Gone are the days when you have to go some library and take from a shelf the latest edition of Supreme Court Reports Annotated (SCRA) to find jurisprudence on an issue which you cannot even describe as recent.

Taking advantage of all these and with the goal of being able to help all lawyers and law students alike, LawMonitor.Net is launching its Recent Philippine Supreme Court Decisions and Resolutions Search Tool which you will find on our right side bar.

Check it out at LawMonitor.Net.

Nitong mga nakaraang araw at linggo, parang sunod-sunod ang mga presidential forums na naganap. Kamakailan, meron pong FOCAP, nung minsan, may forum ng Inquirer sa UP, noong isang linggo sa Merriam College, tapos meron din sa La Salle at Ateneo. noong dati sa UST, meron din sa AIM at kung saan-saan pa. OK po ang mga forums, kaso parang medyo nakakasawa na kung pare-pareho lang ang style. Parang nawawalan po tuloy ng saysay.

Para po maging exciting at makabuluhan ang mga forums na ito, may mga suggestions po ang Sentro ng Katotohanan. Sana po ay makarating ang mga suggestions ko sa mga nag-o-organize ng forums para na rin makatulong sa kapakanan at kaalaman ng ating mga kababayan:

1. Sana po, imbis na forums, debate ang gawin. Kung ang forums po ay tatanungin lamang ang bawat isa sa mga kandidato, e para saan pa kung bakit inimbitahan sila ng sabay-sabay? Pwede naman po silang tanungin ng hiwa-hiwalay, hindi po ba? Ang mainam po sa debate, makikita ng mga tao ang pag-kakaiba ng mga kandidato. Hindi po kagaya kapag forums lang, parang pare-pareho lang ang kanilang sinasabi. Nalilito tuloy tayo lalo kung sino ang dapat iboto.

2. Dahil hindi naman po iisa lang ang gagawing debate, dapat po ay paghiwa-hiwalayin ang mga issues sa bawat debate. Isang araw po ng debate ay puro lamang sana sa ekonomiya. Isang araw po ay puro lamang tungkol sa OFWs. Isang araw po sana ay puro lamang sa paglaban sa graft and corruption. Isang araw po sana ay puro naman tungkol sa Reproductive Health at population. Ibang araw naman ay tungkol sa Charter Change. Ang nangyayari po kasi ngayon, bawat isang forum ay pilit na itinatanong lahat ng mga tanong. Tapos ganun din ang nangyayari sa susunod na forum. Hindi naman po nakukumpleto ang sagot ng mga kandidato dahil nauubos na ang oras. Parang hindi na tayo natatapos sa pare-parehong tanong, nasasayang tuloy ang panahon at pagkakataon.

3. Sana po sa mga debate ay isang tao lang ang magtatanong o magmomoderate. Sa mga forums po na nakikita ko, ang daming nagtatanong. Lahat po yata ng mga tumulong mag-organize ng forum ay gustong magtanong. Ang nangyayari tuloy, walang nagiging follow-up sa mga kasagutan at wala rin tayong natatapos. Wag na po sanang pumapel lahat ng organizers, hindi naman po tayo lahat mahusay mag-tanong o magmoderate ng forum o debate. Sana po ay humanap ng isang professional at patas na tao, na may expertise sa issue na pag-uusapan, para magtanong o magmoderate sa bawat isang debate.

4. Dapat po ang mga tanong ay puro tungkol sa policies. Wag na po sana yung mga personal o yung mga iba’t-ibang issues laban sa kandidato. Kasi po yung mga tanong na iyon ay dapat sa individual interviews ginagawa, hindi na po sa debate o forum. Nakakadagdag lamang po sa paghihintay ng ibang kandidato, hindi naman din po nasasagot ng husto dahil nagmamadali na sa oras.

5. Sana po ay gawing televised sa primetime sa gabi ang mga debate sa maraming channels. Sana ay may replay din kinabukasan ng tanghali. Sana po ay i-sponsor na lang ng COMELEC ang mga forums o kaya ay i-air sa mga government stations. Kasi po, may mga ibang channels na parang may kinikilingan o may nilalabanan. Kung walang channel na may exclusive sponsor ng debate, mas mainam po at parang mas patas ang usapan. Hindi naman po dapat exclusive ang mga debate at forums sa isang channel, dapat po ito ay open sa lahat ng mass media.

