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IM CHARLIE SHEEN BITCH

FACISM in AYALA ALABANG

FACISM in AYALA ALABANG

“What kind of air do they breathe in Ayala Alabang (supposedly the enclave of the rich and famous in this country) … What the Ayala Alabang ordinance painfully illustrates also is that it is easy for moral righteousness to cross over to moral fascism if people don’t stand up to stop it. Someone once thought Jews and black people and homosexuals were inferior and sought to annihilate them. Millions died before people finally stood up to end it. Fortunately, there are quite a number of people who are standing up to the barangay council in Ayala Alabang before they wreck more havoc with their bigotry, their moral superiority and their narrow-mindedness.”

Columnist Bong Austero opines:I didn’t know what the more appropriate reaction was: To laugh, get angry, or feel really sad.

I was just so outrageous; it was difficult to believe it was the handiwork of people who were thinking straight.

Why would a barangay council think that they are over and above the Constitution of this country that they could pass an ordinance that infringed on constitutionally provided rights? The whole range of rights that were merrily trampled over ranged from those covered under freedom of expression, the right to confidentiality particularly of medical histories as well as confidentiality between doctors and patients, to the right of access to certain products deemed legal by government, and even the right to conduct business!

What kind of air do they breathe in Ayala Alabang (supposedly the enclave of the rich and famous in this country) that made certain barangay officials think they have the power and the authority to redefine scientific facts long upheld by global authorities such as the World Health Organization, the experts at the Bureau of Food and Drugs Administration, or even the doctors at the Department of Health?

More importantly, what is it that made members of the barangay council so convinced of their moral superiority; made them suffused in righteousness that they actually thought it is within their powers to dictate to couples what they can and cannot do in the privacy of their homes?

There are more questions that I would have wanted to ask, but they would all be questions that express outrage.

The barangay council of Ayala Alabang passed Barangay Ordinance no. 1 on January 3, 2011 entitled, “An Ordinance Providing for the Safety and Protection of the Unborn Child within the Territorial Jurisdiction of Barangay Ayala-Alabang; Fixing Penalties for its Violations, and for other Purposes.” The ordinance, however, only received media attention last week.

It is clear that the ordinance is a political statement against the reproductive health bill that is currently scheduled for plenary debate in the House of Representatives. I am told that certain individuals in the Ayala Alabang community who are among the most active lobbyists against the RH Bill in Congress are also behind the barangay ordinance.

Like I said, the ordinance is so outrageous a friend actually thought it was a farce—a satirical statement directed at people who oppose the RH Bill.

The Ordinance sought to, among others, penalize anyone who advertises through billboards, brochures, leaflets, flyers or similar means, sell, offer for free, endorse, promote, prescribe or distribute abortifacients (which they redefined liberally to include intrauterine devices and contraceptives.

As if these weren’t fascist enough, the ordinance likewise decreed that the purchase of condoms and contraceptive pills inside the village and at establishments at the Alabang Town Center would require prescriptions. It gets even more fascist. The ordinance mandated the recording in a register book information about customers who buy pills or condoms, among others, the name and address of the customer as well as the physician who prescribed the condoms and pills, referred to as abortifacients and anti-conceptionals.

I share the views of Elizabeth Angsioco, chairperson of the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines and columnist of this paper when she said that “The ordinance is coercive as it forces residents to adhere to the wrong view that contraceptives are abortifacients and are dangerous to women’s health. The Ayala Alabang barangay council cannot be more authoritative than (the World Health Organization) on this matter. Fact is, even the country’s Bureau of Food and Drugs Administration recognizes the safety and efficacy of contraceptives with its approval to making contraceptives available.”

There were actually quite a number of really insightful and intelligent (not to mention witty) comments made by others in response to the Ayala Alabang ordinance. Former Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral, a resident of Ayala Alabang, said in a television newscast that the barangay council “should remember that Barangay Ayala Alabang is not in Afghanistan. They are not the Taliban.” Carlos Celdran twitted that “Ayala Alabang is totally promoting STDs (sexually transmitted diseases).

