12/29/10

5 Ways of Men to know if They Are Really In Love With A Woman

1. When you see in her your dream family. When you can picture what kind of mother she will be like to your kids.

Loving the invisible is probably the best kind of love on the planet. Invisible here is your "future family."

2. When you are willing to let go some of your wants and dreams in exchange of having her for a lifetime.

Think of a precious item in your life right now. It could be your education or your work or it could be your money or your dream car or dream motorbike or a dream life in the future. Now imagine that you are in a situation where you need to choose only one. If you choose her then you may now put a check on this item and proceed to number 3.

3. When you pray that God will grant you to her.

God, being the author of love must always be included because if not...its no love at all but a mere passion of likeness. If the author of love is not included in a relationship...there is no love.

4. When despite knowing the negative attributes youre still willing to spend a lifetime with her.

Acceptance is probably the ultimate indicator of love. When knowing the evils on her, you still long to be with the person and dream to be with her for the rest of your life just as she is.

5. When after knowing her dark past you looked at her just as the same.

Similar to number 5 acceptance also comes into play on this item.

Dark pasts may once in a while haunt an individual (especially women) and may be a hazard to a present relationship. However you must view this not as a mere hazard but also an opportunity to prove if youre really in love with the person.



Loving a person includes loving her entirety. Entirety includes the past, present and the future of the individual.

11/2/10

Studying for the People

by Manuel A. Rodriguez II


Why was I studying? For who or what was I sacrificing? Partly, it was that blind belief that my parents have instilled on my mind since I was a kid. Now that I am a grown-up I realized that what was instilled on me by my parents is a blind belief in learning upon which they both had placed such reliance. Please do not get me wrong on it, blind belief as it may be but it did helped me anyway in earning a Bachelor of Arts degree back in 2009 and I thank them for that and their support.

Studying, besides being a vague struggle to escape my inheritance (poverty), which is also the inheritance of many Filipinos, it was a manifestation of a fact that exists among our fellowmen, in which accomplishment becomes a fetish.

We Filipinos have been for so long under the control of foreign powers, who look down on us from what they deem to be their pretentious standards, that our own barely audible aspirations have been strained to search for any outlet no matter what. It did not matter that our knowledge, once acquired, would be exhausted in a cramped, repressed, unproductive society.

The degree was the thing; the honor was the objective; it lifted the Filipino of the past above the sweaty mass.


And yet, THAT WAS NOT MY PURPOSE. From the beginning I wanted to be a doctor. When I was in kindergarten I was inspired by then Secretary of the Department of Health who visited our school and promoted a government health program for the children like me. I and my classmates made him a thank you card because we enjoyed his visit on our school. I will never forget that man; his name is Doctor Juan Flavier.


Dr. Flavier became a senator years later after serving in DOH. Senator Flavier is now retired on public service and yet his visit on my kindergarten more than a decade ago is still very vivid in my memory. I once said to myself that I wanted to be a doctor like Doctor Juan is.


My grandmother whom we are fondly of calling “Nanay” told me stories from the barrios during wartime. There she said, the people died without tasting a medicine, died gradually, and with suffering. The “albularyos” were the tenet, muttering magic words over cancers, tuberculosis and beri-beri. Primarily, I was interested in pediatric medicine, to save the young.

There were many things to be enjoyed in one’s short life. Even while working hard at a field, a tired farmer would look up and notice the way a line of trees lifted at the horizon and he would think that life was good. At its most miserable there was still much in it that was enjoyable.


In the barrios according to my Nanay if a child died the people bowed and said: “It is the will of God,” as they had been taught by their parish. Even as a child listening to my Nanay, It was never my will to accept it that way.



Then afterwards, I thought of studying law. I would be a lawyer for the people particularly for the rural poor (those similarly situated with the wartime barrio people my Nanay told me), not one who prosecuted them in the courts and even used the statutes which sounded good to the advantage of the landlord and the consumerist. I would defend the people with all my honesty.
During election time I listened to the candidates. Every election whether national or barangay level it was the same. “The people this, the people that.” After campaign, the word “people” was stricken from the vocabularies of the winners, who sat on their polished chairs and collected both graft and salary, equally, with both hands, form the people.


The men I admired as I grew older were all simple men who had a genuine sympathy for the people. Senator Flavier is one, for his being a doctor to the barrios, Senator Jovy Salonga for his eloquence on his faith in the public sphere, Congressman Crispin Beltran for his fortitude in advancing the interest of the working class, the militancy of Bonifacio, Rizal and his dedication. I was impressed by Joan of Arc, Rizal, and Jesus Christ because they went to their deaths for what they believed, and their beliefs were common and of the people.


I had begun to arrive, in a small way, at a philosophy, “If you do it, make sure you’ll finish it and do it with all your heart. If what you will do will benefit many people, though it threatens your happiness and safety, sacrifice your happiness and safety for your noble purpose.”


Such philosophy is my answer to the question my faith had posed on me; “What Would Jesus Do?”


Initially due to the blind belief my parents have instilled, I was studying to escape the constricted confines of poor Filipinos, but my efforts only led me to the conviction that the poor Filipinos was all important, and that I was inferior to it.



GOD BLESS THE FILIPINO.

10/25/10

Senador Trillanes, Ang Makabagong Bonifacio

Ni Manuel A. Rodriguez II


Giniba ni Antonio Trillanes IV ang kulturang pang eleksyon ng Pilipino noong sya ay kumandidato bilang isang Senador noong 2007. Hindi pinanganak sa isang mayaman o maiplwensyang pulitikal na pamilya, ang kanya lamang nagsilbing alas noong panahon ng kampanya ay ang kanyang pagiging kilala bilang pinuno ng “Oakwood mutiny.”

Suot ang pulang “armbands” na may tatak ng Magdalo, si Sonny Trillanes ay nag mistulang makabagong Bonifacio at rebeldeng may prinsipyong pinaglalaban – ang isabulat ang kanser ng kurapsyon na nagbibigay panganib sa buhay ng mga kapwa niya sundalo. Alam niya ang malaking kaibahan ng Batas sa Hustisya, sinuway man nya ang batas sa pagiging isang rebelde, ito ay para mabigyang daan ang Hustisya na siyang may mas mabigat na importansya.

Taon 2007, hindi man makasabay sa mga makukulay na kampanya ng mga kapwa nya kandidato, si Trillanes ay nagwagi dahil sa mga boto ng mga ordinaryong tao at hindi ng mga elitista at mayayaman. Si “Senador Trillanes” ay likha hindi ng maimpluwensya kundi ng masang Pilipino.

Nakakalunkot isipin ngunit simula ng kanyang pagkapanalo sa halalan ng 2007, ang kanyang opisina sa Senado ay nananatiling bakante dahil sa kanyang pagiging “detainee” sa Camp Crame.

Gayunpaman, hindi napipigilan ng rehas at kunkretong pader ng Camp Crame ang kagustuhan mg mabuting Senador na gampanan ang kanyang tungkulin at huwag biguin ang milyong Pilipino na nagbigay ng suporta.

