Democratic Blogger

Some people would say that the EDSA 2 which commenced from January 16-20, 2001 that removed then President Joseph Estrada from power and installed then Vice-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as his successor is not truly a people power revolt unlike the EDSA 1 of Feb. 22-25, 1986 that ended the 20-year long repressive Marcos dictatorship and restored democracy and freedom on our land. In this case, I shall dwell only on EDSA 2 on this Note. I agree with such observation. EDSA 2 was a conspiracy of the corrupt officials who are being endangered of being removed from office and be prosecuted under the strict anti-corruption program of then President Joseph Estrada, those who were allied with Former President Fidel Ramos, who were at that time being investigated for the alleged anomalies he committed during his regime like the PEA-Amari scam, Centennial Expo scam etc, the ultra-conservative sector of the Catholic Church headed by the late Jaime Cardinal Sin, the late Former President Co...

This short blog will discuss today a word that is not in the vocabulary of all us, Filipinos that is why our country cannot move forward and remain divided and that is: UNITY. Our country have experienced deep divisions until now, which is being intensified due to social media and abuse on the Internet usage. Our past leaders failed to exercise determined political will to unify us and our country. That's why we cannot deal with the problems and challenges our country is facing. We still doing furthering the wounds of division on each other, on national, international and personal issues. We are doing this crab mentality wherein we want ourselves to be highest at the expense of others. We lack sense of common good, genuine concern to build a spirit of community and keen look at justice. As Former Senator Francisco Tatad once said, ours is a "crisis of our times." Look at our neighbors, they are developed well politically and economically because their governments and th...

The news of China being invited to be a third player in the telecommunications industry of the Philippines, is a good news to everyone. Since it will break the chains of the Globe-PLDT duopoly in the said industry, particularly in the Internet to speed it up since it is one of the slowest in the world. But critics says that it might compromise the country's national security given the fact that the Philippines and China have territorial dispute in the Spratlys for decades, until now in spite of the warming of friendship as instituted by the Duterte administration's independent foreign policy. China has selected China Telecom to be its representative, in entering the country's telecommunications industry and in fact, in accordance with the 60-40 rule of the economic provisions of the present 1987 Constitution, it has chosen a Filipino partner for that purpose. In due time, perhaps, the Government will be able to address the national security concerns of this matter, even if ...

In this blog for today, I will discuss how to be a responsible blogger. Responsible blogger means that you are always thinking of accountability in what you are saying in your blog. That you will exercise fairness and objectivity in commenting on national issues and international issues, without offending personalities, even if you are criticizing constructively their actions as some of them are working in Government and doing public service to the people. And a responsible blogger knows what are his or her limits. Nowadays, blogging has been abused, for the sake of power, perhaps money, political ambition, etc., by some with total impunity and recklessness at the expense of other bloggers, and of some people. So much callousness indeed that should be stopped by the way because it is bad for the country, and not being helpful all along. And that, what is saddening is that due to this, the blogging industry have been affected and many bloggers, who have a good standing reputation for ye...

The recent decision of US President Donald Trump to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital as well as his plan to move the country's foreign embassy there, in my honest and considered view, is erroneous. Erroneous because it was done unilaterally and no prior extensive consultations were made upon by him. To me also, this violates fully the two state solution proposed by the United Nations (UN) on 1947, on wherein there will be two states, Israel and Palestine and Jerusalem will be divided into two, the west and the east and the east itself will be the capital of Palestine, if my memory serves me right and correct me if I am wrong. I am quite afraid that the peace process betwen the two, being brokered by the US for decades would be laid to a waste due to Mr. Trump's decision that was also criticized by his fellow leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron, etc, which includes the leaders in the Middle East. On our case, perhaps President Rodrigo Duterte, on beha...

Today's granting of the majority of the Members of the both Houses of Congress of the President's request to further extend Martial Law in Mindanao for one year, beginning from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018 with all due respect, is unjustifiable.  Unjustifiable, in a sense that it is quite unconstitutional since the actual rebellion in Mindanao, especially in Marawi City which precepitated the declaration of Martial Law on May 23 and its first extension on July 22 also by the majority of all the Members of the both Houses of Congress had been dissipated already and the task to rehabilitate the city will soon begin to restore its wonderful glory. Remember, actual rebellion is one of the grounds strictly set forth by the Constitution, the highest law of the land in which the President as Commander-in-Chief of the AFP may place the entire Philippines or any part thereof under actual rebellion under Martial Law to quell the said rebellion in the interim or temporarily. Ac...

