#sona2014

[uwuphant]

I hate writing essays that have a requires word/page count because it will obviously be bullshitted 90% of the time. Hopefully, I won't have to with this one. #eliephoto #sona2014

[lordnomore-blog]

REPOST | Bakit ko Kasama ang Anak ko sa Rally

by Vincent Silarde

So according to some random social media rant I read (not for the first time) somewhere, I am one of those irresponsible and misguided parents/adults who go to rallies with children in tow. And now there’s this news that according to cops, I am also a human rights violator for doing so. The current state discourse accuses me of bad parenting for bringing my child to a protest rally which, many are led to believe, are senseless and violent activities harmful to minors. While I admit that I am in fact a lousy parent sometimes, I don’t believe that making a rally buddy out of my daughter amounts to negligence. On the contrary, it is with the best intentions (because good faith already sounds like a dreary cliché) that my wife and I decide to go to a protest rally as a family. Allow me to explain why.    

All year round, naysayers try to discredit the legitimacy of mass actions on account of it being violent, senseless, and obsolete. Every time I hear this, I can feel all the cells in my body erupting into a collective “DUH!”. But I don’t actually say “DUH” as I get the impression that most people who profess strong opposition to protest rallies have not actually been in one and their impressions of it are mostly informed by biased and uncritical media reportage and a faint sense of history.  They fail to consider, for instance, that most of the basic human rights we enjoy today were fruits of people’s painstaking struggle.   

And because people who diss protest rallies were not in attendance, they are not aware that these events, which the media frequently depicts as some lumpen and counterproductive activity that just causes traffic,  are actually moments filled with art, imagination, good vibes, learning, humanity, and love. In here, we hear the story of exploitation of people who happens to be excluded also from social media where most of us enjoy the privilege of gratuitous ranting and self-promotion. My wife and I believe that it is important for our grade school child to hear all these so that she would be aware that out there in the big world, poverty and injustice are not just activist propaganda but real problems that lead to the suffering of families just like her own.    

Protest rallies are also art fairs and music festivals attended by many of our best artists and cultural workers. Last SONA, Pinoy rock luminaries The Jerks and Datu’s Tribe shared the stage with punk bands, rap artists, and street performers on Commonwealth Avenue. Scriptwriter Ricky Lee was also there. On several occasions, I also saw Monique Wilson marching on the streets before giving a moving performance of Do You Hear the People Sing from Les Miserables. This is very important for us because while we do not oppose to our child’s choice of Katy Perry , One Direction, and Miley Cyrus, we find it our responsibility to show her that art and music have forms and uses other than hedonistic pop merchandises.   

Lastly, we take our child to protest rallies because we believe she needs to experience this to realize that there is an alternative to the dreams and desires promoted as natural and honorable by the dominant culture. Many of us are too preoccupied with constructing and pursuing individual dreams that tend to consume our humanity and dissuade us from the urgent and logical task of dreaming collectively as a species and society. We are consistently and deviously led to believe that we should work our assess off to acquire penthouses in condominiums with pretentious names; vacation homes in staid resort communities that have more yayas, gardeners, delivery boys, and security guards than homeowners most of the time; big cars which make short, ugly, and pompous jerks feel and look (at least in the eyes of gold digging and equally pretentious chicks) pretty and super; overpriced meals in overrated restaurants; memberships in exclusive golf and country clubs erected on lands that used be home villages of poor farming and fishing communities.   

Very little attention and action is paid to our supposedly shared responsibility of ensuring, first and foremost, that no one should go hungry, live under subhuman conditions, be prevented from swimming at the beach on account of non-membership or non-ownership, or die because he could not afford to live.  So some of us end up climbing social mountains and look utterly pathetic. Bootlicking and ass-kissing are ensconced as time-honored traditions and virtues. We forget that instead of striving to be the best and fastest social climbing bastard, we have a choice to destroy or level the mountain to the ground.      

And the system has even succeeded in making more money for the already tremendously wealthy out of our insecurities and anxieties. Financial institutions make huge profits from the business of selling mutual funds, car loans, life insurance, education plans, health insurance, etc because we have resigned to the idea that basic social services such as universal health care, public education, social security, mass transit, among others, cannot be institutionalized as a right instead of a privilege.   

It is in these protest rallies which oppose the privatization of hospitals and contractualization; call for the increase of workers’ wages, national industrialization, end of human rights violation, job creation, genuine land reform, protection of the environment, among many others, that we are able to, in our humble way, encourage our child to refuse to “live in a world of comforting illusions.” And unless I see for myself that these protest rallies have ceased to become the edifying and inspiring activities I’ve known them to be, I will continue to be there with my family, arms raised, fist clenched, and chanting IPBK Ibagsak! 

