Tidbits of Life

Even in the Philippine Congress there seems to be times when lawmakers just keep on making laws without proper discernment, and the result can be very devastating. These laws practically provide certain people a license to kill others under certain circumstances. Undiscerned Provisions of Laws Article 247 of the Revised Penal Code: "Any legally married person who having surprised his spouse in the act of committing sexual intercourse with another person, shall kill any or both of them in the act or immediately thereafter, or shall inflict upon them any serious physical injury, shall suffer the penalty of destierro." Furthermore, "If he shall inflict upon them physical injuries of any other kind, he shall be exempt from punishment. These rules shall be applicable, under the same circumstances, to parents with respect to their daughters under eighteen years of age, and their seducer, while the daughters are living with their parents." Well, a similar law can be f

As of this writing, the author tried but failed to get a copy of the six reproductive health bills (RH bills) filed in the House of Representative. This means that Filipinos concerned in guarding the nation from the potential dangers of the bill may have to ensure that they know what are being proposed in these bills so appropriate actions can be taken to prevent the worst from happening.  The House Bill readily available is HB05043, otherwise known as the Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008, filed in the 14th Congress. The HB00513 that the 15th Congress received on 1 July 2010 has already passed first reading on July 27, and is pending with the Committee on Population and Family Relations. Freedom of Informed Choice It is inherent in Christian faith and in the Philippines the freedom of each Filipino to choose. God respected our free will; and our Constitution confirmed that as a fundamental right of any Filipino. This freedom is reiterated in Sec. 3 (Guiding

Of those who knew Raoul Ortega very well, I was not one of them. They were those who studied with him during elementary years. But in the four years of high school in Saint Vincent's College in Dipolog City, I cam e to know the small insights I have with Raoul each time I happened to talk to him during certain activities in school and off-class breaks where every student can talk to just anybody in the class or from other classes. And Raoul was outstanding in the way he use pens in sketching beautiful women in beautiful clothings. The skill I had in illustrating people paled in comparison to his talents. A lively guy who wanted to enjoy life to its fullest, Raoul was an upbeat talker with a ready smile, at times cajoling or even keeping things light, that makes the conversation as interesting as it could be. But unlike the PD'CLEFF (Paquibot Dagpin Cortes Literatus Edralin Falcasantos Fargas) who largely preferred to group in together in free times, he seemed to easily fit in

Promiscuity, which may be enhanced by the contraception methods (natural or artificial), can only be stopped when those involved in teaching people the ways of Christ through a healthy spiritual life will be successful in getting the message across. Even without contraception, nil spiritual life inevitably leads to promiscuity. This means that the key to promiscuity is not contraception methods but the very values running in the hearts of men and women. The challenge that RH Bill poses is directed at the teachers of Christian values. That their teachings be more effective in helping people grow in their spiritual lives. Satan will always be there dangling the tantalizing seduction of promiscuous sex. And without a strong spiritual life, no lack of contraception method will stop any mortal from getting promiscuous. The issue RH Bill demands from the teachers of Christian values two things. First, that their teachings be fashioned and communicated in a way that hits the heart of the fa

I have second thoughts on the need for the use of reusable bags worth around P35 each to replace the FREE plastic bags in groceries. And the idea of penalizing consumers with a P3 payment on a Free plastic bag on "Reusable Bag Day" simply added financial burden on them. And tell me who made P3 more money on that day. Partial Effectiveness of Reusable Bags First things first, reusable bags cost much more to the consumers. And if a family buys three bags of groceries each week, that would be an expense of P105 for the bags. Who makes money? The grocery stores who sold these reusable bags. They will also save money from free plastic bags. Second, reusable bags will not fully remove plastic bags. Would you rather place your fresh meats in reusable bags? That would be unhygienic as well as foolhardy to do. Plastics Bags Can Be Reused Whoever said that plastic bags cannot be reused needs to check his facts. In fact, plastic bags have more uses at home than the supposedly reusa

More than 16 years ago, this part of Colon Street looks much the same. And at least 20 years ago, the part of Jakosalem Street towards the City Hall used to be a place of a few night spots where drinks, prostitution, and red lights come together till dawn. The red lights were a few establishments trying to isolate themselves from the main reds along Sanciangko Street and nearby streetcorners or entryways. Then as it is today, the corner streets of Colon and Jakosalem kept its identity through the long-standing presence of Gaisano Main, University of the Visayas, Rose Pharmacy, The Freeman (at corner Jakosalem-Manalili Streets), and a corner store that I no longer can remember. Today, a Saturday, I found myself back on its sidewalks on my way to Plastic and Things along Manalili Street (now, V. Gullas Street). Although the vehicles look much numerous than in the yesteryears, the smell of drainage canal stinks much the same, if not a bit more repulsive. Gaisano Main no longer spewed in

