mas mabilis, at mas maginhawa ang proseso para sa mga gustong magnegosyo.

Pabibilisin natin ang proseso ng mga proyektong sumasailalim sa Build-Operate-Transfer. Sa tulong ng lahat ng sangay ng gobyerno at ng mga mamamayan, pabababain natin sa anim na buwan ang proseso na noon ay inaabot ng taon kung hindi dekada.

May mga hakbang na rin pong sinisimulan ang DTI, sa pamumuno ni Secretary Gregory Domingo:

Ang walang-katapusang pabalik-balik sa proseso ng pagrehistro ng pangalan ng kumpanya, na kada dalaw ay umaabot ng apat hanggang walong oras, ibababa na natin sa labinlimang minuto.

Ang dating listahan ng tatlumpu’t anim na dokumento, ibababa natin sa anim. Ang dating walong pahinang application form, ibababa natin sa isang pahina.

Nananawagan ako sa ating mga LGUs. Habang naghahanap tayo ng paraan para gawing mas mabilis ang pagbubukas ng mga negosyo, pag-aralan din sana nila ang kanilang mga proseso. Kailangan itong gawing mas mabilis, at kailangan itong itugma sa mga sinisumulan nating reporma.

Negosyante, sundalo, rebelde, at karaniwang Pilipino, lahat po makikinabang dito. Basta po hindi dehado ang Pilipino, papasukin po natin lahat iyan. Kailangan na po nating simulan ang pagtutulungan para makamit ito. Huwag nating pahirapan ang isa’t isa.

Parating na po ang panahon na hindi na natin kailangang mamili sa pagitan ng seguridad ng ating mamamayan o sa kinabukasan ng inyong mga anak.

Oras na maipatupad ang public-private partnerships na ito, mapopondohan ang mga serbisyong panlipunan, alinsunod sa ating plataporma.

Magkakapondo na po para maipatupad ang mga plano natin sa edukasyon.

Mapapalawak natin ang basic education cycle mula sa napakaikling sampung taon tungo sa global standard na labindalawang taon.

Madadagdagan natin ang mga classroom. Mapopondohan natin ang service contracting sa ilalim ng GASTPE.

Pati ang conditional cash transfers, na magbabawas ng pabigat sa bulsa ng mga pamilya, madadagdan na rin ng pondo.

Maipapatupad ang plano natin sa PhilHealth.

Una, tutukuyin natin ang tunay na bilang ng mga nangangailangan nito. Sa ngayon, hindi magkakatugma ang datos. Sabi ng PhilHealth sa isang bibig, walumpu’t pitong porsyento na raw ang merong coverage. Sa kabilang bibig naman, singkuwenta’y tres porsyento naman. Ayon naman sa National Statistics Office, tatlumpu’t walong porsyento ang may coverage.

Ngayon pa lang, kumikilos na si Secretary Dinky Soliman at ang DSWD upang ipatupad ang National Household Targetting System, na magtutukoy sa mga pamilyang higit na nagangailangan ng tulong. Tinatayang siyam na bilyon ang kailangan para mabigyan ng PhilHealth ang limang milyong pinakamaralitang pamilyang Pilipino.

Napakaganda po ng hinaharap natin. Kasama na po natin ang pribadong sektor, at kasama na rin natin ang League of Provinces, sa pangunguna nina Governor Alfonso Umali kasama sina Governor L-Ray Villafuerte at Governor Icot Petilla. Handa na pong makipagtulungan para makibahagi sa pagtustos ng mga gastusin. Alam ko rin pong hindi magpapahuli ang League of Cities sa pangunguna ni Mayor Oscar Rodriguez.

Kung ang mga gobyernong lokal ay nakikiramay na sa ating mga adhikain, ang Kongreso namang pinanggalingan ko, siguro naman maasahan ko din.

Nagpakitang-gilas na po ang gabinete sa pagtukoy ng ating mga problema at sa paglulunsad ng mga solusyon sa loob lamang ng tatlong linggo.

Nang bagyo pong Basyang, ang sabi sa atin ng mga may prangkisa sa kuryente, apat na araw na walang kuryente. Dahil sa mabilis na pagkilos ni Secretary Rene Almendras at ng Department of Energy, naibalik ang kuryente sa halos lahat sa loob lamang ng beinte-kwatro oras.

Ito pong sinasabing kakulangan sa tubig sa Metro Manila, kinilusan agad ni Secretary Rogelio Singson at ng DPWH. Hindi na siya naghintay ng utos, kaya nabawasan ang perwisyo.

Nakita na rin natin ang gilas ng mga hinirang nating makatulong sa Gabinete. Makatuwiran naman po sigurong umasa na hindi na sila padadaanin sa butas ng karayom para makumpirma ng Commission on Appointments. Kung mangyayari po ito, marami pa sa mga mahuhusay na Pilipino ang maeengganyong magsilbi sa gobyerno.

Sa lalong madaling panahon po, uupo na tayo sa LEDAC at pag-uusapan ang mga mahahalagang batas na kailangan nating ipasa. Makakaasa kayo na mananatiling bukas ang aking isipan, at ang ating ugnayan ay mananatiling tapat.

Isinusulong po natin ang Fiscal Responsibility Bill, kung saan hindi tayo magpapasa ng batas na mangangailangan ng pondo kung hindi pa natukoy ang panggagalingan nito. May 104.1 billion pesos tayong kailangan para pondohan ang mga batas na naipasa na, ngunit hindi maipatupad.

Kailangan din nating isaayos ang mga insentibong piskal na ibinigay noong nakaraan. Ngayong naghihigpit tayo ng sinturon, kailangang balikan kung alin sa mga ito ang dapat manatili at kung ano ang dapat nang itigil.

