Welcome to my Blog
Hi. This is Mar. Welcome to my blog I look forward to exchanging views and swapping stories with you through this precious digital space. From time to time, I’ll be inviting friends to share this space with me, too, para naman hindi sayang ang dalaw ninyo. Samantala…
SONA na naman. Alam ko kung bakit napakalaking turn-off lalo na sa kabataan ang mga SONA ni Pangulo. (Of course, okay din para sa iba dahil walang pasok.) ‘Yung SONA kasi, nagiging sobrang literal na State of the Nation. Ito ‘yung nangyari, ito ‘yung nagawa, ito ‘yung tulay, ito ‘yung kalye, ito ‘yung programa, ito ‘yung natulungan. Sa Lunes, malamang ganyan na naman ang ating maririnig. For sure PGMA will be enumerating kung saan ginagamit ang “katas ng VAT.”
Pero hindi ito nagagamit bilang pagkakataon na maipresenta sa taumbayan kung ano ba ang sitwasyon natin, at kung ano ang mga ipinapatupad na programa para makausad tayo mula sa situwasyong ito. Tulad ng lagi kong sinasabi tuwing may malalim na problemang kinakaharap, magpakatotoo tayo.
Like, for example, I don’t expect the President to tell the country that we are in the midst of a worsening global economic and food crisis.That’s the situation right now, but I doubt if the President will say that. And in case she does,what then? Problem is, marami tayong nakikita na repackaging. Yung mga dati nang programa, ire-repackage, bibigyan ng bagong pangalan, ipagsasama-sama, paglalaanan ng naglalakihang pondo — iyon lang ang nakikita natin. Governance by spin and recycling. Pero ano ba talaga? What’s the plan especially for the long-term?
Ako kasi, sa tingin ko, pagkain muna bago ang lahat. Kailangang siguraduhin nating makakakain pa rin si Juan de la Cruz sa harap nitong krisis. Isang malinaw at kongkretong paraan para maitawid natin ang kakulangan sa bigas ay dagdagan natin ang suporta para sa fertilizer. Sa ganoong paraan, gaganda ang ani ng ating mga magsasaka. Alam niyo ba na kung tatapatan ng gobyerno ang two bags ng abono na binibili ng magsasaka (buy 2, take 3 scheme), kaya na nating isara ang yield gap at bawasan nang husto ang pag-import ng bigas mula Thailand at Vietnam? Bakit kasi pera ng Pinoy ang nagpapayaman sa mga farmers, traders and millers ng Vietnam at Thailand? Kaya naman natin iyan dito sa sariling bansa basta’t wala lang JocJoc at mga politikong nakikialam.
I’ve been saying this since my early days in the Senate: we should earmark the EVAT to build up a People’s fund. Iinvest natin ito sa long-term, hindi sa panandaliang one-time dole-outs. Ilaan ang EVAT para sa reporma sa edukasyon, kalusugan at agrikultura. Malamang sasabihin na naman ni Pangulong Arroyo na kailangan nila ang EVAT sa langis para makatulong sa mahihirap. I’ve studied this thoroughly. Marami silang ibang pagkukuhanan ng pondo lalo na kung bawasan nila ang gastos na di kailangan at habulin nila ang smugglers at bigtime tax evaders.
Bakit kailangang umangkas ang gobyerno sa paghihirap ng mga mamamayan tuwing tataas ang presyo ng langis? Anim na buwan na suspension ng oil VAT, iyan ang aking panukala. Time-out muna sa koleksyon para makahinga naman ang ating consumers - sagad na sagad na ang sinturon na kanilang matagal ng hinihigpitan.
Sa Lunes, makinig tayo sa SONA. Pagkatapos, sana ay gawin natin ang nararapat. I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again: we can rely on no one else but ourselves if we want to move this country forward.
About the Author ‘Mr. Palengke’ is Senator Mar Roxas, the son of the illustrious Senator Gerry Roxas, and the grandson of the venerable President Manuel Roxas whose public service careers have greatly benefited the country.Elected to the Senate in 2004 with a staggering 20 million votes, the largest ever obtained by a candidate in any Philippine election, Mar Roxas has made it his business to champion the people’s agenda on quality education, livelihood opportunities through small and medium enterprises, information technology, consumer welfare and good governance. 
and we need you to lead us to progress! :)
Mr. Palengke, I am but one of the millions of Filipinos who support you on this. Help the little people by eventually taking out VAT on oil! No VAT = lower gasoline prices = lower commodity prices = more food on the plate
Tama ka, why take money from our pockets to enrich people of other nations (not that I have any axe to grind with Vietnam and Thailand, mind you)? I would feel better about using the said money in long term projects that will lessen our dependence on foreign goods and make our own economy stronger from within.
Pero the real issue here is not that. It will all boil down eventually to graft and corruption. There can be no progress while the padrino system in place with all those bloodsucking a**holes drying up what little resources we have. Not even the best of plans nor the most altruistic of leaders (I’m talking about you here, not some president who calls herself an economist but cannot seem to help anyone but her little group of lackeys) will succeed until we get rid of the parasites. Please keep yourself clean when you become the 2nd Roxas to take the presidency — we need people like you up there who will truly understand the little people without using us for their political ends.
Hello po,
You are right that we can rely on no one else but ourselves. In my opinion, the root of all our problems (aside from the usual graft and corruption accusations) is fuel. Fuel prices dictate all the other prices in all markets/industries.
Kahit na anong gawin nating adjustment (VAT suspension, gov’t subsidies, etc.), we are not fixing the root cause of the problem. We are all at the mercy of the oil-producing nations.
Don’t you think it’s high time we *seriously* look for alternative sources of fuel? Sites like http://mindanao.com/blog/?p=3829 and http://www.dinglefoundation.com/ report interesting finds about fuel source.
I am not an expert and I don’t know if these sites merit serious exploration. Ano po ang tingin ninyo?
Go! Go! Go! Senator!
I support you all the way.
More power!
Senator Mar,
Thanks to Carlo Ople for introducing me to your blog. I am thrilled to know that you seem to be preparing for that big date in 2010. I humbly offer my unsolicited suggestion. In line with your plan, you ought yo reach out to provincial governors and local mayors, and begin your “listening tour”. Although, we are on the opposite sides on the issue of federalism, I still believe you deserve to be on the Philippines presidential ballot in 2010.
I am not an expert on Philippine politics but having been employed as a public health officer in various local governments here in Texas for 13 years, and my involvement in a number of civic and professional associations while running a family real estate business, I find it so crucial to listen to people’s dreams and desires. “Mr. Palengke Brand” is brilliant! However, go an extra mile to the farmers, fisher folks, provincial governors, city and town mayors, and as far as the barangays. I wish you all the best! Perhaps you could include Houston, Texas in your presidential campaign itinerary. Houston is where most Filipino-Texan-American voters live. I can certainly help you with that, should you decide to visit Texas. We will give you a Great Texan Welcome!
Cheers to your presidential candidacy,
Willy Acuña
Dallas, Texas
USA
Hi Senator! Welcome to the blogosphere! See more of you around. :)
All the best from the Tuna Capital. :)
Good start Senator Mar!
Hi Senator! Welcome to the Philippine Blog Sphere! :) yiheeeee!
and you think you can do all these that you’re suggesting? i’m certainly not an arroyo fan but i don’t think anyone can really live up to the expectations of the filipino people. they always want more and different people have difference in opinion that if you please one, you’ll disappoint another. there is NO ONE, not a soul, that you could put in that position that people would be satisfied. not even saintly mother teresa could accommodate all the various clamor of the filipinos. change should start in each and everyone of us. the elite just keeps getting richer and influence just gives them more power. power just revolves around them and handed down to their sons (oftentimes not-so-talented but with a few telephone calls can become a great business icon or a great someone). only a few rise up to the challenge to squeeze among the ranks of the rich but sometimes also with a lift from the higher-ups. and the poor (oh, don’t get me started!) isn’t exactly innocent. they pollute the otherwise beautiful country. they steal, loiter in the streets, do drugs and blame it on the president or to the fact that they have no choice because they need money and “illegal” is where it’s plenty. they do not work and expect to be rich. they blame it on the lack of available jobs but when you give them work they complain and frankly they are very choosy! they say they don’t have enough money to feed their family but they can buy load for their cellphones. you can even see some street beggars texting. hahaha! the irony of it. we are ALL to blame not the president’s SONA. sometimes it’s just to calm down the people and assure them that everything will be alright (though not really), or to give others another topic on which to criticize the president.