Bravo!” Even Lea Salonga weighed in with her own reaction expressing astonishment at the narrow-mindedness of the council.

I texted a couple of former students who are residents of Ayala Alabang and asked them what they thought of the ordinance. Their reaction could not be printed here but essentially echoed the point of view propounded by many others: The ordinance was not indicative of moral leadership but of hypocrisy of the highest order. One of my students even shared some incriminating information about one of the people behind the ordinance.

What the Ayala Alabang ordinance painfully illustrates is the major disconnect between the people who live in Ivory Towers from harsh reality.

Obviously, regardless of how many ordinances the barangay council produces—they can plaster all the walls of the Village with all kinds of ordinances reminiscent of the tactics of Dolores Umbridge in the Harry Potter series or of Caligula and the laws he posted so high up no one could read them—this will not stop residents from having sex. This will not stop teenagers from having premarital sex, nor will it stop live-in couples from using contraceptives, or even wives from taking the pill because she doesn’t want to get pregnant while her husband maintains two other mistresses on the side. They can pontificate all they want about their moral superiority but the reality is that some families would continue to bundle up their daughters to the United States to get an abortion there because they can afford it. They can legislate crazy ordinances all they way but they will not be able to legislate sexual behavior.

What the Ayala Alabang ordinance painfully illustrates also is that it is easy for moral righteousness to cross over to moral fascism if people don’t stand up to stop it. Someone once thought Jews and black people and homosexuals were inferior and sought to annihilate them. Millions died before people finally stood up to end it. Fortunately, there are quite a number of people who are standing up to the barangay council in Ayala Alabang before they wreck more havoc with their bigotry, their moral superiority and their narrow-mindedness.

Human rights victims get $1,000 each

Victims of human rights abuses during late President Ferdinand Marcos's regime received $1,000 each on Monday as compensation for their suffering. It is the first time the victims will receive any compensation since they filed a class suit in 1986. The ceremonial awarding of checks was held at the Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan.

American lawyer Robert Swift earlier said "The distribution is historic and a triumph after 25 years of struggle to achieve justice."

Swift and his Filipino co-counsels, assisted by the Commission on Human Rights, distributed checks personally to claimants or their heirs in Manila and 15 other locations in the country. Rosales was herself one of the victims.

Monday's event is a prelude to the full distribution of checks to qualified claimants on Tuesday, March 1. Claimants in the National Capital Region (NCR) are expected to appear and receive their respective compensations at the CHR office in Quezon City. Distribution of compensations in the same amount throughout the country will follow.

Last month, Judge Manuel Real of the U.S. District Court of Hawaii approved the distribution of $7.5 million to 7,526 eligible members of the class-action lawsuit. There were 9,539 members at the beginning of the case but some 2,000 did not meet court requirements.

The funds distributed come from a $10 million settlement of a case against individuals controlling Texas and Colorado land bought with Marcos money, but some $2.5 million was deducted for legal fees and payment to the person who located the properties.

Swift said the $1,000 is not an adequate amount and was just a start, and that more money may be forthcoming.

(photo above) Hilda Narciso, one of the 12 Marcos Human rights violation victims, shows a check for P43,200 Monday as her compensation, at a ceremony at the Club Filipino in San Juan City. Narciso, who was a church worker during the Marcos regime, was arrested and was incarcerated for six months. According to her, she was placed in a military safehouse and was raped many times by soldiers. She was later charged with conspiracy to commit rebellion.

AP

Laptop registration opposed

A proposal by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to have laptops registered has been called an overreaction that could violate the right to privacy.

Senator Francis Escudero said the proposal would give laptops the same status as guns and chainsaws the government keeps track of.

Speaking after a Senate hearing on proposed cybercrime laws, Escudero said requiring registration would be a hassle for laptop owners.

He said an alternative would be for law enforcement agencies to coordinate with internet service providers and telecommunication companies to monitor the devices.