Huwag po tayong pumayag na magkaroon ng isa pang NBN-ZTE. Sa lokal man o dayuhan manggagaling ang pondo, dapat dumaan ito sa tamang proseso. Hinihingi ko po ang tulong ninyo upang amiyendahan ang ating Procurement Law.

Ayon po sa Saligang Batas, tungkulin ng estado ang siguruhing walang lamangan sa merkado. Bawal ang monopolya, bawal ang mga cartel na sasakal sa kumpetisyon. Kailangan po natin ng isang Anti-Trust Law na magbibigay-buhay sa mga prinsipyong ito. Ito ang magbibigay ng pagkakataon sa mga Small- at Medium-scale Enterprises na makilahok at tumulong sa paglago ng ating ekonomiya.

Ipasa na po natin ang National Land Use Bill.

Una rin pong naging batas ng Commonwealth ang National Defense Act, na ipinasa noon pang 1935. Kailangan nang palitan ito ng batas na tutugon sa pangangailangan ng pambansang seguridad sa kasalukuyan.

Nakikiusap po akong isulong ang Whistleblower’s Bill upang patuloy nang iwaksi ang kultura ng takot at pananahimik.

Palalakasin pa lalo ang Witness Protection Program. Alalahanin po natin na noong taong 2009 hanggang 2010, may nahatulan sa 95% ng mga kaso kung saan may witness na sumailalim sa programang ito.

Kailangang repasuhin ang ating mga batas. Nanawagan po akong umpisahan na ang rekodipikasyon ng ating mga batas, upang siguruhing magkakatugma sila at hindi salu-salungat.

Ito pong mga batas na ito ang batayan ng kaayusan, ngunit ang pundasyon ng lahat ng ginagawa natin ay ang prinsipyong wala tayong mararating kung walang kapayapaan at katahimikan.

Dalawa ang hinaharap nating suliranin sa usapin ng kapayapaan: ang situwasyon sa Mindanao, at ang patuloy na pag-aaklas ng CPP-NPA-NDF.

Tungkol sa situwasyon sa Mindanao: Hindi po nagbabago ang ating pananaw. Mararating lamang ang kapayapaan at katahimikan kung mag-uusap ang lahat ng apektado: Moro, Lumad, at Kristiyano. Inatasan na natin si Dean Marvic Leonen na mangasiwa sa ginagawa nating pakikipag-usap sa MILF.

Iiwasan natin ang mga pagkakamaling nangyari sa nakaraang administrasyon, kung saan binulaga na lang ang mga mamamayan ng Mindanao. Hindi tayo puwedeng magbulag-bulagan sa mga dudang may kulay ng pulitika ang proseso, at hindi ang kapakanan ng taumbayan ang tanging interes.

Kinikilala natin ang mga hakbang na ginagawa ng MILF sa pamamagitan ng pagdidisplina sa kanilang hanay. Inaasahan natin na muling magsisimula ang negosasyon pagkatapos ng Ramadan.

Tungkol naman po sa CPP-NPA-NDF: handa na ba kayong maglaan ng kongkretong mungkahi, sa halip na pawang batikos lamang?

Kung kapayapaan din ang hangad ninyo, handa po kami sa malawakang tigil-putukan. Mag-usap tayo.

Mahirap magsimula ang usapan habang mayroon pang amoy ng pulbura sa hangin. Nananawagan ako: huwag po natin hayaang masayang ang napakagandang pagkakataong ito upang magtipon sa ilalim ng iisang adhikain.

Kapayapaan at katahimikan po ang pundasyon ng kaunlaran. Habang nagpapatuloy ang barilan, patuloy din ang pagkakagapos natin sa kahirapan.

Dapat din po nating mabatid: ito ay panahon ng sakripisyo. At ang sakripisyong ito ay magiging puhunan para sa ating kinabukasan. Kaakibat ng ating mga karapatan at kalayaan ay ang tungkulin natin sa kapwa at sa bayan.

Inaasahan ko po ang ating mga kaibigan sa media, lalo na sa radyo at sa print, sa mga nagbablock-time, at sa community newspapers, kayo na po mismo ang magbantay sa inyong hanay.

Mabigyang-buhay sana ang mga batayang prinsipyo ng inyong bokasyon: ang magbigay-linaw sa mahahalagang isyu; ang maging patas at makatotohanan, at ang itaas ang antas ng pampublikong diskurso.

Tungkulin po ng bawat Pilipino na tutukan ang mga pinunong tayo rin naman ang nagluklok sa puwesto. Humakbang mula sa pakikialam tungo sa pakikilahok. Dahil ang nakikialam, walang-hanggan ang reklamo. Ang nakikilahok, nakikibahagi sa solusyon.

Napakatagal na pong namamayani ang pananaw na ang susi sa asenso ay ang intindihin ang sarili kaysa intindihin ang kapwa. Malinaw po sa akin: paano tayo aasenso habang nilalamangan ang kapwa?

Ang hindi nabigyan ng pagkakataong mag-aral, paanong makakakuha ng trabaho? Kung walang trabaho, paanong magiging konsumer? Paanong mag-iimpok sa bangko?

Ngunit kung babaliktarin natin ang pananaw—kung iisipin nating “Dadagdagan ko ang kakayahan ng aking kapwa"—magbubunga po ito, at ang lahat ay magkakaroon ng pagkakataon.

Maganda na po ang nasimulan natin. At mas lalong maganda po ang mararating natin. Ngunit huwag nating kalimutan na mayroong mga nagnanasang hindi tayo magtagumpay. Dahil kapag hindi tayo nagtagumpay, makakabalik na naman sila sa kapangyarihan, at sa pagsasamantala sa taumbayan.

