In Aid of Grandstanding?

It’s unfornate that it took the life of a General (a resource person in Senate?) for the public to realize that there’s a need now for our lawmakers in both houses of Philippine Congress to be more considerate and kinder in the manner they ask questions to whoever is invited to attend hearing in aid of legislation.

Our good congressmen and senators should realize that they are not in court or police stations interrogating an ordinary suspect while conducting committee hearings in aid of legislations. These are people with honor and dignity to protect no matter how they have been linked to various corruptions and irregularities in the government. They are visitors, are they not supposed to be treated well? Of course we want to know the truth, but there are better ways to cull out information apart from intimidating and shaming them before the public. In addition, we need statesmen rather than vindictive solons and congressmen.

Of course every lawmaker knows the bound and limits of his authority; and at all time should observe proper decorum while perfoming his task as a congressman or a senator. Setting this aside will lead us to the question; what are these congressional investigations all about? In aid of legislation or in aid of grandstanding?

Kabayan Noli de Castro (former senator and Vice President) and Ted Failon (former congressman) shared their observation in a morning radio program about senators and congressmen who are media conscious. They tend to outdo one another everytime they learn they are on live TV coverage. According to Kabayan and Ted Failon some lawmakers suddenly turned “split personality” everytime they see cameras focused on them while on the floor. Before the TV camera has taken footages on them they speak mildly, but all of the sudden they become bombastic to make an impression as the camera already grinds in front of them. Media conscious? In aid of publicity?

The least we want our congressmen and senators do is to remiss with their duties and responsibilities as people representatives in the Philippine Congress. We don’t even want them to be permanent members of the “silent majority.”
But to be noisy and grandstanding all the time that’s unacceptable.

Tucson Shooting Incident; Sorrows for the loss of a Girl

It is barely two weeks after celebrating the coming of a New Year (2011), the world is shocked by the attempted assassination of Representative Gabrielle Giffords by a suspected mentally ill 22 year-old man (lone gun man) Jared Loughner. The Congresswoman survived the attack (now on stable condition and a 101 percent of chances of survival as reported) along with 13 other victims. But six others, including a Federal judge and a 9-year old girl did not.

My heart laments for this senseless killing of innocent victims particularly a 9-year old girl who was so talented with a bright promising future. Christina Taylor Green was born Christina was born on 9/11 and dreamed to be the first woman to play major league baseball (having been the granddaughter of Dallas Green a former pitcher and manager in the Major Leagues). John Green describes his daughter Christina as “a good speaker” and “could have easily seen her as a politician” This is the reason why this outgoing and intelligent student leader was on the “Saturday’s event because of her interest in government.” Roxanne Green (Christina’s mother) sees her daughter as one who has the passion to help other people and being involved.

What a lost of life! Dreams shattered because of the untimely death of this sweet, lovely and beautiful girl. I share in the sorrows of the parents, relatives and friends of Christina for losing her. Similarly I also share in the sorrows of other parents all over the world for losing their love one in a senseless killing like this. I hope there will be no more incident of this kind to happen in any part of the world. Let there be peace, love, and harmony.

On the other hand I am also perplexed on the motive of this young man Jared Loughner for killing and injuring other people if his plan was to assassinate a politician for what ever reason. Even a mere contemplation to deprive one of his life is already a crime and deplorable act of moral iniquity (how much more when the criminal plot is acted upon which include a number of innocent victims); how could such evil came into the mind of this person who like others may also have a great future? On issues of this kind we can not help but think of the role of the family, particularly the parents, the school, and the community. What is the law enforcement people and organization doing? How could the State which collect high taxes remiss on its function to protect the public and the tax payers?

Unfortunately this is not an isolated case, killing and harming people by individuals and groups of individuals is rampant all over the world. It has been said that crime does not pay for the long arms of justice will also run after the culprits and anyone who try infringed on the law. But since then, crime and lawlessness has never ceased despite modern technical and technological advancement in the society where we live. And how are we in the academe, social services, business, and government look into the roots of all these problems? There must be some sociological, economic, political, and spiritual explanations of all these dastardly acts that deprive people of their lives, property, and sense of security.