[gangcuangcoraiza-blog]

State of the Nation Address 2014

The fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Benigno S. Aquino was held last July 28, 2014, Monday, at exactly 4:00pm at Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon city.

PNoy, used a lot of numbers in his speech which emphasized that the country's economy is now doing good, restoration after calamities is fast, benefits of the Filipinos raise them from poverty, national security and the education aspects are priorities.  Lawmakers and guests at Batasan Pambansa gave him at least 85 rounds of applause for his 1.5hrs speech.

Aquino has cited that he's already contented with the accomplishments of his administration. All of the funds, according to the president, went to the places they are supposed to go.

SONA 2014 highlights the achievements of the government on education, social services, economy, improvement, infrastructure, calamity efforts, jobs, rehabilitation after typhoons and earthquake, modernization of AFP, security, ARMM Bangsamoro and livelihood.

Under the controversial DAP, PNoy said that around P1.6 billion fund was given to Training-for-WorkScholarship Program of TESDA. A total of 223,615 beneficiaries have graduated with an equivalent of 146,731 graduates currently working.

Aquino also boasts the Expanded Conditional Cash Transfer program which has started this June with a budget of 12.3 billion. According to him, the poverty incidence went down to 24.9% in the first quarter of 2013.

Last year, the Philippines received high investment grade status from Moody's, Fitch, at SandP. Aquino takes pride in the holding of the World Economic Forum in Manila recently. PNoy said that the budget for infrastructure has more than double. A total of 12,184 km national roads were done. He cites DPWH Sec. Singson for cutting corruption in infrastructure projects. "Bawal ang tongpats, bawal ang bukol."

Major infrastructures such as Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3, Ternate-Nasugbu Road, Basilan Circumferential Road and Aluling Bridge are some of the ongoing and newly-built infrastructure projects of DPWH

"We worked to have the ability to fund the projects that we implemented, are implementing, and will be implementing.", Aquino said.

When he talked about the Bohol and Cebu calamity, he said that P3.583 billion were released for the rehabilitation efforts.

After the super-typhoon Yolanda, efforts of the government include power restoration, road and airport repairs that were done immediately according to him. He thanked the Task Foce Yolanda for their prompt response. A total of 221,897 received jobs after the said typhoon.

(See here for more facts and figures delivered by President Aquino: https://www.flickr.com/photos/125297133@N08/sets/72157645996441651)

And of course,  it is common that every SONA, the President always make promises. Here are the some of the action items of the Aquino government for the next months or year:

Laguna Lakeshore Expressway Dike bidding by end of 2014

Open alternative roads to EDSA

Opening of the Palawan Busuanga Airport

Push Bangsamoro Basic Law

Ensure enough supply of power to meet the growing energy demand

2.606 trillion for 2015 National Budget

As expected, the President chastised his critics in his SONA saying they are against those who benefited in his platform of good governance ("Boss", the people) He also had strong words against rice hoarders and corrupt officials at the Bureau of Customs. PNoy reiterated that if his critics are against him, they are also against the informal settlers who benefited in the relocation programs, the Muslims who will benefit in the Bangsamoro Basic Law, students who benefited in the the courses offered by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and victims of storms who were rescued from harm.

And probably, despite of the said achievements and plans of the government, thousands of protesters marched along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City toward Batasan Pambansa on Monday afternoon.

According to them, Aquino is the pork barrel king as they have showed "holDAPer" effigy which pertains to the President's DAP.

Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes Jr. who joined the rally of 17,000 protesters at Commonwealth Avenue said that most of the accomplishments of the government are not felt by majority of Filipinos.

Meanwhile, Aquino did not mention the issue on the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) with many of the politicians are involved. PNoy also failed to include the passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill in his SONA. The measure aims to eliminate corruption in the bureaucracy by giving the public greater access to government transactions and records.

Few hours before his SONA, Social Weather Stations (SWS) has released second-quarter survey results which shows that around 500,000 more Filipino families saw themselves 'poor'. In the survey, 55 percent of respondents claimed to be poor, up from 53 percent in March.

At the end of his speech, the President praised some religious leaders,local government heads, NGOs, soldiers and artists who made significant contributions. He also showed another video testimonials of 3 policewomen who arrested members of Martilyo Gang. He turned emotional when he reflected on the memory of his parents, slain Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. and the late President Corazon Aquino. And to conclude the address, he urged the Filipino people to be the key in continuing the positive transformation that his administration started.