Dear Fellow Filipino Youth, It seems to me that the soul o ang kaluluwa of the Filipino nationalism on many of us as well as love of our nation has lost. Ito'y aking marubdob na ikinalulungkot at pinanghihinayangan. Allow me to say so why. Many of us are now more listening to the songs, watching to the movies, television series, dancing the dances, buying food, drinks, shoes, clothes and other products/things that come from foreign nations, especially in South Korea, United States etc. rather than our own songs, movies and television series, dances, own foods, drinks, shoes, clothes and other products/things we have in our own country that really made by most of our countrymen. While I am recognizing your right to do so, what I am saying that we must lessen buying products/things from foreign nations as well as patronizing them. Hindi na kasi tama yan. I deplore the fact that in this modern era, we have become foreigners in our own land. Naging dayuhan na tayo sa ating sa...

In view of the killing of a South Korean businessman and few Chinese nationals, 32 persons and some youths like Kian delos Santos this year 2017, by some wayward policemen hiding under the intensified campaign against criminality and illegal drugs of the Duterte Administration that further put it into bad taste last week, I, as a humble citizen of this country wishes to the Administration itself, in tandem with the Legislative and the Judicial branch of the Government, the following measures to enhance the said campaign: 1. The Administration must propose to Congress the enactment into law of a new Criminal Code that will repeal the antiquated Revised Penal Code and will shape the modernization of the country’s criminal justice system to have a fast investigation and speedy trial and to ensure total justice for both rich or poor. It may also categorizes the imposition of death penalty on heinous crimes and the imposition of life imprisonment on non-heinous crimes if ever. 2. The ...

The Visiting Forces Agreement or VFA signed on 1997 between the United States and the Philippiunes, according to Wikipedia is “is a bilateral visiting forces agreement between the Philippines and the United States .” 1 It promotes joint military exercises between the Philippine and US military forces yearly. This was considered by the Philippines as a treaty that is why on 1998 also, then President Joseph Estrada ratified the VFA and submitted it to the Senate for its concurrence. It is because the Philippine Constitution says and I quote: “ No treaty or international agreement shall be valid and effective unless concurred in by at least two-thirds of all the Members of the Senate. “ 2 The Philippine Senate, by a vote of 18-5, concurred in the ratification of the VFA on May 27, 1999. And on June 1, 1999, the VFA came into effect per Exchange of Notes between then Foreign Affairs Secretary Domingo Siazon, Jr. and then US Ambassador to the Philippines Thomas Hubbard. In t...

I stand in support of the plan to restore the mandatory Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program in every universities and colleges, both state-owned and private due to the following reasons: 1.) To increase the need for reserve force in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in order to augment the regular force in defending the State from both internal and external threats as well as to fight in any armed conflict and wars; 2.)  To instill full discipline to the youth of the country; 3.) To teach to the youth the importance of national defense awareness and of national security in the country; 4.) To establish firm partnership, teamwork and camaraderie; 5.) To emphasize and ingrain nationalism among the youth; 6.) To be of help in building every community here in the country; 7.) If necessary, to be a leading advocate of active citizenship and of participatory governance in the country; 8.) To be of sufficient help in times of calamities and natural disa...

At this point, aside from national industrialization I did mention earlier in this blog, I think that the key to greater economic development of the country, the Philippines for today is the need to increase foreign investment in several areas like telecommunications, transportation, tourism, hotel and restaurant, energy, etc. Because with that, many foreign investors will go here in the country to establish and own businesses, especially in the areas of concern I've mentioned. The Duterte Administration, interestingly wants to increase the foreign investment here in the country in the said areas, especially on telecommunications to level the playing field and in speeding up and wants the both Houses of Congress to pass a law for that purpose. While I am inclined to support it since it has noble intentions for the country, the problem is that, the Constitution, the highest law of the land, mostly its economic provisions proscribed or in better term, prohibit such investments due ...

Have you ever got into conflict with someone especially a friend of yours? If that is so, then you could do reconciliation with him or her to restore the friendship you and him or her established before became strained due to conflict. But, is reconciliation is so easy? No. It takes time and requires skillful and thorough diplomacy and full negotiations to achieve it as the saying goes "Time heals all wounds." Once fulfilled, forgive each other for the mistakes you have done amongst yourselves. You will became friends with each other, but not closest unlike before since it does not mean that you will never forget the mistakes you have done to each other to serve as a lesson in the history of your respective lives and not to repeat it again. And reconciliation is not being forced upon on the person to whom you have conflict with. What if that person refuses to reconcile with you? You have no choice but to wait for his or her decision, at the time of his or her own choos...

