The Christian Response to Con-Ass Part 2

Yesterday, June 10, before proceeding to the big Ayala, Makati mob, I was tasked to help with the media liaison at AMRSP, CEAP and NASSA-CBCP's Forum on Con-Ass - its Agenda and Implications. Gladly, many friends from the media came.

Anyway, Fr. Joaquin Bernas, SJ explain what the Constitution said about separate voting and how this exercise/process will open the Constitution to possible changes (see video below - Con-Ass 101) and that they are not binded by what the resolution says because they can change anything.

Although I am bewildered and oftentimes criticize the Church for its slow response to issues (i.e., Con-Ass), I believe that their call for Circles of Discernment is an entry point both for the students and the faculty to deeply understand Charter Change and be involved. They felt the need to know more so instead of just barging in to the mob, CEAP - the main organizer of the activity, chose to stay, sent their message to the media and called for the Circles of Discernment in various institutions. They say that they do not stop schools from participating in the rally/ies but that is the discretion of the heads of each school. I am just happy to see the faith-based community united on this issue and hopefully they can continue becoming persistent in getting involved.

To access more of their thoughts on the issue of Charter Change/Con-Ass, you may check out my documents at Scribd (click the Scribd badge on the right side bar) or simply click on the link below:

CBCP President - Abp. Angel Lagdameo's Statement, "Con-Ass No! Con-Con Yes!
CEAP oppose Con-Ass
Bishop Pabillo's Speech - Moral Implications of Con-Ass
Fr. Jojo of Ateneo - Discerning a Christian Response to House Resolution 1109

The complete text of the House Resolution 1109 for your reference can be found at the right side of my blog's column under Resource Materials.

As for those Congress Representatives who signed or co-authored this resolution, the people will remember you for who and what you are, here is a link that leads you to the complete list of co-authors <Con-Ass Resolution Endorsers>.

Before I end this, it is interesting to note what Amb. Tita de Villa said about how Congress can count the votes of those for the bill by merely using voice to affirm/confirm. She said, she asked that to a guest in her radio station program (if I remember it right), sorry I forgot the name, but the guest said that if it is just a House Resolution, the rules allowed the Representatives to just affirm their votes for it by the use of voice. For those against, they stood up, said their votes including why they are against it. I hope this last part makes sense.

What has not been emphasized about the issue of Charter Change?

This photo is borrowed from pinoymaps.com

I cannot blame the people from criticizing legislators who are pro-Charter Change, pro-Con-Ass because of the big possibility of term extensions for most of them but what the people failed to see is the second reason and perhaps the most dangerous reason why the Administration legislators are so eager to tinker with the Philippine Constitution. Actually, it is to lift the nationalist provisions that protect our economy that they wanted out of our Constitutional framework. They also wanted to accommodate 100% foreign ownership of lands, businesses, corporations, etc. I believe we should readily say no to these proposed provision as much as we opposed to the mode of changing the Constitution, which is the Constituent Assembly, term extensions and the sudden shift from the Presidential to the Parliamentary form of Government

According to some of my readings, the Philippine Constitution contains strong restrictions against the flow of foreign capital in specific areas of economic activities. Primarily, these provisions are protecting our land, natural resources, public utilities, educational institutions, media and even the conduct of advertising. Come to think of it during interviews, Rep. Prospero Nograles, Speaker of the House always denies that term extension is the primary goal of Congress why they are in pursuit of changing the Constitution. It is to open our economy, welcome investments to come in by allowing 100% foreign ownership.

This is what the people failed to realize and even the media has not been explaining this in their news and current affairs programs. What is truly at stake here is our economy. The House is moving heaven and earth to change the Constitution because they believe that lifting the nationalist provision would mean economic growth (and would also mean good business for them). The Philippines have already liberalized some parts of our economy, trade and industries. They even want the agricultural sector to be open to liberalization and have our farmers compete in the global market. But with the current state of our agricultural sector with almost no support from the government, how can our farmers compete in the global market? Agricultural imports have less prices because of subsidies and support from their governments and because of almost free trading (so little tariffs have been imposed).

Over the years, the liberalization of some parts of our economy did not prove to be beneficial to our people. Poverty in the Philippines has become worse. Why, just observe the number of Filipinos who turn to overseas work just to survive and live decently instead of having this as an option and the number of school children who transfer to public schools because of high tuition fees in private schools.

