On Indonesia's forest fire

It would take a typhoon to carry away the smoke and haze out of the region. And it would take a very heavy amount of rainfall to put out the wild fires in Indonesia's forest and wash away the enormous amount of toxic materials being produced by this wild fires.

If only "Lando" had taken a different route and had passed through Indonesia instead, that would have been a win-win solution for Indonesia and the Philippines. :-)

Oh the curses and blessings of typhoons. We can only pray that if there yet be other typhoons to come, may some of them go to where they are needed most and spare the lands where they are not neccessary any more.

            

Help put it right-side up; not upside down

Struggling through tears and blood, our country is already slowly turning right-side up; let's not put it back upside down!

We had been through dictatorship in the past. Let's try not to go back to where our country was once before.

Criminality is global. In the Philippines, our country's crime statistics show that the level of criminality is still within the borders of what is manageable and common to most countries around the globe. Thus the need for a Duterte-style of dictatorship backed by the police and the military (martial law, if you like) may not yet be neccessary. A Duterte-style approach to criminality is indeed the scepter of dictatorship and it artificially creates a semblance of temporary peace and order because it brings terror and forced submission among its subjects -- not citizen's respect and cooperation.

But in recorded Bible history, there are instances when at different times and places, God had placed iron-fisted leaders in rulership for the purpose of chastening a country or to conquer other country's wicked king.

If in His wisdom, God would put in highest authority a ruler like Rody Duterte in our country in a time He appointed, then who are we to even perhaps object?

[Daniel 2:21] God changes the times and the seasons; he removes kings, and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to those who have understanding.

[Proverbs 21:2] Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the hearts.

[Proverbs 21:1] The king's heart in the Lord's hand is like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.

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I'm NOT commenting about how Rody Duterte handled Davao city. The way he handled Davao city is not the way he will be handling the Philippines as according to or based on his public statements.

I'm commenting on the kind of dictatorship he supposedly is projecting if ever he is given the chance to be president of our country. Try researching all his public statements concerning the style of leadership he boldly said he would be adopting if he becomes president. (Though I don't believe all that he had publicly said. IMHO, it is probably his way of scaring people so they would perhaps stop insisting on pushing him to become president because he seems not truly inclined for the presidency in spite "everything".)

         

Fighting corruption through fund vigilance

Lacson: Character more important than campaign appearances
By: Maila Ager
INQUIRER.net
11:54 AM October 28th, 2015

Character is more important than campaign appearances, former Senator Panfilo Lacson said on Wednesday.

Lacson then urged voters to “look beyond the surface and learn more about the character of those running in next year’s elections.”

“Character should be the more important thing to look for in a candidate. We can elect better leaders by looking at qualifications, advocacies and track records,” he said in a statement.

“I am not comfortable with the sense of exclusivity, that certain guest candidates do not belong just because they don’t appear in a certain manner,” he added.

Although he said it is true that uniform color and party slogan may show unity among the candidates, Lacson said, “they should not also be used to project a ‘holier-than-thou’ and overbearing attitude of candidates.

“Nobody has the monopoly of integrity, competence and character,” said the former senator.

He issued the statement a day after he disclosed that he was dropped from the senatorial ticket of Senator Grace Poe in favor of another candidate, Edu Manzano.

An independent senatorial bet, Lacson was included as a guest candidate in the slates of both the Liberal Party and the United Nationalist Alliance.

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Because of his philosophy and principle concerning public funds, he was firm and consistent in his refusal to make use of his PDAF allocation. And concerning our country's yearly national budget, he is diligent in sifting and scrutinizing every item in it to prevent any possibility of hidden lump sum allocations.

With his attitude towards public funds, who else can best watch and manage our country's public funds than Senator Panfilo Lacson? Surely the Filipino people would love to see him manage our public funds one of these days.

