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Rejoicing in God's Word

Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart. Jeremiah 15:16

If you were to receive a note from the leader of your country or someone famous, you would probably save it as a keepsake. How much more precious is a message from almighty God! Sometimes we find ourselves in circumstances that are beyond our control. This was the case for Mary and Martha as they were grieving the death of their brother Lazarus. At these times a word from Jesus can bring much rejoicing (John 11:41-45). Other times when Jesus speaks, His words bring correction. “Get behind Me, Satan!” (Matt. 16:23) and “O you of little faith” (Matt. 14:31) do not seem to bring joy. Yet Jeremiah said that God’s word brought him joy. It is overwhelming to consider that holy, almighty God would speak directly to us! What a privilege that He would care enough to challenge our destructive thoughts or practices. No matter whether His words are praising us or chastising us, we ought to consider it joy to receive life-changing words from our Master! Every time we prepare to worship the Lord, we ought to do so with anticipation that almighty God may have something to say to us. Whenever we open our Bibles, we should expect that God has something to tell us in our time with Him. We ought to be far more concerned with what God will say to us during our prayer times than with what we intend to tell Him. When you receive a word from your Lord, whether it be of praise or of correction, consider it joy that almighty God would speak to you. Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Amber Heard

Maribojoc mayor Evasco to meet Duterte on Cabinet Secretary offer
DAVAO CITY, May 24 (PNA) -- The national campaign manager of presumptive President-elect Rodrigo Duterte and incumbent Mayor of Maribojoc town in Bohol is committed to help the incoming administration realize "change" but whether to accept the Cabinet Secretary post remains to be seen.

While he does not want to abandon Duterte, Mayor Leoncio Evasco said he has yet to discuss the offer with him. Evasco has been serving Duterte’s administration since the first term of the 20 years of Duterte’s mayorship in this city.

As Cabinet Secretary, the main mandate is to provide technical support to the Cabinet and primary advisory counsel to the President.

Evasco, who is expected to visit the city this week, said he could not decide on the offer yet until he talks to Duterte.

“I am happy that he still trusted me but I need to talk to him first... I would want to help him because all of us conceived the real change especially for the poor to happen under his administration," said Evasco.

"Basi muingon siya na human ko nimo gipadaog di ko nimo tabangan. Protektahan nato ang iyahang administrasyon. (He might say that after you made me win you will not help me. Let us protect his administration),” he added.

It was reported earlier that Evasco was chosen as the next Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) but refused to accept it. He clarified, however, that there was nothing to refuse because the DILG post was not offered to him.

On Monday night, Duterte said Evasco has limitations for the DILG post, as he cited Evasco’s past as a communist and former priest that "limited" his horizon.

Duterte said he wanted Evasco to remember why he offered the Secretary to the Cabinet post and that is "for the good of the country and for his own good.” (PNA)
JMC/Lilian C. Mellejor/ldp

Marcos should no longer file a complaint. The official results are out.

1 killed, 2 arrested in police crackdown in Northern Mindanao
CAMP ALAGAR, Cagayan De Oro City, May 25 (PNA) â€" An alleged fugitive was killed while two others were arrested during a police crackdown on wanted persons in Northern Mindanao, a police officer said Wednesday.

Pol. Supt. Surki Sereñas, spokesman of the regional police command here, said that Nico Lagones, the most wanted person in Baliangao, Misamis Occidental, was killed in a shootout with the local police there.

He said that Lagones opted to shoot it out with the police operatives who were about to serve a warrant of arrest for the crime of murder, which identified Lagones as the suspect.

Two other most wanted persons for the crime of illegal drugs and robberies were also collared in a separate operation in Northern Mindanao this week, Sereñas said.

Sereñas identified the two suspects, both with pending warrants of arrest, as Michael Florida and Dario Maghanoy.

Florida is Cebu’s number one most wanted who has a string of arrest warrants in a series of robberies in Cebu, Dumaguete, Bohol and Ozamiz City.

He said that Maghanoy was Tangub City, Misamis Occidental’s top drug personality and an alleged ringleader of an illegal drug syndicate who have been on the list of wanted persons for a long time. (PNA)

muot ra pud basahon ning injong mga balak. hehe

justice served. imbis nahiluna na sa amerika, balik gyud sa pinas aron mosimhot ug buwad-ginamos.

A Noticeable Difference

Daily Devotional for Saturday, May 21st, 2016

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13

There is no mistaking a life transformed by God! The disciples had been vain and fearful when Jesus enlisted them. James and John sought to outmaneuver their fellow disciples in order to gain the places of greatest honor next to Jesus (Mark 10:37). Over and over the disciples’ actions showed that they did not truly understand who Jesus was (John 6:7-9; Mark 6:49). Even after three years with Jesus, Peter was afraid to confess Christ before a young servant girl (Matt. 26:69-75). Anyone who knew these men would realize they were not the kind of people on which you build a worldwide kingdom. Yet something happened to them as they were with Jesus. The Holy Spirit transformed them, giving them new boldness and wisdom. Now they could perform miracles and preach fearlessly and persuasively to multitudes. Even their enemies noticed in their changed lives the same power they had witnessed in Jesus. Sometimes we desperately want others to believe that we have changed, that we are more godly, more devoted, more Spirit-controlled. It is not necessary, however, for those who have been truly transformed by Christ to convince others of the difference; the change will be obvious. Don’t become too introspective, always focusing on yourself and the small changes you see happening over time. As you walk with Jesus daily, let the witness of the changes taking place in you come from others and not from you. If you have to prove to someone that God has really changed you, He has not. Those around you will surely notice when your life has been transformed by your relationship with Jesus. Henery and Richard Blzckaby .

magsige ug panug-ab si Bugsay ani.

Duterte may take his oath before a Punong Barangay: Fortuno

President-elect Rodrigo Duterte could set another milestone in the nation's political history by breaking a tradition -- taking his oath of office before a Punong Barangay, Rep. Sal Fortuno of the 5th District of Camarines Sur on Friday said.

"It would not be surprising if a down-to-earth politician like President-elect Duterte departs from the old tradition and further boost his mass appeal by taking his oath of office before a Punong Barangay in recognition of their sacrifices and unrelenting efforts to deliver frontline services of the government," Fortuno said.

He noted the tradition of Chief Justices and other members of the Supreme Court administering the oath of office to the country's past Presidents-elect.

The 16th Congress will resume its session on May 23, after which the House of Representatives and the Senate will pass a joint resolution convening their joint session and act as a National Board of Canvassers to canvass the votes for the President and the Vice-President, and officially proclaim the winners, as mandated by the Constitution.

The Camarines Sur lawmaker stressed that letting a Punong Barangay administer his oath of office will surely endear him more to the more than 42,000 Punong Barangays in the country.

Incidentally, Fortuno is principal author of RA 10755, signed into law by Pres. Benigno Aquino III just last March 29 this year, authorizes the Punong Barangay to administer the oath of any public official including the President of the Philippines.

"Duterte could be writing history by being the first President, the highest elected Chief Executive, to be sworn into office by the lowest elected Chief executive in the country, the Punong Barangay," he stressed

Fortuno is chairman of the House Committee on Poverty Alleviation under the outgoing 16th Congress.

He just got re-elected with the highest ever margin of votes, 97,692, in the history of his district over a veteran and former three-term Rep. Felix O, Alfelor, Jr. (PNA)

Servants of Christ

"So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.'" Luke 17:10

The servant carries out the master’s will. The servant doesn’t tell the master what to do. The servant does not choose which tasks to perform for the master, nor does the servant suggest days or times when it would be convenient to serve the master. The servant’s function is to follow instructions. The master, on the other hand, gives directions. The master does not tell the servant to develop a vision that will guide the master. The master is the one with the vision; the servant’s task is to help fulfill the master’s purposes. We are the servants; God is the Master. We tend to try to reverse this! God’s revelation of Himself, His purposes, and His ways depends directly upon our obedience. He may not reveal today His intentions for the next five years, but He will tell us what our next step should be. As we respond to God’s revelation, He will accomplish what He desires, and He will be the One who receives the glory. Our fulfillment comes from serving our master. The world will encourage you to strive for positions of authority and power. God wants you to take the role of a servant. As God’s servant you should have no other agenda than to be obedient to whatever He tells you. God does not need you to dream great dreams for your life, your family, your business, or your church. He simply asks for obedience. He has plans that would dwarf yours in comparison (Eph. 3:20).      Henry and Richard Blackaby.

kay siya lang ang buhing saksi nga tinuli ang iyang bana.

Suffering for Others

I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church. Colossians 1:24

Ministry is costly. When the heavenly Father wanted to save His creation from sin, He could find no other way except the sacrifice of His Son (Rom. 5:. Scripture gives a stark picture of the price our Savior paid to obtain our salvation: “He is despised and rejected by men, / A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isa. 53:3). If Christ is your model for ministry, you cannot avoid going to the cross for the sake of others. Salvation comes with a great price, and if we are going to “take up our cross” and follow Jesus, then we must be prepared to go witd. Love for His Father provided all the motivation that was necesh Him to the place of suffering if that’s what it takes to bring salvation to those around us. If our goal is to bring others to Christ we must be willing, as He was, to risk rejection. People may disappoint us, misunderstand our motives, even despise and persecute us. Our Savior did not let suffering prevent Him from being used by God to bring salvation to those He lovesary. Are you presently experiencing hardship because of the ministry to which God has called you? Have you begun to wonder if the price you are paying is too great? Take a moment to reflect on the price God was willing to pay in order to bring salvation to you. Are you glad He was willing to do what was necessary? Will you not join Him in whatever is necessary to bring salvation to those around you?
Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Spiritual Bread

Daily Devotional for Sunday, April 24th, 2016

And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst." John 6:35

We know how to use physical bread. Whenever we are hungry we simply go and eat. Do we do that spiritually? Jesus said if we believe in Him, we will never be spiritually hungry, or malnourished, for He is the “bread of life.” Every time we face a spiritual need, it is a simple matter of going to Christ and allowing Him to provide us with what we need. Our problem is that sometimes we interpret Scripture based on our own experience. We say, “Yes, but I remember a time when I was spiritually hungry.” If that is true, then either God did not tell the truth, or we misinterpreted our experience. Could it be that we tried to satisfy our spiritual hunger with human resources? Could it be that we relied so heavily upon friends and the experiences of others that we have never learned how to go to Christ for our own spiritual food? Could it be that we had a great spiritual feast several years ago, and we were so “full” of Christ that we thought we would never have to eat again? We grew lean and hungry because we were still operating on an encounter with God we had years ago. If you are lacking something spiritually, it is not because God does not have an abundance of resources prepared and available for you. It is that you have not come to Him in faith as He invites (John 10:10). When God gave manna in the wilderness, the children of Israel had to go out each day to receive God’s daily provision. Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Spiritual nourishment is something you must seek daily. Have you found spiritual food from Christ today? Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Why Are You Weeping?

Then they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him." John 20:13

Mary Magdalene could vividly remember the day Jesus delivered her from her demonic . She became His devoted follower that day (Luke 8:2). She watched Him heal the sick and teach people about God’s love. Her life was transformed as she experienced the joy of being with Jesus.

The Christian life is not always easy. There are joyful moments of walking with Jesus, but there are also times when nothing makes sense and when your world seems to be crumbling. The world will mock your Lord, and you may grow discouraged. At those times, you need to peer into the empty tomb. It is the abandoned tomb that gives you hope, for it symbolizes the life that is yours from your risen Lord. The empty tomb promises that nothing, not even death itself, can defeat the purposes of your Lord. Are you weeping beside an empty tomb? Henry and Richard Blackaby

Help My Unbelief!

Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" Mark 9:24

Faith does not come from ignorance. Faith is based on what we know.

Before we will trust others with something precious to us, we first try to find out if they are trustworthy. This father was asking that he might come to know God in such a dimension that he could trust Him to cure his son.

His son had been possessed by an evil spirit since early childhood. The father did not know Jesus well, but he had heard and seen enough to convince him that if there was any hope for his son, it lay with Jesus. In desperation he cried out to Jesus for help. Jesus’ response was to heal his son. The desperate father had correctly gone to Jesus with his problem even though he was struggling with his faith.

When you are struggling to believe, that is not the time to avoid Christ or to be ashamed of your struggle. You will never increase your faith by not going to Jesus! Rather, Jesus wants to help you with your belief. He can not only meet your need, but He will also give you faith to trust Him to provide for you.

If you are struggling to believe that God can take care of your need, it is because you don’t know Him as He wants you to. Go to Him and allow Him to convince you of His ability to meet every need you will ever face.  Henry and Richard Blackaby

Faithful in a Little

Daily Devotional for Saturday, April 9th, 2016

He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. Luke 16:10

God rewards those who are faithful. Throughout your life God will seek to grow you in your faith. He will continually bring you to times when you must trust Him. He will lead you into situations that require a “little” faith, and if you are faithful, He will then take you into situations that require even greater trust in Him. Each time you are able to trust God at a higher level, God will reveal more of Himself to you. Your faith and experiencing God are directly linked. The best way to tell if you are prepared for a greater revelation of God is to see how faithful you have been with what God has given you. This is a foundational principle in God’s relationships with us: If you have been faithful with the little He has given you, you are ready to be entrusted with more. If you failed to trust God with the little He gave you, He will not trust you with more. God will not lead you beyond your present level of trust and obedience to Him. He will return you to your area of unfaithfulness until you are prepared to trust Him. The children of Israel were unwilling to trust God to lead them into the Promised Land, and their generation never again was able to move forward with Him. You stand at an exciting new door of opportunity to know God more intimately every time you believe Him. Every step of faith leads you to a deeper relationship of faith with Him. It is an open invitation to know God more intimately.Henry and Richard Blackaby.

Infinite Treasure

Daily Devotional for Friday, April 8th, 2016

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 2 Corinthians 4:7

Knowing God and having Him reside within you is a treasure of infinite value. Jesus likened this value to that of a perfect pearl. The collector would readily sell everything he had in order to possess this one matchless pearl (Matt. 13:45-46). Your relationship with God places an immeasurable value on your life. The treasures of God’s wisdom and knowledge are available to you through Christ (Col. 2:2-3). His love now fills you. His incomprehensible peace surrounds your heart and mind (Phil. 4:7). When Jesus dwells in your life, everything available to Christ dwells within you (Eph. 3:19).

Paul was comparing our lives with the clay pots commonly used in his day. The contents of the earthen vessels, not the containers themselves, were of great value. The jars would become chipped and broken and would deteriorate over time, but nobody thought of the jarâ€"they were interested in its contents. Paul noted that our great possession is that which God has placed within us. When people focus on us they see a frail, imperfect, and deteriorating vessel. Nothing that comes from our flesh is worthy of praise. Our bodies are aging and losing strength (2 Cor. 4:16). Only as we allow God to fill us and renew our inner self will people see a treasure of immeasurable worth.

Don’t focus on outward appearances and physical strength, for these deteriorate. Rather, allow the Holy Spirit to convince you of the infinite treasure that is within you because of God’s presence. Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Changed through Meditation

Daily Devotional for Thursday, April 7th, 2016

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. Psalms 1:2

Meditation means “to think deeply and continuously about something.”� For a Christian, this means remaining in the presence of God and pondering each truth He reveals about Himself until it becomes real and personal in your life. This takes time. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus accused certain would-be followers of calling Him “Lord” and yet never doing what He told them (Luke 6:46). They had the correct truth in their heads, but it had never translated into obedience. When you meditate on Scriptures, the truth moves from your head to your heart and results in obedience. As the Psalmist said: “Your word have I hidden in my heart, / That I might not sin against You” (Ps. 119:11). When you know God’s Word in your mind but not in your heart, it means that you have learned the principles and concepts and doctrines of God, but you have not come to know Jesus personally. You can reject a doctrine, or ignore a concept, or challenge a principle, but it is much more difficult to ignore a Person. You can have Scripture in your mind and still sin against God. There are those who can recite long passages of Scripture and yet live ungodly lives. However, you cannot have Scripture fill your heart and continue to sin against God. When God’s truth is allowed to touch the deepest corner of your soul, the Holy Spirit will transform you into the image of Jesus Christ. Don’t just read your Bible, meditate on God’s Word and ask Him to change your heart.  Henry and Richard Blackaby

Oriented by the Scriptures

Daily Devotional for Monday, March 28th, 2016

"But the Scriptures must be fulfilled." Then they all forsook Him and fled. Mark 14:49b-50

There are times when, in the darkest moments of your life, the only comfort left for you is a word from God. Jesus faced the cruel injustice of a hostile world, but perhaps His deepest pain came when His closest friends deserted and betrayed Him. What could possibly sustain Him at such a dark moment? Jesus found His comfort in the Scriptures (Matt. 26:20-25, 31). The Scriptures kept everything in perspective for the Savior, holding Him steadfast in the knowledge that everything He was experiencing was according to His Father’s plan. Jesus could proceed with confidence because the Scriptures assured Him that the Father was in control.

The word of God will guide you in the same way. There will be times when events around you will confuse you. Those in whom you’ve placed your trust will fail you. Others will abandon you. You will be misunderstood and criticized. In these times of distress, when your devotion and obedience are put to the greatest test, you must let Scripture guide and comfort you. Never let the faithlessness of others determine what you do. Turn to the Scriptures and allow them to reorient you to God and His activity.

Even as a young boy, Jesus was already well acquainted with the Scriptures. He was never surprised by events; He lived with confidence because the Scriptures had prepared Him for everything that He would face.

If you will immerse yourself daily in the word of God, you will not be caught off guard when crises come. Your focus will already be on God, and He will safely guide you through your difficult moments.Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Too Late!

Daily Devotional for Sunday, March 27th, 2016

Then He came the third time and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough!" Mark 14:41a

“It is enough!” How these words from the Master stung the disciples! They were given the opportunity to share a sacred moment with Jesus. They failed Him. This time, not even Peter had an answer for Jesus.

