No matter how sinful or evil a person is, society should still not disregard the rule of law to catch him. If it does, then society is no better than that bad guy. Let me repost an excerpt from the play A Man For All Seasons, where St. Thomas More explained this concept better than me:
William Roper: So, now you give the Devil the benefit of law!
Sir Thomas More: Yes! What would you do? Cut a great road through the law to get after the Devil?
William Roper: Yes, I'd cut down every law in England to do that!
Sir Thomas More: Oh? And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned 'round on you, where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat? This country is planted thick with laws, from coast to coast, Man's laws, not God's! And if you cut them down, and you're just the man to do it, do you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then? Yes, I'd give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety's sake!
Sonny, Lim, Teofisto, Robert, Bibeth and the Magdalo soldiers and symphatizers did just what William Roper wanted to do--mow down the laws of the Republic to bring down the Arroyo regime.
You don't do that, man, especially if there's no justifiable reason for it.
Atty. Argee Guevara said they weren't breaking any laws with the Peninsula seige. Are you kidding me? thats usurpation of real rights; sedition; assault; libel; slander; threats; coercion; the list could go on and on.
Tama ba yun? na mag-walk out ka sa hearing mo? Lakarin ang buong stretch ng Makati Ave. at salakayin ang isang 5-star hotel?
Thanks very much, Sonny, and you and your cohorts just sabotaged our economy once again!
Salamat, at lahat ng employees ng Peninsula walang trabaho ngayon!
Salamat, at baka parang Oakwood, ibenta ng Peninsula ang hotel nila sa Makati!
Salamat, at imbes na umakyat pa ang ekonomiya, eh bumaba pa ito!
The Magdalos should rename their group to Manggugulo.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Ano akala niyo sa akin, timang?!
The Provincial Board Members League of the Philippines, or PBMLP, scheduled its annual National Convention from last Monday and ending today, Wednesday.
It was the first time for me to attend such an event, and let me tell you this, I was dissappointed. Registration was a mess. Our 'kits' comprised of a black bag, an ID, and a certificate of insurance. The most important detail, THE PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES, was missing. Anong schedule namin?!
True enough, wala kaming ginawang substantial on the first day. Disorganized sila.
I've seen better conventions organized by college and high school students.
Tuesday was a little different. There was still chaos, but atleast may activity naman. We had a talk on Human Rights and Justice. The speakers were Commissioner Cueto of the CHR and Senator Escudero. Cueto was boring, but I think we owed him the attention. NO ONE WAS LISTENING!!! At nung si Escudero naman nagsalita, nagtitilian yung mga babaeng bokal. Anyhoo, this was the first time for me to listen to Chiz live, and I must say he is very engaging. Galing ng tagalog niya.
After those talks, I attended the one on Health. The topic was on the Reproductive Health bill by Congresswoman Janette Garin. It was very interesting. Ang sad lang na konti lang umattend. Most of the bokals were outside smoking and having coffee.
The culminating activity of the convention, apparent to me, was the election of officers. Nevermind, the exchange of best practices, who cares about that. To the bokals, what matters most is the elections.
And I was really dissappointed with how it went. Could you imagine, the candidates were taking me for a fool? They had tarpaulins all over the hotel. They were distributing flyers, ballpens, calendars, calling cards and other campaign paraphernalia. The posters had their picture, name and bio-data. BUT NO PROGRAM OF GOVERNMENT! NO PLATFORM WHATSOEVER.
How could I make an intelligent choice, especially this was the first time I met them face to face.
I'll base my judgment on looks and background? eh pare-pareho naman kaming mga bokal ah.
ANO AKALA NILA SA AKIN, TIMANG?
I felt so insulted!!!
Ano ako, uneducated voter?!
3 were running for president and during their 3-minute campaign speech all they could think of was to have a service vehicle?!
Service vehicle?!
How about creating or updating the PBMLP website so that we could have a place to exchange ideas and tap each others database? I was looking for that kind of program, pero wala silang binigay.
Sigaw na lang sila ng pangalan nila at posisyon.
Ano to, election ng barangay?
This is the election of officers of the Provincial Board Members League of the Philippines! I expected more.
So who did I vote? of the 3 candidates for President, I didn't vote for any of them. Binoto ko si "-------------".
As for the other positions, I only voted those who took the time to talk to me and introduced themselves.
I'm seriously considering not attending next year's convention. waste of money and time.
It was the first time for me to attend such an event, and let me tell you this, I was dissappointed. Registration was a mess. Our 'kits' comprised of a black bag, an ID, and a certificate of insurance. The most important detail, THE PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES, was missing. Anong schedule namin?!
True enough, wala kaming ginawang substantial on the first day. Disorganized sila.
I've seen better conventions organized by college and high school students.
Tuesday was a little different. There was still chaos, but atleast may activity naman. We had a talk on Human Rights and Justice. The speakers were Commissioner Cueto of the CHR and Senator Escudero. Cueto was boring, but I think we owed him the attention. NO ONE WAS LISTENING!!! At nung si Escudero naman nagsalita, nagtitilian yung mga babaeng bokal. Anyhoo, this was the first time for me to listen to Chiz live, and I must say he is very engaging. Galing ng tagalog niya.
After those talks, I attended the one on Health. The topic was on the Reproductive Health bill by Congresswoman Janette Garin. It was very interesting. Ang sad lang na konti lang umattend. Most of the bokals were outside smoking and having coffee.
The culminating activity of the convention, apparent to me, was the election of officers. Nevermind, the exchange of best practices, who cares about that. To the bokals, what matters most is the elections.
And I was really dissappointed with how it went. Could you imagine, the candidates were taking me for a fool? They had tarpaulins all over the hotel. They were distributing flyers, ballpens, calendars, calling cards and other campaign paraphernalia. The posters had their picture, name and bio-data. BUT NO PROGRAM OF GOVERNMENT! NO PLATFORM WHATSOEVER.
How could I make an intelligent choice, especially this was the first time I met them face to face.
I'll base my judgment on looks and background? eh pare-pareho naman kaming mga bokal ah.
ANO AKALA NILA SA AKIN, TIMANG?
I felt so insulted!!!
Ano ako, uneducated voter?!
3 were running for president and during their 3-minute campaign speech all they could think of was to have a service vehicle?!
Service vehicle?!
How about creating or updating the PBMLP website so that we could have a place to exchange ideas and tap each others database? I was looking for that kind of program, pero wala silang binigay.
Sigaw na lang sila ng pangalan nila at posisyon.
Ano to, election ng barangay?
This is the election of officers of the Provincial Board Members League of the Philippines! I expected more.
So who did I vote? of the 3 candidates for President, I didn't vote for any of them. Binoto ko si "-------------".
As for the other positions, I only voted those who took the time to talk to me and introduced themselves.
I'm seriously considering not attending next year's convention. waste of money and time.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Close, but no cigar
It was this time last year, when I was feeling depressed working in a law firm, that I started applying for my LLM (Master of Laws) studies abroad. I did the TOEFL thing, went to my profs for Referee Letters or Letter of Recommendation, and all the other application requirements. Laki-laki pa ng ginastos ko sa pag-FedEx ng applications ko.
Of the 4 universities that i applied to, I got accepted to 3. I was admitted in the University College London in the United Kingdom, and Leiden University and Utrecht University in the Netherlands. Sadly, I didn't make it to the only American law school I applied to, the University of Michigan. Still, 3 out of 4 ain't bad, right? Moreover, UCL is the 3rd best school in England and is in the top 20 in the world rankings.
I then applied for scholarships. Surprisingly, I was granted a 50% scholarship in Leiden. Okay yun ah. so far, so good, I told myself. Pero, malaki pa rin yung other half. Eh yun lang yung pinakamalaking grant meron sa Netherlands. So I shifted my focus sa England.
I tried my luck sa British Chevening Scholarship kasi full scholarship yun, complete with lodging, plane fare and stipend. My grades weren't that impressive, pero what the heck, fight! So nagrequest nanaman ako ng Referee Letters. Nagsubmit ako sa British Embassy, and hoped for the best.
Alam kong, mahirap makapasok, so all i wished fro was to be interviewed.
