December 16 - 31 , 2016 PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY A9
durianrepublic by JJ Atencio
I think you have to experience winter to know what desolation and death can be like . It can be unbearable .
It ’ s the season where everything dies , even bacteria . It becomes freezing cold and numb ; where the landscape is just white and colorless . Looking at the vast expanse of snow gives me a feeling of emptiness , of being all alone . And in many parts of the western world , the dreariness of winter can even be suicidal .
Now , we don ’ t really know if Jesus Christ was born in winter . Some scholars say that , because the shepherds were out that blessed night , it ’ s highly improbable . So why celebrate Christmas in the dead of winter ?
I thinks it ’ s because if we believe that the birth of our Chirst is the symbol of hope , then winter is the best time to have that hope . And so we sing “ Joy to the World , the Lord has Come !!” because we need hope the most when we experience the winters of life . We need to endure our winters so that when spring finally breaks , and it will , we can appreciate life more and live it to the fullest .
I like winter because it anticipates a new year . So I do new year ’ s resolutions for new things like health and exercise ( hahaha ) and recommit to old values like working harder with higher levels of efficiency . As the year closes and a new year is upon us , the birth of Christ at this particular time becomes
Christmas
even more significant . And so we hope that Christmas brings new changes in our life : a better job , more love , prosperity and even a better government .
I like winter because I can travel with my family . We never really grew up together you see , as three of my siblings grew up with my aunt and grandmother . And even today , with a sister now living in Los Angeles , it ’ s hard for us to be complete . And so two weeks out of every year , we can be a family . And so , despite the dreariness of winter , the warmth of family keeps us alive with hope and love .
They say Christmas is about love and family . That much is true . As we get older , we realize that all we have is each other . Christmas has become a commercial enterprise and it sad , because I will tell you this , and this perhaps is the secret of happiness .
“ Never love things that cannot love you back ”.
Food , Family , Friends ... FROM A7
administration as something needing a surge in energy demand
“ The potentials of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant in contributing to the achievement of a tiger economy status for the Philippines cannot be ignored . Denying the economy nuclear energy is denying the next generation of Filipinos better economic opportunities .” JV told us over dinner .
He is concerned too about the backlog of 1.4 million houses for survivors of calamities , homeless people , or those living in houses no longer fit for habitation . The agency projected that the backlog will accumulate to
5.7 million additional houses that need to be built this year . A concerted effort by the government and private sector , and the application of available and new solutions are necessary to address the housing backlog , He added .
JV suggests issues such as low monthly amortization , livelihood for housing beneficiaries , and incentives for developers to encourage them to undertake socialized housing should be considered .
The Senate Committee on Urban Planning , Housing , and Resettlement plays a crucial role in addressing the housing problem through legislation . Its Balanced Housing
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Program Amendment Act enacted early this year offered , an innovative solution to housing for the urban poor by giving them the chance to own homes in condo buildings and subdivisions . The law also gives a win-win solution to local government units and developers by getting the in-city relocation programs going , and getting tax incentives for condo and subdivision projects in exchange for investments in socialized housing . He noted that very few developers find socialized housing attractive because the process is very long and very tedious . The creation of the proposed Department of Housing could streamline the bureaucracy |
for faster house production and distribution .
He was the only senator to join Duterte ’ s trip to Japan , Sen . JV got first hand information about the possible infrastructure projects of the administration , which would have Japanese funding . This has been helpful in crafting his version of the Traffic Crisis Act needed by the president to solve the traffic crisis in Metro Manila .
