Thursday, January 28, 2010
How a workers' strike became the Luisita Massacre - Special Reports - GMANews.TV - Official Website of GMA News and Public Affairs - Latest Philippine News
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Noynoy Aquino, out of the shadows « Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism
Friday, September 18, 2009
MANNY VILLAR MAKES SENSE
I had a distinct opportunity to an evening party with Sen. Manny Villar and many Filipino-Chinese business leaders last night, at the house of mining mogul Gerry Angping. Villar makes sense when he said what we need now is a proven and tested business CEO like him. Unfortunately, something is still lacking in him - the capacity to fire up or inspire his audience. True enough, he is replete with credentials and qualifications, probably the best in the current presidential aspirants, but he needs to work hard on his image, albeit trapo and bland. Well his ads "AKALA MO" are working for him. But he needs to complement that with stage presence. But the best thing I had last night was he gave me a reason to really think about 2010. Fortunately I was seated right in front of him when he spoke, so I was closed enough to really "scrutinize" him, hehehe.
For example, he was very business-like when asked if he could guarantee to enrich the Philippines just like what he did to himself, literally rising from rags to riches. His answer was that “the probability is very high” compared to the other candidates. Given his track record as a no-nonsense CEO, he has the expertise he can bank on. Plus the fact that he has been “elected by peers” as their leader, citing his being House Speaker and Senate President, stressing the importance of peer respect for a president.
His platform of good governance is also practical and seemingly doable compared to the motherhood statements of many other aspirants. But Villar is still dogged by mistrust, owing to his being an astute businessman. He needs to work on that, too.
For example, he was very business-like when asked if he could guarantee to enrich the Philippines just like what he did to himself, literally rising from rags to riches. His answer was that “the probability is very high” compared to the other candidates. Given his track record as a no-nonsense CEO, he has the expertise he can bank on. Plus the fact that he has been “elected by peers” as their leader, citing his being House Speaker and Senate President, stressing the importance of peer respect for a president.
His platform of good governance is also practical and seemingly doable compared to the motherhood statements of many other aspirants. But Villar is still dogged by mistrust, owing to his being an astute businessman. He needs to work on that, too.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
The Noynoy Aquino phenomena
I am not the type of a political supporter who would carelessly announce my choice of a candidate. But in my Facebook account, I readily said “Let's just go for Noynoy... it's the imperative of the times....a new breed of leadership - inspirational, free from corruption and hunger for power.”
Of course, I meant it, and would stand by it unless I proved myself wrong!
Immediately, there are reactions from friends, mostly favorable. Elsewhere, I see a lot of various reactions on Noynoy’s candidacy. One bishop even warned against “joining the bandwagon.”
Another senator slammed Noynoy’s camp for using the term “good versus evil” in the coming elections. Of course, it was not Noynoy who said that, but Mar Roxas, the sometimes tactless scion of political ritzy families of Araneta and Roxas (remember his public expletives, which I supported as understandable in my other blogs).
Some sociologists try to explain the euphoria over Noynoy as some sort of political romanticism, which according to them does not have a long shelf life, meaning it could fizzle out over a period of time.
Be that as it may, I still believe that the reason for this “euphoria” is very simple. It is not a battle between Gloria and Noynoy, neither is it a battle between good or evil, I must agree. But it is a battle to win the trust of our people back. To win our people’s confidence in governance, so badly tarnished by Marcos, Erap and Gloria.
Talk to any ordinary Filipino and most likely, you will hear sadness and hopelessness. That we have become too wary of politicians, for even the incumbent, who has a PhD in Economics has only given us the most disappointing leadership of all time.
So when Noynoy, a personification of Ninoy and Cory, has announced that he is willing to take the lead, we have become euphoric. So he must live up to our expectations. Otherwise, we are a lost people.
Sadly, no politician in this generation can match Noynoy’s credibility (at least for the moment). He may not possess an impressive track record, but the thing is, we trust him. Why? Because we trust that he would not betray us, that he would not betray his parents’ legacy.
