SONA 2008

The State of the Nation Address is an annual event in the Philippines, in which the President reports on the status of the nation, normally it is delivered on the 4th Monday of July to the resumption of a joint session of the Congress (the House of Representatives and the Senate). This is a duty of the President as stated in Article VII, Section 23 of the 1987 Constitution: “The President shall address the Congress at the opening of its regular session. He may also appear before it at any other time.” (source wikipedia)

The constitution is clear in saying that only the President has the right to issue the SONA. The broadsheets, tabloids, militants and opposition leaders who are against PGMA have no right to issue any SONA. If they really want to issue SONA ‘Mag presidente muna sila’.

Here are the major points that a leading broadsheet (it’s actually a tabloid pretending to be a broadsheet) says are the true SONA.

1. Poverty. It is just a convenient excuse to blame rising poverty in the Arroyo Administration. Statistical data can be manipulated and the sample size does not represent the whole segment of the Philippine population. It is therefore inaccurate and must not be used as a basis to a conclusion.
2. Hunger. The president must do everything she can to alleviate the poverty and hunger but she should not be held responsible to the indolence of her people. Lazy people who are hungry because of their indolence have no right to blame the president because they are lazy. They should find work in order to put bread in their tables. Sadly, poor people have more children that they could not even feed.
3. Crime rate. We have to blame the sensationalize type of journalism that is practiced by our media people. Our media is guilty of highlighting the gruesome deaths; rapes and bank heist stories and often blame it on the law enforcers. Effective law enforcement and government control on the media should be put into place for our country to be a better place.
4. Employment. Our government’s effort to bring in investors does not work since abusive media and obstructionist opposition parties are projecting a bad image to our country. The investors often believe the very worst in the Philippines when in fact, in reality we’re better off than other third world countries. The lost of investors trust means no investment to our country and no employment. Filipinos have to go to other countries to find job.
5. Education. Let’s face it, if you are not schooled, nobody will hire you. We’re living in a competitive world. People have access to education or vocational courses like in TESDA. It’s up to them if they want to enroll or not. They should not blame the government if they can’t find job because they lack the qualification.
6. Health. Our media would always paint a bad picture of our health sector. They just can’t help it. They always want to put the government down. They overlooked that the poor are given free PhilHealth coverage.
7. Corruption. Corruption is a way of life. It’s deeply rooted in our culture and can never be eradicated. Corruption can be found from root to the top in government service and even in private sectors. It’s not the President’s fault if people are corrupt. She did everything she could to combat it but regardless, corruption will never be erased in our consciousness. We need a national renewal if we want to get rid of this bad attitude.

People have the wrong notion that the President can do everything. She’s blamed for everything from typhoon to flash flood, from Batanes to Jolo, from corruption to the clothes she wear. Believe me; the next President will inherit all the blame. Opposition leaders and militants would still rally and chant “Ibaba ang Presidente! No to Imperyalismo! Talamak na katiwalian! Tuta ng mga Kano!”.

Top war crimes suspect arrested in Serbia

Former Bosnian Serb President Radovan Karadzic, the mastermind of 1995 Srebrenica massacre that killed over 8,000 Muslims and Croats was arrested after 13 years of hiding. The massacre of Srebrenica is thought to be the largest human slaughter after the world war two. Karadzic will now face extradition to the U.N. war crimes court in The Hague, The Netherlands. Karadzic supporters gathered around the war crime court in Belgrade as the news of his arrest spread.

The arrest was welcome by several governments and lauded Serbia for their commitment to the International Criminal Tribunal.

Nang Dahil sa Tatoo

Arab News reported that an OFW was repatriated back in the Philippines because of his tattoo. An employee of Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) called the attention of Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vices (MUTAWA) when he saw the ‘Lady Hunter KSA’ tattoo engraved in the arm of a Filipino who was at that time paying the bill.

One good thing in the Kingdom of the Sand is that laws are laws. If you violate a law, you’ll have to pay for it. They wouldn’t hear any excuses. We are guests’ workers in this kingdom. The authorities here expect us to follow the laws. I don’t pity the ‘Kabayan’ who was deported. He knows the consequences of his actions but he chooses to ignore it.

PGMA intervention saved 24 OFWs from execution

Filipinos who committed high crimes in other countries are criminals. I don’t understand why our government is giving them special treatment. If a person for example killed somebody in the Philippine soil, aside from the free legal services at the PAO, the government would not do anything to influence the case of that criminal. Asking for clemency from the heads of states of other nations is a double standard. There’s nothing really special about our kabayan that committed a crime outside the Philippines. They’re still criminals. Let them pay for the crimes that they commit.

