A move at the city council to urge the city’s two representatives in congress to facilitate the enactment of a law to create a third congressional district for the city failed to master a majority vote.
Political pundits claim that what was interesting here is the rumor that the one who raised the negative vote and thus prevented the people of Zamboanga from having a third voice in congress is not even an elected member of that august body by the boulevard.
How can a single vote stop seven proponents of the proposal? The answer was quite simple and the strategy beautiful or shall we say- deceitful.
Seven other councilors decided to abstain and refrain from voting for or in behalf of the people. By this simple act of omission they allowed one single vote to prevail over seven of their honorable members - voted into office by the people - who wanted their constituents to have their fair share of representation in national government.
The people of Zamboanga are entitled by law to have a third representative in Congress. The law requires a population of 250,000 to comprise a congressional district.
The population of Zamboanga at the latest count is more than 770,000 inhabitants. By the simple expediency of dividing 770,000 by 250,000 we get the number 3 or three districts. The remaining population of 70,000 can go join the BJE if they so desire.
The salary that will be used to pay a third representative in congress will not come from the executive budget for Zamboanga. The pork barrel to support the expenditures or the kitty of a congressional district will not come from the pockets of the seven abstaining councilors.
What prompted some of the councilors to betray the interests of the people of Zamboanga to have an additional lobbyist for the city in Manila?
People have long insisted that the city council is a separate entity from city hall. People have also been saying - with no proofs - that some in the city council are mere puppets of unseen hands that try to dictate the future and fortunes of the people of Zamboanga.
People say that the unseen hands that manipulate some of our lawmakers are afraid of losing political clout on the legislative body. A third congressional district will mean another set of councilors for the city council. This will mean additional expenses to keep them in line.
As for some lawmakers, it is easier to please those unseen hands than the people who place them where they do not belong.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Rumpus over Chacacano “Anthem”
The officials in formal dress, polo barong, Barong Tagalog and Filipina costume stood up at the big makeshift stage in front of City Hall one Saturday afternoon.
A group of costumed men and women filed in front of the stage and they sang: “Tierra adorada Hija de sol Oriente,Su fuego ardiente En ti latiendo esta. Patria de amores! Del heroismo cuna, Los invadores No te hallaran jamas. En tu azul cielo, en tus auras, En tus montes y en tu mar Esplende y late el poema De tu amada libertad. (And so on)
None in the audience could follow the singing, because to most of them, the song was strange.
The singing of the song or an altered / plagiarized version of the original Tierra Adorada was held in the afternoon of Oct 11, the eve of the Town Fiesta Pilar in Zamboanga City that falls on Oct. 12.
Vice Mayor Manuel Dalipe has described the singing of the song in lieu of the National Anthem during the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival culminating program in front of city hall last Saturday, as “a violation of the Philippine Constitution”
The honoree and Guest Speaker during the program, Gen. Yano, who was on stage at that time, did not salute the flag while the chorale was singing the song. Other police and military officers on stage merely stood at attention, while the song was sang.
The Philippine Constriction provides for only one version of the Philippine Anthem to be sung in Filipino. Sec. 36 of Republic Act 8491 read “The National Anthem shall always be sung in the national language within or without the country.”
The Spanish version of the anthem was sung during the Revolution against Spain and the 1990’s war against the United States of America. When the Americans took over and colonized the Philippines, they forbade the singing of the anthem, but later on allowed the singing of the English Version during the Commonwealth period along with the Star Spangled Banner.
After the grant of Independence, Tagalog advocates for a national language eventually managed to enshrine the singing of “Bayang Magiliw” by law as mandated by the Constitution.
It is ironic that while the city opposed the inclusion of Zamboanga from the Bangsa Moro Juridical Entity and stay as part of the Philippine Republic, its leaders would advocate the singing of an unauthorized version of the Anthem in a public and official gathering of local and national officials.
Some people are leading our leaders astray.