"It would probably be easier for law enforcement agencies to monitor the Internet service providers. That way, whatever device is used -- laptops, cell phones -- can be monitored without violating anyone's privacy too much," he said.

Escudero said this would let the police track laptops without being too intrusive.

Senator Edgardo Angara, chairman of the Senate committee on science and technology committee, also predicted "tremendous" opposition to the proposed registration.

The proposal was made by the NBI's Anti-fraud and Computer Crimes Division who reported that cybercrime is difficult to trace because half of the Internet connections in the country is wireless.

Angara, author of the Anti-Cybercrime bill, earlier warned that cybercrime like identity theft and hacking must "be taken seriously at the highest level."

"Cybercrime is an actual danger to democracy, human rights and the rule of law," Angara warned.

By Jonathan de Santos

An Asian Situation

The Situation from Jersey Shore...



















plus TOP from Big Bang...

equals the Problem from the Korean Shore.

Pauly Bean

Manila is 59th most expensive city for expats

Metro Manila rose 16 spots from last year to become the 59th most expensive city in the world for expatriates after an economic rebound and a stronger peso made leases more costly, consultancy firm ECA said in its annual Accommodation Report.

Rental costs here were also the 12th most expensive in Asia, ECA said, based on September 2010 data on two-bedroom properties "commonly inhabited by international assignees".

The Philippine capital, which ranked 13th in Asia in the previous report, surpassed neighboring capitals like Taipei, Kuala Lumpur and Shenzen.

Tokyo topped the global and Asian rankings due to the strengthening of the yen even as actual rental prices dropped by 7% last year. Expatriates there had to fork over an average $4,352 a month.

The Japanese capital was followed by Moscow, Hong Kong, London, Singapore, Caracas, Abu Dhabi, Bogota, San Francisco and Geneva.

In Asia, Tokyo was joined by Hong Kong, Singapore, Seoul, Shanghai, Hanoi, Bangkok, Mumbai, Jakarta and Beijing as the top ten cities.

The region saw leases rise by an average of nearly 7% in 2010 after falling by more than a tenth in 2009.

"The strong rebound in rental rates in many cities reflects both the rapid economic recovery and the continued expansion of companies into the region," Lee Quane, regional director of ECA Asia, said in a statement.

Rent in Metro Manila rose by 14% "due to the strengthening of the peso against the greenback", ECA said in an e-mail to BusinessWorld. This was based on properties mostly in Makati.

Hong Kong, meanwhile, saw rents increase by 22% to $2,830 a month for a two-bedroom unit after prices fell by roughly a quarter the previous year, ECA said.

By Jessica Anne D. Hermosa, BusinessWorld

Ms. Kate Beckham

Kate Moss

Victoria Beckham

Ms. Kate Beckham

Oral love linked to cancer risk

US scientists have said there is strong evidence linking oral sex to cancer, and urged more studies of how human papillomaviruses (HPV) may be to blame for a rise in oral cancer among white men. In the United States, oral cancer due to HPV infection is now more common than oral cancer from tobacco use, which remains the leading cause of such cancers in the rest of the world.

Researchers have found a 225-percent increase in oral cancer cases in the United States from 1974 to 2007, mainly among white men, said Maura Gillison of Ohio State University.

"When you compare people who have an oral infection or not... the single greatest factor is the number of partners on whom the person has performed oral sex," said Gillison, who has been researching HPV and cancer for 15 years.

"When the number of partners increases, the risk increases," she told reporters at the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Washington. Previous studies have suggested that people who have performed oral sex on six or more partners over a lifetime face an eight-fold higher risk of acquiring HPV-related head or neck cancer than those with fewer than six partners, she said.

