Archive for August 2007
Odd Man Out?
A 22-year old newly-grad lives with five teenagers. Here’s the story of his struggle and the reasons why he is already thinking of moving out.
I was very excited when my aunt asked me to live with my cousins and sister (whose ages range from 16-19) in an apartment she bought in Sampaloc, Manila. At first, I thought it was a good idea for a number of reasons. It meant that I would not need to stay in the decrepit school dormitory within the university where I used to share the communal bathroom with more than 20 people. It also meant that I need not to worry about monthly lodging and utility fees. But as time passed by, the downside of that arrangement started to surface and eventually I realized that living with teenager has a lot of disadvantages.
Being the eldest among the residents of our apartment, I was the guardian of these five college students. And being the guardian, I learned that living with teenagers isn’t a walk in the park. One must have the power and patience to deal with their raging hormones, immaturities, unpredictable behaviors and tantrums.
Unexpected visitors
Take for the example this incident, which happened during a weekend a month ago. Back then, I was trying to get a decent sleep and rest. Suddenly, one of my cousins arrived together with his classmates. They brought with them bottles beers and snacks–My God, they were having another round of drinking spree again. In the end, I was not able to get the much-needed sleep. It was impossible for me to fall asleep while those college students were having the time of their lives, laughing and quenching their thirst for alcohol. After the drinking spree, they left the house. Worse, they left pile of dirty dishes and stained floors.
Another cousin of mine decided to bring her special friend (although I already knew that the guy was her boyfriend). The following morning I woke up and find them sharing a bed. (Although I was very sure nothing happened between the two of them.)
Then there’s the usual scenario: housemates asking assistance for their school work. They would ask me to help them find the value of x for their assignments in algebra, prepare a 12-page term paper due the following day, translate 5-page questionnaire for their field work, and write a script for their class presentation. (Sometimes I want to tell them: “Hey, I’m not your slave” and let them do their homework all by themselves. But every time I try to do that I feel guilty.)
Dissimilar InterestsApart from these, I also feel out of place whenever I’m home. I cannot relate to their stories about their clinical instructors and demonstration for their nursing course. They do not understand why I am always listening to the news and my research about local government units and political ads.
They love watching Marimar and Margarita and the Buzz. I like public affairs shows. They enjoy listening to Love Radio; I love WRock. They like 6CycleMind, Beyonce, Sarah Geronimo and My Chemical Romance. I prefer Groban, 80s music and sentimental ballads. These dissimilar interests often become the cause of misunderstanding.
Moving Out?The question now is: Should I make a voluntary exit? My officemates says yes. They said the arrangement has caused so much trouble and stress for me. And I agree with them. My job as a researcher for a media organization is stressful and I think I need a place where I can get a decent sleep and relaxation every night. I need privacy and few distractions.
Right now, I am looking for a place to stay. So if ever you know one that is cheap, accessible to public transport, and is not in a flood-prone area, please contact me.
Abolish the Party-list System?
By Jesus Llanto (Newsbreak)
Should the party-list system be abolished?
Debaters tackled this question during Wednesday night’s episode of the Philippine Debating Championship (PDC) aired on cable news channel ANC, which featured students from the University of the Philippines-Diliman (UP) for the affirmative side and Mindanao State University (MSU) for the negative side.
Students Debate Anti-Terror Law
By Jesus Llanto NEWSBREAK
The controversial Human Security Act (HSA), commonly called the anti-terrorism law, took the spotlight on Wednesday night’s episode of the Philippine Debating Championship (PDC) aired on the cable news channel ANC.
Although the proposition for the debate was whether the rebirth of democracy in the Philippines in 1986 failed or succeeded, last Wednesday’s round, which featured debaters from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) for the affirmative side and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) for the negative side, focused on the effect of HSA on the state of democracy in the country.
Newsbreak: Dad to the Rescue
By Jesus Llanto NEWSBREAK
HOW DID the children, in-laws and siblings of high government officials who ran for local posts fare? For some of them, their foray in politics was not smooth sailing and, in some cases, even controversial. Some of the rivals of these relatives of public officials claim that the latter’s powerful connections gave them advantage.
Newsbreak came up with a list of these relatives who ran and discovered the controversies hounding their candidacies.
Plunder Trial 101 : Background and Summary of Joseph Estrada’s Trial
The prosecution, which presented 626 pages of summaries of the case, argued that they have presented enough evidence to prove that Estrada is guilty of accepting bribes from jueteng, kickbacks from tobacco excise taxes and illegal commissions from the sale of the shares of a company and of by depositing huge amount of money in a bank account under an alias.
