Dengvaxia Vaccine Controversy Reaction

Recently, there has been rumors that the Dengvaxia formulated by Sanofi Pasteur will soon be recalled due to the discovery on its adverse effects to the patients vaccinated with it that have not yet contacted Dengue firsthand.  A Public Health expert also a former DOH( Department of Health) Undersecretary, by Dr. Susan Pineda – Mercado have spoken on a very  recent interview that they had earlier advised the  DOH (Dept. of Health) to refrain from implementing the use of Dengvaxia although Sanofi Pasteur reps has reiterated that the country’s BFAD has approved of it way back in 2014. Also in an International Public Health Magazine published in 2015 – the general public has also been warned that on the first two years of vaccination, it can immunize individuals who have not had Dengue before BUT will soon suffer from severe Dengue infection after the two-year grace period, allegedly.

ASEAN Summit Editorial

The recently concluded 31st ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nation) held in the country last November 10-14, 2017 chaired by our esteemed President has brought new HOPE for the Filipino people.   It has also melted away the 'ice' among leaders who were intrigued by various controversies in social media. Some delicate issues between a concerned country has also been addressed.  Security Issues as well as Climate Change are

Greater Economic Integration

Easier trade negotiations, mutuall-beneficial trade liberalization and relations - creating more business opportunities and jobs for individuals.  That can only happen if more investors come to establish their factories and business with the partner countries.

Hope

Hope because, not just the general agreement on all ASEAN members that should give priority to the welfare of overseas workers as well as illegal recruitment/trafficking in the region.

MTRCB Board Members MUST-Read

The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) has been so strict when it comes to implementing policies with regards to rating and observing daily tv programs to the point of suspending individuals/celebrities who had become verbally offensive in hosting noontime shows. I hope that they can STAND on it at all cost.  And this really needs attention.

I hope that the teasers too must be regulated.  I noticed that our satellite cable tv provider (among the giants in the industry), has been negligent in airing teasers sensitive to viewer’s age. 

Challenges Facing the Students Today

Parents knew the value of educating their children that is why even in a so called third world country like ours, it becomes the government's priority even associating the budget on the Department of Education somehow with the Department of Social Welfare and Development through the Cash Transfer Program (Link: Conditional Cash Transfer (4P's) wherein among the requirements is the enrollment of every child in every recipient family in a school to somehow make way to cut the poverty cycle. 

However, the government and the parents want a successful career ending for their children still there are inevitable reasons why they could not pursue studying. Aside from poverty, bad influences hang around and entice them...

FRATERNITIES 

Among those reasons had been recently reminded to us  by Horatio Castillo III - and admittedly the most unacceptable one, death. A death that is inflicted by supposed-to-be people whom one thought to be a friend and the worst - a sibling! Now, also the members who are in the Initiation Rite are in the brink of losing their future because of the mess they end-up with.

The problem with our government is that the legislative arm created a toothless law that ONLY REGULATES 'hazing' and accepted is a requirement to be passed by an aspiring applicant of any club (refer to the screenshot below for the CLEAR definition/synonym).

Teachers' Day Thoughts and Helpful Ideas

We are celebrating the Teachers' Month (Sept. 5  - Oct 5).  Have you ever recognize what your teachers have shared with you?

The teachers are generous enough to impart their knowledge to their students.Teachers who did not really treat their profession as one but a duty and  mission to fulfill - a mission to take part in the creation of SOMEBODY out of a nobody. 

Reaction Mindanao Martial Law Declaration

I being a citizen far and away from Marawi could have felt lesser of the tension in the area BUT still I have my opinion about the issue.  The declaration of Martial Law (Proclamation 216 s. of 2017) in the whole of Mindanao last May 23, 2017 by the President Duterte  for me, is just the right move.  

It is evident that the President has no other motive such as power extension etc. but the situation calls for the declaration.  The Maute brothers who had caused the Marawi siege has bigger plans and has been discovered to have connections with the International terrorist group ISIS very evident on their flags and the killed snipers of different nationalities other than our fellow-countrymen.  It is not just a rebellion of a little sort, it was carefully planned and financed by unknown parties yet - collecting the high-caliber fire arms and the money from the enemies' hideout. The brothers alone could not have staged such a huge act if nobody is backing them up. 

Reaction Rizal Monument Photo Bomber

I am certainly a fan of our National hero Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal, I bought and read books about him and even used Patriot’s Daughter (Him as inspiration) as my pen name during college as a staffer in our University’s official publication.

