The signing of MOA ( Memorandum of Agreement) between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front or MILF and the government was postponed due to the restraining order from the court. It took years for both parties to name those statements written on the said agreement. PGMA said that his leaning to federalism. Lately, a war in North Cotabato arised. Now, the congress are having the idea of taking the Charter Change (cha-cha).It’s uneasy to do it! That would mean changing a lot of our governing laws in Philippine Constitution like taxation, foreign affairs, police and military condition etc. It’s like revision of the entire constitution.They have to do structural changes also and it has no limit. We know that the congress is the law-making body in the political structure of the country. They can amend extension of terms of a certain position which is not good!!!

All of us specially our city Mayor Rodrigo Duterte don’t want to have and live in a trouble land. We all want peace. The amendments of Philippine Constitution may result to many conflicts.

Talking about the Bangsamoro Judirical Entity or BJE, not all Muslims do agree with it. In other words, they’re not united. Some of them are ok with that proposition. However, there are also among them who disagree/oppose to that agreement. They themselves are not having one goal to pursue.

Well, I don’t exactly know the details on what are the steps done by the proposers.Personally speaking, I think they should look after the interest of the majority. There should be public consultation. It’s better if they’re transparent so it is participated by all members of the community.How can they decide if they want to have it or not if they didn’t know the specific details on that said agreement, right? People might be confused and fooled!

According to our Mayor, it’s best to move a little backward and think about the proposal. Both sides ( Moros and the government) should analyze it as well as its effects. They have to talk/discuss about the said issue. Both should think on the interest of all.

It’s hard to hear news that certain households in Mindanao were bombed and not hitting the people who are really the target enemy! It hurts that innocent people are the victims of ruthless minds.

I heard our mayor when he said that he both value the Muslims and Christians. He has Moro grandchildren and he wants that Moros and Christians will be united always. He added that he’s ok with the changes in the constitution as long as it’s fair for all the constituents in the Philippines. As long as its not tolerating one’s culture or religion then he’ll go for it. He wants transparency to the public also so that we can come up with good decision.

He’s right. If the law maker wanted to do some revision we should know about it. The mass has the right to know what’s going on and the changes that the authority wanted to do. The public is part of the society. Therefore, transparency should be done to avoid conflicts and bloody fight.

Each one of us would love to relax after having a stressful day. We work hard everyday to feed our family. We of course want to give the best of life that we can offer to our love ones. That’s why we can think on having a vacation or an escapade for the entire family during holidays and summer.

For those people who travel more often miles credit cards are perfect for them. Getting one will not just meet their needs but they are getting more bonuses out of it! Every time they buy something they collect points. That points will be gathered then and in certain point in time, they can get rewards! Cool rewards like travel chances! Isn’t it great!? You can go anywhere without spending much because you have it as a bonus!

As of today, fuels continue to increase day by day. We can’t help it. We have cars so we really have to purchase it. We can save more if we have gasoline credit cards. We can also earn points and in exchange of those points is the product which is gasoline. If we have extra gasoline you can take your family into farther and lovelier place that they’ll sure enjoy.

For most people number 8 is a lucky number. August 08, 2008 is believe to be a VERY LUCKY NUMBER!!! The Chinese people believe that it’s a good start of Beijing Olympics. The 29th Olympics was officialy opened at exactly 8pm in Beijing, China. For them, the lucky number 8 means wealth and fortune!

Many couple make used of today’s lucky day. In Sydney, Australia many couples got married! They set their covenant to their partners on the day of 888.

Lucky babies were also delivered on the same day by their mothers in hospitals around the world. Mothers believe that their offspring will defibitely have a good life because the children were born on a lucky date! A date having a good combination of numbers in the calendar that happens very seldom!

Well, personally speaking 888 babies and couples will have  good life if they’re able to live a just life. If they’ll live the kind of life which is full of arrogance, greed, jelousy and other negative attributes, they’ll probably won’t be lucky with their lives. Living a good life means being kind to others. Success is define as using your abilities/talents, following your heart and being good to your fellows.

