Thursday, October 20, 2005

Leftist and Communists

Guide questions based on the article by Antonio Abaya entitled Leftist and Communist published by Manila Standard (10-20-05)

>What is the current affiliation of Joel Rocamora?
>Research about the biography of Jose Maria Sison, Luis Jalandoni and Renato Constantino, Sr.
>What is the ideological standpoint of Kabataang Makabayan?
>Do you agree with the pronouncement of Sec. Norberto Gonzales that 83% of the rallyists are communists?
>Quote a passage from the statement of the author which underscores the law of dialectics.
>Define an 'open society' and 'pragmatic realism' in the context of the author's discourse.
>What led to the failure of Eastern Europe and Soviet Union in their experiment with Communism?
>Define glasnost and perestroika.
>What major reforms were introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev and Deng Xiaoping to Soviet Union and China, respectively?
>According to the author, why should the media be blamed for the misrepresentation of the communists?
>Having read his column, do you agree or disagree with his arguments against M-L-M?

Rewarding Change

Quoted passages from 7 Days to rewarding Change by Gary Yardley and Jan Kelly (1996)

>The cult of unquestioned control, power and dogmatic authority only thwart people's potential.

>We live our dreams by taking actions.

>Often, the solutions for today's difficulties can become tomorrow's problem.

>The challenges we face currently may be repititions of past dilemmas that were not adequately resolved, or may be entirely new.

>Nobody can teach us how to be ourselves. Infact, we probably know how to be ourselves too well. We will change with time and circumstances.

>All of us have the ability to add to another person's day.

>Change produces concerns and doubts or, alternatively, excitement and anticipation.

>A problem shared is a problem halved.

>We all like to see ourselves as sophisticated, yet we often respond to superstitions and the notion of luck.

>The greater the change, the greater the risk and, invariably, the greater the resistance.

>Just as water will flow in the path of least resistance, when we acknowledge, shift and adapt to the changes around us rather than remain static and rigid in our thinking, our company can also carve out new territory and cover more ground in its future endeavors.

Philippine Political Outlook

Philippine Political Outlook
by John N. Ponsaran



For the past weeks, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s brand of politics turned out to be very confrontational in character--enough to bring about restiveness in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and in both Houses of Congress. By any measure, a heavily polarized Philippines will surely have a hard-time to pose for an economic take-off. Is Arroyo herself the divisive element? That is the over-arching question at hand.

The leadership crisis that beset the presidency has brought in various alternative proposals from sectors representing the entire spectrum of political orientations such as military take-over, democratic people’s council, constitutional succession of the Vice-President, transition caretaker government, martial law, and charter change (cha-cha). This has rendered the public and the business sectors on the edge of their seats in apprehension.
.
Presently, the Arroyo administration is strongly pushing for a shift from a presidential-unitary to a parliamentary-federal form of government purportedly to undertake much-needed political and socio-economic reforms. This move is strongly supported by the House of Representatives and the local government units (LGUs). In preparation, a consultative constitutional commission (ConCom) headed by Dr. Jose Abueva of the Citizen’s Movement for Federal Philippines was convened by the Palace to jump-start the drafting of the proposal for cha-cha. Areas of vital concerns include a shift to parliamentary-federal government, political and electoral reforms. But the loosely consolidated opposition believes that a cha-cha is uncalled for and untimely especially at this point of intense political crisis and divisiveness. Clouds of doubt hang over cha-cha as it is seen as a mere smokescreen to divert the public’s attention from Arroyo’s alleged direct hand over the 2004 election fraud or the so-called Garci controversy.

Opposition leaders, on the other hand, perceive the possible passage of the anti-terrorism bill as a sign of a looming martial law regime. Human rights advocates underscore the seeming parallelisms of Arroyo’s regime with that of Marcos’ with the implementation of series of pre-emptive policies such as E.0. 464, calibrated pre-emptive response (CPR) and B.P. 880 (Public Assembly Act of 1985). In a vicious cycle, these will only bring about more Gloria resign movements along the streets. Columnist Condrado De Quiros has this to say:

There are those who admire the President for displaying what they think is strength; and I do not doubt that the Chief Executive considers herself a strong person-both in terms of will and intellect. But the political reality is, she is weak; and her weakness is daily demonstrated by the means she uses to show strength.

