KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.28 JULY 2011

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.28 JULY 2011

“Children of the devil”

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us…” (Hebrews 12:1, the Holy Bible).
-ooo-

POLICEMEN AS LOWLY CRIMINALS: And so, what other crimes can our policemen and others in government not do in the name of money or promotion to a higher position?

With the latest disclosures from Senior Supt. Rafael Santiago of the Philippine National Police (PNP) about how the PNP, under orders from its top leaders, stole election returns in an effort to beat an election protest against former President Gloria Arroyo, it is clear Filipinos have brought themselves so low they can commit anything now.

-ooo-

“CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL”: Why has this happened? The answer is simple. While many of us continue to say we have faith in God, this is a faith that is dead, because we really have become children of the devil, doing, thinking and saying what the devil wants, because many of us grew up without the Word of God.

And since many Filipinos grew up without the Word of God, we grew up without God. Because we grew up without God, with whom did we grow up? The devil, that’s who. And that is the reason why we have become capable of acting, talking and thinking like the devil, doing what he wants us to do. Surely, hell will have a special place for many Filipinos.

-ooo-

HELL AWAITS MANY FILIPINOS: For a better understanding of what hell-bound Filipinos are up against, here is what hell is like, as written in Isaiah 66:24 of the Bible: “And they will go out and look on the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me; the worms that eat them will not die, the fire that burns them will not be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind.”

This description of hell was echoed by Jesus Christ, our God and Savior, in His own discourses. In Mark 9:44, 46 and 48, He warned sinners that hell is a place where the worms that eat them will not die, and the fire that will burn them forever is not quenched.

What is more troublesome for those who do not listen to God and who do not obey His commands is that, it is not only them who will go to hell, but even their children to the fourth generation, as Exodus 20:5 is saying. Indeed, there is hell to pay not only for those who disobey God, but even for their descendants.

-ooo-

PANGILINAN LAW AND TEEN CRIMINALITY: It is good that the United States Embassy in Manila is starting to notice the criminality that is afflicting the Filipino youth nowadays, with its warning to American tourists in the Philippines to be wary of teen criminals wherever they will be in this country. Teen criminality is a fact which can no longer ignored.

Perhaps, Sen. Francis Pangilinan can now admit that the law he principally authored, the Juvenile Justice Law, contributed largely to this rise of teen criminality, because this law prohibits the arrest of any criminal 15 years of age or below. The Filipino youth can now steal, sell drugs and do other serious crimes without being arrested, thanks to Pangilinan’s law.

-30-

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.25 JULY 2011

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.25 JULY 2011

Rotary golf tourney: two cars for winners

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “…Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice...” (Psalm 112:5, the Holy Bible).

-ooo-

TWO CARS FOR “HOLE IN ONE”: With the kind indulgence of our readers, I am reprinting below an announcement I made as the ChangeMaker President of the Rotary Club of Intramuros of Rotary International District 3810, regarding the two cars the club is intending to give away for golfers who can make “hole in one” shots during a golf tournament on October 8, 2011.

The invitation extends to everyone from Aparri to Jolo who will be interested to join the tournament after reading this column for today: “24 JULY 2011, First announcement from RC Intramuros: Two Cars for `Hole in One’ Shots.

“This early, may I invite all Rotarians from District 3810, especially my Classmates, ChangeMaker and Leader Presidents, to participate in the Golf Tournament that the Rotary Club of Intramuros seeks to hold on October 8, 2011, God willing, at the Club Intramuros Golf Club in Intramuros, Manila.

-ooo-

GOLF TOURNEY TO BENEFIT LITERACY PROJECTS: “RC Intramuros is preparing to give away possibly two Picanto Kia Sedan Cars for `Hole in One’ shots, as well as other valuable items, including trophies and medals.

“The proceeds of the tournament will go to the Club’s scholarship program for PLM’s poor but deserving students, and for our literacy projects for the benefit of Indigenous (Aeta) children, and other public school children from District 3810’s areas of coverage---Manila, Pasay City, Cavite and Occidental Mindoro.

“The price of each ticket is P2,000.00. Interested parties may call me at 0917 984 24 68, 0922 833 43 96 or 0928 438 3022. MELANIO MAURICIO JR., a.k.a. ATTY. BATAS ChangeMaker President, RC Intramuros, RY 2011-2012; Leader President, RC Intramuros, RY 2006-2007, Media Relations Chair, District 3810, RY 2011-2012…”

-ooo-

ON LOVING THE WORLD, AND HATING BROTHERS AND SISTERS: 1 John 2:15-16 of the Bible forbids us from loving the world: “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.

“For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

1 John 2:9-11 talks about hating his brothers and sisters: “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them…”

-30-

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.24 JULY 2011

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.24 JULY 2011

“PNoy must declare revolutionary gov’t”

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “Jesus said, `Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’ ” (Matthew 19:14, the Holy Bible).

-ooo-

PNOY URGED TO DECLARE REVOLUTIONARY GOV’T: President Aquino’s only chance to effect the changes that will truly improve the lives of Filipinos under his term is to declare a revolutionary government and install himself as the country’s sole undisputed ruler, in much the same way that her mother, the late President Cory Aquino, proclaimed a revolutionary government in 1986, a prominent Mindanao leader said over the weekend.

Lawyer Homobono Adaza, a former Commissioner of Immigration and Deportation, a former governor of Misamis Oriental and a former assemblyman of the defunct Batasang Pambansa during the time of President Marcos, said the Chief Executive must, however, act on or before December 31, 2011.

-ooo-

ADAZA PROPOSES A REVOLUTIONARY GOV’T: The reason for the date, Adaza told me and our viewers at the program “Kakampi Mo Ang Batas” which was aired simultaneously over BATAS INTERNET TV (www.batasmedia.com) and over several cable TV stations in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, and over three radio stations in the Eastern and Western Visayas and in Central Luzon, is practicality.

“One and a half years in office, which is the significance of December 31, 2011, for a good President is too short, but one a half years for a bad President is too long,” Adaza said.

-ooo-

AFP & PNP AND PINOYS WILL SUPPORT NEW GOV’T: This would require scuttling the 1987 Constitution, which was ironically adopted during the Cory Aquino presidency, and firing and removing all the bad officials around President Aquino, the lawyer noted.

Adaza said, in response to my question, that the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, and the Filipino nation in general, will not oppose the establishment of a revolutionary government by President Aquino, especially if he makes it clear that he would be doing to address the urgent problems of the country.

Adaza noted that the present Constitution and the institutions in place at the moment prevent the President from doing something substantial to remedy the many problems of the country, since, he said, restraints and constraints are inherent in the present system of government.

-ooo-

CONDITIONS FOR AN OVERSEEER: Anyone who is appointed as an elder or overseer of a church is required, by Titus 1:6-8 of the Bible, to be spotlessly-clean in character: “… An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.

“Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined…”

-30-

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.FILIPINO SYNDICATED COLUMN. 22 JULY 2011

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.FILIPINO SYNDICATED COLUMN. 22 JULY 2011

Mali ba ang people power?

INSPIRASYON SA BUHAY: “…Pinili ko ang daan ng katapatan; itinalaga ko ang aking puso sa iyong mga batas…” (Awit 119:30, Bibliya).

-ooo-

PAGPATAY SA PEOPLE POWER PROVISION NG KONSTITUSYON? Marahil ay di alam ni Justice Secretary Leila De Lima, pero ang kanyang opinyon sa panukala ni Marine Col. Generoso Mariano na dapat patalsikin ang mga gobyernong hindi nakakatugon sa pangangailangan ng bayan ay baka pumatay sa people power provision ng Saligang Batas ng 1987, at maaaring magdulot ng problemang legal sa mga gobyernong Cory Aquino at Gloria Arroyo, na naitatag dahil sa pagkilos ng bayan.

Sa totoo lang, ang kasalukuyang Konstitusyon, na ginawa noong panahon ng Pangulong Cory Aquino (ang ina ng Pangulong Benigno Aquino III), ay kumikilala sa karapatan ng “bayan at ng kanilang mga samahan tungo sa epektibo at resonableng partisipasyon sa lahat ng antas ng pagdedesisyong sosyal, political at pang-ekonomiya”, sa kanyang people power provision (Section 16, Art. 13).

-ooo-

MALI BA ANG PEOPLE POWER? Ang probisyong ito ay isiningit sa Saligang Batas upang maging batayang legal ng pagpapatalsik sa gobyerno ni Pangulong Marcos at ang pagluluklok sa gobyerno ni Pangulong Cory Aquino. Maliwanag, batay sa probisyong ito, na ang mga reglamento sa Kodigo Penal ukol sa mga krimen laban sa gobyerno, gaya ng rebelyon, sedisyon at insurreksiyon, ay nawala na, at ang paglaban sa gobyerno ay naging legal.

