INQUIRER.net Blogs

By Digno Dennis Durens

 

(Editor's note: Excerpted from a post in the e-group of Filipinos abroad who are batting for the senatorial candidacy of OFW Rudy Dianalan. The Commission on Elections is still deliberating his inclusion in the official list of senatorial candidates.)

 

There are 7 million overseas Filipino workers worldwide. Assuming 30 percent will be able to vote, that's about 2.1 million votes. Assuming an average family size of 4 (husband, wife, and two children of voting age), that's now 8.4 million votes. I am sure that we can convince our immediate family 100 percent to vote for a fellow-OFW. Assuming further that each of the 2.1 million OFWs with a chance to vote will target 15 other Filipinos from his/her circle of relatives (parents, brothers, sisters, cousins, nephews, nieces) and friends (barkada, kaklase, kapitbahay, kababata, etc), this is equivalent to 31.5 million votes. The total of 39.9 million (8.4 plus 31.5) votes is I think enough to send one "kabayan" to the Senate.

Now that we are able to see the numbers, we should realize that this is no longer wishful thinking, that we can do this. However, we must do our share in the whole scheme of things: 15 votes from your immediate circle of relatives and friends is not a huge task. I actually think we can even target 20 to 30.

 

Relatives are easy, friends--madami dyan nakakatikim lagi ng tsokolate, sabon, lotion at iba pa tuwing dadating ka, di pa kasali ang inuman at kainan at kunting pautang sa oras ng kagipitan. Now is the time to at least ask for a small return favor. Another positive factor: Communications today is very easy; e-mail, text, cheaper long distance calls. It really doesn't matter kung nasa abroad tayo, we can still do our share in the campaign.

Here is another helpful tip: Every voter will probably have 5 to 8 senators out of the 12 in their individual preferential list. Ang balance dyan ay panakip butas na lang, just to complete the 12 allowed votes. In my experience, kadalasan 1 or 2 votes for senators ay minadali na dahil wala ng oras. Kadalasan di mo na nga matandaan kung sino yung last 2 or 3 na napili mo. Given this, it will not be that hard to tell our friends or relatives, paki sali naman yung isang manok natin, kahit doon na lang sa panapon na boto nya, para di naman masayang ang vote nya.

I'm sure that after looking at the above scenarios, we can all feel positively na kaya natin to. We must do our share. The assigned task for each is so easy, sa isang oras na text lang or e-mail baka na-accomplish na natin ang share natin. Alam na natin that we need some representations at the highest level, yung taong kaisa natin, galing sa atin.

 

Now ikalat na natin ang mathematical calculation na to, na we can do it and it's really very easy.

We have been glamorized as modern day heroes, savior of the nation, redeemer in times of economic distress. Pero hindi natin maramdaman eto and individually as an OFW wala naman tayong nakikitang prestige or glamor.

 

The facts are pag nasa Pinas tayo, sinisigawan lang tayo ng isang sekyu sa airport at tinataboy ang ating mga mahal sa buhay na parang mga hayop na umalis na at madaliin ang pagpapa-alam.

 

Saan ba sila naghihintay pag dumadating ka? Sa isang higanteng hawla, kala mo pumunta ka sa Manila Zoo. Paghalik mo tuloy sa asawa mo at mga anak mo nahilamusan ka pa ng pawis nila.

 

Pag nasa POEA ka, doon sa basement ka kukuha ng OEC, at ganun din kabangis ang asal ng mga sekyu at workers doon. Pag nagipit ka, sino ba ang nalalapitan mo sa gobyerno, mayron naman dyan pero libo-libo kayong may problema, kaya wala kang priority. May programa ba tayong purely for OFWs? I think wala. Sa SSS at Pag-big at Medicare, singit lang tayo. Ang OWWA naman, aywan kung ano to, basta nagbayad tayo kasi kailangan ng OEC.

 

Nakita nyo ba sa TV yung mga depedents natin nag-aaway-away na sa pila sa OWWA para makahiram lang ng sampung libo dahil sa nakaraang bagyong Ondoy at Pepeng. Madami tayong hinaing, maraming problema ang supposed to be heroes na alam naman natin na "lip service" lang ang bansag sa atin na to. "Hero ka dyan."

Our impact on our country is gained from our collective efforts particularly yung suma total ng ating remittances. The key word or the operative word here is "collective." Individually, walang effect. Yung $1,000 na pinadala mo, walang effect. But the $1,000 na pinadala ng 5 milyong OFWs sa isang buwan is equivalent to $5 billion, yun ang may impact. Its about time para gamitin din natin ang ating collective power, we have this in our hands but not as individuals but as OFWs collectively, acting as one huge, gigantic force.

Let's start with this electoral exercise, iparamdam na natin kung sino tayo. Let's start doing things from the position of strength. Pakita natin na we are a force to reckon with, that we can indeed make or break our nation. One OFW in the Senate is not too much to ask for. Set aside natin ang president and vice president. I'm sure we have our own choices. Kaya natin to, look at the numbers and look at your share in the undertaking. Peanuts, no sweat. Let's not forget the operative word "collective." For once, let us start being one.

 

By Andrea Teran


The speech that somehow wrote itself: For this and no other.

Or, A draft campaign speech for any of the next possible Philippine presidents, provided he who takes it up, makes it happen;

And if no one does, then: If I were President because you all refused to do your jobs, goddammit.

Strangely enough, when I began writing this speech, I could not stop thinking about the word ad hoc. I had always thought this word meant temporary, hastily put together for one purpose or another. I had imagined this meaning on to the word because of how we have always created, and treated, the numerous ad hoc committees to deal with and try to solve single parts of our multifarious problems.

