The Official Publication of DSPC Caloocan

The Luminary
Breaking News
Davila mentioned the alle-
In an interview with Sen- Sen. Hontiveros “doubtful” about People’s Initiative
gations made by Represen-
ator Risa Hontiveros at
ANC Digital News, Kar- By: Atom Araullo tative Lagman about sig-
nature payments, to which
en Davila questioned the
Hontiveros responded fa-
senator’s stance on the People’s Initiative (PI). Representative Joey Sal-
vorably, bringing up reports of monetary bribes across different
ceda’s statement that “A people’s initiative is inevitable. They will get
regions. She also emphasized the political motivation behind the
the signatures,” prompted Davila to ask Hontiveros for her opinion.
initiative,
and about the significant financial investments in collecting sig-
Hontiveros expressed skepticism, questioning the originality of the
natures.
initiative. She made it clear that the importance of
genuine public participa- tion, raising concerns
Regarding potential constitutional amendments, Hontiveros has
about anonymous investors and alleged payments
shown hesitance,saying that the current needs of Filipinos must
for signatures. Talking about the reports of a
be prioritized, including addressing food prices, increasing wag-
hundred-peso promise for signatures, Hon-
es, making a move to fix corruption, and addressing issues in the
tiveros highlighted the suspi-
West Philippine Sea, should take priority over charter change.
cion surrounding
the initiative, get-
Hontiveros’s remarks emphasized the skepticism surrounding
ting reactions on
the People’s Initiative and highlighted the different concerns of
social media as
the Filipinos.
evidence.

PI emerged mixed reactions from public

By: Atom Araullo

The proposed People’s Initiative (PI) by
Representative Joey Salceda has start-
ed a list of opinions from the people liv-
ing in the Philippines, showing doubts
about its success rate and legitimacy.
Although some thinks that it is a dem-
ocratic avenue for constitutional re-
form, others raise suspicions, question-
ing its real motives and transparency.
With netizens joining in different de-
bates regarding the accuracy, allegations
of signature collection and monetary
bribes - social media platforms have be-
come a way for these opinion sharing.
Representatives of the PI shares that it is
all about the opportunity given for the
empowering of citizens, highlighting the
importance of shaping a country’s future.
Allegations kept coming, sharing that
the initiative has potential for abuse
and manipulation. As concerns mount
over that proposal, people calls for
greater accountability through online.
As the talk surrounding the PI intensifies, it
emphasize the problem in democratic gov-
ernance. The different opinions shares the
need for proper decision-making process-
es that puts accountability and the genuine
participation of the Filipino people first.
With the PI debate not looking set-
tled, the result remains unsure, show-
ing how important it is to have
discussion and proper decision-mak-
ing in order to shape the country.

Experts share views on PI’s legitimacy

By: Atom Araullo
Legal experts and even scholars are divided after making
an assesment about the legitimacy of People’s Initiative
(PI) led by Representative Joey Salceda, presenting the
cons and pros surrounding the constitutional reform in
the Philippines.
Attorney Reyes, a constitutional law professor, shares the
importance of making sure that the authenticity of sig-
natures being collected for PI is proven. He emphasized
that it is for preventing activities that is a fraud and for
ensuring that the initiative is legit.
That aside, Attorney Cruz argues that the proposal is for
the people to decide, reflecting public opinions for con-
stitutional amendments. Also saying that it is time for the
people to voice their need for change.
Despite their different opinions, both agrees that it is nec-
essary to have a thorough oversight of the PI process. Also
showing that considerations must be involved when eval-
uating initiativies for constitutional reform.

01
 EDITORIAL
Atom Araullo Karen Davila
Mel Tiangco
News Writer Feature Writer
Layout artist/ Photojournalist
Kara David Erwin Tulfo
Editorial Writer Sports Writer/ Cartoonist

