Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago's flight to reality & her bid in the International Court of Justice
Miriam Defensor Santiago, the Philippine Senator and Condolezza Rice, the US Secretary of State have something in common. High-powered and articulate, both women are apparently very intelligent. But their similarity quickly ends there. A prodigy of Czech émigré Josef Korbel who inspired her to study Soviet affairs and world relations, Condi Rice, the astute black international peace broker from Birmingham, Alabama, has been earnestly diplomatic in pushing US policies in the world stage. On the other hand, Miriam Santiago, a self-made Visayan legislator, has been blunt and caustic in dealing with her colleagues, to an extent that baffles the public.
No wonder when Santiago complained that the Lopezes, owners of the ABS-CBN news outfit and stake-holders of Meralco were out to sabotage her candidacy as a jurist in the International Court of Justice (ICJ,) some people didn’t take her seriously. Filipinos assumed she had enough hyperbole, humor, and hubris that made her allegation seemed like another post-climacteric tantrum.
Santiago asserted ABS-CBN’s article on her candidacy was a form of blackmail--- “a diabolic attempt to ensure that foreign countries will be influenced to vote against me, as the Philippine national candidate to the ICJ.” Daily Tribune (05/27/08, Rosales,A)
This brand of piquant accusation by Santiago made Filipinos laugh over her foes’ long-standing apprehension over her labile mental state. Claiming that her intelligence was superior, the UP-educated lawyer from Iloilo challenged President Joseph Estrada for an IQ competition. She claimed she would “jump from a plane” if the move to depose Estrada prospered. Later, she said with a giggle her statement was a lie.
She called fellow senators and congressmen “idiots” who’d been intimidated to lock horns with her, whether in a swanky debate to thresh out legislative issues or in a plain collegial wrangle. When she talked, many senators listened. Probably, they were stunned by her self-patronizing erudition.
That’s why restraint and decorum was far from her when she recklessly declared (to the embarrassment of the country,) that China “invented corruption” for which she later apologized.
In this backdrop of Santiago’s bipolar display of gutsy "brilliance" and bizarre thinking process, President Gloria M. Arroyo nominated her to the ICJ in July 30, 2007---a move actively promoted by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) which believes she’ll be a fine addition to the august body of international jurists.
But of course, Filipinos who know her are skeptical.
Critical of Sen. Miriam Santiago's solipsistic approach to reality, an internet blog by Jemy Gatdula, a Manila-based university mentor who specializes on the law of international economics and World Trade Organization asserted,
“If, heaven forbid, she does get to be part of the ICJ, she will have her views, writings, and opinions dissected, analyzed, and critiqued as minutely and as unforgiving as possible. That is part of international law practice. What will she do when that happens? Call the international law scholars, international lawyers, government officials, and international tribunal members as "worms" or "idiots" in her usual raving manner?” Blurry Brain (05/28/08 Gatdula J.)
The Supreme Court, the country’s highest judicial body whose opinion counts on such nominations as the ICJ, has given her no endorsement. ==0==
What's up in Mars?
Amber sky, phantom vapor risingOver a stretch of land, away from home
Ruddy-brown rocks,
Marbles polished by time
Furrowed river covered by sand
Jigsaw puzzles abound
Parched relics of ages
One must understand.
-AFM, 02/03/04
After the successful Martian travels of Viking in 1976 and the two rovers Spirit and Opportunity in 2004, Phoenix Mars Lander arrives on Sunday, May 25, 2008 on the north pole of the red planet---an intrepid odyssey of a spacecraft, 171 million miles from its earth launch in Cape Canaveral, Florida on August 4, 2007.
With a scaled price of $420 million and powered by solar panels and lithium batteries, the 3 month mission led by scientists from University of Arizona, aims to unravel more of the planet’s secrets whose polar latitudes might harbor clues of life or carry its building ingredients.
“The Phoenix will dig down to the icy layer. It will examine soil in place at the surface, at the icy layer and in between. It will scoop up samples for analysis by its onboard instruments….Has Mars ever had life? How should humans prepare for exploring the planet? What can Mars teach us about climate change? (Phoenix Landing, Mission to the Martian Polar North, NASA, 5/08).
There are many questions to answer. The mission ignites fresh hopes and old controversies---- Will it find evidence of habitability in the Martian surface? Is money poured to fund the space program better spent in solving some of the world’s serious problems? What will the military do with the enormous potentials of outer space? Who’ll gain ownership of space and determine the property rights of celestial bodies? Is robotic exploration better than sending humans to the cosmos? For God believers, agnostics, and atheists, what does it mean if life is discovered away from planet earth?
