PNOY FULL TRANSCRIPT OF SONA 2011

Full Transcript of President Benigno Noynoy Aquino III SONA


State of the Nation Address of His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino III
President of the Philippines
to the Congress of the Philippines
Session Hall of the House of Representatives
July 26, 2011

[Batasan Pambansa Complex, Quezon City]

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte; Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile; Vice President Jejomar Binay; Chief Justice Renato Corona; Former Presidents Fidel Valdez Ramos and Joseph Ejercito Estrada; members of the House of Representatives and the Senate; distinguished members of the diplomatic corps; my fellow workers in government;

Mga minamahal kong kababayan:

Sa bawat sandali po ng pamamahala ay nahaharap tayo sa isang sangandaan.
Sa isang banda po ay ang pagpili para sa ikabubuti ng taumbayan. Ang pagtanaw sa interes ng nakakarami; ang pagkapit sa prinsipyo; at ang pagiging tapat sa sinumpaan nating tungkulin bilang lingkod-bayan. Ito po ang tuwid na daan.

Sa kabilang banda ay ang pag-una sa pansariling interes. Ang pagpapaalipin sa pulitikal na konsiderasyon, at pagsasakripisyo ng kapakanan ng taumbayan. Ito po ang baluktot na daan.
Matagal pong naligaw ang pamahalaan sa daang baluktot. Araw-araw po, lalong lumilinaw sa akin ang lawak ng problemang ating namana. Damang-dama ko ang bigat ng aking responsibilidad.

Sa unang tatlong linggo ng aming panunungkulan, marami po kaming natuklasan. Nais ko pong ipahayag sa inyo ang iilan lamang sa mga namana nating suliranin at ang ginagawa naming hakbang para lutasin ang mga ito.
Sulyap lamang po ito; hindi pa ito ang lahat ng problemang haharapin natin. Inilihim at sadyang iniligaw ang sambayanan sa totoong kalagayan ng ating bansa.

Sa unang anim na buwan ng taon, mas malaki ang ginastos ng gobyerno kaysa sa pumasok na kita. Lalong lumaki ang deficit natin, na umakyat na sa 196.7 billion pesos. Sa target na kuleksyon, kinapos tayo ng 23.8 billion pesos; ang tinataya namang gastos, nalagpasan natin ng 45.1 billion pesos.

Ang budget po sa 2010 ay 1.54 trillion pesos.

Nasa isandaang bilyong piso o anim at kalahating porsyento na lang ng kabuuan ang malaya nating magagamit para sa nalalabing anim na buwan ng taong ito.

Halos isang porsyento na lang po ng kabuuang budget ang natitira para sa bawat buwan.
Saan naman po dinala ang pera?

Naglaan ng dalawang bilyong piso na Calamity Fund bilang paghahanda para sa mga kalamidad na hindi pa nangyayari. Napakaliit na nga po ng pondong ito, ngunit kapapasok pa lang natin sa panahon ng baha at bagyo, 1.4 billion pesos o sitenta porsyento na ang nagastos.

Sa kabuuan ng 108 million pesos para sa lalawigan ng Pampanga, 105 million pesos nito ay napunta sa iisang distrito lamang. Samantala, ang lalawigan ng Pangasinan na sinalanta ng Pepeng ay nakatanggap ng limang milyong piso lamang para sa pinsalang idinulot ng bagyong Cosme, na nangyari noong 2008 pa.

Ibinigay po ang pondo ng Pampanga sa buwan ng eleksyon, pitong buwan pagkatapos ng Ondoy at Pepeng. Paano kung bumagyo bukas? Inubos na ang pondo nito para sa bagyong nangyari noong isang taon pa. Pagbabayaran ng kinabukasan ang kasakiman ng nakaraan.

Ganyan din po ang nangyari sa pondo ng MWSS. Kamakailan lamang, pumipila ang mga tao para lang makakuha ng tubig. Sa kabila nito, minabuti pa ng liderato ng MWSS na magbigay ng gantimpala sa sarili kahit hindi pa nababayaran ang pensyon ng mga retiradong empleyado.

Noong 2009, ang buong payroll ng MWSS ay 51.4 million pesos. Pero hindi lang naman po ito ang sahod nila; may mga additional allowances at benefits pa sila na aabot sa 160.1 million pesos. Sa madaling sabi, nakatanggap sila ng 211.5 million pesos noong nakaraang taon. Beinte-kuwatro porsyento lang nito ang normal na sahod, at sitenta’y sais porsyento ang dagdag.

Ang karaniwang manggagawa hanggang 13th month pay plus cash gift lang ang nakukuha. Sa MWSS, aabot sa katumbas ng mahigit sa tatlumpung buwan ang sahod kasama na ang lahat ng mga bonuses at allowances na nakuha nila.

Mas matindi po ang natuklasan natin sa pasahod ng kanilang Board of Trustees. Tingnan po natin ang mga allowances na tinatanggap nila:

Umupo ka lang sa Board of Trustees at Board Committee meeting, katorse mil na. Aabot ng nobenta’y otso mil ito kada buwan. May grocery incentive pa sila na otsenta mil kada taon.

Hindi lang iyon: may mid-year bonus, productivity bonus, anniversary bonus, year-end bonus, at Financial Assistance. May Christmas bonus na, may Additional Christmas Package pa. Kada isa sa mga ito, nobenta’y otso mil.

Sa suma total po, aabot ang lahat ng dalawa’t kalahating milyong piso kada taon sa bawat miyembro ng Board maliban sa pakotse, technical assistance, at pautang. Uulitin ko po. Lahat ng ito ay ibinibigay nila sa kanilang mga sarili habang hindi pa nababayaran ang mga pensyon ng kanilang mga retirees.

Pati po ang La Mesa Watershed ay hindi nila pinatawad. Para magkaroon ng tamang supply ng tubig, kailangang alagaan ang mga watershed. Sa watershed, puno ang kailangan. Pati po iyon na dapat puno ang nakatayo, tinayuan nila ng bahay para sa matataas na opisyal ng MWSS.

Hindi naman sila agad maaalis sa puwesto dahil kabilang sila sa mga Midnight Appointees ni dating Pangulong Arroyo. Iniimbestigahan na natin ang lahat nang ito. Kung mayroon pa silang kahit kaunting hiya na natitira – sana kusa na lang silang magbitiw sa puwesto.

Pag-usapan naman po natin ang pondo para sa imprastruktura. Tumukoy ang DPWH ng dalawandaan apatnapu’t anim na priority safety projects na popondohan ng Motor Vehicle Users Charge. Mangangailangan po ito ng budget na 425 million pesos.

Ang pinondohan po, dalawampu’t walong proyekto lang. Kinalimutan po ang dalawandaan at labing walong
proyekto at pinalitan ng pitumpung proyekto na wala naman sa plano. Ang hininging 425 million pesos, naging 480 million pesos pa, lumaki lalo dahil sa mga proyektong sa piling-piling mga benepisyaryo lang napunta.
Mga proyekto po itong walang saysay, hindi pinag-aralan at hindi pinaghandaan, kaya parang kabuteng sumusulpot.

Tapos na po ang panahon para dito. Sa administrasyon po natin, walang kota-kota, walang tongpats, ang pera ng taumbayan ay gagastusin para sa taumbayan lamang.

Meron pa po tayong natuklasan. Limang araw bago matapos ang termino ng nakaraang administrasyon, nagpautos silang maglabas ng 3.5 billion pesos para sa rehabilitasyon ng mga nasalanta nina Ondoy at Pepeng.
Walumpu’t anim na proyekto ang paglalaanan dapat nito na hindi na sana idadaan sa public bidding.

Labingsiyam sa mga ito na nagkakahalaga ng 981 million pesos ang muntik nang makalusot. Hindi pa nailalabas ang Special Allotment Release Order ay pirmado na ang mga kontrata.

Buti na lang po ay natuklasan at pinigilan ito ni Secretary Rogelio Singson ng DPWH. Ngayon po ay dadaan na ang kabuuan ng 3.5 billion pesos sa tapat na bidding, at magagamit na ang pondo na ito sa pagbibigay ng lingap sa mga nawalan ng tahanan dahil kina Ondoy at Pepeng.

Pag-usapan naman natin ang nangyari sa NAPOCOR. Noong 2001 hanggang 2004, pinilit ng gobyerno ang NAPOCOR na magbenta ng kuryente nang palugi para hindi tumaas ang presyo. Tila ang dahilan: pinaghahandaan na nila ang eleksyon.

Dahil dito, noong 2004, sumagad ang pagkakabaon sa utang ng NAPOCOR. Napilitan ang pambansang gobyerno na sagutin ang dalawandaang bilyong pisong utang nito.

Ang inakala ng taumbayan na natipid nila sa kuryente ay binabayaran din natin mula sa kaban ng bayan. May gastos na tayo sa kuryente, binabayaran pa natin ang dagdag na pagkakautang ng gobyerno.

Kung naging matino ang pag-utang, sana’y nadagdagan ang ating kasiguruhan sa supply ng kuryente. Pero ang desisyon ay ibinatay sa maling pulitika, at hindi sa pangangailangan ng taumbayan. Ang taumbayan, matapos pinagsakripisyo ay lalo pang pinahirapan.

Ganito rin po ang nangyari sa MRT. Sinubukan na namang bilhin ang ating pagmamahal. Pinilit ang operator na panatilihing mababa ang pamasahe.

