A gathering of different Student Councils and Student
Political Parties Nationwide in time for the May 10, 2010 elections.
More details soon!
For interested student councils and student political parties please drop us a line at scap.neb@gmail.com
Thanks!
Student Council Alliance of the Philippines is still looking for donations for the victims of typhoon Ondoy! 36B Madasalin St., together with the office of Akbayan Party List, are also requesting for more help.
you can help by donating items listed: These will be brought to the different sites in Metro Manila and some provinces. Please help spread the word. 
- Ready to eat food (cooked rice, boiled egg, bread, easy to open canned goods)
- Water (bottled, or in 10-gallon containers)
- Blankets and towels
- Clothes
Volunteers are also needed to help pack and deliver the items.
If you wish to help, pls call or txt: 925-58-43/ 09175381816 (Bayantel lines down so use these numbers).
YOU CAN ALSO TEXT US THROUGH SMS 09207392102 / 09299523774 /0926682704/ 09153089753
Look for Eriza and Bianca
The past weeks have seen the emergence of a novel viral disease – the Influenza A (H1N1). Many people became worried, others remained calm and confident, a few others have been infected, and one Filipino who works for the House of Representatives had died of complications.
With H1N1, Filipinos reacted differently. But as we begin to face another, more serious threat to our nation’s health – a disease that can quickly spread and grow into a pandemic like H1N1, we as a people must react – and act – collectively. Now is the time to build the preventive measures against this emerging sociopolitical epidemic.
The House of Representatives Resolution 1109 is the most pressing and rapidly growing disease that inflicts our national society today. Last June 2, 2009, this ‘social virus’, which we would like to call ‘HR1109’ in accordance to conventional naming of influenza strains, contaminated our legislature, bringing about a constellation of ‘signs and symptoms’ – the untimely and ‘acute onset,’ or rather railroading, of the resolution, without even conducting a nominal voting; the attempt to paralyze the Senate by not including them in the Constituent Assembly – the body that should be responsible for revising the Constitution; the inability of the legislators to consult as many people as possible regarding changing the Constitution; and the potential to prolong the hold of tyrants in office due to the transition stage associated with a shift to parliamentary government. All these ‘disease manifestations’ are indeed horrible and unacceptable.
In public health, it is important to investigate the mechanism by which a disease occurrence starts and spreads. If the Con-Ass is the disease, the causative agent is a virus that, just like H1N1, is a fusion of different viral components – deception, greed, corruption, unlawfulness, and oppression. Viruses can spread by direct contact or droplets, but the virulent elements of Con-Ass are transmitted by vectors – the members of the House of Representatives who voted for the passing of House Resolution 1109. These vectors are nurtured not by stagnant waters or barks of trees, but by those in power who desire to perpetuate their regime.
No antiviral drug can eradicate this dreaded social virus – only our total and collective opposition can slow down, prevent the contagion of, and eventually, totally eliminate this virus that attempts to kill the very foundations of our democracy. At first we thought we cannot battle against H1N1 – but we realized that healthy lifestyle and proper etiquette are the cornerstones of prevention. HR1109 and all its associated ailments can also be easily overcome – if we work together, here and now!
Therefore, we, the University Student Council of the University of the Philippines Manila, the National Health Sciences Center of the Philippines, call each member of the University – students, faculty, administrators, staff – and all Filipinos to remain vigilant of the events that will unfold in the coming weeks and months and to spread the virus not of Con-Ass, but of freedom and opportunity by educating each other about the presentation and complications that this fearful but avoidable disease may bring about. Participation in social movements and activities that advocate real change and genuine progress – not through Con-Ass but through active and participative democracy – is also key to effective ‘infection control.’ By registering and voting for the 2010 national elections, we declare our distaste for Con-Ass and other attempts to prolong the ‘infection’ brought about by officials who desire not national growth, development, and survival, but senility, disability, and death. While public health experts remember the pandemics that killed millions in the past, let us also put these ambitious parliamentarians in mind and avoid them in the upcoming 2010 elections. In this way, we can be assured that our country will be declared ‘disease-free’ in the future.
The Philippine health system headed by the Department of Health together hospitals, medical schools, and research institutions, including UP-PGH, responded adequately to H1N1 through a complete armamentarium of education, infection control, and early diagnosis and treatment. With the same collective effort and unified stand as land-loving people, we can disinfect our towns and cities – our beloved Philippines – from Con-Ass and Cha-Cha – our nation’s real pandemic.
June 25, 2009
UP Manila
Ramon Lorenzo Luis Rosa Guinto
University of the Philippines
Doctor of Medicine Class of 2012
First Posted:
June 09, 2009 at 11:05am Facebook
House Resolution No. 1109 Salient Points:
A RESOLUTION CALLING UPON THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO CONVENE FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSIDERING PROPOSALS TO AMEND OR REVISE THE CONSTITUTION, UPON A VOTE OF THREE-FOURTHS OF ALL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
1. Convening the members of congress in order to amend or revise the 1987 constitution being used by the country today
a. It is provided that the Members of Congress have the constitutionally ordained powers to amend or revise the constitution given the exercise of their constituent power as recognized in Article XVII, section 1 of the Constitution.