Jesus forgave them, and they went on to experience God working powerfully through their lives, but that unique moment with their Lord was lost. The angels had comforted the Savior on that lonely night as He prepared for the cross, not the disciples. Scripture indicates that the disciples later became diligent in prayer, but the memory of that night would remain with them for the rest of their lives.

Like the disciples, you receive unique opportunities to serve your Lord. There are times when Jesus will ask you to join Him as He is at work in the life of your friend, family, or coworker. If you are preoccupied with your own needs, you will miss the blessing of sharing in His divine activity.

God is gracious; He forgives, and He provides other opportunities. He will even use our failings to bring about good, but it is critical that we respond in obedience to every prompting from God. God does not need our obedience; He has legions of angels prepared to do His bidding when we fail Him. The loss is ours as we miss what God wants to do in our lives.

Respond immediately when God speaks to you. His will for you is perfect, and it leads to abundant life! Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Death Brings Much Fruit

Daily Devotional for Saturday, April 2nd, 2016

Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. John 12:24

Some things must die in order to be productive. Certain seeds will not germinate into a plant unless they freeze during the winter. Jesus knew that His death would bring salvation to the world. The moment you became a Christian, your sinful nature died (Rom. 6:6), but there remained sinful aspects of your character that had not gone to their graves willingly. Before you became a Christian were you self-centered? You may discover selfishness lingering in your life when you ought to be freely sharing what you have in the name of Christ (Matt. 10:. Did you have a volatile temper? Now as a believer, you experience moments when anger wells up within you. Were you driven by ambition? You may still find yourself with the same motivation as you strive for recognition and position in the kingdom of God. If these sinful attitudes are allowed to remain alive, they will stifle the fruits of the Spirit. Your temper may prevent some from coming to Jesus. Your selfishness will hinder you from being a blessing to those around you. Your ambition could cause you to use others to meet your goals. Your family may be suffering because of some areas of your life that you have never allowed Jesus to put to death. It is futile to say, “But that’s just the way I am!”� That is the way you were. But that person died with Christ; you are a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). Allow God to complete His work in you and see what fruit your life produces.Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Cayetano goes to Pampanga, vows to create economic zones, rid gov't of corrupt public officials

Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said that ordinary Filipino workers, especially those living outside Metro Manila, can expect better working conditions under the Duterte-Cayetano leadership.

He made this assurance before factory workers in their “Ronda-Serye” listening tour in Angeles, Pampanga where the senator presented their tandem's "bold solutions" to improve the lives of the working people.

Cayetano said that if he and Duterte are elected, they will put up more economic zones in the regions to create more jobs in the countryside. "Establishing economic zones and attracting investors are part of our platform. But unlike in the past, we will not allow them to deprive our workers of their right to more secure working conditions," the senator said.

Duterte and Cayetano also ensured regular jobs for Filipinos by phasing out contractualization and pushing to augment the compensation packages and non-wage benefits of workers.

Meanwhile, Cayetano expressed his intention to reform the country’s tax system. The senator proposed to spare individuals earning P25,000 or less per month from paying income taxes. He lamented that regular wage earners often find it difficult to make ends meet because taxes eat too much of their salaries.

However, the senator said these will only be possible if corrupt officials are removed from public office.

The senator said that corruption in the government deprives people of the necessary social services, programs and benefits that they truly deserve. The senator said that 30% of the government's annual budget is lost to corruption.

"Ending the country's disorder brought by corruption is what's at stake in this election. Corruption has already been a way of life. If Mayor and I are elected, we will put a stop to this social ill. By exercising political will, we will remove all the corrupt in the government," Cayetano said.

Duterte-Cayetano condemns shooting of Kidapawan farmers,
Vows to seek justice, restore order

Friday (April 1) - The tandem of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano strongly condemned the reported attack of police forces against local farmers during a violent dispersal of a protest action in Kidapawan City.

"Lagi nila binabantan si Mayor Duterte na pumapatay ng kriminal pero sila ang pinapatay nila mga magsasaka," Cayetano said in reaction to the incident.

"No reason in the world, height of impunity"

"There is no reason in this world to shoot farmers who were merely demanding from the government help from the oppressive drought. This is totally unacceptable. This is the height of impunity," Cayetano said.

"Mayor Duterte and I vow to seek justice for the farmers. We will hold all those responsible for this despicable crime accountable,” Cayetano added.

The tandem expressed their dismay about the general lack of peace and order in the country, which they said resulted from the government’s systemic neglect of the people’s demand for real change.

The senator said if it were up to him and Duterte, bolder solutions will be set up to address the light of farmers. This includes 100% free irrigation, budget increased subsidy for production inputs and P1 billion per region for a capital-lending scheme for farmers.

“Panahon na para tapusin ang lahat ng kaguluhang ito. Panahon na para lumikha ng tunay na pagbabago. Under our leadership, no farmer will ever be killed by the state. Mayor Duterte and I will make sure that their welfare will be safeguarded. The producers of our food will also have food on their own tables,” Cayetano ended.

This Is Your Wisdom

Daily Devotional for Friday, April 1st, 2016

Therefore be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes, and say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people." Deuteronomy 4:6

Wisdom is not what you know about the world but how well you know God. Human reasoning will not make you wise. It may even lead you to reject the ways of God (1 Cor. 1:18-25). God’s purpose in creating a nation for Himself was to demonstrate His wisdom to the world through the obedience of His people (Zech. 8:23). As the Israelites followed God, He would bless them, and the wisdom of obeying God would be evident to all. God gives you the same opportunity to base your life on His wisdom. When unbelievers make important decisions, they must rely on their own knowledge and understanding. You, as a Christian, have access to God’s wisdom. God’s Spirit is within you to guide you (John 16:13). Others will be confused about what to do in our complicated world, but God will guide you safely to the correct choices for you. Your family will be blessed becau The Holy Spirit will open your eyes to the truth of the Scriptures so that you can see things from God’s perspective. Only God sees the future, so only He can accurately lead you to make correct decisions today. As you allow God to direct your life, those around you will see true wisdom, wisdom not of the world but of God.See That you make wise decisions. Your friends will have a wise counselor to come to for help. Your obedient life will demonstrate the wisdom of allowing the Holy Spirit to be your Guide. Henry and Richard Blackaby .

CAYETANO: DOTC AND LTO HEADS MUST GO
VP bet dares gov't to show there are no sacred cows in government

"From special screws, overcharging of non delivered stickers, late license plates and no available driver's licence, frequent MRT breakdowns, abandoned license plates at Customs, and now stolen plate sheets?"

This was the reaction of vice presidential bet and Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on the reported disappearance of some P4-million worth of license plate sheets from the facility of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) during the Holy Week break.

"Wala na ngang mga plaka na maibigay ang LTO sa mga motorista, pinanakaw pa ang mga materyales sa paggawa nito. Abot langit na ang kapalpakan at gulo na ito. Hindi ko alam saan kumukuha ng tibay ng apog ang mga opisyales na ito para manatili pa sa kanilang mga pwesto," Cayetano said.

The senator called for the firing and/or resignation of Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) Secretary Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya and LTO Chief Roberto Cabrera. He lamented the silence and lack of action on the part of the national government on the issue, particularly the DOTC, which is the mother agency of LTO.

"There should be no sacred cows! Kawawa naman mga ordinaryong empleyado ng mga ahensiyang ito na ilang taon nang tumatanggap ng galit at puna mula sa publiko. Pero ang mga opisyales naman talaga nila ang may problema," Cayetano said. “If there’s still some delikadeza and command responsibility left in Abaya and Cabrera, I demand that they immediately vacate their posts and let more capable individuals do their jobs," he added.

Cayetano said that if he and his running mate, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo "Rody" Duterte, will be elected, they will cleanse the government's transportation agencies such as the LTO, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and the DOTC, of corruption and ineptitude.

"How can we expect this government to protect the people if they can't even protect metal sheets? And yet they want continuity? Mayor Duterte and I will not allow the ineptitude and corruption to continue. This will all stop," Cayetano said.

"We will provide leadership and political will. Mayor Duterte and I will end the disorder in the lives of the people and effect real change," Cayetano concluded.

Coconut farmers back Duterte-Cayetano manifesto on coco levy fund distribution

A known coconut farmers' group today hailed Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano for being the only tandem in the upcoming polls to show political will and offer concrete solutions in addressing the decades-old problem on the undistributed coco levy funds.

In a radio interview on Thursday (March 31), Joey Faustino, executive director of the Coconut Industry Reform (COIR) Movement Inc., lamented how the government had been neglecting their calls to distribute the multibillion-peso fund to small coconut farmers. He also slammed recent statements made by Senators Grace Poe and Francis Escudero absolving Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco, Jr. from any guilt for the delay in the funds' deployment.

"Ikinalulungkot namin ang naging statement ni Senator Grace Poe na tila parang hinihiwalay si Mr. Danding Cojuangco dito sa usapan ng coconut levy, samantalang kami na matagal nang nakasubaybay sa kaso kasama ng mga magniniyog ay alam naman namin na sa mahabang panahon, ang nagpapatagal ng kaso ay si Danding Cojuangco," he said.

Cojuangco is among those who allegedly used the farmers' funds to buy businesses during the Marcos regime. His San Miguel Corp. (SMC) still owns shares of the total funds. In 2015, two executive orders (EOs) were issued for the inventory of coco levy funds and their subsequent distribution. But these were suspended due to a petition filed by the Confederation of Coconut Farmers Organizations of the Philippines (Cocofed), Cojuangco's alleged dummy organization.

"First 100 days"

Faustino, meanwhile, said their group fully supports the three-point manifesto crafted by the Duterte-Cayetano tandem, which asserts the duo's pledge to end what they described as the "systemic oppression of small coconut farmers.” Faustino was one of the two witnesses who signed the manifesto. The other signatory was Oscar “Ka Oca” Santos, former Quezon Rep. and renowned coco levy recovery advocate.

The document entitled, "Panata para sa Maliliit na Magniniyog," was presented by Duterte and Cayetano during their Ronda-Serye listening tour with coconut farmers in Catanauan, Quezon. They noted that while other candidates prefer to protect the big and powerful, their tandem will protect the small and the weak. “Hindi tulad ng ibang kandidato, hindi kami hawak sa leeg ng kahit sino.”

Through the manifesto, the tandem vowed to implement the following, if elected:
1.) The distribution of the coco levy fund for the benefit of small coconut farmers and in consultation with legitimate farmers' groups in their first 100 days in office
2.) Additional budget, over and above the coco levy funds, for the development and modernization of the coconut industry; and
3.) Help pursue the remaining part of the fund

"Mabibigat ang binitiwang pananalita nina Mayor Duterte. Sabi nga niya sa mga magniniyog, itong problema na ito ay kailangang tapusin na. Nagpanata sila na kung sila ay maupo, sa first 100 days ay may matitikman ang mga magniniyog mula sa coco levy. Pangalawa, naniniwala sila sa tinutulak naming paglikha ng trust fund. Pinakamahalaga, sila ay bukas na ang iba pang hindi nababawi na bahagi ng coco levy funds ay kanila ring aasikasuhin," Faustino noted.

Facing Failure

Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written. . ." Mark 14:27

As you follow Jesus you will face moments of great distress. At times it will seem that events conspire to cause you to stumble in your relationship with Him. You do not initiate them, but they arise from opposition or the intensity of your circumstances. Nevertheless, failure is the end result. The disciples faced such fierce opposition to their Lord that they all failed Him on the night Jesus was crucified.

Peter boasted that he was incapable of forsaking Jesus (Mark 14:29-31). Yet Jesus assured the disciples even before their failure that it was inevitable. The Scriptures had prophesied it. God always knew the disciples would fail His Son; He wasn’t caught by surprise. He had made provision for their shortcomings, knowing He would eventually develop them into apostles who would fearlessly preach the gospel, perform miracles, and teach others. Later, when the risen Christ encountered Peter on the seashore, He did not ask Peter for a confession of his sin, but a confession of his love (John 21:15-17).

You may fear that your failure has caught God by surprise. Perhaps you promised, like Peter, to stand with the Lord, but you failed. God was just as aware that you would fail Him as He was with the original disciples. He has made provision to respond every time you stumble. Don’t think that somehow your failures are bigger or more complex than any God has dealt with. If you are facing challenges that seem overwhelming, don’t be discouraged. God has already foreseen them and prepared for them (1 Cor. 10:13).Henry and Richard Blackaby

On Heidi Mendoza's testimony
Corruption in Makati seems to have no bounds â€" Cayetano

Corruption without bounds.

This were the words used by Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter “Companero” S. Cayetano to describe the "pattern of corruption"in Makati as can be gleaned from the testimony of COA Commissioner Heidi Mendoza during Thursday's hearing of the Blue Ribbon panel on the "overpriced" P2.3-billion Makati parking building.

"It seems that what comm. Mendoza found out way back then was just the tip of the iceberg. With the alleged overprice in this Makati parking building and Heidi's testimony, I am beginning to think that we are barely scratching the surface here," Cayetano said.

"Ang inaasahan sa isang government official ay aksyon na walang korapsyon. Mukhang kabaligtaran ang nangyayari sa Makati."

Medical Equipment Overpriced

COA Commissioner Heidi Mendoza revealed during Thursday’s hearing that several medical equipment purchased by the local government of Makati during the term as mayor of Dra. Elenita Binay, wife of the Vice President and mother of incumbent Mayor Junjun, were overpriced by more than P61 million.

Mendoza said a special task force discovered that medical equipment purchased for the Ospital ng Makati back in 2000 to 2001 were bought for P70.56 million when the actual worth was only P9.31 million.

“Pinapatunayan nito na ang daming dapat tingnan dahil talagang ang daming butas na pwedeng pinusakan ng overprice…It shows a pattern of finding a way na paikutan ang batas para maglagay ng malaking kickback o tongpats sa mga proyekto,” Cayetano emphasized.

Another COA official, auditor Alexander Juliano, read a preliminary report on the Makati parking building that initially indicated the project was done with "undue haste" and was littered by "red flags" all throughout its procurement process.
Pattern of Corruption

On account of both the COA officials' testimony, Cayetano challenged Vice President Jejomar Binay to cross examine witnesses who bared a “pattern of corruption” in the city of Makati.

“Nawawalan na sila ng oras para i-submit nila sa committee yung side nila. Kung sasabihin lang nila na talagang walang overprice at hindi totoo yung mga sinu-submit dito, dito sila magpaliwanag at dito nila harapin yung mga nag-a-akusa sa kanila para magkalinawagan,” Cayetano said.

“Sa sinasabi niya na walang ebidenysa, hindi lang testimonya pero written evidence is coming out. Parati niyang sinasabi na hindi siya umaatras sa laban, pero bakit siya nagtatago? Siya magsabi kung saan, kung kalian haharapin niya ang mga miyembro ng committee,” he said.

“Papayagan namin na siya na i-cross examine niya yung mga witnesses pero i-co-cross examine din namin siya para malaman natin kung sino ang nagsasabi ng totoo,” the senator added.

During the hearing, Juliano quoted the report as saying Phase 1 of the P2.3-billion project was implemented with "undue haste" because there were no construction plans when it was bid out and awarded to Hilmarc's Construction Corporation (HCC).

"While the swiftness of the action taken by the city government may be considered efficiency, the same could also be considered as a red flag because this project with such a huge budget will surely require a faithful conceptualization and planning," the report said.


It also reiterated the same concern raised by COA chairperson Grace Pulido-Tan that it is questionable for the Makati city government disbursed an aggregate amount of P793.74 million for Phases IV and V even if the COA inspection report dated July 7, 2011 said the parking building was already "habitable and ready for use upon completion of Phase III."

The COA further noted that Makati incurred "unnecessary expenditures for mobilization and demobilization."

"Considering that only one contractor made all the five phases of the project, the city government may have incurred unnecessary expenditures for mobilization and demobilization for Phases II to V amounting to P14,490,856.24 which were included in the Agency Cost Estimate," it said.

HCC was the lone and winning bidder from Phases 2 to 5. There were three bidders who supposedly participated in the first phase of the project but it was also HCC who won the bid.

"Kailangan natin akyson na walang korupsyon. Walang masama sa pagpapatayo ng parking building pero dapat singko na ginasta dito ay dapat napunta talaga sa proyekto. Pera ng taumbayan ang ginamit para dito," he stressed.

“The committee will try to wrap up next hearing as far as the Makati City parking building. Pag nakita na may overpriced, maaaring tingnan yung ibang building at tapusin yung ibang mga isyu sa pattern of corruption,” he said.

In recognition of a genuine dedication to serve
Cayetano calls for increase in wages for Filipino nurses

Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter "Companero" Cayetano pressed the government to allow the benefits of a growing economy to trickle down to every Filipino family, starting with the inclusion of the well-deserved but much-delayed increase in wages for government nurses in the 2015 national budget.

"Filipino nurses are heralded all over the world not only because of their talent and professionalism, but because of a sincere desire to help patients. It is only fair that we give them the proper compensation fit for the services they render," he said.

The senator stressed that he is fully supportive of the implementation of Section 32 of Republic Act No. 9173, otherwise known as “The Philippine Nursing Act of 2002,” which mandates that the minimum base pay of nurses shall be at least Salary Grade 15.

"I would like to emphasize the need for a more efficient allocation of our country’s resources to provide decent wages for our civil servants, including our nurses," he said.

Cayetano further noted that upgrading the base pay of Filipino nurses would prove that the Aquino administration remains true to its commitment of achieving inclusive growth throughout the country and making sure that the public's money is not wasted on corruption.

"Now that the Philippines is experiencing vast economic development, the government should work even harder to ensure that inclusive growth is felt all over our nation,” he said.

“Ensuring the effective management of the country’s budget in such a way that would provide more Filipinos the services and wages they deserve is one way to prove to the people that we are not tolerating corruption," he said.

As early as the deliberations on the Salary Standardization Law III, Cayetano and his sister Senator Pia argued and fought for the full implementation of R.A. No. 9173 for nurses as well as the Magna Carta for teachers to increase their respective salaries and benefits.

