What is LEGAL may not always be right and MORAL

Much to my dismay as a constituent of this beloved Republic and shame as a Filipino, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had the gall to file her certificate of candidacy as member of Congress. I have resigned to the idea that I will have to bear with a President who is as heartless as she is greedy for power, as corrupt as she commits all forms of blunder. I figured it will only be six months more until I will see the dawn of the new day for this country. But lo and behold! She clings like monkey to her post! Now wasn't that part of her SONA?

Whether or not she can run can be addressed in two ways. First, in accordance to the laws of man and Second, based on the ordinance of reason compounded from moral values in recognizance to a higher form of being.

The laws of man is not perfect and yet this is the instrument by which every sovereign is assured of a just and orderly government. Reigning supreme in the Philippines is our 1987 Constitution under which law, the President is disqualified from seeking any reelection which by definition clearly means running for the same office. Obviously, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is not seeking for reelection but as member of Congress. Absent any of the disqualifications for one to become congressman, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo may thus, run for Congress.

Looking at this issue on a more wider perspective and taking into consideration the wisdom of the law as well the moral, ethical and Filipino traditional values, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo can not and should not run for any other office after her term as President of the Republic. To be President of the Republic is a position that requires utmost dignity which must be wielded by someone with probity at all times even after serving his/her term of office. Upon assumption of office, the Chief Executive has six (6) years to serve the Filipino people and realize his/her vision for the country after which she should pass it on to another person who so rightfully deserves to serve as well. In the case of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo she had nine (9) years. Nine (9) years to prove her worth but patently failed. Nine (9) years of growing a deaf ear from all the clamor and protest from an obviously dismayed constituent. And despite serving for a long period of time, she still had the nerve to say she is not ready to step down from public office. She was supposed to have reached her peak, the twilight years of her public service after achieving the highest position of the land and yet she is willing to sell herself low and short if only to stick like glue to fame and power. If that is not lack of self worth and delicadeza then I do not know what else to call it.

We do not need a law in order to know that Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo could not and should not run for reelection or any other elective position. For just as man is an imperfect being creating an imperfect law, there is a higher form of law which although unwritten exists right within in the confines of natural law and the dictates of our conscience. For what is legal may not always be right and moral.
Man being a rational being is given a wide latitude of knowing what is right from wrong, and clearly Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo either refuses to see what is right or is just too desperate to cover up her wrong.

ThE IRoNy of TwO FiGHteRs

In the Philippines, Boxing is a sport that is denominated by persons who belong to the 3rd class. Mostly if not all, come from poor provincial families, are out of school and would opt to have their body bruised in an attempt to gain victory, fame and fortune thereby making their lives better. Not realizing the risks or if they do, its one they are willing to gamble.

Over the years, we have come to embrace boxing as a sport in which Philippines excel. As a matter of fact, among the few (if any) medals our country has won in the Olympics, i think boxing is one (of the few, ofcourse!) And in the recent years, we have come to appreciate the game and take pride of our players both in the professional and amateur levels.

Just this weekend, we have witnessed two of our pride fearlessly face the challenge in the ring. Z 'the dream" Gorres and Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao. Both come from the grass roots. Both of them dreamed to be champions and dared to take the risk in the hope of making their lives better through boxing. And both of them made the Philippines proud after beating their opponents.

But there ended the similarity of their fate. For while Pacman, after beating up Cotto will still continue to gooble up any fighter and bag more millions, Z Gorres' dreams has turned into a nightmare. His victory against Melendez last Friday ended his boxing career and God forbid, his life. As Manny Pacquiao savors his hard earned winnings by splurging on designer labels and partying with glam society's whose who, Z Gorres winnings will most likely be eaten up by hospital bills. I bet Pacman's promoters are now in the wraps for his next fight (paging Mayweather :p) and up to now I'm still glued to the tube to catch the latest update on the status of Z Gorres whose condition is still uncertain.

The lights went brighter for one fighter.. the lights went off for the other. Both of them dreamed, risked and fought the fight. Fate was kind to one yet cruel to the other. This is their story, the irony of the two fighers.

Breaking Dawn for the PiNOYs

I have recently posted a blog criticizing presidential wannabees for their advertisements that seem to account their achievements in public service while shouting to the whole world that they are as poor as the poorest "Juan". These ads somehow try so hard to convince that they love the country so much by mingling with the poor whose names i bet they don't actually know.

However, yesterday I saw an advertisement that caught my attention. Not only because it was star studded but because unlike the brouhaha-ish ads i have grown so tired of watching (it makes me want to puke already) this advertisement has somehow made me want to take part in making this country better and that WE can make it better. The song actually speaks about telling a potential leader that this election, the presidency and running this country is not his feat but the entire country's and that this time, he will not be alone because the Filipino has now awaken to the stark reality that this country, the Philippines is still worth it.

The video symbolically showed that in this dark days, we are all the torch bearers. As bearers, we carry the light by standing up, moving forward and passing it on to others so that they may become bearers of the light like us. And that as we move forward in unity, soon we shall see the light. In time this nation's dark days will be over, the dawn has broken for us PiNOYs and soon we shall see the light just as the sun will rise again.

Oh, you may catch the link at this site- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W16OSkUNNd8

Souls and Sirens

Don't you hate it when you hear a siren from behind the back of your car and then you panic to switch lane so the vehicle can pass only to know it's just one those "eyebrow-raising so-called who are you VIP" passing through.. and there you are all caught in the traffic..

Well, there is actually a law as to who can use these sirens.. and the rest are supposed to be ordinary souls like us... Reading Sassy Lawyer's Blog, someone tipped her off about this video and this is so true here in the islands..