Local and foreign trips

By admin | December 24, 2009

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 the SK officials of Candon and nearby municipalities. I also attended a forum in UNP-Candon.

I arrived in San Fernando, La Union to meet the SK officials of the province. I also gave a lecture in St. Louie University. We went to a surfing site to swim. Two days before, I was in Cagayan State University.

I went to UP Baguio a week before the State of the Nation Address. Later, I met student leaders from various schools at Oh My Gulay resto.

I spoke at Tarlac State University, Gordon College in Olongapo, Bulacan State University, and Baliaug University. I went to the wrong St. Mary’s College in Meycauayan but fortunately, we made it in time for the closing of the forum.

I was invited to address the convention of youth leaders from the Iglesia Filipina Independiente at Maryhill School of Theology in Taytay. I participated in an Asian Youth Day workshop at Rogationist College in Silang, Cavite. I’m impressed with the Cavite campus of the Adventist University of the Philippines. A provincial assembly of Kabataan Partylist was held in Philippine Christian University – Dasmarinas. Southern Tagalog student council officers met at the University of the Philippines Los Banos. We tested the Comelec-Smartmatic voting machines at the Lyceum of the Philippines in Calamba. After attending an assembly of youth leaders, I bought a bag of kapeng barako in Lipa, Batangas. Campus journalists from the College Editors Guild invited me to speak in their Congress in Lucena.

I was at the Ateneo de Naga University last July. I visited the Legazpi campus of Bicol University twice this year. I was invited by UP Ibalon during their annual Padunungan event in Guinobatan, Albay. I joined new voters when they registered at the Comelec office in Sorsogon.

I visited three schools in Iloilo: West Visayas State University, West Visayas College of Science and Technology, and UP Iloilo. I explained our opposition to Con-Ass during a Sunday mass in an Iloilo City church. I was surprised to discover that the cityhall is located inside a Robinsons mall. I saw an abandoned Lopez Jaena shrine in the city.

West Negros University hosted a meeting of campus journalists in Negros. I saw the imposing but controversial Bacolod City Hall. I met the incumbent mayor who is Pacquaio’s lucky charm. Siya yung may hawak ng belt ni Pacquaio. I visited a “liberated” farm village in Bago City.

I was in Davao City not once, not twice, but thrice this year. I was finally able to set foot on Samal Island. Durian and Marang are my preferred pasalubong items from Davao. I was at the provincial capitol of North Cotabato. I sang during the flag ceremony in the provincial capitol of Misamis Occidental. Nakakahiya ang boses ko pero mas nakakahiya naman kung hindi rin ako kumanta kasi lahat ng bisita kumanta. Ang aking inawit: More than words. I went to Cagayan de Oro and Iligan too. Cagayan’s pastel is a favorite of my wife. I visited the ancient city of Butuan. The cost of a movie ticket in the city is only P40.

I gave a lecture on leadership at the Our Lady of Perpetual Succor College in Marikina and Polytechnic University of the Philippines Taguig. I presented the anti Con-Ass position in Rizal Technological University Pasig, Miriam College, Philippine Normal University, College of St. Benilde, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, St. Paul Manila, Adamson University, and University of the East. I discussed the role of the youth in the 2010 elections in Miriam High School, Philippine Women’s University, College of Holy Spirit, De La Salle Araneta, Univesity of Makati, UP Diliman, UP Manila, UP Integrated Schools, and Eulogio Amang Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology. I joined a fellowship of youth leaders and parishioners at the United Methodist Church in Pandacan and a catholic church in Novaliches Bayan.

Through our Tulong Kabataan campaign, I was able to participate in clean-up operations in Pasig, Sta. Mesa in Manila, Tumana in Marikina and Lapaz in Tarlac.

I visited Taiwan in June, Canada in November, and Thailand this month. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office sponsored and organized the trip to Taiwan. I joined a Congress delegation which visited Taipei, Kinmen Island, and Kaoshiung. The Canada trip was an official trip. It means my plane ticket, visa, and hotel expenses were shouldered by the government. I met Filipino-Canadian students and migrant groups in Toronto. I spoke at the University of Toronto. Thanks Diwa for taking me to the majestic Niagara Falls. I gave a lecture on Globalization and Philippine Education at the Student Christian Center in Bangkok. The trip was sponsored by the Asian Students Association. I cut short my Bangkok trip because of the joint session of Congress.

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Posted in travel | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Introducing @kabataancrew

By admin | December 23, 2009

I should not get all the praise for the many victories achieved by Kabataan Partylist this year. I have to recognize the bigger contributions of our officers, personnel, and members throughout the country. I am also blessed for having a superb and hardworking staff. Let me introduce the cool and intelligent Congress staff of Kabataan Partylist….

@adarna. Her name is Sarah Maramag, our Chief of Staff. She is a prolific writer and an outstanding political activist. She wrote for the Philippine Collegian during her undergrad years. She used to be a national staff officer of Anakbayan and College Editors Guild. Like me, she is a big fan of Eat Bulaga. She is afraid of cats.

@glygotiangco. She was president of the PUP Student Council during Edsa Dos. We were contemporaries in the National Union of Students. She is part of the People’s Chorale, an activist cultural group. She is our political affairs officer. She is single and very happy at the moment.

@jose. Jose Cosido is a former president of the College Editors Guild. He designed many of our official campaign materials. He is our projects officer. Jose recently figured in a Facebook “incident” but I think the evidence has been deleted.

@jmragaza. JM Ragaza is our media officer. He is also our website admin. Aside from writing our press statements, JM drafted two of my privilege speeches. JM loves to watch movies but he walks out every time the movie sucks. Case in point, JM didn’t finish the film screening of New Moon at SM.

@eightyseas. Airah Cadiogan is our legislative officer. She prepares interpellation guides, issue briefers, and committee spot reports. She wrote most of the bills and resolutions we filed this year. Airah spent two years in South Korea as an exchange student. Her love life is always a mystery.

@bikoy. Victor Villanueva is our researcher and legislative officer. He drafts bills and resolutions, plenary manifestations, and issue primers. He is an award-winning and famous blogger. Bikoy should start a food and travel blog.

