12/14/2011

Huwag sana tuloyang mabulagan sa kapangyarihan




This is one of the present administration's blindness that they fail to recognize.

Sa di masyadong malayo na hinaharap, may mas lalong malaking kabulagan, kapipian, at kabingian ang nakahintay na mangyayari sa pamumuno ni PNoy kung walang gagawing tamang hakbang kaugnay dito. Seguradong alam na nila kung ano ang bagay na ito. Kung mga landmines ang tawag nila sa mga appointees ni GMA, ano naman kaya ang maaring itawag sa mga alipores ni PNoy? Kung puro na lang PNoy alipores ang nasa Supreme Court ang matitira, at sobrang nakakarami sa kongreso ay puro mga alipores na ni PNoy, ano na ang mangyayari sa check and balance sa mga sanga ng ating pamahalaan? Baka e-cheCHECK na lang ang mga alipores na ito kung may BALANCE pa ba mga bank accounts nila para tuloy ang ligaya ng pagharurot kasi wala nang balakid sa kanilang dinadaanan, matuwid daw kasi e, wika nga nila.

"Nearly all men can stand the test of adversity, but if you really want to test a man's character, give him power." -- Abraham Lincoln

"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad man." --Lord Acton
          

12/13/2011

PNoy steps up attacks vs Corona


By ABS-CBN News 

President Aquino stepped up his attacks against Chief Justice Renato Corona just shortly after the articles of impeachment against the chief justice were transmitted to the Senate.

Aquino called Corona as former President Arroyo’s “disciple” (“alagad”), enumerating cases in which Corona had voted in Mrs. Arroyo’s favor.

Aquino cited, among others, Corona’s vote in declaring as unconstitutional the executive order establishing the Truth Commission and the issuance of the temporary restraining order against the travel ban on Mrs. Arroyo.

“Sa ganitong lantarang pagtanggal ng piring ng katarungan, kailangan po nating tanungin ang sarili: hanggang kailan tayo magtitiis, hanggang kailan tayo uunawa, hanggang kailan tayo magpapasensya? Sobra-sobra na ang ebidensya; aasa pa ba tayong magbabago si Ginoong Corona?” Aquino said in a coalition caucus held in a hotel in Mandaluyong City.

“Naging kumbinsido po tayo na pagdating kay Ginang Arroyo, walang tama o maling kinikilala si Ginoong Corona. Walang patutunguhan ang ating pagsisikap kung bago pa man tayo dumulog sa husgado ay kargado na pala ang timbangan. Malinaw po ang katotohanan: Si Ginoong Corona ay itinalaga sa Korte Suprema, hindi bilang alagad ng katarungan, kundi bilang alagad ni Ginang Arroyo.”

Aquino said that Corona is compromising the high court’s integrity by preventing efforts to make the former president accountable. Aquino noted that Arroyo and Corona’s ties go a long way back.

“Para po sa kanya, mukhang sapat na ang samahang ito para paulit-ulit na isangkalan ang integridad ng Korte Suprema. Hindi po ako ang sumisira sa kanyang institusyon; sa kanyang pagtanggi na panagutin si Ginang Arroyo, inuubos ni Ginoong Corona ang dangal ng Korte Suprema,” Aquino said.

Aquino also riled against the Supreme Court’s reversal in recent cases involving cityhood and the Flight Attendants' and Stewards' Association of the Philippines (FASAP), saying these decisions had implications on the lives of ordinary Filipinos.

Aquino described the Court as “pugad ng katiwalian.” (nest of corruption).

“Hindi po tayo magpapamana sa susunod na salinlahi ng isang Korte Supremang pugad ng katiwalian,” Aquino said.

Time to face the music

Directly addressing Corona, Aquino said the impeachment process would allow Corona to answer the charges filed against him.

“Ginoong Corona: Sa Kongreso at Senado, harapin mo ang pinagmulan ng poder mo: Ang taumbayan,” Aquino said.

Aquino took the opportunity to thank members of the House of Representatives who signed the impeachment complaint against Corona. Present were not only partymates of Aquino in the Liberal Party but also members of other parties as well. Legislators previously associated with former President Arroyo were also there.

“Ipinakita ng ating lehislatura ang kakayahang ipagtanggol ang interes ng sambayanan nang walang paliguy-ligoy, nang may katapatan sa tungkulin, at nang may pagkilala sa pagdurusang dinaraanan ng taumbayan, na siya ninyong kinakatawan,” Aquino said.

PNoy confident Senate will convict Corona

Aquino is also confident that impeachment case Corona would prosper in the Senate.

“…May kumpyansa ako doon sa mga hinain na kaso…. ‘Yung articles of impeachment embodies ‘yung paniniwala nating kakulangan sa pamumuno ni Ginoong Corona at ‘yung mga pinaggagawa po na naaapektuhan ang sambayanan. So it follows. Kung matibay ‘yung kaso at inaasahan natin ‘yung mga senador, ang mga hinalal na kinatawan ng ating taumbayan, ay susunod naman sila sa tugon ng ating mga boss,” Aquino told reporters after the coalition caucus held in a hotel in Mandaluyong.

Aquino did not directly say if he would personally convince the senators to vote for Corona’s impeachment.

“I know what I’m supposed to do. And I will do what is necessary to fulfill my oath of service to the Filipino people,” Aquino said.

Mum on role in impeachment drive

Neither did Aquino give a direct answer on whether he had a direct hand in the impeachment of Corona.

“Nang-awat pa ako at some point in time at dumating nga ‘yung punto na napakarami na ng ebidensya na talagang napasang-ayon na ako na talagang hindi na pwedeng panatilihin ‘yung suffering o paghihirap na nai-inflict sa ating bayan,” he said.

Aquino said Corona’s impeachment should not create a “chilling effect” on other justices of the high court.

