PamagCUSA Blog

Pampangan Crusaders USA (PamagCUSA) expresses its solidarity with the
statements released by Kapampangan Marangal, Inc, Kaya Natin!, Kasaup and the Filipino United Network expressing their disagreement with the recall initiated against Governor Ed Panlilio.

We believe that the recall initiative is an attempt to thwart the gains
on good governance and responsible citizenship that Governor Ed Panlilio
has achieved in his incumbency.

While Governor Ed Panlilio's administration maybe imperfect as he
himself admits, we believe that the shortcomings are not worthy of a
recall initiative.

PamagCUSA will continue traversing the path of critical collaboration
with civil society groups in Pampanga and the Office of the Governor in
advancing responsible citizenship among the Kapampangan citizenry.

Posted by pamagcusa at 11:30 PM | Permalink

The Price of Among Ed’s Recall

By Joselito Basilio

A recall is a process which begins with the gathering of the
signatures, and then proceeds to the filing of a recall petition with the
COMELEC, the verification of such petition, the fixing of the date of the
recall election, and the holding of the election on the date scheduled by
the COMELEC.

History reveals that a recall election may take place within a short
span of time or take longer than almost year from the date of its
initiation. In the case of Caloocan City Mayor Rey Malonzo, the recall
election was held on 14 December 1996 or barely 5 months from the gathering of
the required signatures. The recall of Mayor Jovito Claudio of Pasay
City was initiated on 19 May 1999 and the recall election was held on 15
April 2000. On 2 July 2002, the people of Puerto Princesa City
initiated the recall of Mayor Dennis Socrates and the COMELEC set the recall
election on 14 August 2002.

I foresee that the recall of Among Ed would pass the same route as that
of Mayor Claudio. It’s going to be a long protracted legal battle.
Among Ed’s legal eagles would surely file opposition to the recall
petition before the COMELEC citing Lilia Pineda’s pending election protest as
a prejudicial question which must first be resolved before the petition
for recall could be given due course. The form and substance of the
petition would also be expected to be questioned by his lawyers. Even if
the COMELEC would eventually give due course to the recall petition,
the legal battle does not end there. The Supreme Court would finally
decide whether the recall election shall take place.

The whole recall process is a very expensive exercise. The proponents
of the recall of Among Ed would spend millions to buy signatures and
more millions to buy votes during the recall election. These exclude the
enormous amounts to be spent on election campaign, PR and lawyer’s fee.
Among Ed himself would not be spared from the burden of incurring cost
involved in a recall. He would certainly need millions to get
reelected.

It has been said that an initiative to recall an official is always
resisted with stronger vim and venom. The reason is obvious. The incumbent
would not like to lose power just recently won. The challenger, often
a loser in the previous election, would not want to lose a second time.
It foments divisive, wasteful and bloody politics where lives are
often lost. Moreover, a recall election would undermine the delivery of
basic services to the public. The running of the local government units
would slow down as our elected officials would be preoccupied with the
recall election campaign. This all augurs ill for the future of Pampanga.

Posted by pamagcusa at 10:21 PM | Permalink

The Fox and the Grapes

By Joselito Basilio

The English idiom “sour grapes” is derived from the fable “The Fox and
the Grapes” where the protagonist fox fails to reach some grapes
hanging high up on a vine, retreats, and rationalizes that the grapes are
probably not ripe anyway. The fable’s moral story is that it is easy to
despise what you cannot get. The idiom had later been misused by those
who do not know the original story and is now taken to mean “bitterness”
or “resentment”.

There is a towering personality in the civil society who may be likened
to the proverbial fox. He did not get what he wanted. He’s bitter
about Dabu’s denial of his desire to have his proposed program implemented.
He continues to be resentful at the way he was treated by Dabu and, by
extension, Among Ed.

I am of course alluding to top businessman Renato Romero who’s calling
not only for Dabu’s resignation but for Among Ed’s. He went to the
point of expressing his support for the recall bid against Among Ed. Not
contended, he is now resorting to ad hominem arguments describing, among
others, Among Ed as a thief who stole the advocacy for good governance.

I was right all along. First impression really lasts. With due respect
to the good businessman, I doubted his sincerity when I first saw him
during the campaign. Our support for Among Ed was supposed to be
unequivocal, no string attached. No division of the spoils of war. Obviously
he harbors a different agenda.

Mr. Romero’s new found advocacy (if you can call it that way) -
resignation or recall of Among Ed - merits no attention. He wants us to return
to traditional politics from which he may have benefited in the past.
Will the so-called civil society allow that to happen?

Posted by pamagcusa at 10:20 PM | Permalink

Demonizing Dabu

By Joselito Basilio

The curious cat that I am, I visited the blog site calling for the
ouster of Atty. Vivian Dabu, Among Ed’s controversial administrator. I was
glued to it for a long time reading and analyzing the articles posted
by the anonymous blogger and the raves the site has been getting mostly
from anti-Dabu forces.

The anonymous blogger uses vile language in describing Dabu. There, she
is being depicted as an obnoxious, an ugly and a dim-witted character.
If the stinging, bitter and acerbic comments on Dabu were to be
translated into punches Dabu would be knocked down instantly and die of
internal hemorrhage.

I would like to believe that the creator of the blog site is a lawyer
like Dabu because he (or she?) employs words frequently used by lawyers
like “putative” and ably cited a jurisprudence (Supreme Court decision)
to justify his portrayal of Dabu as an unintelligent lawyer. Whoever
this blogger may be, his call for Dabu’s resignation will not gain
ground for a simple reason that he is attacking Dabu’s person and character
rather than presenting a reasonable argument that would persuade people
to support the ouster call. At the end of the day, I believe the Dabu
will earn more sympathy than those who want him fired.

Honestly I do not know or have met Dabu. We all know she is not
perfect. No one is. I agree that she has her own negative qualities like
everybody else. Nonetheless, I believe she is a good and an honest
administrator. She displays a political ill never seen in the previous
administrators, a rare character needed to rid the corruption-prone capitol of
graft and corruption. Like Among Ed, she’s not been tainted with
corruption up to now which I find remarkable. This is much more important than
her perceived bad management style other segments of civil society are
complaining about.

Assuming, for the sake of argument, that Dabu is fired by Among Ed.
What then? Would her ouster placate the Provincial Board and the Mayor’s
League? Would it mollify the civil society? I do not think so. The
aftermath is going to be a vicious cycle as when Cory fired Executive
Secretary Joker Arroyo in compliance to civil society’s pressure. Believe me.

Posted by pamagcusa at 07:40 PM | Permalink

Uncivil Society?
By Joselito Basilio

In Kapampangan context, civil society is an unusual concept in that it
always seems to require being defined before it is discussed. In part
this is because the concept was rarely used in Kapampangan discourse
before Among Ed ran for governor in the May 2007 elections and many people
are therefore unfamiliar with it.

Arguably, civil society only gained legitimate recognition in Pampanga
during the May 2007 elections. Many new civil society groups, notable
of which are KMI, KCI and ADCL, facilitated better awareness and a more
informed citizenry, who made better voting choice for governor. In
fact credit should be given to civil society for Among Ed’s electoral
victory.

But what happens when the some members of the same civil society groups
are pulling a direction different from that of the person who helped
them elected governor. How it is going to be decided which direction in
which to go and whether it is the right one as circumstances continue
to change over time? Will they leave the decision to Among Ed or
pressure him to adopt what they want?

I have raised these questions because I am deeply saddened by the
recent turn of events in Pampanga which involves a segment of the civil
society.

I’m particularly disturbed by the juvenile behavior of a civil society
prominent actor who is now calling for Among Ed’s resignation and even
indicated his support for the latter’s recall because this is the only
way to get rid of Among Ed’s most trusted assistant who previously
turned down the actor’s proposal on public policy. This is tragic. When a
civil society conceals its real intentions beneath a sheep’s clothing it
has no more reason to exist.

What is wrong with Dabu at the helm of power? Among Ed put her there.
She enjoys the trust and confidence of no less than the governor himself
apart from the enormous powers she yield as mandated by law. Every
decision she makes is presumed to be the order of the governor. Among Ed
delegated most of his powers to Dabu so that she can effectively deal
with influence-peddlers and favor-seekers, and get rid of graft and
corruption in the capitol. This is how Among Ed manages the affairs of the
office of the governor. Can’t the civil society respect Among Ed’s
management style?

If some people are displeased over how the capitol is being run, that
is part of Kapampangan human nature. We Kampanpangan have this incurable
tendency to envy people who are closer to someone we love. I feel this
is the reason why some members of the civil society have deserted
Among Ed. They want all equal access to the governor’s office. They cannot
accept Among Ed’s regimental management style where decisions are made
through the office of the administrator.

Civil society is supposed to build social capital, trust and shared
values, which are transferred into the political sphere. We have the right
to express our views to influence the governor’s decisions but it is
not right to desert the governor when what we want is unheeded. That’s
uncivil.

Posted by pamagcusa at 05:34 PM | Permalink

Dear Fellow Filipinos,
Good day to all of you! :)
Last week, an initiative to recall Gov. Eddie Panlilio of Pampanga was started by people closely affiliated with Lilia Pineda, the gubernatorial candidate that Gov. Panlilio defeated and wife of alleged jueteng lord Bong Pineda. Their main aim is to be able to gather at least 100,000 signatures from registered voters in Pampanga so that they can remove Gov. Panlilio from his position through a recall election before 2010. If you will recall, just last month, Gov. Panlilio courageously filed plunder charges against Bong Pineda for his alleged involvement in jueteng operations and payoffs in Pampanga. If they succeed in doing this, we can expect that Pampanga will once again go back to the dark ages of patronage politics that has led to the propagation of graft and corruption and illegal gambling activities. More importantly, this will be a huge step backward for our country as a whole since all of us were witnesses to how people power prevailed over traditional politicians in Pampanga during the last May 2007 elections.
We cannot just sit back, relax and allow a good and upright Filipino leader to fail. We cannot allow evil to ultimately prevail. We cannot allow Gov. Eddie Panlilio to be recalled. We cannot allow politicians with vested interests to once again rule in Pampanga. Gov. Panlilio needs us now! Support Gov. Panlilio and Good Governance in Pampanga by signing up at: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/supportgovpanlilio/
Please forward this email to all your friends who believe in fighting for Good Governance in our country and who want to join us in supporting well-meaning Filipino Leaders!
Below is the formal statement of Kaya Natin! on the Recall Movement of Gov. Panlilio. If you would like to join Kaya Natin! Please feel free to get in touch with us at (02) 426-5657 or you can send an email to us at kayanatin@yahoo.com
Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Harvey S. Keh

Posted by pamagcusa at 05:33 PM | Permalink

Kaya Natin! Statement on the Recall Movement of Gov. Eddie Panlilio (Pampanga)
We, the founding members of Kaya Natin! A Movement for Genuine Change and Ethical Leadership strongly oppose the move to recall Governor Eddie Panlilio of Pampanga. We believe that this attempt to recall him is politically motivated and would only serve to benefit the vested interests of a few politicians in Pampanga.

