TRUTH, POWER, LOVE AND MONEY

(By Randy David
Philippine Daily InquirerFirst
Posted 23:55:00 07/10/2009)

Not too long ago, a couple of bishops of the Catholic Church who were attending an important meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) were invited to have a meal with some Malacañang officials. The purpose of the meeting ostensibly was to brief the prelates on what the government was doing to address certain issues over which the Church had expressed some concern.

As they stood up from the table at the end of the meal, the bishops found themselves being given envelopes containing money. The Palace assistants mumbled that the cash was meant to cover “expenses” and “air fare.” One of the bishops, Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, who was the CBCP vice president at the time, politely refused the envelope. The media reported the incident, and Archbishop Ledesma confirmed that indeed it happened. The good bishop, one of the most decent men in the Church hierarchy today, must have been totally dismayed by this improper and insulting act. For he had traveled to Manila from Mindanao, where he is based, to attend the CBCP meeting, and not to confer with representatives of the President. There was no reason for them to pay his expenses.

But, presumably, for the men of the Palace, this was standard practice. A year later, it was the turn of legislators and a few chosen local government officials to be treated to the same presidential “generosity.” After attending a meeting in Malacañang, in which they were briefed about the Palace’s position on the looming impeachment case against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the guests were sent home with a small gift bag containing cash. Pampanga Gov. Eddie Panlilio, who was at the meeting, opened the bag after boarding his car, and found a half million pesos in cash. He was neither made to sign for it, nor was he informed what the money was for. Later, he made an effort to return the money, but no one in Malacañang was prepared to receive it.

Apart from the ordinary languages we use in our daily life, there are other means available for communicating meaning to other people. The most significant of these, the sociologist Niklas Luhmann says, are truth, power, love and money. The function of these “symbolic media of communication,” as he calls them, is the same as that of language—to ensure a common understanding among participants in an interaction, and to prompt the other into making a desired selection from a set of possible actions.

To know this is to begin to understand how “money talks,” why “truth will set us free,” how “power corrupts,” and why “love is the language of the heart.” In modern society, these symbolic media are assigned their specific spheres, where they facilitate the transmission and processing of sometimes very complex messages. Truth becomes the language of science (or of religion in early societies), power becomes the medium of politics, love (or friendship) that of the family, and money the principal medium of economic exchange.

In modern societies where social relationships are highly differentiated, people take care not to switch from one medium to another within the same relationship. To do so would be to sow confusion. Thus, you do not give a priest some money in the confessional box to pay for your sins. You are not allowed to buy votes. Likewise, it is not regarded as good form to invoke love or friendship to gain acceptance for a political program. You cannot use love as payment for a house or a car without putting your identity and self-respect in doubt. And you cannot use power to define the truth, or to secure love, just as you cannot buy truth and love.

The surest sign of dysfunction in any relationship or institutional system is the employment of an extraneous medium for communicating and directing meanings. A parent tries to stabilize the love of his children by lavishing them with money and material things. A scientist shapes his truths according to the requirements of the powerful or in response to market demands. A politician wins public office by using wealth rather than the power of persuasion. A judge offers his decisions to the highest bidder, or bends the law to accommodate political power. And a businessman enlists the help of a politician to ensure the success of his enterprise, or to prevent it from being taken away from him.

It is the misfortune of our society that our leaders cannot grasp the systemic nature of our recurrent crises. Our political system has been hobbled by our inability to elect leaders with unquestioned legitimacy who can inspire the nation with their vision. Our economic system is heavily politicized and dominated by parasitic rent-seekers. Our judicial system is so severely compromised it cannot muster enough authority and credibility to settle disputes and persistent conflicts. Our families and our communities have quietly borne the brunt of these crises and, unless we act now, we may soon wake up to find we’re no longer a nation.