Hindi tuloy nagampanan ang garantiyang ibinigay sa operator na mababawi nila ang kanilang puhunan. Dahil dito, inutusan ang Landbank at Development Bank of the Philippines na bilhin ang MRT.
Ang pera ng taumbayan, ipinagpalit sa isang naluluging operasyon.

Dumako naman po tayo sa pondo ng NFA.

Noong 2004: 117,000 metric tons ang pagkukulang ng supply ng Pilipinas. Ang binili nila, 900,000 metric tons. Kahit ulitin mo pa ng mahigit pitong beses ang pagkukulang, sobra pa rin ang binili nila.

Noong 2007: 589,000 metric tons ang pagkukulang ng supply sa Pilipinas. Ang binili nila, 1.827 million metric tons. Kahit ulitin mo pa ng mahigit tatlong beses ang pagkukulang, sobra na naman ang binili nila.
Ang masakit nito, dahil sobra-sobra ang binibili nila taun-taon, nabubulok lang pala sa mga kamalig ang bigas, kagaya ng nangyari noong 2008.

Hindi po ba krimen ito, na hinahayaan nilang mabulok ang bigas, sa kabila ng apat na milyong Pilipinong hindi kumakain ng tatlong beses sa isang araw?

Ang resulta nito, umabot na sa 171.6 billion pesos ang utang ng NFA noong Mayo ng taong ito.
Ang tinapon na ito, halos puwede na sanang pondohan ang mga sumusunod:

Ang budget ng buong Hudikatura, na 12.7 billion pesos sa taong ito.

Ang Conditional Cash Transfers para sa susunod na taon, na nagkakahalaga ng 29.6 billion pesos.
Ang lahat ng classroom na kailangan ng ating bansa, na nagkakahalaga ng 130 billion pesos.

Kasuklam-suklam ang kalakarang ito. Pera na, naging bato pa.

Narinig po ninyo kung paano nilustay ang kaban ng bayan. Ang malinaw po sa ngayon: ang anumang pagbabago ay magmumula sa pagsiguro natin na magwawakas na ang pagiging maluho at pagwawaldas.
Kaya nga po mula ngayon: ititigil na natin ang paglulustay sa salapi ng bayan. Tatanggalin natin ang mga proyektong mali.

Ito po ang punto ng tinatawag nating zero-based approach sa ating budget. Ang naging kalakaran po, taun-taon ay inuulit lamang ang budget na puno ng tagas. Dadagdagan lang nang konti, puwede na.
Sa susunod na buwan ay maghahain tayo ng budget na kumikilala nang tama sa mga problema, at magtutuon din ng pansin sa tamang solusyon.

Ilan lang ito sa mga natuklasan nating problema. Heto naman po ang ilang halimbawa ng mga hakbang na ginagawa natin.

Nandiyan po ang kaso ng isang may-ari ng sanglaan. Bumili siya ng sasakyang tinatayang nasa dalawampu’t anim na milyong piso ang halaga.

Kung kaya mong bumili ng Lamborghini, bakit hindi mo kayang magbayad ng buwis?
Nasampahan na po ito ng kaso. Sa pangunguna nina Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, BIR Commissioner Kim Henares at Customs Commissioner Lito Alvarez, bawat linggo po ay may bago tayong kasong isinasampa kontra sa mga smuggler at sa mga hindi nagbabayad ng tamang buwis.
Natukoy na rin po ang salarin sa mga kaso nina Francisco Baldomero, Jose Daguio at Miguel Belen, tatlo sa anim na insidente ng extralegal killings mula nang umupo tayo.

Singkuwenta porsyento po ng mga insidente ng extralegal killings ang patungo na sa kanilang resolusyon.

Ang natitira pong kalahati ay hindi natin tatantanan ang pag-usig hanggang makamit ang katarungan.
Pananagutin natin ang mga mamamatay-tao. Pananagutin din natin ang mga corrupt sa gobyerno.

Nagsimula nang mabuo ang ating Truth Commission, sa pangunguna ni dating Chief Justice Hilario Davide. Hahanapin natin ang katotohanan sa mga nangyari diumanong katiwalian noong nakaraang siyam na taon.
Sa loob ng linggong ito, pipirmahan ko ang kauna-unahang Executive Order na nagtatalaga sa pagbuo nitong Truth Commission.

Kung ang sagot sa kawalan ng katarungan ay pananagutan, ang sagot naman sa kakulangan natin sa pondo ay mga makabago at malikhaing paraan para tugunan ang mga pagkatagal-tagal nang problema.

Napakarami po ng ating pangangailangan: mula sa edukasyon, imprastruktura, pangkalusugan, pangangailangan ng militar at kapulisan, at marami pang iba. Hindi kakasya ang pondo para mapunan ang lahat ng ito.

Kahit gaano po kalaki ang kakulangan para mapunan ang mga listahan ng ating pangangailangan, ganado pa rin ako dahil marami nang nagpakita ng panibagong interes at kumpyansa sa Pilipinas.

Ito ang magiging solusyon: mga Public-Private Partnerships. Kahit wala pa pong pirmahang nangyayari dito, masasabi kong maganda ang magiging bunga ng maraming usapin ukol dito.

May mga nagpakita na po ng interes, gustong magtayo ng expressway na mula Maynila, tatahak ng Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, hanggang sa dulo ng Cagayan Valley nang hindi gugugol ang estado kahit na po piso.

Sa larangan ng ating Sandatahang Lakas:

Mayroon po tayong 36,000 nautical miles ng baybayin. Ang mayroon lamang tayo: tatlumpu’t dalawang barko. Itong mga barkong ito, panahon pa ni MacArthur.

May nagmungkahi sa atin, ito ang proposisyon: uupahan po nila ang headquarters ng Navy sa Roxas Boulevard at ang Naval Station sa Fort Bonifacio.

Sagot po nila ang paglipat ng Navy Headquarters sa Camp Aguinaldo. Agaran, bibigyan tayo ng isandaang milyong dolyar. At dagdag pa sa lahat nang iyan, magsusubi pa sila sa atin ng kita mula sa mga negosyong itatayo nila sa uupahan nilang lupa.

Sa madali pong sabi: Makukuha natin ang kailangan natin, hindi tatayo gagastos, kikita pa tayo.
Marami na pong nag-alok at nagmungkahi sa atin, mula lokal hanggang dayuhang negosyante, na magpuno ng iba’t ibang pangangailangan.

Mula sa mga public-private partnerships na ito, lalago ang ating ekonomiya, at bawat Pilipino makikinabang. Napakaraming sektor na matutulungan nito.

Maipapatayo na po ang imprastrukturang kailangan natin para palaguin ang turismo.
Sa agrikultura, makapagtatayo na tayo ng mga grains terminals, refrigeration facilities, maayos na road networks at post-harvest facilities.

Kung maisasaayos natin ang ating food supply chain sa tulong ng pribadong sektor, sa halip na mag-angkat tayo ay maari na sana tayong mangarap na mag-supply sa pandaigdigang merkado.

Kung maitatayo ang minumungkahi sa ating railway system, bababa ang presyo ng bilihin. Mas mura, mas mabilis, mas maginhawa, at makakaiwas pa sa kotong cops at mga kumokotong na rebelde ang mga bumibiyahe.

Paalala lang po: una sa ating plataporma ang paglikha ng mga trabaho, at nanggagaling ang trabaho sa paglago ng industriya. Lalago lamang ang industriya kung gagawin nating mas malinis, mas mabilis, at mas maginhawa ang proseso para sa mga gustong magnegosyo.

Pabibilisin natin ang proseso ng mga proyektong sumasailalim sa Build-Operate-Transfer. Sa tulong ng lahat ng sangay ng gobyerno at ng mga mamamayan, pabababain natin sa anim na buwan ang proseso na noon ay inaabot ng taon kung hindi dekada.

May mga hakbang na rin pong sinisimulan ang DTI, sa pamumuno ni Secretary Gregory Domingo:
Ang walang-katapusang pabalik-balik sa proseso ng pagrehistro ng pangalan ng kumpanya, na kada dalaw ay umaabot ng apat hanggang walong oras, ibababa na natin sa labinlimang minuto.

Ang dating listahan ng tatlumpu’t anim na dokumento, ibababa natin sa anim. Ang dating walong pahinang application form, ibababa natin sa isang pahina.

Nananawagan ako sa ating mga LGUs. Habang naghahanap tayo ng paraan para gawing mas mabilis ang pagbubukas ng mga negosyo, pag-aralan din sana nila ang kanilang mga proseso. Kailangan itong gawing mas mabilis, at kailangan itong itugma sa mga sinisumulan nating reporma.

Negosyante, sundalo, rebelde, at karaniwang Pilipino, lahat po makikinabang dito. Basta po hindi dehado ang Pilipino, papasukin po natin lahat iyan. Kailangan na po nating simulan ang pagtutulungan para makamit ito. Huwag nating pahirapan ang isa’t isa.

Parating na po ang panahon na hindi na natin kailangang mamili sa pagitan ng seguridad ng ating mamamayan o sa kinabukasan ng inyong mga anak.

Oras na maipatupad ang public-private partnerships na ito, mapopondohan ang mga serbisyong panlipunan, alinsunod sa ating plataporma.

