IS SHOOTING WAR BETWEEN THE INTERNATIONAL HEGEMONS IN THE OFFING?

By Bayawanon

The South China Sea does not belong to anyone since it is considered as international waters, because it is classified as international waters every foreign vessel has the right to navigate it. China has long been flexing her muscles on the South China Sea by way of annexing islands being claimed by small neighboring countries at the Spratly group of islands which lie on the said disputed sea. Because of China's domination over the said waters, it seems like she already personally own the same therefore undermining the freedom of navigation of international vessels under different foreign flags.

The international community knows that the Philippines won a legal battle over China in the International Arbitration on the Law of the Seas thereby rendering the claims of China over the said disputed waters moot and academic, but China continues her arrogance by not honoring the judgment of the international arbiters and by relying solely on its super power status as a matter of fact its navy continually patrols the Spratlys and the aforementioned international disputed waters.

In view of this development, it is very clear that the freedom of navigation of many countries which indulge in commerce are highly affected, hence the freedom of navigation and to indulge in international business by some big countries to name a few like the United States, Japan, Australia, Canada, India, Britain, the European Union, etc.,etc. are clearly affected since the Chinese Coastguard and Navy are unequivocally and clearly acting as the international traffic policeman of the said waters.

The economy of the countries plying by way of the South China Sea are clearly affected because of the show of force China is imposing thereat and for them to regain the status quo, they have to ask China to respect International Law and the ruling of the International Arbitral Court of the Law of the Sea IN RE : China vs. the Philippines. Just recently the United States is asking China to respect the same internationally recognized statute and ruling or suffer the consequences of her defiance of such law and decision.

In conjunction to this we should collectively pray that China must follow the internationally accepted principles of the United Nations since the United States and her allies may declare war against her on the grounds being taken and discussed above. We must firmly pray that China will soon step aside her so-called rights over the above-mentioned international waters for her insistence to lord over the South China Sea may result to a shooting war between her and the United States, the two leading HEGEMONS on planet Earth which can be also be a torch for a possible Third World War.

TIME TO CHANGE SOME PAGES OF PHILIPPINE HISTORY?

By Bayawanon

Due to the advent of the hero's burial of the former Philippine dictator Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr. at the Libingan ng mga Bayani and due to the support he is gaining nationally especially by the millennials who did not witness the horrors of Martial Law, I suppose that they have the right to CHANGE PHILIPPINE HISTORY, but who would believe the REVISED Philippine History then when the world witnessed the Philippines being mishandled by Marcos during his reign as president, dictator and strongman for more than twenty years?

Before Marcos assumed power in 1965, the Philippines had a foreign loan of only six hundred (600) million dollars, when he left power almost twenty one years after, the outstanding foreign debt of the Philippines was a gargantuan twenty five (25) billion dollars. It is true that he made some gigantic edifices like the Heart Center of the Philippines, Philippine Kidney Center, Light Rail Transit, San Juanico Bridge etc, but such constructions cannot explain the 24.4 billion dollars the Philippines got from foreign loans during his time.

Marcos was charged for looting the government after he left office as president to the tune of ten (10) billion dollars, such larceny can be corroborated by the seizures of some parts of it by way of the Presidential Commission on Good Government, but his supporters would justify his WEALTH by way of some videos not inspected and affirmed by historians saying that he was really RICH before he entered politics and that because of his so-called accomplishments he can be considered as the best president the Philippines ever had. Now, which one shall we believe, the Philippine History being written by the scholars and historians or the "EVIDENCES" not corroborated by history researchers which are being circulated by his family and supporters?

HISTORICAL REVISION MAY LEAD TO POLITICAL SLAVERY

By Bayawanon

How can a country improve when its people do not know its history? How can a country improve when its people cannot even discern what is a lie from a truth in a historical perspective? I believe that history is the mirror of the past and a vehicle going to the future, but how can we mirror back the past and go successfully to the future when facts of history can easily be fabricated and the same can simply be bought?

When historical facts can be fabricated it means that history can simply be revised, when history is revised without further research and investigation on the part of the public it means that there is something wrong with the people. If there is something wrong with the people because they don't care about there history then they're going to nowhere.

Our national history is also our national identity, if we don't know our history then we don't know ourselves. If we permit powerful and influential people to change part/s of our national history in favor of the personal glory of the few, then we are nothing but a group of ignorant falling as preys to the aristocrats.

Will we permit ourselves to be the laughing stock of the world by letting the few change our history thereby changing our national identity? Will we continue our minds to be poisoned by the few whose only aim and purpose to change our history is to grab power again? I hope we won't let ourselves be enslaved again and I hope further that our IGNORANCE won't be the reason why we would then be under another POLITICAL SLAVERY.

THE DUE PROCESS AND EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSES OF THE PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION MUST BE FOLLOWED

By Bayawanon

Art. 3 Section 1 of the Philippine Constitution provides "No person shall be deprived of his life, property or liberty without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the law."
In connection to the aforementioned provision of the constitution of the Philippine Republic, does the commendable drug war of the present national leadership in line with the basic law of the land? I believe that the answer must be in the negative since the same national policy is not in line with the due process and equal protection clauses of the Philippine Constitution.

The due process clause of the Philippine Constitution unequivocally provides "No person shall be deprived of his life, property or liberty without due process of law", this constitutional clause is clearly violated by the authorities since the drug suspects nowadays usually cannot reach the courts for they are already executed on the ground that they are drug suspects, that they have allegedly possessed drugs and guns and that they fought back against the authorities. How can they show cause or how can they show their innocence when they are already judged and even executed extra-judicially?

The equal protection clause of the Philippine Constitution which also forms part of Art. 3. Sec. 1 also provides " nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the law", in relation to this, does this constitutional clause also being properly observed by the proper authorities enforcing the law IN RE : DRUG WAR vis-a-vis other crimes? The answer would still be in the negative since the war against criminality is almost limited only to the drug problem of the country. In order for this national policy in getting rid of drugs not to be in violation of the equal protection clause of the constitution, everyone being caught violating the law shall be executed without defending themselves in court too.
Every violator of the law like the drug addicts, drug pushers, drug protectors, prostitutes, pimps, corrupt government employees, thieves, smugglers, tax evaders, wife beaters, rapists, murderers etc.etc. shall be executed outside of the law too because in the eyes of the law all kinds of criminals are equal. Executing the drug addicts and drug pushers ONLY without due process of law would negate the equal protection clause of the constitution for it would make the other classes of criminal special over the drug criminals, hence the war against drugs is actually PURELY AND SIMPLY not in consonance with the constitution.

In conjunction to this, I propose that the state should not just limit itself on its war on drugs, instead there must be a WAR AGAINST CRIMINALITY, but the existing laws like the constitution, the revised penal code, the rules on criminal procedure, the rules on evidence and other special penal laws shall be observed properly in fighting the same for we are living in a government of laws and not of men.

