Ninoy's Undelivered Speech

I have returned on my free will to join the ranks of those struggling to restore our rights and freedoms through nonviolence.

I seek no confrontation. I only pray and will strive for a genuine national reconciliation founded on justice.

I am prepared for the worst, and have decided against the advice of my mother, my spiritual adviser, many of my tested friends and a few of my most valued political mentors.

A death sentence awaits me. Two more subversion charges, both calling for death penalties, have been filed since I left three years ago and are now pending with the courts.

I could have opted to seek political asylum in America, but I feel it is my duty, as it is the duty of every Filipino, to suffer with his people especially in time of crisis.

I never sought nor have I been given assurances or promise of leniency by the regime. I return voluntarily armed only with a clear conscience and fortified in the faith that in the end justice will emerge triumphant.

According to Gandhi, the WILLING sacrifice of the innocent is the most powerful answer to insolent tyranny that has yet been conceived by God and man.

Three years ago when I left for an emergency heart bypass operation, I hoped and prayed that the rights and freedoms of our people would soon be restored, that living conditions would improve and that blood-letting would stop.

Rather than move forward, we have moved backward. The killings have increased, the economy has taken a turn for the worse and the human rights situation has deteriorated.

During the martial law period, the Supreme Court heard petitions for Habeas Corpus. It is most ironic, after martial law has allegedly been lifted, that the Supreme Court last April ruled it can no longer entertain petitions for Habeas Corpus for persons detained under a Presidential Commitment Order, which covers all so-called national security cases and which under present circumstances can cover almost anything.

The country is far advanced in her times of trouble. Economic, social and political problems bedevil the Filipino. These problems may be surmounted if we are united. But we can be united only if all the rights and freedoms enjoyed before September 21, 1972 are fully restored.

The Filipino asks for nothing more, but will surely accept nothing less, than all the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the 1935 Constitution — the most sacred legacies from the Founding Fathers.

Yes, the Filipino is patient, but there is a limit to his patience. Must we wait until that patience snaps?

The nation-wide rebellion is escalating and threatens to explode into a bloody revolution. There is a growing cadre of young Filipinos who have finally come to realize that freedom is never granted, it is taken. Must we relive the agonies and the blood-letting of the past that brought forth our Republic or can we sit down as brothers and sisters and discuss our differences with reason and goodwill?

I have often wondered how many disputes could have been settled easily had the disputants only dared to define their terms.

So as to leave no room for misunderstanding, I shall define my terms:

1. Six years ago, I was sentenced to die before a firing squad by a Military Tribunal whose jurisdiction I steadfastly refused to recognize. It is now time for the regime to decide. Order my IMMEDIATE EXECUTION OR SET ME FREE.

I was sentenced to die for allegedly being the leading communist leader. I am not a communist, never was and never will be.

2. National reconciliation and unity can be achieved but only with justice, including justice for our Muslim and Ifugao brothers. There can be no deal with a Dictator. No compromise with Dictatorship.

3. In a revolution there can really be no victors, only victims. We do not have to destroy in order to build.

4. Subversion stems from economic, social and political causes and will not be solved by purely military solutions; it can be curbed not with ever increasing repression but with a more equitable distribution of wealth, more democracy and more freedom, and

5. For the economy to get going once again, the workingman must be given his just and rightful share of his labor, and to the owners and managers must be restored the hope where there is so much uncertainty if not despair.

On one of the long corridors of Harvard University are carved in granite the words of Archibald Macleish:

“How shall freedom be defended? By arms when it is attacked by arms; by truth when it is attacked by lies; by democratic faith when it is attacked by authoritarian dogma. Always, and in the final act, by determination and faith.”

I return from exile and to an uncertain future with only determination and faith to offer — faith in our people and faith in God.

GMA's Travel Do's and Dont's

You'll know when a system is wrong when somebody says that one can still spend even though the allocated budget for a particular expenditure has been exhausted and that's exactly what Malacanang said a few days back. I have told myself to stop writing about the Arroyos but this is just unacceptable. What I am talking about is the admitted 1.1 Billion pesos excess spending on travels both local and foreign. How do you justify that? How can your conscience stand that? It gives me chills.