Magkakapondo na po para maipatupad ang mga plano natin sa edukasyon.
Mapapalawak natin ang basic education cycle mula sa napakaikling sampung taon tungo sa global standard na labindalawang taon.

Madadagdagan natin ang mga classroom. Mapopondohan natin ang service contracting sa ilalim ng GASTPE.
Pati ang conditional cash transfers, na magbabawas ng pabigat sa bulsa ng mga pamilya, madadagdan na rin ng pondo.

Maipapatupad ang plano natin sa PhilHealth.

Una, tutukuyin natin ang tunay na bilang ng mga nangangailangan nito. Sa ngayon, hindi magkakatugma ang datos. Sabi ng PhilHealth sa isang bibig, walumpu’t pitong porsyento na raw ang merong coverage. Sa kabilang bibig naman, singkuwenta’y tres porsyento naman. Ayon naman sa National Statistics Office, tatlumpu’t walong porsyento ang may coverage.

Ngayon pa lang, kumikilos na si Secretary Dinky Soliman at ang DSWD upang ipatupad ang National Household Targetting System, na magtutukoy sa mga pamilyang higit na nagangailangan ng tulong. Tinatayang siyam na bilyon ang kailangan para mabigyan ng PhilHealth ang limang milyong pinakamaralitang pamilyang Pilipino.

Napakaganda po ng hinaharap natin. Kasama na po natin ang pribadong sektor, at kasama na rin natin ang League of Provinces, sa pangunguna nina Governor Alfonso Umali kasama sina Governor L-Ray Villafuerte at Governor Icot Petilla. Handa na pong makipagtulungan para makibahagi sa pagtustos ng mga gastusin. Alam ko rin pong hindi magpapahuli ang League of Cities sa pangunguna ni Mayor Oscar Rodriguez.

Kung ang mga gobyernong lokal ay nakikiramay na sa ating mga adhikain, ang Kongreso namang pinanggalingan ko, siguro naman maasahan ko din.

Nagpakitang-gilas na po ang gabinete sa pagtukoy ng ating mga problema at sa paglulunsad ng mga solusyon sa loob lamang ng tatlong linggo.

Nang bagyo pong Basyang, ang sabi sa atin ng mga may prangkisa sa kuryente, apat na araw na walang kuryente. Dahil sa mabilis na pagkilos ni Secretary Rene Almendras at ng Department of Energy, naibalik ang kuryente sa halos lahat sa loob lamang ng beinte-kwatro oras.

Ito pong sinasabing kakulangan sa tubig sa Metro Manila, kinilusan agad ni Secretary Rogelio Singson at ng DPWH. Hindi na siya naghintay ng utos, kaya nabawasan ang perwisyo.

Nakita na rin natin ang gilas ng mga hinirang nating makatulong sa Gabinete. Makatuwiran naman po sigurong umasa na hindi na sila padadaanin sa butas ng karayom para makumpirma ng Commission on Appointments. Kung mangyayari po ito, marami pa sa mga mahuhusay na Pilipino ang maeengganyong magsilbi sa gobyerno.
Sa lalong madaling panahon po, uupo na tayo sa LEDAC at pag-uusapan ang mga mahahalagang batas na kailangan nating ipasa. Makakaasa kayo na mananatiling bukas ang aking isipan, at ang ating ugnayan ay mananatiling tapat.

Isinusulong po natin ang Fiscal Responsibility Bill, kung saan hindi tayo magpapasa ng batas na mangangailangan ng pondo kung hindi pa natukoy ang panggagalingan nito. May 104.1 billion pesos tayong kailangan para pondohan ang mga batas na naipasa na, ngunit hindi maipatupad.

Kailangan din nating isaayos ang mga insentibong piskal na ibinigay noong nakaraan. Ngayong naghihigpit tayo ng sinturon, kailangang balikan kung alin sa mga ito ang dapat manatili at kung ano ang dapat nang itigil.
Huwag po tayong pumayag na magkaroon ng isa pang NBN-ZTE. Sa lokal man o dayuhan manggagaling ang pondo, dapat dumaan ito sa tamang proseso. Hinihingi ko po ang tulong ninyo upang amiyendahan ang ating Procurement Law.

Ayon po sa Saligang Batas, tungkulin ng estado ang siguruhing walang lamangan sa merkado. Bawal ang monopolya, bawal ang mga cartel na sasakal sa kumpetisyon. Kailangan po natin ng isang Anti-Trust Law na magbibigay-buhay sa mga prinsipyong ito. Ito ang magbibigay ng pagkakataon sa mga Small- at Medium-scale Enterprises na makilahok at tumulong sa paglago ng ating ekonomiya.

Ipasa na po natin ang National Land Use Bill.

Una rin pong naging batas ng Commonwealth ang National Defense Act, na ipinasa noon pang 1935. Kailangan nang palitan ito ng batas na tutugon sa pangangailangan ng pambansang seguridad sa kasalukuyan.
Nakikiusap po akong isulong ang Whistleblower’s Bill upang patuloy nang iwaksi ang kultura ng takot at pananahimik.

Palalakasin pa lalo ang Witness Protection Program. Alalahanin po natin na noong taong 2009 hanggang 2010, may nahatulan sa 95% ng mga kaso kung saan may witness na sumailalim sa programang ito.
Kailangang repasuhin ang ating mga batas. Nanawagan po akong umpisahan na ang rekodipikasyon ng ating mga batas, upang siguruhing magkakatugma sila at hindi salu-salungat.

Ito pong mga batas na ito ang batayan ng kaayusan, ngunit ang pundasyon ng lahat ng ginagawa natin ay ang prinsipyong wala tayong mararating kung walang kapayapaan at katahimikan.

Dalawa ang hinaharap nating suliranin sa usapin ng kapayapaan: ang situwasyon sa Mindanao, at ang patuloy na pag-aaklas ng CPP-NPA-NDF.

Tungkol sa situwasyon sa Mindanao: Hindi po nagbabago ang ating pananaw. Mararating lamang ang kapayapaan at katahimikan kung mag-uusap ang lahat ng apektado: Moro, Lumad, at Kristiyano. Inatasan na natin si Dean Marvic Leonen na mangasiwa sa ginagawa nating pakikipag-usap sa MILF.

Iiwasan natin ang mga pagkakamaling nangyari sa nakaraang administrasyon, kung saan binulaga na lang ang mga mamamayan ng Mindanao. Hindi tayo puwedeng magbulag-bulagan sa mga dudang may kulay ng pulitika ang proseso, at hindi ang kapakanan ng taumbayan ang tanging interes.

Kinikilala natin ang mga hakbang na ginagawa ng MILF sa pamamagitan ng pagdidisplina sa kanilang hanay. Inaasahan natin na muling magsisimula ang negosasyon pagkatapos ng Ramadan.
Tungkol naman po sa CPP-NPA-NDF: handa na ba kayong maglaan ng kongkretong mungkahi, sa halip na pawang batikos lamang?

Kung kapayapaan din ang hangad ninyo, handa po kami sa malawakang tigil-putukan. Mag-usap tayo.
Mahirap magsimula ang usapan habang mayroon pang amoy ng pulbura sa hangin. Nananawagan ako: huwag po natin hayaang masayang ang napakagandang pagkakataong ito upang magtipon sa ilalim ng iisang adhikain.
Kapayapaan at katahimikan po ang pundasyon ng kaunlaran. Habang nagpapatuloy ang barilan, patuloy din ang pagkakagapos natin sa kahirapan.

Dapat din po nating mabatid: ito ay panahon ng sakripisyo. At ang sakripisyong ito ay magiging puhunan para sa ating kinabukasan. Kaakibat ng ating mga karapatan at kalayaan ay ang tungkulin natin sa kapwa at sa bayan.

Inaasahan ko po ang ating mga kaibigan sa media, lalo na sa radyo at sa print, sa mga nagbablock-time, at sa community newspapers, kayo na po mismo ang magbantay sa inyong hanay.

Mabigyang-buhay sana ang mga batayang prinsipyo ng inyong bokasyon: ang magbigay-linaw sa mahahalagang isyu; ang maging patas at makatotohanan, at ang itaas ang antas ng pampublikong diskurso.
Tungkulin po ng bawat Pilipino na tutukan ang mga pinunong tayo rin naman ang nagluklok sa puwesto. Humakbang mula sa pakikialam tungo sa pakikilahok. Dahil ang nakikialam, walang-hanggan ang reklamo. Ang nakikilahok, nakikibahagi sa solusyon.

Napakatagal na pong namamayani ang pananaw na ang susi sa asenso ay ang intindihin ang sarili kaysa intindihin ang kapwa. Malinaw po sa akin: paano tayo aasenso habang nilalamangan ang kapwa?
Ang hindi nabigyan ng pagkakataong mag-aral, paanong makakakuha ng trabaho? Kung walang trabaho, paanong magiging konsumer? Paanong mag-iimpok sa bangko?

Ngunit kung babaliktarin natin ang pananaw—kung iisipin nating “Dadagdagan ko ang kakayahan ng aking kapwa"—magbubunga po ito, at ang lahat ay magkakaroon ng pagkakataon.

Maganda na po ang nasimulan natin. At mas lalong maganda po ang mararating natin. Ngunit huwag nating kalimutan na mayroong mga nagnanasang hindi tayo magtagumpay. Dahil kapag hindi tayo nagtagumpay, makakabalik na naman sila sa kapangyarihan, at sa pagsasamantala sa taumbayan.

