Stamp Out Corruption at Its Root

While the brouhaha brought on by the Arroyo arrest drama continues, it will be well for us if we stopped for a while and pulled back a little to see the big picture in all this. While it is true that Malacanang is currently focused on former President Gloria Arroyo who has been charged with electoral sabotage, she is but a part of the grand whole, that is, an entire system of corruption that has allowed her and her ilk to take the entire country down the road of decay and disarray. After all, Arroyo did not invent cheating at the polls - it was there long before she came to power, and if we are not careful, it can be still part of our collective lives long after she is gone.

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One of the biggest mistakes our people have made in the years after the 1986 People Power uprising was the continued dependence on personalities to lead us instead of putting up a cohesive system that would guide us no matter who is at the helm. Each president that has arisen since martial law has made a sort of cult around himself and herself, such that their respective administrations had risen or fallen on their strenghts alone. This has been especially true of Presidents Joseph Estrada and Gloria Arroyo, who ruled with own brand of iron fists that ultimately led to heir downfall. With personalities playing too strong a role in politics , it was inevitable that the democratic system itself would become weakened - too weakened to respond when it is abused.

It is thus incumbent upon the current president to disabuse the minds of the people that he and he alone holds the answer to every problem we are facing. To his credit he has done that, but he must be careful also to see to it that the system is strenghened and not just used to prosecute past sins. We understand President Aquino's fervor in running after Mrs. Arroyo; after all, that is a campaign promise that he intends to keep. But if all he does is drive his predecessor to prison, then he shall have missed out on the chance, to institute real change in Filipino politics and society. Corruption is not a one-man or one-woman operation, and singling out specific individuals can only go so far. What government must do is run after the core of problem and stamp it out at the very root. Otherwise we will be doomed to live the same spectacle we are currently experiencing over and over again.

 

(Today's - December 8, 2011 Editorial "Mindanao Daily Mirror" published also here with friendly permission of my publisher and Editor-in-Chief "Tita" Marietta Siongco).

Human Rights Day in The Philippines

The observance of the Human Rights Day on December 10, 2011 centers on calling a stop to impunity in the Philippines. The government will join the global celebration of the International Human Rights Day that anchors on the theme: "End Impunity! Make Human Rights our Way of Life!"

Commission on Human Rights Regional Director Attorney Alberto Sipaco, Jr. explained on the meaning of the theme as to put "an end to crimes" and making the law enforcement "stronger with much political will".

Sipaco defined impunity as to "the state where people can just commit crimes without being apprehended." He said also: "If there's impunity, we might develop the culture of violence, and people might accept this state. If this happens, what kind of future can we give to the generations to come?" he told the Philippine Information Agency.

Very well said, Sir!

DOST brought STARBOOKS to Davao City

A humble contribution of the Department of Science and Technology to the world of education was introduced by its Davao Regional Office on November 17, 2011 at NCCC Mall, Davao City called STARBOOKS.

STARBOOKS or the S&T Academic and Research=Based Openly-Operated Kiosk Station is a new academic resource for students and researchers. STARBOOKS contains thousands of digitized science and technology resources in various formats (text and video/audio). STARBOOKS aims to create interest of students to enroll in the field of Science and Technology; encourage great and curious minds to develop new ideas, such as inventions and innovations; and inspire one's capacity for entrepreneurship and research.

DOST XI Regional Director, Dr. Anthony Sales, said that the STARBOOKS will support the students and teachers alike while undertaking research. Dr. Sales added that STARBOOKS complements the scholarship program of the DOST as it enhances the science capabilities of students from all levels in the region.

Likewise, STARBOOKS is helpful to our entrepreneuring kababayans in the countryside as it provides technology videos ranging from food processing to laundry soap making and other livlehood materials.

DOST is looking forward to the availment of the STARBOOKS by Local Government Units (LGUs), Non-Government Organizations, Educational Institutions and Private Institutions to make Science and Technology Information accessible to every Filipino. In fact, Councilor Jose Louie Villafuerte representing Mayor Sara Duterte during the RICE 2011, is optimistic of getting one for the City of Davao.

DOST XI welcomes stakeholders who are interesting in putting up a STARBOOKS in their area. All that is required are computer, pod, space measuring 3m x 4m (with specifications for physical set up of the kiosk), mandatory training, and a focal person. 

For more information please contact Mr. Eric C. Colmenares at telephone 082 - 22154 28.

Hugo Distler and Max Fiedler

(Hugo Distler)

 (Max Fiedler)

There are innumerable classical music composers. Classical (music) means -  looking back. Looking up to the 17th or even 16th century... .The music of those gifted composers have been and is still unique and awesome. 

You are ready to relax. You are ready to rewind. You are ready to pray. You are ready to watch your life from the other side of the moon...

Try it here: 

www.davao.theedge.ph

www.klausdoringclassicalmusic.webs.com.

Pinky Webb - A Very Special Host

I am with Philippine media since the 1980s. Printed media, radio broadcasting and Philippine Television. I have commented about Philippine Television very harsh and opened several times. For example, I really don't like the way, news are being delivered... .