Over-speeding is one of the causes of road accidents in the country and the proposed Speed Limiter Law gives the public a new safeguard against reckless drivers . The introduction of speed limiter devices in public utility vehicles will ensure
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safer driving and commute on main thoroughfares . *** L a s t W e d n e s d a y , our Bulong Pulungan sa Sofitel media group gave out Exemplar awards to Sen . Cynthia Villar for her senate work on livelihood ,
agriculture , |
education , and |
free |
health |
service |
for |
everyone , |
and |
Robert |
“ Bobby ” |
Joseph for |
being |
a Hall of Famer in private |
tourism and a posthumous |
tribute to our co-founder , |
journalist Letty J . Magsanoc . |
The award was accepted by |
daughter Kara Alikpala , also |
a freedom and anti-cancer |
warrior . ( mb . com ) |
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Na-batong Bonuses ... FROM A6
jeans ? *****
While those rich in gated subdivisions sleep well at night in their airconditioned homes , the majority of the people do not feel safe at all , especially those poor dwellers living in shanties and crowded barangays where drug users are perceived to live . They live in fear that they always cringe whenever hooded personalities got off from their motorcycles and walk inside their alleys at night . PDU30 should realize that killing is never a solution . In fact , it has now become a problem . But how could PDU30 solve the drug problem if he will stop using his Damocles sword in battling these drug monsters in our midst ?
Di naman makukuha lang sa pitik sa ilong ang mga hinayupaks na addicts at pushers ! ***** Now , PDU30 ’ s health is now becoming a national
concern after our Head of State admitted he is suffering from several illnesses like constant migraine and back pains , and the dreaded Buerger ’ s Disease causing the inflammation of veins in his leg . The Philippine Constitution is very clear that the public must always be informed about the physical condition of its leader . That ’ s why every Filipino must be informed of the true health condition of Prez Rody . This is a cause for public concern !
Lalo na kay VP Leni Robredo ! *****
‘ Nakuryente ’ si PNP Director General Ronald dela Rosa when he announced that police generals would be given hefty bonuses ranging from P100 thousand to P400 thousand . Since Gen . dela Rosa is a 4-Star general , he said he is entitled to the highret bonus of Ph400K ! This causes resentment among the rank and file in the Philippine National Police . Why give a bonus to the bosses only when it is the lower staffs who risk their lives daily ? And , where would the money come from ? Hayun , me nagalit sa Malacananang sa announcement ni Gen . dela Rosa ….
Kaya ’ t libo-libong bonuses ng mga Henerals naging bato pa ! He-he-he ! *****
The refusal of Commission on Higher Education Chairperson Patricia Licuanan to resign shows she has become a heavy baggage to her agency . If she has any self-respect left , she must resign , pronto . Like a leech she stays on despite being told by Malacañang not to attend Cabinet meetings anymore , insisting that her term expires in 2018 . Clearly she does not understand what a presidential appointee is . Has she forgotten that she is an alter ego of the President ? For her to function effectively ,
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she must enjoy his trust and confidence . And now it is clear she does not .
Me mga taong wala talagang delikadeza , di ba , my radio co-host Gian Carlo Bobila ? *****
PDU30 has signed into law the General Appropriations Act for 2017 last week , his first budget and so far the biggest “ real change ” for ordinary Filipinos as it embodies the pro-people , pro-investment , pro-growth , and pro-development thrust of the government . This is the most expansive and inclusive budget that the Filipino people have been dreaming of . The Department of Education will get the highest allocation out of all executive departments — P544.1 billion — to provide and maintain basic education facilities , create teaching and nonteaching positions , as well as develop and provide learning resources for more than 20 million Filipino students .
P 5 8 . 7 2 - b i l l i o n allocation for state universities and colleges and the P18.7-billion allocation for the Commission on Higher Education , will give deserving Filipinos access to tertiary education , it added . Kaya nga malilibre na raw ang tuition fees hindi lang ng mga scholars ng bayan kung hindi pati mga ….
Deserving students na hindi kayang mag-kolehiyo dahil sa kakulangang ng pera ng magulang . *****
SHORT ORDER : Merry Christmas and a Very Prosperous 2017 to all my friends , relatives , colleagues , followers , advertisers and supporters of our newspaper The Philippine Courier , sponsors and backers of our Angel ng Tahanan Canada event and everyone who believe in Peace all over the world . Mabuhay tayong lahat ! God Bless .