Tamang timpla

Cucumber and minced onions with apple cider vinegar.

Picturesque Bay

Strolling around Harbor Square.

House Bill 2592 and upcoming events

On the second week of November, the 3rd round-table discussion on House Bill 2592 will be held in Quezon City. We'll post the final venue as soon as all details are finalized.

Also, coming out soon is the website on House Bill 2592. The website will serve as an online forum where BPO employees can exchange important matters and concerns related to House Bill 2592 or anything that employees would like Rep. Mong Palatino or Kabataan Party-list to take up.

Watch out for other upcoming events.#

Let the sunshine in: House bill promoting call center employees rights

Updates on the recently held round-table discussion on BPO workers rights and welfare.

The second round-table discussion on call center rights and welfare finally happened on October 13, 2010 at Gelatissimo, Greenbelt 5, Makati City. It was attended by call center agents from as far as Manila area, QC area, and, with a large contingent, Makati area. We were able to gather 5 major call center locations. A total of 24 participants attended the event.

The program formally started with the Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research (EILER) sharing its research on the plight of BPO employees. Kabataan Party-list Rep. Mong Palatino presented salient points of House Bill 2592 or the BPO Workers and Welfare Act of 2010.

Below are some of the points raised during the discussion:

1)Right to Freedom of Association. All participants attest to the sad fact that they are not given a venue in which they could discuss their issues or concerns as employees. As pointed out in the paper “Offshored Work in Philippine BPOs” by Prof. Maragtas ‘Noy’ Amante, former professor at the UP School of Labor and Industrial Relations (SOLAIR) and currently professor at Hanyang University in South Korea, “despite the high level of communications technology in the industry, most BPO firms are short on the concept of employee involvement.” This was further validated in a recently published book by the International Labor Organization (ILO), “Offshoring and Working Conditions in Remote Work,” which asserts that the BPO industry should "redesign" its work processes, especially in call centers, "to allow BPO workers a democratised participation in policy-making through the formation unions or associations," among other things. The book further stresses that "BPO firms have restrictive rules and procedures which hamper the democratic rights of the employees be it on decision-making or bargaining."

2)Work-related health problems. The nature of the work of most BPO centers is stressful because of various factors: heavy workload, intermittent changes in work shift, irate customers, performance demands, and so on. Given these, BPO employees are vulnerable and exposed to work-related health problems such as hypertension and migraine.

3)Regularization. This is one of the highlights of the bill filed by Rep. Palatino. The Labor Code of the Philippines gives no exception to the standard rule that regularisation should be on the 6th month of employment.

4)Lack of Due Process. An innumerable number of cases that range from illegal termination to salary disputes are being handled by the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC). In a recent dialogue of Rep. Palatino with DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldos, the latter confirmed that, indeed, labor disputes are a common problem being addressed by the department. Rep. Palatino stressed the need to set-up a desk that specifically caters to concerns of BPO employees.

5)Salary disputes, hazard pay, forced overtime, no extra-pay for agents who are multi-skilled or overloading of work and so on.

From the discussion, several campaign plans were set including the formation of a BPO employees' association or alliance. The participants also pledged to actively lobby for the immediate passage of the bill. Activities and initiatives such as t-shirt wearing, rotating decentralised and clustered discussions were immediately set.

The next decentralised discussion will be held in Cubao, with participants from Quezon City area pledging to host the event.#

See related posts:

House Bill 2592: A bill for the protection of the rights and welfare of BPO workers

Call Center Bill: Understanding Its Salient Provisions

Round Table Discussion on BPO Workers Rights and Welfare

Nasaan ang Pagbabago?

1) Patuloy pa rin ang pagpaslang. Labing apat ang pinaslang simula ng maupo si Noynoy.
2) Nananatiling mababa ang sahod ng mga manggagawa.
3) Kinaltasan ang badyet sa edukasyon.
4) Hindi pa rin nakakasuhan si Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
5) Ang matuwid na daan kuno laban sa korupsyon at tiwali sa gobyerno ay nanatiling pulos lip service at papogi naman.
6) Ang mga magsasaka ay wala pa ring lupa.

Yan ay ilan lamang sa ilang tampok na usapin. Nasaan ang pagbabago?