That wish came true when the embassy officer phoned me to schedule an interview. Wow, na-shortlist ako!
Pinagaralan ko ang England at UCL sa wikipedia. I really tried to prepare for the interview. the day came and I did my best to try to impress the panel.
Bahala na si batman. Pero sa loob-loob ko, sana mapili ako.
Today, I received a letter from the British Embassy informing me that I didn't get selected.
Sigh...
Oh, well.
Close, but no cigar.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
PopLaw Seminar in Ilocos
Today was the first day of the Barangay Law Seminar for Neophyte Barangay Chairs here in Ilocos Norte, conducted by the Institute of Government and Law Reform of the U.P. Law Center under its POPLAW Program.
Although the newly elected community leaders take their oaths on November 30 and therefore will hold office on December 1, I thought it best that they'd be informed, as early as possible, their duties as Barangay Chairmen. I have always been an advocate of continuing legal education, and Barangay Heads should be no exception. In fact, they should always be informed and updated since most of our new laws give them new duties and responsibilities.
Mabuti at my POPLAW Program ang UP. I learned about this when I visited my prof in law school, ma'am Rowie, sa Law Center. She was having merienda with Profs. Labitag and Sison and they told me to invite them to lecture in Ilocos.
So, I invited them and we pushed through with this project.
When we made a headcount, we only expected 150 neophyte barangay heads. This morning when I went to the Provincial Auditorium, which could accomodate a maximum of 200 persons, I was so surprised to see it full. 350 Barangay Chairmen came! They came from all over the province. Even those who were on their 2nd or 3rd terms came! Because the seminar was to be conducted by UP law profs.
Overwhelming yung attendance. And here I was thinking konti lang ang pupunta (as of Monday 130 lang ang nag-confirm). Akala ko mapapahiya ako sa profs ko at kay Gov. Keon.
Siksik, liglig at umaapaw!
Anyhow, nakinig naman yung mga kapitan. Interesting yung talk ni Prof DannyCon on Succession. tapos Property Law by Prof Labitag. Then Criminal Law by Dean Carale.
In the late afternoon, lecture naman on Sangguniang Kabataan Law for newly elected SK Chairs.
Maraming salamat, UP Law Center and POPLAW Program!
Maraming salamat sa mga dumalo!
Sa uulitin!
Monday, November 05, 2007
"Zoom I.N." Photo Contest
Rules and Mechanics:
1. Theme: Photos must promote Ilocos Norte tourism by depicting any of the province’s tourist spots, or by featuring an activity unique to Ilocanos.
2. Eligibility. All photographers, professional or amateur, ages 15 and above, and residents of Ilocos Norte are eligible (Photographers under 18 must obtain parental consent). A maximum of five (5) entries per photographer will be allowed.
3. Camera Type. Any camera type, digital or film, is allowed to be used for the contest.
4. Contest Period. The Contest will run from November 1, 2007 to December 15, 2007 at 5:00 p.m. Photo exhibit will be from December 17-28, 2007 at the Provincial Capitol Lobby. Awarding of winners will be on December 21, 2007.
5. Submission of Entries:
a. Digital files: JPG format with a minimum width of 1024 pixels and a maximum height of 768 pixels (72 dpi). Digital files must be in CD.
b. Film entries should be submitted together with the negative.
c. Strictly no Photoshop (or any other software) manipulation for the submitted entries, except for cropping, red eye removal, and/or adjustment of contrast and brightness. Photographs that are inappropriate, indecent or obscene, as determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion shall be disqualified.
Note: Photos thought to be outside of the above criteria may be removed from consideration without the entrant being notified.
d. Photo size. Photos entered must be 8” x 10” (8R) and mounted on illustration board with 1.5” border.
e. Entry Form. Entry forms are available at participating photo developing shops/centers and at Rm. 214 Ilocano Heroes Hall, Laoag City.
f. Submission. Address and submit entries at “Zoom IN Photo Contest”, Rm. 214, Ilocano Heroes Hall, Laoag City.
g. Photos must be taken in Ilocos Norte between January 1, 2007 and December 15, 2007 and should not have been previously entered in any photo contest.
h. All photos entered will be evaluated by a panel of at least three judges. Of the judges, none are professional photographers.
i. All entries and photographs submitted become the exclusive property of Office of Kristian R. Ablan (OKRA), and none will be acknowledged or returned. OKRA retains full editorial control over the selection of, and the decision not to select, any particular photograph for publication.
6. Criteria for Judging:
a. Creativity – 30% The amount of imagination, artistic merit, originality and expressiveness of the photo.
b. Relevance to the theme – 25% How well does the entry promote tourism for Ilocos Norte?
c. Quality of Presentation – 20% The amount of style, skill and craft that was put into the entry.
d. Visual Impact – 25% How well does the entry communicate?
7. Prizes:
Major Prizes: 1st Prize : Php 10,000.00 + Trophy + Overnight stay at Fort Ilocandia
2nd Prize: Php 7,500.00 + Trophy + Two (2) Round trip tickets to Manila via Cebu Pacific
3rd Prize: Php 5,000.00 + Trophy + Overnight stay at Sitio Remedios
Special Awards: Governor’s Choice: Php 5,000.00
Mayor’s Choice: Php 5,000.00
Gordion Travel & Tours Choice: Overnight Stay at Gordion Inn
Other Minor Prizes
8. Decision. Judges’ decision is final.
9. Disqualification. Employees of the Office of Kristian R. Ablan, Department of Tourism, Provincial Tourism Office, including their relatives up to second degree of consanguinity or affinity are disqualified from joining the contest.
10. Rights Granted. By submitting a photograph for consideration, you warrant and represent that the photograph you submit is your own original work, that you alone own copyright to the photograph, that it is an authentic and accurate depiction of the subject matter presented, that no other party has any right, title, claim or interest in the photograph, and that you have obtained all third party releases and permissions necessary for our use. If OKRA receives a complaint that substantially questions the reliability of any of the above warranties, we reserve the right to remove or delete the photograph.
Entrants retain the copyright to their photographs, and all rights thereto, except as follows. OKRA shall have the right to edit, adapt and publish any or all of the descriptions and/or photos submitted, and may use them in any medium without attribution or compensation to the Entrant, his or her successors or assigns, or any other entity. By entering the Contest, Entrants agree to have their submitted photograph used and displayed, either singly or in combination with others and in any size, on the Ilocos Norte Official Website and in the Provincial Capitol and the Museo Ilocos, among other exhibition venues, without any fee or other form of compensation due at any time for so long as desired by OKRA. Photos will be credited to the Entrant named in the entry form.
1. Theme: Photos must promote Ilocos Norte tourism by depicting any of the province’s tourist spots, or by featuring an activity unique to Ilocanos.
2. Eligibility. All photographers, professional or amateur, ages 15 and above, and residents of Ilocos Norte are eligible (Photographers under 18 must obtain parental consent). A maximum of five (5) entries per photographer will be allowed.
3. Camera Type. Any camera type, digital or film, is allowed to be used for the contest.
4. Contest Period. The Contest will run from November 1, 2007 to December 15, 2007 at 5:00 p.m. Photo exhibit will be from December 17-28, 2007 at the Provincial Capitol Lobby. Awarding of winners will be on December 21, 2007.
5. Submission of Entries:
a. Digital files: JPG format with a minimum width of 1024 pixels and a maximum height of 768 pixels (72 dpi). Digital files must be in CD.
b. Film entries should be submitted together with the negative.
c. Strictly no Photoshop (or any other software) manipulation for the submitted entries, except for cropping, red eye removal, and/or adjustment of contrast and brightness. Photographs that are inappropriate, indecent or obscene, as determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion shall be disqualified.
Note: Photos thought to be outside of the above criteria may be removed from consideration without the entrant being notified.
d. Photo size. Photos entered must be 8” x 10” (8R) and mounted on illustration board with 1.5” border.
e. Entry Form. Entry forms are available at participating photo developing shops/centers and at Rm. 214 Ilocano Heroes Hall, Laoag City.
f. Submission. Address and submit entries at “Zoom IN Photo Contest”, Rm. 214, Ilocano Heroes Hall, Laoag City.
g. Photos must be taken in Ilocos Norte between January 1, 2007 and December 15, 2007 and should not have been previously entered in any photo contest.
h. All photos entered will be evaluated by a panel of at least three judges. Of the judges, none are professional photographers.
i. All entries and photographs submitted become the exclusive property of Office of Kristian R. Ablan (OKRA), and none will be acknowledged or returned. OKRA retains full editorial control over the selection of, and the decision not to select, any particular photograph for publication.