@paul. Ka Paul is my close-in security. He is a veteran activist. He is now a lolo. Congrats!

@bern. Tito Bern is our driver. He is the oldest member of @kabataancrew. I consider him as part of my family. His laing recipe is the best.

@mongster. This is me. I often tweet my political activities. Through twitter, I share the url links of excellent and interesting web articles. I also announce new blog posting through twitter. Via SMS, I tweet while inside the plenary hall of Congress. I plurk my personal activities. I rarely open my Friendster and Facebook accounts.

Officially, I’m the boss since I’m the congressman. But this title is conveniently overlooked inside our office because we are all activists. Besides, halos magkakasing-edad kaming lahat. Pantay-pantay kami sa opisina. My advantage is that I have the biggest table and I don’t answer the phone.

This is how our office operates on a regular session day: Everybody scans the online news in the morning. We email news stories that are related to our work. We also email new updates from google alerts for Kabataan Partylist. We report for work before lunch. We arrive at 9:30am if there is a committee hearing in the morning. Airah or Bikoy prepares a summary of issues to be tackled in the committee. JM drafts a press release. Sarah will review these papers. Gly ensures the completion of administrative and political tasks inside the office. We meet to collectively discuss our position, statement, and tactics. Then I attend the plenary session at 4:00pm or 5:00pm to hobnob with the rich and powerful. The session highlights will be livetweeted by our staff. Around 7:30pm, one of the members of @kabataancrew will accompany me in the lounge for a light dinner.

I will let @venzie, the party secretary-general, to introduce our HQ staff. But I have to mention Anna and Carl, two of the founding members of Kabataan Partylist.

Posted in congress | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Kabataan Partylist: Bills and Resolutions Filed

By admin | December 22, 2009

Kabataan Partylist sponsored (13) house resolutions, (6) house bills and delivered three (3) privilege speeches between April-November of 2009.

House Bills

a. Public Libraries Bill – HB06770: This will modernize the country’s public libraries by amending Republic Act 7743. We are proposing the establishment of e-library facilities in the country’s 1,231 public libraries. We also want to uphold the “public’s right to information and freedom of expression by prohibiting the exclusion of reading materials based on the origin, background and views of the creator or author.” Officials of the National Library are supportive of this bill.

b. Free SPED Bill – HB06771: This bill aims to provide free and appropriate basic education to all Filipino children and youth with special needs. It was my college professor who urged me to file this bill. Kabataan Partylist is also a co-author of the SPED Bill sponsored by the Committee on the Welfare of Children.

c. Styrofoam Ban Act of 2009 – HB06798: The full title of the bill – “An Act Declaring as Unlawful the Use of Expanded Polystyrene Food Service Containers and other Synthetic Materials Harmful to the Environment in all Educational Institutions and for other purposes.” By banning Styrofoam, we hope to promote environmental awareness and practice environmental protection in schools. This bill was suggested to me by an educator from Taguig.

d. Anti-‘No Permit, No Exam’ Policy – HB06799: This will ban the common school policy of preventing students from taking their periodic or final examinations due to unpaid tuition and other school fees. As a compromise to school owners, the final grades and transcript of records of students will not be released if they still have outstanding financial obligations. Congresswoman Cari of Leyte is a co-author of the bill.

e. SK Strengthening and Reform Act of 2009 – HB06870: Last August we met the national leadership of the Sangguniang Kabataan. We discussed the need to reform and strengthen the SK institution in response to the widespread observation that the SK body has lost its relevance. The output of the meeting became the guiding document in drafting HB 06870. Here are the pertinent features of our proposed SK Reform Bill: Instituting a uniform procedure for releasing and reviewing SK budgets; empowering the Katipunan ng Kabataan as the basic unit and consultative body of the SK; recognizing duly-elected SK officials as persons of authority in the community; clearly defining the procedures for succession and filling of vacancies; appropriately adjusting the calendar of SK elections; and to regularize training seminars by NGOs, national student and youth organizations, and Peoples’ Organizations for SK members. The bill also incorporates the earlier proposal to adjust the age requirement for SK officials.

f. BPO Workers’ Welfare and Protection Act of 2009 – HB06921: Employing half million young workers and generating billions of dollars in revenues, the Business Process Outsourcing sector is touted as the country’s sunshine industry. But the welfare of BPO workers is seldom reported by government, media, and industry analysts. There is a need to uphold the labor rights of BPO workers. Kabataan Partylist has filed a bill that would allow BPO workers to join and form unions, institutionalize an occupational safety and health policy, and ensure just compensation for BPO workers who attend work during non-working holidays.

House Resolutions

Kabataan Partylist has three resolutions on the issue of shortened voters’ registration: Extension of Voters’ Registration (HR01162), Day-off with Pay for Registrants (HR01336), and Extension of voters’ registration deadline in typhoon-affected regions (HR01443).

We sought an investigation on the following issues: UP Graduation Program Tuition Hike (HR01197), Vanishing Loads (HR01237), Smartmatic-TIM overpricing (HR01260), Anomalous purchase by DepEd of overpriced medical and dental supplies (HR01288), Abduction of an Anakbayan member in Cagayan (HR01411), DENR constructive dismissal of employees (HR01408), Military surveillance of National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera’s home (HR01421), Violent dispersal of a rally in front of Malacanang Palace (HR01337), and the imposition of a new tax on imported reading materials (HR01161).

The UP resolution was proposed by the university faculty regent. The Vanishing Load resolution was the House counterpart measure of a Senate resolution filed by Senator Bong Revilla. The Smartmatic-TIM resolution was drafted in reaction to a PCIJ report. The DENR resolution was lobbied by concerned employees of the agency. The rally which was violently dispersed was a student protest against the lavish dinner of Arroyo and her politician friends in New York.

Kabataan Partylist also co-authored (25) house bills, (1) joint resolution and more than (100) house resolutions of partylist representatives from Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, and Gabriela.

Privilege speeches. Committee memberships.

