Riding a pedicab with Mar Roxas as the driver

The pedicab (also called as padyak or trisikad here in Cebu) is a symbol of the common TAO's mode of transportation. When you're going in a place that's not really accessible to jeepneys, we ride the pedicab.

When we ride a pedicab, we tend to choose the pedicab driver whom we trust, or we fondly call him our "suki". We don't risk our lives to someone whom we don't trust, someone who doesn't know where the roads lead us, someone who is not capable of steering the wheel to the right direction. This is what embodied Mar Roxas' latest TVC called "Padyakitos with Mar Roxas".

As what fellow blogger Zyon Jerekiel said in his blog post Nakasakay ka na ba ng Pedicab?:

Para maiba naman, ito ang isang panibagong simbolo ng ating gobyerno: Isang pedicab. Mabagal ang takbo, daanan patungo sa kailangang puntahan ay lubak lubak. Kelangan natin ng driver na MARunong. (To be different, this (pedicab) is the new symbol of our government: A pedicab. Its pace is slow, the road to our destination is not good. We need a driver who is sMARrt.)

Indeed! We need a new pedicab driver for our nation and we believe that it is Mar Roxas who can steer this nation back to where it was: prosperity, peace and progress.

On the other hand, blogger Neil shared his thoughts on Mar Roxas' new TV Ad in his blog post 2010 Election: Padyak MAR, Padyak!:

The ad though, is not as simple as it appears. The padyak/sikad is an analogy for the Philippines where, according to the boy: "Kanya-kanyang kayod po dito. Walang maayos na trabaho, walang pambili ng gamot." (Translation: Everyone here has to strive for himself. There are no decent jobs, nothing to buy medicines.) The little girl and the boy represent the Filipinos, who still hope for a brighter future – "Seaman, sana. Ako po, artista." (Translation: Seaman, I hope. Me, a moviestar.)

And Roxas wants us to know that he represents the future leadership of this country, by driving the padyak/sikad himself – "Ako na. Sama-sama tayo. Hindi ko kayo pababayaan. Lalaban tayo!" (Translation: Let me do it. We’re all in this together. I will not abandon you. We will fight!)

Another good point raised by Neil. Filipinos are hoping for a good future, but it would always remain a hope if we don't act, if no one leads us. Just like this: if we keep hoping that the "pedicab" would lead us to our destination without a driver operating it would be useless.

Do you want a "pedicab driver" who has a bad reputation? How about a "pedicab driver" who always changes course to exploit his passengers? Or a "pedicab driver" who claims to be an expert but it isn't? We don't ant someone like this right?

Then, let's also remember that our "pedicab" is not only of 2 persons, but of almost 91 million Filipinos. We can't afford we watch the lone "pedicab driver" to padyak all of us. We also need to do our part. If we want genuine reforms on how things are done, then this is our moment. Our moment to choose a "pedicab driver" whom we believe in. It's in our own hands.

Sama-sama tayo! Lalaban tayo!

Sunday, April 5, 2009 | posted in campaign, financial crisis, mar roxas, philippines, poverty, president | 3 comments [ More ]

Padyakitos with Mar Roxas

As what I have told you yesterday, Senator Mar Roxas has just released a new TV Ad called "Padkyakitos with Mar Roxas" that talks about the harsh reality in our slum areas reinforcing his battle cry "Mahalaga ang Tao".

Here's the exclusive and complete Padyakitos with Mar Roxas TV Ad:

Friday, April 3, 2009 | posted in financial crisis, mar roxas, philippines, poverty, president | 0 comments [ More ]

Senator Roxas opens nationwide job-seekers' training camps

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas announced today the opening of Job Search training camps nationwide to help prepare new college graduates look for jobs.

"Nu'ng ako'y bagong gradweyt, nadiskubre kong mahalaga na mahusay ang aking pagharap sa interviewer, maganda ang aking resume at maganda ang aking suot na damit pagharap ko sa aking magiging boss. Ngayong mahirap makahanap ng trabaho, sana'y malaki ang maitulong ng boot camp na ito sa mga bagong gradweyt ngayon (When I was a new graduate, I discovered that it was important that I create a good impression on the interviewer, I have a good resume, and I dress well when I face my future boss. I hope the boot camp helps new graduates especially now that jobs are scare to find)," Roxas said.

He noted that an estimated 490,000 university graduates are expected to join the already crowded employment market in the next two months when the local economy is flat and jobs are scarce due to companies closing or downsizing because of the global financial crisis.

Roxas said the new batch of job-seekers would have better chances of landing employment if they are well-prepared and equipped for their job-hunting activities.