The problem with this country is that our economic managers have so much belief in neoliberal economic policies - liberalization, deregulation and privatization - when they already failed to bring people out of poverty.

One example that made us worse is the Oil Deregulation Law wherein the government has lost control over the prices of oil. This is the very same law we fought during the 90s, Ramos Administration. Our officials passed it. Now, some are questioning the law including our poor public transport drivers. In my talks with taxi drivers, not only one but most of them shared with me their frustrations about what is happening and that the real culprit to this uncontrollable and unpredictable prices of oil is the Oil Deregulation Law. The role of the government now is simply to monitor the prices and once in awhile call the attention of the three big oil companies, play the hero and lambast them in front of the media then that's it. There is no political will to look deeper into this problem. What DOE Sec. Angelo Reyes and NEDA Chief Ralph Recto did is to argue about the prices of oil in the media "papogi" period.

Another example is privatization. This government has the habit of selling its assets and privatizing them like what they did to the MWSS wherein there are two concessionaires - Maynilad and Manila Waters - that provide the service. Ideally, water services should be handled by the state because this is a public utility, it is one of those basic needs of people to live decently and have readily available and safe drinking water. What the government did was to entrust this important utility to corporations whose primary concern is to earn more profit and not public service. Connection fees to pipes for water is a staggering Php7,000.00. Our urban poor communities cannot afford that. Because of this, they depend instead on rations when in fact water should be free for all. It is our right to access, have clean and safe water. The same way as Meralco, although I do not have an idea whether state ownership or a combination of state and private ownership would work for Meralco, but the government should be able to ensure affordable power services for its people.

It should always be public service first before profit for public utilties, therefore, it should become under the control of the state because it should its primarily role is to provide for its people and not to feed them to the wolves.

As much as our public utilities should be state-owned, our educational institutions, media companies and hospitals should be likewise. So that all of us especially the poor can avail of free and improved education and healthcare. If Cuba, a third world country like the Philippines did it, we can also.

While it is true that we needed some changes in our Constitution, I believe that this is not the proper time, the appropriate mode to do it. If we really want genuine economic growth for our country, then we should do it all together, not just the officials only. This is tantamount to deciding on behalf of the nation. It is their right to be consulted on these matters and not decide on their lives on their behalf. We should prepare for it.

For now, the nationalist, protectionist provisions to our economy are to remain because they are there for a reason. It is to protect our lands - these are for our farmers, to protect our natural resources from exploitation (we should stop the government from promoting extractive industries like mining), to protect our national sovereignty because if foreign capital would reign on Philippine soil, we know for a fact that they who have the money can dictate and control our government, they can easily manipulate our laws against us.

How can they do that? Well, it is easy. All they have to do is to conspire with our local officials who most often than not have vested interest that's why they remain in the position.

Sad to say, for now, we have a TRAPO government in our midst.

Videos from the June 10 Protest Action against CON-ASS

Please watch some of the collected videos of yesterday's rally themed, STOP GLORIA'S CHACHA! at Paseo de Roxas/Ayala in Makati.

1. CON-ASS 101 - A news report that explains the Constituent Assembly as a mode for changing the Constitution. Fr. Joaquin Bernas, SJ, a renowned Philippine constitutionalist, shared his expertise on the Constitution in relation to the issue in front of the faith-based audience in a forum organized by the Association of the Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines (AMRSP), Catholic Educators Association of the Philippines (CEAP) and the National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA) of the Catholic Bishop's Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). With Fr. Bernas was Bishop Broderick S. Pabillo, Chair of NASSA, sharing his thoughts on Cha-cha and its moral implications.

2. Several Protests stage rally vs. Con-Ass - creative forms of protests were organized before the afternoon mobilization at Ayala, Makati for projection. One of the groups, BMP/Sanlakas, staged an exorcism/prayer ritual at the Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila. They bring along mothers who acted as prayer warriors. They also used incense to cast out the evil spirits that possessed our legislators because of their passage of the House Resolution 1109 - Con-Ass

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

The Christian Response

The Church has already called for more protests <Inquirer.net> against Con-Ass. All Catholic communities (fathers, sisters, laity), please respond to this by participating at AMRSP's Forum on ConAss - its agenda and implication on 10 June 2009, 1:30-4:00 p.m. at Nazarene Catholic School, R.Hidalgo, Quiapo, Manila.