Tonight, fellow Filipinos, I would like to educate you-within my limitations- on the legislative process of the both Houses of the Philippine Congress for you to understand and appreciate it well. Hindi po siya madali bagkus komplikado po siyang proseso. Under the Constitution, the highest law of the land, no bill should pass either any of the two Houses, without undergoing three readings. Now, let me tell you the three readings. Before I proceed, let me inform you that any Senator or Representative may introduce and file a bill before the Office of the Secretary of the Senate or the Office of the Secretary-General of House of Representatives. Each bill then would be given a number. Let me now go the three readings. FIRST READING. At this juncture known as the First Reading, it is where the title of any bill as well as the name of author/s would be read and the Senate President or the House Speaker would refer it to any appropriate committee of either the Senate or the House of R...

To me, the declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao by the President last May 23 in response to the ISIS-inspired Maute group attack in Marawi City and to other attacks in the whole island group in the past months was the firmest response he had to do as the Commander-in-Chief of the AFP under our Constitution. A boldstroke decision that was necessary to restore peace and order in Mindanao that we, the Filipino people must applaud as it will easily contain the rebellion of the ISIS inspired-Maute group. The both Houses of Congress extended Martial Law in Mindanao until December 31, 2017 as requested by the President on July 22 and last July 4, prior to that, the Supreme Court in a landmark decision in the case of Lagman v. Medialdea declared the imposition of Martial Law in Mindanao as constitutional. Be that as it may however, we, the Filipino people should pray that the implementation of Martial Law in Mindanao would not lead to human rights abuses and if ever there is such, it must ...

On my part, I am in full support of the plan of the Government to modernize our jeepneys, our king of the roads because of the following: 1.) We are now in the 21st century; 2.) There is a need to modernize the jeepneys to make it fully work and for the passengers to be more comfortable in riding them; 3.) To phase out old jeepneys that cannot cope up anymore with the demands of the 21st century; 4.) To ensure that the jeepneys will be at par with environmental sustainability; 5.) For the jeepneys to have modern equipment like GPS so that the drivers will be taught how to use them well in driving such jeepneys while at the same time they may be subsidized by the Government; And; 6.) To serve as a preliminary to a mass public transport modernization program. The said program is good. This has been conceptualized and planned I think decades ago and now is the time for it to be implemented NOW and as Mr. Arnel Ignacio put it this way: "NOW NA!" I cannot really un...

Nowadays, the Opposition here in the Philippines is just keeping criticizing every act of the present Duterte Administration it perceives as wrong and without proposing corrections or alternatives on those acts as well as keeping attacking it. Sometimes, they are calling for senseless investigations on some issues to earn brownie points. Few of them are calling for the President's resignation while others want his head, meaning they wanted this ousted. And keeping on criticizing and blocking some of the priority bills of the administration, even if it is for the good of the country and to create voiceferous noise to derail the reform agenda of the Administration. And they are not in support and in unison with the Administration in times of crisis like the Marawi crisis and instead, they are suspicious of the Government's efforts to contain it. While I agree with them that the extra-legal killings of the drug addicts should stop, it seems to be that this is the main is...

Love is about caring a person. And for the record, it has ups and downs that we, the people, especially the men and we always encounter that in our stages in life. As we all know, people, love is consist of three kinds: Love that focuses on your family, especially on your parents; Love that focuses on friends, especially closest friends; And; Love that focuses on seeking lifetime partner in life, either woman or man. At this point in juncture, let me discuss the third one as it entails sometimes, difficulties, especially in courtship only this afternoon today, with emphasis on women. So, this blog is dedicated to all men. All right, in finding a lifetime partner in life, men should, within their capacities do their best in courting a woman that they want to be their such kind of partner until their death. Of course, you need to introduce himself to her in a manner that is cordial. And then, you will seek friendship with her. Third, after so many years, you will begin...

As for me, the reforms in the Constitution being espoused by the Duterte Administration, should be initiated in any method prescribed by the Constitution itself, which is the highest law of the land. And that is constitutional charter change. Under the Constitution, it can be amended or revised by either of the following: 1.) A Constituent Assembly, by a vote of the 3/4 of all the Members of the both Houses of Congress; 2.) A Constitutional Convention, by an act of the both Houses of Congress and; 3.) A People's Initiative provided there must be a law first that has to be passed about it. At present, the option for Constituent Assembly mode towards constitutional reforms for adoption of federalism and semi-presidential form of government is being undertaken at the both Houses of Congress, particularly in the House of Representatives, which its Committee on Constitutional Amendments is presently hearing different proposals for such reforms. In the Senate, its Committee on ...