Census of population = invasion of people’s privacy?

According to the elementary civics textbook I’ve edited recently, through census, the government obtains information from their constituents that may be useful in making policy proposals and pertinent programs. The National Statistics Office is the government body with the mandate to conduct a nationwide census every five years (or more accurately, when funding is available).

Apparently, even local governments can also conduct census in their respective sphere of influence. Early this September, a guy in his 20s knocked in our gate and told us that he’ll be doing a census for the Quezon City government. It was a Sunday morning, and we let him do the interview in our garage. My mother is the true respondent here, though I was at her side throughout the interview.  (PS: I got the name of this field interviewer, but to protect his privacy, I am not posting it here.)

QC Mayor Herbert Bautista, the census your government is conducting can be considered an invasion of privacy.

I have experienced seeking out respondents for a survey during my college days, and since I know it’s no easy task, I tried to be as cooperative as possible. The guy had a four-page questionnaire, and the entire interview lasted for almost an hour, but that is not my beef here. I believe the question-and-answer part would’ve lasted that long had they not asked questions which, if one looks closer, can actually be considered an invasion of privacy.

Some questions include:

1. How much our family spends for food, transportation, and medicine each week

2. The appliances that we own

3. The government IDs that we have, and

4. If my mom used birth-control methods (and if I was born in the CS section or what)

One lesson I learned in constructing survey questionnaires is that one should never ask about information not relevant to his/her study for better analysis of the data gathered. Here are my questions:

1. Why do they have to ask all of that?

2. What are they going to do with the tons of information they have obtained?

3. How can asking about all of those help in policy making?

Unless Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista can answer these questions adequately, then I stand by my belief that the census that he initiated is a clear invasion of privacy. In these grounds, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, a Republican presidential candidate, is right in his opposition to government-sponsored census of population. According to him: “If the government really wants to increase compliance with the census, it should abide by the Constitution and limit its inquiry to one simple question: How many people live here?”

Rep. Ron Paul: Census should limit its inquiry to one simple question: "How many people live here?"

Source: Ron Paul: Why I voted against encouraging people to complete Census form (from Houston Chronicle)

http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2010/03/ron-paul-why-i-voted-against-encouraging-people-to-complete-census-form

 

 

 

Class suspension in UP Diliman, September 28, 2011

Update from CSSP Student Council:

Per Chancellor Caesar Saloma announcement:

7AM-1PM classes cancelled on September 28, 2011 to restore UPD to normal status (after being ravaged by Typhoon Pedring).

Please do not go to campus at all if routes are impassable. You will be excused from class per UPD SOP.

Note from me: No mention yet about afternoon classes. By the way, the website of UP Diliman (www.upd.edu.ph) is down. This was confirmed to me by Dr. Ma. Luisa de Leon-Bolinao, Chair of the UP History Department via Facebook.

ABS-CBNNews.com has reported that the following universities have also suspended their respective classes for today:

• University of Sto. Tomas
• De La Salle University – Manila (all classes and office works suspended until 1 p.m.)
• Adamson University
• La Consolacion College-Manila
• Sta. Isabel College-Manila
• Technological Insitute of the Philippines-Manila
• Technological Insitute of the Philippines – Quezon City
• Philippine Christian University-Taft
• University of the Philippines Diliman (all classes suspended from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
• University of the East – Manila  (only elementary and high school classes suspended)
• University of the East – Caloocan (only elementary and high school classes suspended)
• Manila Central University, Caloocan
• St. Mary’s College, Quezon City
• Sta. Cecilia College, Valenzuela
• Colegio de Sta. Cecilia, Valenzuela
• OB Montessori, Greenhills
• Holy Family School, Diliman
• Centro Escolar University – Malolos
• Bulacan Polytechnic College
• Bulacan State UniversityBaliuag University
• La Consolacion University Philippines

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/metro-manila/09/27/11/some-classes-ncr-other-areas-suspended-wednesday

UP Diliman suspends morning classes, September 27, 2011

According to ABS-CBN News, the following universities have announced the suspension of their respective classes today due to Typhoon Pedring. As of this writing, Signal No. 2 has been raised over Metro Manila. Please stand by for any updates regarding the afternoon classes.