Ngayon, kung sinasabi ni De Lima na ang mga panukala sa pagpapatalsik ng gobyernong hindi na sinusuportahan ng mamamayan, gaya ng ginawa ni Mariano, ay ilegal dahil maaari itong ituring na rebelyon o sedisyon, ibig bang sabihin eh mali ang people power, at ang mga gobyernong Cory Aquino at Gloria Arroyo ay ilegal din?

-ooo-

GSIS POLICY LABAG SA BATAS: Hindi ko makita ang buti ng alituntunin ng Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) na nagbabawal sa kanyang 25,454 na mga miyembro sa pagkuha ng loans at mga dibidendo dahil lamang sa ang kanilang sariling mga opisina kung saan sila nagtatrabaho ay hindi nakapag-remit ng kanilang mga GSIS contributions---na nakolekta na mula sa kanila.

Ang alituntuning ito ay isang uri ng katiwalian o graft and corruption ng kasalukuyang mga lider ng GSIS, sapagkat nagbibigay ito ng hindi makatwirang pinsala sa mga GSIS members---sa mga hindi nila makuhang loans at mga dibidendo---dahil sa opisyal na pagkilos ng mga GSIS officials.

Ang dapat ginawa dito ay pinabayaan na lamang sana ng GSIS ang mga miyembro nito na makakuha ng loans at makatanggap ng kanilang mga dibidendo---sapagkat ang mga ito ay matagal ng naiutang ng mga miyembro kahit ini-a-apply pa lamang nila ito---at, pagkatapos, ay usigin na lamang ng puspusan ang mga hindi nag-remit ng kanilang mga contributions.

-ooo-

MGA KATOTOHANAN MULA SA BIBLIYA SA PAGLABAN SA MGA LIDER: Naririto ang isang interesanteng katotohanan mula sa Bibliya ukol sa pagpapasakop natin sa ating mga lider at pinuno, at kautusang hindi tayo dapat lumalaban sa kanila: “Dapat magpasakop ang lahat sa mga namamahala, sapagkat walang pamamahalang hindi ang Diyos ang nagtatag.

“Ang mga namamahalang umiiral ay itinatag ng Diyos. Dahil diyan, sinuman ang lumalaban sa mga namamahala ay lumalaban sa mga itinatag ng Diyos, at magkakaroon sila ng kaparusahan…”

-30-

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS. 21 JULY 2011

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS. 21 JULY 2011

How about 2010 poll frauds?

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “…But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin…” (1 John 1:7, the Holy Bible).

-ooo-

CLOSURE ON POLL FRAUDS NOT LIKELY TO HAPPEN: I really don’t know if the promise of a closure made by Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda over the alleged cheating in the 2004 and 2007 elections can really happen within the remaining five years of the Noynoy Aquino presidency.

No closure was made of more important cases in the past, and I am sure there is not going to be any such closure likewise on the issue of electoral frauds during the years in question, now or in the near future. Only history will ultimately bring the desired conclusion in all these, and I am willing to bet it is going to be so.

-ooo-

HOW ABOUT 2010 ELECTORAL FRAUDS? And, while we are concerned with electoral cheating, how come we are focusing on alleged frauds for 2004 and 2007 only? How about accusations that even the 2010 elections was marred by massive cheating, with the use of machines? Are we going to close our eyes on these accusations just because President Aquino won?

The fact is that the Philippines seems to have perfected the art of fraudulent elections such that there are really no losers in any given political exercise here---everybody who lost got cheated, one way or the other, with Filipinos themselves participating in the cheating by way of accepting monetary and other bribes to vote or to cheat one way or the other.

-ooo-

DEPED’S FIGHT VS. DENGUE TO FAIL: If Education Secretary Armin Luistro thinks his department’s PASS (Prevention Alert System in Schools) can stop dengue from victimizing school children, he should think again. PASS and any other initiative of the Department of Education to fight dengue will not stop the disease, because they fail to include a basic component to fight it.

What is this basic component? It is the realization that dengue and other deadly diseases inducing high fever is a Biblical disease, a curse promised by God to people who no longer listen to His Word (or read the Bible, in other words) and who no longer obey His commands, so that the only way to fight it is to use the Bible.

I really don’t know why this has escaped Luistro, considering he is someone who is high up in the Catholic Church hierarchy in the Philippines. But if he wants to be informed and to come up with a real solution to dengue, he should read the Bible, especially its Deuteronomy 28:15, 22.

-ooo-

DENGUE AS A GOD’S CURSE: Dengue and other diseases which give rise to deadly and fatal fever and inflammation have been predicted to happen in Deuteronomy 28:15, 22 in this manner: “However, if you do not obey the LORD your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you…

“The LORD will strike you with wasting disease, with fever and inflammation, with scorching heat and drought, with blight and mildew, which will plague you until you perish…”

-30-

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS. 21 JULY 2011

How about 2010 poll frauds?

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “…But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin…” (1 John 1:7, the Holy Bible).

-ooo-

CLOSURE ON POLL FRAUDS NOT LIKELY TO HAPPEN: I really don’t know if the promise of a closure made by Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda over the alleged cheating in the 2004 and 2007 elections can really happen within the remaining five years of the Noynoy Aquino presidency.

No closure was made of more important cases in the past, and I am sure there is not going to be any such closure likewise on the issue of electoral frauds during the years in question, now or in the near future. Only history will ultimately bring the desired conclusion in all these, and I am willing to bet it is going to be so.

-ooo-

HOW ABOUT 2010 ELECTORAL FRAUDS? And, while we are concerned with electoral cheating, how come we are focusing on alleged frauds for 2004 and 2007 only? How about accusations that even the 2010 elections was marred by massive cheating, with the use of machines? Are we going to close our eyes on these accusations just because President Aquino won?

The fact is that the Philippines seems to have perfected the art of fraudulent elections such that there are really no losers in any given political exercise here---everybody who lost got cheated, one way or the other, with Filipinos themselves participating in the cheating by way of accepting monetary and other bribes to vote or to cheat one way or the other.

-ooo-

DEPED’S FIGHT VS. DENGUE TO FAIL: If Education Secretary Armin Luistro thinks his department’s PASS (Prevention Alert System in Schools) can stop dengue from victimizing school children, he should think again. PASS and any other initiative of the Department of Education to fight dengue will not stop the disease, because they fail to include a basic component to fight it.

What is this basic component? It is the realization that dengue and other deadly diseases inducing high fever is a Biblical disease, a curse promised by God to people who no longer listen to His Word (or read the Bible, in other words) and who no longer obey His commands, so that the only way to fight it is to use the Bible.

I really don’t know why this has escaped Luistro, considering he is someone who is high up in the Catholic Church hierarchy in the Philippines. But if he wants to be informed and to come up with a real solution to dengue, he should read the Bible, especially its Deuteronomy 28:15, 22.

-ooo-

DENGUE AS A GOD’S CURSE: Dengue and other diseases which give rise to deadly and fatal fever and inflammation have been predicted to happen in Deuteronomy 28:15, 22 in this manner: “However, if you do not obey the LORD your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you…

“The LORD will strike you with wasting disease, with fever and inflammation, with scorching heat and drought, with blight and mildew, which will plague you until you perish…”

-30-

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.PERIODICO MINDANAO. 19 JULY 2011

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.PERIODICO MINDANAO. 19 JULY 2011

Pinoys need better lives, not political rows

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “…I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws…” (Psalm 119:7, the Holy Bible).
-ooo-

POC FUNDING PROBLEMS HURTING PINOY ATHLETES: My heart was bleeding for the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) as I read a news report saying that to enable our athletes to participate in the forthcoming Southeast Asian Games on November 11-22, 2011 in Indonesia, POC would have to literally beg once again from the private sector for funds.

No wonder the Philippines does not produce athletes of international caliber, as a matter of course. There is simply no money for sports development. Of course, many may ask why this should be so, when government agencies like the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) are oozing with billions and billions of money?

Why can’t the PAGCOR and the PCSO find a way to give something substantial for our athletes’ training and participation in competitions here and abroad? I know that the POC is supposed to be an organization independent from any government intervention, but surely, a compromise could be hammered out so that there is a steady source of money for our athletes?

-ooo-

PINOYS STILL NEED MORE MONEY AND FOOD: If I am to believe lawyer and senatorial aspirant Raul Lambino, it would seem that the Aquino government is now spending a great deal of its time and resources firming up its cases against former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo.

While I concede that prosecuting Arroyo, her family, and her officials for supposed grave crimes during her term is a matter of utmost urgency to fulfill a campaign promise of President Benigno Aquino III, it would be the height of treason on the other hand to be focusing solely on this direction, leaving out the more important work of economic advancement for the Filipino people.

As it is, Filipinos continue to be poor and the trumpeted improving conditions for many of them is still largely unfelt and perceived to be mere propaganda of government. Something has to be done urgently to enable more Filipinos to have better lives, more money and more food, and they couldn’t really care less later if politicians kill one another, figuratively that is.

-ooo-

WOMAN’S REAL BEAUTY: Here is the real gauge of a woman’s beauty, according to 1 Peter 3:1-6 of the Bible: “Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.

“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

“For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear…”

-30-

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.18 JULY 2011

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.18 JULY 2011

“PCSO lied vs. bishops”

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “…For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile...” (Romans 1:16, the Holy Bible).

-ooo-

THE TRUTH IN THE PCSO-BISHOPS MESS: Now, what Jesus said in John 8: 31-32 of the Holy Bible is being proved true once more in the case of the donations made by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) in favor of bishops of the Roman Catholic Church: the truth shall set us free.

First truth, as expounded by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, incoming President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP): there were no Pajeros given to any of the seven bishops who accepted donations from the PCSO, contrary to PCSO’s claims.

-ooo-

“PCSO LIED VS. BISHOPS”: Second truth: the donated vehicles were used not for the bishops’ personal use but for health care, poverty alleviation and developmental projects in the places where they are assigned. Third truth: the donations were covered by written agreements, dispelling insinuations that they were surreptitious gifts from the Arroyo government intended to bribe the Church leaders.

Fourth truth: the PCSO, led by its General Manager Margie Juico, was not truthful in its disclosures about its donation to the bishops, and such untruthful disclosures hurt not the bishops but their parishioners who needed help from the Church.

-ooo-

MARINE COLONEL NOT ALONE? Yes, Marine Col. Generoso Mariano was alone when appeared in a video footage where he called for the ouster of the Aquino government for its alleged failure to make life better for Filipinos, but it is sheer folly to think that he is alone in his sentiments against President Aquino. Did Malacanang think that Mariano could have been so brave as to have done it all alone?

As we already wrote here several days ago, various groups are now openly plotting to remove the President and his government, and Mariano’s video appearance confirms that there are plots being hatched by people already grossly dissatisfied with the administration. While Malacanang may continue to publicly deny or belittle these reports, it cannot deny however that the plotters are getting bolder day by day.

-ooo-

POLL FRAUD PRESENT IN ALL PHL ELECTIONS: Indeed, what can we gain by investigating the alleged irregularities in the elections of 2004 and 2007? Assuming we can prove there were irregularities in those two political exercises, can those who rightfully won still claim their seats or positions?

No more, and that is what makes the suggestion to investigate, prompted by alleged disclosures by supposed participants in the fraud, inutile and unproductive. The truth is that, Filipinos know in their hearts that poll irregularities attend almost all elections in the Philippines, not just in 2004 and 2007, and yet they have not thought it wise to do something about it. We deserve the treatment we get, don’t we?

-ooo-

NOW, IT IS PHL PROVOKING CHINA: I hope the Chinese will not take up the saber-rattling aired by Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario Sunday, who said, in so many words, that the Philippines is prepared to go to war over the Spratlys issue. I mean, yes, our country will fight, even with a diminutive Armed Forces, but must we even crow about it as if we are like little children publicly provoking the bully to a fight?

-30-

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.17 JULY 2011

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.17 JULY 2011

Marine colonel’s call for PNoy ouster legal?

LIFE’S INSPIRATION: “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say `No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ…” (Titus 2:11-13, the Holy Bible).

-ooo-

1987 CONSTITUTION ENCOURAGES FIGHTING LEADERS: As long as the 1987 Constitution retains its so-called people power provisions and the provision granting members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines the status of being “protectors of the Filipino people”, calls for the ouster of President Aquino and any other president after him for that matter will continue.

The reason is that these people power provisions and the Constitutional recognition of the AFP as protectors of the people actually make it legal for anyone, whether civilian, police, or military, to be seeking the ouster of officers of government, as these parts of the Charter virtually scrapped the crime of rebellion, insurrection and other offenses against the state or its government from our statute books.

-ooo-

MARINE COLONEL’S CALL FOR PNOY OUSTER LEGAL? Even now, in view of these legal mandates, I don’t think any criminal or administrative case can be thrown at, or will stick against, Marine Col. Generoso Mariano with his video-taped and media-distributed footage advocating the ouster of President Aquino in view of what he said as his government’s failure to “save the life of the majority”.

If President Aquino wants to stop future adventurism against his regime from the military, the police or from any other sector, he should call for a Constitutional Convention right away and, among others, delete the foregoing provisions from the Constitution which, by a stroke of irony, his own mother promulgated in 1987.

-ooo-

CAN PCSO EXEC PROVE BRIBERY VS. BISHOPS? I hope that Director Aleta Tolentino of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) knows what she is talking about when she lashed at the “bribery and temptation” of Roman Catholic bishops who received donations of sports utility vehicles during the Arroyo administration. I am also hoping that the PCSO would not be engaging in the same “bribery and temptation” under the Aquino government, with Tolentino as a PSCO director.

Indeed, it is easy enough to say that the bishops engaged in “bribery and temptation”, as Tolentino did before media at that, but proving that “bribery and temptation” attended the donation of the SUVs is another matter---especially because the PCSO has the mandate of donating funds, vehicles and other goodies to anyone it takes fancy of, as it has done in the past.

What Tolentino should study now, to determine if “bribery and temptation” are present, are, first, the media advertisements and other donations under the current PCSO board, and see if they are not being used to bribe and tempt mediamen or other parties to side with Tolentino and the PCSO board now. I hope that six years from now, there will be no disclosures about PCSO wrongdoings during Tolentino’s time.

-ooo-

JESUS CHRIST ON JUDGING OTHERS: Our Lord Jesus Christ, in Matthew 7:1-5, has this to say on judging other people: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged…Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?

“How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye…”

-30-

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.14 JULY 2011

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.14 JULY 2011

Cong. Peping: “review land reform”

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “…Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father…” (Philippians 2:9-11, the Holy Bible).

-ooo-

CONG. PEPING: REVIEW LAND REFORM: Former Tarlac Rep. Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. is urging a review of the land reform program of the government, saying that the current system of directly giving lands to farmers and other farm workers did not really improve farmers’ lives but actually mired them in more problems, aggravating even the country’s food shortage problem.

“I believe it is about time that our government leaders and economists review the land reform program. Is it really improving the lives of the people tilling the land? Under these conditions of land reform, will the Philippines be able to produce the food necessary to feed the Filipinos?” Cojuangco asked in a press statement furnished BATAS INTERNET TV (www.batasmedia.com).

Cong. Peping is saying that Hacienda Luisita farmers who were given the lands they were tilling before “are now worse off than they were before and many actually lost the land assigned to them because they could not pay the installment (payments)…”

Many of the farmers, after losing the lands given to them by virtue of the government’s land reform program, often had to return to the Hacienda to find work and employment---which work and employment were mercifully made available to them when Hacienda union members were not available to do the work themselves.

-ooo-

“STOCK DISTRIBUTION, INSTEAD OF LAND DISTRIBUTION, IS BETTER”: “Statistics show that over 50% of land reform beneficiaries in the country are worse off after they were sold the land than when they were merely workers of the land. So where does this conclusion come from that selling them the land will make their lives better?” Cojuangco asked.

He also brushed aside insinuations that President Corazon Aquino, his sister and mother of President Benigno Aquino III, failed to implement genuine land reform. “If you read Cory’s statement, she says a genuine land reform. That is exactly what was implemented in Luisita; land to the tiller but in the form of shares of stock,” Cojuangco added.

Cong. Peping explained: “When Cory became President, she was already aware that land distribution alone did not alleviate the plight of the people tilling the land. She already was aware that there were many land reform beneficiaries that ended up being worse off and eventually losing the land they were sold through land reform…

“That is why the law passed under her administration is the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law. Incidentally the shares of stock were given for free to the Luisita workers instead of the land being sold. Besides the free shares of stock, each worker was given, again for free, 240 square meter home lots,” he added.