Hi Mar,
I’m surprise to read a critical analysis of the government coming from you, a very popular Senator. It’s easy for me, a common citizen to vent out my frustration using some choice words as both my hands are tied to effect a change and that’s my only outlet, but it’s beyond me how a Senator like you can sound as stump as I.
You received an overwhelming support from the people in the last election, yet you sound like you are as helpless as the rest of us. Does one really need to be a President to make a difference? What is our guarantee this time that you won’t be an ineffectual President as you are a Senator now? Or is it the case where there’s just not enough of honest and good thinking person like you in the house to fight for the cause of people against Gloria’s many inequities?
Regards,
Mark
So what do you want Mar to do Ms. Ria P?
I appreciate that it’s an uphill battle, but it doesn’t mean that we should all resign and continue to play the fiddle while our Rome reduced into ashes?
welcome to the blogging world Mr. senator \m/
Mr. palengke??
bakit kailangang tawaging mr. palengke si mar roxas? hehehe.. siguro nga dapat syang tawaging mr. palengke sa patuloy na pag-taas ng presyo ng mga bilihin.
Welcome to our world Mr. Mar Roxas. Keep up!
Hi Senator Mar,
First of all, I applaud you for coming to terms with the 21st century and acknowledging the power of blogging and the Internet. Thanks for sharing your ideas through this space… now more than ever, Filipinos need to be more participative in both nation-building and guarding against corruption. Every little thing counts. As a senator (a popular one at that), I would really like to see you address the big ticket issues such as population control, public health and education, and corruption — and to do so in a very concrete manner. Yung hindi lang sound bites, but do so in measurable and doable steps. Believe me, there are enough people who are willing to help as long as they/we can see the gains. Look at Gawad Kalinga — mga tao pa ang nagkakandarapa na mag-volunteer, kasi nakikita ang resulta. And I like their philosophy of providing just enough help so that the people can help themselves.
We need someone who can inspire us to be better people, better citizens. Maraming nagmamahal sa Pilipinas pero hindi alam kung sinong pagkakatiwalaan. Sana kayo na yung taong yon. And contrary to what one poster said, you don’t have to please everyone… gawin nyo lang yung alam nyong tama at makakabuti sa marami. Pero alam nyo na yon di ba?
I hope and pray that you can be the leader this country deserves, Mr Palengke.
making a blog is such a nice move to serve the people in a different way.
Hello, My Dad (Ricardo) is the son of Dr. Felix de Leon. of
San Miguel, Bulacan. Your Grandmother, Dona Trinidad de Leon Roxas is the niece of Dr. Felix de Leon.
I will support you in every ways I can for your 2010 candidacy if you decide to run.
Thel from Florida
I think ok lang naman sana yung vat/evat if nakikita ng masa na nagagamit ito ng tama at nag bebenefit ang karamihan…kaso nga ang nangyayari e puro vat/evat pero where does it al go? nagkaroon nga ng dole out yung sa kuryente to help the poor..yes im all about helping the poor pero that’s just a short term solution..atsaka pano naman yung mga nagbabayad ng tax pero hindi nakakaranas ng tulong or nakakakita ng pinaglalaanan ng tama ng tax na binabayad nila..