In her eight year reign, GMA had allocated 1.4 Billion for her travels but actually spent close to 2.5 Billion. The palace crew however said that there is nothing wrong with this. Why? How? They said that this overspending is covered by the Office of the President's MOOE or Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses and is in fact allowable by law. I have to give credit to this administration though, because they can spot loop holes in the legal system of the country even with a blindfold on, figuratively speaking. They should remember that not all that is legal is moral, think about the development possibilities in the LGU's that money can afford.

Credit needs to be given where its due and I have to salute the president's decision to scrap the business jet purchase. This move might lighten public perception on her administration full of dark secrets and not-so-secret secrets. I hope that this will not be the last but the first of many good deeds Arroyo will do before she steps down next year. Fingers crossed.

by: Ivar

8/20/09 8:43 P.M.

We Don't Wanna Dance

One thing about politicians is that they tend to ride along the current events with regards to their policies and principles and immediately revert back to the original once the fuss has settled down. This scenario is manifested in the death of pres. Cory when some admin congressmen called on their party-mates to halt moves of ammending the constitution through constituent assembly but now that the late president had been laid to rest, they have reignited the cha-cha flame which apparently isn't that easy to put out.

Headlines in today's papers say that Nograles is not ready to bury charter change just yet. Somebody should open the eyes of the speaker that it is nearly impossible to convene the two houses of congress, barely nine months away from elections let alone ratify proposed changes in the fundamental law of the land. Another thing to consider is that the COMELEC is having a hard time with the funding of the Pampanga vote recount, how much more a national plebiscite which by the looks of it will turn out in the negative.

Much has been said about this issue but still the men and women under GMA's command in the house are refusing to listen, and I thought Cory's last sacrifice would be the amplifier of the voice of the Filipino people.

by: Ivar

8/18/09 8:36 P.M.

Presidentiables: Zero or Hero?

It doesn't hurt that his favorite color is pink, and try pinking all of Metro Manila if that's even a word. What hurts though is that he went overboard in an obvious effort to use MMDA funds for his presidential aspirations. I'm talking about no other than MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando, in case you haven't noticed his posters here in Visayas. To think we are over a thousand kilometers away from his turf and still see it is just wrong. Precisely why I commend the effort of the senate finance committee, led by the good Senator Santiago to inquire about the legitimacy of this scheme by cabinet officials for their own political gains at the taxpayers' expense.

Bayani Fernando's other side is somewhat likable to say the least. Once served as the mayor of Marikina City, then a 4th class municipality. In nine years (1992-2001), he was able to transform Marikina into what he called a model Philippine city in terms of cleanliness and beautification. Subsequently appointed to the office of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman after his term and as stated above painted the town pink. He was first to declare his bid for Malacanang in 2010 and he might just have enough paint to cover the whole nation.

by: Ivar

8/15/09 9:55 P.M.

Presidentiables: Young and Vibrant

He is easily the youngest senator in the Philippines today and not yet even qualified to run for higher positions as of this moment but he is almost everywhere these days which hints that he might as well run, he will turn forty this October 10. Counting on the Obamania in the US perhaps, the youthful senator Chiz Escudero could pretty much pull it off with the right positioning and funding which is undeniably one of the most important in today's Philippine politics. This should not be a problem considering he is one of the two possible Nationalist People's Coalition party standard bearers come 2010, the other being fellow senator Loren Legarda.

Escudero attended the University of the Philippines Integrated School for both his Elementary and Secondary Education, and graduated in 1981 and 1985 respectively. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Political Science at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City in 1988 and Bachelors of Laws at the University of the Philippines College of Law in 1993. He received his Masters in International and Comparative Law at the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington D. C. in 1996. At the University of the Philippines , Escudero was Secretary General of the Association of Law Students of the Philippines from 1992–1993. He also joined the Alpha Phi Beta Fraternity and was a member of the Alpha Phi Beta Debating Team which was the 1991 U.P. Open Debate Champion. A consistent honor student, he was a member of the Order of the Purple Feather or the U.P. Law Honor Society from 1989–1993.