True tragedies often come with jaw-dropping surprises. Today's hostage-taking situation in Manila tells of the fleeting condition of life, and how violence can escalate into murder and death of the innocents. And it will be a difficult mental work to understand how a bemedaled police officer lost his job, and ended up taking hostages in a bus, and died in the process. Hostage-Taking in Manila 10:00 PM. The Hong Thai Travel bus (owned by Hong Thai Travel Services Ltd.) was about to leave Fort Santiago in Intramuros, Manila, where the tourists just visited when former Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza asked the driver that Mendoza be allowed to hitch a ride. He wore a full police uniform, carrying an M-16 rifle. The driver let Mendoza in, believing that the policeman was on duty. In 2008, Mendoza was moved to the National Capital Region Office (NCRPPO) after a robbery-extortion case in Vito Cruz, Ermita, Manila was filed against him. That same year, he was accused with four othe

Accidents by definition happen rarely. But when a series of road mishaps killing tens of people takes place, we cannot help but wonder, what's going on? Can this be still under the laws of statistical probability? Can this be only a result of human negligence? Or, some dark powers are behind these tragic vehicular accidents that continue to happen around the country. Quezon Pagbilao, 29 August 2010 (Sunday) ---At around 2:30 PM, a CUL Bus Transport vehicle fell of a 12-foot cliff, then into a creek, after its break malfunctioned while negotiating the zigzag Bicol Diversion Road in Maharlika Highway in Sitio Amao, Barangay Silangan Malicboy, on its way from Tacloban (Leyte) to Manila. Five people (four females and a male) were confirmed dead and 39 others injured. [ Sources: "5 killed, 47 injured in bus mishap,"    Sunnex ; Danny Estancio & Aaron Recuenco: "Bus falls into into creek, killing 5, injuring 39,"  Manila Bulletin ] Benguet Sablan, 18 August

It is common to put personal expectations on others especially in our relationships with people. Oftentimes these expectations mirror our own sets of values, even our strengths and gifts, and rarely according to the same conditions available in people to whom those expectations we place. It is through these great expectations that we inevitably are bound to encounter disappointments and regrets. Even with our friends and spouses, the same outcome can be seen happening in invidual lives. Handling expectations this way seriously miss the reality of human diversity. If my values, strengths and giftedness differ even with those in my spouse or friends, how much more those people who I knew much less. People tend to place expectations on matters that, in a specific situation, they themselves can do. But given the same situation, diversity ensures that another person's action or decision differ widely or narrowly. And where a person may be strong in an area of life, another may be weak

It's final. The Filipino people have spoken through the National Board of Canvassers, it would be an Aquino-Binay administration beginning 30 June 2010. Congress, acting as the NBC, canvassed a total of 278 COCs, 107 of which came from overseas absentee voting. Benigno S. "Noynoy" Aquino III of the Liberal Party tooka landslide win with 15,208,678 votes while Jejomar "Jojo" Binay of LDP-Laban garnered 14,465,574 votes. Aquino was ahead closest rival deposed president Joseph "Erap" Estrada of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino by 5,720,841 votes while Binay of Liberal Party won a slim margin of 727,084 votes over Manuel "Mar" Roxas III. The NBC took eight days to complete the canvass. Click the following sources for reports on this historic event.  SunStar Cebu noted assurances from the leaderships of the Senate and the House of Representative for a smooth session and proclamation of winners on 9 June 2010 (Wednesday). Aquino was aware on the grow

Despite the majority of Roman Catholic Christians in the Philippines, Christianity alone has proven incapable of unifying in certain issues the minds of the Filipinos. Our recent elections alone stood as a stark testimony on the incompatibility of what most of the citizenry prefer their next president to be and what the Roman Catholic clergy, as far as their official positions were concerned, chose the "preferred" candidate. While the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) favored the candidacy of Olongapo City Councilor JC De Los Reyes, the Filipinos gave Liberal Party standard-bearer Benigno S. Aquino III an overwhelming mandate, better than any presidential candidate of the country in history. One issue that created such opposing convictions was divorce in the Philippines. Well, the official position of the leadership in the Christian community is against putting into law any semblance of divorce in the country. But if you will ask Filipinos, you can hear a