MARCOS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GIVEN A HERO'S BURIAL

By Bayawanon

Under the rules of statutory construction. a Municipal Law would always reign supreme over International Law if there is a conflict between the two.
It is very clear that if the provisions of the International Law on Human Rights shall be followed which the then Philippine dictator Ferdinand Augustus Edralin Marcos, Sr. had violated then the same would not be given a hero's burial since he would then be classified as a human rights violator and not a hero.

Under the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Regulation G-161-373, the then strongman Marcos is qualified to be given a hero's burial since he met all of the qualifications like being a former head of state, a medal of and valor awardee and a former soldier, but does he has any of the disqualifications?

Basing on the facts given, there would be a legal issue that we would tackle here, and the issue is this ... is there a conflict between International Law and Municipal Law in this case at hand? My answer would then be in the negative since there is no conflict between both International and Municipal Laws in this regard since the AFP Regulation G-161-373 would not be considered as a law but only a mere military regulation. For the same regulation to be given a TEETH it should have passed both the two chambers of congress (House of Senate and House of Representatives) and became a law for it to be considered as one.

For this reason there is no conflict between both International and Municipal Laws here, since in the first place the subject military regulation by the Armed Forces of the Philippines would not be considered a law in this regard, and it is very clear like the sun rises in the east and sets in the west that the former deposed national leader had committed atrocities against the people against the International Law on Human Rights.

Because the subject military regulation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines would not be considered a statute and under International Law on Human Rights it is but fitting that any dictator, strongman or human rights violator should not be given a hero's burial for the same would constitute a mockery of justice.
As to the issue on whether or not he was not dishonorably discharged as a soldier, my answer is in the AFFIRMATIVE since as a former president he was the commander in chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, thus technically he was a soldier during the time that he was taken out of power by the sovereign Filipino in EDSA sometimes on January, 1986 and such a happening would even be considered MORE THAN a dishonorable discharge from military service.

By virtue of the foregoing premises, it is my humble view that Ferdinand Augustus Edralin Marcos, Sr. is ineligible to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani for he does not deserved the honor of being a hero since giving a hero's burial to the undeserved would mean an affront and insult the the human rights victims in particular and to JUSTICE in general.

CAN THERE BE HEALING?

By Bayawanon

His Excellency Rodrigo Roa Duterte reasoned out that there can be healing among the divided Filipinos if the then strongman Ferdinand Edralin Marcos of Batac be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. Can there be really healing when the people are still divided? Nine Supreme Court justices, almost the same justices who were appointed by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo an ally of Duterte who absolved Arroyo from the case of plunder, ruled in favor of Marcos' burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Days after the rendition of the highest tribunal of its decision and without waiting for the result of the Motion for Reconsideration filed by the petitioners, the Marcos family decided for the interment of their patriarch at the Heroes' Cemetery just recently. The people protested as a result and the protests are simply sprouting from the different places of the country. The question now is this ... is this the HEALING that President Duterte would like us to see?

Now, it is for the people to judge whether or not our President Rodrigo Roa Duterte had discerned with all his heart, mind and soul regarding his decision to bury Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. If the people feel like the president committed a grave abuse of his discretion as the supreme leader of the country in his decision to order the interment of Marcos in the hallowed grounds of the heroes' final resting place, then let there be a gargantuan protest against him to reconsider his decision to bury Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani for a dictator does not deserve any honor from the people he had betrayed.

In connection to this, I hope and pray that the good president will always consult the people in cases like these, for failure to consult the people in national issues as gigantic as this would mean uselessness on the part of the people of electing their supreme national leader who they feel like their hero who would save them from the abyss of hopelessness.

FORGIVENESS AND JUSTICE ARE TWO DIFFERENT VIRTUES

By Bayawanon

FORGIVENESS and JUSTICE are two different virtues, the human rights victims may have moved on and have FORGIVEN Ferdinand Edralin Marcos for the atrocities he had committed during his reign as virtual strongman of the Philippines for twenty (20) years, but there must be JUSTICE, and I believe that denying him to be buried at the LIBINGAN NG MGA BAYANI is part of justice, after all he is not a hero.

Yes as Christians, we must and should forgive our enemies but it does not mean that we don't have to seek for retribution of the violations of our enemies. Our legal system was founded by our authorities to seek and find justice, why not make use of it? Majority of our historians would tell us that indeed Marcos had sinned against the Filipino people, as Christians we are mandated by the teachings of the church to forgive, but does that mean that we have to simply let him go for the faults he had committed against the people?

The Filipino people cannot let him go to jail since after three (3) years he left office by way of that "PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION' he died, can you let a dead man go to court and face the criminal charges filed against him when he was still alive? Because of this JUSTICE is very elusive for the human rights victims. Now, the government had decide to give him a hero's burial and indeed he was successfully buried by supporters two days ago, is this the JUSTICE that the human rights victims are waiting from the government?

It is true that Marcos can be qualified to be given a HERO'S BURIAL on three grounds to wit: 1) That he was a President; 2)That he was a soldier and 3) That he was a Medal of Valor Awardee, but these facts were superseded by a supervening event and that is the human rights violations he committed in his incumbency as the undisputed national leader of the Philippines specifically from 1972-1986. On those years plenty were killed and plenty went missing because of political reasons and he was responsible for those happenings for it happened because of his MARTIAL RULE, now can the burial of Marcos would give JUSTICE to the victims of human rights or would simply give honor to his family who is asking it for years?

CRITICISMS ARE CHALLENGES TO DO BETTER

By Bayawanon

When David challenged Goliath to fight him, everyone in his camp was raising his eyebrows for they believe that it was impossible for the former to beat the latter, however the future King of Israel in the person of the diminutive David easily defeated Goliath with his sling shot. David had proven his critics wrong because he took the criticisms as a challenge in doing and fighting better against the giant from Philistine.

Bill Clinton was accused of sexual offenses when he was Governor of Arkansas and as President of the United States of America. He was impeached by the members of the United States House of Representatives but was acquitted by the U.S. Senators, and after his two terms as president he left a very healthy economy in the tune of 1.3 trillion dollars surplus national budget.
These examples would be a good guide for the current Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to succeed as a national leader and to effectively function as such despite the many criticisms he is facing at this juncture in the Philippine Political arena.

Such success stories can also be a good model for everyone of us who are struggling in our daily lives as politicians, servant-leaders, ordinary government employees, ordinary citizens, etc. to do better in the midst of criticisms and adversities. Anyone must not be onion skinned regarding the tests of criticisms for it would instead season and strengthen you to be a better person.

I hope that our good national leader His Excellency Rodrigo Roa Duterte would do a David and/or a Clinton, take the criticisms of his detractors lightly and use it as tools for him to deliver the expectations of the people who voted and supported him and not be short tempered, indecisive because of criticisms, otherwise he would fall in the pages of the annals of history as a lame duck president or a paper tiger supreme leader of the Philippine islands.

DON'T BEFRIEND A TYRANT

By Bayawanon

In some ways China is already democratizing, thanks to that failed 1989 Tiananmen Square people power uprising which resulted to the massacre of hundreds if not thousands of young students who were just clamoring for change. After that failed Tiananmen cry, the Chinese Communist Government improved its service regarding the delivery of the basic goods and services to the people, the citizens are given the right to travel by the government and many of them have already indulged in business. The effective governance has somehow silenced the critics and dissidents of the government. Another rationale why the would be oppositionists won't question the government is the fear of reprisal and the possibility of another bloody massacre in exchange of freedom.

