It’s a tribute to Henrik Ibsen that his writings continue to be relevant and provocative today as they were more than a hundred years ago.
In commemoration of one hundred years after the passing of Norway’s most famous playwright, the Norwegian embassy in Manila held a special screening last Wednesday of a modern adaptation of Ibsen’s “Enemy of the People.”
Ambassador Stale Forstein Risa said the 2004 movie adaptation of Ibsen’s 1882 play has been entered in the Norwegian movie festival. It’s actually the fourth rendition in film. The first two were done in the United States (the 1978 movie starred Steve McQueen) and in 1989, in India.
The movie’s basic storyline adhered closely to the original play: an individual’s struggle to uphold the truth and do the right thing against the majority’s preference for a lie for their short- term financial rewards.
In the original play, Thomas Stockman was a popular doctor in a small coastal town in Norway. His brother, Peter, was the town mayor. The town was all agog about a soon-to-open medicinal bath project that was expecting to boost tourism and bring economic prosperity to the people.
Thomas discovered that waste products from the town’s tannery were contaminating the baths. He made a report that the bath would be harmful to the health of visitors.
Since a lot of public and private money was spent on the project, the majority voted on suppressing the truth. Thomas was denounced as “Enemy of the People.”
“Enemy of the People” was Ibsen’s assertion that the majority is not always right.
In the confrontation scenes, where his voice was drowned out by the furious mob, Thomas declared: “The most dangerous enemy of truth and freedom amongst us is the compact majority.”
In the Philippines, this sad reality is best demonstrated by the killing of the two impeachment complaints against Gloria Arroyo by the majority in the House of Representatives.
The most memorable line in the play was at the end when Thomas gathered his wife and children and confidentially told them that he has discovered something. “It is this,” he told them. “The strongest man in the world is he who stands most alone.”
In the movie, Thomas Stockman was a respected broadcast journalist who was known for his hard-hitting exposes. He decided to come home to his hometown to help manage the family business of producing bottled water.
Like in the play, the small town was banking on the Stockman bottled drinking water for economic progress. His wife has invested the savings for their son’s future in Stockman bonds.
More than 40,000 bottles were ready to be shipped out when tests showed that the water was contaminated with something toxic that would cause infertility to those who would drink it.
To make matters worse, it was discovered that the toxic contamination came from drums of pesticides buried by his father-in-law near the source of the water.
The movie was effective in conveying a vanishing community with few inhabitants against a magnificent backdrop of Norwegian mountains.
In another satirical interpretation of Ibsen’s statement, the movie director used a TV reality show titled “People’s Voice” as the venue of the debate. The winner is determined by the number of phone-in votes. “Democracy at work,” boasts the show’s host.
Perhaps in another jab at the values prevailing in modern society, the movie ended with a Thomas slumped on a rock outside his house telling his wife, “I can’t be alone.”
I was startled by the ending of the movie. I turned to former Senator Leticia Shahani beside me. “What’s the ending? He agreed to keep quiet?” Confused, Mrs. Shahani turned to Metrobank Foundation’s Chito Sobrepeña, who thought the movie underscored personal relationships more than the individual’s relationship with society.
“Let’s ask Director Romero,” said Chito seeing filmmaker Mike Romero.
Romero said: “I don’t think Ibsen will like this movie.”
“…the movie ended with a Thomas slumped on a rock outside his house telling his wife, “I can’t be alone.”
It is precisely this narration that reminded me of Rep. Edmund Reyes during the first impeachment trial of Gloria. The words of Rep. Reyes still echo in my mind when he asked, “Are only 73 members of this House of Representatives on the side of the truth? Is there anyone else? Is there no one else? Will no one else sign for the truth?'” The gallery fell silent. Hours after, the results was a 158-51 (158 in favor to dismiss the impeachment complaint against Gloria). That affected me a lot. My heart was crushed hearing his words.
Apparently, what is GOOD-which includes the TRUTH-is the least travelled road. Yet, I hold firm in the belief that “in the end, GOOD WILL TRIUMPH over evil.
Ellen,
I like the ending of the original play better. At least, it ended with the most important line “the strongest man in the world is he who stands most alone”. Walang bitin!
*******
Here’s the last portion of act 5, the ending.
Dr. Stockmann. Good.–Going away, did you say? No, I’ll be hanged
if we are going away! We are going to stay where we are,
Katherine!
Petra. Stay here?
Mrs. Stockmann. Here, in the town?