“Simple lang naman po ito e: kaya n’yo bang panindigan ‘yung desisyon ninyo? Kung tama ang ginawa ninyo eh ‘di maski saang korte sila dalhin ay kayang panindigan ‘yon. Pero kung hindi kayang panindigan, doon ka siguro kakabahan. Okay? Sabi nga ng mga nakakatanda sa atin: bato-bato sa langit, ang tamaan na lang ang mamroblema,” he said.

If given the chance to appoint one, Aquino believes that the next chief justice would not be beholden to him.

“Bakit hindi ninyo tingnan ‘yung mga na-appoint ko na? Mayroon bang beholden? Have they voted every time in our favor? Or perhaps even the perception of what I would have wanted as far as a decision is concerned?” Aquino said.

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To the Chief Justice: Be not afraid of the arrows that fly swiftly. Stand firm as you let everything be as they have wished and planned to happen. In the eyes of many, you maybe condemned already. But remain sober and be humble as you can be, for the test is intended not primarily for you but rather the test is mainly for those who hate you. Though at your own expense they may gain favor with the masses and the temporal reward may not be to you, yet even so, remain obedient to the process which you will be undergoing through. This is the best way you can serve the Lord. After all of this, people may hate and despise you, yet it is the Lord who is the only source of true justice. Endure the pain, for in the future, their own blindness will be healed by the Lord, and in that day your spirit will thank the Lord for opening you an opportunity to be used as an instrument by the Lord to heal many even though you go through a painful way.

"Don't be afraid of the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested; and you will have oppression for ten days. Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life." (Revelation 2:10)

Now, will you be obedient to enter the door of suffering which the Lord has opened for you?
 
http://wchimemssgs2010.blogspot.com/2011/11/november-11-2011.html
       

11/26/2011

Higher Law - by Teddy Locsin Jr.

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"Give to every human being every right that you claim for yourself." --Robert G. Ingersoll

‎"Therefore whatever you desire for men to do to you, you shall also do to them; for this is the law and the prophets." --Matthew 7:12
       

11/25/2011

Dalawang Mukha Ng Iisang Uri Ng Pag-iisip

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Kung tutuusin, kahit gaano pa ka tuwid ang daan, malamang mas malaki ang tsansang madidisgrasya o makakadisgrasya ang isang motorista kung ito ay sobrang paharurot na nagmamaneho lalo na kung triple pa ang bilis nito. Hindi masama ang pagmamadali kung ito ay hindi ginagawa sa kalabisan, dahil ang sobra o malabis na pagmamadali, tulad ng utak wangwang, ay isa ding uri ng pag-aaboso ng kapangyarihan. Sa larangan ng tuwid na daan, wangwang man o sobrang harurot, sila ay dalawang mukha lamang ng iisang uri ng pag-iisip.
          

10/10/2011

"Look At Bohol Now": A Story of Bohol's Tourism Success



New Emerging Tourist Attractions in Bohol Contiune to Develop (As of 2011)

Discover Bohol: An Island Paradise


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A few years ago, tourism in the island of Bohol was seasonal as the industry was yet starting to develop. But today, Bohol's tourism is already an all-year-round industry. The island is richly blessed with so much natural, historical, and cultural beauties and wonders which attracted tourists from every corner of the globe. For the past 2 to 3 years, the industry has been growing rapidly such that the small domestic airport in its capital city could no longer conviniently accomodate the ever increasing influx of tourist arrivals in this paradise island. But hopefully soon, with the completion of the new Bohol Airport project, the problem of congestion will be solved and the influx of tourist arrivals is expected to greatly increased even more. If Bohol will be properly managed by its leaders and successors, it has the potential to develop like Singapore, considering that Bohol has a strategic geographical location and has very rich natural resources.
          

9/19/2011

The Importance of Family Dinner Table Talk

         
 2 in 3 teens long to have dinner with their parents to discuss issues like pre-marital sex.


Support the National FaMEALy Day on September 26, 2011 by going home early to have dinner with your family. Make everyday FaMEALy Day dahil ang Kainang Pamilya ay Mahalaga!



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The dinner table can be an altar for the strengthening of family relations where parents can impart values and virtues into their children through open discussions of important issues that concern the
young minds and which greatly contribute to the formation of the character of their developing souls.
         

9/18/2011

Mahinungdanon Nga Pahimangno

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Aron sa pagpaniguro, akong binisaya-on akong mensahe aron dili dali nga masabtan sa mga langyaw.

Dili pa lang dugay, sa usa ka website nga akong nabisita, nagbasa kog mga balita bahin sa atong nasod. Sa mao nga website pwede pod ang mga readers maka kumentaryo. Ug diha'y usa sa ilang mga hisgutanan nga na-intresado ko mao nga misulay ko sa pagkumento. Apil sa ila nga pamaagi kung duna'y gusto nga mokumento mao ang pagpangayo sa email address sa gusto nga mokumento. Abi ba nako ug email address lang ang pangayoon nila, apil man pod diay ang password sa email address, mao nga nagpanagana na ko. Apan lagi tungod sa akong pagka intresado sa mao nga topic, ug tungod pod sa repotasyon sa mao nga website, mao nga nangarisgar ko ug hatag sa akong email address ug password aron nga maka kumentaryo ko sa usa sa mga init nga hisgutanan sa mao nga website. Apan pagka taod-taod sa pagkahuman na sa akong kumentaryo, diha na ko'y gikatingad-an sa akong email account nga makapaduda. Dili lang nako hisgutan ang detalye bahin sa akong gikatingad-an kay aron dili dali makabantay ang kung kinsa man galing ang responsable niini.

Kini nga nahitabo sa akong email account, usa kini ka dako nga leksyon para kanako (ug sa uban pa nga mga tig-gamitan sa Internet). Dili gayod diay angay nga basta-basta lang kita mosalig sa mga website maski na kung sikat o establisado na ang ilang pangalan.