Akin pong paniwala na Diyos at taumbayan ang nagdala sa ating kinalalagyan ngayon. Habang nakatutok tayo sa kapakanan ng ating kapwa, bendisyon at patnubay ay tiyak na maaasahan natin sa Poong Maykapal. At kapag nanalig tayo na ang kasangga natin ay ang Diyos, mayroon ba tayong hindi kakayanin?

Ang mandato nating nakuha sa huling eleksyon ay patunay na umaasa pa rin ang Pilipino sa pagbabago. Iba na talaga ang situwasyon. Puwede na muling mangarap. Tayo nang tumungo sa katuparan ng ating mga pinangarap.

Maraming salamat po.

23 Years, 23 Realizations

Since I'm turning 23 today, here are the 23 most astounding realizations I've seen during the past year. Negative and positive realizations mix here.


1. I'm still a child at heart.

2. God-centered activism yields more results.

3. When hearts are broken, no pain is more difficult to bear.

4. Philippine politics really hasn't changed.

5. If I'm a DotA hero, I'm more of the end-game hero than the hero for the pushing.

6. The youth is now a stronger force to be reckoned with in society.

7. The military needs to know their place in society.

8. Your personal growth should matter; salary is just secondary.

9. I don't have a big appetite. I only have this urge to keep on chewing (hence, chewing gum should always be in my pocket).

10. Mahjong is a game of chance that can be scientifically won.

11. Statisticians have an unfair advantage over others in a casino and even in trading in the stock market.

12. Basketball, boxing, and Miss Universe still unite Filipinos because the country had its glory days in these arenas before.

13. A few minutes without music may drive me crazy.

14. Only in letting go of oneself can one derive happiness.

15. One thing good about the Philippines being a third-world country is that Filipinos keep on clinging to their faith to hope for a better future.

16. Shallow laughs imply shallow tears.

17. Despite your determination to achieve your goal, if God doesn't will, you really will not achieve it. (Meaning, He has something better for you).

18. The solace of the night gives you the chance to rethink and reflect on your life.

19. If I'm gonna relocate, it should be some place where there's a 24-hour convenience store nearby; sometimes I see that I need something in the wee hours of the night.

20. If it's not baroque (broke), don't fix it.

21. I have a something in common with President Noynoy Aquino - a Kris Aquino for a sister. (Right Apy?)

22. I can't live without my younger sister, a source of my laughter. (Right Apy?)

23. I JUST REGAINED THREE POUNDS! ARAY!

A new day has come

30 June 2010
4:07 AM

Filipinos around the world are excited with what will happen in a matter of eight hours. For today the Filipino people will usher in a new chapter in their history - the oath-taking of the 15th president of the Republic of the Philippines, Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Cojuangco Aquino III, and the 16th vice-president of the Republic, Jejomar Cabauatan Binay.

Noynoy's ascent to the presidency has brought hope for many Filipinos who were disillusioned by nine dark years of corruption and widespread poverty - broken promises of EDSA II. As the curtain falls on the Arroyo regime to usher in the second Aquino presidency, Filipinos remain hopeful that the problems of corruption and poverty will be at the least minimized after six years.

But hope should not remain hope. In this new chapter we Filipinos must do our part in rebuilding this nation and healing its wounds. Together with the new administration we should usher in a new brand of activism - activism that does not divide but unites; activism that knows no boundaries nor colors; activism that dares to act.

As the song goes (see title): "Where it was dark, now there's light. Where there was pain, now there's joy." It is the responsibility of each and every Filipino to shed light on our fellow, to share the joy that is brought about by this new chapter in history. Let us now be proactive than reactive.

As we welcome the new president and vice president and usher in a new dawn, let us be one in rebuilding this nation. From a single match starts a blaze of flame. Let each and everyone be that match so that the flame of a new Philippines be seen throughout the world.

Pilipino, ipagmalaki mo ang iyong lahi. Mabuhay ka!

World Cup 2010 and what-have-yous.

Okay. It's the end of June and I haven't written a blog yet. Damn writers bloc! Haha... So eto na ang blog na sapilitan. Hahaha

Yes. I'm hooked to the World Cup. And I'll be watching it until Brazil is eliminated (kailan kaya mangyari yon?). Sad to say, the dream of having the first Asian win the World Cup championship has been vanquished when Korea lost to Uruguay and Japan lost (kanina lang) to Paraguay. Haha sabi nga ng isa kong friend, "ano ba naman tong mga Latin American nations na to? Sa kanila na nga Miss Universe pati ba naman World Cup?" Wooh! Idol ko na si Kaka! Hahaha

Yun nga lang, because of my being hooked to the World Cup, hindi ko na nasundan ang isa pang exciting event - the French Open. Nalaman ko nalang kaninang hapon na that Rafael Nadal and Francesca Schiavone won the men's and women's singles tournaments, respectively. Nadal nanaman? (Kapatid ba siya ni Barbie Nadal? nyahaha)

Oh oo nga pala. Because of World Cup being staged in Africa, I have a new-found appreciation for African Music. Woot woot Lebo M! Haha I dunno but I'm drawn by the clicking African chants of "Lea Halalela" as much as I am hooked to the vuvuzelas (not Venezuelas!)

Waah... so this blog is sooo random. Kaya ang pagtatapos ay random din (re: Yes Yes Show ~ "di ko alam kung pano tatapusin ang kanta kaya ganito nalang bigla nalang mawawala.)

Postscript:
Shalani Soledad is in the limelight. I remember when I was a kid my nickname was "Noy". Kaya tanong ko: Bakit hindi ako ung naging "Noy" ni Shalani? hahaha jokes!