I delivered (3) privilege speeches: The Tragedy of Philippine Education (May 18, 2009),
The Call of Call Center Agents (August 17, 2009), and Who Owns Malacanang? (August 26, 2009)

I’m an official member of the minority in (4) committees: Youth and Sports, Information and Communications Technology, Dangerous Drugs, and Public Information. I’m also active in the Committees on Higher and Technical Education, and Basic Education.

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Posted in congress | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

2009 political words of the year

By admin | December 16, 2009

The 2009 Oxford words of the year are unfriend, hashtag, intexticated, netbook, sexting, funemployed, birther, choice mom, and deleb. Many of these words, though familiar to most Filipinos, are not applicable in the Philippines.

Unfriending people in facebook, friendster, and other social network sites is not a common internet habit among Filipino netizens. We cannot easily unfriend friends. We are respectful even to friends who betrayed us in the past. There are people who will assert that unfriending someone is against our culture. According to the president’s spokesperson, the friendship of the Arroyos and Ampatuans will not be affected by the gruesome massacre in Maguindanao.

Hashtag is known only to twitter users. There were many instances when the Philippines made it to twitter’s trending topics: Eat Bulaga, Cory, Pacquiao, Ondoy. Plurk is more popular in the country. Slackactivists always use hashtags.

In the Philippine context, intexticated does not refer to those who use their mobile phones while driving. Intexticated are people who text while walking, running, and even sleeping. Yes, there are people who text while sleeping in the middle of the night. Intexticated people are also seen inside churches, classrooms, MRT, LRT, jeepneys, and airplanes.

Netbooks are popular in the country because they are more affordable. This is an ideal gadget for students and teachers. Sexting is a big problem in U.S. schools. Hopefully, the sexting trend would not plague our local schools.

Funemployed are those who ‘enjoy’ unemployment because they can pursue their other interests in life. Are there funemployed Filipinos? Since majority of workers do not receive unemployment checks, Filipinos do not relish the prospect of being out of work. But Filipinos are known to find happiness even during hard times. We are a smiling people. But it doesn’t mean the jobless are funemployed.

Birthers question the authenticity of U.S. President Barack Obama’s birth certificate. Choice Mom prefers to be single mothers. Deleb is a dead celebrity. The most famous deleb this year is Michael Jackson.

Political words

Here is my list of Philippine political words of the year: hayden kho, swine flu (ahini), con-ass, cory, ondoy, pacquaio, ampatuan, and backhoe.

hayden kho has various meanings. It may refer to a pervert and maniac, as described by the very moral Sen. Bong Revilla. It may also refer to a doctor who becomes a director and actor of sex videos. Beware of hayden kho boyfriends.

Swine flu or A(H1N1) – pronounced by many Filipinos as ahini – is a continuing global pandemic. It replaced SARS, bird flu, ebola reston, dengue, and chikungunya as the most famous virus threat in Asia and the rest of the world. Washing of hands was strictly enforced, holding hands in churches was disallowed, and hand sanitizers became a bestseller. Companies which produce thermal scanners, facemasks, alcohol, and the expensive flu vaccine benefited from the swine flu scare.

Con-Ass or Constituent Assembly became the top political issue from June to August. The proposal to amend the 1987 constitution was vigorously opposed by many groups and individuals. The charter change or chacha fantasy is still alive through the less controversial but equally lethal Constitutional Convention or concon mode.

The death of the original People Power icon and former President Cory Aquino reawakened the public admiration for this great leader. Cory’s legacy in restoring the country’s democratic institutions was reaffirmed. Senator Noynoy Aquino’s presidential bid was launched shortly after his mother’s death.

Ondoy will be remembered for triggering the worst flooding in Metro Manila in the past 40 years. Ondoy exposed the weak disaster preparedness program of the government. On the other hand, the Ondoy tragedy revived the Bayanihan spirit in the country. Tropical storms Pepeng, Ramil, Santi, and Tino – all of them entered the country during the ‘ber’ months – convinced everybody that climate change is a serious problem.

Pacquaio’s victory boosted the morale of Filipinos. Pacquaio succeeded again in uniting all Filipinos. But the sense of camaraderie in the country was only shortlived because election season began a week after Pacquiao’s stunning victory. And people are no longer talking about Cotto. They are more curious about Krista.

Ampatuan Massacre refers to the killing of 57 people in Maguindanao, the “cheating capital of the country.” The prime suspects are members of the very powerful Ampatuan Family. The Ampatuans have been called many names: mass murderers, criminals, warlords, rebels, friends of the President. The other famous political clan in Maguindanao is the Mangudadatu Family.

A backhoe is used to excavate or dig materials in construction sites. But it can also be used for criminal purposes. A backhoe was used to break into a museum in Pennsylvania. A backhoe owned by the Ampatuan-controlled local government was also found near the mass graves in Maguindanao.

Martial Law was declared in Maguindanao. A joint session of Congress was immediately called. To justify the obviously unconstitutional declaration, Malacanang submitted a report to Congress describing the Ampatuan warlord clan as being backed-up by a “formidable group of armed followers.” The Palace resource speakers seem confused. They described the presence of armed civilian troops (read: CVO private armies) in Maguindanao as proof of looming rebellion and actual rebellion.

Elections are always exciting since they generate memorable slogans. Election monitoring groups have Boto Mo Ipatrol Mo, Ako Mismo, Bilog Na Hugis Itlog. Mar has Padyak Padyak and Ramdam Ko Kayo. Villar has Sipag at Tiyaga and Akala Mo. Gibo has Galing at Talino. Noynoy has Hindi Ka Nag-Iisa. Erap has Tatakbo Ka Ba at Babalik si Erap. Chiz has Ang Bagong Pagbabago and Tayo Ang Bagong Sigla. Chairman BF and Gordon are ‘transformers.’