I have been to Rizal Park in Manila before when it was plain and simple way back then and again not a few years ago. 

Photo Bomber Issue

Yes, the monument looks good in Pictures having a plain sky backdrop on every picture taken therein. Years gone by, everything changes as well as the surroundings. Modernization has come to life and even advancement.  I am truly glad that our country is not being left out.  It is inevitable to see new buildings, structures and even skyscrapers sprouting in the Metro. 

For the Country or for the Party?!

A group of topnotched lawyers and a college professor plans to file an impeachment case for the second topmost position in the Philippine government – the VP post –Leni Robredo.

In the past few months of Duterte administration, the VP has not been that supportive to the President.  VP Robredo may have fueled the international community’s suspicion that  violation of human rights had been prevalent even allegedly implying that the Duterte administration is behind all the killings (around 7000 – this record includes even domestic incidents and other cases not related to DRUGS, in FACT there is just around  2000+ comprising the number of victims in the aftermath of ‘War on Drugs’ compared to the millions of surrenderees.

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To Trust or Not to Trust a Social Media Account

There  had been cases of cheating on Social Media – what is very alarming is the one aired  in Imbestigador – a grade 11 student who ended-up gang-raped and murdered (Jan7) in Trece Martirez, Cavite.

Ways to find out if the social media account is in good faith:

On Twitter:

- check the joining date (if it is not that long existing, be careful). Sometimes, there are really twitter newbies better observe it for months, the tweets and followers, before following back. 

- check the followers. If it is followed by many reliable people, trust your guts. 

- check the owner’s tweets. What kind of tweets he/she shares – the links, rude people share porn videos and nude photos or even enticing links that can hack your account.  Do not open the link on your social, right click, copy and paste the link address on a NEW TAB on your browser.

Reaction on Student Tours

In elementary and high school, this will not be necessary although travelling can add to children’s experience. During the school year several conventions, competitions and other activities  (Quiz Bees, Investigatory Projects, Schools Press Conferences, Beauty Pageants, Talent Tilts – oration, declamation, sports activities and even scouting/campings/jamborees) that can cater to that experience. After competing inside the school for Quiz, Pageants or Sports chances are there will be inter-school competitions in the sub-district/district, division, regional or even  national level that might bring students to far places literally. 

There is no really bad thing about having educational tours – granted that it is ‘educational’ in the real sense.  I heard of Baguio or Tagaytay tour – tsk is it not just an excursion for the good weather in the areas? Or MOA (Mall of Asia Arena) – if the purpose is camaraderie and team building then travelling will take hundreds or thousands of kilometers away for a pricey ticket, it is not so practical and truly irrelevant. 

Usually educational tours are sometimes boring destinations – the Planetarium, museums, zoo, aquariums, historical places if it is not; it is probably not one BUT an excursion (say a beach, mall or simply beautiful place without educational significance) or stroll.  This is happening, I have my husband’s niece who went in a tour from a school in Bicol to Tagaytay paying more than five thousand pesos (if I am not mistaken) and was obliged to join the expensive trip because of the ‘incomplete’ grade she might get.  The fees are maybe reasonable because of the bus rental and food BUT the trip?! Just a cold experience nothing related to any subject, maybe ‘sociability’, for that reason it can be cheaper and may be nearer.

Can we not just leave the excursions to families of each student and concentrate on the real sense of educational tour. Why the schools had been  MAYBE obliging whenever they held a ‘Tour’? Because the fuller the bus, the lesser will be the transportation expense of each joiner (dividing the bus charge to the number of attendees). Admit it or not, MOST maybe NOT all tours free the school staff who will join as guardians or the advisers.

Several accidents happened on such tours like:

1. drowned students

2. hit by the maneuvering bus while taking photos

3. latest, bus that loose breaks on the way to a camp site

Suggestions:

I hope the Congress can make policies:

Reaction: Condoms for Students

What has happened to the Filipino Culture and Values? It is understandable that the government is now engaging to its last resort in combating the ballooning number of teenage pregnancies mostly unwanted. 

The measure might somehow  solve the issue – but it may have a subsequent effect to those students who are really not that westernized in terms of valuing chastity.  It may trigger curiosity and encourage more to TRY what should have been far yet from their plans especially if the parents have been STRICTLY guarding and guiding their children.