Because of the lifting of the prohibition to travel of the Chinese socialist-communist government to its citizens, the massive industrialization of the same and the government's condonation of business activities of its citizens, some of us would assume that China is now in the process of democratization.

Is China now a democratic country? My answer is in the negative on three grounds to wit: 1) The Chinese government does not observe press freedom; 2) There is only one political party in the country which is the Communist Party of China and 3) There is a glaring suppression of religious freedom in the red state. Because of these, I can still safely claim that China is still a communist-socialist country.

So why would the Philippines befriend China when in truth and in fact it is still a communist country? Will the Philippines not weigh the advantages and disadvantages it may get from China? I believe that the mending of fences between the two countries would do great favor to the collossal country and would do more harm to the Philippines since through the passage of many Chinese in the Philippines, the latter may not effectively check the entrant Chinese communist agents who may eventually aid their ill equipped Filipino counterparts, and if that happens the communist insurgency may continue in the Philippines.

As China grows stronger, eventually becoming a geopolitical hegemon and a world super power, it starts to flex its muscles not just in the West Philippine Sea nee' South China Sea. She starts to own islands not belonging to her from the islands proximate to Japan to the Paracels, to the Spratlys down to the Natuna island of Indonesia thereby owning almost all of the West Philippine Sea and part of the Sea of Japan. In connection to these, the supreme leader of our state, the president of the Philippines should think over his decision to coalesce with this hegemon since the same is purely a WORLD TYRANT which is a threat to democracy and universal peace.

CHINA-PHILIPPINE ALLIANCE IS INSANE

By Bayawanon

The Philippines is actually crossing her Rubicon by way of the representation of probably the most popular Filipino president in Philippine history, His Excellency Rodrigo Duterte when the latter has declared that he is going to leave the United States of America, the Philippines' biggest ally to the limbo of oblivion, because of this there will be a realignment of international political alliances between America, the Philippines and China which I believe would be catastrophic on the Philippine side, since I believe the Philippines' decision to leave her alliance with U. S. and side with China wold be inimical to the interest of the Philippines.

I believe that the new China-Philippine Alliance has five disadvantages to the Philippine side to wit:

1) The DRUG PROBLEM the Philippines is facing may not be solved since most of the exporters of drugs to the Philippines are usually Chinese who may have easy access to the Philippine soil if the China-Philippine Alliance would soon be finalized;

2) The territorial claims of the Philippines regarding the Spratlys may probably be abandoned by the same since the Philippines would then be under the Chinese influence,and for the former to continue good relations with China the same may probably give way to the latter in order for the Philippines to secure good favors from China;

3) Chinese businessmen may proliferate in the Philippines if the alliance between China and Philippines would push through, and that would result to the disadvantage of the Filipino entrepreneurs since the Chinese businessmen can easily come to the Philippines and be a competitor against the Filipinos in the field of commerce which would clearly contravene to the FILIPINO FIRST POLICY an economic policy of the then President Carlos P. Garcia;

4) China as a communist country may transform the Philippines as its satellite state and may transform the Philippines as a communist country in the future. As we all know COMMUNISM prohibits free enterprise, freedom to travel, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, private ownership, etc. and these factors would probably affect our ideals and aspirations as a democratic country and people.

5) The United States of America our biggest ally may abandon the Philippines, because of this the Mutual Defense Treaty between the U.S. and the Philippines may be abrogated by the former and the latter may not received military or economic succor from the U.S. Just imagine that the long standing relations of the United States and the Philippines has been strong through the test of tough times for the past (118) one hundred eighteen years and this friendship may be averted because of the impending entente between China and the Philippines.

In conjunction to these, I am appealing to the supreme leader of the Republic of the Philippines the President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to reconsider his decision to abandon the Philippines' friendship with the United States of America and coalesce with China for the disadvantages of the same outweigh its advantages. I hope and pray that he would heed this appeal for the greater glory of the greatest number of people who inhabit the "Pearl of the Orient", the Republic of the Philippines. So be it.

POLITICAL INSANITY

By Bayawanon

The Philippines is now suffering from too much POLITICAL INSANITY. Imagine the people do not know how to chose good leaders anymore, they can easily be swayed by candidates who would promise them that CHANGE IS REALLY COMING. Now the one that they have voted in office is the very first one to destroy DEMOCRACY in the name of so-called change.

Everybody knows that there is a prevalence of human rights abuses by the State by virtue of killings outside legal procedures and judicial proceedings. People do not care and instead some of them would even tell us that those being killed do not have the right to live since they are undesirable citizens of the country because they are dreaded criminals, drug addicts, drug pushers etc. and the approval rating of the main architect of the human rights abuses in the country is still sky high despite his blunders in economic and foreign policies. He ordered the burial of the former human rights violator himself for the same to be buried at he National Heroes' Cemetery which was eventually permitted by the highest court of the Philippines, the Supreme Court.

Is this the change the people are waiting and asking for from the new national leadership of the Philippines? If the answer is in the negative then it is now high time for the people to think twice and go for the GENUINE CHANGE.
John Locke would tell us in his Political Theory he would dub as "The Social Contract Theory", in this thesis he would mentally condition us that the leaders have the duty to lead us in the right manner and as followers we have to follow them. He would continually politically educate us that the governed and the rulers have that "social contract", that it is incumbent on the leaders to lead the citizens in the right way, since if the same would be hostile, harmful and destructive to the people, the latter have the right to revolt against their leaders.

In conjunction to this, I hope and pray that this scenario would not happen since I love the land of my birth. I don't want a revolution against THE AGENT OF CHANGE, since in a revolution there would be collateral damages, I instead pray that the AGENT OF CHANGE himself be enlightened that what he is doing now is no longer good and healthy for Philippine democracy and I hope further that the people who catapulted him into power would have that political correctness in every time they have to go in polling places come election time.

If the people would get enlightened and would become thinking electors in every election they would join, then political insanity on the part of the FILIPINO can be averted but at the very juncture of the present political page we are facing, I believe that we are still in a stage of POLITICAL INSANITY.

DEAD LETTER EXECUTIVE ORDER?

By Bayawanon

Almost after assumption from office as president of the republic, His Excellency Rodrigo Roa Duterte issued an executive order making true his promise for the passage of the FREEDOM OF INFORMATION, however such executive order is only effective regarding the ambit of the Executive Department only. Be that as it may, such an act is very commendable since it would pave the way for the total transparency of the Philippine bureacracy granting that Congress would pass such a law in due time.

After the issuance of the said executive order, Congress entertained the possibility of the passage of the FOI BILL and after committee hearings, one of the houses of congress (the House of Representatives I believe) has recommended that the FREEDOM OF INFORMATION be passed as a law but with one hundred sixty six (166) exceptions. This development clearly negates the executive order of the president, since the same would not be considered as a law, and the law that is supposed to be passed has many exceptions which would clearly render its spirit ineffectual.