I agree with you sir na the government should invest taxes et al to long term solutions to problems that will help uplift our economy..hindi naman kasi lahat ng Pilipino ay tanga na maloloko ng false “advertisements” or false preachings na ok ang economy natin or we have experienced a .5% increase in gdp..what does that mean? .5% is not a meaningful number if the people cannot substantially see what it is right?
pwede nga sana na tanggalin na lang yung vat/evat, like what many people want and collect taxes well…baka nga yung taxes pa lang na regular ay enough na to fund the projects that will really matter e and not the projects that go directly to personal pockets…its just disappointing that napakaganda ng Pilipinas as compared to other countries, full of natural resources and all..full of good people, full of good leaders..pero natatabunan lang ng bad side..
dahil sa vat and add to that to global crisis we are experiencing..ang pilipinas nawawalan na ng middle class…as far as i can see..parang yung mga mayayaman hindi naman masyado apektado ng price increase in oil etc kasi kaya naman nila bumili..yung mga mahihirap naman e more or less hindi naman sila kumokonsumo nung gasolina unless they commute, ang pina tinatamaan is the middle class..kaya nadadagdagan tuloy ang percentage ng taong nagsasabi na mahirap na sila ngayon
we should hope and pray for a leader who has the well being of the whole country in sight, he may not be that far away from leading us..
sorry for the long rant sir..expect more to come from a disappointed countryman =P
Welcome to the blogosphere, Senator! I just subscribed to your RSS feeds. :)
Good day, sir. Kindly expound on this statement on your next blog entry:
“Bakit kailangang umangkas ang gobyerno sa paghihirap ng mga mamamayan tuwing tataas ang presyo ng langis? Anim na buwan na suspension ng oil VAT, iyan ang aking panukala. Time-out muna sa koleksyon para makahinga naman ang ating consumers - sagad na sagad na ang sinturon na kanilang matagal ng hinihigpitan.”
1) How did you come up with six months as the length for suspension?
2) How much would it cost the government?
3) How much would it benefit the Filipinos individually?
4) How does the concept of Oil VAT suspension fit into long-term investments on institutions?
Another thing: Hindi umaangkas ang gobyerno sa paghihirap ng mga mamamayan tuwing tataas ang presyo ng langis. Taxes, in theory, are there to increase public welfare. Your statement is such a misleading one.
You’re better than this, sir. I am not attacking your views in any way. I am merely pointing out discrepancies in your statements. This country needs a charismatic president like you, sir — however, I think you’re losing track of what’s really important: our country. I would like to think that there lies economic rationality in your recent statements, not just well-researched demagoguery.
Hi respectable Senator.
First of all congratulations in joining the Philippine Blogosphere and keep on embracing Web 2.0.
On behalf of every Filipino who are aware of a huge event going in the region - ASEAN Charter, which will lead to ASEAN Community / Integration by 2015, which then will lead to ASEAN Union… we like to know your stand regarding the ASEAN Charter and how if you are going to ratify it?
Thank you very much and more power to you! Mabuhay and God Bless.
Happy ASEAN Day!
~ Proud to be an ASEAN ~
Hello po mr. palengke! Isang maliit na tinig lang po ako, pero syempre naniniwala ako na pag pinagsasama natin ang maraming maliliit na tinig, isang nakabibinging sigaw ito.
Suportado ko kay Mr. Palengke! Keep it up!
I am against federalism. I am for a working Local Autonomy. Local autonomy is federalism without the costs. Instead of going federal just strengthen our LA and make it work. No need to amend the Constitution. No need to increase Senators, Congressmen and Offices. Just give the money intended for Regional governments directly to the Local Government Units. It is easier to work with and police them than the proposed States which shall serve no purpose expect as additional red tape.
Why deal with MILF on ancestral land? We have a law on ancestral land authored by Sen. Juan Flavier. Every province having indigenous people should strive to implement the it. Let us give the Tausogs, Manobos, T’bolis, Agta, Mangyan, Dumagats, etc. their due. But it should done in a case to case basis, province by province. Let no ethnic group lord it over another. The issue is not religious. It is economic. Let it be that way. Let us not give in to threats, but let us not also wait for them to arm themselves before we take action.
Who decides where Oil VAT goes? It seems Gloria has a free hand. She has made dysfunctional all agencies of government, including the SC and the Lower House. The Senate too?
What for are the States proposed by Sen. Pimentel, except for more expenditures and red tape? Also greater opportunity for secession. LGU’s can do the job better.
We can move out of poverty. We can rid ourselves of Gloria’s ineptitude and rapacious ways. We can do it without a cha-cha. We can do it without unseating her. We can do it NOW. Today is 8/15/08, not April l.
