How can you not want Robredo?

Linking to this column by Professor Monsod

"You want someone to help you fight jueteng? Robredo got an award for that. You want transparency and accountability? He also got an award for that. You want someone who can help poverty? Getting down to brass tacks: Naga had the lowest incidence of poverty—one out of every 5 households below the poverty line, half of the regional average, and lower than the national average (26 percent). In terms of hunger, Naga had the lowest preschool malnutrition rate—half of the next best performer in the Bicol region; in terms of education, it had the highest participation rate (100 percent). In terms of health, it had the lowest incidence of child and infant mortality rates, maternal mortality rates, and highest immunization coverage; it is the only locality in Bicol with 100 percent access to safe water and sanitary facilities.

What more can you ask, Mr. President? How can you not want someone like Robredo, who has an unsurpassed delivery record, at your side as you lead the Philippines in its fight against poverty?

Mr. President, in your appointments, you have accommodated friends and classmates. I ask you now to accommodate the Philippines. Keep Jesse."

Ka Ben

I met Ka Ben when I was in college and just joined BISIG. I never really got to know him but I was always in awe of his dedication to the cause of socialism. I hoped to be able to be as dedicated as he was. I don't know if how he will think of me now, I can only tell him that I am doing the best I can.

Below is an e-mail by Dr. Nemenzo, reminiscing on the life of Ka Ben.

Dear friends and comrades,

I am sad to inform you that Kasamang Benjamin Cunanan (a.k.a. Kumander Hizon, Apong Kuna, Ka Ben) died yesterday ( 2 Nov. 2010) at the age of 82, after a long battle with cancer. His body now lies in state in his little hut in 120 AV Cruz St., Kalawaan, Pasig. Interment will be on Sunday, after lunch.

Ka Ben was only in his teens during the Japanese occupation when he was recruited to the Hukbalahap. Showing mettle in combat, he rose quickly to the rank of unit commander. To hold such a position of responsibility, one has to go through the party school and be accepted as member of Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas. At the height of the Huk rebellion, he headed Field Command 78, the largest (oversized battalion) unit of Hukbong Mapagpalaya ng Bayan.

Refusing to “return to civilian life” in line with the single-file policy, he continued fighting in the Pampanga-Tarlac area until his capture in 1961. Kumander Hizon was the last real Huk commander to fall. (I underline “real” because the AFP always “promoted” every Huk they captured to the rank of “Kumander.”

As commander of the last remaining HMB unit, Ka Ben recruited new combatants like Bernabe Buscayno (Ka Dante). This tried Faustino del Mundo (Sumulong) for breach of discipline, but before a sentence was handed down Sumulong disappeared, only to resurface when Ka Ben was captured. For unknown reason, Pedro Taruc (the only surviving PKP central committee member) appointed Sumulong to Ka Ben’s position. He quickly transformed the HMB into a gangster organization and established control over the rackets during the boom years when Angeles City became the rest and recreation center of American soldiers from Vietnam.

Ka Ben was sentenced to life imprisonment for one of the 16 murder cases filed against him. He stayed in prison longer than any Huk (longer than Jose Lava, etc.) During martial law Luis Taruc offered to arrange a presidential pardon. When Taruc asked if he was willing to meet Marcos in Malacanang, he replied: “Sigue, para murahin ko siya.” Taruc never visited him again. Tact was not among Ka Ben’s many virtues.

Upon release, Ka Ben joined us in BISIG. He tried reactivating his comrades in Central Luzon and invited them to the new rebel army he dreamed of forming. But, alas, they were too old to fight.

We should honor this brave warrior who, despite the colossal setback, was never ashamed to be called a communist.

Ka Dodong

I expected better

Ayon sa balitang ito ng INQUIRER.net gusto ni AKBAYAN representative Walden Bello na

"Walden Bello of the Akbayan party list also urged the Bureau of Immigration to ban the entry of Korean citizens in the country until the South Korean government apologizes for its actions.

He said Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo should immediately lodge the protest and “demand an explanation for the use of unwarranted force against the six Filipino activists.”

“We cannot turn a blind eye to the South Korean government’s act of repression against Filipino nationals. This arbitrary act manifests a lack of respect for the Philippine government and the Filipino nation,” Bello said in a statement."

Pino-protesta niya ang pag deport ng South Korea sa mga Pilipino ng walang magandang dahilan at ang sagot niya dito ay ang pag ganti sa mga South Korean citizens na wala namang kinalaman sa polisiya ng kanilang gobyerno.

I exspected clearer thinking from Congressman Walden Bello.

Offending Religious Feelings

I did not know that the Philippines a law that punishes people for offending religious feelings. This is such a ridiculous law if there is one . Religious people are offended by a lot of things, women wearing revealing clothing, gays making out, the sight of condoms offends them for fucks sake.

