Fighting Back

Last June 3, 2009, Leni and I were watching over ANC the proceedings in the Lower House. It was almost midnight but the session hall was still filled with Congressmen. If not for what they were up to, they should be commended for collectively working so hard far beyond their normal hours. (Who says that attendance and securing a quorum are problems that should beset the House?) But because of what they have done, they should be condemned for shamelessly conning us by approving HR 1109, the “Con Ass Resolution”, when almost no one was looking. The timing, the method and the process speaks for itself. The open ended resolution betrayed the underlying motives.

Obviously these Congressmen can not be shaken by public opinion.  From experience, they have sat on important bills, passed laws that are anti-people and railroaded proceedings, without regard on what the public will say. Time and again they have done so. But instead of being kicked out of office, they not only have been allowed to cling to their posts but in fact they have entrenched themselves and their families. They may be so unpopular nationally, but they know that in their jurisdictions they will be voted into office because of the pork they bring to their districts. For most of them, these have funded and will fund their elections. It is not surprising therefore to see some “principled” members of the House hitched on the “cha-cha train” after their share of the gravy were assured. The positions  they have taken and will take are consistent with their version of the “golden rule” . . . he who has the gold rules!

When Speaker Nograles mockingly said that our people now seem to be addicted to mass actions with the planned rallies slated against HR 1109, he is simply saying that he and his cohorts can not be swayed. As far as they are concerned, as long as the constituents in their respective district votes for them, to hell with public opinion. They are not concerned with what is right or wrong. They are not interested on what the people think. They are just after the votes by foul or fair means.

In other words, it is only the language of votes that they will listen to. No morality plays or shaming execises can return them to their senses. We need to campaign to their constituents that they should not be voted to office again. Otherwise they will  continue conning us. We can begin with all the institutions and organizations which denounced HR 1109. The church, business and civil society groups must learn from the lessons of the past. They must not only denounced “Con Ass”. They must also ask the members of their groups not to vote for the “Con Ass Congressmen” and likewise campaign against them. In denouncing “Con Ass”, I will tell everyone who  cares to listen that we not should vote for the Congressmen who believes that they can simply get away with this again. When they seek our vote, offer us money and gifts, we do not need to refuse them. We will lull them into complacency. After conning us for a long time, it is now our turn to con them! Let us make them lose in the next elections.

Boys Scouting

Noong  nasa grade school pa lang ako, isa sa mga pinakamasaya kong karanasan ay ng sumapi ako sa Boys Scout. Natuto kami ng first-aid, lumangoy at magsaing. Tinuruan din kami ng mga wastong asal at ugali. Palagay ko malaking bahagi ng aking mga paniwala, paninindigan at pananaw ngayon ay dala ng aking  pinagdaaanan sa scouting. Maari ko ngang sabihin na kung purong Boys Scout pa rin ako hanggang ngayon, malamang na mas pakikinabangan  ng aming lungsod ang kakayahan at kapangyarihan na pinagkatiwala niya sa akin. Isang panghabang buhay na sukatan ang mga prinsipyo ng scouting. Mananatiling hamon ang pagsabuhay nito.

Noong martes, ginanap ang BSP National Council Meeting sa Zamboanga City. Bilang Chairman, tinanggap ko para sa Naga City Council ang award bilang isa sa mga mahuhusay na council sa Pilipinas. Malaking karangalan ito sa amin lalo na dahil hindi  pa naman katagalan na nabuo ang Naga City BSP Council. Sa aking pagnanais na mabigyan na tamang pansin ang scouting, hiniling ko na magkaroon na ng hiwalay na Council na ang Naga City. Palagay ko, pinatunayan ng mga tagumpay na natamo niya na dapat nga lang ng sariling konseho ang Naga City.

Si Mayor Jojo Binay ang Pangulo ngayon. Subali‘t ang mga nasa magkabilang panig sa larangan ng pulitika ay nandoon din. Nandoon si dating Governor Obet Pangdangan, Governor Victor Yap, Cong. Del de Guzman, Mayor Lawrence Cruz, Mayor Celso Lobregat, Vice-Governor David Ponce de Leon, dating Cong. Jun Aniag, Mayor Corvera, Mayor Guiam, Mayor Ona at marami pa iba. Iba’t ibang partido, makatunggali sa pulitika nguni’t nagkakaunawaan sa Boys Scouting. Iba’t ibang partido, iba’t ibang pinagdaanan, nagkaisa lahat sa scouting. Dating may mga tungkulin, wala na sa tungkulin, Boys Scout pa rin. Lahat, nais na maging bahagi sa paghubog ng hinaharap ng mga bata at kabataang Pilipino. Kung bigo man tayo sa pangkasulukuyang henerasyon, umaasang maisasaayos ang susunod sa pagtaguyod ng scouting sa kanya kanyang lugar.

Maraming hamon ang hinaharap ng scouting. Ayon sa kanyang pamunuan, bumaba ang membership mula sa pinamataas na bilang na 3 milyon sa kasalukuyan 1.6 milyon na lang. Dala ito ng “no-collection policy” ng DepEd. Mabuti man o hindi ang patakarang ito, kailangang maghanap ng ibang paraan kung paano mabibigyan ang lahat ng pagkakataon na sumapi at lumahok sa scouting. Kailangan mabigyan ng pagkakataon ang lahat ng mga bata — mahirap man o mayaman na maranasan niya ang maging Boys Scout (o Girls Scout).

Dito sa Naga, hihimukin namin ang mga my kakayahan na tumulong at magkontribusyon. Isasalang namin ang isang batas na ang mga negosyante ay may taunang kontribusyon sa Boys Scout at sa Girls Scout. Hindi kalakihang halaga subali’t magbibigay saysay sa pananaw na dapat kasama lahat sa tamang paghubog ng mga bata sa aming lugar. Katulad sa national council, maaring ito ang daan na magkaisa lahat sa lokal. Isang simulain na makakapagbago ng ugali sa susunod na henerasyon. Dapat pag-ibayuhin natin ang mga bagay na nagbibigay daan na magkaisa. Kung di man sa pulitika sa scouting na lang!