Be true to yourself and to everybody. In the long run, you’ll find yourself happy. contented and fulfilled. We define our own future. We make our own destiny. Perhaps number can give meaning but our perceptions, actions and dispositions in life will totally mold the kind of person we are.

This coming Monday August 11, 2008 will be the election day for Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao or ARMM. For the past few years of elections, cheating was really observed. Teachers who volunteered to serve during the election period were threatened. The worst thing that can happen to them is being kidnapped or killed. Moreover, ballot boxes were unable to arrive on time or election in a certain voting precint was moved/cancelled. People were afraid of the bad things that can happen to them and they were not risking their lives. In addition, vote buying is also prevalent. Thus, the result in Mindanao is sometimes unreliabe.

To avoid such negative things to happen again Senator Richard Gordon, author of automation in election had thought about this propossal to ease the problem in Mindanao during election. This year’s election in ARMM will be computerized. However, an I.T. expert  in the person of Vince Dizon said that deception can be high tech also since public counting wil not happen anymore!!! There are advantages and disadvantages of using automated machines during election. To retired General Gudani of Lanao, the best thing to do is to stand with their vote and don’t engage themselves in “vote buying”.

The PNP and AFP are getting ready for next week’s election. Unwanted things can happen. Mindanao is known as a battlefield in the Philippines specifically in Cotabato, Sulu and Taw-tawi. Twelve thousand (12,000) troops will be sent to ARMM to achive clean and peaceful election.

Commission on Election or COMELEC is sure that more voters will exercise their right of suffrage. Three (3) Batallions will be deployed/scattered in the area to secure the safety of all the people while voting is going on.

May God bless the election for new leaders in Mindanao Regions.

While I was watching the national news on Philippine tv, Piñol and Esperon’s issue caught my attention. It’s been 3 or 4 days that I haven’t seen news/any tv shows. These past few days I’d been busy with my work and in our house. Some members of the family came to visit the country again.

Years ago I already heard about BJE-Bangsamoro Juridical Entity. This is the claim of the Muslim people in Mindanao. They’re asking for the 700 more barangays to be added to ARMM- Autonomous Region is Muslim Mindanao. Lately, the Cotabato was under threat on their normal living and freedom. So, North Cotabato Vice Mayor Manny Piñol asked for an assistance coming from Armed Forces of the Philippines or AFP. However, a statement coming from the former Brigade Commander stirred up Piñol’s annoyance. According to him, the appointed Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Hermogenes Esperon said that he’s not gonna risk the lives of his soldiers to answer the call of Piñol. On the other hand, Esperon said that Piñol was asking for bullets to be given to them which will serve as an additional shield for their safety and security. Esperon didn’t allow it because it was againts the law. He added that he’ll not  leave his position unless PGMA will tell him to do so.

The statement of Hermogenes Esperon to Piñol caused some of our politicians to call for Esperon’s resignation. Some of them are Sen. Ping Lacson, Biason and Chiz Escudero. To them, what Esperon did was a violation. It’s his duty to protect the people of the state but he failed to do it because of his words to Piñol. That it’s his role to defend the Filipinos whether from Luzon, Visayas or Mindanao!That event led the idea of taking out the members of peace panel which is compose of  Esperon, Jesus Dureza and Garcia.

Listening to Esperon’s side, he said that he’s not giving up Mindanao. According to him, it’s not true that he doesn’t want to help our fellow Filipinos who live in a dangerous place. In fact, he’d been given 7 assignments in Mindanao and he’s still willing to help them. On the contrary, some people are not convinced with it and they’re still trying to figure out the real thing.

The agreement between the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) was put on the table. That certain agreement is about the specific teritories of MILF. Teritorial bounderies of Muslims is stated in the arrangement. The ancestral domain that the Muslims are after should be signed by the government. The people want to know if PMGA already signed it and the rest of the statements which are included. Malacañang is firm that they’re not giving away Mindanao under the governance of Muslims.Furthermore, many congressionals think that a debate and consultation about the agreement should be done. It’s necessary to do it because it can affect the republic as a whole.

