KUNG HEI FAT CHOI ! ENTER THE DRAGON

Aquilino Pimentel III proclaimed senator

Aquilino Pimentel III proclaimed senator   (please click here)

ZUBIRI'S RESIGNATION PRE-EMPTED KOKO PIMENTEL'S TAKEOVER

The resignation of Migz Zubiri as Senator of the Philippines could have been recorded in our history as a noble act of statesmanship if it was done with utmost sincerity. I could only surmise that the resignation of Senator Zubiri was more of face-saving and a propaganda in preparation for the 2013 elections. Although he mentioned that he has nothing to do with the alleged fraud in the 2007 elections, he should have stated that if he was a benificiary to the alleged manipulaton of the elections specifically in Maguindanao, he was resigning out of delicadeza.   

However, his resignation speech tend to undermine the assertions of his adversary, lawyer Koko Pimentel. He could have been appreciated more if he mentioned that his resignation is irrevocable. The statement of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile that he will study the matter (Zubiri's resignation) sent a wrong signal to the ordinary Filipino. As if everthing is "moro-moro."

Humility should have spelled the magic in Zubiri's resignation. But, the lack of it made the affair a tactical move to pre-empt the possible assumption into office of  Koko Pimentel as senator.

For others, Zubiri's resignation is an implied admission that he did not really win the 2007 senatorial race.

Roxas will have hands full at DOTC | ABS-CBN News | Latest Philippine Headlines, Breaking News, Video, Analysis, Features

Roxas will have hands full at DOTC | ABS-CBN News | Latest Philippine Headlines, Breaking News, Video, Analysis, Features

WATER POLLUTION MIGHT BE THE REAL CAUSE OF FISHKILL

Up to this this time, there is no official word from experts and authorities as to the real cause of fishkill in Batangas and Panagasinan. This is not the first time that fishkill occured in different parts of the country. However, it seems that we only get alarmed by this when it is already happening, when the disaster is right before our eyes. A logical conclusion that comes to one's mind is that most of the bodies of water like rivers, seas, lakes and the like are polluted. Government, especially the local governments units can do something about this. Waste water directed into our rivers and seas should be regulated properly. Waste water treatment should be employed by the local governments. If local officials allot millions of pesos for roads and public buildings, they should also focus on environmental protection such as the promotion of clean water.

Waste water treatment like the reverse osmosis system is nowadays affordable. Taxpayers won't mind if public funds are spent to protect our waters. The money is worth spending to make our rivers, seas, and bodies of water clean and unpolluted. If this happens, the bounty of our aquatic resources will become sustainable. Fishkill will just become a thing of the past.

Tribes ask SC to stop Surigao mining

Tribes ask SC to stop Surigao mining

RH BILL DEBATE: MOOT AND ACADEMIC?

Salient provisions of the Reproductive Health bill have found its way in the respective gender and development code of many local government units. Coupled with a memorandum circular mandating for the passage of a gender code, pro forma ordinances were distributed by the DILG several years ago which were adopted by various local government units. If local laws have been passed to this effect, the on-going debate might already be moot and academic.

400 YEARS OF UST: A Visit to my Alma Mater

2009 Wear a helmet campaign

ALL THE BEST IN 2011

December 10 is International Human Rights Day

Respect for Human Rights starts with the recognition of the right to life, liberty and property. The right to life includes the right to a happy and prosperous life. Right to Liberty is not just simple physical freedom but it also encompasses economic freedom. Freedom must be exercised responsibly. Right to property is a basic necessity. Property rights must always be respected. It gives dignity to an individual. It is a tool for development.

REMEMBERING THE FIRST ILOCANO PRESIDENT: ELPIDIO R. QUIRINO

Quirino, Elpidio - WikiPilipinas: The Hip 'n Free Philippine Encyclopedia

VIGAN CITY COUNCIL APPROVES ANNUAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR 2011 AMOUNTING TO PHP 86,500,000.00

The Vigan City Council has just recently approved the Annual Development Plan of Vigan for 2011 amounting to Php 86,500,000.00, details of which can be found above.

CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN THE FILIPINO WAY

Celebrating the western-type of halloween in the Philipines does not speak well of being a Filipino, we just imitated it from our American idols. Worst, it has become commercialized and UnFilipino. We should come up with our own unique celebration without prejudice to the party mood and merriment. In the Philippine setting, "Trick or Treat" should be replaced with "Pangangaluwa" wherein groups or individuals can visit the different houses in their communities and serenade the owners for a token fee or food treat. Halloween Costumes should be something Filipino. Instead of witches, draculas, and foriegn-inspired characters, we should come up with costumes depicting a "Kapre", "Tikbalang", "Aswang", "Mangkukulam" or anything identifed with the Filipino.