While we are aware that there are escalating problems in Pampanga such as the continuing conflict between Gov. Panlilio and the Provincial Board, the unresolved issue on the striking BALAS Quarry Workers and the calls for the resignation of the current Provincial Administrator, among others, we believe that a genuine effort to resolve them will be more beneficial to the Kapampangans than a political exercise the will further polarize and divide the community. We also recognize that there are members of the civil society, church groups, business organizations and supporters of Gov. Panlilio that have expressed disappointment with his performance during the past year. Thus, while we continue to support Gov. Panlilio's crusade to promote good governance in his province, we also believe that he should listen to the voices of these groups and work at immediately addressing and resolving these growing concerns in order for him to become a more effective governor.

As current local government leaders, we believe that all these issues arise as a result of the changes and reforms being implemented in the province. Reforms do not come easy. It requires continuing engagements between the provincial leadership and the other stakeholders in the locality. We do believe that given time, Governor Panlilio's initiatives will ultimately result to better delivery of basic services to his constituents.

In light of all these, we urge the people of Pampanga not to support the recall initiative. We ask the Kapampangans to give Governor Panlilio a chance to fully serve his term and continue the reforms that he has began. Moreover, we ask all Kapampangans to be patient with Governor Panlilio because we believe that despite the current situation, he is at the moment still the best person who can govern the province in an effective and ethical manner. Should there be a need, the members of Kaya Natin are willing to help organize and/or facilitate a dialogue between Governor Panlilio and disgruntled members of the civil society, business groups, people's organizations and his former supporters in Pampanga.

Finally, we sincerely hope that this movement to recall Gov. Panlilio will be put to rest at the soonest possible time so that we can unite towards working for a better Pampanga and ultimately, a better Philippines.

Signed:


(Sgd.) HON. GRACE PADACA (Sgd.) HON. JESSE ROBREDO
Governor Mayor
Isabela Naga City


(Sgd.) HON. TEDDY BAGUILAT, JR. (Sgd.) HON. SONIA LORENZO
Governor Mayor
Ifugao San Isidro, Nueva Ecija

Posted by pamagcusa at 05:31 PM | Permalink

Mipakde Ka Balen

Migising ka Balen! Pilan yang ukdung dindam karing mangatenakan watas at mangakudtang Kapampangan. King radyu DZAB kanita balang Biernis Bengi pin ata nung e ku magkamali, ding Poeta Laureado Meyangubie Jose Gallardo ampo ding aliwa pang kayabe nang watas (poeta) gagale lang mangasanting a dalit ampon kawatasan. Ding makanyan a parandam da karing media masikan lang mamye belwan karing kayanakan. Pauli ning Bengi ning Kawatasan ampon Crissotan apilasa ku ing legwan at yaman ning kanakung Amanung Siswan.

Mangatimbang lang salita, mangalaman a amanu ding iyapse rang pamamalino at pamamatulid detang mag-crissotan a alang babasan. Mayayakit keni ing pamanisip malalam at matinung kapanwalan. Ding pake ding pisasabyan kanita ali la man dikil karing sigalut a mangalalang karing politiku. E la dikil karing marinat imalan a pipipyan. Tema lang dikil king ulaga ning biye, kapanwalan, at telakaran abe lang lakwas ding legwan at ganaka ning Tibwan ampong ning Miglalang.

Ding Kapampangan matikdi la't marangal, makaukit la karing ukul at diwa ding Filipinu ini. Ding karelang ganaka at kapanupayan balita karing aliwa. Dapot ing karelang tepangan ampon lugud king Balen da at Bangsa makalaman mu naman king Amlat ning Yatu. Ketang panaun da ding manyakup, neng ing Kapampangan makalibutad yang lugal king pusad ning kapalyaryan maralas yang agad darasnan da ding managap. Pauli nini dakal la karela ding mengalto bayani, lalaki at babayi.

Banwang metung pepakit dang pasibayu ing karelang panga-makabalen, misanmetung la bang maging Gobernador ing Paring Eddie T. Panlilio. Anya ding Kapampangan mibalita nala nanaman mabilug yatu. King ukdung ini ali nala daywan o foreigners ding kalaban da, balamu kalupa da nalang Kapampangan. Ing suliranan king sugal, kapalalwan at pisasabyan mangawalang abli king quarry o balas. Mabilug Kapuluaan Pilipinas at aliwang bansa yatu tinalangan at minanga la karing kabalen.

Katataulyan, mika malinis na sa at malino pamalakad king Lalawigan Kapampangan! King kerakalan da ding trak a mamakut balas a akakit karing superhighways, sukat neng Developed a lugal ing Kapampangan. Mangasanting nala sukat ding dalan, ospital, eskwela at dakal a obra at pamangan. Alang daranup. Matas la sweldu ding mestra't mestru at magobra king gubiernu. Alang bayad ing magaral karing eskwelang publiku. Alang anak kalat-kalat dalan magpalimus. Balang lugal ating libraries, health centers, playgrounds, parks. At aliwa pa.

Meyakit malino king pamalakad nang Among Ed Panlilio ing dayu ning pepalub dang abli ding Mitatang Gobernador Lapids karing akakit a abli ning Pari.

Mangaganaka la ding Kapampangan, mapanupaya la. Ala ku pan dindam a manintun karing abling aliwa karing mengalabas a banwa. Ngeni, ining Paring manintrigang dakal a pera, makabuklat kwenta, Ya kanu ing buri rang ilako at dedemanda. Nanu pu yan?

Kapampangan, Mipakde Ka ! Miglinis ka. Lalako muna ing marok king pamalakad anya pinili me ing Pari. Pelisan mune at inisis ing Capitolyu, bakit ali muna isundu ini? Paytake ka king indredos? http://services.inquirer.net/print/print.php?article_id=20080815-154724 Basan ya ing sinulat nining mayap a taung ini. Dakal la pa ding taung atin panga-racist o prejudiced. Anya maligwa lang masusulsul karing mangulu. Patune nini keni Amerika ya pin ing kinalat dang Muslim ya i Senador Barack Obama. Misip tamu pang makatapulu, o makadinalan bayu tamu paytuki karing aliwa. Nang ibye ra ren king kekatang payntungulan. Nang uring balayan ing buri tang lakwan karing kayanakan?

Ninu ing panwalan mu ing manintrigang pera at tutuki karing Batas o nanu. Balen Migising Ka! Ali mune bibili ing bola bang e masamsam ing kekang Katimawan.

Ketang Ka-27 nang Aldo ning Hunyu, 1987 ding mamuntukan ning Akademyang Kapampangan o AKKAP inabut de ing makalagda rang Parangal kang Poeta Laureado Vedasto D. Ocampo anting Ari Ning Parnasung Kapampangan. Deti ila ri Diosdado P. Macapagal, Evangelina H. Lacson at Archimedes T. David. Metung karing sinulat nining pagmaragul talasulat ning Balean Magalang ya pin ing " Ing Tubud Ning Dios ", sinulat ne ketang salungsungan deng gugulwan ing pamalakad nang Pamuntuk Cory C. Aquino ding memanyubuk coup d'tat kanita. Adwa lang tumpuk ding inagtal kung maka yawig king kabilyan Kapampangan ngeni:

Mipakde ka kabalen ku! Mibule kata saguli
uling king pamimalad ku mamitamit kang masawi,
wari't ibye me king diablo ing katiting mung taliri
pakitaglus-taglus nana pati bitukang malati,
inya ing mayap tang daptan mibule kata't mangadi
ban e dugpa keka't kaku - ing malyaring e ta buri.

E wari keta king EDSA ing ka - Diosan linaganap?
At ikwa tang migtagumpe king parasan tamung mayap?
O'nung sindu tamu sana ing dakila tang paninap
E sa linub ing personal at pansariling pigagap,
Sana, ing pamikalugud menusbung ampon miganap
At ing tune Demokrasya.... e sana mig-undap-undap.

Mayap tamung pigunaman ini ngening Banwang Mumuna tamung diling pagmasusyan ing Dumingu ning kekatang Amanung Siswan. Masayang Aldo pu kekayu ngan Kabalen!

Posted by pamagcusa at 02:44 PM | Permalink

FAQs on Recall - Joselito Basilio (Law Student)

The recall bid against Gov. Ed Panlilio in now being initiated by a
certain group calling themselves Kambilan. I’m sure the Recall issue will
be the talk of the town in the days to come. For ease of understanding
and reference, please allow me to share with some Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQs) on Recall.

According to eminent Kapampangan jurist Reynato Puno (now Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court) the right of recall is a double-edged sword.
Rightly used, it can promote the greater good. Wrongly used, it can result
in greater evil.

What is a recall in the context of Local Government Code of 1991 (RA
7160)?

A recall is a power granted to the electorate to remove an elected
official for loss of confidence.

What does loss of confidence mean?

Loss of confidence is the formal withdrawal by an electorate of their
trust in a person's ability to discharge his office previously bestowed
on him by the same electorate.

Whether or not the electorate has lost confidence in an incumbent is a
political question. It belongs to the realm of politics where only the
people are the judge. (Evardone vs. COMELEC et. al., GR No. 94010, 2
December 1991)

What is the purpose of recall?