Duterte is NOT Hitler

It is my daily habit to watch the News to be updated on the current issues about my country and even the international community.  I listen and watched only the trusted NEWS AUTHORITIES and presenters who received various recognitions locally and even from Readers’ Digest Asia. To be able to give worthy opinion or reaction, I deeply believe I should filter my resources carefully – that is my advocacy as a writer.

I hate the fact that our President is being identically compared to the heartless(?!) German, Adolf Hitler who had made the ‘Holocaust’ ( read see and click this link = you can read Holocaust by Wikipedia part of the History. The Jewish organization is but right in telling the victims of the Holocaust should not be likened to drug addicts there are even children. Yes, that is right there is nowhere in the context of the President’s recent speech that they are being called as such.  The Prexy was just insulted that the international media compared him to Hitler – to reiterate, he is ordering the killing of millions of innocent people (men, women and children) for a selfish reason (?!).

Jose Rizal: Philippines' National Hero

Why are we celebrating Rizal Day on December 30 and not on his birthdate on June 19? We often thought of celebrating a person’s being on one’s birthday, Dr. Jose P. Rizal being our National Hero – we remember his death.  Because on that day he died a hero.

Why he deserved to be our National Hero? Dr. Rizal displayed not only courage, strength, brainpower but also a noble heart of hero, indeed!  The revolutionary saga by our brave forefathers like Andres Bonifacio and Emilio Aguinaldo and his men can be considered as the result of Dr. Rizal’s mind-opening expedition.  The BOUNTY is of course our Liberty.

Reaction on Marcos' Burial

First of all, I respect the claiming victims of the Martial Law.  But above it, I respect the decision of the -Supreme Court.  We have the SC to settle issues that matter to our country that are deemed to be irresolvable by the lower courts or even issues that may put the people’s trust in the existing government in peril.

Being sensationalized are the victims who are said to be tortured during captivity, this is not to imply anything bad – BUT where are they when arrested for questioning? Are not they in the middle of protests (that most of the times become violently aggressive?). These testimonies had instill hatred and caused many of our fellow Pinoys rushing in the streets to rally, we can not also discount the social media reactions.

Our country is democratic, everyJuan can be heard.  BUT, democracy became boundless, unrespectable of the Government. The ones who threaten governance and incite sedition destabilize the country which has riffling effect in the economy.  BUT STILL, there is no license given to authorities to abduct, torture or murder implicated suspects. It is saddening to hear the unfortunate stories.

‘Libingan ng mga Bayani’ (Heroes’ Cemetery) is known to be the burial site of those who died in government service – soldiers, cops, and even former Presidents.  There is no requirements like medals, list of accomplishments needed to qualify as prescribed by the Law, no wonder why the Supreme Court favored Marcos Burial.

Useful Link:

Wikipedia on 'Heroes' Cemetery'

The once given to the former President can not be called ‘Heroes Burial’, he was just accorded based on his former rank in government. What is circulating around are just personal assumptions hearing that former President FE Marcos is buried in a cemetery with ‘HERO’ on its name (‘Libingan ng mga Bayani’ is ‘Heroes’ Cemetery’ in English). Why had most of the protesters had taken the cemetery’s name heartily? We have heard of a legislator who suggested to RENAME the cemetery – just to give justice (?!) to both sides and to stop the nonsense clamor this issue has brought to the nation, the international community is seeing it on the news.  This can hamper our economy, even the personal lives of these people who are spending time they could have spent at work or with their families.

Burying a former President in LNB did not change History BUT the literal burial address, let us grow-up.  If you are an educator, do not teach little children to protest, they have no clear picture of it and they can only be influenced by anybody who wants to inject ideas on them. They still do not have convictions of their own – I was distraught seeing on the NEWS elementary students of a private school protesting (either the teacher wanted to be seen on tv or she just wanted a rest day of teaching?!).

Who had started the MYTH that burying Marcos in LNB changes History?! That is exaggerated.  Nothing changes but the MERE BURIAL ADDRESS!  History is called such because it is in the PAST.  Where or in what dictionary or encyclopedia that the word ‘history’ is defined as ‘present’?! How can History already written in the books and instilled in the minds of the people may be changed in a wink of an eye by the present situation when it has passed? Are they nuts?! We are not in the movie where we can adventurously go back to the past.  Spelling PAST and PRESENT is totally different – what more their MEANING?! The facts remain the same ONLY the burial itself is NEW. What we do today will just be PART of History tomorrow. It does NOT have the POWER to INFLUENCE what has happened in the past. What will be added to Philippine History in the future? Marcos was buried in LNB that date, NO MORE. He did not become a hero nor erases his bad or good deeds either. He was just a former President of the Republic.