Halloween according to Wikepedia, is a holiday celebrated every October 31 in places like the United States, Canada, Ireland and UK. The Filipino Halloween on the otherhand is the celebration of All Saints' Day every November 1 and All Soul's Day every November 2. These have been associated with the Catholic Church. The Filipino tradition is to visit the tombs of their departed loved ones on these days, bringing flowers and candles including food as offerings. It is also during this time that Filipino families gather together and offer prayers for the dead, after which a family picnic in the cemeteries and memorial parks take place.

A long time ago, the "Pangangaluwa" every October 31 had been a Filipino practice in several provinces in the Philippines. However, this has been forgotten and this Filipino culture and tradition was overetaken by the "Western Halloween". Parties and merriment during the halloween are acceptable, but Filipinos should do it without appearing as cheap copycats and imitators of a culture which do they not own. Identity crisis has always been a problem for the Pinoy.


Let us start reviving and appreciating our own traditions and customs. In this way, we will be contributing to the country's cultural development towards economic prosperity.

BARANGAY AND SK ELECTIONS STILL MARRED WITH VOTE-BUYING AND VIOLENCE

When will we ever learn? Money politics still dominates the Barangay(Village) and Sangguniang Kabataan(Youth Council)) elections. Like in the past, Philippine politics is still very traditional. Characterized by patronage, vote-buying, and in some cases, violence, the just recently concluded Barangay ang SK elections are far from being tools for meaningful change. Instead, it has become training grounds for dirty politics and corruption.

It is sad to note that even the youth(15-17 yrs. old) have become victims of money politics through machinations perpetrated by many parents, guardians, or elders who desperately want their candidates to win. This is a bad precedent considering that instead of training the youth to become leaders and good citizens, they are now directly exposed to the ills of traditional politics(trapo).

In the case of the barangays, nothing much has improved. The same technique of directly or indirectly buying votes in violation of the law remains a practice. We never learn because we don't allow ourselves to effect change. We complain against the ills of society but we hesitate to expose and oppose vote-buying. We are always afraid to come out from our comfort zones and most of the time we choose to remain silent. As the saying goes, "we get the government that we deserve."

LAUNCHING OF THE YOUTH GUIDE TO THE VIGAN CITY COUNCIL

INTERNAL REVENUE ALLOTMENT OF VIGAN BARANGAYS FOR 2010

LEGISLATORS WEEK (SEPT. 27-30, 2010)

AS THE PROPONENT OF THE YOUTH GUIDE TO THE VIGAN CITY COUNCIL, I PRESENTED AN OVERVIEW BEFORE A GROUP OF STUDENT LEADERS FROM THE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS OF METRO VIGAN.

VIGAN LEGISLATORS (L-R): COUNCILOR HENRY FORMOSO. VICE MAYOR RYAN SINGSON, COUNCILOR FRANZ RANCHES, COUNCILOR BENJO VERZOSA.

LEGISLATIVE BUDDIES FRANZ AND BENJO

PRELIMINARY BUDGET RESPONSE

October 16 is the deadine for the Mayor to submit to the City Council the Proposed Development Plan and Budget for the year 2011. From the receipt of said proposals, the City Council shall begin to review these two most important documents, exercising its oversight function and power over the purse. For several years now, the Legislative Council has been at odds with the Executive Branch when it comes to budget review. While the Council wants to assert its proposals on how budgetary allocations for the operations of the local government be done, the Executive Department remains cold to the Council's counter-proposals.

I have thought of proposing a PRELIMINARY BUDGET REPONSE as a method to address the issue. Patterned after the New York City Council, this aims to ensure that the Budget reflects the needs, priorities and aspirations of the people. The Council shall conduct an in-depth review of all city departmments, their policies, their programs and their expenses. At the end of the budget hearings, the Council shall submit to the Mayor a Preliminary Budget Response, which defines the legislature's budgetary priorities and the changes it would like to see in the budget. The Mayor then submits a revised Executive Budget for the final review of the City Council.

The Preliminary Budget Response will strengthen the balance of power betwen the Executive and Legislative branches in the City of Vigan. Check and Balance is a necessary ingredient in a truly democratic society. Moreover, a performance-based City Budget shall be enacted. Is this not an innovation in governance?

VIGAN CITY COUNCIL APPROVES SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET NO.01 IN THE AMOUNT OF PHP 16,696,904.26

The Vigan City Council just recently approved Supplemental Budget No. 01 in the amount of Php 16,696,904.26. Funding sources came from additional Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) in the amount of PhP 16,027,252.oo and the reversion of Personal Services as of May 31, 2010 in the amount of Php 669,652.26.oo.

Details of the supplemental budget are as follows: