11-23 + 11-30 = 2012?

November 23 smudges the Ampatuan massacre. November 30 commemorates the Bonifacio Day. 2012 movie spreads the news about the end of the world. Seven days before the commemoration of heroism, here comes the inhuman massive killing in the history of the country showing the irony of Filipino brotherhood. Is it the existent sign that the world is near to end?

Peoples throughout the world were disturbed by the result of the catastrophic incidence in Maguindanao where almost 57 were the victims of the massacre, but some are still missing. The major suspect was pointed to the Ampatuan clan as testified by the witnesses. It is said that the victims were about to file a certificate of candidacy for Esmael Mangudadatu, vice mayor of Buluan town. Mangudadatu wanted to defy the candidacy by the name of Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr., son of the incumbent Maguindanao governor Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr., in the forthcoming Maguindanao gubernatorial election in 2010.

The informants unveiled that the Ampatuans had been in control of Maguindanao since 2001. Andal Ampatuan, Sr. came first into prominence when President Corazon Aquino appointed him as officer-in-charge of Maganoy (now Shariff Aquak) in 1986 right after the People Power Revolution. Aquino, having come into power via revolutionary means, replaced every locally-elected official with officers-in-charge, although the town of Maganoy was approached differently; the ageing mayor, Pinagayaw Ampatuan, was replaced by his vice mayor, Andal Sr. He won the 1988 local elections, then served for ten years. In the 1998 elections, Andal Sr. was elected as governor. Members of Lakas-Kampi-CMD, PGMA listed Andal Ampatuan, Sr., as a major ally in Mindanao. ARMM regional governor Zaldy Ampatuan was the party's regional chairman. Andal Sr., the family patriarch, has been provincial governor since 1998; he has been elected thrice, unopposed. Eighteen of the mayors in Maguindanao belong to the clan. In the 2004 presidential elections, Arroyo won 69% of Maguindanao's vote; three years later, the party-backed coalition scored a 12-0 sweep of the senatorial elections in the province. Unable to run for a third term, he is currently grooming his son, Andal, Jr., to succeed him as governor. Arroyo, as head of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD, mediated between the Ampatuans and the Mangudadatus (both are from the same party) to prevent election-related violence. Arroyo's adviser for political affairs Gabriel Claudio, disclosed that there was an initial agreement "in principle" that no Mangudadatu would contest Ampatuan Sr.'s gubernatorial post.

Seven days after the massacre, the Filipinos commemorated the Bonifacio Day. Some are still unaware the reason why Bonficio took into execution. Historians disclosed that Andrés Bonifacio y de Castro was a Filipino nationalist and revolutionary. He was a founder and leader of the Katipunan movement which sought the independence of the Philippines from Spanish colonial rule and started the Philippine Revolution. It was marked by the tearing of cedulas (community tax cetificates) and was later called the "Cry of Balintawak" or "Cry of Pugad Lawin.” He believed that all its members of whatever rank followed the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity, upon which republicanism is founded. He was executed on May 10, 1897 in the mountains of Maragondon with his brother when the Cavite leader Emilio Aguinaldo assumed for presidency of the Republica Filipina and inaugurated on June 23, 1899. However, Morong leader Bonifacio received the second-highest number of votes for President. Though it was suggested that he should automatically be awarded the Vice Presidency, no one seconded the motion. Magdalo leader (originally Magdiwang) Mariano Trías was elected Vice President; while, Bonifacio was elected as Director of the Interior. However, Daniel Tirona, who had helped distribute the ballots, protested against Bonifacio on the grounds that the position should not be occupied by a person without a lawyer's diploma. Bonifacio demanded an apology that the voters had agreed to respect the election results. Instead, Tirona left the room. Bonifacio drew his gun and nearly shot Tirona again, but he was restrained by Artemio Ricarte of the Magdiwang, who had been elected Captain-General. As people left the room, Bonifacio declared the assembly dissolved and annulled all that has been approved and resolved. Afterwards, Bonifacio met with his remaining supporters and drew up the Acta de Tejeros wherein they gave their reasons for not accepting the election results. Bonifacio alleged the election was fraudulent due to cheating and accused Aguinaldo of treason due to his negotiations with the Spanish. Aguinaldo later sent a delegation to Bonifacio to get him to cooperate, but the latter refused. Aguinaldo's men led by Agapito Bonzon and José Ignacio Paua visited him at his camp in Indang; yet, Bonifacio received them cordially, unaware of the order for his arrest. On the next day, Bonzon and Paua attacked Bonifacio's camp. Bonifacio did not fight back himself instead ordered his men to hold their fire. In the crossfire Bonifacio was shot in the arm. He stood trial and accused of sedition and treason against Aguinaldo's government and conspiring to murder Aguinaldo. Bonifacio was found guilty despite insufficient evidence to prove his alleged guilt and recommended to be executed.

Maguindanao massacre, also known as Ampatuan massacre is taken after the name of the town where the mass graves were found, happened in the morning of November 23, in the town of Ampatuan in Maguindanao province, on the island of Mindanao. Bonifacio's birthday on November 30 is celebrated as Bonifacio Day and is a public holiday in the country. Looking into these parameters, the first incident is massacre and the second is execution. Both viewed as horrible killing fueled by politics. 2012 movie only reminds us that this is not the end of the world, but this is just the beginning of the end.

Online Farming

In November 2009, there are 66,505,622 monthly active users worldwide engaged in Farmville as a real-time farm simulation game, a social networking on Facebook since it was launched in June 2009. It was developed by Zynga, a video game developer located in San Francisco, California, USA. This was founded in June 2007 by Mark Pincus, Michael Luxton, Eric Schiermeyer, Justin Waldron, Andrew Trader, and Steve Schoettler. The game allows members of Facebook to manage a virtual farm by planting, growing and harvesting virtual crops, trees, and livestock. May we pause these questions: What do you think is the status of the agricultural lands in the Philippines particularly in Bicol region? How many are Bicolanos engaged in agricultural activities?

Looking at the Philippine Agricultural feature, the Philippines has a total area of 300,000 sq. km. In August 2007, population reached 88.57 million with an annual growth rate of 2.04%. Over 60% of the population live in coastal areas, with Luzon (the largest island group), accounting for more than half of the entire population. It is one of 18 megabiodiversity countries containing 2/3 of the earth’s biodiversity and about 70-80% of the world’s plant and animal species.

The region of South Tagalog has the highest number of farms with 561,538 farms. It is followed by Central and Western Visayas as second and third places with 435,826 and 428,397 farms, respectively. Southern Mindanao ranks a close fourth with 424,275 farms. Bicol has 394,897; Northern Mindanao 389,493; Central Luzon 351,365; Eastern; Visayas 330,374; Ilocos 324,812; Cagayan 297,979; Western Mindanao 260,054; Central Mindanao 233,657; Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao 214,356; Cordillera Administrative Region 110,481; and National Capital Area 12,667.

More than one-third of the farms in the country are fully owned and another 10% are partly owned. Fifteen percent are tenanted, 6% are farmed rent free, and 3% are leased. Almost one-third of the farms are held under more than one type of tenurial status; that is, they are partially owned and partially rented, leased, or farmed under other forms of tenancy. The majority of farmland (95%) is planted in crops, 53% is in temporary crops, and 42% is in permanent crops. Only 5% of the farmland in the Philippines is utilized in other ways: 1% is in permanent meadows and pastures; and, less than 1% each is in home lot, temporary meadows and pastures, woodland and forest, temporarily fallow, and other uses.

NSO, 1991 Census of Agriculture and Fisheries and 2002 Census of Agriculture documented that the number of farms in Bicol Region slightly increased by 1.9%, from 377.8 thousand in 1991 to 384.8 thousand in 2002. These farms covered an area of 892.0 thousand hectares, almost half (48.4%) of the region’s total land area. However, the total area of farms in the region decreased by 4.7% during the period mentioned. This is attributed to the decrease in the area of farms in almost all provinces in the region, especially Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur with 13.2% and 7.8% reduction, respectively. Likewise, the average farm size decreased from 2.5 hectares in 1991 to 2.3 hectares in 2002. Masbate ranked second in terms of farm area in Bicol Region with 207.5 thousand hectares in 59.4 thousand farms. About 23.3% of the total farm area in the region was accounted for by this province. This resulted in an average farm size of 3.5 hectares, the largest among provinces in the region. Although Camarines Sur accounted for the highest number of farms (134.1 thousand) and the largest farm area in the region (263.0 thousand hectares), its average farm size was only 2.0 hectares.