6. Criteria for Judging:
a. Creativity – 30% The amount of imagination, artistic merit, originality and expressiveness of the photo.
b. Relevance to the theme – 25% How well does the entry promote tourism for Ilocos Norte?
c. Quality of Presentation – 20% The amount of style, skill and craft that was put into the entry.
d. Visual Impact – 25% How well does the entry communicate?
7. Prizes:
Major Prizes: 1st Prize : Php 10,000.00 + Trophy + Overnight stay at Fort Ilocandia
2nd Prize: Php 7,500.00 + Trophy + Two (2) Round trip tickets to Manila via Cebu Pacific
3rd Prize: Php 5,000.00 + Trophy + Overnight stay at Sitio Remedios
Special Awards: Governor’s Choice: Php 5,000.00
Mayor’s Choice: Php 5,000.00
Gordion Travel & Tours Choice: Overnight Stay at Gordion Inn
Other Minor Prizes
8. Decision. Judges’ decision is final.
9. Disqualification. Employees of the Office of Kristian R. Ablan, Department of Tourism, Provincial Tourism Office, including their relatives up to second degree of consanguinity or affinity are disqualified from joining the contest.
10. Rights Granted. By submitting a photograph for consideration, you warrant and represent that the photograph you submit is your own original work, that you alone own copyright to the photograph, that it is an authentic and accurate depiction of the subject matter presented, that no other party has any right, title, claim or interest in the photograph, and that you have obtained all third party releases and permissions necessary for our use. If OKRA receives a complaint that substantially questions the reliability of any of the above warranties, we reserve the right to remove or delete the photograph.
Entrants retain the copyright to their photographs, and all rights thereto, except as follows. OKRA shall have the right to edit, adapt and publish any or all of the descriptions and/or photos submitted, and may use them in any medium without attribution or compensation to the Entrant, his or her successors or assigns, or any other entity. By entering the Contest, Entrants agree to have their submitted photograph used and displayed, either singly or in combination with others and in any size, on the Ilocos Norte Official Website and in the Provincial Capitol and the Museo Ilocos, among other exhibition venues, without any fee or other form of compensation due at any time for so long as desired by OKRA. Photos will be credited to the Entrant named in the entry form.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
A Man for All Seasons 1
'A Man for All Seasons' is a 1966 movie starring Paul Scofield as Sir Thomas More, the former Chancellor of England in the 16th Century who refused to endorse or denounce King Henry's wish to divorce his wife, Catherine of Aragon--who could not bear a son. The film is based on a play with the same name, written by Robert Bolt.
It's definitely one of my favorites. Idol ko yang si Thomas More kasi maprinsipyo siya. I don't know if I could lay down my life for principle, like him, but I do aspire for it.
One quotable quote was on the importance of law, and the fact that it protects everyone, and we should not trample on it to get to the bad guy.
William Roper: So, now you give the Devil the benefit of law!
Sir Thomas More: Yes! What would you do? Cut a great road through the law to get after the Devil?
William Roper: Yes, I'd cut down every law in
Sir Thomas More: Oh? And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned 'round on you, where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat? This country is planted thick with laws, from coast to coast, Man's laws, not God's! And if you cut them down, and you're just the man to do it, do you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then? Yes, I'd give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety's sake!
Sir Thomas More: I think that when statesmen forsake their own private conscience for the sake of their public duties, they lead their country by a short route to chaos.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Who said the Barangay Elections are non-political?
Its a day before the barangay and SK elections and I'm so tired already.
You might be asking why I'm tired since I'm not a candidate anyway.
Eh yun na nga eh. Ako yung pinupuntahan ng mga kumakandidato para mag-barangay captain!
As early as August this year, pinipilahan na ako sa office ko sa heroes hall at sa upuan ko sa session hall para sa mga projects nila.
Tapos nung September 'financial assistance' na hinihingi sa akin.
Dalawa ang rason na binibigay nila sa akin.
Una, pambayad utang. Kesyo kinampya daw nila ako nung election at nag-number 1 daw ako sa barangay nila.
Or, second, for my political future daw when I run for Congressman.
Oh, my gosh.
To begin with, under national law, the barangay elections are supposed to be non-partisan and non-political. Hindi dapat makialam ang mga pulitiko dyan sa elections na yan. That's NATIONAL LAW ha.
But it seems that in this country, FOLLOWING THE LAW is the last thing we ever do. More often than not, we disregard the law by going around it, or, worse, pretend that it doesn't exist.
With regard to pambayad utang, di naman ako humingi ng pera sa kanila nung May ah. I campaigned in their barangays. Pambayad utang?! Can we stop with this patronage system?! Ano to, 1920's? My gulay, 21st century na, ganito pa rin tayo?
With regard naman to the argument na investment ko to when I run for Congressman (if i run for congressman), pwede ba, kakahalal ko lang bilang bokal, let me worry about my job right now first. Kakaupo ko pa lang sa silya ko pinapaupo niyo na ako sa iba. Ang layo layo pa nun no.
At sa mga sumasabi na malapit na ang 2010, eh ano? Bakit ko iisipin yon? Mali yun eh.
"The difference between a politician and a statesman is that, a politician thinks of the next election, while a statesman thinks of the next generation." --James Clarke
I don't want to think about 2010. I want to think about 2007. Then when 2008 comes, I want to think about 2008. Pag-iniisip ang susunod na election, hindi mo nagagawa ng mabuti ang trabaho mo eh.
Anyway, I'm straying from the topic.
The point is, I've been visited by so many candidates the past few days, and it really stresses me out when I tell them I can't help them financially.
Hindi nila naiintindihan. Madalas, they make me feel guilty pa. Yung iba, nagagalit pa sa akin. Nagtatampo.
Bakit ba kung sino yung sumusunod sa batas, siya pa yung masama?
You might be asking why I'm tired since I'm not a candidate anyway.
Eh yun na nga eh. Ako yung pinupuntahan ng mga kumakandidato para mag-barangay captain!
As early as August this year, pinipilahan na ako sa office ko sa heroes hall at sa upuan ko sa session hall para sa mga projects nila.
Tapos nung September 'financial assistance' na hinihingi sa akin.
Dalawa ang rason na binibigay nila sa akin.
Una, pambayad utang. Kesyo kinampya daw nila ako nung election at nag-number 1 daw ako sa barangay nila.
Or, second, for my political future daw when I run for Congressman.
Oh, my gosh.
To begin with, under national law, the barangay elections are supposed to be non-partisan and non-political. Hindi dapat makialam ang mga pulitiko dyan sa elections na yan. That's NATIONAL LAW ha.
But it seems that in this country, FOLLOWING THE LAW is the last thing we ever do. More often than not, we disregard the law by going around it, or, worse, pretend that it doesn't exist.
With regard to pambayad utang, di naman ako humingi ng pera sa kanila nung May ah. I campaigned in their barangays. Pambayad utang?! Can we stop with this patronage system?! Ano to, 1920's? My gulay, 21st century na, ganito pa rin tayo?
With regard naman to the argument na investment ko to when I run for Congressman (if i run for congressman), pwede ba, kakahalal ko lang bilang bokal, let me worry about my job right now first. Kakaupo ko pa lang sa silya ko pinapaupo niyo na ako sa iba. Ang layo layo pa nun no.
At sa mga sumasabi na malapit na ang 2010, eh ano? Bakit ko iisipin yon? Mali yun eh.
"The difference between a politician and a statesman is that, a politician thinks of the next election, while a statesman thinks of the next generation." --James Clarke
I don't want to think about 2010. I want to think about 2007. Then when 2008 comes, I want to think about 2008. Pag-iniisip ang susunod na election, hindi mo nagagawa ng mabuti ang trabaho mo eh.
Anyway, I'm straying from the topic.