A minor radio problem hinders the smooth operation of the lander two days after the successful landing, but Gary Napier of the Lockheed Martin Space Systems which built the spacecraft assured, "Phoenix has performed extremely well, beyond our expectations. Currently it is in great shape." AFP (05/27/08.) ==0==
UP Ibalon Alumni Offers Free UPCAT Review
The first obstacle to hurdle is getting accepted in UP, which has been dreadful for applicants from the provinces who need to pass the most difficult college entrance test in the country. The rise of commercial college entrance review centers is reality we have to factor in. Without a good review, it's tough luck even for local high school topnotchers to achieve their dream to be counted among members of this elite government-funded state university. Increasingly,the review centers determine one's success or failure in passing the entrance exam, and the most sophisticated and resourceful, some say "naughtiest," centers are in Manila.With end view of leveling the playing field for the sake of Bicolano students, the UP Ibalon alumni,a Bicolano organization of former students and graduates of the UP Diliman campus embarks on a UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) Assistance Project. This is a long haul group effort that combines live seminars with Web-based activities. UP Ibalon Bicol, as the alumni group is called, is also preparing to put up its College Admission Review Website to leverage not only its vast talent pool but also the power of the Web.
The project officially launches at Fernando Hall, 3rd Floor Plaza Medica, Panganiban Street, Naga City with a review-information campaign on June 14, 2008. Top graduating high school students of Bicolandia are the target beneficiaries of this, although the first 100 participants for this year could only include high school students immediately around Naga City. Dr. Eden Borja-Fernando, owner of Plaza Medica and a UP Ibalon pioneer, has offered free use of its lecture hall as the venue for all Naga-based review sessions. The project's reach and range of services are expected to widen as the group broadens its region-wide base and augments its financial resources.
The activities will start at 9:45 A.M. with the national anthem, prayers and welcome remarks by the organization’s president Jose (Butch) Robredo. Video presentations follow.
An interesting eye-opener lecture on the Life in UP will be delivered by Jake Tabora. Invaluable tips in choosing a course will be tackled by Dr. Roland Elicay. An insightful testimonial from a famous UP student will be shared by Mike Padua. Fatima Edna C. Balaquiao’s lecture on The Socialized Tuition Fee Assistance Program (STFAP), more popularly known as the Iskolar ng Bayan Program, will bring clarity to opportunities for making studies at UP affordable. Another UP Ibalon alumnae, Clarine Tobias, owner and manager of Memorecall, will give in-depth insights on test-taking strategies.
Free review materials will be distributed to participants and food will be served. Participants will also have the chance to try out the review questions.
This remarkable project is a result of the cooperative work of the organization’s members and friends who share Dr. Andy Gimpaya’s concern that Bicolanos are a vanishing breed in UP. Dr. Gimpaya, who takes charge of the Internet component of the project, has never been disappointed by his Ibalon pals who are ready to help young minds eager to pursue quality education.
In a friendly collaboration with UP Panginuhud, a UP outreach organization, Apolonio Baylon, Annaliza Mariano, Jazon Morillo, Dr. May Velasco-Yorobe, Ma. Zerlaine Alberto-Fornoles, Adolfo Badiola, Tess A.Arbo, Dan M. Daz, Dulce B. Dionisio, Rose Bernardo-Nayve, Sieglinde E.B. Bulaong, and Jun Olin---all Ibalonians joined forces to compile sample test questions. The UP Panginuhud donated more than 200 pages of review materials. The burden of sorting out the materials and providing answers to test questions is shared by Pitoy Moreno, an engineer based overseas and now on vacation, and Dulce Bernardo-Dionisio, a professional teacher.
With communications through the Internet easier than ever, the UP Ibalon alumni can draw strength from all corners of the world where other Ibalonians quietly reach out in support of the project: Dr. Yasmin Paje-Banzon, Dr. Delen Padilla-de la Paz, Dr. Ray G. Rayel, Gods Lanuza, Dr. Jose Remo, Dr. Divinia Nolasco-Ries, Dr. Fems Espinas-Paladin, Mac Pavia, Acela B. Bretan, Annelee Badiola-Lojo, Monina S. Badiola, Raniela Barbaza, Dr Arnel V. Malaya, Dr. Abet Guballa, Dr. Amy Goleta-Dy, Wilma Rojas, Imelda Cabañes, Carmela Magpantay, Pitoy Moreno, Jovy Mijares, Alan V. Badiola, Stephen Acabado, Jason Oliva, Maria Eusebia Quiñones, Ma. Celestina Manlagñit-Tam, Lorna Vigil-Baylon, Sarge Colambo, Atty. Joel Cadiz, Ruditu Espiritu, Jr., Zuyen Tria-Valencia, Ariel Padua, Zarah Padua, Nathaniel Chavez, Dr. Annelee Badiola-Lojo, Dr. Augusto Mesia among others.
In their minds, the university terrain is still bumpy and steep; its high horse is still tall and barely reachable. The sense of being Bicolanos drives the UP Ibalon alumni to extend a helping hand so that Handiong’s children may thrive and succeed.
