Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Yes to Choice!

Blogger's Note: I have been meaning to write this for a really long time, but I have been too saddled with personal and professional stress to even start. I think it's still not too late to write about this.


At long last, the debates about House Bill 5043, also known as the Reproductive Health Bill, have started at the plenary of the House of Representatives. This bill, authored by Representatives Edcel Lagman, Janette Garin, Narciso Santiago III, Rissa Hontiveros-Baraquel, Mark Mendoza and Jesus Madrona, aims to promote and support reproductive health care services to the public, especially the poor who cannot afford those kinds of services. The bill also seeks to guarantee the freedom of informed choice of couples, as well as to provide information and education about different family planning methods. Of course, the bill has faced stiff opposition from the Catholic Church, who has not held back in pressuring lawmakers to oppose or withdraw their support for the bill. Some, those who have been cowed, have withdrawn their support.

I support the Reproductive Health Bill because we have to realize that our population needs to be managed in order for our country to have some sort of progress. It is foolish to think that we can just allow our population to grow faster than what our social infrastructure can handle. Those who insinuate otherwise need to reconsider whatever crap they are saying. Hindi yata sila nakakaranas na sumakay ng MRT kapag rush hour. In relation to that, we are still lacking thousands of classrooms, thousands of hospital beds and thousands of health centers, and yet, the population is still growing. Where in the world would we get the billions of pesos that we need to overcome the existing deficit and provide for the new needs?

That leads me to my second point. Opponents of the bill say that corruption is the real problem of this country, not overpopulation. They contend that we should just turn our sights on fighting corruption. That makes my head ache. News flash: Overpopulation is as much a problem as corruption. If our politicians do not have the political will to tackle something like overpopulation, how would they ever have the balls to fight corruption?

My third point is that the bill "will just promote abortion", as its opponents say. Look, I've read the bill and there's nothing there that promotes abortion. In fact, Section 3 (m) states that "...as abortion remains a crime and is punishable,...". Which part of that don't they understand? Opponents of the bill also say that it will just promote "immorality and infidelity". Hay naku, kesehodang nagco-condom si lalaki o hindi, kesehodang nagpi-pills si babae o hindi, kapag gustong mangaliwa ng isang tao, gagawin at gagawin niya pa rin iyun.

My fourth point is that if we do not manage our population, Nature would, and in methods we might see as catastrophic. As many of our towns lie in "geo-hazard zones", as a recent study by the DENR's Mines and Geosciences Bureau showed, more of our people are in danger of being caught in flashfloods, landslides and the like.

My fifth point is that these people think that a large population will save our economy by converting our people to be OFW's. Proof of this is a 2007 report by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) that featured a statement by Arroyo's presidential consultant on family affairs Jose Sandejas. He said, “Even if you are not able to educate them as well you would like, in the end their capability to quickly learn skills in the health services, in construction, as seamen, is going to save the Philippines”. Wala akong masamang tinapay sa mga OFW, pero ano ba, OFW na si Tatay sa Saudi, DH si Nanay sa Hong Kong, nasa Canada naman si Ate at nasa States si Kuya, pati si Bunso at ang apo, gagawing alila sa ibang bansa? Hindi man lang ba sisikapin ng mga gagong ito sa gobyerno na bigyan ang mga Pilipino ng trabaho sa sarili nating bansa? Ito na ba ang ipinagmamalaki nilang "economic policy"?

To be honest, I am writing this because I am sick and tired of all the lies, the innuendoes and the propaganda being thrown against this bill. Nakakabuwisit na ang mga kaipokrituhan ng mga "alagad ng Diyos" para lang harangin ang batas na ito. Kelangan natin itong batas na ito, hindi lang para sa atin, kundi para sa kapwa natin Pilipino at sa bansa natin. Masama na bang maghangad ng mabuti para sa ating bansa? Masama na bang maghangad ng mabuti para sa kapwa natin Pilipino? Hindi raw bibigyan ng Komunyon ang mga kongresistang susuporta sa batas na ito. Ibig sabihin ba, ayos lang bigyan ng Komunyon ang mga magnanakaw, ang mga mandaraya at ang mga corrupt, basta hindi susuportahan ang HB 5043? Pardon my language, but that is total bullshit. No wonder the Catholic Church is already losing its flock. Not only by continuing to support the hopelessly corrupt and illegitimate Arroyo regime, they are opposing a bill that could do so much good for our country.