And as to the issue on the Cojuangco family’s alleged refusal to distribute land, Cong. Peping said, “we did not refuse to distribute the land. We did distribute the land in the form of shares of stock given back to the workers, who voted to receive shares of stock instead of physical land…”

-30-

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.12 JULY 2011

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.12 JULY 2011

“Luisita bought solely with Cojuangco money”

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”” Matthew 4:4

-ooo-

“LUISITA BOUGHT SOLEY WITH COJUANGCO MONEY”-PEPING: Hacienta Luisita was purchased solely with the money of the Cojuangco family and their friends and business associates, and no money of the government was ever used by the Cojuangcos in buying it from its American owners then, former Tarlac Rep. Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. clarified the other day.

Cojuangco, or Cong. Peping to his friends and allies, made the clarification in the aftermath of media releases urging his family to comply with its supposed obligation to distribute the Hacienda to its farm workers, allegedly because it was purchased using Central Bank loans and guarantees.

“Luisita was paid entirely with private funds without any financial dole from the government,” Cong. Peping explained, adding that “…the current aspersions still being cast at Luisita is the misleading insinuation that it was originally purchased with `inappropriate’ loan guarantees by the Central Bank.”

Cong. Peping said that the guarantee, in truth, pertained only to assurances to the foreign banks that foreign currency would not be withheld from Luisita in fulfilling its obligations, nothing more, nothing less.

“It is unfortunate that the issues continue to be obfuscated by the self-serving motives of third parties who do not have the true interests of the farmers at heart,” he rued.

-ooo-

CLARIFICATIONS RE LUISITA ROW: Here are other important clarifications on the Hacienda Luisita issue made by the Tarlac lawmaker, who is an uncle of President Aquino: “The Cojuangco family has never, ever been against Land Reform.”

He explained that “at about the time Hacienda Luisita/Tabacalera was purchased by the Cojuangco family, it had subjected more than 6,000 hectares of its original 12,000-hectare holdings to farmers under the Land Tenure Act during President Magsaysay's administration…”

“Tragically,”, Cong. Peping said, “most of these farms no longer belong to the original recipients, because of the absence of a sustainable support system for the small farmers unversed in managing and marketing…”

This is the reason why, he said, many farm workers from the Hacienda, in at least two earlier but very recent referenda conducted by the Department of Agrarian Reform and by volunteer students from UP Diliman, actually chose the stock distribution option instead of land distribution.

Evidently, that is the system by which the interests of the farm workers would best be protected.

-30-

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.11 JULY 2011

God’s miracles; campaign vs. Ombudsman bet on

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 1:6, the Holy Bible).

-ooo-

GOD’S MIRACLES STILL HAPPEN: Once more, I thank God, in the name of Jesus, for showing compassion and pity to those who truly and sincerely approach Him, proving again and again that He is always ready to help no matter how grave the problems maybe.

Last Saturday, a father whose very young daughter is suffering from leukemia came to my office in Diliman, Quezon City, seeking financial help to buy expensive medicines prescribed by doctors. He was panicky and troubled, and seemed lost, although he showed a strong resolve to fight for her daughter even if he barely knew what to do.

As he was waiting to talk to me, I asked him to join in the regular Saturday praise and worship which my churchmates at the “Anak ng Diyos Kadugo ni Kristo” and I were then holding at my office.

He acceded, settled down, and listened as God’s Word was discussed and expounded upon by several speakers. He even participated in the final prayers of our praise and worship, where we cried and wailed, as we humbled and laid prostrate before the Lord.

As I was writing this column Monday, July 11, 2011, the teacher of the man’s daughter told me in a Facebook chat that, to the surprise of even the child’s doctors, a miracle from God seemed to have happened as, inexplicably, there was a great and marked improvement in her physical condition, which started from the time the father was praying to God with us. Indeed, God’s power and glory comes to those who seek Him truthfully.

-ooo-

MEDIA CAMPAIGN VS. OMBUDSMAN BET ON: Many may not have noticed it, but there is a furious and insidious media campaign going on right now aimed at influencing the decision of President Aquino on who he should appoint as Ombudsman.

The hapless target of the campaign appears to be former Justice Secretary Artemio Tuquero, evidently to ease him out of the race in favor of somebody else, by publicly portraying him as having contravened positions of the President in earlier times, and by highlighting his membership with the powerful Iglesia Ni Cristo.

This campaign is a typical style of a Mafia-like group in Philippine politics when they wish to achieve their sinister plans---destroy people and institutions who stand in the way of their dark ambitions through ruthless machinations. To these people, the end always justifies the means. I pray Secretary Tuquero watches his back carefully.

-ooo-

OFWs FROM SAUDI TERMINATED FROM THEIR WORK: The government must help overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are literally being terminated from their employments in Saudi Arabia even if their contracts are still subsisting---the Saudi government must be asked to explain why the visas of the OFWs are being stamped “for exit only”, even if they are going to the Philippines only for a vacation, thereby barring their return to Saudi.
-30-

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.06 JULY 2011

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.06 JULY 2011

Defects in the P728 agri plunder raps

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices, and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator…” (Colossians 3: 9-10, the Holy Bible).
-ooo-

DEFECTS IN THE P728 AGRI FUND PLUNDER RAPS: Do we congratulate Acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro for filing plunder charges against former Agriculture Secretary Luis “Cito” Lorenzo and Undersecretary Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante and private businessmen in connection with the P728 million agriculture fund scam? The answer is no, we should not. Why?

Because, obviously, the charges that Casimiro filed with the Sandiganbayan are defective, in that the congressmen, governors and mayors who received part of the P728 million from the Arroyo government before the 2044 presidential elections were scandalously not included as accused.

The question is: why were they not included as accused when their participation in the supposed plunder is equal to, if not more than, the participation of Lorenzo, Bolante and the other agriculture executives? If the truth be told, with the non-inclusion of the congressmen, governors and mayors in the plunder charge, the case may even be ultimately dismissed.

-ooo-

WHY WAS GMA NOT INCLUDED IN THE PLUNDER RAPS? And then, again, in view of the evidence that reached Casimiro showing that former President Gloria Arroyo actually wrote marginal notes in the documents covering the release of the P728 million, Gloria should have been automatically included in the plunder charge as well. But why did not Casimiro include her?

In criminal law, there is a principle of conspiracy, whereby the act of one criminal is considered the act of all others who conspired with him. In the case of the agriculture fund scam, it is clear that conspiracy existed, from Gloria to Lorenzo to Bolante and to her political allies. Why then did Casimiro fail to indict Gloria?

-ooo-

DEPED BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE ON GRADE 11: So, the Department of Education needs P45 billion more to pursue its plan to add one more school year to the existing 10-year elementary-high school education system in the country. Wow, where would the government get that kind of money?

My suggestion is: forget adding one more year, forget Grade 11, and, instead strengthen the current 10-year system by requiring schools nationwide to go heavier on spiritual values by an instruction on the Bible for Christians and on the other holy books for other religions. This is the way to push for real progress and development among our people.

-ooo-

MORE RULES FOR DAILY LIVING: Colossians 3:5-9 of the Bible gives an interesting set of rules for believers: “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.
“You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips…”
-30-

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.05 JULY 2011

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.05 JULY 2011

More on Duterte, Pichay & ARMM

LIFE’S INSPIRATION: “…Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance...” (Psalm 33:12, the Holy Bible).
-ooo-

MORE QUESTIONS ON THE DUTERTE-ANDRES SNAFU: Here are more questions on the Davao City Sarah Duterte-Abe Andres snafu: why did Sheriff Abe proceed with the demolition of shanties in the city’s Agdao District despite the two-hour request of Mayor Sarah? Was he ordered to ignore the mayor’s request? Who ordered him to proceed with the demolition despite Sarah’s request?

And, what, really, is the significance of the public advice given to Mayor Sarah by her father, Vice Mayor Rodrigo, for her not to apologize for her having punched Sheriff Abe---was it a mere act of arrogance, or an expression of disgust and his feeling of betrayal that some people really are too much of an ingrate?

-ooo-

PICHAY, VICTIM OF DOUBLE-STANDARD OF JUSTICE: Did Acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro really think that his order dismissing Administrator (and former Surigao congressman) Prospero Pichay Jr. of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) would be appreciated by the Filipino people?

He is wrong if he thought so, because, in reality, the dismissal of Pichay is being viewed by many as a double-standard of justice. Not because Pichay is obviously being prosecuted for his ties with former President Gloria Arroyo, but more because he was clearly singled out in the alleged illegal purchase of a rural bank with LWUA funds.

The question for Casimiro is: why prosecute and punish Pichay alone and leave out the bank owners and officers, when, very clearly, the bank owners and officers were the beneficiaries of the LWUA purchase of their dying bank?

-ooo-

ARMM PRAYS FOR SPEEDY RESOLUTION OF POLL PLEAS: People from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are fervently praying that the Supreme Court will act expeditiously on various petitions filed by several groups and personalities questioning the law postponing the August 2011 ARMM elections.

The immediate resolution of the petitions would remove the uncertainties hounding the ARMM and its residents, especially on the vital issue of who should really lead the region at this point in its history---the Malacanang-appointed officers-in-charge or officials directly elected and given the people’s mandate?

-ooo-

WARNING FROM JESUS CHRIST: Here’s a warning from the Lord Jesus Christ, coming from Matthew 7:21-23 of the Holy Bible: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ ”
-30-

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.04 JULY 2011

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.04 JULY 2011

Mysteries in the Duterte-Andres row

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people...” (Proverbs 14:34, the Holy Bible).

-ooo-

MYSTERIES IN THE DUTERTE-ANDRES ROW: After all has been said and done, there are still many mysteries in the Sara Duterte-Abe Andres Davao City face-punching brouhaha. One, why was there a demolition order against the informal settlers, or, better yet, what was the basis of that demolition order? Two, who issued the demolition order?

Third, Sara knew that Abe was supposed to be merely following orders of his superiors---presumably judges from the area---so, Sara’s belligerency was really not against the sheriff per se, but evidently against the judges (or any other government authority) who issued the demolition order. Knowing this, why did Sara dare to be so belligerent---against the judges or any other official who issued the order?

And then, again, that demolition order was later stayed by another order from a Davao City judge---which would indicate that that order suffered from some defect or another (otherwise, why would it be stayed by another judge?).

Was that the reason why the sheriff was in a hurry to carry out the demolition, despite Sara’s urgent pleas? So that, even if it is later on declared to be defective, the demolition has been carried out just the same, rendering moot any declaration against its validity or legality?

-ooo-

DEPED MAKING LIFE DIFFICULT FOR CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS: Excuse me please, but I am not impressed with the supposed turn-over of P1 billion by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation(PAGCOR) to the Department of Education so more classrooms can be built across the country. Why? Simply because the simple building of more classrooms does not mean better education for the youth.

I suggest that a significant part of that P1 billion should be devoted to buying Bibles instead and educating our children on God’s Word and commands, or, better yet, helping Christian schools across the country to improve their facilities since they are already engaged in teaching spiritual values to school children.

As it is, however, the DepEd is making life more difficult for these Christian schools by refusing to extend their licenses to operate for some legal mambo-jumbo, forcing many of them to close down, as if the DepEd is manned by people who descended from the arch-enemy of God, not wanting children to study His Word.

-ooo-

RULES FOR HUSBANDS AND WIVES: Ephesians 5:21-30 exhorts husbands and wives: “…Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior…

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word... In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself…”

-30-

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.01 JULY 2011

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.01 JULY 2011

Reactions re PNoy and Jesus

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name…” (Zechariah 14:9, the Holy Bible).

-ooo-

“JESUS IS GOD”: It always makes me very happy to read reactions to my columns because they indicate that somehow, somewhere, there is someone who is reading what I am writing about. Today, I give way to two such reactions, and the first pertains to our items about Jesus Christ being called “Mighty God” and “Everlasting Father”, and He calling Himself “I am”.

Junsting Pizaña wrote: “Sir Mauricio, please allow me to add some verses telling us that Jesus is God. First is Isaiah 9:6: `Unto us a child is born.....The mighty God (not mighty man), The everlasting Father.....’ No one can say that Jesus is just a `mighty God’ because the Father Himself is also called `The mighty God’ (Psalms 50:1, also Isaiah 10:21).

“Second, Titus 2:13: `.....the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.’ In Matthew 28:19, Jesus intimated that the name of God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Therefore if we say God, we are automatically (knowingly or unknowingly) referring to the Trinity (or Elohim, the plural form, as He introduced Himself in Genesis 1:1.

-ooo-

“JESUS IS GOD AND SAVIOR”: “And the Bible tell us that there is no other God and no other Savior (Isaiah 43:10-11), so the phrase `the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ’ in Titus 2:13 particularly refers to the Lord Jesus Christ as both God and Savior and the Trinity as a whole. Otherwise, the Bible is wrong.

“Third, the Father Himself testified that His Son is God (Hebrews 1:8-9). Fourth, John the Beloved testified that we are in the True God, Jesus Christ (I John 5:20). Fifth, in Revelation Chapter 1, we are told that Jesus is The Almighty (Rev. 1: 8).

“Compare this with verses 11, 17-18 of Revelation 1, and also in 4:8 where the Almighty is referring to the Lord Jesus Christ surely. For who is coming? The Father is not coming. It is the Lord Jesus who is coming.......Thank you for publishing your valuable Biblical insights...More blessings and God bless you.”

-ooo-

“DON’T BLAME PNOY, BLAME US”: Edgar Siscar has this to say on our item about people power being readied against President Aquino: “We should not blame, PNoy for his inefficiencies. Instead, we should take up the bucket--- the electorate is the one to blame.

“We only deserve the leaders that we choose. We knew beforehand that PNoy could not carry on the work-- he has no working team, he has no experience at governance, he is not a statesman, etc.

“But these are only the tangible reasons. The intangible reason is the fact that no President can work efficiently in a multi-party system without the support of the majority of the bureaucrats under one tutelage…”

-30-

People power readied vs. PNoy

People power readied vs. PNoy

LIFE'S INSPIRATIONS: “The LORD will vindicate me; your love, LORD, endures forever— do not abandon the works of your hands.” (Psalm 138:8, the Holy Bible).

-ooo-

PEOPLE POWER BEING SET UP VS. PNOY: There is only one clear intention in the increasing attacks against the qualifications and competence of President Aquino to run the country nowadays---to lay down the basis for another people power, to oust him as soon as practicable.

The only way to counteract all of these attacks now is for him to show he is qualified and competent, and produce immediate and concrete results, especially in improving the lives of our people. People contented with their lives do not normally join people power movements.

But, if he is perceived to be unqualified and incompetent for the past year, and if nobody believes he has done something concrete to improve the lives of our people so far, it will be very difficult for the President to fight off the attacks against him, making him an easy target for legalized rebellion called people power.

-ooo-

WHAT IS DE LIMA DOING? What, really, was in the mind of Justice Secretary Leila De Lima---a seasoned practicing lawyer before she joined the government of then President Arroyo and the government now of President Aquino---when she held the press conference to announce that there are new evidence and witnesses now which will prove the guilt of Hubert Webb in the Vizconde rape-slay cases?

Surely, she knew Hubert and his co-accused who underwent trial could no longer be charged and pursued once again for the same crimes, on grounds of double jeopardy, and that there is no piece of evidence now which could make Hubert, et. al. face a new trial. So, why the press conference?

Either she was just fooling around, which, I am sure, was not her intention, or she was only trying to hug the headlines once more, to enable her to re-acquire her status as the most-trusted government official at the start of the year, an honor which was wrested from her and is now held by Vice President Jejomar Binay.

-ooo-

JESUS SAYS “I AM”: There are many parts of the Bible attesting to Jesus as God Himself. One of these is that found under John 8: 54-58, where it is stated: “…Jesus replied, `If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.

“ `Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.’

“ `You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!’ `Very truly I tell you,’ Jesus answered, `before Abraham was born, I am…’ ”

-30-

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS. 29 JUNE 2011

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS. 29 JUNE 2011

What is Coseteng noisy about?

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance…” (2 Peter 3:9, the Holy Bible).
-ooo-

WHAT IS COSETENG NOISY ABOUT? I am happy that former Sen. Anna Dominique Coseteng plans to file more charges against former officials and employees of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and Philippine Amateur Swimming Association (PASA) in connection with alleged misuse of funds and discrimination against local swimmers, but is she serious with these plans?

I mean, Coseteng was congresswoman for nine years, and senator for a number of years, but what did she do against supposed graft and corruption at PAGCOR and against supposed problems besetting swimming during her terms of office? Can she point to anything that would show she was really interested in the welfare of Philippine athletes while she was in a position to do something?

Or, is Coseteng making noises now simply because she is interested to return to politics once again?

-ooo-

ROCO REMEMBERED: Six years after his death on August 5, 2005, former Sen. Raul Roco is still getting accolades for his insistence to be truthful whenever he delivered a speech or even as much as talked to anyone in public, a trait that endeared him particularly to the Filipino youth of his time.

The latest recognition of Roco’s truthfulness in whatever he said, especially in the presence of other people, came from Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Manolo Quezon, during an interview at the ABS CBN News Channel (ANC) the other day.

Quezon said Roco’s passion for watching what he says in public, ever wary of dishing out only the truth all the time, is something that President Aquino now is also exhibiting in the latter’s own speeches, and is something that will be displayed during his first State of the Nation Address on July 25, 2011.

-ooo-

JESUS IS “MIGHTY GOD, EVERLASTING FATHER”: Here is a very beautiful and compelling message about Jesus Christ, found in Isaiah 9 of the Holy Bible: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned…

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.

“He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this…”

-30-
30 minutes ago

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.28 JUNE 2011

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.28 JUNE 2011

Who in media received PCSO millions?

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “…For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it…” (The Lord Jesus, in Matthew 16:25, the Holy Bible).
-ooo-

WHO IN MEDIA RECEIVED MILLIONS IN PCSO FUNDS? Margie Juico, the chair of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, should now complete her exposes about anomalies at the charity agency by publicizing the names of all---I mean, all---media entities and personalities who were given PCSO advertising money under the Arroyo administration.

This should tell our people who were, or who were not, on the take from the PCSO, and, therefore, from the Arroyo government itself, by way of juicy PCSO advertising placements. This should explain to our people not only where PCSO money went, but why some media entities and personalities acted the way they did when Gloria Arroyo was president.

As for me, I never got even a single centavo from PCSO, even if, at one point or another, my office submitted requests for PCSO ad placements. I guess I was either not important to Gloria then, or I was simply out of the loop. Now, I am thanking God I never really got anything from the PCSO all through these years.

-ooo-

CLARIFICATION FROM JBC NEEDED: Will someone from the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) enlighten us on the rule it is following when a nominee gets an opposition to his or her nomination, especially on grounds of integrity?

This clarification is necessary because among those being nominated as new Ombudsman, some groups and personalities have formally opposed their nomination, and yet, the nominees who were objected to are still being considered nominees just the same.

I thought that JBC rules require that, for a nominee who has been objected to, especially on grounds of integrity, there must be a prior vote of all JBC members favoring the nomination so that this nomination objected to could continue to be considered. Will the JBC clarify this for the sake of our country and our people, please?

-ooo-

SAME-SEX MARRIAGES---WRATH FROM GOD: Here is a footnote on the issue of same sex marriages having been performed by a Baguio City group professing to be Christians, coming from Romans 1:18-32: “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people…

“Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men…

“Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity…”
-30-

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.27 JUNE 2011

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.27 JUNE 2011

Janine Gutierrez: new showbiz star

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “…And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him…” (Colossians 3:17, the Holy Bible).

-ooo-

JANINE GUTIERREZ, A NEW STAR IN PHL SHOW BUSINESS: It seems that our entertainment industry got a new star in the person of 21-year old Ms. Janine Gutierrez, the eldest daughter of movie stars Ramon Christopher “Monching” Gutierrez and Lotlot De Leon, who is venturing into show business even if she already finished Bachelor of Science in European Studies at the Ateneo de Manila University just last March.

Minutes after she sang a song at Channel 7’s “Party Pilipinas” last Sunday, June 26, 2011, Janine immediately stormed her way as a trend leader in the social networking site, Twitter. As a virtual unknown before her TV appearance, Janine’s huge showing as a Twitter trend leader took everyone by surprise.

Some noted her refreshing beauty, while others extolled her pedigree (Janine is a granddaughter of Pilita Corrales, Asia’s Queen of Songs, Eddie Gutierrez, a movie icon in the 1960s, Christopher De Leon, a multi-awarded actor, and Nora Aunor, the first superstar in Philippine movies), and some talked about her having both beauty and brains.

Well, as far as I am concerned, Janine represents some kind of a beautiful new beginning among the country’s young entertainers---she is the only one who finished a college course first before venturing into the entertainment industry. This should signal a change for the better not only in the caliber of our entertainers, but in the level of Philippine entertainment itself.

-ooo-

BATTLE FOR THE PEOPLE’S HEARTS AND MINDS NOW IN INTERNET: “Can we defend this in Twitter, Facebook or in some other networking sites?” This is now the question among government officials out to justify what they have done, in much the same way that officials in past eras were won’t to ask “can we defend this in Plaza Miranda?”

The heated three-hour exchange in Twitter between Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte and Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay last Saturday showed that the battle for the hearts and minds of the public has now shifted from traditional platforms like the Plaza Miranda of old, and the traditional media (newspapers, radio and TV), to the Internet.

And I believe this is going to be the direction of things to come, as events in the Middle East have also shown in just about a month or so ago---the future of governments and of political leaders will be decided by on-line exchanges and debates. Woe unto those who are still un-initiated in the new mode of on-line communications!

-ooo-

MORE BIBLICAL RULES FOR DAILY CONDUCT: Here are more rules of daily conduct, given by God to the prophet Moses and which now appear under Leviticus 19:15-18 of the Holy Bible: “ ‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.

“ ‘Do not go about spreading slander among your people. Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the LORD… Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD…”

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.26 JUNE 2011

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.26 JUNE 2011

Same-sex weddings illegal in Phl

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… at the beginning… God ‘made them male and female…For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh…” (Mark 10:6-8, the Holy Bible).

-ooo-

SAME-SEX WEDDINGS ILLEGAL IN PHL: Whether they knew it or not, those who officiated and participated in the same-sex weddings or “holy unions” between gays and lesbians in Baguio City last week actually violated at least two provisions of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines, exposing them to criminal prosecution and liability.

The first provision is Article 350 which is entitled “marriage contracted against provisions of laws”, and which imposes the penalty of imprisonment of up to 12 years for those contracting marriages in disregard of a legal impediment.

The legal impediment here is the requirement of the Family Code that marriages in the Philippines must be between a man and a woman, never between man and man, and woman and woman.

-ooo-

REVISED PENAL CODE VIOLATIONS: The second provision of the Revised Penal Code violated by the same-sex weddings is Article 201, which is entitled “immoral doctrines, obscene publications and exhibitions and indecent shows”, and which carries the penalties of imprisonment of up to six years, and fine of up to P12,000.00.

Under Article 201, the penalties are to be imposed upon anyone “who shall publicly expound or proclaim doctrines openly contrary to public morals”. Undergoing same-sex marriages contravene public morals here in this country, where same-sex relationships continue to be viewed as taboo.

The priests, pastors or other religious leaders who officiated the same-sex marriages are equally liable under the foregoing provisions of the Code. I wonder why Baguio City authorities, especially its top local officials and its police department, simply stood idly by while these legal violations were taking place.

-ooo-

BIBLICAL UNIONS OF MEN AND WOMEN: The pretense by the Baguio City church that the same-sex marriages which it allowed and performed are “holy unions” is appalling and blasphemous, in the face of what the Bible teaches about what unions are to be considered holy before God.

In Genesis 1:27, it is stated: “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” In Genesis 2:24: “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh…”

In Romans 1:18-32, same-sex relationships are declared as curses from God: “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people… Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another…”

-30-

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.25 JUNE 2011

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.25 JUNE 2011

The truth in the POC-GTK row

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “…But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one...” (2 Thessalonians 3:3, the Holy Bible).

-ooo-

THE TRUTH IN THE POC-GTK ROW? Go Teng Kok was declared a “persona non grata” by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) not only because he sued the sports body on two occasions in violation of the POC Constitution, but more because of a series of “grave excesses” which the POC considered as sufficient bases to render him unfit to remain as a member or official of the POC.

This was made clear during the POC executive board meeting where Go, or popularly known as GTK, was “disowned” by the POC, and is in fact shown by the minutes of that board meeting (which meeting was considered a first at the POC because all its executive board members were present all at the same time---a phenomenon that rarely happened at the sports body).

Based on records coming from the POC, particularly the minutes of that fateful meeting of the POC executive board, it appears that Go Teng Kok was declared a “persona non grata” by the POC upon the vote of all its board members, including his known allies, after they tackled and were confronted with his alleged past excesses as a POC official.

-ooo-

“COMPELLING REASONS TO DECLARE GTK PERSONA NON GRATA”: What were the supposed past excesses of GTK, entered into the minutes of the POC meeting, which prodded all its board members to disown Go Teng Kok and declare him a “persona non grata”? The minutes and the report of POC officials show the following:

First: The POC considered Go to have undermined efforts by the POC to unify the different sports sectors comprising the POC. This was allegedly due to his influencing the selection of leaders for wushu, billiards, basketball, table tennis, badminton, bowling, swimming, and volleyball.

Second: The POC considered Go to have influenced athletes to defy rules and policies promulgated by past POC officials. A case in point cited by the minutes and by my POC friends was Go’s alleged leading of a boycott of the Philippine National Games in Bacolod City, which resulted in the banning of the athletes that supported the boycott from the National Pool.

-ooo-

“GTK VIOLATED POC CHARTER” AND MORE: Third: The POC found Go to have violated its Constitution by his having sued it twice, since it is the POC---not the courts---which is the final arbiter of disputes among national sports associations (NSAs) like the PKF. Because of this, the directive of the International Olympic Committee for POC to resist political, legal, religious, or economic pressures against the Olympic Charter was even disregarded.

Fourth: The POC found Go to have reneged on his own handwritten pledge to withdraw the first case he filed against the POC, and that while he had asked for arbitration to find an end to this first case, he nevertheless filed another case against the POC, this time to block the elections for PKF in Bacolod City.

Fifth: The POC found Go to have financially supported the election of convicted individuals as officials of NSAs; admitted that he operated a gambling den while he was president of the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association; and maintained close ties with someone awaiting deportation, as well as with illicit organizations abroad. Any reactions, Mr. Go Teng Kok?

-30-

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.24 JUNE 2011

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.24 JUNE 2011

Truth in DSWD-Cotabato City aid mess

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint…” (Isaiah 40:31, the Holy Bible).
-ooo-

FILIPINOS NOW FEAR THE RAIN: When many of us were younger, rains were welcomed with glee and gladness. For rainwater then solely meant the onset of planting season, allowing our farmers to re-start the cycle of agricultural production which sustains the country’s economy. But nowadays, Filipinos have learned to fear rain and dread the water it brings.

Why? Because, suddenly, with rains come floods, and with floods, death and destruction. If it is any consolation though, this is now the rule not only in the Philippines but in the whole world as well. As Filipinos suffer from rains, floods and strong winds, all others worldwide are suffering from the same phenomenon.

But if the truth be told, it need not be this way. If only we listened, intently enough, to what the Lord Jesus said in the Bible, in Matthew 7:24-27, mankind would have avoided the death and destruction, because He provided a solution against destructive rains, floods and strong winds.

-ooo-

WARNING BY JESUS ABOUT RAINS, FLOODS AND WINDS: Here is what Jesus said: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

“But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash,” Jesus concluded.

If we read closely what the Lord said, He was actually saying that the rains, floods and strong winds will surely come. He knew that these natural calamities will come to the world and would bring death and destruction. That was the reason why He urged each one of us to hear His Word and obey His commands---to enable us to be saved. So what are we waiting for?

-ooo-

DINKY SOLIMAN AND THE COTABATO AID MESS: Cotabato City Mayor Japal Guiani is standing his ground, and is insisting his constituents have not received any aid from the national government yet despite their misfortune due to the rains and floods that visited the city. And, despite Malacanang denials, I am prone to believe him.

A report by ABS CBN TV Patrol confirmed Guiani’s lament: millions of relief bags were found stocked and undistributed at the warehouse of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Cotabato City, notwithstanding the clamor for more aid from hapless city residents.

Indeed, while President Aquino may have authorized the release of some P10 million for the Cotabato City flood victims, and the money was immediately sent, it would seem DSWD sabotaged the Chief Executive by holding on to, and not distributing, the relief bags. Dinky Soliman has a lot of explaining to do here.

-30-

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.23 JUNE 2011

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.23 JUNE 2011

PAPI 15th annual fete opens; tips on Spratly row

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “The Lord will keep you from all harm---he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore...” (Psalm 121:7-8, the Holy Bible).

-ooo-

PAPI 15TH ANNUAL FETE OPENS: I wish to congratulate the Publishers Association of the Philippines Inc., or PAPI, on its 15th annual gathering which started June 23, 2011, at the Makati Sports Club in Makati City. I also wish to thank its officers for asking me to give a brief talk about “spirituality and press freedom” during the second day of the gathering.

Allow me to reprint here the announcement made by PAPI Secretary General Johnny Nunez and President Juan P. Dayang about the affair: “The 2011 Midyear Media Conference and Executive Session of the Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PAPI) opens Thursday (June 23) at the Ayala Hall of the Makati Sports Club in Makati City.

“Some 200 mediamen, including publishers, broadcasters, editors, provincial press clubs, presidents and members, columnists, commentators, public information and corporate communication executives, journalist and writers from the academe, college editors, book authors, visiting Filipino journalists working abroad are expected to attend this year’s 15th annual PAPI nationwide gathering.

“The general membership meeting and election of officers of the newly-reactivated Federation of Provincial Press Clubs of the Philippines whose participants are also delegates of PAPI event is scheduled to take the place prior to the formal opening ceremonies of the two-day conference.

“Among the speakers of the midyear media event are Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato C. Corona, Presidential Communications for Development and Strategic Planning Secretary Ricky Carandang, former University of the Philippines President Dr. Francisco A. Nemenzo Jr., and Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis.

“KBP-NCR Chairman Rey Langit, National Press Club President Jerry Yap, columnist Belinda Olivares Cunanan, Carmen Pedrosa, lawyer-columnist Melanio `Batas’ Mauricio Jr., Yes Magazine Editor Jo-Ann Q. Maglipon, and Albay Gov. Joey S. Salceda, will also speak on various topics.

“A cocktail reception will follow the opening ceremonies on Thursday, June 23.The event will culminate with a fellowship dinner and award-giving rites in the evening of June 24 after a whole-day business session.”

-ooo-

WAYS TO DEAL WITH THE SPRATLY DISPUTE: Here’s a suggestion as to what the Philippines can do on the Spratly Islands dispute, written for the e-group of the UP Sigma Rho Fraternity by Bishop Bert Mercado: “1. Lease one of the Spratly Islands to the US for 100 years, with extension, to be used as their refueling station, beach for R & R, and even a base similar to Cam Ranh Bay Base or Subic Naval Base. The US presence in the South China Sea is a deterrent to Chinese bullying.

“2. Sign oil exploration contracts with one or two US oil-rigging companies. 3. File cases of Chinese violations of Philippine sovereignty before the International Court of Justice, and related international bodies. 4. Seek the support not only of ASEAN, but also of Japan and Korea which has navigational and security interests in the area. 5. If the Chinese intrude, we fire the first shot!!!”

-30-

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.22 JUNE 2011

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.22 JUNE 2011

Economic plans for ARMM, Part II

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty…” (Psalm 91:1, the Holy Bible).

-ooo-

MORE GROUPS TO QUESTION LEGALITY OF ARMM POLL POSTPONEMENT: It is not only the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino (PDP) that will question before the Supreme Court the constitutionality of the law postponing the August 2011 elections at the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) once President Aquino signs it.

Former President Arroyo’s party, Lakas-Kampi, and LABAN (or Lakas ng Bayan, the party of former Sen. Benigno S. Aquino Jr. in the 1984 Batasang Pambansa elections), are also poised to file separate petitions before the high tribunal to have the postponement law nullified.

Then, there are individual politicians who are also itching to test the legality of the law. I have been told that the Catholic Church and other big groups allied with it will also file cases against the legal measure. It would seem everyone wants to “kill” the law, as it were.

-ooo-

ECONOMIC PLANS FOR ARMM, PART II: Many people are convinced the postponement law must have to be “killed”, really, because postponing the August 2011 elections for ARMM will mean greater harm for the region and its people, in terms of economic plans and projects that would have to be shelved if new regional leaders are not chosen by the people themselves.

Aside from the plan to convert lands in ARMM as long grain rice fields where long grain rice---the staple food in Muslim countries worldwide---could be grown and harvested and later bartered and exchanged for oil, there is also a plan, envisioned by the Pex Mangudadatu-Tingting Cojuangco tandem, for first class rubber trees to be grown, cultured and developed in Basilan Province and then similarly bartered worldwide.

According to a plan by former Tarlac Rep. Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr., rubber from Basilan rubber trees could fetch a handsome price, and the entire industry could in fact put an end to the debilitating poverty of people in the ARMM, which could in turn lead to a conversion of the members of the Abu Sayaf and other separatist groups as responsible and peace-loving citizens of the Republic.

-ooo-

BOOM FOR SEAWEEDS AND SUGAR INDUSTRIES EYED: There is also the plan being pursued by Cong. Peping to fully develop the seaweeds industry in Tawi-tawi by the establishment of factories that would process seaweeds in the province so that it could be sold as a finished product around the world later.