In 2002, a total of 487.8 thousand household members (42.4 percent) were engaged in agricultural activities. About 417.6 thousand (85.6%) household members were engaged in own holding, 47.6 thousand (9.7%) both in their own holding and in the holding of others, and 22.7 thousand (4.6%) in other holdings. On the other hand, a total of 288.0 thousand females were engaged in agricultural activity, outnumbering the males by 89.6 thousand.

In 2007, The International Monetary Fund considered the Philippines as the 37th largest economy which has mixed economic system and one of the newly industrialized emerging market economies of the world. It is one of the fastest growing economies in Asia with GDP growth rate of 7.3% in 2007; however, its growth slowed to 4.5% in 2008 as a result of the global financial crisis.

As a result, if Facebook has more than 66.5 active users engaged in Farmville; the Philippines has a total farms of 4,770,171 with an estimated of 96.06 million population as of July 2008. The record shows that a total of 980.3 Bicolano households members are engaged in agricultural activities. Some Bicolano Farmville users suggested that if everyone can avail the opportunity to engage in agricultural activities like the online farming on Facebook, for sure the Philippines will make it to outrank the other largest industrialized market economy of the world. However, the big question is, can the landowners share their property for all? If yes, would the Filipinos have the interest in farming? We don’t think so.

The Bloggers' Secrets

“Let’s see in the fight who will win,” said the humble Pacman. “I will win in this fight,” said the arrogant Cotto. The Bloggers say, we will see.

Bloggers, persons who write ideas on a blog (or weblog), disclosed their sentiments regarding the fight between Filipino boxing king Manny Pacquiao and WBO welterweight champion Miguel Angel Cotto of Puerto Rico before and after the most awaited duel of the best boxers in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Randy Reyes says, I hope this is just one of the publicity for the upcoming fights. Pacman need to focus on he’s training. Winning the fight against Cotto will surely up lift the morale of all Filipinos specially those being devastated by Typhoons. Pacman , we always pray and support you to win. I’m proud to be a Filipino!

Cendax says, Diaz, Dela Hoya, Hatton are the three great ring gladiators destroyed by Pacman and I feel Cotto will suffer the same.

Jake Luy says, Pacquaio and Cotto are great warriors but Pacquiao will surely crush Cotto considering Pacquiao knocks down many great fighters in the boxing ring.

Bobriders says, I feel very confident that our champion Manny Pacquiao will win this game; it is about the history nor the victory of a Filipino. Good luck Manny and more power!

Bukojuice says, considering that for some reasons, I get a chance not to be a Filipino, I would still choose Pacman because he is a Pinoy!So, I’m proud to be one of him. Hoy, Pinoy ako, buo aking loob, may agimat ang dugo ko! 3 stars and a Sun! Cotto would realize and feel what a Filipino fighter is all about!

Elyboy ng Paco says, mga kababayan andito ako ngayon sa Vera Cruz, Mexico naghahanap ng kapustahan, ayaw lumaban ng mga Mexicano, lahat sila gusto kay Pacman! Laban Manny! Pati mga Mexicano kakampi na natin.Yahoo!

Destroy the Filipino says, Pacquiao has never fought a true welter weight like a ‘Cotto.’ De La Hoya was not on his prime when he beat him. Once Pacquiao feels the power of Cotto’s hands, he will regret getting into the ring with the Puerto Rican gladiator!

Marlon says, it would be a good banging fight this November 14; I say if Cotto would rush on rounds it will be a nightmare for his life; the one who is brainy will dictate and win the fight. Go Pacman; we’re on your side!

Ralph says, Cotto was teased just like a ‘kuto’ at ‘lisa’ na parang ginisa ang mukha sa ibabaw ng malaking kawaling parisukat. Dapat di na siya tumayo sa fourth rounds, ayun nalamog ang mukha. Nakakaawa pero mabait naman. Laking hanga ko kay Pacquiao, akala ko, siya ang mgkakaroon ng dugo sa mukha dahil malaki at mlakas si Cotto, yun pala, kabaliktaran ang lahat. Go PACMAN! Next mo naman tirisin ang mayabang na si Mayweather!

Norvz Dela Cruz says, Cotto kuto lisa Manny pera swerte pakyaw pa hays san ka pa ba pupusta?
Ed Feliz says, hey pro Cotto’s I understand your sentiment but what can you say now that Pacman won? Where is the ‘stronger, better, bigger, natural welterweight’ who will crush Pacman? I think speed, stronger punch, and intelligence over ruled your fighter’s qualities. And your “good” prediction that Pacman will be down on the canvass; I think if you are not blind, it’s the other way around.

Ben Thompson, pound-for-pound champion Manny Pacquiao solidified his status as an all-time great with an impressive and dominant 12th round TKO victory over WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto, becoming the firster boxer to ever win world titles in 7 different divisions. Pacquiao’s performance was a masterpiece against Cotto, a man that many considered to be a legitimate threat to defeat him.

Edwin Espejo says, he did it in a very convincing and methodical manner that answered all doubts about his ability to dominate a talent-laden welterweight division and dismiss all doubters about his boxing greatness. With his historical feat, Manny solidified his claim as the best boxer, pound for pound, in the planet.

The fight between Pacquiao and Cotto reminds us that humility makes a person win; but, an arrogant makes a person lose. The Bloggers said, learn from the humble Pacquiao himself; but, don’t learn from the arrogant Cotto.

The Bloggers' Secrets

“Let’s see in the fight who will win,” said the humble Pacman. “I will win in this fight,” said the arrogant Cotto. The Bloggers say, we will see.

Bloggers, persons who write ideas on a blog (or weblog), disclosed their sentiments regarding the fight between Filipino boxing king Manny Pacquiao and WBO welterweight champion Miguel Angel Cotto of Puerto Rico before and after the most awaited duel of the best boxers in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Randy Reyes says, I hope this is just one of the publicity for the upcoming fights. Pacman need to focus on he’s training. Winning the fight against Cotto will surely up lift the morale of all Filipinos specially those being devastated by Typhoons. Pacman , we always pray and support you to win. I’m proud to be a Filipino!

Cendax says, Diaz, Dela Hoya, Hatton are the three great ring gladiators destroyed by Pacman and I feel Cotto will suffer the same.

Jake Luy says, Pacquaio and Cotto are great warriors but Pacquiao will surely crush Cotto considering Pacquiao knocks down many great fighters in the boxing ring.
Bobriders says, I feel very confident that our champion Manny Pacquiao will win this game; it is about the history nor the victory of a Filipino. Good luck Manny and more power!
Bukojuice says, considering that for some reasons, I get a chance not to be a Filipino, I would still choose Pacman because he is a Pinoy! So, I’m proud to be one of him. Hoy, Pinoy ako, buo aking loob, may agimat ang dugo ko! 3 stars and a Sun! Cotto would realize and feel what a Filipino fighter is all about!

Elyboy ng Paco says, mga kababayan andito ako ngayon sa Vera Cruz, Mexico naghahanap ng kapustahan, ayaw lumaban ng mga Mexicano, lahat sila gusto kay Pacman! Laban Manny! Pati mga Mexicano kakampi na natin.Yahoo!

Destroy the Filipino says, Pacquiao has never fought a true welter weight like a ‘Cotto.’ De La Hoya was not on his prime when he beat him. Once Pacquiao feels the power of Cotto’s hands, he will regret getting into the ring with the Puerto Rican gladiator!
Marlon says, it would be a good banging fight this November 14; I say if Cotto would rush on rounds it will be a nightmare for his life; the one who is brainy will dictate and win the fight. Go Pacman; we’re on your side!

Ralph says, Cotto was teased just like a ‘kuto’ at ‘lisa’ na parang ginisa ang mukha sa ibabaw ng malaking kawaling parisukat. Dapat di na siya tumayo sa fourth rounds, ayun nalamog ang mukha. Nakakaawa pero mabait naman. Laking hanga ko kay Pacquiao, akala ko, siya ang mgkakaroon ng dugo sa mukha dahil malaki at mlakas si Cotto, yun pala, kabaliktaran ang lahat. Go PACMAN! Next mo naman tirisin ang mayabang na si Mayweather!
Norvz Dela Cruz says, Cotto kuto lisa Manny pera swerte pakyaw pa hays san ka pa ba pupusta?

Ed Feliz says, hey pro Cotto’s I understand your sentiment but what can you say now that Pacman won? Where is the ‘stronger, better, bigger, natural welterweight’ who will crush Pacman? I think speed, stronger punch, and intelligence over ruled your fighter’s qualities. And your “good” prediction that Pacman will be down on the canvass; I think if you are not blind, it’s the other way around.