Few years ago I heard that some Mindanaoans are willing to have our own government. They want Mindanao to become a separate state in the Philippines. It would mean having our own governemnt and business transactions with nearby countries.

What do you think about this proposition?Will Mindanao can be independent?

In the Philippines, families usually experience shortage. Filipino families are used to borrowing money. Most number of the  families don’t have enough income to support the needs of each member. Borrowing money from “Bombay” ( people from India) is prevalent in my country. The Bombays also deal and sell mats, carpets and other household accessories and appliances but of course interest is expected.In certain villages in my country, people really rely on the amount of money lend by Indian people to them.

If we run out of money, we are looking for someone whom we can borrow and pay that person back if we have enough.Nowadays, an alternative way was introduced. It’s goal is to make money and at the same time help the people. We all know that jewelries can be pawned. If we need an emergency money, we can hurriedly go to pawnshops, just have your jewels and precious stones ready and presto! You’ll have cash on hand!

Certain pawnshops around the country are now opened. The pawnshop are accepting cellphones, laptops, digicams, ipods and other technological gadgets. They’ll just ask for the receipt of an item and a photocopy of valid I.D. Some of them only have 1% everyday interest.

This kind of transaction is very fast and if you want to have instant money for special purposes like tuition fess for your kids, medical support for someone in the family who’s ailing or for paying bills which are due and your money is not yet at hand, you can have this as an alternative way!

Pawnshops that accept cellphones, laptops etc have no credit investigation  so it’s convenient for consumer. You don’t have to worry about other things just like what you usually have in borrowing cash. In addition, they also have buy-back-option. In other words, you can buy/own  again your pawned units/objects if it’s already for lease. Furthermore, they’re also accepting collateral and necessary documents like for your cars if you’re badly needing cash.

This is an alternative way to owe money but of course the businessmen are also thinking about their profits. Remember, owe only an amount of money that you know you can pay at the right time. Don’t borrow/spend  money which is more than your income. If you’re unable to pay your debt that will reflect on you as a whole.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s 8th State of the Nation Address (SONA) was delivered to the Filipino people today. PGMA’s 1-hour speech talked about the consumer rights, the increase of housing loans, peace in Mindanao and agrarian reforms. According to surveys, PGMA’s popularity rate dropped! She has the same standing with US President George Bush who also has a low popularity rate. Pres Arroyo was recorded to have the lowest rate among all the Philippine leaders since 1986. Below was the percentage of the survey:

• 20%-satisfied
• 60%- not satisfied
• 18%- so so performance

One-third of the members of the senate or 7 senators didn’t come to PGMA’s 2008 SONA. To name some, we have Sen Miriam Defensor-Santiago was absent while Sen Trillanes’ petition to hear the SONA was not approved.

According to the statement of our president, Value Added Tax or VAT is the solution for the Phil debt to World bank, infrastructure needs and other problems in the country. She reported the helped done by her admin to NFA stores nationwide to solve the insufficient supply of rice. In addition, she stated the farmer’s name who are the beneficiaries of land distribution program. Talking about the population growth, PGMA is fine with pro life policy but the use/application of natural family planning. Going south, she emphasized the endless Mindanao conflicts making it ironic as the Food Basket in the country because of the high percentage of hunger. Furthermore, she thinks that the anti-graft act fund should not be in the least.

Filipinos who don’t agree with PGMA’s admin did rallies and demonstrations on the day of her SONA. Like for instance the AKBAYAN and group pf laborers. They did it to show the current crisis of the country which are not yet solve like extra judicial killings, high rate of fare, rice and oil crisis and high unemployment rate!

According to ex president FVR, Philippines is having below standards of living. He added that the life expectancy and quality of life of the Filipinos are not good. There’s a high number of Filipinos who have insufficient income to support to their needs!Former Phil. president Erap didn’t listen to PGMA’s SONA because he doesn’t want to listen to all of her lies and promises again.