It seems that everywhere he goes, he is mobbed by the youth for pictures and autographs but can his team capitalize on this next year? Only time will tell.

by: Ivar

8/11/09 8:57 P.M.

One Million Peso Dinner, Anyone?

What can a million pesos buy these days? About 33 tons of rice, or a decent home in the provinces, or even thousands of kilos of meat but a dinner for one night? It's ridiculously mad! President Arroyo and his cohort never fails to disappoint considering how many millions of Filipinos could not even have a decent meal in a day. How can they swallow such expensive food and savour those luxurious wines and call themselves public servants? For the sake of argument, let's believe the ever unbelievable Cerge Remonde when he said that Leyte congressman Romualdez paid the bill, is it now acceptable? I can't help but shake my head in total disgust.

Millions of pesos are allocated to each congressmen in both houses as PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund) or commonly known as PORK BARREL. This fund is highly descretionary and subject to a lot of controversial transactions. With this kind of cash at his disposal, can we believe that Rep. Romualdez took money from his own pocket to feed his boss? Or is he just the "fall-guy"? Even more money is under the president's control, how can we believe that personal funds are used in an official travel?

President Aquino died as the most loved president in recent history because of her simplicity while in office. If only the current president had a quarter of Cory's conscience and morality, then the Philippines could have been a better place.

by: Ivar

8/10/09 10:24 A.M.

Presidentiables: Mr. Palenke to Padyak King

There are two sides of the coin, as they say. One could represent one story and the other could be of another but still the same coin. The analogy could very well be applied to the race for the presidency of two senators: Villar and Roxas. As presented in our last post, Villar invested heavily on the media for his campaign which is also true for Roxas but apparently not the same result, as Villar was on top of the survey and Roxas was tied with Chiz for third. Now the question: should he continue the fight?

Manuel "Mar" Roxas II is the son of former senator Gerry Roxas and the grandson and namesake of former president Manuel Roxas. Born with affluence, he was educated at Ateneo de Manila and University of Pennsylvania in the United States and was an investment banker before being elected as a congressman representing the first district of Capiz. Due to his experience in the US, he was appointed by president Erap as the Trade and Industry secretary in 2000 and kept this post even after Erap's ouster. He was elected as a senator with the highest votes garnered in the history of Philippine national politics in 2004 and was one of the then-administration senators who called for GMA's resignation after the Hello-Garci scandal together with Liberal Party-mates and was subsequently catapulted as party head and presidential nominee.

Ever since his stint in DTI, he was an advocate of slashing prices of branded medicines which he claims are over-priced compared to our Asian neighbors. This issue has somehow put the spotlight on him and placed him against his former boss, GMA. He was one of those who gained special mentions in the recent SONA for pussyfooting in implementing the cheaper medicines act and for allegedly using bad words in rallies.

I actually admire his credentials but I have to admit that I am not a big fan of his ads and PR. His press relations have gone overboard and it appears that he is using his relationship with popular newswoman Korina Sanchez for his political gains. His infomercials on the other hand are easy to remember but fail to register with the electorate the vital qualities for him to be the president, instead becoming a source of sms jokes. I believe he will be a good president but unless he fixes his PR, he won't win in 2010.

by: Ivar

8/9/09 8:16 P.M.

Presidentiables: Rags to Big Bucks

He charms his way into the audience's hearts and to the top of the surveys with his trademark sipag at tiyaga slogan and orange polo-shirt. Spending over a hundred million pesos already in "info-mercials" with themes ranging from OFW's he's helped to how his family lived in the 50's and the latest with a catchy jingle but the big question is: will he be able to cash in his investment? If the latest SWS survey is to be believed, he might. Gaining the top spot for the first time from VP De Castro with a commanding 33 percent rating. The closest rival is former president Erap with 25 percent and Noli is now fifth with 19 percent.

