GMA rhyme and her shameful legacy to the young ones

There is no doubt GMA will be remembered by the young generation.

Like other presidents, she wants to change the constitution.

The very first attempt to shift from presidential to parliamentary was during Fidel V. Ramos's time. He backtracked after gigantic protests took place.

Former President Joseph "Erap" Estrada with his own version called CONCORD or Constitutional Correction for Development likewise proposed to change the constitution. This did not prosper because of people's strong resistance.

Now, as I vividly recall, GMA attempted to change the constitution not just once but four times.

After she successfully cheated her way to Malacañang, she immediately created a body that would propose the necessary revisions on the constitution. This was supported and campaigned by Malacañang mouthpiece Sigaw ng Bayan or People's Initiative by launching a signature drive to gather people's support for a plebiscite.

The Supreme Court junked the proposal amid strong opposition and pressure by a broad number of people against charter change.

Again, in 2006, allied lawmakers pushed for Con-Ass. This was led by former House Speaker Jose de Venecia. Like in previous attempts, militant groups led by BAYAN, church groups, students, and business sectors united and were up in battle against cha-cha.

The third attempt came in the guise of federalism. This was in May 2008. Former Press Secretary Jesus Dureza's words would choke him when he defensively said "Naughty insinuations that she was going for Cha-cha because she wants to extend her term in office prompted the President to make her position clear. She is calling for a constitutional amendment… in order to bring about the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity. Did anyone buy this?

The last and most desperate of all attempts came just a few days before Congress went on recess. Like a lightning that came so swiftly.

Who will not say that these orchestrated acts does not manifest how desperate GMA can get? When in July 2007 GMA jokingly said "Who knows, I might run for Congress!" she received a plethora of criticisms.

It's no joke telling the people you might run again when everyone, even a little child, wants to kick you out of Malacañang. GMA has become so (un)popular among the people that even a rhyme being sung by my three-year old niece goes "Gloriang madaya, pik-pak-bum.."

Blog Action Day

June 25 is Blog Action Day dubbed "KICK HER CON-ASS GOODBYE." It marks yet another cyberspace campaign against GMA's Con-Ass.

The campaign aims at enticing bloggers and social network users (facebook, friendster, plurk and twitter) to write their own blogs or posts, and express in their unique ways their abomination against Gloria's Con-Ass.

Let our collective voices serve to attract more people to protest against Con-Ass. Maximize cyberspace to invite people to protest actions and rallies.

Make your voices heard! Spread the word that will rattle this power-hungry regime.

Stop Con-Ass. No to Cha-cha.

Sign the online petition now.

We are today’s generation of Filipino youth, young, vibrant and spirited, transcending professions, cultures and boundaries, and to whom the hopes and aspirations for the nation’s future is bequeathed.

Together, we vehemently oppose all attempts by the ruling Arroyo clique and its cronies in Congress to tamper on the Constitution and perpetuate itself in power. We denounce in the strongest possible terms the blatant abuse of power and treachery that have come to characterize this regime.

The shameless display of arrogance and callousness of the Arroyo government sends for all patriotic and freedom-loving young Filipinos to dissent. The signs of times are rallying us to lives of involvement and action.

The youth have always played a pivotal role in ushering in significant changes and junctures in history. We have always been at the forefront of uprisings and revolutions every time the social, political and economic conditions in society become too intolerable for Filipinos to endure.

Today, we have a moral and sacred duty to perform. We cannot remain silent or with our arms crossed. We cannot remain indifferent while our own future as a people and a nation are being compromised for selfish political ambitions. The stakes are too high for us to take a pass.

The year that was

As I witness the year 2008 unfold, I kept track on numerous articles that have been written to give us a rundown of the important events of 2008. Showbiz news, quotable quotes, newsmakers, and to top it all, news stories that we closely monitored.

The US election that proclaimed Barack Obama as the first African-American president was voted the top news story of 2008 in The Associated Press’ annual poll. Meanwhile, Heath Ledger's death was voted the 2008's top entertainment story in a survey still conducted by the AP. Ledger, 28, played Joker in "The Dark Knight."

George Bush once again made it to the news when Iraqi journalist Muntadar al-Zeidi threw his shoes at Bush at a press conference in Baghdad held to honor the adoption of the US-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). Zeidi bellowed, "This is a farewell kiss, you dog. This is from the widows, the orphans, and those who were killed in Iraq."

Local showbiz writers also had their share of articles on some of the important events of 2008. Ruben Nepales of Philippine Daily Inquirer compiled the past year’s quotable quotes from Hollywood stars. Meanwhile, Dolly Ann Carvajal penned 28 best celebrity quotes of 2008.

Indeed, our hands are full with numerous issues and concerns our countries coped with.

Below are some of the news stories of 2008 that we shall never forget.

1. De Venecia’s fall.

Jose de Venecia was voted out of his seat after an obviously scripted maneuverings in the House of Representatives. GMA ally Prospero Nograles, representative of Davao City, replaced JDV.
It can be remembered that JDV sided with his son Jose de Venecia III when the latter accused Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of being the force behind China’s ZTE bagging the $329-million contract for the National Broadband Network (NBN) project, with husband Mike Arroyo, and other cronies.

2. ZTE NBN scandal, Jun Lozada’s testimony

Whistle-blower Jun Lozada got the people rallying behind him after he was kidnapped by government security forces to prevent him from testifying at the Senate, which had been investigating allegations of corruption in the agreement that was forged with ZTE Corp.

Jun Lozada, in his testimony, implicated the President, FG Mike Arroyo, Chairman Abalos, and other political allies.

3. The rice price crisis

In February 2008, a memorandum from the National Food Authority (NFA) listed down the causes of the rice crisis. This was followed by government pronouncements that rice will be imported from Vietnam. Ensuing scenarios led to people flocking to NFA stores to buy cheaper rice.

According to Rafael "Ka Paeng" Mariano, chairman of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas and concurrent representative of ANAKPAWIS party list, the country needs immediate rice price controls and a genuine agrarian reform law in order to address this problem that the government itself created.

KMP asserts that the rice crisis in the country and the world is aggravated by an artificial one made by the rice cartel.

4. Oil price hikes

The country was confronted with incessant oil price hikes causing prices of basic goods and commodities to soar up.

From 2005 when the Arroyo government imposed the value-added tax on petroleum products, a tremendous increase of price by 20 percent on gasoline products occurred. Diesel and kerosene prices have increased by 17% and 19%, respectively. LPG posted the highest increase in price with a 36%-hike. Meanwhile, fuel oil has increased its price by as much as 31 percent.

Unfortunately, the government refuses to repeal the deregulation law and the cancellation of the VAT to regulate the local oil industry.

5. Disaster at sea: the MV Princess of the Stars tragedy

MV Princess of the Stars capsized in Romblon at the height of typhoon Frank on June 22, 2008. The ferry was carrying over 865 passengers and left more than 70 dead, 56 survivors. The blame was placed on the ship’s Captain when it allowed the ship to sail despite the storm. MV Princess of the Stars is said to be the crown jewel of Sulpicio Lines.

6. Ces Drilon and colleagues held up in Sulu

Ces Drilon and her two assistants were sent to Zamboanga to interview Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron. She and her companions ended up being held up by the mercenary bandits who demanded P20 million for their freedom.

After a series of consultations, she, cameraman Jimmy Encarnacion, and her driver were freed.

It can be recalled that Arlyn dela Cruz suffered the same fate while covering the Abu Sayyaf in April 2002.

7. The aborted GRP-MILF MOA on Ancestral Domain

The debates over the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) led to the eruption of renewed conflict between the AFP and the MILF.

The issue about ancestral domain still remains unresolved. In fact, it caused further divisiveness in the already restless far South. Mrs. Arroyo further aggravated the situation by ordering renewed military offensives against the MILF.

Christian residents dramatized their protest against the possible inclusion of several villages in the so-called Bangsamoro homeland to be supervised by the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE) under the MILF.

8. Manny Pacquiao wins over dela Hoya.

Pacquiao once again proved his might when he defeated Golden Boy Oscar dela Hoya. Dela Hoya manages Pacquiao through its Golden Boy Productions.

9. The global financial crisis.

The country has yet to experience the full-blown effects of the global financial crisis that inundated big capitalist countries starting from imperialist United States.

Just last quarter of this year, many OFWs have already been sent home by their employers. Poverty is expected to rise with numerous job losses, retrenchments, and meager wages, combined with sky-rocketing prices.

10. GMA’s Charter Change.

The battle lines have once again been drawn between pro Cha-cha and anti-Cha-cha groups. Two things remain obvious. Gloria Arroyo will reap all seeds sown and grown by his cohorts in Congress. The Filipino people will have to bear the repercussions of an extremely wicked scheme.

Let us not forget the year that past. This shall guide us to muster the courage to face greater challenges ahead. Let's draw inspiration from those innocent lives that have been taken, voices that have been silenced, stories that were never told. Let us remain vigilant in the light of vicious attempts to trample upon our ancestors’ legacy of valiance to protect this country from falling into the hands of the greedy.

References: IBON Foundation, Inquirer.net, PinoyPress, abs-cbn.com, gmanewstv.com