Kung pananglit dunay mga importante nga inpormasyon ang imong email account, kinahanglan gayud nga magbinantayon ka sa seguridad niini. Posible kaayo nga magamit sa mga tao nga dunay dautan ug tuyo ang inpormasyon sa imong email account kung kini ilang mahibaw-an.

Tungod niini nga nahitabo sa akong email account, akong e-delete ang akong email address nga nakumpromeso. Daghang maamong nga uban pa nga mga account nako sa Internet nga konektado sa mao nga email account, mao nga dako ang kahasol ug kabudlay sa pagpahiluna sa uban nga mga account nga apektado sa pag-delete sa akong email account. Apan kinahanglan ug importante nga kini akong pagabuhaton.

Usbon ko ang pahimangno: Kung duna'y mga website (o kung unsa pang uban nga pamaagi sa interaksyon sa internet) nga mangayo sa inyong email address uban sa inyong password, unya dili ka 100% nga sinati o kabisado sa mao nga interaksyon, impportante nga magbaton mo ug dakong pagpanagana.

Kung bahin sa pag-amping sa atong kaugalingon nga seguridad sulod sa internet, adunay panultihon nga nagkanayon: "Maayo pa'y sa kanunay mabudlayon kang magbantay nunka nga sa kaulahian pa nga tuman kana lang nga magamahay."
         

9/14/2011

Thailand's Unborn: A Case of RH Program Failure

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The gruesome discovery of more than 2,000 foetuses in a Bangkok temple sent shockwaves across Thailand last November.

As most abortion is illegal in Thailand, the case has shone a spotlight on a massive backstreet industry and sparked national debate about the country's current abortion laws, which date from the 1950s.

Religion has played a significant social and political role in this debate. Theravada Buddhism in Thailand is a socially conservative force. About 95 per cent of the population are Buddhist and Buddhism remains closely tied to the state.

The Buddhist nation has strict laws on abortion and views it as a sin.
"In Buddhism, we see abortion as a sin. It definitely violates our religious belief. Killing is a sin. It doesn't matter whether the killing takes place inside or outside the womb, it's a sin," Phra Kru Wichitsorakul, the abbot of Phai Ngern temple, says.

Illegal abortion is a huge problem in Thailand, a country of 67 million people. Official statistics suggest around 300,000 abortions are carried out each year in Thailand, the vast majority in backstreet clinics.

And with hundreds of unwanted pregnancies illegally terminated every day, these foetuses have turned out to be just the tip of the iceberg.

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Here is one proof that population control by means of government-sponsored contraception-only policies (no abortion is legal), like what is being proposed in our RH bill version, would also be a failure if it is only addressed at the physical dimension of the problem and not more on the psychological/spiritual dimension of it where the core of the problem resides. Thailand is an example where its people are resorting to abortion because the prevalence of unwanted pregnancies remain unsolved no matter how much contraceptives their government are providing. Another dismal case of inaccurate study of the problem that resulted to inaccurate solution which in turn resulted to ineffective result.
          

9/10/2011

Character Formation: The Only Right Alternative to "RH Bill" for the Youth

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Very uplifting is the message of their song. What the video portrays is a very good example of a small local community spiritually guiding their youth in the right path that they should go so that they would not be swayed by the negative influences of the worldly culture around them.

"For though we walk in the flesh, we don't wage war according to the flesh; for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the pulling down of strongholds, throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:3-5) 

A problem which has more of a psychological/spiritual dimension can't be remedied appropriately with solutions that are merely material in nature and it can't be dealt with effectively if it is addressed in the physical realm alone.

With all of its symptoms and consequences, irresponsible sex is more of a mental attitude problem than it is a physical one. Therefore to address this problem with the use of solutions such as those provided in the proposed Reproductive Health bill -- which primarily includes maternal-and-child healthcare products and services as well as birth-prevention products and services -- is to merely deal with the physical consequences of the problem and does not address the psychological dimension of the problem itself at its very core.

In today's instant-gratification world, the correct and proper teaching of the ABC's of sexual responsibility which is a big part of the most critical phase of youth development has been greatly declining in most of the societies across the globe -- already almost to the point of total neglect. Majority of the young minds of today's information age, on their own, are left freely learning wrong norms from the various forms of media they constantly are exposed to everyday -- the internet, mobile phone, television, radio, movies, magazines, etc. Both at home and in school, parents and educators alike have become seriously negligent of the responsibility of molding the character dimension of the youth. Today's educational systems seem to have failed to prevent the destruction of the balance between material prosperity and spiritual prosperity. More and more focus has been given to career and profession building while less and less focus is given to character formation.

And how about the religious institutions? How are they fairing with respect to the formation of the youth's character? So sad to admit, but they too have failed the youth of today in varying degrees. Many of them preach a kind of Christianity without cross. Others preach a kind of cross without Christ. While the rest preach on material prosperity more than spiritual matters, and this is perhaps why they are supportive of the contraception-based solution to the problem of sexual irresponsibility-related poverty.

If societies are to succeed in the fight against the consequences of sexual irresponsibility in today's nihilistic and narcissistic world, one key and major factor to be given big focus in the overall strategy is the [re]formation of people's character particularly in the young minds of the youth. Molding them and guiding them spiritually with right values and imparting virtues into their young minds. Approaching the problem this way targets the underlying psychological dimension of the problem of irresponsible sex right at its very core.

This is the only right alternative to the proposed U.N.-advocated Reproductive Health bill that can stand the best chance against the menace and consequences of sexual irresponsibility.

A - Abstinence. Teaching them the virtue of chastity and purity before marriage.
B - Be Faithful. Teaching them the virtue of marital fidelity.
C - Character. Teaching them the Word of God for the formation of godly character.

"Train up your children in the way they should go, and when they are old they will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)
          

9/09/2011

Interest of Businesses Vs. People's Welfare: Where's the Balance?