Two views on bloodless EDSA 1

Maybe, Gringo is correct but then, what if JPE is also correct—that the healing process would take longer once force is unleashed and there is no controlled use of weapons to preserve lives? Of course, this is already moot—like the issue on why then President Cory did not even bother to ask our creditors to write off our loans…The other day, I heard President Benigno Aquino 3rd lash at Marcos for incurring such a big foreign debt. Well, the debt should not have been that huge after EDSA. President Cory had the opportunity to ease that burden but she bungled it. Columnist Efren Danao opines;

Two views on bloodless EDSA 1

“The Philippines waged in February 1986 the very first ousting of a strong man with virtually no blood-letting. It is very seldom that democracy was regained or won at virtually no loss of life. If I remember right, the only death was that of a soldier-sniper at the Channel 4 tower. And even then, there were murmurings that that soldier should not have been shot dead.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, one of the heroes in those four historic days in EDSA, said one of the lessons that Libya could learn from EDSA 1 was how to successfully unseat a strongman with controlled use of weapons to preserve lives.
“Once you use bullets, you unleash force; you’ll create a long healing divide in your society. If the government will use bullets, the possibility of the people’s arming themselves to defend and assert their rights is not farfetched,” he explained.
He recalled that the first thing his group did when they announced their rebellion against the regime of President Ferdinand Marcos was to see to it that unnecessary bloodshed would be avoided.

“The first thing I did when I arrived in Camp Aguinaldo that afternoon, Saturday, February 22, was to call Gen. Pedro Balbanero, he head of the Military Police brigade in Camp Aguinaldo. I told him that we were going to do what we did and please do not attempt to arrest or even indicate any use of force against my men because they are ready to die,” JPE related.

The lessons of EDSA could no longer be thought to those in Egypt, where hundreds died before Hosni Mubarak would yield his power, or in Libya where thousands had died, with Libyan dictator Moammar Kaddhafi vowing to fight to the finish.

Sen. Gringo Honasan, who was then an Army lieutenant colonel and a leader of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM), also had good words for the bloodless ouster of Marcos. He said that it should be a source of pride for the Philippines that it was the first to succeed with that unorthodox manner.

At the same time, he considers this bloodless victory one of the reasons why the fervor of EDSA 1 is no longer burning in the hearts of Filipinos as intensely as before.

“There was no catharsis. It was over in just four days with little bloodshed. We bought our freedom at so cheap a price that we don’t seem to cherish it,” he said.
During the first years after the ouster of Marcos, Filipinos basked in the glory of EDSA 1. The very mention of EDSA then results in a sudden surge of national pride. A few years later, EDSA seemed like a mere footnote in history with the lack of meaningful commemoration and absence of mass participation.

It is the thesis of Gringo that had there been more blood shed in EDSA, the regaining of democracy would have stirred a longer memory and a stronger passion. He refuses to consider what took place at EDSA a revolution. He said that democracy was restored, a dictator was unseated but a revolution, it wasn’t.

Maybe, Gringo is correct but then, what if JPE is also correct—that the healing process would take longer once force is unleashed and there is no controlled use of weapons to preserve lives? Of course, this is already moot—like the issue on why then President Cory did not even bother to ask our creditors to write off our loans.

The Philippines and Cory were then the toast of the world. A word from her for a write-off of our debts would have been approved with alacrity by our debtors. It would not have been morally reprehensible to do so since she had been very critical on where our debts went. Until now, I still can’t understand why her administration honored our debt for the construction of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. The other day, I heard President Benigno Aquino 3rd lash at Marcos for incurring such a big foreign debt. Well, the debt should not have been that huge after EDSA. President Cory had the opportunity to ease that burden but she bungled it.”

Edsa spirit still alive: Says PNOY

The spirit of the 1986 bloodless "People Power" revolt is still alive 25 years after, even as the government continues the struggle for good governance and the fight against corruption, said President Benigno Aquino III on Friday.

The President led Friday's commemoration of 25th anniversary of the four-day revolt that restored democracy and ended the 20-year iron fist rule of the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos.

Aquino said the revolt shows how Filipinos value unity despite challenges facing the country.

"This gathering is proof that the legacy of Edsa is alive in each one of us. I believe that instead of being divided, we can work towards unity. That instead of stealing, we can be true to our duties; and that instead of being afraid, we can trust our government," Aquino said at the Edsa Shrine in Quezon City.

