Social Issues

PNoy’s First SONA – English Translation

The first "State of the Nation Address" (SONA) of President Benigno S. Aquino III or PNoy is originally in tagalog, here's the copy of english translation provided by Noynoy Media Bureau. The SONA was held in Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City, July 26, 2010.

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The Real Issue On Halili-Kho Scandal

These past few days, pinoys around the world especially here in the Philippines are intrigued with Katrina Halili and Dr. Hayden Kho scandal. I followed the story but never blog it but now. Its the fad or the IN-thing now. When I bought school supplies at school, I heard the teachers talked about the issue, who’s fault was it… who’s wrong.

That’s the irony of being a celebrity, Katrina Halili as a model/actress and Hayden Kho as a model/celebrity doctor. Dr. Kho became celebrity because he was cosmetic surgeon Dra. Vicky Belo’s boyfriend for 3 years. Plus, Katrina Halili seek help of Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Senator Jamby Madrigal and the first hearing was held yesterday.

The controversial case resulted many opinions, some got mad of Hayden Kho, some got mad of Katrina Halili, sympathy of course is for Katrina. She is the victim, the abused and exploited in that video scandal. It doesn’t matter if she was projecting sexy image in movies and endorsements, the fact remains that she is the victim.

As a woman, I felt the pain of betrayal she felt. I read many comments, calling her “malandi kasi, dapat lang sa kanya“. Adding insult to injury?! In case you don’t know, Katrina’s short term “relationship” with Hayden Kho happened when Dra. Belo and Hayden Kho was still in a relationship. Even Mrs. Irene dela Santa Kho was interviewed on TV that even made the case complicated because she accused Katrina of being a drug addict and taught Hayden Kho.

Now, Katrina Halili filed a libel case for her. (Sana, hindi na lang siya nagsalita tutal yun naman ang lagi niya sinasabi sa interview.) “Ayaw ko magsalita.” Katrina showed up this morning to PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) but never submit herself for a drug test. I thought, she should do that to clear her name of such accusation. If its not true, the result will be her evidence. hmmn… Hayden Kho didn’t reported to PDEA.

The real issue is we don’t have existing law on cybercrime… that the video was taken without Katrina Halili’s consent… and it spread like fire in the internet. Allegedly, there are videos of Kho’s having intimate moments with 40 different women. I saw Katrina Halili, Maricar Reyes (Pond’s model), Priscilla Meirelles (Brazilian model), a friend told me that there was also a video of KHO with a Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition. During her PBB participation, she was only 17 years old. I haven’t seen that video yet, if the scandal happened after PBB, Hayden Kho is in deep trouble and will be facing additional charges.

Let’s stick to the issue… we need a law to avoid these things to happened again. It happened many times, I just hope Katrina Halili will be the last on pinay scandal controversy.

DTI Monitors Private Schools' Supplies To PriceWatch

As early as first week of May, DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) are monitoring the prices of school supplies for the coming new school year 2009-2010. Although prices of school supplies have increased a little, other parents tend to buy cheap supplies and depriving their children of quality school supplies such as crayon, erasers etc.

This is indeed the result of the global crisis affecting filipinos. Some parents prefer to buy school supplies to known bookstores while others prefer to buy in Divisoria, Binondo and other wholesalers where they can have the supplies cheaper and they can also make “tawad“.

My children are enrolled in private schools, the school is selling customized notebooks, school logo printed in the cover page w/ plastic cover. Although its not mandatory, my children prefer to used them so their notebooks are the same with their classmates. A normal notebooks in a known bookstore costs around Php 12-18, the school’s notebook cost Php 45 (school price last year). The price is doubled and the paper doesn’t have the quality of top-of-the-line notebooks. The difference of Php 27 max could be my savings per notebook, multiply it by 20, that’s roughly Php 540 savings for the notebooks only. I could use the savings for other school supplies and books. I’m just giving you the idea of the notebooks only, there are other school materials which are also expensive compared to bookstores.

What I did from the past was to buy notebooks from school, other supplies needed were bought from wholesalers. After all, school is giving out checklist for school materials needed for the school year. I guess, I’ll be doing this again.

The bottom line… DTI should also monitor the prices of school supplies from private schools. Parents and students from private schools should also be protected from “school business”. Does DepEd (Department of Education) knows anything about schools’ other business? I tried googling around if there is such law on this issue but to no avail.

I maybe one of other parents from other schools that also thinks the same way. Regardless that my children are in private school, we are also affected by global crisis. Its about time to do something. The title speaks for itself… or it is under DepEd’s jurisdiction?

Alec Baldwin Getting A Filipina Mail Order Bride?

I’m quite busy preparing for the new school year when I saw the flash news about actor Alec Baldwin and about mail order bride, a filipina in specific. So I search for the video in youtube, its an episode of David Letterman shown last May 12, 2009. I don’t usually watch David Letterman show but the episode seems like they are old time buddies and joking to each other.

Regardless that they’re old time friends and teasing with one another casually, Alec Baldwin’s joke is in bad taste. He shouldn’t have said that. I’m sure he wasn’t aware of the Republic Act 6955 or the Anti-Mail Order Bride Law in the Philippines.

“I love to have more kids. I think about getting a Filipina mail-order bride… or a Russian one. I’m 51,” Baldwin said in video. Alec Baldwin was so insensitive for striking a joke like that, an insult to Filipina. He doesn’t know how Filipina are as wives. The issue irritated Senator Ramon Revilla and Representative Risa Hontiveros.

“Being a celebrity, Baldwin should be more prudent in issuing statements. And he must know what he is talking about. Apparently, he is not aware that here in the Philippines we don’t tolerate mail order bride schemes.” – Sen. Ramon Revilla

“He totally doesn’t deserve a Filipina wife. He meant that as a joke but it was totally foul.” – Rep. Risa Hontiveros

Do I need say more? Its insulting. Respect is not self impose, I don’t respect him now even if I watched his movies in the past. Now, I consider him as “persona non grata”, I will never watch again movies from a racist. This is me, my opinion, a filipina.

Update (May 22, 2009): Alec Baldwin says sorry for his bad joke.

Ako Ang Simula

This is the additional tagline of ABS CBN’s awareness campaign “Boto Mo, Ipatrol Mo” in TV Patrol that was launched yesterday. There were many activities yesterday to mark the countdown for 2010 National Election.

The success of Boto Mo, Ipatrol Mo was during 2007 Election wherein the public reported the anomalies they encountered related to election. Concerned filipino voters participated by sending SMS and MMS their complaints. After verifying the received report, it will be aired and necessary actions were made.

I can’t remember when was “Boto Mo, Ipatrol Mo” launched, if it was also launched a year before 2007 Election. Since the campaign is reborn, now tagged as “Boto Mo, Ipatrol Mo: Ako Ang Simula”, a campaign for public awareness, a campaign to guard our votes.

The first campaign was a success based on the numbers of complaints received but still cheating happened. Remember, Hello Garci? Although it happened in 2004 when there was no “Boto Mo, Ipatrol Mo”, the same idea of “dagdag bawas” happened in local government election.

I have high hopes for a better nation, for change. I even setup 2010 Election blog.