Anyway, Pinky is different. Pinky is unique. She belongs to the two of the country's distinguished broadcast journalists. Pinky Webb (and Alvin Elchico) will be anchoring ABS-CBN's flagship prime time newscast "TV Patrol Weekend" to bring us the biggest and latest news stories relevant to the Filipino house holds. 

Good luck to you, Pinky - and, of course also to co-anchor Alvin Elchico.

Searching for the King

CHRIST FELLOWSHIP CHURCH (with  the address: 777 V. Mapa, Davao City)

in cooperation with

OUTREACH HELPER FOUNDATION, INC.

presents

SEARCHING FOR THE KING -

a dramatic Christmas Musical by David T. Clydesdale - on Sunday, December 18, 2011 at 6 p.m. and on Sunday, December 25, 2011 at 5.30 p.m. Admission is free.

"Two different worlds seeking the truth. A biblical story of a Magi as he follows the star of Bethlehem parallels the contemporary story of BENJAMIN, a soldier stationed in the Middle East 2,000 years later who is looking up the same stars. Both are searching for the truth , and they both find it at the foot of the manger."

For more details and information please contact Liza Faye or Karin, The Edge Radio Davao 104.3 FM: 0922-8519603, 0921-6482243, 082 - 2973215.

Boon or Bane? FACEBOOK!

Boon or bane? I am in Facebook since several years. Today's headline "Paolo cries IMPOSTOR" in Mindanao Daily Mirror (my home daily!) shocked me and many other Facebook joiners too.

A "mystery girl charges expenses from her fake Facebook account"... .

Councilor and friend Paolo Duterte has warned business owners and Facebook users from acknowledging "another" Paolo Duterte, who has apparently conducted extortion activities via food orders.

"I have never interacted in the social networking site, because I don't have any," the councilor said. Sad to say, there is one.  And I am still in "this friend list" in FACEBOOK.

This marks the first time a city officer has been victimized by cyber crime. Honestly, it's not easy for me to 'keep my Facebook account clean"... .

DOST Secretary Visits UP Mindanao Sago Palm Biotech

(DOST XI Regional Director Dr. Anthony Sales with this author)

(DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo)

Department of Science and Technology Secretary Mario G. Montejo together with the Undersecretary for Regional Operations Carol M. Yorobe and the Regional Director Dr. Anthony C. Sales visited the University of the Philippines Mindanao Sago Palm Biotechnology Laboratory Facilities and Research Program in Tugbok District, Mintal, Davao City.

The DOST Central Office provided funds in the amount of about PHP 23 million for the UP Mindanao Biotechnolgy Program. 

Sago palm is the current focus of the UP Mindanao program and is indigenous to Mindanao and some of the Visayan islands and the harvestable logs are unutilized. 

The Secretary is affirmative of the programs and initiatives of UP Mindanao.

German Community Christmas Party in Davao City/Deutsche Gemeinde Weihnachtsfeier in Davao City

Alle Jahre wieder. Auch dieses Jahr... .

Es wird wieder eine Weihnachtsfeier der Deutschen Vereinigung in Davao City/Mindanao geben, und zwar am Samstag, den 10. Dezember 2011 im Apo View Hotel.

Weitere Einzelheiten erfahren Sie unter

082 - 227 1761 (Rossana Balcom-Doring)...

Christmas Party German Community in Davao City/Mindanao  on Saturday, December 10, 2011 at the Apo View Hotel. For further details and information please contact Rossana Balcom-Doring (Tel. 082 - 227 1761).

Positive of Toxic Chemicals Christmas Gifts???

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Popular Christmas gift items such as painted toys, glasses and mugs tested positive with nasty chemicals known for damaging a child's brain - and future!

"This is the outrageous truth that we have discovered after subjecting 50 product samples to chemical analysis." lamented Thony Dizon, coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition's Project Protect.

"64 percent or 32 of the 50 samples we tested contain mind boggling amounts of toxic  metals such as lead that are totally unacceptable for products meant to spread Christmas cheer," he said. 

Toxicologist Dr. Bessie Antonio, a resource person o the EcoWaste Coalition, said lead in consumer products can endanger human health, especially among kids."

"Lead exposure can damage the brain, lower a child's intelligence, decrease a child's attention span and cause delays in a child's speaking, reading and learning skills", added Antonio, who is also the President of the Philippine Society of Clinical and Occupational Toxicology. 

In its latest investigation on the toxicity of children's products in the market, the EcoWaste Coalition bought a variety of affordable toys and gift items from street vendors at Carriedo Street in Quiapo, Rizal Avenue, Santa Cruz and Juan Luna Street, Divisoria in the city of Manila.

The probe, conducted amid brisk sales of holiday goodies as Christmas nears, was also arranged to draw attention to the UN-recognized rights of children's to health and safety as the "Universal Children's Day" is observed on November 20.

The samples, mostly imported from China. were bought and tested for heavy material. None of the products indicated toxic ingredients on their labels, which were generally incomplete or totally lacking.

Merry Christmas!