Climate Change, Displacement, Government Priorities and the 2011 Budget

My blog entry for 10/10/10 Blog Action Day on Climate Change

Climate change is probably one of the many worldwide concerns that every government is trying to address. Last year, Republic Act 9729 or Climate Change Act of 2009 was enacted into law.

While it may be true that serious and concrete actions have to be taken in order to address this phenomenon, let us check further how serious the government is in addressing this very serious concern.

This year, under the new administration of Noynoy Aquino, funds specifically intended to addressing climate change has been one of the highlights of the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2011.

For instance, the National Climate Change Commission has an appropriation of P38 million pesos while the Department of Interior and Local Government was given P 40 million under its local project, Enhancing LGU Capacity on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management Framework.

With huge amounts being appropriated to government projects that aim to pre-empt and address the ill-effects of climate change, do we expect the government to be more effective in dealing with climate change related disasters? Do we expect the government to be more competent in dealing with disasters like typhoons Pepeng and Ondoy that left thousands of people's lives and homes wrecked and decimated?

If the government is dead serious about presenting solutions to the ill-effects of climate change, concrete actions should be taken.

First off, big businesses that seriously cause damage to our environment should be stopped such as illegal logging and large scale mining. Large scale mining has not only caused landslides and pollution. It has systematically displaced many families living in mineral-rich areas. Take the case of Mt. Diwalwal.

So long as big foreign businesses and investors scourge the country's natural resources, the country will forever be vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

We cannot expect a government funded by big businesses to protect its people from the harmful effects of climate change. Programs and projects that supposedly address such concerns will be a staple to every president's budget but offers no concrete and long term solutions to climate change.#

Call for Support for HB 2592

Round Table Discussion on Call Center Bill

Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino is scheduled to meet with call center agents in a round-table discussion on the 13th of October at Gelatissimo, Greenbelt 5, Makati City. The round-table discussion is the first in a series of consultations the young blogger-turned-Congressman is set to hold as part of its campaign to solicit popular support for House Bill 2592. According to Rep. Palatino, the bill called “BPO Workers Welfare & Protection Act,” sought to assert the prescribed labor standards set forth in the Labor Code and institutionalize additional benefits that would hopefully address specific work-related problems and issues peculiar to the nature of BPO work. As Rep. Palatino aptly puts,

"Hundreds of thousands of Filipinos are working in the BPO industry. In the absence of genuine national industries, we praise this industry for the apparent and immediate employment opportunities it grants many of our people. Is it too much to ask that we ensure the rights and welfare of those who have chosen to rely on this so-called 'sunshine industry'?"

If you are for the protection of the rights and welfare of call center agents, pass this message to your call center friends. Let us work together for the immediate passage of this bill. Contact us at kabataanpartylist@gmail.com To pledge your support for the bill, click this link. (See full text of the bill here). Related Posts: House Bill 2592: A bill for the protection of the rights and welfare of BPO workers Call Center Bill: Understanding Its Salient Provisions

Captured Moments, Reps in Action During Budget Hearings

For the past weeks, there were a couple of events that happened both in and outside Congress–budget troopings of youth leaders, protest action led by NUSP at the budget hearing of the National Defense, signature campaign initiated by Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino, Representatives voicing their collective opposition to budget cuts to State Universities and Colleges in a press conference, giant manifesto signing of Reps opposed to budget cuts and a big youth and students walk-out.

Below are some photos captured during the ongoing budget hearings in Congress.








Photos taken by Fred Dabu of the Office of Rep. Antonio Tinio

Burning of Pnoy's Effigy, a First in His Term

On September 24, 2010, thousands of youth and students trooped to the streets to protest the impending budget cuts on State Universities and Colleges.

The budget for SUCs for 2011 has been slashed by 1.7 percent, from P23.8 billion in 2010 to only P23.4 billion.

The burning of Noynoy's effigy was the first to be done under his term.##

Photo courtesy of Victor Villanueva.