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Posted in nation | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Neophyte reflections

By admin | December 13, 2009

How does it feel to be a congressman? Friends, relatives, and even new acquaintances have been asking me this question for the past seven months. I always reply with a joke. I tell them that my carefree activities have been restricted like jaywalking or buying pirated materials. I am somewhat hesitant to answer this question partly because I feel I still do not have enough experience as a congressman. The regular first termers in the House have been in office since 2007. I moved into my more-than-a-cubicle-but-definitely-not-an-office room only last August. Together with 32 other partylist representatives, I consider myself as a neophyte among the neophytes.

It took several months before House employees were able to recognize me as a lawmaker. There are still times when security guards would prevent me from entering the main building of the Batasan especially when I’m not wearing a barong. In some committee hearings, I have to convince the committee chairman that I’m allowed to speak freely because I’m a congressman.
Perhaps because of my age, many of my colleagues who are old enough to be my parents and even grandparents presume that I’m willing to be lectured about the intricacies of Philippine politics. In most cases, they are right. I’m always interested to hear the unconventional and sometimes eccentric views of veteran politicians on various issues like parochialism, nepotism, charter change and Hayden Kho sex videos. But when I want to disagree with their opinion, I’m torn between expressing my real thoughts and acknowledging the wisdom of elders. I’m worried they might misconstrue my dissenting perspective as a misguided display of youthful arrogance.

During informal chats at the lounge, I often find myself unable to interest my senior citizen colleagues with topics that are popular among the youth. I cannot joke about unfriending them since many do not have facebook accounts. I often have to clarify the difference between vloginng, blogging and microblogging. Some of them couldn’t appreciate how netizens derive satisfaction by uploading short messages in the internet through twitter. To be fair, they too seem perplexed that I am quite an expert at googling but ignorant of golfing.

When it became evident that I cannot grab their attention by talking about RSS, plurk, or farmville, I yield by genuinely trying to be amused with their monologues. And so everyday, I participate in fun conversations about prostates, diabetes, and the many positive virtues of the incumbent president.

Being a politician-blogger is sometimes embarrassing. Well, embarrassing in front of people who are not used to seeing persons taking pictures of the food they eat. Politicians hire official photographers to document all their activities. I don’t have an official photographer. Imagine me in a committee hearing taking pictures of almost everybody in the room. It is awkward to talk to members of Congress after learning their dark secrets and alleged involvement in various scandals through youtube, google, and bing. I accidentally opened an unflattering web image of a lawmaker with a popular surname while inside the plenary.

Veteran members of the House have been reminding me that the Lower House is the best place to retire. Another colleague described our job as the best in the world. Maybe they were referring to the fact that inactive House members can continue to receive their monthly salaries. One can enjoy the perks of being a lawmaker even if he/she is spending time in prison or travelling on an extended vacation abroad. We are obliged to report for work from Mondays to Wednesdays only. Those who are not interested to attend committee hearings in the mornings can go directly to the plenary hall at 4pm. We adjourn around 8pm.

Many writers have already pointed out the perennial problem of absenteeism in the Lower House. Others have also decried the rising cost of legislation resulting from the inability of the House to muster a quorum. I have a personal complaint: I already memorized the names of all members of the 14th Congress but I haven’t met all of them yet. I always bring a copy of the House directory to familiarize myself with the names and pictures of my colleagues but I still have to meet them in person because sometimes our photoshopped faces do not match reality. I am hoping that some of my mysterious colleagues will finally appear and attend the last remaining sessions before the start of the Christmas break.

House members are always caricatured as boring, brute, and boorish. This is not applicable to all House members. We have many reasonable and intelligent legislators. They can be articulate, witty, and, funny if they want to. There are veteran lawmakers who have never been absent from the plenary proceedings since 1987. There are many lawmakers who come prepared during committee debates; they know what pertinent laws and programs to cite when defending or rejecting a bill; they can effectively argue their position without bullying their opponents. They don’t salivate over media attention.

But my admiration for these brilliant members of the House ceases the moment they transform into clueless apologists of the ruling administration. Those who showed their intellectual superiority in the committees become blind followers of the Malacanang marching orders in the plenary. It is disappointing to watch independent thinkers toeing the party line just to secure the much needed but overrated administration support in the upcoming 2010 elections.

From the start, I want to be described as an activist lawmaker. I’m a member of two parliaments: the parliament of the streets and the parliament in Batasan located near Payatas. I’m an activist who is advocating change through meaningful and progressive legislation. I’m a lawmaker who believes that activism is needed to spur fundamental change in society.

Unfortunately, my activist background does not prevent some people from treating me as a traditional politician who is expected to behave in the traditional way. My office is swamped with solicitation letters from senders who do not expect a rejection letter. I always receive bundles of raffle tickets which are considered sold by the organizers. There are people who want to judge my performance as a legislator by counting the number of hard and soft projects of my office. I do not blame this attitude and behavior since patronage politics is a dominant practice and culture in the country. But I detest the thinking of some people that youth legislators like me have no option but to emulate the established political tradition.

I did not lose my license to be an idealist when I took my oath as a member of Congress. I did not and would not abandon activism just to fulfill my duties as a lawmaker. In fact, embracing the principles of activism complements my role as a young legislator. I must remain an activist if I want to escape the curse of politicians who fights the system in their youth but ends up defending it in their later years.

Through my work in Congress, I have the opportunity to prove the sincerity of activists in pushing a workable agenda of change. The prospect of introducing an alternative type of politics inside a conservative institution gives me the inspiration every time I feel cynical about my job. Yes, I rub elbows with landlords, warlords, and other ‘lords’ in Congress but I can disregard this work hazard since I’m more interested in seeing the number of people outside the gates of Batasan getting bigger and stronger. A congressman has term limits but an activist can devote a lifetime in the noble but difficult struggle for lasting freedom, peace, and justice.

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Posted in congress | Tagged , | 13 Comments

Will Malaysia and Singapore fight over water?

By admin | December 2, 2009

Due to its size and location, Singapore sources about half of its water supply from its neighbor Malaysia. It has two major water agreements with Malaysia.

The 1961 agreement provides for the selling of 350 million gallons of raw water daily at 3 Malaysian cents per 1,000 gallons. In return, Singapore had agreed to provide Johor, a Malaysian state near Singapore, with a daily supply of treated water at a price of 50 cents per 1,000 gallons. This agreement will end in 2011.