          

No second thoughts for candidates such as "Toots"

Glad to know she is finally running again for senator. A true hard working advocate of the welfare of our OFWs. She has the tenacious heart and soul of her father, the late former Senator Blas Ople. Her excellent track record in serving the interests of OFWs show high competency and a very dedicated selfless public servant. Suportahan natin si Susan "Toots" Ople dahil siya ay isa sa magdadala at makapagbibigay ng malakas at mapwersang boses sa senado para sa ating mga OFWs. God be with you, Susan "Toots" Ople.

I have no second thoughts when it comes to candidates like Susan "Toots" Ople. Their untiring strong advocacy of their respective causes and their years of dedication in serving the public in their private capacity and initiative, all of these more than vouch for their competence and dedication for public service. By their excellent track records and the good fruits of their works and efforts, their time-tested character can be affirmed. The public service efforts they do unselfishly speaks a lot about their leadership qualities and the intensity and dedication they put into their advocacies affirms the genuineness of their platforms and priorities.

            

Our country badly needs electoral reforms

Often, people are disappointed with the leader they voted into office when sooner or later they come to realize that what they had been sold out to vote for during the election was merely their own "false" perception or concept of their preferred candidate as a leader, and not the candidate's true leadership capacity.

We may like it or not, but this is perhaps due to the nature of this political exercise so-called election which is done traditionally in our country. Philippine election mostly focuses on traditional methods of campaigning which forces the candidates to employ all sorts of propaganda on all forms of media outlets that, in various unintended ways, effectively turn them into some kind of demagogues in varying degrees.

But what if the people would strongly advocate for change in the electoral system starting with empowering the electorate to be able to really wisely choose for the right candidates by making the campaign period for this coming 2016 election put more of the emphasis and focus on sound practical development plans & platforms and proposals of solutions to pressing problems and issues of our country -- instead of the usual flooding of political propaganda on media outlets (papogi points)?

For our old traditional electoral system that often puts the wrong people into office, this advocacy if pushed seriously could be a real game changer that could put into office the right deserving leaders (even neophytes who are non-TradPols but deserving and truly qualified).

         

Another one has just answered the Roll Call

Ex-senator Joker Arroyo passes away
ABS-CBNnews.com
Posted at 10/07/2015

Former senator and human rights lawyer Joker Arroyo has died in the United States, an Arroyo family member told ABS-CBN News. He was 88 years old.

Born January 5, 1927 in Naga, Camarines Sur, Arroyo finished his primary and secondary education in Naga before getting a scholarship in the University of the Philippines.

A graduate of the UP College of Law and the Ateneo de Manila, Arroyo was thrust into national consciousness when he challenged before the Supreme Court the constitutionality of Proclamation No. 1081 imposing martial law.

According to his Senate profile, Arroyo handled more human rights cases than any other lawyer from 1972-1986. He defended various political detainees including Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr, Eugenio Lopez, Jr., Serge Osmeña III, Jose Ma. Sison, Jovito Salonga, Nene Pimentel, Eva Kalaw, Renato Tañada, Eduardo Olaguer and many others.

He also co-founded the MABINI and FLAG with other human rights lawyers.

During the snap elections in 1986, he served as counsel of Mrs. Corazon Aquino.

After EDSA I, he held various posts in government first as Executive Secretary in the Aquino Cabinet, then as Chairman of the Philippine National Bank and as Executive Director for the Philippines in the Asian Development Bank from 1986 to 1990.

He was elected congressman of Makati 1st District from 1992 to 1998 and was a lead prosecutor during the impeachment trial of President Joseph Estrada in December 2000.

He was elected senator in 2001 and was re-elected in 2007. He retired from public service in 2013.

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Senator Joker Arroyo, thank you for sharing to the world the talent and abilities God had given you, especially your untiring dedication and service to your people and country. People may mourn your departure, but heavenly hosts are rejoicing your arrival.

Another public servant has just been called to the highest ultimate purpose. Flourishing even more he shall be in the place the Lord had long prepared for him.

Heaven's call is like an intruder in the night. Therefore we all must be like diligent sentinels of our lives so that when heaven calls our name, without fear or reservation, we are eagerly ready to answer any time.