Kailan lamang ay naglabas si Senador Trillanes ng resolusyon na magsagawa ng hearing ukol sa Memorandum na inilabas ng Commission on Higher Education (CHED) at ng Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) na nagpapabawal sa mga graduates ng mga State Universities and Colleges na makakuha ng licensure examinations kung ang kanilang paaralan ay hindi naka kuha ng permit mula sa Commission. Maraming public na Unibersidad at Kolehiyo ang nag kwestiyon sa memorandum na ito sapagkat hindi iyon produkto ng konsultasyon sa kanilang pagitan.

Ipit sa kalagitnaan ng debateng ukol sa nasabing Memorandum ay ang libo-libong graduate ng Nursing, Accountancy at Engineering, na syang nangangailangan makakuha ng licensure examination.
Inilabas ng Senador ang resolusyon na magsagawa ng hearing ukol dito sa kanyang kakayahan bilang Chairperson ng Senate Committee on Civil Service and Government Reorganization.
Pitong taon at tatlong buwan na ang minalagi ng Senador sa kulungan. Sa kabila ng “Oakwood Mutiny,” labing-isang milyon ang bumoto sa kanya para sa Senado.
Kamakailan lamang pinirmahan ni Pangulong Aquino ang “amnesty” ni Senador Trillanes at ng ibang rebeldeng kasangkot sa “Oakwood mutiny.” Oras na lamang ang inaantay ayon kay Senador Sotto para sa kalayaan ng rebeldeng senador.

Magiging maganda sa paningin ng mga tagasuporta na makita nila ang Senador na lumakad palayo sa kanyang kulungan at tumungo sa kanyang opisina sa Senado. Marami na ang oras na nasayang at marami pa ang kanyang dapat gawin.

Mayroon pa siyang kinabukasang dapat bigyang katuparan, pamilyang dapat ipagbuklod muli, at Republikang dapat ipaglaban bilang Senador ng masang Pilipino.
Senador Antonio Trillanes, ang makabagong Gat Andres Bonifacio.

9/8/10

A DEMOCRATIC CREED

University of Sto. Tomas
Faculty of Arts and Letters

(Standard creed of UST Students' Democratic Party, political party founded on June 12,1981)



We believe in the dignity of man and the worth and value of every living soul, no matter in what body housed, no matter whether born in comfort or born in poverty, no matter to what stock he belongs, what creed he professes, what job he holds.

We believe that every man should have a free and equal chance to develop his best abilities under a free system of government, where the people themselves choose those who are to rule them and no one can set himself up as a tyrant or oppress the many for the benefit of the few.

We believe that free speech, free assembly, free election, free practice of religion are cornerstones of such a government.

We believe in justice and law. We do not believe in curing an evil by substituting it with another evil. We are unalterably opposed to class hatred, race hatred, however manifested by whosoever instilled.

We believe that political freedom implies and acknowledges personal and economic responsibilities. We do not believe that any state is an admirable state that lets its people go hungry when they might be fed, ragged when they might be clothed, sick when they might be well, workless when they might have work. We believe that it is the duty of all of us, to see to it that such conditions are remedied wherever and whenever they existed in our country.

We know that our democratic system is not perfect. We know that it permits injustices and wrong. But with our whole hearts we believe in its continuous power of self-remedy. The power is not a theory—it has been proven. Through the years, democracy had given more people freedom, less persecution, and a higher standard of living than any system we know. Under it, evils have been abolished, justice remedied, old wounds healed, not by terror and violent revolution but by peaceful revolution of consent in the minds of the people. While we maintain democracy, we maintain the greatest power people can possess—the power of gradual, efficient, and lawful change.

Most of all, we believe in democracy itself—in its past, its present and its future—in democracy as a political system to live by—in democracy as the great hope in the minds of the free. We believe it is deeply rooted in the earth of this country that neither assault from without nor dissension from within can ever wipe it entirely from the earth. But, because it was established for us by the free-minded and the daring, it is our now, in danger as in security, to uphold and sustain it with all that we have and are. We believe that its future shall and must be even greater than its past. And to the future—as to the past of our forebears and the present of our hard won freedom—we pledge all we have to give without any material reservation or purpose of evasion.

8/21/10

AKBAY NG KARAMAY




"Akbay ng Karamay"
Paint on canvass, August 20, 2010


Ang mga tauhan sa larawan ay magkaakbay, ito ay nagpapakita ng matibay na samahan sa kabila ng sari-saring pagsubok ng panahon, mundo at ng Maykapal.

Luntian ang piniling kulay ng kapaligiran ng mga tauhan sa larawan, ito ang kulay na sumisimbolo sa temporal na mundo na kapwa nating kinabibilangan. Ang tubig na kulay asul sa ilalim ng mga tauhan ay tanda ng hirap sa bawat paghakbang ng ating bawat paglalakbay sa ibat-ibang kabanata ng buhay ng bawat isa.

Ang araw at mga asul na patak ng ulan ay sumisimbolo sa bawat panahon na susubok sa pagsasama ng dalawang tao, ang mukha ng haring araw ay ginawang may luha tanda ng mga panahon ng poot at kalungkutan.

Ang lumiliyab na puno sa kanang bahagi ay simbolo ng prisensya ng may kapal, ito ay hango sa lumang testamento ng Bibliya kung saan nagpakita ang Panginoon kay Moises sa anyo ng lumiliyab na puno.

Ang kabuuan ng larawan nawa ay maging tanda sa bawat isa na walang tao ang ligtas sa poot, kalungkutan at pagkakadapa. Upang makabangon at makalaban muli, tayo ay magbalikatan upang maitaguyod ang isa at kailangan nating maalala muli ang pag tanglaw sa Diyos at pag tawag sa kanyang pangalan.

8/18/10

Democracy on Altar Pulpit:The role of Christian Churches on democracy issues

by MANUEL A. RODRIGUEZ

I am a strong believer of democracy, particularly in the Philippines. The democracy here in our country can be traced not only to the Malolos Congress of 1899 wherein our forefathers drafted the first Filipino Constitution but to the pre-hispanic settlers on these islands who sailed to freedom from tyrannical monarchs to organize themselves into barangays, named after their boats that conveyed them to their new homeland where the nurtured democracy by governing themselves through compromise and consultations led by their datu or sultan.

The Philippines after undergoing a tyranny in the hands of foreigners, the barangays continue to build the legacy of people’s burning passion for freedom and liberty. Lapu-lapu of Mactan, Raja Sulayman, Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, General del Pilar, Jose Abad Santos, Ninoy Aquino, the GOMBURZA, Dagohoy, Emilio Jacinto, Diego and Gabriela Silang, the martyrs and heroes of Bataan, Cavite and EDSA and the countless heroes of the FIilipino Race including the modern day heroes and statesmen that are on struggle to keep the flame of liberalism alive are testimonies that Filipino people by nature are free men and not born to bondage.

Hence I believe that the teaching of democracy must be included in the educational system of the youth. The perpetuation of the flame of democracy must be done in this land of liberty in Asia, the Philippines.

The Philippines is known throughout the world as a Christian nation. But are we Christian enough in adhering to the mandate of our faith as a Nation? The emphasis of early Christianity was an element of the primary assumptions on which democracy developed its faith in the indispensable impartiality of all men. Catholic theologians St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas upheld liberty as rights of the members of a community. The Christian idea of equality which can be traced form the Jewish tradition and the diction of the Christ himself and elaborated by his apostle Paul, was that all men are equal before God, being descended from the same first parents, who were created by God, and being redeemed by the death of Jesus Christ, and hence are all brothers and can boast no distinction one over the other because of fortune, race or other accidental inequalities. This makes me remember the much-quoted dictum from one of the most celebrated Pope of the Catholic faith Pope Gregory the Great; “All men are by nature equal.”