6. Sa parte naman po ng iba sa mass media, sana po, ang lahat ng TV, radio at dyaryo ay mag-cover sa mga debate. Ang mali pong nangyayari, parang kanya-kanya ang mga media stations. Yung forum sa ABS-CBN, hindi konocover ng GMA, yung sa GMA hindi naman kinocover ng kabila. Kahit po iyong sa Inquirer hindi gaano kinover ng mga TV station. Para pong may kumpetensya pa. Public service na lang po sana ito, hindi na competition sa business. Kasi ang eleksyon po ay para rin naman po sa ating lahat, kasama na ang atin mismong business interests.

Ito po ang anim kong suggestions, ulitin ko lang po:
1. Debate po sana at hindi lamang forum, para makita natin ang pagkakaiba ng mga kandidato
2. Hiwa-hiwalayin po sana ang mga issues, iba-ibang araw ng debate po sana bawat issue para makita natin talaga ang mga solusyong ibibigay ng mga kandidato
3. Isang moderator po lamang sana bawat debate, hindi po kailangang lahat tayo ay magtanong.
4. Policy debates po sana ang gawin, wala na po sanang mga personal questions at mga issues na pwede namang gawin sa individual interviews.
5. I-televise sana ng live ang mga debate, sa prime time TV at open sa lahat ng mga channels, hindi exclusive.
6. I-cover po sana ng lahat ng mass media ang mga forums, para po mas marami ang makaalam sa lahat ng issues, Itigil na po muna sana ang kumpetensya sa mga media outlets.

Kami po sa Sentro ng Katotohanan (DWBL 1242KHz 8.30-9.30PM T-Th), ay umaasa na sana ay makita natin itong mga improvements na ito tungkol sa debate at forums. Maraming salamat po!

Sentro ng Katotohanan (8.30-9.30PM, T-Th, DWBL 1242KHz) seeks and is open to interview and feature all senatorial candidates in the coming May 2010 elections. If you are a national candidate, or works for a campaign or knew someone who does, or just plainly want us to invite someone, please comment here or email us at lead.philippines(at)yahoo.com (or send an SMS to 0929-799-8308) and provide us information how to get in touch with the candidates.

Sentro is a fresh new program on AM radio that centers on topics related to the coming elections. In the past, Sentro has interviewed JC Delos Reyes, Nic Perlas, Bayani Fernando, Jun Chipeco, Alex Lacson, Sonia Roco and other national candidates. The Sentro interview touches on many topics of interest to voters, including the candidates’ personal lives and past achievements. Of course Sentro also asks about platforms (and legislative agenda for senatoriables) of the candidates, as well as their reaction to different national issues. It may be noted that Sentro interviews does not shy away from asking direct, even controversial questions, and as such has in the past elicited candid responses from featured guests.

Sentro ng Katotohanan is co-anchored by Arnel Endrinal and Ms. Iya-J.

www.leadphil.blogspot.com

Want to know who really are running? Here is a quick run down of Presidential, Vice-Presidential and Senatorial Candidates for the May 10, 2010 Elections based on the official certified list from the Law Department of the Commission on Elections (Comelec). Read the full post at Pinoy Seminars.

Greetings from AQ Services International!

We would like to invite you to apply for a mystery shopping program. It would require you to mystery visit several petrol stations.

1. For these mystery shops you need a PERSONAL CAR (motorcycles are not allowed). You are required to observe the service and facilities standards of petrol stations.

2. Reimbursement: The shop fee is 450 Pesos per shop. You are required to make petrol and store item purchase. The minimum amount to spend on fuel is 200 Pesos.

3. Deadline: These mystery shops have to be completed within the one week and the surveys must be completed and submitted within 24 hours of mystery shopping, latest by the 14th of November 2009

Please note that these mystery shops are to be executed between 9 am to 3 pm, 7 days a week (Including weekend).

We will inform you from the 19th October onwards if you are selected for one or more mystery shops. Do check your mailbox for updates!

Summary:

Project: Mystery Shopping for an oil & gas company
Task: Evaluating and Research
Time: 9 am to 3 pm, 7 days a week (Including weekend)
Deadline: 14th of November 2009
Fee: 450 Pesos
Location: Philippines

If you are interested in getting some extra money over the weekend please contact my colleague or myself at feisal@aq-services.com or me at alessandro@aq-services.com.

TELL A FRIEND

We are always looking for new mystery shoppers. If you have friends or family who might be interested, please refer them to us. You can redirect them to our website or use the following link (copy paste the link in your browser if it is not active):

http://www.aq-services.com/mystery-shoppers/tell-a-friend-about-mystery-shopping

Miriam Defensor Santiago was featured in Correspondents last week.