Of course the prophets of doom will always say that the world is coming to an end. The magnitude of lawlessness and enormity of crimes committed each day is just one little manifestation that the world is not getting any better and that sooner or later there will be a divine intervention to put an end to the sinfulness of mankind. Is it?

Sorry but I don’t share similar views. I still look at the role of the home and community in the upbringing of people to become productive and law abiding citizens. Unfortunately we have a growing number of population all over the world but with dwindling economic resources to most of the underdeveloped countries. Isn’t it important also now to look and appreciate the possible connection between large population size and the kind of law and order we have in the land?

Going back to Jared Loughner, the young man is reported to have been heavy pot smoker, confused, bitter, and have an attitude problem. I am sure his parents did not want him to be that way but somehow Jared Loughner grew up as someone who could not get along with other people. There is no reason to blame his parents to the tragedy, although they could be partly responsible too to what he (Jared) became as other people think about; they too are saddened and devastated to the incident involving their son and did not know why this thing had happened.

Yes this is not the only incident where a girl is senselessly killed; I pray this will be the last. I know how Christina feels the pain and sorrows of losing her. My condolences with them and the rest of those killed in that shooting incident.

No Take Home Assignment on Fridays-DepEd

I know there is a reason for everything, even the most stupid decision a person may have done in his life is still governed by reason. Much more with the Department of Education, they must have a reason for ordering all public school teachers to be considerate on giving their students take-home assignments on Fridays to work at it on weekends.

DepEd Memorandum No. 392, signed by Education Secretary Armin Luistro last September 16, mandates all teachers to minimize the giving of homework/assignments (at least) “to a reasonable quantity to give their pupils ample time to rest and relax at home for the rest of the day.”

There is no quarrel about the good intention of the education department. At least it gives time for the entire family to stay together, relax and enjoy each other’s company. At this point in time when the Filipino family is being threatened by all forms of problems such as “parental separations, neglect and abandonment of children, child abuse in various forms, juvenile delinquency, etc. this memo-circular of the department is in order; granting the children have a good week-end full of fun with their families.

I disagree however on the grounds that school children will become less serious with their studies. And all they have in mind is fun at the expense of forgetting all about their academic obligations.

But this is not all, in the provinces as well in the cities, most of the children from poor families are given special tasks to do at home during weekend. There is no parent-children bonding. Parents are too busy working or attending to their businesses to earn a living and support their families. To many families a week-end full of fun with children and parents is just impractical at this time when everybody is affected by the on-going world economic crisis. No homework to do on week end for most children does not matter– are many of them are still asked by their parents to help them in the farm to to attend to their sources of livelihood.

What is the fear of most of the teachers anyway? Right now that children are given that much assignment to do at home during weekend–many can not still comply. And the worse, many are still slow to learn and pass their subjects. So the teacher laments, how much more if they are not allowed to bring home assignment on Fridays? But that practice/scheme does not also work in some instances with children from very poor families. The question who will help them do their assignments if parents are too busy earning a living? Giving too much assignments to school children may also work against the learning capacity. On the other hand if we deal lightly with their academic workload and tasks they also become mediocre learners. So, they will question again the quality of education we have.

As a teacher myself I know the significance of giving week-end assignments to our student; to ensure that will come back to school well prepared for the following week. Other teachers give extra-assignments to their students to help them catch up with their deficiencies (particularly slow learners) in the class. Another reason for week-end assignments is to fill-up the gaps (of instruction) attributed by lack of school facilities and learning materials. Other reason, siguro dahil na rin sa katamaran ng ibang teachers (believe it or not).

Aminin na natin na maraming kakulangan ang DepEd (budgetary constraints), ganon din ang mga magaaral dahil na rin sa kakulangan ng kita ng mga magulang. Pinagkakasya lang ang mayroon tayo. Ika nga, what you see is what you get. Kung ano ang mayroon sa mga paaralan natin, iyon din ang kakayahan nakukuha ng ating mga magaaral sa mga pampublikong paaralan. But this is not a deterrent to excel academically. If there is a will there is a way.