In these times, bearing in mind the history and culture of the Filipinos and the teachings of the Christian faith in general (both Catholics and Protestants), democracy is the political scheme that is most in consonance with the Christian faith of most Filipinos, among others, for the reason that mutually democracy and Christianity struggle for the preponderance of truth, human rights and the moral and socio-economic expansion and well-being of the individual.

How can democracy get its kick-off in a nation which has never known it? There comes the role of education in democracy. The education of the Filipino youth must, as a vital primary step, locate itself and the purpose of its instruction in the proper cultural setting. By this I mean that education must take into realization the fact that ours is a Christian society which must be instilled by democracy rooted on Christian values.

While I discuss the role of education, let this not be a limit on the term “education” as referring to the role of the degree conferring Schools, Colleges and Universities of the Philippines. What is contemplated on the term “education” is the role that we ought to perform in rearing the youth of today, this may happen not only in the school set up but also in the comforts of the family home, in an intimate discussion with the youngsters and as a preaching or sermon in Church. Yes, in Church. The Filipino Christian Churches (Catholics and Protestants) never failed to adhere to its mandate in making disciples of every nation and propagating the faith probably because it is one of the obvious purposes of being a Church, however most Churches seemed to overlook a mandate…the mandate to teach democracy and instill nationalism on their respective congregations.

On the palace of the Viceroy of India there inscribed a motto: “Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.” Democracy cannot succeed until a people agree to it and inscribe its precepts in their minds and hearts. It must become a part of their nature, their culture, their everyday living and that takes generations and there is no time to start than now.

To start the education on Christian democracy, let us start by accepting that democracy is a process and not a set form. It is in a way a continuous revolution. It never lays claim as a perfect system for it is not a fixed system but a procedure. You, bearing these in things in mind as regards to democracy are my hope that you will continue to nurture the education on democracy. The influence of religious congregations that believes in the teachings of Jesus Christ must be taken advantage in advancing this political system.

Christians, let us be vigilant in protecting and perpetuating this wonderful gift we received from the fountain of justice and wisdom himself, Democracy. God bless the Philippines.

6/30/10

INAUGURAL ADDRESS of the 15th RP President


INAUGURAL ADDRESS AS DELIVERED BY PRESIDENT BENIGNO AQUINO III

Ang pagtayo ko dito ngayon ay patunay na kayo ang aking tunay na lakas. Hindi ko inakala na darating tayo sa puntong ito, na ako'y manunumpa sa harap ninyo bilang inyong Pangulo. Hindi ko pinangarap maging tagapagtaguyod ng pag-asa at tagapagmana ng mga suliranin ng ating bayan.

Ang layunin ko sa buhay ay simple lang: maging tapat sa aking mga magulang at sa bayan bilang isang marangal na anak, mabait na kuya, at mabuting mamamayan.

Nilabanan ng aking ama ang diktadurya at ibinuwis niya ang kanyang buhay para tubusin ang ating demokrasya. Inalay ng aking ina ang kanyang buhay upang pangalagaan ang demokrasyang ito. Ilalaan ko ang aking buhay para siguraduhin na ang ating demokrasya ay kapaki-pakinabang sa bawat isa. Namuhunan na po kami ng dugo at handa kong gawin ito kung muling kinakailangan.

Tanyag man ang aking mga magulang at ang kanilang mga nagawa, alam ko rin ang problema ng ordinaryong mamamayan. Alam nating lahat ang pakiramdam na magkaroon ng pamahalaang bulag at bingi. Alam natin ang pakiramdam na mapagkaitan ng hustisya, na mabalewala ng mga taong pinagkatiwalaan at inatasan nating maging ating tagapagtanggol.

Kayo ba ay minsan ring nalimutan ng pamahalaang inyong iniluklok sa puwesto? Ako rin. Kayo ba ay nagtiis na sa trapiko para lamang masingitan ng isang naghahari-hariang de-wangwang sa kalsada? Ako rin. Kayo ba ay sawang-sawa na sa pamahalaang sa halip na magsilbi sa taumbayan ay kailangan pa nila itong pagpasensiyahan at tiisin? Ako rin.

Katulad ninyo ako. Marami na sa atin ang bumoto gamit ang kanilang paa - nilisan na nila ang ating bansa sa kanilang paghahanap ng pagbabago at katahimikan. Tiniis nila ang hirap, sinugod ang panganib sa ibang bansa dahil doon may pag-asa kahit kaunti na dito sa atin ay hindi nila nakikita. Sa iilang sandali na sarili ko lang ang aking inaalala, pati ako ay napag-isip din - talaga bang hindi na mababago ang pamamahala natin dito? Hindi kaya nasa ibang bansa ang katahimikang hinahanap ko? Saan ba nakasulat na kailangang puro pagtitiis ang tadhana ng Pilipino?

Ngayon, sa araw na ito - dito magwawakas ang pamumunong manhid sa mga daing ng taumbayan. Hindi si Noynoy ang gumawa ng paraan, kayo ang dahilan kung bakit ngayon, magtatapos na ang pagtitiis ng sambayanan. Ito naman po ang umpisa ng kalbaryo ko, ngunit kung marami tayong magpapasan ng krus ay kakayanin natin ito, gaano man kabigat.

Sa tulong ng wastong pamamahala sa mga darating na taon, maiibsan din ang marami nating problema. Ang tadhana ng Pilipino ay babalik sa tamang kalagayan, na sa bawat taon pabawas ng pabawas ang problema ng Pinoy na nagsusumikap at may kasiguruhan sila na magiging tuloy-tuloy na ang pagbuti ng kanilang sitwasyon.

Kami ay narito para magsilbi at hindi para maghari. Ang mandato ninyo sa amin ay pagbabago - isang malinaw na utos para ayusin ang gobyerno at lipunan mula sa pamahalaang iilan lamang ang nakikinabang tungo sa isang pamahalaang kabutihan ng mamamayan ang pinangangalagaan.

Ang mandatong ito ay isa kung saan kayo at ang inyong pangulo ay nagkasundo para sa pagbabago - isang paninindigan na ipinangako ko noong kampanya at tinanggap ninyo noong araw ng halalan.

Sigaw natin noong kampanya: "Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap." Hindi lamang ito pang slogan o pang poster - ito ang mga prinsipyong tinatayuan at nagsisilbing batayan ng ating administrasyon.

Ang ating pangunahing tungkulin ay ang magsikap na maiangat ang bansa mula sa kahirapan, sa pamamagitan ng pagpapairal ng katapatan at mabuting pamamalakad sa pamahalaan.

Ang unang hakbang ay ang pagkakaroon ng tuwid at tapat na hanay ng mga pinuno. Magsisimula ito sa akin. Sisikapin kong maging isang mabuting ehemplo. Hinding hindi ko sasayangin ang tiwalang ipinagkaloob ninyo sa akin. Sisiguraduhin ko na ganito rin ang adhikain ng aking Gabinete at ng mga magiging kasama sa ating pamahalaan.