I hope that this development can be corrected by the good president since he is the sole head of the so-called "super majority" in both the House of Senate and the House of Representatives. The president can lobby before both houses of congress to limit the exceptions to few things only through his Presidential Legislative Adviser so as to make the proposed Freedom of Information Bill being envisioned by the majority of the citizens come into fruition so as toi unmasked irregularities in all government institutions, entities, subsidiaries and departments.

As expected the members of the House of Senate and the House of Representatives who have something to protect, for personal purposes make some provisos which may suit to their individual ends, and this must be corrected for it may render the executive order of the respected president regarding the Freedom of Information nugatory if not a DEAD LETTER EXECUTIVE ORDER.

ARGUMENTUM AD POPULUM IS NEXT TO ANARCHY

By Bayawanon

Argumentum Ad Populum is an argument by the majority stressing that they are right since they belong to the many, it is a type of argument which do not hear the other party's contentions or give credence to the others' reasons because they believe that their statements are right for the majority share their philosophies. This type of argumentation may not rely to the laws of the land anymore for they believe that their arguments are better than the laws crafted by the authorities. If this would be the case, then the well entrenched principle that "we are living in a government of laws and not of men" will be trampled if not be desecrated.

If Argumentum Ad Populum would be the general rule and that the "rule of law" would be an exception, then I would say that we would back to the olden days of the "state of nature" where might would always be right, and if that happens expect that many will fall to the pit of death because of fabricated evidences because the majority believes it. Expect further that the antique Roman Law will be implemented in the Philippine Islands since in Roman Law, every accused is "guilty until proven innocent".

If this would be the case then DEMOCRACY wil be abandoned and the once democratic Filipino people will form part to a state under ANARCHY, however I believe that they still would be enlightened for I believe that darkness cannot long last against the light of democracy that would reign supreme and that would guide and enlighten the people eventually.

I hope and pray that the people would not just follow what is popular since not all popular principles always hold water and not all popular matters are always right, but instead they should follow what is right, right principles may not always be popular but everyone must go and look for it for it is always there for the good of the people but the people have to discover it, since in righteousness there is truth and the truth will set the people free. Amen.

DIVINE RIGHTS OF KINGS THEORY

By Bayawanon

The Divine Rights of Kings Theory was espoused by the royals in Europe during the Middle Ages until the time of Reformation. This doctrine provides that Kings were chosen by GOD and that they were infallible or can do no wrong for they were the chosen ones. Nowadays, kings, emperors and other royalties are no longer common aside from few countries like Spain, Japan, England, Thailand etc. but these countries nowadays, usually limit the powers of these royals by way of there constitutions.

In connection to this, I have observed that this doctrine or theory has resurfaced again since there are leaders now who are acting as if they are infallible, that their official acts cannot be assailed since their actions are perfect. They are treated by their followers like kings who cannot possibly make faults and that they are almost praised whether or not their doings can or cannot attribute for the good of the land they are governing.

Their followers treat them as if they are the saviors of the land, anyway I cannot blame their supporters for they want instant CHANGE. But the problem is this... CHANGE cannot be had instantly for it is a process, there is no shortcuts for us to attain success, and we cannot solve the problem by solving it by way of another problem since that way the so-called change is not actually authentic.

The Divine Rights of Kings Theory has long been abandoned by history, so please do not reinstate it for it would tantamount to IDOLATRY. Idolatry is purely and simply fanaticism, it is a practice where a follower pursues his/her idol whether they are right or wrong and it is not politically correct to do so. I hope the people will regain their sanity and start to know how to discern for the right path to CHANGE, since they are actually the key to change and not their leaders who act as the MESSIAHS of the land. So be it.

SCRAP THE PORK BARREL SYSTEM FOR GOOD

By Bayawanon

The pork barrel which makes the senators and congressmen become more hypertensive is back. People were protesting against this congressional fund during the time of Aquino III on the plain and simple reason that it is a discretionary fund and thus would be subject to too much abuse or corruption. This was scrapped by the Supreme Court when the same was still called PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund) since it was ruled by the same court to be unconstitutional, now it is back under the new administration since it is now a proposed budget in the incoming fiscal year 2017, of course it is back with a new name so as to make the people believe that it is already terminated for good. Tsk, tsk, tsk we are simply running and roaming around the bush, good for them for they are in power, bad for the people for they have chosen the wrong ones.

The pork barrel system is very useful to congressmen and senators who have nothing to do in the Senate and the House of Representatives but to make their seats clean and shiny, since this fund may be used in infrastructure programs which are not LEGISLATIVE in nature, take note that the senators' and congressmen's  primordial duty is to make, alter and repeal laws for the good of the people as can be gleaned from the sacred Constitution of the Republic. This pork barrel is actually good if used in proper ways, but mostly it is used by the solons for purposes of re-election and for personal gain because of the fact that it is a DISCRETIONARY FUND, hence the rules of accounting is not properly observed and since the same rule is very elastic, because of this CORRUPTION is not remote or impossible.

The pork barrel can make a president stronger for if the same is given to the congressmen and senators regularly, the president would have more influence over them, ergo this discretionary congressional fund would give the president more grip of power regarding CONGRESS as a whole and opposition against him in totality would be negated. This reality would probably make the head of state a despot or a totalitarianist since the fulcrum of the balance of power between congress and the presidency would tilt in favor of the latter, ergo the check and balance between the presidency and congress would be ineffectual.

In connection with my above premises, I hope and pray that the present administration would reconsider its stand regarding the resurgence of the PORK BARREL SYSTEM, since I honestly believe that it would tantamount to any situation inimical to the interest of the people and it would violate the long time honored principle of SALUS POPULI EST SUPREMA LEX "the welfare of the people is the supreme law".

POLITICAL CHARISMA PHILIPPINE STYLE EXPLAINED

By Bayawanon

My personal definition of CHARISMA is the state of anyone of being loved even if he/she is undesirable. There are many political people whose leadership styles are not good but keep on winning during election seasons, they win because of buying votes, threats, intimidation, duress and cheating and yet the people are not tired of re-electing them even if after the elections it becomes apparent that they abuse their political powers by having access to government transactions for personal gains, siphoning the funds of the government that are entrusted to them to the detriment of the state and worst is when they start to violate the rights of the common people who ironically elected them to office.

These political charismatics are everywhere in the country and they even keep on thriving because of the political immaturity of the people who elected them who do not know what principles are all about, and who only follow the call of money because of dire necessity and of too much nothingness. These type of voters are willing to sell their votes just to remedy the hunger that they experience in exchange of years of political suffering and hopelessness.

What saddens me more is this, the political traitors who plundered and betrayed the country who actually need to be thrown and jailed in the limbo of oblivion because of their undoing become more popular and desirable because of the power of social media which are being used by them and their families as a vehicle for their political propaganda painting them to be heroes, statesmen and political pragmatists when in truth and in fact they were plunderers, non respecter of human rights and traitors to the country, its people and its interest. Most of the victims of these type of political charismatics are the mellineals who do not know the atrocities and the loot that these type of leaders were doing decades ago, these new generation members would easily believe on the information fed on them without proper research and investigation.

