jhoy pastrana

A clay in the Potter's hands. All views and tweets are my personal.

[Edwin Lacierda @dawende]

Give February 25, EDSA Revolution Day, Its Holiday Back

(Dont’t Worry. The Republic Can Handle It.)

February 25 marks the peaceful end of a dictatorship and the restoration of constitutional rule. That alone should qualify it for one day off.

Instead, it was downgraded under the current president whose father, Ferdinand Marcos, happened to be the one we removed in 1986.

History has a sense of irony. But irony is not policy.

Here is the simple point:

We managed a regime change without civil war. No state collapse. No devastated capital. Just citizens, institutions and a reset button pressed by the people, firmly but peacefully.

That is not a minor footnote. That is a civic achievement.

Other countries shut down for independence days, revolutions or founding myths involving tea, bread, or fireworks. Ours involved people standing in the streets and insisting the dictatorship has got to go.

Surely that’s worth one non-working day.

The economy will survive. Traffic will pause. The Republic will not crumble. Our GDP will not wobble.

What a holiday does is create space: for schools to teach it, for families to discuss it, for the country to remember that power ultimately flows upward from citizens. Especially in these times when corruption has mutated far more than we could imagine.

Restoring February 25 is not about reopening old wounds.

It is about keeping the institutional memory intact.

Nations forget at their own risk.
A confident democracy can afford one day of remembrance.

And frankly, if we can calendar sales, we can calendar sovereignty.

And it shouldn’t come at a discount.

[Edwin Lacierda @dawende]

I first posted this in May 2022.

I thought of sharing it again now, in light of the ongoing controversies surrounding the national budget.

I remember how strict PNoy was when it came to government spending — he was careful with every peso, leaving no issue unchecked, because as public servants, we were entrusted to be faithful stewards of the people’s money.
———————-

SA ILALIM NI PNOY

Under PNoy, there were only two kinds of Cabinet meetings that would practically be held the whole day.

One was the fiscal budget meeting where PNoy would go thru the proposed budget for the next year w/ a calculator beside him & asked the logic of the expenditures. Ang taya na sasagot ay yung Dept Secretary at Budget Secretary (DBM). Kung hindi masagot ng Cabsec, si Budget Secretary ang sasagot. Kung hindi pa rin masagot, submit a written explanation. Walang item sa proposed budget ang papasa na hindi dumaan sa karayom ni PNoy. Ganyan sya kahigpit sa kaban ng bayan.

The second set of meetings is yung NEDA Board. Lahat ng govt projects over a certain amount kailangan dumaan sa NEDA Board. Si PNoy nasa tabi nya uli ang calculator.

Bago umakyat sa NEDA Board, na repaso na ng NEDA yung mga projects & tabled for NEDA Board approval.

Sa meeting, the Cabsec proponent will defend the Project & almost always may tanong si PNoy. Kung hindi masagot ang logic ng laki ng proyekto or any questions he asked, submit a written explanation.

Why do i recall these two kinds of meetings? First, dahil ang humarap kay PNoy ay parang thesis defense at ang proponent ay dapat “Laging Handa”. If one came unprepared, gisang gisa ang Cabsec at ang staff niya & no matter how one prepared, you’d still get questions from left field.

2nd, nakaupo kami ng buong araw & hindi comportable ang silya. Masakit sa likod. Magandang tingnan ang Aguinaldo Room pero panahon pa yata ng Kano ang mga silya at imagine marami sa amin ay hindi na bata. Kaya maraming beses na patawang minumungkahi na baka pwedeng gumamit na lang ng ergonomic chairs.

But kidding aside, mahalaga ang papel ng NEDA Board at ng budget meetings. PNoy always took to heart that in meetings w/c involved spending people’s money, he came prepared, read all the proposals, went thru each item line by line & made notes to ask.

PNoy was exacting when required & demanded the same standard from his people. In the end, we came out w/ tired backs but nonetheless wiser. 💪

[Maxwell Leadership @Maxwell_Leaders]

1. Unity Over Division- Bridge gaps. Build common ground.
2. Give More Than You Take- Lead with generosity, not scorekeeping.
3. Value Every Person- See worth in everyone—no exceptions.
4. Collaboration Wins- Seek diverse voices. Create better solutions.
5. Integrity Always- Do the right thing, for the right reasons.
6. Lift Others Higher- Leave people better than you found them.
7. Own the Outcome- Take responsibility. Build accountability.

High Road Leadership isn’t easy. But it’s always worth it.

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#HighRoadLeadership #Leadership #JohnMaxwell #MaxwellLeadership

[jhoy pastrana @jhoyml]

@NLEXexpressways Flowing na po ba SB balintawak exit from gov halili/bocaue entry?

[jhoy pastrana @jhoyml]

@NLEXexpressways Flowing na po ba SB balintawak exit from gov halili/bocaue entry?

[Maxwell Leadership @Maxwell_Leaders]

You cannot have growth without change — No one improves by accident.

Join the Maxwell Growth Plan with @thejohncmaxwell today to receive exclusive mentoring and coaching from John himself, as well as grow alongside a community of like-minded leaders!

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[jhoy pastrana @jhoyml]

@LastQuake Yes QC

[jhoy pastrana @jhoyml]

What's happening in this country? #LordHealOurLand

[John C. Maxwell @TheJohnCMaxwell]

By choosing to embrace and practice good values every day, you choose the higher course in life. And your life goes in a direction that you will always feel good about. You may not always get what you desire, but you will always be the person you desire to be!

[jhoy pastrana @jhoyml]

@Converge_CSU no internet service, Brgy San Roque, QC. Sent you a DM as well.

[jhoy pastrana @jhoyml]

Do you remember when you joined X? I do! #MyXAnniversary

[jhoy pastrana @jhoyml]

@ABSCBNNews Just please please make sure that the money will reach those who are really in need. May it not be used as an opportunity for corruption by those assigned to administer it!!

[jhoy pastrana @jhoyml]

Feast of Sto. Niño, Kalibo, Aklan
Viva Señor Sto Niño! 🙏
@erlpy

#atiatihan2023
#kalibo https://t.co/j9RsWHHbmz

[jhoy pastrana @jhoyml]

Real Coffee: Free Million Dollar View 😊 Swipe Left!

#erlscapadewithjhoy
#beach
#itsmorefuninthephilippines https://t.co/jP46MVcVwY

[jhoy pastrana @jhoyml]

"You will seek Me and find Me; when you seek Me with all your heart."🙏❤

#dayofprayer
#2023SeekingTheLord https://t.co/NkdqVwlQ5w

[jhoy pastrana @jhoyml]

Happy new year! 🎊🎉🥂😊

#goodbye2022
#hello2023 https://t.co/kqw9gpBVEi

[jhoy pastrana @jhoyml]

🌲😊💗
#christmasvillage https://t.co/dva9XNkKON

[jhoy pastrana @jhoyml]

🌲❤😍 https://t.co/HoBRvISFfk

[Max Lucado @MaxLucado]

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

[Vala Afshar @ValaAfshar]

In a brief moment, a mother with Alzheimers looks into her daughter’s eyes, remembers her, and tells her she loves her.

Life is precious. Memories are a gift. Parents are the greatest gift. https://t.co/a4L8LBQdnj