BEWARE OF POLITICAL DYNASTY!

I happened to talk one of the priests of a high position in the Archdiocese of Manila sometimes in August the other year. I was shocked hearing his appalling dissent against VP Jejomar Binay's race to the Presidential election on 2016.

Out of curiosity, I asked him why?

His answer was plain and simple, "I simply do not like government officials who bolster political dynasty."

I do not like to bother myself any further regarding political dynasty, so I dismissed his answer until these recent horrific and disgusting allegations of the Binay's which caught my attention.

I digged into papers and sites which tackles "political dynasty," and I found out what seems the reason behind of the priest's critique against Binay's. And I quote, "Some have pointed that oligarchy" which is equivalent to "political dynasty" in the Philippines, is the root problem of all the corruption in the Philippine government" (italize is my inclusion in the quotation).

Let's have a closer look of the Binay's political regime in Makati:

§  Jejomar Binay - a husband and a father of Binay's is the Vice President of the Philippines (2010-present). He was the former Mayor of Makati for 3 consecutive terms (1986-1987, 1988-1998, 2001-2010);

§  Elenita Binay - the wife of Jejomar Binay was former Mayor of Makati (1998-2001);

§  Maria Lourdes "Nancy" Binay - daughter of the Binay's is a Senator of the Philippines (2003-present);

§  Mar-Len Abigail "Abby" Binay - another daughter of the Binay's is a Congresswoman of Makati's 2nd District (2007-present);

§  Jejomar Erwin "Junjun" Binay, Jr. - son of the Binay's is the Mayor of Makati (2010-present). He was formerly a Member of the Makati City Council from the 1st District (2001-2010), and was a former Sangguniang Kabataan Chairman of Barangay San Antonio, Makati (1992-2001).

Accordingly, the Court of Appeal freezes the alleged 242 bank accounts and estimated 600 million of the Binay's. They were described already not as a rich but as super rich. How did they get this amount of money?

I don't have the knowledge and expertise to guess and illustrate to you the many probabilities of getting public or private funds into one's pocket. So I'll leave that matter to my mature and professional readers.

I don't have anything against the Binay's. Actually, they're not the only family who holds political regime throughout the country. They're in the spotlight today for whatever reasons might also be a blessing in disguise for everybody to know the havoc it caused to our nation both politically and economically.

But I dare to talk about political dynasty in general out of respect to our constitution which promulgates the equality amongst its constituents. True to its spirit, let us exercise what is pleasant and favorable to everyone. Article II Section 26 of the Philippine Constitution states, "The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law."

But to this day, no bill yet which support the prohibition of political dynasties in the country were ever formulated in the congress. So you know why it remains unresolved.

Yet we are not handicap for this problem. We just need strong political will to do what is right for the country.

Three audiences I should address my words of petitions:

To the voters: let us be mature enough to use our right of suffrage correctly. Get rid of patronage. Do no sell your vote. Vote the right person for the office.

To the politicians: if you have enough, give chance to others. Your opportunity to be in office for a term or three doesn't give you the absolute right to remain in the office perpetually. You have your chance to publicly prove yourself your ability to govern. But I don't think you are the only one of the kind, give chance to others.

To our legislators: feel the urgent need to pass a bill against political dynasty. It's been a long time now since the amendment of our constitutions on 1987, but to that effect nothing is implemented to regulate can afford families to unlimited seat of government office. Do not be threatened for your own political career as there are many opportunities to serve the country for men of good will.

Let us pray unceasingly for everybody to have courage to do something for the welfare of our country.

Sources:

The Philippine Daily Inquirer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_political_families_in_the_Philippines#Binay_Family_.28Makati_City.29

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/04/23/14/why-congress-must-pass-anti-political-dynasty-bill-now

Did the fight of Floyd and Manny contribute for the future of boxing?

Source: google

This morning, I happened to stop scanning the television channels right away when I reached the TV 5 channel. One of the commentators just reiterated one of the questions their viewers and listeners sent to them. I hope my memory serves me right; the question goes this way or something similar to this effect, "Did the fight of Floyd and Manny contribute for the future of boxing?"