These problems are not unique to us. They are an integral part of the troubled transition to modernity. But, the conditions that would hasten this passage are already upon us. We only need to focus our collective will on the immediate tasks that lie ahead. We can begin by ensuring that we have credible and orderly elections in 2010. Yet, clearly, we cannot do that until the Arroyo regime finally accepts that its time is over.

POLITICAL CONCEPTS

The history of the concepts of politics can be equated, as to periods, of the existence of humans in this world. As such, the study of politics is very dynamic because of the continuous changes in the society. From the ancient times, during the reign of the various European states, the rise of the American democracy, the events during the two world wars and the present events in various technological advancements, the study of politics is continually attuning to the constant changes in the society.

Traditionally, politics is defined as the art and science of government. Even today’s students are usually referring to the traditional definition when studying politics. It is very obvious that even with the coming of the most recent and modern definition or view on politics, there are still a number of people viewing politics in its traditional definition. There’s really nothing wrong about this since in the field of public governance, politics is very patent. Our daily existence is affected, directly or indirectly, by the acts of the government.

Consider the following basic concepts of politics:

1. It is the process of making government policies. How the policies came into being, its formulation, its implementation and others.

2. It also includes the decision-making and decision enforcing processes in any group that makes and enforces rules for its members.

3. It also deals with public affairs, that is, the distribution of goods and services to satisfy the demands of the public.

4. Politics is also concerned with conflicts and their resources.

Historically, the term politics had its etymology from the Greek word “polis” which refers to the ancient city-states of which Athens and Sparta were the more prominent.

Finally, the modern day usage denotes a process in the political system in which the goals of that system are selected and ordered in terms of priority in the allocation of resources.

CHARTER CHANGE:COPY OF FULL TEXT AND SIGNATURES OF CONGRESSMEN SUPPORTING

Let us think a million times....

Here's the full text.

House Resolution 1109 (re: Constitutional Amendment or Revision)

(The House of Representatives recently issued a resolution asking that members of Congress — which, in a bicameral set-up, is composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives — convene to consider amendments or revisions of the Constitution. A stated purpose is to highlight a justiciable controversy, to allow the Supreme Court to decide, whether the Constitutional amendment/revision by Congress should be done by both chambers voting separately. Full text of House Resolution No. 1109 )

House Resolution No. 1109

A RESOLUTION CALLING UPON THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO CONVENE FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSIDERING PROPOSALS TO AMEND OR REVISE THE CONSTITUTION, UPON A VOTE OF THREE-FOURTHS OF ALL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

WHEREAS, there are proposals to amend or revise the 1987 Constitution, which is presently enforced, but any of such proposals cannot be considered, heard, debated, approved or disapproved, unless any of the modes expressly provided by Article XVII of the present Constitution is adopted;

WHEREAS, adopting a mode of amending or revising the Constitution, as mandated by said Article XVII is a condition precedent, a pre-requisite, before specific proposals to amend or revise the Constitution could be considered by the Members of Congress, convened to exercise the constitutionally ordained power to amend or revise the Constitution.

WHEREAS, there is a recognized distinction between the exercise of legislative powers of Congress from the exercise of the constituent power to amend or revise the Constitution;

WHEREAS, Congress, in the exercise of its legislative power as provided in Article VI of the 1987 Constitution, cannot amend or revise the Constitution, but it is through the exercise of its constituent power under Article XVII, Section 1 of the Constitution that “any amendment to, or revision of the Constitution may be proposed, upon a vote of three-fourths of all its Members”;

WHEREAS, while the prescribed method of enacting constitutional change in the 1935, 1973, and 1987 Constitutions are different from the method of enacting ordinary legislation, there is a very distinct and notable difference between the 1935 and the 1987 Constitution, which respectively provides as follows:

The 1935 Constitution:
“The Congress in joint session assembled, by a vote of three-fourths of all Members of the Senate and of the House of Representatives voting separately may propose amendments to this Constitution or a call a convention for that purpose.”
The 1987 Constitution:
“Any amendment to, or revision of, this Constitution may be proposed by: (1) The Congress, upon a vote of three-fourths of all its Members; or (2) A constitutional convention.”

WHEREAS, it is to be emphasized and underscored that some essential words and phrases in the aforequoted 1935 Constitution were deleted and no longer contained in the aforequoted 1987 Constitution, such that the “amendments by deletion” are as follows:
1. The phrase “in joint session assembled” in the 1935 Constitution was deleted;
2. The phrase that the Senate and the House of Representatives, voting separately” was also deleted;
3. The percentage of voting three-fourths of the respective membership of each House (the Senate and the House of Representatives) treated separately has also been deleted and substituted with a vote of three-fourths of all the Members of Congress (i.e., ¾ of the “members of Congress” without distinction as to which institution of Congress they belong to).

WHEREAS, the intention of the amendments of the 1935 Constitution by deletions of certain words and phrases thereon by the 1987 Constitution are clear and manifest as underscored in the preceding WHEREAS Clauses and by such deletions, the meaning and application of the corresponding provisions of the 1987 Constitution on Amendments and Revision have been changed. There are however oppositors claiming adverse legal interests who claim that, notwithstanding that the express, clear, and unambiguous provision of Article XVII Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution that any amendment to, or revision of the 1987 Constitution that any amendment to, or revision of the 1987 Constitution shall be upon a vote of three-fourths of all the Members of Congress (i.e., not three-fourths of each House voting separately as the oppositors contend), a justiciable controversy involving the active antagonistic assertion of alleged legal rights by the oppositors, on one side, and the denial thereof by the proponents of this Resolution, on the other side, shall ripen for judicial determination as and when this Resolution calling upon the Members of Congress to convene in exercise of its constituent power is filed, heard, and approved.

WHEREAS, while no specific proposals to amend or revise the present Constitution could formally be given due course unless and until this call to convene Members of Congress, as provided herein, is effected. It is hereby pledged and covenanted by the proponents of this Resolution, that by their signatures hereto that whatever constitutional changes may be proposed at the appropriate time, preferably after the constitutional issues may be proposed at the appropriate time, preferably after the constitutional issues of construction and interpretation by the Honorable Supreme Court of the justiciable controversy that may arise shall have been resolved with finality that:
1. The term of office of the incumbent President and Vice-President shall not be extended;
2. The term of office of Senators, Congressmen, Governors, Mayors, and other elected officials whose term of office shall expire in 2010 shall not be extended;
3. The term of office of the twelve (12) Senators who were elected in 2007 for a six (6) year term ending in 2013 shall not be shortened and they shall be allowed to finish their term;
4. That there shall be elections in 2010.

WHEREAS, there is a specific proposal that for the Philippines to be internationally competitive in attracting foreign investments and technology transfers that the economic provisions of the Constitution is proposed to be amended in an appropriate manner, but such specific proposal to amend the present Constitution cannot be formally presented and resolved until the mode for amending or revising the Constitution is convened and made operational through the application of Article XVII of the present Constitution.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS BE CONVENED FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO, OR REVISION OF THE CONSTITUTION UPON A VOTE OF THREE-FOURTHS OF ALL ITS MEMBERS AND THAT UPON ITS BEING CONVENED SHALL ADOPT ITS RULES OF PROCEDURES THAT SHALL GOVERN ITS PROCEEDINGS.
Adopted.