Of course, I meant it, and would stand by it unless I proved myself wrong!
Immediately, there are reactions from friends, mostly favorable. Elsewhere, I see a lot of various reactions on Noynoy’s candidacy. One bishop even warned against “joining the bandwagon.”
Another senator slammed Noynoy’s camp for using the term “good versus evil” in the coming elections. Of course, it was not Noynoy who said that, but Mar Roxas, the sometimes tactless scion of political ritzy families of Araneta and Roxas (remember his public expletives, which I supported as understandable in my other blogs).
Some sociologists try to explain the euphoria over Noynoy as some sort of political romanticism, which according to them does not have a long shelf life, meaning it could fizzle out over a period of time.
Be that as it may, I still believe that the reason for this “euphoria” is very simple. It is not a battle between Gloria and Noynoy, neither is it a battle between good or evil, I must agree. But it is a battle to win the trust of our people back. To win our people’s confidence in governance, so badly tarnished by Marcos, Erap and Gloria.
Talk to any ordinary Filipino and most likely, you will hear sadness and hopelessness. That we have become too wary of politicians, for even the incumbent, who has a PhD in Economics has only given us the most disappointing leadership of all time.
So when Noynoy, a personification of Ninoy and Cory, has announced that he is willing to take the lead, we have become euphoric. So he must live up to our expectations. Otherwise, we are a lost people.
Sadly, no politician in this generation can match Noynoy’s credibility (at least for the moment). He may not possess an impressive track record, but the thing is, we trust him. Why? Because we trust that he would not betray us, that he would not betray his parents’ legacy.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Election fever
Election fever is up again, and here we go again.
A lot of new movements and organizations are on the rise. Dinky Soliman’s Change Politics Movement has been formally launched. So are DDB Group’s Ako Mismo, a youth group of Fr. Robert Reyes and ABS-CBN’s Ako Ang Simula. Personally, I look at these organizations as a healthy democratic practice. I even signed up with Ako Mismo, because I believe in their advocacy.
The only concern is, while these and perhaps more groups will be launching one after the other, can’t we get our acts together? I am concerned for more impact and results of the efforts we are doing. And since we do not unite under one umbrella, chances are the 2010 elections will just be as divisive as the ones before, resulting to an elected government by plurality which will in the end be “more of the same.”
Even in politics, the trend is the same. There are so many political parties, each having their own candidates. It is a predictable future – déjà vu 1998 and 2004 – elected leaders that do not possess what we have been ideally telling our people to choose because the mass electorate is just as confused as we are.
It is even sad that everyone is capitalizing on the young, especially the first time voters. I hope that in the process we do not frustrate their idealism, just as how much frustrated we, their elders have become – of the system, the politicos and society in general.
Really sad that we cannot find a good rallying point among the crops of leaders that we now have. There must be a miracle - a miracle that will open our minds and really see what and who do we need in these trying times when the economy is in bad shape, when peace is so elusive, poverty is so pervasive, injustice abounds especially victimizing the most vulnerable of our women and children, and the environment is in such a state that threatens our very existence.
But hope springs eternal. It is still barely a year before the 2010 elections, so let us keep praying for that miracle.
A lot of new movements and organizations are on the rise. Dinky Soliman’s Change Politics Movement has been formally launched. So are DDB Group’s Ako Mismo, a youth group of Fr. Robert Reyes and ABS-CBN’s Ako Ang Simula. Personally, I look at these organizations as a healthy democratic practice. I even signed up with Ako Mismo, because I believe in their advocacy.
The only concern is, while these and perhaps more groups will be launching one after the other, can’t we get our acts together? I am concerned for more impact and results of the efforts we are doing. And since we do not unite under one umbrella, chances are the 2010 elections will just be as divisive as the ones before, resulting to an elected government by plurality which will in the end be “more of the same.”