Ben Thompson, pound-for-pound champion Manny Pacquiao solidified his status as an all-time great with an impressive and dominant 12th round TKO victory over WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto, becoming the firster boxer to ever win world titles in 7 different divisions. Pacquiao’s performance was a masterpiece against Cotto, a man that many considered to be a legitimate threat to defeat him.

Edwin Espejo says, he did it in a very convincing and methodical manner that answered all doubts about his ability to dominate a talent-laden welterweight division and dismiss all doubters about his boxing greatness. With his historical feat, Manny solidified his claim as the best boxer, pound for pound, in the planet.

The fight between Pacquiao and Cotto reminds us that humility makes a person win; but, an arrogant makes a person lose. The Bloggers said, learn from the humble Pacquiao himself; but, don’t learn from the arrogant Cotto.

Common Denominator

May 2010 election is at the tip of the Filipinos tongue. Philippine politicians have started to expose their political advertising campaigns using various means of communication. One plausible objective is to help out Filipinos from poverty. Persuasion is the best political defense in order to get the attention of the electorates. One common question, what makes sense of the Political ads?

In March 2006, the Library of Congress, Federal Research Division on Philippine Profile disclosed that the economy of the Philippines has lagged behind other economies, such as those of Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan. From a position as one of the wealthiest countries in Asia after World War II, the Philippines is now one of the poorest countries. Since the 1970s, which were a relatively prosperous decade, the Philippines has failed to achieve a sustained period of rapid economic growth and has suffered from recurring economic crises. This persistent underperformance has occurred in spite of the Philippines’ rich natural and human resources. Poverty is a serious problem in the Philippines. The reasons are rooted partly in history, partly in policy.

Carlo Albano, a Filipino student at the University of Wisconsin, reported that some conference participants talked about the economic pressures behind immigration. He noted what Oswald Katipunan, BAYAN USA member said that in the Philippines there are teachers that have left their country to become domestic care workers in countries abroad for better pay, lawyers that have left their homes to work as security guards. Katipunan added that these people have worked hard to get their education but the lack of national opportunity forces them to continue their struggle abroad just to support their families. This is the effect that we see worldwide in the waves of migration today. This is the push and pull of the single superpower and the oppressed of the world.

Philip Gerson as referred to his Working Paper on International Monetary Fund (Washington) in 1998 entitled, "Poverty, Income Distribution, and Economic Policy in the Philippines wrote that poverty is both more widespread and more persistent in the Philippines than in neighboring ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) countries. While the poverty rate has decreased in the Philippines over the past 25 years, the decline has been slower than in other ASEAN countries. Some of the blame for the Philippines' slow progress in reducing the incidence of poverty can be attributed to past economic policies that retarded growth by discriminating against agriculture and discouraging investment in human capital. These policies, in turn, sustained powerful interest groups that blocked or delayed economic reform. Poverty in the Philippines, as in most countries, tends to be associated with low education levels for heads of households and with large family size. Poor Filipinos are disproportionately employed in agriculture, fishing, and forestry.

Aubrey Sc Makilan, a news writer of Bulatlat interviewed Cecilia Diocson; an Ilocana nurse working in Canada since 1975. “We explain to them the reasons behind the labor-export policy of the Philippines, tracing the root cause to the socio-economic and political problems besetting the country; why Filipinos had to work abroad to earn a decent income; and why Canada needs our cheap labor,” Diocson said. She added, being the main force that keeps the Philippines’ ailing economy afloat, migrant workers are regarded as ‘modern-day heroes’ by the Philippine government, but the government does not match the adulation it confers on OFWs with deeds. The OFWs toil as modern-day slaves abandoned by their government. We are just being viewed as numbers, she lamented. She also criticized the Philippine Consulate for not setting a shelter to accommodate domestic workers running away from abusive employers. She stressed that trade and investment promotion continues to be the primary concern of Philippine officials in Canada. Although they have left the country several decades ago, they never lose hope that they would eventually go back home. She asked, who does not want to return to his/her own country? She argued that due to the difficulties of earning a living in the Philippines, one needs to have a lot of savings to be able to live a decent life when one returns. Diocson said that her two children, who were born in Canada, had their integration in the Philippines. She related that they had a positive experience, but they also realized that earning a decent living is difficult in the Philippines. She assured that even as they are miles away from their native land, they will still respond to the ‘call of service, the call for change.’