Aquino said the revolt raised hopes that democracy would also bring prosperity and a government that would safeguard the people's money, but said that did not happen in the decade under his predecessor, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

"There were some who betrayed the public trust and raided government coffers," he said. "With good governance to fight corruption, we can free our people from poverty."

Arroyo held power for nine years, surviving several coup attempts by disgruntled military officers and impeachment bids by the opposition, who accused her of corruption, election fraud and human rights abuses. She has denied the charges.

Aquino is the son of the country's two democracy icons. His mother, Corazon Aquino, claimed victory against Marcos in the fraud-marred elections two weeks before the revolt, and was installed as his successor. His father and Marcos' archrival, former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, was assassinated by soldiers in 1983.

President Aquino said the government is implementing reform measures to get rid of graft and corruption and regain the trust of the public to the administration.

One reform he underscored in his speech is how the government is helping common soldiers and police officers by building 20,000 housing units for them.

"This year, we will build 20,000 housing units for our soldiers and policemen by providing them very low housing prices, which is very much lower than what they are currently paying to rent dwellings that they do not own," the President said.

Celebration -- Aquino kicked off the celebration Friday by attending a flag-raising ceremony in White Plains Avenue along Edsa.

The President arrived around 7:30 a.m. and was welcomed by several officials led by Vice President Jejomar Binay, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, and the commissioners of the Edsa People Power Commission (EPPC).

Also present were Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Armed Forces Chief Ricardo David, and Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo. About 17 mayors attended the event led by Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim.

Former President Fidel Ramos also attended the event. Upon Aquino's arrival, he was given full military honors with 21 gun salute.

A slight slip-up took place when the national anthem was sung before the President was able to raise the flag. Young singer Mauna Kea Chan then sang the national anthem again.

The flag-raising was followed by the "Panunumpa sa Watawat" (Pledge of Allegiance to the Philippine flag) led by representatives of different sectors.

Aquino then led the release of the Philippine flag balloons with inscription of this year's theme "Edsa 25: Pilipino Ako. Ako ang Lakas ng Pagbabago."

He was assisted by Binay, Ochoa, House Speaker Feleciano Belmonte and former President Ramos. Senator Juan Ponce Enrile was a no show in the event.

The unveiling of the People Power Monument Marker by the President was followed.

Aquino was assisted by the National Historical Institute (NHI) Executive Director Ludovico Badoy and the EPPC commissioners.

An ecumenical prayer that represented various religious groups, Catholic, Protestant, Islam, Iglesia ni Cristo, and Buddhist was made.

Singer Freddie Aguilar then sang "Bayan Ko," which he popularized before and during the Edsa revolution.

A chopper showered with confetti and flowers at the Edsa Shrine.

Tribute to Cardinal Sin -- After White Plains, the President proceeded to Rizal Park to grace the wreath-laying at late President Corazon Aquino monument and the unveiling of the late Jaime Cardinal Sin's monument.

Hundreds of people composed of Manila residents, religious leaders, bishops, and students trooped to the famous park.

Prior to Aquino's arrival, a thanksgiving mass in honor of Sin, considered as one of the heroes of Edsa, was held.

Lingayen Archbishop Soc Villegas and Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales delivered thanksgiving remarks for the celebration.

In the event, Aquino noted the relevant role of Sin played during the Edsa People Power 1.

"Despite threats to his life and his people, the Catholic leader chose to devote his time and prayers to restore the peace and freedom to the country," he said.

After Rizal Park, Aquino went back to the area of Ortigas near White Plains for the unveiling of the historical site marker and jobs fair at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) building.

He had a video conference with three Overseas Filipino workers where he directly answered their job-related concerns.

The President skipped the boodle lunch held along Edsa. He then graced the "Salubungan" ceremony also held in Edsa Shrine.

Salubungan -- A festive mood blanketed the People Power Monument on Friday as the government challenged the youth to do small tokens of heroism in their daily lives.