The point is, I've been visited by so many candidates the past few days, and it really stresses me out when I tell them I can't help them financially.
Hindi nila naiintindihan. Madalas, they make me feel guilty pa. Yung iba, nagagalit pa sa akin. Nagtatampo.
Bakit ba kung sino yung sumusunod sa batas, siya pa yung masama?
Friday, October 26, 2007
Too Fast, Too Soon
Oh My Friggin' Gawd!
Executive Clemency just 6 weeks after conviction?! That's one for the books, I'm sure!
I can't friggin' believe it!
Just when everyone was starting to think that there was real justice in this country, she takes it away!
Poor Dennis Villa-Ignacio and his team of state prosecutors. Poor Sandiganbayan justices. All this work and time away from family and loved ones, for nothing. 6 1/2 years down the drain!
All this pressure coming from all sides and to withstand it in the name of justice, all gone.
What a waste of government money.
Un-friggin'-believable!
Kahit na it was the 'right' move politically, I had hoped that the Arroyo administration waited a little bit longer. Like one year man lang. To give semblance ba of justice.
But 1 1/2 months? That's one for Guiness.
Di pa tuyo yung pinta, pinalaya na. Ano ba yan?!
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Movies that made me cry
You know, I'm tempted to talk about politics on this blog, but I deal with it every single second in the real world, so I'm going to write about something else. Tonight, I'm going to talk about movies that made me cry.
I bring up this topic only because I just finished watching LITTLE MANHATTAN on Star Movies.
I watched it before with Ria at the cinema and I loved it then. Its a cute love story between 11-year olds during their summer vacation in NYC. I'm just a sucker for romantic comedies. Naiyak ako sa part na sure na di sila magkakatuluyan. Naalala ko tuloy yung similar experience ko nung bata pa ako.
Moving away from love stories, this is another film na iniyakan ko. RUDY. As in hagulgul ako sa dulo. Yung hirap na dinanas niya para makamit ang iisang pangarap at makitang makamit niya yun, wow, man, surefire formula for a tearjerker. I was just so happy for sean astin's character when he was finally allowed to play football, I could not help but cry. I highly recommend this movie for those who are depressed. This will inspire you.
eto ang isa pa. UNCOMMON VALOR starring Gene Hackman. He played a father of a vietnam POW. He flew to Vietnam several years after the war to rescue his son. He really believed na buhay pa anak niya at nakakulong pa rin sa isang concentration camp. Ginawa niya ang lahat para makapunta dun. And when he got there and found out na matagal ng patay si junior, I cried buckets. I was so sad. Dahil yun nga bigo siya sa kanyang rescue. Pero more importantly, pinakita niya kung gano niya kamahal anak niya.
Strangely, iniyakan ko to. AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH. Its not really a movie. Its a documentary on pollution ang global warming. I mean I've watched documentaries before (Bowling for Columbine, Farenheit 9/11 and Sicko), but I didn't bawl over them. Here, naiyak ako. I couldn't believe how fast we were destroying the Earth. Sobrang bilis at sobrang alarming. We really have to wake uo and help each other save the environment.
we started with a love story, so we'll end with one. And an OPM at that. NGAYON NANDITO KA stars Jericho Rosales and Kristine Hermosa as lovebirds who are separated by tadhana (in this film, Cindy Kurleto) only to find each other again and rekindle their romance. As cheesy as pinoy movies gets, but I cried nung nagkabalikan sila. Yes, tito boy, true love does exist!
Anyhoo, there are other films that really pulled a cord and made me cry, but these are the ones I recall at the moment. I feel that watching tearjerker movies is good for you (in moderation) because one is able to release all this pent up emotions one usually keeps inside during his day-to-day affairs. I think its healthy. Unless you regularly cry by yourself or constantly engage in a fighting match with your spouse, parent or kid.
I bring up this topic only because I just finished watching LITTLE MANHATTAN on Star Movies.
I watched it before with Ria at the cinema and I loved it then. Its a cute love story between 11-year olds during their summer vacation in NYC. I'm just a sucker for romantic comedies. Naiyak ako sa part na sure na di sila magkakatuluyan. Naalala ko tuloy yung similar experience ko nung bata pa ako.
Moving away from love stories, this is another film na iniyakan ko. RUDY. As in hagulgul ako sa dulo. Yung hirap na dinanas niya para makamit ang iisang pangarap at makitang makamit niya yun, wow, man, surefire formula for a tearjerker. I was just so happy for sean astin's character when he was finally allowed to play football, I could not help but cry. I highly recommend this movie for those who are depressed. This will inspire you.
eto ang isa pa. UNCOMMON VALOR starring Gene Hackman. He played a father of a vietnam POW. He flew to Vietnam several years after the war to rescue his son. He really believed na buhay pa anak niya at nakakulong pa rin sa isang concentration camp. Ginawa niya ang lahat para makapunta dun. And when he got there and found out na matagal ng patay si junior, I cried buckets. I was so sad. Dahil yun nga bigo siya sa kanyang rescue. Pero more importantly, pinakita niya kung gano niya kamahal anak niya.
Strangely, iniyakan ko to. AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH. Its not really a movie. Its a documentary on pollution ang global warming. I mean I've watched documentaries before (Bowling for Columbine, Farenheit 9/11 and Sicko), but I didn't bawl over them. Here, naiyak ako. I couldn't believe how fast we were destroying the Earth. Sobrang bilis at sobrang alarming. We really have to wake uo and help each other save the environment.
we started with a love story, so we'll end with one. And an OPM at that. NGAYON NANDITO KA stars Jericho Rosales and Kristine Hermosa as lovebirds who are separated by tadhana (in this film, Cindy Kurleto) only to find each other again and rekindle their romance. As cheesy as pinoy movies gets, but I cried nung nagkabalikan sila. Yes, tito boy, true love does exist!
Anyhoo, there are other films that really pulled a cord and made me cry, but these are the ones I recall at the moment. I feel that watching tearjerker movies is good for you (in moderation) because one is able to release all this pent up emotions one usually keeps inside during his day-to-day affairs. I think its healthy. Unless you regularly cry by yourself or constantly engage in a fighting match with your spouse, parent or kid.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Thank you and Farewell, Miriam
I took a picture of my business law class while they were taking their finals last week. It was my last day as a teacher in Miriam college. This November I will be transferring my teaching load here in Laoag, either at Northwestern University or Divine Word College.
Although I enjoyed my stay in Miriam, the commute to and fro Ilocos was burdensome and expensive. And so I gave my slot to my brod, Marc. Batch, easy ka lang sa kanila ha. 'wag ka na mag-socratic method. It doesn't work sa undergrad.
I'd like to thank my classmate, Joey, for giving me her slot last year. And Entrep. Dept. Chair, Mona, for giving me the chance to teach. The experience was very fulfilling.
I'd also like to thank my last class, IV-Entrep-1, for trying their very best to behave and listen. I hope you girls learned a thing or two from the course, and I also hope I have helped you, in one way or the other, prepare for your future business endeavors. Good luck!
A few parting words from Shakespeare's Julius Ceasar... "If a man were to know the end of this day's business 'er it come, but suffices that the day will end and the end be known... And if we meet again, well, then we'll smile. If not, then this parting was well made."
Thank you and Farewell, Miriam College. God speed.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
100 days as a Magician
My term started on 2 July 2007.
Last 8 October 2007, I celebrated my 1st 100 days in public office.
As a local legislator, I have filed ordinances concerning consumer rights (Exact Change Ordinance); peace and order (Anti-Street Gang Ordinance); animal welfare (Rabies Control Ordinance); and students rights (Anti-Student Fees Ordinance).
I have also initiated resolutions asking Congress to pass a People's Initative Act; a law providing for the elections of Sectoral Representatives; another law empowering local sanggunians to declare Local Public Holidays; and to block HB 2417, postponing the Barangay and SK elections.
I've also sponsored resolutions condemning the brutal killing of a parish priest in Pinili town; and calling for the construction of the Provincial Library.
Likewise, I've lobbied for funding for the local chapter of the Philippine National Red Cross.
But after 100 days, nobody knows about this. Nobody cares about my legislative achievements, the job I signed up for.