Called 'The Mar Roxas Job-Seekers Training Camps', the boot camps would be open to university graduates who wish to polish their job search skills for better and easy presentation of themselves to prospective employers. It would also help the graduates with the packaging of their credentials.

The two-day training camps would be held in 30 cities nationwide, with each camp corridor accommodating 1,000 new graduates. Trainers of companies from the Business Processing Association of the Philippines would talk on issues such as job search hints and strategies, Curriculum Vitae/bio-date writing and packaging, presentation of skills (oral and visual), dress and appearance, how to answer interview questions, tips on Business English grammar, how to write letters of introduction and tips in building self-confidence.

The boot camps would be held in Malolos, Bulacan (March 25-26); Baguio City (April 2-3); Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija (April 16-17); Dagupan, Pangasinan (April 23-24), and Tuguegarao, Cagayan Valley (April 29-30).

There will also be training camps in Bacolod City (March 25-26); Iloilo City (April 1-2); Cebu City (April 15-16); Dumaguete City (April 29-30); and Tacloban City (May 6-7).

In the Mindanao region, the camps would be held in Ozamiz City (March 27-28); Cagayan de Oro (April 3-4); Iligan City (April 17-18); Zamboanga City (April 24-25); Butuan City (April 229-30); General Santos City (March 24-25); Digos City (April 3-4); Tagum City (April 17-18); Davao City (April 23-24) and Cotabato City (April 29-30).

The training camps in Metro Manila and in Southern Luzon would be in Mandaluyong (March 31-April 1); University Belt (April 14-15); Taguig (April 21-22) Quezon City (April 28-29); Naga City (March 24-25); Legazpi City (April 1-2); Batangas City (April 14-15); Lucena City (April 22-23) and Dasmarinas, Cavite (April 29-30).

The training camps would be held in partnership with local universities and university Student Councils. Those interested in participating in the training seminars can e-mail kristina@brand-channels.com or text (city or place of training), name and University where they graduated to 0915-199-9689 (For Globe subscribers); 0919-851-8416 (Smart) and 0922-554-1246 (Sun).

Tuesday, March 24, 2009 | posted in education, financial crisis, mar roxas, philippines | 0 comments [ More ]

Senator Roxas seeks two-year PAG-IBIG fund moratorium

To help alleviate the plight of workers during the economic slowdown, Liberal Party President Senator Mar Roxas has sought a two-year moratorium on the mandatory contribution of all workers to the Pag-Ibig fund.

"Sa panahong mahigpit ang bulsa ng mga konsyumer natin, bigyan natin sila ng pagkakataong pumili kung gusto nilang ipagpatuloy ang pagbabayad sa Pag-Ibig o kung gagamitin muna nila ito para punan ang mga pangangailangan nila (At this time that household budgets are constrained, let's give our consumers the choice to continue contributing to Pag-Ibig or to use their contributions to make ends meet)," he stressed.

"Mahalaga ang pabahay. Pero nakikita rin nating mahalagang maitawid ang mga kababayan natin mula sa gutom. Bigyan natin sila ng pagkakataong pumili (Housing is important, but we also see how important it is to help our people cope with hunger. Let's give them the power to choose)," he said.

In filing Senate Bill No. 3127 Roxas said that salaries of workers remain the same or even less, while the global financial meltdown continues its onslaught on the local economy. While the mandatory monthly Pag-Ibig contribution serves the long-term goal of housing for all, "every peso counts when it comes to each family's survival."

SB 3127 proposes a two year freeze in the collection of the monthly Pag-Ibig fund contributions of workers both in the public and private sector, subject to exceptions such as those who would voluntarily want to be covered and those who have outstanding Pag-Ibig loans.

Pag-Ibig fund contributions are mandatory in character. It was established through Presidential Decree No. 1752, or the Home Development Mutual Fund Law of 1980 and intended to motivate employed and other earning groups to better plan and provide for their housing needs. It has a total of 7.27 million members as of September 2008.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009 | posted in financial crisis, mar roxas, pag-ibig, president | 0 comments [ More ]

Senator Roxas pushes for tax rebates for workers

With the outlook for the economic crisis remaining dim, Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today pushed for tax rebates as a stimulus package to help workers cope with the global financial meltdown's effect on the local economy.

"Masama po ang ekonomiya. Ang aking forecast, ngayon talaga mararamdaman yung epekto sa ibang bansa. Hindi natin made-deny na yung ekonomiya natin at maraming trabaho ay konektado sa pangyayari sa ibang bansa. At kung sadsad sila, aba'y apektado tayo. (The economy is in bad shape. My forecast is that other countries will continue to be affected by the global financial crisis this year. We cannot deny that the local economy and many of our job opportunities are linked to what's happening in the world. And if they are in a slump, then we would be, too)," he said.