Members of the opposition said that VAT is a wrong choice of colution/strategy in solving the country’s economic problems. They wanted to penalize it just like what the people in Thailand did. On the contrary, admin members said that VAT is like a bitter medicine that needs to be taken by Filipino people for the betterment of the current situation of the Philippines.

Well, personally speaking I’m pretty sure that there will be again political debate that will happen in the congress. We all know that the house is already divided! I waited for this moment to listen to PGMA’s statement/report. I remember during my high school days we stayed only for half day in school for us to catch up the President’s SONA. Then our Araling Panlipunan ( Social Studies) teacher will ask about it on the following day. Our mentor will ask for our opinions and reactions to it. ” The Price of Freedom is Eternal Vigilance”- Thomas Jefferson.

It was noticed that the mayor of Quirino who is Mayor Rosario Camma of Nagtipunan wore the native dress “bahag” for men Filipinos. Perhaps he’s conveying something. It caught media’s attention. So with mine while other wore extravagant and expensive national costumes which costs Php 30,000-100,000! They’re like walking on the red carpet of Hollywood’s Awards Night!!!

Find out the difference of PGMA’s 2007 SONA and this year’s SONA.

This coming July 26, the pride of Philippines AJ “Bazooka” Banal will have a fight against WBA Superflyweight belt Rafael Concepcion of Panama. Rafael has a record of 10 wins, 6 knock outs and 2 lose. On the other hand, AJ has 17 wins with 14 knock outs, no lose and 1 drawn fight.The said boxing event will happen in Cebu Coliseum, Philippines.

Boxing analysts predicts”Bazooka” to be the next “Pacman” in the country. They can see his moves and they believe with his strong punches and ability inside the boxing ring!According to people’s champ Manny Pacquiao, AJ is a talented fighter. Manny thinks that AJ can go further in the field of boxing. He also gave some tips/ advices to his fellow boxer. He announced that AJ needs to be more aggressive and should add combinations with his punches.

This coming Sunday, we’ll be witnessing the Banal-Conception Fight.

After a month of leaving his office in the city council, Davao City Mayor, Rodrigo Duterte is finally back in the service! In his first appearance in his Sunday program ” Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa”, he declared that there were 14 stones taken our from his gall bladder. His operation was succesfully sone. However, he was asking for an extension for his follow-up check ups in Manila. This coming 21st of July will be his official date to get back to his work.

The city Mayor added that when he had his operation, he underwent complete or general anesthesia. I laughed aloud when he said that it’s too unlucky for his enemies because he was able to to wake up and face them again. During his first 2 weeks, he just ate “lugaw”, “tinola” and fish. People noticed that his weight dropped. He admitted that he lost pounds because he can now wear his old tees.

Unlike before, he can no longer eat the same food that he used to eat. There are certain restrictions when it comes to food intake.With his condition, Mayor Duterte was told to avoid fatty and oily food.

His leave of absence leads to many speculations. Some people said that he was dying. Others said that the city’s leader is having a cancer.I myself I wondered about his reasons. When Vice Mayor “Inday” Sarah started to act as the OIC, I was thinking that there could be a valid reason of his absence. We were only informed when City Councilor Avisado revealed that our Mayor is having his operation.

In the Sunday program, Mayor Rody commented on the current issues with regards to the Reclamation Project in Queensland, a government-owned foreshore area in Matina Aplaya. According to him, he’s not backing up Queensland owner Teodorico Adarna. The Davao city mayor said that he allowed such activity because it provides jobs for the people of Davao. He has no objections on that as long as it’s for the development of the city. On the contrary, he won’t allow Teodorico Adarna to be safe if he had done violations. Lately it was aired in the local news that the local government found out that Adarna didn’t follow the ceased operation order. In the event, the construction that was happening in Queensland is illegal ans should be stopped. Since Adarna didn’t follow what he is supposed to do before allowing people to get started working with the reclamation, he need to answer the questions of the investigation team. According to our mayor if there’s a need to Adarna to get arrested because of disobeying the law then he’s sorry.If Adarna failed in the investigation process, then the authority has the right to do the right thing about his case.