The growing of political advertising campaigns nowadays is a sign of conceiving a new array of hope. These political ads simply speak the persons who can get the Philippines out from the box of poverty. However, through the years as reflected in the Philippine politics, this merely becomes political odds allowing people to live in misery instead of teaching people the best way of life. One common answer, these political ads simply remind our significant role in Philippine politics and society advertising the best that we can to make Philippines a super power nation in the future with common denominator that is sharing as one to be the number one.

Deed for Dead

Bicolano youths today are still confused about the essence of celebrating the Undas or All Saints Day and All Souls Day; while, the old ones are busy preparing for the fest of the departed ones. Is it a deed for dead?

Undas as described by the Wikipedia is the Filipinized version of All Saints/Souls Day where Filipinos troop to memorial parks, mausoleums, and municipal cemeteries. The most common practice is going to the cemetery to clean the graveyards and paint the tombs of their departed loved ones. During these days, cemeteries are fully packed with people. Relatives from far-off provinces, or even abroad often go to the cemeteries where their loved ones were buried. They light candles and offer flowers in memory of their dead relatives. It also a sort of family reunion where family members would gather together in the cemeteries bringing foods and beverages, play card games and other forms of gambling, deafening loud speakers and drinking sprees even though authorities strictly prohibits such nuisances.

Fr. Mickey Cardenas, CBCP Media explained in his article that in the month of November in which the universal Church traditionally commemorates all of the faithful departed, visits to the graves of loved ones has been a popular custom in the Philippines. However, he expressed his observations what the Catholic Church celebrates as a solemn commemoration has turned into occasions of rather inappropriate pastimes such as gambling, drunkenness, noise-making, or simply the senseless crowding of people that has led to road rage and shooting incidents. Fr. Gerry S. Patio, editor of Theological Centrum Documentation Service, said that there is a need for a greater understanding of the Christian reverence for the bodies of the dead as well as of Christian death in general in the light of the promise of a future resurrection. The very purpose why the Church calls the people to gather together is for them to pray and to console one another and to meditate together about the meaning of God being with us whether in life and or in death. Fr. Patio stressed, "We visit cemeteries to pray for the dead, not to disturb them." Patio, a Theology graduate of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome and with more than 10 years of pastoral work experience behind him, has observed that in the Philippines, people are generally and openly pious and the state still respects, in some way, the religious heritage of the people. He added that the government, no matter under whose administration, facilitates the commemoration of these Christian traditions by declaring these days as public non-working holidays and by providing assistance of the police and other agencies to maintain public order.

As Leslie Ann Aquino revealed in her article entitled, Halloween blamed for youth forgetting meaning of Undas what Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president and Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo said that because of Halloween parties, the youth often forget to pray for the saints and the dead during All Saints and All Souls Day. Lagdameo added that sometimes they are already tired from attending a Halloween party the whole day that come November 1 and 2, the days when they are supposed to be praying, they are at home resting or sleeping. Lagdameo said it’s the obligation of every Catholic faithful to pray for the dead, saying a time will come that they’ll be the ones who will be in need of prayer.

Brende Piquero in her article entitled, Austere All Saints’ Day rites seen, boldly expressed her opinion that despite the country’s severe financial meltdown that finds the worth of the peso tumbling down by the minute, All Saints’ Day traditions, being another occasion for a family reunion, prevail among millions of Filipino families, perhaps minus the excesses. While families brought more than substantial food in the past, preparations this year are expected to be less extravagant than past celebrations of All Saints’ Day. Because age-old Filipino traditions are not easy to fade away, they stay for generations to come, even in the harshest of times. However, Seven out of 10 Filipinos consider themselves poor, an increase of more than four percent from the last survey, according to the October poll conducted by research organization Ibon Foundation as noted by Ellalyn De Vera stating in her article entitled, More Filipinos rate themselves poor. Meanwhile, Executive Vice President-Luzon/Marketing and Business Development, Dr. Mildred Vitangcol explained that Filipinos have very strong family ties and a deep sense of relationship. We continuously love our kin and our friends even if they have already gone from this world. This is a distinct and notable Filipino trait which we eventually tend to set aside as we are preoccupied with the frenzy of our daily lives. We believe that we should rekindle this value as we also wouldn’t want to be forgotten (by our loved ones) when that time comes.

The word Undas does not merely reflect the way of fest for our departed ones, but it unveils our Bicolano youths’ ignorance reminding them the essence of life after death. This reminds us that life on earth is just a temporary respite of happiness, but death is permanent. It is to be remembered that our body dies, but our good deeds remain.