Instead, for the past 100 days, people have come to me to pull rabbits out of a magician's hat.
I've been asked to give them jobs.
The best I could do was make recommendation letters and pay for their application to a job-matching firm.
I've been asked to produce mountain bikes, aircons, tents, sports equipment, books, bags of cement, paint, GI sheets, grass cutters, tables and chairs, among others.
I've managed to come up with a couple of items, given the hard time I have with my BDF.
I've been approached to help them win in the barangay elections, like I'm a sorcerer or something and that I could magically make their opponents disappear.
All I could do was stare back at them and thought, if had that power I'd make THEM disappear.
Finally, I've been asked to shit money. People have come knocking on my office asking for money to go home, to pay medical bills, to buy medicine, for their church, to pay the tuition, to pay for lodging, like I have a pocket as deep as the marianas trench.
I DON'T!
How many times do I have to tell this people that I'm not a magician?! That I'm no different from them, that I also work to make a living. It's just that I chose to serve the public by being their legislator. My salary is for me. I want to save money for my future family. For my future children's college fund. For my future wife's dream vacation. For my future house.
But people don't care. In their minds, they make no distinction. As long as we voted you, we can squeeze you dry for money, money, money. Nevermind that nowhere in the Local Government Code does it say you have to give us financial aid, and that your primary duty is to legislate. We don't care about that. What's important to us is that you will give us the money we ask! You will pull out rabbits out of your hat! Because we didn't elect a board member. We elected Kris Ablan, the Magician.
Last 8 October 2007, I celebrated my 1st 100 days in public office.
As a local legislator, I have filed ordinances concerning consumer rights (Exact Change Ordinance); peace and order (Anti-Street Gang Ordinance); animal welfare (Rabies Control Ordinance); and students rights (Anti-Student Fees Ordinance).
I have also initiated resolutions asking Congress to pass a People's Initative Act; a law providing for the elections of Sectoral Representatives; another law empowering local sanggunians to declare Local Public Holidays; and to block HB 2417, postponing the Barangay and SK elections.
I've also sponsored resolutions condemning the brutal killing of a parish priest in Pinili town; and calling for the construction of the Provincial Library.
Likewise, I've lobbied for funding for the local chapter of the Philippine National Red Cross.
But after 100 days, nobody knows about this. Nobody cares about my legislative achievements, the job I signed up for.
Instead, for the past 100 days, people have come to me to pull rabbits out of a magician's hat.
I've been asked to give them jobs.
The best I could do was make recommendation letters and pay for their application to a job-matching firm.
I've been asked to produce mountain bikes, aircons, tents, sports equipment, books, bags of cement, paint, GI sheets, grass cutters, tables and chairs, among others.
I've managed to come up with a couple of items, given the hard time I have with my BDF.
I've been approached to help them win in the barangay elections, like I'm a sorcerer or something and that I could magically make their opponents disappear.
All I could do was stare back at them and thought, if had that power I'd make THEM disappear.
Finally, I've been asked to shit money. People have come knocking on my office asking for money to go home, to pay medical bills, to buy medicine, for their church, to pay the tuition, to pay for lodging, like I have a pocket as deep as the marianas trench.
I DON'T!
How many times do I have to tell this people that I'm not a magician?! That I'm no different from them, that I also work to make a living. It's just that I chose to serve the public by being their legislator. My salary is for me. I want to save money for my future family. For my future children's college fund. For my future wife's dream vacation. For my future house.
But people don't care. In their minds, they make no distinction. As long as we voted you, we can squeeze you dry for money, money, money. Nevermind that nowhere in the Local Government Code does it say you have to give us financial aid, and that your primary duty is to legislate. We don't care about that. What's important to us is that you will give us the money we ask! You will pull out rabbits out of your hat! Because we didn't elect a board member. We elected Kris Ablan, the Magician.
Friday, October 05, 2007
two new things I learned about US law/policy
1. "at will" employment
I first heard about this concept in an episode of Boston Legal. I actually didn't understand what they were talking about until I read about it in "Scamproof Your Life" (Kirchheimer, 2006, Sterling Publishing Co.).
It turns out, this is a policy of 49 (out of 50) states in America which says that an employer can fire an employee for whatever reason. Hence the term, "at will." Ayaw mo lang sa kanya, pwede. You hate his guts, pwede rin. Hindi na kelangan ng 30-day notice and for just cause--the practice here in the Philippines.
The only limitation is hindi pwede kung ang rason ay age, sex, or race.
Ganun din pag gusto mo mag-quit. You don't have to notify your employer 30 days before. You can just quit and leave the very same day.
Kaya palaaah. Naalala ko na ngayon pag nanunuod ako ng American films, sasabihin ng boss, "you're fired!" Tapos on the same day, pa-pack na ng employee yung mga gamit niya and then leave the office. Ganun pala ang law sa Amerika. Dito kasi, The day you fire someone is not the day he leaves. May period pa.
2. "sanctuary" policy
I didn't know this until I came across it in Dick Morris' book, "Outrage." In the States pala, when a police officer apprehends a traffic violator and finds out he's an illegal immigrant, he is under no compulsion to report the matter to the Immigration Authorities. Hence the term, "sanctuary." In a nutshell, the reasoning is hindi daw nila poblema yun. More importantly, they don't want to report illegals kasi etong mga illegals ay mga "sources" at "witnesses" ng mga pulis. Ayaw nilang ma-jeopardize yung relationship na yun.
Ito naman complaint ng INS (immigration and naturalization service) dahil pwede sana maging two-prong ang approach ng pulis, they are there as police officers and immigration agents.
Kaya naman pala walang takot kumuha ng drivers license ang mga TNT at walang takot din mahuli dahil wala naman pake ang mga pulis sa legality ng stay nila. "sanctuary" ang pulis.
How odd.
I first heard about this concept in an episode of Boston Legal. I actually didn't understand what they were talking about until I read about it in "Scamproof Your Life" (Kirchheimer, 2006, Sterling Publishing Co.).
It turns out, this is a policy of 49 (out of 50) states in America which says that an employer can fire an employee for whatever reason. Hence the term, "at will." Ayaw mo lang sa kanya, pwede. You hate his guts, pwede rin. Hindi na kelangan ng 30-day notice and for just cause--the practice here in the Philippines.
The only limitation is hindi pwede kung ang rason ay age, sex, or race.
Ganun din pag gusto mo mag-quit. You don't have to notify your employer 30 days before. You can just quit and leave the very same day.
Kaya palaaah. Naalala ko na ngayon pag nanunuod ako ng American films, sasabihin ng boss, "you're fired!" Tapos on the same day, pa-pack na ng employee yung mga gamit niya and then leave the office. Ganun pala ang law sa Amerika. Dito kasi, The day you fire someone is not the day he leaves. May period pa.
2. "sanctuary" policy
I didn't know this until I came across it in Dick Morris' book, "Outrage." In the States pala, when a police officer apprehends a traffic violator and finds out he's an illegal immigrant, he is under no compulsion to report the matter to the Immigration Authorities. Hence the term, "sanctuary." In a nutshell, the reasoning is hindi daw nila poblema yun. More importantly, they don't want to report illegals kasi etong mga illegals ay mga "sources" at "witnesses" ng mga pulis. Ayaw nilang ma-jeopardize yung relationship na yun.
Ito naman complaint ng INS (immigration and naturalization service) dahil pwede sana maging two-prong ang approach ng pulis, they are there as police officers and immigration agents.
Kaya naman pala walang takot kumuha ng drivers license ang mga TNT at walang takot din mahuli dahil wala naman pake ang mga pulis sa legality ng stay nila. "sanctuary" ang pulis.
How odd.
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Boston Legal
Despite being a lawyer I am not a fan of law-related television series. I didn't watch LA Law, or Law & Order, or Ally Mcbeal, or even JAG. In fact, I watched series at the otherside of the spectrum. I watch CSI, which is about forensics. I also watch Grey's Anatomy, which is about medicine, well, if they don't talk about who slept with who. And I watch Entourage, which is about life in Hollywood. Nothing to do with law practice.
That's why my friend, Barnett, was surprised when he found out I wasn't watching Boston Legal. He said it was funny and I would like it.
