Just My Two Cents

The 14th Congress of the Republic of the Philippines opened last June. It’s been about 5 months since then…Ano na ba ang ginagawa ng mga senador ngayon? People mainly see all of their investigations (in aid of legislation or whatever purposes it may serve the country). But looking at their core competency (crafting laws), how are they performing?

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago mentioned in a radio interview that senators normally get P43,000 per month as their base salary. In addition, they get around P1.3 Million per month for their staff. Yes folks…senators are not solomonic in their wisdom - they need a staff of people to coach them on what to say and when to say it, research bills for them and basically be at their beck and call. Add to this, travel allowances for “official” trips within the country and abroad. And before I forget, senators are also given individual pork barrel funds. I am not privy to the number but let’s just say it’s P200 Million each annually for simplicity’s sake (the actual number might be higher than this). All in all, each senator gets an annual salary of P516,000 PLUS an annual staff allowance of  P15,600,000 PLUS their pork barrel of P200,000,000 PLUS travel and other allowances which I can’t estimate at this point. Bottom Line: That’s a lot of money not to mention taxpayer’s blood, toil, tears and sweat!

How then do our esteemed senators use this money for the betterment of the Filipino nation? Tough question?

SENATOR: Edgardo Angara, AB, LLB, LLM
BILLS FILED: 78
EXAMPLE OF BILLS FILED:
Renewable Energy Reserves Act of 2007 (filed June 30)
Children’s Health Insurance Program (filed June 30)
Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers (filed June 30)
Compressed Workweek/Flextime Arrangement (filed July 3)
My Comment: Angara’s experience in legislation is clearly evident here. Most of his bills are national in scope and addresses key areas where legislation is either lacking or inadequate.

SENATOR: Benigno Aquino III, BSBE
BILLS FILED: 1
EXAMPLE OF BILLS FILED:
Workers’ Productivity Incentives Act of 2007 (filed July 26)
My Comment: He’s probably in the throes of the neophyte jinx. Or maybe he’s emulating his father, the late Sen. Benigno Aquino, Jr. - who is not known for being prodigous when it comes to legislation.

SENATOR: Joker Arroyo, AA, LLB
BILLS FILED: 0
My Comment: One of my favorite legislators because of his brilliant mind and the power of his arguments. But it seems that Tumatanda na yata si Joker…

SENATOR: Rodolfo Biazon, BSME
BILLS FILED: 44
EXAMPLE OF BILLS FILED:
Public School Teachers Tax Incentive Act (filed July 3)
Anti-Torture Act (filed June 30)
AFP Chief of Staff (Fixed Term) (filed June 30)
My Comment: I must say, Biazon has developed from a bumbling neophyte senator to someone whom I would call “average/above average"

SENATOR: Pia Cayetano, BSBE, LLB
BILLS FILED: 32
EXAMPLE OF BILLS FILED:
Mt. Balatukan Range Natural Park Act of 2007 (filed July 4)
Granting The Governor The Power To Solemnize Marriages (filed July 4)
My Comment: Most of the bills she filed are for the creation of obscure national parks. Remember that the environment is only one of the many focus areas of a senator. Hmmm…Is giving governors the power to marry people a critical need of the country?

SENATOR: Alan Peter Cayetano, AB, JD
BILLS FILED: 0
My Comment: Cayetano is being true to himself and being consistent. He was a do-nothing congressman…He is a do-nothing senator now…so much for being the chairman of the powerful Senate Blue Ribbon Committee (Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations)

SENATOR: Miriam Defensor-Santiago, AB, LLB, MAT, LLM, JSD
BILLS FILED: 189
EXAMPLE OF BILLS FILED:
Battered Women’s Testimony Act of 2007 (filed July 24)
Anti-Discrimination Act (filed July 24)
Government Recycling Act of 2007 (filed July 18)
National Drug & Crime Emergency Act (filed July 5)
Government Data Privacy Protection Act of 2007 (filed July 4)
Anti-Hazing Law (filed July 4)
My Comment: Quite prolific…Seasoned legislator…