The Palace however justifies all these pre-emptive policies to uphold executive prerogative and the chain of command and protect commerce, mobility, livelihood and the over-all peace and order of the nation.

Arroyo is obviously bent on thwarting all stumbling blocks that the political opposition and the mass movement hurl its way—in all possible means. But public opinion should not be neglected altogether. In a nationwide survey for the 3rd quarter conducted by Ibon Foundation, an independent think tank, Filipino’s net satisfaction rating of Arroyo’s performance dropped to its lowest rating of -74.7%--a telling sign of public distrust and disenchantment in a national scale.

The future of Philippine politics is not as bleak as it seemingly appears in media. The Senate has remained an effective fiscalizing agent. The civil society has furthered its advocacy to demand a more accountable, responsive, effective and participatory governance in the national and local levels. Correspondingly, alternative media institutions have also remained vigilant in reporting and analyzing political events as they unfold. The Supreme Court remains as the final arbiter of contentious judicial and even political issues. Open dialogue is still practiced while civil service is working to streamline its operations to improve the business of government.

Sunday, October 16, 2005

POVERTY

>>Poverty is multi-dimensional and complex
>>Poverty is lack of options.
>>Poverty is disempowering.
>>Poverty fuels radicalism.
>>Poverty is even more problematic in conflict-afflicted countries.
>>Poverty has political, economic, social, ethical and cultural dimensions

she is weak

"I do not doubt that the Chief Executive considers herself a strong person-both in terms of will and intellect. But the political reality is, she is weak; and her weakness is daily demonstrated by the means she uses to show strength. " (quoted from the column of Manuel Quezon III entitled Scorched-earth governance dated October 17, PDI)

maaaring gawin ngayong bakasyon para hindi masyado mainip

-gumawa ng sariling blogspot.
-mag-ipon para sa darating na pasukan (puwede na ring isama sa plano ang paparating na kapaskuhan).
-bumawi ng tulog.
-bumawi na rin ng kain (kung hindi diabetic at walang sakit sa puso)
-umantabay sa mga napapanahong isyu tulad ng chacha, 2006 budget hearing, maaaring pagsasabatas ng anti-terrorism bill.
-article-clipping.
-bumisita sa mga kamag-anak.
-magsimula na ng data-gathering para sa ds199.2 (sakaling tapos na sa ds122.1 noong nakaraang semestre)
-manood ng mga experimental films.
-magbasa ng libro.
-linisin ang bookshelf.
-isaayos ang mga naipong babasahin (readings)ayon sa pagpapangkat-pangkat (classification) na pinaka-angkop (ayon sa asignatura, paksa, at iba pa)
-bumiyahe.
-bumalangkas ng plano kasama ng iba pang mga kasapi sa organisasyon para sa mga ililinyang proyekto sa hinaharap na semestre.
-linisin ang kwarto.
-kumuha ng crash course ayon sa iyong hilig. (hal. photojournalism, martial arts, creative writing, yoga 101, at iba pa)
-mamiyesta sa probinsya.
-balikan ang mga foster parents noong nakaraang practicum.
-sumulat ng artikulo at ipalathala. mapagkakakitaan din ito kung gugustuhin mo.
-gumawa na ng curriculum vitae para sa iyong pangangailangan sa hinaharap. alalahanin ang mga ginampanan mong tungkulin tulad ng paiging project head, opisyal ng isang samahan at maging ang mga nadaluhan mong conference, fora, seminar, symposium, at iba pa.
-bumisita sa mga dating kamag-aral.
-planuhin ang mga electives at cognates na kukunin sa susunod na semestre.