The 1962 agreement gave Singapore the right to draw water from Johor River. The agreement also guaranteed Johor with a daily supply of treated water from Singapore. This agreement is valid for 99 years.

Since the first water agreement will end in 2011, many are asking if Malaysia will renegotiate for a better deal. If Malaysia decides not to extend the water agreement, where will Singapore get its water supply? Will this issue drive a wedge between the two neighboring countries?

Through his very popular blog, former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad hints at the unfairness of the current deal. He is quietly nudging the current government to demand a higher price for the water that the country is delivering to Singapore. Here is an excerpt from his blog:

“2011 is not too far away. Have we thought about extending the 2011 treaty or not extending it or negotiating a new water supply agreement? Are we going to be charitable again and sell raw water at 3 cents per thousand gallons to our rich neighbor? Being charitable and not raising prickly issues is a good way to make friends. But what is the cost to the people of Malaysia?”

The sarcasm is evident. Mahathir is indirectly castigating the incumbent government for failing to raise the contentious provisions of the water deals with Singapore authorities.

As expected, Mahathir’s commentary elicited strong reactions in cyberspace. Several Malaysian netizens have joined Mahathir in pointing out the need to charge Singapore higher water rates to reflect current market prices. They deem it unacceptable that Malaysia is conducting a losing business by charging its customer “horrible” low prices. They describe the present water agreement as an unreasonable and ridiculous deal.

But there are also Malaysian bloggers who blame the Mahathir administration for the stalled negotiations between Singapore and Malaysia. They cite Mahathir’s “inability to compromise and impatience” with Singapore for the failure of the two parties to review the water agreements more than a decade ago.

This was also asserted by Singapore’s Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, which published a primer in 2003 to clarify the issues surrounding the Malaysia-Singapore water agreements. In this primer, Singapore insisted that it had been fair in dealing with Malaysia regarding the water deals. Below is an excerpt from the primer:

“The water dispute is not about money but Singapore’s existence as a sovereign nation. The Water Agreements are part of the Separation Agreement which guarantees Singapore’s existence as an independent nation. If the terms of the Water Agreements can be changed by Malaysia at will, then Singapore’s independence too could be called into question. This is the root dispute.”

“The issue is not how much we pay, but how any price revision is decided upon. The Water Agreements contain specific provisions on when the price can be revised and how the revisions should be computed. Price revision cannot be at the whim and fancy of a particular party. If Malaysia can change the terms of agreements solemnly entered into at will, where is the sanctity of agreements? Any future agreement we enter into with Malaysia will have no value.”

The Singapore Ministry also emphasized that the payment for the raw water it buys from Malaysia is not cheap since the latter does not contribute a cent in building, maintaining, and upgrading water treatment facilities. The ministry asserted it is Malaysia that should be embarrassed since it sells the treated water supply to Malaysian consumers at exorbitant prices even though the Malaysian government has minimal investments in water facilities.

Perhaps anticipating that Malaysia might use the water deals to acquire political and other concessions from Singapore in the future, the prosperous city-state has been successfully adopting and developing new technologies in order to achieve water self-sufficiency. Singapore has developed NEWater – reclaimed and treated wastewater – and it recently constructed the biggest desalination plant in Asia.

Because Singapore has learned to recycle water, does this mean it can survive if Malaysia stops delivering water? Most likely Singapore needs to continue importing water from Malaysia. The immigrant population continues to rise in Singapore. The government has been aggressively encouraging its citizens to produce more babies. Singapore’s dependence on raw water from Malaysia will not decrease.

This means Malaysia and Singapore should immediately sit down and renew negotiations on the water agreement, which is about to expire. There is no need to spark an unnecessary war between two friendly countries.

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Posted in east asia | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Thailand-Cambodia squabble embarrasses ASEAN

By admin | November 23, 2009

Myanmar’s ruling junta may be the ultimate bad boy in Southeast Asia, but the stubborn attitude of the junta is not always the primordial cause of friction in the region. If achieving unity within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is almost impossible, Myanmar should not get all the blame. Also worthy of disgust and concern is the petty but detrimental infighting among ASEAN members.

For example, there are still unsettled border disputes between Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia. Indonesia is accusing Malaysia of stealing its cultural heritage. Thailand and Cambodia are feuding over the ownership of the historic Preah Vihear temple and the four square kilometers of territory around it.

The recent U.S.-ASEAN Summit was an opportunity for regional leaders to resolve these conflicts. Fortunately for Malaysia and Indonesia, their leaders decided to be friendly during the event. Steps were taken to improve political and economic ties between the two countries.

But the diplomatic row between Thailand and Cambodia has worsened in the past few weeks. Thailand and Cambodia recalled their ambassadors from each other’s capital. An energy exploration deal between the two nations was suspended. The issues are obviously no longer confined to a border dispute. What or who fueled the higher level of animosity between the two neighbors?

The decision of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to appoint Thailand’s controversial former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as his special economic adviser did not amuse Thai authorities. Thailand interpreted this move as an intrusion into its internal affairs. The quarrel intensified when Thaksin arrived and stayed in Phnom Penh for five days to give a lecture on the global economic crisis.

Thai officials immediately petitioned for the extradition of Thaksin, who is facing a two-year jail term for corruption. Cambodia refused the request, arguing that Thaksin is a political, not criminal, convict. Also, Hun Sen considers Thaksin his “eternal friend.”

Thaksin was ousted in a 2006 coup. To escape serving a prison term for corruption, he has been living in many countries around the world. The billionaire politician believes he could not get a fair trial in Thailand. He is accusing the present government of being illegitimate and repressive.

Angered by Cambodia’s refusal to extradite Thaksin, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has threatened to close the Thailand-Cambodia borders, which could disrupt and hurt the economic activities in the region. Thai authorities are also preparing to evacuate their citizens in Cambodia in case a war erupts between the two nations.

