Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Erap for President? Again?


I was slightly disturbed by news that Joseph Estrada believes he is still eligible to run and indeed will run in the next presidential elections. Before this, I just laugh at the notion that Erap may still run or the question of can he still run because for me the answer is as simple and as clear as the text of 1987 Philippine Constitution say - No, he is not eligible to run for ANY re-election.

Section 4 of the Article VII of the Constitution clearly states " 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."

The crucial phrase there is "for ANY re-election". This clearly means any form of re-election may it be immediately succeeding or after sitting a term or so.

Estrada's lawyers and Pro-Erap supporters argue that "THE President" in the text means the incumbent president. For them, the real purpose of the provision is to bar re-election by an incumbent that may use government funds and influence.

However, this is only laughable. If that was the only intention, I believe, the framers would have just been clear and plain and stated it as "an incumbent President" which is clearly not the intention but to bar ANY re-election of elected presidents.

Further, the last sentence of the paragraph pertains to a person who succeeded presidency through other means other than election such as a vice-president's succession as president due to the elected president's incapacity or death.

And lastly, Joseph Estrada is a convicted plunderer. I pray that the Filipino people do not forget this fact. Electing him again or letting him be elected or even run for presidency will be unforgivable.

A friend told me over text that if the Supreme Court (if ever to decide on the issue) rules that he is eligible to run and/or the Filipino people elects Estrada again to presidency, he would consider migrating to another country because it would just goes to show that our country is beyond repair. I said I can't blame him but also told him that I still have faith that the Filipino people will not let that happen. I just hope my faith does not fail me.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Kabataan, tayo ang pagbabago!


Check out the latest website of Kabataan Partylist. It is not quite finished yet (I think) but just keep updated. Hopefully, it will be fully functional soon.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Listen to this


This is a new composition of members of Karatula-La Union. They have now a number of original compositions. We hope to record them and release an album. If you want to listen, click here.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Maligayang Araw ng mga Ina

Ito ay ang aking belated Mother's Day post. Dahil Nahuli nga ako ng isang araw gawa ng madaling-araw na. Irerepost ko itong tula ko para sa aking Inang.

INA

Pumailanglang sa katahimikan
ng gabi ang iyong pagtangis.
muli, ginambala ng iyong kalungkutan
ang aking pagkakahimbing.

Pinuno ng iyong luha ang aking puso
at tuluyang nilunod ang aking isipan,
tinangay ng alon ng iyong damdamin
at itinaboy ng nagpupuyos na
hangin ng iyong poot.

(Kung alam mo lamang na sa tuwing
dumadalaw sa iyo ang bagyo ng dalamhati,
ako'y nasasalanta rin...)

Malaman mo sana na dama ko
ang iyong kalungkutan.
Walang hiwaga ang ating pagkakaugnay.
Hindi ba't noong una'y magkarugtong
ang ating sikmura't katawan?
Utang ko sa iyo ang aking buhay
at ako'y nagmula sa inyo.

Dati-rati, noong ako'y nasa iyo
pang sinapupunan, ay pinagsasaluhan
natin ang pagkain na iyong sinusubo.
Tila ngayon, pagdaan ng maraming taon,
mula nang mapatid ang lubid na laman
na nagdurugtong sa atin, nabigong putdin nun
ang kaugnayan ng ating puso't damdamin.
Ngayon, ‘di na pagkain ang ating pinagsasaluhan
kundi ang dalamhati ng iyong puso't kaluluwa.

Malaman mo sana na ang bawat
patak ng luha na gumuguhit sa iyong pisngi
ay may katapat na sugat sa aking puso.
Kung dati-rati’y ikaw ang pumapawi
sa mga luha sa aking mga mata,
hayaan mong ako naman ang magsabing
“Ina, tahan na, tahan na…”

August 12, 2006