May punto and DepEd, may punto rin ang mga guro. Mga magulang na lang at mga magaaral ang nakakaalam kung ano ang nakakabuti sa kanila. After all sila naman ang mga tunay na apektado dito.

GLORIA’S GRACEFUL EXIT

Many people are already itching to see Gloria get out of the Malacanang premises. After the May 10 election they have started counting already. They could hardly wait for another day, not even June 30 when she is supposed to have vacated Malacanang which served as her home for nine long years.

“I have no regrets. (No regrets at all?) I don’t want to focus on negatives, so, in fact, rather than talking about regrets, I like to give thanks for the opportunity to serve the Philippines,” that’s what president Gloria Arroyo said in an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN News.

Further in the interview she said: “I’m the same person, just older, a little wiser. I have a strong belief in the Filipino people, strong faith in God, and I believe the economy is the most important that we have to attend to as leader of Philippines.”

And on being a president Gloria commented; “It’s a sacrifice, but it’s the right thing to do for the people. As president, my father tells me: you do not become a president to enjoy, you become president to make sacrifices for people and to suffer it may be, and I did for the people.”

In a few days we shall have a new president, the winner of the first automated election in the country, Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino lll whose large margin against his closest rival on the race, Joseph “Erap” Ejercito Estrada could be attributed to the over 4 million votes of the INC to him.

Gloria insures that her transition team should work hard enough to make Noynoy Aquino’s (or P-Noy) assumption to power will be smooth enough as he begins assuming responsibility as the new Chief Executive of the country.

Just a day after Congress proclaimed Aquino and Binay as the president and vice-president elect, Gloria made a phone call to Senator Aquino to congratulate him. Although Aquino felt a little bit uncomfortable with the president’s call, nevertheless he also thanked the president for doing so.

No matter what her critics say, still the president did the right thing. This is Gloria being in her true self. She is no longer that “mataray” (arrogant?) that she used to be when she did nothing but to parry left and right all the accusations of corruption, abuse of power, incompetence, and illegitimacy of office they hurled against her. As a human being (that others refuse to recognize she is capable of) there is a lot of goodness in Gloria. She has a very loving and compassionate heart if others can only see it through the so many programs and services her administration had accomplished during her term of office. Again, as others refuse to recognized, she’s the only president who had built more infra-structure projects such as roads, bridges, airports, seaports, etc., for the entire country. As a result economic productivity increases and so with job opportunities. Critics can belie all these claims, but Gloria despite all the scandals linked to her administration had a long list of accomplishments which many of us are not aware of.

Nobody likes Gloria as the president, the media made it a point it should be like that till her last day in her office. Gloria may leave Malacanang without regret, she just did her part. Just like the Marcoses, only history could judged her if she did the right thing as our president.

Although her critics are unhappy about the P10 million pesos she will be spending for the Independence Day Celebration on June 12, for that it is even extended up to Monday (June 14) so that it would give an opportunity for all to attend and enjoy reminiscing our past at it relates to our present development for the sake of unity and reconciliation, the good president still insisted to proceed with the celebration if only to lay the foundation for unity and healing of this highly divided nation. Unfortunately the president elect already declared he is not attending any Independence Day celebration set on another date. Well that’s his prerogative as a free person but sure he will be missing an opportunity for reconciliation offered by once a political friend but later turned out a bitter foe.

Sure Gloria has a lot of misgivings to the Filipinos as the media try to project, but Gloria will soon step down from Malacanang to give way to her predecessor to also prove his worth too to the same people she served. Gloria is not off the hook yet, she will be facing a lot of criminal cases her enemies shall file against her. But Gloria is not running away with it, like Erap she will always be ready and willing to face her accusers in court.

Tags: congress, Corruption, court, Gloria Arroyo, governance, Graceful Exit, Independence Day Celebration, law and justice, Malacanang, Noynoy Aquino, people, Philippines, plunder, politics, power

Condoms and the Presidential Election

This is the news, “Women activists present condoms to Philippine bishops.” What’s new? The Philippine Catholic bishops have been waging a bitter war with the government against the use of contraceptives. The Catholic church has never been weakened with its stiff stand against Family Planning and the use of artificial methods of birth control.