Akin pong paniwala na Diyos at taumbayan ang nagdala sa ating kinalalagyan ngayon. Habang nakatutok tayo sa kapakanan ng ating kapwa, bendisyon at patnubay ay tiyak na maaasahan natin sa Poong Maykapal. At kapag nanalig tayo na ang kasangga natin ay ang Diyos, mayroon ba tayong hindi kakayanin?

Ang mandato nating nakuha sa huling eleksyon ay patunay na umaasa pa rin ang Pilipino sa pagbabago. Iba na talaga ang situwasyon. Puwede na muling mangarap. Tayo nang tumungo sa katuparan ng ating mga pinangarap.

Maraming salamat po.

SONA Highlights from President Aquino's Speech

(a) In the first 6 months of the year, mas malaki ang ginastos ng gobyerno kaysa sa pumasok na kita. Lalong lumaki ang deficit natin, na umakyat na sa 196.7 billion pesos.
(b) Malaking calamity fund napunta sa Pampanga (P108 M at P103M nito sa isang distrito lamang).. sa Pangasinan maliit lang (P5M) sa kabila ng nasalanta ng matinding kalamidad..
(c) Noong 2009, ang buong payroll ng MWSS ay 51.4 million pesos. Pero hindi lang naman po ito ang sahod nila; may mga additional allowances at benefits pa sila na aabot sa 160.1 million pesos. Sa madaling sabi, nakatanggap sila ng 211.5 million pesos noong nakaraang taon. Beinte-kuwatro porsyento lang nito ang normal na sahod, at sitenta’y sais porsyento ang dagdag.
(d) Mga Anomalya sa MWSS iniimbestigahan
(e) Road users fund, iniimbestigahan din
(f) 5 days bago matapos termino ng nakaraang administrasyon, nagpalabas ng P3.5 B para sa Ondoy at Pepeng victims
(g) NAPOCOR pinilit umano na magbenta ng kuryente ng palugi
(h) MRT pinilit umano na panatilihin ang mababa na pamasahe
(i) Sobrang pag-angkat ng bigas ng NFA, iimbestigahin rin. Umabot ng P171.6 B ang utang ng NFA noong Mayo
(j) The government will run after tax evaders.
(k) Extra judicial killings tututukan.
(l) P-NOY will push Public -Private partnerships
(m) Will build infrastructures for tourism
(n) Speed up "build and operate transfer projects"
(o) Reduce red tapes
(p) Add classrooms through the help of Public -Private partnerships
(o) National Household Targetting System, will determine families in need
(q) Krisis sa tubig sa metro manila mabilis raw na inaksyunan..
(r) Pushes Fiscal Responsibility Bill
(s) Procurement law needs to be ammended
(t) P-NOY asks the congress to push the whistleblower's bill..
(u) Mindanao situations and CCP-NPA, challenges to peace talks..
(v) nanawagan sa malawakang cease fire..
(w) peace and order pundasyon ng kaunlaran..
(x) media ay dapat magbantay sa kanilang hanay..
(y) dapat makilahok at di makialam [ang nakikialam puro lang raw reklamo] sa mga hangarin ng gobyerno..
(z) pwede na raw muling mangarap..

WHAAAT!! Catholic Church has billions invested in BPI, Philex, San Miguel

       For most of us, it’s a given that the Catholic Church is rich. Proofs of that are their sprawling acres of land, large Church structures and buildings, and millions of pesos of cash collected from mass goers every week.
      What a lot of people do not know, though, is that part of the Church’s wealth is its investment in the stocks of several Philippine companies. In fact, reports submitted to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) show that the Church and affiliate Catholic groups are the top stockholders in companies such as the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), Philex Mining Corporation (PX), San Miguel Corporation (SMC), Ayala Corporation (AC), and Phinma Corporation (PHN), among others.
       The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila, for example, owns more than 300 million shares of BPI and is the bank’s 4th largest owner. How much are these shares worth? As of May 2011, this is valued at more than P17 billion. Yes, that’s seventeen billion pesos, with a B.
Aside from banking, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila, together with its subsidiary hospitals and companies, is also invested in mining and construction.
       As of March 31, 2011, it is the top 15th shareholder of Philex Mining Corporation (PX), the country’s biggest mining firm. It owns 3.2 million shares of PX currently worth more than P66 million.
It is also a top investor of Concrete Aggregates Corp. (CA), a supplier of construction materials such as processed aggregates, ready mix concrete and crushed sand. Its investment in CA is currently valued at around P4.5 million.
       The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila is not the only diocese invested in Philippine stocks. Other dioceses with millions of pesos worth of stock investments include:

• Roman Catholic Bishop of Tuguegarao, Cagayan – owns 856,639 shares of SMC worth P94 million
• Roman Catholic Bishop of Nueva Segovia de Vigan – owns 428,067 shares of SMC worth P47 million
• Roman Catholic Archbishop of Jaro, Iloilo – owns 491,385 shares of BPI worth a total of P28 million
• Roman Catholic Bishop of Tuguegarao, Cagayan – owns 24,015 shares of Ayala Corp worth P9.3 million

       Several affiliate Catholic groups apparently also have huge investments in Philippine companies. More than P500 million pesos worth of San Miguel Corp (SMC)‘s shares, for example, are owned by three (3) Catholic groups:

• El Superior de la Corporacion Filipina de Padres Agustinos Recoletos – 2.37 million shares worth P260.7 million
• Superior de la Corporacion Archicofradia de N.P.J.N de Recoletos – 1.23 million shares worth P136 million
• Carmel of the Divine Infant Jesus of Prague, Inc. – 957,000 shares worth P105 million

        All this talk of stock investments is merely the tip of the iceberg since the listing only includes the Church’s investments in PSE-traded firms. We do not know how much more it has invested in private corporations, in companies outside the Philippines, in bonds, in time deposit accounts or in real estate properties.
        Yes, we understand that the Church has to invest its money in various assets, including stocks. We do not contend that and we recognize its right to invest their money anywhere they want. Actually, this is good because this shows that the Church is financially-literate. What we just hope here at PinoyMoneyTalk is for them to share the same to members of the Catholic community.
        Apart from shaping the morality of the people, the Church should also do its part in providing financial education to its flock. The weekly Sunday sermons should, therefore, include not just lessons about being morally upright. The Church should also convince mass goers to work and pursue livelihood and to get rid of their sole dependence on God (“Bahala na ang Diyos sa amin”).
       The Church should educate its people about the value of earning, saving and investing money and not condone Catholics who are already contented in life even if they are penniless (“Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven”).
       More importantly, we believe the Catholic Church should play a more pivotal and proactive role in helping solve the ills of the country. The billions of pesos of investments (as seen in the table below) can go a long way in uplifting the lives of poor Filipino people who, admittedly, form the critical mass of supporters of the Catholic Church.
       Yes, the Church is already doing its share by running hospitals and orphanages, by providing assistance to those who come to them for help, and by offering moral guidance.
But they can do more and they should do more. They owe it to the millions of Filipinos who went to Church every Sunday and donated the billions of pesos that the Church now owns.