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For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

Bakit ba halos na lang lahat ng pangunahing mga pangangailangan ng taombayan ay sabayang nagsitaasan? Mula sa langis, kuryente, pagkain, mga pangunahing bilihin, pamasahe sa train, toll fee, buwis, at itong tubig. Haaay nako mga kababayan, papano na kaya mabubuhay ang karamihan sa atin ngayon? Ang bigat na nga ng krus ni Juan De la Cruz dahil hindi na nga sapat ang kinikita niya sa araw-araw para sa kanyang pamilya, e lalo pang pinapalala ang kanyang kalagayan ng mga panibagong pampabigat na namang mga bagay na ito!

Panginoon, tulongan mo po ang aming bayan na makalampas at makatawid sa mga paghihirap at mga pagdurusang ito.

Sa susunod at darating na mga panahon, lalo pa ba kayang lalala itong mahirap na kalagayan ng taombayan, o ito na ba kaya ang sukdulang resulta ng masakim na pamamalakad ng mga makapangyarihang namumuhonan na nagmamay-ari ng malalaki at pangunahing mga kalakal sa ating bansa? Ano kaya ang magagawa ng kasalukoyang pamumuno ng ating bansa kaugnay sa bagay na ito? Sabi ng ating mga namumuno hindi raw nila mapipigil ang bagong pataw na buwis sa toll fee. Sabi din nila na wala raw silang kapangyarihan na kontrolahin o mapigilan ang halos linggo-linggong pagtataas ng presyo ng langis dahil ito ay "deregulated". E, papaano na kaya ngayon ang mumunting ikinabubuhay ni mamang tsuper na tanging inaasahan niya sa araw-araw para sa kanyang pamilya?

At tungkol naman sa tubig at kuryente, ang lugi ng mga pampublikong kumpaniya na nagnenegosyo ng tubig at kuryente ay parang walang awang dagdag na ipinapapasan nila sa balikat ng taombayan sa pamamagitan ng pagtataas ng singil sa babayarin na sobra na sa dapat na makatarungan at tama lamang na babayarin.

Hindi masama sa isang pamahalaan na alagaan ang interest ng mga namumuhonan sa bansa, ngunit kailangan din na maibalanse ito sa kapakanan ng taombayan. Pero sa nangyayari ngayon, at dahil na rin sa ikinikilos ng mga namumuno sa atin, ang pakiramdam tuloy ng taombayan ay parang mas pinapaboran pa ng pamahalaan ang interest ng mga namumuhonan na siyang naging dahilan sa pagkasira ng balanse sa pagitan ng interest ng mga namumuhunan at ng kapakanan ng taombayan.

Hanggang kailan kaya makakayang tiisin itong ganitong kalagayan?
         

9/08/2011

RH Bill: A First Step Towards the Legalization of Abortion

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Three pro-RH groups backing legalized abortion exposed
By Dominic Francisco
CBCP News

At least three non-government organizations have been found to be espousing the legalization of abortion in the Philippines, as senators resumed floor debates on the controversial “reproductive health” (RH) bill Monday.

One of the sponsors of Senate Bill No. 2865, Sen. Pia Cayetano, did not deny that groups such as the Family Planning Organization of the Philippines (FPOP), the Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR), and Likhaan have been campaigning for legalized abortion, under interpellation by Sen. Vicente Sotto III.

Sotto pointed out that FPOP got US$617,000 (P26 million) in funding from the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) – the world’s largest abortion provider – last year.

FPOP’s website carries a document titled “Medical and Service Delivery Guidelines for Sexual and Reproductive Health Services,” which describes medical and surgical methods for inducing abortion.

“Efforts should be made to inform the public that abortion is safest when performed early, and women who seek abortion should be encouraged to attend as early in the pregnancy as possible,” the document on the FPOP website states.

FPOP is also on the listing of “Sexual Health Services and abortion clinics Worldwide” by the Dutch abortion group Women on Waves (WoW). WoW takes women aboard hired ships to undergo abortions in international waters, to escape national laws banning abortion.

WoW states on its website: “If you live in a country where there is no access to safe abortion services and you would like to obtain a medical abortion with Mifepristone and Misoprostol, please go to Women on Web. This is an online medical abortion help service that refers to a doctor who can provide you with a medical abortion.”

Mifepristone and Misoprostol are abortion drugs, and both are not legal in the Philippines.

Providing how-to instructions for abortion

Likhaan, meanwhile, published last year a Filipino translation of the book “Where Women Have No Doctor,” Chapter 15 of which has a section titled “Mga Ligtas na Paraan ng Pagpapalaglag.” The book is available to the public on the Likhaan website.

“Tinatanggal ang binubuntis sa pamamagitan ng paghigop, gamit ang ispesyal na tubo (cannula) na pinapadaan sa puwerta at cervix pa-pasok sa matris. Puwedeng gawin ito na hindi pinapatulog ang babae, pero minsan, iniiniksyunan ng gamot sa cervix para makatulong sa sakit. Sa manu-manong proseso (manual vacuum aspiration o MVA), tinatanggal ang binubuntis sa pamamagitan ng ispesyal na heringgilya (syringe). Kung hindi, gumagamit ng maliit na makinang de-kuryente,” the book states.

“Mayroon na ngayong mga gamot na nagagamit ang mga doktor at health worker para magpalaglag. Pinapaimpis ng mga gamot ang matris at pinipiga palabas ang binubuntis. Ang ilang gamot ay nilalagay sa loob ng puwerta … ang ilan ay iniinom, at ang ilan ay iniiniksyon. Kung tama ang gagamiting gamot o kumbinasyon ng mga gamot, ligtas at mabisang paraan ito,” it adds.

Pushing abortion acceptance despite being unlawful

The Manila- and Amsterdam-based WGNRR, headed by UP professor Dr. Sylvia Claudio, talks about its “Abortion Rights Advocacy” on its website:

“Throughout its almost 30 year history, WGNRR has made abortion advocacy a priority.”