The Philippine Catholic Bishops have always been critical of any administration or political parties that support birth control and family planning. In fact presidential aspirants in the like of Senator Noynoy Aquino have been very careful with their stand with regards to population issues. The Bishop can always call on the Catholic faithful some 75 millions out of the 90 to 100 million Filipinos not to vote for any candidate who supports the family planning program of the government. One of the important criteria the good Bishops are looking to any politician vying for an elective position in the government is his policies and stand on the issues of family planning and birth control.

Even if President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo knows the significance of high birth rate in combating poverty problems in the Philippines, having been once a DSWD secretary, she tends to be careful with its population management program so as not to provoke the ire of the already critical Clergies to her administration. The bishops also took advantage of the government soft stand on Family Planning and birth control by calling for a ban on the advertisement of condom however the Arroyo’s administration only shrugged off their demands.

As if trying to maim the bishops stiff opposition on birth control and contraceptives, here comes Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral (former DSWD Secretary) “handing out condoms on February 13 as part of an information campaign on HIV-AIDS.” Her action may not necessarily be the collective stand of the government but nobody in the bureaucracy stood up to sanction her. She had not violated any law, she just exercised her political independence to promote actions responsive for the health and general welfare of the entire population. Yet the Bishops angrily called for her to resign.

But Health Secretary Cabral found allies on women’s health and rights advocate groups like the Party of the Workers who picketed and presented two baskest full of condoms at the headquarters of the Catholic Bishops Conference.

Judy Ann Miranda, the party’s secretary-general asked the bishops to “bless the condoms as a conciliatory gesture to unite for reproductive health and women’s rights” but unfortunately no bishop was around to receive/bless it.

As a response to the women activists action the bishops said, through spokesman Monsignor Pedro Quitorio, that they could not compromise on the church’s opposition to birth control devices. Again, a manifestation of the unwavering Catholic dogma on contraceptive devices which are perceived to tamper with the flow of nature and life. They the bishops however have no specific response on how to promote women’s reproductive health and quality of life.

“If contraceptives are immoral, nothing can change that… not even the vote of the whole country can change that,” Quitorio said. But should he not consider also immoral to see the health of women deteriorate just because couples are denied on the used of contraceptive devices. I think there is nothing more immoral than allowing spread of diseases and overpopulating the limited space we have in this country just because we can not control our rapid population growth.

And going back to politics, is the issue on contraceptives a leverage for a politician to improve his chances of winning in the presidential race? Will the good bishops support senator Manny Villar if he makes a covenant with the Catholic Church in the Philippines never to support legislative measures that advocate the use of contraceptives and other birth control devices? What will happen to the leading presidential candidate on surveys now should he decide to go against the bishops on their resistance to contraceptives and population control programs of the government?

So there we go, peace on earth and condom to all!

Political Platform and Broken Promises– (A class discussion)

It’s a heated political discussion in Secondlady’s Parliament of the Extreme. The wise and the fool want to trace the roots of poverty and underdevelopment in this land. These wise men and women pretending as senators and congressmen are now closing in to the eye of the problem. They temporarily abandoned the concept of greed, ignorance, and incompetence in the government so as not to see a couple of horns in their heads.

Gloria, not her excellency, raised the question: ” Is there such a thing as politician’s broken promises?”

But Randy the KSP and pasaway made fun with her question.

“Why did somebody promise you a grand wedding but instead ran away with a gay?”

Laughter followed. I had to intervene.

“This is a serious class discussion, behave or I’ll send you out.”

Emong the OFW son manifested his intention to participate. Permission was granted.

“Ma’am Seg, my classmates I just want to be clarified about a few things in relation to our topic. First, in the use of the word ‘promise.’ What is that being ‘promised’ by the politician? His platform of goverment or the programs/services he intends to do/accomplish during his/his term of office; second how does a politician arrive at his platform of government? Is it with consultation to people around him or he just based it on what he things/knows as best and right for the interest of his country and people; and third, for a politician to pursue his platform of government he has to translate everything into specific programs and services to be implemented. The question is this, are people involved (particularly those in the grassroots) in the identification of these needs, problems, solutions and their aspirations to keep the public official busy during his term of office? If not, nothing worthwhile is expected hence the notion of a broken promise.”