Article III (Bill of Rights), Section 4 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution encourages and guarantees the public its freedom and right to express opinion. And the controversy surrounding the appointment of our new Supreme Court Chief Justice is a public matter that any Filipino has the right to discuss and talk about. The controversial appointment of Chief Justice Renato Corona on 17 May 2010 geared upon the resolution of the apparent conflict between two provisions in the Philippine Constitution--Article VII (Executive Department), Section 15 and Article VIII (Judicial Department), Section 4(1). Art. VII, Sec. 15 states: "Two months immediately before the next presidential elections up to the end of his term, a President or Acting President shall not make appointmets, except temporary appointments to executive positions when continued vacancies therein will prejudice public service or endanger public safety." Art. VIII, Sec. 4 (1) goes: "Any vacancy shall be filled w

The last thing I expected yesterday was to attend a consecration ceremony for two single women to the religious life in the Living the Gospel Community (LGC), founded by Monsignor Frederick Kriekenbeek and located in the parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Minglanilla, Cebu. The sisters who made their perpetual profession of vows--the three vows of poverty, chastity and obedience--were Ma. Hazel Lastimosa, LGC and Ma. Dolores La Rosa, LGC. I dropped by the parish church compound simply to visit the Blessed Sacrament and to check on the sales status of MorningSun booklets sold at the parish book center. But then before I even did any one of the above, my attention got caught by an ongoing Holy Mass concelebrated by a bishop (it turned out later that there were two bishops in that celebration) and around 20 priests. A soft and delightful invitation to attend the Mass came into my mind and my response was an outright "Yes!" as I walked into the church pews, joining the ce

Since before the campaign period for the 2010 general elections, the many unsuccessful attempts at tickering with the Philippine Constitution to enable a parliamentary system of government to keep the current president in power made it logical for the oppositions to suspect that outgoing president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo plotted to reclaim the highest office of the land through the House of Representative. As a Speaker of the House, she would be in the position to ensure that Cha-Cha (charter change) happens and have herself elected as the new prime minister under the new system of government. Well, this scenario may be existent or not. But to freedom-loving Filipinos who are fed up by politicians hungry for power for their own personal and political end, being watchful on the developments in high politics cannot be overemphasized. What we can do is watch the moves of recently elected representative for the second district of Pampanga, and follow them where they may lead. So far thes

Many critics of the Noynoy candidacy, earlier in the campaign period, called the energy emanating from the people as a fleeting euphoria born from sympathy and sorrow for the death of democracy icon and former Philippine president Corazon "Cory" Aquino. For outsiders, looking from the recesses of the events, it was euphoria. But for those people who brushed with injustice and hungered for the change that became urgent in the present administration, it was a passion for justice, equality, and change. It was a compelling emotion that consumed their being when they saw that it becomes possible to hope again. And the chance to do something about it arose before them. Euphoria is by definition an exaggerated sense of great elation. Elation itself is a weak emotion resembling contentment, satisfaction, pleasure, or joy. You cannot say euphoria for change, or elation for justice... without disrespecting the history of the words themselves. Euphoria does not have the strength and

A very close poll battle makes the problems of the historic first automated elections in the Philippines take a backdrop for the exciting race for the office of the Vice President. The underdog seems to retain a valid hope that the tide of elections can turn the other way. Ten hours ago or so ago, vice presidential aspirant Jejomar Binay of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) made a surprising surge in votes that created a strong 800,000 vote gap, which Liberal Party vice-presidential candidate Manuel Roxas III found difficult to shake off in the election returns (ERs) already at 82.91% of those counted. Two hours later, the hurdle hardens to 850,000 at an ERs count rate of 84.90 percent. Apparently, at more than three-quarters of returns involved, Roxas will find his chances dim should this vote gap hardens into a one-million vote difference. Liberaly Party stalwarts however remained optimistic as Roxas vote-rich regions (VI and VII) were still to send their prec

In the world of probability, perfection is a reality that science does not consider possible. Factors that thwart perfection simply abounded in this world, or so scientific investigaton is concerned. But in the Philippine local elections, particularly in Sto. Tomas town in the first district of Pangasinan. If you will ask local party, Biskeg na Pangasinan, leader Mayor Vivien Villar about this phenomenon, she will explain that "there was unity among the residents during elections." In the 1986 snap election, Liberal Party presidential candidate Corazon "Cory" Aquino received a "zero verdict" from Sto. Tomas. Eighteen years later, Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino presidentiable Fernando Poe Jr. got the same verdict against reelectionist Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Arroyo instead got an overwhelming majority vote of 5,470 of the 5,668 cast in town. In 2001, fifth district Congressman Mark Cojuanco got the "electoral nod" of Sto. Tomas town, and left his op