Imagine my surprise, when upon closer inspection, I discover that, from the Latin, ad hoc literally means for this, toward this and no other. And it is for this and no other that I am more than willing to work and work hard in the next six years, as your leader and servant, as your next president: I am Filipino.

If not us, then who else?

By TJ Besa

The moment our beloved former President Cory Aquino's passing was announced by Noynoy, perhaps by virtue of his being the only son and father figure by default, political capital was created. At that instant, even Noy may not have realized this, but one could already see that this was a "slingshot situation"--a confluence of events which provide undeniable opportunity to propel even inert objects, or persons, to otherwise impossible heights.

By now, we all know who the near-inert beneficiary is.

Heir-apparent to a martyred father and President mother, some would breathlessly declare, the choice is clear. On the heels of economic fallout, numerous national tragedies, and the looming presidential elections, Aquino the Inheritor seemed a promising choice for a nation badly in need of heroes. Note how every other political ad now is about heroes.

By Alexander Villafania INQUIRER.NET

MANILA, Philippines -- Taiwanese computer manufacturer Acer is ending the year with a bang. In its biggest launch yet, Acer last week launched seven new noteb ook and desktop computers.

Among the most notable of their product lines are the new Aspire G7750 "Predato r" gaming PC and the 5738DG, which is the first notebook in the market to have an iMAX-like 3D technology.

Acer Philippines General Manager Manuel Wong said the new products should cater to the same market of users as previous products, though he said there is also a growing segment of users who are into innovative technologies, particularly the 3D capabilities of the 5738DG.

"We're getting the market to be interested in these technologies not just as en thusiasts but also for business productivity," Wong said.

The Predator is a follow up to Acer's first official gaming PC, the G770. This time, the new Predator has nearly twice as powerful due to its use of an Intel Core i7 950 processor running at 3 Ghz. It also has 3 slots for DDR3 memory mod ules, an ATI Radeon HD5850 1 Gb graphics card, a 1 Terabyte drive, and a Blu-Ra y optical drive.

By Francisco Lara Jr.

(Francisco Lara Jr. is a research associate at the Crisis States Research Center, Development Studies Institute, London School of Economics.)

The eruption of violence and the declaration of martial law in Maguindanao exposes the dynamics of collaboration and conflict between allies who advance their interests in conditions of war. Without this backdrop the recent declaration of martial law will be seen as baseless, unnecessary, and rife with hidden agendas. Why should government declare martial law in an area which had been under de-facto military rule over the past two weeks?

By Tony Oposa Jr.

(The author is an environmental lawyer and a 2009 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee. He serves as legal adviser and delegate of the Federated States of Micronesia to the Montreal Protocol and to the climate change negotiations.)

MANILA, Philippines--What shall we do with gold?

The highly vulnerable countries like the small-island states and the Philippines are now suffering irreversible damage and irreparable injury as a result of climate change.

The crumbs that the overconsuming countries (OCCs) are dangling before the highly vulnerable countries (HVCs) as possible adaptation funds are a form of legalized bribery to the leaders of these countries to silence them in international forums.

(This is a copy of what I live blogged. For a backgrounder see my entry Martial Law konfrontasi.)

4:08 PM

Ricky Carandang reports quorums exist and joint session will begin shortly. Expected to last until 9 PM with continuation tomorrow. Each chamber will have 10 hours alloted for questioning; administration officials will testify as "resource persons."

4:11 PM

Both maces in their stands, signifying session has begun.

4:14 PM

Kabataan Party List Tweets "opening prayer asks for discernment, wisdom on whether or not to revoke martial law, justice for victims of Ampatuan massacre."

4:17 PM

UP Law Dean Leonen on ANC expresses opinion House members may actually display some independence because it's an election year. He expects administration officials to supplement President's report with "new evidence" of rebellion. ANC Alerts Twitter account reports Leonen's opinion: Rebellion case vs. Ampatuans to continue even if Congress revokes martial law in Maguindanao.

By Tessa R. Salazar Philippine Daily Inquirer

PUT IN ENOUGH RESOURCES and creativity into the mix, and see the local 

aftermarket industry produce world-class customized cars.

And you don't even have to match the scale of such internationally renowned trade shows such as the Tokyo Auto Salon or the Sema. The cars are the stars. They will shine no matter the backdrop.

Thus, singled out from 186 showcased cars sprawled out on 7,180 square meter of floor space, and viewed by no less than 35,000 visitors, five major awards and several special awards were given out to the cars that stood out during the Nov. 26 to 29 staging of the Manila Auto Salon held at the SMX Convention Center at the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City.

The five major awards had been categorized as: level to workmanship in exterior; interior; engine and suspension; undercarriage; and the craftsmanship in the restoration and modification.

Together with Edgardo Angara and his former martial law nemesis, Juan Ponce Enrile (who, however, dangles a face-saving proposal for Congress to reduce the time frame of the proclamation to less than 60 days), Joker Arroyo among his senate peers, is foursquare behind the President's imposition of martial law. The leading lights of the ruling coalition in that chamber, Ramon Revilla Jr. and Lito Lapid, have yet to form an opinion. The rest oppose.

Tomorrow at 4PM, the Senate and the House of Representatives assemble in Joint Session to tackle the President's imposition of martial law on most of Maguindanao. While it would have seemed logical, given the Constitution's requirement for Congress to convene without need of call, within 24 hours, to deliberate on any proclamation of martial law or suspension of the writ of habeas corpus, Congress hasn't moved with alacrity now that both have come to pass.

This early on, House officials are saying the public should expect a raucous session ("chaotic" is one word being bandied about).The Supreme Court, in the meantime, has deferred issuing a restraining order but has expressed awareness of the need for prompt action by giving the government only five days to submit its comment on the consolidated cases questioning the imposition of martial law.