Colleges and universities

Classes are also suspended in all levels in the following colleges and universities on Tuesday:

• University of the Philippines – Manila
• University of the Philippines -  Diliman (7am to 1 pm only)
• University of the Philippines – Los Baños
• Ateneo de Manila University – Loyola Heights
• De La Salle University – Taft
• De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde
• De La Salle Araneta University – Malabon
• De La Salle Dasmariñas
• Far Eastern University – Manila
• Far Eastern University – East Asia
• Far Eastern University – Diliman
• Adamson University
• San Beda College – Manila
• University of Santo Tomas
• University of the East Manila
• University of the East Caloocan
• Central College of the Philippines
• Philippine Christian University – Taft Campus
• Lyceum of the Philippines – Manila
• STI College Cubao, Caloocan, Novaliches
• University of Perpetual Help System DALTA
• National University
• Philippine College of Criminology (Sta. Cruz, Manila)
• Arellano University (all campuses)
• Asian Social Institute
• Samson College of Science and Technology
• Philippine State College of Aeronautics – Pasay
• Interface Computer College
• SouthEastern College
• Miriam College
• Bataan Peninsula State University
• FTI College
• St. Paul University
• Trinity University of Asia
• Colegio de San Juan de Letran
• Santa Cecillia College – Valenzuela
• National College of Science and Technology – Dasmarinas
• Triumphant Christian School
• St. Francis of Assisi College – Las Piñas
• Manila Central University – Caloocan
• St. Mary’s College – QC
• University of Caloocan
• FEATI University – Manila
• Centro Escolar University
• La Consolacion College
• University of Asia and the Pacific
• University of Perpetual Help – Molino
• Bataan Peninsula State University
• St. Scholastica’s College – Manila
• Manila Tytana Colleges (formerly known as Manila Doctors College)
• National College of Business and Arts – Fairview, Cubao, Taytay
• Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
• Emilio Aguinaldo College – Cavite
• Southville Foreign University

Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/metro-manila/09/26/11/deped-suspends-tuesday-classes-metro-manila

Philippines vs Korea, Battle for 3rd Live Score Updates

A HEARTBREAKER FOR SMART GILAS

70-68 win for KOR. Sad. A repeat indeed of the 2002 Seoul basketball semis. In the end, missed freethrows killed our chances. We were also doomed in 2002 by Olsen Racela’s missed FTs. Racela, along with Mico Halili, analyzed this game. We lost despite leading by 11 …

69-68 for Korea. 6 seconds left. Two FTs for CSM.

69-67 for Korea. Two freethrows for PH. 9 seconds left

69-66 for Korea. 16 seconds left

Freethrows for Kelly Williams (PH). 26.5 ticks left. He misses both. Can’t help but recall the 2002 Asian Games semis match between these two teams.

67-66, KOR. Jumpball. 30 seconds left

KOR now ahead, 67-65, after back-to-back three-point shots by Cho Sung Min

Under two minutes left. 65-61 for PH.

3-pointer by Cho Sun Min. PH lead down to 3, 63-60. Free throw made. 63-61 now

Chris Tiu charged with unsportsmanlike foul. He’s out of the game. PH by 4, 61-57. 3:08 left

59-55, four point lead for PH, after a 3-point play by Korea’s #14 player. 3:45 left.

59-50 now for PH. Korea now in the penalty. 4:37 left

57-50 for PH after a hard drive by Marcus Douthit. 5:17 left. He now has 19 points

54-48 after a fast break by Korea. Over 6 minutes left.

54-43, 7:29 left after a 3-pointer by Jimmy Alapag

49-41, 8:22 left in the game. PH leading

49-38 now for PH. 16 points for Marcus Douthit. 9:14 left in the game

47-36, end of 3rd quarter. 12 minutes away from the bronze medal?

With just 46 seconds left in the 3rd quarter, Philippines leads Korea 45-36 in their knock-out Battle for 3rd in the 26th FIBA Asia Championships in Wuhan, China.

The winner of this fight, together with the loser of the China-Jordan championship match later tonight, will advance to the 2012 World Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Philippines makes it to FIBA semis for the first time in 24 yrs!

I need to finish a major paper due tomorrow morning, but I can’t help but share to all of you this very proud moment in our country’s basketball history. The Philippines has made it to the semifinals of the FIBA Asian championships for the first time in 24 years (I’m only 21!).

I have always been a proud supporter of the Philippine national basketball team since the 2002 Busan Asian Games, and I personally felt very bad seeing our team’s heartbreaking losses in the past to teams like South Korea, Kazakhstan, and others. Now, the country is just two wins away from making it to the 2012 London Olympics. Maybe decades of frustration will finally be over. Maybe, the time for vindication has come. Smart Gilas all the way! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

 

Philippines advances to FIBA semis

Smart Gilas Pilipinas makes it to the FIBA semis for the first time in 24 years!

MANILA, Philippines – Smart-Gilas Pilipinas defeated Chinese-Taipei in the quarterfinals of the ongoing FIBA Asia Championship, 95-78.

Naturalized Filipino Marcus Douthit led Gilas with 37 points.

