The Philippines scored victory in its case against China in United Nations Arbitral Court, which ruled that it has jurisdiction to hear some territorial claims…
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At the time of the FOCAP Forum, the U.S. guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen was sailing through within 12 nautical mile from Subi Reef’s man-made shores, according to reports by the U.S Navy.
The news reports which was known later, after the forum with the President, also sailed through Mischief Reef, occupied by the Chinese in 1994.
It is significant to note that Mischief Reef and Subi Reef are the nearest to Philippine shores of the eight features in the Spratlys occupied by the Chinese. Subi Reef is 26 kilometers away from Philippine–occupied island Pag-asa.
In a world where we celebrate youth and vigor and everything is digital, to be old is considered a burden and to be ignorant about Facebook and Twitter is considered a defect.
If you feel irritated by your parents ignorance or slowness in the use of techie gadgets, there’s a touching video in You Tube, about a Greek father and son and a sparrow (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWJq1SvgWQ0 ).
Candidates for the 2016 May elections, especially those running for president and vice-president, should read the findings of the EON’s 2015 Philippine Trust Survey which tells that Filipinos want from their leaders to listen to and feel for them.
The PTI, which EON started in 2011, is not an easy survey to do because unlike other surveys that ask who they would vote for in the next election, trust is an abstract thing. One has to give it to EON for coming up with a formula to measure the public’s insights and opinions.
In the PTI survey, respondents were asked to share their opinions on six key Philippine institutions – the Government, the Business Sector, the Media, Non-Governmental Organizations, the Church, and the Academe.
The nationwide survey interviewed 1,620 Filipinos from July to August 2015. They are referred to in the survey as “General Public.” EON said an additional 420 screened respondents were also added to come up with 600 respondents referred to in the survey as “Informed Public.”
The Informed Public respondents “are Filipinos who are at least college graduates and who access media for news at least thrice a week,” EON said.
In the survey results, the Informed Public is less approving of the institutions than the General Public.
Updated Oct. 24,2015
Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. is the biggest gainer among those who filed their certificates of candidacy last week, placing second in the vice-presidential race that has always been dominated by Chiz Escudero, running mate of presidential candidate Grace Poe, results of the survey conducted by the Magdalo group four days after the Commission on Elections closed the filing of certificates of candidacies for the 2016 elections last Oct. 16.
The survey, conducted on Oct 20 through 23, also showed Poe increasing her lead over her rivals in the presidential race with Jojo Binay of United Nationalist Alliance still running second.
The results:
Candidates for President:
Grace Poe, 43%; Jejomar Binay, 26%; Mar Roxas, 17%; Miriam D. Santiago, 11%
Candidates for Vice President: Chiz Escudero,37%; Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr, 24%; Alan Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes IV , both with 11%; Leni Robredo, 9%; Gringo Honasan, 7%.
Behind the provocative rhetoric by American and Chinese officials over the plan of the United States to test freedom of navigation in the South China Sea after China has reclaimed some 2,900 acres of land in the disputed waters, there are efforts by both countries to avoid war.
Especially hostilities breaking out over unintentional incidents as tension increase in the area claimed by China, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.
The desire to avoid unintended hostilities is carried out in an agreement on between the United States and China militaries.
The accord was agreed by American President Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping on November 12 last year after the summit of Asia Pacific Economic Leaders Cooperation meeting in Beijing.
A total of 130 have filed certificates of candidacy for president in the May 2016 elections and 19 for vice president.
There are 172 who are vying for the 12 slots in the Senate.
The five reelectionist senators – Franklin Drilon, Ralph Recto, Teofisto Guingona III, Sergio Osmeña III, Vicente Sotto III- have an edge being familiar names and having an established nationwide machinery. Unless something terribly awful happens that would involve them in controversy before the elections, they are expected to be in the Magic 12.
There are four former senators who want to return to the Senate and they also enjoy an advantage in terms of name recall. They are Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Richard Gordon, Francis Pangilinan, and Juan Miguel Zubiri.
The Navy Times, the official publication of the United States Navy, reported last week that “The Navy is preparing to send a surface ship inside the 12-nautical-mile territorial limit China claims for its man-made island chain.”
It said that the operation “could take place within days but awaits final approval from the Obama administration.”
It didn’t say which of the eight islands that China occupies in the disputed waters of the South China Sea the U.S. Navy is testing the 12-nautical mile limit to underscore freedom of navigation in the disputed waters.
Update:A Chinese military official warned that that the People’s Liberation Army would deliver a “head-on blow” to any foreign forces “violating” China’s sovereignty. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/940258b2-7340-11e5-a129-3fcc4f641d98.html#axzz3ogWqjSe6
It is important to know where the U.S. ship would be going because of the eight features that China occupies and have expanded into islands, four are rocks and are entitled to 12 nautical mile territorial sea. They are Fiery Cross, Johnson Reef, Cuarteron Reef and Scarborough Shoal just off Zambales.
As a legislator, Joker Arroyo had millions of pesos at his disposal under the Priority Development Assistance Fund. Some of his colleagues disposed of their PDAF into their pockets with gusto.
Arroyo earned the reputation as “Scrooge” because of his low office expenditure. He maintained a very small staff.
I had been a recipient, however, of the generosity of the Congress’ “Scrooge.”
The findings of Pulse Asia’s survey on most urgent national concerns should be of interest to candidates in the 2016 elections.
Last month, Pulse Asia listed several national issues and asked 2,400 respondents nationwide to name three that the Aquino administration should act on.
They were also told to include other concerns that were not in the list.
The findings would be a helpful guide not only on how the candidates would conduct their campaign but also how they could chart their program of governance if they win.