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.#

Call for Support for HB 2592

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

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.’

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.

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.

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.

PALENGKE TOUR WITH ISKO AND JOLO REVILLA

Nagpalengke tour kami nung March 24. We were scheduled to tour 6 markets: Nepa Q-mart, Balintawak, Muñoz, Frisco, Gallas at Arayat.

Our first stop was Nepa Q-mart. It was way past 2pm so the sun didn't pierce through my skin as a 10am sun does. Pero mainit, napakainit ng pagtanggap ng mga tao sa amin sa mga palengkeng inikutan namin.

That's Isko with Jolo Revilla.



Isko again, this time with our 4th nominee Renil Oliva from Cebu City:


We actually were not able to tour all 6 markets as scheduled. We missed our last two stops mainly because on our way to Gallas market, the convoy passed by Manresa (which was not on d list of market stops). The narrow road all the more became narrower for people flocked to the streets and cheerfully greeted us. The time we spent at Manresa is equivalent to 2 markets we toured before it.

It was already dark when the organizers decided to call it a day.

Go, go, go! More market tours!

LIST OF PARTY-LISTS WITH LINKS TO GMA

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and Kontra Daya have closely monitored the filing of party-list (PL) nominees to get the list of PLs with links to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Bayan and Kontra Daya have proven that questionable people are bound to invade Congress through the party-list system, which supposedly allows ONLY marginalized sectors to be represented in Congress.

Below is the list of party-lists with links to Gloria Arroyo.

List of PLs With Links to GMA


Disqualification cases have been filed by various groups to thwart the entry of more party-lists claiming to be representatives of the marginalized, when the law is clear on the requirements to become legitimate representatives of party-lists.

How many more Arroyos will claim that they represent the marginalized? Remember the entry of the sister of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo – Lourdes Arroyo, who proudly and boldly claims she represents the 'magbabalut' – in Congress last year.

It will no longer surprise me if Luli Arroyo's name comes out as PL nominee representing 'parloristas' and 'manikuristas'.

Isko's big comeback!

It has been seventeen days since the campaign period started and we're already swamped with schedules. Our first nominee, Rep. Mong Palatino is in Mindanao for a campaign sortie right now. So as Atty. Kat Castillo. Vencer Crisostomo, our Secretary General, is also out-of-town for another campaign schedule in Region V. Meanwhile, our Deputy Sec. Gen. Ana Vania Fatalla is in Pangasinan for yet another big sortie.

Schedules left and right, we sometimes cannot afford to handle the many schedules lined up for our nominees and officers, hence, the good news that Isko will be coming out soon is such a welcome surprise.

First week of February was web-surfing in search of a mascot maker. It was all worth the effort as we finally found the right mascot maker. He is Sam Fuentes. I already met up with him to discuss our specific requests. I learned that Sam made puppets for GMA-7's kiddie show, "Batang Bibbo." I also learned that he made the beautiful headdresses for theater play Jack and the Beanstalk staged by Repertory Philippines in August last year.

(I watched Jack and the Beanstalk last year with my niece at Onstage, Greenbelt and was really impressed with the props).

Who really is Isko?

Isko was launched in 2007. He first came out in public during the opening of the campaign at Liwasang Bonifacio. He was so loved by our members. Dinudumog siya, as in.

Isko, short for Iskolar ng Bayan, was a product of a collaboration between our members who come from UP College of Fine Arts and some dear artists/friends. He wouldn't have existed without the help of Wena of Sinagbayan and Karla of CEGP.

Isko is terribly missed in our campaign sorties. He missed this year's UP Fair but we promise he'll be out in a few more days.

After his brief absence, Isko deserves a big comeback.

(I actually took some pre-production pictures but opted not to post them here to add up to everyone's excitement of seeing Isko again).

Feb. 25, 2010 is Blog Action Day: The Real Heroes of EDSA

Twenty four years ago, our people toppled a tyrant. On February 25, 2010 let us re-tell their stories.

On Thursday, we are enjoining all young Filipinos to blog about the stories of the real heroes of EDSA: our parents, grandparents, ates and kuyas, titos and titas, ninong and ninangs.

We may have been too young then or were not even born yet, but we can ask them to recount their tales of real-life heroism to us. What prompted them to join the uprising? What were their thoughts and feelings? What did they wear, eat, chant? How did it feel to be able to be surrounded by overwhelming unity and patriotism among millions of other heroes marching in the streets on those three historic days.

Read more here.

CHED yielded to our call, releases memo disallowing "no permit, no exam" policy

The Commission on Higher Education finally issued a memorandum on January 22, 2010, in response to the House Bill 6799 or the "Anti-No-Permit, No-Exam Policy" filed by Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raymond "Mong" Palatino last September 10, 2009.

