January 28, 2009
Advocacy, Business, Consumer, Controversial, Headline, Internet, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Opinion, Technology, blogging
Because this seems to be the case if ever a proposal dubbed “Guidelines on the Provision of Contents, Information, Applications and Electronic Games” lodged before the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) pushes through. Now, how does this affect Mindanaoan bloggers or content providers here in the Philippines, you ask? This controversial proposal, when loosely translated, would mean that the Philippine government wants to require people to hold licenses in order to create or post content online. And, of course, there will be corresponding fees and charges. Under the proposal, a filing fee of P300.00 shall be imposed and an annual registration fee of P6,000.00. There will also reportedly be surcharges for late filings.
While the proposal probably has commendable objectives and while the proposal probably mainly targets corporations or business entities that provide content online, I still see a problem especially in the definition of terms. Under the said proposal, “Contents Providers” are supposedly persons or entities offering and providing contents to the public for compensation through the networks, systems and/or facilities of authorized networks, systems and/or facilities providers while “Contents Developers” are persons or entities creating contents.
Aren’t bloggers content providers?
Does this mean that once this proposal gets ratified, bloggers are required to not only apply for that license but to shoulder that P6,000.00 as well?
As of this writing, the available draft of this proposal is dated December 2, 2008. There was supposed to be a public hearing last January 22, 2009 but that got canceled. I wonder why. Also, I wonder if this proposal got raised because of the recent blogger/blogging incidents? (i.e. Bambee dela Paz’s blog entry about the alleged mauling incident between her brother and father and the Pangandamans and the student bloggers of the Quezon City Science High School who got suspended because of their allegations against their principal)
What do you think…is this something we Filipino bloggers (especially Mindanao bloggers) should be worried about?
LikeThis one’s fresh off the pan! Emailed to Mindanaoan by Senator Mar Roxas’ media office in the Senate of the Philippines. Privilege Speech of Senator Mar Roxas’ on last Friday’s Anti-Cha-Cha rally (Delivered on Tuesday, December 16, 2008)
Mr. President, may I take a moment of the chamber’s time to rise on a matter of personal privilege.
Marami nang nasabi mula nang magsalita ako noong rally noong Biyernes. Maraming nabigla sa bugso ng emosyon. May mga nailang o nagalit. May mga nagsasabing mali ang sinabi ko. Binanatan ako ng Malakanyang. Ginamit nila ang kanilang propaganda machine laban sa akin.
Una: gaya noong Biyernes, magsasalita ako nang deretsahan ngayon: I AM NOT SORRY. I am not sorry for speaking my mind and telling the truth as I see it to be. I am not sorry for expressing my real feelings and my rage in behalf of the people whom I love.
Ikalawa: Marami nang nagbigay ng opinyon sa kung paano dapat ako nagsalita o umasal. Irerespeto ko sila. They are entitled to their opinion, and I respect it. Sana, irespeto rin nila ako, at ang pinaglalaban ko. Hindi ako plastik. I AM NOT SORRY.
Ikatlo: Bakit ako magso-sorry? Kung mag-sorry ako, para na ring nag-sorry tayong mga biktima ng korapsyon, tulad ng mga magsasakang ninakawan ng fertilizer. Para na ring nag-sorry ang bawat Pilipino na gutom na walang trabaho, na wala nang makitang pag-asa dito sa ating bansa. Para na ring nag-sorry ang mga Pilipino, na ang tunay na damdamin lamang ay katulad ng sinabi ko.
Ikaapat: Hindi ito tungkol sa salita lamang. Alin ba ang mas nakakailang: ang masakit na salita, o ang masamang gawa? Ang diretsong katotohanan o ang baluktot na kasinungalingan? Ang maruming bibig o ang marungis na kamay at konsensiya?
What are the real issues?
This government has systematically ravaged our political and economic life.
This government has twisted our institutions to suit its self-serving interests.
This government has torn apart our nation.
Ikalima, at huli: Hindi ko gustong makasakit sa damdamin ng kapwa sa sinabi ko noong Biyernes. Tinukoy ko lang ang tunay na kalagayan ng bansa. Nagpakatotoo lamang ako, at nasa katotohanan ang kaligtasan at kalayaan ng ating bayan. Nasa katotohanan ang pag-asa.
Para sa mga desperado nating kababayan, tatlo lang ang puwede nilang gawin.
Magmukmok, manahimik, at umiyak sa isang tabi.
Umalis, maghanap ng pag-asa sa ibang bansa.
Mamundok. Mag-armas at lumaban.
Ayaw nating mangyari ang mga ito. We do not want our people to suffer in silence, nor to have to leave their families, nor have to take up arms. Kailangan nating kapitan ang katotohanan. Kailangan nating ihiyaw ito. We must shout out the truth so that we can be free. We must break the apathy and the paralysis. Our outrage will move us forward. I must speak of the people’s anguish.