Table: Stock Investments of Catholic Church and affiliate Catholic Groups

	Company	# Shares Owned	Rank in Top 100	Total Investment Value
ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF MANILA	Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)	222,843,681	4th	12,724,374,185
ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF MLA (REAL CASA DE MISERICORDIA)	Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)	41,408,841	8th	2,364,444,821
ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF MANILA (HOSPITAL DE SAN JUAN DE DIOS)	Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)	22,072,182	13th	1,260,321,592
ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF MLA (HOSPICIO DE SAN JOSE)	Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)	6,016,624	15th	343,549,230
ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF MLA (HOSP DE SA JUAN DE DIOS)	Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)	4,285,572	17th	244,706,161
ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF MLA (MAYORDOMIA DELA CATEDRAL)	Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)	2,664,266	21st	152,129,589
ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF MLA (ST. PAUL`S HOSPITAL)	Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)	1,772,418	26th	101,205,068
CARMEL OF THE DIVINE INFANT JESUS OF PRAGUE, INC.	Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)	726,819	49th	41,501,365
EL SUPERIOR DE LA CORPORACION FILIPINA DE PADRES AGUSTINOS RECOLETOS	Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)	551,382	60th	31,483,912
ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF JARO	Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)	491,385	64th	28,058,084
EL SUPERIOR DE LA CORPORACION FILIPINA DE PADRES AGUSTINOS RECOLETOS	San Miguel Corp (SMC)	2,370,000	31st	260,700,000
SUPERIOR DE LA CORPORACION ARCHICOFRADIA DE N.P.J.N DE RECOLETOS	San Miguel Corp (SMC)	1,234,603	75th	135,806,330
CARMEL OF THE DIVINE INFANT JESUS OF PRAGUE, INC.	San Miguel Corp (SMC)	957,516	79th	105,326,760
ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP OF TUGUEGARAO	San Miguel Corp (SMC)	856,639	81st	94,230,290
REAL MONASTERIO DE LA PURISIMA CONCEPCION DE NUESTRA MADRE SANTA CLARA DE MANILA	San Miguel Corp (SMC)	809,834	83rd	89,081,740
SUPERIOR DE LA CORPORACION DE PADRES RECOLETOS POR BECAS Y VOCACIONES	San Miguel Corp (SMC)	621,702	89th	68,387,220
CARMEL OF ST THERESE OF THE CHILD JESUS	San Miguel Corp (SMC)	592,956	91st	65,225,160
THE DISCALCED CARMELITE NUNS OF CEBU	San Miguel Corp (SMC)	451,864	95th	49,705,040
ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP OF NUEVA SEGOVIA DE VIGAN	San Miguel Corp (SMC)	428,067	98th	47,087,370
ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF MANILA	Philex Mining Corp (PX)	3,221,135	15th	66,677,495
RELIGIOUS OF THE VIRGIN MARY - B	Philex Mining Corp (PX)	3,125,777	16th	64,703,584
RELIGIOUS OF THE VIRGIN MARY-A	Philex Mining Corp (PX)	1,091,027	69th	22,584,259
ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP OF TUGUEGARAO	Ayala Corporation (AC)	24,015	73rd	9,289,002
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS FRATERNAL ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILS, INC.	Ayala Corporation Preferred Shares - A (ACPA)	60,000	2nd	31,800,000
ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP OF TAGBILARAN	Ayala Corporation Preferred Shares - B (ACPR)	10,000	64th	1,015,000
DAUGHTERS OF CHARITY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL	PHINMA Corp. (PHN)	159,575	19th	2,122,348
ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE OF JUAN DE DIOS	PHINMA Corp. (PHN)	153,880	20th	2,046,604
RELIGIOUS OF THE VIRGIN MARY	PHINMA Corp. (PHN)	58,975	52nd	784,368
ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF MANILA	Concrete Aggregates Corp (CA)	78,846	9th	3,469,224
ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF MLA (REAL CASA DE MISERICORDIA)	Concrete Aggregates Corp (CA)	13,067	18th	574,948
ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF MANILA (HOSPITAL DE SAN JUAN DE DIOS)	Concrete Aggregates Corp (CA)	8,317	24th	365,948
ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF MLA (HOSPICIO DE SAN JOSE)	Concrete Aggregates Corp (CA)	1,898	66th	83,512
ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF MLA (MAYORDOMIA DELA CATEDRAL)	Concrete Aggregates Corp (CA)	841	97th	37,004
ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF MANILA	ISM Communications (ISM)	38,399	48th	126,333
SOCIETY OF THE DIVINE WORD	Filipino Fund Inc. (FFI)	6,000	24th	48,000
ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP OF BANGUED	Filipino Fund Inc. (FFI)	1,500	49th	12,000
CATHOLIC WOMENS LEAGUE	Benguet Corp. - A (BC)	215	53rd	4,107
CORPORACION DE PADRES DOMINICOS	EEI	75,000	75th	256,500

 

* Rank in Top 100 – rank in the Top 100 Stockholders of the Company, a report submitted by the company to the PSE
** Total Investment Value – peso value of total shares owned, as of May 27, 2011 closing prices
Source: Company reports submitted to the Philippine Stock Exchange

To You Cebu Chief Inpector: Kudos! Wow!

CHRISTIAN, who used to beg for food, hit the streets again in Cebu City yesterday morning.

But the 12-year-old did not ask for barbecue from vendors in Larsian. He was with 12 other kids to jog with Chief Insp. Michael Bastes, the Fuente Police Station head.

“Nindot ni,” said Christian. “Pasingot ba (This is good exercise).”

Bastes and the kids jogged along B. Rodriguez St., turned left and entered the neighborhood of Sitio Kawayan, Barangay Sambag II.

They stopped at San Vicente Ferrer Church to pray before resuming their exercise. They crossed Osmeña Blvd. and went straight to the Ramos Public Market to have their breakfast.

Jogging, according to Bastes, has a positive effect on the children.

“Magpuyo na sila inig human ug makatug nag sayo (After this they sleep early),” Bastes said.

The children’s affair with jogging started last May 1 when Bastes joined a fun run.

He said when he reached a corner near the Fuente Police Station, the children joined him.

“Ila gyong kabubut-on nga moapil (It’s their decision to join),” Bastes, who was a sacristan of the Aglipayan Church in his teenage days, said.

That time the children ran in slippers. Yesterday, they were wearing shoes donated by a businessman last week.

Bastes said the children, some of whom were former rugby users, were forced to roam the streets because their parents neglected them.

Acting like a father, Bastes feeds them and teaches them proper hygiene.

The leftovers of his wife catering business are also given to them.

“Kon putong ka, maglabad gyod ang imong ulo,” he said. “Mga bulingit na sila sa una karon hinlo na (If you don’t have patience, these children will give you headache. Unlike before, they look clean now).”

Nurturing the children properly will keep them from going back to the streets, Bastes said.

The police chief plans to clean the police station’s stockroom and convert it into a sleeping pad for the children, who usually sleep on the police station’s cold floor at night.

He said his move gained support from Cebu City Police Office Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe.

Rescuing the children without doing anything won’t change their lives, Bastes said. One day, he approached his priest friends and asked help from them.

“Ang pagluwas sa mga bata nag-serve na ka sa Ginoo (You are serving God by saving these children).”

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on May 22, 2011.

Nerd's Top 50 Pick-Up Lines

Warning: some content are quite extraordinary/ ADULT content. [you know what I mean.]

1. You’re like an exothermic reaction, you spread your hotness everywhere.
2. I wish I was your derivative so I could lie tangent to your curves.
3. You’re like a dictionary, you add meaning to my life.
4. If I was an enzyme, I’d be helicase so I could unzip your genes.
5. I’m attracted to you so strongly, scientists will have to develop a fifth fundamental force.
6. Baby, you overclock my processor.
7. Be my queen and mate me with your knight moves.
8. Baby, you make my floppy disk turn into a hard drive.
9. You make me want to calibrate my joystick without the latest drivers.
10. You defragment my life.
11. Do you think we can make it a step more serious and disable network sharing?
12. You must be auxin, cause you are causing me to have rapid stem elongation.
13. Baby, let me find your nth term.
14. I don’t have a library card, but do you mind if I check you out?
15. Baby I’ll treat you like my homework — I’ll slam you on the table and do you all night long.
16. Hey baby, can I see what’s under your radical?
17. If I were an integral, I’d fill you up.
18. I’m a fermata… hold me
19. I think my heart just lagged.
20. I wish I were your second derivative so I could fill your concavities.
21. Did you just combust? Because you’re HOT.
22. By looking at you I can tell you’re 36-25-36, which by the way are all perfect squares.
23. It doesn’t take a genius to see how gorgeous you are, but if it did, I would be overqualified.
24. Baby, if you were words on a page, you’d be what they call FINE PRINT.
25. What do you say we go back to my room and do some math: Add a bed, subtract our clothes, divide your legs, and multiply.
26. Baby, you’re a 9.999999999, but you’d be a 10 if you were with me.
27. Baby, every time I see you, my cardiovascular system gets all worked up.
28. I wish I were adenine because then I could get paired with U.
29. What’s your sine? It must be pi/2 because you’re the 1.
30. If my right leg was Christmas and my left was Easter, would you like to spend some time between the holidays?
31. You have nicer legs than an Isosceles right triangle.
32. You’re so cute you make my zygomaticus muscles contract. (Muscles that make you smile.)
33. When you and me get together it’s like superposition of 2 waves in phase.
34. Want to meet up so I can excite your natural frequency?
35. If I was sin^2 and you were cos^2 together we would be 1.
36. You know, it’s not the length of the vector that counts. It’s how you apply the force.
37. If I move my lips half the distance to yours, and then half again… and again… etc; would they ever meet? No? Well in this specific case I am going to disprove your assumption.
38. Your name is Leslie? Look, I can spell your name on my calculator!
39. If I was an endoplasmic reticulum, how would you want me: smooth or rough?
40. I wish I was an Ion so I could form an exothermic bond with you.
41. If my right leg is the cell wall and my left the membrane, do you want to be the cytoplasm?
42. Our love is like dividing by zero… you cannot define it.
43. Let’s meet somewhere… you bring your beaker and I’ll bring my stirring rod.
44. Baby let me be your integral so I can be the area under your curves.
45. Hey baby, what’s your tanx cosx?
46. Let’s get together and test the spring potential of my mattress.
47. Let’s discover our coefficient of friction.
48. Baby, you’re so gneiss I’ll never take you for granite.
49. I less than three you.
50. I heard you’re sin because you’re always on top when we make tangent.

The Wrath of Tsunami: Philippines, Are You Ready?

With a magnitude of 9, the earthquake that struck Japan on Friday, March 11, 2011, was the strongest and the most destructive ever recorded in the country. It is also the third strongest quake in the history of the world.
What's more unbelievable is the havoc it caused after a tsunami relentlessly wiped out an entire city - properties, infrastructure, vehicles and lives.

To date, more than a thousand people are confirmed dead, but the figures could reach 10,000.

Would our country, the Philippines, ever be prepared for a disaster of such magnitude?