I don't like to appear bias here because I'm a Filipino; however I'm certain that I shared the same sentiments with millions of boxing fans around the world. The fight which was tagged as "Fight of the Century" did not come to realize as expected by the viewers.

My personal concern is, why would people clamor for something greater and spectacular than what Floyd usually do, the fact that this fight is already set by Mayweather's team?

Nonetheless, the fight somehow leads the fans to ponder what really boxing is? Is it slugfest and bloody fight, heavy exchange of deadly punches or the way Mayweather did, avoiding to engage Pacquiao by hugging and running and throw jabs momentarily?

Even nobody could answer my question at the moment, I dare to say that everything can happen in the ring. Everything can happen even if it's dirty and boring in the eyes of the many.

Hence, if all boxers employ Mayweather's dirty tactics, including setting up and pressing all of the conditions on his advantage which undoubtedly renders boxing questionable, boring and monotonous, then the boxing as sports is dying if not a dead sports already.

Why I say so?

It's because, based from the history of boxing, it came extravagantly alive and spectacular when the boxers in the ring fearlessly engage in a bloody exchange of power punches. Boxing came to be known as modern gladiator game in ancient Rome. It is naturally bloody or at least the boxers are fighting hard as hell. That's why people love Mohammad Ali, Rocky Marciano, Julio Cesar Chavez, Oscar dela hoya, Mike Tyson, of course Manny Pacquiao and other relentless and fearless boxers.

Now Floyd Mayweather emerges famous as 'pound-for-pound' king along with his self proclaim 'The Best Ever' title but considerably due to his evasion tactics diminish the interest of boxing enthusiasts and fans in general.

For now, I don't think the fight of Floyd and Manny has contributed much for the future of boxing as sports than its being a conduit of gambling and cheating. It's Floyd's fault said the golden boy Oscar dela hoya. I agree. Everybody does.

Let us hope and wait for the world to raise another warrior who would lift the image of boxing once more in the fashion of excitement and clean fight.

Could DEATH PENALTY be the solution for Illegal Drug Problem?

          I'm personally against illegal drug trafficking and death penalty. Both promote the culture of death contrary to the gospel of Jesus.

        According to the report, Veloso's lawyer revealed the information she has received that on Tuesday, April 28, 2015, our sister Mary Jane Veloso, a 30-year-old single mother of two boys is due to face an Indonesian firing squad together with other seven foreigners.

            Indonesian President Joko Widodo showed little indication of clemency despite his promise to review the legal issue in the case of Veloso after President Benigno Aquino's personal appeal on Monday, the reports said.

                Can anyone blame Indonesia's effort of freeing the country from illegal drugs?

           For sure nobody would do the blaming because every country desires such a status as illegal drug free nation.

           However, in battling against this particular social issue of illegal drug smuggling, could death sentence be a solution?

            My answer is 'yes' and 'no.' How?

        'Yes,' death penalty can be the solution to eliminate the drug problems if the financers and manufacturers of these unlawful drugs are the one to be executed. Unless these billionaires who finance the productions and smuggling are dead there can be no end to the problem.

            And 'no,' neither firing squad nor lethal injection can be an efficient means to abate the spread of this crisis if the pushers and users are the ones to be executed. There are many like Mary Jane who are victims of drug syndicates, many still are out there who are willing to carry these unlawful items by force of circumstances and poverty. Can we blame them?

         For humanitarian purposes, life imprisonment with maximum security is enough for the culprits. Despite their offenses they still have the right to live which the world should recognize and uphold. After all, God alone has the right to take away what He has given to us - life.

           Proper education, strengthening family and religious values, in addition to good governance which priorities job opportunities for our countrymen, I believe, are the best solutions to the issue.

          I'm one with the millions out there who pray for the lives of these men who are about to be executed. May God forgive you and spare your souls.