ONLY IN THE PHILIPPNES

Indeed, politics Philippine-style is unique in the whole world!

First, former President Erap Estrada and VP Jejomar Binay agreed to form a coalition called UNA.  With that, most of the potential senotariables for 2013 are expected to belong.   

Then, realizing that what is left for the LP are a throng of relatively unknown characters and past losers, PNoy is planning to make his own merger of the LP, the NP and the NPC.  Never mind the NPC because it is actually headed by his own uncle, Danding Cojuangco.  But a merger of his LP with  NP, at whose helm PNoy's most bitter rival in the previous presidency poll stands, is truly unthinkable.  Alas, this may be one for the Guinness: it can happen only in the Philippines. 

At any rate, since LP Binay may not really be considered in the opposition, chances are there will practically emerge no opposition ticket for senators in 2013.  If at all, there would only be independents, very few of whom, if any, may be none, are expected to end up in the magic twelve.  I really do not know if Villar of the NP, who is now showing signs of running again for president despite his previous vow he would not, is truly in favor of this unprecedented merger of practically all the political parties in this parts.  Neither do I know why Mar Roxas, otherwise the LP's next presidential bet, should readily accede to this, and again be sidelined for president as he was in 2010.

At any rate, isn't all these political developments -- with practically only one group of candidates for senators belonging to the party in power -- a grand mockery of democracy plain and simple? 

Meanwhile, one other unique thing is in process in the Judiciary.   Imagine that with supposed-to-be Acting Chief Justice Carpio and JBC ex-officio Secretary Leila de Lima, both aspiring for the next Chief Justice, having to forfeit their positions in the JBC temporarily, what remain of the JBC are only the four regular members from the civil society, plus a representative from Congress.  With the regular members all appointed by PNoy and thus expected to be totally beholden to him, how can we expect the selection of Corona's successor to be truly fair and equitable and not biased to PNoy's choice?  Even if Tupas and Escudero, whose simultaneous belonging to the JBC is yet under question before the Supreme Court, should insist to vote for other than PNoy's protegee, would their 1/2 vote each win over the votes of four?  You bettter tell that to the marines!

THE NP AND LP IN PHILIPPINE POLITICS

The Nationalista and the Liberal Parties are the oldest political parties in the Philippines, equivalent more or less to the Republican and Democratic parties in the United States.  The ongoing coalition of the NP and the LP for the purpose of the 2013 elections is truly surprising.  It also augurs somebody's abandonment of an oath he took after the 2010 polls and maybe -- just maybe -- a new threat to somebody else's political ambitions for 2016.

The NP, along with Lakas-CMD, corresponds somewhat to the Republican Party in the US.  It belongs to the conservative wing of Philippine politics, whereas its principal rival, the Liberal Party, along with the parties belonging to the agglomeration of the People's Power government, all belong to the liberal wing of Philippine politics and somewhat corresponds to the Democratic Party of the United States.  In the US, the political parties generally espouse their own expressed ideology or vision, bolstered by a written platform of government with specific goals, essentially different from one another.  There,  no one is yet known to abandon the political affiliation of his parents and grand parents.  In the Philippines, the respective visions, ideology and platforms of the political parties have become less evident and more obscured, as the switching of party allegiances by individual politicians, especially prior to a major election has over time become the norm.  Methinks this is one reason why this country is continually going to the dogs. The thing is politicians in these parts may not be faulted for that -- they would rather be practical than ideal -- because they are just exercising their constitutional right to join or not join an organization.

The emerging NP-LP marriage may be partly explained by the fact that after the coalition between Erap and Bnay into UNA, where most of the big-name senatoriables for 2013 belong, what essentially remained of the potential LP bets were relatively unknown, some even losers for senators in the previous elections.  The same is more or less true with the NP's potential senatorial candidates.  Along this light, the NP-LP merger becomes a practical option.

But here's the rob.  After his defeat in 2010, Manny Villar, NP President, had publicly vowed he would bow out from politics and fully attend to his business.   Methinks Villar has now suddenly forgotten or conveniently abandoned that vow.  Handwritings are suddenly on the wall that he would try his luck once again for President,  after PNoy's tenure.  Alas, poor Mar Roxas! He had been over-shadowed by PNoy in 2010, he now stands to be eclipsed once more, this time by Villar, come 2016.   Marahil, sasabihin ni PNoy: "Nakuha ko na ang gusto ko, bahala na kayo!"   These are of course how I look as early as now in my crystal ball.