A group of costumed men and women filed in front of the stage and they sang: “Tierra adorada Hija de sol Oriente,Su fuego ardiente En ti latiendo esta. Patria de amores! Del heroismo cuna, Los invadores No te hallaran jamas. En tu azul cielo, en tus auras, En tus montes y en tu mar Esplende y late el poema De tu amada libertad. (And so on)
None in the audience could follow the singing, because to most of them, the song was strange.
The singing of the song or an altered / plagiarized version of the original Tierra Adorada was held in the afternoon of Oct 11, the eve of the Town Fiesta Pilar in Zamboanga City that falls on Oct. 12.
Vice Mayor Manuel Dalipe has described the singing of the song in lieu of the National Anthem during the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival culminating program in front of city hall last Saturday, as “a violation of the Philippine Constitution”
The honoree and Guest Speaker during the program, Gen. Yano, who was on stage at that time, did not salute the flag while the chorale was singing the song. Other police and military officers on stage merely stood at attention, while the song was sang.
The Philippine Constriction provides for only one version of the Philippine Anthem to be sung in Filipino. Sec. 36 of Republic Act 8491 read “The National Anthem shall always be sung in the national language within or without the country.”
The Spanish version of the anthem was sung during the Revolution against Spain and the 1990’s war against the United States of America. When the Americans took over and colonized the Philippines, they forbade the singing of the anthem, but later on allowed the singing of the English Version during the Commonwealth period along with the Star Spangled Banner.
After the grant of Independence, Tagalog advocates for a national language eventually managed to enshrine the singing of “Bayang Magiliw” by law as mandated by the Constitution.
It is ironic that while the city opposed the inclusion of Zamboanga from the Bangsa Moro Juridical Entity and stay as part of the Philippine Republic, its leaders would advocate the singing of an unauthorized version of the Anthem in a public and official gathering of local and national officials.
Some people are leading our leaders astray.
Pawns in the game for Sabah
So called militant groups are now belatedly attending to the plight of Filipinos who are banished from what is supposed to be part of their homeland.
At the same time, the Manila government is getting embroiled in the condition of Filipinos being forcibly deported by the Malaysian government and returned to the country, particularly Zamboanga.
This policy of the Malaysian government of deporting Filipinos who have been working there or contributing to the economy and development of that country is unexplainable except for the fact that the Malaysians have also been suspicious of Filipinos, particularly those coming from the Sulu Archipelago or what used to be the Sultanate of Sulu.
The near phobic fear of the Malaysians of the Filipino presence in Sabah can be traced to what happened way back in the 18th century
In that century, the Sultan of Sulu came to the aid of his cousin, the Sultan of Brunie to put down a revolt in what was then called Borneo or Sabah.
In return for his help, the Sultan of Brunie handed over Sabah to the Sultan of Sulu.
In January 22, 1878, the Sultan of Sulu entered into a lease agreement with two adventurers the Austrian Gustavus Baron Overbeck and Englishman Alfred Dent for their use of Sabah. This lease agreement for 100 years was supposed to expire in January 22, 1978.
In the interregnum of 100 years, the British Government took over the management of Sabah from Overbeck and Dent and despite protestation from the Sultanate of Sulu, included Sabah as part of the newly Federated states of Malaysia that was granted its independence on August 31, 1957.
By the time the 100 year lease Agreement was supposed to expire in 1978, the newly federates government of Malaysia was effectively in control of Sabah.
Incidentally, to this day the Malaysian government continues to pay “rental” for Sabah to the Sultanate of Sulu.
The Malaysian has this morbid fear that sooner or later, the Sultanate will try to retake Sabah and thus fear that the presence of Filipinos in that State could be part of that plan to repossess that territory.
Is it any wonder then that Filipinos who helped developed Sabah, constructed its highways and building, are being maltreated to this day.
We refuse to look at things this way and this is the reason why we despair.
At the same time, the Manila government is getting embroiled in the condition of Filipinos being forcibly deported by the Malaysian government and returned to the country, particularly Zamboanga.