Cayetano noted that at the time the said law was being discussed, there was a shortage of funds and the country faced economic challenges. But now that the country's economy is finally doing well and the government has enough revenues to spend, he said it is about time for the administration to give back to the Filipino people.

Data from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) showed that the proposed upgrading of some 4,787 entry level Nurse I positions under the 2002 Nursing Law would pose an additional P438,109,687 worth of outflow for the government per annum.

On this note, Cayetano suggested that the executive department consider including these additional funds in the national budget next year.

"Let us implement the provision of the law that requires the upgrading of the minimum pay for nurses to Salary Grade 15. This will only require a little over 400 million pesos from the government, and during this time of economic prosperity, we are obliged to give our nurses - who continue to be in demand worldwide - what is due them and what they have long deserved," he said.

To decongest NCR, spur devt in regions
Cayetano: Move some government agencies outside Metro Manila

Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter “Companero” S. Cayetano is pushing for the relocation of some government departments outside Metro Manila not only to decongest cities in the capital region but more importantly, to boost economic development in the countryside.

“If we want a long-term solution to decongest Metro Manila, the government must bring growth to the countryside. Kapag nag-economic planning tayo, dapat may national vision and coherent policy but there should also be 17 regional strategies. Bawat region, may strategy tapos paglalaanan ng pondo,” Cayetano said.

“There are 19,137 Filipinos per square kilometer in Metro Manila, ganoon kadami ang tao dito. Ang pinakamalapit nang bilang ay sa Calabarzon, which only has 758 people per square meter. The rest, ang average is around 300 per square meter. Karamihan nasa Metro Manila na,” he noted.

Cayetano proposed that the Departments of Agriculture, and Agrarian Reform be transferred to Central Luzon, the country's rice granary, while the Department of Transportation and Communications be moved to Cavite where the agency is eyeing to build a new airport, and the Department of Tourism to tourist haven Cebu in Central Visayas.

He is also suggesting that the National Anti-Poverty Commission be relocated in Mindanao, which has some of the poorest provinces and municipalities in the entire country.

“Metro Manila will continue to be the political and financial capital of the Philippines but this should not mean economic activity should be concentrated in the capital region,” Cayetano said.

The senator is also pushing for similar health centers located in Metro Manila to be constructed in other regions across the country to provide wider access to health facilities and services, and promote employment among medical professionals

“Ang Lung Center natin, Kidney Center, Orthopedic Center lahat nasa Metro Manila. Kapag Ilocano ka, Zamboangeno, or Cebuano, pupunta ka pa sa Manila for that? Why can’t we build a Philippine Heart Center in Visayas or in Mindanao? So that ang mga doctors, may choice din na doon pumunta, and economic activity will grow,” Cayetano said.

Cayetano: violence against media is unacceptable
Calls for strategic effort to protect media personalities from violence and intimidation

Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano condemned in the strongest terms the recent shooting of ABS-CBN broadcaster Anthony Taberna’s newly-opened coffee shop in Quezon City, stressing the need for government to address the growing number of extra-judicial killings and harassment incidents against Filipino journalists.

“The Philippines continues to be one of the most dangerous countries in the world for media personalities to work. By the end of 2014, a total of 30 Filipino journalists have already been killed since 2010,” Cayetano citing recent statistics from the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines.

“As the Fourth Estate, the media is considered to be one of our nation’s most powerful tools against graft and corruption, and is an essential ingredient for Philippine democracy. And yet, government remains unable to give members of the media the proper care and protection that they need in their line of work,” he further lamented.

Cayetano has called for the establishment of a more comprehensive and strategic plan of action to safeguard the rights and security of media personnel, whistle-blowers, and even state witnesses against acts of violence, intimidation, and threats to their lives.

“Congress has provided our law enforcement agencies with all the resources that they need to ensure the safety of every Filipino media personality. Still, incidents like this continue to happen and have gotten even worse. There has to be a way to put a stop to these acts of violence against the media and the public in general,” Cayetano noted.

He then reiterated the need for the full and effective implementation of a whistle-blower’s act aimed at protecting witnesses of graft and corrupt practices from threats to their lives and to make sure that their role in exposing anomalies will not harm their family’s safety and livelihood.   

The senator, meanwhile, urged members of the media to remain vigilant amid these precarious times, but reminded them to keep fulfilling their duty of reporting the truth to the people and strengthening and promoting the country’s democratic process.

Cayetano says ending disorder in Filipinos' lives his top priority

"Bringing back order and security."

This is the top priority of the next government in the eyes of vice presidential bet and Senate Majority leader Alan Peter Cayetano.

Disorder, lack of security

In a two-hour radio interview on Wednesday, Cayetano said that there is so much disorder and lack of security in the country today.

"People wake up telling themselves, 'napakagulo naman ng buhay.' Crime, drugs and corruption. It's a constant perturbation of the mind. Sobra na ang gulo at hirap na dinaranas ng tao," Cayetano said.

Cayetano explained that this is what he and his running mate presidential hopeful Davao City Mayor Rodrigo "Rody" Duterte want to address in their first year of government if elected in the coming May polls.

"Mayor Duterte and I both believe we need a strong developmental state to promote real inclusive growth through regional development. But we need to build first the suitable condition by cracking down on crime, drugs and government corruption," Cayetano stressed.

To do this, Cayetano said they will strengthen and capacitate the country's security forces. The senator vowed to cleanse the ranks of the police and military of the corrupt, provide better salaries and incentives for law enforcers, and modernize their anti-crime and anti-narcotics infrastructure.

"One vision, 18 regional strategies for development"

The senator also pushed for a “one national vision, 18 regional strategies” approach for the country to achieve inclusive growth. He and Mayor Duterte see federalism as the unifying framework to achieve this.

Taguig as model of quality health care

On the issue of health care, Cayetano said he will implement the same services that Taguig City offers its senior citizens, which include the delivery of medicines straight to their houses. The senator explained that government should respond to the needs of the poor, especially the elderly.

"Hindi na pumipila ang senior citizens na mahihirap sa health center, idinedeliver na sa kanilang mga bahay ang serbisyo. Hindi sila ang may utang na loob, ikaw ang may utang na loob, so gobyerno ang lumalapit," he said.

Cayetano said that to restore order and a strong sense of security among the people, what's needed are bold solutions and swift action that will bring about real change. "Hindi na uubra ang pwede na o papatak patak na pagbabago. Sa amin ni Mayor Duterte, makakaasa ang lahat ng tunay at tuloy-tuloy na pagbabago."

Duterte-Cayetano: Loose firearms add to country's peace, order woes
                     
Taking into account that 99% of the guns used in criminal incidents were classified as “loose," Presidential aspirant Davao City Mayor Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte and his running mate Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano today said they will seize all illegal firearms in their effort to eliminate crime and illegal drugs.

"Sinasabi ko sa taumbayan, kung gusto ninyo ng malinis na bibig, very civil and courteous, doon na lang kayo. Pero kung gusto ninyo 'yung nagmumura pero tinutupad ang pangako, I will deliver. In the first year of my government, I will seize all loose firearms and end drugs and criminality," Duterte said.

According to Duterte, the possession of loose firearms is a crime in itself, which in turn points to violent crimes such as murders, homicides, illegal drug trade and random shooting.

In a recent report by the Philippine National Police (PNP), 42 people were victims of stray bullet incidents, many allegedly from loose guns. Majority of the incidents happened at the peak of last year's New Year’s celebration, from December 31 to January 1. Some of the injured includes an eight-year-old girl from Iloilo City who sustained injury on her right thigh.

For his part, Cayetano said that he and Duterte will push for a crackdown on illegal gun manufacturers and dealers. They will also push for more stringent background checks as a way to eliminate gun-related violence, as proven in other countries.

"Sobra na ang gulo dahil sobra-sobra na ang mga iligal na baril na hawak ng mga kriminal. The government itself admitted that 1.7 million registered firearms in the country have been found using fictitious or questionable information. This is unacceptable," Cayetano said.

"Sa gobyerno namin ni Mayor Duterte, hindi natin hahayaan na makahawak ng baril ang mga naghahasik ng krimen at gulo. Firearms should protect the people not harm them," Cayetano ended.

Cayetano thanks Pimentel for supporting Duterte-Cayetano ticket

Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano expressed his gratitude to PDP-Laban President Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III for maintaining his preference for a Duterte-Cayetano tandem to be supported by his party, amid reports that Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. expressed interest in teaming up with the Davao City mayor.

In a chance interview with Senate reporters on Tuesday, Pimentel reiterated that a possible tandem between Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Cayetano will be a more “formidable” team-up should the mayor decide to run in 2016.

"I'm grateful to Senator Pimentel for his kind words. I would be honored to earn the support of his party, the PDP-Laban, for the 2016 national elections," Cayetano said.

"Senator Pimentel and I have long shared the same vision on governance and public service, and the advocacy to fight corruption in all levels," he added.

Pimentel earlier said his party is less likely to back Marcos’ VP bid, stressing that the PDP-Laban was formed specifically to lead the opposition to his late father, former President Ferdinand Marcos.

“Ako mismo personally and some of my party-mates believe that a Duterte-Alan Cayetano ticket would be formidable, strong, and winnable force,” he said shortly after Cayetano officially announced his plan to run for vice president during a trip to Davao City on September 29.

“Nasabi ko na formidable ang Duterte-Cayetano [tandem] kasi parehong palaban, parehong anti-corruption, at parehon may vision para sa bansa,” he further stressed.

The PDP-Laban supports Duterte for his advocacy for federalism, a system that it also espouses.

Duterte and Cayetano vow to fight chaos, restore order and promote real change

At the first presidential forum leading to the 2016 election, presidential aspirant Davao City Mayor Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte and his running mate Senate Majority leader Alan Peter Cayetano stressed that only by being firm and strong in fixing the country’s broken system can peace and stability be realized. The tandem also said that cracking down on crime and corruption will lead to more investments and jobs and bring the country real change and progress that is needed now.

Duterte explained that the platform is a comprehensive and bold response to the lack of peace and order in the country.

“There is so much disorder. People don't have security. Sobra na ang gulo at pahirap na dinadanas ng tao. Sino ba naman ang hindi mapapamura kung pag-gising mo pa lamang sa umaga hanggang sa pagtulog mo sa gabi, walang tigil ang pahirap at gulo sa ating bayan,” Duterte said.

Duterte pointed to the chaos in the country - worsening traffic problem, rising crime and illegal drug trafficking, lack of job opportunities and social injustice. They said the only way to fix the system is to remove chaos swiftly and decisively.

“This is the reason why I am angry. This is the reason behind my constant cursing. Behind my curses is the tragedy and suffering of the Filipino people,” Duterte said.   

For his part, Cayetano asserted that it is the tandem’s duty to fight for those who cannot stand up on their own and are struggling everyday.  He said he and Duterte have the experience and principles necessary to fight injustices committed by those benefiting from the country’s chaotic system.

The senator highlighted the need to end corruption in the country's police force through harsh penalties for the corrupt and increasing salaries for police officers, removing excuses for corruption and helping to attract the best and brightest to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Cayetano also underscored the need for the country to transition to federalism to democratically decentralize governance and resources. He specifically mentioned the need to spread development to the regions by providing P 1 billion to every region for the next ten years to fund micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

In addition, the vice presidential aspirant also said that he and Duterte will phase out contractualization and exempt workers with salaries P 20,000 and below from paying personal income taxes.

“Kaya nandito kami ngayon ni Mayor Duterte. Kailangang kailangan nang baguhin ang sistema. Ang kailangan natin ay lideratong may tapang at malasakit para tapusin ang hirap at gulo,” Cayetano said.

Duterte, however, said that they do not offer themselves as the saviors of the Filipino people. He said they will need the help and support of ordinary people to realize radical change.

“Marami tayong kalaban. Maraming ayaw ayusin ang gulo dahil maraming nakikinabang dito. Pero sa tulong ninyong lahat, kakayanin natin ito,” Duterte said. 

For his part, Cayetano said what is needed is an overhaul of the chaotic system.

“Hindi na pwede ang pwede na. Hindi na pwede ang konting pagbabago. At lalong hindi na pwede na magpatuloy ang ligaya ng mag nang-aabuso. Ang kailangan ay matapang na solusyon at mabilis na aksyon para tapusin ang gulo. This is what Mayor Duterte and I will bring,” Cayetano ended.

“Last men standing.”

This was how Maria Ressa of Rappler described Duterte and Cayetano, which is the only tandem who showed up at the forum hosted by the media outfit held at the De La Salle University’s (DLSU) Teresa Yuchengco Auditorium on Wednesday.

Ressa reported that after confirming their attendance to the forum, all of the tandems vying for the May presidential polls backed out of the forum.

“Maraming nadismaya at hindi dumalo ang iba pang tambalan sa forum na ito. Their absence to this first presidential and vice presidential forum is quite bothering,” Cayetano said.

At the event, Duterte and Cayetano responded to questions on a wide range of problems, from traffic to national security to internet speed.

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano's statement on ad expenses

I would like to thank all our supporters for supporting our efforts to communicate our message of real change for the country. I have always believed that the media is the most effective way of communicating with our people. Using media and advocacy advertising, we were able to communicate better to a broader audience amid the black propaganda mounted against us by those who were affected by my relentless anti-graft and corruption campaign. The continued support we have received is a testament of the people's confidence in the change Mayor Rodrigo "Rody" Duterte and I want to bring to the entire country.

However, I believe that the amounts reported are overstated because Nielsen itself admitted that these are based on published rate cards, which in all cases are so much more than what was actually paid for.

Nonetheless I would like to again thank all of our supporters who continue to believe in what Mayor Duterte and I stand for and will work hard to deliver - real change in the lives of every Filipino.

Duterte-Cayetano pushes for Mindanao railway system to ensure efficient food supply

If they get elected in higher office next year, the 2016 electoral tandem of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano will push for the completion of the Mindanao Railway System, which, if constructed, would connect all food producing provinces in the region and ensure a more efficient and low-cost transport of food commodities throughout the country.

This is what the senator said during a consultative meeting with lacatan banana farmers based in Kidapawan City. Cayetano was in the city on Wednesday to attend a Federalism Forum organized by Hugpong Pederal, a movement that is backing Mayor Duterte’s proposal for a federal form of government in the Philippines.

The farmers complained that their products are being damaged due to the lack of a proper transport and shipping system in the region.

Cayetano said that establishing a railway system in Mindanao will particularly make it easier for farmers to transfer food commodities from agricultural areas like North Cotabato to the ports of Davao, General Santos, and Cagayan de Oro. Landlocked agricultural areas with no access to ports or cargo-loading airports will greatly benefit from the project, he added.

The vice-presidental hopeful assured that the 200-kilometer railway system will be among the priorities of a Duterte-Cayetano government, stressing that the P75-billion project will ensure low-cost food supply not only for Mindanaoans, but for the entire country as well.

Cayetano stressed that despite the strategic importance of a Mindanao Railway System, the national government continued to exclude it from its development plan.

"Enough with our NCR-centric approach in tackling economic development. Surely, if the national government can fund the construction of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) in Metro Manila, which costs P50-billion worth of the public’s money, it can also do the same for Mindanao's long cherised dream of a railway system,"Cayetano said.

The senator asserted that it's time to end the systemic neglect and injustice committed to the people of Mindanao.

“Ang Pilipinas ay hindi lamang ang Maynila. Ang kaunlaran ay hindi lamang para sa iilan. Now is the time to create real changes in the country. If we want economic growth to be really inclusive, we need to spur development in the countryside, particularly in Mindanao," Cayetano said.

Duterte, Cayetano visit GenSan, pledge to enforce crackdown on illegal fishing, push for Mindanao railway system
 
As part of their nationwide tour, the tandem of presidential contender Davao City Mayor Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte and vice presidential candidate Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano visited General Santos City on Saturday and presented their platform of government before the province's sectoral leaders.

In a town hall meeting held at the city's plaza, the tandem said they will push for strategic reforms in the tuna/fish exporting industry, such as the crackdown on illegal fishing and better labor and transport commodities for Filipinos in the south.

"Sawa na ang tao sa araw-araw na pahirap at gulo. Tama na ang hindi matapos-tapos na konsumisyon. Ang kailangan ng tao ay matapang na solusyon at mabilis na aksyon," Duterte said.

"To keep the industry vibrant, we must protect our maritime resources. I will enforce a crackdown on illegal fishers, unregulated and unreported fishing, especially from foreign vessels. Those who will be caught will be penalized severely. They will wriggle like fish caught on dry land," Duterte added.

Duterte also reiterated his pledge to wage a war against crime and corruption, especially on illegal drugs. He even urged the public to kill him if he cannot resolve heinous crimes and illegal drugs within the first six months of his administration if elected president.

“If I succeed perhaps that would be my greatest contribution to the country, but if I fail, kill me,” Duterte said.

Fixed wages, hazard pay for handline fishermen

For his part, Cayetano said he and Duterte will ensure safe working conditions and fixed wages for handline fishermen.

"Ang ating mga mangingisda ay binabayaran depende sa huli nilang isda. Kung walang huli, walang kita. Mas malala, wala na ngang kita, nalalagay pa sa panganib ang kanilang mga buhay. Hindi pupwede ito," Cayetano said.

"Under a Duterte-Cayetano government, our fishermen, who provide food on our tables, will be paid twice the daily minimum wage in the region and recieve hazard pay. This is on top of the commissions which they will get from their catch," Cayetano added.

Establishment of a Mindanao Railway System

The tandem also renewed their commitment to complete the Mindanao Railway System to make it easier to transfer food commodities from Mindanaoan agricultural areas to places like General Santos. Cayetano said the proposal is part of their platforms on promoting inclusive growth through regional development and equality under the law.

"Sa ngayon, halos lahat ng budget nasa Metro Manila. Ang inyong region, wala pang P100 Billion ang budget. Samantalang ang Metro Manila, P1 Trillion ang nakukuhang pera. Maaasahan niyo na sa isang Duterte-Cayetano tandem, mayroong Mindanao Railway system, andiyan ang pondo, authority, at tiwala ng lahat ng Pilipino sa bawat region, at ang sinasabing equality under the law, lahat takot sa batas pero lahat may proteksyon sa batas," Cayetano told the crowd.