My Recollection of My Best Days at NUSP

The NATIONAL UNION OF STUDENTS OF THE PHILIPPINES (NUSP) is a nationwide alliance of more than 750 student councils, governments and unions committed to the advancement of the students’ democratic rights and welfare. Established in 1957, the NUSP has been consistently at the forefront of the students’ struggle for their rights and in solidarity with the Filipino people’s struggle for social justice and meaningful change in society.
I was first exposed to NUSP in 1999 when I attended the NUSP Congress held at the Santa Monica Beach Resort in Infanta, Quezon. I was then President of the PUP College of Business-Student Council. Dennis Maga was the National President then. Familiar faces at this Congress include Tinay Palabay, then Kasama sa UP Chair, Dennis Longid, who was UP Student Regent at that time, Sheila Omaña, KC Bugayong, Issey Sugiyama, Marlou Abaja, Gary Montenegro and Angge Santos.

The following year, this time as President of the Central Student Council of PUP, I got to participate more actively in NUSP activities. That year was marked by several big protest rallies and boycotts denouncing Erap's war budget. Ang panawagan ay Edukasyon Hindi Gyera! at May Pera sa Gyera, Wala sa Eskwela!

NUSP was founding organization of Erap Resign Youth Movement. It also actively supported the P125 wage hike campaign of workers and P5,000 salary increase of teachers and government employees.

Year 2001, was a rather extra-ordinary Congress. The Congress was held the day after then President Erap was toppled from Malacanang. Fresh from the historic march from EDSA People Power Monument to Mendiola, it was a real feat, pagod pagod pa from the mob. What with several days spent at EDSA along with thousands of students, workers, teachers, urban poor, church people, and other groups and personages. The Congress was held at the Hospicio de San Jose, Manila.

That same year, the call to abolish ROTC immediately gained nationwide support following the death of UST student Mark Chua, who exposed irregularities in the ROTC unit in UST. The nationwide clamor, signature drive for the abolition of ROTC, and Sunday walk-outs of ROTC cadets paved the way to the passage of Republic Act 9163 or the NSTP Law, which removed mandatory ROTC as a prerequisite for graduation for college students.





The following year, the Congress was held at Palo, Leyte. This same Congress was where I was elected Executive Vice President of NUSP. I was serving my last few months as PUP Student Regent then. At this same Congress, Mong Palatino was elected National President, Tinay Palabay as National Secretary General, Jaire Tuburan as VP for Mindanao, Diana Ragub as VP for Visayas and Sally Lagos as VP for Luzon. Other National Officers include Marlou Abaja, then International Liaison Officer and former President of Alyansa ng Nagkakaisang Konseho-PUP, and Leonardo 'Jun' Guevarra aka Giba as Deputy Secretary General. Giba also served as Chairperson of the UP Manila University Student Council. Also with the National Secretariat at that time were Cherry Clemente and Ninai Festin, former UP Diliman USC Vice Chairperson.

Our head office then was at Basilio Street, Sampaloc. Meetings were always full of laughter with loads of fun and crazy stuff. There was never a boring meeting. Marlou had a pet chick (as in sisiw!). And we also had a pet rabbit. Who will ever forget Rebo?

Tinay was a great trainer and mentor. It was imperative that all of us learn how to write a press statement. Mornings were spent listening to the radio and reading the newspaper for tit-for-tat. School hopping was a must. Wala pang twitter nun! Uso pa ang pag-fax ng media advisory at press statements.

Naalala ko rin, nag-aagawan pa kami ni Giba sa librong Harry Potter. Itinago ito ni Tinay dahil mas dapat daw igugol ang panahon sa pagbabasa ng relevant documents at books na nasa library namin.

The next Congress was held at Tanchuling Beach Resort at Oroquieta City, Misamis Oriental. Tinay failed to join us at this Congress because a big youth mobilization coincided with a national activity. She was the only one left in Manila. This was one of the most memorable Congresses I attended. You can ask Mong why.

The last Congress that I attended as part of the National Office was at Bacacay, Albay.


Through the years, NUSP has not waned in its pledge to organize the most number of student leaders and councils nationwide. NUSP enjoys the reputation of being the most organized, the biggest and most consolidated alliance of student councils nationwide.

As it celebrates its 53rd founding anniversary, it is but right that we give due credit not only to past presidents but more so to our distinguished alumni, former officers, national secretariat and thousands of student councils who continue to make the torch of militant student leadership shine as brighter as ever.

Kudos to present NUSP members and officers for the success of the NUSP-NCR Congress. Onward to 60th!

Should We Give Mercy to the "Merciless?"

On September 2 and 7, the Committee on Justice convened for the determination of sufficiency in form and substance of the two impeachment complaints filed against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.