Naniniwala akong hindi lahat ng nagsisilbi sa gobyerno ay corrupt. Sa katunayan, mas marami sa kanila ay tapat. Pinili nilang maglingkod sa gobyerno upang gumawa ng kabutihan. Ngayon, magkakaroon na sila ng pagkakataong magpakitang-gilas. Inaasahan natin sila sa pagsupil ng korapsyon sa loob mismo ng burukrasya.

Sa mga itinalaga sa paraang labag sa batas, ito ang aking babala: sisimulan natin ang pagbabalik ng tiwala sa pamamagitan ng pag-usisa sa mga "midnight appointments." Sana ay magsilbi itong babala sa mga nag-iisip na ipagpatuloy ang baluktot na kalakarang nakasanayan na ng marami.

Sa mga kapuspalad nating mga kababayan, ngayon, ang pamahalaan ang inyong kampeon.

Hindi natin ipagpapaliban ang mga pangangailangan ng ating mga estudyante, kaya't sisikapin nating punan ang kakulangan sa ating mga silid-aralan.

Unti-unti din nating babawasan ang mga kakulangan sa imprastraktura para sa transportasyon, turismo at pangangalakal. Mula ngayon, hindi na puwede ang "puwede na" pagdating sa mga kalye, tulay at gusali dahil magiging responsibilidad ng mga kontratista ang panatilihing nasa mabuting kalagayan ang mga proyekto nila.

Bubuhayin natin ang programang "emergency employment" ng dating pangulong Corazon Aquino sa pagtatayo ng mga bagong imprastraktura na ito. Ito ay magbibigay ng trabaho sa mga local na komunidad at makakatulong sa pagpapalago ng kanila at ng ating ekonomiya.

Hindi kami magiging sanhi ng inyong pasakit at perwisyo. Palalakasin natin ang koleksyon at pupuksain natin ang korapsyon sa Kawanihan ng Rentas Internas at Bureau of Customs para mapondohan natin ang ating mga hinahangad para sa lahat, tulad ng:

· dekalidad na edukasyon, kabilang ang edukasyong bokasyonal para makapaghanap ng marangal na trabaho ang hindi makapag-kolehiyo;
· serbisyong pangkalusugan, tulad ng Philhealth para sa lahat sa loob ng tatlong taon;
· tirahan sa loob ng mga ligtas na komunidad.

Palalakasin at palalaguin natin ang bilang ng ating kasundaluhan at kapulisan, hindi para tugunan ang interes ng mga naghahari-harian, ngunit para proteksyunan ang mamamayan. Itinataya nila ang kanilang buhay para mayroong pagkakataon sa katahimikan at kapayapaan sa sambayanan. Dumoble na ang populasyong kanilang binabantayan, nanatili naman sila sa bilang. Hindi tama na ang nagmamalasakit ay kinakawawa.

Kung dati ay may fertilizer scam, ngayon ay may kalinga ng tunay para sa mga magsasaka. Tutulungan natin sila sa irigasyon, extension services, at sa pagbenta ng kanilang produkto sa pinakamataas na presyong maaari.

Inaatasan natin na ang papasok na Secretary Alcala ay magtayo ng mga trading centers kung saan diretso na ang magsasaka sa mamimili - lalaktawan natin ang gitna, kasama na ang kotong cop. Sa ganitong paraan, ang dating napupunta sa gitna ay maari nang paghatian ng magsasaka at mamimili.

Gagawin nating kaaya-aya sa negosyante ang ating bansa. We will cut red tape dramatically and implement stable economic policies. We will level the playing field for investors and make government an enabler, not a hindrance, to business. Sa ganitong paraan lamang natin mapupunan ang kakulangan ng trabaho para sa ating mga mamamayan.

Layunin nating paramihin ang trabaho dito sa ating bansa upang hindi na kailanganin ang mangibang-bansa para makahanap lamang ng trabaho. Ngunit habang ito ay hindi pa natin naaabot, inaatasan ko ang mga kawani ng DFA, POEA at ng OWWA at iba pang mga kinauukulang ahensiya na mas lalo pang paigtingin ang pagtugon sa mga hinaing at pangangailangan ng ating mga overseas Filipino workers.

Papaigtingin namin ang proceso ng konsultasyon at pag-uulat sa taumbayan. Sisikapin naming isakatuparan ang nakasaad sa ating Konstitusiyon na kinikilala ang karapatan ng mamamayaan na magkaroon ng kaalaman ukol sa mga pampublikong alintana.

Binuhay natin ang diwa ng people power noong kampanya. Ipagpatuloy natin ito tungo sa tuwid at tapat na pamamahala. Ang naniniwala sa people power ay nakatuon sa kapwa at hindi sa sarili.

Sa mga nang-api sa akin, kaya ko kayong patawarin at pinapatawad ko na kayo. Sa mga nang-api sa sambayanan, wala akong karapatan na limutin ang inyong mga kasalanan.

To those who are talking about reconciliation, if they mean that they would like us to simply forget about the wrongs that they have committed in the past, we have this to say: there can be no reconciliation without justice. Sa paglimot ng pagkakasala, sinisigurado mong maulit muli ang mga pagkakasalang ito. Secretary de Lima, you have your marching orders. Begin the process of providing true and complete justice for all.

Ikinagagalak din naming ibahagi sa inyo ang pagtanggap ni dating Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. sa hamon ng pagtatatag at pamumuno sa isang Truth Commission na magbibigay linaw sa maraming kahinahinalang isyu na hanggang ngayon ay walang kasagutan at resolusyon.

Ang sinumang nagkamali ay kailangang humarap sa hustisya. Hindi maaaring patuloy ang kalakaran ng walang pananagutan at tuloy na pang-aapi.

My government will be sincere in dealing with all the peoples of Mindanao. We are committed to a peaceful and just settlement of conflicts, inclusive of the interests of all - may they be Lumads, Bangsamoro or Christian.

We shall defeat the enemy by wielding the tools of justice, social reform, and equitable governance leading to a better life. Sa tamang pamamahala gaganda ang buhay ng lahat, at sa buhay na maganda, sino pa ang gugustuhing bumalik sa panahon ng pang-aapi?

Kung kasama ko kayo, maitataguyod natin ang isang bayan kung saan pantay-pantay ang pagkakataon, dahil pantay-pantay nating ginagampanan ang ating mga pananagutan.

Kamakailan lamang, ang bawat isa sa atin ay nanindigan sa presinto. Bumoto tayo ayon sa ating karapatan at konsensiya. Hindi tayo umatras sa tungkulin nating ipaglaban ang karapatan na ito.

Pagkatapos ng bilangan, pinatunayan ninyo na ang tao ang tunay na lakas ng bayan.

Ito ang kahalagahan ng ating demokrasya. Ito ang pundasyon ng ating pagkakaisa. Nangampanya tayo para sa pagbabago. Dahil dito taas-noo muli ang Pilipino. Tayong lahat ay kabilang sa isang bansa kung saan maaari nang mangarap muli.

To our friends and neighbors around the world, we are ready to take our place as a reliable member of the community of nations, a nation serious about its commitments and which harmonizes its national interests with its international responsibilities.

