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HUNYO 10, 2016 VOL 3 NO 7

Tsina naghahain ng
bitag sa Pilipinas
ayon sa Eksperto
TAPAT SA BALITA..

TAPAT SA BUHAY

|BALITA pahina 2

GMA matunog
na palalayain!
|SPORTS page 7

Back in Staples:
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balita

HUNYO 10, 2016

GMA matunog na palalayain! Tsina naghahain ng

bitag sa Pilipinas
ayon sa Eksperto

Naging maugong ang usapan

nitong Martes na malapit
nang magdesisyon ang Korte
Suprema kung palalayain
si dating Pangulong Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo. Ito ay
matapos ipahayag ni Pangulong
Rodrigo
Duterte
noong
nakaraang Mayo na nais niyang
bigyan ng pardon si Arroyo.
Noong
taong
2012
inakusahan ng kasong plunder
si ginang Arroyo sa diumanoy
maanumalyang
paggastos
ng P365 milyong pondo ng
Philippine Charity Sweepstakes
Office (PCSO).
Ayon naman kay Quezon

Rep. Danilo Suarez malapit

na
kaibigan
ni
dating
pangulong Arroyo, kanyang
imumungkahi kay Pangulong
Duterte na maging Chairman
ng Committee on Economic
Affairs o kaya Trade and
Industry si Arroyo sakaling
tuluyang mapalaya ito. Sa
tanong kay Suarez kung
malapit na nga na mapalaya
si Arroyo, Im praying, sana
naman, ani Suarez.
Hindi kaila sa karamihan na
itinalaga ni dating pangulong
Arroyo ang kasalukuyang
pangulong ng bansa, si Duterte
na anti-crime adviser noong

nakaupo pa si Arroyo sa
Malakanyang bilang pangulo.
Matatandaang
naging
maingay ang social media
sa pangambang tinatrabaho
ang paglaya ni Arroyo sa
pamamagitan ni Duterte
tatlong araw bago ang halalan
matapos kumalat ang larawan
ni Salvador Panelo pribadong
abogado ni Arroyo. Sa naturang
larawan makikita si Arroyo
na noon ay nagdidiwang ng
kanyang kaarawan kasama
si Panelo. Si Panelo ang
kasalukuyang spokesperson ni
Pangulong Duterte. (Clarissa
de Leon)

Manila Tila naghahain ng

bitag ang Tsina sa Pilipinas
ayon kay Ernest Bower,
chairman ng Southeast Asia
Program of the Center for
Strategic and International
Studies. Kailangan mag-ingat
ang Pilipinas sa kagustuhan ng
Tsina ng bilateral talks taliwas
sa kagustuhan ng Pilipinas
na daanin sa International
Arbitrary Court ang isyung
reclamation activities sa mga
isla na nasa West Philippine Sea
(WPS). Tinutulak ng Tsina ang
Pilipinas na daanin sa bilateral
talks ang isyu ito habang
kasalukuyang nang papalapit
ang desisyon ng Permanent
Court of Arbitration sa The
Hague ang kontrobersyal na
pang-aangkin ng Tsina sa 9dash line.
Sa forum na ginanap sa
National Defense College of
the Philippines (NDCP) sa
Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon
City, pinagdiinan ni Bower
na maging mapagtanto ang
Manila sa mga tactics ng
Beijing. Sa mga ikinikilos
ng Beijing maaaring masira
ang Pilipinas sa international
community. Sa pagkakataon
na umurong o mag-iba ng
posisyon ang Pilipinas.
Ayon pa kay Bower The
Philippines has made a
commitment to its people and to
the region to follow a principled
approach. If the Philippines
pursued bilateral negotiation
with China that ignored its
commitment, then all the
investments put into the arbitral
case would be in vain, because it
would undercut that commitment
to the ASEAN (Association of
Southeast Nations) and then
the commitment to the Code
of Conduct in the South China
Sea.
Maaring magbago ang geopolitical balance sa rehiyon