Sen. Edward Kennedy Has Brain Cancer and 46 Million Americans Don't Have Health Insurance
Dr. Augusto Mesia, a Filipino-American pathologist in Astoria New York shares his thoughts on Sen. Edward Kennedy who has malignant glioma, a brain tumor that is "treatable but not curable." A Kennedy will certainly get the best treatment regimen in the world. A single tumor-contracting drug that costs $100,000 a year is a drop in the bucket, but heartbreak stuff for the 46 million Americans who do not have health insurance and for the people in countries less prosperous than America. Dr. Mesia himself battles a tough, lingering Auto-Immune Hemolytic Anemia.
When Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt died in Warm Springs, Georgia of cerebral hemorrhage in 1945, many Americans were caught by surprise. In those days people usually didn’t pry on the lives of public figures as they do now. The large majority of Americans didn’t know that in the White House, the US president had been sick for a while, an aftermath of years of vigorous work and smoking while he suffered from leg paralysis, thought to be the effect of poliomyelitis.
Time has changed since the death of FDR. Today, the world seems to insist in knowing what goes on in the lives of famous personalities. And people are more willing than ever before, to share important bad news. This new wave of frankness somehow liberates the burdened soul when someone gets sick.
Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti contracted pancreatic cancer and the public knew of its grim implications months before he died. Actor Patrick Swayze had love, support and prayers when he announced having the same disease. Prior to chemotherapy, Pres. Cory Aquino received a deluge of “get well” wishes when she was reported to have colonic cancer. Sen. Edward (Ted) Kennedy had Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) doctors saying that he has a malignant brain tumor growing in his left parietal lobe, the part of the cerebral hemisphere that controls complex functions like movement and language.
Such hideous reports of ill health have been generally met with sadness and concern by the public. Theories abound. Conjectures on the clinical course, lethality, and dreaded complications of disease diffuse into the public psyche like prismatic light rays in a clairvoyant’s eye.
In Kennedy’s case, there are remarkable expressions of concern. Setting aside differences, his friends, political adversaries and even people unknown to him, are like a “family” in their wish for his full recovery. The Kennedy clan, not stranger to tragedies which repeatedly rocked the family, is fully supportive as the senator girds for his personal battle with cancer.
Many recognize Kennedy’s significant contributions to public service. For almost five decades, as a secular libertarian, the senator advocates for controversial pro-choice in abortion and roots for same sex marriage. He displays a patriarchal leadership among Democrats after his brothers Pres. John F. Kennedy and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy were assassinated.
Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, the feuding candidates in his party for this fall’s presidential election are united in their support for the ailing senator. Sending his get well wish, President George W. Bush said,
"Laura and I are concerned to learn of our friend Senator Kennedy's diagnosis. Ted Kennedy is a man of tremendous courage, remarkable strength and powerful spirit. Our thoughts are with Senator Kennedy and his family during this difficult period. We join our fellow Americans in praying for his full recovery." (AP, 05/21/08, Johnson,G.)
Sifting through more lab tests done on Kennedy, the Boston doctors mull on the right approach to proceed with treatment. In spite of the medical sophistication at their disposal, the doctors admit that the brain tumor (labeled by pathologists as malignant glioma,) is formidable, even for someone so influential like the senator. There’s no doubt however that he’ll get the best medical care the world can offer and the success in fighting the disease will depend on some factors that aren’t in the usual sphere of the doctors’ control---- tumor type, size, pathologic grade, location, patient age, and response to treatment.
Commenting on Kennedy’s condition, Dr. Suriya Jeyapalan, a neuro-oncologist of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Massachusetts remarked,
"It's treatable but not curable. You can put it into remission for a while but it's not a curable tumor." (AP 05/21.08, Johnson,G.)
Dr. Jeyapalan has a point. In recent years, doctors have gained expansive knowledge to extend life and improve survival among those who suffer vicious forms of cancers. As old treatments are refined and drugs rediscovered, there’s increasing precision in surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy (whichever treatment combination applies.)
Veering away from the old “hit or miss” cancer therapies, there are smart target drugs which interfere on genes to frustrate the rapid divisions of malignant cells. There are designer medicines to suppress blood vessel proliferations which sustain tumor growth or cause the spontaneous death of wayward abnormal cells.
Yet, cancer regimens aren’t all magic silver bullets. Success isn’t guaranteed and treatments can be quite expensive. For example, Avastin, an anticancer medicine which blocks vascular growth in tumors may have a tag price of nearly $100,000 per year, per patient. Whatever medicines Kennedy will receive in his own treatment, he has the advantage of having the best healthcare on his fingertips---unlike those who can’t afford it.
The number of Americans who doesn’t have good access to healthcare is huge. Forty-six (46) million people in USA do not have any medical insurance coverage. The staggering number is half the entire Filipino population. Considering America has affluence, inventiveness and grit, it boggles the mind why this happens.
The United States hasn’t come up with a solution to stop the steep rise of prescription medicines’ costs. There’s hemorrhaging of the government-sponsored Medicare and Medicaid programs whose budget could run out before the baby boomers die, rendering the system bankrupt. It’s not surprising therefore that illness remains a fearsome foe in the American heartland.