To cap this blog, since the opponents of HB 5043 are continuing to cite religious and moral grounds to junk it, let me give the moral and religious ground of supporting this bill. Life is sacred, right? That is why we should, more than ever, support this bill. It will allow couples to plan their families, which will empower them to raise children who would live productive and well-rounded lives, just as God intended us to live being His children, made out of His own image. A life with dignity is not only a choice, it is a human right. Now I want to ask the opponents of HB 5043, nasaan ang dignidad ng taong kinakailangang maghalungkat sa basurahan para lang may makain? Nasaan ang dignidad ng taong kinakailangang magnakaw at magbenta ng sariling parte ng katawan para lang mabuhay? Isipin nyo nga iyan bago nyo sabihing imoral ang Reproductive Health Bill.

Iyun lang.

I missed writing...*sigh*

I finally had the time to visit my blog after a long time...

So much has happened, particularly with my life, that I was not able to face the task of blogging here.

Now that everything is bound to change, I hope that I could continue this gig on a regular basis (meaning no more 5-month layoffs or stuff like that).

Thursday, May 22, 2008

One Extra-Large Serving from the Noodle Bowl...

Well, I am deeply sorry again for not being able to "re-fill" the Noodle Bowl for a long time...so, para makabawi, I am having this extra-large serving of my thoughts about the different issues that have come since I was away....

The Rice Crisis

For heaven's sakes, they really think that the policy of importing rice is the only way out of it, and it has resulted in epic failure. Instead of spending billions on importing rice, why not channel it on irrigation, seeds and fertilizer, as well as micro-finacing for farmers for them to be able to buy machines and other tools that could help them increase yields? Another thing, the government should amend the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program to require recipient farmers to plant rice at least once per crop season and that the land should not be left unused, otherwise it would be reverted to the government. And lastly, please lang, wala nang kurakot. Pero sa gobyerno ni Gloria, suntok sa buwan iyun.

Oil Price Hikes

Ngayon, nakikita na natin ang importansiya ng Spratlys sa atin. The JMSU should really be rescinded since the oil that we should be using has a chance of going to China instead at tayo ang pupulutin sa kangkungan. Another thing, now is the time to go full-throttle in exploring alternative energy and fuel sources. Maglakad na lang tayo o mag-commute kung malapit lang naman ang pupuntahan natin. Konting sakripisyo naman.

The Swine Scandal

Isang iskandalo na namang ibinaon sa libingan, sa tulong ni Winston Garcia. Whatever happened to the officials of Quedancor and the Department of Agriculture who are involved in this? Puro kababuyan na lang talaga ang idinudulot sa atin ng gobyernong ito.

The Cabuyao and Calamba Massacres

I have always been for the reimposition of the death penalty because first, it was just abolished by Gloria and her allies to pander to the whims of the bishops at para magpaganda ng imahe kay Pope Benedict XVI. Second, although I believe that human life is sacred, hindi na taong maituturing ang mga gumawa ng mga krimeng ito. Mga demonyo lang ang gumagawa ng karumal-dumal na krimeng gaya nito. Same goes to those who kill journalists, activists, unarmed soldiers, ordinary people who are accused of being either spies of the government or the rebels, etc. And although napatay na ng mga pulis ang mga suspect, this issue will still be going on until 2010.

Gun Control

This issue also came up after the bloody Laguna massacres, with Nandy Pacheco of Gunless Society leading the call. Mr. Pacheco, guns don't kill people, people kill other people. Do you think that if a gun could think and speak, it will agree to kill innocent people? If guns are banned, we might as well ban other things that could be used to harm or kill people, and that is about everything. Kung gusto ka talagang gawan ng masama, it doesn't matter if he has a gun or a knife or even a piece of wood. We should not deprive responsible citizens their right to defend themselves against thugs and murderers.