List of those who signed HR 1109:

Vincent P.. Crisologo, Quezon City

Matias V. Defensor, Jr., Quezon City

Mary Ann L. Susano, Quezon City

Nanette Castelo-Daza, Quezon City

Bienvenido M. Abante Jr., Manila

Jaime C. Lopez, Manila

Maria Zenaida B. Angping, Manila

Maria Theresa B. David, Manila

Amado S. Bagatsing, Manila

Daniel R. De Guzman, Marikina City

Marcelino R. Teodoro, Marikina City

Eduardo C. Zialcita, Parañaque City

Henry M. Dueñas, Jr., Taguig

Alvin S. Sandoval, Malabon City-Navotas City

Jose Antonio F. Roxas, Pasay City

Oscar G. Malapitan, Caloocan City

Mary Mitzi L. Cajayon, Caloocan City

Roman T. Romulo, Pasig City

Rexlon T. Gatchalian, Valenzuela City

Magtanggol T. Gunigundo I, Valenzuela City

Manuel S. Agyao, Kalinga

Elias C. Bulut, Jr., Apayao

Mauricio G. Domogan, Baguio City

Samuel M. Dangwa, Benguet

Solomon R. Chungalao, Ifugao

Thomas M. Dumpit Jr., La Union

Victor Franciso C. Ortega, La Union

Arthur F. Celeste, Pangasinan

Conrado M. Estrella III, Pangasinan

Marcos O. Cojuangco, Pangasinan

Victor F. Agbayani, Pangasinan

Ma. Rachel J. Arenas, Pangasinan

Eric D. Singson, Ilocos Sur

Ronald V. Singson, Ilocos Sur

Roque R. Ablan, Jr., Ilocos Norte

Cecilia S. Luna], Abra

Florencio L. Vargas, Cagayan

Manuel N. Mamba, Cagayan

Junie E. Qua, Quirino

Carlo Oliver D. Diasnes, Batanes

Rodolfo T. Albano, Isabela

Edwin C. Uy, Isabela

Jose V. Yap, Tarlac

Jeci A. Lapus, Tarlac

Monica Louise Prieto-Teodoro, Tarlac

Lorna C. Silverio, Bulacan

Pedro M. Pancho, Bulacan

Reylina G. Nicolas, Bulacan

Ma. Victoria Sy-Alvarado, Bulacan

Arturo C. Robes, San Jose del Monte City

Albert C. Garcia, Bataan

Herminia B. Roman, Bataan

Joseph Gilbert F. Violago, Nueva Ecija

Ma. Milagros H. Magsaysay, Zambales

Antonio M. Diaz, Zambales

Aurelio D. Gonzales, Jr., Pampanga

Juan Miguel M. Arroyo, Pampanga

Anna York P. Bondoc, Pampanga

Carmelo F. Lazatin, Pampanga

Danilo E. Suarez, Quezon

Wilfrido Mark C. Enverga, Quezon

Michael John R. Duavit, Rizal

Adeline Rodriguez-Zaldarriaga, Rizal

Angelito C. Gatlabayan, Antipolo City

Roberto V. Puno, Antipolo City

Eileen Ermita-Buhain, Batangas

Mark Llandro L. Mendoza, Batangas

Victoria H.. Reyes, Batangas

Jesus Crispin C. Remulla, Cavite

Elpidio F. Barzaga, Jr., Cavite

Maria Evita R. Arago, Laguna

Edgar S. San Luis, Laguna

Antonio C. Alvarez, Palawan

Carmencita O. Reyes, Marinduque

Eleandro Jesus

F. Madrona, Romblon

Ma. Amelita C. Villarosa, Occidental Mindoro

Rodolfo G. Valencia, Oriental Mindoro

Rizalina Seachon-Lanete, Masbate

Narciso R. Bravo, Jr., Masbate

Antonio T. Kho, MasbateAl

Francis C. Bichara, Albay

Reno G. Lim, Albay

Luis R. Villafuerte, Camarines Sur

Felix R. Alfelor, Jr., Camarines Sur

Diosdado Ignacio Jose Maria Macapagal-Arroyo, Camarines Sur

Joseph A. Santiago, Catanduanes

Jose G. Solis, Sorsogon

Florencio T. Miraflores, Aklan

Genaro M. Alvarez, Jr., Negros Occidental

Jeffrey P. Ferrer, Negros Occidental