TRAGEDY at the GSIS

A retired public school teacher succumbs to death at the GSIS office in Lucena City because of frustration and heartbreak. The victim started waiting for her monthly pension since 23 January 2006. However, the GSIS employees asked her to apply for an e-card. The victim applied but never received her e-card until her death. GSIS issued a statement that e-cards do not cover the retirees.
This is the problem with the government run enterprises. It’s not efficiently and professionally run. This should be the number one priority of Winston Garcia and not meddling in the affairs of the MERALCO. The poor victim’s problem will never grab the national headlines if she did not die at the GSIS office. It took one member’s life before GSIS took action.

Imagine a world without Filipinos

The article ‘Imagine a world without Filipinos’ written by Abdullah Al Maghlooth of Al Watan Newspaper on 12 June 2008 sounded like a PRAISE RELEASE coming from the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh. It praises Filipinos like we’re the world’s gift to mankind. I am a Filipino but I am not comfortable receiving praises that sounds so fake. There’s nothing special about being a Filipino. All men are created equal regardless of the race, religion and nationalities. There are other nationalities here in Saudi Arabia too like the Indians, Syrians, Lebanese etc. who are as good, as responsible and as trustworthy as the Filipinos. The writer should not generalize and confine the good qualities in just one nationality. Being a good and responsible worker depends on an individual and not because of his nationality. Not all Kabayans are dedicated to their work. In fact, the number one headaches of the employers here in Saudi Arabia are the Filipinos. I work in HR Dept so I know what I am saying.

Who cares if we run the households, ships, hospitals, hotels, offices in the world? We are also the bar girls / boys in Japan and Brunei. What I am saying is “There are good and bad apples”.

Turkey

The AKP (Justice and Development Party), Turkey’s ruling party which is founded with Islamic Ideals won last year’s parliamentary election is facing a big dilemma of being banned. A case was filed by the secularist to the Constitutional court seeking to ban AKP (Justice and Development Party) on charges of undermining the constitution. The constitutional court is said to be headed and stacked with secular elites that AKP is at risk of losing the case. The ban could take up to five years and could not be appealed. The consequence of the case is a big blow to Turkey’s application to join the European Union (EU). The political gridlock could also mean investors losing confidence in Turkey’s economy.

AKP had been undermining the Turkey’s constitution by imposing Islam on Turkey. The ruling party also campaigns to lift the ban on headscarves on all government establishments and universities. The first lady of Turkey is the number one violator of the law by wearing the headscarf on public places and ceremonies.

No one should be above the law. Winning the majority of seats in the parliament is not an excuse to violate it.

Omar Khadr Interrogation Video

The release of the interrogation video of the then 16 years old Omar Khadr shocked and outraged the world. Omar Khadr had been in Guantanamo detention since 2002. The Canadian Supreme Court ordered the Canadian Government to release the interrogation video of Omar Khadr on May to allow his defense team against the US Charges which includes charges that he spied and helped in the battle in Afghanistan.

The lawyers of Omar Khadr’s family issued the video in order to pressure the Canadian government to seek custody of the young boy before he is prosecuted for war crimes by the US Authorities.

The video shows a young Omar who helplessly cries for his mother.
The Canadian Intelligence officers shamelessly tortured the boy while interrogating him. The boy first thought that they were there to help him. Instead, he was subjected to several leading questions that a minor could not handle.

The United States Guantanamo prison facility is the opposite of what America stands for. It’s a place of torture for the innocent people that America dubbed as ‘Terrorists”. The Guantanamo facility is also a place where violations of US and International laws are made by the Americans who claims to be the champion of democracy and human rights!

Venezuela is Miss Universe 2008!

Riyo Mori’s (JAPAN) reign ended with a bang! (Not because she was slapped by Miss Egypt Yara Naoum) It’s the first time in the MUO’s history that the outgoing queen did not wear a gown. Instead, she wore a tuxedo, a signatured tuxedo of course! Riyo Mori will forever remain as one of the most beautiful Miss Universe ever! (Let’s not forget Jennifer Hawkins of Australia).

Ever since Dayana Mendoza won the Miss Venezuela 2007 pageant, she was bookmarked to win the Miss Universe 2008 crown. She previously competed in the 2001 Elite Model contest in France and eventually became a professional model sashaying the runways of Paris, Milan, NY and Tokyo. Dayana is the right girl that MUO is looking for: A model, fresh and vibrant.

I never thought that the MUO would crown a Venezuelan after the headache that Alicia Machado (Miss Universe 1996) caused them that it’s impossible to even think of Dayana Mendoza winning. Since 1996, Venezuela produced 4 First Runners Up (1997,1998, 2000,2003), 1 Second Runner up (2007), 1 Third Runner up (2001), 2 Fourth Runner up (2002, 2005), 1 Top 5 (1999) and 2 Non Semi Finalist Placements (2004, 2006). Dayana’s victory means 5 Miss Universe crowns for Venezuela (tied with Puerto Rico).

