Almost all commodities nowadays have been rising in the market. Lately, it has been an issue of the day about the fast rising of prices of rice per kilo which is a result of low supply. This scenario is a result of less supply of rice from foreign countries like Vietnam and China, which are the primary importer of rice in the Philippines. Aside from that, most ricefields before has been converted to a banana plantation because growers can gain much more than that of planting rice.
As a result, the rice cereal are no longer enough to supply the needs of Filipinos everyday. However, I believe that despite of all these odds, Filipinos can still survive by way of being industrious and thrifty at all times. We need to tighten our belt in spending our income for those important needs only. Extravagance should be avoided, so to fight increasing prices of basic commodities. If in case, we have a parcel of land even if it is of little area, we should utilized it into farming crops and vegetables, so not to purchase anymore in the market. Government and its people should work hand in hand in order to maintain a decent living even if like a vessel, the nation is navigating in a rough water.
It was the year 1986 where Edsa I has been part of Philippine history whereby the Filipino people have fought against the government during the time of then, strongman Ferdinand Marcos. It was then, that Edsa has been remarkably celebrated for it was a peaceful means without using any armament to topple tyranny and oppression.
However, on the latest Edsas, its essence somehow deviates from the previous importance of it. Edsa before is the expression of supremacy of people over the government. But now it is only used as a weapon to advance personal and political ambitions and interests.
In commemoratING Edsa, may it reminds the Filipinos the famous line of Ninoy Aquino that the Filipino is worth dying for. May this line will always enlighten us to preserve our democracy which we owe a lot from our heroes, who offer their lives, to let us be FREE!!!!
Last Saturday dated February 16, 2008, I watched the noontime coverage of the ongoing investigation of the Senate on the ZTE NBN scandal which come out when the whistle blower Jun Lozada breaks the silence, and come to the open. Along the line of questioning, it reaches to a point where Lozada has told the committee about the statement of Romulo Neri calling the President as ” Evil”. He continued to explain that statement saying that the NEDA secretary accused the President as the source of corruption in the government.
I took a depth breath, that if the claimed of Lozada is true, how come our elected leader has done so much pain in this country to whom we hope for the most. On the other hand, as Secretary Neri has answered the questions of media personalities about that allegations, he simply reply” I know Lozada as a true person, but I dont remember saying such thing to him”. I realized such answer as safer one not to admit the truth, and at the same time not denying it. What makes a person evil is a conviction of evil desires brought about by pride and greed. I know that people involved in this evil driven transaction on ZTE are rich people. Influential, powerful, professional, people that almost owned all fortune in life. And yet, despite these blessings and fortune they have, they still wanted to get and earn more? I cannot understand the greediness these people have.
I am happy with the newspaper headlines for today, that the Senate will present new witness soonest time possible the one who knows more, than that what Lozada knows about the deal. May this witness will be the one who can validate the statement of Lozada and finally brings the culprit into justice. Mabuhay po kayo!!!!
One of the widely accepted principle is ” The truth shall set us Free” This notion is categorically the basis whereby we are compelled to tell the truth at all times, everyday on our lives. Our Christian belief will also tells us that telling the truth is tantamount on believing and living with the gospel of Christ.
But on the ordeal of Mr. Jun Lozada, the star witness of ZTE NBN scandal, on the alledged over pricing of this project, he may say that telling the truth will not set him free but will result to death threat with him and that of his immediate family members. His knowledge on this transaction will be vital on the Senate investigation to ferret out the truth, on the corruption and kickbacks of high ranking officials.
Needless to say, but telling the truth especially when the ones who will be affected on telling it is those in power is of great danger. It will put somebody on big trouble by doing so. I know that Mr. Lozada knows its consequence, but he did not hesitate to tell the public what he knows about it, in order to live by the truth even if it means to put his life on the line. Lastly, he is a modern hero, for me.
Politics is an art of a good governance, through politics, people are given the freedom to choose their leaders to govern the society. Therefore, the essence of politics is good. But how does it differ from politician? The point is it is the politician who makes politics dirty. The primary function of elected leader is suppose to be for the welfare of all constituents, not to satisfy their own interests. Sadly, most of the leaders deviates from what is expected from them. Instead, they only perpetuate their selfish motive and have forgotten their functions and responsibilities as officials. That is the big difference ladies and gentlemen……….
It is said that the world is enough for everybody’s need, but the world is not enough for someone’s greed. What is greed anyway?In my own view, greediness started from the view point of selfishness. Once a person does not know how to share to others, then it is in there, will spring up selfish desire. If we will try to reflect the beauty of God’s creation, we can say that everything is made for mankind to live life on earth to the fullest. Our nature is enough for every human beings to use it, develop and live for it according to the plans of a supreme being. And yet, despite of all the goodness of this universe, many are seems to be deprived of basic necessities of life. And yet others, are full of riches and fortune so to say, that seems to be more than what they need in order to survive. Why on earth these things are happening? all of this is because of greediness. And this is also what is happening in our countr, the greediness of those in power is the primary reason why many Filipinos are suffering from poverty.
