YOUR BULLETIN OPINIONS — Amnesty as a first step toward healing, peace, unity

EDITORIAL Amnesty as a first step toward healing, peace, unity The recent amnesty proclamations issued by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. have sparked optimism across various sectors, particularly in the defense and security cluster. As our nation grapples with the echoes of past conflicts, these peace initiatives signify a bold stride toward healing and unity. The National Security Council (NSC) recognized the importance of these proclamations, acknowledging their role in creating an environment conducive to peace and reconciliation. By providing a pathway for former rebels to reintegrate into society, these amnesty measures not only extend an olive branch but also pave the way for enhanced socio-economic engagement with the government. Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr., in a statement, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the amnesty program is a "pivotal step in the transformation of individuals associated with groups like the New People's Army (NPA), Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), and RPMP-RPA-ABB." It offers a chance for them to "embrace a peaceful civilian life while restoring their social and political rights." READ MORE

OPINION Technology has changed the way Christmas is experienced TECH4GOOD by Monchito B. Ibrahim Christmas has always been a time for family, friends, and tradition. But there was a time when the way people celebrated Christmas was much different from how it is done today. Baby boomers like me consider ourselves lucky to have seen and experienced each stage of the evolution. In this digital age, technology has infiltrated almost every aspect of our lives, and Christmas is no exception. It has begun to play an increasingly important role in how people celebrate this special holiday. From the way we shop for gifts to the way we connect with loved ones, technology has transformed the holiday season in ways both subtle and profound. READ MORE

OPINION Nice people MEDIUM RARE by Jullie Y. Daza Two of the nicest people I've known have left us, they say for a better place. With them gone, how easy would it be to find two nicer persons to take their place? Portia Leuterio was the little pink lady who lived in a little pink house that I called her teacup cottage. She lived alone on the second floor of a house without a ground floor, but her niece was just two steps away from the stairs leading to Portia's. All her life Portia lived to make pretty things and tie them up with pretty silk ribbons, but it was her vocation to teach her students, whether debutantes or grandmothers-to-be, how to put a professional touch to making or choosing a gift, up to the final step of wrapping it up with a personalized bow. Everything in her teacup house, beginning with herself dressed in pink and her hair tied in a pink bow, was attired in her one and only favorite color. The tiles and toilet paper in her bathroom. READ MORE

OPINION Don't bury good organs UNDER THE MICROSCOPE by Raymundo W. Lo, MD, FPSP Recently, I attended an HLA (Human Leucocyte Antigens) conference in connection with organ transplantation, both solid organ and stem cell. The common lament was that in the Philippines, very few deceased-donor organ donations are made. In fact, it is declining and "dismally low," according to NKTI Executive Director Dr. Rosemarie Liquete. From 227 in 2012, it plunged to 12 in 2020. Majority of transplanted solid organs, mainly kidneys, are from living donors. There is a thriving black market for paid organ donations, due again to prevailing poverty. The poor have to sell parts of their bodies (including blood, which is considered an organ, even if in a liquid state) to keep the rest of the body and soul together. Our laws prohibit such paid "donations," but when a desperate patient with end-stage kidney failure is made to choose, he'd rather pay than face certain death or be miserable on dialysis for the rest of his life. READ MORE

OPINION Eligibility for distance education honor graduates LINGKOD BAYANI by Karlo Nograles Last September, government employees all over the country commemorated the 123rd Philippine Civil Service Anniversary with a month-long celebration. This year's theme highlighted the importance of cultivating dynamism in the public sector as a crucial component of building an agile, future-ready civil service. Why turn the spotlight on dynamism? For an institution established in 1900, the Philippine Civil Service faces the challenge of addressing the governance issues of today and meeting the demands of the future. The programs and policies introduced by our predecessors 10 or 50 years ago may no longer be applicable a few years from now. Thus, as the needs of the people change, the civil service must also evolve accordingly. READ MORE

VIEWS Philippines' 11/8 ought to be a call to action at COP28 FINDING ANSWERS by Former Senator Atty. Joey D. Lina The 10th anniversary of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) could be more significant if it becomes a rallying cry for more concrete action at the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28), the two-week international climate summit that starts on Nov. 30 in Dubai. As the world is reminded anew of the unforgiving power unleashed by the deadliest and most destructive typhoon that hit land on Nov. 8, 2013 and obliterated vast areas in the Philippines, with Tacloban City as ground zero, things might just get moving at this year's COP where around 190 countries are expected to participate. Just like the impact on the world of America's 9/11 tragedy that compelled the international community to intensify security measures against terrorism, the Philippines' 11/8 tragedy 10 years ago ought to compel the world, thru COP28, to take more action on the climate crisis. READ MORE

MANILA BULLETIN SPOTLIGHT

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