Ignacio T. Arroyo, Jr., Negros Occidental

Jose Carlos V. Lacson, Negros Occidental

Alfredo D. Marañon III, Negros Occidental

Raul T. Gonzalez, Jr., Iloilo City

Niel C. Tupas, Jr., Iloilo

Ferjenel G. Biron, Iloilo

Arthur Defensor, Sr., Iloilo

Judy J. Syjuco, Iloilo

Janette L. Garin, Iloilo

Joaquin Carlos Rahman A. Nava, Guimaras

Fredenil H. Castro, Capiz

Roberto C. Cajes, Bohol

Edgardo M. Chatto, Bohol

Pryde Henry A. Teves, Negros Oriental

Pablo P. Garcia, Cebu

Pablo John F. Garcia, Cebu

Ramon H. Durano VI, Cebu

Nerissa Corazon Soon-Ruiz, Cebu

Benhur L. Salimbangon, Cebu

Eduardo R. Gullas, Cebu

Antonio V. Cuenco, Cebu City

Raul V. Del Mar, Cebu City

Roger G. Mercado, Southern Leyte

Eufrocino M. Codilla, Sr., Leyte

Carmen L. Cari, Leyte

Andres D. Salvacion Jr., Leyte

Trinidad G. Apostol, Leyte

Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez,

LeyteReynaldo S. Uy, Samar

Sharee Ann T. Tan, Samar

Teodolo M. Coquilla, Eastern Samar

Paul R. Daza, Northern Samar

Emil L. Ong, Northern Samar

Glenn A. Chong, Biliran

Rosendo S. Labadlabad, Zamboanga del Norte

Cecilia G. Jalosjos-Carreon, Zamboanga del Norte

Cesar G. Jalosjos, Zamboanga del Norte

Victor J. Yu, Zamboanga del Sur

Antonio H. Cerilles, Zamboanga del Sur

Dulce Ann K. Hofer, Zamboanga Sibugay

Vicente F. Belmonte, Jr., Lanao del Norte

Abdullah D. Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte

Rolando A. Uy, Cagayan de Oro City

Marina P. Clarete, Misamis Occidental

Herminia M. Ramiro, Misamis Occidental

Yevgeny Vicente B. Emano, Misamis Oriental

Pedro P. Romualdo, Camiguin

Candido P. Pancrudo Jr., Bukidnon

Franklin P. Bautista, Davao del Sur

Marc Douglas C. Cagas IV, Davao del Sur

Arrel R. Olaño, Davao del Norte

Antonio F. Lagdameo, Jr., Davao del Norte

Isidro T. Ungab, Davao City

Vincent J. Garcia, Davao City

Prospero Nograles, Davao City

Thelma Z. Almario, Davao Oriental

Nelson L. Dayanghirang, Davao Oriental

Rommel C. Amatong, Compostela Valley

Manuel E. Zamora, Compostela Valley

Datu Pax S. Mangudadatu, Sultan Kudarat

Arnulfo F. Go, Sultan Kudarat

Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza, Cotabato

Bernardo F. Piñol, Jr., Cotabato

Glenda B. Ecleo, Dinagat Islands

Philip A. Pichay, Surigao del Sur

Florencio C. Garay, Surigao del Sur

Francisco T. Matugas, Surigao del Norte

Guillermo A. Romarate, Jr., Surigao del Norte

Edelmiro A. Amante, Agusan del Norte

Jose S. Aquino II, Agusan del Norte

Pangalian M. Balindong, Lanao del Sur

Faysah Omaira M. Dumarpa, Lanao del Sur

Yusop H. Jikiri, Sulu

Munir M. Arbison, Sulu

Simeon Datumanong, Maguindanao

Nur G. Jaafar, Tawi-Tawi

Narciso D. Santiago III,

Alliance for Rural Concerns

Edgar L. Valdez, Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives

Ernesto C. Pablo, Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives

Robert Raymund M. Estrella, Abono

Nicanor M. Briones, Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines, Inc.