Because of the power of the money of these political magicians, intelligent people are lured to be their propagandists in exchange of money, fame and/or influence, for the former to rain and flood information in the social media, print media, air waves and television channels to make them supermen and eventually install them in the pedestal of greatness. That's the way political charismatics are formed or made of in our beloved country, the pearl of the Orient Seas, the Philippines, and the sad truth is this, this become possible because the people especially the new generation do not care about their future or maybe they're simply becoming too politically naive or ignorant to the extent that they cannot manage to unravel truth from falsehood.

DRUG, CORRUPTION AND CRIME FIGHTING ARE NOT THE ONLY SOLUTIONS FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

By Bayawanon

A former teacher of mine would tell me "what's in the economy? If the problems of drugs and criminality will be solved, everything will simply follow". Now there is so much focus about solving drugs and criminality but alas our economy is moving like a turtle and what's worse is it is going downward spiral. Now, with the almost complete obliteration of drugs, criminality and corruption, the economy is still going down south, I believe that the solution to criminality, drugs and corruption is not the same solution to our economic woes.

Of course the anti-thesis to criminality, drugs and corruption can be a factor for a country to pole vault economically but it is not the only reason why a country would be progressive, things like foreign relations and economic policy of a great leader have also major roles for a country to be economically vibrant. In connection to this, the recent economic disruption like the poor showing of the Philippine Stock Exchange and the depreciation of the Philippine peso cannot simply be solved by means of policing the criminals, corrupts, drug addicts and the drug pushers but also to improve the fiscal/economic policy and foreign policy of the supreme leader of the country.

Why would the economic and foreign policy of the chief executive of the land matter in economic development? You just imagine if the greatest leader of a certain country is a trouble maker, will it follow that foreign investors would invest in the thriving businesses of the country? Of course not, if the chief of all leaders of a country looks for trouble internationally, then the foreign capitals of foreign businessmen won't come in since there is a sign of economic uncertainty that may probably happen for the plain and simple reason that the supreme leader of the land is very hostile to some members of the international community where some of the future investors belong.

How could the foreign investors of great countries invest in the Philippines if the number one operator of our country is like a hawk who is trying to sow unfriendliness if not hostilities to other countries which we think can succor us in times of distress? The United States is the number one economy in the world and we cannot do with it but to accept that fact that it can be a great trading partner of the Philippines. The European Union where the other top ten economies of the world belong like Germany, Great Britain, France and Italy cannot also be taken for granted since it also plays a major role in world economy.

The economic policy of the former administration must stay if not improved if its working soundly, it must not be obliterated because "we don't have to destroy in order to build". An administration must have a tax plan which is pro-poor and not pro-management or pro-capitalist and the Philippines need to have a good collector of taxes in the persons of the Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Commissioner of the Bureau of Customs. I believe that these are the factors for the Philippines to have a stable economy and I hope that the present leadership of our country the Philippines would pay attention to this little suggestion of mine and hoping further that the illustrious president will reconstruct all of his domestic, economic and foreign policies for the greater glory of the greatest number of the FILIPINO people BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.

PARADIGM SHIFT

By Bayawanon

Paradigm shift is a change of vision regarding a certain happening or person as the time moves and rolls away. It is a change of view/s regarding how you see things as things progress or diminish since nothing is permanent in this world except change. If bad people decide to be good and do good things consistently and you still would not believe that they are changing for the better then you don't have a paradigm shift. If good people do bad things and would do such bad acts continuously and still you would consider them as good, then you don't have that paradigm shift instead you become a "FANATIC".

We need paradigm shift so as to give justice to those who would like to change for goodness's sake and we need the same to seek the truth as regards to those who turned their backs from their idealism. If the Catholic faith did not have that paradigm shift, then the likes of Augustine, Paul, Mary Magdalene, Longinus, David, Solomon, Moses would not have been saints, prophets and pillars of Christianity, instead they would have been hated by Christians perpetually because of their bad pasts.

We also need paradigm shift regarding our leaders, we need to discern more for us to discover who they really are for there are some politicians who are simply hiding in the sheep's clothes when they are actually big foxes who are waiting for the right time when to devour their defenseless victims who ironically idolize them. In connection to this, I am hoping that the Filipino people will be more discerning in choosing their leaders in the future elections to come, and if they feel like they have been wrong in choosing their leaders then they can have that PARADIGM SHIFT by not re-electing the same.

The people should have a wide latitude of discerning who are the good ones to lead our country, provinces, cities, municipalities, villages (barangays), and if they fail to chose the good ones by having observed that they were simply deceived by the ones that they have elected then it is the right time for them to change their views and vision against their former political idols by denying the same group of people who abused their trust and confidence comes election time.

If the bad leaders perceived by the populace as "good" before become politically insane to the extent of making decisions inimical to the situation of the country and its people, then it is high time for us to read the political theory of John Locke entitled THE SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY. The social contract theory provides that there is an inherent contract between the leader and the governed where the leader is obliged to be a good leader to his/her subjects, followers and/or constituents, if the leader becomes bad, brutish, humiliates the people, violates the right of the people, then it is high time for the people to stage a revolution to outlast their leader and change it with a just one, for indeed "salus populi est suprema lex" the welfare of the people is the supreme law.

SHOULD MARCOS BE BURIED AT THE HEROE'S CEMETERY?

By Bayawanon

The looming HERO'S BURIAL of Marcos can be likened to a hero's burial of Germany for Adolf Hitler, or for a hero's burial of Italy for Benito Mussolini, or a hero's burial of Spain for Francisco Franco. If this happens (Marcos hero's burial), all of the dictators of the world would have their rights to be buried at their respective HEROES CEMETERY invoking the Philippines' indecision to bury the former Filipino strongman Ferdinand Edralin Marcos, the author of the world's longest martial rule (1972-1981).

Marcos' decision of declaring martial law was the window of innumerable human rights abuses. Such dark part of our nation's history was the reason why the Writ of Habeas Corpus was suspended, thereby resulting to several missing dissidents to the government. As a result the families of the missing ones who were against Marcos could not petition the courts to produce the bodies of their loved ones for the pure and simple reason that the issuance of the Writ of Habeas Corpus by the courts was suspended.

Also, under the said forgettable epoch of our nation's history, the military was given immense powers by the president by giving the military big whigs during those hard and trying times vast military powers including the issuance of the so-called ASO or the Arrest and Seizure Order, a power which should have been solely enjoyed by the the courts only. These events contributed to the massive human rights abuses on the part of the military which even resulted to tortures, rapes and even executions by the so-called defenders of the state against some of the political activists whose aim and purpose was just to ask peace and justice for the good of the Filipino people during that forgettable era.

It is true that Ferdinand Marcos the most beloved son of Batac did not personally torture, rape and execute his oppositionist during his reign as the undisputed national leader of the republic, but because of his Presidential Decree 1081 a proclamation which placed the entire Philippine Islands under military power, the atrocities like rapes, tortures and executions happened, thus he was responsible for those reprehensible acts committed by the military under the so-called COMMAND RESPONSIBILITY DOCTRINE.