at magkaroon ng realignment
of alliances pag nagbago ng
posisyon ang Pilipinas at
paboran ang bilateral talks sa
Tsina.
Ang
agresibong
pagbuild-up ng Tsina ng mga
military facilities sa mga
pinag-aagawang isla sa WPS
ay sinasabing labag sa 1992
Code of Conduct of Parties
(1992 CCP) na pinirmahan
ng Tsina kasama ang iba pang
claimants tulad ng Philippines,
Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia,
and Brunei. Ayon pa din 1992
CCP hindi gagawing military
zone ang nasabing mga isla.
Sinabi pa rin ni Bower na
magdudulot ng negatibo
epekto sa bansa ang bilateral
talks: I think the Philippines
would lose respect to its
partners in Asia and certainly
the United States would
be, I would say, extremely
disappointed.
wSi Bower ay kasama sa
panel of reactors sa forum na
Asia-Pacific Perspectives in
implementing the Enhanced
Defense
Cooperation
Agreement (EDCA): Insights
on the Bilateral Security
Dialogue na binuo ng Albert
del Rosario Institute.
Samantala
nagpahayag
si President-elect Rodrigo
Duterte na sakaling pumasok
ang Pilipinas sa bilateral talks
sa Tsina hindi ibig sabihin na
isu-surrender ng Pilipinas ang
mga isla sa WPS na ginawang
military facility ng Tsina at
kailanman hindi pabor ang
Pilipinas ditto.
Mas makabubuti sa Pilipinas
at sa buong rehiyon kung
hihimukin ng Pilipinas na
galangin ng Tsina ang 1992
Code of Conduct of Parties at
tuluyan nang bitawan nito ang
kanyang 9-dash line claim.
(Michael Sebastian)

HUNYO 10, 2016

balita

Duterte pinapanalo
ng mga mayayaman

Sa pagtatapos ng deadline
ng Commission of Elections
(Comelec) nitong Hunyo
8 sa pagsusumite ng mga
kandidato
sa
nakaraang
halalan ng kani-kanilang
Statement of Contributions
and Expenditures (SOCE)
lumalabas na mga mayayamang
negosyante ang nasa likod sa
pagkapanalo
ni Pangulong
Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
Ayon sa Comelec, hindi
man pinakamalaki umabot
naman sa humigit kumulang
P375,009,474.90
milyong
piso ang ginastos ng kampo
ni Duterte sa kanyang
kampanya upang masungkit
ang pinakamataas na pwesto sa
bansa.
Karamihan diumano sa
mga nagpondo sa kampanya
ni Dutere ang mga kilalang at
mayayamang negosyante mula
sa Davao kabilang sina Rep.
Antonio R. Floirendo, Jr. ng
Davao del Norte nag nagbigay
ng pinakamalaking halaga na
umabot sa 20% ng kabuuang
halaga
o
P75,000,000.

milyong piso. Si Floirendo

ay kasalukuyang chairman
ng Anflo Management and
Investment
Corporation
(ANFLOCOR)
na
nasa
negosyong agrikultura na ang
pinakamalaki produkto ay
saging at operasyon ng port
terminal containers at radio
station, housing, at trucking
business.
Sina Samuel Uy ng Davao
Farms and Davao Import
Distributors Incorporated ay
nagbigay ng Php 30,000,000.
Si Bienvenido F. Tan naman ay
nagbigay din ng P20,000,000.
Samantala sina Nicasio, I.
Alcantara at Tomas I. Alcantara
ng
Alsons
Consolidated
Resources ay nagbigay ng
P16,000,000 at P12,000,000.
Ang
Phoenix Petroleum
Philippines sa pangunguna ni
Dennis A. Uy ay nagbigay ng
P2,000,000. Limang milyong
piso naman ang binigay ni
Cherylyn C. Uy ng Chelsea
Shipping Corporation at si
Lorenzo Te ng Honda Cars
Davao ay P30,000,000.