SENATOR: Jinggoy Estrada, AB, LLB
BILLS FILED: 430
EXAMPLE OF BILLS FILED:
Breast Care Centers (filed July 3)
Prostate Cancer Public Awareness Act (filed July 3)
Ambulant Vendors Protection Act (filed July 3)
Aviation Noise Limit Act (filed July 3)
Mother’s Day Act (filed July 3)
Electoral Fraud (filed July 2)
My Comment: He authored a bill Protecting ambulant vendors - I just hope this is not similar to that STUPID Lina Law protecting squatters! Aviation noise and Mother’s Day - Is this critical to national development? I looked at his other bills and I think he is listed as co-authors of other bills filed by other senators…Not all his bills are originally his…

SENATOR: Juan Ponce Enrile, AB, LLB, LLM
BILLS FILED: 16
EXAMPLE OF BILLS FILED:
Value-Added Tax Exemption on Sale of Services (filed July 25)
Philippine Anti-Trust Act (filed June 30)
My Comment: The quintessential political gadfly…but his performance in the senate is quite exemplary…He filed only a few bills but these are quite noteworthy in its scope and impact…

SENATOR: Francis Escudero, AB, LLB, LLM
BILLS FILED: 13
EXAMPLE OF BILLS FILED:
Anti-Influence Peddling Act of 2007 (filed July 17)
My Comment: Neophyte beady-eyed senator…Got his baptism of fire when he was verbally “bitch-slapped” by Miriam during interpellations…

SENATOR: Richard Gordon, AB, LLB
BILLS FILED: 29
EXAMPLE OF BILLS FILED:
Used Motor Vehicles Regulations Act of 2007 (filed July 16)
Volunteer Act of 2007 (filed June 30)
Disaster Preparedness & Mitigation Act of 2007 (filed June 30)
My Comment: I think some of his bills merit discussion within the Senate. His bill on disaster preparedness is something which should be considered as the Philippines has been declared as the “most disaster-prone country in the world” e.g. volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, typhoons etc. Had the Indian Ocean tsunami hit the Philippines, we might have been blown back to the Stone Age given our level of preparedness…

SENATOR: Gregorio Honasan, BS, MBM
BILLS FILED: 2
EXAMPLE OF BILLS FILED:
National Security Act of 2007 (filed June 30)
My Comment: It is surprising that Honasan would file a bill on national security…The better to undermine the republic should he pull another coup attempt again? Imagine this, a soldier who led coup attempts to destroy the democratic pillars of the country - now crafting laws for the very republic he once tried to destroy? What can I say?

SENATOR: Panfilo Lacson, AB, MGM
BILLS FILED: 27
EXAMPLE OF BILLS FILED:
Philippine Air Force Academy (filed June 30)
National Reference Card System Act of 2007 (filed June 30)
Anti-Wiretapping Law (filed June 30)
My Comment: Honestly, this guy scares the hell out of me…

SENATOR: Lito Lapid, BS (Hon.)
BILLS FILED: 44
EXAMPLE OF BILLS FILED:
Caregiver Act of 2007 (filed July 3)
Senior Citizen’s Discount on Petroleum Products (filed July 3)
Medical Tourism Act (filed June 30)
Road Safety for Children’s Act (filed June 30)
My Comment: He surprised me…I wasn’t expecting much but he actually filed 44 bills…Wow! And some of them are not that bad (for his caliber that is)

SENATOR: Loren Legarda, AB, MNSA
BILLS FILED: 97
EXAMPLE OF BILLS FILED:
Journalist Welfare & Reputation Act of 2007 (filed July 26)
Productivity Incentives Act of 2007 (filed July 4)
Botica sa Barangay Act (filed June 30)
Islamic Calendar (filed June 30)
My Comment: If we have a gadfly, I can say she’s the political butterfly (or was it prostitute as Col. Victor Corpuz once so eloquently retorted)

SENATOR: Jamby Madrigal, BS, MDM
BILLS FILED: 18
EXAMPLE OF BILLS FILED:
Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park (filed June 30)
Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation (Repealing) (filed June 30)
My Comment: Bills about national parks? Aren’t there more important things? Repealing the Oil Deregulation Law? She probably thinks this will reduce the price of petroleum…Somebody should teach this woman that petroleum is expensive EVERYWHERE…Even in the USA, people are grumbling about gas…If the most powerful nation on earth couldn’t bring down the price of gas, does she think the Philippine Senate can? A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing…especially if you’re in the Senate…

