Huling KaSONAngalingan

This coming Monday, we will again be subjected to fiction of such magnitude as to leave us incredulous— not because the lies are unbelievable in themselves, but because we cannot understand how anyone has the sheer audacity to take us for utter fools.

And yet for the past eight years, the Gloria Arroyo administration has done nothing but to fabricate lies and illusions of development and change to the Filipino people, despite the stark realities of increasing poverty, unemployment, the fiscal crisis, lack of adequate social services, political persecution, and human rights violations, to name a few.

As a final tribute to GMA’s talent for deception, we offer a compilation of her finest tall stories as a eulogy in what would hopefully be the last SONA of her final days as the President.

Lie #1: GMA does not have political ambitions beyond 2004/2010

Even before Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo stole the presidency in 2004, she had already begun to spin her web of lies. Back in 2002, GMA had announced that she will not run for President in the next elections. Little did the Filipino people know that she was already in cahoots with Garci to rig the elections in her favor. And now, GMA’s frequent visits to her home province of Pampanga stirs speculations that she has plans to run for Congresswoman, and eventually Prime Minister. We shall be guarded against the possibility that GMA has secret political ambitions to remain in power beyond 2010, for we refuse to be hoodwinked again.

Lie #2: GMA will reduce corruption in her government

GMA knows that if she steps down, she will have to face the criminal and administrative charges that she has been hiding from under the cloak of presidential immunity. She will have to answer for the corruption scams, kickbacks, and scandals that she and the First Gentleman have used to bleed our national treasury dry. The Jose Pidal Scandal, the overpricing of the Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard, the Fertilizer Fund Scam, and the ZTE-NBN deal, among others, sums up to a staggering P20.9 Billion in ill-gotten wealth. We shall hold her accountable for her insatiable greed, in juxtaposition with our country’s underdevelopment and poverty, as the latest government survey shows that the number of poor Filipinos had increased by 3.8 million to reach 27.6 million in 2006.

Lie #3: GMA upholds human rights

As the Commander-in-Chief, she will also have to answer for human rights violations, in what has been tagged as the bloodiest regime post-Marcos era. The number of politically-motivated killings and enforced disappearances has breached unbelievable levels in today’s modern democracy; and yet political harassment and quasi-dictatorial measures are still a reality among us Filipinos. We shall remember the unconstitutional PP1017, the Calibrated Preemptive Response, and the persecution of the Batasan Five, for we refuse to regress into the Dark Ages of authoritarian rule and terror.

Lie #4: GMA sees Cha-Cha as venue for social and political change

GMA thinks that she is insulated from the critiques on her administration by surrounding herself with opportunists and hypocrites, who are all too eager to fork over their accountability to their constituencies for additional pork barrel, and perhaps a travel junket or two. Her accomplices, such as favorite toady Rep. Nograles, have only recently demonstrated how deeply entrenched they are in traditional dirty politics by railroading the Con-Ass House Resolution, despite the staunch opposition from the masses. The manner and ill-timing in which GMA’s administration is fast-tracking Charter Change stink of desperation, self interest, and self-perpetuation. We shall remain steadfast in our principled stand against GMA’s Cha-Cha, for any constitutional change must be for the people and by the people.

This Monday, the stage is set for yet another show— her enthusiastic audience will be over-eager to applaud, her fascist police are freshly-trained to pounce on innocent civilian protesters, and Gloria Arroyo herself has prepared a new speech containing the same old lies.

And we, too, shall be there— the proud, defiant and tireless Iskolar ng Bayan—to say once and for all, the curtain on GMA’s regime shall fall.

UP Diliman University Student Council

Join the pre-SONA Vigil and Cultural Night on July 27 at 6pm.
Join the July 27 SONA mobilization! Assembly at Quezon Hall at 10 am.