Talking of personal perceptions, aba'y garapalang gustong gaguhin yata tayong mga mamamayang Pilipino  nitong sina PNoy at Villar!  Di ba't sila ang pinakamahigpit magsabuyan ng putik noong 2010?  Biglang
nalulon na ba nila kapwa ang mababahong putik na isinaboy nila sa isa't isa at ngayo'y naging parang mga bakla sila na naglalampungan?  Ika nga naming mga Batanggenyo: "Aba'y kayo na lang ang magpaloko at makisawsaw sa kanilang lampungan.  Kami'y hindi,.ala'y gago ga si Pilo?"

I really do not know what or how others feel, but this is going to be my political conviction when I cast my vote in both the 2013 senatorial and the 2016 presidential elections.           

DOLPHY AS NATIONAL ARTIST

Alam ko, sigurado ako, at umaasa ako, na sa malao't madali ay makakamtan din ni Dolphy, albeit ironically posthumously, ang National Artist Award.

Pero kanina, habang binabasa ko ang column ni Randy David sa Inquirer, titled "Portrait of a Filipino as Dolphy," ay medyo napukaw ang aking kamalayan sa kanyang sinabing dalwang mukha ng buhay ang nangingibabaw na  inilarawan ni Dolphy sa mga roles na kanyang ginampanan sa pelikula sa buong panahon ng kanyang pagiging hari ng komedya.  Ang una, na napanood ng marami sa atin sa pagitan ng dekada singkuwenta at setenta, ay ang katauhan ng isang baklang walang anu-ano ay biglang titili at iigkas ang mga kamay -- gaya ni Facifica Falayfay.  Ang ikalawa ay ang larawan ng isang ama sa "John and Marsha,"  nakatira "Along da Riles" at di gaanong binibigyang-pansin, ang totoo'y tinatawanan pa nga, ang kahirapan ng buhay ng isang iskuwater.   Gaya ng alam ng lahat, sa pagdaan ng panahon, ang role ng isang bakla ay unti-unting natabunan ng karakter ni Juan Porontong at Kevin Kosme sa sumunod niyang mga pelkula.

Alam rin natin na noong mga dekada singkuwemta-setenta, ang mga bading ay lihim na dinudusta at tinatawanan sa lipunan, bagama't ang katotohanang ito ay matagumpay na naitatago ng mga jokes at entertainment na ibinibigay ni Dolphy sa balana sa kanyang pagganap sa mga roles na ito.  Sariwa pa marahil sa ating gunita kung papaanong si Dolphy ay nilalait at dinudusta araw araw ni Panchito Alba sa kanyang role bilang baklang kapatid ni Susan Roces sa "Jack en Jill."  Alalaon baga, ang mga dekadang yaon ay panahong kahit totoo ay pilit itinatago ng bawa't Pilipino ang pagiging bakla.  Noon, aminin man natin o hindi, ang mga bading ay itinuturing na sumpa sa pamilya at sa lipunang  kanilang sinulputan.

Passed forward to the present, ngayon ay hindi na!  Maraming bading ngayon ang iginagalang na sa lipunan, lalo na sa movie industry kung saan halos lahat ng magagaling na direktor ay hindi na itinatagong sila ay bakla.  Si Rustom Padilla nga, noo'y isang versatile action at romantic star, ay si BB Gandanghari na ngayon kung tawagin.  Of course, meron pa ring ilan diyan na alam ng lahat na bading ay hindi matanggap at pilit pa ring pinalalabas sa madla na siya ay tunay na macho at gigolo.  Pero huwag na nating palawigin pa ang usapan dito, baka makabanggit pa ako ng ilang pangalan at mapahabla ng libel.   Ang mahalaga, ang mga bading sa lipunan, ang ilan nga ay senador pa, ay di na gasinong dinudusta.  They are now the strongest advocates of gender equality in our midst and times, as each one of them continues to seek his rightful place under the sun.

Ngayo'y naisip ko lang: hindi kaya magkaroon ng alinglangan ang mga transgender groups in Philippine society sa karapatan ni Dolphy sa national artist award?  Bakit 'kanyo?  Aba'y di ba't si Dolphy ang unang naglarawan sa mga bakla bilang karakter ng lipunan na nilalait, dinudusta at tinatawanan?  Sa kabilang dako, hindi naman kaya dapat pasalamatan ng mga bading si Dolphy sapagka't kung hindi sa kanyang mga roles bilang tinatawanang mga bakla, marahil ay di sila magigising sa katotohanang di sila dapat na dinudusta, manapa'y dapat igalang sabawa't lipunan ng tao kanilang ginagalawan?  