SENATOR: Francis Pangilinan, AB, LLB, MPA
BILLS FILED: 29
EXAMPLE OF BILLS FILED:
Overseas Filipinos Investment Act (filed July 18)
University of the Philippines Charter of 2007 (filed June 30)
Alien Social Integration Act of 2007 (filed June 30)
My Comment: This senator makes sense…His bills are a reflection of this fact…

SENATOR: Aquilino Pimentel, AB, LLB
BILLS FILED: 66
EXAMPLE OF BILLS FILED:
Foreign Consultants Identity Disclosure (filed July 4)
Private Hospital Assistance Act of 2007 (filed July 4)
Total Log Ban (filed June 30)
My Comment: It’s hard for me to make a rational assessment…Politics really do make strange bedfellows…

SENATOR: Ramon Revilla, Jr.
BILLS FILED: 105
EXAMPLE OF BILLS FILED:
Tanodbata Act (filed July 3)
Seniors Safety Act of 2007 (filed July 3)
Anti-Drag Racing Act (filed June 30)
National Film Archive (filed June 30)
My Comment: Another suprising performance…He has now exceeded his father’s performance in the Senate i.e. Revilla Sr. was the  ertswhile chairman of the Committee on Silence…

SENATOR: Mar Roxas, BS, MBA
BILLS FILED: 34
EXAMPLE OF BILLS FILED:
LPG Industry Act of 2007 (filed July 5)
Lemon Law Act of 2007 (filed June 30)
My Comment: A lot of consumer-related bills along the lines of his “Mr. Palengke” persona…Preparation for the presidency?

SENATOR: Antonio Trillanes IV, BS, MPA
BILLS FILED: 10
EXAMPLE OF BILLS FILED:
P125 Daily Across The Board Wage Increase (filed July 3)
My Comment: He filed a bill dictating the wage of workers. The Senate is not the body to dictate the wage of workers - it should be left to what the market can bear. Also, prescriptive legislation and market forces don’t mix…He might as well file a bill repealing the Law of Supply & Demand…

SENATOR: Manuel Villar, BSBA, MBA
BILLS FILED: 135
EXAMPLE OF BILLS FILED:
Credit Card Fraud Act (filed July 4)
Reduction of Metals In Packaging Act (filed July 4)
Prison Reform (filed June 30)
Books for the Barrios Act (filed June 30)
My Comment: Another seasoned senator…Or magaling lang ang legislative staff niya?

SENATOR: Juan Miguel Zubiri, BS
BILLS FILED: 1
EXAMPLE OF BILLS FILED:
Renewable Energy Act of 2007 (filed June 30)                                                              My Comment: Since he was the last senator to be declared winner, he probably didn’t have enough time to prepare much…

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago has announced her bid for one of the five seats in the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nations’ principal judicial organ. However, a veteran diplomat told the media that the feisty senator has at least two handicaps when she’s considered in the elections to the ICJ in New York in late 2008.

One, President Arroyo’s candidate doesn’t speak French. The official languages of the ICJ are English and French. Although ability to speak French is not required of candidates, French-speaking candidates have the edge in getting the support of influential countries and voting blocs.

Santiago’s other handicap, according to the diplomat, is more basic. To win a seat in the ICJ, she must get absolute majority votes in both the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council, which vote simultaneously but separately.

The question on the mind of the diplomat is: Does anyone think the Chinese will vote for Santiago after she insulted them in a recent Senate hearing on the national broadband network (NBN) contract by saying that the Chinese invented corruption? (Santiago later apologized to the Chinese Ambassador, and her apology was accepted.)

If Santiago does get a seat, she will be the second Filipino to sit in the ICJ. The first was former Supreme Court Chief Justice Cesar Bengzon, who sat in the ICJ from 1967 to 1976. If elected, Santiago would be entitled to an annual salary of P7.6 million (US$170,080), or roughly 18 times the salary of a Philippine senator.