This policy of the Malaysian government of deporting Filipinos who have been working there or contributing to the economy and development of that country is unexplainable except for the fact that the Malaysians have also been suspicious of Filipinos, particularly those coming from the Sulu Archipelago or what used to be the Sultanate of Sulu.
The near phobic fear of the Malaysians of the Filipino presence in Sabah can be traced to what happened way back in the 18th century
In that century, the Sultan of Sulu came to the aid of his cousin, the Sultan of Brunie to put down a revolt in what was then called Borneo or Sabah.
In return for his help, the Sultan of Brunie handed over Sabah to the Sultan of Sulu.
In January 22, 1878, the Sultan of Sulu entered into a lease agreement with two adventurers the Austrian Gustavus Baron Overbeck and Englishman Alfred Dent for their use of Sabah. This lease agreement for 100 years was supposed to expire in January 22, 1978.
In the interregnum of 100 years, the British Government took over the management of Sabah from Overbeck and Dent and despite protestation from the Sultanate of Sulu, included Sabah as part of the newly Federated states of Malaysia that was granted its independence on August 31, 1957.
By the time the 100 year lease Agreement was supposed to expire in 1978, the newly federates government of Malaysia was effectively in control of Sabah.
Incidentally, to this day the Malaysian government continues to pay “rental” for Sabah to the Sultanate of Sulu.
The Malaysian has this morbid fear that sooner or later, the Sultanate will try to retake Sabah and thus fear that the presence of Filipinos in that State could be part of that plan to repossess that territory.
Is it any wonder then that Filipinos who helped developed Sabah, constructed its highways and building, are being maltreated to this day.
We refuse to look at things this way and this is the reason why we despair.
Fact Finding Team finds nothing amiss
A group of senator and congressmen were in this city last Thursday. These officials were part of the Legislative Oversight Committee on the Visiting Forces Agreement (LOVFA) to check complaints that some American soldiers assigned or deployed in Mindanao were engaged in actual combat operations against lawless elements in the area.
There were also complaints that the Americans were putting up military bases in the area.
The officials who came here last Thursday wasted their time, because they took action on complaints that could have been argued in Congress, during press conferences or simply ignored at all.
They could have thought of something better if they only took the trouble to realize that the complaints -filed by militants groups, anti-democratic minded solons , those who are using the country’s democratic climate to destroy our democratic institutions, fronts of rebels and secessionist groups – were all self-serving.
Take the case about the socalled involvement of American soldiers in Combat operations in Mindanao.
Any answer to this charge could be justified by anybody else depending on whose interest they side with or who butters their side of the bread they eat these days.
It is stupid to expect that the Americans with all their economic and military powers at their beck and call - would build nipa and bamboo houses to house their soldiers here.
Anyway, the Filipinos will be quick to take over American facilities left here. Remember Subic and Clark?
It is natural to expect that those who seek the destruction , the domination, or the partition of this republic –will harass anybody else or any group who/that will stand to oppose their goals.
Why are they criticizing the legitimate action of a government and forget the foreign help, foreign money, foreign sanctuaries, foreign trainors offered or provided insurgents and secessionists by agents and fronts of other countries, in our homeland?
Nobody has stood up to criticize the involvement of other countries in propagating the establishment of a different ideology or form of government in this country or in Mindanao.
The problem that we have in the country and in Mindanao is an internal affair because these were all started by citizens of this country. We cannot therefore understand why some sectors, including those in government, are seeking the intervention of foreigners to resolve an internal affair.
There were also complaints that the Americans were putting up military bases in the area.
The officials who came here last Thursday wasted their time, because they took action on complaints that could have been argued in Congress, during press conferences or simply ignored at all.
They could have thought of something better if they only took the trouble to realize that the complaints -filed by militants groups, anti-democratic minded solons , those who are using the country’s democratic climate to destroy our democratic institutions, fronts of rebels and secessionist groups – were all self-serving.
Take the case about the socalled involvement of American soldiers in Combat operations in Mindanao.
Any answer to this charge could be justified by anybody else depending on whose interest they side with or who butters their side of the bread they eat these days.
