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Thursday, August 28, 2014
Monday, August 25, 2014
WHAT DOES PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE MILLION PEOPLE MARCH?
The “Million People March” is a massive protest of thousands of Filipinos who expressed their indignation against government corruption and called for the full abolition of pork barrel last August 26, 2013. Protests also call for the investigation and punishment of those who misused funds. Estimated 80,000 to 100,000 gathered at the Burnham Grands of the Luneta Park, while thousands more held mass actions in other cities nationwide. Public hubbub against the corruption-tainted pork barrel came in the wake of exposes on the PDAF after whistoleblower, Benhur K. Luy distinguished representative Janet Lim-Napoles who is claimed to have schemed with officials to pocket P10 billion through the fund.
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priority_Development_Assistance_Fund_scam
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priority_Development_Assistance_Fund_scam
Saturday, August 23, 2014
The First Anniversary Of The Million People March
THE MILLION PEOPLE MARCH
Last August 22-25, a series of protests was formed to call for transparency from our government. The main goal of these protests was to abolish the pork barrel which was provoked by the Priority Development Assistance Fund and the Disbursement Acceleration Program. The activity on Monday will be the first anniversary of the Million People March protests which is demanding for political transparency. They celebrated it together with National Heroes Day, which will also be celebrated this August 25 to commemorate the sacrifice of our heroes for our freedom, in Luneta park.
The people who joined the last year's Million People March are expected to participate on the event on Monday. The presence of Vince Lazatin of the Transparency and Accountability Network, Arnold Pedrigal and Bernardo, Peachy Bretana, militant groups, and former Chief Justice Renato Puno are something to look forward to. Vince Lazatin is one of the organizers of the event, and Arnold Pedrigal, together with Bernardo, created the Facebook page entitled "Abolish Pork Barrel" in the Power ng Pinoy Facebook page, to invite participants to the protest, then Peachy Bretana re-posted the page as a call to action with date and place to it. The support of our former Chief Justice Renato Puno is also expected on the said event, because he believes that the people's initiative is the most legal way to abolish corruption.
DIFFERENT REACTIONS GENERATED BY THE EVENT
Last August 22-25, a series of protests was formed to call for transparency from our government. The main goal of these protests was to abolish the pork barrel which was provoked by the Priority Development Assistance Fund and the Disbursement Acceleration Program. The activity on Monday will be the first anniversary of the Million People March protests which is demanding for political transparency. They celebrated it together with National Heroes Day, which will also be celebrated this August 25 to commemorate the sacrifice of our heroes for our freedom, in Luneta park.
The people who joined the last year's Million People March are expected to participate on the event on Monday. The presence of Vince Lazatin of the Transparency and Accountability Network, Arnold Pedrigal and Bernardo, Peachy Bretana, militant groups, and former Chief Justice Renato Puno are something to look forward to. Vince Lazatin is one of the organizers of the event, and Arnold Pedrigal, together with Bernardo, created the Facebook page entitled "Abolish Pork Barrel" in the Power ng Pinoy Facebook page, to invite participants to the protest, then Peachy Bretana re-posted the page as a call to action with date and place to it. The support of our former Chief Justice Renato Puno is also expected on the said event, because he believes that the people's initiative is the most legal way to abolish corruption.
DIFFERENT REACTIONS GENERATED BY THE EVENT
It was the Les Miserables version of the Philippines. The Million People March of 2013 got a lot of different reactions. But we widely knew that the government remained mum towards the issue. One citizen violently reacted on an article inRappler and said:
“Enough is enough! Shame on those who steal our people's money..... Ooops, but wait, there is nothing you can really do about those without shame but jail them .... Ooops, but wait, they are able to run and hide with conniving traitor Filipinos......Ooops, but wait, even if they are caught and go to jail, our prison system is so ridiculous that convicted felons enjoy their own chefs and butlers, airconditioned rooms, and conduct business as usual with their secretaries and what-not, instead of being behind bars doing hard labor in a far far away place where they should rightfully be ....No wonder we are like this! WHY OH WHY DO WE LET THESE HAPPEN! WE complain, shout, and rally demanding accountability and prosecution, but after that, what? Yes we will march and protest on Aug 26, but let us also DO OUR PART IN BUILDING OUR NATION! Let us build a culture of caring, so those without shame will care, even just a tiny bit, and we will all fall in love with our people and the country that God gave us, just a little more.”
Even with these reactions, people still found a silver lining to the infamous event—that the Filipino people can be united, because they have one goal, one main goal: To give the Filipinos the treatment that they really deserve; that means, they want their money to be allocated to rightful negotiations, abolish corruption and to renew the system of governance that has tarnished the Philippines for so long.
