http://bulatlat.com/archive/200712/feed en http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/real-state-economy <p><strong>Why is it that despite the much-ballyhooed 8 percent growth rate during the first three quarters of the year, there seems to be no improvement in the people’s lives? Data from independent sources such as IBON Foundation and even from the government would reveal why. </p> <p>BY BENJIE OLIVEROS<br />YEAREND REPORT – THE ECONOMY<br />Bulatlat</p> <p><a href="http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/real-state-economy">read more</a></p> 3rd story Sat, 29 Dec 2007 01:15:53 -0500 admin 882 at http://bulatlat.com http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/another-turbulent-year-presidency <p><strong>Events in 2007 show that the political crisis that almost resulted in the ouster of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration in 2005 is far from being resolved. It has, in fact, worsened in 2007 as old issues continue to hound it and new scandals have emerged.</p> <p>BY BENJIE OLIVEROS<br />YEAREND REPORT – POLITICS<br />Bulatlat</p> <p><a href="http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/another-turbulent-year-presidency">read more</a></p> 3rd story Sat, 22 Dec 2007 05:09:55 -0500 admin 881 at http://bulatlat.com http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/continuation-controversies <p>2007 is fast drawing to a close, and the New Year is traditionally a time for change. But not to the Arroyo regime. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo this year was beset by burning issues – electoral fraud, the continuing political killings, the controversial NBN-ZTE deal, the Transco fiasco, and bribery – all of which combined to pose major challenges to her government.</p> <p><a href="http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/continuation-controversies">read more</a></p> Salungguhit Sat, 22 Dec 2007 05:08:47 -0500 admin 880 at http://bulatlat.com http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/puto-bumbong-baguio <p>Traditionally found near churches in the Tagalog regions, this steamed delicacy is now a part of Baguio City’s Simbang Gabi or Misa de Gallo, the midnight masses celebrated for each of the nine days before Christmas in the Philippines. Without it the Simbang Gabi or Misa de Gallo is not complete for most devotees. </p> <p><strong>BY JAHRYLL GONATO <br />NORDIS</p> <p><a href="http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/puto-bumbong-baguio">read more</a></p> Weekly Photo Sat, 22 Dec 2007 05:07:14 -0500 admin 879 at http://bulatlat.com http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/pulitika-ng-pagbibigay-ng-regalo <p><strong>Kailangan nating isaisip na hindi mahalaga ang presyo ng isang regalo, kundi ang pag-alala sa mga reregaluhan. Dapat na mawala ang komersiyalismong nakakabit sa selebrasyon ng Pasko, partikular ang pagsukat ng halaga ng isang tao sa ating buhay depende sa presyo ng regalong nakalaan sa kanya.</p> <p>NI DANILO ARAÑA ARAO<br />KONTEKSTO/PINOY WEEKLY<br />Inilathala ng Bulatlat</p> <p><a href="http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/pulitika-ng-pagbibigay-ng-regalo">read more</a></p> Commentary Sat, 22 Dec 2007 04:49:06 -0500 admin 878 at http://bulatlat.com http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/why-no-ceasefire <p><strong>BY PROF. JOSE MARIA SISON<br />Chief Political Consultant<br />National Democratic Front of the Philippines<br />DEMOCRATIC SPACE<br />Vol. VII, No. 46, December 23, 2007 – January 5, 2008</strong></p> <p><a href="http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/why-no-ceasefire">read more</a></p> Democratic space Sat, 22 Dec 2007 04:46:58 -0500 admin 877 at http://bulatlat.com http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/cordi-fast-becoming-rp-s-arabica-coffee-capital <p><strong>Presidential Assistant Thomas Killip said that the commercial farming of Arabica coffee in the region is viable due to its temperate climate and natural conditions. He believes that the region’s potential in the coffee industry may transform the Cordillera as the Arabica coffee capital of the country but that entails the active participation of all stakeholders particularly the farmers.