Samantha, the free thinker in the class raised her hand. I acknowledged her.

And she said: “Emong used the term “platform of government.” Is it really a “platform of government” that he is talking or he means a “political/party platform?” To me kasi, the the term platform of government is a more neutral term, it is a collective vision of what a government should be. This is people’s ideal not necessarily be that of a politician and his party.”

“And what’s the point you’re driving at Samantha Samantha?” I asked.

“Whether you are LP, NP, PALAKA, PM, KBL, UNO, etc., when you talk of platform of government your ideals and goals to serve goes beyond the boundaries of your personal/party interest. Everything you do is for the general interest of the majority of your people/constitutents, be they are rich or poor. And this is what Emong is saying as consultative goverment/governance. But I bet, most of these politicians are mouthing only the political platform of their party. It may not necessary address the needs of the majority but of the few. E, sabi pa naman, the government exists for the interest of the majority not of the few.”

Before I could say something somebody called our attention that Gloria’s question is not yet answered.

Joy the pragmatic mind stood up and said: “Kaya nga iyong sinasabi ninyong broken promises is a result of subordinating people’s interests over personal and party’s interest. The politician once elected into office has to attend first to his party’s interest, particularly those who support him during elections rather than those of his general constituents when it comes to implementation of programs and services. Siempre uunahin niya kaagad iyong mga bomoto sa kanya. Ladies and gentlemen this is partisan politics. This is the root of all the evil of governance in this country.”

Laughter and much applause followed.

“Para kang si Brenda niyan,” somebody shouted.

“Hey tumigil ka diyan, if you really know something makipag-participate ka ng maayos.

I saw somebody raising his hand at the corner. It’s Joel the son of a minister and the class’s moralist.

“Okay class let’s hear from Joel. Joel…”

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death (Proverbs 14:12). The problem with us is that people have impinged their hopes to the politicians with the notion these men and women in the government chosen by the majority of the electorate to serve are fix-all technicians. Governance is a participative process, tell them what you need and discuss how you collectively act on it. Ma’am Seg said once, no public servant is really a servant at all. If I understand her right, sa akin lang, kung gusto ng mga tao ang pagbabago ay kumilos din sila. They too have to participate. She used the term “makialam.”

Somebody butted in. “Kaya nga hindi tayo nagkakaisa masyadong maraming pakialamero diyan. We have an abused system and abused exercise of democracy. The government, politicians and officials at that, are overwhelmed by so many issues and problems of the country. They just don’t know where and how to start. They are at lost how to satisfy everybody. And they just don’t know what else project they do to make money.”

Metring, the working student, also expressed what is in her mind. “First of all I would like to say there is an incongruence of minds– from the government institutions, the politicians, officials, and the people. People are also divided on what they think as the problem of the country. The government institutions plan and propose budget to fulfil their mandates based on their studies and feedback from their own people in the field; and what the politicians understand about programs and services is nothing but personal accomplishments which will have an impact to the electorates later. It may not be the need, it may not be the solution to the need, it’s a kapalpakan. Suma tutal, nagpapapogi lang. For all you know what they claim as accomplishments are failed projects to the people. Perhaps you can even say- to those who failed to see the significance of these projects may consider the same as ‘the broken promises’ of ‘an honest government sana’ kung hindi nila ito pinagkakitaan.”

And now the activist mind stood up and said: “The government is a system of power which reside on the will of the people. But the politicians thwart this ideal once in power. Once elected they think they are now the power themselves not the people. Classic example the Maguindanao case. They are now the government, they are now the laws, they are now in control of everything including the people’s mind. They say to the people, this is your need, and this is what the government can do. And all of these things ay ‘utang na loob ninyo’ sa aming mga politicians.”