Friday, October 14, 2005

odd one out (left 101)

odd one out
1.kadamay,kilusang mayo uno,sanlakas,league of the filipino students
2.katribu,tabak,kamp,pamalakaya
3.crescent,hammer,sickle,red
4.tatsulok,rosas ng digma,internationale,one
5.bhb,npa,neps,rhb
6.dm,hm,dialectics,functionalism
7.bp880,cpr,atb,ipra
8.sebyo,dekada '70,my brother my executioner,abnkkbsnplaako
9.migrante,gabriela,kmp,akbayan
10.ed,opod,bmi,maxtol

NSTP CWTS 2 (maralitang tagalungsod)

Mahahalagang impormasyon na dapat alamin:
1. Ano ang depinisyon ng maralitang tagalunsod?
2. Paano ipinapaliwanag ng teoryang rural-push/urban-pull ang pagdami ng maralitang tagalunsod sa NCR?
3. Ano ang ipinaglalaban ng KADAMAY?
4. Sino si Ka Mameng at ano ang kanyang adbokasiya?
5. Ano ang hinaing ng mga maralitang tagalunsod sa programang Buhayin ang Maynila ni Mayor Lito Atienza?
6. Ano ang papel ng HUDCC at NAPC sa pagtiyak ang pangkalahatang kagalingan ng mga maralitang tagalunsod?
7. Bakit lumaganap ang underground economy sa kalakhang Maynila?
8. Bakit itinuturing na napakakontrobersyal ng Lina Law sa usapin ng housing and urban development?
9. Batay sa kaisipang Marxismo, sino ang bumubuo sa mga grupong lumpen?
10.Magbigay ng isang lugar sa kalakhang Maynila na dumaranas ng (a) urban blight (b) economic dualism. Pangatwiranan ang sagot.

Development Studies Program

DEVELOPMENT STUDIES PROGRAM
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-MANILA
Prof. Roland Simbulan, M.P.A.
Head, DevStud Program
Prof. Ma. Paula Sioco, Ph.D.
Chair, Department of Social Sciences
Faculty Members
Prof. Edberto Villegas, D.P.A.
Prof. Leothiny Clavel, Ph.D.
Prof. Felipinas Gutierrez, M.A.
Prof. Josefina Cabaguio, B.A.
Prof. Karol Sarah Baguilat, Ll.B.
Prof. Silver Sevilla, B.A.
Prof. Maita Gomez, M.A.
Prof. John Ponsaran, M.P.M.
Ms. Mariel Langcay
President, DEVSOC

Thursday, October 13, 2005

Guide Questions (Remembering Poverty)

Guide Questions based on the article of Ma. Ceres P. Doyo entitled Remembering Poverty (13 October 2005, Philippine Daily Inquirer)

PART 1
>Is there relevance in officially designating a day/month/year/decade in commemoration of
a(n) event/cause/advocacy/marginalized sector? Example of which is October as the indigenous people's month? Justify your answer.
>Do you agree with her statement that the IPs are among the poorest and the hungriest in the country?
>With specific reference to the ancestral domain claim as provided by IPRA of 1997, do you see any inconsistency between the state's concept of land ownership vis-a-vis the IP's?
>Do you think that it is necessary for the IPs to go through the long and tedious bureaucratic process of applying for a CADT in order to regain their ancestral land?
>How does bureaucratic capitalism affects the life and livelihood (buhay at ikinabubuhay) of the IPs? Be able to define bureaucratic capitalism and relate it to the following cases: Jewelmer, golf course construction and nickel mining operation

PART 2
>What do you think are the essential elements of a sustainable livelihood project?
>How can a child welfare system turn out disorienting and alienating to its clients?
>What should be done to improve the responsiveness of child welfare institutions to the real needs of their clients?
>Differentiate rootlessness in the context of Doyo's discussion from rootless and ruthless growth.
>Do you agree with her contention that poverty is most cruel to the young?

Sunday, October 09, 2005

DIVIDED PHILIPPINES

GMA AS THE DIVISIVE ELEMENT: A CASE OF A DIVIDED PHILIPPINES

•DIVIDED CHURCH (PROGRESSIVES VS. CONSERVATIVES)
•DIVIDED MEDIA (CRITICAL MINDED VS. LAPDOGS)
•DIVIDED MILITARY (DISILLUSIONED VS. BLINDED)
•DIVIDED CIVIL SOCIETY (MASS-BASED ORGS VS. REACTIONARY SECTORS)
•DIVIDED POLITICAL PARTIES (FACTIONS OF LIBERAL PARTY AND THE OPPOSITION)
•DIVIDED SENATE (ADMINISTRATION VS. OPPOSSITION)
•DIVIDED HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (PRO-IMPEACHMENT VS. ANTI-IMPEACHMENT)
•DIVIDED GOVERNMENT (EXECUTIVE VS. LEGISLATIVE)

TREND

UNDER THE REGIME OF ARROYO, EXPECT MORE...

