The Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD) warned that the administrative order (AO) issued by the DoH March 24, which is supposedly aimed at eradicating the thriving black market of kidney trade would only pave the way for the virtual legalization of organ trade under the pretext of “management and regulation”. BY AUBREY MAKILAN Bulatlat Vol.…
More Harassment, Trumped-Up Charges Against Student Leaders
Student leaders from the University of Northern Philippines (UNP) have been met with trumped-up charges by the university administration. Ma. Criselda Diocena, Editor-in-Chief of the closed student publication, The Tandem and Student Regent and Student Council (SC) President Warren Rafal were charged with robbery after they opened the Tandem office and took out official receipts…
International Experts Foresee Collapse of U.S. Economy
“The end of the third quarter of 2008 (thus late September, a mere seven months from now) will be marked by a new tipping point in the unfolding of the global systemic crisis. In the United States, this new tipping point will translate into – get this – a collapse of the real economy, (the)…
Sana’y Magretiro Na si Manny Pacquiao
Para sa mga tunay na traydor at kaaway, kailangan ang eskapismo para mabigyan ng maling konsepto ng pagkakaisa ang mamamayan at mapanatili sila sa kapangyarihan. At dahil nagagamit si Pacquiao at ang kanyang mga laban ay nagiging instrumento ng pambansang pagkalimot, napapanahon na, para sa akin, ang permanenteng niyang pag-alis sa boxing ring. NI DANILO…
Food Riots, Anarchy Feared Amid Rice Crisis
BY KARL G. OMBION Bulatlat SPECIAL REPORT Vol. VIII, No. 8, March 30-April 5, 2008 Amid recent reports of another impending rice crisis, a local university-based agricultural economist said he is not surprised by the reports because “there has been a prolonged and continuous decline in Philippine agricultural productivity since the early 1970s.” Dr. Romeo…
Search Team for Two Missing Youths Denied Access to ‘Sacred Place,’ Padlocked Camps
On the second day of the five-day search for two missing youths Romulo Robiños and Ryan Supan in military camps, soldiers denied the families and rights groups entry to what the military calls a “sacred place,” a forested area beside the office of the Commanding General in Fort Magsaysay, headquarters of the 7th Infantry Division…
Alleged Killer of HR Worker Eludes Justice Due to Political Connections
For 15 years, the alleged killer of human rights worker Cris Batan has evaded arrest. But it is not because he is nowhere to be found. In fact, the accused killer Mathew B. Fanao is Barangay (village) captain of the village of Betwagan in Sadanga, Mountain Province, and is the vice-president of the Association of…
Only-in-the-Philippines Syndrome
Ang only-in-the-Philippines ay katangian at kaganapang maaring mangyari lamang sa loob ng espasyo ng bansa. Ito ay social action o ginagawa ng kolektibo sa ilang sektor, pero hindi buong lipunan ang kalahok. Panlipunan ang sinasaad nito, o may sinasabi sa mababang kalidad at pagturing ng mga pwersa sa lipunan kaya nagaganap ang penomenon: mga umaakyat…
250 Retreched OFWs Refuse to Leave Namibia Empty-Handed
BY AUBREY MAKILAN Bulatlat March 22, 2008 – 5:01pm An alliance of overseas Filipino workers’ organizations based in the Middle East urged the Philippine government to help about 250 OFWs in Namibia who were retrenched from work following the closing down of Ramatex Textiles. Ramatex Textiles, southern Africa’s largest textile manufacturing industry located at the…
Interview Portion sa Beauty Pageant at Katawang Kapital
Usap-usapan ang mga sagot ni Janina San Miguel sa question-and-answer portion ng nakaraang Binibining Pilipinas. Hindi naman nag-a-apply sa call center si San Miguel. At kung mag-apply man ito, kasama ito sa 97 porsyento na babagsak. Kaya nga siya nag-beauty contestant ay dahil alam niya ang angkop na halaga at lugar ng kanyang katawan. Ang…
Dreams Turned Nightmare: Is There Still Hope for Stranded OFWs in Jeddah?
They went to Saudi Arabia with dreams of giving a better life to their families. But when they arrived in the kingdom their dreams turned into a nightmare. They had to escape abusive employers. And when they did they were left in a limbo, with no jobs, no money, and no means to go back…