Kabilang din sa nagbahagi

ng pondo ay sina Carlos G.
Dominguez na nagbigay ng
P2,300,000. Si Dominguez
ay
ang bagong Secretary
of Finance at ang bagong
Executive Secretary Salvador
C. Medialdea sa halagang
P500,000. Maging si Senador
Alan Peter S. Cayetano ay
nagbahagi ng P72,100,000.
Samantala si Senador Grace
Poe ay may pinakamalaking
ginastos sa pangangampanya
sa halagang P510.84 milyong
piso. Sumusunod ang pambato
ng administrasyong Aquino
na si Manuel Mar Roxas na
hindi umabot ng pagsusumite
ng SOCE sa deadline ng
Comelec.
Nagpahiwatig naman ng
pagkabahala sa social media
ang ilang mga mamamayan
ng Davao maging sa ilan pang
mga lugar sa Pilipinas na baka
mauwi lamang sa bayad utang
ang pinangakong pagbabago sa
loob ng tatlo hanggang anim
na buwan ng nanalong pangulo
ng bansa. (Mark Silva)

Balik-Eskuwela
ng Simbahan,
pantulong sa
child labor sa
bansa

Laganap pa rin ang child labor

sa mga plantasyon partikular
na sa malalayong komunidad.
Ayon kay Sr. Emelina
Villegas,
miyembro
ng
Ecumenical Institute for Labor
Education and Research Inc.,
base sa kanilang pag-aaral,
isa ang Palm Oil Industry sa
maraming manggagawa na
pawang mga kabataan na edad
17 taong-gulang at pababa na
matatagpuan sa Agusan.
Sa panayam kay Sr. Villegas
nasa Agusan ang may
pinakamalaking bilang ng child
labor sa bansa. Sa aming pagaaral may tendency [lumawak],
pero
mahirap
pag-aralan
ang child labor statistically.
Napakahirap kasi mamanumanuhin mo yan, mahalaga
ang datus na nakukuha namin
dumarami siya ( child laborers)
hindi lang sa city o center kundi
malakas din sa mga plantasyon,
sa mga hacienda. Sa research
na ginagawa namin tungkol sa
palm oil industry sa Mindanao,
natuklasan naming na ang mga
manggawa dun ay 17 years old
and below. Sila ang sumsungkit
ng mga bunga ng palm oil o
nganga. Kaibahan niya (palm
oil-tree) may tinik ito. Sila ang
umaakyat at yumuyugyog para
mahulog ang mga bunga; sila
ang naghahatak, nagkakasugatsugat ang kanilang mga kamay,
paa at braso kasi nga matinik
ito, at natuklasan namin ang
pinakamalaking palm oil
plantation ay nasa Agusan,
pahayag ni Sr. Villegas sa
panayam ng Radyo Veritas.

Pahayag
ng
madre,
nakalulunos ang kalagayan ng
mga batang manggagawa dahil
sa bukod sa hirap ang kanilang
katawan, sumasahod lamang
sila ng Php100 hanggang
Php200 kada araw na
malayong-malayo sa minimum
na sahod na Php481 provincial
rate.
Nakakalungkot, mahirap
na, maliit pa ang sahod nila.
Hindi umaabot sa minimum,
Php 200 or minsan Php100 a
day lang. ayon kay Sr. Villegas.
Dahil dito gumawa ng paraan
ang samahan kayat nagkaroon
sila ng Balik-Eskuwela Program
upang makapag-aral ang mga
batang ito.
Mga dropout ang mga ito,
kaya may isang project ang
labor ecumenical, nagkaroon
sila ng Balik Eskuwela, yung
mga 17 years old o 10 years
old and above nakapag-umpisa
ng pag-aaral, nagkaroon sila
ng espesyal na pag-aaral at
na-validate kung anong grade
na sila pwedeng ilagay. Sa
Bukidnon at sa Agusan meron
doon balik eskuwela.It has
been going on for three years
at na-validate nila ang edad ng
mga bata, nalagay sila sa Grade
5-6 o high school, ayon pa
kay Sr. Villegas.
Sa ulat ng Philippine
Statistics Authority (PSA)
Survey on children noong
2012, nasa 5.4 milyon ang
child labor sa bansa na may
gulang lima hanggang 17
taon kung saan 29.6 percent
nagmula sa Mindanao. (RV)