>FLIP-FLOPS (SHE HAS BACKPEDALED IN COUNTLESS OCCASIONS)
>HRVs (SPECIFICALLY MASS-BASED ORGS AS TARGETS)
>POLITICAL ACCOMMODATIONS(ESPECIALLY IN THE LGUs, LOWER HOUSE AND CABINET)
>VINDICTIVENESS (AGAINST FORMER PRES. AQUINO, BRO. EDDIE, USEC LUZ, DEAN PANGALANGAN, ETC.)
>MASS PROTESTS (BROAD ALLIANCE FROM THE CIVIL SOCIETY)
>OPHs (INVERSELY PROPORTIONAL TO THE PURCHASING POWER OF PESO)
>HOLIDAYS (TO BOOST LOCAL TOURISM KUNO-HOW CAN THE PEOPLE EVEN AFFORD LEISURE ACTIVITIES IF MAJORITY OF THEM LIVE BELOW SUBSISTENCE LEVEL?)
>POPULIST POLICY DIRECTIONS (FOOD COUPON, PHILHEALTH CARDS)
>APPOINTMENTS OF RETIRED MILITARY MEN (MGA UTAK-PULBURA)
>POLITICAL DIVISIVENESS (ESP. IN BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS)
>DISILLUSIONED YOUNG OFFICERS (ANOTHER OAKWOOD MUNITY?)
>PAY-OFFS (PORK BARREL, ENVELOPEMENTAL JOURNALISM, ETC.)
>PREEMPTIVE POLICIES (LIKE E0 464, CPR)

POLITICAL ACCOMMODATION

"IF WE ACCOMMODATE OUT-OF-WORK POLITICAL ALLIES, RETIRED MILITARY OFFICERS, AND GIVE THEM FANCY TITLES, EVEN IF WE DON'T WANT THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE, THEN WE ARE UNDULY BLOATING THE BUREAUCRACY AND MAKING IT MORE TOP-HEAVY." (QUOTED FROM THE STATEMENT OF SENATOR RALPH RECTO)

AFP

A TEST TO THE AFP AS AN INSTITUTION

RISK: GUDANI-BALUTAN CASE CAN SERVE AS A RALLYING POINT OF
ANOTHER REBELLION.

OR IT CAN BE ANOTHER ISSUE TO COMPOUND THE PILES OF
OTHER LEGITIMATE COMPLAINTS FROM THE
DISGRUNTLED MEMBERS OF THE AFP.

A POSSIBLE OAKWOOD MUTINY II?

TO CLEAR THE AIR OF SUSPICION AND PARANOIA,
AFP HIERARCHY HAS THIS TO SAY:

“ALLOW US TO BE NEUTRAL, ALLOW US TO BE APOLITICAL BECAUSE IF YOUR MILITARY, OR YOUR MARINES IN PARTICULAR, WILL SIDE WITH THE ADMINISTRATION OR WITH THE OPPOSITION, YOU CAN JUST IMAGINE THE TROUBLE IT CAN CREATE BECAUSE WE ARE ARMED.” (QUOTED FROM MAJ. GEN. RENATO MIRANDA, PHILIPPINE MARINES)

looming martial law

LOOMING (CREEPING) MARTIAL LAW?

THE IDEA OF A MARTIAL LAW DOES NOT SIT WELL WITH THE PUBLIC.
IN FACT, ALMOST 7O% OF THE POPULATION IS AGAINTS IT.

ACCORDING TO THE AFP, THE CURRENT SITUATION
DOES NOT WARRANT IT (YET?)

CRITICS CLAIM THAT AN IMPOSITION OF MARTIAL LAW SEEMS NOT EVEN NECESSARY ANYMORE TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT OF THE SAME SET-UP.

TAKE THE CASE OF E.O. 464 AND CPR.
DON’T THEY CAST A SPECTER OF MARTIAL RULE ALREADY?

AS SHE SAID, SHE IS ‘TIRED OF CHASING
THE BULLY AROUND THE SCHOOL YARD.’

FOR THE PALACE, THOSE WHO TELL THE TRUTH ARE DEEMED AS
DESTABILIZERS AND ENEMIES OF THE STATE.