So one day I bought a copy of Boston Legal Season 1, and watched it. You know, I liked it. It reminded me of my one year in Britanico, Sarmiento and Franco Law Offices. Happy times. Dreadful times. Ganun nga ang treatment sa mga associates (aso na, syet pa). Tapos ang lalaki rin ng ulo ng mga partners. Pareho ang environment. Ang wala lang siguro, yung sex themes. Wala yun sa firm namin. Good boys and girls kami.
I am especially fond with the character of William Shatner--Denny Crane! Nakakatawa talaga pag sinasabi niya "Denny Crane!" Feel na feel ang pagiging named partner! William Shatner at his best! Hilarious!
I'm now on my 2nd Season, and I can't help but give some comments on the show.
1. Alam ko mabagal ang judicial system dito sa 'pinas, pero sobrang bilis naman ng wheels of justice sa Boston. super effective naman ng speedy trial act nila sa Masachusetts at everyday ang hearing. At ang galing ng mga abogado ng Crane Pool and Schmidt ha, prepared sila mag-trial on the very same day they get a case.
Sa law firm namin, buwan ang binibilang sa susunod na hearing. Ganun din nung nasa OSG ako. buwan.
2. Di ko alam kung bano ako mag oral argument, pero sobrang galing naman ng character ni James Spader na si Alan Shore. Ang husay nila magsalita. I get swayed with his reasoning. Sometimes napapaisip ako, kaya ko bang gawin yung sinasabi nila? Simpleng objection nga lang sa leading question ko, nagkakalat na ako eh.
3. Jury system kasi sa Amerika kaya siguro may effect ang oral argument. Sa pilipinas kasi 90% of the case is written. Bihira na manalo ka sa case dahil you convinced the judge to your side during oral arguments. More often than not, the swaying is through pleadings.
Kaya yun nga advice ko sa mga gusto maging abogado. Hindi lahat oral argument sa korte. Kadalasan cases are won with good pleadings. Kaya dapat ang law student mahilig at magaling sa pagsulat.
Having said that, di ko alam pa'no ko nalusutan ang bar kasi yun nga, I write bad.
Anyway, those are my thoughts on Boston Legal. Tigas ni Alan Shore! Sana pagmag-argue ako sa Court ganun ako ka confident sa sinasabi ko at ganun din ako ka-eloquent.
Boston Legal inspires me to almost go back to litigation.
Well, almost...
"Kris Ablan... Kris Ablan... "
That's why my friend, Barnett, was surprised when he found out I wasn't watching Boston Legal. He said it was funny and I would like it.
So one day I bought a copy of Boston Legal Season 1, and watched it. You know, I liked it. It reminded me of my one year in Britanico, Sarmiento and Franco Law Offices. Happy times. Dreadful times. Ganun nga ang treatment sa mga associates (aso na, syet pa). Tapos ang lalaki rin ng ulo ng mga partners. Pareho ang environment. Ang wala lang siguro, yung sex themes. Wala yun sa firm namin. Good boys and girls kami.
I am especially fond with the character of William Shatner--Denny Crane! Nakakatawa talaga pag sinasabi niya "Denny Crane!" Feel na feel ang pagiging named partner! William Shatner at his best! Hilarious!
I'm now on my 2nd Season, and I can't help but give some comments on the show.
1. Alam ko mabagal ang judicial system dito sa 'pinas, pero sobrang bilis naman ng wheels of justice sa Boston. super effective naman ng speedy trial act nila sa Masachusetts at everyday ang hearing. At ang galing ng mga abogado ng Crane Pool and Schmidt ha, prepared sila mag-trial on the very same day they get a case.
Sa law firm namin, buwan ang binibilang sa susunod na hearing. Ganun din nung nasa OSG ako. buwan.
2. Di ko alam kung bano ako mag oral argument, pero sobrang galing naman ng character ni James Spader na si Alan Shore. Ang husay nila magsalita. I get swayed with his reasoning. Sometimes napapaisip ako, kaya ko bang gawin yung sinasabi nila? Simpleng objection nga lang sa leading question ko, nagkakalat na ako eh.
3. Jury system kasi sa Amerika kaya siguro may effect ang oral argument. Sa pilipinas kasi 90% of the case is written. Bihira na manalo ka sa case dahil you convinced the judge to your side during oral arguments. More often than not, the swaying is through pleadings.
Kaya yun nga advice ko sa mga gusto maging abogado. Hindi lahat oral argument sa korte. Kadalasan cases are won with good pleadings. Kaya dapat ang law student mahilig at magaling sa pagsulat.
Having said that, di ko alam pa'no ko nalusutan ang bar kasi yun nga, I write bad.
Anyway, those are my thoughts on Boston Legal. Tigas ni Alan Shore! Sana pagmag-argue ako sa Court ganun ako ka confident sa sinasabi ko at ganun din ako ka-eloquent.
Boston Legal inspires me to almost go back to litigation.
Well, almost...
"Kris Ablan... Kris Ablan... "
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Confused over my BDF
When I was elected board member, I knew that what I learned about local government, public officers and admininstrative law in law school and what actually transpires in real life would be different. But I thought I knew what they were and that I was prepared for it. I knew there were obstacles but I thought I could avoid or go around them. I thought wrong.
This will probably get me in trouble, but i just want to vent out my confusion and frustration.
I signed up to be a local legislator. When i campaigned thats what i told my constituents. "I am a lawyer, vote for me because you need a lawyer in drafting ordinances and resolutions."
I did not sign up to be an engineer, a contractor and/or a project builder. That's the Executive side--the Governor and Mayors. Not my concern. That's written in the Local Government Code.
But as I said, what I learned in law school and what actually transpires in government life are not the same.
Board members, like Congressmen, are given our share of the pork barrel, albeit at a more miniscule amount---way, way smaller.
Congressmen are allocated the Priority Development Aid Fund (tama ba?) or PDAF. Board members receive Barangay Development Fund or BDF.
Kung pwe-pwede lang isosoli ko yung allocation ko kasi nga ayokong gumawa ng project, just like what Senators Lacson and Arroyo did. Pero gaya na sinabi ni Senator Santiago, useless din yun kasi na-appropriate na yung pera. Kelangan gamitin.
FINE.
For this year (July-December 2007), 350k was allocated per district. Maliit yung amount. pang-barangay development talaga.
Upon the funds release, dozens of requests and resolutions reached my office asking for:
1. 100 bags of portland cement
2. jetmatic water pump
3. monobloc chairs
4. grasscutter
5. tent
6. books
7. even a covered court
at 350k? are you serious?
Anyhow, i didn't immediately grant any of these requests. Instead I focused on my campaign promise of giving priority to education and jobs.
I allocated 60k to sponsor one teacher in a public elementary school that was in dire need of one. This was facilitated under the Saguip Maestra Project of the Provincial Government.
Next, I allocated 50k in TESDA scholarships because I believe that the job demand is for vocational and technical course graduates.
That left me with 240k. Now the confusion and frustration begins.
First, cement. Outside, one bag of cement would cost between P180-P190. Fine. So I had my secretary prepare the documents to purchase those goods. Only to find out that price is different in government projects.
WHAAAT?!
It's true. Under the Government Procurement Act, government projects undergo competitive bidding and are awarded to the LOWEST BIDDER.
So here I was expecting a much lower amount. P150? P160 siguro.
Lo and behold, "government price" is P235/bag!
WHAAAT?!
C'mon, man! Nagbibiruan ba tayo?
To make matters worse, it would take 41 days to process the request. That means If I request today, sa November pa made-deliver yung semento.
Aynaky, stop! stop muna yung cement requests na yan. pag-iisipan ko pa. Lugi kasi ako eh. Eh I want to maximize my 240k.
A colleague of mine suggested that I try alternative mode of procurement, which is reimbursement. As long as maliit lang yung amount involved, pwede magpa-reimburse. So akala ko maiiwasan ko yung what I felt was overpricing by doing the reimbursement thing. boy, was I wrong.
For another project, I spent 10,000 for paint to renovate the trophy room of the province's sports office. I had my staff collect all the official receipts. I had my secretary prepare the necessary papers to bill my BDF. Akala ko naisahan ko yung sistema na walang "government price."