It's a good thing we still think of ourselves as a secular society or more of this kind of suits will be brought up. Maybe Mr. Celdran is correct, maybe we are still living in the time of DAMASO.

update 10/30/2010

GMA News provided the specific provision (Article 133) in the Revised Penal code. Article 133 states that

"Offending the religious feelings. — The penalty of arresto mayor in its maximum period to prision correccional in its minimum period shall be imposed upon anyone who, in a place devoted to religious worship or during the celebration of any religious ceremony shall perform acts notoriously offensive to the feelings of the faithful."

The provision of the article itself makes me conclude (although IANAL) that it is a reasonable law. In a country the promises freedom of religion, religious rituals should be protected from interference.

But if you go back 1 article in the Penal code Article 132 is against interruption of religious worship

"Interruption of religious worship. — The penalty of prision correccional in its minimum period shall be imposed upon any public officer or employee who shall prevent or disturb the ceremonies or manifestations of any religion.

If the crime shall have been committed with violence or threats, the penalty shall be prision correccional in its medium and maximum periods."

It seems the ones charging Mr. Celdran is trying convict him on a harsher charge when a lower charge "interruption of religious worship" is available and more appropriate. I say more appropriate because Mr. Celdran actually did only interrupt a religious service.

edited 10/20/2010 to include youtube video of Mr. Celdran's actions



Maybe this is the Catholic Church's way of honoring Jesus famous admonition to the faithful

"But I say to you, That you resist not evil: but whoever shall smite you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also." - Matthew 5:39

Moral Relativism

I like this quote, the whole article is worth reading too.

Aisha and Humanity - Kemstone - Open Salon:

"I once considered myself a moral relativist, but not anymore. Just because something is accepted in another culture does not make it right. There is a certain amount of happiness and suffering brought about by every action, and certain actions cause a degree of suffering so great that the scale could never be balanced. Aisha’s death was so horrible that no amount of satisfaction on the part of the executioners or spectators who felt that justice had been served could outweigh it. This is as black-and-white as it comes. No matter what culture or time period you’re talking about, this kind of thing is plain wrong."

Free E-Books, With a Catch -- Advertising

Libre libro basta may Advertisement?

Ok lang! Nakakapanood ako ng libreng TV shows at pelikula dahil sa advertising. Nakakabasa ko ng balita at kung ano ano pa sa internet dahil sa advertising. Magbabasa ko ng libreng libro maski may advertising. Sanay na ko sa advertising, di ko na napapansin halos yung mga yon.

Agatha Christie was sick of Poirot—grandson

Agatha Christie was sick of Poirot—grandson - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

"Christie considered the diminutive, stiff-moustached gastronome as her "bread and butter" but would grumble about having to churn out "yet another Poirot," Mathew Pritchard told Radio Times magazine.

"She was never short of ideas for books but some of these ideas were inappropriate for Poirot, so she was very keen to exorcise herself of him by writing different stories with new characters," he said.

"But her agents and publishers, who were in charge of the pounds and pence, were very keen on Poirot – he was her most popular character.""

I've read a lot of Agatha Christie's books most of them when I was in high school, Poirot is still my favorite. I can imagine her being sick of the man but I am glad she still wrote those books.

xkcd: The Economic Argument

Balat Sibuyas

Di ko masyadong nasubaybayan itong balitang ito, pero ayon dito sa Inquirer, nag hain ng resolusyon ang House of Representatives para mag bitiw sa Tungkulin si Sec. Ging Deles bilang OPAPP head dahil nainsulto niya si Congressman Dimaporo. At paano niya naisnulto si Congressman Dimaporo?

"In a letter addressed to Minority Leader and Albay Representative Edcel Lagman and read by Loong to the chamber last Friday, the neophyte Dimaporo said that she was “insulted” by Deles when, during a break at the budget debate last Wednesday, she approached the OPAPP head to ask about the peace process.

Dimaporo said Deles told her to “read up on her (Deles’s) background,” and “to read her (Deles’s) books.”"

Pinayuhan ni Secretary Deles si Congressman Dimaporo na magbasa ng kaunti tungkol sa background niya at tungkol sa kanyang mga sinulat tungkol prosesong pangkapayapaan nainsulto na siya at gusto na niyang nag bitiw sa tungkulin si Sec. Deles?

Tama lang sa aking palagay ang ginawa ni Pangulong Aquino, kung pagbibigyan niya ang resolusyon ng kongreso sa ganito kaliit na bagay, lalo lang siyang iipitin ng Kongreso.

Honor and Excellence (Prof. Monsod's last lecture to her class)