--oo0oo--

The Jennifer Barrientos, Philippine delegate for Miss Universe did not place in the pageant. For the first time in the Miss Universe history, the Miss Photogenic was not awarded. Jennifer Barrientos could have easily won it with the help of her overzealous compatriots. The three C’s (Colombia, Cumbia and Cubao) according to the pageant analysts are the factors to be blamed for the non placement of our delegates in the international scene. Colombia (helps train Filipina beauty queens) and Alfredo Barraza (Evening gown and National Costume designer) are allegedly sabotaging the chances of our delegates by giving them wrong packaging and ugly gowns. Cumbia boutique’s (Owned by the Aranetas) array of gowns and cocktail dresses are not exactly fashionable. Most of their (Cumbia) dresses have been used by previous queens in other pageants. Cubao (refers to BPCI and Madam Stella) needs young blood and needs to change. Stella Marquez de Araneta, Pitoy Moreno and the oldies in the BPCI board should step down. We need somebody like Inez Ligron (National Director of MUJ) to change BPCI.

Pila Balde in New Lucena, Iloilo

A freshman from New Lucena Polytechnic College was raped by 15 teenagers. She was invited by the boys (her friends) to a drinking session in an abandoned house. When she was drunk, the 15 boys lost no time and alternately raped her. Rape is a heinous crime in the Philippines that is punishable by death or reclusion perpetua (Life in prisonment).

The girl shouldn’t have accepted the invitation of the guys (who happens to be her friends). However, she thought that those guys are her friends and she willingly give in to their invitation. It never occurred to her that the guys have other plans. I pity the girl because she’s a victim of a heinous crime. Our law should be tough on the suspects so it won’t happen to others. We should not blame the victim instead we should hold our hands in supporting the victim in her quest to get the justice she deserved.

Cut the Remittance Fee

The call to cut the remittance fee is long overdue. The greedy Philippine banking industry has been abusing the OFWs for a very long time by charging them excessive remittance fees. This has to change. Finance Minister Margarito Teves said in an interview that the government is considering cutting off remittance fee of OFWs. It’s not enough that the government is considering the idea of cutting the remittance fees. They should not just consider the idea but implement it. Banks should also be punished for being too greedy for profit.

An ordinary Saudi based OFW would pay the range of SR 15-30 for transfer fee plus another Php 150 (Province) or Php 50 (Manila).

Travel Advisory on Mindanao Travel

The United States State Department issued in their website another travel advisory on traveling to Mindanao. The travel advisory is routinely issued in many parts of the world and is meant to warn all Americans on the dangers in traveling to a specific country or area in the world. The turmoil in Mindanao is isolated and the entire island is not affected. The terror group Abu Sayyaf, MILF and MNLF are confined in limited areas. Tourist should be cautious but must never compromise their vacation because of the advisory.

Neri to SSS

The country was stunned by the appointment of Romulo Neri to the SSS. Neri will replace the ailing Corazon de la Paz who managed the SSS for more than 7 years. Corazon de la Paz said in an interview that it’s time for her to take care of her health. De la Paz has been ill for quite awhile and in fact submitted her resignation to the President even before leaving the country for treatment.

The appointment of Romulo Neri to the SSS would not have been a controversial one it he was not involved with the ZTE Scandal. The ZTE scandal was politically motivated and created by the opposition. It has proven nothing and overshadowed the qualifications of Romulo Neri. Neri’s more than capable of handling the SSS considering that he used to head the NEDA.

Corazon de la Paz’s call to the SSS members to protect their contribution is just a call of concern. The media should not blow it out of proportion. Let’s give Romulo Neri a chance to serve SSS before we judge him. PGMA will not give him the SSS portfolio if he is not capable.

Recent Poll says Clinton supporter won’t vote for Obama

The recent CNN poll says that Hillary Clinton supporters are not likely to vote for Barak Obama. Most of them even say that they’d rather vote for John McCain or just stay at home come November. More Hillraisers (Hillary Clinton fund raisers) also pulled their support from Hillary Clinton to John McCain. They were very disappointed by the bias of the mainstream media in the Clinton campaign. The survey says it all, without Hillary Clinton, the election is not as exciting as it once was. There’s really no point in going to the voting station.

I was devastated and bitter when Hillary Clinton lost her chance in clinching the Democratic Presidential Nomination. It would take years before I’ll recover.