While the Rizal governor and the Montalban mayor are completing their "kickback story" on landfill and solid waste management, Pampanga governor Fr. Ed Panlilio blew the whistle when he presented the P500 thousand money from Malacanang in cold cash. At first Panlilio said it was not a bribe money. But "heller," rarely does the government deliver bucks in cold cash and without any acknowledgment receipt! Well of course, Fr. Panlilio is a neophyte politician so probably he mistook the so-called "cash gift" as a donation for the church. So, taking a leap from Panlilio’s whistle-blowing, we could ask: Bakit may mga ganun? And why in cold cash? Hmmnnn…If this is the way transactions are being done under the Arroyo government, we can now believe the rumors…

Hey wait! Where’s ours? =P

"Relax, go with the flow." Hmmm…this is one concept that’s not very appealing to me. First, I do not relax. I believe in work. Second, I don’t want to be swept along with the flow. I want to impose what I want on things around me. Well that’s what I am and it worked for me (at least for the last 10 years, i guess) And then one time, during a a pay-day, I looked at my ATM account and realized that my expected pay had not come through and I was broke for the weekend.

This struck me as very unjust (like seeing it as a good example of social injustice) I know so well that I hadn’t slacked off. I’ve met my deadlines and all other stuffs to be included in the payroll - and I had to suffer like this? Basically I had two options: Get angry with the HR people which is pointless and tiring, or just acknowledge that there are circumstances that is beyond human control, pretend nothing happened and go with the flow. Patience is virtue as they would always say.Hahahaha! Somehow, the approach appealed to me and plus, I didn’t have much of a choice. I decided I would make no plans for the weekend. I’ll just lace around my room or face my laptop and check-out the net for some new ideas, or better yet do my routine work-out. I would simply drift. If friends asked me to join them I would, but I would not ask them first.Hehehe.. =P

The following day, a friend of mine texted me. He would be checking some new cross-training shoes since he just enrolled in a gym and asked if I would care to join him? I explain my situation that it’s a "Take-a-Broke-College-Instructor-and-Graduate-Student-in-a-Weekend-Shopping," and so he agreed to treat me lunch (Hehehe..imagine the horridness if your friends reply will be, "Oops, some other time, I guess?") We had chicken and pasta for lunch and afterwards we scoured the mall for cross-training shoes. Unexpectedly another friend decided to join us, so now its like shopping to the highest level (minus me spending, of course..)

As luck would have it, just before dinnertime, another friend texted me that she wanted to check the new menu in a restaurant and might want to hop in. Again I explain to her my situation and she decided to treat me for dinner. It’s a rainy and gusty weekend, perfect for hot plates and pork sinigang. =P

So, lesson learned: Just go with the flow and eventually you’ll get used to it (Now, it seems to be a very scary thought huh? Hehehe!)

I am still awake until this hour (4:49 am) so I think I’ve had a lot of time to think today, and one of those things I’ve thought about is my “status” of being single. I’ve decided I love and hate it and can’t fall off the fence of this one. I know some or most of my friends are incapable of being single for a period of time longer than approximately two months without fretting and feeling desperately single.

Well these are my random thoughts:

I hate not having a companion of which is guaranteed to want to go out for coffee with me, or see a film, or simply visit the shops with. I know I could just invite friends, but often they are not available, or just too damn busy. When you’re a couple your partner is your guaranteed default.

I love the freedom! No-one to answer to, no-one calling up when you’ve stayed out too late… it’s the life of the free single and all of you out there should embrace it! hehehe! =P

I hate being the “wheel”. Familiar? If its you and a couple you’re the third wheel, if its you and two couples you’re the fifth wheel. It’s just not a scenario that I enjoy or is particularly inviting.

I love having a crush on someone secretly. These people don’t know, and nobody knows I that I feel this way. I have no intention on acting on these feelings more than possibly sending them messages, speaking to them and generally being in their presence. Its harmless, a little cute if I do say so myself, and just fun. I just like the feeling of butterflies when you see them unrepentantly or they reciprocate mild flirting.

I hate having to change from love to hate, but I hate more when you have to tell strangers/workmates/uni friends that your still single, a year or more after they ask. Its even worse when they are in their third or so relationship… or engaged and your still single, and aging, running out of time. Its crushing.

I hate rejection, and dating is full of it, and thus not worth the risk. Nothing is more soul-destroying than someone saying “sorry, your not my type”, or “its not working between us” when you don’t feel the same way. Ok, sure, I’ve gone off track a bit… but rejection is bad. Avoid rejection, blog instead. Geez, I’m lame.

I love being single.

I hate being single.

I will add to this if anything else comes up, but until then this is my little list of loves/hates when it comes to being single. =D