North Korean UNHA-3 Rocket Has Been Launched

Image Courtesy of www.ytn.co.kr/

News broadcasts has confirmed that North Korea has launched its UNHA-3 Rocket, which will purportedly bring its weather satellite into orbit after the postponement yesterday. However, according to reports, the launch has been a failure. It has broken apart shortly after launch.

For the past weeks, the nations in Asia have been monitoring this event seriously and even condemning it. While the North Korean government claims that, they are just launching into orbit a weather satellite, neighboring nations fear that this is a ballistic missile test, which is a clear violation of a UN directive for North Korea to stop all rocket tests.

Japan has warned that it will shoot down the rocket once it enters Japanese air space. South Korea has said the same. The Philippine government meanwhile has advised its citizens at the eastern coastline to refrain from going out into the sea to avoid any possible falling debris from the Nokor rocket. The government has also suspended airline operations along the eastern section of the country.

Well, I guess the failure of UNHA-3 rocket launch will erase all political qualms even just temporarily.

About the Libyan Rebellion: Update Post

The Department of Foreign Affairs has clarified the news reports that a Filipino engineer has been arrested by the Libyan rebels in Tripoli. The DFA has corrected the news report saying that the reported arrest or kidnapping has been found to be untrue. It could have been caused by confusion about the developments in the Libyan capital.

Well, I am happy to hear that. The news report last night has confirmed that the previous report is inaacurate. The Filipino is Edwin Daproza, who has been working in a British company in Libya and is not an engineer. His wife has said that Edwin has voluntarily left his quarters armed Libyan guerillas have ransacked their quarters because of fear. He is now in safe condition.  

About the Libyan Rebellion

I am about to hail the Libyan rebels as courageous freedom fighters; amazing people who are willing to put their lives on the edge for country and democracy. However, recent developments are confusing to me.

News reports say that Libyan rebels have captured a Filipino engineer and vehicles from the Philippine embassy. Now, I don’t understand why they have to involve a Filipino overseas worker with their uprising. What does a Filipino engineer who is just working for his family has anything to do with the political struggle in Libya? It seems absurd.

I hope they can consider this act. For me, unless they admit committing a mistake, this is a clear violation of human right especially that the Philippine government is not an ally of Ghadaffi. I hope they would not taint their new-found freedom with reckless and senseless arrests of innocent civilians, particularly foreign workers.

The Libyan and Syrian Rebellions

The rebel forces in Libya have managed to take Tripoli without much resistance from Ghadaffi’s forces. It seems like Libyan strong man Muammar Ghadaffi has lost control of the country. News reports say that the rebel forces have taken 90 percent of Libya and have captured two of his sons.

At the same time, Syria’s political leadership remains in unrest. Violence has been going on in the streets as President Bashar al-Assad refuses to leave his office. News reports say that two protesters have been killed by Syrian security forces.

It is alarming that political unrest pervades over the Middle East region. These recent developments might cause further economic turmoil worldwide as the price of oil might go up inevitably.

At present, the United States economy remains in a slump due to the recession the country has suffered in 2008. Many economies worldwide depend largely on the American market and we can only pray that the situation would not worsen.

Images:

http://www.csmonitor.com

Syrian protests in Facebook

International Youth Day in Focus

It is good that BloggersUnite takes into focus the Youth. It is one of the strongest sector of society that needs great attention from government. Our national hero, Dr Jose Rizal has once said, “The Youth is the hope of the nation”. He sees the youth as the prime mover of the freedom and political transformation that would mend the social cancer that pervades in his time. I believe it is the same today. They need the best concern that government and society can afford.

The future of a nation indeed lies in the hands of the younger set of potential leaders because they will take our place when our time is up and will continue from where we have led them. We must be able to hone them in the right direction and prepare them to meet the crucial challenges that they are about to take as they head on toward their goals.

It is only right that we take notice of their potentials and listen to their voices and fresh ideas. Let us allow them to develop their innate abilities and use them responsibly.

Still, while I agree with giving the youth a voice in building social reforms, I believe that it should not give them the liberty to force their opinions as infallible. Knowledge cannot replace experience in the same way experience cannot supersede knowledge. Young people tend to become overly zealous and radical with the way they approach political issues.

Government and society need to respect their freedom in expressing their critical observations and provide their needs particularly in the area of education.

The Palace Denies BMW Issue

A couple of days ago, I have posted about the Clavio exposé that allegedly, the president has received a BMW from a certain businessman connected in mining.

Presidential Spokesperson, Sec. Edwin Lacierda has categorically denied that the president has bought or has a new BMW.

Well, that is good. It means the president follows RA 6713 or the "Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees."

However, is it not true or it has not pushed through because of the Clavio Exposé? Just asking.

In the same Clavio exposé, a lawmaker from northern Philippines has allegedly received a BMW X6 from the same very rich and generous person. I am sure many will try to observe the parking areas of Congress to see if they will indeed see a BMW X6 parked there.

BMW X6

I just hope that all public officials, elected and appointed; career or non-career would exercise discretion in their affairs as government servants. The people are watching.

Image above courtesy of:

http://www.bmw.it/

A Porsche, a BMW and a Jet: Much Ado about Nothing?

One of the biggest issues that Philippine President Noynoy Aquino has faced in his first year in office is his purchase of a third-hand 2007 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS at the price of P4.5M. He has earned so many criticisms for that and political analysts put the blame on that Porsche purchase for the eventual drop in his satisfaction rating.

Porsche 911 Carrera GTS

In fairness, if he has bought it with his own money, there seems nothing wrong. The important thing is that he does not steal from the people’s money. However, law prohibits ostentatious living for public officials and bids them to live within their means and lead simple lives. The intention of the law, I believe, is to keep officials from temptations to commit graft and corruption while in office. Maybe, if he already has a Porsche before he has become a president, there would have no issue at all.

Just yesterday, President Aquino has announced that he has sold his Porsche car. Many think that he has done a laudable act by selling his car. It shows that he gives value to people’s perception about his leadership.

Now, according to Arnold Clavio, famous GMA-7 News personality, he has found out from undisclosed sources that the president has allegedly received a BMW worth around P8M from a certain businessman connected in mining. I hope that this report is not accurate because for a public official, receiving a gift for any reason violates the law. I am just not sure if it is a BMW M6 or an X6.

2012 BMW M6

BMW X6

A Learjet-60

Clavio also reports that people in Malacanang Palace are planning to upgrade the president’s official aircraft. In all fairness, the Presidential Air fleet consists of a Fokker F-27, F-28 and a Bombardier Learjet-60, which are old. Maybe it is time to have a new one for the safety of the president. However, the amount of the undisclosed model of aircraft is around $700M. It seems too far above the ground. The amount is enough to purchase 23 F-15 fighter jets ($30M each) for the capability upgrade of the Philippine Air Force. 

An F-15 Fighter Jet

If this ostentatious and audacious plan pushes through, I think the president will get into deeper trouble from detractors and the political oppositions who are just waiting for the next issue they can exploit against him. We can only wait and see.

Is it much ado about nothing? I don’t think so.

Images above courtesy of:

http://www.porsche.com/pap/_philippines_/models/911/911-carrera-gts/

http://www.bmwblog.com/2008/05/27/renderings-2012-bmw-m6/
http://www.bmw.it/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learjet_60

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas_F-15_Eagle