2. The method to which this provision is enacted upon came from distinction evoked from the constitutional change that occurred in the 1935, 1973, and 1987 constitutions.
a. Evident difference with the 1935 and 1987 Constitutions have led this house resolution to be so. Changes that are of crucial value are:
i. The deletion of the phrase “in joint session assembled” as found in the 1935 constitution
ii. The deletion of the phrase, “all members of the Senate and of the House of Representatives voting separately” as found in the 1935 constitution, there by obscuring the distinction as to which institution of Congress a representative is part of when it comes to the voting requiring three-fourths of all the members
b. Proposals to amend or revise the 1987 constitution can only be provided only when there is already a call to convene the Members of Congress.
i. The proponents of this resolution then pledged that any form of change may be presented at the appropriate times given that other constitutional issues involving the construction and interpretation of the 1987 Constitution is conducted by the Honorable Supreme Court.
ii. Controversies that may be related to this resolution may be resolved with finality that:
1. The terms of office of the incumbent President and Vice-President, as well as the Senators, Congressmen, Governors, Mayors, and other elected officials whose term of office shall expire in 2010 shall not be extended;
2. The terms of office of the twelve (12) senators whose term shall expire in 2013 shall not be shortened;
3. That there shall be elections in 2010.
4. The economic provisions making the Philippines an internationally competitive country attracting foreign investments and technology transfers is also mentioned, but can only be presented and acted upon when there is already a convention to amend or revise the constitution and will be made operational through the application of Article XVII of the present Constitution.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS BE CONVENED FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO, OR REVISION OF THE CONSTITUTION UPON A VOTE OF THREE-FOURTHS OF ALL ITS MEMBERS AND THAT UPON ITS BEING CONVENED SHALL ADOPT ITS RULES OF PROCEDURES THAT SHALL GOVERN ITS PROCEEDINGS
Last Tuesday, June 2, 2009, the Philippine House of Representatives passed House Resolution 1109 which calls for the convening of Congress into a Constitutional Assembly. The decision, voted by means of acclimation, was reached after four (4) hours of interpolation and to much debate by both Administration and Opposition congressmen.
House Resolution 1109 provides the House of Representatives with powers to amend or revise the 1987 Constitution given their right to exercise their constituent power as stipulated in Article XVII, Section 1 of the said constitution. The method adopted in the writing of this resolution was enacted upon with respect to the changes in the 1935, 1973, and 1987 constitutions. This resolution then entails the Members of the Congress (i.e. the Senators and Congressmen) to vote jointly – not separately – on any amendment or revision to be made with the 1987 Constitution.
In matters of constitutional issues involving the construction and interpretation of the 1987 Constitution, it is the Honorable Supreme Court that shall decide on all affairs.H.R. 1109 has provisions for the prohibition of the extension of terms of the incumbent President and Vice-President, as well as the Senators, Congressmen, Governors, Mayors, and other elected officials whose term of office shall expire in 2010, the office of the twelve (12) senators whose term shall expire in 2013 shall not be shortened, and that there shall be elections in 2010.
The Sanggunian ng mga Mag-aaral, as an institution founded on the principle of Democracy – with its values of participation, responsible representation, and forwarding national interest, stands firm in positing that H.R. 1109:
1. has clearly not been, and is still not at the best interest of the Filipino people at the moment
2. has not undergone the proper process of consultation by seemingly railroading the resolution into approval without proper regard for objection and queries from various individuals and groups.
3. is seemingly and potentially a product of dubious intention by powers that have significant influence in Congress
The Sanggunian ng mga Mag-aaral, as an institution founded on the principle of National Dignity and Social Justice, firmly believes that H.R. 1109 is a mere distraction to more pressing legislative matters such as the pending Student Rights and Welfare Bill, efforts to protect our economy from the effects of the global recession and other legislative agenda championing the interests of the poor and marginalized in society.
The Sanggunian ng mga Mag-aaral questions the timing at which the members of the House have chosen to push for this arguably unconstitutional first step in attempting to amend the constitution. The realities of the upcoming elections include the logistical difficulties of preparing for a plebiscite in case amendments are forwarded by an assembly and the suspicions over the real motive behind this effort.
The Sanggunian ng mga Mag-aaral, is an institution that partakes in the endeavors of the youth, which it sees as the primary stakeholder of the nation. The implications of H.R. 1109 are clearly not in line with the interests of the youth today. The Sanggunian firmly supports the desire of the youth to exercise its democratic right to vote in the 2010 national elections.
Therefore, the Sanggunian ng mgaMag-aaral stands firmly against moves to amend the constitution via a Constituent Assembly. It believes that NOW is NOT the time to amend the constitution.
The Sanggunian ng mga Mag-aaral, as an institution that represents, integrates, and provides services to the student body calls on the student body to
(1) participate in discourses and forums to be set-up by the Sanggunian and other groups to be properly educated on the political situations;
(2) continue to participate in voters’ registration which will be important whether an election or a plebiscite happens in 2010;
(3) be vigilant of the poll automation process that is happening in COMELEC. If a plebiscite will occur or the 2010 election pushes through, we shall rely heavily on those machines that are being set-up in determining our future leaders.
(4) create political space in cyberspace by discussing this issue with your friends;
(5) write what your stand is to your congressmen and senators;
(6) write to the Supreme Court that we trust them to uphold what is true, unbiased and just in their decision regarding HR 1109;
(7) participate in the major protest concert on June 10, 2009 in Makati, Tondo, or Katipunan as well as the regular noise barrages that will happen on seven consecutive Fridays starting June 12 until the July 27 SONA of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Scincerely,
Gregorio Ramon A. Tingson
President
Sanggunian ng mga Mag-aaral ng Paaralang Loyola ng Ateneo de Manila
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