With these, it seems there’s no need to see a poor country outside America to know the increasing healthcare problems the world faces. Even the planet’s wealthiest country has people who’re poor and can’t afford healthcare. These people feel panicky when bad news like Kennedy’s cancer hit the headlines. They’re scared thinking sickness can be their own bedfellow--- a stalking death sentence which threatens, a pathway which gives way to debts, a time which inspires supplications for a miracle.
As worrisome as the lack of healthcare which distresses the United States, the world sends a heartfelt get-well wish for Sen. Edward Kennedy. At the hospital in Boston, workers and family members applaud for his complete recovery and survival. Even the family dogs Sunny and Splash meet him wagging their tails to send in the same message of hope. ==0==
Update: UP Ibalon Bicol UPCAT Review
From the looks of it, UP Ibalon Bicol’s first project-–the UPCAT review -- pushes through without hitches. As of the last meeting, May 19, 2008, most of the invitations to speakers and participants had been out. The program for the June 14 live seminar was finalized. Eden Borja-Fernando had allowed us to use her Plaza Medica lecture hall for a venue. Butch Robredo and Ann Mariano also laid to rest any money concerns.Initially, the activities may appear varsitarian-level. But we have all the time in the world to bring it to the next level---by leveraging the resurgent power of the Web. Our balikbayan engineer, Pitoy Moreno, and our professional teacher and part-time reviewer, Dulce Bernardo have shared the burden of reviewing and providing answers to the sample exam materials that UP Pahinungud unselfishly gave us. (Through, this blog we extend our gratitude to UP Pahinungud for the generosity). After Pitoy and Dulce clear the review materials, Totoy Badiola will have the materials digitized. And before we release them for public access, we will store them temporarily in a member-only website for everyone’s scrutiny online. We are also preparing to buy our own Internet domain and register a PayPal account, so in no time, upibalon.com or upibalon.org shall be born to blaze the Web as it hosts our online UPCAT Review Site.
Read more:
Minutes of the last meeting (submitted by Sieg B. Bulaong).
Programme for June 14, 2008 Seminar ( submitted by Ann Mariano).
Minutes: U.P. Ibalon Meeting
U.P. Ibalon Meeting
May 19, 2008, 8:00 p.m.
Coffee Beanery, Avenue Square,
I. ATTENDANCE:
Butch Robredo
Alaine Alberto-Fornoles Andy Gim[aya Sieg B. Bulaong
Totoy Badiola Edna Balaquiao Jovy Mijares
Dulce Bernardo Pitoy Moreno
II. MATTERS DISCUSSED:
A. June 14, U.P. Orientation
1. From Jazon’s text update:
· Letters have been delivered to the following:
Division of City Schools (for the Public Schools)
Ateneo de Naga High School
· Letters have been mailed to the following:
La
· Letters not yet mailed for:
Sta. Monica
Sta. Clara
Division of Prov’l. Schools (c/o Edna C.)
2. Alaine needs copy of the list of schools and their principals for her following-up activity (requested from Jazon thru a call); to drop by immediately in
3. Edna will coordinate with Naning re: expenses on sending the remaining undelivered letters
B. Recommended Program on June 14, 9a.m.-5 p.m., Fernando Hall, Plaza Medica
(sponsored by Eden B.)
Morning Sessions:
1. Opening Remarks c/o Butch (primarily to introduce the organization and share the objective of the orientation – to help more students get into the state university as a public service of the organization)
2. U.P. Now and Life Within – recommended to be delivered by a fresh graduate (Rolan Bulao is identified); to be coordinated thru Naning and Sieg
Note: Jazon, thru the phone call, informed the body that there might be conflict with his work on June 14, thus, might not be able to attend the activity and deliver his supposed topic.
3. STFAP c/o Edna
4. Additional financial help from the organization to help qualified 10 passers to have initial funds to start out in U.P. for the first 3 months (board and lodging); these will be reimbursed as soon as their STFAP stipends are made available
Note: Guidelines must be set-up for this to ensure fair, clear, and proper implementation.
5. Q&A after each talk was recommended
6. Presentation materials (powerpoint) was also recommended to enhance talks; Edna said she’ll prepare her own presentation
7. A U.P. video showing was also suggested
Afternoon Sessions:
8. After going through several suggestions and serious discussion anchored on the objective of the project, it was decided by the group to invite the assistance of Memorecall on the diagnostic exam and on the filling-up of mock application form
· This ensures that the techniques employed in giving the students a “taste” of the exam and their chances of passing it are undertaken by experts in the field.
· Butch recommended a budget of P5K (low) to P10K (high) c/o him and Eden (who agreed to share in the cost)
· Naning, Sieg, and Dulce to talk to Clarine the following day.
9. The whole day’s activity will be wrapped-up with closing remarks c/o Naning; Alaine suggested singing
Program to be finalized by Naning and to be presented next meeting.
LCD projector will be borrowed c/o Sieg.