While recall was intended to be an effective and speedy remedy to
remove an official who is not giving satisfaction to the electorate
regardless of whether or not he is discharging his full duty to the best of his
ability and as his conscience dictates, it is a power granted to the
people who, in concert, desire to change their leaders for reasons only
they, as a collective, can justify. In other words, recall must be
pursued by the people, not just by one disgruntled loser in the elections
or a small percentage of disenchanted electors. Otherwise, its purpose
as a direct remedy of the people shall be defeated by the ill motives of
a few among them whose selfish resort to recall would destabilize the
community and seriously disrupt the running of government. (Angobung v.
COMELEC, 269 SCRA 245 [1997])

The bottomline is that our law intends recall as a mechanism of good
government. It can never fulfill that intent if we allow its use to
foment too much politics. (Claudio vs. COMELEC et. al, G.R. No. 140560, 4
May 2000)

How shall the recall of a governor be commenced?

The recall of a governor shall be commenced by a petition of a
registered voter in the province concerned and supported by at least 10% of
registered voters, provided, however, that in no case shall the required
petitioners be less than 45,000. (Section 1, RA 9244)

Note :

In the case of Pampanga, the required petitioners must be at least
98,703 which represent 10% of the total number of registered voters in
Pampanga as of 20 April 2007 based on the records of COMELEC
(www.comelec.gov.ph).

What happens next after the commencement of a recall?

The process of recall shall be effected in accordance with the
following procedures:

1. A written petition for recall duly signed by the representatives of
the petitioners shall be filed in the COMELEC provincial office.

2. If the petition is found to be sufficient in form, the Comelec shall
form the issuance of the certification, provide the official sought to
be recalled a copy of the petition, cause its publication in a
national newspaper of general circulation and a newspaper of general
circulation in the locality.

3. The Comelec shall proceed independently with the verification and
authentication of the signatures of the petitioners and registered voters
contained therein. The filing of any challenge or protest shall be
allowed which shall be ruled upon with finality within 15 days from the
date of filing of such protest or challenge.

4. The Comelec shall announce the acceptance of candidates to the
position and thereafter prepare the list of candidates which shall include
the name of the official sought to be recalled.

5. The Comelec shall set the date of the recall election, which shall
not be later than 45 days upon the completion of the procedure outlined
above. The official sought to be recalled shall automatically be
considered as duly registered candidate to the position to be voted upon.

6. The official sought to be recalled may file petition for certiorari
and prohibition before the Supreme Court seeking the nullification of
the resolution of the COMELEC giving due course to the petition for the
recall.

What are the limitations of a recall?

1. Any elective local official may be the subject of a recall election
only once during his term of office for loss of confidence. (para. a,
Section 74, RA 7160)

2. No recall shall take place within 1 year from the date of the
official's assumption to office or 1 year immediately preceding a regular
local election. (para. b, Section 74, RA 7160)

If no recall shall take place within 1 year from the date of the
official's assumption to office or 1 year immediately preceding a regular
local election, does it mean that Among Ed cannot be recalled until after
30 June 2008?

In the case of Claudio vs. COMELEC et.al., supra, the Supreme Court
held that the term "recall" refers to the recall election and not to
initiation of recall proceeding. The initiation of recall "merely sets the
stage for the official concerned before the tribunal of the people so he
can justify why he should be allowed to continue in office." Hence, a
recall election for governor in Pampanga cannot be held until after 30
June 2008. However, the initiation of recall proceedings (commencement,
filing of petition with the COMELEC and etc.) is not prohibited within
the one-year period.

In other words, what is forbidden are : (1) the holding of recall
election within one year from the date the official assumed office, and (2)
holding of a recall election within one year immediately preceding a
regular local election. As succinctly stated in Paras vs. COMELEC (264
SCRA 48, 54 [1996]), para. (b)construed together with para. (a) of
Section 74, RA 7160 "merely designate the period when such elective local
official may be subject to recall election, that is, during the second
year of office."

When shall a recall take effect?

The recall of an elective local official shall be effective only upon
the election and proclamation of a successor in the person of the
candidate receiving the highest number of votes cast during the election on
recall. Should the official sought to be recalled receive the highest
number of votes, confidence in him is thereby affirmed, and he shall
continue in office.(Section 72, RA 7160)

Posted by pamagcusa at 02:42 PM | Permalink

Write It, Walk It
GLIMPSES
Jose Ma. Montelibano
There are some who have stood against powerful men and women for a number of years, oftentimes paying dearly for doing so. Those who speak against wrongdoing cannot but speak against wrongdoers every so often, and that is dangerous and expensive.

Reeling against what powerful wrongdoers dish back, I found myself wallowing in self-pity at times. I know I could have recapitulated several times if only clear and generous offers to do so were presented by life. But, as my fate would have it during my life as an advocate for change and an opinion writer, there were no serious temptations to corruption when I was in my weakest moments. When corruption did knock loudly on my doors, I simply and fortunately happened to be my most steadfast state.

Understanding life to be like a collection of moments good and bad, strong and weak, ugly and beautiful, I cannot but help being understanding (and often, kind) even to wrongdoers. They are also men and women with people who love them, and are hurt when others speak ill of them. I often wish I could resist urges to expose the evil that they do and inflict on others, as I know I have committed similar wrongs and have caused pain to some along the way.

The happy compromise has been, then, for me, to focus on wrongdoing itself rather than wrongdoers. And the higher option has been to focus on good and allow it to conquer evil in its own pre-destined way.

There will be instances when I do not favor the happy compromise for a more stinging rebuke, which I mostly reserve for hypocrites in robes. To me, the wolves in sheep's clothing have a special accountability which I would always like to remind them in this lifetime before the Lord does in the next. Religious leaders deserved special mention from a Christ who was especially offended by their hypocrisy, and I remind myself that they crucified Him for that. I, too, should expect crucifixion, not only from dirty politicians but from dirty religious as well. My deepest wish is not to be rescued from them, but that I will not turn out to be like them.

My stand against wrongdoing, especially the kind that preys on the weak, the sick and the innocent, is not one born of great courage but of great anger, just as my stand on hypocrisy by erring shepherds is not one born of great purity but of great revulsion. There are many behavioral scientists who would say that I could be projecting my great fears, the fear to be corrupt and the fear to be hypocritical. They could be right, and I just have to be vigilant against what I write and speak against so relentlessly.

The higher option of doing good and allowing it to defeat evil, though, is truly much more inspiring and restful to the soul. From my own exhaustion at the endless flailing against the windmill of corruption, I was blessed to find solace and renewed strength in the higher option of simply doing more and more good. Of course, when one is on the path of doing good and promoting the same path to others, there is less time, effort and opportunity to confront the thieves and liars in the bureaucracy of the State and the badly compromised among the hierarchy of the Church.

Comments from readers about how they are inspired, about how their hopes are rekindled, and about how their own resolve to reach out and ease the pain and suffering of the poor, to free them from the bondage of greed and poverty, add greatly to my commitment and capacity to pursue a personal mission of showing alternative and better ways to live out the divine purposes of our lives. If my pride or ego is stoked to momentary pleasure from the praise and gratitude of readers, I must admit that I do allow myself to enjoy the affirmation before moving on to the next opportunity to live out my mission.
In the midst of daily prayer and reflection, I realize clearly my ordinariness, that there are many who are greater, more brave and talented, more committed and pure. I realize, too, that there are the more fearful and cowardly, the more greedy and addicted to power, those more prone to form over substance, pomp over principle. As ordinary people with the capacity for good and evil, we have others who are greater, and lesser, than us. Comparison, then, is a deadly trap.
Steering away from life's landmines would require a determined focus on the value or principle at issue more than the personalities involved. Those who have to enter the arena of criticism, rebuke or censure must also cut across the walls of anger and despair that are erected or strengthened along the way. If we have to expose the corrupt and the hypocrites, we must also show with even more focus the honest and the true. We have to be living witnesses of the higher values, sterling examples of higher ethics, and place on the pedestal of public awareness others who display the same higher values and higher ethics.
As our people slide deeper into pain, from physical poverty and the absence of righteous leadership, there is greater need and urgency to raise principled Davids as available replacements for failed King Sauls who use power and position to cover the wrong they do. New ways must rise above the patterns of history, patterns of exploitation, patterns of corruption, and patterns of hypocrisy. Faith and patriotism might as well not be taught anymore in classrooms if our more publicly known leaders cannot be the models of virtue.
It is my firm belief that much right and much wrong had been taught by leaders of society. They have done so by their behavior more than by their pronouncements. Words are particularly tricky, more easily crafted than character and behavior.
Opinion makers, then, are especially placed for great honor, or great shame, because they can churn our more words than examples to readers who may never get to know them personally. Writers always write but few get written about. Because their own personal lives are often not exposed to public scrutiny, journalists may hide behind their readers' inability to know and judge their persons and integrity.
I strongly espouse righteous leadership. I must work hard, therefore, on my own righteousness. I strongly espouse helping the poor. I must work hard, therefore, on helping them as a personal commitment and daily advocacy. What I write about and promote must find me as its foremost activist. What I write about and condemn must find me its worst enemy. And on these criteria I submit myself before the judgment of my God and country.
--
"In bayanihan, we will be our brother's keeper and forever shut the door to hunger among ourselves."

Posted by pamagcusa at 02:37 PM | Permalink

E D I T O R I A L :

Is There A Need For A Recall ?
Last June 26, 2008, some mayors of Pampanga expressed their disappointments
against Gov. Panlilio’s leadership and governance.. They accused Among Ed as a
governor with poor performance and that he runs the province with an “autocratic
style of government”. They also criticized the governor as one who pretends to be
good and yet, is not doing something to deliver the basic needs of the people of
Pampanga. A recall attempt filed by Kampilan headed by former board member Rosby Henson last August 21, 2008.

If we are to review how Fr. Ed Panlilio decided to run for governor, it began when
some Kapampangans Dreamt Of Having a Real and Genuine Change in Philippine politics.
They believed that Good Governance and Responsible Citizenship are the Only Way To
Enjoy The Fullness Of Life In Our Country. Fr. Ed was chosen to lead that crusade .