Cyclone Nargis

What in the world are the Burmese generals thinking? What they are doing is pure and premeditated murder. That is why I like the idea of having the US or the UN or any coalition of nations invade Burma and militarily overthrowing the junta on humanitarian grounds. Trouble is, George Bush won't invade because Burma doesn't have oil, the UN insists on diplomatic pressure, and the rest of the world won't budge until either the US or the UN does something.

Fare Hikes

Actually, it's now just fine for me (as opposed in the past, when I would violently react) to have a fare increase, but as I was going to Cubao this morning, a passenger complained that he was overcharged by P2.00, when the increase was only P0.50 on the minimum fare. I wonder, who would protect the passengers from this kind of practice? Kanino tatakbo ang mga pasaherong pinagkakasya na parang sardinas, na hindi sinusuklian ng tama? Some leaders of transport groups speak and think as if sila lang ang nahihirapan sa buhay. Paano naman ang mga mahihirap na pasahero nila? Tama ba namang magbulag-bulagan sila sa mga kabulastugan ng mga miyembro nila? That is why the LTFRB should withold their decision on the P1.50 fare increase until there is an assurance from the transport groups that they will deal with these kinds of shenanigans.

The Cebu Canister Scandal

The current punishment for those involved is not enough for me. They should be suspended or stripped of their licenses and pay compensation to "Danilo". Meron namang kumukunsinti sa mga doktor. Hindi na ba sila nahiya sa ginawa nila?

Hermogenes Esperon's Retirement

(cue music) Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na, hey, hey, goodbye! 'Nuff said.

Jun Lozada and Dante Madriaga's Security and the new ZTE Evidence

They say a picture paints a thousand words, but for me, the new photographic evidence that surfaced just paints three words: Guilty si Gloria.

Juan Ponce Enrile yapping about the P2 million being spent for Jun Lozada and Dante Madriaga's safety but keeping silent about the taxpayers shouldering P16 billion for the anomalous ZTE deal? Mag-retiro ka na, Senator. Kung ayaw mo naman, uninom ka na lang ng Sustagen Premium. Nagkakaroon ka ata ng memory gap.

The Meralco-GSIS Saga

Well, this government seems to have a knack for trying or actually getting what is not theirs. Their latest victim is Lopez-owned Meralco, under the guise of lowering power rates. They think that they will get three things from this naked power grab by Gloria stooge Winston Garcia; they can pressure the Lopezes into forcing ABS-CBN to tone down on the anti-Gloria rhetoric, they can have another big piece of meat to throw to their cronies (the Aboitizes, the Razons, and Winston's own family, among others) after Transco and some of the privatized parts of Napocor, and they can shore up Gloria's really stinking popularity numbers. However, it seems that the villain (the Lopezes) has now become a hero, and the other villain (Gloria and Co.), well, still a villain.

I just checked my March electric bill (since that's the latest I could find) and although Meralco also has a fault on the high cost of electricity (my charge for Systems Loss was 8.8%, which translated to P132.43--imagine that!), the Generation part was a whopping 53.1% of my bill, which translated to P794.29, the Transmission cost was P162.72 or 10.9% of the bill, and Government Taxes took up 10.4% or P155.76. In contrast, the Distribution cost was 15.1% or P225.33.

What does that mean? Well, for me, that means that everybody has a hand in the high prices of power; Napocor, Transco, Meralco, us (the consumer). Walang puwedeng magmalinis. However, there are those who are more responsible than others, and they are the ones yapping all about it. And that throws doubt into the real reason why Gloria's dogs are after Meralco and Meralco alone.


If I forgot something, please let me know about it.

Monday, April 14, 2008

While I was Away...

Ahh...I'm back after a month or so of job-hunting/vacation/reflection/gathering more "ingredients" for the Noodle Bowl. I really missed writing here.

So many has happened while I was "off-line", and yet so little has changed, much of it for the worse. The Evil One is still in Malacanang, the Supreme Court (or at least 9 of them) has effectively connived with The Evil One in hiding her crimes, and we are facing a rice crisis. During that time too, Jun Lozada has visited my "hometown", Dagupan City, but not without incident.