Immediately after the Committee declared the complaints sufficient both in form and substance, Gutierrez sought the Supreme Court's intervention by filing a petition saying that the committee's decision to hear 2 impeachment complaints simultaneously violated a constitutional provision allowing only one impeachment case a year.

As Inquirer aptly puts in its banner story "Swift SC mercy for Merci," indeed, mercy came too swiftly for Ombudsman Gutierrez.

Voting 8-3-4, the SC ruled in favor of Gutierrez ordering the Committee on Justice to observe a Status Quo Ante, with literal meaning the "way things were before." As in the words of Supreme Court Spokesperson Midas Gutierrez, “the tribunal’s directive meant that the panel should observe the situation before it decided to give due course to two separate impeachment complaints after finding them sufficient in form and substance.”

Below are the general allegations hurled against Ombudsman Gutierrez filed by the complainants Renato Reyes of BAYAN, and Sister Mary John Mananzan of Pagbabago, among others:

a) Failure and omission to act promptly on the anomalous disbursement of funds and other anomalous transactions in the case of the "Fertilizer Scam"

b) Refusal to prosecute Gen. Eliseo de la Paz, one of the "Euro Generals" for his illegal act of not declaring before custom officials the more than Ten Thousand US Dollars.

c) Repeated failure to take action on the poll automation contract awarded to the Mega Pacific Consortium which was declared anomalous and void by the Supreme Court in 2004.

Ombudsman Gutierrez has notoriously stalled all cases of anomalies involving former president and now Pampanga 3rd District Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Quoting from the complainants, Ombudsman Gutierrez "miserably failed to live up to the role of ombudsman during the five years she has held the position."

It is clear that more influential people are behind the decision, and that there are concerted and desperate efforts to shield Ombudsman Gutierrez from the impeachment complaints.#

Ang iyong pagyao at ang libong nagpupugay. Paalam Ka Roda.

Huli kong nakita si Ka Roda sa isang tribute sa kanya noong Pebrero 14, 2009. Naimbitahan ang People’s Chorale na umawit ng mga lumang awitin na paborito ni Ka Roda.

Ang repertoire ng People’s Chorale para sa araw na iyon ay Moonriver, Fernando ng Abba na me lyrics na “there was something in the air that night, the stars were bright Fernando (na pinalitan namin ng Medardo), Here, There and Everywhere, at Something Stupid. Pero sa huli, ang 2 kantang inawit namin ay Moonriver at Around the World. Pula ang ni-require na damit para sa mga dadalo at magtatanghal ng araw ng iyon. Pula dahil sa nagpapatuloy at di nagmamaliw na pagpupugay at pagmamahal ng kilusang masa kay Ka Roda, o dahil din siguro araw ng mga puso!

Hindi karaniwan ang araw na iyon. Una, bagamat korni, kadalasan sa araw ng mga puso, aminin man natin o hindi, ay may sariling date ang mga may karelasyon at/o mag-asawa. Hindi karaniwan dahil si Ka Roda ang ka-date ng mga kasama. Parangal/tribute na natatangi at nararapat lamang para sa isang kasamang binansagang “most rebellious driver the country has ever had” ng dating diktador na si Ferdinand Marcos pero most loved sa kilusang masa.

Naalala ko rin a few years back, 2 beses kong nakasabay magpa-acupunture sa Council for Health and Development (CHD) si Ka Roda. Parehong nilalagyan ng aparato ang mga karayom namin na nagdadala ng kaunting electric current. Si Ka Roda ng mga panahon na iyon ay hindi pa naka-wheel chair.

Sa sumunod na pagkakataong nakita ko si Ka Roda, naka-wheel chair na siya. Ito ay sa parangal ni Ka Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran. Isa si Ka Roda sa mga nagpadaloy ng luha ko sa maraming nag-alay ng awit at pananalita. Hindi naging hadlang ang hirap nya sa pagsasalita nung panahon ng parangal para maramdaman at maipaabot nya ang matinding pighati sa pagpanaw ng isa sa dakilang lider manggagawa ng bansa.