Philippines' Bilibid Drug Trade

An inquiry on Bilibid Drug Trade done ‘In aid of Legislation’ which means to help the legislators create laws in support of altering the existing condition of the prison system in the country and  NOT ‘of prosecution’ that is why most of the resource persons (esp. convicted drug personalities) were given immunity – whatever they have to reveal will not be used against them in court.

The recently concluded House Committee Hearing on Bilibid Drug Trade has yielded the REALITY behind drug proliferation in our country.  Summing it up:

Leniently manning the Authoritative Posts in running and supervising the National Prison (specifically Bilibid) has made drug trade inevitably existing mainly from the prisons as source point of transactions in the whole country. 

It was also concluded that Chinese Drug Lords are the main suppliers – finding out about floating drug laboratories in ships on sea dropping it off in large sealed heavy enough to sink containers to be fished-out by direct traders therein, it does not pass the scrutinizing of port authorities to be freely circulating around the country. What a wise tactic!

- Corruption in the System

Jayvee Sebastian, who is convicted of another case than drug-related was believed to be the latest frontrunner of the Drug Trade admittedly stated that the main culprit of the drug menace in the country is CORRUPTION from the lowest to the highest in ranks of the supposedly security guardians as well as administrative officials that instead of catching them while trading drugs had become their cohorts getting ‘payola’ bribe.

- Greed and Dirty Politics                       

National Bilibid Prison (NBP) is under the supervision of the Department of Justice, 

direct management of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCorr) with the intervention of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and Crime Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).  If these government agencies will be headed by unscrupulous people like what has allegedly happened during De Lima’s tenure as DOJ Secretary, the result is WORST – like where we are in right now.

 

- Connivance of Authorities

If there is no connivance anything would not be possible, there will always be the stop point but it is not hindered even by the Department of Justice.

It all boils down to corruption.

Generated Solutions

Signal Jammer

Because it was discovered that cellular phones can be brought-in secretly in many ways you can not imagine – in a slipper a whole cut beneath its back to fit the phone is really badly creative. DOJ Sec. Vitaliano Aguirre mentioned the recent acquisition of a costly but more powerful jammer.  The only setback is its effect on the surrounding community outside prison area - affecting phone signal.

First 100 Days of President Duterte

Philippines as Independent Nation

The President never wanted the official residence of the country’s president to be called Malacañan Palace anymore, he wants it more to be called ‘Palace of the People’ instead. I agree with him when he said that it is not even of Filipino Language origin – a true heirloom from our previous Spanish colonizers.  He has been consistent with his ideal of the Philippines as Independent Nation – same is true with his plans of us making our very own International Foreign Policy.

That is also obvious with his objections and anger when other rulers try to degrade him with words/accusations – as he said he is not just a city Mayor now, he is now the country’s President!  He is but right to do that because those who pretend to be friends speaks on his back about their unsolicited comments when they could have meet personally and could have discussed it then for him to have defended his nationalistic efforts of conserving the future generation of our homeland.

In fairness with President Obama, MAYBE he really has no intentions of meddling with our affairs – it so happened that a representative of a media in a press con has asked his opinion about EJK.  If many had opined that Pres. Duterte should have been cautious of his words – the MORE caution must be exercised by the President of the deemed to be most powerful nation in the world.  His words could have influenced a lot of people worldwide – and IF he happens to misconceived what is really happening here, it would damage our President’s reputation as well as the senate’s and even the country as a whole. Because, his opinion is not based on FACTS and the real situation; it may IMPLY that we CONDONE IF THERE IS INJUSTICE and us Filipinos are blindly adoring the President. He is merely looking at the surface and maybe one of those who wanted to believe that all the killings are attributable to the administration disregarding the MIGHT of the syndicates running drugs as well as those who had been connected and protectors who were publicly exposed that could possibly be among the suspects who get those drug personalities dead so their dark secrets can be hidden forever.

It is but right for the President to stand his ground and speak-out and be furious about the baseless comments. Remember two policemen daily also dies in the drug campaign IF THE GOVERNMENT runs the drug campaign on its own liking there would never be a dead policeman nor a relieved men in duty. There is still justice prevailing in this country, if the president is a real killer – I think De Lima has not reached the senate because of her endless accusations or even Matobato- the ‘witness’ that even a lie detector machine will fail, what more to the members of the legislative body who are mostly lawyers in educational attainment.