It is difficult to ascertain Hun Sen’s real motive in appointing Thaksin as his adviser. He knew it would provoke a negative reaction in Thailand. He knew it would further strain relations between two countries. His action definitely reflected his deep anger against the Bangkok government, which ordered a buildup of Thai troops in the Preah Vihear territory last year.

Thaksin, a master at using the media for maximum political effect, agreed to accept Cambodia’s offer during the same week that the ASEAN Summit was held in Thailand. Thaksin always manages to steal the headlines every time Thailand hosts an international event.

But his decision to become Hun Sen’s adviser could ruin his plan of staging a grand political comeback. Thaksin’s political rivals and some media analysts are accusing the former leader of being a traitor to Thailand for accepting a post in a rival nation.

It is understandable for Abhisit to hate both Thaksin and Hun Sen. The two “eternal friends” are obviously working together to undermine Abhisit’s administration. But the Oxford-educated leader should not lose his cool.

Abhisit should be more diplomatic while not losing his assertiveness. He should study the results of a Bangkok University poll conducted last week, which showed that the majority of respondents preferred a soft approach when negotiating with Cambodia. The same poll also showed that an overwhelming majority is opposed to the closing of the Thailand-Cambodia border.

Closing the border today would not only hurt the economies of the two countries, it would also jeopardize the process of normalizing the relationship of the two neighboring nations.

Hun Sen, Thaksin and Abhisit will all manage to survive the current political tensions between Cambodia and Thailand. They can even benefit from the turmoil if they calculate their moves.

Those who stand to lose in this political drama are the citizens of both countries. Instead of celebrating the common history which Cambodia and Thailand share together, their leaders are finding fault with one another. Instead of striving to build a strong unified economy in the region, they are threatening to destroy the livelihood and economic prospects of their neighbors.

Prolonging the diplomatic impasse between Cambodia and Thailand is not good for ASEAN. It is a global embarrassment since it exposes the inability of ASEAN to foster unity and camaraderie among its members. ASEAN leadership is needed to close the gap between Thailand and Cambodia.

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Handa na tayo

By admin | November 19, 2009

Talumpating binigkas sa 2009 National Convention ng Kabataan Partylist noong Nobyembre 18….

Mga kasama, mga kaibigan, mga pinagpipitagang panauhin, mga kababayan, mainit na pagbati sa inyong lahat! Sa ngalan po ng pamunuan at kasapian ng Kabataan Partylist, kami po ay nagpapasalamat sa inyong pagdalo sa pagtitipong ito.

Mga kasama, taong 2007 noong huli tayong nagkasama-sama tulad nito. Noon ay nangangarap pa tayo na magkaroon ng kinatawan ang kabataan sa loob ng Kongreso. Ngayon, tayo po ay nagagalak dahil mayroon ng boses ang Kabataan Partylist sa Kongreso. Sa lahat po ng sumuporta at patuloy na nagtitiwala sa lakas ng kabataan, maraming salamat po.

Kinikilala natin ang mga organisasyong nagtatag ng ating partylist. Mga kasama bigyan din natin ng pinakamalakas na palakpak at pagpupugay ang mga martir ng ating organisasyon na nag-alay ng kanilang buhay habang sila ay nagsusulong ng bagong pulitika sa bansa.

Kahapon ay ginanap ang pambansang kumbensiyon ng Kabataan Partylist. Dinaluhan ito ng ating mga balangay sa lahat ng rehiyon. Tayo ay naghalal ng ating mga bagong pinuno at ang mga magiging nominado ng ating partylist. Mamaya po ay makikilala ninyo sila.

Pinagtibay kahapon sa kumbensiyon na ang Kabataan Partylist ay muling lalahok sa eleksiyon sa 2010. Tayo po ay sasabak muli sa halalan; at ang ating plano ay magpanalo ng hindi isa, hindi dalawa, kundi tatlong kinatawan sa Kongreso. Kailangan natin ng mahigit isang milyong boto upang manalo ang ating tatlong kinatawan. Kaya ba natin ito, mga kasama?

Kayang-kaya nating makuha ang isang milyong boto dahil tiwala tayo sa lakas ng ating organisasyon. Masisipag ang ating mga kasapian; mapanlikha ang ating paraan ng pangangampanya; at higit sa lahat, mayroon tayong kongkretong adyenda para sa pagbabago.

Malaki ang papel ng kabataang Pilipino sa darating na halalan. Mahigit 40 percent ng mga botante ay mga kabataan. Mahigit limang milyon ang first time voters. Sa totoo lamang kayang idikta ng kabatan ang resulta ng halalan. Kaya kailangan nating pukawin ang atensiyon ng kabataan upang aktibo silang lumahok sa halalan.

Inaasahan natin na lahat ng kandidato sa halalan ay tatangkaing makuha ang suporta ng kabataan. Tama lamang po ito. Pero hindi natin basta-basta binibigay ang ating boto kung kani-kanino lamang. Dapat nagkakaisa tayo sa plataporma. Dapat nagtutulungan tayo para sa ating mithiin na magkaroon ng pagbabago sa bansa.

Interesado tayo sa plataporma ng mga kandidato; hindi sa kanilang magulang, asawa, kapatid, kayamanan, o hacienda.

Mayroon tayong youth agenda sa 2010. Ito ang ating hamon sa mga kandidato, lalo na sa mga tatakbo sa pagkapangulo. Ano ang laman ng ating youth agenda?

Una, reporma sa sektor ng edukasyon. Mataas na badyet para sa mga pampublikong eskuwelahan. Edukasyon na abot-kaya ng lahat. Edukasyon na kailangan para sa pambansang kaunlaran. Edukasyon para sa mga Pilipino, hindi sa mga dayuhan.

Pangalawa, disenteng trabaho para lahat. Proteksiyon sa karapatan at kalusugan ng manggagawa. Itigil ang kontraktuwalisasyon. Pag-alis sa diskriminasyon sa pagawaan. Kung may sapat na trabaho sa bansa, hindi mangingibang-bayan ang maraming kabataan. Panahon na upang rebyuhin ang pulisiya sa ekonomiya.