Ngayong ikaw naman ang pararangalan, bukas ala-6 ng gabi sa UCCP, kami naman ang paniyak paluluhain mo Ka Roda – pagkat ikaw ay pinakamamahal di lamang ng mga drayber na iyong pinamunuan sa mahabang panahon bilang dating pangulo ng Piston kundi ng lahat ng sektor na nagpupugay sa di matatawarang kontribusyon mo at paglahok sa pakikibaka ng sambayanang inaapi.

Hindi man inabot ng mga nakababatang henerasyon ng mga tibak ang nakilala naming magaling na lider masa, bubuhayin ang iyong mga alala sa pagpapatuloy ng pakikibaka para sa tunay na kalayaan at demokrasya.

Maraming salamat at pinakamataas na pagpupugay Ka Roda!

House Bill 2592: A bill for the protection of the rights and welfare of BPO workers

The much awaited bill, House Bill No. 2592 or the "BPO Workers' Welfare and Protection Act of 2010, originally filed last 14th Congress, was refiled today by Kabataan Party-list Rep. Mong Palatino.

In his explanatory note, Rep. Palatino explained that the bill "seeks to assert the prescribed labor standards set forth in the Labor Code and institutionalize additional benefits that would hopefully address specific work-related problems and issues peculiar to the nature of BPO work.”

Citing numerous feedbacks received after the young legislator delivered a speech on the plight of BPO workers same month last year, a refined bill has been filed to address the growing problems that need serious and concrete measures in order to protect the welfare of thousands of BPO workers.

The refined and updated bill includes 1) mandatory regularization of all employees who have worked for at least six months in the company; 2) standardization of restroom breaks; 3) standardization of the medical check-up benefits for all workers; 4) right to organize and establish formations and unions; and 5) right to due process in administrative proceedings.

Let us support HB 2592!

Tell your call center friends, relatives, FB friends and Twitter followers that we need their support in order to pressure Congress to pass this bill. Write your district representatives; tell them that we want this bill passed this 15th Congress.

Read and download full text of the bill. Click here and here.

DEATH EATERS IN CONGRESS

Early this week, Kabataan Party-list Rep. Mong Palatino delivered a speech titled She-Who-Cannot-Be-Named-in-the-Plenary, which captured media attention, bloggers and twitter followers alike. For one, the speech has an eye-catching title. “She-Who-Cannot-Be-Named-in-the-Plenary” was easily associated with Harry Potter’s He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, of course, is the She-Who-Cannot and Lord Voldemort is the He-Who-Must-Not.

After the speech was delivered, not only did it appall neophyte congressmen present at that time, but captured the senses and creative minds of online followers and associated it with anything that’s Lord Voldemort. (GMA became the Lord Voldemort of Congress. Lord Voldemort, a witch espousing dark magic, was responsible for the death of Harry Potter’s parents. He is so evil that anyone who comes his way is mercilessly murdered.)

One comment read: The chamber is now called the Chamber of Secrets...where lies and deceptions are everywhere.. and any attempt to disclose things are being stifled...and freedom of information is being blocked by all means possible. (Jeffy Mendiola, Twitter).

But more than the association to anything that’s Harry Potter, Rep. Palatino delivered a strong message: that lawmakers should not be stopped from making a stand and speaking up about the accountabilities of GMA in the name of decorum, that speeches bearing the words, papanagutin, magnanakaw, mamamatay-tao, should not be omitted in desperate attempts not to offend a member of Congress.

There is now an alarming situation where even members of Congress, who may stand and deliver privilege speeches, are under threat of censorship.

With GMA’s allies deeply indebted to their 'Lord', defending her against any possible mention of her alleged crimes during her presidency, we expect more ‘censorship’ to happen.

What transpired on Aug. 3, after Rep. Teddy Casino’s speech was several times slapped with moves to omit words ‘offensive to a fellow member of Congress’ is likely to happen again as She-Who-Cannot-Be-Named-in-the-Plenary’s allies are now ready to yield their wands by slashing and censoring speeches “offensive” to their ‘Lord’.

Just like in Harry Potter where the long-feared war has begun and Voldemort’s Death Eaters seized control of the Ministry of Magic, Congress is now feared to be overtaken by GMA’s own 'death eaters.'

Let us keep a close watch. Let us be wary of the ‘Dark Magic.’

DELECTABLE MUSSELS

Diwal (angel wings), Capiznon for tounge, is a mussel with protruding meat that looks like, well, tounge or dila, hence its name diwal. Markets do not run out of their supply of diwal as it can be found abundantly in the town's coastal area.