Lo and behold, my secretary came back and told me that we had to go back to the paint shop and ask them for receipts with the "government price."
WHAAAT? There's no escaping them!
So I inquired, what is the "government price." Take note, I was expecting a lower price.
HAHAHAHA! How naive of me.
Let's take for example a gallon of latex paint with a SRP of P450. the "government price?" P650!
So, yung 10,000 na ginastos ko, pag-ni-recompute mo in "government price" would total P13,000!
P13,000 deducted from my remaining 240k! eh dapat 10k lang yun. Eh di nawalan tuloy ako ng 3,000. Saan napunta yun? and more important, bakit ganun? di ba dapat LOWEST POSSIBE PRICE? Bakit lalong nagmahal?
Kaya ako dazed and confused.
ps: bato bato sa langit, ang tamaan wag magalit. walang personalan. naglalabas lang ng sama ng loob.
This will probably get me in trouble, but i just want to vent out my confusion and frustration.
I signed up to be a local legislator. When i campaigned thats what i told my constituents. "I am a lawyer, vote for me because you need a lawyer in drafting ordinances and resolutions."
I did not sign up to be an engineer, a contractor and/or a project builder. That's the Executive side--the Governor and Mayors. Not my concern. That's written in the Local Government Code.
But as I said, what I learned in law school and what actually transpires in government life are not the same.
Board members, like Congressmen, are given our share of the pork barrel, albeit at a more miniscule amount---way, way smaller.
Congressmen are allocated the Priority Development Aid Fund (tama ba?) or PDAF. Board members receive Barangay Development Fund or BDF.
Kung pwe-pwede lang isosoli ko yung allocation ko kasi nga ayokong gumawa ng project, just like what Senators Lacson and Arroyo did. Pero gaya na sinabi ni Senator Santiago, useless din yun kasi na-appropriate na yung pera. Kelangan gamitin.
FINE.
For this year (July-December 2007), 350k was allocated per district. Maliit yung amount. pang-barangay development talaga.
Upon the funds release, dozens of requests and resolutions reached my office asking for:
1. 100 bags of portland cement
2. jetmatic water pump
3. monobloc chairs
4. grasscutter
5. tent
6. books
7. even a covered court
at 350k? are you serious?
Anyhow, i didn't immediately grant any of these requests. Instead I focused on my campaign promise of giving priority to education and jobs.
I allocated 60k to sponsor one teacher in a public elementary school that was in dire need of one. This was facilitated under the Saguip Maestra Project of the Provincial Government.
Next, I allocated 50k in TESDA scholarships because I believe that the job demand is for vocational and technical course graduates.
That left me with 240k. Now the confusion and frustration begins.
First, cement. Outside, one bag of cement would cost between P180-P190. Fine. So I had my secretary prepare the documents to purchase those goods. Only to find out that price is different in government projects.
WHAAAT?!
It's true. Under the Government Procurement Act, government projects undergo competitive bidding and are awarded to the LOWEST BIDDER.
So here I was expecting a much lower amount. P150? P160 siguro.
Lo and behold, "government price" is P235/bag!
WHAAAT?!
C'mon, man! Nagbibiruan ba tayo?
To make matters worse, it would take 41 days to process the request. That means If I request today, sa November pa made-deliver yung semento.
Aynaky, stop! stop muna yung cement requests na yan. pag-iisipan ko pa. Lugi kasi ako eh. Eh I want to maximize my 240k.
A colleague of mine suggested that I try alternative mode of procurement, which is reimbursement. As long as maliit lang yung amount involved, pwede magpa-reimburse. So akala ko maiiwasan ko yung what I felt was overpricing by doing the reimbursement thing. boy, was I wrong.
For another project, I spent 10,000 for paint to renovate the trophy room of the province's sports office. I had my staff collect all the official receipts. I had my secretary prepare the necessary papers to bill my BDF. Akala ko naisahan ko yung sistema na walang "government price."
Lo and behold, my secretary came back and told me that we had to go back to the paint shop and ask them for receipts with the "government price."
WHAAAT? There's no escaping them!
So I inquired, what is the "government price." Take note, I was expecting a lower price.
HAHAHAHA! How naive of me.
Let's take for example a gallon of latex paint with a SRP of P450. the "government price?" P650!
So, yung 10,000 na ginastos ko, pag-ni-recompute mo in "government price" would total P13,000!
P13,000 deducted from my remaining 240k! eh dapat 10k lang yun. Eh di nawalan tuloy ako ng 3,000. Saan napunta yun? and more important, bakit ganun? di ba dapat LOWEST POSSIBE PRICE? Bakit lalong nagmahal?
Kaya ako dazed and confused.
ps: bato bato sa langit, ang tamaan wag magalit. walang personalan. naglalabas lang ng sama ng loob.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Dapat lang
Trillanes to miss sessions
The Makati City Regional Trial Court yesterday threw out the last-ditch effort of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV to attend sessions in the Senate.
In denying the neophyte lawmaker’s pleading to join his collegues in the Upper Chamber, Judge Oscar Pimentel said he remained unpersuaded to allow him to leave detention.
“The court finds no justifiable and convincing reasons to grant the motion for reconsideration. For lack of merit, the motion for reconsideration is hereby denied,” ordered the 11-page ruling.
Trillanes filed his appeal last month, a few weeks after the court junked his petition to post bail and leave the Marine Brigade in Fort Bonifacio during the Senate’s session days.
But Pimentel was quick to stress that Trillanes was not being kept from his work as a duly elected legislator.
“What the court is not permitting is for the accused to leave his detention cell to attend sessions at the Senate and to attend official functions which may require him to leave his place of detention almost every day. The accused may perform his duties subject to limitations of being a detention prisoner.”
Pimentel said neither could Trillanes set up a personal office in his detention cell and have his staff hold office there.
He also noted that the detained senator erred in arguing that that the rape case of convicted former Zamboanga del Norte Rep. Romeo Jalosjos was inapplicable to his coup d’etat charge.
“When Congressman Jalosjos was elected, he was still considered a detention prisoner because his case is still under appeal with the Supreme Court. The only difference between Jalosjos and Trillanes is that Senator Trillanes is still undergoing trial,” said Pimentel.
The high tribunal, which the Makati court used as basis in its own ruling, had prohibited Jalosjos from leaving his prison cell to perform his congressional duties.
Saying Trillanes was a detention prisoner, Pimentel said his “personal liberty is under restraint, his movements from place to place are likewise under restriction, his power of locomotion is denied not by the court, but by law” and the presumption of innocence did not carry with it his enjoyment of full civil rights.
The former naval officer can propose bills and do other legislative functions even if he is being held inside Fort Bonifacio, according to Pimentel.
“If he was able to campaign while under detention, the more that he can perform his duties as a senator considering that he now has his office in the Senate.”
Trillanes is among the alleged core leaders of the Magdalo faction of 31 junior military officers who led about 300 soldiers in a short-lived mutiny at the Oakwood Premier Hotel in Makati City on July 27, 2003. Ferdinand Fabella
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=police1_sept21_2007
The Makati City Regional Trial Court yesterday threw out the last-ditch effort of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV to attend sessions in the Senate.
In denying the neophyte lawmaker’s pleading to join his collegues in the Upper Chamber, Judge Oscar Pimentel said he remained unpersuaded to allow him to leave detention.
“The court finds no justifiable and convincing reasons to grant the motion for reconsideration. For lack of merit, the motion for reconsideration is hereby denied,” ordered the 11-page ruling.
Trillanes filed his appeal last month, a few weeks after the court junked his petition to post bail and leave the Marine Brigade in Fort Bonifacio during the Senate’s session days.
But Pimentel was quick to stress that Trillanes was not being kept from his work as a duly elected legislator.
“What the court is not permitting is for the accused to leave his detention cell to attend sessions at the Senate and to attend official functions which may require him to leave his place of detention almost every day. The accused may perform his duties subject to limitations of being a detention prisoner.”
Pimentel said neither could Trillanes set up a personal office in his detention cell and have his staff hold office there.
He also noted that the detained senator erred in arguing that that the rape case of convicted former Zamboanga del Norte Rep. Romeo Jalosjos was inapplicable to his coup d’etat charge.