One big proof that Marcos was guilty of human rights violations was the decision of the Federal District Court of the United States of America based in Hawaii through the Honorable Judge Manuel Real finding the late strongman liable for the atrocities his administration committed via Martial Rule. This fact cannot be ignored by the one hundred million Filipino people for this decision has been written by the above court in the interest of justice without favor and fairly to all parties be they anti or pro Marcos.

Now the question is this, does Marcos have the right to be buried in the hallowed grounds of the LIBINGAN NG MGA BAYANI for being a former head of state and former soldier of the land when he himself violated the human rights of the same people who overwhelmingly voted him in power way back in 1965? Will the looming hero's burial of Marcos not desecrate the graves of the fallen heroes being buried there? To my fellow Filipinos, the answer is in your hands for one of the reasons why this country, the land of the Maharlikans called the Philippines is existing as one of the freedom loving countries in the world is YOU.

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION GIPIRMAHAN NA NI PANGULO RODRIGO DUTERTE PINAAGI SA USA KA EXECUTIVE ORDER

By Bayawanon

Ang FREEDOM OF INFORMATION usa ka lakang sa Kongreso ug sa Senado kaniadto apan walay igong suporta sa mga Senador ug Kongresista sa duha ka balay balaoranan sa atong Republika sa Pilipinas. Ang tuyo ug tumong niini mao ang paglantaw sa gobyerno sa mga record sa atong mga opisyales ug sa mga record sa mga opisina sa atong gobyero. Tungod niini ang posibilidad nga KORAPSYON nga posibleng mahimo sa atong mga opisyales mapakgang ug ma menos-menosan.

Ang FREEDOM OF INFORMATION wala gisuportahan sa kinabag-an sa mga puilitiko tungod siguro kay naa sila'y nabuhat nga dili maayo. Apan sa dihang nilansad si kanhi Davao Mayor ug kasamtangang Pangulo Rodrigo Duterte siya nanumpa sa pagpalusot sa FREEDOM OF INFORMATION dili pinaagi sa usa ka balaodnon nga nagagikan sa KONGRESO ug sa SENADO apan pinaagi sa iyang opisina sa pagka pangulo pinaagi sa pagpasar niini sa usa ka EXECUTIVE ORDER.

Ang wala nahimo sa mga Kongresista ug mga Senador sa pipila ka mga katuigan nahimo lamang sa atong halangdong Pangulo Duterte sa sulod lamang sa pipila ka mga semana. Ako nagalaum nga ang pag pangawkaw sa atong dili halangdong mga lider maputol na unta pinaagi niining EXECUTIVE ORDER sa FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ug nga kini mamahimo untang sukaranan sa dili mapugngan nga pag asenso sa atong nasud, ang Perlas sa Silangan, ang yutang tabunon, ang Republika sa Pilipinas. Hinaut pa unta

ASIAN ALLIANCE WILL DEFEAT CHINA

By Bayawanon

After The Philippines won in the case it filed against China before the United Nations Arbitral Tribunal of the Law of the Seas where the latter did not honor, the Philippines and her Southeast Asian neighbors like Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei and the East Asian neighbor Taiwan can still be victorious over China by way of multilateral talks by way of an alliance. Japan and India may also join the fray against China for the same countries have also axes to grind with China.

The multilateral talks between the South East Asian Countries which China bullied by way of owning the Spratlys and the Paracels through her NINE DASH LINE DOCTRINE can be had diplomatically. These countries may request China to abandon the islets and islands it is presently occupying for violating the provisions of the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Seas as a matter of fact China lost to the Philippines in a legal battle before the International Tribunal on the Law of the Seas.

If China would insist her ownership over the islets and islands at the West Philippine Sea nee South China Sea, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Vietnam and Taiwan may form a military coalition to combat China and retake what belongs to them. This military coalition or alliance can be strengthened if Japan which has a territorial dispute with China and India which has also border dispute with the communist country will join the fray and make China pay her aggression over them.

If China would continue her military presence in the disputed islands in the Spratlys and the Paracels which would constitute a violation of the Exclusive Economic Zones of the respective country claimants, the freedom of navigation of many countries including Japan and India would be affected for China would then be acting as a continental traffic policeman. This may anger Japan and India which have a history of hostilities with China before.

The 1962 border struggle between China and India at the Himalayas would then be awakened by way of this happening not to mention the efforts of China in blocking India for the latter to be a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and China's support of Pakistan against India in the diplomatic row between the two.

These things would force India side with the Philippines and company, and if Japan also jumps in favor of China's opponents, then China would be then transformed from a world power to a growling Chinese paper tiger.

SENATOR PACQUIAO MUST STOP FIGHTING

By Bayawanon

During the campaign period Emmanuel "Manny" Dapidran Pacquiao would keep on telling the people that if he's gonna be elected senator of the land he would not fight anymore since the senate needs one hundred percent attendance for him to really serve the people. Now, his promoter Bob Arum, probably the greatest matchmaker of all time and his trainer, the multi-awarded Freddie Roach are now preparing for a possible Manny Pacquiao fight before the year ends. If this is gonna happen this would run counter to his promise to the people, anyway ... "promises are made to be broken" as they would say it.

Pacquiao could still have effectively serve the people if he only run for congressman during the last elections since he can still be in the lower house and at the same time give honor and glory for the Filipino flag as a boxer. To me being a congressman does not need full attendance for one to be good. At the age of thirty seven (37), Pacquiao is still as strong as Samson and can still fight the best in his division, he would still have twenty (20) million dollar fights 'til he finish his last term as congressman had he sought for re-election and he could have made us continually proud of being Filipinos each time he waves the Philippine flag atop the ring and pummeling boxers of international caliber, hence I believe that his run for the senate was inopportune and not in time.

Becoming a senator-boxer would be unthinkable for one since by doing so it would make the senate a cheap institution of the state, it would make the senate nothing but a boxing stable and it would make the people who voted for him political ignorants. The senate is the house of many national leaders whose remarkable records are already etched in the annals of the history of Philippine public service, the senate is the home of respectable statesmen who made a difference of what the Philippines it is already at the moment. The senate was the haven of the great legislators like Arturo Tolentino, Sergio Osmena Sr., Manuel L. Quezon, Raul Manglapus, Emmanuel Pelaez, Lorenzo Tanada, Jovito Salonga, Sergio Osmena Jr., Benigno Aquino Jr. etc. hence it must be respected with full dedication by having full attendance.

How can Senator Pacquiao be a good senator if he would then just be a part time law maker? How can he fare well with the above-mentioned senators if he would continue fighting atop the squared ring? I'm not saying that he can't be a good senator, what I'd like to drive at here is this, he must stop fighting and focus his time to pass laws for the good of the people for clearly " salus populi est suprema lex" the welfare of the people is the supreme law.