The duo started going around the country for their nationwide tour dubbed as "Hamon ng Pagbabago," where the tandem presents their proposed programs, including phasing out contractualization, doubling the salaries of public school teachers, expanding scholarship grants and providing a living wage to workers.

Duterte-Cayetano presents platform to CDO business leaders, vows to quickly address power crisis

As part of their nationwide tour, the tandem of presidential contender Davao City Mayor Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte and vice presidential candidate Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano presented visited Cagayan de Oro on Sunday to present their platform of government before the province's business leaders.

Duterte and Cayetano promised to wage war against crime and corruption, especially on illegal drugs, realize an inclusive economy through regional development, and attain equality under the law.

24/7 war against crime, corruption, and drugs

"In our first year in government, we will mobilize the combined elements of the police and military and declare an all-out war against crime and illegal drugs. This will happen alongside our campaign to cleanse the government of corrupt officials through the passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill, lifting the bank secrecy for public officials, and real-time video and audio surveillance for frontline public officials. I will not allow criminals and the corrupt to further abuse and oppress our people," Duterte said.

Addressing CDO's power crisis, regional development

Cayetano, on the other hand, vowed to end the government's "NCR-centric" approach to economic development by decentralizing power and resources to the regions, which he said is aligned with Mayor Duterte’s push for federalism.

He also called for the transfer of national departments to the regions, particularly the Department of Energy (DoE) to Mindanao in order for the government to act decisively on the power crisis plaguing the region.

"The power crisis in Cagayan de Oro remains one of the province's problems. In fact, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) placed Mindanao under “yellow alert” status after a series of bombings toppled transmission towers cutting off electricity generated from the Agus 1 and 2 hydro plants from the Mindanao grid," Cayetano expained.

"Yet, why is the DoE not acting decisively on the bombings of transmission towers despite the NGCP's warning that the Mindanao grid could collapse if bombing incidents continue? Clearly, what is needed is political will to protect our public utility facilities. This is what Mayor Duterte and I will bring to solve this pestering issue," Cayetano asserted.

Mindanao Railway System

Cayetano said their platform includes the completion of the Mindanao Railway System to make it easier to transfer food commodities from Mindanaoan agricultural areas to places like Cagayan de Oro. The senator argued that if the national government can fund the construction of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) in Metro Manila, which costs P50-billion worth of the public’s money, it can also do the same for Mindanao's long cherised dream of a railway system.

"Sa pamamagitan ng plataporma naming ito ni Mayor Duterte, haharapin natin ang hamon ng pagbabago, at sisiguruhin na ang bawat mamamayan ay makikinabang gobyernong may matapang na solusyon at mabilis na aksyon,” Cayetano concluded.

The nationwide tour dubbed as "Hamon ng Pagbabago" is covering major cities, provinces, and different sectors in the country. It is in the form of town hall meetings where the tandem presents their platform, which includes phasing out contractualization, doubling the salaries of public school teachers, expanding scholarship grants and providing a living wage to workers.

Duterte-Cayetano bats for dep't of fisheries to cut red tape and protect fisherfolks' welfare

A department solely dedicated to address the concerns of small fishers and protect the country's marine and aquatic resources.

This is one of the latest "bold solutions" unveiled by the tandem of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo "Rody" Duterte and Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano during their "Ronda Serye" listening tour with fishermen in Ormoc City on Tuesday.

Duterte and Cayetano said that, if elected, they will create a Department of Fisheries separate from the Department of Agriculture (DA) to give the fishery sector in the country a more focused attention and reduce red tape which greatly contributes to corruption.

Cayetano said that the present DA is huge, prone to corruption and unmanageable. The senator also said that for a country surrounded by water, proper management of aquatic resources should be a priority, both for food security and livelihood improvement.

"Our plan to create a department of fisheries is an acknowledgment that the
fishery sector has distinct problems and issues apart from land-based farming. It is also part of our effort to curb corruption sourced from unnecessary bureaucracy," Cayetano explained.

Cayetano said that they will also expand available credit instruments for fisherfolk to provide them the needed capital to sustain their livelihood and protect them from 5-6 loan sharks.

The vice-presidential candidate also vowed to ensure the fishermen's safe working conditions, healthcare benefits and seriously study providing fixed wages to handline fishermen.

"Through bold solutions based on strong leadership, Mayor Duterte and I will end the disorder and corruption in the fisheries sector and ensure a better future for our fisherfolk communities," Cayetano concluded.

When Christ Gives a Command

Daily Devotional for Monday, March 21st, 2016

And He sent out two of His disciples and said to them, "Go into the city. . ." Mark 14:13

The two disciples were given very detailed instructions to go to a certain town and look for a particular man performing a specific task. He would have a large room, furnished and ready to observe the Passover. These instructions might have seemed unusual had it not been their Lord speaking, but the two disciples obeyed and found everything just as Jesus had said. Jesus knew exactly what they would find, and so He guided them specifically. One of the most memorable and precious times the disciples would spend with their Teacher hinged on the obedience of these two.

He tells you enough so you can implement what He Obedience to Christ’s commands always brings fulfillment. When the Lord gives you instructions, obey immediately. Don’t wait until you have figured it all out and everything makes perfect sense to you. Sometimes God will lead you to do things that you will not fully understand until after you have done them. He does not usually reveal all the details of His will when He first speaks to you. Instead, has said, but He withholds enough information so that you must continue to rely upon His guidance. Your response will affect what God does next in your life. Your obedience may affect how others around you experience Christ as well. If there is any directive God has given you that you have not obeyed, obey that word immediately and watch God’s perfect plan unfold in your life. Henry and Richard

The Unthinkable

Daily Devotional for Tuesday, March 22nd, 2016

Now as they sat and ate, Jesus said, "Assuredly, I say to you, one of you who eats with Me will betray Me." Mark 14:18

Surely I would never betray the Lord! Each disciple earnestly pled his loyalty to Christ. As they reclined together in the comfort and security of the upper room, in the presence of their Lord, the disciples could not imagine themselves ever wavering in their loyalty to Christ. Yet Jesus looked at them and said, “One of you who eats with Me will betray Me!”  How was it possible to share such an intimate and profound moment with the Savior and then rush so quickly toward betrayal and spiritual failure?

During the intense pressures of Gethsemane and the cross, the disciples did things they never thought they would do. They had no idea how cruel and hateful the world around them would be to their Lord. Jesus had cautioned them that the world would hate them because it hated Him (John 15:18-21; 16:33). But only Jesus knew the full extent of the temptation they would face. In the pressure of the moment the heart does surprising things. Scripture had predicted Judas would betray Jesus, despite having walked with Him for over three years. But Peter, too, would deny Him, and all would forsake Him.

How quickly the surroundings of your life can shift from the security and tranquility of an upper room to the harsh reality of Gethsemane and the cross. Guard your heart. Listen now to the Lord’s gentle warning: the failure that was possible with His first disciples is also possible with you. You, too, are capable of forsaking Jesus, just as the first disciples did. If Jesus is warning you of an area in your life in which you could fail Him, heed His words today!   Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Statement of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano on the delay in the March-20 presidential debates

Vice Presidential bet and Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano took a swipe at Vice President Jejomar Binay Sr. for allegedly delaying the presidential debates on Sunday (March 20).

The second round of the debates, which was held at the University of the Philippines (UP) campus in Cebu City, was supposed to start at 4:30 in the afternoon but started more than an hour later due to unforeseen circumstances.

The delay was reportedly caused by some candidates seeking last minute modifications on the rules of the debate. Several reports claimed that Vice President Jejomar Binay, in particular, wanted to bring notes with him, but debate organizers would not allow it. The Binay camp also reportedly wanted to remove corruption among the issues to be tackled.

Cayetano, for his part, lambasted Binay for trying to alter the rules of the debate, which he said shows clear proof that the Vice President would do anything to evade corruption allegations being thrown against him and his family.

“He is running for president but he can’t even debate without notes? How can the vice president present himself as this country’s next president if he cannot even participate in a debate where corruption is among the most important issues?” the senator stressed.

“The mechanics have been clear since day one. The Comelec rule since the first debate was that there should be no notes. But with what transpired today, we just saw a glimpse of what a Binay leadership will bring to the country â€" a total disregard for established rules,” Cayetano added.

Why Do You Doubt?

Daily Devotional for Sunday, March 20th, 2016

Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" But He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. Matthew 8:25-26

It is by faith that God’s mighty power is released into the life of a Christian (Heb. 11:33-35). The fact that you have doubts indicates that you do not know God as you should. If your prayer life is infiltrated with doubts, you have denied yourself the greatest, single avenue of power that God has made available to you. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6). God never comforts you in your doubt. Jesus consistently rebuked those who would not believe Him. He had revealed enough of Himself for His disciples to have believed Him in their time of need.

God wants to build your understanding of Him until your faith is sufficient to trust and obey Him in each situation (Mark 9:23-25). The moment you turn to Him with a genuine commitment to rid yourself of doubt, God will match your doubt with a revelation of Himself that can convince you of His faithfulness. When Thomas doubted, Jesus revealed Himself to him in such a way that every doubt vanished (John 20:27). You can only resolve your lack of faith in God’s presence. He must reveal Himself in such a way that any doubt you might have is removed. Jesus did this with His disciples. He involved them in a consistent, growing relationship with Himself. Jesus took them through teaching, to small miracles, to large miracles, and to the resurrection. Jesus knew that the redemption of the world rested on His disciples’ believing Him. What does God want to do in the lives of those around you that waits upon your trust in Him and the removal of your doubts?Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Duterte vows to provide leadership to end the country’s disorder

“All of these are just platforms. I will tell you now that I can provide leadership.”

This was the closing statement of presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte during the second Presidential Debates organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), held at the University of the Philippines Cebu on March 20.

“In 3-6 months, you will feel the positive effects of my campaign against corruption, criminality and drugs. We have to protect the children, we have to end drugs, and drugs must be suppressed,” the tough-talking mayor added.

Duterte’s running mate, Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, for his part, stressed that of all the presidential candidates, it was only Duterte who showed political will and strength of character to end the cycle of corruption in government.

“Of all the candidates in the second presidential debate, only Mayor Duterte has the moral ascendancy to speak about corruption. VP Binay is obviously corrupt, Secretary Mar Roxas is representing a government marred by corruption, and Senator Grace Poe has yet to prove her independence from shady political figures perceived to hold suasion over her,” said Cayetano.

During the first half of the debate, Duterte reiterated the challenge he issued with Cayetano to their fellow candidates to waive their bank secrecy rights and bare their bank accounts.

Duterte also urged Vice President Jejomar Binay to produce a copy of his waiver, which the Vice President failed to present.

“I would like to be very frank with the Vice President. Sir, marami kayong kaso (ng korapsyon) sa COA. Ang tanong ko, if you can produce (a bank secrecy waiver)… pirmahan natin ‘yan. At kung may kasong mapatunayan laban sa atin, we should withdraw from the presidential derby,” Duterte asserted.

Duterte exposes Poe’s inexperience

Senator Grace Poe lacks the experience and the political will to protect the country’s national sovereignty from foreign threats, this point was illustrated by Presidential bet Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte during the second presidential debates on Sunday (March 20) at the University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu campus.

During the second round of the debate, each candidate was allowed to field one question directed to a fellow contender. For his part, Duterte was designated to ask Senator Grace Poe a question.

“If elected as president, what would be the first steps that you would do if you are woken up in the middle of the night by a call informing you that the Chinese bombed two of our coast guard ships in Spratlys island?” Duterte asked.

Poe gave indirect responses to Duterte’s question. Among the answers she gave were to modernize the Philippine military and to cooperate with other ASEAN countries in engaging China to follow a code of conduct on the West Philippine Sea.

Notwithstanding Poe’s vague response, Duterte pressed on his question. “What would be the first three steps that you would do if you hear about the report?”

Poe answered that the first thing she would do is to get up from her bed. This elicited laughter from the audience. The senator also said that she will call several government agencies and meet with them to know what best course of action is needed.

In the end, Poe failed to put forward concrete solutions to Duterte's question.

The tough-talking mayor earlier stressed that if elected, he will conduct bilateral talks with the government of China to assert the Philippines’ territorial rights.

“I will personally talk to China. I will not move an inch. I will tell them that, ‘you are occupying areas which now belong to the Republic of the Philippines. I will also remind them of the last line of our national anthem, ‘ang mamatay nang dahil sayo’,” Duterte said.

A Soul DistressedA Soul Distressed

He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch." Mark 14:33b-34

Who can know the depth and intensity of the heart of God? No one could measure His sorrow over an unrepentant sinner or His joy over a spiritual rebel who relinquishes everything to Him. We can begin to understand what is on the heart of God only when He shares His heart with us (Amos 3:7). Are you aware of the fervent emotions in the soul of your Lord, as He carries the weight of the world? The disciples were unaware of the deep anguish in the heart of Jesus. Yet, He willingly shared His heart with them. The disciples often seemed disoriented to what Jesus was feeling. When He took delight in young children, His disciples attempted to chase them away (Luke 18:15-16). When Jesus had compassion for a woman living in sin, they acted confused (John 4:27). While Jesus wept at the hopelessness of those facing death, His closest friends grieved as if Jesus had no power to raise the dead (John 11:1-44). You can choose to be alert to the heart of God. As you seek to understand what God is feeling, He may share with you the intensity of His heart. When you are around other people, God may sensitize you to the love He feels for them. When you see others suffering, you may feel the compassion Jesus feels. When sinners return to God in repentance, you may share the Father’s joy. You will react to evil the way Jesus reacts. If you will remain alert in prayer, Jesus will share His heart with you.Henry and Richard Blackaby

Going Farther with God

Daily Devotional for Thursday, March 24th, 2016

He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed. Mark 14:35

Some Christians are satisfied to have only a surface relationship with Christ. Others desire to share the holiest moments with Him. On the night Jesus spent in sacred prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, the people responded to Him in various ways. There were those who were so indifferent to Jesus that they were unaware He was even in the garden. Then there was Judas, who knew where Jesus was but was too busy with his own schemes to join Him. The rest of the disciples joined Jesus in the garden, but they were distracted by sleep. Jesus told them the urgency of the hour, but they did not comprehend it. There was the inner circle of disciples, Peter, James, and John. They initially prayed with Jesus, yet even they could not grasp the significance of the moment. Ultimately, Jesus prayed alone. He went farther than His disciples and prayed longer. At the greatest moment of intercession in human history, there was no one willing to go with Jesus and watch with Him.

Throughout history God has looked for those willing to yield everything to Him and His desire to redeem a world. At times God has marveled that no one was willing to go with Him (Isa. 63:5; 59:16). The prophets seemed to grasp more than the common people, for while society carried on as though nothing were wrong the prophets agonized and wept over what they knew God was preparing to do.

God is calling you to go deeper in your prayer life with Him. If you are willing to be the person Jesus can take with Him into the most sacred moments, you will experience things only the angels shared with Jesus in the garden that night.Henry and Richard Blackaby

I remember my dream of becoming a professional MLB player, to represent my people and to help those I love through this game. Being born in a country where baseball is the national pastime gave me the foundation to become the person and the player I am today.

At 26 years of age, I made a decision to leave my Cuba.

Not knowing what the outcome would be, I, along with a few members of my family, floated away in a small cramped boat for more than 12 hours before reaching Haiti. The waters were rough, the night was scary, and the sun was unforgiving.

I remember looking back as we drifted away, leaving behind my life, my family, my friends, and my two-year-old son. I could feel my heart pounding harder and harder as we got further away. I knew that even if I made it to my destination safely, I didn't know if I would be able to ever return.

It was the hardest decision I have had to make but it was exactly what needed to happen. I couldn't have imagined how blessed my life was going to be after I left; how my dream of becoming a professional player in the Major Leagues would become a reality, as well as becoming a symbol of pride for my people.

Yet, I lived not knowing if or when I would be able to see my family or be able to go back.

I was so blessed to return to my homeland last year as part of the Baseball Goodwill Tour thanks to the efforts of Major League Baseball, the MLB Players Association, President Obama, and the Cuban government.

That empty dark part of my heart was suddenly filled with joy and great appreciation.

I treasured every minute I spent with my family, the future heroes of the game, and the beautiful faces of my fans in Cuba. I cried tears of happiness while holding my son and left happy knowing that soon we'll be able to play baseball without boundaries. And thank God, that's exactly how all of my dreams are coming true.

José D. Abreu
@79Joseabreu

P.S. Yesterday, for the first time in 17 years, an MLB team played the Cuban national team in an exhibition game in Havana.

Good morning, folks --

In a few hours, I’ll be heading over to Georgetown University’s Law Center, where I’m going to speak to you about why it’s so vitally important that Chief Judge Merrick Garland’s nomination gets the consideration our Constitution affords it.

You can watch that right here.

Now, between all the back-and forth you hear from all sides -- from pundits and from your own members of Congress -- I know it’s often hard to know what’s what in these political debates.

And that’s on all of us to fix. Our politics are clearly broken. But what we need to make sure right now is that Washington’s dysfunction doesn’t become a constitutional crisis.

At the end of the day, no matter your politics, this comes down to the simple but vital obligation that we all have to do our jobs.

Most Americans go to work every day understanding that they’ve got a job to do. There are days when you might not want to. But you don’t have the luxury of simply deciding not to work because it’s not convenient for you.

Neither should a United States Senator.

And right now, the United States Senate has a job to do. The Constitution has written a straightforward description of what that job calls for:

It says the President “shall” appoint someone to fill a Supreme Court vacancy, with the Senate’s “Advice and Consent.”

That includes consulting and voting. Voting in favor, or voting against â€" but voting.

Saying nothing, seeing nothing, reading nothing, and hearing nothing is not an option.

In my 36 years in the United States Senate, the Constitution was always our guidepost. Which meant that every single Supreme Court nominee got a hearing, a committee vote, and a floor vote. Period.

