Posts Tagged Politics
Finding Cory
The passing of Cory Aquino is something that did not strike me as important. To be honest, all I know about Cory comes mostly from way back when I was in gradeschool and through her TV interviews every time she attempts to bring down governments through People Power Revolution. Truth is, I classify her as one of those old politician who try to stay relevant even when their political careers are already entombed.
About a week before her death, I even broadcast on Facebook how I mock media’s attempt to brand her as an icon of democracy by saying that perhaps Erap, when he dies (sooner I guess), would be considered an icon of intelligence. I just did not think that she is worthy of being considered an icon.
It was only yesterday when I spent some time knowing Cory through the most convenient source of information…the Internet. I found myself teary-eyed, clip after clip of videos I play and stories of her heroism I read and then I realized that I made a mistake and a big one, that is.
Ninoy has been given much credit for empowering the people to rise up against the dictator but it was, after all, Cory who unified them and served as catalyst for bringing back democracy to the land. I thought her only qualification then was her relationship with Ninoy not knowing that she too is equally fitting for the job of leading a nation.
Her address to the US Senate, which accordingly garnered the longest applause in history, has made me realize that she posses the intelligence as well as sincerity that moves not just the Filipino people but our American friends as well.
Cory Aquino’s administration may not have lived up to the people’s expectations but then again, they have to consider the fact that she has to start, not from scratch, but from a negative. They coffers were already plundered by the dictator and his wife and all she could do to give it a boost is to ask for foreign aid.
I live in a reality where the choice is either between the devil or the deep blue sea or the lesser evil, I believe this is reason why behind my partiality towards Cory’s intentions on recent national issues. I believe that when it comes to politicians, the general rule is that they have their own agenda plotted specifically to gain either fame or something more beneficial. It’s a sad reality that I share with a lot of other young people who’s sick and tired of the games politicians play to get the votes.
I wonder what it is like to live in the time when Cory was still in office, where everyone’s hopes for a better nation is still high and one’s leader is passionate in fulfilling its countryman’s dream of freedom, not just from oppression but also from hunger, poverty and ignorance. I just wish that I will be able to meet another “Cory” as president in my lifetime.
Cory Aquino’s Address to the US Congress
No to Senate Bill 12, No to Internet Filtering
“We can follow the Chinese or Middle Eastern model where all ISPs are required to block online pornography. For me, these people must rot in jail so they will not be able to do any more harm to anybody.” ~ Senator Ramon “Bong ” Revilla, Jr.
Senator Bong Revilla got his chance to get the publics’ as well as those of his colleagues’ sympathy when it comes to issues on pornography by riding on the Hayden Kho and Katrina Halili sex scandal. Perhaps it is part of the Senator’s agenda to railroad the passages of Senate Bill No. 12 otherwise known as -Pornography Bill seeking to punish those who publish, exhibit or broadcast materials considered as porn. The bill may have won he support of the religious sector but he still has a lot to do to persuade majority of Internet users to include bloggers, social network enthusiasts and even regular users who may or may not be into online porn.
Lets not touch Section 4, Article 3 of the 1987 Pilippine Constitution which protects the freedom of assembly, the press, speech and expression as Congress is now trying hard as ever to amend and possibly revise it in totally. Lets first discuss what will happen if they filter the web. According to No Clean Feed, an Australian movement to stop their government’s attempt of filtering Internet content, implementing such has a lot of major technical drawbacks such as:
- high costs of maintaining a filtering system
- a filtering system would slow down Internet access by 80% (good luck to those still using dial-up)
- Internet filtering softwares available today would still block 10,000 websites for every 1 million
- only illegal contents on websites could be blocked which means that files shared through LimeWire or torrents can still proliferate
- filtering systems can be bypassed through VPN, proxies, and other forms of anonymizers which most tech savvy children know how to use more than adults
- an dynamic server based Internet filtering module is less customizable and effective than PC-based filters
In short, Bong Revilla’s proposition is both expensive and useless. Money spent on filtering the Internet could buy more books for children. But wait, what if Revilla would then add a provision that Internet Service Providers (ISP) should handle the cost? Well, would you be willing to pay more for an Internet connection with 80% lower speed than what you used to get?
Let’s now discuss freedom of speech and freedom of the press (I strongly believe bloggers are also covered by this). Isn’t filtering the Internet a violation to our basic freedoms? Should we let our politicians dictate which of content or information are we allowed to access?And oh, are China, North Korea, and Burma now our models for running governments? This is not what Ninoy Aquino and hundreds of national heros who shed their lives for.