Well, take your pick!  I am leaving these questions to my readers in the light of one very vital qualification that a national artist must possess under the government's existing rules  And that is, "The content or form of his works must have contributed to building a Filipino sense of nationhood." 

VILLAQUINO

Noong 2010 elections, pinaiimbistigahan ni Villar 'yong mga anomalya ni Aquino. Gayundin, pinaiibistigahan naman ni Villar 'yong mga anomalya ni Aquino. Nagsabuyan ng tae ang dalawang ito.

Sa darating na 2013 elections, mukhang kinain na ng bawa't isa ang kani-kanilang tae at basura.  Isisigaw ng dalawa sa mamboboto: ang grupo namin ang pinakamalinis na lingkod ng bayan. Samahan ninyo ang aming mga kandidato! 

Ano ba ito, ginagago tayong mga mamamayan.  They tell that to the Marines.  Ewan ko sa inyo, ako hindi ako papayag na gaguhin ng dalawang ito. Parehong tae sila sa aking paningn.

FIXED WAGES FOR BUS DRIVERS NOT A PRUDENT SOLUTION FOR PRESENT ROAD ACCIDENTS

Like any other debatable public issue, there are pros and cons related to the directive of the MMDA and the DOLE towards a fixed salary for bus drivers -- I don't know if it is or will also apply to jeep drivers -- instead of via commission basis or boundary system.  But I believe the advantages considerably outweigh the disadvantages.

Of course, there can be no gainsaying the fact that several traffic accidents have been attributable to bus drivers who, in an effort to earn as much commission as permissible, do stay on the road for at least 16 hours a day and compete with one another for commuters.  To gain physical strength for long driving hours, some are even addicted to drugs, while others are known to be driving under the influence of liquor.  In other words, the essential objective of the directive is road accidents prevention.  Pero ano naman ang kapalit? Very low take-home pay of the drivers.  Consider this very simple arithmetic:

A bus driver in Metro Manila generally takes home between P1,500 to 1,800 a day. or P39,000 to P46,000 per month of 26 working days.   Repeat, takes home, because his daily commission is given daily without any deduction for such items as taxes, SSS-Pag-ibig-medicare and other insurance premiums.  Now, the minimum wage in Metro Manila is about P404 per day.  That is equivalent to a gross pay of P10,504 per month.  Repeat, gross pay, from which will be payroll-deducted SSS-Pag-ibig-Medicare premiums (never mind the tax because under the law, minimum wage earners are income-tax exempt.  Aba'y saan kukunin ng kawawang driver ang malaking diperensya ng kita by which he has been used to for many years to support his family.  For the government to ensure that drivers will not be tremendously tired and hence relatively immune from road accidents, the ideal would be to ensure that drivers do work only for eight hours.  This will in turn entail having to hire more drivers, probably at least doubling the regular complement so that there will be a second shift to cover at least 16 hours operation per day.  Some operators may even hire a third shift, since buses are on the road in Manila on round the clock basis.  But hiring extra drivers entails various additional fixed costs, such as the company share on SSS, Pag-ibig and Medicare and 13th month pay.  In other words, the more fixed-salaried drivers a bus company has, the more are these monthly fixed costs.
Somehow, these will minimize our unemployment rate. 

But let's get real!  Will bus companies indeed hire additional drivers!  Very probably not at all.  They will just retain, rather that increase, their present drivers, but just get each one to work overtime, at least for the next 16 hours.  With that, under the Labor Code provision of 25% overtime rate per month, a driver who drives for two shifts or sixteen hours per day will be grossing P23,634 monthly (that is, P10,504 basic plus P13,130 for overtime pay), subject to deduction for SSS, etc. premiums.  Still, the driver will have to knock his head vainly looking for the considerable loss in his take-home pay per month, even as he will still be on the road for sixteen hours.  This will clearly be financially advantageous to the bus operators.

But has the government reduced the road accidents we experience at present.  Alas, not at all!  Because drivers will still be on the roads for at least 16 hours a day.  

   

DOLPHY

Someone has written to the Inquirer saying Dolphy cannot qualify to the national artist award because he lacks morality, having sired 18 children all out of wedlock.  The writer says Dolphy cannot therefore be considered a role model.

In this country, negative reactions often end up very contagious.   I earnestly hope the said letter will not start a series of negative opinions, like dengue, about Dolphy's qualifications for the award.