Raising his fist he said, “down with all those politicians who act more for the advantage of foreign interest than our national interest. Mga nagpapagamit lang iyan, mga salot na sanhi ng paghihirap ng mga tao. They promised to pursue the welfare and interest of the people but sad to say they preserve instead the interest of their capitalist masters. It’s not on hanging projects and services alone which they have failed in their promises, it is on subordinating the interest of their nation for their personal gain. Example? Ito, Seg este Sec. may dalawang daan ka rito.”

His political statement created much laughters and uproar in the class.

I wish I could have more time with them discussing political issues. This is not a political science course, it’s a class on social problems and development. But we all agree on one thing, a political problem is a social problem, and a social problem is a political problem. Both impair efficient and honest governance. We have graft and corruption in the government because it runs in the system. People are fragmented by their political party affiliations. We perceive that politicians, businessmen, industrialists, and foreign powers have a hand on this. In a highly corrupt and politicized system, all what the people could expect from them politicians are nothing but broken promises. The have a faulty view of their political platform, they neglect people’s interest to give way to their party interests. And when they talk about programs and services, it is not on what the people want but on what they believe is useful and necessary to them.

But as they say it in the neighborhood, puwera de los buenos. Which means while there are corrupt public officials and politicians there are also a few good ones. But their tribe is still need to increase. Until such time we see more of them, we will never be done with politician’s broken promises.

My students do not showcase the best minds in the world. Many of them are struggling to survive in many of their subjects. But there is one strength (a glimpse of hope for tomorrow) I see in them, they are aware of issues and they will never give up on what they believe is right. Yes, right for their country.

Our class is no Senate, although one or two attempted to be a clown in the circus. But these are serious students who still believe, we are not done yet with the Philippines. Yes, may pag-asa pa!

Index of Happiness

“Gusto ko Happy Kayo (I want you to be happy)” – Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile.

It has been said that life is a combination of joys and sorrows. Life is a game, and it is up to us how to play and win. But every person deserves some kind of joy and happiness in his journey to this life. But what makes a person happy?

To be happy one should know what does it mean to by happy and the sources of human joy of happiness. The index of happiness vary from “people to people and from culture to culture.” What is treated as happiness to some may be rejected by others.

There are several school of thoughts which try to define happiness.

1. “Spiritualistic School of Thought”, which recited, that real happiness consists essentially in spiritual mode of life.
2. “Materialistic School of Thought” upholds that real happiness lies simply in the conduct of materialism.

3.“Rationalistic School of Thought” stresses that only reason/wisdom and logic can attain happiness.

4. “Islamic School of Thought” states that the three types of life: the spiritual, the material and the rational are together essential elements of real happiness life. Divine Reality and the basic concept of the Oneness and Perfect Attributes of God gives real happiness and blessings.

But what is “real happiness?” For many religious believers they say it is a state of perfection attainable only in the life hereafter. Unfortunately happiness in this context happiness is not in our world. Religion tells us that real happiness happens only when people will receive eternal reward for their good deeds on Earth.

Likewise religious teachings, doctrines and philosophies “shield people from painful realities, such as human immortality, the lack of ultimate justice, and the ravages of an indifferent natural world.” Of course there are studies which support that religious believers are happier than non-believers around the world. It is because they experience a “sense of social support, as well as sense of purpose and hope for the future.” Take it from them, if you negate the egos of the heart, you will experience relative peace and happiness. That is if you agree with the religious people that happiness is not confined only to materialistic things but to the blessings and submission to the Lord Almighty God.

But at the passage of time religion and materialism now combine to induce one’s happiness now and hereafter. So Chalmers introduces three things that will make a person truly happy in this world: 1) someone to love, 2) something to do, and 3) something to hope for.

In the practical side of life, the poor believes that it’s economic prosperity that could bring happiness in this life. But this is not guarantee however for one to be ultimately happy because at the arrival of enormous wealth his life will be stressed on how to keep and make his wealth grows. Senator Manny Villar who raised from rags to riches is now haunted by the C-5 controversies. Wealth can be a source of happiness, it can also be a source of pains, sorrows and humiliations.