Why I went for JC Delos Reyes.

Since January I have already declared that I will vote for Olongapo City Councilor John Carlos Gordon-delos Reyes for president. And since January I've been getting lots of flak for choosing him. And until now I am standing my ground.

Why?
Because I believe that a vote for JC is a vote for Integrity.

I've always valued integrity even before I became a member of Buklod-UPLB, a youth organization whose principles revolve around its pillars of Integrity, Initiative, and Involvement. And ever since I've opened myself to the world around me, I have never seen a Philippine government whose integrity remained intact. Yes, there may be leaders whose ability to lead is unquestionable, but with their lack of integrity, development in all aspects, most especially moral, remained stagnant, if not deteriorating.


"Konsehal lang si JC. Kulang pa siya sa experience"
That's one thing impressive about JC. Only having served two terms as Olongapo City councilor (1995-1998; 2007-2010), he has already presented numerous projects, livelihood programs, etc. that helped uplift the livelihood of his constituents and make Olongapo City the "model city" it is now today. On my last visit to the city, I was able to interact with the residents, and they attested that "it was Councilor JC who actually upped the development momentum of Olongapo that his uncle Dick Gordon started." Another resident even told me that Councilor JC's office in the City Hall always has the longest queue of people asking for help, because "kapag kay Konsehal JC dinulog, 100% may tugon". And outside government service, according to Political Arena, JC is "n active member since 1995 was the National Renewal Movement and the Ang Kapatiran National Political Party or the Alliance for the Common Good, a registered political party that seeks to promote the politics of genuine social concern. Presently, he is national animator of Solidarity Philippines, a movement to pro-actively advance the Social Justice Agenda of the Church and Executive-director of Breaking the Yoke of Poverty Foundation whose project is Jubilee homes for the Poor, a housing project for 60 families."

While it's true that there are candidates whose C.V. can be more impressive than what JC has to offer, JC's commitment to help his countrymen is never a questionable issue. [INITIATIVE]


"Masyado pang bata si JC."
A mentality that should be removed from the Filipinos is the so-called "Seniority Complex", wherein the elders are always right and the younger people should just listen to what the elder people have to say; and that young people are just alike - nothing good to contribute to society. My dad put this as the "mentality of the quitters." I firmly believe that it is time for the Philippines to recognize that the youth is becoming a strong force in society that needs to be reckoned with. Today's young generation are better equipped with knowledge and wisdom that makes them a significant contributor to society. And JC's youthfulness and vigor is nothing short of an inspiration to today's youth. [INVOLVEMENT]

"Hindi naman mananalo yang si JC dahil hindi siya kilala."
It was Councilor JC himself who told me, "Standing up for the truth and integrity is a victory in itself." Though I also recognize that it may really be a long shot for JC this elections, the fight for integrity he and his party, Ang Kapatiran, is waging is already a triumph. As we have always put it, "You only win when you are in truth." [INTEGRITY]


I'm not saying that you vote for JC (otherwise I'll be considered campaigning and will be kicked out of PPCRV). The only message that I would like to convey is that it is high time to bring INTEGRITY back in our government.


just a postscript...
If JC does not win, I hope it's Dick Gordon. hehe :)

TOGETHER LET US STOP THE CULTURE OF VIOLENCE. [a repost]

We are Lester Pascua’s friends.

We come together to give a voice to his story.

Five unknown men, brandishing metal pipes and hidden by masks, viciously attacked our friend, Lester, in Katipunan at the night of April 29. As our friend Lester was walking to buy dinner, these men mercilessly, and without any provocation, attacked him. They ganged up on him and beat him to a pulp. As if their treachery and brutality was never enough, they soon drove off in a silver Vios (plate number ZMD 300) to escape.

As his friends, we continue to receive persistent reports that this crime was a fraternity-related hit gone wrong. Knowing that our friend Lester was never a fraternity member in UP, and had no known enemies, only heightens our suspicions that this was a case of mistaken identity. In our eyes, Lester was an innocent person caught up in a senseless act of vendetta.

Even as we still piece together what really happened in this case, and we trust our authorities in their investigation, we still condemn – in the strongest terms – this barbaric act. If it was indeed true that this was a fraternity hit, these men who attacked him are no different from criminals. These criminals, whoever they are, must not go unpunished.

We are angry that these things can actually happen in our streets. We are indignant that these hoodlums think that they can get away with their crimes. Nonetheless, we are united by our demand to exact justice.

As Lester’s friends, we come together as one to bring attention to his case, and never stop until the criminals who have done this to him are punished.

If you believe in what we stand for, please repost this note and tag your friends.

LET US SHOW THESE CRIMINALS THAT WE DON'T TAKE THIS SITTING DOWN.

For those who are against violence and for those who condemn the barbaric act against Lester, please copy this note and post it as a new one so you can tag your contacts. Thank you very much.

Isang Pagpupugay sa Magsisipagtapos

Sa Sabado, magsasara na ang isang masayang kabanata sa iyong buhay at magbubukas naman ang panibago.

Ang isa sa mga bagay na ikinatanyag ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas ay ang islogan nitong "SERVE THE PEOPLE". Ito ang pinaka-esensya ng ating pagiging Iskolar ng Bayan at Iskolar para sa Bayan. Kahit bumababa ang subsidiya ng pamahalaan sa ating edukasyon, hindi pa rin natin maitatanggi na malaki ang naging papel ng sambayanang Pilipino sa ating de-kalidad na edukasyon.