Maganda rin naman ang naidudulot ng pagiging prangka ni Senador Miriam Defensor-Santiago. Ayon kay Santiago , marami ang tumatak-bong Senador dahil sa laki ng budget na ibinibigay sa kanila kada buwan.

Lumalabas na P35,000 suweldo nila kada buwan ay pakitang-tao lang sa milyun-milyong budget ng bawat senador… Kada buwan ay may Fixed Monthly Budget ang bawat Senador ng humigit-kumulang P2 Milyon.

Read more at http://palaisip.blogspot.com

With regards to the blog post of Ella that I reposted. Here is a statement from Dr. Esperaza Cabral of the DSWD.

I may be cynical about the Philippine government, but I believe in fair and balanced news. I just hope that what Dr. Esperanza Cabral said is true.

Read more at http://palaisip.blogspot.com

CC (no, not Creative Commons or carbon copy) is a broad term. One can argue that climate change is a natural process. True enough, because if there were no climate changes in Earth’s distant history we probably wouldn’t be here today. Imagine if our Planet never had rain, or say Earth stayed hot and never had ice ages. Maybe the dinosaurs will still be alive today, and instead of us humans on the top of the food-chain, we will probably be on the top of someone else’s diet!

Climate Change is good then, because it keeps this planet alive and it keeps it balance. But why are we discussing about it if it is a good, natural process? Why all this fuss? These seminars, Blog Action Day, and scary videos that the Earth is going to die soon with humanity in it if we don’t do something?

Continue reading here…

Several articles on the Philippine Daily Inquirer have been talking about the flooding caused by Typhoon Ondoy in Metro Manila on Sept 26, 2009 like this one that says nine hours would have made a difference and this one where it says flood forces developers to back off. I especially like this one where Marikina Mayor says they have learned their lessons.

All I can say is, “Ngayon pa!”

Read more at http://palaisip.blogspot.com

Just reposting this. I have no sources to confirm this but I hope it’s not true.

Read more at http://palaisip.blogspot.com

After Mikey Arroyo responded to the media to have Facebook and the Internet regulated and was posted in several blogs. Several readers had very harsh comment about it.

The problem with Mikey is that he can’t keep his mouth shut. We have a saying in Filipino. “Ang pikon talo”.

Read more at http://palaisip.blogspot.com

Mikey Arroyo reacted to a photo of him that circulated on the Internet showing at Rustan’s at the height of Typhoon Ondoy. The photo describes him as being callous shopping for alcoholic drinks while his countrymen were suffering. He lashed out and said that Facebook and other mediums should be regulated and that it was impossible for him to be at Rustan’s at Katipunan since it was impassable at the time.

Read more at http://palaisip.blogspot.com

While some were still drowning, while some families were still stuck on roofs, while those who were not badly hit were sacrificing their lives to save those who need rescuing and while others were volunteering their energy to provide relief to those who lost almost everything, some of our honorable congressmen and women were busy saving Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, protector of Big Boss Mike Arroyo.

Watch the video at http://palaisip.blogspot.com. It will boil your blood.

Until now, the government has not clarified whether it will dispense with the red tape that normally accompanies donations in kind: the last thing the country needs is a scandal associated with donated relief goods being impounded by the Bureau of Customs or taxed upon arrival.

Read more at http://palaisip.blogspot.com

“Be it hereby resolved by the Philippine Senate, to enjoin all senators to allocate at least P1 million from their Priority Development Assistance Fund to aid victims of Ondoy,” according to Senate Resolution 1378 filed by Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago on Monday.

Read more at http://palaisip.blogspot.com

Cezar Mancao refuses to recant his testimony against former President Joseph Estrada and Senantor Ping Lacson. Mancao reiterates that Estrada and Lacson had something to do with the Dacer-Corbito double murder.
For the complete blog story, please visit <http://thepinoychuva.wordpress.com/>

What else is new? Joseph Estrada files a libel suit against Alfonso Yuchengco and the Philippine Daily Inquirer for their reports about him blackmailing Alfonso Yuchengco to sell his PLDT shares.

Read more at http://palaisip.blogspot.com

Here are 10 reasons why we should vote for Willie Revillame when he runs for senator. Read it here ….

Are there other reasons?

Sentro ng Katotohanan will feature Alex Lacson on its broadcast tomorrow, Tuesday, 8.30-9.30PM, 1242KHz DWBL.

Alex Lacson is the author of the book “12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do to Help Our Country”. He started the Tuloy Pnoy movement which egged on Sen. Noynoy Aquino to run for President. Alex Lacson is a lawyer by profession.