BASIC FACTS ABOUT:
1st Million People March Anniversary
“On the first anniversary of the MILLION PEOPLE MARCH (MPM), on August 25 (Araw ng mga Bayani), 6am-1pm, let us gather at Luneta once more and continue our fight against ALL FORMS of PORK BARREL and CORRUPTION! Bring along family and friends to this FUN event of GENUINE PEOPLE EMPOWERMENT! Stand up, Sign up for our FUTURE! Stand Up, Sign UP Against ALL PORK! Pls invite and share!” - Official Facebook Event Page of the Million People March
WHAT is it about?
LAST YEAR:
- The Million People March is a rally held last year at Rizal Park wherein thousands of people from the Philippines gathered and expressed their clamor against the pork barrel system at which point, corrupt officials and the alleged mastermind, Janet Lim-Napoles managed to defraud an estimated P10-billion from it.
THIS YEAR:
- On Monday, August 25 (National Heroes Day), the 1st anniversary of the Million People March will be held at the same place to let people know about a new law that will hopefully put and end to the pork barrel system. The passage of that law requires the signature of 6 million registered voters and the anniversary on Monday includes a signature drive with the campaign slogan:“Stand Up, Sign Up” where it will serve as the highlight of the said event.
WHAT is the reason behind it?
LAST YEAR:
- The Filipinos want to fight corruption in the Philippines and this gathering enabled thousands of Filipinos to let their distrust and disgust made known to the corrupt elements of the government particularly the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
THIS YEAR:
- A new law entitled “The Pork Barrel Abolition Act”was proposed by The Abolish Pork Movement, it will prevent and ban the pork barrel system and discretionary funds through a People’s Initiative. But before this bill can be passed, 10% of the total registered voters must sign so that the bill can be passed on to the Commission on Elections for further analysis. An estimated 6 million signatures is needed and the signature drive on the 1st anniversary of the Million People March will greatly affect the progress of this law.
WHO are the people behind this event?
LAST YEAR:
- Concerned “netizens”, civil and civic organizations and the anti-pork groups.
THIS YEAR:
- This year the same participants as last year are expected to be behind the organization of this event. The law is proposed by the Abolish Pork Movement.
WHAT do they hope to accomplish?
LAST YEAR:
- Increase the awareness and participation of the Filipinos against the current situation of the misuse of our national funds throughout social media campaigns and the Million People March.
THIS YEAR:
- Further increase the level of awareness of the Filipinos and invoke their cooperation on the passage of “The Pork Barrel Abolition Act” through the signature drive which will be officially launched on August 23 at the People’s Congress in Cebu City.
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW:
WHAT: 1st Anniversary of the Million People March
WHERE: Rizal Park
WHEN: Monday, August 25, 2014. 6AM - 1PM.
OFFICIAL HASHTAG: #SignUpVsPork
OFFICIAL WEBSITE: SignUpVsPork
Sources:
Sunday, August 10, 2014
SONA 2014 Fashion: Who’s Fab and Who’s Drab?
MANILA, Philippines—SONA, an annual event where the President delivers governmental issues and concerns in a room full of politicians also became an avenue for the lawmakers to ostentatiously display their designer Filipiniana-inspired outfits.
The lawmakers strutted their way to the red carpet, showcasing sophistication in their glamorous attires, almost like a Hollywood event, that received a lot of conflicting reactions from netizens.
Here are some tweets showing not all can dress to impress:
“@Imcarlkalabaw: Congress fashion? More like People’s Money Fashion. #SONA2014”
“@nursekeyti: Not sure if today is the President’s #SONA2014 or an Oscar-like red carpet event for the crocs in the government.”
Whilst most beg to bicker, some chose to praise the uniqueness of some oufits:
“@mindanaoan: Leave it to Sen. Loren Legarda to wear beautiful #Mandaya tribe inspired outfit for today’s #SONA2014. Thank you for wearing #Mindanao!”
“ailcua: i love heart evangelista’s #sona gown..simple and elegant.. even her hair and make up kumabog..”
According to Kicker Daily News, the best-dressed was Actress Heart Evangelista, girlfriend of Senator Chiz Escudero. Heart Evangelista rocked the red carpet with her white “skeletal terno”, a modern Filipiniana with cage terno sleeves, by designer Carey Santiago.
While the scene-stealers are Presidential sister Kris Aquino, with her striking yellow gown, also by Carey Santiago; Leyte 4th District Representative Lucy Torres-Gomez, who dressed in a nude-colored terno dress created by Randy Ortiz; Senator Loren Legarda took a very tribal ensemble, wearing a Mandaya tribe-inspired outfit. According to an interview, her outfit was given by the indigenous people of Davao. However, netizens have badly criticized Senator Nancy Binay’s peculiar gown—a hybrid of a Filipiniana and the Korean Hanbok made by Paul Cabral. Mommy Dionisia Pacquiao wore a white gown with benign green sequined details—which in an interview Mommy D said that it symbolizes his son’s favorite ulam, tinola. When asked who designed her gown, Mommy D simply replied: “Basta taga-Maynila.”