Kaya't nararapat lamang nating ibalik ang lahat sa sambayanang Pilipino. Hindi naman kailangang isang bonggang pagpapakamatay para sa bayan ang iyong gawin. Maging mapagmatyag at magkaroon ng sariling opinyon sa mga nangyayari sa iyong paligid. Pangalagaan ang likas na yamang bigay sa atin ng Inang Kalikasan. At higit sa lahat, pahalagaan ang demokrasya at ang mga institusyong nagtataguyod nito. Kahit sa iyong sariling pamamaraan ay mapapakita mo na ikaw ay makakapag-SERVE THE PEOPLE.

Sa inyong paglisan sa Unibersidad nawa'y baunin nyo ang mahahalagang liksyon kasama ng magagandang mga alaala.

At lalo't lalo, huwag mong kakalimutan ang iyong pinanggalingan, na ikaw ay Iskolar ng Bayan para sa Bayan, isang titulong iyong panghahawakan magpakailanman at hindi maagaw ninuman.



ISANG TAAS KAMAONG PAGPUPUGAY PARA SA MGA MAGSISIPAGTAPOS NA ISKOLAR NG BAYAN PARA SA BAYAN!

They are not leaders if they cannot follow simple rules.

The CERIS Homeowners Association Incorporated (CHAI), the homeowners association of Ceris I & II Village, Canlubang, Laguna made it a rule that NO CAMPAIGN POSTER OF ANY CANDIDATE RUNNING FOR ANY ELECTIVE POST, WHETHER NATIONAL OR LOCAL, IS ALLOWED TO BE POSTED IN ANY OF THE COMMON AREAS OF THE VILLAGE, INCLUDING VILLAGE FENCES, TREES, AND THE LIKE. This is primarily because Ceris Village is a private property, and COMELEC did not include private subdivisions in the list of common poster areas.

This rule has already been enforced since the elections of 2004. Violators are to face protests from CHAI. All candidates and parties have been notified of this rule. CHAI Officers have been diligently removing these illegally posted paraphernalia.

However, as of 5pm of Monday, March 29, 2009: the following have already violated the said rule:

RAMIL HERNANDEZ, Nacionalista, for Laguna governor
DAVE ALMARINEZ, Nacionalista, for Laguna vice-governor
BIM BELARMINO, Lakas-Kampi, for Laguna 2nd District Board Member
RUTH MARIANO HERNANDEZ, Nacionalista, for Calamba City Councilor
MIRIAM PLATON, Nacionalista, Calamba City Councilor
PIO DIMAPILIS, Lakas-Kampi, for Calamba City Councilor
PEEWEE PEREZ, Lakas-Kampi, for Calamba City Councilor
EDDIE CATINDIG, Liberal, for Calamba City Councilor
CRIS CONTRERAS, Liberal, for Calamba City Councilor

How can they be Laguna's and Calamba's leaders if they themselves cannot follow simple rules?

So that the public may know.
Maybe you can reconsider voting for the abovementioned names.


forging a new brand of activism,

Ramon Angelo O. Robrigado
Alumnus,
Buklod-UPLB

Injustice in the Judiciary

On March 17, 2010, the Supreme Court allowed Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to appoint the successor of Chief Justice Reynato Puno despite the ban on appointive posts during the election period.

Article VII Sec 15 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states that Two months before the next presidential elections and up to the end of his term, the President…shall not make appointments….

The constitution does not state that this provision is exclusively for appointive government officials. Hence, it can be argued that this provision is also meant for the judiciary, whose top positions are all appointive.

But the decision of 9 Supreme Court Justices (who, mind you, were all Arroyo-appointed) was indeed, as UP Alyansa put it in a speech delivered at the March 19, 2010 indignation rally, a "bastardization of our Constitution."

This is a blatant effort made by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (notice that I don't put the word "President" anymore because she is not worthy of the title) to perpetuate herself and her, as one blogger put it, "Satanic" family in power. Her strategy of appointing Bangit in the helm of the AFP and now, another Arroyo appointee in the helm of the Supreme Court, are just the preliminaries for a greater scheme of things - a fearsome nationwide system of organized cheating to declare a national-level failure of elections.

We, as Filipinos, must act now and save our nation from more years of repression.

RESPECT THE CONSTITUTION!

STOP THE MIDNIGHT APPOINTMENT OF THE CHIEF JUSTICE!

SR's Open Letter to the UP Student Community

BUKAS NA LIHAM SA MGA ISKOLAR NG BAYAN
HINGGIL SA PANGGIGIPIT AT PANUNUPIL NG BOR AT ADMINISTRASYONG PRESIDENT ROMAN LABAN SA OFFICE OF THE STUDENT REGENT

Opisina ng Rehente ng mga Mag-aaral
Unibersidad ng Pilipinas
March 8, 2010



Nagbabalik ang masalimuot na alaala at karanasan ng batas militar sa mga kasalukuyang pangyayari sa ating pinakamamahal na pamantasan.

Mula nang maitatag ang Office of the Student Regent (OSR) noong 1970, wala pang yugto sa kasaysayan ng ating Pamantasan kung saan nawalan ng kinatawan ang mga mag-aaral sa UP Board of Regents (BOR). Tanging sa loob ng isang dekada sa ilalim ng Batas Militar nilusaw ng diktadurya ang lahat ng mga institusyon at konseho ng mga mag-aaral, mga publikasyon at mga organisasyon sa loob ng pamantasan. Ngayong taon, matapos ang ilang dekada, Pebrero 25 nang ang BOR mismo ang tuluyang pumigil sa pag-upo sa kanilang pulong ang natatanging kinatawan ng mahigit 48,000 na mag-aaral ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas.

Isang malaking kawalan at disbentahe sa libu-libong mag-aaral ng UP ang pagtatanggal ni President Emerlinda Roman at ng BOR sa ating Student Regent (SR). Tangan ang militanteng tradisyon ng institusyon, ang OSR ay inaasahang kumatawan at magsulong ng mga interes at paninindigan ng mga mag-aaral hinggil sa mga usapin ng pamantasan, hanggang sa mga usapin sa pambansang saklaw.

