August 8, 2011
Mr. President,
It is a rare occasion that the Senate considers an issue that recalls the broad sweep of developments in the last century if only to remind us that it proved to be one of the most violent periods of human history. It was characterized by two world wars, the Korean war, the Vietnam war and its 50 years toward the beginning of the present millennium pervaded by the tension of the Cold War that constantly pushed humanity to […]
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August 3, 2011
(Standard Greetings)
Statistics dominate headlines and discourse on the catastrophes of climate change: inches of rainfall, damages to properties and businesses, costs of livestock and crop destruction, and so on. These are the vital yet ultimately impersonal figures that are often presented to us. Even tolls on people displaced and killed remain just that-disquieting but faceless numbers.
Our exhibit, co-organized by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities headed by Red Constantino, hopes to […]
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July 26, 2011
This forum could not come at a more opportune time. Yesterday, we heard the State of the Nation Address (SONA) from our President. I laud President Aquino for speaking on good governance, social protection, and socio-economic gains, among other successes. However, as UNISDR Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for the Asia and the Pacific, I would appreciate the SONA more if the President asserted more clearly how the government will pursue disaster risk reduction and […]
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June 1, 2011
Mr. President,
As we observe World Environment Day this week, I rise to bring to the attention of this august chamber the main messages of the recently launched 2011 Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction of the United Nations, which aims to reveal risks and redefine development.
The world has been seeing the worst, biggest and deadliest disasters over the years – the floods in Pakistan, the earthquakes in Haiti, China and Chile, and the triple tragedy in Japan. […]
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May 18, 2011
Our rich Filipino heritage is our birthright, our identity and our legacy. It is however unfortunate that as we face globalization, many of us have lost our connection with our roots.
In the season of celebrating the National Heritage Month, it is but fitting to help bring our culture closer to our people, to reawaken citizens’ pride in the Filipino culture and history, and to strengthen our love of country.
Mr. President
Our culture as a Filipino people is threatened […]
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