By 4:30 p.m., the AMRSP contingent will be going to Paseo de Roxas, Makati to join the thousands of people in a protest action against ConAss.

Parishes and faith-based communities are encouraged to mobilize, if not in the protest at Makati, in their own parishes through communal prayer, Bible services and study sessions on the issue.

You may also want to check out this link for more encouragement - http://www.padfield.com/1997/goodmen.html.

AKSYON NA! Calling on everyone to join the "masa" on the streets

This is the sign of the times!

These past few weeks, I was so eager to share with you a lot of stories of my participation in various socially-relevant events. I have to continue posting events that contributed to the further delay of the passage of the BNPP bill. Last week, I just joined an anti-trapo movement and we are now preparing for a preparatory committee. All of these are in my line-up. However, the sudden passage of HB 1109 (Con-Ass) suddenly rocked my world and am now busy helping in the preparations for the June 10 actions.

I would also like to use this opportunity to invite everyone, every Filipino who read this post including our foreigner friends in the Philippines to join us in the big protest action against Con-Ass this coming June 10, 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Paseo de Roxas, Makati. For those who are working in Makati, you may already join the crowd after office hours. However for those coming from different places, you may want to join our contingent at Ayala corner EDSA by 3:00 p.m. Listen to the short speeches and watch more cultural presentations.

Although, we may not like some of the personalities who will join the protest and the alliances built based on this issue are only short-term, we need to show the Administration that we are one in saying No to ConAss! Not during the time of GMA! Yes, I believe there are some provisions in the Constitution that needed changes, but these should be changed to improve the lives of the people and not just to lift the nationalist protection provisions on our economy if it will just benefit the privileged few.

At this time I only remember what some faith-based leaders/philosophers of the recent times have said:

"He who passively accepts EVIL is as much involved in it as he who helps perpetrate it. He who accepts EVIL without protesting against it is really cooperating with it."
-Martin Luther King

"What does the LORD require of you? To do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God." -Micah 6:8

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." -Edmund Burke

Let us all heed to the call of the times. This is the time to unite and let our voices be heard once and for all. We Filipinos have been asleep and quiet with what is happening to our country far too long. Start studying the issue <House Resolution 1109>, debate and discuss with your family and friends so that you can make informed decisions.

This time, we should already make painful choices not the band-aid solutions we did in the past so that others may live decently and humanely. START DENOUNCING THE TRAPO SYSTEM! Make a difference and be involved!

Interested? Please contact me (Jofti) at 09217941407 /civilsocietyact101@gmail.com.

March Actions

As soon as we thought that our Campaign against the BNPP will shift gears to popular education once the session closes, we were all stunned when there was a scheduled hearing just a day before the Congress session closes (March 5). Immediately, we needed to organize an activity to hype up our call for legislators to withdraw their endorsements to the bill but this time, we have to name specifically who these legislators are. So we prepared a powerpoint presentation/press release naming these legislators to be announced publicly through a press conference. Last March 4, 2009, we held the press conference at Max's Restaurant (Quezon City Circle). It was well attended by the media. FDC VP Etta Pargas-Rosales presented the names of these supportive BNPP legislators. Also, a representative of the Faith-based Congress Against Immoral Debts (FCAID), Fr. Ben Moraleda also one of the FDC VP's, was there to reiterate the importance of the coming Lenten season for Congress Representatives to reflect on the decision they will make regarding the BNPP bill. Mr. Nicanor Perlas, the technical expert of the study made during the Ramos administration, was also there to offer more information about the study and to tell the public that he has submitted these information to Congress as requested together with his credentials as technical consultant.

Although the event did not make it in primetime news, there were articles published online and in broadsheets enumerating the names of all these supportive legislators, which I think gave added pressure to them.

Recent Actions Against the BNPP Bill

I started to get involve with the issue of BNPP last February. Since I am the one assigned to the faith-based project, I need to represent and carry the faith-based perspective on the issue of the BNPP. The BNPP as explained earlier is one of the most expensive white elephant projects that the Philippine Government has ever conducted.