If our Senators don’t do that this time, it could be an entire year before the highest court in our nation is able to do its job the way the Constitution requires it to do.

Folks, this is important. And it affects every single one of us.

That’s what I’ll be talking about today. I hope you’ll listen in.

-Joe

Vice President Joe Biden

A Fatal Moment

Daily Devotional for Friday, March 25th, 2016

"Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Mark 14:38

At times your spirit must demand supremacy over your flesh. Your spirit will know what your Lord wants you to do, but your flesh will cry out for its own fulfillment. There are times when sleep must be denied, even when you are exhausted, because it would be disastrous for you to rest at such a time. When the Lord commands you to “watch and pray,” it is crucial that you obey.

As Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, He knew that the pinnacle of His ministry was quickly approaching. He was aware that the legions of hell were marshaling their forces to defeat Him. If there were ever a critical time for His closest friends to be undergirding Him in prayer, this was it. Jesus told them that He was deeply distressed, even to the point of death. Surely they could have sensed the intensity in His voice and the urgency of His demeanor, and surely they could have found the strength to obey His request. Yet He found them asleep. No excuses. They had fallen asleep at the most pivotal moment in human history, not once but three times!

Jesus asks you to join Him in what He is doing. He may ask you to watch and pray for an hour. You may have to deny your physical needs and desires in order to pray with Him. You may have to leave the comfort of your bed or your home. You may even have to sacrifice your safety in order to be where Jesus is. Seek to bring every physical desire under the control of the Holy Spirit so that nothing will impede your accomplishing what Jesus asks of you.Henry and Richard Blackaby .

2 ASG brigands killed in Good Friday clash in Basilan

ZAMBOANGA CITY, March 25 (PNA) â€" Two Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) brigands, including an explosive expert, were killed while six others were wounded in a three-hour clash with the military in the hinterlands of Basilan province on Good Friday.

Also wounded in the incident were seven government troops -- five soldiers and two militiamen. They were taken to Camp Navarro General Hospital in this city and are now in stable condition.

Maj. Filemon Tan, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) information officer, said the clash broke out at 7:55 a.m. in Sitio Luglugi, Barangay Macalang, Al-Barka, Basilan.

Tan said the slain ASG explosive expert was identified as Eric Ajibon, who is also a sub-leader, and the other one was only known as a certain Abu Ayan. Their remains are in the custody of the police for proper disposition.

Tan said Ajibon was responsible in the series of bombings against the government forces and business establishments in Basilan province.

According to Tan, the clash ensued after the residents reported to the Army’s 4th Special Forces Battalion the presence of around 40 ASG brigands led by Isnilon Hapilon in Sitio Luglugi, Barangay Macalang, Al-Barka.

Tan said they received intelligence report that six followers of Hapilon were wounded during the clash and were dragged by their fleeing comrades.

He said the troops recovered war materiel and personal belongings at the clash site. (PNA)
SCS/TPGJR

Filipina wife of Japanese national arrested for “shabu possession”

DUMAGUETE CITY, March 22 (PNA) -- A jobless 40-year old resident of Lutao in Bacong, Negros Oriental, was charged Monday with violations of Section 11 and Section 12 of RA 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, after a search yielded positive results.

Jessica Parallon Trinidad, married to a Japanese national with surname Watanabe, was the subject of the search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Gerardo Paguio, Jr., following reports that she is allegedly actively pushing shabu in Bacong.

Recovered during the search were one big bulto of “shabu”, another one fourth size bulto and three medium-sized sachets believed to contain shabu granules and five plastic sachets also with suspected shabu residue.

Also recovered were cash proceeds amounting to Php 3,200, tin foils, lighters, improvised clips, tooters, pair of scissors, cellphone and several notebooks with a supposed list of “clients” and “collectibles”.

Bacong chief of police Sr. Insp. Rommel Luga said they had a hard time catching the suspect, but with the cooperation of the neighbors, after two months of surveillance operation they were able to successfully conduct a test buy after which the search warrant was applied. (PNA)

23 die after consuming toxic liquor in south Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, March - Four people died at a hospital in Pakistan's south Hyderabad district where they were shifted after consuming toxic liquor on Tuesday, bringing the death toll to 23 over the last two days, local media reported.

Dunya TV said that most of the victims were from minority Hindu community who bought homemade alcohol from a local drug dealer to celebrate their religious festival in the Tando Muhammad Khan, a less-developed district located near Hyderabad in the country's south Sindh province.

Police said that over 50 people were shifted to hospital, out of which 23 including three women died and 15 others are in critical condition.

The cops also arrested the dealer who sold the poisonous liquor to the people.

Relatives of the victims and other residents took to streets to protest against police for failing to put a check on the sale of the toxic liquor.

They also blocked the main highway.

This is the second incident of mass alcohol poisoning in the area.

Earlier in 2014, a total of 29 people were killed after consuming toxic liquor in Hyderabad.

Alcohol consumption and sale is banned in Pakistan for Muslims, but non-Muslims are allowed to buy liquor from licensed shops. (PNA/Xinhua)

Bangladesh reports first case of Zika virus

DHAKA, March 22 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Bangladesh on Tuesday reported the country's first case of the Zika virus, a mosquito-borne disease that has been linked to birth defects and other health issues.

Zahid Malik, Bangladeshi state minister for health, told journalists Tuesday that the trace of the Zika virus was detected within a blood sample taken in 2014 from a sexagenarian whose name has not been disclosed.

Malik said in 2013 and 2014 Bangladesh health officials collected blood samples of some patients infected with other diseases like Dengue fever.

"Recently traces of Zika virus has been detected in one of those blood samples," he said and the patient with Zika virus disease is undergoing treatment at a hospital.

The patient is getting better.

He, however, urged people not to be panicked about Zika virus.

Meanwhile, he mentioned that blood samples of some 159 people who had intimacy with the victim were tested negative for Zika transmission. (PNA/Xinhua)

God's Abundance in Your Life

Daily Devotional for Saturday, March 19th, 2016

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8

When you relate to God you always deal with abundance, for God does nothing in half measures! This is true regarding His grace. The Lord is not miserly when it comes to providing grace to His servants. When you seek to perform a good work that God has asked you to do, you will always find an ample supply of God’s grace to sustain you. If you begin to lose heart in the work you are doing, God’s grace upholds you and gives you the love for God and His people you require in order to continue. When you face criticism and are misunderstood, God’s grace enables you to forgive your accusers and to sense God’s pleasure even when others do not understand what you are doing. When you make mistakes in the work God has appointed you to do, God’s grace forgives you, sets you back on your feet, and gives you strength to continue the work.need for your dreams and projects. He doe When you complete the task God gave you and no one expresses thanks for what you have done, the Father’s grace surrounds you, and He reminds you that you have a heavenly reward where everything you have done in the Lord’s service will be remembered. God does not promise to provide all you s assure you that, for every good work you attempt, you will never face a shortfall of His grace in order to successfully complete the task God has given you.Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Bol-anon Lawyer Behind Fake Annulment Scam

God's Provision Brings Glory

Daily Devotional for Friday, March 18th, 2016

Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me. Psalms 50:15

Did you know that you bring glory to God by calling upon Him when you are in distress? God promised He would deliver you if you turned to Him. You deny the Lord honor that is rightfully His every time you find yourself in difficulty and you fail to call upon Him for help! There may be times when God allows you to reach a point of need so that you can call upon Him, and thus let Him demonstrate to a watching world the difference He makes in the lives of His children.

Pride will tempt you to think that you do not need to seek God’s assistance. Self-regard will seek to convince you that you can handle your dilemma through your own wisdom, resources, and hard work. Pride will also rob glory from God and seek to give it to you. Don’t allow your pride to take what rightfully belongs to the Lord. Call upon your Lord and wait exclusively upon Him to rescue you. Then give Him the glory that He deserves.

Self-sufficiency can greatly hinder your ability to experience God and bring Him honor. The next time you are in distress, turn to Him! Henry and Richard Blackaby.

By Anees Bob

Each time a man connects with a woman sexually and releases his life form energy within her, he leaves a part of his information (DNA) in her birth canal. If she doesn't clean herself, his energy remain inside of her. That imprint can often create illusional sexual addiction to the individual.

When some 1 decide to have multiple partners, it can sometimes send mixed emotional signals within the inside of the body's vibration system. Women must be careful of different energies or spiritual forces polluting their internal temple. You are a sacred doorway, where life is intended to pass through, respect yourself, use your gifts wisely!

Just think about it and ask yourself... Ever wonder why they call it sexual intercourse (INTER-Course)? It's an inter(nal) course that unites man and woman, mind with mind, spirit with spirit, or energy with energy. This is something that a condom can't protect you against because energy is behind the elements of all flesh.

There is no such thing as "Casual" Sex or "Friends with Benefits"... No, No, No, I Don't Think So!!! Intimate activity intricately entwines the energies between two people. Sex creates a powerful exchange of energy between those involved. These connections, imprints and debris are left upon the mind, soul and spirit for a long time because they are not easily purged or cleansed.

'Casual sex’ with multiple partners can intertwine the energies and spirits of a lot of people into your own aura if they are not severed and cleansed. You become joined to every person with whom your partner has slept, as well as all the partners those people had.

This type of "soul clutter" can be felt by your partner's subconscious. Even if they are not completely in tune or aware of the extra-curricular sexual activities, they still are able to sense the subtle disturbances of multiple energies and/or familiar spirits that have entered causing restlessness and inner turmoil.

The longer and more intimate the contact with another person, the more powerful the reinforcement and the interaction of the bond becomes, and all the more difficult it is for them to untangle and leave.
Soul stains, transference of odors, perceptive connections and even mutually formed habits are now left to burden the psyche long after that relationship has ended.

Youth and students support Duterte-Cayetano’s call for candidates to open bank accounts

“All candidates, please sign now to end the bank secrecy law. Yes to transparency.”

This is what members of the NCR Chapter of Youth Do Change, said on March 15, as the tandem of presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte and his running mate, Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano prepared and signed a manifesto which waives their right to bank secrecy. Some of the members wore masks of the other candidates who have yet to sign the manifesto.

To date, only Duterte and Cayetano have signed the manifesto.

"Patuloy po akong maniniwala na may pag-asa pa para sa ating bayan, pag-asa na magbibigay ng patas na pagkakataon sa lahat, pag-asa na magbibigay ng pagpapahalaga sa karapatan ng bawat  mamamayan mahirap man o mayaman, pag-asa na magkakaroon tayo ng tapat na gobyerno, pag-asa na nakikita namin na ibibigay sa amin ng Duterte-Cayetano," said Patrick Plandiano, spokesperson of Youth Do Change (YDC).

This support is also evident among students, as the tandem's rivals trailed behind them in mock polls. In the student poll conducted on March 9 in Siliman University, Duterte garnered 55.86% of the votes, while Cayetano garnered 38.02%. Meanwhile, on March 10, in Misamis University, Duterte and Cayetano garnered 70% and 32% of the votes, respectively.

As part of their comprehensive platform of government that aims to end corruption, the tandem proposed the lifting of the provision of bank secrecy for public officials. They believe that by ending corruption through bold solutions and swift action, they can also end the disorder in the country.

"Extremely similar"

Meanwhile, amid the Senate Blue Ribbon investigation into the $81 million money-laundering operation involving the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), Cayetano drew attention to Binay’s own “money-laundering scheme” using the same bank.

The similarities are extreme. Like Binay's ill-gotten wealth, the same bank is involved on both cases. Both involved dummy accounts. And unscrupulous people are hiding behind the same banking law. The only difference is, Binay doesn't need hackers to amass ill-gotten wealth," Cayetano said. "

"I hope the government has the same enthusiasm in holding the vice presindent and his accomplices accountable for stealing from Filipinos as it now has in probing the $81-million money-laundering scheme," the senator added.

"Day 3 on bank secrecy challenge"
Call to open bank accounts gains ground, Cayetano draws similarities between Binay's ill-gotten wealth and $81-M money laundering scheme

The call of vice presidential bet Senate Majority leader Alan Peter Cayetano for fellow candidates to open their bank accounts as part of their commitment to transparency continued to gain ground. This was after the administration's presidential candidate, former Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas signified intention to make public his bank records.

Cayetano welcomed Roxas' statement but urged him to prove his sincerity by immediately signing the manifesto they prepared pledging to open all bank accounts in local and foreign currencies, both here and abroad. Roxas agreed to open his accounts after Duterte and Cayetano wrote a letter to them urging them to sign the waiver.

"I welcome the response of Sec. Roxas to our challenge. Since 2007, when I scrutinized the bank accounts of then first gentlemen Mike Arroyo, I already called for the lifting of the bank secrecy provisions of the Bank Secrecy Law for public officials. I'm glad that the administration is finally with me on this issue," Cayetano said.

"Extremely similar"

Meanwhile, amid the Senate Blue Ribbon investigation into the $81 million money-laundering operation involving the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), Cayetano drew attention to Binay’s own “money-laundering scheme” using the same bank.

Cayetano cited an Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) report where Gerardo Limlingan, an alleged dummy of Binay, had transactions with the RCBC amounting to P3.1 billion. The senator said Limlingan’s transactions alone are equivalent to $68.1 million or just $12.6 million short of the $81 million allegedly withdrawn from Bangladesh’s bank account in the United States.

The one-page portion of the report Cayetano distributed to the media showed that Limlingan had one transaction of P2 Billion, and two transactions of P500 Million through the RCBC, the same bank in question in the ongoing Senate probe.

"The similarities are extreme. Like Binay's ill-gotten wealth, the same bank is involved on both cases. Both involved dummy accounts. And unscrupulous people are hiding behind the same banking law. The only difference is, Binay doesn't need hackers to amass ill-gotten wealth," Cayetano said. "I hope the government has the same enthusiasm in holding the vice presindent and his accomplices accountable for stealing from Filipinos as it now has in probing the $81-million money-laundering scheme," he added.

Day 3: Still Duterte and Cayetano

The duo signed a manifesto commiting to open their bank accounts and challenged all candidates to do the same. To date, only Duterte and Cayetano are the only candidates who have actually signed the document.

Duterte-Cayetano tops two student mock polls

The tandem of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano emerged as the top choice in separate mock elections conducted among students, faculty, and staff members of two universities in Visayas and Mindanao.

In Silliman University in Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, a presidential survey was conducted last March 9, organized by the university's student council in cooperation with First Time Voters’ Network (FTVN)-Negros Oriental and the Rappler Dumaguete Movers.

More than half of the respondents, or exactly 55.86 percent, chose Duterte as their choice for president. Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago was a distant second with 23.58 percent, followed by Senator Grace Poe (9.99 percent), former DILG Sec. Mar Roxas (7.55 percent), and Vice President Jejomar Binay (3.02 percent).

Duterte’s running mate, Cayetano, also received majority of the votes, with 39.02 percent of respondents choosing him as their VP bet. He was followed by Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo and Senator Bongbong Marcos, who got 20.33 percent and 19.51 percent, respectively. Senator Francisco “Chiz” Escudero trailed behind with only 11.73 percent.

The tandem was also the top choice of voters at the Misamis University in Ozamiz City. It is among the biggest universities in Mindanao population-wise, with almost 6,000 students. In a mock election conducted last March 10, Duterte got 70 percent of the total votes cast, a far cry from Poe’s 13-percent ratings. Roxas came in third with 9 percent, while Binay got the least votes, which is only 3 percent of the tally.

Cayetano was also the campus favorite among all vice presidential contenders, garnering 32 percent of the total votes. In second and third places were Robredo and Escudero, who received 20 percent and 19 percent, respectively.

The tandem is running under a comprehensive platform, which aims to create real change and restore order in people’s lives. Among the bold solutions that they plan to undertake is waging an all-out war against corruption in government.

Recently, Duterte and Cayetano earned praise from youth organizations for showing sincerity to end corruption by signing a manifesto waiving their rights to bank secrecy and allowing the public opening of their bank accounts. They also urged their presidential and vice-presidential rivals to sign the waivers, but no other candidate has signed yet.

diaspora  Click to hear this word spoken

di·as·po·ra [dī áspərə]
noun
scattering of language, culture, or people: a dispersion of a people, language, or culture that was formerly concentrated in one place
the African diaspora

[Late 19th century. < Greek < diaspeirein "disperse" < speirein "sow, scatter"]

Microsoft® Encarta® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

God's Measure for Forgiveness

Daily Devotional for Thursday, March 17th, 2016

"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Matthew 6:14-15

Perhaps you consider yourself a forgiving person, but you are now facing someone whom you cannot forgive. Whenever you struggle to forgive, you need to revisit what you were like when God first forgave you. Ephesians 2 indicates you were a “foreigner” and a “child of wrath.” Yet God forgave your most grievous sin and rebellion against Him. While you were still rejecting God, Christ died for you (Rom. 5:. This being so, how can you refuse to forgive those who sin against you? Forgiveness is not a spiritual gift, a skill, or an inherited trait. Forgiveness is a choice. Jesus looked down on those who had ruthlessly and mockingly nailed Him to a cross, yet He cried out: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34). How, then, can we refuse to forgive those who have committed offenses against us? Jesus said that the measure in which we are forgiving is the same standard God will use in forgiving us. God’s ways are very different from ours. God’s forgiveness is not based on standards we determine, but on the standards He established in His Word. God allows for no exceptions when it comes to forgiveness. As we truly understand God’s gracious forgiveness in our lives, we will naturally want to express this same forgiveness to others (Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13). Before you ask God for His forgiveness, take a moment to examine the condition of your relationships. Would you want God to forgive you in the same way you are presently forgiving others?    Henry and Richard Blackaby.

Christ Must Reorient You

Daily Devotional for Sunday, March 13th, 2016

When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him. Mark 1:19-20

We have a natural tendency to find our “comfort zone” and then position ourselves firmly in place. If you are in a situation or lifestyle where you are perfectly capable of handling everything, you have stopped growing in your understanding of God. God’s desire is to take you from where you are to where He wants you to be. You will always be one step of obedience away from the next truth God wants you to learn about Him. You may experience a restlessness whereby you sense that there is far more you should be learning and experiencing about the Father. At times, this will mean that you should move to a new location or take a new job. It could indicate that you need a deeper dimension added to your prayer life. Perhaps you need to trust God to a degree you never have before.