- Attendees:
1. Target of 100 students – ok as a batch
2. Also prepare for back-up audience – coordinate w/ Clarine to invite her reviewers just in case there will be problems with the attendance c/o Dulce and Sieg
- Other Matters:
1. U.P. Panginuhod committed to help Ibalon implement the project next year. We just need to take care of their accommodation and meals (not necessarily fancy) and probably share in their transportation expenses.
2. Andy also suggested that we purchase our own domain (costing us around P5K annually) so we could have an Ibalon.org or IbalonReview.org for our on-line review project.
· This could also be a source of funds if we opt to put advertisements in it (Andy would need to orient the body on this on a later date);
· We also need to have a paypal account if we go into this venture
Thereby having no more matters to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 10:00 p.m. with Butch as the presiding officer. Next meeting is scheduled on May 26 (Monday), 7:30 p.m. in Lolo’s Bar.
Minutes taken by:
Sieg B. Bulaong
Approved by:
Butch M. Robredo
HOW TO GET INTO UP (An orientation on UP)
| HOW TO GET INTO UP (An orientation on UP) | ||
| June 14, 2008 Saturday | ||
| 3rd floor Plaza Medica Panganiban Drive, Naga City | ||
| 7:30am – 8:30 am | Registration | |
| filling up of draft UPCAT | ||
| application form | ||
| 8:30am – 8:45 am | Pambansang Awit | (taped) |
| Opening Prayer/Doxology | ||
| 8:45am – 9am | Welcome Remarks | Butch Robredo |
| President, UP Ibalon Bicol | ||
| BA Philosophy 1977 | ||
| 9am – 9:20 am | Introduction of participants | |
| Levelling of expectations | ||
| 9:20am- 10am | Introduction to the | (with video presentation) |
| University of the Philippines, | ||
| UP College Admission Test | ||
| (UPCAT) | ||
| 10am- 10:15am | Life in UP | Jake Tabora, member |
| UP Ibalon, UP Harong | ||
| 10:15am-10:45am | Choosing your Course | Ronald Elicay, PhD Educational |
| Psychology 1990 | ||
| 10:45am-11am | Testimonial from a | Mike Padua |
| famous UP graduate | BS Geography 1995 | |
| 11am – 11:30am | Scholarships and | Edna C. Balaquiao |
| Financial Assistance, | BS Community Devt. 1982 | |
| Socialized Tuition Fee | ||
| and Assistance Program | ||
| 11:30am- 12nn | Open Forum | |
| 12nn-1pm | Lunch Break | |
| 1:00pm-5pm | UPCAT Tests, Topics, Tips | Clarine Tobias, MEMORECALL |
| Education Manager | ||
| BS Tourism 1990 | ||
| Wrap Up/Summary | ||
In spite of English proficiency gains, there's the lingering challenge to teach our children
by Totie MesiaIt’s good news! Based on the survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) which polled 1,200 respondents from March 16 to April 2, 2008, Malaya (05/165/08, Hachero) reported Filipino English proficiency has improved in the last two years.
Among the survey’s encouraging findings, our written English proficiency rose from 48% in 2006 compared to 61% this year and spoken English improved from 32% to 48%. A 10% rise from 65% to 75% in reading proficiency was noted for the same period. Our ability to think in English improved from 27% to 38%. The adults’ understanding of spoken English was better at 76% in 2008 compared to 2006’s 65%.
The SWS polling outfit head Mahar Mangahas says the data show a greater awareness of Filipinos to improve their English skills in the workplace.
Ramon del Rosario, Jr., president of the Manila Business Club (MBC,) believes the English proficiency improvement is market-driven since it’s needed in the competitive world of business process outsourcing (BPO.)
The Business Process Association of the Philippines (BPAP) estimates two years from now, our local BPO may corner 10% share of the global market, and it’ll bring revenue of about US $13 billion. With better competitiveness (i.e. English proficiency,) 700,000 jobs can be added by year 2010 from 2007’s 300,000.
“It’s a step forward but we have a long way to go," said Jamea Garcia, executive director for talent of BPAP.
Garcia added that other countries have been striving to improve the quality of their workforce by strengthening the English proficiency of their workers to become attractive BPO destinations. She said China, Vietnam and Latin American countries are fast becoming important destinations of outsourcing firms.
"We should not be complacent so we can still maintain our advantage," Garcia said. (abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak, Llanto, 05/15/08)
Yes! In a lot of ways, we must not be complacent. Behind our English proficiency gains, we still have other serious concerns in our educational system which we must relentlessly work for. Just a year ago, we have the following on our hands:
"One of every eight public schools has a teacher-to-pupil ratio above 1:50. Only 19 of every 100 public school teachers have confidence and competence to teach English. One of every seven students does not have a classroom. One of every five does not have a desk. One of every three does not have a single textbook. One of every four shares a single set of textbooks. Only one dentist ministers to every 22,500 pupils. As a result, only six of every 1,000 Grade 6 elementary graduates are prepared to enter high school. Only two of every 100 4th year high school students are fit to enter college. Filipino pupils ranked 41st in Science and 42nd in Math among 45 countries tested… about 16.5 million Filipinos are in deteriorating school. About the same number (16.5 million) has dropped.” (Philstar 05/28/07, Bondoc)=0=
Forgiveness for coup d 'etat plotters
by Totie Mesia
Pardon one offense, and you encourage the commission of many.