The Claudio-led group’s “specific goals” include the investigation of “ways to improve access despite the law,” sharing of “experiences and strategies about how to confront religious fundamentalists,” and finding the “best practices for linking abortion rights to other social justice and human rights campaigns.”

Sotto pointed out that the RH bill provides an “open door” to abortion – Section 3 paragraph 1. The provision states: “While this Act does not amend the penal law on abortion, the government shall ensure that all women needing care for post-abortion complications shall be treated and counseled in a humane, non-judgmental and compassionate manner.”

“People and organizations behind it, as far as I’m concerned, are the difficulties I am encountering [in this bill],” Sotto said.

“IPPF has lobbied worldwide for the legalization and repeal of all laws preventing legal access to abortion,” he added.

In reply, Cayetano said: “The fact that an organization has made statements inconsistent with public policy does not prevent them from making statements consistent [with public policy].”

Using a poor analogy, the pro-RH senator said that even if Osama bin Laden supported policies against climate change, environmentalist Sen. Loren Legarda wouldn’t want to be associated with the brains behind the 9/11 attacks.

Sotto, however, retorted: “Climate change – everybody will agree to that. Eh ito contraception and abortion eh!"

Read also: Pro-RH NGO is pro-abortion

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Watch comprehensively the full video posted above, because this is how "Family Planning" and "Planned Parenthood" mean to the three groups advocating abortion (Family Planning Organization of the Philippines [FPOP], the Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights [WGNRR], and Likhaan) in our country which Senator Pia Cayetano admitted are among the strong backers of the proposed RH bill. And passing this proposed "watered down" version of the RH bill ("watered down" because legalalized abortion is not yet included in the bill's provision) is merely a first step on the road to their ultimate victory -- which is the legalization of abortion in our country.

And to those who are subscribing to the idea that legalizing abortion will make the practice of it rare, see this annual abortion statistics record of the U.S.A. since they legalized abortion:

Total abortions in the U.S.A. from 1973 to 1998 alone is horrifyingly over 38 million already!

Over 38 million helpless innocent souls murdered in just 25 years with the full consent of the state?! If this is not grossly horrifying state-sponsored genocide, then what euphemistic term can it be called? Don't you think that the blood of these millions of innocent lives don't flood heaven's door and perpetually cry out for justice?

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How do you think did many of the states in the U.S.A. and in Europe end up with legalizing abortion as part of their Reproductive Health program? Would you be surprised to discover that they have once started their Reproductive Health program just like how our own country now is  proposing this RH bill, no abortion as a first step? And look at how they have ended up now.

The practical reason for their legalization of abortion in their states is that no matter how much contraceptives their respective governments are providing to their people, still the problem of unwanted pregnancies remained rampant and prevalent. And owing to the desperate outcome of their initial population control programs, there was no other option left for these governments to choose except to allow their women to be able to legally eradicate their unwanted unborn children before these helpless little innocent human beings could even see the light of day.

Sa usaping "Reproductive Health"
(read: "population control") at "legalization of abortion", kung baga sa lakbay, ang Pilipinas ay hamak na magsisimula pa lang na tatahak sa landas na ito, samantalang ang Estados Unidos at ang Uropa ay sobrang layo na sa kanilang pinagsimulan -- ika nga, humanly speaking, they are already at the point of no return. Hindi na nila pwedeng gawing isang malaking krimen ang pagpatay ng tao sa loob ng sinapupunan ng ina. Hindi ba itong kalagayan na ito ay parang katulad na rin sa impyerno na kung saan ay walang pananagutan ang pagkitil ng buhay ng tao?

Ang sino mang tatahak sa daan ng bitag ay natural lamang na walang ibang hahantungan kundi ang kapahamakan. Kung ang U.S.A. at Europe nga sa bandang huli ay hindi pa rin nila naiwasang baguhin ang kanilang batas sa "Reproductive Health" (read: "population control") at tuloyang ginawa na rin nilang legal ang abortion, e tayo pa kaya? E kung kusa tayong tatahak sa daan na ito pasunod sa mga nauna sa atin, e aba ang tatalino naman kaya nating mga Pinoy kung sa kalaunan ay hindi rin tayo mahulog sa bitag ng "legalization of abortion" katulad nila.

This issue on "Reproductive Health" (read: "population control") and ultimately the legalization of abortion as the final recourse to the stubborn and prevalent problem of unwanted pregnancies does not matter whether countries are secular or religious, poor or rich, democratic or not, because the bottom line and common denominator here is the bad old problem of unrestrained irresponsible use of human sexual appetite.

While on the surface, contraception may seem to address the unwanted physical consequences of the problem, but what is of great danger here is what is unseen happening deep within the psyche -- and that is, the further eroding of sexual morality. And this is where the core of the problem is. Just like the problem of "Utak Wangwang" (the mindset of corruption), the problem of "Utak Libog" (the mindset of irresponsible sex or sex-as-I-please whenever, wherever, & whomever) really lies between the ears and no amount of whatever type of artificial contraception is able to tame this mentality.

If our government will not open their eyes to the reality that this deceivingly and euphemistically called "Reproductive Health" (read: "population control") program (which the "big brains" of the U.N. is desperately advocating as a "solution" to mitigate poverty by reducing the population of the world's poor) is nothing but a futile attempt to [inaccurately] address or treat the symptoms and never the underlying disease itself, then the problem would only worsen. And when the complications of this wrong treatment begin to manifest and show off their ugly monstrous heads, there would be no other viable option left for the government to choose except ultimately to legalize access to abortion.

         

9/01/2011

U.N. to stop funding Philippine population plan

By Gil Cabacungan
Philippine Daily Inquirer

The country’s family planning program is in peril after the United Nations sounded off its plan to cut back its aid to the government’s population control program.

Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin said that she was informed that the UN would abandon its $1 million birth control program in the Philippines starting next year due to lack of funding from members.

Garin said that the fund was used to bankroll the use of injectable drugs to prevent pregnancy in three months or the distribution of birth control pills especially to those who just gave birth.

