IN 1968, at the peak of the Vietnam War, Beatles legend John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono held a bed-in— instead of the usual sit-in activists of those days did to protest something. John and Yoko …
Source: Peace Gets Another Chance Today
Archive | February 2017
Peace Gets Another Chance Today
IN 1968, at the peak of the Vietnam War, Beatles legend John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono held a bed-in— instead of the usual sit-in activists of those days did to protest something.
John and Yoko simply stayed in bed in Montreal, Canada, for two weeks.Reporters asked John why he was staying in bed.
And John answered, “Just give peace a chance.”
Anti-War Anthem
We know those words became lyrics of the song that became the anthem of the anti-war movement in the 1970s.
We also know that John Lennon didn’t have a peaceful death. He was shot by a fan, Mark David Chapman, at the archway of the Dakota, his New York City residence, on December 8, 1980.
And we know only too well that world peace has remained elusive.
One More Chance
Today, February 28, 2017, peace gets another chance as Manila hosts leaders from 40 nations at the 2017 Global Peace Convention to be held at the Manila Marirott Convention Center and Hotel, in Pasay City, February 28- March 23, 2017.
Centered on the theme Moral and Innovative Leadership: Now Models for Peace and Development, the convention is organized by the Global Peace Foundation (GEF), an international non-government organization, which aims to promote “an innovative values-based approach to peacebuilding, guided by the vision of One Family under God.”
GEF was founded in 2009 by Dr. Hyun Jin Moon, an Olympic equestian, who, impressed by the life of Paraguay’s vaqueros or ranchers, organized a culural peace festival and youth service projects. Shortly after, the Global Peace Festival. Foundation was incorporated with national offices in Paraquay and the Philippines.
Announcing the 2017 Global Peace Convention last week, top, from left: Aldrin Nituma, Global Peace Foundation executive director and president; Akiko Mayuzumi, vice president for Communications, and Jinsoo Kim, Asia Pacific Regional president; and Jose Luis U. Yulo Jr., president, Philippine Islands Chamber of Commerce.
Role of Business
The convention focuses on the role of private sector business in poverty reduction, sustainable development, and regional stability. A series of forums will highlight emerging markets in Southeast Asia.
Yulo and Congressman Arthur C. Yap will examine the role of government in promoting and facilitating entrepreneurial environment for sustainable commerce and industry, and the entrepreneurs’ role in creating jobs and expanding broad-based growth.
Interfaith Peacebuilding
The convention will also tackle interfaith peacebuilding, youth service, innovations in education, women’s leadership, and Korean unification.
Tourism
Leaders of the tourism and hospitality industry are participating to discuss the potential of tourism for development and peace, both in the Philippines and throughout the world.
Development Models
A final panel— headed by former Panamian President Nicolas Ardito Barletta Vallarino and GPF founder Dr. Hyun— will present a case study contrasting development models and practices in Korea and Paraguay, and the importance of articulated principles and values as a guiding vision toward peace and prosperity.
In a gist, all they are saying is give peace a chance.
—Cynthia U. Santiago Photo by Edmundo L. Santiago
SSS to release P1,000 additional benefit on March
State-run Social Security System on Wednesday said that about P7 billion worth of pension will be released to about 2.2 million pensioners starting on the first week of March after President Rodrigo Duterte signed and confirmed the P1,000 additional benefit last Jan 10.
SSS President and chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Dooc assured pensioners that they will receive the P1,000 benefit increase starting on March 3.
“The P1,000 benefit increase will be received by our pensioners in three distinct payments at three different dates for the months of January, February and March,” Dooc said during the Social Security Commission Board meeting.
The additional P1,000 pension increase for the months of January, February and March will be received by the pensioners on March 3, 10 and 17, respectively.
“Starting on April 2017, the benefit increase will be incorporated already in the regular pension,” Dooc said.
In a memorandum from the Office of the President, signed by executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, the national government has approved the proposed increase in the benefits of qualified pensioners and beneficiaries of SSS.
“Upon representations made by SSS, and subject to existing laws, rules, and regulations, please be informed that the P1,000 increase in benefits of qualified SSS retirees, survivors, and permanently disabled pensioners effective January 2017, has been approved,” the order read.
All retirees, survivors and permanent disability pensioners will receive the P1,000 additional benefit. The additional benefit also covers all future pensioners of the SSS.
Meanwhile, for regular benefits, SSS has been releasing P7.4 billion per month since January 2017.
On top of this, SSS has allotted about P6.9 billion for the release of the additional P1,000 benefit for the first quarter alone.
Total projected additional benefit expenditures for the first year of implementation of the pension hike is seen at P32 billion.
Almost 2.2 million SSS pensioners are expected to receive the initial additional benefit. The number of pensioners is expected to increase with about 150,000 new retirees every year.
Likewise, Social Security Commission (SSC) Chairman Amado Valdez welcomed the decision of President Duterte.
“We would like to thank the Office of President Duterte for the support on this issue. To our pensioners and members, thank you for your patience and this is just the first good news that will come from me. There are more to come,” Valdez said.
“This is a concerted effort. The administration really wanted to improve the level of living of the Filipino people. Those who have less in financial aspect will have more in this pension hike. We have a new inspiration to work for more after this success,” he added.
SSS MEDIA AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
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DINNER WITH DR. PATRICIA LICUANAN …and Conversations on Maxine Medina, Tuition Fees, and President Duterte
GOING to the house of Dr. Patricia Licuanan, you will have to pass by Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City, famous for such A-List schools as Ateneo and Miriam, infamous for the traffic jam when the students go in and out of their sprawling campuses in their flashy cars.