When Among Ed assumed the office as governor, these were the immediate changes
he implemented :
1. He collected a monthly income of almost a million pesos per day from quarry taxes as compared to 45,000 pesos per month from the previous administration. Shares of municipalities and barangays were also fully distributed .
2. SOPs and kickbacks for contractors and politicians were fully abolished to ensure that 100% of the projects will be delivered to the people. Bidding and transparency were fully observed.
3. He declared a war against "jueteng" by filing a case to the alleged jueteng lord, Bong Pineda, the husband of former board member Lilia Pineda who became his number 1 contender for governorship in the last May 2007 election .
4. Priority projects recommended by mayors , like road concreting , were implemented in all the 21 towns of Pampanga .
5. Construction materials were delivered to many barangays and schools for their priority projects , especially in the remote and depressed areas .
6. Medicines and healthcare services were distributed to all district hospitals of Pampanga.

These are only few of the accomplishments of our governor. With these facts, let us open our eyes, hearts and minds, and ask ourselves the following questions :

1.Was Among Ed able to deliver what he has promised—good governance ?

2.Is there really a need for a recall against Among Governor Ed Panlilio ?

3.What are the Real Motives behind such recall against Among Governor Ed
Panlilio on the part of his political opponents ?

4.If such recall against our Incumbent Governor Ed Panlilio materializes ,
would it not Plunge Pampanga back into the Dark Ages Of Dirty Politics
And Untold Rape and Plunder Of this Great Province 's Wealth and
Resources by the Same Political Syndicates, Families And Dynasties who
are behind such recall ?
5.Shall All Well-Meaning and Patriotic Pampanguenos allow such recall to
happen and thus,Totally Deprive Them Of Their Fair Share And Right To
An Equal Distribution Of Wealth in Our Beloved Pampanga ?

6.Shall we, as True Pampanguenos , Again Allow this Same Gangs Of
Traditional Politicians ( Trapos ) To Take over the Reins Of Government
To Serve Their Own Vested Interests And Without Shame , ROB Our
Provincial Coffers , And Once More , Plunge Our People Into The Depths
Of Extreme Poverty ? And , finally ,

7.Shall we allow these Trapos, Jueteng Lords And their Cohorts to Continue
Opposing Among Gov. Ed Panlilio's Noble And Worthy Projects and thus ,
Obstruct Pampanga's Road To True Progress And Prosperity ?

LET US ALL , AS TRUE AND NOBLE KAPAMPANGANS , THINK ABOUT
ALL THESE THINGS , AND BE UNITED AS ONE TO OPPOSE THE FORCES
OF EVIL WHO ARE TRYING TO STOP AND DESTROY THE GREAT GAINS
THAT HAS BEEN INITIATED AND MADE BY AMONG GOVERNOR ED
PANLILIO IN OUR BELOVED PROVINCE OF PAMPANGA .

MAY GOD ALMIGHTY PROTECT US AND BLESS THE WORK OF OUR
HANDS IN THIS NOBLE CAUSE !

GOD RICHLY BLESS OUR BELOVED PAMPANGA ON THE ROAD TO
TRUE PROGRESS AND PROSPERITY !

GOD BLESS , PROTECT AND GUIDE BY HIS SPIRIT OF WISDOM ,
HIS ANOINTED SERVANT , AMONG GOVERNOR EDDIE PANLILIO !

Posted by pamagcusa at 02:35 PM | Permalink

FAITH WITHOUT ACTION/WORKS IS DEAD!

Last Saturday, August 16, 2008, Bangon! Bagong Pilipinas (BBP), an advocacy/movement for the moral, economic and political transformation of the Philippines was formally launched. It aspires/envisions to organize/exhort Filipino-Americans to get more involved in Philippine-US moral, economic/political affairs, applying 5 biblically-sound principles of namely, "faith with action/works", "obedience with free will", "leadership with a servant-hood", "unity through humility" and "love with self-sacrifice". BBP believes that with the myriad of talents, resources and abilities readily available to many US-based Filipinos, they could readily make a pivotal impact/difference in the lives of the less fortunate countrymen not only in the Philippines but equally important, in the USA. One of the basic tenets of BBP for eventual social, economic and political empowerment of the Filipino people is that each member is enjoined to put into practice one’s faith with action/works as such kind of faith could move mountains indeed. With even just a fraction of the more than 2 Million relatively affluent Filipinos in the USA joining BBP and faithfully applying spiritually sound values/principles, one does not need to be a rocket scientist to see that the possibilities are quite explosive insofar as the eventual transformation of the Filipino people's moral/economic fiber and subsequent development of a strong political clout whether here in the USA and/or the Philippines. Ephesians 2:8-10 states…"By grace, we have been saved through faith. It is not of our own doing. It is a gift from God. Neither is it a reward for anything we have done lest anyone should boast. We are truly God’s masterpieces, created in Christ Jesus to live a life of good deeds prepared for us that we should devote ourselves to them." BBP believes that it is about time for those of us who profess to be Christians to realize that we have been saved by grace/faith for a reason/purpose and that purpose is not so much to live for ourselves alone but also, for the sake of others less fortunate than ourselves. As exhorted in James 2:14-17, "What good is faith without showing works? Can that kind of faith save you? If a brother/sister in need of food and clothes comes to you and one of you says, "May things go well for you. Be warm and be satisfied," but you don’t do anything to address that bodily need, what good is that? Faith without works is totally dead." Filipino-American Catholic/Christians who have been rather apathetic or indifferent to the sad plight of our countrymen despite knowing the urgent need for such basic material necessities such as food, clothing and shelter and indeed, the equally important goals of social/political stability, are thereby admonished to get off their comfort zones/rocking chairs and think twice before splurging/losing thousands of dollars in Las Vegas or any other casinos or buying as high-prized handbags/watches worth more than a month/year’s minimum wage/salary in the Philippines. To whom much is given, much is required. In Ist Timothy 6:17-18, St. Paul further exhorts, "Command the rich of this world not to be arrogant or to put their trust in the uncertainty of wealth. Let them rather put their trust in God who provides us richly with things for us to enjoy. Let them do good and to be rich in good works, willing to share and ready to give." Indeed, if we simply keep these abundant material blessings for our sakes and that of our families alone and not readily willing to give/share the biblical portion with the less fortunate ones, then, we may be held accountable for our deliberate/inadvertent omission/neglect. After all, as written in Matthew 25:44, many Catholic/Christians, self-deceived that they are saved simply by faith alone without the subsequent works, will ask Jesus…"Lord, when did we see you hungry, thirsty, naked, in prison and sick and did not help you? The King will answer them: "Truly, I say to you: Whatever you neglected to do for the least of My brothers/sisters, you neglected to do it unto Me." And these will go to eternal punishment but the just to eternal life/happiness." And so the ultimate question is…Do we have the faith which could move mountains or the faith that is fake?…Di ba?

Atty. Ramoncito Poblete Ocampo, "Bro. Ramon", is the President/Stewards’ Servant of BBP. For details, please log on www.globalhello.com/bbp or call (213) 388-9925.

Posted by pamagcusa at 02:34 PM | Permalink

THE ROLE OF THE INDIVIDUAL IN GOOD GOVERNANCE

by: RED REYES

How do we define good governance?

Good Governance is the reason why kapampangans were united for one cause.
This is the reason why kapampangans dreamt of a brighter future for our country
And for our children. It is sad to say that we have our own interpretation of good governance. Unfortunately, it is because of an entirely different understanding and interpretation that many are disappointed of How Among Ed implement his own
Principle of Good Governance.

In an open discussion with balikbayan relatives and friends, I have clearly observed
that their faith , hope and expectations for Governor Panlilio to succeed is quite high as compared to the many who live in Pampanga . Why is that? One possible reason is
that those people living abroad, specifically, in developed countries, have a wider perspective of good governance. OFWs and immigrants who are living in several rich countries abroad had themselves glimpses of good governance. With this, they have better standards of living, higher salary, promising healthcare and retirement benefits. They have great faith that Among Ed will succeed because he is quite focused and determined to absolutely apply true good governance in our Province of Pampanga .

When Among Governor Eddie Panlilio made a turn around in changing the old system of governance , such as the total abolition of all forms of corruption , SOPs, patronage politics and the like , many individual especially old politicians got madly infuriated . A lot of these traditional politicians were not supportive of Among Ed’s administration because their illegal income was eliminated. What is likewise alarming is the fact that their constituents also share the same sentiments.

It is lamentable that a big segment of our people as well as our politicians are not yet ready in this kind of process. Worse of all, corruption is like a cancer that affects the whole country. Corruption and bribery have become a way of life in our society. This is the main reason why our governor has a hard time in moving forward towards transforming our province into an ideal society under this noble crusade of good governance.

We have our Almighty GOD to thank that we have so far been successful in seating a governor without any political machinery, power and money. Despite our different affiliations, religious beliefs and status in life, God has kept us all united to overcome great obstacles and bring to fruition what had seemed to be the impossible dream.

In this time of adversity, we need to remain united in fighting for truth, justice and equality for all. Instead of finding fault in Among Ed or in his provincial administrator, why not ask ourselves on how we can help our province reclaim its glorious past, its cherished dignity, and enormous success and prosperity?

Every individual has his role and responsibility towards the success and completion of this noble mission. Bishop Pablo David has stated that the church is asking pardon from the Filipino people, especially the poor because for a long time, despite of massive corruption, illegal gambling and hardships, the church remained silent. This time, the church will now help and get involved to fight for the truth. Our Lord commands us to love and serve one another, including that of living for the truth. To be part of good governance is to expect nothing in return, none of any sort of reward. This is the essence of our mission in order to make ourselves more meaningful and our deeds like a pleasing aroma to God. Each one of us has been called to be part of this noble crusade for good governance. This is the best gift we can give to our children and our future generation. We can do no less but, rather, give our utmost for a truly bright future for our beloved Province of Pampanga .

GOD tremendously Bless Pampanga !

GOD Bless All Noble and Patriotic Capampangans !

GOD Bless our Pampanga Governor, Among Governor Eddie Panlilio !

Thanks to Joseroman Laquian for his ideas and contribution!

Posted by pamagcusa at 07:18 PM | Permalink

Statement on the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Dialogue with Civil Society Groups
August 20, 2008
Kapampangan Marangal. Inc.

In an attempt to bridge the widening gap between the Executive and Legislative branches of the Pampanga Provincial Government, leaders and members of various civil society groups held a dialogue yesterday (August 19, 2008 from 10:20 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) with the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) under the leadership of Vice-Governor Joseller 'Yeng' Guiao.