LIP SERVICE DOES NO GOOD TO ILIGAN

I've been in the public service for the last 17 years when I started as an SK Chairman, Barangay Kagawad and on my second term as Punong Barangay of Kiwalan, Iligan City. For more than a decade in the local governance, I've been an actual witness to this beautiful City's politics. Probably there are those in the political animal kingdomship who may say that they have stayed almost a half century in Iligan's politics and may probably assert that they can better say about the dynamics of Iligan local politics.

In my case, I may share my humble analysis of some of the basic points about Iligan politics. In all of those years that I've been in public service spanning three City Mayors, I would say that our beloved city's politics is very dismal because it's very traditional.

All political issues in Iligan everytime local elections are coming, they are just recycled of issues of the past defeated politicians. It is a repeat with the former villain is now the hero, and pretty well sure that in the future will become a villain. Balos balos Pilar as they say.

Issues like nepotism controlling the departments, family members in various elected posts, gambling and drug issues, cartel of selected contractors and suppliers, payroll of unknown aliens lurking in the fields of City Hall and all the others everyday we heard being lambasted in the local media outlets. And all these issues have been staying in local politics since the time of the former Mayors with their opponents becoming the new Mayor and the latter now being attacked with the same subjects he exhorted before.

Because they are recycled and redundant, lip servicing is very clear in Iligan City's local politics. To us of the internet generation, it's already an utter disgust hearing some politicians who have already mastered the art of lip servicing. Like a magicians, they can make white black and vice-versa. To me they looked like an old clown jesting in stage, making fun of the already recycled or rehash local political issues.

Nothing's new actually. Nothing new because these political clown making some so much lip servicing have been there even before the second world war.

That is why I would say that lip servicing have done no good to the development of Iligan City. So much have been invested on petty polticking instead of investing on hope and opportunity for the City of Iligan.

I tell you, before the second world war, there are only two famous streets in Iligan, and these are Quezon Avenue and Aguinaldo Avenue. Now, 2009, still we only have two famous streets, still Quezon and Aguinaldo Avenue. In fact we are the only highly urbanized city in the whole country where our political system is traditional and obsolete. Iligan remains to be a living mummy in local governance. We have good leaders but we are using an old and obsolete system making our development a mummified being pre-dated before the second world war. Look at how we are electing our City Councilors, we are still electing them at large when other cities have already subdivided their city's into districts in order to make a proper and direct representation and distribution of the government's resources attuning to the increasing population and demands of the people.

In this view, it's time for our people to be awakened and be aware of what's going on in our City. It is needed at present, the education and the inculcation of values in the right selection and the political recruitment of our local leaders that will bring real action and concrete development to the City, instead of that aged and dreaded lip servicing of our mummified politicians of the long past.

WHY ILIGAN SHOULD LEARN FROM BUSH'S FAILED TAX CUTS

Like a Wildfire, how Obama's Platform of Change Abrogated the Elitist Tax Cuts of Bush

In America today, they attributed the recent economic woes to the failed Tax Cuts of former President George Bush. Obama made it clear that such tax cuts depleted the resources of the government, favored the few and promote patronage, nepotism, cronyism, curruption and lobbying within the government.

Upon reading the various articles on the effects of the Bush Tax Cuts especially to the ruinous economic crisis of America, I find it very relevant to the current financial status of our beloved Iligan City. Many are wondering why the City's coffers is on a shortfall, why the entire machinery of the City Government is relying on the payment of the delinquent taxes of the defunct National Steel Corporation. At the same time, with the shortfall of the funds of the City which is synonymous to bankruptcy, there is an utter spending of funds to highly polarized and populist but not sustainable programs.