</p> <p><a href="http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/cordi-fast-becoming-rp-s-arabica-coffee-capital">read more</a></p> 2nd story Sat, 22 Dec 2007 04:41:15 -0500 admin 876 at http://bulatlat.com http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/wonders-salogon <p><strong>Tigaon, Camarines Sur – Residents in some villages of this town found an alternative way of using trees in their crafts without “balding” the forests. What they only need is the bark that is used in making products from flip-flops, native bags to home decors and Christmas ornaments. </p> <p>BY EL INTERINO <br />Bulatlat</p> <p><a href="http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/wonders-salogon">read more</a></p> Regions Sat, 22 Dec 2007 04:38:04 -0500 admin 875 at http://bulatlat.com http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/terminal-destinations-traffic-commuting <p><strong>Being stuck at the terminal is a far harsher fate confronting poverty-stricken commuters than what one might readily assume. The commuter’s affair with traffic structures both the spatial and temporal dimensions of his/her movement.</p> <p>BY FRANK LLOYD TIONGSON<br />Philippine Collegian<br />Posted by Bulatlat</p> <p><a href="http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/terminal-destinations-traffic-commuting">read more</a></p> 2nd story Sat, 22 Dec 2007 04:35:50 -0500 admin 874 at http://bulatlat.com http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/learning-helen-keller <p><strong>For the care of those with sensory-impairment, we can turn to the very words Helen once wrote: “The public must learn that the blind or deaf man is neither genius nor a freak nor an idiot.</p> <p><a href="http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/learning-helen-keller">read more</a></p> 2nd story Sat, 22 Dec 2007 04:33:12 -0500 admin 873 at http://bulatlat.com http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/after-school-political-aspirations-worldwide-student-protests <p><strong>Although youth protests may function as catalysts of change, “any action by the youth without the support of masses is futile. It is the necessary discipline for the alignment of all forces in the society.’ In Philippine society, these forces include the peasants and workers.</p> <p>BY ALAYSA TAGUMPAY E. ESCANDOR AND PAULINE GIDGET R. ESTELLA<br />Philippine Collegian</p> <p><a href="http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/after-school-political-aspirations-worldwide-student-protests">read more</a></p> 2nd story Sat, 22 Dec 2007 04:30:22 -0500 admin 872 at http://bulatlat.com http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/wasteland-trawling-path-smokey-mountain-development <p><strong>When the SMDRP was first launched, the government promised to transform the garbage dump into a paradise, with adequate housing, jobs, and livelihood training. The current condition of Smokey Mountain indicates otherwise. The promised jobs have not materialized, and the housing is substandard and costly.</p> <p>BY LARISSA MAE SUAREZ<br />Philippine Collegian</p> <p><a href="http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/wasteland-trawling-path-smokey-mountain-development">read more</a></p> 2nd story Sat, 22 Dec 2007 04:26:57 -0500 admin 871 at http://bulatlat.com http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/2007-record-high-number-journalist-killings-worldwide-iraq-still-most-dangerous-rp-5th <p><strong>The year 2007 is a record high in terms of the number of journalists killed worldwide and Iraq ranks as “the most dangerous place for journalists” while the Philippines is running in fifth, said the Geneva-based Press Emblem Campaign monitoring system (the PEC Ticking Clock).</p> <p>BY ACE ALEGRE<br />Contributed to Bulatlat</p> <p><a href="http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/2007-record-high-number-journalist-killings-worldwide-iraq-still-most-dangerous-rp-5th">read more</a></p> 2nd story Sat, 22 Dec 2007 04:24:50 -0500 admin 870 at http://bulatlat.com http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/alleged-npa-weakening-truth-or-gov-t-propaganda <p><strong>President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had given kudos to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Department of National Defense (DND) for a job well done in waging war against the “communist insurgents.” This, even though as late as 2006, government was pointing to the communist-led New People’s Army (NPA) as a “major threat to national security.”