Ranidel de Ocampo and Marcio Lassiter chipped in with 18 and 13 points, respectively.

Gilas led by 3 points at halftime before breaking away in the third quarter, leading as much as 15 points.

In the final quarter, Gilas had the biggest lead of the game at 19 points before Taipei made a final push in the last few minutes of the game.

Taipei came as close as 7 points before Gilas put them away for good in the final 2 minutes.

The win sent Gilas to a semi-finals match against Jordan.

The Philippine team defeated Jordan, 72-64, earlier in the tournament.

Jordan made it to the semi-finals by ousting defending champion Iran with an 88-84 victory.

The last time a Philippine team made it to the semis in the FIBA Asia Championship was in 1987.

News source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/09/23/11/philippines-advances-fiba-semis

A visit to the Victims of Martial Law Memorial Wall in Manila

Filipinos around the world marked the 39^th anniversary of Martial Law yesterday, September 21. The date ironically coincides with the International Day of Peace. Indeed, a sense of eerie peace can be achieved by silencing (literally) noisy dissidents to one’s rule – which is what Ferdinand Marcos did. Because of a research I was doing, I found myself walking in the area between Universidad de Manila (formerly the City Colleges of Manila) and the City Hall Wednesday afternoon.

The Bonifacio Shrine (near Manila City Hall)

There are two prominent historical landmarks in the area: Bonifacio Shrine and the Victims of Martial Law Memorial Wall. It was unveiled in 2006 by then-Manila mayor Lito Atienza to “remind the generation of today and tomorrow of the Filipino’s struggle against the injustice and oppression brought about by martial rule.”

A marker at the Victims of Martial Law memorial wall in Manila

Knowing that Martial Law is being commemorated that day, I expected to see some sort of beautification for the place. I was wrong. In fact, it seems like no Martial Law-related event was done there at all. Is it because Atienza is a bitter political rival of current mayor Alfredo Lim? After seeing the memorial wall, I had the following observations:

Martial Law Memorial Wall dedication text

1) It recognizes the fact that even if Marcos technically lifted Martial Law in 1981, he wielded dictatorial powers until 1986.

2) Sen. Benigno Aquino, Jr. was listed as a Martial Law casualty in the year 1983. What are its implications? Have they just pinpointed Marcos as the mastermind in the former’s assassination?

Sen. Benigno Aquino, Jr. was listed as a Martial Law casualty in the year 1983

Here are other pictures I took:

Probably the most recognizable feature of the Manila City Hall

What are those birds?

The contents of the Kartilya ng Katipunan can be seen at the back of the Bonifacio Shrine

From Manila Bulletin – Memorial Wall for Martial Law victims unveiled: http://www.mb.com.ph/node/93806

WordPress included my blog in their “Blogs of the Day” list!

WordPress.com (my blog host) has included my page in their list of “Blogs of the Day” under the “Growing Blogs” category last Sunday morning (Philippine time). At one point, “Asking about anything, Writing about everything” was listed (or should I say ranked?) 33rd among the 100 featured blogs there.

Everyday, WordPress comes up with a list of 100 "Growing Blogs"

With me on the list are other WordPress users from around the world – people who are blogging about all sorts of stuff. There’s a photoblogger from New York, an animal-rights activist (currently listed at number 32), someone from Iran, Indonesia, and European countries as well. These blogs, according to WordPress, has “gained the most popularity recently.” As of yesterday, my blog has already received over 13,000 views.

The "Blogs of the Day" list features blogs which has “gained the most popularity recently.”

According to topblogs.com.ph, it is already the 31st most-visited page in the Philippines under the “news and journalism” category (at least among the sites registered to them). It is said that a writer has two universal goals: to be published, and to be read. I cannot thank my readers (friends, Facebook contacts, subscribers, and online lurkers) more than enough for visiting my page. Graduate school commitments may force me to slow down in blogging for the coming week, but rest assured, I’ll never run out of something to write about.

But just a reminder, the rankings are highly fluid, so by the time you are reading this, I may no longer be in WordPress’ list. 
Check WordPress’ “Growing Blogs” list:

http://botd.wordpress.com/growing-blogs/?lang=en
Topblogs.com.ph’s latest rankings:

http://www.topblogs.com.ph/news/

UP Pep Squad is 2011 Cheerdance champs! 4th title in 5 years!

*With their win this year, the UP Pep Squad has won the UAAP cheerdance title for the fourth time in 5 years (they also won in 2007, 2008, and 2010). Wait a minute, does anyone know how many times the UP Fighting Maroons has finished at the bottom of the team standings the past 10 years? We have in them the two faces of consistency.  