It is stupid to expect that the Americans with all their economic and military powers at their beck and call - would build nipa and bamboo houses to house their soldiers here.
Anyway, the Filipinos will be quick to take over American facilities left here. Remember Subic and Clark?
It is natural to expect that those who seek the destruction , the domination, or the partition of this republic –will harass anybody else or any group who/that will stand to oppose their goals.
Why are they criticizing the legitimate action of a government and forget the foreign help, foreign money, foreign sanctuaries, foreign trainors offered or provided insurgents and secessionists by agents and fronts of other countries, in our homeland?
Nobody has stood up to criticize the involvement of other countries in propagating the establishment of a different ideology or form of government in this country or in Mindanao.
The problem that we have in the country and in Mindanao is an internal affair because these were all started by citizens of this country. We cannot therefore understand why some sectors, including those in government, are seeking the intervention of foreigners to resolve an internal affair.
No protection from robbers
No protection from robbers
The other day, a lady driving a motorcycle from town was robbed of her bag along the road to Tugbungan. The robbers on board a motorcycle grabbed her bag containing cellular telephones and other valuables and in the process dragged her down to the pavement of the street.
In addition to losing her bag to the motorcycle riding robbers, she also suffered bruises and cuts on her face because she was dragged along the road by the robbers until she let go of her bag.
Were the robber arrested for this crime?
The chances for arresting the robbers were there. The robbery occurred halfway between the junction of Falcatan Road and Talon Talon Loop road. Policemen were supposed to be there to regulate traffic since it was still only about eight in the evening.
The policemen were detailed there because the mayor has declared the road one way to accommodate traffic from Talon-Talon, Mampang, Arena Blanco whose drivers were all driving towards the city. It is one way from the city to these three barangays,
So the robbers on wheels must have passed by these policemen at the two road junction and road away to freedom. With all the training that our law enforcetd have attained it seems that they have not gotten around to resolving the crimes committed by motorcycle riding gangsters and criminals in town.
Remember those youngsters who rode motorcycles armed with bats who battered innocent civilians in the streets. Some bat-beating victims have ended up with fractured heads or dead. But none of those youngsters have been arrested and jailed. They are still in town.
And now, we have this phenomenon of gangsters and criminals using motorcycles to rob their victims in this city.
We are in the midst of enjoying the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival that will culminate with the celebration of Fiesta Pilar on Oct. 12.
The celebration is expected to bring in thousands of devotees to the Lady of the Pilar to Zamboanga and thousands more from the barrios to enjoy the scene.
It is rather interesting to note that just when the people are flocking to town, our officials have decided to undertake road improvement projects that will hinder the flow of traffic in this city.
Meantime, no one has come out with an idea on how to stop these crimes, and so the crimes continue without fail.
The other day, a lady driving a motorcycle from town was robbed of her bag along the road to Tugbungan. The robbers on board a motorcycle grabbed her bag containing cellular telephones and other valuables and in the process dragged her down to the pavement of the street.
In addition to losing her bag to the motorcycle riding robbers, she also suffered bruises and cuts on her face because she was dragged along the road by the robbers until she let go of her bag.
Were the robber arrested for this crime?
The chances for arresting the robbers were there. The robbery occurred halfway between the junction of Falcatan Road and Talon Talon Loop road. Policemen were supposed to be there to regulate traffic since it was still only about eight in the evening.
The policemen were detailed there because the mayor has declared the road one way to accommodate traffic from Talon-Talon, Mampang, Arena Blanco whose drivers were all driving towards the city. It is one way from the city to these three barangays,
So the robbers on wheels must have passed by these policemen at the two road junction and road away to freedom. With all the training that our law enforcetd have attained it seems that they have not gotten around to resolving the crimes committed by motorcycle riding gangsters and criminals in town.
Remember those youngsters who rode motorcycles armed with bats who battered innocent civilians in the streets. Some bat-beating victims have ended up with fractured heads or dead. But none of those youngsters have been arrested and jailed. They are still in town.
And now, we have this phenomenon of gangsters and criminals using motorcycles to rob their victims in this city.
We are in the midst of enjoying the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival that will culminate with the celebration of Fiesta Pilar on Oct. 12.
The celebration is expected to bring in thousands of devotees to the Lady of the Pilar to Zamboanga and thousands more from the barrios to enjoy the scene.
It is rather interesting to note that just when the people are flocking to town, our officials have decided to undertake road improvement projects that will hinder the flow of traffic in this city.
Meantime, no one has come out with an idea on how to stop these crimes, and so the crimes continue without fail.
New strategy needed vs MOA-AD
The city government will have to rethink its strategy to prevent a sellout of Zamboanga or to counter the inclusion of this city in any kind of governance outside its present governmental setup under the sway of the Manila government.
Some officials, particularly Congresswoman Maria Isabelle Climaco has thought out aloud about the possibility that the Supreme Court will dismiss the petition to stop the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain or MOA-AD that was aborted on August 4 by the issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against the signing.
The Manila government, with all its wise men around, initially countered the petition by saying that since no signing occurred as scheduled, no crime was committed against the people of Zamboanga and other concerned constituents in Mindanao.
They even said that the MOA-AD does not violate the constitution, because no signing occurred and asked that the petition filed be junked.
We are forgetting the fact here that the drafting of that MOA-AD was not with the full consent of the people that will be affected by the agreement. What is surfacing now is that outside forces and foreign government have exerted influence on the Manila government to facilitate the creation of another republic in Mindanao to suit their ends. The sponsor of the rebel movement in Mindanao is having a direct hand in the conduct of the talks.
So although, contrary to opinions and oppositions expressed by Zamboanga Iligan and North Cotabato, the Manila government is bent on complying with the wishes and caprices of foreign governments who continue to dictate on leaders of this republic.
So it was not surprising when a retired general announced that any future talks with the rebels will be anchored on this precious MOA-AD. He even promised the Malaysian government that MOA-AD will still be the basis for any future peace talks.
When they realized the significance of these announcements, they hurriedly said that the general was misquoted. But not one of them came out with the assurance that Zamboanga City will be excluded from any promised territory to be established for an independent state in Mindanao.
But maybe it is about time that our leader here should think of a court case that will lay down the basis against the inclusion of Zamboanga in any proposed new government setup in Mindanao.
We should think of a way out of the shenanigans of foreign powers in our land.
Some officials, particularly Congresswoman Maria Isabelle Climaco has thought out aloud about the possibility that the Supreme Court will dismiss the petition to stop the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain or MOA-AD that was aborted on August 4 by the issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against the signing.
The Manila government, with all its wise men around, initially countered the petition by saying that since no signing occurred as scheduled, no crime was committed against the people of Zamboanga and other concerned constituents in Mindanao.
They even said that the MOA-AD does not violate the constitution, because no signing occurred and asked that the petition filed be junked.
We are forgetting the fact here that the drafting of that MOA-AD was not with the full consent of the people that will be affected by the agreement. What is surfacing now is that outside forces and foreign government have exerted influence on the Manila government to facilitate the creation of another republic in Mindanao to suit their ends. The sponsor of the rebel movement in Mindanao is having a direct hand in the conduct of the talks.
So although, contrary to opinions and oppositions expressed by Zamboanga Iligan and North Cotabato, the Manila government is bent on complying with the wishes and caprices of foreign governments who continue to dictate on leaders of this republic.
So it was not surprising when a retired general announced that any future talks with the rebels will be anchored on this precious MOA-AD. He even promised the Malaysian government that MOA-AD will still be the basis for any future peace talks.
When they realized the significance of these announcements, they hurriedly said that the general was misquoted. But not one of them came out with the assurance that Zamboanga City will be excluded from any promised territory to be established for an independent state in Mindanao.
But maybe it is about time that our leader here should think of a court case that will lay down the basis against the inclusion of Zamboanga in any proposed new government setup in Mindanao.
We should think of a way out of the shenanigans of foreign powers in our land.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)