</p> <p><a href="http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/alleged-npa-weakening-truth-or-gov-t-propaganda">read more</a></p> 2nd story Sat, 22 Dec 2007 04:20:41 -0500 admin 869 at http://bulatlat.com http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/kapit-bisig-centre-filipinos-second-home-quebec <p><strong>Inspired by the establishment of the Kalayaan Centre in Vancouver, different Filipino migrant groups in Quebec established their own center to bring the various Filipino groups and their supporters together in working for the rights and welfare of Filipinos in Canada, and to support the struggle for human rights, national freedom and democracy in the Philippines. </p> <p><a href="http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/kapit-bisig-centre-filipinos-second-home-quebec">read more</a></p> Migrants Sat, 22 Dec 2007 04:16:04 -0500 admin 868 at http://bulatlat.com http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/sabsaban <p><strong>NI RAUL FUNILAS<br />Inilathala ng Bulatlat<br />Vol. VII, No. 46, December 23, 2007-January 5, 2008<br /></strong><br />Mabaho ang Lumang Sabsabang sinilangan ng Sanggol.<br />Dito niloob nina Ina at Manggagawang Siya ay iluwal<br />Upang hindi matunton ng mga alagad ng makasariling hari<br />Ang sinasabing Sanggol na magiging Hari ng mga Hari.</p> <p><a href="http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/sabsaban">read more</a></p> POETRY Sat, 22 Dec 2007 04:10:25 -0500 admin 866 at http://bulatlat.com http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/r-i-p-anti-subversion-law <p><strong>NI OLIVER CARLOS<br />Inilathala ng Bulatlat<br />Vol. VII, No. 46, December 23, 2007-January 5, 2008</strong><br /> <br />tanikalang apoy<br />na kinakaladkad,<br />sibat kang tumarak<br />sa dibdib sumugat<br />at sa pagkadipang<br />bayubay ng hirap<br />talim kang humiwa<br />sa leeg ng hamak<br /> <br />narito kang tila<br />multong gumagala<br />inihahasik mo’y</p> <p><a href="http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/r-i-p-anti-subversion-law">read more</a></p> POETRY Sat, 22 Dec 2007 04:09:23 -0500 admin 865 at http://bulatlat.com http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/pasko-paksiw <p><strong>Walang direktang relasyon ang dalawang salita maliban sa paghahanda ng bitag ng pagkabulol sa sumasagot. Maaring isipin na sa pasko, kapag may lechon, nagiging paksiw dahil sobra-sobra ang karne at balat (kasama na ang taba) kinabukasan. Subali’t hindi nga ba’t mitolohikal na ang lechon sa mayoryang hapag-kainan?  </p> <p>NI ROLAND TOLENTINO<br />KULTURANG POPULAR </p> <p><a href="http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/pasko-paksiw">read more</a></p> CULTURE Sat, 22 Dec 2007 04:08:19 -0500 admin 864 at http://bulatlat.com http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/always-moving-toward-justice <p><em><strong>A review of <u>Balikbayang Mahal: Passages from Exile</u>, by E. San Juan, Jr. Morrisville, NC: Lulu.com, 2007. 155 pages.</strong></em></p> <p><strong>The poems in Balikbayang Mahal are about the sorrows of migration and exile, to be sure, but they are also about the hope of connections.</p> <p>BY JOHN STREAMAS<br />Contributed to Bulatlat</p> <p><a href="http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/always-moving-toward-justice">read more</a></p> CULTURE Sat, 22 Dec 2007 04:06:05 -0500 admin 863 at http://bulatlat.com http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/2-years-after-justice-remains-elusive-palo-massacre-victims <p><strong>Shock, dismay and outrage were the immediate reactions of the relatives and survivors of the “Palo Massacre” with the adversarial resolution released by the provincial prosecutor on the criminal complaints that they filed against the military-perpetrators.</p> <p>BY JOHANN HEIN B. ARPON<br />Bulatlat<br />HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH</p> <p><a href="http://bulatlat.com/2007/12/2-years-after-justice-remains-elusive-palo-massacre-victims">read more</a></p> Human Rights Sat, 22 Dec 2007 04:04:34 -0500 admin 862 at http://bulatlat.com