News from ABS-CBNNews.com – The University of the Philippines (UP) Pep Squad wowed the crowd with their Madonna-inspired routine to retain its title in this year’s UAAP Samsung Cheerdance competition.

The blonde-haired UP cheerdancers radiated with confidence while pulling off a flawless performance in front of more than 20,000 spectators at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Saturday.

As a result, the Diliman-based pep squad took home its 2nd straight cheerdance title and the P340,000 top prize.

UP Pep Squad wins the 2011 UAAP cheerdance competition! (click image for higher resolution)

Winning 2nd place was the De La Salle University (DLSU) Animo Squad, which pocketed the P200,000 1st runner up prize.

Far Eastern University (FEU) Cheering squad’s Indian-inspired theme was deemed good for 3rd place. They went home with P140,000.

The University of Sto. Tomas (UST) Salinggawi Dance Troupe ended at 4th place, followed by the Adamson University (AdU) Pep Squad at 5th and the National University (NU) Pep Squad at 6th.

The Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion wounded up at 7th place while the University of the East (UE) Pep Squad finished last.

Last season, UP snatched the title from then defending champion FEU.

UP sweep

It was a clean sweep for UP as it also won the secondary titles in this year’s cheerdance event.

Nesza Salvador, 2011 Samsung Stunner (she's from UP!)

The UP Pep Squad bested National University (NU) and FEU in the Group Stunt event.

UP’s Dessa Salvador also bagged the “Samsung Cheerdance Stunner” award. (Oops. It should be “Nesza,” according to my readers. – MM)

It was a redemption of sorts for UP, which again ended dead last in the UAAP men’s basketball.

The UP Maroons were only able to win 2 out of 14 games in Season 74.

Link:

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/09/17/11/madonna-inspired-pep-squad-retains-cheerdance-title

“Araw ng Kongreso ng Malolos” special holiday tomorrow, Sept. 15

President Benigno Aquino III has declared September 15, 2011 as a special non-working holiday in Malolos City, Bulacan. The day marks the 113^th anniversary of the establishment of Malolos Congress (or “Araw ng Kongreso ng Malolos” in Filipino). Delegates of the Malolos Congress drafted the 1899 Malolos Constitution – said to be Asia’s first republican constitution.

Malolos City marks the “Araw ng Kongreso ng Malolos” tomorrow, Sept. 15, 2011

Signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Proclamation 246 aims to give “to give the people of the City of Malolos the opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion.” Since this is not a national holiday, those who opt to work on this day will only be getting a 30% additional to their regular hourly rate (plus another 30% if they work overtime).

The establishment of Malolos Congress as well as its consequences in Philippine history has been the subject of intense political and historical debates for many years now. Some claim that elite Filipinos, people who supposedly never really took part in the Katipunan revolt against the Spanish colonizers, dominated the Malolos Congress – hence, they were able to promote their interests here. One suggested reading would be Teodoro Agoncillo’s “Malolos: Crisis of the Republic.”

Proclamation No. 246: http://www.gov.ph/2011/09/05/proclamation-no-246-s-2011/

DOLE Pay Rules: http://www.dole.gov.ph/list_of_holidays.php?id=95

 

 

 

 

 

 

What will happen to TopBlogs.com.ph whose domain has expired?

As of Sept. 14, 2011 (1:00 PM, Manila time), topblogs.com.ph is back. – MM

I only registered this blog on topblogs.com.ph last September 3 under the “news and journalism” category. At first, I was in #237 (which is the number of blogs filed under that category), and from there, my site rose steadily to the top 40 (last Sunday, it reached #25).

It has become a ritual for me to see how “rightonthemark” is doing on their charts. I live-blogged Miss Universe 2011 this morning, and it gave me astronomical page views for almost two hours. Anxious to see if my standing in topblogs.com.ph has moved up, I clicked their link in my page. Lo and behold. Here’s what I saw on their page:

Topblogs.com.ph's domain has expired, as seen in this page (click image for higher resolution)

According to Prof. Danilo Arao, my instructor in online journalism, this really happens, especially if site owners lose track of their domain’s expiration date. He also told us to be on the look-out for popular sites out there whose registration may be expiring soon. He mentioned in our class that Star Wars (the iconic science-fiction saga) once had a problem when its domain name expired. So, out of curiosity, I clicked the “renew” link in the dotPH interface. I saw this message:

"This domain was registered through Enthropia Inc.. Kindly contact them regarding renewing this domain. "

Hey, owners of topblogs.com.ph! Too busy watching the Miss Universe 2011? Renew your domain now!

“Science fiction site domain expires” ->

http://www.qui-gonline.org/sci-fi-expired-domain.html