Sa kabila ng mahalagang papel ng OSR sa demokratikong pamamahala sa ating pamantasan, tayo ay tinanggalan ng representasyon sa BOR.

Malinaw sa atin ang dahilan: Alam natin na hindi ito simpleng usapin ng pagsunod sa mga panuntunan ng pamantasan, sa halip,

ito ay hakbangin upang magsulong ng makasarili at makauring interes ng iilan sa loob ng BOR.

Ngayon, hinubad na ng BOR ang kanyang maskara at inilantad ang sarili—hindi ito kailanman nagsilbi sa interes ng mga mag-aaral at iba’t ibang sektor ng pamantasan, pagka’t ito’y nilikha upang bigyang-wangis o bigyang-ilusyon lamang na may demokratikong pamamahala sa ating pamantasan.

Pebrero 17, 2010 noong makatanggap ang SR ng liham mula sa Secretary of the University and of the Board of Regents na si Dr. Lourdes E. Abadingo. Nakasaad rito na sa pulong umano ng BOR noong Enero 29, 2010, “the Board of Regents agreed that you should no longer be allowed to participate in its deliberations as Student Regent for your failure to comply with the qualifications to continue serving as Student Regent…The Chair, however, has instructed the undersigned to invite you as Observer in the meeting of the Board scheduled on 25 February 2010”.

Walang pagtatangging tinatanggap ng SR ang naging kahinaan nito na makapagpasa ng application for residency sa takdang panahon sa UP Los Baños, ngunit ito’y hindi mulat na paglabag sa mga panuntunan ng pamantasan.

Sa panahong iyon, mapagpasyang inuna ng SR ang paggampan sa kanyang mga tungkulin at gawain sa buwan ng Nobyembre at maagang bahagi ng Disyembre. Bumisita ang SR sa iba’t ibang mga yunit ng UP upang maglunsad ng konsultasyon, umupo sa mga dayalogo hinggil sa pagtataas ng mga bayarin sa mga laboratoryo, magsaliksik sa mga usaping nakasampa sa BOR, at magbigay ng mga pag-aaral sa mga kapwa Iskolar ng Bayan. Lalo na’t iyon ang kritikal na panahon ng deliberasyon ng badyet para sa mga State Colleges and Universities (SUCs), kabilang na ang UP na kumakaharap sa P2 bilyong kaltas sa badyet. Naging bahagi rin ang SR ng mga pamprobinsiya at pambansang aktibidad ng mga kabataan. Hindi rin ito nawala sa mga pambansang araw ng pagkilos ng mga kabataan at mamamayan para sa kanilang karapatan sa edukasyon at batayang serbisyong panlipunan.

Bukod rito, hindi na kailanman naging maluwag at ganap na malaya para sa SR ang pagluwas papuntang UPLB nang walang pangamba sa seguridad matapos makaranas ng red-tagging, sampu ng mga naging kasamahan nito sa Konseho ng Mag-aaral ng UPLB, UPLB Perspective at Samahan ng Kabataan para sa Bayan (SAKBAYAN), mga lehitimong estudyante, at miyembro ng kaguruan sa UPLB. ng Kasabay ng naging hayagang presensya ng mga militar sa UPLB campus, palagian at masaklaw rin ang pagpapakalat ng mga black propaganda sa UPLB campus, pinararatangan ang SR at mga kasamahan nito bilang mga terorista at kasapi ng CPP-NPA-NDFP—suliranin na matagal nang naiulat sa administrasyon ng UPLB ngunit hanggang sa kasalukuyan ay wala pang wastong tugon mula sa Chancellor nito na si Dr. Luis Rey Velasco.

Mariin nating pinabubulaanan ang ipinapalaganap ng administrasyon ni President Roman na ang mayor na dahilan sa pagtatanggal sa SR ay ang usapin ng bona fide status nito.

Kung ito nga ang mayor na dahilan, madali itong maresolba sa pamamagitan ng pag-rekomenda at pag-aapruba ng kanyang application for residency sa UPLB.



IBAYONG PANGGIGIPIT AT PANLILINLANG ANG DINANAS NG SR

Sa kasalukuyan, naisasandal ang administrasyon ni UPLB Chancellor Luis Rey Velasco sa hindi nito pantay na pagturing sa SR at sa iba pang estudyante ng UPLB. Malinaw na kaiba ang pinagdadaanang proseso ng SR sa karaniwang proseso ng late application for residency. Bago pa ang pagpupulong ng BOR noong Disyembre 18, 2009, gumawa na ang SR ng liham para sa application for residency sa payo ng College Secretary ng College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) sa UPLB. Matapos makuha ang endorsement ng Adviser, Department Chair at College Secretary, ipinadala ang mga dokumento sa Office of the Chancellor.

Buwan ang lumipas at hindi pa rin ito inaaprubahan sa kabila nang napag-alaman natin na noong Pebrero 3 at Pebrero 16, 2010, dalawang estudyante mula sa UPLB ang kagyat na nakakuha ng late residency sa mismong araw na iyon. Tanging endorsement lamang ng kanilang College Secretary ang kinailangan upang payagan ang mga ito na mag-enroll. ‘Di tulad ng dalawang nasabing estudyante, kahit na residency form lamang ay hindi ibinibigay sa SR, bagama’t may endorsement na ng College Secretary ang application for residency ng SR.