Pangatlo, mabuting pamumuno. Kailangan natin ng mga lider na susugpuin ang korupsiyon sa lahat ng lebel ng pamunuan. Kailangan natin ng mga lider na titiyaking parurusahan ang mga tiwaling opisyal ng pamahalaan; lalo na ang mga opisyal sa gobyerno ni Gloria Arroyo.

Kailangan natin ng mga makabayang lider na uunahin ang interes ng bansa bago ang dayuhan. Kailangan natin ng mga lider na may mataas na pagkilala sa karapatang pantao. Ayaw na natin ng mga sunud-sunuran sa Kano; ayaw na natin ng mga pasista.

Pang-apat, ang susunod na presidente ay dapat may programa para sa pagtatanggol ng kalikasan. Itigil ang mapanirang pagmimina sa kanayunan. Magpatupad ng programa kung paano aangkop ang bansa sa negatibong epekto ng pagbabago sa klima ng mundo.

Sa pangkalahatan, kailangan natin ng mga bagong lider na may makabayang adhikain; mga lider na ang puso ay para sa mahihirap. Mga lider na sumusuporta sa hangarin ng kabataan na magkaroon ng magandang kinabukasan.

Sa 2010, may pagkakataon tayong bumoto para sa pagbabago. Higit sa lahat, nais nating ibalik ang pag-asa sa bansa. Maraming kabataan ang nawalan na ng tiwala sa kakayanan ng lahing Pilipino. Ibalik natin ang pag-asang ito.

Sa 2010 patutunayan nating mga kabataan na tayo ang pag-asa, tayo ang pagbabago.

Naghahanda na ang lahat para sa nalalapit na halalan. Tayo ay handa na ring sumabak sa bagong laban. Handa na tayong maging boses ng pag-asa. Handa na tayong lumahok sa halalan. Handa na tayong magkaroon ng aktibong papel sa halalan. Handa na tayong bumoto. Handa na tayong ipagtanggol ang ating boto. Handa na tayong ipanalo muli ang Kabataang Partylist. Handa na tayong ipanalo ang mga progresibong kandidato sa bansa tulad nina Ka Satur Ocampo at Ka Liza Maza para sa pagkasenador. Handa na tayong talunin ang mga kaaway ng sambayanan at biguin ang plano ng mga nasa kapanyarihan na manatili sa puwesto pagkatapos ng 2010.

Higit sa lahat, at ito ang ating pinakamahalagang tungkulin bilang kabataan, handa na tayong maging puwersa pagbabago. Itatakwil natin ang masamang sistemang namamayani sa bansa. Gagamitin natin ang ating lakas at talino, tayo ay magkakaisa upang itaguyod ang isang mabuting gobyerno. Mga kasama, mga kababayan, babaguhin natin ang lipunang ito.

Mabuhay ang Kabataan Partylist!
Mabuhay ang kabataang Pilipino!

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Stop Balikatan war exercises in the Philippines

By admin | November 13, 2009

Written early this year. In reposting this article, I dedicate it to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton….

Today we condemn the continuation of the joint military exercises between Philippine and United States troops in the Bicol region. The resumption of the so-called Balikatan (Shoulder-to-Shoulder) exercises clearly indicates that President Barack Obama has not fundamentally revised the foreign policy of his predecessor. The U.S. continues to use its military power to enhance its geopolitical interests in the world. It ignores the sovereignty of smaller and weaker nations by arrogantly deploying its war machines in these territories. It props up tyrants and corrupt leaders who are willing to accommodate its imperialist machinations.

The Balikatan is a shameful form of military intervention of the U.S. in the Philippines. More than 6,000 U.S. troops and 2,500 Filipino soldiers will participate in the joint war games which will be conducted in the provinces of Albay, Sorsogon, and Masbate. Nuclear-powered U.S. warships with F-16 fighter jets are expected to dock in the waters of Bicol region. The Balikatan once again highlights the semi-colonial status of the Philippines. It points to the highly unequal and grossly unjust relationship between the U.S. and the Philippines.

The U.S. and Philippine authorities insult the people when they continue to insist that the exercises will only involve humanitarian missions in the impoverished provinces of Bicol. The media frenzy surrounding the medical missions and civic projects of the US military personnel are part of a devious ploy to obscure the fact that U.S. soldiers are directly involved in combat operations in the Philippines.

If conducting humanitarian missions is the true objective of the U.S. military, why did they send an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle in the Bicol region? A Predator-type drone (read: spy plane) crash landed in the towns of Esperanza and Pio V. Corpuz in Masbate last January. If the U.S. military only wanted to build roads, schools and water systems in Albay, why did a U.S. naval officer visited several hospitals in the province last January and asked health care personnel if they had orthopedic facilities?

The presence of U.S. troops in the Bicol region is not helping the local population. In fact, the arrival of the foreign troops has exacerbated the social and economic ills in the region. Early this month, a Philippine Senator exposed that two batches of 8 to 10 women were being given nightly to U.S. soldiers who were stationed in Legazpi City. A fish ban was enforced by the government for six months in the coastal villages where U.S. troops are expected to visit. This will destroy the livelihood of thousands of fisherfolks in the towns of Malinao, Malilipot, Bacacay and Manito in the province of Albay.

To protect their very important armed guests from rebel attacks, the 901st Infantry Brigade of the Armed Forces of the Philippines has conducted “clearing operations” in several remote villages in Bicol. These have displaced hundreds of peasant villagers. In Ligao City an infant girl was killed and 6 other children were injured after the military fired indiscriminate gunshots in Barangay Balanac. How many more innocent civilians will be killed and harmed in order to secure the safety of visiting U.S. soldiers?

It has been established through fact-finding investigations that U.S. troops have participated in actual combat operations in previous Balikatan war games in Mindanao. This year’s Balikatan in the Bicol region would involve U.S. soldiers in the Philippine military’s anti-insurgency campaign. Bicol is a known communist hotbed in the country. U.S. troops are expected to join Filipino soldiers in terrorizing local inhabitants who are accused of sympathizing with communist rebels. This will worsen the human rights situation in the region.