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. and Arts Ambassador and matinee idol Dingdong Dantes made the call before a crowd of young people, when proponents of the successful Edsa People Power revolt reenacted the "salubungan" -- a historic moment during the People Power revolt.

"Salubong" is a reenactment of what happened 25 years ago when then General Fidel Ramos and Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile met with civilian protesters and joined forces after formally breaking off from the Marcos regime.

Around 2,000 soldiers, 1000 policemen, and two tanks participated in the march as civilians composed of priests and non-government organizations met them at the People Power monument along Edsa.

A lot of people wearing yellow witnessed the reenactment as a chopper showered yellow confetti to the cheering crowd. Yellow is the color of the People Power revolution.

"I sincerely hope that the youth will respond to the call of our times and put to action the President's inaugural theme, 'Panata sa Pagbabago'," Dantes said as President Aquino, cousin Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski, and government officials listened.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles and government chief negotiator for National Democratic Front peace talks Alexander Padilla also took part in the convergence.

Signifying unity and light for a peaceful nation, Deles led a torch passing ceremony with a former communist rebel and representatives from the military and the youth.

The Philippine flag was also passed on from Ramos to a youth leader and 25 doves were set free.

Local government units and civil society organizations across the country likewise joined the Edsa commemoration through medical missions, tree planting activities, monitoring of smoke belchers, and other projects.

Also on Friday, budget carrier Cebu Pacific joined the revelry as it put on sale domestic travel tickets at P25 each from February 25 to 26. The travel period is from June 1 to September 30 this year.

The Gokongwei-led airline earlier had a P15 seat sale in observance of Aquino's inauguration as the country's 15th president in June 30 last year.

By Jill Beltran & Virgil Lopez

IAN CRAWFORD

Angelina Fox

Brad Pitt's Ideal Woman: Jolinnifer Angelinistan

Eddie + Channing

Alcasid confirms Apl.De.Ap performance at People Power Celebration

Newly appointed EDSA People Power Commissioner Ogie Alcasid confirmed that Black Eyed Peas member Apl.de.ap will perform during the celebration of the 25th year anniversary of the EDSA People Power revolution on Feb. 25.

Alcasid announced so on Twitter last Feb. 20.

“Happy to announce that apl.de.ap has agreed to perform on February 25 for the 25th anniversary of edsa! Hope to see you all there!" read the post.

His announcement actually came a day late.

Although not part of the organizing team, presidential sister, Kris Aquino, preempted Alcasid's announcement by a day, tweeting on Feb. 19, “Apl de Ap is flying in to perform specially for the event. Doing a 1 hr set! Winner!"

Aquino also divulged to her Twitter followers that she will be among the hosts of the show.

In any case, Alcasid detailed that the concert will be held at the People Power Monument on EDSA. The concert will start at 6 p.m. and will last until about midnight.

Only a week ago, Alcasid proudly declared in a press conference that the concert will be "star-studded" as he was able to convince the country’s three biggest networks to lend a number of their "exclusive" stars for the occasion. Among those he confirmed have agreed to perform at the event include his wife, singer-actress Regine Velazquez.

Meanwhile, not a few expect Pres. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, himself, to render a number at the event as he had obliged a couple of tunes during his inauguration party, June of last year.

By NEIL RAMOS

VP Binay off to Middle East despite tensions

Vice President Jejomar Binay will push through with his schedule in the Middle East despite escalating tensions in several countries there.

President Benigno Aquino III said Binay will represent him in several functions in line with the celebration of Kuwait National Day.

The Vice President is set to leave on Friday for an official trip to Kuwait and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. He will stay in the Middle East for one week.

Aquino said he could not leave the country because of the long-week celebration for the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution anniversary.

“Matagal ng schedule yun… I asked him (Binay) if he can represent me in the celebration so he is proceeding to Kuwait. My instruction the primary topic has to be our OFWs and their protection. So that would be the main agenda,” the President said.

Political unrest beleaguered the countries of Libya, Bahrain and Yemen.

