Viewable copy of an important House Bill which I co-drafted (Congress is yet to upload a copy in its website)

Preprint of a conference paper that has been accepted for presentation in the upcoming DLSU Research Congress 2022 at De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines from July 6 to 8, 2022.

CLICK TO VIEW FILE

Today, I turn 25 for the 11th time (ala-“In Time”). Thanks be to the Supreme Being for all these years.

And yes, I’m mulling over a senatorial run for some reasons:

1) Those who have confirmed their intention to run in 2022 and the top senatoriables in recent surveys are mostly slim pickings ranging from dynastic scions, lackluster returnees, political has-beens, and sundry entertainers, compelling people to say in exasperation: “WALA NA BANG IBA?”

2) Few of the top senatoriables have known advocacies, let alone, specific & substantial legislative plans.

3) Few of the top senatoriables can actually write draft Senate bills and/or do research on their own.

4) Humanity and/our country theoretically face imminent annihilation – if not through more virulent variants of COVID-19, possibly through global ecological collapse – thus, we should all seek alternatives to representatives of the status quo.

5) People are longing for the good old days of the Senate – when the likes of Claro M. Recto, Jose W. Diokno, Lorenzo M. Tañada, Jovito Salonga etc. – way back when there was gravitas in its famed halls.

Hence, say no more. Perhaps you may consider including a young full professor (with a PhD and now working for a second PhD) – with more than a decade of combined training and experience as a teacher, advocacy campaigner, volunteer writer for NGOs, partylist nominee, legislative consultant, and researcher, in your senatorial list if he would be able to file his COC and if COMELEC approves his candidacy?

Others ask why.

I ask, why not?

Here’s a list of some of the Senate bills that I’ll file if I were a senator:

1) Free Health Care Act [100% Libreng Serbisyong Pangkalusugan Mula Gamot Hanggang Check-up, Operasyon, Hospitalisasyon atbp.]

2) Tax Reform Act for the Masses and the Middle Class/TRAMM (Income Tax Reduction, Abolition of Value-Added Tax/VAT on Food, Medicines, Utilities) [Pagpapababa ng Buwis sa Kita ng Masa at Middle Class, Pagtatanggal ng VAT sa Pagkain, Gamot, Kuryente, Tubig, Internet]

3) Urban Land Reform Act/Homes for Every Filipino Act [Pabahay para sa Bawat Pamilya]

4) Nurturing Entrepreneurship With Incentives Act/NEW Incentives Act [Suporta sa Maliliit na Negosyo]

5) People’s Initiative Revitalization & Mobilization Act/PIRMA (People’s Legislation Through Online Petitions) [Pagmumungkahi ng Panukalang Batas sa Pamamagitan ng Online na Petisyon]

6) Fast and Cheap Internet Law (see my related paper on this issue) [Mura at Mabilis na Internet]

7) Repeal Rice Tariffication Act (see my related paper on this issue) [Pagbabasura sa Taripikasyon ng Bigas]

8) Green New Deal for the Philippines Act (towards transitioning to 100% renewable energy use for the country; see my related paper on this issue) [Batas para sa Lubusang Paggamit ng Enerhiyang Solar Atbp.]

9) National(ist) Industrialization Act (NAIA) (see my related paper on this issue) [Batas para sa Pambansa/Makabansang Industriyalisasyon]

10) Magna Carta for Private School Teachers (we contributed to the final draft of this bill’s version in Congress; see notes we made on this legislative piece) [Batas para sa mas maraming benepisyo para sa mga guro sa pribadong paalan]

PLENTY MORE TO FOLLOW. Come October, I’ll make my final decision.

Domine dirige nos.

~~~

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(“Instructions and Lessons to Keep”)

by Jose “Pete” Lacaba

“Tagubilin at Habilin”

(“Instructions and Lessons to Keep”)

by Jose “Pete” Lacaba

(English translation by David Michael M. San Juan)

Live on, my friend!
Live on!
That’s my first and last instruction:
Live on!

In my age, I can give a lot of advice.
I am rich in life’s lessons.

Wash your hands before eating.
Wash your hands after eating.
But do not wash your hands to escape blame.
Do not wash your hands when people are being oppressed and you have the power to help them.

When in the bus, give your seat to the elderly and those who have a baby.
Give thanks to those who do good.
Learn from the experiences of the seasoned ones.

But don’t get yourself tied down by outdated mindsets.

Don’t force yourself to sleep when sleep evades you.
Don’t waste your time on those who don’t remember good deeds done unto them.
Don’t quarrel with the stupid ones, or else some may take you for a fool.
Don’t whisper in silence in times when shouting is needed.

Don’t put your trust on rumors.
Don’t dilly-dally under a feast of hanging prizes.
Don’t be slow to act.

Sing when you’re alone in the bathroom.
Sing when you’re with friends.
Sing when you’re sad.
Sing when you’re happy.

Just be forewarned.

Don’t sing “My Way” in a videoke bar for you might get shot.
Don’t light a cigarette in a gasoline store.
Go slow in steep paths.
Go slow in rocky roads

And most of all, I repeat:

Live on, my friend!
Live on!
That’s my first and last instruction:
Live on!

Many things in life are disappointing.
Live on.
The world has a lot of problems which seem to have no solutions.
Live on.

In times of poverty, in the face of defeat,
You may feel like you would prefer to just die.
You want to slit your pulse when broken-hearted.

You want to drink poison when you got nothing to eat.

You want to strangle yourself when your burden seems unbearable.

You want to blow your head into smithereens when many things bother your mind.

Don’t let yourself lose. Do not surrender.

You have heard what’s been told in a song:
“Wake up and arise from slavery,
Wake up from deep slumber.”
Wake up when love beckons.
Rise up when the poor voice out a call for action.

Others say: “Brave is a man who fearlessly fight.”
I say, instead: the truly brave ones are those who fight
even if they are afraid.

Fight when you have been dragged into the mud.
Rise up when you are being trampled upon.
Fearlessly fight for your principles
Even if you’re not sure to win right away.

Live on, my friend!
Live on!
That’s my first and last instruction:
Live on!

(Text of the original available at: https://www.bulatlat.com/2007/05/12/tagubilin-at-habilin-2/)

This is a preprint of a paper which will be published in a DLSU-Filipino Department’s Sourcebook for a General Education course on Language, Culture, Media, and Technology. (File is viewable but not downloadable): https://drive.google.com/file/d/19WbrGp-xgIfod5UqUNMXU8AesxybRlKO/view?usp=sharing

Preprint of a conference paper that has been accepted for presentation in the upcoming DLSU Research Congress 2021 at De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines from July 7 to 9, 2021.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW FILE.

The author also appeals for voluntary contributions (any amount will help us in paying for this website’s annual renewal of domain registration, & placing some Facebook ads to broaden the reach of our advocacies): GCASH 0956-698-7486. Thank you very much.