"Hangga't buo ang ating pananalig at tiwala—mapapatunayang: “The Filipino is worth dying for, the Filipino is worth living for. Idadagdag ko naman po, the Filipino is definitely worth fighting for," PNoy said

--

In his talk, the government meant well. There was no admission of any major problems in the system, and nothing about what is eating the country from the inside and out: corruption. His SONA is simple and concise, and his appeal to the emotions was genuine and felt by the listeners, even his critics. He was also wise not to mention the Supreme Court and the three senators who are in jail for the pork barrel scam. I think when other citizens hear the president’s speech, you would probably feel very optimistic about living in the Philippines – the improvements, the country’s acceleration, and the implied contentment of the citizens. People say that the president’s SONA is full of metaphors; at some point he was the captain on a ship, ferrying the Filipino people from an island of corruption to an island of flourishing beauty. It’s all so dreamy – he discussed mainly the beauty of what is on the surface, but not what is rotting at the core. 

This SONA is the president’s fifth, the second to the last, and we are expecting him to discuss more about what is happening now – impeachment complaints because of DAP, territorial disputes, pork barrel scam, energy problems and more. Despite the improvements, there are matters deep in the crevices of the system greatly affecting the country that have been left unmentioned. 

“It’s not given to people to judge what’s right or wrong. People have eternally been mistaken and will be mistaken, and in nothing more than in what they consider right and wrong.” --PNoy Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Yes, because handling a certain country isn't easy, so I won't really expect a fast action towards his plans specially when the people under his position is not good as we think. 

The Philippines has so many problems right now, and PNoy is right in rallying his 'bosses' -the Filipino people- to help him in continuing the positive transformation his administration has started and will be doing in the next two years. So, let's just hope for the best and keep praying for our beloved country. (:

--

The State of the Nation Address is also a haven of formal wear. Elegant butterfly sleeves were once again aflutter on the red carpet at the Batasang Pambansa’s North and South Halls for President Benigno S. Aquino III fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA). This year, amid the public clamor for a simpler, more modest nationalistic fashion “spectacle,” the Filipiniana gowns, at least the soft pastels and white terno brigade that constituted a significant section of the A-list guests and VIP arrivals, seemed dramatically refined—while some frocks were noticeably “politically colored.” The colors of  Yellow signified for PNoy, Peach for Impeachment, and White for We’re Still Deciding.

(see more here: http://www.abs-cbn.com/updates/The-SONA-2014-Fashion?scid=E7A36540-B352-42B5-A225-5B9552298962)

-----

SOURCES:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbVqQUIXYwY

http://www.thesummitexpress.com/2014/07/president-aquino-sona-2014-highlights-review-for-reaction-paper.html

https://www.flickr.com/photos/125297133@N08/sets/72157645996441651

http://www.abs-cbn.com/updates/The-SONA-2014-Fashion?scid=E7A36540-B352-42B5-A225-5B9552298962

http://www.mb.com.ph/the-colors-of-sona-2014/

[justanothersideblogofmine]

Ang mga mayayaman daw ay lalong yumayaman at ang mahihirap ay lalong humihirap

Hindi naman daw totoong umuonti ang mahihirap kundi lalong dumadami.

Well, of course.

Ang mayayaman ay mga nagtatrabaho at ang anak ay mga isa hanggang tatlo lang. Siguro naman kung mayaman lang sila at hindi nagtatrabaho ay malamang maghihirap din sila kalaunan, pero dahil nagtatrabaho pa rin sila e di lalo silang yumayaman.

Ang mahihirap, paanong hindi maghihirap e wala na nga pangkain lumalaklak pa ng alak o di kaya ay droga. Siyempre hindi naman lahat, may mga nagsusumikap rin naman, pero isipin mo na lang:

Sa 1 mahirap na nagsisikap ay mayroon diyan 1 na nag-aanak ng sampu o higit pa kahit wala naman trabaho.

O sige, ipaliwanag mo kung bakit dumarami ang mahihirap.

Okay lang na ipangtulong sa kapwa ang tax ko pero sa mga taong gusto rin tulungan ang sarili nila. Hindi naman nakakatuwa na nakiktia ko na ipinamimigay lang ng gobyerno ang tax ko sa indulgent diyan sa kanto na nakikita kong panay ang inom ng alak habang nagwawala ang mga anak at asawa niya, hindi ba?

[carltadeo]

A CRITIQUE ON SONA 2014 OF PRESIDENT BENIGNO AQUINO III Filipino Nation: A Hand to Hold

Sometimes, what we expect is far from what the present situation allures us.

The fifteenth president of the Republic of the Philippines, His Excellency Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III, just gave his 5th State of the Nation Address last 28th of July 2014 at the Batasan Pambansa. Lawmakers and guests gave him at least 85 rounds of applause for his 1.5 hrs speech.

In this review and student critiquing of President Aquino’s SONA, the primary highlights were the foremost defiance of the Philippine economical aspect as well as the various modes of the Filipino nation.

Hitching the various strands of SONA including the achievements of the government such as on education, social service, economy, improvement, infrastructure, calamity efforts, job, rehabilitation after typhoons and earthquake, modernization of AFP, security, ARMM Bangsamoro and livelihood.

