Category Archives: congress

Two decades of the Left in Congress

By admin | March 30, 2022

Published by Bulatlat In the 1990s we asked, what if members of the Leftist Democratic Alliance (DA) were allowed to serve their full term as Congress representatives in 1946? What could have been its impact on Philippine politics? We could only speculate an answer at that time but perhaps a better insight is possible now […]

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Ang Wikang Filipino sa Kongreso

By admin | August 21, 2021

Published by Pinoy Weekly Akala ng marami, bawal gamitin ang wikang Filipino sa Kongreso. Kapag may pulong ang komite o sesyon sa plenaryo, ang madalas na naririnig ay wikang Ingles. Ito ang pangunahing ginagamit ng mga mambabatas lalo na tuwing may debate o interpelasyon sa plenaryo. Mali ba ito? Kung ang isang institusyo’y nagpapakilala bilang […]

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#KuwentongBM: Campaigning for Bayan Muna in 2001

By admin | May 28, 2020

Published by Bulatlat Inspired by the success of the broad people’s movement that ousted the corrupt presidency of Joseph Estrada in January 2001, many activists became more determined to campaign for the congressional bid of Bayan Muna partylist. Everybody was excited to volunteer and make history by sending three Leftist leaders to Congress. It may […]

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‘Groundhog Day’ in Congress

By admin | September 22, 2019

Written for Bulatlat Of all the films in all the cable channels in all the world, they had to show the Bill Murray movie Groundhog Day inside the members’ lounge of the Philippine House of Representatives. Seeing the character Phil Connors enduring an ‘eternal recurrence’ in the movie made me realize that it’s an apt metaphor for […]

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The conscience of a radical or how the Left can join parliament and reject opportunism at the same time

By admin | August 31, 2015

Written for Bulatlat Some academics lauded a partylist legislator who resigned from Congress because of the latter’s inability to faithfully represent and defend the majority position of his political party. In particular, the legislator said he already disagrees with the stand of his party to remain a coalition partner of the president whom he described […]

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Why college is better than congress

By admin | August 7, 2014

Written for The Diplomat I was a congressman for four years (2009-2013) which equaled the number of my undergraduate years at UP Diliman (1996-2000). When asked about my two-term stint in Congress, I often claim that it’s like college but not quite like college. Of course it’s a joke since my college life was many […]

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The perils of being an ex-legislator in the age of pork

By admin | July 6, 2014

Published by Bulatlat I’m an ex-con or ex-congressman. I was a two-termer (not two-timer) who represented the country’s first elected youth party. I was the third poorest solon and believe it or not I left the institution without getting rich. I have no relatives in government, I didn’t call Garci, and I certainly didn’t have […]

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Manny Pacquiao as Legislator

By admin | December 26, 2013

Written for The Diplomat For his fans around the world, he is the greatest boxing champion of our time. For fellow Filipinos, he is the humble hero of the masses and pride of the Philippines. But for Sarangani residents in the southern region of Mindanao island, Manny Pacquiao is more than an athlete and living […]

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Across Rivers, Atop Mountains: A Constituency Unreachable via Internet

By admin | October 30, 2013

Written for Global Voices, The Bridge project What are the duties of a party list legislator? Draft laws, participate in plenary debates, and yes, even climb mountains. A lawmaker’s job is to articulate the demands of a constituency. Therefore, a lawmaker must regularly consult his people. In the context of a Third World agrarian archipelago […]

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Congress Lobbying

By admin | August 2, 2013

Based on my presentation during the Emerging Youth Leaders training at the Asian Institute of Management, July 20, 2013 1. There are lobbyists and there are registered lobbyists. But in the Philippines, there are only lobbyists. Unknown to many, a law was signed in 1957 which was supposed to regulate lobbying in Congress and in […]

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