Representatives from the Kapampangan Coalition, Inc.(KCI), Kapampangan Marangal, Inc. (KMI), Advocacy for the Development of Central Luzon (ADCL), Pampanga Anti-Gambling Council, Inc. and Couples for Christ engaged the SP in a dialogue over the following concerns: 1) Designation of Arnedo Park as a Freedom Park; 2) Inquiry on the Status of the Proposed Budget for BALAS and other pending supplemental budgets for approval; 3) Clarification on the Holding of the SP Special Sessions; and 4) Possible Areas of Cooperation between the Civil Society Sector and the SP in the realm of Good Governance (Pls. see attached letter submitted to the Office of the Vice-Governor).

Agreements reached during the dialogue include:

Re: Designation of Arnedo Park as a Freedom Park

The SP will check on the legal aspect of this request (e.g. whether it needs a resolution or an ordinance). In general, the members of the SP have verbally expressed their agreement to the proposal;

Re: Inquiry on the Status of the Proposed Budget for BALAS and other pending supplemental budgets for approval

After explaining their side on the issue, the SP challenged the civil society groups to:

1) Prepare and submit a study/proposal on the BALAS covering: a) a 6-month budget for BALAS, and b) system and mechanism for institutionalization of operations (whether to consider automated monitoring or improve the current system including compensation scheme for the workers);
2) Prepare and submit a study/proposal on the scholarship program covering: a design that will institutionalize the systematic delivery of a well-crafted scholarship program (to insulate it from patronage politics and steer it away from the dole-out label – e.g. create a screening committee with two representatives from the civil society instead of relying on recommendations/endorsements from elected officials; identify requirements, terms – e.g. direct payment to schools; and focus of assistance on specific areas of proficiency – e.g. science courses
Re: Clarification on the Holding of the SP Special Sessions
Following certain requirements, only the Governor can request for Special Sessions subject to the following conditions:
1) It is certified as urgent, not open-dated and should not have a far-reaching agenda;
2) It should be specific and have the element of urgency (e.g. during disasters)
Re: Possible Areas of Cooperation between the Civil Society Sector and the SP in the realm of Good Governance
The SP is open to the idea of cooperating with the civil society in areas that will breathe life to and promote the ideals of good governance (e.g. transparency, effective delivery of services, accountability, etc.).
The Bamboo Propagation Project which had an initial budget allocation of Php 5M last year was discussed. It was agreed that both parties will explore ways of responding to this development opportunity for Pampanga. The SP pledged additional funding support for it.
The civil society expressed concern about a container van full of hospital equipment (that has yet to be released by the Customs Bureau) intended for public hospitals in Pampanga. The SP committed to help facilitate the release of the said equipment.
While we have yet to see concrete results from this dialogue, we are confident that the SP will adhere to the agreements made, as clearly expressed by Vice-Gov. Yeng Guiao. We are hopeful that this will pave the way to unity and cooperation among Pampanga's leaders and the Kapampangan constituency. We want to make it clear that this move was intended to complement and not to duplicate the efforts of our duly-elected government officials. We, likewise, reiterate that this was initiated by the civil society in support of the good governance agenda of our Provincial Government. We hope that it will not in any way be misconstrued as taking sides on the perceived rift between the Executive and the Legislative branches of the Provincial Government.
Even as we offer ourselves to get involved in working for the development of Pampanga, we cite the following gains among many others made by the Panlilio administration with the aid of the Vice-Governor and the SP:
1) Increase in quarry collections and the immediate distribution of shares of the local government units;
2) Convening of the Provincial Development Council
3) Creation of Local Councils for the Indigenous People and the Youth and the reactivation of existing ones (e.g. Children, Persons with Disabilities, and senior Citizens)
4) Allocation and release of budget as mandated

We laud the efforts of our leaders to move on and continue exploring possible points of unity despite differences in political convictions. A lot of time has been wasted on fingerpointing and squabbling over non-issues. More than hurting our pride, the wounds of divisions have been hurting our beloved Pampanga by stifling its growth and progress.
Pampanga is now regarded by many Filipinos as a beacon of light and a wellspring of hope for genuine reforms in Philippine society. We can only continue being so if we set aside loyalty to personalities in favor of loyalty to the cause which is Pampanga's development through the exercise of good governance and responsible citizenship.

Posted by pamagcusa at 07:16 PM | Permalink

Terminal leave and bonuses of BALAS boys paid in full

City of San Fernado, Pampanga - The provincial government through the Human Resource Management Office clarifies today some quarry checkers that they will be paid in full of their bonuses and terminal leave credits.

Mrs. Jesusa Goseco, Provincial HRMO, sheds light on these issues as another stand-off staged this morning by some provincial quarry checkers in front of the capitol building here. The matter is directed to the 64 reinstated provincial checkers. It may be recalled that on July 10 of this year, the same checkers headed by Eduardo de Leon and Alex Pineda ( both former Quarry Supervisors ) engaged in the same protest rally clamoring for the resignation of Provincial Administrator Atty. Vivian T. Dabu who is the Chairperson of the BALAS Committee. The protesters were one in saying that they were hurt by allegations of Atty. Dabu regarding their "inefficency" and "irregularities" in some checkpoints.

The initial four-day stand-off was settled by Gov. Eddie T. Panlilio through a dialogue with all workers concerned. All employees who joined the rally then were automatically terminated following the guidelines set forth by the Civil Service Commission ( CSC ) through Resolution No. 021316 referred to as the "Omnibus Rules on Prohibited Concerted Mass Actions in the Public Sector". Thus state the guidelines:

Section 4. Limitations on the Right to Self Organization. - the right to self organization accorded to the government employees as described in the foregoing section that shall not carry with it the right to engage in any form of prohibited concerted activity or mass action causing or intending to cause work stoppage or service disruption, albeit of temporary nature.

Section 5. Definition of Prohibited Concerted Mass Action. - As used in this Omnibus Rules, the phrase "prohibited concerted activity or mass action" shall be understood to refer to any collective activity undertaken by government employees, by themselves or through their employees' organizations, with the intent of affecting work stoppage or service disruption in order to realize their demands or force concessions, economic or otherwise, from their respective agencies or the government. It shall include mass leaves, walkouts, pickets and acts of similar in nature.

Section 7. Administrative Liability. - Government employees who join, participate or take part in any prohibited concerted activity or mass action as defined in the preceding section, shall be held administratively liable for the offense of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and such other administrative offenses as may be warranted under the circumstances.

Furthermore, in the Plantilla of Casual Appointment, the appointee clearly understands and agrees that he/she "may be laid-off any time before the expiration of the employment period when his/her services is no longer needed or funds are no longer available or the project has already been completed/finished or his/her performance is below par".

All provincial checkers are casual appointees. The "unconditional reinstatement" was a fruit of the negotiation that was mediated by some members of the civil society groups like the Kapampangan Marangal Inc. (KMI) and Kapampangan Coalition (KCI) on JUly 14, 2008 at a venue undisclosed to media. While Gov. Panlilio ordered the reinstatement of the terminated employees, the provincial chief executive remains firm that he is bound to implement the law.

Goseco further elucidates that the checkers (whose re-appointment covers the period July 21, 2008 - August 31, 2008) need not worry of facing unemployment because they (64 Checkers) are being considered for continuous service. "No directive was issued by the appointing authority that these checkers will be laid-off after August 31, 2008", the HRMO added.

Christopher Ocampo, a BALAS Committee member, was told to explain to his rank that their termination in July 10, 2008 still entitles them to the full payment of their terminal leave credits as well as their bonuses. Four months of uncut service prior to October 31 qualifies a government employee to receive his/her bonus in full. /PIO

--
Posted By kasaup to . at 8/13/2008 01:41:00 AM

Posted by pamagcusa at 08:02 PM | Permalink

KASAUP literally means HELPER.

KASAUP is an organization of volunteers to the advocacy of Good Governance and Responsible Citizenship in Pampanga. The core members of KASAUP are the municipal coordinators of Kapampangan Marangal, Inc. (KMI), a people's organization with the same advocacy. These municipal coordinators are also at the same time the leaders of the civil society organizations in their respective municipalities.

These municipal coordinators are basically the people who volunteered as the municipal coordinators during the campaign of Among Ed Panlilio for Governor of Pampanga in the May 14, 2007 Elections. They continue their advocacy by volunteering as the partner of the provincial government and creating the direct link of the governor to the people of Pampanga as a member of the responsible citizenry.

KASAUP was organized to constructively assert the role of civil society in good governance and responsible citizenship. It will pursue a direct link with the provincial government in the pursuit of its advocacy. Its member municipal coordinators will continue to coordinate with KMI.

VISSION

To be a recognized major player in the pursuit of good governance and responsible citizenship in Pampanga.

MISSION

To create a direct, sustainable and constructive link between the provincial government and the people of Pampanga by direct participation in the planning, implementation and monitoring of the plans and programs of the provincial government.

GOALS

1. To create a direct link between the people of Pampanga and the provincial government.
2. To empower the citizenry by providing a mechanism where their concerns, ideas for good governance can be directly forwarded to the provincial government.
3. To empower the citizenry by providing a visible link for the provincial government in ensuring that its plans and programs are implemented correctly by allowing the former to be a part of the planning and monitoring process.

MEMBERSHIP

All current municipal coordinators who are willing to join KASAUP will form the core membership of the organization.

A committee on membership shall be created to plan and implement the membership program for KASAUP. This committee will also determine the organizational structure of KASAUP including the ways and means of determining who shall the comprise the members of the organizational structure. This structure will then operationalize the plans and programs of KASAUP.

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Posted By kasaup to . at 8/12/2008 09:44:00 AM

Posted by pamagcusa at 08:00 PM | Permalink

Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven But Nobody Wants To Die!

A few days ago, I spoke with a Christian pastor/friend, Ron Tan, whose political views I highly respect. Being an astute political analyst in the Philippines prior to him being a born-again Christian, he said that for anyone to run for President, one needs a strong, credible political machinery in place. He belies the notion that there is a strong "Catholic/Christian" voting bloc in our country and that in the face of political appointments or monetary incentives, many even so-called Catholic/Christian leaders could be bought at a price. Indeed, in the face of poverty and hunger prevailing in our country, he contends that it is almost a foregone conclusion that many ordinary Filipinos who profess to be Catholic/Christians, would readily sell their votes to the highest bidder. It may be hard to admit but his observations are far more fact than fiction.