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editoryal

HUNYO 10, 2016

VIEWS AND POINTS

OSCAR V. CRUZ

Personalism and democracy

Editoryal

Pederalismo pabor lamang sa political dynasties

Marami sa atin ang umaasa
sa pagbabagong pinangako ni
pangulong Rodrigo Duterte
lalo na ang mga kababayan
natin mula sa mga probinsya.
Layunin ng pangulo ang
itulak
ang
pederalismo
sa bansa na diumano ay
magbibigay ng pagkakataon
sa mga probinsya na lumago.
Sinasabing sa kasalukuyan,
umaasa lamang ang mga
probinsya kung maipapasa
sa national level ang mga
proyektong minumungkahi.
Ito daw diumano ang dahilan
kung bakit napapag-iwanan
ang mga probinsya at tuluyang
nakikinabang lamang ang
Maynila. Tama ang ganitong
pananaw, ngunit solusyon nga
ba ang pederalismo?
Nakakaligtaan natin na sa
tuwing may mga proyekto sa
Maynila man o sa probinsya,
patuloy
ang
kurapsyon.
Hindi nangangahulugang sa
pagpapatupad ng pederalismo
sa bansa ay maiiwasan na
ang pagnanakaw sa kaban
ng bayan bagkus malaki ang
tsansa na lalo pang lumawak
ang kurapsyon. Ito dahil
sa ilalim ng pederalismo,
mananatili sa puwesto ang
mga pamilyang kungdi man
taon ay deka-dekada nang

nakaupo sa puwesto. Ang

pondo ay hindi na kailangan
pang pagtalunan sa national
kungdi ito ay manggagaling
na sa nalikom ng probinsya
at magiging desisyon na ng
mga nakaupo sa regional o
mga probinsya. Sila na rin
mismo ang magpapatupad
ng mga proyekto sa kanilang
nasasakupan. Maganda sana
ito. Subalit kapag ganito ang
nangyari sa
kasalukuyang
kultura ng Pilipino na nakaw
dito nakaw doon, malamang
imbes na lumago ang mga
probinsya ay mas mauunang
lalago ang mga bulsa ng mga
hoodlum na mga pamilyang
matagal nang nakaupo sa
puwesto at salit-salitan na
lamang sa kapangyarihan.
Kaya rin siguro hindi
pabor si Pangulong Duterte
sa Anti-Political Dynasty Bill
ay dahil nga ang kanyang
pamilya mismo ay tatamaan
nito. Nabanggit niya ang
kangyang pagtutol noong
panahon ng pangangampanya
na siya ring nagpalakas sa
kanyang kampanya dahil
pulu-pulotong na pamilyang
dinastiya ang nagpahayag ng
suporta sa kanyang pahayag na
pagpabor sa political dynasty.
Isa pang nakababahala ang

pagiging autonomus ng
judicial system. Ibig sabihin
sa ilalim ng pederalismo
magkakaroon ng sariling
pamamalakad
ang
mga
gobyerno
ng
probinsya.
Delikado ito lalo na sa mga
mamamahayag kung ang isang
probinsya ay magpapanukala
ng pagkikitil sa kalayaang
mamahayag ng balita. Kailan
lamang, naging masalimuot
ang relasyon ng midya at ni
Duterte. Una na ang pahayag
ng pangulo na deserving o
nararapat mapatay ang mga
tiwali sa midya. Madali ito
kung ang kaugnay na batas ay
madaling maipapasa sa mga
probinsya.
Ang pagbabago ay may
nararapat lamang na may
kaakibat na pagpapahalaga
sa dignidad ng bawat tao.
Kawawa naman ang ating mga
kababayan na napipilitang
kumapit sa patalim dala
ng kahirapan. Wala pang
pagkakataon sa patas na
paglilitis, mapapatawan pa
ng
parusang
kamatayan.
Hindi ito maituturing na
tunay na pagbabago kungdi
panunumbalik lamang ng
pasusupil. Gaya na lamang
nuong panahon ng batas
militar.

AS values usually stand for

what is proper and correct,
what is right and worthwhile,
what is ideal and the like, people should be vigilant and careful lest their value system become but ego-centered. These
are the times that seem to promote if not actually affirm the
social liability of personalism
in what is right or wrong, what
is virtue or viceparticularly
in the sphere of governance
anchored on egoism. Whereas
such downright egoism would
readily and eventually promote
if not even facilitate socio-political disorder in terms of individuals and/or groups thereof
simply doing what they please,
a supposedly democratic government would find it really
hard if not practically impossible to work for the common
good, for the public welfare of
society in generalprecisely
under such a personalistic or
egoistic orientation in the local/
national level of governance anchored on egoism.
Democracy and self-discipline are not contradictory. True
freedom and proper regulations
are not mutually exclusive. In
other words, without discipline,
democracy becomes a moral
difficulty if not a downright
political impossibility. There is,
however, a big difference between the freedom upheld and
promoted by true democracy
vis--vis relativism subscribed
to and justified by liberalism
which considers objective truths
as inimical even to what is true,
right, and proper. The truth is

that freedom promotes choice

such that there is even the reality
known as Freedom of Choice.
So it is that there is really no objective ethical and moral choice
between what is virtuous and
what is vicious, what is democratic and what is tyrannical.
In a democratic system of government, political authority is
accountable to the people. Such
accountability is by virtue of the
free election of those holding
accountable public authority. So
it is thatwhen eventually perceived and actually proven incapable of heading a democratic
leadershipdespotic public authority are ultimately dismissed
from office in due time by the
people themselves through
subsequent uprising if not free
elections. As it is correctly said,
some individuals can fool some
people some of the timebut
definitely not all people at the
same time.
To make civil life proceed
well in its over-all course towards truth and justice, peace,
and developmentsuch is the
over-all commitment of those
elected by the people to public offices in a true, actual, and
lasting democracy. And those
thus representing the people in
general are held accountable to
the same people that gave them
their respective elective public
authority in a democratic government. This, however, in no
way means that public officials
may just remain passive agents,
indolent individuals, laid back
characters. The said officials
should then have the freedom
- page 6

AREOPAGUS COMMUNICATIONS INC.

Publisher
RAYMOND BANDRIL
Editor in Chief
FRANCES ORTIGAS
Layout Artist
GLADYS BANDRIL
Marketing Director

Tapat is published every other Friday by

Areopagus Communications Inc.,
with business address at
1111 F.R. Hidalgo St., Quiapo, Manila
You can reach us through the following:
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Mobile # 09988584415 / 09333697915
09064594696 / 09988993498

Email:

tapatnews@areopaguscommunications.com
Website: www.tapatnews.com
All rights reserved 2016

opinyon

HUNYO 10, 2016

CANDIDLY SPEAKING

#sarisari

Fr. Roy Cimagala

Prof. Michael Trias - Ang

PAGBABAGO?
Ang pagbabago ay nagsisimula
sa sarili. Matagal na nating
naririnig ito. Hindi maaaring
magkaroon ng pagbabago kung
ang mismong nagsusulong
nito ay hindi kayang baguhin
ang kanyang nakayayamot na
bibig. Sabi nga nila, practice
what you preach.
***
Maraming nang pinagdaanang
pagsubok at kritisismo ang
Simbahang Katolika kung
pagbabatayan ang Kasaysayan.
Ngunit nagpatuloy pa rin ang
buhay nito sa gabay ng Poong
Maykapal. Tama ang naging
desisyon ng ilang obispo na
huwag nang patulan ang mga
patutsada ng isang hambog na
pinuno. Magdasal na lang tayo
mga kapatid.
***
Araw-araw ay nababalitaan
natin ang mga nahuhuling

tulak ng droga. Ito ba ay

magtutuloy-tuloy na o isa
lamang
itong
malaking
palabas at papogi lamang?
Nalalambat ba talaga ang
mga malalaking isda? O ang
mga malalaking isdang ito ay
protektado ng mga tiwali sa
ating pamahalaan? Maraming
buhay ang sinisira pa rin ng
ipinagbabawal na gamot.

Kumusta na kaya ang mga

talunan noong nakaraang
halalan?
Puwede
naman
nilang pagsilbihan ang bayan
kahit wala sila sa puwesto.
O ampalaya mode sila
ngayon? Ganyan talaga ang
isang demokrasya. At mahirap
baguhin ang naitadhana na.