Estrada’s political whips

The Filipino movie addicts considered former Pres. Estrada as the typical hero of the Philippine movie industry. His popularity whipped him to take his journey to political race until he took the seat for presidency in 1997; majority won over the other political tycoons. His supporters drove ‘Jeep Ni Erap’ with great jubilation showing his greatness as ‘Erap para sa Mahirap.’ No one ever knew that he has taken over by his mediocrity which on Sept. 12, 2007, the Sandiganbayan convicted him of plunder. This was the cause of his remorse.

While 2010 election is taking on its fire; Pres. Estrada, the impeached, ousted, and convicted 13th Philippine president, announced recently his willingness to take another shot at the presidency. Yet, a round of debate on the legitimacy of his plan has broken out among constitutional and legal experts.

Sophia M. Dedace, GMA News.TV, mentioned in her article entitled, Estrada's 2010 presidential bid revives legal debate that a portion of Mrs. Arroyo’s order granting Estrada pardon reads: "Whereas, Joseph Ejercito Estrada has publicly committed to no longer seek any elective position or office." The Article VII, Section 4 of the 1987 Constitution clearly stated that the President shall not be eligible for any re-election. No person who has succeeded as President and has served as such for more than four years shall be qualified for election to the same office at any time.

Dean Amado D. Valdez of the University of the East College of Law interprets this constitutional provision as a restriction against the following from seeking re-election: incumbent presidents, and those who have finished the six-year term as prescribed in the 1987. He added that the incumbent is not allowed to seek re-election, to avoid his misuse of government resources as the concern of the Constitution’s drafters. His opinion was echoed by Estrada’s lawyer, Jose Flaminiano, a former regional trial court judge. Flaminiano said that the constitutional ban on re-election, ‘The President shall not be eligible for any re-election,’ only applied to incumbent presidents.

However, election lawyer Romulo Macalintal and former Commission on Elections chair Christian Monsod did not agree with Valdez and Flaminiano. Macalintal, Pres. Arroyo’s lawyer, said that the constitutional restriction applies to anyone who was elected president regardless of either they are incumbent or have been elected in the past. Monsod explained that a member of the 1986 Constitutional Commission (ConCom) that drafted the 1987 Constitution, an elected president gets only ‘one shot at the presidency.’

Estrada’s camp argued that the ousted leader can run again because his term was cut short to less than three years following the January 2001 when “Edsa II" was uprising. ‘Hindi natapos yung term ni Erap. He did not serve for more than four years so he is not disqualified to run,’ Flaminiano argued. Monsod said that this particular constitutional ban applies to those who succeeded the presidency who have not served for more than four years. He mentioned that Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who succeeded Estrada in January 2001, was qualified to run for president in 2004 because the remainder of Estrada’s term that she served was less than four years. Monsod said that the prohibition does not apply to Estrada, who was an elected president, not a successor.

According to the Supreme Court ruling, Estrada left his office and this constituted his resignation. When retired justice Jose Vitug read the concurring opinion; it is understood that Abandonment of office is a species of resignation, and it connotes the giving up of the office although not attended by the formalities normally observed in resignation. So, it is a prerogative that when he abandoned his office; he had already relinquished his power to his successor Vice President Arroyo.

Moreover, the Supreme Court clarified that Estrada’s announcement last Wednesday does not make him an official candidate yet. His presidential attempt be honored only when he will file his certificate of candidacy between November 20 and 30.

Some are still insisting their intent to support the candidacy of Pres. Estrada. Some are doubtful whether he can still take the throne for presidency despite his abuse of power, incompetence, and moral ascendancy. Some say, he is the movie hero that once rose to power, fell to impeachment, rose to his political and civil rights. Some say, he remains the ousted president that will never rise from his political flaw. Some say, he is just a human who is expected to commit mistakes. Some say, he deserves to be forgiven. Some say, he is forgiven but his weaknesses remain as scars in the heart of the Filipinos.

Pres. Estrada was once a hero of the masses. Everyone looked up to him as the best driver and the best man in the world. However, his mediocrity seized him and led him to the four corners of the cell. Filipinos, in this epoch, witnessed that the hero of the masses has been grandly suffered from his tragic flaw which caused of his downfall. In his time, we realized his imperfections and vulnerability. Yet, today reminds us that letting this happen again is a reflection of stupidity.