A Discussion on the Philippines' South China Sea Arbitration Case

THE U.N. PEACEKEEPING FORCE IS NEEDED IN THE SPRATLYS

By Bayawanon

After the rendition of the United Nations Arbitral Court of the Law of the Seas regarding its decision in the territorial impasse between China and the Republic of the Philppines where the International Court favored the Philippines and after China ignoring the same decision by the said court, I believe that the proposal of Philippine Senator Panfilo Lacson that the peacekeeping force of the United Nations shall be stationed in the Spratlys Islands be given ample consideration.

As we all know there are many country claimants in the mineral rich islands of the Spratlys. Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunie, Vietnam, Taiwan, China and the Philippines are the country claimants of the said group of islands. Almost all of the claimants aside from China claim that part of the Spratlys belong to them and fall; under the Exclusive Economic Zone of their respective countries. China on the other hand claims all of the Spratlys group of islands not basing on the United Nation's Convention of the Law of the Seas or UNCLOS but by virtue of the so-called NINE DASH LINE an alleged old map dating back from the olden monarchies of China.

China flexed her military and naval might in asserting her territorial claims and by attempting to own the WEST PHILIPPINE SEA nee SOUTH CHINA SEA by way of the NINE DASH LINE over other claimants, hence the Philippines with the backing of her co-claimant states asked the legal succour of the U.N. Arbitral Court of the Law of the Seas to settle the legal issues anchored on the averments of both parties. Luckily the U.N. Arbitral Court on the Law of the Seas favored the other claimant states as represented by the Philippines.

 Now ,we have a great dilemma, China would not honor the claims of the other claimant states as represented by the Philippines and continues her stand regarding her claims over the Spartlys and the West Philippine Sea, such development may trigger a shooting war between China and the alliance of the claimant states namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunie, Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines. Other countries aside from the above-named states like Japan, India, Australia, the United States may also join their cause against China since they are already affected by the recent standoff between China and her opponents regarding international navigation since China acts as if she is now a traffic policeman if not the owner of the West Philippine Sea or South China Sea.

In view of the foregoing arguments and premises, I hope and pray that the United Nations' Peacekeeping Force be stationed in the Spratlys and that its naval forces would patrol the West Philippine Sea or South China Sea so that peace would be installed over the said disputed islands and sea and that friendship and amity between the countries concerned would continue. So be it.

THE GREAT IRONY

By Bayawanon

Many poor but mentally talented Filipino students want to study in good, reputable and illustrious schools like Ateneo de Manila, De La Salle University, San Beda College, University of Santo Tomas, University of San Carlos, etc. but they can't afford to go to such schools because of the sky-high tuition fees, hence most of them would try their luck to apply for government scholarships through examinations in government-owned but excellent schools like the University of the Philippines (UP), Philippine Military Academy (PMA), Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) etc. The government and the state expect so much from these young people who would probably lead The Philippines in the near future since they have the likings of good servants or leaders in the near future since they have the intellect future leaders may have.

The government schools that I have enumerated above are good training grounds for future good public servants, leaders, and masters of their chosen field of studies. The students there are excellently trained and guided by their professors, aside from the fact that they are free from tuition fees, they also have freeboard and lodging and also have allowances. In the case of the PMA and PNPA Cadets, they are already considered as members of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines from day one of their student life in the military and police academies which they entered, hence they enjoy already military and police privileges while still students/cadets, but along the line, there can be problems of the state which is even invented or perpetrated by the students funded or formerly financed by the same.

Some of us know that there are radical students from the University of the Philippines who would join the rallies of the militant or leftist groups with the aim of trying to overthrow, change or overhaul the government or even the state. Some of them graduated from UP and after which even established revolutionary groups to overthrow the government. In the case of some graduates of the Philippine Military Academy, there were a few of them who tried to sabotage the peace and security situation of our country by staging a coup de tat's for them to take control of the country who actually made them.

The saddest part of it is this, some alumni of the Philippine Military Academy and the Philippine National Police Academy who is now in military and police service are now actually trying to destroy the institution where they belong by practicing corruption within the service. Some of them are even protecting big people who are indulge in illegal activities like illegal gambling, smuggling, gun running, illegal drugs trade, etc.

These reprehensible acts of the former POOR STUDENTS who are expected to lead the Filipino people by example because of the good training and discipline that they got from their august and illustrious alma maters are infamous and forgettable for they are actually destroying the country which made them who they are today, and to me, that constitutes as THE GREAT IRONY.

WHEN THE BULLIED BECOMES THE BULLY

By Bayawanon

After the Sino-Japanese War where China lost to Japan, China became nothing but a property of different countries. She was divided into a sphere of influence of different strong countries like Japan, Britain, Portugal, etc. Manchuria fell to the hands of the Japanese, Hong Kong became a colony of Britain even before the Sino-Japanese War and Macau became a protectorate of Portugal even during the 1490s. For many years China was nothing but a sleeping giant.

But the time came when the giant had awakened from a long slumber, the democratic General Chiang-Kai-Shek and the communist Mao-Tse-Tung agreed to have a ceasefire from the Civil War and unite with each other with the common goal of repulsing the Japanese during the Second World War. The duo's forces became victorious and China became independent from the hands of the foreign invaders.

After the Second World War, the Civil War between the democrats and the communists continued with the communists eventually winning the war. General Chiang-Kai-Shek fled mainland China and went to Taiwan to establish the democratic Kuomintang government there. After the Chinese Civil War, Mao-Tse-Tung became the undisputed leader of China and the same became a communist state.

Mao-Tse-Tung brought reforms to China, one of which was the Chinese Industrial Revolution which paved the way for the industrialization of China. After such an important part of China's history, she never became the same again for she was transformed into an industrialized and militarized country. China is now a permanent member of the Security Council of the United Nations and she landed as the second biggest economy of the world.

China became militarily aggressive after the Second World War and the Chinese Civil War, she sided with North Korea and Russia in the forgettable Korean War and also aided North Vietnam in the infamous Vietnam War. She repulsed and crushed the rights of her citizens, the biggest human rights violation she committed was the Tiananmen Square massacre where hundreds of protesting students against totalitarianism where annihilated. After such a bloody part of Chinese history the people stopped from complaining and development was fast-tracked.

Now China wants to own everything in the Pacific and the West Philippine Sea nee South China Sea specifically the Spratly Islands and the Paracel Islands with pure dependence on their Nine-Dash-Line Theory which are not in corollary to international law and the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS). China is now trying to show the whole world the anger of a hegemon which was once upon a time a bullied giant which turned out to be an international bully through the rolling of time.

THE SECOND GREATEST BALLER OF ALL TIME

Michael Jeffrey Jordan is widely regarded as the GOAT (greatest of all time) of basketbal and I believe that he really is. I also believe that all of the active basketball players in the planet are contesting only for the second greatest. Now the question is this ... who is the second greatest basketball player of all time?

I believe that LeBron James is the second greatest player the basketball world has ever seen, at nineteen years of age he entered the most prestigious basketball league of the world which is the National Basketball Association (NBA) as one of the youngest and he eventually won the Rookie of the Year Award the same year he entered the league.