On the other hand, I salute and admire to the highest level of admiration possible the courageous manifestation of Jun Lozada on the purported anomaly in ZTE scandal. I know that at first, he has this fear to lose his career, to put his family in danger, and even to put his life on the line. But he took the risk so to break the bondage of tyranny and corruption happens in our present administration. Nowadays, we can seldom find a person like that of Jun Lozada who is ready to sacrifice even those precious things of his life for the sake of the Filipino people. After all, if only he opted to keep silent and go away, he can do that, being a CEO of Philippine Forest Corporation. And maybe he has a lot of opportunity to do so. But he chooses to come home, and speak up what he knows about the deal. He decided to do it not for his own fortune, but for his fellow Filipinos. To Jun Lozada, mabuhay po kayo sir!!!!!!
The appearance of the controversial witness on ZTE scandal appears today in the person of Jun Lozada. He is holding the capacity as chairperson of Philippine Forest Corporation. The Senate Blue Ribbon committee has issued warrant of his arrest on the ground of his alledged full knowledge about the deal. However, right after Mr. Lozada has arrived at NAIA, a group of men in uniform has abducted him and bring him to Laguna, based on what he revealed on the media. Fortunately, he requested to bring him instead to De La Salle school hoping to stay among the nuns and priests before he will face the invitation of Senate to him. Upon inquiries from the media during press conference, he shed tears on revealing the death threats on his life. He reiterates likewise, his refusal at first to witness in the Senate, for he knows big personalities in the government who are involved in the deal.
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has charged the abduction of Lozada as an act of kidnapping on the part of the police doing the job. But the latter has reason out that what the PNP did was just a safe keeping after the the lawyer and brother of Mr. Lozada requested security as protection against the death threats on him.
What is happening in this country? It seems that the whole bureaucracy is wrapped of unexplainable mysteries as to their performance in running the government. May the appearance of Lozada, will once and for all, end up the issue on ZTE and persecute those behind this anomalous transaction. So that our government officials can focus more on how to move forward towards lasting progress for all Filipinos. May God Bless Us!!!!!!
It is as hot as hotcakes today regarding the issue on the assumption of Cong. Nograles the speakership in the house of congress. Many political analysts considered such issue as a political revenge from Malacañang against Speaker De Venecia on the participation of his son on the controversial ZTE broadband scandal. Lately, it was Joey De Venecia who has been a whistle blower about the anomalies involved in that transaction.
Needless to say, but this scenario gives me a conviction that some of our officials have forgotten the very reason of public service, to serve the people. It seems that the concern of those in power is their political survival rather than that of performing their responsibilities as servants of the people. The purpose of having our representative in the congress is to make laws, those laws that are created to elevate the lifestyle of Filipinos especially on the issue of poverty. According to St. Thomas Aquinas, law is an ordinance of reason promulgated for the common good, by one who has given the authority of the society. Therefore, considering the parameter of this concept, respective authority of our public officials emanate from the people, so in return they will return it back for the common good of their constituents.
We will wait and hope that the leadership of congressman Nograles, will address vital issues and programs especially in Mindanao, the region he has represented with. I know his capacity and intelligence and even proud being a Mindanaoans. I hope that at the end of the day, we can see developments and progress because of his initiative, which is the very foundation of public service.
There is this recent event pertaining to the gift of healing of Fr. Fernando Suarez whose prayer has claimed many healing of people. In the history of the Bible, healing of different illnesses happened long time ago during the time of Prophets and that of the time of Jesus himself. In the new testament, there is this story that a dead man Lazaro has been risen from death through the miracle of Christ.
In our modern times, this kind of miraculous event, seems to be put in doubt always. The reason is first, it needs to pass through the test of the general public since there are evident happenings whereby others are only doing it for a living. What I mean is manipulation using the name of God so to gain money and profit. Second is others are also using it for reason of fame which in turn may result to a business.
However, on the part of Fr. Suarez, it is not him who has healed the illnesses of those who attended his healing mass, but it is the Lord who healed them by their heartfelt prayer to Him. He claimed that maybe God has manifested his compassion among Filipinos especially this country is experiencing a tragic poverty, where not all Filipinos can afford to consult a physician.
I pray that there are still a lot of priests out there like Fr. Suarez, who will be given the ability to heal people through the power of prayer. Godbless……………………….
One of the pending legislations in the Senate today, is the issue on JPEPA which stands as Japanese Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement between two Asian countries. The purpose about this initiative is to tighten the relationship of these countries economically. As a result once it passed and approved through the Senate, Japanese government can now engage business here in the Philippines on agricultural and fishing related ventures.
Many critics are against this treaty, claiming that once it push through, it will hamper the condition of our fellow Filipinos considering our primitive approach on this livelihood. More than that, militant groups are claiming that it is possible that Japan will utilize that agreement to use our backyard as their dumping site of wastes and surplus products.
On the other hand, such treaty will also be an open gate especially for our medical related workers to work in Japan easily. Therefore, it could be a ploy likewise for our workers to work abroad easily.
My own point of view is, there could be positive and negative side of the issue. What is important is at the end we will hope that the purpose of the government in this scheme is for the welfare of the people. Unemployment and poverty are so rampant in our country. We need to have foreign investors who have big capital to invest here which in effect will not only create employment but also increase government revenues and taxes to be utilized for public developments.
Let us wait and see what will be behind this agreement once the Senate can evaluate the merit on this issue.