There is something deeply troubling about a society that is quick to demand the harshest punishment for children, while celebrating convicted plunderers, tolerating corruption, and rewarding leaders who normalize violence.
Young people do not grow up in a vacuum. They learn from the values we model, the behavior we reward, and the systems we build around them. Violence rarely begins at the moment it becomes visible. It is often preceded by bullying, social isolation, neglect, untreated trauma, and countless missed opportunities for intervention.
If we want children to reject violence, then we must also be willing to examine the ways our society excuses, glorifies, and profits from it. We cannot celebrate violence among adults and expect young people to learn a different lesson.
THE PHILIPPINE SENATE in 28 days under Alan Peter Cayetano:
Estimated Cost - P700M. Output - chaos, gunfire, Bato’s escape despite ICC-issued warrant while under its “protective custody”, session boycott, failed destabilization attempt, unauthorized committee hearings highlighted by one not presided nor attended by a single senator.
WHAT A WASTE OF TAXPAYERS’ MONEY!
I refuse to support a law that effectively institutionalizes political dynasties!
I vote NO to House Bill No. 8389 or the “Anti-Political Dynasty Act.”
HB 8389 is not a true or genuine anti-dynasty law, but rather a dynasty legitimization act.
First: The bill has no succession ban. A governor can be succeeded by a spouse, who can be succeeded by a child, who can be succeeded by a sibling – indefinitely, legally, under this bill.
Second: The bill permits a governor, a mayor, and a Representative from the same family governing the same province simultaneously, as it only prohibits relatives from holding office within the same level of government, not within the same territory.
Third: The bill permits multiple congressional districts controlled by one family within the same province. Three adjacent districts, three relatives, all voting for the same party line: legal. Exactly as it operates today. Nothing changes.
Fourth: The bill neither covers party-list representatives as protected positions nor references incumbents. Therefore, a senator's son or daughter can be nominated and serve as a party-list representative – perfectly legal under this bill
Fifth: The bill limits the prohibition to relatives within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity, covering spouses, parents, children, and siblings. However, this second-degree prohibition excludes broader kinship networks, such as grandparents, first cousins, uncles, aunts, nieces, and nephews, through which dynastic power is often exercised. Limiting the prohibition to only the second degree narrows the reach of the law and allows extended family networks, which remain close-knit in Philippine culture, to continue operating within the same political sphere.
Sixth: The bill does not address, hence, permits substitution, caretaker designation, and every indirect route to office. The prohibition under this bill covers only direct candidacy, not the back doors.
The Filipino people have been waiting for this law since 1987. Tatlumpu't siyam na taon.
We can do better than this. We can pass a law worthy of the wait. A law the framers of the 1987 Constitution would recognize as the fulfillment of their mandate, not a betrayal of it.
I vote NO to HB 8389, not because I oppose anti-dynasty legislation. I vote NO precisely because I support it. I refuse to support a law that effectively institutionalizes political dynasties.
The Filipino people deserve better. The Constitution demands better. We can do better.
So, kasalanan pa ng minority bloc na hindi nag-protesta dahil sinigawan ang Senate President natin? Actually, laking pasasalamat nga namin na hindi siya binigwasan ni Sec Jonvic dahil sa inasal niya kahapon. Damn your damdamin.
Absolute disrespect for the Filipino people. What entitlement.
Mag-boycott tayo.
Huwag mag trabaho.
Hayaan natin ang mga nakabinbing panukala.
Mga senador, binabayaran kayo ng taumbayan. Pambabastos ito sa Pilipino.
Senators were seen crying yesterday as a colleague was being arrested for plunder.
This is in no way an indictment of the accused senator but I would like to remind our lawmakers…
Iyakan n’yo ang ninanakawang Pilipino.
Iyakan n’yo ang binabaha dahil sa nakawan sa flood control.
Iyakan n’yo ang gutom nating mga kababayan.
Get out of your bubble. Please.
Marcia a commencé son panel à la #TDC de @Union_Conv par un discours, elle remercie infiniment les fans et est très émue de tout cet amour et tout ce qu’elle reçoit, ça la touche infiniment, surtout dans le monde d’aujourd’hui, cette convention est une bulle d’amour nécessaire !
In a condescending tone, a colleague, who is a lawyer took issue with Sen Hontiveros’ lack of “legal background”. I have a simple message — it’s the RULES stupid!
“There is a collective failure in leadership. Let us stop having compromises. Let us enforce the law. Why is it so hard to enforce the law?”
- former Senate President Franklin Drilon this morning on Headstart.