We will be a predictable and consistent place for investment, a nation where everyone will say, "it all works."

Inaanyayahan ko kayo ngayon na manumpa sa ating mga sarili, sa sambayanan, WALANG MAIIWAN.

Walang pangingibang-bayan at gastusan na walang wastong dahilan. Walang pagtalikod sa mga salitang binitawan noong kampanya, ngayon at hanggang sa mga susunod pang pagsubok na pagdadaanan sa loob ng anim na taon.

Walang lamangan, walang padrino at walang pagnanakaw. Walang wang-wang, walang counterflow, walang tong. Panahon na upang tayo ay muling magkawanggawa.

Nandito tayo ngayon dahil sama-sama tayong nanindigan at nagtiwala na may pag-asa.

The people who are behind us dared to dream. Today, the dream starts to become a reality. Sa inyong mga nag-iisip pa kung tutulong kayo sa pagpasan ng ating krus, isa lang ang aking tanong - kung kailan tayo nanalo, saka pa ba kayo susuko?

Kayo ang boss ko, kaya't hindi maaaring hindi ako makinig sa mga utos ninyo. We will design and implement an interaction and feedback mechanism that can effectively respond to the people's needs and aspirations.

Kayo ang nagdala sa akin sa puntong ito - ang ating mga volunteers - matanda, bata, celebrity, ordinaryong tao, na umikot sa Pilipinas para ikampanya ang pagbabago; ang aking mga kasambahay, na nag-asikaso ng lahat ng aking mga personal na pangangailangan; ang aking pamilya, kaibigan at katrabaho, na dumamay, nag-alaga at nagbigay ng suporta sa akin; ang ating mga abogado, na nagpuyat para bantayan ang ating mga boto at siguraduhing mabilang ang bawat isa; ang aking mga kapartido at kaalyado na kasama kong nangahas mangarap; at ang milyun-milyong Pilipinong nagkaisa, nagtiwala at hindi nawalan ng pag-asa - nasa inyo ang aking taos-pusong pasasalamat.

Hindi ko makakayang harapin ang aking mga magulang, at kayong mga nagdala sa akin sa yugto ng buhay kong ito, kung hindi ko maisasakatuparan ang aking mga binitawang salita sa araw na ito.

My parents sought nothing less and died for nothing less than democracy, peace and prosperity. I am blessed by this legacy. I shall carry the torch forward.

Layunin ko na sa pagbaba ko sa katungkulan, masasabi ng lahat na malayo na ang narating natin sa pagtahak ng tuwid na landas at mas maganda na ang kinabukasang ipapamana natin sa susunod na henerasyon. Samahan ninyo ako sa pagtatapos ng laban na ito. Tayo na sa tuwid na landas.

Maraming salamat po at mabuhay ang sambayanang Pilipino!
(June 30, 2010)

6/29/10

MANUEL ABUYO RODRIGUEZ II


MANUEL RODRIGUEZ II

MANUEL ABUYO RODRIGUEZ II  (b. 13 July 1988) is currently a law student at the Institute of Law of the Far Eastern University (FEU). He is also a faculty member at the Lyceum of the Philippines University, College of Arts and Sciences (LPU).

Born and raised as an only child in the City of Manila. His father is the late Manuel P. Rodriguez, a movie writer, actor, and director and was a part of the electoral college of the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) and his mother is Helionida Abuyo-Rodriguez who was an accountant and is currently working fulltime in Christian ministry as a Bible discipler and a Church Elder at the Cosmopolitan Church in Manila.

Rodriguez obtained his Bachelor of Arts (AB) in Legal Management in 2009 at the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas (UST), Faculty of Arts and Letters.

As a college student, Rodriguez excelled in both academic and extra-curricular activities; he was the Internal Vice President of the Community Achievers Association, Faculty of Arts and Letters (2006-2007), UST Arts and Letters Student Council Public Relations Officer (2007-2008), Internal Vice President of UST UNESCO (2008-2009), and the Chairperson of the Students' Democratic Party (2008-2009), the oldest "student" political party in the Philippines. He too was a football varsity standout.

Outside the University, he also held the position of Treasurer (2004-2005), and Secretary (2005-2006) of the Youth Coordinating Council (YCC) and Vice President (2005-2006) of the English Congregation of the Christian Youth Fellowship (CYF) and Treasurer of the Christian Young Adults Fellowship (CYAF).

Upon entry as law school neophyte at UST Law, he was appointed as the Internal Vice President of the Batas Tomasino and the Auditor of the UST Chapter of the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) where he also served as its President (1st Sem, 10-11) in a semester prior to his transfer to FEU.

At age 21, he was admitted to be a faculty member of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) of the Lyceum of the Philippines University.

In FEU Law, he currently serves as a member of the editorial board of the prestigious Far Eastern Law Review (FELR) and the Chairperson for Litigation of the Legal Aid Bureau (LAB). He also helped found a political party, the Sulong Party.

He is currently living with family relatives at Pandacan, Manila.

5/25/10

The NOYBI Administration and the Unity that We Deserve

By Manuel Rodriguez II

It’s Time to Stand as One Nation

The Ballots and the PCOS have spoken, we already know who are our new representatives in the Congress and the “Magic 12” Senators (most of them are old faces in politics), and most of all we are now looking forward to what is in store for our nation for the next six years under the leadership of the “NoyBi” administration.

Many of our fellowmen are upset because their bet candidate did not make it. However, all of us Filipinos must face the fact that we have no choice but to accept the new administration because they were the ones voted by the majority. We should respect the democratic institution that we have, we must all be reminded that the democracy that we currently have is a gift.

It is a gift from our heroic forefathers, to the men and women of the past that gallantly responded to crisis, to those who have stood to what they have believed in, to the Filipinos of the past who fought for what they felt was right even in the face of grave danger.

It is also a gift from the revered morally upright statesmen who stood against tyranny under the dark ages of martial rule. To the men, women and children who fought in behalf of the generations to come at EDSA even with fears and reservations in their hearts.

Ultimately, it is a gift from the Omnipotent Being. He who gave us the piece of earth where we could nurture our children and our children’s children. The piece of earth that we must nurture and love. The piece of earth that we must defend from conquerors, insurgents and from the evil in us. The piece of earth where we could practice our faith. The piece of earth we call our Motherland. The piece of earth we named Philippines.

With the new administration, I hope our people will start believing in the rule of law, in the inviolability of their human rights, in the forecast of a better living not just for themselves but for the generation that is to come and in the great chance of lasting peace based on equity and justice.

Majority of the newly elected leaders were not in my ballot, but I acknowledge the fact that I must submit myself to them because I believe that an administration needed a support from a citizen that is open for change when change is being called for.

Our immediate task should start with ourselves. I call my fellow Filipinos to directly participate in and contribute to the betterment of the society. All citizens have a responsibility regardless of economic status, gender, religion, age or even political belief.

We must inculcate to the minds of our fellow Filipinos especially the next generation that this time their Government will do right by them and will serve them with competence, dedication and integrity.

Our democratic society is a market place of ideas. The growth in knowledge happens when two ideas collide and produce a new key idea. We should and must respect the diverse political beliefs we have. Conflicting ideas may be a catalyst of a headache-starter debate, but it is a factor that makes our nation moves forward, it is the essence of democracy where every person is entitled to believe what he wants and vote who he wants.

