Aquino Cites Apolinario Mabini During Awards for PWDs

President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday handed awards to outstanding persons with disabilities (PWDs) and advocates for their welfare during the 2015 Apolinario Mabini Awards held in Malacañang.

The function we attended yesterday [Photo courtesy of inquirer.net]

The awarding ceremony coincided with the snowballing public discourse on the historical film Heneral Luna and its main characters, which include the ‘Sublime Paralytic” Apolinario Mabini.*

Such discussions revealed that some Filipino students were not aware that Mabini was a PWD, who suffered from polio, which rendered him incapacitated. While lauding the PWDs who have succeeded in their endeavors despite challenges brought about by their disabilities, Aquino also expressed his disappointment at students who do not know Apolinario Mabini.

[To read the full article, click: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/726219/aquino-leads-apolinario-mabini-awards-for-pwds-supporters#ixzz3n9DYdE00 ]

* NOTE: our documentary “Apolinario Mabini: The Sublime Paralytic” has a segment on the cause of Mabini’s disability. The docu was first shown at the Mabini Shrine in Tanauan, Batangas last July 17, 2015, a little over a month after “Heneral Luna” was released with Epi Quizon acting as Mabini. I believe he  should watch it to update him on the latest research findings on Mabini’s condition. Mabini’s body was exhumed in 1980, and doctors back then reported that he had polio. That is what Epi knows. Dr. Jiggs Gilera findings released in 2014 says that Mabini had Guillain-Barre Syndrome which I find more plausible since polio was usually contracted by children. Good that these days polio vaccines are easily available.

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2014 Post-SONA forum with Political Analyst Ramon Casiple

The Center for Social Action (CSA), in collaboration with the School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS) held a live viewing of the 5th State of the Nation Address (SONA) of Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III last Monday July 28, 2014. Venues: Taft Greenway Square or LRC Lobby, SDA Cafeteria, or AKIC Cafeteria.

The coverage started at 2:30pm and the speech at 4pm. Through the partnership of SDEAS with major television networks, SONA 2014 was aired on local channels with Filipino Sign Language interpreter insets.

A post-SONA forum will also be conducted today July 30, 2014 from 12:30pm to 2:30 pm at the Case Room (M302), Taft Campus. Political analyst Mr. Ramon Casiple will be the resource speaker.

For inquiries, please contact CSA at local 1514 or 1515 or visit them at the 3F Miguel Febres Cordero Building, Taft campus and look for Anna Bandagosa.

 

Habagat 2012 Worse than Ondoy?

For affected victims of Typhoon Ondoy in 2009, it is unparalleled. Especially so, because it hit them fast, caught many unaware who were awed by the mighty power of Nature. However, I personally believe that the rains being brought by the generic Habagat which is still battering not only NCR [which includes Marikina, most affected by Typhoon Ondoy], CAMANVA [Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela], but our nearby provinces like Laguna, Cavite, Bataan, Bulacan, Rizal, Zambales, Pampanga, etc. are quantitatively more considering the scope re the number of affected residents and places, the volume of water this enhanced habagat or monsoon has brought the country which stretched not just in a few hours like Ondoy but for a number of days by now though on and off or “pabugso-bugso.”

I can already imagine the destruction and lost of properties, infrastructures, even the unfortunate lives of casualties. The number maybe comparatively less [as of this hour at least] but the effect and impact on the psyche of many affected children cannot be quantified. I’d say that Habagat 2012 is worse than Ondoy. Places unusually visited by flood waters surprised many residents in the Metro, including for example, the flooding of UST Hospital!!! [Click to see, Flooded UST Hospital] During the rage of Typhoon Ondoy, only UERRM Hospital was reported to have submerged. Now UST and even PGH Hospitals were reported. Many more clinics and hospitals are now being reported to be having problems with generators because Meralco cut the electricity in greatly affected places. I also heard of provinces that are experiencing flooding for the first time.

Silted rivers, cutting of trees in our forests and watersheds, not just garbage that plugged waterways are some of the major causes of the floods. Imagine the truckloads of garbage and flood debris “fished out” from Manila Bay! They are all unfortunately man made. The fact however that man made problems can be solved by men themselves should give us hope. But time is running fast. The ‘wrath of God’ can strike us anytime. No mighty and wealthy nation can be as mighty or as powerful as God. We have seen that when tsunami hit Japan. But in case of controllable situations such as ours, when our primary concern should be that of taking care of our environment to help save ourselves, it is quite important that the political will of our leaders towards the preservation of both Men and Nature should be strongly present, and should have started long ago. Political survival and their pockets should be the least of their concern.  In their hands lie our/and their own children’s children’s continuous living as creatures enjoying the bounty and beauty of Nature. Existence without love for the living and loving things on this Earth is worthless. Better dissolve into Nothingness.

For Ondoy victims, this experience is “mala-Ondoy.” With their experience in the past, they must, or should have been more prepared this time. Yesterday, President Benigno Aquino III met his staff. Arnold Flavio of SAKSI reports. Click below: