Living in the City

The Reproductive Health Bill must be passed. It is long overdue. PNoy must stand pat his position. Couples must be given the choice to choose what family planning method is applicable to their needs. Whether it is  natural method  or  artificial, every family must be given the right the right to choose what they need, without the threat of ex-communicationit. Fact is the Philippines must curb its population growth rate. Reasons are pretty obvious - the country's resources are no longer sustainable because there's too many mouths to feed, not to mention problems with sanitation , health  and housing needs.

Usec Rico Puno Revisited The new government of PNoy carries the burden of Usec Rico Puno's  alleged  involvement with government wrongdoings.  First, with the recent hostage taking fiasco double whammying with jueteng payola. But as I post this, I hear over the radio that Senate President Enrile says everything revealed by ArchBishop's list is hearsay... that the Senate is no longer interested in investigating the personalities. For his part Usec Puno is said to be filing his courtesy resignation as soon as PNoy comes back from his US trip. Along with so many people, we ask.. why not irrevocable resignation.

What's with these PNoy boys? Blabbering things they don't realize might hurt Noynoy and his Presidency. Hear USEC Rico Puno say that as early as 2:00 PM PNoy was suggesting  that maybe he should go and talk to hostage taker, Mendoza to warn  him of the damage he was causing. But was  prevailed upon. Reason - protocol.. har Why does he need to say these? What good will it do? Does it help clear things up? Or do exactly otherwise? And what's with Sec Robredo? It's said that he accepted the DILG post on the condition that he will just take on the local government part alone. Does one accept a cabinet post to do only the things one wants to do?  I think for the country's sake they both should go.

 News Overshadowed by Luneta Grandstand Hostage Crisis The hostage crisis situation dominated the news headlines in the last 8 days. As a result, equally important issues took a back seat: Worsening dengue situation - said to have increased by 75% this year. Calling DOH. Ampatuan Massacre - postponements that seem to delay the early conviction of those who will be found guilty. Human rights violation again,  allegedly committed by Manila policemen Hide and Ply strategy of colorum buses with  EDSA routes   Continuous media campaign to support the government's plans to address possible flood crisis situation during the remaining typhoon season. Mismanagement of gov't funds by GOCC's.. after current Senate investigation,  what now?

Luneta Hostage Taking  Tragedy Damage Control Secretary Leila de Lima is now the top point person  to resolve  the  Luneta  hostage crisis problem. Perhaps, the government noticed that  investigators  were churning out oxymoronic statements regarding their respective investigative actions. As her initial action Sec De Lima ordered everyone to shut up.   The point is all this government needs to do is to provide the  facts. What happened? From whose guns  did the fatal bullets come from? Who ordered what? What procedures were not followed? Protocols violated? Rights violated? Does the PNP  have an existing plan to handle hostage or terrorist actions? Who failed to do his job? Or their jobs? What happens to these people?  No whitewash please.. no sweeping under the rug.. So when do we expect the results to be released? Timeline please.

Change is Inevitable In six months I will be entering a new phase in my adult life. I am so excited but at the same time anxious at the  prospect of change.. the happiness it would bring  affecting directly the parties concerned. I want to pleasantly imagine  how that difference would allow them to move a notch a higher or "step-up" in the ladders of their lives. All I can say for now is that with God's grace, " times are changed as we are changed by time." Good luck to all of us... Let's all drink to happiness :-) Cheers.

Notes from the Senate Hearings on the Luneta Grandstand Hostage Taking Snippets of information I gathered from the Senate hearings on the Luneta Hostage Crisis Fiasco: 1. Gen Magtibay as the ground commander had the power to use the more experienced RSAF which was at that time at his disposal, to address the crisis. He did not. Instead it was his judgment call to stick with his MPD SWAT team because of the team's assurance that they can do it. 2. The SWAT team were not properly equipped to execute the assault, despite the fact that they already practiced it's execution. 3. The assualt was launched because the ground commander believed the escaped driver's statement that the hostages were already killed by the hostage taker. 4. It was Mayor Lim who ordered the arrest of the hostage taker's brother. 5. The hostage taker's M16 is really a loose firearm because he had no authority to carry one. 6. Per the SWAT Team leader's statement, 8-12 rounds of ...