Roxas, chairman of the Senate trade and commerce committee, said there were several ways the government can implement a rebate, such as reducing the value-added tax (VAT) from the present 12% to 10%, for the next two years. Another way, which Roxas has proposed in Senate Bill No. 2689, would provide a one-time P5,000 tax rebate for the country's 2 million fixed-income earners.

"Para sa akin, magandang stimulus package ay tax rebate. Ibig sabihin, ang buwis, ibabalik sa tao, at tayo na mismo ang gagastos ng ating pera. Imbes na gobyerno ang gagastos, na alam natin ay may napakaraming leakage. (For me, tax rebates is a good stimulus package. We will give back to the people what they paid to the government and they would decide how to spend their money. This, instead of letting the government spend the money, which we all know is prone to much leakage)," he also said.

"Mas mabuti na ibalik ang pera sa taumbayan (It's better to give back to the people their hard-earned money at this time of hardship)," he said.

He said savings from the VAT discount and the P5,000 refund would augment workers' incomes, which they themselves will use for their own priorities, such as paying tuition fees for their children, housing loan payments, medicines and other healthcare purchases, among others.

"Iikot ito sa ating ekonomiya kasi gagamitin ito sa pinaka-basic na bilihin. Hindi ito gagamitin sa iba pang mga bagay na hindi naman nila priority. (This will go back to the local economy because the money will be used for basic needs. It will not be used for non-essential things)," he added.

Roxas explained that the proposed tax rebates would have little impact on government's fiscal deficit. Furthermore, he said that the government has not seriously shown it is a worthy custodian of the people's money, having been involved in numerous cases of corruption and misuse of funds.

"Para sa akin, mas mabuti na imbes na mapupunta ito sa pangungurakot - nakita na natin sa pagbibiyahe ng mga heneral, sa pagbili nitong overpriced at maling fertilizer - mas mabuti na ang nagbabayad ng buwis ay mabigyan ng relief o tulong sa pamamagitan ng pagbalik ng kanilang buwis. (Instead of government spending the money for the foreign travel of generals or the acquisition of overpriced and low-quality fertilizers, the money will be better spent if it is given back to the people)," he stressed.

He urged the government anew to focus on addressing the financial tsunami that is threatening to hit the country.

"Kalimutan na muna itong mga Cha-Cha, kalimutan na muna itong mga pampulitika, pampahaba ng termino, dahilan sa, yung trabaho ay hindi makapag-antay. Nawawalan ng trabaho ang ating mga kababayan, at iyan ang dahilan kung bakit dapat mag-focus tayo sa ekonomiya at hindi sa pulitika. (Forget about Cha-Cha, forget about lifting term limits. People need jobs now. We need to focus on the economy, not politics)," he said.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009 | posted in charter change, e-vat, financial crisis, mar roxas | 0 comments [ More ]

No to a "Gloria Forever Constitution"!

The Arroyo Administration has alienated most of the nation because of its failure to live up to its social contract with the Filipino people to provide the country with good governance, Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas said this week.

And forcing the people to accept a “Gloria Forever Constitution” will backfire and condemn the Arroyo Administration as history’s most power-hungry and inept government, Roxas warned in a speech during the week before the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines.

This is the reason why Filipinos eagerly await the elections in 2010 rather than the impending Charter Change moves in Congress by President Arroyo’s allies who want a “Gloria Forever Constitution,” Roxas said.

“We have a social contract … However, that contract is now broken. Napunit na ang kasunduang iyon. That social contract is so broken that is why so many of our kababayans feel alienated from general society and from their government, that is why so many of our youth feel detached from what is happening here in our country,” he added.

He said that instead of engaging in programs to cater to the “real” needs of the people, “the government is busy being corrupt.”

“Ang gobyerno napakalaki ng kinokolekta sa ating lahat. Tapos ano nakikita natin? Iyong mga heneral nasa Europa namimili ng mamahaling relos. Itong fertilizer, imbes na fertilizer para sa palay at mais, fertilizer para sa orchids at sa foliage ang binili, overpriced na hindi pa nakarating. Iyong kontrata sa NBN-ZTE na $300million, supposed to be iwa-wire up ang bansa, napakaganda ng propaganda. Pero sa katotohanan, isang government intercom system lang pala ito,” he said.

Roxas also bewailed the government’s failure to prepare for the effects of the US-led global financial meltdown, which is slowly creeping into the Asian economy.

“What is our government doing in the midst of this? Nothing. It is fixated on Chacha. So we wonder, how come the trust ratings of the government and of the leaders are so low? It’s because we have problems and yet those that have been given power to address and fix these problems are not doing so,” he added.