It is in this context that I remembered the story of Esau in the Old Testament who, due to his hunger at that time, sold his precious birthright to his younger brother, Jacob, for a pittance, a mere bowl of porridge (lugaw). How truly pathetic and sad that the Esau syndrome continues to rear its big ugly head in the context of Philippine elections when, many Filipinos, due to sheer poverty and perhaps, due to the proverbial "choice of the lesser evil" in the political scene, willingly sell their votes indeed. But then again, can we really put all the blame on them? Don’t we share a little of the blame when we don’t even lift a finger to try to change it? Do we just keep silent in the midst of this seemingly insurmountable challenge? For if many of us would simply give up and say that it is impossible to change this mercenary-like mentality among our people coupled with the seeming invincibility of the ruling administration’s well-entrenched/funded political party, then aren’t we acting much like the 10 spies sent by Moses who, after seeing that the Promised Land was indeed practically flowing with milk and honey, nonetheless, refused to enter into the same for fear of the Anakims or the Goliath-like giants who were defending/inhabiting the land? Only 2 of the spies, Joshua and Caleb, argued in vain, for the Israelites to move forward. After all, they contended that if God was with them, who can be against them. But alas, the naysayers got the better of the Israelite nation and they remained stagnant, practically went around in circles in the desert for 40 years. Not even Moses with all the signs and wonders accomplished through him by God, could convince the people otherwise. As a result, an entire generation was cursed and not even one including Moses, except Joshua and Caleb, was eventually able to enter into the Promised Land. But the fact of the matter is that due to 2 men’s persistent faith/confidence in the God to Whom nothing is impossible, the Israelites finally did!

Encouraged by this biblical story, the fight by Bangon! Bagong Pilipinas (BBP) for the moral, economic and political transformation of the Philippines continues no matter how difficult, challenging and rough the road ahead may be. Indeed, inspired by John 10:10 in Jesus said…"The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy but I came that you might have life and live it more abundantly."…I am exhorting my fellow overseas-based Filipinos wherever/whenever possible, who are generally more affluent than their Philippine counterparts, to put our respective resources, talents and abilities together to help instill transparency/good governance in our country’s political establishment embroiled anew in another multi-million "Swine" scandal. Let us literally put our money where our mouth is and together, build this much-needed political machinery which obviously needs logistical support. Let each one of us pledge/give $10/month until 2010 to organize a grass-roots network which prior to and even after any elections, will likewise, be engaged in humanitarian works of mercy. In addition, let us recruit 10 more people who similarly believe in our common vision/mission. In this regard, I personally pledge the amount of $1,000 to BBP and invite similarly-situated Filipino co-patriots of mine to do the same and more. Otherwise, our continued lethargy/apathy will remain the constant proverbial Damocles sword hanging over the Filipino people so much so that the following saying is no truer for the Israelites than it is today for the Filipino people, i.e., "Everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die." Di ba?

Atty. Ramoncito "Bro. Ramon" Ocampo is a licensed attorney in CA and Phil. He is also the President/Stewards’ Servant of the Bangon! Bagong Pilipinas (BBP), For details, please call (213) 388-9925 or log on www.globalhello.com/bbp.

Posted by pamagcusa at 07:39 PM | Permalink

Father Diola's position paper is an encouraging indication that the
idea of faith in politics--specifically Catholic faith in Philippine
politics--
is shared by more and more Filipinos and it's a flame that must be
fanned into a conflagration.

I was telling you that I recently discovered George Weigel through the
Catholic Television Network EWTN--Everlasting Word Television Network,
Channel 370 on DirecTV here in LA and Orange County. George Weigel is
the Catholic lay theologian who wrote the biography of John Paul II and
other books dealing on how Catholic social doctrine as articulated by
John Paul II provides the only viable solutions to problems of poverty,
corruption, injustice and war and peace in the modern world. His books
grapple with most of the issues that Father Diola and other Filipino
Catholics, like Among ED, confront in the Philippines. The answers for
most of our questions about how to solve the problems of corruption and
poverty and injustice in the Philippines are already there--in Catholic
Social doctrines, especially in Papal Encyclicals. I read somewhere in
the Bible and I was startled by the phrase "The people perish in their
ignorance." Which to me means that we need understanding, we need to
know, we need to think issues out, if we are to emerge into the light of
God's grace. And our people are not being fed with understanding
because the Church is mainly concerned with maintenance
ministry--baptism, the sacraments, Mass,schools, hospitals, etc. which
are necessary elements of divine work, but we neglect the mission of
evangelization which the clergy and the hierarchy cannot do alone and
therefore the Catholic laiety must step in. Anyway, may I recommend to
every Filipino Catholic and even non-Catholics, some of George Weigel's
books so we do not try to reinvent the wheel although of course the
application to Philippine conditions would be refined according to
Philippine exigencies. It's cheaper I think to order the books through
Amazon.com because you have the option of buying cheaper second hand
books: "AGAINST THE GRAIN"/"THE FINAL REVOLUTION"/"CATHOLICISM AND THE
RENEWAL OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY"/"SOUL OF THE WORLD:NOTES ON THE FUTURE OF
PUBLIC CATHOLICISM"/"THE CUBE AND THE CATHEDRAL".
A comment about one of WEigel's books goes:"In the FINAL REVOLUTION,
George Weigel provides an in-depth exploration of how the Catholic
Church shaped the moral revolution inside the political revolution of
1989 ...he opens a unique window into the soul of the revolution...he
also examines the central role played by Pope John Paul II...and he
suggests what the future role of the Church might be in consolidating
democracy in the countries of the old Warsaw Pact...his analysis of the
1989 revolution in Central and Eastern Europe offers evidence that it
was the power of non-violent force and citizens' conscience, not the
guns and bombs of warfare, that ended Sovietism."
In reality, EDSA in 1986 preceded and prefigured the European revolution
and Filipinos made visible the force that changed Philippine politics
and world
politics: religion, Catholicism and the Blesssed Virgin. The nuns and
priests, the rosaries and Cross and statues of the Blessed Virgin and
the spirit of non-violence were the marks of EDSA 1986. EDSA 1986 showed
the source of People Power which was Divine Power--THAT'S WHY I BELIEVE
IT'S TRUE THAT THE PHILIPPINES HAS BEEN CHOSEN --IN ITS SINFULNESS AND
POVERTY AND ITS RELIGIOSITY AND FAITH IN THE BLESSED VIRGIN--TO PLAY A
SPECIAL ROLE; TO COMPLETE THE PROMISE OF MORAL REVOLUTION WHICH IS THE
ONLY TRUE PATH TO PEACE AND JUSTICE IN THE WORLD.
The task therefore that precedes the task of reforming the electoral
exercise in 2010 IS THE TASK OF EVANGELIZATION AND MORAL REVOLUTION
PRINCIPALLY OF THE ELECTORATE--THE FILIPINO PEOPLE.
The people get the leaders they deserve. You cannot have honest leaders
if you have a corrupt and ignorant electorate. What's the use of clean
and honmest balloting and clean and honest counting and clean and honest
proclamations--all legally and technically correct and proper--if the
people in a clean and honest election vote popular but immoral
politicians into office?
Consider the difference in public morality between Protestant America
and Catholic(?) Philippines:
former presidential aspirant John Edwards' political career has been
completely obliterated by his affair with with one of his staffers,
while here in the Philippines a self-confessed multiple womanizer like
Joseph Estrada has the temerity to suggest he would once again run for
President and some surveys show him to be leading the pack of
Presidential aspirants for the 2010 elections. To me there is a grave
problem in Catholicsim in the Philippines when the head of a supposedly
Catholic charismatic community like El Shaddai publicly endorsed a
public sinner like Estrada for the Presidency in 1998, never
disassociated himself from Estrada despite Estrada's conviction for
plunder, welcomed Estrada back when estrada was pardoned and never
apologized to his flock and the Hierarchy and the Filipino people--and
neither the Archbishop of Manila nor the CBCP took him to task, publicly
or in private, for endorsing an immoral man and thereby condoning his
immoral acts before the Filipino people. While a priest like Father
Robert Reyes is reprimanded or transferred for certain small acts of
seeming disobedience, the hierarchy has done nothing to Mike Velarde.
Well, I think it was Father John Corapi or somebody else in EWTN who
said "Not to worry, the laiety will save the Church." It was also a
revelation to me when the Coordinator of World Youth Day in Australia
when asked what were some of the obstacles he encountered, he said that
most of the government agencies in Australia were very cooperative but
surprisingly tehere were some elemnts in the Catholic Church itself
which were not cooprative with Woprld Youth Day arrangements and the
Coordinator , a priest said, that many times elements within the Church
itself--in the clergy and the hierarchy--offer resistance to the works
of the Holy Spirit and must therefore undergo conversion, too. So the
work is not only among the unbelievers and the laiety, but also among
the clergy and the hierarchy of the Catholic Church in the Philippines.
Many dry and unproductive branches among the Philippine clergy and
hierarchy must be cut and burned, if the work of the Holy Spirit is to
flourish and bear fruit in the Philippines.
LET US STUDY AND UNDERSTAND CATHOLIC SOCIAL DOCTRINES AND MAKE THEM THE
FOUNDATION OF OUR ACTIONS TOWARDS THE RESTORATION OF MORALITY AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE IN OUR COUNTRY. "Being" precedes "Doing".We cannot produce good
results unless we ourselves are good first.
2010 IS A GOOD TARGET FOR THE WORK'S FRUITION AND FLOURISHING--BUT THE
REAL WORK STARTS NOW.
May i suggest to Father Diola to convene a conference of Catholic
thinkers and activists for the purpose of working together to develop a
Catholic blueprint/masterplan/ideology for activities/movements leading
to 2010.

Ad Iesum Per Mariam.

Enrique Angeles

Posted by pamagcusa at 07:35 PM | Permalink

Let The People Act

GLIMPSES

Jose Ma. Montelibano

When I began writing for the Inquirer, I remembered so many opinion
pieces from other writers who wrote as early as two decades ahead of me.
These essays and commentaries, though, carried much of the same - the
angst, the disappointments, the weakness of Philippine democracy, the
massiveness of poverty, the ugliness of corruption. I myself carried the
tradition of speaking about the same issues even though I try to be
creative in my presentation.

