@mongster is a Manila-based activist, former Philippine legislator, and blogger/analyst of Asia-Pacific affairs.
Viewed from the outside, the reactionary state apparatus appears to be a brutal and beastly machine. Viewed from the inside, this juggernaut looks enigmatic. Seductively enigmatic. Nevertheless, it remains a ferocious stinking monster. Its hypnotic stink, however, is camouflaged by trappings, rituals, symbols, and other elegant deodorizers which distort the gaze of everybody, including the […]
In the past four years, Kabataan Partylist has consistently advocated an education reform agenda in Congress. We pushed for better tuition regulation, higher budget for public schools especially tertiary schools, and protection of student rights. Through our intervention, the Commission on Higher Education revised its tuition guidelines. It also formulated new standards to regulate nursing […]
One liners, sound bites, SMS and twitter reactions are inferior substitutes to a well-written political manifesto. The essence of a political standpoint can’t be adequately represented by 140 characters or even by hysteric rhetoric. Yes, a charming slogan or a witty phrase, and a fiery quote can agitate a crowd, inspire the electorate, and trigger […]
Talumpati sa flag ceremony ng House of Representatives Magandang umaga sa inyong lahat, mga kapwa ko kawani sa pamahalaan. Una, ako po ay nagpapasalamat sa karangalang magsalita sa ating flag ceremony ngayong araw na ito. Matagal ko na pong iniisip kung matatapos ko ba ang aking termino nang hindi mabibigyan ng pagkakataon na maging panauhin […]
*Thanks JM for the additional points Congress adjourned sessions last March 21 or 46 days ago. Sessions resumed today but we will adjourn again on June 7. The third regular session of the 15th Congress will begin on July 23. Lack of quorum is often cited as the primary reason for the failure of the […]
Speech delivered on September 7, 2011 during the plenary budget deliberations In lieu of an interpellation, this representation will be making an appeal to the leadership of the House, and to all Members of this Chamber to challenge the budget priorities of the Aquino government, as far as the funding of the education sector is […]
The current categorization of Congress bills and resolutions is dull and uninformative. If we want the public to know more about the legislative process, we should review our practice of merely classifying the bills into first reading, second reading, and third reading. Bills filed on first reading are worthy to mention only if they would […]
Privilege Speech delivered on August 4, 2010. The drafting of this speech was a collective effort. Thank you @kabataancrew. Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleagues. I wish to speak about the events this week which I think might affect my duties as a member of this House. We are all adjusting to the new situation: a former […]
If a solon is not inside the plenary hall during session days, he/she could be… a. absent (nasa district? nasa isang official trip? nagbabakasyon?) b. late (dumarating ang marami after 5pm) c. somewhere in batasan (inside the office entertaining guests and constituents, speaker’s office receiving or asking for official instructions, mitra hall participating in an […]
Kapit ng mahigpit, babyahe tayo…. From Laoag airport, we travelled to San Juan, Ilocos Sur. I attended the flag ceremony and delivered an inspirational talk in a public high school. Then, we went to the Vigan campus of the University of Northern Philippines. I visited the provincial capitol first before proceeding towards Candon. I met […]