3 Infants Burned at Cebu Public Hospital

CEBU, Philippines - Three infants suffered burn injuries when a lamp at the pediatric Intensive Care Unit of the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) accidentally exploded Sunday morning.
It was only yesterday morning that the hospital authorities transferred the three infants, one of whom was seriously injured, to Chong Hua Hospital upon the instruction of Mayor Michael Rama, who visited the victims yesterday.
The three victims were placed at the ICU for sepsis neonatorum.
CCMC director Eduardo Sedoripa said that there are about 20 infants placed at the pediatric ICU for treatment.
But at around 2:30 to 3:00 a.m. last Sunday February 20, a goose neck lamp exploded accidentally, seriously injuring 19-day-old Baby Boy Villarico, who suffered third-degree burns around his body.
Two other infants also suffered burn injuries but are now out of danger. Baby Boy Ibañez has 13 percent of his body injured while Baby Girl Maglasang only sustained injury to her left hand.
“The incident last Sunday seems that the bulb exploded was the reason behind the incident. It was purely an accident,” said Sedoripa, who assumed as the hospital’s officer-in-charge last January 3.
According to Sedoripa, Baby boy Villarico has been closely monitored because of his serious injuries.
A woman who just gave birth at the pediatric ward told The FREEMAN that the incident broke out when everybody was resting.
“Nagkaguliyang ug nagkagubot gyud ang ospital. Kalit ra man kaayo ang hitabo kay naa man mibuto unya miaso gyud dayon,” she said.
Sedoripa said they did not immediately transfer the babies to the private hospital since CCMC has doctors who immediately attended to the babies.
He downplayed reports that they wanted to cover up the incident by not reporting it immediately to the mayor.

“We informed the mayor about the incident and we are doing our best to help the victims. But it does not mean right now that we transfer them to Chong Hua, wala na’y capability ang atong mga doctors,” he said.

Sedoripa suspected that the lamp at the ward was overused, saying that it has been used for almost a day when it should only be used for a maximum of 13 hours.
The accident prompted south district Rep. Tomas Osmeña to renew his calls to close down the city-run hospital.
When he was still the mayor, Osmeña had announced his plan to shut down or sell the CCMC, claiming that he was fed up with criticisms over poor performance of its personnel.
Osmeña said the incident was no longer an isolated case.
He recalled an incident in which their driver died at the hospital due to what he claimed as negligence of its personnel.
The congressman said critics accused him of being anti-poor for wanting to close down the hospital.
“It’s not an isolated case. I’ve been accused that I’m not caring for the poor. Now, you will see more things here. Remember, my driver died at CCMC,” Osmeña said.
Rama said the city will shoulder all expenses of the victims. He asked CCMC officials to submit to him details of their investigation into the incident.
Visiting the victims at the hospital, City Councilor Margot Osmeña and north district Rep. Rachel “Cutie” del Mar said they were sad over the incident.
“We visited along with Councilor Alvin Dizon the babies immediately after we found out about the incident,” Margot said.
She said they already requested Sedoripa to furnish them a report on the incident.
The City Council also wants to know why the parents of the babies were asked to sign a waiver.
“After the report, we will decide what to do,” Margot said.
Del Mar, for her part, said her office is willing to extend financial and medical assistance to the victims.

(Source: Freeman)

Alarming: Another 5-yr old girl kidnapped in Cebu Pier!

 CEBU CITY -- A soldier lost his gun, cash and laptop on Wednesday to a man who befriended him, then took the items along with his five-year-old daughter.
Corporal Edwin Bataan, 31, spent two hours frantically searching for his child, with the help of the Mobile Patrol Group (MPG) of the Cebu City Police Office.


The search ended inside a fastfood chain's outlet in downtown Cebu City, where the child was found in the establishment's play pen.

The child said the man told her to play and wait for him to bring back some burgers.

"Hindi na siya bumalik. Iniwan ako (He never came back. He left me)," she said.
Police began a manhunt Wednesday afternoon, after Bataan of the Philippine Army and his daughter identified the suspect through the rogues' gallery kept by the Theft and Robbery Section. The gallery is a file of photographs of felons previously arrested by the police.

Bataan's ordeal began at 2 p.m. He found his daughter about two hours later, but his bag was nowhere in sight.

Bataan, who is with the 1st Light Armor Battalion under the 1st Infantry Division based in Pagadian City, said his bag contained his .45 pistol, which was personal property; an Asus laptop worth P35,000; P50,000 cash; and assorted jewelry worth around P50,000.

Bataan and his daughter arrived in Cebu from Ozamis City on Wednesday morning. He told reporters he and his daughter were heading for Pangasinan, where Bataan comes from, for a vacation.
His wife stayed in Zamboanga del Sur with their younger child, a one-year-old boy.
From the port area, he and his daughter went to the Cebu Ferries Terminal on Wednesday to buy tickets for Manila. It was past 8 a.m. when they got there.

Acting
It was at the terminal that they met the suspect, whom the child later identified only as "Kuya Rex."
The man asked Bataan and other people at the terminal about a vessel schedule for Manila, saying he wanted to go to Batangas.
Bataan said he informed the man that he and his daughter transferring to the Sulpicio Lines Terminal because one of its vessels was scheduled to leave for Manila at 8 p.m.
The suspect went with them and befriended them.
From 9 a.m. to past 1 p.m., Bataan, his daughter and the man stayed at the terminal in Pier 5.
Bataan said he was forced to leave the terminal when his daughter asked for food. He decided to go to a nearby mall to get a fastfood meal.
Before leaving, however, he told his daughter to take care of their belongings and never to walk away from the area.
Bataan said the suspect also went with him, saying he, too, needed some food.
When they reached the mall, however, "Kuya Rex" parted with Bataan, saying he wanted to check some items in the department store.
When Bataan returned to the terminal, his daughter and his things were no longer there.
"Sabi ng mga tao du'n kinuha na raw ng kasama ko (The other people there told me my companion took my daughter and my things)," he said.

Search
Bataan said he reported his loss to the Mabolo Police Station, which in turn spread the news to other police units.
The search lasted for about two hours, before the police received a call about a child inside the fastfood chain in downtown Cebu City.
In an interview at the police station, Bataan's daughter said "Kuya Rex" arrived at the terminal and told her he would bring her to her father.
"Alis na tayo. Punta na tayo sa Papa mo," the child said, quoting the suspect. They boarded a taxi.

He took more than P200 from her for the cab fare and supposedly to buy some food. He then left her in the play pen.

SPO2 Fe Altubar of the women's desk of the Mabolo Police Station, who interviewed the child, said she believes the suspect was after only the cash and valuables and didn't intend to kidnap the girl.
After learning the incident, the Central Command through its spokesperson, Major Christopher Tampus, provided Bataan and his daughter shelter at Camp Lapu-Lapu.
Tampus said that Bataan will press charges against the suspect before he leaves Cebu.

(Source: Sunstar)

Alarming! 6-year-old Girl Brutally Murdered in Cebu Town

CEBU CITY -- A grade 1 pupil was found dead in a cliff along the national highway in Barangay Sayaw, Barili town, southern Cebu Province, 61.6 kilometers from this city. Ellah Joy Pique, 6, of Calajoan, Minglanilla town, and believed to be a victim of trafficking, suffered a big crack in the head, which may have caused her death. Her body was found at 7:55 a.m. by a resident who was about to gather grass in the area.
Her naked body was tightly wrapped in two blankets. The blankets were tied with gray Internet cable wires.
Her clothes and school supplies were found in a nearby barangay. Among those recovered were two P50 bills, which surprised the father as he or the victim's mother did not give her money. A foreigner and a Filipina reportedly fetched Pique outside the school.

AN autopsy on Ellah Joy Pique revealed that the six-year-old girl was not raped but she had bruises around her mouth and near her right jaw. “Pressure contusions” were found on her body, which medico-legal officer Nestor Sator said indicated that she could have been tightly held by her captors. The bruises around her mouth indicated that she could been slapped and her mouth clamped. Ellah Joy might have bitten the hand of her captor, which she was wont to do with her brothers when provoked. She had a big and long fracture at the back of her head, which Sator said could have been caused by being hit by a hard object such as a piece of wood, a pipe or a rock. She may have died at 11 p.m., some eight hours after she was last seen being picked up at school by a couple 4 p.m. of Feb. 8.

Before Ellah Joy’s kidnap-slaying, a Caucasian man was reportedly seen giving away chocolates and lollipops to young kids in Calajoan. But Minglanilla homicide investigators can’t say if he is the same foreigner who picked up Ellah Joy. If the legislative council approves the proposal, the local government of Minglanilla will put up a bounty of P100,000 on the couple who was resposible for the kidnap and slaying of Ellah Joy. The kidnap-slaying prompted calls for tight security measures in schools such as hiring of security guards and installing a perimeter fence. Officials of a local parents’ group also asked the police to intensify their intelligence network to curb lawless elements from preying on children. The police are coordinating with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to verify the licensed plate of the sports utility vehicle and with the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to identify the foreigner.

The Minglanilla police released the cartographic sketches of the Filipina and her Caucasian companion who picked up Ellah Joy in school.

The Filipina woman, who persuaded Ellah Joy to board the black Mitsubishi Pajero on the pretext of bringing her home, was described as more than 20 years old, five-foot tall, of regular build, with chinky eyes, having a “morena” complexion and long straight hair.

Her foreigner companion was over 40 years old, 5’8" to 5’10" tall, of regular build, fair-skinned, with blonde hair, straight pointed nose and thin lips.

Here is a cartographic sketch of the suspects for killing a 6 yrs old little girl last Wednesday (Feb 9, 2011). If you have any information on them, do not approach but inform your nearest official. (Source: Sunstar Cebu)

Interview: Reyes A Whipping Boy of Garcia's 'Real Protector'

Former Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes was made a scapegoat of a powerful group that is out to hide the real protector of former military comptroller Carlos Garcia, retired Navy Commodore Rex Robles said on Tuesday.
Robles said Reyes was linked to the Garcia plea bargain deal to divert the focus of the Senate investigation on military corruption instead of identifying the people who benefited from Garcia during his time as military comptroller.