As of now, the country is waiting for the end of the rice crisis, as well as the hearing on the Senate's Motion for Reconsideration on the Neri ruling.

Abangan ang susunod na kabanata.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

The Trojan Horse has Arrived...

I was watching the testimony of Leo San Miguel, the "surprise witness" for the latest installment of the ZTE-NBN hearings, and I can only summarize his "performance" in two words: Trojan Horse.

Tama, hindi si Dante Madriaga ang "Trojan Horse". Si Leo San Miguel ang "Trojan Horse" na matagal nang pinaghahanap. Pakawala, sa madaling salita.

Why did I come to that conclusion? Well, based from what I saw on TV, almost half of his replies were "I don't know" or "I don't remember". He was not able to remember his flights to Hong Kong a few months back, yet he can remember that he met Gen. Quirino Dela Torre 30 years ago, and they had a business 15 years ago. Selective amnesia? I don't know.

Another thing, he admitted that the e-mail address used in sending the "Tongpats" spreadsheet to Dante Madriaga was his. But he would not admit that he knows something about the payoffs. What the heck was that? Is he trying to say that somebody else used his email and sent that file? If that's the case, then he sucks for a "technical guy".

He also continues to deny that he is not a part of the "Greedy Group", but all three witnesses (Madriaga, Joey DV and Jun Lozada) put him on one way or the other with Ben Abalos and Co. Sinasabi ba niyang pinagtutulungan siya?

That is why I consider him as the planted witness of Malacanang to scuttle the ongoing probe. He is in too deep to be let go. However, for that same reason, I also believe that he could still be coaxed to spill the beans.

It's up to the Senate to make him sing the correct tunes.

Friday, March 7, 2008

"Jun Ban" Lifted, But With Conditions

Yesterday, I also wrote about the DepEd directive to ban Jun Lozada and Ben "Borjer" Abalos from their respective school tours (Ben-borjer is still on the planning stage, J-Lozada is like the real J-Lo, having his tours all raging hits). Today, DepEd secretary Jesli Lapus has lifted the ban, but with conditions for Lozada. (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/83722/DepEd-chief-says-Lozada-may-now-speak-at-schools-but-)

He said that "pwede sa graduation, kung di siya mag-incite or mag-create ng controversy. Alam natin pakay niya mag-incite ng ano. Ang paghahanap ng katotohanan di tayo nakakasiguro sino totoo sino hindi."

What?

How can Secretary Lapus be sure that Jun Lozada wants to incite something and create controversy? Does something like seeking and fighting for the truth need incitement? Is seeking and fighting for the truth a cause for controversy? For heaven's sakes, that is something that we should be doing naturally as citizens of this country. It does not need incitement. It should not be a source of controversy, instead it should be a source of pride and honor.

In a nation governed by lies and deceit, the truth is a revolutionary idea that is a cause for controversy.

MC 108 Gets The Boot Too, But...

I woke up this morning and I learned through DZMM that Memorandum Circular 108 has also been repealed through the issuance of Memorandum Circular 151. I confirmed this through the ABS-CBN website too (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=111416). MC 151 states that "Executive officials and employees are advised to follow and abide by the constitution, existing laws and jurisprudence including, among others, 'Senate v Ermita, GR no 169777, April 20, 2006,' when they are invited to legislative inquiries in aid of legislation,". In effect, government officials who are being summoned by Congress can no longer invoke them to skip hearings.

Seems like that I should thank GMA, right? After all, I posted just yesterday that MC 108 should be abolished too if ever they want the truth to come out. Okay, for whatever it's worth, thank you, GMA.

However, everyone has seen the previous hearings and everyone will agree with me that these government officials will risk looking like clowns (see Angel Atutubo, Rodolfo Cusi, Paul Mascarinas and Avelino Razon, among others) just to hide something. Besides, who could tell that they will not use a wide range of excuses (like slipping on the bathroom, having a dead fingernail, etc.) just to evade the Senate?

EO 464 and MC 108 might be dead, but we will still be watching.

The evil witch might just summon something again to muzzle the truth.