Lorna and Aldrin’s Box

On AH1N1 Virus

The AH1N1 is already pandemic in the Philippines. The virus spreads easily from one person to another. Few days before I news that there’s one casualty(died) of AH1N1 virus in our country, I was telling my officemates these lines “Magagaling talaga ang mga Filipino doctors…astig! Wala pang dead, kayang-kaya nila gamutin ang mga pinoy na tinatamaan. Samantalang sa US, ilan na ang na dead. But ofcourse caught unaware sila noong una - its a factor.” Really, I admire Filipino doctors- they are world class.  I’m a bit worried about the spread of the virus esp. that screening cause  Php 4,000. Can each of us afford that? I hope that are our leaders give more time on this by doing two things: (1)provide means for affordable and accessible  screening of AH1N1; and (2) Provide free vitamins to health care units of each barangay. They can tap the pharmaceutical industry.

On My Expectation of a Presidential Candidate

No one impress me among these presidentiables. What I expect are clear answers about the following issues:(listed according to importance, no 1 as highest)

1. Poverty -  This is the biggest problem of the Philippines. How can somebody be productive if he is starving to death? Maslow theory explains this. A good presidentiable must be able to identify this as the main problem and propose a six year plan of battling poverty.  The plan must be clear and implementation must have a realistic time lines. Also, provision for fall back must be stipulated.

2. Health - Malnutrition is another big problem in the country. A good presidentiable must be able to share plans on how to solve this problem. It’s not just a feeding problem. If he can address issue no. 1 then problem with “health” will be easier to address.

3. Education - Though Filipinos are bright,  there is always room for improvement. Re-training teachers to be more patient in their vocation is a must. Reviewing and revising curriculum for courses that are in demand abroad may also help. Curriculum for these courses must be similar to the requirements abroad.

4. Values Formation - Filipinos must be taught to re-engineer their values. This can be more effective if we target the youth. The values of loving God and the country must be on top.  Moral values must be intensified. Contraceptives is choosing the lesser evil but teaching our childing “to do things at the right time” is better.  My presidentiable must be a good example to everyone.

On the death of Michael Jackson

He is a legend…I like “Beat It”…may his soul rest in peace.

Whew! Its 11:24, time to sleep… Goodnight everyone!

God bless

“I always tell my volunteers that you are the change that you dream and I am the change that I dream. And collectively we are the change that this world needs to be.”

This is quoted from the CNN Story entitled, “Pushcart classes help break gang chain.”

Efren Peñaflorida,27,founded Dynamic Teen Company in Cavite City in 1997. The teen volunteers take the Kariton Klasrum to unwashed, unshod, and unschooled kids in the least likely learning environments such as public markets, cemeteries, slums, and prison.

Many overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) take the plunge and brave separation from their families because they feel that there is no hope in the Philippines.

After working abroad for many years, many OFWs would like to go home for good. But the bleak socioeconomic situation and unstable political conditions stop them. It’s a hopeless situation, they say.

Has Kuya Ef , as the kids call him, ever thought of becoming an OFW? Would he apply as an office clerk in a Saudi company? or a bellboy in a Dubai hotel? or a teacher in Singapore?

Probably not. Kuya Ef has found his ‘acres of diamonds’ right there in the midst of misery where he lives. As a teacher myself, I am humbled by Efren’s selfless example.

Fellow OFWs, let’s take heart. We have many more skills and many more resources than Efren and his teen volunteers.

We need not be afraid of going home sooner or later. Let’s remember Efren’s words, “You are the change that you dream, and I am the change that I dream…”

Boiling a frog

Gloria Arroyo is using the frog formula on the Filipino people in pushing for Charter change and it looks like it is working.

What’s the frog formula?

It is said that if you put a frog into a pot of boiling water, it will leap out right away to escape the danger because its survival instincts are geared toward detecting sudden changes.

But if you put a frog in a kettle that is filled with water that is cool and pleasant, and then you gradually heat the kettle, it will relish the warmth. Its tolerance level is high as long as it’s gradual. By the time it would realize the danger, it would be too late to jump out of the boiling water.

It would then be turned into a nilagang palaka.

Notice how Arroyo and her cohorts keep on saying that the 2010 elections will push through. Speaking at the formal merger of the two parties that supports her, Arroyo declared, “Cynics and detractors love to paint grim scenarios about a cancellation of the 2010 elections. Let this merger of Lakas and Kampi be tangible proof of the administration’s readiness, nay determination, to help ensure that the elections do push through.”

Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, the master election magician, and Gabriel Claudio never tire of talking about 2010 elections. That’s because they know that Filipinos love election.

The masses look forward to elections because it’s the only time that they become important to officials who ignore them once they are elected. It’s a fiesta complete with food, entertainment and money. It’s a safety valve in a highly stressed environment.

A Pulse Asia survey showed that 65 percent of Filipinos are convinced the May 2010 elections will be held as scheduled and believe that there will be much trouble in the country if the elections are not held.

So Arroyo will give Filipinos elections in 2010. The people will have their circus. But it doesn’t mean that the Constitution will not be changed.

Last Monday, with three days left before adjournment, the House committee on constitutional amendments convened an emergency session and approved a resolution to convene Congress, even without the participation of the Senate, into a constituent assembly to amend the Constitution.

The minority in the House led by Rep. Satur Ocampo thought that it succeeded in blocking the railroading of the con-ass resolution when it was sent back to the committee on constitutional amendments. He didn’t reckon with P20 million each incentive promised by Arroyo for the passage of the con-Ass resolution.

The congressmen held an emergency session and approved the con-ass resolution. At 11:30 p.m. of June 2, 2009, the House approved the con-ass resolution.

At the meeting with the foreign correspondents recently, Puno confirmed that Arroyo did meet with the congressmen at the presidential suite of the Manila Hotel after the Lakas-Kampi merger last Thursday and talked about the con-ass resolution. But he denied the reported offer of P20 million each for those who would be voting for it.

Speaker Prospero Nograles, explaining the haste that they are pushing the con-ass resolution, said there are no marching orders from Malacañang. “It’s part of our agenda. We have to get this over with.”

As of this time, debates are ongoing. Voting will be in a while.

After the con-ass resolution, which excludes the Senate in the process of amending the Constitution, is passed, it is expected that someone would question it before the Supreme Court. Arroyo’s operators believe they have the numbers to distort the constitutional provision of three-fourths of Congress to amend the Constitution. Referendum will be in September and as declared by Arroyo, elections will be held in 2010.

It matters little if it will be for members of the parliament or officials in a presidential system. The main feature would be Gloria Arroyo stays in power forever.

We laugh at Arroyo’s “Palaka” (Partido ng Lakas at Kampi) but actually, they are the ones who are having the last laugh. They must be enjoying seeing us boiled in the waters of complacency.

E-mail:ellentordesillas@gmail.com