Yes the concepts of happiness have changed in our modern time. Happiness is not something that happens; not even a result of good fortune, and something that money can buy. It does not depend on outside events but how we interpret them ourselves. “Happiness, in fact, is a condition that must be prepared for, cultivated, and defended privately by each person. People who learn to control inner experience will be able to determine the quality of their lives.”

Ang kaligayan daw ay nasa isip lang. Papano naman kung kumakalam ang iyong sikmura? Para sa akin ang kaligayahan ay isang bagay ng hinahangad, minsan iyong makakamtam. At kung minsan naman ay mabibigo ka. Ang kaligayahan sa isang banda ay ang patuloy mong pakikibaka sa buhay at pananagumpay. Ang tunay na kaligayahan ay bunga ng ating dugo at pawis, paghihirap, at pagpupunyagi. Wala sa kamay ng mga pulitiko at pamahalaan. Instrumento lang sila at bahagi ng pagpupunyaging iyan.

Ang umaayaw daw ay hindi nagwawagi, ang nagwawagi ay laging maligaya.

What if there are more males than females in China?

Mainland China with it’s monstrous population has done everything to curb population growth to a level it could sufficiently support. But the Chinese are not comfortable with skewed China birth rate as this would leave more than 24 million Chinese men of marrying ages single since could no longer find themselves spouses in 2020.

The study, by the government-backed Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, named the gender imbalance among newborns as the most serious demographic problem for the country’s population of 1.3 billion, the Global Times said.

“Sex-specific abortions remained extremely commonplace, especially in rural areas,” where the cultural preference for boys over girls is strongest, the study said, while noting the reasons for the gender imbalance were “complex.”

Researcher Wang Guangzhou said the skewed birth ratio could lead to difficulties for men with lower incomes in finding spouses, as well as a widening age gap between partners, according to the Global Times.

Another researcher quoted by the newspaper, Wang Yuesheng, said men in poorer parts of China would be forced to accept marriages late in life or remain single for life, which could “cause a break in family lines.”

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100111/hl_afp/chinapopulationmenmarriage

So what does this mean to other Asian countries where there are more females than males? An opportunity for mail order brides by 2020? This is not a remote possibility since many women are attracted with economically stable Chinese men with China’s economy getting stronger each year. Filipina women as well could not be left behind.

But who ever is interested to venture into this kind of marriage scheme should think twice or thrice before plunging into becoming a mail-order-bride. As experienced by a lot of our Filipina women mail-order-bride does not always work as expected. Some bride are subjected to humiliations, harm, and even racial discriminations.

The Lifting of Martial Law; the Need for Vigilance

Martial Law was lifted but Maguindanao is still under state of emergency. With a large concentration of troops still in the province, the lifting of martial law is just on the papers. Civilians are not still free as think they should be. But they have a life to live and they should go on with their daily chores as they have been used to seeing armed men around whether legitimate government forces or mere private armies.

That’s why the joint Congressional session will still have to continue on Monday according to House Speaker Nograles to continue with the 20 hours allotted for the deliberations on Proclamation No. 1959 which placed the province of Maguindanao under martial law. Whether it is already moot and academic Congress will still have to make a resolution since the legality on the declaration of martial law in the province is under question and the public deserves to know about the collective views of our honourable men and women in Congress. Had not Malacanang lifted it earlier, joint-session in Congress was set to vote on the revocation of Martial Law comes Tuesday.

House Speaker Nograles who has always been supportive on the declaration of martial law in Maguindano by president Arroyo said: “The action of Malacañang only affirms our position that martial law in Maguindanao was only declared to ensure the swift restoration of peace and order in the province and quell the escalation of violence in the area.”

But Liberal Party Spokesman Rep. Lorenzo Tanada lll of Quezon has a contrary view on the earlier lifting of martial law Arroyo declared in Maguindanao. “Malacañang wants to pre-empt what Congress may do and what the Supreme Court may say on the legality of the Proclamation 1959. I hope the Supreme Court continues with its hearings and comes out with a decision whether Proclamation 1959 is legal and constitutional or not,” he said.

