THE Senate has suddenly resurrected the issue of Charter change (Cha-cha). I hope there is no hidden agenda behind this, but in principle, this Senate move should be supported. This will call for a constituent assembly, although the people’s-initiative law is very much alive after the Supreme Court validated it. Now that it’s the Senate asking for charter change—and coming at that from the opposition in that chamber—let us listen to all those who were attacking the move whenever the administration espouses constitutional reforms.

What does the Church say?

The senators are pushing for a federal system of government and have surprised everyone by opting for Charter change at a time when no one was expecting it. Some say that Cha-cha is inevitable and the senators do not want to be left out in the cold. Remember that previous calls for Charter change included a proposal to shift to a parliamentary system, which will effectively eliminate the Senate. This surely is one of the reasons that senators are opting for amendments now to ward off moves to write finish to their institution. Whatever their excuses may be, one thing is certain: The uneasy times call for the rewriting of our Constitution to reflect present needs and directions for the people and for the nation; otherwise, the country will always remain in conflict with itself.

More on this later.

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ONCE  again we have proven that Filipino brainpower is the backbone of our drive for world economic excellence. Overseas Filipino workers spread out all over the globe are much preferred by foreign employers. Filipino doctors, nurses and other medical professionals occupy preferred positions in foreign medical facilities, and just recently, Australia announced its plan to hire thousands of Filipino nurses in the immediate future.

The outsourcing business involving call centers and other offshoring and similar undertakings are raking in unparalleled revenues—considering that it is practically a newborn industry—and is expected to contribute 8 percent of the gross domestic product until 2010, higher than the present share of old reliables like finance, real estate or transportation and communications. The Philippines is now one of the top three top players in this field and is still growing. Call centers and other similar establishments have offered young professionals and even undergraduates a venue where they can blend in naturally using basic knowledge of the English language and college-level education. Whatever our kids are doing in this field, it is clear that they are doing it well. Let us support this industry with attractive incentives, not destroy it with restrictive and constrictive measures and laws. It is, in fact, a showcase of Filipino excellence to the world.

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THE chief of staff of the Armed Forces announced that they have so far neutralized only eight out of 87 New People’s Army (NPA) guerilla fronts. To Metro Manilans who are not directly threatened by the brutality of NPA tactics and hit-and-run style of warfare where civilians are mostly the hapless victims, this number does not change anything at all. The NPAs are still there and they can always reinvigorate their ranks like a humanoid in the movies. But to government forces battling the self-styled guerillas for years, this is a big reduction of hostile forces. Without nationwide logistics and support, weakened NPA units may be encouraged to give up their lost cause and go back to the fold of the law. After all, it has become less of an ideological cause and more of a survival reality show. And who profits? Not the peasant foot soldiers in the fields and their families who were made more miserable by their plight. Kawawa naman ang mga inililigaw nating kababayan.

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A LOT of critics are attacking me for my alleged statement that the government will give up its Spratlys claim. This is farthest from the truth because I never said such a thing. Some people twisted my words and manufactured my statement. 

I am happy with the story that appeared in the Philippine Daily Inquirer that was totally accurate. What I actually said was that we should be prudent with our approach to the Spratly issue in connection with our baseline proposal, considering that within our Kalayaan Island Group, China and Vietnam have already fortified and occupied a number of islands. How can we include these Chinese- and Vietnam-occupied and fortified islands in our baseline proposal and risk confrontation with these two powers?

At any rate, this issue is pending in the Senate and the House, so in due time we can elucidate further to clear the position of the government. 

CHALK up another victory for the big pharmaceutical companies with the expected passage of a watered-down cheaper-medicines bill.

IN a global milieu of increasing scarcity of even the most basic food staples, in addition to induced and natural shortages of critical fuels, among the advantages the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (Jpepa) presents as responses to these afflictions are systemic approaches that immediately globalize our innate assets and address our festering deficiencies.

HAGATNA, Guam—Through the years that I’ve been flying, my austere expense account has condemned me to the economy class.

Personal Finance: On property and casualty insurance

MANY of us have some form of property and casualty insurance, or more commonly referred to as nonlife insurance. We probably have motor-car insurance, fire insurance or personal-accident insurance. However, I dare say that so many of us who do have some form of coverage are not really aware what this form of insurance is all about.

The Entrepreneur: Let’s get our figures right!

WHEN Global Source reported last month that the 7.3-percent growth in the Philippines’ gross domestic product (GDP) in 2007 might have been overstated, the immediate reaction was to label the New York-based think tank as an unfair skeptic or one with the usual western bias against developing economies.

Coast-to-Coast: Enhance our claims, strengthen baselines

‘ENHANCE our claims, strengthen our baselines” is the proposed “win-win” solution envisioned by Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to break the impasse over the conflicting versions of a pending bill defining the country’s baselines.

Reflections from the Mirror: Con-Ass, NPAs and the Spratlys

THE Senate has suddenly resurrected the issue of Charter change (Cha-cha). I hope there is no hidden agenda behind this, but in principle, this Senate move should be supported.