What Ateneans think of HR 1109 - An Ateneo Statistics Circle Study

The following note is an independent study of the Ateneo Statistics Circle on HR 1109 and CHA-CHA

HR 1109 and Charter Change

Ateneo Statistics Circle
Research and Consultancy Department

A survey was conducted to Ateneo students with regard to the passing of House Resolution 1109 and amending the constitution. The objectives of the study are as follows:

(1) To determine whether Ateneans believe that amending the constitution is necessary.

(2) To determine the Ateneans’ view regarding the primary purpose of pushing Charter Change now

(3) To determine whether Ateneans would want to shorten, lengthen or not change the terms of the following officials: President, Vice President, Senators and Congressmen.

The survey was conducted for 3 days over June 16 to 18, 2009 using self-administered surveys of 367 Ateneo students. The number of students per year level per school was in proportion to the total population of school year 2008-09.

Results/Conclusions

The results show that 55.0% of the respondents are aware that HR 1109 has recently been passed on June 2, 2009. 65.8% of these people do not agree with the passing of the house resolution while only 11.4% express agreement. Moreover, the results show that 22.8% are undecided. Results continue to show negative popularity of the resolution as 65.8% of those who are aware of the HR 1109 passage think that its primary purpose is to extend the terms of the incumbent officials. A good proportion of 19.3% think it is for improvement of the political system of the country while 10.4% believe it is for creation of economic reforms.

The survey also asked students whether they will support amending the Constitution or Charter Change after the 2010 elections. 43.9% of the sample says that they are undecided of their stand come Cha-cha in the future. 34.3% disagree with supporting Cha-cha while only 21.8% agree. The results also show that of the 367 respondents, 15.5% do not agree with Charter Change right now and in the future (after elections) while 10.1% do not agree with Cha-cha at this time but will support it after the elections. 5.2% support Cha-cha anytime; that is, now or in the future.

Lastly, the Ateneans were also asked whether they prefer to shorten, lengthen or have the terms of government officials as it is. The question was asked for the president, vice president, senators and congressmen respectively. For all officials, it is preferred that their terms remain as it is. 70.0% agree to retain the president’s six years, no re-election and the vice president’s six years, one re-election terms. 68.4% do not want a change in terms for the Senators which is six years and one re- election. 67.8% prefer the same term for a congressman which is three years and two re-elections.

Ryan Fang Uy
Management Honors 2011
President, Ateneo Statistics Circle

"May Issue Kami"
Issue and Policy Analysis Cluster
Council of the Organizations of the Ateneo

Recount of the Events in Bastusang Pambansa

We were supposed to meet with the UP Law, Akbayan, and Black and White contingent in St. Peter's Church and march to Batasan, but we decided to go directly to Congress. As Titus Tan said, they are already there. The action already started. Groups from Mendiola joined us in the protest. Even though there were differences, one thing's for sure, we didn't want what happened last night - railroading of HR 1109.



Laura, Karen and I left Titus with Student Regent-select Chaba, Jaque, Brandy and Amme, while we went inside congress to monitor the session for CARPER and Right of Reply Bill. We entered smoothly, went to Congresswoman VC's room, then proceeded to the HOR canteen.

While we were waiting in the canteen, everyone was startled when farmer-protesters from the outside coming from the north gate were running into the congress grounds followed by police with sheilds chasing them. I have heard people saying that they've rammed into the gates, and managed to go past security. I immediately texted USC Chair Titus Tan of what had happened. He replied, "Kame yun!". I immediately and discretely panicked, and started to call up people to ask for help.

Laura, Karen and I went through the north wing entrance of the Session Hall. During that time, they were already in front of the main entrance of the session hall. Only a glass door and the sliding door to the session hall were blocking the protesters from the congressmen. Entrance to the lower gallery/ inside the session hall was also limited to congressmen alone. Even chief of staffs and staff of congressmen were barred from going in. At one point, they even chained the entrance to the session hall, leaving the left sliding door open for congressmen.