Sa regular na proseso ng late application for residency, hindi na kinakailangang umabot sa Office of the Chancellor ang nasabing application, kaya naman kagyat na humingi na rin ang SR ng aksyon mula sa Dekano ng CAS na si Dr. Asunsion Raymundo sapagkat ito ang may pangunahing jurisdiction upang magpasya sa application. Bilang aksyon, iniakyat muli nito ang mga dokumento ng SR sa Office of the Chancellor—prosesong hindi naman pinagdaanan ng mga estudyante ng UPLB o ng anumang UP unit na humingi rin ng late application for residency. Bagama’t maaaring umaksyon ang Dekano ng CAS at bagama’t sila mismo ang nagsabi na dalhin sa Office of the Chancellor ang application, ang naging tugon ng Dekano sa liham ng SR ay “since you had already elevated the matter to the level of the Chancellor, the decision/mandate now lies on him”.

Pinabubulaanan natin ang ipinapalaganap ng administrasyon ni President Roman sa kanilang mga opisyal na pahayag na iniatras ‘di umano ng SR ang application for residency nito noong Enero 12. Kahit kailan, hindi sumulat at nagpasa ang SR ng pormal na liham sa Office of the Chancellor na iniaatras nito ang application for residency, hindi kailanman ito sumulat ng pormal na liham na pinahihintulutan ang sino man na iatras ito sa kanyang ngalan. Patunay rito ang mga liham ni Chancellor Luis Rey Velasco sa SR noong Pebrero 18 at Marso 3 kung saan dine-deny nito ang pag-aapruba sa nasabing application.

Pinabubulaanan rin natin ang ipinapalaganap ng administrasyon ni President Roman na aktwal na pagfa-file ng Leave of Absence (LOA) ng SR. Sumulat ang abogado ng SR na si Atty. Julius Matibag sa Dekano ng CAS upang tunggaliin ang sinasabi ng UPLB na hindi maaaring mag-LOA ang SR dahil sa mga nakabinbin na kaso sa Student Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) at may intensyon itong mag-file kung gayunman. Ipinagkamali ng Dekano ng CAS ang liham na ito sa aktwal na pagfa-file ng LOA. Ito ay mga impormasyon hindi wastong inilalathala ng administrasyon ni President Roman.

Mapagbalat-kayong nagdadahilan ang administrasyon ni President Roman na ang pagsunod sa panuntunan ang tanging dahilan kung bakit tinanggal ang SR sa BOR, samantalang malinaw na sila at si Chancellor Luis Rey Velasco mismo ang tunay na nagmamalabis, lumalabag, at nag-mamaniobra sa mga proseso ng pamantasan upang maging pabor sa kanila. Malakas ang loob ni Chancellor Luis Rey Velasco na sabihin na siya ay nagpapasiya batay sa “merits” at pantay umano ang pagturing niya sa kaso ng SR at ng iba pang estudyante ng UPLB, habang ang administrasyon niya mismo ang nanlinlang sa SR mula sa wastong proseso na dapat nitong pagdaanan. Mapagbalat-kayo nitong sinasabi na ang kaso ng SR ay kakaiba, ngunit ang malinaw na tanging kaibahan ni Charisse Bernadine Bañez sa iba pang estudyante ng UPLB ay siya ang tanging kinatawan ng mga mag-aaral sa pinakamataas na lupon nito at susi ang pusisyong upang ilantad ang pagmamalabis ng administrasyon ng UPLB. Mapagbalat-kayong nagdadahilan ang BOR na ang dahilan sa pagtatanggal sa SR ay ang “failure to comply with the qualifications to continue serving as Student Regent” habang “incapacity to enroll or file an LOA” at hindi “failure” ang nakalagay sa CRSRS. Malinaw na may kapasidad ang SR na mag-apply kundi lamang iniipit at inaabuso ni Chancellor Luis Rey Velasco ang discretion ng administrasyon nito.

Sa lahat ng ito, hindi maitatanggi na may panlilinlang, panlilito, at pagkukubli ng mga detalye sa bahagi ng UP administration upang ipagtanggol ang pagtatanggal sa SR.



PAGTANGGAL SA SR, SUSI SA PAGPAPATALSIK RIN SA PGH DIRECTOR

Ang pagkakapanalo ni Dr. Jose Gonzales bilang bagong direktor ng UP Philippine General Hospital (PGH) ay isa sa minsang mga pagkakataon na nagtagumpay ang mga sektoral na representasyon sa BOR—ang Student, Faculty at Staff Regents—at nanaig ang desisyon ng mga sektor ng Unibersidad. Ngunit malinaw na hindi ito mapahintulutan nina President Roman at ng Malacanang.

Sa araw ng Disyembre 18, 2009, alinsunod sa palagiang ini-invoke¬ ng administrasyon ni President Roman at kanyang Vice President for Legal Affairs na si Atty. Theodore Te na Section 13 (T) ng UP Charter “the Board of Regents has the power ‘to prescribe rules for its own government’” (na nangangahulugan na may kapasyahan ito sa mga usapin inihahapag rito) pinagbotohan ang mosyon ni President Roman na gawing observer lamang ang SR. Natalo ang kanyang mosyon, 5-4 (pabor sa OSR).

Kabilang sa mga pangyayari na hindi inilalathala ng administrasyon ni President Roman ay ang pagpayag nila mismo na lumahok sa nasabing botohan at hindi pagrehistro ng anumang pagtutol rito. Kahit sa usapin ng paglahok at pagboto ng SR, sila ay pumayag at walang bakas ng pagrerehistro ng anumang “objection” rito. Matapos silang matalo sa botohan para sa PGH Director, saka nila tumutol sa resolusyong sila mismo ang lumahok. Ibinabato ng administrasyon ni President Roman na hindi dapat bumoto ang SR sa nasabing usapin, simple lang ang kasagutan—hindi katulad ng mga Malacañang Appointees na ang tanging kinakatawan ay ang kanilang mga sarili (o di kaya’y ang naglagay sa kanila sa pusisyon),

kinakatawan ng SR hindi ang kanyang sarili ngunit ang pinakamalaking sektor sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas—ang mga mag-aaral. Ang hindi pagboto ng SR ay hindi pagboto ng mga mag-aaral.