The formula is IN Sen. Pimentel’s proposal. It is not IT. It is in it. 20/80 sharing of national taxes…? Good idea. Excellent! But why give 30% to a State when the LGU’s can have the entire windfall to themselves? Let Gloria’s minions steal from the 20%, if they would be content with a meager amount… if those who share her table will allow her.
What will the LGU’s do with its 80% share? The Local Government Code has provisions for this. It has provisions for operational and financial procedures and accountabilities which can be easily updated with the new law giving them more share of the national tax collection. Sorry for LGU’s who are already under autonomous regions. They have additional baggage and red tape.
We can even consider an extreme scenario. Debtors collecting out of the 20% Central share… Why not? If the LGU’s can manage their funds well we could for once be self-reliant and run our government without depending on debts.
We want change? Let’s do it NOW. Let’s go for a working Local Autonomy. Paging all Governors, Mayors, and Barangays Captains. Paging all citizens who care for this country! This is a revolution, no less. It’s the kind we’ve all been waiting for.
Sen. Pimentel dangles a 20/80 bait to gain adherents from the LGU’s, in particular, to his bid for federalism. Why does he promise a pie by and by when we can have it NOW? If he is really sincere about decentralization, why doesn’t he bat for it NOW. The present Constitution allows it. Why go through a circuitous and uncertain route called cha-cha?
I think it’s all just a problem of legislation. He probably knows that such a proposal would never reach first base in Congress. But what makes him think that both Houses would have a change of heart if constituted into a con-ass? There, he would need as much support as he can from the LGU’s without which his proposal would fail. As is true NOW. So, why wait for a con-ass? Why not rally that support NOW? The urgency of the situation calls for it.
Dear Mr. Mar Roxas,
Ngayon ko lamang po napag-alaman sa pamamagitan ng isang Thel De Leon (supposedly cousin nyo) na kayo pala ay related to Dr. Felix De Leon ng San Miguel, Bulacan. Sa amin pong baryo (San Agustin, San Miguel, Bulacan) ang inyo pong lolo ang pinaka-prominenteng tao duon at kilala bilang isang pilantropo at napakabuting tao.. In fact a small bust of him was constructed sa harapan po ng aming eskwelahan named after him (Don Felix De Leon Memorial School)…
Mabuhay po kayo Sir, alam ko po ang kabutihan ninyo at ang inyong pangarap na maupo sa pwesto bilang isang pangulo upang lalong makatulong sa ating maraming kababayan.
Kung nuon po ay nagdadalawang isip po ako na bumoto sa inyo dahil sa dami po ng mga presidentiables natin, ngayon po ay wala na po akong pag-pipilian mo.. straight MAR ROXAS na po ako ngayon kasama ng aking buong pamilya at mga kakilala dito sa Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Pagpalain po kayo ng Poong Maykapal.
hi senator, keep up the fight for filipino in a subtle way, well appreciated sir… you don’t need to be rhetoric compare to other politicians out there, more talks but no accomplishment. how i wish the political maturity of every filipino shall be widely opened soon inorder for them to know that those maingay are those walang silbi sa pwesto. actions speak louder than words, however sir in your plans for 2010 election you must start designing your plans and see to it the projects and programs you have are better explained to the masses, you know few people understand the essence of VAT(those implementing rules and the laws you are working into). knowing VAT (and taxes as a whole) is not just a novel to read and enjoy but need expertise and thorough understanding, your programs should be better explained in layman’s understanding. Taxes and livelihood and basic needs of the filipino people are very sensitive issues to tackle, just be cautious and see to it every detail is explained to them and they be able to comprehend…. a little suggestion lang po. madaug ka guid na, basta namia guid imo plata porma de gobyerno, paintindiha lang sila maayo sang imo programa kag handum para kay juan de la cruz! God bless and good luck….
I truly believe in you sir. Please assist the agriculture sector to provide the country a food security posture for the future of generation.
i’m from san agustin, san miguel, bulacan but presently residing at pinagbuhatan, pasig city.
lets go for it in 2010