They staged a program, leaders of the groups were able to talk. Laura, Karen and I monitored from the inside. Titus was with BJ and Merck, thankfully he was not alone. Suddenly, I saw a firetruck coming from the left, then buses coming from the right. This time, the three of us started to call everyone we knew. While I was looking for a congressman to help Titus out, we were calling for lawyers and others' help.

During this time, we were also careful of our actions inside. Although we had Congress Visitors ID, some of the police inside were suspicious of what our purpose were inside. We couldn't panic. We moved gracefully, while asking for help. Thankfully, Laura got word from Titus that they escaped out of the crowd and headed out of Congress. It ended that we didn't have to get lawyers and others' help. We were so relieved after that, we wanted to kick and punch Titus. (LOL)

Unfortunately, the farmers and the protesters were forced inside the 3 buses they used to gather them. I don't know, as of the moment, what happened to them. I hope they're okay.



I just talked to Titus, and he said that, after what happened earlier, "it was sorta fun." Facepalm and a slap to his head (diba?!) He was lucky. There were lucky to not be jailed or brought to the police station. Titus added of his experience, "Nakakatakot, pero it was good that we were there kasi apparently, mas hindi sasaktan ng mga pulis ang mga students." Apparently, when the police were staring to baton and hit the protesters, one policeman told Titus and the UP students with him to move away because he pitied them if they were to be hit.

Let us blog and post in all our social networking sites (Plurk, Twitter, Facebook, Friendster, Multiply, etc) and register our opposition to the HR 1109, and ConAss

For more, I am ashamed of my Congresswomen, MARY ANN L SUSANO, 2nd District of Quezon City for supporting HR1109.

A lot of groups have already spoken against HR 1109, I ask, what has the University of the Philippines said about this issue? Where's the University Council at a time like this?

It is good to note that the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines reminded "the solons that young people will not hesitate to go out in the streets again to show their indignation of this government’s outright mockery of our country’s democratic institutions and processes." This was evident in earlier's mobilization by the different sectors, the UP Law Student Government, USC Chair Titus Tan together with other students and groups.

The University of the Philippines Diliman University Student Council will release its statement hopefully by today. Please watch out for it.


Related Posts:

Bloggers On ConAss

Technorati Tags: Titus Tan, ConAss, HR 1109, Protest, Bastusang Pambansa, mobilization

HR 1109 passed in Congress, Constituent Assembly by July

House of Representatives passed HR 1109 at 11:40pm. If no one stops them, Constituent Assembly may be called by July. People call this a day where congress made its own scandal.

House Resolution No. 1109

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Technorati Tags: Congress, ConAss, HOR, Congress of the Philippines, HB 1109, Constituent Assembly

PGMA's State of the Nation Address

Watch live video from Live Philippine TV on Justin.tv

Hours before the SONA 2008

The State of the Nation Address 2008

Photo taken during SONA 2006

In a few hours the Filipino people and the whole world will be witnesses again of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's State of the Nation Address. In this once in a year report to the people, a lot of questions, doubts, and attacks have been thrown back at the president for evident reasons such as increase in consumer and oil prices, and for all the anomalies that have happened since her last SONA. Though there are some praises, they are coming from her allies (of course).

The past 2 SONA's, I've heard such grandiose and magical plans and visions of the government. I am not saying that those plans are bad. What I am saying is that I have heard plans and more plans each year. But the question right now is that, what did the government, through PGMA, accomplished (or is trying to accomplish) for the past year/s?

I invite everyone to be critical. Let us go back, remember, and ask ourselves what had happened to all of those promises and plans? Were they accomplished? Were they what the government delivered for the past year? Were they just icing on top of the cake (hoping that the cake would look better with that icing)?

Let us decide. Let the people decide. Let's all watch the SONA, and after, share a thought, feeling or critcism. Will it be the "Same Old Nonsense from Arroyo?" or the true state of the nation? You, what do you think about the SONA? :)