Onto the start of President Aquino’s SONA, he stated how well amidst the controversial DAP issue the government managed to increase beneficiaries of TESDA Scholarships.

His report with regards to the decreasing poverty incidence is another great thing. Moreover his statement about the increasing of trust of the foreign investors in our country is good music to hear. This one adheres to his prologue and foremost goal in the recently concluded World Economic Forum in Manila.

As we can see, there are improvements in terms of our infrastructures the call of the various calamities such as what happened in the super-typhoon Yolanda. Another one is enhancing the security through modernization of the AFP, even in the PNP which procures security among the community and a help in calamity notwithstanding criminality.

Going to his promises, the best were as follows: the pushing of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, ensuring the enough supply of power to meet the growing energy demand, and the 2.606 trillion for 2015 National Budget.

In his SONA he administered and tried to extrapolate all the essential things that matters the Filipino people the most. It adheres to the basic principles of necessity and needs of a human. But going the other side, he haven’t included two important things which is somehow has big effect to the Filipinos. The Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) with many of the politicians was involved and the passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill has not been mentioned.

This is his best SONA. He became emotional, but still adhered to be the nation’s head. He should be strong but cried in front of his people. He just wants us to hold on, try to give our hands to his shoulder and say ‘Mr. President, the Filipino nation is here with you. You might commit mistakes. But we are also here not just to be served by you but to be with you in making a way for our country’s prosperity.’

 He might be a good president. He started, finished and continuing to do his job. But who will then be the next. There is no successor to continue his legacy.

[man-in-action]

Gising Pilipino

'Yung araw ng SONA ni PNoy, naisipan kong i-post ito sa facebook. Wala akong masyadong ginagawa kaya maraming random thoughts kahit pagod na ang isip ko kaiisip ng kung anu-anong may kinalaman sa aking bansa. Mas maganda na rin 'to kasi nakakapagpamulat ako, kesa naman na magpost ako ng sandamakmak na selfies na wala naman akong mabuting mapapala. Ito ang aking pahayag sa mga Pilipinong may baluktot na pag-iisip o pananaw, nasa kanila na 'yun kung may bukas silang isipan at papaano nila ito iintindihin: ---

"Batikos nang batikos. Isa lang siya (PNoy). Marami tayo. Kayo, meron din kayong mata, kamay, paa at utak, katulad niya. Imbes na bibig lang ang gamitin, ba't hindi niyo gamitin 'yang utak niyo at tingnan kung ano talaga ang totoong pinagdadaanan nating lahat. Wala ng ibang lulutas ng problema kundi tayo lang din ordinaryong mamamayan. May sarili tayong kamay at paa, hindi 'yung lahat iniaasa sa pamahalaan. Ayaw niyo sa kanila? Sino ba ang nagluklok diyan? Sila rin ba? Wala nang ibang naging pagbabago kasi sa simula pa lang ay lumaki na tayong umaasa lang at sa paniniwalang makakamtan ang ginhawa sa pangingibang bansa. Nasaan ang pagka-Pilipino? Kung talagang mahusay kayo, itutuon niyo ang paglilingkod sa sariling bansa. Sarili niyo lang pinagsisilbihan niyo, ibang bansa ang pinapaunlad niyo. Ngayon, gusto niyo ng magandang buhay? Kumilos kayo. Kumilos tayong lahat. Kumilos tayo para sa Pilipinas."

[mariamafiosa-blog]

walalungs #sona2014#bestdressed #nancybinay

[fabafter40]

People are Mean

So the Philippine President's State of the Nation Address was yesterday, and though I missed it, I got a good overview of people's takeaways from the event just by browsing my social media feeds. This was pretty much my main takeaway... which, by the way, stayed with me well into the night.

And it didn't even have anything to do with SONA itself. It was actually in response to what seemed like a million people's fixation on one lady senator's unfortunate outfit choice.

I mean fine, there was a rather striking resemblance to an upside-down hot air balloon there, sure, but geez. After the first cackle/comparison, you'd think people would move the frak on. But no. Enter Photoshop and the Internet mob, and let's just say things got kind of nasty. 

Now I'm far from the kindest person on earth, and I am certainly guilty of the occasional snarky remark - whether in my head or in the company of my friends...

So I don't honestly know why I was so bothered by yesterday's Binay-bashing. I don't know... I may be wrong, but I think there's a difference between (1) making a snarky side comment to a friend, and (2) gleefully posting something mean online with the intent to get a reaction and a share. The former is normal, the latter just sucks. 

Life is often unkind and unfair enough on its own without you and I contributing to the mix with needless negative shiz. And there's so much to comment on that's awesome. Why not focus on that instead? 

Rewind. Be kind. It's never too late to start. 

Peace, people. :)