There seems little reason for writing about brighter prospects. Since
twenty years ago, the growing number of Filipinos who left to seek
employment in other countries speaks loudly of the dearth of
opportunities in our country.
Bad news, though, is presented as good news, and the lack of jobs here
hidden under reports of huge inward remittances from abroad.

Poverty is not about a lack of money. It only seems so. Poverty is a
lack of caring, a triumph of exploitation, a victim of greed. One of its
most manifest consequences is a lack of money but is not the cause.
Dismantling poverty is not about giving money to the poor, it is about
returning dignity, it is about opportunity, it is about land tenure,
decent homes and the constancy of food supply. It is about a deep sense
of justice, the struggle to attain equality, and regarding the poor as
brothers and sisters of one nation, of one God.

We have dishonored ourselves. When we followed the bad examples of many
of our political and moral leaders rather than the honorable behavior of
a few of them, when we severed our relationships with one another rather
than hold our ground as a people of honor, we shamed ourselves and have
inherited a curse that we can exorcise only by a path of nobility and
sacrifice.

Does it really matter if presidents are corrupt and public sinners, if
cardinals and bishops choose pomp and form over integrity and substance,
if lawmakers become lawbreakers, if justices mete out injustice? Will
their wrongdoing be valid excuse for our own cowardice, for our
tolerance of evil, for our lack of resolve to stay honest, to stay pure,
to stay faithful to the revered values of our forefathers? What then is
the purpose of conscience and a personal relationship with God if we
exchange it for personal convenience, or if we follow the hypocrisy of
leaders simply because they are the chain of command?

It is not only the well-being of our nation that is threatened, it is
our very national soul, it is the spirit of our race. Corruption is
evil, poverty is evil, hunger is evil. There are no excuses for
committing these evils, and no excuses either for tolerating them. Most
of us have not committed them but most of us have learned to live in
peace with them. That is no less a sin. And the sins of our pastors and
politicians will not mitigate our accountability to be the best we can
be.

It has been said many times, in many ways, that our destiny is in our
hands.
There has never been a greater truth no matter which way this reality
has been described. Even at the point of a barrel of a gun, a person can
choose honor over death. That is how the Creator ensured that our
destiny is in our own hands.

Poverty demeans humanity not only in the flesh, but more so in spirit
and purpose. Poverty narrows the capacity of the flesh and constricts
the option of the mind. Yet, even the victims of poverty are not exempt
from the responsibility of their humanity; even the poor are not exempt
from choosing good over evil, from choosing honor over shame. But when
the poor fail to choose the right way, those who enslaved them to
poverty will share in their failure and the consequences of their
failure. Truly, those who lead others to perdition have a special place
in hell, and hopefully, in Bilibid Prison, too.

So much anger, hate and scorn have been heaped on all types of leaders
of our society, but our lives have not improved simply because of our
disappointment and disdain. And the suffering of people, whether from
corruption, poverty or violence have not eased either. No matter the
resentment citizens carry, no matter the dismay the flock feel, our
country and our religions have not prospered. It is utter stupidity on
our part to continue wallowing in self-pity even if it is easier to do
so than do the unusual. We have no more choice, though, but to do what
we have seldom done as a people.

We must act as a people. Only a people's act can confront and neutralize
the constant weakness and failure of leadership. Only a people's act can
build the platform of change and trigger the process of transformation.
When leaders fail and fall, only people acting as one can lift a nation
from shame to glory.

But leadership will not disappear. As a people act, leaders among them
will rise and show the way, leaders who were not elected, leaders who
were not appointed, leaders who were not ordained. In no instance in
human history have people acted without leaders yet avoided the chasm of
chaos. Leaders from our midst will take their rightful place not by
their ambition but by the power of their good deeds and their brave
hearts. But these leaders will not be in fancy uniforms with fancy
titles and working out of fancy offices; they will be ordinary people
with extraordinary integrity and love for their God and motherland.

People must act and be the example of righteousness. People must act and
reclaim their birthright, as children of God and as children of Inang
Bayan.
People must act and show the way to reform, be the change they seek, and
rise as guardians of a nation's hope. Only by a people's act. ***

Posted by pamagcusa at 09:33 PM | Permalink

PAHAYAG NG GLOBAL FILIPINO NATION:
GLOBAL FILIPINO NATION STATEMENT

PAGSUSUGAL, KASAKIMAN AND PAMAMAHALA
GAMBLING, GREED AND GOVERNANCE

Gov. Among Ed Panlilio exercised bold political will by filing plunder charges against the illegal gambling or jueteng establishment of Pampanga.

sinagawa ni Gob. Among Ed Panlilio ang matatag na pagpapasyang pulitikal sa pagsampa ng sakdal ng pandarambong (plunder) laban sa mayhawak ng ilegal na sugal o jueteng sa Pampanga.

We denounce jueteng and unequivocally support Gov. Among Ed's campaign, reflecting our solidarity with the people of Pampanga who catapulted him to unprecedented election victory.
Tinutuligsa namin ang jueteng, at walang pasubali naming itinataguyod ang kampanya ni Gob. Among Ed, bilang pagpabatid ng aming pakikiisa sa mga mamamayan ng Pampanga na siyang tumanghal sa kanya sa wala pang katulad na tagumpay sa halalan.

Gambling breeds corrosive greed and degenerate governance.
Nagbibigay-daan ang sugal sa nakasisirang kasakiman at tiwaling pamamahala.
Corrosive greed distorts a person's rational balance and creates risks of drunkenness, substance abuse, debased work ethic, broken homes, hostility to society, financial ruin, theft, prostitution, suicide and murder.

Nililihis ng kasakiman ang pag-iisip ng tao at nagdudulot ng panganib ng paglalasing, pagkakagumon sa mga bawal na droga, katamaran at pagkaburara sa trabaho, pagkawasak ng tahanan, pagsalungat sa lipunan, pagbagsak ng pinansya, pagnanakaw, pagbibili ng aliw, at pagpatay sa kapwa tao.

Degenerate governance mirrors public officials held hostage by gambling money, breakdown in the administration of the law, hurdles to the rise of principled leaders, substandard public services, misallocation of society's potential savings, and missed opportunities for rapid economic growth cum poverty alleviation.

Nakikita ang tiwaling pamamahala sa mga opisyal ng gobyerno na bihag ng pera sa sugal, sa pagkasira ng pag-ugit ng batas, sa hadlang sa paglitaw ng mga pinunong may prinsipyo, sa mababang kalidad ng mga serbisyong publiko, sa paglihis ng mga maaaring matitipid ng lipunan, at sa pag-aksaya ng mga pagkakataon ukol sa mabilis na pag-unlad ng ekonomiya kasabay ng pagbawas o pagpagaan sa karukhaan.

Illegal gambling vastly magnifies the corrosive and degenerate impact.

Matinding pinalalala ng ilegal na sugal ang nakasisira at tiwaling talab ng mga nabanggit na kasamaan.

We call on the silent majority, especially the vigilant Filipinos -- to rally in this collective outrage aimed against a singular cause of corrosive greed and degenerate governance

Nanawagan kami sa tahimik na mayoriya, lalo na ang mga maalaga’t mapagmalasakit na Pilipino, na makiisa sa sama-samang paglaban sa isang natatanging sanhi ng nakasisirang kasakiman at tiwaling pamamahala.

Posted by pamagcusa at 09:30 PM | Permalink

Fil-Ams Tee Off for GILAS

The Fil-Am Portland Golf Association invites everyone to the Ambassador Open Charity Golf Tournament on August 9, 2008 at the Glendoveer Golf Course on 14015 N.E. Glisan St. , Portland Oregon . None other than the Philippine Ambassador to the United States , Honorable Willy Gaa will be gracing this golf tournament that will benefit the GILAS program. Ambassador Gaa, himself an avid golfer, will be in Portland as a special guest speaker for the annual Council of Filipino American Association convention which will be held at the Monarch Hotel in Clackamas , Oregon on Aug. 9, 2008 at 7 am. For more information about the CFAA convention, please visit www.filam.org.

Whether you're an ardent golfer, a golf fan, or whether you simply just want to have fun, network with other Fil-Ams and give back to the country all at the same time, join the Ambassador Open Charity Golf Tournament! The maximum number of players is 48, so register now while slots last. To register, please contact Jonathan Unlayao at 360-989-6185 or myunlayao@comcast.net. The tournament fee is only $60.00. That already includes green fees, awards, and food and drinks after the event. So come in your best collared shirts and Bermuda shorts and prepare to golf away.

All proceeds will be coursed through Ayala Foundation USA and will go directly to GILAS or Gearing Up Internet Literacy and Access for Students. GILAS is a multi-sectoral consortium that aims to provide computers and Internet access to all public high schools in the Philippines . Since it began in 2005, GILAS has already wired 1,849 schools to the information superhighway. For more information on the GILAS program, please contact Jet Pizarro at j.p@comcast.net or 503-516-4756 or Letty Quizon at letty@af-usa.org. You may also visit www.gilas.org.

Posted by pamagcusa at 02:50 PM | Permalink

Put A Condom On Greed
GLIMPSES
Jose Ma. Montelibano

I cannot believe how former partners in the exploitation of land and people can suddenly turn on each other over reproductive and population control issues but deftly avoid their common guilt. I cannot believe how bishops and politicians can touch on how the poor should behave in their reproductive practices but veer away on the undisputed cause of poverty.

In previous articles, I have twitted the protagonists on the pro-life versus pro-choice controversy that they skirmish on the less essentials in order to distract themselves, and the people, from the most essential. One points to how the bigger number of children aggravate the poverty situation and the hardship of the poor families affected. The other points to fundamental religious tenets about the primacy of life, including the rights of the unborn. Both have valid points, but both remain afraid to do battle against the single biggest cause for what pro choice and pro life condemn.

Population does not cause poverty. A bigger family size can aggravate the suffering of poor families, but poverty also causes a bigger family size. The justification of the loudest pro choice advocates in Congress, and in legislative bodies of towns and cities, in calling for all types of birth control methods, products and devices is poverty. Yet, they are strangely quiet on the only proven cause for the ugliness and massiveness of poverty in the Philippines - corruption.