Sabi nga ni Ka Amado Hernandez, isang pambansang alagad ng sining:
Kung wala mang maglalamay sa gabi ng pagbabangon
Lumuha ka nang lumuha’t ang laya mo’y nakaburol
Kasama ng taumbayan, I say: I AM NOT SORRY.
I learned from Senator Richard Gordon today that the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee is set to revive the investigations into the brutal murder of Mindanaoan journalist Marlene Esperat. Esperat, who exposed an alleged illegal procurement of P432 Million worth of fertilizers, was slain in her own home in Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat, Mindanao by an assassin who later on reportedly confessed that he was hired by two officials in the Department of Agriculture – Central Mindanao. What really dismayed me was the fact that she was even gunned down in front of her own children.
“This time we will investigate why a resident Ombudsman in the Agriculture Department in Mindanao was killed because she wanted to expose an anomaly. So far, the case has made some progress in courts but the masterminds have never been revealed,” Senator Gordon said.
“The anomaly allegedly involves as much as 460 million pesos involved, it was done by certain personalities, and the person who wanted to expose it was killed. This is what badly needs to be investigated,” he added.
Hopefully, with these investigations, the public will really know who’s behind the Esperat slay.
In 2003, Esperat filed a graft complaint against Jocelyn “Joc-joc” Bolante, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, former Agriculture Secretary Luis “Cito” Lorenzo Jr., and other officials of the Department of Agriculture.
What can you say about the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s plan to revive investigations on the Esperat case?
November 25, 2008
Broadcasting, Controversial, Government, Headline, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Musings, News, Opinion, Personal, Personalities, Photos
What supposed to be was a simple, routinary visit to the Senate of the Philippines last November 17, 2008 turned out to be one very controversial occasion.
It was the day when the Senate coup happened.
It was the day when the Senate revamp occured.
It was the day when Senate President Manny Villar got ousted by his fellow senators and was replaced by Senator Juan Ponce Enrile.
And yes, it was also the day when Mindanaoan Senator Juan Miguel “Migs” Zubiri got appointed as Acting Majority Floor Leader.
Although I’ve been receiving some tips via text messages that something “big” and “major” would occur in the next few days, I never thought that IT would happen that day, a seemingly innocent Monday.
Anyways, here are the photos I took that day: (CLICK ON THE THUMBNAILS)
What did you think of that fateful day?
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Mining company in Mindanao hires APO Hiking Society’s Danny Javier
November 11, 2009
Advocacy, Business, Commentary, Controversial, Corporate, Cotabato, Culture, Davao City, Koronadal, Mindanaoan Update, News, Opinion, Sarangani, SoSCksargen, Soccksargen, Socsksargen, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Weird
1 comment
Yes, you read that right. A mining company operating in the Municipality of Tampakan has hired Danny Javier of the popular group APO Hiking Society. Javier is now a “strategist” for Sagittarius Mines, Inc., a gold and copper mine.
As a “strategist,” Javier is reportedly supposed to help SMI develop a “better image.” It can be recalled that the said mining company, which has business interests in three large areas in Mindanao namely South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Davao del Sur, has and still is facing strong opposition especially from the Church. A lot of non government organizations which advocate environmental sustainability have also expressed their opposition against the operation of Sagittarius Mines.
What makes this development noteworthy is that Danny Javier of APO Hiking Society is part of a trio that also pushes for many pro-people issues. Javier and his mates Buboy Garovillo and Jim Paredes are known advocates of ecological conservation. They lead a lot of tree planting sessions and they also spread reminders about the environment and how society can help protect nature.
So of course, quite naturally, a lot of people now see Javier’s entry to SMI as being “inconsistent.”
So my question is…can we take this against Danny Javier?
While I’m dismayed that Javier accepted this job even though he’s supposed to be an environmentalist, I can also understand why he accepted the job offer. A job is a job. It provides food on the table. Whether Javier accepted the job for the sake of practicality or because he wanted to face another challenge in his life, I can understand and can cut him some slack. IMHO, we cannot take this against the guy. Again, a job is a job and he may also have “good” intentions. Hopefully.
Javier said that his father used to work in the mining industry so his new job as a “strategist” for Sagittarius Mines isn’t really something new for him. Instead, he’s taking his new role as a challenge.
The APO Hiking Society singer said that he will immerse himself in the communities very soon in order to have a deeper grasp of the Mindanao culture. He was also quoted as saying that he will ensure that the company complies with environmental standards.
How I wish that could be followed and done.
For now, I’ll give Danny Javier benefit of the doubt. Let him work and let him prove that he will really carry the voice of Mindanaoans – especially those from the B’laan tribes and other groups that will be affected by the operations of Sagittarius Mines – and that he will really raise the issues with the company execs.
In the meantime, let’s also take this as a challenge, fellow Mindanaoan. Companies are wiser these days. They can hire just about anyone who can be “the face” of their programs and business dealings. They can now all the more hire popular singers, actors, actresses and even boxers to speak in their behalf. Let’s not be swayed. Instead, let’s observe and listen. Apathy should no longer be a part of our lives.