By Anna Valmero
THE Filipino online community slammed the approval of House Bill 1109 that set up a constituent assembly (ConAss) that might allow the administration to stay in power beyond 2010.
The approval of HB 1109 on Tuesday midnight empowered Congress to convene itself into a Constituent aseembly, where members of the House and the Senate could vote jointly to amend the 1987 Constitution.
Filipino quickly jumped on the issue, as they launched an online website called No to Con-Ass!. Others linked to this site, as they included an online badge that said, “Have you no shame?”
Filipinos also launched an open letter to administration allies at the House of Representatives that read:
The Constitution is a defining moment in history. It is the height of creating a politics of freedom, identity, and national strength, created and ratified on the basis that one’s country is not designed and built on whims, but that of foresight and the common good. It sets a precedent for justice and fairness, and is the building block of democracy in free nations.
June 2, 2009 was a defining moment in history. It is the height of a politics of ignominy, imprudence, and insolence; the approval of a shameless and ambiguously-worded resolution that threatens the very existence of this country’s democracy. One that sets a precedent for injustice, unfairness, and opens the doors for corrupting, unchecked power. You made a grip on the very throat of this country’s democracy, and choked it.
Shameless. That resolution will be tested in the Courts, and perhaps maybe even struck out of the record one day. Forgotten, perhaps, but it should stand - and it will stand - as a testament to shame.
Blogger Marocharim who wrote the statement noted that the letter was supposed to have been sent to Congress but he thought twice, saying that “maybe they’ll just throw it away.”
Asked to compare going out in the streets or launching an online protest, Marocharim says, “I see it as a new channel for resistance, like TV. I’m not saying that it will replace the old, kailangan pa ring mag-rally [we still need to attend a rally].”
“I am not saying one blog entry will change the world. But from the Dumaguete (National Summer) Writers Workshop I attended a couple of weeks ago, I realized how much we (writers) can do. Writing isn’t about hits or self-promotion or form and technique–it’s about making changes both inside and out,” the blogger says.
He quips: “I happened to like my country enough, and to care for this nation enough, to go in front of my computer and write something a small ripple but I’m seeing a wave there somewhere—as plurkers link to the site.”
Personally, he believes that the Constitution is better amended after the 2010 elections for the reason others cite too—prudence.
“When we take the time to sit down, discuss these house bill, get a move-on on the constitution, get everyone involved and educated, debate, disagree, agree–that’s how we do things in democracy; not that way, like they did June 2.”
And this action is also reaching out to political figures: Manuel Luis Quezon III took time to “plurk” a running account of what happened during the Wednesday House session and so did Bayan Muna party list Representative Teddy Casino.
More and more as Filipinos are indeed turning to social networking sites in hopes of swaying political debates.
13 Feedbacks on "Filipinos take Con-ass fight online"
alex
Con-Ass means Cha-Cha, and Cha-Cha means “CHANGES”….
I am not against the person behind the changes but we should better consider the sudden impact of these changes “material” wise! Imagine the huge cost implications if you change the following:
* The LOGO/ EMBLEM (from Bureau to MINISTRY)of each building for the entire country; some are even made of Bronze, heavy duty cooper, concrete structures etc..Imagine the collective cost for the entire country.
* The Forms/ Letter heads of each Government Departments (Ministry) that comes in volume. There may be necessity to change the formats for every single documents/ forms/ reports/ receipts etc…Tons of papers will go to trashes.
* The process, policies and procedures of each Government entities or Department/ Bureau that may changed. Imagine the impact of sudden change for the entire country that may lead to significant delays of government transactions.
* The government employees/ staff/ laborers who may suffer a mass lay-off or terminated by the process changes or; when new parliamentary Ministers/ Heads assume their seat.