Truth is, nobody may question Dolphy's philandering history.  Unfortunately -- and rightly or wrongly -- the duly prescribed criteria for the selection of national artists do not include, in fact they do not mention a bit about, the candidate's morality or immorality.  Here are the criteria:

1. The artist must be a Filipino citizen.
2. The content or form of his works must have contributed in building a Filipino sense of nationhood.
3. The artist was a pioneer in his field, with a particular unique style, and proved influential on later   generations of artists.
4. He must have been consistently outstanding in the practice of his art form, consistently honing artistic expression and style.
5.  He must have achieved wide acceptance and distinction in his field as shown by any of the following:
          *  the artist's prestigious national and/or international recognition and awards;
          *  critical acclaim and/or reviews of his work, and
          *  respect and esteem from peers within an artistic discipline.

Now, who can rightly say Dolphy does not possess all of these qualifications?
      

 

WITH MTB-MLE PROGRAM, THE DEPED MUST BE KIDDING!

The recent news report, "K to 12 challenge in Viscaya: Teach kids in 16 dialects" (PDI, 6/29/2012) is one other reason -- among too many -- why the DEPED's much ballyhooed K +12 program may end up kaput.  If this specific problem is true in Viscaya, isn't it equally a headache in practically most other regions?

As things are, part of the program is the Mother-Tongue Based, Multi-Lingual Education (MTB-MLE) which mandates the use of the pupils' mother tongue or regional dialect as the medium of instruction from the kindergarten to Grade III in the public schools. 

The MTB-MLE is allegedly based on studies that showed that children who were taught in their dialect learned better than those who were taught in their second language, which is either Filipino or English.  I really do not know in which particular region the said study was conducted.  For its result  to be fair and conclusive, was there also a parallel study conducted in schools in the Tagalog region? 

I mean, one is made to understand that, according to the study, Bicolandia children who were taught via the Bicol dialect, for example, had learned better than when they were taught in English or Pilipino.  But how conclusive is the study and its findings?  Does it also apply in the Tagalog region, for example.  That is to say, the mother tongue is Filipino in this region, where the medium of instruction has always been Filipino in the lower grades. Has there also been a study showing that children in Bulacan, Laguna, Quezon and Batangas have generally been fast and better learners than their counterparts in the Bicol or Ilocos region?  I don't think and I refuse to believe so.  I think that people from the DEPED themselves will in good conscience admit the plain truth that, taking all other variables equal, our public school children in the Tagalog provinces are just generally in the same degree of learning capabilities and aptitudes as their counterparts in the non-Tagalog regions.  More clearly put, Kinder-to-Grade III children in the Tagalog regions are definitely not as better prepared for Grade IV and onwards than those from any other region.  To contradict this plain truth is not unlike contradicting human nature itself.   If there is ever a difference, I believe it is not because of the medium of instruction per se -- maybe the quality of teachers and the like. 

We from the old generation who were taught via English -- repeat, English, not Pilipino or any other dialect, for that matter -- are generally accepted or considered by many as relatively far better educated than our present day counterparts.  As a matter of fact, taking other things equal, most of us are more easily qualified to work abroad than the graduates of the present schools, public or private.    And, to think that even in our flag ceremonies, we sang "Land of the morning" instead of "Bayang Magiliw"!  More than that, why are children in most private elementary schools where the media of instruction are Filipino and English in all regions of the archipelago generally also considered as better prepared for the higher grades than those in the public schools?  It is the basic reasons for these differences, I strongly believe, that people from the DEPED should aspire to seek before launching into rather unfamiliar waters -- well, such as the MTB-MLE.. 

Section 7, Article XIV, of the Constitution very clearly provides that: "For purposes of communication and instruction, the official languages of the Philippines are Filipino and, until otherwise provided by law, English". It seems to me that the proponents of the MTB-MLE in the K+12 program take shelter from the second paragraph of this provision which says, "The regional languages are the auxiliary official languages in the regions and shall serve as auxiliary media of instruction therein." 

The defining word is clear: auxiliary media of instruction.  But the DEPED has made the mother tongue as the main, principal or official medium of instruction from Kindergarten to Grade III in the public school without a law or legislation passed to that effect.  Doesn't that border on the unconstitutional?   

Finally -- and for the sake of sheer common sense --  we all know that school children of all grades and in all democratic societies since the dawn of time have always been, and must always be,  provided with ample and appropriate textbooks on various subjects.  Now, with the MTB-MLE program, is the government prepared to have copies of existing textbooks for Kinder-up-to-Grade III reprinted in the various regional dialects in the archipelago?  If not -- as they are never able to provide ample classrooms year in and year out -- how are teachers expected to daily teach their lessons: - only through oral lectures? Or, like winning numbers in jueteng are sometimes being drawn,  via voca?  Alas, the DEPED must be kidding!