The fishermen could not remain in their fishing boats and become apostles of Jesus Christ. Abraham was seventy-five years old when God gave him his major life assignment. These men had to disrupt their comfortable routine in order to reach new heights in their relationship with their Lord. Likewise, in order to experience God to the degree He wants you to, there will be adjustments He will ask of you. Are you prepared for Christ to reveal Himself to you in dimensions that will change your life? Are you willing to abandon that which makes you comfortable?       Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Duterte-Cayetano challenges rivals to open bank accounts

The tandem of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano have signed a manifesto calling on all candidates for President and Vice President to open their bank accounts and challenged their fellow candidates to sign bank secrecy waivers.

In a manifesto they prepared and signed, the tandem called on their co-candidates for President and Vice President to sign their names pledging that they will make public their bank accounts, both domestic and foreign. They issued the challenge after they called for the lifting of the bank secrecy law for public officials and the passage of an anti-dummy law to prevent officials from amassing ill-gotten wealth using dummy bank accounts.

Duterte said that ending the country's disorder brought by corruption is what's at stake in the May elections. "Corruption, the victimization of the poor Filipinos, has already been a way of life. If I become president, corruption has to stop. Subukan niyo ako," Duterte dared.

The manifesto was supposed to be presented last Friday in front of students at the University of the Philippines-Los Banos (UPLB) during a forum on transparency in government, but there was not enough time. It was nonetheless signed by both Duterte and Cayetano. They are set to present the manifesto in one of their sorties this week.

The manifesto also provides a legal waiver of their rights to bank secrecy under the bank secrecy law, which means that they are allowing their bank accounts to be opened in the spirit of transparency and accountability. They are the first candidates who have undertaken such a bold move.

Cayetano earlier said that public officials like the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos and Vice President Jejomar Binay can easily dip their hands on the nation's coffers because somehow, our legal system allowed them to conceal their true wealth through dummy accounts.

Cayetano stressed that their petition is a simple “integrity check" to prove who is "walking the talk" on the issue of corruption. The pledge is a document that legally waives the rights of the signatories on bank secrecy.

"It's very simple. If candidates have nothing to hide, they'll have no problem signing the document. But if they refuse to sign, they not only betray their sincerity in fighting corruption, it also puts to serious question how they accumulated their wealth," Cayetano explained.

"We cannot entrust the next government to leaders who have skeletons in their closets and/or funded by dirty money. Kapag walang korapsyon sa gobyerno, mas maganda at marami ang serbisyo at benepisyo para sa tao. Tiyak na matitigil ang gulo at may tunay na pagbabago, " the tandem concluded.

Cayetano says Binay is all talk, deceiving the public; challenges VP to open his & his dummies' bank accounts

"Tigilan na po ang panloloko sa tao. Tama na po ang palusot. Just show the people your bank accounts and submit yourself to public scrutiny.”

Vice presidential bet and Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano had this to say in response to Vice President Jejomar Binay’s challenge to his fellow candidates to allow the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to look into their bank records here and abroad.

Cayetano and his running mate, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, recently urged their fellow candidates, including Binay, to sign a manifesto that will waive their right to bank secrecy. The duo explained that the initiative is a “simple integrity check to prove who is walking the talk on the issue of corruption.” But so far, they are the only ones who signed the document.

Lawyer Rico Quicho, Binay's campaign spokesperson, said on Monday that there was no need for Binay to sign a bank secrecy waiver as the AMLC already scrutinized his records. He then called on other presidential and vice-presidential bets to also allow the council to examine their bank accounts, including those of their spouses, family members, friends and associates.

Cayetano, however, took a swipe at Quicho's statement, describing it as a "clear gimmick” plotted by the Binay camp to try to get away from calls for the vice president to make public his amassed wealth. He said instead of hiding behind flimsy excuses, Binay should just sign the waiver and let his alleged dummies sign it as well.

“Matagal na po naming hinahamon ang bise presidente na ilabas ang lahat ng kanyang records. But he never showed a concrete effort to open his wealth to the public. If he has no skeletons in his closet, then why does he continue to refuse facing public scrutiny,” Cayetano stressed.

“We don’t need AMLC’s prodding to promote transparency and accountability in this election. Simple lang naman po ito. If the other candidates, VP Binay included, have nothing to hide, they'll have no problem showing the public their bank accounts, domestic man o foreign,” Cayetano added.

Duterte and Cayetano signed the manifesto a few days after they pushed for the lifting of the bank secrecy law for public officials and the passage of an anti-dummy law.

Cayetano said officials like Vice President Jejomar Binay - who currently faces graft and corruption charges involving anomalous Makati projects - could easily dip their hands in the nation’s coffers since the legal system allows them to conceal their ill-gotten wealth through dummy accounts.

Cayetano: Go after corrupt officials laundering money through our banks (reiterates calls to sign the bank secrecy waiver for all candidates)

Vice presidential candidate and Senate Majority leader Alan Peter Cayetano today said that the government must go after corrupt officials laundering money through the banks.

In a Senate Blue Ribbon investigation to the $ 81 million money-laundering operation involving the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), Cayetano drew attention to Binay’s own “money-laundering scheme” using the same bank.

Cayetano, citing the report of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), where Gerardo Limlingan, an alleged dummy of Binay, had transactions with the RCBC amounting to P 3.1 billion. The senator said that Limlingan’s transactions alone is equivalent to $ 68.1 million or just $ 12.6 million short of the $ 81 million allegedly withdrawn from Bangladesh’s bank account in the United States.

The one page portion of the report Cayetano distributed to the media showed that Gerardo Limlingan, an alleged dummy of Vice President Binay, had 1 transaction of 2 Billion, and 2 transactions of 500 Million pesos through the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation.  The same bank in question in the ongoing Senate investigation on Money Laundering.

“This cannot be denied, the same bank was involved on both cases and unscrupulous government officials and their accomplices continue to hide behind the same banking law. If the world is horrified with the robbing of Bangladesh’s bank account by faceless hackers, deemed by many as one of the biggest heist in recent history, here in the Philippines, the alleged plunderers of the people’s money are holding the highest positions of the country and are even running for President” Cayetano said.

Cayetano also said that even the Napoles scam which allegedly plundered our country’s funds of Billions of pesos also used the banks, also using dummies such as her drivers and secretaries to open accounts with our banks and launder billions of pesos of the people’s money.

Cayetano renewed his challenge to Vice President Binay and all candidates and politicians to open their bank accounts and waive their rights to bank secrecy to finally put and end to corruption.

Cayetano together with his running mate, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte signed a waiver of bank secrecy and challenged all candidates to sign a manifesto doing the same.   To date, no other candidate has signed the manifesto.

"Our challenge is a simple integrity check that would enable all candidates to sufficiently demonstrate to the public their sincerity in promoting transparency and fighting corruption. We cannot entrust the next government in the hands of plunderers and those who turned a blind eye to the disorder caused by corruption," Cayetano concluded.

Truth Is to Be Experienced

Daily Devotional for Monday, March 14th, 2016

When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." Luke 5:4

When Christ teaches you something about Himself, He implements it into your life through experience. As the crowds gathered around, Jesus chose to board Peter’s boat and teach the people from there. All day long Peter sat in the boat listening to Jesus teach the multitudeslearned that with a command from Jesus, he could do anything. Thus, . At the close of His discourse, Jesus allowed Peter to experience the reality of what He had just been teaching the crowd. The crowd had heard the truth, but Peter was to experience it. Jesus put His teaching into language a fisherman could understand. He told Peter to put out his nets into the deep water. Peter hesitated, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing.” Peter had been fishing all night, had washed and repaired his nets in the morning, and then listened to Jesus teach. He was tired. He probably was not expecting a dramatic encounter with God at a time like that. Yet, as Peter obeyed Jesus, he pulled in such a miraculous catch of fish that his boat almost sank! Peter was filled with amazement and recognized that he had just experienced the power of God (Luke 5:4-11). Peter Jesus was able to reorder Peter’s priorities from catching fish to catching men (Luke 4:10). Peter’s obedience led to a dramatic new insight into the person of Jesus. This was an invitation to walk with Jesus in an even more intimate and powerful way. God does not want you to merely gain intellectual knowledge of truth. He wants you to experience His truth. There are things about Jesus you will learn only as you obey Him. Your obedience will then lead to greater revelation and opportunities for service.Henry and Richard Blackaby .

No Exceptions to Holiness

Daily Devotional for Tuesday, March 15th, 2016

And it came to pass on the way, at the encampment, that the LORD met him and sought to kill him. Exodus 4:24

Moses had just received one of the greatest commissions in history. He was to be God’s instrument to deliver the nation of Israel and to guide it to the Promised Land. He was to lead them to become a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Exod. 19:6). Yet Moses had not obeyed all of God’s commands himself, for he had never had his son circumcised. This was a long-standing command from God that Moses had ignored. God’s response was to prepare to kill Moses. Here was one of history’s greatest men about to be put to death before ever performing the task God had set before him. Moses could not expect to blatantly ignore a command of God and still be used mightily in His divine work. Had not Moses quickly responded in obedience, he would surely have lost his life.

Moses learned that God makes no exceptions for holiness. When God sets forth a requirement of His people, He most certainly demands it of the leaders. God wanted to make Moses’ life a highway of holiness through which He could bring redemption to millions of people. God had to make some significant adjustments in the life of Moses before He would use him to lead His people.

Are you trying to serve God and yet ignore something He has told you to do? Are you living your life as if God does not notice your disobedience? Do you apply God’s standards to yourself as rigorously as you apply them to others?     Henry and Richard Blackasy

Duterte-Cayetano: Corruption and disorder, bad for people’s health; women worst hit by lack of healthcare services

Saying that rampant corruption is eating away government resources meant for healthcare services, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Senate Majority leader Alan Peter Cayetano today vowed to implement an "orderly health care system" that accommodates all Filipinos.

At the duo's "Ronda-Serye" listening tour at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), indigent patients and their families voiced out concerns like the long lines they endure to get medical attention, high out of pocket expenditures, and the strain of relocating to Manila to get treatment from the government-run hospital.

"This is unacceptable! Kitang kita ang resulta ng gulo at korapsyon sa serbisyong pangkalusugan ng tao. Ang mahihirap, ‘di tinatanggap sa mga pribadong hospital dahil walang pambayad. Sa pampublikong opstial naman, sasalubungin sila ng kulang na pasilidad,” Cayetano said.

Women worst hit

Duterte and Cayetano also lamented the lack of adequate healthcare services for women. Cayetano said at the national level, 4 out of 10 women are not covered by Philhealth - either as members or as dependents, while 6 of 10 women in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are not yet members.

"It's ironic that we are celebrating women's day now, yet, women experience the worst of the inadequate health care programs due to government corruption," Cayetano said.

"Exhibits A and B"

To address these, the tandem said that Davao and Taguig are their Exhibits A and B. "In our cities, our principle is, the government comes to the people. In Davao, they have the Central 911. In Taguig, we offer door-to-door delivery of medicine," Cayetano said.

Cayetano said that they will bring this principle as they push for the full coverage of PhilHealth, as well as the full implementation of its “zero billing” services. They also plan to build more public tertiary hospitals abd regional specialty hospitals in the regions so people will not flock to Manila for treatment.

Anti-hospital deposit law

Cayetano also vowed to ensure the full implementation of Republic Act No. 8344, also known as the “Anti-Hospital Deposit Law,” which prohibits hospitals to demand advance payments before admitting patients in need of emergency treatment.

Moreover, the tandem wants to increase the budget of the PGH as its P2 billion budget for 2016 is lower by almost 60% compared to the previous year."With our bold and swift solutions, we will end corruption and disorder, and realize a compassionate and efficient healthcare system for all," he concluded.

Duterte-Cayetano to distribute coco levy fund to farmers in just one month

If it's up to the tandem of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, it will only take them one month to distribute the coco levy fund.

"All it takes is political will. The Supreme Court already decided to return the fund to the farmers. Thus, if elected, in just the first month of our term, Alan and I will immediately give the fund back to the coconut farmers. Failure to do so is tantamount to Estafa," Duterte said.

Asked to comment on the statements made by fellow presidential bet Senator Grace Poe and her running mate, Senator Francis Escudero, which allegedly protected businessman Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr. from any responsibility for settling the funds, Duterte said it is the senators' problem.

"It's their problem. As far as I'm concerned, Alan and I will only protect the interest and welfare of the coconut farmers. If other candidates prefer to protect the big and powerful, we, on the other hand, will protect the small and the weak," Duterte said.

Lacking in knowledge and courage

Meanwhile, Cayetano described Poe’s and Escudero's stand on the issue as lacking both in knowledge and courage. He said Poe’s position to absolve Cojuangco was grossly erroneous, noting how two 2015 executive orders for the supposed distribution of the funds were suspended due to a petition filed by the Philippine Coconut Producers Federation (COCOFED), Cojuangco’s alleged dummy organization.

"Ang kailangan sa issue na ito ay matapang na solusyon at mabilis na aksyon. Hindi pupwede dito ang protektor ng mayayaman o liderato na pateka-teka," Cayetano said.

Reverse privatization plans

The senator said he and Duterte will push for bold solutions such as reversing the administration’s privatization plan and refashioning the coconut levy assets to consolidate the benefits due to coconut farmers. Cayetano said that they will then convert these assets into stakeholders-shareholders-state equity partnership (SSSeP) to guarantee the farmers’ hold of the assets. Cayetano also planned to use the funds to create village level farm-based processing industries.

Cojuangco heads the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), which recently endorsed the tandem of Poe and Escudero. He is among those who allegedly used farmers' funds to buy businesses during the Marcos administration.

God's Ways Are Not Our Ways

Daily Devotional for Saturday, March 12th, 2016

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9

Rarely does God do something exactly as we think He will. Our problem is that we try to second-guess God, saying, “Oh, now I know what God is planning to do!” Moses experienced this as he learned how God was going to deliver the Hebrews out of Egypt. God told him He would harden Pharaoh’s heart. Yet, the result was not what Moses anticipated. Rather than allowing the Hebrews to leave, Pharaoh increased their hardship. Rather than becoming a hero among the Hebrews, Moses was despised by them for bringing greater suffering. Moses returned to the Lord and asked, “Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have sent me?” (Exod. 5:22). Much of the frustration we experience as Christians has nothing to do with what God does or doesn’t do. It has everything to do, rather, with the false assumptions we make about how we think God will and should act.

Have you ever done the will of God and then things seemed to become worse? Moses completely misunderstood what the results of His obedience to God would be. When things did not turn out as he anticipated, Moses became discouraged. God had told Moses what to do, but He had not told Moses what the consequences would be.

It is foolish to attempt to do God’s work using your own “common sense.”  God does not eliminate your common sense, He consecrates it. He gives you His wisdom so you can understand His ways.

As you look back on God’s activity in your life, you will recognize the supreme wisdom in how He has led you. As you look forward to what God may do, be careful you do not try to predict what He will do next. You may find yourself completely off the mark.      Henry and Richard Blacksby.

Duterte to Cayetano: " I won't abandon you"

"I am always with him. I won't abandon him."

This is what presidential bet Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said about vice presidential bet Senate majority leader Alan Peter Cayetano following the outcome of the latest survey results wherein his running mate is lagging behind.

Duterte noted that he and Cayetano would have to work even harder to boost the senator's survey ratings.

"We have to work harder, Alan has to work harder," Duterte told the media during their campaign sortie in Valenzuela City last Wednesday, March 9.

In the latest surveys, Cayetano trailed behind other vice presidential candidates, Francis "Chiz" Escudero, Bongbong Marcos, at Leni Robredo.

Duterte's ranking, meanwhile, improved the most in the February to March Laylo surveys.

In a public gathering also in the city, Duterte had nothing but good words for Cayetano, describing his running mate as "the most decent person to have entered politics."

The mayor further clarified that he remains a hundred percent supportive of Cayetano despite a controversial statement he made when he was campaigning in the Ilocos region. He said he was only invited there by a close supporter of the Marcos clan.

Duterte had earlier said that voters who will not vote for Cayetano as their vice president should forget about voting for him as well.

Duterte-Cayetano: Cycle of corruption hurts PH tourism sector

If the next leaders intend to create significant improvements in the country's tourism sector, they must first address the systemic corruption in government, Vice presidential bet Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said on Saturday (March 12).

As part of their “Ronda-Serye” listening tour, Cayetano visited Vigan, Ilocos Sur to conduct an informal dialogue with local tour guides, kalesa drivers, and market vendors in the city. He presented to them the bold solutions that he and his running mate, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, plan to implement to rid government of corruption, which he says hinders the growth of local economies.

Cayetano lamented that while billions worth of money are stolen from the nation's coffers every year, the Philippine tourism industry continues to lag behind its ASEAN counterparts. In 2014, the country only welcomed 4.8 million tourists, while Malaysia recorded 27.43 million tourist arrivals. The administration is also far from reaching its 10-million target for tourist arrivals by the end of Aquino's term, with only 5.3 million tourist arrivals recorded in 2015.

“Sobra na ang paghihirap sa bansa, nauunahan na tayo ng mga karatig bansa pagdating sa pag-unlad, pagtapos ay nanakawan pa ng mga korap na opisyal ang kaban ng bayan. Paano maaayos ang gulo,” Cayetano said.

"We all know that corruption prevents the inflow of investments and negatively affects economic growth. So if we want our tourism sector to boom, we first need to cleanse our system of dishonest officials who enrich themselves at the expense of our nation's progress," he added.

Cayetano said if elected, he and Duterte will resolve the problem by promoting transparency and accountability in government. Among these are the passage of several important measures such as the Freedom of Information (FOI) and Anti-dummy laws.

The senator also pushed for the creation of a Department of Culture and National Heritage, which will be responsible for the promotion and preservation of historical and heritage sites. The senator explained that the department will help spur region-specific tourism in different provinces and create employment and other livelihood opportunities.