Bishop vows to lobby against pending reproductive health bill

The primary cause of poverty in the Philippines is the government’s neglect in the issues of reproductive health brought by the pressures from the CBCP. The present administration of PGMA does not have a proper reproductive health program. PGMA, a devoted catholic once declared that her administration will not deal with the issues of birth control. She instead advocated a natural method which is proven to be a futile process. The responsibility of reproductive health now lies in the hands of the LGUs.

The ballooning population of the Philippines must be curtailed in order for our economy to grow. Below average Filipino income earners tend to have more children than the above average income earners. In layman’s term, ‘Kung sino pa ang mahihirap, sila pa ang maraming mga anak”. The poor man’s children will remain poor because their parents could not afford to send them to school. This will create another cycle of poverty that would last for generations. This is why it’s very important for our government to have a concrete reproductive health program so that poor and illiterate people will be educated and will have an opportunity to choose which birth control process is suited for them.

However, the greedy priests (CBCP) do not want our government to have a concrete reproductive health program. They expressed their displeasure of the pending reproductive health bill in the congress stressing that it’s an anti life bill. Reproductive health must be a choice. People must have the right to choose which family planning methods they want to use. The CBCP advocated a more natural method which is often a failure. They (CBCP) want more children since more children mean more business opportunity for their thriving church. Catholicism is the number one cause of poverty in the world. All of the catholic countries including the Latin America, the Philippines with the exception of France, Italy, Spain & Portugal are poor.

A concrete reproductive health is the only way for our country to move forward. Let’s support our government so they will not back away from the pressures of the CBCP (the hypocrites).

Pinoy Kidneys for Sale

A Filipino documentary on TV before featured kidney selling in the Philippines. The documentary created a stir and public debate since it is a social issue that is link primarily to poverty. The documentary discussed how foreign nationals exploited the poverty of the Filipinos by offering them big amount of money in exchange for their kidneys. People may question it but I really believed that the documentary is an eye opener to everyone including the DOH.

Just recently the Department of Health (DOH) said with finality that they will not anymore give consideration to foreign nationals when it comes to organ donation. The approval of Administrative Order No. 124 or the revised national policy on living non related donors and transplantation prohibit organ donations to foreigners.

I congratulate the DOH for the job well done. I hope that this will be an end to organ transplant exploitation.

Luchi Cruz Valdes

I really admire Luchi Cruz Valdes. She has an unquestionable credibility. She’s an asset to the Philippine News Industry. I recently learned that the QC RTC has junked the breach of contract lawsuit filed by GMA Network against Luchi Cruz Valdes. If you remember Luchi resigned from GMA Network in 2001 and accepted the offer of ABS CBN News and Current Affairs. GMA Network then filed a case against Luchi that prevented her from working for over 8 months (28 December 2001 – 20 August 2002).

Luchi said in an interview a couple of years ago that being unable to work for about a year is a blessing in disguise. A baby was conceived during that period and she was able to take a much needed rest. Winning the case for Luchi against GMA Network is just a bonus. To Luchi! Congratulations and God bless.

Enrile says no to Senate Inquiry on MV Princess of Stars

The capsized MV Princess of Stars is another media mileage for aspiring presidentiables in the senate. It is therefore not surprising if the publicity hungry senators would want to open up an investigation on the ill fated ship. We all know that Philippine Senators abuse their power to investigate. They would always insist that their investigations are done in aid of legislation. However, years of investigations on several issues did not produce any laws. Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, the Senate Chair on Services Committee that gave away franchises to shipping companies, refused another Senate Inquiry saying that that the Board of Marine Inquiry (BMI) should deal with the investigation process. The results of BMIs investigation can be used by the senate in order to formulate new laws that would prevent another sea tragedy in the future.

The Princess of the Stars Tragedy

I couldn’t understand why the Philippine Coast Guard allowed the ‘Princess of the Stars’ to sail despite the fact that a typhoon is brewing in the country. Ships sinks on good weather but the propensity of Ship sinking in a bad weather is so much higher. We are now left with hundreds of grieving families of the passengers who died when the ship capsized.

The government, Sulpicio Lines (owner of the capsized ship) and the families of the victims are now pointing fingers on who really are responsible for the tragedy that could have been prevented. I pity the families of the victims because no amount of insurance money could commensurate to the lives that were lost.

The government is now on the process of retrieving the dead bodies of the passengers and officers. Identifying the dead bodies will follow. It is very important for the families get their corpses (dead relatives) in order to have a closure.

This will never be the first or the last sea tragedy. The Philippines is an archipelago and sea disaster is very common. The safest travel so far is the air travel. The airline industry should come up with inexpensive and affordable fares so that passengers will have an alternative to the very dangerous sea travel.