Signs of deceit
really want to improve the economy of
An ‘Initiative’ is where the cit- the country.
izens have the power to make
amendments in the Constitution. Based on all the data and in-
People’s Initiative goes through By: Kara David formation accumulated, it is speculated
a long process including the collec- that cha-cha is really not for economic
tion of signatures of people across reforms but for the personal interests
the nation. A signature signifies the a law firm. That raises the issue of whether the said ‘People’s Initiative’ of some officials. The Supreme Court
support of a person for the pro- is really an ‘Initiative’. must recheck the signatures and the
posed change in the Constitution. process behind the gath-
There were reports ering precisely and with
Charter change is a major topic that money was includ- truthfulness. If a citizen
in the country right now. The 1987 ed in the collection of witnesses a scenario of
Constitution is said to be a restric- signatures. P100.00 was bribery or deception
tion to many economic opportu- given in exchange for during collection of sig-
nities just like foreign investments every signature signed natures, they shouldn’t
and business relations and needs by a citizen. That proves be afraid to tell trusted
to be reformed immediately. Some that the PI is not pure authority about it. The
officials support cha-cha but some and there was bribery identities of the people
senators are against it, saying that behind it. behind the forms and the
it is unnecessary and irrelevant ad must be disclosed, it
right now. The foreign chambers of shouldn’t be that hard
commerce in the coun- if you have nothing to
Currently, the number of gath- try and Filipinos have hide, correct?
ered signatures is close to the suggested the same set
required amount for cha-cha to of factors needed to be It is concerning to know
happen. However, there are sen- looked into for the in- that corrupt officials
ators asking for proof if the sig- crease of foreign direct are using citizens as a
natures and the PI itself are really investments; It included ‘doorway’ for their
from the residents. The cast behind policies, equal applica- personal advantages. Presenting good
the forms that are being distrib- tion of the law, elimination of corruption in politics, costs of expenditures, causes as a disguise for the real reasons
uted and the advertisement for PI and more. Notice how charter change is not included? If the main reason for to get what they want. It’s just another
are unwilling to make themselves cha-cha is for economic liberalization, it really is irrelevant and insignificant. ‘vote-buying’ scenario.
known and they are hiding behind There are other problems and issues that need to be focused on if they

The forbidden fruit Suffrage or suffering?

By: Kara David By: Kara David
There are said to be a bribery included in the signatures When corruption takes place in the government, many
for PI. Some politicians are the main reason for this but they unpleasant events will occur. Disruption of the order-
also forget that the citizens who signed in exchange for mon- liness of the life of the citizens, bad economic and po-
ey are also at fault. Why do they participate in such a dis- litical status, low rate of innovation, and stunted hu-
honest activity even though they know that it is wrong? man development, are some of the effects of having a
nefarious government. Sadly, corruption is a worldly known
They say that money is the root of all evil. Many untruth- issue and is one of the hardest problems to eliminate.
ful activities in politics like vote-buying and the current PI is-
sue proves this statement. Poverty is one of the main problems
The rulers of a country will determine the nation’s im-
in Filipino households. Deprivation is widely spread across the
country and it is a difficult issue to solve. This leads to people
provement. It is a tough issue for the citizens to re-
going through insane lengths just to survive daily. They do il- solve and overcome if the rulers themselves are the en-
legal activities like stealing, selling illegal drugs, selling them- emy. Without power, residents could be oppressed and
selves, and joining in untruthful activities of corrupt individuals. have no voice or rights, making it unfair and unjust.

To avoid or decrease the poverty in the country, the prob-
lems inside the government must be resolved first. Poverty
isn’t the only reason for these scenarios but corruption also.
When officials take what’s supposed to be for the citizens,
what will be left for them? Corruption must be eliminated and
the country must be ruled by people with pure intentions on
serving the country. With corruption out of the way, govern-
ment programs will not be delayed, the economy and human
development will improve, taxes will be used properly, and all
Filipinos will have an organized and an orderly way of living.
It is for a fact that money is the root of all evil, but it
won’t even be true if money and resources are right-
fully and equally shared across the country. Humans are
weak, fragile, full of fear. Unfortunately, it is pitiful when the
weaknesses of people are used as an advantage by others.
To avoid and eliminate corruption, voters must be wise
on voting. They should have enough information about the
candidates and not be biased. They should precisely bal-
ance each pros, cons, and contributions of each candidate.
Set aside the opinions of others, don’t jump into band-
wagons, and base your decision on your own research.
With careful judgment, corruption will be out of sight
in the government and everyone would benefit from it.
If people would just take the time to reflect on their decisions,
maybe they wouldn’t experience the bad things that are current-
ly happening. Their votes determine the future of their country
and their lives. Unity, cooperation and determination to achieve
great change and development is the answer to a wicked society.

