Check out the contents of a package sent to me via courier recently. (Apologies for the poor quality of the photos as I only took them via my ever trusty Motorola Krzr phone.) Now…is this a sign of things to come? Is this something die hard supporters should be elated about? Or is this just a way for HIM to thank his friends, fans, foes (?) and supporters?
You know…the year 2010 is a presidential election year and this early, we have heard of the many personalities who have made it clear that they have intentions of gunning for the top executive position in Philippine government. From Senator Manny Villar to Senator Mar Roxas to Senator Loren Legarda.
Do you think HE will run?
Do you think he will face Legarda in the quest to get the NPC Party’s nod?
And do you think he has good chances of winning?
Share your thoughts!
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.
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?
Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero has proposed that bus drivers who commit criminal negligence in road mishaps should face twenty (20) years of imprisonment. This, in the wake of a lot of vehicular accidents as of late.
The senator from Sorsogon, who currently chairs both the Senate Committee on Ways and Means and the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, introduced Senate Bill Number 2701 (SBN 2701) which aims to provide more teeth to existing preventive policies to achieve safety benefits. SBN 2701 penalizes criminal negligence committed by common carriers with reclusion temporal, or twelve (12) years to twenty (20) years in prison, in case of death.
Common carriers’ criminal liability is found in Article 365 of the Revised Penal Code, Criminal Negligence, which provides as penalty of imprisonment arresto mayor to prision correccional or from one (1) month to four (4) years and two (2) months, depending on the gravity of the resultant crime or felony.
I don’t know about you but I think the number of recent road accidents is really very alarming.
Here in Mindanao, for instance, 15 people died in a road accident in Dangcagan, Bukidnon last week. A 10-wheeler truck rammed into an L300 van, leaving all of its 15 passengers plus driver dead. I actually just got word from my sources in Dangcagan that the truck owner can only afford to give P10,000.00 (roughly US $250.00) to each of the passengers. Isn’t that so pathetic?
So now, given this new move from Senator Chiz, I do hope that our roads become safer and our drivers become more responsible.
What do you think of this proposed legislation?
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Is Mindanao really RP’s “Wild West”?
January 19, 2009
Advocacy, Commentary, Government, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Update, Opinion
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This got me thinking when I received a press release from the Office of Sen. Richard Gordon recently. The PR read: “Turn around Mindanao’s image as RP’s ‘Wild West’ – Gordon” The senator said that Mindanao has “gained a negative reputation in the international media as the country’s “Wild, Wild West” due to the continued spate of kidnappings, sporadic bombings, and the poor peace and order situation.” Is our beloved island Mindanao really the Philippines’ version of the so-called “Wild West”?
In a meeting with the Regional Development Council of Region 12 and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Gordon challenged Mindanao executives to turn around Mindanao’s negative image from being the “Wild West of the Philippines ” into a premier tourist destination with its unique history and culture.
Gordon also emphasized that “there is no governance in area. Schools are decrepit; roads are bad; farm-to-market roads are non-existent and there is no focus on helping them solving their problem, or empowering them so they can conquer their own selves.”
Gordon, chairman of the Senate tourism committee, also stressed that the people of Mindanao should not wait for the national government to take the initial steps towards lasting peace and development of Mindanao.
“You should define what Mindanao is and assert yourselves as a people. Manila is never going to solve it for us. It is never going to be a solution. Mindanao should be self-sufficient,” he said.
The senator also said that Mindanaoans should encourage more tourists to visit Mindanao instead of other places.
What are your thoughts on this?