The Church suddenly finds the courage to challenge some representatives of the States. It called for Catholics to show their support for the pro life stance in a prayer rally which generated 10 -12 thousand instead of 1 - 2 million. And among the embarrassing number of Catholics who joined the pro life gatheri8ng in the University of Santo Tomas, the poor were not present, not even when they were the ones the Church tried to protect the most from the evil of artificial birth control. Perhaps, the poor were trying to tell the Church that they wanted to be protected from greed and exploitation, not condoms.

Just earlier this year, the Church finally articulated what ordinary Catholics and Filipino citizens have long been talking about - the cancer of corruption. After doing so, however, the newfound courage quickly retreated and could not lead the victims of corruption, or the whole Christendom of the Philippines, to an effective initiative against the most public of agents of corruption. Instead, it chose to hide behind the principle of separation of Church and State to wash its hands from having to be the righteous David to the corrupt Goliath. But condoms managed to make the same religious hierarchy shriek in dismay and anger, then call on catholics to do the same.

Who is right - pro life or pro choice? It is difficult to assess as advocates of both have shrank in credibility. Pro life Catholics have tolerated, maybe even participated, in corruption. Corruption has caused our poverty, and poverty has demeaned life that is and not just life that is yet to be. When pro life advocates led by the Church in the Philippines are seen as inutile or unconcerned in the active protection of the poor, their words or claim to being pro life rings hollow, even hypocritical. And because they are not that credible, even the message they give lack credibility.

Pro choice advocates who appear so tough against the Church's stand on population control claim so much concern for the quality of life of poor families with many children but so muted and meek against the purveyors of corruption which caused poverty in the first place and continues to deepen the suffering of the poor today. Their deafening silence against the agents of corruption make their claim of concern for the poor almost comical.

I do not know whether to laugh or to cry at the hypocrisy being foisted on us. They are all leaders of Filipinos, officers of the State, shepherds of the Church. How can they be so blind, or so deceptive? How can they be less than courageous, less than honest, even when they each try to call our attention and ask for our support for their respective positions? Why can they not break an ugly pattern of centuries, confess to their victims how their corruption brought a rich land and a gifted people to their knees to wallow in poverty?

The poor are not animals in a breeding program, but they end up as such because they are treated as though they are. Their choices, pro or anti, are uninformed because of their level of awareness and understanding. Worse, though, is their level of freedom - which is just slightly better than the carabaos being tested in breding programs. Carabaos, at least, are ensured that their masters will look for the land, the food and the bath they need.

On the other hand, the poor are driven to where they cannot be seen, heard or smelled. The poor are sacrificed to the altar calamities which lessen their numbers more effectively in proportion versus natural family planning of artificial contraceptives. Those who want to engage in population control should just hope that more disasters like floods, typhoons, landslides, earthquakes, fire, sinking ships, and bloody conflicts visit the Philippines.

This is a time for courage, not debate. This is a time when the poor must be attended to and relieved of their fears and hunger. This is a time when conflict among the rich and powerful, including the Catholic Church, directly hurts the poor in their most vulnerable moment. We gripe about the effects of fuel and rice prices, but the poor actually cringe from hunger and fear at a deeper level.

Let us not quibble about what they do in bed; rather, let us give them a bedroom. Let us not quibble about contraceptives or family planning methods to lessen their number of children, rather, let us put condoms over greed and the exploitation of the more powerful and wealthy. And for us who are neither the poorest of the poor or powerful like the Congress or the Church, let us overcome our own reluctance, our attachment to comfort, cross over to the wrong side of the fence, embrace the poor as our own brothers and sisters, and walk with them to freedom and well-being. ***

--
"In bayanihan, we will be our brother's keeper and forever shut the door to hunger among ourselves."

Posted by pamagcusa at 02:43 PM | Permalink

If Not Us, Who?.....If Not Now, When?

This exhortation has often been used with great frequency during my college years at the University of the Philippines before and after the declaration of martial law in the Philippines in the early 70’s. Indeed, it created such a resounding effect to student activists, most of whom became active in the mass protests during that time. Many, including some of my friends, even forsook their college education, went to the mountains and joined in the armed struggle against the oppressive/dictatorial regime of then Pres. Marcos. Thousands lost their lives via the extra-judicial salvage killings perpetrated by military authorities hell-bent in crushing any and all opposition to the dictatorial regime, including no less than the late Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino. After EDSA I and II, a lot of earnest hopes and lofty dreams were pinned on the succeeding administrations of Presidents Aquino, Ramos, Estrada and now, GMA, but it appears that we are no closer to the forecasted Renaissance of the Philippines. Interestingly enough, many Filipinos are now even nostalgic about the accomplishments of Pres. Marcos, who despite his notoriety, was allegedly able to accomplish much more than any of his presidential successors. And with the political scenario the way it is today, there seems to be no respite in sight for the Filipino people in its continuous search for the right kind of political leadership.

Throughout our nation’s history, seasoned politicians, a housewife, a military general, a movie actor and currently, an economist served as Presidents but no one seems to have any lasting and effective solution to our country’s social, economic and political woes. I do not profess to have all the answers but I have always believed with all my heart and convictions that it is perhaps time to encourage God-fearing men/women with the moral resolve/integrity and genuine Christ-centered spiritual principles/convictions to get more involved in Philippine social/political affairs which are as stagnant as it can ever get. Men and women who have the competence and political will to eradicate graft and corruption, instill honesty and transparency in government affairs, promote justice and equal application of the laws regardless/mindless of so-called "sacred cows" and thereafter transform our corrupted government bureaucracy to be genuinely of the people, by the people and for the people.

I am personally inspired by the trailblazing example set by Gov. "Among" Ed Panlilio, a Roman Catholic priest, who has shown that, by the grace and favor of Divine Providence and sheer guts, it is possible to win against well-entrenched, robustly-financed political warlords. The issue is whether it is possible to duplicate the same in the national level? I firmly believe that in 2010, it is highly possible indeed. Without an incumbent President sitting on the throne, I foresee that the vaunted/manipulative COMELEC Operators will have divided loyalties among the various presidential contenders/political parties which will in turn, check and balance one another. Much like what happened in Pampanga where Gov. Panlilio won by a hairline number of votes, the country may very well experience an unprecedented clean and honest national elections in 2010. As such, it behooves Holy Spirit-inspired Christians, the so-called people of God, to make the move now to support the installation of morally upright political leadership especially in the national level. Indeed, Bishop Ted Bacani, the Spiritual Director of the multi-million member El Shaddai DWXI-PPFI headed by Bro. Mike Velarde, commented that the last bastion of Philippine society which must be conquered is the political arena. For too long, many Filipinos were misled to believe that Philippine politics is a decaying and darkened institution in our country and that decent, God-fearing ones should not even think of venturing into the same. As a result, many false prophets appearing in sheep’s clothing but who are underneath, wolves on the prowl, have practically monopolized the political scene. But as written in Matthew 5:13 and 14, didn’t Jesus exhort us and said?…"You are the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world." Salt serves to prevent decay and when there is light, there can never be darkness. Isn’t it time for many of us to live up to our respective roles as such for our country’s future? Again, as has been exhorted before and even more so now…If not us, then who? If not now, then when?…Di ba?

Ramoncito Poblete Ocampo, "Bro. Ramon" is a licensed attorney in CA and Philippines, an elder-disciple of the El Shaddai DWXI-PPFI and the President/Stewards’ Servant of the Bangon! Bagong Pilipinas, an advocacy/movement for the moral, economic and political transformation of the Philippines. For details, please log on to globalhello.com/bbp.

Posted by pamagcusa at 02:41 PM | Permalink

KASAUP literally means HELPER.

KASAUP is an organization of volunteers to the advocacy of Good Governance and Responsible Citizenship in Pampanga. The core members of KASAUP are the municipal coordinators of Kapampangan Marangal, Inc. (KMI), a people's organization with the same advocacy. These municipal coordinators are also at the same time the leaders of the civil society organizations in their respective municipalities.

These municipal coordinators are basically the same people who volunteered as municipal coordinators during the campaign of Among Ed Panlilio for Governor of Pampanga in the May 14, 2007 Elections. They continue their advocacy by volunteering as the partner of the provincial government and creating the direct link of the governor to the people of Pampanga as a member of the responsible citizenry.

KASAUP was organized to constructively assert the role of civil society in good governance and responsible citizenship. It will pursue a direct link with the provincial government in the pursuit of its advocacy. Its member municipal coordinators will continue to coordinate with KMI.

source: KASAUP

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Posted By Buklud Kabalen Inc. to Buklud Kabalen Inc. at 8/03/2008 04:01:00 AM

Posted by pamagcusa at 02:38 PM | Permalink

The Pamisaupan Caravan, the Capitol's flagship project for bringing basic health care and other social services to the poorest of the poor, visited last July 29, 2008 Barangay Cansinala of Apalit, Pampanga, Philippines.

Mr. Jesus Cunanan, principal of Cansinala Elementary School, said that the Pamisaupan Caravan was the first organized Provincial Government that has visited their school and Barangay. Elementary students from the said school presented a rice planting dance number to welcome the Pamisaupan Team. The people of Cansinala, together with the LGU's expressed their warmest gratitude to the Governor and the Department heads of the Capitol over their visit to their Barangay.

The Caravan brought to the community medical and dental services, livelihood opportunities, vegetable seeds distribution, legal counselling, marriage counselling, anti-rabies vaccination, free haircut, film showing, story telling and book reading, employment opportunities both local and abroad and papsmire services.
Barangay Captains of Cansinala, Sampaloc and Capalangan were present that day to show support for the project. It is a great help for Apalit's progress that the governor and political leaders are in good rapport with one another.
Civil Society groups like Buklud Kabalen Inc. and ASLAGG headed by Mr. Carlos Diokno were also present during that event to assists the organizers and the people of the community to avail the services of the Pamisaupan Caravan.

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Posted By Buklud Kabalen Inc. to Buklud Kabalen Inc. at 8/02/2008 11:13:00 PM

Posted by pamagcusa at 02:36 PM | Permalink