blackshama's commentary on Philippine issues

Add caption The Bill of Rights in the Constitution of the Philippines remains as the most relevant part of the charter for the citizen. In the latest book "Our Rights, Our Victories" (Cleverheads Publishing, 2011), authors Marites Danguilan Vitug and Criselda Yabes tackles landmark cases in the Supreme Court of the Philippines which deal with the rights and protections afforded by the Bill for the citizen. Ms Vitug and Ms Yabes both respected investigative journalists have to be lauded for coming out with this book that deals with civil rights in the whole tumult of our history as an independent nation. This is indeed a first in Pinoy publishing history. The book is written without much of the legalese that accompanies ponencias by the Pinoy Supremes. This would make it more intelligible for the educated Pinoy reader who knows English. Even among the educated, civics was hardly ever taught and thought about unlike in the days of my parents and grandparents during the Im...

The Philippines joins the list of human rights friendly countries such as Iran,Serbia and Russia in boycotting the Nobel Peace prize conferment on an Chinese pro-democracy dissident. Apparently the Noynoy administration has caved in to Beijing's pressure. The Philippines has had significant Chinese investment but many of these have been clouded by corruption allegations. And to shaft Ricky Carandang, the Philippines is no small country. It just has a small minded government! Noynoy Aquino is  a beneficiary of a democratic restoration. He seems not to realize the heat involved in defending liberty now that he is President! Dear old  mom and dad knew what the heat meant, but he sure has fallen short of living up to what his parents had to go through.