Sa kaparehas na araw, Disyembre 18, mapagpasyang boto ang ibinigay natin kay Dr. Jose Gonzales dahil, ‘di gaya ng mga kandidatong may basbas ng Malacañang, malinaw ang kaniyang paninindigan na ang batayang serbisyong pangkalusugan ay karapatan ng mamamayan at gayundin ang sa kanyang matibay na pagtindig laban sa pribatisasyon ng Philippine General Hospital. Si Dr. Gonzales ang napili ng BOR sa botong 6-5 (kabilang ang boto ni Sen. Mar Roxas at Cong. Cynthia Villar).

Hindi kailanman naipaliwanag ni President Roman at ng mga Malacañang Appointees kung bakit hindi nila gusto si Dr. Gonzales bilang bagong halal na direktor ng UP PGH. Matapos ang muntikan nang hindi pag-appoint at pagbibigay ng oath of office kay Dr. Gonzales sa maagang bahagi ng Enero, agad nilang sinubok na tanggalin ang PGH Director at ang SR sa pulong ng BOR noong Enero 29, 2010. Dahil sa malinaw na maniobra sa proseso, nagpasya ang apat na rehente—student, faculty, staff at alumni regents—na mag-walkout sa nasabing pulong. Sa kabila ng kawalan ng quorum o sapat na bilang upang magpasya, unilateral na tinanggal President Roman at ng mga Malacañang Appointees ang SR sa BOR.

Nagsampa na ng kaso ang SR laban sa UP Board of Regents sa Quezon City Regional Trial Court.



PAGKUKUBLI AT KATIWALIAN, KINAKANLONG NG ADMINISTRASYON NG PAMANTASAN

Isang taon nang ikinukubli ng adminstrasyon ni President Roman at ng mga Malacañang Appointees sa komunidad ng UP na lagpas isang taon nang expired ang mga termino ng appointments ng tatlong Malacañang Appointees na sina “Regents” Francis Chua, Nelia Gonzales at Abraham Sarmiento; isang katohohanang ikinubli at kailanman ay hindi binabanggit nina Pres. Roman sa tuwing nagtatanong ang BOR Chair kung may quorum ba sa mga pulong. Ang mga nasabing “Regents” ay hindi appointed bilang regular regents (na may tiyak na termino sa loob ng 2 taon) kundi bilang acting regents lamang, na sa ilalim ng Administrative Code of 1987, hindi maaaring lumampas ang termino ng isang taon—usapin na hindi masagot ng administrasyon ni President Roman at may pagtatangka pang lusutan sa pamamagitan ng pag-iiba ng pakahulugan sa “acting” sa “temporary”.

Sa pulong ng BOR noong Pebrero 25, 2010, maka-isang panig na tinanggal si Dr. Gonzales bilang PGH Director (nang wala pa ring paliwanag) at sa kabila ng paggigiit ng mga sektoral na representasyon sa BOR na magkonsulta, sa mosyon ni President Roman, maka-isang panig rin na inaprubahan ni President Roman at Malacañang Appointed “Regents” ang pagrerekomenda ng kanilang mga pangalan kay Gng. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo para sa kanilang regular appointment.

Sa mga pangyayaring ito, lantad na sa atin ang tunay na katangian ng UP Board of Regents at kung kaninong interes ang pinagsisilbihan ng mga ito. Payag ang iilang makapangyarihang ito sa prosesong sila mismo ang lumikha hangga’t ito’y paborable sa kanilang pangkat. Minamalaki ang pagkukulang ng tumitindig laban sa komersyalisado at pribatisadong landas na tinatahak ng pamantasan habang minamaliit at ikinukubli ang panlilinlang ng mga kakatig nila sa pagtataas ng matrikula at iba pang bayarin at paglalako ng pamantasan sa pribadong interes.

Tinanggal sa Board of Regents ang Rehente na may tunay na mandato habang abot-langit na pinagtatakpan ang panlilinlang ng mga Rehente na ang tanging kinakatawan ay interes ng Malacañang sa pamantasan.



Hindi Board of Regents ang magdidikta sa pagtatanggal sa ating kinatawan. At ang sino mang magtangkang humati sa ating hanay ay walang ipinagkaiba sa kanila.

Hindi kinakatawan ng SR ang kanyang sarili. Ang bawat atake na tinatanggap nito ay hindi atake sa kanyang sarili kundi atake sa karapatan sa representasyon ng lahat ng mag-aaral ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas.

Ang bawat bigwas na tinanggap nito ay bigwas sa ating karapatan sa edukasyon na pinagbayaran ng mga naunang mabubuting anak ng ating pamantasan. Ang laban ng OSR ay laban ng lahat ng mag-aaral ng pamantasan ng bayan.



Totoo at materyal ang tunggalian ng mga interes sa loob ng pamantasan. At tanging sa sama-samang pagkilos lamang tayo matagumpay na mananaig. Mananaig tayo hindi para sa ating mga sarili, kundi para sa interes at karapatan ng kabataan sa edukasyon at upang itaguyod ang tunay na demokratikong pamamahala sa pamantasang walang-imbot na nagsisilbi sa sambayanan.


Para sa mga mag-aaral at sa sambayanan,



CHARISSE BERNADINE I. BAÑEZ
UP Student Regent