He said Garcia "helped congressmen, senators and crooked businessmen to launder their money abroad."

In a separate interview, Robles said Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez actually know the identity of Garcia's mysterious benefactor. He challenged the 2 lawmakers to identify Garcia's protector following Reyes's death on Tuesday.

"The people who are really protecting Garcia, who Golez and Trillanes know but they have lied blatantly to the public, are the ones also behind this. The sooner that Golez and Trillanes reveal the names that they know about, the true names, instead of the lies they are peddling, the better," he told ANC's Dateline Philippines.

Garcia is facing separate congressional probes after a plea bargain deal with the Office of the Ombudsman allowed him to plead guilty to bailable charges and return P135 million in assets to the government. The former military comptroller is accused of salting away P303 million in kickbacks during his time in the military.

Congressman Golez earlier accused Reyes of protecting Garcia, a charge that Reyes vehemently denied. Trillanes later backed up Golez's claim.

Robles said that before Trillanes linked Reyes to the Garcia plea deal, the former defense chief sent a letter to the senator asking him to reveal the name of the person who was protecting Garcia.

Robles said the letter was handcarried by a mistah of Trillanes in the Philippine Military Academy who asked the senator to identify Garcia's protector. Robles said that under PMA tradition, a mistah cannot lie to a fellow mistah.

He said Trillanes told his fellow PMAer: "'Mistah, hindi si Reyes ito."

Reyes died of a gunshot wound after visiting his mother's grave in Marikina City Tuesday morning. Police said the death was a suicide.

Before his death, the former defense chief was accused of pocketing P50 million in "pabaon" (send-off money) before his retirement as Armed Forces chief in 2001. His wife also allegedly received "shopping money" of up to $10,000 from the Office of the Military Comptroller during her various trips abroad.

Arroyo called Reyes before death

Robles, meanwhile, revealed that former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo called up Reyes inquiring about the handcarried letter he sent to Trillanes.

"He told me that he just received a phone call from [former President] Arroyo asking him about this Trillanes thing. The former president wanted to know certain things. I will talk about it at the right time. I don't think I should," he said.

Robles said Reyes sounded worried after Arroyo's phone call.

"I will expect GMA to call him up and assure him of assistance of help or moral whatever. Yung impression ko, he was cross-examined by GMA," he said.

He said the former president even asked Reyes why he (Robles) was attacking Golez. "You can draw your own conclusions," he said.

Arroyo's spokeswoman, Elena Bautista-Horn, meanwhile, said she was surprised by the news that Arroyo allegedly talked to Reyes before his death.

She said there was no meeting between Arroyo and Reyes in the past few days, or any conversation between the 2 over the phone.

"Pakikiramay at katahimikan ang kailangan nila sa panahong ito, hindi intriga. Ipagdasal natin si Secretary Reyes at ang mag-anak niya," she said in a text message.

Robles said Reyes expressed the sentiment that he was being abandoned by his former allies.

"For a long time, as chief of intelligence, marami siyang hawak. Marami siyang assets who tell him what is happening also," he said.

Asked who could be behind the smear campaign against Reyes, Robles said: "I will not speculate but I think it's obvious. It does not matter if the group is in government or not. Sa lakas lang...do you have to be in government to be strong?"

Garcia probe was derailed

Robles said the congressional inquiries on the Garcia plea bargain was effectively derailed when issues about military corruption started cropping up.

He said that while Reyes's case was simple graft, Garcia's case struck at the root of good governance.

"It's very different in quality. But the people in Congress, some of them quite deliberately, try to derail this by pointing to Reyes as a staking horse, as a whipping boy," he said.

He also questioned why the government, through the Sandiganbayan, protected Garcia by setting him free. "Why did the former government or leadership to the highest levels (get) involved in this? Why is the justice system perverted?" he asked.

Robles said he told Reyes to just invoke his right to free speech in the congressional probes since he was considered a guest there.

"You are not a witness neither are you accused. You are just a guest. And that is just a board of inquiry. They can intimidate you to the heavens but in the end, they have to let you go," he said.

He said he was also angry at some of the comments made by some of the lawmakers in the inquiry.

"Sabi kasi ng mga kalaban niya: 'Hindi ka na secretary ngayon. You are just an ordinary citizen.' Nagalit ako dun. Sabi ko 'Ah, ibig sabihin kapag ordinary citizen ka, wala kang kalaban laban?' Hindi ba insulto yan sa rest of the Filipino people? Na hindi ka na Cabinet member, ordinary citizen ka na, kayang-kaya ka na ng powers-that-be?" he said.

Despondent before death Robles said he was with Reyes for several nights last week to talk about the Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearing.

He said Reyes was despondent after news about the latter's alleged involvement in military corruption cropped up in the Senate and House of Representatives inquiries.

"Hindi sila titigil, pare. Marami sila, malakas sila. At wala na silang gagawin kundi ipitin ako. Hindi ito titigil at wala akong magagawa dahil wala naman akong lakas para labanan ito," he quoted Reyes as saying.

"This is an organized group. Mini-meeting-an nila ito. Ang lahat ng mga contact nila sa gobyerno. They will gang up against me. Hindi nila ako lulubayan. Sa tingin nila - wala na ako sa gobyerno, panahon na para yariin ako."

He also revealed that Reyes was still recovering from an operation after allegedly suffering a heart attack.

"He had a heart attack. I don't ask him about it. He cannot hear from his right ear. He cannot see straight because of his medication. When I have to talk to him, I have to tell 2-3 times anything I tell him before he can absorb it. And people think that when he hesitated in Congress, it's because he was guilty. He did not want me to bring this out," he said.

Robles admitted being close to Reyes since the latter was his yearling in the PMA.

"In the PMA, if you are a plebe, you are assigned to a squad. I was the squad leader of Angie Reyes. I was the one, in a manner of speaking, nagpadodo, nagpalit ng lampin niya...until he became a full fledged cadet," he said.

He added Reyes was also godfather to one of his children.

Robles said he has no plans to visit Reyes's wake at Arlington Funeral Home.

"I am not going anywhere. I am not going near Reyes's body. It's private. If I have a friend who died, I never look at the body. I want to remember him at his best," he said. With a report from Henry Omaga-Diaz, ABS-CBN News

"SECRETS" of Jose Rizal's Family

Every family has its secrets, even the Rizals of Calamba, among the most important families in Philippine history.

In the year that he died, 1896, Jose Rizal made his family tree. Interestingly, he left out the branches leading to his mother Teodora Alonzo. What was he trying to hide?

Howie Severino and his documentary team investigate Teodora's roots in Biñan, Laguna where they find her ancestral home still standing but being demolished brick by brick. Their probe reveals stories about betrayal, children out of wedlock, family quarrels, and an attempted murder charge that landed Teodora in jail for two years when Rizal was a child.

Tracking down a descendant of the family, Howie learns of another family secret that may be the most shocking of all.

Habits of Happy Men

What makes men happy? If you thought it was all about grilling and beer, well, you wouldn’t be entirely wrong. Our informal poll of a diverse group — chefs and bottlewashers, stock brokers and musicians, bachelors and grand dads — yielded the following short list of 14 fulfilling routines and past times that help make men happy and healthy.


1. Morning exercise

“I relish an hour or more of exercise at the start of the day,” says Mitch M., a seasoned consultant. “That could be walking, working outdoors, or playing tennis — but certainly an active period. It sets up the day for both my body and mind.” Fitness experts have long touted the benefits of morning exercise, which is closely associated with positive mood and sustained energy throughout the day. Men who get active in the a.m. hours are more likely to stick with an exercise regimen, too.


2. Alone time

Spending time with friends and family is a priority among men who describe themselves as happy, but their contentment also depends on finding a few minutes to hold the world at bay. “I always enjoy Sunday morning coffee and a newspaper — on real paper — on the front porch before the rest of the family wakes up,” says Mike Q., a salesman in the New York area. Some guys in our survey seize solitary time to learn or be creative while others want to be alone to “shut off my brain for a while.” Early mornings were a favorite time of day, though early birds and night owls alike savor the quiet moments.


3. Night out with the guys

“One thing that makes me happy is sitting down with a buddy over some drinks and food, talking about nothing,” says Josh M., a California-based M.D. Admittedly, it’s tough to argue the health benefits of chicken wings, fries and beer. But friendships are commonly formed and reinforced on barstools, and the health benefits of male camaraderie are supported by a significant body of research. Behavioral scientists have linked friendship not only to psychological well-being but to longevity.


4. Date night

It may not be the first topic of conversation on pub night, but men can be downright protective of their time with a significant other. Fathers with busy lives at work and home are especially covetous of evenings out with a spouse and report that weekly or bi-weekly date nights help keep the pair connected. Living in the same home doesn’t guarantee adequate time to interact, and a strongly bonded couple requires a relationship independent of their mutual attachment to children. Couples with a dedicated plan for spending time together tend to argue less and are better equipped to resolve tensions when they arise back at the homestead.


5. Games and sports

While men may say that regular ballgames are just a great way to blow off steam, they stand to reap all the benefits of play that children do (social development, honing physical skill sets, promoting mental sharpness) in addition to a long list of physical payoffs. Dr. Stuart Brown, an expert on the subject, has noted that healthy competition in adult play also increases abilities in decision making and problem solving. In his 2009 book Play, Brown writes, “The beneficial effects of getting just a little true play can spread through our lives, actually making us more productive and happier in everything we do.”