-Publilius Syrus (~100 B.C.)
The old quote seemed to come true in Philippine politics. Since the mutinies staged by Gringo Honasan during Pres. Cory Aquino’s time, “destabilizations” and attempts to grab power by the military came in succession. Unlike the poor and less influential criminals languishing in the country’s jails, many of those involved in past putsches didn’t get the punishment they deserved.
Recently, the pardon given by President Gloria Arroyo as advised by outgoing Gen. Hermogenes Esperon for nine “remorseful” military officers who figured in a repeat hotel mutiny may well encourage more power-grabs in the future.
There are those who’re dismayed and skeptical of the general's and Mrs. Arroyo’s motives even if she appeared cocksure in saying,
“Where there are “rogue” members of the Armed Forces involved in adventurism or human rights violations, Esperon has substantiated his “commitment to let the wheels of military justice roll smoothly.”
She said the former military chief has shown that no one is above the law, even as he supported moves to pardon some Magdalo officers who have shown “remorse and utmost desire for rehabilitation.”
The President said “the nation wants peace, order and stability, not more political shenanigans” as she reiterated that 99 percent of military personnel are “good, upstanding and loyal patriots fighting to protect our country everyday.” (Philstar, 05/13/03, Porcalla D, et al)
Fugitive Magdalo leader Capt. Nicanor Faeldon reacted by branding Gen. Esperon as one of the president’s “personal guard dogs.” Through his lawyer Trixie Angeles, he lamented that Esperon, “once a worthy officer,” was corrupted by Mrs. Arroyo who pardoned Pres. Joseph Estrada last year for robbing the nation's treasury. Faeldon went on to accuse the Mrs. Arroyo of being a “fake” president. He blamed her for institutionalized corruption and masterful lying.
Reflexively, the Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iniguez raised his doubts on the mutineers’ pardon when he said,
“ I just wonder about the motives of the government [for granting the pardon--- at kung meron bang kapalit [and if there was anything asked in return]. It is always a tit for a tat.” (PDI, 05/12/08, Kwok,A)
With Mrs. Arroyo’s sagging credibility, people question whether her act of forgiveness is real. Is it part of another accommodation she needed to do so she can keep military loyalty? Is it her way diffusing attention from unsolved scandals rocking her administration? Will this pardon help make Filipinos set aside their fears over problems that loom in the horizon? =0=
Helping the future UP Students of Bicol (Rising above the shadow of poor expectation)
Lord Randolf Churchill didn’t think his son Sir Winston Churchill could accomplish great things. He was disconsolate believing that young Winston didn’t have a mind that soared to the sky; he assumed his son, somewhat slow, didn’t have much promise to measure up with the leadership he displayed as a Tory politician of the British House of Commons. When he died in 1895, Winston was only 20 years old and he hadn't proven his father wrong. Lord Randolf didn’t live long enough to see his son emerge as a stellar leader, one of the greatest war heroes of World War II.In retirement, as he looked back at his life, Winston Churchill wrote about a reverie in which he imagined his father’s ghost visiting him at home. Keeping the outstanding role he played in the British government and international politics to himself, Winston narrated to his dad the earth-shaking world events that shaped history’s course after he died. In their conversation, Lord Randolf’s ghost became regretful saying,
“Fathers always expect their sons to have their virtues without their faults…Old people are always impatient with the young…I really wonder why you didn’t go into politics. You might have done a lot to help. You might even have made a name for yourself.”
At the concluding pages of Jacob Weisberg’s book “The Bush Tragedy,” the lines seemed a foolish joke Winston played on his father. Yet it made me recall the young promising students of Bicol who dreamed of going to the University of the Philippines (UP) on their own without much help from family members and friends. They faced seemingly insurmountable challenges which few people with tall career ambitions knew. With some tips and street-wise encouragements, the brainy students could be primed to achieve far greater things than what Lord Randolf expected for son.
Winston Churchill sullenly fought against the shadow of poor expectation. But in the end, he proved his autonomy to hone his talent against the towering achievements of his dad whose lack of attention and absence pained him. He rose above his limits to surpass his father’s political triumphs; he learned from mistakes which spread around, and pursued spectacular deeds which now honor his name.
Isn’t these what we want for our students to aspire for in UP?
Yet, we heard our Bicolano students entering the state university are at a disadvantage. Far in the provinces and sequestered in their own parochial milieu, they’re unfamiliar with the grueling university life whose system is a sort of a double-edged enigmatic mirage when they look at it from the outside.
Without good preparation and reliable information, they can’t go close to achieving their goal of being counted as proud members of the elite government-funded national university. That explains why they need our assistance in scaling down the steep and slippery ivory tower that UP is known for.