Tax cuts in America favored the few, elite and rich businessmen who have close connection to the administration. These sectors with so much money are sponsoring lobbying groups that will enable to influence the President and the legislators to pass laws that will reduce their tax payments in the pretext of promoting the influx of fresh investments thereby creating employment opportunities. But in a long term analysis, it really favored the rich while the hard paying middle class are not given such kind of an aristocratic previlege. As a result the rich become richer and the poor poorer. It even promotes so much graft and corruption because of the lobbying efforts made by the rich few to the government officials.

The situation is very relevant in the City of Iligan because a long time ago it has become a fad in our City to give tax exemptions to the selected few business men in the City. These tax breaks, just like in America in essence, were made to promote or encourage the businessmen to invest more in Iligan and make Iligan as a best haven for investment.

However, in my humble analysis, the tax cuts, breaks or exemptions made by the City never went to the lowest echelon of our society. It rather went to the pure benefit of the selected few. These selected few may have initiated a strong lobbying to influence the formulation of policies on tax cuts, breaks or exemption. As we have known in the world of political science, that lobbying is coupled with oiled money, graft and corruption.

Because of the tax cuts given to the selected few businessmen, the tax collection of the City is depleting. Namely not only on those granted the tax breaks but also to those who feel bias and may have the thought "of why should I pay when I'm not given the same privelege as those of the selected few."

The classic example for this is that one granted to the tax delinquentcy of the National Steel Corporation. The unpaid tax is in Billions, with the capital B my dear friend. Pressured or compelled, the City did give discounts to the latest payment of NSC despite a very horrible argument whether the offer of NSC will utlimately free them from their tax liability.

In this line of thought, what will the common Iliganon get from all of these tax cuts, breaks or exemptions. Nothing actually but just maybe a simple ingratitude that we do not belong to the selected few aristocrats especially when our leaders' lineage and skin tonings are from the local aristicracy. Aristocrats breed aristocrats and defend the aristocrats. Whew! Worst, still on the pretext that because they are the selected few, they are the only one who has all the right to populate the City Hall at the expense of all the Iliganons' taxes.

ILIGAN CITY: NO WATER, HGH COSTS OF ELECTRICITY

Most people in Iligan City would think that today is the worst time of the City after the second world war. The city is suffering from a lingering diseases, unattended to for almost a decade now. The City's current problems have been here for quite a long time and it is still the same problems repeating for the last ten years. Yet, the people are very anxious of where is this City going to.

Water crisis is the City's major problem now and this has been the problem during the previous three administration of the City. Almost all of the internet sites connected with Iligan City are bombarded with the loudest shootouts regarding the drying of the major water pipelines despite our crazy call that ours is the City of water falls. Major Barangays in Iligan City are experiencing the lack of water supply and it is very difficult for a modern household lacking that basic necessity in life when talking about health, food, sanitation and others.

Until today, the City is still talking about the overyly publicized loan for the water project and this loan has been there for quite a long time. I could not analyze well wether our thirst for effective water service will be filled with lip service, false hopes or failed projects in the end. I say this because the Iliganons are clinging to the hope that this loan being applied to a long time ago will solve the problem. Aside from that no other programs were made for this water crisis. Still the same, there's so much procastination and waiting for the implementation of the loans. Sensible people in Iligan are very curious about the escalation of prices of the water project whether this will ultimately finish the project or at least meet the demand of the people of having a clean, potable water.

Another fresh issue in Iligan today is when we are surprisingly awakened about the current high costs of electricity. Let us all be clear on this that imposition of this new rate is of without clear and true public consultations. Right now, Iliganons are up in arms because of this ill imposition amidst the current economic crisis.

The City Government has a thousand of options in solving this current increase in the cost of electricity. Aside from the fact that there was no consultation and the manner of its imposition is not transparent, the City with all its available resources has the capacity to stop or restrain the increase; it has also the ability protest the ill imposition with all its best and brightest lawyers at hand and its accessibility to the energy regulatory board; it has also the ability to mobilize the Iliganons; and the ability of the city to reprogram its share from the national wealth to reduce the costs of electricity.