Then, Cong. Peping plans to duplicate efforts in Tarlac which made sugar a prime dollar earner for the province, through the development of thousand of hectares of land in the ARMM region which have remained idle and unproductive for quite some time now, for sugar cane planting.

People close to the former lawmaker and his wife Tingting could only hope and pray that the couple will continue being interested in the full development of Mindanao and ARMM, despite the efforts of discredited politicians to control the region for themselves, evidently in preparation for future political forays.

-30-

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS. 21 JUNE 2011

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS. 21 JUNE 2011

Economic plans for ARMM, Part I

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all…” (Mark 10:43-44, the Holy Bible).

-ooo-

DILLY-DALLYING IN SIGNING ARRM LAW: Indeed, if Malacanang itself certified as urgent the bill postponing the August 2011 elections at the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the only reason why President Aquino is not immediately signing it into law now is that he and the other people interested to name officers-in-charge for the region are afraid the Supreme Court will declare that law unconstitutional, and allow the elections to push through just the same.

So there is a need to stall. So that those who will bring cases to the tribunal to question the constitutionality of the ARMM poll postponement will lose precious time, and therefore allow August 2011 to lapse without the elections being held.

But this is downright silly thinking. If the Supreme Court, as expected, rules that the poll postponement is unconstitutional, a new date for the elections can be set by the Court itself, or by the Commission on Elections upon the directive of the high court, even if August 2011 has already lapsed.

-ooo-

ECONOMIC PLANS UP FOR ARMM: I pity our people at the ARMM if the elections are not held as scheduled, or are not held at all, because further delays in selecting the region’s new leaders by the processes mandated by electoral laws also delays all the more the implementation of plans and policies that would push it to real economic recovery and lift it out of the poverty that is gripping it now.

For example, I am personally aware that if the Pex Mangudadatu-Tingting Cojuangco tandem would get the governorship and vice governorship of ARMM, immediately the region will be able to enter into a contract for it to produce long grain rice for Muslim countries in the whole world.

I am privy to information that former Tarlac Rep. Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, husband of Tingting, has been approached by top officials of these Muslim countries, asking if he could arrange for the Philippines to produce long grain rice, in any quantity that the country could produce. Cong. Peping’s initial plan is to ask ARMM to allow its idle lands to be used for this project.

-ooo-

“OIL FOR LONG GRAIN RICE” MULLED: The beauty of this plan, from the point of view of Cong. Peping, is that ARMM or the Philippines could ask that payments for the long grain rice we will produce would be in the form of oil, through some kind of a barter arrangement which is in vogue in Mindanao.

Then, as Cong. Peping’s plans envision, the Muslim countries buying the ARMM’s long grain rice could also be asked to put up refinery firms in the region so that the oil they will be paying us could be processed right here, thereby greatly bringing down oil prices, initially in Mindanao and, ultimately, in the whole country.

Splendid plans, indeed, but it seems some people in the Aquino government, who are also privy to the plans and intended projects of Cong. Peping and Tingting for ARMM, do not want these plans and projects to succeed. Indeed, I pity Filipinos from the ARMM.

-30-

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.20 JUNE 2011

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.20 JUNE 2011

Ochoa on the way out as ES?

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word…” (Ephesians 5:25-26, the Holy Bible).

-ooo-

OCHOA ON THE WAY OUT AS ES? It is not an overload of responsibilities alright, but the designation of Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. as chief of the revived Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) signals his impending removal as Malacanang’s “little president”, whether the Office of the President or Ochoa care to admit it or not.

Overseeing crime prevention and prosecution in the country, at a time when the incidence of crimes is peaking beyond the ordinary, is a very demanding and rigorous work which requires focus and dedication. Ochoa, as anti-crime czar and as little president at the same time, will simply become ineffective in both pursuits.

It will not therefore be long after he takes on the PAOCC job that an announcement will be made stripping Ochoa of his position as executive secretary to allow him to devote his time to his new job, and a replacement is named to succeed him. At this point, I am almost certain who the replacement is going to be, and I am in fact willing to bet on this now.

-ooo-

BATAS INTERNET TV NEW SKED: May I take this opportunity to inform all interested parties, both here and abroad, about the new schedule of programs which BATAS INTERNET TV started implementing since June 16, 2011, through the Internet website www.batasmedia.com. Here is the new schedule:

4 A.M. to 4:30 A.M.-Holy Rosary; 4:30 A.M. to5:00 A.M.-Invocation: Our Father, Philippine National Anthem, The Bible, Jesus, Eschatology; 5 A.M. to 5:30 A.M.-Ligaligin Natin; 5:30 A.M. to 6 A.M.--Sports Round-Up; 6 A.M. to 6:30 A.M.-Kakampi Mo Ang Batas GV AM;

6:30 A.M. to7:30 A.M.-The Gospel Hour; 7:30 A.M. to 8:15 A.M.-Batas ng Diyos; 8:15 A.M. to 9 A.M.-Juvy De Guzman Presents Let’s Talk On the Air ; 9 A.M. to 10 A.M.-Health & Travel @ Serbisyo Publiko; 10 A.M. to 10:30 A.M.- Kakampi Mo Ang Batas DYKA;

10:30 A.M. to 11:15 A.M.-The Better Globe Power; 11:15 A.M. to 12 noon-Kakampi Mo Ang Batas DYMS; 12 noon to 12:45 P.M.-Huntahan Ron and Aga; 12:45 P.M. to 1:15 P.M.-Birador ng Bayan; 1:15 P.M. to 2 P.M.-Ang Kamatooran; 2:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M.-Kilatis Panday Lipunan; 3 P.M.-Devotion to the Divine Mercy;

3 P.M. to 4 P.M.-Baletodo; 4 P.M. to 4:30 P.M.-Ang Kapangyarihan ng Panalangin; 4:30 P.M. to 5:30 P.M.-Anak ng Diyos; 5:30 P.M. to 6:00 P.M-Lifestyle at Iba Pa; 6 P.M. to 6:30 P.M.-ARBA; 6:30 P.M. to 7 P.M.-Balitang Patas 7 P.M to 8:00 P.M.-Grabe Ang Ating Diyos; 8 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.-Holy Rosary.

-30-

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.19 JUNE 2011

KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS.19 JUNE 2011

Ways to solve Cotabato flooding

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord...” (Ephesians 6:4, the Holy Bible).

-ooo-

RIZAL AND THE PROPER TRAINING OF FILIPINO YOUTH: As the nation celebrated the 150th birth anniversary of its hero, Dr. Jose Rizal on June 19, 2011, I was struck by a question over his oft-quoted statement that the youth is the hope of the fatherland. Indeed, the youth is the hope of the country, but only if they are well-prepared and properly trained.

Suppose they were ill-prepared and improperly trained while they were still young, as the example of many Filipinos---leaders and ordinary ones, in and out of government---now show? So the question really is: how do we properly prepare and train our children so they could become the true hope of our nation, as Rizal envisioned?

“Train the child in the way they should go while they are young, and when they grow old they will never depart from it,” the Holy Bible, in its Proverbs 22:6, says. And what is the way to train and prepare these children?

Deuteronomy 6:5-7 shows the way: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up…”

-ooo-

WAYS TO SOLVE COTABATO FLOODING: The possibility of Cotabato City being totally submerged by floodwaters due to erratic weather conditions in the next few days or even hours is prompting frantic calls for volunteers to help remove water lilies clogging the Rio Grande de Mindanao, but I am convinced that this is not going to be a full solution to this problem.

I suggest that Filipinos everywhere should now gather together, open their Bibles and study the Word of God, and then humbly pray for His deliverance. This is so because rains, floods and strong winds---the most devastating calamities being visited upon many parts of the Philippines and of the whole world in recent days---have a Biblical dimension.

In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus warned about the “great fall”, or the total destruction coming from rains, floods, and strong winds, of people who no longer listen to the Word of God and who longer obey God, or even of people who listen but who disobey just the same.

Indeed, there is nothing man can do to control destructive rains, floods and strong winds on his own---for only God can. But God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, already shared with us, through the Bible, how to avoid these destructive natural calamities. Consequently, coupled with our human efforts, we must read the Bible now and obey God, if we want to avoid total destruction.

-ooo-

OPPOSITION LAWMAKERS `SLEPT’ ON PURISIMA: Here’s a question for opposition congressmen questioning the capacity of Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima to remain in his post: is it not a fact that the opposition was given the opportunity to reject Purisima at the Commission on Appointment? How come they allowed Purisima to be confirmed by the Commission?

-30-