Aquino ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to act swiftly in attending to the needs of Filipinos caught in strife in these countries.

He said since the start of tension, the government has been in constant communication with the Philippine embassy in Tripoli in Libya.

He reiterated that there is still no need for force evacuation.

“Systems are in place and I understand that arrangements have already been made for our citizens to be brought to safer locations but it is still voluntary,” he said.

Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) data said there were 13,593 Filipinos in Bahrain, 10,901 in Libya and 1,081 in Yemen in 2010.

By Jill Beltran

Better internet services sought

Calls for higher internet speed and better regulation of telecommunication services snowballed on Wednesday as a lawmaker proposes an online consultation over a bill on mobile and internet usage.

Taguig City Representative Freddie Tinga said they are inviting concerned groups to participate in drafting the legislation that aims to democratize internet.

“This will be the first time that we are doing this (online consultation). But we want to prevent an online riot. I think by having one or two groups with same advocacy will be enough to represent that sector,” he told reporters.

“It makes my life maybe a little easier but harder at the same time because there will be more voices who will be studying each and every line of the legislation,” Tinga, who is also chairman of the Committee on Information and Communications Technology said.

Militant groups and consumer advocates earlier hit major telecommunication companies for supporting a proposal of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to limit internet speed.

Public pressure however pushed the NTC to shelve the plan as Kabataan Party-list Representative Raymond Palatino detailed the issues raised by internet users during a public consultation held over the weekend.

Among the problems raised by so-called netizens include overbilling, exorbitant fees, slow, unreliable and sub-par broadband internet connections, limited network coverage, and questionable practices like data-capping and long contract periods.

Palatino, for his part, added to the list of internet problems the lack of clear-cut legal or administrative definition of broadband in terms of standard download and upload speeds in its various forms.

The two-term congressman also said that there is no existing mechanism to check if telecommunication firms and internet service providers are complying with their advertised speeds and services.

By Virgil Lopez

Abandoned Bathroom

hand drawing

IKEA SALE

bathroom

Believing a plunderer-turned-whistleblower...

“They can examine my bank account, my credit card records etcetera,” Cimatu said, adding that he was willing to waive his rights under bank secrecy and other statutes—and more. “They can go to my house, the only one that I and my wife own, and search room to room for evidence of ill-gotten wealth.” Columnist Dan Mariano opines in his column; Cimatu's detractors need to present proof more persuasive than the say-so of a confessed plunderer-turned-whistleblower...

Believing the words of a plunderer-turned-whistleblower...

"I don't know about the other top officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) who have been linked to financial skullduggery, but retired Gen. Roy Cimatu does not seem like he was also a “thief of staff.”

Speaking at a media forum Saturday, Cimatu, who had served as AFP chief of staff for all of four months in 2002, declared that he would willingly bare all that he owns to probers—be they from the Congress, the Office of the Ombudsman, the Anti-Money Laundering Council or any other legitimate investigating agency.

“They can examine my bank account, my credit card records etcetera,” Cimatu said, adding that he was willing to waive his rights under bank secrecy and other statutes—and more. “They can go to my house, the only one that I and my wife own, and search room to room for evidence of ill-gotten wealth.”

He added: “They can contact my son, who is an architect and is now in Singapore as an [overseas Filipino worker (OFW)], and find out for themselves that whatever assets my family and I have we earned by the sweat of our brow.”

After retiring from the AFP, Cimatu, the son of public school teachers from Bangui, Ilocos Norte, continued to serve the Republic as a diplomatic troubleshooter that took him to hazardous locations overseas, including Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan, finding solutions to the problems facing OFWs in distress.

Cimatu, who carries the title of Special Presidential Envoy and chairs the Presidential Preparedness Team to the Middle East, claimed that he had no knowledge of the P80-million pabaon or send-off money, which former AFP budget officer George Rabusa—a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy who only got as high as the rank of lieutenant colonel—said Cimatu received.