The President may be TOO HONEST with his feelings towards those involved in drugs. And for his first 100 Days, he is brave enough to answer those who wanted us to ‘keep our mouth shut and bowing’ all the time.

The Launch of the National Complaints Hotline 8888

This VERY HELPFUL hotline was established to answer the public’s need for faster, reliable and ZERO-QUEUE service from public/government employees remunerated from their paid taxes.

It was known to have hasten processing of personal documents obtained from various government agencies such as NSO (Birth/Marriage/CENOMARCertificates) , LTO (Driver’s Licenses, Renewal of Vehicle Registration), NBI (NBI Clearance)etc. The became USUAL queuing of people from inside the offices to the adjacent street roads with duration from two hours to even days had become less than an hour to finish although you have to come back not later than TWO-THREE days after for the document,  not like before that you are there for that long and then asked to come back spending time, effort and money just to be told TO COME BACK AGAIN.

I think few months of adjustment from the pending jobs received by each government agency can soon make way for the INSTANT release of documents in the future.  It is understandable that they had to finish the backlog from the ‘turtle-like service’ they are providing before that no matter how they deny it or whatever alibis they have, had become the system in here in our home land . I am really hopeful that what the President wanted to see and experience by the public is the REAL use of modern technology – COMPUTERS – I remember him saying in one of his speeches that if a government agency can not act FAST having computers in their offices, they should junk them because there is no difference at all compared to not having one around.

Having the hotline, every public servant is guaranteed to please every Filipino because IF NOT, expect that it will no longer be tolerated. The Civil Service Commission is the frontrunner for the complaints hotline.

Challenge for the Dignified Teachers

May I pour my thoughts about the teachers I recently met these days? Teachers had always been good influencers and I can never forget the greatest of the teachers I had back then. Mrs. Sonia Bruan-Santiago (THE IV), , Mrs. Luzviminda Miguel (VE VI), Mrs. Juanita Lagmay(Gr6), Mrs. Andaya (THE I), Mr. Nestor Londerio (Physics IV HS), Mrs. Minerva Ranieses (Eng. Prof.), Mrs. Helen Bulatao (Dean /Acctg. Prof., Mrs. Remedios Ala (Gr3 Eng.), Dr. Regino Paular (Current Issues). 

These are not so good things that are needed to be said to challenge the teachers of our new generation.  It will be up to them to take this negatively or positively to improve themselves and abhor such deeds mentioned here.

The Quiz Bee Cheat-chers?!

Contrary to what others might suppose on my divulging of this hateful fact, I wanted to help ignite back the integrity of SOME of our noble teachers. I do not have any idea if whether winning on quiz bees give them, teachers, extra points or promotion because SOME but NOT ALL are staking their pride and honor just to help their coached students WIN.

This is what I have observed in the recently concluded Quiz Bee my daughters  had participated in:

1. A teacher coached a  student (maybe on the same school she is in –because not only now I met the student and teacher tandem, they represent Science V last year and they obviously cheated then too but landed only 3^rd). You know why, because I recorded the whole competition on video and they found it difficult to signal.

The student always glance on that teacher before she answers, the Easy and Average levels are to be answered with letter of choice ONLY which is 20 points when totaled if I am not mistaken. The wise teacher, pulled her chair back to where my camera can not caught her and she just moved her chair when the two rounds are finished because dictating or signaling complete words on the difficult round is not easy that is why she stopped there.  I noticed that she only helps in the first two rounds. Glad that they were not able to make it to the top2 then.