This was after some officials of CHED attended a committee hearing of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education (CHTE), where the bill was discussed. It was in the same occasion that CHED officials promised to release a memorandum.

The memorandum clearly states that "higher education institutions shall allow students with delinquent accounts to take school examinations," provided that they would present a promissory note stating when their financial obligation would be settled.

The "no-permit, no-exam" policy was implemented by school administrators to prevent students who have outstanding balances/fees from taking exams unless a waiver has been secured.

CHED would not have issued such a memorandum without the presence of a bill that addresses this decade-long anti-student policy affecting students especially those in private schools.

Subsequently, only a few days after the release of such memorandum, the Federation of Associations of Private Schools and Administrators (Fapsa) quickly reacted strongly against the implementation of such memorandum saying it was “not well thought-out and [one that] will surely render small private schools” out of the business.

The strong opposition of school owners was already expected as they had been successful in implementing such policy without CHED stopping them from doing so.

Support House Bill 6799. No to "no-permit, no-exam" policy.
Hb 6799 Anti No Permit No Exam Bill 2


Sources: Business Mirror, GMA News, Yahoo News, ABS-CBN

Tweetdeck or Hootsuite?

I used to be a big fan of Tweetdeck. In fact, after having discovered the usefulness of it, I started recommending it to friends. At first, fellow blogger Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raymond “Mong” Palatino prodded me to use Twhirl, but I find Tweetdeck a better software. I even encouraged friends who were just starting to use Twitter to use Tweetdeck.

I opted to use such a software because I was trying to avoid Facebook. (Peace man!). This was the height of my abhorrence to games being posted on my wall, quizzes inundating my newsfeeds. I must admit, when FB was fast becoming popular, I was one of those who got really hooked. But an unfortunate event in July 2009, stopped me from using it for a month. I realized then that I could live without FB, haha! Thanks to TD, the propensity to spend hours facebooking has lessened.

With TD, several windows may be customized to show both FB and Twitter posts. Even wall posts of friends, shout outs, Twitter mentions can be viewed. You may comment to FB post right through TD.

But while I was writing this post, good friend-blogger Tonyo Cruz suggested that Hootsuite was a better choice.


Tonyo was indeed right. I was convinced. Hootsuite was a better choice. It works just like Tweetdeck minus the downside of having to download and re-install the latter whenever you use a different PC/Laptop. Hootsuite is web-based; there's no need to install the program; and it lets you post updates to your facebook, twitter, ping.fm, and even wordpress. Just like TD, windows may be customized to show FB wall, shoutouts, plus Twitter sent posts and pending posts. Cool!

Make your choice. My vote goes to Hootsuite.

CyberCrime Act of 2009: What a vicious way to start the year

The first day of the session for 2010 started with a draconian bill passing third and final reading at the House of Representatives (HOR).

The House leadership fulfilled its promise early this January that it shall fast track the Cybercrime bill.

That was Monday, January 18, 2009. A lot may not be aware but a draconian bill was being brewed at that time. After a few privilege speeches, the bill was deliberated at the HOR. The sole NO vote came from Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino, as house journal shows. One hundred seventy five lawmakers voted in favor of the bill, 166 were present. (As of this writing, other Congressmen and Party-list Representatives might have already submitted their “no” vote).
===================================
Over the weekend, former Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Esperanza Cabral filed a libel case against blogger "Ella", who posted her personal thoughts and observations about DWSD's non-distribution of goods stocked at the agency's warehouses.

That blog post earned the ire of a number of people: from netizens and bloggers, to many other concerned groups and individuals. The news came as a brazen insult to the well-being of the victims. Many thought how shameless of this government, through its social service department, to hoard such goods when many NGOs, groups and individuals at that time, have been raising heaven and earth to get enough goods as it could gather for the countless victims.

What message does the filing of libel case against a fellow blogger send to us?

It is alarming that even at this time when the Cybercrime Act of 2009 has not yet been signed into law, we can already sense a crystal clear picture of how this bill, once signed into law, can be used against us.

From the way the bill has been railroaded, you can already draw conclusion that this will be used against those critical of the government – that to record, upload, and write about the truth has no place in the government that will use every possible means to hide the truth. GMA has so many things to be afraid of: from the Hello Garci scandal to the many other unwritten, transgressions of GMA.

It is already election time. Note that this will be the first automated election in the history of the country. Automation connotes the use of technology. At this time of tweeting, blogging and microblogging, the people were empowered to bring news that a few media outfits have the power to do so.

The CyberCrime bill will indisputably pin down on people’s freedom to use the internet to bring fresh news to the people especially this year when many are keeping an eye on the automation.

We can still stall passage of this bill at the Senate. Let us spread the news that this anti-people, anti-blogger bill should be stopped.