Lack of water and the high cost in electricty, I tell you, are critical elements that investors and visitors would have a hard time to invest and visit Iligan, this in addition to our current problem in peace and order, tax delinquency and favoritisms, infrastructure problems, bankruptcy or shortfall of the city's coffer and all other major problem of the city.

It is true that what our City needs today is the strong political will from our political leaders. However, political will without the strong assertion of good governance from our city's bureaucracy, the former will still be nothing. Political will can be very effective once it is coupled with the assertion of good governance by the city governments civil departments. Political leaders will just come and go, and what will remain is the comprehensive plans and vision of the city's departments.

The invisibility of the actions from our city's department will give us a sure assurance that this problem will continue to reside with us irrespective of how many leaders will come to the City. Leaders, at the same time, must recognize the very important role of our departments in managing the city's affairs. To empower a regular department in solving the problem will be better than delegating it to political leaders whose aims are very limited and highly politicized. Thus to bypass a department or cut it with its role will not do good to the political leader.

TO MY NEPHEW YUAN

I know that by the time my nephew, Yuan, will become of age and will read this blog, he will truly be happy that he is his tito’s most favorite nephew. I know that if I’ll be having more nephews and nieces or children someday, all of them will understand that this is also for all of them.

You know sometime when the times of our life seems so hard to understand, God is so good that He is always sending us someone in a most amazing and surprising ways in order for us to be happy and at all times be inspired and still be on course.

Yuan, who’s true name is John Roderick whose taken from his paternal and maternal grandfathers’ name respectively. He came to our life last December 18, 2001, when our family was struggling hard to survive after my father left his job and we ventured on a business all of us had had no experienced. It was the time when my elder sister Aloha, Yuan’s mother, went to Manila and joined Edgar, Yuan’s father, and it was very hard for our parents most especially because we are a very close-knit family. Aloha was the first in our family to separate from us (ironically she is staying right now in our parent’s home). It was very difficult for us because we were struggling at that time and our business was really not doing good. Our home at that time was very empty because all of us were at the store helping our parents, and there was no joy. My father was very sad because Aloha left the family with no explainations and no blessings.

Then December 2001, my sister and brother-in-law came and said that they had decided to stay here in Iligan until my sister will give birth. My father was elated of their decision. It’s like a single light flickering inside our home.

One beautiful day of December 18, 2001, Yuan was born. It was the happiest day in all of our lives. I was the only one who made contacts with the midwives at the local birthing clinics because my parents, brother and sister, relatives and even Edgar (yuan’s father) were all in panic. My sister was having a difficult labor so we transferred her to a private hospital.

Yuan, a very beautiful Child, was born on December 18, few days before Christmas. I could never forget that moment when it’s like our home was in a full graces of light. He was the center of everything. We forgot our business, our works and our daily life because we were always watching this beautiful child. It was the day that we were again truly happy.

To us, Yuan is truly an inspiring child. Even right now, if i’m down and very sad, he will always make me happy by his songs, dances and all things just to make us all happy.

I’m always praying that he will become a good person and a true Christian. Everyday I have to remind him that he should pray and talk to his Papa Jesus and ask for His protection and blessing which he always does. We always try to imbue to Yuan things that will make him a better person someday.

Sometime our family is meeting problems that seems cannot be solved, the laughter and the smiles of Yuan would fill our day with joy. Personally, Yuan is the greatest thing that came into our life that united us as a family. Maybe he knows when I’m happy and sometimes I’m quite surprised that he knows when I’m sad because he would sing to me songs and will always tell me about his Papa Jesus and that I should not be sad.

Right now, another nephew came, Nikki is her name. I told Yuan to guard and take care of his cousin. We really enjoyed seeing Yuan watching Nikki beside the crib. Very beautiful! They are all beautiful.