The playing field around UP is traditionally rough and blistering, but it has become dreadful and forbidding in recent years for the newcomers from the towns and provinces. For this reason, UP Ibalon members who know a bit about successfully negotiating the school’s complex maze, pool their time and energy to conduct the UP college admissions test review (UPCAT) and information campaign scheduled in June 2008.
The entrance test review is something students go through to increase their chance of passing and later succeeding in the university. In the past few years, it’s a proven tool which the smart and well-informed Manila students use, giving them unsurpassed urban advantage over their provincial counterparts.
So there’s the disadvantage our Bicolano students have to bear. The UPCAT review must available in Bicol or else, for lack of passers who can enter UP, we lose representation in the university.
Dr. Andy Gimpaya expresses his alarm: “Bicolanos are a vanishing breed in UP.” He speaks of the attrition of the handful of Bicolanos in school, a probable result of a lopsided selection process, an aftermath of the oppressive “survival of the fittest” campus atmosphere which he believes can be countered by a focused preparation for UPCAT, followed by commonsense advice in studying and nurturing.
Unlike the carillon bells with concordant harmonies that roused many Bicolanos from sleep when they were students living in Diliman, Dr. Gimpaya heard something discordant which needed action. Waylaid by sharp competition and brushed aside in a fierce selection process, he knew fewer Bicolanos are able to enter the school now than ever before. Concomitantly, there are those who leave school before finishing their courses dashing hopes that they’ll be leaders and contributors in making the world a better place.
The observation caught the sympathy of UP Ibalon, a group of caring Bicolanos who have their hearts ready to help young minds and share their university experience. Apolonio Mighty Baylon, Jose M. Robredo, Andy V. Gimpaya, Annaliza Mariano, Jazon Morillo, Fatima Edna C. Balaquiao, May Magdalene Velasco-Yorobe, Ma. Zerlaine Alberto-Fornoles, Adolfo Totoy Badiola, Tess Avenido-Arbo, Dan M. Daz, Dulce Bernardo-Dionisio, Annelee Badiola-Lojo, Rose Bernardo-Nayve, Sieglinde E. Borromeo-Bulaong among others---all UPians joined forces to do something for aspiring UP students coming from the Bicol region.
In coordination with friends from Libmanan, Camarines Sur, they’re preparing for this free review and information drive to assist students hurdle the UPCAT and learn something about university life and tradition which can be invaluable for their survival.==0==
For more information about the free review contact: Fatima Edna- 09183482305; 0548115061; Annaliza-09287006705; 0544722852; Jaze-092281143981; 09185785732; Andy at http://upibalonbicol.blogspot.com/ =0=
Social Networking's First: ZenZuu Pays You to Sign-up Your Friends
The Beta stage is over (almost) and it's here. It's not only free membership that you get. Upstart social network, ZenZuu, pays you to sign-up your friends and it also shares 80% of its advertising revenue with its members.
Scour the Internet and you will find only one social network that pays its members to get sign-ups. ZenZuu promises to be a next generation social networking platform and calls others ancient. Just like in MySpace, FaceBook, Friendster, LinkedIn and others, your also create your own profile and get exposure for your website and business. The difference is that ZenZuu pays you for signing up your friends, who automatically become your downlines. This may conjure pyramidal marketing schemes with variable successes (or failures) in the past. But here you do not lose money. The idea is to make money while you make friends, going by ZenZuu's motto: Make Friends. Make Money. Make Sense.As additional flavor, ZenZuu even offers to share 80% of its advertising revenue with its members. If you suspect that the big social networks produce tons of money for their stockholders, you are partly right. Front-runner MySpace has 270M members and still growing, producing millions of dollars in monthly revenue. Facebook is far second with 60M but is expected to have 200M by the end of this year. Facebook's founder, another Harvard dropout, recently sold a small part of the company for 240M. He is now worth $3B on paper. ZenZuu's owner is worth a little over $100M, but in his drive to join the rank of the billionaires he likes ZenZuu's members to be happy as well. We will be watching how far this rather aggressive marketing innovation goes. ZenZuu.com's Google PageRank and Alexa ranking are shooting up meteorically, even while in Beta testing. These are the website indicators that advertisers watch before they spend millions just to showcase their products and services. We expect ZenZuu to launch with a bang in a few weeks.
Sounds like ZenZuu has raised the bar in social network competition. If others follow its example, social networkers will be elated. I would not mind receiving regular paychecks from MySpace and Facebook and Friendster, all of which I am a member. Would you?
Meantime, why not be among the firsts to sign up for ZenZuu? Click here..
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The promise of cheap medicines & the cries of the poor
After three contentious years, the senate and congress have finally reconciled two bills into one. It’s grandly called the Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicine Act of 2008, a piece of legislation which has been delayed because of absenteeism among our legislators, the drug industry’s insistent lobby to protect their monopolistic turfs, the doctor’s resistance against prescribing “generics only” medicines, and the persistent distraction we suffer from many corruption charges in our government. If there is one litmus test that we must hurdle, so we can say we’re successful, the cheap medicine legislation must bring down the cost of medicine for the poor and the middleclass which account for at least 85% of our population. But even before President Gloria Macapagal signs it into law, controversies roil. Cautious optimism from the law’s framers and their supporters is peppered by doubts which only time (when the law is implemented) can answer.
What does this cheap medicine law promise?
Parallel Importation: The law permits medicine importation from other countries making cheap medicines available to compete with the expensive branded ones in the market. Medicines from abroad will be allowed to enter the country, yet the law doesn’t provide for a plan to develop our own local drug industry.
The law-makers believe more competition among imported medicines especially within the same drug category will eventually bring down prices. However, in the wake of our current rice shortage, importation has been questioned. Regardless of the product, we now learn it’s dangerous to rely on importation which is enticing when the cost is low. But in the long term, we know prices go up and in times of shortage, we’re at the dictates and mercy of foreign sellers.
Isn’t this contrary to our nationalist aspirations? As we rue over our rice shortage problem, does setting up laboratories for locally-made essential medicines (developing our own drug industry) make sense? Of course it does, if we have the initiative to pursue a dream and we have the money to fund it.
Drug Quality: Although not all cheap medicines are of poor quality, the influx of many imported medicines in the country will create greater burden on the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) tasked to ensure the safety of our medicines. If BFAD, Bureau of Customs, Police Enforcement, and Pharmaceutical Industry fail to do their jobs well, the problem of ineffective and fake drugs could worsen.
According to Dr. Suzette Lazo of UP Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, BFAD must be strengthened since only a few of the country’s generic drugs have been tested for their efficacy. It must be a cooperative work for all of us to bring down prices and make medicines safe.
Our past experiences with the lack-luster “Generics Law of 1988,” and fake medicines which plague us for decades, augur badly on our ability to control the medicine trade. It’s appalling that estimates show, as high as 30% of medicines in the market worldwide are of dubious quality or downright fakes, mostly in poor countries. It is mind-boggling to think how many deaths and injuries are ascribed these ineffective medicines.
Generics Drugs: Majority of our doctors aren’t confident using generic drugs. This is one reason why they stick to costly branded medicines sold by multinational companies who practically monopolize the local drug industry.
Unlike in Europe and America where generics are widely popular, the local doctors worry over their quality. The preference for branded names which they believe to be of “higher quality,” frustrates the use of the cheaper generics, making market competition lopsided at the onset.
Drugstores have been found remiss in posting the names and prices of generic drugs for consumers as ordered by law. Some stores are inefficiently manned by often-absent pharmacists, leaving only caretakers with little knowledge to advise patients what drugs are apt to buy. This lowers the chance of getting a cheaply priced effective medicine (as intended by the law) to help the poor get back their health.
Cost of Medicine: There are those who blame the high cost of medicines to restrictions from patents and intellectual property rights, but others think otherwise since 99% of the drugs in the World Health Organization (WHO) essential drug list have been reported to be out of patent. These drugs, many unavailable to poor patients, can be produced as generics without infringement of patent law.
Aggressive advertising of multinational drug companies has also been blamed for the high cost. Many believe doctors who patronize expensive brands receive drug company perks and “charity donations” whose accumulated cost is passed on to consumers. Advertising therefore requires social conscience, discipline, and restraint from both the drug companies and doctors if they want to help lower the cost of medicines.
Part of the drug cost comes from product research and development which is pricey and labor-intensive. Without a balance between expenses and profits, there’ll be little incentive for bright minds to advance drug discovery, innovation, and production. This reminds us of our duty to set aside money for our basic healthcare which is neglected in our society.
Columnist Bievenido Oplas, Jr. reveals imported drugs in our country are heavily taxed---5% and 12% for import tax and VAT respectively. In a well-reasoned write-up, he asserts that drug innovation, competition, and a tax reduction, especially when done in concert, can bring down the cost of medicines. If this happens, some wonder where the government will recoup their revenue losses.
According to the new law, price ceilings are to be pegged by the president and the Department of Health (DOH) chief. This runs against the recommendation of some sectors like the non-governmental groups Kilosbayan Para Sa Kalusugan (KSB,) the Community Medicine Practioners and Advocates Association (COMPASS,) and Council for Health and Development (CHD), that we need a drug regulatory board to decide on an issue that’s highly susceptible to bribes and corruption.
Cries of the Poor: The old winsome advice, “Bawal magkasakit,” seems less benign now than when first said by DOH’s Dr. Juan Flavier years ago. In spite of the cheap medicine law, we have 15 million of us who cannot afford to get sick. We don’t have money to buy medicines.
For those who have some money, we only have 2,000 pesos per person/year to cover for all healthcare expenses. Therefore, if we get sick, we run the risk of dying, before even thinking whether we’ll plunge into penury or bankruptcy.
The well-intentioned law will be in the books, but who’ll buy the cheap medicines when we’re unable to do so? =0=
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