"What we need is a clean and honest government that will end the disorder in the country, lure more investors, create more jobs, and generate more income for our people. With our political will and vision, Mayor Duterte and I will deliver," Cayetano ended.

Duterte-Cayetano to export Davao's and Taguig's best anti-corruption practices to other regions

“Davao and Taguig are our Exhibits A and B. What Mayor Duterte and I did there, we will do for the country.”

This is what vice presidential candidate and Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said to transport workers of Angeles, Pampanga on Saturday.

During the “Ronda-Serye” listening tour, the transport workers presented to Cayetano their concerns such as the lack of a terminal for tricycle drivers in the area. The senator said that transportation infrastructure is a major concern that he and Duterte will address, if elected in the May polls.

Cayetano said that they will ensure that all permits needed for infrastructure projects such as a terminal will be issued within six days. Otherwise, the officials involved in the processing will be held accountable for the delay. The senator also proposed a one-window processing and electronic transactions to expedite the processes.

"Inefficiency breeds corruption. Corruption results in disorder. Under our term, we will eliminate the red tape and other unnecessary bureaucracy and bottlenecks in the process of building important transportation infrastructure," Cayetano said.

The tandem said that in Davao, it only takes 57 days to secure construction permits, versus the 169-day waiting period in Metro Manila. Meanwhile, this year, Taguig scored 92.31 percent or a rating of “excellent” from the Civil Service Commission’s Anti-Red Tape Report Card.

“Mayor Duterte and I will make sure that there will be no corruption delaying the processes that aim to improve the quality of life of every Filipino,” said Cayetano.

“We offer the citizens political will and strength of character to deliver bold solutions and swift action to end the daily disorder in the lives of the people," Cayetano said.

Raising Our Expectations

Daily Devotional for Friday, March 11th, 2016

Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3

Too often we settle for much less than what God wants to do through us. We read in Jeremiah 32:27: “I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for Me?” and we answer, “No Lord.” Yet, when we face difficult situations we begin to qualify our belief in God and lower our expectations of what God will do. It is one thing to believe God could perform a miracle in the Bible, or a thousand years ago, or even in the life of a friend; it is quite another matter to wholeheartedly believe God can do anything He chooses to do in our lives!

When almighty God speaks to us, what we do next proves what we believe about Him, regardless of what we say. God revealed to Moses His plan to orchestrate the greatest exodus in human history, and He wanted to use Moses to accomplish it. Moses responded by arguing with God! Moses was overwhelmed by what he heard and began to make excuses for why he could not participate_in God’s activity. Moses would have readily acknowledged his belief in God’s power, he simply did not believe God could do His miraculous work through his life. Moses’ argument with God limited his ministry for the rest of his life (Exod. 4:13-16).

Do you sense there may be far more that God wants to do through your life than what you have been experiencing? Ask God to show you what it is, then be prepared to respond in faith and obedience to what He tells you Henry and Richard Blackaby .

Testing Reveals Your Heart

Daily Devotional for Thursday, March 10th, 2016

"And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD." Deuteronomy 8:2-3

God allows us to suffer difficulties and hardships for a purpose. God led the children of Israel to wander through the wilderness for forty years in order to humble them and test them. When they refused to obey Him and enter the Promised Land, the Israelites revealed that they did not really know Him. If they had, they would have had more faith. God spent the next forty years testing the hearts of His people to see if they were prepared for His next assignment. Testing reveals what is in your heart and produces a robust faith (James 1:3, 12). God allowed His people to hunger so they could experience His provision and develop a deeper level of trust in Him. As the people walked with God they came to understand that their lives depended upon His Word. They learned that God’s Word was the most important thing they had. After depending on God for forty years while living in the desert, the people listened when God spoke, and they believed. When they finally entered the Promised Land and waged war against their enemies, the Israelites knew that God’s word meant life and death. They were prepared to listen to Him, and as a result He led them to an astounding victory. Is God presently testing you in some area of your life? What has His testing revealed? Have you become bitter toward God because of where He has led you? Or have you come to trust Him more as a result of what you have gone through?  Henery and Richard Blackaby .

Reverence

Daily Devotional for Wednesday, March 9th, 2016

Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh. Hebrews 10:19-20

Our generation lacks a sense of wonder and reverence toward God. We want to bring God down to our level, to the commonplace. He is God! Though we have direct access to Him as His children, we ought never to forget that this access was purchased with the precious blood of His only Son. No one who truly understands this ever enters God’s presence without a sense of holy awe. No one who comprehends the incredible price paid at Calvary ever takes his relationship with God for granted.

We will never truly understand God and the way He relates to us unless we first comprehend a true sense of His holiness and His demand for holiness among His people. If we are in God’s presence, we are on holy ground! We must never act as if it were God’s purpose to make us successful. It would be preposterous for us to become impatient when God does not answer our prayers when and how we think He should! He is God, we are not!

As you meditate on the price Jesus paid to give you access to the Father, you will come to treasure your prayer times with Him. Worship will become a privilege you seize with gratitude. Scripture will be dear to you as you strive to be holy in all that you do (2 Cor. 7:1; 1 Pet. 1:15).

If you have lost your wonder at the incredible gift of salvation that has been given to you, you need to revisit the cross and witness your Savior suffering for you. How priceless God’s gift of salvation is!   Henry and Richard Blackaby

Duterte-Cayetano: Bare all bank accounts of public officials, never again to Marcos, Binay corruption

Thursday (March 10) - To prevent corrupt officials from amassing billions worth of stolen wealth from the public, the tandem of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo "Rody" Duterte and Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano strongly pushed for the lifting of the bank secrecy law for public officials.

“Dahil sa kakulangan ng matapang na solusyon at mabilis na aksyon, naging talamak ang korapsyon at gulo sa matataas na opisina ng gobyerno. Sa Pilipinas, ‘pag nagnakaw ng kaunti, nakukulong, ‘pag nagnakaw ng marami, nagiging senador o bise presidente,” the senator noted.

He added that the country’s bank secrecy law, which is among the strictest in the world, has become a major stumbling block on resolving many corruption and money laundering cases in the public sector.

“Public officials like the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos and Vice President Jejomar Binay can easily dip their hands on the nation's coffers because somehow, our legal system allowed them to conceal their true wealth through dummy accounts. Bolder solutions are needed to end this disorder,” Cayetano stressed.

Meanwhile, Duterte said yesterday that Binay has no business talking about corruption. "Who can solve corruption? Binay? All I can say is that I noticed that Binay has large arms counting money," the tough-talking mayor said.

The senator said if elected, he and Duterte will push for a measure allowing the full disclosure of bank accounts of officials accused of graft and corruption. They will also pass an anti-dummy law that will prevent public officials from hiding their true assets in dummy bank accounts.

“By promoting transparency and accountability among our public servants, we can be sure that there would be no more Binay-like or Marcos-like plunder of the people's money,” Cayetano said.

“Kapag walang korapsyon sa gobyerno, mas maraming matatanggap na serbisyo ang mga tao, matitigil ang gulo at tiyak na may tunay na pagbabago. Ito po ang inaalok namin ni Mayor Duterte sa ilalim ng aming gobyerno,” Cayetano concluded.

Now Is the Acceptable Time

Daily Devotional for Wednesday, March 2nd, 2016

"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn." Isaiah 61:1-2


God’s timing is perfect! When He speaks, the time to respond in obedience is now. We often act as if we have all the time in the world to obey Him, but history doesn’t wait on our commitments. There is no such thing as postponing a decision with God. Either we obey, or we disobey. It is either faith or unbelief, obedience or disobedience.

When God announces that now is the acceptable time, what you do next is critical. How often people have been unprepared when a word came to them from the LORD. God said, “Now is the time for you to respond to Me” and their response was, “But I’m not ready. I have some things I need to do first. I’m too busy!” (Matt. 8:21). God’s timing is always perfect. He knows you, and He is fully aware of your circumstances. He knows all that He has built into your life until now, and He extends His invitation knowing that His resources are more than adequate for any assignment He gives you.

That is why Scripture tells us God is concerned with our heart. If we do not keep our heart in love with Jesus, our disobedience when God speaks could affect the lives of others. When God speaks it is always out of the context of eternity. We don’t have to know all the implications of what He is asking. We just have to know that it is a word from almighty God. “Now” is always the acceptable time to respond to the Lord!Henry and Richard Blackaby.

Duterte-Cayetano to business groups: We have political will to end disorder and build a strong economy

In a forum organized on Tuesday by the Joint-Foreign Chambers of the Philippines, Vice Presidential candidate and Senate Majority leader Alan Peter Cayetano said that "political will" is what is ultimately needed to end the country's disorder and build a "strong and corrupt-free economy" that can respond to the people's daily problems.

To do this, Cayetano said that he and Duterte will push for 4 things: 1) peace and order 2) good governance 3) predictable public policy and 4) infrastructure.

"If there is peace and order, there is good governance. The government can effectively address the people's pressing concerns such as high prices and low wages," Cayetano explained.

The senator said that he and Duterte will broaden the scope of his Presyo, Trabaho, Kita (PTK) program, which gives citizens ample opportunities to address problems on high prices of goods, lack of jobs, and low income. The senator's PTK has so far provided access to capital to over 189 local associations.

Duterte and Cayetano also said that a predictable public policy as well as heavy investment on infrastructure will attract more investors who are wary of the country's disorderly and corruption-tainted business policies and processes. They said Davao and Taguig are their "Exhibits A and B." Cayetano said that in Davao, the processing of permits is done in just 3 days. Meanwhile, Taguig topped the Civil Service Commission's (CSC) anti-red tape test.

“Building a strong and corrupt-free economy can't be done by candidates who’ll bring us back to the days of corruption, or who represent a government that failed to deliver on its promises," Cayetano said.

"People need leaders with a clear vision, political will and strength of character to provide bold solutions to the people's daily woes like high prices and low wages. This is what Mayor Duterte and I offer in this election," he concluded.

Knowing God

Daily Devotional for Saturday, March 5th, 2016

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3

Knowing God through experience is radically different than knowing about God from a theology textbook. According to the Bible, you cannot say you know God unless you have experienced Him (Phil. 3:8, 10). Biblical knowledge always involves experience. You may become discouraged because the truths you read about in the Bible are much richer than the reality of your own experience.

If you sense there are biblical truths that you are not experiencing, keep If you have not experienced God’s power at work in and through your life, do not settle for a secondhand knowledge of God’s power, rejoicing in what He has done in others. Jesus’ prayer was that you would come to know God and His presence in your life and experience. Don’t discount the power of God as described in Scripture simply because you have not experienced it. Bring your experience up to the standard of Scripture, never reduce Scripture to the level of your experience. Don’t settle for a head knowledge of God’s love. Jesus prayed that you would experience the depth and width and height of His love and that you would enjoy God’s full and unending love in the day-to-day experiences of your life.that truth before you and ask God to bring it into your everyday experience. Ask God if there are any adjustments you need to make in order to receive His promise. Don’t give up on the promises of God, stay with them until you are fully experiencing them. Henry and Richard Blackaby

Cayetano pays last respect to Ouano

Vice presidential candidate and Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano took some time off from his national campaign to pay his last respect to the late Provincial Board (PB) Member and ex-Mandaue City mayor Thadeo “Teddy” Zambo Ouano.

Cayetano was in Cebu on Saturday to attend Ouano's burial mass at the National Shrine of St. Joseph in Mandaue City.

In a eugoly which he delivered before families and friends of the late official, Cayetano recalled how Ouano had dedicated his life in the service of his fellow Cebuanos.

"Thank you (and) we love you for everything that you have done for us. This is a sad day for the country," Cayetano said.

The senator expressed hope that future leaders of the country would be able to replicate what the board member was able to do to address the disorder in the daily lives of Cebuanos.

Ouano, who was 69, passed away last month after suffering from prostate cancer. Cayetano had worked with him in several projects in Cebu back in 2012.

Through their partnership, a barangay health center was constructed in barangay Opao and a rural health center was completed in the town of Tabogon

Meditate on These Things

Daily Devotional for Friday, March 4th, 2016

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy�meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8

What you think about in your unguarded moments reflects what your mind dwells upon. What you speak about when your guard is down is a good gauge of what is in your heart (Matt. 12:34). Your mind needs exercise just as your physical body does. To keep your body healthy, you must be careful what you put into it, and you must exercise regularly. To keep your thoughts pure, you must guard what goes into your mind. To exercise your mind, you must contemplate things that are noble and truths that stretch your mind. Some Christians allow the world to fill their minds with ungodly thinking. Some people seem drawn to concentrate on the negative, choosing to be pessimistic about everything. Some remain satisfied with thinking of the mundane. Others fail to intentionally place Scripture in their thoughts, choosing instead to adopt human reasoning. Others, however, choose to expose their minds to the truths of Godâ€"to that which is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and good. The things you allow your mind to dwell on will be revealed by the way you live. If you focus on negative things, you will inevitably be a negative person. If you allow unholy thoughts to fill your mind, ungodliness will become common in your life. If you fill your mind with thoughts of Christ, you will become Christlike. What you fill your mind with is a matter of choice. Choose to concentrate on the magnificent truths of God, and they will create in you a noble character that brings glory to God.Henry and Richard Blackaby

Duterte-Cayetano excites Vigan,
Vows to end disorder by addressing high prices and low wages

The tandem of presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte and his running mate, Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, today went to Vigan City, Ilocos Sur as part of their"Ronda Serye" listening tour.

The duo talked to ordinary citizens, particularly food vendors in Plaza Burgos, Vigan. The vendors cited high prices and the lack of meaningful livelihood programs as some of the issues that add to the disorder and misery in their daily lives.

As a response, Duterte and Cayetano pushed for the creation of a Department of Culture and National Heritage, which will be responsible for the promotion and preservation of historical and heritage sites. The tandem explained that the department will help spur region-specific tourism in different provinces and create employment and other livelihood opportunities for ordinary people.

"This is in line with our call for federalism. Through this, we will hit two birds with one stone. We will promote our tourism industry in the regions and end the country's disorder by addressing the livelihood needs of the people," Cayetano said.

Cayetano explained that food vendors can double as tourist/history guides. He said that this will add to their daily earnings and improve their purchasing power amid the fluctuating prices of goods and services.

The senator also cited his Presyo, Trabaho, Kita (PTK) program as another measure, which can give citizens ample opportunities to address problems on high prices of goods, lack of jobs, and low income. In Ilocos, 2,155 people from different sectors have benefitted from Cayetano's PTK program by providing easy access to capital with a flexible system of loan payment.

"People need leaders with a clear vision, political will and strength of character to provide bold solutions to the people's daily woes like high prices and low wages. This is what Mayor Duterte and I offer in this election," he concluded.

kung mahurot na ang medal, magpaggama na pud ta ug laing klase nga medal para ni bai Hubagz.

Quezon City fiscal dismissed from the service, faces bribery charges
23 February 2016

The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal from the service of Quezon City Assistant City Prosecutor Edgar Navales after he was found guilty of Grave Misconduct for accepting bribe money from a complainant.  He was also meted the accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification from holding public office, barred from taking the civil service examination with cancellation of eligibility.  In case of separation from the service, the penalty is convertible to a fine equivalent to respondent’s salary for one year.

The Ombudsman also ordered the filing of an Information for Direct Bribery against Navales before the Sandiganbayan.

Complainant Reynaldo De Leon narrated that in July 2014, he filed a carnapping case that was raffled to Navales’ office.  In September 2014, Navales sent De Leon a text message requesting a meeting because respondent “had information that someone was trying to fix the carnapping case.”   

The two met in a restaurant along Visayas Avenue where De Leon was informed that “he will have to produce [P100,000.00] and give money for the case to prosper.”  In October 2014, Navales sent another text message to De Leon to buy two booklets of church raffle tickets worth P2,000 per booklet.  A total of P103,000.00 was accepted and received by Navales.

According to Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, “it is clear that respondent asked complainant to pay and accepted money in connection with a case pending before him.”

Ombudsman Morales added that “the deposit of these amounts is corroborated by printouts of text messages between complainant and respondent wherein the latter confirmed receipt of the cash deposited.”

Former PhilPost execs charged with graft
24 February 2016

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales affirmed the filing of graft charges before the Sandiganbayan against former Philippine Postal Corporation (PPC) officials, namely: Postmaster General Hector Ronald Villanueva, Chief Executive Staff Juliana Dimalanta, and former Assistant Executive Secretary Antonio Corrado for violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act).  In addition, Corrado faces three counts of violation of Section 7(b) (2) of Republic Act No. 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees) in connection with his illegal appointment as PPC legal/management consultant.

The Ombudsman also affirmed the administrative liability of PPC officials, Gloria Miranda, Marietta Bertillo, Veneracion Tuason, Eden Gallevo, Evelyn Bañares and Olivia Panganiban for Simple Neglect of Duty and were ordered suspended without pay for three months.

The Joint Order narrated that from June 2007 to 2010, Corrado simultaneously held the positions of legal/management consultant to the Office of the Postmaster General and Assistant Executive Secretary in the Office of the President, and received from the PPC allowances, reimbursement for hotel/restaurant expenses and salaries in the total amount of P1,050,000.00.

In affirming the charges for the illegal appointment, the Joint Order emphasized that no office order authorizing Corrado’s detail at the PPC was issued by the Office of the President.   Under Section 13 Article VII of the 1987 Constitution, “the President, Vice-President, the Members of the Cabinet, and their deputies or assistants shall not, unless otherwise provided in this Constitution, hold any other office or employment during their tenure,” noting that the “disqualification is absolute.”

In addition, the Administrative Code of 1987 provides that “no elective or appointive public officer or employee shall receive additional or double compensation unless authorized by law.” 

The Joint Order also cited that the engagement of Corrado’s services did not comply with the requirements under Republic Act No. 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act).