02
 FEATURE The Official Publication of DSPC Caloocan

Who’s Who? By: Karen Davila

If you’ve been hooked to your screens the spotlight. In an era when accessibility is Senators prodded PH PIRMA for
watching the latest Charter Change TV ad, king, the contributors’ choice to stay anony- answers. Questions regarding the legality and
you might be wondering about the large mous is making headlines. Why would some- ethics of hiding donor names dominated the
question mark hovering over the contribu- one want to work under what’s going on on conversation. Senators voiced alarm about
tors who make it all possible. The brains be- such a campaign? It’s a question that has the possible effect of concealed contributions
hind the initiative have chosen to keep their tongues wagging and the internet circulating. in affecting the public debate about constitu-
names hidden, causing a frenzy of excitement The mood was explosive as sen- tional amendment. As the Senate investigation
and speculation. Let us delve into the strange ators convened for a hearing on the funding brought the problem to light, the mystery be-
realm of hidden contributions and discover of Charter Change TV advertising, an adver- hind the Charter Change contributors contin-
the reasons for the cloak-and-dagger strategy. tisement that has triggered heated arguments ues to develop. The conflict between the drive
You’re from somewhere, over constitutional revisions. However, rather for transparency and the contributors’ insis-
and there it is: the Charter Change than revealing the identity of the financial tence on anonymity highlights the difficulties
TV commer- c i a l , supporters, donor representatives elected to of handling the junction of politics, money,
sparking de- bate keep their cards close to their chests, paving and accountability in the Philippine context.
about amend- i n g the way for a high-stakes standoff. In an era The unwillingness of Charter Change
the consti- when pleas for transparency reverberate TV ad contributors to identify themselves has
tution. But throughout the political scene, the transformed a Senate hearing into a compelling
who’s the Charter Change contributors’ decision spectacle, raising critical concerns about open-
puppeteer to stay anonymous raised eyebrows ness and responsibility in Philippine politics. As
tugging and garnered severe criticism. Sen- senators wrestle with the mystery of undeclared
the strings? The ators raised ethical concerns about contributions, the public eagerly anticipates
unexpected twist concealed funding, underlining the next episode in this growing tale, which
is that the contrib- the necessity of an open democ- will hopefully shed light on the secret forces
utors, the financial racy in which voters have driving the direction of constitutional reform.
donors who make it rain the right to know who is Stay tuned for updates as this political enig-
for the campaign, are pulling the strings behind ma continues to attract the public’s attention.
saying “No thanks” to significant political campaigns.

In an unexpected turn sleeve, or is the mag-

of events, Philippine securi-
ty officials have declared the
People’s Initiative for Reform
Hocus PIRMA-cus ic show over? Grab
your popcorn,
the fantastic mystery
for

Modernization and Action trip is not yet done!

(PIRMA) defunct since 2004. And there
orated into thin air in 2004. That’s a serious amazing mystery! The
This disclosure has sent shockwaves you have it, folks: the
SEC’s statement transformed the political scene into a telenovela, with
through the political landscape, mysterious absence of
many puzzled how PIRMA managed to maintain the illusion for over
raising concerns about the orga- PIRMA since 2004. As
two decades after its purported demise. It’s like a political sitcom with
nization’s recent actions and their we all laugh at this sur-
a narrative twist that even the finest writers couldn’t have imagined.
influence on Philippine politics. prising twist, stay tuned
While the SEC’s wizards have closed the curtain on PIR-
Once upon a time, PIR- for further updates on
MA, concerns remain regarding the ramifications for individ-
MA formerly waved its wand in the wonderful mystery
uals who participated in the magical mystery tour. Will they
Philippine politics, lobbying for a tour that continues to
be held accountable by magical spells? The magicians of trans-
variety of cool changes. But hold on keep us fascinated and
parency are undoubtedly cooking up something intriguing.
to your hats because the SEC, our perplexed in the realm
As the magic dust calms down, we all question what happens
real-life magic detectors, claimed of Philippine politics.
next in this delightful story. Will PIRMA have any more tricks under her
that PIRMA had evap-

Prepare for the next rev-
elation in the political
fashion show: some out-
standing politicians in
the Philippines want to
take back the curtain and re-
veal the brains behind people’s
initiative. It’s like the ultimate
disclosure, and these lawmak-
ers are here to ensure that ev-
eryone is wearing the same
trendy transparent spectacles.
People’s initiatives,
in which folks may propose
legislation by gathering signa-
Peek-a-Boo Politics
hope to demonstrate
their commitment to
responsibility and cre-
ating a fashionable
and inclusive political
tures, are like the trendiest runway in town. But here’s the runway for everybody.
twist: some politicians are proposing, “Let’s turn it into a fash- So, what is
ion show and let everyone see who’s the designer behind the laws!” the following step in the
Meet our lawmakers, a style icon spearheading the fight for trans- political fashion tale? As
parency. They feel it is time to offer everyone a front-row seat on the demo- the argument continues,
cratic catwalk. It’s like granting everyone admission to democracy’s Premium we’re all waiting to see if
lounge, and politicians want to ensure that sure everyone receives a fashion- the designers’ identities
able invitation. Why is there so much excitement on the runway? It’s not just will be disclosed, making
about spilling the beans; it’s about making democracy the most popular trend the political runway the
in town. By highlighting the designers behind people’s initiative, politicians most fashionable site in