Dr. Stockmann. Yes, here. This is the field of battle–this is
where the fight will be. This is where I shall triumph! As soon
as I have had my trousers sewn up I shall go out and look for
another house. We must have a roof over our heads for the winter.
Horster. That you shall have in my house.
Dr. Stockmann. Can I?
Horsier. Yes, quite well. I have plenty of room, and I am almost
never at home.
Mrs. Stockmann. How good of you, Captain Horster!
Petra. Thank you!
Dr. Stockmann (grasping his hand). Thank you, thank you! That is
one trouble over! Now I can set to work in earnest at once. There
is an endless amount of things to look through here, Katherine!
Luckily I shall have all my time at my disposal; because I have
been dismissed from the Baths, you know.
Mrs. Stockmann (with a sigh). Oh yes, I expected that.
Dr. Stockmann. And they want to take my practice away from me
too. Let them! I have got the poor people to fall back upon,
anyway–those that don’t pay anything; and, after all, they need
me most, too. But, by Jove, they will have to listen to me; I
shall preach to them in season and out of season, as it says
somewhere.
Mrs. Stockmann. But, dear Thomas, I should have thought events
had showed you what use it is to preach.
Dr. Stockmann. You are really ridiculous, Katherine. Do you want
me to let myself be beaten off the field by public opinion and
the compact majority and all that devilry? No, thank you! And
what I want to do is so simple and clear and straightforward. I
only want to drum into the heads of these curs the fact that the
liberals are the most insidious enemies of freedom–that party
programmes strangle every young and vigorous truth–that
considerations of expediency turn morality and justice upside
down–and that they will end by making life here unbearable.
Don’t you think, Captain Horster, that I ought to be able to make
people understand that?
Horster. Very likely; I don’t know much about such things myself.
Dr. Stockmann. Well, look here–I will explain! It is the party
leaders that must be exterminated. A party leader is like a wolf,
you see–like a voracious wolf. He requires a certain number of
smaller victims to prey upon every year, if he is to live. Just
look at Hovstad and Aslaksen! How many smaller victims have they
not put an end to–or at any rate maimed and mangled until they
are fit for nothing except to be householders or subscribers to
the “People’s Messenger”! (Sits down on the edge of the table.)
Come here, Katherine–look how beautifully the sun shines to-day!
And this lovely spring air I am drinking in!
Mrs. Stockmann. Yes, if only we could live on sunshine and spring
air, Thomas.
Dr. Stockmann. Oh, you will have to pinch and save a bit–then we
shall get along. That gives me very little concern. What is much
worse is, that I know of no one who is liberal-minded and high-
minded enough to venture to take up my work after me.
Petra. Don’t think about that, father; you have plenty of time
before you.–Hello, here are the boys already!
(EJLIF and MORTEN come in from the sitting-room.)
Mrs. Stockmann. Have you got a holiday?
Morten. No; but we were fighting with the other boys between
lessons–
Ejlif. That isn’t true; it was the other boys were fighting with
us.
Morten. Well, and then Mr. Rorlund said we had better stay at
home for a day or two.
Dr. Stockmann (snapping his fingers and getting up from the
table). I have it! I have it, by Jove! You shall never set foot
in the school again!
The Boys. No more school!
Mrs. Stockmann. But, Thomas–
Dr. Stockmann. Never, I say. I will educate you myself; that is
to say, you shan’t learn a blessed thing–
Morten. Hooray!
Dr. Stockmann. –but I will make liberal-minded and high-minded
men of you. You must help me with that, Petra.
Petra, Yes, father, you may be sure I will.
Dr. Stockmann. And my school shall be in the room where they
insulted me and called me an enemy of the people. But we are too
few as we are; I must have at least twelve boys to begin with.
Mrs. Stockmann. You will certainly never get them in this town.
Dr. Stockmann. We shall. (To the boys.) Don’t you know any street
urchins–regular ragamuffins–?
Morten. Yes, father, I know lots!
Dr. Stockmann. That’s capital! Bring me some specimens of them. I
am going to experiment with curs, just for once; there may be
some exceptional heads among them.
Morten. And what are we going to do, when you have made liberal-
minded and high-minded men of us?
Dr. Stockmann. Then you shall drive all the wolves out of the
country, my boys!
(EJLIF looks rather doubtful about it; MORTEN jumps about crying
“Hurrah!
Mrs. Stockmann. Let us hope it won’t be the wolves that will
drive you out of the country, Thomas.
Dr. Stockmann. Are you out of your mind, Katherine? Drive me out!
Now–when I am the strongest man in the town!
Mrs. Stockmann. The strongest–now?
Dr. Stockmann. Yes, and I will go so far as to say that now I am
the strongest man in the whole world.
Morten. I say!
Dr. Stockmann (lowering his voice). Hush! You mustn’t say
anything about it yet; but I have made a great discovery.
Mrs. Stockmann. Another one?
Dr. Stockmann. Yes. (Gathers them round him, and says
confidentially:) It is this, let me tell you–that the strongest
man in the world is he who stands most alone.
Mrs. Stockmann (smiling and shaking her head). Oh, Thomas,
Thomas!
Petra (encouragingly, as she grasps her father’s hands). Father!
The End
What’s the moral of the story? That majority is not always right as the assertion of Ibsen? Lots can be argued about the talking point. First argument I would like to offer is the very basic foundation of democracy that majority should always rule, it’s written. It’s true to a great extent as Ibsen asserted, only in the Philippines, only because of the majority does nothing, as in the case of present situation in the Philippines. The majority has been taken by fear, so the evil empire of bogus Gloria managed to succced. Moreover, as in Norway small town of water contamination, bogus Gloria has poisoned the mind of the people and contaminated the only democracy the Philippines have ever known. Sad fact!
The voice of the people, as in the case in the Philippines has been bought and paid in full. The madness of covering the truth has become the tools being effectively used by bogus Gloria and those brainless corrupted officials that know no better but the enrichment of their bank accounts. It should be noted, however, the poisoning of the people’s mind has a great effect to the future of the Philippines. As the majority of the little community in Norway to their concerned to the economy. It’s a choice that peoples must make of how to live their lives – truth or lies? It’s most obvious, the people Philippines, it seems, couldn’t careless as the testimony to the fact that bogus Gloria stole their sovereign rights to choose their leaders. To this day, bogus Gloria is winning the war of contamination. Bogus Gloria, absolutely without the benefit of the doubt has poisoned and contaminated the country of 86 million people. And the majority does nothing. Summarily the majority of the people of the Philippines has spoken, their voices are very clear that they would rather live in lies.
Is bogus Gloria enemy of the people?
Who is the strongest man or woman among us? Admittedly, there are none, only a strongest woman existed among us, bogus Gloria is the name. Only because she’s surrounded by those with much to gain in protecting her very existencein Malacanang. Presently, nothing matches bogus Gloria’s resources which is why she remain in power, at least within the confine of the Philippines shores. We can only wish that all bogus Gloria’s crimes against the people will one day be paid in full. Like everything else in life, has its ending, that nothing last forever. This is bogus Gloria’s moment to shine, but surely as the sun rises, bogus Gloria domination will one day end. And the truths will be known.
People, Enemies of Glueria
Glueria has no authority to govern, therefore doesnt’ possess any powers. This illegal occupant of Malacanang is just a frightened little piece of #@*&, a con artist who is so expert in giving the impression of being powerful. Thanks to her Garci Generals, goons, guns and minions physically propping up her vulnerable existence.
This bogus president is sooo afraid of her kababayans. How can she be powerful? Her temporal power and strength are all stolen, too, derived from the money of the Filipinos she uses to buy the majority of her weaklings in Congress and public offices to rally behind her. Her majority is a majority of money.
I guess, “the strongest man in the world is he who stands most alone” refers to a man who possesses the inner, pure strength/power which he uses to fight a battle/cause, so that even when doing it alone, he feels the strongest amongst men. It’s in my view is the unadulterated strength that our beloved heroes of the past felt when they fought for their country and people.
Glueria simply doesn’t have it, so go away, TSUPI!
Filipinos think they have democracy in their country but with majority of the people not even above poverty line, and not having equal opportunity, who says that it is a real democracy? Democracy is supposed to be a government OF, FOR and BY the people. When you have a few despot who are not even elected by the people but appointed by one whose presidency is even in question, it is definitely not a democracy that is even said to be the rule of the majority.
I am not familiar with this Ibsen, and no matter how he must have been glorified in his country, I will not accept his dogma nonetheless as being absolute. Frankly, I thought the socialism that Christ himself prescribed would be the better one for people who would be willing to be ruled in accordance with His Gospel for instance: “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12: 30-31)
It is just too bad that majority of Filipino Christians themselves have not read the Bible much less touch it. They just depend on some priests or nuns who are more often than not as ignorant of the true Teachings of Christ as them. Otherwise, they would have more compassion for the poor and destitute and not call them the “toothless and the bathless.” What a bunch of hypocrites indeed!
This is a better version from The Tribune:
Japanese man admits to human vivisection in WW II: report
A former medical officer in Japan’s World War II Navy admitted to conducting vivisection in the Philippines on some 30 prisoners of war, including women and children, a news report said.
It was the first time such testimony had been given on experiments on human beings by a Japanese officer in the Philippines during World War II, Kyodo News reported late Saturday.
Similar experiments were conducted in northern China by the notorious germ warfare Unit 731, which was blamed for the deaths of up to 10,000 Chinese and Allied prisoners of war, the report added.
Akira Makino, 84, a former officer of the medical corps of the Imperial Japanese Navy’s No. 33 patrol unit, said the experiments on live prisoners began in December 1944, shortly after he was assigned to Zamboanga air base in Mindanao.
Makino was ordered to take two local men captured as United States spies to a school which had been turned into a hospital, where they were undressed and tied to an operating table, Kyodo said.
Makino was told by his superior to insert a surgical knife into their bodies after the prisoners’ faces were covered with an ether-soaked cloth so that they became unconscious.
“I thought ‘What a horrible thing I’m doing to innocent people even though I’m ordered to do it’,” Makino told the news agency, after keeping the information secret for six decades.
The experiments, which included amputating arms and legs, suturing blood vessels and abdominal dissections, continued until February 1945, and resulted in the deaths of some 30 persons, including women and children, he said.
“After the experiments, the captives were strangled with a rope to make sure they were dead,” he said, adding their bodies were buried and the deeds kept strictly secret.
“I would have been killed if I had disobeyed the order,” Makino said. “That was the case in those days.”
US forces landed on the Philippine island in March 1945, sending Japanese soldiers into hiding in the jungle.
Little Japanese testimony about what happened in Southeast Asia during the war has emerged. But the new information should throw light on Japan’s malicious wartime acts, Kyodo said, quoting experts.
Makino has talked about his war experiences to elementary and junior high school students for the past several years without telling them about the human dissections.
He told Kyodo: “I want to tell the truth about the war to as many people as possible. If I’m given the opportunity, I’ll continue to testify in atonement.”
After the movie, my friend Butch Franco (also a journalist) and I continued discussing the movie (it speaks a lot of Ibsen that his ideas never fail to provoke discussions).
The movie’s ending, although depressing, is a commentary on today’s compromised society. It was meant to startle us.
BTW, Ellen, I did not know that Soliven’s wife is an ambassador. Is she another political appointee? Is she a careet diplomat now supposed to be resigned because of over-age like Siason in Tokyo?
This appointment of non-career people to the foreign service is for me another thing that they should rid of. It is no wonder that Filipinos have very poor standing in the international community, for it does not make one really qualified by being merely a buddy of the one sitting at the throne at the palace by the murky river, and definitely not by one whose presidency is being questioned and considered illegitimate. It is this practice, I guess, that dampens the spirit of the bureaucrats and career diplomats to do better than what they are capable of and expected to do.
Tama na lang iyong sinusuwelduhan sila. Who cares? No one will appreciate their efforts anyway especially when the sipsips get promoted faster. They should have a strong union over in the DFA by all means.
Oops, it is not “careet” but “career.” Sorry about that!
The title of “ambassador” for Preciosa Soliven is just that- a title. She is actually head of the committee secretariat of the Unesco Philippines.
Soliven’s office provides support for the Philippine delegation to Unesco which is headed by the ambassador to France.
She is based here in Manila.
Email from Marlowe Camello:
I’m batting for the creation of the jury systems in the Philippines. It’s the only means the people can fight back against their #1 enemy, this bad government. We need a Grand Jury (not only the Trial Jury) to empower the people to secretly investigate and indict grafters, media killers, money launderers, etc., without the need of approval by the government and corrupt prosecutors. What can a grand jury do for the people? Please browse it in the web site below:
http://anticorruption.homestead.com/MotherOfGraft.html
The Jury systems law is the ultimate empowerment of the people. Without it, the people’s power is like being tied behind their backs.
Marlowe Camello
Homeland, California
Ellen:
A lot many Hollywood and even Japanese celebrities are asked to become ambassadors of goodwill for UNESCO, and though it may be prestigious, I don’t remember any of them being called officially as “Ambassador” as one holding such a position as a professional career even as a political appointee. Funny how Filipinos seem to have this itch for titles really. Sometimes, nakakapundi talaga especially when you are exposed to people with legitimate peerage titles as those I have met in UK and Japan.
You should write about this as a matter of fact, even in connection with the Bansot’s diehard attempt to make herself look what we call in Tagalog as maharlika even when she is definitely “bakya.”
The jury system, unfortunately, will not work well in the Philippines, not unless the mentality is changed. Japan in fact has similar structure as that of the Philippine court as structured by the US, except that over here they have been wiser to also apply Japanese unwritten laws based on the customs and tradition of Japan, and it works fine over here.
So, it is not the structure that is at fault. It is the people running the show who should be kicked out if not reformed that should be blamed for the sorry state the Philippines is in at present.
titles are awarded to people the fake president thinks are doing something that can help her stay in power as long as she likes. a sort of “pagtanaw ng utang-na-loob” for all their support in twisting the truth and make the pilipinos believe all her cheat and lies.
Grand Jury System as summarized by Marlowe Camelo, will work in any First World countries, or any developing countries where the political condition is somewhat Mature and no intervening personal Interest among its political players is Involved. In The Philippines everything were tried. The special body created to investigate Corruptions and Wrongdoings of Public officials, the Office of the Ombudsman is Corrupted. The Special Court established to deal with the known and already indictable offense, and specifically the Marcosses Lots has not resolved a single case or maybe even another place where politics and politician extends their playing ground.
For the Meantime I suggest, until the political climate can get rid of its disease of Corrupting even a Court System, to reform the Justice System as it Stand now. Trial Judges, should be assured of their independence by extending to them the Security of Tenure, Security of remuneration and a no-nonsense enforcement of Ethical Code of Conduct among Practitioners and that Include All Public Prosecutors and even Defense Lawyers. Jury Systems, both the Grand Jury and trial by Jury could later be integrated into the system in stages and gradually either by province to province or region by region.
Right now, there is no Magic formula that can cure the ailing Justice system. We should start with the personalities first. Streamline the process, speed up the disposition of cases by not allowing the Antics and Technical maneuvering by counsels. And lastly, Remind all the Politicians that in this Part of the world even talking to or writing to the Court Personnel regarding any case in the Process is a NO NO…
One thing wrong, Vic, is that in the Philippines, the ministers or secretaries when assigned to a department, think they own or take it purely for them to own. This is true also with those who become Philippine president regardless of whether or not they have been legitimately elected.
Take the Bansot for example. She thinks she now owns the whole Philippines, and has the sole right and prerogative to order members of the Philippine Congress, police and military and even her cabinet members as if they are her personal tsimoys and tsimays even when she does not pay them a centavo from her own personal pockets and private funds or else they will be terminated, harassed, intimidated and as in the case of the Senators and Congressmen who do not kiss her ass, deprive them of their porks, which I actually have not heard of being given freely for example to members of the Japanese Diet, et al without going through a lot of scrutiny!!!
I’ve heard of how she bawls and scolds the staff of the Philippine Embassy or Consulate in Japan or overseas when they are unable to make an appointment with the big shots in the government of the country she visits, or as in the case of Japan, a private visit to the Emperor and the Empress, and reason why these people act like slaves, unable to resist even when they have a right to for fear even of being terminated without a cause and a reason. Pwe! 😡
Grand jury, and its counterpart in the lower level (Trial Jury), is another layer in the already deficient and non-workable democratic institutions the Philippines already has. While it sounds good as a way to empower people, install checks and balances, and curb excesses of leaders, it is not certain that it will work in the Philippines now or in the near future. This is one country where democracy is only paid lip service, candidates are voted on the basis of personalities rather than programs or issues, political parties are fluid and interchangeable, platforms and programs are not rationalized for public good, where there is no distinction between “public” and “private,” and more.
Not only should we have mature institutions, we should also have mature and discerning citizens, and above all, leaders who listen to the voice of the people. Sadly, it takes only one Machiavellian to destroy all these suppositions of a workable jury system. I’d rather put away that Machiavellian first than install an uncertain system that presumably may correct others of his/her kind in the future.
Marlowe Camello, the proponent, considers it a long-range solution compared to the short-sighted “oust Gloria movements.” He even regards it as a panacea for all the problems (not just corruption and many forms of injustice) haunting the country. He seems to have overestimated its worth, as he underestimated other problems like the loss of ancestral lands by Muslims to Christians, as if everything is rooted in or from injustice.
For this last problem, I don’t know how the touted jury system will solve it. The loss of land is a complex, historical problem that cannot just be undone by the jury system. It began with colonialism which is no longer there, except its vestiges. The solution is not to return their land, because the jurists say so.
Camello’s proposal is objectionable on at least two counts. One, it is founded on a wrong premise. Just because it works in America, it can also work in the Philippines. The premise is questionable and can be doubted, because the conditions on which it rests are not there in the first place. Maybe he should read Renato Constantino first to have a grounding on the realities of life in the Philippines, and why western tenets would not necessarily apply to such a non-western country. As Camello rightly pointed out, even some western, democratic countries don’t even practice, or have rejected, the jury system. The same premise is what made a popular theory about development of poor countries lose its appeal, hence abandoned, because these countries could not grow by simply following the footsteps of their developed counterparts. Yet, we know that some other countries (Singapore, S. Korea, Taiwan) leaped forward as Asian’s “economic tiger” without abandoning those values and traditions that “development” requires.
Second, the jury system is alien to Philippine culture based on values like “utang na loob” and “pakikisama” and familism/regionalism. Jurists are supposed to be individualistic and impartial to be able to render sound judgment. What if the accused is a friend, relative, or from the same region or ethnicity? What if the accused uses the same strategy as the untouchable politicians employ (3 G’s – guns, gold, and goons)? What if the judge himself rules out the majority opinion of the jurists? Has anyone noticed that many of the accused prefer to be tried in his/her hometown rather than in a neutral territory? There is no guarantee that “democracy” (as subscribed) will make way for a jury system (as practiced).
Yes, jury system is good for the people. But it can also be just as bad for them, once applied wrongly in the wrong place.
ibsen’s plays are quite depressive but not dull.in a way he represent winter in the norwegian mind, cold and dark.bjornstjerne bjornson is more like summer.but if one like challenges, read ibsen.
JdV dangles reg’l parliamentary seats in Cha-cha push
11/27/2006
In an apparent final push for Charter change, the allies of Malacañang in the House of Representatives have raised a proposal for the creation of two regional parliamentary seats in each of the country’s 17 regions under the proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution, which the administration wants initiated before Congress adjourns for the Christmas break and before the campaign period for the scheduled national polls next year sets in.
Speaker Jose de Venecia yesterday bared the proposal, which seeks to allow for at least 34 regional seats in the proposed unicameral parliament under a parliamentary system that would replace the existing US-style bicameral presidential system.
He said the proposal has been presented to a number of senators as the advocates of constitutional
reform prepare for two more major caucuses this week in the final drive to get Cha-cha underway as soon as possible.
De Venecia, along with the members of the administration party coalition and President Arroyo, held a caucus last Thursday in Malacañang to discuss new strategies to push Cha-cha despite the Supreme Court’s (SC) junking of the people’s initiative bid to effect it and to circumvent the Senate which has stood against the proposal to tinker with the Constitution.
The proposal for two regional seats in the national parliament has been forwarded to the technical working group that was created at the caucus and tasked to prepare the completed new draft of the Constitution by Nov. 29.
De Venecia said all the major political parties and the party-list groups in the House are represented in the technical working group.
The panel is headed by Rep. Constantino Jaraula, chairman of the House committee on constitutional amendments, and among its members are Rep. Prospero Pichay and Rep. Simeon Datumanong, representing the Lakas Christian-Muslim Democrats; Rep. Luis Villafuerte for Kampi; Rep. Gilbert Teodoro for the Nationalist People’s Coalition; Rep. Laurence Wacnang for the Liberal Party-Atienza Wing; Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla for the Nacionalista Party; and Party-List Rep. Ernesto Pablo of Apec for the party-list groups.
De Venecia said the working group has been tasked to finalize the “amendments or revisions” to the Charter, after which the document would be presented sometime in December for approval by Congress.
He reiterated that for it to be approved, the draft should obtain a 3/4 vote from the members of Congress, as stated under Section 1 of Article 17 of the Constitution.
In the caucus last Thursday, which was attended by 73 key coalition members and presided over by Mrs. Arroyo and De Venecia, the President announced to rousing applause her commitment to push ahead with Cha-cha, which she made her campaign platform in 2004 and one of the major objectives of her administration in her last two state of the nation addresses.
De Venecia said at the caucus the coalition partners agreed to invite all the members of Congress to convene into a Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass) to vote on the draft amendments to the Constitution.
He also said the 1.7-million-strong Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (Ulap) and the Sigaw ng Bayan movement, the two proponents of the people’s initiative for Cha-cha that was rejected by the SC, are also contemplating the filing of a motion for reconsideration by “leave of court” or “permission of the court.”
Ulap and Sigaw ng Bayan argued that even as under the rules of court, the filing of a second motion for reconsideration is disallowed, it may be permitted by the SC under exceptional circumstances.
“You have to file for a leave of court so you can file a second motion for reconsideration,” Raul Lambino, spokesman of Sigaw ng Bayan, said, as he cited a previous SC court action allowing this.
De Venecia said the proposed shift to a parliamentary system has been thoroughly debated and analyzed but none of those who oppose it has raised any argument in favor of retaining the presidential system.
“What these opponents have done is attack the proposed reforms without saying why they want to preserve the presidential system,” he said.
Meanwhile, a recent Social Weather Station survey showed that if a plebiscite would be held today on Cha-cha, it would get a resounding “no” from the general populace. Click here for SWS survey.
Sherwin C. Olaes, Dona Policar and PNA
__________________________________________________________
wala na talaga. buwang na si devilnecia
Joe devilNecia is apparently only interested in making his position permanent. Hindi na kasi siya illegible for reelection, and so are the others who are kissing and practically licking the stinking ass of the Bansot! PATALSIKIN DIN IYAN, NOW NA!
Ano na naman kayang DEMONIC touch ang ginawa nitong si pandak.
Here’s another interesting news,
Source: Phil. Daily Inquirer (Online News)
NTC chairman resigns, says deputy commissioner
By Erwin Oliva
INQ7.net
Last updated 07:43pm (Mla time) 11/27/2006
NATIONAL Telecommunications Commission (NTC) chairman Ronald Solis resigned Monday morning, his deputy commissioner told INQ7.net
“He told us he will go back to private practice,” NTC deputy commissioner Jorge Sarmiento said in a telephone interview.
“Solis has been a good commissioner. But just like me, we serve at the pleasure of the President,” Sarmiento added.
Solis was unavailable for comment at this writing.
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Ang Pilipino STAR Ngayon 11/26/2006
Dahil sa pangambang maubos ang mga nurse sa Pilipinas, isinulong ni Negros Occidental Rep.Tranquilino Carmona ang isang panukalang batas na magpaparusa sa mga ahensiya na magpapaalis sa mgaPinay nurses na hindi pa nakapagbibigay ng serbisyo sa bansa.
Sa kanyang House Bill 5791, nakapaloob ang multang P50,000 hanggang P100,000 at pagkabilanggong mula 6-10 taon ang naghihingtay na parusa sa mga opisyal at empleyado ng mga ahensiya.
Ayon kay Carmona, kung hindi kikilos ang Kongreso at magpapasa ng batas ay baka wala nang matirang nurse sa mga ospital dahil mas pinipili pa ng mga ito ang mangibang bansa.
“By a decade more of our hospitals, clinics and even teaching staff of colleges and universities may be emptied of competent nurses if no appropriate measure is taken,” ani Carmona.
Aminado si Carmona na isa ring doctor, na maging ang mga kasamahan niya sa dating propesyon ay nag-aaral na rin ng nursing upang makakuha ng trabaho sa ibang bansa.
Sa ilalim ng panukala, ang mga nurses na nais mag-abroad ay kailangang kumuha ng sertipikasyon mula sa Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) na magpapatunay na nagtrabaho sila ng 2 taon sa Pilipinas (Malou Escudero)
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ganun naman pala at inaalala nilang baka maubos ang mga nurses sa pilipinas dahil sa paghahanap ng mas maayos na pagkakakitaan sa pamamasukan sa ibayong dagat, bakit hindi nila mabigyan ng disenteng hanapbuhay upang huwag nang makaisip mangibang bayan? kung hindi man katumbas nang susuwelduhin sa labas ng bansa, iyon man lang masasabing suweldong makakaagapay sa pagtaas ng halaga ng mga pangunahing pangangailangan. maglaan ng subsidy para sa medical and nursing courses o scholarship upang hindi mahirapan ang mga karaniwang magulang sa pagpapaaral sa mga anak ng mga naturang kurso. marahil, kung may scholarship at maayos na pagkakakitaan kapag nakatapos na, hindi mag-iisip ang mga nurses na umalis sa bansa. lalo’t higit, bawasan na ang kurakot sa pamahalaan upang umasenso naman ang ating bayan. gawing top priority ang edukasyon dahil nahuhuli na tayo sa mga kalapit bansa. ang pagsasakripisyo ay dapat nagmumula sa mga namumuno at ipinakikitang halimbawa. mahirap bang gawin ‘yun?
‘Nurse, magserbisyo muna bago mag-abroad’ – solon
ito ang ulo ng nasabing lathalain. (kinopya na nga, nakalimutan pa.)
Sira ang ulo ng solon na ito. Give up muna nila ang kanilang pork at itaas ang sweldo ng pinoy nurses to equal their efforts in caring for the sick. At linisin muna ang cheating pandemic na sinimulan at patuloy pang ginagawa ni Pandakekang.
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Jury system pinoy style! Pare-pare, mare-mare!
Hanggang ang attitudes and consciousness ng karamihan sa pinoy, at ang mga lider kuno ay katulad ng pekeng pangulo, JDV, Ramos and minions, forget about jury system in pinas, lalong walang hustisya para sa mahihirap. Para lang iyan sa mga first world countries, ayon na nga sa mga nagsabi ng mga nauna sa akin, ang kanilang isipan ay mga mature na. Under Glue, pinas will go more downhill. Tsupihin muna natin si Glue and then we can plan better.
I just talked with Commissioner Solis. He said he tendered his resignation this afternoon effective Nov. 30. He said it’s time he goes back to private practice. He won’t say anything beyond that.
it is strange that a commissioner can resign from a job with just several days’ notice.if one is doing something important one need months to finish things one has started.it take time too also to find a replacement. not unless there is discrepancy between him and the boss.
Enemy of the People? I’d imagine they’re all in Malacanang mostly, and everywhere there are money to be made, matter not how.
Just wondering to what has become of Mang Melo? Where and what is Mang Melo doing now a days? Does anybody here know? Ms Ellen, do you know? In my view, if anybody should resign it should be Mang Melo, a useless as the mud in the bottom of stinking river of Pasig. The reason I’m bringing Mang Melo, as reported, another extra-judicial killing in Cagayan. Killing that supposedly to stop when Mang Melo was appointed commissioner of finding out the cause of the killing which has been sold to pacify the European. Of course, it’s all a lie coming from illegal Gloria’s mouth. The killing in Cagayan bringing to 115 militants since fake Gloria grabbed power and stole Malacanang. I believe and as long as fake Gloria in power the killing will never stop. How many more killing before the people will say, enough is enough?
Toney Cuevas:
Pls email me detail of the cdo extra judicial killing at collator.peedee@yahoo.co.uk my Extra Judicial Killing List is slowly growing – Thanks
This Melo must be having nightmares; because since I studied Extra Judicial Killings the investigations are rotten to the core; or none at all!
Toney, sorry, I lost track of the Melo Commission.
Hindi na Melo Commission…Pelo Commission na…Wa Pelo !
melo commission created by the KSP fake president? just wondering, what interests anyone on this another hokus pokus pa epek of glutonia? have they caught up with their deadline? is there still an investigation being conducted re extra judicial killings? or were there ever really investigations condcuted? who did they question? who provided the facts? who did they suspect the perpetrators are?
ano ba ‘yan! lahat na lang sila – who does lahat!
should be: investigations conducted?
wala na, desperate talaga si jo-de-amnesia…lagi kci sya na-eechapwera kaya ngayon, hes thinking “by hook or by crook, i should be in one of the most powerful seat” – (to suck more the life out of this country)..hoy dumbong matanda, mayaman ka na sobra sobra, ang laki ng bahay mo sa dasma…ur house is a virtual fortress surrounded with iron window pati..no wonder. what is this entity so afraid of…ang lumipas ang panahon and to be called the man that never was hahahaha!!!!
melo com?last news was that palparan was the only one who answered their calls.my nephew said that he was accompanied by a truckload of soldiers.
soleil: pinas is desperate and needed desperate solutions but not from those who created the situation desperate.i hope this guy get the hook instead and a crook to hang him.
Melo Commission? Forget it because it is nothing but what it is, a show and a cover-up. Anything instigate or created on order of the Bansot is nothing but to try to thwart the truth and cover up the crimes she and her minions have been perpetrating against the people of the Republic of the Philippines.
Amazingly, she’s still there strutting and snooting as if she is almighty. Sick in the head, she must be indeed!!! 😛
and so is her soul, for sure!