Even in politics, the trend is the same. There are so many political parties, each having their own candidates. It is a predictable future – déjà vu 1998 and 2004 – elected leaders that do not possess what we have been ideally telling our people to choose because the mass electorate is just as confused as we are.
It is even sad that everyone is capitalizing on the young, especially the first time voters. I hope that in the process we do not frustrate their idealism, just as how much frustrated we, their elders have become – of the system, the politicos and society in general.
Really sad that we cannot find a good rallying point among the crops of leaders that we now have. There must be a miracle - a miracle that will open our minds and really see what and who do we need in these trying times when the economy is in bad shape, when peace is so elusive, poverty is so pervasive, injustice abounds especially victimizing the most vulnerable of our women and children, and the environment is in such a state that threatens our very existence.
But hope springs eternal. It is still barely a year before the 2010 elections, so let us keep praying for that miracle.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Climate Change
From the materials I recently gathered (thanks to Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources), I wish to share with you the following:
What is climate change?
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) refers to climate change as "any change in climate over time, whether due to natural variability or as a result of human activity."
What are the impacts of climate change?
Climate change is indeed a global environmental problem. As industries, the transport sector and other human activities continue to pump more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the planet is now becoming more vulnerable to potential impacts. Ranging from severe droughts and heavy downpours to ocean acidification and spread of vector-borne diseases, climate change rapidly becomes a major threat in various parts of the globe.
The IPCC Fourth Assessment Report cited that coastal areas, especially heavily-populated megadelta regions in South, East and Southeast Asia, will be at greatest risk due to increased flooding from the sea and, in some megadeltas, flooding from the rivers.
The whole world will be affected by rising sea levels. Changes in weather and climate could severely affect fisherfolks and coastal communities because of floods. When there is too little or too much rainfall during growing seasons, agricultural productivity will suffer, thus affecting food security.
So now the clarion call is sounded: Let us do our share in helping conserve our environment before it becomes too late.
What is climate change?
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) refers to climate change as "any change in climate over time, whether due to natural variability or as a result of human activity."
What are the impacts of climate change?
Climate change is indeed a global environmental problem. As industries, the transport sector and other human activities continue to pump more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the planet is now becoming more vulnerable to potential impacts. Ranging from severe droughts and heavy downpours to ocean acidification and spread of vector-borne diseases, climate change rapidly becomes a major threat in various parts of the globe.
The IPCC Fourth Assessment Report cited that coastal areas, especially heavily-populated megadelta regions in South, East and Southeast Asia, will be at greatest risk due to increased flooding from the sea and, in some megadeltas, flooding from the rivers.
The whole world will be affected by rising sea levels. Changes in weather and climate could severely affect fisherfolks and coastal communities because of floods. When there is too little or too much rainfall during growing seasons, agricultural productivity will suffer, thus affecting food security.
So now the clarion call is sounded: Let us do our share in helping conserve our environment before it becomes too late.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Climate Change
The past two or three days of rains is really mind-boggling. Yesterday, April 22nd, Metro Manila was flooded causing a nightmarish traffic all around the city and outskirts. So I checked some documents on what exactly is climate change, as claimed by weathermen to be happening abnormally, during this otherwise scorching summer. And I wish to share the following helpful information:
Climate change refers to any significant change in measures of climate (such as temperature, precipitation or wind) lasting for an extended period (decades or longer). As through much of its history, the Earth's climate is changing. Right now it is getting warmer. Most of the warming in recent decades is very likely the result of human activities (IPCC, 2007). The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) State of the Climate Report and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Surface Temperature Analysis indicate the average temperature of the Earth’s surface has increased by about 1.2 to 1.4ºF since 1900. Other aspects of the climate are also changing such as precipitation patterns and storminess.
During the past century humans have substantially added to the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, oil and gasoline to power our cars, factories, utilities and appliances. The added gases — primarily carbon dioxide and methane — are enhancing the natural greenhouse effect, and likely contributing to an increase in global average temperature and related climate changes.
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