The Ilonggo senator said Filipinos could contribute in reforming the government by participating in the 2010 national elections.

He said voters should choose someone who has a good track record, someone sincerely interested in helping the people, and someone who has a vision for the country.

“Sa darating na halalan, may pagkakataon ang sambayanan na mamili ng tamang lider. Ang lider na tapat, matuwid, ang lider na hindi mangungurakot, ang lider na may plano para sa ating bansa at ang may kakayahan para isakatuparan ang plano na iyon. Iyan ang kagandahan ng demokrasya kasi masama man ang sitwasyon natin pero regular tayo nabibigyan ng pagkakataon na mamili ng bago,” he said.

Saturday, November 29, 2008 | posted in charter change, euro generals controversy, fertilizer fund scam, financial crisis, mar roxas, pgma, philippines, president, private hospitals association of the philippines, zte deal | 0 comments [ More ]

Prepare for financial tsunami, not Cha-Cha, Roxas tells GMA

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today urged President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to squelch renewed attempts to tamper with the Constitution by her political allies and to order them instead to help put in place safety nets that will soften the impact on Filipinos of the financial tsunami that has hit major markets in the world.

Roxas dismissed the renewed attempts at Charter Change as untimely and divisive at a time when Filipinos need to see the entire government united and ready to shield them from the impact of the global financial crisis.

“Paulit-ulit na ipinipilit ang Cha-Cha sa atin samantalang namumrublema ang bansa sa darating na krisis sa ekonomiya (They keep on pushing Cha-cha while the rest of the nation worries over looming impact of the economic crisis),” Roxas said.

“Imbes na hatiin na naman ang bansa, ang dapat gawin ni GMA at ng mga kakampi niya ay paghandaan ang magiging epekto ng financial tsunami na parating na sa ating bansa (Instead of dividing the nation, GMA and her allies should prepare the nation for the dire effects of the global financial tsunami),” he added.

Roxas earlier urged President Arroyo to call a multi-party summit so that leaders of administration and opposition parties could sit down and agree to a recasting of the proposed 2009 national budget so that funds can be reallocated to programs that will soften the impact of the global financial crisis.

Roxas, the Liberal Party president, said the Congress and Malacanang should realign programs in the proposed 2009 national budget so that more funds could be allotted to efforts to boost jobs, agricultural production and ensure food security, improve the quality of education and encourage small businesses through micro-lending.

“Nangangamba ang taumbayan na uunahin na naman ng Malacanang at ng mga kakampi nito ang pulitika. Kailangan ipakita ni GMA sa taumbayan na mas mahalaga ang proteksyunan sila sa magiging masamang epekto ng financial crisis (The people are afraid that Malacanang and its allies will give priority to politics as usual. GMA and her allies have to prove they can protect the people from the negative effects of this financial crisis),” said Roxas, chair of the Senate trade and commerce committee.

Roxas is meeting next week with a group of economists and budget experts to consult them on priority programs that the government need to implement to prepare the nation from the impact of the global financial crisis.

The global financial crisis has prompted swift action from the G7 group of developed nations, with US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson warning that an “aggressive action plan” was needed to prevent the global economy from sinking further.

This was evident in Wall Street Friday when the Dow Jones plummeted by 700 points immediately upon opening, but recovered by the end of trading day to just down by 128 points. Analysts have noted that the Dow Jones has lost 25 percent of its value just a month ago since the US financial crisis triggered a global debt crunch.

“While the entire world is getting worried increasingly because of the financial crisis, we see administration people dancing to the tune of Cha-cha instead of doing something to assure our people and our industries that the government is prepared to meet the challenges of this global financial crisis,” said Roxas.

“In these times of crisis, we need unity and action, not politics,” he added.

Roxas insisted that the Constitution would only allow for a constituent assembly if this is agreed on by the House and Senate voting separately on the matter. He added that it was a misinterpretation of the intentions of the 1987 Constitutional Commission to say that the House and Senate will vote as one in agreeing to convene a constituent assembly.

“Hinding-hindi pwedeng tumawag ng constituent assembly ang iisang kamara lamang, at ang pagboto rito ay gagawin ng House at Senate nang hiwalay. Kahit sinong constitutional expert ay hindi sasang-ayon na ang mga senador ay may isang boto lamang sa daming miyembro ng Kongreso (A constituent assembly really couldn’t be called for by just one chamber, and the vote of this must be done by the House and Senate separately. Any constitutional expert would disagree that a senator would have just one vote to the many votes in Congress),” he said.

Sunday, October 12, 2008 | posted in charter change, financial crisis, mar roxas, pgma, philippines, president | 0 comments [ More ]