While some of us did not vote for Senator Aquino and Mayor Binay (that includes me), we must not fret for our vote as an individual was never in vain.
We debated with our friends and supported our respective candidates; on that act alone we contributed something to the advancement of this nation. We contributed to the so-called marketplace of ideas, a proof that we care for the elections and its effect to our future as a Nation.

Now is a fresh start for our Nation. This is not a time to criticize the capacity of our newly elected leaders instead it is a time to hope for a better tomorrow under their watch. This does not mean that we must no longer be watchful on their way of handling our State in fact more than ever this is the time that we should.

The Nation can no longer afford anymore betrayal of public trust, corruption, dishonesty and immorality. These things we should shun and never let happen again.
We must offer and venture a sense of purpose and direction, not only to the “NoyBi” administration, but ultimately to the majority of our fellowmen who have less in this earthly life. Their overwhelming number tells us that poverty is a disease that must be cured. It is a disease of our own doing and the cure is also in our hands.
May the new administration headed by Benigno Aquino III and Jejomar Binay remedy the injustices and right the wrongs the past governments have committed.

God bless the Filipino people. May this new morning mark the start of Philippine renaissance.


MANILA, 2010

5/15/10

Mayo 10: Nasaksihan Kung Babuyin ang Batas at Gahasain si Inang Hustisya


Sabi sa Media, ang eleksyon na naganap nuong nakaraang Mayo 10 ay ang pinaka-matagumpay na halalan sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas. Sa mata ng mga camera ng media nakita ng buong Pilipinas ang mga pangyayari sa ibang presinto ng pagboto at ang paraan ng pagsasagawa ng eleksyon. Marahil marami sa ating mga kababayan ay sang-ayon sa pahayag na iyon nga ang pinaka-matagumpay na naging halalan sa bansa sapagkat iyon ang pinakita sa kanila ng kani-kanilang mga telebisyon at pinarinig ng kani-kanilang mga radyo noong araw ng Mayo 10.

Maaring totoo nga ang mga iyon sa kabuuang perspektibo o kung ang iyong basehan ay ang eleksyon sa kabuuang bansa. Pero ang tagumpay na kanilang nakita nung araw ng Mayo 10 ay hindi ko nasaksihan sa aking kinalalagyan nuong araw na iyon.

Sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon naranasan ko ang maging isang tagabantay ng boto, hindi para sa isang kandidato kundi para sa isang malinis na halalan. Sumapi ako sa isang grupo ng mga abogado at kapwa ko estudyante ng abogasya para maging “paralegal” sa araw ng halalan at magbantay kung tama ang pag-gamit sa sistema ng eleksyon. Marami ang nagtaka bakit ako at ang aking mga kaibigan ay sumapi sa grupo na iyon sapagkat napakaraming malalaking partido ang lumiligaw sa mga kapwa namin “paralegals” para sumapi sa kanila kapalit ng masasabi nating mgandang bayad.

Oo, tumanggi kami na magtrabaho sa isang partido sapagkat alam namin na hindi lahat ng kanilang kandidato ay aming pinaniniwalaan at siyang magiging laman ng aming balota. Masaya ako at ang aking mga kaibigan kahit nagtrabaho kami bilang mga “paralegal” ng walang bayad kundi salamat nuong araw ng Mayo 10 dahil napatunayan namin sa aming mga sarili na mahal nga namin ang Pilipinas at hindi pala kaya mabili ang pagmamahal na iyon at ang aming prinsipyo.

Mayo 10, nadestino ako at isa sa aking kaibigan sa isang “public school” na ‘di kalayuan sa aking tirahan. Marami sa mga botante sa eskwela na iyon ay personal ko na ka-kilala, doon din ang presinto ng aming barangay kaya ako din na isang “election watchdog volunteer” ay nagawa parin na makaboto.

At doon ay aking nasaksihan na garapalang binababoy ang sistema ng halalan. Ayon sa batas, bawal ang ano mang paraan ng kampanya sa loob ng “30 meters radius” mula sa presinto ng halalan. Pero sa araw na iyon, tila nagmistulang basurang dokyumento ang batas. Mismong mga opisyal ng barangay ang siyang nangunguna sa pagsuway at pagbalewala sa batas pang-eleksyon. Isang Punongbarangay ang nasaksihan ng aking kasama na bumubulong sa isang botante kung sino ang dapat iboto sa loob mismo ng presinto habang hawak ng botante ang kanyang mismong balota. Mga kagawad ng barangay ang siyang nabansagan na “bulong gang” dahil sa kanilang pag bulong ng pangalan ng pinapaborang kandidato sa mismong “gate” ng eskwelahan.

Isa muling Punongbarangay ang siya mismong nag “set-up” ng tolda na may pangalan at kulay ng mga kandidato sa mismong tabi ng eskwelahan, isang malinaw na pag gawa ng krimen ng “unlawful electioneering” na siyang may kaukulang kaparusahan sa ilalim ng batas na pang-eleksyon. Balibalitaang bentahan ng kanilang mga boto, pagtanggap ng regalo mula sa kandidato at garapalang pag alok ng libreng sakay sa jeep ng isang tumatakbo sa pagka-mayor. Isa ring kandidato sa pagka-konsehal ay namataang umaaligid sa tapat ng eskwelahan at suot ang kanyang “trademark” na “campaign get-up.” Ang mga guro na nagtatrabaho sa eleksyon ay siya mismong may hawak ng “parphernalia” ni congressman. Mga armadong pulis na nakapaligid sa presinto ng pagboto na di lalayo ng “50 meters radius” na siyang pinagbabawal ng batas.

Lahat ng aming nasaksihan ay aming sinita sa ngalan ng aming pagiging “paralegal” na kinikilala ng mismong COMELEC. Ngunit kami ay nagmistula lamang propeta na walang nakikinig. Insulto ang aming naramdaman ng sa aming mismong harapan ay ginagahasa si inang hustisya at ang batas ng eleskyon.

Sa aming paaralang pang-abogasya itinuro sa amin an walang sinuman ang mas nakatataas sa batas at dapat itong sundin ng lahat ng mamamayan sa bansa. Sa presintong aming kinalagyan, itinuro ng tadhana sa amin na ang natutunan naming mga batas sa eskwela ay maaaring maging basahang papel sa araw na ang nais ng mga pulitiko ay makamtan ang ninanais na pwesto.

Nakakalungkot isipin para sa isang “paralegal” na siyang may pagmamahal sa konstitusyon at mga batas ay walang magawa sa nangyayari dahil sa dami ng gumagawa ng pambababoy na iyon sa kanyang paligid. Hindi namin makuha humingi ng tulong sa mga opisyal sa aming paligid sapagkat sila mismo ay marumi ang kamay at may pabor sa isang pulitiko na maaring nagbigay palaman sa kanilang bulsa.

Paano natin masasabi na ang isang halalan ay bagong simula para sa ating bansa kung ang paraan ng halalan ay madumi? Paano tayo magtitiwala sa isang naluklok na mambabatas kung ang kanyang pagkapanalo ay bunga ng pandaraya sa batas? Paano tayo uunlad kung tayo mismo ay hindi makasunod ang simpleng patakaran inilatag sa atin?
Nakakalungkot isipin pero ang tagumpay ng Mayo 10 ay hindi nasaksihan ng aking mata.