He was born on the 13th of December, 1949 in Tondo, Manila to a poor family. He finished Bachelor of Arts and Masters in Business Administration at the University of the Philippines as a working student and in 1975 started his business empire with just 10,000 pesos and transformed it into what is now known as the Camella and Palmera Homes, one of the key players in the real estate market in the country.

After establishing himself as a successful businessman, he ventured into politics and was elected to congress representing the city of Las Pinas during the 1992 elections and was re-elected decisively in 1995 and 1998 when he became speaker of the house. Villar was actually the first speaker of the house in the country to impeach a president (Erap) in 2000. With his rise to political stardom after the impeachment case, he ran for senate and won in the 2001 elections barely nine years after his first election. Manny and his wife Cynthia consistently top the list of the richest legislators in the country. He became senate president in 2007 and was forced to resign over a year later due to scandals over his c5 road extension project but was subsequently cleared of all allegations. He formally declared his intention to run for president in 2010 on September 4 last year under the Nacionalista Party which he chairs.

With all the money he's got, opponents will surely have a hard time catching up but in my own opinion, his steady cash supply is not his best asset. With a rags to riches story which fascinates the Filipino people in telenovelas, he surely has this intangible advantage of belongingness with the masses. Whether this could translate to better presidential policies in favor of the poor and the oppressed if elected remains unseen.

by: Ivar

8/7/09 11:30 P.M.

Why the Number of Hungry Filipinos Increased?

Recent estimates show that there are over 92 million Filipinos. Based on this estimate there are 307 people per square kilometer of Philippine land. Of the 92 million, over 32 million or 35 percent are between the ages of 0-14. These statistics tell us that over the past 14 years, our population have increased by 50 percent and this could only mean that couples have stepped up reproduction to a point wherein sustaining the family meant sacrificed living standards for the children. Many have denounced the current administration’s fight against hunger mainly because it did not solve the root cause stated above.

One thing I would like the church to look into is the current “real” state of the nation’s people when they issue reactions on proposals made by congress. Instead of spreading negativity about the reproductive health bill they could have sat down and talked with the bill’s proponents so that in totality it would still adhere to the Roman Catholic Church’s principles and teachings. Church leaders never even thought of dialogues to patch up differences vital to uplift Juan de la Cruz’s standard of living. This should not be taken as a defence of the bill.

When most of its citizen’s are getting hungry, the last thing on the state’s agenda should be to lease out land to foreign corporations. 90,000 hectares of agricultural land in Mindoro will be controlled by a South Korean company for 25 years to grow corn. Of course the harvests will be exported to Korea but not for human consumption but as an ingredient for animal feed. How can the provincial government of Mindoro approve such a stupid deal? Somebody from the top must have pulled the strings on this one, who else could it be?

by: Ivar

8/4/09 10:36 P.M.

She Saved the Filipinos Even in Death

The Malacanang uttered words which brought to my heart mixed emotions, they have finally called on the House of Representatives to abandon plans of senate-less con-ass. I was happy because I have fought against charter change by way of constituent assembly ever since day one but at the same time I felt sorrow because it took the death of a democratic icon to move GMA's common sense and drop the hot potato.

Pres. Corazon Aquino managed for one last time to save the Filipinos against what could have been another dark episode of tyranny and hunger for power never seen in the country since the time of Marcos. GMA might exhibit coincidental similarities with Pres. Cory, being both women and both came to power in a bloodless revolution, but they differ in ways that matter the most and it was Pres. Aquino who stood in the frontlines against Arroyo's plan of perpetual regime until the very end.

With all my heart, I thank you President Cory Aquino, who happens to be the president during my foray into this world, for restoring democracy to the Philippines over twenty-three years ago. Thank you for dedicating your life in rebuilding a country once destroyed and most of all, thank you for stopping another eminent destruction even if it meant breathing your last. Finally, we promise to be ever vigilant to circumstances which might lead to the fall of the freedom we enjoy at this very moment that you have envisioned for all Filipinos.

R.I.P Corazon Cojuangco Aquino; 1933-2009

by: Ivar

8/3/09 10:42 P.M.