Author Archives: admin

Reflections of an activist/blogger/legislator

By admin | February 16, 2010

*Text of my speech delivered at the Yahoo Philippines forum on social media. I prepared a speech because sometimes politicians talk too much, sometimes bloggers rant too much, and sometimes activists are carried away by their emotions. Since I’m an activist, blogger, and politician, I’m worried that I might speak for more than an hour…. […]

Posted in speeches | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Cavite sortie

By admin | February 13, 2010

The word sortie is associated with military operations. But it is an election term in the Philippines. It refers to province-wide, region-wide, and city-wide campaign activities of a party in one day. It is a traditional election ritual, a tried and tested campaign tactic. It tests the efficiency of a party’s election machinery; it measures […]

Posted in election | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

First two days of campaigning

By admin | February 10, 2010

In 2007 Kabataan Partylist started the campaign by launching a promotional video featuring young people from different backgrounds. Popular young showbiz icons also starred in the video. This year we started our re-election bid by using new and old forms of campaigning. Aside from revamping our party website, we also launched an online postering campaign. […]

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Journey to the center of the Philippines

By admin | February 8, 2010

Poctoy is the official literal center of the Philippine Islands. It is located in Odiongan, Romblon. I always thought Marinduque is the center of the country. I was wrong. That Poctoy is the midpoint of the republic is a legacy of Spanish colonialism. If Spain didn’t invade these islands, Luzon could have been part of […]

Posted in travel | Tagged | 5 Comments

Renewable Marriage and politics

By admin | February 5, 2010

Let us mention the obvious: the proposed ‘Renewable Marriage’ bill will not be given serious attention in the 15th Congress. We can’t even pass a divorce law. A miracle is needed to convince lawmakers that shock laws are needed to reform the marriage institution. It is easy to dismiss the ‘Renewable Marriage’ proposal as a […]

Posted in nation | Tagged | 3 Comments

The way we were. The way we eat.

By admin | February 4, 2010

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 […]

Posted in congress | Tagged | 3 Comments

Senior citizen activists

By admin | January 29, 2010

A 20-year old student activist in 1970 is now 60 years old. The First Quarter Stormers are now senior citizens. What makes them special? They belong to a generation that defied a dictator. They were young revolutionaries who wanted to change the world. Many of them went underground after the declaration of martial law. The […]

Posted in reds | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Remembering Edsa Dos

By admin | January 19, 2010

Written in 2001 during Edsa Dos for the e-groups of the university. (Hindi pa uso ang blogging noon). First published by UP Forum, official publication of the UP administration…. Apat na araw sa lansangan: mga tala ng isang estudyante Myerkules, 17 Enero 2001 – Sa loob lamang ng isang araw ay nakapagpalabas tayo ng mahigit […]

Posted in youth | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Road Politics. Road Economics

By admin | January 18, 2010

“The only legacy of my favorite President (Cory Aquino) about which I have serious doubts are the flyovers, eyesores that cater only to car owners and do not solve the gargantuan traffic problems of a 21st century metropolis.” – John Vissers, Dutch News Correspondent, 1992 “Before the construction of the flyovers, one of the more […]

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Online and offline activism

By admin | January 12, 2010

In 1995 I joined a protest action to condemn the decision of the French government to conduct nuclear tests in the Pacific. I was only a high school student at that time. We relied on mainstream journalists to document and report the rally. In 2001 I was part of the historic Edsa Dos uprising which […]

Posted in youth | Tagged , , | 8 Comments