Mapayapa nga ba ang eleksyon? Sabi nila oo, dahil hindi ganoon karami ang nasawi at nasaktan gaya ng dati. Sa presinto na aking pinagtrabahuhan, wala din namang taong nasaktan. Ang tanging nasaktan lamang ay si Inang Hustisya na sa harapan ko mismo ay ginahasa ng taongbayan para lamang sa panandaliang pang-laman ng tiyan.

Mayo 10, namatay ang batas sa aking mga mata. Nawa ay sa bukas o makalawa makita ko siyang bumangon muli at husgahan ang tiwali.

3/16/10

The Death of the Laws and Our State: A Call for a Moral Revolution

by Manuel Rodriguez II

We have become a lawless and a society full of danger.

On the streets, in public places, one may spit, dump his garbage or, urinate anywhere he pleases. Nobody takes offense anymore, whether for himself or for the society. On the road, no courtesies are given and received: the man behind the wheel is an emperor; the traffic police could be bribed, the pedestrian run over, no big deal.

An innocent harmless old lady could be robbed and gunned down in broad daylight, and the witnesses of the crime would simply walk away and watch the evening newscast in the comforts of their homes, sleep soundly, and in the morning read the newspapers.

Within the metro, anyone can construct anything anywhere – on somebody else’s property, in the park, sidewalk or, under a flyover or a bridge – without reference to a zoning law, a building code, or property rights of other persons. The growth of squatter colonies is unstoppable.

Poverty is now equated with filth, and the rich think they have a right to pollute. We now see the air that we breathe and we lack law on noise, we now have equal chances of getting deaf. Piped waters remains drinkable, but the pipelines are all dead. While political environmentalists protests, all environmental proposals sleep in Congress.

If the physical environment is polluted, the moral environment is worse.

Unable to teach the citizens work ethic, the Government operates gambling through casinos instead, to teach the poor Filipinos to trust their luck. And even as we exert efforts in defending the women and children against sexual abuses, pornography is open to everyone.

And while violation of the sixth commandment remains a felonious act, its most notorious public offenders seem to regard themselves as a special gift to public office. They have a luxurious visualization of themselves so they do not commit petty graft.

Truly, the law is dead, and the State is dead.

Of course, the State has died many times before. But it has not stopped dying since.
We must realize that the rise of corruption and petty crime rates are simply other words for the collapse of the rule of law. And that, in turn, is just another word for the collapse of morality.

The crisis that we are facing is first of all a moral crisis, a crisis of our soul as one Nation. We forgot that the most important battle is not the battle against poverty, sicknesses, or even terrorism, no matter how critical they may be, but against evil. We have turned the truth upside down and worshipped man in his own image instead of God. We have lost distinction of good and evil.

Solemn pronouncements or congressional inquiries cannot address or solve this morality crisis. Not even, with all due respect, by a political movement for moral recovery.

Only a return to morality – to a sense of good or evil – will do the work. Once the rule of law is collapsed, the social order can restore it only by appealing, no longer plainly to the law, but rather to the basis of the law which is morality.

The essential query in political affairs is how to arrange our lives as one. That is the role of law, which Saint Thomas Aquinas defines as an ordinance of reason promulgated by authority for the common good. To the law then, society entrust the arrangement of our lives as one.

Saints for public office? Why not, if we can find them in this world. If not, let’s look for the next best, not the least worst. The Government can be an avenue for morality to spring once again; we need morally upright law-makers, judges and president. Change happens gradually. The change that we seek may not come in our lifetime, but there is no time to start the work for change than now.

In the search for these people in the mean time, we can start the revolution by changing our communities, homes, and ourselves in the light of morality.

3/14/10

To the 2009-2010 SDP Core and Members

To My Dear SDP Family,

The academic year that will come will not be an easy time… It will not be an easy time for the Quadricentennial AB Student Council. And it is certainly not an easy time for the Students’ Democratic Party. Great things are expected of us by the student body, sometimes far beyond our modest capabilities.

Our fellow Artlets, although great believers of democracy, are not great believers in its tedious process. Students are impatient for quick results, quick progress and quick change. I know these things very well because I had the chance of serving in the council as the Public Relations Officer. Many times they expect the Council to do decision which only the administration or the Dean himself can do. They look to the Council for miracles that only the good Lord in his infinite wisdom can arrange.

The SDP campaign days (which include the campaign of affiliates in the different societies) we have been training our thoughts on accountability. What really comes before accountability is authenticity. Authenticity, according to the dictionary, is genuineness, being true to character, being constant with our inner nature.

There is so much falsehood, so much deception, fakery, and phoniness in our common life that we Thomasian leaders must remain true to the best we know – both in public and private leadership. This is the one thing that makes me so proud being an SDP, we are genuine.

When I first came to the halls of AB, I have been pleased to be an active member of the Students’ Democratic Party. In the 2008 elections I was chosen by the party and ran as the President, under the Blue & Red banner (as what other students call the SDP). SDP, it will be remembered, was the party that fielded a ticket to oppose the seven independent candidates, with disastrous results. March 2008 came, and I was elected as the Chairperson of the party.

During the brief time I served the party, I have tried to prove myself worthy of our member’s mandate and the expectations of my fellow party officers. The job in the SDP core is more often than not a job for gods rather than for college students, but we try to give it our best, and our all. That is why I understand the situation of our Chairperson Sheena de Guzman and the rest of the current core officers. Many times the core officers’ best is not good enough, but I hope they shall be judged by righteous men on the basis of their sincere efforts to do the best that they can.

The victory of our bets in the positions VP-Internal and Secretary in the ABSC and the successful campaigns of our affiliates (Ka-CASA, Journ Soc, Asian Studies, etc.) made me really happy not only as your former Party Chairperson but also as your “Kuya” - and I hope the entire SDP family too including my fellow alumni members – and I thank all our party colleagues and supporters especially the freshmen for their warmth and generosity to this party.

I thank the party and its officers for the opportunity it gave me to be a “Kuya,” as I continue to remain in my place in the party now as one of the alumni prepared to work and sacrifice and contribute whatever I can to continue the advancement of our ideals.

We live in the best and worst of times. The challenges are formidable, we have already lost so much time, and so we must create and multiply opportunity as best as we can.

Much is expected from each one of us. And there is much that each of us can do. But a party ought to be bigger than the sum of all its parts.

Working together in pursuit of a common vision and a common objective, we can provide the authentic leadership and the impulse that will lift the student body from the current state and move them fast forward to better times enjoying quality liberal education. Let us help each other to boost morale instead of bickering and passing the buck. We fight as one, “wag tayo mag sisihan sa mga maling naganap,” isang partido lang tayo.

This political party is destined to exist beyond our lifetime as long as there are members who believes on its true cause, and fights for it passionately. For the lower batch I sincerely hope that we have taught you well of our principles. Let us not lose track on the right road that we are travelling now, but instead let us focus more and improve ourselves. Running the party is not just about planning how to win the upcoming elections, but instead practicing the ideals we have, and serving the student body genuinely.

May you guys find us the alumni and the outgoing core officers faithful in keeping the flame of liberalism and democracy alive.