But once you survive the mayhem and turn right to the gated village of La Vista, famous and sometimes infamous for some of its residents, you’ll finally glide through wide roads, under a canopy of age-old trees protecting posh mansions.
Dr. Licuanan’s manse is so out at the end of a street carved into a forest, you’ll most likely miss it. The place looks isolated, there’s no one you can ask where the Licuanan house is, even as your Waze guide says you’re already there.
But at twilight time on February 2, 2017, luckily, there is this caterer’s delivery van that stops at this gate— so high, you can see only the roof of the house beyond it— and well, smart you should discern that’s where you are going to have the dinner with the media to be hosted by the chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education.
This dinner is exclusive for the core group of the Bulong Pulungan media forum, above, counterclockwise, from right: Jullie Yap Daza, Cynthia Santiago, Domini Torrevillas, Mila Alora, Bob Zozobrado, and Deedee Siytangco. Bulong is usually held at Hotel Sofitel. But the CHED chair offers to host dinner at her La Vista house, and since of late she’s been hogging the headlines, even if you’re coming from Manila or Makati, you dare negotiate the three- or four-hour drive to her place. Anyway, you can say your sacrifice is well rewarded.
Dr. Licuanan warmly welcomes everyone into her living room, cozy, bright with pink and huge — yes fresh, real — Birds of Paradise blooms she says she got from the popular tiangge at Eton Centris.
Uniformed maids are ready with wine or juice and an array of appetizers—Potato Chips with Dr. Licuanan’s Signature Oyster Dip, Native Squid Rings with Bagoong Balayan Dip, Siomai with Toyomansi dip, Pita Beread with Humus, Cheese Sticks, Kesong Puti with Crackers.
After the welcome pleasantries, Dr. Licuanan leaves her guests for a while to prepare the main course herself— Vegetable Salad, Dr. Licuanan’s Signature Paella, Parmesan Crusted Salmon, Beef Medallions, and Pastel de Lengua which you hardly touch because you have to leave room for desserts.
The host so charming, the dinner sumptuous, but still, you don’t forget you come for the news.
And because it’s really not news if it’s not bad news, dinner conversations go around the latest controversies.
How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maxine Medina
The dinner comes on the heels of the Miss Universe derby and so chitchats are first about Miss Philippines Maxine Medina’s English incompetence— one single, but sadly viral, though maybe not fair judgement on Pinoys’ quality of education and training and their ability to hurdle global or universal, if you will, competitions.
“During our time, we were fined for every Tagalog word we uttered,” comments one of the mostly senior citizen Bulong members, pointing out how students of old were drilled to speak English fluently— you know, to be good and ready for global competition.
The problem, says Dr. Licuanan, goes deeper — into the proliferation of diploma mills.
“The demand (for education) is very high,” she points out.
But education is not cheap. So we end up with sub-standard institutions, which, for lack of better means, students patronize and, consequently, they turn out as inadequately trained graduates.
Indeed, the problem is not just about one’s inability to speak in English— make use of the interpreter na already kasi— but more about one’s lack in critical thinking or, as millennials put it, inadequate content.
And so the various content suggestions from well-meaning netizens that they opined should have snagged the Miss Universe crown for Maxine– even another Miss Universe commented it’s asking for the moon, if not the entire universe, since the reigning one is already a Miss Philippines.
Dr. Licuanan says CHED addresses the problem of content by checking on HEIs or higher education institutions to see if they are good enough to become Centers of Excellence or Centers of Development.
The schools apply for CHED accreditation to be recognized for their capacity to produce globally competitive graduates and for their relevance to the country’s development goals.
Once accredited, a school enjoys funding assistance for faculty development and other academic needs, subsidies for conversion to University status, and identification as autonomous and deregulated institution, as well as priority in the selection of CHED institutional partners for developmental projects.
Tuition Fee Trouble
Like the trees of La Vista, the tuition fee issue is as old as senior citizens of today— one of the best reasons for students, past and present, to go marching down Plaza Miranda.
Since schools need to level up to the world’s standards of excellence, they need to hike tuition fees— which CHED understands, but which has given angry activists reason to label the Commission under Dr. Licuanan’s watch as elitist and anti-poor.
CHED’s response is expanding student financial assistance programs. Another solution is enhancing and upgrading state colleges and universities which offer lower tuition for poor but deserving students.
CHED’s latest accomplishments report says the capital outlay for state colleges and universities has grown by more than 400 percent— from P1.796 billion in 2010 to P8.989 billion in 2016.
And Finally, the Piece de Resistance: The Doctor, Duterte, and Desserts
You know the controversy. Dr. Patricia Licuanan, an appointee of and therefore identified with the previous administration, at first didn’t see eye to eye with the present dispensation about some issues.
And, as a consequence, as the headlines screamed, Dr. Licuanan was asked not to attend President Rodrigo Duterte’s Cabinet meetings.
“Actually, the CHED Commissioner is not really included in Cabinet meetings— not regularly,” Dr. Licuanan starts.
“I’d met the President, and he assured me there’s no intention to exclude me in his administration,” adds the Commissioner whose term of office, as mandated by the Constitution, is up to July 2018.
“So are you and the President okay now?” another Bulong senior eggs on.
“Yes, we are,” the Commissioner nods.
And happily, Dr. Patricia Licuanan leads everyone to her desserts cart laden with chunks of Davao Pomelo and Zambales Mangoes, Bibingka, Estrel’s Butter Cake, Nathaniel’s Buko, plus coffee or tea if you wish.
Cynthia U. Santiago Photos by Ed L. Santiago
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