***
May isang lider na humihingi
ng pang-unawa sa paraan ng
kanyang pagsasalita at kahit
ang kanyang lantaran na
pagmumura. Pinipilit ng midya
na intindihin siya ngunit alam
natin na hindi umiikot ang
mundo sa isang tao lamang.
Sino ba siya? Walang puwang
ang mga bastos sa isang disente
at sibilisado na lipunan.
***

Ano kaya ang magiging papel

ni VP-elect Leni Robredo?
Maiaangat kaya talaga niya
ang mga nasa laylayan? O
siya mismo ay mapupunta sa
laylayan ng kapangyarihan?
Sa ngayon, wala pa siyang
kagawaran o ahensya ng
gobyerno na pamumunuan.
Sayang naman ang higit
sa 14 milyon na nagtiwala
sa kanyang kakayahan at
katapatan sa bayan.

vis--vis educational standards

an example is the 2-year gap
in basic education. Meaning, as
competitive as we may be in the
international scene, a nursing
graduate would be assigned as a
nursing assistant, an engineering
graduate
an
engineering
technologist, a teacher a teacheraide, and so on.
Thus the call for K-12 was too
loud to be ignored. The National
Employees Union (NEU) of
the Department of Education
(DepEd) stressed that K-12 is
not only a timely intervention,
but a necessary move to improve
the Philippine basic education
system which would cater
to
international
education
standards. And these are not just
standards that apply to richest
countries like Singapore and
Japan, but also to the poorest

ITS amazing that even as Christ was already talking about

his impending passion, death, and resurrection, two of his
apostles, James and John, were more interested in occupying special places in heaventhat they may sit one at your
right and the other at your left. (cfr. Mk 10, 32-45)
This elicited a sharp rebuke from Christ and the clarification that whoever wishes to be first among you will be the
slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served
but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Before saying those words, he told them: You know that
those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it
over them, and their great ones make their authority over
them felt. But it shall not be so among you.
These words are a timely reminder for all of us, and especially our newly-elected public officials, who wield a certain
authority over others due to our position and status in life.
They clearly spell out how our attitude should be with respect to power and authority that we can have.
Power and authority is meant for serving. To serve is the
language and the expression of love. It authenticates any affirmation of love we do, converting it from intention to tangible reality.
This is the attitude meant for us, with God himself as the
exemplar. Imagine, Christ served us by dying on the cross.
Before that, he shocked his apostles when he insisted that he
be allowed to wash their feet. That was to give an example to
them, and us, so that what he did we would also do to one
another.
The angels too, superior to us in nature, are made to serve
us, following a divine law articulated by Christ himself when
he said: Let him who is greatest among you become as the
youngest, and him who is the chief as the servant. (Lk
22,26)
We need to be more keenly aware of this law. This is truly
what is good for us, providing us with the basic source of
strength and consistency we need as we grapple with lifes
endless challenges.
Before we worry about the big and destructive enemies
of our soul, we have to realize that our most insidious foe is
right within us, when this attitude of serving others is not
firmly established in our mind and heart.
That it was James and John who made that questionable
request only shows how easy it is for us who try to be close
to God to fall for the tricks of our souls enemies.
They most likely were motivated by the best intentions.
Still, those intentions were wrong. Like them, we could be
subjectively loving, but objectively not so. Thus, the need to
constantly rectify our intentions.
It is this missing attitude of wanting to serve in each one of
us that sooner or later grows into social and cultural proportions, then into something global with ideological supporting structures, that offers the seed, sun, and water for the big
enemies we have against our spiritual life.
The absence of this attitude nullifies whatever big and ardent professions of love we may have toward God and others. Our desire to love could not soar into the flight of authentic love when this eagerness to serve is absent.

- page 6

page 6

***

MILLENIAL FALCON
Jumarvin Ridulfa

K-12: Change has Come

The Education Act of 2013
(Republic Act 10533) known
as K-12, is one of the few
bills passed in congress that is
still a hot topic as of writing.
Ever since its ratification last
May 2013 coalesced with the
nationwide rollout of the Senior
High School (SHS) this year,
the majority of the Philippine
populace continues to be
underwater as to its effects to the
future of the quality of education
in the country.
An average Filipino, if dared
and asked what he/she thinks of
K-12, would probably just answer
just money problems and in
an extent, it undoubtedly is. But
beyond the financial standing of
our less fortunate brothers and
sisters: What, really, is K-12?
How will it help the educational
landscape of the country?
The primary rationale behind

the implementation of K-12 is

the Philippines membership
in the ASEAN region. ASEAN
Integration 2015 is the catalyst
in the reform of the educational
landscape in the country. Prior
to its passage, the Philippines
is the only country in the
ASEAN region and one of the
three remaining countries in
the world, with a 10-year basic
education cycle.
According to Isagani R.
Cruz, President of The Manila
Times College and former
Undersecretary of the Philippine
Department of Education, it
is significant to consider that
albeit Filipino professionals
and workers presently benefit
from demonstrated work ethic
and communication facility,
they are still being devalued
compared to their ASEAN/
foreign counterparts due to gaps