It is problematic in every way you looked at it. It is environmentally hazardous because of the unresolved radioactive waste disposal, which Rep. Cojuangco failed to explain during the Committee Hearings; dangerous to health (check out the numerous data on radiation poisoning), safety issues due to the fact that the BNPP is located very near Mt. Natib, a sleeping volcano (i.e., Mt. Pinatubo) and it sits on a fault line; an economic burden to all Filipinos because despite the fact that this project did not benefit us, but using our own money, the Government continued to pay for the debt incurred (worth more than $2.3 B), not to mention making us more indebted because parts of the debt payments were also additional loans; again, the project was a monument of bribery, fraud, corruption and cronyism. Desini, one of Marcos cronies ran away with lots of money from this project.

With all these reasons and more, the BNPP project is considered as an illegitimate debt and therefore an IMMORAL DEBT! Debt, in the faith-based perspective, can also be considered as one example of a social/structural sin like Apartheid, Slavery, Patriarchy, Racism, etc. This is the case when debt seized to serve as a tool for development but instead becomes a tool for manipulation used by the rich nations vs the poor nations.


February Actions

On February 22, 2009, some 500 protesters (both from FDC and NOtoBNPP! network, including Greenpeace) march towards the U.P. grounds to form a human banner - NO TO BNPP.

Before the start of the formation, leaders and foreign comrades gave their solidarity speeches. One of the speakers was a parliamentarian from Malaysia, the Hon. Charles Santiago. The others were Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel of Akbayan Partylist, former Rep. and now VP of FDC, Ms. Etta Pargas-Rosales, and Rep. Erin Tañada of the Liberal Party.

It was one hot sunny Sunday, but it was all worthwhile. Even some of the comrades made this event a family day, taking with them their kids to be oriented with the issue and the need to be involved with national issues.


This was taken after the Prayer Rally held last February 23, 2009 at the town plaza of Balanga, Bataan. The rally was led by His Excellency, Most Rev. Socrates Villegas, D.D. The event started with a mass, with all the parish priests of the parishes under the diocese concelebrating.

Bishop Soc was a little teary-eyed when he us and said that he is happy to know that the province is not alone in the struggle.

The mass was followed by a short but meaningful program. Sectoral representatives and leaders gave their solidarity speeches - environmentalists, a student, faith-based groups, coalitions, social movement groups, Jun Lozada, the Governor - Tet Garcia and more. The program ended with the heartwarming singing of "Bayan Ko" (written and composed by the great Freddie Aguilar) while on the LCD screen, photos of the victims of the Chernobyl accident in Russia were being shown.

From the left of the photo, we have Bp. Soc, the Mayor of Balanga, Tish (FDC's Gender Officer) and me (Jofti)


Shortly two days after the Prayer Rally in Bataan, our Campaign, the Faith-based Congress Against Immoral Debts (FCAID), the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines (AMRSP), FDC and NOtoBNPP! network organized an Ash Wednesday mass (February 25, 2009) basically for legislators and employees of Congress.

I thought and push for this activity because I believe it was a good opportunity to appeal to our legislators, to think through their decisions in supporting the BNPP bill and use the Lenten season to study, review and reflect the consequences of their actions. Many attended the mass including the debt champion in Congress - Rep. Edcel Lagman.

After the mass, we proceeded to listen to the Committee on Appropriations 3rd Hearing on the Bill. This was the first time when the Committee acknowledges the presence of a technical consultant to the study conducted during the Ramos administration, Mr. Nicanor Perlas. He basically provided and offered the Committee of his knowledge and expertise. It was also in this session that he made public of the studies conducted during the Aquino and Ramos administrations and that these can either be located at the archives of Malacañang and/or the Senate. One was conducted by the Presidential Commission and the other was by a Senate Adhoc Committee led by then Sen. Rene Saguisag. Unfortunately, in the 28-volume study of the Senate, all was intact except for the technical audit, which is the most important part of the study because it pointed out and explained the 40,000 defects of the nuclear power plant.

On that same day, a Press Conference too was held at the media center of the Congress. FDC VP Etta Rosales, FDC President Walden Bello and Mr. Nicanor Perlas starred in the presscon. Here, Mr. Perlas proved his credibility and technical capacity as a resource person for the BNPP Bill. He was not actually given the opportunity to speak longer during the session and that he was only allowed to answer exactly about the questions thrown at him. At the presscon, he was given more time to explain why he does not want the BNPP to be rehabilitated and opened for operation.