Comfort from the Shepherd

Daily Devotional for Saturday, February 27th, 2016

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalms 23:4

As a child of God you are never alone! Your Shepherd is with you at all times. You never have to call Him in to your situation. You never have to wonder where He is. You never have to fear that if things become too difficult, He will abandon you. He goes before you; He walks beside you; He comes behind you. He protects you securely. Just as He sees every sparrow and knows every hair that is on your head, so His gaze is constantly upon you (Luke 12:6-7).

Even when you cannot see Him, He always keeps His eyes upon you. He comforts you with His strong presence in times of sorrow and grief. He leads you through the valley of the shadow of death. He does not necessarily lead you around the valley as you might wish. There are times when your Shepherd knows that the only way to get you where He wants to take you is to lead you down the path that passes through the dark valley. Yet, at those times He walks closely with you, reassuring you throughout the journey that He still loves you and is with you.

It is during those times that you experience His love never need to fear evil. As intimidating as evil can be, there is nothing you and compassion in a deeper dimension than you ever have before. You will ever face that intimidates your Shepherd. He has seen it all and soundly defeated every form of wickedness. Evil never catches Him by surprise. Your Shepherd is always prepared and knows exactly when and where you will experience difficulty.

Place your absolute trust in your Good Shepherd that He will protect you and demonstrate His love for you through the darkest valley. Heny and Richard Blackaby .

Former PhilPost execs charged with graft
24 February 2016

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales affirmed the filing of graft charges before the Sandiganbayan against former Philippine Postal Corporation (PPC) officials, namely: Postmaster General Hector Ronald Villanueva, Chief Executive Staff Juliana Dimalanta, and former Assistant Executive Secretary Antonio Corrado for violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act).  In addition, Corrado faces three counts of violation of Section 7(b) (2) of Republic Act No. 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees) in connection with his illegal appointment as PPC legal/management consultant.

The Ombudsman also affirmed the administrative liability of PPC officials, Gloria Miranda, Marietta Bertillo, Veneracion Tuason, Eden Gallevo, Evelyn Bañares and Olivia Panganiban for Simple Neglect of Duty and were ordered suspended without pay for three months.

The Joint Order narrated that from June 2007 to 2010, Corrado simultaneously held the positions of legal/management consultant to the Office of the Postmaster General and Assistant Executive Secretary in the Office of the President, and received from the PPC allowances, reimbursement for hotel/restaurant expenses and salaries in the total amount of P1,050,000.00.

In affirming the charges for the illegal appointment, the Joint Order emphasized that no office order authorizing Corrado’s detail at the PPC was issued by the Office of the President.   Under Section 13 Article VII of the 1987 Constitution, “the President, Vice-President, the Members of the Cabinet, and their deputies or assistants shall not, unless otherwise provided in this Constitution, hold any other office or employment during their tenure,” noting that the “disqualification is absolute.”

In addition, the Administrative Code of 1987 provides that “no elective or appointive public officer or employee shall receive additional or double compensation unless authorized by law.” 

The Joint Order also cited that the engagement of Corrado’s services did not comply with the requirements under Republic Act No. 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act).

Sandiganbayan suspends Congressman for US junket

The Sandiganbayan has ordered the 60-day suspension pendente lite of South Cotabato 1st district representative Pedro Acharon, Jr., in connection with his ongoing trial for graft before the Court’s 2nd division.

In a Resolution approved on 28 January 2016, the Sandiganbayan granted Ombudsman prosecutors’ motion for the preventive suspension of Acharon Jr. and said that “the authority of this Court to order the preventive suspension of an incumbent public official has both legal and jurisprudential support.”

Brushing aside Acharon’s opposition, the Court ruled that “[there] is no merit [too] in the argument of the accused that as Congressman of the First District of South Cotabato, he no longer approves or implements disbursement of public funds, as he used to do as former City Mayor of General Santos City in which capacity he was charged in this case, or that his constituents would be deprived of representation if he were to be suspended.”

“For as long as the accused occupies a public office, he can be suspended pendente lite” as “suspension follows the accused in whatever other government position which he/she may be holding at the time of suspension,” stated the Resolution.

It will be recalled that Acharon and four other local officials from General Santos City were charged with violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for the anomalous utilization of P2.5 million worth of funds spent during the June 2006 Tambayayong Festival in California, USA.

Acharon was arraigned in March 2014.

The Sandiganbayan directed the Speaker of the House of Representative to implement the suspension order.

Ex-barangay chairman jailed for solicitation

The former barangay chairman of Manila was sentenced to imprisonment after he was found guilty of seven counts of violation of Section 3(b) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019).  Judge Marivic Balsi-Umali of the Regional Trial Court (Branch 20) of Manila sent Chairman Albert Austria to prison for six years and one month as minimum, to 10 years and one month as maximum for each count.

Ombudsman prosecutors presented an eyewitness who testified that Austria received a total of P146,000.00 from the owner of ALJON Trading in exchange for barangay projects from 2009 to 2010.  Documents were also presented showing Austria’s signatures on various vouchers acknowledging receipt of the money.

Section 3(b) of R.A. No. 3019 penalizes a public officer who requested or received a gift, a present, a percentage or a benefit on his behalf or any other person, in connection with a contract or transaction with the government in which he in his official capacity under the law, has the right to intervene.

Address
of
His Excellency Ferdinand E. Marcos
President of the Philippines
On Araw ng Kagitingan

[Delivered on May 6, 1984]

Our commemoration today of three historic events of the last war has become, after the passing of the years, less a commemoration of victory or defeat in battle, but an affirmation of the triumph of the human spirit over the agonies of war.

Bataan, Corregidor, Bessang Passâ€"we celebrate these three as one because they have come to symbolize for us this transcendent spirit which draws no distinction between friend and foe of yesteryears. Here everyone comes as a friend among us, in honor and homage to all our countrymen who fell in battle.

All of us must always regret that our countries ever had to face each other on these battlefields we now recall, and that so much of our manhood had to be sacrificed in so costly and futile a conflict.

Nothing can fully redeem the sorrows of that tragic time, for either your countries or mine. Our grief endures, and the mourning will go on.

But however colossal the tragedy, there is great meaning nonetheless in the fact that from the ashes of destruction, have risen the nations we are today. And that these nations can gather here in a reunion for peace and bury the rancor and enmities of the past.

It is this above all perhaps that tells us Bataan, Corregidor and Bessang Pass are not fated to become mere pages of history, but rather indelible lessons for men and nations to learn from.

It is this that withdraws from the finality of death something infinitely precious and priceless in the heroism of men in war.

We shall not presume to say what the war has meant for our brother nations represented here, although we have an idea of it from our years of working together. For our country and our people, the lessons of the war have always lain very close to what we cherish and treasure as a nation.

It never fails, first, to remind us that freedom is not cheap and can only be preserved by the strong in spirit. Whatever costs therefore our people had to bear â€" in the loss of a million lives and in the ruins of our cities and towns â€" we willingly paid the price, and will again, if god forbid, such an exacting trial will descend on us once more.

But if the war has indubitably taught us this lesson, it has also impressed on us that conflict is not necessarily the portion of men and nations, that with patient and dedicated effort we can see our way out of conflict towards recognition and celebration of our common humanity. Nowhere is this so well exemplified than in the example of cooperation that has marked our relations with one another during the post-war era.

To remember these themes is not to do so in self-congratulation over our good fortune, but to strengthen ourselves for the vigil which we must keep over the challenges of the present.

We should imagine indeed that the incalculable cost of the last Global War should already have taught mankind an unforgettable lesson on the insanity and futility of war. Yet conflicts among nations continue to fester and smolder in the world around us.

We should imagine that there would now be a much greater respect for the rights of self-determination and independence of sovereign peoples and nations. Yet in so many parts of the world, freedom today has to be defended in exactly the same way that we defended ours forty two years ago.

We should imagine that the arsenals of war would by now be coming down, replaced by the tools of building and creation. Yet we witness from year to year more and more resources committed to the manufacture and purchase of weapons of destruction.

We should imagine that men and nations, after the war would be more concerned today with assisting and cooperating with one another. Yet we see instead so many trying to deny each other the resources and the means to progress.

In sum the world continues to hang suspended amidst the dangerous divisions from which war has always sprung. The divisions between the powerful and the weak, the rich and the poor, the developed and the less developed.

And we all languish before the sight of so much opportunity and resource to realize mankind’s greatest moments on earth, being turned instead towards the perpetuation of crisis.

In knowing therefore at what price we have defended and preserved our freedom, and what progress we have made towards cooperation, our nations have been assiduous pupils of tragedies of war. But we can hardly be oblivious to the perils of a world that still has to find a sense of common security and tranquility. Nor can we be insensitive to perhaps the greatest challenge of all: that of closing the great chasm between rich and poor nations which constitutes the principal realm of danger in our time.

The example of human fortitude and heroism provided by the battles of Bataan, Corregidor and Bessang Pass shows us that formidable challenges are not met save by the greatest exertions of will and effort.

And we remember these chapters of the war best by recognizing that there are many battles still to be fought, before peace is truly won and progress becomes the birthright of all humanity.

Duterte-Cayetano goes to Cebu, bats for economic zones, living wage and regular jobs to end workers' woes

Thursday (Feb. 25) - Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said ordinary Filipino workers, especially those living outside Metro Manila, can expect better working conditions under their leadership.

They made this assurance before factory workers of the Mactan Export Processing Zone Authority (MEPZA) in their “Ronda-Serye” listening tour in Lapu-Lapu, Cebu, where they also explained their goal of promoting inclusive growth through regional development and federalism.

The duo cited workers’ concern over the lack of better employment opportunities for the poor. They then vowed to end the disorder in people's lives by providing ordinary workers a living wage so they'll have enough income for their basic needs.

To promote Cebu's local economy, Cayetano said they also plan to allot more funds for micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) development, and to create more tourism growth centers in the province. This is apart from transferring some agencies to other regions, like the Department of Tourism and the Department of Fisheries to the province of Cebu.

"Cebu is an example of how regions can move. Through our call for federalism and regional growth, we aim to give more authority to the province to allow it to chart its own destiny and to change Cebuanos' lives," Cayetano stressed.

Duterte, for his part, said that if elected, he will put up economic zones in each region to create more jobs in the countryside. Though economic zones are already present in some parts of the country, he said not all ventures were beneficial to the workers, as some companies often violate the Labor Code by resorting to ‘labor only contracting.'

"Establishing economic zones and attracting investors are part of our platform. But unlike in the past, we will not allow big institutions to deprive our workers of their right to more secure working conditions," Cayetano said.

The duo said they will ensure regular jobs for Filipinos by phasing out contractualization, which robs workers of additional benefits and prevents them from developing their skill set.

"Bolder solutions and swifter actions are needed to create real change. Magagawa lang ito ng mga lider na may tapang at tibay ng loob para tapusin ang gulo sa buhay ng tao at isulong ang tunay na pagbabago. Ito ang dadalhin namin ni Mayor Duterte sa eleksyong ito,” Cayetano ended.

Pasay’s poor sees hope in Duterte-Cayetano to end disorder brought by crime and drugs

Tagged by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) as one of the cities in Manila with a 100-percent drug affectation rate, Pasay was the latest area to be visited by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Senate Majority leader Alan Peter Cayetano, who are running under a strong anti-crime and anti-illegal drugs platform.

The tandem listened to the stories and concerns of city's residents on Wednesday as part of their “Ronda-Serye” listening tour held at Brgy. 188, Pasay City.

"Nakakalungkot at nakakabahala ang mga kwento nila. Sobra na ang hirap at gulo sa buhay nila. Si aling Cynthia, 59 yrs old, naikwento niya na ang anak niya at asawa nito ay mga drug addicts mula bata. Hindi nakapagtapos, may 7 anak, natanggal sa trabaho dahil sa bisyo. Minsan, part-time drug courier pa para makalibre ng shabu. Ang mga anak napabayaan. Walang makain. Walang pambayad sa renta ng bahay," Cayetano said.

Several other women shared how the drug problem in their area has destroyed their families. But while they continue to suffer, they said they find hope in the tandem's bold and swift solutions to fight crime and illegal drugs.

Duterte and Cayetano vowed to wage a 24/7 war against crime and illegal drugs by mobilizing the “best and brightest” of the military and police. Part of this is improving law enforcers' salaries and imposing harsh punishment for “rotten cops" and abusive soldiers.

In the first presidential debate held at Cagayan De Oro, Duterte set a 3- to 6-month time period as a "restriction" for him to ensure that people will immediately feel the effects of his campaign against crime and drugs. "This is an imposed restriction from me, hindi ako nagpapabilib sa inyo," Duterte said.

"Bank of the poor"

The duo also said they will establish a “bank of the poor” to provide people with access to capital and alternative livelihood to prevent them from engaging in criminal acts for a living. “Ang pinapautang dapat ng gobyerno ay mahihirap, hindi lang mayayaman,” Cayetano said.

"Magagawa lang ang mga ito kung may lider na may matapang na solusyon, mabilis na aksyon, at tapang at tibay ng loob para tapusin ang gulo at hirap ng tao. Ito ang dala namin ni Mayor Duterte sa eleksyong ito,” Cayetano concluded.

Cayetano sits down with balut vendors, vows to punish 5-6 loan sharks, pushes for "bank of the poor"

Fresh from attending the first presidential debate in Cagayan de Oro, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo "Rody" Duterte’s running mate, Senate Majority leader Alan Peter Cayetano, wasted no time as he pressed on with their tandem’s listening tour, this time visiting Pateros, known for its balut industry.

The senator lamented the industry's dismal situation, which he said was caused by government neglect and incompetence. "Like what Mayor Duterte said in the debate, there's so much disorder and suffering because there's so much government incompetence and corruption," Cayetano said.

Cayetano compared the balut industry to the struggling shoe industry in Marikina.

"Kagaya ng malungkot na kwento ng shoe industry sa Marikina, dahil sa kapabayaan ng gobyerno, unti-unti na ring namamatay ang balut industry ng Pateros. Talagang hindi matapos-tapos ang gulo at hirap sa buhay ng tao," Cayetano said.

Cayetano said most of the vendors could not get loans from public banks like Landbank, which he said functions more like a commercial bank. This makes it hard for them to sustain their small businesses without resorting to the “5-6” lending scheme that only puts them deeper in debt.

Cayetano said, if elected, he and Mayor Duterte will punish all 5-6 loan sharks and provide sufficient capital for balut vendors to sustain their trade. 

"We will mobilize the national budget and establish a bank that will provide loans and other services to small entrepreneurs, similar to Thailand’s SME Bank. Ang pinapautang dapat ng gobyerno ay ang mahihirap, hindi puro mayayaman," Cayetano said.

"But this is only possible if our leaders have the courage and strength of character to do what is necessary. This is what I and Mayor Duterte are bringing in this election," Cayetano concluded.

Cayetano pushes for living wage, says it's good for public health

"Kaya hindi matapos-tapos ang gulo at hirap ng tao. Wala na ngang libreng serbisyong pangkalusugan, wala pang living wage para tustusan ang mahal na presyo ng pagpapagamot sa bansa."

Two days following the first-ever presidential debate, Vice presidential bet Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano had this to say as he took a swipe at the administration's failure to provide workers with a living wage, which in turn deprived them of better healthcare services.

"The lack of a living wage are killing Filipino workers,” Cayetano stressed, citing the tragic death of construction helper Roger Benigno, who reportedly underwent an appendectomy at a hospital in Isabela but committed suicide after seeing his costly hospital bill.

The senator said he could not help but to agree with what his running mate, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, said during the debate on Sunday. "Paano nga naman natin masasabing may tuwid na daan kung puro gulo at hirap ang nararanasan ng tao," he said.

Cayetano said it's time for bold solutions and swift actions to create real changes in the country. And based on the outcome of the debate, he said it is clear that only Duterte can offer this kind of change.

Cayetano said that if elected, he and Duterte will provide workers with a living wage. Citing data from the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC), he said estimated family living wage in Manila is P27, 510 per month or P917 daily. But Metro Manila’s daily minimum wage is only P9,620 monthly.

"I will not allow our workers to commit suicide because they can't pay their hospital bills. If elected, we will provide workers with a living wage so that they can have more opportunities for better health and healthcare services," Cayetano said.

"Real changes call for leaders who have the courage and strength of character to do what is necessary. This is what I and Mayor Duterte are bringing in this election," he ended.

Duterte-Cayetano “Ronda-Serye” tour reaches Pampanga, Pledges to establish “bank for the poor", living wage for ordinary workers

Tuesday (Feb. 23) - The Duterte-Cayetano “Ronda-Serye” listening tour has extended its reach to Central Luzon today, with vice presidential bet and Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano conducting a dialogue with ordinary workers in Pampanga to spread his message of real change.

The senator went around Barangay Dolores in San Fernando City and met with local lantern-makers and handicraft workers, who shared with him their daily concerns. Cayetano, the running mate of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, also presented to them his bold solutions to restore order in their lives.

Among the problems which cropped up during the dialogue was the lack of access to capital to help sustain the workers’ livelihood. “The lack of support being given to small businesses in the country forces our people to borrow money from loan sharks, which only puts them deeper in debt,” Cayetano noted.

The senator said that, if elected, he and Duterte will implement stronger measures that will provide better opportunities for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Among these is the establishment of a public bank that will grant loans and other services to MSMEs, like Thailand’s SME Bank. “Ang pinapautang dapat ng gobyerno ay ang mga mahihirap, hindi lang ang mga mayayaman,” he said.

Cayetano also pledged to provide ordinary workers with a living wage. Citing data from the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC), he lamented that while Metro Manila’s daily minimum wage is only P9,620 monthly, the region’s estimated family living wage is P27, 510 per month.

“Saan sila kukuha ng dagdag na panggastos para sa mga kailangan nila? Napakalinaw na sobra na ang gulo at pahirap sa buhay ng mga tao. This is why they long for real change. We cannot achieve this without effecting bold solutions and swift action,” Cayetano said.

“Ang makakagawa lang ng ganitong uri ng pagbabago ay ang mga lider na may tapang at tibay ng loob para tapusin ang gulo. This is what I and Mayor Duterte will bring,” Cayetano ended.