VERY MARCOSIAN INDEED!

confrontational politics

CONFRONTATIONAL POLITICS OF GMA

GMA’S POLITICS FURTHER HEIGHTENS THE RESTIVENESS IN THE AFP AND IN BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS—AN ART WHICH SHE IS GOOD AT.

CASE IN POINT: DISMISSAL OF GUDANI AND BALUTAN
JUSTIFICATION: INSUBORDINATION (VIOLATION OF
ARTICLE OF WAR 65)

>SENATE SEES IT AS A FORM OF DEMORALIZATION OF THE AFP.
PALACE AND AFP HIERARCHY HOWEVER ASSERT THAT IT’S TO UPHOLD THE CHAIN OF COMMAND.

THE CULTURE OF MISTRUST LEADS FURTHER TO POLITICAL ANIMOSITY AS THE SENATE REVIVES THE INQUIRY ABOUT THE AFP’S LINK TO ELECTION FRAUD.

>PALACE SEES IT AS A FORM OF ‘SERIAL IMPEACHMENT’ UNDER THE GUISE OF CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY IN AID OF LEGISLATION—AN OBVIOUS LACK OF INTEREST OF THE PALACE TO BRING OUT THE TRUTH.

Tuesday, October 04, 2005

GMA AND THE SENATE

GMA AND THE SENATE

DRILON USED TO BE AN ALLY OF GMA BUT HAS NOW TURNED TO BE HER RABID CRITIC.
SO IS PIMENTEL.

BIAZON AND PANGILINAN OF LIBERAL PARTY HAVE ALSO WITHDRAWN THEIR SUPPORT. LATELY, THE LATTER HAS BEEN VERY PROMINENT IN CRITICIZING GMA ADMINISTRATION.

LACSON HAS BEEN CONSISTENT AS ANTI-GMA EVERSINCE.
SO ARE THE EJERCITOS.

CAYETANO AND GORDON (WERE ONCE WITH THE ADMINISTRATION) ARE ALSO TIRED WITH HER BRAND OF POLITICS.

MADRIGAL, LIM AND OSMENA REMAIN WITH THE OPPOSITION BLOC, SO EXPECT THE SAME LINE OF DECISION-MAKING.

QUOTE

"SINCE its inception in 1916, the Senate of the Philippines has always had a confrontational attitude, and history, toward the chief executive. Regardless of whether the chief executive was known as governor-general or president of the Philippines, the inclination of the Senate has always been to challenge MalacaƱang.

MalacaƱang has not always taken this sitting down. And there have been times when the Senate was a pliable plaything in the hands of the chief executive. In fact, until recently, the House of Representatives, which is traditionally the bastion of subservience to the chief executive and the bulwark of conservatism, has taken on a more dynamic character. In large part, this can be attributed to the sectoral -- and later, party-list -- representation in the House." (quoted from the Editorial of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, 4 October 2005)

Monday, October 03, 2005

GMA's VINDICTIVENESS

GMA’S VINDICTIVENESS

GMA IS CAPITALIZING ON HER ‘INCUMBENCY’ BY RESORTING TO INFLUENCE-PEDDLING AND ARM-TWISTING TO GET EVEN.

 BRIG. GEN. GUDANI AND LT. COL. BALUTAN (RELIEVED FROM OFFICE, SET TO UNDERGO COURT MARTIAL)
 USEC. JUAN MIGUEL LUZ (SACKED AS DEPED USEC FOR FINANCE)
 FORMER PRES. AQUINO (PROPOSED THE SCRAPPING OF THE STOCK DISTRIBUTION OPTION IN HACIENDA LUISITA)
 MICHAEL RAY AQUINO (CANCELLED HIS PASSPORT THRU THE DFA)
 EFREN GONZALES (ORDERED BY THE PALACE TO HAVE HIS OFFICE {PADLOCKED)
 DEAN RAUL PANGALANGAN (BOOTED OUT AS DEAN OF THE U.P. COLLEGE OF LAW)

THERE ARE MORE TO EXPECT!

DS 123 test construction

Form a group with six members. Based on the previous list of women- and gender-related topics, formulate a 20-item test (sets A ad B) follow...