The first time we tried it for lunch, it was just steamed with salt and pepper. For dinner, off we went to the nearest market and bought a kilo of diwal (a kilo costs P 70). We cooked it with butter and lots of garlic. Super yummy!!!

Try it when you get a chance to visit Western Visayas.#

ISLAND HOPPING IN WESTERN VISAYAS

I had a really fun and exciting backpacking trip with dear friends Ava, Vernie and Anna last June 4-8. It was a post-election vacation, with ticket booked in March (thanks to Cebu Pacific's cheapest rates, buy now/fly later promo).

We planned to hop Roxas City, Aklan and Antique.

Roxas was more than just the Seafood Capital of the Philippines. On our first day, we went to explore Tuwad Island, which was a 45 to 1 hour boat travel from Roxas City. Lunch was at nearby Baybay Island, where Olotayan Island can be seen from afar.

On day 2, we traveled by van to Caticlan & took the boat to Boracay. I've seen several beaches definitely clearer than that of Boracay's. The influx of tourists may have really contributed to what has become of Boracay now.

On our 2nd day in Boracay, we treated ourselves to the famous Deco's, which serve really sumptuous la paz batchoy (they also serve tapsilog and longsilog).

At around 11 am, we set off to Culasi (2-hour bus ride from Caticlan to Culasi). Upon arrival in Culasi, we had a quick lunch of baranggan fish and seaweed at Divs' house, and took a 15-minute boat trip to Malalison Island, the primary reason why we traveled all the way to Western Visayas – after seeing pictures of Malalison, courtesy of my friend and colleague Bikoy. We camped out along the shore; grilled baranggan fish and tried to catch meteorites fall down the sky. It was all worth the travel. Malalison is a small island in Antique with only 700 people. We were joined in the trip by the charming island barangay captain Allan Macuja, 2 tanods, and several young lads from Culasi.

Our 2nd day in Antique was spent at Tibiao for our fish spa session.(Tibiao, a small town in Antique, is home to 7-tiered falls named Bugtong Falls). We were pressed for time hence, the desire to take a peak at the famous falls did not take place.

We also discovered that Antique has the most number of bridges. On our way back to Culasi, I counted 7 bridges along the way. Haha!

June 7 in the afternoon, we traveled back to Kalibo to take a van to Roxas City.

June 8 was our last day in Roxas City. We started the day with an early morning trip to the market. I bought blue marlin and prawns. And yes, we won't forget our diwal (capiznon word meaning dila).

Still not getting enough of the 5-day trip with 3 provinces, 3 islands and lots of other extra ordinary experience, we set off to the nearby Pan-ay, still in Capiz, to get a glimpse of the biggest church bell in Asia at Sta.Monica Church. Whoa! The church has a really amazing facade. It can be likened to the church in Vigan (which was renovated and repainted, to my disappointment, as it lost its 'old character').

The trip was worth the 30-minute travel. We learned that the bell was made in 1870; was made out of 70 sacks of coins; echo can reach up to 8 kilometers.


Our flight was delayed by 2 hours so we went to Baybay Beach again and had lunch of shrimp, grilled squid and liempo.

We promise to go back to Roxas and Antique. There's still a lot to discover. Falls. Virgin Islands. Seafood. Different kinds of clams we haven't tasted yet.

THE TRUTH ABOUT NOYNOY AND HIS FAILURE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE ON HACIENDA LUISITA

Noynoy's Luisita from Bulatlat on Vimeo.

A COVENANT WITH THE YOUTH

This morning, national youth organizations signed with carefully selected candidates for May 2010 elections, 'a covenant with the youth, a promise of change'.

The National Union of Students of the Philippines, College Editor's Guild of the Philippines, League of Filipino Students, Anakbayan, Student Christian Movement of the Philippines and Kabataang Artista para sa Tunay na Kalayaan, along with its thousands of chapters, formations and members nationwide unanimously endorsed Kabataan Partylist led by its first nominee Rep. Raymond “Mong” Palatino. Rep. Mong formerly led the National Union of Students in 2001.