“When Congressman Jalosjos was elected, he was still considered a detention prisoner because his case is still under appeal with the Supreme Court. The only difference between Jalosjos and Trillanes is that Senator Trillanes is still undergoing trial,” said Pimentel.
The high tribunal, which the Makati court used as basis in its own ruling, had prohibited Jalosjos from leaving his prison cell to perform his congressional duties.
Saying Trillanes was a detention prisoner, Pimentel said his “personal liberty is under restraint, his movements from place to place are likewise under restriction, his power of locomotion is denied not by the court, but by law” and the presumption of innocence did not carry with it his enjoyment of full civil rights.
The former naval officer can propose bills and do other legislative functions even if he is being held inside Fort Bonifacio, according to Pimentel.
“If he was able to campaign while under detention, the more that he can perform his duties as a senator considering that he now has his office in the Senate.”
Trillanes is among the alleged core leaders of the Magdalo faction of 31 junior military officers who led about 300 soldiers in a short-lived mutiny at the Oakwood Premier Hotel in Makati City on July 27, 2003. Ferdinand Fabella
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=police1_sept21_2007
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Monday, September 17, 2007
Convenient CebuPac
Whenever I travel to and fro Laoag, I usually take the Cebu Pacific Airbus. Its relatively affordable and I get to my destination in an hour.
If i take the car, I would have to shell out 1,500 for gas. Another 300 for toll. And 200 for the merienda of the driver. Thats 2,000, not to mention the added wear-and-tear to the vehicle. Pluse, it takes 9 hours.
Suppose I take the bus. For a deluxe aircon bus, it would cost 750. cheaper, yes, but travel by bus is slower, so you'd reach Laoag after 10 hours.
With Cebu Pacific, I spend 900 for a one-way trip. Only a couple of hundred pesos more than via bus, but with shorter travel time. Just 50 minutes!
For me, sulit ang mag-cebu-pac. Thats if you don't mind travelling mid-day.
And so, Mr John and Mr Lance, thank you very much for Cebu Pacific. Thank you for servicing the Manila-Laoag route!
Now if I could only win in the "bring me" games...
If i take the car, I would have to shell out 1,500 for gas. Another 300 for toll. And 200 for the merienda of the driver. Thats 2,000, not to mention the added wear-and-tear to the vehicle. Pluse, it takes 9 hours.
Suppose I take the bus. For a deluxe aircon bus, it would cost 750. cheaper, yes, but travel by bus is slower, so you'd reach Laoag after 10 hours.
With Cebu Pacific, I spend 900 for a one-way trip. Only a couple of hundred pesos more than via bus, but with shorter travel time. Just 50 minutes!
For me, sulit ang mag-cebu-pac. Thats if you don't mind travelling mid-day.
And so, Mr John and Mr Lance, thank you very much for Cebu Pacific. Thank you for servicing the Manila-Laoag route!
Now if I could only win in the "bring me" games...
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Who's out of shape?
After several months of softball hiatus, I took the field today as an outfielder for my team in a slo-pitch tournament. Prior this game, I did not practice. In fact, I haven't trained in a long long time.
I thought it would be a walk in the park. its slo-pitch softball for chrissake. Kayang-kaya.
After the first inning, I felt so tired already. the first inning! My gawd, tumatanda na talaga ako. Ni hindi man lang ako makatungtong sa first base. You see, I've always been a crap hitter. Ever since ILLAM and UAAP days, bano ako sa hitting. Pero kahit grounder lang kaya ko, umaabot pa ako ng first base. Kasi nga mabilis akong mag-sprint. Yun na nga lang contribution ko. Wala na. Ang bagal-bagal ko na. Pagkatapos tumapak ng base, hingal na ako ng hingal.
Tapos naka-teammate ko pa si John Estrada, who I think was playing his first slo-pitch game. And he was doing better than I was. Way better. I mean the guy didn't hit a homerun or anything, but I think he got on base.
In the end, our team lost the first game, 11-0, and the second game, 7-1. I didn't reach base at all. And, I got hit in the balls.
Who's out of shape?
I am.
I thought it would be a walk in the park. its slo-pitch softball for chrissake. Kayang-kaya.
After the first inning, I felt so tired already. the first inning! My gawd, tumatanda na talaga ako. Ni hindi man lang ako makatungtong sa first base. You see, I've always been a crap hitter. Ever since ILLAM and UAAP days, bano ako sa hitting. Pero kahit grounder lang kaya ko, umaabot pa ako ng first base. Kasi nga mabilis akong mag-sprint. Yun na nga lang contribution ko. Wala na. Ang bagal-bagal ko na. Pagkatapos tumapak ng base, hingal na ako ng hingal.
Tapos naka-teammate ko pa si John Estrada, who I think was playing his first slo-pitch game. And he was doing better than I was. Way better. I mean the guy didn't hit a homerun or anything, but I think he got on base.
In the end, our team lost the first game, 11-0, and the second game, 7-1. I didn't reach base at all. And, I got hit in the balls.
Who's out of shape?
I am.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Grade 4 for a day
Yesterday, I went to San Agustin Elementary School in the town of Bacarra, to spend the day observing what transpires in a public elementary school here in the province. This is part of my self-imposed one-day immersion program so that I can better perform as a local policymaker. I believe getting the worm's eye view will help me appreciate the factual circumstances when I defend, decide and vote on the budget of the different sectors.
I was there at the start of the school day, right after the flag ceremony. I spoke with the Principal, Mrs. Acoba, and she assigned me to Grade 4. I entered the class of Mrs. Sales. She didn't know I was going to observe. She later told me that she was nervous. I told her not to, since I didn't represent DepEd. I was there merely to observe the day-to-day activities of a public school teacher.
So, back to the story, the students stood up and greeted me a good morning. I told them what i was doing and for them to continue what they were doing. First period was English. They sang a song. And then the teacher started the lesson. It was on how to use the dictionary. Afterwards, she organized an activity, so that the students would better understand the lesson. To test if the kids did get it, Mrs. Sales gave them a quiz. They checked it themselves right after. The scores would gauge if the class understood the lesson. If majority passed, then it was okay. if majority didn't, then the teacher would have to reteach. Afterwards, Mrs. Sales gave the class homework.
Next class was Makabayan (EPP). They sang again. This subject's lesson for today was about home improvement, how to fix broken furniture at home. And then the same scenario again. Activity (group work), Quiz and Homework.
Tapos Math naman. Kantahan uli. The lesson was on estimating. same scenario nanaman. All this time, nakatayo yung teacher.
And then Makabayan (Art).
All this time, the same teacher! whoah. The same teacher taught English, Makabayan and Math! To those of you not surprised, the reason why this comes as a shocker to me is because I didn't go to a public school. So, I don't know ganito pala sitwasyon ng mga public elementary teachers. In Xavier, as early as grade 1, iba ang teacher namin sa english, iba sa math.
Had lunch. Went back to class at 1pm. Mrs. Sales taught Filipino. Kantahan nanaman (I guess para maganahan mga students). same procedure. I would sometimes participate in the discussion by feeding answers to the students. During the quiz, I would walk around to check their answers. I also noticed that the girls were more participative than the boys. The three brightest students were all females. I whispered to the boys, "Go boys! 'wag kayo magpatalo sa girls!" To no avail.
Next class was Makabayan. The lesson was on the environment. Kulang sila sa textbooks. 1 book per 4 students. we need to give them books.
And then Science. Of all days, I ended up when they were discussing fertilization. when the sperm cell meets up with the egg cell. giggle sila lahat, sabay tingin sa akin. ako tuloy nahiya.
Again, all this time, one and the same teacher. Mrs. Sales had no break, except for the short recess in the morning and lunch.
If we were in a manila private school, this would be an unfair labor practice.
Saludo ako sa kanila. Mabuhay ang mga pampublikong guro!
Mrs. Sales ended class with a song. The students stood up. We prayed. Later, they said good bye. Mrs. Sales sent them out to do their chores (i.e. clean up). I had a post-conference with the teacher and the principal. i thanked them for accomodating me.
We ended the day with the flag retreat.
I went home at 5pm. even if all i did was observe, napagod din ako.
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