Rabusa has made similar accusations against other AFP chiefs. Before congressional probers, he testified that he personally handed the equivalent of P50 million to Angelo Reyes upon his retirement.

As for Cimatu and Gen. Diomedio Villanueva, Rabusa said he was ordered by former AFP comptroller Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia to “produce” the pabaon funds—but has no personal knowledge if the money was actually turned over to the two generals.

At the media forum Saturday, Cimatu said: “I categorically deny that I received any funds from anybody in the AFP for my personal use or aggrandizement.”

Cimatu is one of a handful of Arroyo administration officials that President Benigno S. Aquino 3rd opted to retain—and there must have very good reasons for that.

Not once has Cimatu led efforts to bring OFWs out of harm’s way. While in uniform, he earned numerous medals and citations as symbols of the nation’s appreciation for valorous service and distinguished leadership.

Had Cimatu been a “thief of staff,” his detractors need to present proof more persuasive than the say-so of a confessed plunderer-turned-whistleblower."

Jay Z/ Morgan Freeman

Jay Z/ Morgan Freeman

DepEd pushes for vegetable gardens in school

The Department of Education (DepEd) is set to work closely with the Oh My Gulay! advocacy of Senator Edgardo Angara to expand the department’s vegetable garden project in schools called ‘’Gulayan sa Paaralan’’ to address malnutrition, which affects one in every three public school children.

DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro said one of the ironies in our society is the fact that children go hungry when food can be grown here year round.

“Wala sanang bata na undernourished kung lagi tayong nagtatanim at kumakain ng gulay at prutas na madami dito sa atin,” said Luistro.

Luistro said children who are not properly nourished are physically and mentally weak, susceptible to infection and diseases and cannot cope with school work. “At sa kanilang paglaki, hindi rin makapagtrabaho ng maayos,” added Luistro.

At present, there are some 6,000 public elementary and high schools involving 1.8 million students in the Gulayan project. “While 6,000 seem like a big number, it only represents 15 percent of all public schools in the country,” noted Luistro.

Lowest in vegetable consumption
Studies have shown that among Southeast Asians, Filipinos rank lowest in vegetable consumption at 40 kilograms per head each year. This is in contrast to China whose consumption is 250 kilos per head each year.

Latest figure from the Food and Nutrition Research Council showed that 26 in very 100 children (6-10 years old – 25.6 percent ) or about 1.8 million school children are underweight for their age; 33 in every 100 children (6-10 years old – 33.1 percent) or about 1.2 million school children are stunted or short for their age and 20 in every 100 school children (6-12 years old – 19.8 percent) are anemic.

“Paano natin papalaganapin ang kaugnayan ng masustansiyang pagkain sa kanilang pag-aaral at sa pagtatrabaho sa di-kalaunan? Paano natin maipaparating sa mga bata at sa kanilang mga magulang ang kabutihang dulot ng regular na pagkain ng prutas at gulay?” Luistro asked.

Luistro noted that the advocacy on healthy diet focused on eating more vegetables and fruits are drowned out by a more aggressive advertising campaign of fast food chains which push for more meat consumption.

“Sa totoo lang kaagapay din sila sa edukasyon pero ang sinasabi natin sana mabalanse ang kampanya at mabigyan ng patas na importansiya ang pagkain ng gulay at prutas,” Luistro emphasized.

School gardens
One of the future plans of DepEd is to scale up Gulayan sa Paaralan and make it an institutional advocacy in schools and not just a passing fancy.

It also envisions more activities on environmental protection, waste composting in schools and to work closely with the organizers of Oh My Gulay! on healthy eating advocacy.

Based on DepEd estimates, it costs an initial P50,000 to start a school garden to cover seeds, fertilizer, garden tools and farm implements, farmer’s hut, nursery and fencing.

“Maliit na halaga lang ito kung tutuusin kapalit ng napakalaking benepisyo sa buong komunidad ng gulayan sa paaralan,” quipped Luistro.

DepEd’s goal is to establish a sustainable vegetable garden in all of the country’s 42, 076 public elementary and secondary schools.