Related links: The Danger with the CyberCrime Act of 2009

Get to Know the CyberCrime Prevention Act of 2009

House Bill 6974 also known as CyberCrimePrevention Act of 2009 is already on its third reading. House Speaker Prospero Nograles announced that this is among his priority bills. Given that Congress has less than 14 sessions, this bill may be railroaded.

Get to know the facts.

Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino stated that his opposition to the proposed bill is for similar reasons that he is against the Right of Reply Bill. “The bill may be used to stifle freedom of expression, speech and the press and may violate the people’s right to privacy. The definition of ‘cybercrime’ in the bill is vague and its scope overly-broad that it may criminalize ordinary electronic activities of any Tom, Dick or Harry who uses the Internet, a mobile phone or any electronic device,” he said.

Check out Kabataan Party-list's full statement here.

VOTERS' REGISTRATION EXTENDED UNTIL JAN 9 Probably, the best christmas gift one can give to our country

From ABS-CBN.COM

MANILA - The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday extended registration of voters for the May 10, 2010 elections to the second week of January 2010, according to early reports reaching abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak.

The decision is immediately executory, the Supreme Court sources said.

Kabataan party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino asked the Supreme Court last October 30 to move the deadline for voters' registration to January 9 as provided by law.

"We are questioning the legality of shortened voters' registration. According to Section 8 of the Voter Registration Act of 1996, registration should be daily and 120 days before election," Palatino had said. (Access petition here: http://tinyurl.com/yhyqwov )

"The deadline should be January 9. Congress, not Comelec, has the power to amend a law," he said.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) had set the deadline for voters' registration to October 31 due to the demands of poll automation.

Only 3 million first-time voters

According to Palatino, National Statistics Office data shows there should be 11 million first-time voters, but only 3 million had registered.

Other petitioners were Jade Charmane Rose Valenzuela, Jacqueline Alexis Merced, Ana Katrina Tejero, Kenneth Carlisle Earl Eugenio, and Victor Louis Crisostomo, all first-time voters who tried but failed to register due various reasons.

They were joined by Alvin Peters, president of the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP); Vijae Alquisola, president of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP); Ken Leonard Ramos, chairperson of Anakbayan; and, Ma. Cristina Angela Guevarra, chairperson of the Student Christian Movement of the Philippines (SCMP).

At the House of Representatives, Palatino had filed three resolutions--House Resolutions 1162, 1443, and 1336--seeking the extension of voters’ registration. -- with a report from Carmela Fonbuena, abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak

Register to vote for 2010, Vote for Change!

October 31 is the last day of registration. If you have not registered yet, click here.

Know more about Panata 2010.

Brownman Revival takes its oath for 2010

Kabataan Partylist said DepEd should be reprimanded for 'cutting classes'

Kabataan Party-list Representative Raymond “Mong” Palatino today lambasted the Department of Education's move to reduce the number of class hours in some public elementary schools, saying that the smaller learning load will only worsen the already sorry state of education in the country.

“Last we checked, students are punished if they cut classes. This time, the DepEd itself is driving students out of their classrooms. The DepEd deserves 'detention time' and should be reprimanded for this proposal," Palatino said.

The young solon said “While it is true that students are squatting on dirty floors in makeshift classrooms, this sorry state should not prompt our education officials to cut down the number of class hours. This will have an adverse impact on the quality of public education, especially since students taking national assessment tests have obtained failing marks during the past few years.”

Palatino also slammed the “integration” of subjects as it will only “confuse learners.”

“Remember that it is basic education we are talking about. Before we learn the connection between subjects, we should learn the basics, the fundamentals. Kung pagsasamahin ang mga subjects, hindi na malalaman ng bata kung ano ang pinagkaiba ng Hekasi sa MAPE,” he said.

Instead of reducing the number of class hours, Palatino said the government should prioritize and focus on building more classrooms and improving school facilities to make learning conducive to students. He said that shortages and the deterioration in the quality of education can be mainly be attributed to the "the government's continuous neglect of the education sector coupled with the numerous unresolved corruption cases within the DepEd that cut off a huge chunk of its already insufficient budget."

“The proposed 2010 budget for education hardly grew from the current budget. The government has been religiously implementing the 'limited or zero growth' in government spending recommended by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank to tame the government deficit and ensure debt payments,” Palatino said.

Palatino cited a study conducted by the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) that class size in Philippine elementary schools stood at 1:43.9 while in Malaysia the figure is at 1:31.7, Thailand, 1:22.9, Japan, 1:28.6, and India 1:40.

The Unesco data also show that teacher-pupil ratio for the primary level in the Philippines (1:35) far exceeds that of Thailand (1:18), Malaysia (1:17), Indonesia (1:20), Japan (1:19), and China (1:18). ###