The Balikatan is most enthusiastically supported by the puppet Arroyo government because it is a source of corruption. The Philippines receives $30 million annually in military grants through the Visiting Forces Agreement. The funds are used by Arroyo to bribe military generals in exchange for their support for her unpopular government. Arroyo also uses the Balikatan to seek the approval of the U.S. for her desire to remain in power until and maybe even beyond 2010.

The Balikatan does not serve the interests of the American and Filipino people in general. It is endorsed by power-obsessed politicians and human rights violators in the Philippines who represent the exploitative ruling class, and by an imperialist power which intends to strengthen its hegemony in this part of the world.

Today we demand the U.S. government to end its military presence and intervention in the Philippines. We demand that tax dollars should not be spent on military aid for the Philippines. We demand the cancellation of the commitment made by the U.S. government to give $400 million to the Philippine military over a ten-year period. This large amount of money should be used to improve the social welfare of ordinary citizens. It should not be allotted to aid repressive governments like the Arroyo regime.

Today we demand the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement. This onerous treaty legitimizes the presence of U.S. troops in the Philippines. This violates the national sovereignty of the Philippines. The VFA provides legal protection for U.S. soldiers who commit crimes while on duty in the Philippines. The VFA gives the U.S. military the right to occupy any part of the Philippines over an indefinite period of time. For example, the U.S. military has ‘permanently occupied’ Camp Navarro in Zamboanga for the past six years.

Today we salute the Filipino people who have steadfastly challenged and resisted U.S. imperialism in the Philippines. We laud the efforts of various groups which continue to oppose the presence of U.S. troops in Bicol and other parts of the country.

Today we affirm our dedication to advance the national democratic aspirations of the Filipino people.

Stop Balikatan! Pull-out U.S. troops now!
No to U.S. military intervention in the Philippines!
Stop giving military aid to the Philippines!
Down with Imperialism!

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Posted in nation | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Shortage of runways?

By admin | November 12, 2009

“If people here don’t travel, it’s not because of a shortage of runway.” – George Monbiot

The Philippines has more than 85 airports, 9 of which are international airports. That’s about one airport per province. Composed of more than 7,000 islands, the Philippines must have an efficient transportation network to move people and goods within the country. But do we really need to build more airports? Based on the 2009 State of the Nation technical report, the government plans to create 5 more international airports. What is the ideal number of airports for a small country like the Philippines?

Batanes, that beautiful tiny province in the north, has two airports: Itbayat and Basco. The Ilocos Region has two international airports: Laoag and San Fernando (Poro Point). To increase tourist arrivals in the sparkling Hundred Islands, Alaminos in Pangasinan wants to build its own airport even though the city is a mere 4 hour drive from Manila.

Metro Luzon has four international airports: Subic, Clark, Ninoy Aquino (in Pasay), and the soon to be constructed Southern Luzon International Airport. Palawan, the so-called last frontier of the Philippines, has four airports: Balabac, Puerto Princesa, San Vicente, and Busuanga. Negros Island, the land of sugar barons, has three airports: Bacolod-Silay, Kabankalan, and Dumaguete. Panglao Island in Bohol, the next Boracay of Visayas, is not satisfied that there is a nearby Tagbilaran airport. It wants to build its own airport. Siargao Island, the surfing capital of the country, is going to have its own airport even though the island is very accessible from Surigao City. If the Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental is completed, what will happen to the Cagayan de Oro airport which is also located in the same province?

Building airports requires huge investments (usually foreign loans). The Filipino people and airline passengers will pay for these mega infrastructure. Airports occupy large tracts of land. Prime agricultural land can be converted into airports. Expanding the airport system can undermine the country’s food security. Feed the hungry by destroying a rice field so that an airport can be built where rice donations from abroad can be transported?

Airports can improve tourism numbers but it can also damage the environment. Airports can destroy the natural habitats of endangered species. Airports generate pollution (noise and air pollution). Flying is more dangerous than driving in terms of impact on environment. Stop being so harsh on tricycle drivers for polluting the air. Wanna stop climate change? Then reduce air travel.

Tourists want to visit the country’s exotic islands because they appreciate and enjoy the natural beauty of the Philippines. If we build a runway and airport facilities in a unique island like Panglao, are we not spoiling the country’s natural treasure? In the long run, building too many adjacent airports can be counter-productive. Commercial overdevelopment can destroy the attractiveness of our wow islands. Remember Boracay. Remember Baguio.

Building airports is not the first requirement to enhance tourism numbers. There must be a sound tourism plan. There must be exciting promotional packages like what the local government did in Camarines Sur (which by the way is the country’s number one tourist destination of the year). Improving the tourism infrastructure is crucial but it is not always necessary to depend on airports to attract tourists. Tourism must also address the needs of the community over that of foreigners. Are we building airports to generate tourism dollars alone?

Indeed, airports stimulate economic activities. They bring in money, goods, investors, and our very own balikbayans. But airports also bring in pedophiles, human smugglers, and military warships. We have to rethink the economic activities that airports are supposed to produce. We have 85 airports (at the moment) yet we remain impoverished. Our economic profile remains the same: agricultural, pre-modern, pre-industrial. If the national leadership continues to worship the neoliberal dogma, then our airports will continue to transport cheap imported goods, prostitutes, and politicians. Don’t confuse airport building with national industrialization. Don’t equate airport expansion with economic growth. The road (or runway) to prosperity starts with the basics: productive agriculture, strong basic industries, skilled workforce. These goals cannot be attained by building airports alone.

The academe must intervene. It should identify the maximum number of airports the country should build, maintain, and develop. The transportation infrastructure plan should be comprehensive. As an archipelago, shouldn’t the Philippines focus on shipbuilding? Build more fast ferries. Build more modern ports. Encourage water transport. Bullet railways are needed in Luzon and Mindanao.

But politicians and technocrats, being what they are, will always prefer mega projects which can yield mega kickbacks too. Airports create a veneer of modernity; airports are perfect infrastructure legacies for politicians in search of legitimacy and credibility.

There are 7,000 islands in the country. Are we aiming to build 7,000 airports too?

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