At 31 LeBron has already reached the NBA finals seven times six of which happened successively which seldomly happens in the league. James also became the youngest NBA player to ever reach 5,000 points, 10,000 points, 15,000 points, 20,000 points and 25,000 points respectively and is expected to be the youngest to reach 30,000 points in NBA history.

LeBron James is a four time regular season Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awardee of the National Basketball Association and just recently got his third Most Valuable Player Award at the NBA Finals. During the 2016 Finals he captained his illustrious NBA Team the Cleveland Cavaliers to secure the NBA Championship after trailing the Golden State Warriors 3-1 and overtake the same and won over the former, bear in mind that no NBA team has ever recovered from a 3-1 deficit.

Because of these reasons I believe that the prediction of those basketball pundits that the then teenager from Akron, Ohio, LeBron James would be the future of basketball came true for I really believe that he really is the second greatest basketball player of all time next to the great Chicago Bull Michael Jordan.

MODERNIZE THE ARMED FORCES FOR THE PHILIPPINES TO GAIN INTERNATIONAL RESPECT

By Bayawanon

The United States is trying to maintain the status quo as the leading military power of the world, Russia is rebuilding her lost military might during its lost glory as a communist state and China is doubling if not tripling her efforts to have one of the strongest military in the modern era for purposes of territorial expansion. These countries are doing their best to be known and respected internationally through their military strength, these things are being done by great countries as part of their so-called POLICY OF PRESTIGE. In conjunction to this, the Philippines must also follow suit in order for her not to be left behind internationally, continentally (Asian continent) and regionally (ASEAN region).

The Philippines must really improve her military prowess so as to strengthen its claims at the Spratly islands, and to possibly defend herself from any foreign aggression and also to easily solve the insurgency problems it is facing. But how can the Philippines improve its national defense when it has shortage of logistics to improve the same? The answer is self help, the Philippines must economize, the same should have her own ship yard in order for its government to build naval ships, if there are many ship yards everywhere in the Philippines for commercial and fishing purposes so why can't the Philippines not build ship yards for naval or military development? If this would happen the Philippine government can economize by not importing ships from foreign countries.

The Philippines need not import guns and ammunition also from other countries for there are Filipinos who are skilled enough to make the same, the Philippine government can easily tap the abilities of the underground gun makers of  Danao City and develop their skills and be producers of the guns and ammunition the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police are badly needing.

Another way for the Philippines to be militarily competitive is to build Junior Military Academies (high school level) which are very prevalent in the United States, in connection to this high school students whose ambitions are to be military officers in the future may enter in the junior military schools/academies which would be funded by the government whose sole purpose is to develop the military skills and leadership of the youth as a prelude to a possible entry to the Philippine Military Academy and Philippine National Police Academy and as a preparation to a possible outstanding military career.

I hope that my propositions may be given an iota of weight by the government for it is my duty as a citizen to be part of developing my own motherland, the land of the Malayan race, the Pearl of the Orient Seas, the Republic of the Philippines. So be it.

MIGHT IS RIGHT IN INTERNATIONAL LAW

By Bayawanon

Sometimes in the '80s, a South Korean commercial plane was shut down by a Russian air force plane for having flown over at Russian air space, former American President Ronald Reagan dubbed such forgettable incident as a massacre in the sky. The countries of the passengers of such South Korean passenger airplanes went to the United Nations Security Council and asked such an international body to discipline Russia (formerly U.S.S.R.) or to let the same show cause why any sanction should not be meted on her for such act. Russia never appeared before the United Nations Security Council for the same is a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council who has a vetoing power over matters cognizable by such international council and such a case is now moot and academic because of the same argument.

Also in the early '80s during the Carter Presidency of the United States, many American citizens were kidnapped in Iran, such acts were possible retaliation of the Iranian government against the United States for siding with Iraq on its war with Iran. When Ronald Reagan succeeded James Carter as president of America, Reagan then ordered the freezing of all assets of Iran which can all be found in America as a sentence for messing against the United States.

During the present epoch, China is trying to own everything over at the West Philippine Sea, the Philippines went to the United Nations Tribunal of the Seas to protest for China's act of getting islands of the Philippines which are well within its Exclusive Economic Zone but China never submitted herself to the jurisdiction of the said international court and instead continues to stand on her contention that the West Philippine Sea a.k.a. The South China Sea belongs to her.

All of the above-mentioned happenings were/are not in consonance with International Law, such acts of the above-named gargantuan countries (China, United States, and Russia) were/are in defiance of International Law with one common denominator and that is ... they are all permanent members of the U.N. Security Council who has the power to veto cases filed against them at the same international body and that they are all superpowers on their own rights. Plenty of similar cases had also happened but the same happenings keep on rewinding, hence I have only one thing to say regarding this, that clearly MIGHT is REALLY RIGHT in INTERNATIONAL LAW.

TWO PARTY SYSTEM MUST BE RESTORED

By Bayawanon

There's only one way to prevent political turncoatism in the Philippines and that would be to return back to a two-party system. How could a politician be a turncoat if there are only two political parties in the country? The reason why there is no political turncoatism in America is this, there are only two political parties there. If you are a Republican and you don't like to be one anymore then you have to change your party, that's not political turncoatism, that's a change of party purely and simply, but if we are living in a multi-party system country just like ours, any politician may change his party even three times a year and that would tantamount to simple political maneuvering for purposes of political convenience. This political practice must be stopped to foster LOYALTY to every politician or every would-be politician, for how can he be loyal to his country when he is not even loyal to his party?

Before the 1973 Constitution came into being by virtue of Marcos' iron hand there were only two political parties in the Philippines ... the Liberal and Nacionalista parties, but after the ill-fated 1973 Constitution was born, Parliamentary System of governance also existed in the Philippines from 1973 until 1986, and one of the bad features of a Parliamentary System of government is this, many political parties would sprout and many political butterflies (politicians) would also fly/transfer from one party to another for purposes of political convenience.

When Marcos was ousted from power by virtue of a popular PEOPLE POWER REVOLT, a Revolutionary Government under Corazon "Cory" Cojuangco Aquino's leadership was born, one year after then, the 1987 Philippine Constitution came into being and the Presidential Form (just like the 1935 Constitution kind of government) of governance was restored, however, the multi-party system of the Marcos era was retained, thereby creating a hybrid type of governance which is PRESIDENTIAL FORM of governance which has also the feature of a PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM for it also foments multi-party system.

This political development is really the problem for it encouraged the politicians to change parties when they feel like they have to change political parties for purposes of political convenience and security, an example of this was when General Fidel Valdez Ramos lost to Speaker Ramon Villarosa Mitra as the standard-bearer of Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino for president of the 1992 elections, Ramos eventually created his own political party christened as LAKAS TAO (Lakas-NUCD) and went on to win the presidency. This kind of political trending is already prevalent nowadays and this has to be stifled for it forms part already of our bad political tradition. I hope that this problem is addressed properly to avert the cases of political turncoatism for it is a Philippine political sickness that must be treated for the sake of our county's and posterity's future. Amen.