Editorial Cost of corruption Philippine Daily Inquirer First Posted 00:43:00 02/12/2008

The failed attempt of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyos administration to prevent Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr., former president of Philippine Forest Corp., from testifying on the $329-million National Broadband Network project has once again focused public attention on the perennial problem of corruption. Graft and corruption has been a fact of national life since post-Liberation days. Almost every administration has had its big and sensational graft cases. At every presidential election, one major issue that is always raised is graft and corruption. Opposition leaders denounce the graft being committed by the administration, but once they take over the reins of government, they also commit graft. Its just a case of different sets of people pigging out at the trough that is the national treasury at different times. Economist Alejandro Lichauco has said the Philippines is perennially in crisis because of the mortal mix of corruption and poverty and a consequent loss of popular confidence in government and the electoral process as instruments of change. The fatal mix, he said, is poverty so massive and so intense as to have degenerated into a problem of mass hunger, and corruption that is as massive as the massive poverty. A deadly mix, indeed, that is killing tens of thousands of people. Starting with the Ferdinand Marcos dictatorship, the Philippine crisis has been characterized not only by corruption and poverty but also by human rights abuses and a culture of impunity. Bruce Van Voorhis, a member of the Asian Human Rights Commission, said that these aspects of the life of the nation are linked: People are poor to a large extent because of wides pread corruption; those who wield political power violate peoples rights to attain and maintain tha t power; a lack of judicial punishment in the courts ensures impunity that permits corruption and human rights violations to continue. The cycle has sadly repeated itself for years. Corruption retards economic and social development, lowers the quality of public services and infrastructure and raises the prices of goods and services. In all these aspects, it is the poor who suffer the most because they cannot avail themselves, for instance, of the services of private doctors and hospitals or buy expensive goods. In some cases, corruption literally kills: for instance, a ship sinks and hundreds of people die because a coast guard officer was bribed to allow the overloaded, non-seaworthy vessel to leave port. In 2000, the World Bank estimated that the Philippines had lost $48 billion (P1.968 trillion) to corruption from 1977 to 1997. Think how many kilometers of roads and bridges and how many schoolhouses and hospitals that money could have built. Think of the other public infrastructure and public services that could have been improved with that kind of money. But all that public money went into the private pockets of corrupt, greedy government officials. Graft and corruption flourishes because of the culture of impunity. Have you heard of any big fish being convicted of corruption and plunder, except deposed president Joseph Estrada? Yes, Estrada was convicted of plunder, but he did not spend even a day in a real prison. Only six weeks after his conviction, he was pardoned by President Arroyo. Was that any way to set an example for the other grafters in government and to would-be grafters and plunderers? And so the graft and corruption continues. But from time to time a ray of light pierces the darkness and gives the nation hope that we might yet be able to start punishing the grafters. Such a ray was Lozada, whose courageous and forthright testimony at the Senate may yet save the nation from the grip of scandalous, graft-ridden deals. But whistleblowers like Lozada cannot, just by themselves, ensure a successful campaign against corruption. Graft and corruption has become so ingrained in the national life that it is considered normal. Ev en people like Lozada are ready to consider a 20-percent commission on government deals acceptable. But that should not be acceptable. A 20 -percent commission is an illegal and immoral tax on a poor and overburdened people. They have to realize this, watch every government transaction that may be tainted with graft, and denounce officials who are stealing taxpayers money -- their money. Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer. (2008). Cost of Corruption (Electronic version). Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Pope's condom stand backed Dont distort Pontiffs statement, Catholic leaders warn RH advocates By CHARISSA M. LUCI November 22, 2010, 5:11pm Pope Benedict XVI walks with his Pastoral Staff during a Mass at the St. Peters Basilica in Vatican on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2010. (AP) MANILA, Philippines Pro- and anti-advocates of Reproductive Health (RH) bill at the House of Representatives agreed on Monday with the statement of Pope Benedict XVI about the use of condom to fight human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), which is among the three killer diseases worldwide. But Catholic Church leaders appealed to RH bill advocates not to distort the meaning of the Popes statement. The Pope had said that condom use is acceptable in certain cases, notably to reduce the risk of HIV infection. Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga said he cannot disagree with the Pope when he accepted for the use of condoms to prevent the spread of AIDS, which has affected millions of lives globally. The Pope is absolutely right. Unless government pushes the use of condoms, a greater number of Filipinos will be lost to HIV that causes AIDS, which has become a grave public health threat, he said. Barzaga noted that in the Philippines, more than 100 new HIV cases are already being diagnosed and reported every month. Theres no telling how many cases are left undiagnosed or unreported monthly, Barzaga said. But, Paraaque Rep Roilo Golez, who authored House Bill 13 seeking to provide protection to unborn children, warned that the Popes statement cannot be considered as a license by RH people to promote condoms. It is only for male prostitutes with AIDS. Not like the pro-RH condoms which are meant to prevent life, he said. The RH people cannot use this to promote condoms. The RH objective in promoting condom is primarily to prevent life, and secondarily to prevent infection, he added. Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara said that the Popes pronouncement could impact the Catholic Churchs hard stance on contraceptives. It will have repercussions on the current debates in Congress on reproductive health and responsible parenthood, he pointed out. Gabriela Rep. Luz Ilagan, who is among the authors of the six RH bills pending at the Lower Chamber, described Popes declaration as an opening of the dark tunnel which can enlighten the Catholics and non-Catholics and lead the flock towards the light of understanding and acceptance of the realities of the times. She said the Pope already hinted the need for various quarters to mull over the passage of a comprehensive RH bill. If the Pope is widening the tunnel leading to truth wider, then we should not be more popish than the Pope. Then all can benefit from the light of change, she said. Davao del Sur Rep Marc Douglas Cagas IV said in view of the Popes statement, we should pass the RH bill. Eastern Samar Rep Ben Evardone, for his part, expressed hope that our local Catholic Church will take notice of that radical statement of the Pope to rethink their position on the issues of health and population. Bacolod City Rep Anthony Golez and Bagong Henerasyon Rep. Bernadette Herrera -Dy, who are co-authors of HB 19, welcomed Popes open-minded stance, but emphasized the need to protect and preserve life. DIWA Rep Emmeline Aglipay and CIBAC Rep Sherwin Tugna also agreed with their colleagues that the Popes statement is a positive sign for initiatives pushing for responsible sexuality. Responsible sexuality is an issue which a responsible Church should tackle head on. The Churchs role in social change and in taking part in solutions to prevalent social ills, such as the spread of HIV cannot be overemphasized, she said. Tugna said the Catholic Church is deliberately opening its doors to the use of condoms and other forms of contraceptives to address poverty and population explosion. But Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iniguez said pro-RH lawmakers should not distort the Popes statement for their own advantage. They misunderstood it. They should first understand wh at the Pope is really trying to say, he said in an interview. They should not use and distort it (meaning), added Iniguez. The chairman of the Public Affairs Committee of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines said contrary to what these people are saying, the Church has remained against the use of condoms and other artificial contraceptives. Bishop Emeritus of Novaliches Teodoro Bacani agreed with Iniguez, saying the interview of the Holy Father does not really point to the issue of condom use as a means of artificial contraceptive. The issue is not about birth control rather about AIDS prevention, he said over Church -run Radio Veritas. There are instances when the Church allows it (condom use) provided it is not for contraceptives but a defense against AIDS, added Bacani. CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Family and Life (ECFL) Executive Secretary Fr. Melvin Castro said they will not make a statement yet until they have received the statement of Vatican. We are expecting an official Vatican statement tomorrow from there, we shall make our own statement, he said in a text message. The House Committee on Population and Family Relations is set to tackle the six pending reproductive health bills this Wednesday, November 24. Source:
Luci, C. (2010). Popes Condom Stand Backed Up (Electronic version). Manila Bulletin.

10 THINGS I WILL DO TO PREPARE MYSELF FOR CHRISTMAS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. I will treat our house helpers with respect and not yell at them I will donate at least 10 canned goods to the needy. I will go carolling and donate part of it to charity. I will not ask for a lot of gifts from my parents. I will attend at least 1 Simbang Gabi. I will control my urge to buy expensive clothing and shoes. I will give a poor child a toy. I will say sorry to the people Ive hurt. I will return the things I borrowed but forgot to return. I will listen to the priests homily this time.

10 advices I will give to a teenager to live a chaste life: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Do not watch porn. Do not masturbate. Do not kiss torridly. Make yourself busy with other stuff to lessen thoughts about sex. Do not be a slave to your boyfriend/girlfriend. Do not believe in condom/contraceptive commercials. Stay away from green minded people. Do not be excited about having sex, it can wait. Stick to one relationship. Put your mind over your heart.