Alex
OFW Qatar
brVInce
I join in asking those who sponsored the HR 1109, “What made you support it?” Please check your motivation. I believe it’s not for the good of the many but for your own sake. For heaven’s sake! Mahiya naman kayo… We need a real change of leadership, not change of Constitution to keep those leaders to forever reign in our country…
Ron Paranaque
Ako sa sarili ko gusto mtuloy ang constitutional assembly. Dahil sa palagay ko kong hindi natin kayang baguhin ang nasa gobyerno baka kaya nating baguhin ang porma ng gobyerno baka ito ang puedeng paraan para sa pagbabago ng anyo ng pilipinas na pati mismo ang tao nasa simbahan ay nangangamoy bulok na. Kasi nga siguroy dahil mahilig silang sumawsaw sa bulok.
tom sergeant
“we’ve Got The Right To Choose And
there Ain’t No Way We’ll Lose It
this Is Our Life, This Is Our Song
we’ll Fight The Powers That Be Just
don’t Pick Our Destiny ’cause
you Don’t Know Us, You Don’t Belong”
to all congressmen who allow this “1109 madness”, you are only 172 in numbers against 90 millions pinoys who wants the right to choose… bahala na si “apo” sa inyo
to the oppositions congressmen who fights this battle of numbers for the greater glory of freedom of the Filipino people, maraming salamat sa inyo.
conASS mo BULOK! « square pants
[...] http://blogs.inquirer.net/blogaddicts/2009/06/05/filipinos-take-con-ass-fight-online/ [...]
nestor
I can’t help but say how unfortunate this country to have ” crooked and corrupt’ president yet again by the name of GMA.
Truly, it’s unfortunate that after people power 1 to 3, Malacanang is still run by same crooks and corrupt lead by GMA this time. True enough, the survey of her trust rating would never lie. It’s even worse this time under the GMA who’s a REAL liar and whose recent CON-ASS move exposes her evil motive. The Filipino people are not STUPID enough to believe her camp is not behind this conass move. Obviously, GMA has perfected in coercing the solons ( who’s also corrupt by nature) by using the people’s money in the form of “pork barrel’ to vote for said conass move. ” Literally, she’s throwing our taxpayer’s money into the garbage just to stay in power!!! She’s no different than the Marcos regime, maybe even worse by character.
So, let’s fight this con-ass move!!! The evils should step out of Malacanang by 2010!!!!!!
nestor
Correction, I shud have said a more appropriate word ” croc” rather than ” crooked”. Never trusted GMA…she’s a congenital liar. Her 9 years of stay in Malacanang has just been agonizing ordeal for the entire Filipino people.
How not to oppose the CONASS? « The Free Lancer
[...] http://blogs.inquirer.net/blogaddicts/2009/06/05/filipinos-take-con-ass-fight-online/ [...]
Edgar A. de Dios
The present Constitution of the country really needs the earliest change. It is very flawed, and has to be reconfigured. Let’s give our charter the chance to work for us, to give us more chances to enhance the quality of life in our country.
Those who oppose the present attempt to change the charter are just afraid their favored politicians who harbor some thoughts of capturing the presidency can no longer do it under a changed scenario.
We don’t mind who becomes our leader under the present system because our lives will still remain the same. Whoever sets as president can’t do much because of the flawed system where corruption flourishes. A presidential system doesn’t fit us. BETTER CHANGE IT EARLY SO THAT WE CAN PROGRESS SOONEST.
Dino Manrique
Photos of Congressmen who Signed Con-Ass (HR 1109) — http://filipinowriter.multiply.com/photos/album/84/Photos_of_Congressmen_who_Signed_Con-Ass_HR_1109
The Marocharim Experiment » Blog Archive » The Slacker Effect
[...] an interview for Inquirer.net Blogs, I mentioned that blog entries do not change the world. The most that I can do as a blogger is to [...]
rayhan
this issue about con-ass simply means that ARROYO,administration desperate to extend to the position despite of solving.the problem e2 pa ang naisip ng ating pangulo MAAWA NAMAN KAYO KAY juan
rayhan
to my fellow beloved co-students be aware what is happening in Our country as a whole,con-ass is not the solution to the economics,political crisis perhaps it could produce another coup de etat
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