Don’t use the kids this time just to gain sympathy, this line already sold out a bunch of crappy legislation. Parents should be responsible for them. If the government really wants to intervene, they can give parental control softwares just like they give away condoms–for free.
To sum up, filtering the Philippine Internet is like treating pubic lice with chemotherapy. You may have killed the lice, but you kill the genital as well.
P.S.
Don’t vote for people who wants to curtail your freedom.
Ramblings on the Upcoming 2010 Southern Leyte Elections
It’s been a year since I sailed away to a different island after five long years of serving the Maasin City Council yet I still can’t help but miss the job and the people you work for and work with. I guess it’s what happens when you love something so much, you even sacrifice your college degree just to devote your time on it. (Although some may argue that I’m just not good with time management.)
Amidst the hectic schedule and the fast paced lifestyle I now have, there are still times when I stop and wonder what happened to my friends in the SK who have now been estranged since I decided to turn off my phone and purge my phone book in the hopes of managing the pain from longing for the happy moments of the past. (Yep, I’m weird and this is my own way of coping with endings.) I still get affected when I hear rumors against my former colleagues in the city council and would even go the distance of trying to defend them with even no solid ground. And, when I saw Ma’am Effie’s picture in the Souther Leyte Times website featuring the story about the city council winning a regional award, a rush of pride and sheer joy fills up my spirit (pardon the drama).
At this very moment, precisely 12 months before the elections (if the Cha-Cha train gets derailed), The political machineries of both the Mercado’s and the Lerias’ are already in full operation and perhaps, even on overdrive. The rumor mill will operate in hyper speed and buried issues will haunt candidates and potential candidates alike and people will still enjoy it. (You still aren’t tired of that story about the governor’s affair with someone from city hall, right? BAD NEWS, IT’S NOT TRUE. DEAL WITH IT!)
A note to first time voters (i.e the youth and the gullible), always remember that amidst all the “would be” funfair and drama, at the end of the day, all that is important, or all that SHOULD be important is a candidate’s platform and track record (which may include personal attributes). It’s not about who threw more shit to who’s face cause it’s not a shitting game, it’s about how Southern Leyte and all it’s municipalities and city would be run on the next couple of years and beyond. The earlier we realize what elections really are about, the more mature we’re gonna be when the time comes.
For those who’s not yet registered, rush to the nearest COMELEC office now. I know some of you might already be frustrated with Philippine politics after years of studying it on THE “four walls” so all you want to do now is to get the 500 hundred peso bribes from both parties and just get on with your lives. But hey, don’t yah ever start givin’ up your hopes for change just yet (am I starting to sound like O’Bama?), cause there are still millions of us who still believe that we can still rise up from this hell hole (the artist who sang Bagong Simula, the people who joined the Ako Mismo campaign, the entrepinoys behind the Yabang Pinoy, and a lot more) . Think about your social responsibility, your own integrity or, if you’re into religion, (like most people from Southern Leyte are) think about your god wants you to do.
By the way, be careful about your youth groups, a lot of youth related activities crop up during these times specially designed to gain you votes. Even church initiated ones tends to be biased on one party over the other. If only I can tell you in details what Mayor Maloney Samaco gone through during the last election without getting sued… but you know, right? (winks ^_~)
Why Manny Pacquiao Should Not Be In Politics
Even though Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao’s return to the country could be postponed, talks about his People’s Champ political party is now as hot as swine flu. I’m not sure and I don’t care about Manny Pacquiao and I refuse to be on the Pacman bandwagon amids having everybody calling him a hero. News flash moronic Pinoys, the word hero should not be disposed of to anyone who wins boxing matches and has and cheats on his wife.
Like the famous celebrities and political personalities, Manny Pacquiao’s personal life should be the basis of judging his person specially since all the successes he might have in politics, the entertainment industry and even in his education could all be bought by the millions of dollars he amassed from all his winnings.
One test of Manny’s character is when he ran and lost the congressional seat of General Santos to Darlene and garnering only a thousand plus votes. Damn! That must have been extremely devastating for a person who’s copyrighted title is “People’s Champ”. (Satanic laugh) He even moved to Sarangani Province to ascertain his victory. Yep, he thinks people in Sarangani are as gullible than the people in slums who idolize him.
Bitter and judgmental as I may sound, it must be noted that there was a part of me that admired Manny, and that is how he managed to make me sing along to his songs.
Oh yeah, post your hate reactions on the comments field.