The vice chair of the House committee on health said that this has made the passage of the Reproductive Health bill more urgent to ensure sustained funding for family planning programs.

Without this regular UN-funded program to poor Filipinos, Garin feared that the Philippines could experience a spike in its population growth rate recently pegged at 2.4 percent per annum.

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Whether people admit it or not, and no matter how much sugar-coating is done to it, the U.N.-advocated program which is so-called the "Reproductive Health" program is basically a world population reduction program. And whether people will like it or not, according to U.S. secretary of state Hillary Clinton (in her own words during a foreign policy hearing in their legislative house), "...Reproductive Health includes access to abortion..."



Passing our own "watered down" version of the U.N.-advocated RH bill in our country ("watered down" because abortion is not yet included in the birth control options to be legalized and offered) is merely the first step, because it has been proven time and again, as are the cases in many poor countries in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, that for a reproductive health program to be really effective within its program time frame and within the limitations of its budget, the option of abortion must be included.

Please see: World Abortion Policies


How can we be sure that our own country's proposed RH Bill will someday not lead to the granting of access to abortion? Is this part of the deal of the $343M grant the United States government has granted the Philippines during President Noynoy's first foreign mission with the world leaders at the United Nations? May we know the truth about this? FOI please?

Here are some relevant and significant information:
National Security Study Memorandum 200


But reducing the population of the world's poor is not that easy to accomplish as some so-called world experts may have thought. In fact many of these so-called experts are now even advocating another radical way of achieving their objective. Genocide! And of course to be carried out subtly through seemingly harmless products such as food, drinks, and medicines, and to be administered or delivered through food aids, medical aids, and in some forms of disease prevention measures through vaccinations. As the world's poor innocently and unsuspectingly take these "disguised substances" into their body system, either they will become sterile for the rest of their life, or their life expectancy is greatly reduced, or they will have both of those subtly intended adverse effects.






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Global Overpopulation: The Making Of A Myth:


Here is another animated video on overpopulation myth:


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Reduction of Birth Rate or Birth-Control? Whatever people may call it, one good way to achieve Birth-Control is to practice Self-Control. "Plan bago yugyugan." Or in other words, Family Planning. At "Kung didiskarte, maging responsable." Or in other words, Responsible Parenthood.

Talking about Family Planning and Responsible Parenthood. I am agreeable to the idea of managing birth rate for the sake of economic betterment with the aim of improving the standard of living of the population, no question about that. In fact some of the so-called "pro RH bill" might be surprised to know that many of the so-called "anti RH bill" are advocating Family Planning and Responsible Parenthood -- but in the true sense of the advocacy and in the right way, and not in the way that the U.N. is desperately advocating. The disagreement, I think, is not much in the objective or purpose but is more in the ways or means of achieving that goal. (If only there are "real" options such that both the Church and the State could agree, then there would be no significant obstacles in the legislation and implementation of laws on the objectives of Family Planning & Responsible Parenthood.)

While there are many points of disagreement, yet did you know that there are in fact some few points of possible agreement between the RH bill's proponents and some of those who are opposing the bill? One such point is the use of the Natural Family Planning method (NFP). Another is sex education for children provided there are agreements in the curiculum and in the age bracket.

But sad to say that the government seems to be subscribing to the United Nations' shotgun approach to World Population and is sold out to this so-called "solution" by [blindly] embracing the concept of Population Reduction.

 

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Just because countries are implementing the U.N.-advocated version of the Reproductive Health program does not mean that the program will work for every country. In fact if you take a look at the record of the poor countries which implented birth-control programs for the past two or three decades, you will be shocked to discover of the very low success rate that these countries have attained with respect to their goal of achieving a better standard of living for the majority of their people.

Not everything in the Reproductive Health bill is wrong. But what makes the entirety of it wrong is that it combines into one bill both the population control program and the mother & child health care program that's been well promoted and talked about. This is where the seeming trickery of the United Nation's euphemism comes in. For it to have high global acceptability, they marketed it as a "Reproductive Health" program to conceal the inclusion of abortion in its original agenda because majority of the nations in the U.N. General Assembly did not agree to the idea of including access to abortion in the program.

Here is one video that might be of interest:

The Hijacked Agenda of the Nations in the U.N. General Assembly

 

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Base on the data shown below (please see the link provided below), wherever there is considerable presence of Christianity, abortion is either illegal or rare. And the reason perhaps is obvious. When it comes to rare cases of birth that involves life and death situation for both the mother and the baby, Christians uphold the principle of what is known as "double effect." And these are isolated cases and do not count as to the category of legalized abortion due to unwanted pregnancy.

If according to Secretary Hillary Clinton's frank acknowledgment (please see my posted video above) that, "...Reproductive Health includes access to abortion...", then why do you think that the U.N.-advocated true version of the euphemistically called Reproductive Health program should include access to abortion and is made legal in many European countries as well as in the U.S.A.? It is because, let me repeat, that time and again, it has been proven in many countries which tried implenting contraceptive-only method of population control that without abortion the success of the program with respect to the global goal of improving the standard of living of the people is not that effective as they had thought.

See: Abortion Policies in Europe


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Here is one article that might be relevant to the topic on abortion and notice how euphemism has been used also to attempt conceal the particular crime of murdering the unborn child.

There are demands worldwide for a procedure to reduce twins to a single pregnancy and it has grown steadily. “The Two-Minus-One Pregnancy” is one of the most twisted thinking that justifies the killing of the unborn, and the people opting for this procedure try to evade moral responsibility by calling the procedure a “reduction.” But the procedure so dishonestly called “reduction” is really not about mere “meddling.” It is murder. --Article Quote

See Article: "Reduction" Goes Beyond Meddling to Murder


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And here is an article on the Principle of Double-Effect that is also relevant to the topic on abortion where rare difficult childbirth cases involve life and death situation of both the mother and the unborn child.