6. Getting organized

Leadership seminars and self-help books encourage effective time management for prioritizing tasks, improving productivity, and achieving goals. But you don’t need a life coach to tell you that gaining control over chaos provides peace of mind. Says Doug E., a professor and author, “I especially like writing down what I need to do on a monthly calendar and then crossing things off when they're done.” Doug’s routine does double duty, providing a template for time management and a built-in reward system for looking back over a month of accomplishments.


7. Exercise routine

Having a regular workout routine appears to be a leading source of satisfaction among men. The guys from our poll logged in on a variety of exercise preferences (a good run, biking to work, morning swims, a gym workout). Clearly exercise benefits men inside and out, fortifying the system against chronic diseases, managing weight, improving sexuality, and bolstering mood. Back in 1996, the Surgeon General reported on the many associations between inactivity and diseases including obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. It’s no surprise that inactivity has also been linked to depression and increased anxiety.


8. Generosity and charity

Want to feel good? Try making someone else feel good. Says Alex S., a real-estate consultant, “When I come from a place of giving to others I genuinely feel better about being me…. I try to carry that with me every day, and I’ve developed a way to measure it. I need to get six thank-you’s every single day from different people. If I get a thank-you from someone, then I know I've given something or done something someone else appreciates. I know it's dopey, but it makes me happy.”


9. An indulgent meal

Everyone must be cautioned against overeating, especially on a regular basis, but the occasional big meal — a stack of pancakes, a thick steak, a rich pasta — can be a source of satisfaction for a healthy man. Big meals are part of a longstanding tradition for men, and today’s warriors sometimes deserve a feast after returning home from battle at the office. Mitch P., a chef who routinely serves healthy, locally grown vegetables at his own restaurant, says, “On a quiet Sunday, I’ll flop on the couch and watch football or hockey with a huge, cheesy sandwich. Not the healthiest day off, but I need it.”


10. Down time with family

"It could be just TV time or a family board game — doesn’t matter. Downtime with the family helps keep me happy,” says Erik W., a business owner and father of pre-teen twins. Relaxed family time opens the lines of communication, reinforces the strength of a marriage, and provides an opportunity to decompress. The satisfaction of good parenting can be added to the equation, too, since family time helps kids build self confidence and stave off peer pressure.


11. Meal with family or friends

A good meal in good company is something of a feast for the senses. With positive, pleasure-inducing signals sent from the eyes, ears, nose and mouth, a man’s brain receives the message that the experience is nourishing to both the body and the mind. That, in physiological terms, defines happiness. Says David G., who happens to be a psychologist, “My happiness comes from ephemeral things like sitting around the table with family or friends — no special event, just any old dinner — and seeing everyone enjoying themselves.”


12. Playing an instrument

“Nothing relieves my stress like sitting down on the couch with my guitar and playing until the tension melts away,” says Evan K. of New York City. Accomplished musicians and amateurs alike enjoy the rewards of time spent on an instrument, a mental task that is uniquely well suited to blocking distractions and diminishing intrusive thoughts. Like other creative pursuits such as painting or woodworking, playing an instrument calls on different mental faculties than those tapped during the rest of the day. Several men we polled cited personal creative time as a great diversion and deeply fulfilling.


13. Time with the kids

Maybe it’s because we men really are just overgrown kids, as often characterized, that this category was the leading source of happiness among the dads polled. Anywhere they could catch one-on-time with their children — driving to practice, at the bus stop, during a bedside chat — the experience was genuinely prized and rewarding. “Whatever the topic, it just feels good to have that personal, uninterrupted time with each of my sons,” says Billy F., father of two teenaged boys. Josh S., an account exec, commented, “Discussing the shapes of clouds with my six-year-old is always eye-opening.”


14. Walking

An invigorating walk outdoors is sometimes referred to as a constitutional, meaning “beneficial to bodily constitution.” Lethargy, stress, anxiety and depression all stand to be lessened by getting out into the fresh air and making your body move according to its natural design. “A 30-45 minute walk can be peaceful, and it gets my blood pumping,” says Mike Q. “If I miss a day or two, I feel off.” Health authorities recommend adding as many steps to your day as your age and condition comfortably allow. Even the experts on arthritis, reversing an earlier understanding, frequently suggest walking for relieving pain in arthritic hips and knees.
(from msn.com)

The Point of View of A Korean

As you know, we have plenty of Koreans currently studying in the Philippines to take advantage of our cheaper tuition fees and learn English at the same time.

This is an essay written by a Korean student i want to share with you. (Never mind the grammar; it's the CONTENT that counts) Maybe it is timely to think about this in the midst of all the confusion at present.





MY SHORT ESSAY ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES
Jaeyoun Kim

Filipinos always complain about the corruption in the Philippines. Do you really think the corruption is the problem of the Philippines? I do not think so. I strongly believe that the problem is the lack of love for the Philippines.

Let me first talk about my country, Korea. It might help you understand my point. After the Korean War, South Korea was one of the poorest countries in the world. Koreans had to start from scratch because entire country was destroyed after the Korean War, and we had no natural resources.

Koreans used to talk about the Philippines, for Filipinos were very rich in Asia. We envy Filipinos.

Koreans really wanted to be well off like Filipinos. Many Koreans died of famine. My father & brother also died because of famine. Korean government was very corrupt and is still very corrupt beyond your imagination, but Korea was able to develop dramatically because Koreans really did their best for the common good with their heart burning with patriotism.

Koreans did not work just for themselves but also for their neighborhood and country. Education inspired young men with the spirit of patriotism. 40 years ago, President Park took over the government to reform Korea. He tried to borrow money from other countries, but it was not possible to get a loan and attract a foreign investment because the economic situation of South Korea was so bad. Korea had only three factories. So, President Park sent many mine workers and nurses to Germany so that they could send money to Korea to build a factory. They had to go through horrible experience.

In 1964, President Park visited Germany to borrow money. Hundred of Koreans in Germany came to the airport to welcome him and cried there as they saw the President Park. They asked to him, "President, when can we be well off?" That was the only question everyone asked to him. President Park cried with them and promised them that Korea would be well off if everyone works hard for Korea, and the President of Germany got the strong impression on them and lent money to Korea. So, President Park was able to build many factories in Korea. He always asked Koreans to love their country from their heart.

Many Korean scientists and engineers in the USA came back to Korea to help developing country because they wanted their country to be well off.

Though they received very small salary, they did their best for Korea. They always hoped that their children would live in well off country.

My parents always brought me to the places where poor and physically handicapped people live. They wanted me to understand their life and help them. I also worked for Catholic Church when I was in the army.

The only thing I learned from Catholic Church was that we have to love our neighborhood. And, I have loved my neighborhood. Have you cried for the Philippines? I have cried for my country several times. I also cried for the Philippines because of so many poor people. I have been to the New Bilibid prison. What made me sad in the prison were the prisoners who do not have any love for their country. They go to mass and work for Church. They pray everyday.

However, they do not love the Philippines. I talked to two prisoners at the maximum-security compound, and both of them said that they would leave the Philippines right after they are released from the prison. They said that they would start a new life in other countries and never come back to the Philippines.

Many Koreans have a great love for Korea so that we were able to share our wealth with our neighborhood. The owners of factory and company were distributed their profit to their employees fairly so that employees could buy what they needed and saved money for the future and their children.

When I was in Korea, I had a very strong faith and wanted to be a priest. However, when I came to the Philippines, I completely lost my faith.

I was very confused when I saw many unbelievable situations in the Philippines. Street kids always make me sad,and I see them everyday. The Philippines is the only Catholic country in Asia, but there are too many poor people here. People go to church every Sunday to pray, but nothing has been changed.

My parents came to the Philippines last week and saw this situation. They told me that Korea was much poorer than the present Philippines when they were young. They are so sorry that there are so many beggars and street kids. When we went to Pasangjan,I forced my parents to take a boat because it would fun. However, they were not happy after taking a boat. They said that they would not take the boat again because they were sympathized the boatmen, for the boatmen were very poor and had a small frame. Most of people just took a boat and enjoyed it. But, my parents did not enjoy it because of love for them.

My mother who has been working for Catholic Church since I was very young told me that if we just go to mass without changing ourselves, we are not Catholic indeed. Faith should come with action.

She added that I have to love Filipinos and do good things for them because all of us are same and have received a great love from God. I want Filipinos to love their neighborhood and country as much as they love God so that the Philippines will be well off.

I am sure that love is the keyword, which Filipinos should remember. We cannot change the sinful structure at once.

It should start from person. Love must start in everybody, in a s mall scale and have to grow. A lot of things happen if we open up to love. Let's put away our prejudices and look at our worries with our new eyes.

I discover that every person is worthy to be loved. Trust in love, because it makes changes possible.

Love changes you and me. It changes people,contexts and relationships. It changes the world. Please love your neighborhood and country.

Jesus Christ said that whatever we do to others we do to Him. In the Philippines, there is God for people who are abused and abandoned. There is God who is crying for love. If you have a child, teach them how to love the Philippines. Teach them why they have to love their neighborhood and country. You already know that God also will be very happy if you love others.

That's all I really want to ask you Filipinos.