03
 The Official Publication of DSPC Caloocan

Volume 1 Issue 1 February 25,2024

SPORTS Sports Feature
Badminton Showdown:
Thailand vs Philippines in
Thailand wins SEA Games Men’s Badminton vs Philippines SEA Games
By: Erwin Tulfo By: Erwin Tulfo
In the heart of Manilla, the capital of the
In the concluded men’s singles quarterfinals of the badminton competition in the 2019 Philippines, the 2019 Southeast Asian Games
Southeast Asian Games, the top players from the Philippines and Thailand, Ros Leonard held a remarkable spectacle for the specta-
Pedrosa and Kantaphon Wangcharoen, faced off in a matchup. The competition was tors. In the men’s singles quarterfinals of bad-
held in the Muntinlupa Sports Complex in Metro Manila, and the two players engaged minton, two top players from Philippines and
Thailand faced off in a thrilling matchup. The
in a fierce battle under the watchful eye of a referee sitting high above the court. biennial multi-sports event involved 11 coun-
tries from Southeast Asia, with the Philip-
The badminton courts are specifically designed for the sport, with a rectangular pines hosting all events in the 2019 iteration.
surface measuring 13.4 meters or 44 feet long and 5.18 meters or 17 feet wide. Each
court is also divided by a net, and a centerline is set back from the net by a short service The two badminton players, Ros Leon-
ard Pedrosa and Kantaphon Wangcharoen,
line. The surrounding area is cleared, allowing players to move around freely. fought a fierce battle under the watchful
eye of a referee sitting high above the court.
Thailand employed a smart strategy, showing effective techniques and making The badminton courts are rectangular sur-
deceptive moves, and Thailand maintained a relaxed demeanor while executing proper faces specifically designed for the sport, di-
vided by a net, and measuring 13.4 meters
techniques, each stroke having a specific intent. Pedrosa from the Philippines was more or 44 feet long and 5.18 meters or 17 feet
intense in his gameplay, exhibiting technical skills, while Wangcharoen from wide. Each court also has a centerline set
Thailand effectively executed his skills despite being relaxed. back from the net by a short service line,
while the surrounding area is cleared to
allow players to move around freely.
The Philippines successfully executed a trick shot near the end of the
first game, allowing Thailand to win with a lead of 10 points. In The badminton game
the second game, both players displayed effective between the Phil-
techniques with their serving and ippines and Thai-
shotmaking, relying on light but land was held at
the Muntinlupa
efficient grips. The pace remained fast-paced with Sports Complex in
both players favoring middle court gameplay. The Philippines Muntinlupa, Metro Manila.
committed more breaches, resulting in Thailand widening the scoring gap.

Sports Editorial
Thailand smashes through Men’s Badminton
By: Erwin Tulfo
In the thrilling competition between two top badmin-
ton players, Ros Leonard Pedrosa of the Philippines
and a top player from Thailand, the pressure was on
Pedrosa as the challenger in his opponent’s home turf.
However, he stepped up his game, demonstrating im-
pressive skills and tactics, making it a thrilling show
for the audience. The match was made more exciting
as both players showed their determination to win.
Thailand employed a smart strategy, which in-
cluded showing effective techniques and mak-
ing deceptive moves. Thailand maintained a
relaxed demeanor while executing proper tech-
niques, each stroke having a specific intent.
Pedrosa from the Philippines was more intense in
his gameplay, exhibiting technical skills, while Wang-
charoen from Thailand effectively executed his skills
despite being relaxed. The Philippines successful-
ly executed a trick shot near the end, allowing Thai-
land to win the first game with a lead of 10 points.
In the second game, both players displayed ef-
fective techniques with their serving and shotmaking,
relying on light but Efficient grips. The pace remained
fast-paced with both players favoring middle court
gameplay. The Philippines committed more breach-
es, resulting in Thailand widening the scoring gap. As
the game came to a close, Thailand maintained control
throughout, executing effective techniques. The Philip-
pines seemed overwhelmed by the large gap between
them. In the end, Thailand proved superior in terms of
skills and won the game 21-11 with a lead of 10 points.

04