Meanwhile, the defense submitted 276 pages of summaries of the rebuttals said that the prosecution presented “uncorroborated testimonies” and that it failed to prove the charges against Estrada.
The anti-graft court Sandiganbayan is expected to come out with a decision to this long-running trial on or before September 15.
Click here to see summary of charge no. 1. Download it here.
Click here to see summary of charge no. 2. Download it here.
Click here to see summary of charge no. 3. Download it here.
Click here to see summary of charge no. 4. Download it here.
Four billion-plunder case
Estrada’s P 4.097 billion plunder case is composed of four charges: acceptance o P545 million protection money from illegal gambling jueteng , misappropriation of f P130 million tobacco excise tax, collection of P 189.7 million commission the sale of the shares of Belle Corp., and amassing and depositing P3, 233, 104, 173.17 in a bank account under the name of Jose Velarde.
He is also facing minor charges of perjury for allegedly underreporting his assets in 1999.
Estrada denied the charges and accused that his successor, Gloria Arroyo conspired with the high-ranking military officials and the Roman Catholic Church to oust him in January 2001.
Too Many Judges
The case was first tried in the Third Division of the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan. The division was then composed of Justices Anacleto Badoy, Ricardo Ilarde and Teresita Leonardo-de Castro.
On January 2002, the Supreme Court ordered to create a Special Division that would hear all the cases against Estrada. The Special Division was composed of Minita Chico-Nazario as presiding judge and Justices Edilberto G. Sandoval and Teresita Leonardo-de Castro.
Sandoval became the acting presiding judge when Nazario was appointed as justice of the Supreme Court on August 2004. Meanwhile, Justice Francisco Villaruz, Jr. became the newest member of the Special Division.
After De Castro was appointed as the presiding judge, Sandoval resigned from the Special Division. The Supreme Court then designated Justice Diosdado Peralta on Feb. 8, 2005 as the new member of the Special Division.
As a result of these changes, De Castro is the only justice who was able to hear the testimonies of the witnesses of the prosecution and the defense.
High-profile witnesses
The prosecution presented 76 witnesses and more than 1,500 evidences. Its key witness is Luis Singson, former Ilocos Sur governor and a senatorial candidate from Team Unity. Singson testified that Estrada received kickbacks from jueteng and diverted funds intended for tobacco farmers.
Prosecution witnesses also included former of the Social Security System (SSS) president Carlos Arellano former Government Services Insurance System (GSIS) president Federico Pascual and Willie Ng Ocier, former vice chair of Belle Corp., a company in the property development business and with investments in gaming-related companies.
Pascual’s and Arellano’s testimonies were used by the prosecution to prove that Estrada instructed the two officials to buy shares of the Belle Corporation.
Other witnesses of the prosecution included officials of Equitable-PCI Bank like Atty. Manuel Curato and Clarissa Ocampo, who testified that she was “one foot away” from Estrada when he signed the bank documents using the name “Jose Velarde.”
Rebuttals
Meanwhile, the defense presented 79 witnesses to rebut the testimonies of the prosecution, including the accused Estrada who denied all the allegations against him.
Estrada testified from March to June 2006. and even celebrated his 69th birthday on the witness stand on April 19. He said that the allegations of Singson were politically motivated because the latter failed to get the license to operate Bingo-2 balls in Ilocos Sur to his political rivals.
The defense also presented employees of Equitable-PCI Bank to prove that Jaime Dichaves owned the Jose Velarde account. Moreover, it also claimed that none of the prosecution witnesses presented were involved in the opening and closing of the Velarde account.
Serapio and Estrada were allowed by the Sandiganbayan to post P500, 000 bail each in 2003.
Debaters Tackle Peace Talks with MILF
By Jesus Llanto (Newsbreak)
Should the government suspend the peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front as a result of the beheading of 10 Marine soldiers in Basilan?
This timely question was the proposition in the first round of “The Philippine Debating Championship” Wednesday night, which featured debaters from the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) for the government or affirmative side and Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) for the opposition or the negative side.
WMSU’s Meryl Agudelo and Analy Estores said peace talks should be suspended because it “will give undue legitimacy to the MILF” and “would encourage other groups to use violence.”
Click here to read full story.
Photo Credit: ANC
Photo Contest: Everyday Islam
Photographers are invited to send entries to a photography contest that aims to depict Muslim integration in the Philippines, following the legacy of UK’s renowned photographer and Muslim convert Peter Sanders.
Sponsored by the British Embassy in partnership with Newsbreak, the competition has two categories: professional, for those who earn a living from photography or are hobbyists who have participated in photo contests; and amateur, for those who do not earn a living from photography and who may submit photos taken with their mobile phone cameras.
Click here to see contest rules.