SDP leadership is authentic. This is authenticity; this is to be a genuine Christian, Nationalist, and Democrat in one’s position of great responsibility in the common life as what our Democratic Creed has thought us. These things I have learned on our blue paper, ideals I will bear for the rest of my life, principles which my future children will learn.

To all the SDP members, Mabuhay kayo!

May God keep the SDP for the next 29 years and for all time.

Long Live the Students’ Democratic Party.

In SDP leadesrhip I strongly remain,


Your Kuya Manuel "MANNY" Rodriguez II
Chairperson (08-09)
Standard Bearer(2008)
ABSC PRO (07-08)

2/17/10

To the Nationalist Christian Filipino

by: Manuel "Manny" Rodriguez II

No administration can thrive without you full support and cooperation. No matter how courageously our next President exercise political will, he will never make a meaningful change and reform without the active participation of the people, especially people like you; a nationalist and God-fearing citizen of the Republic.
A prolific Filipino writer in the field of Public Administration Dr. Jose Leveriza puts it this way:


“The reality of the situation shows that the authority of a public administrator can no longer be exercised purely by the strength of the law vested upon himself, but it requires the acceptance and support of those being governed. A government official cannot fulfill his responsibilities without winning the loyalty and support not only of his own organization, but also of his external environment.”


This nation seeks the cooperation of its citizens, the likes of you is the least expected to just abandon the call of our motherland.

We, who hold this passion for love of our Nation, must accept the challenge. We must embrace the opportunities available here on our motherland, to be at the head of new enterprises. We must lead the generation as we enter the new dawn our Nation will soon face.

I pray that morally upright men and women will get elected in the coming election. I also have faith that you with the grace of our God will be the most enlightened and trustworthy in practicing the duties of a Filipino citizen, considering the training in the Christian perspective that you possess.

The age of computer science has arrived; it is already an established fact of our daily life. The ability to operate a computer will soon be the measure of literacy. No field in the physical science is further than the reach of today’s high technology. These developments we have will radically change and alter the lifestyle of the Filipino people which includes their social values.

The concepts of ethnic loyalties, religion, nationalism and the solidarity of the family will be challenged and perhaps modified. These are the issues and concerned citizens like us must address. These are the issues that will test not just our convictions but more of our faith. We will soon find ourselves making very difficult choices and decisions.

If you despair hearing these realities, then I have faith on your spiritual moorings. I am counting on you to provide the leadership for the generation that is to come. To Christian educational institutions whether Protestant or Catholic, I call upon you to build up your value-immersion subject even as they revise and modernize the assorted curricula in the physical sciences.

Our fellow Filipinos, although great believers of democracy, are not great believers in its tedious process. They are impatient for quick results, quick progress and quick change. Our democratic institution often fails us, sometimes we tend to think to change the entire institution but the real problem is the anchor of our institution not the institution itself.

We must keep in mind that the enduring and lasting institutions of the human race are those that have been anchored on moral values and on an unshakable faith.

To the Christian Filipino, let us take with us the challenge. Let us serve something greater than ourselves, let us think of our beloved Philippines, let us think of this world and exert every effort to change it for the better and spell the differences in our short lifetime.
SO HELP US GOD.

Youth’s Stand Against Destructive Mining

The Philippine Mining Act of 1995 (Republic Act No. 7942) was enacted particularly to encourage large-scale Mining by local and foreign corporations, However, the law went beyond encouraging the revitalization of the mining industry in the Philippines; it has disregarded the integrity of our National Patrimony for the sake of attracting foreign investment. The law allows the widespread plunder and exploitation of our natural resources. It allows foreign mining operations by foreign mining corporations, it allows 100% of their profits, and it grants tax holidays and exemptions to mining firms.


Mining is Inherently Unsustainable

We do not believe in the myth of “sustainable mining.” Mining is inherently unsustainable since it requires the depletion of non-renewable natural resources. Instead of requiring ever-growing amounts of mineral and fuels, a sustainable economy will use materials much more efficiently, reducing waste to a bare minimum, and rely more on recycling, reuse and renewable energy technology. Sustainability means less mining, not more.

Mining should not be considered as the only industry that will propel our country towards development. Unrestricted mining activities will destroy other industries, like agriculture and fishing.

“Aanhin pa ang kayamanan kung sira na ang kalikasan.”

The serious environmental destruction caused by large-scale mining outweighs any economic benefit that may be derived from it. Mining is among the greatest threats to biological diversity worldwide. Mining creates extraordinary amounts of waste; much of it contaminated. And often creates environmental problems, such as water pollution, that can endure for centuries. Mining often yield little, if any, long-term net benefits for host communities and countries, as is becoming increasingly evident, the long-term cleanup costs of many mines may well exceed what the host countries gain while the mines are open.


Mining encroaches on Indigenous Peoples’ Lands

Mining has disproportionately great impacts on indigenous peoples and poor, rural communities, whose lands are often forcibly seized for mining with little or no competition, and enjoy few of the benefits of mineral extraction. Indigenous people and their communities have a historical relationship with their lands and are generally descendants of the original inhabitants of such lands. They have developed over many generations a holistic traditional scientific knowledge of their lands, natural resources and environment. Any development initiative should be implemented recognizing their values, traditional knowledge and resource management practices with a view to promote environmentally sound and sustainable development, and recognizing their traditional and direct dependence on renewable resources and ecosystems.


To Our Fellow Youth

It is important that we, the youth, actively participate in all relevant levels of decision-making processes of our nation, particularly with regard to the environment, because it affects our lives today and has implication for our futures.

It is our solemn duty to preserve and safeguard our environment and natural resources if we want to ensure that our generations to come shall enjoy the blessings of a healthy, balance, and diverse ecology. Nature needs our help; it does not stand a chance against man’s rapacity and insatiable greed.


To Our Elders

To our elders: “Treat the earth well. It was not given to you by your parents, it is lent to you by your children.” In turn, we pledge to ensure that our future children and generations to come will enjoy the blessings of a healthy environment.


To the Government

We demand that the Government stop its liberal policy on mining. We challenge the Government to instead revitalize the agriculture and fishing industries, two industries that are full of potentials but greatly neglected.

We call on Congress to immediately repeal the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, the law responsible for all these destructions. We will not allow the further destruction of our environment.


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A statement of the proponents of Kontra Mina

Kontra Mina is an advocacy of Batas Tomasino: the UST law society in cooperation with Thomasian Writer’s Guild, College of Commerce Economics Society, Earth-UST and Alyansa Tigil Mina.

(http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=batas+tomasino&init=quick#!/note.php?note_id=291845199471)
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Professor of "The Humanities" at the Lyceum of the Philippines University. Law Student at the Far Eastern University, Institute of Law. President and former Auditor of Legal Network for Truthful Elections (UST Chapter) Former Vice President- Internal of Batas Tomasino: The UST Law Society, Former Chairperson of UST-Students' Democratic Party. Former Vice President- Internal of UST UNESCO. Former Public Relations Officer (PRO) of UST Arts and Letters Student Council. Former Vice President Internal of Community Achievers' Association (UST-AB). Bachelor of Arts in Legal Management (University of Santo Tomas, '09) High School Education (Christian Academy of Manila, '05)