This year, the tandem have succeeded, the student ranked 1^st this time, it so happened that my digicam is not prepared – low battery and I left the memory card for longer recording time, there is no way I can video them.  The teacher sat just one seat apart from that same student last year. Now, she whispered every letter of the correct answer, I was able to read her lips when it opens – it will be too many to call it coincidence. The wise teacher noticed that I was staring at her and the student with a long hair – glancing all the time to her or listens to her every dictation. I only learned she is the TIMER when she softly uttered ‘STOP’ that is just when she felt I was guarding her. What she did is whispering while pretending to look at her phone or writing on a piece of paper – I do not know if she is also writing every letter of the answer. But mouthing letters a, b or c or the word stop moves one’s lips differently that is why I am precisely sure she is dictating answers and you really would not notice she is timing the Quiz at first because she only started talking a little louder when she noticed me. I knew almost all the answers because it took me huge time writing the Science reviewer for my child aside from what her teacher has provided. I just thought before that she is just there to observe the competition but…imagine one seat apart from the student, she is facing the door while seating on the last column.  The student sat in the column before her, facing the blackboard. The distance is only the narrow aisle that is approximately one seat away. Imagine 14points out of total score that brought her in the advantage of around 6-8pts from the 2^nd placer is obtained from cheating! I felt sad to the 2^nd and 3^rd placer who have exhausted efforts on reviewing just to be cheated, it so happened that my daughter’s score this time is far from winning, I chose to keep silent.  I thanked the situation because if not, I would not keep my mouth shut and expose the cheater oh, I mean teacher and the pretending-to-be winner student.  How can they managed to accept medal without honor at all, they knew for themselves that it does not belong to them.  That is why I could not help mentioning to the other spectators that the 2^nd and 3^rd placer are more deserving of the medals.

This became so rampant that Angel became a victim too last year on a different district here in Quezon province.

1. The students were asked to share a number of questions representing their respective schools English IV, I forgot if it is one or two questions each.

2. The Quiz Master seated at the back of the seat rows doing her thing while maybe an ‘intern’ or assistant (not wearing uniform) asked everyone to put their share of question in the box in front of the blackboard. Each question has the answer provided to guide the Quiz Master.

The Philippines' War Against Illegal Drugs

The Current Scenario

The daily news reports bear the voluntary submission of drug-related offenders be it in the Metro Manila or in the farthest Barangay in the provinces. Recent Killings  involving Drug Trafficking has alarmed human rights advocates.  There are those who are entrapped BUT has exchanged bullets with the police operatives and still others are gunned-down by vigilantes riding in-tandem (who are believed to be liquidated by their syndicate association). I am one of the self-confessed followers of the President and his ‘Change is Coming’ crusade – that includes fighting corruption, criminality as well as on illegal-drugs.

We need each other’s help to accommodate the thousands of surrendering drug personalities around the country.  It is not imaginable that the ‘drug menace’ is this WORST already – almost a hundred thirty thousand individuals has surrendered No wonder why heinous crime perpetrators had become the usual cover of daily newspapers. Together we can help make this CHANGE come true.  It would not be that easy especially considering the means these former pushers find a way of living after drugs. But I believe in lessening criminality, more investors will come (plus the traffic solution may have a riffling effect too) to us.

The Duterte Administration’s Conviction

The President has warned the public of his intensive and massive campaign on the use and trafficking of illegal drugs.  He has admonished everyone to surrender themselves to the authorities before getting killed (in case they resist and fight) on a buy-bust operation etc. 

President Duterte likewise warned the law enforcers should observe legalities and the existing Laws on dealing with the apprehension of the offenders.  However, crooked policemen might take advantage of the self-defense alibi, IF ever they wanted to silence an accomplice or even cohorts for the drug-recycling trade PNP Chief Ronaldo dela Rosa has mentioned on his assumption speech.  He revealed the style of the unscrupulous policemen re-selling drugs confiscated from raids done by their department which he tagged as ninja cops.  This DOES NOT NECESSARILY generalize all policemen BUT few exist in reality. 

Reaction President Duterte's SONA 2016

The recent SONA of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte last July 25, 2016 at Batasang Pambansa has stopped Filipinos from all walks of life anywhere in the world to listen to his every word. I am one of the eager fellows who had waited for the day wanting to hear what the newly-elected president's plan for the country and most especially how he would handle the issues that directly affect each of us.

My anticipations has grown bigger after his phenomenal crusade on Illegal Drug Trafficking and Drug Abuse as he has promised during the campaign period has rendered more than a hundred thoudsand drug dependents (user or pusher) has voluntarily surrendered most especially in Metro Manila and in the nearby provinces.

Reaction on Arbitration Court's Verdict on West Philippine Sea

International Arbitration Court Ruling favors the Philippines’ claim on the (West Philippine Sea) Scarborough Shoal.

According to DLSU professor Richard Heydarian on Foreign Affairs/Economic Analyst the verdict of the United Nations Arbitral Tribunal is binding – especially to the members of the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on Laws of the Seas). Philippines and China are among the consenting signatory members.