The fundamental attitude

to serve

HUNYO 10, 2016

K-12: Change .... from page 5

countries which, in an essence, want to give their youth the ammunition they need to
survive the employment bloodbath.
Expanding the years of basic education from 10 to 12, public high school graduates
become qualified even for the most basic jobs as one of the goals of the K-12
program is to broaden the goals of high school education for college preparation,
vocational and technical career opportunities as well as creative sports, sports and
entrepreneurial employment in a rapidly changing and increasingly globalized
environment. With K-12 comes a more competent labor force in the country, in
turn, giving an edge to hurdle the challenges of assuring quality human capital that
competes with the rest of the ASEAN region.
With its implementation, Filipino graduates will be unquestionably recognized as
professionals abroad due to pursuing international educational standards practiced by
all nations. There is no doubt that a financial misery is happening because of K-12, but
in reality, it gives more than it takes: the need to study again in order to be up to par
with foreign standards become non-existent. With K-12, Filipinos who yearn to strive
abroad will not anymore have a difficult time getting a career in their chosen field.
Education, as it stands and always stood, is still the light at the end of the tunnel,
the path to better opportunities and to a better life. K-12 serves as a testament to the
bright future of the quality of education in the Philippines, whether the majority of
the population agrees with it or not. It puts the Philippines on a pedestal it deserves
never to be ignored, or taken away.

Personalism.... from page 4

to fulfill their mandate generally in terms of knowing and working for the common
good of the people, whereas public offices are categorically intended for public service
in favor of the common good.
So it is thus provided: The Philippines is a democratic and republican State.
Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them.
(1987 Phil. Constitution, Art. II, Sec. 1) So it is that in the context of the above provision, personalism, egoism, individualism in government are the enemies of people
living in a democratic country.

The fundamental.... from page 4

Any attempt to love with this attitude not in place would be plain mimickry.
It would attract many problems and anomalies. It will drown in the quicksands
of pride, vanity, envy, jealousy, and the other subtle forms of egoism. It cannot
survive the mere tests of differences of characters and opinions, for example.
This eagerness to serve really has to be worked out, because with our fallen
and wounded nature, every pore of our being tends to go against the law of love
expressed in service that God meant for us.
We need to pause and reflect to get a clear view of our predicament, then beg
and pray for Gods grace for we can do nothing without it, and then little by little, day by day, start to develop the mind and the skills to bring us always ready
and happy to serve.
Let us remember that the fall of the angels started when one of them said, I
will not serve. Our first parents fell because they too chose to serve themselves
instead of God.
Every sin and moral evil has in its core the virus of not wanting to serve. And
so, perhaps as a motto that we can repeat often, we should say to ourselves, and
to God and all: Serviam I will serve!

HUNYO 10, 2016

feature

Back in Staples: Luke Walton to coach the

Lakers after 2015-2016 season
After a disastrous 17-65 record, and
a cellar-dealing season in the NBAs
Western Conference, the Los Angeles
Lakers cut ties with their head coach
Byron Scott.
The team made quick arrangements
to start their rebuilding process in the
post Kobe Bryant-era, as they hired
former forward and current Golden
State Assistant Coach Luke Walton to
patron the sides in the next season.
Walton was part of the back-to-back
championship years of the Lakers in
2009 and 2010. Moreover, he led the
2015-2016 Warriors to a 39-4 start in
this year after being an interim coach
while Steve Kerr was out.
In an interview with ESPN, Waltons
decision had to come hard as he were
to part ways with the record-setting
Warriors, the best regular season team
in NBA History.
It was a tough decision, but I didnt
have to sleep on it because I already
kind of thought it out. Obviously, I
love the past two years, the players here
are incredible, not just talent-wise, but
the people they are. I love the coaching
staff I work with here said the 10-year
NBA veteran.
Walton expressed on how things
turned out quickly in what will be his
new post for the 2016 season saying Its
obviously tough to leave this(Warriors)
but its definitely an opportunity not to
pass out on. The fact that I played for
the Lakers, and Im part of that family.
Before I took this job, I watched Laker
games and its nice to help rebuild what
we used to have there.
In addition, he believes that the
team can turn it around with a core of
young talented players which include
Fil-Am Jordan Clarkson and two former lottery picks in Julius Randle and
DAngelo Russell. The Lakers are projected to land at least a top 3 pick in the
upcoming 2016 draft, which they can
use on landing big names like Ben Simmons, Buddy Hield, Brandon Ingram
and Dragan Bender.
For the meantime, Walton is still
part of the defending NBA champs
Warriors and are in stride and locked in
to try and capture another NBA Title.
(Jan Gonzales )