The nine (9) senatorial candidates are Makabayan candidates Rep. Satur Ocampo, Rep. Liza Maza, Atty. Adel Tamano, Gilbert Remulla, Sen. Pia Cayetano, Atty. Gwen Pimentel, Justice Bello, Apolinario “Jun” Lozada, Rep. Rodolfo “Ruffy” Biazon.

The signing of covenant formalizes the candidates' agreement to the eight-point Education Agenda, which are as follows:

1. Increase state spending to six percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP);
2. Ensure free and accessible education at all levels and expand educational services;
3. Promote a nationalist curriculum;
4. Uphold the democratic rights of students;
5. Improve teachers’ welfare;
6. Improve science, research and technology development;
7. Promote transparency in education programs; and
8. Review existing policies and institutions of education.

The forging of unity on the basis of platform and agenda is a clear commitment of the above candidates to stand by the youth's issues and struggles even beyond May 2010.

Lady Gaga sings for Kabataan Partylist

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIkKk9Dk1PY

DINE WITH THE BIG BIRD, CLICK AND BE MERRY

These are just but two of the beautiful things I like about Adarna Resto. Aside from the delectable dishes they serve, there are also antiques, memorabilia, really old pictures, framed and neatly preserved.

The meals might be a bit pricey but still worth your hard-earned money.#

CALIFORNIA BERRY AND MY TWISTED THOUGHTS OF YOU

I write not because of this sumptuous yoghurt ice cream of California Berry.

I write because of the person I ate this with. I so miss this friend of mine, I can hardly wait to see her soon to share stories of our lenten sojourns, non-stop eating, or just anything we haven't talked about in the almost one month that we haven't seen each other.#

SUPPORT OUR CAMPAIGN: 152 VOTES for #152 KABATAAN PARTY-LIST

Exactly 36 days before the May 10 elections, Kabataan Party-list launched 152 Votes for #152 Kabataan Party-list, #33 Liza Maza, and # 37 Satur Ocampo starting today until May 10, 2010.

The campaign seeks to gather 152 votes each for #152, #33 and #37 sa balota. That's about 5 votes each a day!

Five votes a day for every volunteer, member and supporter of Kabataan Party-list's advocacies and platform.

Enjoin our friends, family members, and other groups to support our ongoing campaign.

We should take this campaign seriously to achieve our goal of ensuring that the youth will be represented in Congress not just by 1 but by 3 youth Party-list representatives and 2 Makabayan Senators.

Click here to know more about this campaign.

BLACK SATURDAY AND THE 53rd DAY IN DETENTION OF THE 43 HEALTH WORKERS

Black Saturday marks the end of the 40-day Lenten Season. Pledges of penitence, abstinence and repentance mark this Holy season observed by devout Catholics.

After 40 days. Jesus Christ will be resurrected in what we all came to know as the Easter Sunday.

But this blog post is not just about the Black Saturday or the Resurrection of the Lord.

This post is about the 43 health workers illegally detained, tortured and charged with trumped up cases. Jesus Christ would have wanted the 43 health workers freed for they have done nothing except to provide free health service to far-flung barrios, where health service was as scant as the food they eat.

Just like Jesus Christ, who had attracted huge crowds during his sermons to preach and teach about service and humility, the 43 health workers attracted patients who have long been denied of this very basic social service.

Service.

Yes, that's what the 43 health workers offered to our countrymen.

They should be freed the soonest time possible for they have not committed any crime.

Again, all they did was serve. Nothing more, nothing less.

HS STUDENTS AND PARENTS DEMAND REFUND OF GRADUATION FEES

Last March 23, Kabataan Party-list, along with several high school students and parents, stormed the central office of the Department of Education for the agency's inaction to the numerous complaints we have received concerning the illegal collection of fees that range from graduation fees, diploma fee, exam fee, toga fee, and many other unnecessary fees. The complaints were collected through the hotline number that we have set up.

Below are pictures of the said action.





We vowed not to leave the office until Secretary Mona Valisno or any other department officer come out of his/her office and face the disgruntled parents and students.

After more than an hour of waiting, Undersecretary Sunga came out. That was after threats of dispersal by security personnel of the department. Probably 'inspired' by the facsists style of the Arroyo government, they were ready to disperse the students violently -- what with those truncheons and lined up security personnel.




We stayed until we were able to make Usec. Sunga commit to his statement that the department shall penalize schools collecting unnecessary fees.