See Article: Double Effect Principle and Borderline Situations

 

8/12/2011

Freedom of Expression?


Art or Blasphemy?

By Gel Santos Relos
The Fil-Am Perspective

Picture this: an "image" of Jesus Christ with an attached wooden replica of male genitalia, draped with a rosary and protruding directly over the face of Jesus.

This is "Politeismo" by Mideo Cruz. It is one of the art works that was on exhibit at the the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Main Gallery, which opened last June 17, 2011. Entitled “Kulo”, this piece is part of a compilation of work by 32 artists, celebrating the 150th anniversary of Jose Rizal.

When the exhibit was featured by one television network, the “Christ with a penis” created such a public uproar. Filipinos from different economic, educational and social backgrounds were appalled by the exhibit, calling Cruz's masterpiece "blasphemous, malicious and sacrilegious."

Criticisms escalated to violent threats to security. A couple had reportedly vandalized the artwork and attempted to set fire to the exhibit, but was unsuccessful. The CCP Board and the artists received increasing number of hate mails and threats following this incident.

In her research for the rationale behind Cruz's work, Raissa Robles wrote, "The artist Mideo Cruz said he pasted the phallus on Christ’s face to symbolize Christ’s power and authority. Robles also cited a previous interview made by Ina Silverio with artist Mideo Cruz. This was before the outrage happened.

The art work is Mideo Cruz' visual commentary of how religion is viewed and practiced in the Philippines.

“I wanted to provoke people into thinking. I titled my work ‘Politeismo’ which loosely translates into ‘many beliefs’ or ‘many deities.’ Throughout history, humanity has grown to create new gods and these are not always religious figures but concepts and objects. Some have taken to worshiping money; some see politicians as godsend. People create idols and these idols whether or not they’re deserving of idolatry or worship affect our lives and how we function and see the world,” Mideo Cruz explained.

Based on the public reaction to the art work, Raissa made the conclusion, "Mideo Cruz was right about his observation on how Filipinos view religion."

Retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz has condemned the exhibit of artist Mideo Cruz, calling it a “consummate sacrilege.” He described the exhibit as “sick and sickening” and “radically insensitive to natural decency, offensive to ethical standards, and hideous to moral norms.”

Through his blog, the bishop criticized the CCP for “displaying the radical vulgarity instead at nurturing and promoting Filipino positive cultural values as defined by its Mission Statement.”

Echoing the sentiments of other Catholic Church leaders, Bishop Cruz further wrote that the CCP Board is supposed to be “art connoisseurs but [they] cannot even see the difference between art and plain vandalism... [they] allow themselves to be taken for a ride by a sick man posing as an artist.”

Former First Lady and now Ilocos Congresswoman Imelda Marcos said,” After seeing the exhibit I was really shocked because it was not only ugly, it was not true, it was not at all beautiful because there were statues and pictures of saints and Christ with horns and with his penis up and it was really a desecration of a spiritual symbol for Catholics.”

President Noynoy Aquino himself communicated to the CCP Board his disapproval about the exhibit. The CCP is under the Office of the President.

In an interview, Aquino pointed out that 85 percent of Filipinos were Christians and that the CCP is being funded by taxpayers.Thus, it should be “of service” to the people. “I think I made myself clear to them. You have rights but when you already trample on the rights of others, there’s already something wrong,” the President said.

Citing violent security threats, the CCP closed down the exhibit last August 9. Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Visual Arts division head Karen Flores, resigned from her post as well the day after. But the uproar against the CCP officials and artist Mideo Cruz has not ended.

Some Senators expressed the need to conduct a Senate inquiry on the matter. At least three of them: Sotto, Enrile, and Estrada, called for the resignation of all CCP officials. Sotto even threatened to withhold funding for the CCP.

The University of Santo Tomas has denounced and rejected Mideo Cruz as an alumnus. Devout Catholics staged their protest in front of the CCP. A lay Catholic group, St. Thomas More Society, filed criminal and administrative charges against the artist and the CCP Board before the Office of the Ombudsman “because the Christian nation has been offended”.

Artists, free thinkers and progressive Filipinos, on the other hand, protested against the closing down of the exhibit and said this is an infringement of the freedom of expression, as guaranteed by the Constitution.

The artwork, supporters say, has been exhibited since 2002 in other venues: Ateneo de Manila, UP Vargas Museum and Kulay Diwa Galleries -- why the uproar now? CCP Visual Arts Division Head Flores lamented on how the media, and two news organizations in particular, had "sensationalized" the issue, particularly "Politeismo.”

The curator of the controversial exhibit J. Pacena II said: "The latest pronouncement of the CCP Board sets a bad precedent. Our right to freely express ourselves were curtailed. I am shocked and appalled by how our civil liberties were exploited to satiate the sensibilities of a raucous mob. In effect, majority of the participants’ ideas and artistic expressions were neglected and compromised by this decision."

Artists called for unity to fight against censorship at the press conference dubbed "Palayain ang Sining." They pointed out that the threats and actual filing legal charges made against the Cultural Center of the Philippines (citing Art. 201 of the Revised Penal Code) is unconstitutional.

Article 201 penalizes “those who shall publicly expound or proclaim doctrines openly contrary to public morals... those who, in theaters, fairs, cinematographs or any other place, exhibit, indecent or immoral plays, scenes, acts or shows, whether live or in film, which are prescribed by virtue hereof, shall include those which… offend any race or religion; …are contrary to law, public order, morals, and good customs, established policies, lawful orders, decrees and edicts."

On the other hand, Article 3 Section 4 of the Philippine Constitution states that “no law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances."

"Kaya maaasahan natin sa mga susunod na okasyon na magkakaroon ng paggamit ng sining upang ipakita ang pagsalungat ng mga artista o ng isang artista sa umiiral na kalagayan sa lipunan, maaasahan natin na ang mga obispo, ang mga pinuno ng mga reaksyonaryong artista, mga tagapagmasid sa lipunan, ay pauulit-ulit na maghaharap ng pagtutol tungkol sa ginagawa para sa sining...”, National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera articulated.