Critics of the proclamation however maintains that there was no “actual rebellion” to justify the declaration as required under the Constitution. Nevertheless, cause oriented groups and interested people from the public and private sectors are still interested to see the Supreme Court reviews and act on the legality of Proclamation No. 1959.

Bayan Secretary-general Renato Reyes of Bayan smells something fishy on the lifting of martial law before the joint congress could act on the resolution whether to revoke or allow martial law to continue for 60 days. “The lifting may have been the result of the numerous legal and factual loopholes in the declaration that’s now being assailed by a broad range of sectors. It is clear that the declaration was unnecessary. Just the same, we urge the SC to review the factual bases of the declaration, even if martial law has been lifted,” Reyes said.

“Proclamation 1959 sets a dangerous precedent” according to Akbayan Representative Rizza Hontiveros. “It was a trial balloon to check if they can manufacture a rebellion to impose iron rule, and, because Congress dilly-dallied, it turned out that they can. We must hold the government accountable for this abuse of constitutional powers,” Hontiveros said further.

What now that Martial Law is lifted? Of course there are still other suspects that need to be arrested and that the government should pursue filing of criminal cases against them as evidences warrant. There should be not let-up to this till everyone shall be made to pay for their own crime. Meanwhile we need also to secure our freedom, and that we should be vigilant because the president has already shown any time she wants it she could always declare martial law illegally and recalls it before the Congress and the Supreme Court could rule against it.

Avoiding Another Maguindanao Massacre- The Role of the Family

The home plays a very important role in the development of and individual to become a functional and law abiding citizen of his country and community. If we have a weak family, we have weak individuals, weak leaders, and weak government.

As observed, the main problem the country is facing today is not due to weak economy but weak spirituality. If our leaders are spiritually strong then we shall have an honest and transparent system of government. The greed and lust of power that transpire in our social system is but a product of a morally corrupted environment where the home or family did not perform well its duties and functions. What the children see at home is a reflection of what they do in their very own society.

The politically motivated massacre that happened last week in Maguindano which caused the lives of some 64 people mostly women and journalists is but a by product of unhealthy home environment. Apparently there is something wrong with the kind of family or home environment those people involved the alleged rape and massacre of women have been raised. Did their parents teach them how to respect life, not to harm people particularly women and children? Where they raised as responsible individuals who abhor violence and respect existing laws of the land?

Unfortunately dereliction basic parental duties to your offspring is costly not only to your family but to the government and the society as a whole. You may not know it but you have just created a human monster or a beast that may harm people and rub our government treasury of capital resources, etc. Further aggravating the problem of corruption in the government and all forms violence and crime in the society is what people experience and observe in the environment where they live. All forms of learning is observed, transferred, and perfected. This may also apply to the proliferation of vices and crime.

Politics and “warlordism” have generated a culture of violence where the only thing that matters is money and the barrel of the guns in resolving any conflict, disputes and some other issues. If you have political connection then you have gold, guns, and goons. You become untouchable and you are in control of everything in your territory. In a system like this it is no longer the government and laws that control people and the society but people with power, money, arms, and connection to the highest echelon of the government. The thing is- they are tolerated for whatever reason.

So it is easy to kill, to rape women, and shoot them in their private parts. Horrendous, only the beasts not human could do such a satanic act and crime. This is supposed to be a civilized world. Don’t parents tell their children not to lie, to steal, cheat, and harm others? Did not their church tell them that only the devil could harm unarmed human beings? In the Muslim tradition women are respected and not harmed; journalists are supposed to be spared; but this had happened already.

The passion for violence starts from the family. What children see from the father or elders is what they are going to be when they become old. Political leaders who are supposed to correct and prevent these acts through law enforcement fail to perform their duties either by neglect or simply tolerating it. Where did your parent go wrong?

We become unnecessarily poor because of graft and corruption, criminality, vices, immorality, and indolence. What has our leaders who promised reforms and progress accomplished over the years to correct this problem? Nothing is done much because our family system has done nothing too to improve the upbringing and disciplining of children so that they become useful and responsible citizens.

The cycle of violence and corruption shall continue for as long as the family does not really perform well its basic obligation and role as one of the most important units of the society.