The lawmakers strutted their way to the red carpet, showcasing sophistication in their glamorous attires, almost like a Hollywood event, that received a lot of conflicting reactions from netizens.
Here are some tweets showing not all can dress to impress:
“@Imcarlkalabaw: Congress fashion? More like People’s Money Fashion. #SONA2014”
“@nursekeyti: Not sure if today is the President’s #SONA2014 or an Oscar-like red carpet event for the crocs in the government.”
Whilst most beg to bicker, some chose to praise the uniqueness of some oufits:
“@mindanaoan: Leave it to Sen. Loren Legarda to wear beautiful #Mandaya tribe inspired outfit for today’s #SONA2014. Thank you for wearing #Mindanao!”
“ailcua: i love heart evangelista’s #sona gown..simple and elegant.. even her hair and make up kumabog..”
According to Kicker Daily News, the best-dressed was Actress Heart Evangelista, girlfriend of Senator Chiz Escudero. Heart Evangelista rocked the red carpet with her white “skeletal terno”, a modern Filipiniana with cage terno sleeves, by designer Carey Santiago.
(Photo credits: philstar.com)
(Photo credits: localpulse.net)
(Photo credits: Rappler.com)
(Photo credits: fabfashionandstyle.com)
(Photo credits: canadianinquirer.net)
On the other hand, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago was appalled with the mondaine habit of her fellow lawgivers. She addressed the habit as an “obsession to bling”, which she thinks should not be continued in the next years.
Last year, Sen. Miriam proposed a Senate resolution prescribing an official uniform for lawmakers to wear during political events like SONA.
The resolution states that women legislators should wear a short pencil skirt, paired with a simple barong blouse, with jewelry being limited to a single strand of Philippine pearls and men legislators should wear a plain long-sleeved barong; both men and women should wear a ceremonial ribbon with the Congress logo; while the audience could wear office attire.
Senator Nancy Binay expresses her support to Santiago’s resolution to dress simply in political events like SONA and says that people should bring back the focus on the real purpose of SONA, because it usually centers on what the people are wearing.
As of writing, Sen Miriam’s resolution is still pending at the Senate Committee on Rules headed by Alan Peter Cayetano.
Friday, August 1, 2014
SONA 2014: Hidden Faults
President Benigno Aquino III decided not to include the issues and controversies that he had to face this year in
his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City last July 28, 2014.
SONA 2014 featured all the success of the government on education, social services, economy, jobs, livelihood, infrastructures and many more.
Unfortunately, there are still a lot of issues to talk about but the man of the hour was not able to raise and address these problems.
From all of the improvements down to the contentment of the citizens, it’s as if the corruption, a parasite, which has been destroying our foundation is not present. Hearing the president’s speech would make everyone feel very positive about living in the Philippines because no major problem of the government was mentioned.
Instead of discussing things that are facing the country now such as the DAP controversy and the infamous pork barrel scam including the arrest of senators
But Aquino pointed out that his administration is doing well. Moreover, the majority of the funds, are in the places where it should be.
Around P1.6 billion fund was given to Training-for-Work Scholarship Program of TESDA. A total of 12, 184km national roads are finished, P3.5 billion were given for the rehabilitation efforts for the Bohol and Cebu calamity. Power restoration and road repairs was immediately done after the super-typhoon Yolanda hit the country. There are no terrible conflicts or horrible kidnappings. Also, plans for street improvement and developments, housing, schools, and others are underway.
Unfortunately, there are still a lot of issues to talk about but the man of the hour was not able to raise and address these problems.
From all of the improvements down to the contentment of the citizens, it’s as if the corruption, a parasite, which has been destroying our foundation is not present. Hearing the president’s speech would make everyone feel very positive about living in the Philippines because no major problem of the government was mentioned.
Instead of discussing things that are facing the country now such as the DAP controversy and the infamous pork barrel scam including the arrest of senators
Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., Jinggoy Estrada, and Juan Ponce Enrile, territorial disputes with China, the country's economic incorporation in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, impeachment complaints, power shortage and more, the president’
s SONA fed us with his administration's accomplishments, metaphors, names, and other subject matters which made his speech lengthy. He was attempting to change the image of a corrupt nation into an improved and nourished one.But Aquino pointed out that his administration is doing well. Moreover, the majority of the funds, are in the places where it should be.
Around P1.6 billion fund was given to Training-for-Work Scholarship Program of TESDA. A total of 12, 184km national roads are finished, P3.5 billion were given for the rehabilitation efforts for the Bohol and Cebu calamity. Power restoration and road repairs was immediately done after the super-typhoon Yolanda hit the country. There are no terrible conflicts or horrible kidnappings. Also, plans for street improvement and developments, housing, schools, and others are underway.
The economy is prospering which gives this administration a considerable measure of credit for what it has accomplished for the nation.
But in spite of all the enhancements and developments, there are still those hidden faults that has been tearing this nation’s framework apart that was left forgotten and unmentioned.
