Groups Say Aquino’s First 100 Days a Failure

“It has been 100 days and we don’t see any major achievement or results as far as genuine change is concerned. There is plenty of rhetoric but too few accomplishments that could be felt by the poor.”– Bagong Alyansang Makabayan


By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL

Bulatlat.com ^[1]


MANILA – Contrary to the passing grade Aquino has received from a survey, farmers, workers, urban poor, students, migrants and other sectors gave Aquino a failing grade in his first 100 days of governance.

Members of progressive groups led by the umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) marched to Chino Roces (formerly Mendiola) bridge Oct. 8, to mark the 100 days of Aquino in office. The groups protested what they call as a continuing absence of any meaningful reform under Aquino, and his failure to address issues such as human rights, the prosecution of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, land reform and pro-people economic development.

Lawmakers hit P-Noy for SK abolition

Two youthful legislators today lambasted the proposal of President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III to abolish the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections for its failure to be functional and effective in the delivery of public services under the Local Government Code.

Rep. Raymond V. Palatino (Party-list, Kabataan) said the aim of the Sangguinang Kabataan is to encourage the youth to take active part in governance and to serve as an educational experience for them. It should contribute to the political education of the youth, Palatino said.

Global youth unemployment rate at all-time high, UN labour agency reports

The global youth unemployment rate is at a record high and is expected to climb even higher as the year progresses, the United Nations International Labour Organization (ILO) announced today. According to a new report, of the world’s 620 million economically active youth between the ages of 15 and 24, 81 million were out of work at the end of 2009, the highest number ever.

UN agencies look to world’s youth to find solutions to global problems

United Nations agencies, peacekeeping missions and officials around the world marked the start today of the International Year of Youth with concerts and public forums and a call to celebrate the potential of the next generation to solve the problems of today. Speaking at the launch of the Year, as well as celebrations today for International Youth Day, senior UN officials said the estimated 1.2 billion people aged between 15 and 24 deserve greater attention from policymakers and governments.

Teachers oppose 12-year basic education program

Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) opposed the Department of Education (DepEd) 12-year basic education program.

ACT Secretary General France Castro said that adding years to the basic education program is not the solution to the crisis in Phil. Education. “We say NO to this plan being pushed by the DepEd and P-Noy. The 12- year basic education program will further deepen the chronic crisis of Philippine education which is caused and reflection of the chronic crisis of poverty and corrupt politics in the Philippines,” said Castro.

The militant teacher organization said that the problems in the country's education is not in the number of years, but inherent to its content and character as colonial, feudal, repressive and commercialized that cares and serve the colonial subservient character and backward economic system of the Philippines.

The Strength of the PCS: COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS

by Dr. Jeanette Silao, FPCS

Congratulations to the Philippine College of Surgeons on its 75th Anniversary! In human years, one is usually thankful to God for having been given a long life. These twilight years are usually spent reminiscing the highlights of a fruitful life. The highlights of one's life, as everyone will agree, are what you have done for others.

In institution years, 75 years of existence is just a few decades from inception. Each year is seen as a milestone of growth and further strength, the development of newer programs and reaching greater heights. An institution’s growth is derived from good governance, while its strength is equivalent to the breath of the foundation it has laid down. A solid foundation is as solid as its programs. The PCS' foundation is nothing less than solid as its programs are directed to benefit the community.

Volunteerism in the Service of the Underserved

by Eric SM Talens, MD, MS, FPCS, FACS


“To serve the underserved”, is the motto of the Ugnayan ng Pahinungod, the volunteer service of the University of the Philippines. Alive and well, volunteerism thrives in the midst of the bustling patient care in the Philippine General Hospital and the academe of UP-Manila.

In counter-response to the perception that the UP had “lost its soul”, the Ugnayan ng Pahinungod was established in September 1996 by then UP President Emil Javier, institutionalizing volunteerism within the university.

Pahinugod, a Cebuano term for ‘offering oneself’, became the moniker for the UP-deployed volunteer. Various projects from educational assistance programs (tutorial services, teacher development, Gurong Pahinungod), to hospital and community health programs (ER volunteer program, health missions, health training), to social welfare programs (program for street children, disaster response and preparedness program), as well as to volunteer advocacy and research programs, had been regular activities of the volunteer service. In the previous year, Ugnayan ng Pahinujngod of UP-Manila deployed a total of 1252 volunteers in 128 underserved communities.

Pagbabalik ng ROTC haharangin ng kabataan

Pagbabalik ng ROTC haharangin ng kabataan
Darius Galang, Pinoy Weekly

Tinututulan ng iba’t ibang grupo ng kabataan, maging ng kabataang kinatawan sa Kamara, ang panukala sa Kamara na ibalik ang Reserved Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) sa mga estudyante sa kolehiyo.

“Tinuturuan ng ROTC na magbulag-bulagan at walang-imik ang mga estudyante. Ginagamit pa ng AFP ang programa sa red-baiting laban sa progresibong mga grupong pang-estudyante, sa pamamagitan ng mga lektura nila sa ROTC na ang mga aktibistang grupo na ito ay may-ugnay sa rebeldeng New People’s Army,” ayon kay Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino.

Iminungkahi ni Cebu Rep. Eduardo Gullas sa Kamara na ibalik ang mandatory na (ROTC) at lusawin ang National Service Training Program (NSTP) para sa mga mag-aaral ng mga kolehiyo at unibersidad. Bahagi raw kasi ng programa ng ROTC, na pinamumunuan ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ang pagtuturo ng patriyotismo sa mga kabataan.