Luke Walton ang magiging coach

ng LA Lakers pagkatapos ng NBA
2015 - 2016 season

HUNYO 10, 2016

What Really Is Separation Of Church And State?

Whenever the Church opposes government
policies or initiatives to legalize anti-Gospel laws, politicians, editorials - opinionmakers are quick to denounce Church
interference in State affairs nakikialam
na naman and Simbahan is the common
complaint. Media is quick to portray the
Church as meddlesome medieval institution that is out-of-touch with the times.
Some critics assume a moral stance by
quoting Scripture, Render to Caesar what
is Caesars and to God what is Gods.
Teaching the Church Scripture has got
to be the height of conceit. Are politicians
and media Bible experts now? If the Bible is
taken out of context then it is pretext, this
takes the cake: highlighting Caesars rights
and totally ignoring Gods! Vox populi, vox
Dei. Wrong! Gods world is not a democracy, but a theocracy where His Word is law.
His voice should be the peoples voice. The
State needs His guiding voice to enact laws
that make for true democracy. Temporal
matters are not absolute State domain.
The Church as custodian of Truth and
entrusted with a prophetic mission has
every right to pass moral judgements even
in matters related to politics, whenever the
fundamental rights of man or salvation of
souls requires it (Gaudium et Spes).
Bishops must boldly speak out at risk

of ridicule, persecution, or physical harm.

Silence means an abandonment of divine
mandate. Admittedly, a few undiscerning
clergy are dupes of secular affairs. There are
those too preoccupied with politics like Fr.
Cardenal of Nicaragua, the Sandinista bureaucrat chastised by then Pope John Paul
II at the airport tarmac, and our own revolutionary priests never in the confessionals
but always at rallies; readily game for interviews and media limelight.
Church and State have clashed time and
again over misunderstandings. Guilt may
be found on both sides especially where
politics Satans playground is involved;
but the State is often at fault in meddling
from lack of appreciation of the Churchs
role. The first meddler was Constantine.
After legalizing Christianity and sponsoring the Council of Nicaea, he tried to influence its outcome. All succeeding emperors
meddled.
The Church suffered repeated encroachment by powers-that-be, notably from the
Middle Ages onwards by ruling families
of Europe. Nobility secured ecclesiastical
offices for relatives, allies, and rascal cronies through foul schemes as bishops, even
Popes, allowed disreputable lackeys to occupy positions in the Church hierarchy causing corruption and scandals. The Church

struggled to maintain sovereignty. The Clergy who were against

injustice were persecuted. They
were exiled, imprisoned, tortured
or even executed for indiscretion
of meddling.
Pope Boniface VIII promulgated the Papal Bull Unam Sanctam
in 1302 that dealt on unity of
Church and temporal powers.
He carefully distinguished their
respective roles and stressed the
essential superiority of the spiritual. Eventually, benign rulers
recognized the Churchs spiritual
role and undertook her protection as a fundamental duty, giving rise to the principle of separation of powers: a proposition
that guarantees State protection

of the Church from any interference. Meddling and persecution

exist today in totalitarian states;
likewise in democracies where
lawmakers and media infringe on
moral matters.
To whom does a citizen owe
primary allegiance?
King Henry VIII had his
good friend the Exchequer of
England, Thomas More beheaded for opposing the Kings
divorce, Englands break with
Rome, and the confiscating of
the Churchs property, and subjecting the clergy of England to
the crown. Said More at his execution, I am the kings loyal
servant, but Gods first. (Tapat
News)