The Seven Curses of the Stolen, Not A Strong Republic According to FSGO (Former Senior Government Officials)

1. The curse of a country unable to feed its own people, due to gross neglect of agriculture and rural development.
2. The curse of worsening poverty and increasing disparity between rich and poor, due to economic mismanagement that ignores the needs of the many to serve the interests of the few.
3. The curse of deteriorating basic social services essential to the survival and welfare of the people, due to callous disregard of the public good.
   
4. The curse of a national government gripped by a metastatic cancer of corruption.
   
5. The curse of wanton abuse of presidential prerogatives.
   
6. The curse of an illegitimate president.
   
7. The curse which combines the malignant effects of the first six curses. This is the curse of a nation robbed of its dignity, unity, and future.”

What is Your Message to the Filipino Youth during this Trying Times?

• "Make yourself aware of what is happening to our country. Organize yourselves to defend your rights as young people and volunteer your services to to help others. Ensure young people participate in the 2010 elections to choose the most worthy leader who will inspire the country to greatness."
  - Dr. Jaime Galvez-Tan, UP medicine professor and former DOH Secretary
  
  
• "Keep the faith. Tomorrow is a new day."
  - Atty. Ismael Khan, former SC spokesperson
  
  
• "Dream big! Hope! Oneness!"
  -Prof. Erle Frayne Argonza, sociologist and development scientist
  
  
• "Work within the framework of genuine sustainable development that embodies responsible governance, sound and viable economy, social cohesion and environmental integrity. Each of this pillars must benefit essentially the marginalized, including women, children, indigenous peoples, and the impoverished. Be vigilant and active in safeguarding the environment, respect for human rights, good governance and socio-economic justice."
  -Prof. Natividad Lacdan, UP ecology professor
  
  
• "Find an ecological paradigm that transcends good and evil, discover their own mutya (spark of divinity and genious within), develop it to the level of execellence and nobility, and offer their highest for the evolution of human consciousness and accompany this with working for concrete measures and projects for cultural and social development and for society's transformation that begins with self, sense of community and nation, and sense of kapwa and mutya in everything while reconnecting with own roots and ancient wisdom in expressing ourselves creatively, always learning new things of being, doing and understanding."
  -Prof. Grace Odal-Devora, UP Philippine arts professor
  
  
• "Be aware of national issues and find vehicles to become involved."
  -Francis Lim, Executive Director of Makati Business Club
  
  
• "As an old saying goes, don't let your academics get in the way of your education."
  -Prof. Danilo Arao, UP journalism professor
  
  
• "Makilahok, kumilos para sa tunay na pagbabago sa pamahalaan - nasyunal at lokal -
  at sa ating mga sarili."
  -former Senator Wigberto Tañada, lead convenor of Fair Trade Alliance

Political Realities in America

• The Democrats increased their control in Congress but did not achieve the filibuster-proof majority of 60 Senate seats. Notably, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky survived a close race.
• The so-called Blue Dog Democrats in the House will likely try to keep some sanity on spending, and will work with their Republican colleagues to that end.
• A common refrain in Republican circles is that the party lost ground because they "abandoned conservative principles." True or not, they'll be much less likely to accede to increased Federal spending with a Democrat in the White House.
• Obama is presumably smart enough to understand the majority of Americans really are centrists, which may seem self-evident but often gets lost in the "Red State-Blue State" clash that's dominated political discussions in recent years.

taken from the online article Will-Obama-Govern-from-the-Center-or-the-Far-Left?

Philippines: Quote and Unquote

• There is wisdom in a modified old adage that says "waste is what inordinate haste makes."
• The wounds of War have not been totally healed by six years of imposed autonomy (ARMM).
• The country should not harbor any illusions about its current economic performance because poverty is still pervasive.
• Strategists both from opposition and the administration have been trying to outgun each other.
• In Philippine Politics, Backstabbing, name calling and skirmishes (like kids) are commonplace.
• Tactical compromises may be necessary to achieve short- term victories.
• There is a need to balance the concept of National sovereignty with the requirements of national security.
• Filipinos are becoming less upbeat about the economy.
• The War in Mindanao is deeply rooted in history.
• A weak state can not strategically respond to challenge.
• A Presidency that will remain inward looking will have difficulty managing security issues.
• A war environment is not conducive to the crafting of creative solutions.
• It will never suffice to assess the President as just a bundle of traits, inherited or learned.
• A rise of leader is a society's response to the needs of time
• In any large and complex society, Democracy can only be representative and not direct.
• Political Party-Hopping is another endemic practice to Philippine Politics.
• Legislation that fashioned in the same chambers that have housed generations of politicians can not- with the symbolic bang of the gavel- eradicate the ills of the electoral system.

Top Ten Prospect Books

List of books I want to have or to read before sem break ends! wala nga lang datung! hehe..

1. GEOPOLITICS OF EMOTION: HOW CULTURES OF FEAR, HUMILIATION AND HOPE ARE RESHAPING THE WORLD
Dominique Moisi

2. NONVIOLENCE
Mark Kurlansky

3. THE NEW ASIAN HEMISPHERE: THE IRRESISTABLE SHIFT OF GLOBAL POWER TO THE EAST
Kishore Mahbubani

4. PRESENT CONCERNS
C.S. Lewis

5. THE FOUR LOVES
CS Lewis

6. OF MAN (GREAT IDEAS)
Thomas Hobbes