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You always reap the increase of what you sow. Sow provocation and you'll reap controversy.

With his work, surely Mideo Cruz got his intended harvest. But is his controversial exhibit at CCP an art, or is it blasphemy?


Some people, when they are in a state of denial of their silent crisis of spiritual identity, subconsciously tend to resort to art as a means of abstractly ventilating their inner confusion.

Going back to the question at hand. Is the Mideo Cruz' controversial exhibit an art or is it blasphemy? There should be no argue as to whether it is an art or a blasphemy because clearly it is a combination of both. It is an artistic blasphemy as well as a blasphemous art. It is a work of a confused poor soul who is struggling to find spiritual identity and in the process subconsciously learns to explore the art of blasphemy to doubt its own doubts.

Should it be protected by freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution?

A political activist by the name of Noam Chomsky once said, "If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all." But in some "democracies", there is something they called "blasphemous libel". It is the crime committed if a person insults, offends, or vilifies the deity, Christ, or the Christian religion. The question is this: In exercising freedom of expression, how much can a person insult, offend, or vilify someone or something before he violates a law?

What you always value, you always respect, and what you truly respect you truly value. But from an atheistic mind of an artist like Mideo Cruz, what is placing a penis on a picture of Christ? To him, of course, it's all but art. There is nothing more valuable to most artists than ego which they express in their brand of work. Most artists believe that without the freedom to offend, freedom of expression ceases to exist.

But freedom of expression does not mean you have the absolute right to offend, insult, or vilify anyone or anything. It means you are free to express anything while practicing the art of respect for others.

Have you heard of the story of a man who punched another man because he thinks he has the freedom to express what he pleases to do? And the punched man with his nose bleeding exclaimed, “Yeah, but your freedom ends where my nose begins!”

Now that story might be true. But the framers of democracy understood the danger before it happened. And they crafted a type of civilization where privilege is balanced with responsibility.

Freedom is not the ability to do whatever you want without constraints. A good citizen is one who exercises his choices with wisdom and respect for the rights of others.

[Galatians 6:3-7]

For if a man thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each man test his own work, and then he will take pride in himself and not in his neighbor. For each man will bear his own burden. But let him who is taught in the word share all good things with him who teaches. Don't be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that will he also reap.

8/08/2011

Give the poor the fish, at the same time teach them to fish


Enrile wants CCT beneficiaries to work for stipend

Kim Tan, GMA News

Although he supports the proposed 2012 national budget, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile on Monday suggested that beneficiaries of the Aquino administration's conditional cash transfer (CCT) program work in exchange for the stipend that they will be receiving.

"The people who are going to be recipients must work for it. We are making them mendicants," Enrile said during the Senate finance committee's deliberations on the proposed 2012 national budget.

The CCT grants monthly stipend of up to P1,400 to 2.3 million of the 4.6 million poorest families nationwide. It is part of DSWD's Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

In his second State of the Nation Address, President Benigno Aquino III said he expects three million families to benefit from the program by next year.

In the proposed P1.8-trillion national budget for next year, P39 billion will go to the CCT program— an 89-percent increase from the P23 billion allotted for the project this year.

On Monday, Budget Sec. Florencio Abad explained that CCT beneficiaries are only required to do three things:

•make sure that their children go to school 85 percent of the time;

•make sure that their children are immunized; and

•mothers undergo prenatal and maternal health care.

Enrile, however, said maybe the beneficiaries can be asked to clean the environment or plant trees, among other things.

"They must contribute to the building and strengthing of the country," he said.

Abad, for his part, said they are "open" to making changes in the conditions of the CCT.

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Ito ay isang tama at mabuting idea. Habang tinutulungan ng pamahalaan ang mga pinakamahirap sa ating lipunan sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay sa kanila ng pera para pantawid gutom, ang pagbigay sa kanila ng pagkakataong paghirapan nila ng kahit kaunti ang kanilang natanggap na biyaya mula sa pamahalaan ay makapagbigay sa kanila ng kakaunting dangal sa kanilang mga sarili sa halip na iisipin nilang sila'y nililimusan ng pamahalaan. At sa gayon din na pagkakataon, matutunan din nila at ng kanilang mga anak ang kahalagahan ng pagsisikap at may posibilidad na makakatulong ito na unti-unting maiaalis sa kanilang mga isipan ang pagka "Utak Inutil" at sa halip na piliing umaasa sa gobyerno sa pamamagitan ng "inutil" na uri ng pamumulubing pamumuhay ay piliin nilang sabayan at suklian ng pagsisikap ang biyayang kanilang natatanggap.

There is a Chinese Proverb that says, "If you give a man a fish you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish you feed him for a lifetime."

If our objective is really to help people, then let us not just give them the help they need for the day but we must be really concerned by going beyond temporary solutions. Teaching them to fish for themselves is a better solution than providing them fish everytime they need it. It is better to teach them how to do something than to do it for them. Giving someone a fish is good for the short term, but it is better to teach them how to do it so that in the long term they can independently take care of themselves. For example, a mother could cook for her children, but if she never teaches them to cook, they will always be dependent on her for meals. If she teaches them how to cook they will be able to take care of themselves for the rest of their lives.

To make a difference, one has to overcome negativism by staying positive. Positive things will always trigger negative reactions from their opposites. So be not embarassed if critics will mock your generosity for giving a hungry and poor jobless man a fish; being kind is better than being critical. And be not afraid if cynical people will doubt your true intention for teaching poor jobless people to fish; an honest desire to help the poor emancipate themselves from poverty can solve the problem than cynicism.

[James 2: 14-18]

What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can faith save him? And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food, and one of you tells them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled;” and yet you didn't give them the things the body needs, what good is it?

Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself. Yes, a man will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.